Hong Kong: Business tax bill to be gazetted

The Government today said that the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Taxation on Specified Foreign-sourced Income) Bill 2022 will be gazetted on October 28 and will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) on November 2.

The bill is to refine and strengthen Hong Kong's tax regime to better combat cross-boundary tax avoidance arising from double non-taxation.

A package of measures will be put in place to minimise the tax compliance burden for corporations, mitigate possible double taxation, enhance tax certainty and maintain the city's tax competitiveness.

The bill creates a new Foreign-sourced Income Exemption (FSIE) regime that will allow tax exemptions for specified foreign-sourced passive income, namely interest, dividends, disposal gains in relation to shares or equity interests and intellectual property income, received in Hong Kong by multinational enterprise entities provided that certain exemption conditions as described below are met.

The bill upholds Hong Kong's territorial source principle of taxation to the effect that determination of the source of profits will not be affected by the new regime. Under the new regime, taxpayers can still be exempted from tax in respect of the specified foreign-sourced passive income received in Hong Kong if they have a substantial economic presence in the city.

The Government said the bill aligns with the international tax standard of requiring a corporate taxpayer benefitting from preferential tax treatment in a jurisdiction to have a substantial economic substance in that jurisdiction, and prevents shell companies from deriving tax benefits through double non-taxation.

The European Union (EU) has placed Hong Kong on a watchlist since October 2021 on the grounds that the non-taxation of foreign-sourced passive income is not accompanied by adequate substance requirements and robust anti-abuse rules.

The EU invited Hong Kong to make a commitment to amend its FSIE regime by December 31, 2022, and that the amended regime would take place with effect from January 1, 2023.

To avoid Hong Kong being blacklisted by the EU as a non-co-operative jurisdiction for tax purposes, Hong Kong aims to implement the new FSIE regime in January 2023 by amending its tax law.

The Government said the bill was drawn up based on the legislative building blocks confirmed by the EU Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) (COCG) in June 2022. Due regard has been given to the EU's promulgated Guidance on Foreign Source Income Exemption Regimes and the parameters as communicated by the COCG.

To mitigate possible double taxation, a range of enhancement and mitigation measures would be introduced such as a participation exemption regime.

To minimise the compliance burden and enhance tax certainty, a business-friendly approach will be taken including simplified reporting procedures and a dedicated unit which provides technical support to taxpayers and responds to enquiries.

To prepare for the introduction of the new regime, taxpayers affected by the new regime may apply for a Commissioner's Opinion in respect of their compliance with the economic substance requirement as a transitional measure upon the bill gazettal.

The Government said it will request the EU to remove Hong Kong from the watchlist once the bill is passed by LegCo.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Non-CPC personages briefed on Party congress guiding principles

Xinhua) 09:36, October 26, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official on Tuesday briefed non-CPC personages on the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, You Quan, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed these guiding principles to members of the central committees of non-CPC political parties in China and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as representatives of personages without party affiliation.

Noting the great significance of the 20th CPC National Congress, You stressed that studying and implementing the guiding principles of the congress is a primary political task of the united front at present and for some time to come.

You expressed the hope that efforts will be made to pool the will and strength for fulfilling the arrangements made by the 20th CPC National Congress and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said he had "no role" in the parole granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh who is serving a jail term after being convicted of rape and murder cases. "I have no role in this as it is the job of the court to give bail or parole to any person. The court decides whom to give parole. I do not want to say anything more on this matter," Haryana CM said while addressing a press conference. The decision to grant Ram Rahim parole ahead of the Adampur bypoll in Haryana on November 3 and the panchayat elections has triggered a furore. Dera Sacha chief Ram Rahim was recently released from the Sunaria jail on 40-day parole. He reached Baghpat under security cover. The Dera chief's family had submitted an application to the jail authorities seeking month-long parole for him. Rahim was granted parole for a month on June 17. He has been incarcerated, since 2017, in Haryana's Sunaria jail where he is serving a 20-year-term for raping two women disciples at his ashram's headquarters in Sirsa. Earlier in February, the Dera chief was granted three weeks' leave. While parole means the release of a prisoner either temporarily for a special purpose or completely before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behaviour, a furlough is a short-term temporary release of convicts from jail. He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers. While, on October 8, 2021, the court convicted Rahim and four others in connection with former Dera manager Ranjit Singh's murder case. Ranjit Singh was murdered in 2002 on the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda. CBI had registered the case on the orders passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the year 2003 and taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at Police Station Sadar in Kurukshetra. It was alleged that Ranjit Singh resident of Village Khanpur Kolian, Kurukshetra was murdered on July 10, 2002, when he was working in his fields at village Khanpur Kolian of District Kurukshetra in Haryana. After a thorough investigation, CBI filed a charge sheet in the year 2007 against six accused and charges were framed in the year 2008. During the pendency of the trial, one accused expired on October 10, 2020, and trial proceedings were abated against him. The court held the said accused guilty and convicted them on October 8, 2021. On July 5, Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the writ petition that was filed by some people alleging the replacement of Ram Rahim with a dummy person. Justice Karamjit Singh of the HC passed these orders while dismissing a plea and said that the plea lacked merit. The plea was filed by Ashok Kumar and 18 other petitioners claiming themselves to be staunch supporters of the controversial preacher. The petitioners, in this case, said they had sought directions to "verify the authenticity" of the Dera chief as the state authorities in collusion with Dera functionaries including Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet and Prithviraj Nain have replaced a dummy person with the Dera chief. Meanwhile, as the Khattar government has completed 8 years, Haryana CM reached Delhi on Wednesday with the slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas'. While talking to media persons here, Khattar talked about his government's achievements over the years. (ANI)
After news reports emerged that the West Bengal government has stopped releasing funds for National Cadet Corps (NCC) camps after allegations and a letter from Major General Uday Shankar Sengupta, Additional Director General, West Bengal and Sikkim Directorate, NCC, against the state government, a political slugfest has erupted in the state on this issue. West Bengal Finance Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya has refuted the allegation that the West Bengal government has stopped releasing funds for NCC camps. According to her, in October Rs 20 lakh has been provided for the scheme. "Such allegations are baseless. The state government has released Rs 20 lakh on October 21. More funds will be released in the coming days on this count after the state Finance Department receives details of accounts of fund utilisation. The state government never refuses to release funds. Rather it is the Union government which delays or stops payments of central dues to the state government," she said on Wednesday. State governments are supposed to bear 25 per cent of the total expenses involved in training and other activities of the youth. However, the Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the state government once the news about the state government funds for conducting NCC camps became viral. "This is a bankrupt state government. The state government has stopped releasing funds under many schemes besides that for NCC camps. The Civil Defence staff in the state are not receiving their wages for six months. I doubt that after some point of time this state government would not be even able to pay the salaries to the state government employees," said BJP Legislator and Opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari. The CPI(M) Central Committee member, Sujan Chakraborty said that it is a pity that when the state government is able to spend crores of rupees behind festivals and amusements, they do not have funds to spare for NCC camps meant for training of youth. --IANS src/khz/ ( 340 Words) 2022-10-26-20:34:02 (IANS)
Mubin is the main accused in the case which has been recommended for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Tamil Nadu government.

Police sources told IANS that a 28-year-old relative of Mubin was questioned for hours by the special police team and later, his residence was searched.

A laptop was also seized from his residence, police sources told IANS.

There are reports on the presence of a network behind the car blast and the police are ascertaining whether Jameesha Mubin and his associates were planning some major explosions in south India.

The police team could also unearth a road map to several important government institutions of Coimbatore including the Police commissionerate, District Collectors office, the Coimbatore Railway Station, Race Course, and Victoria Hall from the residence of Mubin.

The Coimbatore city police had on Monday invoked Sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy etc) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused. This was following prima facie evidence regarding a suspected terror plot.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Wednesday held a high-level meeting and recommended the case to the National Investigation Agency for further probe.

The presence of a large quantity of chemicals from the residence of Mubin and the presence of nails, marbles, and chemicals in the car have the investigators believe that the conspirators were planning a major explosion.

Police and NIA suspect that more people were involved in procuring chemicals including potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminium powder, and charcoal that were found at Mubin's residence.

--IANS aal/pgh

( 304 Words)

2022-10-26-21:02:06 (IANS)
Rishi Sunak has made the first appointments of his reshuffle by keeping Jeremy Hunt as UK chancellor and appointing Dominic Raab as deputy prime minister and justice secretary, after the departure of nearly a dozen cabinet ministers, the media reported. The new prime minister also re-appointed James Cleverly as foreign secretary, Ben Wallace as defence secretary and Suella Braverman as home secretary, just days after she left the role for breaching the ministerial code with an email leak, The Guardian reported. The appointments are a sign Sunak is attempting to reach out across the party, given Wallace and Cleverly were prominent supporters of Johnson, while Braverman is influential on the party's Eurosceptic right, The Guardian reported. The decision not to have a change of personnel in No 11 will be viewed as an attempt by Sunak not to upset the markets after weeks of turbulence over the Conservatives' economic plans under Liz Truss's administration. The pound rose to its highest level since before Truss's mini-budget last month after Sunak's appointment as prime minister. Raab returns to the roles he held under Johnson, as deputy prime minister and justice secretary. Simon Hart, another cabinet minister from the Johnson era, has been brought back in to restore party discipline as chief whip. Sunak also appointed Nadhim Zahawi, another key Johnson supporter, as party chairman, and his own key ally, Oliver Dowden, as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster -- a problem-solving role in the Cabinet Office. Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary who filled in as home secretary for less than a week, is moving to be business secretary, The Guardian reported. Several senior figures quit the government on Tuesday, with Jacob Rees Mogg stepping down as business secretary and Brandon Lewis resigning as justice secretary. Sunak sacked Chloe Smith as work and pensions secretary and the under-fire Wendy Morton as chief whip. --IANS san/pgh ( 326 Words) 2022-10-25-22:40:04 (IANS)
After the Chinese government said it has "overlapping claims" with Vietnam over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, Indonesia rubbished the statement, rejected China's offer for any negotiations and said that Jakarta's economic interests are threatened by China's Nine-Dash Line. China's permanent mission to the UN in a letter said, "There is no territorial dispute between China and Indonesia in the South China Sea. However, China and Indonesia have overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests in some parts of the South China Sea," reported Vietnam Times. "China is willing to settle the overlapping claims through negotiation and consultation with Indonesia, and work together with Indonesia to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea," the letter said. This came when the Chinese government, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 2, claimed that there is no territorial dispute with Indonesia and rather the two countries had overlapping claims over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, reported Vietnam Times. Reacting to this, Damos Dumoli Agusman, Director General of international law and treaties at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BenarNews, that there is no relevance in holding any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation. "Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 Indonesia does not have overlapping claims with the PRC, so it is not relevant to hold any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation," he said. "It was stated that we reject (any negotiation)," Damos added. Earlier, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia's economic interests are threatened by China's Nine-Dash Line. China often violates the territorial waters of countries in the East China and South China Seas and it has now mustered Russia's support raising suspicion of military activity in the region, a report said. Japan spotted Chinese and Russian warships just outside its territorial waters around the disputed East China Sea islands for several minutes on July 4, an article in Asian Lite international read. Japan claimed that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of their territory historically and under international law, adding that the government will deal with the matter calmly but firmly to protect the Japanese land, territorial waters and air space. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry claimed that the activities of Chinese vessels in waters nearby are lawful and justified. Japan's relations with China are deteriorating over geopolitical tensions amid strong undercurrents of anti-China sentiments and security threats. People in Japan have already expressed their displeasure over China making claims on Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese). The patrolling of the Senkaku Islands, the uninhabited islands controlled by Japan, by China is one such tactic that China continues to use tactics in the Taiwan Strait, the Washington-based group Global Strat View said. China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year. China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year. Japan also protested against Chinese and Russian vessels operating off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the month of May, the publication added. There are two intertwined disputes between China and Japan in the East China Sea. These include the sovereignty issues regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands and the maritime delimitation in the East China Sea. Several countries including India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are increasing their military budgets and spending as they face increasing aggression from China. Countries in the East and South China Seas region are trying to increase patrolling and defence preparedness. Meanwhile, the United States is making efforts to ensure free and seamless movement in the region and contain the Chinese military, it added. The article read that during the recent Tokyo summit in May 2022, the Quad alliance including the US, Japan, Australia and India agreed to launch a satellite-based maritime security initiative aimed at a free and open Indo-Pacific which can help even small countries to safeguard their sovereignty and economic interests. Despite the Philippines' claims of sovereign rights and jurisdiction, China has imposed a three-month ban on fishing in the waters. Vietnamese fishing and other vessels have also been attacked by China starting from 2013-14 and more frequently from 2019-20. China, being more powerful than Taiwan, has better chances of overtaking Taiwan than Russia, but the risk of involving the US is higher and they have turned to intimidation and pressure.The example of Ukraine and Russia are being used to display the devastating realities of war and to make the people in Taiwan submissive. Consequently, the people of Taiwan have made local efforts to protect themselves from an uncertain future by conducting workshops to teach and empower people to survive in warfare while waiting for government resources. The increasing aggression by China has caused the Taiwanese people to prepare for the unknown even though a peaceful resolution can still be attained. (ANI)
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has come under heavy criticism from Pakistanis across the board for a "vengeful" tweet against senior journalist Arshad Sharif who was shot dead in Kenya. "I don't feel good RTing this but this is a lesson for mankind that we must all imbibe," The Express Tribune quoted PML-N leader's now deleted the tweet. The tweet shared by Maryam reportedly had the image of Arshad's coffin and alleged that the journalist used to malign the PML-N leader's father and former Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Arshad Sharif, who was living in hiding after allegedly receiving death threats for his critical reporting, was shot dead by law enforcement in Kenya on October 24. Arshad, who worked for numerous media outlets, was an outspoken critic of Pakistan's government. Shortly after the "vengeful" re-tweet on Arshad, Maryam Nawaz was heavily criticised by a number of Pakisatni journalists. Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas said, "If you @MaryamNSharif can't express your condolence with the family of slain journalist @arsched at least don't hurt the family and friends at this hour. What else i can say except that kindly delete it and regret." "I was very saddened by this retweet, which reflects the vengeful mentality of Maryam Nawaz," wrote Journalist Saleem Safi. Mocking someone's family after a violent death was "shameful", said Rights activist Ammar Ali Jan. "By displaying such deep-seated feelings of resentment and vendetta against opponents, Maryam Nawaz continues to prove herself unfit for public office," he added. Another journalist Anas Mallick replied saying, "This is insensitive, heartless, condemnable and shameful to say the least." Responding to the widespread rebuke, Maryam, said her tweet was not aimed at mocking someone but about learning our lessons from the past. "I am undoing the tweet and apologise for the hurt it may have caused to the aggrieved which never was my intention. May no one ever have to go through this pain. Prayers for the bereaved family," she said. Besides the journalists, several media organisations have also strongly condemned Arshad's killing and called on both the Kenyan and Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice. He had relocated from Pakistan to Dubai, before moving to Kenya, according to the International Federation for Journalists. (ANI)
When it comes to international justice, one of the chapters that have been ignored for long is Bangladesh's war of liberation from Pakistan in 1971. The issue has never got the attention that it deserved because no ideological or partisan faction seemed to gain from it. However, slowly, the situation seems to be changing, as a resolution was placed recently in the US Congress to recognise the atrocities committed during the war. On October 15, a proposed resolution was made in the House of Representatives urging US president Joe Biden to consider recognising the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The resolution was made by US Congressman Steve Chabot from the Republican party and Congressman Ro Khanna, the Congressman of Indian origin from the Democratic party The eight-page long resolution was titled 'Recognising the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971', primarily focusing on the active role played by the Pakistan army along with all its functioning ancillary units in the active involvement of mass rape and genocide committed in 1971. The resolution is eight-page long and is titled - 'Recognising the Bangladesh Genocide of "Proud to join Rep Steve Chabot in introducing the first resolution commemorating the 1971 Bengali Genocide in which millions of ethnic Bengalis and Hindus were killed or displaced in one of the most forgotten genocides of our time," Ro Khanna, tweeted after the submission of the resolution on October 15. "We must not let the years erase the memory of the millions who were massacred. Recognising the genocide strengthens the historical record, educates our fellow Americans, and lets would-be perpetrators know such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," Chabot, a Republican Party member, said in a tweet. This resolution opens up the forgotten floodgates for perhaps the most horrific crimes against humanity committed in 1971. Global benchmark institutions like the British Houses of Parliament, United Nations Geneva and European Union parliament Brussels take cognizance and act accordingly. The United States had a diametrically opposite political stance in 1971 when its administration was in active support of General Yahya Khan, the West Pakistani dictator however it seems fifty years there has been finally an awakening. Also, since the Awami League has come back to power in Dhaka, a new attempt of conducting war trials is coming up. The Government of Bangladesh declared in March 2017, that it would take the initiative to get the United Nations to recognise the events of 1971 as genocide. It is very clear that the war crimes in Bangladesh in 1971 were committed with the specific intent to destroy an entire ethnic group. Although, Pakistan's Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report placed the figure at the debatable figure of just 26000. However, Bangladesh official figures put the death toll at 3 million people The resolution specifically draws attention to the nine-month-long war of Independence in Bangladesh, from March to December 1971. It recalls the horror inflicted during those months of carnage and mass rape and offers sympathy to the victims. American diplomat Archer Blood's - The Blood Telegram is perhaps to date the most accurate chronological recording of what followed on that barbaric night and the time has come to finally hold the perpetrators to justice fifty years on. Recently, Biden also mentioned Pakistan as one of the most dangerous places in the world at a private Democratic party fundraiser event in California whilst referring to US foreign policy. Time will only reveal the logical conclusion to the resolution tabled and if the US administration is determined to go as far as imposing a sanction on Pakistan. For the moment it is definitely the best step taken in the Dhaka direction. (ANI)
Consulate General of India celebrated the 6th International Day of Diplomats in Dubai in the presence of members of the diplomatic community on October 24. The idea of celebrating an International Day of Diplomats was conceived by Ambassador Abhay Kumar, who first hosted it in Brasilia in October 2017. The celebration aims to raise awareness about the vital role diplomats play, as daily peacemakers, in disbursing development aid, among others. "Consulate General of India celebrated 6th International Day of Diplomats and Diwali in the gracious presence of members of Diplomatic Community in Dubai and senior representatives from Dubai Local Authority yesterday," the Indian embassy in Dubai said in an earlier tweet. People from various walks of life shared their appreciation for the critical role played by the diplomats of all countries in making our world a better place. "I wish a very happy 6th International Day of Diplomats to all the diplomats and their families across the world... a country which has skilful diplomats does not have to go to war. Diplomats play crucial role in keeping our world going and that's why it is important to remember the sacrifice made by them and their families," Ambassador Abhay Kumar said on the occasion through a video message in Dubai. He also sent a congratulatory tweet on this occasion, "Wishing all the #Diplomats around the world a very happy International Diplomats Day from #India today! Thank you for # Serving People Globally and making our planet a better place." Speaking at an event to mark the 6th International Day of Diplomats, the Consul General of India in Dubai, Aman Puri, said, "People have very different interpretations and perceptions about diplomats. In some cases, we feel that most diplomats are wining and dining. And that is perhaps something that they do most of the time. Sometimes people also confuse diplomats with 'Double O Seven.' And they believe that we perhaps end up doing extraordinary, magical feats. But I must say that the truth lies somewhere in the middle." He added, "Diplomats, by their serious work, try to build bridges, try to connect peoples in different countries, creating the economic connections, the cultural connections, the academic connections, and of course, supporting the people-to-people contact, which is truly the bedrock of bringing countries and governments closer to each other." Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also put a tweet saying, "In the busy-ness of Diwali I forgot #International Diplomats Day. Belated good wishes to our diplomats on the front lines across the globe, carrying India's message to the world." (ANI)
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the FIR against Pashtun leader Manzoor Pashteen and 20 others on charges of sedition and terrorism. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen has been booked on terrorism charges for making a speech on the state's reluctance to criminalise enforced disappearance and arbitrary detentions. "HRCP condemns the FIR against @ManzoorPashteen and 20 others on charges of sedition and terrorism, after he criticised the military at the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore. The timing of this FIR suggests it is an attempt to warn others against holding state agencies accountable for their transgressions," HRCP tweeted. The Lahore-based group said that all citizens have the right to express their opinions and demand answers from any institution or agency accused of human rights violations. "The FIR must be withdrawn immediately and the use of this tactic stopped." On Monday, Lahore Civil Lines police booked Pashteen on terrorism charges for making a speech on the topic of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detentions, the Dawn newspaper reported. During his speech, Pashteen alleged that the national institutions were behind the extrajudicial killings of people in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) tribal region in northwestern Pakistan under the policy of 'state of exceptions.' In a tweet, Pashteen said a case had been registered against him on charges of treason and terrorism. "The voices of truth against suppression and cruelty cannot be suppressed with FIRs, jail or propaganda. The solution lies only in the provision of justice," he wrote in Urdu while sharing a copy of the FIR, reported Dawn. Earlier, Pashteen also participated in the protests which were held across various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a van driver was shot dead and two schoolchildren were injured in a targeted attack in the Swat district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Thousands rallied in Mingora, Haripur, and Battagram in solidarity with the people of Swat, Dawn reported. Owners and teachers of various private educational institutions in Haripur staged a protest demonstration outside the press club. They carried placards and banners inscribed with demands for the early arrest of the attackers and restoration of peace in Swat and other areas of KP. (ANI)
The United Nations has taken a grim view of the recent death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif. The United Nations has demanded a thorough investigation from the Kenyan authorities into the case of the death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, reported Dawn on Wednesday. Sharif was reportedly killed on Monday in a shooting incident in Kenya. While talking to journalists, the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric said "I saw this tragic report of his death. I think the circumstances need to be investigated thoroughly, and the Kenyan authorities said they would." Earlier on Tuesday, the United States strongly condemned the killing of Arshad Sharif and demanded a full investigation by the government of Kenya into the incident. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price expressed condolences to Sharif's family members and his loved ones, and to all those who knew him, reported The Nation. He said, "We are deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif." Ned Price also talked about protecting journalists and the right to freedom of expression. He praised Arshad's work saying "His work was known around the world." US State Department spokesperson demanded a full investigation by the government of Kenya into Arshad Sharif's death. He said "It's not entirely clear that we know all the circumstances at this point regarding what led to his death, but we urge a full investigation," reported The Nation. Earlier on Monday, Arshad Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique informed that her husband died in Kenya after being shot. "I lost a 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 the hospital. Remember us in our prayers," Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique said in a Twitter post. Several journalists and politicians across Pakistan have condoled the death of senior Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif who was reportedly shot dead in Kenya. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke to the late journalist's mother over the phone, sympathised with the family, and expressed his grief over the incident, reported Dawn. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has called slain journalist Arshad Sharif 'martyr' and alleged that he was a victim of 'targeted killing'. Earlier, the Kenyan authorities said that police shot Sharif in case of mistaken identity. However, Sharif's family has outrightly rejected the claim and demanded an independent inquiry, reported Dawn. As per the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), after Sharif and his brother allegedly drove through a security roadblock, Kenyan police officials opened fire shooting a total of nine rounds, with one hitting Sharif through the back of the head. Sharif fled from Pakistan in August after multiple sedition cases were filed against him in different regions of Pakistan. (ANI)
The recent attack on school van in northwest Pakistan, along with the spike in militancy, has given rise to fear the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is gaining ground in the country. On December 16, 2014, six terrorists affiliated with TTP attacked the Army Public School in the northwestern city of Peshawar. 147 people, including 132 children, were killed in the attack. The TTP created havoc in Pakistan with several attacks between 2007-2014. The TTP members had fled to Afghanistan after Islamabad launched widescale operations against the group following the Peshawar attack. But recent Pakistan media has published reports that suggest the resurgence of the outlawed group. Fazal Khan, a human rights activist, lawyer, and founding member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), in an interview with Amsterdam-based think tank EFSAS, recalled how his son was killed among more than 140 others during the 2014 Peshawar school massacre. Born and educated in Peshawar, Khan has developed a passion for empowering marginalized individuals and communities, including during his time at university. The killing of Khan's son has driven his continued focus on human rights activism and his pursuit of justice for the children killed during the 2014 massacre. While speaking with the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Khan stated that "no words could explain" the trauma he incurred by the killing of his eldest son and described the pain of examining the bodies arriving at the hospital in the search for his child. Khan highlighted the unusual behavior of Pakistani authorities in the build-up to the attack, during the attack, and following it, including the focus on enabling international rather than local news coverage. Notably, the shootings took place in a school located in a cantonment in Peshawar that usually registered a high military presence, raising suspicions as to how the attack was permitted to happen. Pakistani authorities were initially unclear about the number of attackers. "Every parent wanted to how come these terrorists were in a containment area... Peshawar is a very strategically located city and school is surrounded by office and the house of Corps commander," he told EFSAS. According to Khan, the shootings were carried out by terrorists but facilitated by the Pakistani military establishment. He bases this claim on assailants not targeting military personnel and established school schedules not being followed by the school, resulting in the physical concentration of children in the spaces where the shootings would take place. In an additional indication of a potential complicity of the Army, Khan noted that the security forces that arrived at the school in response to the attack were denied access by the Army personnel present at the scene. The Judicial Commission, established only with significant delay, has failed to make gathered information publicly accessible. Khan suggested that Pakistani security institutions facilitated the attack to ensure continued US security aid at a time when support in Washington was wavering, condemning the victims of the attacks to being 'collateral damage'. "...In eight minutes' time, the terrorist squad arrived provincial police, elite force and the anti-terror squad arrived at the spot with the armoured vehicle. But they were not to go inside the school by the army personnel deployed outside the school. They never allowed them to go inside to rescue the children," he told EFSAS. The TTP claimed responsibility for the massacre, yet specifically established military courts failed to prosecute relevant TTP leaders. Authorities held a TTP spokesman in a safe house before allowing him to leave Pakistan for Turkey. For his activism, Khan faced pushback from State and non-State actors, including an assassination attempt, ultimately forcing him to leave Pakistan for the UK. In times where his life was under threat, Khan received no support from authorities and the assailants were neither caught nor prosecuted. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the outgoing Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong on Wednesday and emphasized that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential to maintaining bilateral ties. "Received Ambassador Sun Weidong of China for a farewell call. Emphasized that the development of India-China relations is guided by the 3 Mutuals. Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential," Jaishankar tweeted after meeting ambassador Sun. "The normalization of India-China relations is in the interest of both countries, of Asia and the world at large," he said in another tweet. Sun, who assumed office in July 2019, is leaving at a time when the two sides are trying to manage ties, following the 2020 border clash that has remained the dominant issue between the neighbours. In his farewell remarks on Tuesday, the Chinese envoy stressed the need to resolve differences between India and China and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs. Sun said it is only natural for important neighbours China and India to have some differences but the key is how to handle the differences. "We should be aware that the common interests of the two countries are greater than differences," the Chinese envoy said in the remarks posted on the Chinese embassy website. "...the two sides should strive to manage and resolve differences, and look for a proper solution through dialogue and consultation, instead of defining China-India relations by differences. The two countries need to respect each other's political systems and development paths, and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs," he said. The Chinese envoy said that both India-China should break out of the "geopolitics trap" and find a new path that is different from the past. "There is enough room in the world for China and India to develop together, and two countries and peoples should have enough wisdom to find a way to live in peace and achieve win-win cooperation between the two big neighbouring and emerging countries," Sun said. Since April 2020, India and China have had several rounds of diplomatic and military level meetings on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the India-China border areas. India has repeatedly emphasised said that India-China relations cannot be normal unless the border situation is and added that if China disturbs the peace and tranquillity in border areas, it will impact the relations further. (ANI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China next week along with a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Keqiang. This would be Shehbaz's first visit to China since assuming office in April this year and follows his meeting with Xi in Uzbekistan in September. "Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit China on 1-2 November at the head of a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Prime Minister is undertaking the visit at the invitation of H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It added that the Pakistan PM will be among the first leaders to visit China following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, where Xi secured his third term as the leader of the party. "On behalf of the entire Pakistani nation, I congratulate President Xi Jinping on his reelection as CPC General Secretary for the 3rd term. It is a glowing tribute to his sagacious stewardship and unwavering devotion to serving the people of China," the Pak PM said in a congratulatory tweet on Sunday. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said Sharif's visit represents the continuity of frequent leadership-level exchanges between the two countries. "The Prime Minister will meet with President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Keqiang. The two sides will review the All-Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments," the Pak foreign office said. "The visit is also expected to advance the wide-ranging bilateral cooperation agenda with the conclusion of a number of MoUs/Agreements in diverse areas, and consolidate the momentum of CPEC cooperation in the wake of the 11th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on 27th October 2022," it added. Earlier this week, media reports said Pakistan and China are set to start three new corridors in addition to the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The formal launch of the projects, which include health and digital corridors, could take place during Shehbaz Sharif's China visit, according to The News International newspaper. Citing unidentified sources, the Pakistan daily 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. (ANI)
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday held a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and conveyed his concerns about the provocations by Ukraine on the possible use of a 'dirty bomb'. "On October 26, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Rajnath Singh discussed the situation in Ukraine. Sergei Shoigu conveyed his concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb'," tweeted Russian Embassy in India. Responding to Shoigu's telephonic talks, Rajnath Singh tweeted, "He briefed me on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible provocations through use of 'dirty bomb'. I reiterated India's position on the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict." Singh also pointed out that the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity. In the telephonic conversation, both leaders discussed bilateral defence cooperation as well as the deteriorating situation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, in a briefing on radiation security threats by the chief of nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the Russian Ministry of Defence said that it has information about the Kyiv regime's 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," added a press release of Kirillov. The Ministry of Defence has arranged to counter Ukraine's possible provocations: the means and forces are alerted to operate amid radioactive contamination. Meanwhile, the US and other Western officials have dismissed Moscow's claim that Ukraine is planning to use a so-called dirty bomb as a Russian false-flag operation. A "dirty bomb" is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials disseminated in an explosion. The term is often used interchangeably with radiological dispersal device (RDD), a bomb where radioactive materials are used. In a joint statement, the US, France and Britain -- three of the other nuclear powers on the United Nations Security Council -- said Sunday that Russia's claims were "transparently false". They and Kyiv suspect that Russia might use a dirty bomb in a "false flag" attack, possibly to justify Moscow's use of conventional nuclear weapons as it finds itself on the back foot in eastern and southern Ukraine. Russia on Tuesday also flagged allegations to the UN Security Council that Ukraine is preparing to use a "dirty bomb" on its own territory. (ANI)
Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reiterated to continue providing humanitarian support to Afghanistan but political experts believe that the Arab country seems to be disappointed with the Taliban due to lack of reforms which are desperately needed by Afghanistan to be accepted by the international community. Al Thani "reiterated" Doha's support with "its responsibilities towards our brothers in Afghanistan," Tolonews reported. "We reiterate the State of Qatar's commitment to its humanitarian responsibilities towards our brothers in Afghanistan, and our constant keenness and firm position on supporting the Afghan people and their right to live in dignity," he said at a gathering held to celebrate United Nations Day. But political analysts believe that Qatar has changed its policy towards Afghanistan. "Today, Qatar seems to be disappointed with the current government. It is concerned that the reforms which are needed in Afghanistan have not been made - reforms that can help Afghanistan be accepted by the international community, to be able to take its seat at the UN," Tolonews quoted Torek Farhadi, a political analyst as saying. "Over the past several months, (Qatar) has tried to start political negotiations in Afghanistan and to solve the dispute which is not ended and has remained unsolved, and to play an important role in Afghanistan," said Sayed Zia Hossieni, a university instructor. Qatar provided a political office for the Taliban in 2013, which is still active as the main diplomatic hub between Kabul and international community. However, the Taliban said that it formed the "Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures" to pave the way for reconciliation in the country. "To solve the economic and trade challenges and to create relations and accept each other, the Islamic Emirate announced a general amnesty. It also formed the Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures that can solve all the problems that need solutions," Tolonews quoted Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of Taliban as saying. (ANI)
Highlighted the use of drones in spreading terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED) head, David Scharia on Wednesday said that the Counter-Terrorism Committee members under Indian leadership will decide upon the response in coming days. "Member states will discuss technology denial when it comes to using drones," he said during a joint press briefing with CTC Chair Ruchira Kamboj after a special meeting on the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. A special meeting of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was held in Delhi. "Whatever we develop here, in India or in any country, any national regime to mitigate any risk emanating from any of those technologies, be it terrorism, organized crime or any other risk, will not be effective unless it's truly global. The basic assumption for every question we have is that whatever we agree on has to be truly global. In all these areas, there are big differences of use," added Scharia. He further said that in the coming few days the CTC members will discuss what the shape of our response will be. "Let Counter-Terrorism Committee, under Indian leadership, decide that it's time to act. Over the last few months and in the coming few days the CTC members represented at a very high level will discuss what the shape of our response will be like," said Scharia, Head of Branch, UN CTED. He said that members have agreed to work collaboratively in tackling these issues despite many differences among themselves. "They all agree that whatever our response is, for it to be truly effective it must be truly global. The members have therefore agreed to work collaboratively in tackling these issues despite many differences among themselves and numerous other pressing global challenges," said Scharia. Answering China's attempts to block UN proposals on the listing of Pakistan-based terrorists, Scharia said, "What we in CTED try to do is to find a common way forward. We're not looking at specific member states concerned, because they are concerned for all of them, including India. We try to see how can we look at the issues forward. It means compromise because of constitutional issues, and geopolitical issues. This is something that member states need to look into and sort out." China has blocked the bid to designate Talha Saeed, son of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, as an UN-listed terrorist, the fifth time this year that Beijing has put a hold on the listing of a Pakistan-based terrorist at the UN. Incidentally, the decision by China came hours after blocking the listing of another LeT member Shahid Mahmood as a "global terrorist". It was the fifth time that China has blocked an India-US proposal in recent months, Lashkar-e-Taiba member Shahid Mahmood in October, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir in September, LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader Abdul Rehman Makki in June, as well as Abdul Rauf Azhar in August, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar, were protected by Beijing. (ANI)
David Scharia, Chief of Branch, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, in an exclusive interview with ANI here, hailed India as the chair and said that he was 'grateful' to India for not just focussing on its own challenge of terrorism but on dealing with global issues and to find global solutions to them. His made these remarks as India will be hosting the special meeting of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in Mumbai and New Delhi on October 28 and 29. "I think one of the beautiful things about India in this event is that it went out of its victimhood of terrorism and paved the way for the international community and in particular for the UN Security Council. They identified three areas of concern and brought together the 15 members of the council to discuss them over a period of two days. It will help India and it will help all the countries. That is why we are grateful to India for not just focussing on its own challenge of terrorism but on dealing with global issues and to find to them global solutions. It will help India and it will help all countries", he said. Stressing further on how technology can be misused for terror-related activities, David said that the members will be discussing the issue and we can find a good solution to it. "We have a good sense of how they (terrorists) are using technology. Many of the experts will come to the meeting and will share with the members what they think. We'll have to discuss what would be a good solution, something that comes from a working assumption that we need these technologies. Want to make sure they're not abused", he said. On being asked the expected outcomes from the meeting and if the world will be free of terrorism one day, David said that he 'doubts' if there will be one but said that he is 'optimistic', that this meeting will pave the way for the UN Security Council to lay out the action plan. "I am in the business of counter-terrorism for more than 25 years. I cannot give you a date and I doubt if we will have one. I would say that I am very hopeful and optimistic that this meeting will pave the way for the UN Security Council for years to come by laying out an action plan of what needs to be done, who will do it and how the Security Council will approach this issue in the next few years. And I am very optimistic that this will be achieved. With these new technologies, 5 years ago, we couldn't have been thinking of having these conversations, because there was nothing that we had to talk about. So, we want to make sure that we approach the solution in a very balanced way that doesn't ruin all the good that we are seeing", he said. India will host a UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in Mumbai and Delhi on the overarching theme of 'Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes'. The meeting will begin with a 'Soft Opening Session and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism' in Mumbai on 28 October through a solemn ceremony at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, where the current 15 and incoming 5 members of the UN Security Council will pay homage at the 26/11 memorial site, said Sanjay Verma, Secretary West in a media briefing today. External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S Jaishankar, along with member states of the UNSC (15 current and incoming 5), and senior UN Officials will also lay a wreath at the 26/11 memorial site and observe a minute's silence in memory of the victims. Statements in memory of victims will also be read out by EAM and the President of the UNSC (FM of Gabon). Select victims of the Mumbai terror attacks would also be addressing the participants separately. Subsequently, an informal briefing of the CTC will be held on the theme of 'Combating Terrorism Financing in local and regional contexts'. The Special meeting of the CTC in Delhi on 29 October will commence with a high-level Ministerial plenary session, in which UNSG's message along with EAM, and other ministerial participants will address the delegates. India is currently the chair of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee for the year 2022. (ANI)
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan alleged that journalist Arshad Sharif, who was gunned down in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, was a "targeted killing" for exposing the two key political families of Sharif and Zardari. Paying tribute to slain journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif, Imran Khan claimed that he was killed in a "targeted attack" as Arshad was a professional journalist and had exposed the two families (Sharif and Zardari) and their corruption in his television programmes with proof, The News International reported. Arshad Sharif was gunned down in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, though the police later in a statement expressed their regrets on what they called an "unfortunate incident." The local media in Kenya had initially quoted the local police as saying that Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the police in an incident of "mistaken identity". The News International reported that the frequent change of statements by the police in Kenya has created doubts in the minds of people back home. However, the former prime minister in Peshawar claimed that Arshad Sharif's life was in danger and called his death a "targeted killing". "No one could buy or scare him but when he started exposing the present regime, he started receiving threats from unknown numbers asking him to stop speaking the truth," Imran Khan told the lawyers at a convention. Imran Khan said Arshad Sharif knew that his life was in danger and was constantly receiving warnings. The former prime minister claimed, "I had received information that they were about to kill him. They stormed his house in Islamabad and frightened him in the presence of his family so that he didn't speak the truth," The News International reported. Besides other PTI leaders, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former governor Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan also attended the event. It was the first time Imran had visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after winning three National Assembly seats from Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar. "I had asked him to back down but he didn't. He wasn't scared of warnings and continued his work as a professional independent journalist, but finally, he was target-killed," Imran Khan said. He added it didn't matter what people said, but he knew he was target-killed. The PTI chief praised Arshad Sharif for his bravery and remembered him in the best possible words, saying he never compromised his conscience. He said the slain journalist stood for justice and truth and national interests. Arshad Sharif didn't even spare him and criticized him on many occasions, he said. He said he, in fact, had advised Arshad Sharif to leave the country. "He refused to leave the country. Then I told him I have the information, the same way I had information about a plot to kill me," he explained. Imran Khan said Arshad Sharif left the country but was being called back when his visa for the UAE was about to expire. He had committed no crime but his major crime was speaking the truth. Without mentioning any name, Imran Khan said they wanted to do the same with Arshad Sharif whatever they did with Azam Swati, Shehbaz Gill, and Jameel Farooqi. PTI leaders, Shehbaz Gill, Azam Swati, and journalist Jameel Farooqi, were taken into custody by the Islamabad Police recently in different cases and were freed later. Imran Khan, however, alleged that all of them were stripped naked and tortured during custody. He also talked about an unknown person in Islamabad whom he called "Dirty Harry" and blamed him for stripping people naked as part of torture tactics. In his speech, the PTI chief also urged the lawyers to strengthen him for the establishment of rule of law. "I have no personal agenda. I want this country to be run in a democratic and lawful manner," he said. He said thieves had been imposed on the country under a conspiracy, the publication reported. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, the Kremlin said. State television showed Putin overseeing the drills from a control room. The manoeuvres followed President Vladimir Putin's warning about his readiness to use "all means available" to fend off attacks on Russia's territory, in a clear reference to the country's nuclear arsenals, reported Sky News. The drills come amid growing fears Russia may trigger a major escalation in Ukraine. During the exercises, the country's nuclear forces carried out multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, reported Sky News. Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that Putin had overseen the training, which he said was being held to practice delivering a "huge nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear strike". The drills saw the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the launch of a Sineva ICBM by a Russian nuclear submarine and the Tu-95 strategic bombers set off cruise missiles at practice targets, reported Sky News. Meanwhile, the US said that it was notified Russia was planning to stage the routine drills and the country had complied with the terms of the nations' last arms control agreement. Military exercises involving land, sea and air components of the Russian nuclear triad have taken place on an annual basis to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig Gen Pat Ryder in a press briefing said, "The US was notified, and, as we've highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia." The move comes amid Russia's claim this week that Ukraine could use a so-called "dirty bomb" on its own territory. It is seen by analysts as a new attempt to stoke fear of nuclear escalation among Kyiv's backers, if not a pure one and simple distraction. Meanwhile, The US and other Western officials have dismissed Moscow's claim that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb as a Russian false-flag operation. A "dirty bomb" is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials disseminated in an explosion. The term is often used interchangeably with radiological dispersal device (RDD), a bomb where radioactive materials are used. In a joint statement, the US, France and Britain -- three of the other nuclear powers on the United Nations Security Council -- said Sunday that Russia's claims were "transparently false". They and Kyiv suspect that Russia might use a dirty bomb in a "false flag" attack, possibly to justify Moscow's use of conventional nuclear weapons as it finds itself on the back foot in eastern and southern Ukraine. Russia on Tuesday also flagged allegations to the UN Security Council that Ukraine is preparing to use a "dirty bomb" on its own territory. Under the New START Treaty, Russia is obliged to provide advance notification of such missile launches. New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) was the last remaining arms reduction pact between the former Cold War rivals and caps 1,550 the number of nuclear warheads that can be deployed by Russia and the United States of America. (ANI)
Unknown Gunmen shot dead a policeman providing security to health workers during a polio eradication campaign in the Pishin district in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. Police said the incident took place in the Mirzai area of Killi Trat, on the outskirts of Pishin town when armed men opened fire on the team. The polio volunteers remained safe as the head constable of Pishin police covered them. But he ended up receiving bullet injuries. He was rushed to the district hospital, but passed away," the Dawn reported. "We have received the body of the policeman, who was identified as Muhammad Hashim," hospital officials said, adding the body was shifted to Quetta for an autopsy. "Armed men attacked the team vaccinating children in Killi Trat area of Pishin district. However, all the team members remained unhurt," The Dawn quoted Pishin Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Yasir Khan Bazai as saying, adding the assailants managed to escape after the attack. Security forces rushed to the site and launched a search operation in the area to trace the assailants. However, no arrest was reported till the filing of this report. "The five-day anti-polio campaign will continue till Oct 28 in 426 union councils of 19 districts of the province," officials of the Balochistan Emergency Operation Centre told Dawn, adding security had been tightened across the province and more personnel deputed with the polio teams. The target of the latest anti-polio drive is to vaccinate 1.785 million children below the age of five years. This was the first incident of firing on a polio team in Balochistan in over three years. Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and expressed grief over the incident. He called it a cowardly act of terrorism, and sought a report on the incident. He directed the authorities concerned to bring those responsible to justice without any delay. CM Bizenjo also directed the home department and the provincial inspector general of police to ensure fool-proof security to the polio team at all costs. (ANI)
Turkey has secretly helped Pakistan in setting up a cyber-army camouflaged under the bilateral agreement which was used for domestic political goals as well as directed to attack the US and India and undermine criticism levelled against the Pakistani rulers. Turkey helped Pakistan in setting up a cyber-army to shape public opinion, influence the views of Muslims in Southeast Asia, attack the US and India and undermine criticism levelled against the Pakistani rulers, Nordic Monitor has learned. The plan was given a go-ahead by Imran Khan, the then-prime minister who simultaneously held the position of interior minister, during a meeting with Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu in 2018. The secret work was camouflaged under the bilateral agreement on cooperation against cybercrime when in fact it was against perceived influence operations pursued by the US, India and other foreign powers, according to sources familiar with the project, reported Nordic Monitor. The proposal to establish such a unit was first put on the table during private talks between visiting Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and his host, Shehryar Khan Afridi, the then-minister of state for interior, on December 17, 2018. The matter was discussed at the senior level and kept confidential from most of the staff at Islamabad's interior ministry, Nordic Monitor reported. The first public admission of this clandestine operation was made by Soylu during an interview on October 13, 2022, with a local TV station in Kahramanmaras. He did not name the country but made clear he was in fact talking about Pakistan when he referred to a country that was a five or six-hour direct flight from Turkey. Unlike his predecessors, Soylu has gained notoriety in running troll and bot armies in cyberspace on behalf of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and had worked on similar covert operations even before he became interior minister in September 2016, added Nordic Monitor. The AKP set up teams to dominate social media in influence operations and attacks on critics. When he was deputy chairman of Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2014 with a research and development portfolio, Soylu secretly set up a large Twitter team to insult and target with offensive language prominent social and political figures who did not embrace the AKP's ideals and practices. According to the parliamentary record, he controlled a 6,000-strong troll army at the time. In the end, using intelligence and information as a weapon, the newly revamped cyber police department was turned into machinery to undermine public view of the opposition and smear critics and dissenters within the ruling party, reported Nordic Monitor. Instead of investigating real crime on the internet, the teams at the cyber unit are busy hacking opponents' emails and social media accounts, collecting private data from cell phones and computers they gained access to and using the hacked material to intimidate and at times blackmail dissidents. (ANI)
Violation of basic rights of humans in Tibet and their exploitations in their own country has been on a surge for years by the Chinese government with the recent one being discrimination against the Tibetans in employment and housing, making the locals feel 'second-class' in their own land. Tibetans are not even offered basic unskilled work in any sector and in some instances are offered a wage significantly lower than their Han counterparts, according to a report of the International Campaign for Tibet. Unlike ethnic Chinese, Tibetans are regularly denied passports and the right to travel abroad, according to Tibetrights Collective. Moreover, repressive policies continue to remain a part of Chinese rule in Tibet as Tibetans are denied freedom of religion and over 6000 monasteries have been destroyed from the year 1951 and 1960. According to several reports, the Chinese government have taken female prisoners for ''health checkups" where they get abused and have been given an operation with no proper hygiene, sterilising countless Tibetan females without their consent. Earlier on October 8, a Chinese woman named Liu posted a racist video on WeChat, where she talked about wiping out Tibetans from Lhasa and called for the Chinese to take over it. In order to legitimize its claim over Tibet, "Serfs' Emancipation Day" is celebrated annually by CCP on March 28 in the Tibet Autonomous Region and it is celebrated to basically counter the March 10 Tibetan Uprising Day, which commemorates the 1959 Tibetan peaceful uprising against Communist China's repression, Tibetrights Collective reported. The situation in Tibet is frightening. The world is being shown a country like China handling the outbreak in a harmonious way, but the reality apparently is far from that. The measures being taken are too severe and not in the public's interest. China was the centre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the world, the whole suffered millions of deaths in the past 2 years. But when entire China and many parts of the world were reeling under the coronavirus crisis, Tibet remained untouched except for one case at the beginning of the pandemic. Tibet did not see a COVID-19 case for over 900 days. While most of the world is free from coronavirus infections, many Chinese provinces are suffering from the viral disease. Now, Tibet has also come under its grip, for which people are blaming Chinese agencies, reported Tibet Press. Tibetans blame they did not get proper medical care or sanitation services from the Chinese authorities despite rising Covid-19 cases. Tibetans also complained of overbearing treatment by government officials, who are forcing people to go into mandatory quarantine without verifying if they are Covid-10 positive or not. Chinese President Xi Jinping enforced similar stringent conditions in Tibet as they were in other parts of China earlier under the 'Zero Covid' policy. Tibetans are taken to quarantine facilities or forced to stay inside their homes. This has caused them to lose their jobs and source of livelihood, besides mental harassment. Amid this, China's censorship of news and social media posts from Tibet has further raised concerns about the safety of Tibetans. Several videos of China's repression of Tibet have circulated on Social media showing Tibetans talking about poor quarantine facilities with harsh quarantine rules and crowded testing sites with no social distancing rules followed Furthermore, self-immolations continue to happen in occupied Tibet in order to divert the world's attention towards the mistreatment of Tibetans by China with the latest one being on March 27, in which an 81-year male named Taphun from the Amdo region set himself on fire in the police station in the western part of Sichuan and died, Tibetrights Collective reported. (ANI)
The accident took place on the Balkh-Jawzjan highway, leaving three people wounded, Khaama Press reported citing sources. It occurred due to a massive collision between a Hilux-type vehicle and a passenger wagon-type car in the Bagh Auraq region of Balkh.

The injured were taken to a hospital in the closed vicinity and a woman, child and two men were killed taking the tally of the deceased to four. The spokesman for the Taliban Police chief in Balkh province, Mohammad Asif Waziri, also confirmed that the incident resulted in fatalities, reported Khaama Press.

Recently, three people died and seven others were wounded in a traffic accident in Northern Afghanistan and two of the deceased were found to be religious scholars, Khaama Press reported citing Taliban-controlled media, Bakhtar news agency.

The cases of traffic accidents in Afghanistan have surged recently. According to investigations, school and university students are likely to be among those killed in traffic mishaps.

The main causes of accidents in Afghanistan that significantly contribute to the number of traffic-related deaths in the war-ravaged nation are deteriorating roads, reckless driving, and a disregard for traffic laws. (ANI)
Three people were shot, one fatally, late Tuesday in Kansas City, police said.

Officers were called to a shooting just after 11:30 p.m. in the 5700 block of Troost Avenue, Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman with the Kansas City Police Department, said in an email to media Wednesday morning.

There, in front of an establishment, police found a man and a woman who had both been shot, Foreman said.

Police later learned a third shooting victim, also a woman, had been already been taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. All three victims were ultimately hospitalized.

The man, who has not yet been publicly identified, later died from his injuries, Foreman said.

No additional information was immediately available.

The killing is the 140th homicide this year in Kansas City, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes killings by police. The city had seen 127 homicides by this time last year, the second deadliest year in recorded history.

Anyone with information can contact the homicide unit at 816-234-5043. Anonymous tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers at 816-474-8477. There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.
Fourteen people in Marshall and DeSoto counties were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing money aimed to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities said.

Those arrested were involved in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain government funds intended to protect employees of endangered businesses through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of Mississippi said in a news release.

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Authorities arrested Robert Pearson, 52, of Holly Springs; Lakisha Jones Pearson, 46, of Holly Springs; Glendon Jones, 29, of Red Banks; Roneisha Dennis, 30, of Red Banks; Devonte Smith, 27, of Holly Springs; Jaliyah Godwin, 26, of Holly Springs; Jacoby Alexander, 39, of Holly Springs; Kevin Anderson, 41, of Lamar; Melvin Harris, 26, of Holly Springs; Dametris Pearson, 27, of Southaven; Terrance Isom, age unknown, of Southaven; Mareceo Hobson, 28, of Olive Branch; Dianne Cox, 67, of Byhalia; and Doris Pearson, 56, of Olive Branch.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud by fraudulently applying for PPP loans, as well as participating in wire transfers of over $10,000 involving proceeds of the fraud scheme, authorities said.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 30 years for the conspiracy and wire fraud violations and 10 years for the financial transaction, authorities said.
North Carolina health officials reported Wednesday the states first death of the flu season.

An adult who lives in the western part of the state died due to complications from the virus. Health officials did not release any other information to protect the familys privacy.

ALSO READ: 2 Stanly County schools to close for 2 days due to respiratory illnesses, officials say

The state is experiencing an increase in illnesses caused by respiratory viruses other than COVID-19, including influenza and respiratory virus, that is greater than at any time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.

In the Carolinas, cases have risen. At last check, they were 478 new cases of the flu in North Carolina. In South Carolina, they are 1,827 new cases.

Three people have died in South Carolina from the flu this season.

Health providers experience high demand for flu vaccines

Health providers in the area say they are running low on certain flu vaccines.

Workers at Moose Pharmacy in Monroe said they have seen more people this week who want to get the flu vaccine.

Health experts said that this years flu season could be rough.

Owner Ashley Moose said that she has seen more pediatric flu cases earlier this year.

I think everybody is getting concerned, Moose said. If its affecting our pediatric population, especially when they are in community settings, school setting and sports, then its really easy to transmit.

Moose said that she thinks thats part of the reason that more customers are getting flu shots.

Its picked up considerably this week, Moos said.

Some local providers are running low on the higher dosage for older adults as the demand for vaccines increase, Moose said.

We are seeing some limited supply in the community, but it is still readily available, Moose said. So I would call around to find it.

VIDEO: First flu-related death reported in South Carolina, officials say
A South Florida man was arrested Monday after he posted child sex abuse content online, according to police.

Patrick James Gallagher of Pembroke Pines is facing 10 counts of sexual performance by a child for the possession of child sex abuse material and one count of computer pornography. The 22-year-old remained in Broward Countys Main Jail as of Wednesday afternoon, records show.

Following a referral from the Broward County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in May about child sex abuse material uploaded to the internet, investigators identified Gallagher as a potential suspect, Pembroke Pines police said Tuesday in a news release. According to his arrest report, Google provided police with Gallaghers name and email address after investigators say he transferred the illegal files to the companys servers.

Detectives then kept tabs on Gallagher, gathering additional information that led them to get an arrest warrant and to ultimately put him in handcuffs during a traffic stop near the intersection of Southwest 193rd Avenue and Sheridan Street in Pembroke Pines, police said.

The arrest was first reported by WPLG Local 10 News.

READ MORE: Man arrested after unfounded shootout threat at Fort Lauderdale airport, police say

At this time we have no evidence to suggest that Gallagher ever physically interacted with any juveniles during the commission of these crimes, Pembroke Pines police said.
Negotiations between the Biden administration and attorneys representing hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the U.S. under a temporary humanitarian program collapsed this week, paving the way for Trump-era decisions to revoke their legal status to take effect absent court intervention.

After more than a year of federal court talks, the Biden administration and the immigrants' lawyers failed to forge an agreement over ways to protect groups of immigrants who the Trump administration decided should no longer be allowed to live and work in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.

Due to the talks' collapse, roughly 337,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal and Honduras could lose their ability to live in the U.S. legally under TPS as early as next year, after a period of time for the government to wind down the program. TPS allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to offer deportation protections and work permits to immigrants from countries with armed conflict, environmental disasters or other "extraordinary" emergencies.

Lawyers representing the Central American and Nepali immigrants said the two parties determined on Tuesday that the Biden administration would not agree to their proposals for a settlement in the years-long court case over the Trump administration's efforts to terminate the TPS programs.

Ahilan Arulanantham, a lawyer representing immigrants in the case, said the failure to reach a compromise means the Biden administration will be defending the Trump administration's decisions to terminate TPS protections for tens of thousands of immigrants.

"The government's position here and its conduct over the last 18 months is deeply inconsistent with the president's promise to protect this community," said Arulanantham, who is also the co-director of the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy. "This community has lived in limbo and fear the last 18 months waiting for the Biden administration to fulfill its promise and protect them."

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During the 2020 presidential campaign, President Biden vowed to prevent the deportation of TPS holders to "unsafe" countries.

A DHS spokesman said the department could not comment on pending litigation. "Current TPS holders from El Salvador, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Honduras will continue to be protected over the coming months," the spokesperson added.

As of the end of 2021, 241,699 Salvadorans, 76,737 Hondurans, 14,556 Nepalis and 4,250 Nicaraguans were enrolled in the TPS program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data.

Activists and citizens with Temporary Protected Status march near the White House on Sept. 23, 2022. / Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The settlement negotiations that ended this week stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2018 against the Trump administration's decision to stop allowing hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador to live in the U.S. under the TPS authority.

A federal judge in California in Oct. 2018 barred the Trump administration from ending the TPS programs for these countries, saying officials did not adequately justify the decision and that the terminations raised "serious questions" about whether they stemmed from animus against non-White immigrants. As part of the case, the Trump administration agreed to pause its effort to end TPS programs for Honduras and Nepal.

In Sept,. 2020, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit set aside the lower court injunction, saying courts could not second guess DHS' TPS decisions. The three-judge panel also said it did not find a direct link between President Donald Trump's disparaging comments about non-White immigrants and the TPS terminations.

The 9th Circuit ruling, however, did not take effect because attorneys representing the TPS holders asked the court to consider rehearing the case "en banc," or with all active judges participating. Soon after Mr. Biden took office in 2021, his administration entered settlement talks with the lawyers for TPS holders, pausing the court case.

Over the past year and a half, the Biden administration announced extensions of the TPS programs for Haitian and Sudanese immigrants living in the U.S., but it has not announced similar moves for immigrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal and Honduras.

Now that the settlement negotiations have ended, the 9th Circuit will be able to decide whether it will grant or deny the request to rehear the case, said Arulanantham, the attorney representing TPS holders.

While the TPS programs for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal and Honduras are technically set to expire on Dec. 31, as outlined by a government announcement, DHS agreed to provide a 120-day wind down termination period for Hondurans, Nepalis and Nicaraguans, as well as a 365-day wind down period for Salvadorans from the date the government is allowed to end the policies.

That means the TPS programs for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua could expire early next year if the 9th Circuit denies the re-hearing request before Nov. 30, according to Arulanantham. But if the request is granted, or not decided by Nov. 30, Arulanantham said the TPS programs will be extended for another nine months as part of a stipulation in the court case.

Arulanantham said the Biden administration could have avoided this situation by extending the TPS programs for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal and Honduras, just like it did for Haiti and Sudan.

The Biden administration is overseeing a record high number of TPS programs, using the authority to protect 16 groups from deportation, including immigrants from Venezuela, Myanmar, Haiti, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Cameroon and Ethiopia.

Arulanantham said the programs' potential demise would also affect several hundred thousand U.S.-born children of TPS holders, some of whom have lived in the U.S. for over two decades.

"I find it so disappointing that the Biden administration had a clear opportunity to end that suffering for all of these American kids and failed to do so," he said.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that TPS programs for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Nepal and Honduras could expire as early as Dec. 31. While they are technically set to expire on that date, DHS has agreed to implement a 365-day wind-down period for Salvadorans and 120-day wind-down for the other nationalities.

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Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz participate in debate for US Senate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. via NEXSTAR

John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz faced off in their first and only debate on Tuesday evening.

Over the course of the hour, the candidates engaged in personal attacks and policy clashes.

Pennsylvania's Senate race is one of the most crucial in this year's midterm elections.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania  The effects of John Fetterman's stroke recovery were apparent during his first and only debate with Republican rival Mehmet Oz on Tuesday night in the race to fill an open Senate seat.

Fetterman's health has been under increased scrutiny after he suffered a stroke in May and developed an auditory-processing disorder, and both friends and foes have been eager to see how it would affect his debate performance.

The long-awaited debate between Pennsylvania's Democratic lieutenant governor and the celebrity TV doctor featured personal attacks and policy clashes and captured the bitterness of an election that has become one of the most closely watched in the nation.

With Election Day just two weeks away, polls show a tightening race, with Oz narrowing Fetterman's long-held lead. The outcome of the election could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate.

Fetterman has relied on closed captioning to process conversations and did so as well during the debate the text was transcribed on a large monitor above the moderators for him.

The Democratic nominee opened the debate saying, "Hi, good night," before acknowledging his health in the first few minutes, calling it "the elephant in the room."

"I had a stroke. He's never let me forget that," Fetterman said of Oz, who's repeatedly questioned his opponent's ability to serve.

"I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together," Fetterman continued, "but it knocked me down, but I'm gonna keep coming back up."

As the hour went on, Fetterman at times struggled to articulate clearly, speaking haltingly and garbling his speech, renewing concerns about his health. When pressed by the moderator on releasing his full medical records, Fetterman pointed to the physician's note he released last week, which stated he's recovering well and can carry out his duties for public office.

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At one point, Oz seemingly jabbed at Fetterman's health in a back-and-forth on higher education, saying: "Obviously I wasn't clear enough for you to understand this."

The Fetterman campaign lauded his performance shortly after the debate ended.

"He did remarkably well tonight  especially when you consider that he's still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors," Joe Calvello, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.

Besides Fetterman's health challenges, the two men sparred on key issues on voters' minds such as abortion and crime.

Oz controversial abortion position

Oz, who's called abortion "murder," refused to directly say whether he'd support the 15-week ban on abortion proposed by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Rather, Oz reiterated his position that he's against any federal legislation on abortion and that decision-making should be left up to the states. He added that he would leave the issue up to "women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves."

Democrats have quickly seized on Oz's abortion comments to cast him as extreme in a crucial race that could determine who holds the gavel in the Senate.

"Our campaign will be putting money behind making sure as many women as possible hear Dr. Oz's radical belief that 'local political leaders' should have as much say over a woman's abortion decisions as women themselves and their doctors," Calvello said.

Fetterman in the debate emphasized that he supports the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and would work to codify the landmark ruling into federal law if elected.

Both support fracking, oppose expanding Supreme Court

The candidates provided the same responses on issues that could appeal to the Keystone State's large swath of independent swing voters.

Both Oz and Fetterman expressed their support for fracking  a technique to drill natural gas  and growing the US' energy independence, despite providing conflicting statements on the environmental matter in the past.

Oz highlighted fracking as a means to create more jobs in Pennsylvania. Fetterman, however, was grilled on his previous remarks opposing fracking, from which he distanced himself on Tuesday evening.

"I do support fracking," Fetterman repeatedly said.

The rivals also drew common ground on the Supreme Court, rejecting calls to expand the number of justices on the bench, an idea that has gained momentum on the left since former President Donald Trump's appointments cemented a 6-3 conservative majority.

When asked about 2024, Oz and Fetterman each vowed to back Trump and President Joe Biden, respectively, should they decide to run in the presidential election.

Both candidates trade personal attacks

The opponents traded barbs throughout the debate, at times interrupting and talking over each other. Oz attacked Fetterman over crime, while Fetterman hit Oz on his wealth.

"Dr. Oz articulated how he would restore balance to Washington and find common-sense solutions to lower costs for families and make our streets safer," Oz campaign manager Casey Contres said in a statement following the debate.

In their final statements, Fetterman said he's fighting for the "forgotten communities" of Pennsylvania, and Oz declared himself a "candidate for change." As Oz was addressing the economy in his closing argument, Fetterman jumped in, claiming: "You want to cut social security!"

After the moderator intervened, Oz continued, saying: "I'm the living embodiment of the American dream."

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Even if youve never worked a day in your life, you may be entitled to a significant Social Security check if youre married to a qualifying recipient. In fact, you may be eligible for as much as half of the amount that your qualifying spouse receives, depending on when you file. But youll have to develop a strategy if you want to ensure youre receiving as much as possible from the Social Security Administration. Here are a few of the most common mistakes that youll want to avoid if youre filing for a Social Security spousal benefit.

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Not Filing for Your Benefit

Intuitively, it can make sense that a person who has never worked should not even bother filing for Social Security benefits. After all, if you havent paid any Social Security tax into the system from your earnings, there shouldnt be any benefit waiting for you after you reach retirement age. But if youre married and at least age 62  or if you care for a child 16 or younger who is entitled to benefits based on your spouses record  then you can file for your own spousal benefits  and those benefits may be quite significant. If you file at your full retirement age  which is 67 for those born in 1960 or later  your spousal benefit can be as much as 50% of your spouses benefit. Best of all, the Social Security Administration will always pay you the higher benefit to which youre entitled, whether its based on your own work record or that of your spouse, so even if youve never worked or paid into the Social Security system, if youre married, it still pays to file for benefits.

Filing Too Early

In order to get the full 50% spousal benefit, you must wait to claim your benefits until you reach your full retirement age. Just as if you were claiming your own primary Social Security benefit, you can file for spousal benefits as early as age 62. However, your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced.

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Filing Too Late

If you file for Social Security benefits based on your own work record, the longer you wait  until age 70  the more your check increases. From the full retirement age of 67 to age 70, for example, benefits increase by 8% per year. This is a significant, risk-free boost to your earnings, making it worthwhile to wait if you can. But spousal benefits are different. Although your check will be permanently reduced if you file before your full retirement age, you wont get the bump up in income that primary recipients will by waiting until age 70. In other words, youll receive the same spousal benefit whether you file at full retirement age or age 70. For this reason, you shouldnt generally wait any later than your full retirement age to claim your spousal benefit.

Overlooking Benefits From Ex-Spouse

Even if youre divorced, you may still be entitled to spousal benefits based on your former spouses work record. This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of the Social Security spousal benefit. To claim spousal benefits from an ex-spouse, however, you must have been originally married for at least 10 years and be at least age 62. You must also not have remarried. If you divorce when you are younger, you dont lose the future rights to your spousal benefit, you just wont be eligible to claim them until you reach age 62. At that point, however, ex-spouses are entitled to the same spousal benefit as if they were still married to the primary beneficiary. Those benefits can last for the rest of your life, if you choose to remain unmarried, or until your ex-spouse passes away, whichever comes first. However, at that point, you may become eligible for survivors benefits. An interesting side note is that if you remarry after age 60  or after 50 if you have a disability  this will not affect your eligibility to receive survivor benefits based on your former spouses work record. This is not the case with spousal benefits, which generally cease upon remarriage at any age.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Social Security Spousal Benefit Mistakes To Avoid
Several Miami Valley counties are receiving state grants as 53 public water systems are removing and replacing lead water pipes, a spokesperson from Governor Mike DeWines office said Wednesday.

>>RELATED: How to protect your pipes against water main breaks

Butler, Clinton, Logan, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby Counties are six of 37 Ohio counties are receiving assistance from the state for lead line mapping.

Governor DeWine and OHIO EPA Director Laurie Stevenson announced $2.4 million in H2Ohio grant assistance, according to a news release.

Working with communities to help them identify and remove lead water lines that remain in their area will improve the overall health and well-being of Ohioans, said DeWine. These H2Ohio grants confirm our ongoing commitment to improve our states water infrastructure for the long term.

The grant award winners include:

Butler County - Butler County Water and Sewer- $50,000

Clinton County - City of Blanchester- $50,000

Clinton County - City of Wilmington- $7,000

Logan County - Village of Lakeview- $50,000

Montgomery County - Greater Moraine PWS #1 South- $49,880

Montgomery County - Greater Moraine PWS #2 North- $47,480

Preble County - Village of Lewisburg- $45,000

Shelby County- Village of Fort Loramie- $23,000

Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, said Stevenson. These mini grants will help communities take the first step toward safer water.

The grant winners were compiled by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Governors office said.
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School lunches can get pricey, but one of the best hacks for saving on costs is to buy snacks in bulk. Costco offers a wide variety of school lunch snacks at competitive prices -- though some are better deals than others.

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GOBankingRates spoke with shopping experts to get their picks for the best Costco snacks for affordable school lunch treats -- here's what they suggest.

Alena Haurylik / Shutterstock.com

Granola Bars

Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, recommends the Kirkland Signature Soft & Chewy Granola Bars, which come in a box of 64 and sell for about 15 cents per bar.

"Assuming you only tuck them into school lunches, one box should last a couple of months at least and provide a little sweet treat without being overwhelmingly dessert-like," she said.

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Costco

Applesauce Pouches

For a healthy snack, Ramhold suggests the Kirkland Signature Organic Applesauce Pouches. A box of 24 retails for under $12.

"It also only comes in one flavor, so that makes things easier as kids won't have to make a decision about liking one flavor more than another," she said.

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Yogurt Pouches

Costco sells a variety of portable yogurts, including Stonyfield Organic Whole Milk Yogurt Pouches and Gogo Squeez Yogurtz Variety Pouches, both of which get Ramhold's seal of approval. However, the Gogo Squeez Yogurtz are the better deal, she said.

David Tonelson / Shutterstock.com

Single-Serve Hummus Cups

Ramhold is a fan of the Kirkland Signature Organic Hummus Single-Serve Cups -- a box of 20 cups sells for under $8.

"They're a good dipping option for a variety of things -- pretzel crisps, bagel chips, or even fresh cut carrots or other veggies," she said. "While you may have to do a little more work to prep the other half of the snack, this is a great deal on a healthy snack you can feel good about adding to your kids' lunches."

Costco

Cheese, Fruit & Nut Snack Packs

Kirkland Signature Cheese, Fruit & Nut Snack Packs is a good school snack option recommended by David Somerville, owner of ShoppingWithDave.com, which covers shopping at Costco, Aldi and Trader Joe's.

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"The portion size is fantastic and they are full of satisfying protein that will keep kids from getting the afternoon crazies," he said. "My kids call these 'happy snacks' because they have a little of everything they love -- cheese, nuts and dried fruit."

Costco

Fruit Bars

That's it Mini Fruit Bars are a particularly good deal at Costco, said Rebecca Gramuglia, consumer expert at TopCashback.com.

"Costco offers a 24-count of That's it Mini Fruit Bars for $16.99, which is around 70 cents a bar," she said. "Walmart offers the same item for over $1 per bar at a $29.95 price point. By shopping at Costco, you're saving close to $13 in total."

Costco

Chips

Costco also often has the best prices on snack-sized bags of chips.

"Costco currently offers a 54-count Frito Lay Classic Mix Variety Pack for $23.39, which is less than 50 cents a bag. In comparison, Walmart sells the same item for $35.90," Gramuglia said. "Shopping at Costco here saves you over $12. For another chip option, Costco offers a 30-count PopCorners Flavor Variety Pack for $14.79, while Amazon sells a comparable 28-count variety pack for $23.29. At less than 50 cents per bag, Costco offers more savings than Amazon and is a better value for your dollar."

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Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Best Affordable School Lunch Snacks You Can Buy at Costco
Carol Molina cried when she recently saw 70 cats living in one womans room in a boarding house.

They literally didnt have a square foot amongst them to move, she said. Some were inside an aquarium, 10 others were sharing one chair. I couldnt breathe.

All of them were under weight, all needed to be spayed or neutered, she said.

Carol Molina is in the process of rescuing 70 cats that were kept in this room of a boarding house.

Rescuing cats is what Molina does. She opened Yorks Feline Solutions in 2008 and became a non-profit in 2015, she said. About 15 volunteers help her as does her family, who live in the house with the cats she cant immediately place. In fact, she now has about 75 cats in her tidy home, a few of her own and the rest are temporary visitors until they can be adopted out.

The boarding house she visited is a couple of hours west of York, but Molina didnt want to say much about the home or the woman living there because of the complications  mental illness, hoarding and a threatened eviction.

Carol Molina, left, is with new volunteer Sarah Odom at her home near York New Salem. Molina houses 75 cats in her home and about 350 others with foster volunteers through her non-profit Feline Solutions. Belya, her personal cat, likes to jump up and sit on her shoulders.

Her job isnt to police cat owners, just save cats.

She pulled 10 cats out of the boarding house, and shes returning this week to get more.

"This is happening everywhere," she said. "And it's going to get worse."

She has rescued cats all over the world, she said, including the Middle East  more than 700 cats from Egypt alone. The shipped cats must undergo a rigorous U.S. Customs process to enter the country.

I am the voice of the cats, she said.

In that spirit, she worries about the treatment of felines and the policies that  she believes  have left some cats behind. She just met with Pennsylvania State Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, out of frustration with the York County SPCAs policy that puts rescued cats back outside. It's part of a movement to adopt a policy endorsed by the Best Friends, a non-profit that has the goal of moving all shelters toward being no-kill shelters by 2025, but Molina doesn't agree with it.

"Were ... gonna have cats on rooftops, were gonna have 200, 300,000 free-roaming cats in York. Its gonna be  excuse my pun  a catastrophe, said Molina.

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Steven Martinez, the local SPCA executive director, instituted a no-kill policy about three years ago to save more cats, he said, but some members of the community  like Feline Solutions  dont accept the change.

It used to be, you saw a stray animal in the community, a person would bring it to the shelter, but an outdoor, free roaming cat is never going to be a candidate for adoption, Martinez said. The local SPCA euthanized many of those animals. In fact, the non-profits survival rate for cats was about 50 percent.

Now, the SPCA is spay/neutering those felines and returning the healthy feral ones to live outside; a few of the cat rescues, like Feline Solutions, have pushed back on that practice.

Yes, the winters get cold, but (cats) have done it for thousands of years, Martinez said. Youre putting cats outside in the cold, and yes, theyre surviving, theyre thriving.

Previous policies havent worked, but this one has, he said, and the SPCA has been tracking those numbers. He isnt prepared to share the data yet but will provide it to the community soon.

Carol Molina with one of her rescue cats. She has rescued cats from all over the world including the Middle East - more than 700 cats from Egypt alone.

Molina doesnt see it that way.

You cant put a cat in a colony thats established. They will beat them up. They will kill them. They wont let them have food or water, she said. So why would the SPCA say its OK to put these cats outside, knowing they will not have shelter food or medical care.

Dogs: Five Pennsylvania dog breeders on Humane Society's Horrible Hundred list

But this policy, known as TNR  trap, neuter and return  expects cats to be returned where they were found, so the cat is familiar with the colony living there.

Molina is asking Rep. Grove to help find a place for municipalities to place their cats instead. She worries about the cold temperatures and the felines trying to find a warm place to sleep.

"This winter, Im already prepared for the heartache," she said.

Martinez said his SPCA is one of the largest in the state.

"The difference between a shelter and a rescue is they (rescues) think about every single animal," he said. Shelters, on the other hand, have to look at the community as a whole by sterilizing as many feral cats as it can to reduce overpopulation.

Go to the organization's website to read more about the SPCA's TNR program.

Molina's trip back to the boarding house this week will give her more cats to home. To learn more, she posts photos on her non-profit's Facebook page of adoptable felines.

Kim Strong can be reached at kstrong@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Cat rescue trying to save 70 cats from one boarding house
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Alphabet is attempting to tighten its belt after going on a hiring spree.

CEO Sundar Pichai said the company would review all projects "pretty granularly" and make "course corrections."

Alphabet is facing slowing growth as advertisers pull back spending, and the company has reportedly cut some employee perks.

Alphabet is attempting to tighten its belt after going on a hiring spree.

In the last 12 months alone, the company added nearly 37,000 new workers. Now, Google's parent company faces slowing growth amid a decelerating economy and a pullback in advertising spending.

"We're constantly working to make sure everyone we've brought in is working on the most important things as a company... that's a lot of what sharpening our focus has been about," CEO Sundar Pichai told investors and reporters on a call on Tuesday.

"We are reviewing projects at all scales pretty granularly to make sure we have the right plans there, and, based on that, the right resourcing, and making course corrections. This will be an ongoing thing," he added.

Alphabet has attempted to cut employee expenses amid a slowdown - the company reported disappointing financial results for the third quarter on Tuesday. Alphabet has said it will reduce the pace of hiring, and it has reportedly cut back on perks like employee travel and team offsites.

Pichai's grievances with his company's expanded headcount have been well-documented. Earlier this year, Pichai reportedly told employees at an all-hands meeting that there are "real concerns that our productivity as a whole is not where it needs to be for the headcount we have."

However, the number of employees at Alphabet may not be the only thing weighing on the company's bottom line. Since the start of this year, Alphabet has reported nearly $4.5 billion in losses from "Other Bets," which the company calls its division that manages smaller early-stage projects.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kanye West is facing intense backlash over his recent antisemitic comments, with a number of companies and brands announcing they will no longer do business with the rapper or his brand Yeezy.

West, 45, has become embroiled in controversy on a number of occasions in recent weeks, after he first sparked criticism over his White Lives Matter shirt. Amid the backlash, he proceeded to make a number of derogatory and threatening comments targeted at Jewish people. After his Instagram account was suspended as a result, the rapper took to Twitter to share the antisemitic rants, where he claimed he was going to go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE. His Twitter account was also suspended.

However, despite no longer having access to his social media accounts, the Yeezy founder has continued to express antisemitic views in interviews, including in a since-deleted interview with Drink Champs podcast, in which he claimed he could make antisemitic comments and still have the support of his longtime partner Adidas.

West has since been proven wrong, as a number of companies, including Adidas, have announced they will no longer work with him moving forward, while condemning his remarks.

From Adidas to The RealReal, these are the companies that have cut ties with West.

Adidas

The company came under intense backlash after Wests comments, with many urging the sportswear brand to end its relationship with the rapper.

On Tuesday, Adidas announced in a statement condemning antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech that it would no longer be working with West.

Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Yes recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness, the company said.

Balenciaga

The French fashion house, which had a long working relationship with West, also announced it would be cutting ties with the rapper following his antisemitic comments.

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Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist, a spokesperson for Kering, Balenciagas parent company, said in a statement to WWD last week.

The move comes despite a close relationship between West and creative director Demna, who have collaborated together numerous times.

Vogue

As a result of his recent remarks, West no longer has a relationship with Vogue, as a spokesperson for the magazine told Page Six that neither the publication nor editor-in-chief Anna Wintour intend to work with the rapper going forward.

Anna has had enough, the source was quoted as saying. She has made it very clear inside Vogue that Kanye is no longer part of the inner circle.

The RealReal

On Tuesday, the fashion retailer also cut ties with West, with The RealReal announcing it will no longer accept items associated with West or his brand, including Yeezy or Yeezy x Adidas products.

Kanye Wests recent behaviour at Paris Fashion Week and the comments he made regarding the Jewish community are not only offensive, but go against everything we believe in, the company said in a statement shared to Instagram. For this reason, we are no longer accepting items associated with West or his brand, including Yeezy and Yeezy x Adidas.

At the RealReal, we honour and celebrate the diverse community we have built, the statement added.

TJ Maxx

On Wednesday, TJ Maxx joined the growing number of companies that will no longer work with West.

At TJX we do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or hate of any kind. We have instructed our buying teams not to purchase this merchandise for sale in any of our stores globally, the retailer said in a statement to CNN.

Gap

West has also faced fallout from Gap, another of his business partners, as a result of his recent comments.

On Tuesday, the retailer, which released a range of Yeezy Gap products created in collaboration with the rapper earlier this year, said that it was taking immediate steps to remove the merchandise from its stores, while it had already shut down its YeezyGap.com website.

According to Gap, its former partners recent remarks and behaviour further underscore why. Antisemitism, racism and hate in any form are inexcusable and not tolerated in accordance with our values, the company said in a statement. On behalf of our customers, employees and shareholders, we are partnering with organisations that combat hate and discrimination.

The move comes after Gap ended its relationship with the rapper in September.

Foot Locker

The sneaker retailer announced on Wednesday that, moving forward, it will not be supporting any future Yeezy product drops and that it has instructed its retail operators to pull any existing product from our shelves and digital sites.

According to Foot Locker, it will be continuing to work with Adidas and carry a wide assortment of their collections.

Creative Artists Agency

On Monday, CAA, which has represented West for touring only since 2016, confirmed to Deadline it would no longer be representing the rapper.

MRC

The film and TV studio announced on Monday it would also be severing ties with West in light of his recent comments, which means it will not be distributing a recently completed documentary about the rapper.

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. We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform, the statement said in part.

The fallout has already had real-life consequences for West, who lost his billionaire status overnight as a result of the splintered relationships, according to Forbes, which reported that Adidas decision resulted in the rappers net worth plummeting from $2bn to $400m.

The Independent has contacted a spokesperson for West for comment.
When Airman 1st Class Katelyn Day first met her husband five years ago, she probably did not expect to wind up in front of the militarys highest court years later with charges of trying to kill him.

Yesterday, however, Day appeared before a judge after reportedly attempting to poison her estranged spouse with fentanyl and secure a $100,000 life insurance payout.

Day, who was previously stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, pleaded guilty to attempted wrongful possession of fentanyl as well as several other counts of attempted premeditation and attempted conspiracy to commit murder, according to court documents.

She was initially sentenced on July 23, 2020 to a dishonorable discharge, confinement of 10 years and a reduction to the lowest enlisted Air Force rank, according to the documents. Her sentence was affirmed in January by the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals before reaching the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces yesterday.

Day joined the service in April 2016 and met her husband, listed by his initials TD in court documents, the following year at an outpatient mental health treatment center in Shreveport, Louisiana. The couple quickly married in July 2017, and it would not be long before the relationship took a turn for the worse.

Just two weeks after tying the knot, Day learned that TD had an on-again, off-again relationship with a woman identified in court records by the initials JM, with whom he had a child born later that month.

In Dec. 2018, Day and TD had a child of their own, but the couple soon faced financial problems  in part, because TDs sole source of income was a part time position that earned minimum wage. After trying marriage counseling, Day told TD in Feb. 2019 that she wanted to separate. TD was out the following month and Day filed for divorce in April.

Since Day and TD shared a child under 18 years old, Louisiana state law required the couple to live apart for at least a year before a judge would grant them a divorce. A lack of consistent child support from TD, however, further complicated financial matters for the airman.

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By that fall, Day was finding emotional support from an unlikely source: JM, with whom TD had another child. Along with two other individuals, the pair would often converse in a Facebook group called Hot Mess Express, where they vented about TD. Things escalated, however, in private messages between Day and JM.

Have someone kill him  then we wont have to deal anymore, Day wrote. Ill give you half his life insurance. That life insurance policy would have been nullified if Day and TD were granted their divorce.

About a month later, Day reached out to a former boyfriend, named SP in the court documents, and asked for help.

Do you know a hit man or something ...[a]nd yes Im serious, she said.

When SP declined, Day turned to a coworker named JJ for assistance. Although he too declined  and had local police contact Day on Nov. 30  the airman persisted.

On Nov. 30, Day reached out to an old contact, named TL in proceedings, and devised a plan in which TL would charge Day $100 a month to teach her how to fatally poison her estranged husband.

The duos scheme would not go as planned. On Dec. 15, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations began exploring the case with help from none other than JM, the former romantic rival-turned-friend-turned-confidential informant.

Under direction from the AFOSI, JM messaged Day about the status of hiring a hitman. The two agreed to drug TD by putting muscle relaxers and pain killers into a drink.

On Dec. 18, JM met Day at a Walmart and gave her a clear baggy with a white substance that AFOSI agents told her to say was fentanyl. Day bought the faux drugs from JM for $100, with the intention of executing the plan three days later.

Days opportunity never came.

That night, AFOSI agents arrived at Barksdale Air Force Base to search Days home, where they found the fake drugs stashed in her freezer along with a pair of rubber gloves. After initially denying the plot to murder her husband, Day eventually confessed.

According to the Daily Beast, TDs mother confirmed in January that her son Tyler Day is the TD referenced in the court records.

In court yesterday, prosecutors asserted that the two attempted conspiracy charges Day faces are fair, though her defense team pushed back, arguing that the charges are too vague and diverge from federal law.

In short, this court should hold attempted conspiracy is not an offense under the [uniform code of military justice], Air Force Maj. Matthew Blyth said during the court-martial hearing.

Setting aside the two attempted conspiracy charges will reportedly not impact the actual sentence Day received in the lower court. The status of when a final decision will be reached is unclear at this time.
The Akron Equity March is led by the 2022 Akron Pride Festival Steering Committee along South Main Street leading to Lock 3 in August. Thousands attended the event.

Counseling aimed at changing a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity has been banned in Akron, after City Council unanimously approved a measure that had been introduced at committee Monday afternoon.

The ordinance was introduced during Monday's meeting of council's Rules Committee by Mayor Dan Horrigan along with council members Tara Mosley, Nancy Holland, Shammas Malik and Sharon Connor. Council's approval Monday night makes Akron the 11th city in Ohio to pass a similar ban.

After council passed the measure, Horrigan released a statement saying he is proud the city has passed the prohibition.

Akron has proven itself time and time again to be a welcoming, diverse place and taking this step is another way of making sure our community is inclusive of everyone," he said. "LGBTQ+ youth who are not supported for who they are, are more likely to attempt suicide, face homelessness, experience high levels of depression, and engage in high levels of substance use. Im hopeful that this step sends a clear message to our LGBTQ+ youth that this city supports them for exactly who they are.

According to the ordinance, the practice of conversion therapy has been condemned by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association and the American Medical Association.

The legislation states that practitioners of conversion therapy "operate under the erroneous assumption that non-heterosexual, non cisgender identities are mental disorders and that sexual orientation and gender identity can and should be changed."

Safe space:New LGBTQ center opens, creating safe space for Black, gay people

It further states practitioners "often use aversive conditioning, which involves the use of electric shock, deprivation of food and liquid, smelling salts and chemically induced nausea," and calls use of such techniques in attempts to change a person's sexual orientation a violation of ethical codes of the American Psychological and Psychiatric associations.

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It also cites a 2019 study that reportedly shows LGBTQ+ youth who have undergone such therapy are nearly twice as likely to consider and attempt suicide than those who had not gone through such therapy.

Alana Jochum, executive director of Equality Ohio, who addressed council during committee hearings earlier in the afternoon, said a statewide ban has been in the works for years but remains unapproved.

She quoted a suicide note written by Leelah Alcorn, a transgender Ohio teenager who had been subjected to some of the aversive techniques and programmed her message to post after her death on the social media site Tumblr in 2014, drawing worldwide attention.

"This is a critical step needed to protect children from malfeasance disguised as care," Jochum said.

Transgender teen: 'My death needs to mean something'

In addition to Akron, Jochum said Ohio cities that have passed similar laws include Athens, Kent, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Dayton, Lakewood, Reynoldsburg and Toledo.

Akron Civil Rights Commission will take complaints, enforce

The ordinance will take effect immediately and makes it unlawful for any health care professional to knowingly engage in conversion therapy with a minor.

Stephanie Marsh, chief communications officer for the city, said the ordinance provides a mechanism for policing the practice of conversion therapy.

"The city does not have a count of the specific number of how many organizations were participating in conversion therapy prior to the ban," she said. "We also didnt have a mechanism for receiving complaints of conversion therapy before this, since it was legal in Akron until last night. Now, complaints can be filed with the Akron Civil Rights Commission and well be better able to track this practice in our community."

Under the new law, the Akron Civil Rights Commission will investigate and consider complaints and may create additional rules and procedures regarding investigations, orders and penalties. The commission was established after Akron City Council passed non-discrimination legislation in 2017. Complaints can be filed at akronohio.gov/ACRC.

While it was not immediately clear what the penalty for violations would be, the commission presently has the authority to levy a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for violations of city ordinances, with the ability to levy fines for continuing violations on a daily basis.

Kent State University survey offers local data on conversion therapy

Out of 701 respondents to a survey, a total of 30 people in the Greater Akron area reported they had experienced conversion therapy. That's according to The Greater Akron LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment, conducted by Kent State University between 2020 and 2022 in cooperation with area community organizations. The 30 individuals were age 23 to 66 at the time of the survey.

Andrew Snyder, outreach program director at Kent State, provided a summary of those individuals' responses to questions about their conversion therapy experience:

About 66% reported experiencing emotional abuse in a religious setting.

Half reported feeling forced or coerced to participate in conversion therapy. The other half were not forced or coerced to participate in conversion therapy (14) or did not know (1).

When asked if they participated in conversion therapy in response to a religious or spiritual belief or concern, they answered: Yes (22; 73%) No (7; 23%) I Dont Know (1)

Sixteen of the 30 said their experience occurred in Summit, Portage, Stark or Medina counties.

Organizations support city's prohibition on conversion therapy for minors

Several members of local, state and national organizations spoke in support of the legislation while it was in committee and at the City Council meeting Monday.

It is heartening to see the leaders of Akron come together to protect LGBTQ young people in their communities from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy,' " said Casey Pick, senior fellow for advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project, a non-profit that focuses on suicide prevention among youth. "Research from The Trevor Project has found that LGBTQ youth who have been threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy report more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year than those who have not ... We hope that Akrons action helps spark leaders across Ohio to follow suit with statewide protections.

CANAPIs staff and board thank Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron City Council for passing a ban on conversion therapy for minors here in Akron, saidRebecca Callahan, executive director of CANAPI, an organization that provides education, awareness and outreach to the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ community in Greater Akron.

Here at CANAPI, we advocate for the notion that we all thrive when each and every person can live as their true and authentic self, which is why we support inclusive and fair public policy. We applaud all those elected officials who have supported these measures and encourage those cities who have not, to take a look at the statistics and get involved.

Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron now one of 11 Ohio cities that ban conversion therapy for minors
Oct. 26Governor Dunleavy, Governor Mike Dunleavy, Mike Dunleavy, governor

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to put the brakes on its effort to stop the giant Pebble copper and gold project.

In May, the federal agency proposed halting the proposed mine under a provision of the Clean Water Act it has used sparingly. It says the mine would be among the world's largest open-pit copper mines and threatens the Bristol Bay region's valuable wild salmon fishery and people who rely on it.

The agency is expected to decide by Dec. 2 whether it will move ahead with its proposal.

In his Sept. 6, three-page letter to Casey Sixkiller, administrator of the EPA region that includes Alaska, Dunleavy said the proposed veto of the project is "deeply concerning" and would undermine Alaska's legal decision-making authority in resource development.

The letter, accompanied by the state's 53-page comment to the agency, was obtained through a routine records request by the Daily News for the governor's monthly correspondence.

Dunleavy said the EPA proposal, if finalized, would make preemptive decisions about which resources Alaska can develop and how it can develop them. It chooses fisheries over mining, while disregarding Alaska's ability to protect its fishery resources, the governor said in the letter.

"Whether, and how, Alaska develops Bristol Bay's mineral resources or its fishery resources  or both, responsibly  is Alaska's decision to make, considering the input of all stakeholders and working through the standard permitting process," Dunleavy said in the letter. "EPA would instead choke off further discussion, usurping for itself this important decision affecting so many Alaskans."

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If EPA follows through, the action "would constitute a regulatory taking, for which compensation, in the billions, is due," the governor said.

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The letter echoes previous statements by the governor. In May, after the EPA announced its plans, the governor's office said that Pebble should have the chance to move through a "fair and complete permitting process" without disruption from EPA. The governor in the statement said the move could "very well become the template for stopping future mines in Alaska and across the country."

The Pebble deposit is located on state land about 200 miles southwest of Anchorage, near headwaters of the salmon fishery. Critics say it would only be a matter of time before spawning grounds are injured by mine pollution, devastating the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. The developer, Pebble Limited Partnership, has said the project will be built safely, while unlocking valuable minerals and creating thousands of jobs in a region with high unemployment.

Under the standard permitting process, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under President Donald Trump rejected construction approval for the project in 2020. Pebble Limited is appealing that decision.

[Alaska's push to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge backfired. Here's how.]

Opponents of the mine want EPA to veto the project to provide enduring protection that Pebble will not be built.

When asked, Dunleavy has repeatedly declined to answer whether he supports the project. But his letter to EPA is the latest in a series of actions he has taken favoring the proposed mine.

In one move early last year, the Dunleavy administration said it would file an administrative appeal challenging the Corps' rejection of the project.

At the time, the governor said the Corps' "flawed" denial of the Pebble project creates a "dangerous precedent" that could hurt other resource development projects in Alaska. The Corps decided soon after that the state does not have standing to join the appeal process.

Also, documents uncovered in 2019 indicate the governor used ghostwritten language provided by Pebble in letters, including one to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to urge against an extension of a public comment period sought by mine opponents, according to a report by CNN. The letter said an arbitrary extension by the Corps would send a negative message to investors that the regulatory process in Alaska is unaccountable.

In another letter to a company considering investing in Pebble, Dunleavy also used language similar to what Pebble had provided, CNN said. The letter said permit applicants should have the opportunity to complete the permitting process, and that the state would support the company's investment in Alaska.

Meeting with reporters, the governor acknowledged at the time that he could see how some Alaskans would conclude, based on CNN's report, that he supports Pebble but he stressed that he supports a fair regulatory review by the Corps.

Dunleavy's leading challengers, Democratic candidate Les Gara and independent candidate Bill Walker, said on Monday that while they support mining, they oppose Pebble because of its threat to the fishery. They said they are in favor of the EPA veto process.

"The governor is one of the last men standing in Alaska who supports this project," Gara said. "If I had my druthers I'd use state power to stop it, and if the governor won't do anything, we have no choice but to ask the feds to step in, so he has put us in an awkward position."

"I am anti-Pebble," Walker said. "I love mining, but this is the wrong mine in the wrong place."

Dunleavy's opposition to the EPA process is shared by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, who have said the EPA proposal is the wrong way to stop the mine, and could set a precedent that harms other resource development in Alaska. But both senators, also Republicans, have also come out in opposition the mine.
A Florida homeowner learned a painful lesson about the stubbornness of alligators when one came uninvited into his Englewood yard.

It happened just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, among the single-family homes on Tacoma Avenue. Englewood is about 85 miles south of Tampa.

The property owner attempted to remove the alligator himself and sustained a bite injury to one of his arms, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release.

A contracted nuisance alligator trapper was dispatched and removed the alligator from the premises.

An investigation is underway. Details of the property owners condition were not released.

Wildlife officials estimated the alligator at 4 feet, 9 inches in length, which is on the small side in a state where the reptiles are known to reach 13 feet on average.

The alligator was euthanized, which is the standard procedure in bite incidents, the state says. Generally, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if its at least 4 feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property, the FWC says.

A homeowner in the 9000 block of Tacoma Avenue in Englewood, Florida, was bitten by an alligator when he tried moving it from the yard.

The incident counts as the second alligator attack this year in Englewood, a community lined with the types of canals, creeks and small ponds that alligators enjoy.

In July, an 80-year-old woman was killed when she fell into the water while trimming grass near the seawall of her home in the gated Boca Royale community, The Daily Sun reported.

She was attacked by two alligators and trappers later removed the 8-foot, 10-inches long and 7-foot, 7-inches long creatures from the water, WPTV reported.

State guidelines call for people and their pets to keep a safe distance from alligators, and to call a Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) if one becomes a nuisance.

We will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation, FWC says.

Alligators live in the lakes and waterways throughout all 67 of Floridas counties, prompting countless safety warnings. That includes to not feed the alligators and to only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight.

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Alyssa Scott has announced she is pregnant nearly one year after the death of her and Nick Cannons son, Zen.

The model revealed her pregnancy on Wednesday when she shared a picture of her growing baby bump to Instagram. Scott, 29, posed in a bodycon blue dress as she held her four-year-old daughter Zeela, who wore a matching blue top. She captioned the post: With you by my side

Scott has not revealed any further details about her pregnancy.

The baby news comes just two months before the first anniversary of her sons death. In December 2021, Nick Cannon and Alyssa Scotts baby Zen died at five months old after suffering from a rare brain tumor called hydrocephalus.

The actor, 41, detailed his final days with his seventh child during an episode of the Nick Cannon Show last December. This weekend I made an effort to spend the most quality time with Zen, he tearfully told the audience. We woke up on Sunday and went to the ocean with him and Alyssa and then I had to fly back to New York for the show.

I got a call on my way to the airport to head back to Zen, he said, adding that he wanted to go back to work and keep busy to help with his grieving process.

The Wild N Out host previously admitted to feeling guilty that he didnt spend as much time with his son Zen before his death. In February, Cannon shared a clip from a podcast episode with Dr Laura Berman on his show, in which he discussed his grief and feelings of regret.

One thing that keeps me up at night, theres this heavy, heavy guilt with the fact that I didnt get to spend time  like I really wanted to  with Zen, he said in the clip.

Alyssa Scott marked her sons first birthday in June when she shared a video tribute of Zen to Instagram. Happy heavenly birthday Zen, she wrote in the caption. At the root of all the emotions I have today there is insurmountable love.

I always try my best to remain positive but right now I cant help but cry out its not suppose to be like this. In my mind I can see him smashing his cake and crawling around, tugging at my legs, she continued. But the reality is I will be the one to blow out his first candle. I will be wishing he was still here with us. GO REST HIGH.

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In addition to Zen, Nick Cannon is also a father to nine other children. The rapper shares 11-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey; four-year-old Golden Sagon, one-year-old Powerful Queen, and one-month-old Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell; twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir with Abby De La Rosa; son Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi; and daughter Onyx Ice Cole with LaNisha Cole.

In September, Cannon welcomed his tenth child just two weeks after the birth of his ninth. Cannon received criticism earlier this year for announcing that hes expecting another child with Bre Tiesi only two months after Zens death. But the television personality quickly issued an apology on his talk show.

I actually would like to take a moment just to be honest and even take a moment to listen and apologise properly, Cannon said. I wish to always protect and respect the privacy of the mothers of all my childrenwhether thats someone whos new or someone whos had my child and I have such a great relationship and great admiration for everyone in my life.

I didnt know how to explain it, I didnt know what to say, so I was probably talking too fast and probably misspoke and I know I could do better when dealing with delicate and sensitive discussions, he continued. So I promise you, I promise the mothers of my children, I promise my family that I would do better, continue to be more understanding, caring, compassionate like they often show me, each and every day through these processes.
Americans sense of safety and confidence in local police declined from 2020 to 2021, according to Gallups annual Law and Order Index.

The poll found that the United Statess index score, a measure based on a number of questions related to respondents experiences with crime and how safe they feel, dropped from 87 two years ago to 83 last year, about average compared to the rest of the world.

Gallup rates more than 120 countries worldwide in the index from 1 to 100, with higher numbers indicating people surveyed in a country feel more secure.

The U.S. has typically not made the top 10 most secure countries in the world, but its rating usually places it above average.

Pollsters found that the proportion of Americans who trust in their police forces dropped significantly, falling 8 points from 82 percent having confidence in 2020 to 74 percent in 2021.

Gallups analysis states that declining trust in local police in North America is entirely attributable to the declining trust in the U.S. Americans largely continue to trust their local police, but police-involved killings like the murder of George Floyd in 2020 have likely shaken their faith, Gallup states.

The report found Singapore performed the best on the index with a score of 96, while Afghanistan had the lowest score of 51.

Afghanistans score is still an improvement from 2019, when it was at 43. Despite the chaos in the country as the Taliban retook control of the government last year following the U.S. withdrawal of troops, violence dropped significantly as the Talibans insurgency ended, Gallup noted in its analysis.

Gallup rated the world overall at a score of 83 on the index, 1 point better than its score of 82 in 2020.

Gallup bases the index on the composite of a variety of questions it asks respondents, including if they feel confident in their local police, feel safe in their neighborhoods or were victims of assault or theft in the past year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Nayara Figueiredo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Agribusiness leaders contributed the lion's share of financing for President Jair Bolsonaro's re-election campaign, underscoring his close ties with farm interests, while his leftist challenger relied almost exclusively on public party funding.

Individual donors contributed nearly 80% of Bolsonaro's campaign funds, and 33 of his 50 biggest donors had ties to agribusiness, according to a Reuters analysis of data from electoral authority TSE.

None of the major individual donors to Lula's campaign have clear agribusiness ties, underscoring his struggles to reconnect with the farm sector despite close ties during his 2003-2010 presidency and fresh entreaties this year.

Lula holds a narrow lead ahead of the Sunday runoff vote, according to the latest polls.

Bolsonaro's strength with farmers and ranchers comes down to several factors, from conservative social views that connect with rural Brazil to his advocacy for gun rights empowering land owners.

By contrast, Lula and his Workers Party (PT) have ties to the Landless Workers Movement (MST), which has challenged traditional property rights, stoking tensions with landowners.

Bolsonaro is a harsh critic of the MST and has also sided with farmers in land conflicts involving indigenous claims. As president he has halted the process of demarcating indigenous territory and loosened enforcement of environmental laws, which has also bolstered his popularity with some rural interests.

"The farm sector loves Bolsonaro beyond any doubt," said Nilson Leitao, a former lawmaker who heads the Instituto Pensar Agro (IPA), which advises the agricultural caucus in Congress.

Brazil's farm caucus boosted its numbers in Congress in this month's general election on a wave of conservative sentiment, and now expects to have a majority in both the upper and lower chamber.

At the top of the ranking of agribusiness donors is Hugo de Carvalho Ribeiro, who gave 1.2 million reais ($225,000) to Bolsonaro's campaign. His brother-in-law is former Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi, known as "soy king" for his role in a family ag conglomerate.

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All of Bolsonaro's other 32 farm sector donors contributed at least 200,000 reais each, the data showed.

Those and other individual donations made up about four-fifths of his campaign's war chest, totaling 96.5 million reais, according to the latest TSE data.

Brazil banned corporate campaign donations in 2016.

By comparison, about 97% of Lula's 126.8 million reais in campaign funds came from his party's public financing based on its number of representatives in the lower house of congress.

Bolsonaro is a newcomer to his right-wing Liberal Party (PL), a smaller party that focused more of its limited public funding on other races.

"Bolsonaro's candidacy is less dependent on party politics, it is less institutionalized," said Rafael Cortez, partner at Tendencias political risk consultancy.

Despite being spurned by major agricultural interests in the campaign, Cortez said he expects a Lula government would be pragmatic and open to negotiation, as the leftist was in his prior two terms, helped by booming commodity prices. However, budget constraints could make it harder for him to win over a strong coalition in Congress in a new term.

(Reporting by Nayara Figueiredo and Roberto Samora; Writing by Ana Mano; Editing by Anthony Boadle, Brad Haynes and Aurora Ellis)
The Chicago Bulls exited the 2021-22 season with a clear weakness around the rim.

The Bulls were one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, finishing third-to-last in overall rebounds (42.3 per game) and second-to-last in offensive rebounds (8.7 per game).

Center Andre Drummond, acquired in the offseason, offered a solution for the Bulls: himself.

You have the best rebounder of the past century on your team, Drummond said after shootaround before Wednesdays game against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center. I take rebounding very seriously.

Drummond isnt bluffing about his prowess: No one has outrebounded him in the 21st century. He leads the NBA in rebounds per game since 2000, averaging 13.2  nearly two more than his closest competition, Dwight Howard (11.8 per game).

And while no player is likely ever to reach the herculean feats of Wilt Chamberlain (22.9 career rebounds per game) and Bill Russell (22.5), Drummond ranks 11th in NBA history  the only active player ranked in the top 20.

I know thats something this team was lacking, Drummond said. Our team now, were tough. Were a very tough team. Its getting down to each and every one of us knowing that we cant take those possessions lightly.

After a Bulls season with little backup at center, Drummond is a much-needed supplement to All-Star Nikola Vucevic.

Vucevic is a mainstay for the Bulls offense, averaging 18.3 points along with 13 rebounds per game this season. Drummonds contribution is less splashy, but his stat line Monday against the Boston Celtics reflected his preferred way of playing: two points, 12 rebounds.

Both players are extremely familiar on the court after a decade as opponents. Now that competition drives them to build a better unit for the Bulls  although Drummond noted that he and Vucevic rarely go full-out in practice.

Its not worth fighting for in practice, we have bigger things to worry about, Drummond said. So theres been times where Ill let him go and vice versa. Were not going to hurt ourselves in practice.

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The competition for minutes could push Drummond into one of the most efficient seasons of his career. Through the first four games, he was averaging 20.1 rebounds per 36 minutes  a more accurate metric for a bench player than per-game statistics.

Thats a hard standard to maintain and the physical wear and tear of the season is likely to eat away at Drummonds efficiency. But if Drummond can maintain that presence around the rim, the Bulls will be better prepared to outlast opponents this season.

Im doing something right, Drummond said. Im making the best out of my minutes.
Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool/Getty Images

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Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are to be further sidelined from the royal institution, with King Charles effectively removing them from the roster of royals called on to stand in for him or sign documents on the Crowns behalf if he is sick or unavailable.

The significant change to the role of so-called counsellors of state emerged after seemingly innocuous questions were asked in Britains fusty upper chamber of Parliament, the House of Lords.

Aristocrat Viscount Stansgate, one of 92 peers to have inherited a seat in Parliament under archaic laws that successive governments have failed to reform, rose to his feet earlier this week, the Daily Mail reported, and asked: Are the Government happy to continue with a situation where the counsels of state and regency powers may be exercised by the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the country? Is it not time for the government to approach the king to see whether a sensible amendment can be made to this act?

The London Times observed that Lord Addington, a Liberal Democrat peer, also weighed in on the matter, asking the government if they would at least consider that the person they go to in the first consideration will be somebody who actually undertakes royal duties, or at least some part of them, at present.

Instead of swatting the question aside with a formulaic dismissal, the leader of the House of Lords, Lord True, responded that in 1937 George VI had, shortly after his own accession, indicated the need to do whatever was necessary to, secure the exercise of the Royal Authority.

In that spirit, the government will always consider what arrangements are needed to ensure resilience in our constitutional arrangements, and in the past we have seen that the point of accession has proved a useful opportunity to consider the arrangements in place, he said.

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As the constitutional expert and filmmaker Robert Hardman wrote in the Daily Mail: In other words, watch this space.

Hardman says the plan to overhaul the role will not involve any measures to specifically disqualify Andrew and Harryunder current arrangements, counsellors of state are the first four adults in the line of succession (William, Harry, Andrew and Princess Beatrice) plus Camillabut will instead expand the pool to include other working royals, such as Anne and Edward.

Intriguingly, Hardman quotes sources as saying this work of tidying up the constitutional arrangements to obviate the need to call on Harry or Andrew was initiated by the queen.

Hardman quotes a source as saying: The queen could see the need for some reforms, while not wishing to exclude the Dukes of Sussex or Yorkthe king is simply following through with that.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph last week, Prince Andrew is now effectively a recluse following his disastrous Newsnight interview in November 2019 and subsequent expulsion from the royal family.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Chinas Long March 5B rocket heading to the launch pad on Tuesday.

China rolled out its Long March 5B rocket on Tuesday in anticipation of its upcoming liftoff to place the third and final piece of the Tiangong space station in orbit. Its all very exciting, but an out-of-control core module will likely result, as was the case on three previous occasions.



The heavy-lift rocket was transported to the pad on Tuesday, carrying a 23-ton lab module named Mengtian (which translates to dreaming of heavens). It took about three hours for the Long March 5B to make the nearly 2 mile (3 kilometer) journey at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, according to China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Read more

At the pad, the rocket will undergo final checks and fueling in preparation for its launch. The space agency has not confirmed the exact date for launch, but previous statements suggest the rocket will take off on Monday, October 31, according to Space.com.

Mengtian will join its sister modules Wentian and Tianhe to form the T-shaped structure of Chinas three-module space station named Tiangong (meaning heavenly place). Chinas space agency will use the Mengtian lab to conduct various microgravity experiments related to fluid physics, combustion science, and space technology, according to Chinas state-run Xinhua. Unlike Tianhe, Mengtian does not include living quarters for astronauts.

Tiangong is Chinas answer to the International Space Station and is scheduled to be fully constructed by the end of the year. The first module of the space station, Tianhe, launched to orbit in April 2021, while Wentian followed more than a year later in July 2022.

In June, China sent a crew of three astronauts to the space station where theyve spent the past several months overseeing the docking of the two modules, in addition to setting them up and running tests. The crew is expected to return to Earth in December, after which point the Shenzhou-15 crew will take over.



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Similar to previous launches of Chinas Long March 5B , the core stage is expected to perform an uncontrolled reentry through Earths atmosphere upon its return. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is 95% certain we will be in exactly the same situation again, he told Gizmodo in an email.



The Long March 5B is notorious for jeopardizing populated areas as it falls back to Earth in a haphazard state. Previous incidents have taken place in 2020 and 2021 in which debris from the 100-foot-long (30-meter) core stage crashed along the western coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean. This past August, debris from the Long March 5B fell across regions in northern Borneo. Mercifully, no one has been hurt, but that doesnt mean it cant happen.



China is making huge inroads in space, but its space agency continues to be reckless when it comes to its rockets. Rockets are often built with mechanisms to control their reentry to isolated areas, or slow them down as they make their way back to Earth. If China plans on sending more of its heavy-lift rockets to orbit, it needs to start better equipping them for the ride back.

More: Suspected Debris From Chinese Rocket Falls Onto Three Indian Villages

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apple

Apple has no choice but to follow an EU diktat to change the charging ports on its upcoming iPhones, a company executive has admitted.

The European Union wants all portable electronic devices sold in the bloc to work with a standard USB type-C charger by 2024.

Brussels believes this will cut electronic waste by 11,000 tonnes annually and save consumers 217 million a year.

USB-C chargers are already common on rival Android smartphones. However, Apple uses a special kind of charging cable, which it calls its lightning technology, on its iPhones and headphones.

Greg Joswiak, Apples senior vice president of marketing, said: Obviously well have to comply, we have no choice.

He told a Wall Street Journal conference the decision will have the reverse effect of reducing e-waste as millions of current iPhone cables will gradually become useless.

"The approach would have been better environmentally and better for our customers to not have a government be that prescriptive, he said.

Apple has stopped selling new charging cables with its iPhones in order to cut down on packaging and waste.

The company has previously lobbied against the EUs standard, arguing it will reduce innovation in electronic charging technology.

Mr Joswiak refused to say when Apple would begin to swap its iPhones to use USB-C cables: The Europeans are the ones dictating timing for European customers..

He also declined to comment on whether Apple will only change its charging technology for phones outside of the EU. Analysts have said Apple is ultimately expected to swap to using USB-C charging cables on all its future iPhones.

The company has already moved its Macs, many iPads and accessories to USB-C from lightning and other connectors.

The UK Government signalled in June it would not force technology companies to follow similar rules.
Spotify launched its audiobook business just last month with 300,000 titles, but is now saying that Apple is engaging in "anticompetitive" behavior that is impinging the new business, the company wrote in a blog post. It said that Apple rejected its audiobook purchasing system three times due to a violation of its rules. To comply, it had to hide the price of the audiobooks and do sales outside of the main app via an email link.

All of that makes it harder for Spotify to compete, as users can't easily compare prices. "[This] harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apples thumb." It's also highly inconvenient for buyers used to simply clicking on a link to buy an audiobook.

Spotify's audiobooks could have easily been accepted if the company had followed the App Store rules, Apple told The New York Times. "We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance," an Apple spokesperson said.

Spotify could also have sold its audiobooks through the App Store's purchasing system, but Apple would then take a 30 percent cut  putting Spotify's audiobooks at a considerable disadvantage against Apple Books. "With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.

Spotify is already in a battle with Apple over music subscriptions, having said that its 30 percent commission harms consumers. The European Commission issued Apple with a Statement of Objections after concluding that Apple was in possible breach of EU laws, but has yet to reveal a final verdict. "Almost four years. Thats how long its been since Spotify filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, and we are still waiting on a decision," said Ek.
UMM AL FAHM, Israel (AP)  The voices of Israels Palestinian citizens are often drowned out or delegitimized in the country's noisy politics. Yet in the upcoming parliament election, they could hold the key to breaking an entrenched political deadlock.

Israelis vote Tuesday for the fifth time in under four years. The country remains divided over former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus fitness to serve while on trial for corruption. Polls show those numbers have barely budged

What could tip the scales is the vote of one-fifth of Israelis who are of Palestinian descent, with family ties in adjacent territories Israel captured in 1967.

Turnout among these voters will be key: High numbers could swing the election in favor of Netanyahus opponents, while a drop could pave the way for Netanyahus return.

I can hardly remember a single election campaign that all depended on the vote of Arab citizens, said Arik Rudnitzky, who studies Arab voting patterns at the Israel Democracy Institute, a think tank.

Most polls predict a historically low turnout among Arab voters, even though the outgoing coalition government included an Arab party, a first in Israel's history.

That first-time participation in government hasn't generated much excitement among voters disillusioned by rampant crime, the rising cost of living and a loss of hope for change from within a slow-moving political system.

This could be a boon for Netanyahu, who in his lengthy political career has both played on ethnic tensions to drum up support for his nationalist Likud party and sought support from the same Arab voters he derided to bolster his partys chances.

Arab parties are expected to win eight seats in the 120-member parliament, down from a high of 15 in 2020, polls have suggested. Some pollsters predict even less. If the polls are correct, Netanyahu could be in charge of a hard-line government that includes extremists who call Arab lawmakers terrorists and want to deport them.

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Sensing the urgency, Arab lawmakers are making a last-minute effort to rally their supporters. Signs around Arab areas implore residents to vote.

People have lost hope, said Sami Abu Shehadeh, head of the nationalist Balad party. We tell them that voting for Balad now, its not another vote." Instead, he said, it can change the whole political map.

In the arithmetic that transforms ballots into parliamentary seats, lower Arab turnout could hobble the current coalitions chances to return to power, or else grant the Netanyahu camp more seats.

The only thing that is ambiguous in this whole story is the Arabs, and therefore they are the only thing that this time can decide the elections, for better or worse, said Mohammad Magadli, a political analyst with the Arabic language Nas Radio and Israeli Channel 12 TV.

If a coalition doesn't coalesce, Israel could head toward a sixth vote.

Since the political crisis began in 2019, Netanyahu has struggled to form a viable government. Israels fragmented politics require coalition building to govern and former allies have refused to sit under him as long as he is battling corruption charges. Arab parties have historically been shunned by or refused to join Israeli governments. But that tradition was shattered last year when a small Arab Islamist party joined the coalition formed by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, sending Netanyahu packing after 12 years in office. Their government, a hodgepodge of parties with little in common, ultimately collapsed after one year due to infighting.

That Arab party, United Arab List, is polling at four seats. A separate Arab list also is set to capture four seats. The third party, Balad, may not even cross the electoral threshold to enter parliament. Balad opposes joining a coalition.

Balad leader Abu Shehadeh sees no policy differences between Netanyahu and his opponents that could benefit his constituents. He was out recently in the Arab city of Umm al Fahm, trying to convince people to vote for the sake of Arab representation in parliament.

Seated in a circle and flanked by two olive trees, Abu Shehadeh made his case to a group of residents sipping coffee. He met potential voters outside a mosque and pled his case with elderly voters.

Shadiya Mahajneh, an Umm al-Fahm resident, said she would not be voting. "We dont feel that there are achievements," she said. The crime levels in the Arab sector are increasing and they (Arab politicians) are not doing anything.

Palestinians in Israel enjoy the rights of citizens and some have reached the highest echelons of government and business. Yet they also face discrimination in housing, jobs and public services. Their communities tend to be poorer and less educated than those of Jewish Israelis.

Voter turnout among Arabs has generally been lower than among Jews. In next week's election, turnout among Arabs is expected to be in the low 40s, and among Jews in the mid-60s.

Many Arab voters are skeptical of their leaders ability or desire to bring about change. They also feel their standing in the country was downgraded with a 2018 law that codified Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. And theyre frustrated by the never-ending cycle of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has cast them as a fifth column because of their solidarity with Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the lands Israel captured in 1967.

Disillusionment has been fueled by the entry of Mansour Abbas' United Arab List into the coalition. While the move was initially welcomed, Abbas was unable to prove to voters that he could deliver results, deepening their sense that the political game is rigged against them.

After 75 years being a minority inside Israel, people want to have ready-made or quick solutions," said Dalia Fadila, an educator who promotes Arab integration into Israeli society. "They are very much sick and bored of all the promises.

___

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Areej Hazboun contributed reporting.
Jan Brewer, then Arizona secretary of state, hugs outgoing Gov. Janet Napolitano after the governor gave her final State of the State address in 2009.

The Monday in January when Janet Napolitano took office as Arizona's first Democratic governor in a decade was warm, but not exceptionally so. The high of 65 degrees fit in the upper range of normal for temperatures recorded in Phoenix on the sixth day of each new year.

In that 2003 swearing-in, illuminated by Arizona's famous sunshine, Napolitano made history by becoming the first woman to directly succeed another female governor, her Republican predecessor Jane Dee Hull. She also seemed to many like someone who might take Arizona, with its capital city one of the hottest in the country, in a new direction on the rising issue of climate change.

When Napolitano stepped to the lectern to deliver her inaugural address, it had been 5,310 days since NASA climate scientist James Hansen alerted the world to the hazards of human-caused global warming in his 1988 congressional testimony.

She started with hope.

"Arizonans look on and ask: Will anything really change? My friends, I say to you today we are already changing."

She followed with a sobering reminder of challenges ahead.

"Put simply, there are no painless solutions to our problems. To emerge from this (economic) quagmire, we need patience, discipline and a long-term vision of a new Arizona."

Napolitano ended her speech with a pledge.

"We will not mortgage our future to make up for the mistakes of the past. We must sacrifice short-term rewards and agendas, and keep our eyes on a larger prize: a new Arizona where hope and opportunity abound."

Afterward, they celebrated at the Phoenix Science Museum. The future seemed bright. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was at 375 parts per million. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health had not yet started tracking annual heat deaths.

Former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano in January 2009.

Sliding climate doors

Just over six years later, in the middle of her second term as governor in 2009, Napolitano was named by then-President Barack Obama as his new secretary of Homeland Security. She was in that role for four years before becoming president of the University of California system in 2013 and a professor at UC Berkeley's School of Public Policy in 2020, where she remains today.

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The Arizona she left behind had been poised to take regional leadership on addressing climate change. During her first term, in 2006, Arizona founded the Southwest Climate Change Initiative with New Mexico. A year later, she signed Arizona up with the related Western Climate Initiative, which worked to link markets across state and country lines to reduce carbon emissions and foster international climate action.

Climate series beginning: Phoenix isn't what it once was because of climate change. But it's not too late to save it

Under Napolitano, Arizona developed a draft of its first statewide climate action plan. Her appointees to state agencies kept watch on dynamics on the Colorado River, while members of her new climate advisory group looked into how the state could get ahead of anticipated impacts in areas such as transportation, energy generation, agriculture and land use. It was as climate proactive as red states in the American Southwest got.

But when she left, everything changed.

For a while, things were a little more collaborative relative to siting of renewables and setting clean air standards," said Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group that has endorsed Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs for governor. Since Napolitano left, I cant think of anything that has gone through the Legislature that has significantly advanced energy efficiency. Our last two governors have, by and large, let rules go forward that do not strengthen environmental protections overall."

Republican Jan Brewer took over from Napolitano and served as governor until 2015. She was succeeded by Republican Doug Ducey, whose second and final term ends this year.

"One of the first things that Jan Brewer did was issue an executive order to evaluate Napolitano's clean air standards," Bahr said. "Her Department of Environmental Quality director recommended that they not move forward with it. By the time Ducey was governor, there weren't a lot (of collaborative efforts) left. And then he did nothing to reverse any of the negative actions."

More state climate history: From hero to zero: Arizona was a leader in climate policy 15 years ago. What happened?

In the 13 years since Napolitano left Arizona, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas causing warming temperatures and more chaotic storms, has risen nearly 30 parts per million, from 387 to just under 416. It had taken 18 years, since 1991, for such an increase to occur prior to that.

Amid a record-setting drought that climate scientists are calling the new normal, the Colorado River has dried to the point that, in January, Arizona will see its allocation of river water cut by 21%, while groundwater pumping remains largely unregulated in rural areas. Local conversations about water conservation and turf removal are underway, but are behind those in states like Nevada and California, where Napolitano now resides.

Arizona still does not have a statewide climate action plan and has enacted some policies that limit the state's ability to address the problem, such as the 2010 law signed by Brewer the year after Napolitano left that prohibits state agencies from tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

Read our climate series: The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral, a column on climate change that publishes weekly

In its 2022 Environmental Report Card for the Arizona Legislature and governor, the Sierra Club gave Ducey an F.

They considered his decisions on 10 bills with environmental potential between 2015 and now  some of which presented solutions to issues such as water infrastructure, electrification and coal combustion  and concluded that "his legacy on environmental issues is dismal."

(Ducey's) office could have played a role in trying to get things scheduled and sending some direction to the Department of Transportation or to the Department of Environmental Quality on developing a climate resiliency plan," Bahr said. "But nothing. He didnt use his office to advocate for any action on climate change. For a while, he wouldnt even say the words 'climate change.'"

This inaction, Bahr says, has cost Arizona economic opportunities in the solar and electric vehicle industry, exacerbated health effects of heat and air pollution and allowed the state to dodge its responsibility in helping to limit global warming. Arizona is no longer listed as a member of the Western Climate Initiative.

Back in time: A conversation with Arizona's last climate-forward governor

To better understand where we've come from and where we may be headed on climate policy, The Arizona Republic spoke with Napolitano to relive the state's history on limiting warming. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

When you were in office in the 2000s, Arizona was emerging as a leader in climate action among Western states. Then you went to D.C. and state policy pivoted. Can you paint that picture a bit more for us?

Well, (let's see) what I can remember. I was elected in 2002, took office in 2003. So, 20 years ago now. Climate change, particularly at the state level, was just beginning to emerge as an issue. And it took many forms. One was on the water front. We were beginning to have discussions with the other states that were members of the Colorado River Compact. I appointed a state legislator from Yuma named Herb Guenther to be head of the Department of Water Resources, and he was leading Arizona's negotiations there.

Then I appointed Steve Owens to be head of (the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality). I asked Steve what steps Arizona needed to take to prepare for climate change, both in terms of reducing the amount of carbon emissions that we were responsible for, but also in terms of adaptation. What did Arizona need to do to be better prepared for global warming? And he really took a leadership role in formulating a state climate plan of action for Arizona, for us.

His plan was comprehensive, and we had taken several steps. Then I got busy running the Department of Homeland Security, where we were dealing with lots of natural disasters that were the result of climate change or were related to climate change. Lots of hurricanes, tornadoes, culminating in superstorm Sandy.

Political polarization is often cited as a reason climate policy has stagnated in more conservative states. How were you able to navigate this to make the progress you did with developing a state climate plan of action?

We were able to do many things just using the power of the executive branch, without necessarily having to go to the Legislature for statute, etc. And then we always had budget battles, including funding for DEQ and we just worked those through. I had to give a little to get a little and, fortunately, we were able to, particularly for that era, get a fair amount done.

What has changed between now and then in terms of passing climate legislation?

I think one of the differences is that climate change denialism was still very active. Many members of the Legislature were still denying human-caused climate change and that denialism was still reflected in the U.S. Congress.

I think the denialism has faded quite a bit. People can see the fires. They can see the impact of the drought. If youre in Florida, you can see the hurricanes and the storm surges that result. People can see with their eyes the effects of climate change. So I dont think thats as powerful a movement now.

In terms of adaptation, there are lots of difficult questions involving how do you authorize rebuilding, who pays for it, what requirements need to be made for new buildings? Are building codes being updated to reflect the impacts of climate change? Are we adapting in a way (that's) ahead of the curve, not just to the risks that already have manifested themselves, but also to new or elevated risks that are anticipated? Is our public policy being adequately informed by the science?

Justice issues: Climate change could push produce prices higher, slowing fight for food justice

How can we approach finding answers to those questions in Arizona?

One way to think about it is you have things that can happen at the state level, but things that can happen at the municipal level are also very important. So, for example, I've heard that the mayor of Phoenix, Mayor Gallego, has been very active in terms of adapting Phoenix to climate change and to the changing heat patterns that are there. I've heard that there's an aggressive plan to plant more or to have more rooftops that are made of heat-resistant materials. There's an effort to restrict lawns (to save water) and to incorporate more trees into city planning. And so, where the state may be falling behind, I think some of the cities are moving ahead very aggressively.

What do you see as the differences between the situation you think we could have been in as a state if we had stayed on a path more aligned with your goals compared to where we are currently, with the water crisis and heat death toll worsening every year?

Well, there clearly was a difference in approach between myself and successors. I think it's too bad. I think we were on the right track. I think we were on a track to make Arizona a leader amongst the states. I think we were on a track to better position Arizona's potential for growth.

Taking affirmative actions to prevent the state from doing what it needs to do, it doesn't make any sense. If you think of Arizona as wanting to continue to grow and to diversify its economy and be a great place to live, then issues of climate and climate adaptation have to be factored in.

Monitoring: EPA released state-specific emissions reports. Arizona isn't on list

I would urge whomever is the next governor  obviously Im supporting Katie Hobbs  that you cant put climate on the back shelf, it has to be front and center.

To the extent that there has not been a sense of urgency here, Arizona and Arizonans are paying a price. If the goal of government is to help build a better future, you have to take into account the conditions on the ground as they exist now, and what changes need to be made to adapt to them.

Gov. Janet Napolitano waves after her State of the State at the Arizona Capitol on Jan. 9, 2006.

What's at stake in the outcome of the current race for governor of Arizona?

Oh, so much. I mean, it's what kind of future Arizonans want and what kind of future they'll get. And it's everything from education, to economic development, to the environment and climate, to planning for and incorporating the population growth that I think is going to still occur.

What kind of water policy will be followed? And how does Arizona ensure that it has adequate potable water supplies for the population? There are real differences between the candidates for governor on all of those things.

If we elect someone willing to take action on the climate crisis, how do they get us back on track as a state?

First thing I'd do is take the climate plan that we had developed 20 years ago when I was governor and update it, and improve upon it and incorporate climate and climate planning at all levels, be it municipal, be it county, be it statewide. Take into account the new knowledge that we've garnered from science. There has been a terrific amount of science done in this area.

Look at what other states have done, and not necessarily copy them, but see whether there are some best practices that would make sense for Arizona. And then I would convene a summit of mayors and county officials and leaders in the private sector to say, you know, what is it that they are willing to do and what is it that they want the state to do vis-a-vis climate? And when I talk about climate, I mean not just reducing carbon emissions, but adaptation and resilience. That's where I'd start.

Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com.

Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona has lost its way on climate policy. Napolitano offers advice
The chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to temporarily shield her phone records from the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection in support of former President Trump.

The emergency filing by Kelli Ward is the latest twist in her months-long effort to fend off congressional investigators pursuit of her records, and comes just days after a divided federal appeals court panel denied her request to block the House committees subpoena.

The filing by Ward and her husband, Michael Ward, was directed to Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency matters arising from Arizona.

Following the 2020 election, the Wards were among a group of 11 Arizonans who falsely claimed to represent a slate of pro-Trump electors, signing a phony election certificate that purported to show former President Trump won Arizona, despite his losing the state to Joe Biden.

The Jan. 6 panel, which subpoenaed Wards phone carrier for her records, has described the multi-state attempt to put forth fake Trump electors as central to the effort to overturn Trumps defeat, which eventually led to the riot at the Capitol.

In court papers filed Wednesday, the Wards portrayed the Jan. 6 investigation as politically motivated, and said their case carried profound precedential implications for the right to free political association.

In a first-of-its-kind situation, a select committee of the United States Congress, dominated by one political party, has subpoenaed the personal telephone and text message records of a state chair of the rival political party relating to one of the most contentious political events in American history  the 2020 election and the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, they wrote.

The Wards application to the Supreme Court follows a 2-1 ruling against them by a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. The divided panel, in a ruling issued on Saturday, denied the Wards request for an order barring their phone carrier, T-Mobile, from complying with Jan. 6 panel subpoena for three-months of phone records spanning the run-up to the Nov. 2020 election through January 2021.

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Ward participated in a scheme to send spurious electoral votes to Congress, a scheme that the Committee describes as a key part of the effort to overturn the election that culminated on January 6, the majority wrote. Although Ward asserts that congressional investigators already know what she did, the Committee explains that that is untrue: When the Committee sought to question her about those activities, she invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer.

Earlier in the case, a federal judge in Arizona in September rejected the Wards request to quash the subpoena, prompting their appeal.

Updated at 4:14 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of the Jan. 6 committees subpoena seeking the phone records of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward.

The move by Kagan, a liberal justice who handles emergency applications that originate in Arizona, means the Supreme Court as a whole will decide how to proceed. The House committee has until Friday to respond to Ward's request to quash the subpoena, which was filed earlier Wednesday.

The committee declined to comment on the subpoena pause.

Wards case reaches the Supreme Court as the justices are weighing a separate emergency application brought by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., seeking to block a subpoena demanding his testimony in a Georgia prosecutors investigation into allegations of 2020 election interference. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas issued a similar temporary stay while the court considers how to proceed.

Ward and her husband, Michael Ward, were among 14 of 84 so-called alternate electors subpoenaed this year by the Jan. 6 committee, which cited their association with bogus documents claiming President Donald Trump had won the 2020 election in their states.

Lower courts, including the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, rejected Ward's arguments to block the subpoena.

The couple, who are both doctors, have argued, among other things, that disclosing their records would violate medical privacy laws. The committee is pursuing only Kelli Ward's records. At the Supreme Court, Ward argued that the subpoena violates her right to freedom of association under the Constitution's First Amendment.

Image: Then-Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward attends the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md., on February 22, 2018 (Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

"If Dr. Wards telephone and text message records are disclosed, congressional investigators are going to contact every person who communicated with her during and immediately after the tumult of the 2020 election. That is not speculation, it is a certainty," the couple's lawyers wrote in court papers.

The subpoena focuses on a T-Mobile cellphone account linked with Ward. Among the information it seeks are all phone numbers, IP addresses or devices that had any communication with the phone in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

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Ward and fellow Republicans had created a competing slate of electors for Arizona declaring that Trump won, despite election results showing Joe Biden got more votes in the state. Those actions have come under scrutiny by the Justice Department, as well as the Jan. 6 committee.

Under the normal process, which Arizona government officials followed, certification of the states vote by a group of appointed electors is a formality after a winner is determined by the popular vote. Trump and his allies in 2020 pursued a far-fetched theory that if the states submitted competing election results to Congress, lawmakers meeting in the Capitol to certify the results on Jan. 6, 2021, could have prevented Biden from becoming president.

In addition to other faults in the plan, Vice President Mike Pence, who had a ceremonial role in the certification process, refused to go along with it. The attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob was intrinsically linked with efforts to overturn Bidens victory.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Phoenix Police Department.

Phoenix police say they arrested a man early Tuesday morning after he shot at two officers as they attempted to arrest him.

Sgt. Brian Bower, a Phoenix Police Department spokesperson, said the 24-year-old man, who remains unidentified, fought with officers at an apartment complex near 16th Street and Morten Avenue. The officers were responding to reports of a fight.

Officers found the man and a woman and began talking to the man before asking him to take his hands out of his pockets. Bower said the man refused multiple times and accidentally fired a gun in his pocket when the officer tried to force the man to show his hands.

Bower said the man continued struggling with officers and fired several more shots as officers detained him.

Two officers incurred minor injuries during the encounter and were taken to a hospital.

The man was in the process of being booked into a Maricopa County jail.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police arrest armed man after they say he injured 2 officers
Conservative ads filled with imagery of violence against Asian Americans pinpoint the cause of anti-Asian hate as Joe Biden and his liberal allies.

On Saturday, nonprofit Citizens for Sanity released an advertisement on Twitter titled, Why Dont Asian Lives Matter to Joe Biden and his liberal allies? Featuring news coverage and clips of 17 prominent attacks on Asian Americans, the ad blames the Biden administration for the rise in anti-Asian violence.

With the phrase Asian Lives Matter, the ad subverts the Black Lives Matter movement slogan, presumably to gain viewers' attention and nudge Asian voters concerned with crime and racism into voting Republican. The videos narration implies that Democrats and liberal policies are responsible for [allowing] deranged criminals to roam free, putting Asians in grave danger.

However, as The Intercept notes, the dates for the featured attacks fail to appear in the ad. Although the majority of these crimes were committed during or shortly after Trumps presidency, the imagery of Biden and the video's narration steers its viewers to believe otherwise.

More from NextShark: Magawa, Cambodian hero rat who detected more than 65 undetonated landmines, dies at age 8

For example, the ad uses surveillance video of an assault on 84-year-old Rong Xin Liao in San Francisco, which took place on Feb. 20, 2020, during Trumps presidency. The perpetrator, Eric Ramos Hernandez, was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

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In addition, the ads claim that the perpetrators of these crimes were not punished for them is false, as news reports readily reveal that the attackers featured were arrested and charged, many with hate crimes.

Trump's COVID-19 rhetoric during the pandemic, which included "China virus" and "kung flu," among other inflammatory terms, is believed to have fueled much of the anti-Asian crimes and incidents in recent years.

More from NextShark: Asian Canadian Manager Gets Coffee Thrown at Her in Racially Motivated Attack

Biden, along with other lawmakers, has moved to address anti-Asian crimes in recent years, as well as Asian inclusion, discrimination and representation. Biden also signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes act on May 20, 2021, to combat racist attacks.

In response to the ad, commenters took to Twitter to express their opinions and highlight the misinformation present in the ad.

Anti-Asian hate crimes began to rise dramatically under the presidency of Donald Trump:

The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University found that anti-Asian hate crimes spiked 149 percent across 16 of Americas largest cities between 2019 and 2020 More from NextShark: Los Angeles' ban on gas stoves could spell the end for many Korean BBQ, Chinese restaurants  Dogs Like Me (@Clawson67490219) October 22, 2022

This is ridiculous! Asian hate crimes took an uptick because Trump said that Covid was China's fault. I cannot understand why you are pushing this lie.  Tee Nee Bee (@TNBrunson) October 22, 2022

Others sided with Citizens for Sanity and agreed with the statements made by the ad.

Aww this hurts. This country is breaking my heart.  . Lets fix this! We must.  jamie setter (@JamieSetter) October 22, 2022

This will never be fixed Asians will have to fight back unfortunately this president doesn't care or will do anything about this.  Open Eyes 323 (@323Eyes) October 23, 2022

This anti-Asian hate ad is one of many that was launched by Citizens for Sanity. Known as a dark money group and popular for bankrolling provocative ads, Citizens for Sanity is the 8th highest spending group nationwide since October 1 at a total of $33 million, according to AdImpact Politics. The Republican group was responsible for the recent anti-immigration ads aired during the MLB Playoffs, which many accused of being racist.

This incredibly racist ad just ran during the baseball game nationally on FS1. Tell me, who was president in February 2020? pic.twitter.com/GF03qSEs47  Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 14, 2022

According to the Citizens for Sanity website, their mission is to return common sense to America, to highlight the importance of logic and reason, and to defeat wokeism and anti-critical thinking ideologies. The groups board of directors, as revealed by Open Secrets, contains three former officials from Trumps administration. The same individuals are heavily involved in America First Legal Foundation, a nonprofit organization against lawless executive actions and the Radical Left led by Stephen Miller, an anti-immigration political advisor during Trumps presidency.

Citizens for Sanitys ads are scheduled to air before the midterm elections, targeting the AAPI community for votes that may determine close races.

A recent report by Stop AAPI Hate revealed that political rhetoric has increased anti-Asian hate ahead of the midterm elections, ultimately hurting AAPI communities in the United States.

Featured Image via @citizens_sanity
In total, Australia will transfer 90 Bushmasters to Ukraine

Read also: Australia supplies M113 APCs for the Ukrainian army

The 30 additional Bushmasters will bring the total number of the protected mobility vehicles sent to Ukraine to 90. As well as Bushmasters, Australia has donated six M777 towed howitzers and ammunition, 28 M113 armored vehicles, anti-armor weapons and other weapons.

Since their arrival, the Bushmasters have been used extensively by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with more requested by the Ukrainian president, minister of defense, and the ambassador, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said.

Read also: Germany transfers TRML-4D radar system to Ukraine

A contingent of up to 70 Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel will join the British led multinational training effort known as Operation INTEFLEX just after Christmas, but will not enter Ukraine.

This is a not just about Ukraines sovereignty; the brave people of Ukraine are defending international law, rules and norms, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Previously, the Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said that thanks to Australian Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, the Ukrainian military reached the Oskil river and is continuing to liberate Kharkiv Oblast.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Shashwat Awasthi and Lewis Jackson

(Reuters) -Medibank Private Ltd, Australia's biggest health insurer, said on Wednesday a cyber hack had compromised data of all of its of its nearly 4 million customers, as it warned of a A$25 million to A$35 million ($16 million to $22.3 million) hit to first-half earnings.

It said on Wednesday that all personal and significant amounts of health claims data of all its customers were compromised in the breach reported this month, a day after it warned the number of customers affected would grow.

Shares in the company fell more than 14%, its biggest one-day slide since listing in 2014.

Medibank, which covers one-sixth of Australians, said the estimated cost did not include further potential remediation or regulatory expenses.

"Our investigation has now established that this criminal has accessed all our private health insurance customers' personal data and significant amounts of their health claims data," chief executive David Koczkar said in a statement. "I apologise unreservedly to our customers. This is a terrible crime  this is a crime designed to cause maximum harm to the most vulnerable members of our community."

The company reiterated that its IT systems had not been encrypted by ransomware to date and that it would continue to monitor for any further suspicious activity.

"Everywhere we have identified a breach, it is now closed," John Goodall, Medibank's top technology executive, told an analyst call on Wednesday.

Medibank, which also withdrew its fiscal 2023 policyholder growth forecast, reported an after-tax profit of about A$394 million for fiscal 2022 in August.

The Medibank hack is the latest in a string of similar incidents in the country that has alarmed the government and corporate sector.

The country's No. 2 telco, Singapore Telecommunciations Ltd-owned Optus, said last month about 10 million customer accounts, equivalent to 40% of the Australian population, had data taken by a hacker demanding payment.

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A person claiming to be behind the Optus hack later withdrew the demand over concerns about publicity.

The government has meanwhile said it would introduce fines of up to A$50 million for companies on the receiving end of data breaches.

($1 = 1.5664 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Shashwat Awasthi and Lewis Jackson. Writing by Alasdair PalEditing by Gerry Doyle, Shinjini Ganguli and Sam Holmes)
Rep. Karen Bass said that as mayor, she would move 250 Los Angeles police officers out of desk jobs and into patrols, while ensuring that the department returns to its authorized strength of 9,700 officers. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

On a campaign stop last spring in the San Fernando Valley, billionaire developer and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso was flanked by a whos who of old-school heavyweights from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Former Chiefs William J. Bratton and Charlie Beck  joined by Jim McDonnell, an LAPD veteran who later became Los Angeles County sheriff  were there to send a message, one that's a bedrock of the campaign: Only a tough-minded leader can clean up the city and get crime under control  and Caruso is that man.

Former LAPD Chief William Bratton addresses attendees of a Rick Caruso campaign event in Encino. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The sight of Caruso next to the law enforcement notables further cemented the image of him as a law-and-order candidate and a world apart from his opponent in the race for mayor, the more progressive Rep. Karen Bass, who has sought to strike a balance between increasing safety and implementing criminal justice reforms. But while Bass and Caruso have offered different visions on crime, public safety and policing, in some ways they are not as far apart as they appear.

Both candidates have consistently rebuffed calls from some residents, politicians and far-left activists to cut the Los Angeles Police Department's roughly $3-billion budget because of what many see as the agencys historical mistreatment of Black and Latino Angelenos.

Both advocated for hiring more gang intervention workers, as well as investing in certain alternatives to policing, such as sending unarmed professionals to calls involving the mentally ill.

Both called for hiring hundreds more police officers; where they diverge most sharply is just how many the city needs. Caruso, a former president of the civilian Police Commission, has said he wants to expand the LAPD to an all-time high of 11,000 sworn officers. Bass, meanwhile, envisions the department returning to its currently allotted 9,700 by hiring more civilian workers to free officers to return to patrol duties.

At the same time, neither candidate has shown a willingness to "take on the LAPD," said Greg Baba Akili, an anti-police activist.

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While he respects Bass' history of work in some of the city's most disenfranchised neighborhoods, Akili said her brand of pragmatism seems meant to ease the crime concerns of wealthy, white voters and not to effect real change in law enforcement. He took an even dimmer view of Caruso's tough-on-crime approach, which he said was based on the discredited premise that petty misconduct leads to more serious lawbreaking.

U.S. Rep. Karen Bass on the campaign trail. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Like those of her opponent, Bass answers to crime problems "are police-centered solutions, theyre not people-centered solutions, Akili said. The moment that Black pain is lessened or falls off the front page, is not talked about as fervently, then we go back to [what] weve always known.

Caruso has repeatedly called for a dramatic expansion of the LAPD before the end of his first term, to eventually bring it in line with other big-city departments.

The lofty goal, which has plenty of skeptics, harks back to the freewheeling spending of mayors going back to Richard Riordan, another businessman-turned-mayor who pledged to build a 10,000-officer LAPD before taking office in 1993. Subsequent city leaders ran on similar promises, but the department didn't reach the 10,000-cop mark until 2013  the last year of Antonio Villaraigosas second term as mayor.

Others question whether the city could afford the tens of millions of dollars such a hiring spree would cost.

Caruso did not respond to interview requests through his spokesman. But his plan describes an administration that would work with state and federal officials to secure direct funding that will help expand and strengthen our police force, train our officers and increase engagement with the communities they serve.

Caruso, who routinely attributes violence in the city to a lack of police resources, has been endorsed by the powerful Los Angeles Police Protective League.

Bass' crime strategy puts emphasis on addressing structural issues and enhancing the economic and social vitality of communities. But it also calls for hiring officers to close a staffing gap created by the departure of hundreds in the wake of George Floyd's murder, leaving the department with just over 9,200 officers.

To do so, she would immediately begin hiring civilian employees to take over administrative jobs currently held by sworn personnel, enabling the department to quickly deploy officers to neighborhoods requesting increased police presence, her plan says.

Her crime strategy also calls for hiring more detectives and investigators, noting that the LAPD solved just over half of the citys murders in 2020. Bass also underscores the need to recruit more Black officers to replace those who resign or retire.

But even as she has pulled ahead in recent polls, while winning endorsements from Democratic stalwarts such as President Biden, some question Bass' ability to navigate a world where long-held assumptions about the role of police are being challenged.

Like Caruso, she has repeatedly rejected calls to "defund" the police and argued that she could improve safety while removing abusive officers. Also like her opponent, she has drawn criticism from activists on the left who denounce her approach as part of what they see as a failed carceral posture of past leaders that centers law enforcement as the default response to crime.

Bass has defended the centrist approach, saying her plan embraces community-based strategies such as reentry programs for formerly incarcerated youths and adults, along with alternatives to traditional policing. Before entering politics, she founded Community Coalition, a South L.A. nonprofit that pushes for grass-roots change.

Where we agree is focusing on prevention and intervention. Where we disagree is 'defund' and 'abolition,' those two words," she said in a recent interview.

Communities should have a greater say in the level of policing, she added.

I dont think police are the sole answer to crime, she told The Times. There are affluent neighborhoods that want to see an increased police presence. But I dont think that South L.A. is clamoring for that.

Bass said she sees the LAPD as part of the solution to crime, while acknowledging its shortcomings. She vowed to make a priority of addressing police shootings of civilians, which have increased over the last three years after reaching a 30-year low in 2019. To increase oversight, she proposed revisiting Charter Amendment C, a measure passed in 2017 that gave officers facing serious discipline the choice of appearing before an all-civilian panel or the traditional one made up of two officers and one civilian.

A report by the LAPD's inspector general found that in the most serious cases of misconduct, the all-civilian panels frequently overturned Chief Michel Moore's recommendation of termination. Bass said she's exploring taking the amendment back to voters.

The surge in violent crime that has accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic in many major U.S. cities over the last two years has plateaued in Los Angeles, police statistics show. The city this year has logged 320 homicides, seven fewer than it had at this time in 2021, which ended with a 15-year high. The number of shootings remains virtually unchanged, although the number of robberies involving armed suspects has increased sharply.

While crime rates are a far cry from those of the early 1990s, anxiety around safety has emerged as a key issue in the race for the city's top office.

Bass, a nurse by trade and former community organizer, has pushed for a public health response to violence, her supporters say. Earlier this year, she released a plan that includes the establishment of a community safety office under the mayor's purview.

In campaign ads, Caruso has painted the city in dystopian terms, echoing his tough talk on crime from his days on the Police Commission, when he compared gangs to terrorists.

Caruso has called for an aggressive crackdown on gun trafficking and the manufacturing of "ghost guns" by expanding the LAPD's Gun Unit and pressing for more coordination with federal law enforcement partners such as the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

His plan calls for embracing "precision policing" tactics utilized in New York that focus law enforcement attention on the statistically small group of individuals who are responsible for the majority of violent crime. He also wants prosecutors  over whom the mayor has no control  to bring more cases against misdemeanor offenders.

That approach has drawn a wary reaction from some who see it as a return to the broken-windows style of policing championed by former Chief Bratton  whom Caruso helped bring to Los Angeles  which stresses tougher enforcement and prosecution of small-scale crimes as a way of cutting down on blight that could invite violence in troubled areas. The LAPD has in recent years largely backed away from that approach.

Caruso has claimed he had an outsize role in the operation of the department during his time with the commission, including hiring Bratton, adopting reforms to correct civil rights abuses and improving public perceptions of the LAPD.

Beck, another former chief, credited Caruso with helping steady the department in the wake of the Rampart corruption scandal and lauded him as a doer with a track record of success  a must for any leader taking on the vast bureaucratic machine that is City Hall.

Bass more moderate approach can come across as indecisiveness, Beck said. He added that during Bass' time in the state Assembly, which overlapped with his tenure as chief, she "never called me once" and otherwise showed little interest in public safety.

Aside from helping to set the LAPD's budget, the choice of police chief is among the most consequential decisions an incoming mayor makes.

Bass said her vision for accountability and transparency starts at the top with Moore, whom she has known for years and with whom she worked as a member of Congress on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The sweeping reform bill, which stalled in the Senate, would have pushed law enforcement agencies to ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants or risk losing certain federal funds.

I wouldnt walk into the office and fire the chief, she said of Moore, whose five-year term will expire next year. I have to deal with the emergency at hand. I will give him a fair evaluation and make the decision when its time.

Caruso also demurred when asked this month during a radio debate to rate Moores performance.

"I don't think Michel's had the opportunity under this mayor to do his job," Caruso said. "When I'm mayor, I'll give him the opportunity to do his job; then we'll see, and then we'll judge him."

With election day less than two weeks away, public safety remains top of mind for many voters.

Tanya Dorsey said she believes Caruso's independent wealth might insulate him from the influence of special interests. But she's leaning toward Bass, a fellow Black woman, who seems more attuned to challenges facing average Angelenos like the residents at the Nickerson Gardens housing project where Dorsey works.

I hope [whoever wins the election is] more focused on what the community has to say about the police, said Dorsey, who runs an outreach organization called Watts Community Core that distributes school materials and meals to underprivileged residents. And also to get their take on whats actually being done in the hood.

A more nuanced approach to crime, its causes and possible solutions is a must for anyone who ends up in the mayor's office, according to Kahllid Al-Alim of the advocacy group Students Deserve, which has worked to remove resource officers from campuses. In this, he said, Bass has a clear advantage over Caruso, given her public health approach to violence.

Some of the platform that [Caruso] speaks to is more of a criminalization and more of a status quo, said Al-Alim.

But Carusos anti-crime message resonates with other voters, such as Margarita Amador, 51, a lifelong resident of Boyle Heights who works for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Despite Bass' insistence that she doesn't support defunding the LAPD, Amador said Caruso has shown more support of law enforcement  and thus, in her mind, seems more likely to take crime in her neighborhood seriously.

He genuinely is like me: Hes tired of seeing our city looking like a Third World country with crime," she said. "If it continues, were going to be the next Chicago.

Staff writers Benjamin Oreskes and David Zahniser contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
President Bidens energy envoy is traveling to Beirut on Wednesday as part of the final steps in securing a breakthrough agreement between Lebanon and Israel that establishes a sea boundary between the two countries.

Amos Hochstein, the State Departments senior adviser for energy security, will meet with Lebanons leaders in Beirut and then travel to the Lebanese city of Naqoura where Lebanese and Israeli officials are expected to participate in a signing ceremony in the presence of the U.S. and United Nations.

In Beirut, Hochstein will extend his gratitude to Lebanons president, Speaker of the Parliament and prime minister for the consultative and open spirit demonstrated throughout the negotiations, the State Department said.

The signing ceremony is expected to take place on Thursday, Hochstein told CBSs Face the Nation this past weekend.

Hochstein will then travel to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and thank him and his team for their persistent and principled diplomacy to reach resolution on this critical file, according to the State Department.

The agreement between Lebanon and Israel marks a breakthrough in relations between the two countries, which are technically at war and where Lebanon has refused to recognize Israels existence.

Amid intense outbreaks of war and conflict between Lebanon and Israel, the border between the two countries has been monitored by United Nations peacekeepers for more than four decades.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission, called UNIFIL, is based in Naqoura.

Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to sit in the same room during the signing ceremony Thursday, the Times of Israel reported, though it noted that may change.

The maritime boundary deal will draw a line between territorial waters of Lebanon and Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean. As part of the agreement, Israel and Lebanon are given a claim to separate natural gas fields for extraction.

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Lapid said that gas extraction from the Karish gas field began on Wednesday.

Experts say the agreement on a maritime boundary signals a paradigm shift for Lebanon that, de facto, recognizes Israels existence as a sovereign state.

However, experts say it does not signal a broader breakthrough in relations, like the normalization agreements between Jerusalem and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, called the Abraham Accords.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Joe Biden launched his presidency on a promise to steer the nation out of its pandemic era. And his White House benefited politically when it oversaw the rollout of a vaccine campaign that saw swift uptake across the country.

Now, with two weeks to the midterms and another Covid winter looming, Biden is trying to do something radically different  and potentially harder. Hes trying to remove the politics from the pandemic.



On Tuesday, the president took his latest step in that task, hosting an event in which he tried to convince voters that the vaccines critical to delivering on his pledge to move the nation from a pandemic footing lack any political leaning.

As we enter this new moment in the battle against Covid, lets use it to start fresh as a country, to put all the old battles over Covid behind us, he said, pleading with Americans to seek out the latest round of booster shots. None of this is about politics. Its about your health and the health of your loved ones.



The conciliatory approach  which came as Biden himself received an updated vaccine  reflects a broader effort underway within the White House to tone down the emotions and rhetoric around the vaccination campaign. It comes amid growing concern that the politicization of vaccines is hampering both Democrats' midterm odds and the success of the governments public health effort.

Just 7 percent of Americans have gotten the booster shot in the nearly two months since its rollout, with surveys showing Republicans are far more likely to reject the vaccine. Prominent GOP pundits and public officials have effectively fanned skepticism over the shots, equating opposition to the pandemic response with opposition to Biden.

But its not just Republican politics that the White House is seeking to alter. Even among those receptive to the governments approach, little political enthusiasm remains for combating Covid with aggressive measures or government intervention. Most voters are indicating theyve long since moved on.

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Biden himself declared the pandemic over during an interview with 60 Minutes  a declaration his team quickly sought to clarify as not official doctrine. And as White House aides plotted out the stretch run to the midterms, two people familiar with the matter said some in the building have wondered aloud whether theres any significant political benefit to having the president speak about the pandemic.

Covid is not popular, said one of the people familiar with the matter, summing up the skepticism in some corners of the administration.

Top White House advisers, including chief of staff Ron Klain, have maintained that the Covid fight is critical to Biden's success and must remain a top political and public health priority  and health officials argued Biden's on-camera appeal for everyone to get their shot just as soon as they can was a critical element to raising awareness ahead of a winter season where Covid cases are expected to rise.

But Bidens gentler rhetoric underscores the balance the administration is trying to strike between driving a sense of urgency around the vaccination campaign and trying not to deepen the existing political divisions tied to the shots.

Gone are the debates over mandates and orders for Republican governors to get out of the way that were part of the administrations earlier vaccination efforts.

Instead, Biden on Tuesday positioned the shots as a personal choice aimed at protecting individuals and their immediate circles of friends and family.



Weve made the vaccines free and available, he said. Please use them and encourage your friends and loved ones and neighbors to use them as well.

The approach also represents a sharp contrast from Bidens attempt to press his partys political advantage on other health issues in the run-up to the midterms. In remarks a day earlier at the Democratic National Committee, the president hammered Republicans over drug prices and health care costs, at times singling out individual lawmakers for criticism.

Biden of late has emphasized the specter of GOP demands for cuts to Medicare, betting that it will prove an effective centerpiece to Democrats closing message.

Yet the administration has found no similar benefit to picking fights over Covid. GOP candidates who sow doubts about the vaccine or spread misinformation about it pay no apparent political price, Biden officials note with frustration. In a more ominous sign, they believe that such anti-science rhetoric has increasingly become a way for some Republicans to shore up their support with conservative voters.

Last week, outside advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the Covid vaccine be added to the agencys immunization schedules for children and adults  kicking off days of false claims that the government was trying to require the shots for kids in public schools.

Such mandates are decided at the state and local levels, but several prominent Republicans  including Senate candidates Adam Laxalt in Nevada and Blake Masters in Arizona  seized the opportunity to oppose the prospect of mandates, with Masters suggesting theres no evidence the vaccine protects young children.

Theyre playing to the base and scoring political points, said Leslie Dach, a former Obama-era senior health official and chair of the Democrat-aligned group Protect Our Care. These Republican elected officials, theyre back to not wanting Biden to succeed and believe at best itll help them  and at worst, itll help them.

John Moore, a virologist at Cornell Universitys Weill Cornell Medicine, said the explosion of vaccine-related misinformation across conservative-leaning media has effectively turned the decision to get vaccinated into a declaration of party affiliation.

The politicization and polarization has killed people, he said. If you trash the vaccines, people dont take them and then they die  its a causal chain of events.

There are few new signs that the sweeping Covid response that propelled Bidens approval ratings to its highest point in early 2021 is still paying dividends more than a year later.



Voter satisfaction with how Biden handled the pandemic has remained relatively level since March. Democrats have shunned the issue on the campaign trail, in favor of emphasizing economic concerns and abortion rights that rank far higher on constituents priority lists.

And even after helping develop and distribute an updated vaccine in the space of just a few months, the administration has seen little in the way of enthusiasm. Roughly 20 million people have sought out the vaccine so far.

Its disappointing, Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said of the uptake to date. We really havent seen the level of participation that wed hoped for.

Biden health officials are still holding out hope that the vaccination rate will pick up, especially ahead of a Thanksgiving holiday where more people will be visiting older relatives. And they emphasize that, regardless of the political dynamics, the administration has no choice but to keep up the Covid fight.

But theres also acknowledgment among some officials that earlier fights with the GOP over vaccine mandates drove division in addition to vaccinations  and that after touting the pandemic response as a chief success of Bidens early presidency, the only path to preserving the administrations progress across the board may be divorcing it in peoples minds from the presidents political fortunes.

Theres still a lot of inroads that can be made, said one senior administration official. Weve got to be careful about just saying, oh theyre all antivax.


Flurries of frozen fun are returning to Walt Disney World next month.

Blizzard Beach will officially reopen on Nov. 13, Disney announced Tuesday. The water park will again offer guests arctic adventures with new touches from the Disney animated film Frozen.

In Tikes Peak, a popular part of Blizzard Beach among young guests, there will be statuettes of Olaf and his Snowgie pals in the wading pool, plus Anna and Elsas igloo castle.

READ: Heres when Fantasmic! returns at Disneys Hollywood Studios

With the holidays fast approaching, Blizzard Beach will also have an enhanced holiday atmosphere, featuring limited-time holiday offerings through the end of the year including treats, snowfall and inner tubes. Guests can also meet a tropically dressed Santa during the holidays.

Popular attractions at Blizzard Beach are also coming back, including Summit Plummet, Teamboat Springs, Toboggan Racers, Cross Country Creek and Runoff Rapids.

Get a sneak peek of the water park before it opens in the gallery below:

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Courtney Kiefer, photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Courtney Kiefer, photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Courtney Kiefer, photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Courtney Kiefer, photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney photographer)

Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park reopens to guests on Nov. 13, 2022 offering arctic adventures and new touches from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, Frozen at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney photographer)

SEE: Get an early look at Blizzard Beach before it reopens

Food and drink options will also return when the park opens, Disney said.

Blizzard Beach features heated pools throughout the water park, Disney said.

Read: EPCOT mascot Figment reportedly getting his own movie

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 sausage was distributed to hundreds of stores nationwide.

Bob Evans

Sausage fans, beware! According to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Bob Evans Farms Foods, Inc. is recalling approximately 7,560 pounds of Italian pork sausage products because they may be contaminated with thin blue rubber pieces.



Per the recall notice, the raw, Italian pork sausage items were produced on September 8, 2022. All of the recalled products weigh one pound, and are labeled Bob Evans Italian Sausage. The items also have a lot code of XEN3663466, and a USE/FRZ BY date of 11/26/22, with a timestamp between 14:43 and 15:25. Additionally, the products subject to recall bear establishment number EST. 6785 inside the USDA mark of inspection.

:

While the recall only pertains to about 7,600 pounds of sausage products, these items were distributed to various retailers nationwide. According to a recall notice posted on the Walmart website, the now-recalled sausage was distributed to hundreds of Walmart stores in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and several other states.



The problem was discovered after Bob Evans Farms Foods notified FSIS that it had received consumer complaints reporting thin blue pieces of rubber in its sausage product. However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

:

Still, the FSIS is concerned that some of the recalled products may be in consumers refrigerators or freezers. To that end, consumers who have purchased these items are urged not to consume them. Instead, they should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.



Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider. Additionally, consumers with questions about the recall can contact Geo Money, Director of Communications, Bob Evans Foods, Inc. at 440-463-3264.

For more Real Simple news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Real Simple.
Journalist and author Bob Woodward said anyone looking for new insight into former President Donald Trumps now-famous love letters from Kim Jong Un will probably be disappointed.

They really are kind of the fondnesses that teenagers might exchange, Woodward told MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell on Tuesday night. Theres nothing substantive in them.

Woodward said he obtained all of the roughly 27 letters the North Korean dictator sent to Trump during his presidency. But theyre not exactly fine art.

If you read through them, youd kind of laugh, he said. Because Kim is wooing Trump in a very unsophisticated way and says, Well, if we meet again, it will be out of a fantasy film. Which, I guess, is the way Kim thought of it and maybe, to a certain extent, Trump did.

Woodward, who just released audio of his 20 interviews with Trump, added that the letters were almost more comic than serious diplomacy despite coming from one of the most awful dictators on the globe.

See his full discussion with ODonnell below:

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
The remains of a Memphis man killed in Ukraine while fighting against Russian invaders were recovered as part of a prisoner exchange, but it remained unclear Wednesday when his body would return to Tennessee.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine, said on Telegram and Twitter on Wednesday that the country received the body of Joshua Alan Jones, a 24-year-old veteran of the U.S. Army, who was killed in action Aug. 23.

The remains were returned as part of a prisoner swap with Russian forces. Along with Jones' body, the Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap recovered 10 other soldiers, Yermak said.

"We will continue to work until we bring all our people home," Yermak said.

Jones initially joined the Norman Brigade, a group of foreign fighters serving on behalf of the Ukrainian government, but by the time of his death moved to International Legion, a different group of foreign fighters working for Ukraine and sanctioned by that country's government.

A message Facebook message left for Misty Gossett, Jones' mother, was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.

Gossett previously acknowledged her sons death on Facebook and has his photo as her Facebook profile photo. She had not posed about the recovery of his body as of Wednesday morning.

In a video of a Sept. 3 memorial posted to a group on Facebook, Jones' parents, Jeff Jones and Gossett, remember their son, known to friends as "Jesus," as "fearless."

Josh was a different man. He was his own man. He was brave, and fearless, not only on the combat field, but with his heart," Jeff Jones said. If you were counted as a friend by my son, you were loved.

Gossett, her speech broken up by tears, recalled her son as someone who had a contagious smile "and he smiled with his eyes and his joy was pure and when he loved he loved with every hurt of his being.

Joshua, you came into this world on your own terms," Gossett said. "And you left on your own terms.

Story continues

Gossett recalled one of their final conversations, on Aug. 19, when Jones sent her a picture of himself in a full beard.

I said youve gone your whole life looking like your daddy, but mommas red hair was shining through in that beard," Gossett said. "Apparently, he shaved it the next day.

Gossett noted that Jones didn't tell her much about what was happening in Ukraine, only that he was there and doing okay.

And Joshua protected so much from me because he knew I couldnt handle it," Gossett said. And I pray every night he didnt suffer. Ill make sure you come home. I am thankful for the 24 years that God shared him with me.

Jones served just under three years in the Army as an infantryman. He enlisted in August 2016, just a few months after graduating from Gateway Christian School, and was held the rank of specialist at the end of his service in June 2019, according to a U.S. Army spokesperson.

According to his LinkedIn account, he served in the 25th Infantry Division from the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He also trained over 25 soldiers in Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.

U.S. citizens fighting in foreign wars outside of American military service isn't unusual. The Lincoln Battalion, a group of American volunteers, fought against the Nazi-backed forces of Gen. Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War in the years leading up to World War II.

The State Department discourages U.S. citizens from joining such groups and traveling to Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. But doing so is not illegal.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis man's remains recovered from battlefield in Ukraine
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing said Wednesday the company would take a new $766 million charge on its 2018 billion contract to build two new U.S. presidential airplanes that faced repeated setbacks.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun on Wednesday said "critics were right" to slam the planemaker's deal. Then President Donald Trump secured a promise from Calhoun's predecessor, Dennis Muilenburg, that the cost of replacing Air Force One would not exceed $4 billion.

"We didn't get enough price," Calhoun told CNBC saying the company, adding the "biggest mistake" on the Air Force One "was the fixed price nature" of the contract.

Boeing previously booked about $1.1 billion in charges on the program since 2020 and has now racked up $1.9 billion in losses on the $4.3 billion program that is up to three years behind schedule.

Trump in 2016 had urged the government to cancel purchase of Boeing's new Air Force One saying it was "ridiculous" and too expensive."

The planemaker's ailing defense business Wednesday recorded a $2.8 billion charge for a number of programs, including Air Force One. On Tuesday, Reuters first reported Boeing appointed a senior troubleshooter to help turn around loss-making programs at its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) division.

The Boeing 747-8s are designed to be an airborne White House able to fly in worst-case security scenarios, such as nuclear war, and are modified with military avionics, advanced communications and a self-defense system and are now expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027.

Boeing said the Air Force One losses were "driven by higher costs to incorporate certain technical requirements, increases to factory modification labor and support engineering, schedule delays and higher supplier costs."

Boeing warned that "risk remains that we may record additional losses in future periods."

Story continues

In June, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the Air Force One program risked further delay citing a tight labor market for mechanics and lower-than-expected security clearance rates.

The report also cited Boeing's need to switch to an alternative supplier for some interior work as a major schedule risk.

Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West said labor stability issues for Air Force One "are magnified because of the requirements to get security clearances."

In June, the Pentagon scrapped a paint scheme for Air Force One proposed by Trump, after the military determined the design would create too much heat for the presidential aircraft.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
By Geert De Clercq

PARIS (Reuters) - A rare book gifted by French President Emmanuel Macron to Pope Francis was never plundered by the Nazis, its seller and authorities in Warsaw said on Wednesday, after Polish media speculated that it might have been stolen during World War Two.

Macron gave the pope the first-edition 1796 French translation of German philosopher Immanuel Kant's "Towards Perpetual Peace" on Monday during a visit to Rome.

Its title page shows a stamp from a university library in the former Polish city of Lviv, now in Ukraine, which led to online speculation - reported by several Polish broadcasters and newspapers - that it might have been stolen by German invaders during World War Two.

Paris dealer Patrick Hatchuel, who sold the book to the Elysee palace for just under 2,500 euros ($2,500), said it also had a label from one of his predecessors, Lucien Bodin, who was active in the city between around 1880-1910.

"There is no doubt that this book was already in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. There can be no question of plunder," Hatchuel told Reuters, adding that he had bought it from the son of a private collector who had owned it for half a century.

Polish Culture Minister Piotr Glinski concurred.

The book "is not a Polish war loss. Contrary to the claims of some media ... Everything indicates (it) ... was in France at the start of the 20th century," he said in a tweet accompanied by a picture of the book.

($1 = 0.9977 euros)

(Additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw; writing by Geert De Clercq; editing by John Stonestreet)
Good Morning America

First lady Jill Biden on Monday unveiled this year's White House holiday decorations, announcing the theme as "We the People." More than 150 volunteers from across the country spent a week helping to decorate the inside and outside of the White House with 25 wreaths, 77 Christmas trees and over 83,615 holiday lights. There is also a gingerbread White House that was made out of 20 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 30sheets of gingerbread dough, 100 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate, and 40 pounds of royal icing, according to the office of the first lady.
President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in debate

Claims about corruption, Covid, deforestation, and even cannibalism grabbed attention in the build-up to Brazil's presidential election.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated current President Jair Bolsonaro in a second-round run-off on Sunday, and will take office on 1 January.

During the campaign, we looked at some of the main lines of attack for both candidates.

Satanism and cannibalism smears

Bolsonaro and Lula, who are both Catholic, sought support among evangelical Christian voters, who make up almost a third of Brazil's population.

President Bolsonaro and his wife praying with evangelical leaders during the campaign

However, their strategies were rife with religious disinformation.

One example of this is a video shared by two of Bolsonaro's sons and other politicians, in which a social influencer who describes himself as Satanist, declares his support for Lula.

The video went viral, alongside messages saying that Brazil would be running a "spiritual risk" if Lula was elected - despite the influencer having no relationship with the former president nor any influence on his policies.

Lula's campaign team released a statement rejecting any involvement with devil worship and the video was banned by the Electoral Court, the body overseeing the vote.

Lula at an event with Franciscan friars in Sao Paulo during the campaign

Meanwhile, Lula's campaign team highlighted a 2016 New York Times interview with Bolsonaro in which he says he visited an indigenous community in Brazil that was allegedly cooking a dead person, and that he had asked to watch.

To see it, he recalls in the interview, he was told he'd have to join in the meal. "I would eat it," he said. "I'd have no problems in eating the indigenous person." But he added that his entourage did not want to go, and so he didn't, either.

Lula's campaign produced a video featuring the 2016 interview, saying: "It's monstrous. Bolsonaro reveals that he would eat human flesh."

Bolsonaro complained to the Electoral Court, which then banned Lula's campaign video, saying that it had portrayed the interview out of context.

Leaders of the Yanomami people, the indigenous group Bolsonaro was referencing, reject his claim and say that they do not practise cannibalism.

Story continues

Protecting the Amazon rainforest

The rainforest plays a vital role in absorbing harmful carbon dioxide that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, and about 60% of the Amazon is in Brazil.

Both Bolsonaro and Lula claim to have a better record at protecting it.

During a live presidential debate in October, Lula said: "In our government, [we had] the lowest deforestation in the Amazon, and in yours it is the highest every year."

Deforestation rate in the Amazon has increased in recent years

Bolsonaro replied: "Google 'deforestation from 2003 to 2006', in the four years of Lula's government. Then search for 'deforestation from 2019 to 2022'.

"During your government, twice as much was deforested as in mine," he added.

It's true the amount of deforestation during the first three years of Bolsonaro's government is significantly less than in the same period under Lula - about 34,000km squared, compared with 71,000km, according the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

Deforestation chart

But after Lula's first two years in office, the rate of deforestation dropped significantly, and by the time he left office in January 2011, it had reached historic lows.

Under Bolsonaro, the rate of deforestation has gone up each year, continuing a trend that began a couple of years before he took office in January 2019.

He has implemented policies that critics say roll back crucial safeguards, and prosecutions against illegal logging have dropped during his time in office.

Corruption allegations

Corruption was a central theme in the campaign.

Bolsonaro highlighted a major corruption scandal, which began during Lula's previous period as president, when billions of dollars were stolen in bribes and overpriced oil contracts linked to the state-run oil company, Petrobras.

Lula himself was found guilty of involvement and in 2017 he was sent to prison. His conviction was annulled last year, enabling him to stand in this election.

For his part, Lula pointed the finger at Bolsonaro for enabling corruption, and accusing him of losing control of the country's finances. By this he's referring to a "secret budget" included in the budget law passed in 2019, allowing for public funds to be spent by federal lawmakers with limited oversight.

Congress now controls large sums of public money through non-transparent amendments

Bolsonaro denies having approved the scheme. "I vetoed it and [Congress] overrode the veto," he said during a debate on October 16.

That's not true. At first, in November 2019, Bolsonaro did veto the new mechanism included in the budget. One month later, however, the presidency itself sent Congress a new proposed bill, including the "secret" mechanism within it, and it was approved.

"It's an institutionalisation of corruption, a way of buying Congress using the country's budget," says Bruno Brandao, executive director of the Brazilian national chapter of Transparency International.

He points out that press and police investigations have shown there are widespread fraud schemes involved in the application of these public funds.

Tackling Covid

Bolsonaro has been accused of spreading misinformation about Covid vaccines, and has refused to get the jab himself.

Lula has heavily criticised Bolsonaro's efforts to control the pandemic.

During the campaign, he highlighted the country's death toll, saying: "Brazil has 3% of the world population, and Brazil has had 11% of deaths from the pandemic in the world."

It's correct that Brazil has accounted for almost 11% of the world's official Covid deaths, with more than 687,000 recorded, according to Johns Hopkins University.

That's the second-highest official death toll in the world after the United States.

Covid deaths chart

It also has one of the highest recorded global death tolls as a proportion of its population - although not as high as neighbouring Peru.

But official figures may not fully reflect the true number of dead in many countries, as testing is not always available.

Lula also questioned the amount of time it took to roll out Covid vaccines.

Defending his government's record, President Bolsonaro said: "We have purchased over 500 million doses of vaccine and Brazil is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world and in the fastest time."

President Bolsonaro continued to hold rallies with supporters throughout the pandemic

Bolsonaro's government has now purchased about 750 million doses, but its first orders went in much later than those of some other countries.

This meant vaccine delivery was delayed, and Brazil's rollout initially lagged behind many other countries in Latin America and around the world.

Brazil has now administered more than 220 doses per 100 people, but this is still below the levels of several other countries in the region, including Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Graphics produced by Sarah Habershon.

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New low-cost airline, Breeze Airways, is expanding with more routes to give air travelers more ways to get around.

The Seriously Nice airline made its debut in 2021 and was named the #2 Best U.S. Domestic Airline by Travel + Leisure readers in the same year. Now, Breeze is adding routes with attractive fares for budget-conscious travelers from fifteen cities across the United States.

In addition to new routes  with service to smaller cities around the country  Cincinnati and Vero Beach in Florida are the latest new destinations in the Breeze network. The announcement brings its total nonstop routes to 99 across 33 cities in 19 states.

Breeze provides fast, efficient, and affordable air service between underserved city pairs, Tom Doxey, Breeze Airways president, shared in a statement provided to T+L. Were excited to introduce two new cities to our national route network, as we add routes from 15 cities.

Hello @cvgairport & @flyverobeach! Welcome to the Breeze network. Today were introducing two new cities and even more new routes coast to coast at low fares. As of today we now offer 99 nonstop routes between 33 cities in 19 states.  #flybreeze #breezeannouncement #hello pic.twitter.com/smGNKBuIgl  Breeze Airways (@BreezeAirways) October 19, 2022

More Ways To Get Around For Less

Starting next year, Breeze is introducing several new routes to and from cities including Hartford, Phoenix, San Bernardino, Las Vegas, Charleston, Tulsa, Huntsville, Orlando, and Akron-Canton.

Story continues

For those who love a good deal, select flights can be booked for as low as $39 starting in February 2023. For example, the airline plans to fly from Cincinnati to Charleston and San Francisco with flights starting at $39.

Various options:

The carrier offers travelers three price bundle options: Nice, Nicer, and Nicest, which includes a first-class seat on the airlines Airbus A220 aircraft. Similar to Southwest, Breeze also doesnt charge change or cancellation fees up to 15 minutes prior to departure.

Related: Flight Prices Are Sky High: 7 Ways To Find Cheap Flights | JetBlues Founder Debuting New Budget Airline This Year
VCG - Getty Images



"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."

Around 30 British pilots with military experience are currently working in China for the Peoples Liberation Army, as reported by Sky News.

The pilots are being used to help Chinese pilots hone their skills against Western air forces.

The pilots have not broken any laws but have been advised to stop their work.

Experienced military pilots, veterans of the British military, are in China working to train Chinese armed forces. The pilots were hired for their knowledge of Western air combat techniques and are helping Chinese pilots train to beat Western air forces. The expertise the pilots are selling will almost certainly accelerate the Chinese Air Forces and Navys efforts to modernize their training and effectiveness against adversariesincluding the U.S. military.

 Dont miss any of our best-in-class military and defense coverage. Join our squad.

According to a Sky News report, there are around thirty British ex-military pilots currently working in China. The pilots are mainly ex-fast jet but also some helicopter pilots, with some in their fifties. The pilots are paid a salary of 240,000, or approximately $278,000.

PAUL ELLIS - Getty Images

China has a well-developed military pilot program where the expertise of foreigners isnt exactly needed. Instead, the foreigners train Chinese pilots in Western air combat techniques, offering firsthand knowledge of how the Royal Air Force and other air forces fight.

Many NATO air forces train against each other in dissimilar air combat training (DACT) pitting, for example, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors against German Eurofightersallowing pilots to experience the capabilities of foreign aircraft and the skills and tactics of foreign pilots firsthand. This friendly training is invaluable and a major benefit of having military allies.

Chinas isolated position in the global community makes DACT unavailable to Chinese pilots. The United States and Western Europe slapped an arms embargo on China after the June 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students and other protesters in Beijings Tiananmen Square , preventing China from buying western military hardware. While there is no similar policy against exporting training and expertise to China, the countrys increasing aggressiveness against U.S., Australian, and Canadian forces in the South China Sea , and against Taiwan , Japan , and others has made many governments reluctant to supply military assistance to China in any form.

Story continues

The British ex-military pilots were recruited by intermediary companies. Sky News reportedly identified one company, Test Flying Academy of South Africa . The company bills itself as the only independent test pilot school outside Europe and the Americas. It also says it provides flight testing and consultation services, and issued a statement claiming the Sky News report is factually incorrect and misleading. A request for comment by Popular Mechanics went unanswered.



The Sky News report states the British pilots working in China have been approached and warned their government disapproves of their new gig, and that the U.K. is working to dissuade other pilots from taking similar jobs.

STR - Getty Images

Ian Easton, senior director at the Project 2049 Institute, tells Popular Mechanics, The unfortunate reality is that this case is just a drop in the bucket in terms of all those experts from democracies who have naively helped the Chinese Communist Party and its armed wing prepare for a future war of aggression.



The pilots are technically not doing anything wrong: they are not flying for a foreign power, and authorities in the U.K. believe the pilots have not breached the countrys Official Secrets Act .

Legal loopholes obviously need to be closed, Easton says. But, at the same time, steps need to be taken to train government and military personnel regarding the China threat. This is not just a U.K. problem. Its a U.S. problem, too.

Still, many would find issue with working to improve the armed forces of the worlds most powerful authoritarian state, which is also setting itself up for a military takeover of the peaceful democracy in Taiwanand possibly more. Earlier this month , The Guardian reported the U.K. was planning to officially designate China as a security threat.

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A TikToker shared her experience as a U.K. woman in Singapore, explaining an encounter with a night jogger she mistook for a mugger through fits of laughter.

TikTok user @ilibabyyyy, a 22-year-old woman who moved from the U.K. to Singapore, was fighting tears of laughter in a recent video she uploaded to her account on Tuesday. Titled British people shouldnt live in Singapore !!, ilibabyyyy shares how she screamed instinctively when she saw a man approaching her late at night.

Im in Singapore right now  11 oclock at night  and Im just walking home, she begins. All of a sudden, I see this mans shadow next to me and I scream, like, so loud in his ear, and he didnt even bat an eyelid, she details while trying not to laugh.

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Im so used to the thought of: oh my god. Its 11 oclock at night. If I see a shadow someone is mugging me, ilibabyyyy explains. Breaking down into a giggle, she says, Im just so used to, like, fight mode. Im not even fighting. I flew. I screamed.

Although the man didnt even bat an eyelid, ilibabyyyy made sure to apologize to the jogger for her sudden reaction.

TikTok commenters jokingly empathized with the jogger.

More from NextShark: Japanese news anchor breaks down on air while reporting on Putin's hailing of Bucha massacre soldiers

I think he ended up being more scared than you were , one user wrote.

Im pretty sure hes traumatised now bestie , another commented.

Users from Singapore shared that humans are not the subject people should fear.

More from NextShark: Kim Kardashian accused of Asianfishing on Instagram

As a woman who grew up in Singapore, Im only afraid of ghosts and spirits when Im out late, a comment explained.

Story continues

nahh babe. its even worse if you see a shadow but theres no one there, another user said.

However, other commenters expressed understanding after experiencing both the U.K. and Singapore.

More from NextShark: Elephant calf appears to salute woman who helped it get out of mud in viral video

Me as a Londoner who just moved back to Singapore aft 12 years and still have the fight mode on 24/7 , a user sympathized.

Ilibabyyyys entertaining story quickly went viral, accumulating 381,000 views, 45,000 likes and 472 comments as of this writing.

Featured Image via @ilibabyyyy
A man accused of trying to steal a spunky 97-year-old womans Pomeranian outside her Brooklyn home was located Wednesday, interviewed, then cleared of any wrongdoing, police said.

The man whose picture was released to the media Tuesday evening  along with video of him near the victims Mapleton home  told cops hed never threatened the woman with his umbrella, as she contended, or tried to steal her dog.

Then, police said, the dog owner was interviewed again and said she might have misinterpreted what the man did.

She has cataracts, a police source said. It looks like she was confused about what happened.

The crime that turned out not to be a crime happened around 2 p.m. Monday near Dahill Road and 24th Ave.

Early Wednesday afternoon, shortly before police announced no crime had been committed, the woman explained what happened.

Shes my life saver  if she hears a sound, she barks, she said of her dog.

The day of the incident, she just gave one bark but not a normal bark. Maybe she gave me a clue and I didnt pay attention.
The brother of the Princeton University student who was reported missing and then found dead is raising questions about where her body was discovered.

The area she was found makes us feel it was suspicious, Universe Ewunetie, the brother of Misrach Ewunetie told The Sun in an interview. Some trees had to be cut when they were removing Misrach.

The 20-year-olds body was discovered by a school employee behind the tennis school near the school, according to a statement from the Mercer County Prosecutor, as previously reported by Oxygen.com.

Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy report to determine the cause of death, but said there were no signs of injury, and her death did not appear suspicious or criminal in nature, according to the statement.

But Universe Ewunetie suggested officials may have ruled out foul play too soon.

"Everyone thinks it's over with, and they released that statement before doing any autopsy and without telling us," he said.

A handout of missing woman Misrach Ewunetie

He said the family was devastated by Misrachs death and their very private parents have found it beyond difficult dealing with the death of their only daughter.

He said the family was also disappointed by the lack of communication from the university during the search for his sister.

"I don't want to paint the whole Princeton staff as bad, there have been some folks that have been good to us, especially the Dean [of the university]," he said according to the Sun.

Universe Ewunetie had previously told CNN that the family had not been not particular happy that Misrach had decided to go to Princeton because the Ivy League school was so far away from her home in Ohio.

Just before she disappeared, she had volunteered during a show at one of the schools eating clubs on Thursday evening  just before the last day of midterm exams  the president of the club told the Daily Princetonian.

"On Thursday night, one of our members who was initially signed up for duty was unable to attend our event, and Misrach volunteered to cover their shift," Terrace Club President Alexander Maravcsik told the paper. "After the club had closed and all of the duty responsibilities had been fulfilled, Misrach  as well as the other members on duty  left for the night."

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She left the event around 2:30 a.m. and was last seen in her dorm by a roommate, brushing her teeth, around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, October 14, her brother told ABC News. But when her roommate returned to their suite around 4:30 a.m., Misrach was gone.

Related video: Paul Flores convicted of murdering student Kristin Smart in 1996

Her father reportedly tried to reach her on the day she disappeared, but assumed she was busy when they were unable to connect. Friends reportedly assumed she had gone home during the school's fall recess, which lasts for a week. Her family became concerned when she missed her interview for an American citizenship application on Saturday.

Her brother told Good Morning America that her phone pinged at a housing complex near campus on Sunday morning around 3:30 a.m., but appeared to have been off thereafter.

The family reported her missing on Sunday, and the school announced it on Monday, October 17.

Universe bristled at the suggestion that his sister might have taken her own life.

"It's out of character for Misrach to do any of this," he told the Sun. "She was talking to me about a savings account she was going to open, her interview, buying clothes and shipping them to Cleveland, and volunteering at her student club organization."
A language arts teacher at a Broward County high school found himself in cuffs after he had sexual relations with a student, authorities said.

Lavelle Jamal Gordon was charged with offenses against students by an authority figure, according to a Broward Sheriffs Office arrest warrant. The 29-year-old is in jail and faces a $75,000 bond.

On Oct. 13, Hallandale Magnet High Schools administration asked 43 students from Gordons class to recount a disruptive incident that happened the day before between Gordon and a female student, the warrant read.

A majority of the students alleged that Gordon was play fighting, hugging below the waist, hugging for an extended period of time, and drinking from the same bottle.

A sheriffs detective did note that some students said they did not see this happen.

Meanwhile, other students said this wasnt the only time they witnessed Gordon doing inappropriate things with the student during school hours, the warrant read. One added that they saw the female student sitting on his lap during class. Another alleges they saw the two eating lunch together and watching a movie in the classroom.

Broward County Public Schools said Gordon had worked at the school since January 2021.

The District takes allegations of misconduct very seriously, as ensuring the safety of our students is our top priority, BCPS said in a statement. Hallandale High Schools administration continues to work with the Districts Special Investigative Unit and law enforcement regarding this matter.

The schools superintendent had a conference with the student and her parents, in which she told them she did not have a relationship with Gordon.

After the conference, the warrant reveals the students mother found a TikTok video of the two, which showed Gordon kissing the student at a park near her home.

The student met Gordon in March. Since then, they have linked up seven times outside of school, she told detectives. At least twice, he had sex with her, the warrant read.

Gordon was reassigned to a position away from the school and students pending the outcome of the case, according to the school district.
A California educator was in cuffs on Tuesday after officials discovered she hid a missing teenager in her home for approximately two years.

15-year-old Michael Ramirez, from Rancho Cordova, was reported missing back on June 9, 2020, but according to his family, the last time he was seen at home was on May 18, 2020. Allegedly, Ramirez ran away from home after disagreements with his aunt and uncle about their strict rules.

Teacher, 61, is charged with hiding missing boy, 15, for TWO YEARS after he ran away from home https://t.co/dg5cfM2t1I  Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 24, 2022

According to the sheriffs office, the teenager, now 17, didnt return home until March 11 of this year. KCRA reported that family members of Ramirez confirmed he had been living with a former friend for the last two years and the teacher is that friends mother.

Sacramento County Sherrifs Office said Holga Castillo Olivares, 61, is facing charges related to the detention of a minor with intent to conceal from parents and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Olivares is an Alice Birney Waldorf Inspired K-8 school employee, and the Sacramento City Unified School District has placed her on administrative leave while the investigation continues. They also noted that the charges against the educator are for acts unrelated to her assigned duties.

KCRA also notes that jail records show Olivares is scheduled for court on Monday, and she was detained at the school after students were dismissed for the day.

The Sacramento City Unified School District declined further comments due to it being a personnel matter.

Authorities are asking anyone with information related to this case to call for tips at 916-362-5115.
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Following multiple shootings on campus during Grambling State University's 2021 Homecoming Week that left two non-students dead and several people injured, many students, alumni and supporters called for effective ways to prevent on-campus gun violence.

With less than a week before Homecoming 2022, GSU President Rick Gallot and University Police Chief Rod Demery believe the university is much better prepared to address safety during this year's festivities.

Gallot said there were a lot of lessons learned from last year and believes that the university is in a better position, with the addition of Demery as university police chief and partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana National Guard and Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department. Twelve or 13 other agencies will also support the university in not only this year's homecoming activities but ongoing activities throughout the academic year.

File

More:Grambling State president responds to 2nd fatal shooting: 'That's not what we're about after 120 years'

More:'We need action': Grambling students, alumni react to campus shootings in Homecoming week

Campus violence interrupts Homecoming 2021

Two separate early morning shootings on the Grambling campus left two people dead in 2021 and eight injured.

The first occurred at 1:08 a.m. on Oct. 13 killing one person and injuring another at an unsanctioned event near the university's Favrot Student Union. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Jatavious Carroll of Delhi, who was charged with attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm/weapon on school property.

The university canceled the remaining events scheduled to commemorate homecoming following the second-on-campus shooting at 1:15 a.m. Oct. 17. That incident resulted in one dead and seven injured. The suspects were identified as Ahmad Green and 19-year-old Zyheim Butler of Bastrop. Both were charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

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Gallot said there seems to be a connection between the time and shootings. However, Gallot said one thing alumni, students and supporters will see differently this year is that the campus will be shut down.

"I mean there will not be the opportunity for outside folks who have the intention of doing harm... doing harm," Gallot said. "They will not be allowed on the campus at those times of night."

The university's police department is changing policing practices and patrol methods, such as the way officers are positioned, their response teams, how they approach different areas of the campus, etc.

"Can't reveal a lot of our tactics but I can assure you that things are going to change on a patrol and coverage side," Demery said. "The other thing is our surveillance side. We're adding more video surveillance whether that be by drone or whole cam or whatever.

"We're going to have plain clothes officers out... officers that people are not going to know they're police officers but that's intended to be that way so we can approach situations that we wouldn't otherwise be able to approach before being (detected). So, our methods of policing are changing quite a bit from the way they were last year."

More:Grambling State University has had at least one shooting per year over the last five years

Demery said he studied last year's plan and saw ways to make some improvements on the tactical side.

"Our officers have different missions," Demery said. "We do what's called redeployment... that's sending all the officers out, bring them back in and give them a new mission and sending them back out. So I think there's going to be a level of policing the way it has been in the past."

Another resource to prevent further occurrences of violence includes the G-Safe mobile app. The app is available for download on Google Play and at the Apple App Store. According to Gallot, the application allows students to report any suspicious activity anonymously. The information will be forwarded to law enforcement agencies.

"We're not only further empowering our law enforcement partners," Gallot said. "We're empowering our students and anyone else who will be willing to download the app to help us make and continue to keep the campus community safe."

Gallot said he's heard from alumni who were not happy with the changes in safety for this year's homecoming but support Demery and partners in law enforcement in their recommendations to keep the university safe.

"The fact that some people are upset about some of the changes, I think means that we've made some significantly noticeable changes in our modus operandi for this year and we believe it will lead to a safe homecoming for everyone," Gallot said.

GSU Homecoming Week is scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, with the Grambling Tigers taking on the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Tigers in Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at 2 p.m. Nov. 5.

For more information regarding GSU Homecoming, visit gram.edu/homecoming.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Here's how Grambling increased safety measures for Homecoming 2022
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday rejected a proposal by Canada's Quebec separatist party asking the federal government to sever ties with the British monarchy.

The motion by Bloc Quebecois was defeated with 44 votes in favour to 266 against in the House of Commons.

Bloc leader Yves-Francois Blanchet introduced the motion on Tuesday, saying allegiance to a foreign sovereign was not only outdated, but also expensive.

Britain colonized Canada beginning in the late 1500s, and the country remained part of the British empire until 1982. Now it is a member of the Commonwealth of former empire countries that count the British monarch as head of state.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, editing by Deepa Babington)
James Williams, 46, is shown in a family photo. He was shot to death by a Canton police officer on New Year's Day.

CANTON  An internal review of the fatal police shooting of James Williams has concluded that officer Robert Huber did not violate any department policies by opening fire on Williams.

"The Use of Force Review Board has determined that the incident was within policy," according to a memorandum from Police Chief John Gabbard released publicly Wednesday. "I agree with that recommendation and find that officer Huber acted within departmental use of force policy."

As a result, Huber won't face any discipline from the city.

Inside the investigation: New details, videos emerge in shooting of James Williams

Timeline of events:James Williams' death at his Canton home

A Stark County grand jury last month opted not to seek criminal charges against the officer.

Why did Canton police officer Robert Huber shoot, kill James Williams?

Williams, 46, was shot by Huber shortly after midnight on New Year's Day while Huber was investigating a report of gunfire in the 2300 block of 10th Street SW.

Williams was at his home, firing a Ruger AR-556 rifle skyward from behind his partially fenced patio. Huber arrived in his cruiser without lights or sirens and began patrolling the area on foot.

Huber saw Williams enter the house with the rifle and radioed dispatch for more officers. He was in front of the house waiting for backup when Williams went back outside and began shooting. Huber told investigators he instinctively ran toward the gunfire, and then he fired at Williams through the fence without warning.

Williams' wife Marquetta, their three children and two others were inside the home at the time of the shooting.

News: Will Canton's Community Relations Commission review the case of James Williams' death?

Family members said Williams was ringing in the new year by firing a gun into the air. City officials and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost have said Williams actions were illegal.

Colin Meeker, an attorney representing the family in a federal civil rights lawsuit, said Wednesday that he had just learned of the internal investigation's outcome.

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"We're not surprised that the city would defend its own," he said, adding that a formal statement would be released later.

An attorney at the Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Mathews law firm, which is representing Huber, was not available Wednesday for comment.

City officials share reasons for internal review findings

Mayor Thomas Bernabei shared a news release Wednesday along with the internal review summary and memorandums from the police chief, safety director and the Use of Force Review Board. In the release, Bernabei called Williams' death tragic and said his prayers go to the Canton man's family.

"I also offer my prayers to officer Huber and his family as well," he said. "Officer Huber, who was doing his job on patrol on Jan. 1, was placed in extraordinarily challenging split-second decision circumstances and acted through his training to confront and not walk away from an 'active shooter' incident and must now live with the trauma of this incident."

The Use of Force Review Board was comprised of the investigative division commander, patrol division commander, training bureau commander, a patrol shift sergeant, a patrol officer, and a city attorney. The board's role was to determine whether Huber acted within or in violation of department policies.

The board's policy discussion notes list several factors, including the loudness and rapid nature of the gunfire, for why a warning and de-escalation were "not feasible or even possible" for Huber to safely do in this situation.

"The board unanimously agreed that Officer Huber could have reasonably believed there was an imminent danger of serious physical injury or death to himself and acted reasonably in that regard," according to the notes about deadly force.

Gabbard's memorandum offers further explanation:

"For perspective, I want to begin with the fact that Officer Huber faced an active shooter. The concept of the active shooter has unfortunately become a regular topic in our nation over the past two decades. Subsequently, training in the engagement of active shooters has developed and evolved into standard practice in law enforcement. From every tragic incident across the country, lessons are learned and applied to that ever-improving training. The result of what has been learned and trained pertinent to this incident is recognition of the need for officers to immediately get to the shooter and stop the threat, even at great personal risk. This is different than situations that allow for drawn-out evaluations, attempts to de-escalate, even attempts to use different force options."

'Utter nonsense.' 'Utter nonsense.' Dozens protest lack of charges over James Williams' shooting death

Safety Director Andrea Perry's memorandum described a "thorough criminal investigation and internal review."

"There are those who will disagree with the outcome, and I respect their opinions," she wrote. "I encourage all who are interested in police accountability to review the publicly available BCI report and the Canton Police Department reports summarizing the internal review."

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) report can be viewed at ohioattorneygeneral.gov/SpecialPages/Investigative-Documents.

Perry also stated that even though Huber's actions were appropriate, it doesn't lessen the tragedy.

"Our safety forces are dedicated to protecting the community and, unfortunately, they do not choose the situations they must face every day," she wrote. "Instead, they respond to what they encounter in order to protect the community and themselves, sometimes with deadly consequences. The real outcome in this case is that a life was lost and a police officer, though justified, will forever be burdened with the knowledge that his actions resulted in that loss."

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton officer Robert Huber will not face discipline in fatal shooting
RiverPark Funds, an investment management company, released its RiverPark Large Growth Fund third quarter 2022 investor letter -- a copy of which can be downloaded here. For the quarter, the RiverPark Large Growth Fund (the Fund) lost 3.3% - a bit better than the S&P 500 (-4.9% for the quarter) and about in line with the Russell 1000 Growth index (-3.6% for the quarter). Try to spare some time to check the fund's top 5 holdings for you to have an idea about their best stock picks this 2022.

In its Q3 2022 investor letter, RiverPark Large Growth Fund mentioned The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) and explained its insights for the company. Founded in 1971, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a Westlake, Texas-based multinational financial services company with a $134.1 billion market capitalization. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) delivered a -13.84% return since the beginning of the year, while its 12-month returns are down by -12.76%. The stock closed at $72.46 per share on October 25, 2022.

Here is what RiverPark Large Growth Fund has to say about The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) in its Q3 2022 investor letter:

"SCHW reported solid 2Q business metrics in July, with revenue up 13% year over year, and net income up 42% year over year. Schwab and TD Ameritrade (which Schwab acquired in October 2020) have been the leading share gainers in the discount brokerage industry over the last decade, with both generating substantial organic asset growth while also growing operating margins and remaining amongst the price leaders on all products. With these two businesses now combined, revenue and expense synergies should accelerate in 2023, and we believe the company will be in an even stronger position to gather assets and drive long-term margins and free cash flow in the years to come. Moreover, the combination of steadily rising short-term rates (which should benefit net interest income), plus acquisition synergies from the AMTD deal, gives us confidence that SCHW is poised to generate continued double-digit earnings growth for the foreseeable future."

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Best bank stocks for 2021

Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com

Our calculations show that The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) fell short and didnt make it on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) was in 68 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 78 funds in the previous quarter. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) delivered a 18.46% return in the past 3 months.

In October 2022, we also shared another hedge funds views on The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) in another article. You can find other investor letters from hedge funds and prominent investors on our hedge fund investor letters 2022 Q3 page.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  TUESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2022, 21:45

Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, one of Russias constituent states, has denigrated Russian conscripts who complain about poor supplies and conditions.

Source: Ramzan Kadyrovs comment on Telegram

Quote from Kadyrov: "The conscripts are filming videos complaining about the lack of one thing or another, the lack of guns, outdated guns, ill-fitting uniforms. But wait, on the other side, our enemy has good weapons, good uniforms, they have everything.

We have to take it from them; well take it from them. We mustnt cry, if our state and our president need us. Keep all your faults to yourselves."

Details: Kadyrov added that the Russian army will achieve great successes. He once again claimed that Odesa, Kyiv and Kharkiv are among Russias targets. On the morning of 25 October Kadyrov accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine of attacking Russian regions and has expressed his discontent with Russias "weak response".

On 25 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was concerned about the quality of the conscripts equipment in the Russian Armed Forces.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China has decided the status quo of Taiwan's situation is no longer acceptable and has begun to ratchet up pressure on the self-governing island, including holding out the possibility of using force, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event organized by Bloomberg, Blinken said China had altered a decades-old basic understanding between Washington and Beijing that its differences with Taiwan would be managed peacefully.

"What's changed is this: the decision by the government in Beijing that that status quo was no longer acceptable, that they wanted to speed up the process by which they would pursue reunification," Blinken said.

He added that China has also made decisions on exerting more pressure on Taiwan and holding out the possibility of "using force to achieve their goals" if pressure tactics do not work.

"That is what has fundamentally changed."

Washington did not want a "Cold War" and was not trying to restrain China, he added, but was resolute and standing up for its interests.

Last week, the top U.S. diplomat said Beijing was determined to pursue reunification with Taiwan "on a much faster timeline," though he did not specify a date.

President Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly accused China of using a visit to Taiwan in August by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a pretext to ramp of military drills around the island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

The top U.S. general said last year that China was unlikely to try to militarily seize Taiwan in the next couple of years and the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at that time told Congress this threat could manifest itself within six years.

China's leader Xi Jinping told the five-yearly congress of China's ruling Communist Party this month that Beijing would never renounce the right to use force over Taiwan, but that it would strive for a peaceful resolution.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Michael Martina, and Simon Lewis; Editing by Mark Porter and David Gregorio)
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 (AP)

China has said it is closer than ever in history to take over Taiwan amid concerns of the island nation that Beijing would escalate diplomatic attacks on Taipei as Xi Jinping had more power.

Doubling down on Chinese leaders vow to achieve the reunification of mainland China, Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, said the countrys forces are capable more than ever to realise the goal.

Were closer than ever in history -- and were more confident and capable than ever -- to realizing national rejuvenation, Mr Ma said during a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.

Similarly, were also closer than ever in history -- as well as more confident and capable -- to realizing the complete reunification of the motherland.

He made the remarks as he answered questions about the wide-ranging policy given by Mr Xi at the beginning of last weeks Communist Party Congress. It culminated with Mr Xi being awarded a third five year term, taking full command of the party as well as the military to become the most powerful leader of the country.

The Communist Party named a seven-member ruling Standing Committee of Mr Xi and his allies, which gives him a free hand to carry out his plans.

Taiwans foreign minister Joseph Wu said on Wednesday that China will intensify its attempt to carry out diplomatic isolation of the country by snatching more of the islands few remaining diplomatic allies.

In a report to parliament, Mr Joseph said: China is likely to increase its attacks and threats on Taiwan, especially in the diplomatic field.

This is what we are worried about.

He added that the leadership has received signs and intelligence from some of their diplomatic allies that China will ramp up efforts to lure away the islands allies into switching official recognition to Beijing.

The diplomatic challenges we are facing are getting bigger and bigger, he said. Looking forward, our situation is becoming more difficult.

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In recent times almost six countries that diplomatically recognised Taiwan have switched official recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Now only 14 countries have official diplomatic ties with the islands government.

In his speech on the opening day of the party congress at the vast Great Hall of the People in Beijings Tiananmen Square, President Xi wasted little time in addressing the Taiwan issue, the timing analysts say shows he views Taiwan as a legacy-cementing issue.

He doubled down on his warning to external and separatist forces against any kind of interference as he promised that complete reunification of Taiwan with mainland China will be achieved  a line that drew the loudest and longest round of applause from the audience of some 2,300 delegates.

Mr Xi added wheels of history are rolling on toward Chinas reunification with Taiwan as he refused to renounce the use of force to unite Taiwan.

Xi Jinping has made it clear that he has no intention of loosening his grip on the Taiwan issue and the Chinese leader not only reiterated but also doubled down that there would be no negotiation or talks on the issue, Harsh V Pant, professor at Kings College London, told The Independent.

Reunification of China has been a long standing goal of the Chinese Communist Party and any leader who is able to accomplish that would have a great legacy in the party.
(Bloomberg) -- China said it had taken a historical step toward achieving unification with Taiwan, days after the ruling Communist Party concluded a congress that handed President Xi Jinping another five years in power.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Were closer than ever in history -- and were more confident and capable than ever -- to realizing national rejuvenation, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. Similarly, were also closer than ever in history -- as well as more confident and capable -- to realizing the complete reunification of the motherland.

Ma was answering a question about the wide-ranging policy speech Xi delivered at the beginning of the congress, during which his comments on Taiwan received some of the loudest applause. Xi said during that address that the wheels of history are rolling on toward Chinas reunification with Taiwan.

The complete reunification of our country must be realized and it can without a doubt be realized, the Chinese leader added, without specifying a timeframe. Taiwan is a self-ruled island that Beijing considers a breakaway territory.

China also enshrined its rejection of Taiwan independence into the partys constitution during the twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle. The document now vows to firmly oppose and contain Taiwanese independence, as well as to advance the one country, two systems model Beijing has proposed for Taiwan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
By Martin Quin Pollard

BEIJING (Reuters) - The three most glaring omissions from China's new Communist Party leadership share one common trait: all rose through its Youth League and were considered members of a once-powerful faction whose influence Xi Jinping has now effectively crushed.

Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Wang Yang, both 67 and young enough to be re-appointed to the elite seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, were left off even the wider Central Committee, as Xi installed loyalists in top party posts during the recent twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle.

Fellow vice premier and one-time high-flyer Hu Chunhua, who, at 59, had been seen by some party watchers as a candidate for premier and once even a possible future president, did not make it to the 24-man Politburo.

The omissions show Xi has succeeded in a years-long effort to eradicate the faction, analysts said.

"On Hu Chunhua, I think this has been Xi Jinping's main tactic of shutting down the youth league faction," said Victor Shih, an expert on elite politics in China and a professor at the University of California, San Diego.

"He has stifled the careers of quite a few cadres in that faction."

In a dramatic incident widely viewed as symbolic of the faction's demise, Xi's predecessor, Hu Jintao, who is 79 and a Youth League veteran, was unexpectedly escorted from the stage at Saturday's closing ceremony of the party congress.

Exactly what happened remains unclear, but state news agency Xinhua said in two English posts on Twitter that it was related to Hu's health. The social network is blocked in China.

"They are completely defeated," said Cheng Li, a specialist on the transformation of political leaders in China, referring to the sidelining of the Youth League faction.

"It means Xi can do many things he wants to, and opposing forces have got weaker," added Li, who is with the Brookings Institution in Washington.

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"It can be read as, he didn't want the Western-style balance of power and wanted to show more of the centralisation of his power."

As Xi kicks off his third leadership term with more power than any leader since Mao Zedong, he faces a mountain of problems, from a dismal economy to his own COVID-19 policy that has backed China into a corner, and souring ties with the West.

TRAINING GROUND

The "faction" refers to officials in leadership roles in the Youth League, which recruits and trains some of China's brightest, mainly high school and university students, traditionally acting as a feeder organisation for the party.

The Youth League's budget has been cut from nearly 700 million yuan ($96 million) in 2012, the year Xi assumed power, to about 260 million yuan in 2021, official data shows.

Membership has dropped to about 74 million over the same period from around 90 million.

China's Communist Party has about 97 million members.

"As a party-led organization, the CYL has lost its clout as the place for grooming leaders," said Dali Yang, a political scientist at the University of Chicago.

"But it has already been working hard to adapt to the changing political circumstances," he said, adding that the Youth League had built a social media presence, appealing to nationalistic pride, and engaged in civic functions.

The Youth League has been active in attacking foreign brands accused of misbehaviour in China, such as false advertising.

Last year, Western journalists said they received death threats after its branch in the central province of Henan asked social media followers to report the whereabouts of a BBC reporter covering major floods there.

The Youth League did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Its political image lost some sheen in 2012, when Ling Jihua, a top aide to Hu Jintao, tried to cover up the circumstances around the death of his son, killed while driving a Ferrari that crashed in Beijing.

Ling was later charged with corruption and jailed for life.

XI'S 'ZHIJIANG NEW ARMY'

Factions, cliques and power bases have existed, with varying levels of influence, since the party's founding a century ago.

They famously included the so-called "Shanghai Gang" of former leader Jiang Zemin, who is now 96.

Xi's faction, the so-called "Zhijiang New Army", was forged during his years as party chief of the eastern province of Zhejiang between 2002 and 2007.

John Delury, a professor of Chinese studies at Seoul's Yonsei University, said the new leadership reflects Xi's predominance.

"But history would remind us that no political system on earth has eradicated the existence of internal disagreement, rivalry, and power struggles," he said.

"It can take time, but after one particular faction is eliminated, another faction eventually emerges."

($1=7.2560 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Editing by Tony Munroe and Clarence Fernandez)
Chipotle's CEO says customer orders have remained "consistent" despite price increases.

Higher priced proteins can be up to 40% more expensive than basic options.

Chipotle raised prices in August following two earlier increases in the last 18 months.

Chipotle prices are up, but that's not getting between customers and their guacamole.

"We're not seeing people all of a sudden not buying guacamole," CEO Brian Niccol told investors in an earnings call Tuesday. Most customers aren't changing their regular orders or switching to less expensive proteins, he said. "Things have stayed pretty consistent."

This consistency is in contrast to Chipotle's price increases, the most recent of which came in August, when the chain raised prices for a burrito by about 50 cents to $1 each.

Chipotle has been open about raising prices over the last year. In the first quarter of 2022, Chipotle raised menu prices by 4%, CFO Jack Hartung told investors on an earlier call. Those were on top of earlier price hikes in part due to raising wages for employees in June 2021 when the fast-casual chain said that it also raised prices about 4%.

But demand for Chipotle seems resistant to price increases. Sales continue to grow faster than price increases, up 14% in the third quarter over the same period in 2021.

Lower-income customers are visiting Chipotle less frequently, but the chain has a higher proportion of customers making more than $75,000 a year, who are increasing ordering frequency, Niccol said. Chipotle previously attributed this trend to customers with more money downgrading from pricier dining options, choosing Chipotle as a budget-friendly option.

These affluent customers are ordering more premium menu options, which pushed sales to increase even as traffic was down 1%. Adding guacamole in New York City costs $2.95, more than an additional 25% increase on the base price of a chicken burrito at $10.95

Premium proteins can also drive up sales. The limited time garlic guajillo steak is 16% more expensive than steak and barbacoa on average, and nearly 40% more expensive than the cheapest option, chicken, on average according to an analysis from William Blair equity research shared with Insider.

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Protestors return to City Hall on Wednesday to demand that no meetings be held until Councilmembers Kevin De Leon and Gil Cedillo have resigned. The council censured both men in a unanimous vote. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to censure three current and former council members for their part in an incendiary conversation that contained racist remarks.

The vote appeared to mark the first time that the City Council has censured one of its own members, a move that carries no legal weight but adds to the public pressure on Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin De Leon to resign. Councilmember Nury Martinez stepped down two weeks ago.

Before the vote, police officers cleared the council chamber of about two dozen protesters who were demanding that the council stop meeting until Cedillo and De Leon resigned. The police issued a dispersal order to empty the room, a tactic usually reserved for handling street protests, and demonstrators eventually filed out.

The dramatic events were another sign of how the year-old audio, which captured the three council members and a high-level labor leader in a conversation featuring divisive and derogatory remarks, has upended City Hall.

Under City Charter rules adopted in 2000, the council may, by a two-thirds vote, adopt a resolution of censure against members whose actions constitute gross failure to meet the high standards of personal and professional conduct.

City Council President Paul Krekorian said he wants the council to confer with its lawyers on whether there are other steps it can take to remove De Leon.

The censure vote sends the message that "these comments are unacceptable to us and that we disassociate ourselves from them as a body," said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents part of South L.A.

"This censure isn't just about the offensive words that they used, and it isn't just about their attempt to take power from a protected class," said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who represents part of the west San Fernando Valley. "It is also about their abdication of their duty as council members to represent all of their constituents."

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Both Cedillo and De Leon have apologized in recent weeks. De Leon, in a radio interview Monday, said he did not display leadership when he failed to cut off racist remarks by Martinez. He also said he intends to continue representing his district.

Throughout much of the meeting, protesters chanted, clapped and slammed their hands on the wooden benches, saying every council meeting should be halted until both men have resigned.

Krekorian vowed to keep conducting the council's meetings. He pointed out that on Tuesday, amid the roar of the protests, the council scheduled a special election for April 4 to replace Martinez, who represented working-class areas in the San Fernando Valley.

Since Martinez stepped down, her district  which includes Van Nuys, Arleta, Panorama City and Sun Valley  has had a nonvoting caretaker.

"If we were not meeting, the people of the 6th Council District would be disenfranchised," Krekorian said. "A quarter of a million people would be without representation, and that would not change" until an election is held.

Hamid Khan, an organizer with the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, pushed back on that idea, telling The Times that "people have been disenfranchised in this city for hundreds of years."

"I'm sure there are people who want an election" in the 6th District, he said. "But there are many people who don't. There are many people who don't want to have business as usual right now."

Almost two hours into the meeting, with the crowd continuing to make noise, Krekorian instructed police to clear the chamber. He and his colleagues left the room and a Los Angeles Police Department captain issued a dispersal order, giving the crowd 20 minutes to leave.

Demonstrators continued shouting for about 45 more minutes, then filed out, chanting: "Who shut it down? We shut it down!"

A few minutes later, the council returned to the chamber and cast its censure vote.

Some of those protesting were part of a coalition that held a news event earlier in the morning to call for De Leon's resignation, a group that included the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Union de Vecinos and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

The rules of the City Council allow the subject of the request for censure "to make an opening and a closing statement, to call witnesses on his or her behalf and to question his or her accusers."

Neither De Leon nor Cedillo, who haven't attended a City Council meeting in more than two weeks, were present.

Representatives for the two council members did not respond to request for comment Wednesday. However, some in De Leon's district called in to the meeting to defend him, saying he should remain in office.

There has been no evidence of gerrymandering, there has been no criminal charges filed, said Susana Betancourt, who said she has lived in Boyle Heights for 60 years.

The public and the neighborhood councils need to listen to those recordings as to who actually said what," she added.

Pamela Marquez, who is part of Concerned Neighbors of El Sereno, told council members that groups calling for De Leon's resignation do not know the district.

"Any action taken for or against Councilmember De Leon should be made at the voting booth by the constituents of [Council District] 14," Marquez said.

Earlier Wednesday, an ad hoc committee unanimously approved two motions related to censuring the council members. At that meeting, Councilmember Paul Koretz asked the city attorney advising the council whether the body could censure a City Council member who has already resigned, a reference to Martinez.

"It's not entirely clear," said Assistant City Atty. Strefan Fauble.

Cedillo, who lost his reelection bid, is already slated to step down Dec. 11. De Leon, if he remains in office, will be up for reelection in March 2024.

Speaking to reporters after Wednesday's vote, Krekorian said that the council had done everything it could to demand "the resignation of our two colleagues."

"It's now up to the people of the 14th District to really step forward with a recall or to remove Mr. De Leon from office," he said.

Krekorian also wants the city attorney's office to advise the council on whether it can remove one of its members if that member is absent or hasn't been performing their duties.

According to the City Charter, an office becomes vacant when the office holder "has been absent from the city without the consent of the council for more than 60 consecutive days. An office also can become vacant when the incumbent has ceased to discharge the duties of the office for 90 consecutive days, except when prevented by illness, injury, or other reasonable cause.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Interview: CIIE offers wider market access to Ethiopia's top agricultural export commodities

Xinhua) 09:44, October 26, 2022

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) presents huge opportunities for Ethiopia's top agricultural export commodities toward penetrating wider market access, an Ethiopian agricultural products exporter has said.

Sisay Asmare, general manager of RIB Industrial and Commercial Private Limited Company (PLC), who is also the president of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association (EPOSPEA), said the CIIE serves as an efficient platform to meet and forge a business partnership with potential Chinese customers.

RIB Industrial and Commercial PLC has been actively engaged in exporting agricultural commodities such as sesame seed, pulses, spices and other varieties of beans and oilseeds since 2003, in which China is one of its major export market destinations.

Recalling two-time successful participation at the CIIE before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, Asmare said the platform serves as a hotspot avenue for Ethiopian and other foreign exporters to explore and penetrate the vast Chinese market.

The 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled for Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. The event provides a platform for companies from around the world to display their products, promote their brands, and find more business partners in the world's second-largest economy.

"We have participated at the CIIE two times, in 2018 and 2019, but since then due to the coronavirus pandemic, we did not participate. For this year, we are also invited to attend," Asmare said.

"We are happy because it was a very big event. The Chinese also gave us, for Ethiopia, one pavilion," he said, adding that the Ethiopian pavilion at the CIIE had "attracted so many excited visitors."

According to Asmare, the secret to a successful participation at the platform lies in effectively evaluating the market demand, assessing potential customers, and forging business partnerships.

"When I go there, for one, I maintain my relationship with existing customers. I visit them and learn how they are going to apply the import from us and how they process it so that I will take care of my products as per their demands. Secondly, new customers will also come," he said.

Asmare said the platform helps to "maintain relationships, get new customers, and understand your customers' needs a face-to-face business relationship that helps me to understand the (business more)."

He said the previous CIIE editions have successfully injected important impetus in terms of creating awareness about Ethiopia's major export commodities.

"They (the organizers) are very good. Our products are popular as people really like Ethiopian products and it is a growing situation," he said.

Asmare said the CIIE is a conducive platform to expedite demand and accessibility of Ethiopia's export-oriented agricultural commodities to the wider Chinese and global market, eventually enabling the East African country to tap into its competitive advantage in the global agricultural products market.

"We can supply sesame seed, oilseeds like peanuts, sunflower seed, rapeseed; we also have coffee; and these are becoming popular in the Chinese market. In the near future, our products will compete more as the demand will also come from China," Asmare said.

Noting the existing one-time production of Ethiopia's agricultural export commodities, which often affects business relations with foreign importers due to supply interruptions as exporters usually wait until the next production season ahead of export, Asmare said the CIIE offers constant opportunities to regularly meet new customers.

Asmare, in particular, underscored the need to utilize the CIIE as a gateway to the ever-expanding Chinese market, with due emphasis given to the growing demand for Ethiopia's agricultural export commodities among the Chinese customer base.

"The Chinese market is the biggest in the world. (It) is a blessing for Ethiopians and Africans," he said.

He further underscored the two-way benefit presented by the wider Chinese market. "We can benefit by supplying them agricultural commodities, industrial raw materials and we can also buy from them agro-processing factory machinery, construction machinery and other development equipment."

As Ethiopia's overall exports to China grows exponentially in recent years, figures from EPOSPEA show that China has been a major destination for Ethiopia's sesame seed in the past decade, as about 60 to 70 percent of the country's total sesame export goes to China.

Between 2018 to 2021, China imported close to 282,554 metric tons of Ethiopia's sesame seed, making it the largest importer of the commodity, according to figures from EPOSPEA.

Sesame, along with coffee, is one of Ethiopia's top export commodities, as the country's export sector is largely dominated by the export of agricultural products.

During the Ethiopian 2021/2022 fiscal year, which ended on July 7, 2022, the country generated 4.12 billion U.S. dollars in export revenue, of which the agriculture sector contributed the highest share, constituting 72 percent of the total export revenue, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.

Courtesy of the booming Sino-Ethiopia trade and investment cooperation coupled with important platforms such as the CIIE, Ethiopia's overall export to China has registered steady growth in recent years as China remains Ethiopia's biggest trading partner.

Ethiopia's exports to China increased by 8 percent in 2021 as compared with the previous year, while new foreign direct investment (FDI) from Chinese companies to Ethiopia grew by 346 percent, according to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Climate activists have gathered inside the headquarters of financial investment firm BlackRock to protest what the companys investment in fossil fuels.

This is the third straight day of climate protests in New York City, led by activist groups like New York Communities for Change (NYCC) and the New York chapters of the Sunrise Movement and Extinction Rebellion.

Video shows activists sitting down in front of escalators in the building holding banners that read things like How dare you plunder the Earth? and Your greed = climate chaos.

The activists say that theyve spread coal on the floor in front of the sit-in.

The Independent has contacted a representative for BlackRock for comment.

A spokesperson for the NYPD told The Independent that by noon, the protest had been cleared and 10 people had been arrested.

On Monday, activists interrupted an interview of Senator Ted Cruz on The View to protest the Texas Republicans appearance and ABCs coverage of the climate crisis. On Tuesday, protestors blocked all lanes of traffic on Manhattans Park Avenue, home to many of the citys wealthiest residents, leading to 15 arrests.

Alice Hu, a climate campaigner with NYCC, told The Independent on Tuesday that these are part of a weeklong series of protests along Park Avenue to highlight billionaires and corporations for their outsized role in driving the climate and inequality crises.

The protests also come 10 years after Hurricane Sandy hit the area, bringing widespread devastation and killing more than 50 people in New York alone.

10 years ago Hurricane Sandy hit New York displacing tens of thousands of New Yorkers, NYCC tweeted on Wednesday. They added that the climate crisis and housing issues have since gotten worse  and demanded that New York Governor Kathy Hochul #TaxTheRich for green housing for all.

Green housing refers to the concept of homes and apartments that emit few or no carbon emissions, such as through installing solar panels for energy or eschewing fossil fuels for more climate-friendly heating options like electric heat pumps.

This is a breaking story, more to follow
Police are asking for the publics help to find the car of a 32-year-old woman who was killed Sunday.

Ahylea Willard was found dead Sunday morning at an apartment complex in east Charlotte, located on Snow Lane, close to Albemarle Road Park. Shed been shot, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Police on Wednesday said Willards car was stolen and is believed to be connected to the murder.

CMPD said the car is a Mercedes Benz C250 with NC license plate number TJV-4843.

Security camera footage of the vehicle and its occupants are blurry and no suspect information has been released .

Anyone who recognizes and/or locates this vehicle is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit detective. The public can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.
Mike Davis in his San Diego home on July 12. (Adam Perez / For The Times)

After leaked audio of Los Angeles City Council members saying all sorts of bigoted blabber unleashed a political earthquake, I got an email from a much-missed voice.

Even if the tape was made a year ago, Mike Davis wrote to friends, family and me on Oct. 13, its release correlates to the unexpectedly strong performance of progressive candidates in the June primaries and should be interpreted in that light.

We had last talked in July, when the two of us spent hours at his San Diego home chatting about his life and, well, life. Mike had decided to end chemotherapy. The author of so many books that predicted the Los Angeles of today at its best and worst  City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, Magical Urbanism"  wanted to spend his last days with his wife and children and read, not write.

So his surprise note about what he deemed the sewer explosion at 200 N. Spring (referring to L.A. City Hall's address) was a joy. Though brief, it was classic Mike: Unsparing. Brilliant. Funny. Caring. Prophetic.

Davis blasted the four paragons of Latino political power on the tape  then-Los Angeles Labor Federation president Ron Herrera, then-L.A. council President Nury Martinez, and Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon  for trying to dilute Black political power in the city.

He described Martinez  who called the Black son of Councilmember Mike Bonin a negrito and compared the boy to a monkey, derided L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascon for siding with the Blacks, and also trashed Jews and Armenians  as the Exalted Cyclops of her cabal.

He praised an ascendant Left in L.A. for posing a threat not just to mainstream Democratic personalities but more generally to the ethno-dynastic structure of local politics. And he ended by turning Martinez's slurs against Oaxacans, whom she had dismissed as short, dark and "ugly," into a pledge for solidarity with a hearty Nosotros somos oaxaquenos!  we are Oaxacans  while jokingly referencing his own diminutive stature.

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I congratulated him on his usual prescience and vowed to visit again after the election.

I never had the chance.

A mutual friend texted me the news that Davis died Tuesday at age 76 from complications of esophageal cancer. I felt sad for about a minute, then remembered the famous slogan associated with the late labor leader Joe Hill: Don't mourn, organize!

It's all Mike ever wanted his readers to do, even in the face of doom. Especially in its face.

The Los Angeles of today is the one Mike long warned about, except even more dystopian. The white power structure he inveighed against again and again has become more diverse but no less self-preserving. Law enforcement continues to antagonize communities of color even as the rank-and-file nowadays are majority Latino. The environment, an issue that especially saddened him, continues its precipitous, manmade decline. To paraphrase Mikes most infamous essay, it's not just Malibu burning every fall  it's the entire damn state, all the time.

This chaos is what the most superficial Davis readers, the ones who kept calling him a prophet of doom despite his protestations, will say that he nailed. Theyre not paying attention to the inspiration to fight that his true readers found in his warnings.

Hes the only intellectual I know with fans in academia, at factories, on the streets and in politics, all fighting Davis good fight of people power. Mike spoke at their classes, showed up to their rallies, responded to their emails, promoted their causes, invited them to his home and never asked for anything in return. Though Davis left Los Angeles for San Diego over 20 years ago, dismissed then by naysayers and boosters who mocked his civic jeremiads as alarmist nonsense, his modern-day vindication gave solace to activists that they, too, could one day win.

Mike was more than a muse to them. He was one of them.

I think that's what prompted Mike to send that email to me and others in his circle. The widespread disgust over the racist L.A. council tapes is a cross-cultural, classless movement the city hasnt seen in decades but which Davis celebrated in his last book, 2020s Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties, along with co-author and longtime friend Jon Wiener. That he was paying attention to what was going in his last weeks speaks to his convictions  and joys.

Hell go down as the most influential California chronicler since Charles Fletcher Lummis, who was the 19th century sunshine to Davis' 20th century noir, to borrow one of Mikes most famous lines.

Mike Davis in 1998. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

Many will compare Davis' skeptical eye to that of Joan Didion  but she never offered a solution to our problems, and her fans were almost exclusively literati, not the folks shaping the Los Angeles of today and imagining a better tomorrow.

A better comparison is Carey McWilliams, whose 1946 book "Southern California: An Island on the Land remains the best sociocultural analysis of the region ever written. Praised by Davis as a "one-man think tank," he was every bit the crusading writer Davis was, tackling racism and labor exploitation in an era  the Great Depression through the beginnings of McCarthyism  when it was harder to do so.

But McWilliams left California in the early 1950s to become editor of the Nation  too soon to have created as large and sprawling a school of disciples as Davis. Only the most committed history nerds remember his legacy. Davis touched too many walks of life to ever fade away.

I want to say we'll sorely miss Davis at a time he's needed more than ever, but its not true. Every time theres a protest against hate and corruption, every time workers strike for better pay and working conditions, every time people push for a fairer California, every time someone unearths long-hidden histories or dismantles long-held narratives, hell be there  a modern-day Tom Joad.

Shortly after news of his passing, I replayed the tape of my talk with Mike from the summer. I marveled anew at his wit, his heart, his memory and his insights.

What I rewound to play again and again was the very beginning, when I tried to thank him for inscribing one of his books as From a fan nearly 20 years ago, a time where I didnt even have a full-time job as a reporter. He wouldnt hear it.

An autographed copy of "Magical Urbanism" that Mike Davis signed to the author in 2003 (Gustavo Arellano / Los Angeles Times)

I want to, first of all, thank you for going after the sheriff, Davis said, referring to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. This has been the most wonderful stuff the Times has done in years.

He couldve basked in my adulation but instead praised me. And he wasnt done.

Although you must be a little apprehensive at times if you see somebody outside your door," he added.

We both laughed, then just hung out for the rest of the afternoon.

Mike, Im not mourning your passing. Im writing.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Constance Wu recently revealed that her family has been avoiding conversations about mental health issues and the alleged rape incident she experienced in her 20s.

During the 2022 MAKERS Conference in Dana Point, California, on Monday, human rights activist Loretta J. Ross asked Wu, 40, about her familys reactions to her recent revelation about rape.

The Crazy Rich Asians star shared that no one in her family has brought it up yet.

They haven't talked about it to me yet because Asian families avoid the uncomfortable conversations! Wu told Ross, the co-founder of SisterSong, during their conversation.

More from NextShark: Netflix brings iconic 'One Piece' locations to life in sneak peek of new live-action series adaptation

So no one's been, like, Oh, I didn't know you were raped, Wu added.

Elsewhere in their conversation, Ross asked the "Hustler star if she has had any encounters with fans who have shared stories about their own mental health challenges that they are scared to disclose.

I think people have been sharing a lot of stories that they have been afraid to talk about, and sharing fears and stigmas asking for mental health help or any type of vulnerability, Wu replied.

More from NextShark: 'School for Good and Evil': Netflix drops trailer for film adaptation featuring Michelle Yeoh, Charlize Theron

If we can't even have the vulnerability to say to our parents or them to say to us, I love you, then how will we have the vulnerability to be, like, I need help? she continued. So opening up that conversation, instead of just focusing on all the positive parts of our culture, I think is an important first step of admitting that you need help because things aren't perfect.

Wu took a three-year break from social media following the online backlash she faced for her tweets about ABC renewing Fresh Off the Boat for a sixth season. She returned to Twitter and Instagram in July, revealing some details about her suicide attempt and her memoir Making a Scene.

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Describing to Ross that her hiatus from social media felt fantastic, Wu said that she has returned with a different mindset and that her biggest goal was to help people who were going through what I went through.

More from NextShark: From Squid Game to Twilight, K-pop idols showed off their costume creativity for Halloween 2021

It's going to be through talking about my experience through social media and letting them know it's OK to seek help, Wu added. And so that's why I ultimately came back is because  even though I was scared of it  the way it might help somebody meant more to me than my fear of it did.

During recent interviews, Wu has shed more light on her profanity-laced tweets and has also talked about how she felt betrayed by the Asian American community following the backlash.

More from NextShark: Lana Condor stars in trailer for Netflixs upcoming comedy series Boo Bitch

Featured Image via MAKERS
Twice convicted felon Claire Risoldi is appealing her 2019 jail sentence for participating in a multimillion dollar fraud scheme for a third time in three years.

The 75-year-old Buckingham socialite and political influencer was scheduled to report to Bucks County Correctional Center on Monday to begin serving her 11  to 23 month sentence.

But her attorney, Michael Diamondstein, confirmed in an email Tuesday his client is appealing the sentence again on the grounds the trial court erred in deeming her not re-entry eligible.

Claire Risoldi confers with her attorneys outside the courtroom at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown on Friday, April 29, 2016

Risoldi remains free on bail while the case is moved to the appellate court. It is unknown when the court will consider the case.

The new appeal comes one month after senior Judge Stephen Lieberman rejected Risoldi as eligible for the reentry program, since one does not exist in Bucks County, and refused to consider changing the sentence imposed by the original trial judge in the case, who retired in 2020.

A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Attorney General on Tuesday said Lieberman has been clear about his reasons for denying reentry, which are documented in the court record.

Exclusive details on latest with RisoldiBucks County socialite Claire Risoldi ordered to jail  again. Why she's still free in $13M fraud case

In 2019, Risoldi was sentenced to jail time for her conviction in a $13 million insurance fraud scheme involving a 2013 fire at her former family estate, Clairemont.

The only jail time Risoldi has served in the case has been 30-days in 2019 for violating a court order, and five days in 2016, after she was arrested on witness intimidation charges that were later dismissed.

The crime made national headlines in 2015 after Risoldi, several members of her family and two family associations were charged with fraud and related charges for swindling insurer AIG out of $10 million in false claims.

A jury found that Risoldi collected $2.75 million in fraudulent claims and attempted to bilk AIG out of another $10 million for a false claim on a separate jewlery policy. Risoldi falsely accused volunteer firefighters of stealing her jewelry during the 2013 fire.

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At the time of their arrests, the Risoldi family, who maintained the charges were politically motivated, were well known in Bucks County social circles for hosting lavish fundraisers, social events and GOP political candidates at Clairemont.

In 1990, Risoldi was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to two counts of federal mail fraud for using false medical documents to defraud her first husbands union health insurance provider out of $13,028.

More on Claire Risoldi's case Exclusive: Claire Risoldi to pay less for insurance fraud scheme, still hopes to avoid jail time

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Socialite Claire Risoldi remains out of jail despite conviction
Road with COP27 sign

World leaders are discussing action to tackle climate change at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

It follows a year of climate-related disasters and broken temperature records.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is attending, having previously said he would not.

What is COP27?

United Nations (UN) climate summits are held every year, for governments to agree steps to limit global temperature rises.

They are referred to as COPs, which stands for "Conference of the Parties". The parties are the attending countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992.

COP27 is the 27th annual UN meeting on climate. It is taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh until 18 November.

Why is COP27 important?

The world is warming because of emissions produced by humans, mostly from burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal.

Global temperatures have risen 1.1C and are heading towards 1.5C, according to the UN's climate scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

If temperatures rise 1.7 to 1.8C above 1850s levels, the IPCC estimates that half the word's population could be exposed to life-threatening heat and humidity.

To prevent this, 194 countries signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, pledging to "pursue efforts" to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C.

The Pakistani floods this year are a "wake-up call" to the world on the threats of climate change, experts have said

Who will be at COP27?

More than 200 governments have been invited.

In a speech on Monday Mr Sunak is set to urge world leaders at COP27 to move "further and faster" in transitioning to renewable energy. He will say Russia's invasion of Ukraine "reinforced" the importance of ending dependence on fossil fuels.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also going, but King Charles will not be there, following government advice. However, he held a pre-conference reception at Buckingham Palace.

Vladimir Putin is not due to go, although Russian delegates are still expected to take part.

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Other countries, including China, have not confirmed whether their leaders will attend.

Hosts Egypt called on countries to put their differences aside and "show leadership" on the issue of climate change.

Environmental charities, community groups, think tanks, businesses and faith groups will also take part.

Where is COP27 taking place?

The conference is taking place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

This will be the fifth time a COP has been hosted in Africa.

The region's governments hope it will draw attention to the severe impacts of climate change on the continent. The IPCC says Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world.

Currently, 20 million people are estimated to be facing food insecurity in east Africa because of drought.

However, choosing Egypt as the venue has attracted controversy.

Some human rights and climate campaigners say the government has stopped them attending because they have criticised its rights record.

What will be discussed at COP27?

Ahead of the meeting, countries were asked to submit ambitious national climate plans. Only 25 have done so to date.

COP27 will focus on three main areas:

Reducing emissions

Helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change

Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above

Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be picked up:

Loss and damage finance - money to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, rather than just prepare for it

Establishment of a global carbon market - to price the effects of emissions into products and services globally

Strengthen the commitments to reduce coal use

There will also be themed days on issues including gender, agriculture and biodiversity.

Some of the key phrases you will hear:

Paris accord: The 2015 Paris Agreement united all the world's nations - for the first time - in a single agreement on tackling global warming and cutting greenhouse gas emissions

IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change examines the latest research into climate change

1.5C: Keeping the rise in global average temperature below 1.5C - compared with pre-industrial times - will avoid the worst impacts of climate change, according to scientists

Do we expect any sticking points?

Finance has been long been an issue at climate talks.

In 2009, developed countries committed to give $100bn (88bn) a year, by 2020, to developing countries to help them reduce emissions and prepare for climate change.

The target was missed and moved back to 2023.

Climate finance chart including estimated data from 2021 and 2022

But developing nations are also calling for payments for "loss and damage" - the impacts faced now.

An option for making such payments was excluded from the Bonn climate talks, after pushback from wealthier nations who feared they would be forced to pay compensation for decades.

But the EU agreed that discussions should take place at COP27.

How will we know if it has been successful?

It depends who you ask.

Following intense negotiations, the issue of loss and damage payments is on the official agenda of COP27. Developing countries will also be pushing to have a date set for when they might start to receive payments.

Developed nations will be looking for more commitment from large developing countries - such as China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa - to move away from coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels.

There are also pledges from last year's meeting - on forests, coal, and methane - that more countries may support.

However, some scientists believe world leaders have left it too late and no matter what is agreed at COP27, 1.5C will not be achieved.

Will Greta Thunberg attend COP27?

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is among the list of those who will not attend.

She recently described the global summit as a forum for "greenwashing", saying the COP conferences "encourage gradual progress".

Earlier in October she told the BBC's media editor Amol Rajan in an interview: "I'm not needed there... there will be other people who will attend, from the most affected areas. And I think that their voice there is more important."

More on climate change top strapline

Top image from Reuters. Climate stripes visualisation courtesy of Prof Ed Hawkins and University of Reading.
Finding an affordable place to live in the Boston area is close to impossible.

On the other hand, finding a sign that says Office Space Available is easy.

One idea to alleviate the shortage of housing is to convert vacant office space into apartments or condos.

100 Shawmut Avenue, which straddles Chinatown and the South End, has had several lives over the years.

It was originally built in 1912 or so, originally as a manufacturing building, explained Michael Liu, a senior partner at The Architectural Team, Inc. In its last iteration, before it was converted, it was essentially an office building.

Today it contains 132 units of housing.

In a city where rents can easily top $3,000 a month and those Office Space Available signs are as plentiful as Bailey Zappe fans, some people are wondering if more conversations like this should take place.

Buildings eventually become obsolete for their primary or indicated use. Economies change, and so older buildings, I think in particular, present an opportunity, said Michael Cantalupa, chief development officer for Davis. Some of the oldest buildings, in fact, are here, and are candidates for conversion.

Liu and Cantalupa both worked on the 100 Shawmut Ave project.

Youd have to think of the apartments that would go into such a building differently, Liu said.

He says apartments here traditionally have been about 30 feet deep to allow for enough natural light.

That tends to be achievable in many buildings constructed thru the middle of the 20th century, but not in modern skyscrapers which have larger floor plans.

If you thought of it like its a traditional New York style loft building where theyre narrow, theyre quite deep, tall ceilings. . . you can make it work, Liu added.

Going residential can also inject life into downtown commercial areas, particularly in a city like Boston, which has one of the highest percentages of remote workers in the country.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is reportedly interested in the concept of conversion.

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Segun Idowu, Bostons chief of economic opportunity and inclusion, told the Boston Globe Every major city is rethinking the downtown core and its future. . . We cannot only rely on the workforce coming back to the office.

This is not a panacea to the regions housing crisis, but with a little imagination, conversions might help relieve some pressure on prices.

Think of all the mill conversions, Liu said. Those buildings were not designed to be residential buildings and yet there are many really quite wonderful renovations, countless, 1000s, of those that have been done in New England. If you can convert a mill building that was producing cotton or shoes into housing, I think that it wouldnt be a stretch to convert office buildings.

Although the Boston commercial real estate market has softened, its in much better shape than many other major cities.

According to www.commercialedge.com, the vacancy rate here is about 9% which is about half the national average.

Boston 25 News reached out to Mayor Wus office about converting office space and they said they didnt want to comment now.

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(Reuters) -Credit Suisse is nearing a deal to sell its securitized-products group to investors Apollo Global Management and Pacific Investment Management Co, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported about the development, said Credit Suisse will give details of the sale and other measures for a planned strategy change on Thursday.

The consortium including Pimco, a big bond manager, and Apollo, a large alternative asset manager, beat out a group comprised of Centerbridge Partners and Martello Re Ltd., a life and reinsurance company, the WSJ report added.

Credit Suisse and Pimco declined to comment, while Apollo, Centerbridge and Martello did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Last week, Reuters reported that money managers Janus Henderson Group and investment firms including Blue Owl Capital Inc are weighing potential offers for the Swiss bank's U.S. asset management unit.

The beleaguered Swiss lender is seeking buyers for its businesses as part of a multi-pronged effort to revise its strategy and raise capital following a string of scandals and financial setbacks.

The restructuring is being closely watched by Swiss regulator Finma, which is in regular contact with the bank, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, highlighting the sensitivity of the revamp.

But with just a day to go before Credit Suisse's strategic review update, it remains unclear what businesses can be sold and for what price - critical pieces in a jigsaw that will determine how much the bank may have to ask of shareholders.

(Reporting by Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru and Anirban Sen in New York; Additional reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Rashmi Aich)
By Praveen Menon and Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The cryptocurrency industry said on Wednesday it was disappointed with Australia's decision to continue treating digital currencies as assets for tax purposes, and not as foreign currency.

The government said in its budget announcement on Tuesday it would introduce legislation to enshrine the treatment of digital currencies such as Bitcoin as an asset.

This means investors would pay capital gains tax on profit from selling crypto assets through exchanges and when they trade digital assets.

The legislation removes uncertainty following the decision by El Salvador to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in September last year, the Australian government said in its budget announcement.

Australia said, however, government-issued digital currency, or central bank digital currency (CBDC), would be treated as foreign currency.

Around 90% of the world's central banks are now using, trialling or looking into CBDCs. Most don't want to be left behind by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but are grappling with technological complexities.

Mitchell Travers, a former cryptocurrency exchange operator and founder of blockchain consultant Soulbis, said the budget change was unclear and appeared at odds with government testing into the viability of a CBDC.

"It would be ill advised for the government to really take an enforcement approach to the taxation of crypto assets in its early stages, especially considering the fact that the Treasury is also investing in trying to migrate the traditional technology systems that back our financial system over towards digital assets," Travers said.

"It would be an ironic dichotomy if they were to enforce the taxation of digital assets and then launch their own CBDC without clear definitions of what token equals what tax treatment."

The crypto sector is largely unregulated in Australia and the Treasury said in August it would prioritise token mapping work, which will help identify how crypto assets and related services should be regulated.

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El Salvador, which adopted Bitcoin as legal tender last year, was left facing heavy economic losses from the huge drop in crypto prices.

"I think they are taking a snapshot in time and making an assessment for a long time around what happened in El Salvador and the price of bitcoin," said Caroline Bowler, CEO of BTC Markets, an Australia based cryptocurrency exchange, adding Australia will be left behind by other counties that are taking a more open-minded approach.

"Europeans are going to be pulling ahead, the U.K. now has a prime minister who is familiar with central bank digital currencies," Bowler said. "All these trading partners will be pulling ahead of Australia unless we are looking at proportional, responsible regulation."

(Reporting by Praveen Menon and Byron Kaye; editing by Lincoln Feast)
By Marc Frank

HAVANA (Reuters) - A few dozen U.S. entrepreneurs braved tough U.S. sanctions and Cubas worst economic crisis in decades to attend a conference in Havana on Wednesday focusing on the new private sector and aimed at boosting flagging engagement between the Cold War-era foes.

The Cuban Chamber of Commerce and Washington-based consultancy FocusCuba, which are hosting the gathering, said the three day event was the first such forum since at least 2018 when former U.S. President Donald Trump piled new sanctions on top of the decades-old trade embargo.

Both the Cuban and the U.S. delegations criticized the sanctions - most of which are still in place - and called on Democrat U.S. President Joseph Biden to drop his Republican predecessor's policies.

Cuban Chamber of Commerce President Antonio Luis Carricarte called the gathering in the famous Hotel Nacional an "historic day," praising the persistence of representatives in attendance from both side of the Straits of Florida.

During a brief thaw in relations under former President Barack Obama, hundreds of U.S. businesses arrived to explore opportunities on the all but forbidden Communist-run island nation.

Some, from cruise ship companies to Western Union Co and Starwood Hotels inked groundbreaking agreements, only to have new U.S. sanctions force them to renege. Others continue to do business.

The government has licensed Cubans to operate nearly 5,500 private small and medium sized businesses over the last year, in a first since Fidel Castro's 1959 Revolution, opening new possibilities for partnerships with foreign investors.

"Almost everything we do is with the new booming private sector," said Cuban-American Hugo , whose Miami-based Fuego Enterprises Inc operates an online food market that processes 4,000 orders in Cuba per day.

"It is important American businesses see this for themselves," said Cancio, who was attending the conference.

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U.S. entrepreneurs in attendance represent a range of industries from food services to online shopping, digital money transfers, shipping, and finance.

I think participants are seeking clarity in terms of what is possible with investment on the Cuban side in this new private sector, though any agreements must also be approved by U.S. regulators," said Phil Peters, founder of FocusCuba told Reuters. "We need more clarity there as well."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Biden administration has loosened some restrictions on Cuba around remittances, tourism and migration. It has also expressed interest in supporting Cuba's private sector.

(Reporting by Marc Frank; Additional reporting by Nelson Acosts in Havana and Steve Holland in Washington.; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
A Lawrence police officer was convicted in court Tuesday afternoon of raping a young boy he met on a dating app in 2018.

Carlos Vieira, 53, of Lawrence, was found guilty on 2 counts of aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. Vieiras bail was revoked and he was taken into custody, according to court officials.

The facts and circumstances surrounding this case are extremely troubling, said Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque. It is our hope that this verdict will give the victim and his family a sense of closure as they continue with the healing process.

According to the Essex County DA, Vieira met the 13-year-old victim on a social media app GRINDR in the late summer of 2018. They met at Mt. Vernon Park and engaged in sexual acts inside Vieiras SUV. When the victim and his family were evacuated following the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, he recognized Vieira, who was directing traffic.

The victims mother didnt learn of the sexual contact until a family dispute in January 2019. She immediately contacted authorities.

This verdict makes clear that no one is above the law and this young man was victimized by someone he should have been able to trust, Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. I am thankful to the trial team and everyone who assisted with the investigation.

A sentencing hearing for Vieira is scheduled for November 4th.

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Daniel Ricciardo would like more races in Austin but a shorter schedule. Steven Markham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

You can cross IndyCar off Daniel Ricciardo's future even though he won't drive in F1 next season.

Ricciardo called IndyCar ovals too scary.

Jimmie Johnson and Romain Grosjean said similar things after making the switch to IndyCar.

Daniel Ricciardo drives 200 mph (320 kph) for a living, but even he is not brave enough to make the switch to IndyCar thanks to their even-higher-speed ovals.

Ricciardo, the uber-popular Formula One driver for McLaren Racing, is not expected to have a seat when the music stops in the game of 2023 F1 driver musical chairs. But while some have speculated that North America's top open-wheel formula series, IndyCar, would be a logical next step, he shut that down pretty quickly, noting some of their races are just too scary.

"Fuck that, ovals scare me," Ricciardo said when Luke Smith of Motorsport asked about the possibility of making the jump. "My Formula One career-slash-ambition is not over, so that's really like first and foremost. I don't want to deviate, I would say primarily for that reason. But also ovals, nah. Ten years ago, I would have said yes. I'm OK to admit that I'm not OK with ovals."

Ricciardo's comments sound similar to those of big-name drivers who switched to IndyCar

Earlier this year, former F1 driver Romain Grosjean qualified for his first Indianapolis 500. After qualifying, he sounded glad that the entire experience was behind him, as the top cars regularly hit 240-242 mph (386-390 kph).

"It was scary," Grosjean said with a smile when asked about qualifying. "We tried everything we had to go fast and get some speed in the car, but it was definitely nerve-wracking. It wasn't easy. I used all the tools in the car. I'm glad it's behind me."

Romain Grosjean Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Another famed driver, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, moved to IndyCar in 2021 and initially vowed only to race on the road and street courses. He said his wife would never approve of the ludicrous speeds IndyCars reach in Indianapolis.

However, he changed his stance in 2022.

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After Johnson qualified at the Iowa oval in July, you could tell it was unlike anything he had ever experienced in a race car.

"Wow, that's the best cup of coffee you could ever have," Johnson said, later adding: "What a rush. To go that fast around a little oval like this  I have plenty of experience on ovals  it's just such a crazy experience."

Jimmie Johnson during IndyCar qualifying. Peacock TV

Ricciardo doesn't want to mess with NASCAR ovals either

Ricciardo, who grew up a fan of NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, said he also wouldn't race full-time in NASCAR because of the ovals. However, in this case, it was more about his lack of experience.

"I'd like to drive an oval just to kind of see what it's like, but I probably wouldn't want to compete because I just, I don't think I'll be competitive and wouldn't probably do it justice," Ricciardo told Insider before the Miami Grand Prix.

Ricciardo wouldn't completely rule out NASCAR, saying he would "leave the door open" to making an occasional appearance on a road course.

"A road course or something would be fun, but I'll walk before I can run," Ricciardo said. "It's such a different discipline that I'll want to do some testing and kind of see where I'm at. And let's say if that all went well and I had good confidence in the car, then, you know, I might put my hand up, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions. It's a very different beast.

"So I think to go into NASCAR, even if it was just a one-off race and to, let's say, to rub shoulders with so many guys that I've watched since I was a kid, I think that would also be a, a similar feeling [to racing with older F1 drivers when he was younger]."

This was a similar path taken by former F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, who made his NASCAR debut earlier this year at the Watkins Glen road course. In fact, Trackhouse Racing's "Project 91," which aims to bring international drivers to NASCAR for one-off appearances  such as Raikkonen  would seem like a perfect fit for Ricciardo.

Read the original article on Insider
Deputies in Fayette County are trying to identify two men caught on surveillance camera trying to break into a gun store.

Investigators say the pair of suspects pulled up to Autreys Armory in Fayetteville at 4 a.m. one morning in September and tried getting into the back of the store.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Detectives learned a 2015 Kia Optima that had been reported stolen was used in the incident.

The car had been stolen about nine miles away on Milam Road shortly before the attempted burglary. It was later found at a Shell gas station off of Hwy. 92.

TRENDING STORIES:

Surveillance images at the gas station showed a man climbing out of the stolen car through the window, going into the store and buying gas.

Anyone who knows the man should call investigators at 770-716-4828.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Derek Hough arrives at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 30th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 27, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic); The American Rescue Dog Show is the preeminent dog competition featuring rescued companions as they strut their fluff, competing for a slew of best in titles while stealing Americas hearts. These prized pups may be cute, but the competition is fierce. In the two-hour special, rescued dogs from all across the country will compete in seven categories including Best In Underbite, Best In Snoring, Best In Belly Rubs and more. A $10,000 donation to a local animal welfare organization will be made in honor of the winning dog in each category, and each category winner will have the chance to be named the Best In Rescue with an additional $100,000 donation being made in their honor. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (Ser Baffo via Getty Images) LESLIE JORDAN

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Ser Baffo/Getty

Derek Hough is lamenting that Leslie Jordan never had the opportunity to compete on Dancing with the Stars before his death.

Upon learning of a fan petition to have Jordan compete on DWTS, the professional dancer, 37, expressed his sadness for the late star, who died in a car accident at the age of 67 on Monday.

"His personality was so big, so grand and joyful It actually breaks my heart right now," he told Extra. "I wish I would have known that, because we would have [had him on the show]."

He continued, "Whenever I hear people like that who are vying to be on the show, I like to reach out and find ways that we can incorporate them somehow It breaks my heart that I wasn't able to do that."

Derek Hough is seen backstage at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 18, 2021 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Isaac Brekken/Getty Derek Hough

RELATED: Leslie Jordan Dead at 67

Jordan died in a car crash in Hollywood, California, after an apparent medical emergency, TMZ first reported. The LAPD confirmed to PEOPLE that the accident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time on Monday morning.

His death was also confirmed via his official Instagram on Monday afternoon, with a brief statement indicating how Jordan was still working in his final days.

"The love and light that Leslie shared will never go out and we invite you to share their memories and comfort each other during this time," the post read. "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."

Leslie Jordan attends "The Help" Los Angeles Premiere

Steve Granitz/WireImage

RELATED: Dolly Parton, Cardi B and More Pay Tribute to Leslie Jordan: 'Shocked as If I Have Lost a Family Member'

In addition to expressing his sadness over Jordan's death, Hough also confirmed during his interview that DWTS guest judge Michael Buble would perform at his upcoming wedding to fiancee Hayley Erbert.

He teased, "It's happening!"

"I pinch myself all the time, thinking, like, 'How am I good friends with this man?'" the television personality said of Grammy-winning musician. "I'm such a fan an icon who's just a good man and a good inspiration, a good role model."

Story continues

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert arrives at the Save the Children's "Centennial Celebration: Once In A Lifetime" Presented By The Walt Disney Company at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 02, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California

Steve Granitz/WireImage

RELATED: Derek Hough Says His Wedding to Hayley Erbert Is 'Going to Be a Full-On Festival'

In June, Hough told PEOPLE that he was enlisting performers for their big day.

"I'm not going to name names right now, but I've already asked a few people to perform at the wedding and they've already committed," Hough said at 4th Annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards. "So it's going to be a full-on festival  I'm very excited about it."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dancing with the Stars airs live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT Mondays on Disney+.
Tracy McCarter and her grandchild, alongside stickers advocating for McCarter shared on her website.

In March 2020, Tracy McCarter, a Black woman who had been physically abused by her estranged white husband, Jim Murray, came home to find him at her door. Murray had struggled with alcoholism for years, and a 2019 video shows him physically assaulting her. When McCarter let Murray into her home that night to help him, he demanded money from her and became violent, forcing McCarter to defend herself with a knife. He eventually died from a stab wound in the chest that night, and McCarter was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.



At the height of the pandemic, she spent six months on Rikers Island before a grand jury hearing for her case indicted her on the second-degree murder charge. Prosecutors notably declined to present evidence of Murrays violence toward McCarter, past police reports detailing his violent behavior, witness testimony that McCarter had administered CPR on him and screamed for help, or testimony that hed gone on a drunken bender throughout her building. The then-Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus Vance, permitted McCarter to be released on electronic monitoringstill barring her from continuing her work as a healthcare professional, completing her advanced degree at Columbia University, seeking the treatment she needs to recover, or visiting her family, including her first grandchild, who was born while she was incarcerated, a Color of Change petition for McCarter notes.

Read more

In September 2020, current Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggthen the chief deputy attorney general of New York who was running for his current officeresponded to McCarters indictment by tweeting out his support for her. I #StandWithTracy, he wrote, sharing a link to her story. Prosecuting a domestic violence survivor who acted in self-defense is unjust.

Two years later, Bragg, who won his election last November, is now prosecuting McCarter, and her trial is set to begin on Nov. 28. Thousands of her supporters have since called for Bragg to drop the charges against McCarter, citing Braggs previous support for her on the campaign trail. They delivered a petition with 21,000 supporters to Braggs office this week and hosted a rally for her on Monday.

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Braggwho once called McCarter a domestic violence survivor who acted in self-defense and the charges against her unjusthas the power to drop charges against McCarter, her supporters say. And to their point, it wouldnt be unprecedented: Bragg dropped charges against a bodega worker who stabbed a violent customer in self-defense, back in July.

While @ManhattanDA @AlvinBraggNYC parades around falsely claiming his office somehow *cant* drop the case against Tracy McCarter, other DA offices are demonstrating what we all know: a DA can reevaluate and drop a case whenever it wants to. End the lies! #FreeTracy #FreeThemAll https://t.co/bVn6BU28IS pic.twitter.com/zbADK45Dnt  Survived & Punished NY (@survivepunishNY) September 29, 2022

Bragg previously proposed a plea deal in which McCarter would enter an Alford plea (not requiring an admission of guilt) for second-degree manslaughter and menacing. Per the proposed deal, if shes not arrested for separate crimes in the next year, the manslaughter conviction would be vacated, leaving her only with a misdemeanor menacing charge. In August, Bragg also submitted a motion to reduce the charges from second-degree murder to manslaughter. The judge overseeing McCarters case has stated shell neither accept the Alford plea from McCarter nor accept Braggs motion to reduce the charges.

In a statement to Jezebel, Emily Tuttle, a spokesperson for Braggs office, said the dignity and wellbeing of survivors is at the center of the Offices work, and the Special Victims Division leadership supervising this case has deep experience in survivor-centered and trauma-informed practice. But because this case is open and pending, Braggs office declined to comment further on the specifics of McCarters case and the decision to not drop charges, instead emphasizing its offers to reduce the charges and propose a plea deal.

McCarters supporters insist that Bragg could do more to support her. McCarter herself, who remains active on social media ahead of her trial, last month shared a tweet from the organization Survived & Punished NY, stating that Bragg is falsely claiming his office somehow *cant* drop the case against her, despite how other district attorneys offices have dropped charges against survivors who acted in self-defense, and urging Bragg to end the lies!



[Bragg] is really trying to deceive New Yorkers into thinking hes done everything he can, theyve offered plea deals, and all thatbut ultimately, that is meaningless, because theyve admitted that she is a survivor of domestic violence and do not believe that it was murder, Siobhan Dingwall, an organizer at Survived & Punished NY whos working with McCarter on her case, told Jezebel. For two-and-a-half years, Tracy has been punished at every turn. We wont stand for the manipulation from [Bragg], especially knowing that he exploited Tracys story to win his campaign, now only to turn around and continue prosecuting her because its politically convenient, and he doesnt want to be accused of being soft on crime. McCarter, Dingwall points out, hasnt been convicted of any crime.

While speaking at the rally on Monday, Samah Sisay, another organizer at Survived & Punished NY, said the criminal legal system has become another abuser to [McCarter]. In a press release shared with Jezebel, Susan Hadley, a civil rights organizer with the criminal justice organization VOCAL-NY, called McCarter a Black woman who is being prosecuted for daring to survive.

What @ManhattanDA is claiming is impossible is, in fact, possible.



The demand is clear. Drop the charges against Tracy McCarter NOW. Stop prosecuting survivors.



Accountability matters, and we must hold DA Alvin Bragg accountable for keeping his promise to #StandWithTracy.  pic.twitter.com/1vqXiqN7qr  ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) October 25, 2022

Cases like McCarters have been commonplace for years. A 2015 survey found about a quarter of women who called police to report intimate partner violence were arrested or threatened with arrest, themselves.



In 2012, a woman named Marissa Alexander defended herself from her abusive husband by firing a warning shot that caused no physical harm. She was prosecuted and sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. In 2014, Nan-Hui Jo escaped her abusive, American citizen partner and took her young child to seek safety. She was then arrested for child abduction and portrayed by prosecutors as a manipulative illegal immigrant attempting to game U.S. systems, rather than a victim. Also in 2014, Marcela Rodriguez called the police for help during a domestic violence incident. Instead, the police arrested and turned her over to ICE, forcing her into deportation proceedings. And most famously, Cyntoia Brown was imprisoned for 15 years for killing her abuser while she was a child sex trafficking victim.

On top of sharing McCarters story, Dingwall says New Yorkers who want to support her should remember that the district attorney is an elected position. [Bragg is] a representative of the people who needs to listen to our demands, she said, and he can be held accountable in future reelection campaigns.

As we await her trial next month, McCarter should be known as more than a survivor who had to act in self-defense, Dingwall told Jezebel. Shes a nurse, an advocate, an artist, a writer. She loves her community, she loves music, and deserves to be free and heal from this experience.

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FALL RIVER  The Bristol County District Attorneys office has dropped domestic charges against Andrew Crook, a Fall River police lieutenant and former Somerset School Committee chairman.

According to court records, Crook, 48, of Somerset, was scheduled for a bench trial on Oct. 17 on two counts of assault and battery on a family member and threatening to commit a crime, but the charges were dismissed due to a lack of prosecution.

Bristol County District Attorney spokesman Gregg Miliote said the alleged victim in the case made several attempts to have the case dismissed, and indicated that she would not cooperate with prosecutors.

After a review of the case and all potential evidence, we could not proceed without her testimony on the domestic charges, said Miliote in an emailed response.

On the same day the domestic charges were dismissed, Fall River District Court Judge Cynthia M. Brackett ruled on an OUI charge against the veteran police officer, ordering 18 months of a continuance without a finding in her disposition of the case.

Fall River police lieutenant Andrew Crook during his arraignment on domestic charges and OUI last July.

According to Somerset attorney Steven Sabra, the judges order and the conditions she imposed technically means that a defendant admits that there are sufficient facts in the case for a guilty verdict.

But a guilty finding doesnt get entered for whatever time a judge decides, and if a defendant complies with all the terms of the continuance, then it ends up being dismissed at the end of that period of time, said Sabra.

In addition, the judge ordered Crook, a 22-year FRPD officer, to lose his driver's license for 45 days, and continue with any current treatment for alcohol that hes receiving.

FRPD issues: Another Fall River police officer is fired. This is the third cop firing since January.

Legal issues started in May

Crooks legal problems began last May when he was arrested for his first of two domestic assault and battery charges on a family member. Six weeks later, on July 10, an intoxicated Crook was arrested on a domestic charge again after the being taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital.

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Three days later Crook had another run-in with Somerset police when he called 911, reporting hed been in a traffic accident. Somerset officers found Crook in his Dodge Challenger, parked in the lot of Riverview Inn and Suites.

He failed two field sobriety tests and containers of alcohol were reportedly found in his vehicle.

At his arraignment, a judge ordered him to enter an alcohol rehabilitation facility, then be place on home confinement with a relative before his hearing last week.

Somerset School Committee: School bus safety issues discussed

Crook's leave continues

After his arrest in May, Crook's badge and license to carry a firearm were taken by FRPD and he was assigned to desk duty at police headquarters.

Crook, who served one term as a Somerset School Committee member and voted chairman in 2019, was placed on paid administrative leave after his two arrests in July.

Fall River Police Chief Paul Gauvin said at this point Crook remains on administrative leave and an internal investigation is ongoing "until the finality of the internal investigation and the determination of discipline."

FRPD issues: Another Fall River police officer is fired. This is the third cop firing since January.

Crook will also have to answer to the recently created Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, which oversees the state's new certification process for police officers in the Commonwealth.

The POST Commission also has the ability to suspend or revoke certifications of police officers, a requirement for their employment in law enforcement.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Domestic charges dropped against Fall River police lieutenant
Dr Mehmet Oz has said he would not support a federal abortion if elected to the US Senate, arguing the issue ought to be left up to the individual states.

Speaking at a debate with Democrat John Fetterman, designed to help voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania decide on their candidate, the one-time television celebrity was asked if he would back a bill being proposed by fellow Republican Lindsay Graham.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a federal bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks. I know that youve been asked about this question before. If the vote were held today, you were elected senator, youre on the Senate floor, the clerk calls you theres a roll call vote - are you a yay or nay, Mr Oz was asked, saying he had 30 seconds to answer.

The 62-year-old was quick to respond.

I dont even need 30 seconds - Ill give you a bigger answer, he said. I am not going to support federal rules that block the ability of states to do what they wish to do.

He added: Abortion decisions should be left to the states.

Mr Fetterman appeared sluggish at times, the result his of still ongoing recovery after suffering a stroke earlier this year.

Reports said doctors said his verbal halts did not represent a problem with his brain, but rather an auditory processing disorder.

As it was, he was at his most fluent when answering the same question.

I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. You know if you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr Oz, then you have a choice, he said.

But if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for. Roe v Wade for me is should be the law. He celebrated when Roe v Wade went down and my campaign would fight for Roe v Wade and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.

John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz debate ahead of election for US Senate seat in Pennsylvania (Screen grab)

After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe this summer, various states have been scrambing on how to respond.

In September, Mr Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, introduced a bill to create a federal ban on abortions at 15 weeks.

For such a bill to get passed, it would require Republicans to retake control of both chambers of Congress.
A drought in the Great Plains and the Midwest has quickly grown in its size and severity in the last month, according to an update released Wednesday by the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Currently, 60% of the North Central U.S. is in moderate to exceptional drought with 30% in severe drought or worse according to NIDIS, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The worst-hit areas include Kansas, where 30% of the state is in exceptional drought, and Nebraska, which is 12% in exceptional drought. Smaller parts of Colorado, Missouri and South Dakota are as badly affected.

Drought conditions in July forced the state of Colorado to order an emergency public fish salvage for Queens Reservoir. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/Denver Post via Getty Images)

While the entire Midwest has been in a worsening drought for months, the western portions of the region  the Missouri River Basin and the Great Plains  have been hit the hardest. Water has dropped to record low levels on the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers, NIDIS reported, which has impeded boats and shipping. In total, 86% of the North Central U.S. is abnormally dry or worse.

Over the last four weeks, many areas, particularly across the Midwest, have worsened by at least one drought category on the U.S. Drought Monitor and in some areas by two to three categories, NIDIS reported in its update. Drought has intensified most rapidly across southern Missouri, Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and northern Iowa.

The water scarcity is causing dried-out soil  a major problem for the famously agricultural region, sometimes called Americas breadbasket. Last Saturday, Agence-France Presse reported that farmers in Kansas and Nebraska are seeing crop yields in freefall, with some fields too damaged to harvest. The Department of Agriculture recently lowered its projected yields of wheat, corn and soybeans.

"[Farmers] who are in their 70s and 80s are saying, you know, they havent even experienced anything like this in their lifetime, Marc Ramsey, whose family has farmed in western Kansas for a century, told AFP. So it's pretty bad."

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A farmer harvests soybeans near Wyatt, Mo. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Droughts are increasingly common and more severe because of climate change, as warmer air causes greater evaporation and precipitation is affected by extremes of drought and heavy rain. The Midwestern drought has become worse in the last month due to light rainfall. Most of the region has received only between 5% and 50% of its normal precipitation.

While the recent rapid intensification of drought has been most prominent across the Midwest, severe drought has persisted for up to two years across portions of the Missouri River Basin/Great Plains, NIDIS noted.

The Midwest is not the only region in the country experiencing long-running drought. Much of the West is in the grip of a 22-year drought that is causing water levels in reservoirs on the Colorado River to drop to what the United Nations Environment Programme described in August as dangerously low levels.

Even typically wet regions such as the Northeast experienced drought this summer, which featured record-breaking heat waves, wildfires and droughts across the Northern Hemisphere. Dropping water levels in lakes and rivers due to droughts have also exposed long-buried secrets from bodies in Lake Mead in Nevada to dinosaur prints in Texas, Nazi warships in Serbia and ancient Buddhist statues in China.
Early voting in Georgia has surpassed 1 million two weeks ahead of the midterms, smashing records for early voter turnout.

Congratulations, Georgia voters! Weve reached 1 MILLION cast votes. Election officials deserve our thanks for rising to the challenge & working hard to serve our communities, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said on Twitter Tuesday night.

As of late Tuesday, the secretary of states ballot tracker had logged 1,017,732 votes cast in Georgias second week of early voting, which will continue through Nov. 4.

Georgians showed up in record numbers for the first day of early voting earlier this month, exceeding the first-day turnout for the 2018 midterm elections and nearing the turnout for the 2020 presidential election year.

Early Voting is strong because Georgias voter registration system is strong, said Raffensperger (R) in a statement earlier this week.

But Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who has long focused on voter rights in the state, said Monday that voter suppression, particularly among communities of color, is still a concern even amid record turnout.

Abrams is challenging Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R). Also on the ballot in the state is the closely watched Senate race between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and GOP nominee Herschel Walker.

Georgias turnout contributes to more than 11 million Americans nationwide who have already cast their ballots ahead of the midterms, according to the United States Elections Project.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Getty Images)

Elon Musk has overtaken Jeff Bezos to become the worlds richest person, having seen his wealth rise from $25 billion to nearly $200bn in less than a year.

The billionaire polymath is best known as the boss of electric car company Tesla and private rocket firm SpaceX, however he also heads brain-tech startup Neuralink and The Boring Company, which aims to solve traffic in cities by digging tunnel networks.

Before any of these ventures, Musk gained notoriety in Silicon Valley as the co-founder of online payments platform X.com, which went on to become PayPal.

Each new project has been financed, at least in part, by funds generated from previous business successes, with each new effort becoming ever more ambitious.

Ultimately, Musk hopes to transform humanity into a multi-planetary species by establishing a self-sufficient colony on Mars, while simultaneously solving some of the biggest challenges back on Earth, including climate change and the perceived threat from advanced artificial intelligence.

After overtaking Bezos on 7 January to claim the title as the worlds richest person, Musk reiterated his pledge to use his wealth for what he believes is the greater good for the world.

(The Independent)

You should ask why I would want money. The reason is not what you think. Very little time for recreation. Dont have vacation homes or yachts or anything like that, he stated in a short Twitter thread republished from 2018.

About half my money is intended to help problems on Earth and half to help establish a self-sustaining city on Mars to ensure the continuation of life (of all species) in case Earth gets hit by a meteor like the dinosaurs or WW3 happens and we destroy ourselves.

Musk also donates periodically to charity, putting out a call on Twitter this week for ideas on ways to donate money that really make a difference.

In May 2020, Musk tweeted that he planned to sell almost all physical possessions  a promise he delivered on before 2021 by selling three of his California homes for a combined total of $41 million.

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He has since moved to Texas, where he will pay no state income taxes, in order to be closer to the development of SpaceXs Mars-bound spacecraft Starship.

(The Independent)

In 2018, Musk revealed that he planned to finance SpaceXs Mars plans by selling a major stake in Tesla at some point in the future. At the time, Tesla shares were worth around $60. Today, they are worth close to $900.

Teslas fortunes have largely driven Musks own net worth, which is now equivalent to the annual GDP of a small-to-medium sized country.

If Musks wealth was ranked alongside the GDP of every country in the world, he would be the 50th richest country in the world, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.

Calculated in another way, if Musks net worth was distributed evenly among all 328 million citizens in the US, each person would receive roughly $600  the same amount the US government handed out as a stimulus check during the pandemic.
Elon Musk arrives at Twitter HQ carrying a sink (Twitter)

Elon Musk bizarrely showed up at Twitters San Francisco headquarters carrying a kitchen sink as the Tesla boss closes in on his $44bn purchase of the social media platform.

Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! the worlds richest person tweeted with a video of him in the lobby of the building on Wednesday.

The closing of the long-running deal has not yet been made official and Mr Musk was given by a Delaware judge until Friday 28 October to complete it.

The worlds richest person renewed his attempt to buy the company earlier this month after trying to back out of the purchase.

Mr Musk agreed to buy the company for $54.20 a share in April, but by July had indicated that he had changed his mind, citing bot and spam issues.

Twitter then sued him in Delaware Chancery Court to force the deal to go through. In his letter to Twitter, Mr Musk agreed to pay the full price but said that was contingent on securing the necessary funding to pay it.

The intention of the company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share, Twitter said in a statement after receiving the letter.

If the deal goes through next Friday, Mr Musk would immediately become its new owner.

During Teslas quarterly earnings call last week, Mr Musk admitted that he was obviously overpaying for San Francisco-based Twitter.

But he said that he was excited about the Twitter situation and described the company as an asset with incredible potential that has sort of languished for a long time.

Mr Musk has suggested that buying Twitter is the first step in creating an everything app he calls X, which could be modelled after Chinas WeChat.

He has also hinted that the platform will protect free speech and allow the return of banned users such as Donald Trump, whose account was locked after the January 6 insurrection by his supporters.
The top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are pressing the president of Boston University for more information about the institutions recent COVID-19 research.

Earlier this month, researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine published findings from a pre-print study in which they combined the ancestral coronavirus with genetic data from the circulating omicron strain.

The school has vehemently pushed back against reports that the research was gain of function, a controversial method where researchers make a pathogen more infectious, often to develop more effective treatments and vaccines. School officials said the research actually made the virus replicate less dangerously.

In a letter sent Tuesday, Energy and Commerce ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.); Rep. Brett Guthrie (Ky.), the top Republican on the health subcommittee; and Rep. Morgan Griffith (Va.), the top Republican on the oversight and investigations subcommittee, asked the university to provide a copy of its safety protocols, copies of the terms for its funding grants and other documents.

The National Institutes of Health said it did not review nor issue awards for the experiments described in the article, and is examining the matter to determine whether the research should have been subject to agency guidelines.

Boston University has stated that the research did not have to be cleared, because the experiments were carried out with funds from the university and that there was no gain of function with the research.

The lawmakers also asked for Boston University to provide a staff briefing with subject matter experts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A view shows a fifth thermal power plant hit by a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv (Reuters)

Russia is committing energy genocide by bombing nearly half of Ukraines power infrastructure, the government has said as Ukrainian officials warned the damage could spark Europes worst humanitarian catastrophe since the Second World War.

Speaking to The Independent, energy minister German Galushchenko said Russia wanted to sow darkness and despair with daily en masse strikes on the electricity supply chain, which together with the occupation of facilities, has left many without power.

He said at least 40 per cent of its total energy infrastructure has been damaged, including massive destruction to green generation facilities.

In total, 90 per cent of Ukraines wind generation and 40 per cent of their solar power capacity has been decommissioned, he added.

Mr Galushchenko spoke as Ukrainian energy officials warned the wave of strikes since 10 October was likely the largest attack on energy infrastructure in history.

They said the situation was so critical that Ukraine has had to stop providing electricity to the European Union, exports which had been helping Europe to replace Russian energy resources.

Russia cannot win on the battlefield by giving in to our armed forces, so it has decided to go down the path of energy genocide, Mr Galushchenko said.

The Russians are intentionally attacking our energy facilities right now, when the cold has started and energy supply is of particular value to citizens. Their plan is to sow not only darkness but also despair among Ukrainians.

He urged the countrys Western partners to provide more air defence systems that could be deployed specifically to protect energy and nuclear facilities.

People standing as darkness descends in downtown Kyiv (EPA)

We fight for [Europe] too. And we hope that your support will continue because our skies still need protection, he implored.

Ukraines energy companies also sounded the alarm.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chairman of Ukrenergo, Ukraines grid operator, told The Independent the barrage of strikes was the biggest attack on energy infrastructure in history.

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The scale of these attacks is unseen in the world, he said. We are speaking about hundreds of missiles launched specifically at electricity transmission infrastructure. I cannot remember any other instance [where] we have seen such a scale of destruction.

Meanwhile, Antonina Antosha, from DTEK, the largest private energy investor in Ukraine which controls multiple power plants, warned the damage will leave millions of people in the country without light and heat, sparking the biggest humanitarian disaster since 1945.

We are convinced that this is only the beginning and that attacks on other objects will continue. The craziest scenario is an attack on a nuclear power plant, she added.

Ukraine has been plunged into darkness by an unprecedented wave of Russian strikes on the energy grid, right as a bitter winter approaches.

Moscow has repeatedly acknowledged targeting energy infrastructure but denies targeting civilians or violating international law since President Putin launched his invasion of the country in February.

Their plan is to sow not only darkness, but also despair among Ukrainians

German Galushchenko, Ukraine energy minister

However, Amnesty International and other rights groups have said the attacks on the facilities could amount to war crimes.

The Russian army clearly intends to undermine industrial production, disrupt transportation, sow fear and despair and deprive civilians in Ukraine of heat, electricity and water as the cold grip of winter approaches, said Marie Struthers, the groups Eastern Europe and Central Asia director.

The morale of the civilian population is not a lawful target, and carrying out these attacks with the sole purpose of terrorising civilians is a war crime, she added.

President Zelensky has personally appealed to citizens to reduce energy consumption, as scheduled four-hour power cuts have been rolled out across the country to stabilise the embattled grid.

The energy ministry said that civilians had responded to the call already, reducing consumption nationally by up to 10 per cent. But that is still not enough to halt needed planned power cuts which are expected to get much longer, with Kyiv officials warning citizens last week to brace for up to a week without power.

The pressure on the system has become so severe deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged Ukrainian refugees to stay away.

In a TV interview on Tuesday, Ms Vereshchuk told Ukrainians currently sheltering abroad that they should wait until spring before returning home.

She said the grid wont survive the return of refugees from abroad, and that the situation would only get worse.

Mr Galushchenko told The Independent a major part of the problem they were facing was that after they carried out repair and restoration work, sites would often be bombed again.

Power outages are seen in Kyiv city centre (Getty)

At least 54 workers in the energy industry have been killed, often in double-tap attacks on electricity distribution systems, trunk networks, substations and thermal generation, Mr Galushchenko said.

The enemys goal is to make it difficult to reconnect the power supply from other sources. Often they fire at the same objects over and over again until they are completely destroyed, he added.

Kudrytskyi said that Ukraine believes Russia is using Soviet-era maps of Ukraine, coupled with open-source information to precisely strike the grid.

He said they were hitting Ukrenegos substations sometimes with six or seven rounds of shelling at one time.

Often Russians repeat the attack, like a double tap, sometimes a triple-tap attack, he added, saying that five of their personnel have been killed.

Ms Antosha, of DTEK, warned that these blackouts could mean that civilians will die, as temperatures dip well below zero.

Of the six thermal power plants under DTEKs control, five of them have already been attacked. Ten employees have been injured and one killed.

There are also concerns about Ukraines renewable energy sector.

Ukraine had sought to diversify the energy sector before the war, with officials boasting of rapid growth of its green energy sector that pre-war provided the country with about 11 per cent of the countrys total energy mix. Since the invasion about 90 per cent of wind and about 50 per cent of solar power has been decommissioned.

There are also growing fears about the countrys nuclear power plants.

Russia has occupied the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) since March. It is the largest in Europe and can produce more than 6,000 MW of power.

A part of Kyiv in darkness during cyclical power cutoffs (EPA)

Ukraine claims around 500 soldiers and military vehicles are occupying the power plant and that Ukrainian personnel working there have been tortured and coerced into working.

In an attempt to disconnect the ZNPP from Ukraines power system, the Russians have already put the plant into blackout mode three times by firing at the power lines that provide its power, Minister Galushchenko said.

At that time, [the plant] was working on diesel generators, which could also be fired upon by the Russian military forces at any moment. And then the Fukushima scenario may await us.

He called on Russian troops and personnel to immediately leave the nuclear plant and for the International Atomic Energy Agency to create a neutral zone where neither Russian nor Ukrainian military are present.

The European Commission has urged European Union countries and companies to donate more money and equipment to support the energy sector in Ukraine.

But the energy ministry said it needed air defence systems to halt the strikes, as reconstructing power plants and substations was pointless if they get hit again.

Our skies still need protection. Protection, including for energy and nuclear facilities, he said. We need air defence systems, we needed them yesterday.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it will grant temporary protected status to Ethiopians who were in the U.S. as of October 20. Due to the civil war happening in Ethiopia, citizens of the nation are eligible to apply regardless of their visa status or other documentation.

An 18-month stay and the ability to apply for work permits will grant temporary protected status to eligible Ethiopians in the U.S. through an application process. The status also shields immigrants from potential deportation.

The civil war, or Tigray War as it is also known, has been ongoing since 2020 after years of increasing tensions between the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The status grants protection to citizens of countries where conditions are too unsafe for them to return, whether because of natural disaster, armed conflict, or other catastrophes.

Photo Credit: Yohannes Minas

For those not familiar with the current state of affairs, Twitter user @zemensberhe shared a video originally created by @dylan.page on TikTok:

Protection From A War Torn Homeland

According to U.S. officials, an estimated 26,700 Ethiopians will be eligible to apply for the program. The announcement comes as the war between Ethiopian government forces and the Tigrayan minority continues, putting civilians at risk of numerous human rights violations.

The United States recognizes the ongoing armed conflict and the extraordinary and temporary conditions engulfing Ethiopia, and DHS is committed to providing temporary protection to those in need, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement. Ethiopian nationals currently residing in the U.S. who cannot safely return due to conflict-related violence and a humanitarian crisis involving severe food shortages, flooding, drought and displacement will be able to remain and work in the United States until conditions in their home country improve.

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Initially reported by the LA Times, about 356,000 people in the U.S. were born in Ethiopia or are of Ethiopian ancestry, according to the Migration Policy Institutes analysis of U.S. census data.

Requested help from the Biden administration

Politicians and immigrant advocates have called on the Biden administration to extend temporary protected status to Ethiopians as the civil war has intensified.

Protecting Ethiopians, the second-largest community of Africans in the United States, from return to untenable conditions is a vital statement to Ethiopia and our allies that our nation is restoring its commitment to human rights, globally and at home, dozens of immigrant advocates and leaders wrote in 2021. In addition, like many TPS holders, Ethiopians have served as essential workers during the pandemic, contributing to the economy and enriching U.S. communities.

The U.S. State Department is warning Americans not to travel to the Tigray region due to armed conflict, civil unrest and crime.

Whenever you hear there is a bombing  I hope and pray they didnt get their home and wait until next time I hear from them. It sometimes takes awhile, Remhai Menelik of San Francisco said of her relatives in Ethiopia.

Menelik, who runs a nonprofit called Free Tigray, said in a statement:

Ethiopia is not a place Tigrayans can actually live and survive right now.

Related: Ethiopia Confronts Sexual Violence With #MeToo Hashtag After Surviving R. Kelly | The Ethiopian Spirit
(Reuters) -European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday she spoke with new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and is looking forward to working on issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change.

The bloc is also working on finding joint solutions under the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland that will provide stability and predictability, von der Leyen said in a tweet.

Sunak told von der Leyen his preference for exploring a negotiated solution to the current issues on the Northern Ireland Protocol, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a separate statement.

"The Prime Minister and President von der Leyen looked forward to meeting in person soon," the statement added, without mentioning any details of when that might take place.

(Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama in Bengaluru; editing by Diane Craft and Bill Berkrot)
Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP

Mumia Abu-Jamal, the best known of the African American radicals incarcerated for decades for their actions during the black liberation struggle of the 1970s and 80s, is petitioning a Pennsylvania court for a new trial after the discovery of fresh evidence that casts doubt on his conviction.

Abu-Jamals case will come before the court of common pleas in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The hearing could be one of the prisoners last attempts at freedom after more than 40 years behind bars, including two decades on death row, for the murder of a white police officer  a crime for which he has always insisted he is innocent.

The former Black Panther and radical journalist is 68 and has long struggled with serious heart conditions and other health problems. He was moved off death row in 2011, but since then has been held on life without parole.

Related: The Black Panthers still in prison: after 46 years, will they ever be set free?

Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering Daniel Faulkner on 9 December 1981 in Philadelphia. At about 4am that morning the prisoners younger brother, William Cook, was stopped in his car by the police officer.

Abu-Jamal, then working as a taxi driver, coincidentally passed them by and came to his brothers assistance. A shooting spree ensued and Faulkner was shot and killed while Abu-Jamal was also shot in the stomach.

He was put on trial in 1982, found guilty and sentenced to death. Flaws and inconsistencies in the prosecution case have been revealed, generating worldwide concern about the justice of his prolonged imprisonment.

In 2000 Amnesty International investigated the case and, without taking a definitive stand on his guilt or innocence, concluded that numerous aspects of this case clearly failed to meet minimum international standards.

Wednesdays petition relates to six filing boxes marked with the prisoners name that were found in a storage room in the Philadelphia district attorneys office in December 2018. The existence of the boxes were disclosed to Abu-Jamals lawyers the following month.

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His lawyers, Judith Ritter and Samuel Spital, argue in the petition that the boxes contained highly significant evidence which the commonwealth never previously disclosed. The new evidence shows that their clients conviction was tainted.

One of the documents found in the boxes is a handwritten letter sent from the states star witness at trial, Robert Chobert, to the prosecutor, Joseph McGill. I have been calling you to find out about the money own (sic) to me, Chobert writes. Do you need me to sign anything. How long will it take to get it.

Chobert was one of only two witnesses at the trial who claimed to have seen Abu-Jamal shoot the police officer. No other evidence directly connected the defendant to the killing.

Abu-Jamals lawyers argue that the letter indicates that Chobert understood there to be some prior agreement or understanding between himself and the prosecution, such that the prosecution owed him money for his testimony.

The state has disputed that interpretation, saying that Chobert asked for money to compensate himself for lost earnings after the trial had finished and that the prosecutor merely said he would look into it.

The second witness who testified she had seen Abu-Jamal shoot Faulkner was Cynthia White, a prostitute with 38 previous arrests on her record. She was in prison in Massachusetts at the time of the trial, and had five current criminal cases pending against her.

Among the documents in the boxes were letters from the DAs office to prosecutors involved in each of the five pending criminal cases against White. Abu-Jamals lawyers argue that the letters reveal a concerted effort by Mr McGill and several Philadelphia DA unit chiefs to bring Ms White back from Massachusetts, secure an early trial date in order to expedite her release and ultimately allow her cases to be dismissed for lack of prosecution.

Such favourable treatment, they suggest, was designed to make life easier for her in exchange for her testimony against Abu-Jamal.

The lawyers also point to a third cause for concern. In the boxes were the handwritten notes that McGill kept as he was filtering out possible jurors for the trial during jury selection.

The notes show that the prosecutor placed a large letter B next to any prospective juror who was black. During jury selection, McGill struck 15 people from the pool  10 were black and five non-black.

Related: Black powers coolest radicals (but also a gang of ruthless killers)

The prosecutor blocked 71% of all potential black jurors from sitting on the final jury, compared with only 20% of all non-black panelists. It is a violation of federal law to strike potential members from the jury on the grounds of race.

Abu-Jamal was born Wesley Cook and grew up in a low-income black neighborhood of Philadelphia. He became involved in black resistance as a teenager in the late 1960s after he came across the Black Panther partys newspaper.

A sister gave me a copy of the Black Panther newspaper and I was dazzled. I made up my mind to become one of them, he told the Guardian in 2018.

As part of his work with the Panthers he was one of the first to visit the house in Chicago in December 1969 shortly after one of the movements leaders, Fred Hampton, was shot and killed by police as he was sleeping in bed. We saw the bullet holes, which raked the walls. We saw the mattress, swollen with Freds blood. I was 15, he told the Guardian.

He left the Black Panthers in 1970, thereafter working as a journalist. He was a prominent supporter of Philadelphias black liberation group, Move.

Abu-Jamal is the author of several books, including a collection of prison writings, Live from Death Row.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Lebanese presidency is set to fall vacant on Oct. 31 unless the main powerbrokers can strike a deal on the election of a successor to Michel Aoun, raising the prospect of a vacuum at a time of deep financial crisis.

Reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon's sectarian system, the presidency has been left empty several times since the 1975-90 civil war. What makes electing a president so difficult, what's at stake, and who are the candidates?

WHY SO COMPLICATED?

The president is elected in a secret ballot by lawmakers in the 128-member parliament, where seats are evenly divided between Muslim and Christian sects.

But voting thresholds mean that no single faction or alliance in Lebanon's polarized politics has enough seats to impose their choice.

This ties the process to complex bargaining over wider issues, including the divvying up of seats in the new cabinet that takes office after the new president is sworn in.

The powerful Shi'ite group Hezbollah, which plays a bigger role than ever in government, has said there should be consensus on a candidate, effectively requiring the party's approval.

The presidency was vacant for 29 months before Aoun - a Hezbollah ally - became head of state in a 2016 deal which saw Sunni Muslim politician Saad al-Hariri return as prime minister.

International rivalries, which have long played out in Lebanon's domestic crises, can also complicate the process.

Hezbollah and its allies have close ties to Shi'ite-led Iran and Syria, while their opponents in the Christian and Sunni communities look to the West and Sunni-led Gulf Arab states.

Aoun's predecessor - Michel Suleiman - took office in 2008 in a deal brokered in Qatar that defused a power struggle between Hezbollah and its allies, and rivals backed by Saudi Arabia and the West.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THE FINANCIAL CRISIS?

The ruling elite have done little to address the financial crisis that has impoverished many people and frozen savers out of cash in the paralysed banking system for three years.

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The vacuum could further complicate steps to address it.

In the event of a vacuum, presidential powers should pass to cabinet led by Sunni Muslim Prime Minister Najib Mikati. But his cabinet has been serving in a caretaker role since a May parliamentary election, and is not fully empowered.

Analysts say this means it will be unable to take major decisions, including concluding international agreements.

This could complicate the finalisation of a draft deal with the International Monetary Fund to unlock badly-needed aid - assuming ruling politicians finally enact the long-delayed reforms needed to seal the deal.

Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami has said Lebanon could still submit its progress to the IMF board for review and approval of the funds, but he was not sure if the final deal would require presidential approval.

WHO MIGHT EVENTUALLY BECOME PRESIDENT?

The Maronite community is more politically fractured than others in Lebanon, giving rise to many presidential hopefuls.

One of them is Suleiman Frangieh - an ally of Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and seen as a strong contender until the Shi'ite group and its allies lost their parliamentary majority in May.

Hezbollah has not yet declared its support for anyone.

Anti-Hezbollah lawmaker Michel Mouawad has won the most votes in four unsuccessful presidential election sessions so far, but not enough to win.

Lebanon's last three presidents were all former army commanders and army commander General Joseph Aoun is seen as a possible compromise candidate.

But analysts and political sources say he would face opposition, notably from the Maronite politician Gebran Bassil, President Aoun's son-in-law and a presidential hopeful himself.

(Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Eleven people were arrested in Washington and California on Tuesday, in connection to three drug trafficking groups responsible for trafficking more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and 330,000 fentanyl pills.

The two indictments charge 11 people after a search and seizure of 14 locations in Washington and California, where two kilos of fentanyl, 4.5 kilos of heroin, ten pounds of methamphetamine and 67 firearms were seized. Law enforcement also seized high-capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, two sets of body armor and a ballistic shield.

In September, law enforcement also seized 1,016 pounds of meth, 9 kilos of fentanyl powder, 330,000 fentanyl pills, 25 kilos of cocaine and 15.5 kilos of heroin.

Six additional people were arrested and indicted in September.

These individuals were bringing large loads of meth, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico across the border and up I-5 to the Pacific Northwest, said U.S. Attorney Brown. Even when an RV loaded with drugs was pulled off the highway and seized by law enforcement, they werent deterred. The wiretap revealed various organizations continued to recruit drivers and vehicles to transport their drugs throughout our District.

Law enforcement also seized 43 guns and more than $1 million in cash.

Dangerous people are filling our streets with guns and drugs  and people are dying, said Seattle Police Chief Adrian Z. Diaz. The entire SPD, including its officers and investigators, have made getting firearms and illegal narcotics off our streets a top priority. We know this monthslong investigation, arrests, and seizures will result in lives saved. With more than 350,000 fentanyl pills taken by SPDs narcotics unit alone this year and shootings in Seattle up 29% in 2022, we thank our local and federal partners for their help in prioritizing this lifesaving work.

Those named in the indictments unsealed Tuesday include:

Jose Paleo, 29, of La Mirada, California

Octavio Guzman, 24, of Huntington Park, California

Glauco Guardado Rodriguez, 25, of Seattle

Araceli Salas, 30, of Maywood, California

Maria Rangel Aguilar, 44, of Huntington Park, California

Miguel Thomas, 33, of Tukwila, Washington

Tad Fulton, 48, of Seattle

Ryan Holmquist, 34, of Issaquah, Washington

Timothy Hursh, 38, of SeaTac, Washington

Ryan Terry, 44, of Duval, Washington

Abel Cruz, 32, of Des Moines, Washington

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Six people were also arrested on Sept. 21, 2022:

Agustin Gutierrez Valencia, 32, of Kent, Washington

Daniel Vazquez Arroyo, 32, of Kent, Washington

Rosalio Reynoso Arellano, 51, of Los Angeles

Ernesto Casillas, 46, of Los Angeles

Benigno Hernandez aka Ivan Santos Arellano, 32, of Kent, Washington

Jesus Toledo Pardo, 56, of SeaTac, Washington

Two additional people were arrested on criminal complaints Tuesday:

Luis Valenzuela-Haro, 32, of Seattle

Michael Kinzel, 37, of Renton, Washington

The investigations were a part of an operation that included the FBI, DEA, Seattle police, Customs and Border Protection, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and Homeland Security.
The FBI is searching for a New York man being accused of raping a young girl, and they say he could be in metro Atlanta.

Jesus Torres, 31, of Goshen, New York, is wanted by New York State Police and an FBI New York task force.

Police issued warrants for Torres in Orange County, New York for rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child earlier this month, but he has not been arrested.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

He also has an additional warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

FBI agents say Torres has family in Atlanta and could have made his way to the area.

Torres is described as being five feet, nine inches tall and approximately 165 pounds.

TRENDING STORIES:

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Torres arrest.

Anyone who knows where he may be should contact investigators at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
The loss of a loved one can feel like the world has come to a sudden halt for those left to grieve and planning funeral services while navigating the sorrow can be overwhelming.

Now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering strengthening the rule for funeral provider price disclosures by requiring the businesses to also post the prices online.

Currently, federal law known as the Funeral Rule only requires funeral homes to disclose prices to people in-person.

According to a new report from the FTC, more than 60 percent of funeral home websites have little to no mention of pricing at all.

Its long overdue that consumers would be able to get transparent pricing on funeral home websites, said Teresa Murray, a consumer watchdog with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). Its been a problem for a number of years, but it became extremely apparent the need for this during the pandemic.

We asked Murray what advice U.S. PIRG has for people planning funeral arrangements for a loved one.

Take somebody else with you who is not as close to the person who died, said Murray. Somebody who is just a step or two removed from the emotions and that person may be able to help you ask the questions you need to ask.

Murray said its also key for people to know their rights when it comes to funeral home costs.

In response to the proposed rule change, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) said it has concerns that a firm federal rule wont consider real world challenges.

We are all for transparent pricing, said Christopher Farmer, General Counsel for NFDA. Thats an essential part of the process.

But Farmer said other factors such as whether small businesses with limited staff will be able to meet the requirements, and customer access to the internet, are also concerns that should be considered.

Farmer also said some customers may not get a true sense of the value of the services offered or all of the options available by just looking online.

The FTC wants to hear from the public about the proposed rule change and is now looking for public comment.
A FedEx employee has been charged more than two weeks after Pennsylvania officials say he fatally shot a coworker in an act of retaliation.

Bartholomew Bart Masciulli had been an employee with FedEx for 28 years when he was shot and killed outside Philadelphia International Airport on Friday, Oct. 7, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a news release on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Masciulli, a 51-year-old father of three, was allegedly shot in the face by Keith Lamont Blount, 59.

Im sorry to tell you your husband is dead, a FedEx representative said in a phone call to Masciullis wife, Mary, she said in a Facebook post.

Stollsteimer said Masciulli was assigned to evaluate if Blount was ready to become a driver for FedEx. Documents show Masciulli evaluated Blount on Aug. 29 and Sept. 2, and did not approve him, according to prosecutors.

When (Blount) did not receive a positive evaluation, he decided to retaliate in the worst way possible, the district attorney said. In committing this senseless act, he has forever deprived a family of their loved one, and he has shaken the community to its core.

Witnesses saw Blount shoot five shots at Masciulli, who was in a silver Jeep during the incident, the district attorney said. Blount then fled in a Honda Accord.

Masciulli was pronounced dead at the scene.

Philadelphia police found Blount later that day, and he exchanged gunfire with four officers, Stollsteimer said. Blount was wounded in the shooting and taken to Temple University Hospital. No officers were injured.

Now discharged from the hospital, Blount was charged with criminal homicide and first- and third-degree murder, according to the district attorney. He also faces firearms charges and counts of assault against police.

Blount is being held in a Philadelphia jail without bail, officials said.

Every homicide is a tragedy, but it is particularly shocking when this level of violence occurs in a place that we want to believe is safe  our workplaces, our schools, our houses of worship, Stollsteimer said.

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Bart Masciulli  the most amazing human being

An obituary states Masciulli had been married for 25 years and often worked multiple jobs so his wife could be a stay-at-home mom. He represented FedEx for 17 years in the National Truck Driving Competition.

Bart had an infectious personality and could make friends anywhere, the obituary states. He was the best karaoke singer around and made sure everyone knew it. He was the life of the party, and he will be sincerely missed by many.

His wife called Bart the hardest working man she has ever met.

Even if you didnt like his personality, you respected his work ethic, Mary Masciulli said in a Facebook post.

One of his daughters, Devan Masciulli, is a meteorologist for 25 News in Peoria, Illinois. She said her father was a massive fan of Philadelphia sports, including the Phillies, who recently won the National League pennant to advance to the World Series.

I like to think my dad was in heaven pulling all the strings, she said in a Twitter post.

I lost my dad in a senseless act just over 2 weeks ago. He was a massive Philly sports fan. I wish so badly he was here to see the @Phillies making it to the #WorldSeries. I like to think my dad was in heaven pulling all the strings. LETS WIN IT ALL! pic.twitter.com/F36B1BcZJN  Devan Masciulli (@devanmasciulli) October 23, 2022

His other adult children also commented on their fathers death.

He was one of the greatest men alive, his daughter Samantha said. He cared for his family and friends so much and has supported us through everything. He made an impact on so many lives.

His son, who shares the same name as his father, called him the most amazing human being.

I have tried my best to make you proud, the younger Bart said. Youve meant the world to me. Im terrified how to keep moving on in life without you. Ive always had you to lean on at my worst and now you arent here. You always had the right answer for any problem Ive had.

Argument at Arbys escalates when teen fatally shoots 28-year-old, Oklahoma cops say

Coworker kills 71-year-old driver during argument on drive home from Georgia, cops say
Harrisburg, Pa.  John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, said during a debate against Republican Mehmet Oz on Tuesday that he would support allocating federal funds to transport women across states lines to have abortions.

I would because I believe abortion rights is a universal right for all women in America, Fetterman said when asked if he would support such an allocation of federal funds. I believe that abortion is health care and I believe that that is a choice that belongs with each woman and their doctor.

I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania if you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz then you have a choice but if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that whats I fight for, Fetterman said earlier in the debate.

He added that he would fight for Roe v. Wade to become law, if elected.

Abortion became a heated topic on Tuesday during what is the first and likely only debate of the race. The race offers Pennsylvania voters a rare opportunity to see Fetterman respond to questions live after he suffered a stroke in May. Fetterman has said he still has lingering auditory processing issues as he recovers. Fetterman relied upon live closed captioning to understand questions from the moderators and comments by Oz.

Fettermans answers were punctuated by repetition and long pauses as he struggled to express himself.

He declined to release his medical records, telling debate moderators: My doctor believes that Im fit to be serving and that is what I believe is where I am standing.

For his part, Oz said the federal government should not be involved in how states decide their abortion laws.

As a physician, Ive been in the room when theres some difficult conversations happening, said Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon. I dont want the federal government involved in that at all.

Oz said he would not vote in support of a 15-week federal ban on abortion as proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.).

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I am not going to support federal rules that block the ability of states to do what they wish to do, he said.

Fetterman later struggled to defend his shifting positions on fracking. He supported a ban on fracking as recently as 2018, but said Tuesday that he absolutely supports fracking.

When moderators pushed Fetterman about why he changed his views, Fetterman appeared confused and replied only, I do support fracking.

More from National Review
More than five months after experiencing a stroke, Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman struggled at times to explain his positions and often spoke haltingly throughout a highly anticipated debate Tuesday against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz as they vie for a critical Senate seat.

In the opening minutes of the debate, Fetterman addressed what he called the elephant in the room.

I had a stroke. Hes never let me forget that, Fetterman said of Oz, who has persistently questioned his ability to serve in the Senate. And I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down and Im going to keep coming back up.

When pressed to release his medical records later in the debate, he refused to commit.

WATCH FULL DEBATE: Fetterman, Oz face off in first and only Senate debate

Oz, a celebrity heart surgeon, ignored his opponents health challenges throughout the debate, instead seizing on Fettermans policies on immigration and crime and his support for President Joe Biden. At one point, Oz said Fetterman, the states lieutenant governor, was trying to get as many murderers out of jail as possible.

His extreme positions have made him untenable, he charged.

The forum had many of the trappings of a traditional debate, complete with heated exchanges and interruptions. But the impact of the stroke was apparent as Fetterman used closed-captioning posted above the moderator to help him process the words he heard, leading to occasional awkward pauses.

The biggest question coming out of the debate was whether it would have a lasting impact coming two weeks before the election and more than 600,000 ballots already cast. The stakes of the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey are huge: It represents Democrats best chance to flip a Senate seat this year  and could determine party control of the chamber and the future of Bidens agenda.

But rather than watch the full hour as the candidates debated abortion, inflation and crime, many Pennsylvanians may only see clips of the event on social media. And both parties are preparing to flood the airwaves with television advertising in the final stretch.

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Independent experts consulted by The Associated Press said Fetterman appears to be recovering remarkably well. Stroke rehabilitation specialist Dr. Sonia Sheth, who watched the debate, called Fetterman an inspiration to stroke survivors.

In my opinion, he did very well, said Sheth, of Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in suburban Chicago. He had his stroke less than one year ago and will continue to recover over the next year. He had some errors in his responses, but overall he was able to formulate fluent, thoughtful answers.

Problems with auditory processing do not mean someone also has cognitive problems, the experts agreed. The brains language network is different from regions involved in decision making and critical thinking.

Oz, a longtime television personality, was more at home on the debate stage. He cast himself as a moderate Republican looking to unite a divided state, even as he committed to supporting former President Donald Trump should he run for president again in 2024.

Im a surgeon, Im not a politician, Oz said. We take big problems, we focus on them, and we fix them. We do it by uniting, by coming together, not dividing.

Fetterman similarly committed to supporting Biden should he run again in 2024.The Democratic president campaigned with Fetterman in Pittsburgh during the Labor Day parade and just last week headlined a fundraiser for Fetterman in Philadelphia. There, Biden said the rest of the world is looking and suggested a Fetterman loss would imperil his agenda.

While backing Biden, Fetterman also said, he needs to do more about supporting and fighting about inflation.

Abortion was a major dividing line during the debate.

Oz insists he supports three exceptions  for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. When pressed Tuesday night, he suggested he opposes South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Grahams bill to impose a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks because it would allow the federal government to dictate the law to states.

I dont want the federal government involved with that at all, Oz said. I want women, doctors, local political leaders letting the democracy that always allowed our nation to thrive, to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves.

Fetterman delivered a blunt message to women: If you believe that the choice for abortion belongs with you and your doctor, thats what I fight for.

Fetterman is a star in progressive politics nationwide, having developed a loyal following thanks in part to his blunt working-class appeal, extraordinary height, tattoos and unapologetic progressive policies. On Tuesday, the 6-foot-9-inch Democrat swapped his trademark hoodie and shorts for a dark suit and tie.

But even before the debate, Democrats in Washington were concerned about Fettermans campaign given the stakes.

For much of the year, it looked as if Fetterman was the clear favorite, especially as Republicans waged a nasty nomination battle that left the GOP divided and bitter. But as Election Day nears, the race has tightened. And now, just two weeks before the final votes are cast, even the White House is privately concerned that Fettermans candidacy is at risk.

Fettermans speech challenges were apparent throughout the night. He often struggled to complete sentences.

When pressed to explain his shifting position on fracking, a critical issue in a state where thousands of jobs are tied to natural gas production, his answer was particularly awkward.

I do support fracking. And I dont, I dont. I support fracking, and I stand and I do support fracking, Fetterman said.

At another point, the moderator seemed to cut off Fetterman as he struggled to finish an answer defending Bidens student loan debt forgiveness program. He also stumbled before finishing a key attack line: We need to make sure that Dr. Oz and Republicans believe in cutting Medicare and Social Security ...

The Pennsylvania Senate hopefuls faced each other inside a Harrisburg television studio. No audience was allowed, and the the debate host, Nexstar Media, declined to allow an AP photographer access to the event.

Oz had pushed for more than a half-dozen debates, suggesting Fettermans unwillingness to agree to more than one was because the stroke had debilitated him. Fetterman insisted that one debate is typical  although two is more customary  and that Ozs focus on debates was a cynical ploy to lie about his health.

Fetterman refused to commit to releasing his full health records when asked repeatedly Tuesday by the moderator.

My doctor believes that Im fit to be serving. And thats what I believe is where Im standing, Fetterman said.

While it is customary for presidential candidates to release health records, there is no such custom in races for the U.S. Senate. Some senators have, in the past, released medical records when running for president.

Democrats noted that the televised debate setting likely would have favored Oz even without questions about the stroke. Oz hosted The Dr. Oz Show weekdays for 13 seasons after getting his start as a regular guest on Oprah Winfreys show in 2004. Fetterman, by contrast, is a less practiced public speaker who is introverted by nature.

Many Republicans were thrilled by the debates outcome, although most  including Oz  tried to avoid piling on to concerns about Fettermans health.

Donald Trump Jr. was less cautious.

If Fetterman is some sort of leftist decoy to make Biden actually sound somewhat intelligent and articulate hes doing a great job, the former presidents son tweeted.

Peoples reported from New York. AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson contributed from Washington state.

TRENDING NOW:

Fetterman, Oz to face off tonight exclusively on Channel 11 2 in custody after shots fired in downtown Pittsburgh Everybody loved her: Friends remember Pennsylvania National Guard member killed in accident VIDEO: WATCH: Full Pennsylvania Senate debate between Oz, Fetterman DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman's rocky debate performance fueled concern inside his party on Wednesday, as leaders assessed whether it would significantly shift a race that could decide control of the U.S. Senate and the future of Joe Biden's presidency.

Appearing on stage five months after his stroke, Fetterman, Pennsylvania's 53-year-old lieutenant governor, struggled to complete sentences, and he jumbled words throughout the hourlong televised event.

That was no surprise for medical professionals, who noted that the format, including time limits on answers, was the opposite of what a person recovering from a stroke would need to support his communication. And for those who have known Fetterman for years, the debate was a reminder that he was never a smooth orator  even before the stroke.

But with so much hinging on his campaign, some Democrats expressed concern that Fetterman's appearance at Tuesday night's debate was a mistake. While he would have been criticized for skipping the forum, they felt that might have been better than exposing him in such a difficult environment  for a performance that his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, can exploit in ads and social media clips in the closing days of the contest.

In retrospect, he probably shouldnt have debated," former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, said in an interview. But the key is he is recovering from a stroke.

The only way to recover from this," he added, is for John to go out in public as much as possible, to be seen, to be interviewed, and do as much as he can to let people know that hes ready to take office.

In fact, Fetterman appeared at a rally Wednesday night at an outdoor stage in Pittsburgh and, before a crowd of what the campaign said was 3,000 people, spoke smoothly for 13 minutes before introducing musician Dave Matthews.

Fetterman acknowledged that doing the debate wasnt exactly easy" just months after a stroke.

Story continues

In fact, I dont think thats ever been done before in American political history, he said.

After the debate, Fetterman said, something remarkable happened": The campaign raised more than $2 million. He then launched into a stump speech that both attacked Oz and aimed to turn his recovery into a way to connect with voters.

After that stroke, I got knocked down and I got back up, Fetterman said. And I'm going to fight for everyone in Pennsylvania who ever got knocked down and who ever had to get back up.

Fetterman is also expected to speak at a dinner Friday night in Philadelphia for the state Democratic Party headlined by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

During the debate, the Democratic Senate contender refused anew to commit to releasing his medical records, but independent experts consulted by The Associated Press said Fetterman appears to be recovering remarkably well.

In my opinion, he did very well, said Dr. Sonia Sheth, of Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in suburban Chicago, who watched the debate. He had his stroke less than one year ago and will continue to recover over the next year. He had some errors in his responses, but overall he was able to formulate fluent, thoughtful answers.

Still, the debate was difficult to watch for Brooke Hatfield, a Maryland speech pathologist who has worked extensively with stroke patients.

Putting a timer on someone adds pressure to a system that is already working hard, Hatfield said. Ultimately its important to remember that changes in communication are different than changes in intelligence, reasoning and other cognitive skills.

For now, the political implications of the debate are unclear.

The Pennsylvania contest represents the Democratic Partys best opportunity to flip a Senate seat currently held by Republicans, who are aggressively challenging Democratic incumbents across Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and New Hampshire. Any shift in Pennsylvania, where at least 639,000 mail votes have already been returned, could imperil Democratic efforts to keep the Senate, which they hold by the narrowest of margins.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., told CNN on Wednesday that the debate was hard to watch, frankly.

But he said voters have a stark choice between Fetterman and Oz, a heart surgeon and TV personality.

Other U.S. senators have experienced strokes, but none faced fiercely competitive contests so quickly. Both Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., disclosed this year that they had suffered minor strokes. Van Hollen is likely to easily win reelection in his deeply Democratic state this year, and Lujan isn't on the ballot again until 2026.

Former Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., had a serious stroke in 2012 and would go on to lose his reelection four years later.

Over the years, many other senators have faced questions about their age. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa would be 95 at the end of his next term, assuming he wins reelection on Nov. 8.

Fetterman's campaign and other Democrats sought to focus Wednesday on Oz's comments about abortion during the debate. The Republican said he wanted abortion access decided by women, doctors, local political leaders, a comment that suggested he believed there was a role for public officials in determining whether women can obtain the procedure, which remains legal in Pennsylvania.

Fetterman's new ad focuses on Oz's reference to local political leaders, repeating the phrase three times in a 30-second spot.

Oz would let politicians like Doug Mastriano ban abortions without exceptions, the narrator says, referring to the state's polarizing Republican candidate for governor. Oz is too extreme for Pennsylvania.

Biden shared the new ad on social media.

The White House would not say whether Biden watched the debate. But press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden has found Fetterman to be just as capable as always to govern.

In his conversations that hes had with Lt. Gov. Fetterman, he finds the lieutenant governor to be a strong and authentic advocate for the middle class, Jean-Pierre said, adding that the president finds him incredibly impressive.

Meanwhile, Oz on Wednesday was attending an event in the state capital with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate. Oz avoided Fetterman's health at the event, as he did during the debate, focusing instead on crime.

I vow here and now that, as a U.S. senator, Ill do the right thing for our communities, he declared. Amongst them, Im going to let police do their jobs. I want our prosecutors to do their jobs.

But the debate was on the minds of many voters.

Barbara Orr, a psychotherapist and registered Democrat who supports Fetterman, said she and a group of like-minded friends who watched the debate were saddened and nervous, but unswayed from their decision to vote for him.

Her heart hurt for him, she said, and she worried that voters who werent familiar with the candidates might take away a bad impression.

Unfortunately, people who dont know what he stands for and havent heard him elsewhere might think hes not smart, said Orr, who lives in Lampeter.

She added: Im hoping some people at least pulled their empathy pants on and realized that hes trying to recover from something.

Democratic voter Frank Mallon, a 61-year-old driving instructor who lives in suburban Philadelphia, said Fetterman came across as not being sure of himself."

Yes, I do know about the disability," Mallon said. "Do I think that everyone who watched that debate knows about his disability? No, I dont.

He said he'd still vote for Fetterman.

Fetterman's allies noted that he also had performed poorly in a primary debate earlier in the year before the stroke.

It needs to settle with people for a minute. People on the Democratic side were terrified about what was going to happen," said Jamie Perrapato, executive director of Turn PA Blue. His performance was actually better than I expected.

Meanwhile, it's unclear how many Pennsylvania voters were paying close attention.

Bonnie Chang, a telecommunications retiree from Doylestown who describes herself as a liberal Fetterman supporter, didn't tune in.

I was so fearful I did not watch the debate, Chang said. First of all, Oz is a TV guy. He has honed his skills. ... I think Fetterman is in a no-win situation. Hes recovering from the stroke."

Im willing to give him time to recover."

___

Peoples reported from New York. AP writers Carla K. Johnson in Washington state; Jessie Wardarski in Pittsburgh; Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; and Seung Min Kim in Washington, D.C., contributed.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections. And check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A first flight carrying Venezuelan migrants voluntarily returning to their homeland from Mexico departed on Tuesday, according to two Mexican officials.

Mexico is dealing with a major increase in the number of Venezuelans fleeing the country's economic woes, due both to people arriving on its southern border and thousands more being expelled from the United States under a plan unveiled this month aimed at curbing migrant flows.

The plane, operated by Venezuela's state airline, left Mexico City's Felipe Angeles International Airport destined for Caracas, the sources said. One of the officials said the flight was set to carry about 100 Venezuelans paying a reduced fare of just over $200.

The migrants on board the plane were in Mexico without proper documentation, according to the official.

A spokesperson for the airport said the flight departed at around 7.30 p.m. local time (0030 GMT), later than originally scheduled. It should arrive in Caracas in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to scheduling.

Under a bilateral plan announced on Oct. 12, Washington said it would grant up to 24,000 Venezuelans humanitarian access to the United States by air. It also enabled U.S. officials to expel to Mexico those caught trying to cross illegally by land.

Mexican officials have said more flights could follow the first. One source said another plane was scheduled to depart the same airport on Wednesday with some 300 Venezuelans on board.

Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the National Migration Institute (INM) said they had no information. The Venezuelan embassy in Mexico could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Biden administration has come under pressure to curb illegal immigration after a record number of border crossings this year, fueled in part by Venezuelans.

(Reporting by Dave Graham; Additional reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
Two men accused of cheating en route to roughly $30,000 in prize money at a Lake Erie fishing tournament pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges on Wednesday.

Jacob Runyan, 42, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, entered their not-guilty pleas through their attorneys in a Cleveland courtroom on Wednesday. The Associated Press reports that both men remained silent during the arraignment.

Runyan and Cominsky are indicted on fifth-degree felony charges of cheating, attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools. They also face a first-degree misdemeanor charge of unlawful ownership of wild animals.

Theirs became a national story when tournament director Jason Fischer pulled lead sinkers and fish filets out of five fish that the men submitted at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail fishing tournament. Fischer was suspicious when the fish weighed in at 33.91 pounds, well over the 16.89 pounds needed to claim Team of the Year honors and the five-figure payout.

Jacob Runyan, left, and Chase Cominsky were arraigned in a Cleveland courtroom on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mark Gillispie)

The experienced fisherman expected them to weigh in closer to 15-20 pounds based on their size. He then cut one open to pull out the first of several lead weights stuffed inside the fish. He also found fish filets inside the fish, presumably to prevent the weights from clanging together and making noise.

Fury then erupted, as fellow competitors lashed out at the fishermen, with one declaring "Theyve been doing this s*** for years!

Tournament fishing is a high-stakes competition with serious competitors investing six-figures in their boats and equipment. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley addressed the felony charges facing the anglers in an Oct. 12 statement.

"I take all crime very seriously, and I believe what these two individuals attempted to do was not only dishonorable but also criminal," OMalley's statement reads.

Runyan and Cominsky have not addressed the situation publicly since they were charged. They were released on $2,500 bond on Wednesday.
The White House on Wednesday warned that deepening ties between Russia and Iran are moving beyond weapons sales toward collaboration on violently suppressing dissent, signaling that the U.S. is watching the new phase of relations between Tehran and Moscow.

Its also a show of Russian President Vladimir Putins potentially increasing reliance on Iran as he tries to hang on to whatever global support hes able to still garner.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage protests, referring to Irans deadly and violent crackdowns on women-led, anti-government demonstrations.

The U.S. has also rejected denials by the Kremlin that Iran is supplying weaponized drones, and providing on-the-ground training to Russian forces, used in deadly attacks against Ukraine.

The evidence that Iran is helping Russia wage its war against Ukraine is clear and it is public and Iran and Russia are growing closer the more isolated they become, Jean-Pierre said.

Our message to Iran is very, very clear, stop killing your people and stop selling weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians.

Here are five things to know about deepening ties between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia may be aiding Irans protest crackdowns

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday he could not provide more information on the sources of information that Moscow is weighing advising Tehran on its response to protests that have lasted more than a month  where the United Nations has said at least 23 children have been killed and human rights groups have reported more than 220 civilian deaths.

The protesters are demonstrating public rage against the ruling clerical government, spurred by the death of a 22-year-old woman in the custody of the morality police for allegedly wearing her head scarf improperly, as required by the state.

Karine wasnt putting forth an allegation, she was putting forth a fact, that we know they [Russia] may be considering some sort of support to Irans ability to crack down on the protesters, Kirby said, without providing proof of why the U.S. believes so.

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Well watch where that goes, but its just another example of Russia and Iran now, to violate not only the human rights and civil rights of people in Iran, but put in further danger the lives of Ukrainians.

Russia, Iran flying high with drone and missile collaboration

Russias use of Iranian drones in Ukraine  first documented earlier this month  is an example of the greatest degree of military cooperation that the two countries have had, said Becca Wasser, a senior fellow for the Defense Program with the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).

It appears to be an extension of the deeply transactional attitudes of the two countries, Wasser said.

Iran can showcase itself as a weapons supplier to potential buyers who arent purchasing weapons from the U.S., the West or even China  if theyre able to get around sanctions on Iran, Wasser added.

It also provides Iran an arena to strike back at the U.S. and Western nations in opposition to sanctions imposed against the Islamic government for a host of abuses, including its crackdown on protesters, human rights abuses, threats against Israel and Gulf allies and its supplying of weapons to proxy regional forces.

For Russia, Iran conveniently has provided a way to allow it to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets as its own advanced weapons stockpiles have been depleted, destroyed and squeezed by sanctions, Wasser said.

Here were seeing that play out  this transactional relationship of cooperating when it works in their favor, but not necessarily deepening ties to an extreme extent, she said.

Israel is watching, but not budging

Israel is keeping a close eye on Irans involvement in Russias war, but is still not budging on rejecting highly critical calls from Kyiv that Jerusalem should abandon its position of withholding military and air defense to the Ukrainians.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, speaking in Washington on Wednesday, said that there are things we cannot supply due to national security interest.

Still, Herzog is presenting Israeli evidence to President Biden that support U.S. claims that Russia is using Iranian weaponry to attack Ukraine and being trained by Iranian military personnel present in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Herzog previewed those claims in a talk at the Atlantic Council on Wednesday, showing side-by-side comparisons of photos disseminated by Iranian media of their Shahed-136 drones, and photos showing what appeared to be the exact models found following destructive attacks in Ukraine.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, of intelligence information that Israel is presenting to the U.S., Herzog said, adding that the international community must confront Iran and ask it simple questions.

Can the international community negotiate with Iran and accept its lies, and believe Iran when we know they are, both, rushing to a nuclear bomb, as well as doing all the other terrible things that they are doing? he asked.

Nearly dead nuclear deal may have new life

While talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have effectively ceased, the Biden administration is using a key mechanism of the agreement to bring more scrutiny on Irans weapons sales to Russia.

The U.S., United Kingdom, France and Ukraine have lodged a complaint with the United Nations Security Council that Irans sale of drones to Russia is a violation of Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal, imposed a weapons embargo on Iran and provided a mechanism for signatory countries to trigger scrutiny into any agreement violations.

The transfer of these drones absolutely is a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, Kirby said from the podium. Were going to continue with allies and partners and with the U.N. to see if theres additional ways to hold them accountable.

Violations of Resolution 2231 could, in effect, be used to snap back U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran, but that is unlikely given Russias veto power on the council.

Jonathan Lord, senior fellow and director of the Middle East Security program at CNAS, said that the action at the Security Council is likely more about bringing public pressure and attribution to something that Iran is still denying that its doing, as implausible as that is.

The U.S. and European Union have imposed their own sanctions related to Irans drone sales to Russia, and their positions at the U.N. could help pressure other countries to join in, he added.

Oil exports in possible jeopardy

Russia and Irans status as oil exporters and reliance on those revenues adds another layer of complexity to their relationship, but one that is not likely to be a significant factor in either pushing them together or tearing them apart, said Antoine Halff, adjunct senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

While Russia remains one of the top three oil producers in the world, Halff said that Iran is a second tier producer and a shadow of its former self as an oil exporter, given intensive global sanctions on its market.

The U.S., Europe and other countries aligned with Kyiv have struggled to depress Russias oil sales enough to bankrupt its war in Ukraine. Schemes reportedly discussed to lift sanctions on Iranian and Venezuelan oil exports to counter Russias position on the market have failed to take shape.

Halff said that Russia and Irans own interests in oil have to be weighed against their shared interests, in their opposition to the West, and to the U.S. in particular.

So anything happening in oil has to be seen against the context of those other shared interests.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, Bossier City Police Officer pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud.

Sergeant Harold "BJ" Sanford, 52, was arrested on Aug. 28, by federal agents in response to an ongoing federal investigation into the Bossier City police union.

Prior to the wire fraud charges, Sanford only carried two charges which were malfeasance and drug charges. On Thursday through a bill of information filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office wire fraud charges were added.

The federal investigation into the actions of Sanford and his co-defendant Mitch Morehead began in Jan. after the FBI received tips about money embezzlement within the police union. Sanford served as President of the Bossier City police union and Morehead was hired by Sanford to gather funds through solicitation for the union.

Prosecutors have not specified the amount of alleged theft from the police union, but they did cite two charitable programs where money was taken: Shop with a Cop and a program to publish a book that would tell students about the dangers of opioids.

According to a release from the Department of Justice: "Sanford would present checks payable to Morehead to tellers at the bank where the Bossier Police Union account was held and then pay Morehead in cash. The endorsement on the back of these checks were made in Moreheads name but written by Sanford. On occasion, Sanford would keep all or some of the money from these checks."

Agents with the FBI also found that Sanford fraudulently obtained prescription drugs, to include hydrocodone and oxycodone, with the assistance of Morehead.

Sanford faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, for conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States. In addition, he faces up to 4 years in prison for obtaining controlled substances by fraud. Sentencing has been set for February 24, 2023.

Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Former Bossier Police Officer pleads guilty in wire fraud case
Robert Telles pleads not guilty to murdering journalist Jeff German in Las Vegas (KTNV)

A former Las Vegas public official has pleaded not guilty to murdering a journalist who had been investigating him.

Robert Telles, the former public administrator of Nevadas Clark County, is accused of murdering Jeff German, a reporter for The Las Vegas Review-Journal.

German, 69, was found dead from multiple stab wounds outside his home near Vegas Drive and Tenaya Way in September.

Three days later Mr Telles was arrested and charged with the killing following a brief SWAT standoff at his home.

During his initial arraignment hearing on Wednesday in Las Vegas, Mr Telles, who is now represented by a private lawyer rather than a public defender, pleaded not guilty to murder charges and also waived his right to a jury trial.

Prosecutors have said they do not intend to pursue the death penalty in the case. Mr Telles has been denied bail and remains in custody.

In the months before his death German had been investigating allegations of bullying and workplace hostility in the county officials office.

German also exposed the married father-of-threes alleged affair with a staffer, releasing footage of what appeared to show the pair having sex in a parked car.

NOT GUILTY PLEA: Former Clark County Administrator Robert Telles pleads not guilty during an arraignment hearing. He is accused of killing Las Vegas journalist Jeff German. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/v1JHTaReVs  Kelsey McFarland (@KelseyMarie_TV) October 26, 2022

Following the investigative journalists reporting, Mr Telles fired off several angry tweets towards the journalist and then lost his re-election campaign.

*Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash? Me: No, dear. Looks like its @JGermanRJ going through our trash for his 4th story on me. Oh, Jeff, he tweeted on 18 June, days before the election, with a laughing- crying emoji. Oh shoot. I left a pizza box and sushi containers in the trash. In the next article, Im going to have mob and yakuza ties.

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Days later he tweeted Looking forward to lying smear piece #4 by @JGermanRJ. #onetrickpony I think hes mad that I havent crawled into a hole and died.

Following the killing police released photos of their suspect dressed in an orange, long-sleeved construction shirt and a big, wide-brimmed straw sun hat.

Investigators said the suspect appeared to be stalking the area prior to the brutal slaying and said they believed the perpetrator and victim had been involved in an altercation outside Mr Germans home on Friday morning.

They also released an image of a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali, a match for a car owned by Mr Telles.

Police have said that DNA found at the scene belonged to Mr Telles and that a pair of bloodied sneakers and a straw hat matching those in the surveillance footage were found at the suspects home.
David Lynn Richards during his trial in Knox County Criminal Court on Friday, February 8, 2019.

The Knox County judge who presided over the trial of a pastor convicted of repeatedly raping his adopted daughter has refused to overturn his ruling. The man's attorney has filed an appeal.

David Richards was convicted in 2019 on charges including rape, incest and sexual battery by an authority figure. The Knox County Criminal Court trial pitted Richards against his adopted daughter Amber, an adult when the trial started. Knox News typically does not identify victims in sexual abuse cases, but Amber Richards agreed to be named after the trial.

Richards, who was sentenced by Judge Steven Sword to 12 years in prison, sought a new trial. But after a multiday hearing, Sword signaled very clearly he had not been swayed from his belief that Amber Richards told the truth.

Sword reaffirmed Richards' conviction in a 30-page ruling, but attorney Stephen Ross Jenkins wasted no time by filing an appeal the same day. Jenkins declined to comment on the substance of the appeal, but said he plans to file the appellant brief soon.

Allegations of sex abuse spanned several years

David Richards, a former minister at My Father's House Church of God in Lenoir City, and his then-wife took in Amber and her three biological siblings as foster children in 2008, then adopted Amber and her older sister. Amber Richards was 16 in 2013 when she first reported the abuse, which she said began with being inappropriately touched two years earlier and progressed to being repeatedly raped.

At trial, David Richards described himself as a divorced, single dad simply trying to rein in a defiant teen. Amber Richards painted him as a vindictive manipulator who punished her when she spurned his offer to take their relationship "to the next level." Little physical evidence existed and in the end it came down to the jury believing Amber's testimony over that of her adoptive father.

Richards' attorney has substantial experience appealing wrongful convictions. Johnson helped found the Tennessee Innocence Project, was involved in the Tennessee Post-Conviction DNA Analysis Act of 2001 and helped establish the procedures in Tennessee for bringing newly discovered evidence claims.

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His appeal argument for Richards was three-pronged: New evidence that wasn't heard at trial, undisclosed evidence that could help his client, and the claim that his previous attorney, Gregg Harrison, was incompetent.

Judge found little evidence to support new trial

Sword's ruling came as no surprise since he took the time after the voluminous evidence presented by Johnson to tell Amber Richards "the jury believed you and I believed you, and I still do."

After Johnson's closing argument, the judge said he would take his time sifting through the lengthy testimony, noting he expected his decision to be appealed.

In his ruling, Sword again highlighted Amber Richards' testimony, calling it consistent and "extremely compelling."

Sword went through the claims of inneffective representation of counsel, finding Harrison to have met the standard of using reasonable strategies on a number of issues including electronic and DNA evidence. Sword did note the failure of Richards' attorney to investigate the credibility of the DNA expert as being a "closer call," but found the DNA evidence was not a smoking gun and would not have changed the outcome of the trial. Similarly, the judge found that none of the evidence presented as newly discovered would have changed the end result of the trial.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Lenoir City pastor loses bid to overturn rape conviction
Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Latrobe next weekend.

The rally will be held on Nov. 5 in support of gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano and Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.

According to Axios, President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama will be campaigning in Pennsylvania on the same day.

The report says there will be stops in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the pair to support gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and Senate candidate John Fetterman.

The rally hosted by Trump will be held at 7 p.m. at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Click here for more information.

Were working to clarify if Biden and Obama will both be stopping in Pittsburgh. An exact location has not yet been announced.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Australia has arrested a former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot following a request from Washington, officials in Canberra said Tuesday, as Western governments scrambled to investigate reports that China has been poaching retired military personnel.

Daniel Edmund Duggan appeared in court in New South Wales on Friday, judicial records show.

"An individual was arrested on 21 October 2022 pursuant to a request from the United States of America for their provisional arrest," the Australian attorney general's department said in a statement. "As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment further."

Duggan is scheduled to appear in court again in November.

An aviation source told Reuters that the FBI sought Duggan because he had worked in China. His lawyer told Reuters he could not comment.

Under a treaty with Australia, the United States has 60 days following the arrest to apply for Duggan's extradition.

Duggan ran a business called Top Gun Australia, which billed itself as the country's "premier adventure flight company."

On the company's web page, Duggan described himself as a "former U.S. Marine Corps officer of over 12 years." He flew missions in support of Operation Southern Watch from Kuwait and the USS Boxer, the website says.

"As a highly trained fighter pilot, he flew harrier jump jets off of aircraft carriers tactically around the globe," the website says.

Duggan also flew ex-military aircraft in Australian air shows, three pilots told Reuters.

Australia launched an investigation last week into what its defense minister called disturbing reports that China has been hiring retired Western air force pilots to train its military.

Last week, the U.K. government said it was taking "decisive steps" against a Chinese recruitment effort to bring in former and serving British air force pilots to train its military personnel. While British military personnel frequently take part in training exercises with foreign armies, any collusion by ex-pilots with China  which London has dubbed the "number one threat" to domestic and global security  poses a serious concern.

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On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland accused China of interfering with the American justice system Monday as he announced indictments of 13 Chinese nationals who allegedly worked for Beijing's spy agencies.

Narcan: Saved at Sea

Russia conducts its annual nuclear exercises as tensions rise with Ukraine

Voter intimidation reported at drop-off ballot boxes in Arizona
Photo: The Canadian Press

One of British Columbia's last remaining COVID-19 closures has finally been lifted.

Peace Arch Provincial Park, the nine-hectare park that straddles the B.C.-Washington state border south of Vancouver, reopened Monday after being closed more than two years ago amid pandemic-related border closures.

A statement posted by BC Parks says it has been working with the local First Nation, Canadian Border Services Agency, RCMP and other agencies "to ensure the reopening of the park occurs in a safe and respectful manner."

The Environment Ministry, which is responsible for BC Parks, had said reopening the Canadian side of Peace Arch Park was a priority, but that the park's "open nature" was making it difficult to ensure visitors were honouring border regulations.

The park is unique in North America as the only one where people from Canada and the United States can meet without crossing a border.

U.S. officials kept the Washington side of the park open throughout the pandemic, and it became a hugely popular gathering spot for families and loved ones separated by the border closure, raising concerns in B.C. about large gatherings of unvaccinated people.
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - Mark Meadows, Donald Trump's former White House chief of staff, was ordered by a South Carolina judge on Wednesday to testify in a Georgia criminal probe investigating whether the former president and his allies broke the law by trying to overturn the 2020 election, according to media reports.

Meadows had asked a judge in South Carolina, where he resides, to quash a petition seeking his testimony issued by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, where the district attorney's office is overseeing the investigation.

The court hearing took place in Pickens County, South Carolina, where Meadows resides, because the Fulton County grand jury technically needs a local judge to approve witness subpoenas for out-of-state residents.

Meadows, a former North Carolina congressman, was on the phone when Trump called Georgia's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, in January 2021 and unsuccessfully urged him to "find" enough votes to reverse Joe Biden's statewide victory. Trump has continued to claim falsely that the results were tainted by voter fraud, even after dozens of courts rejected his allegations.

Meadows' lawyer, James Bannister, had argued that the grand jury is civil in nature, not criminal, and thus cannot compel his client's testimony. That argument has been rejected by the Georgia state judge overseeing the grand jury, but some Texas judges have recently suggested they agree following a similar challenge from several witnesses who reside there.

Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller, however, ruled that Meadows is a "necessary and material witness" and must testify, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reported.

Bannister was not immediately available for comment.

The grand jury probe has already ensnared a number of inner-circle Trump allies, including his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who testified before the grand jury in August and has been informed he is a target of the investigation.

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The petition seeking Meadows' testimony noted that in addition to the Raffensperger call, he also attended a White House meeting in December 2020 with members of Congress to discuss allegations of voter fraud.

Trump faces several other inquiries, including a Justice Department investigation into whether he illegally mishandled classified documents.

(Reporting by Joseph ; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Four Iowans have now been sentenced to federal prison in relation to a Mexican-based drug trafficking scheme that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in Iowa.

Andrew David Surprenant, 33, of Waterloo pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of a controlled substance, according to court documents. Officers placed a wiretap in Surprenant's phone in August 2021 and discovered he obtained at least 10 pounds of meth from a Mexico-based supplier to distribute in the Waterloo area. The wiretap also revealed that Surprenant recruited others to pay the supplier via wire transfers.

Over the course of their investigation into Suprenant, authorities recovered over seven pounds of meth, seven firearms and ammunition, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. On Oct. 14, a federal judge in Cedar Rapids sentenced Surprenant to 33 years in federal prison.

More:West Des Moines man convicted on lesser charges in girlfriend's fatal fall from balcony

Five others  three Iowans and two Mexican citizens living in Iowa  also pleaded guilty to their involvement in the drug scheme and were sentenced to varying prison terms.

Levi Dull, 43, of Cedar Falls was sentenced in October to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Dull distributed a substance that resulted in two men overdosing, one who later died. Authorities found that Dull worked with Ruben Vasquez, 44, and Narciso Chinchillas Vasquez, 23, both Mexican citizens who resided in Waterloo. Vasquez and Chinchillas Vazquez were each sentenced to about 14 years and 13 years, respectively, according to the release.

Sandra Ann Deyerle, 30, of Waterloo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. She was sentenced in December 2021 to 17 years in federal prison.

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Jeremy Aswegan, 44, of Van Horne pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced in May to 21 years in federal prison.

Throughout the investigation of the entire drug scheme, officials seized over 175 pounds of meth, 23 pounds of fentanyl, a pound of heroin and eleven firearms, according to the release.

Francesca Block is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at FBlock@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @francescablock3.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Four Iowans land in prison for meth, fentanyl distribution scheme
A disturbing TikTok trend may have played a role in the death of four teens in New York, police say.

Six teenagers crashed in Buffalo, New York around 6:30 a.m. on Oct 24, according to WIVB. The car they were driving was a Kia that was registered as stolen, the outlet reported.

All five passengers were ejected from the vehicle in the crash and four, ranging from ages 14 to 17, were killed, The Associated Press reported. The fifth passenger was taken to a hospital and the 16-year-old driver was treated and released, according to the outlet.

BREAKING: BPD on scene of a serious rollover accident at the 33 westbound & the 198. Motorists are asked to avoid that area with that stretch of roadway closed to vehicular traffic.  Buffalo Police Dept (@BPDAlerts) October 24, 2022

It was the type of car that made police suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the crash, police told news outlets.

The teens may have been participating in the Kia Challenge, a trend on social media and particularly TikTok that shows people how to break into certain models of Kias using a USB drive, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told AP.

I dont have the exact model, but its a Kia, Gramaglia said, WIVB reported. I know Kias are widely publicized  the Kia Challenge, as its called. They are very easy, unfortunately, to steal.

The driver involved in the crash faces charges of criminal possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, AP reported.

Increases in Kia and Hyundai thefts have been rampant across the country following the spread of the Kia Challenge on TikTok, McClatchy News previously reported.

Several Kia and Hyundai owners have filed a lawsuit against the companies and argued that the vehicles are too easy to steal, according to McClatchy News.

In order to assist customers with earlier model year vehicles without an immobilizer, Hyundai has been working with and will continue to support local police departments to make steering wheel locks available for affected Hyundai owners, Hyundai told McClatchy News in a previous statement regarding the thefts. Additionally, Hyundai has identified a Firstech/Compustar security kit that targets the method of entry thieves are using to access these vehicles.

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That effort will continue in close coordination with local police departments for distribution to concerned owners of Kia vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilizer, Kia told KTLA in a statement.

Police did not publicly release the names of the teens killed in the crash.

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Fox News

Fox News host Geraldo Rivera on Tuesday pointed the finger at the deceased George Floyd when identifying the most important person in the failure of the Democratic Party.

I think that once he was murdered, the country went crazy with Defund the Police and everything else, said Rivera, who in June 2020 criticized the Black Lives Matter movement for overlooking Black on Black crime.

So the Democrats led the charge. A very, very unrealistic government, Rivera claimed, even though the Defund the Police movement was hardly a consensus topic in the party after Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer.

Co-host Greg Gutfeld was quick to respond to Rivera saying the country went overboard with the movement afterwards. Just a part of the country, he said. Not even half.

Earlier in the segment, Gutfeld offered what he thought are the issues that have defined Democrats midterm campaigns: oppression theology, non-binary gender bathrooms [and] indoctrination education.

These are not things that people sit around and talk about at their kitchen table. So what theyre learning now is that they forgot about America. And theres nothing that Obama can do for them. Theres nothing that Joe [Biden] can do for them, he said, referring to how former President Obama is set to make a few campaign stops in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Obama, in a recent podcast appearance, did also say that Democrats can be a buzzkill by harping on identity politics.

This identity obsession is their QAnon. They have to clean house, Gutfeld insisted, before saying that the early evening Fox News show he co-hosts holds the real answer to lowering crime.

No matter what we say, theyre not going to listen to us. Thats why they didnt listen to us on The Five. If they listened to us on The Five for two years, there wouldnt be a crime problem.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Shares in the FTSE 100 miner were up in early trade on Wednesday in London. Photo: Reuters/Jean Luis Arce

The World's largest silver ore producer, Fresnillo (FRES.L) reported a fall in silver (SI=F) production in the third quarter, as well as flat gold (GC=F) production throughout the period.

Silver production at the FTSE 100 (^FTSE) mining company declined 5.4% quarter-on-quarter to 12.78 million ounces, down from 13.6m ounces in the second quarter.

That was mainly due to the expected lower ore grade and decreased volume of ore processed at San Julian Disseminated Ore Body, Fresnillo said.

Total silver production, including silverstream, rose 7.4% year-on-year to 13.6 million ounces, compared to 12.7 million ounces.

Read more: FTSE 100: WPP ups full-year outlook after 'strong' revenue growth

Gold production rose just 0.2% to 159,205 ounces on a quarterly basis, and fell 7.7% annually to 159,205 ounces from 172,534 ounces.

It said that the annual decline was "mainly due to a lower recovery rate as higher volumes of sulphide ore are processed and lower ore grade at Herradura, and a decrease in volume of ore processed and lower ore grade at Noche Buena and Cienega".

Company shares jumped 3.2% in early trade on Wednesday in London.

The Mexico City-based miner noted a "challenging" operating environment amid a tight labour market in the South American country following labour reforms introduced last September, and industry-wide supply bottlenecks.

"Contractor uptake varied across the group, resulting in staff vacancies and lower equipment availability at our underground mines. Recruitment and training campaigns continue, albeit at a slightly slower pace than initially anticipated," the company said.

But, it said it was "confident" in the group's overall performance despite the third quarter drop in silver production.

Read more: FTSE 100: Barclays posts 2bn profit

Fresnillo said it remains on track to meet its full-year outlook of 50.5m-56.5m ounces of attributable silver and 600,000 to 650,000 of attributable gold production.

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"Our focus in the final quarter is to achieve our 2022 targets, continue to drive volumes in the Fresnillo District, and deliver a rapid ramp-up of our new Juanicipio mine, while always prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our people," chief executive Octavio Alvidrez said.

Watch: Why are gas prices rising?
Cambridge is now the fifth Massachusetts community to ban the sale of fur after city councilors voted unanimously for the new ordinance on Monday night.

According to MSPCA-Angell, similar bans exist in Wellesley, Brookline, Weston and Plymouth.

Similar bans exist in Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, and Plymouth. @MSPCAAdvocacy Specialist Elizabeth Magner says the ban is significant, despite the fact there are no stores solely devoted to fur sales in Cambridge 2/  MSPCA-Angell (@MspcaAngell) October 25, 2022

MSPCAA Advocacy specialist Elizabeth Magner stated that the new ordinance will have wide-reaching effects on the community.

People dont realize how prevalent fur still is in winter clothing, Magner said in a statement. Its used in the lining of coat hoods and even sometimes for the pompoms on hats. Thats why its important that cities and towns take steps like Cambridge has to ban fur.

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BANJUL, Gambia (AP)  Gambian lawmakers on Wednesday urged compensation for the families of 70 children who authorities believe may have died after taking a contaminated cough syrup imported from India.

The special legislative session was held several weeks after the World Health Organization issued an alarm about 66 deaths from acute kidney injury. Gambian authorities launched an urgent door-to-door campaign to confiscate any remaining bottles of the syrup. The toll has still risen by four more deaths.

Wednesday's meeting also drew grieving family members including Mariama Sysawo, who said her 5-month-old daughter, Isatou, died in late August after taking one of the cough syrups.

My mind is still stuck on the last moments I had with my child," she told The Associated Press. After experiencing problems urinating, my baby had to face unbearable pains. Justice must be served even it means inflicting huge penalties to the Indian company.

The WHO's medical product alert said four cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India have been potentially linked to acute kidney injuries" in children. The U.N. health agency has said that it is pursuing investigations with the company and regulatory authorities in India.

If we find out that the deaths are tied to the contaminated drugs, Gambia must sue, said Modou Lamin B. Bah, vice chair of the Select Committee on Health.

Phone calls to the headquarters of Maiden Pharmaceuticals went unanswered after the product recall was announced by the WHO.

Assembly Minority Leader Alhagie S. Darbo said the government's investigation should also cover "the culpability of the suspected importers and pharmacies linked to contaminated drugs.

Lawmakers later adopted a motion saying that the government enquiry should further review the laws and regulations governing drug importation and licensing. Compensation for the families also remained at the forefront of Wednesday's session.

Health Minister Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh told lawmakers that the drug importer linked to the medicines flagged by the the WHO already has been suspended.

More than 42,000 cough syrup bottles have been collected out of the 50,000 that initially were imported to Gambia by the company, he added.
Flag of Germany

The publication notes that Switzerland has previously refused to issue re-export permits for ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft guns, manufactured by Oerlikon-Buhrle in Zurich. Switzerland cited its long-standing commitment to remain neutral in foreign conflicts.

Read also: Germany transfers TRML-4D radar system to Ukraine

In her letter, Lambrecht noted that Gepard systems in Ukraine are mainly used to protect critical infrastructure, in particular the southern seaports, which are crucial for exports of Ukrainian grain.

Read also: First German IRIS-T air defense system arrives to Ukraine

Given the worldwide humanitarian consequences of disruptions in grain supplies, Germany and Switzerland must absolutely comply with (Ukraines) request for ammunition, the German defense minister stressed.

Read also: More MARS II and PzH 2000 will be delivered to Ukraine, German Defense Minister says

Gepard is a German anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery system, manufactured by Krauss-Maffei in cooperation with other companies. Its designed to protect armored vehicles and stationary targets from attacks from low-altitude airborne threats, and is particularly resilient to enemy electronic countermeasures.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is tightening entry restrictions on Iran beyond an already announced EU sanctions package in response to the human rights situation in the country, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement on Wednesday.

In future, national visas will be issued to holders of service and diplomatic passports only where absolutely necessary, and additional entry restrictions will be imposed on members of Iranian organizations listed by the European Union, according to the statement.

"There can be no 'business as usual' in bilateral relations with a state that treats its own citizens with such contempt for human rights," said Baerbock in the statement.

(Writing by Miranda Murray, editing by Rachel More)
Photo: The Canadian Press

A senior Ottawa police officer says the federal Emergencies Act was helpful to clear "Freedom Convoy" protesters, but he doesn't know whether it was necessary.

Supt. Robert Bernier, who oversaw the Ottawa police command centre for a portion of the demonstrations in February, is continuing his testimony today at a public inquiry into federal government's decision to invoke the legislation in February.

Bernier previously told the hearing that in the days leading up to the government's triggering of the legislation, police had developed an operational plan to move out protesters relying on existing laws.

He says the Ontario Provincial Police force had 34 tow trucks and drivers ready to move vehicles blocking the streets around Parliament Hill the day before the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Emergencies Act was being invoked.

Inquiry lawyers asked Bernier whether he thought the federal legislation was necessary to remove protesters and the superintendent answered: "It's hard for me to say."

Bernier says once police did move in, they noted that some protesters intended to stay and officers "didn't want to force a confrontation."
ORLANDO, Fla.  As mail-in ballots start to come in and early voting begins, Republicans in Central Florida are taking advantage of the new election law to challenge mail-in ballots as the number of partisan poll watchers also has increased, according to Central Florida election officials.

This year is the first statewide election season since two new laws were passed by Republican lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis despite their praise of how smoothly the 2020 vote went in Florida. The changes drastically reduced the use of drop boxes, imposed limits on dropping off ballots and required voters to re-apply to vote by mail every two years.

But the law also requires supervisors to give reasonable access to partisan and other outside observers to review or inspect ballot materials, including mail-in envelopes and signatures. That has had the greatest effect.

In Central Florida, Orange County Republicans created an Elections Integrity Task Force to dispute mail-in ballots before theyre opened, leading to dozens of such challenges during the August primary.

The task force was back for the general election this week. It challenged 35 signatures on envelopes as not matching those on file for voters.

Theyre calling them protests, said Orange County elections supervisor Bill Cowles, a Democrat. Not challenges, but protests.

Of the 35, he said, the canvassing board, the canvassing board approved or validated our work on 24. And there were 11 that the canvassing board agreed that the voter needed to do a signature cure affidavit.

Voters whose ballots are rejected over signature mismatches or other issues would need to complete an affidavit by Nov. 10, the Thursday after Election Day, to prove their identity and have their votes count.

So far, however, there have been no similar challenges in Osceola, Lake or Seminole counties.

I assume that part of it is also to gain a partisan advantage, depending on where you are challenging ballots, said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. And so if youre Republicans, challenging ballots in Orange County, a heavily Democratic area, you sort of figure that the law of averages is that more of the [ballots] challenged that are actually excluded would be from Democrats than Republicans. You just play the odds, I assume.

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The increase in such tactics comes after former President Donal Trumps false claims of fraud in the 2020 election galvanized his supporters to question longstanding election processes, Jewett said. But it soon could just become standard procedure for elections.

I think this will become part of the election strategy, particularly for the Republican Party, Jewett said. But I expect over time that Democrats will also begin to do the same. Not because they think that there is massive amounts of fraud, but only because they figure the Republicans are out there challenging a lot of ballots, and they should maybe do the same.

At the same time, the number of partisan poll watchers is increasing in Osceola and Lake counties.

In Lake County, supervisor Alan Hays, a Republican, said before early voting began that there was a major influx of GOP requests to observe ballots being cast.

Oh, good gracious, yeah, Hays said. A huge, huge, huge number of Republican people wanting to be poll watchers.

His office has been trying to educate watchers on the ins and outs of the election process.

We put together a 28-minute video that we put on our website that shows the potential poll watcher what theyre going to be seeing or what they may be seeing, Hays said. We tried to cover as many different scenarios as we could  so they will be familiar when they see an event occur at a polling place. They wont have to go ask someone, What was that all about? Just calm down, you saw that in the video. This is probably what it was. And its no big deal.

But, he added, We will not tolerate confrontations. If anybody gets too feisty, they will be dismissed as poll watchers. They will not be allowed back in the polling place.

So far, as early voting begins in the county, Weve had nothing but good experiences, Hays said. Everything here in Lake County has gone very smoothly. Its been a very pleasant few days for us.

In Osceola County, We definitely have had an increase in the number of poll watchers, said supervisor Mary Jane Arrington. We only have a few from the candidates, but we have a lot from the two parties that have been approved. And I think theyve pretty much been constantly in place as the early voting sites.

In Orange, however, Cowles said that the number of poll watchers was not out of the ordinary, with both the Republican and Democratic parties sending people to oversee balloting. Seminole is the same so far, its elections spokesman said.

Supervisors have also had to deal with shady phone calls to voters.

Hays has warned about emails and calls from groups supposedly trying to clean up voter rolls. Hays said the groups are contributing to the erosion of voter confidence and misinformation which continues to plague our elections system.

They basically tell folks that they might be victims of voter ID theft and all that garbage, Hays said.I havent heard any more out of those people yet. So many of these fringe groups, the radicals out there, once you take the wind out of their sails, they dont have any more to say, and thats a good thing.

Meanwhile, the voting process is moving smoothly in Central Florida despite the massive flooding from Hurricane Ian last month.

DeSantis has received criticism for easing election rules in GOP-leaning southwest Florida counties devastated by Ian, including extending early voting hours, but not in Democratic-leaning Central Florida counties such as Orange.

But Cowles reiterated that all 20 early voting sites in the county are up and running and his office did not ask for any exceptions to voting rules.


Gulf Breeze Methodist Church officials did not follow their own policies, which opened the door to a 13-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by a youth pastor, claims the lawyer who filed a suit against the church and its leadership on behalf of the girl and her family.

"They have internal policies that control how these people are hired and how they function as youth pastors  but a policy is only as good as its enforcement," said Joe Zarzaur, senior partner of Zarzaur Law P.A. "In this particular situation, those policies weren't enforced, they weren't followed, they were ignored."

The lawsuit comes after former Gulf Breeze Methodist Church Youth Pastor Ryan Walsh was found guilty of lewd and lascivious behavior with a 13-year-old girl, distributing obscene material to a minor and obscene communication to seduce or solicit a child.

Youth pastor's arrest: Gulf Breeze Methodist Church youth director arrested on child sex charges

Family sues church: Family sues Gulf Breeze Methodist Church after daughter sexually assaulted by youth pastor

Zarzaur's lawsuit names the following defendants:

Former Youth Pastor Ryan Walsh

Executive Pastor Kenneth York

Pastor Dan Morris

Gulf Breeze Methodist Church

Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church

The policies to which Zarzaur refers are the Safe Sanctuaries Smaller Membership Congregations Policies and Guidelines which, according to the policy, were adopted by the general conference of the United Methodist Church in April 1996 and "aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse in the church."

One of the church's rules the youth pastor must follow is the "two adult rule," which Zarzaur alleges was not followed as "the second adult that was to be present during the youth program ... was deployed overseas and not present at all times material."

Zarzaur also alleges Morris, who is in charge of hiring and retention, failed "to do an adequate background check, failing to perform an appropriate psychological evaluation or profile, and failing to make sufficient inquiry" of Walsh's qualifications.

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The suit also alleges that York failed to perform a background check and psychological evaluation, while also "failing to properly restrict Defendant Walsh from unsupervised access to children."

The lawsuit names the church because under Florida law, a principal is responsible for the acts of its employees if the acts are committed in the scope of the employee's employment.

In case you missed it: Navarre man sentenced to 25-year prison term, registered as sex offender for child assault

Zarzaur says another large problem is the pastors attempting to handle the situation in-house prior to further information coming to light.

"They admitted completely they were going to try to handle the sexting in-house, which is obviously a problem," Zarzaur said. "Safe Sanctuaries policy is meant to prevent these things from happening. If you don't follow the Safe Sanctuaries policy that the Methodist Church is supposed to be pronouncing and enforcing, then you have situations like this."

The Gulf Breeze Police Department began an investigation Feb. 6, 2020, into Walsh after the church's senior pastor and executive pastor reported inappropriate contact between a minor and Walsh.

The pastors were contacted the previous day by the teenager's parents, who discovered text threads that were explicit and sexual in nature. They immediately put Walsh on administrative leave and had him leave the church property.

Mary Catherine Phillips, director of communications of the Alabama-West Florida United Methodist Church Conference, told the News Journal that no one from the organization will conduct interviews with the media and will only provide a statement.

"Due to ongoing litigation, we are not able to comment further," Phillips told the News Journal. "We are praying for all involved."

Zarzaur also filed a motion for a protective order to keep the family's real names out of all court documents to protect the victim, and also demanded a jury trial in the case.

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze church negligent in youth pastor sex assault, lawsuit says
The man accused of killing two women at Methodist Dallas Medical Center on Saturday has been released from a hospital and booked in to the Dallas County Jail, according to jail records Wednesday.

At his arraignment, his bond was set at $2 million, according to court records.

The gunman has been identified by police as Nestor Hernandez, 30, a parolee who had received permission to be at the Dallas hospital while his girlfriend gave birth to their baby.

Hernandez was convicted in a Dallas County aggravated robbery and sentenced to eight years in prison. He was released on Oct. 20, 2021, after serving six years of the term. After violating his probation twice, Hernandez was turned over to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which released him in September with an ankle monitor and approved his hospital visit, authorities said.

The two women, 43-year-old social worker Jacqueline Pokuaa and nurse Katie Flowers, 63, were shot and killed by Hernandez, according to police.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit reviewed by WFAA-TV, Hernandez was visiting his girlfriend and baby in a room in the labor and delivery department when his behavior became strange.

He made ominous phone calls and texts to his family, accused his girlfriend of cheating on him and searched the room for another person, according to the affidavit. Hernandez hit his girlfriend in the head with a handgun that he pulled from his pants, the affidavit said.

His girlfriend told police that Hernandez said, We are both going to die today, and, Whoever comes in this room is going to die with us, the affidavit states.

Hernandez shot Pokuaa when she came into the room and shot Flowers when she heard the gunfire and looked into the room, according to the affidavit. A hospital police officer shot Hernandez in the leg before taking him into custody.

Hernandezs girlfriend was treated for her injuries, and the newborn was not hurt in the incident, police said.

In a statement to KDFW-TV, a Department of Criminal Justice spokesperson said, There was not an indication that Hernandez would act out violently in a hospital and allowing him the ability to visit loved ones in that setting would not be out of the normal course of supervision.

Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot said in a statement Monday that parole decisions and conditions are not made by the Dallas County District Attorneys Office or any judicial officer of Dallas County but by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Hernandez was transferred to another hospital for treatment after the shooting. He was released from that hospital Wednesday and booked into the Dallas County Jail, records show. He faces charges of capital murder.
The father of Harmony Montgomery pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a second-degree murder charge alleging that he killed the 5-year-old in 2019 by repeatedly striking her in the head with a closed fist, according to court paperwork filed by his New Hampshire attorneys.

Adam Montgomery, 32, also pleaded not guilty to falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and witness tampering in the death of his daughter.

He waived his arraignment, which had been scheduled for Tuesday. His lawyers didnt respond to a message seeking comment.

The New Hampshire attorney generals office and Manchester police held a news conference Monday to announce the charges.

Adam Montgomery has been in jail since January on charges related to Harmonys well-being. He awaits trial next month on weapons theft charges. Hes pleaded not guilty in those cases.

Police first became aware that Harmony might be missing when they received a call from her mother in November 2021. She had been trying to locate the girl for months, police said. Adam Montgomery, who had custody of Harmony, told police that he brought her to live with her mother in Massachusetts around Thanksgiving 2019.

The case became a homicide investigation in August. Authorities said they believed Harmony was killed in Manchester in early December 2019.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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OLENA ROSHCHINA  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 08:57

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has held telephone talks with the US President's national security advisor Jacob Sullivan, the British Prime Minister's national security adviser Sir Timothy Barrow and the French President's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: Yermak informed the advisers about the situation on the front line, as well as about the increased intensity of attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure by Russia, which has been using missiles and Iranian kamikaze drones for that purpose.

He stressed the urgent need to obtain enough air defence equipment from partner states to be able to effectively counteract the ongoing Russian missile terror.

Yermak emphasised that the development of an effective air defence system in Ukraine should become one of the elements of the security guarantees given to this country.

The sides separately discussed a block of issues related to the development of security guarantees for Ukraine, in the development of a position paper prepared by the international expert group led by Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary-General.

During the talks, a thorough exchange of views took place on the latest provocative statements by the Russian side about Ukraine's alleged intentions to use a "dirty bomb".

It was noted that such accusations are groundless, and that they are part of the disinformation campaign conducted by Putin's regime against Ukraine.

Yermak told the foreign advisers about measures to respond to such accusations by the Kremlin.

He informed representatives of the United States, United Kingdom and France about Ukraines readiness to host a delegation of IAEA experts who would be able to verify that the Russian accusations are groundless.

The parties involved in the call highly praised Ukraine's efforts to involve the Agency in resolving this situation.

The negotiators agreed that the democratic world should do everything possible to prevent Russia from using nuclear weapons or a "dirty bomb" against Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
ARSAL, Lebanon (AP)  Hundreds of Syrian refugees boarded a convoy of trucks laden with mattresses, blankets, water and fuel tanks  and, in one case, a goat  in the remote Lebanese mountain town of Arsal on Wednesday, heading home to Syria.

Their journey is the latest attempt by Beirut to organize a mass refugee return from tiny, crisis-ridden Lebanon.

Many boarding the convoy in Arsal said Lebanons unprecedented economic meltdown had pushed them to make the journey. With spiraling inflation and the cost of basic necessities like food and heating fuel soaring, nine out of 10 Syrian refugees in Lebanon now live in extreme poverty.

Some are now returning to a country devastated by a civil war that started in 2011, killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. However, the returnees represent just a tiny fraction of the massive population of refugees who remain in Lebanon as the United Nations maintains that Syria is not safe for mass returns.

Lebanese officials said more than 2,400 refugees had registered for Wednesdays return but only 1,700 were given the green light by Syrian authorities to come back. Many others who were approved ultimately decided not to go.

The final list had 750 names, officials said Tuesday. On the other side of the border, Syrian state media said ambulances were waiting with medicine and food packages.

One of those heading back was Khalil al-Qadi, 41, with his family of six, heading to their hometown of Jarjir in the Damascus countryside.

We can't enroll our kids in school here, al-Qadi said about Lebanon. The economic situation doesn't allow us to provide for them.

Lebanon has given shelter to more than 1 million Syrian refugees but many claim the number is far higher. The U.N. refugee agency has registered about 825,000 Syrians but stopped registering in 2015, at the request of Lebanese authorities.

Lebanese officials often cite an estimate of 1.5 million while Abbas Ibrahim, head of General Security, told reporters on Tuesday there are more than 2 million Syrians in Lebanon.

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The return of Syrians to their land is a national obligation for us, Ibrahim said at a press conference, adding that Lebanon will not submit to pressure by international organizations to continue hosting Syrians displaced by war.

Since Lebanon's meltdown began a few years ago, Lebanese politicians have frequently blamed refugees for the economic woes. Earlier this year, officials touted a plan to return 15,000 refugees a month, which has so far failed to materialize.

In 2018, Lebanon began organizing voluntary return trips. Syrians would register to go back, then the list would be run by Syrian security officials to see if anyone on it was wanted for arrest or deemed a security threat to Damascus. Those names would be rejected and the original list whittled down to final names.

The trips back were halted in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. At that point, some 21,000 refugees had returned to Syria this way, according to Lebanese officials. UNHCR says at least 76,500 Syrian refugees returned voluntarily from Lebanon since 2016, some in government-organized trips and some on their own.

Both international organizations and the refugees have remained circumspect about the conditions for return. Reports by human rights organizations have cited cases of returning refugees being disappeared, detained and tortured  allegations Ibrahim insists are unfounded.

Syrian officials have also accused the West of fearmongering. At a meeting of Russian and Syrian officials last week to discuss the refugee issue, Syrian minister Ayman Sousan lashed out, saying the West is obstructing refugee returns and using the suffering of the displaced" for political purposes

UNHCR said it was not facilitating or promoting the large-scale voluntary repatriation of refugees to Syria and that its role in the returns is limited to reaching out and counseling refugees, when possible, and being present at the departure points before they leave.

Not every Syrian in Arsal was heading back Wednesday.

As long as the (Syrian) regime ... continues its policy of oppression, I don't see any improvement in the security situation, said Saeed Saleh, a 63 year-old Syrian refugee, adding that poor living conditions in Lebanon's refugee camps and donor fatigue among aid groups prompted many to head back.

There have been cases of refugee deportations to Syria  a 2019 regulation allowing that all unauthorized refugees who entered Lebanon after April of that year be deported. Human Rights Watch says that between April 25, 2019, and Sept. 19, 2021, some 6,345 Syrians were deported under that decision.

Lebanese officials did not respond to requests for updated figures. Some rights monitors say these cases are rising.

Fadel Fakih, who heads the the Lebanese Center for Human Rights, told The Associated Press that while forcible returns largely halted during pandemic border closures, the pace had picked up in recent months to alarming levels  including those who would likely be subject to arrest, torture and potentially execution upon their return.

Every couple of days, there are people who are being deported, he said. So, its happening systematically.

The Access Center for Human Rights, another local rights group, said it confirmed 141 cases of Syrians deported from Lebanon since the beginning of 2022.

The issue of deportation is not limited to Lebanon. Human Rights Watch recently reported that Turkey has forcibly returned hundreds of Syrian refugees.

Lebanons caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar, who like Ibrahim rejects claims of forced returns, said rumors about what awaits in Syria, as well as humanitarian aid they receive in Lebanon, probably deterred many from going back.

Refugees who were not granted permission by Syria to return should be resettled in third countries, Hajjar told the AP. Less than 1% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon have been resettled this way through UNHCR.

If they actually care about the cause of the displaced Syrians  they should increase the number, Hajjar said. Lebanon is going through a major crisis.

___

Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
A second woman has claimed that the Republican candidate for one of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats, Herschel Walker, drove her to a clinic and paid for her to get an abortion nearly three decades ago, while the two were involved in a six-year romantic affair.

Herschel Walker is a hypocrite, and he is not fit to be a U.S. senator, the woman, identified only as Jane Doe, said at a press conference Wednesday with her high-profile attorney, Gloria Allred.

Herschel Walker says he is against women getting abortions, but he pressured me to have one. I am coming forward now because I heard Herschel deny claims by another woman who said he paid for her abortion.

Walker, a former football star and Heisman Trophy winner who was handpicked to run for Senate in Georgia by former President Donald Trump, is a staunch anti-abortion advocate who has made his pro-life stance a cornerstone of his campaign. This latest news comes with less than two weeks left before Election Day, with recent polling showing Walker and his opponent, the Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, neck and neck in the race.

I was traumatized about what Herschel put me through, the woman said, with only her voice audible at the press conference, sharing that she was initially unsure about whether to keep the child or not. In retrospect, I know I was naive.

Donald Trump, Fred Trump, center, and Herschel Walker, at a Mike Tyson-Michael Spinks boxing match at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, N.J., on June 27, 1988. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Donald Trump Jr. appears at bottom left and an unidentified man is seated below. (Getty Images)

The woman went on to explain that she first met Walker in 1987, while he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys. She said she lived in Dallas and would go to Walkers home games and see him many times a week in the mornings.

We fell in love, she said. I was devoted to Herschel, and he gave me the impression that he was devoted to me.

When Walker was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1992 and again to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993, the woman claimed that she would fly out regularly to see Walker at home games and the two would reunite again in the off-season back in Dallas. She said she became pregnant by Walker in April 1993, despite using birth control.

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I didnt know what to do. I was confused, uncertain and scared, she said. After discussing the pregnancy with Herschel several times, he encouraged me to have an abortion and gave me the money to do so.

The woman said she drove herself to the clinic, but initially could not go through with the abortion. When she told Walker, he became upset, and the next day, he drove her to the clinic, waiting hours in the parking lot until the procedure was completed. Soon after, the woman claimed that Walker began to distance himself, before the two lost contact for more than 15 years.

I was devastated, because I felt pressure to have an abortion, she said.

Herschel Walker at a press conference in Philadelphia after signing a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on July 13, 1992. (Eb Mahan/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Asked about the latest allegations on Wednesday, at a rally in Dillard, Ga., alongside Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Walker dismissed them as foolishness.

"I've already told people that this is a lie, and I'm not going to entertain it. ... I also want to let you know that I didn't kill JFK either, Walker said in response to a reporters question. "And right now, Sen. Warnock, they got crushed at that debate, and now the Democrats will do and say whatever they can to win this seat. But they don't know Herschel Walker. ... I'm going to win this seat."

This latest allegation comes just two weeks after the Daily Beast reported that Walker paid for an abortion for another woman. Walker denied that report, too, and promised to sue the outlet the next day, but the lawsuit has yet to materialize.

Allred, Jane Does lawyer, offered several articles of evidence on behalf of her client, which included a photo of Walker lying allegedly on the womans hotel bed at a Holiday Inn in downtown Mankato, Minn., and a receipt for a hotel stay with the womans name redacted. Three cards with love notes written inside of them were also provided, each signed H, Walkers alleged signature. The most revealing piece of evidence may have been an alleged voicemail from Walker that he left while at the 1992 Albertville, France, Winter Olympic Games, in which he called the woman to say, I love you.

The woman shared how distraught she was throughout her relationship with Walker, because he continually gave her the impression that he would leave his wife for her, but ultimately never did.

He took advantage of my love for him, she said.

Attorney Gloria Allred holds up an image purported to be of Herschel Walker lying on Jane Does hotel bed at a Holiday Inn in downtown Mankato, Minn., in the late 1980s. (Gloria Allred)

To explain why she was coming forward now, just ahead of the election, the woman, who said she identifies as an independent and had twice voted for Trump, said, He gives the impression today that he is about life and against abortion under any circumstances, when in fact he made me have an abortion and drove to the clinic and paid for it.

After the first abortion allegations, Republicans doubled down on their support for Walker, seeing him as vital to their prospects of taking back the Senate from Democratic control.

Walkers opponent, Warnock, offered his own rebuke of this latest allegation.

We know Herschel Walker has a problem with the truth, a problem answering questions and a problem taking responsibility for his actions, Warnock said Wednesday in a statement provided to Yahoo News. Todays new report is just the latest example of a troubling pattern we have seen play out again and again and again. Herschel Walker shouldnt be representing Georgians in the U.S. Senate.

A voting sign outside a location for early voting in Fulton County, Ga., on Oct. 22, 2022. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

More than 1 million people cast their ballots in this years midterm elections through eight days of early voting in the state, according to Georgias secretary of state, smashing the previous record eight-day totals in 2018 by more than 50%.

Allred, the womans lawyer, believes this information should help Georgians make a more informed decision at the ballot box.

This is about the values of every voter in Georgia, she said. Every parent has to ask whether they are OK with a man who lies over and over again.

_____

Cover thumbnail: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
WASHINGTON (AP)  Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress as Israel prepares to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding, which congressional leaders called a historic and joyous milestone.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., issued the invitation to Herzog in a joint letter Tuesday. They said the two nations have shared an unbreakable bond rooted in common security, shared values, and friendship.

The date for Herzog's address has not been set. The State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation the same day. In their letter, Pelosi and Schumer said Truman's swift action has always been a point of pride for our Country.

Across the decades, the United States Congress has been proud to stand in solidarity with Israel on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, Pelosi and Schumer wrote. "It is our hope that the Congress will have the opportunity to hear from you at this historic and joyous milestone in the success of the State of Israel and the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Herzog began a two-day visit to Washington on Tuesday, meeting with Pelosi and with Secretary of State Antony Blinken among other U.S. officials. He was scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a major Shiite holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, according to state-run media.

The official website of the judiciary says two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

The attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremists who have targeted the country's Shiite majority in the past, comes as Iran has been convulsed by over a month of anti-government demonstrations, the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.

Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam  as in many other traditions  again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

Death to the dictator!" protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to security considerations.

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation completely stable.

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb "the spread of influenza."

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! through the labyrinthine marketplace.

This year is a year of blood! they also chanted. "(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!"

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator! as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the countrys strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan #WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with war against God," which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of supporting terrorism." The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.
Like many witches, Ariel Kusby carves pumpkins on Halloween. If there's something she would like to manifest, she thinks of a symbol to represent that intention and carves it into her pumpkin. (Photos: Ariel Kusby/Beth Wade)

Halloween may conjure up images of witches in black robes dancing around a bonfire. But, while some witches do observe Halloween deep in the woods with their coven, that's not what all witches do to observe the holiday.

"Witches celebrate Halloween in a myriad of ways," says Shiva Honey, an ordained minister of The Satanic Temple. "The witchcraft community is diverse: Every tradition has its own customs and each individual has their own interpretations within them."

Curious how witches do celebrate Halloween? Yahoo Life chatted with practicing witches to hear all about their Oct. 31 plans.

Witches call Halloween by another name

Most witches call the Halloween "Samhain," according to psychic Inbaal Honigman. Many witches do not call the holiday Halloween because that's its Christian name, according to Charlotte Amy Rose, founder of Sacred Footprints. "The idea that witches were evil women with warts and cauldrons came from the Catholic church trying to scare anyone away from celebrations that weren't led by the church," Rose tells Yahoo Life.

Some witches celebrate the new year on Halloween

Samhain is an ancient Gaelic fire festival that celebrates the new year, so many witches celebrate a brand new year on Halloween night. Writer Betsy Cornwell explains that the new year for witches is marked by the end of the fall harvest and the beginning of winter. For many, it's a time of hope.

But not every witch considers Samhain the new year. Ashley Seekraft and Azaizall Robles are the high priestess and priest of the Circle of the Amalthai Coven, located in Washington, D.C. This coven celebrates the new year in February, during the "Feast of Torches," because it's the beginning of a period when light and life start to return. Robles explains that Samhain is just one of many sabbats (Pagan holidays) that witches celebrate. As such, different traditions choose to celebrate the new year at different times.

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On Halloween, Beth Wade says: "We wear our finest witch hats and cast our circle, which creates a safe and sacred space." (Photo: Beth Wade)

They honor the dead and summon ancestors

For magic educator Lex Ritchie, Samhain is part of a season of holidays that honor the "dead and the dark" side of life. "It is the time of year when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest," says Jennie Koeper, "meaning that it is much easier to speak with those who have moved on from this life during this time."

On Halloween, tarot and magic expert Dee Norman places candles on her ancestral altar to provide light and warmth to guide her ancestors back for a visit. Coven leader Lisa McSherry summons her ancestors. "I try to tell them everything, good and bad and, honestly, it always sounds a lot like a one-sided gossip gab," she says. Seekraft and Robles emphasize there's no one right way to summon an ancestor and some witches use darker means, including necromancy. "The point is to make a connection," says Robles, "Taking the time to honor them in any way that you like."

They brew potions

Attorney Tina Willis brews potions made from branches and leaves, raw alligator and poisonous snake flesh. She brews her concoctions in a huge stockpot using a "witchy recipe book" handed down from her grandmother. "I always brew some concoction usually aimed at complicating the lives of those people who annoyed me the absolute most of the past year," Willis shares.

"I'm not a totally evil witch though," she says. "If someone was truly good to me, then I brew a concoction that makes them forget all of their problems and have the best Halloween of their lives."

On Halloween, Jason Myers makes a pilgrimage to his hometown of Salem, Mass. to attend a witches' costume ball that's been held annually since 1970. (Photo: Jason Myers)

They purify and cleanse

For psychic Alane Hathaway, Samhain is the beginning of a three-day ritual involving physical and spiritual cleansing. During this time, Hathaway cleans her living space and altar to release the energies that no longer serve her.

"I sage my entire living space, then follow with incense to increase divine energy, I follow that with Florida Water (a type of fragrant water, similar to cologne) to purge any magical energies from the magic work that I have done outside of my celestial and angelic practice," she explains.

Hathaway then performs a sound cleansing with six chakra bowls to allow room for "rest and creation." During this time, she simmers a pot of fruits and spices representing abundance for the new year that release a pure, natural scent throughout her home. Hathaway also cleans herself as part of her ritual by "taking a spiritual bath or shower" after nightfall.

Alesia Hall also cleanses her home. "I do a big final protection cleaning of the house," she says, "including all the windows and doors, and re-secure my defenses with salt and moon water (water that has spent time under the light of a full moon)."

Ashley Seekraft from the Seeking Witchcraft podcast and Azaizall Robles from the Feast of Torches podcast at The Satanic Temple. (Photo: Ashley Seekraft and Azaizall Robles)

They light fires

"Fire is an incredible natural tool," says Rose. Many witches light candles to symbolize the burning of the old and making space for the new. Some light bonfires. Rose writes wishes on pieces of paper and burns them. She views fire as an element of transformation that can help her wishes be realized in the new year.

Psychic Amanda Lee writes down anything she wants to free herself from in the new year and burns the paper.

They have a "dumb supper"

"Dumb suppers" are meals held in complete silence to honor the dead. During a dumb supper, friends or family make the departed's favorite meal and eat it together. They make a plate for the deceased, which is placed in front of an empty chair.

Robles likes to place an empty wooden chair at the table and have guests tie a note to someone they lost to the chair. At the end of the night, attendees burn the chair with the notes attached, "to send energy to the spirit world."

Seekraft adds that any food left for the deceased is burned or buried, "to give it back to the earth." Many witches will also bring an object that belonged to the departed to create a physical connection to the person they're honoring.

They peform rituals to separate themselves from the religions they grew up with

On Samhain, Honey may hold "un-baptisms" and "black masses" at The Satanic Temple's headquarters, located in Salem, Mass. An un-baptism is a ritual some witches and others use to "separate themselves from religious oppression." According to Honey, "a black mass can also serve as a ceremony of blasphemy and liberation, as well as a tool for manifestation."

They get together with others

Many witches gather with others to have large parties or perform rituals with a small witches' circle. When Honigman was a member of a coven she says she held, "big rituals" with "lots of participants."

"We may sing and dance and eat and drink together, like any other holiday celebration," says Rose.

Jason Myers, priest at the Cabot Kent Hermetic Temple in Salem, Mass., makes a pilgrimage to his hometown of Salem to attend a witches' costume ball that's been held annually since 1970. There, Myers says he, "dresses in ceremonial garb intended to attract the powers and correspondences we want more of in the coming year."

Such gatherings, "prepare the body, mind and spirit for the winter months ahead, says Ember Livingston Emmons, adding that, "energy is amplified when it's shared." Beth Wade says on Halloween, "we wear our finest witch hats and cast our circle, which creates a safe and sacred space."

"Then we'll call in any elements and energies that will be the most right and most good for our ritual workings," she adds.

"In taking the time to honor the dead, you realize how precious life is around you," says Seekraft. "Halloween is also a time to honor those you are with, and a big party is perfect for celebrating those who mean the most to you."

They carve pumpkins

Some witches carve pumpkins with magically-charged symbols and sigils. "The sweet and nourishing magic of the pumpkin with a flame inside really holds and projects these symbols in a powerful way," spell book author Ariel Kusby says. "Whatever symbol you carve into a pumpkin can actually be a magic spell if you do it with intention."

If there is something she'd like to manifest in her own life, Kusby says she thinks of a symbol to represent that intention and carves it into her pumpkin.

They trick-or-treat

Some witches like to trick-or-treat. "I hand out candy. I'm known for giving out the big candy bars," says Ritchie. McSherry hands out specific types of treats, "I always choose candy that has a well-meaning name, mini 100 Grand bars are perfect for offering a bit of positive money luck, or Snickers to set the intention for more laughter," she says.

"My daughter and I stop by [our] altar on our way out the door to trick-or-treat," Norman tells Yahoo Life. The pair make this stop to show off their costumes to the ancestors they summoned earlier in the night, perfectly blending old and new traditions.

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
STORY: Driving trucks stuffed to the brim with their belongings, some 700 Syrian refugees living in Lebanon made their way home Wednesday (October 26).

It's the first day of repatriations organized by Beirut under a revived program.

We want to go back to our country, this man says. It's about time.

Lebanese authorities say the refugees are returning voluntarily, though some rights groups have expressed concern over potential coercion.

Lebanon is home to more than 800,000 Syrians registered with the United Nations (U.N.) refugee agency  down from 1.2 million at its peak.

They fled the violence unleashed in 2011 after protests against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

While the frontlines in the 11-year war are now largely inactive, the U.N. warns flare-ups in violence and the risk of detention makes large-scale returns to Syria unsafe.

In 2018 Lebanon launched a process to repatriate refugees after checking they were not wanted by Syrian authorities.

Around 400,000 Syrians took up the offer before the program was put on hold due to the pandemic.

Lebanons outgoing president, Michel Aoun, revived it this month.

Lebanese authorities say the repatriations, coordinated by the country's General Security agency, are voluntary.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have said some past returnees had been subject to rights violations.

And Amnesty has also said refugees may not have accurate or complete information about the level of risk in their hometowns.

Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, many, like Mohammad Rifai, say they are happy to return.

I have been here for nine years, he says, we are relieved to be going back to our country.
John Fetterman. Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) has picked up a new endorsement in his Senate race  and it's coming from his independent opponent.

A Fox News survey conducted in late September showed Everett Stern, an independent write-in candidate, polling at around 3 percent. It's a close race between Fetterman and the Republican nominee, Mehmet Oz, and Stern announced on Tuesday he is dropping out of the contest as to not be a "spoiler" and take votes away from Fetterman. Democracy is at risk, Stern tweeted, and he's endorsing Fetterman because "the Democrats must win. PA must be blue."

Speaking to NBC News, Stern said he wants to "make sure democracy doesn't fail," and he doesn't want voters to "waste a vote on me." Oz has the support of former President Donald Trump, and that was enough for Stern to reassess his campaign. "I could inadvertently hurt democracy, and I believe Fetterman is the better man for it," he said.

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The Google logo is pictured at the Google India office building in Hyderabad on January 28, 2022.

Indias competition regulator is fining Google $113 million over anti-competitive practices with its app store Google Play, according to a press release from the Competition Commission of India. Specifically, authorities in India believe app developers should be allowed to use the payment processors of third parties rather than being forced to use Googles.



Google requires app developers to use the Google Play Billing System to receive payments both for paid apps and in-app purchases, something the Competition Commission of India has ordered Google to stop doing within the next three months.

Read more

Making access to the Play Store dependent on mandatory usage of GPBS for paid apps and in-app purchases is one sided and arbitrary and devoid of any legitimate business interest. The app developers are left bereft of the inherent choice to use payment processor of their liking from the open market, the Competition Commission of India said in a statement published online Tuesday.

The regulator also expressed concern over Googles so-called anti-steering rules, which ban app developers from directing potential customers to a third-party website for payment. Doing so is against Indian law, according to the regulator.



Indian developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protections, and unrivaled choice and flexibility that Android and Google Play provide, a Google spokesperson told Gizmodo via email Wednesday morning.

And by keeping costs low, our model has powered Indias digital transformation and expanded access for hundreds of millions of Indians. We remain committed to our users and developers and are reviewing the decision to evaluate next steps.

As the BBC notes, Google was hit with a $161 million fine just last week from the same regulator in India for abusing market dominance with its Android operating system.

Story continues

Payment systems are a contentious issue in tech, with Apple releasing new App Store rules this week demanding a cut of social media post promotions and any NFT sales through web3 appsan announcement that wasnt well received in the blockchain community. Apple takes a 30% commission from all app sales across its platform.

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Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
A 5-year-old boy found dead inside a suitcase dumped in the Indiana woods was identified Wednesday as officials announced an arrest in the case and said the boys mother is wanted on a murder warrant.

Washington County Circuit Court issued felony arrest warrants for Dawn Elaine Coleman and Dejaune Ludie Anderson on charges related to the death of Cairo Ammar Jordan. Anderson is the boy's mother, Indiana State Police said in a news release.

Dejuane Ludie Anderson. (Georgia Dept. of Driver Services)

Coleman, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was taken into custody Oct. 19 in San Francisco and will be extradited to Indiana.

Anderson, 37, of Atlanta, remains at large.

They both face charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice. Anderson faces an additional charge of murder.

Authorities traveled to Los Angeles in search of Anderson but did not locate her.

Sgt. Carey Huls said Cairo, of Atlanta, would have turned 6 on Monday.

"We desperately want the public's help in finding her and bringing her to justice," Huls said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "This whole case is about justice for Cairo."

A mushroom hunter found the hard-shell Las Vegas-themed suitcase in woods near East Holder Road in Washington County, Indiana, on April 16. Coleman's probable cause affidavit stated that the mushroom hunter opened the suitcase and found a pillow and a black trash bag that contained the body.

The luggage was not covered, and it could be viewed from the road, the affidavit said.

An autopsy report said the child, who at the time had not been identified, died from an electrolyte imbalance likely caused by a stomach virus. No significant traumatic injuries were found.

The childs body was found inside a closed hard-case suitcase with a distinctive Las Vegas design on its front and back. (Indiana State Police)

State police said the boy was clothed and appeared clean. Evidence suggested he died before he was put in the luggage.

Authorities had received hundreds of tips about the child's identity, but they all proved fruitless.

Investigators were eventually able to identify the suspects after fingerprints on the trash bag matched those of Anderson and Coleman, the probable cause affidavit said. From there, investigators learned who the child was.

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"Physical evidence led to suspects, and as the investigation continues it all kind of snowballs and expands," Huls told reporters.

He said a missing person report was never filed for the child.

Anderson's last known location was the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. Since the investigation began, she has traveled to San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas and Houston, police said.

Huls said in a phone call that Anderson and Coleman were "passing through" Indiana when they are alleged to have left the suitcase.

Anderson has been arrested several times over the past few months, including on March 12, when troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol tried to stop her for driving 92 mph in a 60 mph zone, the affidavit said.

She refused to stop and led troopers on a pursuit for about 30 miles until she ran out of gas, the affidavit alleged. It said that Coleman, who Anderson said was her sister, and Cairo were in the vehicle. Anderson was taken to the county jail on charges of child engagement, speeding and failure to stop for blue lights. Coleman and the child were taken to a hotel.

It is not clear when Anderson was released. She was arrested again on March 31 by Louisville, Kentucky, police and accused of trying to steal clothes from a mall.

"When stopped, Anderson became violent and punched the security officer in the face," the affidavit stated.

At the time, Cairo was with Coleman.

Anderson was released April 11, according to the affidavit, and the same day she posted a Facebook message that said, "just got out of a jail mission" and "yes had to do some healing and killing." Cellphone towers placed both suspects in the area where the suitcase was found on April 14, the document said.

Anderson is alleged to have posted other Facebook messages discussing a "demonic force" in her son and talking about hexes and curses.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been in touch with Cairo's family. They could not be reached Wednesday at phone numbers listed for them.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Alphabets Google has found itself in a new scuffle over discriminatory practices in Indias digital ecosystem.

The countrys antitrust agency, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), yesterday (Oct. 25) imposed a fine of 936 crore rupees ($113.5 million) on the US-based search giant. Google was also ordered to allow Play Store developers to use alternative payment options for in-app purchases.

Read more

As a result, Indias own payment companiesGoogle Pay rivals such as Paytm, PhonePe, and Pinelabsnow have the opportunity to venture onto Play Store turf and grab a significant share of a huge market. In 2021, in-app purchases in India generated around $600 million in revenuenearly all of it on Android, Googles smartphone OS that is dominant in the country.



In recent years, Indias online payments have skyrocketed, thanks to its flagship payments systemUnified Payments Interface (UPI)which combines seamless funds transfer, merchant payments, and several banking features into a single mobile application. Google shall not discriminate against other apps facilitating payment through UPI in India vis-a-vis its own UPI app, in any manner, the CCI order said.



This is second such penalty imposed by CCI on Google this month, in a country that is Googles largest market by users. Android makes up 97% of the domestic smartphone market, according to a report by Strategy Analytics. Google Pay stands second in terms of usage by transaction volume for UPI payments in India, behind PhonePe.

Why is India penalizing Alphabet?

The two penalties levied this month on Google are the result of a long-drawn-out investigation by the CCI. The investigation, which began in late 2020, examined whether Google is abusing its dominant position to promote its payments service in India.

On Oct. 20, the company was fined Rs 1,337.76 crore for its control over the Android ecosystem. The CCI held that Android developers find it difficult to place their versions of native Android apps on smartphones. Nearly every major smartphone company, such as Samsung or Xiaomi, uses Android, so prominent apps for navigation or browsing come pre-installed on Android devices. There is no option to un-install these apps, which, according to the CCI, undermines fair competition and stifle innovation.

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In its most recent order, the CCI argued that Googles payment policy is similarly unfair. Mandating developers to use Googles own billing system for paid apps and in-app purchases through the Play Store constitutes an imposition of unfair condition and thus violates the law, a CCI statement said.

The CCIs decision echoes that of the South Korean government, earlier this year, to compel app stores to accept the services of third-party payment providers.



In response, a Google spokesperson said that Indian developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protections, and unrivaled choice and flexibility that Android and the Play Store provide.

By keeping costs low, our model has powered Indias digital transformation and expanded access for hundreds of millions of Indians, the spokesperson said in a statement.

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Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Photo: File photo

A pair of Pitt Meadows condo owners have lost their fight against their strata after their bathtub overflowed, leading to a $9,612 repair bill in a downstairs unit.

Owner Rozalia Barliga and son Sebastian Barliga admitted their bathtub overflowed July 1, 2021, causing water to leak into the strata lot below theirs.

However, they told B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal member Kristin Gardner it was unnecessary for the strata to hire a restoration company for the minor leak.

Sebastian Barliga said he cleaned up the water in the suite and went to check on the suite below. The Barligas said there appeared to be only minimal damage to the bathroom ceiling and in a small closet.

The strata denied the Barligas entered the then-rented suite below theirs to assess the damage.

Gardner said she placed no weight on Sebastian Barligas damage assessment.

There is no evidence before me that he is qualified to assess water damage, she said.

The strata called in Phoenix Restorations Ltd, which found damage in the lower suites hallway, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and storage room.

According to Gardner, evidence showed labour costs to fix the damage climbed to over $3,500 after part of the work was done on a statutory holiday.

The strata advised the Barlingas they were responsible for the costs under strata bylaws and their account was charged.

While the Barlingas called the costs preposterous, Gardner said they had provided no evidence of overbilling.

The applicants allege that Phoenix made up their supplies to create the illusion that it was a major flood, Gardner said.

I find the applicants bare assertions, without any supporting evidence, are insufficient to prove their allegations.

Gardner dismissed the request to reverse the charges on the Barlingas' account.
Being a part-time college student is no joke. Picture this, its a Thursday morning, youre all cozied up in your bed, finally getting the rest youve been dreaming of all week. Then suddenly you get the horror of a reminder that there isnt any time for you to get your beauty rest- you have class today! This is the life of a college student who is boldly and simultaneously facing the adult world. Its not easy. Having to juggle schedules, working overtime to make sure bills are paid, cramming study sessions in, having very little room for social life, and always ending your day with being exhausted. Just for that cycle to continue.

Its a luxury and a privilege to not have to worry about extra expenses while being in school.

When you live on campus, so much is encompassed in those fees. Your lodging, your general meals are all taken care of. Being in school, while working part-time has been a challenge that no one truly preps you for. It isnt given the proper space for a dialogue around it. Its just like mental health for college students, the stress of starting to figure out adulthood is dismissed as a rite of passage for all young people. Its something that everyone has to go through, so its not worth holding a discussion for it.

Colleges and jobs dont make this process easy for us as well.

Theres very little room for grace, very little understanding of ones circumstances, were expected to be superhuman. Send this in on time, never be late to work, never be late to class, completely understand the curriculum, always give 100% effort at work, the expectations never end.

Our mental and physical health is never something thats prioritized by these institutions.

Youre lucky to come across a handful of teachers and bosses who want to make sure youre not overworking yourself. Superiors who will give you time off if youre not feeling well. But the majority wouldnt care if youre coming to class or work on your deathbed. The room to mess up is set very low, if you miss 3 classes, youre dropped from it completely. Come to work late x amount of times  youre having a talk with your supervisor.

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When youre working and going to school it leaves little room for other responsibilities. These range from scheduling doctor appointments, to setting up therapy. Your boss wont understand you needing to come in late so you can talk to your therapist. If your job doesnt offer paid sick days youre risking losing money. So youre left with the option of putting your health on the backburner so that youre able to get that check, and degree.

Capitalism runs off of the lack of societal acknowledgment that this is not a proper way to live. When everyone just forces themselves to be okay with working a 30 hour plus work week. Youre running back and forth between different classes, monetizing your hobbies to pick up extra money where your job doesnt.

We normalize this behavior.

We chastise those who bravely call out these unhealthy patterns, label them lazy. Brush off someone wanting to vent about the issues theyre drowning in because were all going through something. So many people think that just because they suffered, its necessary for everyone to overcome those similar hurdles for their own growth. Instead of working on ways to make this process easier, to remove these blockages, the world makes it mandatory to go through.

Rest is necessary for every human.

When you have a schedule that encompasses every day of your week being occupied with something, your body becomes consumed with a feeling so much dread. When youre working a 9-5 on x amount of days out of the week, then going to class immediately after, youre left with no time to engage in something that gives you joy.

Im an artist.

I find comfort in painting, writing a poem, making jewelry, etc. As of late, because of my cramped schedule Im getting less and less time to work on things that ground and center me. My art that I do for leisure, has also become a source of income to help cover bills. So now theres a sense of hassle that comes along with something I originally do to avoid stress. This is something far too many students can relate with, and it shouldnt be a cycle thats allowed to continue.

Colleges should learn to be more understanding of those who are working part time jobs to support themselves.

Offer more support groups, more tutoring services that are catered to part time working hours, more grace given to students. Our places of employment need to stop relying on the exploitation of young students who will work ridiculous hours just to get by. We as a society need to take a harder look at the system, and ways we can combat the capitalistic tactics that keep us in this unhealthy cycle. Being a part time student juggling two jobs, and other extracurricular activities has pushed me to advocate more for ways to make this way of life easier, and not normalize it for the students who are coming up after me.

Alycia Kamil is a freedom fighter and believer of the people. She is a Freshman at Wilbur Wright College.
Oct. 25BROOKINGS  This season was the 81st in South Dakota State football history where the Jackrabbits faced all three of their Dakota brethren  South Dakota, North Dakota and North Dakota State  within the same season.

And for the first time in nearly 60 years (since 1963), SDSU swept the bunch, becoming the 'Champions of the Dakotas' with wins in back-to-back-to-back weeks over, in order, USD, NDSU and UND.

"It would mean we were able to get three wins against three really good football teams," SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said of potentially accomplishing the feat ahead of the UND game. "Bragging rights, recruiting advantages, all that stuff [comes with it]. But it's kind of like being ranked No. 1 or winning a national championship. If we're lucky enough to do that, we're going to move on real quick."

This season marked only the third time since SDSU and NDSU began their Division I transition following 2003 that the Jackrabbits have even had the chance to defeat all three rivals in a single campaign. In 2013, SDSU defeated USD and UND but fell to NDSU, and in 2021 it was the Coyotes that tripped up the Jacks, who defeated NDSU and UND.

Going back to 1915, the first year in which SDSU played USD, NDSU and UND, the Jackrabbits have won all three rivalry games in the same season nine times (1921, 1924, 1933, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1962, 1963 and 2022) and had four additional instances (1919, 1926, 1950 and 1953) where they won two out of three and tied the third to maintain an undefeated claim. (Note: The Jackrabbits and Coyotes actually played twice during the 1933 season and split the meetings, but SDSU had the edge in aggregate score.)

Following the win over NDSU on Oct. 15, Jackrabbits quarterback Mark Gronowski alluded to being crowned 'Champion of the Dakotas' in his postgame remarks if his team could take down No. 20 North Dakota on its home field on Oct. 22.

SDSU fell behind by two touchdowns early but roared back for a 49-35 win to move to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the MVFC, prompting Gronowski to take to Twitter where his Saturday night tweet read "Dakotas" with three broom emojis to signify sweeping the three-game slate and equally emotive hashtag.

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"In the Division II era, we really did not talk about the Dakotas, we talked about sweeping South Dakota which was Augustana and USD," Stiegelmeier explained. "Our guys took a lot of pride in that."

In those Division II days, SDSU was not an NCC power, with that label going to NDSU and UND, with the conference and national success mostly coming exclusively in the Division I days for SDSU. Regardless, it's another item for the burgeoning program to celebrate.

"I've never talked about sweeping the Dakotas, so I don't know where they got it as a team," Stiegelmeier continued as a large smile crept across his face. "I think they're lobbying to get some new T-shirts is what they're doing."

Saturday, Oct. 22

Illinois State 27, Indiana State 21

Northern Iowa 41, Missouri State 20

South Dakota 27, Southern Illinois 24

South Dakota State 49, North Dakota 35

Youngstown State 28, Western Illinois 27

One top performance from the conference for the week:

Zach Annexstad, Illinois State: The transfer from Minnesota was the right man at QB for the Redbirds on Saturday in a 27-21 win at Indiana State. He completed 24-of-38 pass attempts for a career-best 274 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (two rushing, two passing) for the Redbirds, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to older brother, Brock.

With the win in the battle of ISUs, the Redbirds are firmly in the playoff mix in the Missouri Valley with a 5-2 record and North Dakota State on the schedule this week.

One top play from this past week's games:

It was that kind of day for Missouri State in Cedar Falls. The Bears were driving to potentially get within 10 points late in the third quarter when Jason Shelly was sacked by UNI's Cardarrius Bailey, and Spencer Cuvelier fell on it to essentially squash Missouri State's hopes for a win and salvaging a season gone wrong.

Rankings are from the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.

Saturday, Oct. 29

South Dakota at Youngstown State, 1 p.m.

Indiana State at No. 1 South Dakota State, 2 p.m.

Northern Iowa at No. 20 Southern Illinois, 2 p.m.

Western Illinois at Missouri State, 2 p.m.

Illinois State at No. 4 North Dakota State, 2:30 p.m.

Abilene Christian at No. 23 North Dakota, 3 p.m.

One Missouri Valley game we're eager to watch this week:

Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois, 2 p.m.: We're reaching the point of the season where the games are starting to become elimination games for the postseason. Saturday's matchup in Carbondale is that for the Panthers, while the Salukis are in a bit more peril than they were last week before they lost at USD.

SIU started 0-2, including an embarrassing loss at Incarnate Word by a score of 64-29 (the Cardinals are good but that's way too many points to give up). They then scored five straight wins, including three on the road and a triumph at Big Ten doormat Northwestern. The Salukis are likely frustrated by the loss in Vermillion, where they were fine in nearly every statistical category but had two turnovers and saw their offense grind down in the second half to be outscored 17-3 after halftime, giving up a 21-10 lead.

UNI is doing what they seem to have a habit of doing, playing a really tough early part of the season and falling into a hole  this year, an 0-3 start that turned into 2-4  and then rallying, with four wins in their last five games. The most recent of those was a 41-20 blasting of Missouri State, which has turned into a paper tiger (or paper bear) in the Valley landscape after big preseason expectations.

If the Salukis lose this game, they will be 5-4 with a home game against NDSU still ahead, plus a tricky season finale at Youngstown State, which is still playing for its postseason hopes as of now at 4-3. UNI is 4-4, with a home game against SDSU and a trip to USD left in the final two weeks. Wins in two of the last three games would have UNI on the cusp of the playoffs, and 6-5 might get them in, with one of those non-conference losses being at No. 2-ranked Sacramento State.
Neptune Beach is a quiet beachside community and Steve Hould wants to keep it that way. Hes complained about the Airbnb next door, which is owned by Christine Burke, who is a candidate for the city council.

When Action News Jaxs Ben Becker asked him how his relationship with his neighbor is going, he said, Tense.

An Action News Jax investigation found Burke received two cease-and-desist orders from Neptune Beach code enforcement in 2017 for advertising and/or renting of your property for a term less than 28 days -- short-term rentals expressly prohibited in Neptune Beach for two decades.

They stay for 2-3 days and they are gone, Hould said.

Hould sent Becker pictures from the past six years of numerous cars from Burkes driveway -- including ones from as far away as Texas, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

INVESTIGATES: Decision that could have prevented fiery crash that shut down Buckman Bridge for hours

Burke posted about the issue on social media saying the cease-and-desist letters were because of visiting family and friends, whose stays varied in length.

Our Action News Jax investigation found from 2017-2022, Burkes property received 114 Airbnb reviews -- thats 18 1/2 per year for six years -- but there can only be 13 per year if you are renting for 28 days. Those numbers do not include people who may have stayed at the property but didnt leave a review at all.

One review from November 2020 read they enjoyed our week in Jacksonville, and another from last May read, I spent a fabulous two weeks at the home.

INVESTIGATES: Hundreds of local firefighters not receiving potentially life-saving medical physicals

Both reviews indicated they stayed fewer than 28 days.

Burke said in a video message on social media, If you have any questions, get to me directly so I can answer them.

Becker had questions and called Burke for an interview, but after numerous invitations and agreeing to let her videotape it, she declined because I wouldnt provide my questions ahead of time, only the topics, which is standard practice.

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[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Becker went to Burkes listed address to get some answers, but there was no answer.

At the bare minimum its an optics issue, University of North Florida Political Science Professor Michael Binder said. Sometimes people may be doing things that may not be illegal, but questionable or counter to the wishes of the community, and in those circumstances, folks often dont win elections.

The City of Neptune Beach said that since January 2021, there have been 23 complaints about short-term rentals with six open investigations, but none of those are against Burke.

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In October, the City entered into a contract with Deckard Technologies to help it crack down on the problem.

Hould said he wants a better neighbor.

Its the personal use, the commercial gain, and to deny its going on, its just not appropriate, Hould said.

Burke said she currently does not have a short-term rental in Neptune Beach. Becker learned the listing was taken down in July around the time Burke filed to run for office.

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.
(Donald Studey/Newsweek )

When Lucy Studey remembers her father, she thinks of the bodies she claims she saw him bury.

There are no fond memories of him reading her tales before bed, or pushing her on the swings. Instead, the 53-year-old says the memory of her father that was painfully carved in her mind is of him forcing her and her siblings to bury the remains of 50 to 70 women on their property west of Tabor, Iowa.

The allegations Lucy has raised against her father, Donald Dean Studey, had fallen on deaf ears for 45 years, she says, until earlier this year she filled in Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope on the secret she claims shes carried since she was a little girl.

He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant, Lucy told Newsweek in an exclusive interview. Every time I went to the well or into the hills, I didnt think I was coming down. I thought he would kill me because I wouldnt keep my mouth shut.

Her sister, Susan Studey, has very different memories. Susan has vehemently refuted Lucys claims, telling Newsweek that their father was strict, but he was not a serial killer.

Strict fathers dont just turn into serial killers... Im two years older than Lucy. I think I would know if my father murdered, Susan told Newsweek. I would know if my dad was a serial killer. He was not, and I want my fathers name restored.

An FBI investigation was launched following Lucys claims, and the sheriffs office sent cadaver dogs to the well where the bodies were reportedly buried. Two dogs picked up hits in areas near the well, and although no remains have been recovered yet, Mr Aistrope said that he is inclined to believe Lucy.

Donald Studey died in 2013 at the age of 75, and although Lucy says she cannot bring justice to the families who are still wondering what happened to their loved ones, she is determined to at least give them closure.

Heres what we know about the case so far:

The dark-haired and young alleged victims

According to Lucys account to Newsweek, the murders took place in the 1980s. The victims her father allegedly chose were white, in their 20s or 30s and had dark hair.

Story continues

She also told the outlet that some of them had dirty blonde or red hair, tightly cropped.

They were sex workers or transients that Donald Studey would pick up from Omaha, Nebraska, and take to his farmland. Only one of them, Lucy says, was a 15-year-old runaway.

Donald Studey would smash their heads violently inside the trailer where he lived with the family, Lucy claimed, or stab and shoot them.

The female victims were then allegedly thrown into the 100-foot well, with their clothes and jewellery on.

Justifying the killings before his children, he once said, the b**** deserved it, Lucy told Newsweek.

A grim family ritual of disposal

After the violence, Donald Studey used his children to dispose of the bodies, Lucy claimed.

He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant, she said.

Every time I went to the well or into the hills, I didnt think I was coming down. I thought he would kill me because I wouldnt keep my mouth shut.

Meanwhile, Susan says her sister has gravely mischaracterised her father, who, she says, never committed any murder.

The first time I ever heard about bodies was when I talked to Lucy about a year ago, Susan told Newsweek.

My father was not the man she makes him out to be. He was strict, but he was a protective parent.

Donald Studey (Donald Studey/Newsweek)

Forty-five years of ignored allegations

Lucy told Newsweek that she tried to tell people about her fathers alleged crimes for the first time when she was in the second grade.

No one would listen to me, she said. The teacher said family matters should be handled as a family, and law enforcement has said they couldnt trust the memory of a child. I was just a kid then, but I remember it all.

Sheriff Aistrope also told the outlet that about 10 years ago, Lucy made a call to his office but the department was unable to find the well.

Earlier this year, Fremont County Sheriffs Deputy Mike Wake took Lucys claims seriously and asked her to direct him to the well, which he says she found immediately.

Cadaver dogs found at least four hits at the fence of the well with a neighbouring property.

I really think theres bones there, Mr Aistrope said when visiting the scene with Newsweek reporters and Lucy on Friday.

Its hard for me to believe that two dogs would hit in the exact same places and be false. We dont know what it is. The settlers were up there. There was Indian Country up there as well, but I tend to believe Lucy.

However, since then, Mr Aistrope has seemingly taken a more cautious approach.

Its been a rumour around for years, he told local news station KETV.

Area near the well where Lucy Studey said that her father allegedly buried the bodies (KVTV/Screengrab)

We have a scene, but we dont know whether its a crime scene. We dont have victims, bodies. Nothing.

Meanwhile, Susan says that the dogs probably followed animal bones of pets buried in the site, and the remains of his fathers stillborn sister, who was also buried there.

Jim Peters, with the Samaritan Detection Dogs, told Newsweek that his dogs are trained to ignore animal bones and that he feels pretty good about what I saw from the dogs, but Im not going to hang my hat on that.

The FBI and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation have joined the investigation, KETV reported. The Sheriffs Department discussed several avenues to recover potential remains such as using sonar systems, and excavating and boring the well, which could cost up to $300,000.

However, the department expects to find more concrete evidence before moving on with a larger search.

Donald Studeys criminal record

According to Lucy, her father was a gambler. She described him as abusive and said he made her fear for her life many times.

Susan told Newsweek that the only time she saw her father become angry was during a dispute with a neighbour over his dog.

Criminal records obtained by the outlet reportedly show that he was convicted of petty larceny and spent some time in jail in Omaha for drinking under the influence.

Local authorities in Iowa reportedly feared him and officers would avoid visiting his home by themselves.

Donald Studey, who allegedly tried to commit suicide several times, was married twice in his lifetime. Both of his wives died by suicide, Newsweek reported.

One of them died by strangulation and the other shot herself, police records obtained by the outlet state.

A search for closure

Lucy said she is well aware the families of the potential victim will not get any justice.

She says the way she was brought up has made her an emotionally detached person, but she is willing to offer them a semblance of closure.

All I want is to get these sites dug up, and to bring closure for people and to give these women a proper burial, Lucy told Newsweek.

I dont feel anything for my father. Nothing at all. I wanted justice when my father was alive, but hes gone.

The Independent has reached out to several members of the Studey family and the Fremont County Sheriffs Office.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Gunmen attacked a major Shiite holy site in Iran on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens. The attack came as protesters elsewhere in Iran marked a symbolic 40 days since a woman's death in custody ignited the biggest anti-government movement in over a decade.

State TV blamed the attack on takfiris, a term that refers to Sunni Muslim extremists who have targeted the country's Shiite majority in the past. The attack appeared to be unrelated to the demonstrations.

The official website of the judiciary said two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque, the second holiest site in Iran. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

An Iranian news website considered to be close to the Supreme National Security Council reported that the attackers were foreign nationals, without elaborating.

The Islamic State group late Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack on its Amaq news agency. It said an armed IS militant stormed the shrine and opened fire on its visitors. It claimed that some 20 people were killed and dozens more were wounded.

Such attacks are rare in Iran, but last April, an assailant stabbed two clerics to death at the Imam Reza shrine, the country's most revered Shiite site, in the northeast city of Mashhad.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that whoever led and planned the attack will receive a regretful and decisive response, without elaborating. IRNA quoted Raisi as saying, This evil will definitely not go unanswered.

Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of protesters had poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam  as in many other traditions  again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

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Death to the dictator!" protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to security considerations.

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation completely stable.

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb "the spread of influenza."

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! through the labyrinthine marketplace.

This year is a year of blood! they also chanted. "(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!"

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator! as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the countrys strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan #WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with war against God," which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of supporting terrorism." The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.
Thousands of mourners flocked to the Iranian cemetery where Mahsa Amini is buried Wednesday, defying a government crackdown to mark 40 days since her death after she was detained by morality police and the end of the country's traditional mourning period.

Security forces clashed with crowds who had gathered at Amini's grave in her hometown, Saqqez, according to a semi-official Iranian news agency, which also said internet in the region was subsequently cut off.

A photo posted to social media and verified by NBC News showed a young woman standing on a car with her hands raised in the air and her headscarf removed, overlooking a long line of people in the city.

Three videos recorded in Saqqez also showed large plumes of smoke rising from streets near protesters as they faced off against security forces nearby. NBC News has verified the video.

The protests erupted after activists called for demonstrations to mark the anniversary of Amini's detainment.

Anti-government protests since Amini died last month have persisted across Iran despite an intense crackdown. Beyond Saqqez, there were large protests in cities including the capital, Tehran, on Wednesday.

Massive crowds had poured into the streets to mark Aminis death, according to Ali Arouzi, NBC News Iran correspondent.

They have been met with an absolutely enormous security presence, he added.

Witnesses told Reuters that a large security presence was also on the streets of several other cities.

Amini, 22, who was from Iran's northwestern Kurdistan region, died in a hospital three days after she was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress codes.

The demonstrations have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Iranian government since the 1979 revolution, with some people chanting slogans against the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Ebrahim Raisi.

Cemetery clashes

A limited number of those present at Mahsa Aminis memorial clashed with police forces on the outskirts of Saqqez and were dispersed," according to the semi-official news agency ISNA. Internet in Saqqez was then "cut off due to security considerations, the agency reported, adding that about 10,000 people had gathered.

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The regional governor had denied reports of unrest in the province, according to the Telegram channel of the state-run IRNA news agency. The governor also said that Amini's family decided against holding a memorial service and that reports that roads to Saqqez were closed were false.

Security forces had blocked roads to the cemetery, according to Hengaw, a group that monitors human rights violations in Kurdistan province, which shared the video of crowds chanting Woman, life, freedom! at the site early Wednesday.

Iranian mourners march towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, to mark 40 days since Mahsa Amini's death, on Oct. 26, 2022. (ESN / AFP - Getty Images)

Hengaw also alleged that Aminis family had been under pressure by security forces to issue a statement announcing that it would not go ahead with a memorial service to mark 40 days since her death. The human rights group also said Aminis brother was threatened with arrest.

NBC News cannot verify Hengaws claims or the identities of the men in the video.

Women and young girls have been at the forefront of the anti-government protests in Iran, with videos showing them removing and burning their headscarves and cutting their hair in public, in open defiance of the cleric-run Islamic Republic.

The government has blamed what it calls foreign enemies for stoking the unrest.

A coroners report said this month that Amini died from multiple organ failure and ruled out blows to the head and body as a cause of her death. Police had said Amini died after she fell ill and slipped into a coma, but her family has said witnesses told them officers beat her.

The police have denied she was beaten.

The coroners report also said that because of an underlying health condition, Amini suffered a heart attack and could not be revived. Her family denies she had a pre-existing condition.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
DUBAI (Reuters) - At least 15 people were killed and ten others injured on Wednesday following an attack in the Shah Cheragh Shrine of Shiraz, Iranian state news agency IRNA said.

A media outlet affiliated to Iran's judiciary said three armed men had entered the shrine at 5:45pm local time (1415 GMT)located in Iran's southern city of Shiraz.

IRNA said the attackers acted as "Takfiri terrorists" - a reference to Sunni extremists such as Islamic State militants.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Hey, everyone! Drew here. Happy Wednesday!

Weve had some new people join us and decided the timing is right to reintroduce our newsroom staff.

Every week in the Afternoon Newsletter, expect us to highlight a team member in a new series called On Background. Some faces may be familiar, but we hope to better connect with the communities we serve.

Heres the news for today. See ya!

Lisa Vernon Sparks joined The Charlotte Observer in July to work with reporters tackling topics in race, equity and representation across multiple beats, plus lead the newspapers mobile newsroom effort.

Well kick off the series with our new race, culture and community engagement editor, Lisa Vernon Sparks.

Three months into her gig, Lisa works with reporters doing enterprise/accountability journalism covering race, inequity and underrepresented groups across several beats.

But theres more to Lisa than just being a word nerd  one hidden fact: shes a former professional ballerina.

Get to know Lisa.

The Iredell County Sheriffs office released photos of a possible suspect who made a false bomb threat to the Iredell County Courthouse and District Attorneys Office Tuesday afternoon.

There was a bomb scare yesterday afternoon in Iredell County and investigators are looking for a man they believe to be behind it.

The man called in the threat to the county courthouse and District Attorneys Office. The caller said he placed the explosives in the courthouse building and DAs office because a family member of his was recently sentenced to prison. At the time of the call, over 100 citizens and employees were in the buildings, Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement.

Deputies evacuated both buildings but no bombs were found. Investigators traced the call to a Wi-Fi signal accessed at a business on North Center Street, according to the Sheriffs Office.

The Iredell County Sheriffs Office is seeking information from the public to identify the individual and released photos today from surveillance cameras of a possible suspect.

Kallie Cox updates the story on the search for the suspect.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said on Wednesday Ahylea Willards car had been stolen after her death. CMPD said the car is a Mercedes Benz C250 with NC license plate number TJV-4843.

Police are asking for help to find the car of a Charlotte woman killed on Sunday.

Story continues

Ahylea Willard, 32, was found dead Sunday morning at an apartment complex in east Charlotte, located on Snow Lane, close to Albemarle Road Park. Shed been shot, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

Authorities said today Willards car was stolen and believe it is connected to the murder.

Security camera footage of the vehicle and its occupants are blurry and no suspect information has been released.

Kallie Cox has more on the search in connection with the murder.

Casey Kerwan, right, won the 2022 eNASCAR series championship on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. The trophy was presented by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

An interesting NASCAR event took place last night.

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series Championship in Uptown Charlotte was decided last night with Casey Kirwan taking the checkered flag. Kirwan outmaneuvered three drives in the Championship 4 to claim the $100,000 prize and series trophy  which is named after Dale Earnhardt Jr. and modeled after the old Winston Cup.

Its insane, the driver of the No. 95 car told The Charlotte Observer today. Kirwan said this a few minutes after hed smiled for cameras and cried while hugging his family, whod supported him as a iRacing competitor and streamer for years. I dont think its sunk in yet.

The four drivers who were competing for the championship were up on a stage, with their own racing rigs assembled the way they like it, and they competed in front of a live audience for the first time in series history.

Alex Zietlow details the special NASCAR event.

5. Some more stories to read

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Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day!

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed Iran supplying weapons to Russia that are killing Ukrainians, during a White House meeting on Wednesday.

Herzog also told reporters the two discussed the Iranian nuclear program and Tehran's repression of its citizens.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chris Reese)
Photo: . Photograph By ISTOCK

A woman is suspected of committing a pair of "break outs" in Williams Lake.

RCMP in the community of 11,500 people 236 kilometres south of Prince George said Jerrika Leigh Hill-Jackson was arrested last week on suspicion of locking herself in two stores, waiting until they had closed and the employees had left to steal merchandise.

The first occurred robbery on Oct. 16 at a business on Prosperity Way. Employees arrived at the store that morning after receiving information of suspicious activity from a security guard overnight. They went over surveillance video that showed the heist.

Hill-Jackson was arrested on Oct. 17 when RCMP were called to a 1st Ave. N. business.

"Store employees reported the suspect was currently in the store, and they recognized her from video surveillance as having committed a similar store break-out from the night before," RCMP said.

As it happened, while Jackson was being arrested, an RCMP officer was at a Prosperity Way business on another matter.

"Employees of the two businesses were in contact with one another and shared that suspect description matched both incidents," RCMP said.

Jackson has subsequently been charged with two counts of breaking out after entering to commit an offence contrary to Section 348(1)( c ) of Criminal Code - and yes, that really is an offence. Jackson was also charged with two more mundane counts of theft $5,000 or under.

RCMP Cpl. Brett Squire likened the incidents to the acts the hapless "Sticky Bandits" tried to pull in a series of popular Hollywood films.

"We don't, outside of the popular Home Alone movies, see many incidents of an accused remaining in a store after closing, so it is a unique MO for both the police and the local business community to be aware of," Squire said. "In this case; quick information sharing between the businesses, and prompt reporting to police led to quick arrest."

Hill-Jackson was released on conditions with a date to appear in Williams Lake Provincial Court on Nov. 30.
Iranian drone Shahed-136 in the sky over Kyiv, October 17

Iran has long followed the path of supplying components and organizing production in the countries where its proxies are located  in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, he said.

Read also: Military expert on Iranian Shahed-136 drones in service with Russia

Israel hit a plant that produced drones to arm Iranian proxies in Syria (not drones for supply) to Russia.

Israel hit an Iranian drone assembly plant near Damascus, Syria, overnight on Oct. 22, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

In late August, international media outlets, citing representatives of Western intelligence, began reporting that Russia had received hundreds of combat drones from Iran. This information was also confirmed by the White House.

Read also: Iran to send ballistic missiles to Russia for war against Ukraine

According to CNN, Russia received three types of Iranian drones: the Mohajer-6, Shahed-129, and Shahed-191.

According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Russian troops now have about 300 of these Iranian-made drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that Moscow had ordered a total of 2,400 drones from Tehran.

Iran has denied supplying drones to Russia, although its denial is false  the first evidence of Iranian drone usage by Russia emerged as far back as mid-September.

Russia employs these drones not only against military targets, but also against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, endangering civilians.

Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters

According to Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the Ukrainian military is now intercepting 85% of the Shahed suicide drones sent against Ukraine.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Giorgia Meloni

Peace can be achieved by supporting Ukraine ... it is the only chance we have for the two sides to negotiate, said Meloni.

Read also: Italy to always support brave people of Ukraine, says new PM Meloni

She added that its vital for Italys prestige and international reputation to continue supplying Ukraine with arms, even if the scope of this assistance wont play a decisive role in the ultimate resolution of the war.

Read also: USs Biden, Italys Meloni agree to continue providing assistance to Ukraine

Earlier media reports suggested Italys new PM could soon visit Kyiv.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Alvise Armellini

ROME (Reuters) -Italy's new right-wing government is planning to raise a limit on cash payments, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday, amid opposition complaints that the move would benefit tax cheats and money launderers.

Tax dodging is a chronic problem in Italy, with more than 100 billion euros ($100.47 billion) evaded per year, according to Treasury data. In 2019, some 18.5% of taxes due were evaded.

Cash is harder to trace compared to electronic payments, so it is more likely to be used for illicit purposes. Yet forcing people to use credit cards is unpopular in some quarters, ostensibly for reasons of freedom and privacy.

"I confirm that we will change the cap on cash (payments)", Meloni told the Senate before a vote of confidence on her government, standing by a pre-election pledge of her rightist bloc.

Earlier, Matteo Salvini's League, a junior coalition ally, presented a draft bill to hike the cap to 10,000 euros from next year. It currently stands at 2,000 euros and was due to go down to 1,000 euros from next year.

Since 2010, the cap has been moved up and down several times, ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 euros.

Italy has traditionally been one of the European Union's more cash-based economies, but the trend has changed in recent years, with card payments becoming increasingly popular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Franco Mirabelli of the centre-left Democratic Party said Meloni's plan would be a "gift" to mafia groups. "It would favour (tax) evasion as well as money laundering," he wrote on Facebook,

Giuseppe Conte, a former premier and leader of the left-leaning opposition Five Star Movement, also protested.

"We don't want to favour crime and corruption. We are instead concerned with helping ... the majority of Italians, ordinary people. Those who do not normally go around with 10,000 euros in cash in their pocket," he said.

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Meloni insisted there was "no correlation" between cash payments and the size of the underground economy. "There are countries that have no limits and very low (tax) evasion," she said, mentioning Germany.

However, a Bank of Italy study from last year concluded that "raising the threshold for the use of cash from 1,000 euros to 3,000 euros, as was done in Italy in 2016 to boost spending, had the side effect of leading to a larger underground economy."

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, asked in Brussels about Italy's plans, said that caps in the EU currently range from 500 to over 10,000 euros, and noted that the Commission has proposed a top limit of 10,000 euros.

He said at a news conference he would like to see "smaller cash payment limits".

($1 = 0.9980 euros)

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, Alvise Armellini and Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin Jones and Nick Macfie)
Tim "Baked Alaska" Gionet livestreams from Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, the night before the U.S. Capitol riot.

The Maricopa County Justice Courts found far-right streamer Tim "Baked Alaska" Gionet guilty of criminal damage after he defaced a Hanukkah display in December 2020 outside the Arizona Capitol.

Gionet, a former Queen Creek resident, was found guilty of criminal damage and attempt to commit criminal damage after he pulled a poster that was part of a Hanukkah display. During the trial, the prosecutors said he also tried pushing the menorah a candelabrum used in the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Gionet was livestreaming when he pulled the poster.

A video shows Gionet standing in front of the menorah, which had a sign that says Chabad of Arizona wishes you a happy Chanukah and had a link to the Chabad Lubavitch of Arizona.

Court documents allege that Gionet said how do we knock this thing down?

while shaking the menorah.

Gionet then pulled the sign off the menorah and left it in the ground, the video shows.

"No more Happy Hanukkah, only Merry Christmas. This is a disgrace," Gionet can be heard saying in the video.

Baked Alaska (Anthime Gionet) now finally facing charges in connection to the vandalism of a Hanukkah display in Phoenix last winter. Video of the incident posted on Reddit has been deleted, but here's a copy I saved. https://t.co/iqBKGHud7W pic.twitter.com/Pdb0g9AN2g  Erasmus Baxter (@baxter_eh) November 20, 2021

A Department of Public Safety trooper who testified at trial said he got reports of the damage and went to site. He said he saw one of the posters in the display was torn off the menorah, so he picked up the sign, placed it back and took a report.

In the report, the trooper didnt note the sign was damaged.

At trial, attorney Zachary Thornley, the lawyer who represents Gionet, said he wasnt disputing if his client pulled the sign. However, he claimed there was no proof that Gionet damaged it.

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Thornley added that if Gionet would have had the intention to damage the menorah, he could have knocked it down.

Rabbi Levi Levertov testified that Chabad Arizona obtained a permit to put the display in the Capitol grounds and didnt give Gionet permission to remove the sign.

Levertov said every year for Hanukkah there is a procession that ends at the State Capitol and a menorah lightning ceremony for the public. He added that there is an intangible part to the menorahs value.

For Jews throughout the world, and obviously in Phoenix specifically, the menorah is a very big point of religious pride and freedom so these celebrations are quite important, Levertov said.

Gionet was found guilty on Friday and sentenced to pay a $300 in fines, without probation or jail time. Scott Davis, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Justice Courts, said Gionet had paid the fines as of Monday.

Thornley didn't reply to a request for comment in time for publication.

Federal judge will allow far-right streamer Tim 'Baked Alaska' Gionet to continue livestreaming videos but calls conduct 'dangerous'

Gionet faces charges in unrelated cases

Gionet first gained public attention when he livestreamed from inside the U.S. Capitol as thousands of people stormed the building and drove lawmakers into hiding on Jan. 6, 2021.

That led to a federal complaint against Gionet, which alleges he livestreamed video for 27 minutes on the DLive platform from inside the U.S. Capitol and encouraged rioters around him not to leave.

The video shows him entering a congressional office, sitting on a couch and placing his feet on a table. The video was later posted on YouTube and Twitter, where the FBI saw it.

At one point in the video, the complaint says he curses repeatedly at law enforcement, calling one officer an "oath breaker."

Insurrection: There are the Arizonans arrested after rampage at U.S. Capitol

Thornley has argued in court documents that his client was acting as a member of the press when he entered the Capitol. Thornley has said Gionet did not engage in violence and told others not to break or vandalize anything, but rather left the building when he was told to go.

In U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., Gionet pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing inside the U.S. Capitol. He faces up to six months in prison and will be sentenced Jan. 12. His plea agreement stipulated that he must cooperate with the government's investigation into the Capitol riot.

In another, unrelated, case, Gionet was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay a fine after being convicted on charges related to assaulting a Scottsdale bartender in December 2020.

Gionet was found guilty of assault, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass in that case.

Scottsdale police say he made customers uncomfortable when he and friends were inside the bar livestreaming video. Police say he refused to leave when asked to do so and got into an argument with an employee who pushed him out of the door, prompting Gionet to shoot pepper spray twice.

Gionet told police he believed the employee was advancing toward him. He said he feared for his life and sprayed him after being shoved.

After Gionet was sentenced in January, he filed a notice of appeal and filed the appeal on Aug. 24.

Records show the appellate court affirmed the judgement and sentence of the Scottsdale Municipal Court on Thursday.

Republic reporter Anne Ryman contributed to this report.

Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tim 'Baked Alaska' Gionet found guilty of damaging Hanukkah display
By Kevin Buckland and Tomo Uetake

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese life insurers plan to buy more super-long government bonds, enticed by the highest yields since 2014.

Nippon Life, Japan Post Insurance and Sumitomo Life are among the insurers that have detailed their investment plans for the rest of the fiscal year-ending April at briefings over the past several days.

A common theme has been an intention to increase holdings of the longest-maturity JGBs, centered on the 30-year securities, which now offer "attractive" yields as well as being a safe haven from a long list of market uncertainties globally.

Many insurers also plan to shift some money from currency-hedged holdings of foreign bonds into yen bonds, with hedging costs soaring.

"There is now an attractiveness to Japanese government bonds," while "the attractiveness of hedged foreign bonds is waning," a Japan Post Insurance representative told a briefing on Friday. "We have already been shifting from hedged foreign bonds into JGBs, and we will continue to do so."

Yields on 30-year JGBs soared as high as 1.685% on Thursday for the first time since September 2014, while the 20-year yield reached the highest since February 2015 at 1.315%. Both fell back as investors scooped up the discounted debt.

Yields came under further downward pressure on Wednesday amid a decline in U.S. yields and as the Bank of Japan bought additional bonds ahead of a two-day policy-setting meeting that begins Thursday.

The 30-year bond last yielded 1.54% with the 20-year at 1.18%.

"Anything above 1.5% and we can consider additional investment" in 30-year JGBs, said a representative from Sumitomo Life at a briefing on Tuesday.

Nippon Life is being more cautious.

"It's true that it's the easiest environment to invest for the past several years," a representative of the company, also known as Nissay, said on Monday. "Because yields are at 1.5%, if the question is whether we can now buy actively, we're still a long way from that point."

(Reporting by Tomo Uetake and Tokyo markets team; Writing by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Mike Harrison)
Sen. Bob Menendez. Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is under federal criminal investigation in Manhattan, a spokesman for the senator confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday.

"Sen. Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation," Michael Soliman, an adviser to Menendez, said in a statement. "As always, should any official inquires be made, the senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office."

Menendez became a senator in 2006, and is up for re-election in 2024. In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges, accused of illegally accepting favors from a Florida ophthalmologist, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions. When jurors couldn't reach a unanimous verdict, the case ended in a mistrial, and federal prosecutors decided in 2018 not to retry Menendez.

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FILE: U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) at a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, Sept. 15, 2022. / Credit: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

Washington  New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez is under federal criminal investigation in New York, sources and a political adviser to the senator confirmed to CBS News.

Michael Soliman, a longtime political adviser to the New Jersey Democrat, told CBS News, "Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported today. However, he does not know the scope of the investigation. As always, should any official inquiries be made, the senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office."

The news site Semafor first reported the investigation into Menendez.

Federal prosecutors first investigated Menendez in 2015 when he was indicted  but never convicted  in an alleged bribery scheme in which prosecutors said an eye doctor provided flights on a private jet and other perks in exchange for his help securing contracts. The subsequent 2017 trial on the charges in New Jersey ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

It is unclear if this latest investigation involves similar allegations.

Menendez is also a senior member of the Senate Banking and Finance committees and, according to his Senate website, he is the first Latino to chair the Foreign Relations Committee. He was first elected to Congress in 1993 to represent New Jersey's 13th Congressional District and ran for the Senate over a decade later.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

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Thursday marks four years since 11 people were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

JFCS said therapists will be at two different locations for the day. One will be outside the Tree of Life synagogue from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A therapist will also be available at the commemoration ceremony at 4 p.m. on Prospect Drive.

The organization will connect anyone who calls to a counselor. The phone number for the JFCS is 412-422-7200.

The UpStreet therapists are available for teens and young adults. Brief support will also be available on their website at upstreetpgh.org.

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WATCH FULL DEBATE: Fetterman, Oz face off in first and only Senate debate Warrant issued in South Side shooting; police discover second victim Everybody loved her: Friends remember Pennsylvania National Guard member killed in accident VIDEO: Fire in Pittsburghs Spring Hill neighborhood damages home DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
A handout photo made available by ABC27 shows Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (left) and Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr Mehmet Oz (right) shaking hands prior to the Nexstar Pennsylvania Senate Debate at WHTM ABC27 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA, 25 October 2022 (EPA)

Before a word was spoken in Tuesdays crucial debate between John Fetterman and Dr Mehmet Oz, everyone seemed to know who would win on the night. In the hours leading up to the only scheduled debate between the two candidates, who are vying for a seat that could be the deciding vote in the Senate, Mr Fettermans own team gave a masterclass in lowering expectations.

John did not get where he is by winning debates or being a polished speaker. He got here because he truly connects with Pennsylvanians, senior campaign officials Rebecca Katz and Brendan McPhillips wrote in a memo. This isnt Johns format, they added.

Dr Oz, on the hand, is a polished television professional.

This guy is a media-savvy performer who literally built his career (and his fortune) by playing to the cameras as a daytime TV host, they continued.

All political campaigns aim to manage expectations before a debate  its a tried and tested method of reframing what a victory looks like. But for Mr Fettermans team, there was an important reason to go the extra mile.

Since suffering a stroke in May, Mr Fetterman has had trouble with auditory processing  a common issue with recovering stroke victims. It means that he sometimes has trouble hearing sentences and will stumble over some words, especially when several people are speaking. In short, it is hard to imagine a more inhospitable environment for someone in his position than a debate stage, with the inevitable crosstalk, interruptions and fast-paced questions.

To help him process the questions during the debate, moderators agreed to provide real-time captions that transcribed everything the moderators and Dr Oz said. The words came down on two large television screens that hung over the moderators, who explained at the outset how they would work.

In his opening statement, Mr Fetterman addressed what he called the elephant in the room, and compared his own health struggles with the fortunes of Pennsylvanians.

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I had a stroke. Hes never let me forget that, he said, referring to attacks by Dr Ozs campaign on his health. And I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together. But it knocked me down and then Im going to keep coming back up. And this campaign is all about to me is about fighting for everyone in Pennsylvania that ever got knocked down, that needs to get back up, and fighting for all forgotten communities all across Pennsylvania.

It was clear from the outset that the debate would be difficult for Mr Fetterman, but the question remained: in the midst of his recovery, could Mr Fetterman overcome his health difficulties to deliver his message, and explain his policies to the people of Pennsylvania?

As his campaign forewarned, Mr Fetterman stumbled on his words frequently. He struggled to answer questions that he has answered many times before, on topics that he clearly knows well. His most difficult moment came when he was challenged on his previous opposition to fracking, something he now supports, and was unable to provide an explanation.

But if the point of the debate was to inform viewers of each candidates policies, and not about peformance, then Mr Fetterman turned up at the key moments. On abortion, he drew a distinct line between himself and Dr Oz.

I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. You know if you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr Oz, then you dont have a choice. But if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs with you and your doctor, thats what I fight for. Roe v Wade for me should be the law, he said.

Dr Oz said there should not be involvement from the federal government in how states decide their abortion decisions, when asked if hed support a federal abortion ban. But he also gave an answer that is likely to be used by Democrats in the days to come when he suggested that local political leaders should be involved in making decisions about abortions.

As a physician, Ive been in the room when theres some difficult conversations happening. I dont want the federal government involved with that at all. I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy thats always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves, he added.

In between the barbs, each candidate began to build their pitch. Dr Oz accused Mr Fetterman of holding radical positions, [being] extreme, out of touch, and someone who is soft on crime. He said Mr Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers... out of jail as possible.

Mr Fetterman, meanwhile, revisited his attacks on Dr Oz as an out-of-touch millionaire who has ten gigantic mansions. He attacked Dr Ozs refusal to support a $15 minimum wage, accusing him of choosing China over American workers for producing his own merchandise.

Mr Fetterman said he would absolutely support Joe Biden in 2024 if he decided to run. Dr Oz, when asked the same, replied: Ill support whoever the Republican Party puts up. When pressed by moderators, he said he would support Donald Trump if he decided to run for president.

Outside of the ABC29 studio where the debate was taking place, in the misty Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg, crowds of supporters and protesters for both sides faced off against each other. A bus displaying a digital banner chastising Dr Oz for his experiments on dogs passed back and forth past the building.

Holding a sign that read Big John has my vote, Harrisburg resident John Abbott said Mr Fettermans stance on social issues such as abortion and gay rights had earned his support. When asked if the candidates use of captions concerned him, he replied: I hope that hes feeling well. I know a lot of people who have had the same and are doing fine. To take a minute to think about what youve got to say is not a luxury most politicians have. But I think hes gonna be fine and hes gonna do well.

It has been an unusual campaign so far by any measure, and the sole debate in the race was no different.

Mr Fetterman has enjoyed a healthy lead since winning his primary. But as election day drew nearer, polls showed reluctant Republicans coming home. Dr Oz turned his attention to crucial suburban voters with a focus on crime, accusing Mr Fetterman of being too lenient. Those attacks appeared to have some success in narrowing the gap, and Mr Fettermans lead today stands just outside the margin of error.

Whether this debate will swing the race in favour of Dr Oz remains to be seen. Few will make the argument that Mr Fetterman won Tuesdays debate, but his team will be hoping that Pennsylvanians will see through the stumbles to a broader message.

John may have missed some words, but his message was loud and clear. John will fight for Pennsylvania  Dr Oz will only fight for himself, wrote his advisor Rebecca Katz, following the debate.

Inside the spin room after the debate, questions from journalists focused on Mr Fettermans struggle to articulate himself.

Oz campaign strategist Barney Keller called the debate a complete disaster for John Fetterman.

He wasnt able to defend any of his radical positions and it really showed, Mr Keller told reporters.

Joe Calvello, Mr Fettermans director of communications, said his candidate performed better than he did in the primary.

John Fetterman performed great tonight for a man who was in a hospital bed just several months ago, he said. He put it all on the line and was transparent with the people of Pennsylvania and he performed pretty damn well.

The two candidates ended as they began. Dr Oz pitched himself as a candidate for change and a vote against Mr Biden.

Ask yourself this and others in your family, are you unhappy with where Americas headed? I am, he said.

Mr Fetterman seemed to acknowledge his health problems and promised to be a candidate for Pennsylvanians who were facing their own struggles.

My campaign is all about fighting for anyone in Pennsylvania that ever got knocked down and had to get back up again.
Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on Xi's election as general secretary of CPC Central Committee (3)

Xinhua) 09:50, October 26, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of political parties and heads of state or government worldwide have sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Under Xi's strong leadership, China has made remarkable achievements of development in the past decade, said Jorge Bom Jesus, president of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD).

Jesus, also Sao Tome and Principe prime minister, said he firmly believes that under Xi's strong leadership, the resolutions of the 20th CPC National Congress will be effectively implemented and the development goals of the party and the country will be realized.

Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee fully demonstrates his prestige as a great leader of the contemporary age and the heartfelt support of the Chinese people for him, said Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era will guide the Chinese people to achieve their goals, said Berdimuhamedov, who is also former Turkmen president.

Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev said Xi is globally renowned as a responsible and determined statesman who loves his country deeply.

Medvedev said Xi is a good listener to the voice of the people and takes care of their needs and interests, a unique attribute that makes him worthy of the leader of the CPC. He wished Xi new achievements in his work that bears a great responsibility.

Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said under Xi's leadership, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, laying a solid foundation for building a great modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts.

Dodik said he firmly believes that Xi will steer China toward greater achievements of development.

Secretary-General of the Istiqlal Party and Minister of Equipment and Water of Morocco Nizar Baraka expected to further strengthen cooperation with the CPC and China, a friendly country with a long history, so as to achieve mutual benefit and promote the values of dialogue and peace.

In the report of the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi pointed out the central task for the CPC in the new era and the new journey, said Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, president emeritus of the Philippines' Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party and former president of the country.

She believes that under Xi's leadership, China will surely secure greater achievements of development.

Those also sending congratulatory messages include:

Wee Ka Siong, president of the Malaysian Chinese Association and Malaysia's transport minister;

Airlangga Hartarto, chairman of Indonesia's Golkar Party and coordinating minister for economic affairs;

Viorica Dancila, president of Romania's Nation People Together party and the country's former prime minister;

Mohsen Marzouk, president of Machrouu Tounes of Tunisia;

Carlos Lupi, president of the Democratic Labour Party of Brazil;

Gyula Thurmer, leader of the Hungarian Workers' Party;

Richard Todwong, secretary general of Uganda's National Resistance Movement party;

Paul Mashatile, treasurer general of the African National Congress of South Africa.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to a question following an announcement in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. Ford says the Emergencies Act is a federal inquiry into the federal government's use of the act and not a provincial issue. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended his decision against testifying at the public inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act in the provincial legislature Tuesday, saying the inquiry is not a provincial issue.

Opposition members grilled Ford repeatedly in question period about his refusal to testify -- their first chance to do so, after he did not show up on Monday.

"This is a federal inquiry into the federal government's decision to use the federal Emergencies Act," Ford said in response to a question from New Democrat leadership hopeful Marit Stiles.

"For Ontario, this was a policing matter, it was not a political matter."

Ford's comments came as he fights a summons to testify at the inquiry, which is examining the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act to end the so-called Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa and Windsor, Ont., last winter.

The Public Order Emergency Commission summoned Ford and then-solicitor general Sylvia Jones on Monday to testify.

Lawyers for Ford and Jones filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court Tuesday that seeks to quash the summons, citing parliamentary privilege.

In its application, Ford's lawyers argue the summons breaches that privilege by attempting to compel Ford and Jones to testify.

Ford said the province has provided two top bureaucrats to participate in the inquiry and has provided 800 pages of cabinet documents about the issue.

The premier answered only one question in the legislature before deferring numerous followups to one of his top ministers, Government House Leader Paul Calandra.

Calandra answered Stiles' second question about Ford's refusal to testify, repeating much of what Ford said -- which echoed what he said himself the day before when the premier did not attend question period.

"Parliamentary privilege? That's baloney and everybody in this room knows it," Stiles said. "He failed Ontarians."

The commission wants Ford and Jones to testify on Nov. 10, court documents show. Provincial lawyers have sought to have its application heard on Nov. 1.

Last week, Ford told reporters he was not asked to testify at the inquiry.

The commission has sought to interview Ford dating back to mid-September. The requests were repeatedly declined by provincial lawyers, emails filed as part of the province's case show.

Outside the legislature Tuesday, opposition members kept up the pressure on Ford.

"Not showing up and not giving your reasons or explanations or being accountable for your decisions, or the decisions that you didn't make, is not what we expect from leaders or any member of this legislature," interim Liberal Leader John Fraser told reporters.

"So he's lost in the court of public opinion. He can redeem himself by actually appearing and testifying."

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said Ford needs to "step up and do his job."

"People of Ontario need to know why the Premier made the decisions he made when Ottawa and Windsor were under siege," he said.

Outgoing Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has testified at the inquiry, saying he asked the province to sit down at a meeting with the city and the federal government in an effort to figure out how to end the occupation in the city's downtown core.

He has said the province's absence at the meeting delayed the end of the occupation.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already been interviewed by commission lawyers and is set to testify at the inquiry.

The inquiry has heard Trudeau said Ford's absence was due to political reasons, in a call between the prime minister and Watson in early February.

The commission wants to ask Ford and Jones why they did not come to that meeting and want to find out what role both played trying to solve the occupation in Ottawa and the protests that halted incoming traffic at the country's busiest border crossing in Windsor for nearly a week.

Documents filed with the inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act also show that when City of Ottawa officials asked the province for resources to help end the protest, the province directed them to deal with the Ontario Provincial Police and that Jones saw it as a law enforcement issue.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman leads Republican opponent Mehmet Oz by six points among likely voters the day before the two candidates square off in their only debate for Pennsylvanias open Senate seat, a new CNN poll shows.

Mr Fetterman got 51 per cent support, whereas 45 per cent prefer Dr Oz, the former television host and retired physician. Among registered voters, Mr Fetterman had an 11-point lead at 52 per cent, compared to 41 per cent who supported Dr Oz.

Dr Ozs biggest vulnerability continues to be the fact most Pennsylvania voters have a negative opinion of him, as 55 per cent of likely voters have an unfavorable view compared to 38 per cent of likely voters who have a favourable one.

On the Democratic side, 46 per cent of likely voters have an unfavourable opinion of Mr Fetterman while 48 per cent have a favorable opinion of the lieutenant governor.

The two candidates have engaged in a vicious war of words throughout the general election. Dr Oz and national Republicans have hit Mr Fetterman for being soft on crime and have argued that he is using the stroke that he suffered to avoid debating with him.

Conversely, Mr Fetterman has pilloried Dr Oz for not actually being from Pennsylvania, but rather neighbouring New Jersey and for his stance on abortion.

The two will square off in their sole debate in the capital city of Harrisburg on Tuesday. They initially were set to debate in September but after Dr Ozs campaign put out a mocking statement saying it would pay for any medical staff for Mr Fetterman, the Democrat backed out.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey as a Toss-up.

Polling firm SSRS surveyed 901 registered Pennsylvania voters between 13 and 17 October with a margin of error of 4.1 per cent.
Jordan Henderson will face no action from the FA (PA) (PA Wire)

Liverpools Jordan Henderson will face no action following an angry spat with Arsenal defender Gabriel.

The pair clashed late in the Gunners 3-2 Premier League victory over the Reds at the Emirates Stadium on October 9 after the home side had been awarded a penalty.

An investigation was launched amid claims the England midfielder, who strenuously denied the allegation, had made a comment which incensed the Brazilian.

However, after launching an investigation during which both men and six more players provided witness statements, the Football Association has confirmed it will take no further action.

Following an investigation into an allegation received by The FA in the Premier League fixture between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC on Sunday 9 October 2022, The FA can confirm that it will not be taking any disciplinary action.



Full statement: https://t.co/l3AvhI2iCR pic.twitter.com/oJ4DQCFICZ  FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) October 26, 2022

An FA spokesperson said: Following an investigation into an allegation received by The FA in the Premier League fixture between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC on Sunday 9 October 2022, The FA can confirm that it will not be taking any disciplinary action.

The FA received a complaint about an incident involving two players in this fixture. As a result of the complaint, The FA conducted a full and thorough investigation.

The investigation included taking witness statements from the complainant and accused, along with an additional six players who were within proximity of the alleged incident, reviewing multiple angles of video footage, and seeking independent linguistics experts evidence.

None of the witnesses heard the alleged comment, and the player accused strenuously denied the allegation throughout.

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Whilst The FA is entirely satisfied that the allegation was made in good faith, it is equally satisfied that there is no case to answer.

FA spokesperson

Whilst The FA is entirely satisfied that the allegation was made in good faith, it is equally satisfied that there is no case to answer.

The incident happened after Arsenal had been awarded a 76th-minute spot-kick for Thiago Alcantaras challenge on Gabriel Jesus, which was upheld by VAR.

Tempers flared as players from both sides became involved and referee Michael Oliver spoke to managers Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp on the sidelines, although neither elaborated on the cause during their post-match press conferences.

Bukayo Saka ultimately converted the penalty to hand the home side victory and the FA later confirmed it was reviewing the incident.
GREENBELT, Md. (AP)  A federal judge in Maryland said Wednesday that there is a very high likelihood he will order a mental evaluation for a California man charged with trying to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte said during a brief hearing that he believes a mental evaluation will show him whether Nicholas John Roske, 26, is fit to assist his defense, enter a possible guilty plea or stand trial. No trial date has been set. Messitte said he is likely to order a mental evaluation for Roske when the parties return after approximately 45 days for a subsequent hearing.

Defense Attorney Andrew Szekely told the judge that the defense doesn't have any present concerns about Roske's mental competency.

The judge asked Roske several questions routine questions including his age, last address and last job to get preliminary sense of where he is. Roske answered the questions without a problem and said he knew he was appearing in federal court.

According to court filings previously made public, Roske told unidentified internet users that his goal was to reverse the then-leaked draft decision that ultimately overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling establishing constitutional protection for abortion.

Roske is charged with attempting to murder a justice of the United States. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Roske, who had recently worked as a substitute teacher, traveled from California to Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with the intent of killing him. Roske pulled up near the home in a taxi shortly after 1 a.m. on June 8 carrying a suitcase with a gun and ammunition; a tactical chest rig with pepper spray and a knife; a flashlight; a laser; a thermal monocular and other burglary tools, according to court papers.

Spotted by two U.S. marshals who were part of 24-hour security provided to the justices, Roske was apprehended after he called 911 and told a police dispatcher that he was near Kavanaughs home and wanted to take his own life.

The leaked opinion draft led to protests, including at several of the justices' homes. Roske's arrest spurred the House to approve a bill expanding that around-the-clock security protection to the justices' families.
Anti-vaccine protesters gather in front of Parliament building during a demonstration in Albany, New York City, on January 5, 2022. Eren AbdullahogullarA/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

New York City ordered a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all city workers last year.

A judge said Tuesday that a group of workers fired for refusing a vaccine must be rehired and paid.

The city has appealed the decision, saying the vaccine is "critical to New Yorkers' public health."

A New York Supreme Court judge said a group of New York City workers who were fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine last year must be rehired and given back pay for their time away.

In a decision made public on Tuesday, Judge Ralph Porzio wrote that "though vaccination should be encouraged, public employees should not have been terminated for their noncompliance."

"It is time for the city of New York to do what is right and what is just," siad Porzi, a Republican.

The city has already appealed the decision, The Washington Post reported, which could see it overturned.

A spokesperson for the New York City Law Department told The Post that the city "strongly disagrees with this ruling as the mandate is firmly grounded in law and is critical to New Yorkers' public health."

The New York City Law Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The ruling came in a case brought by a group of city sanitation workers who were terminated in February this year over their refusal to get vaccinated.

The group of 16 workers claimed they had natural immunity because of prior infections, The New York Post reported.

Porzi said Tuesday his order was "not a commentary on the efficacy of vaccination, but about how we are treating our first responders." He also cited President Joe Biden's recent assertion that the pandemic was "over."

New York City ordered a vaccine mandate for all of its city workers last year.

Mayor Eric Adams announced last month that he would be dropping a vaccine mandate specifically for private sector employees as of November 1.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A state judge on Tuesday ordered Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to release within 20 days documents previously requested under the states public records law related to two migrant flights DeSantis sent to Marthas Vineyard, Mass.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability (FCGA) had filed multiple records requests last month following the flights and subsequently alleged in court that DeSantis was refusing to produce them.

DeSantiss attorneys pushed back, arguing that they had not been given a reasonable amount of time to produce the documents, while also indicating they already released some of the requested materials and planned to publish the rest by Dec. 1.

The judge on Tuesday ruled orally from the bench that DeSantis was unlawfully delaying the release of the remaining records, said Michael Barfield, FCGAs director of public access, although the ruling has not yet appeared in writing on the case docket.

The group, which aids journalists in pursuing government records, filed its first records request on Sept. 20, six days after the two planes chartered by DeSantiss office landed in Marthas Vineyard. The group later filed a second records request.

Bryan Griffin, DeSantiss press secretary, said the governor disagrees with the ruling and plans to appeal.

This records request came amid a historically devastating hurricane and the Executive Office of the Governor was focused on supporting the needs and recovery of Floridians from Hurricane Ian, said Griffin. Regardless, we have already produced a significant number of documents and, as we have already stated, continue to endeavor to do so in a timely manner.

The Florida Republican became the third GOP governor to transport migrants to northern, Democrat-run cities in protest of the Biden administrations immigration policies.

The governors argue the relocations draw attention to the issue and relieve overwhelmed border communities, but their initiatives have sparked intense anger among Democrats, who view the transports as using the migrants as political pawns.

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If even a fraction of the amount of effort spent by the media and critics to find something to take issue with regarding our relocation program was directed towards securing our southern border, we might actually be able to get the Biden administration to do something about it, said Griffin.

The Marthas Vineyard flights took off from Texas and made multiple stops along the way, including one in Florida, flight records show.

DeSantiss office previously released a trove of documents in response to a public records request that included images of the migrants boarding the flights and texts a DeSantis aide sent to coordinate the relocations.

In court filings, the governors attorneys previously indicated the office received more than 90 records requests related to the flights in a matter of days.

Multiple migrants aboard the flights filed a class-action lawsuit against DeSantis last month, alleging they were misled to board the planes after being lured by two individuals near a San Antonio migrant shelter who provided false pretenses.

DeSantis also faces investigations about the flights from the Treasury Department inspector general and a local sheriff in Texas.

This story was updated at 4:24 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A judge on Monday ruled a group of public New York City employees who were fired after failing to comply with the citys vaccination requirements should be reinstated in their positions and receive back pay.

In October 2021, Dave Chokshi, who was New York City health commissioner at the time, issued a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for city employees, saying those who wouldnt comply shouldnt be allowed into their workplace.

The city expanded the order in December 2021 to cover private sector employees who work in-person and interact with their colleagues and the public, but earlier this year Mayor Eric Adams announced unvaccinated athletes and performers would be exempt from that mandate.

The 16 former employees of the citys Department of Sanitation who were laid off in February 2022 argued Adams exemption announcement rendered the public employee vaccination mandate arbitrary and capricious.

Judge Ralph J. Porzio agreed.

The vaccination mandate for city employees was not just about safety and public health; it was about compliance, Porzio wrote.

Porzio said if the order was motivated by safeguarding public health it would apply to all workers in the city.

In a city with nearly 80% vaccination rate, we shouldnt be penalizing the people who showed up to work, at great risk to themselves and their families, while we were locked down, the judge said.

The city has appealed Porzios decision.

The city strongly disagrees with this ruling as the mandate is firmly grounded in law and is critical to New Yorkers public health, a spokesperson for the citys law department said, according to WABC-TV. In the meantime, the mandate remains in place as this ruling pertains solely to the individual petitioners in this case.

Over 1,760 public city workers have been fired for failing to meet the vaccination criteria, the mayors office told City & State in September. Overall, the city has 333,000 positions, the outlet said.

Meanwhile, the private sector vaccination requirement for the city is set to expire on Nov. 1.

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Porzio added that Chokshi overstepped his authority in making decisions in regard to the employment of city employees, noting the commissioner doesnt have the power to terminate employees or exempt others from the rules.

The judge also discussed the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines at preventing infection to justify his verdict  noting that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can contract COVID  despite arguing his decision was not intended to opine on vaccination but instead address how those who worked through the pandemic are treated.

The petitioners should not have been terminated for choosing not to protect themselves, Porzio wrote. We have learned through the course of the pandemic that the vaccine against COVID-19 is not absolute.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though, has continued to emphasize the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination in protecting individuals against severe disease, hospitalization, and death in adults, including during omicron variant predominance.

Effectiveness against infection has waned across all age groups, but this is expected. Protection is highest in adults who receive all recommended booster doses, the agency says.

Porzio also made note of President Joe Bidens comments declaring the pandemic is over in an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes last month, as well as the citys decision to end a state of emergency over the virus.

Biden on Tuesday was vaccinated with a bivalent booster shot in a live broadcast, calling on Americans to do the same ahead of an expected winter COVID-19 surge.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
A New York State judge ruled that NYC sanitation workers who were fired for failing to comply with the citys COVID vaccine mandate must be rehired, in a blistering ruling that targeted Mayor Adams lifting of the mandate for private-sector workers.

Judge Ralph Porzio blasted the city order requiring municipal employees to get the jab as arbitrary and capricious in a Monday ruling in state Supreme Court in Staten Island.

The lawsuit was brought by 16 sanitation workers who were fired in February after refusing the October 2021 mandate imposed by the de Blasio administration. Porzio ruled they could return to work  and get back pay  starting Tuesday at 6 a.m.

We shouldnt be penalizing the people who showed up to work, at great risk to themselves and their families, while we were locked down, he wrote.

He slammed the Adams administration for lifting the vaccine mandate for private-sector workers and student athletes last month while keeping it in place for public employees.

There is nothing in the record to support the rationality of  keeping a vaccination mandate for public employees, while vacating the mandate for private sector employees or creating a carveout for certain professions like athletes, artists and performers, Porzio wrote.

This is clearly an arbitrary and capricious action because we are dealing with identical unvaccinated people being treated differently by the same administrative agency.

The double standard violates the fire municipal workers equal-protection rights, among other flaws, he wrote.

Mayor Adams and former Health Commissioner David Chokshi also overstepped when they fired some employees, but not others, the judge wrote.

It is clear the health commissioner has the authority to issue public health mandates, Porzio stated. However, the health commissioner cannot create a new condition of employment for city employees. The health commissioner cannot prohibit an employee from reporting to work. The health commissioner cannot terminate employees. The mayor cannot exempt certain employees from these orders.

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Porzio disputed whether the order was about public health at all.

If it was about safety and public health, unvaccinated workers would have been placed on leave the moment the order was issued. If it was about safety and public health, the health commissioner would have issued citywide mandates for vaccination for all residents, he wrote.

If it was about safety and public health, no one would be exempt, Porzio added. It is time for the City of New York to do what is right and just.

A mayoral spokesman referred a request for comment to the city Law Department, which said the city filed an appeal and insisted the mandate is still in effect for all city workers but the employees listed in the lawsuit.

The city strongly disagrees with this ruling as the mandate is firmly grounded in law and is critical to New Yorkers public health, the flack said. We continue to review the courts decision, which conflicts with numerous other rulings already upholding the mandate.
Jules Bass, the animator, producer, director and composer whose work included stop-motion holiday television specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus Is Comin to Town, died on Tuesday at an assisted living facility in Rye, New York, publicist Jennifer Fisherman-Ruff confirmed.

He was 87.

The three prominent holiday specials, Rudolph, voiced by Burl Ives, Frosty starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante and Santa Claus, voiced by Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, all debuted during the 1960s and 1970s. In the decades since, the specials have become staples of seasonal holiday programming on television.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Bass was known for his longstanding creative partnership with director Arthur Rankin Jr., who died in 2014 at 89. The two pushed many productions through their banner Rankin/Bass Productions, which was known for its laborious cel-animated, stop-motion films that took long periods of time to turn into full-length features.

Bass and Rankins first production was a syndicated television series titled The New Adventures of Pinocchio, which premiered in 1960. They notched an Emmy nomination for outstanding childrens special for their work on The Little Drummer Boy Book II in 1977 and one year later received a Peabody for their animated version of J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit. In 1980, they took on another Tolkien adaptation with The Return of the King.

The pair co-directed a film in 1982 titled The Last Unicorn, which featured voice roles from talent including Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, Alan Arkin and Robert Klein.

In addition to numerous holiday specials, they served as producers of series including Thundercats and The Jackson 5ive animated series. Bass also produced and directed the 1967cult favorite Mad Monster Party? starring Boris Karloff.

Bass was born in Philadelphia on September 16, 1935, went to New York University for college and worked at an advertising agency before joining Rankin at Videocraft International, which later became Rankin/Bass Productions. After Bass stepped away from producing and filmmaking in 1987, he went on to write childrens books.

The January death of Bass daughter, Jean Nicole Bass, preceded his own. His daughter died at 61 years old.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WAUKESHA, Wis.  Jurors began deliberating Tuesday the fate of the man charged with driving through a 2021 Christmas parade, killing six people and injuring dozens of others.

The jury was given the case after both sides delivered closing arguments Tuesday. The panel deliberated for less than two hours before breaking for the evening. Jurors will reconvene Wednesday morning and consider whether Darrell Brooks Jr. should be convicted of the attack. The trial has been mired with constant distractions, loud outbursts and an array of objections as Brooks acts as his own defense attorney, issues that plagued proceedings Tuesday.

Brooks faces six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety, six counts of hit-and-run causing death and two counts of bail jumping, and one count of misdemeanor battery. If convicted on intentional homicide charges, Brooks faces mandatory life in prison.

In their closing arguments, prosecutors painted Brooks as someone filled with rage and who showed no remorse. They emphasized Brooks' intentions, which they said were abundantly clear as he drove through the parade on Nov. 21, 2021, in downtown Waukesha. Brooks, acting as his own attorney, asked jurors to dismiss the charges and claimed he never intended to hurt anybody.

November 21, 2021; Waukesha, WI, USA; Abandoned chairs, blankets and other items remain along W. Main St. in downtown Waukesha after a vehicle plowed through the Christmas Parade, leaving multiple people injured on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Scott Ash-USA TODAY NETWORK

Prosecutors closing argument: Darrell Brooks' actions were 'intentional'

Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper drove home one central point in her closing remarks: Brooks was not a victim of circumstances or any kind of victim at all. He intentionally mowed down innocents when he plowed through the crowd, never stopping at all.

Opper pointed to extensive testimony, including videos appearing to show the red SUV Brooks was accused of driving. One video showed the SUV driving directly at parade participants relentlessly. "He never stopped. Never," Opper said.

Reading the names of the six fatal victims, Opper noted that they all "lost their lives because of the conduct of Darrell Brooks." Pointing to the 61 victims tied to the reckless endangerment charges, she noted prosecutors only selected those who were physically injured from a larger pool of victims who were also at risk.

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"One of the big things, in this case, was (people wondering) why did this happen? I can't look into someone's mind," she said. "What I can tell you is his intention," noting how easily he could have prevented the tragedy by simply stopping the red Ford Escape.

Brooks ignored barricades, police officers trying to stop his vehicle, the dense crowd ahead of him, and the people who he struck. "It was intentional," Opper said.

Then he tried to run away to escape accountability, fabricating a story about how he was running away from a fight when he was later discovered by police outside a home near the parade, she added, noting his attempt to "change his appearance" by shedding his clothes and other identifying elements from the parade and "ditch" his vehicle.

Darrell Brooks says his 'conscience is clear' in closing argument

The trial has been mired with constant distraction, loud outbursts, and an array of objections as Brooks attempted to defend himself. The frenzy continued Tuesday as he offered his closing statements.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow was forced to remove Brooks from the courtroom twice over his repeated interruptions and improper decorum, once as the jury was just moments away from entering her courtroom. Throughout his closing remarks, Brooks said he was speaking "from the heart" and would not rehash facts presented by prosecutors.

"For a year, I have sat while going through this (case)," he said tearfully. "I understand about healing myself, tragedy, and pain."

Seemingly acknowledging he was behind the wheel of the red SUV, Brooks denied it was an intentional act by him, claiming he blew his horn as he proceeded through part of the parade.

Addressing the prosecution's claim of his "utter disregard for human life," Brooks said that his own life experiences, including watching one of his children being born, showed he had no such disregard. He also challenged prosecutors' claims about his "rage," which he said was unproven and inconsistent with his actions.

He objected to "the lies put out there" about his actions, and talked about how he and his family have been hounded with hate mail and harassment as a result of the charges he faces.

"You have the decision. ... Remember the power that you have," he told jurors.

Crying freely near the end of his statement, he said, "My conscience is clear" while saying his faith in God carried him through the ordeal. "Look inside yourself to make the right decision," Brooks said, adding, "Whatever you decide, make sure you can live with it."

In her rebuttal, Opper dismissed Brooks' emotional claims, noting that never once in his closing statement did he address the feelings of families who lost loved ones.

"When you ride through a parade route and roll over children, ... your intent is known, Mr. Brooks," Opper said. To jurors, she added: "You don't have to stand and wonder, as he claims to ... There are 68 victims in this case. That's not an accident."

Follow Jim Riccioli on Twitter at @jariccioli.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Wisconsin parade attack: Jury begins deliberating Darrell Brooks' fate
Photo: The Canadian Press Paul Bellar is taken into custody after the verdict in his trial before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, at the Jackson County Courthouse in Jackson, Mich. Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico are accused of being involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The three were found guilty of one felony count each of gang membership, providing material support for terrorist acts and felony firearms. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)

Three men accused of supporting terrorism in the plot to kidnap Michigans governor were convicted of all charges Wednesday in a trial that focused on paramilitary drills and fierce contempt for government ahead of the 2020 election.

Joe Morrison, his father-in-law Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar were found guilty of supplying material support for a terrorist act as members of a group known as the Wolverine Watchmen.

They held gun training in rural Jackson County with a leader of the kidnapping scheme, Adam Fox, who was disgusted with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other officials and said he wanted to snatch her.

The trial in state court was an offshoot of the main case in federal court, which produced mixed results: conspiracy convictions for Fox and three others but also two acquittals.

Jurors in Jackson, Michigan, read and heard violent, anti-government screeds as well as support for the boogaloo, a civil war that might be triggered by a shocking abduction. Prosecutors said COVID-19 restrictions ordered by Whitmer turned out to be fruit to recruit more people to the Watchmen.

The facts drip out slowly, state Assistant Attorney General Bill Rollstin told the jury, and you begin to see  wow  there were things that happened that people knew about. ... When you see how close Adam Fox got to the governor, you can see how a very bad event was thwarted.

Morrison, 28, Musico, 44, and Bellar, 24, were also convicted of a gun crime and membership in a gang. Prosecutors said the Wolverine Watchmen was a criminal enterprise.

Morrison, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, and Musico were emotional as they watched the verdicts by video away from the courtroom. Judge Thomas Wilson ordered all three to jail while they await sentencing on Dec. 15.

The verdicts are further proof that violence and threats have no place in our politics," said Whitmer, who has not participated as a trial witness or spectator in the state or federal cases. Those who seek to sow discord by pursuing violent plots will be held accountable under the law.

Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat in a tight race for reelection, hailed the outcome and praised law enforcement. After hearing nine days of testimony, the jury deliberated Tuesday afternoon and for less than two hours Wednesday.

Jackson County is not known to have, I guess I would say, liberal juries. They tend to be a conservative bunch," Nessel said. But I think what they saw here was that this is not a political matter. ... These are individuals that didn't align themselves with any party at all. In fact, they were just anti-government all together."

Defense attorneys argued that Morrison, Musico and Bellar had broken ties with Fox by late summer 2020 when the Whitmer plot came into focus. Unlike Fox and others, they didnt travel to northern Michigan to scout the governors vacation home or participate in a key weekend training session inside a makeshift shoot house in Luther, Michigan.

In this country you are allowed to talk the talk, but you only get convicted if you walk the walk, Musicos attorney, Kareem Johnson, said in his closing remarks.

Defense lawyers couldnt argue entrapment. But they attacked the tactics and motives of Dan Chappel, 36, an undercover informant. He took instructions from FBI agents, secretly recorded conversations and produced a deep cache of messages exchanged with the men.

Chappel, an Army veteran, said he joined the Watchmen because he wanted to hone his gun skills. But when talk turned to harming police, he went to the FBI and agreed to gather evidence for an investigation that eventually revealed a target on Whitmer.

Chappel told jurors it was absolutely risky.

If I was ever compromised, he said, it would not be a good day.

Whitmer, who is seeking reelection on Nov. 8, was never physically harmed. Undercover agents and informants were inside Foxs group for months. The scheme was broken up with 14 arrests in October 2020.

Fox and Barry Croft Jr. were convicted of a kidnapping conspiracy in federal court in August. Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were acquitted last spring. Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty.

Five of the 14 men are facing charges in state court in Antrim County, the site of Whitmer's second home. A judge there still must determine whether there is sufficient evidence to send them to trial.
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Wednesday temporarily blocked the House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection from accessing phone records belonging to the Arizona Republican Partys chairwoman.

Kagan, who handles emergency matters arising from Arizona, granted a request made earlier Wednesday by Kelli Ward, the GOP chairwoman, and her husband.

The latest development comes after a lower appeals court denied the Wards bid to shield the records that congressional investigators are pursuing as part of their probe of last years pro-Trump riot at the Capitol.

Kagan ordered the House Jan. 6 panel to respond to the Wards application by Friday close of business. Kagan can handle the application herself or refer the matter to the full court.

The Jan. 6 panel, which subpoenaed Wards phone carrier, has expressed interest in her role as a phony pro-Trump elector following his loss in Arizona during the 2020 election. Ward and her husband, Michael Ward, were among a group of 11 Arizonans who signed a fake election certificate purporting to show that former President Trump won the state.

In court papers filed Wednesday, the Wards portrayed the Jan. 6 investigation as politically motivated, and said their case carried profound precedential implications for the constitutional right to free political association.

In a first-of-its-kind situation, a select committee of the United States Congress, dominated by one political party, has subpoenaed the personal telephone and text message records of a state chair of the rival political party relating to one of the most contentious political events in American history  the 2020 election and the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021, they wrote.

The Wards application to the Supreme Court comes after a divided panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit voted 2-1 to deny the Wards request for an order barring their phone carrier, T-Mobile, from complying with the Jan. 6 panels subpoena for records spanning the run-up to the Nov. 2020 election through January 2021.

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Earlier in the case, a federal judge in Arizona rejected the Wards request to quash the subpoena, prompting their appeal.

The Jan. 6 House committee has described the multistate attempt to put forth fake Trump electors as central to the effort to overturn Trumps defeat, which eventually led to the riot at the Capitol.

Updated at 7:26 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Earlier this month, when Kanye West said he was going to go death con 3 on Jewish people, many people online and in the media were quick to remind others about the artists mental health. West, who is legally known as Ye, has bipolar disorder, and has been open about it and his struggles for years.

Wishes online that Ye would get help and comments on social media contextualizing his present comments with his history of both mental illness and intentional provocation have spurred important questions on how to respond to the controversy. How should we talk about Ye? When it comes to hateful rhetoric and behavior, do we consider a persons mental health? Furthermore, should someone who is mentally ill be held accountable for their words and actions?

Read more

Some netizens have tried to answer these questions. In Gizmodos own comment section, users have called on Ye to be ignored, to be put in a padded room, or to be excused because mentally ill people dont know what theyre saying. Other users, while disapproving of his behavior, have said that the artist should get professional help.



Several mental health experts that spoke to Gizmodo stressed that mental illness does not cause antisemitism or racism and should not be used as an excuse for such hateful behavior. Bedford Palmer, a Black psychologist in California and founder of Deeper Than Color, told Gizmodo that in general, people with mental illnesses do far fewer negative things and are far less violent than people who dont have a mental health disorder.

Speaking about Ye, while stating that he had not seen the artists medical records and was not diagnosing his behavior, Palmer stressed that we need to separate the behaviors and the person from the mental illness.

Having that disorder does not make you a racist, it does not make you antisemitic, it does not make you do harmful things to people, the psychologist explained.

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Additionally, Palmer stated that the public seems to forget that Ye has always. courted controversy and tried to get a rise out of everyone. Hes done that since his first album in 2004, College Dropout, Palmer maintained, and said that a lot of his music is about poking people. Thats his brand.

Gizmodo spoke to psychologists, psychiatrists, and advocacy organizations about Yes recent antisemitic and racist comments and asked what they believed would be a balance between holding him accountable for his words and having empathy for his bipolar disorder, a serious mental illness. Recently, the business community has already made its stance known on this question, with Vogue, talent agency CAA, Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap all cutting ties with Ye, among others.

Gizmodo also interviewed legal experts about Yes recent decision to buy the social network Parler and concerns that he was being taken advantage of while he was in a vulnerable mental state. Parler did not respond to Gizmodos requests for comment on the matter.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Given the low levels of mental health literacy in the U.S. and the colloquial use of the term bipolar, it can be difficult for the public to have a good understanding of the disorder. Mental health experts that spoke to Gizmodo highlighted that many people seem to think that bipolar disorder is another way to refer to mood swings some may have throughout the day.

But bipolar disorder is a lot more serious, complex, and dangerous to a persons health than the idiomatic usage may suggest, with periods that can last weeks or months. In general, bipolar disorder is characterized by two poles in a mood, or an up and a down, according to psychiatrist Dr. Amanda Joy Calhoun.

The down is when people are depressedlike sad, hopeless, helpless, not enjoying hobbies like they used to, things like that, Calhoun, a fourth-year adult and child psychiatry resident at Yale Child Study Center, explained in an email. The up describes what we call a manic episodea period of time in which the person has a very elevated moodthey might feel like they have superpowers, are the smartest person in the world, and may make reckless decisions they regret like spending thousands of dollars.

Actions carried out during manic episodes reflect a loss of impulse control, Palmer, the psychologist, added, and can include more dangerous behavior like using substances or having sex. He stressed that, though manic episodes are often characterized by a high, the disorder can severely impact patients lives.

Treatment for bipolar disorder depends on the context and should always include psychological and, if necessary, drug treatment, psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Janaway said in an email. Psychological support aids people in dealing with the impacts of the illness and helps them understand where, how, and why it may manifest, he stated. In some cases, a person may need hospital care if they are a risk to themselves or others.

Long-term management of bipolar disorder can include using a mood stabilizing drug like Lithium, Janaway explained. Antipsychotics and antidepressants can also be used if the person with bipolar disorder becomes depressed during their low periods.

Bipolar is a recognized and severe illness that can have a difficult impact on your life, goals and those around you. It can be treated very well, but to do so it must be recognized, Janaway said.

How Should Kanye West Be Accountable for His Racist and Antisemitic Behavior?

Almost all of the mental health professionals who spoke to Gizmodo about Yes behavior stated that mental illness does not induce racism, antisemitism, or any other type of hatred. They underscored that in general, people who experience bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses can and should be held accountable for their words and actions. Janaway declined to comment on Yes behavior, citing that he did not have sufficient evidence or the artists consent. He also stated this would not be in Yes best interests.

Kanye Wests week has consisted of:



- Incoherent rants laden with racist and antisemitic undertones made on the countrys top cable news program.



- Anti-Jewish posts shared with his 18 million followers on Instagram.



These posts are dangerous and here's why:  American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) October 7, 2022

Calhoun, from the Yale Child Study Center, told Gizmodo that although one could argue that a person who has a mental illness may have less of a filter and share more of their thoughts than they would otherwise, mental illness should not be used as a scapegoat for hateful words and behavior.

Mental illness can impair the mind and judgement, but it does not create racism, Calhoun, who is Black, said. I see many racist psychiatric patients. They say racist things when they are completely stable. Even in cases like dementia, where people lose their memory, I would argue if their go-to is racist remarks, they were racist to begin with.

Jonathan Stea, a clinical psychologist and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Calgary, told Gizmodo via email that as a general statement, people with bipolar disorder can be held accountable for their words and actions.

Stea pointed out that in extremely rare cases, a persons moral judgment may be so impaired due to the severity of a mental disorder that they could be found exempt from criminal responsibilitybut that almost never applies to the everyday person who lives with bipolar disorder, he said.

Antisemitic remarks are made by people with and without mental illness. Mental illness isnt a cause of antisemitic remarks, said Stea. He added: People are much more than the mental disorders they might experience.

On the advocacy side, leaders voiced similar opinions. When asked by Gizmodo whether Yes antisemitic comments should be taken seriously even though he has a mental illness, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said that although he didnt want to minimize or stigmatize mental health, it was no excuse for antisemitism.

In recent weeks, Greenblatt and the ADL have condemned Yes comments. The ADL also launched a campaign titled #RunAwayFromHate urging Adidas to cut ties with the artist, which it eventually did on Tuesday.

Those trying to sanitize Kanyes bigoted behavior by solely ascribing it to mental illness do nothing but further stigmatize the millions of adults who deal with these issues, Greenblatt said in a statement. When someone with more social media followers than there are Jews in the world uses his platform to attack an entire group of people based on their religious and ethnic identity, that cannot be dismissed as simply a mental health issue, it is antisemitism.

American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch also stated that mental illness was no excuse for antisemitism in an Oct. 12 online statement. Deutch said that there was no explaining away Yes rants on social media.

Although some have tried, there is no rationale, no explaining away Kanye Wests rants on social media for anything else than what they are: vicious antisemitic statements that pose a clear and present danger to every Jewish person, the AJC CEO said. West has acknowledged he suffers from bipolar disorder, but mental illness is no excuse for antisemitism. Lets hope he gets the help he desperately needs.

Is Kanye Being Taken Advantage of?

Yes racist and antisemitic behavior has not been the only cause of concern lately. His announced acquisition of right-wing social media site Parler has also come under scrutiny. On Oct. 18, tech journalist Kara Swisher said that in her opinion, Parlement Technologies, Parlers parent company, was taking advantage of someone who was mentally ill. Parlement Technologies CEO, George Farmer, is married to far-right commentator Candace Owens, who was one of the few people who praised the artists racist White Lives Matter T-Shirts.

Theyre absolutely taking advantage of this guy. I dont think they had many plays and theyre doing this one. But I just feel like this is just a grift. This is a terrible grift on a mentally ill person, so I dont know what to say, Swisher said on her Pivot podcast.

Swisher isnt the only one who has voiced concerns about Yes mental health and the potential Parler acquisition. However, mental health experts say its hard to conclude whether Ye is being taken advantage of in this situation. Stea, the psychologist from the University of Calgary, said making that determination requires information we dont have access to.

Its hard to know whether that argument has merit because no one other than his care team and perhaps close confidants are really privy to the intricacies of Kanyes mental health, Stea explained. Even people who experience bipolar disorder will be heterogeneous in their symptoms and presentation, which means they wont always look or act the same.

Palmer, the psychologist from California, agreed with Stea and said we need more information in order to evaluate that claim. Palmer went on to say that no one knows what medication schedule Ye is on, if hes on medication at all, or what his real diagnosis is. There is no doctors report publicly available.

What we do know, the California psychologist stated, is that Ye is richthough no longer a billionaire as of Tuesday, according to Forbesand has made plenty of good financial decisions to leverage his talent and persona. In addition, we know that Parler is a space where radical right wingers say horrible, nasty, and racist things without getting in trouble for it, Palmer pointed out. Based on Yes recent statements, it seems like he shares these right-wing beliefs, so its not surprising for someone like him to be interested in that company, the psychologist said.

Furthermore, Palmer observed that Yes public behavior does not seem to indicate that he cant take care of himself or that hes in a state where he needs serious care and hospitalization.

Im observing that this person seems to be functioning in the world. And I dont have any [public] evidence or data, and I dont think anyone has any [public] evidence or data, to say that he is somehow having diminished capacity. Hes hanging out with people that he likes and making deals with them, Palmer said. Hes responsible for that.

From a legal perspective, Jesse Fried, a law professor at Harvard Law School, told Gizmodo that in theory, Ye or a guardian could make the case that he was mentally impaired when he made the Parler deal and get out of it. The artist likely wouldnt want to do that, though.

If Ye or a guardian claims Ye was mentally incapacitated when he entered into a deal, and therefore should not be bound to the deal, Ye could in theory prevail, Fried said in an email. But even bringing such a claim would end Yes ability to do business; nobody would wish to deal with him after that. So I would not expect Ye to bring such a claim.

How Should We Talk About Kanye West So We Dont Stigmatize Others?

In recent weeks, Yes racist and antisemitic behaviors have made waves and sparked heated discussions on what role, if any, his mental health played in his actions. At the end of the day, comments posted on Gizmodo.com and countless others across the internet made by netizens and news organizations alike likely dont reach Ye, and probably mean nothing to him. They do, however, likely reach one of the 52.9 millions of Americans who live with mental illness, and have the potential to increase stigma and harm people who have nothing to do with Ye.

When asked about the recent discourse around Ye, Stea, the psychologist and professor, said that it can be stigmatizing to say that Yes recent actions are a result of a mental health episode.

It can be tempting for people to write off someones poor behavior as the result of mental health concerns, but that temptation is stigmatizing because it creates an illusory correlation between poor behavior and mental health concerns, he stated. Its also just conjecture.

Janaway, the psychiatrist who declined to comment specifically on Ye, agreed. He reiterated what other mental health professionals maintained, emphasizing that people can hold socially unjust views, even abhorrent ones, without having a mental disorder. If we begin to consider expressions of those horrible viewpoints as indications of illness, the psychiatrist stated, we run the risk of using social acceptance as a marker of illness.

Furthermore, Palmer explains that the person affected when others talk about a celebritys mental illness on TV or in a story is usually not the celebrity.

The person whos really affected is the person who comes to me whos having a really bad day now because they had to look at all this stuff in the news talking about what theyre dealing with, but not talking about it correctly, the California psychologist said.

Calhoun, the psychiatry resident from Yale, stated that Yes mental illness and his comments should be spoken about separately, and not as if one causes the other.

Talking about mental illness and lack of services as well as racism in mental health treatment are both real issues. And also, talking about Kanyes comments that were anti-Black and anti-Semitic, for example, are another issue, Calhoun emphasized. Many people exist who have mental illnesses and are not racist or offensive. I work with many of them.

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Kanye West, seen in 2019, has lost business deals in light of his recent antisemitic remarks. (Michael Wyke / Associated Press)

In early October, Ye, the rap artist and mogul also known as Kanye West, posed during Paris Fashion Week in a "White Lives Matter" T-shirt. He then embarked on a long-running litany of conspiracy-minded and antisemitic remarks on a variety of platforms. As a result, multiple businesses and others affiliated with Ye have been cutting ties with him.

Here's a running list of entities that have recently left Ye in the dust  and one where he ended the deal first.

Gap

In mid-September, before the whole Paris Fashion Week debacle and after taking shots at the retail company on Instagram, Ye gave notice to Gap that he was terminating their contract.

Notably, Gap does not dispute that it has failed for over two years to sell a single Product in a single Gap store, including any of its 500+ stories in America, the notice West shared on Instagram said. Nor does Gap dispute that it has failed for over two years to open a single dedicated store anywhere in the world.

Instagram and Twitter

The two social media companies suspended Ye on Oct. 10 after a series of antisemitic posts that included an Instagrammed screen shot of a text conversation with Sean "Diddy" Combs where Ye accused Diddy of being controlled by Jewish people. On Twitter, the rapper threatened via Twitter to go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," fumbling the "DEFCON" label of the United States' defense-condition readiness alert system.

Both companies said they had removed offensive content posted by Ye and had restricted his accounts. Access to the @kanyewest Instagram account was restored  at least for the time being  by Oct. 27, while his Twitter account showed no posts since Oct. 8.

JPMorgan Chase

Conservative pundit Candace Owens, who posed in a "White Lives Matter" shirt with Ye in Paris, tweeted Oct. 12 that Ye had been "kicked out" by JPMorgan Chase Bank. She included a redacted letter with the subject line "IMPORTANT: Closing of Our Banking Relationship."

"I was told there was no official reason given, but they sent this letter as well to confirm that he has until late November to find another place for the Yeezy empire to bank," Owens wrote.

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Def Jam

Ye had a 10-album contract with Def Jam that was fulfilled after the release of "Donda" in August 2021. A person familiar with the deal confirmed to The Times on Oct. 16 that the rapper is now a free agent. The label is also reportedly no longer distributing releases from the rapper's Getting Out Our Dreams (G.O.O.D.) imprint.

It remains uncertain whether any major recording company, some of which are publicly traded, would take West after his recent outbursts  even with his string of 10 consecutive No. 1 albums. He could always release his next effort without a record company's backing, like he did in February with "Donda 2," available only via his $200 Stem streaming gizmo.

Balenciaga

The design house, which had West walking in its Paris Fashion Week show a day before his "White Lives Matter" fashion statement, cut ties with him on Oct. 21. Balenciaga and its creative director, Demna, collaborated with and inspired West in the past, and "engineered" his Yeezy Gap collaboration.

Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist, the brands parent firm, Kering, said in a brief statement.

CAA

The Times reported Oct. 24 that talent agency CAA ended its relationship with Ye this month following his recent antisemitic outbursts in various interviews. CAA had represented the rapper only for touring, and he hadn't toured since signing with them in 2016.

Separately, Ari Emanuel, chief executive of talent agency WME, called for Spotify and Apple to de-platform West. He urged Adidas to end its relationship with Ye and called on Parler not to sell the platform to the performer.

Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience," Emanuel wrote in an Oct. 19 opinion piece in the Financial Times. "There should be no tolerance anywhere for Wests anti-Semitism.

MRC

Shortly after CAA's move went public, film and television production company MRC declared it would shelve a completed documentary about West rather than distribute it.

We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform, MRC executives said in a statement on Oct. 24. The silence from leaders and corporations when it comes to Kanye or antisemitism in general is dismaying but not surprising. What is new and sad, is the fear Jews have about speaking out in their own defense.

Adidas

Ye's statements at his Paris Fashion Week show and immediately after unnerved Adidas, which has collaborated on the Yeezy shoe collection and faced pressure on social media and elsewhere. The company issued a statement later that week, saying, After repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation, we have taken the decision to place the partnership under review.

The rapper-entrepreneur responded on Instagram, writing, F ADIDAS I AM ADIDAS ADIDAS RAPED AND STOLE MY DESIGNS."

Then, on Oct. 25, Adidas announced that it had ended its relationship with Ye after a "thorough review" of the relationship. It said it would immediately stop production of its line of Yeezy products and stop payments to Ye and his companies. It expects to take a hit of up to $246 million to its net income this year from the move.

Foot Locker

Later on Oct. 25, Foot Locker announced that it was pulling Yeezys from its sales floors and asking employees to hold them in stores' backrooms pending further instruction, according to Footwear News.

Jaylen Brown and Aaron Donald / Donda Sports

Boston Celtics star forward Brown was one of the big-name athletes who signed with West's marketing agency, Donda Sports. On Oct. 24, he denounced Ye's antisemitic comments but said he was sticking with the agency. The next day, he had changed his mind.

"I now recognize that there are times when my voice and my position can't coexist in spaces that don't correspond with my stance or my values. And, for that reason, I am terminating my association with Donda Sports," he said in a statement.

Donald, of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, followed soon after.

"The recent comments and displays of hate and antisemitism are the exact opposite of how we choose to live our lives and raise our children...," he and his wife, Erica, said in a statement. "As parents and members of society, we felt a responsibility to send a clear message that hateful words and actions have consequences and that we must do better as human beings."

Peloton

The stationary-bike and exercise-subscription company is no longer using West's music in the soundtrack for its products.

"We take this issue very seriously and can confirm Peloton indefinitely paused the use of Kanye Wests music on our platform," Peloton told website Pelobuddy on Oct. 25. "This means our instructors are no longer using his music in any newly produced classes and we are not suggesting any class that includes his music in our proactive recommendations to Members."

The company added that the decision was made "immediately following" West's remarks. Peloton's statement came a day after senior instructor Alex Toussaint said at the end of a class, "You will not hear that artist in my class at all, I promise yall. I do not support hate speech whatsoever, baby. I dont tolerate that s at all, alright? You will not hear that artist in my class, I promise you."

T.J. Maxx

TJX Companies  which operates the chain of off-price retailers T.J. Maxx, Home Goods and Marshalls, among others  said Oct. 26 that it has stopped procuring surplus Yeezy items.

At TJX we do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or hate of any kind. We have instructed our buying teams not to purchase this merchandise for sale in any of our stores globally, the retailer said in a statement to CNNBusiness.

Donda Academy

This private Christian K-12 prep school didn't exactly cut ties with Ye  it's his academy  but it did reportedly shut down Oct. 27 for the rest of the school year. The Times is working to confirm the status of the prep school, where tuition is around $15,000 a year.

"We intend to begin afresh in September of 2023, and we are confident that our scholars will continue to advance as the creative innovators, courageous influencers and academic leaders of the next generation," principal Jason Angell wrote in an email obtained by TMZ that was sent to parents the night of Oct. 26. It said the Donda leadership team would assist all families during the "transition."

A second email obtained by TMZ that was sent four hours later said it was from a parents group. It reportedly asked parents and staff  but not students  to "Join us tomorrow morning [Oct. 27] in worship for the return of Donda Academy. With the help of our parents and community, we are back and returning with a vengeance."

The school's boys basketball team, the Doves, was dropped Oct. 26 from two high school tournaments: the prestigious Spalding Hoophall Classic and the showcase Play by Play Classics. The team has been coached by NBA veteran Dorell Wright.

Madame Tussauds London

Tourists to the famous wax museum's London location won't get to pose by a model of the rapper: Ye's been moved to an archive, according to the BBC. (A spokeswoman for the museum's Hollywood location said Thursday that it doesn't have and has not had a Kanye West statue on site.)

Times staff writers Anousha Sakoui and Wendy Lee and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nine candidates for Louisville mayor will appear on ballots Election Day.

Apart from the two major party candidates, seven other candidates are making bids to succeed Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who is limited by law from running for a fourth, four-year term.

We sent all nine candidates a few questions to help you decide between them. Their answers are below, in alphabetical order by last name. (Some responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Not all candidates responded to The Courier Journal's request for information and answers to the questions.)

Bill Dieruf (Republican)

Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf, who is running for Louisville mayor as a Republican, and his wife, Jody, toured the Louisville Zoo on Labor Day weekend.

Age: 67

Occupation: Jeffersontown mayor, hardware store owner for 35 years

Political offices held: Jeffersontown mayor, city council member

Robert Eberenz (Independent)

Did not respond.

Election Day is soon:Election Day is soon. Everything you need to know about voting in Kentucky

David Ellenberger (Independent)

David Ellenberger, pictured with his dog, Jackie Blue, is running for Louisville mayor in the 2022 election.

Age: 59

Occupation: Property manager

Political offices held: None

Taylor Everett (Independent)

Did not respond.

Craig Greenberg (Democrat)

Craig Greenberg (right), who is running for Louisville mayor, is pictured (from l to r) with his sons Daniel and Benjamin and wife Rachel.

Age: 49

Occupation: Attorney by training, co-owner of Ohio Valley Wrestling and former CEO of 21c Museum Hotels

Political offices held: None

Martina Kunnecke (Independent)

Martina Kunnecke is running for Louisville mayor in the 2022 election.

Age: 69

Occupation: Retired; served as a volunteer with numerous organizations and in research or management roles in various settings, including Army Research Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Family Practice at University of Louisville, Humana; Research Triangle Institute (National Inmate Survey) and Kentucky Center for African American Heritage (Director of Exhibits)

Political offices held: None

Manetta Lemkheitir (Independent)

Manetta Lemkheitir is running for Louisville mayor in the 2022 election.

Age: 62

Occupation: Works in ministry and for GE Appliances

Political offices held: None

John Mace (Independent)

John Mace is running for Louisville mayor in the 2022 election.

Age: 30

Occupation: Air marshal at UPS Worldport

Political offices held: None

Political offices held: None

Isaac "Ike" Marion Thacker IV (Equality for People and Economic Freedom Party Socialist)

Age: 65

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Occupation: Writer and activist

Political offices held: None

How will you help restore trust in not only the Louisville Metro Police Department overall, but also the public's trust in the ability of the mayor's office to work with LMPD and the community to try to limit violence throughout the city?

Dieruf: LMPD officers will trust the leadership of my current Police Chief Rick Sanders and me. There is proof in that the local FOPs have endorsed me. Former officers say they will return to LMPD when I am elected. Practices Chief Sanders and I use now  Community Oriented Policing to build relationships and Intelligence-led policing to catch hardened criminals  should inspire the community to trust that public safety will improve greatly when I am Mayor.

From J-Town to downtown:From J-Town to downtown, Bill Dieruf touts his 'centrist' bona fides for Louisville mayor

Ellenberger: I would begin with meeting all the police to make a plan with them. I would proceed to go on drive-throughs with the police to meet various people in all areas of the city and talk with them to help determine a plan. I would also plan regular neighborhood meetings. I plan on promoting a website that gives social credit for various good deeds plus doing the basics of life, like getting up, brushing teeth, etc.

Greenberg: Louisville deserves the best trained, trusted and transparent police department  one that is fully staffed, supported by its leadership and focused on preventing crime through community policing. This past January, I released a comprehensive plan outlining my intentions to hire more police officers, crack down on illegal guns, focus more efforts on domestic violence and victim services, expand citywide mental health resources and enhance our citys youth programs.

Kunnecke: Public trust begins with listening to the public, heeding its concerns and meeting community expectations. I will establish a Citizens Public Safety Board to heal the divide between LMPD and the community. Working with LMPD, the board will have policy-making, subpoena and disciplinary powers  including oversight over LMPD reform and complaints. It will monitor and provide guidelines on staffing issues (recruitment, mental and physical health, etc.), performance/accountability standards and LMPD reform.

Lemkheitir: I pray about all things and ask for guidance and wisdom to do what His Will is for the matter. Trust once broken is hard to repair, yet WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE and we can do all things through Christ, which gives us strength! A community united will stand!

Mace: I would ask for (LMPD Chief) Erika Shields' resignation, if not remove her from office. The position would remain vacant until I found a suitable replacement. I would then go through the police training to look for areas of improvement and gain first-hand experience of policing in and outside the classroom. I'd also spend time at the corrections facilities to figure out what improvements need to be made there to reduce recidivism rates.

Thacker: Mindful of The Courier Journal's report that some 53% of LMPD searches are still inflicted on the roughly 20% of Louisville's adult population that is African-American, I will begin my gentle assault on police racism by instituting 80-hour mandatory pro-tolerance, anti-racism training, and by mimicking the largely successful Cincinnati reforms. My not-so-gentle assault on violence will begin with attacking the root causes of that violence: poverty, lack of after-school options for our youth and unemployment.

You might be interested:BETWEEN THE LINES

As mayor, how will you direct LMPD to enforce or not enforce Kentucky's ban on abortions as it currently stands, and how do you think county prosecutors should handle cases involving abortion-related offenses?

Dieruf: The Louisville Mayors office has no authority regarding the state and federal issue of abortion. The medical licensure board would have as its responsibility addressing the licensing of a physician who breaks the law. I will not direct LMPD to hunt down doctors and pregnant women as my opponent has asserted. What is scary is that a mayoral candidate says he will tell the police which laws to enforce or not in Louisville Metro.

Ellenberger: I would direct the police to a hands-off policy and to only get involved to prevent violence. For an actual case in hand, I would direct prosecutors to use their discretion to resolve the case as quickly as possible without garnering any publicity. If I find that a prosecutor is using a case to further their agenda, they would be replaced.

Greenberg: Louisvilles police officers should not arrest women or girls seeking an abortion, nor should they arrest the doctors and nurses providing that care, and they will not do so under my administration. LMPD should be focused on preventing crime from happening, solving violent crimes and working with other community partners to improve public safety.

Further, I am voting 'No' on Amendment 2 and encourage others to do the same.

Attorney, developer, runner:Attorney, developer, runner: Craig Greenberg wants 'big changes' if he is Louisville mayor

Kunnecke: As Mayor, I wont burden an already short-staffed police force with criminalizing decisions best left to women regarding their physical and mental health. I will take the strongest course of action available to my office to give enforcement of the abortion ban the lowest priority for police intervention and explore making Louisville 'a choice sanctuary zone.' I would also support the county attorneys office refusing to bring charges or prosecute any police action that interferes with choice.

Lemkheitir: God has given people the free will to do what we want to do, understanding there's consequences to every decision made, good or bad. Whatever the penalty is for any crime committed including abortion, it should be carried out when one has been found guilty according to the law that now stands.

Mace: I would have LMPD and prosecutors only deal with abortions conducted by someone who isn't a licensed doctor and/or outside a medical facility, especially if it poses a serious threat to the health of the mother. I would also create resources for mothers considering getting one in order to reduce the chances they follow through. This information can then be used to help prevent women from being in the situation in the first place.

Thacker: I will direct LMPD not to enforce the current abortion ban, and believe that county prosecutors should not pursue any abortion-related cases, except where the crime being prosecuted is not the getting of, or performing, an abortion, but rather because medical mistakes resulted in harm to the woman involved.

In your mind, what are one or two key mistakes the Fischer administration has made while in power, and how would you go a different direction than those decisions or correct them?

Dieruf: The Fischer administration erred in not having the right leadership in place to advance Louisville on every front. I hear it everywhere I go. His failure in overcontrolling the police department and not letting officers uphold the law is a travesty. His decision to take funding from the business community to handle economic development was terrible. And our city needs to be cleaned up in all parts of town  other than just Derby Week.

Ellenberger: First of all as far as I know he hasn't used the media to any good extent. I would direct the media to report on more positive news and plan on having numerous contests and awards shows. Any type shows popular on national television we would have our own 'Louisville' versions. I would not have taken down any statues without a plan on what to replace them with.

Greenberg: Our city has spent too much time studying problems and not enough time taking action to fix them. As mayor, I will work with a sense of urgency to address our citys challenges. We need to do a better job of cracking down on illegal guns to reduce the amount of senseless gun violence. We must also do the little things right to restore our citys sense of pride, improve public safety and lead Louisville in a new direction.

Kunnecke: Fischers administration has: 1) fostered 'developer supremacy' by promoting aggressive corporate development and land use at the expense of the communitys quality of life and climate change concerns. 2) elevated LMPD to a public safety threat, by downplaying abuse and neglect patterns. My administration will attempt to arrest the damage through policy review and revision, community driven reform where needed and providing more than lip service regarding climate change, public safety and quality of life.

Shepherd-Bilby:How money, politics could change the face of Kentucky judicial races

Lemkheitir: The one thing I wish the Fischer administration would've done better would be to stay more engaged/connected with the people/community, not just certain people/community, but all. It's the people who vote us into the political positions. Therefore, it's important to stay connected to our people and community.

Mace: I think the biggest issue that he isn't a man of the people. People are tired of performance politics and want someone who is a real person and not someone who speaks in soundbites and rehearses every public appearance. I'm someone who can relate to a lot of people because I am working class and I take pride in what I do and I don't think I'm less than because I work a manual labor job.

Thacker: The biggest mistake the Fischer administration, like those before it, has in my view made, is failing to pursue economic democracy  which is to say economic equality, or socialism. I will pursue such with every fiber of my being and power.

More:On Election Day, you'll decide whether to ban abortion in Kentucky. Here's what to know

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mayoral election: Where Greenberg, Dieruf stand on issues
A Corbin man accused of kidnapping his wife was reportedly shot and killed by police in Mississippi Sunday afternoon.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety identified the man who died as Ronnie Lee Martin, of Kentucky, Fox 13 in Memphis reported.

Kentucky State Police on Sunday asked for the publics help locating Martins wife, Tawana Martin, 37, who had been seen with Martin, 42, Friday afternoon in Rockcastle County. Her family had last seen her Friday morning at her home in London, according to state police. She was later found in Mississippi, Kentucky State Police announced.

A Mississippi district attorney, Bob Morris, told Fox 13 that an alert had gone out for a woman who had been kidnapped by a suspect from Kentucky. The television station reported that she is safe.

The Senatobia Police Department in northern Mississippi said in a Facebook post that on Sunday evening, they responded to a call to help another agency that was pursuing a vehicle into the Senatobia city limits.

They said the vehicle was involved in a collision but kept going until the driver stopped in front of a funeral home, and an armed man got out and ran. Police said officers found the man not far from the vehicle and began talking to him.

Communication and de-escalation tactics were unsuccessful, and officers had to use lethal force, the police department said. The man was pronounced dead on the scene by the Tate County Coroner.

They said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is investigating.
KMOX Morning Drive anchor Debbie Monterrey was reporting live on the air in St. Louis, Missouri when she started receiving text messages from her 17-year-old daughter, Caeli.

"My kids text me all the time when I'm on the air," Monterrey told TODAY Parents. "I looked down quickly and it was in all caps, which is unusual for my daughter. She wrote: 'OMG THERE'S AN INTRUDER IN THE BUILDING.'"

As a seasoned reporter with decades of experience and a mom of two, Monterrey said her initial reaction was to "not panic."

Then Monterrey received another text message from her daughter: "OMG." Then another: "It's not a drill."

Debbie Monterrey

On Oct. 25, a 19-year-old gunman entered the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis with what authorities described as a long gun and killed one teacher and a 15-year-old student. The shooter died after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement officers.

Monterrey's daughter is a senior at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience; the magnet high school shares a building with the high school where the shooter carried out his attack.

This morning I was on the air @kmoxnews when my daughter began texting me that her school was on lockdown. Sirens. Screaming. Then I have to begin talking ON THE AIR about the latest school shooting in America. My daughter's school.  Debbie Monterrey (@DebbieMonterrey) October 24, 2022

Monterrey looked at a TV screen in the studio and saw arial footage of a building  her daughter's school. A reporter from the KMOX newsroom then ran into the studio and whispered, "We have breaking news."

"I was just in shock mode, trying to keep everything together," Monterrey said. "The reporter said, 'There's been a school shooting.' I said, 'I know, it's my daughter's school. Caeli is texting me right now."

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As the news continued to break, Monterrey was receiving real-time updates from her daughter via text.

"There's helicopters."

"I hear so much police outside the door."

"People are yelling police."

"We all ran out of the building."

"Police told us to have our hands up."

Debbie Monterrey

As her daughter told her she was leaving the building, Monterrey looked up at the television screen and watched lines of students run towards safety.

Thirty minutes after that first text, Monterrey knew her daughter was safe. At that moment her program cut to commercial, and the mom broke down crying. Her co-anchor, Carol Daniel, embraced her as she sobbed.

Still, she had a job to do: Report the news.

"I only had 30 seconds to feel my feelings because we had a job to do," she explained. "We went back on air and the reporter is saying what she's hearing from police and I'm relaying what my daughter is telling me. I figured, if I was going to hold it together I had to hang onto the facts."

For 20 minutes, Monterrey stayed on the air, reporting the very latest news as her daughter was living through it.

"There were no commercials," Monterrey said. "I kept thinking, 'I need to take a break because I needed a breath, but the producer had taken all the commercials out because our news director was saying to just keep going."

Monterrey stressed that her news director did check in to make sure she was OK. Because she was in constant communication with her daughter and knew she was OK, Monterrey said she decided to "just keep going."

After what Monterrey described as the "weirdest 45 minutes of my broadcasting career," she received a text message from her daughter to come pick her up.

"That was the moment when I was like: 'OK, I'm leaving now,' Monterrey explained. "My daughter needs me."

St. Louis news radio anchor Debbie Monterrey and her daughter Caeli. (Debbie Monterrey)

TODAY Parents reached out to Monterrey's employer, KMOX, for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.

Once reunited with her daughter, Monterrey said they shared an uncharacteristically long hug.

"My daughter is not much of a hugger," she said. "But as soon as I saw her I got a very, very long hug. I think it was really intense for both of us."

Since the shooting, Monterrey said her daughter has experienced a wide range of emotions. That evening, the pair spent nearly four hours listening to news coverage.

"She wanted to know what happened, who the shooter was, and how many people were shot," she said. "I think she was still numb."

That night, Monterrey said her daughter "got weepy," then scared when she was "hearing noises outside." The next morning, she seemed happy, Monterrey said, but then grew "melancholy and stayed in her pajamas until 11." At one point, she told her mother she didn't want to go back into the building again.

"It's been a roller coaster of emotions, which is normal," Monterrey added. "But the trauma that we inflict upon the kids of our nation with these school shootings and doing nothing about it? I don't know how this damage manifests itself in the short- and long-term."

Monterrey said she's still processing what happened, too.

"In our gun-worshipping culture that we live in, it could happen to anyone at any time, anywhere," she explained. "I hope to be able to move forward and just live my life and enjoy the community that I love, and not have this constantly over my head or having me looking over my shoulder. I hope that is the reality for me and for my kids. I don't know if that's possible."

The shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School occurred exactly five months to the day after 19 fourth grade students and two teachers were shot and killed inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

So far, there have been 40 school shootings in 2022, according to Education Week  the most since the independent news organization started tracking school shootings in 2018.

Related video:

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Oct. 26The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in partnership with the Ke 'ehi Lagoon Memorial, will hold an in-person job fair today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the memorial. The fair is open to military veterans and eligible spouses from 9 to 10 a.m. and the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in partnership with the Ke 'ehi Lagoon Memorial, will hold an in-person job fair today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the memorial. The fair is open to military veterans and eligible spouses from 9 to 10 a.m. and the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Job seekers who attend will get an opportunity to speak with prospective employers and gather employment information directly from representatives in financial services, health care, government, manufacturing and other industrial sectors. Job seekers also will have the opportunity to connect with registered apprenticeship programs. Attendees are encouraged to come professionally dressed with copies of their current resumes.

For information about the event, contact Ramon Ruiz at 808-832-1990 or Ramon.F.Ruiz @hawaii.gov.

For information on the registered apprenticeship, go to.

This event is 100 % funded by multiple grants from the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. The amount for Oahu is $1, 518, 263.

Free cyber workshop at HPU e-sports arena Hawaiian Telcom University and Fortinet are hosting an "Attack, Defend and Win the Cybersecurity Game " workshop at Hawaii Pacific University's e-sports arena at Aloha Tower Marketplace from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 16. The session is free and ideal for IT professionals and cybersecurity enthusiasts with all levels of experience. Eight hours of continuing professional education credits can be earned.

Participants will have an opportunity to be on both sides of the cyber battle as attacker and defender. First, they will learn tools and methodologies to breach an organization, explore the anatomy of an attack and see how easy it is to penetrate an organization. Then participants will switch sides and go on the defense to counter the cyberattack they launched by deploying different solutions to "break the kill chain."

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Participants must bring their own computers. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited. Registration by Nov. 2 is required. To register, go to.

Fundraiser cookbook to benefit United Way Pre-orders have begun for "PilinaConnecting through the rich, local flavors of our islands, " a 150-page cookbook priced at $15 and published by Hawaiian Electric employees as a fundraiser to benefit United Way agencies across its service areas. "Pilina, " meaning "to make connections " in the Hawaiian language, features more than 120 recipes contributed by employees.

Purchase online at. All orders received by Nov. 20 will be delivered within the state ahead of the Christmas season.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition on March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musk posted video Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, showing him strolling into Twitter headquarters ahead of a Friday, Oct. 28, deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Elon Musk posted video Wednesday showing him strolling into Twitter headquarters ahead of a Friday deadline to close his $44 billion deal to buy the company.

Musk also changed his Twitter profile to refer to himself as Chief Twit and his location as Twitter headquarters, which is based in San Francisco. The video showed him carrying a sink through a lobby area.

Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! he tweeted.

Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! pic.twitter.com/D68z4K2wq7  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 26, 2022

A court has given Musk until Friday to close his April agreement to acquire the company after he earlier tried to back out of the deal. Neither Musk nor Twitter has said if the deal is closed yet.

Despite Musk's splashy entry to headquarters, it wasnt clear yet whether his purchase of Twitter had been finalized. Twitter confirmed that Musks video tweet was real but wouldnt comment further. Alex Spiro, Musks lead lawyer, didn't immediately return a request for comment.

The Washington Post reported last week that Musk told prospective investors that he plans to cut three quarters of Twitters 7,500 workers when he becomes owner of the company. The newspaper cited documents and unnamed sources familiar with the deliberation.

One of Musks biggest obstacles to closing the deal was keeping in place the financing pledged roughly six months ago.

A group of banks, including Morgan Stanley and Bank of America, signed on earlier this year to loan $12.5 billion of the money Musk needed to buy Twitter and take it private. Solid contracts with Musk bound the banks to the financing, although changes in the economy and debt markets since April have likely made the terms less attractive. Musk even said his investment group would be buying Twitter for more than its worth.

Less clear is what's happening with the billions of dollars pledged to Musk by investors who would get ownership stakes in Twitter. Musks original slate of equity partners included an array of partners ranging from the billionaires tech world friends with like-minded ideas about Twitters future, such as Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, to funds controlled by Middle Eastern royalty.

The more equity investors kick in for the deal, the less Musk has to pay on his own. Most of his wealth is tied up in shares of Tesla, the electric car company that he runs. Since April, he has sold more than $15 billion worth of Tesla stock, presumably to pay his share. More sales could be coming.

Musks flirtation with buying Twitter appeared to begin in late March. Thats when Twitter said he contacted members of its board  including co-founder Jack Dorsey  and told them he was buying up shares and was interested in either joining the board, taking Twitter private or starting a competitor.

Then, on April 4, he revealed in a regulatory filing that he had become the companys largest shareholder after acquiring a 9% stake worth about $3 billion.

At first, Twitter offered Musk a seat on its board. But six days later, CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted that Musk would not be joining the board after all. His bid to buy the company quickly followed.

When Musk agreed to buy Twitter, he inserted a 420 marijuana reference into his price of $54.20 per share. He sold roughly $15 billion worth of shares in Tesla to help fund the purchase, then pulled together commitments for billions more from a diverse group of investors including Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Inside Twitter, Musks offer was met with confusion and falling morale, especially after Musk publicly criticized one of Twitters top lawyers involved in content-moderation decisions.

In July, Musk abruptly reversed course, announcing that he was abandoning his bid to buy Twitter. His stated reason: Twitter hadnt been straightforward about its problem with fake accounts he dubbed spam bots. Twitter sued Musk in Delaware Chancery Court to force the deal through. Two weeks before a 5-day trial was scheduled to begin, Musk changed his mind again, saying that he wanted to complete the deal after all.
Kevin De Leon, Gil Cedillo, Nury Martinez (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles police Chief Michel Moore announced Tuesday that his department has launched an investigation into the source of the leaked racist recordings that thrust City Hall into a harsh national spotlight.

Speaking to reporters at a briefing, Moore confirmed that the incident was under investigation by the department's Major Crimes Division, the results of which would be presented to "the appropriate prosecuting agency" for possible criminal charges.

"The department has initiated a criminal investigation into the allegation of eavesdropping into the L.A. Fed meeting involving then-Councilperson Nury Martinez, Councilmember Gil Cedillo and Councilmember Kevin de Leon and the Fed president Mr. [Ron] Herrera," Moore said, referring to the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

On Tuesday, Moore said the department's investigation was launched at the request of individuals that were present at that meeting. He was asked, "So, Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, the president of the L.A. Fed and Kevin de Leon came to the LAPD and asked for an investigation into it." Moore's answer: "Yes." Late Tuesday, a spokesperson for De Leon said the council member did not request an investigation.

They approached the department on Friday, this past Friday, and requested that we conduct an investigation into the illegal recording of their private conversation, Moore said. The department immediately dispatched detectives to conduct recorded interviews of the individuals and our investigation will continue as to the facts and circumstances of how the meeting occurred and information from the victims of why they believe the recording was unlawful and also understanding from them the assertion that it was not with their permission.

The leaked recordings were met with almost universal condemnation, with leaders from President Biden on down calling for the resignation of the three council members. So far, only Martinez has resigned, while the other two city officials have resisted, despite mounting pressure. Herrera also has stepped down.

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The LAPD's probe marks a turnaround, of sorts. Last week, the department said it was not investigating because no one had filed a report.

The recordings took place some time last year at the offices of the Federation of Labor, which has called the leak illegal and vowed to have those involved prosecuted. After the recordings were posted on Reddit, the union attempted to block the Los Angeles Times from publishing details from the audio, saying they were obtained illegally. The Times refused to halt publication.

It is unclear how the recordings were made. In California, recording conversations without a persons consent is illegal, with rare exceptions.

As such, legal experts say, the recordings could open the door for criminal charges against the person who made them.

"It certainly looks like someone violated Californias two-party consent rule, so it makes sense the police department would investigate an apparent violation of the law," said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor and former president of the City Ethics Commission.

"There are obvious people to interview in the room and ... questions about who had access to the room," Levinson said, while noting that the alleged crime likely wouldn't rise to the level of a felony. "This is a misdemeanor and LAPD may not typically use search warrants in such cases. But this is not a typical investigation. How often does a secret recording lead the president of the United States to say these people should step down?"

But, she added, the LAPD won't be able to take action against the individual who posted the recordings on Reddit as long as they are not the person responsible for making the surreptitious recordings in the first place. She said that, while the LAPD may be able to identify the Reddit poster, it is likely that person could seek to invoke California's shield law to protect the source of the recordings.

Still, prosecutors have won criminal cases in California over illegal recording and distribution of illegally obtained media, according to Susan Seager, an adjunct professor at UC Irvine School of Law and a longtime media lawyer.

The person who made the City Council recording possibly violated California law forbidding people from secretly taping peoples conversations where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, Seager said. She added that the initial aim of the prohibition on recording people without their consent was to stop people from tapping peoples phone calls, but it can also be applied to taping people if theyre not on the phone.

A court could find that the recording was proper if it deemed the content of the audio recording a matter of public concern. The question of whether what was said in the audio recording is of sufficient public concern to outweigh the privacy rights of anyone recorded without their knowledge would be key in a potential criminal case, Seager said.

The U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on the issue in 2001, when it found in Bartnicki vs. Vopper that members of the media are protected under the 1st Amendment from prosecution for publishing illegally intercepted material if they obtain it legally and it is of significant enough public concern.

I think that 1st Amendment protection to report on a matter of public concern would apply to an individual as well as a media organization, said Seager.

In the City Hall case, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has announced a broader probe of the Los Angeles redistricting process that took place last fall, with Bonta saying an inquiry is needed to restore confidence in drawing the citys 15 council districts. That process was underway during the recorded discussions, in which then-council president Martinez is heard making racist remarks while talking to former labor leader Herrera, Cedillo and de Leon about redistricting.

Moore said that detectives would seek to determine, as far as it possible, how the recording was produced, as well as identifying the person responsible.

Asked by the Associated Press whether a suspect had emerged, Moore said no.

Moore said that he had been in contact with the attorney general to ensure that the two probes didnt needlessly overlap. He said he had also spoken with the Los Angeles city attorneys office regarding the departments investigation. Depending on its outcome, he said, he would also reach out to the county district attorneys office, which handles felony cases.

Days before the case was launched, Moore discussed the department's potential role in the case during a radio interview.

During his semi-regular appearance on Larry Mantle's popular "AirTalk" show, Moore said that, while he normally tried to steer clear of politics, he "couldn't remain silent" when he heard the racist remarks, which he said didn't represent the L.A. he knows.

Moore said he "respects the fact" that Martinez resigned from her post, while adding that he couldn't see how the remaining two council members "could be effective in any manner."

The recording was made during an October 2021 meeting at the federations offices. Martinez and the other Latino leaders present were seemingly unaware they were being recorded, as Martinez said Councilman Mike Bonin, who is white, handled his young Black son as though he were an accessory and described the boy as a changuito, or like a monkey.

Martinez also mocked Oaxacans and said F that guy  Hes with the Blacks while speaking about Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon. The three also made racist remarks about Jewish and Armenian residents.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Police Department has launched an investigation into a leaked racist audio recording after the three underfire politicians caught in it complained.

LAPD Chief Michael Moore announced that investigators are trying to find who recorded and released the audio that caused council president Nury Martinez to resign in disgrace.

Chief Moore told reporters that the investigation was being run by the Major Crimes Division and that the results would be handed to the appropriate prosecuting agency for any criminal charges.

Ms Martinez was caught calling the Black son of a fellow councillor a monkey in Spanish during a 2021 meeting with Councilmember Gil Cedillo and Councilmember Kevin de Leon, who have both refused to resign.

Also in the meeting was Ron Herrera, of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who has also resigned.

The department has initiated a criminal investigation into the allegation of eavesdropping into the LA Fed meeting involving then-Councilperson Nury Martinez, Councilmember Gil Cedillo and Councilmember Kevin de Leon and the Fed president Mr Herrera, Chief Moore said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Chief Moore was then asked if an investigation had been launched because Ms Martinez, Mr Cedillo, Mr De Leon and Mr Herrera had asked them to.

Yes, he replied. They approached the department on Friday, this past Friday, and requested that we conduct an investigation into the illegal recording of their private conversation.

The department immediately dispatched detectives to conduct recorded interviews of the individuals and our investigation will continue as to the facts and circumstances of how the meeting occurred and information from the victims of why they believe the recording was unlawful and also understanding from them the assertion that it was not with their permission.

Last week LAPD said it was not investigating the incident as no one had made a formal complaint.

The audio, which was posted to Reddit, was taped at the Federation of Labor, which has called it illegal.

A spokesperson for Mr De Leon told the newspaper that he had not requested an investigation.

Under California law, the recording of a conversation without the other persons consent is illegal, with few exceptions.
Oct. 25Lawrence County schools will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. today due to concerns that high winds will impact bus travel.

All afternoon activities have been canceled.

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
Mayoral candidate Karen Bass, right, listens to the resident of a new home made from a repurposed cargo container. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: Steve Lopez's column, "$60,000 'casitas' and giant awnings: Caruso, Bass pitch cheaper homeless units," appeared in the paper the same day that Ezra Klein's piece, "The Way Los Angeles Is Trying to Solve Homelessness Is 'Absolutely Insane,'" was published by the New York Times. Both columns were based on interviews with L.A. mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso.

Klein, citing the nearly $600,000 per-unit cost of building in L.A., is extremely pessimistic and suggests that the next mayor might not be any more successful than the current mayor in addressing homelessness. Lopez is more optimistic. He writes of visiting a $60,000 pre-fabricated home and a 232-unit building that came in around $220,000 per unit.

Lopez's conclusion: "The dueling housing pitches from the two candidates are a good thing. Adding less expensive housing to the mix, and chopping down construction time, is a step in the right direction."

Klein's conclusion: "The politics of the affordable housing crisis are terrible. The politics of what you'd need to solve it are even worse."

The homelessness problem in L.A. will improve over time. Lopez has a better take on the future.

Bruce Wessel, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Providing housing is only one piece of addressing homelessness. If it's the sole focus of Caruso and Bass, they both lack big-picture thinking.

The goal has to be for homeless people who do not want to remain homeless to become self-sufficient.

For those forced into homelessness due to job loss, provide interim housing and financial support, and get them jobs that may involve training for new skills. For those who need help with mental health, we need to house and support them and help them get suitable work, which may involve training.

Others may be beyond help or are happy the way they are. Those cases are more complicated. But, there are answers to everything.

Sid Pelston, Marina del Rey

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAUL LOEB - Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this June, ending people's constitutional right to an abortion and risking the lives of pregnant women across the country. The decision of whether to allow or ban abortion in each state has been left to local leaders, and now, as the 2022 midterm elections approach, it has become one of the biggest issues on the ballot.

Below, see which states have abortion on their ballots, and what they are asking their voters.

Who is asking what questions?

California, Michigan and Vermont are asking questions that would modify their state constitutions to support the right to abortion, per the Associated Press.

Currently, California and Michigan allow abortions before viability, while Vermont allows them with no limit on when during the pregnancy they can be carried out.

Kentucky, meanwhile, is asking voters whether to amend their constitution to say it doesnt protect abortion. This doesn't come as a surprise, as the state has tried to tighten restrictions to abortion for years.

Similarly, Montana is asking voters whether they would like the state to require medical care for babies who survive an attempted abortion. The state's Republican-controlled Legislature enacted a number of restrictive abortion laws last year, but they remain blocked for now.

What is the status of abortion in the states?

Ever since the SCOTUS's controversial decision, most abortions are now banned in at least 13 states: Wisconsin, West Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Idaho, Arkansas, and Alabama.

Activist in many states continue to fight in courtrooms by suing to block restrictive laws from being enforced. So far, bans have been blocked in Wyoming, South Carolina, Ohio, Montana, Michigan, North Dakota, Iowa, and Indiana.

North Carolina, Utah, Florida, and Arizona have a gestational limit, which means they have banned abortion at 15-20 weeks. And Georgia bans it at 6 weeksbefore women usually know they're pregnant.

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Abortion is still legal but limited in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Nevada, Nebraska, Kansas, Delaware, and Colorado.

And it is entirely legal in Washington, Vermont, Oregon, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Illinois, Hawaii, Connecticut, California, and Alaska.

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Lily James Botswana

Molly SJ Lowe

Lily James has a newfound passion for conservation and protecting nature after traveling to Botswana as the Natural Diamond Council Ambassador this month.

The 33-year-old Emmy nominee tells PEOPLE that her time in the South African country was "life-changing."

"Being in the wilderness there and seeing the power of animals and nature and being right in the middle of it was so profound and has sort of ignited this huge passion that I'm so happy about," James shares.

Through her partnership with the National Diamond Council, James wants "to do more in terms of conservation and protecting the wilderness and making that something that I'm really focused on in the near future because I found it so just life-changing."

James decided to join forces with the Natural Diamond Council this year because she "was so drawn to their sustainable missions and conservation efforts." Visiting Botswana allowed James to learn more about the diamond industry and "the ways in which they truly give back and take care of the country, or the communities where the diamonds are mined and really have huge life-changing effects on the people there."

Lily James Botswana

Moly SJ Lowe

"To meet some of those people and to hear people's stories firsthand was so moving and striking and yeah, it was really powerful," she adds.

When it comes to diamonds, James believes they truly are a girl's best friend: "I do think that there's something so romantic about diamonds, and the fact I love the most is that they're older than the stars in the sky. There's something so off-earth about them  I do think diamonds do the talking."

RELATED: Lily James' Most Notable Movie and TV Roles, From 'Cinderella' to 'Pam & Tommy'

James' most cherished diamond piece is a locket with photos of her father on the inside. Family heirlooms hold a special significance for the star.

"Me and my mom talked about this a lot when we were in Botswana. My granny left my mom her diamond ring, and my mom now has that and wears it on her finger, and she told me how it would be mine one day and I was like, 'Oh God, I don't want to hear about that yet.'"

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Lily James Botswana

Molly SJ Lowe

James continues, "But still the sort of through line of that and the treasure and what that will mean, and therefore the power it inherently holds in just the energy of the female line in my family there's something just so powerful and comforting and precious in that."

When it comes to her favorite diamond she has worn to an event, James says the Piaget Wings of Light necklace boasting a fancy yellow diamond she wore to the Oscars this year takes the cake.

"It reflected the light and just shone in just the most sensational way," she tells PEOPLE.

94th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

Mike Coppola/Getty Lily James

The actress even incorporated diamonds into her favorite red carpet-look of the year.

"For the Emmys, I wore custom Versace, kind of like a chocolate brown chain mail dress, and it fit like a second skin and there was such a weight to the chain mail that it kind of grounded me in a way that I needed that day because I was so nervous." She continues, "And I complimented that with just really simple, big diamond studs that felt really modern and kind of gave me an extra sort of shimmer."

RELATED: Lily James Channels Pamela Anderson in Figure-Hugging Red Gown Inspired by Iconic 'Baywatch' Swimsuit

It was at the Emmys that James was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role as Pamela Anderson in Hulu's Pam and Tommy. When describing the feeling of being nominated, James says she was "blown away."

74th Primetime Emmys - Arrivals

Getty

"The whole experience of making Pam and Tommy was just such a brilliant one in all the ways because it was challenging and it was difficult, but it also kind of taught me who I wanted to be as an actor. I really cared about what I was trying to say and the message we wanted to get across and it felt personal," the actress says.

She continues, "So to then have that work that I cared so much about having that validation in the Emmys was really important and hugely flattering. So I would love to have more, but one is enough."

This will not be the last of James that we see on the red carpet, and more appearances mean more stylish looks.

While telling PEOPLE what we can expect next from her, the Mamma Mia 2 star says, "My style evolves. I really feel like more and more I like to express myself and feel that confidence. I felt like of late I've really wanted to have fun and sort of own my space, and my body, and kind of embrace a kind of more playful red carpet experience. And I've really enjoyed that."
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham campaigned in Ohio for the Senate candidate JD Vance.

During a speech at a Republican Party dinner in Lima, Ohio, Graham riled up the crowd.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio is set to chair the House Judiciary Committee if the GOP takes the chamber.

LIMA, Ohio  Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was met with roaring laughter from a crowd of Republican voters Tuesday evening when he suggested that if Republican Rep. Jim Jordan ascended to chair of the House Judiciary Committee, it would result in a raft of suicides.

Graham, campaigning in Ohio for the GOP Senate candidate JD Vance, addressed the room at a dinner hosted by the local Republican Party in Lima, a western Ohio city that Jordan has long represented in Congress. Also in attendance were Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio GOP Chair Bob Paduchik, and a handful of other top Republican officials in the state.

Vance, a former venture capitalist and the author of "Hillbilly Elegy," is facing a tougher-than-expected race against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and has recently been campaigning with national Republican figures, including former President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

"You got something really special here. This guy is going to change the Republican Party, change the Senate, all for the better," Graham said near the beginning of his address, referring to Vance. "But here's some words that really rattle the Democratic Party. What's the worst thing the Democratic Party wants to hear? Chairman Jim Jordan."

Jordan, a leader of the party's right flank and the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, has pledged to conduct investigations into the FBI and the Justice Department if the GOP retakes the House.

Graham and Jordan at a Republican dinner in Lima, Ohio, as looks on. Bryan Metzger/Insider

"There are going to be people jumping off bridges in San Francisco by the thousands," Graham said, bursting into laughter along with the crowd. "You know, New York City, they may literally shut down."

An average of 30 people die by suicide every year at the Golden Gate Bridge. More than 1,800 people in total have plunged to their deaths from the famous bridge  the largest number of jumping suicides for any bridge in the country, according to the Los Angeles Times. Officials recently began constructing a steel net underneath the bridge to prevent deaths.

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Graham has made a version of this joke at least once before, when he denied rumors that he might be gay in a 2009 interview with The New York Times.

"I know it's really going to upset a lot of gay men  I'm sure hundreds of 'em are going to be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge  but I ain't available," Graham said in the interview. "I ain't gay. Sorry."

Jordan, a staunch ally of Trump, helped found the conservative House Freedom Caucus and previously served as chair of the House Republican Study Committee. He's promised the judiciary committee will "aggressively" investigate the Department of Justice and other government entities and officials if the GOP retakes control of the House.

At the Lima event, Graham went on to joke about Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler's weight. The current chair of the judiciary committee has been open in the past about his struggles with weight loss.

"I can't wait until he gets the gavel. The best trade in the history of politics is Jerry Nadler for Jim Jordan," Graham said. "You're saving about 200 pounds."

The Republican Senate candidate JD Vance at the Republican dinner in Lima. Bryan Metzger/Insider

Graham also underscored the broader stakes of the 2022 midterm elections, saying that Republicans would be able to investigate Democrats on a variety of issues if they regained power.

"The bottom line is we'll have oversight. We'll ask questions you've been dying for somebody to ask, and we'll see what kind of answers we get," he said. "We'll get to the bottom a lot of this crap. You can only do that if you're in charge."

At the outset of the dinner, Vance praised Graham, saying he'd followed his career for a long time.

"I've watched him on TV. I've watch him on Fox News, like a lot of you," Vance said.

Vance said Graham especially impressed him with an impassioned defense of the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. The candidate said that his wife, Usha, had once worked for Kavanaugh when he was a federal judge.

"I've never seen Washington do anything like they did to Brett Kavanaugh," Vance said. "And his most energetic, most passionate, and, I think, the most effective defender was a great senator from South Carolina: Lindsey Graham."

Vance at the dinner. Bryan Metzger/Insider

Just before the event, Vance and Graham took a handful of questions from the media.

Insider asked the two men  who are both prominent examples of Republicans who strongly condemned Trump only to later become his loyal cheerleaders  about their support for the former president.

"I don't know that we've talked about it," Vance said, gesturing toward Graham. "My argument is: When a guy does a good job, you ought to change your mind, because when the facts change, that's what thinking people do."

"Primaries are contested," said Graham, who also sought the Republican nomination for president in 2016.

"You know, all the opponents of Joe Biden got on board because he beat them," he added. "When Trump beat me, I accepted my defeat, and I thought he was a good president on the things that I care about. So there you go."

Correction: October 27, 2022  An earlier version of this story misnamed the Ohio GOP chair. His first name is Bob, not Mike.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Matthew Bledsoe at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The Justice Department.

A Memphis man who filmed himself inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 was sentenced to 4 years in prison.

Matthew Bledsoe was convicted by a jury in July on several Capitol riot charges.

More than 900 people have been arrested on Capitol riot charges, and more than 400 have pleaded guilty.

A self-described "loudmouth" who tried to convince a judge and jury that he didn't know Congress was certifying the 2020 election as a pro-Trump mob descended on the building on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday.

Matthew Bledsoe, of Memphis, Tennessee, was the seventh Capitol riot defendant to face a jury trial earlier this year, in which he mounted a failed defense claiming he was ignorant of the congressional proceedings on the day he joined a mob of thousands of other Trump supporters in storming the US Capitol.

The 38-year-old feigned ignorance throughout the trial, despite evidence showing that Bledsoe's wife and brother had texted him updates about what was happening inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021. In July, a jury convicted Bledsoe on one felony count of obstruction and four misdemeanors, including entering or remaining in a restricted building and disorderly conduct.

On Friday, US District Judge Beryl Howell sentenced Bledsoe to four years in prison on the obstruction charge, as well as multiple 12- and six-month terms on the other counts. All his sentences are to run concurrently, the judge said. Bledsoe will also have to serve three years of supervised release and pay $4,000 in restitution and fines.

Ahead of sentencing, Howell once again cast doubt on Bledsoe's prior defense, telling him:"You knew what was going on," according to NBC News.

Much of the evidence against Bledsoe came from his own social media accounts and recordings on January 6, 2021. Bledsoe filmed himself as he entered the Capitol through a broken window in a door as alarm bells rang.

"Where's those pieces of shits at?" Bledsoe can be heard saying in the video.

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During his trial, prosecutors asked Bledsoe who exactly he was referring to in the clip. He told the courtroom that he was simply being a "loudmouth" and tried to argue that the "pieces of shits" were not in reference to elected officials, but to people responsible for "stealing" the election, NBC News reported at the time.

Prosecutors during the trial also highlighted some of Bledsoe's texts on January 6, including one in which his wife alerted him to a bomb threat near the Capitol building and he responded "good," according to The Commercial Appeal.

During sentencing, Howell raised further concern over another text on January 10, 2021, in which Bledsoe wrote to his wife saying he believed politicians would soon die, the outlet reported.

"They're all going to be executed," Bledsoe reportedly wrote.

An attorney for Bledsoe did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment regarding his sentence.

More than 900 people have been arrested on Capitol riot charges and more than 400 have pleaded guilty thus far.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Re: Adam Fischers letter Amused by vaccine support (Castanet, Oct. 25)

Im glad vaccines worked for the community.

No one was forced to take the shot(s) or wear the masks, but decisions (especially against the common good) have consequences. Vaccines and masks had two purposes: self-protection and community protection.

If I remember properly, an individual didnt always need to catch COVID in order to pass it on, something about asymptomatic carriers I believe. We never knew who we could catch it from. It was always a relief to see our neighbours wearing masks when shopping, and nobody really minded showing a vaccination card when we could finally go out to eat.

Common sense said after a world-wide plea for vaccines to slow down and ameliorate the virus (when the catch rate was overwhelming every hospital and the death rate was skyrocketing), when multiple vaccines were developed and extensively tested, youd think that people would jump at the chance to save themselves and their loved ones (and) an overwhelming majority did.

As my mom would have said, theres always a few. Those few werent happy, while most of us were.

My missus and I had to wait our turns for the first, second, third and (recently) fourth shots. Since were seniors (but not too senior), we werent at the top of the list. We were unprotected, much like all those who were younger, especially children. When our turn came, we gladly marched in and rolled up our sleeves.

Please remember work places were shut down, kids were kept home from school, hospitals had to re-prioritize procedures and surgeries, travel came to a standstill, but the virus was finally slowed to a manageable level.

Im just glad were Canadian, not American. They politicized the whole pandemic at great cost to their nation, much the same as several groups tried to do in Canada. We did way better than (the U.S.).

If someone had a legitimate reason to not take the vaccine, they were given a medical (exemption) and documented. Unfortunately there were cases where (exemptions) were fraudulently bought and sold.

I could not tell at a glance who the buyers were, nor could I tell who the conscientious objectors were. No one could. I still cant. And itll be the same for this years flu season. (Were booked for flu shots at the end of November, and will be wearing masks).

Were all paying for the pandemic and the disruptions it caused. Thank heavens it wasnt worse.

Societythe majority of usare not discriminating, were just trying to get back to life. Were not endangering ourselves or others, were just trying to do whats right., for us and our community. It isnt over but were in a far better place now.

By the way, if your children went to school in Canada, they already underwent forcedvaccinations. Its amazing the illnesses and diseases that have been dramatically lessened (and) our infant mortality rate.

If you want to travel abroad, you still need to be up to date with your other vaccines. So yes, it is just common sense. Get with the program.

Look at it this way, its Team Canada versus COVID and the flu. Youre on the team or not, your choice.

Gary Lynch
Louisiana Tech softball, the reigning Conference USA regular season champions, has released its full 2023 season schedule.

On top of the regular season title, the Lady Techsters finished 39-20 in coach Josh Taylor's first season in Ruston after eight seasons at Nevada. The Lady Techsters had three all-conference first-team selections last season along with three second-team selections, freshman of the year in Sierra Sacco and Taylor was named coach of the year.

Sacco etched her name in into Louisiana Tech record books last year. The outfielder took over the record for single season hits (83), is tied for second in single season runs (54), second in batting average (.441) and second in on base percentage (.535).

The season begins on Feb. 10 in a three-game slate against Southeast Missouri. LSU comes to Ruston on Feb. 21 and La Tech goes down to Baton Rouge on April 1. They begin conference play hosting North Texas in a three-game weekend series beginning Mar. 10. Louisiana Tech will host the 2023 Conference-USA tournament beginning on May 10.

"In Conference USA, each team needs to be strategic about how they schedule in regards to being more than a one bid league, which is what we are trying to do and in order to do that we have to play certain teams," Taylor said. "We are excited about the challenges in front of us the girls have been working hard this fall and we are looking forward to getting the season started in February."

LADY TECHSTERSTitle IX pioneer: How Louisiana Tech's Sue Donohoe shaped women's basketball nationwide

SITE SECUREDLouisiana Tech softball set to host 2023 Conference USA Tournament

Louisiana Tech softball 2023 schedule

Feb. 10 Southeast Missouri

Feb. 11 Southeast Missouri

Feb. 12 Southeast MIssouri

Feb. 15 at Southeastern

Feb. 17 Toledo (Mardi Gas Mambo in Youngsville, Louisiana)

Feb. 17 Manhattan (Mardi Gas Mambo in Youngsville, Louisiana)

Feb. 18 St. Thomas (Mardi Gas Mambo in Youngsville, Louisiana)

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Feb. 18 Florida A&M (Mardi Gas Mambo in Youngville, Louisiana)

Feb. 19 Gardner-Webb (Mardi Gas Mambo in Youngville, Louisiana)

Feb. 21 LSU

Feb. 25 Washington (South Alabama Tournament)

Feb. 25 at South Alabama (South Alabama Tournament)

Feb. 26 Mississippi State (South Alabama Tournament)

Mar. 1 Central Arkansas

Mar. 3 Houston Christian

Mar. 4 UMass-Lowell

Mar. 5 Open date in La Tech Invitational

Mar. 7 Louisiana-Monroe

Mar. 10 North Texas

Mar. 11 North Texas

Mar. 12. North Texas

Mar. 14 Northwestern State

Mar. 17 at FIU

Mar. 18 at FIU

Mar. 19 at FIU

Mar. 22 at Texas A&M

Mar. 24 Middle Tennessee

Mar. 25 Middle Tennessee

Mar. 26 Middle Tennessee

Mar. 28 at Northwestern State

Mar. 31 BYU ( in Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Mar. 31 NC State ( in Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Apr. 1 NC State ( in Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Apr. 1 at LSU

Apr. 4 at Louisiana-Monroe

Apr. 7 at UAB

Apr. 8 at UAB

Apr. 9 at UAB

Apr. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette

Apr. 12 at Ole Miss

Apr. 14 UTSA

Apr. 15 UTSA

Apr. 16 UTSA

Apr. 21 at UTEP

Apr. 22 at UTEP

Apr. 23 at UTEP

Apr. 25 Grambling State

Apr. 28 Charlotte

Apr. 29 Charlotte

Apr. 30 Charlotte

May 5 at WKU

May 6 at WKU

May 7 at WKU

May 10-13 C-USA Championship

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: La Tech softball schedule includes LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article attributed a paraphrased statement as a direct quotation from Vanessa Silva.

Craig William Silva's sister suspects her brother, then 30, was kidnapped in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on May 8, 2013.

Craig's friend also went missing that day. Her brother's debit card, Vanessa Silva said, was stolen and his vehicle was found stripped clean.

Nearly a decade following her brother's disappearance, Vanessa Silva walked out of the Memorial Hall building and into the Saturday afternoon sun at Steele Indian School Park. She was among a group of people who came out to the Missing Persons in Arizona Day event hosted by the Phoenix Police Department.

The event was organized to allow people to report loved ones missing, or update authorities on relevant information. Vanessa Silva said the event offered her a sense of comfort for the first time since her brother went missing.

"I started crying just out of the relief that somebody finally said, 'Yeah, we can help you,'" Vanessa Silva said. "They were so nice. They were so helpful. I just feel so good right now just being able to do something."

Craig William Silva, then 30, is seen a few days before he went missing May 8, 2013 in Mexico.

Her expectations were not high for the event since he went missing outside of Arizona. But they took a mouth swab to sample her DNA and she said she was assured the new information on the case would be sent to the proper authorities to prioritize.

"That's a big deal," Vanessa Silva said.

Lt. Sara Fields, with Phoenix Police Department, said about 30 people from eight local and federal agencies were on site to help those seeking answers on missing loved ones during the ninth annual event.

"They're just hoping to get resolution," Fields said. "I think they're more likely to come here to report a longer term missing person than they are to sit at home and finally make that phone call to police and have a patrol officer come out and take their report. This is a really safe, welcoming environment for them."

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Most of the cases reported at the event are of adults, Fields said.

Locating missing loved ones: Local and federal agencies meet with tribal families in Arizona

Regardless of jurisdiction, personnel at the event will take information, file it and send it to the corresponding agency, Fields said. A family drove eight hours from Mexico to follow up on a missing persons report, Fields mentioned.

Roughly 33% of attendees find some resolution at these events, according to Fields who said most of the missing who are located are alive. Some of these are living in another state and are unaware their family is looking for them, Fields said.

Related reporting: More than 240 dead bodies have yet to be identified in Phoenix area

There are an estimated 7,000 missing persons reported to Phoenix Police Department per year, according to Fields.

Each reporting person at the event had a victim advocate present with them throughout the process.

Wazhma Ansari, a victim advocate with the city of Phoenix's Family Advocacy Center, said a woman came to the event to report her mom missing since 2016. The daughter lamented not making a report sooner, but Ansari counseled her about it, the victim advocate said.

"I love being able to just validate someone's experience  whatever traumatic experience they've gone through, because it is traumatic to lose a loved one," Ansari said. "It's OK for them to have all of the feelings that they share."

She said some do not report loved ones missing out of fear of finding out something bad has taken place. Others must bear with those in their life who tell them to cease their search, she added.

"Don't give up," Ansari said.

Those seeking to file a missing persons report in Phoenix should call the police department at 602-262-6151.

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Missing in Arizona Day event draws loved ones seeking closure
By Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Paris with smiles and a handshake on Wednesday, but ignored questions on their faltering relationship as they headed into the Elysee Palace.

Scholz flew into the French capital for a hastily scheduled working lunch to find common ground after the French leader postponed a joint Cabinet meeting last week over what sources said were differences, including over energy policy and defence.

After the talks, Scholz said the two leaders had a "very good and important conversation" that covered European energy supplies, rising prices and joint defence projects.

"Germany and France stand close together and are tackling challenges together," he said in a tweet.

The Elysee Palace issued a statement saying the two had "renewed their commitment to solidarity principles between the two countries and at the European level," and had discussed "ways to move forward on a joint sovereignty agenda."

Unusually, there was no news conference after the talks.

Moments before Scholz's arrival, French government spokesman Olivier Veran had downplayed any rifts, saying the Franco-German pair of leaders had always been able to overcome difficulties that arose from time to time.

"Today's meeting reflects that this friendship remains alive," Veran said.

Since he took power in 2017, Macron has instructed French officials to never criticise Germany publicly, French government sources have told Reuters, and to solve disagreements behind closed doors.

But the number of issues on which France and Germany - the EU's two richest and most influential members - are at odds is growing, from the bloc's defence strategy to its response to the energy crisis, relations with China and even fiscal policy.

That pushed French officials to think of a way to be more "assertive" with Berlin, they said, which culminated last week with the unprecedented cancellation of the ritual Franco-German Cabinet meeting, underlining the French president's frustration.

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Berlin blamed logistical difficulties and played down the rift.

After the lunch, German officials said the three hours and 20 minutes spent together by the two leaders were a "very constructive and forward-looking conversation" and that the pair got along better than media reports would suggest.

It was not clear, however, whether any progress had been made on issues on which the two countries are at loggerheads, including whether to cap gas prices in response to Russia's war in Ukraine or German subsidies to its industry and households.

The rift is also impacting Europe's plans to build its next generation of fighter jets, gas pipeline projects across the EU and German plans to let China invest in its ports.

(Reporting by Michel Rose in Paris; Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon in Paris and Matthias Williams and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Richard Lough Philippa Fletcher and Matthew Lewis)
(Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris Wednesday to try and iron out wide-ranging tensions from energy and economic issues to the future of European defense.

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An official in Macrons office said the conversation, which was conducted in English and lasted three hours, evolved around around energy, defense and innovation but stuck to long-term perspectives, with Scholz visibly open to more collaboration.

Europes two biggest economies have traditionally been the driving force behind key decisions in the European Union including a massive plan to raise billions of euros in joint debt to weather the Covid pandemic.

But the Franco-German engine appears to have jammed up, potentially delaying decision-making just as the EU grapples with acute challenges from the Russias war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices.

In Paris, Scholz was seeking to develop a joint French and European strategy to counter the impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act, officials said. German Economics Minister Robert Habeck has said the act risks triggering transatlantic trade tensions given large subsidies to attract companies investing in the US renewables sector.

Scholz is also seeking to discuss with France a European solution to the energy crisis. With half of Frances nuclear power plants down, Germany is forced to export electricity across the border from renewable sources at a time when the country is scrambling to secure new supplies.

Gas Bills

Money is part of the problem. When Berlin unveiled a plan to spend 200 billion euros ($201 billion) to help households and business pay their gas bills last month, European partners including France complained that the scheme could divide the region further.

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Paris and Berlin canceled a joint meeting of government ministers that had been scheduled for Wednesday, to replace it with the Scholz visit and the lunch at the Elysee Palace.

The decision came after Berlin agreed to build a missile defense shield dubbed the European Sky Shield Initiative with other members of the NATO military alliance, that could include German, US and Israeli-made equipment.

The project is a blow for France, which has been developing a ground-to-air defense system with Italy known as Mamba. An Elysee official declined to comment on the missile defense shield.

Work Ahead

On the sidelines of a meeting of EU leaders last week, Macron said the joint ministerial gathering had been canceled because German ministers were not available, although he insisted on the significant amount of work ahead for the two partners.

The next meeting, which is mostly symbolic, is planned in January for the 60th anniversary of the Elysee treaty, a treaty of friendship signed between leaders Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer to end years of Franco-German enmity, and which called for regular meetings between the two.

The missile shield isnt the only thorn in the relationship, especially in the defense sector. Like his predecessors, Macron argues that Europe should rely on its own defense systems to be independent of the US.

Transatlantic Relationship

In Paris, officials have privately warned that President Donald Trump, or a figure with similar doubts on the need for a strong transatlantic relationship, could come back to power. They emphasize the need for stronger EU autonomy in defense.

But France, which has Europes biggest and strongest defense industry with giants such as Dassault Aviation or Thales SA, is often suspected of pushing its own economic interests when it promotes strategic sovereignty.

Officials in Paris have privately complained that Germany is working with the USs SpaceX to launch satellites rather than relying on the European launcher, Ariane, and that it bought F-25 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

Progress is also slow on the Future Combat Air System, known as FCAS. The Franco-German-Spanish project includes a jet fighter meant to replace Frances Rafale and Germanys Typhoons jets in 2040.

As Berlin readies new legislation on weapons exports, a group of two dozen anonymous French defense experts dubbed Vauban published a column in newspaper La Tribune on Monday to complain about Germanys hypocrisy and selfishness. Germany has failed to coordinate with partners including France when banning certain exports while sending weapons to authoritarian regimes, they wrote.

--With assistance from Arne Delfs.

(Updates with readout of the meeting in second and 10th paragraphs)

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A man armed with a butcher knife was found shot after an attempted home invasion, police in Pennsylvania said.

A homeowner called Harrisburg police around 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 21 to report an attempted burglary, the department said in a release.

A man attempted to enter the home by kicking in the door, and the homeowner warned the intruder to leave, the release said.

The man continued to try to enter his home and the homeowner shot the man, according to the release.

Police found the intruder in the area armed with a large butcher knife, according to the release. Police did not say if the man was armed with the knife during the attempted burglary. The man was taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after he was taken into custody, according to police.

The man faces charges of felony trespassing, attempted burglary, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person, according to the release.

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Darrell Brooks is seen watching video of proceedings from a separate room after the judge removed him from the courtroom. Mike De Sisti / AP

The man accused of driving an SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin last year, killing six and injuring 62 others, was found guilty on Wednesday.

Darrell Brooks, 40, was convicted of all 76 charges against him for the November 2021 incident, which included six counts of first-degree homicide and 61 counts of reckless endangerment.

Each of the six homicide counts carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. During the reading of the verdict, Brooks sat with his head in his hands.

According to the criminal complaint, Brooks drove through the crowd of parade-goers during the incident and "appeared to be intentionally moving side to side, striking multiple people, and bodies and objects were flying from the area of the vehicle." A witness told police the car drove in a "zig-zag motion."

"It was like the SUV was trying to avoid vehicles, not people," the witness said. "There was no attempt made by the vehicle to stop, much less slow down.

Darrell Brooks hearing the reading of his verdict. CourtTV / YouTube / Via youtube.com

Despite the overwhelming amount of evidence against him, Brooks dismissed his public defenders and represented himself in court, often doing so in a bizarre manner.

Brooks initially pleaded not guilty on the basis of insanity, but withdrew the plea in September, according to court records, which state he "freely, voluntarily, and intelligently withdraws the [Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity] plea." He did not explain why he did so, simply telling Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, "I have my own reasons why," FOX6 reported.

Throughout the trial, Brooks was frequently disruptive  so much so that the judge reportedly had to call numerous recesses. He was eventually removed from the courtroom and made to watch the proceedings over video from a separate room. At times, he refused to answer to his name, claimed to be a "sovereign citizen" to whom laws do not apply, and even removed his shirt.

In his closing argument Tuesday, Brooks claimed the accusations against him were "misconceptions" and "lies," CNN reported.

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"What if the vehicle couldn't stop because of malfunction? What if the driver of the vehicle was unable to stop the vehicle?" Brooks said. "Because of that fact, what if the driver may have panicked? Does that make the driver in a rage and intent on killing people?"

But Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper hit back against Brooks's claims, urging the jury to focus on the evidence. There are 68 victims in this case, folks. Thats not an accident, she reportedly said.

He reached speeds of approximately 30 mph," Opper added. "Thats intentional. He plowed through 68 different people, 68. How can you hit one and keep going? How can you hit two and keep going?

Brooks remained uncharacteristically silent during the verdict reading, raising his head only during the polling of the jury. Asked by the judge whether he was satisfied with the polling, Brooks placed his head back in his hands, quietly replying, "No."

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A man has been arraigned on multiple charges for his alleged involvement in operating an illegal website.

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According to the Department of Justice, Daniel Kaye was on arraigned on Wednesday on charges of access device fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

Officials said charges came from Kaye allegedly operating The Real Deal. Its a dark web market that sold hacking tools and stolen login credentials users could buy, including those for U.S. government agencies, and laundering of money Kaye got from that market.

This case is a timely reminder, during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, that federal law enforcement will make those accused of breaking U.S. laws face their day in court, regardless of where they reside in the world, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

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Buchanan said the market was organized into categories titled, exploit code, counterfeits, drugs, fraud & more, government data and weapons.

On April 13, 2021, Kaye was indicted on five counts of access device fraud for unauthorized solicitation, one count of using and trafficking in unauthorized access devices, two counts of possession of unauthorized and counterfeit access devices and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

Kaye was overseas in September 2022 at the time of the indictment being filed and was extradited from Cyprus to the United States.

The indictment alleges that Kaye along with another person, known as the thedarkoverlord, trafficked stolen social security numbers and that Kaye possessed 15 or more stolen logins credentials for Twitter and LinkedIn.

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He is also accused of laundering cryptocurrency he got from The Real Deal through Bitmixer.io, a website that offers Bitcoin mixing services and, through its mixing algorithm, sought to keep its users anonymous, private, and immune to Bitcoin blockchain tracing analysis.

IN OTHER NEWS:




A man in Hartford was hospitalized with a graze-type gunshot wound Tuesday night, according to the Hartford Police Department.

Officers responded to Preston Street for a reported gunshot victim around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. The victim, a man in his 30s, was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital for treatment, police said.

The victim was uncooperative with investigators, police said.

The location of the shooting is unknown to police, although they do not believe the shooting happened at the address on Preston Street they responded to, police said.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact police at 860-722-8477.

Mike Mavredakis can be reached at mmavredakis@courant.com or via Twitter @MikeMavredakis.
A man and a woman were rushed to the hospital after a crash on a Memphis interstate Tuesday night, according to Memphis Police.

The crash shut down westbound traffic on I-240 near the Millbranch Road exit for about 30 minutes, according to TDOT.

One of the cars flipped over during the crash, police said.

Memphis Police said three cars were involved in the crash around 7 p.m.

Within 20 minutes, traffic backed up for miles, stretching back past the Airways Blvd. exit.

Police said the man and woman were both critically injured and taken to Regional One Hospital.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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The Biden administration is racing to expand the number of U.S. labs that are able to test for the virus behind a swelling Ebola outbreak in Uganda, as health officials prepare for what they say remains an unlikely but real possibility that the virus could enter the country.

Most of the tests that were rolled out around the U.S. during a previous Ebola scare in 2014, which involved a strain known as Zaire Ebolavirus, were never authorized by the Food and Drug Administration to be used for diagnosing the Sudan strain, which is behind the current surge in Uganda.

"CDC has been very active on the domestic preparedness front and addressing exactly this issue of the lab testing has been a huge priority," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Mary Choi told a session at the ID Week conference last week.

A few weeks ago, only eight members of the publicly-funded Laboratory Response Network had the ability to test for the virus, Choi said.

That number has now risen to 22 labs across the network, a CDC spokesperson said Tuesday.

More than a hundred cases of the often deadly virus have been confirmed or suspected in Uganda, according to a tally by the CDC. Cases have been spotted in the nation's capital city Kampala, which raises concerns about wider spread. More than two dozen deaths have been reported since the outbreak began in September.

After an incubation period of up to three weeks, early Ebola symptoms  like fever and fatigue  can be difficult to distinguish from other infections. The disease then escalates to more dangerous symptoms, including severe diarrhea, bleeding and vomiting. Between 41% and 100% of reported cases in previous outbreaks of Sudan Ebolavirus have died, the World Health Organization estimates.

There is a vaccine that targets Zaire Ebolavirus, but it is not expected to work against the current strain. Some promising new vaccine candidates are expected to be deployed soon in Uganda in hopes of curbing the outbreak.

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Travelers entering the U.S. after having spent time in outbreak-affected areas in Uganda are being screened by authorities at five airports around the country for symptoms, under a program to funnel travelers that was restarted a month ago.

They are then followed up by local health officials for at least three weeks after arriving at their destination, under guidance published earlier this month by the CDC.

Unlike Zaire Ebolavirus, there are no rapid test kits available to spot infections by Sudan Ebolavirus. Doctors must draw blood samples from patients suspected to have the virus, which are sent off to labs that can test for the strain.

Maj. Stacey Bateman, a microbiologist and the chief of Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics at Madigan Army Medical Center in a Tyvek suit and powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) working with Ebola patient samples outside Monrovia, Liberia in December 2014. / Credit: Stacey Bateman/Department of Defense

Those test tubes can then be run through systems like the so-called "Warrior Panel" developed by the firm BioFire Defense.

"There is a lot of cross collaboration between agencies and CDC to make this happen," Choi said, pointing to efforts like sending loaner BioFire systems to testing facilities and having weekly calls to help them ramp up.

Earlier this month, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response announced it would fund accelerating clearance of BioFire's test by the FDA, which could allow more labs to use the system.

"A select number of labs dispersed throughout the US are able to test, but we aren't able to say the exact number. CDC is also working to bring on additional labs," Chris Mangal, director of preparedness and response for the Association of Public Health Labs, said in a statement.

The screening test itself takes around "an hour or so to run," Mangal said. That does not account for the time it takes to process and confirm the samples by the CDC.

"At this point the most important thing is that we have a test and several labs around the nation that are able to test," Mangal said.

Preparing for potential cases

The federal push to scale up U.S. testing capacity for Sudan Ebolavirus comes as authorities have been bracing for the "low" risk that an infected traveler could bring it into the country from Uganda.

"While they are working as quickly as they can to increase the number of laboratories that are able to test, as of today, that number is still very limited," the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Vicki Herrera said at a town hall on October 21.

Herrera was speaking at a webinar hosted by the federally-funded National Emerging Special Pathogens Training & Education Center for frontline health care workers preparing to field potential Ebola patients.

"The best thing that you can do is to contact your local public health departments and they can help you determine what testing is available and where," said Herrera.

The U.S. has awarded federal dollars to support a network of "regional treatment centers" prepared to isolate and treat patients with "special pathogens" like Ebola.

On Monday, the Biden administration announced it had awarded an additional $21 million to the hospitals and was adding a handful of new facilities to the nation's "National Special Pathogen System."

However, the responsibility for initially handling Ebola patients  at the airports or around the country  would likely fall first to a local hospital outside of this network.

For example, in New Jersey, officials in Essex County said that University Hospital in Newark will be tasked with responding to potential cases, if they are identified at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport.

James Moss, state hospital coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health, said in an email that hospitals in the counties around the state's Dulles International Airport were rotating duties for handling potential cases from the CDC's quarantine station at the airport.

"I will say that, in terms of Uganda and the risk right now, it is different than in West Africa," Choi said, comparing it to the region where the 2014 outbreak was centered. "In West Africa, it was three large countries. The outbreak affected travel hubs. It had affected the capital. And we had a lot of travelers coming because you have three countries, right? So you had potentially a lot of travelers coming through."

The U.S. is currently averaging about 140 passengers a day funneled to the five airports for evaluation, the CDC spokesperson said.

"That's pretty low compared to what it was in West Africa. But despite that, I do think that CDC and other agencies have been very forward leaning on that," added Choi.

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Photo: The Canadian Press The B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C. is shown on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

A proposed overhaul of legislation would make British Columbia the first province in Canada to legally recognize the right of Indigenous communities to provide their own child welfare systems.

Mitzi Dean, the minister of children and family development, says bringing B.C.'s law in line with similar federal legislation that came into force in 2020 will reduce barriers for Indigenous communities that want their own systems.

The changes would include establishing a new Indigenous child welfare director at the Children's Ministry, and allowing for information sharing and consent agreements between the province and Indigenous governments.

Dean says fundamental changes are needed to help reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care.

Cowichan Tribes Coun. Stephanie Atleo said the changes recognize the impact that policies from the past have had on Indigenous children and families and represent a significant step toward reconciliation.

Four Indigenous governing bodies in B.C.  the Cowichan Tribes, Gwasala-Nakwaxdaxw Nations, Splatsin First Nation and Stsailes First Nation  are already working on agreements with the federal and provincial governments that would see them take over child welfare.
ATLANTA (AP)  A judge on Wednesday ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to testify before a special grand jury thats investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies illegally tried to influence the states 2020 election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened the investigation early last year into actions taken by Trump and others to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Meadows is one of a number of high-profile associates and advisers of the Republican former president whose testimony Willis has sought.

Because Meadows doesnt live in Georgia, Willis, a Democrat, had to use a process that involves getting a judge where he lives in South Carolina to order him to appear. She filed a petition in August seeking to compel his testimony. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, whos overseeing the special grand jury, signed off on the petition, certifying that Meadows is a necessary and material witness for the investigation.

Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller in Pickens County, South Carolina, honored McBurneys finding and ordered Meadows to testify, Willis spokesman Jeff DiSantis confirmed. Meadows attorney James Bannister could not immediately be reached for comment.

In the petition seeking Meadows testimony, Willis wrote that Meadows attended a Dec. 21, 2020, meeting at the White House with Trump and others to discuss allegations of voter fraud and certification of electoral college votes from Georgia and other states. The next day, Willis wrote, Meadows made a surprise visit to Cobb County, just outside Atlanta, where an audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes was being conducted. He asked to observe the audit but wasnt allowed to because it wasnt open to the public, the petition says.

Meadows also sent emails to Justice Department officials after the election alleging voter fraud in Georgia and elsewhere and requesting investigations, Willis wrote. And he participated in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, during which Trump suggested the states top elections official, also a Republican, could find enough votes to overturn his narrow election loss in the state.

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In a court filing this week, Bannister argued that executive privilege and other rights shield his client from testifying.

Bannister asserted in the filing that Meadows has been instructed by Trump to preserve certain privileges and immunities attaching to his former office as White House Chief of Staff. Willis petition calls for him to divulge the contents of executive privileged communications with the President, Bannister wrote.

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters outside the White House, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. A judge has ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to travel to Atlanta to testify before a special grand jury thats investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies illegally tried to influence the states 2020 election. (Photo: Patrick Semansky via Associated Press)

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters outside the White House, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. A judge has ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to travel to Atlanta to testify before a special grand jury thats investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies illegally tried to influence the states 2020 election. (Photo: Patrick Semansky via Associated Press)

Meadows previously invoked that privilege in a fight against subpoenas issued by the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The House held Meadows in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoena, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute.

Special grand juries in Georgia cannot issue indictments. Instead, they can gather evidence and compel testimony and then can recommend further action, including criminal charges, in a final report. But it is ultimately up to the district attorney to decide whether to seek an indictment from a regular grand jury.

Bannister argued that the special grand jury proceedings do not qualify as a criminal proceeding under the South Carolina law that governs out-of-state subpoena requests and that Meadows cannot be compelled to testify in a civil inquiry. Because he has no testimony to offer, he cannot be considered a material witness, the filing argues.

Grand jury secrecy is paramount in South Carolina, Bannister wrote. Because the special grand jury is expected to ultimately issue a public report and the paperwork seeking Meadows testimony was publicly filed, it is contrary to South Carolina grand jury secrecy provisions and that would violate his state right to privacy, Bannister argued.

McBurney, the Fulton County Superior Court judge, has made clear in ruling on other attempts by potential witnesses to avoid or delay testimony that he considers the special grand jurys investigation to be a criminal proceeding. He has also stressed the need for the secrecy of the panels workings.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
(Bloomberg) -- Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows was ordered to testify in the Atlanta district attorneys criminal probe into Donald Trumps attempts to change the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia.

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The order was issued Wednesday by a state judge in South Carolina, where Meadows lives, according to Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is leading the investigation. The ruling by Circuit Court Judge Edward W. Miller in Pickens County, South Carolina, wasnt immediately available on the courts public docket.

Fulton County argued in court filings that Meadows is a necessary and material witness due to his proximity to Trump and his campaign after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden.

Meadowss lawyer, James W. Bannister, didnt immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The South Carolina-based lawyer previously argued in court filings that the demand for testimony in Georgia was invalid because Meadows was likely protected by executive privilege.

Meadows made a surprise visit on Dec. 22, 2020, to the Cobb County Civic Center, where he tried unsuccessfully to observe an audit of absentee-ballot signatures that was being conducted by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Willis said in an August court filing.

Meadows also was present when Trump pressured Raffensperger during a Jan. 2, 2021, call to find 11,780 votes -- enough to reverse his loss in the state, Willis said. That call has led to scrutiny over whether language used by Trump about repercussions if his demands werent carried constituted potentially illegal threats.

Willis has also been struggling to get testimony from Senator Lindsey Graham, who has asked the US Supreme Court to shield him from answering questions in the probe.

Story continues

Meadows also refused to sit for an interview by the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trumps supporters, though he initially aided the probe. The committee and entire House voted to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress for his refusal to fully comply with the subpoena, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute him.

Read More: Mark Meadows Testimony Sought in Georgia Trump Election Probe

--With assistance from Billy House.

(Updates with detail on the House committee probing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol)

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Could Martha Stewart and Pete Davidson be the next great A-list couple?

While on The Drew Barrymore Show Oct. 25, Stewart played a game of Red Flag, Yellow Flag, Green Flag, where she had to explain how shed react to potential dates with a green flag (into it), red flag (not into it) or yellow flag (on the fence).

The domestic diva didnt flinch holding up her green flag when Barrymore suggested she date someone with as many tattoos as Davidson  or even Davidson himself.

Would @MarthaStewart date Pete Davidson?! @DrewBarrymore gets to the bottom of it. pic.twitter.com/2piJ3SGcQ8  The Drew Barrymore Show (@DrewBarrymoreTV) October 25, 2022

Theres a thing on the internet where everybody wants you to go on a date with Pete Davidson, Barrymore said.

I mean, hes dated so many women, Stewart said.

So what? Barrymore asked.

No, Im not saying thats bad. I think thats good. And hes sort of cute, Stewart said.

Everybody loves him, Barrymore said.

I know everybody loves him. I know him. You didnt know I know him? Stewart said after Barrymore gasped that theyre acquainted, while noting they worked together on a Justin Bieber roast in 2015.

He was this little twerp on the Bieber roast. He was even twerpier than Bieber, she said, eliciting laughs from Barrymore and the audience.

Could Martha Stewart and Pete Davidson be more than friends? (Getty Images)

Everybody speaks about Pete Davidson in such a positive way. Like, he has to be a good guy, Barrymore said.

Oh, he is a good guy. Hes a very good guy. He knows how to get in and get out, Stewart said, sparking some cooing from the audience.

And hes open to ... age is not a thing for him. Just saying, Barrymore said.

But maybe theyre better off not coupling, after all.

Story continues

Hes like my lost son, Stewart said.

In addition to the Bieber roast, Stewart, 81, and Davidson, 28, crossed paths earlier this year at the White House Correspondents Dinner, an event the comedian attended with then-girlfriend Kim Kardashian.

Hes an adorable guy. Hes funny and nice and pleasant, Stewart told TODAY two days after the dinner.

Davidson appears to have the mojo women love, as hes been linked to stars like Kardashian, Ariana Grande and Kate Beckinsale. That led Hoda Kotb to ask Stewart what it is about the former SNL star that appeals to women, prompting a backhanded compliment.

Hes just a skinny, kind of homely, really nice guy, she said. He was cuter when he had when he had longer curly hair. If you look at my Instagram, you see a little skit he did for me when we were doing the roast, but hes charming and hes nice and I dont think hes a big deal problem. Hes just a lovely guy. And we were having a lovely time.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Several Maryland state troopers sued the Department of State Police on Monday, alleging racial discrimination.

Three current and former state troopers filed the class action lawsuit, alleging that the department subjected its officers of color to unduly harsh discipline, denied them promotions and retaliated against them for reporting discrimination.

Officer Byron Tribue, who is Black, alleged in Mondays lawsuit that he was suspended for 301 days for a one-hour recording error in his timecard that had been approved by a supervisor.

The suspension reportedly occurred after Tribue had complained about a higher-ranking officers disparate treatment of officers of color. The same higher-ranking officer was then assigned to investigate Tribues alleged misconduct.

Tribue remained on suspension for seven months before the department informed him what misconduct he was charged with and what his punishment would be, according to the lawsuit.

When the department finally informed Tribue of the charges, it reportedly chose to give him a punishment beyond the normal standard  a 30-day suspension without pay and a demotion.

Tribue appealed the decision to the departments trial board, which concluded that the proper punishment was a 10-day suspension without pay. The incident delayed a promotion that Tribue was set to receive, according to the lawsuit.

A fellow Maryland police officer, Matin Dunlap, also allegedly faced retaliation for complaining about discrimination. After Dunlap, who is Black, reported a racist incident with another officer, the department reopened a closed complaint against him, according to the lawsuit.

The police department reportedly placed Dunlap on an unpaid suspension as a result, charged him criminally and kept him on suspension for three years, according to the lawsuit.

Since the department never substantiated the claims against Dunlap, it eventually allowed him to return to work but allegedly denied Dunlap assignments to the sought-after specialized units.

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Analisse Diaz, who is Black and Puerto Rican, was also a Maryland state trooper until she was fired in 2019. The lawsuit alleges that Diazs supervisor and corporal retaliated against her for receiving special assignments from the departments Drug Enforcement Unit.

When Diaz appealed a poor performance review, her supervisor allegedly referred her to the Internal Affairs Department for discipline, which suggested that she be fired. Diaz appealed the decision to Trial Board but was ultimately fired in October 2019.

Mondays lawsuit comes after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the Maryland Department of State Police in July to determine whether it has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Matthew Perry has admitted to having bizarre feelings of resentment towards Keanu Reeves in his memoir.

The Friends star will this week release his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he writes about his time on the hit sitcom and his extensive struggles with alcohol and painkiller addiction.

However, in new extracts from the memoir shared byPage Six, Perry also makes some admissions regarding his strong feelings about The Matrix star.

Reeves is mentioned in the book when Perry comments on the death of River Phoenix, who was a close friend of Reeves before his death aged 23. Perrys first film, the 1998 movie A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, co-starred Phoenix.

In his memoir, Perry writes: Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?

He also makes a similar dig at Reeves when discussing Chris Farley, who died of an overdose in 1997, just after the pair had made the Christopher Guest film Almost Heroes together.

Describing learning that Farley had died of a drug overdose, Perry writes: I punched a hole through Jennifer Anistons dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us.

The Independent has approached Perry and Reeves representatives for comment.

Its not clear where Perrys apparent dislike of Reeves comes from (Getty Images for Lionsgate)

Its not clear where Perrys dislike of Reeves stems from. However, the comments have baffled social media users, who said they were not a good look for the Friends star.

What is the reason? I dont think they even worked together, one tweet read.

What in the absolute hell is up with Matthew Perrys (seemingly) unfounded hate of Keanu Reeves? another commenter wrote. Dude is beloved by absolutely everyone in Hollywood and Matthew wishes death upon him? Thats normal.

According to IMDB, Reeves and Perry never worked on any films together.

Perry writes about Reeves twice in his memoir (Getty Images)

Elsewhere in his autobiography, Perry said that when his addiction issues were at their worst, he was taking 55 strong painkillers a day to get through filming Friends.

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After filming Chandler and Monicas (Courteney Cox) wedding on season seven, he was taken to rehab in a pick-up truck.

In more recent years, Perry had been due to appear in the Netflix film Dont Look Up, but had to pull out after his heart stopped beating for five minutes while in rehab.

If you or someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, you can seek confidential help and support 24-7 from Frank, by calling 0300 123 6600, texting 82111, sending an email or visiting their website here.

In the US, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP.
A Georgia circuit judge on Wednesday ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to testify in an elections probe launched by a Georgia prosecutor, just days after he asked for a subpoena to be blocked.

Circuit Judge Edward Miller ruled that Meadows needed to cooperate in the probe by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), which is looking at possible 2020 election interference in the state by former President Trump and his allies.

I am going to find that the witness is material and necessary to the investigation and that the state of Georgia is assuring not to cause undue hardship to him, Miller ruled, according to CNN.

Meadowss team said they are planning to appeal the ruling, according to The New York Times.

Willis is looking into possible 2020 election interference in Georgia, which was initiated after a January 2021 conversation came to light of Trump urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger to find more than 11,000 votes needed to reverse President Bidens win there.

Willis subpoenaed Meadows in August, noting that he had been a part of a meeting in December 2020 with Trump and others to discuss allegations of voter fraud and the certification of the electoral college votes from Georgia and other states.

She also noted Meadows attempt to observe an audit of election results in the state and also stated that the former Trump official was involved in the infamous call with Raffensberger.

A South Carolina judge was required to sign off on Willis subpoena given that Meadows does not live in South Carolina. The former Trump official sought to stop the subpoenas approval, arguing that the probe is not a criminal one, and therefore he cannot be required to comply.

The Hill reached out to Meadowss lawyer for comment.

Updated at 12:21 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Phyllis Frye

Phyllis Fryes status as the grandmother of the transgender legal rights movement was always partly the handiwork of her stalwart support system, second wife, Patricia Trish Dooley Frye, whom she was wed to for 47 years. Frye is now navigating life without Trish, who died in 2020.

We had such a good love that I want love again, Frye told Outsmart last year. Not everybody [gets that kind of love].

Frye is working to move on, taking heart that her legacy as a queer rights leader is being cemented as of late. A new book from historians Michael G. Long and Shea Tuttle, Phyllis Frye and the Fight for Transgender Rights, documents her momentous life and its instrumental role in trans liberation. Like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frye is best known as a judge  in 2010 she became the first openly transgender judge appointed in the U.S.  but some of her most impactful work took place when she didnt wield a gavel.

After becoming a lieutenant in the Army and marrying Trish, Frye came out as trans in the mid-70s, enduring non-stop harassment from her Houston-area neighbors. Instead of hiding from the world, the hate turned Frye into an activist, leading her to law school and an integral role in the 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Her trans advocacy would give birth to a movement and she used the march organizing as a means of [achieving] that, march co-organizer Ray Hill says. The state of our collective movement in 1979 was one of uneven development of its component parts. The trans movement did not exist, except for Phylliss advocacy.

Frye would be involved in subsequent marches on Washington for queer rights, lobbying for trans inclusion and becoming the first transgender person to speak at a national march for lesbian and gay rights. Frye understood the importance of language and advocated for years  mostly through her positions in the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association and its influential Lavender Law Conference  to add the T to the LGB acronym.

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Fryes contributions to the trans movement continued through the 1990s. Among her many accomplishments are the six annual International Conferences on Transgender Law and Employment Policy which she organized, hosted, and provided grassroots training for. Eventually, Frye established a practice in criminal defense. By 2010, I had become senior partner of my firm with lawyers who were either LGBT or supportive, she recalls.

That year, Frye became the first out transgender judge in the entire country, when Mayor Annise Parker picked Frye to be an associate municipal judge for the city of Houston. As an associate she worked part-time, which allowed her to continue to practice law and head this firm that I had worked so hard to establish.

In recent years, Frye would take on transgender clients from around the state who need legal help with name changes and other paperwork. I do kids as young as 6 and adults in their 70s and all in between, Frye says.

Even after Trishs death and an onslaught of anti-trans laws and political rhetoric, Frye remains optimistic and emboldened, telling everyone in the legal profession, including judges like herself, to come out.

Youre dealing with so much angst if youre worried about what other people are going to think, Frye recently told out Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Theyre going to think what theyre going [to] think anyway.
Aggie football players greet fans during NMSU's homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at the Aggie Memorial Stadium. The football game was postponed after a player on the opposing team was killed in a traffic crash.

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State players want the San Jose State game back.

Whether the Aggies are able to make up the game against the Spartans or a different opponent remains to be seen.

"It's an unfortunate situation," Aggies safety Bryce Jackson said. "It's out of our control. A different opponent, the same opponent, it doesn't matter. We just want that game back."

Saturday's game against San Jose State was postponed due to the sudden death of Spartans player Camdan McWright on Friday.

While tragic, the postponement resulted in an unintentional second open week in the last three weeks.

"We have used that extra time to kind of rest our bodies," Aggies quarterback Gavin Frakes said. "We are feeling really good so hopefully we can bring a lot of energy into this next game. We usually put some pretty good work in on the bye week. I believe we had a bye week before the (New Mexico) game and that worked out pretty good for us. Having three open weeks in a row is kind of unheard of, but we are just going to try to use it to our advantage."

NMSU hasn't won a road game since 2018 and have lost 21 straight on the road. Aggies beat UMass last year and this is their best chance at a road win this year pic.twitter.com/3QVrSWAJPm  Jason Groves (@JPGroves) October 25, 2022

The Aggies do have a scheduled game to play on Saturday at Massachusetts (TV: Bally Sports Arizona Plus; The CW El Paso/Las Cruces; Comcast NM; FloFootball: Radio: 99.5 FM KXPZ), followed by another open week.

"It's a situation where we haven't played for two weeks and they have had two weeks to prepare for us," said Aggies head coach Jerry Kill, whose team is 2-5 on the season. "Don Brown is a legendary coach. ... We are kind of double prepared so not playing, I kind of worry about losing our timing and our execution and things."

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Kill said on Tuesday that the Aggies are open to playing a home game rather than an open week on Nov. 5, and he seemed open to the idea of playing a game on Dec. 3 if the school can find an opponent.

"We have an off week next weekend and we would be recruiting and if it's at the end of the season, we would have been recruiting then so whether it's next week or at the end, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter," Kill said. "It's going to be a home game and we could bring recruits in for official visits. We would have to work harder, but we could still get it done.

"Or if we play (Nov. 5), and I don't know exactly where that is at. I think they are still trying to get that situated. We would have to know by (Wednesday) so our quality control guys can start getting prepared so we can get to work on Sunday. I'm confident that we will play someone along the line."

NM State athletics director Mario Moccia said the administration is focusing on landing a Nov. 5 opponent, most likely against a FCS opponent.

"We will do what the football program thinks is important and right now, that is making up the lost game," Moccia said. "We are working on the bye week and after we have exhausted that, we will move to the end of the season."

Moccia said there are 11 FCS programs that are possible for a Nov. 5 game. Future Conference USA opponents Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State have been mentioned. On Tuesday, Moccia said Sam Houston State is no longer a possibility, and it's unclear if Jacksonville State would want a 12th game since they are still eligible for the FCS playoffs.

It's unlikely the Aggies will make up the game against San Jose State as the Spartans are on track for an appearance in the Dec. 3 Mountain West championship game. In the event the Spartans don't make the championship game, the teams could meet on Dec. 3, but Moccia said the administration wants a guaranteed game rather than a contingency plan.

"It was an unfortunate circumstance what happened with us and San Jose State, but it's bigger than football," NM State defensive lineman Lama Lavea said. "That gave us more time to prepare for UMass. I understand they have had a bye week as well, so they had two weeks to prepare for us.

"I think we worked very hard as a team and a coaching staff. It was unfortunate circumstances that happened to force us to prepare for a new team, but we were itching to play on Saturday."

Lama Lavea and the NMSU players want to get the lost game back, even if it means extending the season the week of Dec. 3. pic.twitter.com/zzYEzsL5Dk  Jason Groves (@JPGroves) October 25, 2022

Can Aggies stop road woes?

The Aggies have lost 21 straight road games entering Saturday's game at 1-6 UMass, a team the Aggies beat last year and enter Saturday as a 2.5 point road favorite.

The last time NM State won a road game was in 2018 at UTEP, but the last non-rivalry road win was in 2017 when the Aggies beat Georgia Southern and Texas State on the road.

"You have to steal games on the road and can't lose at home," Kill said. "I have had some great road teams and a lot of that is maturity and focus.

Juwaun Price hurdles over one of his teammates for large gain against the UMass Minutemen in the Aggies final home game on Saturday.

"Anytime you are on the road, you are seven points down. That's how I look at it. You have to be at your best when you go into someone else's house."

UMass has lost its last four games and its lone win was against FCS Stony Brook. Brown is in his second stint as the head coach at UMass. He was 43-19 at UMass from 2004-08.

"Both teams are the same," Kill said. "(Brown) has to build it up. It's two similar teams playing, but we have to go 4 1/2 hours to do it. It's their Homecoming game. I don't want to have a setback."

Both teams are similar in the fact that they each lean on defense and have struggling offenses. UMass is second to last in FBS in total offense with 243 yards per game and the Aggies are two spots ahead of them at 260 yards per game.

Offensively, UMass quarterback Gino Campiotti is their leading rusher with 380 yards. Running back Ellis Merriweather is their second leading rusher and he gained 168 yards with two touchdowns against the Aggies last year in a 44-27 NM State victory at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

"The have a lot of good skill players with a lot of formations and shifts and motions that are going to play with our eyes," Jackson said. "They want to run the ball with their quarterback. We definitely have to key the quarterback and be weary of his legs. They do a lot of spread and motions to get the quarterback open with different powers and counters."

Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico State football returns to action in road game at Massachusetts
Oct. 25A yearslong effort to sharply increase state investments in early childhood education will culminate Nov. 8 with New Mexico voters' decision on a ballot measure.

Voters will be asked to consider approval of an increase in annual withdrawals from the state's multibillion-dollar Land Grant Permanent Fund that is expected to send a couple of hundred million dollars more to both preschool programs and K-12 public schools.

New Mexico lawmakers approved a resolution in 2021 to place Constitutional Amendment 1 on the ballot following years of failed legislation.

Advocates pushing for the measures cited studies showing the benefits of early childhood programs, including higher academic achievement and graduation rates. But the move faced pushback from Republicans and conservative Democrats in the Legislature who feared it would weaken the land grand endowment, funded by oil and gas fees and investment revenues, which already sends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to public schools and other beneficiaries.

Lawmakers have discussed the possibility of tapping into the investment fund, now valued at more than $26 billion, since at least 2010, when it contained about $10 billion.

Constitutional Amendment 1 would increase yearly distributions by 1.25 percent of the fund's five-year average. Officials' most recent estimates show annual distributions would rise by about $150 million for early childhood education and $100 million for public schools.

Congress also must approve the additional withdrawals. The state's congressional delegates have introduced federal legislation to achieve this.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her Republican opponent, Mark Ronchetti, took opposing sides on the statewide ballot measure during their first gubernatorial debate.

"I campaigned on getting that proposal through the Legislature and before the voters," Lujan Grisham said. "Making sure that we take a small pinch out of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, our endowment fund for education, is critical."

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Ronchetti argued the endowment is a "backstop" for when oil and gas are not major factors in New Mexico's economy and that the proposed amendment would draw it down too quickly.

"You look at where funding is, especially where funding is for early childhood [education], we have enough funds for it right now," he said.

While he said in the debate he would not support the amendment, Ronchetti asked voters who they would trust to spend the money if the amendment is passed.

His campaign did not respond to questions asking for additional comment on his position.

Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Hilario "Larry" Chavez said the amendment would help the local district and the state become more competitive when it comes to hiring qualified educators.

The additional funds also could help Santa Fe's prekindergarten programs grow, he said.

"I think it would go a long way," Chavez said. "At those younger ages, if [kids] receive high-quality education for longer periods of time, they are more successful in school as they start to grow through the grade levels, and the possibilities of them graduating with a high school diploma increase."

He added, "Providing these high-quality programs and being able to fully fund it is key, and it's a game changer."

Allen Sanchez, president of the Catholic nonprofit CHI St. Joseph's Children, has been fighting for additional early childhood education funding for years. He said the passage of Constitutional Amendment 1 could help realize goals he and others have been striving toward for nearly a decade.

His organization began pursuing a constitutional amendment to draw additional funds from the endowment in the early years of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's time in office.

"One of the things that made it attractive was that it did not go to the governor's desk ... and therefore the Legislature could put this on the ballot without Susana Martinez during those eight years that she opposed it," Sanchez said.

He noted the potential benefits if voters approve the measure.

"Children are going to be safer. They're not going to be left with the wrong caregiver. They're going to have high-quality child care. We're going to see a decrease of abuse in children, and we're going to detect the need for counseling intervention earlier ... [and] we're going to have higher graduation rates," Sanchez said. "That's all the hope when this takes place."
Photo: . An ambulance rushes to attend to a call in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside during the city's third heat wave of 2021. During its first heat wave, the neighbourhood had more heat-related emergency room visits than anywhere else in the city.

A major report tracking how climate change is affecting human health has found humanitys failure to ween the planet off fossil fuels is putting the health of all people alive at risk.

The peer-reviewed Lancet Countdown on health and climate change involved dozens of authors tracing climates footprint across 86 countries. They warned the world is facing a confluence of shocks  from the COVID-19 pandemic to Russias invasion of Ukraine, to a global-energy-and cost-of-living crisis  which, together with unabated climate change, is affecting the foundations of human health.

The data shows that no country is safe, said the report.

Over the last year, it pointed to devastating floods across every populated continent on Earth, which cumulatively killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more.

Between the periods 2000-2004 and 2017-2021, heat-related deaths across the planet climbed 68 per cent; in Canada, the death from extreme heat surged by 72 per cent.

The damaging effects of heat can be especially dangerous for young children and seniors: Canadian children under one lived through an average of 440,000 additional person-days of heat waves annually from 2012-2021, compared to 1986-2005, found the study.

Adults over 65 years, meanwhile, experienced 9.3 million more person-days of heat waves per year over that same period.

By 2021, Canadians lost nearly 43 million potential labour hours in a single year due to heat exposure.

Globally, the risk from fire is also growing: Exposure to very-high or extremely-high wildfire danger has increased 61 per cent over a similar period, the report found.

The numbers all point to one conclusion, says the study: Persistent fossil fuel over-dependence is rapidly worsening climate change, leading to dangerous health impacts being felt by people around the world.

Climate can't be separated from disease, war and cost-of-living crisis

The science is getting better. Rapid attribution science has quickly advanced in recent years to allow researchers to understand how much climate change is having on extreme weather. Thats allowed scientists to calculate the impact human influence has had on a number of flooding and extreme heat events over the past two years, including a record heat wave and floods that hit British Columbia in 2021.

But no matter how much we understand its footprint, climate shouldnt be seen in isolation, warn the authors. While extreme weather events make people with underlying conditions more vulnerable, they are also compounded by the rising spread of infectious disease.

Since the 1950s, the length of time suitable for malaria transmission rose by 32.1 per cent in the highland areas of the Americas and 14.9 per cent in Africa. Over the same period, climate change increased the risk of dengue transmission by 12 per cent, according to the report.

Combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of infectious disease due to climate change has led to misdiagnosis, pressure on health systems, and difficulties in managing simultaneous disease outbreaks, the report stated.

Outbreaks of disease have also affected local action on climate change: the COVID-19 pandemic reduced available financing in a third of the nearly 800 cities surveyed.

Outside of cities, climate change is hammering the productivity of global agriculture, adding pressure to supply chain disruptions leftover from the pandemic and the rising cost-of-living crisis.

Take the cost of food  in Canada, the growing season for corn has declined by 18.2 per cent compared to a 1981-2010 baseline. Over that same period, Canadas soybean season has been cut short by 13.8 per cent, while the amount of time farmers can grow spring wheat has declined 11.8 per cent.

$400 billion in fossil fuel subsidies

Despite the cascading effects of a changing climate, 80 per cent of the countries studied were found to have provided a net subsidy to fossil fuel industries, totalling US$400 billion in 2019.

Canada bucked that trend. That year, its price on carbon exceeded the value of its fossil fuel subsidies. That resulted in $1.8 billion in revenue or one per cent of the countrys spending on health care, the report notes.

Almost 50 per cent of domestic energy, however, still comes from fossil fuels. Had Canada done better in 2020, it could have helped prevent the deaths of 1,100 Canadians who died prematurely due to particulate matter from fossil fuel combustion.

Experts say one of the best ways to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality and benefit peoples overall physical and mental health is to redesign urban landscapes to include more green spaces.

But only 277 of 1,038 global urban centres were found to be at least moderately green in 2021. The study categorized two of eight major Canadian urban centres as moderately green or above  neither was in Western Canada.

Meanwhile, the global share of households with air conditioning climbed 66 per cent from 2000 to 2020, what the report calls a maladaptive response that worsens the energy crisis and further increases urban heat, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Michael J. Fox continues to navigate new health challenges amid his 30-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

The Back to the Future star told People magazine that over the last year, "I broke my cheek, then my hand, then my shoulder, had a replacement shoulder put in and broke my [right] arm, then I broke my elbow. I'm 61 years old, and I'm feeling it a little bit more."

Fox admitted, "It got worse," from where he was in 2020  and that period was no picnic. At the time, in addition to the challenges he faces with the neurodegenerative disorder  including tremors, stiffness, cognitive issues and moodiness  he had a risky surgery to remove a benign tumor on his spinal cord. His recovery included learning to walk again. As he was getting back on his feet, he fell and fractured his arm, necessitating another surgery to insert 19 pins and a plate.

"I'm coming through where the last of my injuries are healing up; my arm is feeling good," the Family Ties and Spin City alum said of his current status recovering from injuries on top of injuries. "Life is interesting. It deals you these things."

Fox, who has raised more than $1.5 billion for Parkinson's research through his Michael J. Fox Foundation, said that his "whole mission" now is: "Don't fall down. So whatever works to not fall down, whether it's a walker or a wheelchair, a cane, a guy with a belt around my waist holding onto it  I use all those tools." He was proudly able to walk unassisted across a stage for his recent reunion with Back to the Future co-star Christopher Lloyd earlier this month. He said, "I'm just getting to where I'm walking steadily again."

The article notes that while Parkinson's disease, which Fox was diagnosed with in 1991, affects his movement, his new injuries don't necessarily mean his disease is progressing any faster. It's been bad luck in some cases  for instance, he got an infection after surgery for his broken hand. Then, not being able to use his hand led to falls. It's been a journey  and one that has rocked his optimism.

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"I was never really a cranky guy, but I got very cranky and short with people," Fox said. "I try to nip it in the bud. I always think of these aides who work with me. And I often say to them, 'Whatever I say, just imagine I said "please" at the beginning and "thank you" at the end. Just take a second and absorb that I might have said that if I was more myself, but I didn't, so I apologize.'"

He said it's been challenging for his wife of 34 years, Tracy Pollan.

"It took me a while to get that it wasn't just about me," he said. "If I break my arm, I'm dealing with my broken arm. But if you're the person who lives with and loves and supports the person with the broken arm, you've got to do everything."

But his optimism still shines through despite his challenges.

"It's been a struggle, but I'm happy," he said. "I say that because I hope on some level people can find happiness in spite of what they're going through."

Fox is featured on the cover of the magazine's Kindness issue. Pollan, with whom he shares four children, told the outlet that even during his most difficult days, Fox is "one of the most kind people I've ever met."

Fox officially retired in 2020, saying not being able to speak reliably was a game-breaker. The Good Wife actor said the decision came after he couldn't remember his lines while shooting on the set of Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland.

"I couldn't focus on a line," he said. "I didn't beat myself up. I couldn't do it, so I didn't do it anymore."

That said, you'll continue to see him. He is working on an AppleTV+ documentary due in 2023 about his life. He'll also receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognizing outstanding philanthropic efforts, at the Governors Awards on Nov. 19.
Michael Kopsa, a prolific character and voice actor whose work spanned Beast on X-Men: Evolution to Captain Windmark on Fringe, has died. He was 66.

His ex-wife, actress Lucia Frangione, announced the news on Twitter.

"The great Michael Kopsa, my dear friend and the father of my child, Nora, passed away Oct. 23, 2022, of a brain tumour," Frangione wrote. "He was an incredible stage and screen actor, voice actor, carpenter, musician and painter. Most importantly, he was a loving and richly present father."

Michael Kopsa, (L) Executive Producer J.H. Wyham and Anna Torv attend "Fringe" celebrates 100 episodes and final season at Fairmont Pacific Rim on December 1, 2012 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images for FOX)

Rich Lam/Getty Michael Kopsa

Kopsa was born on Jan. 22, 1956, in Toronto, Ontario, and went on to study acting at New York's Circle in the Square Theater School. After four years there, he returned to his native Canada in 1984 to complete an arts and science degree at the University of Toronto.

He made his professional debut as the English dub voice of Char Aznable in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979. Kopsa would continue to provide voice work for anime and animated series and movies throughout his career, including Dragon Ball Z, Inuyasha, Death Note, Action Man, X-Men: Evolution, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Planet Hulk, and Ninjago. Kopsa also reprised his role as Char Aznable in the Gundam video games.

The great Michael Kopsa, my dear friend and the father of my child, Nora, passed away Oct 23 2022 of a brain tumour. He was an incredible stage and screen actor, voice actor, carpenter, musician and painter. Most importantly, he was a loving and richly present father. pic.twitter.com/R5Q6s3QjGh  Lucia FRANgione (@FrangioneLucia) October 25, 2022

Kopsa made his film debut with 1985's Timing but would find most of his more recognizable roles on television, particularly in genre shows filmed in Canada. He played several characters on the sci-fi anthology series The Outer Limits and guest starred on The X-Files in 1997.

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The Canadian actor appeared in small roles in a number of blockbusters, including 2005's Fantastic Four, 2008's Watchmen, 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Apollo 18. In 2012, he scored a recurring role in the fifth and final season of the Fox sci-fi series Fringe as the evil Captain Windmark.

Over the course of his career, Kopsa racked up some 227 acting credits.

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Melinda Gates, Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney Credit - Getty Images (3)

Michelle Obama, Melinda French Gates, and Amal Clooney appeared on stage together for the first time ever in New York City on Oct. 25 at an event in support of the Obama Foundations Girls Opportunity Alliances Get Her There campaign. There, the three womeneach of whom has a foundation that bears her nameannounced they would collaborate on efforts to advance gender equality and end child marriage.

The Girls Opportunity Alliance, founded by the former First Lady, is a network of community-led organizations that focus on the education and empowerment of young girls in developing countries and the U.S. It launched Get Her There on Oct. 11 as a global call to action to empower and educate adolescent girls around the world.

Read More: Amal Clooney Wont Back Down

Speaking on Tuesday, the women noted a rollback of progress in gender equity in recent years that had afflicted not just young women in poorer countries, but much closer to home. This issue is personal to me, said Obama. I have always seen myself in these girls. She recalled her own childhood: I knew I was smart. I knew I was capable. But I also knew that I lived in a community that wasnt necessarily willing to invest in my greatness. So we have to change that paradigm and we have to do it fast. Because when girls dont learn we all suffer.

Clooney, a co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, noted that more than 100 million girls were out of school, and 10 million a year were being forced into marrying too young. Who knows how many of the 10 million could have gone on to find the cure for cancer or lead a country? she asked. And then its the next generation. What kind of mother can [a woman] be if she has five or six kids by the end of her teens?

Obama spoke of her own self-doubt and said it persisted to this day. Society intentionally does that to women and girls. It starts at a very early age, she said. There are people with power who want us to stay small, they want us to stay doubtful.

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French Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that girls need to know its fine for them as adults to marry or not, to have children or not, and to work outside the home or notbut, crucially, it should be up to them. One of the shared values that we have on stage is, how do we make sure that girls become the women they want to be? she said. And when we get them fully to where they want to be in society, they will actually change society at large.

Through the collaboration, the three women will participate in joint advocacy and work together to scale and expand each organizations programming around the world. I am so grateful that Melinda and Amaltwo of the worlds most compelling and influential leaders for gender equityare teaming up with the Girls Opportunity Alliance to help remove the barriers that stand in the way of every girl getting the opportunities she deserves, Obama said.

The triumvirates appearance was kept quiet ahead of time with most media being told only that French Gates would be present. They shared some family anecdotes with Clooney saying that her 5-year-old son recently drew a prison and announced it was for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and French Gates recalling that one of her daughters hadat a similar agetold a doll that she was going to look after it, because it had HIV/AIDS.

Read More: How We Chose the 2022 Women of the Year

In a room dominated by donors, the former First Lady told guests that despite the firepower on stage, they still needed financial or popular support. I dont want you to look upon this stage and say, Oh, Michelle, Amal, oh, they got it, Obama said. This issue is complex. We do not have it. Were not here because well fix it and you guys can just go about your merry way. We are living through that kind of apathy, complacency, and lack of engagement.
Microsoft reported its slowest quarterly revenue growth in five years. Kena Betancur/VIEWpress/Corbis/Getty Images

Microsoft posted on Tuesday its first-quarter revenue of $50.1 billion for the fiscal first quarter.

It was Microsoft's slowest quarterly revenue growth in five years.

CFO Amy Hood warned of an additional $800 million in energy costs this fiscal year.

The global energy crisis is expected to impact even big tech, with Microsoft saying on Tuesday that escalating energy prices are expected to eat into its profits.

The tech giant is expecting to incur over $800 million in additional energy costs this year, which is likely to bring its operating margins down, Amy Hood, the CFO of Microsoft, said on the company's fiscal first-quarter earnings call, according to a transcript.

Microsoft on Tuesday posted first-quarter revenues of $50.1 billion  an 11% increase from a year ago, which beat analysts' expectations of $49. billion  also, the company's slowest growth rate in five years.

While some of the additional energy costs have already been incurred in the company's first quarter which ended on September 30, most of the cost is expected to be incurred through the rest of the fiscal year, said Hood.

"A lot of it is in Europe," Hood said, referring to where the expenditure is expected to be incurred, per Bloomberg. "And it's not just for the winter."

Energy costs have been on the up since end-2020, as demand rebounded on the easing of pandemic restrictions. The prices rose even more after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, due to fears of supply disruption and sanctions, as Russia is a major energy exporter.

Europe is particularly impacted by the developments, because it is reliant on Russia, which has halted natural-gas deliveries to the continent, via the key Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

Benchmark US crude oil futures are about 13% higher this year so far, while international benchmark Brent crude oil futures are up about 20% in the period. Meanwhile, benchmark European natural-gas futures have gained over 50% year-to-date.

Microsoft shares fell 6.7% to $234 apiece in after-hours trade on Tuesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The local journalists moderating the only debate between Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman and his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz may have given the GOP candidate, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, a bit of status anxiety during their Tuesday night sparring session.

Television reporters Dennis Owens of ABC27 and Lisa Sylvester of Pittsburghs WPXI both spent the entire debate referring to the ex-Columbia University medical school instructor as Mr Oz, rather than with the honourific Doctor, as would ordinarily be customary for a person with a medical degree.

While a physician whose specialty is surgery would be properly referred to as mister in the UK and some other countries, medical doctors in the US are typically called doctor no matter their specialty.

While the moderators decision to eschew the medical honourific for the GOP candidate may be a surprise to people familiar with him from his years hosting the syndicated television programme The Dr Oz Show, it is consistent with other local news outlets style guides, which instruct journalists to call him mister because his medical degree isnt relevant.

For example, the Philadelphia Inquirer instructs journalists not to use it for anyone with the title, whether they are a medical doctor or have a doctorate in a nonmedical field, to avoid complaints of unequal treatment from individuals who worked hard to achieve doctorates in nonmedical fields.

Only the subjects of obituaries, and late the Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr are permitted as exceptions.
More than 1,000,000 Georgians have headed to the polls to cast their votes early, smashing midterm election records.

Election officials confirmed the milestone was passed on Tuesday afternoon. They say by next weekend, there could be as many as 2,000,000 early votes cast.

Channel 2s Richard Elliot was at one of the busiest early voting sites in Atlanta on Tuesday: the C.T. Martin Recreation Center on MLK Dr. There were no long lines, but there were a steady stream of voters casting their ballots.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Many of the early voters say they wanted to escape long lines on Election Day.

Tammy Ezzard drove her 84-year-old mother, Gwendolyn Clay, up from College Park so they could cast their votes. Ezzard said her mother stressed the importance of voting to her from a young age.

That was a must. My mother, when my brother and I turned 18, you didnt have a choice. You had to vote, Clay said.

During a news conference at the State Capitol, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that 1,000,000 voters is the largest turnout in a non-presidential election that the state has ever seen, and its only a little more than a week into the early voting period.

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Interim Deputy Secretary Gabe Sterling said massive campaign advertising by both parties is driving people to the poll.

What were seeing, essentially, is high turnout every single day across all demographics, across the state. There are several counties that have already crossed the threshold of the number of votes cast in the 2018 election, Sterling said.

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Channel 2 reached out to Raffenspergers Democratic challenger Bee Nguyen. She released a statement that read, in part, We should always celebrate record turnout, and its clear that Georgians understand this is a consequential election.

She went on to criticize Georgias election integrity law by saying it was predicated on the big lie and conspiracy theories.

IN OTHER NEWS:
The Military Spouse Employment Partnership Program welcomed more than 70 new employers Tuesday, bringing the total number of partners looking specifically to hire military spouses to more than 600.

Its a diverse new group that includes Garmin International, Great Clips, Hunt Companies, Winn Companies, TD Bank and TIAG, as well as the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, Save the Children, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the University of Dayton and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, to name a few.

This is the 11th year of the DoD Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Since last October, more than 40,000 military spouses have been hired through the program our largest hiring level ever, said Gilbert Cisneros, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, during the ceremony. More than 250,000 military spouses have been connected to employment opportunities in corporate and federal spaces, across all industry sectors, under the DoD MSEP program, he said. The program began in the Army and was expanded in 2011 DoD-wide.

As of Oct. 25, there were 607,117 active job listings on the MSEP portal seeking military spouses.

Defense officials are launching another initiative, said Eddy Mentzer, a military spouse who is associate director of Military Community Support Programs and manager of the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program. Beginning Oct. 31, 30 employers will become part of a new MSEP Small Business program recognizing the opportunities that businesses in military-impacted communities present for our military spouse community, he said. Thats in addition to an initiative he announced earlier in which DoD will fund a spouse fellowship program, placing spouses into 12-week paid fellowship positions with the goal of spouse becoming employed full time at the end of their experience. That program, starting in January, is called DoDs Military Spouse Career Accelerator Program.

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Expanding spouse employment is a priority of the department, Cisneros said.

MSEP is helping to eliminate the barriers military spouses have faced for decades, Cisneros said, as he urged the employers to spread the word to other businesses about the talent pool of military spouses.

The employers undergo a robust vetting process by defense officials before they become partners in the program, Cisneros said. The new partners join an elite group that opens you to the military spouse community and the diverse skills they offer, he said.

During the ceremony, a representative of each new partner signed a poster affirming their commitment.

That commitment includes recruiting, hiring, promoting and, most importantly, retaining our military spouses, said Patricia Patty Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, and a military spouse for more than 30 years. She noted that military spouses typically move every two, three or four years, and their unemployment rate hovers around 21%, much higher than in the civilian community.

At each step along the way of her familys more than a dozen moves, she said, I relied on my own creativity and resilience, along with the generosity of employers who recognized my value as a military spouse. I do owe my employers so much because of their ability to support me and be flexible with my needs.

Some employers in the MSEP partnership have created military spouse-friendly leave policies or programs to transfer jobs as they make PCS moves, she said. Some have launched internal fellowship programs.

Are military spouse employment programs working?

Linda Gilday, wife of the chief of naval operations (who attended the ceremony with her), thanked the new partners for their commitment and said they are making a considerable difference to military families. Gildays career in infrastructure management has spanned 40 years across the corporate, federal and nonprofit sectors  and across 19 military moves.

She told the employers they are opening the door to a very qualified group of committed, adaptive, resilient ancd creative group of men and women. Theyre educated and trained. Theyre just what you need.

Gilday encouraged military spouses to remain strong, keep looking, keep networking and try to do what you can to keep your professional growth going.

If you have to move off track a little bit to move into a new organization, Im sure that these new MSEP partners are more than happy to talk to you about that. 

Im encouraged by the momentum you have going, all the partnerships youre forming, and Im excited for the spouses out there as well, she said. As military spouses, we all want to make a difference.

All the spouses out there are serving in their own way, being a spouse to the partner who is serving. But we also want to have our own careers and our own opportunities to grow professionally in our private lives.
RABAT, Morocco (AP)  A rapper arrested in Morocco earlier this week on accusations of incitement to drug consumption, violence, and defamation was released on bail Wednesday pending a trial, according to his lawyer.

Taha Fahssi, known as ElGrandeToto, was detained late Monday after legal complaints were filed against him by musicians, a journalist, and a police officer.

The Casablanca-based rapper, 26, became a household figure in the Moroccan rap scene when he released his debut album, Cameleon, in 2021. The 17-song album garnered mixed reviews but achieved significant popularity on Spotify, making him the most searched Arab artist in the Middle East-North Africa region on the streaming platform.

Over the years, Toto has pushed boundaries. He appeared on Instagram while smoking hashish and flaunting his numerous tattoos. He filmed himself drunkenly carrying a bottle of alcohol at one of his gigs. This caused widespread criticism and condemnation among Moroccans, with many believing that his actions set a bad example for his audience, mainly children.

Then, speaking at a press conference last month during a music festival held in honor of the city of Rabat being named the capital of African culture, the rapper bragged publicly about his hashish use.

I smoke hashish, so what? he replied defiantly to a question asked by a journalist. Do I get it from somewhere else? No! he added. Its just around the corner. We are barely 300 kilometers away from the source of cannabis, and its well known worldwide. People come here from all around the world to smoke it. 

A few hours later, Toto used profanity at his show in Rabat, drawing more criticism.

Cannabis has been cultivated in Morocco for centuries and the country is one of the worlds biggest cannabis producers, but cannabis use is illegal in Morocco and across the region.

The rapper later expressed regret during a press conference. He said that his comments about hashish and his use of coarse language onstage had been misinterpreted.

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I apologize to everyone, including the general public, the families who were there, the police, and the organizers. We are not bad people. We perform rap. Rap is not bad. It has a specific language," he said.

Despite the apology, Moroccans attacked Toto via social media. Belgium-based Moroccan journalist Mohamed Tijini accused him of encouraging drug consumption in a concert organized by the Ministry of Culture and paid for with taxpayers money.

Toto fired back on Instagram, allegedly threatening to liquidate and take revenge on the journalist. Tijini then filed a lawsuit against Toto for defamation, insults, death threats, and breach of public morality.

Three other Moroccan musicians and a police officer followed suit and filed complaints against the rapper, accusing him of defamation, threats, insults, slander, attacks on honor, and exposure of facts and secrets linked to peoples private lives through social media without their consent.

After hearing these complaints, the prosecution at a Casablanca court decided on Monday to take Toto into police custody.

The musicians Abdelouahab Doukali, Abdallah Issami, and Moulay Ahmed Alaoui later dropped their complaints.

Last year, the Moroccan parliament passed a law that allows farmers in the northern regions of the country to grow cannabis for medicinal, commercial, and industrial purposes. The first 10 permits for the use of legal cannabis were issued earlier this month.
A woman whose incarcerated son died is suing the Missouri Department of Corrections, alleging the state agency is withholding information she has a right to access under open records laws.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court.

LeVaughn D. James, 45, was convicted of stealing in 2018 and sentenced to four years in a St. Charles County case.

On May 22, he was discovered unresponsive at Northeast Correctional Center in Bowling Green.

Two days later, his mother Mary James contacted a corrections caseworker and was told he had been transferred to medics, but given no other information, according to the lawsuit.

On May 26, a corrections official told her that he had gotten ahold of some K2, the lawsuit said. The drug is a synthetic cannabinoid.

Mary James was also informed that her son was at a St. Louis hospital. She drove there the next day and a cardiologist told her he had been on a ventilator for several days.

He died June 1.

Mary James filed four open records requests seeking information about the departments policies and her sons death, including video footage from around the time he was found unresponsive, his medical records, and autopsy and toxicology reports.

The lawsuit claims that the department of corrections violated open records law in three of the four requests. It also argues she should get records because she is a first-degree family member, as defined by state statute.

This lawsuit is about transparency, and a mothers right to know what happened to her son, said Brandon Jackson, staff attorney at ArchCity Defenders, which filed the suit along with the ACLU of Missouri. The Missouri Sunshine Law exists to keep the public informed about governmental affairs.

According to the lawsuit, more than 1,900 prisoners have overdosed while in Missouri Department of Corrections custody since May 2017. The departments investigations of these matters are compromised, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit seeks an order to provide the requested documents, a $5,000 civil penalty for each of the three alleged records violations and attorney fees.

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The Missouri Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment.

As of Oct. 17, 107 prisoners have died in Missouri prisons, a 25% increase compared to the same time last year. Its also more than the total number of annual deaths in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

In 2020, amid major COVID outbreaks, a total of 129 people died. This year is on pace to exceed 2020s rate.
I have found the secret to immortality.

Or at least to reading with everlasting interest, to holding a smile on your face and leaning forward in your seat, while being asked the best question a book can ask: What happens next? My secret is: scary books. For here is a well so inky you cant see the bottom, a library where serious and silly share a shelf with every big fear you have ever avoided in yourself. Reading scary books can return you to your youth, and point a long, skeletal finger toward your future. It is both the coziest reading, and least comforting.

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Gather round.

Feel that bite in the air?

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I have a tale to horrify and delight, at the same time, a story of cannibalism, giant owls, suburban demons and pumpkin-headed killers, of technology stalking Pilsen gentrifiers and childhood haunts unnerving Humboldt Park. A dark harvest falls upon us, children.

Yet first, to set the stage, a morbid note:

Stephen King, now 75, will die. I mean, someday. So will I. So will you. After 50 years of books -- as much I would like to bury him in a pet cemetery and get another 50 -- mortality, the great subject of every horror writer, awaits. It has already found Peter Straub, who died last month at 79; Anne Rice, who died last year at 80; and even Waldenbooks (1933-2011), the mall chain where King, Rice and Straub once ruled the horror section.

The good news is, to quote Shirley Jackson  whose Haunting of Hill House (1959) has long been the Moby-Dick of horror literature  When we die, we turn into stories; and every time someone tells one of those stories, its like were still here for them. The better news is, horror lit is very ALIVE! Some even say its experiencing a golden age of creativity, popularity and fresh blood.

Author Cynthia Pelayo attends the Haunted Library literary event at the Glen Ellyn Public Library Oct. 21, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Were in a horror lit renaissance right now, said Chicago horror novelist Cynthia Pelayo. There was a horror paperback boom in the 80s. This is different. Theres too much smart stuff to keep up with. The people of color and LGBTQ+ writers entering the genre alone are remarkable.

Stephen Graham Jones, among the contemporary best-sellers of the genre (and a member of the Blackfeet tribe of Montana), said, The audience and critical establishment are now seeing horror in a conversation with the world. I owe some of it to the film Get Out and (Victor LaValles 2016 genre deconstruction) The Ballad of Black Tom, but the overall point is welcome: There was a sense that horror writers and fans were speaking only to themselves, and now, lately, horror literature is reminding everyone else that this writing can also matter.

Its relevance is screaming.

When the reality in a supernatural story feels more real than the times you are living though, you know the moment is ripe. Unreal stories for unreal times.

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The long-held cornerstone currency of horror  hate, a declining environment, ambiguity about the future  are now everyday conversation. Mainstream literary authors who would never be confused with horror now dabble. Many of its best-loved stars are women, Black authors, queer writers. A casual flip through BookTok  the vast book lovers wing of TikTok  is often just a litany of what horror novels everyone is reading these days. Barnes & Noble recently added a horror section to many stores. Talk to other book sellers and the idea that horror is something to be marketed in October is less of a thing today, said Javier Ramirez, co-owner of the Exile in Bookville book store on Michigan Avenue. A lot of these books would be overstock by the winter, and now its our stock year round. Then he adds: But really, this is all because the quality is soaring  the best of this stuff is better written than the books were supposed to call literary fiction.

Becky Spratford of the American Library Association attends the Haunted Library literary event at the Glen Ellyn Public Library Oct. 21, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

On a recent fall evening, just before Halloween, Becky Spratford  the nexus of all horror lit these days, said Daniel Kraus, a horror novelist from Evanston  stood just inside the doors of the Glen Ellyn Public Library. A reader adviser from La Grange who works occasionally for the Chicago-based American Library Association, she is tasked with training library staffs to connect their customers with the right books. She does not shy from suggesting horror. Indeed, this night, she welcomed dozens of families, who spilled through the library doors, waiting for a tour of the second floor, transformed into one-scene horror plays performed by Glenbard West High School theater students.

Each tiny act  with the exception of the blood-bucket prom scene from Kings Carrie  came from contemporary horror. It was charming and odd, like horror plays by Wes Anderson. It was also a kind of physical manifestation of what Spratford has long held:

Horror lit isnt actually getting better, she said, the quality has been there. Its just creeping toward the mainstream right now. Publishing data, she argues, suggests book buyers are looking to softer reads and scary reads. The world is a dumpster fire, so we want to escape into something pleasant, or much worse, which can appear refreshing.

Spratford herself was a light horror reader for years, mostly sticking to Gen-X totems like Stephen King and V.C. Andrews. But for the past 20 years shes been evangelical for the genre, becoming secretary of the Horror Writers Association and a rallying point for young authors. Still, shes not so naive to think all of this translates into genuine respect.

Glenbard West High School student actor Bella DiCosola performs in a scene from Stephen King's novel, "Carrie," during the Haunted Library literary event at the Glen Ellyn Public Library Oct. 21, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

She recalls chatting with a woman next to her on a recent plane trip. Occupations came up and Spratford explained that she specialized in horror literature. The two sat in awkward silence for the rest of the flight. You want to scream, The Mark Twain American Voice for Literature Award last year went to Stephen Graham Jones! For a horror novel (The Only Good Indians)! Shouldnt that legitimize this? This isnt top-of-the-hill writing, this is where some of the best American writing is being found right now.

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As a child there was nothing scarier to me than the metal spinner rack at my neighborhood drugstore. It held horror novels, and since this was the late 1970s-early 1980s, lurid covers offered cracked dolls, skeleton nurses, snarling pigs, satanic altars and nude women bowing to demons, with crimson fonts, cover illustrations perfect for a 77 Chevy van and subtle titles like Eat Them Alive, Satans Mistress and Girl Next Door (beside an image of an undead cheerleader, of course). Trash, King, Straub and Dean Koontz was horror literature to me. It would take years before I realized Dracula and Frankenstein  never mind, The Exorcist and Rosemarys Baby  had literary precedents. In fact, even as I read wider and got older, and as much as I liked King, English ghost stories and Shirley Jackson, my assumption was the genre was shallow, the classics already read and great new stuff a rare occurrence.

But I was the shallow one.

This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno (Oct. 12, 2021). (MCD x FSG Originals )

Gus Moreno, whose 2021 novel This Thing Between Us has been a sleeper hit (and the first book that Ramirez sold more than 100 copies of at the new Exile in Bookville), grew up in Pilsen and Bridgeport and now lives in Brookfield. He was a Goosebumps reader, not even a King reader. I just wanted to be a literary fiction writer, period, he said. I didnt really even think of myself as a fan of horror books. But whenever I wrote a short story, a serial killer would work his way into the narrative, or random weird things would get included. Maybe, I thought, this was my lane all along? There were certain expectations  mainly, to horrify  otherwise, it was the Wild West. No joke: This Thing Between Us takes what could be the dumbest premise  a Pilsen condo haunted by a malevolent Siri-like smart speaker  and delivers a moving twist on grief and mourning.

When he finally got around to catching up to stuff like The Silence of the Lambs, hed wonder: How come nobody ever talks about something like this as a horror novel?

Its a good question, and a lesson in labels.

Horror literature died for a while, said Grady Hendrix, whose lightly satiric horror novels My Best Friends Exorcism and The Final Girls Support Group have been contemporary horror hits. It died in the 90s, after Silence of the Lambs. They were marketed as psychological thrillers but also, often super misogynistic, focusing on torture. Good stuff was written, but way too many bad books, and the genre developed a reputation as gore porn. It deserved it. I remember when I sold my first novel, my mom was so excited, then I told her it was horror and the light faded from her eyes.

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The groundswell of respect that many critics and writers are now seeing feels akin to the newfound gravitas being granted to science-fiction novels  or at least literary fiction with speculative plots. The smartest thing that science-fiction people did was adopt The Handmaids Tale as their own, Hendrix said. Horror had been taking some notes there and laid claim to Shirley Jackson, and now Toni Morrisons Beloved  which is unquestionably a ghost story. Thats maybe the thing that cracks the cellar door and lets outsiders feel its no shame to read this if someone like Toni Morrison was working in it.

The result is, Youre seeing more big publishers playing with horror than they had in decades, said Kelly Lonesome, executive editor of Nightfire, an imprint of Tor, a genre press and division of Macmillan. Nightfire, the first horror-centered imprint from a major publishing house, began releasing books last year and already has hits, including What Moves the Dead, a clever reworking of Poes The Fall of the House of Usher. But the big difference has been who is being published  we have people of color and queer voices taking on H.P. Lovecraft in books that would have made the master himself explode.

Responding specifically to the innate racism in Lovecrafts stories  early 20th-century pulp tales of cosmic horror and godlike monsters that became a foundation for the genre (including King)  has become nearly its own subgenre of contemporary horror.

Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle (Feb. 16, 2016). (Tor)

LaValle, whose Ballad of Black Tom revisited Lovecraft from the vantage of a Black character, revealing depths only hinted by Lovecraft himself, said: I love a good monster, but every one of my books is really about me working out something about myself. Im through wrestling with Lovecrafts racism, and now Im planning a book continuing that story, wrestling with Lovecrafts sexism, but also with my own sexism.

If cultural change starts at the fringe, said Kraus, horror has become our bellwether for probing reactions. Of course, the supernatural has long been a vehicle for metaphor, used by Edith Wharton in her short stories, Henry James in The Turn of the Screw, Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol. But whatever validity was to be acquired from those classics never quite attached to the genre itself. Tananarive Due, a former columnist for the Miami Herald, signed her first book contract in the mid 90s not because she was writing horror but because she was a Black author in the wake of Terry McMillan. Her first novel, The Between, now a genre landmark, told the story of a family man haunted (maybe) by a dead aunt.

As an undergraduate at Northwestern University, she remembers classmates looking aghast when, in a writing class, she said her favorite writers were Toni Morrison and Stephen King. Later, even as an adult with a career, I hesitated telling my parents, who were civil rights activists, I had embraced being a horror writer. They had earned a hard-won respect. And they were dismissive of horror. Would it bring shame on my family? Eventually, she decided, The existential dread at the root of this genre takes so many forms. Its not a surprise that culturally aware horror is big right now. A lot of us remember our first horror as being that realization that our lives didnt matter as much as someone with light skin.

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LaValle started his career as a well-received author of literary realism before deciding: I had grown up on horror, and yet now I wasnt enjoying myself terribly much as a writer. He found horror a better fit with his often historically-minded ideas. America, after all, a relatively young country, feels disproportionally haunted, defined partly by crimes many would prefer undiscussed. On some level, Im using horror to try and understand a country that I love and sometimes hate -- but also loves and hates me.

Glenbard West High School student actors Zacorey Snyder, left, and Eli Contreras perform a scene from author Daniel Kraus's novel, "The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch," during the Haunted Library literary event at the Glen Ellyn Public Library Oct. 21, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Holding up horror as a national mirror is a long tradition.

The great Universal monsters of the 1930s crawled out of the Great Depression. In the 1950s, fear of atomic power gave us enormous mutated insects and Godzilla, while the paranoia of the decade led to parables like The Thing and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the latter now shorthand for an existential conformity. As the dream of American safety vanished in the 1970s, serial killer stories proliferated. If the 21st century has taught anything, its that theres plenty of fresh hell left: Virtual reality. The feeling that your life, and body, is not your own. A fear of seeing your very identity hacked. Mental-health breakdowns, loneliness, nukes, environmental collapse. Pandemic isolation, or worse, too many people. Polarization. The fear of the neighbor you thought you knew. Social media itself, with its innumerable dead members and ads that stalk us online, has become the worlds haunted communal graveyard.

Horror lit, like resurgent horror films, stepped up.

Maureen Kilmer, a Wheaton-based author of self-described book club-y womens fiction, remade herself this year with Suburban Hell, published by Putnam, a division of Penguin Random House. I was a little burned out and had this story about suburban insanity, just ridiculous things that happen in my own neighborhood. And then I threw a demon in there. She thinks of herself as one of the few suburban moms doing this. She sees horror as a mutable form, perfect not only for writing about the well-deserved stereotypes of suburbia, but positive friendships, too. Her next book will also be horror.

Authors like this  borderline genre blenders, Spratford calls them  are giving the genre a lot of mainstream steam, wearing supernatural elements and existential dread to various degrees. Chicago writer Julia Fines 2021 novel, The Upstairs House, merged ghosts with postpartum depression. The best-seller Mexican Gothic brings the supernatural to a 1950s Mexico-set Jane Eyre. The memoirist known as Casanova Frankenstein recounts his South Side childhood in the excellent new graphic novel, How to Make a Monster, using a dreamlike scrim of werewolf teens and predatory institutions. Sing, Unburied, Sing, Jesmyn Wards 2017 National Book Award winner, placed ghosts alongside flesh and blood. George Saunders 2017 Booker Prize winner Lincoln in the Bardo was mostly all ghosts. Babysitter, the disturbing new novel by Joyce Carol Oates  so prolific, horror is like a side practice for the author  is based on the 1970s Oakland County Child Killer in Michigan. Devil in the White City and Shining Girls, which retell Chicago history through its own serial killers, are horror in all but name.

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When The Hunger, Alma Katsus lightly speculative retelling of the Donner Party, was released in 2018, I was as surprised as anyone to find out that I was a horror writer. I had never even discussed the book as horror with my publisher. Its now considered a contemporary horror classic, adding a flesh-craving disease and man-beast killers to those infamous Midwest settlers itinerary of woes.

I guess I just think we dont need to create pretend monsters in these books, she said.

Many other dedicated horror writers, however, recall being told they were too horror for a big publisher, or too thoughtful to qualify as horror. But Lonesome at Nightfire sees horror morphing into more of a flavor placed on another genre now. In other words, horror not as a genre but an outlook, tone  too pliable to contain itself. So many of the best contemporary horror writers  Brian Evenson, Carmen Maria Machado, John Langan, still with independent publishers, long the home of horror  have veer so confidently toward the literary, character-driven and introspective, bookstores now shelve them alongside the general fiction. Kevin Lucia, an editor at horror publisher Cemetery Dance, sees this new horror writer as very much postmodern, versed in classics, with a sense of where the genre has been.

But if they share anything, its Stephen King.

Hes the starting point for so many of us, said Andy Davidson, a Georgia writer whose 2020 novel The Boatmans Daughter and new book The Hollow Kind read like King filtered through Southern Gothic notes of Faulkner. (Horror) is the genre that brought most of us to books in the first place. Its a first love, and I remain committed. To sprucing up the old place, you might add. The Hollow Kind begins like a campfire story about a probably haunted house set back inside of a dark woods, only to settle into a tale of how crimes of our ancestors inform the present, right down to the very soil. The past is never past.

In fact, its tentacles are moving up your leg.

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Cynthia Pelayo wants her ashes scattered in the Humboldt Park lagoon. Someday. She was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Hermosa, near Logan Square. Her horror novels  especially her most recent, Children of Chicago, about the Pied Piper of fairy tale fame, demanding a sacrifice in Chicago blood  are full of Chicago history, but also a palpable ache. They read like a way to process violence. Because straight realism was too much for me to handle, she said. Poverty was part of my childhood. Gangs were around. My high school class started with 1,200 and graduated 300. So I gravitated to fairy tales.

That is, stories where love and hate, horror and comfort, share a familiar fence.

Stephen Graham Jones knows this urge. Many of his characters are Indigenous, in a genre where we were devices, the source of Indian graveyards, the exposition when a main character doesnt understand something so they found a native at the edge of town to explain, then dispose of. That might not seem dangerous, but it is. And so, you recognize the genre, and then you come in with your hammer and nails.

Its this loving ambivalence  this contradictory need, as Spratford puts it, to hug then throw the middle finger at what came before  thats freshened up horror lit, and is now moving it beyond the long, still viable shadow of the King. Today, to play around here is to stumble on a musty old mansion populated with a lot of young talent (including Joe Hill, Kings son), and forgotten classics, international discoveries and much-loved pulp. Its hard to see in here. Its way too dark. Some rooms have been pulled apart and reassembled, but light a candle, and on these walls, there, stories of bad parenting and hate groups and family secrets and political oppression and rotting torsos that crumble at a touch and vomit out maggots.

Sorry.

Ray Bradbury, that speculative Waukegan visionary  whose collection of horror stories, The October Country, just received a posterity-minded reissue from Library of America  put this feeling much nicer: While our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age or death, it can revitalize us amid it all.

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cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
This article originally appeared on Outside

Two weeks ago, I fired up Netflix, and a preview for the new docuseries Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake flashed across the screen. The snippet showed a mountaineer standing precariously on a rickety ladder in the Khumbu Icefall, and as a consumer of all things Everest, I immediately clicked through and binged the film's three episodes. As the story unfolded, I saw that there was a balancing act of a different nature at play in the film. While Aftershock is marketed as the latest Everest documentary, the film attempts to tell a story that is much larger than the world's highest peak.

Aftershock documents the horror and devastation caused by the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal that left nearly 9,000 people dead and an estimated 2.5 million homeless. It tackles the question of what happens when millions of people are instantaneously placed in survival situations--do they look out for one another or themselves? Mount Everest, and the avalanche that devastated Base Camp, is of course a chapter in this story. But Aftershock also takes viewers into crumbling buildings in downtown Kathmandu, and high into devastated villages on the other side of the country, to tell a broader story of the disaster.

I recently spoke to British filmmaker Olly Lambert, Aftershock's director, and he said that he and the film's producers constantly weighed how much attention to give the Everest mountaineers, and how much to give to other storylines. "Literally, from day one of the production, the question we asked was how can we ensure that this huge disaster taking place in the Indian subcontinent is not framed as a load of white people bleating about their holiday going wrong," Lambert says. "You could make an entire film about the discussions we had about the title alone."

Some of the film's best scenes play out in Kathmandu. (Photo: Courtesy Netflix)

Complete coverage of a disaster of this size and scope in one film is, of course, impossible. The directors and producers tackle this lofty goal by weaving together three separate survival stories, set in three different locations, that all contain eerily similar elements of terror, sadness, and controversy. The title card tips you off that one of these stories focuses on the climbers and guides who are preparing to ascend Mount Everest when the earthquake hits on the morning of April 25, 2015. Another story is set in the remote Langtang Valley, an off-the-beaten-path destination for trekkers, and it centers on three Israeli hikers and the villagers they meet along the way. The third (and most tear-jerking) story takes place in a hotel in Kathmandu, operated by a reformed (and self-described) Nepalese gangster and his wife and children.

These stories are told through interviews with the people who survived, and with amazing footage captured at each location. There's also some dramatic reenactment to recreate moments that were lost in time.

The team spoke to a Nepalese researcher who showed them how the 22 deaths at Base Camp generated nearly 50 percent of all international headlines about the earthquake itself, and how this disparity in storytelling obfuscated the true size and scope of the disaster. "As filmmakers, we didn't want to fall into the same trap," Lambert says. "We were always wrestling with how to balance Everest with what happened elsewhere."

But Lambert and others also knew that the general public's fascination with Everest would likely suck in viewers who might otherwise skip a film about the Nepalese fight for survival. There was the need to "get bums in seats," as Lambert says, which also loomed large.

Western hikers fight for survival in the new Netflix film. (Photo: Courtesy Netflix)

Plus, another pragmatic reason made the Everest storyline important: actual footage of the quake. Multiple documentary film crews at Base Camp filmed the avalanche and its aftermath with high-definition cameras. The film's producers had a glut of footage to choose from, and the clips they included show the helplessness that everyone in Base Camp must have felt watching the plume of debris speed toward them. The rain of ice and rocks devastated the camp, killing 22 people, the most fatalities in one event in the history of Everest expeditions.

One poignant series of scenes shows Kiwi mountaineer Dave McKinley in the moments after the avalanche, as he radios climbers higher up in Base Camp to try and assess the damage. "It just so happened that, in the minutes after the quake, a documentary cameraman picked up his incredibly high-quality 4K camera. He had a sound recordist, too, and they just shot the scene," Lambert says. "You actually see it in Dave's eyes when he realizes what is going on. He takes a deep breath, says 'OK, Roger that,' and then he kicks into gear. If I was trying to stage it, I couldn't have shot it better."

The mountain has plenty of footage from the peak. (Photo: Courtesy Netflix)

Lambert and his crew spent nearly a year trying to decide on the two other storylines to pursue. They worked with Nepalese producers to compile a list of narratives to follow, and then whittled them down based on a variety of factors, including access to filmed footage or photography. Lambert says he wanted to pursue a storyline from the quake's epicenter in the Gorkha District, but no footage of the drama survived. The crew instead was drawn to stories coming from the Langtang Valley and the devastation around Langtang Village. Most mainstream media had overlooked the drama around the Israeli hikers, Lambert says, but rumors circulated within the community about the trio of outsiders and how they had nearly triggered an international incident. (Outside did cover what happened in Langtang Valley in a 2015 feature.)

The Israeli trekkers came upon Langtang Village--a town where they had slept just a few nights before--and discovered that a rockslide had buried the town's buildings and killed most of its inhabitants. I won't spoil what happens, but let's just say that the three trekkers make a blunder that places them in a seemingly life-or-death conflict with the town's survivors. "We tracked down the main characters from what happened on that day, and they were all up for talking about it," Lambert says. "One group of tourists did something that was clearly seen as a transgression, and they paid a price for it. It seemed to echo a lot of the tensions that were playing out on Everest at the same time."

In the Kathmandu story, the efforts to save survivors buried in the rubble become a race against the clock, as well as a socio-political battle between foreign rescue crews and those from Nepal.

Ultimately, this is a film about people operating in a survival situation. (Photo: Courtesy Netflix)

In my opinion, this project could have jettisoned any reference to Mount Everest and still been a compelling watch. As a viewer, I tried to put myself in each person's shoes to ask myself how I would have reacted amid such an extreme situation. Would I have been altruistic, or would I have sought some advantage in the survive-or-die scenario? Lambert says that dynamic, ultimately, is what the film is all about--not just an avalanche in the Himalayas.

"Yes, the series we've made is about an earthquake," he says. "But it's really about these people, and how they were changed, and how they were revealed by their actions and behaviors. Something inside of them came out."

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
Ruth Codd in Netflix's

Ruth Codd in Netflix's "The Midnight Club." (Photo: Illustration: Chris McGonigal/HuffPost; Photos: Netflix)

Ill be honest: When I first learned about Netflixs new horror series The Midnight Club, I was nervous. As a wheelchair user myself, one might think I would be excited to see a character using a power wheelchair prominently displayed in the promotional images  but Ive learned to assume the worst when it comes to disability representation in the media.

I was intrigued to learn that the showrunners of The Midnight Club deliberately avoided the practice of cripping up (that is, casting able-bodied actors in disabled roles on stage or screen). Instead, the character of Anya is played by Ruth Codd, an Irish actor and amputee who previously made a name for herself discussing everything from disability to her work as a barber on TikTok.

Created by Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong and based on Christopher Pikes 1994 YA novel series, The Midnight Club follows a group of teens with terminal diagnoses who decide to spend the final months of their lives at Brightcliffe, an unconventional hospice near Seattle. Instead of devoting their lives to fighting for expensive cures that may never come, the residents lay down their weapons and live in the moment. At Brightcliffe, mysteries (and, maybe, ghosts) lurk in the hallways, but one thing is unchanging: Every night, the young residents meet at midnight to drink wine and swap original ghost stories.

In many ways, I felt a certain kinship with the Brightcliffe teens as they lament being pitied or ostracized by their able-bodied peers at a formative stage in their lives. I became a quadriplegic after a spinal cord injury in my early 20s, and spent several months in an inpatient rehabilitation program for spinal cord injury survivors  many of whom were my age. While Brightcliffe had more bumps in the night than my hospital, we often relied on the same gallows humor and defiant spirit to help each other through the trauma of near-death experiences and our newfound disabled identities.

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For obvious reasons, I related most to Anya, who defies the predictable tropes that often hold back disabled characters from full-fledged characterization. In many productions, the camera views wheelchair users the same way able-bodied audience members often do  that is, with shock and a bit of awkward distance. Its common for the camera to pan up the wheelchair dramatically as part of a grand reveal.

Codd attends the 50th anniversary of the Saturn Awards at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center on Oct. 25 in Burbank, California. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images)

Codd attends the 50th anniversary of the Saturn Awards at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center on Oct. 25 in Burbank, California. (Photo: Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images)

In this series, though, Anyas wheelchair is not the focus of her characters establishing shot. Her need for accessibility features (from automatic door openers to ramps alongside stairways) is a built-in, matter-of-fact reality within the production design of The Midnight Club. Here, accessibility and mobility aids alike are neither forgotten nor used as scare tactics, but are allowed to simply be.

As played by Codd, Anya is at once acerbic and sensitive, angry and empathetic. In other words, she is fully human, which not many disabled characters are permitted to be. She embodies neither what disability theorists Carrie Sandahl and Philip Auslander call the obsessive avenger stereotype  a la Captain Ahab in Moby Dick or Professor Henry Jarrod in House of Wax, both of whom seek revenge for their disabilities  nor the charity case, who appeals pitiably to the benevolence of well-meaning able-bodied people. Instead, shes just herself, deeply flawed and highly relatable.

In addition to Codds casting as Anya, The Midnight Club resists many of the other disability tropes associated with the horror genre, where wheelchairs often signify bad omens or harbingers of imminent death. In truth, wheelchairs are objects of freedom and even enjoyment for those who use them, but they are regularly depicted as confining and fearful. One of the shows most memorable jump scares prominently features Anyas wheelchair. Cornered by a mysterious entity that haunts the club members when their time to die is inching ever closer, Anya watches in terror from her seated position as her own shadow stands up. This is a clever reversal of the typical haunted wheelchair trope, with the walking shadow representing death and the non-walking wheelchair user embodying life.

Typically, disabled characters are given two options: death or cure. There is no option to live as they are. Yet despite the demons that plague her, Anyas thirst for life never wanes. In several episodes, as she realizes she is dying, Anya asserts repeatedly that she wants to live.

I realized as I was watching that I had rarely seen a wheelchair user fight for their life on screen. In a culture where disability is still often stigmatized as a fate worse than death, saying you want to live while disabled is a radical assertion. When Anya is reimagined by her friends after her death in various stories, her disability remains evident. Even in her friends memories and ideal retellings, she is fully herself  and still disabled.

There are many good reasons for showrunners and casting directors to cast disabled actors for disabled roles. From a creative standpoint, perhaps the most persuasive reason is that it simply makes shows better. Able-bodied actors who are feigning disability often use mobility aids unrealistically. Much worse, many move across the stage or screen the sheepishly, as if apologizing for their presence  something that Anya, like many of us, would never do. On The Midnight Club, its refreshing to see an actor and a script that give a disabled character the space she needs to tell her story.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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Kevin de Leon in happier times, when he was running for mayor of Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

City Councilmember Kevin de Leon is still not resigning.

Its been 17 days since the recording of his explosive backroom conversation with two fellow councilmembers was leaked. Its been two weeks since De Leon and others were driven out of the City Council chamber by an angry crowd decrying them as racist. Nine days since he was stripped of his committee assignments. Seven since he apologized but refused to step down from his $229,000-a-year job. Three since Gov. Gavin Newsom came out in favor of his resignation.

The pressure must be intense. Crowds massing outside the council chamber and protesters gathering at his house too. A call for his resignation from no less than the president of the United States  and hes just a piddling local councilman. The council is considering a censure motion, and there have been murmurings about a recall effort.

But so far, De Leon is brazening it out.

Frankly, it would be much easier to actually walk away, he said Tuesday on Tavis Smileys KBLA 1580 talk show, the latest stop on a citywide apology-and-atonement tour. But this is part of me asking for forgiveness  so we can move forward together and heal.

Putting aside the question of what he should do, its pretty clear that De Leon believes that if he can stand firm in the maelstrom and remain on his feet, then after a few weeks or a few months, things could return to normal  tempers will cool, protesters will go home, new scandals will replace this one on the front pages, memories will fade.

Is he deluding himself? Bill Carrick, an L.A.-based political consultant who has worked in city, state and national politics for decades, thinks so.

I just dont see that theres any way to survive this, Carrick told me. I think this is really too high-profile and too egregiously revolting to people. I dont know how you hold on in those circumstances.

But I wonder whether thats necessarily the case.

Sure, theres a perfectly good chance De Leon will throw in the towel tomorrow or in the next few days. (Council President Nury Martinez has already resigned and Councilmember Gil Cedillos term in office is about to end.)

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But Im also certain De Leon is looking back at other embattled public officials and wondering whats to be lost by hanging on.

Al Franken, who resigned his U.S. Senate seat at the height of the #MeToo movement, is often held up as the classic example of a politician under fire who gave up too quickly. Two years later, Franken said he absolutely regretted quitting. Many Democrats now believe his behavior  including allegations that he groped and forcibly kissed women  didnt merit the price he paid.

Others have successfully withstood scandals, such as Bill Clinton. He was impeached in 1998 for lying under oath and obstructing justice but did not resign, setting an example for Donald Trump, who didnt resign even after being impeached twice during a single term in office. Neither was convicted by the Senate, and both served out their terms.

Still others have tried to tough it out and failed, including New Yorks pugnacious Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who insisted in the face of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that he hadnt done anything inappropriate. He held out for several months, but new allegations kept emerging, followed finally by a damning report from the state attorney general. Plus, Cuomo wasnt well-liked and had few loyal allies. Eventually he was isolated, and in August 2021, he resigned.

Many officials who have been forced out of office in recent years were ousted as a result of allegations of sexual misconduct, which is not what De Leon is accused of. Nor is he facing criminal charges.

The usual playbook is for an accused politician to say absolutely and definitively that he or she will not resign  right up until the moment they do exactly that because the pressure has become intolerable.

And what constitutes intolerable? Here are some markers.

When its not just the other party but your own allies who are telling you to get out. When the allegations against you keep on coming. When you lie about what youve done and get caught. When an apology is insufficient to assuage your own constituents anger. When it becomes clear that, rightly or wrongly, you have lost the ability to lead.

Mike Murphy, a longtime consultant to Republican candidates, says that (putting aside what is the right thing to do) an embattled official deciding whether to stay or go must face a series of questions.

Is there legal jeopardy or is this just an issue of public relations? Is it getting worse or is it over? And you need to think about the calendar: Whens the next election and how long do you have to do repair work? says Murphy. Can you hang on to the tools you need to repair the damage  your money, your interest groups, your allies? Will they go neutral and give you room to rebuild or have they turned against you?

Murphy says that if De Leons opponents mount a recall effort, hell be in a very difficult position.

Often officials facing scandals go through an agonizing figuring-out process, which may be what De Leon is doing. Ralph Northam, the Virginia governor accused in 2019 of posing for a yearbook picture in blackface, spent days in seclusion at home, according to the Washington Post, as confidants delivered conflicting advice about whether he should resign or continue fighting to clear his name. He held an emotional emergency meeting with staff to discuss options. He seemed likely to capitulate, but ultimately did not, and served out his term until earlier this year.

What De Leon did was bad. His comments on the leaked tape were substantially less offensive than the racist, nasty words uttered by Martinez, but they were pretty hard to explain away, as was the whole meeting, frankly. They appear to have turned much of the city against him. Staying on will be difficult and painful.

In my view, De Leon should resign. Hes permanently damaged. These are the big leagues and he got caught saying things he wouldnt have dared utter in public.

But whether he will resign is another question.

@Nick_Goldberg

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's main opposition presidential contender on Wednesday called on the government to immediately set up a flood disaster fund similar to one created to fight the coronavirus pandemic, to help victims hit by the worst floods in a decade.

The government has blamed the floods on heavy rain and water release from a dam in neighbouring Cameroon. More than 600 people have been killed, around 1.4 million displaced and 570,000 hectares of farmland damaged or destroyed.

Atiku Abubakar said after a trip to oil-producing Bayelsa state, one of the worst hit, that the floods were a reminder of the impact of climate change and urged the government to immediately launch a Flood Disaster Relief Fund.

"It is a national emergency relief fund, similar in scope to what was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic," Abubakar said, referring to a $1.4 billion fund that the government launched in 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Critics have accused the federal government of being slow to help flood victims. President Muhammadu Buhari has given his cabinet 90 days to develop a plan to prevent flooding in future.

Floods are common in Nigeria, but authorities say they are the worst since 2012.

Experts say climate change is a factor, while defective infrastructure and poor planning, including a failure by Nigeria to complete a dam of its own that was supposed to backstop the Cameroonian one, had worsened the disaster.

(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The Norwegian government is taking steps to embrace Web3 with the establishment of a metaverse tax office.

At the Nokios conference on Wednesday, the Brnnysund, Norways central register, and Skatteetaten, the nations tax authority, announced that theyre partnering with consulting firm Ernst and Young (EY) to establish an office in Decentraland. The goal of the initiative, according to Nokios, is to deliver services to younger, tech-native individuals while establishing their Web3 footprint.

Magnus Jones, Nordic blockchain lead at EY, wrote in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday that he hopes the partnership with Norwegian authorities will help spearhead education in the crypto space by teaching users about taxes related to decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFT).

The Brnnysund is also exploring additional Web3 services, such as decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO), wallets, smart contracts and more.

Kudos once again to Norwegian authorities who dare to make moves to bring clarity in a complex landscape, wrote Jones. Building further on issuing worlds first guidance on how to tax DeFi and also NFTs, and being a front runner in the crypto space in general.

Beyond the metaverse, Norway has been slowly integrating crypto services at a national level. In June, the government said it would use Ethereum scaling service Arbitrum to release a capitalization tables platform for unlisted companies. In September, Norway, Israel and Sweden joined forces with the Bank for International Settlements to explore the possibility of introducing a CBDC (central bank digital currency) for cross-border payments.

We're very intrigued to see what more the world will seek to build atop Ethereum, and we're committed to doing our part to scale Ethereum globally, said Arbitrum in a Twitter thread.

As the Scandinavian nation delves deeper into the crypto space, other countries are also integrating Web3 tools at a national level. In July, a policy briefing by the Shanghai city government said it plans to bolster its metaverse industry to $52 billion by 2025. And earlier this month, Japans prime minister said the country would incorporate the metaverse and NFTs in its plans for digital transformation.
One Tulsan, who was at an anti-police protest in 2020, is reacting to controversial comments shared by a Tulsa Police Department Sergeant in a Citizens Academy session. The sergeants comments included the subject of anti-police protests in Tulsa.

In the audio recordings, the sergeant speaks about the anti-police riots arriving in Tulsa in 2020. The sergeant said, this is not Oregon, this is not Seattle. If you act (exploitive) here, well smoke your (exploitive) right?

Briana Shea was at one of the protests at 71st and Memorial in 2020, which the sergeant referenced. She said that the sergeant should be pulled from the department.

Nothing is more dangerous to America than a liberal white person, the sergeant said, according to the audio.

On Tuesday, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said the sergeants opinions were not acceptable for an officer representative of the department, and that an investigation has begun.

The sergeant was placed on administrative duty.

FOX23 also spoke with the Michelle Brooks, the Communications Director for the City of Tulsa.

The City of Tulsa agrees with Chief Franklins comments, said Brooks.
Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks to soldiers. (Reuters)

Russia says it used a military exercise to simulate "delivering a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy attack.

The annual exercise on Wednesday used test launches to put Moscow's nuclear forces through their paces in a show of force designed to deter and intimidate foes.

It involved nuclear submarines, strategic bombers and ballistic missiles at a time when tensions are high over a "dirty bomb" allegation the Kremlin has made against Ukraine which Western leaders fear Moscow plans to manipulate to escalate the Ukraine crisis.

Putin later told a meeting of intelligence officials from ex-Soviet countries that the potential for conflict in the world remained high.

"There are new risks and challenges for our collective security," he said.

Providing an update on the drills on Russia television, defence minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin  who observed the exercises remotely  that forces were preparing in the event it was necessary to deliver "a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike".

Chief of staff Valery Gerasimov added that the exercise involved Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and Tupolev strategic bomber planes.

Watch: Putin oversees practice drill of 'huge nuclear strike'

A Kremlin statement said: "The tasks envisaged during the training of the strategic deterrence forces were completed in full, all missiles reached their targets.

Russia has been accused of stoking misinformation by claiming Ukraine  backed by the West  is planning to detonate a "dirty bomb" to escalate the crisis.

It is feared Russia could use this to launch its own escalation.

On Sunday, Shoigu told Western defence ministers  without providing any evidence  that Moscow believed Ukraine was preparing to detonate a device using conventional explosives packed with radioactive material to spread contamination over a wide area.

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After weeks of rising international tension following threats by Putin to defend Russia's "territorial integrity" with nuclear weapons, this was the first concrete statement from Moscow indicating a change in its forces' state of preparedness.

Read more: Russia accused of 'secret construction work' at nuclear plant

Putin, defence minister Sergei Shoigu and commander Alexander Zhuravlyov aboard the Raptor patrol boat. (Reuters)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by accusing Russia of planning such an attack itself to blame on Ukraine.

The US, UK and France also released a joint statement rejecting "Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory".

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg also said the organisation "rejected this allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation."

At the weekend, Shoigu spoke with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin for the second time in three days as well as UK defence secretary Ben Wallace.

Read more: Russian anti-war group blow up rail track in attempt to derail Ukraine invasion

Putin (C), defence minister Sergei Shoigu (L) and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov. (Reuters)

Wallace vehemently rejected Russian claims that Western powers are colluding with Ukraine around a dirty bomb.

The head of the British armed forces Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also used a call with his Russian counterpart General Valery Gerasimov to restate Britain's support for Ukraine.

An MoD spokesman said that both military leaders had agreed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the UK and Russia to manage the risk of miscalculation and to "facilitate de-escalation".

Meanwhile, in a phone call on Tuesday, US president Joe Biden and new British prime minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed their two countries' "special relationship" and agreed on the importance of supporting Ukraine, the White House said in a statement.
For a guy who doesnt drink beer, I have a surprising number of friends who drink a lot of beer, write about beer and are passionate about beer.

Theres my Tribune colleague Josh Noel, who compellingly charts the citys beer business, especially the energetic, innovative segment known as craft beer which, as I understand it, is the liquid product made by independent brewers.

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There is the prolific local writer June Skinner Sawyers, whose latest book is the delightfully informative Chicago Beer: A History of Brewing, Public Drinking and the Corner Bar, in which she tells us that this book got its start as a guide to craft breweries before it morphed into its current form. .

Then, there are the charming and smart women named Liz Garibay and Laurin Mack.

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Garibay grew up in Old Town, the youngest of four children and the first in her family to be born in the United States instead of Mexico. She went to St. Ignatius College Prep and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, she worked as public programs manager at the Chicago Historical Society (now the Chicago History Museum); began a blog and later a website, History on Tap, which focused on history and culture as observed through the lens of booze; and began conducting popular History Pub Crawls for the CHM and then went off on her own.

She has formed a nonprofit organization and gathered a board of directors with the intention of opening a museum dedicated to beer, to be called the Brewseum. She orchestrated fascinating and entertaining exhibitions, including one that ran at the Field Museum from 2018 to 2020.

Our nation is one built by drinkers, she says. Our city too.

She adds, I truly believe that alcohol and taverns are valuable and genuine topics to discuss history. People become incredibly interested in history if they have a drink in hand. It makes it less daunting, a lot more accessible, and interesting. Many years ago I developed the saying that alcohol is the lubricant for history, and its true.

Mack is the great-great-great granddaughter of Conrad Seipp, a name that had sadly faded into history. But what a marvel he was, a success who deserves a spot alongside such other business owners as Marshall Field or George Pullman. From Germany, he came to Chicago in the 1850s and founded the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company on the South Side in 1854. It would become, as Sawyers writes in her book, one of the largest and most successful breweries in the United States  (and) the largest brewery in Chicago from 1854 to 1933.

A few years ago Mack, who works in the health care industry, began deeply examining her familys history and that inspired her to ambitiously contemplate resurrecting the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company.

I had heard so much about it and him when growing up, she told me. It was part of me but I had never been able to taste the familys beer.

She met Garibay, who loved her idea and introduced her to Tracy and Doug Hurst, who have since 2009 operated Metropolitan Brewing, an acclaimed Chicago craft brewery. The couple was more than receptive. Not only did their brewery specialize in making German-style lagers, but they also had a deep appreciation for local beer history. And they were happy to help a pair of women, a vastly underrepresented group in the beer biz.

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Their first collaboration took a year, in part because they had chosen to revive Seipps Extra Pale Pilsner. It had been one of the companys top sellers but there was no written recipe. The group pieced together a beer from other Seipp archival records and also based the brew on what other breweries of the time might have made and what ingredients were available then.

The idea was to be respectful of history but to create something for modern tastes, said Mack. To use history to connect us to each other and ourselves.

The beer debuted in 2020 and people who drank it loved it, a few even grabbing the meaning deeper than its taste. As Mack puts it, In having a sip of Seipps beer, they were getting a taste of the citys history. For her, it was even more. She says, Bringing back something that (Seipp) created was a very poignant moment for me.

Empowered, the group next created Seipps Columbia Special Release, their version of a Bock beer specially made for the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair. That was followed, earlier this year, by Chicagos Very Own Golden Lager, a limited release brewed for WGN Radios 100th anniversary. Another limited edition followed with Seipps Bavarian Traditional Hefeweizen.

There is now a thriving company, with the slogan The beer that built Chicago, and its beer is available at many taverns and stores.

There are plans for more beers and soon comes the Brewseums digital and in-person Beer Culture Summit conference. Taking place from Nov. 9-12, it will feature an almost dizzying but informative series of events, from The Beverage Industry Through the Latinx Lens, Patsy Young: American Brewer, Fugitive from Slavery, and How Beer Media Has Evolved, Where Its Going and How Breweries Can Use It.

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The day events are all virtual, said Garibay. That way we can tap into audiences and presenters from all over the world. We really do think of the Brewseum as an international organization. But every night there will be in-person gatherings that will feature, yes, some drinking.

Mack and Garibay often meet at the Old Town Ale House. Its really like our office, says Garibay. Its a cozy spot, overseen by proprietor Bruce Elliott, a committed beer drinker, writer, painter and raconteur. I have written about this tavern plenty and Sawyers in her book writes that it is both dive bar and literary hangout. It serves beer and maybe one of these days or nights I might try one.

rkogan@chicagotribune.com
New Mexicans living along the roads on which nuclear waste is shipped from facilities throughout the U.S. to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant repository near Carlsbad expressed fears that an accident could expose their communities to radiation.

Such comments came during a Monday public forum held by the U.S. Department of Energy and DOE-hired contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) which manages and operates the WIPP site.

At the facility, transuranic (TRU) nuclear waste, made up of irradiated clothing, equipment and other debris, is sent via truck to the site in southeast New Mexico from DOE laboratories and other facilities around the country, and buried in a salt deposit about 2,000 feet underground.

More:Final nuclear waste disposed of in contaminated area of repository near Carlsbad

This process of transporting the waste to WIPP, which began accepting shipments in 1999, recently drew concern from residents in Santa Fe following the announcement of a plan to dispose of diluted surplus plutonium at the site.

This program led by the National Nuclear Safety Administration would involve shipping plutonium the Pantex Plant in northern Texas to Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico, and then on to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina where it would be diluted before shipping back to New Mexico to the WIPP site.

Before being picked up by WIPP drivers, the waste would be studied and characterized to follow requirements all other waste shipments at the site adhere to.

The project would cause the waste to cross through New Mexico multiple times, a sticking point for Cindy Weehler with 285 All Alliance, an activist group based in Santa Fe, who said the proposal brought undue risk to her community and must be addressed by government officials.

More:Federal government eyeing nuclear repository in Carlsbad for new kinds of waste

Also troubling to Weehler, she said, was recent reports that WIPP could be open as long as until 2083, despite a closure date of 2024 being referenced in the initial permit.

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The fact that WIPP is planning an increased footprint and needs 60 more years to complete its missions means it is planning for the surplus plutonium, she said. Therefore, it is a topic the DOE must explain to the public.

The increased footprint Weehler referred to was a plan to add two new disposal panels to the site where waste is emplaced for disposal, characterized by DOE officials as replacement panels for space lost due to contamination.

More:No threats to public reported after air monitor alerts at nuclear waste site near Carlsbad

Reinhard Knerr, manager of the DOEs Carlsbad Field Office said WIPP was not even halfway toward its statutory capacity limit of 6.2 million cubic feet of waste.

The two additional panels were included in the DOEs permit renewal application being considered by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) that would also remove the closure date and leave the timeline of WIPPs operations open-ended.

Knerr said WIPP drivers have completed millions of loaded miles without incident, admitting a third of those miles were on New Mexico roads but confident WIPP can continue to operate safely.

More:Radioactive gas causes air alerts at nuke waste repository near Carlsbad. No risk reported

We certainly recognize that New Mexico is the host state, Knerr said. It certainly bares the bulk of the risk with regard to the transportation of waste in the state. Our drivers are very highly qualified. All of that helps ensure that the transportation of that material is kept safe.

Despite the high level of attention WIPP officials said is dedicated to safety at the site, Teracita Keyanna, a member of the Red Water Road Pond community near Church Rock said during the meeting that WIPPs timeline should be limited as its risk, she said, was becoming unacceptable with continued operations at the site.

She said her community already suffered under the impacts of uranium mining in northern New Mexico, and the WIPP site continued to pose an unfair radioactive risk to the state.

More:New Mexico nuclear waste disposal at site near Carlsbad exceeds goals after state pressure

With your whole expansion, its putting New Mexicans at risk but at the same time it was not really something that was discussed with other communities, she said. Its something that I dont feel like the state should be dealing with longer than it needs to.

NWP President Sean Dunagan touted the facilitys safety record, pointing to the recent filling of WIPPs seventh disposal panel, allowing workers to close off the area that was impacted by contamination after an accidental radiological release in 2014 which led to a three-year halt of WIPPs primary operations.

As WIPP moves to the eighth- and final-permitted panel, Dunagan said personal protection equipment (PPE) would no longer be needed in the underground as it was during emplacement in Panel 7.

This is a big milestone for us. Whenever were able to get out of there will be significant for the employees, he said. They will no longer have to wear the PPE when we start emplacing in Panel 8.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Nuclear waste repository poses risk to New Mexico, critics
IRYNA BALACHUK  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 17:53

Russian occupiers stole a monument to Prince Grigory Potemkin and his remains from St Catherine's Cathedral in the occupied city of Kherson.

Source: Vladimir Saldo, collaborator and Russian-appointed acting "governor" of Kherson Oblast, in the broadcast of the Russian propagandistic channel Krim24; Serhii Khlan, member of the Kherson Oblast Council, on Facebook

Quote from Saldo: "We have moved the monument to Ushakov (Fyodor Ushakov, a Russian Empire admiral  ed.). We took to the left bank (of the Dnipro River  ed.) those remains of the reverent prince (Grigory Potemkin  ed.) that were stored in the St. Catherines Cathedral. We also transported to the left bank Potyomkin, Suvorov and Margelov themselves (monuments  ed.). These are the sanctuaries which, I think, must be preserved."

Details: Saldo added that Potemkin was transported so that "he sees not only the city of Kherson but the whole of Kherson Region" and that this monument and others will be brought back in the future.

Khlan published a photo of an empty pedestal where the monument to Potemkin used to be.

Background:

Earlier, Russian occupiers dismantled monuments to Russian generals Oleksandr Suvorov and Fedor Ushakov in Kherson and took them with them as they fled the city.

Oleksandr Tkachenko, Ukraine's Minister of Culture and Information Policy, jokingly thanked the occupiers of Kherson Oblast for their help in the de-Russification of Ukraine by taking the monuments to Suvorov and Ushakov with them.

Also, it has been reported that Russian occupation forces are transferring their military equipment and personnel from the right bank of the River Dnipro to the left bank in Kherson Oblast following recent successes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in liberating the oblast.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County jury Tuesday convicted Ronald Teschner of the 2019 murder of Jacqueline Terrulli, his 65-year-old housemate who remained missing in a fire set by the defendant until her remains were unearthed in her backyard in Ocean Township more than nine months later.

In addition to murder, the jury found Teschner, 52, guilty of 13 other crimes, including aggravated arson in the fire that consumed the 6,000-square-foot home on Wickapecko Drive where Terrulli lived with her mother, sister, brother and Teschner.

The other crimes Teschner was convicted of are felony murder, desecration of human remains, robbery, burglary, three counts of theft, aggravated assault on two firefighters who were injured while battling the blaze, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of resisting arrest by fleeing from the officers who arrested him. The jury acquitted Teschner of resisting arrest by using physical force on the officers.

Terrullis relatives  two sisters, a niece and a cousin  sat silently as the verdict was announced. A sister, Joan Terrulli, let out a sigh and dabbed at tears when she heard the jury forewoman say that Teschner was guilty of murder.

During a month-long trial before Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley, prosecutors argued that Teschner killed Terrulli, his longtime friend and onetime girlfriend, buried her in her backyard and set her house on fire on Sept. 12, 2019, before packing her belongings in her Jeep Cherokee and driving off in it just minutes before a neighbor called 911 to report the fire.

Teschner was not allowed in the courtroom when the verdict was read. Oxley said he had safety concerns stemming from the defendants disruptive behavior, which had worsened since last week.

Teschner was brought to the courtroom as the jury began hearing additional charges, that of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. When asked if he disputed the fact that he has prior criminal convictions for burglary and aggravated assault, Teschner complained about what he said were altered phone calls played for the jury, as well as the representation he received from his attorneys, with whom he loudly argued throughout the trial.

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Oxley had the defendant swiftly removed. The jury quickly reached guilty verdicts on those additional charges.

Teschner had been ejected from the proceedings three other times since the trial began, most recently during closing arguments on Thursday, for ignoring the judges repeated warnings to refrain from loudly arguing with his attorneys, blurting things out in court and glaring at prosecutors and courtroom spectators.

He declined to testify in his defense, although he claimed to the judge he had proof that witnesses were lying about him.

'Everyone lied': 'Everyone lied': Ocean Township murder suspect claims proof, won't testify

According to witnesses, Teschner overheard telephone conversations in which Terrulli told her sister and a business partner she was fed up with him and wanted him out of her house. Prosecutors argued that Teschner, alone with Terrulli in the house, killed her hours later when she woke up, caught him stealing from her and threatened to call the police.

Witnesses testified Terrulli was in love with Teschner and had paid to put him up in hotels, let him stay in a condo she owned in Long Branch and got him into a drug rehabilitation facility for his heroin addiction before letting him move into the Wickapecko Drive home with her family during the summer of 2019.

The night she was killed was the first time Terrulli was alone with Teschner in the house. Her family members were in Atlantic City, witnesses testified.

Im fine, I can handle him: What Ocean Township woman said the night she was killed

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office released this photo of Jacqueline Terrulli of Ocean Township.

Because both Terrulli and Teschner were unaccounted for in the massive fire, police searched for her Jeep and found Teschner passed out in it in Paterson, with folds of heroin in his lap, early in the morning of Sept. 13, 2019. The Jeep was packed with Teschners clothing and Terrullis belongings, including credit cards, jewelry, lawn equipment and two rifles that were registered to her. Teschner was placed under arrest and charged with drug possession and theft.

Terrullis whereabouts remained unknown until June 18, 2019, when a demolition worker excavating the Wickapecko Drive property unearthed her skeletal remains in a 4-foot grave just feet from the patio door to her bedroom.

'It was a leg': Worker stumbled upon murdered woman's body at Ocean Township home

Because of decomposition, a medical examiner could not determine the cause of Terrullis death, but he ruled that it was a homicide.

Teschner was charged with Terrullis murder in December 2019, before her remains were found, but after a former cellmate at the Monmouth County Jail contacted prosecutors and told them Teschner had confessed the killing to him.

'He opened his mouth to me': Ocean Township murder suspect's confession revealed

Another former cellmate later came forward and told authorities that Teschner also had confessed the killing to him.

Both former cellmates testified at the trial.

Defense attorney Anthony Aldorasi told the jury the cellmates were trying to exploit the situation." But Katherine Butler, assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, said the cellmates had information about the crimes that had not been made public, so the only way they could have known it was if they committed the crimes themselves, which was impossible because they were in jail at the time, or the person who did told them all about it.

Aldorasi and defense attorney Lisa Maglone argued that Teschner was accused of crimes he didnt commit, for which there was no physical evidence.

The fire marshal who investigated the blaze could not say with certainty it was arson, and arson-sniffing dogs did not detect any accelerants at the fire scene, Aldorasi told the jury in his summation.

Butler reminded the jury, however, that the fire marshal ruled out accidental causes and said a human element" was involved.

Butler and Joseph Cummings, assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, presented evidence that tracked the victims Jeep and her phones up to Paterson, where Teschner was arrested, and also showed that the vehicle left the Wickapecko Drive property minutes before a neighbor called 911 to report the fire.

Key evidence presented by the prosecution team was a pair of Timberland boots found in the back of Terrullis Jeep when Teschner was arrested in it. The soles of the boots were caked with dirt. An FBI geologist analyzed the dirt from the boots and compared it to soil samples taken from Terrullis grave. He testified that the dirt on the boots was identical to one of the soil samples from the grave.

'Dirt from the grave':'Those boots have the dirt from the grave': Jury must decide Ocean Township murder case

Justice was served," Joan Terrulli said outside the courtroom following the verdict.

Briten Alston, the victims other sister, thanked the prosecutors and all those who offered prayers and love.

And, thank you, God," Alston said.

Teschner faces a minimum of 30 years without parole up to life in prison on the murder charge alone.

He returned to the courtroom to hear Oxley set his sentencing for Feb. 7.

Thats on my birthday," Teschner said. I like that. Thank you."

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean Township NJ murder trial suspect found guilty in death, arson
Tumbleweeds buried people's homes and vehicles over the weekend after strong winds swept through southern Colorado. Homeowners woke up Sunday morning to blocked windows and yards blanketed with tumbleweeds, which left many residents questioning what to do.

Just south of the Colorado Spring Airport in Fountain, Colorado, Marlies Gross and her husband woke up to tumbleweeds engulfing their home on Sunday morning. Almost every exit from their house, including windows and doors, were blocked by an overwhelming amount of tumbleweeds.

"The tumbleweeds were all the way up to the door, up to the ceiling," Gross said to AccuWeather. "We had no way to get out of the house except through the garage, but the driveway was totally blocked with a huge wall of tumbleweeds. To the left, to the right, everywhere."

Clearing tumbleweeds from a public road. (El Paso County Department of Public Works)

Gross got into her car and started to drive out of the garage, down the driveway and into the road -- something she said she would never do again. The "10-foot high tumbleweeds" completely covered her SUV and distorted her orientation while she was driving.

After deciding to get out of her car, Gross took small steps hoping to make it back to her house. The homeowner association president then spotted Gross and helped her back to her home.

"He gave me his sweatshirt to box our way through the tumbleweeds. He's six-foot-two, at least, and he just kind of led the way for me," Gross explained.

A small passageway from the road to the front door was cleared on Wednesday, but there is still an "ocean of tumbleweeds" in Gross's yard, she said.

Gross and her husband contacted the insurance company and the local fire and police departments about removing the tumbleweeds. They all explained that it is the Gross's responsibility to remove the tumbleweeds from their yard -- despite being a fire danger.

"The thing is, we have so many fires here, and we have a drought and those tumbleweeds, they would just go up and explode into flames all over, and we probably would go with it," Gross said. "We would not even have a chance to get out."

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According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, the bulk of southeastern Colorado is experiencing "abnormally dry" conditions, with some areas under a moderate to severe drought.

Clearing tumbleweeds from a public road. (El Paso County Department of Public Works)

After contacting different landscaping businesses, Gross and her husband have hired one to come to remove the tumbleweeds -- but it comes at a price. According to Gross, one company gave them an $8,000 estimate, while another gave them a $6,500 estimate for the removal.

"That's a lot of money to have to pay for something, you know that you couldn't help," Gross said. "You just have to have it removed."

The Grosses weren't the only ones who woke up to tumbleweeds blanketing their yard. Ian Barnes, who lives just north of Fountain in Security-Widefield, told CBS affiliate KKTV that his front yard and car were buried in tumbleweeds when he woke up on Sunday.

"I looked out my backyard, it didn't seem so bad," Barnes said to KKTV's reporter Lauren Watson. "Then I went out [to] the front yard, and it was pretty crazy."

Muscling through the prickly tumbleweeds in his driveway, Barnes reached the street. When he turned around to look at his property, a daunting sight awaited -- a sea of tumbleweeds stood between him and his front door. They even covered his entire truck, which was barely visible in a video that Watson shared on Twitter.

Tumbleweeds on a public roadway. (El Paso County Department of Public Works)

With help from neighbors, Barnes slowly raked a path back to his front door. Barnes told Watson that his neighborhood is "no stranger to wind damage," but he did not expect his yard to be littered with tumbleweeds when he woke up.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Pueblo, Colorado, strong wind gusts were recorded throughout the region over the weekend. On Saturday, a high wind warning was in place across southeastern Colorado. By Sunday afternoon, numerous stations across the region had recorded wind gusts greater than 50 mph.

The Colorado Springs Airport measured a 59-mph wind gust, and the Colorado City weather station measured a wind gust of 65 mph, the NWS reported.

This isn't the first time an area in the West has been overrun by tumbleweeds due to dry and windy conditions in this part of the country. Back in April, a town south of Salt Lake City dealt with a similar invasion of tumbleweeds.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Gov. Greg Abbott focused on keeping West Texas deep red with two stops in the Hub City on Tuesday.

It was the second day of early voting ahead of the Nov. 8 election, where he faces Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke.

A key message from Abbott and supporters at the rally was simple - don't take a Republican victory for granted. Vote.

"It takes one thing to get it done: It takes your efforts to go vote," Abbott said. "But if you think that casting your vote is all that's needed to secure a victory, you're wrong."

"You need to get others to go vote," he added. "After you go vote, you need to go home, use your contact list and send out one simple, short message to all your contacts: 'Go vote tomorrow for Governor Abbott.'"

Painting Texas 'Red Raider' red

More: Beto O'Rourke campaigns with Democratic candidates on Texas Tech campus in Lubbock

This was at least the third stop in Lubbock for the governor this year, with two previous stops ahead of the Republican primary election in March.

O'Rourke has campaigned in Lubbock at least three times in the months leading up to November's election, including a visit to the Texas Tech campus earlier this month.

The governor also visited the Texas Tech campus earlier Tuesday, joining university leaders to celebrate $50 million in federal funding and the launch of the Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production at Tech.

Abbott's latter Tuesday event was a rally at south-Lubbock restaurant Table 82, where several hundred supporters packed a reception room to hear the governor's re-election campaign stump.

Gov. Abbott joins Texas Tech leaders to tout $50M grant, research project

"We're going to paint Texas Red Raider red," Abbott said.

During the stop, Abbott focused on countering what he calls the "radical leftist liberal agenda" of challenger O'Rourke. Talking points included the state economy, immigration, education, police funding and, perhaps most prominently, voter engagement.

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On economy, Abbott said he plans to return money to taxpayers by cutting property taxes and protecting the state's oil and gas industry.

"Texas now has a $27 billion budget surplus," Abbott said. "I want to take at least half of that budget surplus  $13.5 billion  and return it to you, the people of Texas, with the largest property tax cut in the history of this state."

More: Early voting begins Monday. Here's what you need to know to cast your ballot.

"This is Texas. We believe in God, guns and oil.  Texas ranks number one in America for the production of oil and gas. Beto wants to destroy that ranking because Beto has embraced the radical leftist ideology of the Green New Deal," he added.

Abbott said he plans to continue his efforts at the border, including an initiative to curb illegal immigration with National Guard deployments and by busing migrants to cities like New York and Washington, D.C. The governor also wants to keep "wokeism" out of Texas schools, he said, denouncing so-called critical race theory.

"I will not allow your taxpayer dollars to fund an education that will teach our kids to hate our country," Abbott said. "Things like critical race theory says teachers can teach whichever version of history they want to teach. That is absolutely wrong."

Abbott did not mention at the rally what is commonly referred to as school choice, parental choice, or a voucher program. The policy, which Abbott has previously expressed support for, would take money from the public school system and give it to parents to use on tuition if they choose to send their child to a private school. Some West Texas Republicans like Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, have denounced the policy.

More: Rep. Ken King outlines legislative priorities on pre-session district tour

Abbott urged attendees to cast a ballot as soon as possible, even reading the address of the nearest early voting location to the rally site.

State representative-elect Carl Tepper, who will represent the Lubbock County based HD 84, helped to introduce the governor earlier in the event and suggested high voter turnout in traditionally blue areas of the state could mean Republican candidates are less secure for a victory than it would normally appear.

"It's tighter than Fox News is letting you know.  We cannot take this for granted," Tepper said. "Lubbock is the offsetting city."

Election Day is Nov. 8 and early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 4. The final day to submit an application to vote by mail is Oct. 28.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gov. Abbott, urges Lubbock, West Texas to keep state red in election
One person was killed and another was taken into custody after a shooting that unfolded Tuesday evening in a home on a residential block in Independence, according to police.

Police officers were dispatched around 8:15 p.m. to the 800 block of North Park Avenue on a reported shooting, the police department said in a statement on social media Tuesday night. Inside a residence there they found one person, identified as an adult male, who was declared dead at the scene.

Police took a person of interest into custody on Tuesday night and were not searching for any other suspect in connection, the department said in the statement.

The homicide was being investigated by detectives on Tuesday night. Further information was not immediately available from police.
Image: Netflix

Oni: Thunder Gods Tale a new childrens television show from creator Dice Tsutsumi and Tonko House, the powerhouse team behind the Oscar-nominated film The Dam Keeper. A touching story unfolds cross four animated episodes, addressing the meaning of family, how to build a supportive community, and how we find our identities as children.

While Oni is definitely a show for kids, there is a depth of storytelling, beautiful animation, and wonderful characters that will appeal to adult fans of the medium. The animation is truly wonderful. Using a reduced frame rate and creating characters that are tactile and textured, ONI creates an imitation of stop-motion animation that is unique and wonderful to watch.



Read more

The show follows a young girl named Onari and her father Naridon. They are Kami, living on Kamigami Mountain. At Onaris school, the schoolteacher, Mr. Tengu, attempts to teach all the Kami to tap into their special, natural powerstheir kushi. All the other kids at school know what their kushi isthey get it from their parents. But Onaris father, Naridon, is non-verbal.

When Onari ventures across the bridge that separates Kamigami Mountain from the land of the Onithe demons that will attack the village under the light of the blood moon in a few weeksNaridon reveals his kushi in order to save Onari from the Oni; hes a thunder god. As Onari attempts to awaken the thunder power inside of her, she ventures too far into the Oni forest, and stumbles upon an Oni village, complete with neon lights, skyscrapers, and cars.

When I tell you that this twist was shocking, Im not kidding. I was so sure this was going to be a folkloric tale of two monster factions duking it out, but it turned into a much deeper tale of environmentalism, what it means to grow up different, and how to be a part of a community, even when that community makes it difficult to be a part of. As Onari begrudgingly befriends Calvin (mispronounced as Kalbi in Japanese), a Black Japanese boy, she goes on a journey of self discovery, and learns that her father Naridon saved her from a car crash when she was a baby. Which makes her human, an Oni.

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The fourth episode is heart-wrenching. Im a tough little weirdo with a healthy relationship with my parents, and I was still tearing up at various points at the end of this show. As the father-daughter relationship comes to a head, the Kami must face their own fears, and the powerful hold that fear can have on a community that is anxious to guarantee its survival.

Truthfully, Oni: Thunder Gods Tale is a much deeper, layered show than most people will give it credit for. With truly gorgeous animation and a deep understanding of what it means to be an outsider even within your own family, Oni is a show that tackles tough topics head on, and doesnt speak down to its intended audience of seven-to-twelve year olds. Theres some parts that might frighten the younger kids, but the point of the show is that bravery comes out during moments when you are afraid of losing something, and the final scenes between Onari and Naridon are aching in their poignancy.

With clever writing, a clear direction from Daisuke Dice Tsutsumi, and animation that really imitates a plush, doll-like stop-motion, Oni is a show that is absurdly easy to get sucked into. Its stunningly relevant and will absolutely do its best to rip your heart out in between silly fart jokes and family shenanigans.

Oni: Thunder Gods Tale is currently streaming on Netflix.





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By Gavin Jones and Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) -The only way to facilitate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is helping Kyiv to defend itself militarily, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Wednesday.

"Peace can be achieved by supporting Ukraine ... it is the only chance we have for the two sides to negotiate," Meloni told the Senate ahead of a confidence vote on her newly appointed rightist government.

Meloni has repeatedly pledged support to Kyiv, while her coalition allies Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini have been much more ambivalent on the issue due to their historic ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meloni said that while the arms Italy supplies to Ukraine are not decisive for the outcome of the war, they are vital for Italy to maintain its international credibility.

Berlusconi, who sparked a political storm last week by reiterating his sympathy for Putin and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of triggering the war, came into line with Meloni during the Senate confidence debate.

He said he had always worked to unite Moscow with the West, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine meant this was now impossible.

"In this situation we naturally stand with the West," he said. "We must work for peace and we will do it in full accord with our Western allies in respect of the will of the Ukrainian people".

Meloni's government, which was sworn in on Saturday, comfortably won the confidence motion by 115 votes to 79.

Having won a similar vote in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday it is now fully operational and can set about tackling the welter of problems facing the euro zone's third largest economy, which the Treasury says is in recession.

In other remarks during her Senate speech, Meloni said she would raise a limit on the use of cash, and she ruled out introducing a minimum wage, saying it was not the right way to increase Italy's chronically stagnant salaries.

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She also said the government would rewrite legislation imposing a windfall tax on energy companies that have benefited from surging oil and gas prices.

The previous government led by Mario Draghi expected to fund part of its measures to soften the impact of the energy crisis on firms and families through a 25% windfall tax on energy groups, but revenues have proved much lower than expected.

(additional reporting by Alvise Armellini)
Greetings, OnPolitics readers! It's Amy here with today's top stories out of Washington.

After the military raid that killed Osama bin Laden, President Barack Obama sought to briskly release information as soon as the Al Qaeda leader was confirmed dead May 2, 2011, reporter Bart Jansen writes.

Obama's consultation with intelligence agencies to determine what intelligence to release publicly contrasts sharply with Donald Trump's assertion that as president he could declassify documents merely by thinking about it  a claim he made after FBI agents seized about 100 classified documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate in August.

Trump both single-handedly declassified documents and also deferred to the intelligence community to keep documents secret during his team. In 2019, he tweeted a previously classified satellite photo of an Iranian rocket mishap, which he said he had the "absolute right to do."

But in 2017 Trump postponed the release of some documents associated with President John F. Kennedy's assassination because of intelligence concerns.

The slow release of information in both Trump and Obama administrations illustrates that despite their broad powers, it's rare for presidents to unilaterally declassify documents without input from intelligence agencies to determine what can be revealed and when.

Declassifying documents can be long and deliberate, experts say, a far more intensive process than what Trump describes.

How does the process work? It's not as simple as Trump makes it seems. Here's the full explanation on how Trump's rhetoric breaks with presidential tradition.

Catch up on last night's debates:

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz squared off Tuesday night in their races first and only debate. The hourlong debate, which took place in Harrisburg, covered topics including crime, the economy and abortion, and gave voters the opportunity to evaluate Fettermans recovery from the life-threatening stroke he suffered this year.

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Michigan: When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican challenger Tudor Dixon met for their second and final debate Tuesday, the rhetorical temperature was noticeably higher than at their first debate, held Oct. 13.

That was likely the result of shrinking poll margins and the rapidly approaching Election Day, now less than two weeks away. Here are four big takeaways from the debate in Grand Rapids.

New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Lee Zeldin squared off Tuesday night in their first and only debate of the governor's race, clashing over crime, abortion rights, economic development and more.

Hochul, a Democrat seeking her first full term on Nov. 8, fended off rapid-fire jabs from Zeldin and promoted her 14-month record as governor. Meanwhile, Zeldin, buoyed by recent polls showing him trailing by only modest margins, seized the televised platform to pummel his opponent, particularly on crime.

Real quick: stories you'll want to read

What a Netanyahu comeback means for the U.S .: Benjamin Netanyahu describes his relationship with President Joe Biden as open and friendly. But if the 73-year-old leader of the right-wing Likud party becomes prime minister after next months elections, tensions between the U.S. and Israel could increase.

Meadows ordered to testify : Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was ordered to testify before an Atlanta-area grand jury in a wide-ranging investigation of election interference. Meadows, who was a central figure in Donald Trump's unsuccessful effort to flip the 2020 Georgia vote in the former president's favor, had been resisting a subpoena issued by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis.

 Which candidates are billionaires backing? Billionaires plunked down more than $82 million to support dozens of GOP Senate candidates, including sizable investments in some of the closest races in the country, a USA TODAY analysis of data provided by OpenSecrets found. Who is funding your states candidates?

What's next: President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced a new agreement between Israel and Lebanon that will be signed Thursday. Biden said the agreement will establish a permanent maritime boundary between the two countries and allow the development of energy fields for both countries.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's approach to classified documents breaks presidential tradition
Next week, on Nov. 1, Chicago-based festival programmer, curator and filmmaker Amir George will begin his tenure as the second-ever artistic director of the nonprofit documentary film organization Kartemquin Films.

He succeeds artistic director Gordon Quinn, who moves into a new role as part-time senior adviser for the collective Quinn co-founded in 1966.

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Itll be a whirlwind transition: George bounces straight to Kartemquin from the 2022 edition of the Chicago International Film Festival, where he served as one of the core festival programmers, best known for the festivals Black Perspectives slate. This week George is also wrapping up workshops with the New York-based documentary lab Firelight Media, with whom he has worked for the past year.

The Kartemquin job just felt right, a great opportunity, George said Tuesday. Of the organization responsible for, among others, Hoop Dreams, Minding the Gap and a total of four Academy Award nominees in the nonfiction realm, George added: Ive always admired Kartemquin. And theres a huge opportunity to encourage new storytellers. I want to make Kartemquin part of the stories we havent heard.

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Executive director Betsy Leonard, who joined Kartemquin a year ago, said Tuesday the search to replace Quinn led to an embarrassment of riches when it came down to the candidates we had. In his work at various festivals, notably CIFF and the highly regarded Columbia, Missouri nonfiction festival True/False, George won admirers far and wide. George is also co-curator of the short film touring program Black Radical Imagination.

His short films have screened as part of everything from the long-standing Chicago Underground Film Festival to presenters, museums and venues in Trinidad, Detroit, London and Glasgow.

In the Kartemquin hiring and vetting process, Leonard said, people described Amir as a community builder, an energy shifter.

As artistic leader, George will oversee the nonprofit organizations daily operations as well as serve as executive producer on Kartemquins projects. In the companys prepared announcement Tuesday, Leonard called Kartemquin instrumental in taking documentary filmmaking into the public eye by showing how story can lift social issues and serve as a tool for influencing public debate and public-policy making around some of the most pressing issues of the day.

Leonard added: Under the new creative leadership of Amir, we are once again taking a visionary approach to building a multiracial and multiethnic organization that reflects members of the filmmaking community and elevates the voice of Black, brown, queer and other voices that have been historically excluded in the arts.

In his new organizations 56-year history, George is the first person of color in either of Kartemquins top leadership roles. The artistic directorship means hell be stepping away from his film festival work at CIFF and True/False. Im hoping well still have a relationship to some degree, he said. I dont want to get ahead of myself, but were already talking about about ways to collaborate.

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @phillipstribune

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.
Then-Vice President Joe Biden stands in line to vote with his daughter Ashley Biden at a polling station on Nov. 2, 2010, in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo: Mark Wilson via Getty Images)

Then-Vice President Joe Biden stands in line to vote with his daughter Ashley Biden at a polling station on Nov. 2, 2010, in Wilmington, Delaware. (Photo: Mark Wilson via Getty Images)

Earlier this month, the Delaware Supreme Court became the latest judicial body in America to roll back voting access when it struck down same-day registration and vote-by-mail laws recently passed in the state.

Coming just weeks before Delawareans prepare to cast their ballots in crucial local and federal midterm races, the reckless decision throws those elections into chaos. Voters and poll workers alike are now scrambling to ensure the people can exercise their rights on Nov. 8.

That this most recent assault on voting occurred in deep-blue Delaware  home to President Joe Biden and proud booster of its history as the first state to ratify our Constitution  makes the symbolism particularly painful.

But the reality is, this needless and harmful restriction on voting access is just the latest in an avalanche of moves by right-wing legislatures and complicit judges across the nation to limit how people can vote. Perhaps the extreme far right realizes its odds of success are better on issues like economic fairness, womens health care, and criminal justice by stacking the deck against the people, rather than relying on their unpopular arguments.

Its no accident that this ruling was issued by an all-white panel of judges  in a state thats 25% Black. Justice Tamika Montgomery-Reeves, a respected legal mind and the lone Black jurist on the court, recused herself from this decision as she awaits Senate confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Its a cold, harsh reminder of just how critical inclusion is for our American system of justice. And its not just the Delaware Supreme Court; the Delaware Court of Chancery  a powerful and opaque business court that oversees 66% of Fortune 500 companies in this country  is also void of a single justice of color, and similarly struck down these crucial voting rights provisions before that decision was appealed at the Supreme Court.

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If Delaware wants to truly honor the ideals and values enshrined in The Constitution, its leaders must make equity in its courts a reality.

Our institutions function legitimately only when the people have faith and trust in those institutions. That can only be achieved with representation  when everyone subject to laws and judicial decrees has a real and fair opportunity to shape those edicts, and when those decisions take into account the needs of the governed. Its the foundational belief system of the U.S. Constitution that the state of Delaware so frequently celebrates yet so infrequently adheres to. Without this value system in place, minority communities will continue to be forced to the margins of American society.

As serious as this setback is, there are remedies that can be taken now to correct this regressive ruling: Gov. John Carney (D) and Delaware elections officials must take corrective action immediately to make sure those who were planning to utilize vote-by-mail or same-day registration this election still can. A public information campaign must be launched informing Delawareans of how they can exercise their franchise. The governor and legislature must go to work immediately to pass new laws or constitutional amendments that secure the right to vote. And the Delaware attorney general must move quickly to appeal the ruling at the highest judiciary levels. Relief can perhaps be found in the federal appeals court.

These are immediate short-term solutions, but they dont address the deep-rooted causes of court decisions that leave out more than a quarter of the states population. Gov. Carney must appoint justices of color to Delawares court system, starting with Justice Montgomery-Reeves soon-to-be vacant seat on the Supreme Court, and also extended to the powerful Chancery Court.

Going backwards is the wrong way to remain the First State. If Delaware wants to truly honor the ideals and values enshrined in The Constitution, its leaders must make equity in its courts a reality.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
My 10th grader came home from school and announced that she didnt understand her trigonometry homework. She said the teacher didnt explain how to do it  just demonstrated six practice problems during class, then sent everyone on their merry way.

It was up to my husband  conveniently, a math and physics teacher with a nuclear engineering degree from MIT  to spend two hours with our daughter after work, explaining the underlying algorithms and then watching her do her homework and pointing out where she went wrong.

The entire process prompted me to ask: What are students who dont happen to have a math and physics teacher parent with a nuclear engineering degree from MIT supposed to do when they dont understand their assignment?

Support The 74's year-end campaign. Every gift will be matched dollar for dollar.

There will always be a segment of the population with the resources to hire professional help. In New York City, outside tutoring is how most schools acquire their high-achieving label. The kids get prepped privately, and the schools take the credit.

But what about the majority of public school families, who lack the money or even the knowledge that private prep is available? More students are behind than ever before, as shown on the newly released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. When Ive raised the issue with various principals, the response has always been that teachers are available outside-of-class for extra help.

Related: Adams: The Surprising Numbers Behind Which New York City Schools Actually Educate Students

Yes, thousands of teachers are available to offer instruction during office hours, after school, even in the middle of lunch. But, as my daughter pointed out, If I didnt understand how they explained it in class, why would I understand it when they repeat the exact same thing later?

Sometimes, a fresh perspective is required.

COVID-19 learning loss has spurred an aggressive push to make high-level tutoring available to struggling students. President Joe Biden used his 2022 State of the Union address to inveigle districts to use their federal relief aid to set up intensive tutoring programs, saying, I urge every parent to make sure your school does just that. They have the money.

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I am that parent. I dont see tutoring as merely an academic imperative. I see it as a moral one.

Ive written before about how schools cant legislate equal academic results  but they can and should legislate that every student receive the tools and preparation necessary to achieve their own personal best.

Related: As Schools Push for More Tutoring, New Research Points to Its Effectiveness  and the Challenge of Scaling it To Combat Learning Loss

Personalized tutoring is an equity issue. Personalized tutoring can help level the playing field between those with resources and those without. If anything might put academically unprepared students on an equal footing with better-prepared peers at schools that now accept via lottery rather than academic screening, its this sort of intervention.

Even before Biden endorsed wide-scale tutoring, Texas and Tennessee were pouring money and human resources into ramping up their individualized math education. Teacher training was part of it, but so was recruiting thousands of volunteers, often college students, to work with youngsters who are behind academically.

Indiana is offering parents up to $1,000 per child to engage their own tutor (assuming said tutor is credentialed). The state guarantees a $500 credit regardless of whether the child attends public, charter or private school, and if the families work in conjunction with their schools and the school puts up $250 for tutoring, Indiana will contribute $250 more.

Research points to frequent tutoring in small groups as consistently proven to accelerate achievement as quickly as possible, notably increasing learning by up to 10 months.

Related: Tennessee Goes All in on Tutoring with $200M Statewide Program for 150,000 Kids Who Are Just Below Grade Level in English, Math

American schools have already received almost $190 billion for pandemic recovery, and, for their most recent round of funding, the American Rescue Plan has mandated that all districts must spend at least 20% to tackle student learning loss.

As Joe Biden directed me to, I am here to insist  to beg, if I have to  that the funds be spent on outside-of-class tutoring.

Here in New York, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program designated $2.1 billion in direct funding to the city Department of Education to be spent between March 13, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2023. Among the pre-approved allocations is addressing learning loss (e.g. summer learning and afterschool programming).

That one grant can pay for New York City to spend almost an entire year heeding the lessons of Texas, Tennessee, and Indiana, along with Louisiana, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Oklahoma and South Carolina, which are leaning into offering their students intensive intervention in subjects in which theyve fallen behind.

Related: $700B: Thats How Much It Will Cost to Fix Pandemic Learning Loss, Study Says

New York State is scheduled to release the latest standardized test results in math and English for grades 3 through 8 on Nov. 4. When New York City released its results last month, English language arts scores for the youngest students were down, as were math scores for all students across every grade level.

On Nov. 4, parents will be able to compare their childs results to those from the rest of the state, and everyone will have access to data that will prove, once again, just how much damage the pandemic did to student learning.

There could be no better time to use those results to drive the kind of targeted tutoring thats been proven successful in other states. We have the money. We have the science. Now we just need the critical mass of parents, teachers and administrators to make it a reality  for all kids, not just the lucky ones, like mine.
The top three Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Express Scripts, CVS Health, and OptumRx, currently control the vast majority of the market.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that UnitedHealth Group-owned OptumRX, one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the nation, will repay the state $15 million under a settlement.

"Another shoe has dropped, Yost said in a statement. This is another win for Ohio  time for OptumRx to pay up.

But OptumRX denied any such agreement happening.

"We have not reached a final agreement with the Ohio Attorney General. We continue to dispute his allegations and are honored to have delivered access to more affordable prescription medications for the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and Ohio taxpayers, said Andrew Krejci, spokesperson for the company.

Yost's office, however, maintains a deal was reached.

We were surprised to see a statement from OptumRx saying that they thought we didnt have a deal. An agreement was reached. We are in conversations with OptumRx today to determine why they are trying to back out," said Bethany McCorkle, spokesperson for the attorney general.

What is a PBM or a pharmacy benefit manager?

A pharmacy benefit manager plays an important role in how much you are paying for prescription drugs. The company acts as a middleman negotiating for lower prices and discounts with pharmacies and drug manufacturers on behalf of your health plan. It decides which drugs are covered by health plans.

In this case, OptumRX contracted with the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation to manage prescription drug costs for the state agency, which provides medical and compensation benefits for work-related injuries, diseases and deaths. Ohio BWC is funded by employers' contributions, taken out from workers' paychecks.

More:How Ohio's new single pharmacy benefit manager will affect you

However, pharmacy benefit managers have been accused of overcharging health insurance plans more than what it costs for pharmacists to actually dispense the drugs, pocketing that difference in their pockets. PBMs have denied any wrongdoing.

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What is OptumRX accused of?

Yost's office has said it may have uncovered evidence to show that a pharmacy benefit manager knowingly overcharged Ohio BWC.

Among hundreds of thousands of emails obtained from OptumRX as part of the litigation was one that appears to acknowledge that the multibillion-dollar corporation was not following the terms of its contract with the workers' comp bureau, which called for charging the lowest of four potential prices for generic drugs.

More:Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says email shows OptumRx was overcharging the state  and knew it

OptumRX disputed that the requirement was part of the PBM's agreement with the state.

According to the lawsuit, OptumRx overcharged the bureau on 57% of 2.3 million prescription claims from injured Ohio workers between January 2014 and September 2018.

Other lawsuits over pharmacy benefit pricing

The bureau dropped OptumRX more than two years ago after a consultant determined the PBM was vastly overcharging the state.

The same consultant later discovered that PBMs  including OptumRX  in Ohio's Medicaid program, which pays for health care of the poor and disabled, were charging three to six times the standard rate, enabling them to take home nearly $250 million in a single year.

Yost is also pursuing a court battle against another PBM owned by Cigna, Express Scripts, for overcharging the Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System. The attorney general also got $88 million from Centene for overcharging the state's Medicaid system.

I said before that we will do everything in our power to protect Ohioans from PBMs, and we dont plan to stop at $100 million in recoveries, Yost said. Stay tuned.

Dispatch archives contributed. This story was updated to reflect that OptumRX has denied any settlement having been agreed to.

Titus Wu 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.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OptumRx to pay Ohio $15 million to settle suit. The PBM denies such
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.

A man linked to one of San Joaquin Countys largest-ever insurance fraud schemes reported a Mercedes-Benz found buried at his former home stolen in 1992 and collected tens of thousands of dollars in insurance on the vehicle, according to San Mateo County authorities.

Johnny Bocktune Lew, who built the $15 million Atherton mansion where the car was unearthed last week, reported the Mercedes-Benz stolen in 1992 and collected $87,000 in insurance on the vehicle, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told the San Jose Mercury News.

This book has 15 chapters in it and weve only got two chapters, Wagstaffe told the newspaper. I dont know if were ever going to get the other chapters, but I sure hope we do because it is an interesting story.

Lew died in 2015.

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.

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 in a news release.

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.

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.

Previous coverage: DA to prosecute huge insurance-fraud case

Related: Buried car found on property of Silicon Valley home linked to massive SJ fraud case

Lew had a history of arrests for murder, attempted murder and insurance fraud.

In 1999, he 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.

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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: Owner of car buried at California mansion collected $87,000 insurance
While climate tech may be all the rage right now  and for good reasons  new Paris-based VC firm Satgana (which means a good company in Sanskrit) is hoping its take on the subject will gain traction.

Its now completed the first closing of a target 30 million fund to back startups in areas such as food and agriculture, energy, mobility and buildings/industry; plus, more generally, carbon removal and circular economies.

The fund will invest up to 500,000 at the pre-seed and seed stages across Europe and Africa, bringing to bear its team that comprises operational and strategic experience. It also plans to apply a "diversity and inclusion" lens pre and post-investment.

So far, the fund has already invested in three climate tech startups, with two others to be announced soon, it says. These are:

Orbio Earth, a German startup building a platform for energy providers to monitor and reduce methane emissions using satellite data.

Mazi Mobility, a Kenyan startup building a network of electric motorbikes and a battery-swapping infrastructure in East Africa.

Yeasty, a French startup building an alternative protein leveraging beer yeast with a circular model.

Satgana says it has counts 30+ LPs in its first closing, including Thibaud Hug de Larauze (co-founder and CEO of impact unicorn Back Market), Josef Bovet (CEO of Tiller Systems), Fabrice de Gaudemar (CEO of Qotto and ex-executive board of Eurazeo), Elsa Hermal (co-founder of Epicery) and the family office Cullom Capital.

Romain Diaz, general partner, said in a statement:

The climate and ecological crisis is the defining issue of our time. As a gigantic challenge ahead of us, it is also a massive business opportunity as we need to reinvent all the sectors of our economies to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement.

Satgana's Venture partner will be Patricia Silva (based out of Lisbon), who is also co-founder and non-executive director of the Carbon Removal Centre. The investment director will be Anil Maguru.

Advisers include Lubomila J. (Plan A and co-founder, Greentech Alliance) and James Crowley (former co-founder and CTO of FundApps).
The famed improv comedy institution iO Theater is reopening, according to an announcement Wednesday.

Now under new ownership, the theater on Kingsbury Street will resume operations Nov. 3, with some shows and improv teams familiar from iOs past life, including The Armando, Sex and the Windy City and Stir Friday Night.

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iO Theater Chicago shut down in June 2020, having been closed during the pandemic, and with longtime owner Charna Halpern facing charges of racism on social media. Halpern put the building up for sale and told the Tribune the biggest factor in the sale was upcoming property taxes bills she would have struggled to pay.

The theater building, which first opened in 2014 when iO moved to the Clybourn Corridor from Wrigleyville, was purchased by Chicagoans Scott Gendell, Larry Weiner and Steve Sacks in 2021, according to the announcement. It has since been renovated, with refreshed performance spaces and bar, and renovations to the facade and behind the scenes.

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Sacks is iOs new CEO, and the theater has artistic guidance from comedy leaders Mick Napier and Jennifer Estlin from Annoyance Theater. The theater also has assembled a leadership team of comedy industry and improv veterans.

The longtime iO has been known as one of the birthplaces of improv comedy in Chicago, the training grounds for Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Mike Myers and others. It was cofounded in 1981 by comedic icon Del Close and Halpern as ImprovOlympic, shortening its name to iO when the International Olympic Committee objected.

Jack McBrayer, center, and Amber Ruffin, right, were among the iO alums and actors in a night of The Armando Diaz Experience" in August 2014. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

The 33,500-square-foot, two-story complex at 1501 N. Kingsbury St. was listed for sale in 2020 for more than $12 million, with the iO brand included. The property includes four theaters, as well as classrooms and event spaces.

Tickets are now on sale now at ioimprov.com. From Nov. 3, the roster of shows and improv teams includes:

Anarchy: The Improvised Rock Opera, a long-form musical improvisation.

The Armando Diaz Experience, first formed in 1995 and known as the Armando. Guest monologists take suggestions from the audience and share stories from their life.

Boneless, an hourlong sketch revue featuring stand-up openers.

Devils Daughter, with a cast of seasoned comedians with their own spin on the classic improv form the Harold.

Friday Freaky, taking inspiration from the 2003 film.

Haunted: Improvised Ghost Hunters, a longform improv show that investigates the haunted person, place, or thing suggested by the audience.

Improvised Jane Austen, with an all-female and nonbinary troupe that performs in the style of the beloved author.

The Improvised Holiday Movie, with longform improvised movies presented by Take Two on Saturday nights.

Improvised Survivor, inspired by the reality show.

La Chancla Salvaje: An Improvised Telenovela is an episodic telenovela inspired by audience suggestions and the last episodes cliffhanger ending.

No Curfew with James Dugan and Gretchen Eng.

Not Your Average Joe with Joe Kovach.

Our Throwback Thursdays will seek to preserve the legacy of artists that contributed to iO.

Play Practice, with the brother and sister improv duo Jake Prizant and Hanna Moser.

PoeProv is an improvised play based on Edgar Allan Poe.

Sex and the Windy City: An Unofficial Musical Parody is a parody of the HBO show.

Stir Friday Night is Chicagos longest-running Asian American comedy team and has included performers such as Danny Pudi (Community), Mary Sohn (A.P. Bio) and Oscar nominee Steven Yeun.

Girl Doctor presents the Night Shift is billed as mysterious, gory, absurd and irreverent.

dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
Partygoers were pepper-sprayed after throwing rocks and bottles at North Carolina police, officials said.

Officers also used tear gas to break up the crowd gathered on Tuesday, Oct. 25, according to the Greensboro Police Department.

Now, the police force said it plans to conduct an internal investigation into whether the officers actions followed department policies. Officials reported that no one was injured during the incident, which happened at about 12:45 a.m.

People were dancing and partying and then the police got on the mic, college student Kelvyn Harrison told WXLV. They were like we were going to spray tear gas. Im looking at him, then I see the police put on his mask so I start backing up and backing up more, and then I hear some booms going off.

Police were called to the scene over concerns about a potential building collapse after an incident that happened last year at a different complex.

While responding to the latest call at an apartment complex on Houston Street, officials said they found housing units that were over capacity and a group of people standing in the road.

Officers then asked other agencies to help them with the large block party crowd, according to a news release.

Soon after the arrival of assisting units, bottles and large rocks were thrown at officers and their vehicles, police wrote. As a response to these actions, officers utilized pepper fogger spray (a larger handheld version of their personal pepper spray designed for use with multiple subjects) and a single chemical munition canister of CS gas (commonly called tear gas...).

College student Samir Alston told WXLV that people started coughing and running after officers deployed the chemicals.

Photos that police shared of the aftermath showed a rock resting near a shattered back window of a patrol car. Other pictures show at least one car with scratched paint.

As of Oct. 25, the department said an investigation continued and no one was arrested. Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or submit details through the P3 Tips smartphone application.

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The Greensboro Police Department will be further adjusting the schedules of their officers to assist in addressing any similar incidents that may arise throughout the week, officials wrote.

Students pepper sprayed by cops breaking up fight inside high school, NC police say

Beloved officer  granddad to 10  dies after stopping school fight, GA officials say
The Paso Robles Police Department is searching for a man who robbed a local drugstore with a knife on Tuesday night, according to a news release.

At about 9:45 p.m., a man wearing a black ski mask and black clothing entered the CVS store on 187 Niblick Road, police said in the release.

The suspect brandished a knife at the cashier and demanded money, according to the release.

After obtaining a small amount of money from the cash register, the man fled to the rear of the business, police said.

Officers arrived at CVS within a minute of receiving the 911 call, the release said. Police reportedly heard that the suspect might still be inside of the store, so they escorted customers and employees outside.

Paso Robles police and the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Offices K-9 unit searched the store but did not find the suspect, the release said.

According to the release, police later discovered that the suspect escaped out a back door before officers arrived.

Folks with information about the suspect or the robbery can call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464. Leave an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip at 805-549-STOP (805-549-7867) or sanluisobispocounty.crimestoppersweb.com.
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. We regret to report that long term Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited (ASX:GMA) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 30% in three years, versus a market decline of about 14%.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

View our latest analysis for Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Although the share price is down over three years, Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia actually managed to grow EPS by 15% per year in that time. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Or else the company was over-hyped in the past, and so its growth has disappointed.

Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics.

We note that the dividend has declined - a likely contributor to the share price drop. This situation was no doubt compounded by the fact revenue is down 11% per year over three years.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

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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, Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia's TSR for the last 3 years was -12%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 42% over the last year. That's including the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 9% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU 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.

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Monument to a Red Army soldier in Litomerzhitsa

Read also: Slovakia signs deal with Czech Republic and Poland to help it send MiG-29s to Ukraine

According to the newspaper, the washing machine is a reference to numerous cases of looting by the Russian invaders in Ukraine.

The monument itself was doused with red paint.

The mayor of Litomerice, Radek Lowy, said the local municipal services would remove the paint from the monument.

The citys technical services will find out how the monument was painted, he said.

Read also: Czech Republic prepares new military aid package for Ukraine

Accordingly, they will choose an appropriate removal method that will also not damage the statue.

Help NV continue reporting on the Russian invasion



Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to address a joint meeting of Congress.

Pelosi and Schumer said in a letter addressed to Herzog on Tuesday that they hope Congress will have the opportunity to hear from him as the historic and joyous milestone of the 75th anniversary of Israels founding approaches.

It is in celebration of this great anniversary for the State of Israel and in recognition of the deep partnership between our nations that, on behalf of the bipartisan, bicameral Leadership of the Congress, we invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, they said.

The invite came as Herzog visits Washington, D.C., to meet with President Biden and other top U.S. officials.

Pelosi and Schumer said former President Trumans immediate recognition of Israel after it was established has been a point of pride for the U.S.

Since that landmark moment, the United States and Israel have shared an unbreakable bond rooted in common security, shared values and friendship, they said.

The Truman administration recognized the Middle Eastern nation on the same day in 1948 that a provisional government declared the state of Israel.

The letter did not specify a potential date for Herzogs address.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Pennsylvanias Senate race has been perhaps the most bizarre one in a crowd of absurd campaigns. What should have been a relatively sleepy race where Republicans attempt to hold a Senate seat has instead turned into an intensely personal race with two outsized personalities.

Senator Pat Toomey, an arch-conservative on fiscal issues, announced his retirement in 2020 after he never really found a way to work within the confines of a GOP led by Donald Trump. In 2021, Mr Toomey voted to convict Mr Trump for his actions during the January 6 riot.

Pennsylvanias Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman spent much of the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election pushing back on Mr Trumps lies on national television. As a result, he chose to parlay that fame into running for Mr Toomeys open seat against state legislator Malcolm Kenyatta and Conor Lamb, whom he did away with handily in the primary in May, but not before suffering a stroke.

Conversely, Mr Trump endorsed Sean Parnell, a veteran and former congressional candidate. But his estranged wife alleged in their custody dispute that he had abused both her and two of their three children. The dispute led to him ending his campaign and former television host and physician Mehmet Oz announcing his run.

Dr Oz faced off in a crowded primary against right-wing candidate Kathy Barnette and former hedge fund executive Dave McCormick, with some worried that the celebrity doctor was not sufficiently conservative.

Those fears didnt subside when Mr Trump endorsed Dr Oz right before the May primary and he narrowly won the nomination. As a result, for much of the general election, Dr Oz had high unfavourability among Republicans.

But a Suffolk University/USA Today Network poll earlier this month showed that Republicans have coalesced around Dr Oz. Republicans have hit Mr Fetterman for being soft on crime, particularly noting how he worked to commute the sentences of two men convicted of second degree murder under spurious conditions who now work for his campaign.

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Similarly, the Oz campaign has accused Mr Fetterman of using his stroke to avoid a debate, putting out a press release saying it would pay for any medical personnel during the debate. That led Mr Fetterman to initially pulling out of the debate with Dr Oz but the two are now set to debate on 25 October in Harrisburg.

Meanwhile, Mr Fettermans campaign has sought to make Dr Oz seem like an outsider, focusing mainly on the fact he is from New Jersey, relentlessly hammering the fact home by ordering a Cameo video of Nicole Snooki Polizzi of The Jersey Shore. They also pointed to Dr Oz shopping for crudite at a Wegmans and calling it a Wengers.

With a 50-50 Senate, Republicans need to flip just one Senate seat to win back the majority. But a Fetterman victory would mean they would need to gain one more seat to prevent another deadlocked Senate.

For his part, Mr Fetterman has run on the slogan that he would be the 51st vote, highlighting how Democrats have to appease West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin to pass any legislation.
Democratic Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman; Republican celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz. Nate Smallwood/Getty Images; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

A small gathering of Pennsylvania voters lined the street outside the news studio where John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz were set to debate.

Voters expressed their support for their preferred candidates on Tuesday evening.

It's the first and only debate that the two candidates will participate in before Election Day.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania  Voters on Tuesday evening showed their support for Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican celebrity TV doctor Mehmet Oz outside a news studio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, where the two opponents for US Senate would soon take the debate stage.

John Abbott, a 62-year-old Democratic voter, strolled the street bearing a large cardboard sign with the words, "Big John has my vote," printed on it.

"He's hitting the button in the right places for me" on abortion rights and LGBTQ+ issues, Abbott said of Fetterman, adding that, "the rhetoric on the other side" has gotten "dangerous."

The general election for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat, being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, is one of the most crucial midterm races in the country as it could determine which party controls the upper chamber. Democrats are eyeing the Keystone State to expand their majority, while Republicans hope to hold on to the seat in their bid to flip the Senate red.

Tuesday night is the first and only debate that Fetterman and Oz will participate in ahead of Election Day, now two weeks away. Voters said they want to hear the candidates reaffirm their positions on issues that are driving them to the polls: abortion, the economy, immigration, crime, and education.

"I'm happy to support Dr. Oz," Laurie, a 55-year-old Republican voter from nearby Cumberland County, told Insider. "I think he just needs to keep reinforcing the conservative principles of freedom  no mandates, no lockdowns, vote what his people sent him there to vote on, no caving to the leftist ideologies."

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For 74-year-old voter Corrine Sechrist, Oz has her vote because former President Donald Trump supports him.

"I trust President Trump's judgment," Sechrist said, "We're putting our trust in [Oz] and we're voting for him because we love our president. And our president is Donald J. Trump."

In recent days, Oz has closed in on a commanding lead long held by Fetterman, with several pollsters rating the race as a "toss-up."

Read the original article on Business Insider
While Roozbeh Farahanipour was testifying last week in support of Los Angeles County showing solidarity with Iranian women and girls protesting their country's brutal regime, his wife found their Persian cafe in Westwood vandalized.

His wife, the shop's pastry chef, showed up to open the Persian Gulf early Oct. 18, but instead found the glass front door shattered, Farahanipour said. He said the attack, which he believes was carried out by sympathizers or actors of the Islamic Republic, came just days after he shared images on Instagram of a new memorial at the cafe honoring Iranian women recently killed during ongoing protests, and the display was featured on different national news outlets.

But Farahanipour says he remains steadfast in his support of protesters in Iran and across the United States calling for an end to the Islamic Republic's authoritarian decades-long hold over his homeland, undeterred by the recent vandalism.

Compared to whats happening to the people in Iran, thats nothing," Farahanipour said. "Until this regime ends power, no ones going to see the peace."

Demonstrations in Iran have swept the country after a young woman died last month while in the custody of the nation's morality police. The government has responded with a violent crackdown, killing more than 200 people  many women and children  and arresting thousands more, according to human rights groups estimates.

But Farahanipour said he has no plans to remove the cafe's display that honors the women killed in the recent unrest, their images shown on a table alongside roses, candles and an Iranian flag. Included in the memorial is a photo of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose in-custody death sparked the widespread protests, after she was arrested and accused of not correctly wearing her hijab.

"I will leave the table here," Farahanipour said. "For me, thats nothing new. Ive been getting these types of things for, almost, my entire life.

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Farahanipour was jailed and beaten in Iran for his role in the 1999 student protests, before seeking political asylum in the U.S. While he is no longer leading protests in the streets, the 51-year-old Farahanipour said he continues to advocate for democracy in Iran and against the Iranian government  and believes spreading awareness and talking with customers is an important way he can do that.

Life is continuing, no one died" [in the attack on the cafe], the West L.A. Chamber of Commerce president said. "The people in Iran, they died in the street for no reason. ... We can keep the movement in Iran on [people's] minds and support the movement."

Farahanipour said he reported the broken glass door to police online. An LAPD spokesperson said a detective will investigate any reports made online, but could not give an update.

Farahanipour said he hopes they can soon replace the door, but it could take more than two weeks. For now, Farahanipour is paying for the business' opening to be boarded up every night, then reopened in the morning. But he said that task is a small price compared to what he sees happening across Iran, more than 8,000 miles away from his cafe.

Its really, really hard watching, many times its brought tears to my eyes," Farahanipour said. To see people just get shot for no reason on the streets of Tehran  Im speechless."

He remains hopeful that these deaths will not be in vain, and will keep supporting his people from afar.

The people in the streets are hoping for a better life," Farahanipour said. "This is the biggest chance they have in 43 years to get rid of the regime.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said its fellowship program for minorities serves the public interest, as the drugmaker defends against a lawsuit by a group of medical professionals that claims the program illegally excludes whites and Asian-Americans.

In a Tuesday night filing, Pfizer urged a Manhattan federal judge to reject Do No Harm's request for an injunction against filling the 2023 class for its Breakthrough Fellowship Program, which enrolls Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans.

Pfizer said the two-year-old program helps address historical discrimination in the workplace, and difficulties in recruiting, retaining and promoting minorities.

It aims to enroll 100 fellows by 2025, as part of a nine-year commitment to boost minority representation.

"There exists a strong public policy in favor of voluntary affirmative action plans," Pfizer said. "At a minimum, the public interest favors preserving the status quo."

Lawyers for Do No Harm did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In its Sept. 15 complaint, Do No Harm said Pfizer's program was "discriminatory on its face," running afoul of several civil rights laws and violating a federal ban on racial discrimination by companies that accept government healthcare reimbursements.

Fellows receive two years of full-time jobs, fully-funded master's degrees, and employment at New York-based Pfizer after completing the program.

Pfizer said Do No Harm lacked standing to sue and could not show irreparable harm, and that its claims would likely fail.

The fellowship program "does what Congress has encouraged and controlling law allows," Pfizer said.

On Oct. 31, the Supreme Court will consider the future of affirmative action in higher education, as it hears arguments on race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

Among the precedents at risk is a 2003 Supreme Court decision where Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said race could be used as one factor among many to achieve diversity.

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Pfizer quoted approvingly from O'Connor, who said "major American businesses have made clear that the skills needed in today's increasingly global marketplace can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints."

The case is Do No Harm v. Pfizer Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-07908.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Alison Frankel; Editing by Diane Craft)
MANILA (Reuters) - A lawmaker in the Philippines has reintroduced legislation to prevent maritime and airspace encroachment by Chinese vessels, by restricting them to designated sea lanes and air routes and prescribing jail time for captains or vessel owners.

The Philippines has complained repeatedly about Chinese activities in its 200 mile (322 km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including the sustained presence of hundreds of fishing boats it believes contain militia. It has argued those are not engaged in "innocent passage", as is permitted under international law.

The Philippines has long accused Chinese vessels of harassing and disrupting fishing activities, as part of Beijing's efforts to assert its claim to sovereignty over almost entire South China Sea.

The bill from Congressman Rufus Rodriguez designates special sea lanes and air routes and prescribes rules that foreign ships and aircraft conducting innocent passage must follow.

"No Chinese or any vessel should be allowed in our waters without our approval unless for innocent passage in the designated archipelagic sea lanes," he said on Wednesday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is pursuing strong ties with China but has been clear in promising to defend sovereign territory and stand up to any Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea.

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The bill was approved by the previous lower house of Congress but failed to get Senate backing.

It states vessels or planes must pass as quickly as possible and cannot deviate more than 25 nautical miles from designated routes, or engage in fishing or resource extraction during passage. It also bars research activity in the areas unless approved by the Philippine government.

It calls for prison terms of up to two years or a fine of over $1 million or both on the captain, owners or operators of vessels or planes violating the rules.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by Martin Petty)
UNGA Resolution 2758 must not be challenged: spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:55, October 26, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that the history of more than half a century has proved that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 must not be challenged and the one-China principle is unshakable.

Wang made the remarks when answering a query in regard to those forces in the United States who have for some time spread fallacies regarding UNGA Resolution 2758.

On Oct. 25, 1971, the UNGA adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, Wang said, adding that the resolution not only restored all the rights of the People's Republic of China and recognized the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, but also required the expulsion of representatives of Taiwan authorities from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.

Once and for all, Resolution 2758 resolved, politically, legally and procedurally, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN and international institutions, and it has also made it clear that there can only be one seat representing China in the UN, Wang said.

Wang added that the one-China principle has become a prevailing consensus of the international community and a widely-held basic norm of international relations, thus fully eliminating any room for anyone, any country or any force to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." The Taiwan region has no basis, ground or right whatsoever to participate in the UN or any other international organizations that can only be joined by sovereign countries.

"Over the past 51 years, on the basis of abiding by the one-China principle, the number of countries having established diplomatic relations with China has risen from over 60 to 181. This fully shows that the one-China principle has the overwhelming support and recognition of the international community and represents the irreversible trend of the world, Wang said.

In recent years, some forces in the U.S. have deliberately distorted UNGA Resolution 2758 and falsely claimed that the resolution does not decide Taiwan's status, and called for Taiwan's participation in the UN system, Wang said. "In doing so, they have attempted to fudge and hollow out the one-China principle and connive at and support the 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities, which has seriously harmed peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Such attempts to turn back the wheel of history will only meet the opposition of the international community and fail completely in front of the strong resolution, will and capability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wang said.

He said that the history of more than half a century shows that UNGA Resolution 2758 must not be challenged and the one-China principle is unshakable. "The wheels of history are rolling on toward China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Complete reunification of our country can, without doubt, be realized!"

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
More and more these days, I find myself wishing an audience in addition to the one I am sitting around could see a show. Such was the case this past weekend with Refuge, a rather beautiful musical collage now at the Theo Ubique Theatre on Howard Street.

The show, cocreated by Satya Jnani Chavez and Andrew Rosendorf, is set on the border of Texas and Mexico and looks at the dangerous journey migrants attempt on a routine basis. The piece certainly is politically potent, as with all matters of immigration, but its not so much focused on policy or enforcement as the simple truth that desperate, hardworking families are dying of thirst, starvation and animal attacks as they attempt to traverse treacherous and unforgiving terrain.

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Refuge does not demonize Texas ranchers (one is played by Bill Kalinak) or even border patrol agents (represented by Devon Carson). On the contrary, it actually makes the point that those with boots on this hard ground actually better understand the level of the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the Southern border; for those on the U.S. side, the biggest worry is whether or not the migrants will make it out alive.

The musical ensemble of "Refuge" at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. (Jay Towns Photography / HANDOUT)

And, of course, the show reflects the reality that most Americans want to help individuals in need if one such person stands directly before them.

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The traditional Theo Ubique audience, more used to revues and Broadway fare, responded emotionally to this work on Sunday night, especially to how Carsons Martina, pregnant herself, finds a baby dead in the desert, most likely a harbinger of further deaths to be discovered that day. The show notes an agonizing paradox in that the only hope for many of these migrants is being stifled in the dream that put them in harms way.

Refuge offers up a wall of rich sound, driven by a guitarist and lead musician named Laura Murillo Hart, who powerfully conducts the piece as she goes, even as pulsing puppet critters (Adolfo Romero is the designer) move on by and a wave of humanity fights the inhumane conditions. The story, which centers on the journey of Girl (Tatiana Bustamante), could use further development, especially in the last few minutes  the ending feels overly abrupt. But Refuge is only on its second production; it was first seen, with a different cast, at the Curious Theatre Company in Denver. Chavez and Rosendorf are planning future stagings in other cities.

Juan Gonzalez Machain in "Refuge" at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. (Jay Towns Photography / HANDOUT)

The ensemble piece employs several languages but there is no barrier to understanding for anyone willing to listen. And you should know that, for all the sadness in the piece, its also humanistic and celebratory of diverse individuals, all under different kinds of stress.

I only wish the theater had been differently arranged: the audience seemed mostly plastered to the rear wall, when the piece suggests something far more experiential. More interaction would have served everyone. Even so, the ensemble sound still is dancing in my head two days later; its not so much about sticky melodies as about the harmonics.

Migrants, of course, are arriving daily in Chicago from Texas. Perhaps some of the local groups aiding them in their resettlement might also think of buying them tickets to a cathartic piece dedicated to musicalizing their struggles and endurance.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Review: Refuge (3 stars)

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When: Through Nov. 13

Where: Theo Ubique Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston

Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Tickets: $45-$55 at 773-939-4101 or theo-u.com
Phoenix police.

Phoenix police identified the man who they say shot at two officers during an attempted arrest on Tuesdayas 23-year-old Damoin Obrian Walters.

Walters was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on suspicion of charges including assault, offenses against public order, weapons and explosives, theft and failure to appear. Authorities had previously said the man was 24 years old.

Sgt. Brian Bower, a Phoenix Police Department spokesperson, said Walters fought with officers, who were responding to reports of a fight at an apartment complex near 16th Street and Morten Avenue.

Officers found Walters and a woman and began talking to the man before asking him to take his hands out of his pockets. Bower said Walters refused multiple times and accidentally fired a gun in his pocket when the officer tried to force the man to show his hands.

Bower said the man continued struggling with officers and fired several more shots as officers detained him.

Two officers had minor injuries from the encounter and were taken to a hospital.

Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police say Damoin Obrian Walters shot, injured 2 officers
Barges make their way down the Mississippi River, where the water levels have reached record lows in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 23, 2022. Karen Pulfer Focht/Reuters

The Mississippi River is at a historic low, exposing new land that used to be covered by water.

Satellite images show how thin the river has become in some areas, and how parched the land is.

Other photos show a former island that people can now walk to on the dry riverbed.

The Mississippi River has fallen to historic lows, and the effects are visible from space.

A summer of heat waves baked the central US, followed by a flash drought this fall in the Ohio and Missouri river valleys, which drain into the Mississippi. With no rainfall to make up the deficit, the great river dropped to record lows in some places.

Satellite images, and other pictures from before and after this drop in water levels, show how dramatic the difference is. In the below pictures, it's clear that more dry earth is exposed in October 2022, on the right, than at the same time last year. Highlighting the drought, some areas of land that were green in 2021 are brown in 2022.

Satellite images from October 2021, left, and October 2022, right, show how low the Mississippi River is this year, with more bare earth exposed. European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Barges got stuck in the shallow waters in early October, prompting the Coast Guard to impose new weight limits and the US Army Corps of Engineers to go on a dredging spree. Commercial traffic on the river  paddleboats full of tourists and barges carrying most of the Midwest's corn, soybeans, fertilizer, coal, and oil  slowed to a crawl.

The water levels dropped so low that they exposed enough land to walk to Tower Rock, a popular island that's normally accessible only by boat.

Tower Rock, in the Mississippi River, when the water levels are normal. Missouri Department of Conservation

People have been walking out to the island, which is in Perry County, Missouri.

Randy Statler sits on a rock to watch people walk to Tower Rock, an attraction normally surrounded by the Mississippi River and only accessible by boat, in Perry County, Missouri, on October 19, 2022. Jeff Roberson/AP Photo

Meteorologists at AccuWeather expect the river will stay this low until January at the earliest. The forecast calls for small amounts of rain, which will likely be enough to prevent the waters from dropping lower, but not enough to replenish the river.

"What they may do, these rain events, is just kind of hold back from things getting any worse than they are right now," Paul Pastelok, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, told Insider.

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"As far as improvement goes, we're going to need the Ohio River and the mid- and lower-Mississippi River region to be hit with maybe twice as much, if not three times as much, as their normal precipitation they get from now to January. So it's going to be hard to completely cure the problem," he said.

Through December, AccuWeather estimates the economic losses at $20 billion. That's because 92% of US agricultural exports are produced in the Mississippi River basin, to be exported through the Gulf of Mexico.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oct. 26An early education nonprofit is partnering with a philanthropic organization to help hundreds of Colorado preschool children get a jump start on reading, math and science.

The Daniels Fund, which provides grants and scholarships for students in need across the U.S., has joined forces with the early learning nonprofit Waterford.org to create Waterford Upstart, a pilot program that provides underserved families with the resources they need to help kids hit the ground running on the first day of kindergarten.

Those resources include a laptop computer that the family gets to keep upon completion of the program, internet access for those who need it, a STEM kit for independent projects and personalized teaching tips from a coach, said Waterford.org spokesman John McCann.

"We implement the program the year before kindergarten, so that kids can walk into their kindergarten classrooms with plenty of confidence because they know how to read and have a good command of literacy," McCann said.

Next fall, Colorado will begin to offer free early learning opportunities to all families through its Universal Preschool Program. But scores of preschool-age Coloradans will need help between now and then, McCann said. And even when the program goes into effect, there will be families who have trouble getting their kids to preschool because of transportation issues or work schedules.

"That's where our program can help as many as 200 families in Colorado," McCann said. "We can be an effective supplement that can provide families with early literacy instruction, and that helps kindergarten teachers, because they receive a student who is more prepared to receive instruction."

Waterford Upstart can be particularly helpful for rural families, who might not have the means to get their children to preschool every day, officials said. It would also be immensely beneficial to families living in "child care deserts"  communities where the need for child care is greater than the availability.

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"There are barriers to accessing quality early education in Colorado," said Waterford.org spokeswoman Kim Fischer. "We want to help fill those gaps with this at-home solution that gets kids walking into their first day of school ready to learn."

The program requires 30 minutes of personalized online study in reading, math and science five days per week, and offers daily offline activities to keep children engaged.

"In total, caregivers will spend 10 hours of instructional time with their children every week," Fischer said. "We make it easy by providing assistance, explaining what caregivers can do to boost the learning they get online."

The research-based program is already helping preschoolers in several states, including Arizona, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, Vermont and Utah.

Ann and Claude Oulobo, of Dayton, Ohio, found the program immensely helpful for their daughter, Layla.

"She got something extra with Waterford Upstart," Claude Oulobo said. "So we think she's gonna go in and cruise through kindergarten."

On average, 92% of participating children are ready for kindergarten when they complete the program, officials said.

"When kids come into kindergarten without the basic skills they need, they can fall behind, and without the right help, they can stay behind their peers for years," McCann said. "We want to help Colorado parents make sure that doesn't happen to their kids."
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polands culture minister on Wednesday rejected speculation that a rare book given to Pope Francis earlier this week by French President Emmanuel Macron might have been looted from Poland during World War II.

The minister, Piotr Glinski, said the book is not a Polish war loss, and that contrary to the claims of some media ... this work was not stolen from Poland.

Concerns had risen in Poland after a photo was published of a stamp in the old book from a library in Lviv, a city that is now part of Ukraine but was the Polish city of Lwow until WWII.

The volume is the first French edition of German philosopher Immanuel Kants work On Eternal Peace, dating from 1796.

Poland saw much of its cultural patrimony destroyed or looted during the countrys wartime occupation by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and about 500,000 artifacts remain missing.

The country has been making efforts to recover as much as possible. The Culture Ministry has a Division for Looted Art that keeps a database of missing objects and scours foreign collections and auctions.

When they locate a looted Polish painting, book or other object, they inform law enforcement officials of the country it's found in.
Authorities have launched an investigation into a pair of reported sexual assaults that recently occurred along a popular walking trail in Waltham.

A young girl walking with friends near the Elm Street entrance to the Riverwalk area of the Charles River Reservation was grabbed from behind, pushed against a tree, and raped on the evening of Sept. 14, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The victim told police that she didnt get a look at the suspect and that the reported assault ended when the perpetrator thought he heard someone approaching.

The second reported incident happened on the evening of Oct. 20 when a 37-year-old woman jogging on the Riverwalk bike path near Prospect and Crescent streets was approached from behind and groped on two separate occasions, state police said. The suspect was said to be riding a bicycle.

The woman described the suspect as a white or Hispanic man, average in height and build, possibly in his 20s or 30s, who was wearing an orange hoodie.

The Waltham Police Department has added extra police patrols in the area in wake of the reported assaults.

In a statement, state police said, Visitors to the Riverwalk should always be aware of their surroundings, carry a cell phone and call 911 immediately if they feel threatened or observe any suspicious activity, and stay in well-lit areas if possible.

Anyone with information is urged to contact state police detectives at 617-740-7544.

Both assaults remain under 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.

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The Eugene Police Department seized an estimated 18 pounds of suspected fentanyl, stolen guns and cash from a man's vehicles and home, in what the department says is the largest fentanyl seizure in its history.

The drug bust came following an officer's welfare check a little after 10:45 p.m. Oct. 19 at the intersection of East 11th Avenue and High Street, according to police spokeswoman Melinda McLaughlin. An EPD officer was checking on Andre Lavell Johnson, who police say was slumped over the steering wheel of his Range Rover at a stop light.

Johnson, a 42-year-old Portland man, was unconscious, McLaughlin said. Police used their cars to pin the vehicle in before waking up Johnson. Upon waking, Johnson tried to start his car and allegedly refused police commands to stop. Police removed Johnson from the vehicle and officers spotted a gun near his feet, McLaughlin said. Officers also saw bags of pills, later determined to be fentanyl.

The pills matched the description of counterfeit oxycodone pills that are actually fentanyl being circulated in the area, McLaughlin said.

A search found Johnson had a large amount of cash and multiple phones. A K9 unit also detected the odor of controlled substances on the cash and firearm, McLaughlin said. Johnson, who also had warrants for his arrest elsewhere, was lodged in Lane County Jail.

Previous bust:Eugene police seize heroin, meth and 1,900 pills of suspected fentanyl in warrant search

Over the next 28 hours officers and detectives carried out search warrants on Johnson's vehicles and home where they seized around 18 pounds of suspected fentanyl in both powder and pill form, 12 guns, and over $47,000 in cash, McLaughlin said. Six of the firearms seized were allegedly stolen, according to McLaughlin. She said EPD cannot release the address searched because the case is still being investigated.

Johnson was arraigned Oct. 20. His three felony charges include driving with a revoked license, drug possession and DUII. The felony-level drug possession charge is commercial-level. To be considered a commercial drug offense, three of these four criteria must be met, according to court documents:

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In possession of $300 or more in cash

Unlawfully in possession of a firearm

In possession of stolen property

In possession of more than three grams of a mixture or substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl

Johnson's next court appearance is set for Nov. 28.

The pills were a mixture of blue- and rainbow-colored, according to photos of the seized drugs from EPD. The seizure comes five months after EPD reported the department's previous largest fentanyl bust.

"The (rainbow) colored ones we're concerned about because it can look a little bit like candy," McLaughlin told The Register-Guard.

Lane County Public Health recommends anyone who uses drugs or knows someone who does, to carry Narcan (naloxone), an overdose reversal nasal spray.

Eugene Police also warned people about the dangers of fentanyl and said it should be assumed any street drug could contain the powerful, illicit opioid that has a high risk for overdose.

Eugene Police has seen fentanyl contamination in cheap, counterfeit pills sold as common medications such as oxycodone, Adderall or Xanax, McLaughlin said. "We also have reports of fentanyl being found in white or colored powdered drugs that might be sold as cocaine, MDMA or methamphetamine," she said in a news release.

Lane County Public Health warns against any pills not obtained from a pharmacy and urges people who use illicit drugs to take precautions and to not use alone. LCPH recommends anyone who uses drugs or knows someone who does, to carry Narcan (naloxone), an overdose reversal nasal spray, and individuals are able to test drugs for fentanyl with a fentanyl testing strip. It is also important to know the signs of an overdose and always call 911 immediately.

Contact reporter Louis Krauss at lkrauss@registerguard.com, call 541-521-2498 or follow him on Twitter @louiskraussnews.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene Police seize suspected fentanyl, largest in department history
Polk County prosecutors will not be able to use statements made by a murder suspect over several hours of interviews after a judge found the detective questioning him repeatedly violated his constitutional rights.

Tony Arterberry, 58, will be tried beginning Oct. 31 on charges of first-degree murder and other felonies in the May 2022 killing of 56-year-old Rhonda Howard. Prosecutors allege Arterberry, Howard's boyfriend, had broken into her home and threatened her days prior, then returned to make good on his threats.

Court records show Arterberry's attorneys filed motions to suppress statements made after he was found and detained by police. Earlier this month, Judge Scott Rosenberg sided with the defense, finding that Des Moines police Detective Brad Youngblut had illegally questioned Arterberry before reading him his Miranda rights, and then continued the interrogation after Arterberry repeatedly invoked his right to remain silent.

Des Moines Police Det. Brad Youngblut failed to "scrupulously honor" a murder suspect's constitutional rights during an interview in May, a judge has ruled.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the ruling, citing the pending trial.

Arterberry's attorneys said Rosenberg made the right call.

"The judges analysis was spot-on and Americans are lucky that our Constitution protects suspects from inappropriate police tactics," attorney Gina Messamer said in an email. "Mr. Arterberry is looking forward to presenting his case to the jury next week."

A murder, an arrest, but no Miranda warning

According to court filings, Howard was found dead in her residence with injuries to her head and body on May 10. Based on information from her family, police began searching for Arterberry and found him at 3:45 p.m. that day, walking down the street. Officers handcuffed him and placed him in the back of a police vehicle.

Youngblut arrived to speak with Arterberry as he sat in the back of the vehicle, asking whether he had "anything to do with" Howard's death and suggesting that others were pointing the finger at him. At no point did Youngblut or the other officers present read Arterberry his Miranda rights, leading the judge to suppress all of Arterberry's statements before he was transported to police headquarters to be interviewed, arriving around 4:23 p.m.

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Related:Appeals court revives case of man arrested for filming Des Moines police

Judge: delayed Miranda explanation 'wholly unconvincing'

Once there, investigators took a break to allow Arterberry to eat before resuming questioning. However, Youngblut still did not immediately read Arterberry his rights. In court filings, prosecutors argued that Youngblut was unable to do so because Arterberry kept interrupting him. As Youngblut attempted to read the Miranda warning, Arterberry told him, "You aint finna (gonna) read that 'you have the right to remain silent' and all that. Im finna tell you right now bro, you might as well go back outside that door."

"(Youngblut) keeps saying he would like to discuss matters more with Arterberry, but first he has to advise him of his rights," prosecutor Nan Horvat wrote. "And of course, the defendant just keeps talking."

In a subsequent hearing, Youngblut testified he desired at this stage "not to interrupt (Arterberry)" and that it is better to not upset him." Rosenberg wrote that he found this explanation "wholly unconvincing," and that Youngblut could have left the room or simply talked over Arterberry.

"There is simply no indication or support on the record for the court to find Detective Youngblut was unable to administer Miranda or end the interrogation," Rosenberg wrote.

Right to remain silent ignored, lawyers say

About 5:30 p.m., Arterberry was finally read his rights, and the interview continued for another two hours and eight minutes until Arterberry was formally arrested. The defense argued these statements also should be suppressed because Youngblut ignored Arterberry repeatedly invoking his right to remain silent.

As recounted in court filings, Arterberry repeatedly and profanely told Youngblut to take his voice recorder and leave, that he wished to leave himself, and that "I'm done, man. I'm not answering no more questions." At each point, Youngblut simply continued questioning Arterberry about Howard's death.

Right to remain silent:Court tosses 4 police interviews of former Simpson College professor charged in murder, but allows use of one

Horvat argued that Arterberry himself extended the interview.

"This defendant had no intention to cease answering the questions by the detectives," she wrote. "... He waived his Miranda rights and just kept right on talking."

But it's the responsibility of law enforcement officers to "scrupulously honor" a defendant's invocation of his rights, the judge wrote.

"As it was incumbent upon law enforcement to have administered Miranda before arresting and questioning (Arterberry), it was also incumbent on Detective Youngblut to stop the interrogation when (Arterberry) invoked and told him to end the interrogation," Rosenberg wrote.

What did Arterberry tell police?

Separately, Arterberry's attorneys also sought to suppress Howard's autopsy report, which the defense argued was not filed within the 90-day deadline required by law. In his order, Rosenberg rejected that request, noting the law explicitly provides for exceptions when, as in this case, more time is needed for specialized testing.

Rosenberg's order means prosecutors may not use any of Arterberry's statements before or after arriving at the police station at trial. Other than his invocations of his rights, the court filings do not discuss what Arterberry told police during the interviews, and it's not clear how much their absence will alter the state's case.

In addition to first-degree murder, Arterberry is charged with first-degree burglary and robbery for allegedly breaking into Howard's home and assaulting her with intent to steal from her. If convicted of the murder charge, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines police violated murder suspect's Miranda rights, judge rules
Several hundred people gathered in support of Ukraine near the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, October 10, 2022

The document was unanimously backed by all 85 senators.

In particular, the resolution states that Russias goal is to wipe a sovereign country off the map and destroy the Ukrainian people, while Ukraine today is the most important place protecting democracy and freedom.

The senators reiterated that Russian invaders are continuing to terrorize peaceful Ukrainians and bomb civilian objects.

Bandits in Russian uniforms torture and kill prisoners of war and civilians in the occupied territories, the document reads.

They kidnap Ukrainian children... They deport, resettle and send Ukrainian citizens to the periphery of Russia... Vladimir Putin and his apparatus of violence have returned to the brutal practices of the Stalinistand Nazi regimes. That is why Russia must be defeated and deprived of the opportunity to endanger its neighbors.

Read also: European political community summit confirms complete isolation of Russia, says Polish PM

The Senate also condemned Russian aggression and called on all countries that support peace, democracy and human rights to recognize the Russian regime as terrorist one.

In addition, the senators thanked the Polish people, the government, local administrations, non-government organizations, and entrepreneurs for helping Ukrainians after the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Oct. 13 passed a resolution supporting Ukraine and declaring the Russian regime to be a terrorist one.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Florida mother sparks outrage after sharing a recorded conversation with her childrens school owner. The mother called Rock Springs Academy in Apopka, Florida, to regain access to her childrens Classroom Dojo, an online education support platform. After politely asking for help, the mothers request is denied. And the reason that was given was that she failed to speak to the owner during a routine pick-up.

Mother of three @iamjasminecherie posted the recording on TikTok and captioned the video, What Would You Do?? She also plastered the word #KAREN across the clip.

As the video unfolds, what could have been a simple request turns into a strange encounter.

After the owner of the school, identified as Nancy Schehrand, and the mother exchange introductions, Schehrand states, Oh, youre the one that doesnt talk to me.

@iamjasminecherie is confused and asks her what she means. Schehrand replies, Yes, last week or the other day in the lobby when you didnt even speak to me.

The mother asks again, So you removed my access because I didnt talk to you?

Schehrand sharply replies, Yea, I did, actually.

As @iamjasminecherie begins to explain her need for access again, the controlling owner overtalks her and explains her petty reason for the revocation.

People usually talk to me when they are in my school and in my lobby. But you didnt, Schehrand says.

@iamjasminecherie questions why that matters, adding especially if her children speak. She argues that she should not bed obligated to.

As the mother attempts to work through the absurd situation, Schehrand replies in a condescending tone.

Oh, so now youre all talkative, huh? she snapped.

@iamjasminecherie calls her out for taking the matter personally and tells her, This still doesnt justify revoking my access to my children at school.

Well, first of all, this is a private school, and I own it, replies Schehrand and she transforms into full Karen mode.

And I can do whatever I want, she continues.

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She claims she felt the mother was rude for not speaking and took the matter personally.

I speak to you all the time, and the one day I dont speak, you take it personally, the mother replied. You got in my face and waved your hand.

As expected, Schehrand denied getting too close to the mother. But is made aware that her responses and current conversation are being recorded.

The single mother attached a clip of her thoughts at the end of the video.

She noted how controlling the owner sounded and how her interaction is limited with the staff at the school, so she is unaware of where the animosity comes from.

@tea_n_the_shadejr reposted the clip with a stitch from homeschool advocate @blackhomeeducators.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TEA_N_THE_SHADE BLACKUP PAGE (@tea_n_the_shadejr)

The post is captioned with information that @blackhomeeducators received from the mother.

Nancy Schehrand, the owner of Rock Springs Academy at (2226 N Rock Springs Rd. Apopka FL 32712) and receptionist revoked my access to my childrens classroom at her school because I did not speak to her one day in person. I found out on a Friday

10/07/2022 that my access was revoked without any knowledge, preparation, or notification, the caption read. I contacted Rock Springs Academy by phone Monday morning 10/10/22. Nancy answered the phone and admitted that she revoked my access because she felt that was the only way to get my attention. She also stated that it was her school and she can give access to who she wants to and doesnt want to and if I agree to be cordial with her than I can gain access to my childrens classes again. I have a video/ audio of the entire call. On September 21st I came into Rock Springs Academy (while recording) and presumed to sign my children out before heading to their classroom. As I am signing Nancy says hello, then stands in my face and waves her hand in front of my face trying to get my attention to provoke me. Ignore her as to I am uncomfortable and not sure what her next move will be.

I then get my children from their class and as we are walking out she just stares at me with a death look and says bye to everyone elses children but mine, although my children says bye she did not return it, it continues. While speaking on the phone with Nancy on 10/10/2022 I asked her what I have done to make her have animosity towards me, she said I started it.

The post also included the contact information for the Rock Springs Academy.

Blavity reached out for a comment from Nancy Schehrand, but all calls were being forwarded to voicemail.
Former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan departs from his lawyers' office, March 9, 2022, after making his first virtual court appearance for his indictment. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

When former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is arraigned by telephone next week on new federal conspiracy charges involving AT&T, someone will be conspicuously absent from the line.

Madigan himself.

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Thats because a federal judge on Wednesday granted an unusual request by Madigans attorneys to waive his right to be present for the proceedings, where a formal not guilty plea will be entered on his behalf to a superseding racketeering indictment unveiled earlier this month.

The filing by attorneys Sheldon Zenner and Daniel Collins cited Rule 10(b) of federal criminal procedure, which provides that a defendant need not be present for an arraignment if the charges were brought by way of indictment, the accused waives the right to be present in writing, and the court agrees to it.

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Attached to the filing was a one-page document signed by Madigan asserting hes pleading not guilty to each and every charge against me set forth in the superseding indictment and is aware that the judge will enter the pleas in his absence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole granted the waiver after the U.S. attorneys office declined to take a position either way. On Thursday, Madigans co-defendant, Michael McClain, was also excused from the hearing after lodging a nearly identical request.

Its a legal avenue thats rarely been exploited at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse over the years, despite a seemingly endless parade of indicted politicians who undoubtedly would have jumped at the chance to avoid the media spotlight that an arraignment brings.

That goes double for Madigan, who was famously reticent in his four decades at the helm of Illinois politics, keeping a tight-knit circle of advisers and even eschewing cellphones.

In fact, since the U.S. attorneys office first filed racketeering charges against Madigan eight months ago, the former Democratic powerhouse has not uttered a word in court, by telephone or otherwise, and has yet to even step foot in the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

But that could soon change. In December, longtime COVID-19 protocols at the building are set to be lifted, and many judges are expected to begin requiring parties  particularly criminal defendants  to appear in person rather than by phone.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

The superseding indictment announced Oct. 14 accused Madigan and McClain, his longtime confidant, of conspiring with executives and lobbyists at AT&T Illinois to funnel payments to a Madigan associate in exchange for the speakers help passing controversial legislation to end landline service for the companys 1.2 million customers.

The telephone giant has agreed to pay a $23 million fine as part of a deferred prosecution deal with prosecutors that would see the charges against the company dropped after two years.

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Also charged as part of the investigation was Paul La Schiazza, former president of AT&T Illinois, who was accused of orchestrating and approving the payments. He pleaded not guilty by telephone last week.

Madigan, 80, and McClain, 75, were charged in March in the original 22-count indictment alleging they conspired to participate in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 that allegedly leveraged Madigans elected office and political power for personal gain.

The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.

Both Madigan and McClain have denied any wrongdoing. Their attorneys have accused prosecutors of trying to criminalize legal political actions such as job recommendations in a quest to bring down the once-powerful speaker.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
You dont have to agree with Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Bakers decision not to pursue criminal charges in the fatal shooting of Kansas City firefighter Anthony Santi. But there are far better ways to express disappointment than sending racist and sexist threats to Baker and staff. Is this what weve come to as a society?

Under Missouri law, threatening a prosecutor in the performance of their official duties is a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, legal experts told us. Those responsible for the reprehensible messages must be held accountable for their hateful threats.

Disagreements in complex cases such as these are inevitable. Santi was a dedicated firefighter, EMT and father, according to his obituary. But common decency shouldnt be shoved aside when duly elected prosecutors such as Baker make legal decisions we disagree with. Levying threats at public officials is never tolerable.

Were going to burn your f---ing house down, an unknown voice says on a voicemail message made public this week by Bakers office. Every f---ing last one of you that live(s) there. Were f---ing coming for ya. We see what the f--- youre doing.

The expletive-filled voicemail contained other racist and sexist rhetoric not suitable for publication. The vile message is an abhorrent act that must be taken seriously. The voicemail and more than a dozen other messages to Bakers office were forwarded to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office for review, law enforcement officials told us Tuesday.

On Oct. 6, a dustup inside an Independence convenience store over cigars led to a fight between JaVon L. Taylor, 23, and Santi, a 41-year-old off-duty Kansas City firefighter. In a news release, Bakers office explained prosecutors decision not to file charges against a woman who fatally shot Santi. Under Missouris stand your ground self-defense law, the woman had the legal authority to fire the single shot that killed Santi, according to Baker, who like most prosecutors, took an oath to uphold the law without fear or favor.

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No doubt this is a muddied case. It appears to have been Taylor who escalated the incident when he argued with a store clerk. After the clerk and Santi told the man to leave the store, he refused and then went to his car to grab a gun. Its hard to not to see how Taylors conduct contributed to the deadly incident.

And yet the law seems clear that the woman was within her rights to stop a deadly threat with lethal force.

The woman shot Santi in the back as he held Taylor in a headlock outside the convenience store in Independence, according to a witness, who told investigators Taylor was totally helpless in the headlock and turning purple, prosecutors said.

The rule of law required that this case be declined, prosecutors said in the news release from Bakers office.

Although Taylor drew the gun that he and Santi eventually fought over, the woman saw Taylor being strangled, and she had a right to end the threat to life with deadly force, as allowed under Missouri law. Taylor, a convicted felon, is facing federal charges for unlawful possession of a firearm.

The witness believed that he heard the victim of the shooting say to the man he was choking, Im killing you, the prosecutors office wrote in its release.

As her hands shook, the woman begged Santi to stop choking Taylor, prosecutors said, adding: These statements and video evidence from the convenience store support the defense of others provision as codified in Missouri law.

It should not be lost on anyone that Santis death is a tragic outcome of this incident. His life as a firefighter was dedicated to public service. We grieve for his family, friends and the firefighter community.

But the use of deadly force in defense of others has been permitted under Missouri law for generations, Annie Gibson, president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, wrote in a statement on behalf of the group. She added: This is a tragic case.

Weve long had questions about Missouris stand your ground law, which, when abused, can invite unwanted vigilante justice. But in this case, the law as it is written was used as intended to save a life, according to prosecutors. Even if some dont agree with the decision, threats to prosecutors are against the law and unacceptable behavior.
A protest and fight broke out outside a pub in Eugene, Oregon, during a drag queen storytime event  adding to the growing list of attacks against drag events and the LGBTQ community across the country.

The event featured an 11-year-old performer as the guest of honor at Old Nicks Pub on Sunday, The Register-Guard reported. There were roughly 200 protestors and supporters outside the pub some armed. Several hours into the demonstration of the drag story hour, authorities said a fight broke out between the two groups, where rocks and smoke bombs were briefly thrown. The Eugene Police Department responded to the outbreak by shutting down the street.

The incident hardly stands alone. Drag queen story time events across the country have faced threats and attacks from hate groups this year, fueled by displays of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and a myriad of GOP legislation targeting queer kids.

These protests are absolutely ridiculous, especially because these people claim to be supporting children, Emily Chappell, owner of Old Nicks Pub, told HuffPost. [The protestors] have been manipulated by a targeted hate campaign in this country whose agenda is demonizing queer people and spaces in support of anti-LGBTQ legislation they want to push through this fall. Its sad, really.

Drag Story Hour (DSH) is a nonprofit organization that uses drag as a traditional art form to promote literacy, teach about LGBTQ lives, and activate childrens imaginations, Jonathan Hamilt, executive director of DSH, told HuffPost. It started in 2015 with drag queens reading to children in libraries and has since expanded to include literary and creative programming for children led by drag queens all over the world.

Republicans have routinely expressed disapproval and intentions to ban drag queen storytime events, claiming they expose children to sexually explicit material. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in June that the states child protective services should investigate parents who take their kids to drag shows, calling them not age-appropriate. That same month, Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R) echoed similar opinions in a tweet, likening the events to perverted sex shows.

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Hamilt countered these conservative beliefs by explaining that the organization has received praise from parents and teachers.

Lets be clear: DSH provides age-appropriate programming, and we routinely receive praise from parents and educators who are delighted that we offer children safe spaces to express themselves and support one another, he said.

Chappell said her pub has held other LGBTQ-friendly events and drag queen story hours, noting that they have positively impacted queer youth, making them feel safe, seen, and supported by the community.

I have gotten hundreds of letters from people who support us, saying our events make their child feel safe and secure in a world that wants to demonize being gay, Chappell added.

She credited conservative beliefs about the sexualization of drag queen story time to an overall lack of understanding of drag.

Rich Kuntz, also known as Gidget, reads to children during Drag Queen Story Hour on March 21, 2019. The LGBT+ Center Orlando canceled a weekend drag queen story hour for children after receiving online threats. (Photo: Sarah Espedido/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Rich Kuntz, also known as Gidget, reads to children during Drag Queen Story Hour on March 21, 2019. The LGBT+ Center Orlando canceled a weekend drag queen story hour for children after receiving online threats. (Photo: Sarah Espedido/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

There is nothing sexual about lip-syncing to uplifting songs and reading stories in an elaborate costume. They do it at Disney every day. While drag can present as sexual at adult-themed events, [the Oregon pub] event is not adult-themed, and neither are any of the drag queen storytimes Ive ever heard about, Chappell explained.

Alleged members of the Proud Boys, an extremist group, hurled slurs and yelled about pedophiles towards patrons attending an all-ages drag show at a bar in California in August. Recently, an LGBTQ center in Florida canceled their drag queen story hour event scheduled for Saturday after receiving threats from hate groups mere days after the protest in Oregon.

The protest outside of Old Nicks Pub was far from surprising to Chappell, who said her business received numerous phone calls and messages the week prior filled with hate speech and threats. Protestors accused the event of sexualizing the child performers, reports The Register-Guard. Proactive measures were taken to ensure safety, with the business adding $2,000 worth of security to the event. The pub is raising money to fund extra security for future events in light of the recent incident and the growing number of received threats.

We are indeed planning on having extra security at all of our LGBTQ events and some others that these hate groups have already said they are going to target, Chappell said.

Rather than addressing real threats in the country, such as the epidemic of gun violence, Hamilt said right-wing politicians are spreading dangerous conspiracy theories and inciting violence against drag performers and the LGBTQ community. This is part of a coordinated campaign to deny the rights of LGBTQ people, who already endure disproportionate rates of suicide and homelessness, and legislate us out of existence, he said.

This month, 30 Republicans introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children bill, targeting all federally funded facilities and programs  including drag queen story hour events. Anti-LGBTQ legislation spreads beyond drag shows, with some states attempting to ban gender-affirming medical care.

Any attempt to criminalize our work is rooted in tired homophobic and transphobic hate and misinformation, and we refuse to give in to politicians who are too bigoted and boring to comprehend our vision for a world in which every child can be safe and fully expressing who they are, said Hamilt.

Chappell said that the pub continues to receive threats even after the event, but they will not be backing down.

Their goal is to get us to stop operating and stop hosting all ages events, Chappell said. They want to destroy safe spaces for queer youth. And we will not let them win.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Providence's $10-million reparations budget cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday night, receiving its first vote of approval from the City Council.

The budget is set to fund more than 20 efforts related to home ownership and financial literacy, workforce training, media, community organizations, small business and more.

The finance committee opted to remove three investments to establish a home repair fund, expand Mayor Jorge Elorza's guaranteed income program and create a legal defense fund for renters facing evictions. Instead, council members moved to reallocate the more than $1.7 million that would have been spent on those categories to a "United Way COVID-19 Equity Fund."

Nationwide program: 11 US mayors pledge to pay reparations for slavery to groups of Black residents

Next step toward reparations

Details on how those funds would be spent was not provided, though the intent would be to secure additional funding for the city's reparations program. However, any proposed expenditures regarding that fund would require a public hearing followed by council approval.

The council was highly supportive of the budget, with all members voting in favor except Councilmen Michael Correia, Nicholas Narducci and James Taylor, and Councilwoman Kat Kerwin, who were each absent.

However, Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune didn't think the funds were sufficient.

"One thing I just want to highlight is that we cannot assume that allocating $10 million is enough to address the equity gap within our communities, within our city and our state," she said. "The harm that was caused by slavery or enslaving people continues today in this present day."

LaFortune went on to call the allocation "kind of disrespectful."

"But its something, right? If were starting somewhere," she said.

Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, who leads the finance committee, agreed that it wasn't enough, stating "we could have used ten times as much money as we received." However, as Ryan pointed out, this marks the end of the committee's allocation of American Rescue Plan Act Funds, the federal money that allowed Providence to consider reparations.

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Council members saw numerous letters from the public reacting to the budget. While there were more in support than against, the testimonies made clear that not everyone agrees that the money has been divvied up in the right way.

Rochelle Lee, who has been active on boards including the Providence Housing Authority and the Refugee Dream Center, as well as being active in local politics in the past, wrote in opposition of the budget, contending that there was insufficient community engagement.

Lee also criticized the spending, stating that while the projects included seek to address poverty and local development, they "will not create an array of efforts to build and sustain race equity for generations to come."

Justice Gaines, a past member of the mayor's African American Ambassadors Group, which worked on the plan for reparations, also raised concerns about the process, stating that some members "were regularly dismissed, degraded, and silenced."

In a statement, Elorza praised the work of council members, the ambassadors group and the reparations commission, calling it "not surprising that there are differences in opinions." "Each of the few cities that has taken on this work has faced critical questions and concerns; it is unavoidable," Elorza said. "However, we are especially proud that this debate is happening not as a hypothetical thought-experiment, but as a policy conversation with real resources and implications. We appreciate everyone who has been part of this work and look forward to the additional work that lies ahead."

The budget is now headed back to the finance committee for further review, and will require a second vote from the council before heading to the mayor's desk.

This story will be updated on Wednesday.

How a movement is growing: Are US churches setting the tone for reparations?

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence's $10M reparations budget clears first major hurdle
IRYNA BALACHUK  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 15:18

The Russian leadership continues to spread stories about Kyivs alleged plans to use a "dirty bomb", as the president of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, claimed on 26 October.

Source: Putin, during a video conference with attendees of a meeting of the Council of the Heads of Security Agencies and Intelligence Services of CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] member states

Quote from Putin: "The statements made by the Kyiv regime about obtaining nuclear weapons are being ignored. After all, it was publicly announced by the Kyiv authorities. Nobody is saying anything. We are also aware of plans to use a so-called "dirty bomb" as a provocation."





Details: The Russian president recalled the already forgotten statements that "the US has turned Ukrainian territory into a test site for biological experiments" and stated that Ukraine is still being "pumped with heavy weapons".

Meanwhile, according to Putin, a "black market for weapons" is supposedly being formed in Ukraine, and there is even a "risk of portable anti-aircraft missile systems and high-precision weapons falling into the hands of criminals".

Putin also tried to alarm his audience by claiming that "the spread of foreign mercenaries with combat experience poses a threat to CIS countries".



Background:

On 23 October, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu during a telephone conversation that Ukraine is allegedly preparing provocations involving a "dirty bomb".

Earlier, Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti claimed, with reference to its own sources, that the Ukrainian authorities are preparing "a provocation on the territory of their country involving the detonation of a so-called dirty bomb or a low-yield nuclear warhead", in order to subsequently accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and turn the whole world against Moscow.

Russian propagandists have even come up with a whole story alleging that "under the guidance of its Western handlers, Kyiv has already started to implement this plan".

After that, Shoigu and the head of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, increased the number of telephone calls they had with their Western colleagues to discuss the supposed "provocation by Ukraine".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
LONDON (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to use the possible extension of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal as a way to gain leverage and dominate next month's G20 summit in Indonesia, a European diplomat briefed on the grain talks told Reuters.

Ahead of the Nov. 19 expiry of the grain deal, which allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports, Russian officials have repeatedly said that there are serious problems with it.

But a European diplomat who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the discussions said that Putin will attend the G20 summit on the resort island of Bali that begins on Nov. 15.

The Kremlin, which has not yet confirmed that Putin will attend, declined immediate comment. Putin said on Oct. 14 that he had not yet made a final decision about whether or not he would go.

If he does, it will be the first major global summit the Kremlin chief has attended alongside major Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden since the war began on Feb. 24.

"The grain deal will be the centrepiece of this G20 summit and everyone will be trying to convince Putin to extend it, essentially to allow it to roll over or to extend it for longer," the European diplomat said.

"It is a way for the Russians to hold the cards at the G20 summit but a rollover or a longer term extension to the grain deal doesnt cost them anything."

The United Nations-brokered grain deal is crucial for food markets: it allows the export of grain from Ukraine, one of the worlds largest grain exporters, that the Russian invasion had halted.

Since the deal was clinched on July 22, several millions of tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported from Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

Leaders at the G20 will push Putin to extend the deal, the diplomat said. Ultimately, the diplomat said, Russia will allow the deal to rollover for four months - or even go for a longer extension.

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"Russia will take it to the brink but they will extend because they wont want to face the international opprobrium of ending the grain deal," the diplomat said.

"This is the first big event since the war began and every head of state who wants to be a mediator  beginning with President Macron  will make a beeline for Putins hotel room to be the mediator who convinced Putin to extend the grain deal  so Putin will be the kingmaker at this summit."

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Mark Trevelyan, William Maclean)
The LGBTQ community is reeling from the news of beloved gay icon Leslie Jordans death.

Jordan  an effeminate Southern gay actor who for decades occupied his own special corner of queer culture  died Monday morning in a car crash in Hollywood. His agent said it is suspected that Jordan suffered a medical emergency at the wheel. He was 67.

Condolences poured in for the Emmy-winning trailblazer as the day went on, from other actors to drag queens to activists to everyday LGBTQ folks, many of whom praised Jordan for never shying away from a wrist flick or a double entendre, centering his queerness unapologetically in his many roles and public appearances.

The 4-foot-11 scene-stealer first catapulted to fame in the 90s with cameos as Beverley Leslie, the facetiously queer-coded nemesis of a New York City socialite played by Megan Mullally on Will & Grace. Jordans character eventually comes out as gay on the show, which itself broke major barriers for its time in its representation of gay men, though mostly white and cisgender, on network television.

In an interview on NBCs Meet the Press in 2012, Joe Biden, then the vice president, attributed much of Americans shifting attitudes about the LGBTQ community at the time to the show.

When things really begin to change is when the social culture changes, Biden said. I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybodys ever done so far.

Mullally called Jordan one of the greats Monday on Instagram.

Over the years, Jordan, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, brought his over-the-top queer sensibilities into the mainstream on a number of network shows, including the Fox sitcoms The Cool Kids and, more recently, Call Me Kat. Over the course of the pandemic, his viral social media videos, inspired by lockdown fatigue, found him a new and younger audience.

This summer, I really blew up on the gram, he said in an appearance guest hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December. For you older people, that means Im doing really well on Instagram.

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For many, Jordan was a symbol of the joy of unquestionably visible queerness  of reclaiming and rejoicing in long-held stereotypes about the feminine affects of gay men.

He leaned into his flamboyance, said Eric Gonzaba, an assistant professor of American studies who specializes in LGBTQ scholarship at California State University, Fullerton.

Jordan was a teenager as the gay rights movement started to pick up steam. In the late 60s and early 70s, amid the Stonewall uprising and the American Psychiatric Associations removal of homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders, he was coming to terms with his identity as Americans ideas about sexuality were also starting to change.

Then came the AIDS epidemic. Gay men like Jordan, born from 1946 to 1964 and classified as baby boomers, were hit the hardest at the peak of the crisis, from the late 80s and throughout the 90s. By 1995, a tenth of the 1.6 million gay men ages 25 to 44 had died.

Gonzaba called Jordan a representative of a lost generation.

All that talent, fabulousness, and culture we never got to see, he tweeted. Imagine 70,000+ more Leslie Jordans.

The AIDS epidemic, and the Reagan administrations failed response to it, played a role in the rise to prominence of already well-established LGBTQ enclaves, which some referred to as gayborhoods, in larger urban areas in the 80s and 90s. Those neighborhoods, such as the Castro in San Francisco and Greenwich Village in New York City, became ground zero for the fight for LGBTQ rights and for coordinating a robust health response within the community to the AIDS crisis.

Socialization among gay men and gay-centric networks, particularly in gay neighborhoods, has myriad political and social benefits. But some research has shown that it can be associated with an increased risk of drug use. More than two decades ago, Jordan struggled with alcoholism when he was first living in Los Angeles, he said in an interview with People magazine in January 2021.

His challenges with substance abuse, he admitted, were directly related to his experience as a gay man in those times.

I felt it was a lot easier to be gay when I was loaded, he said.

He died more than 20 years sober, a fact that gives Vic Vela comfort. Vela, a gay man and the host of an award-winning Colorado Public Radio show about addiction, Back From Broken, said that although it has never been easy for anyone to come out, it was particularly difficult in the latter decades of the last century.

For a lot of gay men from a certain generation, that was really hard to do without alcohol, he said.

Avoiding anti-LGBTQ discrimination and homophobia remains especially hard for queer people who, like Jordan, are less straight-presenting, which can give people incentives to suppress aspects of their identity.

I open my mouth, and 50 yards of purple chiffon come out, Jordan said in another appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September 2021, prompting a roomful of giggles.

In the interview, Jordan spoke about having to play a straight man in a cameo on DeGeneres sitcom, which broke new ground in American culture when DeGeneres character famously came out as gay in 1997. He had his doubts he could pull it off, but he joked hed try to butch it up.

In the ensuing years, he did just the opposite in most of his roles. It was that outward expression of his queerness that became a shining example for younger generations of LGBTQ people to embrace theirs, too.

In the same interview, DeGeneres thanked Jordan for coming on her show. It was good to see him, she said as he sat down.

Thank you, he said, glancing at the audience. Its good to be seen.

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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday called for Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Mike Franken to be disqualified for his tweet last year mocking a 2017 physical attack by Pauls neighbor.

Pauls neighbor broke several of his ribs and caused the Kentucky Republican to undergo surgery after saying he was angered by the senator repeatedly putting debris near his house when doing yard work.

Wasnt Rands neighbor more than a little in the right? Franken wrote on Jan. 21, 2021, in response to an appearance Paul made on Fox News the day before.

Disgusting that Mike Franken would celebrate an assault (from behind) that resulted in 6 broken ribs, a damaged lung that had to be removed, and chronic pain, Paul responded on Tuesday. Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office.

Paul had appeared on Fox News last year to respond to President Bidens inauguration speech, which took place hours earlier.

Also, if you read his speech and listen to it carefully, much of it is thinly veiled innuendo calling us white supremacists, calling us racists, calling us every name in the book, calling us people who dont tell the truth, Paul told host Brian Kilmeade.

Franken faces seven-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in next months midterm elections.

Like most Iowans, Im sick and tired of being lectured by Washington politicians  especially by someone whos never served a day in his life in the military and just voted against giving our veterans the healthcare they deserve, Franken said of Paul in a statement to The Hill on Wednesday. If thats whos defending Sen. Grassley, its clear that his 63 years in office is way too long.

Franken also responded to Paul publicly on Twitter, writing that Im not going to be lectured to by an insurrectionist.

Michaela Sundermann, communications director for the Grassley campaign, in a statement on Wednesday said, Mike Frankens support for violence makes him unfit for public office.

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Grassley has previously cruised to reelection, typically defeating his challengers by double-digit margins, and the parties had largely written off the race as noncompetitive.

But a Des Moines Register-Mediacom poll released earlier this month raised alarm for the GOP by suggesting the race may be much closer.

The survey found 46 percent of likely voters supported Grassley, but Franken was just 3 points behind at 43 percent support.

Nearly two-thirds of the likely voters in the poll indicated Grassleys age is a concern. Grassley would be 95 years old at the end of his next term if he wins reelection.

Updated at 10:56 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(PA)

Rangers sobering Champions League campaign continued on its downward trajectory with a 3-0 defeat to Napoli in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

A 7-1 loss to Liverpool at Ibrox in their last Group A outing had shocked the Light Blues and their fans and it looked ominous when striker Giovanni Simeone scored twice in the first 16 minutes for the dominant home side.

The second half was more encouraging for the visitors but defender Leo Ostigard headed in a third from a corner in the 80th minute to seal the win and leave the accomplished Serie A leaders with five section wins out of five.

By contrast, Giovanni van Bronckhorsts side have lost all five games, conceding 19 goals and scoring one, and he will find himself under more pressure.

Last seasons Europa League finalists are out of Europe altogether barring an unlikely thrashing of Ajax in the final game at Ibrox next week.

A real sense of trepidation surrounded Rangers for the trip to Naples to play an in-form team who won 3-0 at Ibrox, albeit the home side had put up a good fight until James Sands had been sent off.

It was another reshuffled Rangers line-up with Van Bronckhorst giving a first Champions League start to left-back Ridvan Yilmaz, while Sands, Alfredo Morelos and Scott Wright came back in.

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti made six changes as he rested some key players including Hirving Lozano, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen.

However, the Italian outfit  unbeaten in all 15 previous games this season with 11 straight wins  were still packed with quality, including captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and defender Minjae Kim with Ostigard making his debut in defence.

Napoli cruised to victory (AFP via Getty Images)

Van Bronckhorst had asked for a display of character but that was in question as they soon fell 2-0 behind.

There were just 11 minutes gone when Di Lorenzo sent striker Simeone down the right flank and despite the attention of defender Leon King he fired the ball low across keeper Allan McGregor and in at the far post.

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Four minutes later, Simeone headed in a cross from Mario Rui with defenders King and Ben Davies helpless either side.

Rangers looked like they would crumble further.

There was a let-off for the ragged visitors in the 22nd minute when Tanguy Ndombele cracked the crossbar with a drive from distance and then, in the 38th minute, McGregor saved a close-range header from Giacomo Raspadori as Napoli stepped up the pressure again.

It was all too comfortable for Napoli although Rangers midfielder Malik Tillman had a shot blocked in a rare foray into the opposition box before Morelos deflected strike on a counter-attack was saved by home keeper Alex Meret with the corner defended.

Giovanni Simeone scored twice for Napoli (AP)

Fashion Sakala replaced Wright for the second half and Rangers reverted to a back five but soon Simeone had another chance, this time lobbing McGregor from the edge of the box but watching it bounce over the bar.

The Rangers defence was being easily opened up.

McGregor blocked an angled drive from Simeone with his foot before Rangers enjoyed a spell of positive possession around the hour mark and a Morelos volley was blocked for a fruitless corner by Rui before the Colombia striker missed the ball altogether just five yards out from a Yilmaz cross.

In between those two chances a loose pass from Rangers skipper James Tavernier gave Raspadori a chance but he bent his shot wide of the far post.

In the 79th minute McGregor saved an effort from Rui and from the resultant Raspadori corner, Ostigard rose to power in a header to add gloss to a convincing home win.
Fashion retailer The RealReal has cut ties with Kanye West after he made antisemitic remarks and supported the White Lives Matter movement.

Earlier this month, the rapper sent models down the catwalk in White Lives Matter T-shirts during his Yeezy SZN 9 presentation in Paris.

He also made antisemitic posts on Twitter, and later doubled down on the remarks during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, when he said he was absolutely not sorry for making the antisemitic comments.

In an announcement shared on Tuesday (25 October), The RealReal said it will no longer accept items associated with West or his brand, including Yeezy or Yeezy x Adidas products.

The luxury consignment company wrote on Instagram: Kanye Wests recent behaviour at Paris Fashion Week and the comments he made regarding the Jewish community are not only offensive, but go against everything we believe in.

For this reason, we are no longer accepting items associated with West or his brand, including Yeezy and Yeezy x Adidas.

The retailer said that out of fairness to its customers, Yeezy items which are already being sold on its platform will remain available.

At the RealReal, we honour and celebrate the diverse community we have built, the statement added.

Since our founding, weve been committed to creating a safe space for every employee, cosignor, and customer  regardless of age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or race  and we will not tolerate remarks that demonstrate discrimination or call for violence.

We stand on the side of equality and acceptance and will continue to promote a safe and supportive marketplace for our members.

The news comes after Adidas announced on Tuesday that it had officially ended its partnership with West.

The sportswear brand, which has been affiliated with West since 2013, said it will not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech.

Yes recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness, a statement said.

Also on Tuesday, Gap said it will remove any remaining Yeezy Gap products from its stores.
A Round Rock ISD vehicle is seen outside during a school safety active shooter training demonstration conducted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement at Walsh Middle School on July 11, 2022, in Round Rock, Texas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is facing a political firestorm over a letter calling on the Biden administration to negotiate with Russia.

Jayapal leads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which sent a letter to the White House on Monday urging President Biden to directly negotiate with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

This idea generated such blowback from other Democrats that Jayapal withdrew the letter on Tuesday, saying she accepts responsibility for it being released.

The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting. As Chair of the Caucus, I accept responsibility for this, said Jayapal in a statement Tuesday. Every war ends with diplomacy, and this one will too after Ukrainian victory. The letter sent yesterday, although restating that basic principle, has been conflated with GOP opposition to support for the Ukrainians just defense of their national sovereignty. As such, it is a distraction at this time and we withdraw the letter.

According to Jayapal, the letter was initially signed by 30 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus last June.

Timing in diplomacy is everything, said California Rep. Sara Jacobs, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in a tweet. I signed this letter on June 30, but a lot has changed since then. I wouldnt sign it today.
I wondered what might happen when the brilliant artisans of BBC Ones The Repair Shop were confronted with a slightly weary but classic piece of mid-20th-century British craftsmanship, foxed round the edges, slightly stooped, the hands strangely bloated, and the head desperately clinging onto the few strands of the hair still remaining. Yet this unique national treasure, with all of his famous provenance, finds himself in good care. Yes, His Majesty King Charles III, now approaching his 74th year and never seriously refurbished despite some rough treatment, is handled with chummy deference by the programmes stars, presenter Jay Blades, ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, horologist Steve Fletcher, and furniture restorer Will Kirk. And equal solicitude is applied, to the obvious delight of the then Prince of Wales, to the bric-a-brac hes asked them to do up.

So, presumably on the understanding it is all done free of charge, as tends to be the way with the House of Windsor, Ramsay sets about fixing a broken Victorian pot, and Fletcher takes apart an antique clock thats been bodged to uselessness over many centuries. As youd expect from the Repair Shop team, they do a superb job, and you do share that mix of reverence and trepidation as they approach an elderly but magnificent object (thats the pot and the clock, not the monarch). Ramsay adds some fresh glaze and restores the inscriptions on the Queen Victoria diamond jubilee goblet as if shes back in the potteries in 1897, and Fletcher makes Charless old-timer chime again. Apparently he finds the tick-tick comforting. Isnt that nice?

The show is edited with just the right blend of music and inconsequential chat, and is as beautifully filmed as ever. This time it is partly based at the former princes latest home (of many) in Ayrshire, Dumfries House, a fine Adams Palladian mansion containing about 59 pieces of proper Chippendale furniture. It was bought by Charles for 43m about 15 years ago, and his charities and their apprentices have been restoring it ever since. The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit is basically an advert for the work the monarch, as Prince of Wales, did and does to train young people in everything from blacksmithing and thatching to plastering, catering and carpentry. All are still in great demand and help people otherwise underemployed make their way in the world and acquire the self-esteem that goes with craftsmanship.

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Charles filmed this episode before he ascended to the throne, and thus had to zip it a bit, so we hear him bewailing the dire state of technical and vocational education in British schools. The sad thing is that thats not such a controversial remark anyway.

The monarch is well used to the TV cameras, one way and another  he and Camilla even turned up in a slightly awkward episode of EastEnders for the platty joobs last year. Hes a fairly natural performer, and by now his various ticks  pulling at his cufflinks, hand in and out of jacket pocket, continually pointing at things  have a kind of reassuring quality. Hes even game enough to let Blades nudge him playfully as they josh one another about the size of their barns, like a couple of schoolboys. Theres no sign of that regal impatience weve witnessed recently. Maybe on his next trip to the Repair Shop the King will bring some of those malfunctioning fountain pens that seem to plague him.

Old stuff can mean so much to us, and yet we rarely think to look after it or to fix things rather than chuck them out. The most moving sequences in the film are when one of the Dumfries locals, Nicola, brings in a sorry-looking brass fireside set in the shape of a soldier, from about the 1920s, that belonged to her late husband Ewan. It had stood guard on the hearth of the home he lovingly renovated by hand. The team weld the soldier back together, make him nice and shiny, and it brings a tear to everyones eye when the little fellow is returned to Nicola for future safe custody, to be passed down the generations. Rather like the hereditary monarchy and indeed the century-old BBC, its an heirloom worth cherishing.
Police arrested a man with a long track record after they said he was found in possession of a large amount of drugs and guns.

On Oct. 20, police searched the home of Dwayne Hanks. Officers say they found him in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and drug paraphernalia, including scales, cookware and other devices.

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Officers also found a mix of 11 rifles and handguns, of which one was identified as a ghost gun. Three of the guns were reported stolen from various counties, and one was reported lost in South Carolina.

The search came after APD investigated activities in and around Hanks apartment complex on Cheshire Bridge Road in northeast Atlanta.

Police said they observed a woman throw a bag with approximately 423 grams of methamphetamine off the third-floor balcony into the swimming pool below. Officers on the scene quickly recovered the bag of drugs, according to the news release.

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Investigators have charged Hanks with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule II substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and sale of methamphetamine.

He also had multiple outstanding narcotics warrants out of Sandy Springs, according to investigators.

Police charged the woman, identified as Kayla Kathy, with tampering with evidence.

Fulton County jail records show that Hanks has been arrested upwards of 20 times for various drug offenses.

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Three days into early voting Republicans are outvoting Democrats in Duval County, and that has the GOP predicting a red wave this election cycle.

If one were to manifest, it would be a major shift in the political direction of the county.

The last time Duval County voted for a Republican at the top of the ticket was in 2016 when Donald Trump pulled a roughly 6,000-vote advantage.

That flipped in 2018 when Democrat Andrew Gillum won the county by 17,000.

Democrats increased their lead in 2020.

That year Joe Biden scored a nearly 20,000-vote win.

This year, however, Republicans currently lead Democrats by just shy of 700 votes cast in Duval.

University of North Florida political science professor Dr. Michael Binder attributed the momentum to Republicans having a potential 2024 presidential contender at the top of the ticket.

A poll released by the university Wednesday showed Gov. Ron DeSantis with a 14-point lead.

On the flip side, Charlie Crist, a former Republican, has not had enough money to be active on TV the last couple of months, hasnt really energized the Democratic base, said Binder.

The cash advantage for Republicans is also reflected in party contributions.

The Republican Party of Duval has outraised the Democratic Party by nearly sixfold this election cycle.

Dean Black, chair of the Republican Party of Duval County, said the fundraising success reflects the work the party has put in since the 2018 loss.

Began building infrastructure, really got serious about fundraising, really began building a voter turnout machine and youre seeing the fruits of that right now, said Black.

But Daniel Henry, chair of the Duval County Democratic Party, warned not to jump to any conclusions this early in the race.

Democrats traditionally vote on weekends, vote closer to the end of when Election Day is about to occur. So, this is a pattern that were consistently seeing, said Henry.

Still to be seen is whether Democrats will be able to build a lead significant enough to offset Election Day votes, where Republicans traditionally hold the advantage.

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WISCONSIN RAPIDS - In the 38 years since the stabbing death of Eleanore Roberts at her Saratoga home, several deputies and investigators have worked the case.

During the second day of a trial for John A. Sarver, 59, who is charged with murder in Roberts' death, officers who first responded on Nov. 27, 1984, to the murder scene on Hollywood Drive in Saratoga took the stand.

Wood County Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Reichert, who would later go on to become Wood County sheriff, was the first deputy on the scene. Roberts' son, Marshall, discovered the body in the bathroom of her Saratoga home after family members couldn't reach her.

Reichert said Tuesday that Marshall Roberts was composed for someone who had just found his mother murdered in her home, but he said Marshall Roberts did show appropriate concern for his mother. Prosecutors say Eleanore Roberts was beat over the head, cut with a knife and stabbed 17 times with a scissors.

Reichert said he thought Eleanore Roberts had been dead for some time before she was found. The blood from her body had dried, he said.

Retired Wood County Investigator Greg Raube said he was called to investigate Eleanore Roberts' death. The Wisconsin State Crime Lab wasn't available to help with evidence at the scene, but they gave Raube pointers on how to handle it. They suggested officers wrap Eleanore Roberts' body in a clean white sheet when they moved her, Raube said.

Raube went with the body to the autopsy. The pattern of most of the stab wounds with a small piece of skin between two entry points made the forensic pathologist believe a scissors had been used, Raube said.

Super glue fumes used to find prints

Retired Wood County Sheriff's Office Lt. Robert Levendoske, who was an investigator at the time of the murder, also responded to the Saratoga crime scene. Levendoske covered the north end of the county, but they needed more help at the scene, he said.

Levendoske handled the evidence collection at the Saratoga home. He identified the knife and scissors found near Eleanore Roberts' house that investigators feel were two of the three murder weapons.

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Levendoske said he frequently worked with a Marshfield Police Department detective who had taken a two-week evidence collection course from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The two men decided to use what was a new method of finding fingerprints.

After all the evidence at the home was documented and collected, Levendoske and the Marshfield detective placed packs of opened super glue in the bathroom and closed the door and waited until morning, Levendoske said. The chemical fumes from the packs settle onto the oils left from finger and handprints to make them easier to find, he said.

The next morning, the fumes had done their job and they found three palm prints in the sink of the bathroom that they were able to save, Levendoske said. The palm prints later were matched to Sarver.

Former Wood County Undersheriff Randy Rapp also took the stand Tuesday. He also was an investigator when Eleanore Roberts was murdered. Rapp helped with going door-to-door in the neighborhood to search for witnesses and drew diagrams of the home and areas where the knife and scissors were found.

Rapp worked with Sarver when Sarver became a confidential informant for the Sheriff's Office. Rapp said he and Sarver would enter a tavern where Sarver knew people who sold drugs, and he'd introduce Rapp to the drug dealers. After a few meetings, Rapp would go back by himself and ask to purchase drugs.

Sarver did a good job working as a confidential informant for the department, Rapp said.

Witnesses find phone, overhear argument

Gordan Collins of Wisconsin Rapids was launching a boat with his father and brother onto the Wisconsin River, off of Wood County Z, when the three of them saw a phone in the water. They used an oar to fish the rotary phone out and then went to a bait and tackle shop to use a phone book to look up Eleanore Roberts' phone number, Collins said.

After the three matched the number on the phone they found in the river to Eleanore Roberts, they contacted officers and turned it in. Investigators believe the murderer used the phone to hit Eleanore Roberts in the head.

Julie Sabatke of Nekoosa was the final witness to take the stand Tuesday. Sabatke said her former husband and their 3-year-old son were on their way home from hunting when they got a flat tire near Eleanore Roberts' home and went there for help.

Roberts called Sabatke at her house and said her husband and son needed help. Roberts said she felt bad, because she wouldn't let them into the house, but she said she didn't let people in after dark.

Sabatke said she got someone to help with the tire, then called Roberts back to let her know help was coming. Roberts subsequently called Sabatke back to inform her help had come, but the call was interrupted by someone at Roberts' door.

Sabatke said Roberts asked her to wait and put the phone down while she answered the door. Sabatke said she could hear a man yelling and cursing. Sabatke said she heard Roberts tell the man she didn't owe him money, but he should return when it was daylight out and she would talk to him then.

Sabatke said Roberts told her the man was Sarver and he had done some work for her around the house. Roberts said she had paid Sarver and there was no way she owed him any more money, Sabatke said.

Sabatke said a couple of days later she saw the story about Roberts' murder on the news. She said it had a number to call with tips, so she called and told investigators about the phone call.

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues Wednesday. If convicted, Sarver faces a maximum of life in prison. He has been in jail pending a $1 million cash bond since August 2020.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Click to see the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune's special offers at wisconsinrapidstribune.com/subscribe and download our app on the App Store or Google Play.

More:Case against former Lincoln High School counselor charged with sexual assault of a student moves forward

More:6 Wisconsin nonprofits receive $235,000 in grants from Gannett Foundation

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Retired Wood County investigators take stand at Saratoga murder trial
DUBAI (Reuters) - One member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards was shot dead "by rioters" in the western city of Malayer, according to the official IRNA news agency, on the fortieth day after the death of Mahsa Amini.

"One of the members of the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organisation based in Malayer, Hamadan province, was killed by a direct bullet shot by some of the riots' leaders in the province," IRNA said.

Amini died on Sept. 16 while in the custody of Tehran's morality police, sparking more than a month of nationwide protests.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Chris Reese)
Robert Kennedys grandson announced on Instagram that he had just returned from fighting for Ukraine, having secretly enlisted to battle the Russian invasion as part of the countrys international fighting force.

Conor Kennedy, the grandson of the former attorney general and presidential candidate, posted on his account earlier this month that he was deeply moved by what he saw was happening in Ukraine over the past year and wanted to help.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky established the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in late February. Kennedy said he went to the Ukrainian Embassy the day after he first heard about the group.

This war, like all others, is horrific. The people I met were the bravest I have ever known. My fellow legionnaires  who came from different countries, backgrounds, ideologies  are true freedom fighters. As are the citizens I knew, many of whom have lost everything in their long struggle against oligarchy, and toward a democratic system, Kennedy said.

He said he only told one person that he was in Ukraine  and he only told one person in the country his real name. He said he didnt want his family and friends to worry about him, and he didnt want to be treated any differently in Ukraine.

Kennedy said he had no prior military experience and was not a great shot but could carry heavy things and learn quickly. He said he was also willing to die in Ukraine and was soon sent to the northeastern front, where Ukraine is currently conducting a counteroffensive to retake territory captured by Russian forces.

My time in Ukraine wasnt long but I saw a lot and I felt a lot. I liked being a soldier, more than I had expected. It is scary, he said. But life is simple, and the rewards for finding courage and doing good are substantial.

Kennedy said he knows he is lucky to have made it back but would take the same risks again if he had to.

He said the war will shape the fate of democracy in the 21st century, urging his followers to help in any way they can, through joining the legion, helping on the border or sending medical supplies.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Shutterstock / Shutterstock

Former First Lady Melania Trump, 52, has been in the spotlight since she began dating her now husband, former President Donald Trump in 1998. Since her husband left office she has been relatively quiet other than recently joining forces with the other living former First Ladies to get a monument to womens suffrage installed in Washington, D.C.

See: How Rich Is Former President Donald Trump?

Find Out: How Rich Is Ivanka Trump?

Despite work like this, her name is still tossed around by the media and it is ever-questioned if she has intentions to divorce her husband.

Trump has a personal net worth of $50 million that partially comes from her years as a model plus her jewelry design and skincare lines. But that is just a smidgen of her husbands estimated two to eight billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Being married to a billionaire for 17 years has its perks and she can access the best things in life that money can buy.

Shes Still Working

For the 2022 holiday season, Trump is selling a limited edition brass Christmas star ornament on her personal website for $45. The ornament is handcrafted in the U.S. and is engraved with the former first ladys signature. It also comes with a corresponding animated NFT that will be minted in limited quantities on the Solana blockchain.

Also available on her website is a Womens History Month NFT available for $150. The NFTs are three different images of Trump  Strong, Confident and Inspirational. One of the three will randomly be chosen for you, so repeat purchases are needed to obtain the whole collection.

There is also a MetaRose NFT which depicts a 3D-animated blue rose on a yellow background. The piece, which was inspired by photos Trump herself took, sells for $150. Proceeds for this NFT will go to Fostering the Future initiatives.

Before Becoming Melania Trump

A native of Slovenia, Trump is just the second first lady in American history to be born outside the U.S. Raised in humble beginnings, Melanija Knavs who was born on April 26, 1970, came a long way from the Sevnica, Slovenia apartment she once shared with her parents and sister.

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In January 2005, she and Trump were married and a year later, their son Barron was born.

Melania Trumps Homes

Even before Trump was out of office, the family changed their primary residence to the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. This lavish property with 126 rooms is rumored to be valued at $350 million.

Anything but the average cramped city home, the Trump family residence in Manhattan is a 30,000-square-foot three-story penthouse at the top of Trump Tower. The swanky 721 Fifth Avenue address gives Trump equally swanky neighbors, including Tiffany & Co., Armani and The Polo Bar, Ralph Laurens chic eatery.

Worth an estimated $100 million, no expense was spared to decorate the lavish home, which is covered in 24-karat gold, marble and diamonds. The home is also filled with art, including a statue of Eros and Psyche. Trumps birds-eye view offers stunning scenes of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

Discover: How Rich Are President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris and the Wealthiest US Politicians?

Featuring a private elevator to shuttle her husband to his 26th-floor office, the home is decorated with large chandeliers, ornate furnishings and even a $15,000 coffee table book. One of the three floors of the penthouse apartment is entirely reserved for Barron, who has his own living room and playroom.

Michelle Tompkins contributed to this article.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Rich Is Melania Trump?
The Chicago Board of Education will vote Wednesday on whether to revoke the charters for two campuses of Urban Prep Academy  an institution lauded for getting all of its seniors into college but beset in recent years by claims of management and oversight problems.

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Urban Preps Englewood and Bronzeville campuses wouldnt close, and their students would not be reassigned, but their operations would come under Chicago Public Schools control  a prospect Urban Prep officials see as a threat to the schools future.

Urban Prep is known for serving young Black men as well as for its high graduation rates and academic achievement. But the recommendation from CPS CEO Pedro Martinez to revoke two of Urban Preps charter asserts that the schools violated the terms of the terms of those charters, violated the law and failed to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management.

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However, at the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in Englewood on Tuesday, a different story emerged  one accusing CPS of aggressive oversight and demands, effective attacks against Urban Preps independence amid an anti-charter school political climate, administrators said. Dressed in uniforms, students gathered in the school auditorium as administrators hosted a news conference responding to CPS claims and calling on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to intervene.

Troy Boyd, chief operating officer of Urban Prep, speaks during a news conference on Oct. 25, 2022, at Urban Prep Academy in Englewood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Urban Prep Chief Academic Officer Dennis Lacewell called Wednesdays planned vote an attempt by CPS to end Urban Prep for good, leaving Chicago youths without an opportunity to learn in an environment that specifically advocates for the success of Black teens.

Troy Boyd Jr., chief operating officer for Urban Prep, said CPS is trying to take over Urban Prep. It is an attempt to substitute our success governing and operating the districts only charter schools founded and led by Black men that are focused on the educational outcomes of Black males to accomplish their own, non-student-focused goals.

The agenda for Wednesdays Board of Education meeting includes an 11-page explanation of CPS recommendation for the charters nonrenewal outlining years of mismanaged finances, failure to employ licensed teachers and details of alleged sexual misconduct by former CEO Tim King. King has gone to court seeking to reverse disciplinary measures taken by CPS against him, which he said in legal documents were the result of a fundamentally flawed investigation that led to his forced resignation.

Boyd contends that CPS claims of mismanagement at Urban Prep are past issues that have been addressed and called them the latest of many attacks from CPS, which in the past included blocking Urban Preps effort to expand to middle school education and deleting applications to its downtown campus school after CPS revoked that charter in 2018.

Since then Boyd said Urban Prep has gone through applications for renewal almost annually in recent years, a process Boyd said is time-consuming and exhausting.

The current charter for Urban Prep Academys Bronzeville campus, which was renewed in 2020, expires on June 30, 2023. The Englewood sites charter was set to be renewed for another year on July 1, provided it met certain conditions for financial management and governance structure, which the board set in February. Its third high school downtown is under a charter from the state.

Boyd said Urban Prep agreed to those conditions in a contract signed on Aug. 31, past the deadline CPS had set for the end of June.

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CPS, however, contends that Urban Prep has refused to submit proof of its compliance with the Boards conditions, which it orally claims to have met.

Students listen during class on Oct. 25, 2022, at Urban Prep Academy in Englewood. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

On Sept. 26, CPS set additional conditions, intended to cure past breaches and ensure future compliance with its charter, adherence to accepted standards of fiscal management, and compliance with the law, according to the district document.

Lacewell said these conditions included demanding Urban Prep fire specific executives, pay for a monitor to oversee its finances, publicly ban King and prevent him from using the Urban Prep name, or require Urban Prep to change its name.

These additional conditions were set a few weeks after King took legal action against CPS to reverse the disciplinary actions against him, which he said were based on false claims.

Lacewell said Tuesday that Urban Prep officials came to the conclusion that these onerous, oppressive, overseer conditions that they wanted us to sign off on were based on retaliation against our founder.

CPS said King currently holds a position on its Legacy Board and runs the Urban Prep Foundation.

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Urban Prep founder and then-CEO Tim King speaks at an event at Urban Prep offices in Chicago in 2016. He says in legal action he was forced to resign following an internal investigation riddled with errors. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

On Oct. 12, a representative of CPS attended one of Urban Preps monthly school meetings and told parents that CPS intended not to renew the charter if the school didnt meet the new conditions. Lacewell said Urban Prep officials had not communicated details of the ongoing renewal process to the school community yet, and he did not know CPS would make that announcement. Parents left the meeting after the announcement, Lacewell said.

One of those parents was Robert Johnson, whose son is a senior at Urban Prep in Bronzeville. After CPS made that announcement to the community, Lacewell said the school hosted information sessions, answering any questions members of the school community have had. The response has been overwhelming support, he said.

Johnson said he chose to send his son to Urban Prep with the goal of sending him to college. Now his son has been accepted to five four-year-colleges with scholarship money.

Its not a hope, its not a dream, its a reality, Johnson said.

The fact that CPS thinks they can do a better job is laughable, its inexcusable, he added.

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One of CPS allegations against the charter schools is fiscal management. According to the document, Urban Prep started asking for cash advance payments of its local, state and federal funding from the Board of Education in 2017. In 2019, it also started selling future board funding for immediate cash to companies that charged fees worth more than 40% of the future revenue. The financial missteps continued, CPS alleges, culminating in defaults on debts, staff salaries, lease payments and more.

Investigation into why Urban Prep struggled to pay these bills, despite regular funding from the Board of Education, is ongoing, according to the document.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

Urban Prep also got loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, which the CPS inspector general found was received based on false payroll information submitted in its application. At the same time, the program continued to get funding from the board. According to the document, Urban Prep attributed the error to its payroll company.

Boyd said Urban Preps financial struggles began in the 2015-16 fiscal year after CPS suffered budget cuts. Instead of reducing staffing, Urban Prep sought other ways to raise funds to continue operations. Now, Boyd insists Urban Prep is in strong financial standing.

I would be very interested in knowing why they decided to renew us during those years when we were faced with the challenges, as opposed to why theyre trying to do it right now, Boyd said.

Tyrone Muhammad, founder of the violence prevention organization Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change, attended Tuesdays news conference.

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What does the city want out of our children? Muhammad asked. Do you want them educated? Do you want them to be productive young men?

Do you want them educated by a group of strong Black men standing up here? he added. Or do you want them in the prisons or the graveyards?

mellis@chicagotribune.com
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) -The militant group Islamic State said it carried out an attack on a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Iran on Wednesday which killed 15 people, escalating tensions in a country reeling from a wave of protests and prompting warnings of a response from Tehran.

Iranian officials said they had arrested a gunman who carried out the attack at the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz. State media blamed "takfiri terrorists" - a label Tehran uses for hardline Sunni Muslim militants like Islamic State.

The group has claimed previous attacks in Iran, including deadly twin bombings in 2017 which targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Wednesday's killing of Shi'ite pilgrims came on the same day that Iranian security forces clashed with increasingly strident protesters marking the 40-day anniversary since the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi blamed the protests sweeping Iran for paving the ground for the Shiraz attack, and President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran would respond, according to state media.

"Experience shows that Iran's enemies, after failing to create a split in the nation's united ranks, take revenge through violence and terror," said Raisi, speaking before Islamic State released its claim of responsibility.

"This crime will definitely not go unanswered, and the security and law enforcement forces will teach a lesson to those who designed and carried out the attack."

The semi-official Tasnim news agency said the attacker shot an employee at the shrine entrance before his rifle jammed and he was chased by bystanders.

He managed to fix his gun and opened fire on his pursuers, before entering a courtyard and shooting worshippers. Several women and children were among the dead, it said.

A witness at Shah Cheragh told state television: "I heard sounds of gunfire after we prayed. We went to a room next to the shrine, this lowlife came and fired a barrage of shots. Then (the bullet) hit my arm and leg, it hit my wife's back, but thank God my child was not hit, he is seven years old."

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DAY OF CLASHES

The attack in Shiraz took place at the end of a day of confrontations across the country between security forces and protesters, with video footage showing some of the most violent clashes in more than a month of unrest following Amini's death.

The demonstrations have become one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution. A wide range of Iranians have come out on to the streets, with some calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Security forces opened fire at mourners in Amini's Kurdish home town of Saqez on Wednesday, according to a witness.

"Riot police shot mourners who gathered at the cemetery for Mahsa's memorial ceremony ... dozens have been arrested," the witness said. Iranian authorities were not available to comment.

The semi-official ISNA news agency said about 10,000 people were at the cemetery, adding that the internet was cut off after clashes between security forces and people there.

Videos on social media showed crowds packing streets in many cities and the bazaars of Tehran and some other cities shut down with people chanting "Death to Khamenei".

1500tasvir, a Twitter account focused on Iran protests with 280,000 followers, reported a "brutal crackdown" on protesters in multiple locations in Tehran, including a gathering at the Tehran Medical Association.

Video footage on social media appeared to show members of the Basij militia shooting at protesters in Tehran.

Other videos showed protesters chasing riot police and throwing stones. They also showed protesters in the holy Shi'ite city of Mashhad setting fire to a riot policeman's motorbike. In Tehran, a protester hit a policeman, while in the city of Qazvin riot police opened fire on protesters.

Some protesters chanted: "We will fight, we will die, we will get Iran back" from its clerical rulers.

Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the footage.

State news agency IRNA said a member of the elite Revolutionary Guards was shot dead "by rioters" in the western city of Malayer.

An Iranian former pro-reform official said the spread of the protests appeared to have taken authorities by surprise and contrasted with the establishment's assertions that support for the Islamic system is overwhelming.

While some analysts said prospects for the imminent dawn of a new political order are slim, activists said a wall of fear had fallen and the path to a new revolution was not reversible.

Students have played a pivotal role in the protests, with dozens of universities on strike. Hundreds of schoolgirls have joined in, chanting "Freedom, Freedom, Freedom," despite fierce crackdowns by security forces.

State media and hardline officials have branded protesters "hypocrites, monarchists, thugs and seditionists".

Rights groups said at least 250 protesters had been killed, including teenage girls, and thousands had been arrested.

The authorities, who have accused the United States and other Western countries of fomenting what they call "riots", have yet to announce a death toll but state media have said around 30 members of the security forces have been killed.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Dominic EvansEditing by Michael Georgy, Nick Macfie and Alistair Bell)
Ulf Kristersson. Illustrated | Getty Images

The Swedish Parliament elected a new prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, who is backed by the far-right party the Sweden Democrats. What does this mean for the country? Here's everything you need to know:

Who is Ulf Kristersson?

Sweden elected 58-year-old Ulf Kristersson, the center-right leader of the Moderate Party, to be prime minister with a slim margin of 176 votes to 173. He defeated sitting Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who leads the center-left party, the Social Democrats, which is still currently the largest single party in the country after it received 30.3 percent of the votes in elections back in September, reports CNBC. Kristersson's victory came from a coalition formed by his own party and two other center-right parties, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals, as well as a boost from the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), who had a record-high election result, receiving 20.5 percent of the votes. While Kristersson himself is not a member of the far right, he garnered far-right support after making government plans that included many of the same promises made by the Sweden Democrats during the general election, Politico reports.

This is the first time in Swedish history that a prime minister needed to rely on the votes of the far-right party in order to get elected. The SD was initially founded by Nazi sympathizers and was shunned in the political space for much of its history, BBC reports.

Kristersson had originally run for election in 2018, but could not overcome the Social Democrat lead. At the time, he said that he would not negotiate with the SD, as they were considered political outcasts, The Local reports. However, in 2019, Kristersson began cooperating with the far-right party and encouraged his own party to follow suit, leading to critics accusing him of "selling out," The Local continues. Ultimately, the four right-leaning parties won the 2022 election, essentially ending a political era in Sweden that the Social Democrats had long dominated.

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The new prime minister has said that his government will be made up of the Moderate Party, and the other two center-right parties. He did not mention including the SD, reports Politico. Gun violence and gang crime were viewed as top issues for Swedes and Kristersson vowed to "straighten out" the country. He also promised to bring down soaring electricity prices caused by Russia's war on Ukraine.

Why is this considered a win for the far-right?

Despite Kristersson not identifying as far-right and the SD not being included in his new government, this election was widely considered a victory for the far-right.

For one, the organization, once shunned, now represents the second-largest party in the country, making up 73 out of the 349 members of the Swedish Parliament as elected back in September. Even without a formal role, the SD will have a large say in government policies by providing the support from Parliament that Kristersson needs to carry out any of his plans.

In order to garner the support needed to be elected, Kristersson created a 62-page pact detailing cooperation in seven key policy areas, focusing heavily on immigration and criminal justice, The New York Times reports. The pact includes a number of SD's policy priorities, including restricting immigration, doubling sentences for gang crimes, expanding police powers in certain areas, and checking people for weapons even without probable cause. It also calls for committees to be created that include members of the party that will help create new government policies, the Times continues. Sverker Gustavsson, a political scientist at Uppsala University, explained that the pact "gives [SD] a lot of informal power."

Sweden's new government takes a particularly strong stance on immigration, marking a momentous shift from the tolerance and diversity that Sweden has long been associated with, Reuters reports. Although there doesn't seem to be a single obvious reason for Sweden's shift away from this ideology, experts seem to believe that the rise of gang violence, much of which has occurred in immigrant communities, has created an unwelcome association, the Times writes.

Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, called the new government a "paradigm shift when it comes to immigration and integration policy."

What does this mean for Sweden?

In the first few days of his leadership, Kristersson appointed a cabinet full of center-right members  a notable shift from the previous administration.

He also entirely scrapped the nation's Ministry of Environment in what critics say is a huge blow to the country's climate targets, Bloomberg reports. The change will have 26-year-old Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, the youngest cabinet minister in Swedish history, report to Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Ebba Busch. Since the 1980s, Sweden had had a separate, independent ministry dedicated to environmental issues, something that was largely seen as progressive in the climate space, Bloomberg continues. The SD is the only political party in the country not to support the target of having net zero emissions by 2045.

Making such a drastic move so early into leadership leaves a lot of questions about how Sweden will change. In a speech after his election, Kristersson said that "now begins the biggest offensive in Swedish history against organized crime" and that "immigration to Sweden has been unsustainable," The Associated Press reports. Given his words and actions, the influence of the Swedish Democrats is palpable.

Ahead of the election, the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter said that Kristersson could become the "far-right's locksmith," opening the door for the SD acceptance in the country.

Overall, the Swedish election marks another chapter in Europe's shift to the right, and only time will tell what the long-term outcomes will be.

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Adidas drops Kanye West days after he said 'Adidas can't drop me' for antisemitic comments

Ash Carter, Obama's final defense secretary, dead at 68
War Room Pandemic

Lending the credibility of the national party she represents to convicted criminal Steve Bannons insurrectionist podcast in recent weeks, Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has repeatedly urged the ex-Trump strategists audience to sign up as poll watchers.

McDaniels call to action among Bannons far-right viewership comes as complaints of voter intimidation from armed vigilantes at Arizona drop boxes continue to pour inall while Bannon promotes the QAnon-linked organization menacing voters.

With the midterms just 13 days away, McDaniel has appeared on Bannons War Room Pandemic program three times in just the past two weeks, making her most recent appearance on Wednesday morning. In fact, her latest stop on the MAGA podcasters show came mere days after Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress.

Bannon, who has publicly boasted about his clandestine efforts to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden, has turned his attention to watching the polls in this years pivotal midterm elections.

Feds Alerted to Creepy Surveillance Attempt at Arizona Drop Box

The former Breitbart chief, for instance, has encouraged his audience to join attorney Cleta Mitchells Army of Patriots to be trained as poll watchers, portraying it as a call to arms. Mitchell, of course, was one of former President Donald Trumps lawyers involved in his attempt to overturn Bidens electoral victory.

Additionally, Bannon has twice hosted conspiracy theorist Melody Jennings on his program to promote her group Clean Elections, which has called for true Patriots to take a stand and watch the drop boxes. Jennings, who shouted out QAnon shows and groups during her appearances, claimed her organization has people ready to go in 18 states to go out in shifts and guard these boxes so they could find the mulesa reference to right-wing provocateur Dinesh DSouzas debunked election-denying film 2000 Mules.

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Clean Elections and Jennings have been named in multiple lawsuits by voting rights groups regarding the groups alleged interference at Arizona drop boxes since early voting began in the state. Bannon, meanwhile, has defended people carrying guns while watching drop boxes in the state.

Throughout her appearances on Bannons podcast, McDaniel has called for his followers to sign up to monitor voting locations as the ex-Trump adviser describes the coming election in apocalyptic terms.

Where do people go? Because we get the most motivated group of activists out there! Where do we need everybody? You have to have a piece of this, Bannon addressed McDaniel on Wednesday. This is like the Second World War; everybody has to be part of this, not just passively watching the show or watching Fox.

The GOP leader, for her part, told viewers to sign up at the RNCs Protect the Vote website, adding that if the Election Day slots were all taken or they couldnt volunteer that day, they could still sign up for post-election shifts we have to be ready to deploy people to all of these different precincts in case there are close races.

Steve Bannon Gets Four Months in the Slammer as Judge Shreds His Defense

In another interview with Bannon last week, the RNC chair encouraged viewers to go vote early in person and then go sign up for a poll-watching shift, telling his audience that we need you to do both right now.

She added: We will plug you into your state. So theres a couple of things you can do. One, you can knock doors in your state or be a poll watcher.

Besides relentlessly encouraging Bannons viewers to volunteer to watch polling locations, McDaniel also appeared to play footsie with election conspiracy theories, such as the false claim that voters can vote after election day via mail-in ballot.

So state law in Pennsylvania, this is the law, that if you return a ballot, it has to be dated, right? McDaniel exclaimed last week. Simple. We need to know when you voted so we can know if you voted before election day. Really simple law. That is their statute. It is passed by the legislature. And Pennsylvania has been, the secretary of state said were going to count undated ballots.

She continued: So the RNC is suing, were taking it to the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court. Were suing the Secretary of State in every county in Pennsylvania, that they absolutely should not count undated ballots, and follow the law. That is their law. If they want to change the law fine, but that is their state law.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Robert De Niro has admitted that he doesnt know the names of all of his dogs.

The legendary actor appeared on Jessie Wares Table Manners podcast on Wednesday (26 October) alongside chef Nobu Matsuhisa and film producer Meir Teper, with whom he founded the sushi restaurant Nobu.

During the interview, host Ware  who presents along with her mum Lennie  asked De Niro what his favourite dish on the menu at the restaurant was.

The actor was unable to remember the name of his top picks, saying: Theres so many things that come up that I dont know the names.

He then continued: I have a bunch of little dogs, I dont even know all their names. Theyre all there, I love them, but I just dont know.

Asked by Ware how many dogs he had, the Goodfellas actor responded: I have a few. More than 10.

De Niro most recently appeared in a small role in David O Russells film Amsterdam, which ended up being a huge box office flop after making just $6.5m (5.8m) compared to its $80m (72.4m) production cost.

Set in 1930s New York, the mystery stars Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington as three murder suspects.

De Niro made the comment on Jessie Wares podcast (Getty Images for Tribeca Festiva)

Despite further cameos from the likes of Rami Malek and Taylor Swift, the film was met with poor and lukewarm reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored just 33 per cent.

In a three-star review for The Independent, Jessie Thompson wrote that Amsterdam, while stylish and packed with charming performances, is full of manic plotting, self-indulgence, and a thickly laid-on, twee message about love and art.

Earlier this month, Aubrey Plaza spoke about her relationship with De Niro while filming the comedy Dirty Grandpa and admitted that she freaked the 70-year-old out.

By the time hed show up, Im in character, Plaza said. I dont think he understood that wasnt me I showed up and hes like, Who are you sweetheart? and after that he was normal.
OLEKSANDR SHUMILIN  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 21:41

Russia has already launched about 400 Iranian drones on the territory of Ukraine.

Source: Briefing by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Umaro Sissoco Embalo

Quote from Zelenskyy: "If possible, I will not mention the findings that are being discussed by our intelligence services. But they once again confirm what our intelligence service already knew. We reiterate that about 400 Iranian drones have already been used against the civilian population of Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy thanked the Ukrainian military, who managed to shoot down 60-70% of the targets. "Thats not a bad result," Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine is now at the beginning of its collaboration with Israel.

Background:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine began cooperating with Israel a few days ago with regard to the provision of data on Iranian-made drones.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a press conference after attending a summit with leaders of post-soviet countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Astana on October 14, 2022. Photo by VALERY SHARIFULIN/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Russian President Putin himself baselessly accused Ukraine of preparing to detonate a dirty bomb.

His remarks Wednesday followed others by Kremlin leadership making the claims.

Ukraine and the West have strongly rejected the accusations, calling them "absurd."

Russian President Vladimir Putin himself is getting in on Russia's baseless "dirty bomb" claims.

Putin joined Kremlin leadership in accusing Ukraine of preparing to detonate a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory, a claim Ukraine and the West have called "absurd."

During a virtual conference with heads of security agencies from the Commonwealth of Independent States organization  a collection of former Soviet states  Putin on Wednesday accused the US of using Ukraine as a "testing ground" for military experiments and strengthening Kyiv's arsenal of heavy weapons.

"There are also plans to use the so-called dirty bomb for provocations," Putin said during the conference, according to a Kremlin translation of the meeting.

Putin showed no evidence for either of the claims.

A dirty bomb is a radiological dispersal device that uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material. The weapon is unlikely to cause mass casualties, but would be used terrorize civilians and distribute radioactive contamination.

Putin's remarks appear to be his first related to the dirty bomb claims, which other Russian officials have made  without citing any evidence  in recent days.

Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu previously alleged that Ukraine was planning to detonate a dirty bomb on its own territory; military experts and analysts have the accusations are an attempt by Russia to try and cause panic and siphon off support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials and Western states have strongly rejected Russia's accusations, with Kyiv's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calling Moscow's claims "absurd" and "dangerous."

"We neither have any 'dirty bombs', nor plan to acquire any," Kuleba said on Sunday. "Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves."

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Echoing these sentiments, Ukraine's state energy operator Energoatom on Tuesday accused Russian military personnel of doing "secret" work that could result in the construction of a dirty bomb at the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

During a Tuesday briefing, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that although he couldn't confirm Russia's activities at the nuclear plant, the US shares the concerns brought up by Energoatom.

"We're always concerned when we hear these  this type of patently false  these specious claims come from the Russians, the fact that Defense Minister Shoigu and others are now making these false claims of a so-called dirty bomb use in Ukraine," Price said.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that the US has not yet seen any indication of Russian plans to detonate a nuclear weapon on dirty bomb. He added that "there would be consequences for Russia" if it uses either weapon.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Zelenskyy stressed that at this stage, there are no conditions for negotiations.

It is necessary to show respect in order to start any dialogue, Zelenskyy said.

Read also: Ukraine's victory will prevent Russia and Iran from meddling in Middle East  Zelenskyy says

And in order to talk about any kind of dialogue in general, it is necessary that one state respects another. Respects its territorial integrity, sovereignty and borders.

Zelenskyy added these conditions are currently not met.

The President also called Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's desire to start a conversation with Ukraine nothing more than a planned rhetoric that is aimed at domestic Russian audience, and at countries that remain friendly towards Moscow.

Read also: Negotiations have no chance of ending Russias war against Ukraine, says Germany

On Oct. 4, Zelenskyy approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, prohibiting negotiations with Putin. Kyiv maintains it would start negotiations once Russia changes its leadership.

Read also: Ukraines success in negotiations with Russia to depend on victories on battlefield, says NATO chief

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg later said that the success of Ukraine in potential negotiations with Russia depends on the strength of Ukrainian troops on the battlefield, so NATO will continue to help the Ukrainians.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Kremlin acknowledged Wednesday what has been voiced repeatedly on news outlets and social media for weeks: A large number of Russia's new draftees have not being properly equipped for combat.

Last week's photo-op showing President Vladimir Putin visiting a training center full of well-outfitted soldiers did not represent the reality on the ground for many of the 220,000-plus civilians forced into service by Putin's mobilization, announced Sept. 21. Russian families have complained of having to buy battlefield gear for their drafted sons, brothers, etc., and of them being sent to war with scant training. Some have also reported lack of food and ammunition.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recognized persistent problems with equipment, though he said vigorous measures taken to rectify the situation are already yielding the first positive results.

That still doesn't address the issue of unprepared recruits being forced to go to war. When asked by a reporter why several reservists had died in Ukraine only three weeks after being called up, Putin said training could last between 10 and 25 days.

Military analyst Pavel Luzin, a visiting scholar at Tufts University, said Russia's incapable of training all the draftees. The army was not ready for mobilization,'' he said. "It never prepared for it.

BIDEN WARNS MOSCOW: Using nukes would be 'serious mistake'

A woman walks past buildings damaged by Russian shelling in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

Other developments:

Months after suspending operations in Russia because of the war, automakers Ford and Mercedes-Benz said they're selling their assets in the country.

The U.S. said Wednesday that it's imposing sanctions on 21 individuals and entities in response to Russia's "malign influence campaigns and systemic corruption'' aimed at influencing the politics of Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine.

Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, says it has lost roughly $40 million since Oct. 10, when Russia started its "catastrophic" targeting of the country's energy infrastructure sites.

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Russian and Belarusian ambassadors have been excluded from this years Nobel Prize ceremony set in Stockholm on Dec. 10, the Nobel Foundation announced.

Putin oversees training for 'massive nuclear strike'

Russia's Strategic Deterrence Forces conducted a successful training exercise Wednesday aimed at delivering a "massive nuclear strike" in response to a potential nuclear attack on the country, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

The exercise, overseen by President Vladimir Putin, involved mobile ground-based missile systems and the strategic missile submarine Tula of Russia's Northern Fleet. The Kremlin said in a statement that all the test-fired missiles reached their targets.

The Biden administration said Russia provided advance notice of the annual drills. NATO is carrying out its own long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe.

Speaking on Russian TV, Putin echoed for the first time the unsubstantiated allegations his officials have been making that Ukraine intends to use a so-called dirty bomb "as a provocation,'' a charge vehemently denied by Ukraine and its Western allies.

U.S. experts have theorized that Russia is either considering its own "false flag" dirty bomb explosion or using the narrative to drum up more support for the war at home.

Remains of American Joshua Jones, killed in Ukraine, returned

The body of U.S. Army veteran Joshua Alan Jones, killed while fighting in Ukraine, was returned to Ukrainian authorities Wednesday in a swap with the Russian military.

Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukraine presidents office, said on Telegram that 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war, including one officer and nine enlisted soldiers, were released from Russian captivity at the same time. Yermak did not reveal how many Russians were released.

"We will continue to work until we bring all our people home," Yermak said.

The U.S. State Department notified the family about the bodys return, Jones father, Jeff Jones, told CNN. Neither the Pentagon nor the U.S. State Department immediately responded to USA TODAY. Joshua Jones' family had posted a brief statement on Facebook in August acknowledging his death and saying "our main goal is to get his body home."

I cannot tell you what a burden is lifted off this family, Jeff Jones told CNN.

Putin challenger flees country amid criminal investigation

Popular Russian TV host Ksenia Sobchak, a former challenger to Putin in the presidential election, has become a suspect in an extortion case involving state-owned defense contractor Rostec, state-run TASS reported. The media outlet said Sobchak, who could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted, has fled the country. Almost everyone who is charged with a crime in Russia is convicted. Sobchaks commercial director, Kirill Sukhanov, and former editor-in-chief Arian Romanovsky were detained pending charges.

Sobchak has often been critical of Putin, and the case alleges payments were demanded in return for guarantees that government officials would not receive critical coverage from Sobchak's news channels. Sobchack, 40, was a liberal challenger in Russia's 2018 presidential election, finishing a distant fourth with about 1.7% of the vote.

FROM AUGUST: A Memphis man died at war in Ukraine. His family is now trying to retrieve his remains.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine update: Russia practices 'massive nuclear strike'
By Jonathan Landay

FRONT LINES NORTH OF KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops at the front line said on Wednesday they were expecting a bitter fight for the southern Kherson region, which Russia now appeared to be reinforcing after days in which it seemed possible that Moscow might withdraw.

In Russia, the military staged a high-profile rehearsal for nuclear war, with state television broadcasts dominated by footage of submarines, strategic bombers and missile forces practicing launches in retaliation for an atomic attack.

Moscow has conducted a diplomatic campaign this week to promote an accusation that Kyiv is preparing to release nuclear material with a so-called "dirty bomb", an allegation the West calls baseless and a potential pretext for Russian escalation.

The looming battle for Kherson at the mouth of the Dnipro River is expected to be one of the most consequential of the war, determining whether Kyiv can loosen Moscow's grip on southern Ukraine.

While much of the front line remains off limits to journalists, at one section of the front north of the Russian-occupied pocket on the west bank of the Dnipro, Ukrainian soldiers said Russian shelling was stepping up again after having tailed off in recent weeks.

Radio intercepts indicated freshly mobilised recruits had been sent to the front and Russian forces were firmly dug in.

They have good defensive lines with deep trenches, and they are sitting deep underground, said Vitalii, a Ukrainian soldier squatting in a weed-choked irrigation canal, concealed from any prowling enemy drones by overhanging trees.

Both Russia and NATO are holding long-standing annual drills of their nuclear forces this week. But Russia has given the exercises a much higher profile than usual, timing it to coincide with its dirty bomb accusations against Ukraine.

Kyiv says Moscow has been brandishing the prospect of nuclear war to intimidate Western countries into withdrawing their support for Ukraine. Moscow said President Vladimir Putin had personally overseen the nuclear drills remotely.

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The Pentagon said a day earlier that Russia had notified it of its intention to carry out the exercises, which reduced the risk of miscalculation at a time of "reckless" Russian nuclear rhetoric.

'THEY ARE FIGHTING WELL'

Ukrainian forces advanced along the Dnipro River in a dramatic push in the south at the start of this month, but progress appears to have slowed. Russia has been evacuating civilians from the pocket of territory it holds on the west bank this week but says it has no plans to pull out its troops.

Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's defence minister, said wet weather and rough terrain were making Kyiv's counter-offensive in Kherson harder than it was in the northeast, where it pushed Russia back in September.

At the front, intermittent artillery fire echoed from both sides, with towers of smoke rising in the distance.

A Ukrainian helicopter gunship swept low over the fields, loosed rockets at the Russian positions and wheeled around spitting flares to distract any heat-seeking anti-aircraft rockets fired at it.

"In the press they say the Russians are afraid and will withdraw their troops, but that is not true," said a unit commander at the front, who asked to be quoted by his nickname, Nikifor. "They are fighting well and hitting our troops.

"In this area, they are very active. They shell every day and are digging trenches and preparing for defence," said Nikifor, whose location in Mykolaiv province could not be identified under Ukrainian military regulations.

The unit holds a network of well fortified trenches dug into tree lines opposite the Russian fortifications, and recent rains have turned the dirt tracks that access them to mud, especially where tank treads have churned them up.

Since Russia began losing ground in a counter-offensive in September, Putin has taken a series of steps to escalate the conflict, calling up hundreds of thousands of Russian reservists, proclaiming the annexation of occupied land and repeatedly threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.

This month, Russia launched a new campaign of strikes using missiles and Iranian-made drones against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, also hitting parks and homes across the country.

The remains of a U.S. citizen killed in Ukraine were turned over to Ukrainian authorities as part of a prisoner swap.

Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's president's office, identified the U.S. citizen as Joshua Jones, a U.S. Army veteran. The U.S. State Department, which did not identify the person, said the remains would soon be returned to the person's family.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
A Chicago police officer at the scene where two people were shot inside a vehicle, one fatally, in the 2500 block of West Estes Avenue on Oct. 18, 2022, in West Ridge. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago business leaders arent the only ones worried and even angry about the citys level of crime and lawlessness. So are most of their employees and customers in the city. And because theyre also potential Chicago voters, they could form the basis of the coalition that elects the next mayor.

Public safety is overwhelmingly Chicagoans top concern and the issue most affecting overall public health, according to a new Harris Poll survey. Three-quarters of city and suburban Cook County residents think violent crime in Chicago is worse than that in other cities, and only 2 in 5 believe things will be better five years from now. City residents, moreover, feel much more unsafe in their own neighborhoods than suburbanites do in theirs.

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On how to reduce crime, city residents are aligned with Cook County suburbanites in favoring a belt-and-suspenders approach: Most want to increase police funding and also reallocate part of the departments budget to nonpolicing efforts such as social work and emergency services.

Whatever the answer, three-quarters of city residents say government should take the lead, with almost half (45%) specifically holding City Hall primarily responsible for making the city safe. That means Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who faces reelection in February.

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Lightfoot has been called out on crime repeatedly. She got into a public dispute in September, for instance, with Chris Kempczinski, chief executive of Chicago-based McDonalds, over whether and how much crime is hurting the city economically. Ken Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, said he decided to pull up stakes in Chicago and move to Miami after two colleagues were accosted here.

[ Ken Griffin talks about the Illinois pension crisis and a once-secret meeting with Gov. J.B. Pritzker ]

There is more: FTX declared it was leaving Chicago mere months after the crypto-exchange company opened its U.S. headquarters here. And when Highland Ventures announced over the summer that it was moving out of suburban Chicago, its CEO specifically mentioned crime as a reason for its departure. In addition, while not blaming the city, Boeing and Caterpillar announced that they would be moving their global headquarters out of metro Chicago, while Tyson Foods and United Airlines are greatly downsizing their corporate offices in the city.

Privately, other chief executives say that they, too, are losing highly skilled employees and job candidates to businesses in other cities because of Chicagos public safety problem. And its not simply a perception of crime thats frightening them away. Its reality: Violent crime, including homicide, has become more common in the citys central business district.

Like cities everywhere, Chicago faces a rats nest of problems that defy quick fixes. In our poll, which we conducted online in September, around 90% of those living in the city identified race relations, affordable housing, taxes and fees, health care, and the local economy and jobs as issues that are personally important. Trumping them all, however, was public safety, which 96% cited.

Crime, its important to note, isnt a worry limited to any one group. No less than 94% of any group  whether sorted by gender, age, race/ethnicity, household makeup or income and education levels  named public safety as a problem. In a city that still often votes along racial and ethnic lines, its also significant that people of color were as concerned about public safety as white people and, in fact, more likely to say it was very important to them.

City residents these days feel scared in their own neighborhoods. On a scale of 0 to 10, we asked survey-takers about the safety level in their neighborhoods, with 10 being completely safe. In Chicago, the mean response was 5.02; in suburban Cook County, it was 6.85. While it is reasonable to expect suburbanites to feel safer  crime rates are typically lower outside the city  neighborhood pride might prompt people to think more highly of their own surroundings than the rest of the city. That may no longer hold up across Chicagos various neighborhoods.

As for what the city should do, 58% of residents agree that Chicago would be safer if police funding was increased. At the same time, 62% also think that the city should shift part of the police budget to community efforts outside law enforcement. Such a full-spectrum approach may defy easy political categorization, but it is indicative of the pragmatism most voters applaud: They dont care what the solution is so long as it works.

And it has the extra virtue of maximal public appeal. Chicagoans are aligned on identifying the nature of the problems we face and the fact that their solutions dont necessarily fall along discreet ideological lines. There is the political will across all constituencies for City Hall (and whoever is running it postelection) to get moving on crime.

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Chicago residents and business leaders alike expect the city to address the problem of crime  its reality and its perception  in a broad, deliberate and effective manner. Its time for the political leadership to listen and step up.

Will Johnson is CEO of The Harris Poll, one of the worlds leading public opinion research firms.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
ALONA MAZURENKO  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 20:02

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that despite relentless missile attacks on Ukraine, Russia has asked the president of Guinea-Bissau to relay its desire to "build bridges" and "unblock relations" with Ukraine.

Source: President Zelenskyy during a press briefing with Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Quote from Zelenskyy: "As for the signals from the Russian side. Mr President of Guinea-Bissau has passed them on.

He said that Russia wants to build bridges. In turn, I showed Mr President the things that are happening here in more depth.

I told him that building bridges between two countries requires that the infrastructure of one of those countries not be attacked by the other. Once that is the case, future discussions might become possible. Then theres the question of who we should be talking to.

Russia passed on another request, the need to unblock relations [between Russia and Ukraine]...Lets begin by unblocking our Black Sea."

Details: Zelenskyy additionally said that the Russian presidents willingness to talk is a pretence, a rhetorical move aimed at his audience within Russia as well as at those countries that have not yet severed political ties with Russia.

The Ukrainian President added that a dialogue with any other country requires mutual respect and each countrys respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and borders of the other. So far, Russia continues to demonstrate a lack of such respect.

Zelenskyy also noted that Russia is threatening Ukraine and the world with a "dirty bomb" and continues to occupy the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Meanwhile, Umaro Sissoco Embalo said that he has informed President Zelenskyy about the content of his negotiations with the Russian government that took place prior to his visit to Ukraine.

The President of Guinea-Bissau stressed that he was shocked by what he saw during his visit to several of Ukraines regions and cities damaged as a result of Russias armed aggression.

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A view of empty seats and spaces at Vnukovo International Airport after Western countries closed their airspace to Russia. The airport pictured is not Anapa Airport. Nuran Erkul Kaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia's Air Transport Agency suspended flights from some airports after the invasion of Ukraine.

One started selling a bundle of pre-flight procedures without any flying, per Russian media.

Anapa Airport's "I Wanna Fly" program offers everything a flight does, except movement.

A Russian airport is selling a bundle of pre-flight procedures  without the actual flight  to cope with the chaos roiling the industry in Russia since its war with Ukraine began.

Details of the package at Anapa Airport, called "I Wanna Fly," were published by independent Russian news outlet The Insider.

(The Insider is a Russian news outlet and has no affiliation with Insider.)

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency suspended all flights from the airport at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.

Anapa is near the border between Russia and Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

The closures are an extreme example of restrictions facing Russian fliers. Many regular destinations became inaccessible after the invasion began as dozens of countries closed their airspace to Russian planes.

The tour, which costs 1500 Russian rubles or $24, involves check-in, security, waiting at the gate, and boarding a plane which doesn't go anywhere.

Customers are allowed to visit the cockpit and get served an in-flight meal, The Insider reported.

The plane also receives a water salute, which normally only occurs for ceremonial purposes and involves the plane going underneath plumes of water expelled by fire trucks.

Anapa Airport did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The "I Wanna Fly" tour is similar to when different airlines started offering "flights to nowhere" during the COVID-19 pandemic, though these often did involve taking off.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Christian Kraemer

BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia's latest strikes on civilian infrastructure have raised the cost of Ukraine's recovery and could see it needing close to $4 billion a month just to keep power and water supplies going, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

The IMF had envisaged Ukraine's external financing needs at around $3-4 billion a month next year but sees that rising to $5 billion in a worst case scenario after Russian forces rained missiles and drone attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Speaking to Reuters in Berlin, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the institution was focused on helping Ukraine keep afloat now while working on a longer-term programme whose size and duration were yet to be worked out.

She also signalled that China should be allowed to participate in an international platform that the European Commission wants to set up this year for Ukraine.

"We still hope that we can stay within these parameters of 3-4 billion, but what changed since we had this discussion is Russia's terrible bombing of civilian infrastructure," she said.

"Just to get electricity back and water supply back we are moving towards the upper range of 4 billion ... Just imagine a worst case scenario."

Russia stepped up attacks on infrastructure this month at the same time as its forces were being pushed back by advancing Ukrainian troops. The attacks caused nationwide blackouts and forced Ukraine to ration energy use. Moscow has acknowledged targeting energy infrastructure but denies targeting civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this week that Russian attacks had destroyed more than a third of the country's energy infrastructure.

BRINGING CHINA ON BOARD

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there needed to be a new "Marshall Plan" to rebuild Ukraine, comparing the challenge to the U.S. funding of Europe's reconstruction after World War Two.

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A report by the World Bank, the Ukrainian government and the European Commission last month suggested it would cost nearly $350 billion to rebuild the country.

The IMF has supported Ukraine, already one of Europe's poorest countries before the war, with successive aid-for-reforms programmes and urged the country to tackle corruption.

Georgieva said that discussions with Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February are more led by the government wanting to do the "right thing" for the economy. "So a terrible war actually made Ukraine a better country," she said.

Asked about China participating in the European Commission's platform for Ukraine, she said "it is actually best if the whole world comes together."

(Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Mobilization in the occupied Crimea

The Duma adopted amendments on mobilization of people with outstanding convictions for serious crimes, the report says.

Read also: Russia increasingly relying on units made up of convicts, ISW report says

According to the bill, citizens who were convicted for sex offenses against minors and some other most serious crimes, are not to be mobilized. This list includes the following offenses: terrorism, hostage-taking, participating in paramilitary groups, aircraft or train hijacking, illegal possession of fissile materials, treason, espionage, violent seizure of power, and armed rebellion.

At the same time, Russian MPs allowed prisoners convicted of murder, robbery, assault, and drug trafficking to be mobilized for war.

Read also: Russian dictator Putin announces partial mobilization, threatens to use nukes

On Sept. 21, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization in the country. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Moscow intends to send 300,000 reservists to the frontlines in Ukraine.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 20:28

Russian propaganda has begun to spread the message that Ukraine has apparently already completed "technical preparation for a provocation with a dirty bomb."

Source: RIA Novosti, Kremlin-aligned news outlet

Details: The propagandists refer to a source familiar with the situation and write that "specialists of the Ukrainian enterprise Pivdenmash have prepared a dummy rocket, which is planned to be filled with radioactive material and then allegedly brought down over the exclusion zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant."

Quote: "Pivdenmash specialists have already produced a mock-up of the Iskander complex missile, the main cassette part of which is planned to be filled with radioactive material, and then "brought down" by Ukrainian air defence forces over the exclusion zone of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in order to announce the Russian launch of a nuclear charge."

Background:

Earlier, Russian propagandists spread rumors that Ukraine was preparing to blow up the so-called "dirty bomb" in order to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and turn the whole world against Moscow.

Since 23 October, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, began to tell his colleagues from other countries that Ukraine was allegedly preparing provocations with the use of a "dirty bomb". Shoigu and the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov are actively telling their colleagues in the West and in Asia about the "provocation" allegedly planned by Ukraine.

The USA, Britain and France rejected the Russian Federation's allegations of a "dirty bomb" as false.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, has officially invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send a mission to Ukraine in order to refute Moscows provocative allegations that Ukraine is developing a "dirty bomb".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
A pedestrian walks past a poster displaying Russian soldiers with a slogan reading 'Army of Russia - Army of professionals' decorating a street in Moscow on October 24, 2022. YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images

Russians are flooding a Kremlin-linked site with questions about the Ukraine war.

The queries posted to the site range from financial concerns to grim questions about the war.

One question asked who a soldier with no living family was allowed to will his money to.

Russians are flooding a Kremlin-run question-and-answer webpage with anxious queries about the Ukraine war.

Insider checked out Explain.rf, a site that brands itself as an official resource for all "socio-economic" information about Russia. The website takes questions from Russians via a chatbot, which sends the queries to the relevant ministries. The site is then populated with the government's answers to frequently asked questions, categorized by topic.

The top category on the site was "partial mobilization," the Kremlin's term for its mass conscription exercise in Ukraine. Under that category tag were dozens of questions  from soldiers asking what would become of their money after they are killed in action, to concerned Russian fathers asking what documents they need to prepare for their families.

"If a soldier has no family and immediate family, can he name a third party as the recipient of payments in the event of his death?" read a question posted on October 11.

"Payments made in the event of the death of a soldier can only be received by family members," read the Russian government's response.

Others asked whether more than one member of their family could be conscripted at the same time.

"Can both brothers from the same family be called?" read a question posted on October 15. The answer was: "Yes, if they meet the requirements for citizens subject to conscription for mobilization."

Fathers wondered how, in their absence, the paternity of their children could be proven.

"What documents need to be submitted and where to prove that there are three dependent children?" read a question posted on October 25.

Others submitting questions to the site had financial concerns, like whether they would receive a monthly payment of 196,000 rubles, or $3,180, regardless of where their units were sent. And some queries appeared to come from women, who wondered what would happen to them financially after their partners leave for the war.

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"My husband was mobilized, are any payments due to me and the children?" read a woman's question on October 19. She was told to call her region's local hotline to find out about the social support measures available to her.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21 ordered a partial military mobilization and called up 300,000 army reservists to fight in Ukraine, after months of heavy losses in the war.

The Washington Post reported that after Putin's conscription order, Russian police and military officers started seizing men from restaurants, Metro stations, and their workplaces.

Putin said on October 14 that 222,000 of the targeted 300,000 reservists have been conscripted for the conflict.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Kakhovka HPP area in Kherson region

Regarding the Kakhovka HPP. As of today, the Russians have done none of the necessary work, including the required amount of setting charges at the plant, to carry out a full detonation, he said.

Read also: Kakhovka dams destruction would leave Crimea without water for years to come, Danilov says

Yusov also said that the use of nuclear weapons was an unlikely scenario, and if the Kremlin used them it would speed up the end of Russia. However, he said that Russia is a deficient state, with a deficient government, so a threat of the use of nuclear weapons remain.

I mean that its a state that ignores humanitarian principles and international law, therefore various provocations may be expected, the GUR spokesperson said.

According to Ukrainian intelligences information, Russian invaders set some charges in the Kakhovka HPP back in April and are currently working on setting charges on sluices and pillars at the dam.

Read also: Threat of Russian attack on Kakhovka HPP: Scenarios and consequences of dams destruction

Two KamAZ trucks with no drivers and full of explosives have been placed on the dam, GUR said. Ukraine has called on the UN and the EU to send an international observer mission to the HPP.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Oct. 20 that Russia was preparing to stage a new large-scale terrorist attack  to blow up the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kherson Oblast, from where the Ukrainian armys offensive is gradually driving out the Russian invasion troops.

The Southern Operational Command on Oct. 21 noted that the enemy is probably considering the possibility of blowing up the Kakhovka HPP as a last resort.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
This is a developing story.

On Oct. 20, the Savannah Police Department fired Ernest Ferguson, the officer who shot and killed Saudi Arai Lee in the Carver Village neighborhood on June 24.

According to SPD spokesperson Bianca Johnson, Ferguson's employment was terminated for an incident un-related to the officer-involved shooting investigation. No further details were provided.

Ferguson, a Northwest Precinct patrol officer, was on paid administrative leave from the department at the time of his termination. He was placed on leave while the department continued its investigation into the fatal shooting of Lee, 31, near the intersection of West Gwinnett and Magazine streets on Savannah's west side. That investigation remains ongoing.

Savannah Patrol Officer Ernest Ferguson

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation completed its inquiry into the shooting and provided a copy of its findings to the Chatham County District Attorney's office on Aug. 16. The DA has not respond yet to a status request on the results of its investigation. Typically, the DA has 90 days to release its findings and make a determination whether to bring charges against an officer who has been involved in a fatal shooting.

Ferguson has been the subject of other investigations since joining the force on March 15, 2021. Ferguson had been reprimanded for failing to activate his body-worn camera in at least three incidents  sparking two internal disciplinary reviews and one internal counseling form  and misusing his department-issued taser while off-duty at home.

Prior to working at SPD, Ferguson was employed with the Coastal State Prison. Working as a correctional officer at the prison from Feb. 2020 to March 2021, Ferguson had been involved in eight use-of-force incidents. SPD failed to note those incidents in a pre-employment background check of Ferguson and hired him 12 days after he left the prison.

Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Police: Officer who fatally shot Carver Village man is fired
Chicago families need school choice now more than ever. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) published state-by-state and some large-district assessments of scores Monday  and the news is catastrophic.

A decade of math growth was wiped out. Reading growth, which was starting to fall before the pandemic, fell further. Only 1 out of 5 of Chicagos fourth graders scored as proficient in math and reading  a more than 10 percentage-point drop in math from 2019. Among the large districts across the county, only Memphis, Tennessee, saw a larger drop in math scores than Chicago. Along with the District of Columbia, Chicago saw scores fall 12 points.

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There are many contributing factors here, but the most obvious and avoidable was the prolonged school closures that the Chicago Teachers Union forced.

When Janice Jackson and LaTanya McDade, who headed Chicago Public Schools at the time, warned of the consequences that prolonged school closures would have on the citys most vulnerable students and urged the reopening of schools, CTU leadership maligned them and everyone else who wanted to reopen schools in accordance with public health and the State Board of Education guidance. In the most famous example, the CTU tweeted on Dec. 6, 2020, that the push to reopen schools is rooted in sexism, racism, and misogyny and in January of this year stated that Mayor Lori Lightfoot was being relentlessly stupid in trying to restart school.

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The results released on Monday show that Jackson and McDades concerns were well founded. While the whole of CPS students achievement fell, the fall was much steeper for Chicagos already vulnerable and academically behind students. Black students fell further behind their white peers as the achievement gap widened to more than 40 points. The gap between low-income students and their wealthier peers also widened.

Yet there is cause for hope  at least for Chicagos Catholic school system. The data shows that the decreases in the public and public-charter sector did not occur in Catholic schools, which reopened more quickly than schools in the public sector.

Working families need schools to be open. Students need schools to be open. This national and representative data shows the academic cost of prolonged school closures brought about by teacher unions such as the CTU. But other data suggests the consequences extend beyond the classroom.

Its no secret crime is up in Chicago. But a recent report from the University of Chicago Crime Lab indicates that school closures are contributing to this spike  particularly with respect to carjackings. The Crime Lab reports that not only is the rise of carjackings occurring on the backs of those younger than 18, but there also is a strong correlation between those committing these carjackings and access to broadband and school attendance rates. Students wouldnt have to rely on home broadband if they had access to their schools.

All of this points to the need for urgency. We cannot lose this generation of students, and were dangerously close to doing so. We know one thing for certain: School choice works, and the NAEP scores underscore the benefit that private schools, particularly Catholic schools, can have on a childs education.

But too many Chicago families dont have access to these schools because tuition is a burden they cannot bear.

State lawmakers will have the opportunity to support school choice policy in the next session with the looming sunset of Invest in Kids, a statewide program that turns private donations into scholarships for kids in low-income and working-class families to have access to private schools.

But more can and should be done locally in Chicago. Those running for mayor in next years election should not only have to answer as to whether they believe CTUs forced and prolonged school closures was a good move but also what their plan is to stem this tide of failure.

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School choice must be part of the solution. Our children cant wait for CTU and the public schools to resolve their political differences for things to get better.

Nathan Hoffman is director of state policy and legislative strategy for the American Federation for Children.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Hollywood producer Eric Weinberg was in court Tuesday in Los Angeles where the scene reportedly played out like one of his scripted shows  minus the comedy. Weinberg, who was charged with 18 counts of sexual abuse and assault earlier this month, was remanded into custody as a judge deemed him an active threat to society. Weinberg pleaded not guilty via his lawyer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Weinberg "crumpled onto the wooden bench behind him" as the judge noted how "the defendant has engaged in a pattern of violence towards women for over six years." Weinberg, a writer for hits like Scrubs and Anger Management, was previously free on $5 million bail.

Weinberg, 62, is accused of sexually assaulting five women at different times between 2014 and 2019. According to prosecutors, he had a pattern of approaching women at public locations and told them he was a photographer. The Californication producer would allegedly lure them back to his home where they were assaulted.

Defense attorney Philip Cohen sought house arrest for his client after initially arguing for bail conditions like "no social media use, no talking to any female people you don't know, no going to certain locations."

Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez pushed for Weinberg to be remanded into custody as he awaits trial. "We believe [Weinberg] is a danger to society," she said, per THR. "He approached any young female and uses his status as a writer-producer to manipulate these women."

The judge sided with the prosecution and noted how the alleged crimes "occurred in the safety and privacy of his home."

Weinberg was initially arrested in July on charges including rape. He was released on bond, but news of his arrest prompted dozens of other women to come forward. He was officially charged on Oct. 5. According to Martinez, the Los Angeles Police Department has received over 70 tips about the producer and is currently interviewing more alleged victims.

The prominent producer is charged with six counts of sexual penetration by use of force, four counts of oral copulation, three counts of forcible rape, two counts of sexual battery by restraint and one count each of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, attempted sexual penetration by use of force and false imprisonment by violence.

MORE: Eric Weinberg charged with rape, sexual assaults
Another former Chappell School worker is at the center of an investigation, accused of inappropriately touching a 4-year-old girl.

A warrant for lewd and lascivious molestation was written and forwarded to the State Attorneys Office for review, but the worker, 34-year-old Neal Beaver, is currently not facing any criminal charges. The warrant came to light after 19-year-old Anthony Josiah Guadalupe was arrested, accused of molesting children at the Longleaf campus of the school in July.

A 45-page police report mentions Beaver as a suspect and said the offending behavior was caught on video numerous times.

In the report, when he spoke to deputies, it said he did not think the behavior was inappropriate and said he didnt touch children in a sexual manner.

The report said Beaver touched a young girl and the lawsuit mentioned it happened in front of another child.

The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office opened an investigation in December 2021. That report said there was surveillance video of the incident and several interactions between the two.

Read: New developments emerge about a former daycare employee accused of molesting several students

The report said there were numerous occasions showing Beaver hugging, holding, touching or rubbing her body.

According to the report, one video that deputies looked at showed Beaver rubbing the childs back and then lower on her backside and squeezing that area.

As of May 16 this year, the report said a warrant for lewd and lascivious molestation was written and forwarded to the State Attorneys office for review, but right now, Beaver isnt facing charges.

Read: Nine families sue St. Johns private preschool following arrest of employee for molesting child

Action News Jax Law and Safety expert Dale Carson, a former police officer and current attorney with decades of experience, said theres a few reasons why that could be.

There are a number of things going on here. Theres been a change in the prosecution of these cases. They are now able to use video footage in lieu of actual victim testimony, which is always difficult with young children, so the State Attorneys Office has to make sure they can bring this conclusively to trial within 175 days of an arrest and all of that seems like a long time, but in criminal justice its not, he said. Add the fact the individual fled to Germany is another stumbling block.

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The report said a worker was the one who reported the behavior.

Read: Day care employee accused of inappropriately touching girl at school, St. Johns deputies say

Also, a civil lawsuit from parents is also going after the school and two of its workers.

The lawsuit said a woman was watching her childs classroom video and saw Guadalupe touching two children in what appeared to be a sexual manner.

The lawsuit said the woman took screenshots of that incident and got in contact with the school. The lawsuit then said for at least a month, both Melanie Williams and Heather Benacia knew or should have known about what Guadalupe was accused of doing, but that they didnt do anything about it.

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It also said they knew about accusations made against Beaver but did nothing. Right now, he is not facing criminal charges.

Carson said the lawsuits validity hasnt been confirmed yet.

We dont know whether that is true or not because we dont know whether not the complaint, which lists the allegations, is accurate and we wont know that until the conclusion of civil trial or settlement, he said.

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The website said all staff members are required to report child abuse -- Carson said thats a requirement.

If you have access to children in a professional capacity and you become aware a child has been molested or injured in some way youre required to report that, he said.

Action News Jax has reached out to the school for comment on both situations but has not heard back yet.

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.
A second woman has come forward with allegations that U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker paid for her to have an abortion.

The new allegations surfaced just weeks after a Daily Beast report that Walker paid for a 2009 abortion for the mother of one of his children. The new woman said she had a six-year relationship with Walker and he paid for an abortion in 1993.

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Walker, who has vehemently opposed abortion rights as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Georgia, denied both womens allegations.

Im done with this foolishness. Ive already told people this is a lie and Im not going to entertain this continued lie alone, Walker said during a campaign event in Dillard. The Democrats are doing whatever they can to win this seat.

The second woman, who asked to be referred to as Jane Doe, spoke during a news conference held by her attorney, Gloria Allred, on Wednesday.

Its sad that I cannot show my face or use my name for fear of reprisals against myself and my family. I am not coward. But I am a realist. I choose to protect my identity to protect those I love, Jane Doe said.

Jane Doe said she had a romantic, intimate relationship that started in 1987 when Walker was still with the Dallas Cowboys and continued after his various trades to Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. She said she had voicemails, letters and receipts to prove their relationship.

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In April 1993, Jane Doe said she learned she was pregnant and that she felt pressured by Walker to get an abortion. She said she went to a Dallas clinic, but could not go through with the abortion and left in tears.

When I told Herschel what happened, he was upset. He said he was going to go back with me to the clinic the next day for me to have the abortion. He drove me to the clinic the following day and waited for hours in a parking lot until I came out. He then drove me to get medications and supplies as prescribed, Jane Doe said.

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She said she felt Walker grew distant from her after the abortion and she ended up leaving Dallas.

Walkers opponent Raphael Warnock issued the following statement on Wednesday:

We know Herschel Walker has a problem with the truth, a problem answering questions, and a problem taking responsibility for his actions. Todays new report is just the latest example of a troubling pattern we have seen play out again and again and again. Herschel Walker shouldnt be representing Georgians in the U.S. Senate.

As the news conference was held, Walker made several campaign stops in north Georgia with the support of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Graham described Allred as a celebrity lawyer from California and called the accusations wild.

Here we go two weeks away from election, less than two weeks, some news conference in LA about somebody saying something from a celebrity lawyer trying to affect the outcome of a Senate race in the state of Georgia, he said. The people of Georgia have your back, Herschel.




Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is under federal investigation, his office confirmed Wednesday, though the specifics remain unclear.

Michael Soliman, a spokesperson for Menendezs office, told The Hill the senator does not know the scope of the investigation but is aware of the probe.

As always, should any official inquiries be made, the Senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office, Soliman said in a statement.

Semafor reported earlier on Wednesday that prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have contacted people close to Menendez and have issued at least one subpoena in the case.

Sources told Semafor the investigation is similar in a broad sense to a 2017 federal corruption case against Menendez, which ended in a mistrial, but involves different people.

In the 2017 case, Menendez, who has represented New Jersey in the Senate since 2006, was accused of helping a wealthy Florida eye doctor secure government contracts in return for gifts, including vacations and flights on private jets.

Attorneys for Menendez argued in that case the two were nothing more than friends.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A federal jury has found Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill guilty of violating civil rights of jail detainees.

He was found guilty on six of his seven charges, and not guilty on one of those charges.

The jury began deliberations Friday afternoon and have continued throughout the week until they reached a verdict this afternoon.

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Channel 2s Audrey Washington spoke with juror number six, who was considered the holdout in the deliberations and asked if he felt justice was served.

I believe justice was served, he said. We do not think he is a man of vicious intent. We believe there were violations and once there were violations, we believe they need to be addressed.

Defense attorney Drew Findling told Washington that he is disappointed in the verdict, but plans to continue fighting.

You can rest assured that this case will be appealed, and I can imagine, and we collectively can imagine, that like in other cases, the case will be reversed, he said.

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Federal prosecutors argue that no detainees were showing violent or uncontrollable behavior at the time they were restrained.

They say the sheriff based his use of the chair solely on behavior they displayed before they arrived at the jail.

In one case, prosecutors say Hill put a man in the chair for hours because the detainee previously used profanity against him, and the restraint was revenge. Jailers testified that at the time of restraint, the inmate was no problem.

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Under federal law, the chair can only be used if detainees are at risk of harming themselves or others.

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Hill took the stand in his own defense last week, saying the chair is safe and that he was not aware of any inmate getting hurt in it.

One of the jurors was removed on Tuesday, and a second was questioned by the judge after being accused by fellow jurors of covering his eyes and ears while other jurors spoke.

Findling argued that Hill never did anything improper with the chair and likely prevented someone else from getting hurt by using it.
By Chen Lin

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's central bank has put forward proposals for new regulatory measures on cryptocurrency trading and stablecoins, in a bid to reduce the risk of consumer harm from the volatility of the industry.

The measures published in two consultation papers on Wednesday include not allowing businesses to lend out cryptocurrencies owned by retail customers, and to ensure customer assets are segregated from their own assets.

Cryptocurrency trading businesses would also not be allowed to offer incentives to attract retail customers, nor accept credit card payments or provide financing to retail customers.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has said it discourages the public from speculative trading in cryptocurrencies and has already brought in restrictions on advertising of cryptocurrency services in public places.

"...Cryptocurrencies play a supporting role in the broader digital asset ecosystem, and it would not be feasible to ban them," MAS said in a media release, adding that the proposed measures should help to reduce risks.

Apart from addressing money laundering, terrorism financing, technology and cyber risks, the MAS said it wanted to ensure regulated stablecoins had a high degree of value stability.

In the case of stablecoins that are pegged to a single currency (SCS) where the value in circulation exceeds S$5 million ($3.53 million), issuers must hold reserve assets in cash, cash equivalents or short-dated sovereign debt securities at least equivalent to 100% of the par value of the outstanding SCS in circulation. The assets must also be denominated in the same currency as the pegged currency.

All SCS issued in Singapore can be pegged only to the Singapore dollar or any Group of Ten (G10) currency, it said.

Banks in Singapore will be allowed to issue SCS and no additional reserve backing and prudential requirements will apply, the statement said.

Currently, only one stablecoin has been issued in Singapore.

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The Asian financial hub had initially attracted major crypto businesses like Binance, but some left the city-state earlier this year and moved to the United Arab Emirates, citing strict regulatory curbs in Singapore.

It is unclear when the proposed measures might be brought in, but the public has been invited to give feedback by Dec.21.

($1 = 1.4160 Singapore dollars)

(Reporting by Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Ed Davies)
Story at a glance

Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly referred to as RSV, is spreading quickly across the country.

RSV is primarily linked to inflamed or infected airways in the lungs of children less than one-year-old.

Whats a cold for us is something that could potentially be deadly for a baby, said Allison Blocker, the North Carolina mother of a baby who contracted RSV.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Health experts warn Respiratory Syncytial Virus, commonly referred to as RSV, is spreading quickly across the United States, overwhelming numerous childrens hospitals.

RSV is primarily linked to inflamed or infected airways in the lungs of children less than one-year-old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Whats a cold for us is something that could potentially be deadly for a baby, said Allison Blocker, the North Carolina mother of a baby who contracted RSV.

The 4 major U.S. cities where the average starter home is still affordable: study

Blockers 8-week-old, Ava, was hospitalized, intubated, and on a ventilator battling the virus for more than a week.

That is something that no parent ever wants to see, she said. No parent should ever have to see.

At first, Blocker didnt think much when her daughter had a cough and runny nose on Oct. 12. She took her to the pediatrician.

I never wouldve dreamed we wouldve ended up in the hospital, Blocker said. The nurse practitioner took one look at her and immediately called an ambulance.

Doctors quickly diagnosed her baby with RSV. Within a couple of days of showing symptoms, she started to wheeze and struggled to breathe.

Blocker told FOX8 that doctors put her baby on a high flow of oxygen within 24 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

After a few days, her daughter was put on a ventilator on Oct. 16.

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Seeing my child on it, it just rips your heart, she said. It makes you feel like  that youre losing the ability to breathe because your baby cant breathe.

The 8-week-old was intubated for two and a half days while her little body fought the virus.

Blocker said her baby had a mucus plug in her lung causing it to collapse. She was stuck with several IVs.

You cant help but go to that place, you cant help but go to, Im going to lose my baby, I just got eight weeks with my baby, Im going to lose my baby, Blocker said. It was from something that can be preventable with mask-wearing, can be preventable with not sending your child to school sick where they are going to expose another family because it spreads like wildfire.

Blocker was right by her babys side while she was undergoing treatment at the Moses Cone Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Knowing that she couldnt move much on her own, she said. I couldnt hold her; I could barely touch her.

Moses Cone Childrens Unit Medical Director Doctor Suresh Nagappan told Nexstars WGHP that theres a backlog of patients in the childrens unit, most under 2 years old.

We are seeing probably the worst RSV year that Ive seen in my career, he said.

Nagappan has seen RSV spread earlier in the year. He said his young patients have gotten sicker for longer.

Were really just supporting them through until the virus gets better and unfortunately theres no magic medicine that will make them better right away, Nagappan said.

Blockers daughter was one of the lucky ones, as she got better after a nine-day stay in the hospital.

I didnt realize how blessed we were and how lucky we were that we were able to make it home, she said. It was not something I ever envisioned when I had this baby that I would ever have to deal with.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials report an increased number of RSV cases, compared to the same times in previous years.

Most children experience a mild case if infected with RSV, according to the CDC. Symptoms of RSV usually develop within four to six days of exposure.

Parents should look out for these symptoms in their children:

Runny nose

Decrease in appetite

Coughing

Sneezing

Fever

Wheezing

If their infant or child starts to really breathe harder or breathe faster or just wont eat or drink at all and youre worried about getting dehydrated, thats a time to really go to the pediatrician or the emergency room depending on the severity of things, Nagappan said.

Health officials encourage what people have learned during the pandemic to prevent the spread of a virus, including washing hands, using hand sanitizer, wearing a mask, and socially distancing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Adolfo Schoneke of Torrance was sentenced to nine years in prison for a scheme involving fake open houses at not-for-sale homes that netted nearly $12 million. Above, an unrelated open house in Los Angeles. (Allison Dinner / Getty Images)

Like any legitimate real estate and escrow agents in the red-hot Southern California housing market, Adolfo Schoneke and his sister, Bianca Gonzalez, held open houses and accepted bids on multiple homes.

The siblings and others operated real estate companies in Cerritos, La Palma and Long Beach.

But there was a problem: The homes they showed were not for sale.

In reality, the houses were a front for a scheme that resulted in the loss of more than $6 million for hundreds of victims, federal prosecutors said this week.

Now, Schoneke, Gonzalez and co-conspirators face federal prison time for the scheme.

Schoneke, 45, of Torrance was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison after pleading guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California.

Gonzalez, 39, pleaded guilty in April to her role in wire fraud and is set to be sentenced in May.

"Playing on the dream of home ownership and seemingly out of reach home prices, [Schoneke] figured out a way to sell homes that he did not own and had no business in listing for sale," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

According to prosecutors, Schoneke and others found properties to list for sale  regardless of whether the owners intended to sell or not  and listed them on real estate websites, marketing them as short-sale opportunities.

"In some cases, the homes were marketed through open houses arranged by tricking homeowners or occupants into allowing their homes to be used," prosecutors said.

Multiple offers were accepted for the properties, but each would-be buyer was told that their offer was the only one accepted.

Each "purchase" was delayed, sometimes for years, as buyers were told the sales required approval.

"Office workers opened bank accounts to hide the co-conspirators involvement in the fraud," prosecutors said.

Buyers would transfer payments into the accounts, in some cases for the full purported purchase price.

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"The co-conspirators directed the office workers to withdraw large amounts of cash from these accounts, which made the proceeds harder to trace," prosecutors said.

Mario Gonzalez, 51  no relation to Bianca Gonzalez  pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a related case in 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced in April.

In total, Schoneke and the others collected nearly $12 million from approximately 750 victims.

Some of the victims were paid back, but nearly 400 people ultimately lost more than $6 million in the scheme. A restitution hearing for Schoneke is set for December.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot will direct at least half of Chicagos advertising spending toward local media, with a goal of reaching non-English speakers with information on services and establishing equity in where city ads are placed, she announced Wednesday.

Lightfoot signed the executive order mandating that all city departments direct at least 50% of their advertising budgets to local and ethnic media outlets.

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Chicago is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and its only right that City government honors the diversity by supporting community and ethnic media outlets, Lightfoot wrote in a statement. Through this equity-based Executive Order, we will ensure that City communications and information on programs are accessible to all of our residents  no matter their circumstances. This effort will also serve as an economic boon for many of our local media outlets.

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The Chicago Independent Media Alliance of more than 80 community news outlets have called for such an initiative since 2020, after then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a similar executive order in 2019 to shift millions of city dollars to local and ethnic media.

The Chicago mayors office will also maintain a list of local media that exemplify Chicagos interconnected communities, a news release said. The directory will include an outlets audience demographics and other statistics. Community media is defined as any news medium  print, digital, TV, radio and more  that targets a specific geographic area, non-English-speaking population, culture or subject matter.

We are so excited Mayor Lightfoot is taking this first big step toward creating a more equitable playing field for the citys marketing and advertising spending, Chicago Independent Media Alliance founder Tracy Baim wrote in a statement. We urge all city, county and state agencies to follow this lead.

Diversity among the local press has been a sticking point with Lightfoots tenure, but her efforts to champion reporters of color have garnered controversy.

During her two-year anniversary in office, she temporarily barred white reporters from one-on-one interviews, leading to accusations she was picking and choosing which journalists to give access to. The National Association of Black Journalists also condemned the move as misguided but agreed the City Hall press corps must be diversified.
JetBlue is one step closer to acquiring Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion. On Wednesday, Spirit Airlines shareholders voted to accept the offer from JetBlue after the airline won a bidding war against Frontier.

The details:

Wall Street was already optimistic about the offer as they forced Spirit to drop the merger with Frontier and accept the cash offer from JetBlue.

This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant U.S. carriers, Spirit CEO Ted Christie said after the vote.

A new look:

Photo by Joe Raedle

JetBlue has plans to paint all Spirit planes and combine all the pilots into the JetBlue workforce. Once the deal is complete, it will make JetBlue the fifth largest airline in the nation.

However, federal regulators could be against the deal since it would eliminate Spirit Airlines. Therefore, potentially leaving customers open to higher rates. The airline industry has currently had issues with the federal government which have been opposed to mergers since 2016.

Protest:

Theres a case right now where the Justice Department wants to kill the partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines called the Northeast Alliance or NEA. Lawyers within the Justice Department are committed to keeping the airline industry competitive. Mergers and alliances could drive up prices for consumers. If the NEA trial rules in favor of the Justice Department, it could cause a major issue in JetBlue trying to acquire Spirit Airlines.

American Airlines

If (JetBlue and American) win the case, and the judge thinks the NEA does not harm consumers enough, its almost guaranteed that there will be an antitrust challenge to the Spirit acquisition, according to Florian Ederer, antitrust expert and economics professor at Yale University.

The airline argues the alliance with American should be allowed because its not a merger. The acquisition of Spirit, however, would merge two airlines.

JetBlue stands by their alliance with American Airlines, stating that it should be allowed because its not a merger. However, JetBlue acquiring Spirit Airlines clearly is.

Robin Hayes, JetBlue CEO, says hes confident hell get the approval to buy Spirit. They hope to close the deal in the beginning of 2024.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

It's much more terrible (there) than we imagine in Germany, the German president said.

There was an air raid during Steinmeiers visit to Chernihiv Oblast, and he had to go to a bomb shelter, where he had the chance to talk to local residents. According to Steinmeier, he was shocked by peoples stories of the Russian occupation.

Read also: Germany to supply field hospital to Ukraine next year, delivery includes training

Any peace must be just, he told Tagesschau.

That means that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be preserved. (But) we are not at that stage yet, Steinmeier added.

The German president visited Ukraine on Oct. 25. It was his first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war unleashed on the country by Russia on Feb.24.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Cop27 is where the rubber hits the road.

That was the message from US climate envoy John Kerry on Wednesday as he called on all countries to step up climate commitments to avert worsening disasters.

Mr Kerry spoke to reporters in a briefing ahead of the United Nations international climate summit which begins in a little over a week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Cop27 we view as implementation Cop, he said. And the purpose of it is to make sure the promises that were made in Glasgow are actually being pursued at the pace they need to be pursued.

The former US secretary of state also called on the folks who didnt step up in Glasgow to come forward with more ambitious emissions-reduction targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as was required by the Cop26 agreement.

It is critical that these commitements are made, Mr Kerry said, as scientific evidence shows that its imperative Earths temperature rise is curbed at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

If we dont do that we will bring much greater destruction on ourselves, on the planet. Much more inhospitable, even unlivable, conditions, he said.

Mr Kerry also said that the US is committed to engaging in a serious dialogue about how the world is going to deal with loss and damage  a demand that will be front and center at Cop27 as poorer countries, bearing the brunt of impacts, call on the richer nations largely responsible for climate change to pay up.

The recent devastating monsoons in Pakistan, made more severe by global heating, have led to flooding which has left around one-third of the country underwater, killed more than 1,000 people and caused an estimated $40bn in damage. Pakistans leaders have called for global financial assistance to cope with climate damage .

Experts say Pakistan historically has contributed just 0.4 per cent of the fossil fuel pollution responsible for climate damage, compared to 21.5 per cent for the US, 16.5 per cent for China and 15 per cent for the European Union.

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Mr Kerry underlined that loss and damage was written into the 2015 global Paris Agreement and said it was on the table for the Egypt summit.

In Glasgow we reaffirmed that and we have always said that it is imperative for the developed world to help the developing world to deal with the impacts of climate, Mr Kerry said.

He continued: And we are prepared to discuss in Sharm el-Sheikh fully all the ways in which we can try to be fair, and gather the efforts of the world to help us address the concerns of a lot of countries. We're very supportive of addressing loss and damage in the context of the Cops."

But at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Mr Kerry said that the idea of the US or any other country coming up with a trillion dollars for the issue is a nonstarter, politically and otherwise.

Any move that threatens to put richer nations on the hook for legal liability is going to be a problem for everybody, not just for us, Kerry said. So how do you do this in a way that actually produces money, gets a system in place? Were totally in favor of that.

We are working toward it, and we will in Sharm, he said. We will not be, you know, obstructing.

With additional AP reporting
A storm that tracked across the northwestern United States on Wednesday reached Texas on Friday and will swing toward the central Gulf Coast on Saturday. The storm will deliver rounds of drenching rain and even some severe weather conditions, AccuWeather meteorologists say.

The storm's most far-reaching effect will be drought-quenching rainfall, but some areas can be hit with flash flooding, and a few spots may be at risk of damaging thunderstorms.

"This storm is dropping farther south than the system that brought severe weather and drenching rain to a wide zone of the South Central states earlier this week," AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Joe Bauer said. "Because of this, both severe weather and rain will be more consolidated to the south, when compared to the storm from Monday and Tuesday."

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Perhaps the most widespread day for gusty to severe thunderstorm activity will be into Friday. It's during this time, that meteorologists will be focused on western and central portions of Texas and Oklahoma for storms to erupt.

On Thursday evening, severe storms were already moving through Texas, resulting in a 1.5 inch hail report in Cee Vee, Texas.

As the storm continues its southeastward trek, the greatest risk of severe thunderstorms and localized flooding is likely to converge along the Gulf Coast and Interstate 10 corridor from eastern Texas to the Florida Panhandle spanning Friday afternoon to Saturday night.

In this zone, severe weather may be sparse, but a few storms capable of producing flash flooding and high winds, and a tornado or even a waterspout cannot be ruled out.

The most far-reaching impact from the storm system beyond Friday will be a soaking rain.

According to the latest United States Drought Monitor report, much of the central Gulf Coast is experiencing abnormally dry to severe drought conditions. In the southern Plains, drought conditions range from exceptional, which is the most intense drought classification, to severe, the third-most intense rating.

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A general 1-2 inches of rain is likely to fall, with local amounts between 2 and 4 inches forecast from central Texas and Oklahoma to central and southern Alabama and the western part of the Florida Panhandle.

While the rain is greatly needed in the region, flooding problems are likely in urban areas, forecasters say.

The bulk of the heavy rain will fall on the Dallas and Houston metro areas on Friday. Most of the rain could hold off in New Orleans until Friday night and may not reach Birmingham, Alabama, until Saturday night. It is possible that rain stays away from Atlanta until Sunday.

"Rainfall will tail off substantially from the storm farther north due to a wedge of dry air, and it is possible that very little to no rain falls on much of Kansas and Missouri," AccuWeather Senior Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. "Since the bulk of the rain from the storm will fall so far south, it is not expected to be of any significant help to shipping on the Mississippi River."

Historically low levels on the Mississippi River have negatively impacted barge transport, which has raised broader concerns about supply chain issues. A large portion of the Red River of the South and the Pearl River in the state of Mississippi will receive some of the greatest amounts of rain from the storm, but both water systems do not impact levels on the Mississippi River, experts say.

"Some rain will pivot northward into portions of Tennessee this weekend and even into part of the Ohio Valley by early next week, but likely not enough rain will fall to have any big impact on Mississippi River levels," Lundberg said.

The Ohio River is the largest tributary to the Mississippi.

As rainfall from the storm early this week and the storm coming this weekend gradually works its way through tributaries, a slight water level rise may occur at various points along the Mississippi main stem. However, any rise in water levels may take days to weeks to cycle through and is likely to be brief and slight.

AccuWeather's long-range forecasting team has been emphasizing that the anticipated weather pattern into at least the first part of the winter does not bode well for rainfall in the Central states and for any significant boost in low water levels on the Mississippi.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Dear GCPS Families and Staff,

As you may now know, a GCPS student was shot today near one of our schools. We are partnering with Gwinnett County Police who are handling this investigation, and we are supporting the immediate needs of our students, families, and staff.

The violence and threats of violence are happening far too frequently in our community, our state, and our nation. I want to be clear the gun violence in our community and around the country is unacceptable, it needs to stop. This violence is entering our schools from the larger community, and we need to respond together.

As a district, we are taking the necessary measures to ensure our schools are safe. Any student involved in violence or threats of violence at our schools will face consequences. We are actively hiring additional SROs. Our schools are continuing to review safety plans with students and staff. And most importantly, students involved in this shooting will be held accountable, which will include tribunals and criminal charges pending the investigation.

Today, I ask again, how will you help us? Will you help us keep guns away from our children and away from our schools? Will you help us teach our children how to resolve conflict without violence? Will you be the adult a GCPS child can turn to when they need help?

In the coming days, we will be gathering students, families, staff, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and lawmakers to help us develop an effective solution to keep our children safe and help them thrive. We must, and we will work together to solve this crisis.

As a parent, I know the concern and fear these school and community shootings can create. We are committed to keeping our schools safe, and when we work together, I know we will be successful.

In partnership and service,

Dr. Calvin J. Watts
By Michael Georgy and Tom Perry

DUBAI (Reuters) - A prominent Sunni cleric who directed unprecedented criticism at Iran's supreme leader over a bloody crackdown in his hometown appeared unbowed this week by warnings from security forces, pressing his demands for more rights for his minority and voicing support for other groups in country-wide unrest.

Molavi Abdolhamid has long been a dissenting voice seeking better living standards and more political representation for the Sunni minority in the mostly Shi'ite Islamic Republic, including the Baluchi ethnic group to which he belongs and the Kurdish population. Iran's government denies discrimination against Sunnis.

His criticism has escalated since the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman in police custody on Sept. 16 ignited nationwide protests, in which more than 250 people have been killed according to rights groups.

Some of the worst unrest has been in areas home to minority ethnic groups with long-standing grievances against the state, including Abdolhamid's province of Sistan-Baluchistan and Kurdish regions. Officials have blamed separatist militants for the unrest.

In the deadliest incident, security forces shot dead 66 people on Sept. 30 in Abdolhamid's hometown of Zahedan in a crackdown following Friday prayers, according to Amnesty International. Officials blamed separatist militants for opening fire on a police station, triggering a shootout.

Abdolhomid, who had denounced the killings as a "crime", on Friday dramatically raised the stakes, saying Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials were "responsible before God."

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, a hardline military force used by the state to crush political unrest, issued on Saturday what it said was a "last warning" to Abdolhamid not to agitate the youth, saying it "may cost you dearly".

The white bearded cleric appeared unbowed at a meeting of his inner circle on Monday, wearing a turban and seated among a group of his close aides in a video seen by Reuters.

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"One positive thing that we can take from the events is that many people have shed their fears," he told the group, placing the protests of recent weeks in the context of what he said was a struggle for Sunni rights since the Islamic revolution.

"Unfortunately, officials are not listening. For 43 years we've been shouting for the (rights of) Sunnis and the Baluch who are the owners of this land and have been defending the area," he said.

Abdolhamid, contacted by Reuters via an intermediary, declined to comment for this story.

The violence in Zahedan shows how the protests that began after Mahsa Amini's death in police custody have swept up Iran's ethnic groups, challenging government control in parts of the country where authorities have ruthlessly extinguished past dissent.

Abdolhamid has said the strong reaction to Amini's death showed "the Iranian people are angry all over the country", according to a statement posted on his website on Sept. 20 in which he cited severe economic crises, corruption, capital punishment and "the intensification of religious pressure on minorities".

The Baluch minority, estimated to number up to 2 million people, has faced discrimination and repression for decades, according to human rights groups. Sistan-Baluchistan province, in southeastern Iran bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is one of the country's poorest and has seen repeated killings by security forces in recent years.

Abdolhadi Gemshadzehi, a university lecturer in Malaysia who is in contact with Abdolhamid, said the cleric was undeterred by the authorities' response.

"He is not afraid and is not in hiding even as plainclothes security forces cruise the streets of Zahedan with their weapons in full view," Gemshadzehi told Reuters.

Reuters was not able independently to confirm the security situation in Zahedan. Iranian authorities did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

MILD-MANNERED CLERIC

Abdolhamid hails from a humble background. He was born in 1947 in a village near Zahedan. He grew up in a religious family, joining Koranic schools and studying elementary Islamic books, before travelling to Pakistan for further education.

For the past 30 years, Abdolhamid has been delivering speeches and sermons at the Grand Makki mosque of Zahedan and elsewhere. In that time, he has built strong support within his region's Sunni population.

His sermons have long called for equal rights for Sunnis - who make up an estimated 5% of Iran's roughly 84 million people - criticising a lack of economic opportunities and freedom of worship.

In recent years, he has asked Iranian leaders to put at least one Sunni as a cabinet minister, vice president or deputy minister, to no avail. His comments have angered Iranian authorities, who placed him under a travel ban in 2017.

That year, he wrote to Khamenei urging the state to pay greater attention to Sunnis. The supreme leader's office wrote back and said Iran's government does not allow discrimination or inequality.

In 2018, Abdolhamid sent a letter to neighbouring Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urging him to act as a mediator with Iranian authorities to help end the "massive discrimination" suffered by Sunnis.

He complained that Sunnis in Iran were denied opportunities in higher management and did not even have a proper mosque in Tehran, according to excerpts of the letter on his website.

Despite the criticism, Abdolhamid has been careful to portray himself as a moderate who can work with the government if needed.

"He is a mild-mannered cleric," Gemshadzehi told Reuters. "He rarely loses his temper and always tries to maintain control."

Iranian officials have occasionally counted on him in times of crisis. He spearheaded mediation efforts with the hardline Baluchi Islamist insurgent group Jaish al-Adl to obtain the release of four Iranian border guards who were kidnapped in 2014. The group, denounced by Tehran as terrorists, has carried out repeated attacks on Iranian security forces.

Abdolhamid has also taken pragmatic steps such as backing hardline President Ebrahim Raisi in last year's election.

Disappointed with the failure of Iran's previous reformist government to provide basic social and political rights, Sunni leaders made a strategic decision to back those who they believe have the power to make a real difference in their lives.

Although Abdolhamid has had a tense relationship with the Iranian authorities, he has occasionally met with top officials, including Raisi at a gathering with other Sunni scholars in May.

OFFICIALS BLAMED MILITANTS

The violent crackdown in Zahedan after Friday prayers on Sept. 30 dramatically raised tensions.

Popular anger ahead of the shooting was fuelled by allegations of the rape of a local teenaged girl by a police officer. Authorities have said the case is being investigated.

While officials blamed separatist militants for the violence, Abdolhamid denounced an attempted cover-up and said that police shot at small group of stone-throwing youths before opening fire on unarmed civilians attending the prayer meeting.

"Everyone should know that the truth will never be hidden," he said in a statement on his website. "This incident awakened our people. Our people knew that they should demand their rights openly without any considerations."

The Sistan-Baluchistan region has for years been a hotbed of militancy, where Iranian security forces have been attacked by Baluchi militants groups - such as Jaish ul-Adl and Ansar Al-Furquan - who say they want better rights for the ethnic minority.

Cornelius Adebahr, an Iran expert with the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the risk of a broader ethnic uprising was real in parts of Iran even if the authorities were seeking to serve their own agenda by blaming the current unrest on militant secessionists.

"There are so many grievances that hold the potential for separatist tendencies," he said. "Should the regime wobble, some people - not the young or feminists marching now - might think it to be an opportune moment to change the status quo."

(Writing by Tom Perry and Michael Georgy; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
The Worcester man who murdered a jogger in Princeton six years ago was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday after changing his plea to guilty.

Angelo Colon-Ortiz appeared in Worcester Superior Court, where he accepted a guilty plea deal of second-degree murder in connection with the August 2016 killing of Vanessa Marcotte. Colon-Ortiz was sentenced to serve life in prison, according to officials.

Marcotte was jogging near her mothers Princeton home when she was attacked, sexually assaulted, and killed, authorities said. Nine months later, Colon-Ortiz was arrested and charged in the 27-year-olds death.

While delivering a victim impact statement, the uncle of Marcotte told the court that her father passed away last week. He said he died of a broken heart after six years of constant grief over losing his only child.

Marcottes mother told the court that Colon-Ortizs brutal actions robbed her of seeing her daughter get married and become a grandmother.

Investigators with Massachusetts State Police took a cheek swab test from Colon-Ortiz with his consent when they went to his home in March 2017. His DNA, according to authorities, matched the DNA collected from Marcottes fingernails during her autopsy.

In June 2021, Colon-Ortiz claimed that there was a Spanish language translation barrier and that he didnt give the police his consent to take his DNA.

One of the reasons why this case dragged on so long is that Colon-Ortiz fired his lawyers three years ago after trying to get his DNA evidence tossed. However back in January 2022, a judge denied his request.

We are thankful and gratified the legal process has accomplished what we always wished for, that this man will now be in a place where he cant hurt anyone else like the way he hurt Vanessa, the Marcotte family said. To honor and remember Vanessa, we will continue to educate and protect women through the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation.

A foundation has since been established in Marcottes name to advocate for a world where women are safe and free to live boldly and fearlessly.

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Judge denies bid by accused killer of Vanessa Marcotte to get DNA evidence tossed

Ortiz is accepting a plea deal of 2nd degree murder. A Worcester judge could sentence him to life in prison. Impact statements happening now.  Brea Douglas (@BreaDouglasTV) October 26, 2022

Marcottes aunt is speaking now. She says she lost a wonderful child she watched grow up from the day she was born. She says she lost her future and the light of her life. She says she didnt have children of her own and said Marcotte planned to always take care of her.  Brea Douglas (@BreaDouglasTV) October 26, 2022

Ortiz declines to make an impact statement out of respect for Marcottes family. Attorney says hes remorseful for his actions and the suffering hes caused her family.  Brea Douglas (@BreaDouglasTV) October 26, 2022

Ortiz has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for 2nd degree murder. Hes also been sentenced to 20 years with time served for unarmed robbery.  Brea Douglas (@BreaDouglasTV) October 26, 2022

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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A suspected Russian spy was arrested in a Norwegian Arctic town this week, adding to fears about Moscows activity in the region after a string of recent incidents.

Norways domestic security agency said Tuesday it had arrested a man suspected of spying for Russia while posing as an academic from Brazil in the northern town of Tromsoe, about 700 miles north of the capital, Oslo.

The news follows a spate of recent arrests involving drone sightings near critical infrastructure and comes as European countries move to bolster security in the wake of the Nord Stream gas pipelines sabotage. Norway, a NATO member, borders Russia in the Arctic.

The Norwegian public broadcaster NRK first reported that the man who entered the country as a Brazilian citizen was arrested on his way to work at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway, also known as the University of Tromsoe, on Monday, suspected of being a Russian national and working for one of the Russian intelligence services.

The Norwegian Police Security Service, or PST, said in a tweet that it had launched an investigation, adding that the man was suspected of breaching sections of the criminal code involving illegal intelligence that may damage fundamental national interests and illegal intelligence that may damage the security interests of other states.

The deputy chief of the security service, Hedvig Moe, told Reuters that the man, whose name has not been released, represents a threat to fundamental national interests and should be expelled from Norway. She described him as an illegal agent, who she said were typically talent scouts recruiting agents for later, and preparing the ground for other spies to do traditional intelligence work, according to Reuters.

She declined to say whether a specific event precipitated the decision to arrest him, but added that it was the right point to stop the activity he was involved in, Reuters reported.

NBC News has reached out to the security service for further comment, but has not heard back.

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Norwegian Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said Tuesday she could not comment on the specifics of the case, but added that the ministry had given an advance notice for the revocation of the mans residence permit and his deportation after a request from the security agency.

The background for PSTs request to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, is that they have information that the man is in Norway on assignment for the Russian authorities with incorrect Brazilian identity papers, she said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the University of Tromsoe said in an emailed statement that it was aware of the arrest of a Brazilian citizen in Tromsoe.

The person concerned was an intern at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and thus not employed by the university, the statement said. He has been associated with the Center for Peace Studies and with some research focusing on hybrid threats.

The mans lawyer, Thomas Hansen, told the Norwegian newspaper VG that his client did not understand why he was accused of being a spy and had asked to be released. NBC News reached out to Hansen for further comment.

Marc Lanteigne, an associate professor of political science at the University of Tromsoe, said by phone from Norway that police had asked him some questions about the man who was arrested. He said both he and the arrested man were part of a research network for students and researchers working on different types of security.

He added that they had known each other since August from various functions and projects with the Center for Peace Studies.

Lanteigne said the man appeared quiet, knowledgeable and fit in very well. He added that he never aroused suspicion, and had a broad interest in Arctic security, which is not unusual for researchers at the university.

The Russian Embassy in Oslo said in an email it was not aware of the man or the arrest. It said that the spy mania against Russia has been actively promoted in Norway lately.

Everything Russian, whether it be state bodies, private companies or individual citizens, is suspicious and smacks of espionage, it added.

The latest incident comes after Norwegian media reported at least eight arrests of Russian nationals in recent weeks, suspected of flying drones and taking photos in restricted areas in northern and central Norway.

The flurry of activity unfolded against the backdrop of Russias war in Ukraine, which is entering its ninth month with the Kremlin struggling to gain the upper hand on the battlefield while increasingly isolated by Western sanctions and aid to Kyiv.

Norway has reinforced security following the drone sightings close to its oil and gas infrastructure and explosions on the underwater natural gas pipelines between Russia and Europe last month. NATO said it was deliberate sabotage, and Moscow has blamed the West for it.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A pair of panicked suspects tried flushing a hefty amount of marijuana down the toilet as officers raided their Atlanta-area home, police in Georgia say.

Officers with the Clayton County Police Departments narcotics unit and SWAT went to execute a search warrant at a home in Jonesboro on Thursday, Oct. 20, as part of an ongoing investigation, according to an Oct. 26 news release.

During the sweep, authorities found more than 40 pounds of marijuana  a portion of which they said the suspects dumped into a toilet and tried to flush away. Photos posted by police show a mound of green buds inside the toilet bowl.

Other items seized in the search:

1 pint of promethazine

35 grams of mushrooms

29 grams of oxycodone

One rifle

Five handguns

Cash and drug paraphernalia

Two people were arrested at the scene, police said. Authorities did not release their identities or say what charges they may face.

Jonesboro is about 20 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

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Goalsetter is going from online to the classrooms!

Founder and CEO Tanya Van Courts financial literacy platform has joined Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) to provide financial education, developed according to Jumpstart.org and Council for Economic Education, to high schoolers, per a press release shared with AfroTech.

The partnership comes after Georgias financial literacy curriculum mandate for high schools, which is required by districts to implement by the 2024-2025 school year  making CCPS a year ahead.

While checking off the mandate for high schools, the CCPS students are set to have access to savings and investment accounts. Over 3,300 11th and 12th are expected to start their financial freedom journey.

We are proud to establish a partnership with Goalsetter to strengthen financial literacy among our students as they continue their K-12 matriculation and become successful adults, said Dr. Morcease J. Beasley, Superintendent/CEO of Schools, per the press release.

He continued: Money management is key so that our scholars can become financially stable, build wealth and assets and achieve their personal goals beyond Clayton County Schools. We are excited to provide this tool to our students.

Goalsetter Classroom is set to provide relevant and timely classroom financial education, investment accounts (educators and parents will also have access), and one-on-one financial training for parents and educators. Whats more, the Goalsetter Foundation and Nike have teamed up to give Nike stock to qualified CCPS students to encourage early asset building, creating the next generation of savers and investors, and financially responsible young people, the press release shares.

Historically, we have not taught children or even adults the critical components of managing money and growing wealth, and a lack of knowledge is a primary factor in a lack of asset building, Van Court said. By teaching our children healthy money habits today, we are helping them avoid the pitfalls of debt and putting them on the path to building generational wealth.
Chicago aldermen rejected Mayor Lori Lightfoots choice to serve as City Council education committee chair in an embarrassing rebuke to the reelection-seeking mayor, who immediately pledged to try advancing her pick again.

The drama began early Wednesday when Lightfoots floor leader, Ald. Michelle Harris, introduced a resolution to appoint retiring Ald. James Cappleman as education committee chairman, a post thats been empty since Ald. Michael Scott resigned from the City Council earlier this year.

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The move to appoint Cappleman took most aldermen by surprise and was a notable snub to Ald. Sophia King, the committee vice chair, who has said she wants the position and also is running for mayor against Lightfoot.

In theory, aldermen can select their own committee chairs, but they have historically deferred to the mayors choices. Aldermen voted 29-18 against Capplemans elevation to committee chair without debate.

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After the vote, King rose to criticize the mayors decision and accuse Lightfoot of not running a transparent administration. King later told reporters she has been trying to organize hearings with Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, which she said Lightfoot was trying to short-circuit by appointing Cappleman.

If you would spend more time attacking problems instead of people, we would be much better off, King said after standing up to address Lightfoot.

At her customary post-City Council news conference, Lightfoot said shes confident she can get him approved and plans to push for Cappleman again.

It really is a reflection of the politics that we live in right now, Lightfoot said. Jim Cappleman is a good, good man. He is a former teacher himself.

The mayor also attempted to push back on critics who said the move was hastily done, saying it had been voted on at the City Council rules committee earlier this week. When a reporter told her it had not appeared before Rules, Lightfoot said, I believe that it was.

The controversy comes as restless aldermen push for other vacant committee seats to be filled. Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, has also been trying to get appointed as ethics committee chairman after Ald. Michele Smith, 43rd, retired.

Although Lightfoot supported Capplemans opponent Marianne Lalonde in the 2019 election, they have developed a solid working relationship. She has referred to Cappleman, of the North Side 46th Ward, as her conscience, and he is generally seen as an alderman who can reliably be counted on to work with the mayor.

Cappleman, an alderman since 2011, announced over the summer he wont seek reelection next year; his term ends in May.

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Ald. Sophia King, left, talks to Mayor Lori Lightfoot at a February City Council meeting. King and Lightfoot, now running against each other for mayor, had a heated exchange Wednesday over the mayor's choice for education committee chair. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

For his part, Cappleman put on a chipper front despite the rejection, insisting that the leadership vacancy will be resolved soon. The alderman said Lightfoot asked him to serve as education committee chair Sunday, and he did not purposely attempt to curry favor with colleagues in the interim.

Cappleman also defended the decision to snub King as education chair and suggested her campaign to unseat Lightfoot in the upcoming mayoral election would have been a distraction if she were to assume the post.

Its awkward to have someone appointed chair whos currently running against them, Cappleman said. Especially when theres an election going on, we have to do back flips to not make it political. Yes, this is a political body and this is Chicago, which is extraordinarily political. But when we run committees, we really have to step back and focus on the job of that committee.

Capplemen expressed openness to vying for the spot in a second vote, though he didnt specify when.

This is politics in Chicago, Cappleman said. It is what it is. I have no complaints about it. If I did, I wouldnt be the alderman right now.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com

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ayin@chicagotribune.com
Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast

For over a year, parents shouted from the rooftops about the damage being inflicted on their children by policymakers and union bosses who kept schools closed during the pandemic, well after it was evident that schools were not high-risk for spreading COVID.

We were frequently met with ridicule, as some extreme voices accused us of wanting free daycare and not caring about the lives and health of teachers. Mostly, particularly in Democrat-led areas, our concerns were simply ignored. Many kids did not see the inside of a classroom between mid-March 2020 and September 2021.

Turns out, the parents were right all along.

The test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress are in, and they paint an awful picture.

Teachers Unions Are Why More Parents Want School Choice

They include historically steep decreases in math scores, reading scores, and widening racial and economic disparities. Unmeasured in this study, but known to parents, are the additional psychological and sociological harms that children are still confronting. The children were, in fact, less resilient than school-closing advocates insisted.

Yes, the novel coronavirus upended the entire planet. And for the first few months, so little was known that an abundance of caution was sensible.

But then we learned more, and yet, people like Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association (NEA), and their political allies, such as CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, colluded to make medical guidance fit their desired school-closure policylike changing Walenskys initial recommendation of 3 feet of social distancing to 6 feet, to cite just one example. This, naturally, was physically impossible for schools to adapt, and so many schools stayed closed indefinitely.

Its time for accountability.

In recent decades, its hard to think of any group of policy influencers that have caused greater damage to childrens education and well-being than Weingarten and Pringleand their reputations should suffer for it. It was Weingarten and Pringle who pressed for teachers to be vaccinated ahead of vulnerable people on the basis that it would reopen schools, and then did nothing as their unions membership refused to go back to work even after they jumped the vax line.

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Now they want everyone to forget. And they certainly dont want anyone to point fingers.

Both Weingarten and Pringle remain insulated by the D.C. and New York chattering classes, who still hold them up as altruistic figures that did the best they could in a tough time. They continue to land prime solo interview slots on news shows to feign concern about helping the kids recover, while being almost completely unchallenged on the role they played in this debacle. And they get plum invites from the Biden White House and the Department of Education to meetings meant to chart the path forward for Americas education systems.

Their continued presence as thought leaders on education is a slap in the face to the children and families they made to suffer needlessly.

Lets never forget, the United States was an outlier when it came to school closures within the Western world. We knew early in the pandemic that children were statistically very unlikely to get seriously ill or die. We knew from side-by-side comparisons between open red states and closed blue states that schools were not contributing to community spread. You could even compare block by block between public schools and affluent private schools that remained open and safe.

Why Our Public School Culture Wars Will Never End

It was in November 2020 when Dr. Anthony Fauci said close the bars, keep the schools open, almost a full year before some of the largest districts in America did fully reopen, mostly against the will of teachers unions.

The union bosses hold disproportionate influence over when your children are taught and what theyre taught. And yet theyre treated as unimpeachable experts, rather than powerful individuals who made controversial decisions yielding disastrous results and, thus, deserving of difficult questioning.

Im not inclined to want House Republicans to wrap themselves entirely around oversight hearings in the next Congress. Its unlikely to be used judiciously or wisely. But I will make an exception when it comes to Weingarten and Pringle. House Republicans should make them live on Capitol Hill for a while, answering for what they did.

People with their kind of power deserve oversight, and public employee unions are organized against the government of the people. So, the people have a right to hold them accountable.

Teachers should want the same. Weingarten and Pringle have sullied the reputation of a noble and vital profession. And to what end?

Despite billions of dollars successfully lobbied for, teachers arent paid more. The AFT and NEA have been in business for nearly a century, and if their one mission is to get teachers more respect and higher wages, theyve failed miserably on both frontsall while making teachers pay for the privilege out of their modest paychecks.

Yes, We Have to Point Fingers Over COVID Learning Loss

Red states around the country are already enacting significant policy reforms to combat the influence of these union bosses. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has responded to the mandate of his election with reforms that put parents back in the drivers seat as much as one can in a politically divided state. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has ushered in sweeping school choice reforms that will put his state at the front of the education reform packwhere Gov. Ron DeSantis and predecessors like Gov. Jeb Bush had already positioned Florida.

You may not like any of those politicians, but theyre pushing through the systemic change Weingarten and Pringle were professionally meant to stopbut instead have inspired. The union bosses awakened a sleeping issue that was mostly discussed in theory at conservative conferences for decades, but which is now a litmus test for candidates in the new populist Republican Party. If youre a teachers union-supporting liberal, save some of the ire directed at the GOP for the people on your own side who gave your school choice-supporting opponents all the ammunition theyll ever need.

Parents across the ideological spectrum are mad. Theyre mad at what a small number of people did to millions of young kids. Theyre mad at Randi Weingarten and Becky Pringle. And anyone still aligned with them would do well to cut ties and move on before they drag the whole ship down.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Millions of student loan borrowers have flocked to the Biden administrations newly unveiled application for broad-based debt relief since it was released earlier this month.

But federal officials want you to know there are others on the move, too.

In recent weeks, federal agencies have been warning of the threat of student loans scams, and even the White House is spreading the word about fraudsters targeting borrowers.

Here are a few ways to spot some of those scams, and how to stay safe.

The Education Department will likely never call you

A common tactic among student loan scammers is to call an individual and pretend to be a government official from the Education Department.

However, borrowers can be assured they wont receive calls from the Education Department because officials wont contact individuals directly about repayment programs or their loans, according to Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) President and Founder Natalia Abrams.

The Department of Education and your federal student loan servicer will never call or email you asking for this information, the department said in a statement at the beginning of October, referring to a persons Federal Student Aid account ID or password.

The department also emphasized the new student relief program is free for applicants to apply and get loan forgiveness.

Abrams told The Hill that individuals have lost thousands of dollars from these scams and have signed over their power of attorney for a bogus company to handle their loans.

Calls about repayment programs

Scammers will try to convince individuals they have to pay money to join a repayment program to handle their student loan debt.

If someone calls you asking to enroll in a government program, hang up the phone, Abrams said.

Scammers could pretend to be loan service providers, as those providers do call borrowers, but Abrams said there are ways to tell the difference between the scammers and loan service providers.

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Unfortunately, loan service providers will not take the time to offer you repayment programs or walk through them and they would just be asking you to pay your bill, Abrams said. They would not be asking if you want to enroll in these programs.

There are times when a borrower could pay for help with their loans, such as working with a financial adviser or accountant for assistance in understanding programs, but those are calls a borrower would make, according to Abrams.

These individuals or programs will not call you first.

Check for a .gov email address or website

Scammers will not only call on the phone, but attempt to reach you through your email.

If a person receives any email about student loan programs they are not expecting and the sender does not have a .gov email address, it is most likely a scam.

On the other hand, any information you read that comes from a .gov website can be trusted.

Weve had people ask us if the one time debt cancellation is legit on studentaid.gov, Abrams said. If you are on a .gov website, or you receive information from a .gov email, no one in this country can own a .gov unless youre from the government.

Understand the resources available to you

Experts are urging borrowers to become more familiar with the trusted resources already available to them to reduce chances falling prey to a scam, starting with their Student Aid account.

Borrowers with any questions about the status of their student loans and what benefits they are eligible for can look to the account as a prime source for information, Michelle Grajales, an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), said.

If you want information, your federal student loan servicer should also be able to kind of talk you through your eligibility for particular benefits or programs, Grajales said.

Also, its important to remember that no ones debt has been canceled yet, Amber Saddler, counsel at Student Borrower Protection Center, said, pointing to a recent legal challenge temporarily tying up the relief.

In the meantime, the Biden administration has encouraged borrowers to continue applying using its online forgiveness application, while expressing confidence the temporary pause on the relief will be lifted.

Borrowers can also subscribe to alerts for student borrower updates via the Department of Educations website here.

What to do if you think youre the victim of a scam

If borrowers suspect theyve fallen victim to a scam, the government wants to hear about it.

Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov, Grajales advised. There, the lawyer said borrowers can fill out a complaint online. The more information provided, according to the attorney, the more officials will be able to understand whats going on.

Grajales also said its important for borrowers to get on the phone with their servicer if they think theyve been scammed to make sure their information is accurate.

The way a lot of these companies work is they will impersonate the borrower, and change all the contact information to effectively kind of sever the borrower from their loan servicers, Grajales said, explaining the aim is to step in between a borrower and their loan servicer.

That way it makes it harder for the consumer to realize when theyve been scammed, and also allows companies to, you know, maybe go on collecting fees, etc.

If you have paid money, you may want to contact your bank and see what options you might have for stopping a payment thats in progress, Grajales continued.

However, Grajales also acknowledged there are time limits for certain courses of action when it comes to older complaints. For example, she noted, if its a statute that allows us to seek civil penalties, thats only going to usually go back about five years.

There are time limits in terms of your remedies that you might have with regards to getting money back from your bank or your credit card, she said, but its still a good idea to complain if you feel that youve been scammed.

Even if you havent given them any money, but you just think youve encountered what looks like a scam, and you want to tell us about it, do that, Grajales added.

The FTC told The Hill on Wednesday that, in the first three quarters of 2022, it received about 57,000 complaints about student loans generally  a figure that has already exceeded totals recorded from the previous two years.

Out of those calls recorded this year, roughly two-thirds of those calls were related to student loan debt relief, including scam calls, the agency said.

Dont expect these scams to end

Although student loan scams have ramped up amid the confusion surrounding the student debt relief program, these student loan scammers were around long before the program and will stay after the program.

Abrams said she is glad the government is stepping up to talk about these scams, but says it would have been better if they would have been talking about this sooner.

This has been a pervasive problem for a very long time, Abrams said. And its only gotten worse because of [student debt] cancellation. Its great theyre finally bringing attention to it but they needed to for a long time.

The scams regarding the debt cancellation will be ongoing for a while as the applications are open until the end of 2023 and the court proceedings against the program continue.

The only way to get the debt relief is applying through the free application on the Federal Student Aid website. Borrowers should apply even while the courts are deciding the legality of the program.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Immigrant rights leaders including Francisco Moreno, second from left, speak at a news conference in Los Angeles in 2020. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

After more than a year of negotiation, settlement talks between the Biden administration and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over temporary protected status fell through on Tuesday, leaving more than 250,000 people at risk of deportation.

The litigation followed concerted actions by the Trump administration to end TPS for the citizens of several countries  El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sudan and Nepal  as part of its efforts to wind down extended use of the protections. TPS is a form of humanitarian relief granted to countries devastated by natural disasters or war and allows beneficiaries to work legally while they remain in the U.S. Created in 1990, the program currently applies to people from 15 countries.

The plaintiffs won temporary relief in 2018 when a federal district judge in San Francisco granted an injunction to block the termination of protections. But in 2020, a three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco reversed the order in a 2-1 decision. That hasn't taken effect because lawyers for the immigrants requested a hearing before the full court, which remains pending.

The Biden administration redesignated temporary protected status for Haiti and Sudan, but has not done so for the four other countries. Those beneficiaries could lose their protections as early as the end of this year, while the Biden administration goes to court to defend the previous administration's decisions.

As a presidential candidate, however, Joe Biden called President Trump's decision to rescind TPS "a recipe for disaster," promising to protect beneficiaries from being returned to unsafe countries.

Emi MacLean, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, said a settlement would have provided safety and security for the TPS holders who have felt vulnerable during the last four years of litigation.

"There is a reason that people are losing faith in the [Biden] administration," she said. "These actions leave us very concerned about whether they recognize the urgency of this issue and the fact that many lives are on the line because of their unwillingness to act."

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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation but said that current TPS holders from El Salvador, Nepal, Nicaragua and Honduras will continue to be protected over the coming months.

TPS holders and their U.S. citizen children brought the class-action challenge in 2018 alleging government officials had a political agenda in deciding to terminate protections for those countries and were motivated by racism. Trump administration officials countered by saying the program was never intended to provide a long-term reprieve.

Plaintiff Elsy Flores Ayala said she was frustrated that a settlement couldn't be negotiated. Flores Ayala, 43, her husband and their 24-year-old daughter have had TPS since 2001, a year after they arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador.

El Salvador was first designated for TPS in March 2001 after two earthquakes ravaged the country, killing more than 1,000 people and displacing more than 1 million. Since then, the U.S. government has cited subsequent natural disasters and gang-related insecurity in redesignations. Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans have TPS, many of them in California.

Flores Ayala said she and her family, who live in Washington, depend on the benefits that come with TPS  she works in child care, her husband does maintenance at an apartment building and her daughter is in college. She also worries about what could happen if they lose the deportation protections. Her two youngest children, ages 17 and 21, were born in the U.S. and she fears being separated from them.

"The worry is significant because we don't know what will happen with us," she said.

In the pointed ruling in 2018, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen blocked the terminations, saying beneficiaries risked being uprooted from their homes, jobs and communities.

"They face removal to countries to which their children and family members may have little or no ties and which may not be safe," he wrote. "Those with U.S.-citizen children will be confronted with the dilemma of either bringing their children with them, giving up their childrens lives in the United States (for many, the only lives they know), or being separated from their children."

The judge, an appointee of President Obama, also cited Trumps reported comments about Haitian and African immigrants being from shithole countries, noting circumstantial evidence of race being a motivating factor."

Through the discovery process, lawyers for the immigrants received internal communications from the Homeland Security Department during the time the decisions for terminating TPS were made.

In one instance, then-acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke wrote in a personal memo in March 2018 that the TPS program must end for these countries soon.  This conclusion is the result of an America first view of the TPS decision.

Career diplomats and other experts cautioned at the time that the decisions would result in significant humanitarian and political repercussions, while a Homeland Security official suggested they comb through the conditions in those countries for positive gems to justify their arguments that recipients no longer needed legal protections.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Eduardo Baptista and Anand Katakam

BEIJING (Reuters) - Xi Jinping emerged from the 20th Communist Party Congress with a precedent-breaking third leadership term and a Politburo Standing Committee made up entirely of loyalists, cementing his place as China's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong.

Under Xi's decade in power, China has undergone profound change, both domestically and within the global context.

Here are some of the ways that China has changed under Xi.

1. Perceptions of China in the West and U.S.-allied countries have worsened

U.S.-China relations have deteriorated sharply in recent years, a decline that accelerated under former U.S. President Donald Trump's hawkish turn on Beijing. But western perceptions have also been worsened by concerns over human rights as well as China's increasing aggression towards Taiwan.

Perceptions of China among the West and U.S.-allied countries https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/jnvwygwokvw/chart_eikon.jpg

2. Xi's campaign against corruption

Upon taking office, Xi initiated a signature drive to root out corruption within the Communist Party, which has proven popular with the public and which numerous analysts say has also been a useful tool for eliminating political opponents.

Corruption cases under Xi https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/lgvdkmmgdpo/chart.png

3. The taming of once-unruly borderlands

The regions of Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, all far from Beijing, have long created headaches for China's ruling Communist Party.

Xi launched unprecedented, sweeping security crackdowns that brought the borderlands under control.

In Xinjiang, that included the internment of an estimated one million minority Muslim Uyghurs in camps; in Hong Kong, Beijing responded to major anti-government protests in 2019 with a sweeping national security law.

Hong Kong Police Force budget https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/dwpkronyavm/chart.png

Imprisonments in Xinjiang https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/zdvxolwgjpx/chart.png

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Public security budget for Tibet https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/akpezdrjkvr/chart.png

4. Turning up the heat on Taiwan

All Chinese leaders since Mao have stressed the importance of "reunifying" China with the self-governed island of Taiwan.

But tensions across the Taiwan strait have sharply increased under Xi, with the People's Liberation Army increasing its activity around the island in recent years, from military drills to a spike in incursions into the island's air defense identification zone.

The August visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provoked Chinese military exercises on an unprecedented scale.

Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan's air defense identification zone https://graphics.reuters.com/TAIWAN-CHINA/movankeompa/chart.png

5. The state is increasingly taking the economic lead

Xi has ratcheted up state control and guidance of the economy, including a wide-ranging crackdown on the most free-wheeling sectors of the private sector, especially online platforms and for-profit education.

The clampdown on those sectors, as well as the impact of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, has pushed up urban unemployment and pushed down consumer confidence.

Mood in China's Private Sector https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/lgpdkmkelvo/Mood%20in%20China's%20Private%20sector.png

6. Slowing growth, rising incomes

The era of yearly double-digit growth ended before Xi took office and the rate of growth has been declining, which was inevitable as the size of the economy grows.

Incomes have steadily risen under Xi.

A growing number of analysts warn that China's investment-heavy, infrastructure-driven model is increasingly unsustainable, with further slowdown ahead.

China's Annual GDP growth https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/akvezdwdgpr/qHV9B-china-s-annual-gdp-growth.png

China's per capita GDP https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/jnvweqdmmvw/cTMIa-china-s-per-capita-gdp.png

7. The quashing of dissent, the expansion of censorship

Xi has cracked down on domestic critics and protests, eliminating space for dissent, while censorship inside China's "Great Firewall" steadily intensifies.

Detention of individuals in secret jails https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/zjpqkxgdwpx/chart.png

China's Internet freedom https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/lbvggroaevq/chart_eikon.jpg

8. The world's largest military grows, modernises

The People's Liberation Army, led by Xi, has been closing the gap with the United States, including on the high seas, with major implications for tensions surrounding Taiwan, as China ratchets up its capability to seize the island on what some U.S. officials warn is a shortening timeline.

China's naval expansion in the past decade https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/gdvzqrrbepw/chart.png

9. China leads on green tech - and in pollution

While China struggles to shake its dependence on coal, it has become the global leader in the manufacture of electric vehicles and won plaudits for its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Most visibly, air quality in China has steadily improved over the past decade.

China's air quality https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/egpbkzxzavq/4tDrQ-china-s-air-quality(1).png

China's coal production https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/lgvdwrzrlpo/SuI5F-china-s-coal-production.png

Share of coal in China's total energy mix https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/lbvgnqeqgpq/IP2hY-share-of-coal-in-china-s-total-energy-mix.png

Electrical vehicles production https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/byvrjzwzjve/jZ4nB-electrical-vehicles-production(1).png

10. Extreme poverty eliminated, inequality persists

Xi describes elimination of extreme poverty in China as one of the key Communist Party achievements of the past decade.

Inequality, however, has proven a tougher challenge - especially the gap between urban and rural incomes - something Xi is seeking to tackle with his "common prosperity" policy.

China's official Gini coefficient numbers show that despite a slight decline in recent years, it still has one of the highest income inequalities among large economies, along with the United States.

Income inequality in China https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/zjpqjqynmvx/chart_eikon.jpg

China's rural poverty rate https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-CONGRESS/gdvzyzlxopw/eNDnl-china-s-rural-poverty-rate.png

(Graphics by Anand Katakam; Reporting by Eduardo Baptista, David Stanway, Martin Pollard, Kevin Yao, Samuel Shen, Marius Zaharia, Beijing and Shanghai newsrooms; Writing by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Tony Munroe and Lincoln Feast)
Nora Tam/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

Tesla is facing a criminal probe over its "self-driving" claims, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Tesla markets its "Autopilot" vehicle feature as providing "full self-driving capabilities."

Sources told Reuters that the Justice Department began an investigation into that claim last year.

Tesla claims that its electric vehicles are capable of "self-driving" is the subject of a federal criminal investigation that began last year, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Many automakers now equip their vehicles with driver-assist technologies designed to keep a vehicle in its lane and prevent frontal collisions. But Tesla goes a step further, claiming that an optional version of its Autopilot technology provides "full self-driving capabilities"  even as it instructs drivers to keep their hands on the wheel at all times.

That claim is now the subject of a probe by prosecutors with the US Department of Justice, Reuters reported, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The investigation, which could ultimately trigger criminal charges against Tesla executives, is centered on whether that claim constitutes defrauding consumers.

However, sources told the news agency that it is far from certain that any charges will result from the inquiry, in part because Tesla qualifies its Autopilot claims by noting that its vehicles are not "autonomous."

Neither the Department of Justice nor Tesla immediately responded to Insider's requests for comment.

Despite Tesla's claims, its optional Full Self-Driving Capability is still in "beta," meaning it is not considered a final product. In a recent conference call with investors, Tesla CEO Elon Musk conceded that, despite the name, "we're not saying that [it's] quite ready to have no one behind the wheel," automobile news site Electrek reported.

Earlier this year, lawmakers in California passed a bill that would bar Tesla and other automakers from using the term "Full Self Driving," with backers arguing that the term is misleading and potentially dangerous.

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"Are we just going to wait for another person to be killed in California?" state Sen. Lena Gonzalez told the Los Angeles Times. "People in California think Full Self-Driving is fully automated when it's not."

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Michael Simari

According to a report from Reuters, American EV giant Tesla is now facing a criminal investigation from the Department of Justice.

The criminal investigation joins a series of probes into the company from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) option now costs $15,000 but has not reached regulatory approval.

EV maker Tesla is under criminal investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice over its claims that its cars are "Full Self Driving." That news comes in an article just published by the Reuters news service, which cited unnamed sources it described as "three people familiar with the matter." The report says the feds have been conducting the investigation since 2021 after more than a dozen crashes were suspected of being related to Tesla's self-driving technology.

According to the Reuters story, the Justice Department's prosecutors will be looking to discover "whether Tesla misled consumers, investors, and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology's capabilities." The investigation could culminate in criminal charges, civil penalties, or the end of the matter, depending on what they find out, Reuters said.

Controversial from the Start

Tesla has come under fire from many quarters over the implication that its vehicles can drive themselves, given the company's use of the name "Full Self Driving." Because Tesla's Full Self Driving system relies on the driver of the vehicle to remain alert at all times, it is effectively a Level 2 driver-assist technology, not fully automated.

However, it could be argued that Tesla has allowed customers to believe otherwise. For instance, a video on the Tesla Autopilot website reads: "The person in the driver's seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself." Further down, the website reads, "Autopilot enables your car to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within its lane. Current Autopilot features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous."

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Tesla does warn drivers that they must remain alert even with Autopilot activated. This, Reuters speculates, may protect Tesla in the Justice Department probe.

What the warnings do not seem to do is keep drivers from paying less attention to the road. A study conducted by MIT last year found that drivers using Autopilot remove their eyes from the road for longer, and more often than when they are not using the system.



The criminal investigation from the DOJ is not the first investigation Tesla is facing over Autopilot and FSD. NHTSA opened a probe into over 800,000 Teslas with Autopilot in June of this year, and in July, the California DMV accused the company of falsely advertising the capabilities of its driver-assist features.

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Pierce County recently paid a six-figure settlement to a former sheriffs deputy who alleged text messages about his firing in 2019 had been destroyed, closing the book on his bid to get his job back following his acquittal on domestic violence charges.

Ex-Sgt. Pat Davidsons three-year legal struggle across multiple cases also ensnared his daughter, who was fired from the Sheriffs Department after prosecutors said she lied under oath and withheld evidence regarding her father. Last month, an arbitrator concluded the department didnt prove Brittney Davidson lied and ordered her reinstatement with more than a year of back pay.

In a statement, the Sheriffs Department stood by its investigations of the Davidsons and subsequent disciplinary decisions.

We were trying to do our part to hold deputies accountable, spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss told The News Tribune over the phone.

Moss said the Sheriffs Department is calculating the back pay owed to Brittney Davidson based on her salary and average overtime. Entry-level deputy salaries are advertised at a minimum of about $77,000.

The Pierce County Council approved a $400,000 payment to settle Pat Davidsons lawsuit during a September meeting.

Pat Davidson told The News Tribune he was searching for documents to file a wrongful termination lawsuit last year when public records officials informed him former Sheriff Paul Pastors texts had been destroyed when he retired in September 2020. Another department leaders texts were destroyed when he received a new phone but after Davidsons records request.

State public records retention rules require local government agencies to save most internal and external communications for at least two years. State law mandates that records related to reasonably anticipated litigation and existing public records requests must not be destroyed.

When Davidson sued the county for public records violations and wrongful termination this spring, he said he still hoped to get his job back. He currently works as a security guard and has been unable to secure another law enforcement job.

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I didnt do it. Ive been with my wife for 30 years, Davidson told The News Tribune in August. I was fired before being given due process.

Davidson previously settled a lawsuit against the sheriffs union and an affiliated attorney, alleging they failed to properly represent him during the termination grievance process. Davidson said the union agreed to pay him $150,000 in December. The settlement terms with the attorney were confidential.

Sheriffs sergeant charged, fired

Prosecutors charged Davidson with unlawful imprisonment and two counts of misdemeanor assault in late September 2019, alleging he hit and used a chokehold on his wife during an argument about a month earlier.

A family friend filed a police report after Davidsons wife confided in others at a bachelorette party that a fight with Davidson the night before had left her with significant bruises, according to investigative documents. Davidsons wife reportedly said she couldnt breathe from the chokehold and thought she was going to die.

When interviewed by Pierce County detectives, Davidsons wife downplayed the incident and her comments to friends, police documents show. She said it was not domestic violence; she was drunk and they were wrestling.

Davidsons daughter also attended the bachelorette party, where she talked with her mother about the incident, according to police documents. Brittney Davidsons then-boyfriend, a fellow deputy, attended the corresponding bachelor party and also heard about the incident with Pat Davidson.

Both deputies spoke with Sheriffs Department detectives, according to investigative documents. Brittney Davidson said at the time she didnt have photos of her mother from that day.

About two weeks later, prosecutors charged Pat Davidson.

Two days after that, the Sheriffs Department sent him a notice of intent to terminate his employment, according to court documents.

The prosecutors office then added Pat Davidson to a list of law enforcement officers with credibility issues, known as potential impeachment evidence or Brady list, in early October, according to court documents. Prosecutors are required to provide that information to defense attorneys.

Pastor decided to fire Davidson in late October, prior to trial, citing department policy on law violations.

Domestic violence trial, aftermath

Davidson was scheduled to face trial in December 2019, but a few days before new evidence came to light: His daughter found a selfie shed taken with her mother on the night of the August bachelorette party.

Brittney Davidson wasnt sure what to do with the photo and asked her father, whose attorneys provided the image to prosecutors, according to arbitration documents. The photo didnt show any bruising.

While discussing the photo over the phone with deputy prosecuting attorney Coreen Schnepf, Brittney Davidson said she and her mother were drunk when they talked about the incident and it affected her memory when talking to detectives, according to arbitration documents. Schnepf told the arbitrator she didnt record or take notes about the conversation.

A jury found Pat Davidson not guilty on all counts in late February 2020.

About a month later, Pastor denied his request to be reinstated, court documents say.

Around the same time, county officials began scrutinizing Brittney Davidson and her then-boyfriend, who both testified during the trial. Schnepf said testimony from Davidson was inconsistent with her prior statements to detectives.

On the stand, Brittney Davidson said her mother could be untruthful when she drinks and admitted to being the aggressor during the August argument with Pat Davidson, which was prompted by a TV remote, according to arbitration documents.

The statement did not match what she told us, said Sheriffs Department spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss.

The Sheriffs Department put Brittney Davidson on administrative leave and launched an internal investigation about two weeks after the jurys verdict, according to arbitration documents. She and her then-boyfriend received 20-hour suspensions in March 2021 for failing to report the incident between the Davidson couple.

Brittney Davidson also was added to the county prosecutors so-called Brady list.

The Attorney Generals Office declined to charge her or her then-boyfriend with perjury in May 2021, but the Sheriffs Department fired Brittney Davidson the following month, citing a policy violation for untruthfulness under oath, according to arbitration documents. Her then-boyfriend did not receive additional discipline.

She hired attorney Brett Purtzer, who had also defended her father, to represent her during arbitration with the county after the sheriffs union declined to pay for a lawyer.

Last month, an arbitrator found Brittney Davidson only violated department policy by sending the selfie with her mother to her father, a criminal defendant, prior to his trial, according to arbitration documents. Her discipline was lowered from termination to a 40-hour suspension deducted from her back pay award.

The Department has picked isolated pieces of testimony to allege that Grievant violated the Truthfulness Policy, the arbitrator wrote. When the evidence is considered in context, and not by picking isolated statements from the record, it is apparent that Grievant was answering questions during the investigation and subsequently testifying at trial, to the best of her recall.

Brittney Davidson has declined to speak with news media out of fear of retaliation, Pat Davidson said.

Although she was reinstated on Sept. 23 and returned to patrol duties on Oct. 14, her name remained on the prosecutors Brady list as of last week.

Brittney should no longer be on there, Purtzer told The News Tribune. Its pretty damning to any law enforcement officer to be on that list.

Davidson settles for payout

Unlike his daughter, the merits of Pat Davidsons case for reinstatement couldnt be considered by an arbitrator.

In September 2020, an arbitrator found Davidson and the union had failed to timely appeal his firing after a human resources official upheld it in December 2019, according to court documents. Davidson tried to appeal that ruling to Pierce County Superior Court, but the county argued the arbitrators decision was final.

In his wrongful termination and public records lawsuit against the county, Davidson blamed the union for missing the deadline to appeal his firing, alleging a guild attorney advised he wait to appeal until after his trial.

During research for that lawsuit, in spring 2021, Davidson filed a public records requests for any text messages department top brass sent about him.

A public records official told Davidson that former Sheriff Pastors texts had been destroyed when he retired, court documents show. Text messages from chief of investigations Kevin Roberts were destroyed when he got a new phone about a month after Davidsons request.

In subsequent court papers, the county argued Davidson had exhausted his options to get his job back and moved to dismiss his wrongful termination claim. The filing did not address the public records allegations.

Davidson and the county agreed to a settlement before a judge ruled. As a part of the settlement, Davidson said he would withdraw his public records requests at issue.

He told The News Tribune he plans to refile some of them later.

I wanted to find out why Pastor upheld his firing, Davidson said. And Im not going to get that because they destroyed it.

Last year, Pierce County implemented a system to archive text messages within its email database, according to spokesperson Libby Catalinich. Text messaging is disabled for any county cellphone users who opt out of that process.

Joan Mell, Davidsons attorney, questioned why the county didnt have a retention policy in place prior to her filing a lawsuit.

Theres no reason they should be paying Pat Davidson anything, Mell said.
A Thai transgender businesswoman has acquired the Miss Universe pageant for $20 million.

Jakapong Anne Jakrajutatip, the CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group, sealed the deal with IMG Worldwide, her company announced on Wednesday.

Jakrajutatip, who is a celebrity media tycoon and a transgender rights advocate, made history by becoming the first woman to own the beauty pageant organizer.

We are incredibly honored to be acquiring The Miss Universe Organization and working with its visionary leadership team, Jakrajutatip reportedly said in a statement on Wednesday. The global reach of the Organization, its relationships with global partners and brands, and its wealth of content, licensing, and merchandising opportunities make this a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio.

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We seek not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, but also to evolve the brand for the next generation, she added.

The Thai mogul, who has been outspoken about her experience as a transgender woman, previously set up the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation as a way to advocate for the rights of transgender people.

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The JKN Global Group, which distributes self-produced and international films and TV programs, views the acquisition as a soft power to build a reputation for Thailand to be known and outstanding around the world.

The beauty pageant, which has been running for 71 years, was previously co-owned by Donald Trump between 1996 and 2002 before IMG acquired it in 2015.

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The organization will be holding its 71st Miss Universe pageant in January 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It will be broadcasted in 165 countries.

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Featured Image via @annejkn.official (left, right)
Flanked by anti-abortion advocates, former U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski speaks during a rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza in December 2021. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Daniel Lipinski sounded like quite the prophet when he predicted a big red wave in the November midterm election.

Lipinski came across like he was rooting for the GOP when he waded into the dangerous waters of predicting election outcomes in an op-ed the Chicago Tribune published Wednesday.

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A GOP tsunami is possible for the House, and the Senate is slipping away from Democrats, the headline declared.

Lipinskis opinion is striking because it departs so dramatically from prevailing sentiment among most national pundits. Most seem to conclude that its too close to call whether Democrats or Republicans will control the House and Senate after the Nov. 8 midterms.

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Voters have low opinions of people serving in Congress and the White House, Lipinski reasoned, and are likely to decide the party that is out of power is the lesser of two evils.

This may not lead to a massive wave but a robust pickup of 25 to 30 seats and a significant majority, Lipinski wrote. If Republicans manage to win 36 seats, they would have their biggest House majority in 92 years.

Prognosticating election results is about as practical as using astrology to foretell human behavior. Polling is unreliable. Nearly all the major pollsters wrongly predicted Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race.

The fact is no one knows whats going to happen in this election or which party is going to control Congress because weve never had a midterm election like this before.

No one knows exactly how voters this year will react to the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Courts June decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the ongoing escapades of former President Donald Trump.

Lipinski indicated he based his opinion on historical trends and his personal experiences representing the 3rd District of Illinois in Congress from 2005 to 2021. He lost to Rep. Marie Newman in the 2020 Democratic primary. For now the district covers parts of Bridgeview, Chicago Ridge, Hickory Hills, Justice, Oak Lawn, Palos Hills and other south and southwest suburbs, but that will change when a new map takes effect in 2023.

Lipinski wrote that he saw three big midterm waves that swept the presidents party out of power by an average of 45 seats. Such analysis is flawed because it lacks historical context. Perhaps Lipinski should have considered a well-known disclaimer often associated with the stock market: Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The Tea Party movement in 2010, for example, helped the GOP pick up 63 House seats. The November election followed the Supreme Courts Citizens United v. FEC decision in January 2010 that opened the door to unlimited fundraising for political action committees.

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It was a classic case of Republican dirty tricks that caught Democrats flat-footed. Dark money poured into GOP campaigns. There also was racist backlash to the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the nations first Black president.

The circumstances are much different in 2022 than they were in 2010. For one, Republicans pretty much squeezed all the blood they could get out of the gerrymandering turnip in 2010 and had little opportunity left to gain more seats by mapmaking after the 2020 census.

Democrats this year seem likely to lose two House seats in Florida and one each in Arizona, Tennessee and Wisconsin, according to analysis by FiveThirtyEight. Other seats may lean one way or another but are less than sure bets. There is widespread belief the GOP will overcome its current 222-213 disadvantage in the House, but it may only be by a one-vote majority.

Lipinski also expressed his belief that Republicans are likely to regain the majority in the Senate, where they only need to pick up one seat to break the current 50-50 tie. Lipinski told readers to watch Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

The incumbent Democrat may lose in Nevada and the GOP may prevail in Pennsylvania, where a Republican senator is retiring. But Democrats appear likely to hold seats in Arizona and Georgia.

Some incumbent Republicans are struggling to hold onto seats. Mike Lee of Utah, facing questions about his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, might lose to independent Evan McMullin, who was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune in the 2016 presidential contest. Ron Johnsons race in Wisconsin is a tossup, according to the Cook Political Report.

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One wonders for what purpose Lipinski went out on a limb to author a piece less than two weeks before Election Day in which he seemed to root for a Republican tsunami. We all know elections are determined by which partys voters show up. GOP voters tend to be fewer in number but more enthusiastic. Maybe he thought his piece would help the party that supports his stance on abortion by dampening enthusiasm among Democratic voters. Now that early voting is underway, such efforts seem to have intensified in the final days of the campaign.

Thats why were seeing a bunch of stories all of a sudden about Democrats peaking too soon and Republicans gaining momentum. Many of these stories are based on polling commissioned by Republican operatives of minuscule samples of registered voters.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Its easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Wealthy elites tend to support Republicans who approve favorable policies like 2017s huge tax breaks for corporations and rich individuals. Their contributions help pay for messaging that divides Americans over wedge issues like crime and immigration.

Lipinskis piece may not sway many voters or change the outcome of the election, but his efforts may impress wealthy Republican donors. That might benefit the political aspirations of Lipinski, who appears increasingly unpopular among leaders of his former tribe, the Democratic Party of Illinois.

In June, Lipinski wrote that American voters could benefit from a third-party alternative to Democrats and Republicans. In July, he wrote that he would not run as an independent in the newly redrawn 6th District that has Republican Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau challenging incumbent Democrat Sean Casten.

Lipinski is smart. I find it disingenuous that he promotes the notion that divisive partisanship seems to have organically happened to America. In fact, one party has promoted divisive tactics as part of its strategy to seize and hold onto political power.

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The best ways to address Americas political divisions would be regulating dark money contributions by undoing Citizens United, curbing excessive abuses of gerrymandering and strengthening voting rights.

Ted Slowik is a columnist with the Daily Southtown.

tslowik@tribpub.com
David Harewood has spoken about his experience of psychosis in a bid to raise awareness about how the mental illness impacts those who suffer from it.

The Blood Diamond actor previously opened up about going through an episode of psychosis at the age of 23 in a 2019 documentary for BBC Two, Psychosis and Me.

Psychosis is a mental health condition in which a person loses some contact with reality.

The main symptoms are hallucinations, such as when a person hears, sees, or feels things that do not exist outside of their mind but feel very real, and delusions, when people have strong beliefs that are not shared by others.

Many people experiencing hallucinations will hear voices, while those with delusions commonly believe there is a conspiracy to harm them, according to the NHS.

In an appearance on Lorraine on Wednesday (26 October) following the release of his memoir, Maybe I Dont Belong Here, Harewood said there was a degree of shame attached to the diagnosis, which he described as an extraordinary condition.

Most people just have psychotic episodes, and those are completely recoverable, Harewood told viewers.

Mine lasted about three months, but I had medication and Ive never experienced anything like that again.

Harewood also shared some of the symptoms he experienced.

So, most people who suffer from psychosis, one of the attributes of the condition is hallucinations and delusions, you think you can control the weather. It really is an extraordinary condition.

According to Mental Health First Aid England, around six per cent of the population has experienced at least one symptom of psychosis. Young people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to show developmental difficulties associated with psychosis.

Harewood previously spoke about some of the events that led to his diagnosis in an interview with The Independent.

In the weeks before he was sectioned, Harewood recalled hearing the voice of Martin Luther King and how a casting agent had watched him pace up and down claiming he was an alien.
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - People with severely weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV, can experience severe symptoms and even die from a monkeypox infection, according to a U.S. study released on Wednesday.

The study looked at cases of 57 U.S. patients hospitalized with severe monkeypox complications. Almost all (83%) had severely weakened immune systems, most often because of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many of those patients were not being treated for the virus that causes AIDS.

"Monkeypox and HIV have collided with tragic effects Dr. Jonathan Mermin, leader of the monkeypox response for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a statement.

Todays report reminds all of us that access to monkeypox and HIV prevention and treatment matters - for peoples lives and for public health, he said.

More than 90 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, which the World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency. Confirmed cases have reached 76,757.

Just over 28,000 people in the United States have been infected with monkeypox since the start of the outbreak in May. Cases in the United States started peaking in mid-August and have since dropped sharply, helped by the rollout of vaccines.

Deaths outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic, are rare, as are deaths caused by the form of the virus now circulating in the United States - Clade IIb.

For the study, health officials investigated some of the most severe cases of monkeypox, which spreads through close contact with an infected person.

Overall, it found that 47 of these individuals were also infected with HIV, yet only four of them were receiving antiretroviral therapy, powerful drugs that keep the virus in check. Most (95%) were male, and 68% were Black.

According to the analysis, 17 patients required care in an intensive care unit, and 12 have died, including five in which monkeypox was a contributing factor or the confirmed cause of death.

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The researchers urged healthcare workers to test all sexually active patients with suspected monkeypox infections for HIV at the time of monkeypox testing, unless the patient's HIV status is already known.

For those with suspected monkeypox infections who test positive for HIV, the CDC urged providers to start the patient on monkeypox treatment as soon as possible, potentially even before monkeypox infection is confirmed. The agency also recommended that doctors start HIV treatment for those who test positive for that virus as soon as possible.

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
A decade after Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, Toms River resident Matt Rusinski has crossed more rebuilding thresholds than others displaced by the storm. He's back in his home, the repairs complete after he meticulously tracked evaluations from adjusters, estimates from architects and receipts from local and federal financial aid. He did everything he was instructed to do in order to receive the aid, only to face the possibility of needing to sell his home to pay for the recoupment of overpaid funds and duplication of benefits the government has told him he owes.

With Sandy's widespread impact, he's not the only New Jersey resident who is still trying to resolve the storm's weighty financial impact 10 years later.

The superstorm -- as it has become known after a last-minute downgrade from a Category 1 hurricane to a post-tropical storm before making landfall -- sent New Jersey and neighboring states reeling as it slammed into the coastline near Atlantic City with hurricane-force sustained winds of 80 mph on Oct. 29, 2012, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). However, it was the storm surge that Sandy ushered forth that made the superstorm one of the costliest tropical cyclones to make landfall in the United States.

Record storm surge inundated the central and northern New Jersey shore, reaching as high as 8.9 feet above ground level at Sandy Hook, though the National Weather Service reported that the tidal gauge failed amid the storm, so the water levels were likely higher. A storm surge of 8.9 feet was also reported at Atlantic City, roughly 150 miles southwest of Sandy Hook.

The water damage was so significant that Sandy, and eventually hurricanes Harvey and Florence, influenced the creation of the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes to better communicate the threat posed by the storms than the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

"Water kills many more people in storms than wind, and this scale captures the impacts of the water (storm surge and freshwater flooding) along with wind and the overall economic impact of the storm to give people a comprehensive picture of how life-threatening and destructive a storm is expected to be," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.

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Superstorm Sandy, while not classified as a hurricane by the NHC at the time of landfall, was a 5 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale.

When all was said and done, Superstorm Sandy ended up becoming the fourth costliest tropical cyclone on record for the U.S. at $81.9 billion in today's dollars, according to NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the NHC.

However, AccuWeather estimates that the Economic Impact was as much as $210 billion, when adjusted for inflation, when accounting for long-lasting impacts to the mid-Atlantic and New England. This includes taking beach erosion and environmental impacts into account, the impact to tourism in the region and acknowledging uninsured and unreported losses were easily in the billions, according to AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers.

Rusinski was barred from reentering his neighborhood for roughly a week due to the flooding. When the floodwater finally receded, it left a waterline just under his front door's doorknob -- one of the first signs of the damage he would find inside.

After his flood insurance payout was only a fraction of what he had originally been quoted for repairs, Rusinski took out personal loans as well as one with the Small Business Administration to fund the rebuilding of his first floor. Then the Homeowner Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) Program, a program funded with federal block grants distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, started taking applications to aid in rebuilding and flood mitigation.

The waterline at Matt Rusinski's door following Superstorm Sandy. (Matt Rusinski)

Rusinski applied and qualified for the maximum award of $150,000 the program offered per person -- if he demolished the first floor that he had just rebuilt using the previous funds and instead build on top of the second floor in the case of another flood event.

"I did exactly what I was showing them [the RREM Program] I was going to do, which they approved to begin with. I showed them blueprints from the architecture I was doing. They wouldn't disperse money until I showed them contractor receipts for everything I was doing, and they okayed all that," Rusinski said.

Once all was finished, Rusinski was told an inspector with the RREM Program would return within a few months to look over the house to evaluate and verify the work done. If the home passed the inspection, the program would release the lien on Rusinski's property. When the time came, however, he received a surprising bit of news.

"Couple months later, I get a notice from the state of New Jersey saying I owe them $60,000 and I have x-number of years to return that money," Rusinski said.

Rusinski's home after the floodwaters from Superstorm Sandy began to recede. (Matt Rusinski)

The program claimed that there had been an over-disbursement of funds due to a duplication of benefits with the SBA grant he had received prior.

Financial relief programs typically don't allow the duplication of benefits -- or the disbursement of money from two different programs for the same purpose. While Rusinski had disclosed in the program's application he had received -- and completely used -- the funds from the SBA loan to rebuild the first floor that the RREM Program required him to tear down, the RREM Program still quoted duplication of benefits to the tune of $19,000. In addition, it cited the over-disbursement of funds, claiming Rusinski should have only received $90,000 from the program.

"I think they had some kind of repayment plan that was a three-year plan. I have no way to return $60,000 in three years, not even in five years," Rusinski said. After seeking out support, he is now a member of the New Jersey Organizing Project (NJOP), a grassroots organization that advocates for clawback forgiveness following the storm.

Floodwaters surround homes near the Mantoloking Bridge the morning after hybrid storm Sandy rolled through, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, in Mantoloking, N.J. Sandy, which was downgraded from a hurricane just before making landfall in New Jersey, left millions without power. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Rusinski is far from the only Sandy victim facing clawbacks, or the called return of funds that have already been disbursed. More than 1,800 households in New Jersey still owe $73 million to various federal programs and loans, according to Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ). A spending bill passed by the House of Representatives this July included a provision that could permanently alleviate people of these costs. The provision in bill HR 8294, pushed by Pallone and U.S. Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), could waive the requirements for some Sandy victims to repay federal disaster relief aid if passed in the Senate.

Of the impacted homeowners, 882 households would be eligible for full forgiveness -- wiping out over $28 million of the debt, subject to Secretary approval, according to the press release.

"Superstorm Sandy decimated New Jersey families and towns, and they are still on the hook for millions of dollars through no fault of their own," Pallone said. "During this time of economic uncertainty, it's simply unfair for federal agencies to ask for repayment on tens of millions of dollars in loans and grants from Sandy."

Recoupment efforts aren't just from programs that were funded through HUD, however. FEMA, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, offers the Individuals and Households Program, which is often one of the first programs to provide financial aid and direct services to people impacted by disasters with the purpose of meeting basic needs and supplementing disaster recovery efforts. This might look like providing funds for temporary housing, home repair, uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and hazard mitigation assistance like elevating a water heater or repairing a roof to better withstand strong winds.

For many, this is the program that keeps them afloat until insurance payouts are processed and other disaster relief efforts are passed.

According to data that AccuWeather obtained from FEMA over the summer, more than 1,300 people in New Jersey alone who had received financial aid from the IHP due to Sandy were notified they were required to return a portion of or the entirety of the funds they had received from the program.

The agency requested recoupment to the tune of $9.4 million, less than half of which has been paid back as of 2022, according to the data. While that amount is small compared to the hundreds of millions FEMA distributed in the state following Sandy, many don't have the thousands they may have been requested to return on hand, having spent it on repairs or recovery.

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The most common reason for the clawbacks was the home was not the owner's primary residence, followed by overpayment by the housing assistance section of the IHP and then the duplication of benefits.

Residents in Ocean County face the highest cost of recoupment from the IHP at over $5 million, followed by $1 million in Monmouth County and over $900,000 in Atlantic County where Sandy made landfall. Ocean and Monmouth counties sit just north of Atlantic County.

This Nov. 15, 2012 photo shows the remnants of an oceanfront building in Sea Bright N.J. that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

"When you're processing tens of thousands of claims, you're doing it as quickly as possible to try and get money to those folks," Mark Neveau, a former federal coordinating officer with FEMA, told AccuWeather.

Neveau explained that following a disaster, much of the process involves self-identifying through an interview process and producing documentation that proves residency -- which is sometimes difficult to obtain following a disaster. There's then an auditing process while closing out the cases, which is where overpayments come to light unless the receiver of the grant appeals and can provide documentation to justify the award.

"When I started this, it took a lot longer to get people aid than it is today, which is wonderful with technology, with banking, with electronic transmittals where before that there was apprehension," Neveau said. So when the process is sped up, he added, steps are taken to make sure the default rate of fraud isn't also accelerated.

The Office of Budget and Management along with the Inspector General's office out of FEMA work hand in hand to analyze the default rate, success rate and adequate paper documentation. Processing centers are one of the solutions that have been utilized to centralize the effort to avoid the duplication of benefits and unauthorized payments.

Grants from FEMA's Individuals and Households Program are capped, so the best use of the funding is not necessarily for rebuilding, Neveau said, but for help with housing assistance.

Depending on the disaster, Neveau said that aid can help people from months to years, although he added that qualifications for the reauthorization of this benefit included actively looking to find permanent housing.

"But this program, above all, is the one that helps most of the people in their time of need because it puts a roof over their head," he added.

In this Oct. 30, 2012 file photo, the intersection of 8th Street and Atlantic Avenue is flooded in Ocean City, N.J., after the storm surge from Superstorm Sandy flooded much of the town. New satellite research shows that global warming is making seas rise at an ever-increasing rate. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

Displacement was a major issue following Sandy, with many unable to return home for years as obstacles arose with rebuilding, one of which included battles with flood insurance.

It took seven years for Douglas Quinn to return home following Sandy after disputing his insurance payout. Citing pre-existing damage in the form of the movement of the supporting soil ahead of the storm, his flood insurance originally offered to pay him 37 cents on the dollar, Quinn told AccuWeather.

"It really ruined our lives," he said. "It was a very, very brutal period of time in our lives."

Quinn added that through the process of challenging claims, 144,000 similar insurance claims were reopened, resulting in $350 million paid to the insurance holders. Quinn is now the executive director of a nonprofit called The American Policyholder Association.

A completely different situation unraveled for those without homeowners or flood insurance.

"Many of the people were seniors. They had paid their mortgage, but they didn't have homeowners insurance, and that impacted them because they were not able to have the ability to rehabilitate their house or they didn't have savings," Kaleem Shabazz, Vice President of the Atlantic City Council and President of the Atlantic City branch of the NAACP, told AccuWeather.

The Atlantic City branch of the NAACP was just one group of a coalition of volunteers put together by Rev. Collins A. Days to work with residents who didn't have the resources to recover from the storm.

"We also raised the issue that is still pertinent that communities of color suffered in a disproportionate amount when we have forces in nature when we have storms no one can control," Shabazz said. "But when you have communities that have more resources, that have insurance, that have people who have disposable income, they are more able to deal with and respond to it than people who are not in that condition, so that's a disparity and that's something that we are still working on."

(Councilmember Kaleem Shabazz)

Outside of the threat of hurricanes and superstorms, an analysis from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2021 found that the most severe hazards from climate change disproportionately impact communities of color. The analysis looked at six categories of the highest impacts of climate change: air quality and health, extreme temperature and health, extreme temperature and labor, coastal flooding and traffic, coastal flooding and property and inland flooding and property. Black and African American individuals were projected to face higher impacts in all six categories compared to all other demographics.

In 2021, a study co-funded by NOAA's Climate Program Office was published in the journal Nature Communications. Researchers involved in the study confirmed that the flooding from Hurricane Sandy was exacerbated due to anthropogenic, or human-caused, sea level rise.

An estimated $8.1 billion of the damage was attributed to climate-mediated anthropogenic sea level rise, and an additional 71,000 people were affected by the flooding as a result of higher sea levels.

"You don't have to be someone who can see into the future to see what's happening, and we're on the same path if we're not able to try and prepare people. When I say prepare people, I mean financially, and with some safety nets when something like this happens," Shabazz said. "As Bob Dylan said in his song [Subterranean Homesick Blues], 'You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.'"

While climate scientists and activists have long stressed the need to address the impacts of climate change, Sandy placed an exclamation mark, he added.

"I think we can see that we are looking at some very serious times, weather-wise, and I just hope that all of us are looking at solutions."

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
(Independent)

Three men who were charged with supporting a plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have been convicted on all charges.

The Associated Press reports that Joe Morrison, his father-in-law Pete Musico, and Paul Bellar were convicted for providing "material support" to a terrorist act. The men were part of a militaristic, right wing gang called the "Wolverine Watchmen."

The men were also convicted of a gun crime and membership in a gang. Prosecutors referred to the gang as a criminal enterprise.

The group met and held firearm drills in Jackson County. The alleged leader of the gang, Adam Fox, reportedly hated Ms Whitmer and the policies she enacted during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to prosecutors, the pandemic bolstered the groups recruitment, spurring some to back a second civil war in the US.

The facts drip out slowly and you begin to see  wow  there were things that happened that people knew about. ... When you see how close Adam Fox got to the governor, you can see how a very bad event was thwarted, state Assistant Attorney General Bill Rollstin told jurors.

The mens defense attorneys argued that their clients had already distanced themselves from Mr Fox by the time the plot to kidnap Ms Whitmer was formulated in summer 2020.
Three troopers say they endured racism and discrimination while working for the Maryland State Police, and other officers of color have too.

They filed a class-action lawsuit against the police force on Oct. 24, detailing patterns of harassment  including racist comments and symbols in the workplace  harsh discipline, denials of promotions, and retaliation that white officers have not faced, according to a complaint. Two of the three troopers currently work for the State Police and the third was fired in 2019.

This comes three months after the Department of Justice announced it was investigating the Maryland State Police to assess whether it has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to a July 15 news release.

The lawsuit demands a trial by jury and seeks compensation, including for losses of income and damages for emotional distress, the complaint states. It also aims to have officers reinstated, including one of the plaintiffs, if they were fired as a result of complaining about discrimination.

A Maryland State Police spokesperson said in a statement to McClatchy News that the complaint is under review and the department is unable to comment on the allegations.

Significant actions have been taken and are continuing to address even the perception of racism or unfair treatment of any kind, the statement said.

Michal Shinnar, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told McClatchy News in a statement that they look forward to litigating this case and making sure Officers of Color at the MSP are treated fairly and holding the MSP responsible for their actions.

The case

Maryland State Police is accused of allowing a hostile working conditions in subjecting its officers to racism and not taking action against it.

One example given by the troopers was how, during a training, state police officers had to shoot at a paper dummy that had a black face and Afro wig, according to the complaint.

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Meanwhile, one of the plaintiffs  a former Maryland State Police trooper who is a Black Puerto Rican woman and was ultimately fired  says she endured different instances of racism, including how an officer told her it was not a big deal to use racial slurs, the complaint states.

Another instance included how she was tidying up a police barrack and was told MSP should hire her as the cleaning staff, according to the complaint. She understood this comment as implying she was more suited for janitorial work than work as an MSP officer because she was Hispanic.

In a separate instance, another plaintiff, a Black man who still works for the State Police, discovered a white officer had placed a banana on the windshield of his police car, the complaint states.

This was intended as, and understood by (the officer) to be, a racist reference to (the officer), as a Black man, being a monkey: one of the most noxious and dehumanizing stereotypes against Black people, according to the complaint, which points out the stereotype has been recognized as dehumanizing by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Discipline and retaliation against troopers

Maryland State Police is accused of harshly disciplining its officers of color, resulting in terminations, lost promotions, and demotions and losing pay; suffering damages to their professional reputation; lost supplemental employment; lost retirement benefits; and personal pain and suffering, the complaint states.

After the officer complained about the banana on his windshield to the state polices office in charge of handling discrimination complaints, he was told the incident was wrong but not racist, according to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the white officer who put the banana on his car was not disciplined and was promoted several times afterward.

Subsequently, the officer who complained was disciplined and retaliated against when Maryland State Police re-opened a closed case involving a complaint against him, according to the lawsuit. Reopening the case, which was regarding alleged misconduct during a traffic stop, violated the police departments policy.

As a result, MSP placed (the officer) on an unpaid suspension, and even charged him criminally, and kept him on suspension for three years, the complaint says.

As for the former female trooper, the lawsuit argues she was retaliated against after she was selected for a special training. Her supervisor is accused of saying the special assignments should be given to white officers and began criticizing her, leading to a poor performance review.

Ultimately, when she complained of discrimination, she was suspended without pay before she was fired, according to the complaint. The lawsuit argues MSP does not terminate Caucasian officers for similar or worse conduct.

The third plaintiff, a current trooper who is a Black man, was suspended for 301 days after he was accused of making a one-hour error in recording his time card and was denied promotions, according to the complaint.

This resulted in a substantial loss of pay while the department does not subject caucasian officers to similar discipline, according to the complaint.

Other Maryland State Police officers have filed charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and are waiting for the agency to give them a notice of a right to sue, the complaint states.

The officers in the Complaint, the other officers with claims at EEOC, and officers of color around the State of Maryland put their lives on the line, and in exchange simply want to be treated equally and without discrimination, Shinnar, the attorney representing the three troopers in the lawsuit, told McClatchy News.

The state police spokespersons statement said the department remains committed to providing the highest quality of law enforcement services to the people of Maryland, while ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.

Agent lied to Black potential renters about apartments being unavailable, feds say

Black worker fired after hes told to forgive and forget co-workers slur, feds say

Officer says reporting supervisors unwanted kiss got her fired. Legal battle continues
By Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - TikTok Inc won dismissal of a lawsuit accusing it of causing the death of a 10-year-old girl by promoting a deadly "blackout challenge" that encouraged people to choke themselves on its video-based social media platform.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond in Philadelphia ruled Tuesday that the company was immune from the lawsuit under a part of the federal Communications Decency Act that shields publishers of others' work.

"The wisdom of conferring such immunity is something properly taken up with Congress, not the courts," Diamond wrote.

Jeffrey Goodman, a lawyer for the girl's mother, Tawainna Anderson, said in a statement that the family would "continue to fight to make social media safe so that no other child is killed by the reckless behavior of the social media industry."

TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Related video: Milwaukee 9-year-old dies attempting TikTok 'blackout' challenge

Anderson sued TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Inc in May, saying the company's algorithm showed her daughter, Nylah Anderson, a video suggesting the blackout challenge.

In December 2021, Nylah attempted the blackout challenge using a purse strap hung in her mother's closet, losing consciousness and suffering severe injuries, according to the lawsuit. She was rushed to a hospital but died five days later.

TikTok and ByteDance moved to dismiss the case, saying that under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, they could not be held liable for publishing third-party content. Diamond, while saying that the circumstances were "tragic," agreed.

TikTok and other social media companies, including Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc and YouTube parent Alphabet Inc, are facing a growing number of lawsuits around the country seeking to hold them liable for causing young people to become addicted to their products, and in some cases causing harm including eating disorders, self-injury and suicide.

A federal judicial panel earlier this month consolidated dozens of such cases in a new mass tort in a federal court in Oakland, California.

(Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Veterans Affairs officials say theyve found a way to dramatically increase the number of applicants for some open department benefits posts: explain what the job is in simple, direct language.

Our claims processor positions, they have been typically posted in a way that I dont think necessarily makes them attractive to people, Aaron Lee, Director of Leadership and Professional Development at the Veterans Benefits Administration, told reporters on Tuesday.

So weve found new ways to start marketing so people understand what the real function of the job is, and the connection back to veterans  Before, we would typically get a few hundred applicants for these positions. Now, were getting on average between 3,000 and 5,000.

The plain-language job ads are just one of a host of personnel hiring changes at VA in recent months, spurred by a combination of new legislative authorities and a push from department leaders to improve their human resources operations.

Only 1 in 3 federal employees fully back in office, survey finds

Officials detailed several of the moves during the departments monthly press conference this week, in advance of a daylong onboarding surge for human resources specialists and medical center leaders scheduled for next month.

That event is designed to help VA staff find ways to streamline the federal hiring process, which typically includes cumbersome background checks and pre-work requirements that can take weeks or months to complete.

VA employs more than 400,000 federal workers. Department officials said that in the Veterans Health Administration alone, leaders need to hire about 50,000 new recruits in coming years to keep up with the demand for veterans services and care.

To help with that demand, Congress last spring passed the Retention and Income Security Enhancement (RAISE) Act, which provided new pay and bonus regulations for certain department employees.

Jessica Bonjorni, Chief Human Capital Management at the Veterans Health Administration, said through that legislation, department officials have already boosted pay for about 10,000 nurses and physician assistants through the new authorities.

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The law also boosts additional recruiting and retention incentives, including increased student loan repayment offerings up to $100,000. The department is also implementing new child care and vacation incentives.

VA plans onboarding surge in November to clear backlog of new hires

Its never been a better time to work for the VA, Bonjorni said. We hired over 47,000 new staff into VHA last year, which set a new record for us, despite the incredibly tight labor market.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough has emphasized in recent months the need to improve hiring practices and department recruiting, especially given the workload ahead.

In August, President Joe Biden signed into law the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (better known as the PACT Act), sweeping new military toxic exposure legislation which will offer new benefits or medical care to as many as one in five veterans nationwide in coming years.

The department is also still working to recover from a host of postponed appointments and partially shuttered from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Were about halfway through implementing these new policies, McDonough said on Tuesday. And God willing, were gonna see outcomes that relate to retaining professionals, recruiting new ones, and  most importantly  increased access and improved health outcomes for our events.

Lee said in response to the increased surge of job applications, officials are working with the Office of Personnel Management on ways to better automate how those resumes can be sorted and reviewed. The results of that work could not only improve hiring efforts at VA, but potentially across the federal workforce.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Canada on Thursday and Friday to discuss shared goals including the war in Ukraine, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and cooperation on migration and refugee resettlement, the State Department said.

Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and visit Ottawa and Montreal, the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Former President Trump will head to Iowa on Nov. 3 to stump for longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), just days before voters head to the polls for the midterm elections.

Trumps Save America PAC announced on Wednesday that the former president will be heading to Sioux City, Iowa, in a bid to boost Grassley and Reynolds.

Both Grassley and Reynolds are favored to win reelection, however Grassleys race against Democratic challenger Mike Franken appears to be tightening.

A Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa poll released last week showed Franken gaining on Grassley, separated by just 3 points.

While the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the Senate race slightly toward the Democratic challenger  moving it from solidly Republican to likely Republican  it emphasized that it is highly skeptical that Grassley will lose.

In the final weeks of the midterm elections, Trump has held a number of rallies in swing states, including Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, that could determine control of the Senate.

Though Iowa is less likely to sway control of Congress, it is key in the presidential nominating contests, with the Iowa caucuses kicking off primary season for both parties.

While Trump has not officially declared his candidacy, he has frequently teased a third run for president in 2024. At a rally in Texas on Saturday, the former president again suggested he is considering another run, saying, I will probably have to do it again.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Donald Trump, left, and the exterior of Trump Tower, where the Trump Organization is headquartered. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, left. Nicolas Economou/Getty Images, right.

The Trump Organization's first seven jurors include two who openly dislike how he ran the country.

One is "upset" by his choices as president; the other wishes he made better Supreme Court picks.

The business is on trial for allegedly dodging payroll taxes by giving executives some pay off the books.

The Manhattan jury that will decide whether former President Donald Trump's international real-estate company is guilty of tax fraud includes two women who said in court that they didn't like how the former president ran the country.

The first seven jurors were selected Tuesday in the state Supreme Court case, which alleges that the Trump Organization ran a 15-year scheme to help top executives cheat on their taxes.

One of those chosen is a self-employed book editor who wryly noted she has "opinions" about Trump, who is not a defendant but is still the elephant "not in the room," as lead prosecutor Joshua Steinglass joked to prospective jurors.

"I didn't vote for him," the editor said of Trump, whose company faces more than a million in fines and other costly consequences if convicted.

"And I would have gone for some different Supreme Court justices" than the three he picked, she added with a sarcastic smile.

Still, she could be impartial and fair, she promised.

A second juror, a retiree with grown kids who enjoys crocheting, did some real soul-searching when asked how she felt about Trump.

"Emotionally, I don't feel one way or the other about what he's done in his life, personally," she said from the front row of the jury box, where 18 prospective jurors were being questioned.

"I'm not taking it personally, honestly," she said. "Of course, President Trump was the president of the United States. And of course, when things happened in this country, I would be upset about things."

The woman added that she understood that it was Trump's company, not Trump himself, who was on trial.

"I've had feelings in the past," she told the lawyers, prosecutors, and state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the trial. "But I will do my best," she said of her duty to be an impartial and fair juror.

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"I will follow the instructions," she said.

The two women were among nearly a dozen out of the 18 being questioned in the jury box who raised their hands when asked by Trump Organization attorney William J. Brennan whether they had "strongly held" opinions about Trump.

Defense lawyers have had to work around a jury pool chosen in a New York City borough where only 12% of voters supported Trump in 2020. Many in the courtroom were dismissed after voicing real hatred for the former president.

"I want to ask you more about the former president of the United States," Brennan asked them before taking the informal poll. "We all know who he is. He was our president.

"I want to go through with all of you, questions 29 and 30" the lawyer continued, referring to the numbers for questions in a juror questionnaire that specifically asked if they could be impartial in a trial involving Trump.

"A number of you answered that you can be fair and impartial," Brennan continued. "But the question is, do you have strongly held beliefs about former President Trump? Either way?"

Of the 11 who raised their hands among the 18 in the jury box, all would go on to express what appeared to be negative beliefs.

All insisted they could be impartial, which meant the defense lawyers would lose one of their valuable and limited peremptory challenges with each one they rejected.

At the end of the day, the Trump lawyers spent just two of their peremptories.

One was to reject a marketing company CEO who said she had a strong "negative" opinion about Trump, though not about his company. The other was to reject a woman with no stated opinions about Trump, but who worked in the banking field and who said she likes to write.

Defense lawyers have expressed caution over choosing jurors who might go on to write a book about the case, and who might therefore impact deliberations.

A woman who said she was an NBC journalist was excused by the agreement of both sides after she said she would write a book about the case if chosen.

Five additional jurors and six alternates remain to be picked; jury selection resumes on Thursday.

Selected jurors have been told to come back on Monday at 9:30 a.m. for opening statements.

They have also been warned that the trial could last another six weeks and run to the brink of the winter holidays.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Seventeen community service organizations were on hand for the Franklin Park Health and Resource Fair Oct. 21, 2022 in the Community Room of the Franklin Park Police Department in Franklin Park. (Gary Gibula / Pioneer Press)

Residents from Franklin Park and the Leyden Township area attended a free health and resource in the village that brought access to social service information, vaccinations and more into one room.

The Oct. 21 event took place at the Franklin Park Police Department community room and featured 17 organizations that offered various services and information..

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I came here to get my flu shot and the COVID booster, said Joe Hermann, a Franklin Park resident since 1947. I live right nearby so this is very convenient.

In addition to free vaccinations from an area Jewel-Osco pharmacy, Secretary of State representatives were set up and offered drivers license services.

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Im getting my drivers license for the first time, said Alex Figeroa, 19, of Franklin Park.

One of the several nonprofits on hand was Devices 4 the Disabled, an Oak Park-based organization that repurposes equipment for the disabled.

Were a charity that provides free wheelchairs and walkers for seniors and people who dont have insurance coverage or who might be under-insured, founding Director Bob Shea said. Were founded on the four tenets of independence, mobility, dignity and freedom.

Devices 4 the Disabled accepts donations of crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, scooters and hospital beds at its Chicago location, at St. Margaret Mary Church in Algonquin and at the Smith LaSalle company in Franklin Park.

Pharmacist Alan Philip administers a COVID-19 booster shot to Betsy Martinez, of Franklin Park, at the Franklin Park Health and Resource Fair Oct. 21, 2022 in the Community Room of the Franklin Park Police Department in Franklin Park. (Gary Gibula / Pioneer Press)

Pharmacist Alan Philip administers a COVID-19 booster shot to Betsy Martinez, of Franklin Park, at the Franklin Park Health and Resource Fair Oct. 21, 2022 in the Community Room of the Franklin Park Police Department in Franklin Park. (Gary Gibula / Pioneer Press)

Were here to give back money, said Gladys Piper, a community affairs specialist with the office of state treasurer Michael Frerichs. Im here to look up individuals and businesses to make sure they dont have unclaimed property, because you never know. Usually, one in four people might have unclaimed money they didnt know about.

Piper said a person could have wages, stocks, bonds, pension, or utility refunds due them.

By law, companies have to report unclaimed funds to the state after three to five years, she said. We hold the funds indefinitely until the individual or an heir comes forward to claim it. We recently found a family who was owed an $11 million estate inheritance.

Some of the other public entities with information tables at the event included the Park District of Franklin Park, Pace Suburban Bus, the Cook County Sheriffs office and state comptroller Susana Mendozas office.

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I think this is a phenomenal event for our senior citizens as well as our not-so-seniors, said Franklin Park Village Trustee Bill Ruhl. Weve got representatives from all these wonderful organizations and its all face-to-face information. Its a good thing not just for Franklin Park residents but for the entire Leyden Township area and beyond.

Leyden Township had a table of information on upcoming events, including a holiday tree-lighting ceremony on November 18 and a free Thanksgiving dinner on November 23.

Other senior services organizations at the fair included Leyden Family Service and Mental Health Center, Casa Scalabrini, Greater Family Health and AgeOptions.

Oak Park-based AgeOptions connects older adults in the Cook County suburbs with choices for community services and care in order for them to maintain dignity and live their lives to the fullest, according to information provided by the organization.

Franklin Park Fire Department Lieutenant Steve Rutz was on hand to distribute Knox Boxes, which give first responders access to a home.

It gets mounted right by your front door and your house key goes inside, Rutz said. Its not intended if you happened to lock your home and left your keys inside. Its for emergencies, if police need to come help you and you cant get to the door.

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Franklin Park resident Garry Rossino said he would install a Knox Box at his home.

We had a carbon monoxide scare a while back where our old furnace was leaking fumes into the house, Rossino said. Were lucky we werent passed out inside because the fire department came out, turned off the furnace and aired out our home. Its about giving us peace of mind.

The Franklin Park Public Library District had a table with a representative who reminded about all the services the library provides.

Weve got electronic materials and DVDs, but were lending more than just media materials these days, Adult Services Assistant Librarian Michelle Mitchell said. You also can borrow tools, baking supplies and things you may not want to have in your home because you only need it once or twice a year. Weve also got slide projectors, telescopes and projectors and screens so you could show a backyard movie.

Franklin Parks library is part of the State Wide Area Network of many that share resources and technology.

Being a SWAN library, if we dont have a certain material people are looking for, we almost always can get it, Mitchell said, and pretty quickly, because there are over 100 local libraries in the system.

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Gary Gibula is a freelancer.
A clip from new Tucker Carlson documentary on Arizona GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters campaign shows former President Donald Trump urging Mr Masters to more forcefully peddle the myth that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Mr Masters appears to be in the backyard of his house when he fields a telephone call from Mr Trump in a clip from the documentary, which Carlson previewed on his Fox News show on Monday night. Mr Masters fields the call and quickly puts Mr Trump on speaker phone; Mr Trump immediately criticises him for an answer he gave in a recent debate about the legitimacy of the election.

I heard you did great at the debate, but a bad election answer, Mr Trump says. Youve got a lot of support, youve got to stand with those people.

New>Tucker Carlson doc on Blake Masters shows him taking call from Trump:



If you want to get across the line, you need to be stronger on that one thinglot of complaints about. Look at Kari  if they say, How is your family? She says, The election was rigged & stolen. https://t.co/hiU0TaC3Nx pic.twitter.com/BVtyNuHSuz  Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) October 25, 2022

Later in the call, Mr Trump returns to the theme of Mr Masters evaluation of the 2020 election.

You want to get across the line, youve got to go stronger on that one thing, because that was the one thing [there were] a lot of complaints about, Mr Trump says. Look at [GOP gubernatorial nominee] Kari [Lake]. Karis winning with very little money, and if they say, How is your family, she says, The election was rigged and stolen. Youll lose if you go soft, youre going to lose that base.

Im not going soft, Mr Masters says in response.

Mr Trumps unhappiness with that particular aspect of Mr Masters debate performance may stem from Mr Masters agreeing at a debate with his Democratic opponent, Senator Mark Kelly, on October 6 that there was no evidence that the vote counting or election results themselves were rigged.

Story continues

Blake Masters at tonight's debate was asked how the 2020 election was 'rigged.' He pointed to the FBI/big tech.



As for the actual vote tallying...



Moderator: "Not vote counting? Not election results?"

Masters: "Yeah, I haven't seen evidence of that." https://t.co/2E64evHdhd  Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) October 7, 2022

Mr Masters has, however, said that he supported Sen Ted Cruz and Sen Josh Hawleys objection to the certification of the 2020 results and complained about the role that major tech companies and the FBI played in the election.

I didnt think I went soft, Mr Masters says again to the camera with a rueful smile after he and Mr Trump hang up.

Mr Masters appears to be delighted to receive a call from the twice-impeached former president, who rallied with Mr Masters and Ms Lake in Mesa on October 9. He said that he believed that his race against Mr Kelly was tied, despite his trailing in a majority of polls, and that he had momentum in the critical Senate contest.

Mr Trump was interested in whether the billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who backed Mr Masters primary bid, was contributing significant sums of money to his general election campaign. Mr Masters said that Mr Thiel was doing more behind the scenes, amid reports that Mr Thiel and the GOPs Senate Leadership Fund were at odds over how to fund Mr Masters campaign.

Though the race has tightened in recent weeks as Republicans across the nation have gained on their Democratic opponents, Mr Kelly has still routinely led Mr Masters in polls of the Arizona race. The elections forecaster FiveThirtyEight considers Mr Kelly a favourite to retain his seat in November.
In June 2020, Bob Woodward received one of his many unexpected phone calls from Donald Trump. When their conversation turned to the rapidly growing protests following the police murder of George Floyd weeks earlier, the journalist took a personal tack in pressing the president of the United States on the nationwide outpouring of grief and anger.

"I mean, we share one thing in common," Woodward told Trump. "We're White, privileged. ... Do you have any sense that that privilege has isolated and put you in a cave, to a certain extent, as it put me - and I think lots of White, privileged people - in a cave? And that we have to work our way out of it to understand the anger and the pain, particularly, Black people feel in this country? Do you see -"

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

Trump cut him off.

"No," he said sharply. "You really drank the Kool-Aid, didn't you? Just listen to you. Wow. No, I don't feel that at all."

Related video: Bob Woodward says the Trump administration is today's Watergate

The exchange is captured within "The Trump Tapes," Woodward's new audiobook centered on 20 interviews he conducted with Trump for his 2020 book "Rage." Woodward, an associate editor at The Washington Post, said he took the unusual step of releasing the audio because he felt it offered new insight into Trump's worldview. "When you get the voice out there, it's a total, completely different experience," Woodward told The Post. In the Kool-Aid exchange, Trump holds forth in a mocking tone, with a hint of a sneer. At other points, he sounds meanderingly repetitive, or blazingly defiant.

Yet "The Trump Tapes" also offers a surprising window into the veteran investigative reporter's process - a perennial focus of both mystique and critique. At various points, Woodward argued with Trump, sympathized with him, and - in one phone call that Woodward's own wife suggested crossed an ethical line for a journalist - seemed to advise the president on how to manage the pandemic.

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Woodward, 79, has written books about U.S. presidents since Nixon. "In my process I do deep background interviews with dozens, hundreds of sources," he said, though all of his interviews with sitting presidents, going back to George W. Bush, have been on-the-record. Yet the experienced interviewer said that in re-listening to his Trump interviews, he regretted some of his choices.

When Woodward asked Trump in another June 2020 conversation if he would refuse to leave the White House if the election was close or contested, Trump refused to comment - a rarity in their conversations - and changed the subject.

"As I listen to that again, I fault myself for not following up on that," Woodward told The Post.

Listening to "The Trump Tapes" may be a jarring experience for audiences accustomed to more polished radio or television news interviews, in which broadcast journalists ask rigorously crafted questions meant to inform the audience as well as prompt the subject - and then respond to their subjects in the moment by fact-checking, pushing back or calling attention to shocking comments.

Woodward, though, did not audibly react to many of Trump's more startling quotes. (Even when, as he described of one exchange in the voice-over commentary that provides an overlay of fact-checking throughout the audiobook, he was "absolutely stunned.") And he did not take a confrontational stance - which he says was intentional. Arguing would have proved counterproductive, he said, for interviews that were designed simply for his own information-gathering.

The tapes also show Woodward struggling to extract basic information from Trump, as the former president spins off on tangents or repeats himself about unrelated matters. Yet Trump would often initiate phone conversations at unexpected hours and talk at length, Woodward told The Post - even as Trump claimed that he didn't have time to sit down with the White House's top infectious-disease expert, Anthony S. Fauci.

In one exchange, Woodward highlighted for Trump their shared disdain for the Steele dossier - a compilation of memos by a former British intelligence agent suggesting Trump ties to Russia.

In early 2017, Trump had happily tweeted about Woodward calling the dossier "a garbage document" during a "Fox News Sunday" appearance, and Woodward reminded Trump of this in a 2019 conversation. "You tweeted a thing, 'thank you,' and everyone piled on me: How can you say that?! This is a holy document!'" the journalist added with a tinge of sarcasm aimed at his naysayers.

Woodward told The Post that his past comments about the dossier may have encouraged Trump to speak with him. But he also thinks Trump was also influenced by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), who reassured him that Woodward would not put words in his mouth.

Meanwhile, the audiotapes suggest that Trump was determined he could win Woodward's esteem, repeatedly referring to his prowess as a leader in terms like "nobody else" or "I'm the only one."

Woodward's interviewing style turned more confrontational during an April 2020 call, amid the growing pandemic crisis - to the point that he found himself lecturing Trump. The tapes show the journalist pushing Trump to take a more forceful government response.

"If you come out and say 'This is a full mobilization, this is a Manhattan Project, we are going - pardon the expression - balls to the wall,' that's what people want," Woodward told Trump, sometimes shouting and interrupting the president to make his argument.

"I'm going to do what you would like me to do, which I am doing," Trump later replied, after hearing Woodward's case.

"No, no, that's not - " Woodward said, apparently aware that his comments had come across like advocacy, but Trump cut him off.

In his interview with The Post, Woodward acknowledged that his approach in that conversation "really unusual for a reporter." But he had previously spent several weeks talking to top health experts in the government who said they couldn't get through to Trump about the seriousness of the crisis, and he felt an obligation to present their list of recommended actions to Trump, to make sure the president knew what the experts were saying.

"We were in a different world," Woodward told The Post, citing the accelerating death toll. "You have to take the public interest first in this case."

Though Woodward repeatedly told Trump that the recommendations were "based on my reporting" and that he was speaking "as a reporter," after the call, his wife, journalist Elsa Walsh, told him it sounded as if he were telling the president what to do.

In July, Woodward pressed Trump again on his plan for tackling the pandemic. "You will see the plan. Bob - I've got 106 days. That's a long time." By mentioning the 106 days until the election, Trump seemed to be viewing questions about the crisis through the lens of his reelection bid. In his voice-over commentary, Woodward noted: "I did not know what to say."

In the audiobook, Woodward also revisits an interview that previously generated criticism of his reporting methods.

When "Rage" was released in September 2020, some readers were shocked by Woodward's revelation that Trump - who had spent months downplaying the threat of coronavirus - had told the author in February of that year that the coronavirus was far deadlier than the flu.

Woodward found himself on the defensive from critics who asked why he hadn't published that interview as soon as it happened - along with a later interview in which Trump said he downplayed the virus "because I don't want to create a panic."

The writer explained at the time that he was aware that Trump frequently uttered falsehoods during their interviews and that it took him months of additional reporting to corroborate Trump's comments on the coronavirus and perceive their relevance.

"The Trump Tapes" makes Woodward's reporting journey more clear with its chronological presentation. When Trump told him covid was deadlier than the flu, both men were talking about it as a problem confined mostly to China. But in May and June, several top officials told Woodward they had warned Trump as early as January that coronavirus would be the top national security threat the president would ever face.

Woodward says that it was only when he viewed the February conversation in hindsight that he decided that "what this shows is the coverup."

On Friday, after news of the project broke, Trump told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade that he had no objection to the content of the audiobook but hinted vaguely that he might attempt to assert rights over the project, arguing he hadn't agreed to their release and that "the tapes belong to me." Woodward said that he had not informed Trump about the closely guarded plan to release their interviews in audiobook form and said he didn't need to "because it was all on the record."

For both Woodward and his publisher, Simon and Schuster, the audiobook is something of an experiment. It's unusual for a journalist to make raw reporting so public. And while research materials and interview transcripts often find welcoming homes in library archives, "The Trump Tapes" also aims to be a commercial product.

Will it sell? Interest in Trump books remains high; "Confidence Man," the new biography of the former president by New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman, debuted at the top of the bestseller lists this month. And if "The Trump Tapes" is a success, other journalists might consider releasing their tapes, said Chris Lynch, president of Simon and Schuster's audio division. On Monday, a day before its official release, it was already the No. 1 seller on the Audible platform.

"Because I've heard it and I think it's compelling listening, I think there's going to be a market for anybody who's interested in politics, history and Trump in particular," said Lynch, adding that the insight into Woodward's techniques could also make the audiobook useful to journalism educators.

But "The Trump Tapes" raises another question: Does it demystify the Woodward reporting process or expose too much of his tactics? If so, what does that mean for his future reporting projects?

Woodward said he may yet write another presidential book, but "I'm just not sure." He does, however, want to write a book about the process of reporting stories.

"It's an endless process," he said, "learning about reporting."

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Alina Habba, lawyer for former President Donald Trump, on Newsmax TV on October 25, 2022 Newsmax TV/YouTube

Trump lawyer Alina Habba said he should have "no problem" testifying to the January 6 committee.

He has "nothing to hide," Habba said of his role on January 6.

Trump has yet to respond to the subpoena, which asks for documents and testimony.

A lawyer for former President Donald Trump says he should testify before the January 6 committee, saying he has "nothing to hide."

Lawyer Alina Habba spoke on Tuesday night to right-wing TV network Newsmax, where host Eric Bolling asked about Trump's options following the subpoena formally issued by the committee on October 21.

"I would recommend that he cooperate because when you have nothing to hide, that's what I always recommend the same reason that he always comes out and speaks on any of my cases," Habba said.

"He has no issue being deposed, even though the left-wing media would like to pretend that he does," she said.

At another point, she said that "what he did was very public, and it was really nothing other than to say to go out peacefully."

Contrary to Habba's words, many questions remain about Trump, who spent the duration of the riot inside the White House, with long periods of silence followed by occasional tweets.

The committee's subpoena demanded a wide range of Trump's communication records that would cover any exchanges he had while the Capitol was under attack.

He is known to have had exchanges with Rudy Giuliani, Ivanka Trump, White House officials and several senators, per a June report from The Washington Post, but the records of those exchanges are incomplete at best.

The subpoena was the result of a unanimous vote at the committee's last public sitting on October 13.

It asks Trump to submit documents by November 4 and then sit to testify around the middle of the month.

Trump has not yet said whether he will comply with the subpoena, although his lawyers told The New York Times that they are reviewing it. He issued a lengthy statement raging against the committee the day he received it, calling its members "highly partisan political Hacks and Thugs."

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On Newsmax  where chyrons echoed Trump by calling it a "political witch hunt"  Bolling outlined how Trump might respond. His "options," Bolling said, include ignoring the subpoena, sitting for testimony but pleading the Fifth, or testifying fully.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress after he refused the committee's subpoena. He remains free pending appeal.

Habba went on to say that Trump has "no issue being subpoenaed and answering questions about what happened that day, and he shouldn't."

Egged on by Bolling, Habba then said she wanted to see House Speaker Nancy Pelosi testify over her role on January 6, referring to a long-discredited theory that Pelosi blocked the National Guard from responding to the crisis that day.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Then-Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows listens as US President Donald Trump headlines a Make America Great Again rally while campaigning in Gastonia, North Carolina, on October 21, 2020. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

A South Carolina judge says Mark Meadows is not immune from testifying in a Georgia grand jury case.

Meadows has claimed executive privilege to avoid facing Georgia DA Fani Willis' 2020 election probe.

Meadows' lawyer says same defense that's shielded him from the Jan. 6 committee also applies here.

A South Carolina judge has ruled that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must testify before the Georgia grand jury investigating his former boss' alleged 2020 election meddling.

The ruling in the Pickens County court of common pleas, which the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports will be appealed, finds that Meadows is a "necessary and material" witness and must comply with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' months-old request that he share what he knows about the embattled former president's campaign to overturn President Joe Biden's lawful victory.

Meadows' attorney, James Bannister, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about future appeals.

In his most recent filing, Bannister argued that Meadows can't be forced to testify in Georgia because the same executive privilege claim he's used to get out of appearing before the January 6 select committee investigating the deadly siege at the US Capitol applies here.

Select committee chairman Bennie Thompson told reporters after the panel's last public hearing that the group formally subpoenaed Trump after getting stonewalled by dozens of his personnel. House investigators said more than 30 former Trump aides and allies, including Meadows, have pleaded the Fifth when questioned or simply refused to cooperate with the select committee to date.

Willis is investigating Trump's efforts to change the electoral outcome in Georgia, including urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" the nearly 12,000 votes Trump would have needed to overtake President Biden in the Peach State.

Former Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson recently agreed to cooperate with Willis.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Police detained the president of the Turkish Medical Association after she called for an independent investigation into allegations that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, Turkish media reported Wednesday.

Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, 63, was detained on charges of disseminating terrorist propaganda as part of an investigation launched by anti-terrorism police, according to the Ankara chief prosecutors office.

The prosecutor's office said it has also asked a court for her dismissal as president of the association.

Fincanci, a forensic expert, has spent much of her career documenting torture and ill-treatment, and is a leading human rights activist in Turkey. She has served as president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey.

State-run Anadolu news agency and other media reported that she was detained in Istanbul following an early morning raid at her home and was being brought to Ankara for questioning.

Last week, Turkish officials strongly rejected allegations by Kurdish militants that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq, insisting the military doesnt have such weapons in its inventory.

In comments to a pro-Kurdish news outlet, Fincanci said she inspected a video purporting to show the use of chemical weapons and called for an effective investigation. She later clarified in an interview with the Turkish-language Independent news website, that she did not say she believed chemical weapons were used.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused her of slandering Turkeys armed forces and of insulting her country by speaking the language of the terrorist organization.

He vowed to take actions to clear the Turkish Medical Association and other professional organizations of supporters of the terrorist organization.

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of a nationalist party that is allied with Erdogans ruling party, also severely criticized Fincanci during a speech on Tuesday, demanding that she be stripped of her Turkish citizenship and the association shut down.

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The Turkish Medical Association said Fincanci was the victim of a lynching campaign and said her detention was unacceptable. The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey called for her immediate release.

The doctor's detention came a day after police conducted raids in several Turkish cities and detained 11 journalists working with pro-Kurdish media.

Police said the journalists were detained over news or other content that incites the public to hatred and enmity and accused their media outlet of having links to the PKK.

The PKK has led an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. The group is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, Europe and the United States.

Critics say Turkey's broad anti-terrorism laws, along with a vague new law passed to fight disinformation have lead to a crackdown on the freedom of expression.
In the most recent episode of her podcast, Archetypes, Meghan Markle dug deep into her African roots discovering that she is 43% Nigerian.

Markle verified taking a genealogy test several years ago, and on this special episode of her podcast, she publicly shared the news with Nigerian-American comedian/actress/writer, Ziwe.

Meghan shares the details!

Im 43% Nigerian, Meghan Markle reveals after genealogy test The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has revealed that she is 43% Nigerian after taking a genealogy test. Markle made this known in the latest episode of her podcast, Archetypes, where she expressed her desire to ..1 pic.twitter.com/bFKllBJVi3  Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) October 25, 2022

Ziwe was stunned and excited to learn this revelation.

Are you serious? This is huge. Igbo, Yoruba, do we know? she asked.

Meghan shared how important it was for her to learn more about where she really comes from.

Im going to start to dig deeper into all this because anybody that Ive told, especially Nigerian women, are like what? continued Markle.

Nigerians were elated and took their excitement straight to Twitter. One very excited user immediately claimed The Duchess as family.

Aaahhhthat explains it. The tenacity, work ethic Lemme add her to the family tree . But that's interesting; I'm fascinated by genealogy and wondered if it was drilled down to ethnic group. Stillclaimed  Kemi | Musings & Adventures (@NYCapricorn) October 25, 2022

Another person shared that all Nigerians are now required to defend Markle through all bullying.

Now that we know Meghan Markle is 43% Nigerian,all Nigerians have a family duty to ensure that she is defended against bullying by those stereotype media.  Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) October 25, 2022

Of course, you have the usual hate from, racist royalists, as shared by another user. They arent letting it slide though!

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Why Meghan Markle revealing she is 43% Nigerian is upsetting racist Royalists ?  And they keep repeating the lie that she listed as Caucasian when she played a Biracial character with a Black father on Suits for 7 seasons and never hid her Black mother pic.twitter.com/kUbL4Fffum  NoChillMood (@ritaag) October 26, 2022

The hate is said to be primarily coming from British media, posted another user to Twitter.

Trolls & the British media feigning surprise & shock that Meghan Markle is 43% Nigerian, when her beautiful black mother sat in the front pew of her wedding that was broadcast in front of billions of people around the world, is wild.   Anne Boleyn (Brazen Hussy) (@TudorChick1501) October 26, 2022

As you can see, she is PROTECTED! So the trolls best bet is to fall back!

We are pulling up on anyone that chats shit about Meghan Markle now. Shes Nigerian, We gotta protect our Queen. All opps kindly take note  Big Cousin (@ImohUmoren) October 25, 2022

Markle is loved by many, and this is positive news despite the folks who may disapprove.

I love Meghan Markle & her podcast! A weekly reminder to be your authentic self & happy regardless of what ANYONE says about it. We have ONE life, don't waste it listening to haters or naysayers. Meghan being 43% Nigerian is trippy!! This explains my deep love & support for her pic.twitter.com/vHq4FYagWu  Minky (@kdrama_newbie) October 25, 2022

Be sure to check out Markles podcast episode seven, and get into the conversation. She also has Issa Rae as a guest along with Professor Emily Bernard.
At the front of Ms. Della Portas second grade classroom, Jenn Glatt was holding a print of an abstract painting by Bucks County native Louis K. Stone. The Gayman Elementary second-graders took turns guessing at what it was supposed to show: a rug, a mailbox, a house, a sign, maybe a knight.

A boy in a blue shirt spoke up. It looks like real things.

Another, in the back corner, said it looks like everything. And he used his creativeness, he adds.

Glatt reminded the students that there are no wrong answers.

If Mr. Stone were alive today, he would be so excited to hear all of your guesses, Glatt told the classroom.

Glatt is a volunteer for Art Goes to School, a nonprofit with chapters spanning from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. Tuesday was her first day back in a brick-and-mortar classroom since March of 2020; Gayman Elementary in Doylestown was the first school that the Central Bucks Chapter of AGTS had visited since the pandemic began.

Fifth grade students raise their hands to comment while Art Goes to School volunteer Jennifer Glatt talks about a Louis K. Stone painting at Gayman Elementary School in Doylestown on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. Nonprofit Art Goes to School's Bucks County branch returned to in-person instruction this fall after the pandemic.

AGTS has been working in the Delaware Valley for over 60 years, and the Central Bucks chapter has been in schools since 1975. Many chapters including Central Bucks were dormant during the pandemic, with volunteers continuing to meet over zoom, but no classroom lessons.

This fall, deciding it was time to return to classrooms, Central Bucks volunteers assembled a portfolio of 20 works of fine art, plus one sculpture. Typically, this includes at least one print from the Michener Art Museums collection in Doylestown.

Although the program has had two years of dormancy, AGTS Central Bucks chairperson Maria Kelly said that remaining volunteers are eager to get back to work. Were a little rusty, said Kelly, but everyone seems enthusiastic.

The pandemic has taken a slight toll on AGTS: there are currently 39 chapters, down from 50 before the pandemic. The Central Bucks chapter now only serves 11 schools, down from 15 in early 2020. Perhaps most importantly, Kelly reports that the organization needs a new generation of volunteers.

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Both Kelly and Glatt got involved with the program when their children brought home flyers from AGTS programs at their own schools. Now that the group is teaching in person again, Kelly hopes that enthusiastic children will inspire parents to volunteer, although anyone with a passion for art can join.

Fifth grade student Hailey Kim comments while Art Goes to School volunteer Jennifer Glatt presents a notable painting at Gayman Elementary School in Doylestown on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.

Art Goes to School volunteer Jennifer Glatt shows a photo of Marcel Duchamp's Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2 as a part of her presentation at Gayman Elementary School in Doylestown on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.

Glatt herself is an artist and incorporates this perspective into her lessons. According to her, most of the Central Bucks AGTS chapters volunteers are art lovers, and the program hopes to inspire that love for their young students.

The first piece Glatt showed on her first day back in person was Salvador Dalis Persistence of Memory. Several second-graders said they recognized it; when Glatt asked where they had seen it before, one said in the hallway, before class.

The iconic Dali piece made an instant impression on the kids.

When Glatt revealed that it was nearly 100 years old, all of them gasped. When she showed them the famous portrait of the Spanish artist, with his mustache waxed up like the hands of a clock, the room erupted in laughter. Every single piece after Dali prompted at least one student to ask how old the painting was, and if Glatt had a photo of the artist.

The next piece after Dali was Marcel Duchamps Descending a Staircase No. 2. Although this was another abstract piece from an eccentric artist, the stories of Duchamps antics didnt seem to land with the children in the same way that Dalis did. Dali was cartoonish, wearing diving suits and taking his pet anteater for a walk. Duchamp would sell bicycle wheels and wine racks as sculptures, a heady critique of art that seems lost on the children.

But even though the kids only see brown polygons at first, Glatt encouraged them to interpret the art on their own before revealing its concept. When Glatt showed them a motion-blurred photo of a man descending a staircase that inspired the print, however, their eyes lit up.

Second grade students listen to Art Goes to School volunteer Jennifer Glatt talk about a notable painting at Gayman Elementary School in Doylestown on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.

Im starting to see it! said one girl near the front of the room.

Other prints included Picasso, Monet, and most notably for the kids, Frederick Remington. The piece, Dismounted: The Fourth Troopers Moving the Led Horses, is quintessential Americana of galloping horses and gallant cowboy. It received an electric reaction from the children, which Glatt took note for future lessons.

Down the hall, in Mr. Hudaks fifth-grade class, the students took less of an interest in the cowboy painting, and more in what the artists themselves were like. When Glatt told these students about Dalis attention-grabbing stunts and his quest for fame, one girl in purple asks was he greedy about fame?

Remarkably, this veered the conversation into completely different territory. Why is the Mona Lisa famous? Did Picasso grow up rich?

To Glatt, this is what the program is all about  inspiring curiosity about art.

Its so nice to be back, she said.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Central Bucks Art Education Program Returns to in-class instruction
Two Miami Gardens men are accused of using an illegal gillnet over the weekend to catch a federally endangered smalltooth sawfish on the Southwest coast of the state, according to state wildlife officers.

The men on Saturday also caught six undersized snook and several silver mullet in Everglades City, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Using a gillnet  a long net with flotation buoys on top and lead weights on the bottom  is illegal in state waters. Additionally, smalltooth sawfish  which look like sharks, but are rays, and have a long, serrated saw-like rostrum  have been protected in Florida since the 1990s and were placed on the federal Endangered Species List in 2003.

Giraldo Gorrin Amador, 56, and Pablo Huet Conde, 56, were arrested Saturday and face a litany of misdemeanor conservation charges, as well as a felony charge each for using a gillnet. The men, who could not be reached for comment, have since been released on bond, according to Collier County Sheriffs Office jail online records.

FWC Capt. Randy Yanez said there could be further action on the case by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

We have zero tolerance for these deliberate and reckless acts of poaching within Collier County. We will be working with our federal partners at the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the State Attorneys Office to hold these individuals accountable to the fullest extent of the law, Yanez said in a statement.

FWC officers spotted Gorrin Amador and Huet Conde around 11 p.m. on a small boat in the bay shining a light in the mangroves, said Officer Jason Rafter, an agency spokesman.

Upon closer inspection with binoculars, the officers witnessed three male subjects striking and retrieving a gillnet, Rafter added.

When the boat came to shore, the officers took the gillnet off the boat, finding the sawfish, snook and mullet entangled within the mesh. All of the fish died, and Rafter noted that the sawfish was preserved for science.

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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers pose with a gillnet they confiscated Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Collier County. Two men were arrested in connection to the case in which multiple fish were killed, including an endangered smalltooth sawfish.

Gorrin Amador and Huet Conde confessed to using the gillnet and catching the fish, Rafter said.

Smalltooth sawfish once had a historical range from Texas to North Carolina. Their numbers dwindled over the years because they were caught as bycatch in commercial fishing gillnets and trawls  and through habitat loss, according to the FWC. Now, they are almost exclusively found in Florida.

Every fish of this species counts, Rafter said.
China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas

09:56, October 26, 2022 By Xu Jiawei ( People's Daily

Express delivery services now cover almost all townships and more than 80 percent of administrative villages in China, according to statistics recently issued by the State Post Bureau (SPB).

Express vehicles gather near houses of waxberry growers in Xianju county, Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang province as the harvest season of waxberry arrives, June 2022. (People's Daily Online/Wang Huabin)

The expanded internet coverage has improved the penetration of express delivery services in rural areas and also helped farm produce grab a larger share in the urban market.

In recent years, new models have been tested across China to better introduce express delivery services to rural areas.

In Luotian county, in central China's Hubei province, a rural logistics tech firm has been established to integrate resources and lower shipping fares for deliveries within the county. So far, the firm has set up 10 township-level and over 200 village-level service stations, which bring quality logistics services to villagers.

In Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, shuttle buses have been employed to ship express delivery parcels to rural residents, which makes deliveries faster and more convenient.

As the per capita disposable income of the Chinese people rises, rural residents in China have a stronger consumption ability, and the constantly improving rural logistics system is exactly releasing the huge consumption potential in rural areas.

According to SPB data, there were over 100 million packages delivered to rural areas on a daily basis in the first half of 2022.

"Commodities are coming to us faster after we have an express delivery service station in our village," said a rural resident surnamed Tan in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Courier Zheng Hongyan sorts packages in an express delivery service center in Shikou township, Dongying district, Dongying, east China's Shandong province, March 2022. A total of 195 village-level express delivery service centers have been established in Dongying district, covering all administrative villages in the district. (People's Daily Online/Liu Zhifeng)

According to him, online shopping was costly logistics-wise and the deliveries often took a long time in the past - there was no free shipping and it took him around a week to receive the commodities.

Now, with an express delivery service station in his village, some commodities he buys online can arrive in just a couple of days.

Apart from faster deliveries, the better-built rural logistics system also enables rural residents to buy more quality products without even stepping out of their houses.

"Our house was renovated this year, and we bought most of the furniture and appliances online," said Zheng Zhihao, who lives in rural Shandong province in east China. He noted that there were more commodities on e-commerce platforms than in brick-and-mortar shops in the township, and the commodities were competitively priced online and could be delivered home.

Extending express delivery services to the countryside not only solves the "last kilometer" problem for rural consumption but also builds a solid first step for farm produce to hit the urban market.

Freshly picked grapes are stored in a cold storage warehouse in Qugou township, Xiangshan district, Huaibei, east China's Anhui province, October 2021. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Fangling)

Thanks to the better-built rural logistics system, more and more high-quality agricultural products are brought to urban consumers, which fosters a long-term and stable supply-demand relationship and significantly improves the income of farmers.

Fenghuang and Dade, two villages in Xichang, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture of southwest China's Sichuan province, have planted over 4,000 mu (267 hectares) of grapes and pomegranates, respectively. They both ship hundreds of thousands of kilograms of fruit to a dozen provinces across China through express delivery services, including Zhejiang and Guangdong.

"I have sold 32,000 orders of grapes this year on short video platform Douyin alone," said Zheng Peng, a fruit farmer from Fenghuang village, adding that e-commerce and logistics services play a significant role in expanding sales channels of farm produce and improving fruit farmers' income.

Besides, warehousing and cold-chain logistics services are also extending to the countryside, solving a series of problems that once constrained the large-scale development of rural e-commerce, such as poor food preservation and high transport losses.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
By Karen Freifeld

(Reuters) -Seagate Technology Holdings said in a filing on Wednesday the U.S. government has warned the company that it may have violated export control laws by providing hard disk drives to a customer that a source familiar with the situation identified as Huawei Technologies.

Reuters was the first to report the disclosure on Wednesday and to identify Huawei as the customer. Huawei is on the U.S. Commerce Department's entity list and banned from receiving U.S. exports and certain foreign-made items without government approval.

Seagate was warned in a "proposed charging letter" it received from the Commerce Department on Aug. 29, according to the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing said the company's position is that the hard disk drives are not subject to the U.S. export regulations, and that it did not engage in prohibited conduct as alleged by the Commerce Department.

Seagate's filing did not identify the customer. Seagate paused its shipments to Huawei a year ago, said the source familiar with the matter.

The Commerce Department declined comment on any potential pending enforcement matters but a spokesperson said the department is committed to "fully investigating any allegation of violations" of the rule restricting certain foreign-made items, adding that it "aggressively pursues criminal and civil actions related to unauthorized exports to China."

A spokeswoman for Huawei had no immediate comment. The Chinese telecommunications equipment maker was placed on the entity list in 2019 for activities deemed contrary to U.S. national security.

Seagate, a Dublin-based company that also operates in California, said it was cooperating with the Commerce Department and sought to resolve the matter.

The products at issue were provided to the entity listed customer and its affiliates between August 2020 and September 2021, according to the disclosure.

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The company said the timing of any final outcome is unclear, as are the terms. It also could not estimate the range of loss or penalty, although it said a material impact on the business was possible.

The company could face civil penalties of up to $300,000 per violation or twice the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, for administrative charges.

The company hopes to make its case in an upcoming meeting with the Commerce Department, the source said. It sent an initial response to the letter in late September and filed more information this week.

Seagate's shares were down 11 percent early Wednesday after the company reported financial results and disclosed the warning over the alleged export violations.

At issue is a U.S. regulation that governs the way certain foreign-made items destined for Huawei become subject to U.S. export regulations.

The Foreign Direct Product Rule, as revised in August 2020, restricts companies from shipping items made outside the United States to Huawei if they are the direct product of certain U.S. technology or software, or produced by essential equipment that is the direct product of U.S.-origin software or technology. Such shipments can only be made with a U.S. license.

The rule was designed to cut the global supply of semiconductors to Huawei.

Seagate's view is that its foreign-made hard drives are not subject to the restriction, the source told Reuters, because they are neither the direct product of any U.S. semiconductor technology or software nor of any equipment that itself is the direct product of any U.S. semiconductor technology or software.

However, the source said, the Commerce Departments proposed charges are based on an interpretation that foreign-made items are subject to the rule if equipment that is the direct product of U.S. semiconductor technology or software was used to produce any component of the end-item, no matter how far removed in the production process.

The hard disk drives are made in China and Thailand and also do not have enough U.S. content to make them subject to U.S. export rules, the source said.

The company has not applied for U.S. licenses for the hard disk drives but has applied for licenses for other items when it determined they were required, the source added.

Republicans on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee issued a report last October that found that Seagate had likely shipped restricted products to Huawei for as long as a year, giving it a competitive advantage over Toshiba and Western Digital, the other primary suppliers of hard disk drives, who said they had ceased shipments to Huawei after the new rule took effect in 2020.

Western Digital told Reuters in May 2021 it had stopped shipping to Huawei in September 2020 and applied for a license, which was pending. The company did not respond to requests for an update and comment.

Toshiba also did not respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Chris Sanders and Howard Goller)
A demonstrator cuts her hair during an Oct. 2 rally in Istanbul against the Iranian government's crackdown on protests after the death of Mahsa Amini in Iranian custody. (Bulent Kilic / AFP/Getty Images)

With efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal languishing, the Biden administration on Wednesday hit Tehran with a new batch of economic sanctions as punishment for repression of widespread demonstrations against restrictions on women and other issues.

Iranian security forces have cracked down on thousands of citizens protesting the death in police custody last month of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurdish woman who was arrested for supposedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. The protests have broadened to air additional grievances over political and civil rights, forming one of the largest protest movements in the Islamic Republic in years.

Scores of protesters have been reported killed.

The Biden administration blacklisted 14 Iranian officials, including intelligence officials, prison wardens and a governor, and three entities or companies, including a network of hackers it accused of interfering with protesters ability to communicate, organize and gain access to social media.

The sanctions aim to hold accountable Iranian officials responsible for the brutal crackdown on protesters, abuse inside Irans notorious prisons, censorship and malicious cyberactivity against the Iranian people, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said.

The U.S. will continue to impose costs on individuals and entities in Iran who engage in the brutal repression of the Iranian people, Blinken added.

The measures prohibit those targeted from doing business with people, firms and many banking institutions in the U.S. and usually from traveling to this country. They are among scores of sanctions already in place that have helped cripple the Iranian economy but done little to stop what the U.S. refers to as Tehrans malicious activities, including support for armed militants in the region.

In recent days, U.S. officials added to the list of misdeeds the accusation that Iran is supplying Russia with armed drones being used to attack civilians and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. The U.S. also says it has intelligence that Iranian military personnel are training Russians, within Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, on how to use the drones.

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Moscow and Tehran have denied the claim, contradicting photographs the Ukrainian military has supplied of downed drones.

There is clear, unmistakable evidence of Irans support to various malign actors, from the Houthis [in Yemen] to Russia to others in conflict zones around the world, of UAV [drone] technology, State Department spokesman Ned Price said, citing a recent closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council. UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicle.

Israel also said it was providing the U.S. with evidence of Irans drones attacking Ukraine. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in Washington to meet with President Biden on Wednesday, said intelligence had identified some of the downed drones as those displayed publicly by Iran in recent years.

Iran is a threat to regional and global stability, Herzog told reporters ahead of the meeting at the White House.

Israel is also the worlds most vocal opponent to the Iran nuclear deal, a landmark international accord signed in 2015 that limited Tehrans ability to produce nuclear material. Then President Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018, saying it wasnt tough enough, and it all but collapsed.

Iran resumed its enrichment of uranium, raising fears it could get closer to having the ability to build a bomb.

The Biden administration embarked on arduous indirect negotiations with European signatories to the deal, serving as mediator with Iran in hopes of reviving it. But the talks, held in Vienna, bogged down at an apparent impasse, and it is unclear what the future of the accord is.

These latest developments  the crackdown on protesters and Russias reported use of Iranian drones in Ukraine  only further complicate reaching a deal, over which there is strong opposition in some parts of the U.S. Congress.

Amini was arrested on Sept. 13 by Irans so-called morality police for supposedly failing to wear her head cover tightly enough. She died in police custody three days later. The police said the 22-year-old collapsed and died of natural causes. Her family says she had been beaten.

Forty days after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, Iranians continue to bravely protest in the face of brutal suppression and disruption of internet access, Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for financial intelligence, said in a statement.

The new sanctions on Iranian officials overseeing organizations involved in violent crackdowns and killings, including of children, [are] part of our commitment to hold all levels of the Iranian government accountable for its repression, he said.

The 40-day mark after a death receives special observance in several religions, including Shiite Islam, and supporters of Amini filled the streets of her Kurdish hometown and flocked to her gravesite, while demonstrations erupted again in Tehran and other cities.

Separately, the U.S. also imposed yet another round of sanctions on Russia, this time for its alleged interference in elections in nearby Moldova and efforts to control most branches of the former Soviet republics government and subvert Moldovan democracy. The sanctions named several oligarchs who form an important part of Russian President Vladimir Putins power base.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday targeted Iranian officials, including those overseeing Tehran's Evin prison, and others in new sanctions on Iran over internet censorship and a crackdown on protests ignited by Mahsa Amini's death in police custody.

Demonstrations following the 22-year-old's death in custody on Sept. 16 have become one of the boldest challenges to Iran's clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution.

Wednesday's sanctions marking 40 days since Amini's death are the latest round imposed by Washington on Iran over the crackdown on protests, as the United States seeks to increase pressure on Tehran.

"We will continue to find ways to support the people of Iran as they peacefully protest in defense of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in doing so, will continue to impose costs on individuals and entities in Iran who engage in the brutal repression of the Iranian people," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The U.S. Treasury Department in a separate statement said it imposed sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials, including the commander of its intelligence organization, as well as provincial and Iranian prison officials and people and entities tied to internet censorship.

Wednesday's move targets Hedayat Farzadi, who the Treasury accused of operating Evin prison as its warden. The prison mostly holds political prisoners, and Washington says numerous protesters have been sent there, where it says they have been subjected to torture.

The Treasury accused Farzadi of having overseen the torture and mistreatment of prisoners in the Iranian prison system before assuming leadership of Evin, and said he has been known to carry out executions and public amputations. Several prisoners under his responsibility have died, the Treasury said.

Evin holds political prisoners and many detainees facing security charges, including Iranians with dual nationality. Iranian American businessman Siamak Namazi is held at Evin.

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Seyyed Heshmatollah Hayat Al-Ghaib, the director-general of Tehran Province Prisons - which the Treasury said gave him oversight of Evin - was also named in Wednesday's action.

Wardens of several other prisons in Iran were also designated, as were directors-general of prisons in provinces including Kurdistan.

Hossein Modarres Khiabani, the governor of Sistan and Baluchistan province, where Treasury said some of the worst violence in the latest round of protests has taken place, was also targeted.

Also named were two members of Iran's intelligence and security ministry, as well as the Ravin Academy founded by them, which the Treasury said trains people in cyber-security and hacking as well as recruits candidates for the ministry.

Iranian company Samane Gostar Sahab Pardaz Private Ltd Co, which Washington said provides censorship, surveillance and espionage tools to the Iranian government, was also designated.

Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. action freezes any U.S. assets belonging to those named and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those dealing in certain transactions with them also risk being hit with sanctions.

A wide range of Iranians have come out onto the streets since Amini's death, with some calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic and chanting "Death to (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei".

Rights groups said at least 250 protesters have been killed, including teenage girls, and thousands have been arrested.

The authorities, who have accused the United States and other Western countries of fomenting what they call "riots", have yet to announce a death toll but state media have said around 30 members of the security forces have been killed.

Armed men attacked a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in the Iranian city of Shiraz on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people, state news agency IRNA said, as security forces clashed with protesters marking 40 days since Amini's death.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Tim Ahmann and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Deepa Babington and Jonathan Oatis)
The United States has accelerated the fielding of a more accurate version of its mainstay nuclear bomb to NATO bases in Europe, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable and two people familiar with the issue.

The arrival of the upgraded B61-12 air-dropped gravity bomb, originally slated for next spring, is now planned for this December, U.S. officials told NATO allies during a closed-door meeting in Brussels this month, the cable reveals.

The move, which involves replacing older weapons with the newer version at various storage facilities in Europe for potential use by U.S. and allied bombers and fighter jets, comes amid heightened tensions over Russias threats to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine and growing concerns that the West needs to do more to deter Moscow from crossing that line.

The upgrades to the B61 program have been openly discussed in budget documents and public statements for years, and Pentagon officials have said the upgrades are necessary to ensure the stockpile is modernized and safe. Asked for comment, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder responded via email that while we arent going to discuss details of our nuclear arsenal, modernization of US B61 nuclear weapons has been underway for years and plans to safely and responsibly swap out older weapons for the upgraded B61-12 versions is part of a long-planned and scheduled modernization effort. It is in no way linked to current events in Ukraine and was not sped up in any way.



The arrival date came as a surprise to some longtime observers, who fear it could further stoke an already dangerous situation in Europe. The announcement at the meeting in Brussels came days before NATO kicked off its annual nuclear exercise, known as Steadfast Noon. The two-week exercise ends Sunday and includes some 70 aircraft. And on Wednesday, Russia held a nuclear exercise that its defense chief described as simulating a massive nuclear strike in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia, according to the Kremlin.

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It would be odd to rush it in, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, who has been closely tracking the program. They have been saying we dont respond to this situation with nuclear weapons. I dont think they want to go down that one.

The message behind sending the first bombs in December may be directed more at European allies that feel especially vulnerable to Moscow.

My guess is it is aimed more towards NATO than Russia, said Tom Collina, director of policy at the Ploughshares Fund, a disarmament group. There are [older] B61s already there. The Russians know that. They work just fine. The new ones will be newer, but it's not really that much of a difference. But it may be a way to assure the allies when they are feeling particularly threatened by Russia.

Two people familiar with the issue of the upcoming shipment to Europe confirmed the accelerated timeframe reported in the diplomatic cable. They asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The cable, which has not previously been made public and was written to be distributed throughout the Pentagon and State Department to give policymakers a rundown of what was discussed among defense ministers at the NATO meeting, clearly indicates that allies are jittery.

The document says that during the meetings, 15 NATO allies raised concerns that the alliance must not give in to Putins nuclear blackmail.

Given the rising volume and scale of Russias nuclear rhetoric, a subset of allies requested continued consultations at NATO to ensure continued readiness and consistent messaging, the cable adds.

Yet Collina also warned that any nuclear-related moves  however modest they might be  could have unintended consequences.

It could be escalatory. Well see, he said.

The B61 is a family of nuclear bombs first developed in the early 1960s and initially demonstrated in underground nuclear tests in Nevada. A dozen versions have been developed over the decades and most of them have since been retired.

The $10 billion B61-12 Life Extension Program is managed by the Department of Energy and is meant to replace several earlier versions, including about 100 bombs stored at air bases in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The upgrades are all in the non-nuclear aspects of the unguided bombs design, and involve removing a parachute and installing a new tail kit and other improvements for significantly greater accuracy, Kristensen said.

The new version is also designed so that U.S. and allied bomber planes and fighter aircraft  including B-2 and B-21 bombers and F-15, F-16, F-35 and Tornado fighter jets  are all able to carry the weapon, as opposed to the several older versions of the B61 that have been in storage for years.

The warhead itself is one of the most versatile in the U.S. arsenal because its explosive power can be dialed up or down depending on the target, making it either a low- or medium-yield weapon.

The new timeline for arrival is a sign that the Pentagon has determined the weapon is ready sooner than planned, Kristensen said.

He pointed out that the DoD Inspector General was expected to complete a review of the weapons performance ahead of training for air crews, either late this year or early next.

The Air Force conducted flight tests of the new bomb design on the F-35A in October 2021 and certified it on the F-15E in 2020. But the Pentagon reported in February that it planned to complete nuclear design certification of the B61-12 with the F-35A before January 2023, after which the [U.S. Air Forces in Europe] will be able to start certification training.

I thought those two things were going to happen before you saw the physical arrival, Kristensen said.



Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also told NATO allies in Brussels this month that the administrations long-awaited Nuclear Posture Review  which could be released in the coming days  would maintain Washingtons decades-long nuclear declaratory policy of calculated ambiguity, the cable reported.

That is a shift from President Joe Bidens comments during the 2020 presidential campaign, in which he said he would consider changing U.S. policy to state that the sole purpose of atomic weapons is to deter a nuclear attack against America or its allies, a change that nuclear disarmament groups had pushed for.

The administration has since walked those comments back. But Austins assurance to European allies that U.S. nuclear declarative policy will remain unchanged comes as capitals on the continent are looking for a steady hand in Washington to confront nuclear-armed Russia and China.

James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Bidens sole purpose comments during the campaign rippled across Europe, and there was a big campaign by U.S. allies to convince him not to do so and that campaign was successful.

During the Brussels meetings, Austin also informed allies that the review would support the full modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad, while retiring the B83 gravity bomb and ending the nuclear sea-launched cruise missiles program started by the Trump administration.

But lawmakers oppose halting the cruise missile program and will likely continue funding it in upcoming defense policy legislation.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A half dozen state attorneys general are digging into Kroger's planned acquisition of rival grocery chain Albertsons, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine said on Wednesday.

The deal, which was announced in mid-October, was hammered out to better compete with market leader Walmart Inc but was expected to run into antitrust roadblocks.

Racine, along with attorneys general from Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois and Washington state, also urged the chief executive of Albertsons to delay $4 billion in payments to shareholders until the state merger review is done and the deal closes.

Albertsons, which owns Safeway and other grocery chains, said on Oct. 18 it would give shareholders a special dividend of up to $4 billion.

"Regulatory approval of the merger is far from assured. The states must undertake their review and assure themselves that competition in all relevant antitrust markets at issue is preserved," the state AGs wrote in the letter.

They also said that if the deal was scrapped, Albertsons would need the money "to compete with other grocery stores, a goal that its decision to enrich its shareholders to the tune of $4 billion will have made significantly more difficult to accomplish, if not unattainable altogether."

An Albertsons spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the special dividend allows the company "to return cash to all of Albertsons Companies shareholders," adding that it would continue to be well-capitalized after the dividend is paid.

Kroger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At the federal level, the deal will likely also be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders along with Representative Jan Schakowsky sent a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan urging her to oppose the deal.

"The FTC, when evaluating the potential market and consumer effects of the Kroger-Albertsons acquisition, should closely consider both companies history of monopoly, labor, and consumer abuses, and whether this acquisition would exacerbate these abuses for American families," they wrote.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
KAMPALA (Reuters) -The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda has risen to 109 and the outbreak has claimed 30 lives, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said on Wednesday, adding that the government was setting up an additional treatment centre.

Fifteen of the confirmed cases were among health workers, of whom six had died, she told a news conference.

Aceng said five treatment centres were operational and a sixth was being set up.

"The Ministry of Health with support from partners is setting up an additional treatment facility in Mulago sports field," she said, adding that the new centre would raise the number of beds available to treat Ebola patients to 351.

The virus circulating in Uganda is the Sudan strain of Ebola, for which there is no proven vaccine, unlike the more common Zaire strain seen during recent outbreaks in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Aceng said her ministry would be evaluating the efficacy of three candidate Ebola Sudan vaccines in the coming weeks, one developed by Oxford University, one made by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States and another by U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co.

"The main objective is to evaluate their efficacy to protect primary contacts of Ebola patients within 29 days of contact," Aceng said.

"We estimate that we may begin the trial in two weeks time."

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Estelle Shirbon)
By William James and Sachin Ravikumar

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday delayed the announcement of a keenly awaited plan for repairing the country's public finances until Nov. 17, two-and-a-half weeks later than previously planned.

The postponement, Sunak's first policy decision since taking over from Liz Truss on Tuesday, briefly raised British borrowing costs in financial markets but there was no repeat of the panic bond selling caused by Truss's September tax-cutting plan.

Sunak takes on an economy facing recession at a time when the Bank of England is raising interest rates to tame double-digit inflation. Low growth and rising borrowing costs have worsened the strain on already-stretched public finances.

The government is drawing up spending cuts and cancelling tax cuts just as the rising cost of mortgages, food, fuel and heating is squeezing many household budgets to their limits.

"I have been honest. We will have to take difficult decisions to restore economic stability and confidence," Sunak told parliament, promising to protect the most vulnerable.

"The Chancellor (Jeremy Hunt) will set that out in an autumn statement in just a few weeks."

Finance minister Hunt said more time was needed to ensure the new plan took into account new economic forecasts.

It is expected to set out how the government will plug a budget shortfall of as much as 40 billion pounds ($46 billion). Unlike Truss's plan last month, it will be fully audited by Britain's fiscal watchdog.

Asked to confirm the government's commitment to an expensive inflation-pegged rise in retirement pensions, Sunak's press secretary said she would not speculate ahead of Nov. 17.

His team gave the same answer on other potentially costly spending decisions on foreign aid, defence and welfare payments.

CREDIBILITY HIT

Britain's credibility in financial markets was shaken last month when Truss announced her unfunded tax cuts, triggering a bond market rout so severe the BoE had to intervene. Truss was forced into a U-turn and eventually resigned.

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Hunt said he wanted to restore confidence "that the United Kingdom is a country that pays its way and for that reason, the medium-term fiscal plan is extremely important. The plan would show falling over the medium term, he added.

The budget plan delay will complicate the BoE's job next week when it is due to publish forecasts for the economy without knowing the details of the government's fiscal plans, as well as take its latest monetary policy decision.

The BoE is expected to raise interest rates again on Nov. 3, probably to 3.0% from 2.25% although investors increased their bets on a full percentage-point increase to a more than one-in-three chance after the announcement of the budget plan delay.

Hunt said he had discussed the decision to delay the fiscal statement with BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, and that Bailey had understood.

While finance minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunak oversaw huge expenditure and borrowing to keep the economy going. He resigned in July in protest at then-prime minister Boris Johnson's leadership and what he saw as a reluctance to take difficult decisions to pay the pandemic bill.

His appointment as Conservative Party leader was broadly welcomed by investors who see him and Hunt as more willing than Truss to tackle the hole in Britain's public finances.

British government bond prices extended their losses on confirmation of the budget plan delay. Long-dated gilt yields hit new session highs as they rose 12-13 basis points before easing back and being little changed on the day.

Sterling was also little changed by the announcement.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters she expected Sunak to steer Britain towards fiscal sustainability and said he was right to warn of hard decisions ahead.

"I listened carefully to him talking to the British people, and this is a message that should resonate across the world. These are tough times, and tough times require tough decisions," Georgieva said.

(Reporting by William James, Sachin Ravikumar, Andy Bruce and Alistair Smout, additional reporting by Christian Kraemer in Berlin; Editing by William Schomberg and Hugh Lawson)
Young people were more likely to be at risk from fraud. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters

Brits have been warned to stay alert for fraud as more people are out to make extra cash as the cost of living rises across the country.

UK Finance said on Wednesday that more than half (56%) of people admitted that they are likely to look for opportunities to make extra money in the coming months, which could leave some people more susceptible to fraud.

According to the trade associations Take Five To Stop Fraud campaign, one in six, or 16%, of people said the rising cost of living means they are more likely to respond to an unprompted approach from someone offering an investment opportunity or a loan.

Young people were more likely to be at risk, the data suggested, which surveyed 2,000 people across the UK.

More than a third (34%) of 18 to 34-year-olds said they are more likely to respond to an unprompted approach from someone, with three in 10 (30%) also more likely to provide their personal or financial details to secure the arrangement.

Overall, three in five people (60%) said they are concerned about falling victim to financial fraud or a scam.

Read more: FTSE 100: HSBC profits jump by $1bn boosted by rising interest rates

It comes as recent figures from UK Finance showed that 609.8m was lost due to fraud and scams in the first half of this year.

The rise in the cost of living can be worrying and stressful and for many, keeping on top of finances might be a struggle. Its important for everyone to be conscious of criminals taking advantage of peoples anxieties around finances by staying alert for fraud, Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said.

We encourage everyone to follow the advice of the Take Five campaign  always be cautious of any messages or calls you receive and stop and think before sharing your personal or financial information. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or text messages.

Watch: How to save money on a low income

UK Finance highlighted that criminals will always look to exploit situations where people are concerned about money, as was seen early on in the COVID-19 pandemic.

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They warned of four key scams for UK households to be on the lookout for:

1. Purchase scams  42% of people expect to start to look for cheap deals online if the cost of living continues to rise, but they may be tempted by too-good-to-be-true offers.

Criminals will often trick people by enticing them to make a quick bank transfer rather than use a more secure payment method.

2. Impersonation fraud  criminals convince people to make a payment or give their personal and financial details to someone claiming to be from a trusted organisation such as a bank, government organisation or energy company  for example, text messages claiming to be from the council offering a fake energy rebate.

Read more: UK on course for a deep recession as downturn worsens

3. Investment fraud  as the cost of living rises, 14% of people said they may consider looking for new investment opportunities in the coming months, including investing in cryptocurrency.

With investment fraud, criminals try to convince people to move their money into a bogus fund or to pay for what later turns out to be a fake investment. The criminal will often promise high returns to entice victims.

4. Payment in advance fraud  one example of advance payment fraud relates to loans, with criminals requesting up-front fees for loans which never materialise.

And to help people stay safe, the Take Five To Stop Fraud campaign advice is:

Stop  Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge  Could it be fake? It is OK to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect  Contact your bank immediately if you think that you have fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

Watch: How to prevent getting into debt
Russian military equipment destroyed in Ukraine

Hodges added that by the summer 2023, Ukraine will be able to liberate Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since early 2014.

Read also: Kerch bridge to be destroyed after liberation of Crimea, says intelligence chief

I believe that Ukrainian troops will push them (Russians) to Feb. 23 lines within two months, and they will liberate Crimea by next summer, said the general.

I hope that the United States will continue to support (Ukraine) as it does now, and that all sanctions will remain in place. I think the Kremlin understands this.

Read also: Ukraine will have bipartisan US support until war ends, White House says

Hodges concluded by saying that Moscows war plan has already failed, leaving Russia no other option but to hope and try to delay its inevitable defeat.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Wednesday he did not believe Russia's President Vladimir Putin would use nuclear weapons.

Putin has warned repeatedly that Russia has the right to defend itself using any weapons in its arsenal, which includes the world's largest nuclear stockpile. Russia's setbacks in the war in Ukraine have heightened Western concerns that Putin might use a tactical nuclear weapon.

"My personal opinion is that Putin won't use nukes," Reznikov told a news briefing when asked about the issue.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Writing by Gareth Jones)
Drive-up mailboxes outside the Park Ridge Post Office were taken out of service after the boxes were discovered pried open early on Nov. 8, 2021. Recently, federal authorities charged five people with possessing stolen U.S. Postal Service keys or mail. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press)

Federal authorities have charged five people, including a Norridge man and four people from Chicago, with possessing U.S. Postal Service keys and/or stealing from the mail.

The arrests come after numerous incidents in the past two years of mail being stolen from mailboxes and post offices, with thieves sometimes altering the checks for large amounts of money and cashing them. Such incidents have happened in Norridge, Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Evanston, Carpentersville, Chicago Heights, New Lenox, Thornton, Frankfort, Mokena and elsewhere in the Chicago area.

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The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Chicago Police Department announced the arrests and federal indictments of the five as part of Operation Broken Arrow, an ongoing federal investigation into the thefts of postal keys and mail.

Charged with unlawfully possessing a U.S. Postal Service key and stealing pieces of mail are Savannah S. Shandor, 29, of Chicago, Joseph T. Solomon, 37, of Norridge, Thaddeus J. Harper, 42, of Chicago.

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Shaun A. White, 25, of Chicago, and Jordan J. McPhearson, 31, of Chicago are charged with unlawfully possessing a U.S. Postal Service key.

Joseph D. Fitzpatrick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said all the thefts related to the suspects occurred in Chicago, and that no trial date has been set yet.

In Norridge, Norridge Police Sgt. Brian Loughran said a preliminary check indicated none of the suspects appears to match a person, estimated to be about six feet in height, who was caught on video apparently using a key to remove mail from a U.S. Postal Service mailbox outside Norridge Village Hall.

Last month, Loughran and Harwood Heights Police Chief John DeVries both said they have seen an uptick in mail thefts, with thieves obtaining mailbox keys, taking checks out of the mail, washing off the writing with a chemical, then making the checks out for larger amounts to someone other than the intended payee and cashing them.

Other thefts of mail or keys have also taken place recently.

On Sept. 28, two postal employees in Evanston were robbed at gunpoint of arrow keys, which allow them to access condo building lobbies. Postal officials warned residents of an elevated risk of packages being stolen.

On Oct. 25, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of an armed robbery of a postal carrier in south suburban Matteson on Oct. 13.
Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF

Read also: Ukraine allocates over $136 million to regional governments to restore infrastructure

We must support the countrys on-going shift from an emergency phase of economic management to a recovery phase, and also set the stage for a successful reconstruction towards a dynamic and competitive economy, she said at the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine in Berlin, Germany.

The Ukrainian authorities have earned this support.

Read also: Ukraine to set up mobile power generators for key infrastructure

Georgieva said that following Russias invasion, the Ukrainian government has done an impressive job in managing the economy through extremely difficult circumstances.

And the international community has acted decisively  it came together to commit $35 billion in grant and loan financing in 2022 for the people of Ukraine, she said.

Read also: At least 408 infrastructure facilities destroyed by Russian invaders in over one week

According to the IMF representative, disbursements of all committed funds over the remaining months of the year is urgently needed and will make a difference  especially in light of the recent horrific damage to energy infrastructure inflicted by mass Russian missile attacks.

Ukraines financing needs in 2023 are enormous, she said.

The country will do its part, but it also needs a strong effort from its partners. Our current assessment is that monthly financing needs in 2023 will be around $3 billion to $4 billion, reflecting the harsh reality of the large fiscal deficit in the context of a devastating war.

Should destructions of Ukrainian infrastructure and economic activities become even more far-reaching, the range can go up to $5 billion.

Georgieva emphasized that the IMF had arrived at these figures by working closely with the Ukrainian authorities on the 2023 budget.

Read also: EBRD to invest up to EUR 3 billion in Ukraine over next two years

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Earlier in October, Ukraine received $1.3 billion in additional emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) facility provided earlier by the IMF.

The new IMF financing package provided to Ukraine under the RFI facility should cover the gap in Ukraines balance of payments and support the countrys creditworthiness.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Head of Ukrainian intelligence Kyrylo Budanov

This issue has become something of a joke, said Budanov.

Read also: Kremlins lies about Ukraines plans to use dirty bomb aim to force acceptance of occupation

And my answer is straightforward  were not doing that. We arent working on a dirty bomb.

He noted that Ukraine has invited International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to monitor facilities where Russia claims the device is being developed.

Read also: US State Department talks about consequences for Russia if it uses dirty bomb in Ukraine

We absolutely support the visit of the IAEA mission and look forward to their arrival, Budanov stated.

We expect them to visit all (Ukrainian) nuclear facilities.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu contacted his French, UK, and Turkish counterparts on Oct. 23, alerting them to Ukraines plans to allegedly stage false flag operations involving a dirty bomb device.

Read also: Reznikov talks with Turkish, French and British counterparts after Shoigus lies

Western leaders and NATO officials have subsequently dismissed the claims as absurd.

Read also: IAEA chief agrees to urgently send experts to Ukraine amid Russian allegations, says FM Kuleba

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who agreed to send experts to Ukraines nuclear facilities, where  according to Russian propaganda  a dirty bomb is being developed.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
People clear blast debris and leaves outside a house where a couple was killed in a Russian drone strike two days beforehand on Oct.19 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Credit - Ed RamGetty Images

As Russia deploys kamikaze drones against Ukraine, decimating much of the countrys energy infrastructure ahead of a tough winter, E.U. officials are focused on helping the country rebuild.

The World Bank estimates that the war in Ukraine currently costs nearly $350 billion in reconstruction. While an end to the war is not yet in sight, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the seizure of Russian assets to be a part of funding Ukraines reconstruction effortsalthough E.U. officials and experts have urged caution in how to do so legally, safely, and without unleashing chaos in global markets.

They have also suggested that efforts to hold Russia financially accountable must be accompanied by a steady reliance on bilateral donors such as the U.S. and E.U. nations, as well as international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.

You cannot count on that money right now to pay for reconstruction and recovery, but it has to be part of the longer-term solution, says Jonathan Katz, senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a nonpartisan American public policy think tank focused on transatlantic issues. Funding is still needed from key allies and partners.

Read more: Europes Energy Crisis Is Going to Get Worse. The World Will Bear the Cost

On Tuesday, E.U. leaders facilitated a meeting to work on what German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who hosted the conference in Berlin, described as a new Marshall Plan to rebuild Ukraine.

From left: President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leave the stage following a press conference on Oct. 25, 2022 in Berlin. The German government is hosting political and world finance leaders to set the groundwork for Ukraine's eventual post-war reconstruction effort. Omer MessingerGetty Images

The original U.S.-backed Marshall Plan was a post-World War II effort to revitalize the economies of its European allies. Between 1948 and 1952, the U.S. contributed $13.3 billion spread across the continent to boost economic output. The plan aimed to cement strong economic and political relationships with the countries in an effort to keep them from falling under Soviet and communist influence.

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One of the current plans key goals is the eventual economic and political integration of Ukraine into the E.U. The path to reconstruction is also Ukraines path into the European Union, Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote in German newspaper FAZ on Sunday. (In June, the E.U. gave Ukraine candidate status.)

At Tuesdays event, officials and experts emphasized the need for long-term assistance and more urgent rehabilitation. Zelensky said in a video addressing the conference that Russian attacks had destroyed more than one third of the countrys energy infrastructuremaking it harder to cope with the oncoming winter and work toward reviving the economy.

Both Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morwiecki called for seizing Russian assets. There is a huge pot of gold to be taken and dedicated for Ukraines reconstruction, which is Russian assetsassets of the Russian Federation and Russian oligarchs, Morawiecki said. Freezing means really not too much.  They have to be confiscated.

President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen has been supportive of calls to hold Russia financially accountable, but also expressed caution around ensuring a legally sound process. The will is there, but legally it is not trivial; theres a lot of work still in it, she said.

The U.S. and several E.U. nations have already frozen billions of dollars in assets belonging to Russian oligarchs. But going a step further and seizing strategic state assets would escalate the conflict. For Russia, that will be a red line. Thats not to say we should not do it under any circumstances, but we cannot be naive and go forward thinking that the Russians will accept this without consequences. They wont, says Benn Steil, senior fellow and director of international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Kenneth Rogoff, chair of international economics at Harvard University and former chief economist at the IMF, also warns against the dangers of seizing Russian assets. This would be just but very difficult to do given the damage Russia can unleash, Rogoff said. Even if Russia is totally defeated on the battlefield in Ukraine, it remains a nuclear power and the west will be looking for ways to reach stable peace.

A utility worker stands near a truck crane which lifts an old pipe on Sept. 9, 2022 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. City authorities organized the replacement of heating pipes to reduce heat loss in the Saltivka district, despite daily shelling by Russian troops. Oleksandr LapshynGlobal Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Read more: What the West Should Do If Putin Uses a Nuclear Weapon

Moreover, tampering with Russias foreign exchange reserves could harm global trust in the stability of the U.S. dollar. We would be sending a message to the entire world that dollar-denominated assets are not safe, Steil says. If you cross the United States, they will find a pretext to take your money  And that would be a major change in post-war practice.

Relying on Russia to fund a large part of the reconstruction effort may prove to be difficult, so U.S. and European allies should work to create a more sustainable source of support, says Katz, with the German Marshall Fund: The most important thing is steady, predictable macroeconomic funding. Ukraine also needs to take steps to ensure transparency and anti-corruption measures, he adds. These are all prerequisites to becoming an E.U. member state but its also a prerequisite for donors and fundersincluding the U.S., the IMF, the World Bankto go ahead and implement a long-term project like a modern Marshall Plan for Ukraine.

Some experts maintain that while reconstruction efforts are important, the political integration goals of the new Marshall Plan will fall flat. There is little that the West can do on a practical basis to provide for Ukraines long-term security that would make a Marshall Plan possible, says Steil, who authored a May 2022 Foreign Affairs piece, titled No Marshall Plan for Ukraine.

In the piece, Steil argued that while Ukraine appeared to be a perfect candidate for a Marshall plan given its democratic roots and desire to integrate with the west, its geographythe fact that it borders Russiamade it unlikely to succeed.

Without Russian cooperation or at least committed noninterferencea noninterference that is inconceivable currently or in the foreseeable futurethe robust and enduring revival experienced by the Marshall countries is simply beyond Ukraines reach, Steil wrote.
OLHA HLUSHCHENKO WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 07:24

Over the past 24 hours, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled Russian attacks near nine settlements.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as at 06:00 on 26 October

Details: Units of the defence forces have repelled the occupiers attack in the areas of Ivanhrad, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Kurdiumivka, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Nevelske, and Ternova settlements.

The invaders attacked the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along the entire line of contact, building fortifications on certain fronts, and conducting air reconnaissance missions.

Over the past day, the Russians carried out 5 missile attacks and up to 30 air strikes, and opened fire from multiple-launch rocket systems more than 100 times.

More than 40 cities, towns, and villages came under fire, including the city of Dnipro and namesake Oblast, Prykolotne in Kharkiv Oblast, and Velyka Oleksandrivka in Kherson Oblast.

The situation remains unchanged on the Volyn and Polissia fronts. The Republic of Belarus keeps supporting the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. A threat of rocket attacks and use of attack UAVs remains throughout Ukraine.

The Russians opened fire on other fronts:

On the Sivershchyna front: from mortars and tubed artillery, hitting Starykove, Seredyna-Buda, Basivka, Mykolaivka, and Ryzhivka. The occupiers also used attack UAVs;

On the Slobozhanshchyna front : from mortars, tubed and rocket artillery; on areas in and around Vilkhuvatka, Budarky, Shevchenkove, Strilecha, and Dvorichna settlements;

On the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts : from tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery, striking Berestove. Pershotravneve, Nevske, Bilohorivka, Serhiivka, and Spirne;

On the Bakhmut front : from tanks, mortars, tubed and rocket artillery, hitting the vicinities of Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Ivanhrad, Klishchiivka, Mayorsk, and Odradivka;

On the Avdiivka front : from tanks and artillery of various types, hitting Novomykhailivka, Pervomaiske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Nevelske, and Novokalynove;

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts : on areas in and around Vremivka, Vuhledar, Zaliznychne, Novopil, and Poltavka, hitting positions of the defence forces and civilian infrastructure;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front: more than 15 settlements along the entire line of contact came under fire. The Russians launched UAVs of different types up to 20 times in order to conduct air reconnaissance missions.

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As per confirmed information, an ammunition storage point and more than 10 Kadyrovites [soldiers from the Chechen Republic who fight as part of the Russian Armed Forces and support Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov] were destroyed as a result of a targeted strike by Ukrainian artillery units in Novoivanivka (Luhansk Oblast).

Additionally, up to 10 occupiers and approximately 5 lorries loaded with ammunition were destroyed in Svatove.

Ukrainian aircraft carried out 21 strikes over the past day. It was confirmed that 17 clusters of weapons and military equipment, 2 strongholds, as well as 2 anti-aircraft missile system positions were hit. Air defence units also shot down five UAVs.

Rocket and Artillery units hit a Russian command post, two clusters of manpower, weapons and military equipment, a radar station, and other important facilities belonging to the occupiers.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
ALONA MAZURENKO  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 19:04

The Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 11 Russian attacks on 26 October and struck three Russian command posts, six clusters of military personnel, weapons and equipment, and two ammunition storage points.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 26 October

Quote: "Over the course of the past 24 hours, Ukraines defence forces repelled the attacks of Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Ivanhrad, Andriivka, Soledar, Kurdiumivka, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Nevelske, Marinka and Kamianka in Donetsk Oblast...

Ukraines aircraft carried out an attack on an area where enemy personnel, weapons and equipment were concentrated.

Units of Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck 3 Russian command posts, 6 clusters of military personnel, weapons and equipment, 2 ammunition storage points and 5 other critical military targets of the enemy."

Details: Russian forces are attempting to maintain control over previously occupied territories and are focusing their efforts on holding back Ukrainian troops on several fronts. They are also continuing to make attempts to advance on the Avdiivka and Bakhmut fronts.

Russian forces are additionally firing on Ukrainian troops along the line of contact, are reinforcing their positions on some of the fronts and are conducting aerial reconnaissance.

Over the course of the day, the Russians carried out one missile strike on Ukraine and deployed multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) in 11 further attacks.

They deployed mortars, tank guns and tubed and rocket artillery on the Slobozhanshchyna, Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts.

Russian forces are also continuing to set up and reinforce defence positions on the left bank of the River Dnipro, in southern Ukraine.

Russian occupation forces are restricting civilians right to free movement on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. For example, residents of the village of Pershotravneve in Kharkiv Oblast have been banned from leaving the village.

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Russia continues to take measures to replenish its combat losses. Representatives of the countrys military-industrial complex are recruiting prisoners in penitentiary institutions in the city of Bryansk and in wider Bryansk Oblast.

According to the most up-to-date information, Ukraines defence forces killed up to 60 and wounded at least 10 Russian soldiers, including at least 10 officers, in the vicinity of Korzhove and Mykolaivka in Luhansk Oblast in the past several days.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
By Thomas Escritt

BERLIN (Reuters) - In a single hour, as a volley of Russian missiles wrecked homes, power stations, factories and playgrounds across their country, Ukrainians placed a record 67 million minutes of calls on Kyivstar's phone network.

"People are nervous and they are taking care of each other," Kyivstar's Chief Executive Oleksandr Komarov told Reuters in an interview. Normal evening peak traffic is around 50 million minutes.

It's not just about the human need to communicate. In a war being waged in the information space as well as on the battlefield, the ability to spread news from the front fast is crucial.

Mobile phone videos of Ukraine's early successes in rebuffing Russia's attempts to seize Kyiv in February were crucial in persuading hesitant Western governments to unlock military aid, analysts say.

Kyivstar's call record was set in the small hours of Oct. 11 when Russia, after a series of military setbacks, switched to a strategy of strikes deep in Ukrainian territory, destroying 30% of electricity generating capacity.

Data volumes are also up 30% year-on-year, even as the devastation of the war has driven a million of its people abroad.

For Kyivstar, the biggest of Ukraine's phone operators, the battle is on to preserve communications.

Komarov said it is importing batteries and diesel generators to ensure at least some its base stations will have power during any outages.

It also needs to fend off cyberattacks, or DDoS (distributed denial of service) onslaughts on its network that have increased by 200% since the start of the war.

In this, Kyivstar has an advantage over Russian operators, which have been cut off by Western sanctions from suppliers that can provide software updates to protect from attacks.

HIGH COSTS AND RISING REVENUES

It also has also developed experience in adapting to extreme circumstances.

Kyivstar began preparing for a possible Russian attack last November, three months before Russian forces entered the country in what the West condemned as an imperialist land-grab, but Moscow says is a "special military operation".

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As Russian forces massed on Ukraine's borders, the company spent tens of millions of euros on moving data centres and staff to relatively safe areas in the far west of the country.

That allowed it to run a full service in the town of Chernihiv even when it was cut off by surrounding Russian forces, with staff keeping generators fuelled to run 20 base stations compared to the 70 the town would normally have.

The surge in demand has not been as lucrative as it might have been as Kyivstar and rival operators introduced discounts at the start of the war to help people stay in touch.

Revenues were up 9.4% over the first half, at 15.2 billion hryvnia ($411.59 million), though soaring costs meant EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) slipped 0.2% 9.4 billion.

Kyivstar plans to invest 1.5 billion hryvnia in rebuilding. Some 80% of its sites in areas from which Russia has retreated have been destroyed, with equipment looted or damaged beyond repair.

It has also contributed to the wider effort to rebuild.

Komarov was speaking via video call to announce a 150 million hryvnia donation to Ukraine's infrastructure fund to coincide with a Berlin conference on rebuilding the country.

The mental scars are even harder to repair.

Staff at the operator have been personally affected: 140 of its 3,600 staff were drafted into the army, one was killed, another is in Russian captivity, and one is missing.

($1 = 36.9300 hryvnias)

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt, additional reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; editing by Barbara Lewis)
(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no regrets on Thursday for his war in Ukraine, insisting that the "special military operation" was still achieving its goals and the West's dominance over world affairs was coming to an end.

Inveighing against the West for more than three-and-a-half hours in a question-and-answer session at an annual foreign policy conference in Moscow, Putin appeared confident and relaxed, a marked contrast from stiff, formal and uneasy public appearances early in the war.

Asked if there had been any disappointments in the past year, Putin answered simply: "No", though he also said he always thinks about Russians lost in Ukraine.

The speech contained a familiar litany of grievances against "our Western opponents", who he said faced the inevitable crumbling of their "hegemony". Liberal Western leaders had undermined "traditional values" around the world, foisting a culture with "dozens of genders, gay parades" on other countries.

Putin accused the West of inciting the war in Ukraine and of playing a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" game that was sowing chaos across the world.

"The historical period of the West's undivided dominance over world affairs is coming to an end," the 70-year-old former KGB spy said. "We are standing at a historical frontier: Ahead is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important decade since the end of World War Two."

The conflict, which began eight months ago with an invasion by Russian forces of neighbouring Ukraine, has killed thousands, displaced millions, shaken the global economy and reopened Cold War-era divisions.

NO MENTION OF SETBACKS

Later, when drawn more directly into discussion of the war, Putin made no mention of Russia's battlefield setbacks of recent months, or of steps he has ordered in response, such as calling up hundreds of thousands of reservists, which has led to thousands of men fleeing abroad.

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When the event's host referred obliquely to public concern about whether the operation was still "going according to plan" as Russian officials have maintained since the outset, Putin said its aims had not changed.

Russia was fighting to protect the people of the Donbas, he said, referring to an eastern industrial region that comprises two of the four Ukrainian provinces he proclaimed annexed last month. Economic sanctions had already had their worst impact and would ultimately make Russia stronger by making its industry more independent, he said.

Fighting has been going on in eastern Ukraine since 2014 between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists.

NUCLEAR 'BLACKMAIL'

In his speech, Putin played down a nuclear standoff with the West, insisting Russia had not threatened to use nuclear weapons and had only responded to nuclear "blackmail" from Western leaders. He and other Russian officials have repeatedly said in recent weeks that Russia could use nuclear weapons to protect its territorial integrity, remarks interpreted in the West as implicit threats to use them to defend parts of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed. Scores of countries have condemned the move as illegal.

He also repeated Russia's latest allegation - that Ukraine was planning to use a so-called "dirty bomb" to spread nuclear material, which the United States, Britain and France have called "transparently false". Putin said the Ukrainians would carry out such an attack to blame Russia.

A suggestion by Kyiv that the Russian charge might mean Moscow plans to detonate a "dirty bomb" itself was false, he said.

"We don't need to do that. There would be no sense whatsoever in doing that," Putin said.

Both Russia and NATO are carrying out annual drills of their nuclear forces this week, and Russia has given the exercises an unusually high profile, showing off missiles, submarines and strategic bombers on state TV.

Putin's speech was dismissed in Kyiv: "Any Putins speech can be described as 'for Freud'" tweeted Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Pololyak.

"The one who invaded foreign country, annexed its land and committed genocide accuses others of international law/ sovereignty of other countries violation?"

Putin's remarks were not very new and did not indicate a change in his strategic goals, including in Ukraine, the White House said.

KHERSON SHELLING

Fighting on the ground appears to have slowed in recent days, with Ukrainian officials saying tough terrain and bad weather had held up their main advance in southern Kherson province.

Russia has ordered the evacuation of civilians from a pocket it holds on the west bank of the mouth of the Dnipro River that bisects Ukraine, but Kyiv says Russia is reinforcing the area with freshly called-up reservists.

Russian forces shelled Ukrainian positions along the entire length of the line of contact and built fortifications, particularly on the east bank of the Dnipro River, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a Facebook post on Thursday evening.

Russian forces targeted more than 15 localities along the front line, the post said.

Russian forces were enduring shortages of material and equipment, including warm winter clothing, and this had prompted a rise in theft and looting in Russian-occupied areas, it said.

Russian forces persisted in attempts to advance on the two theatres of heaviest fighting in eastern Donetsk region - Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the Ukrainian military said.

Reuters was not able to verify battlefield reports.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Grant McCool; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens and Cynthia Osterman)
Ukrainians who fled their war-torn country should not return this winter because Ukraine's energy system  damaged by a wave of Russian attacks  cannot cope, Ukraine's deputy prime minister said Tuesday.

"I ask you not to return. We have to survive the winter," Iryna Vereshchuk said on a live television broadcast.

A number of recent Russian strikes have targeted energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages, according to Ukrainian officials.

"Unfortunately, the networks will not cope," Vereshchuk said. "You see what Russia is doing. Do not [come back]. If there is an opportunity to stay for the time being, spend the winter abroad."

This photo shows a darkened area during an energy conservation period on October 20, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. / Credit: Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined the scale of the damage to Ukrainian power systems.

"Attacks by Russian cruise missiles and Iranian combat drones have destroyed more than a third of our energy infrastructure," Zelenskyy said. "Russian terror against our energy facilities is aimed at creating as many problems as possible with electricity and heat for Ukraine this fall and winter so that as many Ukrainians as possible move to European countries."

Over the weekend, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidency, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said over a million Ukrainian households were left without power after multiple Russian attacks across the country. The deputy mayor of Lviv, Serhiy Kiral, also told CBS News partner network BBC News that Russia's strategy was to bring the war beyond frontline areas by damaging critical infrastructure ahead of the winter.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a senior Ukrainian official said Russian forces were preparing for the "heaviest of battles" in the occupied southern region of Kherson, after Russian-installed regional leaders ordered thousands of civilians to evacuate the area.

The region's main city is the largest urban area controlled by Russia in Ukraine, and Ukrainian forces have been making advances toward it in recent weeks.

An adviser to Zelenskyy, Oleksiy Arestovych, said there was no sign Russian forces were leaving the area, and Ukraine's intelligence chief said Russia was sending more troops to the region and preparing to defend it, BBC News reported.

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LONDON (Reuters) -The British government delayed the announcement of its plan to repair the country's public finances by more than two weeks to Nov. 17, saying on Wednesday it wanted to ensure the programme reflected the latest and most accurate economic forecasts.

"Our number one priority is economic stability and restoring confidence that the United Kingdom is a country that pays its way," said Jeremy Hunt, who was retained as finance minister by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.

Hunt also said the fiscal plan would now be a "full autumn statement".

The plan, which was previously scheduled for Oct. 31, will show debt falling over the medium term, Hunt said.

Hunt said he had discussed delaying the fiscal announcement with Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey and that the central bank chief had "understood" the reasons behind the decision.

The BoE is expected to set out its interest rate decision on Nov. 3.

"I'm willing to make choices that are politically embarrassing if they're the right thing to do for the country, if they're in the national interest," Hunt said.

"We have a new prime minister, the prospect of much longer term stability for the economy and the country. In that context, a short two-and-a-half-week delay is the best way we will make sure that it is the right decisions we take."

(Reporting by William James, writing by Muvija M; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)
Musical by Chinese students that charts how legendary fashion designer overcame life's early struggles wins acclaim.

When Tan Tianjiao posted a recruitment notice online in January, looking for like-minded people for her graduate musical project in London, she was determined that it would be a student production that didn't feel like a student production.

As a postgraduate musical theater major at Goldsmiths, University of London, Tan stamped the project with her own brand of determination and skill.

Gabrielle, the one-hour musical that Tan and her team finally staged in October, centers around the founder of the luxury brand Chanel  Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

"From the beginning, I wanted this musical to be different from other student productions, with better stage design and props, actors wearing clothes that actually correspond to the era of the play  and for the audience to be more than just the family and friends of those involved," says the 25-year-old producer.

"As I had participated in some professional musical productions in China, such as Once Upon a Time in Fudeli, I established the standards for our project," says Tan.

"Everything  from the music to costumes for the cast  was created by ourselves," Tan says proudly, adding that a documentary of the production has also been produced and will be released soon.

As a legend in the fashion world, there are many books and films about Chanel, but few have focused on her obscure early beginnings. It was the coming-of-age story of how the young Gabrielle became the legendary "Coco "that interested Lyu Yunqian, the writer of the musical.

"I'm fascinated by the controversy surrounding the so-called moral wrongness of Gabrielle Chanel's early life, which, personally, I believe is more about courage and creativity than outrageousness," Lyu says.

"This kind of sophistication overwhelmed me while I was writing about it. Hopefully, that will be the one thing that lingers in everyone's mind after watching the piece."

The musical recounts Gabrielle Chanel's story, starting from when she was admitted to an orphanage following the death of her mother. It also shows her singing in bars to make money, the romances she had with her benefactors and her early business selling hats.

Marcia Davies, who played the lead role of Chanel, says: "Her mother died when she was very young, so Gabrielle worked very hard and had a burning ambition when it came to business. The story focuses on Gabrielle trying to find her way in life."

Lyu, also pursuing a master's degree in musical theater at Goldsmiths, says overcoming the language barrier was very difficult when she was writing the lyrics and melodies for the songs.

Yang Hanlin, music director and composer, also a student at Goldsmiths, says that 12 original music pieces were composed, one French song Qui Qu'a Vu Coco was rearranged, and a band was assembled in such a short time.

"Limited resources prompted us to explore different techniques and approaches to the composition process," Yang says. "In the end, we achieved a satisfactory sonority while each piece of music only required simple technical proficiency from the instrumentalists."

During the past eight months of preparation, the production team grew from a four-person squad into a 50-strong group, covering areas from scriptwriting, music, choreography and casting to stage, lighting and costume design. They also designed a series of peripheral souvenirs and developed a website to market the musical.

Li Guangyu, director of the musical, says that despite the short rehearsal time, all the cast did a good job.

"We wanted the musical to show the many different possibilities in the growth of a woman, and that actually growing up is a very complex process for everyone," Li says. "We hope our show helped the audience to understand the emotional process of a girl's coming-of-age."

The musical was a success, far exceeding the standard of a student project. It ran twice at the university's George Wood Theatre on Sept 29 and Oct 1, and had a performance at the Greenwood Theatre on Oct 6. Each time, the musical played to a full house.

"I plan to continue working on this musical, making it a two-hour show, and bring it back to an even bigger stage," says Tan.
Biden held talks with the new prime minister of Italy, the leaders discussed support for Ukraine

Read also: Italy to always support brave people of Ukraine, says new PM Meloni

They discussed their commitment to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, holding Russia accountable for its aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China, and ensuring sustainable and affordable energy resources, the readout says.

Read also: Italy provides Ukraine with fifth military aid package

According to the White House, Biden and Meloni also underscored the strong relationship between the United States and Italy, and expressed their readiness to work together within the transatlantic alliance to address common challenges.

Read also: Macron urges Pope to call Biden, dictator Putin and head of Russian Orthodox Church Kirill

Early parliamentary elections were held in Italy on Sept. 25. A right-wing coalition, which included Melonis Brothers of Italy party, gained 43-47% of the vote.

Meloni was officially sworn in as the head of the Italian government on Oct. 22, becoming the first female prime minister in the countrys history.

In her speech, the new prime minister said Italy would continue to uphold Western sanctions against the Kremlin regime and its dictator, Vladimir Putin, despite Moscows attempts at gas-supply blackmail.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on members of Iran's intelligence agency, leaders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, prison wardens and others, acting 40 days since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died while being held by the morality police.

The U.S. government's sanctions arm designated 10 members of Iran's leadership with financial blocks and penalties, continuing a string of actions imposed against Tehran for its repression of protestors and disrupting internet access.

Targeted in the latest sanctions were the commander of the Guard's intelligence organization, its deputy commander, wardens from a number of prisons and an Iranian company that conducts social media filtering.

Separate sanctions from the State Department were levied against individuals and companies that engage in and train people in hacking, and others.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. will continue to impose costs on individuals and entities in Iran who engage in the brutal repression of the Iranian people.

Irans morality police arrested Amini on Sept. 13 in Tehran, where she was visiting from her hometown in the countrys western Kurdish region. Police detained her over wearing her hijab too loosely. Iran requires women to wear the headscarf in a way that completely covers their hair when in public.

She collapsed at a police station and died three days later.

Amini remains a potent symbol in protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 2009 Green Movement protests drew millions to the streets.

Her death set off protests in dozens of cities across the country of 80 million people, with young women marching in the streets and publicly exposing and cutting off their hair. The government has responded with a fierce crackdown, blaming the protests on foreign interference.

Rights groups say that since the protests, security forces have killed over 200 people, including children.

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Forty days after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, Iranians continue to bravely protest in the face of brutal suppression and disruption of internet access, said Brian Nelson, the treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. He said the sanctions are "part of our commitment to hold all levels of the Iranian government accountable for its repression.

___

Follow AP's coverage of Iran at: https://apnews.com/hub/iran
A recent vandalism incident at a Muslim cemetery in Fargo, North Dakota, resulted in the destruction of five concrete vaults used in burials.

The incident occurred sometime before Friday morning at a vacant building of the Islamic Society of Fargo-Moorhead (ISFM) in the 8000 block of 25th St. South, according to reports.

Staff members preparing for a funeral reportedly discovered the shattered vaults. Damages are estimated at around $5,000 in total.

They needed to have some sort of tool to get in, and then also to break up these vaults, Heidi Soliman, a spokesperson with ISFM, told InForum. Theyre cement boxes that are heavy and big. So this is a little concerning, and why, and who did it and what was the point? Probably not high school kids.

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One board member described the incident as a hate crime. InForum noted that there are no signs outside the vacant building that identify its affiliation with ISFM.

This is a pre-planned hate crime, Dr. Ahmer Qarni told InForum. Just to send a message to the Muslims, you know, that you are not welcome.

The recent incident adds to anti-Muslim incidents reported in the area since last year. In a statement, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged law enforcement authorities to consider a bias motive in their investigation.

More from NextShark: Asian Grandmother Pushed Onto Subway Tracks, Family Attacked in Brooklyn

Given the recent incidents targeting Muslim communities in the region, we urge law enforcement authorities to consider a possible bias motive as they investigate this case, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said. All faith communities should be able to bury their dead and carry out other aspects of their faith without fear of harassment.

Speaking to KFGO, Hussein cited a 2021 incident that involved a man spray-painting Death to Islam at the Moorhead Fargo Islamic Center.

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One thing that was not reported, actually, in the past was that the man who vandalized and targeted the Moorhead mosque actually belonged to an active three-person militia that had been online targeting the mosque, Hussein said.

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ISFM has created a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help cover costs to improve its security. As of this writing, the campaign has raised $3,295.

It has become imperative that we add additional security and build a new secure building for vault storage and maintenance and that the existing structures are torn down, the organization wrote.

The cemetery has been entirely a grassroots effort by community volunteers to offer Muslims a place to bury their loved ones. The committee just recently began plans for cemetery improvements including the landscaping and graves. We hope to continue plans to offer a safe and peaceful space for families to bury and grieve their loved ones.

More from NextShark: Chinese Frontliner Dumps MASSIVE Amount of Sweat From Suit During Break

The Cass County Sheriff's Office is investigating the case.

Featured Image via CAIR - Minnesota
Highly venomous eastern coral snakes just got a lot more intimidating, after a Florida biology student found one that doesnt look like the photos in textbooks.

Coral snakes are famously beautiful, with alternating rings of red, yellow and black completely encircling its slender, cylindrical body.

However, the one found Oct. 19 was bright yellow with black splotches and a hint of pink.

The aberrant snake  which was killed by a property owner  came to light when University of South Florida student Tommy Hamrick posted photos on the Snake Identification: Discussion and Resources Facebook page. The group has 92,000 members.

This is the elaborate color scheme experts typically expect to see in an eastern coral snake.

My initial reaction was absolute amazement, Hamrick told McClatchy News. I dont see corals too often and as for aberrant ones, we maybe see one documented in Florida every two years or so.

The snake was found near Lake Wales, about 60 miles east of Tampa, and was dead when someone posted a photo on social media asking for help with an ID, Hamrick said.

He says he knew immediately it was an eastern coral snake, a species native to Florida, but seldom seen due to its reclusive nature.

Id seen this strange color abnormality a few times before, Hamrick said. They were all right with me retrieving the corpse so I made the two-hour drive over to Lake Wales. I knew I might not get this opportunity ever again.

His conclusion has been supported by others, including Angelina College biology instructor Ashley Wahlberg of Texas.

It is called an aberrancy. This happens when there is a disruption in the replication of DNA and it isnt replicated properly, she told McClatchy News.

I have personally found an aberrant Texas coral snake a few years ago, but instead of being mostly yellow it was mostly red. ... Abnormalities happen in nature, and when dealing with animals that could potentially deliver a life-threatening bite like snakes, we always recommend backing up if you see one and never approach it unless you are 1,000% sure.

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Hamrick says thats why he posted the photos, and added a note that the snake disproved the popular rhyme: Red on yellow can kill a fellow; red on black is venom lack.

The post has gotten hundreds of reactions and comments, many from people dismayed the rare snake was killed.

What a stunning snake, Scottie Holcombe posted.

A truly beautiful animal. Its a shame it was dispatched but it is an amazing example! Cassandra Hollingsworth wrote.

215-pound invasive Burmese python is heaviest to be found in Florida, biologists say

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Whats worse than finding pythons in the shower? Realizing you caught them in the act
Courtesy of the Humane Society of the Desert

Courtesy the Humane Society of the Desert

Chesbro the rescue pup is ready to charm you.

The shelter dog is currently a resident at the Humane Society of the Desert in North Palm Springs, California, and has been for six years.

According to Cali Trevino, who handles social media and marketing for the shelter, Chesbro arrived at the Humane Society of the Desert when he was around six months old after someone found the dog alone in the desert.

Chesbro is now over six years old and is still waiting to leave the Humane Society of the Desert with his ideal forever family.

"Chesbro is very calm, gentle, and loves to explore. He has such a sweet way about him, and we can tell he so badly wants to trust new humans and win their affection and love," Trevino told PEOPLE.

The rescue canine has put in work to become the outgoing dog he is today. Chesbro arrived at the Humane Society of the Desert a feral dog, a pup who had gone six months with little human contact. Understandably, Chesbro was guarded and shy when first meeting potential adopters.

RELATED: Senior Dog in Shelter for 7 Years Is Looking for a Pet Parent Who 'Will Take the Time' to Bond

Courtesy of the Humane Society of the Desert

Courtesy the Humane Society of the Desert

Thanks to the hard work of several devoted volunteers, Chesbro has become more social through training and now seeks out the attention of new people. Though, he still isn't as extroverted as some pooches.

"A lot of times, adopters come in and want a super social affectionate dog who is sitting in their lap within the first 30 seconds of meeting them. Chesbro ends up being overlooked due to that fact, unfortunately. He is a bit shy when meeting new people until you give him a couple of yummy treats," Trevino said of Chesbro's  so far fruitless search for a home.

"I think it's just harder to find that patient, understanding adopter who would be willing to give him time to warm up and trust them," she added.

The special someone who does decide to adopt Chesbro will be treated to a pet that loves car rides, swimming, and food. Chesbro also enjoys the company of other dogs, especially calm canines like him.

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"His ideal home would be a relaxed environment with semi-active owners who would take Chesbro out for adventures here and there. He would be totally comfy with other pets in the home, including dogs and cats! He does love his walks and sniffing all kinds of new things, but is also in for a movie-watching napping kind of day too!" Trevino shared about Chesbro's dream adopter.

Courtesy of the Humane Society of the Desert

Courtesy the Humane Society of the Desert

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The Humane Society of the Desert is confident the right forever home for Chesbro is out there and hopes the dog's story inspires animal lovers to explore adopting harder-to-place pets because all animals deserve comfort and love.

"Every dog deserves to live a life in a home with loving humans surrounding them. Sure, they may be a little shy when first meeting new humans, but we have to remember that dogs look to us for guidance and acceptance; we must be there to help them trust again. They won't let you down, I promise." Trevino said.

To learn more about Chesbro and apply to adopt the long-term shelter resident, visit the Humane Society of the Desert's website.
ABC News

The hosts of The View kicked off Wednesdays broadcast by circling the wagons around John Fetterman following Tuesday nights painful Senate debate performance which saw the Pennsylvania Democrat noticeably struggling with auditory processing issues following his stroke.

Besides roundly defending the Senate hopefuls uncomfortably conflicting statements on fracking, the panelists also accused GOP nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz of bullying his opponent throughout the debate.

It was really strange to me that he chose to bully a stroke victim, co-host Sunny Hostin declared at one point.

Co-host Sara Haines got the discussion going on Wednesday morning by balking at Ozs assertion that abortion should be a decision made between women, doctors, [and] local political leaders, stating that is where the celebrity TV doctor fell off with her.

[Thats] where he lost me because I thought he was going in the right direction, and I think as a doctor he knows how intimate and important those decisions are, she said. So I find that answer particularly and that stance a bit intellectually dishonest, but it was the way he delivered it that got me. You should know that's not going to end well when you start like that.

Liberal host Joy Behar, meanwhile, took aim at Ozs campaign quickly capitalizing on Fettermans stumbles during the debate, wondering aloud why a physician would seemingly mock a recent stroke victim. In fact, she went so far as to claim that Oz was violating the Hippocratic Oath.

What kind of a doctor is behind that? Aren't you supposed to do no harm? Behar fumed. It's so un-empathetic to the guy, you know?

Adding that she has known Oz for years and he even helped her out with a doctors recommendation in the past, Behar described the Trump-backed candidate as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at this point.

Voting for the slick person on TV is like voting for me, she added. Dont vote for me for politics. I know how to work on television. That doesnt mean thats the same thing. We had Donald Trump, now we have Oz, and then we have Kari Lake. Dont be fooled by that.

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Piggybacking on Behars comments, Hostin blasted Oz for his interactions with Fetterman during the Tuesday night debate. At the same time, she suggested that Ozs performance could end up helping the Democrats in the end.

He obviously was bullying him and, you know, I don't think the people of Pennsylvania or the people in general like that because Fetterman raised $1 million after that debate, she stated.

And I think it takes real courage to show that you have been knocked down. It takes real bravery to allow people to see your weakness, right? Hostin added as the audience applauded. And we know that Fetterman's cognitive abilities have not been compromised. It's about expression that has been compromised. Aphasia, exactly.

Conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin chimed in with a different takeaway from the debate, saying her issue wasnt so much with Fettermans halted speech as he recovers from his stroke. Instead, she pointed to the Democrat appearing not to have a solid grasp on certain policy positionsmost notably fracking.

Whoopi Goldberg, however, was quick to justify Fettermans contradictory stance.

That might be because his position on fracking has twinkled a bit, which happens in that state and when you live in that state, she proclaimed. You know, that's something you're going to have to come to terms with because it's not going anywhere, you know?

Goldberg continued: But, you know, Fetterman is very clear. He's about codifying Roe v. Wade. He supports raising minimum wage, and he's supporting fracking which, you know, doesn't really make everybody happy. But there are some things that he is very clear on and, you know it is Pennsylvania, and I know that Dr. Oz doesn't know jack about Pennsylvania!

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling a regulation on advancing the development of self-employed businesses.



The regulation, which will take effect on Nov. 1, 2022, has set out specific preferential policies in areas including optimizing the business environment and protecting the lawful rights and interests of self-employed businesses.

The regulation clarifies the role of self-employed businesses in the socialist market economy and the basic principles for promoting their development, and promises to simplify administrative procedures and improve the business environment to create favorable conditions for the healthy development of such businesses.

Meanwhile, the working mechanism for promoting the development of the businesses is set up in the regulation.

Support for these businesses in areas including registration of market entities, annual reporting services, supply of business premises as well as capital, taxation, finance, social security, entrepreneurship and employment will be provided by the government and its relevant departments.

The country will also strengthen protection of the legitimate rights and interests of self-employed businesses, according to the regulation.
NEW BEDFORD  Vineyard Wind again seeks to intervene in a patent case to protect its interest in the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States.

In the latest development, Vineyard Wind I, LLC, has appealed the order of the District Court of Massachusetts denying it the right to intervene in the patent case between Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S/A and the General Electric Company.

It was alleged that the Haliade-X wind turbines manufactured by GE for the more than $3 billion wind energy project off the coast of Massachusetts infringe on two Siemens Gamesa patents. In June, a jury found that GE infringed on a patent and its rival was entitled to royalties of $30,000 per megawatt.

Wind developments: Vineyard Wind project making progress in Barnstable

On July 26, Vineyard Wind opposed an injunction that would prevent GE from fulfilling its contractual obligation to deliver the Haliade-X turbines for the Vineyard Wind project at its advanced stage with engineering, permitting and financing completed and manufacturing and construction underway.

On Sept. 7, U.S. District Court Judge William Young ruled that GE could no longer sell its turbines but also ruled that the ongoing projects in Massachusetts and New Jersey should be exempt from the injunction. That opened the door for Vineyard Wind to receive 62 Haliade-X turbines and make the required royalty payments. Also on Sept. 7, Vineyard Wind appealed denial of its motion to intervene.

Relief is being sought by GE in post-trial motions in the district court and any subsequent appeal of the final judgment in the patent case. On Oct. 4, GE filed a notice of appeal of the final judgment including the permanent injunction and a motion for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial.

On Oct. 5, Siemens Gamesa filed its own motion for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial.

A footnote filed in support of the motion said the plaintiff maintains that it is entitled to a permanent injunction of the Haliade-X with no carve-outs for Vineyard Wind I and Ocean Wind I for the reasons explained in its (prior) briefs on remedy.

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Vineyard Wind filed an appeal Oct. 12 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for denial of its motion to intervene.

Vineyard Winds opening brief is due Nov. 22, but a motion from Vineyard Wind requesting a delay until there is a judgment in the patent case has not been opposed by either Siemens Gamesa or GE.

According to court documents, Vineyard Wind sought intervention to protect its interests by having the Haliade-X turbines for its project carved out from any injunction that may be appropriate to enforce Siemens Gamesas patent rights.

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Thus, the relief Vineyard Wind seeks is related to the propriety and scope of the injunction  issues that are still being litigated by GE and SGRE in the district court, it states. Those same issues may then be raised on appeal to the court once a final judgment is entered.

A spokesman for Vineyard Wind declined to comment. Representatives for Siemens Gamesa and GE could not be immediately reached for comment.

Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: U.S. offshore wind developer involved in legal battle
By Victoria Waldersee

BERLIN (Reuters) - The Volkswagen brand will only produce electric cars in Europe from 2033, its boss Thomas Schaefer said on Wednesday, committing to an earlier date than its previous 2033-2035 target.

Schaefer said in the coming decade the VW brand would narrow down the number of models on offer and raise the profit margin for all volume brands - Volkswagen, SEAT and Skoda, and commercial vehicles - to 8% by 2025.

His comments echo other senior management figures at the German carmaker who have also laid out plans to streamline production and improve productivity as it battles to dominate the electric vehicle market.

Premium brands like Audi and Porsche boosted the Group's results in the first half of the year, with Audi registering a 51% jump in operating profit and Porsche up 22%, compared to an 8% drop at the Volkswagen volume brands.

The passenger cars brand saw a 5.6% operative margin in the first half of the year, up from 3.4% in the same period last year.

Bringing vehicles from the volume brands into the same factory saves costs, Schaefer said: "We have historically a lot of waste in the system we can take out."

The VW brand would also move its production focus from concentrating on a single model per factory to "platform thinking", Schaefer said, using the same basic design for different models to allow economies of scale.

This, combined with standardising battery chemistry, was key to achieving the carmaker's goal of producing an entry-level electric vehicle for 25,000 euros or under, Schaefer said.

"If you have 30-40 different battery cell and pack formats, it's unmanageable. The focus is a clear standard across the brands, and full scale," the chief executive said.

"The only company that can scale on this territory at the moment is us."

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Jane Merriman, Kirsten Donovan)
Oct. 25WATERFORD  At a ceremony last Friday, the town's fire department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The $95,962 will be used for confined space training and necessary equipment. The department was awarded $91,392, but the grant required the town to provide a 5% match, or $4,570.

Director of Fire Services and Fire Chief Michael Howley said various pump stations around town are technically confined spaces and said the department could potentially assist in a technical rescue at Millstone Power Station as well.

First Selectman Rob Brule and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Second District, were on hand for the event as well.

"It was truly an honor to get chosen for this grant for out community," Howley said. "It means a lot for our firefighters here in this community to help better serve and protect the public."

He added that the Connecticut Fire Academy will conduct the training next spring and said the training will be open to all members of the department, including volunteers. The training is a technical certification that is specific to making rescues in confined spaces.

Howley extended his gratitude to Courtney for his efforts to help secure the funding and his continued support of firefighters.

"Anytime that we apply for grants, we reach out for our politicians in our area," he said. "Especially like Joe Courtney who is down in D.C. who can be a proponent for us in grant funding."

At the beginning of the year, the department submitted several FEMA grant applications for a total of more than $1.3 million. The department applied for grants for firefighter training and staffing, fire prevention and educational opportunities for the community. Howley said applying for such grants is a proactive measure.

The Assistance to Firefighters grants are awarded to fire departments nationally as a way to fund the department's firefighting and emergency response needs. They also are awarded to emergency medical service organizations.

The grants help departments access critical equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and those responding to emergencies.

k.arnold@theday.com
US President Joe Biden meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah in July. Bandar Algaloud/Reuters

White House officials believed they'd struck a secret oil deal with Saudi Arabia, per NY Times.

But Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman then backtracked on it, taking them by surprise.

The Saudi decision to cut oil output before the midterms angered the White House, per NY Times.

Aides to President Joe Biden were enraged when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman abandoned a secret deal they believed they'd struck to boost oil production, The New York Times reported.

Citing US and Middle Eastern officials, the newspaper said Biden aides believed they'd reached an agreement with the Saudis to increase oil production until December.

This would've enabled the Biden White House to claim that the president's controversial visit to the kingdom in July had resulted in a significant benefit, and would've boosted Democrats ahead of the midterms, where they are facing criticism from Republicans over high gas prices.

Biden had criticised the Saudis on the campaign trail over their human rights record, but as the war in Ukraine increased oil prices he made the trip to Jeddah over the heads of senior members of his own party and was pictured bumping fists with bin Salman.

But instead of handing Biden a much-needed political win, the crown prince abandoned the deal. Saudi Arabia also enraged Democratic lawmakers and White House officials earlier this month by announcing plans to cut production along with Russia and other OPEC nations, pushing up oil prices.

The move has been interpreted by some Democrats as an attempt to meddle in the midterm elections, and has plunged the White House and Saudis into a cycle of recriminations. Biden has said there will be consequences for Saudi Arabia as a result of the decision, without specifying what they might be.

The Saudi energy ministry pushed back against claims the production cut was politically motivated: "The decisions of OPEC + are reached by the consensus of all members and determined solely by market fundamentals, not politics."

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Adrienne Watson, a National Security Council spokeswoman, defended the Biden administration's oil policies to the NY Times.

"We have a disagreement with Saudi Arabia over the most recent production cut, but our energy policy has always focused on prices, not number of barrels  and that policy is succeeding with crude oil prices down over 30% this year alone," she told the newspaper.

The White House did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Arizona's cities and towns have been flooded with signage during the heavily contested 2022 elections. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Every election cycle, Im accustomed to seeing campaign signs. But this past summer, I was struck by the sheer number of them in Scottsdale, Arizona, near where I live. I counted 18 on just one corner of a major intersection.

As a linguist who studies political advertising, Ive read the research arguing that signs dont make much of a difference.

Clearly, Arizonans think otherwise.

The deluge of signs during primary season reflected the states heavily contested races for a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. House seats and statewide offices for governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

Why are there so many signs when studies point to their minimal influence on election outcomes? Where might their value lie?

The history of the political sign

Claiming street corners and front yards for political advertising is not new.

Some type of street signage in U.S. elections has been around for at least 200 years.

The 1828 presidential race between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson was the first to employ political paraphernalia like buttons, medallions, mugs and posters that bore the candidates images and slogans. The candidates relied on their supporters to flaunt this swag to help get out the vote.

In his 2020 book Political Sign, Tobias Carroll outlines the gradual development of the political sign to the styles that are familiar today.

Political posters and signs in the mid-1800s were more verbose and could even contain song lyrics. Then, beginning in the 1920s, ad agencies professionalized the style of these signs, leading to formats that are now commonplace: 18-by-24-inch placards in yards prominently featuring the candidates name and office, along with larger ones on public thoroughfares.

Such signage is not a distinctly American phenomenon. Canada and the U.S. share a reliance on corrugated plastic signs in yards and thoroughfares. Signs on poles and posters on walls are popular in the U.K., where political ads on TV are banned. Candidates will advertise in most any country with open elections, and their government will likely make rules on the size of signs.

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Political signs affixed to poles are popular in the U.K. Manchester Daily Express/SSPL via Getty Images

Signs dont vote

As popular as signs seem to be, political operatives often dismiss them as a superfluous hassle.

Campaign managers Ive spoken to tell me that yard signs matter mostly in hyperlocal elections; while theyre relatively cheap, they still eat into tight budgets. Others complain of signs getting damaged and stolen. Theyre awkward to transport, and fines loom if theyre wrongly placed or missing required information. All governmental jurisdictions have regulations about when and where they can be placed on public right of ways.

And, as many politicos point out, if youre going up against a popular candidate, no matter how many signs you put up, it wont win you the election  signs, after all, dont vote. One campaign manager did assure me, however, that all candidates need professionally produced signs in order to be considered serious and viable.

Pinpointing their effect

Political scientists have long worked to learn what makes advertising strategies effective. Candidates and their campaign managers are eager to learn more about this impact, too.

But studies about campaign signage are complicated by the fact that no two campaigns or election cycles are alike. As a social science researcher, I know that controlling for the effect of signs is tricky when numerous factors influence an elections outcome, sometimes even after the polls close.

A yard sign is certainly an indicator of an individual voters enthusiasm, but determining if it will get their neighbors to vote  and vote for the same candidate  is another issue.

Some studies only look at typical yard signs, and while less standardized signs on public property share some similarities, the two are distinct.

Campaign signs at corners of major thoroughfares and mass transit stops, I believe, can also be an indication of enthusiasm. Candidates campaigns may pay the sign company to place them, but others rely heavily on volunteers to help. Few people, however, see those volunteers, and most likely dont know how those signs came to be there.

In 2013, political scientists Cindy Kam and Elizabeth Zechmeister found that name recognition alone can affect perceptions of a candidates viability. Extensive signage may help with that and boost potential viability. But factors such as being an incumbent can change that  and, perhaps, obviate the need for signs as a way to boost name recognition.

In a tight race, signs certainly dont hurt. Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

A 2016 study led by political scientist Donald Green notes that lawn signs can have a small effect of just over one percentage point and, like other low-tech strategies such as mailers, can play a role when only a few points separate candidates. Even high-budget TV ads are largely found to make little difference outside of very close races. In purple Arizona, where the count tally often is tight, its possible to argue that signs  and whatever else the budget will allow  could make a difference.

A simple and easy way to engage

Campaign signs, like TV ads, are forms of advertising that reach people who may not be plugged into politics.

Yard signs are seen by the neighborhood and may make a difference with residents. Larger numbers of potential voters see signs at major intersections in a metropolitan area like Phoenix and surrounding towns. For example, on a single midweek day, March 3, 2022, a one-mile stretch of road running north and south and sporting several signs on corners saw 32,280 vehicles, according to the city of Tempe, Arizona, where I live.

In hotly contested primary races, numerous candidates are likely new to voters. Public thoroughfare signs mean voters needing more information have a real chance of getting it during a routine car ride.

And a candidate needing more name recognition has a real chance of getting that from regular commuters through some savvy sign placement. Signs including endorsements or campaign pledges can transmit additional information over the course of a few seconds at a stoplight.

Signs convey a real diversity of candidates and their beliefs. Even poorly funded candidates can express themselves through signs.

Despite reports of democratic backsliding in the U.S., the intersection in Scottsdale with 18 signs tells me that the democratic process is, in some ways, still thriving.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Karen Adams, Arizona State University. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Read more:



Karen Adams is affiliated with the Democratic Party through donations. I do not volunteer for the party or a particular candidate.
Fears are rising that a major event on Ukrainian soil in the near future will be a Russian false flag operation as Moscow looks to regain momentum amid a successful counteroffensive from Kyiv.

U.S. officials on Tuesday continued to vehemently reject Russias claims that Ukraine was planning to use a dirty bomb on its own land, allegations seen as a pretext for Moscow to escalate the war.

The Kremlin assertions  which first came from Russias defense minister on Sunday and were repeated Monday and Tuesday by other Moscow officials  come on the heels of warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia is planning to blow up a huge dam near Kherson and blame it on Ukrainians.

Now, with Russia seemingly on the brink of losing its hold on the major city of Kherson, Western officials and experts alike are pushing back on suggestions that Ukraine could be behind any devastating attack on its own land.

The warnings about Ukraines alleged readiness to use dirty nuclear weapons  should be considered an attempt to blackmail, said Piotr Zochowski, a senior fellow at the Warsaw-based OSW Centre for Eastern Studies.

Zochowski said such Russian threats, which seek to drastically escalate the conflict, are an often-used tactic from Moscow meant to sow panic in the West and an indication that its ground forces are struggling to repel Ukrainian attacks.

The U.S. has been warning since before the war started that Russia may attempt a false flag, meant to misuse or hide the identity of a military force to justify a response. The Biden administration warned ahead of Moscows invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 that the Kremlin might fabricate a reason for its invasion, including a staged attack on Russians by Ukrainian forces.

Such a false flag would try to create a public narrative that they are the victim and that Ukraine is the aggressor, then-Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Feb. 3.

Russian use of a dirty bomb, which it could then blame on Ukraine, would fall within that playbook. The unconventional munition, meant to spread radioactive material using traditional explosives, is not meant to eliminate a military target but rather incite fear and panic among a population.

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Russia since earlier this week has claimed that Ukraine is conspiring to use such a weapon. Though it has provided no evidence, Moscow officials claim Ukrainian scientific institutions hold the technology and its government plans to use it.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reportedly made such an allegation on a Sunday call with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, though the Pentagon has declined to confirm the specifics of the conversation.

Moscow made the claims again on Tuesday, this time to the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council. Russias deputy ambassador to the U.N., Dmitry Polyanskiy, afterward told reporters, without providing evidence, that the Kremlin believes there are two Ukrainian facilities possibly working on building a dirty bomb.

Russias assertions have been roundly dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies, which believe Moscow could carry out such a detonation in Ukraine itself and use it as a false flag operation.

Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday that from a U.S. standpoint, the allegations that Ukraine is building a dirty bomb are false, adding that should Russia move to use such a weapon, there would be consequences.

That follows a rare joint statement by the top diplomats for the United States, France and the United Kingdom, who on Sunday said their top defense officials had separately spoken with Shoigu and had rejected the transparently false allegations about a Ukrainian dirty bomb.

The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation, the statement said.

The Ukrainian firm that oversees its nuclear plants said Tuesday that it assumes Russian forces are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia has occupied since the start of the war.

However, U.S. officials so far have said they do not see evidence that Russia is preparing to use a dirty bomb or any other unconventional weapon, such as a strategic nuclear weapon, in Ukraine.

But eight months into its war in Ukraine, Russia is struggling to hold on to territory after being pushed back from thousands of miles of land thanks to a successful counteroffensive started by Kyivs forces in September.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also dealing with growing criticism over his handling of the war, including the move to call up 300,000 reservists last month.

In a move seen as desperate, Moscows army has now turned to missile strikes across Ukraine on civilian areas and infrastructure. Putin has also floated the threat of using nuclear weapons.

And war experts say Russia could soon suffer another crucial blow from a Ukrainian counterattack in Kherson.

Zelensky claimed last week that Russia is laying the groundwork to blow up the Nova Kakhovka dam, including planting explosives inside the structure, which would likely flood a major area of southern Ukraine.

Moscow, meanwhile, has accused Kyiv of planning to destroy the dam, leading Ukrainian officials to raise alarm over a possible false flag.

From a military perspective, such a move could only benefit the Russians, Zochowski said. In the event that their defense lines in [Kherson] are broken and troops have to withdraw  blowing up the facility may temporarily slow down the Ukrainian attack and destroy some of their forces.

For now, the West is watching the situation in Ukraine closely. President Biden on Tuesday said he spent much of the day discussing the possibility that Russia could be planning to use a dirty bomb.

I spent a lot of time today talking about that, Biden said, adding that Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it to use a tactical nuclear weapon.

Im not guaranteeing that its a false flag operation yet, Biden said. We dont know. It would be a serious, serious mistake.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A woman is suing Bullhead City, Arizona, after she was arrested earlier this year for feeding homeless people in public, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday.

Police arrested resident Norma Thornton, 78, in March for sharing food with homeless people at a park in violation of a 2021 city ordinance that heavily restricts the sharing of food for charitable purposes at a public park. She had been serving people food at the park since 2018, according to the lawsuit.

Norma, and the rest of Americans, really, have a right to engage in charitable acts, Diana Simpson, Thorntons attorney, told USA TODAY. And that includes the right to sharing food.

Thorntons attorneys, a legal team from pro bono law firm Institute for Justice, argue the ordinance amounts to an effective ban on food-sharing and violates several of her civil rights under the 14th amendment.

It requires people to obtain a special one-time permit, one Thorntons attorney says she cant afford, to share prepared meals with a charitable purpose, and limits the distribution of food to a two-hour window once a month. A location is only allowed to host a "food-sharing event" once a month.

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Norma Thornton now provides home-cooked meals in a private alley way.

Bullhead City eventually dropped Thorntons misdemeanor charge, which carried a fine of $750 and four months imprisonment, according to the lawsuit.

The Institute for Justice released officer-worn body cam footage of her arrest this week. The video shows the arresting officer declining to place Thornton in handcuffs as he loads her into a patrol vehicle.

Im not going to do that because I dont think youre a hardened criminal, I dont think youre out to hurt me, the officer says.

Before making the arrest, the video captured the same officer telling someone over the radio I think this is a PR nightmare, but OK.

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It goes against everything Ive ever been taught in my life. It only punishes one segment of society." Thornton told USA TODAY Wednesday. And thats wrong  Im not trying to change the world ... just maybe make a few people happy.

Thornton, a retiree and former restaurant owner from Alaska, had been serving people hot meals made from scratch at the park several days a week for four years, according to the lawsuit.

Jackson water crisis: Failures flow from a century of poverty, neglect and racism

She said the nearest homeless shelters and food pantries were several miles away, so she thought it would be best to bring food to the people already at the park, where it was accessible, the lawsuit says.

Simpson said the ordinance is part of the citys effort to keep homeless people out of the park.

It doesnt mean were without compassion for people who need food, Bullhead City Manager Toby Cotter said at an April city council meeting during a discussion on homelessness. Feed people in your church parking lot. Or your private residence or wherever you deem it most appropriate. But to litter and congregate in the park is against city law.

Thornton transitioned to distributing food in a private alley after her arrest and coordinating occasional food deliveries, she said. But the alley lacks the accommodations and convenience of the public park, where there is shade to guard against the Arizona sun and a place for people to sit and eat, according to the lawsuit.

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It is difficult and physically taxing on Norma, a 78-year-old grandmother, to serve food in the alley, the lawsuit says. As a result, Norma is now able to share her food with the needy fewer days per week, and for shorter lengths of time, than she could at the park.

A request for comment on the lawsuit sent to Bullhead City Attorney Garnet K. Emery was not immediately returned Wednesday to USA TODAY.

The lawsuit seeks a nominal damage of $1. It primarily aims to end the ordinance.

Thornton said she just wants to be able to return to the park to feed without the fear of going to jail.

Its wrong, pure and simple. Its un-American. Its un-Christian, Thornton said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arizona woman arrested for feeding homeless people sues Bullhead City
Pamela Moses lawsuit alleges that prosecutors were aware of the error that led to the certificate of restoration of her voting rights.

An activist who was given a six-year prison sentence for registering to vote despite being permanently ineligible because of her criminal history is suing the state of Tennessee for emotional anguish.

According to The Memphis Commercial Appeal, 45-year-old Pamela Moses contends she suffered mental agony, emotional strain, anxiety, humiliation and demoralization due to 82 days in jail following her November 2021 conviction for making a false entry on permanent voter registration.

TheGrio previously reported that Moses, who started Black Lives Matter Memphis, was deemed ineligible to vote after she pleaded guilty to two felonies and three misdemeanors in 2015 and sentenced to seven years of probation.

Pamela Moses, an activist who was formerly convicted of registering to vote in Tennessee despite having a criminal record, is now suing the state. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com)

She attempted to regain her rights while making an unlikely run for the Memphis mayoral nomination in 2019, and requested assistance from a probation officer to obtain the Tennessee-required certificate.

That probation officer certified that Moses had completed probation for the crimes that stripped her of her rights, a signed sworn statement that later turned out to be inaccurate. The state later accused Moses of knowing her criminal history disqualified her from voting, running for office and manipulating the probation officer into believing otherwise.

You tricked the probation department into giving you documents saying you were off probation, said Shelby County Criminal Judge Mark Ward, theGrio previously reported. After you were convicted of a felony in 2015, you voted six times as a convicted felon.

Moses maintained she genuinely believed she was free and clear to vote and run for office.

According to The Commercial Appeal, following the district attorneys offices delivery of a crucial piece of evidence that the Department of Corrections had previously misplaced, Ward ordered a new trial for Moses. Former Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirichs office later decided not to retry the case and instead dropped the charges in April.

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Moses is now suing the state of Tennessee, Weirich and current Shelby County top prosecutor Steve Mulroy.

The lawsuit alleges that the district attorneys office was aware of the Shelby County Election Commissions error that led to the certificate of restoration of Moses voting rights.

As a result, Plaintiff was wrongfully convicted, and her life was placed on pause while she fought to prove she had no involvement in the mistakes of the Shelby County Election Commission, the lawsuit read, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Organizations advocating for Moses said government officials used her case to send a message to Black voters.

Moses is suing for both emotional and punitive damages.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Woman sentenced to 6 years after registering to vote despite felony sues Tennessee for emotional distress appeared first on TheGrio.
With clear blue skies and cool breezes, fall is the best time of the year to go hiking and appreciate the colorful foliage in Beijing. So, where are the city's best spots to admire the gold and red leaves?



Here, we've compiled a list of the top 10 places to visit in Beijing during what's dubbed in China as the "golden autumn season."

# Fragrant Hills Park

Situated in the northwestern part of downtown Beijing, the Fragrant Hills Park is made up of hills and forest covering 162 hectares. The area is filled with abundant natural scenery and cultural sites, and the smell of apricot blossom lends the hills an attractive fragrance. The park's forest coverage exceeds 96% with over 5,800 precious trees and other natural resources like mountains and springs. When fall arrives, fiery red leaves blanket the hillside, attracting huge numbers of tourists.



Best time for sightseeing: Mid-October to early November
Unlike cruising down the sidewalk on roller skates that come with a bit of a learning curve, the Moonwalkers are supposedly as easy to use as the moving sidewalks that whisk you down a long airport terminal. You just strap them to your feet and go for a stroll, while enjoying a considerable boost in speed.

Developed by a team of robotics engineers who spun off their work at Carnegie Mellon University into a new company called Shift Robotics, the Moonwalkers might look like roller skates, but they add power and intelligence to the experience so you never feel like youre Wile E. Coyote trying to chase down the roadrunner with an Acme rocket strapped to your back.

Read more

A strap-on design allows the Moonwalkers to be used with almost any pair of shoes, and each unit features a 300-watt electric motor that powers a set of eight polyurethane wheels similar to what youd find on a pair of inline skates, but much smaller, and not all in a single line, so theres no balancing required. Sensors monitor the users walking gait while algorithms automatically adjust the power of the motors to match, synchronized between each foot, so the added speed increases and decreases as the user walks faster or slower. A hinged toe section flexes the same way a shoe does, so the Moonwalkers feel more comfortable and natural to walk in.

The claim that Moonwalkers can increase someones walking speed by up to 250% is based on the fact that most people walk at around 2.5 to 4mph. The Moonwalkers actually have a limited top speed of 7mph, even while walking downhill, and users can come to a full stop in a little over three feet. Theyre also designed to be used on stairs with a special foot gesture that activates a mode that locks the wheels and prevents them from rolling freely.

With a battery-powered range of about six miles, they could potentially be another alternative to a car for short commutes or used as a last-mile tool if parking close to your destination is a challenge. And because theyre much smaller than an electric scooter or a bike, theyre easy to keep stashed at your desk or even in a backpack when not in use.

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Shift Moonwalkers Launch

The Moonwalkers are definitely an unorthodox way to get around, and, as youve probably guessed, theyre not exactly cheap either. Shift Robotics is attempting to bring them to consumers through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign thats hoping to raise $90,000 for a production run. At the time of writing its not quite there yet, but you can pre-order a pair, with delivery expected as early as March of next year, with a $999 Early Bird contribution. Full retail pricing for a pair of Moonwalkers is expected to be closer to $1,400.

Even with a team of talented engineers from Carnegie Mellon University behind it, theres always a risk with backing Kickstarter products, particularly from a company introducing its first consumer device. Delivery and manufacturing delays with crowdfunded products are common these days, as is the risk of the Moonwalkers never coming to fruition, along with the potential for a full refund.

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By Tetsushi Kajimoto

TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen respects Japan's stance of not disclosing whether it had intervened in the foreign exchange market, Japan's top currency diplomat said on Wednesday, adding he was in close touch with the United States every day.

Masato Kanda made the comment after domestic media reported this week that Japan did not gain U.S. consent to its suspected foray in the market overnight on Friday, as the yen struck 32-year lows near 152 yen. That raised speculation that Japan and the United States might be at odds over currency policy, which would make it difficult to intervene further.

Group of Seven (G7) financial leaders make it a tacit rule that they inform partners when intervening in the market.

"We will monitor the market to see if there are any excessive, disorderly moves and will continue to take decisive steps as needed," Vice Finance Minister of International Affairs Kanda told reporters at the ministry.

"Treasury Secretary Yellen respects Japan's stance of not confirming whether or not we conducted intervention, so we appreciate that."

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki also said on Tuesday that Japan was closely in touch with the United States and that both have reaffirmed the Group of Seven agreement on currencies.

Since Japan's yen-buying intervention on Sept. 22, the authorities have kept mum on whether they had entered the currency market, although sources have said stealth intervention was conducted last Friday and this Monday.

Japan likely spent as much as 9.2 trillion yen ($62 billion) in total since last month to prop up its currency, according to market estimates.

On Wednesday morning, the dollar was broadly weaker amid signs that Federal Reserve rate hikes are slowing the U.S. economy. The greenback hit a 32-year high against the yen of 151.94 on Friday.

($1 = 148.0300 yen)

(Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Jacqueline Wong)
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)  Zimbabwe says it is on the brink of its biggest wheat harvest in history, thanks in large part to efforts to overcome food supply problems caused by the war in Ukraine. But bush fires and impending rains are threatening crops yet to be harvested.

Like other African countries, Zimbabwe has for decades relied on imports to offset low local production. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulted in global shortages and price hikes, the country wanted to ensure self-sufficiency at all costs, Deputy Agriculture Minister Vangelis Haritatos told The Associated Press this week.

The country expects to harvest 380,000 tons of wheat, which is 20,000 more than we require as a country, Haritatos said. That is up from about 300,000 tons produced last year.

We are most likely to get the highest tonnage since 1962, when wheat was first introduced to Zimbabwe. A lot of countries are facing shortages, but the opposite is happening in Zimbabwe, Haritatos said.

While other hunger-stricken African countries are struggling with reduced wheat imports due to the war in Ukraine, Zimbabwe is looking at using its anticipated surplus of the grain to build a small strategic reserve for the first time in its history, agriculture minister Anxious Masuka told journalists earlier this month. This would cushion Zimbabwe against future shocks.

Masuka said Zimbabwe plans to bump up wheat production to about 420,000 tons next season, giving the country room to keep building its strategic reserve and become an exporter of the grain. Wheat is Zimbabwes most important strategic crop after corn.

African countries  which imported 44% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine between 2018 and 2020, according to U.N. figures  were hit hard by the global shortages and price hikes of grains as a result of the war. The African Development Bank has reported a 45% increase in wheat prices on the continent.

African nations were at the center of Western efforts to reopen Ukraines ports as the United States and allies accused Russia of starving the world by denying exports from Ukraine, a key global grain exporter. African leaders also visited Russia to meet with Putin over the issue.

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Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in April described the war in Ukraine as a wake-up call for countries to grow their own food.

The answer in Zimbabwe has been to empower local farmers, said Haritatos, the deputy agriculture minister.

That included roping in hundreds of small-scale, rural farmers to start growing a crop that was traditionally reserved for large-scale commercial farmers, improving water supply infrastructure and distributing fertilizers to small-scale farmers as well as increasing private-sector participation. The crop was introduced for the first time to areas and farmers who had never grown wheat before.

Winter corn production has given way to wheat in many areas, with Zimbabwe banking on corn reserves to meet demand for the staple food. Land used for growing wheat increased from 66,000 hectares (163,089 acres) in 2021 to 75,000 hectares this year and will grow to 100,000 hectares next season.

A lot of countries discount small-scale farmers because they are so small that individually they cannot effect much change," Haritatos said. But we organized them into clusters and convinced them that it was possible. The quality of most of their crops is premium."

He said the war in Ukraine had made Zimbabwe realize that we shouldnt rely on other countries for food that we can grow on our own.

However, Zimbabwes wheat is predominantly soft, and there is a need to blend it with imported hard wheat varieties to produce quality flour for bread, according to the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe. But the government has ruled out imports amid the surplus, saying a special permit would be needed.

The wheat harvest runs from October to December. However, both farmers and the government are concerned by the threat of raging bush fires and imminent rains. They say the fires are more devastating than in previous years as climate change contributes to an extended dry season.

Farmers are increasingly getting worried about the time factor. It looks like the rains will be upon us soon. Wheat should be out of the fields, said Paul Zakariya, director of the Zimbabwe Farmers Union, which represents small-scale growers.

Officials said bush fires destroyed wheat worth nearly $1 million in a single week in mid-October. Zimbabwe is amid the fire season, characterized by severe heat and strong windy and arid conditions that precede the rainy season.

The government says it has deployed more combine harvesters to help farmers speed up the harvest and is carrying out fire prevention awareness programs. The countrys environmental management agency has described bush fires as one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

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See AP's complete coverage of the food crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/food-crisis.
Zoe Saldana in From Scratch (Netflix)

Zoe Saldana is many things, including the 10th highest-grossing actor of all time, thanks to starring roles in Star Trek, Avatar, and Guardians of the Galaxy. She is a fluent speaker of the Italian language, like her character Amy in the new Netflix weepie From Scratch. She is also, although you may not realise it, 44 years old.

Amy, when we meet her, is in her early-to-mid twenties and has just arrived in Florence. Shes enrolled in an art programme that her overbearing father frets will distract her from finishing a law degree. His fears are well-founded, it turns out. The painterly slant of the Italian light plus the romantic attention of a young Sicilian chef called Lino prove infinitely more interesting than law books.

At first, I was confused when the chyron read Fall 2000 and Saldana appeared in a twee matching cami-and-cardigan set. On screen, she calls her sister in Los Angeles on a landline. Was this a brief flashback to the past? Perhaps it makes sense then to cast an older actor in the role, because well chiefly see her in a timeline closer to our own, I surmised.

But it was not a fleeting flashback! The sprawling series eventually sees Saldanas character age, but we spend most of the time with Amy in her twenties and thirties. The creators of the hit tear-jerker  Tembi Locke, author of the wrenching memoir From Scratch is based on, and her TV writer sister Attica Locke  simply didnt care that Saldana was much older than Amy. Once I got over the initial surprise of it, I didnt care either.

Saldana is an interesting actor. She does not appear in much, but shes memorable in everything she touches. Thats why I have such a clear idea of her age in the first place. Saldana already seemed like an adult to me when she popped up as Eva in the 2000 cult-favourite ballet movie Center Stage. She was the sidekick best friend in that film  the bad girl ballerina with perfectly turned out feet.

Its not just that Saldana looks young for her age now (although, she does). Its that shes always looked ageless. Even in Center Stage, the 22-year-old star didnt look like any 22-year-old I knew. Does she look 25 in From Scratch? Not really. But I bet Saldana has never looked 25.

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The eight-part series is a full-on melodrama, in which Amy confronts the realities of a broken family and the tragedy of a husband with cancer. She does it with the kind of grace thats much more common to TV depictions of loss than actual loss, which is to say that Amy feels outside of time, as well. After my first glimpse of Amy cramming her non-wheeling luggage into a Fiat  sidenote: Im pretty sure luggage already had wheels in 2000  I never thought of Saldanas age again.

Zoe Saldana in 'Center Stage (Youtube / Columbia Pictures)

And maybe its telling that the roles shes most famous for  an 18-year-old alien in Avatar, an intergalactic linguist in Star Trek, and a comic book hero in Guardians of the Galaxy  occur outside the normal human ageing process. When Im 44, I hope to have half the poise Eva did.
Nelson County residents have participated in their comprehensive plan revision process at some of the highest rates the consulting firm the Berkley Group has seen in a rural county, according to principal planner Catherine Redfearn. More than 150 people have attended four public workshops, and the Berkley Group received 885 online and paper survey responses.

Nelson County has partnered with The Berkley Group to update the countys comprehensive plan adopted in 2002 and last updated in 2014. Redfearn reminded the small group at a fifth community engagement opportunity Oct. 16 why participation in the plans development is key.

A comprehensive plan is a long range document that provides decision-making direction for a variety of topics: land use, housing, transportation, economic development ... as such, they are and should be community-driven plans, Redfearn said. We rely on the feedback of the people who live, work and visit these places to help us shape the content.

She summarized the data from the public workshops, survey, and four stakeholder listening sessions.

In one word: Nelson is beautiful. That beauty is what draws people here to live, to visit, to play, and theres a very strong sentiment among the people that participated in the community engagement that we need to protect that rural character while also increasing housing and economic development opportunities, she said.

A majority of survey respondents live in the Nellysford and Afton/Rockfish areas and a large majority are permanent residents of or own property in the county. Among them, 43% identify as retired and 35% work in Nelson County or from their homes, 45% are over the age of 65 and 76% are white and 20% have lived in the county for 40 or more years, followed by 18% who resided in the county less than 5 years.

A majority of respondents agree on several ideas: they most value Nelsons natural environment, rural character, and open spaces; and theyre most concerned about development and population growth and the loss of natural resources. A majority think preserving environmental resources should be a priority for the county, followed by 30% of respondents who think improving public schools ought to be the first priority. A majority also recognize a lack of affordable housing and housing variety, and share the same ideas about where new development should occur.

What do respondents think are the main issues facing the county?

A summary document of the data  available on the countys comprehensive plan website, nelson2042.com  demonstrates a few trends. Half of survey respondents believe Nelson doesnt offer enough job opportunities, 61% of respondents thinks the county doesnt offer enough affordable housing and 57% feel there isnt a sufficient variety of housing types to meet residents needs.

The survey allowed respondents to select other as a response to some questions, and then specify what they meant, and one question was completely open-ended.

Of written responses to these questions, more than 100 expressed concern about Virginia 151: unsafe driving conditions created by commercial truck traffic and traffic to and from businesses, especially alcohol-related businesses.

Writers differed on their proposed solutions to the problem, such as installing bike lanes, sidewalks, or more turn lanes, and reducing speed limits. But most were in agreement the corridor is overdeveloped or has reached its capacity of development. Another major theme among comments was short term-rentals have disrupted neighborhoods and depleted the existing housing stock, contributing to a lack of affordable housing.

Respondents did favor residential and commercial development along U.S. 29 in the central area of the county in Lovingston, Colleen and Shipman, and favored the redevelopment of existing buildings.

Survey results demonstrate a strong consensus about land use: 84% of residents selected public park spaces in the county as their most desired use, followed by agricultural and outdoor recreation/tourism uses, and 62% of respondents discourage industrial development.

An overwhelming majority of respondents said they feel safe in Nelson County, think its a great place to raise a family and retire, and identify a strong sense of community pride.

Redfearn said the Berkley Group will use the communitys feedback to begin drafting a process to last into May. Community members will then have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on a draft of the plan. The idea wall on nelson2042.com remains open for public comments.
TS Bank has partnered with Advance Southwest Iowa to host REV, a pitch competition with $14,000 in prize money, on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center, 1001 S. Sixth St.

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch pitches live from five REV finalists, all local entrepreneurs and business owners.

They will also have the chance to meet the finalists to learn more about their businesses, network with other entrepreneurial-minded guests and enjoy food from Viva Fit Kitchen  a 2021 REV winner  and Fig & Honey.

The event is open to the public, but registration is required and the cost to attend is $15. Visit tsbank.com/revevent for tickets.

This years finalists include Noble Provisions, East of Omaha, Fermented Felon, Nesting Grounds and First Row Fitness.

Guests will also hear a keynote talk from Drew Harden, president and co-founder of Blue Compass, an award winning digital agency.

Hardens talk, Powerful Ways to Persevere with Passion, stems from his award-winning digital agency based in Des Moines. He will be speaking on how to propel past the startup phase, plunge through problems and walk away with the power of passion.

The 2022 REV winners will be announced at the end of the evening, around 6:45 p.m.

TS Bank originally started REV in 2015 in an effort to spur economic growth and encourage business owners to continue pursuing their dreams. As of today, $100,000 has been awarded through this program.

Other major sponsors include Nebraska Enterprise Fund, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and PowerTech, along with additional sponsors, Castle and Associates Inc., Rachel Dorr Accounting, Vistage and Tandem Works.
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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.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will release between 800 to 1,000 rainbow trout at Big Lake Park as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer months.

The trout stocking will happen Friday afternoon at Big Lake, 2600 N. Eighth St. in Council Bluffs.

Grab your neighbors, friends and kids and try trout fishing this fall, Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR Fisheries Bureau, said in a press release. Its time well spent. The fish are here, easy to catch and good to eat.

The fall community trout stockings are a great place to take children to catch their first fish, according to the release. A small hook with a night crawler or corn under a small bobber, or small simple spinners, such as a Panther Martin or Mepps, is all you need to get in on the fun.

Bringing trout to cities and towns offers a close to home option for Iowans who might not travel to northeast Iowa to discover trout fishing, the release said.

The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit. The child can purchase a trout fee, which will allow them to catch their own limit.
A Council Bluffs principal has been named a Metro Area Lozier Foundation Outstanding Principal.

Janine Crain, principal at Edison Elementary School in Council Bluffs, was one of three metro-area principals honored, according to an announcement from the foundation. The other two were Ron Oltman of Birchcrest Elementary School in Bellevue, Nebraska and MeLitta Wilson of Minne Lusa Elementary School in Omaha.

To qualify for the Lozier Foundation award, principals must lead an elementary school with 50% or more students qualifying for free and reduced lunch and demonstrate significant growth in the Measures of Academic Progress assessment for reading or math from fall 2021 to spring 2022.

Principals were nominated for the award by educators in their school or district.

Council Bluffs Community School District officials are proud to celebrate Crain being recognized.

This award is a testament to the focus Mrs. Crain and her entire staff has on helping students achieve at their fullest potential, Superintendent Vickie Murillo said in a press release from the school district. She is a strategic leader who involves her teachers in decision-making and has a passion for students and their success. We are proud Mrs. Crain and the Council Bluffs Community School District are among those being honored by the Lozier Foundation.

The significant academic growth of Edison students during the 2021-22 school year was a highlight of Crains nomination, the press release stated. Kindergartners and fourth-grade students demonstrated their proficiency on the MAP assessment under the guidance of highly effective teams of teachers and Crains leadership. The 69 kindergarten students grew in math from 71% proficient in the fall to 87% proficient in the spring. In English/language arts, the 62 fourth grade students increased in proficiency from 64% in the fall to 76% in the spring.

According to Crain, she sets goals to ensure that she spends time in every classroom every day observing instruction, interacting with students or modeling best practices and identifying and making recommendations to reduce obstacles to our success with students. She values teacher input and ownership in the development and implementation of the staffs School Improvement Plan and during professional learning sessions that are closely aligned to the plan.

Im proud of Mrs. Crains leadership, Chief of Elementary Schools Mark Schuldt said. She puts all students first and provides clarity and support to all teachers so they can meet the needs of all students.

Janine is an extremely reflective leader who consistently strives for continuous improvement, Chief Academic Officer Tracy Mathews said. She understands the importance of being in the classrooms in order to observe teaching and provide high quality feedback.

Before she became principal at Edison in the fall of 2019, Crain served as a teacher at Rue Elementary from 2004 to 2014, a mentor teacher as part of the districts Teacher Leadership Program and principal at Crescent Elementary. She received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from the College of Saint Mary and holds Master of Education degrees from both Peru State College (curriculum and instruction) and Doane University (educational leadership).

Edison Elementary serves 430 students in preschool through fifth grade. Approximately 18% of the students receive special education services and 11% are supported with English Language Learner support.

The Lozier Foundation is a nonprofit family foundation founded by Allan and Dianne Lozier. The foundations focus is education, social services and issues involving women and children, with an emphasis on the inner city and underrepresented populations.
Conservative talk radio host and author Larry Elder will be the keynote speaker at the Pottawattamie County GOPs annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner on Friday.

We are excited to have a great list of special guests at our upcoming Lincoln Reagan Dinner, Pottawattamie County Republicans chairperson Starlyn Perdue said in a press release. Larry Elder of California continues to be a strong supporter of our conservative candidates across Iowa and we appreciate his support in Pottawattamie County.

The fundraiser will also feature remarks from Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is one of five United States governors to have received an A from the Cato Institutes 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card.

Pottawattamie County is new to Iowas 4th District after redistricting so this will provide an opportunity for the citizens of our county to meet our new congressman, Perdue said. Secretary of Ag Mike Naig is a strong advocate for our agricultural community and Secretary of State Paul Pate and his team work hard to ensure our elections run smoothly and securely.

State Attorney General candidate Brenna Bird, who has been endorsed by 73 of Iowas 99 county sheriffs, and State Treasurer candidate Roby Smith will also be in attendance.

Our great slate of conservative candidates are working hard together every day to bolster our growing economy with historic income and retirement tax cuts, support our law enforcement, promote agriculture across our state, and defend our freedoms, Perdue said. With the election less than two weeks away, we are excited to offer this opportunity to the residents of southwest Iowa to hear from our candidates firsthand at our Lincoln Reagan Dinner.

The fundraiser is being held Friday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Treynor Community Center, 11 W. Main St. The event is open to the public, with a $25 donation per person. For more information or to RSVP, visit pottcountygop.eventbrite.com or email pottcogop@gmail.com.
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The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday barred more persons of the European Union member states from entering Russia in response to their anti-Russian actions.

Among the newly blacklisted are representatives of European manufacturers of weapons and military equipment supplied to Ukraine and some lawmakers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian side did not specify who are subject to the travel ban.
Two police officers were killed early Monday at a checkpoint in Tamou, in Tillaberi region, South-East of Niger.

Unidentified armed men walked up to the checkpoint where the officers were posted early in the morning and shot them, Actu Niger reports citing witnesses of the attack.

The armed men reportedly hid their motorbikes in the wood.

The incident came after two other attacks in the time span of one week, in the same region that is witnessing an escalation of terrorist activities.

Last Saturday, the online media notes, an attack by unidentified gunmen claimed the lives of 12 people in the department of Banibangou, specifically on the Tizegorou-Banibangou road. In their terror, the gunmen also set fire to three trucks.

On Sunday, at least two personnel of the National Guard were killed by yet unidentified assailants who targeted the position of the Niger National Guard (GNN), which provides security at the MBanga gold mining site, located in the commune of Namaro, Kollo department, a region in state of emergency since 2007.
A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Egypt in the first week of November to resume talks over a new loan agreement.

Egypt and the Washington-based institution began talks for a new loan for the Middle East country in March.

The Arab country has turned to the IFM for a new loan program to be used to weather economic crisis due to the brunt of the COVID-19 and Ukraine-Russia war.

This month, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Ministry of Finance have reached an agreement with the IMF on the policies and restructuring of the new Egyptian economic reform program.

Also on October 15, the IMFs Director of Communications Gerry Rice revealed in a statement that Egyptian authorities and the staff of the IMF agreed to finalize their negotiations in preparation for reaching a staff-level agreement very soon.

The IMFs staff and the Egyptian team have made substantial progress regarding all policies, Rice added.
The European Commission adopted on Tuesday a new program worth 115 million to support Moroccos ecological, inclusive and innovative farming.

Dubbed Terre Verte, the program aims to contribute to Moroccos strategies Green Generation and Moroccan Forests covering the period 2020-2030 by promoting an ecological transition conducive to the creation of decent work opportunities in Morocco in the agricultural and forestry sector.

European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: The Green Partnership between Morocco and the EU is the first of its kind and an important recognition of Moroccos leadership and potential in the green transition.

The support to Moroccan agriculture and forestry provided through this program shows that the EU is on Moroccos side in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises, he added.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, said: Morocco has just experienced the worst drought in 40 years, threatening water and agricultural systems. In addition, the war in Ukraine is exacerbating tensions in the food markets, including in the EUs Southern Neighborhood region.

We stand with Morocco to address this challenging situation with this 115 million program under the EUs Economic and Investment Plan for the Southern Neighborhood, he stressed, noting that the EU supports Moroccos development of sustainable agriculture practices and sustainable management of forest resources.

The program seeks to support sustainable agricultural value chains, ensure a better protection and management of forestry, and encourage job creation and social inclusion across the two sectors.

The program Terre Verte is funded under the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, NDICI-Global Europe.

The 115 million includes the allocation of 15 million from the Food and Resilience Facility, which will support, in particular, priority response measures to optimize national agricultural production as well as support for producers for the development of more sustainable agricultural practices.
Indias richest person Gautam Adani is negotiating with Moroccan authorities the setting up of a giant clean energy project that would produce 10 gigawatts, Bloomberg reported.

Adanis group is considering building solar and wind plants as well as facilities to produce and export green hydrogen, the news agency reported citing anonymous sources.

Morocco currently has a production capacity of 10 GW, of which about 37% originates from renewable sources.

The investment would confirm Moroccos standing as a hub for renewable energy among a global push to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The investment would position Morocco as an exporter to Europe where the appetite for green hydrogen is growing amid uncertainties regarding EU dependence on Russian gas.
Morocco may no longer issue an international bond as was planned earlier this year amid deep uncertainty and market volatility, finance minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui said.

The government expects its financing needs to grow to 60 billion dirhams ($5.5 bln) next year compared with some 45 billion dirhams this year.

We will try to strike a balance between domestic and foreign borrowing, she said, adding that Morocco has used a precautionary liquidity line offered with the IMF.

Morocco is also seeking a new credit line with the IMF without jeopardizing its macro-economic and macro-financial standing as well as attractiveness to foreign investors, she said.

The government targets a growth rate of 4% in 2023, up from 1.5% this year and expects to reduce its budget deficit to 4.5% this year by increasing revenues including tax revenue.
King Mohammed VI and King Charles III have highlighted at a phone talk they had Tuesday the dynamics marking relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom.

The phone conversation was an opportunity to underline the strong personal ties between the two Sovereigns and the esteem they have for each other, thanks to the deep and long-standing relations between the two Royal Families, the Royal Office said in a statement.

During the talk, King Mohammed VI reiterated his congratulations to King Charles III on the occasion of his accession to the throne, and reiterated his heartfelt condolences on the passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the statement said.
Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has urged local and foreign investors to inject money into the countrys oil and gas sector undergoing reforms, reports say.

Speaking at the commissioning of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limiteds Lekki Free Trade Zone Terminal in Lagos, the Nigerian President said that the operation of the new facility will lower the cost of petroleum products distribution and facilitate the delivery of products across the country.

Mele Kyari, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, who was attending the event, indicated that Pinnacle terminal is the largest exit point for petroleum products in the country that provides energy security.

The petroleum products terminal has been designed to make possible the direct transfer of products from large vessels to the conventional and single point mooring facility.

The company has commenced the expansion of storage size in two stages to reach the designed capacity of one billion liters, while diversifying its product range to include storage products such as LPG and other classes of kerosene, noted Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited CEO Peter Mbah.
Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea Bissau who also doubles as ECOWAS Chairman, discussed Tuesday in Moscow with President Vladimir Putin of Russia an array of issues including peace resolution to the war in Ukraine.

I also pass on the message of all 15 countries representing the CEDEAO/ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), to discuss todays situation of the war between two sister nations  Russia and Ukraine, (to discuss) not only the question of grain and wheat, but the world that is blocked, the African leader said.

Russia has been leading an operation in Ukraine since February and in September annexed four regions of its neighbor.

The war which has caused thousands of deaths in both camps has also affected prices of commodities around the world.

President Putin hailed the long-lasting friendly relations between Russia and Guinea-Bissau, expressing hope to see trade, economic and humanitarian ties further developed.

The two sides also discussed the second Russia-Africa Summit slated to take place in St.Petersburg in July next year.
Senegal and Turkey signed an event-driven diplomacy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote events between the two countries.

Aissata Tall Sall, top diplomat of the African country inked the deal with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa held on October 24-25.

Per the deal, both sides pledged to promote the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, held annually in Turkiye, and the Dakar International Forum.

The agreement will allow the organizers of these two forums to work together for an exchange of good practices, said Aissata Tall Sall.

After the diplomacy of the people, after the economic diplomacy, we are now in the diplomacy of the event, she added.

Event-driven diplomacy is key to meeting the challenges of peace and justice in a world that is going through difficult times, Cavusoglu noted.
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The just concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) focused on carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party, which builds strength and upholds the fundamental Party principles to build a modern socialist country in all aspects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. The Party has dedicated itself to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation, said Gabonese Ambassador to China Baudelaire Ndong Ella in an interview with ChinAfrica.

Ndong Ella's comments came as the five-yearly CPC National Congress concluded in Beijing. He said he has been keenly following discussions at the congress because of the strategic importance of this meeting to China and its allies. The meeting outcomes would pave the way for the next phase of the country's development and define the future of its foreign relations, which Gabon is most interested in as a friend and partner of China.

He is impressed by the remarkable accomplishments the CPC has achieved in all fields since its 18th National Congress in 2012.

The Party has successfully led the Chinese people and made solid progress in developing whole-process people's democracy and advanced law-based governance across all fields. The CPC has also succeeded in promoting a developed and active socialist culture, he said.

The CPC has applied a holistic approach to safeguarding national security and ensuring social stability. The Party has safeguarded China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

"The Party has also devoted great energy and resources to modernising the national defence and armed forces, and building a strong military for the next era," Ndong Ella said.

Finally, the successful battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest achievements of the CPC; the Party has put in place the dynamic zero-COVID policy to protect the people's health and safety, and has recorded tremendous achievements in the epidemic response.

Concerning China's commitment to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, Ndong Ella said as Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned in his speech, peace, development and win-win cooperation are essential for modernisation, maintaining relative stability and achieving development in the world.

"Gabon is deliberating the application of this concept to continue to foster peace and development in our country," he said.
The Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, appointed Tuesday the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi, mediator in the ongoing crisis in Chad.

The regional bloc held Tuesday its second extraordinary summit with Felix Tshisekedi, Chads leader Mahamat Deby, President of Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera and Congo Brazzaville leader Denis Sassou Nguesso.

The one-day summit in Kinshasa was convened in the wake of the death of more than 50 demonstrators in Chad during a protest called by many parties and movements opposed to the extension of the transition in Chad.

A national and inclusive dialogue held among stakeholders, except the main rebellion group, Front pour lalternance et la concorde au Tchad (FACT), has extended Mahamats stay in power for additional 24 months after the 18-month transition he pledged following the death of his father last year in April.

The stakes are high and the challenges to be met are major, as it is now a matter of putting the transition back on track with the Chadian people, taking into account their aspirations, the values and ideals of the African Union and the ECCAS, as well as the fundamental principles that guide their actions in such circumstances, said Tshisekedi who chairs the regional bloc.
Moroccan authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of five jihadists who were preparing terrorist attacks in the country. Aged between 20 and 45, members of the ISIS cell were active in the Habata Benmansour village in Kenitra, Sidi Yahya Zaer (near Rabat), Dchira in Inzegane Ait Melloul, commune of Bouaboud (province of Chichaoua).

All the five men were planning to carry out separately attacks using explosives targeting strategic sites, law enforcement agents and security institutions in the kingdom.

The police searched their premises and found a rifle, ammunition, bladed weapons and digital materials. The preliminary probe showed that some of the nabbed extremists were attempting to make explosive devices.

The dismantling of this cell shows that Morocco is still targeted by terrorist networks seeking to undermine the countrys peace and stability.

Morocco has developed a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy which aims at addressing different components of the terrorist threat through security, socio-economic development policies as well as supporting the religious field.

The strategy also includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation and terrorist counter-radicalization policies.
The European Union needs to act to counter the terrorist threat posed by the polisario separatist militia, which operates in the neighborhood of Europe, warned Member of the European Parliament Tomas Zdechovsky.

The EU must make people understand the danger posed by certain military groups that adopt a terrorist doctrine, which threaten the values of moderation, peace and tolerance that we share with countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, especially Morocco, said the MEP on Tuesday at the European Parliament.

The MEPs remarks were made Tuesday during a conference, organized by the European Peoples Party (EPP) group on the issue of radicalization and extremism. The Conference brought together parliamentarians and security experts who discussed the terrorist threat facing European countries and ways to address it.

Morocco, which faces the threat from the Tindouf camps in Algeria, which are a breeding ground for terrorism and jihadism, has our full support, Tomas Zdechovsky said, calling for assisting the Kingdom against groups that threaten the stability of the region.

It is unacceptable for us to support a separatist group [i.e. the polisario] that destroys the values that Europe has in common with Morocco. It is inadmissible. Europe cannot deal with an entity that feeds on terrorist doctrines.

The stability of the Sahel region and North Africa is essential for the European bloc, hence any party or group that threatens stability or undertakes aggressive acts must be considered terrorist by the EU, he insisted.

Rabat and Brussels cooperate closely in the security field, especially in the prevention and fight against the terrorist threat, he further noted, urging Algeria, which harbors and finances the separatist front, to fully assume its responsibility in promoting stability in the region.
INTERPOLs Counter-Terrorism Director, Greg Hinds, highlighted, Tuesday in Marrakech, Moroccos very strong and robust counterterrorism strategy, praising the strong cooperation between INTERPOL and the Kingdoms security services.

We have been working with Morocco for years and we are very impressed by the capabilities, which have been put in place not only to strengthen national responses, but also to respond to threats in the region, Hinds said in a statement to the press on the sidelines of the opening of the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats, held in Marrakech October 24 to 27.

Hinds noted that Morocco plays a leading role in the region, reiterating the commitment of INTERPOL to continue its cooperation and collaboration with Morocco.

Regarding the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats, Hinds said that this three-day meeting aims to exchange on important issues related to the promotion of chemical security.

We are fortunate to have more than 230 participants from 73 countries to discuss ways to address the growing threat of chemical terrorism and explosive attacks on global peace and security, he said.

He added that the congress will address the evolution of these threats and will propose concrete solutions to better detect, prevent and prevent the acquisition or use of chemical materials and explosives for criminal purposes.
Nebraska's scores on a national assessment providing a snapshot of students' proficiency in reading and math declined, in yet another indicator of the pandemic's impact on the classroom.

Math scores took the biggest hit, dropping by record levels nationally, according to the results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress released Monday.

Nebraska's scores dipped across the board compared with 2019, the last time the federal test was administered.

More than 7,500 Nebraska students took the exam, also known as the Nation's Report Card, which measures fourth and eighth grade students' proficiency in math and reading.

Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, the Associated Press reported, with some simply treading water at best.

But compared with the nation as a whole, Nebraska fared well, scoring higher than any state in fourth grade math and landing above the national proficiency average in nearly all areas. Only one state scored higher in eighth grade math, while Nebraska outpaced all but three states in fourth grade reading and all but seven states in eighth grade reading.

While the pandemic has clearly disrupted teaching and learning in our state, these scores are a testament to the dedication and perseverance of Nebraskas educators from the beginning of the pandemic to today, Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt said in a news release.

The test is a criterion-referenced test, meaning students' knowledge is compared to a predetermined standard.

The percentage of Nebraska students at or above the proficiency threshold fell in all levels. The number of students who fell below the test's basic standard also increased.

The declines were most glaring in eight grade math, in which 31% of students were proficient but 32% were below the basic level. In 2019, 37% were proficient and 26% fell below the baseline.

Nationally, just 26% of students were proficient, while 40% fell below the basic threshold.

Fourth graders performed slightly better, with 43% of Nebraska students meeting proficiency in math, a slight dip from 45% in 2019. Meanwhile, 20% of students were below the baseline  compared with 16% two years ago.

In reading, Nebraska fourth graders were only slightly more proficient than students nationwide  34% to 32%  while that number was the same in eighth grade at 29%.

Overall, the number of Nebraska students proficient in reading dropped by 3% in fourth grade and 5% in eighth grade.

The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics administers the exam, which dates to the early 90s.

The math portion of the exam measures both math knowledge and students' ability to apply it to problem-solving situations. The reading section measures comprehension by asking students to read selected grade-appropriate materials and answer questions based on their reading.

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 National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr.

It's expected that math would see bigger declines, said Matt Larson, associate superintendent of instruction at Lincoln Public Schools. Math in fourth and eighth grades is more dependent on in-school instruction, which students missed out on during the pandemic.

"You might sit down and read a book, but you're not likely to sit down on your own and solve algebraic equations," he said.

LPS typically has a few grades from a sampling of schools take part in the test, but school officials do not receive a district breakdown.

Overall, the scores were not surprising to Larson, although the "well-established" assessment can serve as a "barometer" for education officials.

"Clearly there's going to be an impact across the nation as the result of the pandemic," he said.

Monday's snapshot also highlighted COVID-19's disproportionate impact on English language learners and students of color.

ELL students in Nebraska saw double-digit drops  including 16 points in fourth grade reading  compared with the 2019 assessment. Scores are out of a possible 500.

Black students scored more than 30 points lower than their white counterparts in each subject, while Hispanic students scored more than 20 points worse across the board.
U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse could receive a vote of no confidence by University of Florida faculty before he even is confirmed as that university's president.

The UF Faculty Senate will consider a vote of no confidence regarding the university's presidential selection process at an emergency meeting Thursday. Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, was announced as the sole finalist to become the school's 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 he was enforcing a 20-year-old regulation banning protests inside campus buildings.

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 Sasse's selection. It also indicated that the body doubted Sasse's 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. UF's student population is nearly 60,000 students.

The resolution claimed that at a Faculty Senate meeting Oct. 20, members were informed that there were other "well-qualified" candidates for the presidency that were eliminated because they were unwilling to be named as finalists within the university's 21-day public notification requirement. This prevented faculty from being informed about the other candidates and their qualifications, the resolution read.

Faculty Senate Chair Amanda Phalin did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Sasse faces a vote by the schools Board of Trustees and then must be confirmed by the state Board of Governors before he is officially named president.

If approved, hes expected to resign his Senate seat. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has said that if he chooses to pursue the vacant seat, he would leave Sasse's replacement to the state's next governor. Sasse's successor would serve until 2024, when a special election would be held to fill the seat.
The Nebraska Court of Appeals says the clock hasn't yet run out for prosecutors to try Eric Ramos for the murder of a fellow inmate during a riot at the state prison in Tecumseh in 2017.

Last year, Ramos appealed a Johnson County District Court judge's ruling overruling his motion to close the case over for Michael Galindo's killing because Ramos' right to a speedy trial had been violated.

On March 2, 2017, prison staff at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution found Galindo and another inmate, Damon Fitzgerald, dead at the hands of inmates after a disturbance, sparked by staff's discovery of alcohol in inmates' cells.

A number of inmates were believed to be involved, though Ramos was the only one to face charges.

On Oct. 19, 2017, the state charged Ramos, now 32, with murder based largely on prison staff piecing together surveillance video.

In 2018, his first trial ended in a mistrial as the result of a meeting between two witnesses  a Nebraska State Patrol investigator and prison staffer.

Ramos's attorney challenged the state's ability to retry him, calling it double jeopardy because of alleged prosecutorial misconduct at the first trial. But in February 2021 the Nebraska Court of Appeals ruled he could be retried.

As the case inched toward a second trial, his attorney, Tim Noerrlinger, filed a motion alleging the district court had incorrectly calculated the speedy trial deadline to retry him.

In a decision Tuesday, Court of Appeals Judge David Arterburn said the motion was premature and that time remained on his speedy trial clock when it was filed.

Under state statute, a criminal defendant shall be brought to trial within six months, though certain delays, for things like motions filed by the defense, aren't counted against that time.

In Ramos' case in particular, the Court of Appeals said delays caused by his motion to change the county where the second trial would be held is excluded. As well as the gap between when the district judge said Ramos could be retried and when he filed notice of appeal.

"As such, although our reasoning differs from that of the district court, we do not find error in the district courts ultimate decision to deny Ramos motion for absolute discharge on statutory grounds," Arterburn wrote.

The case now will go back to court to be set for trial.
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TOKYO, October 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GlobalLogic:

WHAT: GlobalLogic Inc., a Hitachi Group company and leader in Digital Engineering, today announced it will deliver two presentations at the upcoming Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2022 in Tokyo, Japan, October 31 to November 2, 2022. The sessions will help event attendees understand the business advantages of digital engineering, a digital transformation (DX) approach that leverages design thinking and agile development. WHY: Todays market demands call for businesses to deploy service models capable of navigating evolving consumer, client, and employee environments. These models must be efficient, informative, and flexible to help companies maintain profitability while they deliver innovation. Empowered by GlobalLogics expertise and global co-creation capabilities, Hitachi now offers quick-to-market digital engineering services, proven experiential design practices, and access to global talent with cross-industry, cross-disciplined skillsetsresources that enable businesses to successfully transform through advanced digitalization. WHEN: Solution Provider Session Hitachi: DX of Business Through Design and Engineering Speaker: Arya Barirani, CMO, GlobalLogic Inc. (A Hitachi Group Company) Wednesday, November 2, at 9:50 AM JST Boardroom Session Hitachi: Market Itself is a Laboratory  How to Speedily Respond to Changes Speakers: Jun Abe, Senior Vice President & Executive Officer, CEO of Services & Platforms Business Unit, Hitachi, Ltd. and Emi Goto, Strategy & Delivery Head, Japan, GlobalLogic Japan, Ltd. Wednesday, November 2, at 13:25 JST WHERE: Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, 3-13-1 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8612 Japan

About Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2022

The Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2022 is the world's most important gathering for CIOs and other IT executives. Attendees walk away with insights and expert guidance on the future direction of technology, best practices to define and validate their IT strategies, and real-world examples on how to execute on key initiatives. For more information, please visit http://www.gartner.com/jp/symposium.

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About GlobalLogic

GlobalLogic (www.globallogic.com) is a leader in digital engineering. We help brands across the globe design and build innovative products, platforms, and digital experiences for the modern world. By integrating experience design, complex engineering, and data expertise  we help our clients imagine whats possible and accelerate their transition into tomorrows digital businesses. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, GlobalLogic operates design studios and engineering centers around the world, extending our deep expertise to customers in the automotive, communications, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, manufacturing, media and entertainment, semiconductor, and technology industries. GlobalLogic is a Hitachi Group Company operating under Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), which contributes to a sustainable society with a higher quality of life by driving innovation through data and technology as the Social Innovation Business.

GlobalLogic is a trademark of GlobalLogic. All other brands, products or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006115/en/

Contacts

GlobalLogic, Inc. (Global)

Heather Ailara

211 Communications

+1.973.567.6040

heather@211comms.com
Dr. Hayden Franks and Bailey Pollock, PA

Dr. Hayden Franks and Bailey Pollock, PA

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franks Dermatology has hired a new physician assistant to help Arkansans with their skin conditions.

Bailey W. Pollock, PA-C, is a graduate of the University of Arkansas where she received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science. After working as a medical assistant at Franks Dermatology in 2020, she graduated with Honors from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies.

Pollock became interested in the medical field early on after struggling with acne and psoriasis growing up. Skin care "was always something that I was passionate about," she says. "I wanted to help others find their tailored regimen to take care of their skin needs."

A Fort Smith native, Pollock is a recipient of a Degen Foundation scholarship. The Foundation aims to improve the healthcare and education needs of the River Valley region by providing healthcare grants and education funds to medical scholars in the area.

At Franks Dermatology, Pollock will examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the guidance of Dr. Hayden H. Franks. Pollock will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Franks Dermatology is located in Suite 320 of the Simmons Bank Plaza building at 4220 North Rodney Parham Road in Little Rock.

Contact Information:

Lynn Franks

Office Manager

lynnefranks@me.com

(501) 246-1042



Related Files

FRA - Bailey press release (1).docx

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Image 1: Dr. Hayden Franks and Bailey Pollock, PA





Dr. Hayden Franks and Bailey W. Pollock, PA, at Franks Dermatology in Little Rock, Arkansas









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Opera Philadelphia, Tequila Rock Revolution, Donn T, and More Top Talent Playing Fundraiser #ForEveryChild - Concert, Dinner, and Silent Auction Tickets on Sale Now

Rajant World Music benefit for UNICEF is to raise funds and awareness for UNICEFs lifesaving work worldwide.

2022 Gala #ForEveryChild in Philadelphia - November 8th, 6PM-10PM

Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation, the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, will host the third annual World Music Benefit for UNICEF. The star-studded event raises awareness and encourages donations for the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children in 190+ countries worldwide. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to UNICEF USA. Tickets include dinner, a silent auction, personal testimony, and a night full of music at Philadelphias City Winery on November 8th, from 6 PM to 10 PM ET.

The price of a ticket serves to make a difference #ForEveryChild, shares Rajant CEO and Co-founder Robert Schena. November kicks off the holiday season. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we are mindful of starving children and the suffering of malnutrition they endure each day. Rajant believes we can make a difference. Hosting the Rajant World Music Benefit for UNICEF brings us together, perhaps with more folks like you, that know we can do better for these kids. The best part of November 8th will be having you with us as everyone, from our sponsors to our talent, will be there volunteering. Thats fantastic.

Sponsors include companies and individuals. They are Tessco, KHS America, Jennifer & Tim Behle, Madison Technologies, Alliance Corporation, Steel City Displays, Mary Herzog, Denise Richardson, FastSigns, Crossover, and IGM Creative. Scott McClure, VP of Rajant distribution partner Alliance, states, Alliance is proud to be participating with Rajant on such a worthy cause. Their fundraising initiatives to support organizations such as UNICEF confirm that Rajant is more than just a class-leading technology to include in our offering of wireless networking and IoT solutions. They are a team of high-character people who value using their creativity and talent to give back as excellent global citizens. Fellow sponsor Jennifer Paradis Behle, also serves on UNICEF USAs New York Regional Board. She adds, As an advocate for UNICEF and someone who has served on its behalf in the Greater Philadelphia community, I am overjoyed by Rajants ongoing support to make a difference for children in need. Mr. Schena and the Rajant team continue to outdo themselves, bringing greater awareness and donations #ForEveryChild.

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Musicians include Haydn Viteras Tequila Rock Revolution, President of The Recording Academy (Philadelphia chapter) Donn T and her renowned singer-songwriter partner Jake Morelli, members of Opera Philadelphia, acclaimed opera tenor James Valenti, Philadelphias Walt Lafty, Kentucky bluegrass legend Ray McLain, and an exceptional performance from Kentuckys Mountain Music Ambassadors. Denise Richardson is the emcee and host of the Rajant World Music Benefit for UNICEF. Ms. Richardson co-hosted The Pledge Drive on PBS for more than twenty years and is a former Good Morning America correspondent as well as a lifestyle and news reporter for Fox 5s Good Day New York.

Buy your tickets today to build on the contributions of the sponsors and talent.

####

About Rajant Corporation

Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh networking, BreadCrumb wireless nodes, and InstaMesh networking software. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajants Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 75 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, oil & gas, petrochemical plants, municipalities, and agriculture. Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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CONTACT: Alice DiSanto Rajant Corporation 914-582-8464 adisanto@rajant.com




Lee County Sheriff investigators arrested an Auburn man under charges of impersonating an officer and making terroristic threats.

The suspect was identified as Justin Gregory Johnson, 36.

On Sept. 15, the Lee County Sheriffs Office said it received a report from a female victim about the impersonation and threats made against her.

Investigators said the woman stated that she was communicating with a man who was pretending to be a law enforcement officer. She told investigators that this man said he was going to put a bullet in her brain if she told anyone about it, according to the LCSO report.

Investigators obtained a video clip of the suspect when he was making the threat and said he showed the victim a tactical vest with a plate carrier and a Lee County Sheriffs Office patch attached.

Social media posts also showed Johnson wearing the vest and shooting a semi-automatic rifle that had some type of suppression device attached to the barrel, the release said.

After Johnson was identified as the suspect, a search warrant was executed at his residence in the 10,000 block of U.S. Highway 280 West in Auburn.

During the search, investigators said they recovered the tactical vest with the Lee County Sheriffs patch, several semi-automatic rifles equipped with suppression devices and a cell phone used by Johnson.

Johnson was arrested and charged with one count of terroristic threats and one count of impersonating a police officer. He is being held in the Lee County jail on a $103,000.00 bond, according to the release.

Deputies said additional charges are expected.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
Shinhwa Auto USA has begun clearing land for its new 483,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Auburn Technology Park West. The project comes as the Auburn City Council voted last week to approve Shinhwa moving forward with its expansion. The new facility is part of a $78 million growth project and will create 42 jobs over the next three years.

The new plant will sit directly across the street from Shinhwas current facility on West Technology Lane in Auburn. This will be the companys second major expansion since opening in Auburn in 2019.

The new facility is expected to expand output for aluminum parts and help meet future demand for electric vehicle production. Shinhwa supplies parts to both Hyundais assembly plant in Montgomery, and Kias plant in West Point, Georgia.

Kwi-Hyun Lee, founder and CEO of the Shinhwa Group said: This increased capacity will give us the ability to provide greater support for the electric vehicle market here in the U.S.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivy announced the companys plans for expansion back in May of this year.

This is a great example of the constant innovation and advancements in manufacturing  particularly in the automotive sector  right here in Alabama, Ivy said in at the time. With this expansion, Shinhwa will have invested over $190 million and created more than 185 well-paying jobs since choosing Auburn as their first U.S. location. Congratulations to Shinhwa on another successful expansion!

Since Shinhwa opened its first facility in Auburn three years ago, it has steadily increased its capacity to support both electric and combustion engine vehicle manufacturing in the United States. In November 2021, the company announced the addition of high-pressure aluminum die casting and post processing equipment. That was a $42 million expansion project.

Were thrilled to see the success and growth Shinhwa has experienced in a few short years here in Auburn, Auburn Mayor, Ron Anders recently said. The company has been a great addition to our high-tech manufacturing base, and we look forward to seeing Shinhwas impact grow along with its footprint.

Shinhwas original Auburn Technology Park West facility was their first U.S. location.

Shinhwa was founded in Changwon, South Korea, in 1995.
Nearly three in five American voters, or 57%, support the releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as a means to lower domestic gasoline prices, a new Morning Consult/Politico survey found on Wednesday.

70% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans support the SPR releases.

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.

Other measures to reduce gasoline prices have even more support, according to the survey conducted at the end of last week among a representative sample of 2,005 registered voters. For example, a ban on price gouging is the most popular measure among voters, with 76% of all voters approving it.

The survey also found that among several measures to reduce gasoline prices, Republicans have high levels of support for boosting U.S. crude oil supply, while Democrats favor the targeting of oil companies. Republicans are most supportive of domestic supply policies, such as asking domestic producers to pump more oil (77%) and opening up public lands for drilling (76%).

Democrats, on the other hand, support very much going after companies by banning price gouging and asking oil majors to lower prices. Four in 5 Democrats support this measure, according to the survey.

The least popular measure among all voters is the U.S. asking producers such as Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela to pump more oil, with support from only 46% of voters, including 36% of Republicans and 58% of Democrats.

Meanwhile, 83% of likely U.S. voters are concerned about the high gasoline and home heating fuel prices, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports nationwide survey from last week. According to the poll, 46% say President Biden has done a poor job in energy policy, and 38% deem the policy good or excellent. Among likely Republican voters, 72% say Biden has done a poor job of handling energy policy, compared to 20% who rate his job in the sector as excellent or good.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The outcomes of gubernatorial races and elections of commissioners at a utility regulator could change the energy policies of several U.S. states after the midterm elections on November 8.

Renewables regulations and targets in Maryland, Oregon, and Arizona could see U-turns in energy policies, depending on the outcome of the elections next month. These policies could matter more for those states than who controls the House and Senate in Washington D.C., Reuters notes.

In Maryland, the frontrunner to be the next Governor, Wes Moore, promises to Ensure that Maryland generates 100% clean energy by 2035 by reducing energy consumption and the burden on the grid, supercharging investments in wind and solar developments, and investing in battery storage research and development to quickly bring new technologies to market.

In Oregon, a Democratic stronghold that hasnt had a Republican governor in 40 years, Republican candidate Christine Drazan is slightly ahead of Democratic candidate Tina Kotek in the polls. Drazan promises to rescind the cap-and-trade emissions program on her first day in office if elected.

Arizona is electing two of the five commissioners sitting on the utility regulator, the Arizona Corporation Commission. The commission is currently controlled 3-2 by Republican commissioners.

The Democratic candidates, Lauren Kuby and Sandra Kennedy, are running to ensure utilities invest in proven clean energy resources that protect your wallet, Kuby wrote in The Arizona Republic last week. Kennedy and Kuby say that distributed solar plus storage, electric vehicles, and energy efficiency incentives are the future of energy for Arizona.

Republican candidate Kevin Thompson pledges to fight to eliminate mandates and subsidies, which, he says, have the single largest impact on driving up our rates.

I will fight to keep Green New Deal and California-style energy policies out of Arizona, says Thompson.

Arizona has the opportunity to lead the west in energy independence, and the Commission's job is to help clear the regulatory path for new technologies that can make us energy independent, like micro-nuclear, the Republican candidate adds.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Supply of piped gas from Russia to Europe has plunged since the beginning of this year.

Europe has been working hard to wean itself off Russian energy commodities ever since the latter invaded Ukraine.

Whereas supplies of Russian pipeline gas--the bulk of Europes gas imports before the Ukraine war--are down to a trickle, Europe has been hungrily scooping up Russian LNG Europe has been working hard to wean itself off Russian energy commodities ever since the latter invaded Ukraine. The European Union has banned Russian coal and plans to block most Russian oil imports by the end of 2022 in a bid to deprive Moscow of an important source of revenue to wage its war in Ukraine.

But ditching Russian gas is proving to be more onerous than Europe would have hoped for. Whereas supplies of Russian pipeline gas--the bulk of Europes gas imports before the Ukraine war--are down to a trickle, Europe has been hungrily scooping up Russian LNG. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the blocs imports of Russian liquefied natural gas jumped by 41% Y/Y in the year through August.

Russian LNG has been the dark horse of the sanctions regime, Maria Shagina, research fellow at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, has told WSJ. Importers of Russian LNG to Europe have argued that the shipments are not covered by current EU sanctions and that buying LNG from Russia and other suppliers has helped keep European energy prices in check.

Source: WSJ

LNG Deluge

Maybe Europes LNG imports from Russia can be justified on a purely economic basis.

Natural gas prices in Europe have plunged over the past few weeks with CNBC reporting that a Wave of LNG tankers is overwhelming Europe in an energy crisis and hitting natural gas prices. According to MarineTraffic via CNBC, 60 LNG tankers, or ~10% of the LNG vessels in the world, are currently sailing or anchored around Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Iberian Peninsula. Such vessels are considered floating LNG storage since they cannot unload, something that is impacting the price of natural gas and freight rates.

Related: Oil Stocks Are Increasingly Disconnected From Prices



Its a fair bet that a good chunk of those vessels originated from the United States.

Europes natural gas demand has skyrocketed as the EU tries to lower its reliance on Russian natural gas following its invasion of Ukraine. Europe has displaced Asia as the top destination for the U.S. LNG, and now receives 65% of total exports. The EU has pledged to reduce its consumption of Russian natural gas by nearly two-thirds before the years end while Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have vowed to eliminate Russian gas imports outright. Unlike pipeline gas, supercooled LNG is much more flexible and can be shipped from far-flung regions, including the U.S. and Qatar.

Europe is not alone here. Shipping data has revealed that China has imported nearly 30% more gas from Russia so far this year, typically at a steep discount.

Thankfully, theres a clear upside to imports of Russian LNG to Europe: the continent has managed to fill its gas stores well ahead of schedule, with Reuters gas meter revealing that 93.8% of the EU gas storage is currently filled.

Financing Putins war machine

Still, its hard to argue that buying Russian LNG even in relatively small quantities is not playing a part in financing Putins war machine. Although Russian LNG has accounted for just 8% of the European Union and U.K.s gas imports since the start of March, the trade runs counter to the EUs efforts to deprive Russia of fossil-fuel revenue.

A lot of blame falls on Switzerland, with 80% of Russian raw materials traded via the Central European nation and its nearly 1,000 commodity firms. Switzerland is an important global financial hub with a thriving commodities sector despite the country being far from all the global trade routes and without access to the sea; no former colonial territories and without any significant raw materials of its own. In fact, Oliver Classen, media officer at the Swiss NGO Public Eye, says that "this sector accounts for a much larger part of the GDP in Switzerland than tourism or the machinery industry." According to a 2018 Swiss government report, commodity trading volume reaches almost $1 trillion ($903.8 billion).

Deutsche Welle has reported that 80% of Russian raw materials are traded via Switzerland, according to a report by the Swiss embassy in Moscow. About a third of it are oil and gas while two-thirds are base metals such as zinc, copper and aluminum. In other words, deals signed on Swiss desks are directly facilitating Russian oil and gas to continue flowing freely.

This definitely is a big deal considering that gas and oil exports are the main source of income for Russia, accounting for 30 to 40% of the Russian budget. In 2021, Russian state corporations earned around $180 billion (163 billion) from oil exports alone.

Again, unfortunately, Switzerland has been handling its commodities trade with kid gloves.

According to DW, raw materials are often traded directly between governments and via commodities exchanges. However, they can also be traded freely, and Swiss companies have specialized in direct sales thanks to an abundance of capital.

In raw materials transactions, Swiss commodity traders have adopted letters of credits or L/Cs as their prefered instruments. A bank will give a loan to a trader and as collateral receive a document making it the owner of the commodity. As soon as the buyer pays the bank, the document and thus ownership of the commodity are transferred to him/her. What this does, in effect, is grant traders more credit without checking their creditworthiness, while the banks get the commodity value as security.

This is a prime example of transit trade, where only the money flows through Switzerland but actual raw materials usually do not touch Swiss soil. Thus, no details about the magnitude of the transaction land on the desk of the Swiss customs authorities leading to highly imprecise information about the flow volumes of raw materials.

"The whole commodities trade is under-recorded and underregulated. You have to dig around to collect data and not all information is available," Elisabeth Burgi Bonanomi, a senior lecturer in law and sustainability at Bern University, has told DW.

Obviously, the lack of regulation is very appealing to commodity traders--especially those that deal with raw materials mined in non-democratic countries such as the DRC.

"Unlike the financial market, where there are rules for tackling money laundering and illegal or illegitimate financial flows, and a financial market supervisory authority, there is currently no such thing for commodity trading," financial and legal expert at Public Eye David Muhlemann told the German broadcaster ARD.

But dont expect things to change any time soon.

Calls for a supervisory body for the commodities sector based on the model of the one for the financial market by the likes of Swiss NGO Public Eye and Swiss Green Party proposal have so far failed to bear fruit. Thomas Mattern from the Swiss People's Party (SVP) has spoken out against such a move, insisting that Switzerland should retain its neutrality, "We do not need even more regulation, and not in the commodities sector either."

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
On October 10, Hungary and Serbia agreed to build a new pipeline segment that would ensure Russian oil deliveries to Serbia.

In less than two months, the European Union is expected to cut about 90 percent of oil imports from Russia. The decision was announced back in May as a part of a sanctions package that was adopted in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

While Serbia has not joined these sanctions, this measure will likely have an impact on its oil supplies as well.

Heres a look at how they will be affected.

According to 2021 data, Serbia produces about 20 percent of the oil it needs and imports the rest (about 80 percent) -- mostly from Iraq. Russia is the second biggest supplier, delivering almost one-quarter of the oil imported to Serbia.

Currently, Russian oil gets to Serbia via Croatia. It goes from the Omisalj Terminal to an oil refinery in Pancevo via the JANAF pipeline. However, the deliveries will likely stop as all seaborne oil imports to the EU (including Croatia) will be banned as of December 5.

While tankers with Russian oil will no longer be allowed to deliver to the EU, the oil will probably still come to several European countries via Druzhba -- one of the largest oil pipeline networks.

Germany and Poland are expected to stop buying Russian oil from the pipeline by the end of this year. However, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic were given temporary exemptions for these deliveries so that they would have more time to cut their dependency on Russia.

As previously mentioned, Serbia is also dependent on Russian resources. Therefore, the country has recently intensified its energy cooperation with Hungary. In June, for example, they signed an agreement, which provided Serbia with additional space for gas storage. Earlier this month, Hungary also said it was ready to help Serbia with gas supplies if needed.

Recently, the two countries decided to take their cooperation to another level. On October 10, Hungary and Serbia agreed to build a new pipeline segment that would ensure Russian oil deliveries to Serbia by connecting the country to the Druzhba pipeline.

As an alternative, Serbia is considering building a pipeline that would pass through North Macedonia and go to the port of Durres in Albania.

The pipeline segment from Pancevo to Skopje would be about 400 kilometers long and another 300 kilometers would be needed to connect it from there to Durres. That would be much longer than the pipeline through Hungary (which is expected to be 128 kilometers long), but would allow for the further diversification of oil resources.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
It will take Lebanon a significant amount of time to explore and develop the Qana field, but establishing the maritime border is an important first step for a country in an economic crisis.

Earlier this month, Lebanon and Israel came to an agreement over their maritime border that will open up natural gas fields to both countries and improve stability in the region.

Israel and Lebanon announced earlier this month that they had come to an agreement over their maritime border, a historic step in diplomacy that should help boost the natural gas output of both countries. As the world battles gas shortages going into the winter months, this deal provides a ray of hope for global energy markets in the future. The most recent negotiations, led by the U.S., had been taking place over several months, with the impetus for a deal beginning in 2020. The final agreement is expected to strengthen Israels security, inject billions into Israels economy, and ensure the stability of our northern border, according to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Meanwhile, Lebanons president, Michel Aoun, stated that the deal satisfies Lebanon, meets its demands, and preserves its rights to its natural resources.

It appeared last minute as if the deal might not pass as Israel was prepared to reject Lebanons final draft of the agreement. However, due to mounting pressure to pass a deal before Aoun steps down at the end of October, and elections take place in Israel on 1st November, the two rival states came to an agreement. Lebanons powerful Shia group, Hezbollah, is also backing the agreement due to the countrys dire economic situation. However, the maritime border agreement should not be conflated with a peace agreement, which still appears a long way off.

Israel will now be able to produce natural gas from the Karish maritime reservoir, which, along with the Tanin field, is believed to hold 2 to 3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 44 million barrels of liquids. This is a shift, as Lebanon previously held claim to part of the Karish field. European and North American powers are eager for Israeli production to begin in the field, to alleviate the pressures of global gas shortages. Meanwhile, Lebanon will exploit Qana, the neighboring field. Several TotalEnergies representatives have traveled to Beirut to discuss the immediate exploration and development of the gas field.

Maha Yahya, director of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Centre is hopeful of what the deal represents, The agreement means that both countries now have vested economic interests in maintaining calm along their common border regions. Prime Minister Lapid is also optimistic that the deal will promote greater regional stability. Heiko Wimmen, project director for Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon at Crisis Group, explained the significant change the agreement has brought about for Israel, If it had come to conflict, their entire [gas field] infrastructure would have been under threat. He added, This scenario is now off the table. So of course, that's a significant win in security terms.

Related: Survey: 57% Of U.S. Voters Support SPR Releases To Lower Gasoline Prices

While the deal marks significant progress in the relations between the two countries, experts have been quick to criticize the deal due to certain undefined terms leaving space for ambiguity. While Lebanon will be given production rights in the Qana field, Israel will be entitled to a share of the royalties through an agreement with TotalEnergies, as the field crosses the maritime border into Israeli waters.

The agreement does not stipulate the share of profit distribution that Israel will receive from Qana, which could lead to further disagreements in the future. The deal states: Israel shall work with the Bloc 9 Operator in good faith to ensure that this agreement is resolved in a timely fashion. Essentially, Lebanons development of Qana requires Israel to come to an agreement with Total before it can proceed. This comes at a time when Lebanon is facing severe energy shortages that have led to long blackout periods as it tackles a major financial crisis.

While the development of a Lebanese gas field is expected to support financial recovery, it will take a significant amount of time to explore and develop Qana, with revenues unlikely to be seen until around 2030, and at nowhere near the amount needed to pull Lebanon out of its $100 billion debt. There is no clear picture of how much gas is in Qana but estimates value it at around $3 billion, which could bring Lebanon revenues of between $100 and $200 million a year.

Mike Azar, an analyst and former lecturer at John Hopkins, believes the deal was ultimately much more profitable for Israel. What Lebanon got was avoiding problems it can't afford to deal with right now. Based on Lebanons precarious political and economic situation at present, security is something that should not be overlooked, even if its oil and gas profits may come further down the road.

The new Israel-Lebanon maritime border deal has enabled the two powers to set clear boundaries and better understand the potential for their energy industries going forward. While Israel may be the winner in the short term, the agreement provides a better roadmap for Lebanese gas and the potential for greater foreign investment in the country.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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The immediate aftermath of the 1973/74 oil embargo in which Saudi Arabia led its OPEC brothers to block oil exports to the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Canada, and the Netherlands - causing oil prices to spike from around US$3 per barrel (pb) to nearly US$11 pb and stoking the fire of a global economic slowdown in the West  was that geopolitical relations between the two sides would never be the same again. The architect of this watershed moment in the history of the global oil sector, Saudi Arabias then-Minister of Oil and Mineral Reserves, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, himself highlighted that the embargo marked a fundamental shift in the world balance of power between the developing nations that produced oil and the developed industrial nations that consumed it. From that point in 1974 when the oil embargo ended, the U.S. clearly understood that it could no longer trust Saudi Arabia, that the cornerstone 1945 agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia was no longer valid, and that it needed to end any dependence it had on Saudi Arabia as soon as possible, as analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets. The opportunity to do so came with the rise of the U.S.s shale oil industry, which  recognising the danger to its power that is solely centred on oil  Saudi Arabia has sought to stymie through two further oil price wars, one that ran from 2014 to 2016, and the next that occurred in the first half of 2020. U.S. President Joe Biden has since throttled back on the further development of the U.S. shale oil industry, preferring instead to embrace unclear transition plans to a greener energy future. However, with Saudi Arabias clear attack again on the U.S.s economic and political interests, in the shape of the 2 million barrel per day (bpd) collective cut in oil production by itself and its OPEC brothers, it appears that the blinkers have been removed from the U.S. President, and moves are afoot again to allow the U.S. to cut all ties to Saudi Arabia, and leave it at the mercy of other regional and global powers. Related: Gas Price Crisis Overshadows A Crisis In Oil Prices

Having been humiliated, both as the president of the U.S., and as a man, first by Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) refusing to even take a telephone call from him during which he was to ask for help in bringing economy-wrecking high oil prices down, and then by MbS doing the direct opposite to what he asked for during his personal visit to Saudi Arabia in July, Biden has three key strategies in place to lower oil prices. The first of these is the enactment of the No Oil Producing or Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) bill  that has been covered by me in OilPrice since 2019 - but was fired up again in the aftermath of the extraordinary oil production cut by OPEC. Analysed again in full in the last two weeks, it is sufficient to say here that if and when the Bill is enacted, then Saudi Aramco would either have to be broken up into much smaller constituent companies that are not capable of influencing the oil price, thus reducing the companys net worth to zero overnight, or face the full force of the U.S.s antitrust laws, and similar laws from all of the U.S.s allies. In addition to all of this, the NOPEC Bill immediately removes all sovereign immunity that presently exists in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for its individual member states  including, Saudi Arabia. According to legal sources in Washington familiar with the legislation and spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, this would open up Saudis US$1 trillion or so of assets in the U.S. to be seized in lawsuits relating to a range of allegations, including Riyadhs role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

The other two elements of Bidens new Saudi strategy are designed not directly to destroy the power of its flagship company, Saudi Aramco, or MbS, quickly but rather in a slower fashion - the death of a thousand (oil price) cuts, it might be said  so that oil rests in the US$40-75 pb of Brent range that the U.S. historically sees as optimal for the economies of itself and its allies. The first of these elements will be the continuation of releases of crude oil from the U.S.s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), according to comments from the U.S. Department of Energy in recent days. In line with the previous regular SPR releases instigated to bring oil prices down, there will be the last in this series of releases for delivery in December, with up to 15 million barrels of crude being sold from the SPR. Such releases will not end with the current program, though, according to senior Biden administration officials on 18 October, with Biden himself stating: Ive told my team behind me here to be prepared to look for further releases in the months ahead if needed, Were calling it a ready and release plan. This allows us to move quickly to prevent oil price spikes and respond to international events. Although other factors have been at play at one time or another since Russias invasion of Ukraine sparked the early oil price spikes, the historic 1 million bpd release from the U.S.s SPR over a six-month period has been remarkably effective in dampening down oil prices from the US$100+ pb levels that they might otherwise have been. Related: Macron Lashes Out At United States Over Double Standard Energy Policies

The third element of the plan to bring oil prices down is to be a concerted effort to encourage U.S. oil firms, shale or otherwise, to increase their production. Back in March, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said that Bidens administration had already started taking steps that should result in a significant increase in domestic energy supply by the end of this year. Progress on those efforts has been slowed by the cascade of other events surrounding Russias ongoing war against Ukraine, but Granholms comments did underline that the green energy rhetoric of Bidens early presidency was beginning to make way for action based on the cold hard fact that high oil and gas prices damage the U.S. economically and are catastrophic for the re-election chances of sitting presidents and their parties. According to Granholm in March, the U.S. was working to identify at least 3 million bpd of new global oil supply, with assurances from several high-level oil and gas executives that their companies were set to dramatically increase investments and bring online new rigs.

A fourth element of the plan as announced last week, although the least likely to succeed in any meaningful way given the resistance of Western oil companies to the notion of windfall taxes in any guise, is to pressure oil companies to pass savings on to consumers. The profits that energy refining companies are now capturing on every gallon of gas is about double what it typically is at this time of year, and reseller margins over the refinery price are more than 40 percent above typical level, a Biden administration official said. The president will reiterate that outsized profit margins are inappropriate, especially at a time of war, and will call on companies to pass their savings through to consumers, he added.



By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

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BlackRock said it had raised $4.5bn (3.97bn) for a new climate infrastructure fund today as it looks to ramp up investment in the net zero transition amid criticism of its decision to continue backing oil and gas firms.

The worlds biggest asset manager, which has around $8tn under its stewardship, said it had secured backing from public and private pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies and family offices for the new fund  Global Infrastructure Fund IV.

The investor is set to target five sectors with the new capital  energy, low carbon power, transport and logistics, regulated utilities, and digital infrastructure  as it looks to cash in on the global push towards decarbonisation. It is aiming for a total $7.5bn raise with the new cash, after its previous infrastructure fund bagged $5.1bn in 2020.

The new fundraise comes amid criticism of the investor over its stance on fossil fuels and refusal to stop ploughing cash into coal, oil and energy projects.

Speaking to the Environmental Audit select committee last week in parliament, the firm refused to stop backing oil and gas firms and said its role was not to engineer a specific decarbonisation outcome in the real economy.

When asked by the committee whether it would support a net-zero scenario that called for no new investment is needed in coal, oil, and gas, BlackRock said: No.

The firm said it expected to remain long-term investors on behalf of clients in carbon-intensive sectors and that its fundamental role was as a fiduciary to our clients.

BlackRock is a signatory of the UNs Net Zero Asset Managers alliance  part of the Glasgow Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero  causing some campaigners to criticise its decision and question the criteria of the agreement.

This begs the question of what the criteria to be a member of Gfanz is. Financial institutions shouldnt be investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure as this is not compatible with the aims of the Paris agreement [on the climate], Ben Caldecott, director of the UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment, told the FT.

By CityAM

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The British oil and gas industry was dealt a blow on Wednesday after the newest Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would reinstate a ban on fracking in England, according to the Financial Times citing a senior government insider.

Sunaks predecessor, who survived in office for just 45 days, lifted Englands ban on fracking in September as one of her first actions as Prime Minister and campaigned on the prospect of increasing oil drilling in the North Sea and boosting nuclear power. Former PM Liz Truss said that her number one priority was to deal with peoples energy bills, but also dealing with the long-term issues we have on energy supply.

The former Prime Minister was asked to step down following a failed mini-budget attempt, paving the way for Sunak to take her place. But Sunaks views on the oil and gas industry couldnt be more different than his predecessors.

Just a day before Liz Truss resigned in her role as UK Prime Minister, the opposition party attempted to re-ban fracking but failed. But the vote showed cracks in the support for fracking when as many as 40 Conservative Party MPs either failed to vote or voted against the party. While Truss had lifted the ban on fracking, her successor Rishi Sunak said this week that he would deliver on the promise of the Conservative Party manifesto, which imposed a moratorium on fracking back in 2019 when oil and gas companies failed to prove that they could operate without inducing tremors above a specific limit.

In part, the Conservative Party manifesto reads: We placed a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect. Having listened to local communities, we have ruled out changes to the planning system. We will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.

A recent poll by Stack Data Strategy showed that 39% of UK adults would support fracking.

Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has lashed out at Valero, which this week reported another financially strong quarter, saying the company was ripping off Californians by selling fuels at higher prices.

In a statement, Newsom said that Big oil is ripping Californians off, hiking gas prices and making record profits. As Valero jacked up their profits by over 500% in just a year, Californians were paying for it at the pump instead of passing down those savings.

Thats why were taking action to implement a price gouging penalty to put these profits back in the pockets of Californians, Governor Newsom said.

This is not the first time Californias governor has accused fuel retailers and the oil industry as a whole of taking advantage of customers. Earlier this month, Newsom said in another statement that While crude oil prices are down, oil companies have increased gas prices in California by a record 84 cents per gallon in just the last 10 days.

Meanwhile, oil companies have raked in unprecedented profits on the backs of hard-working Californians  nearly $100 billion in the last three months alone, he said. Oil companies have failed to provide an explanation for the unprecedented divergence between prices in California compared to the national average.

In the same statement, Newsom called for a windfall tax on the industry to ensure excess oil profits go back to help millions of Californians who are getting ripped off.

Newsom is currently campaigning for re-election, with the midterms coinciding with third-quarter profit season. This means there will likely be more attacks on the oil industry and threats of windfall profits, Bloomberg noted in a report this week.

Meanwhile, to address runaway prices, Newsom ordered an early start to winter-blend gasoline production, which is cheaper to produce than the summer blend.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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U.S. oil and gas major Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) has announced on Wednesday that it has made two more discoveries at the Sailfin-1 and Yarrow-1 wells in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana, bringing discoveries on the block to more than 30 since 2015.

Exxon revealed that the Sailfin-1 well was drilled in 4,616 feet of water and encountered 312 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone, while the Yarrow-1 well was drilled in 3,560 feet of water and encountered 75 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone.

Exxon did not disclose how much crude oil or gas it estimates the new discoveries to contain, but hiked a previous output forecast for the third quarter from older discoveries in the region.

The company says it has ramped up development and production offshore Guyana at a pace that "far exceeds the industry average, Exxons two sanctioned offshore Guyana projects, Liza Phase 1 and Liza Phase 2, are now producing above design capacity and have already achieved an average of nearly 360K bbl/day of oil. The supermajor expects total production from Guyana to cross a million barrels per day by the end of this decade.

Exxon said a third project, Payara, is expected to launch by year-end 2023 while a fourth project, Yellowtail, could kick off operations in 2025.

Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek block where it holds a 45% interest while partners Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES) and Cnooc (OTCPK: CEOHF) hold a 30% and 25% interest, respectively. Exxons oil and gas production are well below record levels, averaging 3.7M boe/day at midyear, in-line with last year but nearly 9% below 4.1M boe/day set in 2016.

XOM stock is currently trading at all-time highs having gained nearly 70% YTD, while its market cap of $442.3B makes it the world's 10th most valuable publicly traded company. Exxon is expected to report another strong quarter when it discloses Q3 results on October 28, with IBES Refinitiv estimating the company will report a record $54.8B annual profit this year.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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A wind farm is being dismantled in western Germany to make way for an expansion of an open-pit lignite coal mine in a paradoxical situation highlighting the current prioritization of energy security over clean energy in Europes biggest economy.

The dismantling of at least one wind turbine at the wind farm close to the German coal mine Garzweiler, operated by energy giant RWE, has already started. RWE says that lignite, or brown coal, has been mined from the Garzweiler coalfields for over 100 years.

RWE also said at the end of September that three of its lignite-fired coal units that were previously on standby would return to the electricity market on schedule in October.

The three lignite units each have a capacity of 300 megawatts (MW). With their deployment, they contribute to strengthening the security of supply in Germany during the energy crisis and to saving natural gas in electricity generation, RWE said last month.

Now the company is expanding the lignite mine at Garzweiler after a court in Munster in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia ruled in favor of the energy group in a land dispute in March this year to expand the lignite mine.

Commenting on the dismantling of wind turbines to make way for expanding a coal mine, Guido Steffen, a spokesperson for RWE, told the Guardian, We realise this comes across as paradoxical.

But that is as matters stand, Steffen added.

Earlier this week, the ministry for economic and energy affairs of the state of North-Rhine Westphalia urged RWE to abandon the plan to dismantle the wind farm.

In the current situation, all potential for the use of renewable energy should be exhausted as much as possible and existing turbines should be in operation for as long as possible, a spokesperson for the states ministry told the Guardian.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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The worlds biggest chemicals company, Germany-based BASF, will seek permanent cost-saving measures in Europe due to the high energy prices endangering its competitiveness, chief executive Martin Brudermuller said on Wednesday.

In comments accompanying BASFs third-quarter results release, Brudermuller said, Uncertainties due to the enormous number of regulations planned by the E.U. are weighing on the chemical industry.

These challenging framework conditions in Europe endanger the international competitiveness of European producers and force us to adapt our cost structures as quickly as possible and also permanently. We, as a company, must act now, Brudermuller said.

Our cost savings program aims to safeguard our medium- and long-term competitiveness in Germany and Europe. We must take decisive action to fulfill our responsibilities to our employees, shareholders and society.

BASF has now become one of the most high-profile warning signs of European industry losing competitiveness in the long term due to the surge in energy costs in recent months.

Another chemicals giant, German polymer materials maker Covestro, also flagged high energy and raw material prices that weighed on its Q3 earnings.

Covestros business performance in the third quarter of 2022 was, as expected, strongly impacted by high energy and raw material prices in the face of the current European energy crisis, the company said on Tuesday.

European industries are slammed by soaring energy costs so much that they are curtailing or shutting down production, losing global market shares, and risking permanent damage to Europes competitiveness. Surging natural gas and electricity costs have resulted in a jump in operational costs for all industries, from steelmaking and car manufacturing to textiles and clothing. As manufacturers are curtailing, shutting down, or relocating production, they risk never reopening in Europe again, eroding the EUs competitiveness, including in the industries crucial for the energy transition, such as the metals sector.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Global oil trade flows are already realigning after the Western sanctions on Russian exports, as Russia places more crude in Asia while other producers send part of the volumes previously intended for Asia to Europe and other markets, according to Saudi Aramcos chief executive officer.

And crude that used to go to Asia is now being directed to Europe and other parts of the world, Aramcos CEO Amin Nasser said at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh on Wednesday, as carried by Bloomberg.

Realignment is happening, the top executive of the worlds largest oil firm said.

Russians, with the right discount, they are able to place their crude in different markets, he added.

Russia faces insurance and logistics issues, but it is working to overcome those with discounts on its crude, Nasser said.

Although it must travel longer distances, Russian oil is flowing increasingly to Asia. Meanwhile, crude oil from elsewhere that would have otherwise gone to Asia is now being shipped to Europe and other markets, he added.

China and India have significantly increased purchases of Russian crude since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China has always been a major customer of Russia, but India has never imported so much Russian oil as it did in the months following the invasion in February. China and India have become Russias key energy buyers after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as most Western countries shun, ban, or are about to embargo imports of Russian energy products.

In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up oil exports to China, India, and Turkey ahead of the EU embargo on imports of Russian crude starting on December 5.

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, according to Bloomberg estimates.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The World Bank has predicted that energy prices will decline by 11% in 2023 after having surged 60% in the current year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, the World Bank projected that Brent crude will average $92 a barrel in 2023 before easing to $80 in 2024--still well above the five-year average of $60.

According to the bank, both natural gas and coal prices will decline in 2023 from record highs in 2022, but U.S. natural-gas prices and Australian coal are still expected to be double their average over the last five years by 2024. Meanwhile, European natural gas prices could be nearly four times higher.

The WB further predicted that Russia's oil exports could drop by as much as 2 million barrels per day due to the EUs sanctions on Russian oil products, coupled with restrictions on insurance and shipping, due to take effect on Dec. 5.

Those projections appear to be in-line with a recent Moody's research report.

According to the report, industry earnings will stabilize overall in 2023, but remain below levels reached by recent peaks. The analysts note that commodity prices have declined from very high levels earlier in 2022, but have predicted that prices are likely to remain cyclically strong through 2023. This, combined with modest growth in volumes, will support strong cash flow generation for oil and gas producers.

Moodys estimates that the U.S. energy sectors EBITDA for 2022 will clock in at $623B but fall to $585B in 2023. The analysts say that low capex, rising uncertainty about the expansion of future supplies and high geopolitical risk premium will, however, continue to support cyclically high oil prices. Meanwhile, strong export demand for U.S. LNG will continue supporting high natural gas prices.

One particular standout from that report is how bullish the analysts are about the Oil Field Services (OFS) sector.

Rising demand for oilfield services (OFS) amid some growth in drilling and completion activity will continue to boost pricing power and will support material growth in earnings for OFS companies, the analysts wrote.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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German man pursues new career and love in Hainan

Xinhua) 10:00, October 26, 2022

HAIKOU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Mixing beer syrup, milk and espresso, Sebastian Hahn skillfully made a cup of beer latte which is a specialty drink of his cafe. "This tastes very special and I personally quite like it," he said.

Hahn, from Berlin, Germany, opened a cafe about 500 square meters in size with his Chinese girlfriend this June in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, embarking on a new career.

After graduating from Humboldt University of Berlin with a master's degree in 2011, Sebastian had a good job in Berlin, in charge of quality management in a company.

"I thought it's not what I wanted to do for my whole life," he said, "Why do only students go abroad and learn a new language? I can do it too." So he quit his job. Having considered going to Brazil, Vietnam or Japan, he finally decided to come to China.

"Hainan is the most southern part of China, and I wanted to have a life without winter," he said.

In 2014, Hahn traveled by train all the way from Berlin to China's Urumqi and then to Hainan. Originally, he planned to learn Chinese at Hainan University for one year. However, when he went back to Germany one year later he found that his Chinese was not good enough. He later returned to Hainan University and continued his language studies and pursued a master's degree in tourism management.

Hahn was diligent and managed to secure a Chinese government scholarship. "That was a very good opportunity and I'm very thankful," he said.

After graduation in 2020, Hahn met Tina, a Chinese girl. They fell in love with each other and Hahn decided to stay in Hainan.

"We had an idea to open a cafe, because we love coffee and we want to share our love for coffee with other people," he said.

It was not easy to transform their idea into reality. "We encountered a lot of difficulties because it's all new to us," said Hahn, adding that they had to learn everything from scratch, including how to design the counter and the kitchen.

To him, management is the biggest challenge. "Every day you have new problems and you need to solve them," he said. In addition to the challenges of management, business was also disrupted at times due to sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks.

"It was challenging but I think we have made the cafe really good," he said.

Compared to other cafes in Hainan, Hahn felt his was different. "We wanted to make our cafe not just a place to drink coffee, but also a place to enjoy, to make friends and to communicate," he said, noting that the second floor of the cafe had the potential to host cultural exchange events or English courses and even German language courses.

Hahn used to give free German lessons to those who wanted to learn at his home once a week, and is now planning to do it twice a week in his cafe.

"I'm not a teacher, but I like to share my knowledge and I really like to share more about my cultural background, so I really hope other people can have an opportunity to learn a foreign language," he said.

Hahn has lived in Hainan for eight years and is enjoying the life there. "I really like the weather because there's no winter, and people are very friendly here and on the street it's quite safe," he said.

He has also seen great changes on the island. "Hainan is developing very fast and it is opening up with more international universities to be founded here, so I think it's getting better and the environment for foreigners is also getting better," he said.

He thinks the construction of the Hainan free trade port is a very good opportunity for the island to become very famous globally, and attract more and more people, and feels that a more open Hainan will make it easier for everybody to live there.

"My future plan is to develop the cafe, and eventually to establish a cafe chain, so there's still a lot to do and it's not easy," he said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations. Hahn hopes relations between China and Germany will get better and better and that people from the two countries will have more exchanges so they can understand each other better.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Tanner Shere, a native of Bellevue, is serving the U.S. Navy aboard USS Ramage.

Shere attended Bellevue West High School and graduated in 2018. Shere said that the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Bellevue.

My mom was a Yeoman in the Navy, Shere said. I wanted to do something a little more exciting than that, but I still wanted to follow in her footsteps. Shes a role model to me.

Shere joined the Navy four years ago.

My favorite part of my job is anything can happen at any moment, Shere said. Any kind of casualty, such as fires, toxic gas, flooding can happen day or night. I respond to every one of them.

While serving aboard USS Ramage, Shere has been able to make connections with many other sailors.

I think on my ship the USS Ramage you connect with the people youre working with a lot because youre all going through the same experiences, Shere said.

USS Ramage is the 11th ship of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and the first U.S. Navy warship named to honor the life and service of World War II hero Vice Admiral Lawson Paterson Ramage. Several submarine-related facilities also bear his name, including Ramage Hall, the administrative building of the Submarine Training Facility in Norfolk, Virginia, and the headquarters building at Naval Submarine Base New London.

Shere has taken advantage of the opportunities the military provides.

Im proud of being the only person from Nebraska that was on the Ramage when it was the first ship that pulled into Beirut, Lebanon, in 30-40 years, Shere said. Its something that Ive done that a lot of people from home havent had the opportunity to do and I feel like I stuck out for that.

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Shere is part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who follow.

To me serving in the Navy means contributing to a greater good, Shere said. Making my family proud, I make my mom, my dad, my whole family proud by serving every day.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- China announced Wednesday that it has started giving its citizens a COVID booster that can be inhaled through the mouth.

The oral vaccine was distributed in Shanghai. A video appeared on Chinese state media, showing people holding a translucent white cup with a short nozzle to their mouths. Text accompanying the video said a person slowly inhaled the mist, held his breath for five seconds and was finished within 20 seconds, the Associated Press reported.

Advantages to an inhaled vaccine could include appealing to someone afraid of needles and the concept of priming the area of the body where the virus often enters.

Dr. Vineeta Bal, an immunologist in India, said large droplets would prime the mouth and throat. Small droplets would travel further into the body, the AP reported.

The vaccine was developed by Cansino Biologics, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, and is an aerosol version of the company's one-shot adenovirus vaccine. It was approved in September by Chinese regulators after completing trials in China, Hungary, Pakistan, Malaysia, Argentina and Mexico, the AP reported.

It was offered as a booster dose for people who had already received initial vaccines, according to an announcement posted on an official city social media account, the AP said.

An earlier nasal vaccine, developed in the United States, has been approved by regulators in India, but not distributed yet. It is licensed to Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech, the AP reported.

Other nasal vaccines are being tested globally, according to the World Health Organization.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19 vaccines.

SOURCE: Associated Press
HARTLAND  The six people found dead after an apartment fire in a southern Wisconsin village last week had been shot in an apparent case of murder-suicide, according to police.

The bodies of a couple and their four children were found early Friday after firefighters were called to their burning apartment in Hartland. The 10 remaining tenants in the four-unit building made it out safely.

Hartland Police Chief Torin Misko said Monday evening that all victims had one gunshot wound. Connor McKisick, a father and stepfather to the four children, had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Misko said.

The others who died are Jessica McKisick, a 14-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl and two 3-year-old boys, all of whom lived with Connor McKisick in one of the apartments. Police did not identify the children, but officials at the schools the girls attended said the older girl was Natalie Kleemeier and her younger sister Sofina Kleemeier.

Misko said all of those who died had a single gunshot wound. He said there is also evidence of an ignitable liquid in the apartment, where multiple guns were found.

"This is a tragic incident for the family of the deceased, for our first responders and for the Hartland community," Misko said.

The incident remains under investigation by Hartland police with assistance from the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office, State Fire Marshal and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

Hartland is a village of approximately 9,100 people about 26 miles west of Milwaukee.
Google Fiber is coming to Omaha.

An agreement approved Tuesday by the City Council will allow the company to offer its high-speed internet service to residential and small-business customers in Omaha.

The decision came despite concerns raised by Cox Communications during a public hearing on the agreement last week.

After extensive review, the city law department determined that a provision in state law limited the citys ability to generate revenue from the deal.

State lawmakers passed the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act in 2019 with the goal of encouraging the development of wireless communications networks across Nebraska, according to the legislation.

The acts language also prevents the City of Omaha from charging Google Fiber a gross revenue fee of 2%  an amount initially agreed upon by the company and the city.

Bernard in den Bosch, deputy city attorney, again affirmed Tuesday that the statute prohibits the city from collecting a tax, fee or rate on Google Fibers service. Hes confident that wasnt the intended goal of the statute.

Kim Rowell, a spokesperson with Cox Communications, raised concerns with the council over a franchise fee charged to Cox by the city that wouldnt be charged to Google Fiber.

Cox Communications built the first cable system in Omaha more than 40 years ago and has operated under a franchise agreement to provide cable television in Omaha.

Per its agreement, Cox provides the city a 5% franchise fee annually, which amounts to about $5 million a year, Rowell said.

A change in the state law, different interpretation of the statute or a court decision could offer some flexibility in charging a revenue fee, in den Bosch said.

Googles fiber network is currently in design with construction expected to begin in 2023. Service would become available in segments as the network is completed.
In a sign of the times, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse summed up his routine pre-Election Day report to the County Board Tuesday with a message about election security.

Voters in Douglas County should be assured and reassured that elections are safe, Kruse said Tuesday. Theyre secure. We have 100% confidence in our people, our procedures, our products. And when voters cast their vote, their voice is heard.

Kruse reiterated what he and Nebraska state election officials have said multiple times about recent elections in Omaha and across the state, including the 2020 presidential vote. Theyve been fair and accurate, with no evidence of significant fraud, and the officials are confident about the next election.

Kruse, a Republican appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts, and Chief Deputy Douglas County Election Commissioner Chris Carithers provided the update to the board about the Nov. 8 general election.

Kruse routinely uses the platform to give local voters news they can use as Election Day nears:

Friday at 6 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in Nebraska. Voters can still register by going in person to the Douglas County Election Commission office, 12220 West Center Road, in the Bel Air Plaza in Omaha.

Douglas County residents can go to www.votedouglascounty.com, type in their home address and see a sample ballot of exactly what theyre voting on, plus details about their polling place.

As of Oct. 3, Douglas County had 358,398 registered voters: 135,105 Democrats, 127,383 Republicans, 88,834 nonpartisans, 5,842 Libertarians and 1,234 Legal Marijuana NOW voters.

People can vote in one of three ways: by mail or drop box, early voting in person at the election commission office, or at their polling place on Election Day.

Early ballots have to be returned  with voters signatures in the appropriate places  by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks dont count. Its not recommended to put a ballot in the mail after Nov. 1.

The election commission has 13 secure drop boxes around Douglas County. For locations, check the map on the commissions website.

Kruse encouraged early voters to use the drop boxes. Theyre the most direct way to return ballots. Teams of election commission workers from two political parties empty the boxes daily.

The election commission office normally is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays but has extended hours on some days. It will be open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and Thursday, Nov. 3. It also will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the next two Saturdays  Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

But very little is routine about American elections these days, and questions always come back to election security and accuracy.

County Board Member Jim Cavanaugh, a Democrat, asked Kruse if any fraud had been found locally in the 2020 election. Kruse said no. He elaborated on some of the measures his office takes.

We have lots of checks and balances in place, Kruse said. We check signatures. We do an extensive canvass or audit process after the fact. We do tests before we use the machines and then we do hand counts on certain precincts and races that the secretary of state instructs us to do randomly.

An Omahan who frequently comments at local public meetings, Larry Storer, told the County Board Tuesday that he believes the 2020 election was stolen and that his faith in government, including locally, has been severely damaged.

That drew a strong reaction from Douglas County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson, a Republican and one of several board members from both parties who expressed their confidence in American elections.

This really frustrates the heck out of me, Borgeson said. There are very, very good people across this country ... that their sole job, like Brians job, is to make sure that their communities, their counties elections are safe and sound. This whole politics by fear, by conspiracy, by whatever you want to call it, has got to stop.

There are, Borgeson continued, good people working for the good of the American people.

She said she appreciated Kruses report to the board about how elections are run safely and securely in Douglas County.

And I really do, I mean every day I hope that we can get back to being the kind of country that we were before all this nonsense, Borgeson said.
The man charged with killing four people in Laurel in August has been discharged from the hospital and taken to jail, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

Jason Jones, 42, of Laurel was discharged Wednesday from St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, the patrol said.

Just after 3 a.m. Aug. 4, Cedar County 911 received a phone call reporting an explosion and fire at 209 Elm St. in Laurel. Inside, they found Michelle Ebeling, 53, who had been shot. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

While crews were at the scene of the first fire, another fire was reported at 503 Elm St. Fire crews and law enforcement officers who entered the home found three people dead: Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and Dana Twiford, 55, all of whom had been shot.

Officers said they found a pistol in the Twifords house. The weapons serial number was traced and linked to Jones.

Early on Aug. 5, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrols SWAT team served a warrant at Jones home, which is across the street from the first fire, and found him with significant burns. Jones was airlifted to St. Elizabeth, where he has been treated since.

Jones was taken Wednesday to the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln.

A judge in August set Jones bail at $5 million. He is charged with 10 felonies, including four counts each of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson.
LINCOLN  Three state agencies racked up some $28 million worth of overtime hours during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020, according to a legislative watchdog committee.

Thats on top of the $28 million and $23 million overtime totals that the Departments of Correctional Services, Health and Human Services and Transportation accumulated during the two prior years.

The Nebraska Legislatures Performance Audit Committee issued a report this week looking at overtime trends in the three agencies with the largest amount of overtime spending. The report was released without comments or recommendations from the committee.

However, it showed the agencies dependence on overtime to compensate for vacant positions and employee absences or to meet peak workload demands. Overtime spending accounted for up to 10% of the agencies personnel budgets.

The Performance Audit Committee requested a follow-up study looking at how raises negotiated last year have affected the trends. The raises targeted several front-line positions in corrections and HHS, which struggled with staffing even before the pandemic-driven labor shortages.

The Corrections Department, which operates nine prisons in five communities across Nebraska, relied the most heavily on overtime by most of the measures studied in the report.

Corrections spent more than twice as much on overtime each year than either of the two other agencies, with amounts increasing from $13 million in fiscal year 2017-18, the first year studied, up to $15.5 million in fiscal year 2019-20, the last year. Overtime accounted for about 10% of the agencys personnel budget.

The report also showed that 80% of the 2,300 corrections employees worked some overtime hours. Front-line workers, particularly corporals, unit caseworkers, officers, sergeants and unit case managers, accounted for the bulk of the time.

In corrections, three-quarters of employees added less than $10,000 to their paychecks through overtime. But 15 workers bulked up their salaries by $50,000 or more in at least one of the three years. The top earner, a unit case manager, collected $91,199 in overtime pay during the 2017-18 fiscal year.

HHS, the largest state agency, operates seven 24-hour facilities, including psychiatric hospitals, facilities for juvenile offenders and a center for people with developmental disabilities. Those facilities accounted for the bulk of the agencys overtime spending.

The agencys overtime grew from $5 million in the first year studied to $7.4 million two years later and amounted to 2% to 3% of the personnel budget, the report showed.

HHS had the largest number of employees  more than 2,200  working overtime in two of the years studied. But it also had the smallest percentages. Between 32% and 40% of the agencys 4,600 employees worked overtime, with most holding jobs on the front line in institutions.

While 93% of HHS employees earned less than $10,000 from overtime, four made about $50,000 or more. The top earner, a mental health security specialist, pulled in $69,217 in fiscal year 2019-20.

Transportation employees, who plan, build and maintain state roads and bridges, accumulated overtime largely because of seasonal work demands, such as construction projects, snow removal and responding to weather-related damage to the states highway system.

The agencys overtime spending was highest in the middle year  $6.6 million  and lowest in the first year  $4.9 million. It ranged from 5% to 6% of the personnel budget.

Between 61% and 70% of the agencys 2,000 employees worked overtime in the years studied, but 93% earned less than $10,000 from those hours. The top earner, a highway construction technician, brought in $39,688 from overtime in fiscal year 2018-19.
BLOOMINGTON  A Cook County man faces weapons charges in Bloomington.

Richard Jones, 19, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; violation of the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Act; possession of a stolen firearm; and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

In a probable cause statement, prosecutors said when Jones was taken into custody on Oct. 24, he was a rear passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop. During their investigation, police found an unloaded .45 caliber firearm under the seat in front of where Jones was seated, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors accused Jones of admitting to owning the gun, which police said was reported stolen out of Moultrie County.

Jones, of Worth, Illinois, is also charged with a misdemeanor for obstruction identification, accused of providing a false name when asked.

Jones was held Tuesday in lieu of posting $10,035. His arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 18.

A booking photo was not immediately available.
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago

Oct. 26, 1922: A survey of Bloomington charitable activities indicates a better economic situation than last year. Less relief has been sought, and there is no demand now for free food from the citys charities. Last year, there were heavy demands for help made upon those organizations, including the Bureau of Social Service, the Salvation Army and the Home Sweet Home City Rescue Mission. Many able-bodied persons last winter could not find work, but that is not the case this year. About half as many people have appeared for free shelter at the police station.

75 years ago

Oct. 26, 1947: Disregarding the superstition of the preceding Halloween holiday, Dr. Merrill J. Holmes will be inaugurated as the 13th president of Illinois Wesleyan University at 10 a.m. Nov. 1 in Presser Hall. Holmes will accept the presidency before 120 representatives of universities, colleges, educational associations and agencies of the Methodist church. He had been chosen by the board to succeed Dr. W.E. Shaw on Aug. 1, but he assumed the office immediately after Shaws death in February.

50 years agoOct. 26, 1972: Robert Tate, a retired insurance executive and developer, was elected chairman of the Bloomington-Normal Mass Transit Board of Trustees. Tate had been named temporary chairman of the board at its first meeting last week. The board had hoped to have a budget to operate on until its fiscal year begins April 1, but the interim budget has not been prepared. Bloomington City Manager Richard Blodgett and Normal City Manager David Anderson are working on the document as well as proposed bylaws.

25 years ago

Oct. 26, 1997: A three-busy convoy representing Central Illinois traveled to Philadelphia for the Million Woman March. Denise Davison, an assistant professor of social work at Illinois State University and organizer of the Bloomington-Normal contingent, said 51 people, ranging in age from 9 to 71, filled one bus, which joined with two others from Peoria. The convoy left the area early the day before the march to join the thousands of Black women gathering to shed light on concerns and issues important to them.
CHICAGO  When former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is arraigned by telephone next week on new federal conspiracy charges involving AT&T, someone will be conspicuously absent from the line.

Madigan himself.

Thats because a federal judge on Wednesday granted an unusual request by Madigans attorneys to waive his right to be present for the proceedings, where a formal not guilty plea will be entered on his behalf to a superseding racketeering indictment unveiled earlier this month.

The filing by attorneys Sheldon Zenner and Daniel Collins cited Rule 10(b) of federal criminal procedure, which provides that a defendant need not be present for an arraignment if the charges were brought by way of indictment, the accused waives the right to be present in writing, and the court agrees to it.

Attached to the filing was a one-page document signed by Madigan asserting hes pleading not guilty to each and every charge against me set forth in the superseding indictment and is aware that the judge will enter the pleas in his absence.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole granted the waiver after the U.S. attorneys office declined to take a position either way.

Its a loophole thats rarely been exploited at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse over the years, despite a seemingly endless parade of indicted politicians who undoubtedly would have jumped at the chance to avoid the media spotlight that an arraignment brings.

That goes double for Madigan, 80, who was famously reticent in his four decades at the helm of Illinois politics, keeping a tight-knit circle of advisors and even eschewing cell phones.

In fact, since the U.S. attorneys office first filed racketeering charges against Madigan eight months ago, the former Democratic powerhouse has not uttered a word in court, by telephone or otherwise, and has yet to even step foot in the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

But that could soon change. In December, longtime COVID-19 protocols at the building are set to be lifted, and many judges are expected to begin requiring parties  particularly criminal defendants  to appear in person rather than by phone.

The superseding indictment announced Oct. 14 accused Madigan and his longtime confidant, Michael McClain, of conspiring with executives and lobbyists at AT&T Illinois to funnel payments to a Madigan associate in exchange for the speakers help passing controversial legislation to end landline service for the companys 1.2 million customers.

The telephone giant has agreed to pay a $23 million fine as part of a deferred prosecution deal with prosecutors that would see the charges against the company dropped after two years.

Also charged as part of the investigation was Paul La Schiazza, former president of AT&T Illinois, who was accused of orchestrating and approving the payments. He pleaded not guilty by telephone last week.

Madigan, 80, and McClain, 75, were charged in March in the original 22-count indictment alleging they conspired to participate in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 that allegedly leveraged Madigans elected office and political power for personal gain.

The indictment also accused Madigan of illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.

Both Madigan and McClain have denied any wrongdoing. Their attorneys have accused prosecutors of trying to criminalize legal political actions such as job recommendations in a quest to bring down the once-powerful speaker.
It's just under two weeks until the votes are counted in the race for Illinois governor. But could Republican nominee Darren Bailey already be looking past it and toward the next election in 2024?

That's apparently the thought of some supporters of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, in Southern Illinois, who have distributed a flyer accusing Bailey of a "plan" to accumulate as many votes in Illinois' 12th Congressional District and use that as a springboard for a primary challenge of Bost in 2024. Bost faces Democrat Homer "Chip" Markel in the current election cycle.

The flyer, obtained by Lee Enterprises, says that "Bailey knows he cannot win the governors (sic) election because of liberal votes in crooked Chicago. So the plan is for Bailey to campaign as much as possible in Mike Bost's district and secure as many supporters and votes as possible so he can challenge Mike Bost in 2024.

"Mike has always been a friend of ours ever since he was a state representative," the letter continues. Though not encouraging a vote for Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the flyer explicitly asks voters not to vote for Bailey. "Keep Bailey's vote totals down in Mike's district," it concludes.

The letter was addressed to "Southern Illinois voters" and signed by "Friends of Mike." No other identifier was given and it is not clear how widespread the flyer's distribution was.

Were focused on firing JB Pritzker to make Illinois safer and more affordable for everyone and dont have time for gossip pieces," said Bailey spokesman Joe DeBose in response to the flyer.

Bost's campaign denied any involvement with its creation or distribution.

We know nothing about the origins of this flyer and had no role in its creation or circulation," said Bost campaign spokeswoman Alex Naughton. "Mike Bost strongly supports Darren Bailey in his race against J.B. Pritzker and was happy to share the stage with him at our GOTV rally in Effingham just last week. Mike is urging all Southern Illinois Republicans to get out and vote for GOP candidates up and down the ballot this November.

The flyer comes in the waning days of a gubernatorial campaign in which all sides acknowledge that Bailey, a state senator from Xenia, is behind Pritzker.

Though some internal Republican polling has shown a closer race, all public polling has had Pritzker with a double-digit lead in his bid for a second term.

Bailey has badly lagged behind the billionaire incumbent in fundraising, which has limited his ability to communicate with voters. Pritzker, on the other hand, has run television ads highlighting what he says are Bailey's "extreme" positions on issues like abortion and guns.

This has allowed Pritzker to define Bailey and drive down the downstate farmer's favorable ratings, which stood at 29% earlier this month, according to a Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ poll.

With that, the Republican faces an uphill climb to win.

Though a bizarre on its face, this is not the first time the scenario described in the flyer has been discussed in Republican circles.

After all, Bailey lives in the Southern Illinois-based congressional district and, if he loses the governor's race on Nov. 8, will be out of elected office in January.

With his high name recognition and significant grassroots following, Bailey would make for a formidable primary foe in the deeply conservative district.

And Bailey has a history of challenging incumbents. He defeated state Rep. David Reis, R-Ste. Marie, in the 2018 GOP primary, on his way to being elected to the Illinois House. This cycle, Bailey endorsed primary challengers against four incumbent lawmakers with mixed success.

Bost was elected to Congress in 2014, defeating incumbent Rep. Bill Enyart, D-Belleville. Prior to that, he served two decades in the Illinois House.

The congressman is perhaps most famous for an impassioned tirade on the Illinois House floor against House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2012 during a debate on pension reform.

Bost has been a reliably conservative vote in the House and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump the past few cycles.

If there is evidence Bailey is planning ahead, it's been scant.

For one, the vast majority of Bailey's campaign stops have been in suburban Chicago, according to a Chicago Tribune campaign trail tracker.

It's also where Bailey has been spending money  the campaign finally started airing television ads in the Chicago market earlier this month.

And the candidate's own mother donated $700,000 to the campaign in part to fund it. A fairly hefty personal investment  and one not likely to be made if the candidate wasn't serious about winning.

Still, if Bailey loses in a few weeks, it's not a possibility that can be dismissed out of hand.

Bailey debuts new ad

Bailey's campaign this week debuted an ad that appears to be a closing argument of sorts.

"I get it. To many of you, Im different. Im a working farmer who speaks with a downstate twang and buys my suits off the rack," Bailey said, wearing a vest over a collared dress shirt with corn stalks in the background. "But like you, I feel that taxes are too high, our streets arent safe and our education system is failing our kids."

"And after back-to-back billionaire governors, it just isnt working for us," he continues. "Its time we have a governor who understands families. I will put people first, not the elites. Lets fire Pritzker and take our state back."

The ad is somewhat self-deprecating, with Bailey poking fun at his accent and attire before running through some of the major issues in the campaign from crime to high cost of living.

It is far more positive ad than Bailey's first general election television ad, which sought to tap into voter anxiety over rising crime rates.

Budzinski, Deering trade barbs

After a relatively sleepy campaign, the race for Illinois' 13th Congressional District has heated up in the final weeks.

Republican Regan Deering, a Decatur philanthropist and community activist, has highlighted Democrat Nikki Budzinski's lucrative consulting gigs to portray the trade unionist as a political insider profiting off of government service.

Specifically, she's pointed to a Better Government Association report that found that Budzinski collected more than $500,000 in consulting fees in the 10 months after leaving her job as a senior adviser to Pritzker, including more than $100,000 from "dark money" organizations that don't disclose their donors. It also highlighted Budzinski's cozy relationship with a Springfield lobbyist.

"Elected representatives are supposed to represent the people and not themselves," Deering said at a Capitol press conference on Tuesday. "And she is clearly a political insider that is using her position to further her career."

Deering, acknowledging that Budzinski broke no laws, said that "she always seems to be just outside the door of corruption."

Budzinski, at an unrelated press conference Wednesday, said she has followed all state and federal ethics laws, accusing Deering of "running a desperate campaign trying to change the subject on the issues that matter most to working people."

To that end, Budzinski, at that presser, highlighted comments Deering made about Social Security and Medicare in an interview on WMAY radio last week.

In the interview, Deering said she's heard conversations about means testing, saying that "there are those in the upper limits of wealth that might be willing to sacrifice their benefits knowing that we could have a larger pot of money for those that need it and rely on it and will continue to be on a fixed income."

Budzinski implied and her campaign later put out a news release saying that Deering supports making cuts to these programs, a mischaracterization of the Republican's words.

Still, Budzinski did not back down when challenged by reporters, calling any conversation about means testing "a slippery slope."

"For someone that claims to be a political outsider, that's really political speak for cuts," Budzinski said. "That means cutting Social Security. That's a slippery slope for seniors that are living on a fixed income. It's opening a Pandora's box for seniors who have so much at stake."

The 13th has largely been off the national radar this cycle, but that could change in the final days of the campaign as Republicans continue to register momentum.
SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST  The first steps taken down Snake Road were not without trepidation.

Snakes have never been my favorite critters. Im well aware the fear is irrational. My mother was deathly afraid of snakes, and seeing her fearful reaction to these useful reptiles lives with me today.

Most of my life has been spent trying to avoid snakes whenever possible. Yet, last earlier this month, I found myself about to walk through one of the snakiest places in Southern Illinois, dare I say America.

Snake Road, located in the western part of the Shawnee National Forest  at the base of Inspiration Point in Jackson County  has drawn nationwide attention each spring and fall since at least 1972. That was the first year the Shawnee National Forest closed the gravel road between the bluffs of Larue-Pine Hills and the swamp below to protect the snakes from motorized traffic. This year, it is closed from Sept. 1 to Oct. 30.

I had visited Snake Road before. I had walked perhaps 100 yards down the road, seen a snake and called it a day. Walking the length of the road was not a prominent entry on my Bucket List. And, this trip was not my idea.

Two friends from high school, Bob Crow and Wayne Gehrs (and Bobs son, Andy), said they planned to walk the road earlier this month and wanted to know if Id accompany them. Fortunately, the desire to spend time with old friends overrode my ophidiophobia.

So, after meeting at the north parking lot, the journey began.

We didnt see any snakes for the first couple hundred yards, but we did meet several people returning to the parking lot. It was hard to miss the fact that everyone seemed to be having a good time and no one had a tourniquet affixed to their leg.

Each time someone walked by, Bob cheerfully asked, How many did you see?

The answers varied from six, to about a dozen. Everyone was in agreement that cottonmouths were the predominant species.

As fate would have it, we spotted a warmup species before the first snake sighting. Actually, another visitor pointed out a green tree frog to us. But it was just a few steps later that Wayne spotted a cottonmouth near the edge of the road, and another cottonmouth in the swamp below.

The snakes largely ignored us as we jockeyed for position to take photographs. The uneventful interaction with the snakes allayed my fears. A short time later we encountered a gentleman looking at a common water snake.

We walked over to take a quick look; again, confidence was growing.

Soon we spotted a cottonmouth basking in the middle of the road. After examining the critter from all angles, we moved on once again. Before the day was over we had encountered somewhere between 20 and two dozen snakes.

Most of the snakes ignored our presence, although a few gaped as we approached. Be assured, we gave them ample room.

Finally, as we neared the parking lot on the return trip, there was a man at the side of the road photographing the snake. He was excitedly telling everyone who passed by that the snake we were looking at was the rare Mississippi green snake.

While I had no reason to doubt the mans ID, I also lacked the knowledge to verify the species. So, I took a photograph which I sent to Scott Ballard, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources chief herpetologist. Ballard made a positive identification.

The snake is, indeed, one of the rarest in Illinois. Illinois is at the northern edge of its range. Ballard said Snake Road is the only place he is certain the species can be found.

The final sighting put a perfect cap on the day. It was fun. It was educational. And, I found myself more comfortable than seemed possible.

Ill go back  just not by myself.
On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 Members of Parliament within the governing New Patriotic Party were reported to have signed a petition demanding the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance minister.



The group, through a press conference, also demanded the removal of Charles Adu Boahen, who serves as a Minister of State at the finance ministry; a close ally of Ken Ofori-Atta.



The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.



The group added that should the president fail to heed to their call, they will no longer do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget.



The MP for Asante-Akim North, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the Majority Caucus, said that several concerns raised on economic management have been sent to government, but are all yet to yield the intended results.



In the wake of the development, some Ghanaians on social media have lauded the confidence of the majority MPs.



Although President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has on numerous occasions backed down against calls to change his finance minister, the pressure now appears to be mounting from within his own party.



Some citizens have also already concluded that the president would likely not dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta, basing their assumption on the close family ties Akufo-Ado has with the finance minister.



While this is yet to come to fruition, GhanaWeb Business has compiled a list of potential candidates who are likely to be the best replacements if Ken Ofori-Atta is taken off the job at the Ministry of Finance.



Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah



Dr Assibey-Yeboah is a former Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament. During his tenure as chair, he led many engagements toward sound economic indicators of government.



He has also earned himself a reputation for being an economic guru among his peers.



Prior to Ghana returning to the IMF, Dr Assibey-Yeboah warned of harsh economic conditions and therefore called on the government to resort to the Fund at an earlier time ahead of its July 1, 2022 decision.



He also cast doubts on the governments ability to raise the projected GH6.9 billion revenue target from the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), insisting they would not be able to realise the intended target  a prediction which came to be.



Dr. Assibey-Yeboah holds a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural Economics degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also holds an MS (Agricultural and Resource Economics) from the University of Delaware, USA.



He has earned an MA and a Ph.D. both in Economics from the University of Tennessee, USA specializing in International Macroeconomics, Monetary Economics and Econometrics.



Dr Assibey-Yeboah has worked in various capacities, locally and abroad. He has served as lecturer at the University of Tennessee, USA and worked in a similar capacity as an Adjunct Faculty at Milligan College, Tennessee-USA.



The former lawmaker has also served as a senior economist at the Bank of Ghana and has been a lecturer at the Ghana Telecom Technology University College and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).



Professor Gyan-Baffour



Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour is a Ghanaian development economist. He was in charge of the former Ministry of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.



He is credited for the introduction of Ghanas first Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism which was used for assessing the progress of national development and dubbed the 'Annual Progress Report'.



Despite the ministry no longer being in existence, the mechanism continues to be used in the monitoring and evaluation tool of Ghanas development agenda.



He also supervised the preparation of the Coordinated Program for the Economic and Social Development of Ghana (2002-2012), which is a constitutional requirement for the President of the Republic of Ghana.



Prof. Gyan Baffour is also credited for leading the team that prepared Ghanas first compact under the Millennium Challenge Account.



Prior to leaving for the USA to further his education, Prof. Baffour worked at the Ministry of Industrial Science and Technology from 1974 to 1984.



He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana and has served on various boards of institutions, including the Bank of Ghana.



He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Industrial Relations; a Post Doctorate diploma from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; an MA in economic policy from University of Wisconsin, Madison; a BSc. (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of Ghana.



With additional files from the Ministry of Planning



Kwame Pianim



Kwame Pianim is not a stranger when it comes to finance and economic management in Ghana.



The renowned economist is a management and investment consultant who has served in various capacities in government and the private sector.



He served as an Economic Research Officer of the United Nations-USA, from 1964 to 1970.



He was the Acting Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning from 1970 to 1972 and served as Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Aluminum Products Limited, Tema. He was also Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board from 1978  1979.



The veteran economist also served as the Chairman of Ghana Financial Services Limited at Bayport Financial Services Limited and was the Chairman of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC).



Kwame Pianim attended Achimota Secondary School and holds a B.A. Double Honors in Economics and Political Science from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (1963) and M.A. in Economics from Yale University (1964).



With additional files from the Chamber of Independent Power Producers



Dr. Ernest Addison



Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison is an economist and the 15th Governor of the Bank of Ghana.



He attended the Methodist College and the Mfantsipim School for his primary and secondary education. Dr. Addison then proceeded to the University of Ghana and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from 1982 to 1986.



From 1987 to 1989, he obtained an M.Phil in Economics and Politics from the University of Cambridge in England and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from McGill University in Canada.



Before he was appointed Governor of the BoG, Dr. Addison served as the former Director of Research at the Bank of Ghana from 2003 to 2011, as well as an Economist at the African Development Bank.



He specializes in financial policy and economic management.



















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.

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The digitalisation vision of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been vindicated after a report on financial inclusion in Africa named Ghana as the only country to have a 100% score.



The State of Inclusive Instant Payment in Africa Report put together by AfricaNenda and launched at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, found Ghana far ahead of her peers in regard to financial inclusion.



The 2022 State of Inclusive Payment in Africa report focused on inclusive instant payment systems in 12 African countries.



Ghana, remarkably, was the only country that scored 100% on access to financial inclusion.



Ghanas feat is due to the successful implementation of the mobile money interoperability (MMI) platform, a bedrock of Dr Bawumias digitalisation agenda and a policy he has been working on since 2007.



The mobile money interoperability MMI platform integrates all payments platforms across banks, fintechs and telcos, giving access to every Ghanaian to make and receive instant payments.



It is hosted on the Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements Systems (GhIPSS), which again, was the brainchild of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia during his time at the Bank of Ghana.



Speaking at the Mobile World Congress Africa, Chief Executive Officer of GhIPSSS, Archie Hesse, spoke on how the platform was gradually improved upon to get to its current state.



According to him, GhIPSS started by first integrating banks to make them interoperable on the back of the GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP); then GhIPSS introduced a biometric payment system called e-zwich, which was also made interoperable, before moving on integrate the mobile money operators into an interoperable platform.



What we then did was to close the triangle by making all the three platforms interoperable to ensure that no matter who is making payment and from wherever, they will be able to do so seamlessly and instantly, he said.



Veeps Vision Bearing Fruit

During his time leading the BOGs digital efforts, Dr Bawumia spearheaded the introduction of the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GHIPSS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana.



GHIPPS was incorporated in May 2007 with a mandate to implement and manage interoperable payment system infrastructure for banks and non-bank financial institutions in Ghana.



The system has been crucial in moving Ghanas digital banking revolution forward in leaps and bounds and was crucial to the establishment of the mobile money interoperability system, as Dr Bawumia noted during a Bawumia Speaks lecture at Asheshi University in 2021.



Thanks to the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlement System (GhIPSS), the mobile money payments interoperability has made it possible to transfer money seamlessly across different mobile money providers and between bank accounts and mobile wallets, the Vice President stated.



That vision has come full circle, with Ghanas financial inclusion being hailed at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022.



More recently, Kenyas finest daily, the Standard, praised Ghanas digital revolution and called on Kenya and the rest of the continent to follow in Ghanas footsteps, writing that Ghanas indefatigable Veep is leading a digitization footprint that Kenya and Africa can emulate 









Source: theGhanainVoice.Com









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Amer El-Alawi, the Emirati Ambassador to Ghana has dismissed a report that the United Arab Emirates had imposed a visa ban on Ghanaians and nationals of other African countries seeking entry into Dubai.



It was reported earlier this week in local media that the Gulf State had banned entry for 20 African nationals, the main news outlet cited for the information being DW Africa.



But in an interview with Joy News in Accra, El-Alawi said there was no official statement to that effect and that the status quo remains.



There is nothing official regarding those rumours or the news. There is no official statement from my government or the other governments so our daily work routine is the same, nothing has changed. Until we find or receive any announcement or official statement, I cannot talk about it.



UAE, we have adjusted the new visa system which is more flexible with the foreigners which makes the UAE easy to reach but for the ban, I can assure you there is no official statement about it, he stressed.



A trade representative of the UAE also stated at an event reported by Kofi TV that visas were still being issued and that any rejection will be an immigration and security issue relating to an individual and not all citizens of a particular country.



According to reports, the UAE government instructed its foreign missions to stop issuing visas, including 30-day visit visas, to nationals from the 20 affected African countries.



DW Africa stated in a Facebook post that one of the reasons for the ban was that most nationals from the 20 countries always fail to leave Dubai after their visas have expired.



One of the reasons given for the ban is many who arrive on visit visas end up overstaying in the country illegally while working without legalizing their stay, the post read in part.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist and critic of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reacted to calls for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to be replaced.



Manasseh posted two tweets on October 25, hours after it emerged that a number of governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, lawmakers had called a press conference in Parliament demanding the embattled minister be removed.



His first tweet intimated that the President was unable to remove Ofori-Atta because the Minister had virtually risen to the position of a Vice President.



I understand Akufo-Addos difficulty in sacking Ken Ofori-Atta. Its easy to dismiss a minister of state, but its not easy to sack a VICE PRESIDENT, who is also a family member, the first tweet read.



The second more cryptic one read: Pharaoh, please let him go.



President Akufo-Addo has previously been mocked on social media as a Pharoah presiding over Ghana and refusing to listen to the cries of citizens.



The call for Ofori-Attas head was led by Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, MP for Asante Akim North, who claimed he was representing a group of about 80 lawmakers who want Ofori-Atta dismissed.



The president has serially defended Ofori-Atta as a hardworking appointee who has excelled in times past and who remains the safest pair of hands to take Ghana out of the current economic difficulties.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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A Nigerian signwriter who abducted a 14-year-old girl and defiled her has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Gender Based Violence Court at the Police Headquarters, Accra.



Efe James Edema, 19, charged with defilement and abduction, pleaded guilty.



The court presided over by Mrs Abena Amponsah Boansi convicted Edema on his own plea.



Prosecution led by Inspector Opoku Aniagyei narrated that the complainant was the father of the victim.



Inspector Aniagyei said the complainant resided at Ayikuma together with the victim and that the accused resided at Nungua.



The prosecution said last year Edema went to work at Ayikuma and befriended the complainant and the family.



It said, however, during September 10, this year, the accused, now convict, informed the complainant that his work had ended at Ayikuma, and that he would be returning to Nungua.



To the surprise of the complainant, the prosecution said the complainant in the evening of September 10, this year, realised that the victim was no where to be found after Edema had left.



It said the complainant went round in search of the victim but to no avail.



The prosecution said the complainant, therefore, reported the matter to the Police at Ayikuma on September 11, 2022.



It said the complainant then posted the pictures of the victim on the status of his phone and other social media platforms.



Afterwards, the prosecution said the complainant was informed by his brothers at Nungua that, they had seen a girl who resembled the victim in the company of Edema.



The prosecution told the court that the complainant asked his brothers to snap pictures of the accused and the victim and send same to him (the complainant).



When the pictures of the victim and Edema were sent to the complainant, he identified the victim.



The prosecution said the complainant went to the Nungua Police Station with an Extract of Occurrence from Ayikuma Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit for assistance.



It said Edema was nabbed by the Police and the complainant was issued with a medical report to send the victim to the hospital for examination.



A full medical report on the victim was submitted to the Police.





Source: GNA









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An Accra High Court has ordered Investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and three others to pay a fine of GHC 2,400 each after finding them guilty of contempt of court.



Manasseh and the three in default will serve one month imprisonment each, for publication of issues yet to be determined by the Court.



The court presided over by Mrs Justice Harriet Akweley Quaye ordered the respondents in the case titled (The Republic versus Manasseh Azure and three others, Ex-Parte Lighthouse Chapel International) to render an unqualified apology to the Lighthouse Chapel International and its leader, Dag Heward Mills.



The court ordered them (respondents) to render the apology in the same spaces they wrote the articles.



Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI), in January 2022, filed a contempt application against Manasseh and three others.



The contempt application averred that Manasseh, Edwin Appiah an Editor, Sulemana Briamah of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the MFWA as an entity (respondents), had published highly prejudicial articles against the Church.



It said they also made commentaries as well as conclusive statements of fact on unresolved issues, which were yet to be determined by the High Court.



The application, therefore, urged the court to commit the respondents to prison for contempt of court for the publications.



The contempt application stemmed from three separate suits initiated by six former pastors of the Church, who, among other things, alleged the non- payment of their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution by the Church.



They are Larry Odonkor, Emmanuel Oko-Mensah, Edward Laryea, Seth Duncan, Edem Kofi Amankwah and Faith Fiakojo.



The Church, in its affidavit stated that, in the three defamation suits, it forewarned the respondents that the first three publications were not only defamatory but potentially in contempt of Court.



Despite the caution to the respondents and after being served with copies of defamation suits, the respondents threw all cautions to the wind, and went ahead to make first, second and third publications on their Facebook walls on December 25, 2021, it said.



The applicant stated that by the defiant republication of the articles, the respondents demonstrated to the High Court that there can be no limit to the way they practiced their brand of journalism.



That, the Church noted regenerated a fresh heated public debate and discussions on six suits pending before the Honourable court.



The Church indicated that the three articles, which had been the subject matter of the contempt application titled, Darkness in a Lighthouse were published on April 23, 27 and 29, last year.



Another article titled, Lighthouse begs for more time to file defence, was published on May 25, 2021.



Two of the articles, which were published on August 25 and 26, 2021, were titled: Lighthouse Pastors were not employees-SSNIT rules, and Evidence: How Lighthouse incriminated itself, but SSNIT looked away, respectively.



The Church noted that the article titled: Darkness in the Lighthouse, was published 37 times between April 23 and May 1, 2021, on the respondents Facebook walls and twitter accounts and same generated 1,000s of comments and shares on Facebook and other social media handles.



The applicant held that the conduct of the respondents amounted to serial contempt in the highest, considering, especially the repeated and defiant republications.



It said the respondents were liable to be convicted for contempt of court without the option of a fine- a custodial sentence= because they were, unrepentant and without any remorse whatsoever. They will continue to bring the administration of justice into disrepute by conducting media trial.





Source: GNA









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The Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr John Ofori Tenkorang, has urged employers to view their contributions to the scheme as an investment and not a mandatory tax.



Dr Tenkorang made the comments during a breakfast meeting with employers held in Takoradi.



The one-day meeting was held to sensitise employers to the activities of SSNIT and their new policy direction.



According to the SSNIT Director-General, the future of workers is of significant importance, therefore, employers should be interested in securing their employees future.



We are here to let you know how important you are to us and the need to contribute for the future of not only your workers but for you, as well, Dr Tenkorang explained.



He urged employers to invest in the future of their employees.



It is not my interest to send any employer to court; that should be clear, but there should be a conscious effort for you to invest in your company and your workers.



He also introduced an app, which will give employers easy access to pay the contributions of their companies and employees.



He stressed that the countrys best insurance company is SSNIT and implored them to be actively involved in their contributions to the scheme.





Source: class fm









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As part of the awareness creation month on the adverse effect of cybersecurity, the United States Foreign Press Center has organized a one month long training for some selected Journalists across the world on cybersecurity.



Journalists were selected from various media houses across the world to partake in the virtual training to help equip them in knowledge about the relevance of cybersecurity and the dangers associated with cyber as the world continues grow digitally in the cyber world.



Speaking to the media, the U.S Foreign press centre indicated that the purpose of the training is to give Journalists from around the world front row access to high-level U.S. government and private sector cybersecurity experts and share how the U.S. is working collaboratively with businesses, interagency partners, international allies, and stakeholders to strengthen cybersecurity demands of the 21st century.



Cyber Director, Chris Inglis and Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Kemba Walden who were the first to brief us on our Virtual Reporting Tour, on the topic 'A Shared Responsibility: Prioritizing Public-Private Partnerships in Cybersecurity' explained that theres a very strong analogy to be had in cyberspace.



"We care about cyber, or perhaps the more technical term, digital infrastructure  the internet  we care about that not for its own sake; we care about it because it delivers functions that we care about as individuals, as businesses, as societies.



They added that many businesses plan and deliver there business outcomes across the internet, and societies also increasingly deliver critical functions using the internet, what you might call digital infrastructure, what we sometimes call cyber. So cyber is important not for its own sake, but because of what it does for us.



They maintained that If we are to put cyber in its proper place then we need to subordinate cyber to those functions, not elevate it into some lofty position for its own sake.



Effects of cybersecurity can be very damning. Research has shown that they can result in the theft of valuable, sensitive data like medical records.

They can also disrupt phone and computer networks or paralyze systems, making data unavailable.



It's not an exaggeration to say that cyber threats may affect the functioning of life as we know it. The threats are growing more serious, too.





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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The National Executive body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a press conference held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, by some members of the Majority Caucus of Parliament, demanding amongst others, the immediate resignation or dismissal of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance, and Hon. Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry respectively.



In view of the above development, the leadership of the party is currently enagaging Government as well as the Parliamentary Group, and urges all stakeholders to remain calm as it seeks an amicable resolution to the impasse.



The leadership of the Party, herein, reitirates its commitment to at all times, engage Government on issues of utmost interest and concern to the Party, Government, and the citizenry.



NPP MPs Threaten to Boycott Parliament



The Majority Caucus in Parliament has threatened to boycott Parliamentary sittings if President Akufo-Addo does not relieve Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Presidency, Charles Adu Boahen of their positions.



Addressing a Press Conference on Tuesday, Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi said the two need to be fired over their failure in dealing with the current economic challenges.



Failure to do this, they will stage a boycott, according to a report filed by Peace FMs Parliamentary correspondent, Emmanuel Akorli.



Findings made by Emmanuel Akorli indicated that about 80 majority members have signed a petition calling for the dismissal of the two.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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OccupyGhana, a pressure group in Ghana, is mounting pressure on President Akufo-Addo to immediately reduce the size of his government.



In a statement dated Tuesday, October 25, the group said the current economic difficulties the country faces do not support the large size of the government.



According to the group, the hard times Ghanaians are going through are enough evidence that there is no better time than now to reduce the size of government.



This is therefore a demand for an immediate and drastic reduction in size, not limited to ministers alone, but all of the Presidents non-ministerial appointees. If for nothing at all, the symbolism in the Government also taking a hit, just like the rest of us, is very strong, an excerpt of the statement read.



Read full statement below:



MR PRESIDENT, IT IS TIME FOR A LEAN AND MEAN GOVERNMENT



There is no time better than now, to reduce the size of the Government.



Times are hard. Things are hard. Very hard. Every Ghanaian is feeling the pinch and pain. To survive, citizens are forced to cut back on some essential things in life. The Government, which is largely to blame for the economic mess, must also cut back and more.



When in early 2017, the sheer size of the Government was revealed, we were not convinced that that was what Ghana required. In our press statement dated March 17, 2017, we criticised the President for that, stating that while a government bureaucracy must be big enough to achieve the aims of the government, it must be lean enough not to waste the resources of the state.



We also pointed out that the considerable amount of money in salaries, allowances and benefits (in addition to enjoying a range of ex-gratia benefits when they leave office) does not sound to us like a diligent attempt to protect the public purse.



However, in one of several responses to this criticism and others like ours, the President said to some new ministers that as you know there are some who say my government is too big and there are too many of you. I am a firm believer in the adage that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Another time, the President called the size of his Government a necessary investment and assured Ghanaians that it is not going to be a holiday for the ministers.



Time has tested both the investment and the pudding, and they have not aged well and have been found wanting. The combined return, two years to the end of the Presidents second term, is this debilitating economic crisis. Unless the Presidents new and unacceptable argument would be that we would be in a much worse situation but for his still large coterie of ministers, it is time to get lean and mean. If as citizens, we are compelled to cut down on our private expenses, then it is time for the Government to do the same to protect the public purse.



This is therefore a demand for an immediate and drastic reduction in size, not limited to ministers alone, but all of the Presidents non-ministerial appointees. If for nothing at all, the symbolism in the Government also taking a hit, just like the rest of us, is very strong.



These are not normal times and business as usual wont cut it. The excuses for having and paying a large batch of ministers and other appointees to produce the results we see now, to the extent that they have ever been justified (which we deny), wear perilously thin in these times.

Source: atinkaonline.com









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The Minority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, announced on the floor of Parliament that they will file a vote of censure aimed at removing Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta from office.



The move followed a press conference by a group of governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, lawmakers who had expressly demanded that Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, be replaced by the president.



Whereas the breakaway MPs listed primarily the state of the economy and the depreciating cedi as reasons for their call, the Minority MPs listed seven points for which they held that Ofori-Atta must be censured and subsequently removed from office.



Seeing that their current number of 137 members is not enough to achieve the two-thirds threshold to remove the embattled minister, the deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, called on the over 80 NPP MPs to join them in the vote of censure against the minister.



Below are the seven points for which the Minority want Ofori-Atta censured:



a. Despicable conflict of interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghanas economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantages, particularly from Ghanas debt overhang



b. Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution, supposedly for the construction of the Presidents Cathedral.



c. Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts, in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution.



d. Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament



e. Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst-performing currency in the world



f. Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude, resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and an excruciating cost of living crisis



g. Gross mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship



The motion of censure is expected to be filed today when the House convenes for business. The Minority have released a document that bears the signatures of an overwhelming majority of their members.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader, has supported ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, lawmakers who are calling for the head of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Finance Minister and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry respectively.



According to him, the Finance Minister is not fit to find solutions to the current economic difficulties plaguing Ghana.



Making submissions in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, Haruna Iddrisu said Ofori-Atta: cannot manage or supervise his own mess, he is not fit for purpose.



He, therefore, urged his colleagues on the other side of the House to join the Minority to ensure Ofori-Atta is removed.



Some NPP MPs on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, organised a press conference to demand the dismissal of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the finance ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, in order to restore public confidence in the economy.



Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, Spokesperson for the MPs who describe themselves as the 'backbenchers' said if the president fails to heed their call, they will also not do business with the government nor support the 2023 Budget.



"We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust against the leadership of the Finance Ministry.



The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without and positive response, Andy Appiah Kubi said.



But the Majority Leader further indicated on the floor of the House that no Minister in government is beyond the reach of censure and reproach if the prevailing conditions call for such measures.



Mr. Speaker, we are serving you notice that we will take every step that this Parliament hasto censure any Minister who is not living up to expectation, and we will lead the way with the Honorable Minister for Finance.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, outgoing General Secretary of the main opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, has stated that the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, is bent on holding on to power at all cost, including killing.



The long-serving NDC scribe made the comments when he officially launched his bid for the partys chairmanship ahead of the 2024 presidential polls.



He cited the twin cases of the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election where state security agents were found complicit in violent attacks on opposition politicians as well as the death of eight persons across the country in the aftermath of the 2020 general elections.



For all their, mismanagement and terrible governance, all of us know that the NPP is prepared to kill for power as they demonstrated in Ayawaso West Wuogon attacks and the callous murder of eight souls during the 2020 elections.



He continued: In their arsenal is a deeply partisan electoral commission that believes their singular duty is to rig elections for NPP and emasculate all other political parties.



According to him, to beat the NPP and the EC, the NDC needs to be properly organized and to also elect an untainted crop of leaders.



He outlined attributes that the next crop of national leaders should possess; fearlessness, trustworthiness, proven temperament, selflessness, discipline, accountability, transparency and emotional intelligence and above all the moral courage to stand up to the marauding NPP in 2024.



He said these were the qualities he brings to the table in the contest for chairmanship. He is expected to come up against incumbent Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo who is seeking reelection.



The vote for national executives is scheduled for December this year according to the partys internal election calendar.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Audio Attachment: Listen to Eugene Boakye Antwi in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi

New Patriotic Party(NPP) Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has reitirated boldly that President Akufo-Addo should heed to the calls of the over 80 MPs calling for the head of Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



The Majority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, at a press conference addressed by Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi, threatened to boycott Parliamentary sittings if the President does not relieve the two of their positions.



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo', Hon Boakye Antwi believed the Finance Minister "seems to be experimenting with this country and we've had enough."



"We were about forty MPs at this meeting, and Kwami a clarion call was made that our leader(Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) should inform the President that we are done with Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen and so they should resign and go . . . wherever the President goes Ken Ofori-Atta's name is mentioned . . . Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen are an immediate concern," he told host of Kokrokoo', Kwami Sefa Kayi.



According to him, all of the over Eighty (80) MPs signed and it is not a rhetoric.



"If he says he won't let Ken Ofori-Atta go we are going to boycott all government business in parliament," he said.



"We have demonstrated to this country that there are genuine, honest, patriotic Ghanaians who have the country at heart . . . if he says he won't remove Ken he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta," he furiously said.



"We are running a democracy not a family dynasty . . . we are not backing down, why should we back down? . . . we have many competent and experience people in this party and in parliament to do the job that Ken Ofori-Atta is doing . . . if he likes we can nominate one but that is not the issue," he added.



He said the ruling NPP need to capitalize on the slim majority rule in parliament and ensure that the right is done to save the people of this coutry.



" . . On that slim majority we are operating in parlaiment we don't want any chaos, we want Nana Addo to have his peace of mind to serve his people and retire in peace, nothing short of that . . "



"If Ken Ofor-Atta dies won't there be somebody to step in as Finance Minister?" he rhetorically asked.



"There is a huge credibility deficit in his own pronuncement against the IMF, we are not joking with the future of this country, we are very serious people, we are not joking, we are running a democracy so we have to respect the voices of the people who voted for us," he added.



On whether Ken Ofori-Atta's removal will stabilize and solve the current economic crises, he said, "let's remove them or resign and see how the market will response".





Party Chairman calls for calm

The National Executive body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a press conference held on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, by some members of the Majority Caucus of Parliament, demanding amongst others, the immediate resignation or dismissal of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance, and Hon. Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry respectively.



In view of the above development, the leadership of the party is currently enagaging Government as well as the Parliamentary Group, and urges all stakeholders to remain calm as it seeks an amicable resolution to the impasse.



The leadership of the Party, herein, reitirates its commitment to at all times, engage Government on issues of utmost interest and concern to the Party, Government, and the citizenry.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin is happy with events in Parliament where 80 Members of Parliament, MPs, from his party demanded the removal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta from office.



The demand was made through an October 25 press conference addressed by Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, MP for Asante Akim North, at the precincts of Parliament.



In a follow-up presser, after the breakaway MPs had made their demands known, Afenyo-Markin flanked by four other colleagues told the media that the move was a plus for Ghanas democracy.



He, however, stressed that it was important that the majority and minority caucuses unite and build consensus on key issues to support the government, to me that is our main agenda but not the usual NPP, NDC partisan attacks."



Regarding views expressed by the majority on some issues of national importance, I think that is the beauty of democracy, people having the opportunity to express their views, he added.



He said it was important that where Ghana has gotten to in its democratic exercise, people should be voicing out instead of keeping their thoughts and view points within them for fear of being gagged.



So, we take all of that in good faith and continue to soldier on and work together for the betterment of our people, he added.



Breakaway NPP MPs call for Ofori-Attas head



The group said it will not do business with the government nor support the 2023 Budget if the president fails to heed their call to remove Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.



According to them, the move follows previous concerns sent to the government that have not yielded any positive results.



"We have had occasions to defend allegations of conflicts of interest, lack of confidence, and trust against the leadership of the Finance Ministry.



The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without and positive response, Andy Appiah Kubi said.



The MPs believe the move will change the current economic situation in the country.



We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the finance sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy, he added.















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Former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has backed the calls by members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament for the heads of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



The MPs have appealed to the President to listen to the voice of the people and show the two an exit from his government.



Over 80 MPs of the ruling New Patriotic Party have signed a petition to the President.



"We were about forty MPs at this meeting, and Kwami a clarion call was made that our leader(Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) should inform the President that we are done with Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen and so they should resign and go...wherever the President goes Ken Ofori-Atta's name is mentioned...Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen are an immediate concern," the Member of Parliament for Subin, Eugene Boakye Antwi told host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi.



Hon. Boakye Antwi argued that the Finance Minister "seems to be experimenting with this country and we've had enough" and fumed that should the President refuse to "let Ken Ofori-Atta go, we are going to boycott all government business in Parliament".



Addressing the issue during 'Kokrokoo', Bernard Allotey Jacobs advised the President to sacrifice Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta to save the image of his government.



"President, sacrifice Ken Ofori-Atta and place the Finance Ministry under the office of the Vice President . . . sometimes you need to sacrifice your own," he stated.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has chided the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament who are calling for the resignation of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



Over eighty (80) members of the Majority Caucus have signed a petition to the President to get rid of the two Ministers and threatened to boycott government business in Parliament should the President fail to honour their request.



Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the MPs stated; if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate.



Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Member of Parliament for Subin MP and a leading member of the proponents for Mr. Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen's dismissal, says if the President refuses to "remove Ken, he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta".



Discussing the matter during Peace FM's Wednesday edition of "Kokrokoo" morning show, Allotey Jacobs registered his displeasure with the conduct of the MPs towards President Nana Akufo-Addo.



According to him, the MPs' way and manner of placing their request before the President smacks of arrogance.



"Some are arrogant," he scolded them, and cautioned them to be careful of their utterances.



The social commentator also found the MPs' behaviour to be a betrayal of President Nana Addo.



They are "stabbing the President in the back . . . For the MPs to come out openly, you are stabbing the President in the back. They didn't behave well. However, they were expressing the feelings of thousands of their supporters who voted for them to be MP or to be MPs," he exclaimed.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Former Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has taken a swipe at the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Stephen Ayensu Ntim.



He says this is not the time for the ruling party's National Chairman to be issuing statements and calling for calm.



The NPP in a statement issued by the National Chairman of the party said it is engaging all stakeholders over the demand of some Majority MPs for Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen to be sacked.



The party said its engaging the government and the parliamentary group to find an amicable solution on the matter.



It has thus asked all factions to remain calm as the issue is being resolved.



But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that as a national Chairman of a ruling party which seems to be suffering from internal crisis, he should write to convene a national executive meeting as soon as possible before the matter gets out of hand.



"This is a very crucial time for the party and as a national Chairman you should convene a meeting for the leadership of the party to discuss the way forward in these trying times.



"This has never happened in the annals of the party . . . you can't just issue a statement to calm your members of parliament who are aggrieved and are revolting even against some appointees of the President."



Watch Video Below





Some 80 New Patriotic Party MPs for the immediate dismissal of the Finance Minister.According to them, the continuous stay of Ken Ofori-Atta in office was delaying the IMF bailout the country is seeking due to the fact that the Minister has lost all credibility.They have thus petitioned the President to either remove him or face a boycott in Parliament.If our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate, Mr Appiah-Kubi, spokesperson for the Majority caucus and MP for Asante-Akim North Constituency indicated.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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Many Ghanaians, including Member of Parliament on the Majority side, have been left disappointed after the highly-expected ruling by the Speaker of Parliament on the fate of their colleague ended in the balance.



The Majority MPs, led by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, had called for the seat of Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya, to be declared vacant after she failed to appear in parliament for sittings.



Although the Speaker of Parliament was initially expected to deliver his verdict on the matter in the last meeting of parliament in July 2022, he adjourned it, announcing later that he would give his ruling on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.



However, when Alban Bagbin did, he gave a ruling that the report of the committee set up to look into the case of the MP and two others who absented themselves for a number of sittings should be presented before the whole house to be debated.



He therefore dismissed the motion for Sarah Adwoa Safos seat to be declared vacant.



As I have noted in this ruling, the decision (sic) on not to admit a motion is the exclusive preserve of the Speaker. In view of the foregoing, the House is well within its right to receive and consider reports of the committee and make a determine arising out of the consideration.



In the circumstances, it is my ruling that the motion was rightfully admitted and the report of the committee is subject to the consideration of the house. It goes without saying that the (sic) objection of the Majority Leader today (sic) is hereby dismissed he concluded his verdict.



It will be recalled that on July 29, 2022, a day after parliament adjourned its first decision to determine the fate of the Dome Kwabenya MP, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sacked her as the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.



In a statement, the president said the revocation of the MPs appointment as minister was to take immediate effect.



In accordance with article 81(a) of the Constitution, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has revoked the appointment of Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, with immediate effect.



The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, will continue to act as caretaker Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, until such a time that President Akufo-Addo appoints a substantive Minister, the statement from the Presidency concluded.



Sarah Adwoa Safo has been in the United States of America since 2021.









Source: graphiconline.com









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President Akufo-Addo has asked for more time for the embattled Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to conclude negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before any talks of resignation.



Documents available to JoyNews suggest a deal could be reached with the IMF in three weeks for a $3 billion balance of payment support.



This, the President believes, could be disrupted if Ken Ofori-Atta is sacked or forced to resign.



This was an outcome of a meeting held by President Akufo-Addo and NPP Members of Parliament over the demand for the finance minister to be sacked over his handling of the economy.



Some NPP MPs say several efforts to have government address the plights of their constituents with regard to the ailing economy had proved futile.



They thus held a press conference on Tuesday, October 2022, to voice their disquiet and demanded the head of Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.



Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority MPs group, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Ofori-Atta and Mr Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghanas economy.



The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response, he said.



We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy, he added.



But the meeting last night could not resolve the issue as the MPs left unhappy.



It is unclear whether they will carry through their threat to boycott government business.



Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is continuing his engagements with interest groups on the state of the economy.



He is expected to meet the Forex Bureau Operators, Trades Union Congress, Ghana Employers Association, Market Women, the Ghana Journalist Association, and others.





Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Migrants sail after boarding a smuggler's boat on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France, in an attempt to cross the English Channel. (Getty)

Up to 2% of the adult male population of Albania has crossed to the UK in small boats, according to the government's clandestine channel threat commander.

Dan O'Mahoney revealed the staggering figure to MPs on the home affairs committee on Wednesday, saying 12,000 Albanian nationals had crossed the Channel in small boats in this year alone.

More than 38,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in more than 900 boats in 2022 to date, compared with 28,526 last year.

Earlier this year, former home secretary Priti Patel claimed that around 60% of people arriving in the UK on small boats this summer were Albanian.

However, fact-checking charity Full Fact found that data to back this claim up was not available, though they concluded the figure was correct for certain days during the summer.

MPs also heard that 93% of the 38,000 who arrived on small boats in 2022 so far have applied for asylum in the UK  down from the total figure of 98% in 2021.

However, there are currently huge delays in processing applications, with the Home Office only processing 4% of asylum claims by people who crossed the Channel in 2021 so far.

Of the 4% completed, 85% were granted refugee status or another protection status.

Dan Hobbs, director of asylum, protection and enforcement at the Home Office, said there is a challenge in processing asylum claims in a timely way at present.

Small boat arrivals to the UK have reached 38,000 so far this year. (PA)

The delay has had a knock-on effect in terms of the cost to taxpayers, with 5.6m being spent every day to house asylum seekers in hotels.

This figure does not include the cost to house relocated Afghans in hotels, which costs an additional 1.2m per day.

The total 6.8m a day figure on housing asylum seekers in hotels  over 2m more than the government said it was spending in February  could continue to rise, MPs at the committee were told.

Watch: Channel crossings continue as more migrants arrive in Kent

Officials also revealed the interception rate made by French police of migrants attempting the journey across the Channel has fallen.

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OMahoney told the committee in 2021 the interception rate for French police stopping migrants trying to cross the Channel was 50% and this year it has dropped to 42.5%.

He accepted this was a lower percentage but stressed it was a much, much bigger number, telling how French authorities had stopped 28,000 migrants crossing the Channel and intercepted and destroyed 1,072 boats so far this year.

He added: It is correct to say that migrants can attempt to cross on more than one occasion and therefore those 28,000 migrants may not be individual, different migrants, so its 28,000 attempts.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by Border Force officers following a small boat incident in the Channel. (PA)

In France migrants are not detained and processed after being caught attempting to cross the Channel. Mr OMahoney said French laws make it difficult for French officers to take any action in that way.

Concerns were also raised about conditions at the Manston Airport site in Kent, which is meant to be a short-term holding facility to process migrants when they arrive in the UK.

MPs heard the number of people arriving was outstripping the capacity of the site and some were being held there for as long as a month, compared with the 24 hours intended.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel. (PA/Getty)

The total cost of the UKs asylum system has topped 2bn a year, with the highest number of claims for two decades and record delays for people awaiting a decision.

Home Office spending on asylum rose by 756m, from around 1.4bn in 2020/21 to 2.1bn in 2021/22  the highest on record and more than double the amount spent in 2019/20, with officials struggling to keep up with the number of new applications.

More than 38,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in more than 900 boats in 2022 to date, compared with 28,526 last year.

In October alone, at least 5,000 have made the journey, according to provisional government figures, but no crossings were recorded by the Ministry of Defence on Monday or Tuesday.
Just a week after the supposed middleman who brokered the hit on radio broadcaster Percy Mabasa (known as Percy Lapid) was found dead inside the national penitentiary, Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the public to keep watch over Lapids case and called it far from being solved, citing reports that the slain broadcasters family has been receiving death threats.

Hontiveros visited Mabasas family and shared that the broadcasters children have been receiving anonymous messages on their social media accounts and even through their personal numbers, with one being told they were next.

The senator said she disagreed with the Philippine National Police (PNP)s pronouncements that the case had been solved after one of the alleged hitmen, Joel Estorial, surrendered to authorities on the same day the broker was found dead inside the New Bilibid Prison.

The circumstances surrounding the murder created more questions than answers. Hindi porket na-identify ang mga suspect ay tapos na ang kaso. (Just because the suspects have been identified does not mean the case is done. The case is far from solved, the senator wrote in a statement.

Paano nga din magiging solb na kung hanggang ngayon ay nakakatanggap ang pamilya ng pananakot? (How can it be solved if the family has been receiving threats until now?), Hontiveros added.

The senator also cited an editorial in The Philippine Star that said Mabasas brother was told the broker had died of night terrors inside the prison. But the body was embalmed before an autopsy could be conducted, which would make toxicology testing for substances or diseases impossible as the body had already been contaminated with embalming fluids.

The mastermind behind Percys death is still at large, so we must do all we can to provide the greatest possible protection to the entire family. I also appealed to the public not to let this case be silenced. Lets not allow a brutal killing such as this to just be swept under the rug, the senator added.

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Many netizens voiced support for the senators statement and denounced the threats to Mabasas family.

The family is still grieving the late Percy Lapid, how heartless and cruel people can be, one commenter said.

I admire your courage, senator. Are they not content that the head of the family is gone? Why do they need to involve the children who have not done anything against them? I cant believe it. Killing is now becoming a trend against those who have the courage to speak out against the inefficiencies of the former and current governments, another wrote.
Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. Survey conducted Sept. 13-18, 2022. Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND

Most Americans81%think government investments in scientific research are "worthwhile investments for society over time," according to the Pew Research Center's latest survey on public perceptions of science.

A similar proportion said they have at least "a fair amount" of confidence that scientists act in the public's best interests: 77% for all scientists, and 80% for medical scientists. As with previous surveys, this puts confidence in scientists at about the same level as in the military77%. It's also much higher than for any other group pollsters asked about and, unlike most groups, fairly stable over time, despite recent increasing political polarization.

Science supporters want researchers to share their insights to help address societal problems. Scientists themselves want their research to have an impact. So public judgments like those identified in the Pew report matter because of what they suggest about how Americans might see evidence-based guidance on issues such as climate change and public health.

Don't fixate on the negatives

It would be easy for the scientific community to look at this data and lament the 1 in 5 Americans who said they don't think government investments in science are important or who said they do not have confidence in scientists.

Same with the fact that confidence in scientists has retreated from a small surge that Pew surveys previously identified starting in late 2018, or the reality that Republicans appear to have increasingly more negative views about scientists and scientific investments than Democrats do.

But I suspect there are more shades of gray behind the black and white numbers themselves.

For instance, while two-thirds of Democrat-oriented respondents said they supported scientists' involvement in policy debates, less than a third of Republican-oriented respondents said they share this perspective, a further decrease from the proportion of Republicans who expressed this view in both 2019 and 2020.

But consider that this specific question only gave people two choices. Respondents could say they want scientists to take an "active role" in policy or "focus on establishing sound scientific facts."

Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND

Given the choice, I suspect many respondents from across the political spectrum would have given a more nuanced answer. Even the biggest science boosters likely want scientists to devote most of their time to research and teaching.

Within this new survey, in fact, only about a third of Republicans said scientists currently have "too much" influence in public policy debates and about a quarter said scientists have "not enough" influence. The plurality39%said they have "about the right amount."

From my perspective, yes, it is disheartening that about 2 in 10 Republicans think scientists are "usually worse" at "making good policy decisions about scientific issues" than "other people" and that this proportion has doubled since 2019.

But about a quarter of Republicans still said scientists' decisions are "usually better" than others, with about half saying scientists' decisions are "neither better nor worse."

And it seems possible that while current Republicans responded to the survey they were thinking about issues such as abortion or COVID-19 policies that involve medicine, but also ethics and economics and personal values. Additionally, many Republicans presumably recognize that most scientists oppose current directions in the party and may be using their poll answers to communicate their sense of alienation.

What could improve overall perceptions

Data such as those provided by the Pew Research Center point to potential problems; they don't suggest a fix. Taking a positive view, though, puts the focus on potential solutions.

As Anthony Dudo and I argue in our new book on science communication strategy, anyone who wants to be trustedincluding scientistsshould consider social science research about what enhances trust and perceptions of trustworthiness.

Key among these findings: people perceive others as trustworthy if they appear to be caring, honest and competent.

Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. Credit: Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Pew Research Center

Looking back at the Pew Research Center's 2019 surveys on trust in science, which are consistent with other research, it seems that Americans largely perceive scientists as fairly competent. However, Americans tend to be less likely to believe scientists "care about people's best interests," are "transparent about conflicts of interest" or willing to take "responsibility for mistakes."

These perceived characteristics help explain the chunk of the American population who don't feel confident about scientists' motivations. They are also perceptions that scientists, like others, can take responsibility for through their choices about how they behave and communicate.

Further, Americans tend to see "research scientists" less positively than science-focused practitioners such as doctors, suggesting that they feel more distant from academic researchers.

Looking on the bright side for better results

Focusing too heavily on the minority of people with negative perceptions is dangerous for those of us who want science to play a strong role in society because attacking one's critics may exacerbate the problem.

While it might feel righteous to "fight" for science, being aggressive toward people who question one's trustworthiness seems unlikely to spur positive perceptions.

Unlike politicians, science supporters probably can't win by making others look bad. Just like the press, members of the scientific community want to ensure their field's long-term place in society. Research suggests that for scientists, building real relationships with other members of the public will depend on communicating and behaving in ways that demonstrate caring, honesty and expertise.

Loud griping by scientists and their supporters about how too many people just don't appreciate science's place in society, or insults toward those who don't see its value, are bound to be counterproductive.

The stakes are high as humanity confronts a number of science-related challenges, including climate change, infectious diseases and habitat destruction. Anyone who wants scientific evidence to have a seat at the table where solutions are being discussed may need to follow the evidence on how to make that happen.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Lane Atmore have spent weeks and months in the lab to extract DNA from tiny herring bones like this. Credit: University of Oslo

Historians have believed extensive herring trade started around the year 1200 AD, later controlled by the Hanseatic League. Now, a new study shows that it was already established in the Viking Age.

"We found that this trade existed already around 800 AD, 400 years earlier, which really pushes back this extensive fishing," says Doctoral Research Fellow Lane Atmore at the University of Oslo.

She is first author of the study, published today (Oct. 26) in PNAS, which shows that herring bones from western populations around Sweden and Denmark were found as far east in the Baltic as Truso in todays Poland. Truso is known as an important Viking Age trade port.

"In the genetic signature from these bones, we found that the fishes were adapted to higher salinity than you find in the central Baltic. This means they were coming from around Kattegat, and then they were being shipped into the eastern Baltic," Atmore says.

The lower salinity of The Baltic Sea means that herring from the population in Kattegat will have a hard time adapting to the waters further east.

"Those high salinity adapted fish are never found that far in," Atmore says.

More difficult to trade

Her co-author, Associate Professor Bastiaan Star, has previously studied cod trade in the same area.

"Earlier we have seen that cod from the trading place Hedeby in what is now Germany had traveled all the way from northern Norway. Our new study shows that it was not just cod. It was also herring, a fish that technologically is much more difficult to trade," Star says.

Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is a much fattier fish than cod and not easy to store, let alone trade, if you don't have the right technology.

"If you don't cure it with salt or smoke, it will go bad very quickly. You need access to salt and wood so that you can cure it and then ship it. You need to have extensive trade networks and to catch enough fish if its going to be worth the investment," Atmore says.

"I think that fish was traded over greater distances than previously anticipated. We can now pin down this date because these bones are absolutely dated between 800 and 850," Star says.

"We cant prove that it was the Vikings who brought the herring from one place to the next, but we know that we have herring bone from a site where Vikings were trading," Atmore says.

Biology and archaeology

Atmore and Star are both biologists. In this study they have worked closely with archaeologists. One of them is Professor James H. Barrett at NTNU University Museum.

"The herring industry of the Baltic Sea supported one of the most important trades in medieval Europe," Barrett says.

"By combining the genetic study of archaeological and modern samples of herring bone, one can discover the earliest known evidence for the growth of long-range trade in herring, from comparatively saline waters of the western Baltic to the Viking Age trading site of Truso in north-east Poland," Barrett says.

The study also reveals what has happened to the herring populations in more recent times.

"The economic and political ramifications of the herring industry are well-charted, but its ecological impacts have been much debated," Barrett says.

Spring spawners and autumn spawners

The different populations of herring have their own spawning grounds, hence their adaptation to different levels of salinity. Populations also differ in spawning season.

"There are two major populations that spread across all Atlantic herring. One spawns in the springtime, and one spawns in the autumn. These populations spawn in unique locations and in different seasons, so they don't interbreed much. This means they are genetically different from each other," Atmore explains.

She is now able to identify where these fish are coming from and to see how populations grow and decline, and how this is impacted by the fishing industry.

"We found that earlier in the historical record, starting around 800, you get more fish in these archaeological sites that come from the autumn spawning population in the western Baltic. This is a population that was targeted by a famous fishery around 1200," Atmore says.

Collapsed 100 years ago

In more recent times it was the opposite.

"They were then targeting the autumn spawners and this population collapsed in the 1920s. In the Baltic now commercial catches are 90% spring spawners," Atmore says.

"Its not that the autumn spawners entirely disappear in the Baltic. It is more that they are not commercially interesting anymore. They are still there, but not in the numbers we were used to," Star says.

He is not in doubt that the fishing industry had a major impact on the herring populations.

"There is a consistent pattern with over exploitation that takes place over centuries," Star says.

"Our results provide a new and persuasive way to test the archaeological hypothesis that human impacts on super-abundant European marine fish started already in the Middle Ages, and that different herring stocks were targeted sequentially through time," Barrett says.

This also means that the ecology of the Baltic Sea has shifted. Autumn spawners spawn in a different place at a different season.

"They are also bigger than the spring spawners and they eat slightly different food. When the population of autumn spawners goes far down in size, the ecology is going to change," Atmore says.

"The Baltic Sea is much more confined compared to the North Sea. Some of the impacts that humans or climate may have, is amplified in such a small system," says Star.

More information: Lane M. Atmore et al, Population dynamics of Baltic herring since the Viking Age revealed by ancient DNA and genomics, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208703119 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
A robust and portable fluorescence microscope has been developed for on-site asbestos detection. Magnification (approximately x300) can be digitally increased (until x1000). Credit: Akio Kuroda

Asbestos is a toxic substance that is found in older buildings, as well as in cosmetics and products for children. As testing for its presence can be problematic, Hiroshima University Professor Akio Kuroda has been working on a novel solution.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate (silicon- and oxygen-containing) mineral that has a fibrous structure. These fibers are composed of microscopic fibers that can become airborne when the asbestos is disturbed, making asbestos easily inhaled. Formerly enjoying widespread use, especially in construction, for its insulation and fireproofing qualities, asbestos has since been banned in many countries. This is due to the discovery, in the 1970s, that asbestos fiber inhalation can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and other lethal lung conditions.

Professor Akio Kuroda, from the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life at Hiroshima University, is an expert in the field.

"While asbestos has been banned in most developed countries, large quantities of asbestos-containing materials remain in old buildings, and people are at risk of exposure to asbestos during demolition," he explains.

Kuroda confirms that it is not just building materials that pose a risk.

"In addition, natural minerals, such as talc, a raw material used in the manufacture of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and baby powder, may also contain asbestos. It has recently been highlighted that asbestos-contaminated talc may cause cancer," he says.

Kuroda is keen to focus on the importance of fast and accurate asbestos testing. In January 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a report written by the Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products outlining an improved scientific assessment of asbestos in order to better protect the public.

Kuroda and his team have been developing testing techniques to accurately pinpoint the presence of asbestos. Their approach to establishing better testing for asbestos has been twofold, firstly with the development of a fluorescent microscopy (FM) method that offers increased sensitivity as well as convenience, as well as the creation of an asbestos-specific protein probe combined with a fluorescent marker that allows users to easily visualize asbestos fibers, but not non-asbestos ones, under a fluorescent microscope.

A need for improved testing

Testing for asbestos is currently often accomplished using polarized light microscopy (PLM). While this method is convenient and cheap to run, the sensitivity is insufficient for the detection of fine fibers. The FDA recommends transmission electron microscopy (TEM) due to its higher sensitivity. However, it is labor-intensive, and therefore testing becomes more costly.

Other popular testing methods include phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All of these have significant drawbacks that keep the search for a better option going. Kuroda's method using FM offers much higher sensitivity that comes close to rivaling that of electron microscopy, and it is also far more convenient for users than TEM.

Fine asbestos fibers (A, B, and C) are visible under fluorescent microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Credit: Akio Kuroda

A US National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published in 2012 found that FM was able to detect fibers that were almost ten times smaller than those found by PCM testing, making it a much more sensitive testing method, approaching the accuracy of even electron microscopy. The study concluded that FM demonstrated exciting potential to offer a more accurate option for identifying asbestos fibers without the need for time-consuming, labor-intensive laboratory testing.

Developing a faster, more accurate, and convenient way to test for the presence of asbestos fibers is vital as testing is often required quickly due to the toxic nature of the substance.

Many incidents arise when potential asbestos is released into the air during construction or repair works on older buildings, requiring a speedy result to allow steps to be taken quickly to neutralize the contamination. Thus, SEM and TEM have their drawbacks in these situations, although they do provide reliable, accurate readings.

Despite their provision of clear, accurate results, both generally require samples to be sent to a laboratory to be processed. PCM, on the other hand, can be carried out in situ, enabling faster results. However, this method, in turn, has drawbacks. PCM identifies the presence of airborne fibers but is not able to distinguish between asbestos and other types of fibers.

Overcoming obstacles

Asbestos detection is an area that certainly has room for improvement in finding a method that meets the need for both speed and accuracy. Kuroda believed that existing methods of testing failed to cover these requirements.

"I needed to show evidence that the new technology can be used for asbestos detection," he says.

His approach has been to target FM as a highly specific way to identify asbestos. The most difficult challenge he faced, having developed a specific probe for asbestos, has been to quantify what percentage of fluorescent fibers made visible in the test samples are asbestos.

"To verify the identity of the fibers that were fluorescently tagged, we analyzed them under an electron microscope to identify their elemental composition," Kuroda outlines.

"However, it was very difficult to find the individual fibers under both microscopes in order to verify them."

In a sample that may contain thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of fibers, this task was like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. Fortunately, Kuroda was able to turn to recent advances in imaging technology to solve this issue.

The fluorescently labeled asbestos-binding proteins visualize asbestos fibers. Credit: Akio Kuroda

"We were able to use a newly developed correlative microscopy system where the sample stage is shared among the two microscopes," he explains.

This means that the location information of fibers therefore remained. Kuroda says the results were astounding.

"We demonstrated that over 95 percent of fluorescent fibers observed in the practical samples are really asbestos," he confirms.

Changing the landscape

Kuroda's work on developing and modifying the asbestos-binding protein with fluorescent dye has been truly groundbreaking. By creating this probe that is highly specific for asbestos, it is now possible to visualize this lethal substance in samples of construction materials, cosmetics and even baby products.

"Before this finding, no one knew that asbestos could be fluorescently visualized," points out Kuroda.

With results published in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Kuroda's methods were approved in the Asbestos Monitoring Manual, a guide published by Japan's Ministry of the Environment. The probes he developed in this study have been made commercially available and are currently used by several companies for fast and accurate monitoring of asbestos.

In addition to developing the probe and validating his results, Kuroda has also worked with a commercial manufacturer of microscopes to create a fluorescent microscope that was suitable for use in situ. Existing fluorescent microscopes were unwieldy devices that needed to be used in a laboratory setting and were quite unsuitable for transport around dusty demolition sites.

Aware of the desire for faster testing, Kuroda and his industry partners were able to design a robust and portable microscope that could be taken on-site, thus making testing faster and more accurate.

By tackling multiple problems that had beset the arena of asbestos testing and control, Kuroda has revolutionized the industry, bringing faster, more accurate testing to contaminated sites worldwide. In the UK, where the use of asbestos has been banned since the late 1990s, it is still present in many buildings, with almost 50 percent of buildings, including over 75 percent of schools affected.

In terms of the benefits, this means greater safety not just for construction workers laboring on potentially hazardous sites, but also for all citizens (including children) living and working in polluted homes and buildings. Kuroda's advances in better testing and better equipment mean greater safety for all.
The findings are 'an urgent wakeup call for decision-makers'.

Across virtually every sector, the greening of the global economy is unfolding far too slowly to stave off climate catastrophe, according to a sobering report Wednesday from a consortium of research organizations.

From power, industry and transport to food production, deforestation and finance, progress across 40 key indicators must accelerate dramaticallyin many cases ten-fold or moreto stay in line with the Paris treaty goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Earth's surface has already warmed 1.2C, enough to unleash a deadly and costly crescendo of climate-enhanced storms, floods, droughts and heatwaves.

In at least five areas those trend lines are still moving in the wrong direction entirely, according to the 200-page analysis, which comes 12 days ahead of crunch UN climate talks in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.

These include the share of natural gas in electricity generation, the share of kilometers traveled by passenger cars, and carbon pollution from agriculture.

"We are not winning in any sector," said Ani Dasgupta, head of the World Resources Institute, one of half-a-dozen climate policy think tanks that contributed to the report.

The findings, he said, are "an urgent wakeup call for decision-makers to commit to real transformation across every aspect of our economy".

Clean energy

Comparing current efforts to those required by 2030 and mid-century to limit warming to 1.5C, researchers quantified the global gap in climate action.

"The hard truth is that none of the 40 indicators we assessed are on track to achieve their 2030 targets," said lead author Sophia Boehm, a researcher at Systems Change Lab.

Measures to reduce global warming with their potential greenhouse gas reductions and costs to 2030.

To prevent dangerous overheating, global carbon pollution must decline 40 percent by the end of this decade. By 2050, the world must be carbon neutral, compensating any remaining emissions with CO 2 removal.

Most worrying, the authors said in a briefing, are shortfalls in the power sector and the lack of progress in halting deforestation.

The phase-out of coal used to generate electricity without filtering CO 2 emissions must happen six times faster, equivalent to retiring nearly 1,000 coal-fired power plants annually over the next seven years, they found.

The power sector is the biggest source of global CO 2 emissions, and coalaccounting for nearly 40 percent of electricity worldwideis by far the most carbon intensive of fossil fuels.

"If our solution to many things is electrification, then we need to make sure that electricity is clean and free of fossil fuels," said co-author Louise Jeffery, an analyst at New Climate Institute.

Huge increases in solar and wind power have not been enough to keep up with expanding demand for energy.

'Irreversible' forest loss

Progress on deforestation must accelerate two- to three-fold to keep the 1.5C goal within striking distance, according to the report.

"The loss of primary forest is irreversible, both in terms of carbon storage and as a haven for biodiversity," said co-author Kelly Levin, chief of science, data and systems change at the Bezos Earth Fund.

"If meeting the 1.5C target is challenging now, it is completely impossible when you chip away at our carbon sinks," she added, referring to the role of forests and soil in absorbing some 30 percent of humanity's carbon pollution.

Huge increases in solar and wind power have not been enough to keep up with expanding demand for energy.

Other key findings from the report on the pace of change needed this decade:

Public transport systems such as metros, light-rail and public bus networks must expand six times faster;

The amount of carbon emitted in cement production must decline 10 times faster;

Per-capital meat consumptionstill on the increase

The report also looked at climate finance.

"Governments and private institutions are failing to deliver on the Paris Agreement's goals of aligning financial flows with the 1.5C limit," said Claire Fyson, an analyst at Climate Analytics.

The analysis showed that global climate financesure to be a key sticking point at UN talks in Egyptmust grow more than 10 times faster than recent trends, from $640 billion in 2022 to $5.2 in 2030.

At the same time, governments are still pouring money into fossil fuels, spending nearly $700 billion of public financing on coal, oil and gas in 2020.

Major economies nearly doubled the amount they spend on fossil fuel production and consumption subsidies between 2020 and 2021.

 2022 AFP
Graphical abstract. Credit: Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158277

Outside of Nevada's bustling cities, private wells are the primary source of drinking water, serving 182,000 people. Yet some of the tested private wells in Nevada are contaminated with levels of heavy metals that exceed federal, state or health-based guidelines, a new study published in Science of The Total Environment shows. Consuming water contaminated by metals such as arsenic can cause adverse health effects.

Scientists from DRI and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center recruited households with private wells through the Healthy Nevada Project. Households were sent free water testing kits, and participants were notified of their water quality results and recommended actions they could take. More than 170 households participated in the research, with the majority from Northern Nevada around Reno, Carson City and Fallon.

"The goals of the Healthy Nevada project are to understand how genetics, environment, social factors, and healthcare interact. We directly engaged our participants to better understand environmental contaminants that may cause adverse health outcomes," said co-author Joseph Grzymski, Ph.D., research professor at DRI, principal investigator of the Healthy Nevada Project, and chief scientific officer for Renown Health.

Nearly one-quarter (22%) of the private wells sampled had arsenic that exceeded safe levels determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)with levels 80 times higher than the limit in some cases. Elevated levels of uranium, lead, cadmium, and iron were also found.

DRI's Monica Arienzo, Ph.D., and Erika Robtoy, undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, collect well water samples in Palomino Valley, Nevada. Credit: Daniel Saftner/DRI

"We know from previous research that Nevada's arid climate and geologic landscape produce these heavy metals in our groundwater," says Monica Arienzo, Ph.D., an associate research professor at DRI who led the study. "It was important for us to reach out to community members with private wells to see how this is impacting the safety of their drinking water."

Fewer than half (41%) of the wells sampled used water treatment systems, and some treated water samples still contained arsenic levels over EPA guidelines. Although average levels of heavy metal contaminants were lower in treated water, many homes were unable to reduce contaminants to levels considered safe.

The state leaves private well owners responsible for monitoring their own water quality, and well water testing helps ensure water is safe to drink. This study shows that more frequent testing is needed to ensure Nevada's rural communities have safe drinking water. This is particularly important as the effects of climate change and population growth alter the chemistry of groundwater, potentially increasing metal concentrations.

"The results emphasize the importance of regular water quality monitoring and treatment systems," said co-author Daniel Saftner, M.S., assistant research scientist at DRI.

Although the research focused on wells in Nevada, other arid communities in Western states are facing similar risks of water contamination.

More information: Monica M. Arienzo et al, Naturally occurring metals in unregulated domestic wells in Nevada, USA, Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158277 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment
Fig.1 AAV-based screening for CaMKII phosphomimetic mutants Wild-type mice were administered with AAVs (adeno-associated viruses) to express the CaMKII mutant (upper right) and their sleep phenotypes were analyzed (upper left). Comprehensive analysis of mice administrated with 69 AAVs corresponding to CaMKII phosphomimetic mutants revealed that T287D (T287D), a phosphomimetic mutant of T287, remarkably extended sleep duration (below). Credit: Tone et al.

Professor Hiroki Ueda, Assistant Professor Daisuke Tone, Lecturer Koji Ode, and Qianhui Zhang (4th-year graduate student at the time) at the University of Tokyo showed that CaMKII, a predominant protein kinase expressed in neurons, is involved in prolonging sleep duration via facilitating sleep onset and inhibiting awakening.

Several recent studies have shown that protein phosphorylation is important for sleep regulation. The aforementioned study group reported in 2016 that CaMKII and CaMKII are protein kinases that promote sleep and suggested the possibility that protein phosphorylation is the likely molecular driver of somnolence and proposed phosphorylation hypothesis of sleep. CaMKII and CaMKII are abundantly expressed in brain nerve cells and have been extensively studied to show their important role in functions such as memory. However, the functions and conditions of CaMKII and CaMKII in sleep control were unknown.

Fig.2 Bidirectional regulation of sleep by CaMKII The T287D mutant extends sleep duration, while mutations that do not act as phosphomimetics (T287A), and a mutation that causes loss of enzyme activity (K43R), indicating that the T287 phosphorylation and CaMKII enzyme activity is important for sleep regulation (left). Expression of a CaMKII inhibitor peptide resulted in a shortened sleep duration (right). Credit: Tone et al.

It is well-known that CaMKII has multiple phosphorylation sites and that its function is modulated according to their phosphorylation status. Therefore, this study group generated a series of CaMKII mutants. Toward this, mutated residues that mimic the phosphorylation state were introduced at each site, and the relationship between CaMKII phosphorylation state and sleep regulation was comprehensively investigated using mice. The researchers found that in specific phosphorylation state, CaMKII promoted the transition from wakefulness to sleep state. Furthermore, when an additional second or third similarly phosphorylated variant was introduced into CaMKII in this specific phosphorylated state, transition from the sleep state to wakefulness was inhibited.

Fig.3 A schematic model of sleep regulation by CaMKII phosphorylation state CaMKII acts on induction (T287), maintenance (T306, T307), and their cancellation (S26, S182, and T311) of sleep, depending on its own phosphorylation state. Credit: Tone et al.

In the present study, now published in PLOS Biology, they found that CaMKII functions at each step of a multi-step process that prolongs sleep duration (induction and maintenance of sleep) depending on its state of phosphorylation. Many existing hypnotics act on the steps involved in the induction of sleep. This study partly clarified the mechanism underlying sleep induction and maintenance and provides clues to consider more ideal sleep control methods aimed at maintaining sleep, which has been difficult so far.

This result was obtained as part of the JST Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) under the Ueda Biological Timing Project. In this project, JST developed an approach based on systems biology contributing to human understanding using sleepwake rhythms as a model. The aim was to obtain information pertaining to biological timing that extends from molecules to individuals, in terms of human sleepwake cycle.

More information: Daisuke Tone et al, Distinct phosphorylation states of mammalian CaMKII control the induction and maintenance of sleep, PLOS Biology (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001813 Journal information: PLoS Biology

Provided by Japan Science and Technology Agency
The findings are 'an urgent wakeup call for decision-makers'.

Across virtually every sector, the greening of the global economy is unfolding far too slowly to stave off climate catastrophe, according to a sobering report Wednesday from a consortium of research organisations.

From industry, power and transport to food production, deforestation and finance, progress across 40 key indicators must accelerate dramaticallyin many cases ten-fold or moreto stay in line with the Paris treaty goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Earth's surface has already warmed 1.2C, enough to unleash a deadly and costly crescendo of climate-enhanced storms, floods, droughts and heatwaves.

In at least five areas those trend lines are still moving in the wrong direction entirely, according to the 200-page analysis, which comes 12 days ahead of crunch UN climate talks in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.

These include the share of natural gas in electricity generation, the share of kilometres travelled by passenger cars, and carbon pollution from agriculture.

"We are not winning in any sector," said Ani Dasgupta, head of the World Resources Institute, one of half a dozen climate policy think-tanks that contributed to the report.

The findings, he said, are "an urgent wakeup call for decision-makers to commit to real transformation across every aspect of our economy".

Measures to reduce global warming with their potential greenhouse gas reductions and costs to 2030.

Clean energy

Comparing current efforts to those required by 2030 and mid-century to limit warming to 1.5C, researchers quantified the global gap in climate action.

"The hard truth is that none of the 40 indicators we assessed are on track to achieve their 2030 targets," said lead author Sophia Boehm, a researcher at Systems Change Lab.

To prevent dangerous overheating, global carbon pollution must decline 40 percent by the end of this decade. By 2050, the world must be carbon neutral, compensating any remaining emissions with CO 2 removal.

Most worrying, the authors said in a briefing, are shortfalls in the power sector and the lack of progress in halting deforestation.

The phase-out of coal used to generate electricity without filtering CO 2 emissions must happen six times faster, equivalent to retiring nearly 1,000 coal-fired power plants annually over the next seven years, they found.

The power sector is the biggest source of global CO 2 emissions, and coalaccounting for nearly 40 percent of electricity worldwideis by far the most carbon intensive of fossil fuels.

"If our solution to many things is electrification, then we need to make sure that electricity is clean and free of fossil fuels," said co-author Louise Jeffery, an analyst at New Climate Institute.

Huge increases in solar and wind power have not been enough to keep up with expanding demand for energy.

Huge increases in solar and wind power have not been enough to keep up with expanding demand for energy.

'Irreversible' forest loss

Progress in the battle against deforestation must accelerate two- to three-fold to keep the 1.5C goal within striking distance, according to the report.

"The loss of primary forest is irreversible, both in terms of carbon storage and as a haven for biodiversity," said co-author Kelly Levin, chief of science, data and systems change at the Bezos Earth Fund.

"If meeting the 1.5C target is challenging now, it is completely impossible when you chip away at our carbon sinks," she added, referring the fact that forests and soil consistently absorb some 30 percent of humanity's carbon pollution.

Other key findings from the report on the pace of change needed this decade:

Public transport systems such as metros, light-rail and public bus networks must expand six times faster;

The amount of carbon emitted in cement production must decline 10 times faster;

CO2 emissions: electricity production well off track.

Per-capita meat consumptionstill on the increase

The report also looked at climate finance.

"Governments and private institutions are failing to deliver on the Paris Agreement's goals of aligning financial flows with the 1.5C limit," said Claire Fyson, an analyst at Climate Analytics.

Global climate financesure to be a key sticking point at UN talks in Egyptmust grow more than 10 times faster than recent trends, from $640 billion in 2022 to $5.2 trillion in 2030.

At the same time, governments are still pouring money into fossil fuels, spending nearly $700 billion of public financing on coal, oil and gas in 2020.

As humanity's "carbon budget" runs out, the world will need to scale up technologies that suck CO 2 out of the air, according to the UN's IPCC climate science advisory panel.

How much will depend on how quickly carbon emissions are drawn down, but the IPCC estimates that billions of tons per year will need to be removed.

"Today, less than one million tons is captured from the atmosphere and stored permanently each year," said Fyson.

"So we'd have to see a rate of growth that's several hundred times faster that recent trends."

 2022 AFP
Legendrea loyezae, a very rare ciliate that lives in oxygen-free sediments of lakes. Credit: James Weiss, Author provided

You are more likely to take a trip to the Moon than to see a microbe called Legendrea loyezae under a microscope. Nasa's Apollo program has sent a total of 24 people to the Moon between 1968 and 1972. Only four people (including us) have ever found Legendrea loyezae from its discovery in 1908 to our recently published study.

Considering the expense, it makes sense that the number of people who journeyed to the Moon would be low. But peeking into the microscopic realm doesn't require a billion-dollar budget, only a microscope and someone willing to sit in front of it.

Our recent study uncovered 20 new species of microbes as well as 100 rare ones. Each DNA specimen we find gives another piece of the evolution puzzle. Scientists can use this jigsaw to analyze how an organism works. For example, some genes hint about how a being respires. Or it can give information about the organism's place on the tree of life.

The reason so few scientists have seen these microbes is because undersampling is a major issue. This means most research teams take samples from only a few or even just one location.

Our most recent investigation, which took two years, involved the collection and investigation of well over 1,000 samples. From the lakes and ponds in Warsaw, Poland, to marine sediments in the North Sea, and the Mediterranean off the coasts of Italy and Portugal, to chalk streams in Dorset, UK we searched for microbes. And it paid off: we found more than 500 species, including the rare and new ones.

Microbiology is human history

The first life on Earth appeared in water as creatures too small for the human eye to see and stayed that way for billions of years. Microbes live all around us. They can be found in any habitat, from puddles to oceans. But there is still so much we don't know about them.

Some of these microscopic organisms evolved from simple to more complex beings, eventually giving rise to all the visible life around us. Others have hardly changed and kept their minute size.

Microorganisms were the first predators on Earth and their greedy appetites drove the evolution of more complex life in the early ages of Earth's history. After the evolution of complex life, microbes became the main food source for other creatures such as krill and plankton, which in turn are food for larger species. If the organisms at the very bottom of the food chain disappeared, all other parts above them would collapse too.

The timescale of this is so long it's hard to grasp. If we squeezed Earth's 4.5 billion years old history into a single year, life would exist on a microscopic scale until the end of October. Humans would appear on the last 30 minutes of the year, and we would be aware of the existence of the microbes just less than three seconds before the new year.

The Tree of Life shows how organisms are related to each other. Looking at it, you can see most life on Earth is still micro scale, with animals, plants and fungi restricted to a small cluster of branches within the eukarya group. In contrast to the other two groups, archaea and bacteria, eukarya members store their DNA in the cell nucleus.

The tree of life maps organisms relationships to each other. Credit: VectorMine/Shutterstock

A microscopic rarity

Legendrea loyezae is in the ciliates branch of eukarya. Oxygen is lethal for Legendrea loyezae and it has tentacles that stretch and contract to catch prey. Scientists have discovered thousands of ciliate species.

Ciliates live in aquatic environments, thin water films in soils and even places where there is no oxygen. Although their lives depend on water, they can form protective structures to stay dormant until they get wet again. They are composed of only a single cell and yet they are wondrously diverse. Ciliates have interesting hunting strategiessome types specialize in eating filaments of cyanobacteria, which they suck up like spaghetti. They can swim. Others have a sedentary lifestyle, including Vorticella, which has a stalk to attach itself to submerged surfaces.

Some ciliate species form permanent, physical relationships with other groups of organisms, something known as symbiosis. For example, they can harbor green algae inside themselves to eat the sugar the algae produce through photosynthesis. In exchange, they protect the algae from larger algae-grazers and viruses (yes, even algae can get viral infections).

Some ciliate species live in densely populated communities, especially in well-oxygenated environments. But others live in such small numbers that finding them is like searching for a thousand needles in a haystack the size of Mount Everest.

Our goal is to find as many of these rare and unusual species as we can. We use our knowledge of species' ecology as clues. If we know that a microbe prefers to live in dark, oxygen-free habitats we don't look for it on the surface of the water where there is plenty of oxygen and light. It took thousands of hours looking through a microscope to find four Legendrea loyezae, not to mention a small fortune on physiotherapy for our cricked necks and aching backs.

Loxodes rostrum, a ciliate with endosymbiotic green algae. Credit: James Weiss, Author provided

Why microbes matter

It's easy to feel detached from the invisible microbes. Most of us will never get to see one magnified enough for our eyesight to pick up. But learning about microbes has helped inform some of the most important scientific discoveries in history. Microbes take life as they inflict animal and plant diseases and develop massive blooms in the sea that wipe out aquaculture farms.

But we couldn't live without them. Microbes are responsible for the survival of our ecosystems and for their recovery after damage such as pollution or climate change. We can't grow food without microorganisms. They clean our sewage. Some can produce antibiotics and other drugs, others are involved in the production of food.

So exploring the microbial world is well worth the backache.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: polarman/Shuttersock.com

Antarctica is so cold that snowfall builds up year after year, resulting in frozen blankets of ice more than 3 km thick in places. You might think that to find the oldest ice, one simply has to dig ever deeper, to find samples at the very bottom that have been trapped for millions of years.

But as Mulvaney from the British Antarctic Survey in the United Kingdom explains, this is not the case. He was part of a groundbreaking project EPICA that recovered ice cores around 800,000 years old, and is now preparing to drill in a region about 2 850 m deep, where the ice could be 1.5 million years old.

"Finding older ice than this is a bit more complicated than simply drilling deeper," he says. "The reason for this is geothermal heat, the heat from Earth's mantle melts away the bottom of a thick blanket of ice."

This limits the age of ice that scientists can find near the bedrock. The oldest ice recovered in Antarctica, formed around 4 million years ago, was actually found near the surface.

"Imagine a layer of ice slowly flowing to the edge of the continent, and hitting a mountain range on its way," he adds. "This would force the ice upwards, where it would eventually reappear at the surface. We call these 'blue ice' regions, and they can be millions of years old."

It is very hard however to achieve accurate approximations of the age of this ice. What's more, these blue ice regions do not offer a chronological glimpse into the distant past. This is why, for scientists such as Mulvaney, age isn't everything.

"We prefer to find more stable ice flow regions that look like an upturned bowl of ice, and then drill vertically downward until we get near the bedrock," he explains. "Here, every centimeter deeper represents a step back in time. What matters to us is obtaining the complete stratigraphic record."

This has been the focus of the Beyond EPICAOldest Ice project, of which the British Antarctic Survey is a member. The project was launched in 2016 to identify and drill in regions where continuous ice cores older than 800,000 years might be found.

A promising location was identified, about 40 km away from the Italian-French station, Concordia, and the EU has funded a follow-up project to establish a remote camp, and to drill and collect ice core samples.

"I'll be going back to drill for ice later this year, and we will continue for the next few short Antarctic summers until we reach the bedrock," he says. "It'll be a few years before we are analyzing ice cores that could go back as far as 1.5 million years though."

This research is critical because it could help scientists solve a major climate riddle: why, around 1 million years ago, glacial cycles changed from occurring every 40 000 years to every 100 000 years. The air bubbles embedded in the deep ice hold a record of Earth's atmosphere at the time, and could be crucial to solving this puzzle.

"That's the goalto understand this early period of climate history," remarks Mulvaney. "Why was there long-term climate change? Well-dated samples of atmospheric gases from the past are the one thing we can get from these continuous ice cores that we cannot get from other climate records."

Provided by CORDIS
This map shows the size and shape of the ozone hole over the South Pole on Oct. 5, 2022, when it reached its single-day maximum extent for the year. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens

The annual Antarctic ozone hole reached an average area of 8.9 million square miles (23.2 million square kilometers) between Sept. 7 and Oct. 13, 2022. This depleted area of the ozone layer over the South Pole was slightly smaller than last year and generally continued the overall shrinking trend of recent years.

"Over time, steady progress is being made, and the hole is getting smaller," said Paul Newman, chief scientist for Earth sciences at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We see some wavering as weather changes and other factors make the numbers wiggle slightly from day to day and week to week. But overall, we see it decreasing through the past two decades. The elimination of ozone-depleting substances through the Montreal Protocol is shrinking the hole."

The ozone layerthe portion of the stratosphere that protects our planet from the sun's ultraviolet raysthins to form an "ozone hole" above the South Pole every September. Chemically active forms of chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere, derived from human-produced compounds, attach to high-altitude polar clouds each southern winter. The reactive chlorine and bromine then initiate ozone-destroying reactions as the sun rises at the end of Antarctica's winter.

Researchers at NASA and NOAA detect and measure the growth and breakup of the ozone hole with instruments aboard the Aura, Suomi NPP, and NOAA-20 satellites. On Oct. 5, 2022, those satellites observed a single-day maximum ozone hole of 10.2 million square miles (26.4 million square kilometers), slightly larger than last year.

An explainer video outlining the fundamentals of what causes the Ozone Hole, its effects on the planet, and what scientists predict will happen in future decades. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

When the polar sun rises, NOAA scientists also make measurements with a Dobson Spectrophotometer, an optical instrument that records the total amount of ozone between the surface and the edge of spaceknown as the total column ozone value. Globally, the total column average is about 300 Dobson Units. On Oct. 3, 2022, scientists recorded a lowest total-column ozone value of 101 Dobson Units over the South Pole. At that time, ozone was almost completely absent at altitudes between 8 and 13 miles (14 and 21 kilometers)a pattern very similar to last year.

Some scientists were concerned about potential stratospheric impacts from the January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano. The 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption released substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide that amplified ozone layer depletion. However, no direct impacts from Hunga Tonga have been detected in the Antarctic stratospheric data.

More information: View the latest status of the ozone layer over the Antarctic with NASA's ozone watch.

Provided by NASA
There are great expectations for gene editing and its application to agriculture. Credit: Hisashi Urashima

Does the term "genetically edited food" sound appetizing, or does it inspire skepticism about what is on the table? The answer could be dependent on if you live in a country that strictly regulates genetically edited food and on the way the information was presented, according to a team from Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) in Japan.

The researchers analyzed the public perceptions of the risks and benefits of gene editing of food crops in the United States, Japan, and Germany. They found that of these groups, American participants had the most positive perception and German participants the most negative, with Japanese participants assessing the risks similarly to the Germans but the benefits similarly to the Americans.

The results were published in Science, Technology, & Human Values on October 17, 2022.

"We set out to understand how different regulatory measures for biotechnology in the U.S., European Union and Japan impact public perceptions by statistically examining the variations in the mean values of public perceptions of risks and benefits of the application of gene editing technology to food crops among the three countries," said corresponding author Naoko Kato-Nitta, associate professor at the Joint Support Center for Data Science Research and the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Tokyo. "Further, we wanted to statistically examine how different information provision affects the above people's perceptions in the three study countries of risks and benefits toward gene-edited crops."

The U.S., Germany and Japan all have different levels of regulation when it comes to biotechnology use for food crops. According to the researchers, in 2018, the European Court of Justice ruled that gene edited food should be regulated in the same way as genetically modified crops, while the U.S. exempts most crops using gene editing from regulation. Japan imports large quantities of GM crops but has labeling requirements and has taken a cautious stance on domestic cultivation of GM crops. The researchers selected these countries for the study in part because they could exemplify industrialized countries from around the globe with differing policies, which potentially could impact public perception.

"To understand people's attitudes toward the application of genome editing technology to food crops by statistically examining differences in perceived risks and benefits across nations, it is important to gain insight into how the underlying political culture affects their attitudes," Kato-Nitta said.

When conducting the survey in these three countries, the researchers divided each country's participants into two groups. One group was presented with the information on gene editing using animal illustrations, and one group was presented with gene editing using plant illustrations. The researchers then assessed the perceptions of the risks and benefits of gene editing of agricultural crops in each of two categories across the three countries for a total of six groups. In all groups, the surveys first assessed if participants were aware of gene editing and to what degree.

The researchers found that the U.S. participants perceived the highest benefits and lowest risks of the groups. According to the researchers, this result validates their assumption that public attitudes toward gene editing are more positive in a country with less strict gene-editing regulations. While there was no statistical difference between Japan and Germany for the risk perceptions, the Japanese participants perceived greater benefits. The German participants also had less exposure to beneficial aspects of gene-editing information, which the researchers posit could account for why they perceived the least benefit and greatest risk.

The study also found that the U.S. participants' perceptions were not as influenced by whether they received an explanatory illustration with an animal or with a plant as those in Germany or Japan, possibly because of their greater previous exposure to gene-editing information.

Kato-Nitta said that the next steps include extending this type of research to other emerging science and technology to assess public perception.

"My ultimate goal is to more comprehensively understand the key factors that affect people's perceptions of risks and benefits toward emerging science based on empirical results and to establish a new model of science communication," she said.

More information: Naoko Kato-Nitta et al, Public Perceptions of Risks and Benefits of Gene-edited Food Crops: An International Comparative Study between the US, Japan, and Germany, Science, Technology, & Human Values (2022). DOI: 10.1177/01622439221123830

Provided by Research Organization of Information and Systems
The largest supermoon appearance of 2022, identified as the Buck Moon, rises above the mountain line in Morgantown, July 13. New WVU sociological research shows people who believe in witchcraft, telekinesis and other forms of paranormal phenomenon are more likely to mistrust science and vaccines. Credit: WVU Photo/David Malecki

The number 13, telekinesis and witchcraft play a part in a person's mistrust of science and vaccines, including the COVID-19 shot, according to research from West Virginia University sociologists.

Previous research has shown that people with conservative religious beliefs are more likely to lack confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine, but most studies have observed only mainstream or institutionalized religious forms. WVU researchers Katie Corcoran, Chris Scheitle and Bernard DiGregorio were curious whether paranormal beliefsbeliefs in astrology and spirits, for instancewould be associated with a similar lack of confidence.

"We were interested in looking at how religion, science and what we call 'the enchanted worldview' relate to each other," said Corcoran, associate professor of sociology in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, explaining that the enchanted worldview incorporates traditional religious beliefs, like beliefs in angels, God, demons and spirits.

"It also incorporates the belief that crystals can heal, belief in astrology and belief that the world is enchanted, that there's more than the empirical world, beyond just religion. So, this particular project looks at what we call paranormal beliefs, which cut across several different areas."

Paranormal beliefs are distinct from mainstream religion and inconsistent with current science. They include, but aren't limited to, beliefs in good and bad luck, parapsychology (e.g., mind-reading or telekinesis) and spiritualism (e.g., astrology and witchcraft).

Corcoran and Scheitle conducted a survey to understand how these beliefs relate to confidence in the COVID vaccine.

"We found that people who believe in the paranormal are less likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and they're less trusting of vaccines in general," she said. "We also found that part of the reason people who believe in the paranormal are less likely to trust vaccines and get vaccinated is because they're more likely to believe in conspiracies and distrust science."

The findings were published in Sociology of Religion.

Corcoran and Scheitle had anticipated the negative relationship between belief and vaccine hesitation based on previous data.

"We know that those with religious beliefs, particularly conservative religious beliefs, are less likely to trust vaccines and less likely to get them," she said. "And we assumed that paranormal beliefs might have a similar relationship because part of their definition is that they're inconsistent with current science."

However, they were surprised by how strong the negative association was between that mistrust and paranormal beliefs. While political conservatism is the strongest indicator of vaccine hesitancy, a belief in the paranormal was more likely than religion and several other sociodemographic variables to engender the same feelings.

"We didn't quite expect it to matter that much," she said.

The results of their study may help public health departments better combat vaccine hesitancy by learning the reasons behind it. Throughout the pandemic, public health departments worked with religious congregations and their pastors to educate people about the vaccine. Those who believe in the paranormal, however, are less visible and less likely to attend services. Thus, outreach becomes more difficult.

"They're not as institutionalized as people who have religious beliefs and are part of congregations," she said. "Because congregations are organizations, they are easier to reach out to. With paranormal beliefs, it's less institutionalized."

To reach the latter group, Corcoran suggested public health departments may want to seek out forms of institutionalization among those who believe in the paranormal. These may include conferences and workshops as well as businesses they frequent.

Corcoran said the first step would be interviews. This would allow researchers and public health officials to get a clearer sense of their concerns and, in turn, to examine where this vaccine hesitancy originates.

"Now that we know it's related to distrust in science and conspiratorial beliefs, we can ask where it's coming from," she said. "What's the reasoning? And once we know the reasoning, then we can start more targeted outreach."

More information: Paranormal Beliefs, Vaccine Confidence, and COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake, Sociology of Religion (2022). DOI: 10.1093/socrel/srac024
Light Conduction in a Metal: Waveguides are observed in a semimetal known as ZrSiSe. Credit: Nicoletta Barolini, Columbia University

When we encounter metals in our day-to-day lives, we perceive them as shiny. That's because common metallic materials are reflective at visible light wavelengths and will bounce back any light that strikes them. While metals are well suited to conducting electricity and heat, they aren't typically thought of as a means to conduct light.

But in the burgeoning field of quantum materials, researchers are increasingly finding examples that challenge expectations about how things should behave. In new research published in Science Advances, a team led by Dmitri Basov, Higgins Professor of Physics at Columbia University, describes a metal capable of conducting light. "These results defy our daily experiences and common conceptions," said Basov.

The work was led by Yinming Shao, now a postdoc at Columbia who transferred as a Ph.D. student when Basov moved his lab from the University of California San Diego to New York in 2016. While working with the Basov group, Shao has been exploring the optical properties of a semimetal material known as ZrSiSe. In 2020 in Nature Physics, Shao and his colleagues showed that ZrSiSe shares electronic similarities with graphene, the first so-called Dirac material discovered in 2004. ZrSiSe, however, has enhanced electronic correlations that are rare for Dirac semimetals.

Whereas graphene is a single, atom-thin layer of carbon, ZrSiSe is a three-dimensional metallic crystal made up of layers that behave differently in the in-plane and out-of-plane directions, a property known as anisotropy. "It's sort of like a sandwich: One layer acts like a metal while the next layer acts like an insulator," explained Shao. "When that happens, light starts to interact unusually with the metal at certain frequencies. Instead of just bouncing off, it can travel inside the material in a zigzag pattern, which we call hyperbolic propagation."

In their current work, Shao and his collaborators at Columbia and The University of California, San Diego observed such zigzag movement of light, so-called hyperbolic waveguide modes, through ZrSiSe samples of varying thicknesses. Such waveguides can guide light through a material and here, result from photons of light mixing with electron oscillations to create hybrid quasiparticles called plasmons.

Although the conditions to generate plasmons that can propagate hyperbolically are met in many layered metals, it is the unique range of electron energy levels, called electronic band structure, of ZrSiSe that allowed the team to observe them in this material. Theoretical support to help explain these experimental results came from Andrey Rikhter in Michael Fogler's group at UC San Diego, Umberto De Giovannini and Angel Rubio at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, and Raquel Queiroz and Andrew Millis at Columbia. (Rubio and Millis are also affiliated with the Simons Foundation's Flatiron Institute)

Plasmons can "magnify" features in a sample, allowing researchers to see beyond the diffraction limit of optical microscopes, which cannot otherwise resolve details smaller than the wavelength of light they use. "Using hyperbolic plasmons, we could resolve features less than 100 nanometers using infrared light that's hundreds of times longer," said Shao.

ZrSiSe can be peeled to different thicknesses, making it an interesting option for nano-optics research that favors ultra-thin materials, said Shao. But, it's likely not the only material to be valuablefrom here, the group wants to explore others that share similarities with ZrSiSe but might have even more favorable waveguiding properties. That could help researchers develop more efficient optical chips, and better nano-optics approaches to explore fundamental questions about quantum materials.

"We want to use optical waveguide modes, like we've found in this material and hope to find in others, as reporters of interesting new physics," said Basov.
Cryo-EM reconstruction of F-actin bound to Mg2+-ADP-BeF3. at 2.2 A resolution. The central actin subunit is colored blue, the other four subunits are gray. Densities corresponding to water molecules are colored red and ADP in yellow. Credit: MPI of Molecular Physiology

Actin filaments are protein fibers that make up the internal skeleton of the cell. As active elements of our cells, actin filaments support the cell's fusion, movement and are involved in many other cellular processes. Importantly, they are also a major constituent of muscle cells. The structural complexity of these filaments has fascinated scientists since its discovery in the 1940sand has opened a sea of unanswered questions behind their ability to facilitate many processes of the cell.

For the first time, researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund, Germany, have been successfully able to visualize hundreds of water molecules in the actin filament, representing a quantum leap in actin research.

Using the technique of electron cryo microscopy (cryo-EM), the group of Stefan Raunser reveals in unprecedented detail how actin proteins are arranged together in a filament, how ATPthe cell's energy sourcesits in the protein pocket, and where individual water molecules position themselves and react with ATP.

"We are answering fundamental questions of life that scientists have been trying to answer for several decades," says Raunser. In eukaryotic cells, actin proteins are abundant and tend to join together (polymerize) into filaments.

The central actin subunit is colored blue, the other four subunits are gray. Densities corresponding to water molecules are colored red and ADP in yellow. Credit: MPI of Molecular Physiology

These filaments make up the network that constitutes the cytoskeleton of the cell and controls various cell processes through movement. Immune cells, for example, use actin filaments to move and hunt bacteria and viruses.

Researchers knew already that the filaments' dynamics is regulated by ATP hydrolysisthe reaction of ATP with water that cleaves a phosphate group and generates energy. What previously remained unanswered, however, was the exact molecular details behind this process.

Too flexible, too big?not for cryo-EM

As actin filaments are too flexible or too big for X-ray crystallization and nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-EM has been the only technique viable for obtaining detailed images. In 2015, Raunser's team used cryo-EM to picture a novel three-dimensional atomic model of the filaments, with a resolution of 0.37 nanometers. In 2018, his group described the three different states that actin proteins acquire in the filament: bound to ATP, bound to ADP in the presence of the cleaved phosphate, bound to ADP after release of the phosphate.

How water molecules move

In their current study published in Nature, Raunser and his colleagues were able to set a new resolution record: they obtained all three actin-states with a resolution of about 0.2 nanometers, making previously invisible details visible. The three-dimensional maps not only display all amino-acid sidechains of the proteins but also reveal where hundreds of water molecules are placed.

Through comparison between these new structures and those of isolated actin, they were able to infer how water molecules move. Upon polymerization, water molecules relocate in the ATP pocket in such a way, that only a single water molecule remains in front of ATP, ready to attack one phosphate and initiate hydrolysis.

The accuracy obtained through this approach can help further research in the field: "Our high-resolution model can propel scientists in designing small molecules for light microscopy research on tissues, and ultimately in therapeutic applications," Raunser says.

A door opener?

The authors also cast light on the final fate of the phosphate. Previously, scientists believed there to be a back door in the ATP pocket that remains open after ATP hydrolysis to facilitate the exit of the phosphate. However, the new cryo-EM structures show no trace of open backdoors. Hence, the release mechanism remains a mystery.

"We believe there to be a door, but it likely opens momentarily," comments Raunser, who now wants to use mathematical simulations and time-resolved cryo-EM methods to demonstrate just how the phosphate exits. Evidently, these exciting discoveries have opened the door for scientists to dig deeper in the hopes of discovering even more details behind the processes by which actin filaments contribute to the cell's motion.

More information: Stefan Raunser, Structural basis of actin filament assembly and aging, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05241-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05241-8 Journal information: Nature
People on Reddit discuss men and women in politics differentially. Credit: Vlada Karpovich, Pexels, CC0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

An analysis of 10 million comments on the social media platform Reddit suggests that public interest in male versus female politicians is relatively equal, but that gender biases exist across the platform. Sara Marjanovic and colleagues at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on October 26, 2022.

Around the world, women remain underrepresented in politics, likely because of gender biases. Analysis of words and language used in public discussions can be useful for studying political gender biases, but most prior studies have focused on communication addressed directly to politicians, as opposed to conversations about them.

To better understand political gender bias, Marjanovic and colleagues conducted a study of 10 million comments from public Reddit conversations about politicians. They used a multifaceted approach to investigate different types of gender bias, including subtler forms of bias such as benevolent sexism, which involves seemingly positive stereotypes. The researchers not only addressed specific language used, but also extra-linguistic factors, such as how often different politicians were mentioned.

This analysis revealed relatively equal levels of public interest in female versus male politicians; the researchers note that this finding contrasts with prior research showing greater media coverage of male versus female politicians.

However, while interest in female politicians did not appear to be significantly driven by overt misogyny or benevolent sexism, interest in female politicians was less professional and respectful than interest in male politicians.

For instance, female politicians were far more likely to be mentioned by their first names than male politicians, who were mostly mentioned by their last names. In addition, women were far more likely to be described with words referencing their body or family than male politicians, who were more likely to be described according to their profession.

These gender biases appeared in comments across different communities on Reddit, known as subreddits. However, left-leaning subreddits displayed them to a lower degree than right-leaning subreddits, and alt-right subreddits showed the most bias.

The researchers have publicly released the curated dataset they developed for this analysis in order to encourage additional future studies.

The authors add, "Unlike men, female politicians are often named by their first names and are described in relation to their body, clothing, or family; these findings suggest how societal expectations for women affect their public perception as political players."

More information: Quantifying gender biases towards politicians on Reddit, PLoS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274317 Journal information: PLoS ONE
Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park, Taranna, Tasmania, Australia. Credit: JJ Harrison/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

A study of carnivorous scavenging activity across northern Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands has highlighted the significance of carnivore conservation and the potential benefits of rewilding for small prey species.

The study, led by Dr. Matthew Fielding from the ARC Center of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage and the University of Tasmania, used strategically placed motion capture cameras and animal carcasses to monitor scavenger activity across three regions with varying population sizes of apex scavengersTasmanian devils and spotted-tailed quolls.

Where these top scavengers were absent or sparse, smaller scavengers, such as native forest ravens and feral cats, were rewarded with reduced competition and increased scavenging opportunities. Their use of carcasses was less efficient, however, leaving partially consumed carcasses to persist in the environment for longer.

"Native scavengers like the Tasmanian devil and spotted-tailed quolls play a crucial role in the environment but have experienced recent declines on the Tasmanian mainland and local extinction on the Bass Strait Islands," says Dr. Fielding.

"When these animals are removed from an ecosystem, we found that smaller scavengers, like feral cats, have greater access to food, which could lead to population growth and increased threats for small prey species such as woodland birds and small mammals.

"The Bass Strait Islands are home to some of Australia's most endangered bird species, like the King Island Scrubtit and King Island Brown Thornbill, so it's crucial we understand these potential threats."

While these smaller scavengers take advantage of greater carcass access, they were unable to match the scavenging efficiency of larger specialist scavengers, like the Tasmanian devil.

"We found that carcasses persisted for the length of the study in areas without devils and quolls, which could lead to the increased risk of carrion-borne diseases, having impacts on livestock and human health. These findings show that even at low densities, native apex scavengers were able to fulfill their ecological functions."

"Our findings highlight the need for carnivore conservation and suggest that rewilding strategiesreintroducing top carnivores to areas where they are absentcould benefit small prey species and the overall health of ecosystems."

Dr. Fielding said the study also adds to a growing body of evidence that feral cats actively scavenge, especially when they perceive there is little risk to themselves.

"Until recently, cats were believed to rarely scavenge. In our study, feral cats scavenged almost 50% of all carcasses in areas where top carnivores were absent. This suggests scavenging can be an important food source for cats when perceived risk is reduced. Reducing such opportunities for cats could benefit native wildlife in the long run."

The results of the study are published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

More information: Matthew W. Fielding et al, Dominant carnivore loss benefits native avian and invasive mammalian scavengers, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0521 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Provided by ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
Time series of climate-related human activities. Data obtained since the publication of Ripple and colleagues (2021) are shown in red (dark gray in print). In panel (f), tree cover loss does not account for forest gain and includes loss due to any cause. For panel (h), hydroelectricity and nuclear energy are shown in supplemental figure S1. In panel (j), assets divested reflects total assets under management based on institutional commitments. Sources and additional details about each variable are provided in supplemental file s1. Credit: BioScience (2022). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac083

Writing in the journal BioScience, an international coalition led by Oregon State University researchers says in a report published today that the Earth's vital signs have reached "code red" and that "humanity is unequivocally facing a climate emergency."

In the special report, "World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022," the authors note that 16 of 35 planetary vital signs they use to track climate change are at record extremes. The report's authors share new data illustrating increasing frequency of extreme heat events, rising global tree cover loss because of fires, and a greater prevalence of the mosquito-borne dengue virus. Further, they note that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached 418 parts per million, the highest on record.

William Ripple, a distinguished professor in the OSU College of Forestry, and postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf are the lead authors of the report, and 10 other U.S. and global scientists are co-authors.

"Look at all of these heat waves, fires, floods and massive storms," Ripple said. "The specter of climate change is at the door and pounding hard."

The report follows by five years the "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice" published by Ripple and colleagues in BioScience and co-signed by more than 15,000 scientists in 184 countries.

"As we can see by the annual surges in climate disasters, we are now in the midst of a major climate crisis, with far worse to come if we keep doing things the way we've been doing them," Wolf said.

"Climate change is not a standalone issue," said co-author Saleemul Huq of Independent University Bangladesh. "To avoid more untold human suffering, we need to protect nature, eliminate most fossil fuel emissions and support socially just climate adaptations with a focus on low-income areas that are most vulnerable."

The report points out that in the three decades since more than 1,700 scientists signed the original "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity" in 1992, global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 40%.

"As Earth's temperatures are creeping up, the frequency or magnitude of some types of climate disasters may actually be leaping up," said the University of Sydney's Thomas Newsome, a co-author of the report. "We urge our fellow scientists around the world to speak out on climate change."

More information: William J Ripple et al, World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022, BioScience (2022). DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac083 William J. Ripple et al, World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice, BioScience (2017) DOI: 10.1093/biosci/bix125 Journal information: BioScience
The delay-Doppler images with the vertical  horizontal resolution. The range (delay) increases from top to bottom, and the Doppler frequency increases from left to right, i.e., the right-hand side is approaching, while the left-hand side is receding. Pixel values are in units of standard deviations above the noise baseline (i.e., linear z-scores). The color map is clipped such that z-scores <0 map to black while white represents values higher than the 95th percentile. The images are available in FITS format through Figshare (Virkki et al. 2022). Credit: The Planetary Science Journal (2022). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ac8b72

The largest paper ever published on radar observations of near-Earth asteroids has been released, compiling years' worth of data from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

Using delay-Doppler radar observations collected from the observatory between December 2017 and December 2019, the study includes 191 asteroids' radar cross sections and Doppler-frequency broadening. This data can be used as clues to asteroids' spin periods and sizes, as well as polarization information for 110 of them, which could help to understand the surface and subsurface properties.

Thirty-seven asteroids were presented in greater detail with more refined size evaluation, preliminary shape evaluation, information about how reflective they are in radar, and if the radar observations match with the visual and near-infrared observations.

The work was published recently in The Planetary Science Journal.

As one of the only papers of its kind that includes a large number of asteroid targets, the study serves as a "treasure trove of data" for planetary scientists given that most existing literature only focuses on one object at a time, says Anne Virkki, the study's lead author and a researcher with the Department of Physics at the University of Helsinki in Finland.

The study's ample amount of asteroid data is important for many reasons, the researchers say.

For instance, the characteristics of several potentially hazardous asteroids are included in the paper, which is notable because observations from Arecibo have contributed to past planetary defense efforts, including the recent DART mission.

Although Arecibo's planetary radar group focuses on supporting NASA's planetary defense program, the study's wealth of information has economic benefits as well, supplying asteroid mining companies with data on metal-rich and ice-rich near-Earth asteroids containing resources of interest.

The diversity of asteroid data in general also clues other scientists in on the formation and evolution of the solar system.

Radar is the best ground-based tool for near-Earth asteroid characterization, says Flaviane Venditti, head of Arecibo's Planetary Radar Science Group and study co-author.

"The amount of valuable data collected is unique, and these results could not have been achieved with any other existing facility," Venditti says.

Though the telescope collapsed in 2020, scientists continue to analyze the backlog of data gathered from it.

Additional findings

Through the study, scientists found two near-Earth asteroids with abnormally high radar albedos, or reflectivity in radar, suggesting that they could be metal-rich. The possibility of two more is significant; few metal-rich NEAs have been found so far.

Another high radar albedos near-Earth asteroid, rare equal-mass binary 2017 YE5, was suggested to have ice below its surface instead of metal richness due to its low bulk density. Classified in the study as a D-type NEA, 2017 YE5 is potentially the first of its kind observed using radar.

More classifications were made with scientists listing five possible enstatite-rich, or E-type, asteroids that had not been identified as such previously, using polarization information from radar.

Accompanying the data were numerous 7.5m resolution asteroid images, a feature uncommon in existing literature. No other ground-based instrument than radar can take images at a resolution finer than 10m of any celestial objects further than the moon, and until the telescope's collapse in 2020, the Arecibo radar was the most powerful and sensitive planetary radar in the world.

Future Research

Though plentiful in its data, the study leaves doors open for further research.

"This paper is like a teaser for a full movie," Virkki says.

Venditti says the data from the research shows how rich the information obtained with radar is.

"In fact, there's still a lot of high-quality data to be analyzed in detail, which could even support planning future spacecraft missions to small bodies," Venditti says.

More information: Anne K. Virkki et al, Arecibo Planetary Radar Observations of Near-Earth Asteroids: 2017 December2019 December, The Planetary Science Journal (2022). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ac8b72 Journal information: The Planetary Science Journal
Artistic reconstruction of the fossil squamate, Bellairsia gracilis, basking on a dinosaur footprint. Credit: Artwork by Dr Elsa Panciroli.

A fossil discovery from Scotland has provided new information on the early evolution of lizards, during the time of the dinosaurs.

The tiny skeleton discovered on the Isle of Skye, called Bellairsia gracilis, is only 6 cm long and dates from the Middle Jurassic, 166 million years ago. The exceptional new fossil comprises a near-complete skeleton in life-like articulation, missing only the snout and tail. This makes it the most complete fossil lizard of this age anywhere in the world.

Bellairsia has a mixture of ancestral and modern features in its skeleton, providing evidence of what the ancestor of today's lizards (which are part of the wider animal group known as "squamates") might have looked like.

The research, a joint project between researchers at the universities of Warsaw, Oxford and UCL, is reported in the journal Nature. First author Dr. Mateusz Taanda (University of Warsaw and UCL) said, "This little fossil lets us see evolution in action. In paleontology you rarely have the opportunity to work with such complete, well-preserved fossils coming from a time about which we know so little."

The fossil was found in 2016 by a team led by Oxford University and National Museums Scotland. It is one of several new fossil discoveries from the island, including early amphibians and mammals, which are revealing evolution of important animal groups that persist to the present day.

The actual fossil of Bellairsia gracilis, a fossil squamate from Middle Jurassic aged rocks from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Fossil held in the collections at National Museums Scotland. Credit: Dr Elsa Panciroli

Dr. Taanda commented, "Bellairsia has some modern lizard features, like traits related to cranial kinesisthat's the movement of the skull bones in relation to one another. This is an important functional feature of many living squamates."

Co-author Dr. Elsa Panciroli (Oxford University Museum of Natural History and National Museums Scotland) who discovered the fossil, said, "It was one of the first fossils I found when I began working on Skye. The little black skull was poking out from the pale limestone, but it was so small I was lucky to spot it. Looking closer I saw the tiny teeth, and realized I'd found something important, but we had no idea until later that almost the whole skeleton was in there."

Squamates are the living group that includes lizards and snakes, and comprises more than 10,000 species today, making them one of the most species-rich living vertebrate animal groups. They include animals as diverse as snakes, chameleons, and geckos, found around the world. The group is characterized by numerous specialized features of the skull and rest of the skeleton.

Although we know the earliest origins of squamates lie 240 million years ago in the Triassic, a lack of fossils from the Triassic and Jurassic has made their early evolution and anatomy difficult to trace.

Digital image of the fossil of Bellairsia gracilis inside the rock, as revealed using microCT scan data. Credit: Digital render by Matthew Humpage/NorthernRogue.

Analyzing the new fossil alongside living and extinct fossil squamates confirms Bellairsia belongs to the "stem" of the squamate family tree. This means that it split from other lizards just before the origin of modern groups. The research also supports the finding that geckos are a very early branching lineage, and that the enigmatic fossil Oculudentavis, previously suggested to be a dinosaur, is also a stem squamate.

To study the specimen, the team used X-ray computed tomography (CT) which, like medical CT, allows for non-invasive 3D imaging. This allowed the researchers to image the entire fossil, even though most of the specimen is still hidden by surrounding rock. Whereas medical scanners work at the millimeter scale, the Oxford University CT scanner revealed details down to a few tens of micrometers.

Parts of the skeleton were then imaged in even greater detail, including the skull, hindlimbs and pelvis, at the European Synchrotron (ESRF, Grenoble, France). The intensity of the synchrotron beam permits a resolution of 4 micrometers, revealing details of the smallest bones in the skeleton.

Co-author Professor Roger Benson (Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford), said, "Fossils like this Bellairsia specimen have huge value in filling gaps in our understanding of evolution and the history of life on Earth. It used to be almost impossible to study such tiny fossils like this, but this study shows the power of new techniques including CT scanning to image these non-destructively and in great detail."

The fieldwork site on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where the fossil was found. Featuring Prof. Roger Benson (University of Oxford). Credit: Dr Elsa Panciroli.

Co-author Professor Susan Evans (UCL), who first described and named Bellairsia from a few jaw and skull bones from Oxfordshire 25 years ago, added, "It is wonderful to have a complete specimen of this tantalizing little lizard, and to see where it fits in the evolutionary tree. Through fossils like Bellairsia we are gaining a better understanding of early lizard anatomy. Angus Bellairs, the lizard embryologist after which Bellairsia was originally named, would have been delighted."

The study was led by Dr. Mateusz Taanda (University of Warsaw) and involved researchers from the University of Oxford's Earth Sciences Department, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, UCL (University College London), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the Natural History Museum in London and National Museums of Scotland.

The study will be published in Nature.

More information: Mateusz Taanda, Synchrotron tomography of a stem lizard elucidates early squamate anatomy, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05332-6. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05332-6 Journal information: Nature
With the help of the TurtleSense system, Olive Ridley hatchlings safely make their way to the ocean on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Credit: Erin Clabough, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

A new low-cost sensor designed to resemble a sea turtle egg enables scientists to monitor nests remotely and predict when hatchlings will emerge almost to the dayproviding valuable information for conservation efforts and turtle nest management. Erin Clabough of the University of Virginia and Samuel Wantman of Nerds Without Borders led the research, which publishes on October 26 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Sea turtle populations worldwide are in decline due to human activities, with Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, Kemp's Ridley, Leatherback and Olive Ridley sea turtles all listed as threatened species. Sea turtle conservation efforts largely focus on protecting vulnerable hatchlings once they emerge, to ensure they head out to sea, instead of toward the bright lights of towns. Conservationists can count the days since eggs were laid to predict when they will hatch and then watch the nest, but these efforts are inaccurate and labor-intensive.

In the current study, researchers used the TurtleSense system to monitor loggerhead sea turtle nests on Cape Hatteras National Seashore to see if they could predict more accurately when the turtles would emerge from the nest. They buried an egg-sized sensor within the nest and attached a cable to a communication tower that remotely transmitted data on the movement of hatchlings within the nest.

TurtleSense can detect synchronized bursts of sea turtle movement during hatching followed by periods of cessation, as confirmed by infrared video footage recorded within the nest. Credit: Clabough et al. 2022, PLOS ONE; Jo Young at Renegade Pictures, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The researchers identified a pattern of intense hatchling movement within the nest, followed by a pause, which let them predict almost the exact day when the young turtles would dig out of the sand. Their results suggest that hatchlings can detect motion, which allows them to communicate and head out together as a group. The system also accurately identified non-viable nests where monitoring was no longer necessary.

The new TurtleSense system has the potential to reduce the cost and labor required to monitor endangered turtle nests and to help conservationists make better decisions about nest management. The system can also shorten beach closures and enable communities to engage in turtle-based ecotourism, benefiting both the community and sea turtle conservation efforts. While this study focused on Loggerhead turtles, the researchers also monitored Olive Ridley and Green Turtle nests and saw similar patterns, suggesting that the system will work for a range of sea turtle species.

Erin Clabough adds, "It's absolutely magical to witness baby turtles poke their heads out of the sand and sprint towards the ocean, but it's an event that can be very hard to predict. The TurtleSense system is a low-cost, creative solution that remotely allows us to detect how baby turtles synchronize developmental movement within the nest in real time. We can use the system to detect hatching and to better predict when the hatchlings will emerge onto the beach."

Samuel Wantman adds, "As each turtle emerges from its shell, it climbs up to join its siblings at the top of the clutch of eggs, creating a wave of commotion among all the other baby turtles in the nest. When there is no more commotion there is a period of quiet, which may be the impetus for all the hatchlings to boil out of the nest together."

More information: The secret life of baby turtles: A novel system to predict hatchling emergence, detect infertile nests, and remotely monitor sea turtle nest events, PLoS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275088 Journal information: PLoS ONE
Research field at Sugadaira Research Station, Mountain Science Center, University of Tsukuba, and Drosophila auraria. Credit: University of Tsukuba

Most people probably think of fruit flies as just an annoyance around the fruit bowl. Now, researchers from Japan have discovered that these tiny flies could help to answer some big questions about ecology and evolution.

In a study published this month in Applied Entomology and Zoology, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed that two closely related species of Drosophila coexist in the same places because of differences in exactly where and when they appear.

Species that are closely related often overlap geographically and have similar resource needs, which may result in competition. Additionally, these species are expected to interact reproductively; if this happens often, it may lead to the exclusion of one of the species via hybridization and/or reproductive interference (i.e., engagement in reproductive activities by individuals of one species with those of another, resulting in a reduction of fitness of one or both).

Therefore, for these species to stably coexist, mechanisms must be in place that prevent reproductive interactions and competition.

"To discover how often these species come into contact and how strong their interactions are, research is needed on the species' occurrence in time and space at a fine and local scale," says Professor Yukie Sato, a senior author of the study. "To this end, we conducted such a study in a species complex of Drosophila fruit flies."

The researchers examined differences in seasonal occurrence and habitat use patterns between species in the Drosophila auraria complex, and how often the species were collected in the same traps. Minor differences were found in habitat use and seasonal occurrence between D. biauraria and D. triauraria; however, both species were occasionally found in traps together.

"Specifically, D. triauraria females and D. biauraria males were collected together," explains lead author Moe Onuma. "This indicates that reproductive interference could be a risk for D. triauraria females, and that hybridization may occur between these species."

Although the researchers expected female mate preference for males of the same species to play a key role in minimizing reproductive interaction between the species, the discovery of abnormal genital structures in a few males also revealed the potential for hybridization.

"Although the cause of these abnormalities is unknownthey may have been the result of environmental factorshybridization may be at play. To clarify this, future genetic and hybridization studies will be needed," says Professor Sato.

The results of this study will contribute to an improved understanding of how closely related species coexist, which is a major focus of the fields of ecological and evolutionary research.

More information: Moe Onuma et al, Habitat and seasonal occurrence differ among closely related species of the Drosophila auraria species complex (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Applied Entomology and Zoology (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s13355-022-00801-w
Red sprites formed above thunderstorms in the southeast Aegean Sea, as captured from the eastern suburbs of Athens, Greece on December 4, 2021. Credit: Thanasis Papathanasiou

A flash of lightning, and thensomething else. High above the storm, a crimson figure blinks in and out of existence. If you see it, you are a lucky witness of a sprite, one of the least-understood electrical phenomena in Earth's upper atmosphere. But if you catch it on camera, your photo could contribute to a ground-breaking scientific discovery.

NASA's newest citizen science project, Spritacular (pronounced sprite-tacular), leverages the power of crowdsourcing to advance the study of sprites and other Transient Luminous Events, or TLEs. TLEs include a range of electrical phenomena that occur above thunderstorms and produce brief flashes of light. The new citizen science project aims to connect professional scientists with members of the public who would like their camerawork to contribute to scientific studies.

"People capture wonderful images of sprites, but they're shared sporadically over the internet and most of the scientific community is unaware of these captures," said Dr. Burcu Kosar, a space physicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and Spritacular principal investigator. "Spritacular will bridge this gap by creating the first crowdsourced database of sprites and other TLEs that is accessible and readily available for scientific research."

Sprites occur at some 50 miles (80 kilometers) altitude, high above thunderstorms. They appear moments after a lightning strikea sudden reddish flash that can take a range of shapes, often combining diffuse plumes and bright, spiny tendrils. Some sprites tend to dance over the storms, turning on and off one after another. Many questions about how and why they form remain unanswered.

A red sprite (indicated by white arrow) above a thunderstorm was captured by members of Expedition 44 Crew aboard the International Space Station on Aug. 10, 2015. Credit: NASA

Eyewitness reports of strange flashes of light above thunderstorms date back hundreds of years, but it wasn't until 1989 that the first such event was caught on camera. Researchers from the University of Minnesota were testing a low-light TV camera for an upcoming rocket flight mission. By sheer accident, their camera captured the very first credible evidence for what we now call sprites.

"It wasn't a very high resolution or fast camerathey just captured two luminous blobs above a nearby thunderstorm," Kosar said. "The whole field was kickstarted because a camera was pointed in the right direction at the right time."

Scientists dubbed these elusive events "sprites," a reference to mythical fairy-like creatures from European folklore. As other kinds of TLEs were discovered, the playful naming convention stuck. Today, scientists study ELVES, Halos, Blue Jets, Gigantic Jets, and more.

Yet we still have far too few observations of sprites and other TLEs, and there is much we don't know. Some of the major outstanding questions include:

How often do sprites occur? Why do they take the shapes they do?

What conditions in the upper atmosphere trigger sprite initiation?

How do sprites affect Earth's global electric circuit, and what is their contribution to the energy in Earth's upper atmosphere?

How are sprites connected with gravity waves, which send wind-driven ripples of energy through our upper atmosphere?

Answering these questions could lead to major advances in the science of Earth's upper atmosphere. But to get there, Spritacular needs your help.

Become a Spritacular citizen scientist

The first goal of Spritacular is to build an image database: A collection of observations of sprites and other TLEs that will help answer the questions above.

Many commercially available, digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are suitable for capturing sprites. The hardest part is knowing when and where to look. By bringing together experienced "sprite-chasers" and providing educational support and resources, Spritacular aims to provide all the guidance you need for a successful capture.

If you believe you have captured a photo of a sprite or other TLEs, you can create an account and then submit your photos and photo details (time and location of the photo) to Spritacular. Accurate time and location details are preferred, but approximate time and location will also be accepted with sufficient detail. To submit a photo, you must be the photographer who captured it.

All submitted photos will be reviewed by scientists. Submitters who collaborate with scientists and whose image leads to a scientific study or discovery will be properly acknowledged or listed as a coauthor on the resulting scientific publication, depending on the level of contribution.

The broader goal of Spritacular is to foster a mutual exchange between observers of TLEs and the scientific community and to inspire citizen scientists all around the world to participate in the investigation of these elusive events. As the Spritacular community and image database grows, Kosar is planning to implement new software tools to automatically cross-reference submissions with databases on lightning and thunderstorms. These tools will allow users to analyze their own images and contribute to the scientific method.

Spritacular is a citizen science project in collaboration with the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The principal investigator is Dr. Burcu Kosar and co-investigator is Dr. Jia Yue.

More information: More information is available at spritacular.org/

Provided by NASA
Credit: Radboud University

Shallow lakes and ditches emit less greenhouse gases if rooted submerged plants are predominant instead of free-floating plants or algae. There are several reasons why Dutch water managers should encourage more submerged plants in Dutch waterways, researchers argue. But these plants will have a better chance of survival if fewer fertilizers are leached into Dutch waters. The researchers recently published their findings in the journal Water Research.

Lakes and ditches cause a large share of the total emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas, in the Netherlands (estimated to be around 16%). Unfortunately, climate change amplifies this problem, because emissions of methane increase rapidly as water warms up. This happens especially in nutrient-rich water, where a lot of organic matter is present on the bottom that microorganisms convert into methane via the process of decay.

Free-floating aquatic plants (such as duckweed) and algae benefit the most from climate change, because they grow near the surface and so are the first to take advantage of the higher temperatures and higher CO 2 concentrations in the air. Meanwhile, the increasingly heavy rainfall is causing even more fertilizer to leach from farmland into the surface water.

More oxygen

However, in water where submerged plants predominate rather than free-floating plants, emissions increase much more slowly as the water warms up, researchers from Radboud University, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen University and IGB Berlin have revealed. They made their discovery by simulating Dutch waters in large tanks containing either mainly algae, free-floating plants or submerged plants. Half of the tanks were warmed by 4 C, anticipating the expected degree of climate warming by the end of this century.

"We think submerged plants cause this effect because they leak oxygen into the soil, enabling the microorganisms there to consume more methane," explains first author Ralf Aben of Radboud University. "There is a caveat though: we used the common plant watermilfoil. It is not clear whether all submerged plants have the same effect. That will require further research."

Win-win situation

The discovery is good news for Dutch water managers, says final author Sarian Kosten of Radboud University. They are already investing in increasing the coverage of submerged plants in Dutch lakes and ditches, mainly to improve the water quality and biodiversity. "But this research shows that it is also good for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from bodies of water. So it's a win-win," continues Kosten.

"Unfortunately, too much fertilizer is still leaching into our surface water in everyday practice. This is due to the gigantic network of ditches we have in the Netherlands," Kosten explains. "As a result, free-floating plants, which grow well in such waters, remain dominant. So, if we can reduce the amount of fertilizer, this will not only reduce nitrogen emissions, but it will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from lakes and ditches."

More information: Ralf C.H. Aben et al, Temperature response of aquatic greenhouse gas emissions differs between dominant plant types, Water Research (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119251
A slice of a Martian meteorite nicknamed "Black Beauty," which has fragments of older rocks embedded. The color is added to indicate different elements: red is magnesium, green is calcium, and blue is aluminum. Using a new instrument, a group including scientists from the University of Chicago and the Field Museum estimated this meteorite to be 2.2 billion years old. Credit: Maria Valdes

The coming decade is expected to bring a veritable bonanza for the science of planets: space missions are scheduled to bring back samples of rock from the moon, Mars, the Martian moon of Phobos, and a primitive asteroid. And scientists say there is a new technique for determining the age of rocks, meteorites, and even artifacts, that could help open up a new era of discovery.

A group with the University of Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History tested an instrument made by Thermo Fisher Scientific on a piece of a Martian meteorite nicknamed "Black Beauty" and were able to quickly and precisely date it by probing it with a tiny laser beama significant improvement over past techniques, which involved far more work and destroyed parts of the sample. Their research is published in the Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.

"We are very excited by this demonstration study, as we think that we will be able to employ the same approach to date rocks that will be returned by multiple space missions in the future," said Nicolas Dauphas, the Louis Block Professor of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and first author on a study laying out the results. "The next decade is going to be mind-blowing in terms of planetary exploration."

Rock of ages

Scientists have been using isotopes to estimate the ages of specimens for more than a century. This method takes advantage of the fact that certain types of elements are unstable and will slowly turn into other types at a slow, predictable rate. In this case, scientists tap the fact that rubidium-87 will change into strontium-87so the older the rock is, the more strontium-87 it will have.

Rubidium dating can be used to determine the ages of rocks and objects that are billions of years old; it is widely used to understand how the moon, Earth, and solar system formed, to understand the magma plumbing system beneath volcanoes, and to trace human migration and trades in archaeology.

Previously, however, the way to make this measurement would take weeksand it would destroy part of the sample.

To perform those tests with the conventional method, "you take your piece of rock, crush it with a hammer, dissolve the minerals with chemicals and use a special ultra-clean laboratory to process them, and then take it to a mass spectrometer to measure the isotopes," explained study co-author Maria Valdes, a postdoctoral researcher in the Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies at the Field Museum of Natural History.

But Thermo Fisher Scientific developed a new machine that promised to significantly cut the time, toxicity, and amount of sample destroyed in the process. It uses a laser to vaporize a tiny portion of the samplethe hole created is the size of a single human hairand then analyzes the rubidium and strontium atoms with a mass spectrometer that uses new technological advances to cleanly measure strontium isotopes.

Dauphas, Valdes, and several other collaborators wanted to test out the new techniqueand they had a perfect candidate: a piece of meteorite that landed on Earth from Mars.

This particular meteorite is nicknamed Black Beauty for its gorgeous dark color. It is flecked with lighter fragments that represent even older rocks imbedded in the rock.

However, these fragments were rolled up into another rock at some point much later during Mars' history. It's a bit like when you're baking cookies, explained Valdes; the chocolate chips and nuts were made at different times and places, but all the components come together when you bake the cookie.

Scientists want to know the ages of all of these steps along the way, because the composition of each set tells them about what the conditions were like on Mars at the time, including the makeup of the atmosphere and the volcanic activity on the surface. They can use this information to piece together a timeline of Mars.

However, thus far, parts of the story were disputed; different studies had returned different answers for the age when all the components of Black Beauty came together and formed one rockso the scientists thought the meteorite would be a perfect candidate to test the capabilities of the new technique. They took a sample of Black Beauty to Germany to try it out.

In a matter of hours rather than weeks, the instrument returned its answer: 2.2 billion years old. The team thinks this represents the time when it coalesced into its final form.

What's more, to perform the test, the scientists were able to place the entire meteorite chunk in the machine and then precisely select a tiny site to test the age. "This was a particularly good tool to solve this controversy," said Dauphas. "When you chip out a piece of rock to test the old way, it's possible you are getting other fragments mixed in, which may affect your results. We do not have that problem with the new machine."

The technique could be extremely useful in many fields, but Dauphas and Valdes are particularly interested in it for understanding everything from the history of water on Mars' surface to how the solar system itself formed.

In the next decade, scientists are expecting a bonanza of new samples from places other than Earth. The U.S. and China are planning new missions to the moon; a missions to intercept an asteroid called Bennu will land in 2023 with payloads of dirt scooped from its surface; another mission will bring back samples from Mars' moon Phobos in 2027; and by the early 2030s, NASA hopes to bring back samples that the Perseverance rover is now collecting on Mars.

With all of these samples, scientists expect to learn much more about the planets and asteroids around us.

"This is a huge advance," Dauphas said. "There are many precious meteorites and artifacts that you don't want to destroy. This allows you to tremendously minimize the impact you have during your analysis."

More information: Nicolas Dauphas et al, In situ 87Rb87Sr analyses of terrestrial and extraterrestrial samples by LA-MC-ICP-MS/MS with double Wien filter and collision cell technologies, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2022). DOI: 10.1039/D2JA00135G
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and the wave of state-level abortion bans that followed, it might appear that anti-abortion activists could declare victory and go home.

However, from their perspective, a major threat still looms: Their tax dollars may be used to fund abortion in states where abortion is legal.

As it currently stands, several policies are in place that almost entirely prevent federal funds from being used to directly pay for abortion services. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the public funding of abortion through Medicaid except in rare exceptions. In the years since, "Hyde-like restrictions" have been added to other federal healthcare programs, as well as to private insurance plans purchased through the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act.

There are also restrictions on federal funds granted to organizations that provide reproductive healthcare for low-income women, like Planned Parenthood, such that these funds cannot be used for abortion services. Even so, anti-abortion activists insist that because money is fungible, any federal support for organizations that provide abortion services or counseling represents an indirect taxpayer subsidy to the "abortion industry."

As such, despite the multitude of restrictions currently in place, anti-abortion activists promote the idea that Americans are nonetheless being forced to pay for abortions. When the Democratic Party declared in 2016 its intention to roll back these restrictions, framing them as unjust barriers to abortion access, anti-abortion activists only ramped up this existing rhetoric.

In the post-Dobbs world of the 2022 midterms, abortion debates are primarily focused on whether abortion will be legal, but anti-abortion leaders are also highlighting the implications of these laws for voters' tax dollars.

This should not be surprising. In the course of my research on debates about taxpayer-funded abortion, I found that this threat has historically been used to motivate and mobilize anti-abortion voters. This message has especially resonated for those conservative evangelical Christians and Catholics who believe that when abortion is funded using their tax dollars, this makes them personally complicit in sin.

Opposition to public funding

The U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops has long been a central player in advocacy campaigns to "stop taxpayer funding of abortion." As one message encouraging voters to support this advocacy puts it, "Don't let our government force you to pay for the deaths of unborn children."

This concern resonates for Catholic Republicans, more than 7 in 10 who oppose the use of public funds for abortion, according to an analysis of national survey data that I conducted in 2021 with scholars Andrew Whitehead and Ryan Burge. This opposition is even stronger among Republicans who identify as born-again or evangelical Christianbetween 84% and 90%.

But abortion funding bans also appeal to fiscally conservative voters who oppose welfare spending in general, whether or not they are morally opposed to abortion. Since the 1970s, anti-abortion leaders have argued that "funding bans protected taxpayers' wallets as well as their consciences," according to the legal historian Mary Ziegler. National survey data my colleagues and I analyzed suggests that this argument continues to resonate. Six out of 10 Republicans with no religious affiliation support abortion funding bans; so do between 14% and 17% of Republicans who support legal abortion.

Opposition to taxpayer-funded abortion, even more than abortion itself, is a thread connecting religious and fiscal conservatives within the Republican coalition.

A winning strategy

Campaigns to prevent tax dollars from funding abortion have kept these anti-abortion activists and other Republican voters engaged and mobilized for decades, even when a ban on legal abortion itself seemed unlikely.

As one leader of an anti-abortion organization told me in a 2021 interview: "Ultimately, I think our focus should still remain on criminalizing [abortion].  But I think in the meantime we also should oppose the taxpayer funding of it  just because it's a winning strategy."

This seems no less true post-Dobbs. As the midterms approach, I have found that Republican candidates and movement leaders are continuing to stoke fear about taxpayer-funded abortion in order to mobilize voters, especially religious conservatives.

Bill codifying federal abortion rights

A major issue energizing voters this cycle is the possibility that Congress might pass a bill codifying abortion rights. While the primary issue at stake is whether abortions would be legal nationwide, abortion opponents are quick to note that such a bill would also "force taxpayers to pay for them," as the anti-abortion news website LifeNews.com put it.

National Right to Life president Carol Tobias warned in the September 2022 issue of the organization's newsletter that "Proponents of the bill claim this bill would codify Roe v Wade. Don't be fooledit goes much, much further." In particular, she writes, "tax dollars would flow to pay for abortion." Jeanne F. Mancini, President of March for Life, warned that if this "extreme bill" is passed, it would "force taxpayers to pay for abortions nationwideup until birth."

Even in the absence of such a bill, abortion opponents are raising the alarm about existing Biden administration policies that allow public funds to be used for abortion services, like a new Pentagon policy that would "pay for service members to travel for abortion care."

As reported by the Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission raised concerns that "the interim rule forces taxpayers to fund the taking of preborn human lives." Meanwhile, the Christian Right organization Concerned Women for America warned, "A baby has already been killed under this cruel ploy.  Not only that, but the Administration wants Americans to pay for it."

Abortion on state-level ballots

Voters in several states are also directly deciding the fate of their states' abortion laws in November 2022. In at least two of these states, anti-abortion leaders are highlighting the implications for voters' tax dollars.

For example, in Kentucky, where a near-total abortion ban went into effect shortly after Dobbs, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to say, "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."

Explaining why voters should vote "Yes for Life," the chair of the campaign supporting the amendment led with its implications for taxpayers: "The constitutional amendment is very clear. It protects taxpayer dollars, and it makes sure there is not an interpreted right of abortion in the constitution."

In Michigan, where a ballot measure called Proposal 3 would enshrine abortion rights, backlash from anti-abortion activists led by local Catholic organizations prominently features the claim that "If passed, Proposal 3 would result in taxpayer-funded abortion."

Municipal politics

Cities dedicating public funds to abortion post-Dobbs have also faced scrutiny in the lead-up to the midterms, especially from conservative religious groups.

In Philadelphia, for example, anti-abortion activists represented by the conservative Catholic Thomas More Society have filed suit against city leaders "for illegally using taxpayer money to pay for abortions." Only weeks before the election, the Pro-Life Union of Greater Philadelphia rallied supporters to a hearing on the case, pleading "Don't let Mayor (Jim) Kenney get away with it!"

Abortion debates are certainly not only about how abortions will be paid for. But journalists and scholars often pay far too little attention to anti-abortion activists' persistent focus on the possibility that some abortions will be paid for with their tax dollars. If history and current research is any guide, this threat resonates with a diverse array of Republicans and will be used to mobilize voters in 2022 and beyond.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A sample from the tropical tree species Machaerium nyctitans, also known as canela do brejo or espuela de gallo, from a wet forest in north Bolivia. The ring-width patterns vary across the tree sample, which highlights the need to measure multiple sections of tropical wood to get an accurate representation of growth. Credit: Rose Oelkers

Rose Oelkers is a tree-ring scientist with a difficult task: studying trees that don't have annual ringsor at least not very clearly defined ones.

Currently a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, she analyzes tropical tree species in Bolivia and Peru to characterize their growth patterns and responses to changes in the environment.

But when Oelkers was an undergraduate entering William Patterson University in New Jersey, she planned to study ecology. "I really had no idea we could study tree rings," she said.

That all changed when she met an enthusiastic tree-ring scientist in William Paterson University's Department of Environmental Science: Nicole Davi, who introduced her to the concept of trees as storytellers of the environment. Oelkers knew she wanted to learn more.

"I found it really neat that you could go to your local forest, look at tree rings for a particular time period, and relate it to a human memoryfor example, if you were around during the drought of the 1960s in the Northeast, you could look at some of the old-growth hemlock tree samples from New York and see small rings that occurred for those years," Oelkers said.

So when Davi announced a research opportunity that involved significant lab and fieldwork, Oelkers took itand hasn't looked back since. "I fell in love with the idea of being able to get your hands dirty and travel across the world to try to learn more about different environments," she said.

Through Davi, who is also an adjunct senior research scientist at the Tree-Ring Laboratory at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Oelkers met other transformative tree-ring scientists and became the lab's lead technician from 2015 to 2018, working on a variety of projects, including studying the density of tree rings from slow-growing white spruce in Alaska.

Today, Oelkers is working with Laia Andreu-Hayles and Roseanne D'Arrigo at Lamont-Doherty to study tropical trees from South America, which she says is vastly different from her experience with tree rings in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Q&A below, she tells us about the challenges of working with tropical species, and how she discerns their hidden stories.

Rose Oelkers coring a tree in the central Bolivian Amazon. Credit: Rose Oelkers

Why is your current research on tree rings in tropical climates important?

If we can study tree-ring variability through time, we can understand different aspects like forest age and climate variability. There's not a lot of tree-ring data in South America; it's a huge gap in the network. Despite this, it's known that some of the oldest growing trees are located in the tropical Andes of Bolivia.

Trees grow very differently in these wet and dry environments, where there isn't a summer and winter. Prior to the 1980s, it was widely and incorrectly believed that trees in the tropics just kept growing and didn't even form annual rings. Or if they did, they were indistinguishable or inconsistent due to a 'lack' of seasonal climate variability. In recent decades, there's been a monumental effort in the tree-ring community to explore tropical forests like the Amazon and develop new tree-ring chronologies. They've discovered that some trees, if they exist in locations that endure dry seasons longer than two months, can actually form annual rings. And by studying different parameters of those rings, we learn that they can respond and record different changes that happen in the environment they grow in.

What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities of this work?

The location that I study in Bolivia is very complexthere are high elevation Andean environments with very slow growing species, but also lower elevation, humid Amazon forests with millions of species that haven't even been identified. In some regions, we have little information about forest history and how tree species grow.

In the Bolivian tropical Andes, we work together with botanists from the National Herbarium of Bolivia; collectively, our goal is to find and sample old trees that produce annual rings to learn more about forest age and growth cycles. It's exciting but challenging to study new species for tree-ring research. Dendrochronology is more than just counting rings to determine the age of the tree. For example, the variation of those rings can help us understand how the tree growth has responded to climate change over time: are the trees growing faster or slower? Do they grow more during wet years? Is there evidence of fire, or change in the forest structure? Is it human-made? We're really just getting a history of the land from the trees' perspective.

It's a much different process from studying trees in the Northern Hemisphere environments, which have been studied extensively due to the large variety of species that grow in close proximity to one another with clear, annual rings in the wood; it's easier to build a well replicated, robust dataset. Tropical tree species may have more complex growth because the climate, ecosystem, and overall growing conditions are completely different.

How do you study tropical species and determine their growth when the rings may not present an annual pattern?

With non-tropical trees, the most traditional parameter of dendrochronology is measuring the width of the rings in each core or cross-section to understand each tree's growth pattern over time. Because we know the year we extracted samples in the field, we assign preliminary dates to the rings and cross-date the ring width patterns among other nearby trees through time. If they are all growing similarly and annually, the number of rings and relative width per year will positively correlate, which tells us these trees are responding to a similar environmental variable that contributes to growth.

In tropical species, you might find different numbers of rings on one side of the tree to the other, and the cross-dating process becomes difficult.

Rose Oelkers coring a tree in the Tucuman-Bolivian forest in south Bolivia. Credit: Rose Oelkers

To confirm if the rings are produced annually, it's common to use independent methods of dating such as radiocarbon analyses, which is what we're doing for the Bolivian tree samples. If the dates we assigned through dendrochronology precisely match the radiocarbon curve from the atmospheric data, then that verifies that you have annual growth.

Sometimes rings are impossible to identify, even underneath the microscope. We look at very high resolution images of the tree samples to try to identify if we have a ring that has both the earlywoodwhich is the wide, porous part of the ring that develops during the wet seasonand the latewood: the thin, dense, band of cells that forms during drier conditions. Magnifying these anatomical cuts can help us identify the growth layers. If we don't have that thin band of cells where the cell walls grow closer together, signifying growth cessation, it may mean tree growth doesn't officially shut off, and perhaps these trees grow differently and not annually. So tree-ring width, wood anatomy, and radiocarbon analyses are key tools we use when studying trees from complex growing environments like the tropics.

What stories do these trees have to tell us about their climate? What can they teach the local community?

In general, we can try to understand past major climate events or trends. So if there were a cyclical pattern, say, every 50 years these trees grew very low and that time period happens to coincide with known climatic events, whether it be drought or something else, we can help predict if the frequency of those droughts might be increasing or try to communicate that maybe it's smart to manage water resources if a 50-year drought might be approaching.

In one of the species I study in the high elevation site, we are observing a decline in tree growth since the 1980s. They're dying for some reason, and it could be drought related or, perhaps, related to the extension of the growing season and limited resource availability. We've been trying to talk to the local people to understand, how has the growing season changed? Have their crops been growing later during the year? I think it's important to have this relationship of what is known and valued from the community in conjunction with what the trees have recorded in their communities to try to enhance the understanding of how the environment is changing.

What has surprised you most while studying trees in these tropical environments?

It's been really interesting finding how old some of these trees growing in humid environments are. In the high elevation sites, it's typical for the highest growing trees in the world to grow up to 700 years old, but that's because they're in very harsh environments and their type of species are resilient to these conditions. But down in lower latitudes, like some of the more moist environments, these trees are also way older than I expected. Two-hundred years old doesn't seem like that much in comparison, but in really wet environments it's likely that large trees are fast-growing and young, which I've learned is not always the case.

There is so much human history and value of these trees to the local communities that has yet to be understood. As we study new tree species, we also learn about how they are used (medicine, timber), and the stories they record. For example, you can see evidence of human settlement within the growth rates of the tree rings. If there is clear-cutting in the forest, the living trees I sample will show this huge release of really fast growth, or big rings going through time. And talking with the people and hearing them say, "Yes, we actually settled in this community 20 years ago," which happens to coincide with that big growth release, is pretty incredible. It's amazing to see this connection between the people and the trees.

Provided by State of the Planet
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study from The Australian National University (ANU) shows how Twitter helped shape the Black Lives Matter movement.

Lead researcher Professor Colin Klein said the immediacy of the social media platform allowed it to play a crucial role in spreading information and organizing protests. It also become an important platform for right-wing reactions.

The analysis of more than 118 million tweets in 2020 and 2021 saw three distinct groups emerge on Twitter: right-leaning, center-left, and left-wing activists.

These groups differed not only in the content they were sharing and the language they were using, but also in how long their tweets continued to gain traction.

"Content coming from the cluster of activist accounts spiked the highest in terms of reactions, but it also decayed the quickest," Professor Klein said.

"Whereas the right-wing tweets tended not to spike as high, but they also decayed much more slowlyyou get a much more sustained response.

"This is similar to what researchers have found in the wake of say a mass shooting in the U.S. You get a lot of attention around gun control very early on, but a much longer-lasting interest in gun purchasing."

Professor Klein said there was a significant spike in online activity after the murder of George Floyd in May of 2020.

"We also saw a shift in the way right-wing accounts were framing things. Early on they were more split, and there was a lot of pro-police rhetoric. After George Floyd's murder this was swamped by the 'activists as terrorists' framing."

The study also showed the link between tweets and Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.

"For activists we can see protests acted as an indicator for the number of tweets, but also the number of tweets acted as an indicator for protests," Professor Klein said.

"You can clearly see the patterns of political engagement. Activists drive and are driven by protests, while the right reacts more to the political context."

The most common Black Lives Matter hashtags were #BlackLivesMatter, #GeorgeFloyd, #BreonnaTaylor, #Black and #ICantBreathe.

These hashtags helped BLM content go viral. But Professor Klein believes Twitter could take more responsibility when it comes to this type of viral content.

"Algorithms don't simply promote tweets at random, they promote tweets of a certain age, with a certain speed and with a certain history of visibility," he said.

"Twitter could step up by realizing that different political interests have different dynamics on Twitter, and algorithmic choices can shape those dynamics in counterproductive ways."

The study is published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

More information: Colin Klein et al, Attention and counter-framing in the Black Lives Matter movement on Twitter, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01384-1
V1180 Cas and comparison stars. Credit: Mutafov et al., 2022.

Bulgarian astronomers have performed long-term optical photometric observations of a young variable star known as V1180 Cas. Results of the observational campaign deliver essential information about the variability of V1180 Cas, shedding more light on the nature of this source. The study was published October 18 on arXiv.org.

Detecting and studying variable stars could offer important hints into aspects of stellar structure and evolution. Investigation of variables could be also helpful for a better understanding of the distance scale of the universe.

At a distance of some 1,950 light years, V1180 Cas is a young variable pre-main sequence (PMS) star associated with the dark cloud Lynds 1340 in the star forming region in the constellation Cassiopeia. Previous observations of V1180 Cas have detected a variability with an amplitude of about 6 mag, suggesting that it may be an eruptive young stellar object. However, further investigation of V1180 Cas has found that its variability differs from that of the eruptive PMS stars of FU Ori (FUor) and EX Lupi (EXor) type.

Therefore, in order to determine the true nature of this star, a team of astronomers Asen Mutafov of the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory in Sofia, Bulgaria, took a closer look at the variability of this object. For this purpose, they employed three telescopes of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory in Bulgaria and one telescope Skinakas Observatory in Greece.

"Our data from VRI CCD photometric observations of the star are collected from September 2011 to February 2022," the researchers wrote in the paper.

The observations found that V1180 Cas showcases very strong photometric variability with large amplitude variationsup to 5 mag. In general, the I-band brightness of the star is kept in the range of 1516 mag most of the observed time. However, there are some changes in brightness with small amplitudes, which is characteristic for T Tauri stars.

The photometric data also show another type of variability of V1180 Casdeep declines in brightness for which no periodicity is observed. All in all, the astronomers identified four deep minimums in brightness in the light curve and the long-term light curve of this star turned out to be similar to that of other low-mass young stars exhibiting typical UXor variability.

Furthermore, the collected multicolor photometric data shows the typical for UXors color reversal during the minimums in brightness. This, according to the astronomers, is a manifestation of the so-called "blueing" effectwhen the color of the star gets bluer in the minima of its brightness.

Summing up the results, the researchers concluded that the new findings confirm their initial assumptions regarding the mechanism behind the variability of V1180 Cas.

"In our previous paper (Mutafov et al. 2019), we concluded that the photometric properties of V1180 Cas can be explained by a superposition of highly variable accretion from the circumstellar disk onto the stellar surface and occultation from circumstellar clumps of dust, planetesimals or from other features of the circumstellar disk. The new observational data confirms this conclusion," the authors of the paper explained.

More information: Asen Mutafov, Evgeni Semkov, Stoyanka Peneva, Sunay Ibryamov, Long-term Photometric Study of the Pre-main Sequence Star V1180 Cas. arXiv:2210.09660v1 [astro-ph.SR], arxiv.org/abs/2210.09660

 2022 Science X Network
A 2,700-year-old rock carving is seen in Mosul, Iraq, , is seen on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. The carvings on marble slabs were discovered by a team of experts in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, who have been working to restore the site of the ancient Mashki Gate, which was bulldozed by Islamic State group militants in 2016. Credit: AP Photo/Farid Abdulwahed

Archaeologists in northern Iraq last week unearthed 2,700-year-old rock carvings featuring war scenes and trees from the Assyrian Empire, an archaeologist said Wednesday.

The carvings on marble slabs were discovered by a team of experts in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, who have been working to restore the site of the ancient Mashki Gate, which was bulldozed by Islamic State group militants in 2016.

Fadhil Mohammed, head of the restoration works, said the team was surprised by discovering "eight murals with inscriptions, decorative drawings and writings."

Mashki Gate was one of the largest gates of Nineveh, an ancient Assyrian city of this part of the historic region of Mesopotamia.

The discovered carvings show, among other things, a fighter preparing to fire an arrow while others show palm trees.

"The writings show that these murals were built or made during the reign of King Sennacherib," Mohammed added, referring to the Neo-Assyrian Empire King who ruled from 705 to 681 BC.

The Islamic State group overran large parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014 and carried out a campaign of systematic destruction of invaluable archaeological sites in both countries. The extremists vandalized museums and destroyed major archaeological sites in their fervor to erase history.

Iraqi forces supported by a U.S.-led international coalition liberated Mosul from IS in 2017 and the extremists lost the last sliver of land they once controlled two years later.

The territory of today's Iraq was home to some of the earliest cities in the world. Thousands of archaeological sites are scattered across the country, where Sumerians, Babylonian and Assyrian once lived.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
GREENWICH  Two southern Washington County villages are in the running for up to $4.5 million from a state program to invigorate and enliven downtowns in New Yorks smaller and rural communities.

Greenwich and Cambridge have submitted applications to the NY Forward program, which builds on the states Downtown Revitalization Initiative for cities and larger towns.

Our top public project is the village streetscape, said village of Greenwich Mayor Pam Fuller. Weve had a plan, but we needed funding.

Also, the program is one of the few that could pay for badly needed rehabilitation of the Village Hall, she said.

Our target area is the middle section of the village, said village of Cambridge Mayor Carman Bogle. It needs some revitalization.

The village benefited from the states Main Street grant program to make improvements in the villages east and west business districts, she said.

The NY Forward program, announced in July by Gov. Kathy Hochul, will distribute $100 million in its first round among the states 10 Regional Economic Development Councils. Each REDC can recommend two applicants to receive $4.5 million each, or one applicant to receive $4.5 million and two to receive $2.25 million each.

The Capital Region REDC covers Albany, Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Warren and Washington counties.

Applicants had to submit letters of interest by Aug. 10, with basic information about the area for which the grant was sought and a list of five to 10 community leaders who would be willing to serve on a local planning committee. Applicants attended a webinar series on downtown revitalization and received technical assistance from the state to put together an application, which was due Sept. 23.

It was a fairly tight turnaround time, Fuller said. The application was due two months after the announcement and needed quite a bit of detail about the projects.

Greenwich

Greenwich was already going through a revitalization planning process as part of the states Brownfield Opportunity Area program, so the village had a good idea of what it wanted from the NY Forward program, Fuller said. A committee of 12 people, including business leaders, village officials, the chamber of commerce, and others worked with consultants to put together a wish list.

Our top priority is the section of Main Street that burned on Feb. 6, Fuller said.

That blaze destroyed the historic Wilmarth building and damaged the buildings on each side.

Its very important to recover that, she said.

The site of the Wilmarth Building was recently purchased by Flately Reed Holdings Inc., which wants to build nine affordable housing units and 3,000 square feet of commercial space there. The grant application requests $1,475,250 for the project, half its anticipated cost. It also seeks $200,000 for the damaged and vacant Greenwich Hardware building and $137,000 for the former Glens Falls National Bank building. The front of the old bank houses an accounting firm.

The rear of the building is vacant and needs to be repaired, Fuller said.

Rehabilitation and creation of housing and commercial space elsewhere is also on the application.

We really need housing in the village, Fuller said. Theres not enough.

Other funding requests are $1.2 million to stabilize and rehabilitate the Village Hall, improvements to Rock Street and Mill Hollow parks, Main Street streetscape improvements, wayfinding signage, and $750,000 toward creation of a $1 million building improvement fund.

Cambridge

Sarah Ashton, president of the Cambridge Valley Community Development and Preservation Partnership Inc., and other community members put together Cambridges application. The community partnership embarked on the revitalization of the Cambridge Lumber Yard last year and built on that project for the NY Forward application.

Were calling it the Owl Kill Commons revitalization initiative, Ashton said, referring to the brook that runs through the center of the village. It goes from Memorial Drive to Railroad Avenue and includes the lumber yard, VARAK Park, the Cambridge Public Library, and the Cambridge Food Co-op.

The library and food co-op are interested in expanding, Ashton said. VARAK Park, the old Asgrow Seed complex, is an incubator for artists, businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Commons includes the former Cambridge firehouse, which the fire department recently vacated for a new building.

If the village receives funding, I hope it would make the old firehouse desirable to someone, Bogle said.

Other proposals include creating a 0.55-mile trail along the Owl Kill from the lumber yard, behind Eastern Castings, back up through the village DPW property, and past the library to Main Street, Ashton said.

As envisioned in the villages recreational economy plans, the trail could eventually connect to the Cambridge Community Forest. The target area includes one parcel on the north side of Main Street, a vacant house that burned in September 2020.

There was no breakdown of the proposed costs of each project, but Ashton said the application requests the full $4.5 million.

Its quite a good mix, Bogle said. If the village doesnt receive the full amount, our priority would be the lumberyard, library and VARAK Park. It would help the economy with new commercial properties and our need for housing.

People want to live in the village but not everyone can afford a house and there arent enough apartments, she said.

Next steps

Representatives from the REDC visited Greenwich and Cambridge during the week of Oct. 17, toured the target areas, and viewed Power Point presentations, Ashton and Fuller said.

No date is set for when the winners will be announced.

Laura Oswald, the county director of economic development, said the villages could expect to hear in November or December, after the election, Bogle said.

Nineteen applications were submitted in the Capital Region REDC, of which nine came from Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties, according to the REDC.

If youre awarded the grant, it starts six months of planning, Fuller said. The priorities could change between the application and planning.

Over the winter and spring, the local planning committee and consultants will gather information on what residents want and create a strategic investment plan. The state will review the plan and award funds.

Actual work wouldnt start until the second half of 2023, Fuller said. We basically have to wait, even though the projects are supposed to be ready to go.
QUEENSBURY  The Queensbury Planning Board has approved site plans for the solar company Nexamp to build two 8-acre solar farms at the Warren County airport.

On Oct. 18, the board voted to approve the projects after a public hearing was held.

Paul Kilmartin, a resident who lives near the airport, spoke out against the plans at the meeting, questioning the efficiency of the solar panels and asked the board not to approve the plans for the sake of farmland surrounding the proposed area.

They want to use 58 acres for solar panels. There is a farmer using the land near Hicks Road for corn right now. If they build this, thats 20 years you are taking away from farming, he said. We just keep building and building and there arent any more farms in Queensbury. We are taking all the agriculture that provides food out.

Under the names Southern and Northern Gateway Renewables LLC, the company applied to use 27 acres of an 80-acre plot of land at the airport for a 8.25-acre, 5.0-megawatt solar farm with 16.5-foot-high to 19.5-foot-high panels, for the southern site. The location is described as south of the airport on the west side of Queensbury Avenue. The solar panels will be about 3,000 feet from the runway, according to the site plans.

The northern site would place solar panels at the airport as well, with an address listed as 443 Queensbury Ave. Those plans include using 31 acres of a 510-acre lot for an 8.3-acre, 5.0-megawatt solar farm. The site plans for the northern sit require an acre and a half of tree clearing.

Both sites will be enclosed by an 8-foot high chain link fence, which will not conceal the panels, but follows safety and visibility requirements due to the proximity to the airport.

Dallas Manson, vice president of business development at Nexamp, said the solar panels will benefit the community.

Both of these facilities will be community solar facilities, which means we will be selling the power to local residents at a discounted rate, Manson told the Planning Board.

The projects had already received approval from Warren County prior to the approval from the Queensbury Planning Board.
For 17 years, Millville High School students have visited the LINK, a one-stop shop to receive mental health counseling and health services  or simply to hang out with friends away from the hustle and bustle of the school day.

Located in a special wing of the school, the program offers easy access to more than 1,600 ninth through 12th graders and reduces the stigma often associated with mental health issues, said Superintendent Tony Trongone. He said its a desperately needed safe haven in the Cumberland County school system.

Theres a lot to this program, Trongone said in an interview.

The program at Millville High is among 86 school-based youth services (SBYS) programs around the state that school officials and lawmakers are now debating: The state wants to expand services by pulling them out of schools and into regional hubs. School officials say its poorly timed to remove conveniently located services from students already using them.

New Jersey, like other states, has declared youth mental health a crisis, especially since the pandemic. A recent Rutgers-Eagleton poll found that 340,000 families reported that their school-aged children experienced prolonged bouts of poor or fair mental health, said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Beyer.

Its clear that youth mental health is a public health emergency, she said.

The current program annually serves 25,000 to 30,000 of New Jerseys 1.4 million students and costs about $32 million, according to the state. But there are about 2,400 schools in New Jersey that dont have school-based youth services in their buildings, Beyer said.

Atlantic City community walks about more than safety ATLANTIC CITY  Some residents peeked through their glass windows or screen doors, while oth

In a concept paper outlining the need to expand services, the state said it would create regional hubs throughout the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, or NJ4S, near the states 15 court districts by June 30, 2023. There would be a hub and spoke model staffed with prevention specialists and mental health counselors.

During a legislative hearing last week in Trenton by the Joint Committee on Public Schools on the proposal, Beyer said the location of the centers would be determined after working with local officials. The state has said the center staff would provide mental health services to schools, community centers, faith-based groups and even individual homes.

Not every youth wants to access services in schools, Beyer said. They should have the option to access services where they feel most comfortable and physically and emotionally safe.

Besides mental health services, the programs provide health and wellness services for students and their families, help with substance-abuse problems, job-search initiatives and recreation offerings. School officials say students can get help in real time with an intervention that would likely allow them to remain in school. Some services are not readily available in economically depressed rural areas like Millville, Trongone said.

It just doesnt make sense to me, Trongone said. Kids lives are at stake.

Beyer said the state cannot afford to fund the program in every New Jersey school in addition to the 63 districts currently with school-based services. Besides Millville and Camden, other southwestern New Jersey schools that offer the programming include Willingboro High School, Pemberton Township High School, Clayton Middle School, Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Deptford, Bridgeton High School and Penns Grove High School.

There was pushback against the proposed change from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle during the two-hour hearing, with some saying they would not support ending school-based youth services. Sol Heckelman, past president of the New Jersey Association of School Psychologists, said providing access in school was the most efficient and productive approach.

Theyre saving lives. Theyre working, said state Sen. Renee C. Burgess (D-Essex). Why change it?

Added Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight (D-Hudson): This is no for me.

Lights, cameras, action coming to improve safety, coalition says ATLANTIC CITY  Boardwalk merchants came to a Friday morning Clean and Safe Atlantic City me

Trenton Superintendent James Earle told the committee his district could not afford to replicate the program. Trenton and Ewing are the only districts in Mercer County with school-based programs.

Our need is great, Earle said.

Camden Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs called the proposal to change mental health services ill-timed when so many kids are suffering from increased depression, stress and anxiety due to the pandemic. Of the districts 19 schools, it has school-based youth services programs in six buildings, including its two comprehensive high schools.

We already had high trauma in our district, McCombs said. Its tone deaf to where we are as an education system trying to recover.

The Department of Children and Families said it would release a request for proposals and solicit bids from contractors to staff and run the 15 regional hubs, according to the concept paper.

Said Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex), a Joint Committee member: Be assured that this is not an issue that were going to let go of.
On Oct. 8, Right to Unite hosted a Unity Day at Fox Park in Wildwood. The Right to Unite Organization promotes unity in the community by hosting countywide events.

Unity Day was first celebrated in 2015 and has been every year since, with the exception of 2020. The primary goal of Unity Day is to bring local churches and community stakeholders together for a day of fellowship and providing free resources to the community.

The following churches joined in the spiritual fellowship: Thrive Ministries of Dennisville, Christ Church of Marmora, John Wesley of Swainton, The Lighthouse Church of Cape May Court House, Crest Community Church, Soar Church of Woodbine, First Baptist Church of Whitesboro, Cielo Abiertos, Dennisville Methodist Church and Angel Visit Baptist Church of Wildwood.

The following organizations had tables/exhibits: Wildwood police and fire, the Cape May County and Atlantic County prosecutors offices, Middle Township police, Cape May County Sheriffs Office and New Jersey State Police. Other contributors were Cape Assist, NAACP, CARA, Buffalo Soldiers, The Bridge radio station, One Stop, Atlantic Cape Community College, FCA, Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts, PRAC of NJ, Deeper Still SJ, Cape Christian Academy and CEF.

Those who attended Unity Day were treated to hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and more. There was also a face painting booth for children as well as some amusement attractions. The day concluded with corporate prayer in various languages.
New details are emerging in the attack on an East Moline police sergeant who was critically injured Monday.

Sgt. William "Billy" Lind and the man now accused of trying to kill him had encountered each other about two and a half hours before the incident, police and court records show.

Adrian W. Rogers, 52, of East Moline, is charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery, according to Rock Island County court records. Police and the county prosecutor say Rogers struck Lind in the head, causing severe injuries, including skull fractures.

Rogers then left Lind lying unconscious in or near the street, police said, adding that the officer's body camera captured the violence.

It happened about 6:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of Morton Drive after Lind approached Rogers, who was a suspect in an arson investigation in Rock Island. The fire had been set just a few hours prior to the two men's encounter, police said.

Rock Island firefighters responded to the blaze about 3:40 p.m. in the 1600 block of 12th Street, and Rogers is accused of knowing that a woman was inside the house at the time, police said. She escaped without injury, but the home sustained considerable damage.

About 20 minutes after the fire, police said, Rogers walked into the East Moline Police Station and happened to speak with Sgt. Lind. This was about an hour before Lind learned Rogers was a suspect in the arson and more than two hours before Lind was injured.

He wanted to talk to someone about a person who he said was a danger to people or children, Police Chief Jeff Ramsey said Tuesday of the encounter. He did not seek out Lind specifically, and it is just a coincidence that Lind spoke with Rogers.

The chief said Rogers did not stay in the police station for long, and he was not communicating clearly.

At about 5 p.m. Rock Island police issued a notice that identified Rogers as a suspect in the arson, records show.

When Lind then located Rogers on Morton Drive about 90 minutes later, Rogers tried to walk away, police said. Lind advised Rogers he was not free to leave and attempted to subdue him, grabbing Rogers upper body, according to court records.

Rogers then struck Lind in the face, police said, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious. He was discovered by fellow officers who were responding to Lind's call for backup.

At last report, Linds injuries were considered life threatening and he remained in critical condition at a Peoria hospital, where he was transported for advanced treatment of his head injuries.

Rogers was arrested late Monday in Colona, according to the East Moline police.

He also faces charges of aggravated arson and residential arson in relation to the Rock Island house fire, according to court documents.

When firefighters arrived at the home, they found smoke and fire on the second story, but it was quickly under control, Rock Island Fire Chief Jeff Yerkey said at the scene Monday afternoon. At that time, the cause was under investigation.

A Rock Island Police news release indicates that Rogers left the area before police officers and firefighters reached the scene. He was being held in the Rock Island County Jail late Tuesday but had not yet made a first appearance in either case.

His bail was set at $1 million in relation to the attempted murder case, court records show. To be released, he would have to post a $100,000 bond.

Rock Island police said the bail for the arson case was $500,000, but it was unclear Tuesday if that amount was in addition to or included in the bail amount set forth in the attempted murder case.

This case remains under investigation and additional charges may be filed, Rock Island County States Attorneys Dora Villarreal wrote in a news release Tuesday. Our office would like to thank all our local law enforcement agencies and officers for their rapid response and assistance with these two incidents. Their experience and dedication led to the suspects quick apprehension.

Anyone with information regarding the East Moline case can contact the East Moline police at 309-752-1555.

The arson case is being jointly investigated by the Rock Island police and fire departments, according to the Rock Island police. Anyone with information can contact the police department at 309-732-2677.

People with information can also contact Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500, or use the P3 Tips mobile app.

East Moline Police were assisted by Silvis Police, Moline Police, Illinois State Police, Hampton Police, Colona Police, the Rock Island County Sheriffs Department, the FBI and the East Moline Fire Department.

2021 Officer of the Year

Lind earned 2021 Officer of the Year honors from the Breakfast Optimist Club that serves the Illinois Quad-Cities.

He was nominated for his work at the Quad-City Federal Gang Task Force.

Lind spearheaded one of the largest cases in the task force for illegal drug and weapon distribution in the Quad-City area. He also worked to stop several shootings in the spring of 2021 between two gangs that led to multiple arrests for firearms violations.

He also is involved with the Shop With a Cop and Holiday Food Baskets programs.

Rogers released from prison in 2021

Rogers was released from the Federal Bureau of Prisons on July 1, 2021, after serving about 26 years for convictions related to drug trafficking and a bank robbery with a firearm.

On Nov. 19, 1993, Rogers was involved in the armed robbery of the United Security Savings Bank of Davenport, according to federal court documents. Rogers, then 23, of Rock Island, and Reginald Walton, 25, of Davenport, made off with $53,429.

Rogers already had been indicted by a federal grand jury on August 29, 1993, on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine after a joint investigation by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Agency. He was out on bond on the drug trafficking-related charges when he committed the bank robbery.

Two days after the bank robbery, Rogers attempted to fake his own death, according to news reports from the Quad-City Times and The Rock Island Argus. Those reports said Rogers had been walking along Molines Ben Butterworth Parkway with a female companion when she told authorities she became distracted, heard a splash and noticed Rogers was no longer at her side.

Authorities dragged the Mississippi River but doubted the incident from the beginning. Rogers was later captured in Atlanta.

On March 1, 1995, a federal jury found Rogers guilty of the bank robbery and of using a firearm during the commission of the crime.

He was sentenced to 80 months, or six years and eight months, in federal prison for the robbery, and a consecutive sentence of 60 months, or five years, for the firearms offense.

Those sentences were also consecutive to the 240-month (20-year) federal sentence that Rogers received for the cocaine-trafficking conviction. He was found to be a key figure in a Mexico-to-Los Angeles-to-Quad-Cities drug ring.

Tom Loewy contributed to this story.
The Illinois State Police have released the name of the Morrison, Illinois, man who was shot Friday morning after police say he pointed a gun at officers who were attempting to serve a search warrant.

Aaron Linke, 48, was wounded as a state police Special Weapons Team executed the warrant around 5:30 a.m. at a residence in the 600 block of North Cherry Street, according to the state police.

The warrant was for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of contraband in a penal institution.

As they were serving the warrant, troopers heard shots inside the house. They found the person named in the warrant, Linke, who was armed with a gun and pointing it at officers, according to the state police. One of the troopers fired upon and wounded Linke.

Linke was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was pronounced brain dead on Saturday, but was on life support until Tuesday, state police said.

As police continued to search the residence, they found another person, a female, who was suffering from a gunshot wound, the state police said. She was in a different part of the house from where the officerinvolved shooting occurred, police said.

Police have not released the womans name as she is considered a witness. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her condition was not available Tuesday.

In processing the scene, officers seized several firearms.

The members of the state police team were wearing body cameras, police said.

The officer who shot the individual is a four-year veteran of the Special Weapons Team, the state police said, but have not released further details on the troopers identity.

The incident is being investigated by the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation. When the inquiry is complete, the evidence gathered will be submitted to the Whiteside County States Attorneys Office for review.
It appears possible that a recent cyber attack on the Davenport School District resulted in the theft of a large collection of student and other district data.

A data-extortion group is claiming to have stolen information from the Davenport district and is threatening to publicly release it, writing in a recent online post, "In this release we will show you 845 GB of their data, which include a giant, massive array of student's (sic) personal information ..."

The post by "Karakurt" indicates a deadline of Oct. 31 for the district to meet its demands, though the post does not reveal the terms of a possible ransom demand.

The district's email system this week has been experiencing disruptions, suggesting internal communications about the possible threat could not reach staff.

District officials previously acknowledged a hacker had gained access to the district's system in early September. By the end of the month, however, they said they had "thwarted" the cyber attack, no ransom demand had been made and no evidence existed that data was compromised.

In a statement Wednesday, district officials said they later learned the hacker may have been successful.

"Davenport Community Schools learned that the incident potentially impacted personal information belonging to certain current/former employees," according to the statement. "Since then, Davenport Community Schools has been working diligently to identify contact information necessary to provide notification of the incident to potentially impacted individuals and to provide resources, including credit and dark-web monitoring services to assist them.

"Davenport takes this incident very seriously and is continuing to work with cybersecurity experts to take steps to help prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future."

The district's statement did not include information on student data, which the online post specifically claims was stolen.

Brett Callow, a threat analyst for global cybersecurity software firm Emsisoft, said groups like Karakurt target their victims differently, including partnering with or taking from other hackers.

Theyll have had access to the network, possibly for some time, and then will have stolen data," Callow said. "The data they may have stolen could include insurance policies, so they possibly know how much coverage the district has and how much it could potentially pay [for ransom]."

But it's also possible, he said, that Karakurt is either bluffing entirely or made off with less information than the group claims.

Some school districts, including Davenport, have been reluctant to publicly disclose that they have been hacked. In some cases, their insurance carriers advise them to decline comment and/or an investigation is ongoing.

Callow said his industry is increasingly advising victims of cyber attacks to be forthright.

Unless something like (insurance or law enforcement advice) is preventing districts from being transparent, they should be transparent," he said. "If you know about this information, you can better prevent yourself from being the victim of a crime.
In a year in which reproductive rights are a top issue for voters, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is endorsing Democratic candidate Eric Sorensen for U.S. House to help in the pro-choice fight.

Standing in the Rock Island County Democratic Headquarters in downtown Rock Island on Tuesday, Pritzker said Illinois has worked tirelessly over the past few years to further protect a woman's right to choose and that he endorses Sorensen for Congress, saying he will work to further protect those rights.

Eric is on our side, fighting for our shared values and working against Republican efforts to take away womens rights, Pritzker said.

After the overturn of the nearly 50-year-old precedent of Roe v. Wade this summer, multiple states enacted or had abortion bans and restrictions go into effect.

But Illinois has taken steps to further protect abortion rights by repealing the Parental Notification Act in December 2021, which required doctors to notify a pregnant minors parent within 48 hours prior to an abortion procedure. Lawmakers also passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, which gives each person the fundamental right to make individual decisions about their reproductive health.

Sorensen said if elected he will make sure that women in Illinois will continue to have the right to make their own health care decisions and that barriers to reproductive health care should be lowered, not banned.

"Make no mistake, reproductive care is health care," Sorensen said.

Pritzker said Illinois is looking to further protect reproductive health care, saying that the general assembly has been meeting with working groups to see how Illinois can protect women who come from other states for abortion and protect doctors from being jailed if they go from Illinois to another state to perform an abortion.

Sorensen is a former meteorologist and first-time candidate who is running against Republican Esther Joy King, both hoping to replace outgoing Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, who has held the seat for a decade.

King said during a debate with Sorensen that she is pro-life, but she does support rare exceptions to abortion bans.
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A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller leads Republican Brenna Bird by 16 percentage points among likely voters.

According to the poll, 49 percent of likely voters said they would vote for Miller, compared to Birds 33 percent support.

Miller has 93 percent of support among Democrats, while Bird has 66 percent among Republicans. Miller pulled a majority of support among independents, with 52 percent to Birds 23 percent.

Miller also enjoys broader name recognition, according to the poll. Sixty-four percent of respondents knew enough about him to form an opinion, with 42 percent of respondents viewing him very or mostly favorably. Twenty-three percent of respondents had a mostly or very unfavorable view of him. For Bird, 40 percent of respondents had formed a view of her, and responses were evenly split, with about 20 percent each viewing her favorably and unfavorably.

The poll surveyed 804 Iowans between Oct. 9 and 12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Mathis targets Hinson over abortion ban

Democrats are doubling down on abortion rights with two weeks to go until the midterm elections, hoping outrage over the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade will turn the tide in their favor.

The latest ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyDoPrJf3Gs) from Democratic congressional candidate Liz Mathis features Clara, a cervical cancer survivor and mom from Cedar Rapids.

In the ad, Clara shares her story of terminating a pregnancy due to a complication that would have killed her and left her 9-year-old son without a mother. She then calls Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinsons support of a nationwide abortion ban without exceptions dangerous and terrifying to think women in her same situation would not be able to get the health care needed to save lives.

Mathis, a state senator from Hiawatha, is running to unseat Hinson, who is seeking re-election to a second term in northeastern Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.

Hinson and Mathis have accused each other of lying about each others views on abortion.

Hinson has repeatedly said she supports exceptions to abortion bans for incest, rape and the life of the mother, but co-sponsored a House bill that would define personhood to include fetuses and embryos and effectively ban all abortions nationwide without exception. As written, the Life at Conception Act Hinson signed onto does not include exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when a pregnant woman is at risk.

Hinson has supported such exceptions as a state legislator. More recently, Hinson has endorsed a proposed bill from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks with some exceptions, including rape, incest and life of the mother.

She introduced legislation to ensure adult women can access Food and Drug Administration-approved birth control pills over the counter at a local pharmacy, but voted against a bill that would have protected access to a broader range of contraceptive options.

Hinson also has introduced legislation to increase access to midwife services, expand access to freestanding birth centers, and increase awareness about stillbirth prevention.

"The only candidate in this race who is extreme on abortion is Liz Mathis  she supports elective abortion through all nine months of pregnancy," Hinson campaign manager Sophie Crowell said in a statement.

Mathis supports the Womens Health Protection Act, and has said she would work to codify the legal framework that existed under Roe v. Wade, which was overturned in June by the U.S. Supreme Court. The landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision established a woman's right to an abortion before a fetus is viable outside the womb, usually at about 24 to 28 weeks into a pregnancy.

Republicans have claimed the act would allow elective abortions up to and even after birth.

The legislation would protect the right to access abortion services nationwide before fetal viability. The act states abortion after the point of viability would only be permitted when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health.

I will vote to protect women's reproductive rights, guarantee access to contraception, champion equal pay for women and enact legislation to protect women from domestic violence, Mathis said in a statement.

Ratings shift away from Hinson in House race

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted its rating of Iowas 2nd Congressional District House seat from likely Republican to lean Republican.

The move comes on the heels of Inside Elections this week changing its forecast in the race in Democrat Liz Mathis favor, from lean Republican to tilt Republican  one move away from being declared a toss-up, according to the non-partisan national politics forecaster.

The newly drawn district consists of 22 counties in Iowa's northeast corner, and includes Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City.

The ratings shifts follow the release of an October Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll that suggests a Republican advantage has dwindled in Iowas 2nd District within the last three months.
Two candidates with Linn County ties are running to be Iowas Secretary of State, a job that includes serving as the states top elections official.

Democratic Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, 67, a former mayor of Robins, is challenging incumbent Republican Paul Pate, 64, who is looking to be reelected to his third consecutive term.

Miller has been Linn Countys auditor since 2007. Pate is a former mayor of Cedar Rapids and state legislator, and held the secretary of state position once in the 1990s.

Pate originally ran for office because he was frustrated with the state government and hes running for re-election now because the jobs not done.

We have a misinformation battle we are facing right now, Pate said. We are making sure people are getting the facts.

Miller said he was motivated to run after being sued by former President Donald Trumps campaign during the 2020 election campaign. A judge sided with the Trump campaign, invalidating about 50,000 absentee ballot request forms that Miller had mailed to voters

Im running to make voting easy again, Miller said. I believe every other business and industry is trying to make their products and services more convenient so people will use them, but the Republican-controlled Legislature decided to make voting inconvenient for early voters and vote by mail.

The secretary of state is the overseer of elections for the entire state. The secretary of state also supervises Iowas county auditors and provides business services in Iowa.

In March 2021, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 413, which shortened the early voting period from 29 to 20 days; added rules about how absentee ballots can be returned and limited county auditors authority within the election process.

Iowa Republicans, who control the Legislature, had previously shortened the early voting period from 40 days to 29 days in 2017 with passage of a voter ID law that requires voters to present an approved form of identification at the polls. Pate had presented the ID bill to the Legislature to consider.

Both Pate and Miller said its important for Iowas secretary of state to put voters first and to be consistent with messaging about elections being safe, secure and not stolen.

Im going to continue to give Iowans the information they are going to need so theyre confident in the election process, and give them the transparency of the process, Pate said. Ive been working on that. They need to know their vote counts and have confidence in it.

You have to focus your attention on elections, Miller said. The Legislature decided to hand over a lot of power to the secretary of state. Theres a huge responsibility with that office now and that requires the secretary of state to have a voice and say something.

While some, including Miller, have said that Pate wasnt very vocal during election law changes, Pate said that his role is to administer the laws and be a referee.

I think Ive been very consistent and out front on those issues that I think are important to get done like voter ID, Pate said. Im the referee, administering the rules. I dont get to wear a team jersey. But I have a significant amount of dialogue with the legislators and the governor and Im giving them guidance and my advice on election law. And at the end of the day, its my job to make the election laws work.

Miller said if elected, he would continue to be vocal about election laws.

You have to be laser-focused and take a stand on these things, Miller said. You cant act like youre not involved as a third-party administrator.

Along with administering elections, the Iowa secretary of state also handles the states business filings.

In 2018, Pates office implemented the Fast Track filing system for businesses with the goal of making the registration process faster as well as reducing filing fees.

Weve come a long ways, Pate said. When we first came back into this office, it seemed like we missed the whole Bill Gates era. Our technology was outdated. Now, if you need something, you can get it 24/7. But were working more on real customer service and putting people on the phone for the tougher questions.

Miller said if elected, he would like to bring more transparency to the business side of the office as well as create an office of Small Business Advocacy.

We could create a framework for people to form the LLC that would eliminate the cost, Miller said. I also think there should be an easier way to search conflicts of interest with businesses. It applies to elections and business filings. You should be able to pluck in a name and see what businesses people are affiliated with.
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 for this article was obtained via campaign websites or official social media pages for the candidates.

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.

The Fourth Judicial Circuit covers Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach counties. Four circuit judges preside over the counties. One of the seats, Position D, has five candidates.

The mandatory retirement age for a circuit court judge is 70. The position is for an eight-year term.

Chad R. Callahan

Chad R. Callahan is a magistrate judge and Meade County resident.

He graduated law school in 1998, and spent his first eight years as an attorney in general private practice. In those eight years, he was introduced to a wide variety of law, he said, and gained valuable experience in civil and criminal law. He did not, however, appear in a courtroom as frequently as he would have liked.

That changed in 2006, when he took on the challenge of the Public Defenders Office in Rapid City for six years, where he saw the inside of a courtroom nearly every day.

I represented over a thousand different people over those years, on everything from minor misdemeanors to the most serious felonies, including jury trials, Callahan said. I truly valued that time, as the right to be represented by an attorney in a criminal proceeding is a Constitutional right, and critically important to the delivery of a fair system of justice.

He was then hired by Marty Jackley as the Supervisory Attorney with the Attorney Generals office in Rapid City, where he worked for four years prosecuting felony cases. He was once again in a courtroom on a near-daily basis, including jury trials.

Five years ago, he was hired by Judge Michael Day to be a Fourth Circuit Magistrate Judge. He has seen thousands of criminal cases, including jury trials. He has also made hundreds of decisions in court trials on criminal charges, protection order hearings, suppression motions, evictions and civil claims.

This high volume work has uniquely prepared me to handle the rigors of the circuit court position, he said. I have had many of the lawyers who regularly appear in Fourth Circuit Court cases, both civil and criminal, express their support for my candidacy. Im also proud to note that the remaining three sitting Fourth Circuit Court Judges, Day, Michelle Comer and Eric Strawn, have all endorsed me for this position."

Callahan said he is seeking this position because the voters in the circuit deserve a candidate who is best qualified to perform the work of a circuit court judge from the first day on the job.

My work history has uniquely prepared me to see all sides of our system of justice over the last 24 years, he said.

Callahan has resided in Meade County for the past 15 years with his wife of 20 years, Julie, and their three children.

John H. Fitzgerald

Lawrence County States Attorney John H. Fitzgerald has been practicing law in South Dakota since the age of 23, and serving as Lawrence Countys states attorney since 1995. Prior, he was the Butte County States Attorney from 1981-1995.

In 2012, he was selected as the Prosecutor of the Year by the South Dakota States Attorneys Association, and was elected president and vice president by fellow attorneys between 2016 and 2021. He currently serves as chairman of the organization's Board of Directors.

Fitzgerald said he has tried several hundred jury trials, including rape, robbery, kidnapping, murder and every other crime imaginable.

Fitzgerald cited criminal versus civil case filings from 2021 in the Fourth Circuits three busiest counties as evidence of the importance of experience. In Lawrence, he said there were 1,448 criminal cases, compared to 257 civil. Meade County filed 1,189 criminal cases, versus 357 civil, and Butte County filed 315 criminal cases versus 149 civil.

With this level of criminal case volume and my experience in this area, I am well-qualified, he said.

As an active prosecuting attorney, Fitzgerald said he has a front row seat in dealing with the issues that confront the Fourth Judicial Circuit every day.

I understand how illicit drugs impact the user, families and the community," he said. "I also understand how crimes against children can alter their lives forever.

Fitzgerald said his understanding of the devastating effects of crime is what motivated him to run, saying he stands able to assume a different role armed with practical experience.

He is also concerned, he said, with the practice of law in the state, and the ability for ordinary citizens to access the court system. He described licensing for lawyers as outdated, and negatively impacting the ability of the average citizen  especially in rural areas  to access the court system.

I believe strongly that we have three independent, co-equal branches of government that act as checks and balances on each other, and the role of a judge is to interpret the law and not make it.

Tina M. Hogue

Tina M. Hogue, local attorney and Meade County resident, grew up in St. Lawrence and Rapid City, and credits her local upbringing for her achievements and ethics.

I have deep South Dakota roots and values and a strong Midwestern work ethic, she said in a provided press release.

Hogue said she will bring decades of broad legal experience to the Fourth Judicial Circuit, having been in private practice for over 25 years. She has counseled a wide variety of clients, handling both trial and appellate work.

Hogue attended Mankato State College and Sioux Falls College (now University of Sioux Falls), where she received her bachelors degree in Business Administration. She earned her Juris Doctor degree at the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion.

Her legal career began as a legal intern for a law firm in Sioux Falls. After graduating law school, she and her husband moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked with the Honorable James P. Monen and attorney Thomas Whitmore. There she gained experience in business law, family law, probate and estate planning.

In 1996, she returned to Rapid City and began her West River law practice. Hogue was named a partner in 2001 and has grown her practice ever since, now known as Monument Law.

Hogue has been a member of the American Bar Association, South Dakota Bar Association and Nebraska Bar Association. She served on the Board of Governors and is a past president of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Hogue also served on the Board of Directors of Behavioral Management Systems after serving as secretary/treasurer, vice president and president.

Serving as a Circuit Court Judge will allow me to apply my legal knowledge to matters that affect our state, she said. I look forward to earning the trust and votes of the people of Butte, Corson, Dewey, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Perkins and Ziebach counties.

Hogue and her husband of 31 years have three children.

David V. Natvig

David V. Natvig is a veteran and attorney with 22 years experience. He is a lifelong South Dakotan, who said he handled every type of case that would come before a circuit judge in South Dakota."

He is the former director of the Division of Criminal Investigation and was a Republican candidate for South Dakota Attorney General earlier this summer.

Natvig has tried what he described as "many significant civil cases, including representing a school district, ranchers, small business owners and individuals. He has also personally handled appeals to the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Natvig was commissioned as a lieutenant through the Army ROTC. He served as a paratrooper at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina and deployed to operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

[I] took an oath to support and defend our Constitution -- something I live by each and every day, he said.

Natvig said he understands what it takes to be a judge and will not legislate from the bench.

People who come into contact with our court system deserve to have their issues decided by a fair and impartial judge. At the end of the day they need to feel that their issues were listened to and dealt with in a prompt and fair manner. I will abide by the rule of law, I will honor the citizens of the Fourth Circuit and South Dakota and live by my oath every day.

Natvig said his decision to run was inspired by a phone call from a person whom [he] respects very much, and has been involved in law for decades, telling him that he and others in the circuit court wanted me to be the next judge.

I was humbled by the literally thousands of people I have spoken with who thought I would make a good judge based on my legal experience and my temperament, Natvig said. There are really two things that great judges have in common: they leave their personal issues or bias in the parking lotthose biases have no place in the courtroom  and a great judge treats everyone who comes into the courtroom with respect. These are two things I will do if I am so fortunate as to be elected as your judge.

Natvig has been married to his wife LaRae for 23 years and has four daughters.

Jennifer Tomac

Jennifer Tomac did not respond to requests for an interview with the Journal. Information was taken from her campaign website.

Born in Sioux Falls, Tomac moved with her family to Rapid City when she was four. After graduating from Stevens High School, she attended Black Hills State University and the University of Colorado. She attended law school in Virginia, where she began her legal career.

In Virginia, she worked in a Public Defenders office, a prosecutors office and reviewing appeals as a clerk for the Virginia Supreme Court. Tomac later spent five years working as a staff attorney for Virginias version of a probate court, called the Commissioner of Accounts.

Tomac and her husband Jerad moved back to South Dakota about seven years ago, and opened a law firm in August 2015. They live in Black Hawk with their four children.

Its been 16 years since the residents of South Dakotas Fourth Judicial Circuit have had the opportunity to elect a circuit court judge, Tomac stated on her campaign website. She also emphasized the nonpartisan nature of judicial elections, meaning candidates do not, and cannot, represent a political party, nor express any political beliefs or stances on issues.
The Douglas School District has launched a program that will support students with disabilities ages 18-21 as they transition to independent living and integrated employment after high school.

Monica Waltman, director of special services at Douglas, gave an informational presentation Monday to the Board of Education, calling it a celebration of the programs launch this fall, called The Bridge Program.

The school district partnered with the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation on a grant-based funding mechanism to establish the program. The school district has served students 18-21 for years, Waltman said, but the program had been strictly within the high school.

So essentially the focus of this was to separate that and create a separate program, so that students can say goodbye to high school and move on to the next phase of their life, Waltman said.

Douglas submitted a letter of intent to participate last November, when the Division of Rehabilitation Services published a request for proposal to establish or expand current transition programs for students with disabilities in secondary education programs. In December, the school district developed and submitted a grant proposal, and was notified of the grant award in January. The program officially launched in August.

Waltman said "The Bridge Program" focuses on job exploration counseling by finding out what the students want to do, interests and exploring ideas to foster interest in other areas.

The program includes counseling, work-based experience and internships. Most importantly, Waltman said, the program champions self-advocacy.

Because thats a very hard thing for kids, right? I have to say I have a disability, she said. These are the challenges I have, here's what I need to have to be able to communicate those things to employers, and really advocate for themselves.

The timeline and eventual launch was the result of many working parts by people other than me, Waltman said. There were a lot of people involved.

The name was inspired by the programs function as a bridge to living, she told the board, and leading a full life once a student leaves high school.

A short video took the board inside the program, with participant interviews and a look at their daily routines.

Shawn Stock, a participant in the program, and his mom Jody, offered testimony Monday evening.

This program is amazing, Jody told the board. Last year, when Shawn graduated, he was terrified to go back to high school as an adult participant. He did not want his friends at the high school to know he was in special education.

The advocacy focus, she said, has been amazing. For Shawn, he said hes enjoyed working out, because it keeps [him] from being lazy.

Denise Stiles, special education teacher, said encouraging participants to "use their words" is a big thing, and something that I think some people take advantage of. She said the program focused on spending time out in the community, encouraging participants to recognize whos there to help them, and how to advocate for themselves to those people, such as law enforcement.

The students are liking it. I think it's a real change for them to see that we're not back at the school, but they're really adjusting, Stiles said. It's only been October, and I'm so excited.

In other business, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board for the Connecting With Our Youth Navigator Program.

The programs objective is to cultivate community-initiated prevention and intervention strategy that draws on the strength of Lakota cultural values of generosity, courage, respect and wisdom, the MOU read. The program works to reduce the incidence of suicides and suicide attempts through community education and interventions appropriate for the American Indian/Alaska Native youth and adults in the Box Elder area.

Waltman had previously brought the programs business agreement before the board, and noted since then the program has been expanded from ages 10-24 to include pre-K and up.

In their evaluation of the impact of suicide in the Native American community, they realized we have kids not only dealing with suicide ideation amongst our population themselves, but we have a whole host of kids pre-K all the way into college that are dealing with either attempts of suicide or completed suicides within the family structure, she said. So theyve now added the extension program to support those families that are also dealing with suicide in an adjacent way.

Waltman said counselors K-12 will now be able to make referrals to the program. The board approved the memorandum unanimously.
Pennington County, Rapid City, Box Elder and Meade County law enforcement are against recreational marijuana.

Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom, Pennington County Sheriff-elect Brian Mueller, Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender, Meade County Sheriff-elect Pat West, Box Elder Asst. Police Chief Chris Misselt and Rapid City Asst. Police Chief Scott Sitts sat on a panel Wednesday for a united stand against Initiated Measure 27, which voters will see on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Allender and West were the only people to speak on the panel hosted in the Public Safety Building.

This is not about politics, its about public safety, said Allender, who retired as the Rapid City police chief in 2014 before his mayoral election in 2015.

These men sitting to my left and right are charged by their constituents to protect communities, and we hear the call of our citizens and our other elected leaders to bring about a safer community and get a handle on the drug problems and get a handle on the rising crime rate and all of the problems associated with that, Allender said.

IM 27, if approved, would legalize the possession, use and distribution of marijuana for those 21 years or older, although people could only possess up to one ounce of marijuana. It would also decriminalize possession for the same amount or less for those of age.

Allender said the panel had almost 180 years put together of law enforcement experience. He said the measure is not simply about a choice for a new product to enhance someones life  it has severe consequences when brought into a community.

My personal statement is that I believe we should be, in South Dakota, open-minded enough to learn the lessons from other states, he said. We do not have to reinvent everything on our own. We can learn from other examples, we can see what other people in other parts of the country have experienced, and we can make informed decisions on those things.

He said the panel members and their organizations ask people to recognize that legal recreational marijuana will bring about a less safe and less productive community, and that it wont make South Dakota stronger.

West said he was on the panel as a concerned father, law enforcement officer and law enforcement liaison for Protecting South Dakota Kids, a Rapid City-based group that is advocating against IM 27. West said he was concerned that legalization would expand the black market and put kids at risk.

That expands the opportunity for black market because if you saturate the community with marijuana, it needs to go somewhere because there people arent going to throw it away, he said. Theyre going to start selling that to anybody that they can to include our children and our community.

West said he believed the proponent groups for IM 27 are in it for the money.

In an interview after the panel, Mueller said the Pennington County Sheriffs Office has been looking at IM 27 and studying the impacts of legalized marijuana on other states over the last several years. He said theyve also spoken with a lot of partners in other states.

They continue to reach out to us and say, Do not let the genie out of the bottle in your state, you will not get it put back in, he said. We understand what the negative impacts are on the community as far as drug-related accidents and fatalities, the impact that giving more youth access to the drug in the community is going to have. Were very happy to be part of this effort that is encouraging people to vote no on this measure.

According to the Pennington County Sheriffs Offices annual report, there has been a 17% decrease in marijuana arrests from 2012 to 2021.

Mueller said law enforcement in the community over the last couple of years has not put a heavy emphasis on arresting people for low-level personal use for marijuana, and no one is incarcerated in the jail with possession as their only charge.

As far as legalizing or not legalizing, its not going to have a big impact specifically on what were doing proactively with marijuana in the communities, he said. Its not been an emphasis for a while. Weve really placed a big emphasis on methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, getting that out of our communities.

In a news release about the panel, the offices cited for every dollar collected from marijuana taxes in other states, it costs the taxpayer $4.50 in societal impact costs.

After the panel discussion, West said that figure comes from the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas 2019 study on potential impacts of marijuana legalization in the Midwest. He said societal impacts include mental health issues, drug enforcement, rehab facilities, and people who may have overdosed.

West said if the measure  which does not include regulations or licensing  does pass, theyre going to have to reevaluate how theyre going to deal with people in society. He said that extends to homelessness, potential mental health issues, and possible cognitive development issues in kids, teens and adults.

He said if it does pass, he would love to be part of the guideline process because theres currently no limit to how much marijuana can be grown.

After the panel, Allender said if the measure passes, his message to people will be a reminder that they either voted for it or didnt vote against, so now we have to deal with it.

I will be in the state Legislature this session, begging for local communities, cities and counties to get the authority to govern their own affairs on this issue because its not a given in South Dakota, he said. We have to ask the states permission to govern our own affairs, so yes, youll see and hear a lot from me in the Legislature if this passes.
South Dakotas Public Utilities Commission advised natural gas customers Tuesday to prepare for rising prices in the coming months.

The PUC said customers concerned about increased heating expenses this winter should take steps now to ensure bills remain manageable.

Natural gas prices are primarily determined by the market. The PUCs natural gas rate authority is limited to factors related to natural gas delivery, which account for roughly 30% of the overall cost. The other 70% is determined by numerous market factors like supply and demand, weather, production, storage levels, and imports and exports.

According to a news release, experts have identified high global demand, a growth in the consumption of natural gas that outpaces production, and record level exports of liquified natural gas as some of the biggest contributors to the rise in natural gas prices expected this winter.

Part of the increase in demand can be attributed to an increased reliance on natural gas for electricity generation. Traditionally, natural gas was most in demand for heating purposes during colder months and, while nearly half of all U.S. homes still rely on natural gas as their primary heating fuel source, it has also become the largest source of electricity generation in the U.S. accounting for nearly 40% of all utility-scale electricity generation," PUC Chairman Chris Nelson said. "This change makes the commodity highly in-demand year-round and decreases the capacity available to be stowed away in preparation for winter."

PUC Vice Chair Kristie Fiegen said global events are also in play.

Current events can also have a big impact on commodity markets, even when those events are happening halfway around the world. The current status of the global natural gas market is a perfect example of that, Fiegen said. Europe is in the midst of a natural gas crisis due, in part, to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Europe is heavily dependent on Russian gas, a commodity thats been largely unavailable or extremely expensive since Russias invasion. As a result, the U.S. has increased exports of liquified natural gas to Europe which, in the end, contributes to higher prices at home, Fiegen continued.

PUC Commissioner Gary Hanson said South Dakotans should prepare for higher bills.

Simple steps like taking a fresh look at your budget, installing a programmable thermostat, or contacting your utility company to ask about a budget billing plan that helps spread out higher utility costs over several months rather than having you pay it all at once can make a big difference," Hanson said. "Completing a home energy audit is another great way to identify any air leaks, simple fixes or upgrades that could save you money in the long run."

The PUC said other ways to lower natural gas and electric consumption include setting thermostats to a lower temperature, maintaining and upgrading appliances for greater energy efficiency, changing furnace filters, adjusting water heater tank temperature and conserving hot water.

See a list of frequently asked questions about natural gas pricing on the PUCs website at https://puc.sd.gov/Publications/naturalgaspricesfaq.aspx. For additional tips on conserving energy and information on energy efficiency programs, contact a local utility company.
The Rapid City Police Department has launched a new monthly video to help brief the community on issues impacting public safety.

In the first video for October, Police Chief Don Hedrick and Community Relations Specialist Brendyn Medina talk about the RCPD's response to an uptick in violence affecting a specific neighborhood over the summer, some of the challenges and successes of this approach, and what the community can do to help.
I don't recall anyone in 2016 inciting an armed insurrection on the United States Capitol Building.

My husband and I are paying for our four kiddos to go to college. Will we be reimbursed $40,000?

Anyone who thinks candidates these days can ever be independent of their parties is not very observant or very inexperienced. Thats what political polarization has achieved, unfortunately.

Smith is running With a campaign focused on Character really? Supporting late-term abortion is a definite sign of poor character in my book.

Amendment D and remove the grocery tax and we will have a state income tax. We need to think when we go to the polls.

Keep marijuana out of the hands of children by regulating, tracking and taxing it. The only way to do that is a yes vote on 27.

The state of South Dakota's rainy day fund is now at an all-time high and many of our kids dont get lunch in school. What is wrong with this picture?

With the potential repeal of sales tax on our groceries, replacing the lost sales revenue is straightforward. We will simply increase our sales tax percentage on all other goods and services.
Hamilton Downtown Association has plans for tricks and treats this weekend, including "Moonlight Madness" shopping, community parties, a Halloween parade of costumes and an inflatable race.

Hamilton Downtown Association Director Robin Pruitt said the weekend starts with later shopping hours on Friday, Oct. 29.

We decided to bring back Moonlight Madness the Friday before Halloween, Pruitt said. Just like our First Fridays, were taking it as it comes. A lot of businesses are still having staffing issues so the more the community gets out and encourages these things the better.

Shopping times will vary from business to business and you can find details for participating businesses at hamiltondowntownassociation.org.

Businesses wont be open til midnight, probably 7 or 8 p.m., Pruitt said. Its not super late, but it will be will be after dark and a lot of fun.

On Saturday, community members are invited out to enjoy Halloween festivities downtown and possibly see some extra fun bikes.

There is a lot going on downtown for all those Halloween revelers, Pruitt said. Westlope will have drink specials, Dahlias Darlings has a drop-off party for kids, Flower Happy has specials going on during that, and Open Ended Art Studio has a party.

The HDAs Halloween Parade of Costumes will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. Children and parents meet up at the Hamilton Post Office and parade in their costumes downtown. Main Street will be closed from Fourth to Second streets and businesses will be on the sidewalks handing out candy.

It is such a great community event, Pruitt said. The downtown businesses love participating in it and we love seeing all the kids in their costumes. So, grab your kids after school, get them dressed and head downtown.

After the Parade of Costumes, a new event designed to bring awareness about small businesses and local nonprofits will kick off. At 5:30 p.m. contestants in an Inflatable Race will run down Main Street starting at Fourth Street and ending at Second Street in inflatable costumes.

It is something for adults to do, Pruitt said. We do have some high school cross-country runners participating. Each runner has chosen a nonprofit to support and there are donation buckets in businesses throughout town.

The community is invited to vote" for their favorite runner and nonprofit by contributing to the donation buckets in businesses throughout town. For a list of runners, nonprofits and business locations go to hamiltondowntownassociation.org.

On social media, youll see the names of the contestants, the nonprofit they are running for and the costume theyll run in, Pruitt said. This is Andrew (Killian)s brainchild, he wanted to have the running of the dinosaurs but he has to do extra.

Killian said that his costume brings his dreams to life.

Ever since I was a small child I wanted to be a balloon, he said. Now I get to realize that dream and so do many others. This is the Kraken Krakenlaken.

Pruitt said Steve Fullerton will be announcing the race.

There is no winner of all the money, she said. The nonprofits get to keep the money donated to them in their bucket whether they win or not. They are a winner if they try.

She listed a few of the participants including Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf as a snail, Killian as a squid, a Tasmanian Devil for the Linda Massa Youth Homes, a chicken for the Bitter Root Land Trust and a clown walking on its hands for Emmas House.

There are some really interesting ones, Pruitt said. There is no entry fee, you can do it and say youre raising awareness for your group. Well see how much money it brings in for the different groups but hopefully, it will be awareness-raising. Some jars have QR codes in case you dont have cash that day, or people can go to their website to donate. It will be a lot of fun.
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Richmond police Chief Gerald Smith resigned Tuesday after a two-year tenure that included calls for his resignation from some of the departments rank and file and an ongoing controversy over his comments regarding an alleged mass shooting plot at Dogwood Dell.

The city announced the departure in a brief statement Tuesday night. Acting Maj. Richard Edwards has been appointed interim chief.

We would like to thank Chief Smith for his service in law enforcement and wish him well in all his future endeavors, the statement said.

No cause for Smiths departure was given, and he was not immediately available to comment on the announcement.

Mayor Levar Stoney in a statement thanked Smith for his leadership during the height of civil unrest and the global pandemic.

As we look around the nation, the challenges faced by police departments have changed since 2020 and we, like so many of our counterparts, are pivoting to ensure we have the infrastructure, including leadership, in place to meet the needs of the current landscape and for the future, the statement said.

Brendan Leavy, president of Richmonds Coalition of Police, said the organization is embracing moving forward with the new interim chief and eager to have an open dialogue with all stakeholders.

The 300-member group, which represents about half of the citys sworn officers, in December asked for Smiths resignation. A survey found that about half of members said they had no confidence in Smiths leadership.

We look forward to working with the administration, City Council and its citizens on the future success, and we would like to thank all of them for listening to the men and women of the Richmond Police Department, he said.

Smith has been under scrutiny since a July 6 news conference and national media interviews he conducted in which he provided false information about what detectives found regarding a tip to police about weapons and a threat of a shooting. A caller speaking Spanish on July 1 told police about the weapons and  in a tip officers initially had difficulty understanding  said there was a plan for a mass shooting on July 4 in Richmond, according to police.

Richmond facing $191 million deferred maintenance bill Shock waves from the Great Recession are still echoing through Richmonds city finances, with a deferred maintenance bill now at some $191 mil

Detectives found the weapons in a residence on Columbia Street but did not corroborate a plan for a mass shooting and knew of no known location, nor whether there was indeed a plot.

Smiths chief of staff told him officers had maybe prevented a mass shooting. Smith stated as fact that police had broken up a plot to kill countless people at Richmonds July Fourth fireworks show at the Dogwood Dell amphitheater in Byrd Park. Smith later said his experience is part of how he reached that conclusion. Smiths boss, Stoney, also repeated the claim.

Although Smith had praised the police work done on the case, he later blocked the lead detective from a prestigious post on an FBI task force, claiming the proper process had not been followed within the police department for the assignment.

Federal authorities are prosecuting the two men Smith and Stoney accused of planning a mass shooting, but neither man has been charged with any such plan. One faces an immigration charge, and the second faces a weapons charge.

While Smith faced pressure from some city council members, he appeared to have the continued backing of Stoney and Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders, who maintained that he, too, believed police had stopped a mass killing in Byrd Park on July Fourth.

Phil Wilayto, a founder of the group Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, said Smith has been a problem since he arrived.

The Dogwood Dell mass shooting story and the way he [was] clinging to it long after it was shown false is just the latest, he said.

He really wasnt open to the community  it is time for Stoney to really listen to the community and its concerns not only about public safety, but also about police conduct.

Councilman Andreas Addison said its time for change.

I think were seeing challenges from crime. Were hearing from police and the union and the community at large about concerns with leadership at the department, he said.

Smith was Richmonds third police chief in as many weeks when he took the helm of the police department on July 1, 2020, after weeks of nightly protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Smith, who had been with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina, succeeded former Richmond Police Maj. William Jody Blackwell, who had served as interim chief for 11 days at the height of the unrest.

In June 2020, Blackwell had replaced former police Chief William Smith. Stoney asked William Smith to resign the same day he elevated Blackwell to the post following what appeared to be escalating clashes between protesters and police.

Blackwell, who served as interim chief for 11 days in 2020, is suing Stoney and Gerald Smith individually in a wrongful termination complaint, saying they violated state law and policy when, according to his complaint, he was fired in retaliation because he refused an order of Stoney that Blackwell have his officers stand guard over the emergency removal of Richmonds city-owned Confederate monuments in 2020.

Blackwell said that he told Stoney at the time that it was illegal to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials for any war or conflict. The General Assembly amended that law as of July 1, 2020, after Blackwell alleges Stoney issued the order.

On June 26, 2020, Stoney asked Blackwell to step down. Stoney then installed Gerald Smith as chief effective July 1, 2020, the same day the city removed the statue of Stonewall Jackson from its pedestal.

Blackwell returned to his former rank of major. Blackwells suit claims that Smith fired him in February 2021 at Stoneys direction.

Gerald Smith was paid $185,000 annually, $25,000 more than the previous permanent chief.

Edwards, the new acting chief, has been with the department since 1999. The city statement said Stoney has asked Saunders to conduct a national search for Smiths replacement.

We are confident that RPD will move forward positively during this transition, the statement said.

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While the city administration hasnt released his resignation letter or had an immediate response to repeated questions about whether Smith was asked to leave, Mayor Levar Stoney said the chiefs departure is a chance for the citys law enforcement efforts to pivot.

Asked if that means a change in policing style or focus or on building community ties, Stoney said: I think it is a mix of all of that  We want to get back to community policing, but you cant get back to community policing if you dont have police officers.

Leadership matters, he added.

Smith resigned at a previously planned meeting with Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders on Tuesday. The chiefs cellphone played a message Wednesday saying it was not accepting calls. The Times-Dispatch has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for his resignation letter and any severance package agreement that may have been made.

Smith has been under fire for much of his tenure, most recently over false claims the police prevented a possible mass shooting at Dogwood Dell on July 4. Even before that, the Richmond Coalition of Police, which represents about half of city officers, called on him to resign after a survey found that about half of members said they had no confidence in Smiths leadership.

There is upheaval in policing all across the country  Its not easy being a police officer, and it is not easy to be a police chief right now in America, Stoney said. I am grateful for his service, and were going to move in a new direction now.

Councilwoman Katherine Jordan said shes hoping the next chief can rebuild trust internally and externally, and unite both the department and community as we continue the work of reimagining public safety in Richmond.

Smith took charge as chief on July 1, 2020, with a salary of $185,000, $25,000 more than the previous permanent chief.

He came to Richmond from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina and succeeded former Richmond police Maj. William Jody Blackwell, who had served as interim chief for 11 days at the height of the weeks of nightly protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Said Stoney: The chief came in a crisis moment for the city in 2020 and, here in 2022, were in a different season.

Angela Fontaine, former co-chair of a city task force set up to establish civilian oversight of the police department, said the Smith departure was predictable.

Honestly, I was shocked to hear about it at first, but also I think its something we all saw coming, she said.

With a degree in criminal justice, Fontaine has promoted transparency and accountability within the police department and city government. During her time on the task force, Smiths attitude toward accepting oversight and accountability seemed largely performative, Fontaine said.

I dont want to pass judgment on why he is a police officer or why he went that route, but in the interactions that I had with him, the words that he would use did not really back up the promises he would make, Fontaine said.

Fontaine said she hopes the city realizes its past errors.

We need accountability, not only in the police department, [but] within our own communities and in our government, Fontaine said. People need services, and they need mental health support. They need food and shelter.  Getting a better police chief isnt going to solve those problems.

Tom Barbour, a former prosecutor whos been pushing for a police civilian review board, said finding a new chief offers a chance to change the departments culture and restore public trust.

Policing culture in Richmond right now is not aligned with community values, said Barbour, founder of Virginia Holistic Justice Initiative, which tries to find local services that can keep people from ending up in prison. Thats why less than 25% of homicides this year have been cleared  people know information, but theyre not telling the police because they dont trust them.

The next chief needs to focus on building trust by tackling police misconduct, building relationships and finding social services to address root causes of crime, Barbour said.

We need a chief who will lead from the front on these issues  not another politician, he said.

The city is planning a nationwide search, and Stoney said as that proceeds, obviously, Im going to be listening to the men and women of the Richmond Police Department.

Councilwoman Reva Trammell hopes Council can be involved in the effort as well. She also pointed to frustrations about Smiths performance.

It was a lack of leadership, not paying attention to officers who work the streets 24/7, not responding to the community, not responding to Council, she said.

She said she hopes for a new approach in which top police officers focus on the different patterns of crime in different districts.

I get a lot of shootings; weve got homicides  Ive got lots of stabbing, she said. In the 1st and 2nd [districts], you get break-ins, smashing windows to steal things.

The hire will mark Richmonds fifth head of law enforcement since 2018.

Councilwoman Ann-Frances Lambert said Richmond should have extended more grace to Smith, who also had a death in his family during his tenure.
Glenn Youngkin didnt have to cook the numbers this time to make a point about the declining performance of Virginia public school kids.

A part-time governor with full-time presidential ambitions, Youngkin works overtime to depict schools as adrift, teachers as instruments of the woke left, students as being indoctrinated rather than instructed and parents as locked out the classroom. Its a narrative he believes got him elected in 2021 and could work again in 2024.

Theres fresh fuel for it in the form of fresh data, which for a numbers-never-lie guy such as Youngkin is coin of the realm. But there is more to these numbers, including a lot of political and policy history that the governor, as a newcomer, may not know and, as a national prospect, might find inconsistent with his shtick.

Just-out results of National Assessment of Education Progress  the Nations Report Card  show a stunning drop across the country in the reading and math scores of fourth- and eighth-graders. The report, for 2019 through 2022, was alarming but not unexpected, confirming the destructive impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Virginia results: Reading scores for fourth-grade students dropped an average of 10 points; math scores were off 11. For eighth-grade students, math scores declined eight points. Reading scores fell by two. Declines notwithstanding, students here are performing as well if not better than those in other states.

In Richmond  between in- and out-of-state appearances for Republican congressional and gubernatorial candidates  Youngkin expressed outrage over the test results, blaming his Democratic predecessors for allowing teaching standards to slip, ignoring accreditation and shuttering schools too long as a defense against COVID-19.

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, Youngkin said.

In the business world, if this was your report card, there would be an immediate change in management. You would get fired  and I think that is exactly what voters did last November, said Youngkin, who  according to the financial press  wasnt necessarily asked to stick around as co-CEO of the private equity giant where he amassed a nine-figure fortune.

This is not Youngkins first shrill utterance on education, but it is comparatively free of the embellishments that distinguished a previous philippic.

In May, Youngkins superintendent of public instruction, Jillian Balow, issued a report that depicted public schools as contributing to, rather than correcting, declines in reading and math, especially for students of color, whose skills further eroded when the pandemic moved classes from in person to online.

The assessment relied on a seemingly invalid comparison. It matched passing rates on Virginias Standards of Learning tests for 2015, 2017 and 2019 with those over the same period for the Nations Report Card. Never mind that the tests are scored differently. Also then  as now  Virginia kids did better on the national test than their peers in other states.

Plus, in tweets and sound bites aimed at a largely unquestioning Republican base, it is easier for Youngkin to condemn schools and overlook whats been done by both political parties to help education catch up on funding and address performance concerns evident pre-COVID  and pre-Youngkin.

Or as Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, a high school government teacher with 18 years in the classroom and a member of the House Education Committee, put it, Why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

The left-leaning Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis notes schools are still absorbing the fiscal aftershocks of the Great Recession, from 2007 to 2009. Approximately two-thirds of the states school systems in the immediate run-up to the pandemic had not returned to pre-recession funding levels; that per-pupil spending had fallen about 6%.

As partisan divisions in the House of Delegates and Virginia Senate began narrowing in 2017 and during the two years in which Democrats controlled the legislature and the governorship, more money was steered toward teacher salaries, school counselors and early childhood education.

And before Youngkin landed at the Virginia Capitol in 2022, lawmakers were taking steps to update student testing. It is a multiyear effort that will require his participation, though based on what Youngkin said at his news conference on Monday, some might believe test reform was his idea.

As for accreditation, which Youngkin suggests has been junked, it was suspended two years under Democrat Ralph Northam because of the pandemic. The suspension was extended a third year at the urging of some Republicans. Youngkin apparently didnt say anything about that.

To help those kids who have fallen further behind, Youngkin is putting money where his mouth is, promising $30 million for tutoring. He suggested schools hire parents as tutors. Youngkin also urged school districts to use for learning loss $2 billion in unspent federal coronavirus aid.

And then theres the issue of innovation.

Youngkin might lead you to think educators consider that a dirty word. Thats why hes pushing for alternatives, such as lab schools run by public and private universities. But Youngkin seemingly overlooks bipartisan advances put in place before his watch: magnet schools, IB schools, governors schools, cross-enrollment at high schools and colleges.

Even privately operated, publicly financed charter schools  Youngkins original proposal  have caught on in some districts. The challenge, however, for localities is paying for these alternatives with existing dollars already stretched to cover traditional schools.

There are also conversations within the legislature  some have been going on for years  over requiring longer school days, shifting to year-round education and, to carve out more time for the basics, perhaps peeling back requirements on economic literacy and whats euphemistically called family life education.

K through 12 is like a big ship, said former House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, a retired 32-year high school government teacher now running a business organization that boosts higher education. Its hard to turn.

If Youngkin would only stick around to help.
HARRISONBURG  A former Ashland resident accused of killing two Bridgewater College law enforcement officials in February told the arresting officer he shot them, the officer testified Wednesday in a preliminary hearing in Harrisonburg/Rockingham General District Court.

Alexander Wyatt Campbell, 28, faces four murder charges in the shooting deaths of John Painter and Vashon J.J. Jefferson. As he was arrested, Campbell asked for the names of the two men so he could apologize to their families, said Brooke Wetherell, a Harrisonburg police officer.

Campbell was apparently squatting in the basement of a campus building before the shooting and carrying a duffel bag of guns when he was approached that day by Painter and Jefferson. His mother later told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he is mentally ill.

After five witnesses testified and more than 50 exhibits were introduced, Judge John Stanley Hart certified the charges for a grand jury hearing. The grand jury will decide whether to indict Campbell and proceed with a trial. The defendant has not made a plea.

Bridgewater, a picturesque private school of roughly 1,500 students in Rockingham County, was shaken in February when the two officers were killed on campus in the early afternoon.

Painter, 55, and Jefferson, 48, had been called to the area outside Memorial Hall for a report of suspicious man on campus.

Ryan Cunningham, who was a student at the time, testified seeing the officers approach Campbell and ask for his identification. Campbell put down the duffel, reached into his right jacket pocket, pulled out a small handgun and fired five shots, the witness said. Before he took off running, Cunningham saw Painter collapse and Jefferson lying on the ground.

Police pursued Campbell to a nearby island in the North River. Wetherell said she heard a pop and, believing they had been fired upon, took cover. Another officer saw him lying in the grass, and police pounced.

As Campbell was placed under arrest, Wetherell saw blood on Campbells arm. Campbell told her he had been shot by the officer he shot.

Then Campbell said he wanted to know the names of the officers so he could apologize to their families, Wetherell added.

I did everything I could to make this right, Campbell said, according to Wetherell.

Authorities have charged Campbell with three counts of aggravated murder, one count of first-degree murder and using a firearm during a felony. Painter was shot twice in the face and once in the chest, said Heather Marshall of Virginia State Police. Jefferson was shot twice in the back.

These are kill shots, judge, said Marsha Garst, a commonwealths attorney for Rockingham County who argued Campbells actions qualify as premeditated murder.

After the shooting, police found Campbells possessions in a room in the basement of Memorial Hall, Marshall said. A latch had been installed on the door  the handle removed  and an electronic doorstop was placed at the threshold.

Inside the room were food, laundry detergent, and ammunition for a handgun and shotgun. Police found a journal indicating he was showering at the gym and doing laundry in a dorm. It included his chores and places he visited on campus.

According to court records, Campbell had dropped out of Bridgewater and was a self-employed artist and musician. He graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 2013 and attended Bridgewater for four years, where he was a member of the track and cross country teams. After leaving school, he had no place to stay but found a place in Bridgewater, court records state.

His mother, Cheryl Campbell, told The Times-Dispatch in February that Campbell is mentally ill but did not elaborate.

Attorney Gene Hart, who is representing Campbell, said in February that Campbell may suffer from undiagnosed schizophrenia. The lawyer said Campbell would undergo a mental health evaluation, but its unclear if that took place. Hart presented no evidence Wednesday and declined to comment after the hearing.

During cross-examination, Hart asked Wetherell if she heard Campbell say he was hearing voices. Wetherell said no. Multiple law enforcement witnesses testified Wednesday that Campbell was coherent and aware of his time and place.

In Campbells pockets, police found a kit for picking locks and a .38 Special snub-nosed revolver, said Arthur Wouters of Virginia State Police. In the cylinder were five fired cartridge cases.

In his duffel, police said they discovered a Stevens 320 shotgun, a Savage Arms 12-gauge shotgun, an air rifle, shotgun shells and bullet fragments. They also found a magazine with 14 rounds that matched the Glock 40 carried by Painter.

When police responded to Painter and Jefferson, they couldnt find Painters gun. Jefferson, who was a campus security officer and not a full-fledged police officer, was unarmed. They later found Painters gun in the river.

The .38 Special and Stevens 320 belonged to Campbell, Garst said. He purchased them in 2020, and at least one came from the Green Top Sporting Goods store in Ashland.

Garst didnt say why Campbell was so heavily armed.

Maybe well never know what was afoot, she said.
A Navy sailor living in Virginia Beach was convicted of dealing illegal machine guns by a federal jury Monday in U.S. District Court.

Patrick Tate Adamiak, 28, is facing 10 years in prison for receiving, possessing, and transferring unregistered machine guns. Adamiak was also convicted of possessing two grenade launchers and two antitank missile launchers.

Adamiak was charged in May after authorities recovered 33 guns in his possession.

Between October 2021 and April 2022, Adamiak sold at least eight unregistered machine guns online to a confidential source with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to the a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ATF then conducted a search of Adamiaks Virginia Beach residence, recovering an additional 25 unregistered machine guns.

Adamiak is a master at arms in the U.S. Navy. According to the Navys career page, sailors who serve as a master at arms act as the Navys military police, providing security on ships, bases and installations.

A spokesperson for the Navy could not immediately be reached.
The areas of low clouds and the foggy mornings will take a break on Thursday, but it may not be for long.

Light winds from the Northeast over the last few days have kept a deck of clouds hovering over most of eastern Virginia, only giving way from time to time across metro Richmond.

But north winds on Thursday will bring dry air from the Midwest as a broad area of high pressure strengthens and sprawls eastward toward the New England coast. The result is a sunny, breezy and cool day for central Virginia, with afternoon temperatures close to normal  in the middle 60s.

But as that system pushes farther east, it turns the winds back from the northeast into Virginia, dragging moisture from the Atlantic and into eastern Virginia once again on Friday. Like the last few days, the moisture will be confined to the lowest few thousand feet of the atmosphere on Friday and Saturday.

But to get substantial rain development, clouds generally need to extend much higher into the atmosphere and, for the next few days, the air above 5,000 feet will be exceedingly dry. The low cloud deck can produce spotty drizzle and mist, especially in the morning when areas of fog develop, but the kind of rain that would help out the water table will be noticeably absent.

In fact, if you have friends in aviation, they may brag about how blue the sky is above the cloud deck on Friday or Saturday.

More rain needed

Over the past two months, Richmond has had 3.46 inches of rain, less than half of the typical rain during this time, making it the 15th-driest comparable period (Aug. 26 to Oct. 25) on record.

Halloween brings the next strong chance of rain, and very early data suggests most of it would fall during the daylight hours. But it is too early to plan on that timing just yet.

The week that follows Halloween does not look especially wet, either. The general storm track will be from Tennessee through the Ohio Valley, keeping the soaking rain west of the Appalachians and leaving central Virginia with lighter rounds of showers.

While we could use the rain, the areas in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys need it a bit more right now. Both rivers flow into the Mississippi River, which remains at dramatically low levels downstream from St. Louis.
BOONES MILL  Recent equipment purchases have brought a small Franklin County towns police department into the 21st century.

Boones Mill Police Chief Kelvin Pruett said a computer with a docking station has been installed in both of the departments patrol vehicles. Using that computer, Boones Mill police officers can instantly access the Virginia Criminal Information Network and the National Crime Information Center.

If I do a traffic stop, I run the tag and it gives me who the car belongs to and if that person is wanted or missing. And it could be a gang member. And it doesnt really matter which state youre from  we can run all 50 states, Pruett said.

Previously, members of the Boones Mill police department had to conduct traffic stops in the dark.

We didnt have anything. Its a 100% jump from where we were. ... I did not have the means to find that out prior to walking up to the vehicle, Pruett said.

The system went live in Boones Mill a couple of weeks ago. Before that, the department needed to obtain permission to connect to the state and federal network through the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

This started in January and we just went live in the last two weeks, Pruett said.

Boones Mill is a small police department serving a small town, but hundreds  if not thousands  of vehicles pass through daily on U.S. 220. Many of them come from outside of Virginia.

I stop and I deal with North Carolina, the state of Pennsylvania and New Jersey the most. ... I dont know who Im stopping. ... With this technology ... I can tell you if that persons wanted, Pruett said. Ive gotten several wanted people on traffic stops over here  wanted by Roanoke County or Roanoke city or Franklin or Henry counties.

Boones Mill was able to purchase the computers using federal COVID-19 relief funds.

A lot of that was spent on upgrading our consoles, our radios and the computers in our cars, Pruett said.

The new equipment doesnt end there, either. Pruett said the department has also replaced its 20-year-old radar equipment and outfitted its officers and their vehicles with body and dashboard cameras.

That was about $34,000 just for the cameras, Pruett said.

The department also obtained new weapons, including two new rifles, a shotgun and three pistols.

Overall, the equipment upgrades have cost at least $50,000, Pruett said.

Im very blessed, Pruett said. The town council has been super with us on getting this equipment.
The red flag case in Roanoke County involving a Vinton man who made threats over the phone in July to kill public officials has been continued again.

A emergency substantial risk order was issued to Douglas Paul England, 46, on July 22, when he voluntarily relinquished five firearms to law enforcement.

Virginias red flag statute permits law enforcement to issue substantial risk orders (SROs) to and seize firearms from people who seem on the verge of harming themselves or others.

On Aug. 5, the risk order was extended through October. England was scheduled to appear in Roanoke County Circuit Court Wednesday for a review of his case.

But his lawyer, Rob Dean, said that attorneys are still waiting to receive an evaluation letter from a doctor regarding Englands mental health.

Dean indicated that the letter is expected to get to attorneys in about 30 days. A new review hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 28.

The substantial risk order that has been issued to England will remain in place at least until the new court date.

Roanoke County Commonwealths Attorney Brian Holohan said Englands firearms will continue to remain in police custody.

England, a military veteran, pleaded no contest to a related criminal charge in Roanoke County General District Court on Monday. That case was taken under advisement for two years, during which England agreed to maintain good behavior and undergo mental health treatment.
CHRISTIANSBURG  A Salem man who faced 30 criminal charges after accusations that he robbed a Montgomery County convenience store, then emptied a revolver at police during a high-speed chase ending in a crash that left him in a wheelchair, was found not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday.

Michael Barnett Lilley, 40, was committed to the custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. He already was receiving inpatient care from the state mental health system after a separate Salem case ended in the same verdict earlier this year, attorneys noted.

Lilley was diagnosed as schizophrenic after the arrest that followed the chase, Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt wrote in an email after Tuesdays hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Lilley  whose middle and last names have been spelled in different ways in police statements and court and jail records  is the son of retired Judge Vince Lilley, who until the end of 2016 worked in courts in Salem and Roanoke County. Montgomery Countys regular circuit judges recused themselves from Michael Lilleys case and Mike Gamble, a retired judge from the Lynchburg area, presided over Tuesdays hearing.

The Montgomery County charges stem from a series of events that began Sept. 8, 2021, a little before 2:30 p.m., Pettitt said in court. Workers at the Elliston Food Mart reported that a man, later identified as Lilley, left the store without paying for chips and a drink, then held up a pistol to the clerk who followed him outside.

Lilley drove west to Christiansburg, where police spotted him and pulled him over. As an officer walked toward his vehicle, Lilley pointed a handgun at him, then sped away. In the chase that followed, Lilley fired repeatedly at officers as he drove to the Spradlin Farm shopping center, turned around and headed onto the U.S. 460 Bypass and Interstate 81 north, Pettitt said.

Lilley drove along I-81 at about 100 mph, still shooting but using his turn signals before changing lanes, Pettitt said. He took Exit 137 into Salem and was holding a gun out the window when a pursuing Christiansburg police officer deliberately rammed Lilleys back bumper, which caused Lilley to crash, Pettitt said.

The pistol fell back into Lilleys vehicle and officers collected a six-shot revolver and eight shell casings, Pettitt said.

As rescue workers took him to a hospital, Lilley said that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day, she added.

Attorney Jonathan Rogers of Floyd, who co-defended Lilley along with John Koehler of Roanoke, said Pettitt accurately summarized what would have been the prosecutions evidence had the case gone to trial. That trial was pre-empted by an agreement that Rogers stressed should not be called a plea agreement  prompting the judge to say, I guess were in a technical posture here.

Rogers said that Lilley had suffered auditory hallucinations for quite some time before the events Pettitt described. When Lilley was in the Elliston convenience store bathroom, he thought he heard the clerks plotting to kill him and so reacted with hostility when approached, Rogers said.

Similarly, Lilley thought the law enforcement officers chasing him were Chinese agents who were trying to murder him, Rogers said.

Rogers and Koehler filed sealed reports from doctors who concluded Lilley was insane at the time of the incidents that led to his arrest. Both prosecution and defense stipulated Tuesday that they accepted the doctors findings.

Lilleys charges had changed over the course of his case, with some being dismissed at a preliminary hearing, then brought back and added to with direct indictments from a grand jury.

On Tuesday, Lilley pleaded not guilty to 15 charges that included five counts of shooting at a marked law enforcement vehicle, five counts of shooting from a vehicle in a manner that endangered people, endangering a law enforcement officer, and simple assault against a convenience store clerk, among others.

Other charges were dropped, including three counts of the attempted aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer, and assault and battery of a law enforcement officer.

Lilley also was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a Salem case that dated from Sept. 1 last year. That case, which involved a charge of assault and battery and two counts of uttering, was resolved in August.

Lilley was brought to and from the courtroom in a wheelchair Tuesday. He spoke only to say not guilty 15 times. His father and other family members were in the courtroom and asked to speak with him after the hearing, a request that bailiffs denied as being against policy.

We love you, they called as Lilley was wheeled away.

It will be up to state doctors to decide when and if Lilley can be released from inpatient care. Their recommendation would have to be approved by judges.
A state permit that allows the Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross streams and wetlands is muddied by the companys past violations of water quality standards, environmental groups asserted Tuesday.

In oral arguments to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, an attorney for the Sierra Club and other organizations asked that a certification granted last year by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection be struck down.

Derek Teaney told a three-judge panel of the court  which has consistently ruled against Mountain Valley in the past  that the West Virginia state agency should have taken more care to prevent a possible recurrence of muddy runoff from construction sites along the pipelines path.

The departments determination that there was a reasonable assurance that future problems with erosion and sedimentation would not occur, while at the same time downplaying the nearly 140 citations it has issued against the company in the past, is entirely implausible and internally inconsistent, Teaney said.

A ruling by the 4th Circuit is expected later in what is the third round of ligation involving stream crossings for the project.

The Sierra Club also has filed a lawsuit against Virginias State Water Control Board, which awarded a similar water quality certification for the portion of the pipeline that passes through Southwest Virginia. Oral arguments in that case are scheduled for December.

Teaney, an attorney for the nonprofit law firm Appalachian Mountain Advocates, began an 87-page filing with the following line: West Virginia has long resisted the requirements of the Clean Water Act, which he quoted from a 2018 opinion by the 4th Circuit.

We would submit that this is just the latest incarnation of DEPs resistance, he said of the state environmental agencys most recent decision that favored a 303-mile natural gas pipeline that begins in West Virginia.

During arguments to the Richmond-based appeals court, questions and comments from the three judges hearing the case suggested they were sympathetic to Teaneys position, at least in some respects.

You have to look at the past as a predictor of the future, Judge Stephanie Thacker said of Mountain Valleys record of environmental noncompliance since construction of the pipeline began in 2018.

The West Virginia agency has fined Mountain Valley a combined $569,000 for failing to maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures in 2019 and 2021. But in evaluating those cases in light of the companys application for a new water quality certification, Department of Environmental Protection attorney Lindsay See said, the agency did not consider the 140-some violations surprising. An overwhelming majority of the infractions did not involve water quality, See said.

In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality has cited the company more than 350 times. Mountain Valley agreed to pay a fine of $2.15 million in 2019.

More recently, a construction site in Wetzel County, West Virginia, was written up in August by state regulators for discharging sediment-laden water that flowed downhill and into a tributary of Stout Run.

In an Oct. 14 letter to the court, Mountain Valley attorney George Sibley asked that the case not be considered. Sibley wrote that construction crews immediately corrected the deficiency, which involved the draining of a trench before a predicted heavy rainfall.

Further, Sibley wrote, the case did not involve a water body crossing and therefore does not speak to the reasonableness of DEPs prediction that additional violations would not occur at streams or wetlands.

In her questions to Teaney, Thacker asked if the violation should be considered. It is evidence that proves the falsity of DEPs reasoning in granting the certification, the attorney replied.

Mountain Valley contends that the vast majority of violations involving muddy runoff happened in 2018, a year of record rainfall.

Its track record has improved, Sibley told the court. Unfortunately, we had a violation in August, but were driving that number down as much as possible.

At times, Sibley found himself at odds Tuesday with the three judges as they drilled down into the details of what additional precautions were taken by the West Virginia environmental agency in response to the earlier violations, and whether they were adequate.

Im not trying to trap you on anything, Judge James Wynn interjected at one point. Im just asking for facts.

Construction of the pipeline in largely stalled as Mountain Valley applies for a third permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  the first two were set aside by the 4th Circuit in 2018 and 2020  to cross streams and wetlands, either by digging a trench through them or boring under them. Water quality certifications from Virginia and West Virginia are a prerequisite for approval by the Army Corps, which has yet to act on the third application.

The buried pipeline, intended to transport 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from Appalachian drilling sites to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the county, will cross about 1,000 rivers, streams and wetlands.

Although Mountain Valley says the pipeline is about 95% completed, water crossings remain a major complication for the $6.6 billion project, which has been delayed nearly four years by legal challenges.

About 460 water bodies and 183 wetlands remained to be crossed, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Approval to cross streams and wetlands is not all that Mountain Valley lacks. Earlier this year, the 4th Circuit struck down a permit for the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest, and reversed a finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that endangered species would not be jeopardized.

Mountain Valley is also seeking renewal of those two permits, and has said it hopes to have the pipeline completed by late next year.

Perhaps its biggest obstacle is the 4th Circuit, where Chief Judge Roger Gregory has joined Thacker and Wynn in about a dozen rejections of permits issued to the project by federal and state agencies.

The company has complained about what it calls an anti-pipeline panel, and has asked the 4th Circuit to randomly select another trio of judges to hear future cases. While judges are randomly selected to hear new appeals, it is not unusual for the same panel to be retained when similar cases are subsequently filed.

In August, the court denied without comment Mountain Valleys request for the indiscriminate drawing of a new panel. The full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also has declined a request by the company to rehear the most recent denials by Gregory, Thacker and Wynn.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has proposed a package of permitting reforms that would, among other things, transfer the venue of Mountain Valley cases from the 4th Circuit to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. That proposal was dropped from a budget resolution last month, but may reemerge as separate legislation.

In other pipeline news, Mountain Valley recently voluntarily dismissed eminent domain proceedings in North Carolina, where it sought to take privately owned land for an extension of the main pipeline that would run from its terminus in Pittsylvania County.

Spokesman Shawn Day said the company remains committed to the Southgate extension, but took the step as evaluations continue about its timing, design and scope. The court action allows the company to refile the lawsuits.

However, pipeline opponents were quick to add the move to Mountain Valleys recent string of setbacks.

This decision by MVP is yet another example of how expensive, arduous, and unnecessary this project is, Russell Chisholm of Giles County, who coordinates a citizens watch group that monitors construction, said in a statement.

The MVP should give up now and stop dragging our communities onto this near-decade long rollercoaster that is sure to end in cancellation.
Richmond police Chief Gerald Smith resigned Tuesday after a two-year tenure that included calls for his resignation from some of the departments rank and file and an ongoing controversy over his comments regarding an alleged mass shooting plot at Dogwood Dell.

The city announced the departure in a brief statement Tuesday night. Acting Maj. Richard Edwards has been appointed interim chief.

We would like to thank Chief Smith for his service in law enforcement and wish him well in all his future endeavors, the statement said.

No cause for Smiths departure was given, and he was not immediately available to comment on the announcement.

Mayor Levar Stoney in a statement thanked Smith for his leadership during the height of civil unrest and the global pandemic.

As we look around the nation, the challenges faced by police departments have changed since 2020 and we, like so many of our counterparts, are pivoting to ensure we have the infrastructure, including leadership, in place to meet the needs of the current landscape and for the future, the statement said.

Brendan Leavy, president of Richmonds Coalition of Police, said the organization is embracing moving forward with the new interim chief and eager to have an open dialogue with all stakeholders.

The 300-member group, which represents about half of the citys sworn officers, in December asked for Smiths resignation. A survey found that about half of members said they had no confidence in Smiths leadership.

We look forward to working with the administration, City Council and its citizens on the future success, and we would like to thank all of them for listening to the men and women of the Richmond Police Department, he said.

Smith has been under scrutiny since a July 6 news conference and national media interviews he conducted in which he provided false information about what detectives found regarding a tip to police about weapons and a threat of a shooting. A caller speaking Spanish on July 1 told police about the weapons and  in a tip officers initially had difficulty understanding  said there was a plan for a mass shooting on July 4 in Richmond, according to police.

Detectives found the weapons in a residence on Columbia Street but did not corroborate a plan for a mass shooting and knew of no known location, nor whether there was indeed a plot.

Smiths chief of staff told him officers had maybe prevented a mass shooting. Smith stated as fact that police had broken up a plot to kill countless people at Richmonds July Fourth fireworks show at the Dogwood Dell amphitheater in Byrd Park. Smith later said his experience is part of how he reached that conclusion. Smiths boss, Stoney, also repeated the claim.

Smiths statements about the alleged Dogwood Dell plot also heightened focus on the department.

Although Smith had praised the police work done on the case, he later blocked the lead detective from a prestigious post on an FBI task force, claiming the proper process had not been followed within the police department for the assignment.

Federal authorities are prosecuting the two men Smith and Stoney accused of planning a mass shooting, but neither man has been charged with any such plan. One faces an immigration charge, and the second faces a weapons charge.

While Smith faced pressure from some city council members, he appeared to have the continued backing of Stoney and Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders, who maintained that he, too, believed police had stopped a mass killing in Byrd Park on July Fourth.

Phil Wilayto, a founder of the group Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, said Smith has been a problem since he arrived.

The Dogwood Dell mass shooting story and the way he [was] clinging to it long after it was shown false is just the latest, he said.

He really wasnt open to the community  it is time for Stoney to really listen to the community and its concerns not only about public safety, but also about police conduct.

Councilman Andreas Addison said its time for change.

I think were seeing challenges from crime. Were hearing from police and the union and the community at large about concerns with leadership at the department, he said.

Smith was Richmonds third police chief in as many weeks when he took the helm of the police department on July 1, 2020, after weeks of nightly protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Smith, who had been with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina, succeeded former Richmond Police Maj. William Jody Blackwell, who had served as interim chief for 11 days at the height of the unrest.

In June 2020, Blackwell had replaced former police Chief William Smith. Stoney asked William Smith to resign the same day he elevated Blackwell to the post following what appeared to be escalating clashes between protesters and police.

Blackwell, who served as interim chief for 11 days in 2020, is suing Stoney and Gerald Smith individually in a wrongful termination complaint, saying they violated state law and policy when, according to his complaint, he was fired in retaliation because he refused an order of Stoney that Blackwell have his officers stand guard over the emergency removal of Richmonds city-owned Confederate monuments in 2020.

Blackwell said that he told Stoney at the time that it was illegal to disturb or interfere with any monuments or memorials for any war or conflict. The General Assembly amended that law as of July 1, 2020, after Blackwell alleges Stoney issued the order.

On June 26, 2020, Stoney asked Blackwell to step down. Stoney then installed Gerald Smith as chief effective July 1, 2020, the same day the city removed the statue of Stonewall Jackson from its pedestal.

Blackwell returned to his former rank of major. Blackwells suit claims that Smith fired him in February 2021 at Stoneys direction.

Gerald Smith was paid $185,000 annually, $25,000 more than the previous permanent chief.

Edwards, the new acting chief, has been with the department since 1999. The city statement said Stoney has asked Saunders to conduct a national search for Smiths replacement.

We are confident that RPD will move forward positively during this transition, the statement said.
A judge has ruled in favor of the city of Richmond in a lawsuit concerning the A.P. Hill statue, potentially clearing the way for the removal of the 130-year-old monument, a spokesperson for Mayor Levar Stoney said.

In his ruling, Judge David Eugene Cheek Sr. said city officials and not Hills descendants get to decide where the statue goes next. While the city wants to give it to the Black History Museum, the descendants wanted it placed in another location.

The plaintiffs still have the opportunity to appeal, and the statue likely wont be taken down immediately.

Were gratified by Judge Cheeks ruling, Stoney said in a statement. This is the last stand for the Lost Cause in our city.

Eleven Confederate statues in Richmond have been disassembled or pulled down by protesters since 2020. Richmond was the scene of protests in the spring and summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The removal of Hills statue has taken longer because it is also his grave site. Hills remains were placed there in 1891.

A Union soldier shot and killed him during the Union breakthrough at the Third Battle of Petersburg in April 1865. He was originally buried in Chesterfield County and later Hollywood Cemetery.

The city arranged for his remains to be reburied at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper, near where Hill was born. The city contracted with a funeral home to transfer the remains and for Team Henry to remove the statue and plinth.

But Scott Braxton Puryear, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, argued the statue should be treated as a cemetery and that its ownership should be transferred to Hills descendants, who wanted to move it to Cedar Mountain Battlefield in Culpeper.

The descendants did not object to moving Hills remains to the Culpeper cemetery.

Though Cheek ruled in favor of the city, the plaintiffs have a few weeks to file an appeal, and the statue wont be removed before that period expires.

Puryear said he doesnt know yet if his clients will appeal.

Stoney said: We look forward to a successful conclusion of the legal process, which will allow us to relocate Hills remains, remove and transfer the statue to the Black History Museum, and importantly, improve traffic safety at the intersection of Hermitage and Laburnum.
RICHMOND  A judge has ruled in favor of the city of Richmond in a lawsuit concerning the removal of the A.P. Hill statue, potentially clearing the way for the removal of the 130-year-old monument, a spokesperson for Mayor Levar Stoney said.

In his ruling, Judge David Eugene Cheek Sr. said city officials and not Hills descendants get to decide where the statue goes next. While the city wants to give it to the Black History Museum, the descendants wanted it placed in another location.

The plaintiffs still have the opportunity to appeal, and the statue likely wont be taken down immediately.

Were gratified by Judge Cheeks ruling, Stoney said in a statement. This is the last stand for the Lost Cause in our city.

Eleven Confederate statues in Richmond have been disassembled or pulled down by protesters since 2020. Richmond was the scene of protests in the spring and summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The removal of Hills statue has taken longer because it is also his grave site  Hills remains were placed there in 1891.

A Union soldier shot and killed him during the Union breakthrough at the Third Battle of Petersburg in April 1865. He was originally buried in Chesterfield County and later Hollywood Cemetery.

The city arranged for his remains to be reburied at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper, near where Hill was born. The city contracted with a funeral home to transfer the remains and for Team Henry to remove the statue and plinth.

But Scott Braxton Puryear, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, argued the statue should be treated as a cemetery and that its ownership should be transferred to Hills descendants, who wanted to move it to Cedar Mountain Battlefield in Culpeper.

The descendants did not object to moving Hills remains to the Culpeper cemetery.

Though Cheek ruled in favor of the city, the plaintiffs have a few weeks to file an appeal, and the statue wont be removed before that period expires.

Puryear said he doesnt know yet if his clients will appeal.

Stoney said: We look forward to a successful conclusion of the legal process, which will allow us to relocate Hills remains, remove and transfer the statue to the Black History Museum, and importantly, improve traffic safety at the intersection of Hermitage and Laburnum.
In the spring of 1939, fresh off his return from a tour of Nazi Germany, American aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh delivered his first radio address to the nation, forcefully advocating for American neutrality in the conflict and the atrocities that would eventually become World War II.

Probably because most of us still want to remember him as an untarnished American hero, many historians have largely glossed over Lindberghs shocking remarks, some of which included this especially jarring observation during his first national radio broadcast.

These wars in Europe are not wars in which our civilization is defending itself against some Asiatic intruder ... he said, then adding, This is not a question of banding together to defend the white race against foreign invasion.

More shocking than Lindberghs own appalling remarks, to me at least, were the generally ambivalent, and in some cases, fawning responses from much of the broader American public.

Perhaps not so ironically, a pre-WW II organization led by a rich businessman called the America First Committee liked what they heard. Eventually, they reached out to pull Lindbergh into the fold, appointing him to serve on their Executive Committee and offering him a role as a national spokesperson for an organization that could boast nearly a million members.

If you follow the news these days, all of this must sound a little bit like de ja vu.

In early October of this year, using the 21st century version of a WW II era radio broadcast, a modern American Aviation pioneer (Elon Musk) recently tweeted a number of strangely familiar proposals for ending the current war in Ukraine, strangely familiar mostly because they were widely regarded as Vladmir Putins own preferred terms for ending the war.

Then about a week later, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced that if Republicans were to re-take control of congress and if he were to resume his role as Speaker, he would immediately reconsider the provision of military aide to Ukraine, assuming a disturbing Lindbergh-like isolationist position that would have once been considered unimaginable at virtually any other time in the post-War era.

Its funny how history repeats itself, or maybe not, based on your own particular moral compass.

In a recent post written on his sputtering Truth Social platform, dividing Americans by faith and seeking his own loyalty pledge, the current leader of the America First movement posted,  our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.

The Lindbergh era America First Committee would no doubt be envious of their modern spiritual descendant. Some estimates indicate that todays America First movement has grown to fifty times its pre-war size. Yet the agenda and the spirit remain virtually the same.

Heres how Lindbergh analyzed (and attacked) the growing American sentiment to finally confront Adolf Hitler in a speech he delivered in Des Moines, Iowa in 1941 on behalf of the America-First Committee (oddly enough, on September the 11th).

The three most important groups who have been pressing this country toward war are the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt Administration.

Viewed in the clearer light of history, dividing the nation by faith and by party in the face of horrendous war crimes and atrocities while they are still being committed by a brutal foreign dictator might seem unimaginable to most, except that in point of fact, its all clearly happening again.

Weve had this conversation before. We all just seem to have forgotten.
China ranks Georgia's largest export destination in first 3 quarters

Xinhua) 10:26, October 26, 2022

TBILISI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Georgia exported 574.8 million U.S. dollars of goods to China in the first three quarters of 2022, making China the top export market for Georgia, according to the country's state statistics office.

Georgia's exports to China from January to September was 20 percent higher year on year, the statistics office said in a recent report.

Azerbaijan and Russia followed with 488 million dollars and 473 million dollars, respectively, on Georgia's top export destination list in the first nine months this year.

During that period, Turkiye, Russia and China were Georgia's top three trading partners, with a trade volume of 2 billion dollars, 1.71 billion dollars and 1.40 billion dollars, respectively, data showed.

Georgia's overall trade turnover in the nine-month period was 13.61 billion dollars, an increase of 35.3 percent year on year.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday called on Taiwan compatriots to guard against moves by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to prepare ground for seeking "Taiwan independence"

Against people's strong wish for peaceful and stable lives, the DPP authorities have been enthusiastically cooking up and lobbying for a so-called "referendum" on amending the "constitution," said State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang, commenting on relevant remarks from high-profile DPP officials.

Their ultimate goal is to pave the way for further manipulation of "constitution amendment" to seek "Taiwan independence," Ma noted.

All sectors of the Taiwan society ought to clearly understand the DPP authorities' nefarious intentions, be on high alert about the grave consequences such attempts could bring about, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits as well as their own interests and benefits with concrete actions, said Ma. 
 
Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention grant team members (from left) include X.J. Meng, Neeti Gandhi, T.M. Murali, Blessy Antony, Padma Rajagopalan, Andrew Chan, Sarah Gouger, Lisa M. Lee, and Jie Bu. Not pictured are Sanket Deshmukh, Kathy Hosig, Laura Hungerford, Anuj Karpatne, Paul Skolnik, James Weger-Lucarelli, Kristina Jiles, Charlie Plate, Nure Tasnina, and Katie Tiller. Credit: Virginia Tech

Complex, ill-structured, and thorny challenges require a convergence of expertise to advance beyond disciplinary boundaries and develop new frameworks for problem-solving.

One such challenge continues to loom large on the global stage: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

While COVID-19 is only one among many zoonotic viral diseases (those transmissible between animals and humans), its spread to pandemic proportions has highlighted important scientific, societal, and ethical aspects that require consideration for the successful prediction and prevention of further pandemics.

T.M. Murali, a professor in the Department of Computer Science, along with several colleagues from across Virginia Tech, has received a $1 million National Science Foundation grant to tackle grand challenges in the prediction and prevention of infectious disease pandemics. The award comes from the Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) program, which provides an opportunity for multidisciplinary teams to work across scientific and other disciplinary divides to implement an effective approach to pandemic predictive intelligence.

Murali, principal investigator in the grant, and the research team use the convergent power of their expertise to identify expedient, efficient, cost-effective options for the prevention and containment of zoonotic viruses.

"Virginia Tech is a great place to do this research," said Murali. "It is challenging and exciting and all of the researchers are eager to work together to see how they can contribute value."

X.J. Meng, co-principal investigator, University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of internal medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, said the university is well positioned to meet this challenge, citing the interdisciplinary and collaborative research taking place in the Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens (CeZAP), one of the four core centers within the Fralin Life Sciences Institute.

"With the establishment of CeZAP in 2020, and now with this PIPP Phase I center award on pandemic prevention led by Dr. Murali, Virginia Tech is on an upward trajectory to become a leader in infectious disease research and pandemic prevention," said Meng.

Over the next 18 months, this team of experts will be scaling up coordination and mapping convergence opportunities to build the research capacity that will make Virginia Tech highly competitive for a national-level center. With the goal of predicting and preventing future pandemics using novel approaches to research and transdisciplinary problem-solving, the team will use its professional and technical expertise to develop a common discourse and shared research agenda across three cross-cutting themes. The work conducted in each theme will inform and be informed by the discoveries in the other themes.

Theme 1: Computational prediction of viral adaptation to human cells

James Weger-Lucarelli, an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and Anuj Karpatne, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, will lend their expertise to developing computational and experimental methods to analyze the genomic sequences of viruses that currently infect animals. Determining how those viruses evolve in order to cross species barriers will lead to the development of predictive, science-guided machine learning models necessary for the effective development of interventions.

Critical to the development of these predictive models of zoonotic viral behaviors is work conducted by Padma Rajagopalan, the Robert E. Hord, Jr. professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the program director for the interdisciplinary graduate program on Computational Tissue Engineering. Rajagopalan shares her expertise in 3-D tissues, also known as organoids. "These organoids are lab-assembled and comprise almost all the cells found in a specific tissue," she said. "We need these kind of tissues because they are the closest we can get before doing animal testing. Because they are 3-D in nature, they can provide knowledge and insight as to what happens inside the body."

Theme 2: Rapid repurposing and redesign of drugs to prevent viral replication

Determining the evolutionary behaviors of viruses that move between animal and human hosts and their subsequent actions on tissues provides foundational data to support the identification, repurposing, and redesign of existing drugs that may be used in the prevention and replication of zoonotic viruses.

Sanket Deshmukh, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering; Laura Hungerford, professor of veterinary public health and epidemiology and the department head for the Department of Population Health Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine; and Paul R. Skolnik, infectious disease physician and professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, all contribute their expertise to explore the appropriateness of existing drug compounds, chemistry, design, and effectiveness to prevent viruses from evolving and/or replicating.

Theme 3: Community-informed research

Despite the successful development and approval of multiple effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the adoption of new pharmaceutical interventions has proven to be a barrier.

Specifically in the United States, societal resistance to vaccination has considerably hindered the ability of public health agencies to curb infections. Murali believes that one of the distinctive factors setting Virginia Tech's proposal apart from its peers was the deep integration of community engagement.

"What we realized in the COVID-19 pandemic is that health professionals have to build trust with the community and scientists need to be informed about what the concerns are," said Murali. As such, the investigators will engage with the community at large to develop an understanding of societal and ethical concerns of the research.

For Kathy Hosig, an associate professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences and director of the Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research, this work is vitally important to public health, particularly for alleviating health inequities. "Bringing transdisciplinary teams together to tackle public health issues such as pandemic prediction and prevention will build capacity for both researchers and communities to efficiently and effectively address current and future health threats," she said.

Murali; Hosig;h Lisa Lee, a research professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences, associate vice president for research and innovation, and director of the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance; and Kristina Jiles, research assistant professor and public health extension specialist in the Center for Public Health Practice and Research, will lead community engagement studios between researchers and group members. The studios provide an atmosphere where researchers can describe their project in lay terms to patients, community members, and health care professionals with trained facilitators to moderate the discussion. The studios will launch later this fall or during the spring 2023 semester.

The success of interdisciplinary research programs and centers at Virginia Tech is evidence of the university's commitment to becoming a global leader for the improvement of the quality of life and the human condition by inspiring and empowering people to learn, innovate, and serve beyond boundaries. Hosig credits this success to the passionate researchers, such as Murali, who are committed to transdisciplinary research and rigorous training for students to tackle sticky issues. She also acknowledges the Virginia Tech Graduate School and its support and flexibility to establish creative graduate certificates and to develop new strategies for training graduate students.

Provided by Virginia Tech
Researchers at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design are utilizing plots at the WVU Agronomy Farm to research effective ways to use manure as organic fertilizer. Credit: West Virginia University

These West Virginia University researchers are the No. 1 experts in No. 2.

Led by Elizabeth Rowen, a team of faculty from the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design will study the use of manure as an organic fertilizer, thanks to a $750,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.

More specifically, they are digging into the most effective ways to reduce insects and pathogens that threaten crops.

The U.S. is the world's largest consumer of beefmuch of which is grain-fedand spends $233 billion annually to import wheat, corn and soybeans for organic livestock feed. However, domestic field crop producers might have an opportunity to meet those needs if the barriers to organic production, like pests and nutrient sources, were lowered.

The key may be cow manure, which helps build nutrient content and organic matter content of the soil and bolsters soil health.

"In organic production, manure is very common because it is one of the only sources of nutrients that you can have," said Rowen, assistant professor of entomology. "You can't use chemical sources of nutrients to grow things like organic grain to feed your cows. You have to produce them with manure or other types of composts."

Manure not only makes an effective fertilizer, meeting plant nutritional needs, but it's also a common one. It's readily available in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where the livestock and dairy industries are prevalent.

Agricultural managers can apply manure in dry-stacked, liquid or composted form, but it also may bolster weeds, insects and soil pathogens, all of which will damage organic crops. Rowen and her colleagues are studying which form is most likely to carry or combat these pests.

"We have put together a team that's going to look at the soils, the weeds, the microbiome of these plants," Rowen said. "We're looking at how the microbiome from the manure transfers to the soil, and how it then affects insects. Because there's good evidence that applying manure can make plants more resistant to insect pests."

Researchers don't know why, but possible factors include the microbial community in the soil or the micronutrients from the applied manure fertilizer.

The right soil conditions will also encourage beneficial insects like spiders and ground beetles, which are important predators in agricultural systems. Organic matter in the soil feeds and stabilizes predator populations so they can prey on destructive insects.

"We know that organic systems tend to have fewer insect pests even though they're not getting sprayed with insecticides," Rowen said. "But is there something about manure that's making these plants more resilient? We're going to be investigating in the greenhouse, trying to pick apart that system. I'm really excited about it."

Cost effectiveness, too, plays a role in what fertilizers a farmer may choose, so the research team will be looking at ways to make an organic farm more profitable.

"The U.S. is importing organic grain, and it's got a higher economic value than conventional grain," Rowen said. "That's one of the reasons you would transition to growing your own organic grain, because the alternative is expensive."

She said team member Ana Claudia Sant'Ana, assistant professor of resource economics and management, will be looking at how fertilizer management affects profitability. Other members of the research team include Ember Morrissey, Jim Kotcon, Eugenia Pena-Yewtukhiw and Rakesh Chandran.

Currently, Rowen and her colleagues are preparing for the three-year study at the WVU Agronomy Farm where they'll plant four different crops. In the spring, they'll apply either liquid, raw (dry-stacked) or composted manure to the soil before planting corn, soy and wheat. The fourth will be a control that doesn't receive any fertilizer. Researchers will also have plots that are certified organic and others that will transition to organic. The latter will represent farmers who want to become organic and need an appropriate fertilizer.

"We want to be able to present the options," she said. "Especially for people who are trying to decide what to invest in. Things like composting their manure and using liquid manure, those are investments in terms of equipment and time and such. If there's really an advantage for their pest management strategies, it's valuable to have that information."

Rowen hopes the results will support decision-making in the future. In a nation with growing interest in organic milk and beef, she sees the potential to increase organic feed production and help farmers transition to more profitable organic production.

"We drink a lot of milk and we eat a lot of beef," she said. "We're not getting rid of cows anytime soon."

Provided by West Virginia University
Lucas is a Hartsville native and is the senior vice president for government affairs at Prisma Health in Greenville.It is an honor to have Rep. Lucas as a friend of GSSM and our 2023 Townes Award recipient, Governors School for Science & Mathematics President Danny Dorsel said. Our mission to seek out the most motivated and talented students across the state and transform their lives could not be accomplished without his support throughout the years. He is also an amazing example to our students of a true servant leader. He has always been one who thinks about his community, no matter how small or large it is, before himself.Lucas served the state of South Carolina on the state and local levels. He also is an attorney. Lucas has served as the county administrator for Fairfield County, financial director for Bennettsville, a county attorney for Darlington County and a municipal judge in Hartsville.I am truly honored to be named the 2023 Townes Award recipient, Lucas said. GSSM serves as a wonderful cornerstone in education here in South Carolina. The school does an incredible job supporting its students and their families. I cannot thank GSSM enough for all that it has done and is continuing to do for the communities and people of the Palmetto State. I am looking forward to celebrating the Governors School at the Townes Award celebration in March.Lucas earned bachelors of arts, masters of public administration and juris doctor degrees from the University of South Carolina.
Felicia Frazar is the managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail her at felicia.frazar@seguingazette.com .
Firefighters begin to tear down a portion of a home in the 500 Block of River Street in an effort to reach the fire that heavily damaged the house on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in Seguin.
Police walk outside the closed Tivoli Friheden amusement park, in Aarhus, western Denmark on 14 July 2022 (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)

The rule of law has declined across the world for the fifth year in a row, according to the global Rule of Law Index published by the civil society organization World Justice Project.

Denmark retained the top spot for the seventh consecutive year.

The European nations dominated the list of top-performing countries, with Norway, Finland, and Sweden upholding their position from the previous year, taking the second, third and fourth spot, respectively.

However, Germany was knocked from the fifth to the sixth spot, with the Netherlands replacing it to make a place for itself in the list of top five nations with the greatest adherence to the rule of law.

Venezuela secured the spot of the worst performing nation, Cambodia came in second last with Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti preceded them to form the bottom five countries on the index.

The US found itself in the list of five top countries that strengthened their position compared to the previous year.

The index assessed 140 countries on four universal principles of the rule of law. These included the principle of accountability, which involved holding private individuals, as well as the government responsible for their actions, along with the principle of just law applied evenly to ensure human rights and procedural rights, for all individuals.

The Washington-based firm also looked at the principle of open government where it analysed the processes by which the law is adopted, administered and enforced, besides the implementation principle of accessible impartial justice which is delivered by competent, ethical and independent representatives.

These four principles were further developed in the eight factors forming the index. It included constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, and civil and criminal justice.

The global body expressed its concern over the weaker checks on executive powers, adding that authoritarian trends such as attacks on the media predated the Covid-19 pandemic.

Story continues

Authoritarian trends that predate the pandemic continue to erode the rule of law, said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the World Justice Project. Checks on executive power are weakening and respect for human rights is falling.

The report, however, found that the declines were less widespread and extreme compared to last year when the pandemic-related shutdowns dramatically affected the justice systems as the government used emergency powers to curtail civic freedoms and bypass transparency mechanisms.

This combination of photos shows former president Donald Trump, left, and president Joe Biden, right (AP)

It noted that two-thirds of the countries that saw a slip in their rule of law index last year, again observed a dip this year.

Most notably, the index measure of fundamental rights declined in two-thirds of the countries. It also observed that 61 per cent of nations showed a decline in civil justice due to continued delays, weak enforcement, and discrimination in the justice system.

About 58 per cent of the countries observed a dip in the constraints on government powers, a key measure aimed at countering authoritarianism.

We are emerging from the health crisis, but not the governance crisis, Ms Andersen said. Today, 4.4 billion people live in countries where the rule of law is weaker than it was last year.

Asserting that the rule of law is also a key underpinning of democracy, Ms Anderson added: At its heart, rule of law is about fairnessthat is, accountability, equal rights, and justice for all  and a less fair world is bound to be a more volatile one.

However, not all countries observed a downward decline. There were also those which strengthened their position in the rule of law index. These included Honduras, Kosovo, Belize, Moldova, and the United States.

The US improved its global ranking for the first time in five years, securing the 26th spot. The report noted that despite gaining ground in the second year of Joe Bidens presidency, the overall score still remained lower than 2020 when Donald Trump served as the president of the country.

It also added that in the last five years, the US had seen the sharpest decline which was similar in magnitude to that observed in Hungary, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Nicaragua.

And despite breaking a five-year losing streak, the country was not out of the woods by a long stretch, warned Ms Andersen.

Authoritarian trends have weakened both trust and accountability and [the] democracy is not as healthy as it should be, she said.

Even though Indias overall rule of law index decreased by less than one per cent, it jumped up two positions in the ranking compared to last year, landing the 77th spot.

The country however, remained behind economically ravaged Sri Lanka which took the 74th spot. Nepal was the best-performing south Asian country, securing a global rank of 69.

In 2020, Indias Supreme Court had directed the Narendra Modi-led federal government to set up an expert panel to boost the countrys prospects in the rule of law index after it secured the 69th position.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Cronobacter sakazakii has been in the news as the cause of infant infections and the reason for a U.S. baby formula recall and resulting shortage this year.

Infections are rare and the bacteria is harmless for most people. Yet it can be dangerous or even life-threatening for infants, especially those who are younger than 2 months old, are premature, are immunocompromised or have low birth weight.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers some tips for staying safe from this germ, which can live on most surfaces and survive easily in dry food and drink, such as starches, herbal teas and infant formula powder. The bacteria can also live on bottles and come into homes and factories on hands or the soles of someone's shoes.

While liquid formulas go through certain sterilizing treatments during production, powders do not, according to the FDA.

So, one way to avoid the bacteria is to use ready-to-feed infant liquid formula, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for infants who are at higher risk.

Another is to prepare powdered formula with water that is at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit, then allow it to cool before feeding an infant.

This option isn't possible for certain metabolic and specialty products, which warn against heating above 100 degrees F because it could result in a loss of vitamins and nutrients.

Other steps to protect infants from Cronobacter include carefully cleaning, sanitizing and storing bottles and breast pump parts.

Wash hands with soap and water, especially before preparing bottles and feeding. Caregivers can also use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, according to the CDC.

Formula lids or scoops should not be placed on contaminated surfaces such as countertops or sinks.

Cronobacter sakazakii is part of a large family of common bacteria, which makes it more challenging to identify the source. Only Minnesota requires cases be reported to state public health authorities, which leaves many U.S. cases unreported.

Symptoms of an infection in infants can include fever, poor feeding, excessive crying and/or very low energy. Some infants may also have seizures.

Parents seeing any of these symptoms in their baby should seek immediate medical help.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on Cronobacter infection.

SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, Oct. 20, 2022
By the time 30-year-old Sarah Nelson started planning her own big day, she felt as though shed already been to a million weddings.

So she told Candace Kalasky at Lovestruck Events that she wanted something unique, nontraditional and unexpected for her marriage to Kyler Vande Berg.

My vision was to make our venue look like it had been completely overgrown and full of greenery and ultimately be a celebration of Omaha and Nebraska and all it means to us, Sarah, now Vande Berg, said. We also knew that we wanted it to be an absolute party and have people feel sad when it ended because they were having so much fun.

Mission accomplished. She was thrilled with what Lovestruck put together for them and their guest list of 325.

They chose the Diamond Room for their reception because it allows for a lot of customization, Sarah said. They made it their own through installations and draping. Sarah said Lauren Barratt at Lavish Flower Design completed the job.

I cried when I saw our venue. It was absolutely stunning, Sarah said. The day is about you and you should be sure to incorporate all things important to you.

Trails end just the start

After the two met on Bumble in 2018, Kyler proposed in July 2020. They took a road trip to Salt Lake City to visit Sarahs older sister Kellie, and wanted to get outside after being cooped up indoors because of the pandemic.

We went into Cottonwood Canyon to do a hike up to Cecret Lake with my sister. We got to the top and Kyler asked my sister to take a picture of us and he proposed.

Local flavor for their big day

Some of Sarahs favorite parts of their wedding day were the food and soft serve ice cream as a nod to their first date at the College World Series.

We served Block 16-style gourmet burgers and salmon wraps, she said. Our guests are still talking about our soft serve ice cream machine, too.

Their escort display featured Julia McGuigans illustrations, Sarah said, and the greenery hanging installations done by Lavish Flower Design included green paper cranes as a nod to the sandhill crane migration.

Lots of laughs  and tears

The funniest moment of the day was when one of the groomsmen ripped his pants right down the middle from dancing too hard.

Minor chaos also ensued when a bridesmaid bouquet was lost as they were about to head to the church. It felt like a true murder mystery story of who really lost the bouquet (spoiler alert: it was my sister!).

Sarah thought it would be Kyler who would cry during the first look, but she says absolutely lost it in the elevator on the way down.

Our whole moment together was just complete waterworks. Having a first look with my dad was also incredibly emotional for me, she said. I made my dad a custom tie patch with a picture of us and gave him the vinyl of our father/daughter dance song (Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison).

She wore her mothers original engagement ring and her paternal grandmothers wedding ring. She was able to put a strand of her maternal grandmothers pearls around her bouquet.

Paw patrol and more

The couple hired Barking Vows so their dog could be a part of their special day.

Seeing our Bernedoodle, Bonnie, definitely felt like a stress reliever on a crazy day, Sarah said.

One of their favorite presents was a custom portrait of Bonnie. A Nespresso was lovely, too.

They had both a photo booth and a guest book that was actually a phone where people left us messages. That created some great memories, they say.

They both knew they wanted DJ JAB and he did not disappoint.

We had guests trying to book him from our dance floor and he made sure the party kept going all the way to the end, Sarah said.

Daniel Muller took their photos, and the couple said he made them feel comfortable and was a dream to work with on their big day.

Wedding photos are truly the most important thing on your day since that is what you look back on and ours turned out absolutely amazing, Sarah said.

Happy ever after

Sarah never knew that Kyler was a bigger neat freak than she is. He didnt know how often shed turn to Taco Bell as a backup dinner plan.

Anytime we need groceries, are missing an ingredient or dont have any meat thawed, shes quick to remind me of the current Taco Bell $5 Box Meal she could order on the Taco Bell app, he said.

He also said Sarah is beautiful, smart and is truly blessed in all aspects of life. She finds success in virtually everything she does.

She cares deeply about her friends, family and loved ones and people always enjoy her company and want to be around her more, he said.

Sarah says Kyler is truly her best friend.

He is such a caring and thoughtful person and always goes out of his way to make sure I know how much he cares about me, she said. He makes me laugh, and we always have the best time together.
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The number of dengue fever cases has continued to rise in Pakistan amid an outbreak due to floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains.

In the last 24 hours, 397 more people were diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the provincial health department reported on Tuesday night. The number of active cases in the province currently stands at 1,514 and the total number of cases this year has reached 17,244.

The eastern Punjab province reported 289 new cases in the last 24 hours, the provincial health authorities said on Tuesday. Punjab's capital Lahore reported 142 new cases, followed by Multan city with 48 cases. The total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year has now gone up to 13,455.

The southern Sindh province reported 217 new infections, said the provincial health department on Tuesday evening. The worst-hit area was Karachi, the provincial capital, which reported 134 new cases. With the newly reported dengue cases, the October figure to date for the province has risen to 7,597, bringing the local total to 17,751 this year.

The national capital Islamabad reported 79 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the health authorities said on Tuesday night. The city's total tally has risen to 4,488 this year. 
SIOUX CITY  The Siouxland Humane Society will have a new location for its annual "Paws 'N Claus" fundraiser to support homeless and often neglected animals in Siouxland.

With parking available at the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot, "Paws 'N Claus" will be in Suite 109 at the Ho-Chunk Centre, 600 Fourth St. from Nov. 16 - 20.

"Paws 'N Claus" features professional photographs and a great opportunity to get new family photos with or without your pet and with or without Santa. The Grinch will also be around on select days.

Appointments for weekday evenings as well as weekends can be made online at siouxlandhumanesociety.org.

Established in 1889, the Siouxland Humane Society is a nonprofit organization solely supported by private donations. It exists to provide programs and services that promote the humane treatment of animals in the Siouxland area.

Money raised from "Paws 'N Claus" will go directly to care for the thousands of homeless, neglected and abused animals it helps each year.
EMERSON, Neb. -- An Emerson man has been arrested on felony charges after a hidden camera was found in a public restroom at the Northeast Nebraska grocery store where he worked.

Miguel Vazquez, 21, is charged with three counts of unlawful intrusion, a class IV felony.

According to an arrest affidavit filed in Dakota County Court, Emerson police were dispatched to Post 60 Market, 109 N. Main Street, at 6:58 p.m. Friday.

A female employee had gone into the store's public restroom and found what appeared to be a camera plugged into an electrical outlet above the sink. She unplugged the device and called the manager to the store.

She and Vazquez told police they didn't know anything about the device, but thought it had been in the bathroom since the previous Sunday, the affidavit stated. Police collected the device as evidence. It was confirmed to be a hidden video recording device.

At 7:47 a.m. Saturday, the store's manager called police. He told them that Vazquez admitted to being the one who had placed the hidden camera in the bathroom. Vazquez was then arrested at his home and taken to the Dakota County Jail.
SIOUX CITY  A Sioux City man was sentenced Friday to 12 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine.

Luis Sanchez, 41, pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. He was convicted in 2014 of distribution of methamphetamine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Sanchez and others sold more than 8 pounds of meth from January through September in 2021. Sanchez sold meth to individuals cooperating with law enforcement three times during that time.
LINCOLN, Neb.  The man facing four murder charges for the Aug. 4 shooting deaths of four Laurel, Nebraska, residents has been released from a Lincoln hospital, where he had been treated for severe burns since his arrest.

The Nebraska State Patrol said Jason Jones, 42, of Laurel, was discharged from CHI St. Elizabeth Wednesday morning and transported to the Nebraska Department of Corrections' Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln. State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said he did not know Jones' current health condition, but offenders sent to the Reception and Treatment Center typically are housed there for ongoing medical treatment.

It is not clear when Jones will be transported to Cedar County, where he is charged with four counts each of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of first-degree arson. Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda and Cedar County Attorney Nick Matney did not immediately return messages seeking details of Jones' return.

No court dates have been set in Cedar County Court. Judge Douglas Luebe on Aug. 6 set Jones' bond at $5 million.

Jones is charged with the shooting deaths of Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, who were found inside their home and Michele Ebeling, 57, who was found in her home nearby.

Authorities responded to a reported explosion in the early morning hours at 209 Elm St., where they found Ebeling's body with two gunshot wounds.

A second fire at the Twiford home at 503 Elm St. is believed to have started at about the same time, and responders found the bodies of the three family members, all with gunshot wounds.

Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, was arrested without incident at his home about 24 hours later and was transported to the Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns over a large portion of his body. The Cedar County Sheriff's Office arranged for private security to guard Jones while he was hospitalized.

According to court documents, Jones left three receipts, including one for gas at Rath's Mini Mart in Laurel and another for a six-gallon gas canister from a Sioux City hardware store at Ebeling's home, and surveillance camera footage from Rath's showed Jones filling up to gas canisters the evening before the fires.

During a search of the Twiford home, authorities found a Ruger .57-caliber pistol Jones had bought in 2021, and the Twifords' wounds were consistent with that weapon.

Search warrant affidavits filed in the case show that Jones' wife, Carrie Jones, was seen at Ebeling's home shortly after the explosion was reported, and she told police during an interview she had been there early that morning.

Authorities have searched the Jones residence twice and have seized two knives, four firearms and several boxes of ammunition. Also seized were iPhones, two Apple Watches, a MacBook and an iPad.

During the second search, authorities were looking for burned clothing and shoes matching impressions observed at the Twiford home. According to court documents, Carrie Jones had previously told investigators she peeled off Jason Jones' remaining clothing when he returned home. No burnt clothing was found during the search, but two pairs of shoes were seized.

No charges have been filed against Carrie Jones.
SIOUX CITY  The collapse of a half dozen walls at the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center should not delay completion of the project, the LEC's board of directors heard Tuesday.

County officials said the pre-cast concrete walls fell or broke at around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 due to high winds. Wind speeds that afternoon averaged 11 miles per hour, with gusts up to 43 mph, according to the Iowa State University Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

The walls were installed on Aug. 16 with braces designed to withstand winds of up to 100 miles per hour for the first six weeks, and up to 80 miles per hour after six weeks, Shane Albrecht of the project consultant, the Baker Group, told the LEC Authority board Tuesday.

Albrecht said one southern panel fell due to the wind; hitting the next two panels to the north, which then hit two more panels to the north. The sixth panel was hit as the other panels fell, but was still partially attached. The latter panel was safely detached and lowered to the ground around 11:30 p.m. Friday, he said.

No one was injured or near the walls at the time.

The impacted area is not on the critical path of the construction schedule, Albrecht said, and should not impact the anticipated end date in September 2023.

John Kelly, a structural engineer, said the damage appears to be minimal, and it did not harm the structural steel. Kelly added some foundational areas can't be evaluated until the damaged walls are removed. Albrecht said there is at least one foundation footing that needs to be repaired due to the collapsed walls.

All of the downed walls were left where they fell so they could be evaluated by insurers. Albrecht said he hopes the damaged walls will be cleared away by the middle of next week.

Gage Brothers Concrete Products of Sioux Falls, built the precast walls, which were then delivered and installed at the construction site on the northeast side of Sioux City. The walls were braced in place by an engineering plan that the general contractor, Hausmann Construction, hired a third-party engineer to develop, Albrecht said.

Hausmann has reached out to the Gage Brothers to inform them of the damage, LEC Authority Chair Ron Wieck. The walls are scheduled to be re-poured on Thursday and Friday and can be delivered to the site as early as Monday or Tuesday, Albrecht said. He added the engineer that developed the structural plan visited the site last week, and Gage Brothers' engineer is scheduled to visit on Thursday.

Safety teams from Hausmann and the Baker Group also are evaluating the damage to put new steps and plans in place moving forward, Albrecht said. He also said the Job Hazard Analysis has been updated.

The new jail has been under construction since early 2021 in the vicinity of 28th Street.

Woodbury County voters passed a $50.3 million bond issue in March 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, the low bid for the main construction phase came in well above estimates at $58.4 million.

Counting other additional expenses, the project's price tag now stands at about $69 million. The new total estimate includes design fees, project management fees, land purchases, bond costs, project change orders and site preparation.

The 122,000-square-foot jail will hold up to 448 inmates; nearly double the roughly 234 inmate-capacity for the current aging jail, located across the street from the county courthouse. The new LEC also will have separate offices for the county sheriff and attorney, plus five courtrooms.
An Orchard woman is facing up to 40 years in prison after being accused of stealing more than $21,000 from her Charles City employer over the past 10 years.
JESUP  Bond has been set at $1 million for a Jesup father whose infant son ended up in intensive care on Oct. 11.

Prosecutors said Kyle Thomas Astleford, 28, admitted he was rough with the 2- month-old; he allegedly told investigators he had gone too far and crossed the line.

On Friday, Astleford was charged with felony child endangerment.

As of Wednesday, the baby remains in the intensive care unit at the Stead Family Childrens Hospital in Iowa City. Doctors are working to wean him off life-support in hopes that he can breathe on his own.

His prognosis is unclear but, due to the extensive blood and oxygen loss to his brain, he will likely have major developmental delays and massive special needs. He may now suffer from cerebral palsy and permanent vision loss, Buchanan County Attorney Shawn Harden wrote in court records that detailed the evidence and the injuries.

The child, identified in court records by the initials L.A., was born on Aug. 11.

On Oct. 11, his parents took him to an urgent care clinic because he had a slow heart rate, was acting lethargic and turning blue, according to court records. An ambulance was summoned to transfer him to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo, and he quit breathing on the way.

When doctors found signs of fractured ribs in different stages of healing, he was flown by helicopter to the Iowa City hospital.

Further investigation found a skull fracture on the right side of the head with bleeding inside and outside the brain, a right collar bone fracture, breaks in the growth plates on both legs, retinal hemorrhages in both eyes and multiple bruises.

The multi-disciplinary team of medical professionals at UIHC ruled out any medical explanation for L.A.s injuries. Instead they found the injuries consistent with abusive head trauma and physical abuse, specifically that L.A. had been shaken and subjected to blunt force trauma on multiple occasions, court records state.

When questioned, the parents said Astleford had performed CPR twice on the child in the first weeks of his life.

Astleford also recounted a Sept. 20 incident where the mother told him he was being too rough with the child. In that incident, he had just finished a cigarette outside when the baby became fussy, and the gripped the child tightly possible causing the collar bone and some of the rib injuries, records state.

He also admitted to shaking the child on Oct. 3 when he was angry and shaking and slapping the child on his head on Oct. 5, records state.

Kyle said his anger on this occasion measured a six on a scale of one to ten. When asked what would have happened to L.A. if Kyles anger was greater than six, Kyle said L.A. would have been a spot on the ground. Kyle said he would describe his anger as crossing into a dark place when it goes beyond a six, Harden wrote in court records. He said he was in a rage and possibly hit L.A.s head on the crib when he was taking L.A. out or putting L.A. into the crib.

On Oct. 6 the mother asked Astleford what was wrong with the baby after noticing the child was like a limp noodle, records state.

Astleford reported that he also shook the baby on Oct. 10.
CLARKSVILLE  Trial for a former Clarksville police lieutenant accused child exploitation has been tentatively set for December.

Michael William Tobin Jr., 34, pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and eight misdemeanor counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in Butler County District Court. He also demanded his speedy trial rights.

Authorities allege Tobin used a cloud-based Google document to communicate with a minor and distribute sexually explicit images of one another in February 2022. He also is accused of using SnapChat to request and receive sexual images of another minor.

Investigators also allege Tobin shared sexual images of other minor female victims from a child exploitation case in which he arrested a Clarksville man in 2020. Federal prosecutors ended up dropping charges against the Clarksville man in March 2022 after they discovered the evidence had been improperly shared.
A federal judge last month dismissed a lawsuit against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln alleging deliberate indifference in how university officials investigated a report of sexual misconduct on campus.

Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. ruled in September that a 2020 lawsuit failed to provide sufficient evidence showing action or inaction by UNL denied a student the benefits of an education, guaranteed by Title IX.

The deadline for the unidentified woman, who reported a sexual assault and stalking, to appeal Rossiters ruling passed earlier this month.

According to the lawsuit, the woman who was formerly enrolled at the UNL College of Law said she was possibly drugged before being sexually assaulted at the apartment of a male student in September 2018.

The woman said she was later stalked by the man  who was not charged with a crime and is not being named  at friends apartments or at the College of Law, where he was also a student.

In October 2018, the woman told another student about the alleged stalking, and that student relayed the report to Marc Pearce, an assistant dean for student affairs at the College of Law.

Pearce, according to the lawsuit, spoke directly to the male student and offered the woman links to various resources on campus. He also reported the allegations to UNLs Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, which is charged with investigating sexual misconduct on campus.

A few months later, in early 2019, Pearce met with the woman, and she told him about the alleged stalking she experienced, but she did not mention the alleged sexual assault, according to the lawsuit.

Pearce referred the woman to UNLs Title IX office, where an investigation was initiated, but the woman did not ask for any accommodations at that time, her complaint indicated, believing action would be taken.

The woman left UNL in March 2019 and did not return for the fall semester. She reportedly told friends she felt uncomfortable with the male student knowing where she lived as well as her academic schedule.

An investigation by UNLs Title IX office concluded in August 2019. In a 53-page report, senior investigator Meagan Counley informed both the woman and the man that there was insufficient evidence to determine the woman had been drugged.

Counley also informed both parties the greater weight of the evidence supported the woman was not incapacitated when she engaged in sexual activity with the man, finding there was insufficient evidence to hold the man liable.

The woman appealed the decision to Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jake Johnson, who affirmed Counleys decision.

Rossiter, in his ruling, said the university did not remain idle after receiving a report of the alleged assault and stalking.

While the process wasnt flawless  Rossiter noted Pearce failed to immediately forward the accusations on to UNLs Title IX office, but pointed out an investigation was launched immediately after he did so  the judge said it did not rise to the level of deliberate indifference.

UNL made reasonable accommodations to the woman, Rossiter added, even as it did not grant her everything she requested, such as removing the male student from the university, which he said presented a risk of violating (his) constitutional or statutory rights.

Rossiter granted summary judgment to UNL and dismissed the case.

UNL has faced several accusations in recent years from female students who have alleged systemic failures in how the university investigated sexual misconduct on campus.

The women have criticized UNL for using an investigatory process that placed blame on victims and said investigators were too deferential to alleged perpetrators.

Most of the claims filed in those lawsuits have been dismissed, however.

Earlier this year, Rossiter tossed a majority of the Title IX claims made against UNL by nine women, including a former Husker volleyball player, who said the university failed to take action because the reported accusers were male student-athletes.

Although that case drew a rare filing from the U.S. Department of Justices Civil Rights Division, which accused UNL of misapplying Title IX case law in its investigations, only two womens complaints were allowed to move forward.

In another case, filed in 2021, U.S. District Court Judge John Gerrard tossed a Title IX complaint against UNL but allowed other civil rights claims to move forward in a lawsuit filed by a former Ph.D. student who reported being sexually harassed by her adviser.

Both cases remain open in U.S. District Court.
I am writing in support of Joel Miller, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State. I want to focus on voting rights by contrasting positions of Miller versus his opponent.

Rather than making voting more limited and restrictive, Joel calls for automatic voter registration at age 17 and permanent absentee ballot requests. The Iowa Legislature has limited voter access in many ways. For example, less days for early voting and limited number of voting drop boxes. Most concerning is the ability of the Legislature to disregard our votes. If the Legislature desires a different outcome, they can and will change it.

As Secretary of State, Joel will advocate for changing laws to help people access absentee voting. Joel was one of three county auditors sued by former president Donald Trump, along with Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill, for sending out absentee ballot request forms to all voters.

Please vote for Joel Miller to preserve and increase voter accessibility. --Marlene R Sturdevant, Sioux City
I believe that Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller's record is the best recommendation for his re-election. Miller's most recent announcement that Iowa is one of the states which has reached a settlement agreement with four companies involved in Iowa's opioid crisis is just the latest in decades of Miller victories for Iowans. This latest settlement will bring $178 million to Iowa for remediation and prevention.

Other legal settlements made possible by Miller are the tobacco settlement, the Microsoft antitrust case, a case against bigus for profit universities, which leave students with piles of debt and little else, and the settlement with banks and mortgage lenders during the Great Recession Most recently. Miller announced that Iowa has joined other states in suing ag pesticide makers for anti-competitive practices.

And all with honesty and humility. Miller just keeps his head down and persists. No fanfare, grandstanding. In contrast, his opponent promises to "Give em the Bird" in her campaign ads and blames Miller for not suing President Biden for what? She does not specify. I'll take Miller's solid wins for Iowa over his opponenrs partisan Molotov cocktails. I hope, you, too will vote for Tom Miller for Iowa Attorney General in the mid-term election. -- Jim Jung, Sioux City
Iowa lawmakers have taken a couple of much-needed swings in the past five years at the generosity of the nearly 40-year-old research activities tax credit. But developments in the past year should nudge them toward thinking bigger when they return to the Capitol in January: They should ax the credit entirely.

Under the credit program, businesses see their taxes slashed  and frequently even get checks from the state  for various kinds of research conducted in Iowa. The program has shouldered blows from all corners of the political spectrum, over its efficacy, over the tens of millions of dollars it costs the state treasury every year, and over the disturbing premise of the government taking the money it collected from you and handing it out to giant companies for undertaking normal business activity.

The Legislature did some paring on the program as part of the tax cut law it passed this past winter. That prompted business leaders to express worry about how much benefit they stood to lose (even while the overall corporate tax rate is dropping 14%, with more reductions possible). And this month, the Department of Revenue held a closed-door hearing so an ethanol company could argue that the public shouldnt get to see any documents related to one of its applications for a tax credit.

This all follows the release of a report in December by a Revenue Department analyst that said, in part, that research on whether these tax credits have their desired effect is not all that convincing.

In a pair of revisions in recent years, lawmakers moved in the right direction by limiting which industries and what work are eligible for the credit and starting to trim refund amounts. But if the future of the tax credit is increased secrecy and haggling over companies bottom lines, all for an uncertain benefit, lawmakers should cut out the half-measures and phase out the credit completely.

One saving grace for the tax credit since 2009 has been the mandatory release of a list of the entities receiving the largest benefits. The list makes it clear that large agricultural companies such as Deere and Corteva, who surely arent going anywhere and who surely have many other incentives for developing innovative products, get the majority of the tax credit benefit.

Still, the list doesnt say whether a company is only reducing its tax liability or is getting a check from the state government.

It also doesnt give specifics about negotiations between auditors and businesses about what work is eligible for the credit  but some of that information has generally been available in the highest-dollar cases under the states public records law.

Last year, Poet, the worlds largest ethanol company, started arguing differently after the state said it shouldnt have received research activities credit for a cellulosic ethanol project. Poet argues that everything its given to the state to defend its application is exempt from disclosure, the Registers Tyler Jett reported, and Revenue Department executives allowed the company to make that case privately at an Oct. 7 hearing.

This is another distressing case of parties seeking broad constructions of the exemptions in Iowas public meetings and public records laws, which were written to presume the public is best served by openness. Nobody is accusing the parties here of anything untoward, but wed all be better off if we could assess with confidence that decisions about the tax are made wisely and without favoritism.

In isolation, this episode wouldnt justify blowing up the entire program. But it ought to be the last straw for the many legislators and observers who have expressed misgivings about research activities credits. We have better ways to use this money  $56 million in credits claimed in calendar year 2021, $44 million of it issued as refunds.

The 2021 Revenue Department report said 15 states dont have comparable tax credit programs, so surely Iowas is not absolutely indispensable. Since 2010, six of those states have repealed their credit or allowed it to expire.

Will the biggest companies operating in Iowa throttle back their own growth if they cant stack credits on top of the lower state rates? Thats not likely. Phase out the research activities tax credit.
For this years Turkey Day celebrations, American travelers are heading to some classic holiday destinations and also others that are less traditional.

Allianz Partners just released its "Top 10 Thanksgiving Destination Index" to reveal which destinations, both domestic and international, are Americans expected favorites for 2022. To find the answers, the premier travel protection company reviewed over 2 million flight itineraries planned for the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

It probably comes as no surprise that New York City, always a highlight of the holiday season, claims the top spot among domestic destinations on Americans autumn travel schedules. Seattle came in second, which is also not unusual, since it typically attracts plenty of outdoor enthusiasts to the forested Pacific Northwest.

Climbing a significant five spots from 2021, Orlando made its way into third place, reflecting a broader trend toward warm-weather destinations. Besides which, Orlando serves as a gateway to popular amusement parks and, with its cruise port having resumed normal operations, plenty of cruisegoers will also be passing through.

Another Florida favorite, Fort Lauderdale returns to the Top 10 in 10th place after falling off the list in 2021, while Washington D.C. in ninth place made the cut for the first time in five years. Other major U.S. cities occupying the rest of the Top 10 positions: Boston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Dallas.

While Turkey Day isnt celebrated in other countries, U.S. travelers who prefer an overseas escape for the holiday continue the historical trend of choosing Mexican hotspots. Cancun, San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta take the top three spots this year among Americans international Thanksgiving destinations.

Across the pond, European favorites London and Paris also made the list, coming in fourth and ninth place, respectively. The remaining four spots went to Caribbean beach vacation destinations, with Montego Bay ranking, Nassau sixth, Punta Cana seventh and Oranjestad (Aruba) eighth.

Thanksgiving travel tends to provide a deep sense of nostalgia for Americans, whether continuing traditions at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City or reuniting with family on the beaches of Mexico, says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA.
Adidas terminating its partnership with Kanye West is one of those once-in-a-decade fashion stories that manages to escape the close-knit industrys bubble. A creative being ousted from a clothing company may not have gotten this much attention since John Galliano was fired from Christian Dior in 2011. (The Sun had published a shocking video of the designer on an anti-Semitic tirade.)

Two weeks ago, I predicted that the fashion industry would not cancel West. This was before CAA and Adidas cut ties to West, and before Gap announced it would no longer sell the Yeezy product that was languishing in the wake of its partnership ending. (Gap was promoting the apparel in email blasts even just last week.) But I remain unconvinced this is the last we will see of West in fashion, not just because almost no celebrity truly gets canceled, but because the halo effect of fashion prominence often outlasts public disgust.

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Yeezy fashion showswhich were kicked off at Paris Fashion Week in 2011were never a critical success. In fact, they were often logistical failures; in 2016, the New York Post called a Yeezy show a total disaster, citing high heels practically disintegrate[ing] while models walked in them and guests trapped on buses waiting for the show to start.

But none of that stopped the fashion industry from supporting West.

Because from the instant success of his first Yeezy sneaker with Nike  which sold out almost immediately after it came out in 2009  retailers could see that shutting out the likes of West was simply unwise for business. After the Nike partnership collapsed, West moved to Adidas, which launched its collaboration in 2015.

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And that partnership was big business for Adidas. In 2020, sales of Yeezy sneakers totaled nearly $1.7 billion, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg. These figures surely influenced Gaps subsequent decision to get into business with West, even though, at that point, he already had a history of controversial statements. (In 2018, for example, he called slavery a choice and hugged President Trump while wearing a MAGA hat, which he said made him feel like Superman.)

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This year, days before Wests Paris Fashion Week Yeezy show was staged, breathless articles were printed in fashion publications about how a surprise show would include just 50 guests. That those guests were basically comprised of fashion bigwigs including Balenciaga designer Demna, Anna Wintour, John Galliano, and Alexandre Arnault was as disappointing as it was unsurprising that West used this as another opportunity to provoke. He showed up wearing a White Lives Matter T-shirt (a slogan the Anti-Defamation League calls racist), the conservative commentator Candace Owens by his side. This kicked off a series of social media posts in which West ridiculed Vogue Global Fashion Editor-at-Large Gabriella Karefa-Johnsons appearance; described a meeting with her that he said was filmed by Wintours friend Baz Luhrmann; and descended into an anti-Semitism tail-spin that has been condemned by celebrities including his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League.

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Inside the fashion industry, loyalties to creative partners are expected to be fierce and unshakable, which helps explain why individual downfalls are often viewed, within the industry at least, as unfair. West will likely face permanent damage to his reputation as a result of his recent actions and statements, particularly becauseunlike John Gallianohe has not shown public remorse.

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Though Galliano is still reviled by many fashion fans, its worth noting that he worked with the Anti-Defamation League, which then made public statements asking the world to forgive him. Eager to do so was Wintour herself. Sources told me when I was reporting my book, ANNA: The Biography, that it was Wintour who called Parsons to try to get Galliano a teaching gig. (The school was prepared to do so but canceled its plans after students protested.)

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And note that the response from fashion companies regarding West in recent days has been mostly corporate and impersonal. It has come in the form of statements from Kering, which owns Balenciaga, Adidas, and Gap. British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful was one of fashions few leading creatives to personally comment, calling Wests T-shirt insensitive in the New York Times. Wintours reactions were reported by Page Six, which cited a Vogue spokesperson as the source of this information: That the magazine had no intention of working with West in the future. [A]n insider was quoted as saying, about Wintour: She has made it very clear inside Vogue that Kanye is no longer part of the inner circle.

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Im not hearing that people in the industry think that whats happening to West now is unfair, which is different from the slew of fashion editors I interviewed for my book who expressed disbelief at what happened to photographers, including former Vogue favorite Mario Testino, who were accused of sexual misconduct. Many photographers in that cohort, like Greg Kadel, continue to work. Testino is still booking likely lucrative campaign work from Dolce & Gabbana and, going by Instagram likes and comments, retains support from prominent designers and stylists.

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Controversial figures thrive in fashion. That is not new. Whats new is the pressure on the industry to denounce them. And even that is uneven. Karl Lagerfeld, who repeatedly expressed disdain for fat people and said in 2017, regarding German Chancellor Angela Merkel bringing Syrian refugees into the country, One cannot  even if there are decades between them  kill millions of Jews so you can bring millions of their worst enemies in their place. Next spring, Wintours Met Gala will open an exhibit honoring Lagerfeld. It is underwritten by Chanel and Fendi, a brand owned by LVMH.

West may be out of fashion for now. But a comebackeven if he fails to attain his former industry statusseems practically guaranteed.
In Lily Kings novel Writers & Lovers, the narrator is asked, during an interview for a teaching job, what she thinks of Cormac McCarthys All the Pretty Horses, and she makes the mistake of being scrupulously honest. She replies that she couldnt get past the writing to enjoy the story, that he seemed to be alternating between imitating Hemingway and imitating Faulkner. This response dismays her potential co-worker, but for much of the 1980s and 1990s, while McCarthy was building his reputation as the bard of American masculinity, many readers felt the same way. McCarthys late-life masterworks, 2005s No Country for Old Men and 2006s The Road, subverted this critique by harnessing and even subduing McCarthys oracular nihilism to no-nonsense genre-fiction plots. They also made him significantly more popularThe Road was even an Oprahs Book Club pickand were the subjects of ambitious Hollywood adaptations, one of which (2007s No Country for Old Men) won the Oscar for Best Picture.

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Now, with the publication of two new, linked McCarthy novels, The Passenger and Stella Maris, its time to dust off that caveat again. At first, The Passenger, published this week, seems poised to deliver a similarly transformative variation on the thriller, but it is not to be. Stella Maris, publishing in December, doesnt even try. And while the Hemingway strain in McCarthy remains as evident as ever, Faulkner takes a back seat to more unlikely influences ranging from Don DeLillo and Thomas Pynchon to, weirdly, James Ellroy and even less reputable compatriots.

The Faulknerian touch mostly manifests in the central characters of the two novels, siblings Bobby and Alicia Western, who, in addition to having a flagrantly thematic last name, are also the children of a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project and who never suffered a moment of troubled conscience over it. Instead, its his offspring who seem haunted by his apocalyptic guilt and, more tormentingly, by their incestuous love for each other, never consummated. The Passenger describes a series of events and encounters in Bobbys life during the 1980s, while Stella Maris is a transcript of Alicias sessions with a psychiatrist in a sanitarium, shortly before she killed herself. During her interviews with the shrink, Alicia believes Bobby to be brain-dead following an accident in the course of his work as a Formula 2 race car driver in Italy. Partway through Stella Maris, it occurred to me that the events in The Passenger might be nothing more than the hallucinations or dreams of a comatose Bobby, which would explain a lot. Ultimately, however, it proved as impossible to reach a conclusion on this question as it is to come to any firm understanding of the novels overall.

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This isnt to say that the two booksparticularly The Passengerlack indelible passages. Early in The Passenger, Bobby, living in New Orleans and working as a salvage diver, is part of a team hired to search a small plane that went into the sea off the Mississippi coast. They are told to look for survivors, an improbability they shrug off, but other things about the wreck seem unusual. McCarthys description of the divers silently making their way through a fuselage full of still strapped-in corpses is transfixing:

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He kicked his way slowly down the aisle above the seats, his tanks dragging overhead. The faces of the dead inches away. Everything that could float was against the ceiling. Pencils, cushions, styrofoam coffeecups. Sheets of paper with the ink draining off into hieroglyphic smears.

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In the cockpit, Bobby finds the co-pilot still belted to his seat but the pilot hovering overhead against the ceiling, with his arms and legs hanging down like an enormous marionette. Also, the black box is gone. Also, the plane seems completely undamaged. Back on the surface, Bobby and his buddy Oiler figure that someone has been to the wreck before them. Ill tell you what else, Oiler says when Bobby presses him to discuss all this, my desire to remain totally fucking ignorant about shit that will only get me in trouble is both deep and abiding. Im going to say that it is just damn near a religion. Bobby, being a Cormac McCarthy protagonist, has no use for religion and pursues the mystery for a bit. Then men with badges turn up to question him, explaining that there was one less body on the plane than there should have been. A passenger is missing. Bobbys apartment gets tossed, then the rented room he decamps to gets tossed. Oiler is killed while working a job in South America.

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The McCarthy of the 2000s might have stuck with this terrific premise and hung one of his bleak, relentless parables on its thriller skeleton. Later, Bobby takes a job on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, dropped off by a helicopter just before the arrival of a ferocious storm. The crew is nowhere to be found. He wanders through deserted steel corridors as the wind roars outside, eating apricots out of a can and becoming increasingly convinced that someone else is there too, just out of sight. And then there are his fathers papers, compiled or collected while the old man was holed up a cabin in the Sierra Nevada, then stolen in a peculiar burglary in which nothing of conventional value was taken. Its never quite clear what the men in suits want from Bobby, who eventually winds up on the lam from the IRS as well. Is it to do with the wreck or nuclear secrets or what?

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McCarthy pointedly never develops any of these episodes into a story. Instead, Bobby has extensive conversations about machinery with other men; extracts a long account of a friends harrowing experiences in the Vietnam War; buys dinner for a transgender woman with whom he enjoys a courtly platonic friendship; visits his grandmother in Tennessee, where she still mourns the ancestral family home, submerged under an artificial lake in the 1940s as part of the Manhattan Project. He favors a researcher with a lengthy assessment of the major figures of quantum mechanics and string theory. He listens to a private detectives explanation of how the Mafia was behind the assassination of John and Robert Kennedy (thats the James Ellroy part). He hides out in an off-the-grid Idaho farmhouse for a frigid winter. Eventually he winds up living in a windmill on an island near Ibiza.

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If this sounds random, it is, despite the recurring motifs of deep water, conspiracy, trauma, and the sins of fathers visited upon their children. Interspersed with Bobbys adventures are chapters in which Alicia banters with the hallucinations induced by her apparent schizophrenia. These are led by a figure called the Thalidomide Kid, a wise-cracking dwarf with flippers instead of hands who, when not haranguing her with puns, organizes a series of phantasmal vaudeville acts for Alicias dubious benefit. These interludes recall the most tiresome parts of Thomas Pynchon novels, all bad jokes and stupid music hall songs. Stella Maris will recast the Kid as trying to save Alicia, but although he doesnt resemble any recognizable symptom of mental illness, I can see why his visits would make her to want to kill herself.

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The argument that life is one damn thing after another until you die is a solid one, and that indeed may be the point of Bobbys pointless story. Stella Maris provides the philosophical underpinnings of this idea, although in Alicias view the human portion of the universe is not merely random: It is demonstrably getting worse and worse, with the atrocities made possible by her fathers work serving as Exhibit A. On a personal level, the tragedy of Alicias life is that the one thing she wantedto marry Bobby and bear his childhas been denied because of a taboo that means nothing to her. While Bobby hangs out with a bunch of colorful French Quarter lowlifes who seem unfazed by his incestuous longing (they just think its a shame to waste your life on grief), Alicia takes a while to reveal her secret to her interlocutor, who is appropriately shocked. Most of their conversation, however, has to do with theoretical mathematics and its role in Alicias life.

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Like most readers of this book, I have little understanding of the ideas Alicia discusses, but from what I can discern, she seems to be a devastated Platonist. She admires the Austrian mathematician Kurt Godel, who succumbed to paranoia-induced starvation in 1978. Godel believed that mathematical abstractions had a real existence transcending the material world. For Alicia, a mathematical genius who graduated from the University of Chicago at the age of 16, this idea is a trap. She seems unable to stop at mathematics and is tormented by the idea that evil, as well, must have some transcendent reality, poisoning the world and causing her to wish not just that she was dead, but that she had never existed in the first place. In one of the most vivid passages in Stella Maris, she explains why she changed her mind about drowning herself in a lake only after realizing in detail exactly how physically agonizing the experience would be.

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McCarthy isnt known for his convincing female characters. Alicia is no exception, but hes conceived of her as so intellectually freakish that it hardly matters. At the heart of her suicidal impulses is a memory of a waking dream she experienced at the age of 11. In this vision, she peered through a peephole to see sentinels standing at a gate beyond which, she sensed, lay a malevolent presence. She knew then that the search for shelter and for a covenant among us was simply to elude this baleful thing of which we were in endless fear and yet of which we had no knowledge. Alicia calls this presence the Archatron, an invented word that appears in another dream description in McCarthys Cities of the Plain. This force appears to be something ancient but also increasingly manifested in the present, and responsible for the grim eruptions of this century. It is an ill-contained horror beneath the surface of the world and a deep and eternal demonium at the core of reality.

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Never has McCarthy sounded more like H.P. Lovecraft, whose extravagant hopelessness is forever tipping over into camp. McCarthys fiction, too, sometimes threatens to become a parody of itself. At its best, it counters his nihilistic tendencies with the sheer thrill of narrative, arguing, in its way, that a sleek, relentless story, gorgeously told, offers pleasures enough for this world. These confusing, confused late-life novels dont do that. Instead theyre overtaken by dissolution. McCarthy is 89. If he has really come to believe that our existence is utterly brutal and meaningless, why bother to write about it at all?
In the virtual one-party state of Alabama, political drama is, as a rule, reserved for the primaries. Occasionally, though, an interesting state-level race pops up to remind us that dramatic fights can still play out on the local level.

This year, that race is in South Alabama, where a long-time Democratic state senator is now, because of redistricting, facing a genuine challenger in the form of a conservative talk radio host who brought a busload of people to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The incumbent, Vivian Davis Figures, is an Alabama institution and has been in office for 25 years; she was preceded in that role by her husband, who served for two decades before that. She is Black and represents a chunk of Mobile, a majority-Black city, in a district that also includes Africatown, a historic community founded by the last known enslaved Africans brought over to the U.S. She was also one of two women in the state senate to publicly push back against Alabamas severe abortion ban, proposing, as a protest, an amendment that would also outlaw vasectomies.

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Her opponent, Peter Riehm, has said he did not go into the Capitol and that he left when the barricades came down, but he cannot seriously claim to be anything other than a fanatic: In an interview with the Southwest Alabama NBC News affiliate conducted after he left the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, he complained that there wasnt a damn thing anyone can do to enforce the rule of law and that the American people were going to get pretty damn testy if their complaints about the election werent heard. They went into recess because they felt threatened, he said. Hopefully they realize we are very unhappy. And if they feel threatened now, wait until we come back. (AL.com noted that the FBI has interviewed Riehm, but he hasnt been accused of any crimes.)

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Should Figures lose her seat to Riehm, the outcome wont change the political make-up of the state overall. There are only eight Democrats in the state senate to 27 Republicans. But its worth paying attention to this one racea very rare competitive election in Alabamabecause it shows the ways extreme, conspiracy-theory minded candidates are quietly rallying for local power, even when there is little, politically, on the line.

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The important backdrop of this election is the states redistricting after the 2020 census. Since the 70s, either Figures or her husband has represented a chunk of the Mobile metropolitan area, including a city to the north thats almost 90 percent Black. But when the Alabama legislature reworked the map, her district carved into the overwhelmingly white suburb of Spanish Fort.

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This in itself was not a particularly sinister move by the legislature. Unlike in the U.S. Congress, state Republicans have no need to fight for numbers. So while Alabama has notoriously gerrymandered its districts in such a way that restricted the states Democratic (and Black) population into one seat, it had no real need to mess with the borders at the state level.

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Still, the new map means that Republicans, locally, are trying unnecessarily hard to flip this Southern Alabama seat. According to AL.com, which has done most of the reporting on this race, Figures, who once ran for the U.S. Senate (and lost to Jeff Sessions), is still favored. But she is facing serious competition from Riehm, making the contest for Alabama Senate District 33, according to AL.com, one of the hottest legislative battles in Alabama.

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Riehm, who founded South Alabamas Tea Party, has a lot of views that are shared by the loudest mouths of the Republican Party. He pushed to have In God We Trust displayed in public buildings. In a column for a site called RenewAmerica.com, Riehm wrote posts with titles such as As beta males rise, America falls, The dirty rotten sham of higher education, and LGBTQ+  wheres the P? (The P stands for pedophilia.) He has complained bitterly about feminism, out-of-control crime, and election integrity; described the Department of Justice as an American Gestapo; and theorized that the left supports abortion rights because they know they must foster an immoral society if they ever hope to subjugate the masses. Notably, for someone who hopes to represent a heavily Black district, he has also claimed that endorsing BLM is as unconscionable as supporting the KKK.

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But unlike most other Republicans who were at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and now running for elected office, Riehm is forced to contend with a heavily Democratic voter base, and he has had to moderate his language, prioritizing local issues over hot-button cultural ones. So other than school choice and parental rights, none of his positions are particularly relevant to the culture wars. His official position on the election now appears to be that the election was stolen but that theres no point trying to undo something thats already happened.

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Still, a quiet campaign hasnt meant hes avoided ugly politics. According to AL.com, Riehms campaign passed out flyers in the town of Spanish Fort claiming, absurdly, that in the dark of the night the Democrats zoned our great city into their liberal district to take your voice away. To be clear, Figures voted against the redistricted map. But the comments in a Spanish Fort Facebook thread show clearly that many Spanish Fort residents placed the blame squarely on herand articulated many of their anxieties about being lumped in with poor areas of Mobile with racist dog whistles.

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Riehms veiled threats also come off as more startling when you remember that Figures home was shot 23 times in an incident in June 2021. Figures wasnt home and no one was injured. At the time, police said that the shooting did not appear to be a random act. (One of Riehms attacks on Figures has been that we dont know where she lives.)

So if Riehm manages to flip this long-term Democratic seat, it will mean a lot, symbolically, for Figures constituents. And its a very possible flipin part because Alabamians are so used to static politics, they tend to turn out at abysmal rates. Democrats are even less motivated: This year, there are more Libertarians than Democrats challenging Republicans in the general election. In that scenarioDemocrats accustomed to defeat staying home and Republicans turning outwe might just see a dramatic flip: A MAGA, far-right election denier representing one of the Blackest districts in Alabama.
On Dec. 7, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Moore v. Harper, a radical case on the fate of the so-called independent state legislature theory which could end the ability of state courts to interpret their own states election laws as applied to federal elections, thereby closing their doors to a wide swath of voting rights suits. Although there are many persuasive arguments against the ISL theoryincluding that it is inconsistent with the text, history, and precedent of interpreting the U.S. Constitutionwe have argued in a just-filed amicus brief that theres a self-interested reason for the Supreme Court to reject the ISL argument as well: It will lead to a flood of new federal litigation that will undermine voter confidence in elections, harm the legitimacy of the courts, and pave the way for potential election subversion.

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The legal issue in Moore is arcane, but the stakes for democracy are extraordinarily high. Good-government groups for years have been trying to stop states like North Carolina from engaging in partisan gerrymanders: drawing district lines to help one party and hurt another. The North Carolina General Assembly, dominated by Republicans, has drawn its congressional districts so that Republicans are likely to capture a huge majority of the seats in a state that is roughly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

After the Supreme Court foreclosed the possibility of federal lawsuits against partisan gerrymandering in the 2019 case Rucho v. Common Cause, challengers sought relief in the state court system. Common Cause filed suit over the 2020 round of congressional redistricting in North Carolina court, arguing that partisan gerrymandering violated a provision of the state constitution guaranteeing free elections. The North Carolina Supreme Court agreed, and required a more balanced map.

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North Carolinas Republican legislators then appealed that result to the U.S. Supreme Court. They argue in Moore that the elections clause in Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution allows legislatures and only legislatures to regulate federal elections, unbound by state judicial review or reasonable interpretation by state election administrators.

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The argument is absurd in a number of ways. The elections clause gives state legislatures the power to prescribe, and Congress the power to override, times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives. When Congress acts to override state laws under this provision of the Constitution, it may only do so in ways that comply with the U.S. Constitution. There is no reason that state legislatures should not be similarly constrained, not only by the U.S. Constitution but the state constitution that created the legislature in the first place. Theres also Supreme Court precedent rejecting this odd reading of the elections clause. For example, the court in a 1932 case held that subjecting a legislatures congressional redistricting plan to a governors signature or veto does not violate the elections clause.

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Moreover, the petitioners argument in Moore ignores how election laws are made, interpreted, and implemented. As a practical matter, state legislatures cannot draft detailed regulations that cover every aspect of the administration of federal elections, and any drafting is sure to leave gaps and ambiguities in statutes as new issues arise. In practice, state legislatures cannot regulate federal elections alone because there is so much detail for conducting elections simply absent from statutory text. Therefore, state administrators and state courts, in every state, must routinely interpret state election laws on matters pertaining to early voting, absentee voting, mail-in balloting, electioneering, redistricting, and the mechanics of normal election administration.

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If the Supreme Court agrees with petitioners, it will invent an entirely new constitutional cause of action in all of these instances, significantly burdening federal courts. Each state judicial or administrative act of gap-filling or interpretation would become the basis for a federal constitutional lawsuit based upon some alleged discrepancy between the statutory text and the interpretation and implementation of that text by the states judicial and executive branches. Worse, each time a state court decides if a state or local election administrator has gone too far, that ruling itself would open the floodgates to new litigation in federal courts, framing these issues as a federal constitutional violation of the elections clause.

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Election litigation in the United States is already at record highs, up nearly 26 percent in the 2020 election period compared with the 2016 period, and nearly tripling in the period since the disputed 2000 election that culminated in Bush v. Gore.

Further, weve compiled statistics on emergency election litigation filed in the Supreme Court, and the numbers are also high. There have been at least 65 of these cases in the last dozen years. In the 2016 term alone, the Supreme Court considered 11 emergency election-related petitions, and in the 2020 term there were 15. Most recently, there were seven in the 2021 term, a non-presidentialelection year.

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An expansive interpretation of the elections clause surely will fuel much more litigation, placing a heavy burden on federal courts, and especially on the Supreme Court, as it will be asked to consider an ever-increasing number of time-sensitive, election-related motions on its emergency docket. The high number of election cases on the emergency docket will surge even further.

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In our current hyperpolarized atmosphere, candidates and political parties who may be on the losing end of a close election will have every incentive to file lawsuits in federal courts in an effort to second-guess the decisions of state courts and election administrators, even when those institutions have interpreted and implemented the applicable statutes competently and in good faith. Such lawsuits, whether successful or not, provide a basis for litigants to publicly assert that elections are being conducted unlawfully or illegally, which can further undermine voter confidence in the fairness and integrity of elections.

These concerns are not hypothetical. Consider, for example, a dispute over whether state law permits the use of ballot drop boxes for voters to return absentee ballots. Today, such litigation is handled as a matter of state law over the proper interpretation of state election statutes. But under the legislators argument, this issue inevitably will reach federal courts as well.

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Such a novel constitutional cause of action will force federal courts, and especially the Supreme Court, to constantly second-guess these state determinations and decide if a judicial or administrative interpretation strayed too far from the words of the state statute, thereby creating a federal constitutional violation. It also will lead to clashes between state and federal courts over the legality of election administrators actions. Election disputes will be more commonplace, constantly thrusting the Supreme Court into the political thicket in the midst of highly contested elections. Increased federal judicial activity on such issues will promote confidence in neither the election system nor the judiciary.

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Such claims are especially dangerous in these fractious political times, when segments of the public (including possible future candidates like former President Donald Trump) conflate claims of judicial or administrative technical illegality or unconstitutionality with unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud.

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At the extreme, the damage to confidence that these lawsuits will create provides a pathway for election subversion as segments of the public become more willing to reject lawful election results. If the Supreme Court accepts the legislators far-reaching and absurd theory, it could provide a pretext for state legislatures to submit alternative slates of electors should members of the legislature be unhappy with the choice of their states voters for president, without the ability of state courts to check such unquestionably unlawful actions. Although a legislatures attempt to appoint alternative slates of electors in these circumstances would violate both the Constitution and federal statutes, those seeking to undermine free and fair elections in the United States would only be further emboldened by a decision of the Supreme Court embracing the legislators expansive view of state legislative power in federal elections.

There are many reasons to reject the legislators argument in Moore. But self-preservationfor both the judiciary and our democracymay be the most compelling practical reason to do so.
On Monday, America got a report card, and the results were pretty bad. There were alarming declines in math and reading skills among the countrys fourth and eighth graders, as assessed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which has been testing broad samples of elementary-level students since the early 1990s. In this years test results, which are calculated as an average from 0 to 500, math scores dropped by five points for fourth graders, lower than all previous assessment years since 2005. Eighth graders math scores dropped by a whopping eight points compared with 2019.

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Reading scores fared slightly better, with both fourth and eighth graders recording only three-point drops compared with 2019. But for eighth graders, that score was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 1998. Even if you were to dice the scores by state, no single state in the country saw an increase in reading or math scores for either gradeit was all straight declines or no significant changes recorded.

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Though test scores are simply one predictor of childrens success, they tend to reflect whether a student will finish high school, succeed in college, and earn a good living. At a national level, test scores can predict economic growth, which means learning loss could quickly become a serious problem not only for individual students, but for the future of the country as a whole.

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But even though this years NAEP results are alarming, in many ways, theyre not all that surprising. Americas classrooms have gone through cataclysmic changes since 2020 with on-and-off in-person learning, online classes, and mandated quarantines, not to mention the nearly 200,000 children under 18 that have lost a parent or other in-home caregiver to COVID-19. Thats in addition to the severe teacher shortage, driven not just by burnout, but desire for better pay, the politicization of teaching, and high turnover rates.

The federal government tried to remedy the situation by investing $123 billion in American schools, but research has shown at least $700 billion is needed to seriously offset COVID-19related learning loss.

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So where do we go from here? The answers are mixed, with various research suggesting that high-dose tutoring sessions, after-school programs, summer school, and extended schoolday and schoolyear initiatives could help. I spoke with Anya Kamenetz, a former NPR education reporter who has written multiple books on education, including most recently The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Childrens Lives, and Where We Go Now, to talk about how the nation should view these NAEP test scores and what some potential solutions might be.

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Ali: Looking at these latest NAEP test scores was your immediate thought Wow, this is bad, or was it more expected? And do you think its something we can recover from?

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Kamenetz: Its exactly what I expected to see. So Im not actually shocked, personally, but I also am not in the camp of people who want to wave it away and say, Oh, we had a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic. I think its a big deal and I think that we should be worried, not because of the math grade, but because of what it means about how our kids are doing, what we did for them and what we didnt do for them.

The other thing is, there is very little precedent in history for kids to make progress at a rate that will get them to where we want them to be. How do we get these scores to not translate into a generation of kids that continues to have depressed high school graduation rates and depressed college-going rates? We had a 20 percent drop in community college admissions since the beginning of the pandemic and it is still falling, and fell again this fall, so were seeing that kids arent going to college.

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Yes, we gave schools a lot of money, but it sunsets in 2024 or 2025, if they get an extra extension, and its not enough money. Schools are also not necessarily using it in research-affirmed ways. So how do we not just drift into a future where we are less educated? Thats a disaster. We cant handle being less educated. Countries dont do well when they become less educated. So it is a recipe for disaster if we dont do something of a size, of an energy, of an effort that just hasnt been done before. Im not saying we cant do itwe are America, we went to the moonbut I dont know if I see that energy. I want to see that energy and Im not.

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The federal government has tried to step in and plump up education funding in order to help address COVID-19 learning loss. Is that the right solution?

I think the most important thing to conceptualize about this is that its going to take time. In the beginning of the pandemic, I looked at research on Hurricane Katrina, which closed schools in New Orleans, and it took about two years for those kids to resume their previous trajectory. That was in an atmosphere of a total overhaul of the school conditions. But, another way of saying its going to take a lot of money is that its going to take a lot of time, and its not going to be a one-year or two-year quick fix because we just dont have any paradigm in academics anywhere for kids like overcomingthis kind of progress. They dont learn twice as fast. There isnt like a mode you can switch kids into where they just learn things twice as fast. They catch up over time and they need different things in order to catch up.

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This past school year was not necessarily a recovery year [either]. Well hopefully see more growth in this current school year and in the next school year, but I definitely agree that enhanced funding is going to be required over many years in order to get kids back on the learning trajectory that we want them to be on.

Tutoring has been frequently mentioned as a solution to help kids catch up and address gaps in their learning. Do you think thats the right approach?

My understanding of the research is high-dose tutoring, specifically, and that is a few times a week, not once a week, with specially trained teachers, either on their own or in small groups. So there are a lot of things that are tutoring programs that are maybe once a week, maybe theres a volunteer, it could even be a teenager tutoring a kid. Or theres summer school programs, but that doesnt really count. When youre pulling kids out of class, just for a little bit of time, for intensive group work, thats fine, but that doesnt really count as extra learning time because youre taking from one class time where you could do something else. So I looked at it across the board, and were not really seeing applications of tutoring that commonly goes in line with what the research is recommending.

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So bottom line: Do you think high-dose tutoring is something parents and educators should be taking into consideration to address their childrens learning loss?

Yeah, absolutely. If you have a kid whos dealing with these gaps, knowing this is a little bit different from other kinds of academic difficulties, its not necessarily that they dont understand or have the ability to understand the concept or they have a specific learning disability. Its just like, gosh, I never learned this or I didnt have enough time to practice this or it was introduced kind of quickly and I wasnt able to really grasp it. This starts with a conversation with your kids teacher, which is, where are they showing that theyre behind? Most schools are going to be giving far more detailed assessments than the NAEP necessarily does, which can help pinpoint certain areas where kids might be needing some extra help.

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A survey by Brookings Institution found that overall, less than 50 percent of parents reported their childs school was offering tutoring and/or summer school. They also found only 23 percent of parents were interested in summer school and just over a quarter were interested in tutoring. What do you make of this?

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I think these are huge problems, the lack of interest or the lack of the ability by the schools to communicate the urgency of extra learning time, on both sides. Ive also seen surveys and polls that suggest that parents arent particularly concerned with their childrens academic progress, like theyre not necessarily getting the message that their kids are behind, because the bar has shifted. Understandably so, I think for parents, theyre more concerned with their kids social-emotional well-being because its something that theyre very qualified to assess as parents. Whereas, for math, learning what the standards might be for a second grader versus a third grader isnt something that your typical parent is super familiar with. So, without that urgency when schools give these offerings, theres not a lot of uptake because parents are like, you know what, Id really rather that my kid had outdoor time or physical exercise. They want to have their kid try karate, rather than extra time with math. So I think it was a communication problem.

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The other side of it is obviously you cant offer these extra learning times if you dont have a workforce thats up to it. Theyre tired, overworked, and burned out. Theyre having trouble covering classes. I was just in Milwaukee yesterday and the Milwaukee public schools are having such a dire shortage of teachers that theyre having teachers Zoom into the classroom and basically have proctors in the room with the students. So its not really even like in-person learning and this is 2022. So I think that its a really, really big problem.

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Children of color have disproportionately been impacted by COVID-19, experiencing higher death rates and more pronounced setbacks in test scores. How do we take that into consideration when trying to address learning loss?

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We have to remember that the achievement gap has nothing to do with childrens innate abilities and has everything to do with the instruction that is given to them or denied to them. The widening of these gaps also reflects the different experiences of the pandemic in different communities. So we know that Black and Hispanic families lost more people to COVID-19, those people died at younger ages and there were more children that were bereaved and orphaned by COVID-19. Whereas in Asian American families were dealing with an uptick in hate incidents, and they were more likely to keep their children in remote learning because they had a higher level of caution about the virus. So theyre really different experiences that these communities are taking in that might be impacting their test score performance. We must be really careful to say that while were targeting supports, opportunities, and access for these kids, were not labeling them as somehow being inherently worse off. These test scores are just a very tiny leading indicator of a much bigger problem which has to do with how we treated kids during the pandemic and how we basically allowed them to be forgotten while we tried to and failed to stop high death rates in our communities.

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I think some of the strongest school districts that Ive seen have adopted a mentality where theyre focusing on belonging and on school engagement and seeing families as a resource rather than an obstacle to school engagement. So figuring out ways to get the students and their families on board. Another big factor that sometimes gets overlooked in school performance with Black and Hispanic families, in particular, is teachers that look like them. Theres a lot of research thats shown having at least one teacher who is a member of that group can actually improve a kids performance in that persistence into high school. It really is a full-bore effort, theres no special kind of instruction that works better with one kid of one race or ethnicity versus another, but theres a lot that schools can do to give across the atmosphere that you belong here, we know that you can do this, and youre destined for great things. Thats what I see a lot of successful school communities doing.

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How do we take into consideration the hundreds of thousands of American schoolchildren who lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19?

Thats classified as an adverse childhood experience. Its been proven to have potentially lifelong impacts on health as well as mental health. For my book, The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Childrens Lives, and Where We Go Now, I did talk to a lot of childrens grief counselors and they were interested in the idea of having schools become grief-informed communities. That means having a collective sense, and the stewarding done through professional development and also through sessions with students, to understand how grief looks and how you can help someone who might be hurting, how a community can come together and support people and not make it taboo. Because a lot of times, grief in particular is something that were really uncomfortable with in this culture, and people dont talk about it and kids might feel sidelined or ostracized or that they cant talk about their person. Some of the young people that I spoke to who went through this loss said that learning that all of their feelings were OK and that it was OK to be sad, it was OK to be happy, and understanding how to remember their person and honor their person were all things that were really helpful for them. The whole school can be a place where theres a little more tenderness, a little more understanding that weve been through different kinds of pain, and these clinicians told me that it really can be extra helpful for kids and help them recover.
In the late 90s, following the grand reveal of Dolly the Sheep, there was an uproar about the potential for cloning humans. In response, reproductive cloningthat is, the ability to have a human give birth to a cloned embryowas essentially prohibited in the U.S.

But the ban wasnt a result of an act of Congress. Instead, the government body that took action was the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA stepped in by using power Congress had already given it to oversee medical products, and it remains accountable to Congress in how it uses this authority. Its the same mechanism that has allowed the FDA to evolve and manage many emerging technologies, such as, software as a medical device, advanced reproductive technologies, tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, and even cell-based meats (along with USDA).

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But now, the Supreme Court has just made this process of regulating new technologies, even for human cloning, more vulnerable to legal challenges.

In a decision in June, West Virginia v. EPA, the Supreme Court limited the Environmental Protection Agencys ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants. Many were quick to point out the obvious setback to climate regulation as well as the courts perceived power grab in shifting power from agencies to themselves. However, the way the Supreme Court did thisby recognizing and endorsing the major questions doctrinethreatens regulation and public policy in the U.S. by allowing judges to pick and choose regulation they think is major and then undoing it. Previously, the court deferred to an agencys interpretation of authority as long as lawmakers had granted them power through legislation and Congress had not previously spoken more specifically on the issue. But this new major questions standard creates some cutting issues around why courts should be so closely involved in policymaking.

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The upshot of the major questions doctrine is that it allows courts to strike down regulatory programs they feel are major, which in practice seems to mean too costly, too political, or too novel in nature. While this new level of judicial scrutiny is potentially harmful for all kinds of regulatory programs, it is particularly troubling for efforts to strike the right balance between the benefits and risks of new technologies. Regulating the development and use of new tech often requires agencies to use their existing authority from Congress to address unforeseeable concerns created by new technologies. However, because new technology is just thatnewand almost always has economic and political consequences, its regulation could be particularly vulnerable to the major questions doctrine. The Supreme Courts new deregulatory tool could be used to invalidate regulations for new tech in court as well as make regulators think twice before they even start the process of creating new policy for technology.

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Thats particularly alarming because regulatory agencies like the FDA have long been responsible for most of the regulating of new technologies. Congress certainly could set new legislation on emerging tech, practically speaking, but lawmakers rarely prioritize technology policywhich is often difficult for nonexperts to understand, may not get the same media attention or public outcry as other issues, and can be politically tricky to execute. So Congress has generally seemed happy to let regulatory agencies using their existing power to handle new tech issues such as privacy, genetically modified crops, or nanotechnology.

But the major questions doctrine would let courts object to new regulation anyhow, which could ultimately leave federal courts with the final say about how new tech can be regulated to prevent harms to safety, privacy, equity, and so on. This will likely leave regulators with fewer tools to manage the risks associated with new technologies, could be unequally applied to target specific agencies, and may leave the American public with less protection from all kinds of tech-related harms. For example, the EPA has stepped in to regulate how genetically modified insects are released into the environment (for instance, to stop the spread of disease) using its existing authority on pesticides. Congress has made no objection to this move but, no matter, the major questions doctrine could allow courts to decide the EPAs policy is too novel or too political anyway and cut down these efforts to protect human and environmental health.

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The major questions doctrine gives courts new toolsor at least new political coverto question agencies authority on new technology. This is happening even though Congress has many tools to oversee agency programs and has already given agencies broader mandates around protecting patients, consumers, and the environment. Because technology can touch every part of our lives, multiple different federal agencies are often involved in managing risk and other policy issues around new technologies. Aside from the FDA or EPA, various regulators use their existing tools and authority from Congress to manage issues like A.I., cryptocurrencies, self-driving cars, and so on. But these uses of authority might not be permitted under the courts new major questions analysis. At bare minimum, agencies may now face a higher bar to justify getting involved in new tech, even when technologies cause problems Congress already told agencies to regulate.

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Human reproductive cloning is a good example of why Congress is often hesitant to get caught up in new technological issues. At least a part of the issue in the late 90s was that Congress got caught up in political hurdles over whether a ban would prevent medical research and other useful kinds of innovation. In this case, the FDA filled the void by prohibiting human reproductive cloning without getting specialized permission from the agency first, under its authority to regulate clinical testing. This effectively banned reproductive cloning, while still allowing for therapeutic applications of the underlying technology to be revisited when appropriate.

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At any time, if Congress were to become uncomfortable with the direction of the FDAs action on cloning, it can still write a law to override the decision. Yet the issue has instead faded from policymaker attention, showing a tacit approval of the FDAs use of its existing authority. To be fair, it seems unlikely that anyone would file suit to block FDA regulation of cloning, but that doesnt mean its impossible. It is striking that the Supreme Courts powered-up version of the major questions doctrine could have enabled such a lawsuit to be successful. And it seems likely to chip away at other agencies policy efforts now.

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Notably, the court might not apply this major questions doctrine equally to all agencies. Practically speaking, the Supreme Court and other appellate courts will not hear every challenge to agency authority, even on intrinsically new, political, and costly agency actions. So, the courts could wield notable power in selecting which cases to hear through their various procedures. At the Supreme Court, the six conservative justices will likely have significant sway over which agencies regulating technology are reviewed under this new standard, since only four justices need to agree to hear a case. If specific agencies that are more often criticized by conservatives, such as the EPA or Securities and Exchange Commission, are more often under review, it could both further politicize the court and leave agencies in a state of uncertainty over their potential vulnerability when trying to regulate new technologies. This targeted power to unequally apply this review just adds to the sheer amount of power the court appears to be building for itself, creating separation of powers and accountability issues that should concern everyone.

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This new doctrine shifts power away from agencies empowered and overseen by Congress, and toward courts and industrypotentially through covert means. At a moment when Americans are starting to rethink the kind of future that technologies should usher in, the major questions doctrine could give courts and industry greater veto power over policies set by regulators trying to fulfill policy goals given to them by democratically elected leaders in Congress. The eagerness with which conservative actors have already started using the major questions doctrine since the Supreme Courts decision this summer offers a hint of what might be coming for technology regulation and beyond.

That is to say, the major questions doctrine could make technology regulation less democratic and enable technologies like genetically modified insects or new reproductive techniques to be developed and introduced into the world without input from the people who will be affected by the benefits and harms of those technologies. While regulation isnt perfect, it can provide an important check on private power and, at its best, offer spaces for civil society and the public to get involved and make their voices heard on issues of technology policy. Rather than taking a hammer to technology regulation with the major questions doctrine, we should be thinking through new ways to make technology regulation more accountable to and inclusive of the publicthe actual people who technology is supposed to be for.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Pennsylvania has one of the most contentious Senate races in the country this term, and on Tuesday night, during the one and only debate between candidates, eyes were on Democrat John Fetterman, who had a stroke in May just days before his partys primary. After taking three months off to recover, Fetterman returned to the campaign trail, and the debate was one of the highest profile appearances hes had since.

It did not go particularly well for the Democrat: 53-year-old Fetterman struggled to communicate while facing off his Republican challenger Mehmet Oz, missing words, repeating himself, and pausing to collect his thoughts throughout the debate. In the aftermath, members of the media and Republicans alike have expressed doubts about his health and questioned why he agreed to a debate in the first place.

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The Fetterman team tried to set expectations low before the debate, framing their candidate as someone who has never been a natural debater, and emphasizing that he is still in recovery mode. In a memo sent to journalists ahead of the big event, they admitted debates were not, Johns format, and, if were all being honest, Oz clearly comes into Tuesday night with a huge built-in advantage. Fettermans doctors, however, have repeatedly said he is capable of taking on the full workload that would be required of him in public office.

Some of Fettermans visible issues were directly explained by the moderators: As a result of his stroke, Fetterman was given closed captioning for both questions and answers. Its a common accommodation for stroke patients to help with auditory processing issues, and has been unfairly questioned. Prior to the debate, Fettermans doctor explained that the condition can come across as hearing difficulty, but that the pauses and delays actually signal a word was not processed properly. The issue was that on the debate stage, and with time limits and an opponent and moderators occasionally interrupting, these delays resulted in Fetterman often struggling to clearly express himself or articulate his positions succinctly. The question became: Is this the result of a processing problem, or could it be signaling some greater impairment than what his campaign has disclosed?

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To answer that question, I talked to two doctors about how we should view Fetterman or assess his abilities, after watching him debate. Kevin Sheth, director of the Yale Center for Brain & Mind Health, told me its clear that Fettermans stroke was significantbut its also evident hes made significant progress in the past five to six months since. Hes not only been continuing to campaign but was able to participate in last nights debate, get on stage, and get into extended question and answer sessions. To Sheth, that says something, clearly he does have some challenges still with his speech and his language, but those in some ways are not unexpected.

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The aftermath of stroke recovery varies greatly depending on which section of the brain was impacted and how severe it was. The American Stroke Association boils it down to: if a stroke occurs in the left side of the brain, the right side will be affected and that includes speech and language problems, though Fettermans campaign hasnt shared specific details on the extent of his stroke. Paralysis and memory loss are also potential symptoms that can impact strokes that happen no matter which side of the brain the stroke occurred on.

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Pooja Khatri, division chief of neurology and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Cincinnati, told me Fetterman pushing through his impairments could actually help with his stroke recovery. She explained that its a principle of speech therapya form of rehab Fettermans doctor has confirmed hes been attending on a regular basis. However, stress can make recovery more challenging, Sheth noted, adding that thats something the job of a senator usually comes with.

Taking all of that into consideration, Sheth said he thinks Fetterman appears to be doing OK! Sure, he has some lingering auditory processing issues, but Sheth thought his ability to get into complex responses during Tuesday nights debate should be viewed as reassuring, even if he was noticeably slower than his opponent (who is, to be fair, a TV veteran). Generally, the first three months following a stroke are considered the most important for recovery and when patients see the most improvements, and Fetterman is about five months post-stroke. But Sheth doesnt think that means Fetterman is at the end of his road to recoveryhe said theres certainly still potential for more progress.

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Many people who experience strokes end up with some level of disabilityin fact its considered a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Its possible that Fetterman will continue to struggle with processing, but it shouldnt be viewed as a proxy for his cognition or thinking. When I asked about the reaction to Fettermans performance, Sheth thought that it was a reflection of American societys preconceived judgements, We definitely often have biases against a range of disabilities and I think thats what youre seeing play out here, he said.

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Strokes are pretty common in America, with someone experiencing one every 40 seconds. In fact, there are currently two other Democratic members of Congress who have also experienced strokes: New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Lujan and Marylands Chris Van Hollen, who experienced his stroke the same day as Fetterman. Both Congressmen recovered and continue to serve their respective offices.

Some recognized the feat that it was for Fetterman to not only publicly recover from a stroke but chose to participate in a nationally televised debate and the decision may have actually boosted his Senate campaign. Even with all the discourse, its worth noting that within three hours of Tuesday nights debate, Fetterman raised $1 million. In fact, hes has pretty consistently raised more money than Oz during their senate bid. Perhaps his own betthat being transparent about his incredibly common health struggleis the strategically sound approach after all.
The importance of learning Spanish to work in Spain



Learning the lingo will help secure a better paid, more highly-skilled position in Spain

If youre considering a more permanent move to sunny Spain and are under retirement age, chances are youre going to need to work. The job market in Spain is complicated, as is the bureaucracy and paperwork that come with being employed, so its a huge benefit if you know the lingo.

Given that its such a popular destination for English-speaking expats, many newcomers make the mistake of believing that theyll get by on the native language, easily stepping into a highly paid job if they are skilled and experienced enough.

The reality though is that, at 12.6%, Spain had the highest unemployment rate in the entire European Union as of July this year, and its figures were double the average.

Expats who dont speak Spanish can usually find work in hospitality, particularly in the more touristy areas along the coast, but these jobs tend to be badly paid and generally peter out in the winter months.

This is why employment experts WorkinSpain recommend that anyone looking for more lucrative work in a skilled profession make an effort to learn Spanish, even if its just the basics to begin with.

Key benefits to speaking Spanish for the job market

1. It gives you a competitive edge

Looking for work can be daunting and when you first arrive, it may seem that there are an awful lot of job-seekers for a very limited number of jobs. Speaking Spanish will allow you to cast the net a whole lot wider than the usual, poorly compensated expat reliables like bar work or teaching English, and will open doors for you at reputable national companies where many of your compatriots wouldnt get a look-in.

2. It takes some of the pain out of paperwork

Quite aside from the laborious and complicated process of securing a visa , depending on where you hail from, once you arrive in Spain the paper pushing fun is just beginning. Anyone living here will have to pay their taxes, negotiate rental agreements or mortgages, sign up with electricity and water companies These tedious but necessary chores are part and parcel of moving to any new countries, but the bureaucracy in Spain can be a minefield and you may find yourself way in over your head if you dont speak the language.

3. It helps to build relationships

Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world, but its also true that a large number of Spaniards, particularly the younger generations, speak excellent English too. Having said this, Spanish people are generally friendly and welcoming and always seem genuinely pleased when foreigners at least make an attempt to communicate in their language. Being able to speak to co-workers in their native tongue will help you forge stronger relationships and increase the reach of your professional network.

Language is a fundamental element of any country, and the little linguistic nuances can tell a lot about a nations culture, history and general vibe. No only will learning Spanish boost your professional prospects and better equip you in you career, but it will also enrich your journey as you navigate through your new life in Spain.

Image: Pixabay

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Shortages of B and 0 negative groups.

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Calls have been made for people to donate blood after the Slovak National Transfusion Service (NTS) said stocks of 0 negative and B negative blood were running low as a spread of respiratory diseases, including Covid-19, among the population affects donations.

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"A decrease in the number of blood donors will lead to a decrease in the stock of negative blood groups, because only 15 percent of the population has such blood," Martina Frigova, NTS project manager, told the TASR newswire.

Respiratory diseases are a problem

"After donating blood, every donor is asked that in the event of a change in health status, he or she is obliged to report this fact to the centre where they donated blood, and blood from such a donor is automatically biologically degraded," Frigova added.

Covid-19 restrictions continue to apply at transfusion workplaces, she pointed out.

Frigova highlighted that the annual Student Drop of Blood (Studentska Kvapka Krvi) campaign started on Monday, October 24, and will last until November 18.

Who can donate blood

Blood donors must be at least 18 years old. The maximum age is 60, however, if someone is a regular blood donor, they can continue to do so up to age 65 if their weight is over 50 kilograms. Donations can be made every three (men) or four (women) months.

If the blood donor has ever used medicines delivered by intravenous or intermuscular injection, or has had hepatitis in the past or suffers from other serious or chronic diseases, they cannot donate their blood.

Women are not advised to donate blood shortly before, during, or shortly after menstruation and during pregnancy.

What to bring

Anyone attending a transfusion centre to give blood will be asked to provide identification in the form of an ID and health insurance card. Anyone who has previously donated should bring their blood donation card as well. They will then be asked to fill in a questionnaire on their health, lifestyle, and past illnesses.

How to prepare for blood donation

The NTS has a few tips on getting ready before donating blood:

Drink a lot of water one day before donating, at least 2 litres. It is recommended to drink half a litre of water in the morning on the day of the donation. Black coffee is permitted.

Do not eat fatty food (cheese, butter, cream, meat) the evening or morning before donating. It is better to consume fruits, vegetables, fat-free bakery products, jam, honey.

Get enough sleep.

Do not smoke 6 hours before donation.

Do not drink alcohol 12  14 hours before donation.

Do not do any intense physical activity, such as fitness training, the day before.

Related article

Related article Blog: How I fainted during my first blood donation and why I will try it again Read more

What about foreigners?

Foreigners can donate too if they have permanent or temporary residence and health insurance in Slovakia. A person who has visited a country with a high risk of blood-borne infectious diseases may be temporarily or permanently banned from donating blood.

The NTS has questionnaires for donors in Slovak as well as in English.
Referendum question declared unconstitutional, direct flights to Dubai.

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Good evening. The Wednesday, October 26 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Bratislava mayor's race almost at its finish

Nove Mesto borough mayor Rudolf Kusy. (Source: TASR - Pavel Neubauer)

From midnight, Slovakia will find itself in a two-day vacuum in which no campaigning will be allowed ahead of the municipal and regional elections.

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They will be held on Saturday, October 29. Polling stations will close at 20:00.

Bratislava, the Slovak capital, will either re-elect its incumbent mayor Matus Vallo, favoured by public opinion polls and bookers, or elect the new mayor, Nove Mesto borough mayor Rudolf Kusy.

Here is your last-chance guide to the mayoral election in Bratislava.

Related: Explore how you can vote in the regional and municipal elections.

Foreigners: Over 82,000 foreigners can vote on October 29, but not all will be heading to the ballot box.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Health: Calls have been made for people to donate blood after the National Transfusion Service said stocks of 0 negative and B negative blood were running low.

Security: The Interior Ministry's Centre for Combating Hybrid Threats is to launch the use of a new analytical tool to help fight extremism.

Politics: The Constitutional Court ruled that a referendum question, which could cause the fall of the current government, is unconstitutional.

Travel: Mountain rescuers from the Velka Fatra Regional Centre helped four intoxicated tourists from Poland last weekend.

Opinion: Slovakia regularly ranks among OECD countries with the deepest regional differences. What are we doing wrong?

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY

Slavin is a Russian foot set in Slovakia, says historian

The Slavin monument in Bratislava. (Source: SME - Marko Erd)

From the beginning, the Slavin monument performed two functions. It was never just a cemetery with buried soldiers from the end of World War II and it also manifested the dominance of Moscow. The monument also fulfils this function, at least in Russian eyes, to this day.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Iceland's President Guni Thorlacius Johannesson will visit Slovakia on Thursday, October 27, with his wife Eliza Reid. She visited Slovakia in the summer to promote her debut book, "Secrets of the Sprakkar".

on Thursday, October 27, with his wife Eliza Reid. She visited Slovakia in the summer to promote her debut book, "Secrets of the Sprakkar". Austria will decide on the possible extension of border controls with Slovakia on Friday, October 28.

on Friday, October 28. Czech airline Smartwings opened a direct flight from Bratislava to Dubai on Wednesday. During the winter flight schedule, from the end of October to the end of March next year, the line will be operated twice a week.

on Wednesday. During the winter flight schedule, from the end of October to the end of March next year, the line will be operated twice a week. The Trnava-based carmaker Stellantis Slovakia extended the suspension of production announced on Tuesday. Due to a lack of electric components, production will not resume even on Monday, October 31.

The Netherlands, Lithuania, Slovakia, Spain, Bulgaria and Cyprus recycled more than half of their plastic packaging waste generated. In contrast, less than one-third of plastic packaging waste was recycled in Malta, France, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Poland and Austria, the Eurostat announced on October 20, 2022.

Tram lines 3 and 7 in Bratislava are operational again after the city's public transport company fixed the problem with a catenary line.

after the city's public transport company fixed the problem with a catenary line. The government changed its earlier decision and will not abolish the representative office of the Slovak Republic in the Kingdom of Denmark with its seat in Copenhagen.

with its seat in Copenhagen. Up to 700,000 Ukrainian refugees could arrive in Slovakia as a result of the battles in Ukraine and the approaching winter, claims a plan approved by the government.

as a result of the battles in Ukraine and the approaching winter, claims a plan approved by the government. A Polis poll for the SITA news agency, carried out from October 16 to 22 by phone, has found that the Smer party would win a parliamentary election if held at the time of surveying 1,013 respondents. Smer would win with 19.3 percent, followed by Hlas with 18.5 percent and SaS with 10.6 percent. Hlas chair Peter Pellegrini remains the most trusted leader of a political party, with 27.9 percent. Marian Kotleba, head of the far-right LSNS party, is the least trusted leader.

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
https://sputniknews.com/20221025/israeli-prime-minister-welcomes-permission-for-operations-at-karish-gas-field-1102653295.html

Israeli Prime Minister Welcomes Permission for Operations at Karish Gas Field

Israeli Prime Minister Welcomes Permission for Operations at Karish Gas Field

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid welcomes the decision of the energy ministry to grant Energean permission to start operations at the... 25.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-25T21:03+0000

2022-10-25T21:03+0000

2022-10-25T21:03+0000

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israel

lebanon

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maritime dispute

maritime border

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The Karish gas field, located in the Eastern Mediterranean, is part of the IsraeliLebanese maritime border dispute that has been ongoing since 2010. Both countries claimed the gas field to be part of their maritime territories. Lapid announced on Monday that Israel will sign a historic agreement with Lebanon to demarcate the maritime border on October 26, under which Israel will maintain control over the gas field. The Israeli prime minister noted that natural gas at the Karish field will reduce energy prices in the country and strengthen competition in the market.The negotiations on the demarcation of land and maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel have been taking place in the Lebanese city of Naqoura since 1996 on the basis of a memorandum of understanding under the UN auspices and the US mediation. In June 2022, Israel urged the Lebanese authorities to speed up the talks. The draft agreement settles claims to gas reserves in disputed waters.

https://sputniknews.com/20221012/israeli-government-approves-agreement-with-lebanon-to-demarcate-maritime-borders-1101771183.html

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middle east, israel, lebanon, maritime, maritime dispute, maritime border
https://sputniknews.com/20221025/russia-iran-discuss-oil-petroleum-product-supplies---energy-ministry-1102654016.html

Russia, Iran Discuss Oil, Petroleum Product Supplies - Energy Ministry

Russia, Iran Discuss Oil, Petroleum Product Supplies - Energy Ministry

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov and Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji have discussed cooperation on the supply of oil and petroleum... 25.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-25T21:25+0000

2022-10-25T21:25+0000

2022-11-15T14:20+0000

world

gas exporting countries forum (gecf)

russia

iran

gas

gazprom

oil

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"The parties discussed the preparation for the meeting of the Russia-Iran intergovernmental commission, as well as cooperation in the oil and gas sector, including the supply of oil and petroleum products," the statement read.Shulginov and Owji also discussed the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation between Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The counterparts also touched upon issues of cooperation in the electric power industry, including the participation of Russian companies in the construction of a number of power generation facilities in Iran.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier in October that Russia and Iran are working on the details for the implementation of swap oil and gas supplies. The agreement on swap supplies with Iran could cover 5 million tonnes of oil and up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year at its first stage.In July, Russian energy giant Gazprom and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic cooperation worth $40 billion. As part of the deal, the companies pledged to explore the possibility of interaction on the development of Iranian fields, the implementation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and the construction of gas pipelines. Iran soon announced its plans to buy 9 million cubic meters of Russian gas, which will be delivered through the territory of Azerbaijan.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/russian-energy-minister-says-price-cap-on-gas-may-destabilize-global-energy-market-1102617130.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/canberra-could-hand-pilot-accused-of-prc-links-over-to-us-without-trial-aussie-ex-diplomat-fears-1102736023.html

Canberra Could Hand Pilot Accused of PRC Links Over to US Without Trial, Aussie Ex-Diplomat Fears

Canberra Could Hand Pilot Accused of PRC Links Over to US Without Trial, Aussie Ex-Diplomat Fears

Last week, UK media reported that the government had been tipped off on alleged efforts by China to recruit former Royal Air Force pilots to train their... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T19:19+0000

2022-10-26T19:19+0000

2022-10-26T19:46+0000

opinion & analysis

australia & oceania

china

pilot

arrest

extradition

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The October 21 arrest of former US military pilot and flight instructor Daniel Edmund Duggan by Australian Federal Police may spark another escalation in the anti-China Red Scare campaign which has gripped many Anglosphere countries, and result in a dangerous legal precedent setting back the civil rights of Australians, Tony Kevin, a former Australian Foreign Ministry carrier officer and ambassador to Poland and Cambodia, has told Sputnik.Duggan, 54, renounced his US citizenship to become an Australian, but faces extradition to his birth country, according to court documents seen by local media.After being arrested at his Orange, New South Wales home, he was jailed at the nearby Bathurst Correctional Centre in Mitchell. He is expected to appear before a Sydney court next month and has been denied bail.According to his Linkedin profile, Duggan worked in Qingdao, China between 2017 and 2020 as managing director of AVIBIZ, a comprehensive aviation consultancy company with a focus on the fast growing and dynamic Chinese Aviation Industry.The Chinese Foreign Ministry has yet to comment on Duggans arrest, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying at a press conference Tuesday that he was not familiar with media reports on the matter.No further information has been provided by the Australian government, with an Attorney Generals Department spokesperson saying only that an individual was arrested on October 21, 2022, pursuant to a request from the United States of America for their provisional arrest.Details on the US arrest warrant or specific charges against Mr. Duggan have not been publicized.We dont know why hes been arrested. He may never be tried under Australian law if hes simply extradited to the United States under an extradition treaty. We may literally have no knowledge of what hes been charged with until he appears in a US court to be charged, Kevin said.Pointing to what he characterized as a remarkable lack of follow-up on the case by Australian media, the former diplomat said he was surprised that an Australian citizen could simply be plucked away from his homeon a sealed warrant and threatened with extradition.The former diplomat also pointed out that Australias extradition treaty with the United States ordinarily covers criminal offenses, not political ones.The former diplomat also expressed concerns that the Duggan case could lead to an exacerbation of the Anti-China campaign in the countries of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (Australia, the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand).Kevin believes the Australian government can be expected to view any contacts with China with a degree of suspicion going forward, and warned that this could have an impact on the Australian Chinese community, which is sizable and has family ties with China. Its a very delicate area and as an Australian Im very disturbed at this story. Very disturbed, he said.Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales Canberra at the Australian Defense Force Academy, is confident that Duggans arrest is linked to alleged wrongdoing, such as the violation of a non-disclosure or other confidentiality agreement he signed after retiring from the US Air Force. The observer assured Sputnik that Australias federal courts are completely independent from outside political interference and that Duggan would be given every protection afforded by Australian law.In Australia, China tops the list of counterintelligence threats. Any issue involving China and defense matters would immediately raise suspicions, Thayer explained, pointing to unconfirmed media reports from earlier this month that Chinese law enforcement has been operating in secret on Australian territory.Duggans possible extradition to the US is covered by existing agreements between Australia and the US, Dr. Thayer said.

https://sputniknews.com/20221019/australia-orders-defence-probe-into-reports-pilots-trained-chinese-military-1102069677.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/uk-may-prosecute-former-military-pilots-training-chinese-officers---defense-ministry-1102058871.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/over-500-us-military-retirees-worked-for-foreign-governments-since-2015-report-suggests-1102018246.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211210/australia-must-show-us-it-wont-tolerate-assange-being-treated-this-way-lawyer-says-1091423348.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/china-confident-it-is-closer-than-ever-to-achieving-complete-reunification-of-the-motherland-1102661004.html

China Confident it is Closer Than Ever to Achieving 'Complete Reunification of the Motherland'

China Confident it is Closer Than Ever to Achieving 'Complete Reunification of the Motherland'

Beijing emphasized the need to take resolute steps to oppose 'Taiwan independence and promote reunification in a resolution adopted at the 20th National... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T07:55+0000

2022-10-26T07:55+0000

2022-10-26T11:23+0000

world

china

taiwan

xi jinping

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China is taking steps towards the complete reunification of the motherland, a spokesman for Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office stated on Wednesday.Were closer than ever in history - and were more confident and capable than ever - to realizing national rejuvenation, Ma Xiaoguang said at a regular news briefing in Beijing, without directly referring to Taiwan, seen by China as an inalienable part of its territory:The spokesmans veiled reference to Taiwan was made after a question regarding to the speech delivered by China's head of state, Xi Jinping, at the beginning of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).At the congress, held between 16 and 22 October, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who secured a third term in power, said the "wheels of history are rolling on towards Chinas reunification [with Taiwan]".The complete reunification of our country must be realized and it can without a doubt be realized, the Chinese leader added.Although voicing hope for the prospect of peaceful reunification, China's president emphasized that his country would "never promise to renounce the use of force" and reserved the possibility of "taking all necessary measures against the interference of external forces and the extremely small number of pro-Taiwan independence separatists and their secessionist activities". Xi added that Beijing's moves will in no way be targeted against the majority of Taiwanese compatriots.Furthermore, in a resolution adopted on the final day of the event on 22 October, the CPC stressed the necessity of adhering to the One-China principle and the 1992 Consensus between Beijing and Taipei, as well as implementing the CPCs overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era.Sun Yeli, a spokesman for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, said at a press conference on the eve of the congress opening, that Beijing's goal is to promote the process of peaceful reunification of the island with the Chinese mainland. He stressed that peaceful reunification is in China's interests [and] the number one choice for the Taiwan issue".A military solution to the issue is the last resort, the spokesman added, accusing Taiwanese separatists of provocations and "outside forces" of using Taiwan to contain China.Taiwan, governed independently from mainland China since 1949, when it split from the mainland during a civil war that resulted in the Communist Party taking control, is considered by Beijing as a breakaway territory. With Beijings official policy envisaging a peaceful unification of Taiwan with mainland China, the Communist Party opposes any official contacts between the island and other countries. However, despite Washington shifting its recognition of the legitimate Chinese government from Taipei to Beijing in 1978, it has maintained active contacts with Taipei, selling billions of dollars of weapons to the self-ruled island.Beijing has repeatedly said that the One-China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations and that violations by Washington of its own obligations have been jeopardizing cooperation between the two countries, while posing a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.The situation regarding Taiwan escalated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August in a move condemned by China as a provocative gesture of support for separatism. In response, Beijing launched large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island. However, other high-level US delegations have since visited Taiwan.

https://sputniknews.com/20221022/cpc-congress-agrees-to-boost-armed-forces-prevent-taiwan-independence-1102535292.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/us-sec-of-state-accuses-china-of-plans-to-pursue-unification-with-taiwan-on-much-faster-timeline-1101997596.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221020/us-signs-78-million-deal-to-maintain-taiwans-patriot-air-defense-systems-1102473897.html

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/dirty-bomb-provocation-possible-in-ukraine-eu-under-control-of-us-mafia-1102654947.html

Dirty Bomb Provocation Possible in Ukraine; EU Under Control of US Mafia

Dirty Bomb Provocation Possible in Ukraine; EU Under Control of US Mafia

International observers are concerned that a dirty bomb provocation in Ukraine could cause massive damage to the environment, create a health hazard, and be... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T04:56+0000

2022-10-26T04:56+0000

2022-11-24T11:22+0000

the critical hour

juan guaido

dirty bomb

nicaragua

the black alliance for peace

radio

us africa command (africom)

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Dirty Bomb Provocation Possible in Ukraine; EU Under Control of US Mafia International observers are concerned that a dirty bomb provocation in Ukraine could cause massive damage to the environment, create a health hazard, and be used as an excuse for NATO to institute an extinction-level military action.

Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of America's Undeclared War, joins us to discuss the Ukraine dirty bomb provocation. Scott Ritter's latest article discusses the makeup of a dirty bomb and the potential physical and political fallout from the use of such a device.Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Ukraine. Progressives in the House of Representatives wrote a letter to President Biden recommending that diplomacy be added as a tool along with weapons for war to address the Ukraine crisis. However, within hours the group backed down from their request.K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. The US is still discussing the possibility of defending the Taiwanese province from its homeland. Also, President Xi has been renewed as the leader of China after extremely successful economic and cultural improvements during his tenure.Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News Analyst, joins us to discuss the UK government crisis. A new multi-sector strike has been announced in France for this Thursday, October 27, with transport disruptions expected. Also, Rishi Sunak has taken over as Prime Minister in the UK and the King has requested that the conservative party form a new government.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon, joins us to discuss the Middle East. A new West Bank resistance group called the "Lion's Den" is rewriting the rules of engagement with Israel.Tunde Osazua, on the Africa Team of the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) and coordinator of BAPs US Out of Africa Network.", joins us to discuss Africa. The US is using Africom to defend its neo-colonial claims to the natural resources of the African continent.Dr. Margaret Flowers, Co-editor of Popular Resistance, joins us to discuss Haiti. The Haitian people are protesting by the tens of thousands in a move to prevent the Biden administration from instituting another military invasion.James Carey, host of The Left is Dead podcast, joins us to discuss Europe's self-destruction. Politicians are pushing back against the EU's attempt to control their economic and cultural decisions. Also, the US mafia uses the EU for its hegemonic designs and is now stealing their wealth in moves reminiscent of its actions against the Global South.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/iaea-in-contact-with-un-russia-and-ukraine-will-focus-on-2-sites-for-nuclear-deviation---grossi-1102738835.html

IAEA in Contact With UN, Russia and Ukraine, Will Focus on 2 Sites For Nuclear Deviation - Grossi

IAEA in Contact With UN, Russia and Ukraine, Will Focus on 2 Sites For Nuclear Deviation - Grossi

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told Sputnik on Wednesday the agency's plan to concentrate on... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

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iaea

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ukraine

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Grossi announced earlier in the week that IAEA experts are preparing to visit two nuclear facilities in Ukraine in the coming days following Russian statements about alleged activities. This came on the heels of Moscow's allegation that Ukraine has created a dirty bomb. The IAEA also said he received a written request from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to carry out verification inspections at the two locations.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, commenting on Grossi's plans to visit Ukraine amid "dirty bomb" reports that Russia is in a very constructive dialogue with the agency and plans to further maintain it.IAEA will head to Kiev and Zhovti Vody in the coming days after Russia's warnings about Ukraine preparing a "dirty bomb," Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said on Tuesday.As a rule, the preliminary results of these visits will be within about a week, and the final ones will not appear soon, the diplomat added.Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who heads the Russian radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, said on Monday that the Russian Defense Ministry had well-sourced information about Kiev's plans to use a "dirty bomb" and blame Moscow for this. Foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States dismissed these claims in a joint statement later in the day.Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had several calls with his foreign counterparts to discuss the dangers of the use of a "dirty bomb" by Kiev. Russia is also seeking to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue.A dirty bomb is a radiological weapon in a form of a container with radioactive materials and an explosive charge. Such weapons disperse radioactive material over large areas when they explode, thus contaminating the environment and the population.According to the Russian Defense Ministry, if Ukraine detonates the dirty bomb, radioactive isotopes will spread in the atmosphere to a range of up to 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and can cover Poland.Common Understanding Between Kiev & Moscow to Protect ZNPPGrossi told Sputnik on Wednesday he thinks that there is a common understanding between Ukraine and Russia on protecting the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).When asked whether there is a good chance to introduce a safety zone around ZNPP, Grossi said, "I am optimistic."Grossi said earlier in October that it is possible to reach an agreement on a safety and security zone around the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by the end of the year,In early September, an IAEA mission led by Grossi arrived at the Zaporozhye NPP. The head of the Rosatom delegation and the ZNPP staff led the delegation through its territory and showed sections damaged during shelling on the part of Ukrainian troops.Two IAEA employees remained at the ZNPP on a permanent basis. After the visit, the IAEA published a report in which it confirmed the ZNPP was shelled.Grossi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 11. The Russian president said he was open to dialogue and also appreciated Grossi's direct communication with Moscow and Kiev. Putin proposed to Grossi to discuss the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant during the meeting, adding that Moscow is "ready to solve all issues."Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly blamed each other for shelling the Kakhovka HPP located 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the city of Nova Kakhovka. Earlier in October, Moscow said that Kiev was planning to launch massive missile strikes against the plant, and urged the UN Security Council to prevent its destruction, citing possible causalities among civilians. Ukraine, in turn, said that the Russian military had mined the dam and units of the Kakhovka HPP.The Zaporozhye NPP, located on the left bank of the Dnieper River, is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe in terms of the number of units and output. During the military operation in Ukraine, launched by Russia on February 24, the facility and the surrounding area fell under the control of Russian forces.The NPP has recently been targeted by multiple shelling, raising international concerns over a possible nuclear accident. Russia and Ukraine have been accusing each other of shelling the facility.Grossi Expects Formal Invitation to UNSC Grossi told Sputnik on Wednesday that he is expecting a formal invitation to the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine to be held tomorrow.Grossi noted that he has been briefing the Security Council, at least twice in the course of the year on the situation in Ukraine and on other topics including Iran.Grossi is currently in Washington, DC where he is participating in the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear power in the 21st century from October 26-28.Grossi in 'Permanent Dialogue' With Moscow Over Situation in UkraineIAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is in permanent dialogue with Moscow over the situation regarding alleged activities around nuclear facilities in Ukraine, he told Sputnik on Wednesday.Grossi said IAEA experts will visit two sites in Ukraine after statements from Russia about the creation of a dirty bomb and an invitation from Kiev.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/what-is-a-dirty-bomb-and-why-is-russia-warning-about-it-1102619770.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220901/ukrainian-troops-landed-near-energodar-in-attempt-to-capture-zaporozhye-npp---russian-mod-1100252930.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221008/zaporozhye-nuclear-plant-shelling-just-cost-kiev-20-of-its-traditional-sources-of-electricity-1101643030.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/iaea-ministerial-nuclear-energy-conference-kicks-off-in-washington-without-russia-1102654458.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/india-set-to-squeeze-us-dominated-financial-systems-including-swift-1102724962.html

India Set to Squeeze US-Dominated Financial Systems Including SWIFT

India Set to Squeeze US-Dominated Financial Systems Including SWIFT

As India is looking to sign free trade agreements with several countries, New Delhi has placed bets on RuPay and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T20:42+0000

2022-10-26T20:42+0000

2022-10-26T20:42+0000

india

swift

dedollarisation

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russia

us

mastercard

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The foray of the National Payments Corporation of Indias (NPCI) - the company that makes the core of Indias digital payments system - into the European market will further reduce the dependency of Indians on the US dollar, experts observed.On October 11, the NIPL, an overseas arm of NPCI, announced its partnership with France-based Worldline to expand the acceptance of UPI and RuPay by merchants in Europe.Now Indians traveling in Europe can use their UPI and RuPay payment mechanisms for making payments abroad. This will also help in internationalizing Indian currency, Yogendra Kapoor, a Delhi-based senior economist, told Sputnik. As per the industry estimate, more than 10 million Indians visit Europe annually, a number that could reach 15 million in the next few years.India's merchandise exports to the 27-nation bloc stood at about $65 billion in 2021-22, while imports aggregated to $51.4 billion. Trade in services between the two economies stood at over $31 billion.Kapoor believes that the scope of the partnership between NIPL and Worldline will further expand to goods and services in a "short span of time."In June, India and the 27-nation bloc concluded the first round of talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement, with the aim of concluding the negotiations by 2023-24.With NPILs foray into the international market beginning with eight countries accepting it as a payment system and ongoing to talks to include another 30 countries, Jiten Jain, a Delhi-based expert tracking the fintech industry, reckoned that US-dominated card networks and payment systems would face a challenge from RuPay and UPI.The government of India, in the last five years, has been trying to reduce the dependency on foreign payment networks, Jain told Sputnik. RuPay card, which is an Indian alternative to Visa and MasterCard, has already seen almost 700 million customers in the domestic market. At the same time, UPI logs 220 million transactions per day.UPI instantly authenticates and authorizes money transfers and facilitates direct bank-to-bank transactions without charging any transaction fee from customers or merchants.Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India is working on a system where only a single Know-Your-Customer is needed that can be used across different spheres. The NPCI has turned its focus on cross-border transactions as the next driver of growth in a move that would squeeze the market of Western Union, another US-based firm that currently dominates the remittances market.Indians overseas remitted $87 billion last year, the biggest inflow for any country tracked by the World Bank. As per an industry estimate, a person of any origin has to pay around $13 on average to send $200 across borders.Overseas Indians can use our rails to remit money inwards straightway into their bank accounts, and for the markets where Indians travel frequently, we will build acceptance for our instruments, Ritesh Shukla, chief executive officer of NPCI International Payments Ltd, said.NPCI, a specialized division of the Reserve Bank of India, is collaborating with several countries such as the UK, UAE, and Saudi Arabia to build payment ecosystems, including person-to-person, person-to-merchant, and cross-border payments. Why should one reinvent the wheel? We have done it successfully in India and we want to share it with the world, Shukla of NIPL said. Alternative to SWIFTExperts believe that slowly but surely, UPI will be able to provide an alternative to US-dominated SWIFT on the global stage. SWIFT a financial messaging system, faces criticism from various countries, as the West uses it against its rivals to disrupt their international trade and payments. Jain said India has completely eliminated its dependency on foreign cards such as Visa and MasterCard and developed alternatives to US-dominated systems. We are self-dependent and self-capable. Tomorrow if any of these networks decide to pull off from India, we will have no disruption, Jain underlined, making an apparent reference to the decision made by US-based firms in response to Moscows special military operation in Ukraine. Visa and MasterCard announced their withdrawal from the Russian market in March this year.The Reserve Bank of India recently allowed NPCI to connect UPI, which was only linked via the customers savings or current account so far, with credit cards. It allows customers to pay via credit cards by scanning the QR code. Currently, RuPay credit cards enjoy around 20 percent domestic market share, with global networks like Visa and Mastercard dominating the rest. Decision to take RuPay and UPI global, especially the countries like Singapore, UAE, and other Asian countries, might be just the beginning of a big revolution to come, and very soon these both Indian titans like UPI and Rupay will be dominating the global fintech industry, Jain concluded.

https://sputniknews.com/20221012/uae-singapore-working-to-make-indias-rupay-acceptable-in-their-countries-finance-minister-says-1101746153.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/ivory-coast-launches-construction-of-its-first-biomass-power-plant-1102664957.html

Ivory Coast Launches Construction of Its First Biomass Power Plant

Ivory Coast Launches Construction of Its First Biomass Power Plant

The agreement on the project was signed on June 10 2021 as a crucial part of Ivory Coasts National Action Plan for Renewable Energies 2014-2030, which aims to... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T12:53+0000

2022-10-26T12:53+0000

2022-11-24T11:05+0000

africa

cote d'lvoire

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biofuel

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Ivory Coast has launched the construction of the country's first biomass-fired power generation facility, a 46 megawatt (MW) project sponsored by France's state firm Electricite de France (EDF), the company in charge of the works said on Monday.Raphael Ruat, managing director of BIOVEA Energie, said that the plant would cost over 200 million euros ($199 million) and is expected to be operational in three years. Two 23 MW turbines at the plant, which is located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Abidjan, the economic capital of the West African country, will run on approximately 520,000 tons of palm oil waste purchased from local farmers in the Ayebo area. The project could reportedly increase the annual revenue of close to 12,000 farmers by almost 20%.The biomass power station consists of a transmission line, a substation, and fiber optic hardware designed for CIE (the utility provider, Compagnie Ivoirienne d'Electricite) to run and maintain. The facility, which is set to be the biggest in West Africa to run on agricultural waste, will produce 336 GWh of clean baseload electricity annually, enough to provide power for up to 1.7 million people annually, once the power plant is finished sometime in 2024.BIOVEA Energie is jointly owned by EDF, French company Meridiam, and agro-industrial corporation SIFCA from Ivory Coast. Apart from that, funds for the project were allocated by Proparco and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund. Moreover, in August, BIOVEA Energie signed a turnkey contract with CEEC (Energy China) on the plant's construction.Ivory Coast currently generates roughly 2,369 MW of power, primarily from oil and gas, and plans to reach 4,000 MW by 2025. Additionally, the country exports electricity to a number of its West African neighbors.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/kashmiri-locals--politicians-share-their-perspectives-on-accession-day-1102721639.html

Kashmiri Locals & Politicians Share Their Perspectives on Accession Day

Kashmiri Locals & Politicians Share Their Perspectives on Accession Day

In 2020, the Kashmir administration decided to name October 26 "Accession Day." On this day in 1947, the Indian Army entered the summer capital at the request... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T17:35+0000

2022-10-26T17:35+0000

2022-10-26T17:35+0000

kashmir

jammu

partition of india

india

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Earlier this year, the date of October 27, which used to be celebrated as "Infantry Day" by the Indian Army to mark its arrival in the Kashmir region in 1947, was rechristened as "Shaurya Divas" or "Victory Day." The government's plans for this year's celebrations include a reenactment of an Indian Army landing, and the official function is supposed to be elaborate. Top politicians, prominent personalities, and senior government functionaries, including Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, are likely to be in attendance, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.Officials told Sputnik that the observance of Accession Day and the reenactment exercise are part of a larger plan of the government of India to weave in the importance of the day in public memory, especially given that for decades, October 26 and 27 in the region have been marked by violence.According to Noor Ahmed Baba, an independent political expert in Kashmir, October 26 and October 27 represent very different perspectives.While separatists continue to hold to their beliefs by observing October 27 as a black day, political parties, which have long advocated Indias sovereignty over Kashmir, also see an issue with the celebrations.Imran Dar, spokesperson for National Conference, the oldest political party in Kashmir, said that he has witnessed what he believes are double standards regarding celebrations held by the federal government and the local administration, saying that the Indian government declared Maharaja Hari Singhs birthday a holiday, but is not willing to celebrate his work.The Bhartiya Janata Party, however, disagreed with most of the regional parties. The party has held several functions to mark the day of accession and plans to send its top politicians to attend the reenactment as well.For local residents, however, uncertainty about the regional political climate remains, in which either official functions or their boycott hardly matter."The battle for Kashmir has shifted from the Line of Control and the streets to social media. It is more of a narrative war about making enough noise at the end of the day. Whether by holding functions or spreading violence," a local businessman from the Baramulla district shared on condition of anonymity.

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/narrative-war-militants-in-kashmir-target-civilians-to-sow-panic--earn-more-news-coverage-1102009183.html

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kashmir, jammu, partition of india
https://sputniknews.com/20221026/libyan-interim-prime-minister-turkish-defense-minister-sign-military-cooperation-deals-1102658125.html

Libyan Interim Prime Minister, Turkish Defense Minister Sign Military Cooperation Deals

Libyan Interim Prime Minister, Turkish Defense Minister Sign Military Cooperation Deals

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The head of Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar signed two agreements... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T04:30+0000

2022-10-26T04:30+0000

2022-11-24T11:04+0000

military

turkey

cooperation

libya

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"The second agreement included protocols for the implementation of the security agreement signed by the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord [of Libya] in 2019," the statement said.According to the statement, the signing ceremony was held in Istanbul. The first agreement envisions "the use of Turkish experience in improving the effectiveness of Libya's military aviation capabilities."Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the former head of Libya's Government of National Accord, Fayez Sarraj, who controlled only part of the territory of Libya, signed a memorandum on maritime zones and a memorandum on military cooperation at the end of November 2019.In February, the parliament sitting in the east of Libya voted for the candidacy of former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha for the post of prime minister. In March, ministers from the government formed by Bashagha were sworn in before parliament in the city of Tobruk. However, the current head of the GNU, Dbeibeh, had previously stated that he would not transfer power until the presidential elections, which turned into a dual power in the country.In May, Bashagha, after an unsuccessful attempt to place the cabinet in Tripoli, announced that the government would start working in the city of Sirte.

https://sputniknews.com/20210317/lna-allows-turkish-merchant-ships-to-enter-ports-in-eastern-libya-source-reveals-1082373176.html

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Russia Believes Dialogue With Kiev Possible, Moscow Ready to Find Solution - Ambassador

Russia believes that negotiations with Ukraine are possible, with Moscow being ready to seek solutions to the crisis, Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin said on Wednesday.

In April, the parties were close to discussing the settlement of the conflict, but after that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky legally made negotiations impossible, the ambassador noted.

"We are saying that negotiations are possible, and we will be prepared at any time to find a right solution for the crisis," Kelin told CNN.

The ambassador also said that it was a mistake to believe that Ukraine could win in the conflict.

"It is a big mistake to think that Ukraine can win this battle. It is strategic miscalculation totally, absolutely because the potential that Russia has and Ukraine has, it is non comparable. At the moment, Ukraine is nearly a failed state," he noted.

Ukraine is currently kept afloat by Western donations and weapons, according to the diplomat.

Commenting on the "dirty bomb" threat from Kiev, Kelin said that the Ukrainian regime would do anything to attract the West's attention to keep the flow of money and weapons going.

"We have a feeling that at this moment authorities in Kiev need to attract attention by something, because actually the offensive attack in different fronts, counterattack, as they are calling it, it has stopped, they are now losing all resources... if intelligence is saying that something is in preparation, then they are right about this," the ambassador said in response to a journalist's question about why any country might want to use such weapons.

Kelin also noted that the IAEA should visit Kiev and Zhovti Vody in the near future, and they should give answers based on the results of their visit.

"The issue is to verify. If it is not over there, so we will simply be happy," the ambassador added.

On Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed to his French, UK, US and Turkish counterparts his concern that Kiev, according to credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine, was preparing a provocation related to the detonation of a dirty bomb on its own territory, in order to blame Moscow for the use of weapons of mass destruction and, thus, tarnish the country's image. According to the sources, Kiev has already begun the practical implementation of this plan under the guidance of its Western curators, with the work to create the bomb already in the final stages.

On Tuesday, Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will head to Kiev and Zhovti Vody in the coming days after Russia's warnings about Ukraine preparing a "dirty bomb," and the preliminary results of the visit may be published within a few weeks.
https://sputniknews.com/20221026/moscow-needs-to-build-up-security-as-us-troops-getting-closer-to-russian-borders-kremlin-1102707234.html

Moscow Needs to Build Up Security as US Troops Getting Closer to Russian Borders: Kremlin

Moscow Needs to Build Up Security as US Troops Getting Closer to Russian Borders: Kremlin

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The closer US troops are to Russia's borders, the more fully Russia must build its security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T11:07+0000

2022-10-26T11:07+0000

2022-10-26T11:07+0000

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russia

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us troops

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"The close US troops are to our borders, the greater the danger is for us," Peskov told reporters, adding that based on this, Russia will build a policy of ensuring its own security.Such movements of US troops near the borders of Russia "do not lead to the strengthening of predictability and stability" in the region, the official added.US media reported last week that 4,600 soldiers from the US Army's 101st Airborne Division and some heavy equipment had been deployed to Romania for the first time in almost 80 years to defend against any attack on NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that nothing has changed in US President Joe Bidens position that there will be no American troops fighting inside Ukraine.

https://sputniknews.com/20221022/stop-pushing-ww3-dialogue-netizens-slam-us-war-games-near-romania-ukraine-border-1102530691.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/moscow-outraged-italy-withdrew-russias-invitation-to-experts-group-meeting-on-mass-destruction-arms-1102718964.html

Moscow Outraged Italy Withdrew Russia's Invitation to Experts Group Meeting on Mass Destruction Arms

Moscow Outraged Italy Withdrew Russia's Invitation to Experts Group Meeting on Mass Destruction Arms

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is outraged by Italy's decision to withdraw Russia's invitation to a meeting of the experts group of the initiative to combat the... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T11:33+0000

2022-10-26T11:33+0000

2022-10-26T11:58+0000

russia

russia

weapons of mass destruction (wmd)

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"We are outraged by the fact that Italy withdrew the invitation previously sent to Russia to the meeting of the Counterproliferation Initiative's Operational Experts Group that opens in Rome on October 26. We express a strong protest," Zakharova said in a statement.Moscow views Rome's move as unfriendly, the diplomat added.Zakharova stressed that Russia is distancing itself completely from any understandings and agreements that may be reached by nations taking part in the Rome event. "We also proceed from the fact that the course taken by the West to politicize the work of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), in principle, calls into question the legitimacy of all activities within the framework of the PSI. At the same time, we emphasize the continued commitment of the Russian Federation to the cause of non-proliferation, and its readiness to make a significant contribution to the achievement of relevant goals in cooperation with those partners who are really interested in this," the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.The Proliferation Security Initiative is aimed at creating a mechanism for the rapid detection and suppression of illegal shipments of Weapons of Mass Destruction, its means of delivery and related materials. In 2004, Russia, Canada, Norway and Singapore joined the initiative.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/murder-suspects-of-italian-envoy-luca-attanasio-on-trial-in-dr-congo-1102661122.html

Murder Suspects of Italian Envoy Luca Attanasio on Trial in DR Congo

Murder Suspects of Italian Envoy Luca Attanasio on Trial in DR Congo

The Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo was one of three victims to be killed on 22 February 2021, when a UN convoy was ambushed in the... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T10:37+0000

2022-10-26T10:37+0000

2022-11-24T11:28+0000

africa

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ambassador

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Hearings began on Wednesday in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa in the case of suspects in the 2021 assassination of Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio.The trial officially started on 12 October, but it was put on hold at the request of the defense attorneys, who claimed they had not examined the case file.Last week, during a second hearing before a military court in Kinshasa, five prisoners accused of taking part in the murder asked for bail. One of the attorneys for the Congolese defendants reportedly requested that his clients be released from prison on bail because "they are purely and simply innocent". The defense lawyer reportedly argued that because the defendants are civilians, the military court did not have the authority to prosecute them. But the prosecutor countered that a military court was necessary because the suspected attackers used "weapons and munitions of war", and the "gravity" of their crime would made the release appalling.The case, however, involves a sixth criminal, allegedly known by the alias Aspirant, who was not captured by the African country's authorities and remains on the run.The alleged perpetrators of the 2021 attack were detained by Congolese authorities in January, who described the ambush as an attempted kidnapping for ransom gone wrong.Murder of Luca AttanasioThe 43-year-old ambassador was fatally shot during an ambush which took place when an unescorted UN World Food Programme (WFP) convoy on a field trip was attacked by an armed group. The convoy was heading from the city Goma to Rutshuru, where the ambassador would visit a WFP project that provided meals to pupils at a school.As well as Attanasio, the WFP driver Mustapha Milambo and the ambassador's bodyguard, paramilitary officer Vittorio Iacovacci, 30, were killed. Other members of the convoy suffered injuries as a result of the attack.Attanasio and Iacovacci's bodies were returned to Italy by military aircraft in late February 2021, and Mario Draghi, the prime minister at the time, met them in a brief ceremony on the tarmac.Italy has formally requested an investigation into what transpired amid concerns that the UN security measures were not adequate for the mission. According to the UN, the route has been made safe for use without the need for armored vehicles or security escorts.There are three investigations in total underway into the deadly incident. One is led by the UN Security Department, one by the Italian authorities, and one by the DR Congo authorities. In July, the African nation was visited by the Italian investigators, who reportedly questioned the five suspects.Armed gangs, many of which are left over from local wars that broke out in the late Nineties and early Noughties, prey on much of eastern DRC. In this unstable area, militia attacks on civilians are common.

https://sputniknews.com/20210224/italys-di-maio-condemns-killing-of-officials-in-dr-congo-as-cowardly-attack-reports-say-1082172863.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/new-african-generation-has-decided-to-refuse-western-domination-african-activist-says-1102667444.html

New African Generation Has Decided to Refuse Western Domination, African Activist Says

New African Generation Has Decided to Refuse Western Domination, African Activist Says

Pan-Africanist political leader and activist Kemi Seba has spoken to Sputnik about Africa's role in the world and its relations with Russia. He believes that... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T10:15+0000

2022-10-26T10:15+0000

2022-11-23T11:36+0000

africa

west

us

colonialism

colonial past

colonization

colonial rule

neocolonialism

pan-africanism

sputnik

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Pan-African activist Kemi Seba, present at the Second International Youth Forum Russia-Africa: What's Next? held on October 24-26 in Moscow, in an interview spoke to Sputnik about the role of Africa in the new world order."In this multipolar world, we are witnessing an upheaval in the sense that a new African generation, of which I am a part, has decided to take its destiny into its own hands and to refuse the domination of the West in order to assume its own destiny," he said.According to Mr. Seba, "Africa can become a new center of gravity."Africa is the Sole Messiah of its DestinyHaving not forgotten the tenets of colonialism, Africa rejects "the neo-liberal Western dictatorship of the Western elite." The anti-French manifestations that are taking place in several countries on the continent prove that."The French government is so arrogant and so negrophobic that it thinks that the protests that are taking place today are just the result of Russian manipulation generating anti-French sentiment. They are so convinced that everything they do is good that they are unable to accept that the colonized people will eventually want to revolt. It is not the Russians who have created this feeling. It is we who created it," Kemi Seba explained.He further added: "Africa is the sole Messiah of its destiny."Partnership with RussiaAccording to Mr. Seba, "it is not up to the West to determine with whom Africa should build strong relationships.""We want to build relationships with nations that are opposed to Western hegemony. Russia is one of them. But it is not the only one, there is Venezuela, Cuba, China, Turkey, and Iran. They are all part of the challenge process."As for the presence of Russian flags, the activist also sees it as "a kind of protest, a provocation of the African peoples because they know that Russia is now a country hated by the Western elites." "But this does not mean that Russia is our Messiah. We are the Messiahs of our own."

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/russia-could-help-south-africa-gain-energy-mix-as-relying-on-west-equals-recolonization-mp-says-1101858773.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/other-states-could-learn-from-keralas-experience-in-supporting-coffee-farmers-1102666227.html

Other States Could Learn From Kerala's Experience in Supporting Coffee Farmers

Other States Could Learn From Kerala's Experience in Supporting Coffee Farmers

India is among the worlds top 10 coffee-producing countries, with the industry reportedly providing employment to around two million people. Over the past few... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T12:45+0000

2022-10-26T12:45+0000

2022-10-26T12:45+0000

india

coffee

coffee consumption

coffee

kerala

farmers

farmers

production

production factory

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All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a farmer front of the Communist Party of India, is organizing the first All India Conference of Coffee Farmers' Federation of India in the Wayanad district in Kerala this week.Representatives from different parts of the country are expected to participate in discussions about longstanding issues for coffee growers.Ahead of the conference, Sputnik spoke with AIKS Finance Secretary P. Krishnaprasad about key topics on the agenda and the issues Indian coffee farmers are facing today.Sputnik: Why did All India Kisan Sabha decide that such conference should be organized at this time?Krishnaprasad: This is not the first initiative of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), as far as crop-wise mobilization is concerned. In 2017, during the 34th Conference of AIKS in Hisar, we found a change in agricultural patterns. It was found that mono-cultivation has been spread all over the country due to capitalist intervention in agriculture. One crop was cultivated in one area. So, the farmers of that particular crop were having particular problems.A general farmers organization was not able to cater to [farmers' needs], therefore, there was a need for someone to raise their demands. All the members of AIKS have said that the need of the hour was crop-wise mobilization.Since then, we have been working on crop-wise mobilization: for example, we had a convention of rubber farmers in Kerala in 2018. Similarly, we mobilized jute farmers and also had a convention of dairy farmers in Kerala in June 2022 and apple farmers in Srinagar in July 2022.We have now decided that the same strategy will be adopted for farmers of each and every crop.Sputnik: What issues are at the top of the conference's agenda?Krishnaprasad: The issues on top of the agenda will be corporate domination, appropriation of the surplus and producer cooperatives of small farmers and plantation workers.For example, instant coffee powder (a value-added coffee industry product) is sold for INR 500 to 3,000 ($6 to $36), while some of the brands are even selling it for INR 4,000 to 6,000 ($48 to $72) per kilogram. One must understand that 2.5 kilograms of green beans are required to make one kilogram of instant coffee powder and farmers get only INR 160 to 180 ($1.94 to $2.18) for it. They get this after some increase in the international prices last year. Earlier, it was much less.We saw a huge crisis in Wayanad when more than 3,000 farmers committed suicide between 1999 and 2007. At the time, the price for Robusta coffee beans was INR 24 ($0.29) per kilo. So the corporate sector was purchasing the bean for INR 60 ($0.73) (as 2.5 kg of beans is required to make one kg of instant coffee powder), while they were selling it for INR 1,400 ($16.98). So, this was the degree of appropriation of the surplus.Therefore, the discussion will be around the dominance of corporate forces in the coffee industry, while another issue [to be raised] is about the 102nd report of a parliamentary committee, submitted in 2012, which recommended that the government promote producer cooperatives to support small farmers in order to protect coffee farmers and the coffee industry.Along with these, we will also discuss issues like credit, insurance, wildlife attack, climate change, and productivity.Sputnik: Coffee growers fall under the Ministry of Commerce. Do you demand that they be put under the Ministry of Agriculture? How would it help boost the fortunes of coffee growers?Krishnaprasad: Coffee growers under the Ministry of Commerce are not getting benefits at all -- they actually stand by corporate interests, supporting and facilitating their policy of profiteering without considering the importance of smaller farmers.Apart from this, coffee growers are not getting benefits like credit facilities or subsidies, or any others.So, we have come to the conclusion that firstly, the term coffee growers should be replaced with coffee farmers, and benefits provided by the state agriculture departments should be available to them.Therefore, shifting coffee farmers from the Commerce Ministry to Agriculture Ministry is one of our demands.When I say surplus sharing, I mean that if instant coffee powder is being sold at INR 3,000 ($36), then 30 percent of it should go to the farmers. As of now, they are getting below INR 300 ($3.64).All political parties should debate on the bill and the government should make it clear where it stands on sharing 30 percent of the surplus with the peasantry.We also request the federal government, as well as other state governments, to adopt Kerala's model of helping farmers and facilitating producer and marketing cooperatives.The Kerala government has already started establishing producer cooperatives and has brought up a project worth INR five billion ($60,650,250), the carbon neutral coffee project in Wayanad. It has also announced the launch of the Climate Smart Coffee Project and Coffee Park in Wayanad.Sputnik: Coffee production in India has decreased. What could the major reasons behind the downward trend be, and do you think climate change is one of them?Krishnaprasad: Experts have suggested that there has been a decline in coffee production due to heavy monsoons in the past three years, since coffee is a very "climate-sensitive" crop.However, instead of blaming climate [change] for the decline in production, we should [note] that we dont have enough irrigation facilities for coffee cultivation. If [more] irrigation facilities are developed, then water could be provided to small farmers and they would yield good crops.Although there is a coffee board representing coffee growers, it is not functioning as a very vibrant organization, since they have a lot of responsibility. So, it is all about a lack of pro-farmer policies.The actual reason behind the decline in production is the inability of the government system to provide facilities to small farmers.Along with that, a lot of coffee farmers are not encouraged to cultivate coffee because of its non-profitable character. There is less employment in the sector, and farmers become migrant workers. They dont even get minimum wage, so there is a scarcity of labor.Moreover, farmers are unable to invest in coffee cultivation, therefore I can say that coffee farmers in India are in a real crisis, while the corporate sector is reaping huge profits.The views expressed in this interview are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

https://sputniknews.com/20221024/govt-should-help-alter-decades-old-traditions-encourage-indian-farmers-not-to-burn-stubble-1102499012.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221011/indias-bks-farmer-body-calls-for-removal-of-key-tax-on-agricultural-items-1101716665.html

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coffee, coffee consumption, coffee, kerala, farmers, farmers, production, production factory
https://sputniknews.com/20221026/pashinyan-says-he-wants-to-sign-peace-treaty-with-azerbaijan-this-year-1102728916.html

Pashinyan Says He Wants to Sign Peace Treaty With Azerbaijan This Year

Pashinyan Says He Wants to Sign Peace Treaty With Azerbaijan This Year

YEREVAN (Sputnik) - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday he wants to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan until the end of the year. 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T13:38+0000

2022-10-26T13:38+0000

2022-10-26T13:38+0000

world

nikol pashinyan

azerbaijan

armenia

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"I would like it [a peace treaty] to be signed before the end of this year. How realistic is this? I would answer this question as follows. I and the government will make every possible effort to make this a reality," Pashinyan told lawmakers, adding that, hopefully, works on the border delimitation will be completed before signing the peace treaty.Yerevan will initiate a meeting of CSTO leaders on the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, waiting for a clear assessment of the situation, Nikol Pashinyan said.The Armenian side  the government and society expects from the CSTO a clear political assessment of the events on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the adoption of a roadmap to restore the territorial integrity of Armenia, he stressed.In May 2022, Aliyev and Pashinyan instructed their foreign ministries to begin preparations for peace talks between Yerevan and Baku. However, the relations between the two countries soured once again because of hostilities that broke out between Armenian and Azerbaijan in the night from September 12-13, in an area unrelated to the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. Baku and Yerevan accused each other of shelling and reported losses in their ranks. Both countries agreed to a ceasefire by morning of September 13, which failed overnight. Another ceasefire went into effect on September 14.

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nikol pashinyan, azerbaijan, armenia
https://sputniknews.com/20221026/revolutionary-guard-officer-killed-during-mass-protests-in-east-iran---reports-1102739343.html

Revolutionary Guard Officer Killed During Mass Protests in East Iran - Reports

Revolutionary Guard Officer Killed During Mass Protests in East Iran - Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - An officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran was killed in the Iranian city of Malayer in east Iran on Wednesday... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T20:09+0000

2022-10-26T20:09+0000

2022-10-26T20:10+0000

world

middle east

iran

islamic revolutionary guard corps

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One of the IRGC officers in Malayer was killed as protesters used small arms while he was chasing some of the organizers of the demonstrations, according to the IRNA news agency.On Wednesday, mass protests took place across Iran on the 40th day since the death of Amini, with violence erupting between demonstrators and police in some Iranian cities.As many as 10,000 people took to the streets in the city of Saqqez located in the eastern part of the country as they visited the grave of Amini, according to Iranian news agency ISNA.Amini was detained by Iran's morality police in Tehran on September 13 for wearing an "improper" hijab, an offense punishable by prison. The woman was sent to one of the FARAJA centers belonging to the police department and military intelligence for an explanatory conversation. In the center, Amini had a heart attack, after which she was immediately taken to the hospital. On September 16, the young woman passed away.Many Iranian citizens have accused the morality police of Amini's death, alleging that law enforcement officers hit her in the head. Iranian women have started publishing videos on social media of them cutting their hair and burning hijabs and rusari kerchiefs, which they are obliged to wear on their heads. Meanwhile, a series of mass protests hit several Iranian cities.Tehran, in turn, said that the mass riots were planned from abroad and summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Norway, and charges d'affaires of France in Iran in late September. The European diplomats were given a note of protest in connection with anti-Iranian media reports and calls to overthrow the Iranian government.

https://sputniknews.com/20221026/armed-group-opens-fire-near-mausoleum-in-iran-over-dozen-people-killed---reports-1102730889.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/russia-turkey-gas-negotiations-proceeding-without-issues-source-1102663719.html

Russia-Turkey Gas Negotiations Proceeding Without Issues: Source

Russia-Turkey Gas Negotiations Proceeding Without Issues: Source

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey's negotiation with Russia on gas price and payments is "constructive" and proceeding without any obstacles, a source in Ankara told... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T07:58+0000

2022-10-26T07:58+0000

2022-10-26T07:58+0000

economy

russia

turkey

gas

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Turkey has requested a discount and an extension of payment for Russian gas until 2024. On Tuesday, Turkish Minister of Finance and Treasury Nureddin Nebati said that Ankara was expecting "good news" from Moscow.On October 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow could redirect gas transit from the Nord Stream pipelines, damaged by an explosion classified by Russia as an act of terrorism, to Turkey. The next day, Putin discussed the idea with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their face-to-face meeting in Astana. On October 14, Erdogan said that the two leaders instructed relevant institutions of the two countries to quickly begin work on the idea of creating a hub in Turkey for gas supplies to Europe.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/scientists-create-new-aerogels-used-as-oil-sorbents-1102724614.html

Scientists Create New Aerogels Used as Oil Sorbents

Scientists Create New Aerogels Used as Oil Sorbents

Scientists from Volgograd State Technical University (VolgSTU) have developed modified aerogels from chitosan, a chemical compound which has selective... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T13:59+0000

2022-10-26T13:59+0000

2022-11-15T14:20+0000

science & tech

russia

scientists

oil

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Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin found in the shells of crustaceans and insects. It is a renewable, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer. It is environmentally friendly and features film- and fiber-forming properties. These properties make chitosan a promising material for the production of aerogels with low density, high porosity, and high specific surface area. These characteristics provide prerequisites for application of these materials as sorbents for various pollutants, such as lubricants, oil, and petroleum products.A group of researchers from Volgograd State Technical University proposed the surface modification of chitosan aerogels by grafting polymethacrylates to create materials with selective adsorption capacity. The obtained chitosan aerogels have a porosity up to 98.5%. They represent a material formed by thin (up to 1 m) polymer films with a system of open pores.As a result of material modification, the pore system is not disturbed, but the surface acquires exceptional water repellent properties. An unmodified aerogel quickly absorb water, but after the modification water is not absorbed by such material for several hours, the scientists explained.Modified chitosan aerogels retain their biodegradability and do not require additional disposal costs after use. They can be used as effective and environmentally friendly lubricant and oil sorbents, as well as filters for the separation of water-oil emulsions.The proposed solutions for the method of modification of chitosan aerogel and sorption material were patented. The study results were published in the Polymers journal.The research is part of a VolgSTU strategic project within the framework of the "Priority 2030" program.The university development program includes four strategic projects, such as the "Center for Digital Scientific and Educational Projects and Developments" and "Technologies for Industrial Innovation Cluster."

https://sputniknews.com/20221013/russian-scientists-create-fast-acting-drugs-to-protect-body--1101810697.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/turkey-wants-to-organize-meeting-of-russian-german-energy-ministers-in-istanbul-reports-say-1102659082.html

Turkey Wants to Organize Meeting of Russian, German Energy Ministers in Istanbul, Reports Say

Turkey Wants to Organize Meeting of Russian, German Energy Ministers in Istanbul, Reports Say

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey wants to organize a meeting of Russian and German energy ministers in Istanbul in December, the Aydnlk newspaper reported, citing... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T04:55+0000

2022-10-26T04:55+0000

2022-10-26T04:55+0000

economy

russia

germany

turkey

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"We can bring together countries and organizations that are in conflict. In fact, we would like to bring together the energy ministers of Germany and Russia. This will be a great success for Turkey and the Istanbul Economic Summit. I even suggested this to the parties. They said it was unrealistic, but [what if] suddenly everything can be implemented within 24 hours," the chairman said as quoted by the newspaper.He said the summit will be held in the Ciragan Palace on December 8-9 in Istanbul. Deger said foreign companies would take an active part in it, and added that Russian companies had been invited.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/uk-chancellor-delays-presentation-of-mid-term-financial-plan-till-mid-november-treasury-1102726165.html

UK Chancellor Delays Presentation of Mid-Term Financial Plan Till Mid-November: Treasury

UK Chancellor Delays Presentation of Mid-Term Financial Plan Till Mid-November: Treasury

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has postponed the presentation of government's medium-term financial plan by two weeks until... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T12:55+0000

2022-10-26T12:55+0000

2022-10-26T12:55+0000

world

uk

jeremy hunt

rishi sunak

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"Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have agreed the Autumn Statement will be delivered on 17 November with an Office for Budget Responsibility. It will contain the UKs medium-term fiscal plan to put public spending on a sustainable footing, get debt falling & restore stability," the ministry said on Twitter.The plan was expected to be presented on October 31 but was postponed so that the new head of government, Rishi Sunak, could familiarize himself with all the data and make necessary corrections.Hunt told Sky News that the decision to postpone the financial plan is reasonable since accuracy is important in managing budget funds.Sunak became the country's third prime minister in 2022. In July, then-leader Boris Johnson announced his intention to step down due to accusations of violating COVID-19 regulations, and sexual assault claims against Government Deputy Chief Whip Christopher Pincher. Liz Truss, elected in September to replace Johnson, was only 44 days in office. On October 20, she announced her resignation due to criticism over the government's new economic plan and the possibility of increasing public debt for its implementation.

https://sputniknews.com/20220930/labour-gain-33-point-vote-intention-lead-over-tories-amid-uk-financial-market-turmoil--yougov-poll-1101361034.html

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uk, jeremy hunt, rishi sunak
https://sputniknews.com/20221026/ukraine-has-been-turned-into-tool-of-us-foreign-policy-has-practically-lost-its-sovereignty-putin-1102709292.html

Ukraine Has Been Turned Into Tool of US Foreign Policy, Has Practically Lost Its Sovereignty: Putin

Ukraine Has Been Turned Into Tool of US Foreign Policy, Has Practically Lost Its Sovereignty: Putin

Russian authorities and senior military officials have expressed serious concerns in recent days over Kiev's possible use of a 'dirty bomb' on its own... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T11:47+0000

2022-10-26T11:47+0000

2022-10-26T12:58+0000

vladimir putin

russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

ukraine

us

tool

biological warfare

weapons

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The United States has turned Ukraine into a "battering ram" to attack Russia, President Vladimir Putin has said.Characterizing contemporary Ukraine as a nation that's been turned into a "tool of American foreign policy," Putin suggested that Washington's "true attitude" toward its "satellites" has been clearly demonstrated in the country, with its territory "almost immediately turned into a testing ground for military biological experiments" in the aftermath of the 2014 Maidan coup.The Russian president accused Washington of ignoring Kiev's talk about acquiring a nuclear weapon, as well as false flag provocations involving a 'dirty bomb', and instead continuing to pump the country full of heavy weaponry.Similar threats are being faced by other post-Soviet republics that haven't yet fallen into Washington's orbit, Putin said.Amid the continued flow of weapons to Kiev, Putin warned of the ever-present danger of the country being turned into a weapons black market used by transnational criminal groups smuggling arms worldwide to foment new crises. "This is not a question only of small arms; there are risks of more powerful weapons falling into the hands of criminals, including man-portable air defense systems and high precision weapons," Putin said.The CIS is a regional intergovernmental organization formed in the immediate aftermath of the destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991. Originally including twelve of the fifteen former Soviet republics, the body now has nine member states - Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Georgia and Ukraine dropped out in 2008 and 2018, respectively, with the Turkmenistan opting for associate member status in 2005.The CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprised of six former Soviet states - Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Serbia is an observer in the organization. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan dropped out of the CSTO in the late 1990s.Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in February amid warning signs that Kiev was preparing a new attempt to crush the fledgling Donbass republics by force and join NATO. The security crisis in Ukraine began in the spring of 2014, when the residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions declared independence from Kiev after a US- and EU-backed coup in the capital. Crimea broke off from Ukraine and rejoined Russia several months earlier amid threats by Kiev to outlaw the Russian language and send ultranationalist thugs to the peninsula to deal with pro-Russian agitators. Russia, France and Germany sought to put an end to the crisis in 2015 via the Minsk Accords - a peace plan proposing the Donbass's reintegration into Ukraine in exchange for broad autonomy. Successive governments in Kiev dragged their feet on implementing the agreement, with an attempt by then-newly elected President Volodymyr Zelensky to do so in 2019 met with large-scale protests by ultra-right and pro-Western political forces threatening to overthrow him. Minsk was declared "dead" in early 2022 following the unprecedented escalation of shelling, sabotage and sniper attacks in the Donbass.

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/russia-to-organize-meeting-on-us-biological-laboratories-activities-in-ukraine---official-1102058993.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220804/exclusive-ukrainians-sell-nato-supplied-weapons-abroad-1098120922.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220411/ukraine-from-2004-to-2022-from-the-first-maidan-to-catastrophe-1094623112.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/ukraine-peace-talks-pathetic-u-turn-by-30-dems--curious-case-of-jeffrey-sachs-1102707399.html

Ukraine Peace Talks: Pathetic U-Turn by 30 Dems & Curious Case of Jeffrey Sachs

Ukraine Peace Talks: Pathetic U-Turn by 30 Dems & Curious Case of Jeffrey Sachs

On Tuesday, the progressive caucus of the US House of Representatives made an abrupt U-turn and withdrew their letter to US President Joe Biden, which urged... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T13:24+0000

2022-10-26T13:24+0000

2022-10-26T13:24+0000

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"Not only was the letter a case of too little, too late, the so-called progressive signatories to the statement made themselves look even more pathetic in its immediate withdrawal," Max Parry, an independent US journalist and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.The American journalist believes that the motivation behind the letter was a response to growing fatigue among the US public regarding the ongoing standoff in Ukraine, "not to mention several recent public incidents of Democratic lawmakers being protested by their own constituents over their vote to arm Kiev which went viral on social media."According to Parry, US polls indicate growing support for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. On September 27, a survey, conducted by Data for Progress on behalf of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, indicated that nearly 60% of Americans would support Washington engaging in diplomatic efforts "as soon as possible" to end the conflict in Ukraine, even if that means Ukraine having to make concessions to Russia.On October 18, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy signaled that Republicans will not write a blank check for Kiev if they win back the House majority. According to US media, anti-aid sentiments are also strong among many Republican House and Senate candidates. If they win, the reduction of military assistance to Kiev is more than possible, as former US Senate candidate Mark Dankof told Sputnik on September 25.While one needs to bear in mind that the anti-Russia consensus in Washington has long been bipartisan, 57 Republicans as recently as May voted against sending more lethal aid to Kiev, Parry underscored. Nonetheless, the independent journalist noted that this trend does not necessarily signal an upcoming departure from the Ukraine policy by the US.When it comes to Democrats, "if they do indeed lose ground over the Ukraine war, it could lead to either a revival in the anti-war movement among the US left or a doubling down on the anti-Russian sentiment among Dems," Parry presumed.Jeffrey Sachs: Neoliberal Economist Turned Anti-NATO RebelThe Dems' latest flip-flopping on the Ukraine peace issue is not the only attempt at dissent on the left flank of the US political front. Renowned economist and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs has lambasted the Biden administration's Russia strategy and urged Washington to mediate a peaceful settlement between Moscow and Kiev from the outset of the Russian special military operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine.In May 2022, Sachs wrote an op-ed urging the US to stop the conflict in Ukraine and insisting that the solution reached by Moscow and Kiev in March 2022 remains the only viable option for restoring peace. On June 27, the economist released an article eloquently titled "Ukraine Is the Latest Neocon Disaster," again calling for peace negotiations and ending NATO's eastward expansion towards Russia's borders. On August 2, Sachs warned: "The government of Ukraine urges us not to negotiate, but to fight. This is a recipe for the destruction of Ukraine and the possible escalation to a nuclear war."Following the sabotage attack on Russia's Nord Stream pipeline infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, Sachs pointed the finger at Washington as a potential culprit while speaking on air with a US mainstream broadcaster."The case of the recent political transformation of Professor Sachs is a curious one," noted Parry. "After all, we are talking about one of the most prominent economic advisors to Western financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund. In particular, he was one of the preeminent economic aides to former communist governments in their transition to the free market and in the case of Russia, the economic reforms based on his ideas had devastating consequences when mass privatization and 'shock therapy' drove the Russian economy into a deep recession and plunged millions into poverty."The independent journalist emphasized that for Sachs to "now depart from US policy orthodoxies and criticize the demonization of Russia, even rightly pointing out that the US was the more likely candidate to have been behind the destruction of Nord Stream 2 pipeline, is simply stunning."Parry has drawn attention to the fact that Sachs' "transformation" apparently started a few years ago, "when he criticized America's dirty war in Syria in 2018." "Now his 'road to Damascus,' or political conversion is complete," the journalist added."Unfortunately, he is one among only a mere handful of public figures voicing opposition to NATO's proxy war," Parry continued. "Since the death of Stephen Cohen, America's foremost scholar of Russian affairs, commentary on US relations with Moscow has been nothing short of monolithic, so the surprising calls for peace talks by Sachs were badly needed."

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/ex-senate-candidate-gop-opposition-to-kiev-aid-growing-in-us-congress-despite-rino-resistance-1102614376.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221004/risky-precedent-us-could-be-behind-both-nord-stream-sabotage--covid-outbreak-publisher-says-1101510352.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221013/russian-economy-emerging-from-recession-despite-western-sanctions-british-newspaper-reports-1101807542.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/venezuelan-opposition-leader-guaido-losing-washingtons-support---reports-1102661880.html

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Guaido Losing Washington's Support - Reports

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Guaido Losing Washington's Support - Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States will not interfere in the struggle for leadership within the Venezuelan opposition as current opposition leader Juan... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T07:02+0000

2022-10-26T07:02+0000

2022-10-26T09:35+0000

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This decision will be another blow to Guaido, who enjoyed Washington's support in the period when he led an opposition uprising but has since lost influence amid the growing power of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the newspaper said.Last week, US media reported that the Venezuelan opposition, at a meeting with representatives of the US State Department, said that it would not support the "interim government" of Guaido. The Venezuela opposition is also considering distancing itself from Guaido, and the White House will not oppose this effort, reports suggested.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/venezuelas-opposition-dropping-guaids-government-in-2023-1102598818.html

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Our team has a good understanding of digital Marketing as well, which enables you to mix PR with your overall marketing campaigns.

development before switching to PR. They supplied their clients with content such as blogs, press releases, and social media updates.CDP Tech Tweeters provides a reliable media coverage service; they work hard to gain their client's organic coverage in national and worldwide media. In public relations, their slogan has been "Better efficacy at a lower cost." Their decentralized structure and strong content and journalistic backgrounds enable them to do so. The decentralization of resources allows them to keep prices low, while broad networking with journalists allows them to build coverage quality. Their primary USP is a deep grasp of the fintech and cryptocurrency ecosystems. This aids CDP Tech Tweeters in assessing client positioning and determining how to give them optimum benefit as early as possible. Instead of simply choosing any publication, they research on the journalists who are most likely to write on the subject. As a result of CDP Tech Tweeters thorough understanding of the various tech media writers' thought processes, their press releases are accepted much more frequently.CDP Tech Tweeters distinguishes itself from competitors in the industry by utilizing a tripartite service model meant to appeal to varied consumers from worldwide communities. The firm offers its customers a one-stop shop for all content related services.Our team has a good understanding of digital marketing as well, which enables you to mix PR with your overall marketing campaigns. Moreover, we are into content development as well, which sort of turns us into a one-stop shop for all your PR and content related services. As for content development, we have a good blend of native English speakers with experience and formal training in content in our team. It shows up in the work we do, says Dilip Kumar Patairya.CDP Tech Tweeters began informally when Dilip undertook his first freelance writing project with INR 3,000($38) after being jobless for four months due to the lockdown. They now generate more than INR 5 lakhs in revenue every month. The market response to their services has been quite positive, and they expect it to improve as they develop as a company. The fact that the majority of business originates from referrals attests to the degree of satisfaction.The crew at CDP Tech Tweeters is well-versed in digital marketing, which allows them to integrate PR into larger marketing strategies. Additionally, they are involved in content creation, making them a one-stop shop for all PR and content related services. The key leadership group behind CDP Tech Tweeters consists of three people: Dilip Kumar Patairya, the company's Chief Associate, is in charge of choosing the course that CDP Tech Tweeters will pursue. He serves as Chief Editor in addition to handling marketing. Ms. Emily Mawia, his associate, is in charge of maintaining relationships with the media. She also supports us with hiring. Since social media plays a significant part in today's public relations campaigns, Mr. Hamid Akhtar is in charge of the job.CDP Tech Tweeters' growth trajectory has been more than impressive, and client support has been good. They began modestly and have already worked with clients in over 20 countries. The level of satisfaction with their services is explained by the fact that the majority of these customers found them through the recommendations of previous customers. The organization has a crew of roughly six workers, and a consistent revenue stream speaks volumes about their work.Since its establishment,CDP Tech Tweeters have worked in the blockchain and finance industries and has established a solid reputation. They intend to expand their public relations services into cyber security and are currently developing resources in this area.
A call concerning the possibility of explosive devices at the Iredell County Hall of Justice and District Attorneys office resulted in more than 100 people being evacuated Tuesday afternoon.

The Iredell County Sheriffs Office is looking for a suspect in this case, and obtained surveillance photos of a man throwing a handheld computer into a dumpster, Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a news release.

Around 2:20 p.m. a phone call was received by a staff member at the Iredell County Clerk of Courts office stating that there were explosive devices in the hall of justice and district attorneys office. Campbell said the caller  a man  indicated the devices were planted due to a family member recently being sentenced to prison.

Deputies and Criminal Investigation Division detectives responded and evacuated both buildings.

Once the buildings were secured, the sheriffs office utilized explosive detection canines to search the buildings to locate any explosives. After a thorough search, deputies determined there were no explosive devices present, and both buildings were deemed safe for citizens and employees to enter.

Investigators with the sheriffs office began investigating the threat by interviewing the person who received the phone call and other witnesses at the scene. The investigators determined the phone call came in on a voiceover IP number, meaning the call came from an electronic device utilizing public Wi-Fi signal. The Wi-Fi signal originated at a business on North Center Street, Campbell said.

Criminal investigators immediately responded to the business and gathered video surveillance footage of a white male throwing a handheld computer tablet into a dumpster. The tablet was recovered and is being processed for evidence. Investigators then went to another business across the street and obtained even more video footage of this same person, Campbell said.

This man walked to the parking lot of the courthouse and got into a light-colored SUV and drove away before deputies responded and secured the area.

If you know this person or have seen the vehicle, call the Iredell County Sheriffs Office at 704-878-3100.
GREENSBORO  Police are investigating a double homicide after a shooting late Tuesday night that also wounded four other people, a department spokesperson said early Wednesday.

N.C. A&T announced the death of freshman Kaneycha Turner, 19, of Statesville, in an email Wednesday morning to students and employees. A university spokeswoman confirmed by telephone that Turner died after the shooting at an apartment complex off campus.

Officers responded just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 900 block of Circle Drive and located two victims with gunshot wounds. While officers were on scene, four additional victims with gunshot wounds arrived at a local hospital for treatment, police said in a news release.

A spokeswoman for A&T said the university is waiting to learn from police about whether any of the other victims may be students. A&T is offering counseling services to students, staff and faculty, she said.

Police have not released any names or other details at this time.

At 11:50 p.m., officers responded to the 4300 block of Parker Street and found one gunshot victim, who was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Police do not believe the shootings are connected.

Authorities are asking 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.
Atmos Energy is reminding natural gas customers that now is the time to prepare for cold weather by performing household safety checks and implementing energy-saving measures.

Customers who need natural gas service reconnected should contact Atmost now to schedule an appointment before cold weather arrives. Atmos Energy is available at 888-286-6700 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time  or online at www.atmosenergy.com

During the appointment, individuals may choose to have an Atmos Energy technician enter their home or business to relight gas appliances that are accessible and are in a safe working condition. However, this is not a substitute for routine or manufacturer-recommended safety inspections and maintenance of appliances and gas piping. Gas piping and appliances are the owners responsibility and should be inspected periodically. A responsible adult 18 or older must be present during the appointment.

Now is also a good opportunity to perform routine household safety checks like inspecting natural gas piping and appliances and ensuring smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are in working condition.

Maintain Your Natural Gas LinesCustomers are responsible for the maintenance and service of natural gas appliances and natural gas lines from the meter into their homes in all states Atmos serves, except in Kansas.

Customer-owned natural gas lines include all piping that goes from the natural gas meter to the appliances on your property. This also includes a pool or spa heater, barbeque, or other natural gas appliances.

Monitor for Carbon MonoxideOften called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas emitted when fuel is burned in cars, trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, natural gas ranges, or furnaces, and it can be poisonous to humans if it builds up indoors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends replacing CO detectors every five years and installing a battery-operated or battery backup CO detector in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home.

The CDC also advises buying a detector with a digital readout to best detect the highest level of carbon monoxide concentration.

This winter, as energy prices are elevated across the board, financial assistance is available to help customers manage costs:

Budget Billing is a tool to help manage your budget because your natural gas bill will be more predictable every month. In the winter, your bill can rise unexpectedly as the weather gets colder. However, with Budget Billing your costs are spread more evenly throughout the year, so you are not surprised by high winter bills. Visit www.atmosenergy.com/budgetbilling to learn more.

Installment plans are available that spread out payments of your balance over time  with no charges or fees to do so. Call 888-286-6700 or visit www.atmosenergy.com/AccountCenter to establish a plan that meets your needs.

We also offer an online tool that compares your current bill with a previous bill so you can better understand how the weather, billing days, and charges impact your bill. Log in to the Account Center and select Billing and Usage to use the bill comparison tool.

If you need help paying your natural gas bill, financial assistance is available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program as well as Atmos Energys Sharing the Warmth funds through local assistance agencies. Visit atmosenergy.com/assistance to find an energy assistance agency near you.

Colder weather directly impacts the amount of natural gas that is consumed and your monthly bill. Using energy wisely and making a few household changes can make a big difference in how much you spend on natural gas and other energy bills. Plus, you will lower your homes carbon emissions when you use less energy.

Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home.

Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. Water heating accounts for as much as 25% of the energy consumed in your home.

Change or clean your heating and air conditioning unit filter regularly and according to the manufacturers instructions. Your equipment will use less energy if it breathes more easily.

Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that are not in use.

Reduce your shower and bath time. Showering and bathing can account for 40% of your homes hot water use.

Operate your clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when fully loaded.

Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Leaving the damper open is like keeping a window wide open  warm air goes right up the chimney.

If you have a pool, do not use the pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing.

For home safety tips and to learn more about customer-owned natural gas piping, visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/home-safety, and for more energy-saving tips visit www.atmosenergy.com/energytips.
Rural Retreats church on the hill, Grace Lutheran Church, will celebrate its 150th anniversary Sunday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m. at the church, 514 S. Main St. The Rev. Robert Humphrey, bishop of the Virginia Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will lead the worship service. This time of year is also a noteworthy and historical time in all Lutheran churches. On Oct. 31, 1517, The Protestant Reformation began in Wittenberg, Germany, the Rev. Martin Luther, a German Monk, broke away from the Roman Catholic Church to attempt to bring reform to the established church doctrine.

To further highlight the churchs anniversary celebration, Highlands Conference of Lutheran Churches in SWVA will hold its annual Reformation service at Grace at 4 p.m. with Bishop Humphrey presiding.

To mark the churchs Sesquicentennial, church member Sandra Vernon wrote a condensed history of the church using information from two books, A Century of Faith and Service-1872-1972 by the Rev. Roger S. Kluttz and Vernons own book, A Journey of Faith -1972-2001. Chronicling the past two decades, an addendum booklet for Vernons book is being printed and is titled, The Journey Continues-2001-2022.

Here, Vernon, tells about the church and its history:

When the railroad was built through Southwest Virginia in 1855, the communities of Wytheville and Rural Retreat began to develop as population centers around the railroad. After the War Between the States, people began to migrate toward Rural Retreat and those St. Paul members that lived close to Rural Retreat realized the need for Lutheran ministry in town. A group of concerned Christians met with The Rev. Elijah Hawkins and within five years, a new congregation was established in the town of Mt. Airy Depot, now Rural Retreat.

The first church, known as Hawkins Chapel, located in the Oak Grove was officially organized in 1872. A small frame building was erected and later a brick structure was built and dedicated October 10, 1909. This building was used with some alterations until the late 1960s.

At a congregational meeting on July 23, 1923, the name of Hawkins Chapel was changed to Grace Lutheran Church. Throughout these years, Grace has remained close to and been in relationship with the Mother Church, St. Paul Lutheran. One pastor is called to serve both churches known as Rural Retreat Lutheran Parish.

In 1969, Grace received a large bequest from the estate of a member earmarked for renovation. Designs were drawn and renovations began in April of 1969. During this time, the Grace membership worshiped with St. Paul congregation. On Oct. 11, 1970, after eighteen months of construction, the present building was dedicated, 61 years and one day after the original brick building was dedicated.

As small Lutheran churches in the area have sadly found it necessary to close their doors, their membership has melded into the membership of Grace Church, and the members were joyfully welcomed. These members have brought with them time, treasures and much talent.

Grace has had celebrations earmarking its history at 100 years, 125 years, and now here we are celebrating 150 years of continued ministry in this location in the town of Rural Retreat.

Ministry has been sorely affected during these last two years as we and all churches have dealt with this Pandemic of COVID-19. It did bring us forward with hope into the future of the electronic generation. Not only are we back in our Naves weekly celebrating worship, but we are live-streaming the services, and have a website and Facebook page.

Ministry as we have known it has certainly changed, but we look forward to many more years of ministry in this community. Needless to say, a lot of history happened between each paragraph.
Two Cowlitz County burn bans were lifted Tuesday after officials say fire conditions have lessened thanks to cooler temperatures and rain.

Cowlitz, Clark and Skamania counties place joint burn bans annually from July 15 through Sept. 30, but this year the burn ban was extended through Tuesday due to warm and dry forecasts.

The Southest Clean Air Agency placed an additional Cowlitz County burn ban on Oct. 18, prohibiting all outdoor burning including wood stoves, after a lengthy fire season scorched thousands of forest acres, causing harmful levels of contaminated air over the Pacific Northwest.

The announcements of the both burn ban lifts came Tuesday, but the fires are still active in particular areas of Washington and Oregon. According to the New York Times, the Nakia Creek Fire  which forced thousands to evacuate their homes and businesses  is now 77% contained as of Tuesday, and caused 1,900 acres to burn. Nearby fires in Kalama are 50% contained, and the blaze in Clatsop State Forest in Oregon is completely contained.

Area residents can now kindle fires like fire pits and campfires recreationally, but open burning is still not allowed in Kelso and Longview city limits, as well as the urban growth areas of Castle Rock and Woodland, according to the Southwest Clean Air agency.

In Cowlitz County, recreational fires are defined as a maximum of 3 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet and consisting only of firewood and charcoal. Recreational campfires are allowed if built in designated campgrounds, typically found in local, county and state parks.

There are also no burn bans in Clark, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties, according to the Southwest Clean Air Agency.

Columbia County lifted its burn ban on Monday. People can burn debris with a valid burning permit as decided by local fire districts, according to the Columbia County Fire Defense Board.

Fires near Cowlitz County last week caused multiple air quality agencies to issue warnings to residents to remain inside their homes as pollution from the fires raised levels to or near unhealthy zones.

Last week Seattle and Portland had the worst air quality in the world due to the fires.

The National Weather Service has forecasted precipitation in Cowlitz County all week, with roughly a 30% to 50% chance of rainfall through Saturday.
Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Theft  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office deputies Tuesday, Oct. 18 arrested Heather Marie Baily, 35, of Longview of suspicion of second-degree theft.

Trafficking, possession of firearm  Longview police Tuesday, Oct. 18 arrested Blake Thomas Brosnahan, 29, of Kelso on suspicion of first-degree trafficking of stolen property and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Malicious mischief  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office deputies Tuesday, Oct. 18 arrested Sue Elliot Newcomb, 64, of Kalama on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief.

Burglary  Kelso police Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Daniel Lee Green, 54, of Kelso on suspicion of first-degree burglary.

Unlawful possession of firearm  Longview police Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Dalton Aaron Newman, 27, of Longview on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Unlawful possession of firearm  Department of Corrections officers Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Zachary Ryan Benson, 37, of Kelso on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Stolen vehicle  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Taylor David Martello, 36, of Ariel on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Trafficking in stolen property  Longview police Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Michael Darius Jones, 18, of Longview on suspicion of first-degree trafficking stolen property.

Criminal impersonation  Longview police Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Ariel Elizabeth Ann Yeager, 29, of Kalama on suspicion of first-degree criminal impersonation.

Retail theft  Longview police Wednesday, Oct. 19 arrested Haley Jean Bornstedt, 38, of Kelso on suspicion of retail theft with special circumstances.

Vehicular assault  Kelso police Thursday, Oct. 20 arrested Jonathan Jason Perry, 21, of Longview on suspicion of vehicular assault.

Harassment  Longview police Friday arrested Jeffery Walter Davis, 39, of Portland on suspicion of felony harassment.

Burglary  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Friday arrested Brandon Joseph Floyd Stehle, 28, of Kelso on suspicion residential burglary.

Assault  Castle Rock police Friday arrested David Michael Gallegly, 64, of Castle Rock on suspicion of second-degree assault, third-degree theft and driving with a suspended license.

Malicious mischief  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Friday arrested Bryan Wayne Reaverly, 36, of Oregon on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief, second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree vehicle prowling.

Assault  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Friday arrested James Ross Rountree, 27, of Kelso on suspicion of third-degree assault, obstructing a public servant and resisting arrest.

Assault  Longview police Friday arrested Charlie Rose Wuollet, 34, of Longview on suspicion of third-degree assault, resisting arrest and obstructing a public servant.

Assault Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Saturday arrested Alexander Williams Hubbard, 37, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree assault, protection order violation, third-degree malicious mischief and interfering.

Fraud  Longview police Saturday arrested Chrissena Marie Waver, 40, of Kelso on suspicion of fraud and third-degree theft.

Criminal impersonation  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Saturday arrested Tommie Rae Geretta Knight, 33, of Longview on suspicion of first-degree criminal impersonation.

Fraud, stolen vehicle Longview police Saturday arrested Jewelina Jinx Cohee, 45, of an unknown location on suspicion of fraud, criminal impersonation, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property.

Possession with intent  Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Sunday arrested Zachary Andrew Hochstetler, 29, of Kelso on suspicion of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine, obstruction and making a false statement.

Felony harassment  Longview police Sunday arrested Jeffery Nathen Nelson, 45, of Longview on suspicion of felony harassment, third-degree theft and second-degree assault.

Hit and run Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Monday arrested Raiann Marjorie Anderson, 22, of Kelso on suspicion of hit and run with injury and driving with a ignition interlock device restriction.

Assault  Longview police Monday arrested Galen Louis Crayne, 45, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree assault and driving without a license.

Editors note: A software switch at Cowlitz County dispatch has prevented the agency from temporarily supplying 911 call logs and officer notes past June 6. The agency is working to create new reports to supply media outlets.
Sony Malaysia today announced that it will be releasing its smallest and lightest noise-cancelling truly wireless headphones the Sony LinkBuds S in a new colour variation called Earth Blue in our country on 14 November 2022. Created using recycled resin material generated from water server bottles to reflect the companys commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its products.

The new colour variant is the fourth colour that the earbuds are offered in alongside the white, black and ecru options that have been available since June 2022. Moreover, the LinkBuds S will also be getting a new multipoint connection, whereby users can seamlessly switch between the LinkBuds series and the WF-1000XM4 headphones via a software update.

In a statement today, Sony Malaysia elaborated that parts of the body and case of LinkBuds S in Earth Blue are made from recycled water bottle materials which creates a unique marble pattern. It was originally developed by Sony in pursuit of a new design expression with the aim of expanding the potential use of recycled materials from water server bottles.

Furthermore, the material has been developed uniquely for the LinkBuds S Earth Blue model by taking advantage of the adhesive properties of the water server bottle material. The texture of the marble pattern was then created, with each product designed to have a different pattern.

In addition to the Earth Blue model, the whole LinkBuds series also comes with all packaging on the headphones being plastic free and the headphones using recycled materials from automobile parts. The new colour variation will be available in Malaysia on 14 November 2022, though Sony has yet to reveal its pricing.

Currently, the LinkBuds S in the white, black and ecru colour options are priced at RM929 in our country, though as of the time of writing, you can get them at RM699 at the official Sony Malaysia store. It is uncertain whether the new colour will be sold at a different price point.

So, what do you guys think of the new colour variant of the LinkBuds S? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news and releases in Malaysia and beyond!
Touch n Go Group today announced that it is working together with Yayasan Hijau Malaysia via Touch n Go eWallet to launch the Mission GreenPossible: 100 Million Trees by 2025 campaign. As the name would suggest, the campaign seeks to plant 100 million trees by 2025 and aims to contribute towards environmental conservation through the foundations efforts in planting more trees.

Yayasan Hijau Malaysia is an agency under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and is under the purview of the lead agency, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. Accordingly, through this collaboration, users can donate towards the cause in a seamless and paperless way by using the Touch n Go eWallet app.

Those that donate towards the cause can view and track the campaigns dedicated microsite, through the app or web in the form of a virtual tree. In fact, for every 100% grown virtual tree, a batch of actual trees will be planted by Yayasan Hijau Malaysia.

Upon planting the first batch of actual trees, the virtual tree will then restart to allow users to grow more virtual trees, further driving the planting of more actual trees. The mission is to get Malaysians to come forward together, donate and strive to conserve Mother Nature.

In this regard, Touch n Go Group announced that it will also donate alongside the Malaysian public in its quest to ensure a greener Malaysia for future generations. Launched at the Glasshouse in Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur earlier today, it was officiated by Dato Indera Mohd Ridza Bin Awang, Director General, Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Mr Alan Ni, Chief Executive Officer of TNG Digital Sdn Bhd and Encik Amin Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Hijau Malaysia.

Awesome! The Mission GreenPossible: 100 Million Trees by 2025 campaign is live today in the Touch n Go eWallet app. For more information and updates, do visit the campaigns official website here.
More than 200 million people in China are under some form of enhanced Covid restrictions this week, Japanese investment bank Nomura estimates.

Millions of people in China were under tight COVID restrictions on Wednesday as sporadic outbreaks across the country prompted business closures and disruption at the world's largest iPhone factory.

China is the last major economy welded to a zero-COVID strategy, persisting with snap lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines in a bid to keep infections to a minimum.

But fast-spreading virus variants have challenged that approach in recent months, with shutdowns and an ever-shifting patchwork of curbs sparking public exasperation and rare pockets of protest.

The world's most populous nation recorded just 1,241 new local cases on Wednesday, the majority of which displayed no symptoms, according to the National Health Commission.

But they include an outbreak at a factory in the central city of Zhengzhou that employs around 300,000 people and is known as the largest producer of iPhones in the world.

Foxconn Technology Group, which runs the facility, acknowledged the flare-up on Wednesday but said "operation and production... is relatively stable".

"Health and safety measures for employees (are) being maintained," the Taiwanese electronics maker said, adding that it was "providing the necessary guarantees for livelihoods, including material supplies, psychological comfort and responsive feedback".

The company did not specify how many staff were affected by the outbreak but said it was a "small number" and that unsubstantiated online rumours of tens of thousands of infections were "patently false".

"At present, the epidemic prevention work in Zhengzhou is progressing steadily, and the impact... is controllable," the statement said.

"The operating outlook for this quarter remains unchanged," it added.

There were signs of further tightening in Beijing, with the capital's Universal Resort theme park saying on Wednesday that it had "closed temporarily... to implement epidemic control requirements".

"We will continue to evaluate the impact on operations and work hard to restore them as soon as possible", the resort said on its official Weibo social media account, without giving a timeline for reopening.

Inhalable vaccine

Chinese authorities have shown little willingness to ease COVID measures even as the number of daily cases has diminished, with Japanese investment bank Nomura estimating this week that more than 200 million people are under some form of enhanced restrictions.

In the northwestern city of Xininghome to 2.5 millionresidents complained on social media about grinding stay-home measures, with some making accusations of underreported cases that AFP was unable to verify.

"Xining is like Shanghai in April," wrote one Weibo user, referencing the months-long lockdown that triggered isolated protests in the eastern megacity earlier this year.

But Shanghai's situation has since improved, and officials there began rolling out an inhalable COVID vaccine on Wednesday in what is thought to be the first such campaign in the world.

The vaccineproduced by Tianjin-based manufacturer CanSino Biologicswas approved by domestic regulators last month and is being administered as a booster for those who have previously received a jab.

Footage posted on social media by local news outlets showed residents lifting translucent beakers to their lips and sucking in the mist-like vaccine through a nozzle.

 2022 AFP
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The COVID-19 pandemic has been marked by ever-present fake news surrounding the behavior and effects of the coronavirus, the impact of social distancing, lockdowns, and quarantine, and the medical response in terms of vaccinations and pharmaceuticals. Indeed, even some world leaders led the public astray with nonsensical revelations and suggestions regarding how we might address the problem of SARS-CoV-2.

Given that the pandemic is still very much an ongoing problem, research in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing, discusses a computer chatbot that uses ensemble learning technique to detect fake news. The chatbot, dubbed CovFakeBot, was developed by a team from the University of Delhi, India, and has been trained using well-established machine-learning models. It can accurately discriminate between genuine news and fake news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on the microblogging platform Twitter.

Hunar Batra, Gunjan Kanwar Palawat, Kanika Gupta, Priadarshana, Supragya, Deepali Bajaj, and Urmil Bharti of the Department of Computer Science at the Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women, explain that their chatbot utilizes the application programming interface (API) of a well-known messenger app, specifically the WhatsApp Business API, with another communications technology, Twilio, to create a conversational user interface. The team tested the chatbot with ten different machine learning and ensemble learning classifiers on a dataset from Twitter. A soft-voting model was demonstrated as the most accurate.

The team suggests that the CovFakeBot could become a very useful tool for social media users hoping to quickly check whether an update of concern is genuine news or fake news. They add that it would be a relatively simple matter to extend the system to other areas where fake news is an issue by training a new instance of the chatbot with a new dataset in the area of interest. In the long run, they hope that CovFakeBot and its cousins will be useful in limiting the spread of fake news on social media.

More information: N.A. Supragya et al, CovFakeBot: a machine learning based chatbot using ensemble learning technique for COVID-19 fake news detection, International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing (2022). Journal information: International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing N.A. Supragya et al,: a machine learning based chatbot using ensemble learning technique for COVID-19 fake news detection,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJAISC.2022.10051225
Underwater noise during the construction of offshore wind turbines can displace marine animals. Credit: Shutterstock

The strong winds blowing over Australia's rugged coastlines will soon power many of our homes, as offshore wind farms are poised to begin construction. But our new research highlights the need to ensure any potential risks to marine life is properly mitigated.

The federal government has recently made a string of announcements as part of its A$20 billion Rewiring the Nation Plan, ahead of last night's federal budget. This includes $1.5 billion to fast-track the development of offshore wind farms and renewable energy zones in Victoria, as well as funding for the Marinus link (an electricity cable connecting Tasmania and Victoria), and pumped hydro developments.

By embracing what the energy world calls the "big three"offshore wind, solar power and onshore wind powerAustralia's renewable energy exports alone could be worth $333 billion each year. That's almost triple what we currently get from fossil fuels.

Our research calls for Australia to put marine spatial planning processes into offshore wind regulation. This considers how infrastructure and ecosystems can co-locate, by mapping out the best sites for generating the most electricity with the least environmental impact.

With effective regulation, Australia's offshore wind industry can be a leader in ecologically sustainable development.

Why is offshore wind important?

Over the past decade, the costs to build offshore wind infrastructure have decreased by 50% worldwide. It is poised to become a key ingredient in Australia's energy mix, as the Global Wind Energy Council estimates a massive 4,963 gigawatts of offshore wind potential in Australia.

In fact, if all of Australia's proposed offshore wind projects were built, their combined energy capacity would be greater than all Australia's coal-fired power stations.

Victoria is leading the way with a target of reaching 2 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2032, and 9 gigawatts by 2040. This means some 20% of Victoria's energy mix will come from clean, affordable and reliable offshore wind within the next ten years.

Despite our rich wind resources, there is currently no large-scale offshore wind project operating in Australia, due to a lack of legal framework that commenced operation in 2022. Australia also does not currently hold a federal offshore wind target.

Australia's lack of regulation

Australia has lack of clear offshore renewable energy planning goals. This has led the Global Wind Energy Council to call for "a clear, transparent, and streamlined leasing and permitting process" in Australia.

The environmental protections currently in place are generic and need greater refinement on the needs of offshore wind.

Before an Australian offshore wind project can start and be granted a commercial license, the developer must make several important assessments and proposals, including a management plan, to the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar.

This management plan must adhere to Australia's national environment law, which is designed to promote ecologically sustainable development.

Yet, Australia's environment lawcalled the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Acthas been widely criticized for failing to achieve this aim, particularly following a major independent review in 2021.

How offshore wind farms can impact marine life

Marine spatial planning can provide clear ecological, social and environmental conservation objectives, while mapping important ecological zones to protect.

Research is still emerging on the extent offshore wind farms may impact marine ecosystems. A European Environment Agency report this year points to a few potential impacts, although these are documented in Europe rather than Australia.

This includes underwater noise during construction, which can displace some species, cause auditory injury to nearby mammals and fish, and interfere with the echolocation of animals such as porpoises.

Research has also shown that during operation, some seabird species became either displaced or attracted to the turbines (though collision rates are low).

On the other hand, depending on its design, offshore wind turbines can provide habitat for some marine species, such as with artificial reefs on their foundations.

These pressures can be managed by effective marine spatial planning. Australia holds marine spatial planning processes for other areas, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and parts of Victoria.

But we are yet to create any requirements for them in the legal framework for offshore wind at the federal level.

Countries doing it better than us

Several countries have enacted marine spatial planning policies and regulations for their offshore wind sectors.

The European Union has led the way, as 22 coastal member states have adopted marine spatial planning processes. This strong policy framework has enabled the EU to reach 28.4 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity while ensuring environmental protections are in place.

The Netherlands have an ambitious offshore wind target of 70 gigawatts by 2050. This is double what the entire EU has already installed.

The Netherlands is using marine spatial planning to sustainably meet this target. It is supported by the Dutch Ecological Offshore Wind Energy Programme, which is generating baseline scientific knowledge about how to protect sensitive marine environments in assessments determining new project sites.

One piece of the puzzle

Marine spatial planning is crucial for integrating offshore wind with other ways we use the ocean, such as for fishing and preserving traditional Sea Country. At the same time, it should preserve ecosystems and promote energy justice, where all members of society are granted access to clean energy. Marine spatial planning can strike this balance.

Formulating marine spatial planning objectives in consultation with the offshore wind industry, communities, and other stakeholders is crucial to ensure its success, and building an equitable ocean economy.

Much more must be done to ensure we continue a successful transition away from fossil fuels and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Offshore wind is just one, exciting piece of the puzzle.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The significance of applying the simple transformation on JPEG Compressed DCT images. Credit: Rajesh et al.

Generative adversarial networks (GANs), a class of machine learning frameworks that can generate new texts, images, videos, and voice recordings, have been found to be highly valuable for tackling numerous real-world problems. For instance, GANs have been successfully used to generate image datasets to train other deep learning algorithms, to generate videos or animations for specific uses, and to create suitable captions for images.

Researchers at the Computer Vision and Biometrics Lab of IIT Allahabad and Vignan University in India have recently developed a new GAN-based model that can generate compressed images from text-based descriptions. This model, introduced in a paper pre-published on arXiv, could open interesting possibilities for image storage and for the sharing of content between different smart devices.

"The idea of T2CI GAN is aligned with the theme of 'direct processing/analytics of data in the compressed domain without full decompression,' on which we have been working on since 2012," Mohammed Javed, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "However, the idea in T2CI GAN is a bit different, as here we wanted to produce/retrieve images in the compressed form given the text descriptions of the image."

In their past studies, Javed and his colleagues used GANs and other deep learning models to tackle numerous tasks, including the extraction of features from data, the segmentation of text and image data, spotting words in large text excerpts, and to created compressed JPEG files. The new model they created builds on these previous efforts to address a computational problem that has so far been rarely explored in the literature.

While several other research teams have used deep learning-based methods to generate images based on text descriptions, only a few of these methods produce images in their compressed form. In addition, most existing techniques that generate compress images approach the task of generating the image and compressing it separately, which increases their computation load and processing time.

"T2CI-GAN is a deep learning-based model that takes text descriptions as an input and produces visual images in the compressed form," Javed explained. "The advantage here is that the conventional methods produce visual images from text descriptions, and they further subject those images to compression, to produce compressed images. Our model, on the other hand, can directly map/learn the text descriptions and produce compressed images."

The proposed T2CI-GAN Model-1 architecture using backbone networks. (a) Generator network and (b) Discriminator network. Credit: https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.03734

Javed and his colleagues developed two distinct GAN-based models for generating compressed images from text descriptions. The first of these models was trained on a dataset containing compressed DCT (discrete cosine transform) images in the JPEG format. After training, this model was able to generate compressed images based on text descriptions.

The researchers' second GAN-based model, on the other hand, was trained on a set of RGB images. This model learned to generate JPEG compressed DCT representations of images, which specifically express a sequence of data points as a mathematical equation.

"T2CI-GAN is the future, because we know that the world is moving towards machine(robot) to machine and man to machine communications," Javed said. "In such a scenario, machines only need data in the compressed form to interpret or understand them. For example, imagine that a person is asking Alexa bot to send her childhood photo to her best friend. Alexa will understand the person's voice message (text description) and try to search for this photo, which would already be stored somewhere in the compressed form, and send it directly to her friend."

Javed and his colleagues evaluated their model in a series of tests, using the renowned Oxtford-102 Flower dataset, which contains several pictures of flowers, categorized into 102 flower types. Their results were highly promising, as their model could generate compressed JPEG versions of images in the flower dataset both quickly and efficiency.

The T2CI-GAN model could be used to improve automated image retrieval systems, particularly when sourced images are meant to be easily shared with smartphones or other smart devices. In addition, it could prove to be a valuable tool for media and communications professionals, helping them to retrieve lighter versions of specific images to share on online platforms.

"Currently, the T2CI GAN model produces images only in JPEG compressed form," Javed added. "In our future work, we would like to see whether we can have a general model that can produce images in any compressed form, without any constraint of compression algorithm."

More information: Bulla Rajesh, Nandakishore Dusa, Mohammed Javed, Shiv Ram Dubey, P. Nagabhushan, T2CI-GAN: Text to compressed image generation using generative adversarial network. arXiv:2210.03734v1 [cs.CV], Bulla Rajesh, Nandakishore Dusa, Mohammed Javed, Shiv Ram Dubey, P. Nagabhushan, T2CI-GAN: Text to compressed image generation using generative adversarial network. arXiv:2210.03734v1 [cs.CV], arxiv.org/abs/2210.03734

 2022 Science X Network
Brazos County commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a burn ban, effective immediately, at their weekly meeting Tuesday morning. No outdoor burning is allowed while the ban is in effect.

Jason Ware, deputy emergency management coordinator for Brazos County, told commissioners that three of the countys precinct fire chiefs recommended a ban on outdoor burning.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Irma Cauley motioned to enact the burn ban, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Nancy Berry seconded the motion. Precinct 2 Commissioner Russ Ford voted against the motion.

According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, Grimes, Madison, Leon, Robertson, Walker and Milam counties are under a burn ban as of Tuesday afternoon; Burleson and Lee County are not under a burn ban.
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The threat actor behind a remote access trojan called RomCom RAT has been observed targeting Ukrainian military institutions as part of a new spear-phishing campaign that commenced on October 21, 2022.

The development marks a shift in the attacker's modus operandi, which has been previously attributed to spoofing legitimate apps like Advanced IP Scanner and pdfFiller to drop backdoors on compromised systems.

"The initial 'Advanced IP Scanner' campaign occurred on July 23, 2022," the BlackBerry research and intelligence team said. "Once the victim installs a Trojanized bundle, it drops RomCom RAT to the system."

While previous iterations of the campaign involved the use of trojanized Advanced IP Scanner, the unidentified adversarial collective has since switched to pdfFiller as of October 20, indicating an active attempt on part of the adversary to refine tactics and thwart detection.

These lookalike websites host a rogue installer package that results in the deployment of the RomCom RAT, which is capable of harvesting information and capturing screenshots, all of which is exported to a remote server.

The adversary's latest activity directed against the Ukrainian military is a departure in that it employs a phishing email with an embedded link as an initial infection vector, leading to a fake website dropping the next stage downloader.

This downloader, signed using a valid digital certificate from "Blythe Consulting sp. z o.o." for an extra layer of evasion, is then used to extract and run the RomCom RAT malware. BlackBerry said the same signer is used by the legitimate version of pdfFiller.

Besides the Ukrainian military, other targets of the campaign include IT companies, food brokers, and food manufacturing entities in the U.S., Brazil, and the Philippines.

"This campaign is a good example of the blurred line between cybercrime-motivated threat actors and targeted attack threat actors," Dmitry Bestuzhev, threat researcher at BlackBerry, told The Hacker News.

"In the past, both groups acted independently, relying on different tooling. Today, targeted attack threat actors rely more on traditional tooling, making attribution harder."
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, 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 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 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.
Three Florida men were arrested last week as part of an investigation into beef and pork being stolen from packaging plants in the Midwest.

Some of the beef stolen originated at the JBS beef plant in Grand Island, said Capt. Dean Elliott of the Grand Island Police Department.

On June 27, the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office began an investigation into several stolen semi-trailers and loads of frozen beef occurring in Nebraska, including Lancaster County. The Lancaster County Sheriffs office described the theft ring as a sophisticated and highly organized criminal enterprise.

In the initial investigation, the estimated loss was $1 million. Since June of 2021 the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Omaha has identified approximately 45 thefts that have occurred across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin totaling $9 million in loss. It has been determined through the investigation, led by the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and HSI-Omahas Major Crimes Task Force, that the criminal enterprise is based in Miami, and has been targeting beef and pork packaging plants in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

On Oct. 20, HSI Omaha, the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, with assistance from HSI Miami El Dorado Task Force South, identified and arrested three principal targets in the enterprise, recovering three tractor trailers with stolen merchandise valued at $550,000. The three people that were arrested were Yoslany Leyva Del Sol, Ledier Machin Andino and Delvis L. Fuentes, all from the Miami area. The three were arrested under statutes dealing with the transportation of stolen goods and money laundering.

The Hall County Sheriffs Department has also been involved in the investigation.

Elliott believes beef was taken from York and Fremont, as well as Grand Island.

Some of the semis taken from Grand Island ended up in Lancaster County, Elliott said. In one case, a trailer from Grand Island was recovered in Lancaster County, but the meat was gone, Elliott said.

Since the summer began, the theft of four or five semis has been reported to Hall County law enforcement. Two of the trailers were recovered near Doniphan, Elliott said. But the beef was also gone in that case.
Ukraine needs 4 bln euros to go through winter season: minister

Xinhua) 11:32, October 26, 2022

KIEV, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine needs 4 billion euros (about 3.97 billion U.S. dollars) to go through the winter cold season, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov.

"We need four billion euros to get through this winter -- to renovate houses, to support health care and energy supplies," Chernyshov said at the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine in Berlin, Germany.

Besides, Ukraine lacks backup equipment for water and power supply, such as mobile water purification stations, mobile heating stations, diesel generators and electric heaters, the minister said.

Ukraine is facing an energy crisis ahead of the winter cold season due to the conflict with Russia that started on Feb. 24.

On Oct. 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia's attacks had destroyed about 30 percent of Ukraine's power stations, causing massive blackouts across the country.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
A statewide aluminum shortage means Hall County residents getting new license plates starting in January may not get their same plate numbers again.

Sen. Curt Friesen was invited to Tuesdays Hall County Board of Commissioners meeting by Commissioner Gary Quandt to address this issue, which will affect 13 counties.

Friesen, D-34, is chair of the Nebraska Legislatures Transportation & Telecommunications Committee.

Quandt shared the concerns of his constituents who want to keep their plate numbers, such as Larry Rauert, who Quandt had also invited to Tuesdays meeting.

Friesen called it an unforeseen issue and explained to Quandt that the situation is out of the states hands.

Its unfortunate that these counties have this problem. I recognize that. But theres really nothing legislatively that can be done, even if they wanted to, he said. I just dont see a path unless we really want to pony up a lot of dollars to try to fix this, but I dont see it happening.

Quandt made a motion that a letter be sent to Gov. Pete Ricketts letting the governor know our concerns, as far as license plates and that we have people concerned that theyre not going to get their same license plate number.

The motion did not receive a second and died.

Commissioner Scott Sorensen called it a waste of county resources and argued such a letter would more than likely fall on deaf ears.

Commissioner Jane Richardson argued that it could result in everyone going to alpha-numeric plates, as mandated in Douglas County and Lancaster County.

Friesen refuted the idea that people could get a personalized license plate, costing $40, with their current license plate number on it.

You can order personalized license plates but you cannot choose the same number you would have gotten otherwise, he said. Because if you could do that, I could suddenly choose to have a personalized plate with your number on it and thats not possible.

For Nebraskas alpha-numeric counties, license plates are printed in advance of January, explained Friesen.

They take the number of registered vehicles in a county, they add 2% to it, and thats how many plates they print, he said. They started printing those obviously because theres not much change there.

Hall County Treasurer Alaina Verplank told the board Tuesday that 20,700 plates for the first quarter of 2023 have been ordered, and 10,100 passenger plates.

Right now, I have under 1,700 passenger plates left, she said. When I run out of those, the state isnt going to keep making the (2017) series plates for me to issue next year, theyre only going to make the 2023 series.

Verplank, who addressed the shortage at the boards Oct. 11 meeting, offered some optimism.

Who is to say that next week we dont get our full supply of aluminum at the state and we get our full order that we need? she said. That would be amazing, and we may not. It may only affect a few people. Its not going to affect everybody. We will try the best that we can to accommodate everyone.

Commissioner Butch Hurst asked if a swap could be done.

We used to be able to reissue plates. If your mom passed away and you wanted her plates, we could pass it down to you. In 2017, that stopped, so we cant reissue plates to new owners of vehicles. We would not be able to do that, said Verplank.

Quandts guest, Larry Rauert, told the board how his family has had the same plate number for almost 100 years.

Nebraska has been issuing license plates since 1915.

It may not be a state law that Im guaranteed these plates, he said, however, when you have something thats been in your family for 100 years, as the story is ... Thats a lot of history. It would be very disappointing.

He added, I appreciate your efforts. I appreciate the senators comments. I just hope theres some resolution that happens.

Commissioner Pam Lancaster said it is not a big issue unless it affects you.

Some people did treat their license plate like a personal license plate because our treasurers have been so tremendously wonderful about doing that deed for their constituents, she said. It isnt always easy to teach mature dogs new tricks. So Ill have to memorize a new plate, no doubt.
Healthy Blue Nebraska made a special visit to the Career Pathways Institute at the Academies of Grand Island Senior High with one goal in mind: Presenting the Automotive Pathway with a $30,000 donation.

A seemingly uncanny pairing that makes all the sense in the world.

As they provide support across the state, Healthy Blue Nebraska saw an opportunity within the GISH Automotive Pathway to make a unique helpful impact.

Healthy Blues mission is to help out in the community wherever we can, wherever we see a need. And right now were seeing a big transportation need and were just trying to fill-in that gap in different parts of Nebraska. said Audrey Recheleau, Healthy Blue community rep. We saw this transportation need and saw a great opportunity to partner with Grand Island Public Schools to help fill that gap.

The $30,000 will go a long way for the juniors and seniors who will work on vehicles for families in need.

We will continue the work of servicing our communitys automobiles and expanding our students learning. said D.W. Holley, GISH Academy of Technical Sciences principal. This will help defray the cost involved with materials needed to provide the services at little to no cost for our customers. What our students receive in return is the experience to grow in their skills as auto and diesel technicians.

The GISH Automotive Pathway is nested under the umbrella of the Academy of Technical Sciences and is housed at the Career Pathways Institute. Over 60 Juniors and seniors in the pathway will have an opportunity to contribute to the work directly impacted by the Healthy Blue Nebraska donation. Specifically, families in need.

More importantly, the partnership speaks to the power of community collaboration and the role public education can play in that regard.

Its a huge impact, Holley said. This allows our students to take on more projects, more complex projects, it opens it up a little bit more as we help serve needs for our community and for families that need it most.

Nebraska Sen. Raymond Aguilar was even on-site for the presentation. When interacting with a few students, he commended their work mentioning they had much to be proud of.

Students or families in need of automotive repair support may connect with the program through the Project Connect social workers at Grand Island Senior High or call the CPI front desk at 308-385-5601.

Supporting the community and expanding student opportunities  its a win-win, the school district said.
'Swatting' Incidents

Reports: Rash of Fake Active Shooter Calls Have Impacted Nearly 200 Schools This Semester

Nearly 200 schools in 28 states have been targeted by hoax active shooter calls since the beginning of the school year, according to investigations published this week by NPR and Wired.

Between Sept. 13 and last Friday, Oct. 21, NPR reported it counted local news reports of 182 different schools receiving false calls about such threats  each prompting a so-called swatting response wherein law enforcement, guns drawn, swarms the location where the crime is allegedly in progress.

NPR and Wired reported that many of the hoax calls are coming from a VoIP or internet-based phone account tied to internet protocol servers in Ethiopia, and that fewer than a dozen phone numbers were used in in a majority of the swatting incidents targeting schools.

Local and state law enforcement are investigating the incidents, and the FBI did not respond to reporters inquiries whether it is also involved in the investigations. However, Wired obtained a copy of an FBI memo sent in October to schools in New York in which the agency describes a single subject  a male with a heavy accent described as Middle Eastern or African  behind many of these hoax calls.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety told Wired that at least 26 schools in the state have received false reports of bomb threats or active shootings from the same individual or group since March. Scores of schools in New Jersey, Florida, California, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Connecticut have been targeted in the past three weeks, Wired reported on Monday.

The rash of hoax swatting incidents have sent hundreds of schools nationwide into lockdown unnecessarily, costing lost instructional time, and costing taxpayers for the wasted law enforcement response time, as well.

School surveillance provider TDR Technology Solutions provided a recent report to Wired in which CEO estimated over a million students have been impacted by the hoax swatting incidents between Aug. 1 and Oct. 6. The hoax calls, his report claims, have cost taxpayers more than $31 million in lost instructional time, Wired reported.

Learn more by reading the full reports by NPR and Wired.
CARBONDALE  Rex Budde, president and CEO of Southern Illinois Healthcare, spoke to 130 congressional staff members, hospital leaders and health care system officials about the financial shape of hospitals during a virtual town hall briefing sponsored by the American Hospital Association. Budde and others urged Congress and the Senate to help combat the rising financial issues within the U.S. health care system.

Budde was one of three health system leaders who testified during the briefing. The others were Malisha Patel, senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land hospitals in Texas, and Kate Walsh, president and CEO of Boston Medical Center Health System.

Budde said health care looks a lot like it always has, but the business of health care is incredibly stressed financially.

There was this perception that the worst of COVID is behind us, everythings going to be fine and go back to normal. That was the perception at the state and federal levels, and many peoples perception, Budde said. What they didnt understand is that the action of the staffing agencies have completely disrupted historical relationships between staff and hospitals.

Using agency nurses is not new for SIH. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, SIH paid $75 per hour for an agency nurse. During the pandemic, they paid $230 per hour for that same agency nurse. He noted that the nurse does not get that entire cost. The agency takes a good portion of it.

I believe the agencies manipulated the pandemic and grossly raised their fees, Budde said, adding that they used their relationship to take staff out of the hospitals.

Hospitals now need to pay those nurses the agency wages so they will work their former jobs. Budde said the hospitals have to find nurses somewhere. Still, SIH is paying $130 to $140 per hour for agency nurses.

We cant afford that debt. The industry is losing billions  literally billions of dollars, Budde said.

He said Kauffman-Hall did a study that looked at the cost of running hospitals in 2022 versus 2021. They projected that the cost has increased by $135 billion.

Its a staggering, staggering number, Budde said.

While Budde understands the motivation of nurses to go to an agency job at a personal level, he believes there is a disconnect to what those agencies have done to hospitals. Their rates are unaffordable.

In Illinois, four or five obstetrics units have closed because OB units lose money. Blessing Hospital closed its hospital in Keokuk, Iowa. Other hospitals have closed their intensive care units.

Were going to see less access to health care in this country, Budde said.

SIH is doing what it can. A $200 million capital plan has been put on the shelf.

Budde said Memorial Hospital of Carbondale could stand to get a new emergency department because of the trauma center and growth. That was a big part of the expansion plan.

Another big component of their intended expansion is a new neurology center. They would bring neurologists and staff in different locations and create the center, like they have done for heart or cancer..

Were still trying to figure out how to do that, but its much more difficult, Budde said. Patients want state of the art. They want attractive facilities. They want us to create a better experience for them.

Budde said that will have to be delayed.

That not only affects SIH as the largest employer in the region, it also affects other industries like construction workers who build hospital facilities.

Budde also addressed some rumors about SIH: SIH is not buying University Mall, they are not bankrupt, and BJC is not purchasing SIH.

Budde said their mission still remains despite losing money and staff. Their mission is as follows:

SIH is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all the people in the communities we serve.
CARBONDALE  The Local Liquor Control Commission met at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening at Carbondale Civic Center, followed by the Carbondale City Council meeting.

The liquor commission granted an on-premises secondary use restaurant liquor license with an outdoor service rider to A Better Egg LLC, doing business as Sunny Street Cafe.

The city council was called to order at 6:08 p.m.

The council heard a report from Finance Director Jeff Davis on the tax revenue provided by the citys home rule status and projected real estate tax levy for fiscal year 2023.

The City of Carbondale could lose the following revenue if they lose home rule:

Home Rule Sales Tax, $10,148,824, and Municipal Motor Fuel Tax, $728,200, both go into the General and Local Improvement Fund.

Municipal hotel-motel taxes, $344,086; rental registration fees, $268,000; gaming machine fees, $64,100; animal registration fees, $7,000; and transient merchant fees, $300; all go into the General Fund.

Package Liquor Tax, $525,000; Food and Beverage Tax, $1,600,000; Miscellaneous, $10,000; all go into the package liquor and food and beverage tax fund.

Internal fund transfers of $5,435,909 go into the Debt/Service and Local Improvement Funds.

Currently, the City of Carbondale levies a total real estate tax of $1,035,289, which is 2.67% or $28,000 lower than the real estate tax levy in 1999. The current real estate tax levy is used entirely to fund a portion of public safety pensions.

Davis said if the city loses home rule it would need to increase its budget by $14.6 million to keep providing all the services the city has now. That would increase property taxes on a home valued at $100,000 by approximately $1,400 to $1,500.

If the city were to lose its home rule authority then it would need to either cut services desired by the community or increase real estate taxes to cover the ongoing cost of municipal operations funded by taxes and fees generated via the home rule authority. Should the council desire to maintain all existing services and maintain all funds consistent with the FY23 budget, the real estate tax levy would need to increase by approximately $14,600,000.

If we get rid of home rule revenue, were going to struggle, Davis said.

City Manager Gary Williams said real estate taxes would need to go up 14.25% to cover the lost revenue. That increase would raise the real estate tax on a $100,000 home by approximately $1,400 per year. The city currently only receives $110 from each homes real estate tax.

Taxes will go up 5% a year and you will have less services, Williams said. You will lose your fire department and have a volunteer fire department.

Councilman Jeff Doherty said it would set the city back 50 years.

The numbers show the city losing home rule would be a disaster, Don Monty said.

He added that he keeps getting postcards from an organization in Springfield that say losing home rule will keep property taxes down, but the opposite is true.

The city would also lose about $1 million in funding it provides for community organizations, like Good Samaritan Ministries, the Warming Center and Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois.

Ashley Gibson gave a report on city funded housing programs. Those are the Single Family Housing Conversion Program, Down Payment Assistance, Curb Appeal grants and the Downtown Upper Story Conversion Program.

The city has approved 41 applications in the four programs and has three applications pending, for a total of $146,091.77.

The council also amended the ordinance on registering vacant properties to give homes for sale by a licensed realtor a longer time to register. Homes for sale are required to register as vacant after 120 days. Other vacant buildings must register within 90 days.

The council approved an ordinance to rezone one acre of property at 4175 Boskydell Road from general agriculture to R-1-15, low density residential. The owners of the property want to install solar panels and this is required for them to complete the project.
Few things mean as much to a child as a safe, comfortable bed. Dozens of local kids who have not had the privilege of a nice place to sleep before are getting new beds thanks to a not-for-profit, dozens of volunteers and a Mount Vernon motorcycle dealership.

Saturdays Bed Build effort at Roadhouse Harley-Davidson resulted in the construction of 50 beds to be given  complete with mattresses and bedding  to children and teens who, for a variety of reasons, do not have a bed. The building and delivery of beds is a project of the Salem chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national organization. The beds are given away, completely free of charge.

What we do is take donations and then we build beds for kids that dont have beds from the ages of 3 to 17, explained Kevin Rakers, president of the chapter which serves Clinton, Jefferson and Marion Counties.

Rakers said so far in this calendar year his group has given away more than 200 beds.

Our motto is No kid sleeps in the floor in our town, and thats what we are hoping to accomplish, he explained.

The organization receives requests for beds from a number of sources including the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, foster care agencies, churches and individuals.

He oversaw more than 50 volunteers from Roadhouse Harley-Davidson, area churches, civic groups and community members in the construction of beds. Volunteers ranged from kindergarteners to those in their 70s.

We started at 10 a.m. and when we left Saturday afternoon just a few hours later, we had 50 twin bed sets ready to be delivered, Rakers said. On build day, we take regular hard pine lumber and cut them, sand them and drill them. We put the headboards, footboards and side rails together and the headboards get an S.H.P. brand. We stain them all and once the stain dries we load them up to go to our warehouse and from there, delivery to the kiddos.

Rakers said often the lumber is donated and mattresses as well. He added that church groups and businesses often contribute bedding sets and pillows to make a complete bed.

Roadhouse Harley-Davidson General Merchandise Manager Chelsea Heck said the dealership routinely hosts fundraiser cookouts for charitable organizations, but the bed build was different.

We talked about doing a cookout, but then things just grew and we decided to do an on-site build. Weve got room here at the dealership and its been a really cool thing, she said.

Rakers said dozens of volunteers gave of their time and effort.

I think people like to help because its being part of something good and it touches their hearts, he said. Every child deserves a nice place to sleep  a safe place of their own  and I guess everybody wants to make sure that we are able to see our mission through.
On Jan. 6, 2021, lame-duck President Donald Trump wasn't just dog-whistling Dixie when he proclaimed to the crowd gathered to protest certification of 2020's presidential votes: "We will never give up, we will never concede."

Almost two years later, as the House select committee finally got around to subpoenaing Trump in its investigation of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the former president remains true to that vow. In a scathing 14-page letter Thursday denouncing the committee's findings, Trump cited a string of irrelevant historical antecedents as though they somehow validate his unique take on reality.

In one harrumph, Trump charged that no incumbent president since 1960 had failed to win the general election after winning Iowa, Florida and Ohio. The thing is, there was no incumbent presidential candidate in 1960. Dwight D. Eisenhower had been president for two terms leading up to 1960, but the battle for the White House was between Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon.

Trump also claimed that he couldn't have lost to Joe Biden because he won more votes in 2020 than he did in 2016. Say again? "Since 1888, no incumbent President has gained votes and lost reelection," he wrote. "I received many millions more votes in 2020 than I did in 2016, unheard of in our political History."

The thing is, of course, Biden received more millions than Trump did  81.3 million votes to Trump's 74.2 million. It is true that Trump won more votes than any other presidential candidate in history  except for Biden. So, Biden is the record holder, and Trump, apparently, is not real good at math. Did his lawyers vet his letter? (Don't answer that.)

The narcissistic injury known as "Trump Lost" has kept the former reality show celebrity busy with conspiracies  of election fraud, QAnon absurdity and, recently, the court-authorized confiscation of classified documents from his Palm Beach home. Conspiracy, it would seem, is in Trump's bones. Wherever unhappy truth raises its head, Trump is sure to see a conspiracy against him. Sometimes, to be fair, he might have a point. There was an awful lot of nonsense circulating for a while  from the debunked Russia dossier to allegations of him paying off a porn star in exchange for her silence about their affair.

Oh, wait, the second part was true. And, as you likely recall, there was much, much more. At least no one ever accused him of running a pedophile ring out of a pizza joint.

American politics has become so silly, our country would be a sitcom if not for the seriousness of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In his letter to the committee, Trump scolded the squandering of "millions of dollars" to reach the conclusion that he was the central character in the attacks. Clearly, he was  and is.

Still, credit the committee with showing this: Through documents and testimony, it demonstrated that Trump knew he had lost the election even as he repeated the lie that he won and, on Jan. 6, agitated the protesters. Cassidy Hutchinson, an aide to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, was shown recounting how Trump told Meadows: "I don't want people to know we lost, Mark. This is embarrassing. Figure it out." Doesn't that say it all? Even as he watched the melee unfold on TV, while congressional leaders scrambled for safety, Trump resisted pleas to tell the mob to stand down. The committee also found that Trump's campaign team began planting seeds for claims of election fraud before the votes were even counted. Just in case.

So, here we are, again, faced with that essential Trump question: Is he delusional, believing the effluvia that runs from his brain to his mouth without braking? Or, as now seems truer than ever, is he crazy like a fox?

I vote for both. Before becoming president of the United States, Trump was always able to Do Trump, and it worked for him. He could bend reality to his own wishes; if he said something, it was true. "The Apprentice" was nothing but a continuous commercial for Trump. The ruder he was, the more certain Americans admired him. If something didn't go his way in real life, he sued.

And if he lost an election, well, he figured he'd just steal it back.

But that dog don't hunt, as his Southern fans would say, in a democratic republic with checks and balances and the rule of law. Trump was delusional to think otherwise. But he's not stupid. Wily-but-weird might be the best we can ever do in defining Trump. Thanks to the committee, we know that Trump was behind everything that has transpired since the election  just don't expect him to ever come clean. The thing is, you see, he'll never give up; never concede.
Honestly, Tony, my first instinct was to ignore you.

Thats become my go-to when readers ask me, as you did in a recent email, to prove to their satisfaction that, Republicans are keeping Black people from voting. When I didnt respond promptly enough, you said this strengthened your feeling that this is a fabricated issue with no real merit.

Lord, where to begin? Tony, Im not your research assistant. Moreover, theres this new invention called Google, which, with a few keystrokes, can point you to the arguments I and others have made about GOP voter suppression. If, that is, you really want to know. I dont think you do.

And as I say, Id have deleted your email except that it roughly coincided with the release last week of a heart-rending video by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times of Florida ex-felons being arrested for alleged voter fraud. This, courtesy of Gov. Ron DeSantis so-called Office of Election Crimes and Security, a force putatively tasked with combating voter fraud.

Except, of course, that theres virtually no such thing in this country  certainly not of such magnitude as to sway an election, much less justify a strike force. So Gov. DeFascists election cops are but the latest GOP effort to suppress opposition voting. Otherwise, theyd have to face the fact that they are simply not very popular: losers of seven of the last eight presidential popular votes, stranded on the short end of public opinion on everything from guns to LGBTQ rights to abortion. If they couldnt cheat, they couldnt win.

The video puts a human face on that treachery. Even the cops seem embarrassed to find themselves handcuffing these hapless and confused people  Oh, my God one woman keeps saying  who voted only after being given voter registration cards by the state. Thirteen of the 19 people thus far arrested are Black, a proportion that should surprise no one. And if you think this will not have  or is intended to have  a chilling effect on voter turnout, Ive got tickets to the Winter Olympics in Key West, and you can have them cheap.

None of this is offered in hopes of swaying you, Tony. Youll believe whatever you find most convenient.

No, my only object here is to express the exhausted frustration one feels as an African American with people constantly asking you to prove racism to them  like its some UFO hoax, like youre an unreliable witness to your own experience, like you dont know what you know, havent seen what youve seen or lived what youve lived. Its a recurring theme. Someone always seems ready to inform us that what seems terrible, really isnt.

In the slavery era, they told us how pleased African Americans were with being property. In the Jim Crow era, they said African Americans were content with being terrorized by the Klan. In the Civil Rights era, they said African Americans were happy to be served from the back door of the restaurant. Some of us never saw the evil in any of that.

Now here you are, asking for help to see the evil in policies which, to quote a North Carolina court, target Black voting rights with almost surgical precision. Theres always someone who doesnt get it. And its almost always because ultimately, they really dont want to. Getting it, after all, would upset the moral apple cart. It would require work theyd prefer not to do and knowledge theyd prefer not to have. So they ask disingenuous questions instead.

Sorry, Tony, but youll have to take that elsewhere. Dont ask me for answers we both know you do not want.
Orangeburg

Department

of Public Safety

A masked gunman broke into a motel room and stole a tattoo artists tools, according to a police incident report.

The incident occurred at the Town Terrace Inn, located at 630 Five Chop Road, around 9:15 p.m. Monday.

The people in the room heard someone knocking on the door.

One of the men opened the door and attempted to leave, but the gunman pushed the door open and entered the room, the report said.

Once in the room, the gunman raised a pistol as if he was pointing it at others in the room.

One of the men in the room said he slapped the gun down and was able to overpower the gunman, forcing him out of the room.

Witnesses claim the gunman continued to bam on the door.

As some point, the tattoo artist left a bag of tools outside of the door.

The gunman took the bag and left, the report said.

The bag of tools is valued at $80.

In an unrelated report, a man alleges he was threatened by the boyfriend of the person he carpools with.

The man said he went to a Malibu Drive apartment at 5:20 a.m. Tuesday to get a ride.

He knocked on the door, but the residents boyfriend allegedly answered the door and pointed a .38-caliber special revolver at him.

He claims the boyfriend said, On my kids, I will blow off your head, before firing a round in the air.

The man walked away toward his mothers house, but looked back at the apartment.

The boyfriend allegedly pointed an AR-15 at him saying, I will shoot you, boy repeatedly, the man claims.

Investigators are reviewing possible video recorded on nearby city cameras.

Orangeburg County

Sheriffs Office

An Orangeburg woman reported on Tuesday that someone stole her black and army green 9 mm Taurus G2C handgun from her Presidential Drive apartment.

The gun is valued at $350.
A 56-year-old Orangeburg man is serving a 10-year prison term for shooting his wife in the neck and her sister in the hand.

During a recent term of court, Marion Kenneth Hampton, of 102 Sonic Drive, pleaded guilty to first-degree domestic violence, first-degree degree assault and battery and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Hampton was originally charged with two counts of attempted murder, but he pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature instead.

Circuit Judge Roger M. Young sentenced Hampton 10 years in prison, giving him credit for having already served 899 days at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

He also ordered Hampton to complete a batterers treatment program.

Hamptons wife told Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office deputies that she and her sister were lying in bed at 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2020.

Hampton came home, stormed into the bedroom and started to argue, an incident report states. He demanded to know where his wife and her sister had been all day.

Orangeburg shooting victim identified A 33-year-old man has been identified as the person found slain a vehicle near Orangeburgs spray park.

Hampton began to scream and yell after his wife told him that they had been home all day.

Hampton pulled out a revolver and shot his wife in the neck.

She put her arms up to defend herself, and Hampton fired again and a bullet went through her left palm.

The womans sister screamed and tried to defend her and Hampton fired again. A bullet grazed the womans sister on her left thumb.

Hamptons first-degree domestic violence charge stems from an April 10, 2019 incident. He was on bond for that offense when he shot his wife and her sister.

In other recent guilty pleas:

 Brandy Elicia Anderson, 44, of 3770 Bochette Boulevard, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense distribution of methamphetamine.

Young sentenced her to 37 days in jail and gave her credit for time served.

 Ashley Nicole Armstrong, 30, of 108 Hatchery Hill Road, Cordova, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-offense possession of cocaine and one count each of first-offense failure to stop for blue lights and possession of a stolen vehicle valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

Young sentenced her to five years in prison, suspended to two years of probation.

As part of her probation term, Armstrong is required to complete inpatient substance abuse treatment and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

Prosecutors dismissed the following charges: first-offense possession of a controlled substance, use of vehicle without permission with intent to deprive owner, first-offense possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine/cocaine base, grand larceny valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, reckless driving, malicious injury to real property valued $2,000 or less and two counts of third or subsequent offense driving under suspension license not suspended for driving under the influence.

 Samuel Clark Boone, 60, of 176 Bethlehem Circle, Leesville, pleaded guilty to first-offense possession of less than one gram of cocaine base.

Young sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended to one year of probation.

He also ordered Boone to complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

 Ketrone Devontea Bradley, 26, of 1527 Reeves Branch Road, Branchville, pleaded guilty to hit-and-run resulting in minor personal injury, possession of a stolen vehicle valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, obtaining signature under false pretenses valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 and breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued at $2,000 or less.

Young sentenced him to 191 days in prison and gave him credit for time served.

Prosecutors dismissed his charge of first-offense driving without a license.

 Andrew Lennard Brown, 41, of 522 Boltin Avenue, North, pleaded guilty to first-offense failure to stop for blue light, first-offense possession of cocaine and first-offense DUI less than .10.

Brown was originally charged with second-offense DUI less than .10 but he pleaded guilty to first-offense DUI less than .10 instead.

Young sentenced him to three years in prison, provided that after he serves 90 days, the remainder of his sentence would be suspended to one year of probation.

He gave Brown credit for having already served two days in jail.
HOLLY HILL  For about 30 minutes on Oct. 21, a U.S. flag with a unique history flew at the Holly Hill Town Hall municipal complex.

This means a lot not just for the town, but for the county and the state of South Carolina, Holly Hill Mayor Billy Chavis said.

This is part of history, he added.

The flag once flew over the rubble of the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, just days following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The flag was also taken by U.S. Army troops on three tours in Iraq.

It now visits various places throughout the U.S. and will be donated to a museum in 2026, said John Sullivan of Virginia, the flags caretaker.

Its in our possession, but it truly belongs to America, said Sullivan, founder of the Ground Zero Flag Team.

Escorting the flag to Holly Hill on Oct. 21 were runners with Run for the Fallen.

The runners were part of a three-day, 122-mile run from Charleston to Columbia.

The first day of the run began at Liberty Square on Concord Street in Charleston and ended in Holly Hill.

The second day stretched from Holly Hill to St. Matthews.

The final day of the run was from St. Matthews to Columbia.

One of the runners was Christopher Sutton of Brooklet, Ga.

Sutton said his uncle, who lived in South Carolina, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was killed seven days after he was supposed to come home from war in 1969.

When my family was dealing with this, we didnt have anything like this. In doing the national run and several state runs, Ive just seen what it means to families whove experienced loss, Sutton said.

The Patriot Guard Riders in South Carolina assisted in handing the flag to the Holly Hill Police Department, which hoisted the flag on the flagpole at town hall.

The Orangeburg County Fire District and Holly Hill Fire Department were also at the event.

Sullivan, who was interviewed by phone, said he and his wife owned a flag business in New Jersey when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

Sullivan provided a 3-foot-by-5-foot flag to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department for display at its temporary headquarters at ground zero.

Then on Nov. 20, 2001, the Port Authority PD replaced the flag with an 8-foot-by-12-foot flag and gave the smaller flag to Sullivan.

Sullivan said the flag shop became a place where the community gathered in the weeks that followed.

An officer at ground zero found a marble cross in the rubble and gave it to Sullivan.

The marble cross, flag and a log book travel together throughout the country to remind people of the sacrifices Americans made in the war on terrorism, Sullivan said.
Like so many of us right now, Ive got Georgia on my mind.

As I write this, Ive just gotten back from meeting with Black ministers who are working nonstop to get out the vote across the state. And with good reason, because theres just no other way to say it -- Georgia is ground zero for the future of our democracy in this midterm election.

Control of the Senate could hinge on whether the Rev. Raphael Warnock can keep his Senate seat or is defeated by Herschel Walker, a familiar former athlete who has become a far-right extremist. Depending on who gains a Senate majority, the rest of the Biden-Harris administration agenda is either on track or dead on arrival in Congress.

The governors race features an incumbent MAGA diehard, Brian Kemp, vs. Stacey Abrams. I have written about Stacey and our decades-long friendship before. No one is more committed to civil rights and greater opportunity for Georgians than Stacey. Re-electing Kemp would be a disaster, not just for Georgians, but for a country in which MAGA schemers are looking to capture as many states as possible to advance their reactionary agenda.

Kemps record is appalling. In a state with a large share of uninsured Black Americans, including high numbers of Black children, Kemp has refused to expand Medicaid so that more Georgians could have health care.

He signed a law making it easier for just about anybody, including dangerous white supremacists, to carry concealed weapons.

His administration has cut state contracts with Black businesses, and is responsible for denying unemployment claims for twice as many Black workers as White workers.

Kemp recently signed an anti-choice law so extreme that women who have miscarriages could be arrested. Women who terminate pregnancies could be charged with murder.

The MAGA folks in Georgia know the coalition of Black voters and young voters who made history in 2020 wont vote for this agenda. Those voters changed the course of the nation when they went for Joe Biden and Senate candidates Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

The MAGA Far Right went crazy, and they made Georgia the home of some of the worst voter-suppression laws in the country since the original Jim Crow. One of those even made it illegal to give snacks and water to voters waiting in long lines. All of that was for one reason: to stop people, mostly Black people, from voting in the next big election. And that election is now.

We cant stand by and let that happen. Black voters have the power to decide the election in Georgia, which will probably decide the future of our country in some ways we can predict and others we cant. This is especially true for Black men, who still dont vote in the high percentages Black women do. Black men in Georgia have to come out to the polls this year.

It doesnt surprise me that once again, Georgia is so central to Black American history. It has been that way for as long as weve had a history. Every time I visit, Im moved by it. That sense of a momentous past is everywhere, mixed with the New South energy that makes the state such a unique place. Meeting with Georgians this time, I could feel the deep commitment to moving the state forward instead of back. That fills me with hope.

The eyes of the country  and even the world  are on Georgia this fall, and I believe Georgia will make us proud.
(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.
BEIRUT  Several buses of Syrian refugee families were repatriated Wednesday morning from different areas in Lebanon, including Nabatieh, Tripoli and Arsal, a town in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, L'Orient Today's local correspondents and the state-run National News Agency reported.

According to the NNA, the intelligence branch of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces (ISF) accompanied a bus Wednesday morning from Nabatieh to the General Security branch at the Masnaa Border Crossing on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Bekaa Valley.

Separately, 12 Syrian refugees were repatriated on Wednesday from the al-Aboudiyeh Border Crossing in North Lebanon after taking off from Tripoli, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the area reported.

In Arsal, another group returned to Syria, caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar told L'Orient Today Wednesday morning. "This is a purely national day," Hajjar was quoted as saying Wednesday by the NNA. "The processions of voluntary trips to the Lebanese-Syrian border point have begun," Hajjar reportedly said. "There are other [repatriation] groups, and we will continue."

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar told L'Orient Today that the majority of the returnees from Arsal are going back to the Qalamoun, a region bordering the border with Lebanon, on the Syrian slopes of the Anti-Lebanon mountains. "Those whose houses there were destroyed have their tents to live in," Hajjar said.

He explained that because it is the first day of repatriation, "there are some logistical issues going on which limit the amount of returnees." According to him, around 1,000 people had left Arsal. Hajjar also said that some people were prevented from going back because of legal issues with the Syrian authorities. "These issues will be settled. If not, the concerned refugees won't be sent back," Hajjar said.

According to Reuters, some 700 Syrians who had agreed to cross over gathered early Wednesday morning in a remote northeastern border zone.

Last Friday, caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Charafeddine said 6,000 Syrian refugees would be repatriated on Wednesday in three separate convoys.

However, rights groups have criticized the returns as potentially dangerous. In enthusiastically facilitating these returns, the Lebanese authorities are knowingly putting Syrian refugees at risk of suffering from heinous abuse, human rights watchdog Amnesty International said earlier this month, decrying the plan despite its apparent emphasis on voluntary return.

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim responded to international criticisms on Tuesday, claiming the trips are in the interest of the Lebanese people.

Syrian refugees in Lebanon have reported faced discriminatory practices including arrests at checkpoints  raids on camps, adoption of stricter movement rules, and tensions between host and refugee communities, the Access Center for Human Rights, a refugees watchdog group in Lebanon, told L'Orient Today in August.

Reporting contributed by Sara Abdallah and Michel Hallak.
Hi, Im Chandler. I make jokes when Im uncomfortable.

Until I was 25, I thought that the only response to I love you was Oh, crap!

Whether youre a Gen-Xer who grew up with the stars of NBCs Emmy-winning series Friends after its 1994 debut or a Zoomer who discovered the show in the streaming era, you can probably guess at the source of these dark witticisms: Could it BE anyone other than Chandler Bing?

What youll find out after reading actor Matthew Perrys harrowing memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, is that such lines are also a case of art imitating life.

I was Chandler, Perry writes in his book, out Nov. 1, explaining that both he and his most famous character have used humor to compensate for their crippling fears, relationship anxieties and self-sabotaging behavior.

Where actor and character diverge is that Chandler finds happiness, marrying Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) and having twins; Perry, by contrast, only recently emerged from decades of intractable addiction, which culminated three years ago in a health crisis he was very lucky to survive.

Perry, 53, writes that he deeply regrets how his drug and alcohol abuse have cost him relationships. Now 18 months sober, he writes, he suffers from auditory hallucinations and will probably have to take Suboxone to treat opioid dependence for the rest of his life. This leaves him, he adds, in a consistent state of anhedonia: a reduced ability to feel pleasure.

With lines like my mind is out to kill me, and I know it, Perry opens a window into the mind of an addict, a place in which the struggle to get sober is a civil war and many battles are lost to relapse.

Its cost him in every way. He writes that he spent more than $7 million trying to get sober. (Perry raised the estimate to $9 million in a recent interview.) His efforts included 15 stints in rehabilitation facilities and one in a mental institution; hypnosis sessions; 6,000 visits to AA and therapy twice a week for 30 years. While shooting an unused bit for Adam McKays 2021 film Dont Look Up, he flew to a Swiss rehab and back on a private jet  $175,000 a pop.

Heres what youll learn from his candid new memoir.

The one that scared him mostly straight

Perry details several near-death experiences. On one occasion, his heart stopped beating for five minutes. Later, he was popping pills laced with fentanyl (and paying $3,000 for them several times a week).

It is very odd to live in a world where if you died, it would shock people but surprise no one, he writes.

But a 2019 incident was his closest call, he writes. He fell into a coma for 14 days after his colon burst. Doctors told his family members he had a 2% chance of survival. I was so full of s it almost killed me, he writes. It turned out to be a life-saving wake-up call. Today, the thought of needing a colostomy bag for life keeps him from using, coupled with the fact that alcohol and opiates simply dont work for me anymore: Even on 1,800 milligrams of opiates a day, he could no longer get high.

The ones who got away

Perry writes that at age 19 he fell in love with Valerie Bertinelli on the set of Sydney. According to him, they shared an elaborate makeout session while Bertinellis husband, rock star Eddie Van Halen, was passed out a few feet away. He also writes that he made out with Gwyneth Paltrow inside a closet. Neither of these dalliances went very far.

One relationship still haunts him to this day. He was together with Rachel Dunn, a woman he met upon crashing her 23rd birthday party, for six years and almost asked her to marry him, but chickened out. All my fears reared up like a snake, he writes. I often think if Id asked, now wed have two kids and a house. Instead, Im some schmuck whos alone in his house at fifty-three.

He also shares an account of a lost love that still hurts  someone he met on a film set in 1999. He fell hard but she ultimately rejected him, making it clear that my drinking was a problem. Perry does not name the woman, though he did star alongside Neve Campbell in 1999s Three to Tango.

More than 20 years later, Perry bought a ring and proposed to a woman while at a Switzerland rehab. But he was high on hydrocodone and later forgot the whole thing. It was months after his coma  still undergoing surgeries and still struggling to get clean. He was desperate and didnt want to be this injured and alone during the peak of the COVID pandemic. Perry doesnt name her, but last year People reported on a broken engagement with literary manager Molly Hurwitz.

The one with Julia Roberts

When Julia Roberts only agreed to appear on Friends if she could be in Chandlers storyline, showrunner Marta Kauffman encouraged Perry to send the actress flowers. That kicked off a romance between the two, according to Perry  beginning with the (so very 1990s) exchange of flirty messages over fax machines. They were already a couple by the time they began filming.

But like the vast majority of Perrys relationships, it ended when he felt he was letting his guard down, reigniting a lifelong fear of abandonment. Perry traces these issues in part to his father leaving the family when Matthew was a baby and his mother was 21.

If I drop my game, my Chandler, and show you who I really am, he writes, you might notice me, but worse, you might notice me and leave me.

The one with Jennifer Aniston

Years before they were both cast in Friends, Perry asked Jennifer Aniston out. She declined, but he would continue to crush badly for her.

The one with the casting gossip

Perry writes that one of his best friends, Hank Azaria of The Simpsons fame, auditioned to play Joey twice. When Matt LeBlanc scored the part, Perry was initially a little jealous of his leading-man looks.

Another close friend, Craig Bierko, a former co-star on Sydney, was first offered the part of Chandler, according to Perry, but turned it down. After Perry was cast and the show became an immediate hit, he says he and Bierko didnt speak for two years.

Landing the part of Chandler saved Perrys life, he writes. Otherwise, it wouldnt have been out of the realms of possibility for him to have ended up on the streets of Downtown L.A. shooting heroin. He writes that heroin was a line he was terrified to cross. It is because of that fear that I am still alive today.

The one with the backstage drama

Perry points out that you can tell how and what he was using throughout the various Friends seasons. First, he dropped 10 pounds of alcohol fat between the pilot and the first episode. His weight fluctuated between 128 and 225 pounds while making the show. If he was carrying weight, it was alcohol abuse. If he was thin, it was pills. If he had a goatee it was lots of pills. By the end of Season 3, he spent most of his time trying to obtain Vicodin  55 pills a day. Sometimes hed go to open houses just to steal some from medicine cabinets.

Although he asserts he was never high while filming Friends, hed often be sick or hungover. Once, Perry passed out on the Central Perk couch and LeBlanc had to nudge him awake to say his line. Later, Aniston called him out for drinking again, telling him, We can smell it. Season 9 was the only year he was completely sober.

THe one where things got worse

Even before Friends wrapped in 2004, addiction was already exacting a toll on Perrys post-TV career. Perry writes that around March 2001, while filming Serving Sara (2002), he was on methadone, Xanax and cocaine and drinking a full quart of vodka a day. He showed up to film a scene, only to realize it had been shot a few days earlier. He shut down the films production (and postponed his Friends scenes) so he could go to a Marina del Rey detox center. He was living in a rehab facility in Malibu when Chandler and Monica tied the knot. As for Serving Sara, he says producers later billed him $650,000 for the breach and dragged him into postproduction to dub over his slurred lines.

Again in rehab around November 2020, his heart stopped after doctors administered propofol that interacted with the hydrocodone in his system. Paramedics saved his life with CPR but broke eight ribs in the process, ultimately costing him scenes with Meryl Streep in Dont Look Up. (Just before the incident he was able to shoot a scene with Jonah Hill, but his scenes were cut from the finished film.)

In recent years, Perrys front teeth fell out while he was biting into a piece of toast. He removed and replaced all his pearly whites.

The one with the fisticuffs

Perry beat up Justin Trudeau when they were kids  well before the latter became Canadas prime minister. Perrys Canadian mother was the press secretary for Justins father, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and little Matthew resented the time she spent at work.

Years later, he was set up on a date with Cameron Diaz after she stopped seeing Justin Timberlake. Diaz got immediately stoned and accidentally punched Perry in the face, he writes.

Also, he accidentally hit his own idol, Chevy Chase, in the balls.

The one with hope

Perry has been mostly sober since 2001, save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps. He would give up his fame and wealth in a heartbeat to not have a brain that wants [him] dead. But hes slowly acquiring a taste for reality and is determined to figure out his purpose.

There is a reason Im still here. And figuring out why is the task that has been put in front of me.


Acknowledgement of the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Wyoming has created momentum for a new alert system for at-risk missing adults.

The tool being pursued, called the Ashanti alert system, would not necessarily require a change in statute to implement. Nevertheless, the Wyoming Legislatures Select Committee on Tribal Relations voted 4-1 last week to advance a bill to integrate federal, tribal and local law enforcement agencies under a common Amber-alert like system. Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, who co-chairs the committee, said she favors putting the missing adult alert system in statute so that it has the force of law and cannot be ignored.

I would like to see this alert up and running  I wish it was already up and running  but how do we make sure that it, first of all, gets done by our agencies, and then in the future doesnt slip through the cracks? Ellis said.

Ellis made those remarks in response to questions of whether a statutory approach was the right one. Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, voted against the bill out of concern that a legislative approach could slow or even stop momentum of getting the system online.

Nobody will implement anything until the bill is actually signed by the governor, Case said.

Case also worried that the changing makeup of the Wyoming Legislature  which is shifting away from government  could lead the bill to fail, and that in turn could lead agencies to become gun shy to implement the alert system voluntarily.

The Ashanti alert system is named after 19-year-old Virginia resident Ashanti Billie, who went missing after being abducted in 2017 and was found dead two weeks later 350 miles away. The circumstances of Billies death raised questions about the lack of a state, regional or national missing persons alert system for people over the age of 17, and led to the federal Ashanti Alert Act of 2018.

An Ashanti alert is applicable to missing adults with special needs or circumstances and also missing adults who are endangered or have been involuntarily abducted or kidnapped.

In Wyoming and elsewhere, the Ashanti alert system can be employed for any missing person, not just Indigenous residents. But its a response to a problem that has disproportionately affected members of the Northern Arapaho, Eastern Shoshone and other tribes. Ahead of the Tribal Relations Committee taking any action, Emily Grant, the lead researcher for Wyomings Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Statewide Report, ran through some of the most recent missing peoples numbers. In 2021, Indigenous people accounted for 17% of Wyomings missing persons cases even though theyre just 3% of the overall population.

In 2022 so far its 16%, Grant said, so pretty steady there.

Minors and females go missing at the highest rates, she said, though 42% of 2021 missing people were males and all age groups have been represented.

Indigenous peoples typically go missing for longer, too. Overall, about 25% of missing persons records are cleared or closed the same day the person was reported missing, Grant said. For American Indians and Alaskan Natives, she said, the same-day clearance rate is only about 14%.

Tribal Relations Committee co-chair Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, pressed experts on whats going on with a rash of missing young people in Fremont County.

We had what I thought was an extremely high number of young missing people from the Wind River Reservation from July [and] August on, Larsen said at the meeting. Can we get our head around that at all?

Wyoming Attorney Generals Office staffer Cara Chambers, who directs the Division of Victim Services, told Larsen she suspected the increase was actually just the status quo getting more attention.

Weve really put a huge emphasis on missing people in our state, Chambers said.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, for example, recently made its missing persons webpage forward-facing and accessible to the public  previously it was only available to law enforcement. In early September, a local news website ran a story highlighting seven Native American teenagers who had gone missing in Fremont County that summer, a report based entirely on DCIs database.

The Ashanti alert system is the only missing and murdered Indigenous people-related bill the Select Committee on Tribal Relations is considering for the upcoming legislative session. Chambers, however, told WyoFile shes got ideas for some changes to statute that could help stem the crisis.

I think we need to do a better job of mandating certain types of training for law enforcement, though that might be unpopular, Chambers said. We could also do better with what we collect data on.

There are already statutes in both those realms, but they are poorly enforced and lacking teeth.

For example, we have a victims bill of rights, but theres no statutory consequence for not complying, Chambers said. We have a statute that requires law enforcement to report data to DCI, but theres no teeth [punishing] the agencies that arent.

Grants testimony to the Tribal Relations Committee last week highlighted the difficulty of harvesting data from Wyoming law enforcement agencies.

One recommendation from the statewide missing and murdered Indigenous people report was to do a survey of agencies current protocols for handling missing persons to ascertain how many are using methods considered best practices. But, unfortunately, only 22 of the 90 Wyoming law enforcement agencies surveyed responded, Grant said.
AFTON (WNE)  A Star Valley Ranch man who was arrested last month after hiding from police following a domestic incident pleaded not guilty during a court hearing on Monday, October 24.

Lincoln County Attorney Spencer Allred said Jordan Hale, 40, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault.

Following the plea the judge set bail at $1.5 million cash only, which as of October 24 had not been paid. A trial date was also set for March 20.

The charges stem from a domestic incident which took place at Hales home on Saturday, September 10.

Police were called to the scene, but Hale had fled before officers arrived.

A three-day search ensued for Hale in the Green Canyon area east of Star Valley Ranch.

Hale eventually turned himself in on Monday, September 12. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center in Kemmerer.
T&Ts Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) declined by 15.14 per cent between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022, according to the two quarterly reports for the Fund for this year.

The HSF reports, which are published on the Ministry of Finance website, indicate that at the start of 2022, the value of the assets in the Fund totaled US$5.62 billion.

At the end of March 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$5.29 billion, approximately US$323.63 million lower than the previous quarters closing value. And at the end of June 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$4.77 bllion, approximately US$528 million lower than the previous quarters closing value of US$5,299.5 million.
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.
The festive Christmas season is upon us, coupled with the excitement of the World Cup tournament! Its only fitting that we look into another common digestive issue that can often put a damper on our ability to enjoy life.

If this topic captured your attention, then you must be all too familiar with the fiery discomfort in your stomach that rises to your chest after youve had a meal. Youve tasted that sourness or bitterness at the back of your mouth, or have had that burning wave that hits your throat and turns your voice hoarse.
There could be no doubt that the post-pandemic situation is fraught with many problems ranging from concerns for health, education, economy and personal situations.

Among these that may be prioritised according to our individual cares come the national concerns. Even then debate will range over which should be our priorities.

My view is that the greatest and most enduring problem will be our loss of effective teaching-learning time over well nigh two years.
Tucson Border Patrol agents rescued 32 migrants who were locked inside a cargo truck following a pursuit on Interstate 10.

On Monday shortly after 6 p.m., agents attempted to stop a cargo truck near the I-10 Frontage Road and the Grant Road intersection. The truck did not yield and sped west out of the city, a news release from Border Patrol said.

The truck eventually came to a stop on a rural road southwest of Tucson. The driver and the passenger ran into the desert, the news release said.

Agents found 32 migrants hidden in the cargo compartment. The 31 men and one unaccompanied child were from Mexico and Guatemala, the news release said. They were taken to the Tucson Border Patrol station for processing. The smugglers were not found.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol continues to see smugglers transport migrants in box trucks and livestock trailers, a disturbing trend that greatly endangers migrant lives, the news release said.
You may have heard about the armed drop-box watchers up in the Phoenix area.

Thats not the only election intimidation going on.

Politicking has crossed that line in Pima County, too, and around Arizona as early ballots are cast and Election Day nears.

Earlier this month, all of the county chairs of Arizonas Democratic Party received alarming letters from an apparent extremist or extremists.

The letter To Democrat Party Members, says We are watching you and says supporters will be investigating peoples homes, social media profiles and pictures and posting them online.

It concludes, Every judge refusing to sentance (sic) election fraud to the full extent of the law will be considered a traitor and dealt with accordingly, as will you.

Bonnie Heidler, chair of the Pima County party, received the letter at Democratic headquarters in Tucson. She considered it a threat and has spoken with a FBI agent about it.

We cannot be intimidated. Voters cannot be intimidated, Heidler said. We have to start sounding the alarm.

Similar leaflets have been posted around downtown Tucson and elsewhere. The person or people posting it refer to themselves as part of a group called Ben Sent Us, a reference to Benjamin Franklin.

The person or group has a rudimentary website that claims the country has been infiltrated by Marxists, Communists and Traitors and issues vague threats.

Signs label candidate a racist

On Wednesday last week, Demion Clinco went to a candidate forum for the Pima Community College Governing Board.

When he returned home, Clinco, an incumbent board member, found two campaign-style signs posted in his yard calling him a racist and liar, in Spanish.

It turned out that dozens of the signs had been put up around his district. They say Clinco Racista y Mentiroso and an arrow points to one side. The signs were posted so that the arrow points toward Clincos campaign signs, he said.

The disclaimer at the bottom of the sign says pagado por ciudadanos contra el racismo/paid for by citizens against racism. No such group is listed in state or county records.

Clinco and supporters took down the signs they could find. He estimated there were 25-30. Some of his campaign signs also were stolen, and a neighboring business caught video of one such theft.

It was definitely an organized effort. Somebody designed that sign. Somebody had that sign printed, and somebody put it out, he said.

He doesnt know who it was. But the Pima Community College board race has been unusually expensive and hostile this year. The dispute centers on Lee Lambert, the colleges chancellor, and whether to retain him.

In a board divided 3-2, the majority including Clinco wants to keep Lambert, but the minority has been fighting to remove him. Earlier this year, many Tucson business and political leaders rallied around Clincos campaign in an effort to keep Lambert in office.

Democratic Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and auto dealer Jim Click, a Republican mega-donor, are Clincos campaign co-chairs. The latest campaign-finance filing shows his campaign has raised $157,000.

Clincos challenger, Theresa Riel, has raised about $23,000, according to her latest filing. Riel, a former PCC faculty member, has said she does not necessarily want to fire Lambert, but she has been supported by an employee group that has been deeply critical of him.

Intimidation, threat reported

The Arizona Secretary of States office has made six referrals to law enforcement of alleged intimidation at ballot drop-box locations in Maricopa County.

Those incidents, widely documented in the news media and on social media, involved self-appointed drop-box watchers, some of them armed, videotaping license plates and even confronting voters and accusing them of being mules.

This is, apparently, a reference to the largely debunked 2000 Mules movie that alleges drop-boxes were stuffed with fraudulent ballots in 2020. Even the makers of that movie have backed away from it and declined to provide evidence to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office.

Separately, the secretary of states office received a threat that it passed on to law-enforcement.

Addressed to Secretary of State Katie Hobbs specifically and ALL Corrupt and Treasonous Government Officials generally, the email says that if you own a home  we will find you through the Tax Assessors Website.

The email then references the French Revolution, though it cites the wrong year  1799 instead of 1789.
Survivors of domestic violence said in a recent University of Arizona study that safe housing and legal support are the greatest needs when trying to leave an abusive situation.

And despite a lack of funding, resources and staff, local service providers are working hard to fill those needs.

Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse, a local nonprofit that assists victims and their loved ones, has seen a 21% increase in calls to its 24/7 hotline over the past two years. In addition to the more than 8,000 calls coming into the hotline  the most in a single year  the number of people seeking Emerges services and programs has also increased 18% from last year.

With an intake waitlist of 60 people and reports of domestic abuse returning to pre-pandemic levels, Emerge CEO Ed Sakwa said the organization is stretched thin trying to keep up with the immediate need for its services.

Also, as housing prices rise and many landlords are unwilling to take vouchers as the demand for housing outweighs the supply, finding short- and long-term housing options has become a major struggle, he said.

Southern Arizona Legal Aid is also feeling the strain as staffers work to keep up with a heavy caseload of immigration and family law cases involving abuse survivors. With providers across the country competing for the same small pot of federal funds each year, finding enough money to hire lawyers and support staff has never been an easy task, according to officials.

But providers say theyre focused on listening to survivors and putting their efforts toward the services they say they need.

Prioritizing safety

In March, the UAs Southwest Institute for Research on Women published its Pima County Domestic Violence Community Needs Assessment, which surveyed 47 domestic violence survivors and nine service providers about existing services and unmet needs. The study was conducted at the request of the Pima County Domestic Abuse Coalition, an organization of community service providers, government and law enforcement agencies that are working to improve the landscape for survivors.

Survey responses indicated that while most survivors were aware of some local services, almost all needed help accessing them, and many found that services were unavailable to them because of capacity issues.

Based on the feedback from survivors and service providers, researchers determined the greatest immediate needs are increased capacity and scope of services, most notably legal and housing assistance.

The report also recommended the coalition develop a training program that standardizes a collective operating framework, saying that when only certain agencies operate from a survivor-centered approach, the whole system is negatively impacted.

Prioritizing survivor safety is paramount in an overtaxed system, the report said, adding that the use of a lethality assessment program will help triage survivors for the services they most need.

In December 2017, the state Supreme Court adopted the Arizona Intimate Partner Risk Assessment Instrument System as the standardized form presented to judges during defendants initial appearances after a domestic violence arrest. The mandate went into effect in April 2018 and was implemented by all seven law enforcement agencies in Southern Arizona.

The assessment asks questions about physical violence in the relationship; the defendants access to guns and substance use habits; if jealously or controlling behaviors are present in the relationship; and if the defendant has ever strangled or choked the victim.

Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, Emerge received 1,539 referrals from law enforcement related to APRAIS risk assessment screens conducted on-scene while responding to domestic violence-related calls to 911. Emerge served 569 people from that group of survivors.

During that period, 77% of all APRAIS screenings had a score that indicated the survivors were at elevated or high risk of being killed, up from 73% the previous year and 71% the year before that.

Lives at risk

The Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault staffs forensic examiners who have received specialty training to conduct strangulation exams, which are available regardless of if the victim has been sexually assaulted. However, there is no designated funding for strangulation exams related to domestic violence without sexual assault, said SACASA director Katlyn Monje.

Forensic strangulation exams are not covered by insurance, and payment by the county for these forensic exams is not mandated by the government for domestic violence victims, Monje said. Without funding for strangulation exams, the lives of victims are at risk.

Forensic strangulation exams can identify symptoms and prevent serious injury, while also providing valuable evidence that can be used in legal proceedings. Monje said that a lack of strangulation exam creates an evidentiary gap that can let violent offenders escape felony convictions.

One in four women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and as many as 68% of them will experience near-fatal strangulation by their partner. The odds of a woman being killed by her partner increase 750% if she has been previously strangled by that person, according to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention.

In late 2019, the now-Domestic Abuse Coalition was given $50,000 in grant money to fund 100 strangulation exams authorized by law enforcement. After that money ran out, the coalition was able to allocate $15,000 from a Tohono Oodham Nation grant to fund another 30 exams. Since December 2019, SACASA nurse examiners have performed 126 strangulation exams.

There is funding available for only five more such exams, Monje said.

SACASA is seeking additional funding sources, she said, but with an average of three strangulation exams provided each month, the organization is in critical need of funding to continue to provide the service.

Some members of the coalition have been exploring the idea of creating a family advocacy center that would serve as a one-stop service hub for victims of interpersonal violence, but the group is split in terms of support for the project. Some members believe that because there isnt enough funding and capacity to support survivors from their respective locations, its too soon to bring all the providers together in one space.

In addition, survivors surveyed by the UA did not indicate that co-location of services was currently among their greatest needs.

While the idea of a one-stop hub of services for victims of interpersonal crime is good in theory, Sakwa said, its not realistic given the current conditions. And the notion that a victim would only have to share their story once isnt true, given that each provider collects different pieces of information, he said.

We can think about the future, but sometimes we do need to address things here and now to save lives today, Sakwa said. Its not just about the short and long term, but rather what victims have asked for.

Rent is through the roof

Emerge received an average of 22 calls a day to its emergency, multilingual hotline, between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. More than 2,000 people received support through Emerges community-based, nonresidential services.

Nearly 300 adults and children benefited from its emergency shelter services, but time of stay has increased dramatically from pre-pandemic days, with the average length of stay increasing from 28 to 71 days. Finding safe and affordable housing for survivors and their children has become increasingly difficult between the pandemic and current economic conditions, Sakwa said.

Since July 2020, all people needing Emerges emergency shelter services have been sent to a temporary, undisclosed location. The temporary plan is safe, but it has been difficult to operate a shelter out of someone elses business, and the option is not the most cost-efficient.

Plans for a new multi-million-dollar expanded shelter are in the works but still more than a year away, Sakwa said.

Rent is through the roof, and landlords are not taking vouchers like Section 8, so the need for housing is huge right now, he said.

With expected cuts to federal funding that will mean hundreds of thousands of dollars less for Emerge, Sakwa and others are concerned about what that will mean for capacity, given that there already isnt enough to meet the current need.

When youre talking about an issue where peoples lives are on the line and theres a major shift in funding, it doesnt just impact Emerge. It impacts every victim service provider in the community, Sakwa said. There has to be some prioritization here.

More lawyers needed

For organizations like Southern Arizona Legal Aid, funding is also the biggest barrier to increasing the capacity to help more survivors, said Deputy Director Jamie Ibrahim.

(We dont) receive any state or local funding, Ibrahim said, adding that SALA relies entirely on grants, donations and limited to federal funds to operate.

Family law and immigration cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault survivors make up the majority of the groups legal services. In 2021, SALA handled 2,000 family law cases.

Exactly the type of assistance that survivors were saying they need in (the UA report), were doing that, said Kristin Fitzharris, who heads up SALAs Tucson Domestic Relations & Immigration unit. We just dont have the capacity to do as much as we want and as much as the community needs.

Nearly 25% of SALAs family law and immigration cases are handled by pro bono lawyers, as part of the organizations volunteer program. But hiring one more domestic relations specialist lawyer would mean SALA could help 30 to 42 more survivors, Fitzharris said.

SALA covers nine counties and 11 tribal nations. It used to have three immigration lawyers and two support staffers, but after two of those lawyers retired, theres only one immigration attorney to handle all the cases.

I could just use any more lawyers that I can get, she said. That would make a measurable impact for the community.

In addition to a lack of attorneys, a post-pandemic slowdown in the courts has affected SALAs ability to take on new clients. While family law cases are already typically a lengthy process, theyre now taking even longer to resolve, Fitzharris said.

The need (for our services) has been pretty consistent, Fitzharris said. If you look at crime in the United States, its been falling since the 1990s, but domestic violence and domestic violence-related homicide and crimes are not falling at the same rate.

Many survivors dont report to police and arent interested in criminal prosecution but still need help with custody issues or with crime-based immigration petitions, Fitzharris said.

Prosecutors say theyre overwhelmed with domestic violence crimes, but there is a huge percentage of people who arent reporting and have good reasons for that, she said. If thats not in best interest of the survivor for whatever reason  were there to help them.

Historically underfunded

Legal and other services for survivors of gender-based violence have been historically underfunded, said Negar Katirai, a UA clinical professor of law.

The federal Violence Against Women Act was signed into law in 1994 to create and support comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.

From the start, only 32% of VAWA funds were allocated toward social services for survivors, with the other 68% going toward the criminal legal system, Katirai said.

By 2013, only 15% of the money was earmarked for social services.

Katirai runs a clinic at the UA where students represent victims of intimate partner violence. Each semester, she has between five and 10 students who assist local survivors with legal needs including orders of protection, custody, child support, landlord/tenant, public benefits and immigration issues.

Many providers are at capacity, and weve done our utmost to get funding, she said. Everyone who is a funder in this space needs to think about where were allocating their funds and how theyre balancing it when it comes to all the different things we know we need.

Katirais students also do policy work and community outreach, including advocacy work on behalf or survivors and presentations about healthy relationships and knowing ones rights.

Katirai said theyre working to make the landscape better for survivors. They had some recent success in changing a procedural rule for how orders of protection can be litigated in court. Previously, a person could not talk about things if they were not included in the original petition, which posed a problem, as many survivors didnt know they had to write everything down, Katirai said.

Now, theyre able to convey additional information through a written or verbal statement to the judge.

Kaitrai said if society would think of domestic violence as a public health problem and invest in preventative services like housing, case management and legal services, it would help victims make a decision to leave before the situation escalates and the lethality risk increases.

Its easier to view as a couple bad actors, but its bigger than that, she said.

Talking about healthy concepts of gender norms and consent at an early age is key, she said, as is investing in bystander training.

You have a role as a neighbor, as a friend. You can be part of the solution in that context, and you dont have to be a hero, she said. There are subtle things you can do just by being supportive in a nonjudgmental way. That right there is huge.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

When I got into the University of Arizona last year, I was over the moon. Long before I graduated from Sunnyside High School in south Tucson, I had dreamt of studying nursing at our states top university. I want to work in an intensive care unit  a calling that became even more important when I learned about Arizonas nursing shortage. Its already reached crisis levels in Tucson, with around 600 nursing vacancies in local hospitals, according to one report.

Sadly, though, I had to turn down my acceptance to UA. Im an undocumented immigrant, which means Im ineligible for in-state tuition. It doesnt matter that Ive lived in Arizona for nearly a decade and attended Tucson schools since arriving here from Mexico when I was nine years old in 2013. If I wanted to attend UAs nursing program, Id have to pay the $18,000 annual tuition for out-of-state students.

Im hoping other young immigrants wont have to make such agonizing choices. In just a few short weeks, Arizonans will be able to vote on Proposition 308, a measure allowing immigrants whove lived in Arizona for more than two years and graduated from an Arizona high school to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state-funded scholarships.

I havent given up on college  or nursing. Im so serious about pursuing my career goals that Ive already earned my phlebotomy and electrocardiogram certifications. I was also lucky to receive several scholarships for undocumented students, which has allowed me to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Im studying nutritional science there, but I really wish I could be at UA in Tucson. Participating in their highly ranked nursing program would have been better for my career. Plus, I love my hometown and wanted to stay near my family.

Research shows that passing Prop 308 would be good for Arizonans and our states economy. More than 3,600 Arizona high school students would benefit from in-state tuition every year, according to the American Immigration Council. Wed be poised to alleviate shortages in health care, mental health, education and skilled trades, among other industries, boost our earnings by $28 million annually and increase our spending power by more than $23 million. That also means wed be able to pay an additional $4.9 million per year in federal income taxes and state and local taxes.

Wed be able to serve our communities as passionate, highly trained professionals. I want to care for those Arizonans who need me during the worst moments of their lives. I have a calm presence, and people have told me Im a supportive and comforting person. With a nursing degree, I could guide patients through their medical journeys physically and emotionally.

Making in-state tuition more accessible would help higher numbers of Arizona youth contribute their talents where theyre needed most. And its crucial for Dreamers like me. Because Im undocumented, I dont have the right to work and am still in danger of being deported. I also need a Social Security number to receive my Registered Nursing license.

Its frustrating that all these barriers are preventing me from filling a job that Arizonans need so badly  especially after taxpayers have invested in my public school education. What I really need is a pathway to residency and citizenship to realize my full potential.

But in the meantime, I hope voters will pass Prop 308 and support the next generation of young immigrants who desperately want to give back, whether on ICU floors or in classrooms. All we want is the ability to study and the right to work. Then we can truly do our best for this great state.
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Uruguayan guitarist Federico Ramos is not listed among the acting credits of the Academy Award-winning Disney/Pixar animated movie "Coco," but he's in every scene that features a character playing a guitar.

"Anytime you see any character, whether it is a skeleton or the little boy, grab a guitar, what you see is my fingers and what you hear will correspond with that," the veteran session musician said last week during a phone call from his Los Angeles home. "When I was doing my recording with my guitar, the Pixar people had a bunch of cameras filming the motion of my fingers. Then they animated to my hand."

This weekend, we get to see more than Ramos' hands when he joins the Tucson Symphony Orchestra as the guest soloist for "Coco In Concert  Live to Film." The cineconcert, part of the TSO's "Celebracion Latina!" series of concerts shining the spotlight on Tucson's vibrant cultural heritage, features the orchestra performing the score while the film plays on a large screen.

Ramos, who has performed the cineconcert with a number of orchestras in the U.S. and in China, was captivated by folklorico and classical guitar from a young age while growing up in his native Uruguay and southern Spain. He studied in the United States and has toured with a number of big-name Latin acts. He also has a strong foothold in Hollywood; in addition to "Coco," he played a number of Colombian instruments for last year's Academy Award-winning Disney animated musical "Encanto."

"I speak English with an accent, and I play guitar with an accent, as well," he said.

Performing Michael Giacchino's award-winning "Coco" score with an orchestra is a whole other experience, he said.

Precision and timing are key to successfully matching the music on stage with what is happening on the screen as young Miguel, an aspiring musician, finds himself in the Land of the Dead in search of his great-great-grandfather and the truth of his family history.

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"It's not like you could lag or rush here and there. It has to be precise," he said. "The guitar in 'Coco' is the soul."

"It's so elating to just be a little part of this massive wall of sound that all of these instruments are capable of producing," Ramos added. "All these beautiful palettes of sound. Music moves the clock, and it announces a number of things. It foretells and then it resolves some things that the plot by itself would have trouble communicating. The music takes you there emotionally."

Ramos said he advises audiences to bring tissues "because ('Coco') is a tear-jerker."

"I get emotional, and I've seen it maybe 100 times, and it's still moving," he said, crediting "the genius" of Director Lee Unkrich. "He knows how to elicit these feelings in you, and then he reaches into your gut and squeezes and you go, 'OK, OK,' and he will squeeze more."

The TSO will perform "Coco In Concert" at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $12 to $60 online or by calling 520-882-8585.

The TSO also will host an instrument petting zoo in the Music Hall lobby before each concert.
A Way Home for Tulsa received a $5 million grant and plans to involve the community in the discussion on how the money can help end youth homelessness locally.

Were thrilled, said Becky Gligo, executive director of Housing Solutions. Its a recognition based on the size of it that HUD is impressed with the work thats happening in Tulsa, and its going to give us a leg up to really end youth homelessness.

Housing Solutions is the lead agency for A Way Home for Tulsa, a collective of Tulsa County agencies working to end homelessness.

The award comes to Housing Solutions, in support of A Way Home for Tulsa partner agencies, through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program.

Its a grant from HUD that we applied for competitively, and 17 communities were chosen, Gligo said. We were one of them.

Thousands of young homeless people may be going uncounted, experts say. As of 2021-22, Tulsa Public Schools counted 741 homeless students, the equivalent of about 30 full classrooms. At Union Public Schools, 945 students were considered homeless  the equivalent of 38 full classrooms.

In an interview Tuesday, Gligo said the agencies will spend about six months working with the community and youth stakeholders to determine needs.

Once we determine the best way to spend the money, we will put out calls for proposals to implement it, but we anticipate spending most of it on housing opportunities, she said.

Advocates say solutions to Tulsas growing youth homelessness rate will require significant improvements in infrastructure, increased federal and local funding for organizations addressing youth homelessness, an emphasis on a housing-first model and ending stigma.

This award is an incredible achievement that shows how A Way Home for Tulsa leverages diverse resources from many partners to benefit the community, said Melanie Stewart, A Way Home for Tulsa Leadership Council chair and Veterans Affairs Eastern Oklahoma program manager. This funding will support critical housing needs for youth, but the investment will ripple throughout Tulsa as economic development, educational outcomes and increased stability for families.

Mayor G.T. Bynum, in a statement Tuesday, thanked federal officials for recognizing the need in Tulsa, as well as the work already being done in the community by these agencies.

I am proud of the commitment we have with our partners at A Way Home for Tulsa as we work together to find real solutions for every young Tulsan to have an equal shot at a great life, he said.
As state leaders are calling on federal health officials to reconsider a recent decision about COVID vaccines for children, an Oklahoma pediatrician worries about the effect that misinformation could have on kids health.

The Oct. 20 decision from the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) would add COVID-19 to the formal vaccine guidance provided annually for doctors to share with their patients, alongside shots for polio, measles and hepatitis.

Its been a little controversial, I would say, because I think theres a lot of misinformation about what this actually means, said Donna Tyungu, medical director of infection prevention and control at Oklahoma Childrens Hospital.

The decision amounts to the COVID shot being considered as part of the regular pediatric vaccine schedule, Tyungu said Tuesday in a COVID-19 update with Healthier Oklahoma Coalition member physicians.

These decisions are almost always adopted by the CDC director and then sent to doctors as part of the governments advice on how to prevent disease. The CDC doesnt have the authority to set school immunization requirements, and the vote doesnt mandate the vaccine for schoolchildren.

The same panel also voted unanimously to add COVID-19 shots to a program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated.

When the federal government stops purchasing vaccinations, kids without health insurance will still be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine for free, Tyungu said. It does not mean that the CDC is mandating vaccines for schools. These mandates are actually done at the state and the local level.

Oklahoma has joined with 13 states calling for the ACIP to reconsider its decision, with Attorney General John OConnor indicating it would be forcing children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

You cannot lock the school door to children when the science is not clear on the efficacy of the vaccine, OConnor said in a statement. Parents are entrusted with the health care decisions for their children. This is a parents choice, not the choice of unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, in a statement after the Oct. 20 decision, affirmed students would not be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine to attend school.

Its up to parents to decide how to protect their child from viruses, he said.

State and local officials often look to the lists in making decisions about vaccination requirements for school attendance, but local officials dont always adopt every recommendation. Flu and HPV shots, for example, arent required by many schools.

Tyungu said she urges parents to strongly consider getting children up to date on recommended vaccinations but laments politics having an effect on health care choices.

Our other previously universally accepted vaccine campaigns have come under attack, she said, and some families are not wanting to get, you know, their regular measles vaccine, their tetanus/diphtheria vaccine or even the influenza vaccination  its very concerning.

Parents can find the state laws establishing vaccination requirements for school children for 2022-23 online at bit.ly/3gIdUI7.

We always encourage parents to talk with their childs health care provider to make the best decision for their kid, Oklahoma Health Commissioner Keith Reed said in a statement clarifying the ACIP decision was not a mandate.
The search for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre resumed Wednesday with the start of a second excavation of Oaklawn Cemetery.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said another excavation at the cemetery was suggested by the team of archaeologists, forensic anthropologists and DNA experts who participated in the initial excavation last year.

A great deal of material and information was collected from that, Bynum told a press conference at City Hall. And then, based on that, our team of researchers came back to the city earlier this year and made a recommendation that we do a second excavation expanding the original area that had been investigated, and that is what we will begin today.

Researchers said they hope to gather more DNA samples from the 19 sets of remains exhumed  and later re-interred  from the southwest section of the city-owned cemetery last year. The expanded excavation area would extend to the south and west of the original excavation area.

State Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck said the excavation area is being extended to determine whether or not some of the patterns that we were seeing with the initial excavation last year will persist, or if we can get additional information.

The original excavation site was a Black potters field where, according to newspaper accounts and funeral home records, 18 Race Massacre victims were buried.

We are looking for still 18 individuals without headstones that are adult males buried in plain caskets, said forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield.

Only two samples from the burials exhumed last year contained enough DNA for sequencing. Officials said Wednesday they hope to complete genealogy profiles from those samples in the near future.

Bynum said he was grateful to the team of scientists working on the project and for Tulsans support for making sure the murder victims remains are provided to their families.

That connecting part is going to take years, Bynum said. This is a long-term commitment from the city of Tulsa. This is not something where we ever expected that we would go out and in a couple of months, or even a year or two, we would have everything figured out and it would be done.

So long as I am mayor, this will be a top priority where we will continue to follow the recommendations of the professional experts who know best how to find these victims.

The excavation work is being overseen by the Oklahoma State Archeological Survey and a private firm, Stantec, which was previously known as Cardno.

The city has contracted with Utah-based Intermountain Forensic to analyze the genetic material.

Bynum announced in late 2018 his intent to re-examine whether mass graves from the massacre exist.

Death certificates were issued for 37 people  25 black, 12 white  killed in the violence of May 31-June 1, 1921, but reports from the very first indicated that the toll was actually higher and perhaps much higher.

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OKLAHOMA CITY  The two candidates for Oklahomas next state superintendent of public instruction met in a one-on-one debate Tuesday for the first and likely only time before the Nov. 8 election.

Democrat Jena Nelson, 44, and Republican Ryan Walters, 37, both of Edmond, are running for the seat held the last eight years by Joy Hofmeister, who is now running for governor.

Hosted and televised by KOKH-Fox 25 television in Oklahoma City, the debate saw Walters repeatedly accuse Nelson of pushing pornography and left-wing, radical ideology in public schools and Nelson calling those falsehoods and calling out Walters for his oversight of a federal pandemic relief program that government auditors found cost taxpayers at least $653,000 and continue to investigate.

What parents want is they want an emphasis on American values, they want an emphasis on learning without indoctrination and they want to make sure their kids have a great education, Walters said, right out of the gates. What we are seeing right now in the state of Oklahoma is a civil war that is being fought in our schools.

Walters has taken on the Stillwater school district over what school bathrooms transgender students can use, a now-former Norman teacher for giving students a code that provides public access to banned books from an out-of-state public library system, and Tulsa Public Schools for having two sexually graphic novels on some school bookshelves.

Each candidate was given the opportunity to ask the other one question. Walters wanted to know whether Nelson would support the loss of state certifications for teachers found to be violating House Bill 1775, a new state law intended to limit instruction on race, gender and history.

You have to go through the due process of that. You have to go before a state board and have a vote, Nelson responded. You dont just go around saying youre going to pull someones license and try them in the courtroom of Facebook or Twitter law.

Nelson wanted to know whether Walters would go back to being the wonderful teacher some of his former students described him as to her on the campaign trail.

He responded that when he taught at McAlester High School, he never shared his party affiliation or choices at the polls with his students. Nelson noted that no one was aware of her party affiliation until she filed as a candidate.

Last week at a campaign stump speech in Bartlesville, Walters vowed to require Oklahoma teachers to undergo patriotic education training offered by a small, ultra-conservative Christian college in Michigan called Hillsdale College, which is also trying to establish a national network of charter schools.

But Nelson criticized Walters for that in Mondays debate.

The patriotic education plan is not what hes saying it is. I believe in the Constitution and I believe in American history  I believe in teaching all history. I believe in this country. Im a proud American, Im a proud Oklahoman.

But we dont need indoctrination of our teachers, Nelson said. In fact, right before this debate, I got a call from a teacher in Eastern Oklahoma  he is a Vietnam veteran. He has been teaching history for 36 years and he says that if even has to go through that he will quit. Because he is a patriot, he knows his history and hes very proud to know that he can teach his students every single day the true history of the United States.

She added: The product that is coming out of Hillsdale is not anything to do with patriotism but indoctrination. In fact, we had laws passed last year where students are more focused on civics education than ever.

The issue of Walters role, as Gov. Kevin Stitts secretary of education, in helping oversee $31 million intended to provide emergency pandemic relief for Oklahomans educational needs was also raised.

In a summer audit report, the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Inspector General was highly critical, saying ultimately, Oklahoma may be forced to repay about $653,000 that auditors said was misspent by families on noneducational items such as televisions, washers and dryers, air conditioners and Christmas trees.

The report further recommends a 100% review of an additional $5.4 million spent through the Bridge the Gap program and that the state repay the federal government for any additional unallowable purchases found.

Walters has blamed problems with the program on a vendor, ClassWallet, but the audit said Walters personally declined to use a control that company offered that would have limited the items available for purchase to only those it had preapproved as education-related.

This is a Democrat talking point. This is a talking point from the teachers union  its a lie, Walters said in Mondays debate. When I found out there was an issue, I moved to audit the vendor and move to hold the vendor legally accountable.

Nelson responded: We have to make sure that we are going to have someone who can tow the line and make sure that those dollars are accounted for.

During that time, that money could have been used in our public schools for such things as Clorox wipes, and PPE (personal protective equipment) and HVAC system upgrades. But instead they were spent on things like Xboxes and barbecues and La-Z-Boys, she said.

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Judges and criminal justice reform advocates urged legislators on Wednesday to increase mental health and substance abuse treatment access, whether through implementation of State Question 781 or otherwise.

I dont know what the answer is  (but) we need to look at doing something different, I would hope, Custer County Special District Judge Donna Dirickson told a state House of Representatives interim study.

Specifically, Dirickson was talking about the waits lasting six months to a year for prisoners in the Custer County jail at Arapaho to be transferred to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita once theyve been judged mentally incompetent.

The OFC is the only facility in the state where such people can receive the highest level of care and treatment.

Dirickson cited several examples from her jurisdiction, including one man who was No. 168 on the waiting list to be able to have a bed at Vinita. Thats a really long time for people to wait in jails across our state before they can get a facility that gives them treatment.

In Custer County, we dont have services that come into the jail  to start working with these folks to help them get their competency restored, Dirickson said. So they do sit there for a very long time. And that makes things worse.

Dirickson said one prisoner had to be transferred to the state-run Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman because he was banging his head against the cell wall and biting himself to the point (the wounds) were starting to get infected.

The OFC in Vinita is in the process of adding 80 beds, but Dirickson said ideally the state should add up to three additional facilities around the state. She acknowledged the cost makes that unlikely, but she said the current situation is untenable.

This is a crisis. And its not just a crisis for the defendants, she said. Its a crisis for all of our county jails.  Its difficult right now for them to find folks to work in the county jail, but its compounded when they have to deal with mentally ill people  when their behaviors escalate. (Jail employees) are not trained, they dont have the knowledge to deal with the types of behaviors theyre seeing.

LeFlore County Associate District Judge Marion Fry, a former Tulsa County prosecutor, said a lack of resources is a huge obstacle to getting people in the justice system the treatment they need.

Fry said mental health facilities in McAlester and Heavener are consistently backlogged, and that the number of people statewide authorized to conduct mental health assessments of justice-involved individuals has effectively dropped from five to three.

Fry recommended consolidating and better utilizing supervision alternatives to incarceration.

Although much of the interim study was dedicated to testimony on mental health, its stated purpose was to get answers on why SQ 781 has never been implemented.

Adopted by voters in 2016, SQ 781 required the Legislature to spend any savings achieved by SQ 780s reclassification of several nonviolent felonies on mental health, addiction treatment and education.

No money has ever gone into the 781 fund, although some legislators argue the spirit of the mandate has been met with increased appropriations to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

The state question, though, specified the money is to go to counties for local programs.

One major reason for the delay in 781 funding has been finding agreement on what, if any, the Department of Corrections has saved. The same issue arose, with figures ranging from $10.9 million to nearly $20 million cited for the most recent year.

Responding to a question, DOC Government Relations Coordinator Justin Wolf said not all of the drop in prison population can be attributed to SQ 780. He also said the drop is mostly among offenders considered the lowest security risks, and therefore the least expensive to maintain.

Wolf said that while the DOC self-funded $42 million in employee pay raises this year, it did not do so with funds that should have gone into the 781 fund.

I havent heard yet of a district attorney whos gotten rid of prosecutors in response to 780, Wolf said. Theyre just reallocating those resources to more significant crime. If the Department of Corrections were to get more violent (crime) inmates instead of inmates accused of simple drug possession, even though we might received significantly fewer inmates total  our costs are not going to decrease to the same extent our population is decreasing.

Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Oklahomas eroding mental health services.
Families of three of the four men found dismembered in Okmulgee County this month are suing the person of interest police have identified in the criminal case, along with his wife.

The wrongful death petition, filed Tuesday in Okmulgee County, alleges foul play associated with the timing of Joseph and Sandra Kennedys actions in relation to the disappearance and subsequent deaths of Billy Chastain, Mark Chastain and Mikel Sparks.

Okmulgee County authorities recovered the Chastains remains, as well as those of Sparks and Alex Stevens, from a river about a week after the four were reported missing.

Investigators believe the men left home with a plan to commit some kind of crime, possibly theft, and police reportedly discovered evidence of a violent event while searching a salvage yard owned by Joseph Kennedy.

Joseph Kennedy was arrested on an Oklahoma bench warrant in Florida last week after Okmulgee prosecutors alleged he violated the terms of a 2012 deferred sentence for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon by leaving the state. Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice said last week authorities were working to transfer Joseph Kennedy back to Oklahoma.

The lawsuit filed by attorney Robert Seacat alleges that the Kennedys sold business assets in the days following the mens disappearance, and that Sandra Kennedy pawned several firearms the week of Joseph Kennedys Florida arrest, including a gun that was registered to the wife of one of the victims.

Also the week of Joseph Kennedys arrest, Sandra Kennedy filed a petition for divorce in which she asked a judge to award her sole ownership of all the couples property.

The families lawsuit requests a temporary injunction against the transfer, encumberment or destruction of any and all property owned by the Kennedys as it is apparent to Plaintiffs that these Defendants intend to defraud Plaintiffs in violation of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, the suit states.

The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages in excess of $75,000 each, claiming Joseph Kennedys actions were intentional and malicious and life threatening to humans.

Joseph Kennedy has not been charged in the mens deaths.
Voters in House districts located to the east of Tulsa would benefit best by electing an incumbent for HD 12 and a newcomer to HD 23.

Rep. Kevin McDugle, a Republican, is up for his third term in HD 12, which includes Coweta, Porter and parts of Broken Arrow. He reflects the views of the majority of his constituents by defending public schools, law enforcement and the middle class.

McDugle says he is against vouchers for private schools, pointing to robust public education in his rural areas. He supports eliminating the state grocery tax and keeping a plentiful state savings account.

Recently, McDugle began advocating for death row inmate Richard Glossip, who was convicted in a 1997 Oklahoma City for a murder-for-hire beating death of motel owner Barry Van Treese. McDugle is one of several lawmakers convinced of his innocence.

That took him into considering other criminal justice areas such as education for inmates and court reforms for more attorney transparency and reasons for appeal.

Because McDugle shows great empathy in criminal justice, its confusing that he sponsored House Bill 1674. Its a dangerous, reactionary and embarrassing law that grants immunity to run over protestors.

His challenger, Democrat Crystal LaGrone, has an information technology background and is running on a platform of jobs, roads/infrastructure and public schools. Shes fiscally conservative and critical of the focus on wedge issues.

Though we disagree with McDugle at times, he has been an effective champion for his district.

In HD 23, voters would be best served supporting Democratic candidate Susan Young. The district includes Verdigris, Catoosa and part of east Tulsa County.

Young has a long history as a social worker, giving her insight into the mental health issues currently confronting the state.

Her goals include improving teacher pay and increasing per pupil spending in public schools, two needed elements for giving common education the boost it needs. She also believes, as we do, that private school vouchers would hurt rural schools, some of which are in her district.

Young also seeks more investment in trade schools and higher education, citing the states need for a better-prepared workforce.

She supports trimming the statewide grocery sales tax, but wants to keep an eye on the fiscal impact that would have on the states budget.

Among her other goals are increasing enrollment for students studying to be doctors and nurses, and she wants to see Medicaid rates match those of Medicare.

Young is running against Republican incumbent Terry ODonnell. ODonnell has served his constituents well in HD 23 including supporting teacher pay raises and backing criminal justice reforms.

But we believe that before serving further, he must resolve the legal entanglements stemming from a 2021 indictment where he is accused of using his position as a legislator to pass a law that allowed his wife to become a tag agent.

ODonnell has maintained his innocence.

Given Oklahomas pressing needs for schools, workforce development and mental health, we believe a voice like Youngs is needed in the Legislature.
Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta), formerly Facebook, will support Vietnam to promote innovation and digital economic development, a Meta representative said at the launch of the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 program held on Tuesday in Hanoi.

Rafael Frankel, Metas public policy director for South Asia and Southeast Asia, was speaking at the event which was organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investments National Innovation Center (NIC) in conjunction with Meta.

The program was kicked off with the theme of promoting innovation and digital transformation among Vietnamese enterprises to help boost the countrys digital economy.

Earlier in San Francisco, the U.S., Meta and the NIC signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the program, which is a competition to seek outstanding innovative solutions from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in order to address the major challenges to the digital transformation of Vietnams economy.

Frankel said at the launch ceremony that Vietnam in 2019 launched the Make in Vietnam strategy to develop the domestic information technology industry with an aim to shift from assembly and processing to manufacture with a capacity to model product design on the spot.

Vietnam has developed the strategy with many advantages, as it ranks 44th globally on the innovation index in 2021 and is among the countries actively developing the web 3.0 generation of the Internet, as well as one of the first countries to test 5G technology, Frankel commented.

A recent report by Meta and the U.S.-based consulting firm Bain & Company, Inc. also shows that Vietnam ranks first among 11 Southeast Asian countries in terms of future technology adoption.

With Vietnam having strongly developed a digital ecosystem over the past 20 years, Meta highly appreciated the Vietnamese governments efforts in promoting the vision of digital transformation in response to the Industrial Revolution 4.0, Frankel told the launch.

He affirmed that Meta has actively supported the digital transformation process in Vietnam through various activities, which include giving assistance to the Ministry of Healths COVID-19 vaccination communication campaign that has reached more than 40 million people and improving digital skills for around 580,000 students, 25,000 teachers, and 64,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Frankel believes that such solutions will serve as catalysts to accelerate the digital transformation process and improve the competitiveness of SMEs in Vietnam.

In the period of 2018-19, Meta, then known as Facebook, supported the launch of three Developer Circles in Hanoi, Da Nang City, and Ho Chi Minh City to offer technical assistance to about 3,000 domestic programmers, Frankel said.

Facebook also helped with the organization of two innovation challenge competitions for Vietnamese programmers in 2019 and 2020.

These contests, aimed at improving skills for young programmers, attracted more than 800 technology students across the country, he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Truong Gia Binh, chairman of Vietnams tech giant FPT, admitted that Vietnams economy has no longer had growth momentum based on cheap land and labor cost but it now must rely on innovations to promote national economic development.

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Authorities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho granted the investment certificate of the first phase of a US$149-million industrial park project to the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Group at a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

The project, which got a greenlight from the central government earlier this month, will be VSIPs 12th industrial park in Vietnam since its first one built in southeastern Binh Duong Province in 1996 and the first one in the Mekong Delta region.

It will be developed on 293.7 hectares of land in Can Thos Vinh Thanh District in phase 1 and is scheduled to be completed within 36 months from the date of land allocation.

The new industrial park, with its operation term of 50 years, is projected to cost more than VND3.7 trillion ($148.9 million), including around $23 million from the investors equity and the rest from mobilized sources.

Anthony Tan, deputy general director of VSIP, said during Tuesdays ceremony that the project will be developed into a green, smart, and sustainable industrial park, contributing to growing Can Tho into a dynamic city in the Mekong Delta.

The VSIP Group is a brand developed by a joint venture between Vietnams Becamex IDC Corporation and Sembcorp Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapores Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy and urban solution provider.

Among the current 11 Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks, three are in Binh Duong and the others are located in other localities such as Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Nghe An, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh.

These industrial parks, with a total area of more than 10,000 hectares, have attracted about $17 billion in investment from 880 investors from 30 countries and territories, and created jobs for around 295,000 workers.

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The Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea is working with local authorities on a case in which about 100 Vietnamese citizens could not be contacted after their entry into the country as tourists, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

The foreign ministrys spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the announcement in response to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspapers request for a comment about a post on social media on October 22 by some Vietnamese communities in South Korea saying 120 Vietnamese could not be contacted after entry into South Korea.

The post regarded the contact loss as the reason for South Koreas airlines Fly Gangwon earlier informing its travel agents and partners about its temporary suspension of receiving registrations by Vietnamese passengers for travel to Yangyang International Airport in Gangwon Province from October 23 to 31.

The carrier said the suspension was aimed at serving the local authorities re-arrangement of the granting of visas to Vietnamese travelers making entry at the airport after the trial period.

Immediately after the post, the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea contacted the South Korean authorities to verify and seek more details about the case, Hang said.

After about 100 Vietnamese citizens made entry into South Korea at the said airport, they could not be contacted, the spokeswoman said, citing initial information.

Therefore, airlines and related travel agencies must suspend bringing tourists to Yangyang County of the province until the end of October 31, Hang confirmed.

The embassy is coordinating with South Korean authorities to search for those Vietnamese and it will promptly take measures for citizen protection when necessary, she added.

The ministrys Department of Consular Affairs are working with domestic agencies concerned and relevant travel companies to get further information about these citizens.

When asked by Tuoi Tre about the fact that a number of Vietnamese people have overstayed their South Korean visas for illegal work after they entered the country as tourists, Hang said the ministry will join other agencies in preventing the law-breaking practice.

Earlier on Monday, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam confirmed that the visa-free policy intended for Vietnamese tourists entering South Korea via Yangyang International Airport would continue to be applied as normal.

The confirmation came after Fly Gangwon announced its temporary suspension of travel registrations by Vietnamese passengers as mentioned above.

KTO commented the statement by Fly Gangwon, which has recently launched direct flights between Gangwons Yangyang County and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has caused misunderstandings about the visa-free policy offered by the Gangwon authorities and the South Korean government in general to Vietnamese travelers.

According to KTOs explanation, such suspension, which will last until October 31, is meant to apply only to tours on the direct routes operated by Fly Gangwon, not to other cases.

The visa-free policy has been applied since June 1, 2022 to Vietnamese travel groups of five members upward who enter South Korea via Yangyang International Airport and to tours that last a maximum of 15 days organized by designated travel firms.

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A man in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Dak Nong was asked to receive a box of gold and money on behalf of his friend on Facebook, who impersonated an American soldier, and was swindled over VND453 million (US$18,171).

The Dak Nong Peoples Procuracy on Tuesday informed that H., 42, residing in Dak Wil Commune, Cu Jut District, reported his case of being scammed by a con artist.

H. earlier made friends with a person on Facebook whose account was Riva Kumar.

Riva Kumar called himself an American soldier working for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Syria.

He said that he had a lot of money and gold and wanted to send them to Vietnam. He asked H. to receive the money and gold on his behalf and got H.s agreement.

On September 26, a woman called H., telling him that the money and gold had arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City and asking him to pay transport costs of VND13 million ($522).

Some 20 minutes after H. transferred the money, he received another phone call asking him to transfer VND53 million ($2,126), reasoning that customs officers detected a huge amount of money.

After the second money transfer, H. was asked to continue transferring money as there was a large amount of U.S. dollars in the box.

He later came to a bank to transfer VND137 million ($5,503).

The woman later requested H. to send another VND250 million ($10,043) and H. continued to agree to the request.

After transferring VND250 million, H. got another phone call saying that police had found a lot of gold and U.S. dollars in the box and required him to transfer an additional VND501 million ($20,126).

H. did not have enough money, so he could not transfer this amount.

In total, H. transferred over VND453 million.

However, H. did not receive the box and failed to contact his friend on Facebook and the woman who had asked him to transfer the money.

H. later reported the case to the Cu Jut District police.

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After Japan fully reopened its door to international tourists, Taiwan, a favorite destination for Vietnamese travelers, also began welcoming international tourists on October 13, paving the way for an exciting autumn and winter travel season.

According to local tour operators and travel firms, the number of outbound tours slated for the rest of the year is on the rise, with applications for tourist visas also skyrocketing.

To meet rising demands, many Vietnamese tour operators have launched new outbound tours for upcoming public holidays.

Places open up to international travelers

Aside from its full reopening, Taiwan is set to reinstate its simplified visa policy, according to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam.

Tourists from around the world can enter Taiwan with a visa on arrival, an e-visa, or an online visa approval letter, which is required for tourists from Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese citizens holding an American, Canadian, Japanese, South Korean, British, Australian, New Zealand, or Schengen visa may enjoy visa-free entry into Taiwan for 14 days.

Tu Quy Thanh, general director of Lien Bang Travelink, said that Taiwans visa waiver policy had been applied since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taiwans visa waiver policy for travel firms which bring group tours to the island has yet to be reinstated, but its relaxed entry requirements make life easier for Vietnamese visitors, said Thanh.

Over the past few days, Lien Bang Travelink has seen the number of customers applying for visas for Japan skyrocketing, with the majority intending to either backpack or visit relatives in the East Asian country.

There has also been an increase in the number of companies applying for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tours.

A photo shows customers considering discounted tours at the 2022 Ho Chi Minh City Travel Expo. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, marketing director at Vietravel, shared the company has received over 1,700 bookings to South Korea and Japan since launching its promotional autumn-winter tour program.

These tours were scheduled for early September to late November, and more than 30 percent of these bookings are for travel to South Korea.

Complicated visa procedures

Though many countries have loosened their entry restrictions, some regulations are not perfectly straightforward.

Japan, for example, has reopened its doors to independent tourists, though visas must be issued by visa firms authorized by Consulates General of Japan rather than directly through any consulate.

These requirements have helped shorten the visa application process from seven to ten days down to five days.

All that is needed to apply are a photo, a valid passport, and a bank balance confirmation paper.

Securing a South Korean visa is a bit more difficult.

According to Thanh, would-be visitors to South Korea show proof of financial health, including an original bank savings book and a pay stub, as well as a social insurance book.

These strict requirements are a major discouragement for Vietnamese travelers.

Many guests booked tours to South Korea, but then changed their mind and chose different destinations after seeing the list of procedures and documents required for a visa application, said Thanh.

Taking advantage of the rising numbers of Vietnamese tourists hoping to travel abroad, many travel firms are intentionally cheating clients by allowing them to sign up for tours to countries to which they are likely not eligible for visas, thus causing them to lose non-refundable deposits.

Tet tours on sale

Since mid-October, many tour operators have begun advertising Tet (Lunar New Year) tours, as well as promotional packages and discounts, in order to meet the high demand for travel during the holiday, which falls in January next year.

According to Tran Quoc Bao, deputy general director of Saigontourist, the travel firm began preparing new tourism services and products in September, as well as bolstering its staffing, in order to prepare for over 300 Tet tours.

Passengers are seen at an airport in Vietnam. Photo: C.Trung / Tuoi Tre

The firm is expected to serve 20,000 tourists on outbound tours during this years Tet holiday.

Similarly, Vietravel has begun advertising several tours scheduled for the holiday and will offer dozens of promotional packages to consumers, according to Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of the travel firm.

The full reopening of many countries will help tourism, mainly the outbound segment, boom this year, Hoang said.

South Korea and Japan remain attractive despite high prices

Thi Quoc Duy from Benthanh Tourist said that travel firms are mainly offering six-day, five-night tours to Japan at prices ranging from VND39 million (US$1,566) to VND54 million ($2,171).

These tours are more expensive than what we offered before the pandemic, but the demand is surging, Duy said.

Meanwhile, tourists have more options of tours to South Korea, including weekly visa-free tours to Nami Island.

Full-package tours to the island which cover airfare and hotel costs are priced at VND12-19 million ($483-764) each and are set to depart on Saturdays in October and November.

The tourism administrations of many countries are collaborating with Vietnamese tour operators to launch promotional programs, such as presenting gifts and vouchers to attract Vietnamese travelers.

Airlines fill their schedules

Local airlines are rushing to raise their flight frequencies and open new international air routes to meet the high demand for travel during the autumn-winter travel season.

Quynh Vy, a Vietnamese student in Japan, said she was shocked at the current low airfares for international flights and increased options of flights compared to three or four months ago.

I bought two round-trip tickets in June to fly back to Vietnam from Osaka in August for VND12.5 million [$503], but now, the price is halved, Vy recounted.

Competitive prices

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines have been ratcheting up flight frequency and opening new international air routes over the past several months.

According to Vietjet, from October 10 to 12, the carrier released 1.1 million tickets priced from VND1,010 ($0.04) before taxes and fees, for international flights on routes connecting Vietnam with India, Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Tourists can plan to travel to Northeast Asian countries for the rest of the year at discounted air ticket prices after a two-year halt due to the pandemic, said the airline.

A survey showed that the prices of tickets set by Vietnamese and international airlines for flights from Vietnam to Japan and South Korea among other attractive tourist sites are highly competitive.

Airfares for flights to Japan between mid-October and November tumbled against the pre-pandemic prices, at just VND3.7-5 million ($149-201) each.

Airfares for flights to South Korea are seen as cheaper.

For example, Vietjet quotes the ticket price of VND2 million ($80.5), while the airfare for a Vietnam Airlines flight to South Korea stands at VND2.4-3 million ($97-121).

Meanwhile, South Koreas newly established airline, Air Premia, sets ticket prices for its Ho Chi Minh City-Seoul route at VND2.4-3 million ($100-120) each.

Many travel companies forecast that these promotions will pay off by the end of 2023 if international arrivals from the United States and Europe surge while China fully reopens its door and airfares fall.

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Doctors have endured working in narrow spaces and patients have become familiar with subpar facilities at the 161-year-old Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a major public medical establishment in southern Vietnam.

Located in District 5, the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases was established in 1861 as Cho Quan Hospital.

It has since operated as a leading hospital in the south, especially for treating infectious diseases.

Cars are parked next to the makeshift lounge of the on-demand clinic at the medical examination department of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) recently recognized it as the oldest hospital in the country, with an official recognition ceremony scheduled for next month.

However, despite its key role, the hospital has been left in a makeshift state and in dire need of renovation due to slow planning progress.

Patients wait for health checks at the medical examination department of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

The examination department is often fully filled with patients, who sometimes have to stand waiting for their turn as there are not enough seats.

Its rooms are quite narrow, just some 10 square meters each, and only enough for setting up a table, three chairs, and a bed.

A doctor examines a child patient in a narrow room at the medical examination department of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Its on-demand clinic specializing in liver and parasite diseases is not much better either as the hospital had to take advantage of a green area to set up a waiting lounge using corrugated iron sheets.

The emergency department covers less than 60 square meters and has just six beds compared to the standard 20 beds.

A child patient and his mother have to take the stairs as there are no elevators at a department of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Some multistory departments also have no elevators, with the ground floor only saved for the elderly, patients in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

The hospital has also made use of the halls to place more beds and furniture due to a lack of space, while the open-air area is covered up to create more space for patients and their families.

Patients wait for health checks at a prefabricated space, where a tree remains, at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

On average, the hospital receives up to 3,000 patients coming for health checks per day.

With the deterioration, crowding remains a common issue at the hospital.

Patients wait for health checks at a prefabricated space, where a tree remains, at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Twelve years ago, the city administration approved the construction of new facilities for the degraded departments and clinics on a vacant lot.

However, the project has made no progress so far.

Tangled electric wires are seen outside a room at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

During a recent interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Le Manh Hung, the hospitals deputy director, expressed his sorrow that he could do nothing to improve the situation.

Im very upset to see the staff and patients enduring such an awful environment, Hung said.

Patients wait for health checks at the medical examination department of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

Like the previous generations of leaders of the hospital, I expect the renovation to be carried out soon so that we can serve patients better and deserve the position of a frontline hospital.

Dr. Le Manh Hung, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, shows a planning drawing for the construction of new facilities. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre

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Disney+ is to become the new global home for upcoming seasons of Doctor Who after a deal between BBC and Disney+.

Disney+ will become the exclusive new home for the The Doctor from 2023 outside of the UK and Ireland.

The announcement was made this morning by the next Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

New episodes will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ beginning in late 2023, to coincide with the 60th anniversary.

Russell T Davies says: I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds  with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.

Charlotte Moore, BBCs Chief Content Officer says: We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world. Russell T Davies vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctors epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so its an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world.

Alisa Bowen, President, Disney+ says: Were excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.

In a statement ABC said, After a long friendship, spanning more than 50 years, the universe has called the Doctor in a different direction and Doctor Who will no longer appear on the ABC beyond the current season.

The BBC has today announced a new partnership with Disney+ to continue the series.

ABC audiences can currently enjoy past seasons of Doctor Who, including the recent Centenary Special, on ABC iview.

We are incredibly grateful to the generations of Whovians who have enjoyed Doctor Who with us on the ABC.

Everyone at the ABC wishes the Doctor well on their adventures and we hope the Time Lord will visit us again at some stage in the future.

Its not the first time BBC has ripped shows from ABC, having previously moved premium dramas to its BBC First channels on Foxtel -but Doctor Who was one which remained with ABC.

David Tennant will play the Fourteenth Doctor for three specials, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the Fifteenth Doctor over the festive season in late 2023.

A new Doctor Who logo was also unveiled for a new era.
SBS is now moving into royal docos about the new monarch.

Charles: The New King is a two part special, premiering next week.

A new look at the man who was born to be King. Most of us have only ever known a world where Elizabeth II was Queen. For many, the British monarchy was the Queen. But now that her long reign has come to an end, her son has become King Charles III. Charles is the oldest monarch ever to ascend to the British throne. He is now the head of the most famous family in the world. But who is the man who was born to be King? What kind of King will he be? And, as King, will he ever command the same affection and respect as his mother?

With access to an unprecedented and exclusive collection of rare royal archive and revelatory new interviews from those closest to Charles, this insightful and timely documentary series explores those important and pivotal moments in his life that shaped him from royal infant to King.

Wednesday, 2 November at 7.30pm on SBS.
Nine News reporter Lauren Tomasi is joining the networks Los Angeles bureau.

She joined Nine as a producer on the Today show, then as a Reporter, working in both Melbourne and Sydney offices.

She transfered to news as a Producer before making the jump into the reporting ranks herself.

Lauren was chosen for the LA role by our interview panel of Nine News and Current Affairs executives from around Australia and overseas, news boss Darren Wick said in a note to staff.

Her work ethic, enthusiasm, experience of reporting in trying conditions and circumstances, along with her constant displays of team work were all contributing factors towards the final decision by the panel.

She will take up her posting in the coming months.

I would also like to thank the large number of reporters from all newsrooms and programs who applied for the role and underwent the interview process, Wick noted.
(Bloomberg) -- Mark Carney has dismissed reports that Wall Street banks threatened to walk out of the climate-finance coalition he heads, but also said that tension within the group needed to be addressed.

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Responding to questions at a hearing on Monday held by the UKs Environmental Audit Committee of the House of Commons, the former Bank of England governor who now co-chairs the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, said no institutions had indicated to me any decision to leave the group.

JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley had signaled they may pull back from GFANZ should membership entail binding restrictions on fossil finance, according to people familiar with the matter. In response to their concerns, the UN-backed group Race to Zero walked back its proposal that GFANZ members commit to phasing out the financing of gas, oil and coal.

Guidance given by one of the associated partners of GFANZ had to be adjusted, Carney said. It is a tension obviously that needed to be reconciled. He also noted that GFANZ has grown over the past year, and now has well over 500 members representing about $150 trillion in assets.

You may have read some headlines about people leaving or thinking of leaving, Carney said later on Monday, during a speech delivered at Londons Mansion House. But, you will be surprised to hear that GFANZ assets have gone up, he said.

In response to the backlash from bankers, Race to Zero recently revised its language to say that its up to individual members of the net-zero alliance to find their own path to a 1.5C-aligned business model, without setting binding requirements. It has argued that the substance of its proposal remains the same, despite the change in wording.

Story continues

The UKs Environmental Audit Committee is trying to establish the role of finance in Britains national effort to meet its net-zero obligations. After being successfully sued by a group of climate activists earlier this year for putting forward an unclear net-zero plan, the UK was recently told by firms including GFANZ members BlackRock Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc. that a phase-out of fossil finance is unrealistic.

Estimates for how much is needed to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 vary. BNY Mellon Investment Management and Fathom Consulting put the figure at $100 trillion, while the International Energy Agency has said the amount is closer to $125 trillion.

Read More: BlackRock, Vanguard Tell UK They Wont Phase Out Fossil Fuel

Asset managers and banks have argued that its unreasonable to expect them to stop supporting oil and gas clients when governments themselves often fail to provide the regulatory and legislative frameworks needed to underpin such policies.

Carney, who has in the past cautioned against heaping too much criticism on the finance industrys efforts to cut emissions, told lawmakers on Monday that in order to have an economy moving to net zero, you need to have a financial system that is orientated to net zero.

As governments and regulators get a better sense of how the finance industry is tackling emissions, it might make sense to gradually introduce stricter requirements, Carney said. It would be prudent to lay the groundwork now, as it tends to take a couple of years before such rules can be rolled out, he said.

Over time we will see how financial institutions perform against those targets, he said. Some will miss, others will hit and some will outperform; the question will be, is it because they are not very good at it or dont take it seriously. Or is it a lack of ambition in climate policy more broadly?

Ultimately, companies that make progress on their climate goals will be worth more, Carney said.

(GFANZ is also co-chaired by Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP.)

(Adds Carney comment on size of GFANZ in fifth paragraph)

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(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Former teen star Freddy Adu has warned Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri about the new-found fame that will now come his way.

Nwaneri made history earlier this year when he became the youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League, making his debut off the bench against Brentford at the age of 15.

Adu was in a similar situation nearly 20 years ago when he made his debut at the age of 14 in the MLS. The American was hailed as the new Pele and had trials at Manchester United.

He did eventually make the move to Europe, playing for Benfica, before turning out for sides in the likes of Finland and Serbia.

I think Ethan is extremely impressive, especially given that hes making that debut in the Premier League, which is the best league in the world, said Adu, who was speaking on behalf of Offers.Bet.

To get your debut at 15 and for a big team at that, in that league; thats pretty impressive. There are a lot of distractions when youre at that age, and Ethan is doing something that is not very common.

Record-breaker: Ethan Nwaneri made his Premier League debut for Arsenal aged just 15 (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Its very unique and hes going to get a lot of attention with a lot of people talking about him, which can bring a lot of fame - and you have to be able to handle that. Its harder said than done, especially at that age.

Hes just got to keep working hard, because its hard work that got him there in the first place, and you can never rest on your laurels.

You can never take anything for granted. You have to cherish it, and you have to work your tail off even harder than you did before. Talent can only take you so far, and talent alone is not enough.

I think its going to be a lot harder for Ethan than it was for me because hes already playing as such a big club, with so many world-class players at Arsenal, and in the best league in the world.

I had my chance with DC United at 14, but the league wasnt at the same level as the Premier League, so its going to be a lot harder for Ethan get consistent playing time.

So that is why hes going to have to absolutely work his tail off to succeed, because hes already starting at a much harder level than I did.
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog held talks on Wednesday focused heavily on Iran, with the two leaders discussing Tehran's nuclear program and what Washington says is the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia.

Speaking to reporters as they sat down in the Oval Office, Herzog said he and Biden would attend the COP27 U.N. climate change summit being held in Egypt next month.

One item that you and I will be participating in, Mr. President, with leaders from all over the world is COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt a few weeks down the road," he said.

Biden is expected to attend the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, next month. A White House spokesperson declined to comment on the president's travel plans.

Biden had sought to negotiate the return of Iran to the Iran nuclear deal after then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018. Last week the White House said it had set aside diplomacy for now and said Tehran had supplied drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

Herzog noted that Wednesday marked 40 days since the death in custody of Iranian citizen Mahsa Amini. She had been detained by morality police for wearing an "improper" hijab, and her death has set off protests.

"This is an example of Iran crushing their own citizens while moving forward towards nuclear weapons and supplying lethal weapons that are killing innocent citizens in Ukraine. The Iranian challenge will be a major challenge to be discussed," Herzog said.

Biden noted that Israel and Lebanon on Thursday will sign a maritime accord to establish a permanent boundary. The United States helped negotiate the deal.

"I think its a historic breakthrough. It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it, and it took some real guts, and I think it took principle and persistent diplomacy to get it done," Biden said.

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A White House statement on the meeting said Biden emphasized the importance of taking steps to de-escalate the security situation in the West Bank and that a negotiate two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians remains the best way for a lasting peace.

"They discussed the importance of promoting co-existence and weakening extremists who promote hatred and violence," the statement said.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw and Steve Holland; Editing by Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio)
Iran protesters outside the BBC offices in Brighton (Image: NQ Staff)

Protesters have gathered outside the BBC offices to criticise the TV outlet for its coverage of the unrest in Iran.

There were chants of BBC, shame on you outside Imperial House in Queens Road, Brighton, as a large group of people criticised the broadcaster for silence on the issue.

The protest is the latest in a series of events organised in support of the people of Iran who are taking to the streets in opposition to the Iranian government.

Banatshe Babapoor, a protester at the Brighton event, said: We are unhappy about it because by being silent they are supporting this regime.

The Argus: Banatshe Babapoor, a protester at the event

Banatshe Babapoor, a protester at the event (Image: NQ Staff)

Ms Babapoor, 52, added: Iranian people are under a lot of pressure and we want our voice to be heard all over the world.

The protest at the BBC offices focused on the coverage by BBCs Persian language service. Protesters have condemned the service for not speaking out against the Iranian government as well as a lack of coverage of events generally.

The demonstrators held a number of old Iranian flags, used before the current regimes ascent in 1979, and shouted the names of women who have died as part of the unrest.

A spokesman for the BBC said: The purpose of our journalism is to report the truth about events in Iran in an independent and impartial way. BBC News Persian journalists have been committed to covering all angles of the protests in Iran in depth, working around the clock to establish the facts, verify footage, and hear first-hand from people in the country.

The Argus: 'BBC, shame on you' reads a sign at the protest

'BBC, shame on you' reads a sign at the protest (Image: NQ Staff)

Our journalists are also facing untrue allegations, online abuse and in some cases, physical harassment, simply for doing their jobs. We condemn all harassment of our BBC Persian colleagues and we are committed to bringing their journalism  needed now more than ever  to our audience of millions in Iran and beyond.

The discontent first began after the death of Masa Amini, a 23-year-old woman who was killed after being stopped by Iranian morality police for wearing her hijab incorrectly.

The Iranian government denies that Ms Amini was harmed in police custody.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  October 26, 2022  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Caterpillar Inc. CAT, Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. HTCMY, H&E Equipment Services, Inc. HEES and Terex Corp. TEX.

Industry: Construction and Mining

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/1996926/4-stocks-to-watch-from-the-construction-mining-equipment-industry

The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry is facing near-term challenges in the form of supply-chain constraints and flared-up input costs. The recent contraction in orders due to customers being cautious about their spending amid growing fears of a global economic slowdown, adds to the woes.

Industry players like Caterpillar Inc., Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., H&E Equipment Services, Inc. and Terex Corp. are well-poised to gain despite the aforementioned headwinds, thanks to their cost-cutting efforts and investment in digital initiatives.

About the Industry

The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry comprises companies that manufacture and sell construction, mining and utility equipment. They support customers using machinery in the construction of commercial, institutional and residential buildings, and infrastructure projects. Their equipment is also utilized in underground mining, drilling and mineral processing, and surface mining to extract and haul copper, iron ore, coal, oil sands, aggregates, gold, and other minerals and ores.

Their products are varied, including loaders, pavers, dozers, excavators, concrete mixer trucks, crushing, pulverizing & screening equipment, tractors and cranes. The industry participants support oil and gas, power generation, marine, rail, and industrial applications through their reciprocating engines, generator sets, gas turbines and turbine-related services.

4 Trends Shaping the Future of Manufacturing - Construction and Mining Industry

Recent Slowdown in Manufacturing Activity a Concern: Per the Federal Reserve, industrial production rose a meager 0.4% in September 2022, following a 2.9% growth (at an annual rate) in the third quarter of 2022. Manufacturing output moved up 0.4% in September. The index increased 1.9% at an annual rate in the third quarter, decelerating from the 3.2% gain posted in the second quarter. In September, the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) manufacturing index registered 50.9%.

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Even though the reading indicates expansion for the 28th month in a row, it was the lowest since the reading of 43.5% in May 2020. The New Orders Index dipped to 47.1% in September 2022 from 51.3% recorded in August 2022. With a reading below 50, the index entered the negative territory and was at its lowest level since May 2020, when it registered 32.3%.

This indicates that customers seem to be putting their reins on spending amid growing concerns of a global economic slowdown. Also, some companies are unable to accept new orders due to the ongoing shortage of parts and supply-chain snarls.

Demand in Mining & Construction to Remain Strong: The intensifying global focus on shifting from fossil fuels to zero emissions will require a large number of commodities, which in turn, will support demand for mining equipment in the years to come. The U.S government's plans to increase investment in infrastructure construction  particularly in critical subsectors, such as transportation, water and sewerage, and telecommunications  will support demand in the coming years.

Cost Inflation & Supply-Chain Issues Persist: The industry is currently facing input cost inflation (mainly steel), transport and logistic costs. It has been struggling for a while to keep pace with the increase in demand due to the shortage of labor, supply-chain issues, high raw material lead times and continued crises of critical materials. The industry players are making an all-out effort to bolster their financial condition, conserve cash and improve profitability.

The companies are constantly implementing cost-reduction actions, which are likely to help sustain margins in this scenario. The companies are focused on streamlining their operations and realigning around high-growth key markets or customer segments to enhance their performances.

Investment in Digital Initiatives to be a Game Changer: The industry participants are investing in digital initiatives like AI, cloud computing, advanced analytics and robotics. Digital transformation aids organizations in boosting productivity and increasing efficiency, reliability and safety, thereby enriching customer satisfaction. With the pressing need to cut carbon emissions, companies worldwide are relying more on autonomous machinery. Thus, the players in the Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry are stepping up their research and technological capabilities to bring products into the market equipped with the latest technology.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dim Prospects

The group's Zacks Industry Rank, basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull prospects in the near term. The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry, a seven-stock group within the broader Zacks Industrial Products sector, currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank#155, which places it at the bottom 38% of 251 Zacks industries.Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let's look at the industry's recent stock-market performance and the valuation picture.

Industry Versus Broader Market

The Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry has outperformed its sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year. Over this period, the industry has declined 7.3% compared with the sector's decrease of 18.8%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has fallen 17.8% in the same time frame.

Industry's Current Valuation

On the basis of the forward 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio, a commonly used multiple for valuing Manufacturing - Construction and Mining companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 8.99 compared with the S&P 500's 9.76 and the Industrial Products sector's trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 13.72.

Over the last five years, the industry has traded as high as 14.83 and as low as 7.04, with the median being at 10.22.

4 Manufacturing - Construction & Mining Stocks to Watch

Hitachi Construction Machinery: HTCMY is developing a wide range of technologies to realize the autonomous operation of ultra-large hydraulic excavators at mines. It recently announced that it will showcase its full lineup of battery-powered mini and compact excavators at bauma 2022 to capitalize on growing demand for battery-powered electric hydraulic excavators for use in construction work in the European market.

HTCMY is also strengthening its focus on value-chain businesses other than new machinery sales, such as parts and services, rentals, used equipment and parts recycling. Plus, it is utilizing digital technologies to provide solutions at all points of contact with customers. Shares of Hitachi Construction Machinery have declined 21% in the past three months.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Hitachi Construction Machinery with its subsidiaries engages in the development, manufacturing, sales and service operations of hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, road construction machines and mining machinery worldwide. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HTCMY's current-year earnings has moved up 1% over the past 60 days. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 245%, on average. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Caterpillar: CAT's revenues and earnings have been growing year over year for six straight quarters, thanks to its cost-saving actions, strong end-market demand and pricing actions. Caterpillar's backlog was a solid $28.4 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2022, which will boost its top line in the upcoming quarters. CAT is anticipated to gain from strength in residential construction and non-residential construction in the United States, and robust demand for mining equipment.

Caterpillar continues to focus on customers and the future by constantly investing in digital capabilities, connecting assets and job sites, and developing the next generation of more productive and efficient products, providing it a competitive edge. The stock has gained 6% in the past three months.

Known for its iconic yellow machines, Caterpillar is the largest global construction and mining equipment manufacturer. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CAT's ongoing-year earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 18%. The estimate has moved up 1% over the past 60 days. CAT has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13%, on average. CAT has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

H&E Equipment Services: The sale of its crane business executed last year makes it a pure-play rental business and poises it well for continued expansion in the equipment rental business. HEES will gain from its acquisition strategy, which focuses on identifying and acquiring rental companies to complement its existing business, broaden its geographic footprint and increase density in the existing markets.

H&E Equipment Services recently acquired One Source Equipment Rentals Inc., adding 10 equipment rental locations to its branch network, including initial locations in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. The buyout will add approximately $138 million to the fleet, as measured by the original equipment cost. At the end of the second quarter of 2022, the company had recorded fleet original equipment cost (OEC) of more than $2 billion. Efforts to grow its Parts and Services operations will yield results, as it is a relatively stable high-margin revenue source. It also aids in developing customer relationships, attracting customers and maintaining a high-quality rental fleet. Shares of HEES have gained 3.8% over the past three months.

Baton Rouge, LA-based H&E Equipment Services is one of the largest integrated equipment services companies in the United States. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this year's earnings indicates growth of 42.6% from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. HEES has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 45.9%, on average. H&E Equipment Services has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 19.7%. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Terex: TEX has been delivering year-over-year growth in earnings over the past six quarters, supported by robust bookings, revenue growth and a margin expansion in both business segments. Its backlog has been on an uptrend over the past seven quarters and was a record $3.47 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2022. This, along with solid demand, pricing and cost-saving actions, positions the company well for improved results.

TEX is progressing well on its "Execute, Innovate, Grow" strategy that will drive growth. In sync with this, it is investing in innovative products, digital innovation, manufacturing facility expansion and acquisitions. Shares of TEX have gained 9% over the past three months.

Norwalk, CT-based Terex manufactures and sells aerial work platforms and materials processing machinery worldwide. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings indicates growth of 29.6% from the prior-year reported figure. TEX has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 31.7%, on average, and an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 16.5%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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MSPs will be urged to back the Gender Recognition Reforms outside of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday

MSPs will be urged to support reforms to the Gender Recognition Act by LGBT campaigners ahead of the first stage debate on the legislation at Holyrood.

Scottish Trans, part of the Equality Network, is set to host an event for supporters of the reforms outside of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon.

There will be speeches from 12.45pm onwards, including from transgender people who will be affected by the reforms, with SNP, Scottish Greens and Scottish Labour MSPs also contributing.

READ MORE: What will Scotland's Gender Recognition Act Bill contain, and what does it all mean?

Two local artists, Latoy and Evay, will also create a visual piece for the event focusing on the theme of recognition.

It comes after the majority of the Scottish Parliaments Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommended that MSPs support the general principles of the bill. The two Tory MSPs on the committee, Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton, declined to back the reforms.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill aims to make it easier and less traumatic for transgender people in Scotland to acquire a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC).

It would remove the medical requirement and panel process and instead allow trans people to self-identify. They would only have to live in their acquired gender for three months instead of two years before obtaining a GRC, and a declaration would be made in front of a notary public or a justice of the peace.

It would also mean the document would be awarded by the Registrar General instead of a medical panel. The age for applying for a GRC would be lowered from 18 to 16.

Vic Valentine, Manager of Scottish Trans said: Trans people and our families, friends and allies are coming together at the Scottish Parliament to send a powerful and hopeful message to MSPs across the Holyrood chamber ahead of the debate and vote on the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage one.

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A vote for this bill is a vote to improve the lives of trans men and women across Scotland. The current law means that people have to go through an intrusive, complex and stressful process to update the sex on their birth certificate, and be recognised as who they really are.

We hope that all MSPs, just as the large majority of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee did after taking extensive evidence on the bill, will decide that voting for this bill and agreeing that the process should be made simpler and fairer is the right thing to do.

The bill is expected to pass the first stage with SNP MSPs whipped to vote in favour of the reforms, as it was a manifesto commitment for the party at the Holyrood 2021 election.

John Mason, SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, was recently disciplined by the party over his stance on abortion and buffer zones, which could lead to a more serious sanction if he votes against the GRA reforms, and potentially losing the whip.

READ MORE: Human rights body finds no 'concrete' concerns over GRA reform impact

The Scottish Greens, Scottish Labour and Scottish LibDems have also committed to the reforms.

While Scottish Tory MSPs will have a free vote on the issue, they are expected to oppose the legislation.

The bill has been delayed and dogged by controversy, had two lengthy consultations on the reforms launched and analysed, and now will finally make it to the Holyrood chamber on Thursday.
Global coronavirus cases are projected to rise slowly in the coming months to about 18.7 million per day by February.

The current daily average is around 16.7 million, according to the University of Washington report.

It is far fewer than last winter when the Omicron variant pushed the estimated peak daily average to about 80 million - and the increase is also not expected to cause a big increase in deaths.

The university's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) forecasts average deaths will rise from about 1,660 now to 2,748 on 1 February.

COVID infections in the US are predicted to rise by a third to more than a million per day over the same period, driven by factors such as people being inside more over the winter.

But a surge in Germany has already peaked, according to the study's authors, who expect cases there to fall by more than a third to about 190,000.

The IHME suggests the recent rise in cases and hospitalisations in Germany could be down to Omicron subvariants BQ.1 or BQ.1.1, and that it might spread to other parts of Europe in the coming weeks.

Another Omicron subvariant called XBB is also driving a surge in admissions in Singapore, according to the analysis.

The University of Washington researchers say the variant is more transmissible but less severe.

They add that the threat from XBB is expected to be diminished by the fact that people previously infected with the BA.5 Omicron subvariant are likely to have immunity against it.

Read more:

Weekly COVID-related deaths up by nearly 40%

New Omicron mutation could evade vaccine antibodies

In the UK, latest figures published last week showed cases were continuing to rise but could be nearing a peak.

The weekly infection survey from the Office for National Statistics showed an estimated two million people had the virus in the UK in the week ending 10 October.

That's about one in 30 people and a rise of 15.4% on the week before.

But there were hints that the spread was beginning to slow in many parts of England - which accounts for the bulk of cases.

The UK Health Security Agency is still urging people over the age of 50 to come forward for another booster because they are at higher risk of serious disease if infected.
Rita Ora and husband Taika Waititi will co-host the 2022 MTV EMAs on November 13 (AP)

Rita Ora and her husband Taika Waititi will co-host the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) next month, it has been announced.

Ora, 31, and Waititi, 47, will become the first couple to host the awards show at the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany, on November 13.

A photo on the MTV EMAs Instagram page heralded the announcement. It showed Ora posing in a bright green gown alongside Waititi, who was dressed in a grey suit, with the pair holding MTV EMAs.

Ora and Waititi, who secretly tied the knot in the summer, expressed their excitement at the news in a joint statement.

Were excited to host this years MTV EMAs and celebrate the best musicians and performances from around the world, they said.

We look forward to sharing the evening with all of these talented artists.

Ora previously hosted the 2017 EMAs at Londons Wembley Arena, during which she received several nominations and won the Power of Music Award.

Im thrilled to be back hosting, and sharing the stage with Taika makes it all the more special, she added of her co-hosting role this year.

Weve got it all at this years EMAs; fun surprises, fantastic fashion, comedy, and above all amazing music! We cant wait for audiences to share these moments with us.

Ora and Thor: Love and Thunder director Waititi went public with their romance in 2021, five months after they began dating in March of that year.

Reports emerged that the pair had married in August after they were each seen sporting gold wedding bands.

Ora and Waititi are said to have secretly tied the knot in August (Getty Images)

Sources around the time of the wedding speculation claimed that the couple had been planning a big party with family and friends to celebrate their secret nuptials.

Ora gave rare insight into her marriage on Jaime Winstones Greatest Night Ever podcast recently.

Im in love. Im very much in love, she said. Im in love, Im in love, amen!

But I love love as well. Ive always been such a believer in it and Ive always felt like I always wanted the fairy tale and thats what I grew up loving.

The 2022 MTV EMAs will broadcast live on MTV and on Pluto TV in select regions across the US, Latin America and Europe and on Comedy Central in Germany on November 13.

It will be globally available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV on November 14.
HCM CITY  Agricultural services and food conglomerate Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company on Monday in HCM City signed a loan syndication with seven domestic and foreign banks in Viet Nam as part of a plan to expand high-quality paddy production and bring better products to both Viet Nam and foreign markets.

The credit will last three years and is worth US$100 million, Loc Troi said. The seven banks are MB Bank, Kasikornbank, First Commercial Bank, Agricultural Bank of China Limited (Ha Noi branch), China Construction Bank Corporation (HCM City branch), CTBC bank Company Lte and E.SUN Commerical Bank, Ltd (ong Nai branch), with MB Bank and Kasikornbank serving as the lead banks.

Under the agreement, the credit will be disbursed through supplying Loc Troi seeds, agriculture material and other services to co-operative alliances, co-operatives, production sites and farmers.

The disbursement, the company said, would be done based on the timing of crops and would be digitalised through the companys applications with friendly interfaces so that farmers could easily track the production process during their crops.

Talking about the credit, Loc Trois chairman, Huynh Van Thon, stressed that the co-operation with the seven bank was the first step for further development in the future.

He affirmed that the support from the banks would particularly help fulfil the company's mission of accompanying farmers to develop together.

Loc Troi is a big paddy and rice producer in Viet Nam. Currently, the company's products under the brand Com Viet Nam" rice have been sold in the EU at Carrefour and Leclerc supermarkets. Up to the end of October, about 400,000 tonnes of rice have been ordered.

Established in 1993, Loc Troi has become the leading agricultural services and food conglomerate in Viet Nam with over 3,600 employees. Currently, Loc Troi is the only company that has met the Sustainable Rice Platforms standards for several consecutive years.

The company is co-operating with many co-operatives and over 200,000 households in order to set up and develop cultivation methods in which they can cut down costs and ensure sustainable development.

The companys products have received many domestic and international awards.  VNS
HA NOI  The National Innovation Center (NIC) from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Meta Group launched the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 programme in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

With the theme "Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022: Innovation with transforming enterprises", the event is an annual programme within the framework of the Vietnam Innovation Initiative (InnovateVN), launched by NIC with the companionship of major domestic and foreign technology partners.

MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said the programme is to seek innovative solutions around the world to solve current challenges, sharing knowledge of national importance towards a prosperous and sustainable future.

He said: "We call for synergies between the public sector, the private sector and socio-economic sectors at home and abroad to join hands to shape the world, building, testing and implementing innovative initiatives for a prosperous Viet Nam."

He added that Viet Nam aimed to take advantage of domestic enterprises, helping them grow their business and expand their exports, increasing jobs and easy access to international markets.

Vu Quoc Huy, director of NIC, said: "Our goal is to attract investment to Viet Nam in a sustainable way, creating favourable conditions for local SMEs to join the value chain. The Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 program will focus on finding innovative solutions. Innovation and digital transformation to help improve the capacity of small and medium enterprises.

The programme focused on improving the governance capacity of the system of SMEs through increasing production and business efficiency, expanding revenue from new business models and new products, and improving business performance and labour productivity from new processes and new technologies, as well as strengthening linkages between FDI enterprises, large enterprises and local SMEs. It was also to promote and support local SMEs to participate actively, move up the ladder in global value chains, and strengthen linkage and effective policy dialogue between government and business.

Rafael Frankel, Public Policy Manager for South Asia and Southeast Asia, Meta Group, said: "Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 is a testament to Meta's commitment to accompany the government and other stakeholders. Enterprises in Vietnam in promoting innovation activities and national digital transformation."

He added: "We believe and expect that the solutions offered at the program will be the nucleus of strongly promoting the digital transformation process, improving the competitiveness of more than eight hundred thousand small and medium-sized enterprises in Viet Nam."VNS
HA NOI  The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the European-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) have helped the country attract foreign direct investment (FDI) from EU member states.

However, the treaties also posed many challenges in luring capital from EU businesses, especially amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as geopolitical and economic instability, in general, and the EU economy, in particular, a report showed.

Since 2010, EU enterprises have increased their investment in Viet Nam despite the fact that the United Kingdom (UK) left the bloc.

In general, the number of EU partners investing in Viet Nam tends to increase over the years. Especially in 2020, 26 out of 27 countries in this bloc registered to invest in the country. By August, the EU had a total of 2,378 valid projects in Viet Nam, worth US$27.59 billion, according to a report released on Tuesday at the workshop on "FDI flows from the EU to Viet Nam in the context of EVFTA and EVIPA".

Recently, EU businesses have been interested in service industries, clean energy, supporting industries, food processing, high-tech agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

According to the report, the EVFTA and EVIPA have raised the scale of FDI from EU member countries and FDI in general due to commitments on tariff reductions and creating competitive advantages for the countries in attracting the EUs FDI.

The main competitors in the region in terms of trade and investment do not have FTAs with the EU. Singapore is the only country in ASEAN that has signed an FTA with the EU.

However, this advantage may be short-term, as the orientation of both ASEAN and the EU is to sign an FTA between the two regions.

The agreements also contribute to the reorganisation of the EU's investment in Viet Nam by sectors and assist in creating a favourable environment through changes to the institutional and legislative framework.

"The implementation of EVFTA and EVIPA will be the driving force and requirement for the country to reform its institutions and legal framework, enhance the business environment, and provide more favourable and safer conditions for investors," Nguyen Thi Vu Ha, co-author of the research, said at the forum.

Nevertheless, these agreements are just one of many conditions required to get EU managers attention. The risks of the new context are likely to weaken the business sentiment of global entrepreneurs in general and EU investors in particular.

The digital transformation process may also narrow the EU's investment flows into Viet Nam, especially those investing in high-value sectors, due to the change in investment objectives of multinational enterprises.

Foreign investors tend to choose Viet Nam for its cheap labour or natural resources, but in Industry 4.0, their goal is to find knowledge and technology. Unfortunately, this is not an advantage of the country because it still has many limitations in terms of skilled workforce and technological and financial capacity, while the quality of infrastructure for high-tech industries is still underdeveloped, noted Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, co-author of the report.

Besides, the EU's FDI comes with high corporate social responsibility standards in protecting and training workers as well as respecting and protecting the environment. Therefore, the implementation of EVIPA requires continuously improving the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy and its readiness to take advantage of opportunities from the agreement.

And due to resource limitations, Viet Nam risks becoming a destination for low-quality FDI projects, the report pointed out.

At the event, Nguyen Chien Thang, director of the Institute of European Studies, said that the pandemic was also a cause for the reduction in EU capital flows as some countries pursued the near-sourcing approach, bringing manufacturing facilities back to their countries.

High transportation expenses were also a problem for investors because their main focus was making a profit, therefore they sought locations with better investment opportunities.

With all the difficulties, the report proposed strengthening research, popularising and disseminating information on the EVFTA and EVIPA, promoting institutional reform, improving the quality of the business environment and infrastructure, reforming the financial market, and focusing on training to build a workforce that meets high-skill industry demand. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam in general and Ha Noi in particular always treasure invaluable support that the Cambodian Senate, National Assembly, Government and people have provided Viet Nam, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee inh Tien Dung has affirmed.

During a reception in Ha Noi on Tuesday for visiting President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Say Chhum, Dung also congratulated Cambodia on maintaining political and security stability as well as socio-economic development, with improved stature on international arena.

Ha Noi always paid attention to stepping up cooperation with Phnom Penh for the development of the two capital cities and nations, he said.

The official wished that Samdech Say Chhum would direct Cambodian ministries, agencies and localities to create favourable conditions for the two capitals to expand collaboration and effectively carry out cooperation agreements.

The host expressed his hope that the Cambodian Senate would continue strengthening cooperation, sharing experience and pushing forward the effective implementation of the Viet Nam-Cambodia joint statements between the two Parties and States.

Samdech Say Chhum, for his part, affirmed that his visit was meant to reinforce practical ties on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties this year and the Year of Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship 2022.

He said he believed that the results of the visit would contribute to consolidating and expanding friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia, thus bringing great benefits to the two countries and peoples.  VNS
The new AWS Asia-Pacific (Bangkok) Region will consist of three Availability Zones, adding to the existing 87 across 27 geographic regions.

The AWS Asia-Pacific (Bangkok) Region launch assets group

The new facility will enable developers, startups, and enterprises, as well as governmental, educational, and non-profit organisations, to run their applications and serve end users from AWS data centres located in Thailand, ensuring that customers who want to keep their data in Thailand can do so.

It will also provide even lower latency across the country while enabling customers to use advanced technologies from the worlds leading cloud to drive innovation.

Vice president of Infrastructure Services at AWS Prasad Kalyanaraman said, We are committed to supporting Thailand's digital transformation through our local infrastructure investments and fast pace of innovation, helping Thailand-based customers to unlock the full potential of the cloud to transform the way businesses and institutions serve their stakeholders.

The AWS Asia Pacific (Bangkok) Region will enable organisations to build with AWS technologies like AI and machine learning, data analytics, and the Internet of Things. With these new tools, AWS is empowering governments to better engage with citizens, enterprises to innovate for their next phase of growth, and entrepreneurs to build businesses and compete on a global scale, added Kalyanaraman.

Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Energy said, AWSs plan to build data centres in Thailand is a significant milestone that will bring advanced cloud computing services to more organisations and help us deliver our Thailand 4.0 ambition to create a digitised, value-based economy.

The Royal Thai government is pleased to collaborate with AWS  the worlds leading cloud service provider  to bring secure and resilient world-class cloud infrastructure to Thailand. AWSs investment will enhance the nations competitiveness, generate significant long-term economic benefits, and help build a highly skilled workforce, he added.

As part of its commitment to the region, AWS plans an estimated investment of more than $5 billion in Thailand over 15 years.

Globally, AWS has announced plans for 24 more Availability Zones across eight AWS Regions in Australia, Canada, India, Israel, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand.

AWS boosts presence in Vietnam with first two edge locations Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company, has marked its presence expansion in Vietnam by announcing on August 31 the launch of the first two AWS edge locations in the country located in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

AWS offerings turbocharge wide support for customers in Vietnam Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expected to increase investment in infrastructure and digital skills, and bring best practices to Vietnam as a way to increase its footprint in the market. Phil Davis, the US tech firms managing director for Asia-Pacific and Japan, discussed with VIRs Bich Thuy the changes in its future business strategy here.

Public Sector Summit 2022 - Empowering cloud technology in ASEAN The AWS Public Sector Summit opened in Singapore on October 6, discussing cloud transformation and the upscaling of cloud technology in ASEAN.
Leaders of C.P. Vietnam, ministries, departments, and embassies cutting the ribbon

CPV Food based in Binh Phuoc province, a subsidiary of C.P. Vietnam (CPV), has announced the export of the first shipment of processed chicken to Japan.

Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Japanese and Thai embassies in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Phuoc People's Committee, and partners of the company joined the ceremony.

The Japanese market is one of the most promising destinations for numerous businesses to export high-quality items. In order to set foot in Japan, CPV Food must ensure the traceability of the whole supply chain from materials to food processing and prove world-class manufacturing practices  including environmental and animal welfare  to meet the strict standards of Japan and other developed countries.

Previously, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sent a veterinary inspection team to CPV Food's production facility in Binh Phuoc to evaluate the production chain of processed chicken for export.

Montri Suwanposri, general director of C.P. Vietnam JSC, said that the export of the first shipment to Japan marked the success of the closed production chain of CPV Food in Binh Phuoc.

"With the first export shipment to Japan, CPV Food started the journey to bring Vietnamese processed chicken products to overseas markets," said Montri.

The first shipment of C.P. Vietnam's processed chicken meat being exported to Japan

Japan's approval to import chicken from C.P. Vietnam has opened up great business opportunities for Vietnam's poultry industry.

At the ceremony, the Department of Animal Health handed over the health certificate to CPV Food. They joined the ceremony announcing the export of the first shipment of processed chicken meat to Japan, visited the factory, and tested the food.

CPV Food's factory was inaugurated in 2020 in Binh Phuoc. This is the most modern and largest processing and breeding factory for chicken for export in Vietnam with an investment capital of $250 million.

In the first phase, the capacity of the complex is one million broiler chickens per week, equivalent to 50 million chickens per year or a processing output of 116,000 tonnes per year. Of which, 55 per cent of the processed meat is for export, and 45 per cent is for domestic supply.

High-tech facility no paltry boost to poultry exports Vietnam is a step closer to its ambition to become a major branded poultry food producer and exporter with integrating large-scale modern husbandry with high technology with the unveiling of a key processing venture.
Gamuda Lands representative receiving the Best Retail Housing Development (Vietnam) award

Artisan Park's winning nominations included Best Retail Housing Development (Vietnam), Best Housing Architectural Design, and Best Housing Landscape Architectural Design.

These were important and fiercely competitive categories within the framework of this year's awards due to the strength of various projects in the same segment from many different developers.

Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam Angus Liew said that these recognitions are a huge honour and a great motivation for Gamuda Land to continue investing more resources to expand the scale of its business in Vietnam.

To leap even further in this market, our plan is to rapidly expand a larger portfolio in this country and to diversify more products such as high-rise complex projects and commercial housing. The latest addition will be the newly acquired 2.8-hectare development project in Thu Duc City that offers extremely high potential for growth, said Angus Liew, chairman of Gamuda Land Vietnam.

Strategically located in a prime area right next to the new administrative centre of Binh Duong province, surrounded by international-standard educational, medical, sports, and commercial facilities, Artisan Park is a compound of 349 high-end commercial townhouse products.

The project is designed to serve both living and commercial purposes with a harmonious interweaving of commercial shophouses with two to three facades with rows of fresh green trees along with public spaces such as pedestrian streets, public squares, and parks, giving homeowners the flexibility to do business on the spot.

Gamuda Land expects the project to become the downtown area with bustling cultural and commercial activities right at the heart of BDNC.

An artist's impression of Gamuda Lands Artisan Park project in Binh Duong New City

Established in 1995, Gamuda Land is the property development arm of Gamuda Berhad, one of the leading engineering, construction, and infrastructure groups in Malaysia.

With more than 25 years of experience in developing townships and integrated buildings, Gamuda Land has so far developed 12 townships and nine integrated high-rise buildings in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, and the United Kingdom, which have a total gross development value of over $21 billion as of 2021.

Entering the Vietnamese market in 2007, Gamuda Land has created two world-class townships, namely Gamuda City with a scale of 274ha in the Hoang Mai district of Hanoi and Celadon City with an area of 82ha in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City.

After more than a decade of achieving great success in Vietnams real estate market, the town-maker from Malaysia continues deploying its plan to drastically expand its business size in the nation by finding a new land fund to develop more projects. Gamuda Land is currently recognised as one of the five best foreign real estate developers in Vietnam.

Besides its business reputation, Gamuda Land is also a prominent name in corporate social responsibility activities.

The charitable programme bearing the company's mark is Run For The Heart in collaboration with Heartbeat Vietnam. This is an annual charitable running event to raise funds for poor children with congenital heart disease, allowing them to receive free surgeries.

After 8 years, the total fundraising amount from Run For The Heart has exceeded $1.5 million, bringing normal healthy lives and brighter futures to more than 1,300 children with congenital heart disease.

Established in 2005 by Property Guru  an internationally reputable real estate market research and assessment organisation  Asia Property Awards is the biggest and most prestigious real estate event in the region.

The awards given by the programme are recognised by global real estate investors as the highest certification of the competency of businesses in this field in Asia.

The winning projects must go through an extremely rigid selection and evaluation process by the Jury Council that gathers leading international experts in the industry.

Gamuda Land will strongly inject more capital into Vietnam After more than a decade of achieving great successes with the two world-class townships of Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City and Gamuda City in Hanoi, Gamuda Land, one of the leading real estate developers in Southeast Asia, continues to deploy its strategy of expanding business in Vietnam by investing sufficient resources to search for new land funds.

Driving M&A success amid the pandemic Businesses are facing down challenges to conclude a slew of deals with potential businesses in the midst of the global health crisis. Panellists at Vietnam M&A Forum 2021 shared some of their experiences and insights into conducting successful M&A deals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry paid a visit to Gamuda City On the sidelines of the official visit to Vietnam by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato 'Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in March 19, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Dato' Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali paid a visit to Gamuda City in Hanoi's Hoang Mai on March 19. The visit aimed to encourage and recognise the contributions of Malaysian investors to Vietnam.

Gamuda Land honoured among top 10 sustainable overseas companies Gamuda Land, the urban architect from Malaysia, has been recognised as one of the top 10 sustainably developing foreign companies in Vietnam and received the prestigious Golden Dragon Award.
During a visit to Vietnam last week with a delegation of Australian groups to co-chair the Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum 2022, Tim Ayres, Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, said that Vietnam was a fantastic country for Australians to grow their business.

Tim Ayres, Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, and Tran Duy Dong, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment

Australian companies have opportunities such as strong capabilities in human resources, infrastructure, and the real enthusiasm the Vietnamese government has for lifting trade and investment. We want to support the economic development of Vietnam with strong investment and complimentary trade, said Ayres.

In recent years, Vietnam and Australia have built a close relationship in many fields, and the economy is considered one of the most important factors. The success of this cooperation can be attributed to the role of pioneering entrepreneurs connecting the two countries through new business projects, opening up opportunities for long-term trade and cooperation.

According to the Australian Chamber of Commerce in ASEANs (AusCham) Australian Business in ASEAN Survey 2021, education and training in Vietnam drew the most Australian investment, with 28 per cent of all projects.

Professor Martin Bean, a former vice-chancellor of RMIT University, is typical of Australian businessmen who have contributed to good cooperation between the two countries in education.

Our original intent was to form bilateral learning and teaching to bring the best of Australian higher education to Vietnam. But as time has gone on, were seeing more and more research collaboration now as well, with our research scientists and practitioners and professors able to share their research to tackle some of the big challenges of our two countries, said Bean.

According to AusCham, 8 per cent of Australian investment in Vietnam is in agriculture.

We see the Vietnamese market is a very strong market, and we would love to be present in this market. It has 50 different markets around the world that we service, and we have 11 supply chains to source rice from around the world, and we would like to develop Vietnam to be one of the larger of those supply chains, said Rob Gordon, CEO of Australian group SunRice, which pumped money into a production facility in Dong Thap province in 2018.

Conversely, Hoa Phat Group firmly set its first step into the Australian market by acquiring all shares of the Roper Valley mine project in May 2021.

Roper Valley iron ore has a reserve of about 320 million tonnes and a mining capacity of four million tonnes per year. Hoa Phat is considering buying new iron mines in Australia to ensure a long-term supply of at least 50 per cent of the groups iron ore needs (equivalent to 10 million tonnes per year).

Hoa Phat also holds the greatest market share in supplying Australian beef in Vietnam.

Australia ranked as Vietnams 10th-largest trade partner in 2021, with a total import-export transaction of $12.4 billion, an increase of 49.5 per cent on the previous year. Vietnams exports to Australia achieved $4.45 billion, an increase of 23 per cent compared to 2020, while Vietnams imports from Australia exceeded $7.95 billion, an increase of 70 per cent.

Vietnams import and export turnover with Australia reached approximately $12 billion in the first nine months of 2022, increasing 31.5 per cent from the same period in 2021. The countrys export turnover to Australia reached $4.2 billion, an increase of 33.9 per cent over the same time in 2021, while import turnover from Australia reached $7.8 billion, an increase of 30.3 per cent.

However, in comparison to other nations, Australian investors expansion in Vietnam has been cautious. In 2021 and 2022, only a quarter of businesses said they aimed to raise their company size, while over 60 per cent wanted to maintain operations at their current scale, and over 10 per cent planned to lower their business scale, according to AusCham Vietnam.

In June, the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that Australia had 562 investment projects in Vietnam with the total investment capital of $1.96 billion, accounting for 1.59 per cent of total foreign-invested projects and a relatively tiny share at 0.45 per cent of total foreign direct investment, placing 21st out of all countries and territories invested in Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian corporations are trying to diversify their investments and operations in Vietnam due to the two key factors of favourable labour costs and a stable political climate. However, it cited five obstacles for foreign-invested enterprises doing business in Vietnam: persistent corruption and bureaucracy; a flawed tax system; a lack of highly-qualified labour; ineffective law enforcement; and unfair market competition.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosts Australian minister Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 9 hosted a reception for visiting Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

Australian coffee arena rich in prospects for exporters Coffee has been a long-standing consumer good in Australia but Vietnamese exporters have yet to take full advantage of changing consumer trends in the Land Down Under and experts predict that 2022 could change this.
As an idea-crowdsourcing contest, SCGP Packaging Speak Out 2022 - Vietnam successfully delivered a playground that inspired the younger generation to speak out when imagining, shaping, and curating a better world.

The final welcomed hundreds of attendees, both offline and online, via the SCG Vietnam fanpage. Hosting this programme is a part of SCGPs continuous efforts to promote sustainability where it operates, aligning with its corporate strategy of the circular economy and ESG.

Sompob Witworrasakul, chief regional officer at SCGP shared, One of our approaches to innovation and sustainability is having the commitment and determination to bring new perspectives and developments in packaging design. Organising SCGP Packaging Speak Out 2022 in Vietnam for the second consecutive year is part of our initiative to encourage young people to show their creativity and provide a platform where their potential in design can shine through.

SCGP believes that the future belongs to this younger generation, whose members are going to build and create tomorrows society. This is why we named the project SCGP Packaging Speak Out 2022 to let them speak out and change the world through their packaging designs, he added.

Amongst the 11 finalists, team QIN from Van Lang university was named the winner with their unique idea for Mooncake packaging design. Team Magic Cat from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education was the runner-up with the creative idea of Jelly Zoo packaging.

The winning design from team QIN explored the challenge of upgrading packaging by understanding the needs of consumers, turning the familiar Mooncake box into handy lanterns that can be used as traditional toys during the Mid-Autumn Festival and other parts that can be used as eating utensils or stationary afterwards.

Meanwhile, team Magic Cat aimed to tackle the issue of packaging waste by taking advantage of jelly boxes after use to make a set of creative games for children. They are both noteworthy possibilities for customers and packaging manufacturers.

A representative of the winning team QIN shared, We are surprised and truly honoured to be awarded the highest prize. In the beginning, our team joined this competition seeking more of a playground for creativity, rather than a race for merit. However, this competition turned out to be much more fruitful than we expected as we learned a lot from design experts and our fellow competitors. Nowadays, our young generation cares a lot about environmental issues and climate change and we truly appreciate great opportunities like this to spread the message of protecting the Earth.

Tran Quang Tung (Tung Juno), CEO and creative director at RIO Creative Vietnam  one of the judges since the first competition last year  enjoyed grading this years ideas.

Competitions like SCGP Packaging Speak Out 2022 - Vietnam are a great platform for young Vietnamese designers to showcase their talents and contribute ideas for change in industries and communities. The finalists this year gave me a pleasant headache with their quality of work. They have designed very ingeniously and methodically. With this year's design question, all the teams had to explore consumers insights, understand emerging needs in the market, and strategically drive their ideas to meet the customers' demands. Similar to the previous year, local cultural inspirations are cleverly employed.

SCGP Packaging Speak Out 2022 - Vietnam has become a local think-tank for packaging design. Besides the two winning entries, other finalists also offered practical suggestions to shift the industry toward a more circular approach.

Future designers prioritised the use of environmentally friendly paper and ink materials to increase sustainability. This is a step forwards in improving the user experience and optimising production resources. With the quality of ideas gathered in the last two years, the programme has motivated SCGP to facilitate future activities to promote the discussion of sustainable packaging in Vietnam and across the region.

SCG Chemicals and Long Son Petrochemicals join Vung Tau to plant trees SCG Chemicals (SCGC) and its subsidiary Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP)  owner of the first integrated petrochemicals complex in Vietnam  have collaborated with Vung Tau Peoples Committee to plant 400 trees in the area of Nui Lon, equivalent to 3.26 hectares of forest.

SCG kicks off the first-ever Hacks to Heal our Planet competition in Vietnam SCG  one of the leading conglomerates in the ASEAN region  has announced the Hacks to Heal our Planet contest in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It is an opportunity for the new generation to show their creative ideas to improve the environment, build a better society, and ensure a better world for future generations.
Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 will focus on four tasks: Improving the governance capacity of SMEs through increasing production and business efficiency and expanding revenue from new business models, strengthening links between foreign-invested and domestic SMEs, supporting Vietnamese SMEs to grow strongly to improve their position in the global value chain, and reinforcing connectivity and the effectiveness of policy dialogue between the government and businesses.

Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 calls for solutions and initiatives from organisations and individuals in countries and territories around the world

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said, The Vietnam Innovation Challenge will be a strategic programme searching for innovative solutions from around the world to help the country address major challenges and achieve prosperous and sustainable development. We call for cooperation between the public, the private sector, and domestic and foreign partners to jointly form, test, and implement innovative initiatives for the prosperity of Vietnam.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung

Rafael Frankel, director for Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia at Meta Group said, Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 is a testament to Metas commitment to the government and businesses in Vietnam to promote innovation and digital transformation activities in the country. We believe that the solutions offered at the programme will strongly fuel the digital transformation process and improve the competitiveness of more than 800,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam.

The 12 best solutions will be announced at the Vietnam Innovation Solution Honouring Ceremony in April 2023

Vietnam Innovation Challenge is an annual programme within the framework of the Vietnam Innovation Initiative initiated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnam National Innovation Centre with the companionship of technology corporations, and domestic and international partners to promote innovation-based economic growth with new business models, products, and processes.

The programme aims to support the development of 500 innovative enterprises to lead the economy by 2030, as well as contribute to improving innovation capacity in the public sector at central and local agencies.

At the same time, Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 will promote and nurture a comprehensive innovation ecosystem in Vietnam, developing the country into an attractive destination for technology and innovation investors with the participation of 500 of the largest corporations in the world.

Improving innovation in Vietnam through PII The public sector innovation index (PII) will contribute to strengthening innovation as well as promoting the development of the private sector and improving the competitiveness of the economy.

Vietnam well-placed for breakthroughs in innovation and entrepreneurship Vietnam is creating favourable conditions for startups and youth entrepreneurs to engage in innovation and make breakthrough developments, a recent forum has heard.

Vietnam Innovation Network established in Europe The Vietnam Innovation Network in Europe (VINEU) is the fifth sub-network of Vietnam Innovation Network, gathering Vietnamese intellectuals on the continent to support the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Vietnam in its modernisation drive.
Do Thang Hai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said at the Eighth National Brand Product Announcement Ceremony on the morning of October 25 that 172 enterprises that have the criteria of the Vietnam Value Programme.

The vice chairman of its board, Hai, said, "The programme is not a prize but only the starting point for companies to become the programme's partners."

Hai added, "The administration does not act on behalf of businesses but it will support prestigious brands to assist Vietnamese businesses in establishing a firm footing in the home market and in promoting the international commerce of their brands."

In 2022, 48 more companies than in 2020 had items classified as national brands. Photo: Angela Nguyen

"We must develop respected product names in both the local and foreign markets," added Hai. "Vietnam participates actively and extensively in the process of global economic integration, which reinforces its place in the global supply chain and improves the economy's competitiveness."

Through promotional efforts and corporate assistance, the Vietnam Value Programme has increased awareness of local products and created customer trust and preference for goods and services, both domestically and internationally.

The programme has contributed to increasing the business community's awareness of the role of brands in introducing additional value, thereby enhancing competitiveness and confirming their position in the market based on innovation, creativity, and pioneering capacity.

Heading towards the eighth Vietnam Value Programme Amid Vietnams march towards international economic integration, the recognition of national brands that offer the highest quality and the most innovative products plays a crucial role. For the next itineration, the Ministry of Industry and Trades Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the secretariat of the Vietnam Value Programme will select the next rounds contenders by the end of March 2022.

Vietnam Value Programme gears up for brand supremacy Amid its integration into global markets, Vietnams government has been emphasising the role of national brands with the Vietnam Value Programme, which will head into its next round in March to select those companies and products that will be further supported in the domestic and overseas markets.
A woman wanted by Waco police in vehicle thefts in several Texas cities was arrested in Mesquite on Monday while her co-defendant remains at large, Waco police announced Tuesday.

Mesquite police arrested Isabel Gonzalez, 33, after a 30-minute chase that started when they spotted a stolen pickup truck, Waco police spokesperson Cierra Shipley said in a press release Tuesday. Shipley has previously said Gonzalez and Rolando Hernandez, 33, were wanted in more than 80 cases, including the theft of several vehicles with a total value of $750,000, and in several cites including Waco, Robinson, Bellmead and Plano.

Gonzalez is pending extradition to McLennan County Jail, Tuesdays press release says. She was not listed on the McLennan County Jail roster as of Tuesday.

Hernandez remains at large and wanted by the Waco Police Department on a first-degree felony charge of engaging in organized crime, according to the press release.

Police ask anyone who knows where to find Hernandez to call 254-750-7500 or send an anonymous tip to Waco Crime Stoppers at 254-753-4357 or wacocrimestoppers.org.
Interview: ITU looks forward to further cooperation with China -- secretary-general

Xinhua) 13:39, October 26, 2022

GENEVA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has made historic achievements in fields including poverty eradication, science and technology during the past decade, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) looks forward to further strengthening cooperation with China, ITU Secretary-General Zhao Houlin has said.

In a recent joint interview with Chinese media, Zhao said China has become an innovative power with world-renowned achievements in science and technology innovation such as successful collection of lunar samples, Mars exploration and quantum communication, and there are broad prospects for cooperation between ITU and China in deep space exploration, quantum communication, chip security as well as other scientific and technological innovations.

"If new technologies want to be applied in the global market, most of them cannot be separated from the support of radio communication technology. The ITU, as the global authority on radio technology coordination and management, hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side in this regard," he said.

Zhao said ITU and China have maintained a long-term cooperative relationship. China has, especially during the past decade, provided many advanced technical solutions to ITU and contributed Chinese wisdom.

At the just-concluded ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022, China was re-elected to the ITU Council, and Chinese experts were successfully elected to the Radio Regulations Committee, which fully reflected the ITU's recognition of China's contribution, he said.

The ITU secretary-general also noted that his organization has signed a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, which has also yielded concrete results.

The COVID-19 pandemic, regional conflicts and economic uncertainties brought challenges to the world today, Zhao said, adding that at such a historical moment, all parties would like to hear the voice and suggestions from China.

He said that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has drawn up a blueprint for the country and proposed Chinese solutions for global development.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized that China has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, which China is willing to work with the international community to implement, and "that has received wide attention from the media and praise from the people," Zhao said.

He hoped that the ITU would strengthen cooperation with China to make greater contributions to building a human community with a shared future.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Josh Tetens, who won the Republican primary for district attorney in March, faces a self described pro-Second Amendment, pro-death penalty, fiscal conservative in Aubrey Robertson, the Democratic nominee in the race to become McLennan County district attorney.

Tetens, with endorsements of numerous law enforcement associations and McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara, defeated one-term incumbent Republican Barry Johnson in the March primary with about 70% of the vote.

Robertson said in a Tuesday phone interview that he supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the death penalty and said he is a fiscal conservative.

I wont divert DAs office resources away from violent crime, human trafficking or big drug cases to prosecute small marijuana cases or go after doctors trying to deliver health care to women, Robertson said, referring to abortions.

Robertson said he sees as a small marijuana case any involving 4 ounces of marijuana or less.

He also said he does not want to see the McLennan County District Attorneys Office weaponized to prosecute abortion laws and he would not prosecute women who seek abortions in other states.

Tetens could not immediately be reached Tuesday for his comments on prosecuting marijuana or abortion cases.

In a Monday phone interview, Tetens touted his numerous law enforcement association endorsements. He also said he wants to deal with the backlog of pending cases in McLennan County.

I want to shift the culture in the DAs office away from being overwhelmed with the backlog and trials coming up next week to make sure that we have what we need on new cases coming and reach out to witnesses and police, Tetens said.

Both Tetens and Robertson said they are concerned with the backlog from a financial and legal perspective. Both said justice delayed for more than 1,000 days is not good for defendants or the families of victims and cited the $80 daily cost of incarceration in McLennan County Jail for inmates who do not have special medical needs.

Tetens said the way to deal with the backlog is to handle cases properly on the front end and be prepared for hearings and trials.

Robertson said his plan to deal with the backlog is to bring structure and set priorities.

The DAs office must have structure and people must know who they report to, Robertson said.

Robertson also said he has prior experience as a prosecutor, having started his career as a in that role and later serving as the chief prosecutor assigned to cases in the 19th District Court. Robertson said Tetens has never been a prosecutor.

I have prosecuted every offense from traffic tickets to murder, Robertson said. There are people sitting in prison who will die there because I put them there.

He said he will set up a chain of command and teach and train young prosecutors.

I can tell them what they should focus on, Robertson said.

Tetens and the Republican Party of McLennan County tout his career as a defense attorney since 2006.

Tetens also said his appeal to urban and rural voters is the same.

Everyone wants a DA who has experience and knowledge of the law, to follow the law fairly and justly, Tetens said.

Robertson said McLennan County has seen the results of DAs who lack prior experience as a prosecutor, in the difficulty prosecutors serving under Abel Reyna and Barry Johnson had winning big murder cases.

Republican Party of McLennan County Chair Brad Holland said he feels very good about Tetens as a candidate.

Tetens has been active in law, civics and politics, Holland said. I feel good about his chances and his strong candidacy.

Republican Party of McLennan County Vice Chair Chris DeCluitt said McLennan County voters tend to strongly support Republican candidates.

Robertson is running in the wrong party, DeCluitt said.

Democratic Party of McLennan County Chair Mark Hays said he thinks the race comes down to experience as a prosecutor, and his candidate is the only one who has it.

McLennan County voters dont care what letter is after their candidate, Hays said. They want someone who can do the job.

Robertson also said he has not taken any donations from defense attorneys.

I havent held any fundraisers either, he said. Tetens has raised over $200,000. What does he need with that amount of money?

A check of campaign finance disclosures for Tetens and Robertson filed 30 days before the election shows Tetens top spending of $6,383.46 at Waco Social for an event. Robertsons report shows no events between Oct. 4, 2021, and Oct 9, 2022, with $9,072 spent on campaign signs.

Tetens reported $30,135 in contributions and $12,177 in spending with a balance carried forward of $25,650.39 and $5,000 in outstanding loans between July 1 and Sept. 29. He had a few more than 60 donations of $1,000 or less in that time.

Some of Tetens top donors are listed as: Mrs. Ricky Grones, of Waco, president of Grones Environmental, who donated $2,500; Ms. Karen Keith, of Waco, self-employed, who donated $1,500; John Sawyer, of China Spring, CEO of HAI, who donated $2,000; Brad Vinson, of Austin, a partner in the Smith Vinson Law Firm, who donated $2,000.

Robertsons report shows a total of eight donors who gave a combined total of about $1,000. His top donor, Adam Roth, of Brooklyn, New York, gave $360. Robertson spent $10,322 of his own money and lent his campaign $2,000, for total spending in the year of $11,196.

McLennan County voters can choose to vote at any of five vote centers for in-person early voting in the Nov. 8 election:

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.

Early voting hours are as follows:
The attack on Sgt. William Lind was quick, violent and devastating.

In the aftermath of Monday's assault, the 33-year-old Lind is in a fight for his life while loved ones and fellow officers wait for signs of recovery. He suffered skull fractures and severe head trauma.

In a conference room at the East Moline Police Department Tuesday morning, Chief Jeff Ramsey spoke in a subdued tone: "He needs time. It's just going to take time."

The chief paused, and the room went silent. He placed his hands on the back of a chair and leaned forward.

"We have gotten great support from the community, especially local law enforcement," he finally said. "I've gotten calls from police chiefs and law enforcement folks from all over this area.

"It's really all been very overwhelming, all the support we've received."

Ramsey said Lind, a seven-year veteran of the East Moline Police Department, is respected by his fellow officers and federal agents with whom he has worked cases.

Many call him "Billy."

Ramsey chose his next words to describe the all-too-often grim reality of policing.

"What happened couldn't have been prevented. Sergeant Lind did what he was supposed to do, and there was no indication that there was a threat," the chief said. "It's the danger of the job. Sometimes it happens that fast."

East Moline police say Lind was attacked by Adrian W. Rogers, 52, at about 6:30 p.m. Monday. Rogers was wanted for questioning in connection with a fire in Rock Island that authorities allege he started just a few hours before the assault.

Lind located Rogers in the 1900 block of Morton Drive in East Moline.

"At that time, Sergeant Lind reported finding Rogers, radioed for backup and then approached him," Ramsey said. "Like a lot of other departments, we have one-officer cars, so it's common that one officer makes approaches. This is a relatively small area and backup was on its way to Sergeant Lind."

Ramsey said the fact officers were immediately on the scene points to how quickly Rogers attacked Lind.

"It was all caught on body cam," he said. "We know what happened. It was fast and very violent."

Lola Dampeer, 78, lives in one of the squat brick side-by-sides that are common near the intersection of 19th Street and Morton Drive. She said there was "maybe a slight disturbance" around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

"I was sitting down, getting ready to watch 'Jeopardy!' and I heard some voices outside," Dampeer said. "The voices got loud for just one moment and then it was quiet out there, except for the traffic. I didn't think anything of it.

"Then, a little later, I think it was the fire department that showed up, and I heard all the noise so I looked out my window. I saw that someone was laying on the concrete, and people were helping the person. I had no idea it was a police officer."

Dampeer said she found out a police officer was attacked after a neighbor called her Tuesday morning.

"It's all such a shame," she said. "I do hope that the officer is OK. It's so dangerous to be a police officer."

Ramsey said the East Moline Police Department will try to update the community on Lind's progress.

"The last I heard was that he is still in critical condition, but his vitals are strong," the chief said. "We know that he is getting the best care available and now we just have to wait and hope. Head injuries are tough things. There is swelling and trauma, and I think it's really hard to say much more.

Ramsey paused one last time as he stood in the quiet of an almost-empty room.

"Sergeant Lind needs time," he said. "Time and care."
WAUKON  A former Waukon woman has been sentenced to jail and probation for organizing an unapproved charity raffle in Minnesota.

On Monday, Mindy Jo Jones, 42, also known as Mindy Riley, was sentenced to up to 21 months in prison suspended to 120 days in the Fillmore County Jail with work release and five years of supervised probation. If she successfully completes probation, she will not have to serve the prison time.

As part of the sentence, Jones, currently of Waterloo, was barred from holding a fiduciary responsibility over charities or charitable gambling or similar activities.

Jones had operated the Tin Rust and Harmony gift shop in Harmony, Minn., in 2021 when she collected funds for a raffle that offered a John Deere UTV as a prize. But the vehicle was never donated or paid for, and the non-profit sponsor changed from a Minnesota arts center cancer charity that never approved the fundraiser to an Iowa veterans group whose nonprofit status was pending.

She pleaded to one count of theft by swindle in August 2022 as part of a deal that dismissed other Minnesota charges.

Jones still faces trial for 14 counts of theft and bad check charges in Minnesota in connection with $34,000 in checks issued by her store to pay for merchandise.

She is also awaiting trial in Iowa for misdemeanor theft for a bad check for $1,142 that was passed in Waukon in January 2022.

The Minnesota gift shop has since closed. Jones operated a second Tin Rust and Harmony store in downtown Waukon that was destroyed in a February 2022 fire.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested after he was found with two firearms following a police chase over the weekend.

Waterloo police arrested Terrell Emanuel Hopkins, 26, for eluding and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Bond was set at $50,000.

According to court records, a patrol officer noticed a Pontiac Grand Prix chasing another vehicle on Broadway Street around 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

The officer attempted to pull over the Pontiac, but the driver refused to stop for about seven minutes. The driver then pulled over and police found a 5.56 mm Ruger AR-15 pistol loaded with a drum magazine and a loaded 9 mm Glock 17 handgun with an additional 31-round magazine for the Glock, records state.

Hopkins is prohibited from handling firearms because of a 2019 felony conviction in Illinois.
CEDAR FALLS  A Cedar Falls man who was injured in a Friday apartment fire has died.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the facts around the death of 67-year-old Douglas Fairbank, according to the Cedar Falls Police Department.

Crew with Cedar Falls Fire Rescue pulled Fairbank from his smoke-filled apartment at 3112 Boulder Drive on Friday.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation with assistance from the Iowa State Fire Marshall Division.

Firefighters found light smoke in the hallways of the building and heavy black smoke and flames on the third floor. Fairbank was found unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital by MercyOne paramedics.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and checked on residents in all of the apartments in the building.

The apartment complex sustained smoke, fire and water damage.

The apartment complex contains 80 individual apartments  many of the residents are physically disabled and needed assistance in exiting the building.

The Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the building owner and maintenance staff with housing options.

This is the second fatal fire for the city of Cedar Fall in just over a year. Timothy Hersey, 62, died of smoke inhalation in September 2021 when his home at 616 W. First St. caught fire. The cause of that fire hasnt been determined.
WAVERLY  Gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear, along with U.S. House hopeful Liz Mathis, spoke to Waverly Democrats on Tuesday.

DeJear told the overcrowded room at the Waverly Area Veterans Post that freedom is on the ballot this election cycle.

Freedom to have an education, freedom to have clean water, the Democrat said. Freedom to have a procedure and not go bankrupt.

She is running against Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in the Nov. 8 election.

DeJear spent a majority of her speech talking about Iowas past. She brought up how Iowa was previously number one in the nation for public education.

That ranking meant our students were being sent to a quality public education system, she said. But this year we had schools that didnt have enough math teachers.

She also touched on the case of Clark v. Board of School Directors  an 1868 court case that said schools could not segregate students on the basis of race in the state.

If we had the fortitude back then  we have no choice but to do it now, DeJear said.

She also touched on Iowas workforce shortages and overall shortages in the mental health care sector as well as womens reproductive rights.

Preceding DeJears speech, Mathis spoke. The Democratic state senator is running in Iowas 2nd Congressional District against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson.

One of her main points was about bringing down everyday costs for Americans. She said Hinson voted no on bills that would help with that. She also pushed for protecting Medicare and Social Security and codifying Roe v. Wade.

My race is going to be very close, Mathis said. But the Des Moines Register poll has me two points up and the Cedar Rapids Gazette endorsed me.

One question asked by an audience member was how DeJear felt about defunding the police. The questioner cited a recent ad on TV.

Both Mathis and DeJear said ads like that are part of a national effort by Republicans to claim that all Democrats across the U.S. support such policies.

Im not for defund the police. Ive aligned myself with police and the governor knows that, DeJear said. When (Reynolds) had to mitigate the burden of lack of investment in mental health, the best she could offer was a $1,000, taxed, one-time retention bonus paid for by the Biden administration. And I cant stand for that pomp and circumstance.

Jean Klunder, a retired school teacher, said shell be going to the polls with public schools and womens rights in mind.

I thought Deidre was very impressive, very articulate and very genuine, Klunder said. You could read the empathy and she got it  and Kim Reynolds doesnt get it.
DES MOINES  Todd Jacobus, a retired colonel of the U.S. Army and National Guard, has been appointed as head of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday announced the appointment.

Jacobus replaces Steve Lukan, who resigned in May after serving as executive director of Iowa Veterans Affairs since 2017.

At the Iowa Veterans Home, Jacobus replaces Matthew Peterson, who was named interim director earlier this year after Reynolds fired the previous director, Timon Oujiri, for accepting overpayments from the state. A state audit identified $105,412 in improper disbursements to Oujiri.

Jacobus served for 33 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard, and took part in three overseas missions, according to the governors office. He has served on the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs for six years, including two years as its chairman.

Commandant Jacobus brings tremendous leadership experience and an extensive military background to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. He is a proven leader dedicated to fighting for the very men and women he too served with for three decades, Reynolds said in a news release. His deep appreciation and passion will greatly benefit our veterans and ensure they receive the very best care and services.

Jacobus appointment is effective Nov. 7 and is subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

Inmate death

Steve Lee Davidson, an inmate who was in hospice at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville, died from natural causes Sunday, according to the state corrections department.

Davidson, 64, had been serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Black Hawk County since 1982.
IOWA CITY  In new international university rankings out Tuesday comparing an expanding number of research institutions and their scholarly impact across multiple disciplines, both of Iowa's ranked universities continued to lose ground  with Iowa State University sliding 26 spots.

The University of Iowa fell six spots to No. 180 from last year's No. 174  27 spots below its 2018 ranking at No. 153, according to the U.S. News & World Report list, which is in its ninth year.

ISU's 26-spot drop  in the same year it left the prestigious research-focused Association of American Universities  took it from No. 237 to No. 263. ISU sits 59 spots below its 2018 ranking of No. 204 worldwide.

The "2022-2023 Best Global Universities Rankings" are based entirely on measures of a school's academic research reputation and publications, and not on factors considered for its best U.S. colleges list  like acceptance, graduation and performance rates.

"These types of data are not part of the best global universities rankings because such student- and school-specific data can't be compared internationally," according to an explanation of U.S. News' methodology. "Data that measures aspects of the undergraduate and graduate experience either is not available ... or the data is not available in a uniform way that could be used to make international comparisons."

ISU  which had seen mostly single-digit losses in the global rankings annually since 2018  recorded its 26-spot slide just months after becoming one of only five institutions ever to withdraw from the esteemed Association of American Universities.

The AAU is an invitation-only member group of North America's most elite comprehensive research universities, which was founded in 1900 and today boasts 65 members  including the UI.

Although ISU didn't answer specific questions about whether its decision in April to leave the association preempted a removal being forced by the organization. The AAU has a "membership review committee" and ISU officials said that "Indicators used by AAU to rank its members have begun to favor institutions with medical schools and associated medical research funding."

"Iowa State remains notable in several important areas not prioritized by the AAU, such as affordability, student engagement, student retention, post-graduation employment, first-generation students and accessibility," according to ISU's April announcement.

The global U.S. News rankings consider feedback from reputational surveys aggregated from 2018 to 2022; papers published from 2016 to 2020; and citations to those papers through June 2022.

The list ranks 2,000 institutions from 95 countries, up from last year's 1,750 from 90 countries.

U.S. News calculated scores and ranked institutions based on 13 indicators and weights, affording global and regional research reputation a hefty quarter of the total score.

Publications, conferences and citations then account for more than 30 percent, with citation amount and collaboration accounting in some form for the balance.

This year's overall rankings included 338 institutions in China, which for the first time topped the United States for number of ranked institutions  hitting at one of the reasons some give for massive losses in international enrollment in the United States.

The UI, for example, is reporting 1,735 international students this fall, down from last fall's 1,890 and down 62 percent from the 4,540 in fall 2015. Where UI counted 2,797 students from China that year, it was reporting 504 this fall.

Although COVID-19 and other factors have played into the losses, some experts have reported China's increase in its own top-ranked universities as one of many reasons fewer students are leaving that country for postsecondary education.

The United States, in this year's global rankings, came in second with 280 listed universities, followed by Japan with 105, the United Kingdom with 92 and India with 81.

Like last year, this year's top 20 included 15 U.S. schools, four from the U.K. and one from Canada.

"In many countries, postsecondary educational attainment has skyrocketed over the last two decades," according to U.S. News. It reported that among the 38 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the percent of 25-to-34-year-olds with a postsecondary credential jumped from 27 percent in 2000 to 48 percent in 2021.

This year's global rankings, like in years past, rate universities in specific subject areas  with both the UI and ISU making gains and seeing losses on various lists.

ISU, for example, fell from No. 372 to No. 407 in biology and biochemistry; from No. 725 to No. 763 in clinical medicine; and from No. 174 to No. 217 in economics and business.

Some of ISU's best global rankings came in agriculture sciences, bumping up one to No. 31; plant and animal science, ranking No. 32; and food science, ranking No. 79.

The UI fell from No. 557 to No. 594 in chemistry; from No. 188 to No. 257 in pharmacology and toxicology; and from No. 188 to No. 212 in economics and business.

It made gains in microbiology, from No. 170 to No. 109; in physics from No. 176 to No. 146; and in cell biology, from No. 227 to No. 195.
An Iranian hermit known as "the world's dirtiest man" has died at the ripe age of 94, just months after taking his first wash in decades, Iranian state media announced.

"Amu Haji" -- Uncle Haji -- as he was referred to, died on Sunday in Dezhgah, a village in the country's southern province of Fars, state news agency IRNA reported.

According to the region's district head, Haji had for decades avoided fresh food and believed that "if he cleans himself, he will get sick," the agency reported.

Haji was known for his staunch stance against bathing: A few years ago, when a group of villagers took him to a nearby river in an attempt to bathe him, he threw himself out of the car and ran away.

Locals in the area all treated him and his condition with respect, IRNA reported, understanding that his fear of getting sick was the reason he avoided water.

A few months ago, villagers successfully gave Haji a wash.

Haji was unmarried. His funeral was held Tuesday evening in the nearby city of Farashband, according to IRNA.
OSINT investigation.

Irretrievable losses of the Ukrainian army so far; a staggering 402,000  of which 387,000 killed.

CRUCIAL: losses among MERCENARIES and VOLUNTEERS from Poland, Romania and the Baltic midgets: 54,000  of which 31,240 killed.

OSINT data was calculated using reports from funeral agencies, extracts from morgues, and analysis of radio, cellular and satellite exchange of forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Committee of Soldiers Mothers of Ukraine entered more than 320,000 appeals about the fate of missing soldiers; but the SBU BANNED THEM. OSINT investigators called the real irretrievable losses of the Ukrainian army. The irretrievable losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of October 20, 2022 amounted to 402,000 people, of which 387,000 were killed. Losses among mercenaries and volunteers from Poland, the Baltic states, Romania amounted to 54,000 of them, 31,240 people were killed. These are the OSINT data, calculated using reports from funeral agencies, extracts from morgues, as well as the results of an analysis of the radio, cellular and satellite exchange of forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A while back I said I was tracking the deaths

Okay?

Well at least they are getting close

So most truth is better than no truth and maybe the next report will be more accurate? Still it is a start and for that I am thankful

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.
Thousands of ballots were sent to the post office in Reno on the 18th for Washoe County alone. But some voters are saying they havent received theirs in the mail yet.

Officials say most of the calls they've received from concerned voters found out they opted out of Mail-In ballots.

October 25 is the deadline to request a new Mail-In ballot.

These new ballots will be mailed from the printer in Washington, adding to the amount of time the voter will receive it. Jamie Rodriguez, the Interim Registrar of Voters for Washoe County says, "Mailing time, so hopefully people understand and appreciate that requesting it today does not mean that they'll get it tomorrow... it'll still be a few more days before it actually starts seeing the new request in the mail."

The post office says 3 to 5 days is an average time period for people to receive their ballots. Remember the farther out you live, the more stops the delivery truck has before they get to you "But it does take a great deal of time to process those 290,000 ballots that were dropped off at the post office last week, along with everybody else's mail and everything else that has to go out." Explains Rodriguez.

The other option is voting in person, if you have a disability preventing you from being able to vote in person Washoe County says there are ways to vote online as well. Rodriguez tells us There concerned that if they don't get their mail ballot those individuals may not be able to vote. It's really important to remember that Nevada has our really great Ease program so as long as they have internet access, they can sign up for NV Ease due to their disability and they can vote online."

electionsdepartment@washoecounty.gov
Roll over, Sgt. Pepper. The Beatles Revolver is way beyond compare. Rolling Stones Rob Sheffield declared it the best album the Beatles ever made, which means the best album by anybody.

And thanks to a lavish new reissue overseen by Beatles producer George Martins son Giles Martin, Revolver has never sounded better. Its got extras (28 early takes, three home demos, remastered mono and new stereo mixes of Paperback Writer and Rain). You can buy a 63-track super-deluxe special edition (five CDs, four LPs, a 7-inch EP, a 100-page hardcover book); a deluxe special edition (two-CD digipak and 40-page booklet); or the standard special edition (the original 14 tracks, digital and on CD, LP or vinyl picture disc).

So why does 1966s Revolver outplay 1967s Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, which used to be widely considered the bands finest hour? Seven Beatles authorities offer their explanations:

Ken Barnes, former USA Today music editor

Sgt. Pepper was impeccably timed, Barnes says, at a point where pop music fans had a nearly unshakable conviction that a favorite band progresses in an ever-ascending line, when the pattern is just as likely to be a bell curve. In that mindset, Pepper had to be better than Revolver.

So what turned the tide of opinion? Starting with the CD era, the original British version of Revolver became widely available in the U.S., for the most part replacing the amputated American release, which had sacrificed three John Lennon songs: Im Only Sleeping, And Your Bird Can Sing, Dr. Robert  among his best creations, period. Revolver had three George Harrison tunes, a first. His mantra mash-up Love You To is far livelier than Peppers stolid, preachy Within You, Without You. As for McCartney, Lovely Rita and Fixing a Hole are patented pop delights on Pepper but dont measure up to the haunting melancholia of For No One and the brassy soul of Got to Get You Into My Life.

Sgt. Peppers A Day in the Life, the welding of separate Lennon and McCartney creations, may be the single greatest achievement of the Beatles. It cements Sgt. Peppers status as a superior summation of state-of-the-art 1967 pop-rock. But the experimental foundation had already been dug, the boundary-pushing already accomplished, by its predecessor.

The Beatles in Abbey Road Studios during filming of the "Paperback Writer" and "Rain" promotional films on May 19, 1966. Apple Corps Ltd.

Faith Cohen, founder of Global Beatles Day

For the first time, the Beatles had relieved themselves of their grueling touring schedule and sequestered themselves in the studio to follow every creative impulse. Their attention was no longer on just girls. They were dealing with more adult themes. Taxman is about money. Love is dealt with but in the context of lasting love in Here, There and Everywhere, and the death of love in For No One. Loneliness in Eleanor Rigby, LSD and death in She Said She Said. Consciousness and the transition from life to death and beyond in Tomorrow Never Knows, arguably the most elaborate and shocking aural surprise.


Horse Well Drilling Update

Melbourne, Oct 26, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) ( CHKMF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide a brief update in relation to the drilling at the Horse Well Prospect (Figure 1*). HWDD06 / HWDD06W1 was completed in 22 July 2022. HWDD06 had to be abandoned as the hole reached basement due to drilling conditions but was successfully completed via wedge hole HWDD06W1.



HWDD06 was targeting a coincident magnetic and gravity anomaly sited 5 kilometres west of BHP's up-andcoming Oak Dam deposit (Figure 2*). Cohiba had previously tested the magnetic portion of this anomaly with drillhole HWDD03, which had intersected some strongly altered quartz-earthy hematite-K-feldspar-epidotechlorite-(muscovite) rock, which left open the potential for a 'near miss' of an IOCG (Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold) system, and hence the design of HWDD06 to test the gravity portion of the anomaly.



HWDD06W1 intersected mafic intrusives, Donington Granite and a pre-Donington gneiss. The Donington Granite is the host rock to BHP's Oak Dam and Oz Minerals' Carrapateena IOCG deposits. Alteration in HWDD06W1 is consistent with distal IOCG alteration, but not a 'near miss' scenario. A Northwest-Southeast mafic intrusive body intersected in the bottom of the hole possibly represents a major fault, in which case the prospective area may lie to the north of the fault.



The gain in geological understanding from HWDD06W1 and HWDD03 can be used to refine the geophysical model in the search for unexplained anomalies that may be indicators for IOCG style mineralisation. Drill core samples have been submitted to ALS Laboratories for analysis.



Cohiba's CEO, Andrew Graham said, "The Horse Well Prospect represents a key IOCG target zone within the Gawler Craton and we are committed to investigating it to the fullest extent possible. HWDD06 is considered to have great potential and was earmarked for investigation following encouraging results from HWDD03, HWDD04, HWDD05 and HWDD05W. Given the considerable target depth, we have ensured that all technical information at our disposal has been scrutinised in detail to maximise our potential for exploration success."



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/YK2F6V8Q





About Cohiba Minerals Limited





Cohiba Minerals Limited (ASX:CHK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The shares of the company trade under the ticker symbol CHK.

The Company recently acquired 100% of the shares in Charge Lithium Pty Ltd, which holds exploration licences in Western Australia.


Nanadie Well Project Copper-Nickel-PGE RC Drilling Results

Perth, Oct 26, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Limited ( ASX:CYM ) is pleased to report assay results from the April/May 2022 reverse circulation ("RC") drilling campaign which was completed at the Nanadie Well Project ("NWP") as outlined in Figure 1*.



HIGHLIGHTS



- RC drilling at the Nanadie Well Project has identified broad anomalous zones copper-nickel-PGE mineralisation 1.6 kilometres north of the Nanadie Well resource



- RC drilling on the 10 kilometre long layered magmatic/greenstone-metasediment basal contact has identified further copper-nickel-PGE mineralisation



- RC drilling has successfully tested the Nanadie mineralisation a further 1.6km along strike to the north



- These encouraging results have been prioritised for follow up geophysical and drilling programmes



Drilling assay results include:



- 4m @ 746 ppm Cu & 0.11 ppm Pd from 100m in 22NWRC002



- 16m @ 2,325 ppm Cu & 0.06 ppm Au from 88m in 22NWRC003A, including:

o 4m @ 6,250 ppm Cu & 0.15 ppm Au from 92m



- 68m @ 2,305 ppm Cu, 0.09 ppm Pd & 0.05 ppm Pt from 36m in 22SKRC001



- 56m @ 3,337 ppm Cu, 0.14 ppm Pd & 0.06 ppm Pt from 116m in 22SKRC001 including:

o 24m @ 5,002 Cu, 1,294 ppm Ni, 0.23 ppm Pd & 0.11 ppm Pt from 140m



- 4m @ 4,720 ppm Cu, 1,330 ppm Ni, 0.28 ppm Pd & 0.11 ppm Pt from 68m in 22SKRC002



- 12m @ 3,620 ppm Cu, 0.09 ppm Pd & 0.06 ppm Pt from 116m in 22SKRC002



Managing Director Barry Cahill commented:



"We are seeing the opening up of potential of the mineralisation system at Nanadie Well.



We have not prioritised this work as we are focussed on Nifty Restart and have conducted a full field season of drilling at the Maroochydore deposit in 2021.



Now after 24 months of surface mapping, geophysical surveys, drilling, assaying, interpreting data and generating Cyprium's maiden mineral resource at Nanadie Well, we are seeing the results which are demonstrating the size and multi-metal nature of this extensive magmatic system.



We will split the composite samples over these intervals and await the assay results. Afterwhich we will then determine the next steps and design follow up geophysical and drilling programmes for this exciting project.



Cyprium is well advanced with the Nifty finance process and the operation itself is at the start line, ready to be refurbished and restarted once the financing is finalised. We are continuing to work on the exciting development projects at the Maroochydore copper cobalt deposit and the Nanadie Well copper nickel gold silver PGE project, both of which demonstrate great potential for extensions and further discoveries in close proximity to our identified resources."



The 6 RC drillhole programme tested a variety of exploration targets in the NWP for a total of 918 metres as detailed in Figure 2, Image 1, Long section 1 and Appendices 1 and 2*.



The Stark basal contact target consists of magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE mineralisation associated with the Barrambie Igneous Complex ("BIC"), a layered mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex that extends for 75 kilometres along a major NNW-SSE striking crustal boundary - the Youanmi Shear Zone. Mineralisation observed by previous operators and Cyprium consists of disseminated, stringer, matrix, semi-massive and massive sulphides - primarily chalcopyrite with lesser pyrrhotite, pyrite and pentlandite - located at or near the base of some intrusions within the complex.



Outcropping Cu-Ni gossan and sulphide mineralisation was discovered in and around shallow historic workings at the Stark prospect in 2014. Mineralisation is hosted by gabbro on or near its basal contact with banded iron formation ("BIF") and plunges gently south. Limited historical exploration at the prospect has included geological mapping and surface sampling, geophysics and drilling.



Two holes were drilled at Stark as part of the recent program, with one drillhole testing a SQUID EM anomaly and the other one testing up plunge of previous drill intercepts. Both drillholes hit sulphide mineralisation in gabbro above the basal BIF contact:



- 22SKRC001 intersected a wide interval of disseminated, matrix and semi-massive chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite from 36m within an embayment in the basal gabbro contact, and returned:

o 68 m @ 2,305 ppm Cu from 36 m,

o 56 m @ 3,337 ppm Cu from 116 m including,



- 24 m @ 5,002 ppm Cu, 1,294 ppm Ni, 0.23 ppm Pd & 0.11 ppm Pt from 140 m



- 22SKRC002 intersected disseminated to splashy pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite towards the base of the gabbro, returning an intercept of 12 m @ 3,620 ppm Cu from 116 m



Cyprium tenements partly cover 12 kilometres of the BIC and 10 kilometres of lightly explored prospective basal contacts. Cyprium considers that potential for polymetallic sulphide mineralisation has already been demonstrated. Geophysical and drilling programmes are currently being designed to follow up this prospective magmatic intrusive basal contact.



A line of four holes was drilled to test 1.6km along strike north of the Nanadie Well Inferred Mineral Resource (40.4 Mt @ 0.40 % Cu, 0.10 g/t Au, refer to CYM ASX announcement: 19 July 2022, "Nanadie Well Mineral Resource Estimate") in the vicinity of anomalous intercepts in historic drillholes. Transported overburden up to 50m thick presented drilling challenges, which meant that drillhole 22NWRC003 had to be abandoned at 66m and redrilled nearby as 22NWRC003A. Finely disseminated chalcopyrite was logged sporadically throughout the holes, with the greatest volume between 86 m and 98 m in 22NWRC003A returning:



- 16 m @ 2,325 ppm Cu from 88 m including:

o 4 m @ 6,250 ppm Cu & 0.15 ppm Au from 92 m



The RC drilling was designed to test the northern extents of the Nanadie Well layered magmatic intrusive polymetallic mineralisation. The 16m zone of copper/gold mineralisation intersected in 22NWRC003A, 1.6 km north of the current Nanadie Well mineral resource, demonstrates the extensional potential of the system and follow up geophysical and drilling programmes are being designed by Cyprium geologists to further test this potential.



The drilling has successfully tested the extensional potential of the current Nanadie Well mineralisation to the north. The results open up a further 1.6km of potential strike for the current mineralisation.



Cyprium is planning the next stage of work programmes to target the potential mineralised corridor.



Analytical samples for the Nanadie Well extensional and Stark basal contact investigation programmes were collected as 4 m scoop split composites. Cyprium geologists will select and submit for assay 1 m splits from the mineralised composites to gain a full understanding of the grade distributions and to assist in the design of follow up geophysical and drilling programmes for both exploration programmes.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/853R74V3





About Cyprium Metals Ltd





Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation.


Quarterly Activities Report 30 September 2022

Perth, Oct 26, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide the September 2022 Quarterly Activities Report. Horizon is an exploration and production company within the Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie regions of Western Australia.



HIGHLIGHTS



- Exploration program continues with 2,695m drilled and field work conducted at the Greater Boorara - Cannon, Yarmany and Lakewood project areas testing high priority gold and nickel sulphide targets



- Excellent drilling results received from Honeyeater, Black Flag, Monument, Homerton and Pinner gold prospects with further results expected in the December Quarter 2022



- Updated Mineral Resource estimates released for Penny's Find, Coote, Baden Powell and Windanya totalling an additional 91,000 ounces



- Horizon's total Mineral Resource estimate now stands at:



o 22.6Mt grading 1.71g/t Au for 1.24 million ounces at various cut-off grades



- Acquisition of the remaining 50% of the high-grade Penny's Find underground gold project completed



- Divestment of the non-core Kangaroo Hill and Phoenix projects announced for $150,000 in cash and $150,000 in shares in Greenstone Resources ( ASX:GSR ) with completion expected in the December Quarter 2022



- The listing process of Richmond Vanadium Technology (RVT) progressed with the Prospectus for the planned IPO released on 14 October 2022 and a proposed listing and in-specie distribution to Horizon shareholders in November 2022



- Share Purchase Plan (SPP) completed raising $540,000



- Subsequent to Quarter end, the Company executed a binding term sheet for a US$5 million Convertible Loan facility to advance the Cannon gold project



- Cash at bank of A$2.88 million and listed investments totalling A$1.38 million



A key focus for the Company is on exploration upside within our 1,100km2 tenement package with up to three drill rigs operating as part of the large-scale multi-element new discovery and project generation exploration program. Horizon holds numerous multi - commodity assets including listed investments and a 25% interest in the world class 1.8Bt Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland.



Primary activities during the Quarter included the continuation of the CY2022-23 multi-element project generation and new discovery drilling program and release of results, resource modelling and mine optimisation studies for Ore Reserve estimation, advancement of the Cannon, Penny's Find, and Rose Hill underground projects, joint venture assessment and review of further consolidation and divestment opportunities.



In addition, the Company has completed the demerger and restructure the Richmond Vanadium Project and is now progressing a dedicated ASX listing of RVT and IPO in 2022 providing Horizon shareholders with a free allocation of new shares in the IPO and a priority offering.



The Prospectus for the upcoming IPO was released on 14 October 2022.



*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/XF985J24





About Horizon Minerals Limited





Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.
PHOENIX  This summer was the deadliest on record for heat-associated fatalities in Arizonas largest county amid a growing wave of homelessness. Public health statistics this week confirmed a record 359 such deaths just days before the end of the six-month heat season.

The jump in deaths raises questions about how to better protect vulnerable people not only in the desert Southwest, where temperatures regularly hit triple digits, but also in more temperate areas where climate change has fueled more intense, frequent and enduring heat waves.

According to the National Weather Service, the highest temperature recorded this year at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was 115 degrees (46.1 C) on July 11, with the mercury hitting 114 degrees (45.5 C) on June 11 and July 16 and 22.

Maricopa Countys heat-associated fatalities this year have outpaced the 339 deaths confirmed in 2021 and the final number could be higher still, with another 91 deaths still under investigation.

The county has more than a decade of experience tracking heat deaths, but comparable figures are hard to come by in other areas such as the Pacific Northwest, which has only experienced intense heat waves in recent years.

In California, researchers have found that unsheltered people  especially those with a mental illness  were significantly more likely to end up in the hospital during extreme heat than housed people, based on a study of emergency room admissions.

Nearly 80% of the heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County this year occurred outdoors, but the preliminary heat reports for this year dont estimate how many of the deaths were among the homeless rather than people who were working outside or were outdoors for other reasons.

But the increase comes amid a surge in people living outside in metro Phoenix, with hundreds of homeless individuals sleeping in tents downtown amid soaring rents and evictions.

With so many more homeless people, it makes sense that more would die in the heat, said Amy Schwabenlender, executive director of the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix that brings together agencies assisting homeless people.

She said about 900 individuals currently stay at shelters on the campus, with about 1,000 more in tents on the streets outside the fenced property. There were an estimated 300 people sleeping just outside the campus a year ago.

Information about the role that substance use played in this years heat-associated deaths is not yet available.

But last year, substance use was a factor in 60% of those fatalities in Maricopa County. Methamphetamine was found in 91% of the deaths involving drugs, and fentanyl, an opioid, was found in 30%. While fentanyl is more likely to result in overdose, meth can create changes to the body that make a user more vulnerable to the heat, heightening the blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate

Homeless people accounted for 38% of the deaths involving drugs in 2021.

Males, African Americans, Indigenous Americans and those ages 75 and over had the highest rates of heat-associated deaths in the county in 2021.

David Hondula, director of the year-old Office of Heat Response and Mitigation for the city of the Phoenix, said in a report to City Council last week that his team is studying the numbers to understand what is behind the increase in deaths and how to plan for next summer.

Hondula said heat-related calls for assistance to the Phoenix Fire Department over the summer were expected to end up at least 10-20% above 2021.

The city fire department responded to 1,670 calls for service related to the heat between April 1 and September 30, a 13.6% increase over the same period in 2021. The highest density of calls came from Phoenixs central and downtown urban areas.

___

AP writer Christopher Weber contributed to this report from Los Angeles.
A teen shot by a San Antonio police officer three weeks ago as he put his car in reverse while eating a hamburger is still hospitalized and his condition remains very touch and go, his father said Tuesday in the familys first public comments since the shooting.

He is getting slightly better, his wounds are healing, but the wounds that hes endured, they are great, theres a lot of them, Eric Cantu said at a news conference.

Family attorney Ben Crump  who has taken on some of the nations most high-profile police killings of Black people  said the family has been told that the now-fired officer who shot 17-year-old Erik Cantu racially profiled him while searching for a Hispanic suspect.

Cantu was shot on Oct. 2 by Officer James Brennand in a McDonalds parking lot. After the shooting, the 27-year-old rookie officer was fired and charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public official. Police said Brennand violated his training and police procedures after approaching the car.

In body camera footage released by police, Brennand opens the car door and tells Cantu to get out. The car drives backward with the door open, and the officer fires multiple times into the vehicle. He continues to shoot as the car drives away.

Police have said Brennand was responding to an unrelated disturbance when he saw Cantu inside a car he believed had evaded him the day before during an attempted traffic stop. Brennand said he suspected the car was stolen.

Police have said that although registration plates didnt match the vehicle Cantu was operating, the car itself was not stolen.

Crump said the Bexar County district attorney told the family that the officer was looking for a Hispanic teen with a bowl haircut and he profiled Cantu. The district attorneys office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that it does not publicly comment on the facts of pending cases.

This is the part that hurts, is that he was profiled and he was violently injured over it, Eric Cantu said.

Crump said the teen is continuing to fight for his life on life support.

The teens mother, Victoria Casarez, said she doesnt know how many times her son was shot. She said four bullets were were found in his body, including one lodged near his heart.

She said has been wounded in his stomach, diaphragm, lungs, liver and arm.

Hes just mutilated and it hurts us to see our son this way, she said.

Brennand has been released from jail on bond. A message left with Brennands attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.

Brennand was charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public official because there was also a passenger in Cantus vehicle. The passenger was unharmed.

___

This story has corrected the spelling of the first name of Erik Cantus father to Eric Cantu instead of Erik.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

When a SWAT team moved in to arrest Tommy Trujillo Monday afternoon following an erratic string of pursuits and auto thefts across Albuquerque  the 38-year-old was reportedly cutting himself with a knife while holed up in a vehicle.

Jayme Fuller, a Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman, said Trujillo was taken to the hospital and will be booked into jail once he is in good enough condition.

Trujillo is facing charges of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property over $1,000, aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and reckless driving.

Trujillos stepfather, according to court records, told deputies Trujillo was in a drug-induced psychosis during the incident and is known to carry a firearm. Fuller said Trujillo also robbed a business, reportedly owned by a family member, at gunpoint in Southeast Albuquerque.

Donna Saavedra, Trujillos mother, said Trujillo had been taken to the hospital for a mental health crisis in the past week, but was released soon after. She said he thought people were chasing him.

Never been in trouble in his life, ever, and then he got hooked on drugs the last six months, Saavedra told the Journal. She said they last spoke on Sunday and Trujillo, the father of a 3-year-old girl, was supposed to go to rehab Monday.

Deputies responded around 5:30 a.m. to a home northwest of Second and Montano NW after Trujillos stepfather reported that Trujillo stole his truck, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. The stepfather told deputies Trujillo crashed his fathers truck onto the property before driving off in the stepfathers truck.

Deputies said Trujillos father told them Trujillo threatened to kill himself and lit the fathers house on fire Sunday afternoon. Albuquerque Fire Rescue responded to the fire and is currently investigating it.

Later Monday morning, Trujillo was spotted in the stolen truck driving recklessly around the neighborhood near his stepfathers house, according to the complaint. Trujillo reportedly evaded deputies, tried to run over his stepfather and backed into a gate at an elementary school while children were being dropped off.

Deputies said they lost sight of Trujillo, and he reportedly stole a car and committed an armed robbery on Louisiana near Zuni SE. Trujillo continued to drive erratically, in and out of oncoming traffic, before a pursuit was authorized.

BCSO, on Twitter, wrote that SWAT was responding around 11:15 a.m. after Trujillo barricaded himself inside a vehicle on Candelaria NW, between 10th and Seventh, and was refusing to come out.

(Trujillo) was actively cutting himself with a knife when he was barricaded in the vehicle, Fuller wrote in an email Tuesday. She said he was captured by two police dogs after running from the vehicle on foot.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Inside the prekindergarten classrooms at ChildCo Day School, kids engage their imagination as they play with blocks and learn to navigate conflicts.

They have space dedicated to books, numbers and family photos.

Its the kind of early childhood program Democrats and Republicans alike have embraced over the past decade as a powerful strategy for boosting academic achievement and promoting healthy families.

New Mexico is set to pour $579 million this year into pre-K, child care assistance, home visiting for new parents and other early childhood programs  double the amount from five years ago.

But the next funding decision is up to voters.

A measure on the Nov. 8 ballot would amend the state Constitution to authorize heftier withdrawals out of New Mexicos largest permanent fund  an extra 1.25 percentage points, boosting the annual distribution from 5% to 6.25%.

It would generate another $140 million for early childhood education in the budget year that starts next summer and an extra $90 million for public schools more broadly, according to recent projections. But the amount would vary over time, peaking in the next few years.

Supporters describe it as a necessary investment that would allow services to reach more families and provide a stable funding stream, protected from volatility in oil and gas income. New Mexicos early childhood department, they note, estimated it would need an additional $505 million in three years to provide universal access to early childhood services.

The current oil boom  as we have painfully seen happen time and time again as a state  will not last, said Elizabeth Eli Cuna, campaign manager for the Vote Yes for Kids initiative and mother of a newborn. We cannot pass up the opportunity to make a permanent and significant investment in our most important resource.

For more than a decade, the proposal has generated fierce debate at the Legislature. It won approval last year, sending the proposal to voters in this years general election.

Opponents say the constitutional amendment isnt necessary.

Policymakers at the Roundhouse, they say, have already prioritized early childhood and other education programs without tapping more heavily into the permanent fund.

An early childhood trust fund created in 2020, for example, is projected to reach a balance of $8.3 billion by the end of 2025, or enough to deliver $235 million in annual funding for early childhood programs.

I dont think we need the money right now, Republican state Sen. Gay Kernan, a retired teacher from Hobbs, said of the ballot measure. People dont know or understand that additional oil and gas revenues are just flooding the early childhood trust fund.

For Ivydel Natachu, who teaches in the Roadrunners classroom for 3-year-olds at ChildCo in Albuquerque, the debate holds personal meaning.

She views the ballot measure as a way to boost the low wages of early childhood educators and provide professional development training that will improve the quality of the workforce.

She sees firsthand, she said, the impact high-quality pre-K can have on kids and their families.

Were here at their most critical time of development, Natachu said.

Something that works

Few at the Capitol cast doubt on the effectiveness of pre-K  a key beneficiary of New Mexicos early childhood funding.

Analysts working for the Legislative Finance Committee have found long-lasting academic gains for children who participate in pre-K, and the effect seems to be amplified by certain programs that extend the school year if they are carried out in a high-quality way, the analysts say.

The ballot measure is aimed at funding both parts of the equation. Sixty percent of the extra distribution would go toward early childhood programs, such as pre-K, child care assistance and other services.

The other 40% would go to public schools more broadly to enhance instruction for students at risk of failure, extend the school year and compensate teachers.

Were not creating something new, said Allen Sanchez, president of St. Josephs Children, a nonprofit that operates a home visiting program, but doesnt accept government funding. Were expanding something that works.

It would come at a cost.

The extra distribution would be from the permanent school fund, the largest component of the larger land grant permanent fund. Its a sovereign wealth fund  one of the largest in the country  operating a bit like an endowment, and growing with investment income and royalty revenue from oil and gas production on state lands.

Valued at roughly $24 billion earlier this year, the land grant fund distributes 5% of its recent average annual value, or about $1 billion a year, to support spending on schools, universities, hospitals and other beneficiaries.

The balance would grow more slowly if the distribution climbs to 6.25%.

Eventually  perhaps 25 years from now, or in the 2040s  the fund would actually deliver less money at the 6.25% distribution rate than if it had been left alone at 5%, according to economists for the Legislature.

Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, said the math makes it a bad decision.

New Mexico already has trouble effectively spending the early childhood money available now, he said, and itd be better to have extra money from the land grant permanent fund in later decades.

The children of the future will pay the price, he said, and the children today will get no benefit.

Opponents also raise legal questions about the proposal and suggest theres nothing in place that would prevent lawmakers from using the extra distribution to supplant other education funding, rather than actually growing education spending.

Bottom of the barrel

The debate comes as New Mexico faces the aftermath of a 2018 court decision that found the state had failed to provide a sufficient education for every student. The decision focused on students from low-income families, students with disabilities, English-language learners and Native American students.

The court suggested New Mexicos education funding was inadequate.

The state has responded by ramping up teacher salaries and recruitment efforts, and offering financial incentives for districts that extend learning time, amid other efforts.

But academic outcomes remain dismal.

Supporters of the early childhood ballot measure say the extra funding could make a real difference in programs that work.

In a randomized study overseen by the University of New Mexico, for example, year-old children whose parents participate in a home visiting program offered by CHI St. Josephs Children demonstrated better development in problem-solving, social skills and other areas, compared to children not in the program.

A university researcher characterized it as promising evidence of the programs effectiveness, but said more study is needed to track longer-term outcomes.

Most people have accepted that early childhood programs are the mitigators to toxic stress  the adverse childhood experiences that have held back New Mexico for years, Sanchez, of St. Josephs Children, said.

Opponents  mostly Republican legislators over the past decade, in addition to some fiscally conservative Democrats  say more money isnt the answer.

New teaching strategies for reading, in particular, would help, Kernan said.

Weve got to do something different, she said, or were never going to get out of the bottom of the barrel.

Sharer said past increased distributions out of the land grant permanent fund  adopted in 2003 to boost education funding  didnt make a meaningful difference.

In a special election 19 years ago, voters approved raising the annual distribution rate from 4.7% to 5.8%, with gradual reductions back down to 5% by 2017. The extra proceeds went to public schools and other beneficiaries.

Well squander the money, he said of this years proposal. But the next step is up to voters.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Separate proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot would amend the state Constitution to revise how quickly some judges must stand for election and to authorize the spending of public money to help connect residential areas to the internet and other essential services.

Each proposal passed the Legislature earlier this year, sending the questions to voters in the general election.

Heres a look at the proposals:

 Constitutional Amendment 2 would create a new exemption in the states anti-donation clause, which generally prohibits directly appropriating state money to businesses, nonprofit groups and private parties.

There are already exceptions for economic development, college scholarships and similar projects.

But this years ballot measure would allow New Mexico to spend public funds to help connect homes to internet, electricity, water and similar services, contingent on lawmakers enacting a law with safeguards on the use of the money.

Supporters say the amendment would boost access to essential utilities, especially in rural areas unserved by the private sector.

About 20% of homes and businesses in New Mexico, for example, are not served by broadband internet, meaning residents dont have access to distance learning, remote work or online health care, according to state documents.

Opponents say the proposal is too broad, doesnt adequately safeguard public money and further weakens the anti-donation clause protections against corruption.

 Constitutional Amendment 3 calls for an appointed judge to serve at least a year on the bench before going up for election.

In New Mexico, state judges are appointed by the governor from a list of nominees screened by a commission.

The person is then a candidate in the next partisan election.

But, depending on the timing of an appointment, a judge might have to stand for election just a couple of months after appointment.

Supporters say giving the person at least one year on the bench would ensure voters have time to evaluate the judges performance and make it easier to recruit applicants. A private attorney, for example, isnt likely to give up a well-established law practice for just a few months on the bench.

Opponents say the proposal could result in an unelected judge on the bench for three years, delaying a decision that should be up to voters. The amendment might also trigger litigation over which judges it applies to  just Appeals Court judges, or Metro and District Court judges as well, according to legislative documents.
The mobilized reservists that Russian President Vladimir Putin visited last week at a firing range southeast of Moscow looked picture-perfect.

Kremlin video of the young men headed for the war in Ukraine showed them in mint-condition uniforms, equipped with all the gear needed for combat: helmets, bulletproof vests and sleeping bags. When Putin asked if they had any problems, they shook their heads.

That stands in stark contrast to the complaints circulating widely on Russian news outlets and social media of equipment shortages, poor living conditions and scant training for the new recruits.

Since Putin announced the mobilization Sept. 21, independent media, human rights activists and those called up have painted a bleak picture of a haphazard, chaotic and ethnically biased effort to round up as many men as possible and push them quickly to the front lines, regardless of skill, training and equipment.

Videos on Russian social networks showed conscripted men complaining of cramped, filthy accommodations, toilets overflowing with trash and a lack of food and medicine. Some showed men displaying rusty weapons.

In one video, a group of draftees milled in a field, claiming they had been left there with no food or shelter. Other clips depicted men forced to sleep on bare benches or tightly packed on the floor.

We didnt seek you out; you called us. Here, look at this! How long can this go on? an exasperated voice says in a video.

Putins decree on the partial mobilization didnt outline the criteria for draftees or say how many would be called up. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said it will affect only about 300,000 reservists with relevant combat or service experience.

Conscription protests have been harshly put down, and tens of thousands of men fled Russia to neighboring countries to avoid being pressed into service.

In the week after the decree, a young man opened fire on a recruitment officer in the Siberian city of Ust-Ilimsk, seriously wounding him. On Oct. 15, a shootout at a training camp in the southern Belgorod region killed 11 people and wounded 15 others. Enlistment offices and other administrative buildings also have been set on fire.

Its now clear that in a country where almost all men under 65 are registered as part of the reserve, the mobilization process wasnt carried out carefully. There has been a flood of reports of call-up summonses being served to those with no military experience. Police rounded up men in the streets of Moscow and other cities, or raided hostels to apprehend guests of fighting age. Enlistment offices often skipped required health checks.

The hasty call-up will hardly achieve anything other than slowing down the advances of Ukrainian troops in the 8-month-old war, military analyst Pavel Luzin said in an interview.

Moscow is simply prolonging the agony in Ukraine, said Luzin, a visiting scholar at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Activists also say ethnic minorities in some regions were drafted in disproportionate numbers. Videos circulated of protests in the Muslim majority region of Dagestan, with relatives complaining that the area was providing more recruits than elsewhere.

Vladimir Budaev of the Free Buryatia Foundation told AP that Indigenous people in Russias Far North and along the Mongolian border were rounded up in their villages in the drive.

In remote regions of Sakha and Buryatia, enlistment officers scoured the taiga for potential draftees, and handed out summonses to anyone they met, he said.

According to Yekaterina Morland, an ethnic Buryat volunteer at the Asians of Russia Foundation, Buryatia has seen mobilization rates up to six times higher than Russias European regions.

In the first two weeks of the call-up, authorities in some regions reported sending home hundreds of men who were drafted despite not meeting the criteria.

The task of a military enlistment office is to recruit  recruit whoever they can grab, says Elena Popova, the coordinator of the Movement of Conscientious Objectors.

Putin himself publicly acknowledged mistakes in the process and demanded its improvement.

But even when the summonses went to those who had served in the army, it didnt necessarily mean that they had battlefield skills. Some former conscripts often dont get proper military training when they serve and instead are engaged in menial labor.

A woman who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because she feared reprisals said her 31-year-old husband did his mandatory service six years ago and had no training at a firing range, or any combat drills in the field, but authorities tried to draft him anyway.

In fact, he had only held a weapon once, when they were taught how to strip down and reassemble an automatic rifle, she said. Mostly, she added, they were sweeping (the compound), cleaning the snow.

Relatives of conscripts reported having to spend their own money on gear and basic necessities. Online groups were formed to raise funds for equipment.

One campaign was run by Kremlin-backed lawmaker and state TV host Yevgeny Popov, who said reservists in the Taman artillery division got shoes and clothes, but had an acute shortage of drones, walkie-talkies, smartphones with maps (for gunners), binoculars, headlamps (and) power banks, he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday acknowledged persisting problems with equipment for the draftees, but vigorous measures taken to rectify the situation are already yielding the first positive results.

He said regional authorities are involved in providing the missing gear, and now Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov is personally responsible for this in a coordination council Putin has created.

Russian media reported multiple deaths of reservists in Ukraine, with their relatives telling news outlets that they had received very little training.

When asked by a reporter why several reservists had died in Ukraine only three weeks after being called up, Putin confirmed that training could last as few as 10 days and as many as 25.

Luzin, the military analyst, said Russia isnt able to train hundreds of thousands of men. The army was not ready for mobilization. It never prepared for it, he said.

Putin has promised to finish the mobilization drive by November, when the regular fall draft is scheduled. Military experts and rights groups say enlistment offices and training camps cant process both at the same time, warning that the call-up may resume months later.

As of mid-October, 222,000 reservists have been recruited, Putin said. Whether it will be possible to enlist another 80,000 in the remaining two weeks is unclear.

To try to broaden the pool, the Russian parliament on Wednesday lifted a ban on mobilizing men who have been convicted of a grave criminal offense and who have been released from prison but whose convictions are still on the books.

Even though masses of Russian men are no longer fleeing the country and street protests have all but halted, there are still those resisting the effort.

Independent and opposition-leaning media have published instructions on how to avoid the call-up legally. Rights groups advise men not to sign the summons  which is required for it to be considered legally served  and not to go near enlistment offices.

Some men are seeking alternative civil service, a right that lawyers say is guaranteed by the constitution.

Kirill Berezin, 27, responded to a call-up notice shoved under the door of his St. Petersburg apartment by going to a enlistment office to apply for the alternative civil service, but he was taken to a military unit anyway, according to his friend, Marina Tsyganova.

Berezin, who has since been sent to a training facility in southern Russia, submitted a document to his commanders that said he cant serve with weapons, cant kill people and help people who do it because it was contrary to my conscience.

Tsyganova told AP that she represented him in a St. Petersburg court, which last week rejected Berezins lawsuit, saying only regular conscripts under 27 are eligible for alternative civil service. His defense team plans to appeal, she said, and at the very least, she hoped he wont be sent to Ukraine while the legal battle proceeds.



This story was reported from outside Russia by The Associated Press.



Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine  NATO and Russias military alike staged planned annual nuclear exercises Wednesday as the Russian president repeated the unfounded claim that Ukraine plans to set off a radioactive dirty bomb. On the battlefront, Russian forces pounded more than 40 Ukrainian villages over the past day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remotely monitored the drills of his strategic nuclear forces, which involved multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles in a show of force. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise simulated a massive nuclear strike retaliating for a nuclear attack on Russia.

The Biden administration said Russia provided advance notice of the annual drills. NATO is carrying out its own long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe.

Without providing any evidence, in remarks carried by Russian TV, Putin said Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb as a provocation and contended the United States was using Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia and its regional allies, turning the country into a testing ground for military-biological experiments. It was the first time Putin himself made the unsubstantiated dirty bomb allegation, which his officials have been repeating since last week.

Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the claims and contend that Russia, facing setbacks on the battlefield, might itself try to detonate a dirty bomb  which uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste to sow terror  or go further and tap its vast nuclear weapon arsenal.

Shoigu on Wednesday called his counterparts from India and China to share Moscows concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb,' according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called Russias unsubstantiated statements absurd.

Allies reject this blatantly false accusation, and Russia must not use false pretexts to escalate the war further, Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday.

He underlined that the 30-nation military organization will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraines right to self-defense for as long as it takes.

Despite the Western dismissals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that Moscow had information about an ongoing preparation in Ukraine for such a terror attack.

Slovenias government said Russia has been engaging in a disinformation campaign about the dirty bombs, using a 2010 photo from the European Union countrys Agency for Radioactive Waste titled Ukraines capacities to create the dirty bomb. The photo shows bags containing smoke detectors bearing inscriptions in Slovenian reading radioaktivno, or radioactive. The Slovenian government says the detectors contain a radioactive source but it isnt one of those listed below the photo in the Russian Foreign Ministry release. Slovenias government said on Twitter that its radioactive waste is stored safely and is not used for dirty bombs.

While continuing to issue unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine is planning provocations, Putin also is still sending signals that hes open to negotiations with Kyiv. The latest message came via Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embalo, President of Guinea Bissau, who visited Kyiv to meet with President Volodymr Zelenskyy.

I was in Russia with President Putin, who asked me to forward you what we spoke about, something he thinks would be very important. He wishes and thinks that a direct dialogue should happen between your two countries, the Guinea Bissau leader said.

At a press conference, Zelenskyy responded that a prerequisite for talks would be Russias recognition of Ukraines territory, borders and sovereignty.

The two sides have managed limited cooperation on certain issues, such as the exchange of prisoners of war and repatriation of remains.

On Wednesday, the head of Ukraines presidential office, Andriy Yermak, reported on Telegram that Russian forces had handed over 10 Ukrainian servicemen held as prisoners of war. They also turned over the body of an American volunteer, U.S. Army veteran Joshua Alan Jones, who Yermak said fought for Ukraine and died in combat.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed the repatriation, without naming Jones. Price said the U.S. is appreciative of Ukraine for including recovery of this individuals remains in its negotiations with Russia.

On the battlefront, Ukrainian officials said fighting in more than 40 villages killed at least two civilians and sustained the terror that forces people into air raid shelters each night.

Russian forces launched five rockets, 30 air strikes and more than 100 multiple-launch rocket system attacks on Ukrainian targets, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said.

A Ukrainian official reported that a Russian strike hit a gas station in the city of Dnipro, killing two people, including a 25-year-old pregnant woman in a car with her husband. He was reported seriously hurt in the attack late Tuesday.

Ukrainian saboteurs attacked a police station in the southern port and industrial city of Kherson with grenades on Wednesday, Russian-installed officials reported on social media. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Missiles struck buildings and neighborhoods in the southern port city of Mykolaiv on Tuesday, though it remained unclear if there were any casualties, according to local authorities. More strikes were reported early Wednesday.

The sole food distribution point in Mykolaiv allows each person to receive free bread once every three days. Many must walk long distances.

Bread and canned food is all I eat. Its almost winter already, and its terrifying, Anna Bilousova, 70, said. For 74-year-old Olena Motuzko, getting the food is an ordeal because she has a disabled husband she must leave alone for hours.

Others are trying to survive by going underground at night.

A 73-year-old woman spends her days in her home, cooking and washing, and every evening heads to a small makeshift sleeping area in a basement with family members. She has been doing that every night since the war began in late February.

Valentyna, who asked that her last name not be used for security reasons, describes the sound of incoming attacks as very scary.

My nervous system cant cope with it, she said, sitting in her makeshift bedroom.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A team of scientists started the process of re-exhuming human remains Wednesday in their effort to identify people killed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst known examples of white mob violence against Black Americans in U.S. history.

The team plans to dig up some of the 19 sets of remains, which were initially exhumed a year ago from Oaklawn Cemetery in Tulsa, to test for more DNA.

Of those 19 remains previously exhumed, 14 fit the criteria for additional DNA analysis, but just two of the 14 had enough usable DNA recovered to begin sequencing by Intermountain Forensics, which is examining the remains. Intermountain Forensics plans to take DNA from the remaining 12.

None of the remains recovered are identified or confirmed as victims of the massacre in which more than 1,000 homes were burned, hundreds were looted and a thriving business district known as Black Wall Street was destroyed in the racist violence. Historians have estimated the death toll to be between 75 and 300, with generational wealth being wiped out.

Victims were never compensated, however a pending lawsuit seeks reparations for the three remaining known survivors of the violence. They are now more than 100 years old.

Danny Hellwig, director of laboratory development for Intermountain Forensics, a nonprofit foundation based in Salt Lake City, said Wednesday that the DNA previously recovered from the remains had degraded during the more than 100 years they were buried, creating a need for more testing.

There are samples that are very light right now on DNA, some that are semi-viable, some that are just on the threshold, Hellwig said.

Hellwig said work to develop a genealogy profile for the two remains with enough viable DNA is expected to start in about a week and could be completed within a few weeks, but efforts to identify the remains could take years.

The latest search of the graveyard is expected to end by Nov. 18.

Intermountain Forensics also continues to seek people who believe they are descendants of massacre victims to provide genetic material to help scientists find potential matches.

Following the exhumations, another search will begin for 18 bodies with gunshot wounds whose burials in plain caskets that were previously documented, but without information on where the caskets were within the cemetery, according to forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield.

We will be targeting in our excavations plain-casketed individuals who are male, based on reports from 1921, Stubblefield said.

That search area is south and west of previous excavations conducted in 2020 and 2021, said state Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck, who is leading the project.

The remains will be reburied, at least temporarily, at Oaklawn, where the previous reburial was closed to the public, drawing protests from about two dozen people who said they are descendants of massacre victims and should have been allowed to attend.

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This story has corrected the last name of Oklahomas state archaeologist, Kary Stackelbeck.

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Read more coverage of the Tulsa Race Massacre: https://apnews.com/hub/tulsa-race-massacre
LONE TREE, Colo.  Two people were killed Wednesday after a shootout with police in a suburban Denver light-rail station that occurred as deputies checked on a car the two were in that had missing license plates, authorities said.

Six deputies were involved in the shootout, including one who had a bullet narrowly miss hitting him when it flew through his shirt sleeve, said Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock in a press conference Wednesday. The deputy was treated at a hospital and later released for injuries to his face from shattered glass, Spurlock said.

The shooting happened after deputies from the Douglas County Sheriffs Office spotted a black Kia with missing license plates, the locks punched out, a shade visor, and tinted windows, said Spurlock. The car was parked at the Lincoln Station parking garage in Lone Tree, just south of Denver, the sheriff said.

After backup was called, Spurlock said, the officers knocked on both the passenger and driver windows. Though they couldnt see into the car, they could see the car moving, he said. The two people inside then started shooting at deputies, according to Spurlocks account.

Spurlock said the shooting lasted between seven to nine minutes and included an estimated 35 rounds between both the deputies and the suspects, who died at the scene.

He didnt release the names of the deceased, but said both were under the age of 32.

The people had warrants out for their arrest, he said.

Police believe the car had been stolen from from Pueblo, a city two hours south of Denver.

The six deputies are on leave pending an investigation of the incident.
CLEVELAND  Two men accused of stuffing five walleye with lead weights and fish fillets during a lucrative fishing tournament on Lake Erie pleaded not guilty to cheating and other charges on Wednesday.

Jacob Runyan, 42, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, made no comments during their brief court appearances in Cleveland. Their attorneys declined to comment about the case after the hearing.

Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor James Gutierrez also declined to comment, referring questions to a spokesperson.

The cheating allegations surfaced Sept. 30 when Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament director Jason Fischer became suspicious because Runyan and Cominskys fish were significantly heavier than walleye of that length typically are. An angry crowd at Gordon Park in Cleveland watched Fischer cut the walleye open and announce there were weights and fish fillets stuffed inside them.

An officer from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources confiscated the fish as evidence.

Runyan and Cominsky were indicted earlier this month on felony charges of cheating, attempted grand theft, possessing criminal tools and misdemeanor charges of unlawfully owning wild animals.

Both were released Wednesday on personal bonds of $2,500.

The first place prize in the tournament totaled around $28,000.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Gunmen attacked a major Shiite holy site in Iran on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens. The attack came as protesters elsewhere in Iran marked a symbolic 40 days since a womans death in custody ignited the biggest anti-government movement in over a decade.

State TV blamed the attack on takfiris, a term that refers to Sunni Muslim extremists who have targeted the countrys Shiite majority in the past. The attack appeared to be unrelated to the demonstrations.

The official website of the judiciary said two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque, the second holiest site in Iran. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

An Iranian news website considered to be close to the Supreme National Security Council reported that the attackers were foreign nationals, without elaborating.

The Islamic State group late Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack on its Amaq news agency. It said an armed IS militant stormed the shrine and opened fire on its visitors. It claimed that some 20 people were killed and dozens more were wounded.

Such attacks are rare in Iran, but last April, an assailant stabbed two clerics to death at the Imam Reza shrine, the countrys most revered Shiite site, in the northeast city of Mashhad.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that whoever led and planned the attack will receive a regretful and decisive response, without elaborating. IRNA quoted Raisi as saying, This evil will definitely not go unanswered.

Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of protesters had poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam  as in many other traditions  again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Aminis Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

Death to the dictator! protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Aminis grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governors office. It said local internet access was cut off due to security considerations.

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation completely stable.

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Irans northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb the spread of influenza.

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! through the labyrinthine marketplace.

This year is a year of blood! they also chanted. (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator! as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the countrys strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan #WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on womens rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Irans border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with war against God, which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of supporting terrorism. The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.
ATLANTA  A judge on Wednesday ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to testify before a special grand jury thats investigating whether President Donald Trump and his allies illegally tried to sway Georgias results in the 2020 election.

Meadows, a former GOP congressman, is a key figure in the investigation. He traveled to Georgia, sat in on Trumps phone calls with state officials and coordinated and communicated with outside influencers who were either encouraging or discouraging the pressure campaign.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened the investigation last year into actions taken by Trump and others to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the state. Meadows is just one of several associates and advisers of the Republican former president whose testimony Willis has sought.

Because Meadows doesnt live in Georgia, Willis, a Democrat, had to use a process that involved getting a judge where he lives in South Carolina to order him to appear. First, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, whos overseeing the special grand jury, signed off on a petition certifying that Meadows was a necessary and material witness.

Now, Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller in Pickens County, South Carolina, has honored McBurneys finding and ordered Meadows to testify, Willis spokesman Jeff DiSantis confirmed.

Meadows attorney Jim Bannister told The Associated Press that his client was weighing all options, including appeals.

Nothing final until we see the order, he said.

Willis has been fighting similar battles  mostly with success  in courts around the country as she seeks to compel Trump allies to testify. But an appeals court in Texas has indicated it may not recognize the validity of the Georgia summonses, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after a federal appeals court last week ordered him to testify.

In the petition seeking Meadows testimony, Willis wrote that he attended a Dec. 21, 2020, meeting at the White House with Trump and others to discuss allegations of voter fraud and certification of Electoral College votes from Georgia and other states.

The next day, Willis wrote, Meadows made a surprise visit to Cobb County, just outside Atlanta, where an audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes was being conducted. He asked to observe the audit but wasnt allowed to because it wasnt open to the public, the petition says.

Meadows also sent emails to Justice Department officials after the election alleging voter fraud in Georgia and elsewhere and requesting investigations, Willis wrote. And he took part in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, during which Trump suggested that Raffensperger, the states top elections official and a Republican, could find enough votes to overturn the presidents narrow loss in the state.

According to a transcript of the call with Raffensperger, Meadows said Trumps team believed that not every vote or fair vote and legal vote was counted. And thats at odds with the representation from the secretary of states office. He goes on to say he hopes they can agree on a way to look at this a little bit more fully.

Raffensperger disputed the assertions, addressing Trump, We dont agree that you have won.

After the election, Meadows was widely seen in the White House as a chief instigator of Trumps fixation on the election, passing along debunked conspiracies about fraud that other officials were forced to swat down. He pushed one theory that people in Italy had changed votes in the U.S. with satellite technology, a claim that former Justice Department official Richard Donoghue labeled pure insanity.

On the legal front, in a court filing this week, Meadows lawyer Bannister argued that executive privilege and other rights shield his client from testifying.

Bannister asserted in a filing that Meadows has been instructed by Trump to preserve certain privileges and immunities attaching to his former office as White House Chief of Staff. And Willis petition calls for him to divulge the contents of executive privileged communications with the President, Bannister wrote.

Meadows previously invoked that privilege in a fight against subpoenas issued by the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Meadows has been fighting investigations into the violent 2021 insurrection since last year and has so far avoided having to testify about his role and his knowledge of the former presidents actions. He turned over thousands of texts to the House Jan. 6 committee before eventually refusing to do an interview.

The House held Meadows in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoena, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute.

Special grand juries in Georgia cannot issue indictments. Instead, they can gather evidence and compel testimony and then can recommend further action, including criminal charges, in a final report. It is ultimately up to the district attorney to decide whether to seek an indictment from a regular grand jury.

Grand jury secrecy is paramount in South Carolina, Bannister wrote. Because the special grand jury is expected to ultimately issue a public report, ordering Meadows to testify would violate his state right to privacy, Bannister argued.

McBurney, the Fulton County Superior Court judge, has made clear in rulings on other attempts by potential witnesses to avoid or delay testimony that he considers the special grand jurys investigation to be a criminal proceeding. He has also stressed a need for secrecy for the panels workings.

____

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Jill Colvin and Meg Kinnard in New York contributed.
HOUSTON  A man was sentenced to death Wednesday for the fatal 2019 shooting of a law enforcement officer who was the first Sikh deputy in his Texas agency.

A Harris County jury deliberated for about 35 minutes before returning the death sentence for Robert Solis, 50, after convicting him of capital murder on Oct. 17 in Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwals killing.

According to trial evidence, Solis shot the 42-year-old deputy multiple times during a Sept. 27, 2019, traffic stop in a residential cul-de-sac 18 miles (29 kilometers) northwest of Houston. Dhaliwal was returning to his patrol car when Solis shot him from behind.

The defendant executed a uniformed deputy by shooting him in in cold blood in broad daylight. That makes him the worst of the worst, which is why we asked jurors to sentence him to death, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement.

Solis represented himself in the trial after firing his three defense attorneys.

Prosecutors had told jurors that Solis had a lengthy criminal record of robberies and sexual predation leading up to Dhaliwals killing.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Warren, who prosecuted the case, said in a Wednesday statement that Dhaliwal was not just a trailblazer in the law enforcement community but also an exceptional officer.

Deputy Dhaliwal was a pillar of this community, and when it came to law enforcement, he set the bar, Warren said. His loss is a loss that every single one of us feels. Were glad today that this jury was able to give justice.
Ahead of the festivities, @Denverformen, Indias most loved and leading men's fragrance brand from Vanesa Care Pvt. Ltd., unveiled its digital campaign to resonate with its value of true character and ambition among men, featuring its brand ambassadors, Sudeep Kiccha, Mahesh Babu, and Silambarasan.

It is a widely held notion that easy success is not success, it comes after a lot of hard work and perseverance. Denver applauses all men who desire success. A brand widely celebrates the triumphs of men. Similarly, the brands most recent campaign reinforces the brand's mission to acknowledge hard work and grandly celebrate success, as it should be.

"Time and again, we need to remind ourselves that success matters most. Ahead of festivities, we want to reassert our key message among our consumers Noted Aditya Yadav, Brand Manager.

Reaching out to young people on digital platforms is an extension of our existing TVC campaigns. We are excited about the responses and engagement" noted Saurabh Gupta, MD & Chairman, Vanesa Care Pvt. Ltd.

Denver brings you a series of exotic fragrances that encompasses the modern man-who triumphs over all odds and owns it, every time. Curated with expertise honed to perfection over three decades, its exotic fragrances evoke effortless, invigorating charm. Denver brought together its brand ambassadors and film industry icons, Sudeep Kiccha, Mahesh Babu, and Silambarasan, on a common digital platform, as these celebrities are synonymous with successful men, whilst representing the confidence and projecting a sophisticated aura around them, which rightly reiterates the brands fundamental message.
Magnite, the worlds largest independent omnichannel sell-side advertising platform, today reported growth across Asia, delivering a 23% increase from H1 2021 to H1 2022 across its platform compared with the overall APAC digital advertising markets expected 12% growth in 2022, according to Magna Global. The positive results come as Magnites technical capabilities and integrations with premium publishers have been met with strong omnichannel demand, coupled with increasing OTT viewership across all screens, including mobile and CTV, throughout the region.

The success Magnite has seen in advertiser spend is directly tied to the companys ability to provide scaled inventory from the most premium publishers in fully transparent transactions. Magnite currently works with a wide range of publisher clients in the region, including Viu, WeTV, iQIYI, Vidio and iWantTFC.

According to Magnite research, 86% of streaming viewers say they dont mind watching ads - provided that the ad loads are kept light. Magnite enables advertisers to find these audiences across OTT and has seen meaningful growth in the number of advertisers investing in OTT as viewership has shifted to streaming. Advertisers in the F&B, technology and business verticals running OTT campaigns with Magnite increased their spend by 173%, 128%, and 149% respectively between Q2 2021 and Q2 2022. Overall impressions grew by 55% across the region during the same time period and OTT represented over 53% of regional impressions in Q2.

In response to this growth, Magnite has brought on several new senior hires to the team:

Priyanka Bajaj , Head of Demand Facilitation Asia

Ibrahim Merican, Demand Operations Lead Asia

Lily Cheong, Supply Ops Lead Asia

Hesty Dwi Utami, Business Development Director Asia

New demand facilitation sales managers, Charlotte Hernandez and Tina Arvianh

The team has proven expertise that will drive forward Magnites presence in key regional markets across Asia. Magnite also plans to open up roles across account management, solutions engineering, sales, and product to grow inventory scale, support advertising demand, and elevate data enablement and advanced sell-side programmatic capabilities.

Deepening and expanding our successful client relationships in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and India are a key priority for us, said Gavin Buxton, Managing Director, Asia at Magnite. We see incredibly strong demand for a best-in-class SSP that enables brands to reach consumers across all touchpoints including mobile devices and CTV as it is starting to increase scale in the region. We continue to be the preferred platform that connects advertisers to premium publishers who are searching for the most comprehensive omnichannel ecosystem to reach their audiences.

As the fastest growing OTT platform in Indonesia, Vision+ looks to technology leaders like Magnite for guidance in navigating the digital landscape, commented Clarissa Tanoesoedibjo, Managing Director PT MNC OTT Network. Since working with them, our advertising business has seen significant growth. We look forward to the continued expansion of our relationship as Vision+ broadens its premium content library to reach viewers at scale. The Magnite team always provides support to improve our business and were confident that with their help, the business will continue to advance.

In the rapidly changing digital landscape, its important that we work with technology vendors like Magnite who are ahead of evolving trends and take an active role in helping us to reach and exceed our business goals, said Pavan Arora, Head, Programmatic Revenue & Operations at Hindustan Times Media Ltd.
Just months after joining forces with leading payment solutions provider Paytm to expand into India, leading global video game commerce company Xsolla has now announced a partnership with multinational mobile payments and marketing solutions provider Alipay to further strengthen its outreach across Asia while bringing in new games to the huge market. During its quarterly release week, Xsolla also introduced new solutions and features for Xsolla Web Shop, such as enabling developers manage player promotions while customizing their marketing efforts through an updated Web Shop launching this week.

Xsolla is partnering with multiple vendors on three additional solutions to offer developers every opportunity to expand across various countries. The global video game commerce company has further created new features and updates to its NFT solution offering, removing the barriers to Web 3.0 for users, allowing them to sell, store, mint, and deliver NFTs to users' wallets within one interface integrated with other Xsolla solutions.

"Xsolla is committed to providing best-in-class services and support for mobile game developers worldwide to help them reach more players in more geographies," said Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla. "As the mobile gaming industry evolves, we are staying ahead of the curve by offering unique features to our mobile solution to help our partners connect directly with their players."
Boeing has delivered the first AH-64E Version 6, or v6, Apache helicopter featuring improved performance, sensors and software to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF).

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RNLAF have operated D-model Apaches since 1998. Deliveries of remanufactured E-model Apaches represents the next step in the long-term partnership between Boeing and the country (Picture source: Boeing)

As part of a Foreign Military Sale through the U.S. Department of Defense, Boeing received a contract in 2019 to remanufacture 28 RNLAF AH-64 D-model Apaches to the advanced AH-64E v6. Delivery for the final E-model Apache to the country is targeted for 2025.

The Apache is the most advanced and proven attack helicopter, and demand for it continues to increase worldwide, said Kathleen Jolivette, vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs and Senior Mesa Site Executive at Boeing. By upgrading from the D-model to the E-model Apache, the Royal Netherlands Air Force will gain a significant increase in attack power, versatility and situational awareness for decades to come.

The Dutch have operated D-model Apaches since 1998. Deliveries of remanufactured E-model Apaches represents the next step in the long-term partnership between Boeing and the country. Apaches continue to be an important element of European defense, and are currently operated by several European allied nations.

It is an honor to receive the first remanufactured Apache Echo. This updated attack helicopter is a great improvement and gives the Royal Netherlands Air Force more combat power and situational awareness. This first delivery is an important step in modernizing our entire Apache fleet, said Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard, the Director of the Defence Materiel Organisation.

The AH-64E v6 is the most modern configuration of the Apache attack helicopter. Since 1984, over 2,600 Apaches have been delivered to the U.S. Army and 17 international customers. Currently, there are more than 1,260 Apaches operating worldwide with more than 665 representing the E-model.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is a national treasure. Frighteningly, Biden is rapidly despoiling this treasure.

The Reserve consists of four sites (Bryan Mound, Big Hill, Bayou Choctaw, and West Hackberry) with a combined storage capacity of 714 million barrels of crude oil. It is the largest strategic oil reserve in the world.

The OPEC oil embargo of 1973 and the resultant oil crisis contributed to western governments recognition of how vulnerable their countries were to disruptions in Middle East oil. As a result, SPR was authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), signed into law by President Gerald Ford on December 22, 1975. Construction on the Reserve began in 1977 and was completed in the early 1990s.

The SPR anchors the worlds collective energy security system. By ensuring that the SPR remains a reliable asset within the IEA collective action framework, the United States leads by example, encouraging other countries to maintain their own reserves of crude oil and petroleum products, and to deploy those reserves in a collective manner. This leverages the effectiveness of the United States strategic reserves and benefits the United States to a greater degree than would be possible with only the SPR.1

SPR crude oil is stored in underground caverns leached in salt domes at the four sites. There are approximately 60 caverns ranging in size from 6 to 37 million barrels in capacity. A typical cavern holds 10 million barrels and is cylindrical in shape with a diameter of 200 feet and a height of 2,500 feet.2

Each SPR cavern contains either sweet or sour crude; there is no comingling of the two streams within individual storage caverns.3 Sweet crude has a maximum of 0.5% sulfur content. Sour crude has a sulfur content in excess of 0.5%. On July 21, 1977, the first shipment of approximately 412,000 bbl of Saudi Arabian light crude was delivered to the SPR.4 The Reserve completed filling 32 years later on December 27, 2009.5

The SPR was designed for five complete drawdown/refill cycles whereby the caverns are drained and then refilled. Each drawdown/refill cycle expands the storage cavern size because the oil is forced out by injecting fresh water into the cavern causing the oil to flow upwards. The surrounding salt dissolves in the fresh water, expanding the cavern's size. Without getting too technical, the SPR isnt draining individual caverns as it sells oil, but instead is only reducing the inventory across many caverns.

Much has been written about the Biden administrations recent drawdown (180 million barrels) from the SPR, which has reduced the SPR inventory (405 million BBL as of 10/14/22)6 to its lowest point since 1984. The Biden Administration announced the final 15 million BBL of the 180 million BBL release on October 18.7 When this final 15 million BBL is sold, the SPR inventory will be below 400 million BBL or just over one-half of its storage capacity of 714 million barrels. Based on 2021 imports of 6.1 million barrels per day (BPD), this total represents approximately two months imports.8

The Reserves depletion is a major concern because there is no assurance that it will be refilled despite the Biden administrations pledge to refill it when crude prices drop to or below the $67-72 per barrel price range.9 Biden is prepared to authorize significant additional sales in the coming months if conditions require.10 With the projections for a bad winter in the northeast, can the Biden administration resist the urge to sell even more SPR oil?

Image: A pumpjack in Texas by Flcelloguy. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Even if the Administration does commence refill, the process will take years. The highest fill rate the SPR has achieved is 292,000 barrels per day (BPD) in 1981.11 At that rate (assuming it can be achieved) it will take over three years to refill the Reserve to capacityand that assumes perfect execution and no supply or logistical glitches. Moreover, it is questionable if that rate can be achieved because, in the early years, the SPR was filling empty storage caverns. Now, theyll be topping off caverns, a process that is logistically more difficult.

Refilling the Reserve will be a political decision. The cost of refilling the Reserve, assuming oil purchases in the $67-$72 per barrel price range will be between $26.1 billion and $27.3 billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, the price of crude could go as high as $120 per BBL.12 At that price, refilling the Reserve would cost a whopping $47 billion.

In March of 2020, former President Donald Trump wanted to fill up the SPR, and wanted to include in a stimulus package before Congress $3 billion to take advantage of lower oil prices that had fallen earlier that month. Democrats, in their infinite wisdom, removed the $3 billion out of the stimulus package.13

If Congress was reluctant to spend $3 billion two years ago, how willing will Congress be to spend eight times that much in 2023? Even if Republicans take control of Congress, will they have enough votes to override a possible presidential veto?

A full SPR acts as a deterrent to oil embargoes since it delays the impact of an embargo by four months. Already, that deterrent has been reduced by half. It could go even lower this winter.

Biden has spoken disparagingly of both the Saudis and the Russians since he was inaugurated. Both recently showed their contempt by reducing OPECs output by 200,000 BBL per day despite the Biden administrations pleas. Will they decide to test him further with an embargo? With the SPR inventory at such a low point, I would bet that the thought has at least crossed their minds.

______________________

1 Long Term Strategic Review of the U.S. Petroleum Reserve Report to Congress August 2016, https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2016/09/f33/Long-Term%20Strategic%20Review%20of%20the%20U.%20S.%20Strategic%20Petroleum%20Reserve%20Report%20to%20Congress_0.pdf

2 U.S. Department of Energy, SPR Storage Sites, https://www.energy.gov/ceser/strategic-petroleum-reserve

3 Long Term Strategic Review of the U.S. Petroleum Reserve Report thttps://www.energy.gov/ceser/spr-origins o Congress August 2016, page 12.

4 U.S. Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Origins,

5 U.S. Department of Energy, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Quick Facts, Fill Status, https://www.energy.gov/ceser/spr-quick-facts

6 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Weekly Ending Stocks of Crude Oil in the SPR (thousand barrels), https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=WCSSTUS1&f=W

7 MSN https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/biden-to-announce-release-of-up-to-15-million-barrels-of-oil-from-strategic-petroleum-reserve/ar-AA136twZ

8 Forbes.com, The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at its Lowest Level Since 1984, https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2022/09/07/the-strategic-petroleum-reserve-is-at-its-lowest-level-since-1984/?sh=71dd553a77c7

9 The White House Fact Sheet: FACT SHEET: President Biden to Announce New Actions to Strengthen U.S. Energy Security, Encourage Production, and Bring Down Costs.

10 Ibid.

11 General Accounting Office, STATEMENT OF F. KEVIN BOLAND SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR RESOURCES, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FOSSIL AND SYNTHETIC FUELS, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE, February 17, 1983. https://www.gao.gov/assets/120617.pdf

12 Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2022, Biden Aims to Spur Drilling with Plan to Refill Oil Reserves but Producers are Skeptical. for the Biden administration

13 The Political Insider, April 1, 2022 Democrats Bragged About Canceling Trumps Plan to Fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve https://thepoliticalinsider.com/democrats-bragged-about-canceling-trumps-plan-to-fill-strategic-petroleum-reserve/

William Duncan is a pseudonym. He is a former employee of the SPR.
In a recent speech, Joe Biden described "MAGA" Republicans as threatening "the very foundations of our republic" and stated that they espouse "extreme ideology." He differentiated between mainstream Republicans (with whom he says he can work) and "MAGA Republicans," who are "a threat to this country." In a more recent speech, he used the term "Mega MAGA Republicans." I guess that refers to those of us who really, really, really want to make America great again. You say it like it's a bad thing...

A MAGA Republican is not a member of some esoteric cult. MAGA Republicans are not members of a secret society, meeting by candlelight in the basement of an imposing Gothic structure plotting the demise of innocent victims.

When Donald Trump began campaigning for the 2016 election, he used the slogan "Make America Great Again" to announce that he believed some important aspects of our government, our society, and, indeed, our whole country had become too disengaged from the principles that made this country great, and that he would work to reestablish those principles. That seemed to resonate with people  not just a small fraction of people, but many. That was obviously the reason he was elected.

From his recent speech, however, it seems Joe Biden would have us believe MAGA Republicans are a splinter group, ideologically possessed and willing to engage in any form of confrontation and violence to advance their agenda. He wants us to believe that MAGA is "code" for wreaking destruction on anyone who disagrees. He wants us to believe that they are Alt-Right activists, criminally associated purveyors of mayhem.

They are not.

Even from the actual words in the acronym, MAGA Republicans want to "Make America Great Again." That doesn't seem like an evil thing to do  not for those who love our country. Actually, it seems like a very good thing to do, given our current state of affairs.

Does the desire for adherence to the U.S. Constitution, for small government, individual freedom, a strong economy, energy independence, safe cities, secure border, strong military, and fair trade relations sound like extreme ideology? Do people who wish for these things threaten our country? In what universe does that make even a shred of sense? Indeed, the only threat they may pose is to the ongoing political careers of those who wish to retain the levers of power and control. If they are voted out of office, they may feel the threat of having to find a way to make a living doing real work in some field of endeavor, and, in fairness, that may scare them beyond the capacity for rational thought.

While I am sure that the current administration and the Democrat party in general want the very best for our country and all of its citizens (really?), I believe we could do better. Despite recent policy and political decisions that would indicate intentions to the contrary, they certainly don't want to turn us into a Marxist regime...do they? They don't want us to become a socialist/communist country with ubiquitous and necessary draconian enforcement measures. Do they?

Thomas Jefferson stated in a 1788 document to Edward Carrington that "the natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground." The Swiss political theorist Jean-Jacques Rousseau warned that there is a strong tendency for members of the government to usurp the sovereign power in order to pursue their own private interests, leading to tyranny.

It would be absurd to suggest that our country is edging precipitously close to tyranny, wouldn't it? Absurd, but not out of the question  not if we consider connections to China, Russia, and Ukraine, which have purportedly enriched several individuals with familial connections to those at the highest levels of power.

Rather than focusing on that, Mr. Biden would have us think about his political rivals not as those espousing differing political views, but as an evil group. As such, they can be vilified, reviled, and ostracized from our society. He has attempted to hoodwink us all into believing that this straw man that he has identified as MAGA Republicans (now "Mega MAGA Republicans") needs to be purged. In reality, it is simply one of the favorite tools used by the politically progressive left: objectification. It is a tool they hope we will not recognize for what it is, thereby allowing them to use it again and again.

It has long been understood that one of the processes by which psychopathic individuals are so easily able to enact pain, heartache, and destruction upon others is objectification. If one can view others as mere objects, hurting, hating, abusing, and killing them isn't an issue; they are only objects. This may be stretching things a bit, but it almost seems that Biden would have us consider those who truly wish to make America great again as political objects, worthy of hatred from us all  objects of scorn.

I will not be cast as a pariah on society simply because I believe in the freedom described so eloquently in our Constitution. If any should be considered a pariah, it is they who wish to subjugate us all for their favorite political whimsy. It is they we should consider threats to democracy, and hopefully they who should soon be working on tuning up their resumes as they seek (for once) to make an honest living.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Today in history witnessed one of the greatest defenses by a small Christian force against Islamic invaders, the relief of the siege of Croya (Kruje), Albania, in 1450.

Nearly four decades earlier, the leader of the Albanian forces, George Kastrioti -- better known as Skanderbeg (Lord Alexander) -- was taken captive as a child by the Ottoman Turks, and trained to be a janissary, a Christian slave turned Muslim soldier. Excelling at war, he quickly rose among the Ottoman ranks until he became a renowned general, with thousands of Turks under his command.

Despite all the honors showered on him, once the opportunity appeared, he showed where his true allegiance lay: he broke free of the Ottomans and fled to his native and continuously harried Albania. There, after openly reclaiming his Christian faith, he abjured the prophet and the sultan, and proclaimed himself the avenger of his family and country, to quote Edward Gibbon.

His ingratitude naturally provoked the Turks to no end and prompted wave after wave of jihadist invasions, each larger and crueler than its predecessor. Finally, in what was meant to be the campaign to end all campaigns, in the spring of 1450 Sultan Murad II himself led a gargantuan army of 160,000 men into Albania --straight for Skanderbegs stronghold, the White Castle.

Against this mammoth Muslim army, Skanderbeg could only raise some 18,000 Christian defenders. He evacuated all of the women and children from Croya, garrisoned it with 1,500 men, and took the rest into the nearby mountains, whence they would harass the besiegers and try to undermine their supply trains with guerilla tactics.

Meanwhile, all along their route to Croya, the Turks left a trail of devastation -- countless Albanians were slaughtered or enslaved.

Murad finally arrived and put Croya to siege on May 14, 1450. Day after day, Ottoman cannons rocked the White Castle with projectiles weighing as much as four hundred pounds. As one contemporary wrote, the sultan bombarded the walls with cannons and brought down a large section of them But Skanderbeg lit fires from the mountain signaling to those in the city that when there was need, he would be there to assist them. He attacked some of the sultans men who went up the mountain and fought against them, performing remarkable deeds.

Meanwhile, the janissaries terrorized and devastated the land of their former brother-in-arms, burning homes and grain fields.

Several Albanian nobles individually surrendered in the hopes of retaining their lands and titles; others actively welcomed the Turks in the hopes of breaking Skanderbegs influence. And Venice, once again, supplied the Islamic invader.

A Venetian report complained that Skanderbeg is defending himself heroically -- so much so that, if not for Venetian provisions, the Turks would have pulled up their tents and retreated: for this reason, it is feared that Skanderbeg, the moment he frees himself [of the Turks] will attack the lands of the Republic [of Venice in vengeance].

Similarly, after stating that Murad attempts with all his might and vigorous battle to crush him [Skanderbeg], a pessimistic letter offered a glimmer of hope: the brave men inside are bound by honor to defend it to the death. Skanderbeg himself is not far from the Turkish tents and daily inflicts heavy losses on the enemy because he takes advantage of the nature of the country and the nearby mountains where he hides without being discovered.

Skanderbeg and his men fought tooth and nail and managed to inflict heavy casualties on their much larger enemy. In the words of a nineteenth-century historian:

With matchless strategy he contrived to keep the myriads of his opponents from the walls he swept unexpectedly, now here and now there, by night and by day, into the midst of the foe; every swordsman of his band hewed down scores, and his own blade flashed as the lightning and caused Moslem heads to fall like snowflakes where he passed. Thousands of the bravest warriors of Murad were thus swept away continuously. His hosts were diminishing to the point of danger to his very person.

At one point, Murad spotted Skanderbeg and his men on a reconnaissance mission on a mountain overlooking Croya. Shaking his head, the sultan was heard to mutter that perhaps the best way was to let alone that furious and untamed lion -- to stop feed[ing] that unhappy beast with the blood of his men.

Murad persevered, however, as the breaching of Croya seemed imminent, the cannons having leveled so many of its ramparts. On an appointed day, after the sultan had demolished a large part of the walls, he engaged his entire army in the battle. The janissaries attempted to seize the city at the place where the walls had collapsed to the ground. But they did not overcome those in the city, who were fighting beyond hope. He then decided to starve the city into surrender and made a second, most ferocious attack, but that too failed.

Countless more Ottomans lay dead and dying. By now Murad was at his wits end: he retired to his pavilion, overcome with grief and rage tearing his hair and his beard, and pouring out blasphemous speeches against the majesty of heaven, seeming to call the Almighty in question for suffering his gray hairs and his former glory, and the Ottoman name, to be disgraced and humbled for the sake of a paltry castle in Albania.

As might be expected, contemporary Ottoman chronicles are succinctly more sparing: Murad and his army struck Croya with cannons and turned it into a graveyard. He hoped that they would surrender but they did not. Winter then arrived.

And that was that: having marched one of the largest armies he had ever mustered, and having invested Croya for eight months, Murad resigned and lifted the siege on October 26, 1450. Some twenty thousand Turks had been killed for nothing.

Although Albania was devastated and plagued by starvation, that Christmas was the happiest the people had enjoyed since Skanderbeg had broken free of the Turks and returned to Albania.

Moreover, his epic defense against everything the sultan who had long terrorized southeastern Europe could hurl against him caused an explosion of euphoria throughout the West -- not least as Murad had died soon thereafter, of shame, some said.

Pope Nicholas V hailed Skanderbeg a Champion of Christendom, and rightfully so. Had the Ottomans managed to transform Albania into a launching pad into Italy in 1450 instead of when they did, in 1480, Muhammad II, the Conqueror -- modern-day Turkeys hero -- would have had thirty years, not just one, to pursue his long-cherished goal of conquering Rome and, from there, inundating Western Europe with his Eastern hordes.

That Skanderbeg was a quintessential Defender of the West was even acknowledged by the United States Congress, in a 2005 resolution titled, Honoring the 600th anniversary of the birth of Gjergj Kastrioti (Scanderbeg), statesman, diplomat, and military genius, for his role in saving Western Europe from Ottoman occupation.

For the full story of Skanderbeg -- as well as several other Christian heroes who stood against Islamic jihad -- see Ibrahims Defenders of the West, from which the above account was excerpted.

Image: Public Domain
In Arizona, the election process and its officials are once again in the hot seat, but this time, its Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cazares-Kelly whos under fire; and shocker, shes a progressive with pronouns.

If you recall, Arizonas 2020 elections were plagued with concerns and apparent issues, none of which the Republican-held legislature chose to rectify in the two law-making sessions since. Now, Cazares-Kelly, the very woman responsible for verifying the vote-by-mail signatures, has been caught red-handed stacking the cards against Republicans.

Southern Arizona is largely ruled by what is locally known as the Grijalva Dynasty, with the head of the snake being congressman Raul Grijalva (he's been in this office for nearly two decades)  Grijalvas daughter, a former board member for a local school district which saw some of the lowest academic scores in the country, currently occupies a seat on the countys Board of Supervisors; and, the Marxist mayor of Tucson is married to a long-time Grijalva staffer. (In 2019, national news covered a vicious and unwarranted physical assault against a man for the offense of donning a MAGA hat; the perpetrator was, at the time, employed by Grijalva.)

Now, Luis Pozzolo, an America-loving legal immigrant  and Republican  is rocking the boat, and threatened Democrats like Cazares-Kelly have no shame, and frankly, no integrity.

(Honestly though, is that even surprising? They are Alinskyites after all. Excuse me, I meant "grassroots organizers.")

So what are you doing this weekend to help pro voter candidates win their races? pic.twitter.com/NYmhIQ91We  Gabriella Cazares-Kelly (@GabriellaCKelly) October 22, 2022

But hold on! Cazares-Kelly said not to worry, as this Twitter page was her personal account and had nothing to do with her official capacity, so nothing unethical happened. She just happens to have 23k followers and interviews with Rolling Stone because shes impressive, not because shes an elected official as well as a political leftists fantasy incarnate: stunning and brave, is actively dismantling white supremacy, uses pronouns, and hates Donald Trump.

Unfortunately for Cazares-Kelly, the internet has this crazy thing called The Wayback Machine  it memorializes web pages into the archives. even when theyre revised and updated. (As a former Pima County resident, I actually watched a pre-election debate, and she makes Stacey Abrams look like an intellectual.)

On August 3rd, the machine caught a screenshot from her Twitter homepage, which showed she did in fact link her Twitter page to the official Recorders office website (this has now been changed).

Yet, like I said, shes really not the sharpest tool in the shed. The introduction to her Facebook page reads, She/Her. Progressive Democratic. Public Figure page for Pima County Recorder. Official office page i [sic] and also shares the same post encouraging door knocking for the pro-voter candidate Grijalva. If youre going to trod the path of deception and corruption to cover your tracks for ethical (and possibly legal?) violations, at least hit all your social media profiles, there really cant be that many.

But, alas, the Democrat pawns are most useful when theyre idiots. Look here, she even openly suggests that voters fraudulently sign affidavits, if they mix-up their ballots:

Pima County Recorder is clueless !! 2022 elections a mess in Pima County. We are watching you Gabriella! pic.twitter.com/E6Go442ViN  Luis Pozzolo 4 Congress (@Luis4Congress) October 25, 2022

Cazares-Kelly really is the perfect Democrat: supremely dimwitted, flouts her disregard for the integrity of her office, and displays profound contempt for the voters who demand political integrity. But what could else could one expect? The pre-election debate between Cazares-Kelly and her Republican opponent was the writing on the wall. Aside from the fact shes completely incompentent and complicit in the downfall of our great Republic, it was pure comedy. Cazares-Kelly, had zero meaningful experience with elections and ran on a platform which largely consisted of two things (neither of which had anything to do with the job required of a county recorder). First, her belief that Marxist indoctrination should replace a true public education (she touts her obedience to the RedForEd movement). Secondly, her viral moment as an obese Native riding a scooter  no, Im not kidding, her campaign stickers depicted a slimmed-down version of herself on a scooter with the words Indigenous Woman Coming Through!. Her opponent was a veteran, a retired lawyer, and former airline pilot, who had years of experience working within the election processes, but he was White, straight, a male, and a Republican, so clearly he wasnt fit for the job.

Democrats in charge is a failed social experiment, and Cazares-Kelly's ineptitude proves it.

Image: Twitter video screen grab.
John Fetterman obviously hoped that by lowering expectations for last night's debate with Dr. Oz and by having a closed captioning system with two 70-inch monitors, he could convince Pennsylvania voters that he is healthy enough to discharge the duties of U.S. senator. But he equally obviously failed.

He opened his remarks with an inappropriate greeting: "Hi. Goodnight, everybody."

Fetterman opens the debate:



"Hi. Good night everybody." pic.twitter.com/mg0X3Iwf5D  Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 26, 2022

...and went on to quickly acknowledge his stroke and portray himself as the plucky underdog:

John Fettermans Opening Statement: "Let's also talk about the elephant in the room. I had a stroke. He never let me forget that. pic.twitter.com/rqFwk850hV  PoliticsVerse  (@PoliticsVerse) October 26, 2022

Although he accused Oz of never letting him forget his stroke, the physician candidate never once brought the subject up in the debate.

However, Fetterman's performance was bad enough that even the partisan media were forced to acknowledge his poor presentation. Shane Goldmacher of the New York Times:

Mr. Fetterman's words were frequently halting, and it was apparent when he was delayed in either reading or reaching for a phrase or word. But he was also fluent enough over the course of the hour to present his Democratic vision for a state that could determine control of the Senate. Dr. Oz, the Republican nominee and a former television personality, displayed a sharpness and comfort honed by years in front of the camera. And from the opening minutes, he seized the chance to tack to the political center, casting himself as a problem-fixing surgeon and labeling Mr. Fetterman repeatedly as a radical. (snip) Mr. Fetterman was able to reel off some made-for-TV one-liners, though he had difficulty going into greater depth over the course of full one-minute answers.

Even worse, Time Magazine writer Charlotte Alter, who prior to the debate did her utmost to lower expectations for Fetterman, admitted that "he was much much worse than I expected."

My take all in one place:

1) Fetterman was already a very bad debater pre-stroke

2) I spoke to him recently, and his communication in our one-on-one conversation was much clearer than what we saw tonight  Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) October 26, 2022

Perhaps the lowest point of the debate came when Fetterman was confronted with his earlier categorical statements opposing fracking (a major industry in Pennsylvania with growth potential) and asked to explain his claim to support it now. His impairment as well as his lying were both evident:

Another major flub was when Fetterman said he does "not believe in supporting the Supreme Court."

JOHN FETTERMAN: "I do not believe in supporting the Supreme Court." pic.twitter.com/gZTAO4f0DS  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2022

Dr. Oz's weakest point was when he was pressed on whether he would support a bill by Sen. Lindsey Graham that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks' gestation.

In an echo of the language used by supporters of abortion rights, Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday said he too believes the question of whether to terminate a pregnancy is best left to a woman and her doctor  but then he continued, adding a third party: state politicians.

Thank you, Dr Oz, for saying the quiet part out loud. Its exactly what the recent Supreme Court ruling and State anti-abortion laws are saying. Politicians trying to make major healthcare decisions based on religious preferences. Vote Fetterman. https://t.co/01GTdLitfO  Barry Walsh  (@barelywashed) October 26, 2022

Fetterman made it clear that his impairment is serious enough to hamper his ability to perform the role of U.S. senator. If the polls showing a close race are accurate, this performance should elect Dr. Oz to the Senate.

Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab.
Last night I came across a news story from 2016, which reported the details of a convicted Chinese spy, previously employed by the FBI. As I scanned the article, one line in particular caught my eye: As usual for Beijing, they. paid their mole with prostitutes and hotel stays.

Who was this spy? Hunter Biden?

Now, in light of current events, I found this completely unsurprising  of course the FBI isnt an actual safety net, but rather a massive liability (frankly, one of many). This could be for a myriad of possible reasons: its an overgrown tumor of a federal agency, so maybe its impossible to thoroughly vet and monitor their employees; it could be because the Swamp is so entrenched, and weaponization was inevitable, because thats just what governments do when they get too big; or could it be because the agency operates under a shroud of secrecy, which as John F. Kennedy said in 1961, is repugnant to a free society? Actually, here is more of the quote for elucidated context:

The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it?

Is the FBI really anything more than an extension of Yales Skull and Bones, The Ivy Club at Princeton, or Cornells Quill and Dagger? Many of our most high-profile, and notorious  Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, climate czar John Kerry, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr., Woodrow Wilson  statesmen hailed from such institutions; it stands to reason the bureaucracy picked some up as well.

When its everyday news that our leaders and our agencies are in bed with a communist enemy  I emphasize this because I suspect were desensitized to treasonous affairs and the gravity of dalliances with communism  its safe to say domestic tranquility is undoubtedly compromised. (We all know how much politicians seem to love their Chinese spies. Feinstein. Swalwell.)

The federal government is an albatross around the neck of the American people, and its agencies and its associates are the biggest threat facing the sovereignty and freedom of the citizenry. Heck, its even (or especially) the Republicans! Remember when Kevin McCarthy said there wouldnt be any carte blanche checks for mob boss Zelensky if the GOP took the House in the midterms? May not be a blank check, but there would still be a check.

When we cite the limited government principles of our Founders, we need to understand how limited they really were. If we are to restore our nation to its Providential birthright as the city on the hill, operating within the confines of this mindset, and applying it to our civic duties is crucial: when we vote both federally and locally, and when we teach our children and grandchildren about American government and our heritage.

Image: Marc Nozell from Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Paranoia and fearmongering -- you can just smell it among the Democrats and their boosters.

Today they got caught putting out bare naked disinformation about Republican plans for the country once they win the midterm election. They claimed Republicans were going to steal grandma's Social Security check and tax veterans benefits, among other unpopular ideas no credible party would ever endorse.

These Democrats know they're slip-sliding away, you can see it even in the governors' races now, so the idea now is to scare the voters into voting for the Democrat status quo instead of embrace a new party.

One problem: It's not a distortion of the Republican plans, it's actual lies, complete with phony letterhead.

Even the Associated Press (and Reuters) noticed the problem:

CLAIM: An image shows the House Republicans Commitment to America plan, including raising the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 75 and making retirees with pensions, 401(k)s or disabled veterans benefits ineligible for Social Security payments. APS ASSESSMENT: False. The image shows policies that dont match the language in House Republicans actual plan. While Republicans lawmakers have suggested raising the age for Medicare, the Commitment to America does not give a specific age, and there is no evidence of lawmakers proposing other policies as worded in the graphic. THE FACTS: With the midterm elections just weeks away, social media users are sharing a misleading graphic claiming to outline House Republicans policy plan. The image shows a logo reading Commitment to America that matches branding on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthys website for the House GOPs 2022 agenda. Entitlements are bankrupting our country and the future of our children, reads the image. Republicans are the only Party with a plan to address our fiscal crisis and commit to the following if you give us the majority in November. The image goes on to list several policies: making retirees who have pension, IRAs, 401Ks, disabled veteran benefits ineligible for Social Security; raising the age of Medicare eligibility to 75; and taxing disabled veterans benefits and employer-sponsored health care plans. Why would anyone vote Republican. You really have to be dumber than Herschel to vote for Herschel, reads a tweet that shared the image, referencing Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker. The tweet, posted Thursday, gained more than 3,000 likes. The graphic has been circulating since at least Oct. 15. But its contents do not match the policies and goals outlined in the Commitment to America agenda.

Well, yeah. And the phony tweet is still circulating on Twitter, which has shut down the accounts of people it disagreed with on COVID issues, claiming it cared about disinformation. They don't care about this obvious one. Here's a screen shot of the phony tweet:

Of course it's way worse than the troll above "thought" -- it's completely false. If Republicans put out a tweet that Democrats eat babies for lunch, wouldn't that be way worse than their opponents thought, but still not true in the least? The bozo above missed that latter part.

Naturally, Media Matters was involved in spreading this disinformation. The Democrat-linked organization claims to be a fact-checking outfit. Reuters reported that one.

Perhaps the single most consequential story of the midterms season broke this week, and theres been virtually no coverage from major TV news shows, newspapers, and other mainstream outlets https://t.co/JAuigGvZEK  Media Matters (@mmfa) October 14, 2022

Nice to see this slime machine's "credibility" in the toilet so obviously on that one.

For those who are interested, here is the actual Republican Commitment to America, which is far more well thought out and palatable to the public.

What Democrats are doing now is making new movies about pushing grandma off the cliff, so to speak, and imagining that like the last time they spread those kinds of phony stories, they can get away with them again. It's in their playbook.

It would be nice to know who did this fakery, too, given that it's a new low for them, and it might well be subject to libel laws.

But mysteriously, AP, and Reuters for that matter, send out their fact-check team to debunk the lies. Maybe it was too much even for them to stomach. Maybe they want to regain their credibility with the public and this is an easy example to use. Maybe a lawsuit of some kind was to be avoided. Maybe they need something from the coming Republican-led Congress and don't want to start off on a completely wrong foot. Whatever it is, it tells us the Democrats' act has gotten old and unoriginal, and these dirty tricks are their last stand before the meltdown.

Good riddance.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Our Supreme Court's Dobbs decision returned abortion legislation back to the states, where it always should have been, as per our 10th Amendment. Now some of our federal officials want to curtail late-term abortions via federal legislation. This is a mistake and subverts Dobbs.

And yet, we know in our hearts that aborting a late-term baby is wrong. So what to do?

The solution is to clarify when a person is a U.S. citizen.

All of us born in this country are U.S. citizens. And we are afforded our constitutional rights  primarily, the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Notice that the #1 right is the Right to Life. Our lives in this country as citizens are protected by our constitutional rights.

There comes a certain point when we are no longer U.S. citizens, and those rights expire. Typically, that would end after we're dead, although sometimes our rights expire later, if our government wants to dig up our bones and schlep them over elsewhere.

But so, if we have a defined period of being a U.S. citizen, and an endpoint of being citizens, then there must be a beginning point of being a citizen of our country. When is that?

We are a citizen when we are born. How about if we are born a day early, through C-section? How about if we are born three months early through C-section? If a baby is viable at 24 or 22 weeks, isn't he only a scalpel slice away from being "born"? Is he not a thriving baby, and a U.S. citizen, afforded all his constitutional rights?



A child at 23 weeks into a pregnancy.

Photo by Woodleywonderworks from an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, CC BY 2.0 license.

I propose that our federal government establish a time when a viable baby is a U.S. citizen, afforded her constitutional rights, primarily the right to life.

(My own state of California is trying to extend abortion up until the moment of [natural] birth. I cannot understand the evil of this. Can someone explain why my governor would want to kill a baby?)

Christopher Helbling is a retired public school teacher in California.
The small rocky reef at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula in northwestern Ontario, Canada, is rich in silver, but mining this precious metal is a nightmare. Much of the silver is located below the surface of Lake Superior, and anybody who has ever lived on the shores of this great lake knows that it is incredibly unpredictable and extremely dangerous. Extracting silver from beneath the lake would require building a wall to keep water away and pumps would have to be kept running continuously to clear water that would constantly collect at the bottom of the mine shaft.

Silver Islet in 1911. Photo: James Fraser Paige/Wikimedia Commons

Faced with this ominous prospect, the Montreal Mining Company, who originally owned the land, sold it to Alexander H. Sibleys Silver Islet Mining Company in 1870. Alexander H. Sibley was fully aware of the difficulties that lay ahead, but he had faith in his partner William. B. Frue, who was also the lead engineer.

William Frue and his men worked 18 hours a day building timber breakwaters, foundations, and a cofferdam around the vein of silver. It cost Sibley only fifty thousand dollars and with only 34 workers they had a mine set up and operational. The mining company then used crushed rock to expand the Silver Islet to over ten times its original size and built a small mining town on the nearby shore. At its peak the town had hundreds of houses, two churches, a saloon, and a jailhouse.

Perched on a 90 square meter islet, the men of Silver Islet Mining Company waged an unrelenting battle against Lake Superior that threatened to wipe away at any moment everything they had built. In October 1870, Lake Superior waves shredded half the original breakwater and the miners rebuilt it to twice its original width. By Christmas 1870, more than 3,000 tons of rock were washed away.

Silver Islet in 1902. Photo: Thunder Bay Public Library

Working in the mines was extremely dangerous. The entire mine was located under the level of Lake Superior, with only a flimsy stone and wood wall separating the miners from certain death. Water began to enter the mines once the shaft had sunk below 300 feet. From then on, pumps worked all round the clock to remove water from the shafts.

In 1873, the mine was 1,300 feet deep with scattered levels leading away from the main shaft. But production had fallen by then as the richer deposits had already been hacked away. The final blow came when a shipment of coal did not arrive before the winter set in. The pumps holding back the waters of the lake stopped and in early 1884 the islet's mine shafts fell back beneath the waves.

The Silver Islet mine had been one of the richest silver mines in the world. Many chunks of silver nuggets that had come from Silver Islet mine, were so pure they didnt need smelting and in over thirteen years of operation, it had yielded approximately 3.25 million dollars worth of silver, $1,300,000 in its first three years alone.

People believe that Silver Islet still holds unlimited riches, but nobody has dared to fight Lake Superior again.

Photo: Jonathan Wilson/Thunder Bay Memories

Photo: Jeff Robinson/Ontario Parks

Photo: Reddit.com

Photo: Viv Lynch/Flickr

Photo: P199/Wikimedia Commons

References:

# Silver Islet - Mining Silver Under Lake Superior, Magic Masts And Sturdy Ships

# The surprising, shocking, startling, astonishing story of Silver Islet, Ontario Parks
Windows 7 was a great build of the operating system, but its time to move on. We just got word from Android Police that Google Chrome will drop support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 early next year.

This is something that we should have expected. Windows 7 debuted 13 years ago almost down to the day. Now that Windows 11 is up and about, and Microsoft is speaking about Windows 10s end of life, its about time to let Windows 7 go.

Will you still be able to use Chrome on Windows 7?

Yes. On February 7th, Chrome version 110 will become stable. That version will not be supported on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computers. This means that, if youre running those versions of Windows, you wont be able to install that version of Chrome nor will you be able to get any future versions.

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You can still use your current version and older versions of Chrome on your computer, however. The issue is that, if youre using Windows 7 or 8.1, you will miss out on critical security updates coming to Chrome.

Thats bad in any scenario, but its terrible if this is your work computer. Youll want to have those security patches and updates to help keep your browser from being hacked.

This is why its recommended that you upgrade to a newer version of Windows. At this point, you can get a Windows 10 computer anywhere.

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Or, you can consider Windows 11

Windows 11 recently reached its one-year anniversary, and its been getting steady updates ever since its debut back in 2021.

Microsoft has stopped issuing main feature updates to Windows 10, so Windows 11 is going to be getting all of the new and exciting features. Along with the new and more rounded design of the software, there are other features that Windows 11 brings.

One of the main features is the ability to use Android apps on it. Youll have access to Android apps through the Amazon app store. Theres a lot to love about Windows 11, so if you think youre able, you might want to give it a shot.
The Nothing Phone (1) was one of the most hyped phones of 2022, and it managed to be a nice mid-range offering. While its not slated to get Android 13 anytime soon, the company is still issuing software updates to its first phone. The latest update for the Nothing Phone (1) brings some notable and useful changes (via Andriod Police).

Everyone gobbed over this phone in preparation for its July launch. However, a lot of the hype was extinguished when we found out that it was not making its way to the States. Also, people soon realized that this phone didnt really bring much outside of the core Android experience. Its a neat-looking mid-range phone, and thats pretty much it.

What it lacks in software uniqueness, it makes up for with eccentric hardware. This phone has the transparent back glass with an array of LED lights called the Glyph Interface. Also, there is a red light on the back to indicate when the phone is recording or taking pictures.

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The new Nothing Phone (1) update brings useful changes

The latter two features mentioned are getting updates with this latest OTA. Starting off with the recording indicator, it will be enabled by default. This means that you wont have to go and manually enable the feature.

More camera-centric changes include sharper videos with improved stability and new support for Google AR core. This next addition is relevant if you live in India. The Nothing Phone (1) can now access 5G networks if you use the Reliance Jio network.

There are other minor changes. The Nothing Phone (1)s Glyph charging light now syncs with sound effects and the Flip To Glyph animation is more reactive. The launcher is now more fluid, the screen is brighter when viewing HDR content, and there are updated NFC sound effects.

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Last but not least, you have the expected rounds of bug fixes and stability optimizations. With this update, users will be on Nothing OS version 1.1.6. It weighs 62.41MB, so its not a gigantic update.

However, were not expecting this phone to get Android 13 until sometime in the first half of next year. So, at this point, Nothing Phone (1) uses should take as many updates as they can get.
The Samsung Galaxy A50 is receiving a new software update in the US. The phone is picking up the latest, October 2022 Android security patch stateside. The update is currently live for the carrier-locked variant. It should soon reach its unlocked counterpart.

The October SMR (Security Maintenance Release) for the carrier-locked Galaxy A50 in the US comes with firmware version A505USQSKDVJ1. We can confirm its availability for units on Comcast and Sprints networks. Since most carriers didnt offer the phone with a contract, it was primarily sold unlocked stateside. We expect the unlocked units to pick up the latest security patch soon. They last received the July patch, which arrived in August. The handset is scheduled to receive quarterly security updates, so the October SMR should be the next.

The Galaxy A50 may or may not receive the latest SMR in international markets though. Since it is no longer eligible for monthly updates, Samsung varies the release of new security patches for it across different regions. The US version is getting the October update after the July SMR, while the phone picked up the August or September SMR in some other regions. If youre using this phone, its best to keep an eye on notifications about new updates and install those as early as possible to keep your phone protected from privacy and security vulnerabilities.

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Samsung also lets you manually check for updates, though. You can go to the Software update menu in the Settings app and tap on Download and install anytime. If an update is available, you will be prompted to download it. If theres no update, youll have to check again later or wait for the notification. Note that the Galaxy A50 doesnt get updates too frequently. If you recently updated your phone, you may have to wait a few months for the next one.

The Galaxy A50 will not get the Android 13 update

Samsung launched the Galaxy A50 in February 2019. The phone debuted with Android 9 Pie and has picked up updates to Android 10 and Android 11. Unfortunately, thats all as far as its Android life is concerned. The phone did not get Android 12 and will not receive Android 13 either. Its only security updates for it going forward. Those will come at least until February next year. After that, Samsung will drop official support for the phone. If youre using the Galaxy A50, we recommend you upgrade to a newer model.
LISBON - Portugal will spend eight million euros to dismantle toxic waste illegally imported from Italy, according to a new report published by online newspaper Observador.

In the summer of 2020, 142 containers were seized by port authorities in the ports of Sines, in the south, and Leixoes, in the north.

Some 3.5 tons of residues classified as not dangerous and directed to three private landfills were seized and later discovered to be dangerous. The difference in costs, in Portugal, to treat the two residues goes from 75 euros per ton for the first to 200 euros for the second. The tariffs are considered competitive given that Portugal over the past few years has become a great importer of garbage.

In 2018, with 331,000 tons of dangerous residues imported from different countries, in particular Italy and Malta, it increased by over 50% the volume of imports of this kind. The figures were released by the Portuguese environment agency, the state agency which will also have to dispose of the illegal waste and has told media outlets that it has activated mechanisms to ensure payment from the company responsible for the incriminated containers.




Egypt: plastic bags banned, more electric buses for Cop27 In Sharm El Sheikh, solar park to power hotels

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, OCTOBER 25 - The first step for the protection of the environment will be a ban on single-use plastic bags in Sharm El Sheikh, the Egyptian city that will host the Cop27 on November 16-18 to discuss climate change, with a strong focus on the Mediterranean.



The city on the Red Sea, which is very well-known on tourism markets, will have cloth or paper bags for clothing stores, supermarkets and take-out eateries, Egyptian Environment Minister Yasime Fouad told The National News.



The initiative kicked off in 2019, during the Covid pandemic, and was reportedly welcomed by citizens during the first shutdown of the city to tourists.



Egyptian initiatives for the environment also include a strong plan implemented at the beginning of 2022, with a fleet in the country of electric buses and the opening of a large square to recharge electric vehicles, while in September another fleet of buses that run on natural gas was deployed.



In Sharm El Sheikh, the municipal administration is encouraging the use of electric cars, also with the opening of four large stations to recharge them. At the beginning of October, a solar energy park was inaugurated, with a capacity of 20 megawatts, built with an investment of 12.7 million dollars, which will begin to work for Cop27, powering many hotels in the city. (ANSAmed).




Lebanon: 1,000 refugees repatriated to Syria Wednesday, NGO Mostly women crossed the border of Dabbusiye

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, OCTOBER 26 - About 1,000 Syrian refugees, mostly women and children, who had escaped to Lebanon and lived there for years due to the war in their country, were repatriated to Syria on Wednesday. This was part of a plan for the repatriation of thousands of Syrian civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports. According to the UK-based monitoring group, some 200 families, mainly composed of women and minors, crossed on Wednesday morning the border of Dabbusiye, in the Syrian region of Homs. Adult men, said the Observatory, for the most part refused to be sent back to Syria over fear they could be drafted in a country that has been at war for the past 11 years.



Lebanese and Syrian authorities have been working for months to coordinate repatriation efforts. Outgoing Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, whose mandate expires on October 31 and who is a close ally of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, has stressed the need to repatriate the highest number possible of Syrian refugees present in Lebanon since 2011, when armed violence erupted in Syria.



The plan was repeatedly criticized by the UN and the European Union because it doesn't guarantee that their return is voluntary and doesn't ensure the full respect of safety and dignity of those going back home.



According to the Observatory, the great majority of refugees repatriated on Wednesday morning hail from southern Lebanese regions de facto controlled by Hezbollah.



Thanks to local authorities who are close to the Party of God or members, strong pressure was exercised on Syrian families in the provinces of Sidon, Tyre, Nabatiye and Bint Jbeil to return to Syria as soon as possible, sources quoted by the NGO said.



This was achieved by threatening to raise the cost of home rentals and makeshift housing in these areas and to halt basic services.



The majority of registration centers for repatriation opened by General Security, the main Lebanese control agency directed by General Abbas Ibrahim, who is also considered close to Hezbollah, were opened in southern Lebanese regions.



In other regions of the north and the higher Bekaa valley, like Arsal, the majority of families of Syrian refugees refused to adhere to the repatriation plan prepared by Lebanese authorities. Authorities announced over the past few weeks the repatriation to Syria of up to 15,000 Syrians.



General Ibrahim yesterday defended Lebanon's decision to repatriate thousands of refugees, stating that more than two million Syrian refugees are currently in the country, with a total Lebanese population of less than four million. UN agencies instead report that some 800,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Lebanon. (ANSAmed).




Migrants: coast guards rescue 1,200 who departed from Libya Two bodies recovered. Alert on boats yesterday from A.Phone

(ANSAmed) - ROME, OCTOBER 26 - Two complex rescue operations started on Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning off the coast of Siracusa, in the Italian search-and-rescue (SAR) zone, coordinated by the operational center of coast guards in Rome (IMRCC). The operation involved two fishing vessels with hundreds of migrants on board who had departed from Cyrenaica.



The intervention of the first boat, some 35 miles from the coast, was carried out by the coast guards' Diciotti ship, which rescued 416 migrants and a Spanish patrol boat of the Frontex mission, which recovered another 78. A second fishing vessel was rescued, also last night, some 60 miles from the coast. The Diciotti intervened in the area again, along with a finance police patrol boat and two coast guard cutters. Some 663 migrants were rescued and two lifeless bodies were recovered.



Meanwhile, the body of an immigrant was recovered by firefighters from Lampedusa. Coast guards called the firefighters: along with a newborn who fell into the sea last Saturday, a boat sank Monday (four passengers are missing). Five firefighters and a boat intervened in the reported area and the body of an immigrant was recovered. (ANSAmed).




Turkey: medical association head arrested for 'terrorism' After comments on use of chemical weapons against PKK

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 26 - The president of the Doctors' association of Turkey, Resime Sebnem Korur, has been arrested on charges of spreading "terrorist propaganda" after her comments on the alleged use by the Turkish army of chemical weapons against Kurdish armed group PKK, prosecutors in Ankara were quoted as saying by the Anadolu news agency. State attorneys also asked for Korur to be removed from her post as president.



Last week, the president of the medical association commented on television videos published by pro-Kurdish media denouncing the use of chemical weapons in operations in northern Iraq against the PKK, a terrorist group according to Ankara as well as the European Union and the US.



Korur said the images appeared authentic and asked for an independent enquiry to clarify the situation. After the statements, she was placed under investigation for "terrorist propaganda" and "public humiliation of the Turkish nation" and on Wednesday she was arrested. A few days ago, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he gave instructions for the Korur case to go to court while the Turkish government and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar denied allegations on the use of chemical weapons, describing them as fake news against the Republic of Turkey. (ANSAmed).




Tunisia: Saied calls for cooperation on migration Tunisian president says there is need for 'concerted efforts'

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, OCTOBER 26 - The migration dossier was among themes at the center of the meeting at the Carthage Palace between Tunisian President Kais Saied, Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine and the director general for national security, Mourad Saidane, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement.



According to the statement, participants discussed the phenomenon of irregular emigration, "which has worsened over the last few years and has caused many tragedies, like the one in Zarzis".



Saied stressed that "such tragedies would not have occurred if their causes had been dealt with on time, and that real solutions cannot be found at a national level, but this phenomenon which causes thousands of deaths in many regions of the world must be confronted with the cooperation of countries because human trafficking networks cross the borders of single countries and concerted efforts are needed not just at a national level but also at an international level". In the same context, the president of the Republic stressed the need to apply the law against everybody (who will break it)". (ANSAmed).




A university student has been stabbed to death in Manchester and police are investigating his murder.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were alerted to the fatal knife attack on a 19-year-old man on Wilmslow Road, in the student area of Fallowfield, at around 2am.

The force said CPR was attempted on the teenager and he was taken to hospital, but died a short time later.

His family have been told and they are being supported by trained officers.

#APPEAL | GMP have launched a murder investigation after the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man on Wilmslow Road in #Fallowfield. Read the full story here: https://t.co/7bflHS3kaM pic.twitter.com/bJVtYCtxgk  Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) October 26, 2022

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones, of GMP, said officers will relentlessly pursue the attacker, and the force has appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Det Sup Jones said: This was a terrible crime which has robbed a young man of his life and my thoughts are with his family at this devastating time.

I understand it will cause distress and concern to many in Fallowfield and across Manchester more widely, including our large student community.

The investigation is in its early stages, but I can assure you that our officers are working round the clock and carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

We are actively pursuing leads and will relentlessly pursue the offender to ensure they are brought to justice.

There will be more officers out on the streets in Fallowfield and the surrounding area over the coming days conducting high visibility and plain clothes patrols to gather intelligence and reassure the community.

Extra GMP officers also patrol the student areas on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, and these efforts will be ramped up following the incident, the force said.

Anyone with any information should contact GMP by calling 101 quoting Log 240 of 26/10/22.

Information can also be shared anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
A foreign flying academy has said that classified information was not passed between former British military pilots and Chinese trainees within its institutions, following concerns over this conduit last week.

Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), which was previously implicated in reports as a headhunter of British staff for members of the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, has issued a statement to clarify its position.

Last week, the BBC reported that up to 30 former pilots including some Royal Air Force (RAF) veterans had been involved in the training.

The broadcaster also said sources had named a South African flying academy as being linked to their recruitment.

On Tuesday, the TFASA said it had been in contact with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for many years and the department is fully aware of the nature of the companys business.

The school, which trains pilots and engineers from countries around the world, said: All training aspects and material are strictly unclassified, and provided either from open source or the clients themselves.

No training involves classified tactics or other information, nor any frontline activities.

TFASA added that none of its trainers are in possession of legally or operationally sensitive information relating to the national security interests of any country, whether those from where its employees are drawn or in which it provides training.

The MoD previously said it was taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes targeting military pilots.

A spokesman said: We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK armed forces pilots to train Peoples Liberation Army personnel in the Peoples Republic of China.

All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challenges  including this one.
The DUP is ready to fight in fresh Assembly elections, leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said following talks with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.

Mr Heaton-Harris was holding discussions with Stormont leaders on Wednesday as a deadline for calling another election in the region approaches.

The NI Secretary has repeatedly warned that he will call a Stormont poll if Fridays deadline passes without a devolved executive being formed.

The DUP has refused to engage with the devolved institutions in Belfast in the wake of Mays Assembly election, meaning it has not been possible to form an executive.

The partys boycott is part of a campaign of opposition to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol and it says it will not return to powersharing until decisive action is taken to remove the protocols economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey told reporters in London there was still some way to go in solving the problems over the protocol following his phone conversation with Mr Heaton-Harris.

He said: I think the Secretary of State is of a mind to call an election, that is a matter for the Government, frankly I dont think it helps us to get any quicker towards the solution that we need or to get the political institutions back up and running and fully functioning again.

We need to clear away the debris of the protocol, that needs to be our focus, we need to get agreement on arrangements that respect Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom and that allow for continuing cross-border trade where that is required, and I dont see how an election helps us to get there.

But, to be clear, were ready to fight in that election, Ive just been signing off on our election literature, were ready to go.

If the Secretary of State decides to call the election Im not afraid to take my case to the people.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle ONeill urged the DUP to drop its boycott of the devolved institutions (PA)

Mr Heaton-Harris, who was reappointed in his role by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday, repeated on Wednesday his warning over another election, indicating that the change at No 10 has not altered the Governments position on the issue.

Asked about the prospect of an election, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said on Wednesday: That position remains that it will be triggered on the 28th. The exact date for the election will have to be set out subsequently.

A 24-month legislative timeframe to form an administration expires just after midnight early on Friday.

If no ministerial executive is in place by then, the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call another election.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris (Victoria Jones/PA)

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill, who would be in line to be first minister if the executive was formed ahead of the deadline, held talks with Mr Heaton-Harris in Belfast on Wednesday evening.

The clock is obviously ticking and were very close to the Friday deadline, she said.

My number one priority is the restoration of the executive, that should also be the Secretary of States priority.

The people here deserve no less than a fully functioning executive, one that is going to get them get through the cost-of-living crisis, one thats going to fix and invest in our health service  thats where we need to be.

As this deadline looms its just not acceptable for the DUP not to join the rest of us but they have an opportunity tomorrow and its up to them to take that opportunity.

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.

The European Commission has warned that such unilateral action at Westminster would be in breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action.

Talks with the EU resumed recently, with both London and Brussels talking up the potential of reaching an agreed solution but no breakthroughs are expected ahead of the election deadline.

While the Government has the ability to amend the legislation and prevent a winter election, Mr Heaton-Harris has made it clear he will call a fresh poll if the deadline passes, with December 15 the likely date.

On Wednesday, the Northern Ireland Secretary tweeted: My priority is for NIs political leaders to come together and restore the executive.

The people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully-functioning devolved government, so I understand the publics frustration.

However, if the parties will not re-form, I will call an election.

My priority is for NI's political leaders to come together and restore the Executive. The people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully-functioning devolved government so I understand the publics frustration. However, if the parties will not re-form, I will call an election.  Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) October 26, 2022

The Assembly is being recalled on Thursday for a special sitting ahead of the deadline.

The sitting will see an attempt to elect a new speaker  a pre-requisite before an executive can be appointed  but that bid is set to fail as the DUP will use its veto to block it.

MLAs will then debate a motion, tabled by Sinn Fein in consultation with the Alliance Party, that will focus on the cost-of-living crisis, the instability at Westminster and the absence of devolved government at Stormont.

The first failed attempt to elect a new speaker came in May following the election. The Assembly has been recalled on two further occasions since, most recently in August.

While Northern Ireland has no first or deputy first ministers, other ministers who served in the previous mandate have remained in post following Mays election, albeit they have been significantly constrained in the decisions they can take.

If Fridays deadline passes without a full executive having been established, those remaining ministers will cease to hold office.

On Wednesday, the leaders of an industry body warned that Northern Ireland businesses are facing a tipping point and require the help of a functioning executive.

The president and vice president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged politicians at Stormont and in Westminster to reach a resolution which would restore the powersharing institutions.
One year for AUKUS -- there is everything to lose

15:16, October 26, 2022 By Xin Ping ( Xinhua

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than a year has passed since the signing of AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, Britain and the United States. Feeling cheated, many stakeholders found that the pact increasingly endangers, rather than promotes, regional peace and security.

For France, the loss is not only about a lucrative contract, but more about the eroded trust between itself and its "close allies." A stab in its back by AUKUS reminded France of 19th-century British statesman Lord Palmerston's famous quote -- "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual."

No wonder the then French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, was infuriated, berating that "there has been duplicity, contempt and lies." Australia did reach a settlement with France by paying a 585-million-U.S.-dollar compensation, but General Charles de Gaulle's judgement stands the test of time: "Never did the Anglo-Saxons really treat us as real allies."

For Australia, the pact appears to be a great boon: the conventionally powered French submarines will be upgraded to a more advanced type, and Canberra will be able to significantly enhance its military technology and defense capability. However, as the Guardian reported in July, due to limited submarine-building capacity of the United States, Australia has close to zero chance of getting a submarine from America's current program.

Marcus Hellyer, a senior analyst at Australian Strategic Policy Institute, was quoted in a Guardian report as saying that "the only way Australia would get a nuclear-powered submarine by 2030 would be if the U.S. gave us one of their own boats." That is a big if. Canberra rejoiced too soon in having a chance to enhance its defense capability, only to find out in the end that U.S. promises are mere bad checks.

As former Australian diplomat Bruce Haigh commented, AUKUS is a fig leaf for U.S. plans to base its forces in Australia. While promoting the so-called "interoperability" between U.S. and Australian militaries, the pact would only make Australia a new overseas military base for the United States and a bridgehead for geopolitical confrontation in the region.

For ASEAN countries who embrace peace and security in the region, AUKUS represents a disillusioning, if not hazardous, deal. The pact has heightened the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Pacific region and greatly undermined the decades-long efforts of countries there to preserve a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.

In a broader sense, the pact has broken the delicate balance of power in the region and challenged the well-functioning regional security arrangements. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte once cautioned that the pact could trigger a "nuclear arms race." Other ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have also expressed similar concerns.

In a joint statement to mark one year of AUKUS, leaders of the three countries declared that they respect human rights, rule of law and peaceful resolution of disputes free from coercion, and that they "remain committed to ensuring the highest level of nuclear safety, security, and stewardship."

Such arrogance and hypocrisy have been fully exposed when everything AUKUS has done and will do betray their commitment. It is nothing but a coercive saber-rattling move by Anglo-Saxon allies that tramples on international rules and disrupts peaceful resolution of disputes. Enditem

(The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News Agency, CGTN, Global Times, China Daily etc.)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Warning: Nope spoilers ahead!

As with his first two films, Get Out and Us, Jordan Peeles alien-invasion thriller Nope is littered with hidden meanings, visual references, callbacks and Easter eggs, which have been catalogued in detail ever since the movie landed in theaters in July and flew away to $171 million at the worldwide box office.

But for Brandon Perea, the 27-year-old breakout actor who plays Angel, a Frys Electronics employees who helps the Haywood siblings (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) track the UFO above their horse ranch, the best Easter egg was simply that his character survives.

In an original draft [of Peeles screenplay], Angel was gone, Perea told us in a new interview promoting the films 4K Ultra HD release, where he was joined by Palmer (watch above). And I was like, Damn, no way!

Perea doesnt get specific, but as you as you could probably guess, Angel met his doom in that early draft by being sucked up into the belly of the beast, the hovering people eater that resembles a space ship, which is eventually dubbed Jean Jacket.

Brandon Perea and Keke Palmer in 'Nope' (Photo: Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

In the final cut, Angel becomes enwrapped in a tarp and barbed wire and winds up getting spat out. Not only does he survive, but now there could even be a future for Pereas character beyond Nope. While the actor told us in July he thought Peele might not be done with these characters, the writer-director himself teased a sequel in the following month, telling the New York Times, Were not over telling all of these stories.

I mean, were ready, Palmer enthusiastically responded, raising her hand to her ear in the universal phone gesture. Call me!

Of course, not everyone was head over heels for Nope.

In a much-mockedtweetstorm, YouTuber/wrestler Logan Paul went on off on the film, calling it one of the worst movies hed seen in a long time.

You take it how you take it, responded Perea.

Said Palmer: I cant imagine how cool it must for Jordan to have such intense reactions. That is literally what everybody wants as an artist. For whoever sees it, for it to evoke something. You never want someone to watch your movie and just go, OK. Whether they love it, whether they hate it, you want them to feel something strongly. So that I love.

 Video produced by Kyle Moss and edited by Jason Fitzpatrick

Nope is now available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and digital.

Watch our interview with Jordan Peele and the full cast:
Last June, NASA announced that it would convene a panel to study "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP), aka UFOs  while saying it doesn't believe they're "extraterrestrial in origin." Now, the space agency has unveiled the 16-member panel that will focus on "unclassified sightings and other data collected from civilian government and commercial sectors."

Chairing the panel is David Spergel, former head of astrophysics at Princeton University. Other members include Anamaria Berea, a research affiliate at the SETI (Search for Intelligence Life) Institute in Mountainview, California; retired NASA astronaut and test pilot Scott Kelly; and others ranging from oceanographers to astrophysicists to science journalists.

The panel is separate from a Pentagon group investigating UAPs reported by military pilots and investigated by US defense and intelligence officials. Now, the US government is effectively running two tracks of UFO probes after keeping such work behind closed doors for years.

Conspicuously absent are special effects experts like Corridor Crew skilled at spotting fake and altered clips. In a recent video, the group debunked a number of famous videos UFO clips, even from the Pentagon, ascribing them to ordinary occurrences like a camera's iris, a bird and an infrared lens flare.

NASA itself doesn't seem to believe there's much going on with these videos and sightings, either. However, it said the panel can still serve an important role in determining how to classify them  even if there are no aliens involved.

"Understanding the data we have surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena is critical to helping us draw scientific conclusions about what's happening in our skies," said NASA associate administrator Thomas Zurbuchen. "Data is the language of scientists and makes the unexplainable explainable."
A Foreign Office minister has called on Iran to release a British-born environmentalist from the notorious Evin prison.

Lord Ahmad said Iranian authorities are subjecting Morad Tahbaz, 66, to a horrendous ordeal by imprisoning him again months after he was released on furlough with an electronic tag.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister said: The Tahbaz family have confirmed that Morad has been returned to Evin prison by the Iranian authorities.

By continuing his horrendous ordeal with these cruel tactics, Iran sends a clear message to the international community that Iran does not deliver on its commitments.

We call on Iran to release Morad so he may rejoin family in Tehran immediately.

We will continue to work closely with our US partners to hold Iran to account, and to secure Morads permanent release and departure from Iran.

Responding to the news, Amnesty International urged Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to increase pressure on the Iranian authorities for Mr Tahbazs release, and meet with his family.

Sacha Deshmukh, the charitys UK chief executive, said: This is of course terrible news for Morad and a very distressing development for his family.

Morad is a conservationist who should never have been jailed in the first place, and we want to see the Foreign Secretary stepping up pressure on the Iranian authorities to secure his immediate and unconditional release, and his return to the UK along with his wife Vida.

The Foreign Secretary must urgently meet with the family to outline the UKs plans to secure Morads freedom, while pushing hard for full and unfettered consular access while Morad remains in detention.

Roxanne Tahbaz holds a placard for her father Morad Tahbaz during a protest outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London in April (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Tahbaz, a prominent conservationist and board member of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, was arrested during a crackdown on environmental activists in January 2018.

The British-Iranian national was sentenced to 10 years in prison with his colleagues on vague charges of spying for the US and undermining Irans security.

His wife has also been placed under a travel ban by the Iranian authorities.

Mr Tahbaz was freed from prison on furlough on the day Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and fellow dual national Anoosheh Ashoori were freed and allowed to return to the UK in March, but he was returned to custody after just two days.

In July, Mr Tahbaz was allowed medical care on another temporary furlough with his family in the Iranian capital Tehran on the condition he wore an ankle bracelet.
David M. Benett - Getty Images

Bella Hadid's It Girl style is taking on Qatar.

The supermodel landed in the city of Doha to attend last night's opening of "Baghdad: Eye's Delight," a new exhibition at The Museum Of Islamic Art. For the occasion, Hadid pulled an ultra-glamorous look from Schiaparelli's ready-to-wear spring summer 2023 runway.

The all-black skirt suit included a peplum wool cardigan jacket with a deep V neck and a matching tulip midi skirt. Both pieces bore the house's signature gold nipple buttons going all the way down the center.

She finished off the look with tie-up black heels featuring dramatic golden eye brooches on the toes, plus a sleek head scarf wrapped around her hair and neck.

David M. Benett - Getty Images

During the event, Hadid posed with fashion icon Naomi Campbell, who looked elegant in a patterned black-and-white catsuit with a draping detail at the waist. She accessorized with black sandals adorned with dangling pearls, plus diamond drop earrings and stacked bangles.

David M. Benett - Getty Images

Upon landing in Doha, and prior to the glitzy affair, Hadid explored Palestinian exhibition "Labour of Love" with her father, Mohamed Hadid.

She paid homage to her heritage via a black-and-white keffiyeh that she wore wrapped around her hair. She also wore a red-hot pantsuit from Valentino, which she accessorized with gold jewelry.

"Landed in Doha and went straight to see the incredible new Palestine exhibition, 'Labour of Love,'" she wrote of the experience on Instagram. "This show brought tears to my eyes and even more pride for my beautiful Palestinian roots and people. I love you Qatar and I love you Palestine!"

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Sage, walnut, and sediment details for the win.

Alicia Taylor @aliciataylorphotography

As with any renovation thats stood for more than a half-century, this one was bound to present possibility alongside unpredictability. The house was dilapidated and inhabitable, yet had all the original features from 1950, says style director Kerrie-Ann Jones. There was disco-silver wallpaper in the dining room, a pastel yellow kitchen, and cobalt blue tiles in the bathroom. I think the original owners made some excellent, bold design choices for their time.

Jones, who also teaches an online styling course at The Stylist Lab, bought the property with her husband and their two young children, envisioning a comfortable family home when they were done with it. Its set in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, in a quiet, coastal neighborhood, and Jones knew it could be special with the right adjustments. They decided to combine the existing dining room and powder room into a larger kitchen, which would open to the new dining and living areas in a more modern layout.

I created a mood board for all the design elements, textures, and colors I wanted throughout the home, she says. I was drawn to a warm, neutral color palette, so this led to the materials for the kitchen.

Jones says that oak timber cabinets and gray countertops are a beautiful yet common combination in Australia, so she chose walnut timber for the lower cabinetry to be distinctive, while also paying tribute to the homes midcentury origins. An open shelf overhead stretches across the curved plaster hood as an efficient display perchI'm also short, so overhead cupboards are of no use to me, Jones jokesand the countertop's strong veining bounces from the main wall to the front of the island. It took time to get the veining and the plaster hood just right, but Jones notes that the color she added to the pantry and paneled appliances was a meticulous process, too.

Given the kitchen is a decent size, I felt that having all walnut would look heavy, so I painted the timber veneer a muted sage color to suit the coastal location, she says. I tested out many hues before deciding on the one we used. I also didnt want the color sprayed on a flat surface, because I wanted to see the outline of the timber grain under the paint.

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Those aforementioned decisions were difficult ones to navigate, but Jones says that the renovation was probably more challenging on a personal level. My husband became ill and was in and out of the hospital, so he could not help, she says. I undertook the renovation of our home as an owner-builder with the assistance of my dad, a bricklayer and stone mason, but had no construction experience. We also did all of it during two major COVID lockdowns while home-schooling my children.

Asking the construction team a lot of questions, methodically planning as much as possible, and trying to take it all in stride allowed Jones to complete her full home renovation in December 2021 after a little over a year. Her family has since settled in, and Jones is proud of how theyve turned possibilities into a reality.

I love the warm tone of walnut timber, and the stone with its beautiful veining and sediment details, she says. Theres plenty of storage and space to prep, and easy access to our balcony when we have alfresco dinners.

Alicia Taylor @aliciataylorphotography

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Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz participate in debate for US Senate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. via NEXSTAR

John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz faced off in their first and only debate on Tuesday evening.

Over the course of the hour, the candidates engaged in personal attacks and policy clashes.

Pennsylvania's Senate race is one of the most crucial in this year's midterm elections.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania  The effects of John Fetterman's stroke recovery were apparent during his first and only debate with Republican rival Mehmet Oz on Tuesday night in the race to fill an open Senate seat.

Fetterman's health has been under increased scrutiny after he suffered a stroke in May and developed an auditory-processing disorder, and both friends and foes have been eager to see how it would affect his debate performance.

The long-awaited debate between Pennsylvania's Democratic lieutenant governor and the celebrity TV doctor featured personal attacks and policy clashes and captured the bitterness of an election that has become one of the most closely watched in the nation.

With Election Day just two weeks away, polls show a tightening race, with Oz narrowing Fetterman's long-held lead. The outcome of the election could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate.

Fetterman has relied on closed captioning to process conversations and did so as well during the debate the text was transcribed on a large monitor above the moderators for him.

The Democratic nominee opened the debate saying, "Hi, good night," before acknowledging his health in the first few minutes, calling it "the elephant in the room."

"I had a stroke. He's never let me forget that," Fetterman said of Oz, who's repeatedly questioned his opponent's ability to serve.

"I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together," Fetterman continued, "but it knocked me down, but I'm gonna keep coming back up."

As the hour went on, Fetterman at times struggled to articulate clearly, speaking haltingly and garbling his speech, renewing concerns about his health. When pressed by the moderator on releasing his full medical records, Fetterman pointed to the physician's note he released last week, which stated he's recovering well and can carry out his duties for public office.

At one point, Oz seemingly jabbed at Fetterman's health in a back-and-forth on higher education, saying: "Obviously I wasn't clear enough for you to understand this."

The Fetterman campaign lauded his performance shortly after the debate ended.

"He did remarkably well tonight  especially when you consider that he's still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors," Joe Calvello, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.

Besides Fetterman's health challenges, the two men sparred on key issues on voters' minds such as abortion and crime.

Oz controversial abortion position

Oz, who's called abortion "murder," refused to directly say whether he'd support the 15-week ban on abortion proposed by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Rather, Oz reiterated his position that he's against any federal legislation on abortion and that decision-making should be left up to the states. He added that he would leave the issue up to "women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves."

Democrats have quickly seized on Oz's abortion comments to cast him as extreme in a crucial race that could determine who holds the gavel in the Senate.

"Our campaign will be putting money behind making sure as many women as possible hear Dr. Oz's radical belief that 'local political leaders' should have as much say over a woman's abortion decisions as women themselves and their doctors," Calvello said.

Fetterman in the debate emphasized that he supports the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and would work to codify the landmark ruling into federal law if elected.

Both support fracking, oppose expanding Supreme Court

The candidates provided the same responses on issues that could appeal to the Keystone State's large swath of independent swing voters.

Both Oz and Fetterman expressed their support for fracking  a technique to drill natural gas  and growing the US' energy independence, despite providing conflicting statements on the environmental matter in the past.

Oz highlighted fracking as a means to create more jobs in Pennsylvania. Fetterman, however, was grilled on his previous remarks opposing fracking, from which he distanced himself on Tuesday evening.

"I do support fracking," Fetterman repeatedly said.

The rivals also drew common ground on the Supreme Court, rejecting calls to expand the number of justices on the bench, an idea that has gained momentum on the left since former President Donald Trump's appointments cemented a 6-3 conservative majority.

When asked about 2024, Oz and Fetterman each vowed to back Trump and President Joe Biden, respectively, should they decide to run in the presidential election.

Both candidates trade personal attacks

The opponents traded barbs throughout the debate, at times interrupting and talking over each other. Oz attacked Fetterman over crime, while Fetterman hit Oz on his wealth.

"Dr. Oz articulated how he would restore balance to Washington and find common-sense solutions to lower costs for families and make our streets safer," Oz campaign manager Casey Contres said in a statement following the debate.

In their final statements, Fetterman said he's fighting for the "forgotten communities" of Pennsylvania, and Oz declared himself a "candidate for change." As Oz was addressing the economy in his closing argument, Fetterman jumped in, claiming: "You want to cut social security!"

After the moderator intervened, Oz continued, saying: "I'm the living embodiment of the American dream."

Read the original article on Business Insider
When government representatives of nearly every nation in the world meet in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Nov. 6 to attend the next United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP27, they will be gathering under a cloud.

A new report from the U.N. finds that the pledges made to limit greenhouse gas emissions and avert the worst consequences of climate change are falling far short of their goal.

Only 24 of the 193 countries that signed on to a 2021 agreement reached at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, to revisit and strengthen their commitments this year have done so, the report concluded. A year ago, the world was on track for emissions to increase 13.7% from 2010 levels by 2030, according to an estimate in the 2021 NDC (nationally determined contributions) synthesis report from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. According to the NDC synthesis report released Wednesday, emissions will rise by 10.6% by 2030.

With less than two weeks to go before the next round of negotiations, the worlds nations remain far off the trajectory that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said is necessary to avert catastrophic climate change: a 50% cut in emissions by 2030.

The Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh will host the COP27 summit next month. (Sayed Sheasha/Reuters)

The IPCC has found that limiting warming to 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary to prevent devastating effects of climate change that will usher in a series of dangerous feedback loops, such as massive rainforest dieback and glacial melting, resulting in even warmer temperatures. But the pledges made in Glasgow would only limit warming  which has already reached 1.1C (2F)  to 2.2C if all the latest pledges are fulfilled and 2.7C based on the current policies actually in place, according to the U.N. The latest synthesis report shows little improvement, as it finds the current national plans put the world on track for 2.1C to 2.9C warming by 2100.

The downward trend in emissions expected by 2030 shows that nations have made some progress this year, said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, in a statement accompanying the report. But the science is clear and so are our climate goals under the Paris Agreement. We are still nowhere near the scale and pace of emission reductions required to put us on track toward a 1.5C world. To keep this goal alive, national governments need to strengthen their climate action plans now and implement them in the next eight years.

For a small island nation like Barbados, the warming estimates in the new U.N. assessment present an existential threat.

Two degrees is a death sentence, the countrys prime minister, Mia Mottley, said in Glasgow.

Nearly all the participants at COP26 readily acknowledged the need to strengthen the pledges made to cut emissions.

[The actions in Glasgow] take important steps, but unfortunately the collective political will was not enough, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a video statement released at the end of last years conference. We must accelerate climate action to keep alive the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. ... COP27 starts now.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking in Glasgow, Scotland, November 2021. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

Its all very well for leaders to claim they have a net-zero target, but if they have no plans as to how to get there, and their 2030 targets are as low as so many of them are, then frankly, these net-zero targets are just lip service to real climate action. Glasgow has a serious credibility gap, said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, a nonprofit research organization, near the conclusion of last years conference.

Representatives of small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, many of which could become uninhabitable if climate change continues unabated, expressed disappointment during Glasgows closing session. Our land is fast disappearing: Tuvalu is literally sinking. We must take action now, said Seve Paeniu, Tuvalus finance minister.

And so they and their allies in the climate activist community called for a new round of action in 2022. Countries must come to COP27 with plans consistent with the 1.5C goal that is the red line for our region, Greenpeace Australia Pacifics COP26 Pacific delegate Shiva Gounden said in Glasgow. Anything less will be another betrayal of the brave and resilient peoples of the Pacific.

Typically, negotiations for new agreements happen once every five years or so  Glasgows agreement was preceded by the Paris climate agreement of 2015 and the Copenhagen Accord of 2009. (COP26 was originally supposed to happen in 2020, but was delayed for a year by the COVID-19 pandemic.) The annual conferences in between are usually smaller affairs, dedicated to implementation and measurement of the agreement, not high-stakes negotiations over new actions. But activists and representatives of the most vulnerable nations have been saying since COP26 that COP27 will have to break with that tradition and usher in a round of more powerful measures to relinquish fossil fuels and bend the worlds emissions trajectory further downward and faster.

About 25,000 protesters march in Brussels prior to the U.N. Climate Change Conference, Oct. 23. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In July, leaders of nations in the Pacific Island Forum called on high-emissions countries to submit plans for larger emissions reductions before COP27. And now, with COP27 approaching, Guterres is banging the drum for nations to step up with stronger pledges of emissions reductions and the policies to ensure they meet those benchmarks. Taken together, current pledges and policies are shutting the door on our chance to limit global temperature rise to 2C, let alone meet the 1.5C goal, Guterres said at a press conference at U.N. headquarters in New York City earlier this month. On every climate front, the only solution is decisive action in solidarity. COP27 is the place for all countries  led by the G-20  to show they are in this fight and in it together. The G-20 refers to the worlds 20 largest economies, which are collectively responsible for roughly 75% of current carbon emissions.

Some of these calls for stepped-up action have come from within the richest nations themselves. In March, the Environment Committee of the European Parliament called on the European Union and all G-20 nations to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets ahead of COP27.

But experts say those hopes are unlikely to be fulfilled. Instead, they say, countries will mostly focus on trying to close the gap between their already existing but insufficient promises to reduce emissions drastically in the next few decades and their policies that do not yet ensure they will make it there. For example, a country that pledged to to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but did not pledge to make the 50% cut by 2030, and also did not have a real plan to get to net zero by midcentury, might announce at COP27 that it will create, say, a new solar subsidy program that will help it phase out fossil fuels.

A chimney at the Linden Cogeneration Plant in New Jersey. (Kena Betancur/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images)

To be sure, a few key countries have updated their NDCs since Glasgow. In August, India increased its clean energy deployment targets, but it continues to avoid committing to specific emissions levels. Australia, after a change in government, released a new NDC that promises to cut emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, up from the previous pledge of a 26%-28% cut. And all eyes are on Brazil, where the Oct. 31 election runoff could install a more pro-environment president who has promised to strengthen the country's climate plans.

Australia increased its targets, Peter Ogden, vice president for energy, climate and the environment at the United Nations Foundation, told Yahoo News. India as well updated their NDC. Egypt updated its NDC. So you have some countries take steps in that direction. But I think that for other countries like the United States, who set what they feel to be ambitious but achievable targets just a year ago, their contributions are going to be additionally through implementation and trying to accelerate their path to their target as much as possible. Thats where the momentum is.

Then theres the internal politics of individual nations such as China, the worlds most populous country and largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In Glasgow, China promised to achieve carbon neutrality only by 2060, 10 years after the United States and most other top emitters.

Historically, as a much poorer country than the United States and many European countries, China has resisted making equivalent climate commitments to those from countries that grew rich through carbon-heavy industrialization and continue to have much higher emissions than China does per capita. In what was considered a major diplomatic breakthrough in Glasgow, China and the U.S. announced an agreement to jointly reduce their methane emissions and make their best efforts to phase down the use of coal in this decade.

Theres no way to do the math that doesnt have China significantly cutting its emissions this decade if were going to have a chance of staying below 1.5C, said Jake Schmidt, who directs the international climate program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

A coal-fired power plant in Hanchuan, China. (Stringer/Getty Images)

But now, Chinas relationship with the United States and much of the West is badly strained, over everything from its territorial claim to Taiwan to its alignment with Russia. I think [it is] not likely for COP27, Schmidt said about China making new climate commitments this year. I think the U.S.-China spat over Taiwan is kind of muddying the waters a little bit.

Schmidt is less pessimistic about the prospect of China reducing its emissions fast enough in the years ahead than he is about it pledging to do so in Egypt this year, noting that China may actually institute those policies domestically anyway. But the hopes that COP27 will end with a triumphant new agreement that closes the emissions gap is going to be unfulfilled if China doesn't step forward.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also made it more difficult for some countries to make new plans to reduce fossil fuel production. As European countries seek alternatives to Russian gas, they are exploring new ways of importing gas from other nations, including the United States and those in Africa.

But at least one thing has gone right recently in the fight against climate change. The U.S., the worlds largest cumulative carbon polluter, took its first major legislative action to reduce emissions when President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The legislation includes $369 billion for deploying clean energy technology and electrifying sectors like transportation and heating over 10 years, setting the country on a path toward a 40% emissions reduction by 2030.

The U.S. beginning to show that it has a trajectory to meet more ambitious climate targets is fundamental to the international response to climate change, Schmidt said. The Chinese, other countries, they rightly have been pointing out that the U.S. talks a big game but has yet to deliver. So this gives the U.S. a much stronger foot to show that they are serious about climate change.

Cover thumbnail photo: Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images
WASHINGTON  Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan on Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of the Jan. 6 committees subpoena seeking the phone records of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward.

The move by Kagan, a liberal justice who handles emergency applications that originate in Arizona, means the Supreme Court as a whole will decide how to proceed. The House committee has until Friday to respond to Ward's request to quash the subpoena, which was filed earlier Wednesday.

The committee declined to comment on the subpoena pause.

Wards case reaches the Supreme Court as the justices are weighing a separate emergency application brought by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., seeking to block a subpoena demanding his testimony in a Georgia prosecutors investigation into allegations of 2020 election interference. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas issued a similar temporary stay while the court considers how to proceed.

Ward and her husband, Michael Ward, were among 14 of 84 so-called alternate electors subpoenaed this year by the Jan. 6 committee, which cited their association with bogus documents claiming President Donald Trump had won the 2020 election in their states.

Lower courts, including the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, rejected Ward's arguments to block the subpoena.

The couple, who are both doctors, have argued, among other things, that disclosing their records would violate medical privacy laws. The committee is pursuing only Kelli Ward's records. At the Supreme Court, Ward argued that the subpoena violates her right to freedom of association under the Constitution's First Amendment.

Image: Then-Arizona Senate candidate Kelli Ward attends the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md., on February 22, 2018 (Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

"If Dr. Wards telephone and text message records are disclosed, congressional investigators are going to contact every person who communicated with her during and immediately after the tumult of the 2020 election. That is not speculation, it is a certainty," the couple's lawyers wrote in court papers.

The subpoena focuses on a T-Mobile cellphone account linked with Ward. Among the information it seeks are all phone numbers, IP addresses or devices that had any communication with the phone in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Ward and fellow Republicans had created a competing slate of electors for Arizona declaring that Trump won, despite election results showing Joe Biden got more votes in the state. Those actions have come under scrutiny by the Justice Department, as well as the Jan. 6 committee.

Under the normal process, which Arizona government officials followed, certification of the states vote by a group of appointed electors is a formality after a winner is determined by the popular vote. Trump and his allies in 2020 pursued a far-fetched theory that if the states submitted competing election results to Congress, lawmakers meeting in the Capitol to certify the results on Jan. 6, 2021, could have prevented Biden from becoming president.

In addition to other faults in the plan, Vice President Mike Pence, who had a ceremonial role in the certification process, refused to go along with it. The attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob was intrinsically linked with efforts to overturn Bidens victory.
At 3:19 p.m on Tuesday, Boise police and paramedics responded to a collision near the 42nd block of N. Maple Grove Road after a school bus carrying students was hit by another vehicle.

Edward Flavin, the spokesperson for the bus company, confirmed the crash with the Idaho Statesman.

Another vehicle veered into our bus, he said in an email. The driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital. In addition, no injuries were sustained by our driver or our monitor.

The vehicles were later towed from the scene, he said.

Haley Williams, spokesperson for the Boise Police Department, said the driver of the vehicle was cited for inattentive driving after crashing into the bus. The driver had minor injuries, she said.

Many parents picked up their children at the scene and a different bus took the remaining children home, Williams told the Statesman.

One child on the bus reported minor injuries but did not need to be taken to the hospital, Williams said.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two in five U.S. voters say they are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at polling stations during the country's midterm elections, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

So far no violence has been reported at any early voting centers or ballot drop-off locations ahead of the Nov. 8 elections, when Republicans are favored to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives and possibly the Senate.

But officials in Arizona, a key battleground, have already asked the federal government to probe a case of possible voter intimidation, after people casting ballots were conspicuously filmed and followed. An official complaint noted that the self-appointed monitors called the voters "mules," a reference to a conspiracy theory popularized by supporters of former President Donald Trump's false claim that his 2020 defeat was the result of widespread fraud.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll, completed on Monday, also found that two-thirds of registered voters fear that extremists will carry out acts of violence after the election if they are unhappy with the outcome.

The findings illustrate what some observers have said is growing evidence of a lack of trust in the nation's democratic institutions, following decades of deepening partisanship.

Kathy Boockvar, a former top election official for Pennsylvania, said fears of voter intimidation and violence run counter to American tradition.

"Our country is based on democracy. We should be excited about Election Day," said Boockvar, a member of the bipartisan Committee for Safe and Secure Election.

Distrust between America's two political camps has grown over the last half century, with bipartisan legislation becoming rarer and a growing share of parents saying they would be displeased if their child married someone from the other political party.

Among the registered voters polled by Reuters/Ipsos, 43% were concerned about threats of violence or voter intimidation while voting in person. The fear was more pronounced among Democratic voters, 51% of whom said they worried about violence, although a still-significant share of Republicans - 38% - harbored the same concerns.

About a fifth of voters - including one in 10 Democrats and one in four Republicans - said they were not confident their ballots would be accurately counted.

Fired up by his false fraud claims, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

While voter rights advocates accuse far-right groups who believe those claims of sending poll watchers to intimidate minority voters aligned with the Democratic Party, U.S. conservative media highlight left-wing violence, frequently tying Democrats to riots sparked by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Some two-thirds of registered voters - 67% - said they were concerned extremists will commit acts of violence after the election, including about three in four registered Democrats and three in five registered Republicans.

Among the registered voters polled by Reuters/Ipsos, 43% were concerned about threats of violence or voter intimidation while voting in person. (Reuters)

More than 10 million people have already cast ballots in the contests that will shape the rest of Democratic President Biden's term.

Republican control of either chamber of Congress would effectively torpedo Biden's agenda.

About two-thirds of Republicans and one-third of Democrats think voter fraud is a widespread problem, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Two-thirds of Republicans think the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.

Trump's claims of fraud were dismissed by dozens of U.S. courts, state reviews and multiple members of his administration. Nonetheless, they have found widespread acceptance, helping fuel a cottage industry of poll-watching tools.

One software application heavily promoted by far-right media organizations lets users view a map of reported polling station problems and abnormalities in vote counts. Conservative activists have set up a hotline to collect similar reports.

- The Reuters/Ipsos online poll gathered responses from 4,413 U.S. adults nationwide and had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of between 2 and 5 percentage points.
Liusba Grajales, left, puts makeup on her daughter Ainhoa as her partner Lisset Diaz Vallejo gets ready as they prepare to get married in Santa Clara, Cuba, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. The couple, which has been together for seven years, is one of the first to make the decision to get legally married in Cuba following the new Family Code, which opened up everything from equal marriage to surrogate mothers. (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco)

SANTA CLARA, Cuba (AP)  Serious, standing upright and dressed in long gala dresses  despite the midday Cuban heat  Lisset and Liusba quietly walk up the ten steps of the notary office, their hands clenched and shaking.

Less than a few feet ahead walk their two young daughters.

Nearly an hour later, when they walked out of the doors, the tension on their faces was replaced by smiles. From that moment, they were wives.

It became a possibility just three weeks before on the island when Cubas new Family Code  opening up everything from equal marriage to surrogate mothers  came into effect.

The couple, which has been together for seven years, is one of the first to make the decision to get legally married in Cuba following the code.

Its a big day, said Liusba Grajales, a manager at the central University of Las Villas, just 250 kilometers from the capital. Love is love, just the way it is. Without imposition, without prejudice  I dont know whether I should laugh or cry. Its a mix of so many strong emotions.

Just a few meters away, Lisset Diaz, a 34-year-old dancer, shared her joy. I feel proud, she added. Im amazed.

The code was approved after heavy campaigning by the Cuban government, and support by the most vocal advocate for gay rights on the island, Mariela Castro, the daughter of former president Raul Castro.

It made Cuba the ninth country in Latin America  following Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Colombia  to legalize gay marriage in recent years.

Cuban elections  in which no party other than the Communist is allowed  routinely produce victory margins of more than 90%  as did a referendum on a major constitutional reform in 2019.

Despite that, a third of the country, 33.15%, voted no. The text faced a large campaign against it from evangelical groups that reject gay marriage.

Meanwhile, 66.85% of the Cubans who came out, voted yes." Nearly 6% left blank or voided ballots.

The code also was rejected by some groups opposed to the government, which called for a no vote as a way of rejecting Cuban authorities amid rising discontent with the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.

It was also opposed by some members of the LGBTQ community, which said they were abstaining to vote on something they considered to be a human right in the first place.

Many people in the community were against voting yes because they dont believe that they need some paper to tell them they have this on paper (to be recognized as a couple). I think we do need the right, that it protects us, said Liusba.

Though she said she believes the island is still a decade away from becoming a better and more inclusive society.

The old Family Code, dating back to 1975, established that marriage was between a man and a woman  not between two people  which excluded lifelong partners from things inheriting the belongings of the other when one died.

Together, they live with their two daughters, 11-year-old Laura and three-year-old Ainhoa. The latter was born by insemination at home because at the time they had no access to assisted fertility treatments because they didnt have male partners.

The new law goes further than equal marriage  which activists tried to include in the Constitution in 2019 without success  or the ability for gay couples to adopt or use surrogates.

The law regulates for the first time visitation rights of grandparents over grandchildren and communication with step parents in situations of divorces, and even custody of minors in latter when its necessary for the childs welfare.

It also allows for separate property regimens for married couples, authorizes parents to choose the order of their childrens surnames, extends protections for the disabled and elderly, among other rights.

The women considered the marriage a way to also protect their children if something were to ever happen to them.

Ainhoa, also dressed in her best dress for the occasion, didnt quite understand her mothers marriage ceremony, but walked around introducing her Laura. She is my sister, she repeated.

Im happy for what the wedding means, Laura added to The Associated Press very circumspectly, wiping tears away alongside her mothers.

But it came from strong opposition from evangelical churches, which alleged the law was against the traditional family established by God, that they claim is the union of a man and a woman meant to procreate. In some rural areas, the code appeared to receive less support.

While the country's capital of Havana received 70% approval, and Villa Clara  home of Liusba and Lisset  received 66%, in southeastern Holguin it got 53%.

The pushback indicates that we have to keep working in those areas and deepen and direct educational work, said Francisco Paquito Rodriguez, a blogger and one of the first Cuban activists for the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Though he still called the new code a victory.

Cuban authorities did not disclose how many gay couples were married in these three weeks, although Rodriguez thinks it could be at least dozen based on the information hes gotten from social media.

In 2007, we celebrated for the first time the International Day for the Fight Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Cuba. It took 15 years of fighting to make it law, Rodriguez said. It seems like a long time in the life of an individual, but its an achievement in the course of our history.

-

Andrea Rodriguez is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP
Arizonas GOP-controlled Cochise County on Monday approved a proposal to hand-count its midterm ballots, alongside the machine count, despite warnings from a county attorney not to move forward with the measure.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted 2-1 to allow the hand-count, with the boards lone Democrat opposing. Republican Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby supported the move in the face of concerns that a hand-count would open the county up to lawsuits.

I implore you not to attempt to order this separate hand-count, County Attorney Brian McIntyre, a Republican, told the board, warning the action would be unlawful and supervisors could be held personally liable in a civil action, according to The Associated Press.

The proposal, presented by Crosby, cited a lack of voter trust in the elections system and argued that a hand-count would serve as an audit to enhance voter confidence.

During public testimony at the boards meeting, some countered that the hand-count would actually help stoke the Big Lie and conspiracies that the election process was insecure.

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D), who is running for governor, warned that her office would take all available legal action to ensure the county complied with state law.

We sincerely hope such action is unnecessary and the Board will follow the advice of its own attorney, she added.

In the midst of former President Trumps false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, many of his supporters have come to mistrust voting machines and push for hand-counts.

Arizonas Maricopa County came into focus in after President Biden won the state by a small margin  but a high-profile audit commissioned by the states GOP-controlled state Senate ultimately confirmed Bidens win.

The Grand Canyon State has been dealing with a number of elections security issues in recent days.

Last week, Hobbs referred reports of possible voter intimidation to the U.S. Department of Justice and the states attorney general for investigation.

And on Saturday, Arizona officials warned of armed vigilantes in tactical gear near a drop box in Mesa.

A separate proposal presented to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors by Judd earlier Tuesday also ordered a recount but said more than 100 volunteers have mobilized and seek to be vetted, [be] trained and participate in the hand-count.

They are wishing to take part in this way to help people (including a few of the participants) who have lost trust in elections to see that elections are reliable and secure in our county, the proposal says of the volunteers.

Judd and Crosby, the GOP board members, rejected that proposal before passing the hand-counting measure without that language.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
U.S. Rep. David Valadao, left, and Assemblymember Rudy Salas are competing to represent California's 22nd Congressional District. (Associated Press)

Republican Rep. David Valadao and Democratic Assemblymember Rudy Salas are battling to represent Californias heavily agricultural 22nd Congressional District, which includes portions of Kern, Kings and Tulare counties.

The race, one of the most competitive in the nation, is one of 10 key California contests in the Nov. 8 midterm election that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

Democrats see it as a chance to defeat a Republican incumbent after redistricting added more blue-leaning voters from Bakersfield and created a 17.5-percentage-point voter registration advantage over the GOP.

Who are the candidates?

Valadao is one of 10 House Republicans  and the only GOP Californian  who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The son of immigrants from the Azores islands of Portugal, Valadao was born and raised in Hanford. He became a partner in his fathers dairy and farm business and worked with industry groups such as the California Milk Advisory Board and the Western States Dairy Trade Assn.

He was elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and after one term was elected to Congress, where he served from 2013 to 2019. He was defeated by a Democrat in 2018 by 862 votes; two years later, Valadao won a rematch.

Salas grew up picking grapes in Central Valley fields with his father before attending UCLA. After graduating with bachelors degrees in political science and history, the Bakersfield native worked at the White House for Vice President Al Gore. He later returned to California as a counselor for Upward Bound and the College Assistance Migrant Program at Cal State Bakersfield, which helps students with farmworking backgrounds transition to college.

In 2010, Salas became the first Latino elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Two years later, he won a seat in the state Assembly, where he voted for a landmark bill that provided farmworkers overtime pay and helped secure state funding for new water wells and cultural centers in the valley. He has also served as co-chair of the New Democrats, a group that typically aligns with business interests.

Both candidates focus on water for farms and homes and support immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for some immigrants.

Where is District 22?

The 22nd Congressional District sits in the San Joaquin Valley and includes portions of Kern, Kings and Tulare counties.

Where Valadao and Salas stand on abortion

Valadao is a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which as written would ban abortion nationally with no exceptions. The bill, which was introduced in the House, says the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization.

Before the Supreme Courts decision this summer reversing Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling guaranteeing a national right to abortion, Valadao signed on to an amicus brief asking the justices to overturn Roe.

Valadao said during a Q&A with Bakersfields KGET-TV on Oct. 12 that he supports exceptions in abortion bans for rape, incest and to protect the life of mother, a departure from the Life at Conception Act.

Salas said he believes decisions about abortion "should be left for a woman to make with her physician, her family and within her faith." He co-sponsored Proposition 1, a constitutional amendment on the ballot Nov. 8, which would explicitly protect the right to an abortion in California.

Where Valadao and Salas stand on healthcare

In 2017, Valadao voted for a House GOP bill that sought to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. (The bill did not pass.) He writes on his campaign website that he believes the best healthcare is a market-based approach to healthcare reform that provides individuals with competitive choices and addresses the needs of those unable to afford healthcare insurance.

Salas said he supports making farmworkers eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. He said the Farm Labor Modernization Act, which passed in the House last year, would be the best first step to making that a reality.

More broadly, Salas writes on his campaign website that hell expand Medicare and fight to defend the Affordable Care Act against attempts to gut its benefits or allow insurance companies to deny coverage to Californians with preexisting conditions.

How and where to vote

Ballots have been mailed to all 22 million registered voters in the state. Californians can return ballots by mail, drop them at collection boxes or turn them in at voting centers. They can also cast ballots early at voting centers or wait until Nov. 8 to vote at their neighborhood polling places.

Find out how to register, check voter status and vote here:

Follow more election coverage

California voters head to the polls Nov. 8 to vote for U.S. senator, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, the state Board of Equalization, judges, members of Congress and the state Legislature. Local races in Los Angeles include mayor and county sheriff. There are also seven ballot propositions on the table.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In this frame grab from video taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran shows people block an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked Iran's biggest antigovernment movement in over a decade, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Gunmen attacked a major Shiite holy site in Iran on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens. The attack came as protesters elsewhere in Iran marked a symbolic 40 days since a woman's death in custody ignited the biggest anti-government movement in over a decade.

State TV blamed the attack on takfiris, a term that refers to Sunni Muslim extremists who have targeted the country's Shiite majority in the past. The attack appeared to be unrelated to the demonstrations.

The official website of the judiciary said two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque, the second holiest site in Iran. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

An Iranian news website considered to be close to the Supreme National Security Council reported that the attackers were foreign nationals, without elaborating.

Such attacks are rare in Iran, but last April, an assailant stabbed two clerics to death at the Imam Reza shrine, the country's most revered Shiite site, in the northeast city of Mashhad.

Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of protesters had poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam  as in many other traditions  again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

Death to the dictator!" protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to security considerations.

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation completely stable.

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb "the spread of influenza."

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! through the labyrinthine marketplace.

This year is a year of blood! they also chanted. "(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!"

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator! as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the countrys strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan #WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with war against God," which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of supporting terrorism." The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.
This story was updated to reflect that the Johnson County Sheriffs Office made additional posts about the amendment after deleting its original message.

The Johnson County Sheriffs Office said a pair of posts on social media sites spreading false information about a constitutional amendment on the November ballot was a mistake. But the office then doubled down with additional misleading posts that appear intended to sway voters on the ballot question.

Two constitutional amendments are on midterm election ballots for all Kansans. One would add language to the states founding document requiring that sheriffs across the state be elected.

Currently 104 of 105 sheriffs in Kansas are elected, Riley County has a consolidated law enforcement agency led by an appointed official. The amendment allows Riley County to keep its system but bars the rest of the state from eliminating their sheriffs office or changing it to an appointed office.

However, in a pair of posts on Twitter and Facebook, the Johnson County Sheriffs office misrepresented that reality.

YES on Amendment 2 would preserve your right to elect your local sheriff, the identical posts said. NO on amendment 2 would take away your right to elect your local sheriff.

No constitutional right to elect a sheriff exists in Kansas. The amendment would serve to establish that right. It would also amend the processes for removing a sheriff from office to place that power solely in the hands of the state attorney general, not the local district attorney.

If the amendment fails, counties would not have to do away with elected sheriffs. It would just maintain the status quo, which leaves it up to each county to decide the process for electing or appointing a sheriff.

The tweet was deleted within two hours, but it was then replaced by a second tweet that, yet again, asserted a yes vote would preserve a right to elect local sheriffs. The new tweet is nearly identical but omits the sentence referencing the meaning of a no vote.

Meanwhile, the agency edited its Facebook post to delete the sentence about no votes. All versions of the message appear intended to steer voters toward voting in support of the ballot measure.

Its a blatant lie. Its disinformation thats being spread via an official vehicle of the Johnson County Sheriffs Office that has been sworn to protect and serve us, said Michael Poppa, executive director of the Kansas Mainstream Coalition. Obviously, a yes vote would benefit Sheriff Hayden and I do expect to hear misinformation coming from him but not the entire office.

The social media posts backlash against Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, who has come under fire for his decision to use his office to investigate unfounded claims of voter fraud in Johnson County.

However, Shelby Colburn, the public information officer for the sheriffs office, said in an email that she had written the tweet and the mistake was flagged to her by Hayden.

The Sheriff brought it to my attention so we took it down. I didnt want to cause confusion. It was my mistake alone, Colburn said.

Colburn defended the newer versions of the post saying in an email that she was referencing the first sentence of the explanatory statement that appears with the amendment on the ballot.

This amendment would preserve the right of citizens of each county that elected a county sheriff as of January 11, 2022, to continue electing the county sheriff, the ballot measures explanatory statement, which was crafted by the GOP-controlled Legislature, states.

State Rep. Rui Xu, a Westwood Democrat, said the tweet crossed a line in misleading voters rather than informing.

The constitutional amendment is a political issue and the sheriffs office should not be used for political issues, they should protect and serve, Xu said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas said the posts were inappropriate for a government agency.

So fyi: while government departments can legally distribute information on ballot questions, that information needs to be factual, the ACLU said in a tweet responding to the sheriffs office. This is a patently false representation of the amendment in question.

Hayden has promoted the amendment while making rounds to conservative groups in Johnson County. The conservative sheriff has indulged unfounded claims of election fraud and tampering in Johnson County elections since 2020. He explained his process to a group of constitutional sheriffs in Las Vegas over the summer.

Hayden was first elected sheriff in 2016.

Sandy Horton, executive director of the Kansas Sheriffs Association, told The Star last month that the amendment was driven by a realization that the office of the sheriff was not protected in the constitution as it does in other states.

The work to change the constitution in the Legislature started after the Johnson County Charter Commission briefly considered moving the Johnson County sheriff an appointed position. But Horton said the work in Johnson County wasnt the motivating factor.

If youre appointed you answer to those that appoint you and thats not what we feel like the sheriff is all about, Horton said.
We bring you up to speed on both the legal and political attempts to undo President Bidens most ambitious executive action. Well also look at a record-breaking dive in housing price growth and what keeps Jamie Dimon up at night.



But first, find out how college athletes are trying to boost voter turnout.



Welcome to On The Money, your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. For The Hill, were Sylvan Lane, Aris Folley and Karl Evers-Hillstrom.

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Various battles heat up over student loan forgiveness

The political and legal battle over President Bidens student loan forgiveness plan has hit its biggest roadblock yet with a temporary legal hold on the program leaving borrowers in further limbo.

It has also opened up the potential for more opposition by Republicans, but the White House is vowing to fight back after a federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the program should be halted.

Fridays order from an appeals court stops the administration from disbursing relief while the court considers a challenge from six Republican-led states.



The order marks a temporary victory for Republicans until a larger panel can weigh in, but it could lead to more actions against student loan forgiveness.

This fight is far from over. Whoever loses the appeals court decision will inevitably appeal and wont likely be decided until the Supreme Court weighs in, said Robert Moran, a former senior policy adviser in the Education Department under former President George W. Bush.

Bad timing for Biden: While the order doesnt stop individuals from applying for relief, the block could take away from the Democrats campaign message with two weeks until Election Day.

The Hills Alex Gangitano explores the issue here.

Event Invite

The State of American Education, Wednesday, Oct. 26 starting at 10:30 a.m. ET / LIVE IN D.C. AND STREAMING NATIONALLY

While many students have returned to an in-person classroom, the effects of pandemic learning are significant. What will it take to address the scale of education loss across the country, and what type of investments and interventions are needed to make a difference? Assistant Education Secretary Roberto Rodriguez, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Leading Nows Caitlin Sullivan and more join The Hill for a conversation on how students are faring in 2022 and the state of U.S. education. RSVP today.

BIG PRICE DROP

US sees record slowdown in home prices

U.S. home prices saw a record slowdown in August, falling by 2.6 percent as the Federal Reserve moves aggressively to raise rates  making it more costly to afford a mortgage.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index released Tuesday shows a 13 percent annual gain in August for home prices, but a sharp 2.6 percent drop from July to August.

Thats the largest monthly drop on record, with Julys drop ranking second.



Meanwhile, the 20-City Composite index, which measures price growth in major U.S. metros, posted a 13.1 percent year-over-year gain, down from 16 percent the previous month.

Adam Barnes has more here.

WHAT MONEY CANT BUY

JPMorgan chief says geopolitics more concerning than a recession

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Tuesday he is more concerned about todays geopolitics than a looming recession, following remarks warning that an economic downturn is likely in the next year.

Theres a lot of stuff on the horizon which is bad and could  put the United States in a recession, Dimon said on a panel at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Thats not the most important thing for what we think about. Well manage right through that. I would worry much more about the geopolitics of the world today.

In particular, Dimon said he is concerned about the relationships between Russia and Ukraine and the U.S. and China.



That would have me far more concerned than whether theres a mild or slightly severe recession, he added.

The Hills Brad Dress explains here.

LOOK FOR THE LITTLE FLAG

White House ups Made in America requirements for federal procurements

The Biden administration on Tuesday is announcing it will increase requirements for federally procured goods to be sourced domestically, a step officials say will boost U.S. manufacturing and supply chains.

The administration will unveil an update saying that 60 percent of federally procured content must be made in the United States, up from 55 percent under the Buy American Act.

The administration views the change as a way to increase domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains by reducing reliance on foreign goods and put a greater focus on U.S.-made products.

This increase in the domestic content threshold is a key part of the Administrations strategic approach to leveraging federal purchasing power to invest in American industry and all of Americas workers, Livia Shmavonian, the director of the White Houses Made in America Office, said in a statement to The Hill.

Heres more from The Hills Brett Samuels.

Good to Know

Top House progressives backed off their position questioning President Bidens Ukraine policy on Tuesday afternoon, withdrawing a letter released Monday that perplexed and angered many Democrats.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus hereby withdraws its recent letter to the White House regarding Ukraine, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the caucus chairwoman, wrote in a statement, representing a stunning shift in their call for a diplomatic push to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Other items were keeping an eye on:

The COP27 international climate summit doesnt begin until November, but one of the conferences sponsors, Coca-Cola, is already drawing the ire of climate advocates, who note the companys outsized role in the carbon-intensive production of single-use plastics.



Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to request top security clearance and collaborate closely with the intelligence community so it can effectively protect Americans data from foreign hacks.

Thats it for today. Thanks for reading and check out The Hills Finance page for the latest news. Well see you tomorrow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE - Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., listens during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who avoided conviction on corruption charges five years ago, is reportedly the subject of a new federal investigation. An adviser for the senator, Michael Soliman, acknowledged the probe in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who avoided conviction on corruption charges five years ago, is reportedly the subject of a new federal investigation.

An adviser for the senator, Michael Soliman, acknowledged the probe in a statement Wednesday.

Senator Menendez is aware of an investigation that was reported on today, however he does not know the scope of the investigation," he said. "As always, should any official inquiries be made, the Senator is available to provide any assistance that is requested of him or his office.

The startup news organization Semafor reported Wednesday that federal prosecutors based in Manhattan had contacted people connected to Menendez in recent weeks, citing two people familiar with the inquiry.

Those people didn't provide detail on what the investigation was about or what sort of alleged wrongdoing was involved.

The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment. Menendez's Senate office referred to Soliman's statement.

Menendez was indicted in 2015, accused of abusing his office to help a Florida eye doctor who had given him lavish gifts  including trips on a private plane to a Dominican resort and a Paris vacation.

Prosecutors said the senator had pressured government officials to resolve a Medicare billing dispute in a way favorable to the doctor, Salomon Melgen. They said Menendez also helped get U.S. visas for the doctors girlfriends and worked to protect a contract Melgen had to provide port screening equipment.

Menendezs attorneys argued that Melgens gifts were tokens of their longtime friendship, not bribes. Menendez paid for some of the trips he took to Melgens resort in the Dominican Republic.

A jury deadlocked on the charges in 2017. Prosecutors declined to retry Menendez. The senator maintained his innocence and was reelected in 2018.

Melgen was convicted on health care fraud charges in Florida, but former President Donald Trump commuted his sentence during his final days in office. A White House statement at the time credited Menendez with backing clemency.
TOKYO (AP)  Officials from the United States and its Asian allies Japan and South Korea suspect North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test, and vice foreign ministers from the three countries said Wednesday their joint response would be "decisive."

Cho Hyundong, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister, said the trio is bolstering their defense cooperation to deter the growing possibility of North Korea's use of nuclear weapons since the adoption in September of legislation spelling out scenarios where it would use nukes, including preemptively.

North Korea's new nuclear policy is creating a serious tension on the Korean Peninsula, Cho told a joint news conference after talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori.

South Korea and the U.S. will step up their extended deterrence by utilizing all the elements of the national power and show an overwhelming, decisive response to any use of a nuclear weapon by North Korea, Cho said.

In 2022 alone, North Korea has launched more than 20 ballistic missiles at unprecedented pace, including one that overflew northern Japan in early October. It has also fired a barrage of artilleries toward the south in response to South Korea's joint military exercises with the United States, which Pyongyang views as a practice to invade the country.

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori, center, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, right, and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyungdong, left, pose for photographers prior to their trilateral meeting Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, at the Iikura guesthouse in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

Sherman, during her meeting with Cho on Tuesday ahead of the three-way talks, criticized North Korea's military actions as irresponsible, dangerous and destabilizing" and said the United States will fully use its military capabilities, including nuclear, as she warned North Korea against escalating its provocations.

Sherman stressed again Wednesday that the cooperation among the three countries are ironclad," citing signs of Japan and South Korea improving their troubled ties over historical wartime-related disputes.

There is so much we can achieve and are achieving when our countries work together, Sherman said.

It was the second in-person meeting of the three officials since conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May, signaling an improvement in difficult ties between Tokyo and Seoul. A year ago in Washington, Japanese and South Korean vice ministers declined to participate in a joint news conference after their talks, leaving Sherman to make a solo media appearance.

The three officials also condemned Russia's nuclear threat, as well as any other escalation of threats, and its unsubstantiated allegation that Ukraine was preparing to launch a so-called dirty bomb  which uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste  as unacceptable.

Mori said the three officials also agreed to closely watch China's maritime activity in the East and South China Seas and the situation in the Taiwan Strait under Chinese President Xi Jinping's third term.
(Reuters) -A Wisconsin man on Wednesday was found guilty of murder and other charges for killing six people and injuring dozens of others when he drove his SUV into a Christmas parade near Milwaukee last year.

The 12-person jury in Waukesha County convicted Darrell Brooks, 40, of six counts of intentional homicide. He faces life in prison when sentenced.

On numerous occasions during the three-week trial, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow admonished Brooks, who defended himself, for failing to follow court rules.

Brooks was accused of deliberately driving his sport utility vehicle through police barricades and into the crowds participating in the annual parade in the city of Waukesha, about 15 miles (25 km) west of downtown Milwaukee on Nov. 21.

During his closing argument on Monday, Brooks told the jury that he had no intention of hurting anyone. He said he sounded the vehicle's horn as he drove through the crowd, attempting to warn people to get out of the way.

"When you ride through a parade route and roll over children ... your intent is known, Mr. Brooks," Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said during closing arguments. "That's not an accident."

The ages of the people killed ranged from 8 to 81 years old, and more than 60 other people were injured, including at least 18 children.

Brooks, a Milwaukee resident, was out on bail from a domestic abuse charge at the time of the attack. He was arrested near the scene and has been in custody ever since.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago)
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP)  A woman who was arrested for feeding homeless people in northwest Arizona is suing over a local ordinance that regulates food-sharing events in public parks.

Norma Thornton, 78, became the first person arrested under Bullhead City's ordinance in March for distributing prepared food from a van at Bullhead Community Park. Her lawyer said the lawsuit, filed Tuesday, is part of a nationwide effort to let people feed those in need.

Criminal charges against Thornton were eventually dropped, but she's seeking an injunction to stop the city from enforcing the ordinance that took effect in May 2021.

Bullhead City has criminalized kindness, Thorntons attorney Suranjan San told Phoenix TV station KPHO. The City Council passed an ordinance that makes it a crime punishable by four months imprisonment to share food in public parks for charitable purposes.

Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady said the ordinance applies only to public parks. He said churches, clubs and private properties are free to serve food to the homeless without a permit.

Thornton owned a restaurant for many years before retiring in Arizona and said she wanted to use her cooking skills to help the less fortunate.

I have always believed that when you have plenty, you should share, Thornton said.

According to the Mohave Valley Daily News, Thornton said she has continued to feed people in need from private property not far from Community Park.
Ex-House Speaker Paul Ryan remains confident that Congress will eventually raise the debt ceiling and avoid default, but he says Republicans shouldn't let it happen without getting something in return.

We've had so many fiscal policies being attached to the debt limit because you don't want to just keep rubber stamping more borrowing," Ryan said Tuesday. He said Republicans should try to get some kind of policy in place to get the curve going in the right direction [and] try and bend the curve on debt.

Ryan appeared on Yahoo Finance Live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to discuss the public debut of Granite Ridge Resources alongside Luke Brandenberg, Granite Ridge CEO.

He also criticized the Biden administration's overall economic approach during the Tuesday appearance, saying he was no fan of the Inflation Reduction Act  a bill aimed at combating climate change, shoring up the IRS, and reducing the cost of some prescription drug prices.

I think what voters want to do is set a check on Washington, Ryan said.

Retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan pauses as he delivers his farewell address in 2018. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

The debt limit strategy from Ryan echoes how his successor addresses the issue. [W]e should seriously sit together and [figure out] where can we eliminate some waste? Where can we make the economy grow stronger? House Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told Punchbowl News in an interview last week.

The comments could set up a confrontation with a Biden administration that appears equally determined not to engage in negotiations over the issue.

President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

A looming battle over the debt limit

The battle over the debt limit goes back to December 2021, when President Biden signed legislation to avert a standoff and raise the limit to approximately $31.4 trillion.

The follow-up battle has the potential to rattle markets more than perhaps any other Washington debate. While it might not be necessary to raise the debt limit until the third quarter of 2023, some appear eager to head off a crisis before new members of Congress take power on Jan. 1.

Some have suggested abolishing the debt ceiling altogether. Former Obama adviser Jason Furman recently suggested a debt limit increase of $100 quintillion to eliminate the risk forever, though he might not have been entirely serious.

The need to cover the ever increasing debt comes after years of high spending by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Experts have cited spending under Biden as an important culprit for the current debt levels. However, experts have also pointed at the Trump-era, specifically the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which then-Speaker Ryan shepherded through Congress.

Then-President Donald Trump congratulates Then-Speaker of the House Paul Ryan during an event to celebrate Congress passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

I can't even count how many debt ceiling fights I've been through

Observers are comparing a possible 2023 standoff to 2011 and 2013 when then-President Obama faced off against Republican demands such as defunding Obamacare in exchange for increasing the debt limit.

At the time, Ryan chaired the House Budget Committee and therefore was enmeshed in the fight. I can't even count how many debt ceiling fights I've been through, Ryan joked on Tuesday.

Nonetheless, those battles largely ended without concessions after the Obama administration often refused to negotiate and the public fallout of the fight led to a decline on GOP approval ratings. Congress reached a deal but not before the U.S. credit rating was downgraded for the first time in history in 2011.

Then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are updated on the debt ceiling deadline in 2013 in Washington. (Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)

Ryan says Republicans right now are peaking at the right time ahead of the midterm elections on Nov. 8, and that the time is ripe for a debate.

Having said all of that, I'm very confident that the US dollar is secure and that our bonds will be paid and that the full faith and credit of the United States government is going to be intact in this divided government that we're likely to have in the future, he said.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told Taoiseach Micheal Martin that he would prefers a negotiated outcome to issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The two leaders held a phone conversation on Wednesday evening.

Mr Martin said they discussed the need to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

The post-Brexit trading treaty, which is fiercely opposed by unionists in Northern Ireland, has led to the collapse of the Stormont Assembly and Executive.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke to the Prime Minister on Wednesday (Liam McBurney/PA)

The DUP has said it will not 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 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.

The European Commission has warned that such unilateral action at Westminster would be in breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action.

Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening. Discussed cooperation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI. Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the Protocol.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 26, 2022

Following his conversation with the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach tweeted: Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening.

Discussed co-operation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI.

Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said: The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Sunak spoke this evening.

The Taoiseach congratulated PM Sunak on his appointment and looked forward to the two Governments working closely together.

They discussed cooperation in the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They both agreed on the importance of EU-UK engagement to find agreed solutions to the issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol and they discussed ongoing developments in Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister reiterated their commitment to a strong British-Irish relationship and looked forward to an early opportunity to meet.

Pleased to speak to @MichealMartinTD tonight, discussing how the UK and Ireland as close neighbours & friends can work together in the coming months. I also thanked him for Irelands steadfast support for Ukraine.  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 26, 2022

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Taoiseach Micheal Martin this evening.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of a strong relationship between the UK and Ireland and expressed their determination to build on that friendship in the coming months.

The Prime Minister welcomed Irelands ongoing support for Ukraine, and the leaders agreed on the importance of continued international unity in the face of (Vladimir) Putins aggression.

Discussing the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Prime Minister set out that his preference remained a negotiated outcome and hoped all parties would approach the current challenges with pragmatism and goodwill.

The leaders agreed on the urgent need for a functioning executive in Northern Ireland. Both undertook to continue discussions in the coming weeks and months.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also had a phone conversation with Mr Sunak.

Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak  are strategic partners. Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change. And on finding joint solutions under the Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability. pic.twitter.com/iJ8czqwQoB  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 26, 2022

She tweeted: Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak

(The EU and UK) are strategic partners.

Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change.

And on finding joint solutions under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders had stressed the importance they both place on the relationship between the UK and EU.

The spokesperson added: The Prime Minister and President von der Leyen agreed that the UK and EU have much in common, not least the challenges we are facing in areas like the economy and climate change.

They resolved to work closely together to tackle those challenges.
The new Secretary of State for Wales has said his first priority is to get families and businesses through this challenging winter.

Veteran Tory politician David TC Davies, was promoted to the Cabinet role on Tuesday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after his predecessor Sir Robert Buckland resigned.

The Monmouth MP backed Mr Sunak in the most recent leadership contest after voting in September for Liz Truss, whose premiership came to an end after just 49 days.

Mr Davies told PA news agency it was a privilege and an honour to be appointed and that he would promote the interests of the people of Wales.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the trust that has been placed in me, Mr Davies said on Wednesday after first Cabinet meeting in Downing Street.

We now have a new Prime Minister and a new Cabinet who are determined to focus on delivering for the people that we serve.

The new Cabinet (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in Westminster and with the Welsh Government on the common goal of improving lives and increasing opportunity for all the people of Wales.

Wales and the rest of the UK face significant challenges, he added.

I understand that the cost of living and the economic situation are having a significant impact on every single person in the country.

My first priority is to help ensure families, businesses and individuals across Wales are helped through this challenging winter.

I promise to be a strong advocate for Wales around the Cabinet table, doing all I can to promote the interests of the people of Wales.

Mr Davies said he wanted to work on growing investment in Wales including unlocking the countrys potential for producing renewable and nuclear energy, and ensuring it continues to benefit from the union.

Tonight, I spoke to @10DowningStreet. A chance to congratulate the Prime Minister and discuss the importance of working together as four nations to address the urgent challenges we face as a United Kingdom.  Mark Drakeford (@PrifWeinidog) October 25, 2022

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford congratulated Mr Davies on his new role and said: We look forward to building a constructive relationship as we work together for the benefit of the people of Wales.

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said: David will be invaluable in ensuring Wales is at the heart of the UK Government.

It is understood the Welsh Government believed it had begun to build a good working relationship with Mr Buckland during his short four months in the post.

Having served as junior minister in the Wales Office since 2019 Mr Davies has had no shortage of clashes with Welsh MPs and the Welsh Government over matters including Covid pandemic rules, coal tip safety and the state of the union, therefore it remains to be seen if he can foster cooperation between his Government and other parties.

Mr Drakeford who revealed on Twitter that he had received a phone call from Mr Sunak on Tuesday night said he had told the new PM the last thing people in Wales need is a further dose of Tory austerity.

Former PM Liz Truss did not once call Mr Drakeford or Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during her brief time in office, breaking with the informal tradition of contacting the leaders of devolved governments shortly after coming into office.

Sir Robert Buckland resigned as Wales Secretary saying he would support the new PM from the backbenches (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Davies was born in London but was brought up in South Wales and went to Bassaleg School, a comprehensive school just outside of Newport.

After leaving school he went to work for British Steel and joined the Territorial Army, serving for 18 months as a Gunner with 104 Air Defence Regiment at Raglan Barracks.

He also worked for his familys shipping company, Burrow Heath Ltd and served as a Special Constable for nine years with the British Transport Police.

He was elected as a Welsh Assembly member for Monmouth in 1999 and held the seat until 2007.

In 2005 he was first elected to parliament and has ever since been Monmouths representative in Westminster.

Mr Davies among Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks newly formed cabinet (PA)

Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee between 2010 and 2019, Mr Davies was also an assistant government whip from February 2020 to July this year.

His appointment means the Government will avoid the criticism it faced over having an MP representing a seat in England as Welsh Secretary.

Sir Robert, who is from Llanelli in South Wales, was the MP for South Swindon.

Mr Davies is also a fluent Welsh speaker and went on Welsh language channel S4Cs political programme Y Byd yn ei Le  The World in its Place  two weeks ago to defend the Governments mini-budget.

He told presenters: The budget has had an effect, and its had an effect on the markets, on mortgage payments, theres no two ways about it  I accept that.

But if we hadnt done anything, the fact that many businesses wouldnt be able to pay their bills, that lots of homes wouldnt be able to afford their bills, would also have had an effect.

Theres no simple answer.
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At a time when the global economy is still struggling and India is facing rising food, fuel and fertiliser subsidy burden

As the Modi govt enters the final turn of its tenure before the 2024 general elections, the Budget and the next few months may well set the course for the future. (Photo: AP))

The fact that this is its last effective Union Budget may have weighed on the governments mind when it appointed financial services secretary Sanjay Malhotra, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, as the new revenue secretary after incumbent Tarun Bajaj retires at the end of November.

At a time when the global economy is still struggling and India is facing rising food, fuel and fertiliser subsidy burden, with the rupee declining, additional forces are now being rushed to aid the rescue efforts. As the top babu of the revenue department, Mr Malhotra will be responsible for giving the final touches to all tax-related matters for the Budget. He will need to augment tax collections when Mr Malhotras appointment comes along with over a dozen senior appointments in the latest reshuffle ordered by the appointments committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Notable among these is the appointment of Aramane Giridhar, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, who will be the next defence secretary; Alka Upadhyaya, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, who is the new secretary of the ministry of road transport and highways; and Nagendra Sinha, a Jharkhand cadre officer who will take over as steel secretary after the superannuation of incumbent Sanjay Kumar Singh in December.

This is the latest in a rapid series of babu reshuffles announced by the Modi Sarkar. As it enters the final turn of its tenure before the 2024 general elections, the Budget and the next few months may well set the course for the future.

J&Ks solution to severe senior IPS crunch

The scarcity of IPS officers in Jammu & Kashmir is so acute that the government has reportedly decided to promote 13 SSPs as officiating DIGs, without completing their mandatory service of 14 years for eligibility, to fill vacancies at the higher levels. Sources have informed DKB that against the 29 sanctioned posts of DIGs, there are 20 vacancies! Three IPS DIG-rank officers including Amit Kumar, Tejinder Singh and Abdul Jabbar are on Central deputation.

It is said that most likely, three officers from the 2009 batch and 10 from the 2010 batch may be promoted as officiating DIGs. The officers of the 2010 batch likely to be promoted include R.M. Bhat, SSP Baramulla; Sridhar Patil, AIG Technical Headquarters; Altaf Ahmed Khan, SSP CID; Vikas Gupta, OSD, Prisons; Nisha Nathyal, commandant, SDRF 2nd Batallion, and Javed Iqbal Mattoo, AIG Building Police Headquarters, among others.

From the 2009 batch, the officers likely to be promoted include Imtiaz Ismail Parray, Shailendra Mishra and Rahul Malik. These officers are being promoted as officiating DIGs after 13 and 12 years, respectively, and will be confirmed after they complete 14 years of service.

Jodhpur post bad mojo for young IAS officers

The arrival of an awaiting postal order (APO) is the kiss of death for an IAS officer, in career terms. It is considered a blot on their escutcheon, so to speak. So, there was much consternation in Rajasthan, when a young 2017-batch officer Avdhesh Meena, who is currently posted as commissioner in the Jodhpur Development Authority, received his APO orders while he was holding a meeting with other officials.

Babus in Rajasthan are split over why this has happened. Depending on whom one talks to, it is said that Avdhesh Meenas performance was sub-par; others say that the babu did not field calls from the ruling Congress netas, and reportedly the APO order has come at the direction of the chief ministers office (CMO).

Apparently, the action was so swift that even the principal secretary of the urban development and housing department, K.L. Meena came to know of it after he returned from a meeting with the state chief secretary. It is also interesting that Avdhesh has been transferred five times during the current government of Ashok Gehlot. He had been in his current assignment for only three months.

Sources say that this post has seen a quick turnover of officers in a short span; it saw three officers, namely Gaurav Agrawal, Q. Choudhary, and Inderjeet Yadav, before the appointment of Avdhesh Meena. And it seems that it will see a new babu soon.
India subscribes to the Western model in form -- an outcome of a dream sequence which began at Independence and has continued since then

Cinema buffs know that the dream sequence ends when the lights come on. But politicians and economists can spin national dream sequences over long periods to captivate ordinary folk in a make-believe world.

The end of the Second World War in 1945, paradoxically, through the diabolical nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, led to high optimism about the new, dovish dawn. Germany and Japan, both pragmatic cultures, converted themselves in defeat into unlikely, perpetual peaceniks -- reserving their public money and entrepreneurial zeal for business wars, at which they excelled.

Irrepressible global conflict shattered this dream phase 13 years later in 1962 as the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia) confronted each other in the Cuban missile crisis. The evil of great power, embedded in the destructive force of nuclear weapons, was to continue to shadow the world for the next 27 years till 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell,

followed by the demise of the Soviet Union. Yet again, the decimation of bipolarity in global power was heralded as a new era of peace, prosperity, and global solidarity.

Three decades later, the global peace, trade and investment is once again threatened by the rise of China and confrontational politics between the United States, its Western allies, Japan and South Korea versus China and its client states in Latin America, Africa, Asia; as well as Russia, and the offshoots of the erstwhile Soviet Union.

The two blocs are distinguished by differing political architecture and ideology. The Western alliance is the richer of the two, with more developed markets and higher incomes but afflicted by hubris and ageing. The new Sino-Russia alliance is younger but growing faster economically and therefore the challenger of existing global rules and norms.

The two differ most starkly in the role of political parties, citizens, and the State. For the Sino-Russia block, the Party (or the leader) is the single paramount mechanism to intermediate the will of the people, to which the government must apply itself and to whose collective wisdom, citizens must submit.

The Western alliance, led by the US, holds citizens paramount and political parties just contesting, individually impermanent vehicles, selected by voting citizens to form the government, which Parliament regulates whilst the judiciary protects citizens rights.

India subscribes to the Western model in form -- an outcome of a dream sequence which began at Independence and has continued since then. Power devolved vertically to state governments and notionally even to local bodies and horizontally between Parliament, executive government, and the judiciary, each with independent mandates enshrined in the Constitution, enhances debate and discussion but slows execution. Whenever citizens have voted in majority governments over long periods, the substance of democracy becomes diluted. Achieving party objectives in a hurry became dominant versus giving primacy to citizen-centric norms and rules for working a clunky balance of power architecture.

The future remains uncertain. But it is a fair bet that over the next three decades till 2050, the political norms and culture adopted in China and India will greatly influence global trends.

China now seems committed to acting according to the foundational principle of Xi Jinping Thought -- a dominant Party apparatus, public sector strategic dominance with private collaboration, stoking demand in the domestic economy rather than export-led growth -- a near total turnaround from the 1978 Deng Xiaoping liberalisations. These reforms convinced gullible Western observers that China was aspiring to be an imitation of the Western economies -- albeit a pale one.

This charade of aligning with global norms is now at an end except when it suits China. But then, that has been the leitmotif of all multilateral power politics till now, from the one-nation-one vote principle of the United Nations, rendered inconsequential by even a single veto from one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, to nuclear containment, or fixing the responsibility for mitigating carbon emissions -- the timing, scope and structure of international agreements have always bent the knee to the rich world. China is now not just near rich, it has the national will and the institutional capacity, courtesy the veto, to have its own way.

That leaves India between a rock and a hard place. Pretending to be non-aligned while sharing a long, disputed border with the Chinese leviathan is like burying ones head in the sand. To try and fix the border dispute at this late stage, with an ascendent China, is like begging for a bad bargain. Aligning tighter with China is one option. But it means losing political face and presents the same problem as aligning with the Western allies  opening our borders to imported goods and services which threaten our non-competitive industry and the export of jobs rather than creating them at home -- key twin domestic political economy conundrums.

A deeper problem is with whom should our global value chains (GVC) connect? Following the global trend for friend shoring would connect us to the for now friendly Western alliance. But this also exposes us to becoming an Ukraine opportunity for China along with Taiwan  kind of a weak proxy of the real enemy. The direction of value chains determines more than just technology and business choices. GVC links, by symbiosis, shall also, either preserve our democratic architecture -- hybrid though it might be -- or degrade it further into a totalitarian one, approximating China and Russia.

This is an existential issue for our elites to mull over. The average citizen, given efficient governance, can prosper in either of these ideological silos, as can business. Both models can deliver economic growth, jobs, and access to decent public services. The real issue is  which choice would demand the greatest behavioural change?

India has savoured hybrid democracy -- starting with the right of elected representatives to be heard in provincial and national councils, for more than a century now -- since 1909, under the Minto-Morley Reforms, during the colonial period.

Extending this dream phase makes sense. Dialling back engrained habits is tough. Just ask movie buffs, workaholics, newspaper readers, patrons of a speak easy, Balushahi afficionados or health food freaks. Doing anything else, except to just keep going along the grain, would be risky. And now is not the time to accumulate risk.
by Fady Noun

With only a few days to go before Aoun's mandate expires, a fourth vote has failed. Cross vetoes between the two blocs, the pro-Iranian one and the opponents, weigh heavily. The parties' game to make the quorum fail. An issue at the heart of the meeting between Macron and Pope Francis. Fears of a drift "towards the unknown".

Beirut (AsiaNews) - With just a few days to go before the expiry of Michel Aoun's presidential term on October 31, the struggle for political hegemony between Hezbollah and its Christian allies (CLP) on the one hand, and the opposition coalition Lebanese Forces-Progressive Socialist Party, which wants to block the way for the re-election of a president favourable to the pro-Iranian camp, is in full swing.

All residual hope of seeing a new head of state elected seems lost, as well as of seeing the interim government for the management of the current affairs of current Prime Minister Nagib Mikati strengthened and fully legitimised.

On 24 October, Lebanese MPs failed, for the fourth time, to elect Aoun's successor. Neither of the warring factions possesses the two-thirds majority of votes necessary for the nomination, but both have the so-called 'blocking third' of 43 votes, which is necessary to blow up the quorum of 86 seats required by law for the election.

Added to this is the fact that, as of the second vote, the head of state can be appointed with an absolute majority of 65 votes, provided the quorum is met. At the moment, no compromise between the parties is on the horizon, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies has not set any immediate date for an upcoming session devoted to the vote.

Analysing the elections for Ici-Beyrouth, political scientist Fady Rahme, a lecturer and strategy expert at Sciences-Po (Paris), explains that the election of a new president in Lebanon is linked to the regional and international context, and to the behind-the-scenes struggles for influence in the region between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Rahme emphasises, ''The presidential elections, must be the subject of a broader package of agreements. The question is not 'who will be the president', but 'what will this president do'." According to the expert, 'the information we have in this regard, we can borrow from three of the four architects of a solution to the Lebanese question': the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia (the fourth is Tehran).

Meeting on 21 September in New York on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly, the representatives of these countries issued a joint statement, in which they defined the Taef agreement as a 'framework within which they can provide their support to Lebanon'. The joint note went on to explain that 'Lebanon must implement the reforms requested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and organise presidential elections within constitutional deadlines'.

The signatories went on to affirm 'the need for the Lebanese government to implement the provisions contained in UN Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, 1701 and 2650' [...] and to commit 'to respect the Taef Agreement, which allows for the protection of national unity and civil peace in Lebanon'.

Tied to the Taef Agreement, Resolution 1559 specifically calls for 'the disarmament and disbandment of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias'. For Rahme, politics and economics are closely linked, 'but politics takes precedence' and the key passage in this statement is: 'The Taef Agreement, sponsored by Saudi Arabia'. The political scientist concludes by warning that 'we must not deceive ourselves, without the support of Western powers and the Arab oil states, Lebanon will not be able to rise again'.

The Middle East, and more specifically the Lebanese crisis, were on the agenda on 24 October during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Pope Francis. According to well-informed sources relayed by Parisian journalist Mona es-Said, the pontiff and the Elysee Palace tenant agreed on the need to elect a new president within the constitutional terms, to avoid any risk of drifting 'into the unknown'.
by Melani Manel Perera

Three were in prison for trying to assassinate former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga. To celebrate the Festival of Lights, young people from different religious backgrounds prepared meals for the poor. The event constituted a very valuable opportunity for participants.

Colombo (Asia News)  President Ranil Wickremesinghe pardoned eight Tamil prisoners on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali, known as Deepavali in Sri Lanka.

Three of them were convicted in connection with an attempt to assassinate former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga, who was asked to give her approval for the release.

Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa explained that Tamil rebels were serving long sentences in various prisons, but this year they will be able to reunite with their families to celebrate Deepavali".

President Wickremesinghe signed the relevant papers on 19 October after reviewing recommendations from the Attorney Generals Department and the Ministry of Justice.

Meanwhile, yesterday in Negombo, Western Province, a group of 40 young people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds prepared meals for the poor as a token of solidarity. The Sri Vimukti Fisher Women Organisation was behind the initiative.

This opportunity was "very valuable, said Michelle, a young Sinhala Catholic woman. Our youth group includes members from three ethnic groups and four religions, she told AsiaNews. Preparing meals together boosts unity and friendships among us," she added.

Shivaratnam Sulakshan, another member of the group, said he was very happy and proud to celebrate Deepavali this way. I am a Tamil. All my friends are celebrating, he explained. Due to the current economic crisis it is very difficult for the poor to get a good meal.

I really appreciate the efforts of this community," noted project coordinator Sebastian Vincent. "I only created the bases they needed. They were the ones who suggested that we, as a youth group, celebrate Deepavali this way.
Today's headlines: Chinese police continue to maintain restrictions against activists and dissidents imposed during the party congress; in Iran 'the world's dirtiest man' died at 94, almost 60 years without ever washing; Hanoi imposes a travel ban on a Redemptorist priest from the former Saigon; Russia's war in Ukraine blocks international studies on the melting of Arctic glaciers.

PAKISTAN

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan intends to promote a march with his supporters from the eastern metropolis of Lahore to the capital Islamabad, where he will arrive on 28 October to call for early elections. Already last week there had been some minor protests after the judges' ruling that ousted him from parliamentary office.

INDONESIA

The government has launched a new residence permit allowing tourists with at least EUR 185,000 in the bank to settle 'for up to 10 years' in the country, particularly in Bali. Like other countries, from Mexico to Thailand, the aim is to attract wealthy customers and revive the pandemic-hit sector. The permit is called the 'second home visa' and will come into effect at Christmas.

CHINA

The police continue to keep activists and dissidents under house arrest or under restrictions, even after the conclusion of the 20th Communist Party Congress. One of them was arrested for violating the surveillance measure. The 'stability maintenance' measures range from house arrest to ward off activism, to escorting dissidents. Under Xi Jinping they have increased.

IRAN

In Iran, a man considered 'the dirtiest man in the world' has died at the age of 94 and entered the records for never washing for almost 60 years. Amou Haji, a hermit in the southern province of Fars, refused soap and water for fear of viruses and bacteria. He reportedly fell ill shortly after taking a bath forced upon him by fellow villagers, and died months later.

VIETNAM

Fr. Truong Hoang Vu, a Redemptorist priest from Ho Chi Minh City appreciated for his work assisting the disabled and war amputees in the South Vietnamese army, cannot leave the country. Security forces stopped him at the airport as he was boarding a flight to Manila, on his way to the United States. The ban is related to 'social order and security reasons'.

RUSSIA - UKRAINE

Because of the war in Ukraine, all international projects to study the melting of Arctic glaciers have been halted, from which Western partners have withdrawn. This decision has effectively rendered inactive the 'Arctic Council', founded in 1996 to deal with the climate crisis in a vast area, 56% of which is on Russian territory.

TAJIKISTAN

At Kuljab in Tajikistan, a new railway junction was opened, which will allow commercial cargo to be transported to Turkey and Iran via Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. A route that will be used to export mostly products from China, but will also offer local producers more opportunities to trade in Europe.
by Guido Alberto Casanova

After weeks of controversy, Daishiro Yamagiwa resigned. A picture of him with Hak Ja Han, leader of the religious group, surfaced. The opposition is unable to profit from the situation. By the end of the year, a probe by the Ministry of Education and Culture could lead to request to dissolve the Church founded by the late Rev Sun Myung Moon.

Milan (AsiaNews)  After weeks of controversy, the Japanese Minister for Economic Revitalisation has resigned.

Under pressure for his ties to the Unification Church, Daishiro Yamagiwa is the first member of the Kishida cabinet to quit after the murder of former Prime Minister Shinto Abe.

The latters death last July put the spotlight on relations between the controversial religious group and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Until recently, Yamagiwa claimed he could not remember attending any gathering organised by the Unification Church.

Once confronted with photographic evidence, which has gone viral, showing him alongside Hak Ja Han, leader of the religious group founded by her husband, the late Rev Sun Myung Moon, the minister quit.

Yamagiwa's resignation comes at a critical time for the Kishida administration. The latest polls indicate a sharp drop in approval for its work, down to 30 per cent, which is the margin below which a government in Japan risks falling.

The decline in the government's popularity is directly related to the close ties between the LDP and the Unification Church, whose practices towards its members have deeply affected public opinion.

After his resignation on Monday, Yamagiwa expressed regrets for causing trouble for the government.

I sincerely apologise if by attending an event I provided a positive endorsement of the organisation, he said. I will be careful about my future activities so I hold no ties whatsoever with the group.

The opposition did not miss the opportunity to criticise the government, starting with the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) whose leader called for the minister to resign as soon as he made his first admission in early October.

There are rising voices calling for Yamagiwa to resign for making excuses about meeting a top leader of the Unification Church but hiding it until it came to light, said CDP leader Kenta Izumi.

In recent months, Kishida has made numerous missteps, not the least appointing his son as a personal aide and holding a state funeral for Shinto Abe. Revelations about LDP-Unification Church connection have made matters worse.

Yet, while Yamagiwa's resignation might be a victory for the opposition, it is unlikely to weaken the government. In fact, the opposition remains divided and unable to find a common strategy to defeat the Liberal Democrats.

What is more, the next election is scheduled for 2025, so, for now, the ruling party is probably not too concerned about waning support.

Within the LDP, many are betting that the scandal over the ties with the Unification Church will eventually fade away  so Prime Minister Kishida can expect to keep his job.

Meanwhile, the probe that might lead to the dissolution of the religious group got underway yesterday with the Ministry of Education and Culture launching an investigation that might end up in the courts with a request by the end of the year to dissolve the organisation.
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Introduced more than 13 years ago, the preceding model was developed by the Specialty Vehicles Group within Nissan North America in conjunction with Autech Japan. From a displacement of 3.7 liters, the VQ-series engine pumped out 350 horsepower and 276 pound-foot (374 Nm).Then offered exclusively with a manual transmission, the 370Z NISMO flaunted a strut tower bar brace, a set of performance dampers, dialed-up spring rates, beefed-up stabilizer bars, 19-inch RAYS aluminum-alloy wheels, 14- and 13.8-inch ventilated brake rotors complemented by four- and two-piston calipers, reworked steering, as well as sporty design cues.Considering that Nissan upped the horsepower and torque ratings from the 370Z, theres no denying the force-fed Z will receive a bit more as well for the much-anticipated NISMO. The expected price is 8 million to 9 million yen, notes Best Car, as in $54,000 or $60,750 at current exchange rates.In the summer of 2023, the Japanese publication further expects the Japanese automaker to launch a big-winged variant of the GT-R. From the standpoint of exterior design, its almost the same [as the outgoing model] except that the rear wing is changed to a swan-type neck. Best Car refers to a rear wing inspired by the Super GT racing car. Speaking of which, swan neck mounts are also used by Porsche on the 911 GT3.New colors are rumored as well, and the cited publication further makes a case for chassis and engine improvements. Whatever it may be, this variant of the GT-R may be a final edition of sorts. Given that Nissan discontinued the R35 in a plethora of markets  including the United States and the United Kingdom  its obvious that the R35 is heading for greener pastures.
Far from glamping, this cute red camper has all it takes for comfortable vacations outdoors without changing into something its not. Youll find Bonanza Jellybean hidden among sweet gum trees on a property in Cosby, Tennessee, where its available for rent through Airbnb. Its really small, only big enough for two people who arent too tall, and it wasnt transformed into some luxury off-grid retreat. This camper stays rustic, offering a simple bed, a foldable dinette, a propane stove, and electric lights. Dont expect cell phone service or standard air conditioning and heating. A small heater and a fan do the job just fine.The camper also comes with a sustainable outhouse built with reclaimed poplar wood and vintage windows. In addition to the propane-heated shower, a rustic wood-fired bathtub is also available.As for the camper itself, its a 1959 Shasta model. Shasta is one of the oldest RV manufacturers, which initially built mobile home trailers for the U.S. Armed Forces back in the 1940s. By the late 50s, the famous toaster-on-wheels Shasta trailers were instantly recognizable, and plenty of them roamed the roads in America. Throughout three generations of vehicles, the RV brand that started out in Los Angeles continued to adapt its design and remained a popular choice.This little guy doesnt seem to have anything in common with todays Shasta RVs, but they stem from the same roots. A hidden vintage gem, the Bonanza Jellybean may no longer roam the roads, but it still keeps the true camping spirit alive.
I cant (yet) embed salt into the article but take the Chinese companys press release (read it at the end of this story) with a pinch of sodium chloride. Because, despite its bold statements, the videos accompanying the official news are slightly less compelling. Please have a look at them below and judge for yourself.I am not denying the engineering behind the prototype (internal code X3) that we see flying, but I dont find the videos too convincing. The first one  a full-CGI cinematic  promises a fascinating means of transportation: a real-deal flying car, sporting the well-known body of an automobile with four extendable rotor booms on the roof.When on the ground, the rotors are stowed in the space above the cabin  the cars height is not disclosed. Neither are any other technical data, details, or intended specs, except one: the vehicles weight  4,347 lbs. (1,936 kg). Again, it is unclear whether this reading includes a driver/pilot, but I would assume its just the eVTOLs mass without any occupants, as no one is shown inside the car.To become airborne, the X3 extends its four booms, each equipped with a pair of twin rotors, and lifts off. At least, according to the artistic video rendering, the test flight shows the car getting out of its garage/hangar with the four propeller-holding arms fully extended.Nonetheless, the test displays a car-shaped body covered in graffiti-camo taking off and hovering at 15 feet (4.57 m) and then at 30 feet (9.14 m) in the air. More interesting, though, is the horizontal movement of the flying car. In what appears to be a remote-controlled set of maneuvers, the X3 lifts off, maintains altitude, then flies forward, stops, hovers, turns around, flies back, and lands.No further details are available about the XPeng AeroHT X3 vehicle. Still, some are visible in the videos: the fold-away rotor assembly has eight propellers (each powered by its own electric motor). Judging from the body size and proportions, the car seems to be a four-passenger design. This is quite a step forward from other eVTOLs that currently feature one- or two-seat configurations.The company mentions several features of its car in the press release, such as the new flight control system equipped with fault-tolerant control functions and a dual-engine backup system to ensure safety. Again, its unclear what that means in plain automotive/aircraft language. The Chinese restrict to saying their prototype is comparable with any conventional cars in terms of functionality and measurement.However, one demo video  shot with a different aircraft, much more similar to a manned open-cockpit drone-style eVTOL  demonstrates how to control a flying car. The emphasis is on the car part, as the steering wheel wouldnt make much sense in an air-bound vehicle. Have a look at it at the bottom of the article.When driven, the X3 behaves  and is maneuvered  just like regular cars of the past 130 years: by turning the steering wheel. This is also used in pilot mode to turn the vehicle right or left. However, a supplementary gear lever controls the vehicles other aerial movements. Watch the last video to see how the X3 is meant to be steered, raised, and lowered.To cite XPeng again, their X3 flying car is subject to laws and regulations for the low-altitude airspace (how low exactly, well find out at an upcoming moment). Also, the aircraft can allegedly fly over traffic congestion, obstacles, and rivers to meet a new host of short-distance mobility needs.While very discreet in technical aspects, the press release and its accompanying videos give us a glimpse of what the Chinese have in store for the future of personal transportation and mobility.
6x6

The fresh XK70 third-generation 2022 Toyota Tundra may be facing an uphill battle to snatch the sales crown from the rivaling Detroit Three pickup trucks (Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, Ram 1500). But that does not mean it will not come equipped with everything it needs to survive even in the harshest environment.Just recently, alongside a multitude of aftermarket solutions, Toyotas TRD division also introduced a $4k dealer-installed three-inch TRD-branded lift kit . But, frankly, that is not going to be enough if you seriously plan to stand out in the full-size North American pickup truck crowd. More likely, one would need a completely unique transformation to make a lasting impression.No worries, as there are aftermarket solutions for that. And one of the most extreme but also noteworthy would be amakeover. The folks over at Miami-based Esteem Customs - formerly Force Motorsport  announced such a build back in April, and it was no vaporware, as one might imagine. Instead, the freshly unique first bespoke example was dressed in crimson on contrasting black, super-deep Vossen HF6-5 aftermarket wheels sometime in June.The second build  out of just five units planned for 2022  also came out equally custom and pretty fast, with the Tundra 6x6 posing in a tough quarry situation back in August once the specialty production was done. And, just recently, we also witnessed (complete with a behind-the-scenes making-of video) the birth of the silvery third example, also done nasty on Black Rhino Wheels.Alas, the company felt that their intermediate, dark green and Satin Bronze Weld Off-Road Ledge 6 Toyota Tundra 6x6 creation deserved a second look, hence the cool photoshoot against a tough, dark, and menacing background! Does it look better than the crimson and gray examples, or not?
Classic pickup truck aficionados could speak for days about the F-100 and other cool F-Series. Meanwhile, GM enthusiasts will go on and on about the various iterations of the Chevy and GMC C/Ks. But what about the Dodge Ram models?Well, the original generation, produced between late 1980 and the summer of 1993, was extremely popular with fleets but sold less than competing F-Series and C/Ks  probably because a certain Texas Ranger (Chuck Norris, aka Walker the rad-to-the-bone ranger) only used a second-generation version.Anyway, kidding aside, they still had their fans and now enjoy a slightly narrower cult following . That can only mean one thing  enhanced collectability and a distinct way of life. Well, at least as far as this first-gen W250 (Power Ram, meaning its a 4x4) is concerned, it certainly ticks all the adventure boxes, and then some.Owned by Wyatt Waldron, a public figure known as ironman5.9 on social media, who may or may not be the one and only Corporal Waldron, a veteran and decorated Marines hero (Silver Star), this Cummins-powered Dodge Ram sure enjoyed an outdoorsy lifestyle until recently. Now the burgundy-flavored old-school pickup truck has been sitting idle for a while  and that probably triggered an idea for a deep transformation.The results are already visible, albeit only virtually. This is because the automotive digital creator behind Innov8 Design Lab (aka innov8designlab on social media) has prepared a preview of things to come for this Power Ram. And we can easily see that it is going to reach new extremes, mixing the burgundy shade with a lifted, gold suspension setup, new and humongous aftermarket wheels, plus a few more aftermarket goodies.All in all, a clean build, and if it indeed reaches the SEMA Show , it is certainly going to stand out in the Dodge Ram pickup truck crowd, right?
Harry Styles, a former member of the boy band One Directon, has gone solo since the band broke up and is dominating all the charts with his third album, Harrys House. Hes currently on tour, and his girlfriend, actress and director Olivia Wilde, usually attends his concerts to show her support.The two kept it low key, though, at the beginning of this week, when they went out to get some coffee in Los Angeles California, on Tuesday, October 25. They mightve looked just like any other couple had it not been for their ride  a classic Mercedes-Benz SL.Harry Styles may still be in his 20s, but he has shown an appreciation for the classics time and time again. And this roadster surely fits the profile.The one he drove is a 560 SL, which is the top of the SL line , introduced in September 1985 and available for purchase until 1989, only in select countries: the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan.The 560 SL had a 5.5-liter V8 engine under the hood, which was good for 227 horsepower or 230 ps, with 275 lb-ft (373 Nm) of torque, all sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox.The classic roadster could hit 60 mph (97 kph) from a standstill in 7.3 seconds, 62 mph (100 kph) in 7.7 seconds, and reach a top speed of 139 mph (223 kph). Obviously, Harry didnt get to test all its potential on his way to get coffee.Despite not opening the top, the ride seemed quite appropriate for him and Olivia on a sunny day in L.A.
EV

The South Korean conglomerate from Seoul cannot sustain this growth without cutting a few expenses here and some other expenses there. Hyundai reorganized its powertrain development group into an electrification development group to prepare for the all-electric future, which is due to arrive in 2025 as far as Norway is concerned. Executive Order 14057 mandates that all new privately-owned light duty vehicles sold in the United States of America be 100 percent zero emissions by 2035.The U.S.A. is a tremendously large market for Hyundai, which is why the South Korean conglomerate will invest a ton of money into an-making factory in Georgia. The so-called Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America will be online in early 2025, and given the Group in Hyundai Motor Group, its pretty obvious that Kia and Genesis will also use this factory.During the groundbreaking ceremony, the South Koreans confirmed an investment of 5.54 billion dollars. HMGMA will create more than 8,100 jobs in the next few years, with Hyundai aiming to establish a stable supply chain for batteries and other EV-specific bits and bobs in the U.S.A.Hyundai and the people of Georgia share many qualities: respect for our histories, ingenuity, creativity, and determination to make the world better for the next generation, declared executive chair Euisun Chung. Today, our electric vehicles are recognized as best in class, and with this partnership, we are determined to be the global leader in electrification, safety, quality, and sustainability. With Metaplant America, we will continue to evolve beyond an automaker to the worlds leading mobility solutions provider.
Jurassic Park is by far the best movie in the dinosaur-themed media franchise. And most of the original fans of the series will agree that it all went downhill from there. Even so, the original trilogy has only grossed about half of what the second one has achieved.That may all be down to marketing and the power of Social Media and the Internet, tools that were not available at the end of the 20th century. And if there's one thing that companies have learned is that you can profit off of someone's else success.Most people will tell you that Jurassic Park and Jurassic World are all about humans interacting with dinosaurs, willingly or not. But car people will also think of all the vehicles that were featured in the two series over the past 30 years.It's no secret that the people at Mattel are quite good at marketing and advertising, and few companies can hope to compete against their arsenal of products and brands. So it's no wonder that for years and years, Mattel has been licensing Jurassic Park and Jurassic World toys to sell to their target audience. You can even buy a 3.75-inch Dr. Ian Malcom collector figure if you're that big of a fan.Earlier this year, we had a look at several vehicles from the J urassic World Dominion series , including the 1993 Jeep Wrangler, the 1993 Ford Explorer, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz G 550, the Gyrosphere, the Armored Action Transporter, and the Armored Action Truck.For people that grew up with Jurassic Park, choosing the Explorer was a no-brainer. But let's look at this new Dominion set of cars and see what it's made of. Looking at the 1986 Ford F-150, you get a feeling that Hot Wheels trucks are nowhere near as realistic as the ones made by Matchbox.This isn't even a premium casting, but we'd still want to add it to our collection. But we've got mixed feelings about the muddy tires on the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. This is a common theme with Hot Wheels too. While it's meant to add realism, real mud would have been a lot better.Remember playing with diecast cars in the backyard of your house? The InGen Humvee looks a bit boring, at least when compared to the first two cars, but you could at least use the rims for another project if you're into customizing your scale model vehicles.The 4x4 Scrambulance has been part of the Matchbox line-up for a decade now, and it has been used as a Jurassic World item before. At first glance, it seems not much has changed since that time, at least for the card art, which is slightly more refined these days.It's interesting to note that Mattel always tries to offer diversity for collectors by bringing in motorcycles, airplanes, and sometimes boats. And for this set, you're looking at the Speed Striker bike and the Rapid Rescue helicopter.Given the context of the films, flying sounds like a much safer option than riding on two wheels. If you're into this set, you can get it for as cheap as $11.99 via eBay . You could also opt for individual models instead, but then you'll end up paying as much as $4 per vehicle.
The result is an image of a planet that looks nothing like the lush blue marble we're familiar with. Of course, there's a handful of features present from this distance that we can identify as Earthly. Whisps of thick clouds dot the hemispheres, a large storm forming from the southeast over the awaiting continents. But without that iconic blueish glow, it makes the planet feel hostile, almost alien.The Lucy spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin and launched from the Space Launch Complex 41 aboard a ULA Atlas 5 booster rocket on October 16th, 2021. It was named in honor of a nearly complete hominoid human skeleton found on the African continent thought to be over three million years old. Its mission is simple in theory but endlessly complex in practice. To investigate the origin of a group of asteroids within the vicinity of Jupiter's orbit. Asteroids that NASA says might not have originated there.Dubbed the Jupiter Trojans, there's no telling what manner of treasures and discoveries there are to be found on these scraps of space debris from the early days of the solar system. Using a series of gravitational boosts from the Earth itself, Lucy will gain enough velocity to re-orient the spacecraft into an orbital trajectory more suitable for reaching the Jovian Trojan Asteroids in an expedient timeframe.Roaming in a space between Jupiter's Lagrange points L4 and L5, as many as 9,800 of these objects are thought to occupy the Jovian system's outer margins. Lucy's prime objective is to helpdetermine whether Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids is run-of-the-mill space junk no different than from what slams into the Earth every hundred million years or so or something different.Computer simulations conducted by scientists in Nice, France, seemed to indicate the orbits of the outer gas giants became remarkably unstable approximately 600 million years ago. When this happened, a comparably compact solar system expanded to the grand display of eight planets with considerable space between them.It's thought that the orbital shift from Uranus and Neptune might have helped to form the first of a series of permeable outer shells around the solar system called the Kuiper Belt, while Jupiter and Saturn did the same or the Asteroid Belt.To find out what's what, Lucy has seven different Trojan Asteroids picked out for its arrival. These are Leucus, Polymele, Eurybates, Orus, the binary Patroclus/Menoetius, and a tiny asteroid named in honor of Donald Johanson, the American paleoanthropologist who discovered the Lucy skeleton in Ethiopia.Before this rendezvous, the Lucy spacecraft will receive one further gravity assist from the Earth in December 2024. From there, NASA expects the probe to be able to reach 52246 Donaldjohanson in the inner main asteroid belt by April 2025.After a long period of scientific study, the probe will proceed to the Jovian LeGrange point L4 before another transit back to Earth in December 2030. Its final destination for the moment is slated to be the Trojan Asteroid 617 Patroclus-Menoetius in March 2033.In the meantime, NASA is left to wait while Lucy sets back off on its journey to Jupiter. With a treasure trove of knowledge on the other side, we can't wait to see what it turns up.
An image of the badly bruised up American supercar, taken in Bloomfield, Michigan, was shared on Instagram by zr1_m7 a few days ago, and it shows it sitting in the middle of the road with extensive damages, in front of a fire truck.Zooming in reveals a beat-up rear axle, and what appears to be a damaged rear quarter panel on the left-hand side. The poor quality of the picture prevents us from seeing more. In all likelihood, the driver, who may have been an engineer, either from General Motors or a parts supplier, has walked away without any serious injuries.You can bet your bottom dollar on the fact that we will see more new-gen Chevrolet Corvette Z06 cars involved in all sorts of accidents in the coming months, as the bowtie brand starts shipping them to their customers. The first ones should be delivered next month, and it appears that 31 of them are ready to hit the road, according to Corvette Blogger , yet they havent been released from the assurance hold.Chevrolet is reportedly no longer accepting orders for the 2023 model year Corvette Z06 due to supplier setbacks. Its unknown how many of them will be built in total, though it is expected to account for roughly 10% of the normal C8s production run of around 25,000 units annually. The model was shown last year, and it uses a flat-plane crank 5.5-liter V8, making 670 hp and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm) of torque. From 0 to 60 mph (0-97 kph), it needs 2.6 seconds, and it starts at $105,300, before destination, and dealer fees.
AutotopiaLA recently featured a different kind of 65 Mustang, which would give a not-so-economical experience grabbing your weekly groceries. Its a sweet-looking garage-built and painted 427 stroker 1965 Ford Mustang. Glen, who owns the classic Mustang coupe, had been around for the Mustangs by the Bay event, held two weekends ago, at the Embarcadero Marina Park, in San Diego, California.The 65 Stang holds a lot of compassionate value for Glen. After getting out of the army in 1989, he walked to his bank to get a car loan but was denied. Feeling sorry for his son, his dad took $1,200 out of his savings and asked him to chase his dream. For that, he admits, he could never put it up for sale.He returned to the army in 1991 (for 16 years), and his parents and siblings stored the project car for him. When he returned in 2007, he put it up on jack stands and did a full-paint job by himself. Its a phenomenal job  an A+ show-car-quality paint job.Under the hood, it packs a 351 Windsor stroked to a 427 and runs a Borla stack fuel injection system. Glen says the engine build was done by Dave Kindig.To harness all that power, he installed a Tremec TKO 600 transmission. Its a 5-speed manual transmission with a close ratio from 1st through to 4th gear with the capability to handle up to 600-lb-ft (814 Nm) of torque.I play with everybody. I say I have a quadruple exhaust. Because Ive got cutouts that go straight off the header to my side exhaust, and then when my wife wants to ride in the car, I have the exhaust go out under my rear end and then out the back, Glen said, explaining his custom exhaust system.Curious how the 427 sounds with a custom exhaust? We recommend watching that action in the video below.
SUV

Naturally based on the shorter wheelbase version of the traditional Dodge Ram pickup truck chassis, the Dodge Ramcharger (made between 1974 and 1993 in the United States, Mexico had it until 1996 and then again for a 1999 to 2001 third gen) competed against the equal Ford and Chevy legends.The K5 Blazer and Bronco had a worthy opponent in the Ramcharger, and so it is no wonder that Mopar fans still hold a dear spot in their hearts and minds for the beefyeven today. Some also like to do something about it, even if only digitally. Such is also the case with Oscar Vargas, the virtual artist better known as wb.artist20 on social media, who actually cooked up this whole CGI shebang to celebrate a new fan threshold.This pixel master is no stranger to Detroit Three trucks, as he previously toyed with the imagined ideas of a Ram 1500 TRX Hellram Single Cab Street truck , a 632ci V8-powered Chevy Silverado SS with Stepside bed, or a retro Ford Bronco Raptor camper built for overlanding on an air ride. But this one holds a special place, as the virtual Dodge/Ram Ramcharger TRX with 6.2-liter HEMI supercharged V8 climbs an anniversary 3D obstacle that celebrates the authors new 50k fan milestone.Well, he evolved quite a lot since shooting to connect with just a few hundred as his 2D edits are now done not just in 3D but also properly animated. By the way, this Ramcharger TRX was not selected randomly, as the CGI expert holds a special connection with the Dodge brand since he owns a Challenger. Of course, a 702-hp TRX SUV would make for an even finer family ride, am I right?
Hybrid propulsion, LNG (liquefied natural gas), hydrogen, and even ammonia  these are some of the alternatives t hat could reduce shippings impact on the environment. The industry is working its way up to fewer toxic emissions by taking small steps.On the other hand, modern systems based on what many consider the purest source of energy - wind power  have already been implemented as a solution for various types of commercial vessels and pleasure craft. But can this be used for massive cargo vessels also?Shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines is betting on that. Its latest creation, Shofu Maru, is a pioneering coal carrier equipped with a hard-sail wind power propulsion system. Big enough to transport more than 80,000 tons of coal, it uses both fuel and wind power to move.The innovative Wind Challenger system harnesses the power of the wind with the help of a telescopic fiberglass sail that can extend up to 55 meters (180 feet).On its trip from Japan to Australia, Shofu Maru was expected to cut fuel consumption by 5%, according to ABC News Australia . That may not seem like a lot, but it equals to 25,000 liters (6,605 gallons) of fuel. Considering that large cargo vessels such as this one burn hundreds of thousands of liters on these routes, this is a significant reduction.In fact, the Wind Challenger could help reduce fuel consumption even by 8% on a route from Japan to the U.S., thanks to the more favorable wind conditions in the northern hemisphere.Japanese and Australian officials have recently signed a cooperation agreement that includes actions for reaching the 2050 net-zero target, and the wind-powered Shofu Maru is ready to help them get there.
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You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
Urgency seemed to be on everyone's lips Wednesday morning during a series of presentations about what carbon capture and storage might mean to
More than 8,800 visitors, including 1,500 students, from all over Zambia and Malawi, visited the seven-day Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations organized by BAPS at the six-acre Pramukh Swami Nagar set up on the CPS Ground in the Kamwala area of Lusaka.

Around 100 men and women volunteers helped for one month to set up and manage the festival site.

On the first day, a grand nagar yatra from the Radha Krishna Mandir to the festival site took place. Thereafter, the Pramukh Swami Nagar was ritually inaugurated by Honorable Mr. Garry Nkombo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development; Mr. Murugesan Ramaswami, Second Secretary at the High Commission of India in Zambia; and other guests.

A magnificent gate, Mayur Dwar, welcomed everyone to the Pramukh Swami Nagar. Along the main pathway, murtis of fourteen great rishis and devotees greeted everyone. The heartbeat of Pramukh Swami Nagar, the grand murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was enshrined at the center of the festival grounds.

Three inspiring video exhibitions were also shown at regular intervals during the day throughout the seven days of the festival. The Muktanand video show was based on living an addiction-free life. The Nityanand video show inspired a harmonious family life and the video themed Paramanand imparted life lessons on how to attain ultimate happiness.

In the joy of others lies our own was Pramukh Swami Maharajs life motto and he had continuously worked for the betterment of society. Highlighting this, a special exhibition showcased the social services undertaken by BAPS Charities in Lusaka. Inspired by the exhibition, visitors donated 101 pints of blood in the blood donation drive.

Daily, the evening maha-arti was performed at 8.00 p.m. in front of the grand murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Also, every evening, entertaining and enlightening stage programs were organized in which kirtan-bhakti, traditional dances, thematic dramas and other cultural programs were presented by social and religious organizations from Lusaka and Malawi.

The Nilkanth Abhishek Kutir, Prarthana Kutir, Charity Kutir and Vyasan Mukti Kutir  in which 450 visitors pledged to quit their addictions  exemplified Indias devotional rituals and culture.

This festival was widely covered by ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia. Many dignitaries and well-wishers also visited and found inspiration from the festival.

Visitor Opinions

Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry: I feel blessed to be part of this life-changing experience of celebrating the life of a guru who was selfless, simple, yet so influential to the world.

Mr. Christopher Mundia, Special Assistant (legal affairs) to the President of Republic of Zambia: A truly inspirational life that has inspired us all. We would all be much better, more religious and more helpful, by drawing inspiration from such a humble, selfless and yet simple life lived. I have personally been inspired to follow the many teachings to improve my life at a personal level.

Hon. Mr. Gary Nkombo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:

I have learnt a new tune to my life through this visit. Today, I have learnt of the values that come from Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It is very clear to see that he touches millions of lives. He was truly a saint and we can learn so much from his life.
The Chinese Communist Partys 20th Congress saw the thorough consolidation of power by Xi Jinping, elected to a third term, with a leadership that is personally loyal to him. No leader since Mao consolidated this amount of political power. Chinas importance as a trade partner and regional power means that this will be felt across Southeast Asia economically, politically, as well as in the diplomatic and security realm.

What may be good for Xi politically is not good for China economically. Xi stacked the Politburo and its Standing Committee with ideologues and loyalists; there are no pro-economic reform advocates left and corporate China is not represented.

Even before the 20th Congress, the Chinese economy had slowed as a result of the draconian zero-COVID-19 policy and Xis assault on the dynamic privately owned tech sector. But the markets reacted sharply to Xis consolidation of power.

The stock market index collapsed as soon as the markets opened on Monday. There was a major selloff on all indexes and some $2.47 billion of foreign funds immediately withdrew from the China market.

Theres a real concern that the informal tax on the wealthy, known as the Common Prosperity donations, will become larger and more compulsory.

Capital flight is skyrocketing as high-net-worth individuals seek to move their funds to the safety of foreign jurisdictions. Money is flowing out of China as fast as possible. The Financial Times reported that the number of private Chinese family investments in Singapore nearly doubled from 400 to 700 since late 2020.

No one will speak truth to power in China anymore. Surrounded by sycophants, Xi is more likely to pursue policies that cannot be reversed.

This has an immediate impact on Southeast Asia as every countrys largest trading partner is China, particularly those that are still largely dependent on the export of raw materials.

China, which has been a major source of foreign investment in the region is seeing its GDP growth continue to slow, now below 5 percent for the year.

While capital flight may help some sectors in Southeast Asia, the gains will be narrow and not compensate for the loss of China as the driver of economic growth in the region.

Workers stand beside an Electric Multiple Unit high-speed train for a rail link project that is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, at Tegalluar train depot in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2022. [Reuters]

Changing Belt and Road Initiative

While the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is still state policy, Xis signature program of infrastructure lending for projects to boost Chinas trade with Asia and Africa is a diminished initiative. In 2018 and 2019, even before the pandemic, BRI lending dropped precipitously.

The two state-owned development banks that were responsible for 75 percent of BRI funding, saw lending collapse. Overall lending in 2020 was 58 percent from its 2018 peak.

Very clearly, many BRI projects are underwater and debt servicing had slowed. In 2018-19, China quietly renegotiated the repayment terms of $16 billion in loans. The pandemic caused a further slowdown in lending.

Though BRI projects recommenced in 2020, they are considerably smaller in scale and amount.

Xi will not abandon the BRI. Its his vanity project and too associated with him to dismantle. Indeed, it was mentioned five times in the Oct. 16 Political Report to the congress, compared to just twice in 2017.

The BRI will likely move away from physical infrastructure and focus on fiber optic cables, 5G and 6G, and the export of artificial intelligence/smart cities. Emphasizing the Digital Silk Road serves many of Chinas interests. It deepens their control over the internet and protocols, routes more traffic through Chinese servers and gets other countries to adopt Chinese software and norms. The export of their digital authoritarian model will be a key priority.

Analysts are still divided on what the Congress means for Taiwan, a major factor in region-wide stability. On the one hand, Xis report was fairly pragmatic and made clear that there would be no quick move to invade the island, though he refused to renounce the use of force. Taiwan was mentioned only nine times in the report, compared to 12 in 2017, and the report offered no change in the existing policy.

Although Xi remains focused on PLA modernization by 2027, which obviously includes all Taiwan contingencies, his personnel selection for the Central Military Commission (CMC) also suggest caution.

The CMC has little in the way of operational experience, in particular joint experience, with the exception of its two vice chairmen. While it includes the commander of the ground forces, the CMC is dominated by the army and lacks representation from the Strategic Rocket Forces, PLA-Navy, PLA-Air Force, i.e. the service arms that would be most involved in an invasion of or an attack on Taiwan.

Of course theres always the chance of a miscalculation or uncontrolled escalation. China still sees a very narrow window of opportunity to reunify Taiwan.

But Xi and the CCP cannot afford anything other than a decisive military victory over Taiwan that does not escalate into a protracted conflict with the United States and others. The reputational cost to the regime for failing to achieve a clear-cut victory would be astronomical.

Sansha Citys maritime militia demonstrating knife fighting on Woody Island in the South China Sea. [Xinhua News]

Downsides for security and the economy

Thats actually not good for Southeast Asia. A limited conflict in the South China Sea against a much weaker adversary, where they can control the escalatory cycle, far away from the prying eyes of their ultranationalist public, is a very good opportunity for the PLA to gain some joint warfighting experience.

As such, there will be a harder line and a more aggressive stance in the South China Sea.

But were in new territory here. Xi has absolute and unrestricted power; there are no institutional checks on him, which makes security in Southeast Asia far less predictable.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who successfully executed Xi Jinpings wolf warrior diplomacy featuring combative, jingoistic envoys who hectored their host countries on social media, was elevated to the 24-man Politburo. He will replace Yang Jiechi as the director of the general office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

On the Politburo Standing Committee is Wang Huning, the top ideology czar who ensured that Xi Jinping Thought was enshrined in the constitution. Wang is also a fervent nationalist and really the driving force behind the assertive nationalism and the BRI that were the hallmarks of Xis first decade in office.

Xis army of wolf warrior diplomats will continue their hawkish rhetoric, despite the fact that public opinion toward China across Southeast Asia is starting to harden.

Its important that both the Minister of State Security and the Minister of Public Security, for the first time sit on the Politburo.

This underscores the regimes obsession with security, but it also matters in Southeast Asia, where the long arm of Chinas law has been felt, with demands for the repatriation of dissidents and Uyghurs.

The governments of Southeast Asia are clearly afraid of being pulled into great power competition between the United States and China. No state wants to be forced to choose sides, as both countries are critically important economic partners.

For the past several years, Southeast Asians have largely blamed Washington for destabilizing actions, including the U.S. Navys Freedom of Navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea or Speaker Nancy Pelosis July 2022 visit to Taiwan.

Now, however, Xi made clear that he is going to pursue a much more confrontational policy toward the United States. But most importantly, China looks set to continue to undermine the rules-based international order that has been the foundation for Southeast Asias spectacular economic growth.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews.
Bangladeshi journalist Rozina Islam (center) is escorted by police to a court in Dhaka, May 18, 2021.

Bangladesh police said Wednesday they were dropping charges against a journalist who was accused of violating the Official Secrets Act by illegally photographing documents on the purchase of Chinese and Russian vaccines.

The Bangladesh polices Detective Branch submitted its final report in July to the court in the case of Prothom Alo daily newspaper journalist Rozina Islam, saying investigators found no evidence she stole any state secrets, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) Jasim Uddin.

The detective branch recently submitted the final report with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court as it did not find any involvement of journalist Rozina Islam in any offense, Jasim Uddin told BenarNews.

Rozinas lawyer, Prasanta Karmakar, said the court was scheduled to hold a hearing on Nov. 15 to determine whether his client would be discharged.

The investigator found nothing against my client. Thats why he sought for the charges to be dropped, Prasanta told BenarNews.

We are preparing for the next hearing as the court already sent a letter to the plaintiff in the case asking whether he has any objection, the lawyer said, referring to the Health Ministry, which brought the case to court.

Md. Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, the ministry's deputy secretary, confirmed he had received the letter.

I have no personal issue with journalist Rozina Islam, he told BenarNews. I will take my decision in this regard after discussing with my superior authority.

Rozina declined to comment to BenarNews.

She had been detained at the Health Ministry on May 17, 2021, and formally arrested a day later, for allegedly taking pictures of sensitive documents related to the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia.

The journalists sister, Sabina Yesmin Juli, has denied that Rozina took photographs while at the ministry.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque had said the documents for the vaccine deals included non-disclosure clauses, but a lawyer for Rozina had accused the ministry of targeting her because she exposed alleged graft in the public health system.

Protests

International media advocacy and human rights groups condemned the arrest, saying Bangladeshs government was cracking down on journalists doing critical reporting on the administrations handling of the coronavirus pandemic and other policies.

Amid massive protests and reactions from local and international rights groups, Rozina was released on bail on May 23, 2021, after she surrendered her passport to court.

On Wednesday, a British rights group, ARTICLE 19, welcomed the police dropping charges against Rozina.

The rights body  hopes that the learned court would accept the final probe report submitted by the authorities in the case and acquit Rozina of this vexatious case in order to ensure justice for her, the group said in a statement.

The Official Secrets Act stipulates a maximum prison term of 14 years for anyone convicted under it.
Patients are evacuated from a hospital in Ilocos Norte province in the Philippines following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake, Oct. 25, 2022.

Hundreds of aftershocks from a 6.4-magnitude earthquake have kept some residents in the northern Philippines from returning to their homes, the national disaster agency spokesman said Wednesday.

The quake, which struck at 11 p.m. Tuesday, injured dozens of people and damaged schools, churches and other buildings, authorities said. It was felt in varying intensities in nearly100 towns and cities in several northern Philippine provinces.

This was the second quake to hit the region in three months, and its epicenter was just northeast of Lagayan town in Abra, a landlocked province in the main island of Luzon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. Phivolcs had recorded more than 450 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude of 1.4 to 4.8, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Of course Secretary Tulfo is there in Ilocos Norte to personally assess the situation, and based on the requirement, we are sending more tents to augment their resources, disaster agency spokesman Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said, referring to Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo. Many of the people who live there are afraid to return to their homes, because for one, the assessment of the structures is ongoing, and secondly, there are still aftershocks.

There have been no reports of deaths so far, although military and government officials on the ground said 36 people were injured  26 in the province of Ilocos Norte and the rest in Abra.

Capt. Rigor Pamitan, spokesman for the 5th Infantry Division in the region, told reporters that about 40 homes were partially or totally destroyed in at least two towns in Abra, while several schools and historic buildings elsewhere in the province suffered damage.

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church is seen after being damaged by Tuesdays quake, in La Paz town, Abra province, Philippines, Oct. 26, 2022. [Parish priest Christian Edward Padua Facebook via AFP]

Our clearing operations are ongoing, especially the roads, which cracked and had holes, Pamitan said, adding that the belfry at the Iglesias Filipina Independiente Church in the town of La Paz suffered heavy damage.

Lt. Col. Elmar Salvador, a spokesman for the militarys Northern Luzon Command, said the 26 injured individuals in Ilocos Norte were from the cities of Batac and Laoag and the towns of San Nicolas, Dingras, Marcos, and Badoc.

Alejandro, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesman, said authorities are seeking to validate claims of additional injuries.

A woman takes photos of a classroom damaged by Tuesday nights earthquake in Pulot National High School in Lagayan, Abra province, Philippines, Oct. 26, 2022. [Ralf Jo Largo handout via AFP]

In terms of damaged houses, there is information coming in, but the number is low because the assessment is currently ongoing. Our field units are on the ground doing necessary assessment and field validation, Alejandro said.

This is developing. We are still getting more reports as we speak, so the numbers that we now have will change. But in terms of casualties, we have zero dead.

The Philippines sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, which is frequently struck by quakes, some of which are devastating. In July, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the same province, Abra, killing 11 people and injuring at least 600 others.
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Two-Tiered Injustice: 9th Circuit Rejects Pro-Lifers' Appeal of $2.4 Mil Judgment in Planned Parenthood Baby Parts Case

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

Oct. 26, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- A three-member panel of the Ninth Circuit Court has denied the appeal of a $2.4 million judgment levied against pro-life journalists, including Operation Rescue President Troy Newman and members of the Center for Medical Progress, who exposed Planned Parenthood's illegal trafficking of tissues and organs harvested from aborted babies for profit in 2015.

The decision in appellate the case, Planned Parenthood v. Troy Newman, et. al., rejected arguments based primarily on the defense of the pro-lifers' First Amendment right to freedom of speech and Newman's right to claim the Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination stemming from a civil suit brought by Planned Parenthood in which the journalists were found to have violated the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations act, or RICO in 2019.

The three-member panel was stacked against the pro-life position, consisting of two appointees of former President Barack Obama and one of former President Bill Clinton, both of which hold radically pro-abortion views and reflected them in their judicial appointments.

"This is a prime example of the two-tiered system of justice that now plagues our nation," said Newman. "We caught Planned Parenthood red-handed breaking a plethora of state and federal laws, and even showed that they were harvesting organs from babies born alive during late-term abortions. Yet those of us who exposed these horrific crimes are punished while law enforcement still looks the other way as Planned Parenthood continues to illegally traffic aborted baby remains for profit."

Newman noted that two members of his investigative team still face criminal felonies in California for posing as representatives of an organ procurement company to conduct their undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood's illicit baby parts trade.

Investigative committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives both referred Planned Parenthood to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution in 2016, but those referrals were ignored by a compromised Department of Justice.

"The political elite will stop at nothing to cover up for Planned Parenthood baby-killing criminals," said Newman. "But the truth cannot be buried forever. I am more determined than ever to expose the truth about Planned Parenthoods illegal and abusive conduct that destroys innocent lives and inflicts human misery on women, families, and society."

Newman said his legal team from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) plans to appeal to the full Ninth Circuit, which has become more balanced since President Donald J. Trump added several conservative justices to that famously liberal court.

Read the decision.

Read this press statement online.

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

SOURCE Operation Rescue

CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111

Anne Reed, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-683-6790
Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on Xi's election as general secretary of CPC Central Committee (5)

Xinhua) 16:28, October 26, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of political parties and governments as well as heads of state worldwide have sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

As an outstanding leader of the CPC and the Chinese people, Xi has won respect across the world, said President of the Prosperity Party and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, voicing his hope to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the CPC and the Prosperity Party.

Bolivia and China are brotherly countries that support and help each other, said Evo Morales, chairperson of Bolivia's Movement Towards Socialism party and former Bolivian president.

Xi's election will promote balanced and multipolar development of regional forces, he said.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov said that under Xi's leadership, China will achieve the goal of building a great modern socialist country by building on its achievements in the past decade.

The Chinese people have made great development achievements thanks to the CPC's unremitting efforts and Xi's motivational role as the leader of the CPC, said Azat Peruashev, chairman of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan.

Aibek Matkerimov, chairman of the Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan party, said that he believes under Xi's leadership, China will surely achieve greater prosperity and development.

Under Xi's leadership, the CPC will continue to lead China to continue marching forward along the journey of developing the national economy, building a harmonious society and advancing great reforms, said Chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Ata Serdarov.

Gleisi Hoffmann, president of the Workers' Party of Brazil, said she believes that Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee will guide the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics to new achievements.

Hilal Hilal, assistant secretary-genral of Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria, said he believes that Xi will lead the Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China to unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to achieve greater progress and prosperity in China.

Those sending congratulatory messages also include:

Ayad Allawi, head of National Coalition of Iraq and former prime minister of the country;

Victor Ponta, chairman of Pro Romania and former prime minister;

Oleg Gaidukevich, chairman of The Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus;

Reverien Ndikuriyo, secretary general of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy in Burundi;

Peter Lam Both, interim secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, South Sudan;

Raphael Tuju, executive director of Azimio la Umoja -- One Kenya Coalition Party;

Kgalema Motlanthe, former deputy president of the African National Congress and former South African president, among others.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
SHEFFIELD  A Connecticut community is reeling after an early-morning crash Tuesday on Route 7 took the lives of two University of New Haven students and injured four others who attend the school.

A student at another university in Connecticut also died from injuries suffered in the collision between a minivan carrying seven people and a pickup truck carrying no passengers.

Sai Narasimha Patamsetti, 22, of Rajahmundry Urban, India, and Pavani Gullapally, 22, of Warangal, India, died, according to Ophelie Rowe-Allen, the universitys dean of students, who emailed a statement to the New Haven school community late Tuesday.

The third student who died is Prem Kumar Goda, according to a GoFundMe account set up by a relative. He apparently attended Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., according to the account.

The driver of the pickup has also not been named.

Four other graduate students at the University of New Haven, including the driver of the minivan, were injured and are hospitalized at Berkshire Medical Center, as is the driver of the pickup truck. Authorities also have not released the conditions of all those injured.

Rowe-Allen said the school would pass on information to the community about the injured students when it is released.

Please join me in extending our heartfelt condolences to the parents, family, friends, and classmates of Pavani and Sai, and in keeping all of the students involved in your thoughts, Rowe-Allen wrote.

The school is offering grief counseling and other support to students, she added.

The details of the crash remain unclear, including where the students were going. The accident is under investigation by Sheffield police and the state police accident reconstruction unit.

Sheffield Police are not releasing further information. State Police Trooper James D. DeAngelis referred questions to Sheffield police and and the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.

The DA's Office will release information after it has notified all the families, said Andrew McKeever, public information officer for the office.

The accident happened between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Route 7 and Pike Road. Photos of the vehicles indicate a head-on collision between the Toyota Sienna minivan and a Chevy Silverado.

Heavy rains and fog may have contributed to the wreck, Sheffield Police Chief Eric Munson III suggested Tuesday. Drivers of both vehicles will be interviewed, he added Tuesday, noting they also were hospitalized.

Sai Narasimha Patamsetti was a business analytics graduate student. Pavani Gullapally was a graduate student studying civil engineering, according to the statement.

Prem Kumar Godas relative said that his parents and his sister live in India, and that the loss has left them in a terrible financial position.

Prem finished his Engineering in India and came to the US only three months ago for his MS, wrote Narender Jale on the GoFundMe site. He comes from a very poor background and has borrowed money to come here. The family is left with a huge debt and not in a position to pay. I am reaching out for your help to raise money to pay off the debt and help his family.

As of Wednesday evening the account had raised more than $10,000 towards a $100,000 goal.

A social media post Wednesday morning on the profile page of Indian television site, ManoranjanTV US, indicates that the students had been on a trip to see the fall colors. It also said three students are undergoing surgery.

The University of New Haven is popular with students from India, ranking 69th out of a total 999 schools, according to College Factual, a website for prospective college students.

Telugu 360, an online news site based in Hyderabad, India, said the three students killed were all from the Telugu States, in southeastern India.

The university will continue to update the community.

We will share details on arrangements for celebrating the lives of Pavani and Sai when they are finalized by their families, Rowe-Allen said. Details will be shared soon for an on-campus memorial.

Sue Pranulis, senior executive director of marketing and communications at the university, told The Eagle that "it is a tragic day for our community."
PITTSFIELD  A pilot program that could pave the way for Pittsfields Police Department to use body-worn cameras is on pause after what department leadership described as concerns from the departments unions.

City councilors were prepared Tuesday evening to receive an update from Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn about what many thought would be the start of a long-awaited body camera pilot program.

Wynn sent a letter to the council Thursday, in response to a petition by Councilor Patrick Kavey, providing a timeline of months of work to develop the pilot program.

Pittsfield police officers begin the use of body cameras in a pilot program this week 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.

Instead, Police Capt. Gary Traversa came before the council and said a set of fairly recent delays that had caused the department to hit the pause button on launching the pilot program over the last 10 days.

Traversa said that it was not for me to discuss what about the technology, training or other elements surrounding the departments exploration of body cameras had triggered concerns from the unions.

When asked directly by Councilor Ken Warren whether the concerns came from the temporary body camera policy accepted by the department  according to Wynns letter  on Oct. 3, Traversa said simply no.

Traversa did not specify whether the concerns originated with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 447, which represents the patrol officers, or the Local 447s, which represents police supervisors.

Mayor Linda Tyer said that she was aware of the issues raised by the union but couldnt speak to them in detail. Tyer said the timeframe for getting the department cameras remained as soon as possible.

I think there were some issues raised this week that the union needs to work through and wont be able to move forward until those are settled, Tyer said.

Traversa said that once the union concerns with the pilot program are settled, the department would plan on testing cameras from two vendors  BodyWorn and Axon  for six to eight weeks. The department would then make a decision on which company it preferred and then begin talks about drafting a contract and buying cameras for 90 personnel within the department.

Our hope was to have a vendor chosen by the end of the year; its our understanding that prices go up at that point so we were hoping to have a contract signed, Traversa said. However we really havent  at least on our side of the street  taken that much of a dive into the procurement process.

Councilor Kevin Sherman urged the department to begin talking with BodyWorn and Axon about purchase costs. My concern is that the delays are going to keep stacking up, he said.

City councilors and residents have asked the department for years why officers didnt have body cameras, even as municipalities across the state were lining up to apply for state and federal funding to adopt the technology.

The Pittsfield City Council wants police to wear body cameras. Here's what has to happen next The votes main power is to encourage Mayor Linda Tyer and Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn to begin several conversations around the funding and policy portions of body camera discussion  and show the depth of the public support behind eventually bringing police body cameras to Pittsfield.

Those questions reached a new pitch when in March, a Pittsfield officer shot and killed 22-year-old Miguel Estrella. The only video evidence of Estrellas killing came from grainy surveillance video from a nearby business.

For months, residents have signed on to city petitions and taken their place before the open microphone portion of council meetings to push the city to make progress in equipping officers with cameras.

Wynns letter, in which he writes the department has undertaken a systematic process to implement the use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) by Pittsfield Police officers since March, was seen as a response to these pleas and a sign of forward momentum on the camera program.

Councilor Earl Persip III asked the mayor whether the city had funding in place for the cameras once the union issues are resolved and the pilot program ends. Tyer said not yet. The mayor said that the city has applied for a state grant for body-worn cameras.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety said in August that $2.5 million in grant money would be available to law enforcement agencies looking to start or expand a body-worn camera program in fiscal 2023. State leaders said in December that the grant program is set to award $20 million over a five-year period.

Great Barrington and Sheffield police departments were recent local recipients from that program, receiving about $19,000 and $30,000, respectively, to get their own body camera programs off the ground.

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.

Tyer said that even with the grant application pending, at some point Im going to have to come forward with a request for an appropriation; were just not there yet. The mayor said she couldnt provide the council with an estimate of how big a money ask that would be because it depends on the technology we choose.

Persip urged the mayor to return at the next council meeting on Nov. 15 with some kind of appropriation request to get the pilot program back on track. The council unanimously voted to table Kaveys petition and have the mayor and Chief Wynn return at the next meeting with another update.

The community has waited a long time for this; weve heard the outcry for this, Persip said. The factors of the delay, Ive got to say, Im disappointed. I thought we had our ducks in a row.
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.
GREAT BARRINGTON  A stack of 20 burning cars at a salvage yard Friday reignited residents worries about a Great Barrington business.

They range from pollution to truck traffic  and have intensified in recent years. New owners appear to have taken steps, however, to reduce risks.

The early evening fire at Formel Auto Salvage sent up a tall column of black smoke that Fire Chief Charles Burger saw from miles away. It drew tankers from seven towns to avoid using Housatonic hydrants that would add to the villages water problems.

Multiple fire companies extinguished the fire by around 7:30 p.m. The fire was contained to one pile of vehicles and some scrap fuel tanks, Burger said. It most likely had an electrical origin.

They were cars that had been brought in that day and hadnt been processed yet, Burger said. It was likely an electrical short in a car because the batteries hadnt been removed. That was our initial guess.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating the fires cause. A preliminary probe shows no indications of arson.

Water quality concern

The state Department of Environmental Protection responded to the fire and monitored the air for the presence of hazardous gasses and chemicals, according to Katheleen Fournier, a DEP scientist and spokesperson.

Test results indicated the fire did not pose risks to people nearby, Fournier wrote in an email.

The agency also helped contain oil and gas runoff at the 21 Van Deusenville Road site.

MassDEP inspected run-off from firefighting activities and placed [an] absorbent boom around pooled water that had accumulated on site, Fournier said.

Fournier said firefighters did not use foam containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)  known as forever chemicals  to extinguish the fire.

With DEP approval, Formel hired remediation company Clean Harbors to excavate and dispose of contaminated soil and water.

The DEP does not permit salvage yards, Fournier said. It does not monitor the Formel site the way it does other businesses with known industrial contamination.

Issues with pollution in ground beneath auto salvage and junkyards across Massachusetts appears to mostly go unchecked, though the Environmental Protection Agency last year found an auto salvage companys three locations to be in violation of the Clean Water Act.

The Formel site sits over the aquifer that is the source for area drinking water.

Formels owners did not respond to a message seeking comment about the fire or other aspects of the operation.

Changing hands

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Mark Formel received his first permit in 1982 for Formel Motor Co. to operate a public garage for light industrial manufacturing that included autobody, truck repair and rebuilding within an existing building.

Conditions on the permit limited work to the inside of the building to six days per week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The permit also stipulated that damaged vehicles could only be stored outside for 30 days before rebuilding, and that the property is not to be used as a junk yard.

Town regulations at the time required that any waste or material that posed a fire hazard be kept outside in closed containers.

The town renewed the permit in 1984, amending it to allow outside storage of vehicles in an enclosed area. It also allowed an expansion of operating hours to 6:30 p.m. The car crusher would clear the lot every three to four months.

In January 2020, AllStar Auto Salvage LLC purchased the property for $800,000 and continued to operate it as Formel.

Corporate filings in 2019 list the principals as Iva Pereira Barros, of Oakville, Conn., and Eduardo Batista of Newton, Conn.

AllStar is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation as a hazmat certified freight shipping trucking company. The DOTs safety website says the company owns nine trucks and eight drivers logging 524,000 miles last year.

Burger, the fire chief, said that the reduction of clutter at the site since the business changed hands helped keep the blaze from spreading. He said it has been at least a few decades since the Formel site had a fire.

Crushing and trucking

Exactly a year after AllStar bought Formel, residents lodged complaints with Town Hall about an uptick of noise, hours of operation, and increased traffic, according to minutes from a Jan. 11, 2021, Select Board meeting.

Town staff had met with the owners and they agreed to reduce operating hours to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday  with no activity on Sundays.

They also agreed to not use the auto crusher before 9 a.m., to slightly muffle alarms that sound when trucks and equipment are backing up and to place GPS units on their six trucks to monitor travel speeds.

The owners are open to meet with neighbors if these measures are not being followed, the minutes say.

While some residents have expressed concern over pollution at the site and the state of groundwater, others who live around this industrial area continue to complain about the frequency of crushed car loads.

I have counted as many as four in the space of two hours when Ive gone out to walk the dogs and back, said Anna Stanton, who lives around the corner off Division Street.

Stanton and another resident said they are concerned that when the Division Street bridge reopens next month as a temporary one-lane bridge with a light, Formels vehicles and other heavy trucks that roll up the Route 41 corridor will be allowed to use it as a bypass.

Its only pushing the problem into another residential area, Stanton said.

Division Street resident Michelle Loubert has for years complained to town officials about heavy truck traffic that she believes wore out the bridge and led to the sudden shutdown in 2019.

Truck traffic on Division Street prior to the bridge closure was a nightmare! Loubert wrote in an email. There is neighborhood chatter that this truck traffic will only increase when the bridge is opened. For this residential neighborhood, this is unsettling.

Loubert said that Formel trucks are not the only ones.

Other businesses on Van Deusenville Road (as well as outside the area) contribute to the issue, she said.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
Music Director and Conductor Ronald Braunstein leads the Me2/Orchestra, a Boston-based orchestra comprised of musicians living with mental illness and the people that support them, as they perform at the 100-plus year celebration of The Brien Center for mental health and substance use disorder services at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield.
One of the more challenging aspects of the Book of Jude is its referral to a story about Satan and the angel Michael about the body of Moses, and a reference to something in the life of Enoch. Neither of these accounts are mentioned in the canonical Old Testament.

These two moments are:

But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him an abusive judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke you! (Jude 1:9).

It was also about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord has come with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him (Jude 1:14-15).

When reading these passages, some believe it means these apocryphal stories are actually divinely inspired, and the Bible is incomplete because they are not present. Others claim it invalidates the entire Bible, as it shows the books were put together arbitrarily.

However, neither of these interpretations take context into account. As a Jew writing in the period of the early Roman empire, Jude would have had the Scriptures  which today is compiled as the Old Testament  as well as folk stories and moral narratives that developed over the centuries as a part of the culture.

The account of Michael and Satan fighting over the body of Moses was a moral narrative. In America, there is a folk story about Founding Father George Washington cutting down a cherry tree as a child, and the point of the story is to not lie. It is generally accepted that this story is not true, but serves the purpose of teaching American children to be honest, even if they have done something wrong. Whether or not this encounter happened between these two spiritual beings is not the point. Rather, the reader should take away the idea that only God can pronounce judgment on others; if even Michael would not condemn Satan, then those redeemed in Christ should not point to others and pronounce judgment for their moral failings.

The same goes for the anecdote about Enoch. Through the millennia, legends arose about some of the great men of Scriptures. Whether or not Enoch actually made the prophecy recorded in Jude is not the point of recounting the story. Instead, Jude is citing this cultural icon as a reminder that even in the early years before the flood, men knew there would be a day of judgment to come. The pronouncement itself also does not contradict anything in Scripture, which many of the apocrypha do.

The presence of a reference to Enoch and the exchange about Moses do not validate the apocrypha. It is akin to someone referencing one of Aesops fables, the Epic of Gilgamesh, or some other cultural or folk hero. In his sermon on Mars Hill, Paul cited Greek philosophers, but it does not mean those Greek thinkers were believers, or that their teachings are Scripture.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Prateek Katyal
Is AMR Modern-day FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER?

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The rising AMR is a matter of huge concern that needs to be tactfully handled and health authorities of several countries, including India, have formulated action plans for its containment. Significant efforts by the government, an active involvement of startups and diagnostic players is a good start. The question remains, whether this will be enough.

For Feedback, please email us at: communications@mmactiv.com
Pakistan will set up a judicial commission to investigate the killing of a well-known Pakistani journalist in a police shooting in Kenya, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Source: Reuters.

Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Nairobi on Sunday when police opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping, according to a Kenyan police report. The shooting sparked outrage in Pakistan.

"I have decided that we will form a high-level judicial commission to investigate the matter, and will put in a request for an Islamabad High Court judge for this," Prime Minister Sharif said in a video message.

He said he would ensure a transparent investigation. It was not immediately clear what the terms of reference or jurisdiction of the commission would be given the death occurred overseas.

Questions over the killing of journalist Sharif have risen in Pakistan as he had recently fled the country citing threats to his life after working for many years as a prime-time television news show host.

It was not immediately clear when he arrived in Kenya or why he was there.

A Kenyan police watchdog said it was investigating the incident. Pakistan's prime minister said Kenyan President William Ruto had assured him over the phone that the incident would be investigated fully.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said the incident was a "target killing" but did not offer any evidence to support the claim.

A Reuters call to Kenya police spokesman, Bruno Shioso, went unanswered.

The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has also cast doubt over the police's version of events.

"From the police record there is more than meets the eye in the death of Mr Sharif and we demand thorough investigations to unravel the motive of the shooting," KUJ said in a statement.
With the festive season fast approaching, South Africa has been slowly aligning itself with the rest of the world in heralding the start of the festive season shopping spree with its Black Friday shopping event.

While the origins of Black Friday in South Africa can be traced back as far as 2012 and 2014, it has really gained momentum since 2018. Since then, its grown significantly with an estimated R5bn spent in 2021.

While Black Friday has now become the common way to mark the beginning of the commercial side of the festive season, it is important that South Africans remember that fraudsters are very active at this time of the year. While there are plenty of special offers in the market, there are a lot of fraudsters who will want to take advantage of our desire to find the perfect deal, says Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS).

He added that particular attention needs to be given to online payments as these can become low hanging fruits for fraudsters. PayFast reported in the media last year that online transactions over Black Friday increased by 34% and that the average basket price was R1,208/transaction. This looks likely to increase this year as many consumers will want to avoid the in-store rush on Black Friday.

Empty promises

A growing trend that South Africans need to be wary of is the practice whereby a company offers products and services at a discount, accepting payment and not delivering the actual product or service.

The SAFPS recently received notification from the Consumer Goods & Services Ombudsman (CGSO) that they have been receiving several complaints against several suppliers who accept payments from consumers with no intention to deliver the goods or services. One of the suppliers offers fireplaces and chimneys that is operating in the Western Cape.

The company is offering its products at a discounted rate but not supplying the products purchased. Once the consumer indicates that they are interested in the product, they are asked to pay a deposit on the promise that installation will take place at a later date. The company does not deliver on their promise and offers a number of excuses as to why the consumer is facing a delay. The installation date is pushed out further and further with the deposit never being returned to the consumer.

Between 1 April 2022 and 28 September 2022, the Consumer Goods & Services Ombudsman received a total of 16 complaints regarding the company. The Consumer Goods & Services Ombudsman pointed out that the offending company has resolved two of the complaints by refunding the complainants and has resolved one complaint by delivering and installing the purchased fireplace. The Consumer Goods & Services Ombudsman pointed out that the offending company became uncooperative in June 2022.

Look out for red flags

This is a classic case of fraud and there are a number of ways that consumers can protect themselves against this, says Van Schalkwyk.

Check the company's website for a legitimate telephone number and address. If there is no way to contact this company outside of their website, it may be a red flag that the business is not legitimate. Emails and domain names are easy to obtain; therefore, having an email address is not as trustworthy as traditional contact information. It is always a good idea to call the number provided on their website to speak to an agent in person.

Browse the internet for discrepancies and indicators of professionalism. The internet has provided consumers with a voice to highlight their frustrations with a company and indicate that there may be problems when dealing with a specific company.

Always look at a request for a deposit with some degree of suspicion. It is a common practice with some companies. However, you should only pay a deposit once you are confident that you are dealing with a legitimate company.

Sometimes, consumers still become victims of fraud even after they have carried out extensive research on the company. In the fireplace and chimney cases, there was no indication to consumers that they were dealing with a fraudulent company. In these instances, it is always advisable to deal with companies that are registered as Participants with the CGSO as there is a guarantee that they are legitimate and will address any complaints themselves. Consumers can also escalate any complaints to the CGSO if there is no quick resolution. All qualifying suppliers of goods and services in South Africa are required to register with the CGSO and comply with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Accepting payment without delivering the goods or the services is a contravention of the CPA, says Van Schalkwyk.

Consumers can check on the CGSO website for registered Participants or lodge complaints on www.cgso.org.za.

Protective Registration

Besides the example provided above, consumers are also subjected to financial fraud, where their documents are used to open cell phone accounts or apply for credit. In this regard, one of the most important services, and the core of SAFPS service offering, is Protective Registration. Protective Registration is a free service protecting individuals against future financial fraud. Consumers apply for this service and the SAFPS alerts its members to take additional care when dealing with that individuals details.

Protective Registration provides an added layer of protection and peace of mind regardless of whether the identity of the applicant has been compromised.

If a member of the public wants to become proactive in the fight against fraud, the SAFPS is there to serve them. Visit our website at www.safps.org.za. Click on the fraud prevention tab and protect yourself against identity theft with Protective Registration. For best results, use your smartphone to go to our website. Once you have uploaded key pieces of information, you will add another layer of protection against potential ID fraud, says Van Schalkwyk.

Fraud Victim Registration

Through Fraud Victim Registration, the SAFPS will assist applicants in preventing fraud that is a result of identity theft and impersonation.

This will protect applicants from associated financial implications. The SAFPS will issue applicants with a Victim of Impersonation letter which they can share with future credit providers to assist in any verification processes.

Consumers are urged to visit the SAFPS website at www.safps.org.za, and click on protect your identity. It is recommended that a smartphone is used in this process and that the applicant has a copy of their ID with them. Alternatively, applicants can follow the manual process explained on the website.




The KwaZulu-Natal Children's Hospital was once a beacon of hope - a place where sick children could gaze out from their hospital beds and watch the ocean. Where warm sun and sea air wafted through the windows to provide healing and comfort.

Taryn Millar, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Childrens Hospital Trust and Taweni Gondwe Xaba, chief Growth officer at The Hardy Boys

Opened in 1931 (then named the Addington Childrens Hospital), it was the first childrens hospital in Africa. Today, over 90 years later, the KZN community still shares stories of the kindness and care received from doctors, nurses and staff.

But in 1984 the hospital became a casualty of apartheid with the government closing its doors for offering care to children of colour. The hospitals beautiful old buildings went to ruin and the community suffered the loss of a vital asset for the provinces children.

This landmark building is now being restored, with new additions and exciting plans to become a world-class healthcare facility for the children of KZN, with a special focus on neurodevelopmental and mental health needs.

This week, The Hardy Boys (THB) signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the KwaZulu-Natal Childrens Hospital Trust (the Trust) committing to support the Trust with strategic and creative marketing and campaigns to aid their fundraising efforts to raise R500m over the next three years to complete the hospitals restoration in its entirety.

We are incredibly proud to be partnering with the Trust and look forward to leveraging our brand building and marketing communications expertise to help get this immense and important project completed. This hospital has the potential to change the healthcare landscape of South Africa and to positively impact so many families. As a proudly KZN business, we knew we had to play our part to see this vision come to life, said Taweni Gondwe Xaba of The Hardy Boys.

Taryn Millar, CEO of the Trust said: We are so thankful for the support of The Hardy Boys team and their guidance to date. Having such a skilled team of individuals working in partnership with the Trust, gives us an even greater sense of confidence in realising our goal of a fully restored and operational hospital. The children of KZN need this designated healing space and THB, as part of our community, have come on board by committing to this much needed cause.

Some of the hospital facilities are already fully operational and others are making great progress. You can view a video tour of the hospital as it stands here.

If you would like to help support the restoration of Africas first childrens hospital, a simple donation of R100 will allow you to buy a brick. Brick by brick, the community of KZN is helping to bring this incredible facility back to life. It will be a hospital built by the community, for the community.




Twenty young hopefuls are setting their sights on the coveted crown.

Bridget Masinga | Photo: Thabo Nyembe Ludina Ngwenya, Miss Soweto 2022 | Photo: Thabo Nyembe

The Top 20 Miss Soweto 2022 finalists were revealed in an intimate media experience that was also streamed to audiences. The event was hosted by media personality Bridget Masinga in partnership with Sowetan and the publications Womens Club. Celebrity chef Themba Gwejela, who is known as Mr Gwej, was at hand to help the finalists hone their teamwork in a cooking demonstration.

The finalists worked in four groups of five, adding the finishing touches to a pap arancini dish and later made smoothies to show the variety and versatility of White Star products. The Miss Soweto pageant is in its 43rd year and has been in partnership with White Star for 13 years.

Were not just a brand thats coming in and leaving. We do believe in the young ladies represented here. We also believe in community work and producing young people that are agents of positive change in their communities, said Mbali Sibiya, brand manager at White Star.

According to Sibiya, this year more than 4,000 entries were received, the highest number since the brand started its partnership with the pageant.

The reigning Miss Soweto, Ludina Ngwenya, who hails from Meadowlands, says that winning the title was a personal turning point for her and that her year-long reign has helped her to create a solid foundation on which to build a bright future.

Being Miss Soweto has given me opportunities I could only have dreamed of before, she says. It has enabled me to interact with people from all walks of life and to develop many of my talents and interests, she says. I encourage this years finalists to embrace this chance to define their own unique path.

Chef Gwej | Photo: Thabo Nyembe Bridget Masinga with Mbali Sibiya, brand manager at White Star | Photo: Thabo Nyembe

As always, community involvement is an intrinsic part of the event and White Star will invite fans around the country to help choose the winner of the Peoples Choice Award. Voting will open on 26 October and close on the pageant evening on 26 November, giving everyone a chance to make their selection.

To take part and vote for your favourite contestant, simply text Hi to the WhatsApp number 073 065 1066 or click through to the White Star online voting platform at https://wa.me/27730651066?text=Hi and remember to include the number allocated to your choice. Fans can vote up to five times per unique cell phone number. To view the profiles of the all of the #MissSoweto2022 finalists, click through to https://whitestar.africa/latest/.

For further information about White Star Super Maize Meal, visit https://whitestar.africa/ and follow the brands story on Facebook and Twitter.




The future success of the African continent lies in its ability to hone the skills, talents, and ambitions of its ever-growing youth population through quality education. Yet teachers face many challenges that hinder successful curriculum implementation - and the Covid-19 pandemic only exacerbated these issues. It is worthwhile to note, however, that the pandemic didn't exactly change the future; it merely accelerated its inevitable arrival.

Brad Pulford, managing director of HP Africa

If recent disruptions have taught us anything, its that much can be done to improve teaching and learning experiences. But these solutions need to be adaptable, inclusive, and  importantly  swift.

For the teaching profession to keep pace with an evolving workforce, developing teachers soft skills  in fostering critical thinking and subject understanding  and digitalising the classroom through transformative technologies are immediate priorities for future-proofing African classrooms.

A recent HP-commissioned survey of 800 educators in South Africa and Nigeria shows most teachers believe that acquiring new skills will help them across every dimension of teaching. They believe such skills will help with classroom instruction and management, ICT integration, and lesson and curriculum preparation.

Across the board, teachers identified 10 important skill sets needed to transform how their pupils are taught, the most significant being the fostering of critical and entrepreneurial thinking, as well as the promotion of digital literacy  both of which are a core part of modern-day teaching.

Developing digital literacy

Digital literacy provides teachers the potential to design new, stimulating, collaborative, and creative classroom experiences that connect with pupils and help them to become critical, independent learners.

Teachers should be supported to understand how to apply their expertise to digital technologies in their classrooms in ways that contribute to their students development and understanding of subject knowledge.

Providing time for teachers to engage with changing practices and to connect with other educators to share ideas and experiences is essential in supporting the uptake of digital literacy in African classrooms.

Encouraging critical and entrepreneurial thinking

Critical and entrepreneurial thinking should be both the aim and the basis for teaching and learning  especially at a primary school level.

Its about developing teaching strategies that deepen the quality of students capacities for sound reasoning across the curriculum.

There is an increasing need for teachers to have a range of transferable academic and vocational skills to select learning materials that encourage reflection and that provide multiple views. It is also important for teachers to promote constructive criticism in their pupils written work and foster an environment for peer-to-peer discussion.

Transformative technologies

The HP study found that teachers frequently use ICT to conduct internet searches, prepare lessons and reports, and use computers and their applications in teaching and learning.

But these technologies can also be better leveraged to improve communication (between teachers and parents, or teachers and pupils), monitor and evaluate learner progress, digitise learning material, and distribute homework online.

The multimedia element in ICT has the capability to provide students with personalised instructions, interactive animations, games, and simulations that can make complex subject material more relatable and understandable. Furthermore, using multimedia technology can bridge the barrier between the teaching medium and a pupils first language and offers additional levels of interactivity.

Future-proof teaching

The improvement of these critical skills is deemed as intrinsic  by participants in the HP study  to developing educational outcomes in African classrooms. Combined, these skills offer teachers the opportunity to take their students from fact-mastery to flexible knowledge-application in unfamiliar contexts and facilitate learning experiences that deepen subject understanding.

This is imperative to providing quality, future-proof education across the continent.

The onus of transforming the pedagogy does not fall on the shoulders of government alone; the private sector can be meaningful allies in this change. HPs Innovation and Digital Education Academy (HP IDEA) programme  for example  offers educators in 17 countries the opportunity to create digital capabilities based on educational frameworks from leading global universities. The initiative gives teachers the confidence to innovate the ways they deliver classes, both now and in the future.

Teachers perform a pivotal function in our society by shaping the young minds of prospective leaders and preparing students to take on the jobs of the future.

With teaching methodologies undergoing a metamorphosis, educators need to be equipped with the right tools needed for imparting modern education. This requires scalable practices focused on effective teaching and learning in a blended educational environment  the urgent implementation of such being a necessity should Africa not wish to fall behind in ensuring globally competitive educational outcomes for its learners.
Stellenbosch University (SU) improved on three of the five performance indicators used in compiling the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) World Universities Ranking (WUR) that was announced on Wednesday, 12 October 2022.

SU is ranked in the category 251300 and shares the second position with Wits in South Africa. Approximately 1,800 universities have been ranked on the latest THE WUR.

An authoritative ranking of the world's best universities, the THE World University Rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

Performance indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching (the learning environment); Research (volume, income and reputation); Citations (research influence); International outlook (staff, students and research); and Industry income (knowledge transfer).

Besides the increase in its overall score, SU improved its position on the indicators for Citations, Research and Teaching. The most significant improvement was in the citation score with an increase of 4,4%. With this increase, the citation score improved from the previous (2022) score of 78,7 to the 2023 score of 82,2.

The Universitys research and teaching scores improved from 35,7 to 36,9 and 30,3 to 30,5 respectively.

According to THE WUR, the research influence indicator looks at universities role in spreading new knowledge and ideas. The average number of times a universitys published work is cited by scholars globally is of particular importance in this regard. Citations help to show us how much each university is contributing to the sum of human knowledge: They tell us whose research has stood out, has been picked up and built on by other scholars and, most importantly, has been shared around the global scholarly community to expand the boundaries of our understanding, irrespective of discipline.

Prof Hester Klopper, deputy vice-chancellor: Strategy, Global and Corporate Affairs, says that SUs steady and improved performance on the THE WUR strengthens the Universitys reputation as one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world. Our consistent performance on various international rankings is testimony to the institutions vision of being Africas leading research-intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, where we advance knowledge in service of society. The fact remains that universities on the African continents social, economic and political contexts differ vastly from that of universities in high-income countries. SUs continued presence on established rankings such as THE WUR is an achievement of note, she said.

Over the last few years, SU has consistently ranked among the best tertiary institutions in the world on global university rankings such as the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education Emerging Economies University Rankings, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (also known as the Shanghai Rankings), and the Center for World University Rankings.

She adds that the improvement in SUs citation scores speaks volumes for the international quality of the research outputs of the Universitys scientists. Some of the institutions most eminent scientists also regularly appear on the Highly Cited Researchers list from the Web of Science Group, which features the most influential researchers in the world who produce multiple papers ranking in the top 1% by citations for their field and year of publication. The THE WURs Research category considers a universitys reputation for research excellence among its peers, the income it generates for world-class research, and its ability to get papers published in quality peer-reviewed journals.

SUs improved research score could be attributed to, among others, its strategic emphasis on Research for Impact (a core strategic theme), prestigious research grants and national science awards obtained, collaboration with national and international higher education institutions and industry partners, the contribution of its scientists to international policy and governance bodies, and its growing cohort of NRF-rated researchers.

The University boasts 494 NRF-rated researchers, 20 of whom are A-rated. A-rated researchers are recognised by their peers as the leading international scholars in their field for the high quality and impact of recent research outputs.

Based on 2020 data (data for 2021 is still being processed by the Department of Higher Education and Training), SU produced the highest number of book publications, the second highest number of conference proceedings and the third highest per-capita research output. SU is placed third in South Africa in terms of journal articles, books, chapters in books and conference proceedings produced.

The Teaching category is underpinned by the annually-run Academic Reputation Survey that examines the perceived prestige of institutions in teaching and research. As well as giving a sense of how committed an institution is to nurturing the next generation of academics, a high proportion of postgraduate research students also suggests the provision of teaching at the highest level that is thus attractive to graduates and effective at developing them.




Commercial law firm, Cox Yeats Attorneys recently took another step in its national expansion plans with the opening of its new office in Cape Town. The firm has been headquartered in the Durban area since it was founded in 1964, and the new Mother City offering follows the launch of its Sandton office in 2020.

Freddie Terblanche, newly appointed partner at Cox Yeats' Cape Town office

We are delighted that the firm has achieved its strategy of having a presence in the countrys three major economic hubs, said Andrew Clark, Cox Yeats managing partner, and we are confident that our Cape Town office will match our successes in Durban and Johannesburg as we strive to ensure that Cox Yeats remains the law firm of choice in South Africa.

Freddie Terblanche, a well-regarded litigation attorney with more than 15 years experience, will be joining Cox Yeats as a partner in the Cape Town office. Terblanche's primary focus covers general litigation, alternate dispute resolution, insolvency, business rescue and insurance law. Over the course of his career, he has advised various multinational, listed, and blue-chip companies, as well as high net worth individuals, in complex and large-scale matters.

Here, Clark and Terblanche share some insight into the firm's strategy and the secret behind the successful launch of its Johannesburg branch, despite the trials and tribulations of the pandemic.

Congratulations on the expansion and welcome to Cape Town! What has been the driving force behind the decision?

Andrew Clark, Cox Yeats managing partner

Andrew Clark: The driving force has been to have a presence in each of the major economic hubs of South Africa: Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, which aligns with the national and international focus of the firm.

The advance of remote working has also driven the relocation of many personnel and businesses to Cape Town and we recognised that a presence in the Mother City was key to ensure not only the continued expansion of Cox Yeats, but also that we are best placed to provide seamless services to our clients, many of which have a national footprint. The opening of the Cape Town office also speaks to our consistent efforts to attract and retain top talent within the legal profession as it is hard to ignore the semi-gration to Cape Town as employees strive for a better work-life balance.

Your Gauteng base was established in Sandton in 2020 - quite a shocker of a year for business as a whole. How did Cox Yeats weather that particular storm?

Clark: The year 2020 was difficult and challenging for all industries and is one that will go down in the history books. However, Cox Yeats was able to pivot and adapt to match the changing environment and clients needs by smoothly transitioning to having everyone fully set up to work remotely from home from the outset  no matter where they were based.

In addition, our new Johannesburg partners, along with their professional staff, were able to harmoniously integrate with the firm due to their shared dedication and commitment to hard work and to providing the best possible legal advantage to their clients, despite the trying times.

Employee wellness is also one of Cox Yeats key focuses, having been recently recognised for its achievements in this area during the Standard Bank Top Business Awards, and as a firm we ensured that we used the benefits of technology to stay connected.

What did you learn from that expansion and experience that will make this an easier process?

Clark: The opening of the Johannesburg office has given us the comfort of confirming that a firms success is not due to its location but the strength of its people. When we opened in Johannesburg, we had a formidable group of attorneys join us, which saw that office, and the firm, rise from strength to strength and we are eager to see what the opening of our Cape Town office will bring.

What services will you be offering through the Cape Town office?

Freddie Terblanche: Cox Yeats is a leading commercial law firm, offering a full range of legal services with a national and international focus and our approach in Cape Town will be no different. Clients will have access to our full service offering, which includes business law; competition law; construction, engineering and infrastructure law; insurance law, corporate mergers and acquisitions; insolvency and business rescue; maritime and international trade law; property law and conveyancing; empowerment and transformation; litigation and alternative dispute resolution; medical schemes; natural resources and energy; trusts and estate planning.

As a national law firm, we render a range of legal services to our clients across provincial borders, regardless of location.

How will your presence in the Mother City benefit your existing clients?

Clark and Terblanche: The opening of a Cape Town office has achieved the firms strategy of having a presence in the countrys three major economic hubs (Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town) to ensure that we can provide seamless legal services to our clients. Most of our clients have a national footprint and we are now able to ensure that, along with using the benefits of technology to connect remotely, we have a dedicated hub in Cape Town to ensure that we are best placed to assist with all their legal needs.

What is your five-year vision for the Cape Town office and for the company in general? Could Bloemfontein or elsewhere expect a Cox Yeats office soon?

Clark: We hope to see our Cape Town office achieve the same resounding success of our Durban and Johannesburg offices and for it to be a tool which has enabled our further expansion into the Cape Town market and surrounds.

The continued growth of Cox Yeats, since our opening in 1964, has been in large part due to our dynamic and flexible approach with which we tackle both our legal matters as well as the environment in which we operate. This type of thinking means that even though Cox Yeats is not presently considering the opening of another office, nothing is truly off the table so to speak.
Novus group has announced that it will be including TikTok as part of its social media monitoring services.

TikTok has become the go-to platform for the worlds youth looking for videos covering any number of genres and tastes. It is not difficult to see why it has become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the market especially among a younger demographic. TikTok is a critical tool for brands looking to position themselves to a new, largely untapped audience, says Joe Hamman, founder and director of Novus Group.

Increasing leads

Already, some universities are using TikTok as a tool to upload short lesson snippets. According to Hamman companies are also seeing how TikTok can help increase leads and prospects as well as target future clients. It is also an easy way to engage with graduates. But the platform also provides business opportunities.

According to research, 24% of marketers consider TikTok an effective way to achieve business goals. Furthermore, the highest-performing videos are typically between 21 and 34 seconds long  perfect for a digital audience looking for interesting short-form content they can identify with.

Reputation monitoring

Increasingly, companies are turning to social media platforms to monitor and proactively identify potential reputational issues before they reach the mainstream. In addition, monitoring TikTok gives a company insight into its competitors and industry as a whole.

The TikTok monitoring service will monitor a companys brands, competitors, and campaigns. It can also monitor reels, comments, likes, and reposts to provide clients with a greater understanding of the engagement generated by specific posts or campaigns.

Keyword monitoring can be done based on hashtags to ensure brands have a better understanding on which of its marketing content drives the most views and engagements from TikTok followers.

Innovative South African companies are using TikTok to reach a wider audience and highlight their product offerings in more creative ways. Our social media monitoring solution is designed to show the return of investment they are getting on TikTok and other platforms, says Hamman.
Spotify has announced a first-of-its-kind podcast initiative in Africa, the Africa Podcast Fund, with the goal of supporting podcasters and further amplifying their stories.

The $100,000 fund aims to bolster the careers of these podcast creators through financial grants, workshops and networking opportunities.

The Africa Podcast Fund is offered to select creators from African countries with the biggest podcast listenerships, namely South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. The grant also includes a Cameroonian podcast with large listenerships both in France and in Francophone African countries, such as Cote dIvoire. Given the wide range of selected countries, the winning podcasts are recorded in a range of languages including Pidgin, English, French, Sheng, Ga, and Twi.

The fund will be administered by Africa Podfest, a Kenyan-based company focused on inspiring and elevating African podcasters by building a sustainable and inclusive podcasting industry across Africa.

Africa Podfest is excited about the development of podcasting in Africa particularly because the medium allows underrepresented African voices to tell the story of Africa, says Melissa Mbugua, co-director, Africa Podfest.

Independent emerging podcasters with growing audiences were selected as recipients for the fund, with a focus on supporting podcasts that showcase a range of voices in terms of varying podcast formats, gender, language and content.

The recipients are:

South Africa

After School Is After School with Sis G.U, hosted by Gugulethu Nyatsumba, aims to speak more openly and honestly about the battles that Gugulethu continues to face in her 20s. The podcast seeks to foster a connection with the audience, by sharing life lessons and inspiring emotional growth.

South African podcast The Journey Kwantu, hosted by Vusumzi Ngxande, explores and questions matters around African spirituality and identity. In each episode, Vusumzi holds a conversation with a guest to dig into the most complex issues around African beliefs.

Wisdom and Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba, hosted by content creator Mpoomy Ledwaba, aims to foster connections with her guests and inspire her audience through important conversations that touch on life lessons and individual journeys.

Convos and Cocktails with Lesego Tlhabi is a podcast hosted by the prominent South African satirist, best known for her character Coconut Kelz. The focus of Lesegos podcast is candid conversations that we, as Black women, want to have but often dont.

Cameroon

Entrepreneur, journalist and art collector Diane Audrey Ngako is the host of Si Maman M'avait Dit, which roughly translates to If my mom had told me. On her podcast, Diane Audrey gives the floor to guests, posing questions about what lessons theyve learnt navigating their lives, careers, and relationships.

Ghana

Sincerely Accra is a popular Ghanaian podcast based on urban life in the national capital Accra. Episodes alternate between vox pops and in-studio interviews, predominantly in English with an occasional blend of Pidgin, Twi and Ga.

Hosted by Joseph Nti and produced by Kwame Asante, the podcast is fast-paced and colourful, featuring a mix of personalities with exciting and varying discussions driven by current opinions and pop culture.

Kenya

The Sandwich Podcast, the podcast with the most listeners in Kenya, is hosted by four creatives: Joan, Kibz, Nyamita and Owen. Delivered in a mix of English, Swahili, and Sheng, topics on the podcast are inspired by the hosts life experiences and the guests they feature.

The Messy Inbetween is hosted by Murugi Munyi and Lydia Mukami, covering love, money, work, life, and advice led by lived experience and all the things that make life what it is. TMI provides a safe space for women to discuss their experiences candidly.

Mantalk.ke, hosted by Kenyan creators Eli Mwenda and Oscar Koome, recognises the need for conversations led by men on issues such as toxic masculinity, fatherhood, feminism, dating, and self-care. The two hosts strive to have uncomfortable conversations, even if that means putting themselves on the spot.

Nipe Story, hosted and narrated by Kenyan writer, journalist, and queer activist Kevin Mwachiro, gives a voice to written African short stories. Mwachiro provides a platform for African writers to have their short stories heard.

Nigeria

I Said What I Said, one of the most popular podcasts in Nigeria, is hosted by Feyikemi Abudu, an entrepreneur who is excited about helping small businesses to grow, and Jola Ayeye, a storyteller with a core interest in contemporary African culture. Each week, they dive into the Lagos Millennial experience and share their take on current happenings in Nigerian society.

Tea With Tay, hosted by Nigerian content creator Taymesan, covers societal issues and personal experiences in a fun, light-hearted and entertaining way. Taymesan hosts celebrities and other guests engaging in topical conversations that spotlight his guests unique and intriguing stories.

F&S Uncensored covers music, pop culture and personal experiences. Hosted by Feyikemi Akin-Bankole and Simi Badiru, The podcast offers commentary on trending pop culture topics and informed opinions on how these topics affect everyday Nigerians.
Last week, Proudly SA released a 60-page commissioned study on the manufacturing sector and its impact on the economy. Titled, it shows up the cracks in a sector that has been on the decline for the last 15 years. And yet, the study offers hope.

Dambisa Maqoga. Top economist and leader of the Pan-African Investment and Research Services team, Dr Iraj Adedian.

There is a way to turn this crisis around, says Dr Iraj Abedian, who led the Pan-African Investment & Research Services team in producing the report.

One of the highlights of the report is his attempt at quantifying what a 10% increase in investment in this sector would lead to in terms of output in jobs, and what the resultant tax-contribution outcomes would be.The bottom line: the creation of 73,000 jobs.

Here, in candid conversation, Abedian unpacks what 'Buy Local, Manufacture Local' potentially means for South Africans, and just how important it is to get the narrative right.

In line with what has come out of your study, who - if anyone - will be initiating conversations with industry stakeholders on how to boost investment in the manufacturing sector?

Operationally up until now, it's been the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] that would be mandated to send the invites, but it's not only them, because when it comes to the ocean economy, the mandate would be that of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to initiate talks, and if it involves rural land, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development would be tasked with that.

But the backbone to all of these discussions would be initiated by the DTI.

The learning curve for them will be learning to operationalise this plan, agreeing to who will build it and who will be in charge.

Once this information is in the right hands, magic can happen...

That is where the private sector, in my view, comes to the party. You cannot leave it to a bunch of bureaucrats who have the idea, but no clue. We need to bring people in who understand what they are doing. This is the collaborative space we are in.

It doesn't mean you must sideline government - we would need to have a review session every six months, and have monitoring and reporting sessions - but the private sector knows what to do.

DTI and government would bring in the right people to draw up the masterplan but from there on, I believe it's the private sector that should drive it.

Should a Buy Local, Manufacture Local initiative be backed by international interests? We're global citizens. Doesn't a proudly South African drive get lost in that framework?

We mustn't dichotomise business. South Africans are very proud of their biltong, for example, and there are shops stocking SA biltong in New York and in London.Why? Because at home, they made it a success.

So there are not just South Africans in South Africa, but South Africans in London. Nando's started in South Africa, but Nando's in Dubai is now doing a roaring business.

Nando's is a South African recipe and is beating McDonald's and KFC, not because I say so, but because the results show that KFC is a global brand but is losing to Nando's in London and Germany, and everywhere else. So we need to 'think global'.

But we cannot globalise something unless we make a success of it at home.

Trellidor is another one; Trellidor is South African. Today they have branches in Ireland, in UK. They have branches in Germany. Who would have thought that a South African manufacturer would have beat the Germans at manufacturing? But they do. Why? Because they made a success of it here.

And I can go on and on. So I think we need to think differently. 'Think global' in terms of quality, but pin down your success at home, because if you learn how to succeed at home, you can also translate that success in Dubai, in Germany, anywhere.

You mustn't be scared that globalisation means countries abroad are better at everything they do. They are very good at certain things, but they are very bad at certain things.

So having international investment doesn't take away from the South African essence of the Buy Local, Manufacture Local drive?

Absolutely not. International backing is a good thing [but so is the backing of South African investors]. You have a South African investor producing the Toyota Corolla (the vehicle with the steering wheel on the right for South Africans, and the model with the steering wheel on the left for the US).

There are Japanese investors, but the products are produced in South Africa; the jobs are created in South Africa; the taxes are paid in South Africa. Nothing wrong with that. BMW C is another one.

A lot of our pharmaceuticals that we produce here don't get enough airtime. Pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals are produced here, but they are exported to the United States and to Europe.

They are South African products. They have investors who are foreigners; and their investors are locals. So again, the boundaries of money are free.

Money asks one question: Did I get a good return on investment? Is this product good? Is it sustainable? Can it have a wider market? If the answer to those questions is "yes", money will flow.

Regarding the privatisation and investment from the manufacturing sector, how do you think that kind of investment can be adapted with all the challenges like load shedding. Can the manufacturing sector succeed in the face of rolling blackouts?

No, it cannot survive water- and power disruption, and disruption to our ports. This is not something that government can fix, or the private sector or the unions. In operational terms in business, we need to bring all those who are involved round the table.

We can't go around criticising each other and pointing fingers at who's to blame. Government says it's private sector, private sector says it's government. Who gets in the middle? You and I.

So we need to move beyond that.

What are the solutions? We point these out in the report. We need to improve our ports; our private sector needs to invest; and we need to invite the labour union to roundtable discussions.

We've got to do what it takes to upgrade the skills of members of Proudly SA in order for this system to work.

An important point for me, and one I feel passionate about is: if our country did not have the potential, we would certainly be declining. The reality is that in many, many areas, and many sub sectors, we do have the capacity; we do have what it takes and we have done it before. Therefore, it's the lack of co-ordination that's the issue; the lack of bringing the relevant people in the room and getting commitments.

It's a systemic issue.

What advice do you have to give small businesses given the information that's come to light in your study, and particularly given the perception that local goods are available at a higher price point relative to imports?

I try to move away from an emotional narrative, not because emotions aren't important, but because I so often hear "the prices are too high" or "our local SMEs do not produce quality products".

Yes, there are SMEs that focus on the wrong niche of the market, but there are things that our SMES are good at, and still they don't succeed. Why don't they succeed? Because they are not linked into the value chain.

There's no doubt there are SMEs that don't get paid or they don't get paid on time (they get paid over 30, 45 or 50 days). SMEs cannot operate if they are not paid on time, and if the retailers or the wholesalers (who provide SMEs) treat them differently. What happens to their prospects then?

SMEs succeed when they are integrated into the value chain of quality detection, quality control and terms of payment - and have links to consumer analytics to gauge what's trending.

Yes, local retailers can get an Asian country to produce their clothes cheaper, and get the goods produced by the truckload, but then back home, this means you're not creating jobs, and you're not creating quality of life.

Despite this, there are retailers that have done the right thing and connected SMEs to the value chain. They're the ones succeeding.

There are many many success stories like this in South Africa.

What would you hope to see changed in five years time?

If I were to dream... In five years time, I hope that we not only don't have blackouts in South Africa, but that we have globally benchmarked uninterrupted, reliable and competitive energy. The same thing with water supply, because you can't have a manufacturing sector without a reliable supply of electricity and water.

If you get those right, already the economy will draw a lot of investment.
New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that the Ukraine crisis should be resolved through dialogue and that the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side.

Mr Singh held a telephonic conversation with the Russian defence minister where bilateral defence cooperation as well as the deteriorating situation in Ukraine were discussed. Mr Shoigu briefed Mr Singh on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible provocations through the use of dirty bomb.

Russia claims that it has information that the "Kiev regime is 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 weapons in the Ukraine."

Mr Singh reiterated India's position on the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict. He stressed that no side should resort to the nuclear option as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity.

Hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have intensified, with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes targeting various Ukrainian cities in response to a huge blast in Crimea about a fortnight ago. Moscow blamed Kyiv for the blast.
Visakhapatnam: Tense situation prevailed in front of the Krishnapuram Grama Sachivalayam (village secretariat) office near Sarubujjili in Srikakulam district on Wednesday as supporters of Telugu Desam and YSR Congress clashed over the Aadhaar updation process.

Police said a case has been registered against several persons under IPC 324. Three TD and four YSRC supporters were injured in the clash. They were sent to Srikakulam Government Hospital  the Rajiv Institute of Medical Sciences. Five of them were discharged by evening and two were put under observation and medical tests.

TD activist S Govinda Rao and YSRC supporter M Madhavrao are in the hospital for further medical tests. They are safe," police said.

According to eyewitnesses, the clash broke out when TD workers protested to the secretariat staff against alleged priority they gave to YSRC members over those who stood in the queues. This led to arguments and an altercation between the activists of the two parties. They threw chairs at each other.

P Sriramulu, a villager, said Aadhaar updation is now done as per a government directive. The government should set up a slot system in the secretariat offices to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future, he said.
Commonwealth Bank-owned online stockbroking firm CommSec and a business previously owned by the bank called AUSIEX have been hit with a record $27.1 million in fines for widespread failures over a nine-year period, including overcharging clients more than 120,000 times.

The Federal Court this week announced the penalties, which included the largest ever fine for breaches of the market integrity rules, and also ordered an independent review of the businesses compliance systems.

Commonwealth Bank-owned Commsec has copped a $20 million fine. Credit:Will Willitts

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on Wednesday said CommSec had been fined $20 million, while AUSIEX, an equities business that was owned by CBA at the time of the breaches, had been fined $7.12 million. AUSIEX is now owned by Japans Nomura Research Institute.

ASIC said both businesses had broken market integrity rules through a large number of breaches, which included $4.3 million in overcharging of fees on 120,933 occasions, and failures to comply with client money reconciliation requirements. The regulator said the two businesses had also failed to provide accurate confirmations to customers for some transactions, alongside various other breaches.
Fresh fruit and vegetable grower Costa Groups former majority owner, US private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners, has snatched a 13.8 per cent stake worth nearly $161 million in the company overnight and intends to up its stake even further.

Paine Schwartz signalled its plan to increase its stake to 15 per cent, at $2.60 a share, and gain a seat on its board, Costa said in a statement to the ASX.

US private equity firm Paine Schwartz intends to increase its stake in avocado grower Costa.

At this stage, the shareholding is seen as a long-term investment and Paine Schwartz has no current intention of making an offer to acquire control of [Costa], the statement said.

The share price of the $1.2 billion Australian grower shot up by more than 11 per cent to $2.48 at around 2.30pm on Wednesday after the announcement. Since the beginning of the year, Costas share price has slid by more than 20 per cent following the impact of a national oversupply of avocado and La Nina-triggered rain bombs that damaged oranges crops.
Tabcorp is starting to pick up the pace in the online gaming market, even as the listed heavyweight firms up as the favourite to pick up a wagering licence in Western Australia, to better fend off online-only rivals such as News Corp-backed Betr and Ladbrokes owner Entain.

Tabcorp chairman Bruce Akhurst told investors on Wednesday that the last financial year was the line in the sand for the company, adding that it was was waiting with bated breath to learn the fate of the WA wagering licence.

The state governments preferred candidate Betr withdrew its bid at the 11th hour on Monday. The decision has left incumbent Tabcorp as the most likely winner despite it previously stating it was more concerned with growing its digital footprint than retail licences in states where it does not hold market share.

Tabcorp is hoping to regain some ground lost against its online-only rival bookmakers. Credit:Getty

Sources close to the matter told this masthead that Tabcorps bid was substantially lower than Betrs. Tabcorp chief executive officer Adam Rytenskild has previously ruled out overpaying for retail licences.
Pizza giant Dominos will be on trial next week in a landmark case over a national wages scandal that allegedly left tens of thousands of its staff paid significantly less than the minimum award wage.

The claim, brought by class action law firm Phi Finney McDonald, alleges that drivers and in-store staff were underpaid up to $11 an hour or $10,000 a year.

Former Dominos employee Abhinav Rana says he was significantly underpaid. Credit:Paul Jeffers

If successful, the claim could be worth tens of millions of dollars to low-paid workers employed at franchise stores.

The class action follows an investigation by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald from 2015 to 2017 that uncovered widespread underpayments in retail and fast food as part of workplace agreements between big business and the Shop Assistants Union (SDA), affecting upwards of 250,000 workers.
Australias leading collecting institutions, including the National Gallery of Australia, are still waiting for funds to carry out urgent repairs after the Albanese governments first budget contained no new money to address what Arts Minister Tony Burke had described in July as a decade of neglect that had left them facing multimillion-dollar maintenance bills.

Burke kept key election promises in Tuesdays budget, allocating $80 million for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery that the Northern Territory government is building in Alice Springs, and restoring $84 million to the ABC over four years.

A further $22 million has been committed to cover losses incurred by live music venues and producers for plays, concerts and festivals cancelled due to creatives and crew testing positive for COVID-19.

NGA director Nick Mitzevich inside the gallerys 40-year-old building. Credit:Roger Deckker

But there has been no immediate help for the National Gallery of Australia, keeper of the nations most valuable art collection, valued at $6.1 billion, and other collecting institutions that are struggling with unfunded maintenance backlogs dating back to the previous government.
Who do I see about that?

The question used to turn up regularly in the social-issue films of the late Hollywood powerhouse and producer-director Sydney Pollack (such as This Property is Condemned, Three Days of the Condor, Bobby Deerfield and Absence of Malice) when characters collided with problems for which nobody was willing to accept responsibility. When asked about this almost 40 years ago, he spoke of how institutions constantly threaten and frustrate the individual, making the point that when there isnt anybody to see, you are in trouble, and there isnt anybody to see with institutions because institutions arent anybody.

Not much has changed over the decades. The question that Pollack put into the mouths of his characters might well have been asked by the staff and patients of the Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina carved its merciless path of destruction through the city in late August 2005. As recounted in the harrowing Five Days at Memorial (Apple TV+), soon after the category 5 Atlantic hurricane hit, the levees broke and the hospital found itself besieged by a flood that put at risk the lives of all those inside.

Vera Farmiga, centre, plays Dr Anna Pou who was on duty when Hurricane Katrina struck. Credit:Apple TV+

What ensues serves as a timely microcosm for the disasters taking place around the globe as I write  not only along Australias east coast, but elsewhere in Asia, Europe, Africa and, again, the south-east US. The big picture presents a steady breakdown of order, of the fragile civilisation that the people in the hospital  and all of us  expect will be in place when we wake up in the morning.
Nurse fined for working while COVID-19 positive in Melbourne

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The Queensland Cancer Centre will go ahead at the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital after $375 million was allocated for it in Tuesdays federal budget.

The Queensland government announced the proposed $750 million 150-bed centre on June 13.

There is no agreement between the Queensland and Australian governments on the long-debated 50:50 spilt on health funding. Credit:Nicolas Walker

There are approximately 31,000 cancer diagnoses and over 9400 deaths in Queensland each year, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, welcoming the announcement.

Construction on the centre, which will have access to oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses and allied health professionals, is set to begin in 2024 and take about four years.
Serial conman Peter Foster claims fatally flawed fraud charges against him will be dropped by Queensland police and others will eventually go to jail, not him.

The 60-year-old is facing a raft of charges over an alleged $2 million Bitcoin fraud in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020.

Peter Foster was extradited from Melbourne and arrived at Brisbane Airport in December. Credit:Nine News

Foster appeared for a brief mention in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he had his bail conditions slightly eased.

He then lashed out at Queensland police for laying the charges, after they were dropped by their NSW counterparts in May 2021.
A man has been convicted over his involvement in a people-smuggling operation that culminated in 353 deaths when an overloaded vessel sank on its way to Australia more than two decades ago.

Maythem Kamil Radhi pleaded not guilty to facilitating the proposed entry of at least five non-citizens into Australia between July 1 and October 19, 2001.

Maythem Kamil Radhi helped collect money, arrange buses and organise asylum seekers at the vessels departure point on the beach, prosecutors argued. Credit:Jason Dorday - Stuff.co.nz

But after fewer than five hours of deliberation a jury on Wednesday found the 46-year-old guilty.

Over five days the Brisbane Supreme Court trial heard from six passengers who were among the hundreds of asylum seekers who boarded the boat, which came to be known as Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel X (SIEV-X), in Indonesia.
HYDERABAD: With just a week until the Munugode byelections, an upbeat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto with a slew of promises, including road development, textile park, and a fluoride research centre, to jumpstart development in various sectors in the constituency.

There are 28 promises in the manifesto titled "Mega Master Plan for Munugode Development," including building roads with Rs 200 crore central funds, establishing a textile park in Samsthan Narayanpur for the benefit of the weaving community, and building a fluoride research centre with Rs 100 crore funds and a 100-bedded hospital.

"Each promise we are making is the outcome of in-depth consultations with Union ministers who deal with the related subjects. The Central government has assured that it will take up every aspect of the Mega Master Plan, said Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, the BJP candidate for the Munugode byelection scheduled for November 3. Rajgopal Reddy, who was accompanied by party leaders, told reporters that the manifesto document is not just for the constituency but also outlines the BJP's aspirations for the state's overall development that will help communities and people from all facets of society.

The TRS government had deliberately neglected development of Munugode constituency, which barely received Rs 2 crore funding, while three VIP districts, Gajwel, Siricilla, and Siddipet, received between Rs 500 crore and Rs 700 crore each, he remarked. "I have received assurances from the Central government and I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah for their commitment and dedication to the development of Munugode and Telangana, he added.

He cited the Udaya Samudram Lift Irrigation Scheme, which is still only a pipe dream, and asserted that Munugode has been neglected despite the TRS government bragging about improving irrigation facilities. Rajgopal said, "All it required was Rs 100 crore, but the TRS government hasn't done a thing yet.

Party leaders G.Vivek Venkatswamy, Etala Rajendar, Dharmapuri Arvind, and M. Raghunandan Rao were among those present at the press conference. Vivek Venkatswamy, the chair of the party's campaign committee for Munugode, said minister G. Jagadish Reddy attempted to practically blackmail people in the constituency on Tuesday by claiming that the Chief Minister had ordered that government programmes like welfare pensions and Rythu Bandhu would cease in Munugode if people fail to vote for the TRS party. "We warn the Chief Minister that such tactics would not frighten people. The BJP will ensure that every eligible person gets the benefits they are entitled to, he assured.

Etala Rajendar said that the TRS development paradigm was undemocratic with only a select few constituencies getting the lions share of funds at the expense of the rest of the state. "We are fighting against this because it is undemocratic. If development was equal in all constituencies, where is the need for TRS to send 100 MLAs and ministers to distribute liquor to people, he asked.

BJPs Munugode manifesto
Queensland researchers have used modern mathematical models to chart enormous radiation storms written in the rings of ancient trees.

Miyake events occur when massive amounts of radiation hit the Earth from space. They are many times bigger than the radiation seen from a standard solar flare; however, many scientists still believe they are generated by the sun.

UQ researchers have used data from ancient tree rings to track massive radiation surges called Miyake events hitting Earth. Credit:University of Queensland

A University of Queensland team, led by astrophysicist Dr Benjamin Pope, set out to determine whether the sun was generating these huge radiation surges.

To do so, they looked at the carbon locked in tree rings dating back 10,000 years that carry a signature of radiation hitting the Earths atmosphere.
Premier Daniel Andrews says his plan to set up a state-controlled renewable energy company will push down power prices, after the federal budget predicted bills will soar by more than half in the next 18 months.

Figures released by the Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday confirmed what most households already know: their electricity and gas bills have been going up.

Melbourne consumers are paying more for gas. Credit:John Woudstra

Melbourne gas prices leapt 22.4 per cent over the year, compared with a national average increase of 16.6 per cent. Melbourne consumer electricity prices increased by 8.1 per cent over the year to September, well above the capital city average rise of 3.2 per cent.

According to Tuesdays federal budget, more pain is in store. Treasury is predicting electricity prices will rise by 56 per cent over the next 18 months, while retail gas prices are tipped to lift by a total of 44 per cent this year and next.
A man accused of assisting the killers of underworld figure Mitat Rasimi has been released on bail.

Rasimi, 51, was ambushed and shot dead just metres from his home in Dandenong on March 3, 2019, allegedly because of a debt he owed the Comanchero bikie gang.

Mitat Rasimi. Credit:Nine News

Construction manager Albert TangataOlakepa, 34, is accused of getting rid of the murder weapon at a construction site he was working at in exchange for a wad of cash and a gold Rolex.

TangataOlakepa, who goes by the nickname Piggy, told police he earned the money working at a barbershop and cutting peoples hair in his garage, and used the funds to travel to China. He also claimed the watch was a replica given to him by his employer.
Major crash detectives are seeking the publics help after a car accident north-east of Perth where a driver has died and six children have been seriously injured.

A WA Police spokeswoman said a cement truck and station wagon collided on Goomalling-Toodyay Road in Wongamine around 6.10am Wednesday.

A person has died and six children have been seriously injured after a car and truck collided in Wongamine on Wednesday morning. Credit:9 News Perth

The driver of the Kia Carnival, who is believed to be a 30-year-old woman, died at the scene, she said.

The male truck driver received only minor injuries and was taken to Northam Hospital, but several people in the car were trapped in the wreckage and suffered significant injuries.
A former West Australian GP has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a six-year-old girl with a severe neurological disability in Albany in January.

State Child Abuse Squad detectives charged Dr Pieter Austin, 47, with handing out a prescription on January 17, understood to be for insulin which he believed would be used to end the childs life. He was arrested on February 2.

Dr Pieter Theunis Austin, 47, has pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Two days after Austin wrote the prescription, the six-year-old was taken to a local medical facility by a relative after her health declined.

She was stabilised at Albany Health Campus and then transferred to Perth Childrens Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Australian military personnel will train Ukrainian troops for the first time as part of a new $87-million military assistance package to help the country in its war against Russia.

Australia will ramp up its aid to Ukraine by sending the country an extra 30 Bushmaster troop carriers  which have been widely praised for their contribution to the war effort  on top of the 60 that have already been promised.

Bushmaster troop carriers have made an important contribution to Ukraines war effort. Credit:Getty

A contingent of up to 70 Australian Defence Force personnel will deploy to the United Kingdom in January to join Operation Interflex, a multinational effort to train Ukrainian soldiers.

No Australian military personnel will enter Ukraine itself.
Some of these price increases are already flowing, he said. If there is something that we can sensibly do on energy beyond the substantial steps that we have already taken, if we can do that to help take some of the sting out of these price rises, then obviously well consider it. Asked if he was open to putting price caps on energy, Chalmers said: I dont want to, here, nominate a preferred path - it would require a lot of consultation with colleagues and with other levels of government and so thats the reason why Im not prepared to be more specific. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said more intervention has to be done because the challenge was probably the most significant issue the government faced after the budget.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele ONeil said a super tax on gas exporters should be considered because it could fund rebates to households. Loading Its really important to see the super profits tax considered and think of how that can be used to provide some relief, she said. With pressure mounting on Labor from its own support base, Energy Minister Chris Bowen will meet state and territory counterparts on Friday to discuss the shift to renewable energy when the government is promising lower prices from solar and wind power. The AWU wants a meeting of manufacturers, industry groups, consumers groups, unions and gas companies in early November to build the case for intervention by political leaders through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM), the gas trigger that can stop exports.

If we dont get action in the next few weeks, were going to see factories close, said Walton. Loading Yes, there is a stack of long-term things the government should look at, but right now what we need is for the ACCC or the ADGSM, or both, to get real power to immediately cap gas prices. If the government makes this move now, everyone wins. The gas companies may whinge but theyll be absolutely fine and still enjoy mega profits. The budget forecast a 20 per cent increase in retail electricity prices on average nationwide in late 2022 and a 20 per cent increase in retail gas prices this financial year.

It forecast a further 30 per cent increase in retail electricity prices on average nationwide in the year to June 2024 and a further 20 per cent increase in retail gas prices in the same year. Due to compounding, the electricity increase would be 56 per cent over two years while the gas increase would be 44 per cent over two years, but the government could intervene before the full impact is realised. Average household electricity bills were $1434 last financial year, according to the most recent ACCC report. A 56 per cent increase would add $803 over two years. Average household gas bills were $1128 nationwide, according to the latest analysis by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) based on advice from Frontier Economics. A 44 per cent increase would add $496 over two years.

Victorian customers would be hit much harder by the gas price spike than others, given the states gas usage per customer was 49,799 megajoules per year compared to only 18,384 in NSW and 7,238 in Queensland in AER reports. Loading The Australian Energy Council, whose membership includes power giants AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia, said retailers input costs were high due to the soaring price of coal and gas and warned against price caps that could force companies to shut down and force prices for consumers up even higher. It is these input costs that are high, not retail margins, which the ACCC reported made up only 3 per cent of the bill at the end of last year, said council chief executive Sarah McNamara. While we know customers are doing it tough right now, if the regulator sets the price too low, it could trigger a wave of retailer exits from the market, impacting customer experience, and resulting in higher prices.
Latest News Joust teams up with Nectar Mortgages The alliance aims to provide borrowers a smooth home loan application process

Fifo Capital boosts corporate team Three new roles created as company expands

Westpac Group is the latest lender to join the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Home Guarantee Scheme.

The major bank will be able to help more home buyers into the market from July 1, 2023, after being appointed to the major lender panel for the NHFIC Home Guarantee Scheme.

Westpac and RAMS will be the first organisations in the Westpac Group to take part, followed by St. George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA later in 2023.

There are currently 32 lenders included in the Home Guarantee Scheme including major banks NAB and Commonwealth Bank. Non-major banks include Auswide Bank, Bendigo Bank, Gateway Bank, Great Southern Bank, Newcastle Permanent Building Society and Teachers Mutual Bank.

The Home Guarantee Scheme is an Australian government initiative that helps first home buyers get into their own home with just a 5% deposit, and therefore avoid paying LMI.

The scheme includes the First Home Guarantee Scheme, the Regional Home Guarantee Scheme and the Help To Buy Scheme.

Westpac Group chief executive, consumer and business banking Chris de Bruin (pictured above) said home ownership was a major life and financial goal for Australians.

Read more: NAB, CBA welcome regional homebuyer scheme

Were looking forward to working alongside the Australian Government and NHFIC to help aspiring home buyers through the Home Guarantee Scheme, de Bruin said.

The expense of saving a home loan deposit remains a top barrier to entering the property market and the scheme-backed loans provide a bridge for buyers with a smaller deposit to purchase their home sooner and potentially save thousands of dollars.

De Bruin said eligible first home buyers, single parents and borrowers in regional communities using the scheme can benefit from improved access to finance and competitive products.

Westpac Group helps thousands of customers into their new home each year and now we will be able to use our scale, support and expertise across the breadth of our retail brands to assist even more Australians in 2023.
BENGALURU (Reuters) - Indian household appliance maker Greaves Consumer Electricals reported a near 18% drop in September-quarter profit on Wednesday, missing analyst estimates, dented by higher expenses and subdued performance in the electrical consumer durables division.

The company's profit fell to 1.31 billion Indian rupees ($15.96 million) for the three months ended Sept. 30, from 1.59 billion rupees a year ago.

Analysts, on average, had expected a profit of 1.4 billion rupees, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

In addition to LED lighting and fans, Greaves also sells pumps, water heaters, and kitchen appliances.

Overall expenses surged by 31.6% in the second quarter. The company's revenue from operations rose by 22.7% to 17 billion rupees. Electric consumer durables, the company's biggest segment, saw revenue slide by 3.1% to 10.62 billion rupees.

Rival Havells India Ltd last week reported a fall in earnings and pointed out that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased commodity prices, putting pressure on the electrical goods industry.

($1 = 82.0570 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Navamya Ganesh Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Shailesh Kuber)

(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 MP Killi Krupa Rani, MLC Duvvada Srinivas offer a bouquet to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Tekkali constituency at a meeting of leaders and activists at the camp office. (Photo by arrangement)

VIJAYAWADA: YSR Congress on Wednesday held meetings with 225 representatives of various BC organisations to garner support of backward classes in the forthcoming assembly general elections.

BC ministers Botcha Satyanarayana, Jogi Ramesh, Karumuri Nageswara Rao, Gummanuru Jayaram and Ch. Venugopalakrishna said they are taking feedback from representatives of 139 BC social groups, so that they could brief Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in the matter.

Speaking on behalf of the ministers, AP Legislative Assembly speaker Thammineni Sitaram said their Wednesdays meeting is core to YSRC governments continued efforts towards working for the uplift of groups of backward classes throughout the state. He maintained that YSRC has taken the responsibility of fighting for the rights of BCs, as it is only their party that can protect the interests of BCs.

Sitaram said: As per instructions of YSR Congress party president and Chief Minister, we want to hold meetings in all 26 districts in the coming days. We have taken suggestions today from the 225 BC leaders who had attended Wednesdays meeting.

BC ministers said the amount spent by Telugu Desam government on BCs during its five-year rule had been only 19,369 crore. But the Jagan government, within the past three and a half years itself, has disbursed through direct benefit transfer 2 lakh crore to BC, SC, ST and minority communities.

They said out of 484 posts related to 137 corporations, 243 have been given to BCs. 56 corporations have been set up specifically for BCs. Their government has constituted the BC Commission on a permanent basis.

YSRC MP (Rajya Sabha) R. Krishnaiah said many leaders from BCs have been chief ministers. But none has worked for welfare and development of BCs, as Jagan Mohan Reddy has done.

Ministers Usha Sree Charan and Dr Seediri Appalaraju also spoke on the occasion.
Home-grown FMCG major Dabur on Wednesday said it will invest Rs 325.87 crore in its plant.

The company will manufacture red toothpaste and one-litre juice packs, and increase the production capacity of portion packs of its range of juices.

"The Board of Directors have approved the Capital Expenditure of Rs 325.87 crore for its Project in Madhya Pradesh," the company said in a regulator filing.

The work for capacity addition would be completed in the next 1.5 years, and production would start in March 2024, the FMCG firm said.

This capex would be financed through internal accruals, Dabur added.

Earlier this year, during an investors' call, Dabur said it has planned a capex of Rs 400 crore to Rs 450 crore in FY23 to expand its manufacturing capacity.

Last year, announced an investment of Rs 550 crore at its plant.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has rolled out custom to its Chat for personalised experience.

are a great method for users to express themselves in Chat, the tech giant said in a blogpost.

Custom uploaded by employees can be viewed and used by all colleagues in Chat messages and comments.

Before launching to end users, administratives can set organisational guidelines and designate emoji managers, users who can browse and delete custom emojis.

Users can create custom emojis on the web versions of Chat or Gmail if the feature is enabled for their organisational unit.

The feature is available to all Workspace users, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers, the company said.

Unfortunately, it is not available for the users with personal Google accounts.

Earlier, the company had rolled out the ability to send multiple photos and videos simultaneously via its Chat.

Users were able select more than one image or video at a time when sending a message in .

This feature was available across iOS devices and Android devices.

The media pickerAallowed users to pick up to 20 photos and videos to send at one go.

--IANS

aj/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.)
on Wednesday said that it was reviewing the decision to evaluate the next steps on the Competition Commission of Indias (CCIs) latest order on Play Store policies.

The on Tuesday imposed a of Rs 937 crore on for allegedly abusing the dominant position of its . It also asked Google to not restrict app developers from using third-party billing/payment processing services.

Google also said that Indian developers benefited from the technology, flexibility of Google Play.

The company, in a statement, said: Indian developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protections, and unrivalled choice and flexibility that and Google Play provide. And by keeping costs low, our model has powered India's digital transformation and expanded access to hundreds of millions of Indians. We remain committed to our users and developers, and are reviewing the decision to evaluate next steps.

The last week slapped a Rs 1,338-crore fine on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets for the Mobile device ecosystem. It also issued a cease-and-desist order, asking Google to refrain from unfair business practices and modify its conduct within a defined timeline.

Google has been given 30 days to provide the requisite financial details and supporting documents.

Google has faced action from anti-competition regulatory authorities in many nations as it tackles criticism by developers for its policy to not allow third-party billing systems.

In March this year, Google announced the launch of a pilot programme that allows some developers to offer an additional billing system alongside Google Play.

This initiative came ahead of the announcement of Google already reducing commissions from 30 per cent to 15 per cent for the first $1 million developers earn as revenue using the Play billing system each year.

The said that due to this pricing model shift, 99 per cent of developers qualify for a service fee of 15 per cent or less on its .
The Indian subsidiaries of Steel, & Steel (BPSL) and Steel Coated Products, are expected to be back making profits in Q3 FY23.

In Q2 FY23, the two posted losses. While BPSL moved from profit to loss Q1 to Q2, Coated narrowed its losses over the same period.

Multiple factors were responsible for BPSLs swing, said Seshagiri Rao, joint managing director and group chief financial officer, . Those issues are behind and the companys performance will normalise in the current quarter, he said.

Among the major constraints that BPSL faced was availability of iron ore. Indias iron ore production, in the first five months of the year, came down by 10 million tonne (mt), said Rao. At the same time, exports of iron ore and pellet together fell from 18 mt to 7 mt but that didnt improve availability.

Rao said crude was 61 mt compared to 57.5 mt in the previous year, signalling an incremental demand of 10 mt of iron ore.

Logistics and monsoon rains shaped BPSLs performance. The result was that even as the company completed its expansion from 2.75 mt to 3.5 mt, it could not increase volumes.

In addition, due to a high level of moisture in the coal from ports or iron ore from the mines, fuel consumption "disturbed the whole operation and costs went haywire, said Rao.

BPSL recorded an operating loss of Rs 183 crore in Q2FY23 as against a positive of Rs 698 crore in Q1FY23. In Q2FY22, it had stood at a positive Rs 2,022 crore.

JSW Coated managed to bring down its losses in Q2 versus Q1. In Q2, it recorded an loss of Rs 79 crore as against a negative EBITDA of Rs 154 crore in Q1FY23. In Q2FY22, it recorded a positive EBITDA of Rs 1,032 crore.

JSW Coated is a downstream unit and the hot rolled coils (HRC), a raw material, was bought at a higher cost. But prices have come down since and the subsidiary will now derive benefit.

HRC prices have fallen sharply by around 28 per cent since April when it hit peak levels in the domestic market. Globally, prices corrected by 35-40 per cent.

While Rao expects the Indian subsidiaries to make profits in Q3FY23, global macroeconomic challenges may make the turnaround of JSWs Ohio unit uncertain in the current quarter. In the US, the situation is not looking that great, particularly the demand for HRC, he said.

HRC prices had gone up to over $2,000 a tonne and have come down to $850 a tonne. Ohio produces slabs and HR Coils. Prices of pig iron and scrap that they bought to produce slabs, crashed. Hence, they had to take net realizable value (NRV) provisions on stocks of raw material. Demand for HRC also fell, Rao said.

In Q2FY23, USA Ohio Inc posted an operating EBITDA loss of $40.25 million. The US Plate and Pipe Mill, however, reported a positive operating EBITDA of $24.73 million as plate prices had not fallen that much.

posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 848 crore in Q2 FY23.
Slapped with a second hefty fine for anti-competitive practices, on Wednesday said it remains committed to users and developers and is reviewing the antitrust body's order to evaluate next steps.

The (CCI) on Tuesday slapped a Rs 936 crore fine on Google for "abusing" its dominant position on its Android mobile app store and ordered it not to prevent app developers from using third-party billing or payment processing services in India.

That came just days after a Rs 1,337.76 crore fine was imposed on it for abusing the dominant position of its Android smartphone operating system.

Commenting on Tuesday's CCI order, a spokesperson said Indian app developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protection, choice and flexibility that Android and Google Play provide.

"And, by keeping costs low, our model has powered India's digital transformation and expanded access for hundreds of millions of Indians," the spokesperson said. "We remain committed to our users and developers and are reviewing the decision to evaluate next steps."



Google had called last week's "a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses", and stated that it will review the order and decide on its next steps.

Appeals against CCI orders can be filed in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

The search engine giant has faced criticism globally for mandating software developers using its app store to only use its proprietary in-app payment system that charge a commission of up to 30 per cent on purchases made within an app.

Google is also facing a separate probe into its business conduct in the content and smart TV market in India.

In Tuesday's order, CCI asked Google to "cease and desist" from anti-competitive practices and not restrict app developers from using third-party billing or payment-processing services.

CCI asked Google to follow a non-discriminatory policy against other apps that allow payments via Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

"Indian developers have benefited from the technology, security, consumer protections, and unrivaled choice and flexibility that Android and Google Play provide," a spokesperson said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has inked an agreement with American carmaker Ford to supply "zeremis green steel" from its Netherlands-based IJmuiden plant after the unit shifts to hydrogen-based steel making.

In Europe, is working to switch to low-carbon technologies to manufacture steel in the UK and the .

The company's both businesses UK and Tata Steel Nederland have been developing detailed plans for transition to low CO2 technologies in line with the company's goal to produce CO2-neutral steel by 2050 in Europe, company's CEO & MD T V Narendran and Executive Director and CFO Koushik Chatterjee earlier said.

"Tata Steel Nederland has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ford in Europe to supply the carmaker with Zeremis green steel once the IJmuiden steelworks switches to green hydrogen-based steelmaking," a statement said.

The agreement makes Ford the first customer committed to offtake the green steel that Tata Steel plans to produce via the hydrogen route, which is more sustainable and cleaner than the current steel-making method.

Zeremis carbon lite steel is described as 100 per cent carbon neutral.

"Our customers want to take care of our planet, and we are taking the necessary steps on this journey, providing the vehicles they need to make a positive contribution against climate change.

"Improvements within our supply chain are key, and with the use of carbon-neutral steel, we will take a major step towards lowering the CO2 footprint of our vehicles," said Sue Slaughter, Ford Purchasing Director, Supply Chain and Sustainability.

Hans van den Berg, Chairman of the Board of Management of Tata Steel Nederland said, "We are transitioning to become a producer of large quantities of high-quality green steel, we can supply our customers with a significant amount of high-quality low-CO2 steel. By aligning our sustainability ambitions with customers like Ford, we can create an early market for green steel..."



More than half the weight of an average car consists of various types of steel, which vary in strength, weight, formability, magnetic properties and coating types.

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Retail giant is reportedly raising up to $3 billion for its e-commerce giant to further expand its operations in the country.

With new funds, Flipkart's valuation is set to soar to more than $40 billion, giving a fillip to the Indian funding scene which is going through a harsh winter.

Group in July last year raised $3.6 billion to grow and advance the digital commerce ecosystem in India. The investment valued the group at $37.6 billion post the money then.

According to media reports, may bring strategic investors into via this fundraising.

The move, according to close sources, is to keep Flipkart ahead in the e-commerce race as online shopping surges with every festive season in the country.

Reached for a reaction, a Flipkart spokesperson told IANS that "We do not comment on speculation". declined to comment.

The last fundraise demonstrated significant interest from global investors, including sovereign funds, private equity and crossovers in addition to Walmart. It was led by financial investors GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Walmart, along with investments from sovereign funds DisruptAD, Qatar Investment Authority, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and marquee investors Tencent, Willoughby Capital, Antara Capital, Franklin Templeton, and Tiger Global.

"This investment by leading global investors reflects the promise of digital commerce in India and their belief in Flipkart's capabilities to maximise this potential for all stakeholders," Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Flipkart Group, had said in July last year.

"The quality of the investor group and valuation is further confirmation of global confidence in Flipkart and its mission to transform commerce in India," Judith McKenna, President and CEO - Walmart International, had said.

Bengaluru-based Redseer Strategy Consultants had predicted $11.8 billion worth gross merchandise value (GMV) during the entire festive month up to Diwali. E-commerce marketplaces usually hold up to three sales leading up to the festival of lights.

The online retail platforms in India clocked $5.7 billion (about Rs 40,000 crore) worth festive sales between September 22 to 30, a robust 27 per cent (year-on-year) growth.

Mobile phones continue to lead the market with 41 per cent contribution in gross merchandise value (GMV) and nearly 56,000 mobile handsets were sold every hour, according to the report by Redseer.

Flipkart Group (Flipkart, Myntra and Shopsy) continued to lead the market with 62 per cent market share in GMV.

--IANS

na/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A puja material selling shop ad measuring just 69.50 square feet and located in the famous Khajrana Ganesh Temple complex in city has attracted a whopping bid of Rs 1.72 crore for a 30-year-lease, way above the base price of Rs 30 lakh, an official of the shrine said on Wednesday.

This makes it one of the highest rates offered for a commercial property in the country, he said. Participating in the tendering process for the property, a local resident offered to pay Rs 1.72 crore for the shop '1-A', the highest bid received for the outlet, for taking it on lease for a period of 30 years, the official said. The temple is the owner of the shop and its actual area is 69.50 square feet, which means the man has paid Rs 2.47 lakh per square foot, he said. As per lease conditions, the shop can be used only for selling flowers, 'prasad' (devotional offering) and other puja material, the official said. The tendering process was completed under the supervision of the Development Authority (IDA).

For leasing the outlet, the minimum base price was fixed at Rs 30 lakh by the temple authorities which means the shop attracted a bid which was six-time more than the base rate.

A large number of devotees visit the Khajrana Temple everyday from and also other parts of the country and shops near the shrine selling flowers, 'prasad' and puja material do a brisk business.

(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.)
may soon launch a fleet of passenger vehicles that will list in the ride aggregators in 7 cities where the group operates airports, a report in Economic Times (ET) said.

The company is reportedly in talks with Uber to chalk out a plan to make it operational. The two companies recently announced a partnership under which Adani Airports now has dedicated pick-up zones for Uber at 5 of its 7 airports, ET said.

"This is part of the Adani Groups strategy to build ancillary offerings that support the airport business growth," a person aware of the matter told ET.

"For players like Uber and Ola, entry of a large participant in the fleet operator segment could come as a shot in the arm," another person told ET.

The Ahmedabad-based, Gautam Adani-led group has been investing in companies to complement its airport business.

in October acquired aircraft maintenance company AirWorks for Rs 400 crore. Earlier, it picked a 74 per cent stake in the Flemingo Travel Retail. It also acquired a 20 per cent stake in Cleartrip in October 2021.

The group operates airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Mangaluru. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, taxi-hailing apps such as Uber and Ola have faced a supply problem with drivers staying away, ET said.
Direct-to-home (DTH) TV service providers will be subjected to a special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) over their long-running dispute over licence fees, a report in (ET) said.

The office of the has been asked to conduct the audit by the Ministry of Information and broadcasting. According to the report, an "intensive" audit of the service providers like Airtel Digital TV, Tata Play, Dish TV and Sun Direct will be conducted going back to a year of these companies' inception or grant of licence by the government.

The audit will also be conducted to ensure that the amount to be submitted to the centre in the form of the licence fee is "correctly assessed".

In May, service providers sought a licence fee waiver owing to a decline in the number of subscribers. Between 2003 and 2007, the centre granted licences to 6 providers. But currently, there are only four in the market. The audit, however, will be conducted for all six.

The two players that are no longer in the market are Videocon's D2H TV and Big TV/ Independent TV.

Generally, service providers need to submit 8 per cent of their gross revenue to the government in the form of licence fees. For the four players, the number of subscribers, according to ET, stands at 68 million.

However, according to ET, there are concerns among government officials that the revenue calculations as recorded by different operators have been dropping and aren't along expected levels.

In 2020, DishTV received a notice from the to pay Rs 4,164 crore in the form of the licence fees and the interest due since the company's inception in 2003.

Revenues from the DTH licence fee, along with those from commercial TV services, FM radio, etc., are expected to exceed Rs 1,000 crore in FY23.
With Mallikarjun Kharge was declared the new president of the Congress on Wednesday following the count of votes in the election for party chief, Indias party of Independence -- which has fallen on hard times in recent decades -- enters a new era. In the changed situation, outgoing president Sonia Gandhi, and her children Rahul and Priyanka, public figures in their own right, cannot exert official control in any manner or form. Will it be a brave new world for the Congress under Mr Kharges leadership?

The new Congress leaders challenges are many. The most important will be to aim for victory for his party and its allies in the next Lok Sabha poll in 2024 against a deadly ideological and political foe that is known to run a well-oiled propaganda and election machine and also controls the levers of power. Along the way, Assembly elections are due in a number of states, including his home state, Karnataka. The time is short. The first charge on Mr Kharge will be to wrest Karnataka from the BJP and improve his partys standing in other poll-bound states, including Gujarat, BJPs stronghold.

A quick-fire organisational response is needed immediately on the part of the Congress leader to secure these aims, a galvanising of its energies, and the boosting of morale. Deeper changes in the organisation, such as holding election for the Congress Working Committee in order to a create a new-look top tier, along with the revival of the Parliamentary Board, are much needed but can wait until the key state polls are done.

Conventional wisdom has it that the Congress cannot survive without the Gandhis at the helm. This certainly appeared to be the case in the short interregnum when the late Sitaram Kesri was president before Sonia Gandhi took on the mantle after winning her presidential election in the most emphatic manner possible. We live in different times, however. While the Gandhis were and remain the booster factor in the Congress the good cholesterol, so to say, they must be aware that in the present day the dynasty factor has been used as a powerful propaganda weapon against their party.

When she ceased to be president upon the conclusion of the Congress presidential poll, Mrs Gandhi noted that she was waiting for this day. This is a positive start. But the Gandhis cannot simply fade away. They must provide solace and quiet constructive support for the future steps the party may take under its new leader, strictly adhering to the protocols of discipline, written and unwritten. This will add lustre to the Bharat Jodo Yatra on which Rahul Gandhi, himself a former party president, has launched, enthusing his party and others.

The Gandhi family is esteemed in the post-Independence Congress because it has historically been seen to be above the fray in inner factional politics and matters pertaining to case, religion and language. It stayed neutral in the election for party chief being held after nearly a quarter century. After the poll, the losing candidate, the high profile and charming Shashi Tharoor who was billed in the media as the non-establishment candidate, called the Gandhis a pillar of strength for the party. As before, the Gandhis can bring to the party ideological energy and a democratic and modernist outlook.

Much is being made of Mr Kharges age -- he is 80 -- in some quarters. This is no handicap for a person with experience, and an awareness of the partys past as well as imagination for the present.
The department seized 379 grams of gold worth nearly Rs 20 lakh from a passenger who arrived on a flight from Dubai at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport here, a statement said on Wednesday.

The officers of the department intercepted the passenger while he was trying to cross the green channel, the department said in its statement.

A search of his trolley bag resulted in the recovery of a gold wire with a silver-coloured coating. The wire, which weighed 379 grams, was concealed inside a steel strip of the trolley bag, it said.

The recovered gold, having a market value of Rs 19.82 lakh, was seized by officers as it was being illegally imported into India, it added.

Further investigation in the matter is underway, the statement 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.)
Minister Gopal Rai will on Wednesday chair a high-level meeting to review the progress of the anti-dust campaign in the capital.

Rai is expected to share data on the number of sites complying with the guidelines to manage dust pollution and infractions of government directions, an official said.

User agencies of construction and demolition projects larger than 500 square metres are required to register them on the construction and demolition (C&D) portal launched in October last year in a bid to control dust pollution in the capital.

The project proponents have to self-audit their compliance with dust control norms and upload a self-declaration on the portal on a fortnightly basis.

In September, the government had also made it mandatory to install anti-smog guns at all construction and demolition sites larger than 500 square metres.

Action is taken against project proponents found violating this direction.

Earlier, construction and demolition sites larger than 20,000 were required to install anti-smog guns to control dust pollution.

(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 has upheld the life-term imprisonment of two men in a 2014 case and awarded Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the woman victim.

Dismissing the appeal against a trial court's verdict, it said under the Indian Penal Code the word "acid" does not only refer to substances which are scientifically termed as acids but include all those which have acidic or corrosive or burning nature and are capable of causing scarring or disfigurement and temporary or permanent disability.

The High Court also upheld the sentence of 10-year rigorous imprisonment imposed upon another accused in the case.

Taking note of the gravity of the offence committed in Mathura and its extensive impact on the life and livelihood of a victim, the bench headed by Justice Mukta Gupta directed the fine of Rs 2.5 lakh imposed on the convicts by the trial court shall be fully given to the victim.

"Depending on what is finally paid as fine by the appellants and compensation received by the victim, this court directs that the balance amount (out of total compensation of Rs 5,00,000) be paid to the victim under Uttar Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2014," the bench also comprising Justice Anish Dayal said.

The convicts had poured acid on the woman when she was returning home from a temple in June 2014. According to the prosecution, even before the acid attack, she was being harassed by one of the convicts and she had even lodged a complaint against him.

The convicts challenged their prison sentences before the high court on the ground that there was no proof that the substance which was thrown on the victim was acid or any corrosive substance.

Rejecting the contention, the High Court noted that testimonies of all the medical personnel are "clearly and categorically dispositive" of the fact that the victim "suffered serious chemical burns which had resulted in a severe deformity of the face including loss of almost complete vision in her left eye".

Therefore the "nature of the substance is clearly of acidic/corrosive/burning nature", it said.

The High Court further said that the word "acid", as used in Section 326A of IPC, is not merely restricted to substances which are scientifically termed as acids but "include all those substances which have acidic/corrosive/burning nature and are capable of causing scarring/disfigurement/temporary or permanent disability".

The court also rejected the appellant's claim that the victim had "fabricated" the case, saying it is "impossible to accept that any person would go through such tremendous pain and intense medical process just to implicate somebody falsely for an assault".

(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.)
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to hold Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ensure clean ghats and water for devotees, sources in his office said on Wednesday.

The sources said Saxena had also cautioned Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" over the issue.

A tweet by Kejriwal a few days ago had caused confusion with many people assuming that the puja could be performed anywhere along the Yamuna, the sources said.

"The proposal to hold Chhath Puja approved by the Lieutenant Governor was specific to designated ghats on the Yamuna," a source said.

Saxena has also directed the revenue and environment departments to ensure strict enforcement of the National Green Tribunal's orders on Yamuna pollution.

The government's revenue department is the nodal agency for Chhath arrangements. It is working in close coordination with other government departments and civic agencies to make Chhath a success.

Chhath will be celebrated on October 30 and 31. It involves offering 'arghya' to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water. The festival is hugely popular among Purvanchalis -- people belonging to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh -- living in .

Popular Purvanchali leader and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, in a letter to the Lieutenant Governor in August, had urged Saxena to direct Delhi government officials to make adequate arrangements for Chhath Puja at ghats on the Yamuna.

The Delhi government has made preparations for Chhath Puja at 1,100 sites.

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The Traffic Police has requested commuters to avoid Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range Road, from the Mehrauli-Badarpur road to Suraj Kund towards Faridabad and vice versa, on Thursday and Friday.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the traffic police said: "The commuters of and Haryana are requested to avoid Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range Road from MB Road to Suraj Kund towards Faridabad and vice versa on 27 and 28-10-2022 during day time from 9 AM to 7 PM due to special security/traffic arrangements.

(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 (ECI) on Wednesday directed Chief Secretary to transfer 51 officials to their respective headquarters (HQs) and report about the compliance by 4 pm tomorrow, sources said. The list of 51 officials includes six senior IPS officers.

The ECI had earlier sought an explanation from the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) for failing to file a compliance report on the transfer of officials.

Sources told ANI that the poll authority received a compliance report from Chief Secretary today and more than 900 officers of various grades and services were transferred as per ECI guidelines and instructions.

But ECI has observed that 51 officers are yet to be moved.

Sources said ECI has given directions that these remaining officers, including six senior IPS officers, should be asked to report to respective headquarters and compliance be sent by 4 pm tomorrow.

Sources told ANI that the six IPS officers are Harshad Patel, DCP, Control Room; Mukesh Patel, DCP, Zone 4; Bhakti Thakar, DCP (Traffic); Premvir Sinh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), and AG Chauhan, ACP (Traffic).

All these five IPS officers are currently posted in Ahmedabad. The sixth one is Rupak Solanki, DCP Crime, is posted in Surat.

Earlier on October 21, ECI had written to the Chief Secretary and the police chief, over why it has not received compliance reports, regarding the transfer and posting of officials directly connected with the conduct of Assembly elections that is expected to be held in the near future.

The Gujarat Chief Secretary submitted a compliance report to ECI on Wednesday.

An announcement of poll dates in Gujarat is expected in the coming days.

The tenure of the Gujarat Assembly will end on February 23, 2023.

A ECI team along with Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer P Bharathi had held a review meeting on election preparedness with district election officers and senior officials last month.

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Senior NCP leader on Wednesday said in were facing a crisis after suffering crop losses due to the "wet drought" caused by heavy rains in parts of the state.

Pawar also said he met Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before Diwali and told them that the "situation has gone out of hand".

The former deputy CM was speaking on the occasion of the Pawar family's Diwali celebration at their residence 'Govindbaug' in Baramati town of Pune district.

A number of people and party workers came there to greet NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his daughter and Lok Sabha member from Baramati Supriya Sule and other family members on Diwali.

Asked about 'wet drought', said, "Everything is messed up due to the wet drought. Before Diwali, I met the chief minister and deputy chief minister and informed them that the situation has gone out of hand and the are in trouble."



The kharif and rabi crops were damaged and were facing a crisis, said the NCP leader, who is the nephew of Sharad Pawar.

On Sunday, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray also demanded that the government declare "wet drought" in the state and provide Rs 50,000 per hectare as compensation to farmers affected by rains without waiting for the loss assessment reports.

CM Shinde on Tuesday described farmers as "anna data" or food providers and said cultivators who have suffered crop losses due to excessive and unseasonal rains will be adequately compensated.

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As a result of Project Suryagram (Sun Village), Gujarat's Modhera has emerged as India's first 24X7 solar-powered village. It is also a 'net-zero' energy community, meeting 100 per cent of its energy requirements using on-site solar power.

Under the project, 1 kilowatt (KW) solar panels have been installed on the roof of almost every house in Modhera in two phases.

The work was initiated in February. The solarisation of the Modhera area was completed in August, according to a report by Financial Express (FE). Currently, nearly 1,380 households in the Modhera area have solar rooftop systems, including 1,177 at Modhera, 101 in Sujjanpura and 105 in Samlanpura villages.

Apart from panels, the Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) has set up a 6 MW ground-mounted with a 15 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sujjanpura near Modhera.

"Since last four months, our electricity bills have gone down drastically. Before the installation of rooftop solar systems our bimonthly electricity bills used to remain at Rs 3000. Since July we have been paying below Rs 1000," a resident of Modhera, Deepsinh Vaghela, told FE.

Panels have also been installed over government buildings like ST Depot, police stations, Primary Health centres etc. It has brought down electricity bills drastically.

"Solar rooftop has been installed in our school. We have 10 smart classes, 10 projectors and 22 rooms with four fans tube lights in each room. We used to pay more than Rs 5000 electricity bill before the installation of solar panels. In the last six months there have been zero electricity bills and we have nearly Rs 17,000 credit on our electricity bill," Mahendrabhai Nai, principal, of Modhera Anupam School said.

In any case, if the power from the project does not suffice for the needs of the village, the requirement is met by BESS.
As a measure to check air pollution, the government is considering announcing a (MSP) on stubble so that farmers sell their crop residue instead of burning it, Chief Minister said on Wednesday.

He said the number of cases has come down substantially in .

The state government gives Rs 1,000 per acre to farmers for not burning the crop residue, Khattar said, adding that it also helps them sell the crop residue to refineries and other industries.

Asserting that his government is "very serious" about the issue of stubble burning, Khattar said, "We have succeeded in putting a check on with cooperation from farmers by providing financial help to them and making them aware of its harmful effects."



"To take it further, we are considering announcing an MSP on stubble and exploring the possibility of buying it from farmers and giving it to industries for their use," the chief minister told a press conference here on the completion of eight years of his government.

Studies have pointed that remains a "significant contributor" to Delhi's unbreathable air in October-November.

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), stubble burning is one of the major factors behind the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The is learnt to have asked Meta-owned to share reasons behind Tuesday's service outage of the messaging platform.

services snag on Tuesday had left users complaining about not being able to send or receive text and video messages, and services had resumed after nearly two hours.

Sources said the has asked the company to share reasons on what caused the outage.

An email sent to WhatsApp on the issue did not elicit a response.

In a late night statement on Tuesday, WhatsApp said a "technical error" caused the outage.

"The brief outage was a result of a technical error on our part and has now been resolved," a Meta company spokesperson had said.

According to Downdetector, which tracks outage reports, the messaging app was not working for many users across multiple regions on Tuesday afternoon. At one point during the outage on Tuesday, over 29,000 reports were flagged by users on Downdetector. Downdetector's heatmap was showing WhatsApp users in major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, were impacted by the snag.

#Whatsappdown had begun trending on Twitter soon after, and many users took to the microblogging platform to share funny memes on the issue.

(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 attempt of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is also the states home minister, to ignore the widespread resentment against the atrocities committed by a section of the police force is regrettable. Mr Vijayan being the political executive responsible for the overall control and the supervision of the force must make an effort to understand the grievance of the people and act on it. To call legitimate criticism of the police as labelling as he did in a recent note in the social media does not help solve the issue.

There have been complaints against the way the police have been behaving with the public ever since Mr Vijayan assumed office in 2016. The first instance of police highhandedness happened when they killed two Maoists in an alleged fake encounter in Nilambur barely weeks after the new ministry was sworn in. Mr Vijayan responded to the criticism against the police saying the government would do nothing to undermine the morale of the force. That was followed by more incidents, and altogether eight people have lost their lives in similar encounters across the state over the last seven years. The latest in the series of allegations against the police is the custodial torture of two siblings, one a soldier in the Indian Army, in a fake case. A district unit of Mr Vijayans own party was recently forced to go public complaining about police harassment.

It is an eminently good idea to give the force operational freedom but it must precede adequate training and sensitisation of its members about the democratic rights of the people. The Kerala government is attempting to take care of only the first part, leaving the people at the receiving end. Mr Vijayan is no stranger to police brutality; he was one of the worst victims of this during the Emergency. The protection of the civil and democratic rights of the people is of paramount importance in our constitutional scheme of things; some achievements do not square off a series of atrocities. The Kerala police get no exception, and the chief minister would do well to remember that.
The government has issued an advisory urging people to adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in view of newer sub-variants of being reported in neighbouring .

The health department has also advised people with symptoms such as cough, cold and fever to get tested at nearest hospitals and isolate themselves till the results are out.

"In view of reporting newer sub-variants of BQ.1 (US variant) BA.2.3.20 apart from XBB, which is a recombinant of BA.2.75 and BJ.1 in and in the context of the ensuing festival season of Deepavali and Kannada Rajyothsava the following advisory is issued to General public, the Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare said.

"Those with fever, cough, cold, sore throat, breathing difficulty should compulsorily get tested immediately at the nearest hospital or health centres (preferably Rapid Antigen Test, if negative then RT-PCR, and get self-isolated till the results are received," the department said. Those with breathing difficulties should seek urgent medical care, preferably in a hospital. Face masking while indoors, in places with air-conditioning, not well-ventilated areas, closed places, in crowds and in health facilities (N-95 / medical masks). It is very important that elderly and Co-morbid wear face masks in public areas, the advisory read. The department has asked people to observe festivities outdoors and avoid crowding indoors as far as possible. Further, those who are due for booster or precautionary dose of vaccination would need to get vaccinated.

It is important that those who are aged 60 years and above, and with co-morbidities (particularly not naturally infected previously) should get vaccinated early. Those who are immune-deficient and immunosuppressed, on renal dialysis, taking anticancer drugs, etc. are advised to get vaccinated on priority basis in consultation with their treating doctor, the advisory said. The department said that the COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) like coughing and sneezing into folded elbows, use of tissues, hand kerchief, not to blow nose and spit in public areas, hand washing with soap and water, avoiding close contact with symptomatic persons should be followed. In addition to the general advisory, the department has also asked people to use environment friendly "green crackers" in the larger interest of public health and safety. The department has also asked the authorities concerned in the districts and municipal areas to ensure the compliance of the same.

(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.)
Mallikarjun Kharge, the newly elected president of the Congress (INC), takes charge of the post at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi on Wednesday. Kharge is the first non-Gandhi to take over the office after 24 years.India reports 830 fresh cases and 1,771 recoveries in the last 24 hours, on Wednesday, the lowest single-day rise in 197 days. India's active Covid-19 cases have declined to 21,607 from 22,549 and total case load climbed to 4,46,45,768, according to Union health ministry data.Indian Americans on Tuesday celebrated the swearing-in of Indian origin as the United Kingdom's Prime Minister and said it was a big day for the overseas Indian community. "This was a big present for the diaspora. Rishi was already on the Indiaspora government leaders list and we welcome him and wish him well as he takes office! Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami said.Delhi's air quality improved on Wednesday morning on the back of favourable wind speed but still it remained poor. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 262 at 6 am, improving from 303 at 4 pm on Tuesday. It was 312 at 4 pm on Monday, the day of . Delhi's particulate matter (PM) 2.5 pollution levels on Wednesday morning were three to four times above the standard of 60 microgram per cubic metre for 24 hours.
Chief Minister on Tuesday described as "anna data" or food providers and said cultivators who have suffered crop losses due to excessive and unseasonal rains will be adequately compensated. Addressing a small gathering of at 'Varsha', his official residence in south Mumbai, Shinde said his government stands by agriculturists. will get compensation for the crop damage incurred due to unseasonal rains, said the chief minister. Describing farmers as "anna data", he said the state government has changed existing rules to provide relief to cultivators. Shinde said he himself is a farmer and the country has seen a farmer's son become the chief minister of . "The damage (to crops) incurred due to retreating monsoon till yesterday (Oct 24) will also be compensated," the CM said. Pointing towards Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar, who was also present at the gathering, Shinde said he is the one who goes to field to assess crop damage.

"Officers have been instructed that there should be no complaints from farmers. No farmer should be left behind (in receiving compensation)," the CM said. He said irrigation projects have been sanctioned that will benefit farmers.

Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport ahead of his visit to Gadchiroli district in the Vidarbha region, Shinde said he has given directions to expedite the process of assessment of crop losses due to excessive rains in parts of the state and assured the affected farmers will be provided adequate compensation. Shinde said his government has taken "72 big decisions" in the interest of the people in last three months and he will respond to the opposition's criticism by showing the work done by his administration. He also said an expansion of the state cabinet will take place at an appropriate time. Asked about the status of payment of compensation to farmers affected due to excessive rains recently in parts of the state, Shinde said he has given directions to conduct the 'panchanama' (spot assessment) of the losses on a war-footing. The CM said the Samruddhi Expressway stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi in Ahmednagar is expected to be opened for motorists next month. The ongoing Samruddhi Expressway project aims to link Vidarbha's largest city Nagpur to the country's financial capital Mumbai. On state Congress president Nana Patole's criticism of the ruling Shinde-BJP dispensation, the CM said his government was formed with a thumping majority. He said in the recently-held gram panchayat elections, the BJP got 397 seats and the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (led by Shinde) got 243 sarpanches elected.

(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 unit of celebrated 'Accession Day' at the party office in Rajbagh on Wednesday in the presence of many senior leaders and party workers were.

Accession Day is a public holiday in Jammu and commemorating October 26, 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, wherein J&K joined the Dominion of India. It became an official public holiday in J&K for the first time in 2020.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event in Srinagar, senior leader and former minister Sunil Sharma said that Hurriyat leaders and separatists are left with only two options -- either join the national mainstream or go to jail.

Shops that the Hurriyat leaders used to run in on the request of have been closed and now they have no customers here, he added.

"The only option left for them now is to open Indian shops as now only these shops will operate in Jammu and Kashmir. Hurriyat leaders better mend their ways or get ready to go to jail," Sharma said.

He also said that Accession Day is a historic moment in Jammu and Kashmir which is celebrated to remember the sacrifices made by people who laid down their lives for J&K.

--IANS

zubair/arm

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One in every 10 in India now offers an electric vehicle (EV) facility or filling station to boost the use of renewable energy. According to a report in the Economic Times (ET), India has about 84,600 retail outlets, of which 8,900 offer alternative fuels such as CNG, auto or EV facilities.

Out of these, the EV facility is available at 4,100 pumps and the facility at 4,000 pumps.

"India is witnessing a larger trend of liquid stations turning into energy stations where a customer has the choice of ordering petrol, diesel, natural gas, or electrons as per his needs. It brings convenience to customers. It also helps oil companies guard their future profits," an industry executive told ET.

Several oil retailers in India like Indian Oil, and Hindustan Petroleum have accepted the natural gas business and are acquiring licenses to serve the gas in large parts of India.

In parts where they do not have licences for natural gas, these state-owned retailers are selling .

The total number of CNG retail outlets in India is about 4,700 today, up from 1,270 five years ago. According to ET, the number is expected to top 10,000 in 7 years.

Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL also plan to have EV charging facilities at 22,000 pumps over the next few years.
A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed on Wednesday as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said.

The operation was launched in the Tangdhar sector on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The slain terrorist was identified as Mohammed Shakur (32) from Syedpura in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), he said.

The joint operation was launched based on specific information received from the police regarding the infiltration of a group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists through the Sudpura forward post in the Karnah area of Kupwara district. The inputs were corroborated by other intelligence agencies, the spokesperson said in a statement.

"Alert troops on the anti-infiltration grid intercepted two terrorists trying to infiltrate into own (Indian) side in the forward area close to the Line of Control (LoC).

"Around 1:45 am on 26 October (20)22, the infiltrating terrorists were fired upon, leading to the elimination of one terrorist. However, taking advantage of the darkness, the other terrorist managed to flee to PoJK side," he added.

In a search operation launched at the site this morning, one AK series rifle, two pistols and a large quantity of ammunition and war-like stores were recovered, according to the statement.

Timely action and close coordination between the Indian Army, the Police and other intelligence agencies led to foiling of the infiltration attempt and potential threat to peace in the hinterland, the spokesperson said.

"Continued engagements along the Line of Control are uncanny reminders of efforts by Pakistan to infuse terrorism in Kashmir and disrupt peace and harmony while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding," he said.

"The youth in PoK are being used as cannon fodder by Pakistan state policy from the last three decades with a fruitless aim to constantly disrupt progress towards collective peace," he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Development Authority has issued a notice to the Global Hospital to vacate the building by October 28. The hospital came into the limelight after it allegedly transfused fruit juice instead of blood platelets to a patient.

The civic authority has termed the building as "illegally constructed". The hospital is likely to be bulldozed.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has assured strict action against the hospital if they are found guilty. He said that the platelets packet has been sent for testing.

"Taking cognizance of the viral video of Jhalwa-based Global Hospital offering 'Mausambi' juice to a patient in place of platelets in the district Prayagraj, the hospital has been immediately sealed and the platelets packet has been sent for testing. If found guilty, strict action will be taken against the hospital," Pathak tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier, the hospital was sealed after a preliminary inquiry revealed that "some irregularities" were found according to Additional Chief Medical Officer, Dr AK Tiwari.

"The (CMO) chief medical officer ordered a probe after the patient died. In the probe, some irregularities were found. The hospital has been sealed till the probe is completed," the additional CMO said on Thursday.

A probe has been initiated and action will be taken after the completion of the investigation. The complainant has filed an FIR, the official said.

However, according to the owner of the hospital, Saurabh Mishra, the platelets were brought by the attendants of the patient.

"The attendants were given the slip to bring platelets. They brought five units of platelets in the evening. When three units were used, there was a reaction on the patient, we stopped the transfusion. The platelets that were brought by the attendants of the patient were transfused to the patient. It belonged to the SRN Blood Bank. The hospital has no responsibility for it," he said.

The hospital owner alleged that the patient's attendants were responsible for bringing the platelets.

"We do not test the platelets that the attendants bring. How is the hospital responsible if the attendants fetch the wrong platelets? It should be the responsibility of the attendants to ascertain whether they are authentic," the hospital owner said.

"We had referred the patient to a higher centre after the attendants requested to do so following the deterioration in the health of the patient. The patient had not died here, the death happened two days later in another hospital," Mishra added.

Further probe into the matter is underway.

(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.)
While on holiday, Saudi Aramco's top executive spent nearly a week in a jail after he was arrested in July for carrying a satellite phone without proper permission from authorities. The employee was released after paying a fine of Rs 1,000, reported The Indian Express on Wednesday.

Talking to Financial Times, Fergus MacLeod, head of investor relations at Saudi Aramco, said he was arrested by the police on July 12 at his hotel in the Valley of Flowers Park and was held in Chamoli's until July 18.

The 62-year-old UK executive was detained after authorities picked up the coordinates of his phone. MacLeod said he switched off and on his phone, but did not use it during the holiday with friends, including his colleagues from oil giant Saudi Aramco, reported FT.

The possession or use of satellite phones by foreign nationals without prior approval is illegal and unauthorised in India, Chamoli SP Shweta Choubey told The Indian Express. Choubey added that MacLeod was arrested after he was found carrying a satellite phone.

"He (MacLeod) did not have any idea that it is not legal to carry a satellite phone in India (without prior permission) and he carried it with him. That is why he was detained. There was nothing wrong in the process," she told IE.

This should also be noted that Chamoli district lies along the Line of Actual Control with China.

The Station Officer of Govind Ghat police station, Narendra Singh Rawat said they received information about a foreign carrying a satellite phone in an area on July 11, reported IE.

"We sent a policeman to confirm that the man was carrying a satellite phone. It was confirmed. He was travelling to the Valley of Flowers and was detained from there," Rawat said, as quoted by the English daily.

Rawat further told The Indian Express that MacLeod was arrested under sections of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.

"After the arrest was made, he was sent to the district jail where he stayed until July 18 before getting bail. On July 27, the case ended after he paid a fine of Rs 1,000," Rawat told IE.
The has declined a plea filed by Union minister Ajay Mishra seeking transfer of the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against his acquittal in an over 20-year-old case.

A bench of Chief Justice U U Lalit and Bela M Trivedi was told that the transfer was sought on grounds that the senior counsel, who has to argue the matter at Lucknow, was ordinarily based at Allahabad and because of his old age it would not be possible for him to go all the way to Lucknow for arguments.

"We do not go into all these issues as in our view, a request to the high court to hear the appeal for disposal on November 10, 2022, the date given by the high court and agreed upon by both the senior counsel would serve the ends of justice," the bench said.

"In case the senior counsel is unable to come down to Lucknow, a request for allowing the said counsel to make submissions through video conferencing may be considered by the high court," the bench said.

The case pertains to the of 24-year-old Prabhat Gupta which took place in Lakhimpur Kheri in 2000.

Ajay Mishra, Union Minister of State for Home, had faced trial for the of Gupta and was acquitted in 2004, after which the state filed the appeal.

A court of additional sessions judge in Lakhimpur Kheri had acquitted Mishra and others in 2004 for want of adequate evidence.

Aggrieved by the acquittals, the state government had preferred an appeal while the deceased's family had filed a separate revision petition challenging the judgment.

Mishra had moved the top court against the administrative order passed by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad rejecting the prayer to transfer government appeal from Lucknow to Allahabad.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on October 21 injected the largest amount of funds into the banking system in three and a half years, indicating that surplus cash with banks is drying up at an accelerated pace. Walmart Inc-backed Flipkart is considering raising $2 billion to $3 billion at a valuation of more than $40 billion to expand its product range in India and challenge rivals. Read more on these in our morning brief of top headlines.

RBI's infusion largest since April 2019 as surplus cash dries up

The (RBI) on October 21 injected the largest amount of funds into the banking system in three and a half years, indicating that surplus cash with banks is drying up at an accelerated pace. The last Friday injected worth Rs 72,860.70 crore  the highest since April 30, 2019. Three days later, on October 24, the central bank injected Rs 62,835.70 crore, the data showed. Read more



Play Store policies: lands second blow, fined Rs 936 crore

The (CCI) on Tuesday slapped a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore  the second in a span of seven days  on search engine giant for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies. The regulator has issued a cease-and-desist order, suggesting eight corrective measures including providing access to third-party billing payment processing systems on its Play Store. Read more



Dove dry shampoo recall in US: Mkt too small, no impact likely in India

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) recalled its Dove and Tresemme aerosol dry shampoo in US after discovering they were contaminated with benzene, which can cause cancer, but the product continues to be sold in India on Nykaa and Amazon, as verified by Business Standard. Nykaa had listed the US as the country of origin for the Dove and Tresemme dry shampoo products sold on its platform. Read more



cancels 14 int'l flights due to delay in delivery of B787 aircraft

has cancelled at least 14 flights connecting New Delhi with Frankfurt and Paris due to a delay in delivery of B787 aircraft, which it has leased from Irish lessor AerCap, Business Standard has learnt. The B787 (also known as Dreamliner) aircraft was expected to be delivered by this time in October. Read more



OTT apps: COAI bats for 'same service, same rules' under draft telecom Bill

Arguing that there is a need to enforce the principle of same service, same rules in the telecom industry, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) came out in support of the governments move to bring over-the-top (OTT) communication service providers under the ambit of the telecom Bill. Read more
Employees sort packages at a logistics center in Guiyang, Guizhou province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The National Bureau of Statistics released China's Q3 statistics yesterday, revealing that the country's economy rose by 3.9 percent year-on-year. Positive indicators such as consumption and infrastructure investment reflected the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy, experts said.

Zhou Maohua, an analyst at China Everbright Bank, believes the ease on costs and financing pressure will promote investment in the manufacturing industry. As China has actively promoted infrastructure construction projects, the growth of infrastructure investment is expected to accelerate. Moreover, the strong growth of financial credit data also indicates further strengthening of investment momentum, Economic Information Daily reported on Tuesday.

The consumption sector continues its rebound thanks to supportive policies, with its contribution to economic growth reaching 41.3 percent in the first nine months, driving GDP growth by 1.2 percentage points. China's final consumption expenditure contributed 52.4 percent to economic growth in the third quarter, driving GDP growth by 2.1 percentage points, the NBS said.

In the first three quarters, total retail sales of consumer goods totaled 32.03 trillion yuan ($4.38 trillion), up 0.7 percent year-on-year, with a growth rate 0.2 percentage points higher than that of the Jan-Aug period, said Dong Lihua, director of the Trade and Economic Department at the NBS.

China's online retail sales grew by 6.1 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, accounting for 25.7 percent of the total retail sales of consumer goods. Sales of new energy passenger vehicles in the first three quarters reached 3.87 million units, up 113.2 percent on a yearly basis.

Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International, also believes the consumption sector will keeps its recovery momentum through to the next stage, the report said.

As a series of pro-consumption policies to support market entities and enhance consumers' consumption ability and willingness are effectively implemented, the consumer market will continue to recover steadily, Dong said.
HYDERABAD: Maitreyee Wairagkar, a neuroscientist and neuroengineer who is currently a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Davis, has been nominated for the prestigious Inspiring Women in Science award by the leading scientific journal Nature in partnership with Estee Lauder.

She is the only Indian on the list of early career women scientists whose works include developing vaccines for Coronavirus and co-leading the black hole imaging project.

Maitreyee, an Indian by birth, is among the six early career women researchers from over the world nominated for the prestigious award to be announced next week.

She has earned the nomination for her work in neurotechnology so far. There is a severe need for research in the field of neurotechnology so that we can help people with neurological disorders become independent, Maitreyee told Deccan Chronicle.

Crediting her mentors and erstwhile educational institutes which include the University of Reading and Imperial College London and her current institution, UC Davis for the nomination, an elated Maitreyee said, The main area of my work includes developing advanced neurotechnology using artificial intelligence. I work on brain-computer interfaces to enable people with severe motor and speech impairments to communicate directly via their brain signals.

The nomination itself is a very big honour for me as the other nominees have stupendous work to their credit, she said.

Other nominees are Kizzmekia Corbett, an assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Lia Medeiros, a co-lead of the EHT Gravitational Physics Working Group, a member of the EHTs Junior Scientist Council, and an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow, working at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Chiara Mingarelli, a gravitational-wave astrophysicist, looking to understand how supermassive black holes in the centers of massive galaxies merge.

Taylor Nye, a postdoctoral research scholar in the Hultgren Laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis, working to combat antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

Maheshi Ramasamy, a doctor, and scientist working in Oxford, UK. Maheshi studies infectious diseases and how the body defends itself from them.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Greg Hands, the UK Minister for Trade Policy, called India an "economic superpower" and says an FTA would improve access to its "dynamic market", media reports said.

He said the government is negotiating an ambitious FTA that "works for both countries" and that the "majority of chapters" of the agreement have already been reached, with more rounds expected shortly, BBC reported.

Hands added that the deal would drive growth, support jobs across the UK, and help British goods to reach India's growing middle class.

Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds had asked for an update on the progress of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

New faced Labour leader Keir Starmer and other MPs at Prime Minister's Questions.

Starmer pressed him on the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary just six days after she resigned over data breaches, saying he made a "grubby deal" with her, BBC reported.

Sunak responded that Braverman "made an error of judgment", has apologised, and he's delighted to have her back in cabinet.

The pair also clashed over Sunak's stated commitment to helping the most vulnerable - with Starmer questioning it.

But Sunak says that he is honest about mistakes and economic difficulties, while accusing the Labour leader of "selling fairy tales".

It comes after the government delayed announcing its plan to repair the UK's finances until 17 November.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the plan, originally due on Monday, would be upgraded to a full Autumn Statement - calling the delay "prudent".

--IANS

san/d

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday filed a charge sheet against 12 people including the former chairman of Central School Service Commission (WBCSSC) Subiresh Bhattachary in the connection with the alleged illegal appointment of assistant teachers.

According to officials, the agency, in its charge sheet also named a former assistant secretary of the WBCSSC, an ex-advisor, two former programme officers of the commission, and six others in the charge-sheet submitted before Alipore special judge.

The accused in the chargesheet have been identified as Santi Prasad Sinha, Ashok Kr Saha, Kalyanmoy Gangully, Parna Bose, Samarjit Acharya, Prasanna Kumar Roy, Pradip Singh, Jnui Das, Md Azad Ali Mirza, Imam Momin, and Rohit Kumar Jha.

"It was found that the accused, including public servants and private persons, entered into conspiracy with one another in order to extend to unqualified candidates undue appointments to the post of an assistant teacher for Classes IX and X in secondary and higher secondary schools in in 2016, after the expiry of that year's panel," a statement from the .

Four charge-sheeted public servants including the former chairman, ex-advisor Santi Prasad Sinha, and then assistant secretary of WBCSSC Ashok Kr Saha, then president of an adhoc committee of Board of Secondary Education Kalyanmoy Gangully, and two private persons, are presently in judicial custody, it further read.

"Further investigation is underway to find out if there was a larger conspiracy involved and also the role played by each of the accused," the official said.

Earlier, the central agency had filed against 16 accused including former state minister Partha Chatterjee.

CBI in a statement mentioned that a chargesheet has been filed against 16 accused including the then Advisor at West Bengal Central School Service Commission in a case related to Recruitment before the Special CBI Court in Alipore.

The Calcutta High Court has directed the CBI to look into the alleged irregularities involved in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and -aided schools on recommendations of the commission.

It was alleged that the said accused entered into a conspiracy with one another in order to extend undue advantage in the matter of giving appointments to unqualified candidates to the posts of Group-C staff at various schools through 3rd RLST (NT), 2016, after the expiry of the panel.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is tracking the money trail in the scam.

The ED has so far arrested former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education and Trinamool Congress MLA Manik Bhattacharya, former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee in the case.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has recommended the environmental release of the genetically modified (GM) mustard variety DMH (Dhara Mustard Hybrid)-11, paving the way for the commercialisation of the countrys first GM food crop.

The GEAC said the recommendation was valid for four years from the date the approval letter was issued. Further studies and coordinated trials will have to be conducted jointly with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) within two years, according to the minutes of the GEAC meeting held on October 18, which was released on Wednesday.

The move is expected to face stiff opposition from environmental activists and groups like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

According to the minutes, field demonstration studies on the impact of the mustard variety on honey bees and other pollinators should also be conducted after the environmental release by the applicant within two years under the ICARs supervision, and a report on this should be submitted to the GEAC.

The GEAC said the commercial use of DMH-11 hybrids will be subject to the Seed Act, 1966, and related rules and regulations.

If all the steps from here fall in place, then it would mean that farmers can get a hold of GM-based mustard hybrids in the next two years, Deepak Pental, former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, and one of the main scientists behind DMH-11, told Business Standard. Delhi University and the National Development Board (NDDB) are joint applicants for DMH-11.

However, activists say there could be many more hurdles before it receives final approval, because it is unclear if a formal ministerial nod is required.

Keen as mustard GEAC has given its nod for environmental release of based on the recommendations of a panel constituted by it

While giving the nod, the GEAC has said that simultaneous field studies will have to be conducted with on the effect of on honeybees and other pollinators

GEAC nod is not the final approval for commercial release but a step forward

The approval is valid for the next four years

Environmental activists and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an affiliate of the RSS, have opposed the move and uged the government to not give a final nod

Mustard cultivation

Mustard is cultivated by around 6 million farmers in around 6.5-7 million hectares of land across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.

DMH-11 has been shown to deliver 30 per cent higher yields than existing varieties. The average yield of existing mustard varieties is around 1,000-1,200 kilograms per hectare, while the global average is over 2,000-2,200 kgs.

In 2017, a similar approval had to be recalled in the face of opposition from activists across the political spectrum. However, pro-GM groups are hopeful that the publication of the minutes of the GEACs meeting will prove a big step towards the commercialisation of the variety.

Bhagirath Choudhary, founder director of the South Asia Centre (SABC), wrote on Facebook that this will address several problems related to low production and yield that arise from the narrow variability of Indian mustard germplasm, lack of hybridisation, and infestation of biotic and abiotic stresses.

Welcoming the approval, Shivendra Bajaj, executive director of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, said the technology would enable efficient breeding of better hybrids of mustard that could increase yields and boost resistance to diseases. We hope this approval ushers in an era of technology use in seed improvement and agriculture, he said.

Opposing views

The SJM said it was hopeful that the competent authority for final approval, the minister of environment and forest in this case, wouldnt give the final nod.

This variety is not swadeshi as was claimed in 2017 (when the first GEAC nod came), nor is it safe. The facts that were there in 2017 havent changed a bit, Ashwini Mahajan, co-convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), told Business Standard. Terming the variety extremely dangerous to public health and farmers, Mahajan said the SJM would continue to oppose it, and urged the government to not fall into such a trap and give heed to such recommendations of the GEAC.

Meanwhile, the Coalition for GM-Free India said that the approval was shocking. It said GM mustard got to this stage because of collusion between the regulatory body and crop developers in circumventing biosafety assessment in numerous ways.

Recent developments...

The GEAC has also approved field trials and NOC of GM potato, rubber and cotton. But, none of the events are related to GM mustard and are part of different agenda items. There is no connection between the two approvals
The government on Wednesday unveiled new policy reforms for communications services to ease procedures and streamline clearances to expedite the rollout of Satcom across the country, especially in remote areas.

Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw exhorted the industry to increase tower deployments for a speedy 5G rollout.

The current pace of tower deployment needs to increase from 2,500 towers a week to 10,000 towers per week, he said.

The government has done its bit in ushering in reforms, and it is now up to the industry to show its commitment, the minister added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and bilateral trade continued to boom, crossing USD 100 billion for the second year in the first nine months of 2022 while India's trade deficit climbed to over USD 75 billion, according to trade data released by Chinese customs.

The total bilateral trade, amidst the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, went up to USD 103.63 billion, registering a 14.6 per cent increase compared to last year during the same period.

China's exports to India climbed to USD 89.66 billion, registering an increase of 31 per cent, data released by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) said.

However, India's exports in the past nine months stood at USD 13.97 billion, registering a decline of 36.4 per cent.

As a result, the total trade deficit went up to over USD 75.69 billion.

Last year, the India- bilateral trade hit a record high of over USD 125 billion crossing the USD 100 billion mark in a year when the relations touched a new low due to the standoff by the militaries in eastern Ladakh.

Last year, China's exports to India went up by 46.2 per cent to USD 97.52 billion while India's exports to grew by 34.2 per cent to USD 28.14 billion.

The trade deficit for India stood at USD 69.38 billion in 2021.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven saw a fall in net new Employees Provident Fund (EPF) subscriptions in the month of August (from July levels), reveals the payroll data released last week by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Of the 21 states, for which data was analysed by Business Standard, seven saw a cumulative fall of 43,993 net new subscriptions in August. This comes in the wake of fresh formal jobs created in August also dropping below the 1-million mark for the first time in five months as new subscriptions declined around 12 per cent, from 1,119,698 in July to 986,850 in August.

Net payroll additions - taking into account new additions, number of exits, and return of old subscribers - have grown only marginally, from 1,652,818 in July to 1,694,211 in August. This fall in new subscribers and sluggish growth in net payroll in August could be on account of slow in the manufacturing sector.

Sachchidanand Shukla, chief economist, Mahindra Group, explains there is a high correlation between growth on a net basis and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). A fall in IIP impacts the numbers as well.

In the case of industrial states, this (correlation) is likely to be more pronounced. Since IIP contracted 0.8 per cent in August, this is likely to have exacerbated in some key amidst slowdown in exports as well, said Shukla.

Major industrialised states like Gujarat (13,395), Andhra Pradesh (9,460), Tamil Nadu (8,383) and Madhya Pradesh (4,432) saw decrease in net new subscriptions across age categories.



Maharashtra, which has the highest net subscriber base, and Telangana are the other two major industrial states registering 4,390 and 2,607 fewer net new subscriptions, respectively, in August, as they saw a fall in subscriptions in the 18-25 age group  often considered crucial to reflect the robustness of the job market.

While Rajasthan (786) only saw a minimal decline in net new subscriptions, except for Karnataka (3,876), no other major industrial state reported growth in net new subscriptions.

Earlier, the data, released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), which conducts its own survey, showed Indias labour force had grown 4 million to reach 430 million in August, whereas salaried jobs had fallen 4.6 million, from 80.8 million in July to 76.2 million in August, amid unemployment rate shooting up to 8.3 per cent  the highest in 12 months.

In August, agriculture shed 11 million jobs. A little over half of these were farmers. The rest were farm labourers. However, most of them seem to have found jobs in the non-farm services sectors, principally in providing non-professional personal services, CMIE had said in a statement.

Uttar Pradesh (22,962), Haryana (14,211), West Bengal (7,320), and Uttarakhand (6,300) are the major non-industrial states which reported an increase in net new subscriptions in August. However, Assam more than doubled its net subscriber base as it reported an addition of 7,767 subscribers.
Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan underscored India's policy to intensify and deepen its engagement with at the Dakar Forum held in Senegal.

Muraleedharan paid an official visit to Senegal to participate in the 8th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, read the Ministry of External Affairs press release.

The Dakar Forum was attended by Presidents of Senegal, Angola and Cabo Verde, along with over 15 Ministers and high-level dignitaries from 29 countries.

The Forum has become a key event for policy discussions on . This is the first time that India participated at a Ministerial level.

MoS's participation in the Dakar Forum underscored the importance that India attaches to the peace, security and development of .

"Glad to participate at the opening session of Dakar International Forum on Peace & Security in Africa, inaugurated by President of Senegal, HE Macky Sall in Dakar. Presidents of Angola and Cabo Verde, several Ministers and high level dignitaries were present," tweeted Muraleedharan.

Muraleedharan addressed the Forum on the topic "Global Crises and Sovereignty in Africa" along with the FM of The Gambia Dr Mamadou Tangara, FM of Libya Najla Al-Mangouch, FM of Mali Abdoulaye Diop, Acting FM of Sudan Ali Elsadig Ali, FM of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu and the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, UNOWAS Giovanie Biha, added the press release.

" partnership is strengthened by long-standing friendship, shared struggles against colonialism, diaspora connect & common developmental challenges. India supports Africa's developmental priorities & remains committed to its journey towards the attainment of SDGs and Agenda 2063," tweeted Muraleedharan.

He highlighted India's peacekeeping contributions, and assistance during Covid-19 in the form of vaccines, Climate Action, and development partnerships apart from stressing the need for UNSC reforms.

He also emphasized the need for greater investment in agriculture, and the need for adopting Ayurveda, Mission LiFE and clean energy.

He reiterated the ten guiding principles on engagement as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the Ugandan Parliament in July 2018 and emphasized that all countries should work together to ensure that Africa does not once again turn into a theatre of rival ambitions, but becomes a nursery of Africa's youth, added the release.

"The Forum has become an important place for policy discussions on sovereignty and security aspects of Africa. India strongly supports the development priorities of Africa guided by 10 principles laid down by PM Modi at Ugandan Parliament in 2018," said Muraleedharan.

Muraleedharan also called for a development paradigm that is Africa-led and Africa-owned and centered on the progress and development of the people of Africa.

"The deep bonds of solidarity between India & Africa represent a defining partnership of the Global South. We always pitch for Africa-led and Africa-owned development model," said Muraleedharan.

During the visit, MoS interacted with the Indian community in Dakar and greeted them on the occasion of Diwali celebrations.

Also, being the eve of National Unity Week, MoS was joined by the Indian community in forming a Unity Chain to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Wednesday emphasised on promoting indigenous products and self-reliance for prosperity, and said by adopting them, one can keep the art, culture and civilization of India alive.

Addressing a gathering to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Jain saint Vijay Vallabh Surishwar via video conference, he said the message of 'swadeshi' and self-reliance is extremely relevant in the "Azadi ka Amrit Kaal", a reference to the period till 2047, for India to become a developed country.

A commemorative postage stamp and coin dedicated to the saint was also released on Wednesday.

Paying tributes to the saint, Modi said when the world is experiencing the crisis of war, terror and violence and is looking for inspiration to break out of this vicious circle, ancient traditions and philosophy coupled with the power of today's India is turning out to be a big hope.

He said the path shown by Surishwar and the teachings of Jain gurus is the solution to these global crises.

Mahatma Gandhi had also adopted the path of 'aparigraha' as laid down by Jain gurus, he said.

Also recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the prime minister said Gujarat has given two Vallabhs' to the country and noted that Patel's birth anniversary will be celebrated on October 31.

'Statue of Peace', dedicated to the Jain monk, is one of the largest statues of saints and the 'Statue of Unity' is the tallest statue in the world, he added.

These are not just tall statues, but they are also the greatest symbol of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat', he said.

While Sardar Patel as India's first home minister had united it, the Jain saint travelled to different parts of the country and strengthened the unity, integrity and culture of the country, he said.

Modi noted that the monk always wore khadi, urging his followers to promote made-in-India products with the concept of 'vocal for local'.

(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 dispute over whether will have three cities, a first for any state in India, or a conventional single-city-based headquarter at Amaravati refuses to abate. In 2020, the Andhra Legislative Assembly passed a Bill that gives shape to the governments plans to have three capitals  an executive at Visakhapatnam, a legislative at Amravati, a new city for which land was acquired from farmers, and a judicial capital in Kurnool. But just last week, the states ruling party, YSR Congress, led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, held a rally in Visakhapatnam to drum up support for the three-capital formula. In another part of the city was a competing rally, supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party state unit, by those in favour of the single-city plan.
The (AAP) on Wednesday urged the to put pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on to bring 'prosperity' to the country.

The move has invited criticism from the Opposition, including the Bhartiya Janata Party, for making a U-turn in their approach to Hindu gods.

But does printing with new images come under the Centre's ambit or Let's find out:

Who decides how banknotes and coins should look?

Any currency design change must be approved by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) central board and the . Changes in the creation of coins fall under the purview of the government.

Who decides on the minting of coins?

In the case of coins, RBI's role is restricted only to the distribution of the coins. The government has the power to design and mint coins in various denominations. The government has been given this right under the Coinage Act, 2011.

RBI's role in issuing notes?

The RBI internally works out a design, which is then put forth by the RBI's central board. According to Section 22 of The Act, 1934, RBI has the "sole right" to issue banknotes in India. Section 25 states that "the design, form, and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the after consideration of the recommendations made by the [RBI's] Central Board".

Department of Currency Management, which Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar currently heads  is responsible for administering the core function of currency management. The department of Currency Management addresses policy and operational issues relating to the designing of notes, forecasting the demand for notes and coins, and ensuring the smooth distribution of banknotes and coins across the country.

Any changes in the design of the notes are worked out by the department of Currency Management, which then submits the design to RBI and recommends it to the government. It is only after the government's nod that a particular design change comes into effect.

Different types of banknotes issued so far:

Ashoka Pillar notes

Post Independence, the first notes issued were Re one banknotes. The design was kept intact, except that the symbol of the Ashoka Pillar replaced the image of King George VI's portrait.

In 1987, the Rs 500 note was introduced with the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. The watermark continued to be the Lion Capital, Ashoka Pillar.

Mahatma Gandhi 1996 series

From 1996 onwards, all the banknotes bore the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the front, in place of the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar. The pillar image was moved to the left, next to the watermark window.

Mahatma Gandhi 2005 series

In the Mahatma Gandhi 2005 series, notes were issued in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, and Rs 1,000. They contain some additional features to the 1996 series notes.

Mahatma Gandhi 2016 series notes

According to RBI, these new notes highlight India's cultural heritage and scientific achievements.

Distinct colours were used for the different denominations, and sizes were reduced. Two new denominations -- Rs 2000 on November 08, 2016, and Rs 200 on August 23, 2017, were introduced in the new series.
Hyderabad: A geospatial incubator and the Bhunidhi Portal, both developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre in Hyderabad, were among technologies unveiled at the Second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress which began here on Tuesday.

The event will be held till October 14 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), Kondapur. The theme is Geo-Enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind. The event will involve panel discussions centred on enhancing the communication, understanding, knowledge and application of geospatial information management. Several exhibits by firms working with geospatial technology have been set up at the venue as part of the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, via a video message, said India's geospatial economy was expected to cross `63,000 crore by 2025 and would provide employment to over 10 lakh people. He said geospatial technology has been driving inclusion and progress in national development projects like Svamitva (property survey in rural areas), PM Gati Shakti Master Plan (a multi-modal connvectivity project uniting 16 ministries), and the JAM trinity of Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar and Mobile Phone.

Minister of state for science & technology Dr Jitendra Singh unveiled five initiatives in the geospatial technology sector  a geospatial incubator and the Bhunidhi portal, both developed by Hyderabads National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a solar calculator developed by ISROs Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad, the National Toponymy Database and a report titled Indian experience in aligning with IGIF (Integrated Geospatial Information Framework).

Speaking at the event, the minister said more than 250 geospatial start-ups in India were working across a range of domains like waste resource management, forestry, urban planning and mapping of roads.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
A latest poll has revealed that US President Joe Biden's job approval rating has slipped back to 40 per cent.

The number was a step down from the 44 per cent measured in August but still above his term-low 38 per cent from July, shows the new Gallup poll released on Tuesday..

In all other months in 2022, Biden's approval rating had been in the range between 40 per cent and 42 per cent, reports Xinhua news agency.

The latest survey conducted earlier this month found 56 per cent of Americans disapprove of Biden's performance.

His approval ratings continued to be starkly different by political party, with 85 per cent of Democrats and only 4 per cent of Republicans approving.

The 81-point gap in party ratings matches the average for Biden's presidency to date.

Thirty-nine per cent of political independents approve of the job Biden is doing, slightly above the 36 per cent average approval rating among independents from January to September.

Americans' evaluations of the job Biden is doing as president continue to be more negative than positive, as they have for over a year now.

Given the relationship between low job approval ratings and midterm election outcomes, Biden's unpopularity is likely to be a drag on his fellow Democrats' chances in the November 8 mid-term elections, according to Gallup.

--IANS

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(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.)
US President on Tuesday made a congratulatory phone call to new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the White House said.

The leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression, address the challenges posed by China, and secure sustainable and affordable energy resources, the White House said in a readout of the call.

The two leaders also reaffirmed the special relationship between the US and the United Kingdom, underscoring their desire to further enhance cooperation on issues critical to global security and prosperity, it said.

They discussed their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the need to maintain momentum toward reaching a negotiated agreement with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol, it added.

Soon after the phone call, Sunak said the US and the UK were the closest of allies.

I look forward to working together with the US President to enhance stability across the world and continue our leading role in support of the people of Ukraine, he tweeted.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Tuesday celebrated the swearing-in of Indian origin as the United Kingdom's Prime Minister and said it was a big day for the overseas Indian community.

This was a big Diwali present for the diaspora. Rishi was already on the Indiaspora government leaders list and we welcome him and wish him well as he takes office! Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami said.

It's a special Diwali this year as the UK has its first prime minister of Indian origin. Congratulations, Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of the Monetary Fund. Dr Sampat Shivangi, who chairs the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health, hailed Sunak for scripting history. What a proud moment for an Indian to see Rishi occupying the highest seat of power just 75 years ago, Britons were the rulers of colonial India, he said.

Dr Shivangi said he has known Rishi and his family personally for several years as their relatives hail from Athani in Karnataka. Sudha Murthy's (Sunak's mother-in-law) father was my professor in my medical school, he recalled.

I look forward to a successful transformation of the UK economy in the coming days I wish Sunak that he brings glory and tremendous credibility to his nation, the Indian diaspora and to his ancestral land, he said.

Al Mason, a real estate businessman from New York lauded Sunak for being the first British prime minister of South Asian heritage, the first Hindu and the youngest to hold the post.

Canadian parliamentarian Chandra Arya in a statement congratulated Sunak on being the UK's first Hindu prime minister. May his achievement motivate a new generation of Canadians to get more actively involved in public service, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The leader of the coalition of gas-exporting countries said on Tuesday the group expects demand for the fuel to far outstrip supply until 2025 amid a global energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Mohamed Hamel, of Algeria, said at the group's meeting in Cairo that although investment was increasing in production the countries didn't expect to have new sources of supply online for another three years.

We believe that this market tightness to be with us until probably 2025 or 2026 when the new projects that are being developed will come on-stream, he said in a press conference on Tuesday attended by energy ministers from some of the coalition's members.

prices have skyrocketed worldwide following the Russian invasion of Ukraine early this year. Amid sanctions imposed on Russia's energy sector, much of European Union, which formerly depended on Russia for 40 per cent of its supply, has struggled find alternatives.

Russia has reduced or cut off supplies to 13 EU member nations as European governments bolster their support for Ukraine in the form of weapons, money, aid and economic sanctions on Moscow. The potential for shortages has led to surging gas and electricity prices that could climb higher as demand peaks during the cold months.

Russia's Minister of Energy Nikolai Shulginov attended the Cairo meeting but did not make any public statements.

Egypt's minister of petroleum and mineral resources Tarek el-Molla, meanwhile, said the country was endeavouring to increase its capacity to export liquefied natural gas amid the current worldwide need.

Earlier this year, Egypt and the EU announced a deal that would see the North African country liquefy natural gas extracted by Israel.

The Qatar-based coalition's meeting comes just weeks after an OPEC decision to cut production drew criticism from world leaders.

Energy ministers cut production by a larger-than-expected 2 million barrels per day starting in November after gathering for their first face-to-face meeting at the Vienna headquarters of the OPEC oil cartel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alphabet and CEO has revealed that the company recently had its highest selling week ever for the Pixel 7 series of smartphones.

Earlier this month, introduced the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro and the very first Pixel Watch.

"We've also previewed more detail about the Pixel Tablet, which is coming in 2023. Pixel combines our foundational technologies, AI, Android and our Tensor G2 processor to bring state-of-the-art AI directly to the device," Pichai said during the quarterly earnings call on Tuesday.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro offer industry-leading photography features that can unblur or sharpen photos and shoot cinema-quality videos.

"We recently had our highest selling week ever for Pixel, and I'm really proud of the positive reviews so far," he mentioned.

Powered by Google's next-generation Tensor G2 processor and shipping with Android 13, Pixel 7 is priced at Rs 59,999 and Pixel 7 Pro is priced at Rs 84,999 in India.

Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch immersive display, a polished aluminium frame and a camera bar in three colours: Snow, Obsidian, and a new Hazel colour.

Google has also introduced its latest release of Android.

"Android 13 offers new personalisation features, improved privacy controls and a more seamless experience with connected devices," said Pichai.

He also revealed that Google Workspace is now being used by more than 8 million businesses and organisations worldwide.

"We are investing deeply from the silicon to the OS to powerful software experiences because it's a big opportunity to move computing forward and build deeper relationships with people who love using Google products," said Pichai.

--IANS

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(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.)
Gunmen opened fire on Wednesday at a major Shiite holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, according to state-run media.

The official website of the judiciary says two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

The attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremists who have targeted the country's Shiite majority in the past, comes as has been convulsed by over a month of anti-government demonstrations, the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.

Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam as in many other traditions again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

Death to the dictator!" protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to security considerations.

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation completely stable.

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb "the spread of influenza."



In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! through the labyrinthine marketplace.

This year is a year of blood! they also chanted. "(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!"



Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator! as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan #WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labour unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with war against God," which is punishable by death in .

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of supporting terrorism." The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.

(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.)
LONDON (Reuters) - has completed the majority of sections of a free trade agreement with India but will only sign off on the deal once happy that it is fair and reciprocal, trade department minister Greg Hands said on Wednesday.

"We have already closed the majority of chapters and look forward to the next round of talks shortly," Hands told parliament. The government had previously said it wanted to complete the deal by Diwali, a deadline which passed earlier this week.

"We are working towards the best deal for both sides and won't sign until we have a deal that is fair, reciprocal and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the ."

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)

(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 Liberal Democrats have called for a Cabinet Office probe into Indian-origin Suella Braverman's re-appointment as the UK Home Secretary by Rishi Sunak, days after being forced to resign for breaching the ministerial code, a media report said on Wednesday.

Braverman, 42, whose scathing resignation letter precipitated Liz Truss' exit from Downing Street last week, is a fellow Bexiteer like Sunak.

"Suella Braverman's appointment makes a mockery of Rishi Sunak's claims to be bringing integrity to Number 10," Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"There must be a full independent inquiry by the Cabinet Office into her appointment, including any promises Sunak made to her behind closed doors," Carmichael said.

Carmichael said that Braverman should be sacked if it is confirmed she "repeatedly broke the ministerial code and threatened national security", adding: "A Home Secretary who broke the rules is not fit for a Home Office which keeps the rules."



It remains to be seen how Braverman's tough stance on immigration will square off in the new Cabinet after her remarks about Indian visa overstayers caused much damage to the ongoing India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) talks.

Sunak has pledged to govern with "integrity" and has tried to unite the Conservatives by including people from different wings of the party in his top team.

But the Opposition Labour Party has criticised the decision to reappoint Braverman, popular on the Tory right, as a home secretary just six days after she resigned over data breaches, the report said.

Braverman, the London-born daughter of a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, resigned from the role seven days ago, having breached the ministerial code by sending secure information from her private email, and left with scathing remarks about Truss's government.

However, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has defended the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary, saying she has "a very clear agenda" that the prime minister wants to see delivered.

(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.)
You have to hand it to . In the face of criticism about the radical strategic shift he has chosen for Facebook, he is stubbornly focused on turning it into a 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 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.

The project is still in its infancy: While has about 3 billion active users, Horizon Worlds, the VR platform that serves as the foundation of 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.

Researchers who track misinformation on say there is little evidence 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.

Facebooks policy is to not subject politicians to fact-checking, a spokesman for Meta said, though the company makes an exception for specific content thats been previously debunked by fact-checkers. Zuckerberg should consider changing that policy, and moderating politicians and candidates for office with the same rules governing the rest of us. Researchers say that politicians are sometimes major disseminators of misinformation, particularly in Asian countries, and the companys current policy gives them carte blanche to continue spreading misleading content.

Meta has said that its main approach to handling content through the 2022 midterms will be with warning labels. But warnings labels also 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 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.

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.
The Russian Foreign Ministry barred more persons of the member states from entering in response to their "anti-Russian" actions.

Among the newly blacklisted are representatives of European manufacturers of weapons and military equipment supplied to Ukraine and some lawmakers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the ministry.

The Russian side did not specify who are subject to the travel ban.

--IANS

int/sha

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In a landmark ruling, the Employment Court of has declared four drivers as proper employees of the company, paving the way for other countries to follow the suit and force the ride-hailing giant to treat its drivers as employees rather than independent contractors.

The Chief Judge of the Employment Court, Christina Inglis, found that all four drivers were employees of during the periods where they performed transportation services.

The drivers were part of a class-action lawsuit filed last July in the country.

The four drivers had written agreements with the various entities at different points in time between August 2016 and May 2022.

"The written agreements all specified that the entities were not employers but rather providers of the App that connects drivers to the digital platform and facilitators of the interactions on the platform," read the ruling that came out late on Tuesday.

The decision in came after the US Department of Labor proposed sweeping changes to how gig workers should be classified.

The Employment Court highlighted the need to adopt a purposive approach to determining the status of the drivers, having regard to the applicable legislation and its role in protecting vulnerable workers, regulating the labour market, and ensuring the maintenance of minimum standards.

The court found that significant control was exerted on Uber drivers in other ways, including via incentive schemes that reward consistency and quality and withdrawal of rewards for breaches of Uber's Guidelines or for slips in quality levels, measured by user ratings.

"Drivers were restricted from forming their own relationships with riders or from organising substitute drivers to perform services on their behalf," the judge observed.

The court found that in reality, Uber exercised significant control over each of the drivers.

It held that the drivers worked for that business; it was not simply a commercial arrangement; and they did not run a business of their own.

The judgment may have a broader potential impact on other Uber drivers globally.

--IANS

na/ksk/

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The government on Wednesday reconstituted a panel probing the killing of senior Arshad Sharif in Kenya by dropping an ISI representative from the team, days after he was shot dead by the Nairobi police.

Sharif, 49, a former reporter and TV anchor with ARY TV, and known for his proximity to former prime minister Imran Khan, had fled to Kenya after he was booked on charges of sedition and peddling anti-state narrative by Pakistan's security agencies earlier this year.

The was shot dead at a police checkpoint at an hour's distance from Nairobi on Sunday night. The Kenyan police later said it was a case of mistaken identity during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry removed a representative of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) from the list of officials who will be part of the team that will ascertain facts in the killing of Sharif from the Kenyan Police and relevant authorities.

The ministry removed ISI Lt Col Saad Ahmed's name hours after it had issued an earlier notification stating the names of three officials part of the high-profile team, according to a revised notification.

The two-member team, which includes Director/DIG Police, FIA Athar Waheed and Deputy Director General Intelligence Bureau Omar Shahid Hamid, will submit its report to the Interior Division.

According to the notification, the team will leave for Kenya immediately and noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan's High Commission in Nairobi will facilitate the team during the visit.

The move comes just a day after former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday claimed that Sharif was killed in a targeted attack. Khan said that he had advised Sharif to leave the country in view of the threats to his life.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that his government will form a three-member judicial commission to probe the journalist's killing.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Sharif arrived in Islamabad early Wednesday morning.

(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 will embark on a two-day visit to next week and meet President during which they will review the all-weather strategic cooperation partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments, the foreign ministry said here on Wednesday.

Sharif will be among the first foreign leaders to visit following the recently-concluded historic 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of in which President Xi won an unprecedented third five-year term in power.

Sharif's trip to China comes at a time when cash-strapped is making all efforts to arrange billions of dollars for payment of debts and bridge trade deficit. owes Paris Club countries a combined sum of around USD 10.7 billion. The Paris Club is a group of officials from major creditor nations whose role is to find coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced by debtor countries.

According to the Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan's total non-Paris Club bilateral debt currently stands at about USD 27 billion, of which Chinese debt is about USD 23 billion.

The prime minister will visit China on November 1-2. He will lead a high-level delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Sharif is undertaking the visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, it said.

The prime minister's visit represents the continuity of frequent leadership level exchanges between Pakistan and China. Sharif will meet with President Xi and hold delegation level talks with Premier Li, the release said.

"The two sides will review the all-weather strategic cooperation partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments," it said.

This would be Sharif's first visit to China since assuming office in April 2022 and follows his meeting with Xi in Uzbekistan on September 16 on the sidelines of the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the release said.

Xi, 69, was re-elected as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday, becoming the first leader after party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power after a 10-year tenure at the just concluded once-in-a-five years Congress, firming his grip over the party.

All his predecessors retired after 10 years in power, following a well-established rule.

Sharif's visit is also expected to advance the wide ranging bilateral cooperation agenda with the conclusion of a number of MoUs/agreements in diverse areas, and consolidate the momentum of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking Pakistan's Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

The USD 60 billion CPEC is part of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi.

China has historically come to Pakistan's rescue with economic, political, and military assistance and the leadership of the two countries has often described their ties as all-weather.

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A plane carrying the body of an outspoken Pakistani journalist who was shot and killed by Nairobi police while living in hiding in touched down at an airport in Islamabad just after midnight Wednesday, officials said.

Arshad Sharif was killed Sunday night when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital and police opened fire. Nairobi police expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of mistaken identity during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

Sharif was traveling with another Pakistani resident, Khurram Ahmed, when their car failed to stop for reasons that remain unclear despite being flagged down at the checkpoint. Police opened fire and laid chase.

Sharif's car flipped over and he was shot in the head and killed. His family in said Ahmed, who had initially been identified as Sharif's brother by the Nairobi police, was not a relative but that he was the driver of the car, according to information they received.

There was speculation that Ahmed was hurt and taken to a hospital but officials in have not announced any details about Ahmed's condition or whereabouts.

The 50-year-old journalist fled in August amid threats to his life. Early Wednesday, his family, friends and government officials received his body at the Islamabad airport.

A Pakistani plane departed from earlier Tuesday, carrying Sharif's body, and was expected to land in late Tuesday night, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said.

On Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is not related to the slain journalist, spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the incident. Pakistani diplomats were in attendance at the Nairobi airport when the plane with Sharif's remains took off. Later on Tuesday, it stopped in Doha, Qatar, before proceeding on to Pakistan. Sharif's family said his funeral will be held in Islamabad on Thursday.

Arshad Sharif left Pakistan in August after going into hiding in his own country in July to avoid arrest following a citizen's complaint against him on allegations of maligning the country's national institutions, a reference to the military. His whereabouts were not publicly known. Most of his relatives and friends knew only that he had spent time in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and London.

A month later, Sharif's employer the private ARY Television fired him, saying he had violated the TV station's social media policy. His talk show POWERPLAY, which aired on Mondays and Thursdays, was discontinued.

The station had earlier in the year remained critical of Pakistan's prime minister following the ouster of his predecessor, Imran Khan, in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April. Khan claims he was ousted as part of a U.S. designed plot, a charge both Washington and the Pakistani government deny. Sharif the journalist had been a prominent critic of Khan's ouster.

Khan on Tuesday announced a convoy of vehicles filled with supporters would descend on Islamabad on Friday from Lahore in a bid to pressure the government to hold snap elections, a demand the government has previously rejected. His announcement comes as the government struggles to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by record-breaking floods, which have killed 1,731 people since mid-June.

Earlier, Khan told a gathering of lawyers in the city of Peshawar that he had asked the slain journalist to leave the country as his life was in danger in Pakistan. He paid glowing tribute to Sharif, saying the man enjoyed a good reputation and he was among those who never bowed to pressure.

Pakistani and the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders have demanded an independent probe into Sharif's killing while a popular Pakistani anchorperson, Hamid Mir, on Monday said there were contradictions in the Nairobi police statements about the incident.

Later on Tuesday, Pakistan's prime minister announced an investigation and promised its findings would be shared with the public. The military and Pakistani had also requested that the government launch a probe into the killing.

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Russia is asking the to establish a commission to investigate its claims that the United States and are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons as a result of activities being carried out at biological laboratories in .

A draft resolution circulated to council members and obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press states that under Article VI of the convention Russia has filed an official complaint alleging that banned biological activities are taking place in .

Soon after Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, its UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare -- a charge denied by the United States and Ukraine.

The draft resolution would authorize the Security Council to set up a commission consisting of its 15 members to investigate the Russian claims and report to the council by November 30 and to parties to the convention at a review conference in Geneva from November 28-December 16.

Nebenzia said in a letter that it was circulating the resolution, along with some 300 pages of material, ahead of a Security Council meeting Moscow has called for Thursday on biological activities in Ukraine. He said Russia also plans to hold consultations of council experts on the draft resolution.

In March, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of using a Security Council meeting for lying and spreading disinformation about biological weapons as part of a potential false-flag operation by Moscow for the use of chemical or biological agents in Ukraine.

The US Mission to the United Nations did not have an immediate comment on the Russian draft resolution.

An AP investigation in March found that Russia's baseless claims about secret American biological warfare labs in Ukraine were taking root online including in the United States, uniting COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, QAnon adherents and some supporters of ex-President Donald Trump -- despite rebuttals from independent scientists, Ukrainian leaders and officials at the White House and Pentagon.

Ukraine does have a network of biological labs that have gotten funding and research support from the US But they are owned and operated by Ukraine and are part of an initiative called the Biological Threat Reduction Program that aims to reduce the likelihood of deadly outbreaks, whether natural or manmade.

The US efforts date back to work in the 1990s to dismantle the former Soviet Union's program for weapons of mass destruction.

The labs are not secret, Filippa Lentzos, a senior lecturer in science and security at King's College London, said in an email to The Associated Press in March. They are not being used in relation to bioweapons. This is all disinformation.

Nebenzia claimed in the letter to council members circulated Tuesday that during what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine it obtained a variety of documents and evidence that shed light on the true nature of military biological activities of the US and Ukraine on the Ukrainian territory.

The data analysis gives evidence of non-compliance by the American and Ukrainian sides with the provisions" of the biological weapons convention, he said.

Nebenzia said Russia attempted to obtain exhaustive answers to questions on specific U.S. and Ukrainian activities and implementation of the convention, but Washington and Kyiv have not provided necessary explanations, nor have they taken immediate measures to remedy the situation.

He said a formal meeting of the 197 state parties to the convention was called by Russia in late August and early September on the activities at biological laboratories in Ukraine, but a final report said it was not possible to reach consensus on the questions we raised.

The questions remain open and require resolution, Nebenzia said, which is why Russia is invoking Article VI of the convention. It gives state parties the right to request that the Security Council investigate alleged breaches.

The draft resolution also notes that Article VI requires state parties to cooperate in carrying out any investigation which the Security Council may initiate.

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targeted more than 40 villages around over the past day, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday, killing at least two people and sustaining the terror that forces people into air raid shelters each night.

Russian forces launched five rockets, 30 air strikes and more than 100 multiple-launch rocket system attacks on Ukrainian targets, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said.

The attacks come as fears are growing that Russia, facing setbacks on the battlefield, could try to detonate a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror.

Russia's defence minister called his counterparts from India and China to convey Moscow's concern about a purported Ukrainian plan to use such a so-called dirty bomb, repeating an allegation that and the West have strongly refuted.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced Moscow's concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb in the calls with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, and China's Wei Fenghe, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The conversations followed Shoigu's calls with British, French, Turkish and US counterparts on Sunday in which he made the same claim. Britain, France, and the United States rejected that claim as transparently false.

Despite the Western dismissal of the Russian claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that we have the information that there is an ongoing preparation in for such a terror attack.

We will continue to energetically inform the global community about what we know to persuade it to take action to prevent such irresponsible action by the regime in Kyiv, Peskov told reporters.

A Ukrainian official reported on Wednesday that a Russian strike hit a gas station in the city of Dnipro, killing two people, including a pregnant woman. The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said four people wounded were hospitalised.

Mykolaiv, a southern port city near the war's front line, is among the places where residents have lined up to receive rations of bread and canned food as increases in food prices and losses of income add to the war-time burdens of low-income households in Ukraine.

Several buildings and neighbourhoods were struck in Mykolaiv on Tuesday, though it was still unclear if there were any casualties, according to local authorities.

Missiles continued early on Wednesday morning.

The sole food distribution point in Mykolaiv allows each person to receive free bread once every three days. Many must walk long distances to collect the essential food items for their family.

Bread and canned food is all I eat. It's almost winter already, and it's terrifying, Anna Bilousova, 70, said.

For 74-year-old Olena Motuzko, getting the food is an ordeal because she has a disabled husband she must leave alone for hours at a time.

are trying to survive by going underground at night.

A 73-year-old woman spends her days in her home, cooking and washing, and every evening around 6 pm heads underground to a small makeshift sleeping area in a basement with several members of her family. She has been doing that every night since the war began in late February.

Valentyna, who asked that her last name not be used for security reasons, leaves her home unwillingly but heads into the shelter out of fear of the strikes that hit almost evening night, describing the sound of incoming attacks as very scary".

My nervous system can't cope with it, said, sitting in her makeshift bedroom.

In the shelter, she and her family members count the blasts they hear and then check their phones to learn where they hit.

(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.)
Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by to fight in Ukraine, a media report said.

Up to 30,000 members of the elite National Army Commando Corps were abandoned by the West when the country fell to the Taliban in August last year, Daily Mail reported.

Now, the US-trained light infantry force that fought side by side with Allied troops for nearly 20 years could be joining Vladimir Putin's savage war effort, the report said.

It is believed the shadowy Wagner Group is behind the recruitment drive, exploiting the jobless commandos.

An ex-official told Foreign Policy: "I am telling you [the recruiters] are Wagner Group. They are gathering people from all over. [The Afghan commandos] would be better used by Western allies to fight alongside Ukrainians. They don't want to fight for the Russians; the Russians are the enemy. But what else are they going to do?"

Many say they have been contacted via WhatsApp and Signal with offers to join the Russian 'foreign legion' in .

Senior military and security officials in fear as many as 10,000 soldiers could be tempted to join, because they have "nothing to lose", Daily Mail reported.

Only a few hundred senior officers were evacuated by the US in the dramatic withdrawal from Kabul in August 2021.

Many Afghan soldiers fled to the neighbouring countries while went into hiding fearing reprisals from the Taliban for their loyalty to the collapsed government and the West.

The commandos were honed by the US Navy Seals and the British SAS, with a staggering 80 billion pound spent on their training by the US.

An ex-security official said their call-up to would be a "game-changer" in Putin's faltering war.

Last year, Rep. Michael McCaul had warned abandoning the commandos could prove to be a costly mistake by the US as they could be recruited for adversary armies.

One Afghan ex-commando captain who is now in hiding said he helped his comrades connect with recruiters in Iran.

They were flown to Tehran and then on to where their phones are switched off and they carry out their mission 'secretly', he said, Daily Mail reported.

--IANS

san/arm

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Newly appointed UK Prime Minister held a conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy and expressed UK's solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.

"A privilege to speak to the President of Ukraine. Vladimir Zelenskyy this evening. Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support. We will always stand with Ukraine," Sunak tweeted following the conversation.

Earlier, in response to the prospects of good relations between and the UK after the appointment of Sunak, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, "No, at present, we do not see any preconditions, grounds or hopes for some positive shifts in the foreseeable future."

Earlier, then UK Prime Minister hopeful wrote a letter on Ukraine's Independence Day, praising the country's steadfast courage in standing up to Russian "aggression" and promising support from the people of the United Kingdom as the war continues in the country, reported TASS.

In a letter published in the Kyiv Post, Rishi had said that he will be a lifelong friend and help Ukraine rebuild into a prosperous, ambitious and forward-looking country.

"Your steadfast courage in standing up to aggression has given hope to peaceful and freedom-loving people around the world, and sends a clear message to despots that no matter how the odds may be stacked in their favour, they will never prevail," he had said. "Whatever the changes here in our country, we Brits will always remain your strongest ally," he added.

Sunak had vowed to keep supporting Ukraine's brave fighters and said that Britain will keep providing humanitarian aid to ensure you have access to medication and food.

"Your place in history is assured as a beacon of freedom. So together, not only must we defeat Putin, but we must also succeed in deterring him from ever hurting your people again with an even stronger, more prosperous Ukraine than stood before," he said.

Describing the fatal attacks on civilian areas in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine as a clear "sign of Putin's desperation," then UK Prime Minister Liz Truss had said that Britain will continue to provide vital military aid in Ukraine's fight for freedom.

Amid the escalating tensions, the then-British Prime Minister had reaffirmed her support for Ukraine and said that the country will stand right behind the war-torn nation in its fight for freedom.

The war between and Ukraine has escalated after a truck exploded on the Crimea road bridge, causing seven fuel tanks of a train heading to the Crimean Peninsula to catch fire.

The Crimean Bridge was opened in 2018 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, four years after Moscow annexed Crimea, and was designed to link the peninsula to Russia's transport network.

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New Delhi, Oct 26: Thousands of people mainly from have sought asylum in citing political persecution in India because they support Khalistan.

After escaping from India, 6,537 people have applied to the Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada, over the last 10 years for citizenship. More than half of the political asylum seekers are reported to be from .

Providing these figures in response to queries sent by indianarrative.com, Mylene Estrada-del Rosario, Advisor to the Immigration and Refugee Board, reveals that the refugee claims from India are mostly made based on India being a 'persecuting country'. The second plea taken by the applicants is that their 'political opinion' varies from that of the Indian state because of which they are hounded by the security agencies.

Rosario says, 'Each case before the Immigration and Refugee Board is decided on its own merits by independent decision-makers.' The applicant is required to furnish sufficient proof in support of his claim. The Canadian authorities on their own also keep an eye on the situation prevailing in the country to which the applicant belongs.

These asylum seekers enter through sea, land or air. On reaching they straightway claim refugee status as they are allegedly being hounded by Indian agencies violating human rights.

Punjab-origin journalist J.P. Pandher, now based in Toronto, reveals that the Indian lawyers dealing with political asylum seekers charge a hefty fee to file such cases in courts. The Indian lawyer, once hired, ropes in the services of a White advocate who drafts and argues the case in the court. The fee alone could range between Rs 30 to 35 lakh per case.

Once an asylum seeker gets permission to temporarily stay in Canada till the court decides his fate, he is allowed to work and earn for himself. The litigation continues for several years during which the applicants keep working to pay the lawyers.

A majority of political asylum seekers prefer Montreal in the Quebec state of Canada to file their cases. There is a belief prevalent that courts in Quebec are more sympathetic towards refugee claims. It is common knowledge that the Quebec people too are wanting to accede from mainland Canada as they feel oppressed.

A Brampton-based Punjabi lawyer says on condition of anonymity that the newspaper reports and films emanating from India showing violence against a particular community are presented before the courts to convince the judges that India persecutes them based on their religion and political beliefs.

The majority of asylum seekers from claim that they are supporters of the Khalistan movement and want an independent Sikh state but the police and other agencies of the Indian government put them in jail without a just trial.

Another lawyer engaged with cases of political asylum seekers reveals that the letter of support issued by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President and MP Simranjit Singh Mann on the party letterhead, who himself is a flag bearer of Khalistan, is 'procured' to bolster the refugee claim of an individual.

New Zealand-based Radio and TV host, Harnek Singh Neki maintains that Mann charges something between Rs five to seven lakh for issuing a letter to support a particular refugee claim.

The Sikh extremists wanted in Punjab for themselves committing or having funded acts of violence are learnt to be holed up in various cities of Canada as refugees and controlling key Gurdwaras. Such extremists include Hardeep Singh Nijjer, Lakhbir Landa and Arshdeep Singh Arsh.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative

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Turkey's Competition Authority announced on Wednesday that it has fined Meta Platforms Inc. 346.72 million liras ($18.63 million) for violating .

The company merged the data collected from its three applications -- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp -- which has complicated the activities of its competitors and created barriers to market entry, the Turkish authority said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

The company held a dominant position in personal social networking services, consumer communication services and online video advertising markets, the watchdog noted.

The fine was based on the company's 2021 income and Meta can object to the decision within 60 days, it added.

The authority had launched an investigation in 2021 when WhatsApp forced its Turkish users to share their data, including phone number and location, with Facebook, or they would not be able to use WhatsApp.

WhatsApp groups created by Turkey's public institutions moved to the local messaging apps after the privacy policy update.

The Turkish government has been tightening its regulations on social media over the past few years.

--IANS

int/arm

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Ukraine's nuclear energy operator said on Tuesday that Russian forces were performing secret work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, activity that could shed light on Russia's claims that the Ukrainian military is preparing a provocation involving a radioactive device.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made an unsubstantiated allegation that Ukraine was preparing to launch a so-called dirty bomb.

Shoigu levelled the charge over the weekend in calls to his British, French, Turkish and US counterparts. Britain, France and the United States rejected it out of hand as transparently false.

Ukraine also dismissed Moscow's claim as an attempt to distract attention from the Kremlin's own alleged plans to detonate a dirty bomb, which uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror.

Energoatom, the Ukrainian state enterprise that operates the country's four nuclear power plants, said Russian forces have carried out secret construction work over the last week at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

Russian officers controlling the area won't give access to Ukrainian staff running the plant or monitors from the UN's atomic energy watchdog that would allow them to see what the Russians are doing, Energoatom said Tuesday in a statement.

Energoatom said it assumes" the Russians are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at the plant. It said there were 174 containers at the plant's dry spent fuel storage facility, each of them containing 24 assemblies of spent nuclear fuel.

Destruction of these containers as a result of explosion will lead to a radiation accident and radiation contamination of several hundred square kilometers (miles) of the adjacent territory, the company said.

It called on the Atomic Energy Agency to assess what was going on.

The UN Security Council was scheduled to hold closed-door consultations about the dirty-bomb allegations later Tuesday at Russia's request.

Russia asked the council to establish a commission to investigate its claims that the United States and Ukraine are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons at laboratories in Ukraine.

Soon after Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, its UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare a charge denied by the US and Ukraine.

The Kremlin has insisted that its warning of a purported Ukrainian plan to use a dirty bomb should be taken seriously and criticised Western nations for shrugging it off.

The dismissal of Moscow's warning is unacceptable in view of the seriousness of the danger that we have talked about, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Speaking during a conference call with reporters, Peskov added: We again emphasize the grave danger posed by the plans hatched by the Ukrainians.

The White House on Monday again underscored that the Russian allegations were false.

It's just not true. We know it's not true, said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council. In the past, the Russians have, on occasion, blamed for things that they were planning to do.

Dirty bombs don't have the devastating destruction of a nuclear explosion but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing bureaucratic delays and mounting losses, urged his government Tuesday to cut through bureaucracy to crank out enough weapons and supplies to feed the war in Ukraine, where a Western-armed Ukrainian counteroffensive has set back Russia's forces.

In other developments, Ukrainian authorities asked citizens not to return home and further tax the country's battered energy infrastructure, and Western countries mulled how to rebuild Ukraine when the war ends.

The Russian military's shortfalls in the eight-month war have been so pronounced that Putin had to create a structure to try to address them. On Tuesday, he chaired a new committee designed to accelerate the production and delivery of weapons and supplies for Russian troops, stressing the need to gain higher tempo in all areas.

Russian news reports have acknowledged that many of those called up under a mobilisation of 300,000 reservists Putin ordered haven't been provided with basic equipment such as medical kits and flak jackets, and had to find their own.

Other reports have suggested that Russian troops are increasingly forced to use old and sometimes unreliable equipment and that some of the newly mobilised troops are rushed to the war front with little training.

Last week, Putin tried to show all is well by visiting a training site in where he was shown well equipped soldiers.

To substitute for increasingly scarce Russian-made long-range precision weapons, Britain's Ministry of Defense said was likely to use a large number of drones to try to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses. Russia's artillery ammunition is running low, the British report said Tuesday.

The Institute for the Study of War, in Washington, added that the slower tempo of Russian air, missile, and drone strikes possibly reflects decreasing missile and drone stockpiles and the strikes' limited effectiveness of accomplishing Russian strategic military goals.

The Russian military has still managed to inflict heavy damage and casualties, ruining homes, public buildings and Ukraine's power grid. The World Bank estimates the damage to Ukraine so far at 350 billion euros (USD 345 billion).

Recent Russian attacks have focused largely on Ukraine's energy facilities, especially electricity generation and transmission. Electricity shortfalls are so severe that Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk on Tuesday asked citizens living abroad not to return this winter to avoid placing further strain on the power supply.

We need to survive the winter but, unfortunately, the (electricity) networks will not survive, Vereshchuk said on Ukrainian television. We understand that the situation will only get worse, and this winter we need to survive.

In Berlin, European Union leaders brought together experts to work on a new Marshall Plan for rebuilding Ukraine a reference to the US-sponsored plan that helped revive Western European economies after World War II.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the meeting is addressing how to ensure and how to sustain the financing of the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine for years and decades to come.

Scholz, who co-hosted the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said he's looking for nothing less than creating a new Marshall Plan for the 21st century a generational task that must begin now.

On the diplomatic front, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after arriving in Kyiv that it was important to me in this phase of air attacks with drones, cruise missiles and rockets to send a signal of solidarity to Ukrainians. Later in the day he took cover in a bomb shelter after an air raid siren alerted a possible attack, according to local media.

The German president, whose position is largely ceremonial, made it to Ukraine on his third try.

In April, he was planning to visit with his Polish and Baltic counterparts, but said his presence apparently wasn't wanted in Kyiv. Steinmeier has been criticized in Ukraine for allegedly cozying up to during his time as Germany's foreign minister. Last week, a planned trip was put off because of security concerns.

On the battlefront, residents of the southern city of Mykolaiv lined up for water and essential supplies Tuesday as Ukrainian forces advanced on the nearby Russian-occupied city of Kherson.

One of Moscow's allies on Tuesday urged Russia to step up the pace and scale of Ukraine's destruction.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the regional leader of Chechnya who has sent troops to fight in Ukraine, urged to wipe off the map entire cities in retaliation for Ukrainian shelling of Russia's territory. Authorities in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions that border Ukraine have repeatedly reported Ukrainian shelling that has damaged infrastructure and residential buildings.

Our response has been too weak, Kadyrov said on his messaging app channel. If a shell flies into our region, entire cities must be wiped off the face of the Earth so that they don't ever think that they can fire in our direction.

Kyiv wants to step up the fight, but says it needs more war materiel.

We need more weaponry, we need more ammunition to win this war, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters in Berlin. He added: We need tanks from our partners, from all of our partners; we need heavy armored vehicles, we need additional artillery units, howitzers.

(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 new variants are spreading around the globe and becoming a cause of concern, World Organization (WHO)'s infectious disease epidemiologist, Maria Van Kerkhove, on Tuesday, called for 'sustained surveillance of the (Covid) virus amid Variants of Concern dominance worldwide'.

According to a report in Indian Express, Kerkhove said that with almost 80 per cent of the sequences that are reported worldwide being of the BA.5, and their sub-lineages, XBB is a recombinant of actually two BA.2 sublineages, and specifically, BA.2.10.1 and B.2.75. She further added that It is one of the more than 300 sub-lineages of that we and our partners are tracking worldwide.

Kerkhove's message was shared on WHO's Twitter handle, and also highlights how the rising sublineages are receiving attention. She adds that 'because we do see a growth advantage of XBB and we are seeing increases in case detection in some countries. We dont see signals of a change in the severity of the XBB recombinant.

So, its still low levels of circulation. But we need to keep an eye on it because it is Omicron, it has a large number of mutations like all of the Omicron sublineages, and because it has its fitness advantage.'

While the new Covid variants are causing fear worldwide, in India, they do not lead to more hospital admissions and deaths. Though it is considered mild, the new variants are still fast-spreading ones.

Elaborating on the same, the epidemiologist further stated that we do see increased transmissions but we don't see a change in severity. Our diagnostics work. Our vaccines work added Kerkhove.

WHO, previously stated on its website that the organisation has added a new category to its variant tracking system, namely Omicron subvariants under monitoring, in order to signal to authorities worldwide, which Variant of Concern (VOC) lineages may require prioritised attention and monitoring.
US President has warned Russia against using in Ukraine, saying it would be an incredibly serious mistake.

The Biden administration had earlier said Russia had given notice that it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities while Ukraine's nuclear energy operator claimed its neighbour was performing some secret work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Let me just say: Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake if it uses a tactical nuclear weapon, Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

He was responding to a question on whether Russia was preparing to deploy a dirty bomb or a nuclear weapon.

I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false-flag operation yet; I don't know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake, Biden stressed.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the President was clear about what he said. He said it again today. It would be a major mistake for Russia to use in Ukraine, leading to severe consequences. As for the potential use of a dirty bomb, look, Russia is pushing transparently false allegations, she claimed.

You heard me say that. You heard my colleague over at the State Department say yesterday that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. We are calling that false, false allegations by Russia.

So, we must take this seriously in the past, we have seen Russia use allegations as a pretext to escalate, she said.

Jean-Pierre, however, said the US had not seen Russia make any preparations on those lines but stressed that it will continue to monitor the situation very, very closely.

Warning of consequences for Russia, she said, I'm certainly not going to lay them out here. And, look, you know, we have communicated directly with them. I'm just not going to get ahead of any conversations on what we've laid out for the Russians.

Responding to a question on peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Jean-Pierre said it was up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate.

He (Zelenskyy) will make that decision for his country, Jean-Pierre 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.)
owner Inditex has reached an agreement to sell its Russian business to a Lebanese retail and real estate conglomerate, the Spanish fashion giant said on Tuesday in a statement to the country's competition authorities.

The buyer is Daher Group and the potential purchase is pending approval from Russian authorities, Inditex said, without disclosing financial details.

Inditex halted its business in Russia on March 5, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. Following other western brands, the fashion retailer closed its 502 shops and stopped online sales.

Tuesday's announcement marks the end of Inditex's business in Russia, although the retailer said it would consider returning through a franchise collaboration with Daher if market circumstances changed.

The statement to CNMC, the commission that oversees competition in Spain, made no direct reference to the war in Ukraine.

The sale agreement includes the transfer of most of the lease contracts of its existing stores, which Inditex says will enable the preservation of a substantial number of jobs generated by the group.

Founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega, Inditex' rapid success hinged on the ability to serve new fashion collections in record time. It currently operates several brands globally, including Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull & Bear and Oysho.

(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 Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday moved the in connection with the Rs 100 crore filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation case.

This comes days after a special CBI court rejected Deshmukh's bail plea on October 21.

The hearing on the NCP leader's bail plea will take place on November 11.

Earlier, rejecting the bail application of Anil Deshmukh, the CBI court said that in this case, the statement of public witness Sachin Waze has been recorded by the CBI during the hearing of the bail application.

He had been accused of asking policemen to collect Rs 100 crores illegally for him every month from bar owners in Mumbai.

"It is clear from the statements of the witnesses that Anil Deshmukh is the main conspirator in this whole case. The charges against him are very serious. In such a situation, if he is granted bail, he can influence the case and the witnesses," the CBI court said.

"Whatever medical facilities Anil Deshmukh needs is being given to him, so he cannot be granted bail even on medical grounds. CBI's investigation is still in the preliminary stage, so it is not right to grant bail to Anil Deshmukh at this stage," the court added.

Deshmukh continues to be in judicial custody in Arthur Road prison as he is also being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case.

Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2021 and is currently in judicial custody.

According to the ED, Deshmukh had misused his position as state home minister and collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars in Mumbai through some police of officers.

Earlier on October 11, the Supreme Court refused to cancel the bail granted to the former home minister in the money laundering case lodged against him by Enforcement Directorate (ED).

On October 4, the had granted bail to Deshmukh in a money laundering case being investigated by the ED.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister on Wednesday hit the road to inspect ghats along the river Ganges in the state capital which will be teeming with crowds for the next few days as part of Chhath festivities.

Kumar ditched the steamer ride that he had been undertaking, so far, as the septuagenarian was recovering from bruises he received recently when his steamer had crashed into a pillar.

This was revealed by the longest-serving chief minister of the state himself when, at one point, some curious journalists inquired about what appeared as a departure from his annual drill.

Just have a look at my wound, said the 71-year-old chief minister, otherwise known to be a stickler for privacy and reserve, as he pulled up his kurta to reveal a gash on his belly.

The CM said he had also hurt his leg and his abdomen bruise has caused him to avoid taking the front seat in his car which would require him to wear the seat belt.

Notably, the administration had claimed that all occupants of the steamer, which rammed into one of the pillars of the JP Setu, were "safe" and shifted to another ship.

The CM also noted that not all the ghats had adequate arrangements and instructed officials to "call a press conference and announce which of the ghats had proper facilities for common people".

He also underscored with pride that he has been inspecting ghats, ahead of Chhath, every year since 2006.

The Bihar CM is also known for his steamer rides on the day of the festival when he used to wave at the massive crowds greeting him with roars of "Chhathi Maiya Ki Jai" before getting busy with prayers offered to the setting sun.

The most popular festival of Bihar which transforms the state into a huge carnival for three days, Chhath begins with "Kharna", falling on Saturday evening this year, when devotees heartily undertake a grueling 36 hours long fast.

(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.)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister informing he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in Finance Minister K N Balagopal, accusing him of making speech undermining unity, and urged the CM to take constitutionally appropriate action against his cabinet colleague, a demand turned down by the latter.

The Chief Minister has shot back a letter to the Governor rejecting his demand seeking action against Balagopal, an official source told PTI.

He reiterated his trust on Balagopal, saying it remains "undiminished."



In his letter, the Governor did not explicitly seek for the removal/withdrawal of Balagopal from the LDF cabinet but it seemed to be the essence of his communication to Vijayan.

A highly placed source said that in his response, Vijayan said that from a constitutional perspective and factoring in the democratic conventions and traditions of the country, the statement cannot warrant a ground for cessation of enjoyment of the Governor's pleasure.

The Governor will appreciate that no further action needs to be taken in the matter, Vijayan said, according to the source.

In his letter to the CM, the Governor alleged that Balagopal delivered a speech at a University campus here on October 18, seeking to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and undermining the unity of India and he was left with no option but to convey that the Finance Minister has "ceased to enjoy my pleasure".

Stating the reported statements of Balagopal are nothing short of violation of oath he had administered to him, Khan directed Vijayan to take action which was constitutionally appropriate.

This the first such move by the governor after Raj Bhavan PRO tweeted on October 17 that the chief minister and Council of Ministers have right to advise governor but statements of individual ministers that lower the dignity of the office of the Governor, can invite action including "withdrawal of pleasure."



Quoting the newspaper reports of October 19, the Governor alleged the comments made by Balagopal and state Higher Education Minister R Bindu at a function organised at Karyavattom campus of the Kerala University were "clearly aimed at tarnishing the image of the Governor and lowering the dignity of office of the Governor".

"But the most disturbing were the comments made by the Finance Minister which seek to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and if allowed to go unchecked they may have erosive and baneful influence on our national unity and integrity", the Governor said in the letter.

It carried the newspaper reports quoting Balagopal who reportedly said at the function that those who come from places like Uttar Pradesh, may find it tough to understand universities in Kerala.

Balagopal, a former Rajya Sabha MP reportedly continued saying, "security guards of the Vice Chancellor of Banaras University had shot down five students. Then I was an MP and had gone there. The Vice Chancellor had 50 to 100 security guards. This is the situation in many universities there".

The Governor said, "the above mentioned remarks of the Finance Minister seek to create a wedge between Kerala and other States of Indian Union and project a false impression as if different States of India have different systems of higher education".

Khan alleged that the reported statements of Balagopal are nothing short of violation of the oath he had administered to him.

"A minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India cannot continue to enjoy my pleasure. In these circumstances, I am left with no option but to convey that Balagopal has ceased to enjoy my pleasure", the Governor said and expressed hope that the Chief Minister will "consider the matter with seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate".

Khan also claimed that the assertions of Balagopal have no basis as the higher education in all states of India is subject to UGC Regulations which issues not only guidelines to conduct the affairs of the Universities but also provides substantial monetary assistance.

The Acts/Statutes of Indian Universities are more or less the same and Kerala's Universities have had Vice Chancellors from outside the state.

The NAAC grading of our Universities are also assessed and granted by non Keralite Peer Teams, the Governor said in his letter to the CM.

Khan said the comments of the Finance Minister challenge not only the national unity and integrity but also the Constitutional Convention that makes it necessary that Governor of each state shall be from outside the state.

He stated Balagopal also seems to be blissfully unaware that Banaras Hindu University is a Central University and it does not come under the administrative control of Uttar Pradesh government and it had more Vice Chancellors from other states including from southern than from UP.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a letter to Chief Minister on Wednesday, governor Arif Mohammed Khan informed that he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in KN Balagopal, indicating his withdrawal from the state cabinet, reported Press Trust of India quoting an official source said.

The governor, in the letter, wrote, "Reported statements of Balagopal are in violation of the oath I had administered to him. A minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India can't continue to enjoy my pleasure" quoted ANI.

Khan, in his letter, alleged that Balagopal delivered a speech at a University campus in Thiruvananthapuram on October 19, seeking to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and undermining the unity of India.

"The whose main source of revenue is alcohol and lottery, is raising the question whether the governor who is from UP can understand the education system...

But I would advise him that don't make the same comment about the judges of the Supreme Court," Khan added.

Saying that he has "ceased to enjoy pleasure" in the state FM, Khan also directed CM Vijayan to take action, which is constitutionally appropriate.

However, Vijayan wrote back to Khan, stating that the speech was nothing but a political response and it was not meant to lower the dignity of the governor, reported IANS.

Khan wrote in his letter to CM, "In these circumstances, I am left with no option but to convey that KN Balagopal has ceased to enjoy my pleasure. I hope that you consider the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate," quoted ANI.

As per Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the chief minister shall be appointed by the governor, the other Ministers shall be appointed by the governor on the advice of the Chief Minister, and the Ministers shall hold office at the pleasure of the governor.

(With agencies inputs)
In his first speech after he officially became President, acknowledged the party was facing a difficult time and people had turned away from it. But he launched a frontal attack on divisive forces and said: " will break the circle of lies, hatred prevailing currently. My appeal goes out to people not aligned with the party but who want to save democracy, to join hands." In this he pledged, as president of the Congress, to strengthen and grow the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a project that has suffered a setback as units in the states are fearful of rivals like the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress.

A delegate invited to the function to which all state and district Congress chiefs were invited, said the function was excellent and that he detected a new unity of purpose in the party.

Kharges speech referred to his own humble beginnings and his struggles in life. "This is an emotional moment for me, I want to thank Congress people for making a worker's son, an ordinary worker, the president of Congress. It is a matter of pride to carry forward the legacy of the Congress, he said in his address. I started this journey in 1969 as a block committee chief. Today you have taken it to such heights. It is my privilege and pride to take forward the legacy of Congress. The great political party which was led by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Azad, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Indiraji, Rajivji. It is a matter of privilege and pride for me to handle that responsibility,"he said

He referred repeatedly to the contributions made by Babasaheb Ambedkar in bringing India together. He mocked the efforts of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its alliance partners in seeking to establish a new India. "In New India, hunger, pollution are increasing but the rupee is falling. The government is sleeping but the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department are working 24 hours. In new India, Godse is called a patriot and Mahatma Gandhi is an anti- . They want to bring in the constitution of RSS".

Kharge did not refer to the travails of minority communities directly. But he did not fail to praise Sonia Gandhi's contribution in running the party and Rahul Gandhi for embarking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra and said that his yatra is infusing the country with new energy.

Kharge also pledged to translate the Congress' commitment at the Udaipur conclave to fill up 50 per cent of all party positions with people below 50.

In a brief speech, outgoing president Sonia Gandhi said it was a source of great satisfaction that the new Congress president is very experienced and has risen from being an ordinary worker to such heights through his hard work. She said she was confident the Congress would be inspired and strengthened by his leadership. I did my duty as Congress president to the best of my ability and am feeling relieved as I will now be free from this responsibility she said. The other former president on the podium, Rahul Gandhi did not make a speech. But Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that when efforts to convince Rahul Gandhi that he should become president failed, Kharge became president. But pledged to work with the new president.

Soon after Kharge took over as the new Congress president, all members of the Working Committee, general secretaries and in-charges tendered their resignations to enable the new chief to install his team.

"All the CWC members, AICC general secretaries and in-charges have tendered their resignation to Congress president," said AICC general secretary Organisation K C Venugopal.

According to the Congress constitution, the election of Kharge will be ratified at the plenary session of the party which is likely to be held in March-April next year. The new CWC, the top decision-making body of the Congress, will be reconstituted by Kharge soon after the plenary session. According to the party Constitution, 11 members of the CWC will be nominated and 12 will be elected.Besides the leader of the party in Parliament and the Congress president will also be the members of the working committee. Till the time the election of Kharge is ratified, a new steering committee will be formed by the new party chief which will function as the CWC till the plenary session.
Veteran leader formally took over as president on Wednesday and said the party will break the "system of lies and hatred" prevailing under the current government.

Kharge, the first non-Gandhi to head the party in 24 years, had defeated Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in a direct contest for the president's post in the grand old party after the Gandhis opted out of the race.

Speaking at the event after he was handed over the certificate of election to the top post at a function at the headquarters here, Kharge said it was an emotional moment for him and he would like to thank people for making a worker's son and an ordinary worker, president of the party.

"I know it is a difficult time, efforts are being made to change democracy established by Congress," the 80-year-old leader said after taking over as party chief.

"The will break this system of lies and hatred that is prevailing in the country," he said.

Kharge also hailed Rahul Gandhi for embarking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which, he said, is filling the country with a new energy.

Kharge said the Udaipur Declaration's proposals such as 50 per cent party posts to be given to those below 50 years of age, filling up organisational vacancies, setting up public insight department and election management department, establishing political affairs committee in states, will be implemented.

"What kind of new India is this where youth are not getting jobs, farmers are being crushed under jeeps, atrocities taking place against women are rising, people are reeling under price rise but government is sitting with eyes closed, government is helping a few crony capitalist friends," Kharge alleged.

"In this new India, hunger is rising, cost of education is rising, pollution is rising. The government is sleeping but ED, CBI are working for 24 hours for suppression. In this new India, Dalits, minorities and exploited people are being insulted and opportunities taken away from them...(Nathuram) Godse is called a patriot and (Mahatma) Gandhi is called a traitor, there are efforts to change Babasaheb's Constitution and replace it with Sangh's constitution," Kharge alleged.

To make this new India, they want a Congress-mukt Bharat but the party will not allow this, the former Union minister said.

Kharge was handed over the certificate of election as the Congress president by the party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry.

Mistry said he hopes other parties will draw a lesson from the Congress and hold polls for party presidency by secret ballot.

Outgoing Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the event which was attended by several top party leaders.

Ahead of his taking over, Kharge visited Rajghat and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He also visited the memorials of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram, and paid tributes to the leaders.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Congress President on Wednesday set up a 47-member Steering Committee, which includes his predecessors and and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in place of the CWC.

Ahead of his taking over, all the members of the Congress Working Committee - the party's highest decision-making authority, AICC General Secretaries and incharges had tendered their resignation.

The new President will announce his new team subsequently.

Earlier Kharge, in his maiden speech as President, said that "there is attempt the replace Baba Saheb's (B.R. Ambedkar) Constitution with the Sangh Constitution and Congress will not let it happen".

He alleged that the new India is without jobs, poverty and farmers ae being crushed under wheels. While the government effort is to make the nation oppositionless but the Congress will fight the government for the people, he asserted.

--IANS

miz/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming Sonia Gandhi's guidance as invaluable for the party, Rajasthan Chief Minister on Wednesday said the change of guard is an emotional moment for all partymen.

"When took over as president in 1998, the party did not have a government at the Centre and it had many challenges in the states too. After she took over as party president, the won in all states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

In 2004 and 2009, the UPA government was formed at the Centre by defeating the BJP, he said.

Veteran leader formally took over as Congress president on Wednesday and said the party will break the "system of lies and hatred" prevailing under the current government.

Kharge, the first non-Gandhi to head the party in 24 years, had defeated Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in a direct contest for the president's post in the grand old party after the Gandhis opted out of the race.

Gehlot also hailed Sonia Gandhi's spirit of sacrifice, affection and belongingness.

"Sonia ji even gave up the post of prime minister and always ran the party like a family. Due to this spirit of sacrifice, affection and belongingness, the party united under her leadership and formed the UPA by forming alliances with many parties.

"Those who were opposed to Sonia ji when she entered became her admirers. Today, leaving the post of Congress president is an emotional moment for all Congressmen, he added.

Gehlot, who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Kharge in Delhi, is scheduled to go on an election tour of Gujarat from October 28.

(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 September quarter results of sprung no major surprises for investors.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambanis RIL posted flat growth in net profit of Rs 13,656 crore, while the consolidated Ebitda came in at Rs 34,663 crore.

That said, what captured investors fancy was the Boards decision to demerge and list its undertaking into Reliance Strategic Investment, or RSIL. The firm would be renamed as Jio .

RSIL is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of RIL and is a Reserve Bank of India-registered non-deposit taking systemically important .

Shareholders of RIL will receive one equity share of JFS for one fully paid-up equity share held in RIL.

The windfall Indian tax on transportation fuels, and weak refining and polymer margins have been hurting the conglomerates legacy petrochemicals and energy operations.

This is, probably, why Ambani is spinning off Jio  to double down on the consumer business and put some sizzle back in the stock.

G Chokkalingam, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Equinomics Research says, RIL has had subdued financial performance. Weak exports of petrochem products affected earnings. RIL is known for value creation via organic and inorganic growth. It is well positioned to repeat the story.

A successful fintech loans platform draws upon the data-network-activity.

The digital trail people leave behind on e-commerce or social media sites can be used to bind them into a strong network, which can be harnessed to encourage borrowing activity. This loop is already in place for Reliance.

Deven Choksey, Managing Director, KR Choksey Investment Managers says, the lending biz is done best via banks/NBFCs. RIL caters to 10 million Kirana stores; 16,000 own stores. RIL also has access to Merchant Credit for all their suppliers. Thus, two models emerge for Reliance  Customer lending and Merchant lending. Bajaj Finance is lending credit worth Rs 2.2 trillion. RIL has the potential to surpass this level.

The financial services segment reported Ebitda of Rs 89 crore in Q2, with segment assets worth Rs 95,410 crore and liabilities of only Rs 30 crore.

Global consultancy firm Bain & Company expects Indias smartphone users to grow to 1.1 billion by FY26, up from about 750 million today.

It also expects more than 850 million internet users in FY26, up from about 650 million at present.

India has seen investments worth about $35 billion across segments thus far, more than doubling Indias share of global fintech funding since 2016.

Given this, analysts believe the groups financial services business will seek to become a conglomerate in its own right in the long run. However, the didnt set the stock market on fire. Shares of the company fell 1.5% on Tuesday, and analysts at Nuvama Research dont expect the de-merger to be a value changer for RIL.

They ascribe a value of 106 rupees per share for Jio Financial Services. On technical charts, the stock of is struggling to cross the 2,800-mark.

According to Avdhut Bagkar of Business Standard, RIL stock holding 100-WMA support since 2017. Double Bottom breakout to boost upside. Immediate hurdle at Rs 2,800. Next target: Rs 3,500

On Wednesday, will remain closed on account of Diwali Balipratipada.
Unsolicited calls and messages have become an elephant in the room. Everyone -- the government, the regulator and the corporate world -- knows about it. But hardly anyone -- barring those at the receiving end  seems to care about it.

As you step out of your bed, your phone too comes alive with rings and beeps. From real estate dealers, to clothing brands, to diagnostic centres to fast food chains, everyone is vying for your attention.

And just when you thought that was a private space, out of bounds to those pesky intruders, it too has blinked. More and more promotional messages are flooding and the trend has gained momentum in the last few months.

According to a localcircles survey, more than one in two Indians are receiving four or more spam messages each day, while 95% of those surveyed confirmed they received at least one spam message on .

India is one of the biggest markets for WhatsApp with over 550 million users and such a large user base offers massive opportunities for brands to tap into. According to Verloop, WhatsApp messages have a 90%-plus open rate in the first hour of message delivery, and brands have achieved upto 38% conversions.

The traces of ad intrusions can be traced back in time a few years ago when Meta-owned WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Business in India in 2018. The platform was meant to facilitate businesses with the opportunity to connect and chat with customers directly, creating a more personal point of contact.



WhatsApp business has been a game-changer for many small and medium businesses who didnt have the wherewithal and financial resources to make their presence felt online.

According to a WhatsApps report, nearly 70% of small and medium businesses say they have built their business on WhatsApp and 77% of them hired additional staff after joining the platform. As of 2020, about 15 million in India use the WhatsApp business app and it is one of the top 30 most-downloaded apps in the country.

Initially, WhatsApp only allowed businesses to send transactional messages, such as shipping updates. Starting September 2021, Whatsapp allowed businesses to send promotional messages like discount vouchers, product launch updates etc., raising the risks of spam.

According to a report, brands had to go through a tedious process to get on the platform. However, the checks have become loose lately. WhatsApps business policy says that in order to initiate a WhatsApp message to a person, the brand or business must first receive opt-in permission confirming that they wish to receive future messages on WhatsApp.

The promotional message also included a visual element like a check box and options to opt-in or out. However, since a policy tweak in 2020, visual elements like check-boxes were no longer required and fewer businesses were seen sticking to the opt-in design.

A Ken report said that Meta is betting big on WhatsApp business and it is expected to earn Rs 1,000 crore in 2022. It has become the second largest revenue source of the parent company after advertisements.

WhatsApp charges businesses money for messages that they send. Initially, the charge was around 20 paise if a business generates a message for 24 hours and if a user sent the first message, there was no charge.

In February, the charges were revised to 48 paise for a business-generated message and the user messages to cost 29 paise for the business per session.

Before WhatsApp, the spam space was dominated by SMSes and calls. Despite numerous regulations from the telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI), the most recent being a blockchain-led framework, the spam menace has not subsided.

The government too is now planning to rein in these pesky callers. It claims that the upcoming telecom bill will deal with such unsolicited messages. Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has said that the upcoming draft bill will have Know Your Customers (KYC) provisions. It will protect from unsolicited messages. But as the draft bill hangs fire, there seems to be no end to the unwanted messages.

With rapidly growing WhatsApp business, and aggressive monetisation plans, promotional messaging is only expected to grow. Could it backfire for brands and for the platform though? Let's hear from Samit Sinha, a brand consultant.

Samit Sinha, Founder & Managing Partner, Alchemist Brand Consulting says, unsolicited messaging never works. As owners, responsibility lies with Meta so that users are not bombarded.

As WhatsApp business grows, it is incumbent upon the social media giant to tightly regulate promotional advertising of brands and businesses, retaining the essence of the messaging platform.
Whats new: Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), will pay an official visit to China from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

According to an announcement from the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Nguyen will become the first foreign leader to visit China after the CPCs 20th National Congress.
Exercices nucleaires russes AA Images

Ces exercices "de routine" comprendront le lancement de missiles capables de transporter des ogives nucleaires, selon des responsables americains

La Russie a notifie aux Etats-Unis, mercredi, le demarrage de ses exercices nucleaires annuels, qui comprendront le lancement de missiles capables de transporter des ogives nucleaires, ont declare deux responsables americains.

Les deux responsables ont explique que ces exercices annuels ''de routine'' auront lieu au moment ou la Russie evoque frequemment dans ses discours, le recours aux armes nucleaires en Ukraine, a rapporte CBS News.

Citant un haut responsable militaire, le media a affirme que les exercices nucleaires russes baptises "Tonnerre" impliquent generalement des exercices a grande echelle de forces nucleaires strategiques, dont le lancement de missiles.

Les manuvres russes coincident avec les exercices de dissuasion nucleaire "Steadfast Noon" de l'OTAN, lancees le 17 octobre en Belgique, et qui se poursuivront jusqu'au 30 octobre, avec la participation de 14 pays.

Notons que l'OTAN avait declare, le mois courant, que les exercices de dissuasion nucleaire annuels baptises "Steadfast Noon", "contribuent a assurer la surete et la securite de la dissuasion nucleaire de l'alliance".

De son cote, le Secretaire general de l'OTAN, Jens Stoltenberg, a declare que l'OTAN "suivra de pres" le deroulement de ces exercices russes et "restera vigilante quant aux eventuelles menaces nucleaires et discours dangereux emanant de la partie russe".

AA/Ankara/Abdul-Jabbar Aburas

Russia informed US of annual nuclear exercise: Biden administration

Pentagon, State Department say Moscow complying with arms control obligations ahead of 'routine' exercise

WASHINGTON (AA) - Russia has informed the US it will conduct its annual nuclear forces exercise, the Biden administration said Tuesday amid soaring tensions with the Kremlin.

The Pentagon and State Department said Moscow is complying with its arms control obligations with the notification, describing the exercise as "routine."

The State Department added that the US was informed of forthcoming intercontinental ballistic missile and submarine-launched ballistic missile tests, saying Russia followed "appropriate protocols.

"While Russia engages in unprovoked aggression and reckless nuclear rhetoric, these notification measures do ensure we're not taken by surprise and reduce the risks of misperception," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

The comments come as relations between Moscow and Washington have hit lows not seen since the Cold War as Russia continues to pursue its military operation in neighboring Ukraine. Russia recently alleged that Kyiv's forces are preparing to use an improvised nuclear device known as a "dirty bomb.

Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the charge, saying Russia is using the accusation as cover for its own use of a dirty bomb.

A dirty bomb combines conventional explosives with radioactive materials that spread across an area following detonation.

The US, France and UK flatly rejected the suggestion Sunday, saying in a joint statement that each of their defense ministers "made clear" in separate phone calls with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu "that we all reject Russias transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory."

By Michael Hernandez/AA

NATO holds annual nuclear deterrence training exercise in Europe

'Steadfast Noon' exercise involves 14 countries and more than 60 aircraft of various types

BRUSSELS (AA) - Dozens of aircraft of NATO countries took part in the military alliance's annual "Steadfast Noon" nuclear deterrence training exercise in northwestern Europe.

"#NATO exercise #SteadfastNoon is a routine annual training activity. It involves 14 countries and more than 60 aircraft of various types," NATO Air Command said Tuesday.

Tanker aircraft and fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets are also taking part in the exercise, which began on Oct.17 and runs until Oct. 30.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Oct. 13 that the long-planned routine exercise ensures that the alliance's nuclear capabilities remain safe, secure and effective.

"Deterrence is the way to prevent any attack on a NATO ally and to preserve peace," he added.

By Omer Tugrul Cam/AA

...
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.
Vladimir Putin is trying to stir up fears, weaken support for Ukraine, says ex-German chancellor's foreign policy adviser

BERLIN (AA)  Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to intimidate Germany with his threat to use nuclear weapons, according to a senior German official.

With the threat of nuclear weapons, he is primarily aiming at Germany, Christoph Heusgen, a foreign policy adviser to ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, told local media.

He said Putin was trying to stir up fears and weaken support for Ukraine.

Concerns over a possible nuclear attack by Russia have grown ever since Putin vowed to use all available means to protect the country, a statement that observers took as a reference to nuclear arms.

Were back to Cold War logic, added Heusgen, who is also the current chairman of the Munich Security Conference, a high-level annual summit on international security policy.

The Ukraine war has seen Germany abandon its traditional restraint and pacifism in security and defense matters.

Germany has provided financial and military assistance to Ukraine, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz has vowed to help rebuild the Ukrainian army.

Scholz also overturned Berlins decades-long policy toward Russia and pledged to end its energy dependence on Moscow.

Heusgen said the Americans have made it clear to Moscow that it would face catastrophic consequences for using nuclear weapons.

I cannot imagine that there are suicidal Russian generals who would implement such an order, he said.

In addition, Putin would not want complete global isolation, he said, adding that even China would not allow the use of nuclear weapons.

- Ukraines NATO bid

On Ukraines possible NATO membership, Heusgen pointed out that former German leader Merkel vetoed the idea in 2008.

However, he said the situation had changed as a result of Putins breach of international law.

We have to think about what guarantees we can give Ukraine. But I think we should no longer rule out NATO membership for Ukraine, he added.

Oliver Towfigh Nia/AA
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez in Kenya Screen Capture

Visiting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez misspoke during joint press briefing in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA)  In televised remarks during an official visit to Kenya on Wednesday, Spains visiting prime minister mistakenly referred to his host, President William Ruto, as the president of Senegal.

During a press briefing at State House in the capital Nairobi, Pedro Sanchez said that his government will work with Kenya in many areas to strengthen bilateral ties.

Spain is also a potential ally in many fields, areas, that we can work together with Senegal in order to face the common challenges that our societies are facing, Sanchez said, confusing the East African country for one on the opposite coast.

Sanchez added: I am very honored to be one of the first international leaders visiting you as the president of Senegal and am really looking forward to working with you and your ministers.

Laughing off the faux pas, President Ruto briefly interrupted Sanchez's speech to correct him.

Sanchez apologized to Ruto before continuing: I am looking forward to working with you and the ministers. I bring a delegation of established Spanish companies in Kenya that are looking forward to the expansion.

Ruto thanked Sanchez for inviting him to visit Spain, adding: As a gateway to the continent, we will work together so Spain can find its way into Africa.

Andrew Wasike/AA
Its also unclear how The Sea Beast performed against The Mitchells vs. the Machines, which Netflix touted as its most-viewed animation release of 2021. Last year Netflix used a different ratings methodology than viewing hours; instead it calculated the number of viewing households.

Netflix also reported viewing hours for some of its non-animation film successes, which helps give an idea of how animation fares in the overall picture: The Gray Man (254 million hours viewed), Purple Hearts (229 million hours), the Danish film Loving Adults (67 million hours), and the Korean film Carter (65 million hours).

The streamer did not report any viewing figures for animated series, owing to the fact that it hasnt had any breakout animated series hits in 2022. It did offer viewing hours for some of its live-action hits though: Stranger Things season 4 (1.35 billion hours), Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (824 million hours), and The Sandman (351 million hours).

Netflix Animations original feature animation pipeline is picking up considerably in the second half of 2022. The streamer will release four new features in the coming months: Wendell & Wild, My Fathers Dragon, Guillermo del Toros Pinocchio, and Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.
EUA prices stay low due to recession fears and political uncertainty in the market

ICR Newsroom By 26 October 2022

By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark



European carbon emissions were up eight per cent in the first three quarters of 2022 when compared to 2021. This is based on the sharp increase in coal- and oil-driven power production.

The political debate of repowering the EU and the potential selling of 250m allowances has been hanging over the market.

Increased auctions and the lower production seen in several industries, combined with several speculators going short, kept the market in a tight EUR64-72 range.

Several sectors are seen selling their excess allowances to raise cash  for other margin payments or simply the purchase of energy.

The EUA December 2022 price trades at EUR69 and is now testing support in the range of EUR65-80, down due to political uncertainty and overall recession fear.

The outcome of price emergency measures to be introduced by the EU will have an impact. The new adjustment of the EU ETS is still being discussed in the European Council, the Commission and the European Parliament for the 4Q, including:

 increase in the linear reduction factor (LRF) to 4.2 from 2.2 per cent from 2024

 reduction of 177m allowances in 2024

 keep the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) intake at 24 per cent, not reducing it to 12 per cent in 2024

 phase out free allowances by introducing the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) between 2026-35

 introduction of trading scheme for Transport and buildings from 2025-27.

For 2023 Brannvoll ApS sees a trading range of EUR60-100, with an average of EUR85, which almost equals last years forecasts.

Published under
Pakistani producers to expand cement capacities

ICR Newsroom By 26 October 2022

In a cement sector update, MS Research has stated that four companies in Pakistan are expected to add extra capacity in FY22-23, lifting the current 70Mta of capacity by 11.7Mta by end March 2023.

According to market sources and company announcements, Bestway Cements (BWCL) greenfield expansion of 2.2Mta in Mianwali, Punjab, and Fauji Cements (FCCL) 2Mta brownfield expansion in Nizampur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have recently commenced trial operations. As both plants are located in the north, they will likely try to capture new capacity-based market share in that region.

According to the analyst, brownfield expansions for Lucky Cement (3.2Mta) and Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF) (2.1Mta) are also expected to come online during the ongoing quarter. In addition, a 2.2Mta brownfield expansion of BWCL is scheduled to start commercial operations in 3QFY22-23.

Post-expansion, Lucky Cement's capacity would increase from 11.7Mta to 14.9Mta, BWCL's from 9.9Mta to 14.3Mta, while that of FCCL would increase from 6.2Mta to 8.2Mta and MLCF's from 5.7Mta to 7.8Mta.

Published under
I ran into my friend Greg Martin this afternoon and enjoyed a friendly chat for several minutes. That meeting prompted me to submit a brief encouragement to the voters of the greater Chattanooga area to make the effort to get to their polling center and vote for this outstanding public servant. Greg is running for the State House of Representatives, District 26.

In this time of stressful, divided politics and harsh rhetoric, Dr. Martin is most a refreshing oasis of civility, kindness, professionalism, community involvement, public service and is truly everything a citizen would ever desire in a political representative. His wide and successful experience in the business community serves him well in understanding the needs of hard-working Tennesseans.

I know he has served our community with the very highest level of moral integrity, honest business ethics, tireless energy, exemplary family leadership, and intelligence all governed by his deeply held Christian convictions. Because I know his motivation and upright character and abilities, I completely trust his service to our community, our state and (I hope) eventually to the nation.

It is an honor to recommend this remarkable man for your consideration.

Dr. Tom Hammett

Retired Hamilton County Educator

Church Music Director

* * *

There are five State House races in Hamilton County, and the race for State House District 26 is the only competitive one. Unlike people in the rest of the county, folks in D26 have a true choice of who represents them in Nashville.

Im running to represent D26, but I'm not running against a person. Im running against bad policies. We've had one political party in power in Nashville for more than a decade, and they tend to vote in lockstep. So we don't have to guess what any Republican elected to the Tennessee legislature would do in office; their colleagues are doing it now. And we're living with the results.

Judging from where Tennessee sits compared to other states, our government is failing us. Wealthy corporations might be thriving here, thanks to big tax breaks, but most Tennesseans are not.

Tennessees biggest investors are everyday Tennesseans. We pay the countrys highest sales tax every time we go to the store. Sales tax accounts for most of the state funding for public ed and other services. (Meanwhile 25 percent of Tennessee's wealthiest corporations pay no state taxes.)

What are Tennessee taxpayers getting in return? We have among the worst rates for incarceration, school funding, violent crime, life expectancy, teen births, poverty, bankruptcy, and chronic disease. We deserve a better return on our investment.

Heres a great example. We could get 400,000 more Tennesseans health insurance if wed simply accept the federal funds to expand Medicaid. These are our own tax dollars being offered back to us, yet our state government wont accept them. Every economic analysis has shown that we would benefit by expanding Medicaidand that weve lost a lot of money by not doing it.

Concerned about crime? Heres a big part of the solution. The majority of incarcerated people have a substance-abuse problem, a mental health problem, or both. Research has shown that expanding Medicaidgiving people access to addiction treatment and mental health carereduces both violent crime and property crime.

Then theres the moral argument. Think about what it would mean to give 400,000 more Tennesseans access to health care. Ive had loved ones without health insurance. Ive been that person on the phone trying desperately to get addiction treatment or mental health care for someone in crisis. I wouldnt wish that on anyone.

These aren't R problems or D problems. They're Tennessee problems. And nothing is going to change until we get more people in Tennessee government who care about the humans at the other end of their policies.

I am an advocate. I dont care about power. I dont care about playing politics. I care about people. Thats why Im running for State House.

If you live in D26 and you want to learn more about me, please visit my website.

Allison Reilly Gorman

* * *

Ms. Gorman,

Your enthusiasm as a candidate is appreciated, and noticed. I care more about the person than the political party or ideology when evaluating who to vote for on election day. I will vote Republican or Democrat, as it doesnt matter to me. There is no elected official in Hamilton County with more public service experience than candidate Greg Martin. It is just a fact.

No other candidate is as proficient in public education. Mr. Martin served on HCDE board for what a decade? It was a long time. Then, Mr. Martin was the well-versed Hamilton County commissioner. Honestly, you dont have a fraction of his knowledge on county government operations. The decisions made in Nashville always trickle down to local government.

The fact is there is no candidate running for office in Hamilton County with more local government knowledge and experience than Greg Martin. I also like his, just the facts, analytical view of problems. Mr. Martin is a cool headed, factual leader. Mr. Martin is not hanging his hat on ideology, but rather service to community.

I have read your background, and dont see any a public service history, voluntary or otherwise. I could have missed something. Thing is, Martin is just so darn trustworthy.

Best wishes to you, but Greg Martin has more experience, government knowledge, and proven leadership.

April Eidson

* * *

In reading Ms. Gorman's response to the letter supporting Greg Martin, I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Mary Wallstonecraft. "What a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of a hypothesis."

Let's start with education. Tennessee is ranked #28 in education by US News, ahead of both North Carolina and Georgia. That is considerably higher than any time Democrats ruled the state until 15 years ago.



You want to put Democrats in charge of education? There are three counties that have trended Democrat in recent elections. Here is the state educational ranking of each; Metro Nashville (127), Haywood County (138) and the Democrat paradise that is Memphis (136). Yeah, let's put Democrats in charge of education.



I'm amazed that Democrats want a state income tax. Who pays a state income tax? Well the people who live in the state! Who pays a sales tax, the people who buy things in the state. I would suggest Ms. Gorman go out on one of our Interstates and count the number of out of state cars who pay our gasoline tax. Or go to Gatlinburg this weekend and see how many out of staters are staying in hotels and eating in the restaurants. I would imagine the only people who support a state

income tax are those who don't work and would not be affected by it.



And of course the Democrats always bring up crime. Once again I would point to the Democrat paradise of Memphis which was recently named the most dangerous city in the country by 24/7. Yeah, lets put Democrats in charge of crime.



Greg Martin is the clear choice for state representative.



Douglas Jones
A Dade County jury convicted Jeremiah Christopher Douglas of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and two counts of making a false statement in connection with the death of 23-year-old Leea Abigail Raines.

Following the verdict, Douglas, 41, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Brian M. House to serve life without parole, followed by an additional 25 years in prison. In addition, Douglas was already under sentence in a Catoosa County case, having been convicted originally in 2012 of statutory rape, enticing a child for indecent purposes, and four counts of child molestation, for which he was sentenced to 40 years, with the first 10 years to be served in prison.



Judge House revoked the balance of Douglas sentence in that case to prison.



Evidence presented over the course of a four-day trial showed that Douglas and Raines were in

an on-again, off-again relationship and resided together at Douglas' home on Patterson Drive

in Wildwood.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2021, the pair had recently left the home and an argument began as Douglas was driving along Highway 299, approximately two miles from the home. In a fit of rage, Douglas maliciously shoved Ms. Raines out of the vehicle, which was travelling at around 70 miles per hour, and fled the scene. Ms. Raines body was discovered and reported to authorities by passersby and she was pronounced deceased on the scene.



Investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Dade County Sheriffs Office worked

around the clock to solve the case. Several witnesses came forward to report seeing a

two-tone, brown and tan, older model Ford truck driving erratically and at a high rate of speed

with the passenger door open shortly before Ms. Raines body was discovered. One of the witnesses reported seeing the driver of the truck trying to push the passenger out as the passenger struggled for her life to stay in the truck.

Surveillance video from local businesses also captured the two-tone truck drive by the scene at a high rate of speed. The evidence showed that the truck then drove back by again, this time after first responders had arrived and were attending to Ms. Raines lifeless body in the road.

Evidence also showed that Douglas contacted Ms. Raines family and lied to them about her whereabouts, just three minutes after he drove past her body.



Douglas initially told investigators with the GBI and DCSO that Ms. Raines had left in the middle of

the night on the night prior to her murder, and that he did not own or operate any type of truck on

Nov. 5. Douglas insisted that he drove straight to work in his Nissan Sentra and had no

knowledge of Ms. Raines death. However, investigators found a Ford key on Douglas kitchen

counter, and learned that Douglas had been in possession of his stepfathers 1978 two-tone, brown and tan Ford F150 custom truck at the time of the murder. Furthermore, surveillance video from the residence where Douglas worked on Nov. 5 showed that Douglas arrived to work in the truck approximately 30 minutes after the murder.



During the trial, Douglas took the witness stand and testified to a version of events inconsistent with his initial statements to law enforcement and contradictory to the evidence in the case, DA Chris Arnt said. This time, Douglas admitted to driving the truck and being with Ms. Raines at the time of her death, but insisted that she had intentionally jumped out of the truck. Douglas testified that he fled the scene and did not stop to render aid or call 911, because he panicked. Douglas also admitted that he did not stop or slow down when Ms. Raines supposedly began trying to jump out of the truck, which would have saved her life if his version of events were true, but rather sped up and estimated his own speed to be 70 miles per hour.

Douglas version of events was ultimately rejected by the jury as evidenced by their verdict finding him guilty on all counts.



The states case was presented to the jury by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer A. Hartline and

Chief Assistant District Attorney Kevin Baugh, with the assistance of Victim Advocate Amy

Reed.

The jury heard from numerous investigators who worked on the case, led by GBI Special Agent Steve Rogers, Jr. The case was investigated in a team effort between the GBI Region 1 Office and the Dade County Sheriffs Office.



District Attorney Arnt praised the efforts of investigators and the prosecution team. He said, The District Attorneys Office is pleased that justice was served for 23-year-old Leea Abigail Raines. Although nothing can ever bring her back, the District Attorneys Office hopes that her family and loved ones can gain some peace and closure from the verdict and outcome of this case. Leeas young life was horribly ended by this narcissist criminal. This case will ensure that Douglas will never again be in a position to harm another innocent person ever again.
Christopher John Carter, 35, of an apartment on Bonny Oaks Drive is facing rape and sexual battery charges in a case involving a juvenile girl.

The girl said the sexual contact from Carter has been going on for three to four years.

She said recently he came into her room and put one hand up her shirt and another down her pants.

She said on another recent occasion that Carter pulled down her pants and sexually penetrated her.
Warren County, Tn., officials said Tuesday afternoon that a wildfire that began on Monday afternoon was still not under control and had jumped a ridge.

The Sheriff's Office said the fire was moving in the direction of the Hills Creek community.

Sheriff Jackie Matheny said he was not asking for a voluntary evacuation of Hills Creek residents at this time, but urges these residents to keep watch, and monitor all the social media outlets covering the fire.

At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Tennessee National Guard has provided two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to support the wildfire response in Warren County.

Around 9:30 a.m., one Blackhawk helicopter departed from Nashvilles Berry Field Air National Guard Base with a Bambi Bucket used to provide hundreds of gallons of water to fight wildfires. The aircraft will make multiple trips into the affected area dropping hundreds of gallons of water from the air. The helicopter will pick up water from nearby water sources and transport it directly to where it is needed.

The second Blackhawk helicopter is currently on standby and ready to assist when needed.

Bambi Buckets are a specialized bucket system suspended from a helicopter to deliver water for aerial firefighting. Each bucket has a release valve on the bottom which is controlled by the helicopter crew.

The Tennessee National Guard is prepared to support the Warren Countys firefighting effort for as long as they are needed, it was stated.

Authorities said the fire was started by a man who was trespassing. He was taken into custody.
ACCG, Georgias County Association, awarded county officials with certificates for completing requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy. Commissioner Melissa Bradford was honored for successfully completing the core requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy. Commissioner Robert Goff was honored for successfully completing the Revenue and Finance requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.

ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy. With abundant courses to choose from, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience that allows them to excel in specific areas of expertise, said officials.

County officials are faced with many challenges and ever-evolving circumstances under which they must govern Georgias local communities, said Dave Wills, ACCGs executive director. The Lifelong Learning Academy was created to help them navigate those challenges. I commend county leaders such as Commissioner Bradford and Commissioner Goff who take full advantage of educational opportunities to further their knowledge on how to better serve their communities.

The Lifelong Learning Academy was created with input from county commissioners who identified courses based on the issues and decision-making challenges regularly faced by county officials. To ensure the course requirements and curriculum remain relevant and engaging, the ACCG Lifelong Learning Committee  comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia  meet regularly to review and adjust accordingly. Through this collaborative approach, the Lifelong Learning Academy has been successful in equipping county officials with the necessary skills to meet the needs of their constituents, said officials.

Commissioner Bradford said, I am honored to receive this certificate. The Life Long Learning Academy has helped me understand ways to better handle county business and given me the necessary tools to do my very best as I serve our community.

It is an honor to serve the citizens of Dade County," said Commissioner Goff. "ACCGs Lifelong Learning Academy is a very important element in the process of serving in county government. Issues, laws, and circumstances change constantly. The L.L.A. is the best tool to keep local governments abreast of those changes.


Live streamer Tan Jiajia (R) promotes and sells local agricultural specialties via livestreaming at an online platform in Tongliang district of Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, Sept 2, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] China's consumption market saw steady recovery in the first three quarters, with online sales driving growth and providing economic momentum. In the January-September period, the contribution of consumption to economic growth reached 41.3 percent, driving GDP growth by 1.2 percentage points. In the third quarter, China's final consumption expenditure contributed 52.4 percent to economic growth, driving GDP growth by 2.1 percentage points, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday. In the first nine months, online sales nationwide increased steadily and reached 9.59 trillion yuan ($1.32 trillion), up 4 percent year-on-year. Among them, online retail sales of physical goods reached 8.24 trillion yuan, up 6.1 percent year-on-year, the NBS said. "E-commerce has further demonstrated its role in driving consumption growth. Retail business at brick-and-mortar stores has also gradually improved, and sales of basic living goods have seen booming growth. In addition, demand for green consumption has continued to grow, and sales in rural markets recovered well," said Dong Lihua, director of the Trade and Economic Department at the NBS. "In the first three quarters, all departments effectively coordinated COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures along with economic and social development. They actively implemented a series of consumption promotion policies, and the consumer market maintained a recovery trend," Dong said. Despite sporadic resurgences of COVID-19 cases, the consumption market has recovered, albeit with fluctuations. In April, the level of total retail sales of consumer goods reached a low point, and it began to grow again since June. In September, the number increased by 2.5 percent year-on-year, which was 2.9 percentage points lower than the growth rate in August, the NBS said. In the January-September period, total retail sales of consumer goods totaled 32.03 trillion yuan, up 0.7 percent year-on-year, reversing the downward trend in the first half, when the number fell 0.7 percent year-on-year, the NBS said. In the second quarter, the pandemic caused some restrictions on household consumption of goods and services, but the negative impact weakened in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the state of employment improved in the third quarter, enhancing consumer confidence, said Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International. In addition, from June 1, the government has halved car purchase taxes for passenger vehicles that cost less than 300,000 yuan each and have engine capacities of two liters or lower. The stimulus measure has taken effect and spurred consumption, Wang said. With the upcoming Singles Day shopping festival culminating on Nov 11, e-commerce shopping is expected to further drive consumption growth. "Due to the pandemic, e-commerce shopping through channels such as livestreaming sessions and group purchases have served as important platforms, and online shopping has become a new engine to drive consumption growth," said Hou Yunchun, president of the China Enterprise Evaluation Association.


Chattanoogas newest resort-style assisted living and memory care community, Rockbridge Oaks, opens its doors to the area on Thursday, Nov. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house celebration.



Located at 6698 Palms Court, off East Brainerd Road, Rockbridge Oaks grand opening will offer guests the opportunity to tour the community showcasing its lifestyle amenities and furnished models.



Dignitaries officiating the 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting include Kristin Ward, CEO of Solvere Living, a national operator of senior living communities based in St. Petersburg, Fl. that manages communities in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.



The communitys celebration is open to the public from 4-6:30 p.m. Reservations are required by calling 423-558-2000 or online at RockbridgeOaks.com/rsvp.



Officials said, "Rockbridge Oaks features an architectural design geared to creating a closer-knit community with personal, intimate experiences for residents. Uniquely, there are 62 apartments comprised of studios, one- and two-bedrooms arranged in a two-story building.



"Fostering security and support is integral to the communitys programming. The community incorporates Solvere Livings proprietary wellness philosophies Salus and Valeo. Salus (Latin for well-being) is a holistic approach that focuses on each residents potential to achieve his or her personal goals through engagement and connection. Valeo (Latin for to thrive) focuses specifically on wellness initiatives for those with memory impairments helping build relationships with others and grow connections through positive approaches to social interaction."



Bridgeforth Capital, a private equity firm, developed the community. The Chattanooga-based Morgan Construction Company, Inc., is the general contractor and construction management company.



"The communitys lifestyle encourages each residents physical, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being," officials said. "Anytime dining is offered with seasonal, chef-prepared entrees served in the communitys elegant dining room. Additional indoor amenities include an event center, movie theater, art studio, library, beauty salon and spa and business center. Theres also a private dining room for family gatherings.



"In addition to the extensive services provided to residents, unique to Rockbridge Oaks is an emphasis on outdoor green space. Large outdoor recreation areas are included in the community."

The Maclellan Courtyard Oasis offers a pavilion, barbecue grill and areas for dining. Walking trails, lawn games and a community fire pit are also found within the communitys grounds.



Were very excited to introduce Rockbridge Oaks to Chattanooga, said Ms. Ward. Our wellness philosophies, Salus and Valeo, which we introduced in senior living communities over seven years ago, help older adults stay physically active and thrive in all dimensions of wellness. This holistic approach, coupled with the spectacular interior and exterior spaces found at Rockbridge Oaks, brings a new perspective to senior living.



For more information or to plan a visit to Rockbridge Oaks, call 423.558.2000.




Governor Bill Lee and Dr. Jason Martin , Democratic nominee for governor, said they both support Amendment 3, a ballot measure that would remove slavery exception language from the S tate C onstitution.

Governor Lee said, As we continue toward a more perfect union, Tennesseans have an opportunity to lead by voting yes on Amendment 3 this November.

Dr. artin said ,  Vo ting Yes on 3 is about righting a wrong. When passed, Amendment 3 will remove slavery as a punishment from the Constitution of the State of Tennessee. T his whole campaign is about common sense and compassion , and this is another element of that campaign. Lets make sure we go out and vote Yes on Amendment 3. 

Currently the Tennessee Constitution reads, That slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited by this State. If Amendment 3 passes on November 8th, the exception language will be removed and replaced with the following language, That slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited in this State. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an inmate from working when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.

The resolution that allowed the amendment to be placed on the ballot passed the legislature with tremendous bipartisan support each of the past two legislative sessions. This effort paved the way for voters to be able to cast the deciding vote this November. In order for a Yes on 3 vote to count, the voter must also cast a ballot in the governors race, which is required under Tennessee law.
Voices of Lee perform Paul Conn speaking at the 75th anniversary celebration Beecher Hunter speaking at the 75th anniversary celebration President Mark Walker speaking at the 75th anniversary luncheon Previous Next

Lee University celebrated the 75th anniversary of its return to Cleveland by holding a private luncheon on campus with respected church and community leaders, along with Lee representatives.

It was great to have all our community friends on campus to celebrate the partnership we have had for 75 years and to look to the future together, said Dr. Brad Moffett, vice president for University Relations at Lee.

Founded in 1918, Lee University was originally called the Bible Training School and met in a small publishing house in Cleveland. At the time, the school only had one professor, Nora Chambers, and had less than 20 students in its first class. In the 1930s, music and commercial studies programs were added to the curriculum and enrollment continued to increase. Because the school had outgrown its space, the Church of God chose to expand by purchasing Murphy Collegiate Institute in Sevierville, Tn., in 1938.

As BTS gained more academic attention, the Church of God received the opportunity to buy the Bob Jones College campus in Cleveland, and move the school back to this new site in 1947. With this relocation, BTS was renamed Lee College after the schools second president, Flavius J. Lee.

The purpose of the event was to celebrate the anniversary of the move, but even more so, to express gratitude to members in the broader Bradley/Cleveland area for the positive relationships that have developed over the years between the university and the community.

All of us at Lee are grateful to the Cleveland businesses, organizations, institutions, and our friends for the investments they have made in our campus expansion and student body growth, said Dr. Moffett.

Featured speakers at the luncheon included Lee University President Dr. Mark Walker, Chancellor Dr. Paul Conn, and Beecher Hunter, former president of Life Care Centers of America and former editor of the Cleveland Daily Banner. Voices of Lee provided music for the event.

There were also two video presentations, Establishing a Home, historical in nature, and A Campus of Impact, featuring community members sharing what Lee means to Cleveland and Bradley County.
The School of Music at Southern Adventist University invites the community to enjoy a Symphony Orchestra concert on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. Under the direction of Laurie Redmer Cadwallader, the evening program includes Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin by Richard Wagner, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 77 by Johannes Brahms, and Variations on an Original Theme Enigma by Edward Elgar. Marcio Candido, DMA, visiting violin soloist, will be featured in the concert.

This event is free and open to the public and also will be livestreamed at southern.edu/streaming.

The public is also invited to enjoy Marcio Candido, DMA, a Brazilian violinist, in concert at Southern Adventist University on Monday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabel Wood Halls Ackerman Auditorium.



Dr. Candido completed his bachelors degree at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the United States, he completed his Master of Music at the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Massachusetts and his doctorate at Boston University. Performing extensively worldwide as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician, including his debut at Carnegie Hall, Dr. Candido has won multiple international awards for his work.

Tickets are required for the event and will be sold at the door for $8 per person. For more information, visit southern.edu/musicevents or call the School of Music at 236-2880.




Tall Betsy Tall Betsy Tall Betsy Tall Betsy Previous Next

Cleveland trick-or-treaters this Halloween will get a rare glimpse of Tennessees spookiest legend.

A spokesperson for the goblin announced this week that Tall Betsy will appear exclusively on Halloween night at 483 Centenary Ave. in Cleveland  the home of Jim Park. The address is in the historic district of downtown Cleveland where the legendary goblin made her most famous appearances.

The appearance is scheduled for 6:46 p.m., or sunset.

Tall Betsy  the goblin thought to have vanished forever to a mausoleum at Fort Hill Cemetery - drew a record crowd for her appearances at 150 Centenary Ave. in downtown Cleveland that took place over 18 years, said Allan Jones, the creator of the Tall Betsy legend.

In the 80s, there were consistent appearances by Tall Betsy on Centenary Avenue drawing crowds of thousands.

Many neighbors began decorating their homes as a tribute to the goblin and a poem was created called The Legend of Tall Betsy.

The state of Tennessee named Tall Betsy The Official Halloween Goblin of Bradley County on May 24, 1989 and Zac Adams, an award-winning filmmaker from Nashville, created a documentary about the goblin.

Tall Betsy vanished in 1998 after drawing a Halloween crowd of 25,000.

In 2013, J. Bailey Jones (Allans then-22-year-old son) took over the Tall Betsy identity with an updated look and reappeared at the downtown Halloween Block Party.

The new Tall Betsy appeared again at the Block Party in 2014 and 2015, but 2016 was the first time since 1998 that the goblin emerged from the historic Centenary Avenue courtyard.

The goblins initial impression was overwhelming. From my perspective of being seven and a half feet above the crowd, there were people as far as I could see in every direction, said J. Bailey.

This years appearance is expected to draw a record crowd, so onlookers wanting a good view should arrive early.



For more information about Tall Betsy, please visit TallBetsy.com.






TL;DR:

A song from The Beatles Let It Be inspired the hook of Spandau Ballets True.

Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet explained the meaning of True.

True became a massive hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.

A poster for The Beatles Let It Be | Movie Poster Image Art / Contributor

The recording of The Beatles Let It Be got documented in the film of the same name. Subsequently, a television airing of the movie inspired the song True by Spandau Ballet. True might not exist without one line from Let It Be.

How a catchy melody from The Beatles Let It Be inspired a member of Spandau Ballet

Gary Kemp is one of the founders of Spandau Ballet. During a 2017 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Kemp discussed the origin of True. One night in the summer of 82, I was watching The Beatles documentary Let It Be on TV in my bedroom, he said. When it ended, I began picking on my Eko acoustic guitar.

Kemp had a strong reaction to one song from the album and film Let It Be. The song that stuck in my head from Let It Be was Dig a Pony,' he said. On the songs opener, John Lennon sings I, hi-hi, hi-hi, I dig a pony. I loved how he took that one word I  and turned it into a snaking melody.

RELATED: Justin Bieber Compared The Beatles Let It Be to 1 of His Biggest Hits

How the melody of The Beatles Dig a Pony inspired Spandau Ballets True

Kemp explained how the lyrics of True evolved from there. Picking at my guitar, I tried to come up with a melody that also curled around the word I,' he recalled. The line I came up with was, Ah ha-hah hahh-hi / I know this / much is / true-oo.

I jotted down, I know this much is true,' he remembered. Then I asked myself, What do I know thats true? Instead of answering the question, I decided the song would be about how much I was going to tell you about the truth.

RELATED: What Paul Simon Said Was Weird About The Beatles Let It Be

How True performed on the pop charts in the United States and the United Kingdom

True became Spandau Ballets biggest hit in the United States. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 18 weeks. None of the bands other songs hit the top 10 in the U.S. The track appeared on the album of the same name. True reached No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for a total of 37 weeks.

The Official Charts Company says True became the groups only No. 1 single in the United Kingdom. It topped the U.K. chart for four weeks and lasted on the chart for 15 weeks. Meanwhile, the album True hit No. 1 in the U.K. for one of its 90 weeks on the chart.

True is a classic new wave song and it might not exist without The Beatles Let It Be.

RELATED: Gene Simmons Reacts to Rolling Stone Ranking This Kiss Album Above The Beatles Let It Be [Exclusive]
ABCs Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 is heating up with rumors about Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo. Johnny and Victoria seemed to have a strong, unbreakable bond, but it all may have come crumbling. New rumors suggest the two made it past Paradise and into the real world, but cheating went down. Heres whats going on and what Johnny tweeted.

[Spoiler alert: Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 spoilers ahead regarding Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo.]

Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 rumors suggest Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo are no longer together

Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo in Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 Episode 8 proved not every couple is meant to last. Lace Morris had an epic meltdown when Rodney Mathews chose not to pursue their relationship further, and Jill Chin continues to struggle in her quest for love. Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo had a strong connection before the twist, but episode 8 proved Victoria may stray. Victoria went on a date with Alex Bordyukov, and it went very well.

So, what does this mean for Johnny and Victoria? Fans who stan the couple shouldnt worry about Alex, as it seems Victoria chooses to keep giving her rose to Johnny. Bachelor in Paradise spoilers indicate Victoria and Johnny get engaged at the end.

Unfortunately, Reality Steve reports the engagement was short-lived. He reported recently that hes not sure exactly what went down, but hes very sure that Johnny and Victoria are no longer together.

Johnny DePhillipo fueled cheating rumors with a tweet

Heres to an episode full of surprises! ? Thanks for watching #BachelorInParadise! pic.twitter.com/mOg0x22HfZ  Bachelor in Paradise (@BachParadise) October 25, 2022

Reality Steve reports Dave Neal was the first to break the Victoria Fuller cheating rumors. According to the Bachelor in Paradise spoiler guru, a fan spotted Victoria in Italy with Greg Grippo. This led to further allegations that Victoria cheated on Johnny twice during their engagement and one time with Greg.

While I didnt hear about any cheating allegations, I did hear two weeks ago rumblings about Victoria and Greg Grippo being involved together in some capacity, Reality Steve reports. Whether it was talking/texting/dating/hooking up, I just heard they were in communication. Which I thought was weird if she was engaged to Johnny. Dave says he spoke to sources who claim its absolutely true. Thats his story.

According to a Reddit screenshot, Johnny might have alluded to the cheating on Twitter. Geometry Beach! he tweeted, referring to the title of the Paradise episode. We love a love triangle  Wheres my royalties!?

Alluding to the love triangle may hint at the drama between himself, Victoria, and Greg. Fans likely will find out during the Bachelor in Paradise reunion.

Its unclear whether Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo are dating

Andrew Spencer and Greg Grippo | Hatnim Lee #1004016#51C ED/Getty Images

RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Brandon Claims Olu Did Disgusting Actions on the Beach

If Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo called it quits after Bachelor in Paradise, where does that leave Victoria and Greg Grippo? Reality Steve says it seems quite certain that Victoria and Greg kept in touch, though he cant verify whether they went to Italy together.

Victoria and Johnny arent together anymore, as they broke up over a month ago, Reality Steve wrote. And there is definitely something going on with Victoria and Greg right now.

The Bachelor in Paradise reunion tapes on Nov. 4. Fans can look forward to learning more spoilers once the taping happens.

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.
If you have always wondered what it's like to stay in a Treehouse and spend the night in the middle of a forest, then the Rainforest Treehouse in Kulai will tick all the boxes for you... at least for me, it sure did AND MORE!









Located in the state of Johor, Malaysia, Rainforest Treehouse is a 40-min drive away from Singapore but the surroundings is completely different from the concrete jungle we know in Singapore.





For starters, the eco-resort is situated at the base of Gunung Pulai, a mountain which served as the British amry's stronghold against the invading Japanese troops during World War II. So expect to be surrounded by lush greenery when you there.









Rainforest Treehouse currently has four types of accommodation available for booking.





Two of them are for 2 to 4 persons, and includes a loft where the 'bedrooms' are at.





Photo credit: Rainforest Treehouse

For larger groups, there is the newest Treehouse which is located near the entrance of the eco-resort which can fit 6 to 8 persons. Completed in 2021, this will be most suited for families with younger kids and elderly as one doesn't need to walk far to reach the accommodation.









But for the true blue Treehouse experience, you have to book the 3-storey Treehouse (for 5 to 7 pax), otherwise known as the 'Sunset' Treehouse.













Upon checking in at 2pm, we were given a short briefing on what to expect during our stay. The rate for a 1-night stay includes one breakfast, one dinner and a guided jungle trek the next morning. And with that, it was time to head to our Treehouse.

And this was where the fun (or challenge) began.



To get to our accommodation, we had to climb up the forested hill via a flight of steps. I didn't count but I was told the whole trek up was about 300 steps. It took us about 5 minutes but suffice to say, we were panting a fair bit after that.

But we weren't done with the climbing just yet, because the Treehouse had 3 levels which means we had to climb up the ladders within the Treehouse to get to the top most level.

The first level is considered to be the 'living room'. We didn't spend much time here, and only used this level to store our bags.



The second level was where the mattresses and pillows were mostly kept, so this was the 'bedroom' I suppose. The second level was where the mattresses and pillows were mostly kept, so this was the 'bedroom' I suppose.





The third level, though, was a totally different story. Because just check out this awesome view! The third level, though, was a totally different story. Because just check out this awesome view!







The entire level was extremely well-ventilated (yes, in case you still didn't realise, there is NO air-conditioning here), airy and bright.



There was even a huge spider-net that we could just laze and chill the day (and night) away. There was even a huge spider-net that we could just laze and chill the day (and night) away.





And the reason why this Treehouse was named 'Sunset' is because it offers the BEST views of the sunset, in additon to the breathtaking mountain views all around.





When I first posted the Rainforest Treehouse on Facebook and Instagram, one of two most popular questions I received was "Where is the toilet?" Fret not, because there IS a bathroom.



The bathroom is detached from the Treehouse and located on the ground level. It has a wash area with taps, as well as 3 toilets which each comes with a showerhead for bathing. Yes, there is NO hot water.







Of course, this cannot be compared to your usual hotel bathroom but I feel it adds to the rustic charm of the place.

The other popular question that I received was "Are there a lot of mosquitoes?" I would be lying if I said no... because this is an actual forest that the Treehouse is located so naturally, there will be mosquitoes and other insects.



So there are indeed mosquitoes when we were at the ground level, and at the bathroom but surprisingly, we didn't get bitten when we were at the top most level of the Treehouse. I reckon that's because we were pretty high up, near the canopy so the mosquitoes don't really travel that high up.

Speaking of the canopy, staying at the Treehouse gave us the perfect view of the many insects and birds that reside among the top of the forest... an area which we usually wouldn't get a chance to view. It was like watching a Nature documentary (minus the narration of David Attenborough ) which was fascinating!



Another reason why we loved the third level of the Treehouse was it was just so cooling there! And that also explained why we chose to lay our mattresses there to spend the night.



But before that, dinner and a mini adventure after that!



For dinner, we had to make our way down to the reception area to have our food - which was pretty simple but delicious fare. But that also meant we had to make our way UP after that. We had gotten used to the 300 steps but the thrill was walking up in TOTAL DARKNESS because there are NO lights!



We were told to bring along torches before our stay so we came prepared. Nothing too scary, I assure you... although the wifey made the two boys lead in front and I had to be the last person in the group.  We were told to bring along torches before our stay so we came prepared. Nothing too scary, I assure you... although the wifey made the two boys lead in front and I had to be the last person in the group. 





As the veil of darkness blanketed the Treehouse's surroundings, it was time to bond together as a family through card games... because frankly, what else could we do? But I am not complaining because how often can we get moments like this, when we are not distracted by our work, emails and phones???



Guests are advised to switch off the accommodation's lights and to keep the volume down after 10.30pm as the treehouses are pretty open and sound can travel easily.

I think we went to bed slightly before midnight but in the middle of the night, I was awoken by the rumbling of loud thunder. A heavy thunderstorm soon followed and while we didn't get wet, it was such a surreal experience to be right in the middle of a thunderstorm with rain pelting down on the trees all around me. And because of the rain, the temperature plunged. In fact, it felt colder than my preset aircon temperature at home!

By 6am, the rain has cleared and msit descended upon the hills around us.



And the rest of my family? They were still asleep.  And the rest of my family? They were still asleep. 





At least they woke up in time for breakfast!



But because of the heavy rain, our jungle trek has to be cancelled. Bummer. Well, at least it gives me a good reason to head back again! But because of the heavy rain, our jungle trek has to be cancelled. Bummer. Well, at least it gives me a good reason to head back again!







Yes, the kids definitely enjoyed it more than I expected them to. Initially, the wifey and I was worried that they may find the treehouse to be too rustic because let's face it, when you stay within the forest, you have to share the space with bugs.



And trust me, there are quite a number of visitors especially at night when they are attracted to the light. There was an instance when a giant grasshopper landed right on Ale's face! Expectedly, she yelped but she took it in her stride.



So I have to admit - the Treehouse stay isn't for everybody because it definitely isn't you standard hotel room stay. But if you wish to allow yourself -and even the kids - to have a unique stay experience within a forest while perched high up near the canopy, then Rainforest Treehouse will be it.





THINGS TO DO

Rainforest Cafe



Within the compound lies a 'hidden' cafe too, which is also built like a treehouse where guests can lounge either on the floor or along the long tables at the side.





The cafe serves mains like pasta, sandwiches, soups as well as desserts like cakes and pastries, with the mains averaging about RM24 each. Do try their homemade wood-fired and drip coffee too! The cafe serves mains like pasta, sandwiches, soups as well as desserts like cakes and pastries, with the mains averaging about RM24 each. Do try their homemade wood-fired and drip coffee too!





There are also spider-nets for guests to chill, and swings and a slide for kids! There are also spider-nets for guests to chill, and swings and a slide for kids!









So if you don't feel like staying overnight in the Treehouse, you can still drop by the Cafe and enjoy the tranquil surroundings too. Do note that reservations via its online booking page is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and that the accommodation treehouses' areas are out of bounds to non-guests. So if you don't feel like staying overnight in the Treehouse, you can still drop by the Cafe and enjoy the tranquil surroundings too. Do note that reservations via itsis HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and that the accommodation treehouses' areas are out of bounds to non-guests.





Gunung Pulai

As Rainforest Treehouse is located at the base of Gunung Pulai, you can easily hike up the mountain along the 5km-long tarmac road. Standing at 654m (4 times taller than Bukit Timah Hill), it will take about two hours to hike up the mountain.



We didn't feel that adventurous on the day we were there so we did the next best thing - we hiked to the waterfall! We didn't feel that adventurous on the day we were there so we did the next best thing - we hiked to the waterfall!





The waterfall is located about 1km from the main entrance and takes about 15 minutes by foot. There are ample signs along the way so you won't get lost. If you are there on a weekend, expect plenty of locals having a picnic there and enjoying a cool dip in the waterfall areas. The waterfall is located about 1km from the main entrance and takes about 15 minutes by foot. There are ample signs along the way so you won't get lost. If you are there on a weekend, expect plenty of locals having a picnic there and enjoying a cool dip in the waterfall areas.





Do note that while the mountain is free to enter, the gates will be closed for entry at 3pm. Visitors will still be allowed to exit until 4.30pm. You will also have to record your name and telephone number at the guardhouse at the entrance before entry. Do note that while the mountain is free to enter, the gates will be closed for entry at 3pm. Visitors will still be allowed to exit until 4.30pm. You will also have to record your name and telephone number at the guardhouse at the entrance before entry.





THINGS TO TAKE NOTE

- There are monkeys all around the Treehouse compund - it is a forest after all - so we were advised NOT to bring any food into the treehouse. There is a huge Toyogo box for guests to store their bags as well as a giant rock to be placed on top of the box. But a reader shared with me that while she was there with her family, the monkeys managed to remove the rock AND open the box in another treehouse! So the owner made another monkey-proof wooden box where you had to slide the cover off instead.



We didn't encounter any monkeys during our stay but that's probably because we didn't bring any food to the accommodation.

- Pillows with pillow cases, mattresses with covers and blankets are provided, along with mini fans. Electrical points with extension sockets are also provided.

- What aren't provided are towels, toiletries like shampoo, bath gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Oh, you have to bring your own toilet paper too.

- Im my opnion, the 3-storey Treehouse isn't suitable for families with toddlers and very young kids. That's because the windows cannot be locked and there are plenty of openings on each level which can be dangerous for younger kids who cannot comprehend the consequences of their actions yet. I would recommend booking the Treehouse which is located at the entrance of the compound. There's no need to walk up any steps and the doors & windows can be secured.



- A fee of RM3 is payable when entering the Gunung Pulai area. The collection booth is located just before you reach Rainforest Treehouse.

- Mobile date coverage is decent. There were certain times when the signal was lost but it came back after a few minutes.

- 2D1N Package: 4pax or more: RM128/adult, RM88/child OR 3pax: RM140/adult, RM88/child (Includes 1 dinner & 1 breakfast, Halal food) *0-4 years old are free of charge without bed (or you can add a bed for RM30/bed/night), 5-12 years old are considered children, and 13 years and older will be charged as adults.

- A typical 2d1N itinerary goes like this: Day 1 2:00pm: Check in 2:30pm: Waterfall trip, self-guided (20 min walking distance), or enjoy drinks and food at the cafe 6:30pm: Dinner 7:00pm: Sunset view at library tower (for guests not staying at the 3-level Treehouse) 10:30pm: Bed time

Day 2 8:30am: Breakfast 9:30am: Jungle trekking with guide (may stop or delay if raining) or free and easy 12pm: Check out

- Things to bring: backpack, clothes (long pants), towel, water bottle, toiletries, toilet paper, insect repellent spray, headlamp, and umbrella/raincoat



BOOKING DETAILS

To check availability and/or to book, you can do so by messaging them via Facebook HERE OR sending them a WhatsApp message at +60 12-930 9914 (or by clicking here).

LOCATION

Address: 5, Jalan Air Terjun, Kampung Sri Gunung Pulai Or you can search Rainforest Tree House in GOOGLE MAPS or WAZE for the exact entrance location. GPS coordinates: 1.591976, 103.517143

Driving directions: - Turn right at the first exit (approximately 50 meters) past the Kulai toll - Continue straight for 10km - Turn left at the sign for Gunung Pulai Recreational Forest. Pay RM3/car parking fee at the entrance. - Continue straight 500 meters - Rainforest Tree House will be on the left side of the road before the bridge. Look for the big bamboo gate. - You may park on the street in front of Rainforest Tree House.

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Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, right, listens as his Democratic challenger Joy Hofmeister, the states public schools superintendent, speaks during a debate at Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.
This is a heart-wrenchingly sad one for the books. Its always hard when an animal that you love has to leave you.

Sometimes we are more connected to animals than we are to other humans. They have a special place in our hearts and deserve the endless and unconditional love in return that they give us.

But unfortunately, not every pet owner feels the same. Be warned: this is a tragic story that hasnt been fully resolved in a good way as of yet.

For Olde English Bulldogge Kano, life has been more difficult than it had to be as a domestic pet. He met his fabulous foster mom, who goes by the name Sophia M. on her Change.org page when his legal family abandoned him.

Kano was originally given to me as a foster pup by a co-worker, Sophia wrote on her website, explaining Kanos story.

Kanos primary caretaker and owner was sadly diagnosed with health issues, and her son, who lived with her, was incarcerated once again for DUI and related charges. As a result, Kano was abandoned in a home with no heat in the frigid winter.

While Kano survived these horrible circumstances, unfortunately, his canine partner was discovered deceased and decaying amongst the house debris.

But Kano was rescued by Sophia as a foster pup who needed a good home. She was the answer to all of his problems. Given his previous circumstances, Kano arrived extremely sick and unhealthy. His condition was dangerous.

www-keepkanohome-com; pictured above is Kano

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In the fall of 2019, author and speaker Natasha Sistrunk Robinson moved to Alabama with her husband and daughter. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, she found herself doubly isolated in a new location.

After reading the book of Jeremiah, a particular passage really jumped out at me, says Robinson. It was 9:1721, where God tells the prophet Jeremiah to call the wailing women to wail until they are exhausted from crying so much. Theyre wailing because the men have been taken out of the public square, and the children have been taken out of the streets, and death has climbed in through our windows.

The story seemed very relevant to the moment. Death was a thief climbing into our windows too, says Robinson. It was all around us, with the reality of the pandemic on top of all the racial injustice of that year.

Inspired by the Old Testament model of lament, she started working on a book titled Voices of Lament (Baker Publishing Group, 2022), which features 29 women of color writing on themes of longing, injustice, and suffering.

Robinson, who now lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter, hosts the podcast A Sojourners Truth and runs T3 Leadership Solutions and Leadership LINKS. She is currently a doctoral candidate in urban leadership ministry through a joint program between North Park and Fuller Theological Seminaries.

CT spoke recently with Robinson about her latest book and the community of women who contributed to it.

During the summer of 2020, you were reading through Jeremiah and the Psalms and thinking about lament and injustice. Tell us more about that journey.

As a Black woman, I was thinking about all the ways that our men had been taken out of the public squarewhether by violence or mass incarceration, and so on. And of course, this is the George Floyd summer.

Psalm 37 ended up being an encouragement to me, in conjunction with the text from Jeremiah 9. God is very clear that hes going to deal with the righteous, and hes going to deal with the wicked, and hes going to deal with them very intentionally.

I was looking at the women who were probably professional mourners and Jeremiah calling on them in a very difficult time, because they know what to do. Hes saying, Teach your daughters how to wail, and teach us as a community how to wail.

I thought about all the ways that women of color have modeled the spiritual practice of lament. I reached out to Kristie Anyabwile, one of our contributors. I told her that I thought God wanted to speak through women of color, and I asked for her input.

We started praying and going back and forth about the idea. I thought surely the world but certainly the church in our country needs this. And I felt like we were the ones to speak into the moment.

How did you go about putting together this group of women?

I am in relationship with a diverse community of people, and as I began this project, it was very important to me that it reflected who God is among women of color. If we are wailing, its like a chorussinging or crying out in the wildernessbut we are singing in harmony, meaning everyones not singing the same note.

In the book, there is almost equal representation of Hispanic women, Asian American women, and African American women, and theres about equal representation among Indigenous women, as well as global citizens. It was very intentional for me to have intergenerational representation too. Each of these women are serving the Lord in different ways.

Weve built a beautiful community through writing this book.

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What made you decide to make this book a compilation rather than just write all of it yourself?

At my age, part of the fight for justice is sponsoring people. Its creating access and opportunity for people. About half of the women in the book already had a platform, and about half did not. I could have chosen only women with platforms, but I wanted to call on women who may not be well known but who have a heart for God, are faithful to the text, and have trust within their own communities.

Was it difficult to find a publisher?

Theres a narrative out there about women of color not being able to sell books in the Christian market. Theres a reason why that narrative exists. Its not the women of color, and its not the quality of their education, research, or writing ability. I believe that its a systemic injustice in terms of how we go about publishing people and how we go about marketing and platforming them.

Im so thankful for the work Ive done with this publisher and that they were willing to put in the work and take a risk on this project. My prayer has been that this project becomes a classic, because that will also set a new precedent about what women of color can do as far as selling in the industry.

Was there anything about the process of editing this volume that surprised you?

The essay by Ka Richards wrecked me, as someone who served in the military. I learned how our government and military basically used her people as allies to fight on our behalf during the Vietnam War. Her people lost generations of their men and boys, and we didnt fulfill our promise to them. Even to this day, her people, the Hmong, are still impacted.

I was heartbroken and so repentant because of how we treated her people. In a year when violence against our Asian American sisters and brothers was on such a rise, editing her story was a reminder of how arrogant we can be as Americans.

What are your prayers and hopes for the book?

One thing Ive witnessed in my own life through the women who raised me and the women that Ive been privileged to share time and space with is that we generally dont abandon God when things get hard. Thats a testament to the church, because right now, we see so many young people leaving the church. Theres a prophetic witness to hearing from people who have been through hard things and stayed. These women love God and love the church, despite itself.

Talk about your view of community and how it shapes your theology.

I like to remind people when Im discipling that the Bible is an Eastern book, and so it is concerned about the communal and how God is shaping a group of people to respond to him in very specific ways.

In Revelation, we see God drawing people to himself from every tribe, language, nation, and people group, and we see them worshiping around the throne of the Lamb. And my thing is that when were not listening to the different people groups that belong to the Lord, that are in relationship with the Lord, then I think were missing a part of how we see God.

And so I think its a part of spiritual discipline and part of our own discipleship to be intentional in reading more broadly. We will see God more clearly.

How do these ideas shape your vision for Christian female leaders?

Oftentimes in our discipleship, we talk about the individualGod blessing me and my house, God blessing my church and blessing my project. But thats not what we see in the biblical text. I want readers to see the faithfulness of God to people groups across time.

In the biblical text, there are times when women are doing massive things to advance the kingdom, but we often gloss over them or think of the women as a footnote instead of as leaders playing an important role. I wanted people to experience the faithfulness of these female contributors by getting to know them and their stories.
Starting today, abortions are legal in Thailand up to 20 weeks, an extension of the current 12-week limit. Its a stark turnaround in the Buddhist-majority country, which until February 2020 banned abortions with some exceptions.

Thats when Thailands Constitutional Court struck down the statutes in its criminal code that had imposed fines and prison terms for those who perform or receive an illegal abortion, declaring the law to be unconstitutional. As a result, the Thai parliament passed the 12-week abortion law last year.

The Southeast Asian nations abortion restrictions have historically been stricter than much of the rest of the world as Theravada Buddhists (which make up more than 90 percent of the population) believe abortion is a sin that violates the first Buddhist precept forbidding the killing of any living thing.

Yet the shame in Thai society surrounding unwed mothers and teen pregnancies, as well as economic stress, has long led women to get abortions through illegal means or by claiming mental health exemptions. This months change in abortion regulations reveals a shift in concern from the unborn babys life to the mothers situation.

Some Thai Christians and Buddhists are speaking out against the new abortion law, citing a common concern about the sanctity of life. They are also working at the grassroots level to prevent abortions by providing sex education and pushing for greater government aid for single mothers. Several Christian ministries work to counsel women who experience unplanned pregnancies as well as those who have already had abortions.

As abortion remains a taboo topic, Thai society lacks a united movement. Yet Katie Miller, director of the Education, Life, Mothers (ELM) Team, a pregnancy center in northern Thailand, noted, We are quietly equipping and empowering women to know how to choose life in Thailand.

Statutes and shame in modern Siam

Before the Constitutional Court ruling, abortions were illegal except in cases of rape, incest, pregnancies of women under the age of 15, fetal impairment, or harm to the mother. Any woman who underwent an illegal abortion could be imprisoned for up to three years, while anyone who performed an abortion could spend up to five years in prison.

In practice, Thai doctors gave a broad interpretation as to what constituted harm to the mother, including harm to her mental health, according to a 2018 report by the World Health Organizations Southeast Asia office. The report noted that about 30,000 abortions take place in public hospitals each year.

Yet most abortions in Thailand are done in private-sector facilities or unmarked abortion clinics, or they are self-administered. The WHO report estimated that, in total, between 300,000 and 400,000 abortions occur every year in Thailand.

While most Buddhists would consider abortion to be against the first of the five Buddhist precepts, Thai society operates within an honor-shame mentality, sources noted. If a young girl gets pregnant, her parents will often pressure her into quietly having an abortion to save face with the community.

Khaisri Sirinumboontavee, 51, a social worker at a hospital in the northeastern city of Udon Thani, said that as a Buddhist, she does not want abortions to happen. But if there is a real necessity, like a person who is pregnant and is not ready, they should have a solution and a safe alternative.

She fears for the life of the mother who seeks out dangerous and sometimes deadly illegal abortions. Some take off-market abortion pills purchased at pharmacies. Others visit unsafe illegal clinics. According to the WHO, abortions are estimated to contribute to 10 percent of maternal deaths.

Sirinumboontavee is also concerned about women who are not yet ready to have a baby and end up abandoning, neglecting, or abusing the child. She worries it would lead to a host of other problems: It is like dying even though they are alive. It then becomes a social issue.

Pro-life Buddhists and Christians

Yet many Buddhists hold to a more conservative view. Phongsiri Sirisuwanjit, 61, a child rights lecturer and devout Buddhist in Chiang Mai, called the law inappropriate in Thai society. Buddhists consider abortion and the killing of a child a sin, she said. Many interpret abstaining from taking life to include abortion, suicide, murder, capital punishment, and euthanasia. Engaging in these activities brings bad karma, they believe, which will influence the status of a persons next life.

Buddhist leaders who have spoken out about the issue include well-known monk Phra Ratchadhamanithet, who has called women who have an abortion spoiled as they wanted to have sex but are not ready to take care of the child. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, a female monk, has said abortion is murder, which violates Buddhism, and if a woman chooses to get an abortion, she is sinning and invoking bad karma. However, she believes a woman has a right to choose but must accept the consequences of the decision.

In the minority is Phra Shine Waradhammo, a Buddhist monk who supports LGBT rights and joined 20 pro-choice activists in front of the National Assembly of Thailand in 2021 advocating for greater abortion access. He told Reuters his stance has sparked outrage among fellow Buddhists.

The Network Against Free Abortion, headed by two doctors including the president of the National Federation of Medical and Public Health Practitioners, also pointed to the Buddhist belief in the sanctity of life in a letter submitted to the Thai parliament. It outlined their opposition to the abortion law, noting it would violate the beliefs of medical professionals as well as the unborn babys right to life.

This is an area where Christians, which make up about 1 percent of the Thai population, share a common cause with Buddhists. Pastors Chukiat Chaiboonsri, 48, and Paponsun Eakkapun, 24, of Creation Chiang Mai Church said Christians must make it clear they disagree with the ruling.

Thai Christians believe that God is a God who is love and [that] man has no right to destroy anyone's life or breath because God is the God who gives life and breath to man, the pastors told CT by email.

Chaiboonsri and Eakkapun quoted Genesis 2:7 and Exodus 21:2225 as support for Gods high value of the unborn. They have spoken to their church about the law and say it is imperative to make sure congregations across the country support the sanctity of life.

Chaiboonsri and Eakkapun believe Thai Christians must take action in their communities. One way Creation Chiang Mai does this is through youth groups. Their churchs youth group instills biblical principles, teaches about sex and purity, and helps young adults discern what laws are outside the will of God. Topics of sex and abortion are rarely discussed in Thai homes, so the pastors encourage Christian parents as well as the church to have these uncomfortable conversations.

Every church must look to the new generation because they will grow up to be church leaders in the future, wrote Chaiboonsri and Eakkapun.

Prevention and the love of Christ

Sirisuwanjit, who works with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, believes education from a young age is key to curbing the number of abortions. She hosts lectures and interactive training in schools in Chiang Mai for children and teachers about the problems teenagers face, including safe sex to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The curriculum she uses encourages students to bring their concernswhether bullying, suicidal thoughts, or sexual pressureto appointed student leaders for help. Students are often more comfortable approaching other students, she said, and programs like this make it easier to address problems sooner. More serious concerns are then brought up to teachers.

We should have a more proactive campaign to prevent abortion, said Sirisuwanjit. The most effective way to do this is by preventing unwanted and teenage pregnancies.

In the case of unwanted pregnancies, she points to the need for the Ministry of Public Health and Human Security and the Department of Mental Health to provide resources for childcare and support.

Chalermkwan Chutima, 51, director of the Upstream Family and Community Learning Center, also believes education is important to prevent abortions in Thailand. Her nonprofit, which provides resources and training to parents and teachers, works to address problems at the source instead of trying to solve problems that have run a long course downstream.

Chutima, a former program coordinator at International Justice Mission who has written extensively on the issue of abortion in Thailand from a Thai Christians perspective, said the root cause of the abortion issue is complex: Sex, pregnancy, and abortion are intertwined with issues like domestic violence, a patriarchal society, and a lack of support for women. In the case of teen pregnancies, society places the blame solely on the young mother, while the father and his family do not take responsibility for the baby. Filled with shame, the mother sees abortion as the only answer.

Although women have the choice to terminate or not terminate their pregnancy, decisions often come from social pressures shaped by patriarchal ideology, she said.

Chutima believes that Thaisincluding Christiansneed to work on fixing the root of the problem, while the Thai government should provide better assistance, healthcare, and protection for these mothers.

Upstream works with families to help them play an active role in talking with their children about sex to prevent pregnancies. Through the workshops, she seeks to adjust attitudes in the communities to support rather than condemn women. Temples, churches, and schools are encouraged to provide psychological and social support for pregnant women and their families.

Chutima believes that by helping heal the wounds of the heart and spirit of these women, Christians can display the nonjudgmental love of Christ to non-Christians. They can also show that Christians are pro-life both before and after the baby is born.

People who have had an abortion will not feel like Christians are stigmatizing and punishing them with the law of God without understanding the assistance we are providing, she said.

Walking with women

Groups like Samaritans Creations hope to do just that. The Christian nonprofit works with women in the red-light district of Bangkok and seeks to show them the love of God through discipleship, job training, education, and counseling.

Cofounder Kay Killar said that in her work, she assumes all women in the sex industry have had at least one abortion. Even when abortion was banned, it is common knowledge among bar workers where to go to get an abortion, said Killar, who is ethnically Thai. She and other members of the group counsel women who are facing unplanned pregnancies as well as those who have had abortions.

She sees teen pregnancy as a major driver for abortions and believes that Thais need to address the issue of teen pregnancy rather than one outcome of teen sexual activity, she said. The harder issue to address is lack of parenting, especially due to poverty.

The ELM Team also seeks to walk with women who see abortion as their only option. The international and local staff of the pregnancy center meet with women in crisis pregnancies and provide information about fetal developmentwhich many are unfamiliar withand encourage women to get ultrasounds. Miller, the ELM Team director, said that when a Buddhist woman hears her babys heartbeat, it helps her realize there is life within her.

The mother is paired with two staff members who come alongside her as mentors during her pregnancy and for up to two years after birth. The Christian organization also trains and equips Thai churches to share the gospel and teach fetal development curriculum in local schools and with mothers one-on-one. Miller hopes that as the pro-life message spreads, more people will come to their centers in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and an upcoming location in Hat Yai in southern Thailand.

I am hopeful that there will be more women who want to get involved  as a result of the ruling, Miller said. We must be diligent in educating about life in the womb, and then God will work to enlighten believers toward the need to stand up for the rights of these precious babies.
2 charged with assaulting Republican canvasser in Florida before the midterms

Two men have been arrested in connection to an assault Sunday of a Republican political canvasser in Florida, alleging that one of the defendants tried to order his dogs to attack the victim.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., announced on Twitter Monday that "one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a DeSantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren't allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida."

According to the senator, the man "suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery."

One picture accompanying the Twitter post shows the canvasser lying on a gurney at the scene of the incident in Hialeah, with blood running down his face.

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

A police report obtained by the Miami New Times provided additional details about the incident.

"Units responded to 140 East 60 St in reference to an assault. Upon arrival [Victim] 1 stated that he was walking around the neighborhood handing out fliers when he came across the defendant who was blocking the sidewalk. Defendant confronted the [victim] and stated that he could not pass through the sidewalk in front of his residence."

"[Victim] proceeded to walk towards the street to avoid the defendant at which point the defendant stated to the [victim] 'You can't pass by here this is my neighborhood,'" the report added.

"[Victim] then stated to the defendant 'this is public property and I can be here if I want to.' The defendant and the [victim] then began to have a verbal dispute at which time the defendant rushed towards the victim to grab him and proceeded to slam him against the floor."

While the report noted the arrest of 25-year-old Javier Lopez for "battery" and "great bodily harm," it added that at least one other person "who fled the scene prior to police arrival kicked the defendant on the right side of his face."

"The defendant [subsequently] began to strike the [victim] multiple times with closed fists on the [victim's] face causing him to have a severe swelling on the right side of his face and his right eye being completely shut from the damages caused by the defendant," the police report states.

The defendant continued to strike the victim in his mouth, which caused "severe swelling and bleeding."

The report didn't provide details about the nature of the fliers the victim handed out.

On Tuesday, authorities arrested a second suspect in connection to the attack, 26-year-old Jonathan Alexander Casanova. He was charged with aggravated battery.

According to a police report, Casanova kicked the victim in the head and was eventually pulled off the victim by a witness. Casanova allegedly went to his vehicle, retrieved two German Shepherds, walked the dogs to the victim lying defenseless on the ground and ordered them to attack. It is unclear if the dogs followed the order.

Neighbors broke up the altercation.

In a sworn statement to police, the victim claimed that Casanova said he could not pass through the neighborhood "because he was a Republican." The victim claims Casanova threatened to shoot him if he continued to walk in the neighborhood. Police say surveillance video corroborates the victim's account of what happened.

The second police report indicates that the victim suffered a broken orbital bone and "nasal/sinus" fractures.

The police reports didn't include the victim's name, but local news outlet WSVN identified him as 27-year-old Christopher Monzon.

Monzon was formerly a member of the League of the South, a neo-Confederate group that supports Southern independence and adheres to a pro-South narrative of American history. In some circles, he was nicknamed the "Cuban Confederate."

Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, a Republican, issued a statement in English and Spanish on Monday condemning the attack.

"On Sunday evening, on the East side of Hialeah, a political canvasser was brutally beaten," he said. "Freedom of speech is the bedrock of our democracy, and cowardly acts such as this should be condemned by all regardless of individual political affiliation."

"I have spoken to the victim's family, and have pledged a thorough investigation by Chief George Fuente and the Hialeah Police Department in order to bring those responsible to justice," he added. "The investigation will continue until all of those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

WSVN reported that Monzon was previously arrested in 2017 for "inciting a riot, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and brandishing a weapon" after he charged at people gathered in support of removing the names of Confederate generals from city streets outside the Hollywood City Hall in Hollywood, Florida with a Confederate flag.

In an interview with The Daily Dot in 2021, Monzon, who was running for local office at the time, apologized for his use of racial slurs in the past and insisted that he had withdrawn his membership from the League of the South.

Hialeah is a heavily Hispanic city in Miami-Dade County, the state's most populous county. During the 2020 presidential election, Miami-Dade was reportedly crucial to Donald Trump winning the state.

Rubio seeks a third term in the U.S. Senate against Democratic challenger Val Demings. As of Wednesday morning, the RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Rubio leading Demings by 7.5 percentage points.

The upcoming midterm elections will decide the fate of 35 U.S. Senate seats, including Rubio's, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 36 governorships, in addition to multiple state and local offices.
70 Christians killed in 2 days by Nigerian militants, sources say

ABUJA, Nigeria  Fulani herdsmen last week killed more than 70 Christians in a village in central Nigeria, prompting state officials to say that lack of government protection means citizens must defend themselves, sources said.

In what a Benue state police official suspected was a revenge attack for the alleged killing of five Fulani herders in three different incidents in the area last Tuesday, herdsmen the next day attacked Gbeji village in Ukum County, Benue state.

In just two days, over 70 Christians were killed by Fulani militiamen in Gbeji community in our local government area, said Terumbur Kartyo, chairman of the Ukum Local Government Council in Benue.

Kartyo added that in Guma Local Government Area, herdsmen last week shot and injured more than 100 Christians in Udei and Yelewata villages, displacing thousands.

Ukum area resident Bede Bartholomew told Morning Star News in a text message that at least 56 Christians were killed in Gbeji town last week.

About 36 corpses of some of the victims have so far been recovered and taken to the mortuary, he said.

Another area resident, Terrence Kuanum, said Gbeji was attacked along with the villages of Vaase, Daudu, Tyotyev, Udei and Yelwata.

Fulani herdsmen have been wreaking havoc in many parts of the state, he said.

Benue state government officials who visited the area last week after the attacks said the federal governments inability to curtail the violence justifies providing high-powered arms to citizens defense groups.

We are standing on our request for the federal government to give us a license for our Volunteer Guards to bear AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons, said Secretary to the State Government Anthony Ijohor, representing Benue Gov. Samuel Ortom. The security agencies have been overstretched and, that being the case, our people have to defend themselves.

In Daudu, Guma Local Government Area, herdsmen on Tuesday killed Philip Tavershima Tyohenna, a Christian who was working on his farm when attacked, area resident John Terver said.

On Oct. 12 in Yelwata, herdsmen killed five Christians, residents said.

The Fulani herdsmen attacked our community of Yelwata at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 October. Most of the victims were Christians working on their farms, James Orduen said. Five corpses were recovered by members of our community on their farms. Six other Christians were shot and injured.

Waku Christopher, a member of the Guma Local Government Council, confirmed the killing of the five Christians.

It is true that Fulanis attacked and killed five members of our community in Yelewata, Christopher said, adding that four of the wounded were receiving hospital treatment.

Christian girls in captivity

In northwestern Nigeria, five Christian girls are among the 11 high school students still in captivity after Islamic extremist militants kidnapped them in June 2021, a rights activist said.

Terrorists with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on June 17, 2021, abducted 70 students from the Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, in Kebbi state. Following negotiations with the Nigerian government, most of the 59 students since released were Muslims; the reasons for holding the other 11 are unknown.

These girls have been with their captors for one year and four months. Theyve been abused, tortured and raped, rights activist Hauwa Mustapha Babura said in a statement. What have they done to deserve this traumatic experience?

Babura, a Muslim, released the statement in observance of the Oct. 11 International Day of the Girl Child. She identified the Christian girls as Elizabeth Ogechi Nwafor, Esther Sunday, Rebecca James, Neempere Daniel and Bilha Musa.

Danjuma Haruna, president of the Parents/Teachers Association of Nigeria, called on the Nigerian government to ensure the release of kidnapped high school girls.

The Nigerian government should as a matter of urgency try all it can to rescue our kidnapped children in the hands of terrorists, Haruna said in a statement.

Kebbi state spokesman Yahaya Sarki said efforts were continuing to secure the release of the remaining students.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report.

Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report.

In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.

This article as original published by Morning Star News.
Charles Stanley honored by Baptist college with endowed faculty chair of theology

A Georgia-based Christian university has received a $3 million gift to endow a faculty chair and launch a Global Impact Center in honor of pastor and author Charles Stanley.

Truett McConnell University, a Baptist liberal arts school in Cleveland, Georgia, announced last week the creation of the Dr. Charles F. Stanley Chair of Theology.

Anthony George, an outgoing trustee at TMU who succeeded Stanley as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta in 2020, expressed his support for the decision.

Stanleys preaching has been marked by our Baptist doctrinal trademarks such as Biblical infallibility, Trinitarian theology, the substitutionary atonement, the exclusivity of Christ, and the priesthood and eternal security of the believer, stated George.

This gift and the naming of this Chair of Theology could not have honored anyone more fitting. His ministry has modeled the bold proclamation of Scripture so visibly, so practically, so consistently, and so globally, and to this day stands on a rock-solid theological foundation.

The first professor to occupy the chair will be Mael Disseau, dean of the Hubmaier School of Theology and Missions. He is an associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies.

It is also very appropriate that this gift is given to honor Dr. Stanley, who has spent his life teaching the Word of God and fighting for the Word of God and its primacy, stated Disseau.

I consider it a great honor to be asked to be the inaugural occupant of the Dr. Charles F. Stanley Chair of Theology. Dr. Stanleys life has demonstrated a passion for the Word of God and the Great Commission.

The $3 million gift to TMU will also fund the Dr. Charles F. Stanley Global Impact Center in Miller Hall.

TMU is not the first school to bestow such an honor on Stanley. The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Trustees voted last October to approve the creation of the Charles F. Stanley Chair for the Advancement of Global Christianity, part of their Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.

Adam Greenway, the former president of the Fort Worth, Texas-based SWBTS, told The Christian Post in an interview last year that he believes Stanley may be one of our most prominent visible alumni in the history of Southwestern Seminary.

He and his ministry were looking for a way to honor his legacy, certainty a worthy legacy of honoring, and they saw that Southwestern Seminary was a fitting institution to partner with to do something that would be significant in terms of their investment, said Greenway.

The proceeds of an endowed chair support the salary of a professor who will be named to the chair, and the more of those endowed chairs a seminary has, the more likely it is it will be able to sustain its academic mission long into the future.

Born Sept. 25, 1932, in Virginia, Stanley became the lead pastor of First Baptist Atlanta in 1971. He remained in the position for nearly 50 years until he announced his retirement in 2020.

Stanley is well-known for founding and leading In Touch Ministries, which includes the long-running television program In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, as well as a widely heard radio broadcast.

During the 1980s, Stanley was part of the Southern Baptist Conventions Conservative Resurgence movement and served two one-year terms as president of the denomination.
Saddleback Church leaders wife Stacie Wood serving as teaching pastor despite SBC doctrine

Saddleback Church identifies the wife of its new lead pastor as a "teaching pastor," even though the influential megachurch's denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, restricts the office of pastor to men in its official statement of beliefs.

Pastor Andy Wood, who recently succeeded retiring pastor and bestselling author Rick Warren at Saddleback, lists his wife Stacie as a "pastor" in his biography on the prominent California megachurch's website.

"Pastors Andy and Stacie Wood started their ministry in California as church planters in the Bay Area," states the online leadership entry, accessed by The Christian Post on Tuesday morning. "They began Echo Church in 2009, and it eventually became one of the fastest growing churches in the area."

Earlier this month, Stacie Wood preached a sermon titled "The Courage to Slow Down" at the Lake Forest-based church, being identified as a "Teaching Pastor."

In a statement earlier this year about their departure to members of Echo Church, Stacie Wood said she would serve alongside her husband "as a Teaching Pastor." She held the "teaching pastor" role at Echo Church as well.

In an interview with the Associated Press published on Monday, Andy Wood said he wanted Saddleback to empower "men and women to lead" and said the Bible "teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God."

"The church should be a place where both men and women can exercise those spiritual gifts," he told the AP. "My wife has the spiritual gift of teaching and she is really good. People often tell me she's better than me when it comes to preaching, and I'm really glad to hear that."

In May 2021, Saddleback drew scrutiny from some within the SBC when the church ordained three women  Liz Puffer, Cynthia Petty and Katie Edwards. The ordinations come even though the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the convention's official statement of beliefs, says that the "office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."

Many Southern Baptist leaders, among them Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler, argued that the ordination went against the Bible and SBC rules.

"The theological issues have not changed since 2000 when Southern Baptists spoke clearly and precisely in the Baptist Faith & Message. More importantly, the Holy Scriptures have not changed and cannot change," wrote Mohler last year.

Critics wanted Saddleback, one of the convention's largest congregations, to be disfellowshiped since other churches have been kicked out for ordaining women as pastors.

In his interview with AP, Wood said he is grateful for Saddleback's partnership with the SBC and hopes that it will continue.

"I'm not looking to engage in denominational battles," Wood said. "I'd really like to be a unifier of people  to help, love and support pastors in the SBC."

The SBC Credentials Committee, which determines if member churches are abiding by the convention's standards, announced at the SBC Annual Meeting in June that it would delay a decision about whether to disfellowship Saddleback.

Committee Chair Linda Cooper said at the annual meeting that they were "not yet prepared to make a recommendation on Saddleback," recognizing there are "differing opinions regarding the intent of the office of pastor as stated in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000."

"We feel it is very important for you to know that it is the unanimous opinion of the Credentials Committee that the majority of Southern Baptists hold to the belief that the function of lead pastor, elder, bishop or overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture," she stated.

"[However, we have] found little information evidencing convention beliefs regarding the use of the title of pastor, for staff positions with different responsibilities and authority than that of lead pastor role."

Warren, who led Saddleback Church for over 40 years before he retired in September, spoke at the SBC annual meeting.

"As Western culture grows more dark, more evil and more secular, we have to decide are we going to treat each other as allies or adversaries?" Warren stated. "Are we going to keep bickering over secondary issues, or are we going to keep the main thing the main thing?"

The Credentials Committee initially called for the creation of an SBC study committee to "provide clarity regarding the office of pastor." But after pushback from attendees at the annual meeting, the committee rescinded that recommendation.

Weeks after the annual meeting, Mohler, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley and Richard Land, the president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission from 1988-2013, issued a joint statement clarifying the Southern Baptist understanding of the word "pastor." The men had previously been tasked to write a study guide for the new 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession.

"[I]t is important to understand that the word pastor was chosen precisely because of its clarity among Southern Baptists," the joint statement reads. "The statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and is to be held only by men as qualified by Scripture," the men stressed in the statement."

Earlier this month, trustees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky unanimously approved a resolution stating that "men alone [are] reserved for the office and function, and thereby title of pastor."
The 'MAGA' we need: Was America ever godly? (part 2)

When was the United States of America a godly nation?

That was the question some rhetorically posed in response to Part I of this two-part series.

There, I argued that the MAGA the nation needs now is Make America Godly Again. I also wrote that there was probably no nation in history that has been consistently godly including America.

Further, a nation cannot be made godly by legislation or fiat. This attempt would result in the creation of a theocracy, a nation with a state religion enforced by government domination. History reveals the danger of that system. It is not godly at all, but cruel and dictatorial, hammered into and held in place by religious authoritarians.

Neither does the answer lie in institutionalism in the form of a new political party, but the dynamic of Zoe, the life infused in human beings by the Holy Spirit, in line with biblical revelation.

Every society is formed around a core worldview and the values coming from it. That worldview and those values will guide the decrees and policies of a nation. When that happens, the societys true religion  be it a spiritual concept or worship of the state and its authoritarians  will be revealed.

Has America consistently and thoroughly been a God-fearing, holy nation? No. However, certain historic actions and statements have brought the core worldview into light and expressed the vision of the United States as one nation, under God  a slogan to which the country has held midst efforts to remove it.

While America may not have been a consistently godly nation, there are policy pronouncements and actions that reflect a core worldview and value system that could be described as godly.

Its not so much a golden age that might be called godly as it is golden moments.

The Great Awakenings in 18th century New England brought godly values into the formational period of America. Benjamin Franklin noted that he could not walk through the streets of Philadelphia in the evening without hearing prayers and hymns streaming through the open windows of homes impacted by the spiritual revival.

Those streams of revival swept into the hall where the founders were laying the foundations of America. It was Franklin also  whether Deist or committed Christian  who urged his colleagues to bring in a pastor to lead in prayer when the delegates to the Constitutional Convention came to an impasse.

The outcome of these golden moment burst-throughs of godliness resulted in perhaps the greatest foundational statement for civilization-building in history  the Preamble to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. There the equality and freedoms of all people were officially recognized and became a seed that would blossom. It is true that many of those who signed the Declaration went home to their slave farms, but the reality was that they had planted a seed of godliness that would bring the end of slavery.

The foundational godly worldview was evident when President Lincoln voiced the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. While some felt it did not go far enough, a crucial golden moment had come that would result in a comprehensive policy against slavery.

It is not surprising that on January 1, 1863, when the Proclamation officially became law, many African Americans and others went to churches to celebrate. A crowd massed at Washingtons Israel Bethel Church and cheered as Pastor Henry McNeil Turner waved a copy of The Washington Star and read the Proclamation to the rejoicing congregation. They celebrated too at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, where Henry Ward Beecher preached, and in many other localities.

Why did people rush to churches to celebrate? They recognized that it was not merely a time to rejoice but also to worship because a golden moment of godliness had broken into the grim world that would exploit human beings.

People still look to the church from whence come the Martin Luther Kings and others who confront societal evils for what they are  spiritual issues, sin, which require the touch of Gods hand.

When was America ever a godly nation? Consider the end of the Second World War and the Marshal Plan. The United States put more than $13 billion into the European Recovery Program to reconstruct and put war-shattered Europe back on its feet.

President Harry Truman predicted the Plan would go down in history as one of Americas greatest contributions to the peace of the world.

That recalls another golden moment when the godly worldview broke into the open. At a meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the war in Iraq, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked about United States involvement in that nation. Powell responded: The only land we ever asked for is enough land to bury our dead thats the kind of nation we are.

America, like the humans who comprise it, is not without sin. On April 30, 1863, as the Civil War was ripping the nation apart, President Lincoln and Congress called for a day of national repentance and prayer. A nation needs to repent when the governing authorities officially sanction evil in policy, through judicial, executive, and legislative actions.

If America is ungodly now it is because so many steps have been taken by officialdom that constitutes an official endorsement of sin. If politicians who claim to represent the interests of the people take such actions, then the people who elect or tolerate them are themselves implicated.

How can we make America godly again? Lincoln and the Congress showed the way in 1863: through national repentance.

Thus, once again, it is churches that take prayer and repentance seriously that hold the key.
Ex-US spy chief and Army general David Petraeus stated that Washington might engage Moscow in Ukraine without the assistance of NATO allies.

Biden Administration Thinks Ukraine's Victory Is Important

According to the ex-CIA director, if Moscow steps up its offensive in Ukraine and pushes the Zelensky regime to the wall. It would push the US and its allies to do something that could make the conflict worse, not de-escalate, reported Press TV.

In an interview conducted by France's weekly magazine L'Express, he emphasized that they may respond in one way or another, but as a multinational force led by the US rather than as a NATO force, noted HO1.

David Petraeus, ex-commander of the American occupation forces in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011, recommended that we could perhaps form a new alliance of the willing in a similar situation and use it rather than a NATO force to engage against Russia.

In particular, he argued that NATO would remain obligated by the terms of a military alliance and would only enter the war if any of its members were assaulted. He said earlier this month that the US could destroy all Russian soldiers as well as the Russian Black Sea fleet if Moscow used nuclear weapons within Ukraine.

Petraeus Interview Details

During his Saturday appearance, the distinguished retired Army general reiterated such remarks by declaring that America's response to any Russian nuclear test will involve more than simply diplomatic, economic, and legal measures.

Read Also: Kim Jong-un Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is North Korea's Leader?

He goes on to underline that his earlier statements focused on one of the many alternatives Washington had available in the event of Moscow's choosing to utilize nuclear weapons, labeling the predicted move an extremely poor decision.

But David Petraeus kept insisting, nevertheless, that Moscow is just not focused on ramping up the Ukraine military confrontation and having to turn to a global war, adding that even a wider dispute is the last thing Russia's President Vladimir Putin needs at the moment.

He talked about various topics, including the alleged significant counterattacks and gains by the Zelensky government. The former CIA employee also claimed that Russia is powerless and unable to defeat the Ukrainian army on the front lines, citing The Guardian.

This transpired as Moscow declared on Saturday that Russian forces had blocked a Kievan offensive in the southern province of Kherson, wherein Kievan forces, too, had recently announced gains.

Russian Defense Ministry mentioned that the Ukrainians were knocked back and were the ones who retreated to square one.

It moved on to note that Ukrainian forces pushed their counterattack towards the areas of Piatykhatky, Suhanove, Sablukivka, and Bezvodne on the west bank of the Dnieper River. Russian forces had also deflected threats in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Petraeus had been named director of the CIA intelligence agency until 2011, only to resign the following year after a scandal involving his infidelity affair with a woman who was presumably writing his life story. He made it clear that the US has options if it wants to interfere directly with Moscow in Ukraine, creating a dangerous situation.

Related Article: Elon Musk Faces Threats from Biden Administration To Launch National Security Probe Concerning Starlink, Twitter

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Revelation 4: Seven torches and a sea of glass

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones, the famed Welsh-English theologian and preacher, said: Nothing is more dangerous than to put a wedge between the Word and the Spirit, to emphasize either one at the expense of the other. It is the Spirit and the Word, the Spirit upon the Word, and the Spirit in us as we read the Word.

In Revelation 4, after being raptured into Heaven, the Apostle John stood in awe within the throne room of God and witnessed things that were not of this earth. He saw the throne of God with the Lord sitting upon it, shining brilliantly like magnificent gemstones. He saw the glow of an emerald rainbow that encircled the throne. Twenty-four elders were seated on thrones with crowns on their heads encompassing the Lord. From the throne came lightning and thundering. Then the apostle said:

And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal (v. 5).

William Evans, in The Great Doctrines of the Bible, wrote:

We are living in the age of the Spirit. The Old Testament period may be called the age of the Father; the period covered by the Gospels, the age of the Son; from Pentecost until the Second Coming of Christ, the age of the Spirit. All matters pertaining to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit should, therefore, be of special interest to us who live in this age of special privilege.

Indeed, we should be very concerned with any matter that pertains to the Holy Spirits work. In Old Testament times, only a few, such as priests and prophets, were given the Spirit of God.

In Numbers 11, the Bible says God, who had given Moses his Spirit, also distributed his Spirit among 70 elders so Gods work could be effectively done. During this time, Moses prayed, Would that the Lords Spirit was given to all of his people.

Moses prayer became a prophecy in the Book of Joel, and the fulfillment of it was seen at Pentecost when God poured out his Spirit on all who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This current era in Gods economy is especially rich for those who trust in Christ. Gods Holy Spirit is poured out on every believer  no matter their background, nationality, or station in life.

In the Bible, the number seven represents completion. Therefore, the seven torches mentioned in verse 5 are about the comprehensive seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Some believe the seven torches denote the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit who restrains evil, convicts of sin, regenerates the soul dead in sin, seals the believer in Christ, baptizes the believer, indwells the believer, and fills the believer.

Christian apologist Dr. Henry Morris has argued the seven torches represent seven designations of Gods Spirit delineated in the New Testament: the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Holiness, the Spirit of Faith, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Power, the Spirit of Grace and the Spirit of Glory.

The context of the verse, however, seems more closely aligned with the seven-fold relationship of the Holy Spirit to Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity in the Godhead, the One who sits upon the throne.

Isaiah 11:1-3 spells out this relationship, saying:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 1. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him  2. the Spirit of wisdom and of 3. understanding, 4. the Spirit of counsel and of 5. might, 6. the Spirit of the knowledge and 7. fear of the Lord  and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. [Numbers included by the author for clarity.]

The Scriptures also show that Christ is the living Word of God (John: 1:1). He is the very expression of Gods mind, character, and will. So in everything Jesus, the promised Messiah, did. He operated entirely according to the direction and power of the Spirit of God. Thus, there is always this holy collaboration between the Spirit and the Word of God.

Again, look at what John said he saw with the seven torches before the throne of God  a sea of glass. What is this glassy sea?

The sea of glass calls to remembrance the laver, a piece of furniture in the Tabernacle that was the portable dwelling place of the God of Israel. The laver was also called the sea (Exodus 30:17-21; I Kings 7:23-26). It symbolized Gods Word because it contained water the priests had to wash and be cleansed in before performing their priestly duties. God used this symbolism to help his people understand the importance of purity of life and service.

The apostle Paul referenced this same imagery when in Ephesians 5:16 he talked about how Christ sanctifies and cleanses his church, by the washing of water by the Word.

However, in Revelation 4:5, this sea is not about cleansing. It still represents Gods Word but it is no longer needed for cleansing because the days of sinning and confession have passed. The sea to which John bears witness is like sparkling crystal, and in Revelation 15:2, he says its also mingled with fire  something on which the martyred tribulation saints are seen standing. The apostle writes:

I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them.

The representation here is fixating. Gods Word is like a glassy sea  like sparkling crystal  a foundation of incomparable purity upon which believers may forever stand. It is mingled with fire. Is not my Word like as a fire? says the Lord (Jeremiah 23:29). Gods Word, the Scriptures, are like a consuming fire that ultimately destroys everything opposed to God and his people. And on this, Gods children may eternally stand.

Let every believer notice: The Spirit and Gods Word always work in tandem.

Let me share a memorable quote from the late Ray Stedman, one of the 20th centurys foremost pastors and biblical expositors. Stedman wrote:

There is no salvation without both of these [the Spirit and the Word]. These are the instruments by which God performs His work. It is always a mistake to emphasize one of these to the exclusion of the other. There are groups today who are doing this: Some say, No, we dont need the Word. All we need is the Spirits guidance within. All we need is simply to trust the feelings we have. God the Spirit is dwelling in us and He will lead us. But whenever a group does that, they follow the pattern of similar groups in the past, and it invariably results in impractical ideas, in mysticism, in fanaticism, in rigid, hard-eyed determinism, and in individualism  everybody going his own way and doing his own thing. Utter confusion results if you set aside the Word and try to follow only the Spirit.

Several years ago, a Christian lawmaker in my home state of North Carolina was clearly making political decisions against biblical ethics. He was making himself a partner with forces that forged what the Bible prohibits and calls an unequal yoke (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). As his brother in Christ and a lobbyist for the Christian Action League, I called him on the telephone to talk with him about what he was doing. He insisted he didnt believe he was doing anything wrong. He said he had prayed about it and God was leading him to do what he was doing.

Unfortunately, it soon became apparent he really wasnt hearing from God. He ended up at the heart of a political scandal of corruption and bribes and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Gods Spirit never leads in a way contrary to biblically revealed ethics. The Spirit and the Word always work together. Can God act against himself? The assertion is farcical. Yet this is seen in a thousand different ways today.

Seven torches and a glassy sea before the throne of God  the ministry of the Spirit and the Word  nothing is more dangerous than to put a wedge between the two. Nothing is more hazardous than to emphasize either one at the expense of the other. It is the Spirit and the Word, the Spirit upon the Word, and the Spirit in us as we read the Word.
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.
'The worst child abuse I've ever seen': Inside 'absolutely horrific' transgender 'medical scandal'

"It's the worst child abuse I've ever seen."

That's how Christian Post journalist Brandon Showalter describes his in-depth coverage of the transgender movement. Showalter's new podcast docu-series titled "Generation Indoctrination" takes audiences deep into the impact this trend is having on children and families alike.

"This is a medical scandal ... [kids are] being fast-tracked into a pipeline of horror," he said, calling the movement the "greatest assault on the image of God."

Showalter continued, "You can't get Genesis wrong without getting the whole Gospel wrong."

Listen to his powerful explanation:

Among the most impacted are parents and families seeking to stop their children's transition. Tragically, this many times leads to a familial split or other such chaos that damages and destroys lives.

"It is absolutely horrific what families are enduring when this invades their home," Showalter said. Hear the journalist unpack episode two of the "Generation Indoctrination" podcast series here:

The Inside Story takes you behind the headlines of the biggest faith, culture, and political headlines of the week. In 15 minutes or less, Christian Post staff writers and editors will help you navigate and understand whats driving each story, the issues at play  and why it all matters.

Listen to more Christian podcasts today on the Edifi app  and be sure to subscribe to The Inside Story on your favorite platforms:
Charles Stanley stepping down as senior pastor of First Baptist Atlanta

After nearly 50 years of serving as senior pastor at First Baptist Church Atlanta, Charles Stanley announced during a pre-recorded streaming service on Sunday that he is stepping down. The megachurch said Stanley will be replaced by Dr. Anthony George.

Earlier this month, I informed the board that I felt the time had come for me to step down as senior pastor, Stanley said. I have many wonderful memories. But as much as I love being your pastor, I know in my heart this season has come to an end.

Stanley, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and who will turn 88 later this month, will become pastor emeritus. To say I didnt rush this decision would certainly be an understatement, he said.

Stanley, whos been with First Baptist since 1969, said hes not retiring and will remain active with In Touch Ministries, which was founded in 1992.

The church said in a statement on its Facebook page, We are forever indebted to this man of Godnot only our faithful pastor, but also a pastor to millions around the world.

George, who assisted Stanley as the churchs associate pastor since 2012, stated, Thank you for being strong and of good courage through every battle that youve had to fight, through every trial youve had to overcome.

You have stood tall and confident through all these years while at the same time remaining dependent and prayerful before an almighty God. Because you were a yielded vessel the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through you, has blanketed this globe. Truly, God has been with you wheresoever you have gone.

In his message, Stanley said he was so grateful for George. Thanks to Anthonys leadership and his love for you and his love for God. I have no doubt that there are many great days ahead for the First Baptist Church of Atlanta. My hope is that the greatest days are still ahead.

A former senior pastor of Aloma Church in Winter Park, Florida, for one and a half decades, George said he plans to do some serious strategic planning for updating our churchs organizational structure and ministry model.

Stanley had to be hospitalized twice last year, George recalled, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After coming home from the hospital each of those times, he had me over to his house to tell me it was time for him to step down, George said. As he recovered and regained his strength following each of those conversations, he let me know that he had changed his mind and planned on remaining as senior pastor. Then at the beginning of this year, he had me over to discuss it, only to back down again and say that the timing wasnt right. So even with the back and forth, I knew it was weighing heavily on his mind. And for the record, I have always discouraged him from stepping down.

David P. Gushee, a professor at Mercer University and director of the Center for Theology and Public Life, called Stanley one of the giants of conservative Southern Baptist life for the last generation or more, according to AJC. He said Stanleys commitment to staying in one place and serving as a faithful pastor in that one community is just something you dont see anymore.
Franklin Graham sues more venues over canceled tour stops

Evangelist Franklin Graham has taken legal action against two more venues for canceling his U.K. tour events planned for May due to his biblical views on homosexuality, according to a spokesperson of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

After launching legal proceedings against the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, BGEA has now sued the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield and ICC Wales in the city of Newport, South Wales, Christian Today reported.

The Scottish Event Campus, owners of the Glasgow Hydro, had been given time until Thursday to explain why it canceled Grahams event slated for May 30  the first night of his tour  but the spokesperson said the SEC leaders intend to resist the Billy Graham Evangelistic Associations request for judicial relief, and have been advised that they will have another seven days to file a substantive answer, The Herald (of Scotland) reported.

BGEA, which Graham heads, will continue trying to work toward a resolution that will allow the Graham Tour U.K. to be held at The SSE Hydro as planned, he added.

All eight venues booked by the BGEA for Grahams U.K. tour pulled out, allegedly due to pressure from LGBT activist groups.

Grahams spokesperson said the cancelations had alarming implications for free speech and religious freedom.

BGEAs position remains that in nearly 70 years of public evangelistic outreach ministry, there is no evidence whatsoever that any BGEA event involving Franklin Graham has ever caused a danger to public safety or incited public disorder, he said.

The actions taken by these venues and those responsible for them to publicly repudiate these contracts are clear efforts to distance the decision-makers from BGEA, Franklin Graham and other Christians who hold similar beliefs, he continued. There is no question that this was done under pressure from those with opposing views who have demonstrated a relatively predictable pattern of harassment and bullying of those doing business with BGEA.

The spokesperson added, This disregard for principles of good faith and fair dealing, based on the mere suggestion that a person's sincerely held religious views or statements are 'hateful' or would result in public disorder, should be very alarming to anyone who is genuinely concerned about diversity, inclusion and tolerance, let alone free speech and the free exercise of religious beliefs.

In a media interview earlier this month, Graham said he was surprised over the cancelations.

I have been surprised  I'm not coming to speak against anybody and I dont name any groups of people, Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, told Christian Today, based in the U.K. Im coming to tell people how they can have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

He said hes most concerned about the stifling of free speech for churches.

... If we don't stand up for the right to free speech and freedom of religion, there are lots of churches in this country that meet in public who are at risk, he said. They could be kicked out, they could be forced to go somewhere else, just because of their faith."

We haven't broken any laws and I think it's important for the church that we resolve this matter so that it protects them," he said of possibly pursuing legal action.

This isnt the first time the evangelist has been met with opposition from LGBT groups. In 2018, bus ads for his evangelistic festival were pulled following an outcry from LGBT groups.

Graham believes that the need for preaching the Gospel in the U.K. is greater than ever.

He wants people to know that we are all sinners and our sins separate us from God.
PCUSA to add 'nonbinary/genderqueer' category to official Church statistics

The Presbyterian Church (USA) said it will be adding a nonbinary/genderqueer category to its annual reports.

PCUSA's Office of the General Assembly announced Tuesday that it was making a host of changes to how it reports denominational statistics on membership and the number of congregations.

Starting with next years statistics, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States will add a nonbinary/genderqueer category, alongside the traditional men and women categories.

Kris Valerius, manager of denominational roles and statistics, said if they want to be inclusive, then we have to start asking because you should be aware of whos a part of your church.

Well have the same categories, were just not defining them any longer, which may upset people. The information will be there  were just removing the definitions, she added.

For instance, weve always asked how many female members there are in the church. Were now asking how many men, women and nonbinary/genderqueer members there are. Weve never asked that question so we dont know how many people will fill it out.

Other changes include altering the finance section, adding an age category to count how many members are 17 or 18, eliminating definitions from the ethnic and racial sections, and removing the Christian education section.

Statistics paint the picture of who we are as a denomination. Its not just statistics, its ministers, churches, it is who we are at this particular time, Valerius said.

As with other Christian denominations, the PCUSA has seen considerable decline in both its number of active members and the number of member congregations.

Earlier this year, for example, PCUSA reported that it had lost more than 51,000 members in 2021, along with over 100 congregations, and even four regional bodies, or presbyteries.

The most recent numbers for the denomination record that it has around 1.1 million active members and 8,813 member congregations, with 166 presbyteries.

By contrast, in 2012, the PCUSA reported having 1.84 million members (or over 700,000 more than at present) and 10,262 member congregations (or around 1,400 more than at present).

One factor contributing to this decline has been the PCUSAs increased acceptance of homosexuality, which has driven hundreds of member congregations to leave the mainline Protestant denomination.

In 2012, a theologically conservative Presbyterian denomination known as ECO, or a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, was founded a couple of years after the PCUSA voted to allow the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals.

In 2016, ECO reached the 300-member congregation milestone, with the vast majority of their churches having previously belonged to PCUSA.
UK church sues city council for canceling 3-day conference over speakers views on homosexuality

The Scotland-based Destiny Church is suing the Edinburgh city council over the cancellation of a three-day conference because the council objects to the participation of Louisiana pastor Larry Stockstill and his views on homosexuality.

The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the multicampus Destiny Church launched legal action last week after the Edinburgh Council canceled the churchs June booking of the Edinburgh Usher Hall for its Surge Conference.

A keynote speaker scheduled for the conference is Stockstill, the former pastor of the multicampus Bethany World Prayer Center in Louisiana, which is now led by his son, Jonathan. Stockstill also founded the Surge Project, a church planting network.

Stockstill is also the author of the 2007 book He Teaches My Hands to War, in which he calls homosexuality not normal behavior and behavior that is not accepted by God.

Along with Stockstill, the head of the U.K.-based Evangelical Alliance, Gavin Calver, was also scheduled to speak.



In January, the city council told The Sunday Times that it canceled the religious gathering over objections to previous comments Stockstill made about abortion and homosexuality.

The church is being represented by the Scottish law firm Lindsays, which argues that the council violated U.K. discrimination law as well as breached the European Convention on Human Rights by canceling the conference.



"We understand that this is a fairly clear-cut breach of the freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the freedom of expression enshrined in ECHR, Destiny Senior Pastor Andrew Owen told the Edinburgh Evening News. "Under the Equality Act 2010, the city of Edinburgh Council is also discriminating on the grounds of religious belief.

"We organized an event, which we are free to do, at which speakers will express their religious views, as they are free to do, Owen added. "It is unlawful for the city of Edinburgh to cancel an event because it determines that the views previously expressed by a speaker are not acceptable."

A city council spokesperson told the Edinburgh Evening News that the Destiny Church event was canceled due to the keynote speakers publicly-stated views about same-sex relationships which are, in the councils opinion, offensive and discriminatory.

The spokesperson stressed that the council will vigorously defend its position in order to protect and promote diversity and equal rights for all.

We are committed to promoting diversity and equal rights for all, the spokesperson continued. The proposed event did not meet the standards which we expect from those hiring and visiting our venues to respect and observe and the booking was therefore canceled."

The nondenominational Christian charity the Christian Institute announced its support for Destiny Churchs lawsuit last week.

Ciaran Kelly, Christian Institutes deputy director for communications, said the church has a strong case which they should win. He said the case seeks to resist the marginalization of Christians in the U.K.

This is a clear case of unlawful religious discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, Kelly said in a statement. It is a clear denial of free speech under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Destiny Churchs lawsuit comes as U.S. evangelical leader Franklin Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham, and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association filed legal action against three event venues for their cancellations of May events due to Grahams views on homosexuality.

If Destiny Church or the BGEA can be banned from hiring public venues today, the same could be true for other Christian groups tomorrow, Kelly contended. We do not want that to happen.
UK National Health Service warns trans-identified kids may be going through 'transient phase'

The United Kingdom's National Health Service is advising health professionals to take a more watchful approach to gender dysphoria cases among minors, saying that children proclaiming to be trans-identified may be going through a "phase" and shouldn't be encouraged to socially transition so quickly.

The NHS proposed new guidelines Thursday, warning that doctors shouldn't so easily encourage minors to socially transition by changing their names or pronouns during what may be a "transient phase." The proposed guidelines would regulate an interim service to help young people with gender dysphoria following the announced closing of the country's largest gender clinic.

The document comes as an independent review led by Dr. Hillary Cass, the former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, was released this year, finding that "social transitioning" is not a "neutral act" and could have "significant effects" in terms of "psychological functioning."

"The clinical management approach should be open to exploring all developmentally

appropriate options for children and young people who are experiencing gender

incongruence, being mindful that this may be a transient phase, particularly for prepubertal children, and that there will be a range of pathways to support these children and young people and a range of outcomes," the proposed guidelines state.

The document advises that the "clinical approach in regard to pre-pubertal children will reflect evidence that suggests that, while young people who are gender querying or who express gender incongruence may have started their journey as younger children, in most prepubertal children, gender incongruence does not persist into adolescence."

The document adds that doctors should consider whether autism or other mental health conditions are relevant to a child's desire to transition.

A 2018 study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics and a 2016 study published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology suggest that large percentages of children with a history of gender dysphoria have a mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.

The NHS's proposed guidelines intend to replace protocols at the now-shuttered gender identity clinic at the Tavistock and Portman Trust in London, which pursued "gender-affirming" intervention for trans-identified minors.

The government launched the independent review following an exponential rise in children referred to the Tavistock gender clinic. The Cass review found that "potentially irreversible treatments" were "given to children and young people, when the evidence base underlying the treatments is inconclusive, and when there is uncertainty about whether, for any particular child or young person, medical intervention is the best way of resolving

gender-related distress."

Cass criticized the clinic's use of experimental puberty-blocking drugs to treat gender dysphoria in a July 19 report. She also recommended moving away from the sole provider care model and urged the development of regional services to meet the needs of patients.

"The rationale for use of puberty blockers at Tanner Stage 2 of development was based on data that demonstrated that children, particularly birth-registered boys who had early gender incongruence, were unlikely to desist once they reached early puberty; this rationale does not necessarily apply to later-presenting young people, including the predominant referral group of birth-registered girls," Cass wrote.

"We do not fully understand the role of adolescent sex hormones in driving the development of both sexuality and gender identity through the early teen years, so by extension we cannot be sure about the impact of stopping these hormone surges on psychosexual and gender maturation. We therefore have no way of knowing whether, rather than buying time to make a decision, puberty blockers may disrupt that decision-making process."

NHS reports there were over 5,000 referrals for gender identity services between 2021 and 2022, compared to just 250 referrals from 2011 to 2012.

"Staff [at regional centers] should maintain a broad clinical perspective in order to embed the care of children and young people with gender uncertainty within a broader child and adolescent health context," Cass wrote.

Worldwide detransitioners  individuals who once trans-identified and now regret their decisions  have spoken out about being too young to be given the ability to make body-altering decisions.

One of the most prominent cases in the U.K. is that of Keira Bell, a young woman who underwent a cosmetic double mastectomy and took opposite-sex hormones as a teenager but later regretted the decision.

Bell alleged in a judicial review that she was incapable of understanding the risks associated with taking puberty blockers when she was treated at the Tavistock clinic as a teenager. The U.K. High Court of Justice initially ruled in Bell's favor before reversing the decision a few months later.

As NHS reported in May 2020, "[l]ittle is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria."

"Long-term cross-sex hormone treatment may cause temporary or even permanent infertility," the NHS website states. "There is some uncertainty about the risks of long-term cross-sex hormone treatment."
Charges dropped against Virginia megachurch pastor accused of soliciting sex with minor

All charges against a Virginia megachurch pastor arrested for felony solicitation of prostitution of minors following an online sting operation have been dropped, although they could be refiled at a future date.

John Blanchard, the 51-year-old pastor at the Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, was one of 17 suspects arrested by the Chesterfield County Police Special Victims Detectives as part of an online chatting operation last October. Earlier this month, all charges were dropped against him.

The case against Blanchard is nolle pros, meaning that the charges could be refiled should prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to convict, reported the Norfolk-based 13News Now.

During the two-day operation, detectives intercepted suspects who believed they were soliciting sex from minors through online and social media platforms, stated Chesterfield authorities at the time.

The suspects communicated with people they believed to be underage members of our community and arranged to meet them at a location to have sexual relations. When the suspects came to the location, they were met by police and arrested.

Blanchard was charged with felony solicitation of prostitution and use of a vehicle to promote prostitution, according to authorities.

For its part, Rock Church posted a statement on Facebook celebrating the dropping of all charges, noting that Blanchard had always denied the allegations against him.

The statement included a quote from Bishop Anne Gimenez, who, along with Blanchards wife, Robin, oversaw leading the congregation during the legal proceedings.

We have always believed in Johns innocence. His humility and submission to those over him during this time has been a testimony to his character, stated Gimenez. He has spent the time in fasting and prayer and has invested much of his time in his family and education. We anticipate his resumption of church duties in the near future.

Jim Booker, a neighbor of Blanchard, told CBS News affiliate WTKR in Norfolk last year that he was surprised by Blanchards arrest.

This is a shock to me because I know him fairly well. Hes never given me any indication over the years that Ive known him that he would be mixed up in anything like this, Booker told WTKR.

I know evil is always present and always trying to take down those who claim Jesus Christ. Im going to pray for him and be there for him. If he needs someone to talk to, Im going to be there to talk to him.

Blanchard, who had become lead pastor of Rock Church in 2013 alongside his wife, voluntarily stepped away from his ministerial duties during the legal proceedings.

In a statement last year, the church stated that it condemns sexual immorality of any kind and in any form by its members and leaders, and is committed to honesty and integrity in dealing with charges or accusations of sexual misconduct or immorality among its leaders and will support any investigation arising from accusations of violation of this standard.
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.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier came to Kyiv on Tuesday for his first visit to Ukraine since Russia's invasion started in February, as Western nations discussed a major plan to help rebuild Ukraine once the war concludes.

The German head of state, upon his arrival, declared that his gesture of "solidarity" to the Ukrainians was crucial for him in this period of "air strikes with drones, cruise missiles, and rockets."

The Kremlin's soldiers have destroyed houses, public structures, and the electrical infrastructure over eight months. The World Bank projects Ukraine's losses at $345 billion, according to AP News.

On his third attempt, Germany's mostly ceremonial president finally made it to Ukraine. Security considerations prompted the cancellation of President Steinmeier's trip last week.

As a result of the prolonged Russian onslaught on Ukrainian infrastructure in recent weeks, Steinmeier's visit came as Ukrainians prepared for colder temperatures and less electricity than usual this winter.

Steinmeier Pledges To Support Ukraine in Fixing Destroyed Facilities

When he arrived in Kyiv by train, Steinmeier told journalists that Germany will continue to support Ukraine "economically, politically, and also militarily."

The head of state went on to say that Germany had recently been one of the main exporters of air defense systems to Ukraine and that the international community needed to do everything it could to safeguard the Ukrainian people against aerial assaults, Reuters reported.

Germany's leader spoke out against the brutality of Moscow's forces in the Russia Ukraine War and expressed excitement about meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that in addition to assisting the military, the main goal of his trip was to work as rapidly as possible before winter to rebuild damaged infrastructure, including electricity grids, water pipes, and heating systems.

Had a substantive & productive call with  President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Thanked for the 1st #IRIS air defense system, we must deploy an air shield over  ASAP!  will help overcome the consequences of Russian missile terror. We're preparing  President's visit to .    (@ZelenskyyUa) October 20, 2022

Read Also: French President Emmanuel Macron Scorches Washington for High-Priced Gas, Saying the US Takes Advantage of Europe's Energy Crisis

A Social Democrat and former foreign minister, German President Steinmeier had expressed regret in supporting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was canceled due to the Russia Ukraine war. The project was intended to boost the supply of Russian gas to Germany.

His Social Democratic Party has long advocated for stronger economic relations with Russia as a means of securing Russia's place within a Western-oriented global order.

A Marshall Plan To Help Ukraine

Steinmeier's visit to Kyiv coincided with a Berlin conference on what its organizers claim needs to be a "Marshall Plan" to restore Ukraine, likening the task at hand to the United States' support of Europe's rebuilding after World War II.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is present at the conference, claimed the cost of reconstructing Ukraine is $750 billion.

In April, Steinmeier and the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia were scheduled to travel to Kyiv. The Ukrainian government, however, did not invite Steinmeier, noting his more amiable approach toward Russia as the cause.

German lawmakers were infuriated by the Ukrainian stance. Frank-Walter Steinmeier had already acknowledged his own faults in Russian policy.

DW reported that the diplomatic tension between the two European countries was not fully resolved until the beginning of May when Steinmeier spoke with his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyy via a phone conversation. Steinmeier was invited by the Ukrainian leader to come to Ukraine.

Since then, several German officials have visited the nation torn by the Russia Ukraine War, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Related Article: Liz Truss Congratulates Incoming UK PM Rishi Sunak, Assures Full Support in Addressing Massive Economic, Political Challenges

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An open letter to TD Jakes from California

Let me state up front that I have no ax to grind. Although I dont necessarily line up in all areas of theology with Bishop Jakes, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Potter's House in 2003 and meeting Bishop Jakes (the clip is here at the 1:40 mark).

A recent Twitter feed was sent to me by many concerned believers. In it, Beto ORourke thanked T.D. Jakes for having him at the Potter's House on October 23rd, 2022.

Actions have consequences

Although I dont know the nature of his attendance, I hope that Mr. ORourke was genuinely wanting to know God. However, the tweet seems to suggest that T.D. Jakes is supporting Beto ORourke, a politician who believes that even late-term abortion is acceptable. (Id love to have Bishop Jakes on my podcast, Idleman Unplugged, to discuss it further.)

In these dire times, its important for all pastors, including Bishop Jakes, to clarify their position based on Gods Word. This possible endorsement left millions of solid believers baffled.

I understand that pastoring a church consisting of different political views is very challenging, but actions have consequences. Now, more than ever, we need pastors who speak the truth in love.

I remember when Bishop Jakes spoke at the Manpower Conferences in the late 1990s. His preaching brought down Heaven. Bishop, we need that again. We need humble, broken men leading us in the right direction.

Have we offended Oprah?

Pastors need to be more worried about offending God than offending Oprah and Tyler Perry. Leadership plays a huge role in shaping the direction of our nation. This is not about Left or Right, but about what is right. The level of decadence and deception in our nation demands a strong response.

When churches remain silent about movements that decimate our country, support ungodly candidates that push wicked agendas, and cater more to wokeness than the Word, we are in big trouble.

Wokeness doesnt cure racism, it fuels it. It doesnt lead people closer to God, it draws them away. Progressives arent progressing if theyre digressing from Gods Word.

Woke America hates the true God and hates this incredible nation that God established. This is why theyre trying to shame us into silence by labeling us or by defining us according to skin color. We may be woke, but we are worse off.



The slippery slope

As a pastor in Los Angeles County, I can tell you with certainty that we are on a very slippery slope. We are voting soon on being able to terminate the life of a baby up to the moment of birth. Think about that! We are not sacrificing our children on the searing arms of Molech like they did in the Old Testament, but we are sacrificing them on the altar of sexual sin and personal convenience.

God help us, and God help the silent pulpits! As California goes, so goes the nation.

I also fully understand that many blacks and whites look through life through different lenses. But the only hope is for both sides to swallow their pride and look through one lens  the biblical lens.

Yes, there is hope!

Whether its violence in our streets or perversion in our schools, something needs to change:As Ive said a thousand times, a spiritual awakening is our only hope. Churches need to come together again for nights of prayer and worship.

Our political battles often stem from hearts filled with pride, and pride must be crushed. When we are more concerned about our people than Gods people, its a sure sign that were on the wrong path.

We must look in the mirror and repent! We must ask God for a fresh filling of His Spirit; He is our only hope. A red wave in November 2022 won't save us, but the crimson blood of Christ will.
Should pastors handover ministries to their children?

I am asking this question genuinely. Since I am planning to hand over my ministry to my son one day, I have been thinking about this issue more often these days.

I recently listened to Bishop T.D Jakes of Potters House from Dallas, Texas, hand over his Woman Thou are Loosed Ministry to his daughter. His speech was overwhelmingly convincing and indicated that the daughter was qualified to receive the mantle from him. He emphasized that he was anointing her not through DNA, birth order, favoritism, or nepotism. According to Bishop Jakes If I did not know that the hand of the Lord was upon you, I would never do this. There are testimonies that Sarah Jakes Roberts is qualified for this assignment that was handed over to her by the father, but there are still some people asking Is God's ministry now a family heritage?

In as much as I know that the opinion of people does not matter when God has said yes, I am still bothered by this practice. The ultimate question should be how to honor God, not family. Is there a biblical way of handling succession and appointments of church and ministry workers? Maybe a look at a few appointments done by the Apostles in the Book of Acts will be of help to us.

When the disciples replaced Judas with Matthias they prayed and said: Thou Lord which knoweth the heart of all men, show whether of this two thou hast chosen, that they may take part of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he may go his own place (Acts 1:24-26). After prayer, they cast their lots and lots fell upon Matthias and he was numbered among the Apostles.

Two men were chosen by the Apostles based on human calculation but were subjected to Gods approval. The omniscient God is the searcher of the hearts of all men and His choice is indisputable. This method is more reliable than simply appointing people based on who we like and who we think is most qualified. It is important to note that Peter as the leader of the Apostles allowed all to be involved in prayers and casting lots. I believe that even if family members are appointed through this process that there should be no cause for alarm.

In Acts 6, there was a dispute between the Hellenistic and Hebrew Christians over the negligence of Hellenistic widows in the daily ministration of food. This was a very big administrative challenge for a church that was trying to survive external aggression from the Jewish authority. The Apostles needed to appoint those who would be responsible for the equitable distribution of food, and this was how the committee members were appointed. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them (Acts 6:3).

Out of this process came able men like Stephen, who became the very first martyr, and Philip, who became a very dedicated evangelist. Luke gives an account in Acts of how Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church that they planted: And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed (Acts 14:23). Apostolic succession was not passed through family lines. It simply wasnt.

If there is no one sent to me by God, I will assume that God sent my son to take over the leadership role in the ministry. He has labored diligently with me and understands the mandate more than anyone else. I want a successor whom I know will be able to pass through suffering and pains, take risks, and is ready to die for the sake of the Gospel. Whoever that person may be, God must make that decision; not my flesh.
Christian groups demand release of bishop, 2 priests arrested in Eritrea

The United Kingdom-based watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide and one of its local partners are calling for the release of a Catholic bishop and two priests arrested earlier this month without reason in Eritrea, one of the world's most repressive and closed countries.

According to a joint statement from the advocacy organization and its partner Human Rights Concern Eritrea, Bishop Fikremariam Hagos, the first bishop of the Catholic Eparchy of Segheneity, was arrested on Oct. 15, three days after the detention of Fr. Abraham Habtom Gebremariam from the Capuchin Society in Teseney town.

A day earlier, on Oct. 11, authorities arrested Fr. Mihretab Stefanos of St. Michael's Church in Segheneity. Fr. Kiros Tsegay, an American citizen and founder of the Debre Abune Aregawi-Orlando Orthodox Church in Florida, was arrested last year.

Bishop Fikremariam was arrested at Asmara International Airport as he returned from a European visit. The others are thought to be detained in Adi Abeto prison, a prison north of Asmara known for its inhumane and crowded conditions.

"The Eritrean government is yet to give a reason for arresting the clergymen," the statement reads.

Although they belong to a Christian denomination permitted to operate in the country, the advocacy organizations suggest that the arbitrary arrests could be linked to the Catholic leaders' calls for justice and reconciliation in Eritrea.

The four bishops wrote pastoral letters in 2014 and 2018 calling for reconciliation and justice, saying, "Respect for persons, their dignity and their rights, is the cornerstone of peace."

Fikremariam spoke against the seizure and closure of 22 Catholic health facilities in 2019.

CSW reports that more recently, the bishops have discouraged congregants from buying goods looted from the war-torn Tigray region in Ethiopia, a separatist conflict that has also involved Eritrean forces.

"The arbitrary arrests of the Catholic clergy are occurring against the backdrop of massive and punitive door to door round ups of Eritrean citizens of all ages, who are being sent to fight in Tigray, in a military offensive that appears predicated on wearing down the stamina and ammunition of the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) by sending Eritrean men and woman, who are viewed as expendable by their government, to die at the frontlines in waves," HRCE Director Elizabeth Chyrum said in a statement.

Citing sources, Catholic News Service reports the clergymen were accused of highlighting human rights violations in Eritrea in their homilies.

The sources said that the human rights violations include "imprisonment of parents (women and men), mobilization of deserved army people, young people [taken] by force to the war fronts, closing homes, [and] confiscation of animals from those people who have refused to go to war."

Organizations, including Amnesty International, CNN and Sky News, have previously published investigations into massacres committed against civilian populations in Tigray since fighting escalated in November 2020.

Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in Asmara  belonging to the largest among the only three Christian denominations allowed to function in the country: the Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches.

In 2002, Eritrea closed all churches not affiliated with Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Christian denominations and began arresting adherents of non-sanctioned churches. The global watchdog organization Open Doors USA reports that there are possibly more than 1,000 Christians imprisoned in Eritrea, with none formally charged.

When arrested, Eritrea's persecuted Christians often disappear without a trace, leaving their loved ones with no information on their whereabouts or safety. Prison conditions are some of the harshest in the world, with many inmates kept in shipping containers.

"While some are released, many of these are moved to military service  which is no freedom at all  or house arrest," Open Doors warns in a factsheet. "The ongoing detention of Christians shows that the government has no intention of relaxing its repressive policies."

Adherents to sanctioned religious denominations have also been persecuted. The legitimate patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, who was illegally removed from office for resisting government interference in church affairs, died earlier this year under house arrest after spending over 15 years in detention.

Afewerki, 75, the leader of the ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice Party, also has a reputation as a ruthless autocrat. Afewerki's policy of restrictions is more about his fear that religion will mobilize people as a political force than religion itself, advocates say.
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.
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.
Russian authorities reported to the United Nations that Ukraine was preparing what they called a "dirty bomb" that was allegedly laced with radioactive material.

However, Western and Ukrainian officials dismissed the allegations and called them a pretext for escalating the war. Authorities from Moscow sent a letter that detailed the allegations to the UN on Monday and raised their concerns during a closed meeting with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday.

Russia's Allegations

In a statement, Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said that they were quite satisfied because they were able to raise awareness about the issue. The official noted that he did not mind people saying that Russia is crying wolf if the weapon is not used, arguing that it would be better if it was kept under wraps.

On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia's allegations and noted that the West was foolish to dismiss them. The situation follows hints from Moscow that it might be forced to use a tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine, as per Aljazeera.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the dirty bomb allegations showed that Russia was planning such an attack and seeking to put the blame on his country. Moscow officials, with the looming threat of Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson, called their Western counterparts to voice their concerns.

Russian authorities alleged that Kyiv ordered two organizations to manufacture a dirty bomb, which is an explosive device laced with radioactive material but did not provide any evidence to back up its claims.

According to the Associated Press, Moscow's allegations also come as Ukraine's nuclear energy operator said on Tuesday that Russian forces were performing mysterious work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Read Also: German President Steinmeier Visits Kyiv To Show 'Solidarity' with Ukraine Amid Russian Drone Attacks

Russia Dirty Bomb

Ukraine also dismissed Russia's claim as an attempt to distract the world's attention from the Kremlin's own alleged plans to use a nuclear weapon themselves. Ukraine's state enterprise, Energoatom, alleged that Russian forces have carried out secret construction work over the last week at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Moscow officials in charge of the plant denied access to Ukrainian staff running the plant or monitors from the UN's atomic energy watchdog that would allow them to see what the Russians are doing, said the company on Tuesday.

The company said that it assumed that the Russians at the plant are preparing a terrorist act that makes use of nuclear materials and radioactive waste that were stored in the area. Energoatom added that there were 174 containers at the Zaporizhzhia power plant's dry spent fuel storage facility, with each one containing 24 assemblies of spent nuclear fuel.

A dirty bomb, compared to a nuclear bomb, is much cheaper and simpler to make because it can be manufactured without using highly refined radioactive material. It is able to be created using radioactive materials from hospitals, nuclear power stations, or research laboratories.

Due to radioactive fallout causing serious illnesses to humans, including cancer, such a bomb would cause panic among the target population. A wide area around the blast zone would need to be evacuated for decontamination, or people could be forced to abandon an area completely, BBC reported.

Related Article: Russian Fighter Jet Crashes Again, Video Shows Massive Fire in Crash Site

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Statistics Canada has just released a major study on Canada's immigrant population. This is the biggest update since 2017.

Immigrants make up largest share of Canadas population in over 150 years Statistics Canada has just released a major study on Canada's immigrant population. This is the biggest update since 2017.

Immigrants make up largest share of Canadas population in over 150 years Statistics Canada has just released a major study on Canada's immigrant population. This is the biggest update since 2017.

Immigrants make up largest share of Canadas population in over 150 years Statistics Canada has just released a major study on Canada's immigrant population. This is the biggest update since 2017. Edana Robitaille Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Statistics Canada has released the results of the 2021 census, which includes the most recent statistical portrait of immigration and ethnocultural diversity in Canada.

This is the largest update on Canadas immigrant population since Census 2016 results were unveiled by Statistics Canada in October 2017.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Every five years, Statistics Canada, the government agency responsible for conducting surveys and collecting, and analyzing data about people in Canada, sends out a mandatory census form to every household in the country.

The Canadian census aims to provide both the government and the population of Canada with information about the people and housing units in Canada by their demographic, social and economic characteristics. For example, how people identify ethnically, how many people live in one home, what languages they speak and their level of education and income. This data helps the government understand the needs of Canadians and permanent residents in Canada to better allocate funding to relevant initiatives.

The data released today shows how immigrants in Canada are living day-to-day.

Growing number of Canadians are foreign born

The report today, entitled Portrait of Immigration to Canada, shows that 23% of Canadas population is, or has been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident of the country.

This is the largest immigrant share of Canadas population since Canada was founded as a country in 1867.

This figure accounts for 8.3 million immigrants in 2021.

Statistics Canada forecasts the countrys immigrant population will continue to rise, as high as 34% by 2041.

The growth in newcomers can be attributed to the ever-increasing targets of Canadas Immigration Levels Plan.

Just over 1.3 million new permanent residents settled in Canada between 2016 and 2021. Over half of these recent newcomers, or some 748,120 immigrants, arrived under the economic class.

Over one-third of these immigrants, some 36.6% lived in Canada before gaining permanent residence as they were work or study permit holders or asylum claimants.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

In 2016, Canada had a target of 300,000 new permanent residents. In 2022, the country looks to welcome some 432,000 new immigrants by the end of the year and over 450,000 by the end of 2024. These targets are expected to remain the same or see an increase when the new Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 is released within the next week.

Immigration targets have increased over the past five years in part because of Canadas labour shortage. Nearly a quarter of the population will age out of the workforce by 2030. The shortage is made more acute by the gradual rise in the number of deaths and the relatively low fertility levels in Canada.

Statistics Canada notes that recent immigrants have an age structure that is younger than the general population, which helps to mitigate the impacts of labour shortages in Canada.

Between 2016 and 2021, immigrants accounted for about 80% of Canadas labour force growth.

Asia leads the way

For much of Canadas history, most new immigrants came from Europe, however the share of new immigrants from Asia (including the Middle East) has increased over the past 50 years.

Asia is the top source region of newcomers to Canada, and this continued in 2021. The share of newcomers from Africa has also increased.

Some 62% of the recent immigrant arrivals were born in Asia, with 18.6% coming from India alone, the leading source country of Canadas newcomers. The Philippines accounts for 11.4% of newcomers, followed by China at 8.9%. This is the first time India took the top spot of Canadas newcomers.

The last time Canada had such a high percentage of immigrants from one country was noted in the 1971 census when 20.9% of immigrants were born in the United Kingdom. Europeans now account for only one in ten new immigrants.

Nearly two-thirds of newcomers are of core working age

More than one in five Canadians are near the age of retirement, which is an all-time high. Immigration cannot stop Canadas aging process, but it can help to introduce younger workers into the economy.

About 10.9% of the new immigrants that arrived to Canada between 2016 and 2021 were youth and young adults aged 15 to 24. The vast majority were core-aged workers who were between 25 to 54 years old. Children below the age of 15 represented 17.1% of newcomer arrivals.

Meanwhile, the share of second-generation Canadians (the children of immigrants) who are younger than 15 years of age with at least one immigrant parent increased to 31.5% in 2021, compared to 26.7% in 2011.

More immigrants are working in Canada compared to the pre-pandemic era. The employment rate of immigrants has increased by two percentage points since 2016, while it has fallen by the same amount among the Canadian-born population.

More recent immigrants settling outside of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver

In 2021, 92.2% of Canadas recent immigrants lived in one of Canadas census metropolitan areas (CMAs), which are large urban centres of over 100,000 residents. This is higher than 67.7% for the Canadian-born population. The high proportion of immigrants in CMAs can be attributed to well-established immigrant communities, such as the ones in Toronto, where 46.6% of the city population are immigrants.

As has been the case for over the last 50 years, Toronto (29.5%), Montreal (12.2%), and Vancouver (11.7%) continued to welcome most recent newcomers to Canada in 2021.

On the other hand, the share settling in these three cities continues to fall, down to 53.4% in 2021 compared to 56% in 2021. Montreal experienced the largest decrease, down to 12.2% in 2021 compared with 14.8% in 2016.

Certain CMAs have enjoyed noticeable increases in their newcomer populations. Canadas national capital region of Ottawa-Gatineau saw their recent immigrant population increase to 4.4% in 2021 compared to 3.1% in 2016. One of Canadas largest centres for the information and technology industry, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, saw their newcomer population grow to 2.1% in 2021 compared with 1.2% in 2016.

There is a growing number of immigrants who are choosing to settle in the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).

Between 2006 and 2021 the percentage of immigrants in Atlantic Canada tripled from 1.2 to 3.5%, the largest increases coming in Nova Scotia, which rose from 0.6% to 1.6%, followed by New Brunswick, which increased from 0.4% to 1.2%. Prince Edward Island has seen its newcomer population grow from 0.1% to 0.4%, and Newfoundland and Labrador has seen it rise from 0.1% to 0.3%.

Close to 10,000 new immigrants arrived in the Atlantic Provinces under the Atlantic Immigration Program, designed to fill urgent job vacancies in the region. The majority of them chose to stay in Atlantic Canada after one year.

In terms of the overall total immigrant populations of CMAs, Vancouver had the second-largest proportion of immigrants, at 41.8%, with immigrants making up over 50% of nearby Richmond and Burnaby.

Among Canadas 41 largest urban centres, the proportion of immigrants was also above the national average of 23.0% in Calgary (31.5%), AbbotsfordMission (26.1%), Edmonton (26.0%), KitchenerCambridgeWaterloo (25.8%), Hamilton (25.6%), Winnipeg (25.4%), Montreal (24.3%) and Windsor (23.3%).

Linguistic diversity in Canada

There were over 450 mother tongues reported in the 2021 census.

In all, 69.4% of recent immigrants do not speak English or French as their mother tongue. Most immigrants who do not arrive in Canada speaking an official language, reported speaking Arabic (10.3%), Tagalog (8.4%), Mandarin (7.9%), and Punjabi (6.5%).

Still, almost one in four new immigrants reported speaking English as their first language. These immigrants are most often from India, the Philippines, or the United States.

Immigrants who speak French as their native language make up 6.5% of recent immigrants. Just over 30% are from France, followed by Cameroon (11.5%), Cote dIvoire (8.4%), Algeria (5.8%) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (5.7%).

Majority of recent immigrants can conduct a conversation in either English or French

While the majority of new immigrants do not speak English or French as their first language, 92.7% of the more than 1.3 million recent immigrants reported being able to conduct a conversation in English or French.

Two thirds of new immigrants reported speaking English or French regularly at home, with the majority speaking English.

The data also shows that, 76.4% of immigrants who settled in the country before the 1980s and whose mother tongue was not an official language spoke English or French regularly at home, either alone or with another language.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Since its beginnings in 1914 to what it is now as a global consultancy firm with nearly 30,000 employees, Booz Allen Hamilton has been able to evolve through the ages by helping to redefine the industry through advancements in technology and sourcing the right talent. Brad Stone, who has been with the company for over 25 years but recently became its CIO in 2021, had deep knowledge of the brand, its structure and ambitions, but understood that in his new role, there was a lot to learn, especially where improvements could be made.

It was interesting joining this team and becoming the CIO at an organization that I knew well, he says. But what I did see despite the tremendous talent was that service delivery was often fractured and not fully integrated to a set of outcomes, and at times driven by different corporate priorities that were all important, but not seamless against an integrated outcome. So we had great parts, but our sum was not greater than our parts.

From this staring point, Stone hit the reset button, mapping out five core organizational principles that have accelerated growth and helped strengthen the business. Ongoing and unpredictable disruption also led to a focus on simplification with staff and customers, and has changed the way the IT team thinks about strategy and taking informed risks, with a focus on a DevSecOps lifecycle, for example, to pipeline things and get aligned to improve accountability and transparency.

We defined a clearly set service catalog against an ITIL framework, and were able to set portfolio leads around the capabilities weve developed, he says. What it enabled us to do is get more of a centralized purpose to accelerate growth and enable business success, which ties back to the idea of attracting staff and giving them some autonomy or ownership while still being part of the greater good. You change the world one individual at a time, and the way weve organized it, Ive seen that cultural feel.

Stone recently spoke at a recent summit on Leading in Disruptive Times with Julia King, contributing editor at CIO, about key leadership methods to fuel success, and how being client zero has enabled Booz Allen to inspire and retain talent while continuously learning and embracing technology to build trusted relationships.

Here are some edited excerpts of that conversation. Watch the full video below for more insights.

On 5 organizational principles: It starts at the top with operational excellenceactually living it, not just saying it. So thats accountability of what the metrics are, how the company is faring and celebrating overcoming hardships, like decommissioning something. I love to clean stuff up and when we turn off a service to simplify it, we make the other services we provide even better. Second, theres having a resilient enterprise that is risk-informed. We have to recognize that things will go bad, and its about our ability to recover those. The third one ties back to providing innovative service and solutions to our users. If you dont, people will find it for themselves and run it in your shadows. The fourth is about being a data-driven organization. We need to make sure we have a single source of truth across organizations. We have multiple platforms to run our business and to perform that, we need to not only have that central source of truth, but it needs to be future-proofed to scale with our organization. And the last one is we want to attract staff. Were lucky to attract and retain some of the best in the industry, and we set the goal of being a premier organization for IT and cybersecurity professionals. So what we do across all five of these is hold ourselves accountable to them, drive metrics against them, and define critical success factors, and, again, celebrate it and tackle areas we need to improve.

On handling disruption: Disruption provides a lot of opportunities to rethink why we do things and how we do them. We are a professional services organization at our core due to trusted relationships. The pandemic challenged that because we were a culture that wanted to shake hands and let people know in person how we connected with them. And the disruption over the past couple of years has made us have to change that. Weve had to embrace technology not only as an enabler, but ultimately as a foundation by which we build those trusted relationships. It has challenged us and changed our different clients. Fortunately, our people are unbelievably resilient. The other part is to have a core infrastructure team that can respond. But as we come out of the pandemic, that disruption has to lead to simplification and balancing of what we had with a remote hybrid model for our nearly 30,000 global employees, so it meets their needs. The key is to simplify that down so we can give them something to connect with their fellow employees, our clients, and their communities. If youre able to identify some archetypes, look for the greatest good, and then handle those exception casesas what we deem specialized servicesit allows us to continue providing foundational services that are important to that connection. But budgets arent increasing, so you need to be efficient.

On leadership: Over the past few years, I think any CIO or technology leader has been marked by agility, capacity to learn new things, and taking informed risks, and the pandemic only accentuated those characteristics as a leader. Your ability to adjust to unplanned events, and your capacity to handle different demands has only been magnified through this. But one thing Ive noticed is the need as a leader to simplify things down, whether thats with your stakeholders and customers who are leveraging your services, or, most importantly, with your staff. Simplifying it down to them about what we do empowers our business. Were fortunate to be challenged by our clients to solve complex problems, and running an institution like Booz Allens IT and cybersecurity is an amazing mission. So if I can simplify things down for our set of leaders, and then empower them in a culture of accountability, it makes you feel youre part of a greater good. Thats a big reason why a lot of people join the company as it provides a calling to do something for the nation, community, and the globe. By leading that way and maintaining that agility and capacity, but simplifying down, it can be inspiring to our all our employees.

On innovating the IT culture: In the role before this at Booz Allen, I was in the Innovation Group, leading a lot of our enterprise cybersecurity and IT innovation, so I knew what products and services we had. So one of the first things I did as CIO was make ourselves what we call client zero. We leverage out solutions internally, like with a next-generation data lake that allows us to make data-driven decisions and not just go by the intuition that dominates large corporate cultures. In the nature of professional services, we constantly spin up and spin down new environments, consuming new data for our AI experts to solve, from healthcare missions to NAV security missions. They need an agile set of infrastructure that is able to support that, so were able to adopt that ourselves internally as client zero. It saves money and gives a feedback loop where we can rotate staff between our client delivery side and our internal business. Im proof of that myself as somebody who spent many years doing client delivery, and now Im enjoying a corporate role.
Fueled by strong sales of cloud-based software that more than offset a decline in revenue from on-premises applications, SAP revenue jumped in the third quarter compared to the year-earlier period.

Total revenue for the quarter ending Sept. 30 was 7.84 billion (US$7.72 billion), up 15%, according to companys quarterly financial report, released Tuesday. SAPs cloud and software revenue for the quarter rose 14% to 6.71 billion.

Cloud revenue alone rose 38% to 3.28 billion. Revenue for the companys S/4HANA cloud-based ERP offering, in particular, nearly doubled, rising 98% to 546 million.

SAP results benefited from the strong US dollar, as dollar sales were converted to eurosfor example, overall revenue growth in constant currency terms, which exclude the effect of currency fluctuations, was 5% rather than the nominal 15%.

Nevertheless, the uptick in cloud sales is good news for SAP, since the company has been pushing customers to migrate from its legacy Business Suite 7, which is usually run on-premises, ever since S/4HANA was launched in 2015. Selling cloud software and services is good business for SAP and other software providers, since, among other things, cloud subscriptions provide a more predictable revenue stream than renewals of licenses for on-premises applications.

Despite the jump in revenue, SAP posted a 1% dip in operating profit to 1.239 billion due largely to rising costs in areas including research and development, sales and marketing, and the need for more outlay on the maintenance of the companys cloud services. Licenses for on-premises software declined 38% to 406 million, reflecting customer migration to cloud-based software.

Unsurprisingly, the Germany-based software giant was most eager to talk about its success in the cloud.

The trust in SAP is reflected in our accelerating cloud momentum, said CEO Christian Klein in the companys earnings press release. Its clear that our transformation has reached an important inflection point, paving the way for continued growth in the future.

Despite the negative news on operating profit, investors greeted SAPs results warmly, with the companys share price rising $5.69or 6.25%to $96.70 in mid-afternoon trading in the US.

Like much of the tech sector, SAP is facing headwinds caused by the ripple effects of Russias invasion of Ukraine, as well as a bearish economic climate. Hence, the positive news on the companys cloud business appears to have been enough to inspire confidence in SAPs overall outlook.

SAP has made major headway on its transition from a license- and maintenance-based business to a usage-based, cloud-first company, due in part to a long string of acquisitions in the past decade in addition to the introduction of S/4HANA, which brings the companys ERP platform to the public cloud of the customers choice.

However, the company has a long way to go. Just 12% of current and intended SAP ERP users in the US and Europe responding to a recent survey by digital transformation services provider LeanIX have completed the transition to S/4HANA. Another 12% said they have postponed the start of their move to S/4HANA, and 74% of enterprises that were polled are just at the evaluation and planning phase of their ERP migration.
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Authorities say a 19-year-old former student opened fire at a high school in St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday morning while carrying an AR-15-style weapon and more than 600 rounds of ammunition, killing two people and wounding a number of others.

Orlando Harris, who graduated from Central Visual and Performing Arts High School last year, was identified by authorities as the suspect who also lost his life following a shooting there.

St. Louis School Shooting Suspect's Letter Before Incident

According to St. Louis Police Commissioner Michael Sack, Harris, who had no criminal record, left a handwritten note in his car expressing his desire to "do this school shooting." Sack claimed Harris described himself as a "isolated loner," which was "the ideal storm for a mass shooter." Harris allegedly wrote: "I don't have any friends, I don't have any family, I've never had a girlfriend, and I've never had a social life."

Authorities stated on Monday that there are "suspicions that he may have been having some mental illness." The school district has named the two fatalities as Alexzandria Bell, 15, and Jean Kuczka, a 61-year-old physical education instructor, ABC News reported.

Seven further victims-all aged 15 or 16-were hurt and sent to the hospital. According to St. Louis police, everyone was described as being in stable condition. According to Sack, Harris carried eight magazines of ammunition in a backpack and seven magazines of ammunition on a chest rig.

More than 100 people attended a memorial on Monday night to commemorate the deaths and express a range of emotions including "frustration, rage, and loss," according to St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.

According to Andre Bell, his daughter was a member of the junior varsity dance team at her school and a student in the 10th grade when she was slain in the incident. According to Kuczka's daughter Abigail, the 14-year Central teacher was slain when the shooter stormed into her classroom.

Few specifics regarding how the shooter entered the school, which according to Sack had metal detectors and closed entrances, were revealed by law enforcement authorities. Sack claimed that the shooter entered the premises "aggressively, violently," brandishing a gun. Sack declined to offer any details Monday night, citing security concerns.

At 9:11 a.m., police were notified of an active shooter. Sack stated local time. Officers arrived four minutes later, he claimed, "immediately" entered the school, rushed to the sound of shooting, and engaged the gunman in gunfire combat. Per USA Today, law enforcement officials gave a chronology, and it shows that the shooter was shot by police less than 15 minutes after the original complaint. No policemen were hurt.

Read Also: Stimulus Checks 2022: There Are Payments Up to $3,200 for Eligible Americans Before The Year Ends; Here's Where You Can Track Yours!

More About Suspect Orlando Harris

The neighborhood where the suspect allegedly resided is supposed to be in the city's south. The FBI could be seen taking evidence, including a computer, from a nearby residence.

According to a student who spoke to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the shooter claimed to be "weary of everyone" at CVPA. Sack informed the media that there were seven security guards present, the doors were shut, and the metal detectors were operational.

The suspect was shot and killed by police, according to the police chief, on the third floor of the structure. Taniya Gholston, 16, a different student, described the terrifying seconds she experienced when she made eye contact with the shooter.

According to the police, Harris had no prior criminal history. The gunman's automobile was located, and investigators looked for evidence there. The school administrator announced the code word for an active shooter inside the building over the loudspeaker at approximately 9 o'clock in the morning, according to math instructor David Williams.

Taniya Gholston, a 16-year-old CVPA student, said she did not recognize the shooter and managed to flee when his pistol jammed. She claimed to have overheard him say something about being "sick of this damn school" to the press. Raymond Parks, a dance instructor, claimed Harris was all-black clad and pointed a gun at him but didn't fire, as per The Independent.

Related Article: Dallas Shooting: 2 Hospital Staff Killed By Man Granted Parole To Attend Birth of a Loved One; Shooter Now Under Police Custody

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BNM anunta concurs pentru postul vacant de expert coordonator (durata determinata) responsabil de control pe teren si din oficiu a sistemelor de plati
Rail union RMT will rearrange strike action meant to take place on 3 November, so the Royal British Legions (RBL) London Poppy Appeal can be held as planned.

On Monday, RBL had said it was in the process of cancelling its London Poppy Day due to the planned strikes.

RMT has now decided to rearrange strike action for 9 November, and the charity has said it is very grateful for this decision.

It added: We recognise and respect the right of all unions to take action for their members, and it was unfortunate on this occasion it would have had such a serious impact on our fundraising.

The charity hopes to raise around 1m through the appeal, which sees veterans and volunteers fundraise across the capital.

A similar decision was taken by the union during a 2016 dispute where strike action clashed with the RBL event.

An update on London Poppy Day  pic.twitter.com/P95o9R1BRU  Royal British Legion (@PoppyLegion) October 25, 2022

RMT will now take strike action on 5, 7 and 9 November in a dispute over jobs, conditions and pay.

Network Rail members will be on strike on those days and members working for the train operating companies will take action on 5 November.



In separate disputes, London Underground and Overground members will take strike action on 10 November.



RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Our focus in this dispute is the rail employers who have yet to make an offer that will create the conditions for a negotiated settlement.



"I call upon the new prime minister Rishi Sunak to unshackle the rail industry so they can come to a settlement with RMT."

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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) _ A tropical storm that lashed Bangladesh left at least 24 people dead and about 8 million without power across the delta nation, officials and news reports said Tuesday.

The government said about 10,000 homes were damaged and more than 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of crops were destroyed. Thousands of fishing projects were also washed away.

The United News of Bangladesh news agency said about 20,000 people were marooned because of flooding triggered by tidal surges in the southern coastal district of Bhola.

Tropical Storm Sitrang brewed in the Bay of Bengal before turning north toward Bangladeshs vast coast, prompting authorities to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people to cyclone shelters Monday. Heavy rains battered the country throughout the day, flooding many areas in the coastal regions across southern and southwestern Bangladesh.

The storm weakened Tuesday afternoon, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour and wind gusts up to 85 kph (53 mph). The weather office in the capital, Dhaka, which had recorded gusts up to 88 kph (55 mph) Monday evening, said the danger had passed.

No flooding or major damage was reported in camps housing about 30,000 ethnic Rohingya refugees on Bhasan Char island and another 1 million in Coxs Bazar district, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled from neighboring Buddhist-majority Myanmar into Bangladesh to escape a military-led clearance operation in 2017. Myanmar security forces were accused of mass rapes, killings and torching thousands of homes owned by Rohingya.

A government official in Mirshorai in Chattogram, Minhazur Rahman, said divers found eight bodies on Tuesday after a dredger capsized in the Bay of Bengal on Monday night. The sea remained rough on Tuesday, he said.

Raihan Mehbub, an official in Cumilla district, said two parents and their 4-year-old daughter died after a tree fell on their home while they were sleeping late Monday night.

At least 13 others died in separate incidents across the country, Dhaka-based Somoy TV reported. Most died after being hit by falling trees, though others died because of collapsing structures or drowning, local media reported.

Nasrul Hamid, junior minister for power and mineral resources, said about 8 million out of a total of 48 million users remained without electricity after falling trees damaged distribution lines or electric poles were knocked over, mostly in rural areas.

He said power distribution across the country would not be normalized until Wednesday.

Enamur Rahman, junior minister for disaster management and relief, said about 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed across the country.

Authorities reopened three airports on Tuesday after suspending their operations for 21 hours.

On Monday, the government halted operations of all river vessels across the country, closed the three airports and asked fishing boats to return from the deep sea and remain anchored in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh is a delta nation of more than 160 million people and is prone to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

Climate scientists say climate change is a factor behind many natural disasters in Bangladesh and other South Asian nations.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  A jury ordered Southern Californias Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District to pay $45 million to the family of autistic twins who were physically abused and restrained by an aide at their elementary school.

The lawsuit filed in 2019 alleged a district employee, Galit Gottlieb, used corporal punishment including physical restraint and battery against the two special-needs students when they were in second grade at Juan Cabrillo Elementary in Malibu, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury found in favor of the plaintiffs last Thursday. After the verdict, district Superintendent Ben Drati issued a statement to the newspaper calling the decision not justified by the evidence presented.

We are committed to and care about our students, especially those with disabilities. We respect the judicial process and recognize that the trial is only the first phase. We look forward to continuing the process to ensure that justice is served, Dratis statement said.

The lawsuit brought by Charles and Nadine Wong accused officials of failing to act after suspicions of abuse were raised in 2017 by district employees. A bus driver said she witnessed Gottlieb physically restrain the boys and punish them by putting hand sanitizer on their cuts, according to court documents.

The twins, Christian and Christopher, are nonverbal and couldnt express to their parents what was happening to them. But there were signs that something was wrong, including unusually aggressive behavior by the boys, the Wongs told ABC 7 for a report that aired Monday.

As a parent, you know something is wrong when your child is treating everyone different, Nadine Wong told the news station. You know yourself and you look at your child and you say, `What has happened to you? But they cant tell us.

The district and Gottlieb were named as defendants along with with several other school administrators.

District officials have called for an independent review of the case and the jurys verdict.

A spokesperson for the told the Daily Press that any settlement in this case will be covered by insurance and not from the districts general fund.

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After six cases of alleged voter intimidation that took place at drop box locations in Arizona were referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ), authorities deployed men in tactical gear to monitor ballot drop boxes.

On Monday, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said in a release that voter harassment could include gathering around ballot drop boxes and questioning voters, brandishing weapons, taking pictures of people voting and following or chasing voters who are attempting to drop off their ballots, and can all be considered voter intimidation.

Arizona Voter Intimidation

Hobbs said that the situation was unacceptable and added she would continue to forward reports she received to law enforcement. She also urged law enforcement personnel to take action to protect voters from intimidation.

On Monday, Attorney General Merrick Garland, referring to voter intimidation at Arizona ballot drop boxes, said that the Justice Department has an obligation to guarantee a free and fair vote by everyone who is qualified to vote. He argued that they will not permit voters to be intimidated, as per ABC News.

There have been five recorded complaints between Oct. 17 and Oct. 22, outside ballot drop boxes at 501 S. 3rd Ave. in Phoenix and at the Mesa Juvenile Court, both of which are in Maricopa County. Many of the complaints described an instance of groups of individuals loitering near the drop boxes, filming and photographing voters as they returned their ballots.

In some cases, the individuals also took photographs of the voters' license plates when they were at the ballot drop boxes. One report also noted that the suspects were dressed in "camo-clad gear" and photos provided by election officials showed at least two armed individuals outside the Mesa drop box on Friday.

According to CNN, the situation comes as more than 7 million ballots have already been cast across the 39 states on Monday, based on data provided by election officials, Edison Research, and Catalist.

However, with only two weeks left until Nov. 8, law enforcement agencies and officials are turning their focus toward Election Day and the possibility of violence amid threats to election workers and reports of voter intimidation.

Read Also: St. Louis School Shooting: Here's What the Attacker Wrote Before Firing AR-15-Style Rifle in Missouri School

Increased Security

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates and Recorder Stephen Richer said that they were deeply concerned for the safety of voters who were only exercising their right to vote. On Monday, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said that two armed individuals who were loitering around a ballot drop box did not break the law but condemned attempts to intimidate voters.

Penzone added that the situation has prompted authorities to increase security surrounding ballot drop boxes. He added that two cases of voter intimidation were already forwarded to country prosecutors.

The official said that every day, he was dedicating a considerable amount of resources just to give Americans the confidence to vote while being reassured of their safety. However, he called being forced to do so "absurd."

The situation regarding election-conspiracy theories that began in 2020 has only spread further, especially in Arizona. While the state's results were certified in November of that year, some Republicans brought in the outside firm Cyber Ninjas to audit the vote, the New York Magazine reported.

Related Article: Ron DeSantis Refuses To Rule 2024 Presidential Bid; Here Are Highlights from Florida Governor, Charlie Crist's Gubernatorial Debate

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A Lee County circuit judge ruled on Tuesday that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is required to hand over flight records of migrants who were flown from Texas to Martha's Vineyard.

Judge J. Lee Marsh, gave the Republican's administration 20 days to provide the records that are being sought by the Florida Center for Government Accountability. He pointed that, at least in part, to requested phone or text logs that could provide useful information about communications by DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier about the flights.

Ordered To Release Flight Records

Marsh noted that the governor's office did not show "any steps, direct steps taken to gather what this court finds are public records" that are related to state business conducted on personal devices.

The director of public access for the center, Michael Barfield, said that Judge Marsh's verbal ruling held the governor accountable for delays in providing public records. He said that the public's right to access was vindicated and noted that DeSantis was not immune from being held accountable, as per CBS News.

Prior to the judge's ruling, Andrew King, an attorney for the Florida governor, argued that DeSantis' administration was working to fulfill numerous records requests that stemmed from the migrant flights. He also accused the center of "weaponizing" the public-records law to get ahead of other people or organizations who are seeking records.

King said that they were diligently working to provide all of the Martha's Vineyard flight records to all of the individuals and parties who requested them. However, Judge Marsh pushed back against the attorney's weaponizing argument, saying that they were simply using the statute that the Legislature passed.

According to Politico, the ruling comes after DeSantis said that he launched the migrant relocation program, which was being paid for by interest earned off billions in COVID-19 relief aid that Congress provided to Florida, as part of his attempts to draw attention to the immigration policies of US President Joe Biden.

Read Also: Ron DeSantis Refuses To Rule 2024 Presidential Bid; Here Are Highlights from Florida Governor, Charlie Crist's Gubernatorial Debate

Migrant Flights to Martha's Vineyard

However, the flights were quickly criticized by Democrats, who called the effort a "political stunt" and akin to human trafficking. The Treasury Department's watchdog is now looking into whether or not DeSantis improperly used funds related to COVID-19 relief dollars to support the flights.

Amid the tense situation, numerous news organizations and other groups filed record requests in late September seeking information on how the flights were coordinated and whether or not the process involved top officials with the DeSantis administration.

The lawsuit filed last month argued that the failure to hand over records was an "unjustified delay." The DeSantis administration has since turned over some records, which include redacted copies of waivers that the migrants signed as well as information that showed the involvement of top DeSantis aides.

Part of the issue surrounding DeSantis' migrant flights is his administration using Florida money to finance the two flights made on September 14. They started in San Antonio, stopped at an airport in the Northwest Florida community of Crestview, and finally landed in Martha's Vineyard, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Related Article: Judge Clarence Thomas Temporarily Blocks Order Telling Lindsey Graham To Testify Before Georgia Grand Jury

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An Indonesian grandmother was discovered swallowed whole by a 22-foot monster python, after she went missing. When they came across the massive snake, they realized their worst fears when they cut into its belly.

Gruesome End for Indonesian Grandma

Authorities revealed that the monster python must have taken two hours before the devoured victim, succumbing to death slowly and painfully, reported the Daily Star.

The identified victim, Jahrah, 54, was eaten by the gigantic reptile in the Jambi province of Indonesia on the night of August 21, last Friday. According to the deceased family, she never returned from harvesting rubber on a plantation, noted Mirror UK.

Both authorities and locals were looked in the woods for two days and came across a huge constrictor. It was in a clearing with its bloated belly seen two days after the victim went missing.

The relatives were fearful that the missing grandma did not escape alive and that she was what made the python's belly bulge. The residents opened up the insides of the snake, and they found the older woman curled inside the snake digestive tract.

Anto, the chief of Terjun village, where the victim lives, made the following statement. He said that the 22-foot monster python bit Jahrah and then wrapped around her, suffocating her breath. The victim was swallowed starting from the head, that took two hours to finish.

Anto added the Indonesian grandmother has not returned after leaving the residence saying she'll be going to the rubber plantation. Her family expected the victim to return early, which prompted the frantic report to the local village chief.

Read Also: Is Vladimir Putin Fighting Cancer? Rumors Spark Anew After Russia Video Goes Viral

Other residents thought it was shocking how Jahrah became snake food. No one was ready to realize a huge snake had eaten her. Anto remarked the wild animal consumed the woman and kept people from witnessing her death.

Locals Fear as More Enormous Snakes Roam

Village chief Anto remarked there was more fear amongst the villager is felt as these giant snakes are out there. One of these extreme beasts is about 27 feet long. Locals have attempted to catch the titanic snake, but it was too big to capture for them.

The Chief added that the people after the snake that killed Jahrah are ill at ease; with bigger ones waiting to eat one of them. One snake consumed two goats as well, mentioned Outsider.

In Indonesia, there are many giant reticulated pythons which is the longest snake alive. More than one person has been eaten alive and cut out from its belly; this giant normally eats wild animals.

Indian Man Attacked by Snake

Indian man called 'Alex' got away lightly after he was trying to save a snake; he was sent to get two snakes close to Shivamogga, Karnataka in one of those villages, citing Head Topics.

With a partner Roni, they caught the snakes and tried to set them free in a nearby forest close by.

Alex oddly decided to kiss one of the scaly serpents on the lips but it would not end well for him. The snake reacted and bit with its fangs into the man's lips which left a bloody wound. He was sent to Shivamogga's district hospital and got out later.

Both snakes were freed why the stunt, it was not clear. Compared to the Indonesian grandmother eaten whole by a 22-foot monster python, Alex got away easier.

Related Article: Chinese Chef Dies After Severed Snake Head Bit Him in Kitchen Tragedy

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According to reports, Kanye West's divorce from Kim Kardashian has apparently lost a sixth divorce attorney.

Bernard Clair and Bob Cohen, divorce lawyers in New York, have left West from Cohen Clair Lans Griefer Thorpe and Rottenstreich LLP when he officially changed his name to Ye.

Kanye West's 6th Divorce Lawyer Resigned

According to court records obtained by TMZ, a judge approved Los Angeles-based attorney Samantha Spector's plea to resign from representing the rapper in August, stating that her relationship with West was irreparably damaged. West's sixth divorce lawyer was Spector.

In order to resolve the remaining financial and custody disputes between the former couple, the court also scheduled a two-day trial for December 14.

Melinda Gates was previously represented by Cohen and Clair during her divorce from billionaire Bill Gates, which resulted in a settlement of around $76 billion for her. Additionally, the attorneys have defended comedian Chris Rock and Judith Giuliani, the ex-wife of Rudy Giuliani.

The news is released at a time when the rapper is facing intense criticism for making a number of antisemitic comments in interviews and on social media. This week, Kanye West lost many high-profile endorsement deals and lucrative relationships as a result of his "hateful and dangerous" remarks and theories about Jews. These companies and partnerships included Balenciaga, Adidas, and his talent agency, CAA.

On Tuesday, Kim Kardashian openly expressed her support for the Jewish people by sharing a social media message in response to her ex-antisemitic husband's tirades.

Together, the inventor of Yeezy and the SKIMS billionaire have four kids: North, nine; Saint, six; Chicago, four; and Psalm, three.

Nearly a year after initially filing for divorce, a Los Angeles court ruled that Kardashian was now legally unmarried in March. After six years of marriage, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West in February 2021, as per The Independent.

Read Also: Meghan Markle Sexual Scene Resurfaces Following Backlash Over 'Hypocrite' Comments on 'Deal or No Deal' Role [WATCH]

Kanye West Drops Off Forbes Billionaires' List

Meanwhile, in reaction to Kanye West's "hateful" and "inexcusable" anti-semitic remarks, GAP and Adidas are the most recent companies to cut their connections with him. The American apparel firm revealed yesterday that it will shut down the related website and instantly remove the fashion designer's Yeezy goods from its stores.

Following days of rising criticism from celebrities on social media, Adidas ultimately revealed it was ending its association with the Grammy winner, who changed his name to Ye last year. Three weeks ago, during Paris Fashion Week, Kanye West donned a 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt, which many people believed to be a racist reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement. This sparked the most recent controversy.

Days later, in reference to the threat level to national security as measured by the US military's Defense Readiness Condition (Defcon), Kanye West said that he was "going death con 3 on Jewish people." Ye was accused of using the phrase incorrectly to launch a figurative battle against Jews, which he later escalated.

Per The Sun, the millionaire continued by asserting that he is the victim of a "Jewish underground media mafia" and that he is not "anti-semitic since black people are truly Jews also." He said he did not regret making his anti-semitic statements during an interview with Piers Morgan on Uncensored on TalkTV, however he later apologized for the "hurt" and "confusion" he had caused.

Kanye West was dropped off Forbes' list of billionaires when it was claimed that his net worth had decreased by $1.5 billion following the anti-semitic controversy.

Related Article: Kanye West Faces Whooping $250 Million Lawsuit Against George Floyd's Family Over False Claims as Antisemitism Row Escalates

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More than 271,000 Coloradans have returned their mail ballots for the November election so far, according to data released Wednesday from the Secretary of States Office.

That total represents approximately 7% of just under 3,796,000 active registered voters in Colorado with two weeks to go until Election Day. Of those early voters, unaffiliated voters make up the plurality  though party turnout is relatively even.

Nearly 98,000 of the ballots turned in came from unaffiliated voters, making up 36.1% of the total. Democrats came in second with 33.3% of returned ballots, followed by Republicans with 29.6%.

Though unaffiliated voters are leading the early turnout, they are also the only party that is underperforming based on overall population. Unaffiliated voters returned 36.1% of early ballots but comprise 45.6% of all active registered voters in Colorado, according to voter registration data from the Secretary of States Office.

Republicans and Democrats are both overrepresented in the early voter turnout, with the former making up 29.6% of early voters but only 24.7% of all voters and the latter making up 33.3% of early voters but only 27.8% of all voters.

Most early ballots  51.2%  came from voters aged 65 and over. Voters aged 45 to 64 turned in over 31% of the ballots, while only 17.7% of ballots were from voters aged 44 and younger.

The biggest chunk of returned ballots came from Jefferson County, accounting for over 35,000 ballots. El Paso County came next with with 32,694 ballots, Arapahoe County with 29,331 and Larimer County with 20,900.

The Secretary of States Office is expected to release updates on the returned ballots every weekday through Election Day on Nov. 8.

Ballots were mailed to registered Colorado voters last week. Early voting officially kicked off on Monday with the opening of 411 drop boxes and 121 voting centers throughout the state.

Voters can find their closest drop box or voting center and the hours of operation at GoVoteColorado.gov. By Election Day, there will be over 350 voting centers available to submit ballots, in addition to the 411 drop boxes currently open.

The ballot for the general election includes 11 statewide ballot measures, as well as more than 150 state and local races, plus local ballot initiatives in some counties.

Coloradans can register to vote and update voter registration at GoVoteColorado.gov through Oct. 31 to receive a ballot in the mail. Afterwards, Coloradans can still register to vote and vote in person until 7 p.m. on Election Day. In-person voting will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
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.
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China's Mengtian space lab module and its carrier, a Long March 5B rocket, arrive at a service tower at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, Oct 25, 2022. [Photo by Su Dong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

China's Mengtian space lab module and its carrier  a Long March 5B rocket  were moved to a service tower on Tuesday morning to undergo final tests before their planned flight in the coming days, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The agency said in a brief news release that prelaunch preparation work is underway at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southernmost island province of Hainan. No further details were given.

Mengtian, the second lab component of China's Tiangong space station, was transported to Wenchang by ship in early August. It received fuel earlier this month at the launch center.

The lab module is about 17 meters long, has a diameter of 4 meters and weighs more than 20 metric tons, according to its designers at the China Academy of Space Technology.

Scientific equipment onboard will be used for microgravity studies and to carry out experiments in fluid physics, materials science, combustion science and fundamental physics.

Wentian, Tiangong station's first lab module, was launched on July 24 on a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket from the Wenchang center.

Tiangong is currently composed of four modules: the Tianhe core module, the Wentian lab, the Tianzhou 4 cargo ship and the Shenzhou XIV spacecraft.

After Mengtian is connected with the Tiangong, the station will form a T-shaped structure and astronauts will have as much as 110 cubic meters in their usable space.

After the labs, the Tianzhou 5 cargo craft and the Shenzhou XV crew are scheduled to arrive at the massive orbiting outpost around the end of the year.




The United States, Japan, and South Korea warned Wednesday of an "unparalleled" response to North Korea if it pushes for its seventh nuclear bomb test.

North Korea may resume nuclear bomb testing for the first time since 2017, which concerns Washington and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a news conference in Tokyo, according to Reuters, South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong told journalists that the three nations have "agreed that an unparalleled scale of response would be necessary" if the seventh North Korea Nuclear Bomb nuclear test happens.

Cho was discussing colleagues Japanese and Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

Great to see Foreign Minister Hayashi, Vice Foreign Minister Mori, and First Vice Foreign Minister Cho in Tokyo. Together, the U.S., ROK, and Japan are addressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. https://t.co/rHNNb4qZmf pic.twitter.com/ymrYvFejjn  Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) October 25, 2022

Sherman urged North Korea to stop its provocations, calling them "reckless" and profoundly destabilizing for the region.

The US official added that a North Korean nuclear test has "implications" for global security, as she delivers an indirect notice to Pyongyang's allies in the UN Security Council.

"We hope indeed that everyone on the Security Council would understand that any use of a nuclear weapon will change the world in incredible ways," Sherman said, per a Reuters report.

Sherman also reaffirmed that the US was continuing to "seek serious and sustained" discussion with North Korea, according to Al Jazeera.

In his conversations with Sherman, Cho voiced his fear that North Korea's recent adoption of a new nuclear weapons doctrine raises the risk of the country's nuclear weapons being used arbitrarily.

To counter a North Korean ballistic missile launch, the United States Navy's aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its support fleet conducted joint military drills with South Korean forces in September.

Last week, in response to South Korea's military exercises, Kim Jong Un led the launching of hundreds of artillery shells off North Korean shores in what it described as a "grave warning" to its southern neighbor.

Read Also: Russian Court Rejects Brittney Griner's Appeal, Upholds 9-Year Prison Sentence

Three Nations Strengthen Coalition Against Threats in the Region

Early on Tuesday, Sherman met with his Japanese counterpart, Mori, and emphasized the continued strengthening of the Japan-US alliance and other common goals, including the total denuclearization of North Korea and a cooperative reaction to China's increasingly assertive activities in the area.

Increasing nuclear and missile operations by North Korea "are a clear and severe challenge to the international community," Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori of Japan warned.

With an eye toward North Korea's denuclearization, "we decided to boost up the deterrent in our region," he added.

The trio of leaders claimed to have covered a wide range of topics in their conversation, from the war in Ukraine to China and Taiwan.

CNA reports that Mori and Cho denied any mention of the long-simmering tensions in bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea.

No Turning Back for Pyongyang

This year, China and Russia blocked a US-led effort to impose new sanctions on North Korea at the United Nations Security Council for the first time since Pyongyang began nuclear weapons testing in 2006.

According to ABC, North Korea has fired more than two dozen ballistic missiles this year, including one that reportedly soared over Japan.

Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his country an "irreversible" nuclear state last month, talks over his prohibited arms and North Korea Nuclear Bomb development programs have practically ceased.

According to CNA, Former US Pres. Donald Trump and Kim met three times, easing tensions but failing to reach a durable compromise. The country has also shown little interest in accepting US President Joe Biden's offer of working-level negotiations.

Related Article: Kim Jong Un Builds More Mansions Despite North Korea's Food Crisis, Rising Tensions Against South

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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
Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his administration to slash bureaucracy to produce adequate supplies and weapons for his soldiers in Ukraine, who are overwhelmed by the Ukrainian military campaign.

Putin established a framework to address the severe supply shortages that have plagued the Russian military throughout the eight-month Russia-Ukraine war, Al Jazeera reported.

Putin emphasized the need to "gain higher tempo" in all sectors as he presided over a new committee on Tuesday to speed up the manufacturing and supply of Russian weapons and supplies for the Russian military.

Many of those mobilized to fight in Ukraine, which the Russian president estimated to be 222,000 out of a target of 300,000, have reportedly not received enough basic supplies like medical kits and flak jackets and have figured out things on their own, according to Russian news sources.

Other reports say that Russian troops are using outdated weapons prone to malfunctioning and that new troops, with little training, have been deployed to the battlefield.

According to the UK's Ministry of Defense, Russia is likely to utilize a large number of drones to try to overcome Ukrainian air defenses to compensate for the insufficient supply of long-range precision weapons.

According to a report released by the ministry on Tuesday, the Russian military's "artillery ammunition is running low."

Despite the situation, the Russian army still managed to destroy homes, public buildings, and Ukraine's electrical grid despite supply problems and has caused numerous deaths in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The World Bank currently assesses the damage in Ukraine at $348 billion.

Low Weapons Supply Across Europe Threatens Military Aid for Ukraine

Russian weapons shortage problem comes in light of reports on the low supply of weapons across Europe, which may affect military assistance for Ukraine.

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur of Estonia, a Baltic republic sharing a 183-mile (295-kilometer) border with Russia, said that the inventory problem comes up "all the time," especially among smaller NATO nations.

Even while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin encouraged members of the Western alliance at a recent NATO meeting in Brussels "to dig deep" and deliver more capabilities to Ukraine, this burden remains heavy for them.

Read Also: US, Japan, and South Korea Warning: North Korea Nuclear Bomb Test Would Face 'Unparalleled' Response

The Associated Press reports that several European leaders have made public statements reiterating that Russia must be prevented from gaining control in Ukraine.

However, they emphasized that everyone feels the burden of home defense.

Pevkur claimed Putin could command Russian weapons companies to produce 24 hours a day. Hence, Russia will regain its capabilities eventually.

Similar difficulties are experienced by other small states, such as Lithuania, also located in the Baltic region.

Several of the major NATO countries, which include Germany, also indicate a low supply of weaponry.

Low levels of stocks across the continent can be attributed to a decline in defense spending following the end of the Cold War in several European countries.

White House Calls Russia's Nuclear Threat a "Huge Mistake"

In another related update, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the possibility of Moscow using nuclear weapons in the Russia-Ukraine war a "huge mistake."

"It would be a major mistake for Russia to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine leading to severe consequences," Jean-Pierre said at the daily media briefing, as reported by CNBC.

The comment was made in response to a query concerning the feasibility of a dirty bomb being used by the army of Vladimir Putin.

Russia claims Ukraine plans to use a "dirty bomb" within Ukrainian territory.

The Biden administration official said Russia's claim must be taken seriously "because in the past, we have seen Russia use allegations as a pretext to escalate."

Related News: German President Steinmeier Visits Kyiv To Show 'Solidarity' with Ukraine Amid Russian Drone Attacks

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The rise in population numbers slowed dramatically as international borders were closed after the pandemic struck in February/March of 2020, falling almost to zero in net terms during 2021/2022.

With borders now re-opened and the Government encouraging migrants to return, partly to help ease the countrys current labour and skills crisis, migration is expected to recover to pre-pandemic trend this financial year (ending 30 June 2023), two years earlier than expected in the March 2022 Budget.

Net migration is forecast to top 200,000 in 2022/23 and be maintained at that level in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

CBAs Chief Economist Stephen Halmarick in his post-October Budget review, released today (26 October 2022), said population growth is a key assumption in Treasurys financial estimates.

Lower population growth is an economic headwind as it reduces aggregate demand, labour supply and taxation revenue, said Mr Halmarick. However it does not have much impact on per capita outcomes.

CBAs analysis of the Budget papers shows that population growth is anticipated to increase by 1.4 per cent over the next two fiscal years, providing a boost to gross domestic product (GDP) and the governments employment forecasts.

An increase in population growth and its resulting impact on GDP will provide a welcome boost to real GDP, which is forecast to rise by 3.25 per cent in 2022/23 before dropping back to 1.5 per cent in 2023/24.

Mr Halmarick said the Governments forecasts for real GDP look fine to CBAs economists and are not too dissimilar to teams own estimates of GDP growth of 2.8 per cent in 2022/23 and 1.7 per cent in 2023/24.

Read the full Federal Budget 2022/23 update.

For more information, visit: commbank.com.au/federal-budget
I'll admit it: I've really been diggin' Google's purty new Pixel Watch.

I've been wearing the watch for the past few weeks, bathing and slumber-time notwithstanding, and here's the twist: I absolutely did not expect to enjoy it.

I was actually really into Wear OS and Google's smartwatch odyssey early on, too, way back when the platform first came out in the prehistoric era of 2014. But then, well, a couple things happened:

I reached a point where I wanted the ability to be less tethered to technology, and wearing a smartwatch made me feel perpetually on the grid and tied to my electronic obligations. Google gave up on its thoughtfully conceived original vision for wearables, with a focus on contextual info and glanceable nuggets, and instead started chasing Apple's more popular philosophy  with an emphasis on complicated standalone apps and intricate interactions. That stuff looks impressive in ads but doesn't make for a great real-world experience in my eyes, and it just didn't jibe with the way I wanted to use a watch.

So suffice it to say, I assumed my journey with the new Pixel Watch would be an interesting technological diversion but a short-lived adventure I'd be eager to abandon.

Boy, was I wrong.

[Psst: Got a Pixel phone? You've gotta come check out my free Pixel Academy e-course. You'll learn all sorts of hidden tricks!]

Wearing the Pixel Watch has felt like reconnecting with an old friend  like picking up where Google's original Wear vision left off. It honestly almost seems like the last several years never even happened in terms of Google's smartwatch strategy. This is the natural evolution of Wear's infant years, when the underlying concept was sound but the hardware wasn't quite up to snuff. This is what Wear should have been (and could have been!) all along.

It may have taken a comically typical deja-vu-inducing flip-flop to get us here, but the Pixel Watch is a surprisingly pleasant experience from the perspective of someone who wants this type of tech to stay out of the way and simply be helpful without being intrusive.

All of that said, there's one place where the Pixel Watch experience feels like it could use some extra pizzazz  and that's in the selection of watch faces that come preloaded on the device. Now, don't get me wrong: The default Pixel Watch face options are fine, and some of 'em are actually quite nice. But none of 'em feel like they fully hit the nail on the head, highlight the most helpful parts of the Pixel Watch possibilities, or capture the essence of what the Pixel Watch is supposed to be.

Thankfully, a third-party developer has stepped up to fill that void.

A Pixel Watch watch face for professionals

My friend, allow me to introduce you to my favorite Pixel Watch find so far: the aptly named Pixel Minimal Watch Face add-on.

I won't beat around the bush: This face feels like what should have been the default design that shows up the second you first power the Pixel Watch on. You'd really think Google itself had created it  and the goodness goes much deeper than the surface.

JR Raphael

Yes, the look of the Pixel Minimal Watch Face is decidedly  well, Pixel-like. Googley, even, one might say. And particularly for anyone who's a fan of the more minimalist, uncluttered style that's associated with Google's Pixel products and smartphone software, that's a very welcome touch.

But a Wear OS watch face is much more than just a comely outer layer. It's the smartwatch equivalent of an Android launcher  a home screen, really, and your personal productivity hub. And just like with launchers on Android, optimizing that space for maximum efficiency can make one heck of a meaningful difference.

Boy howdy, does this Pixel Watch face do it right. More than anything, the Pixel Minimal Watch face makes it easy to keep the stuff you need front and center. That includes empowering you to choose which widgets (a.k.a. complications) you see on the main face area, with options ranging from built-in Pixel Watch functions like battery level and various health-related items to custom app shortcuts, calendar info, and even a world clock in case you work with crawly creatures from around the globe.

That alone has been a huge step-saver and productivity-booster for me. But the best part is the face's ability to seamlessly integrate with your phone's notifications and emulate your Android phone's status bar area  with simple icons indicating which alerts are currently pending for easy at-a-glance ingestion.

JR Raphael

You can still swipe up on the Pixel Watch's screen to see or interact with any of those notifications, of course. But having that at-a-glance view is an invaluable addition and something so sensible for this form, it's almost shocking that other watch faces don't offer it  especially once you get used to having it present.

Also true to the Android launcher analogy, the Pixel Minimal Watch Face is as customizable as can be. The face's settings area, which you can access by long-pressing the watch face itself once it's installed, allows you to control everything from the size and number of widgets to the clock style and the coloring of virtually every visible element.

JR Raphael

It's simultaneously simple and packed with power  and it's refreshingly easy to use. It really is what you'd think the Pixel Watch's out-of-the-box environment would have been.

The Pixel Minimal Watch Face is free to download and try, though most of its more advanced options and customization controls require a one-time $3 upgrade to the app's premium version (which is done through the app itself, via its phone-based companion). And it'll work on most any Wear OS watch, too, so you can even bring its Googley-feelin' Pixel-like vibe onto a non-Pixel-Watch wearable, if you're so inspired.

All in all, it's a splendid upgrade and an effortless addition that'll completely change how you experience your watch  whether you've been a Wear OS admirer all along or you've just recently been won back over.

Hey  don't let yourself miss an ounce of Pixel magic. Come treat yourself to my new Pixel Academy e-course and uncover oodles of hidden features and time-savers for your favorite Pixel phone.
Singapore invites British billionaire Richard Branson to drug rules, death penalty debates

Singapore invited British billionaire Richard Branson to a live televised debate with Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam on the city-states drug policy and death penalty in response to a blog post by the businessman on the subject.

Sir Richard Branson; Founder, Virgin Group and Commissioner, Global Commission on Drugs Policy. Photo courtesy: Flickr/Chatham House

In his October 10 post, Branson said Singapore still finds itself on the wrong side of history with its continued, almost stubborn use of the death penalty, particularly for drug offenses. He highlighted the execution of convicted Malaysian drug trafficker Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam this year, which has attracted international criticism due to concerns about his mental capacity.

Nagaenthran was hanged after being found guilty for trafficking about 43 grams of heroin into Singapore in 2009. Multiple appeals of the sentence were dismissed in the city-states courts, and Branson linked the execution with Singapores commitments to protect those with disabilities.

Singapores Ministry of Home Affairs refuted Bransons remarks in a statement on Saturday saying that the drug trafficker knew what he was doing and that he was not intellectually disabled.

Mr Branson may use this platform to demonstrate to Singaporeans the error of our ways and why Singapore should do away with laws that have kept our population safe from the global scourge of drug abuse, the ministry said in the statement. His flight to and accommodation in Singapore will be paid for.

The ministry defended the governments drug policy, stating that the measures were intended to protect Singapore and its residents from the dangers of drugs. The strict laws, and their clear enforcement, have significantly reduced the amount of drugs entering Singapore, resulting in a steady decline in number of substance abusers.

Mr Branson is entitled to his opinions, the ministry said. These opinions may be widely held in the UK, but we do not accept that Mr Branson or others in the West are entitled to impose their values on other societies. Nor do we believe that a country that prosecuted two wars in China in the 19th century to force the Chinese to accept opium imports has any moral right to lecture Asians on drugs.
Contractors Question: I read somewhere that Portugal has joined the apparently growing list of countries to offer digital nomad visas. Is that right, and are the visas open to UK contractors?

Experts Answer: Portugal has had whats called its D7 visa since 2007, so on top of the digital nomad visa you refer to, there is a considerable history of Portugal attracting foreign workers, like Britons.

D7: the foundation

Thanks to the D7, Portugal was open to non-EU and EEA nationals who were free to live, study and work in Portugal to enjoy the benefits of a pleasant clime and a relaxed lifestyle. Almost the only requirement was that the applicant had an income of more than the country's national minimum wage, which is currently around 822.50 (approx. 715) a month.

But yes, the Portuguese government has now announced a Digit Nomad visa, and this scheme which is more applicable to temporary workers like contractors who wish to relocate but earn at the same time from non-permanent employment, opens on October 30th 2022.

Not enough detail

Unfortunately the details are a bit sketchy, to the extent that the Digital Nomad visa is yet to appear on the Portuguese governments visa portal! But for reference, the government of Portugals statement on its Digital Nomad visa (and yes, other states are indeed offering their own), is as follows:

'Portugal is a country for immigration. Every year, we receive thousands of immigrants, seeking opportunities in our country. A country that wishes to welcome immigrants as it wishes its emigrants to be welcomed, too.'

So from this coming Sunday, location-independent professionals can apply for the new visa, officially named as a Residence visa for the exercise of professional activity provided remotely outside the national territory.

What countries in Europe offer Digital Nomad visas?

Other European countries currently offering similar digital nomad schemes include the following 13:

Estonia Cyprus Georgia Czech Republic Iceland Germany Norway Spain Malta Greece Romania Hungary Latvia

At present, we don't know how the Portugals Digital Nomad visa fits in with the other schemes. But it may well be more than only a short-term plan to allow workers to stay in Portugal for just one to two years, and seems more likely to be a temporary visa while people think about permanent residence in Portugal.

Portugal Digital Nomad Visa: two key conditions, and limited company or umbrella company?

The two conditions we know about are that you need to derive your income from a foreign company or source, to be either employed or self-employed. So, as employment and self-employment seem to meet the requirements, there would be no bar to using a limited company to work in Portugal.

But do remember that you always pay social security in the work country, so unless you can obtain an 'A1' from back home, you will need to pay into the Portuguese social security system.

The Digital Nomad visa extends beyond six months of course -- so that means you would become a tax resident there, and the tax authorities will look to you for your contribution! The upshot? You would need to localise your company and yourself for Portuguese practice. But for these reasons, it would not work for you to operate through a UK umbrella company using the scheme, unless the umbrella can get you an A1 and handle your taxes in Portugal. Most can't.

The second key condition of the Digital Nomad visa is that your income must be four times that required for the D7 Visa, which is currently 2,820 (approx. 2,400) a month. Of course, these conditions and the visa are relevant only to those who are not EU or EEA nationals.

European Digital Nomad Visas: whats the thinking?

But why are more and more countries offering Digital Nomad visas?

The most obvious reasons, we believe, are:

More and more of us are now working from home, so what difference if you work abroad? Provided you have the necessary connectivity to fulfil your tasks, theres potentially very little. Nomad visas are a way to offset the fall in tourism from the covid pandemic. Surely it's better  reason the governments of digital nomad-offering nations -- to have tourists staying for one to two years, than just a two-week summer break? School disruption due to the pandemic caused many parents to home-school or use distance learning. The flexibility this brings makes transferring abroad not the same restriction it once was, when having to attend a physical school was a consideration if not requirement. All states are desperate for revenue, and many digital nomads like UK contractors have incomes way beyond the minimum criterion, which means that when they spend money and pay taxes, they bring funds into state coffers. War and instability, including Russias mobilisation, have had many people scrambling for the exit and yearning for a life elsewhere.

Final considerations

N.B. As Portugal's Digital Nomad visa is for those deriving an income from foreign sources, the business opportunities and labour market conditions in Portugal should not affect you.

That said, the D7 visa has facilitated IT and hi-tech businesses relocating to (or expanding in) Portugal. And since 2019, the Tech Visa has been a quick route for companies to attract highly skilled labour into the Portuguese labour market to stimulate technology businesses. The October 30th Digital Nomad visa focuses on attracting high tech to the country and reflecting that tech makes remote working possible.

My personal take? Portugal has a delightful climate, varied landscape, cosmopolitan cities in Lisbon and Porto, the balmy Algarve, and the offshore paradises of Madeira and the Azores.

So to you and other contractors I say this; what are you waiting for?!

The expert was Kevin Austin, managing director of overseas work advisory Access Financial.
Seattle is one of the best places to visit in the US due to its atmospheric city life, unmissable landmarks, thriving arts and culture scene, and fun attractions. Not to mention it serves the best coffee every day of the week.

Also, the vibrant city offers easy access to the ocean, mountains, rainforest, farmland, islands, and a volcano, which are a short drive away.

As you will not want to miss one top attraction during your trip, you must identify the best spots in advance. Learn about the four iconic Seattle landmarks you must visit.

1. Space Needle

The Space Needle is the most iconic landmark in Seattle. Standing at 605 feet, you'll enjoy unmatched panoramic views of the city's skyline inside its observation deck. Built for the World's Fair in 1962, the Space Needle continues to delight locals and tourists with its architecture and 360-degree views. Also, it features the world's first and only rotating glass floor, allowing you to breathe in the beauty of the city from a unique angle.

If your stomach starts to rumble during a visit, you can visit the Space Needle's restaurant for a delicious meal while slowly rotating 605 feet in the air. If you have placed the popular landmark at the top of your Seattle bucket list, buy Space Needle tickets and tours that can help you make the most of the experience.

2. Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market has been serving the people of Seattle since 1907, offering the freshest produce, seafood, and flowers to match all needs and tastes. Farmers and chefs across Washington regularly take a trip to this historic landmark in search of the best items, from freshly caught salmon to hand-picked strawberries.

The much-loved market offers more than fresh ingredients, as you can find many quality items, such as cool and rare comic books, handmade crafts, and much more. Also, Pike Place Market is a must-visit for coffee lovers, as it is the proud home of the original Starbucks that continues to serve customers to this day.

3. Lake Union

Escape the hustle of Seattle by exploring Lake Union, which is located within the city limits and offers beautiful views that will help you relax and unwind. It's the perfect place to get your body moving during a stay, as you can take a stroll around the green space or enjoy a fun outdoor pursuit, such as:

Kayaking

Electric boating

Paddleboarding

After some fun in the great outdoors, grab a bite to eat from a nearby restaurant that offers stunning views of the freshwater lake. Alternatively, enjoy a scenic picnic with your nearest and dearest while breathing in the surrounding natural beauty.

4. Seattle Great Wheel

The Seattle Great Wheel is the tallest Ferris wheel on the West Coast at 175 feet tall, offering fantastic views of the waterfront, surrounding city, and nearby mountains. You'll feel safe, secure, and comfortable inside an enclosed, heated gondola, and you can even pay a little extra for a VIP ride with leather seats, champagne, and a t-shirt.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the UK is launching an inquiry into Apple's financial services, like Apple Card and the new savings account, as part of what seems to be an early-stage antitrust investigation, as per 9to5Mac.

Likewise, the agency is also planning to explore means to regulate other big tech firms such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook's parent company Meta.

According to The Guardian, FCA fears that the presence of these big tech could potentially harm the competition in the financial services sector of the country.

FCA Expresses Concerns Over Apple and Other Big Tech Firms

In the field of mobile wallets, Apple became one of the biggest players when it launched a credit card and later on, a buy-now-pay-later service. Most recently, the company also launched a savings account.

For most of these services, the company has partnered with an existing bank. However, for Apple Pay Later, "the company is acting as its own bank."

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) of the US, the use of Apple Pay Later brought a host of issues, such as antitrust and privacy concerns.

The company acquired Credit Kudos earlier this year. It is a startup company in Britain that employs a new way in order to assess "the creditworthiness of finance applicants."

The action of Apple appears to be a clear move to eventually bring the Apple Card to the said country. This caught the attention of the FCA and now the agency expressed its concern over how the company could possibly affect the financial services of Britain.

One of the concerns of FCA is the possible disruption that Apple and the other big tech firms may cause in the country's financial markets.

The agency acknowledged that the Cupertino-based company and the other big tech firms could bring innovations in the financial services of the said country.

However, FCA also expressed fears that they could dominate the market, which could lead to the "potential exploitation of market power."

Read Also: Apple Pay and Google Pay Discontinue Services to Russians as Part of US Sanctions

FCA Worries That Big Tech Firms Could Change UK's Financial Services

According to the agency, the iPhone-maker Apple, the Alphabet who owns Google, the giant retailer Amazon, and Meta who owns Facebook are already offering some financial services in the UK.

However, over time, the big tech firms are slowly introducing more products around the globe, including Apple's credit card and, most recently, a planned "buy now pay later" feature.

According to the agency's analysis, the entry of the big tech firms into the financial services sector could potentially benefit many consumers.

However, FCA said that the benefits "could be eroded if these firms can create and exploit entrenched market power to harm healthy competition and worsen consumer outcomes," as per The Guardian.

"In recent years, Big Tech's entry into financial services, in the UK and elsewhere, has demonstrated their potential to disrupt established markets, drive innovation and reduce costs for consumers," said Executive Director of Consumers and Competition Sheldon Mills.

Moreover, he added that the world had seen the capacity of big tech firms to bring transformative new products, including payments, deposits, and consumer credit.

FCA worries that the big tech firms could eventually act as "gatekeepers" to financial services.

Related Article: Apple Pay Later Feature Includes an Installment Plan with No Interest Fees
The International Space Station (ISS) gets to live another day.

NASA recently reported that the ISS performed a Pre-determined Debris Avoidance Maneuver (PDAM) to avoid fragments from a Russian anti-satellite test in space.

The maneuver did not negatively affect any of the space station's operations, per Space.com.

ISS PDAM Execution Details

NASA's report mentioned that the ISS' Progress 81 thrusters came to life at 8:25 PM EDT to execute a PDAM that got the space station to an even safer distance to avoid a fragment of a now-defunct Soviet-era satellite.

The report states that the ISS fired up its Progress 81 thrusters for five minutes and five seconds, which increased the station's orbital altitude by 2/10 of a mile at apogee and 8/10 of a mile at perigee.

In simpler terms, the ISS is currently in an orbit of 264.3 z 255.4 statute miles.

The debris from the defunct Soviet-era satellite originally came from Cosmos 1408, which went out of commission in the 1980s but remained in space regardless. As such, it became a prime target for Russia and its tests for its direct ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile.

The ASAT test that destroyed the Cosmos 1408 and created the debris that almost endangered the ISS was conducted by Russia on Nov. 15, 2021. Had the ISS not moved its orbit, the debris would have passed within about three miles of the space station.

However, this test was condemned by experts, especially by astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Read More: Revisiting Another Princess Is In Our Castle  A Game Straight From Silent Hill

According to the astrophysicist, Russia had no reason to use a target as big as Cosmos 1408 for its ASAT test, adding that the Russians could have used a smaller target, which would have generated less debris.

This wasn't the first time the ISS had to dodge debris made by Russia's ASAT tests. A separate Space.com article mentioned that the ISS also performed a PDAM to avoid another fragment of Cosmos 1408 in June.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson also condemned Russia's ASAT tests, calling them "irresponsible" in a past statement.

"With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS< but also their own cosmonauts," Nelson added. "Their actions are reackless and dangerous, threatening as well as the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board."

Nelson also reminded Russia that all nations have a responsibility to create and foster a safe and sustainable space environment.

Why Is Space Debris Dangerous To The ISS

Digital Trends cited a NASA research in its report that states there are tens of millions of pieces of space debris in low-Earth orbit. But while most of them are less than 1mm long and impossible to track, there are also half a million marble-sized fragments in orbit.

These pieces of debris are not problematic on their own. However, when the space station's own speed is included in the equation, it could cause major damage or something far worse.

For those unaware, the ISS is orbiting Earth at a speed of five miles per second or 18,000 mph, per NASA. To put that speed into perspective, a rocket needs to travel at 25,000 mph to escape Earth's gravity, meaning that the ISS is traveling at a speed near to what a rocket needs to go to reach space.

Related Article: SpaceX's Crew-4 Dragon Capsule Splashes Down Safely After 5-Month Mission
The BBC teamed up with Disney with the goal of bringing the future episodes of "Doctor Who" to Disney+, as per The Verge.

The said streaming platform will now be the new exclusive home of the popular sci-fi series outside the UK and Ireland.

BBC Will Continue to Show 'Doctor Who' in the UK and Ireland

Beginning November 2023, new episodes of "Doctor Who" will be available on Disney+. The series will be released to more than 150 markets, including the US.

Meanwhile, in UK and Ireland, BBC will continue to stream the sci-fi series through its own channels and streaming platform, iPlayer.

With this announcement, global audiences will be able to enjoy new episodes of "Doctor Who." The series' release on November 2023 even coincides with its 60th anniversary.

The news about the series' move to Disney+ seems to validate circulating rumors. The rumors said that BBC is trying to find ways to have the show streamed in other platforms.

Meanwhile, it seems to be perfect timing for Disney as according to Engadget, the company is looking for established shows to stream in its platform.

With its global fanbase, the world's longest-running sci-fi series is certainly a perfect addition to the shows of Disney+ that will draw a big number of global viewers.

According to TechCrunch, it seems that both BBC and Disney are hoping that new and old Whovians will head to Disney+ to watch "Doctor Who."

It's a smart move for Disney+ to bring the popular British show to its platform as it aims to secure around 215-245 million subscribers by 2024.

By next year, the streaming platform is also planning to expand the streaming service that it offers to over 160 countries.

It can be recalled that as an initial move for the expansion, Disney+ launched their streaming service in 16 markets across the Middle East and North Africa in June.

Read Also: 'Fantastic Beasts' Star Eddie Redmayne Casted As Doctor Who? Actor Talks About The Possibility

'Doctor Who' Can be Watched by 150 Markets Around the World

In a statement, Disney+ president Alisa Bowen said, "We're excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world.

Bowen further added that the sci-fi series is a "perfect addition" to the increasing number of content on the streamer's catalog. Likewise, she says that the addition of the series to the streamer's catalog will make it a home for exceptional storytelling.

As of this writing, it is unknown yet if the streamer will also include previous episodes of the show. This includes the post-2005 revival and its original 1963-1989 run. Likewise, it is unclear whether the streamer will also show any of its spinoffs.

As part of the show's 60th anniversary, the 10th Doctor David Tennant will reprise his role. He will be replacing the 13th Doctor, which was played by Jodie Whittaker. Taking over Tennant is "Sex Education" actor Ncuti Gatwa.

A new logo for the series was also unveiled by BBC. It's a retro-styled logo inspired by the time when Tom Baker portrayed the Doctor.

Related Article: Doctor Who' Season 13 Trailer Hypes Up the Baddies! Release Date, Guest Stars, Storyline, Enemies, and MORE!
Editor's note: an earlier version of this article said these incidents happened last weekend. The incidents happened the the weekend of Oct. 15. ASUO Executive Branch General Chief of Staff Maxwell Ely texted the Emerald saying the educational workshop between ASUO and Greek life planned for Oct. 23 had been canceled. We wanted to make sure all frats and sororities had a representative present so the plan is to host it again sometime soon when more people can attend, Ely said in the text.

The Eugene Police arrested and gave citations to multiple students in the West University neighborhood on the weekend of Oct. 15.

The focused enforcement efforts targeted illegal alcohol use, noise ordinance violations and unruly gatherings in the neighborhood areas around the university, according to an EPD statement. EPD listed 94 incidents.

These enforcement efforts are data driven, may vary in time and intensity and follow an education-first approach, the statement said.

Officers responded to three unruly gatherings of significant size  80 people or greater, resulting in 16 unruly gathering violations and 16 open container citations.

The largest volume of citations recorded included 33 Minor In Possession-Alcohol citations and 21 prohibited noise citations. Other incidents included one DUII, two resisting arrest, three littering and one urinating in public.

The Social Host Ordinance outlines how EPD will respond to alcohol-related violations and disturbances associated with loud parties. The ordinance holds individuals criminally accountable for hosting, organizing and allowing an unruly event or social gathering and holds property owners accountable for multiple violations of the ordinance at the same property.

The City of Eugene webpage summarizing the ordinance claims that loud party complaints and criminal citations issued for noise and alcohol-related violations are upwardly trending, and that this increase can be attributed to existing laws not being effective enough deterrents. A higher rate of police responses to alcohol related criminal conduct is costly to the EPD, reads the webpage. A base fine for criminal violations of the ordinance is $375.

ASUO Executive President Luda Isakharov spoke about ASUOs view on the EPD ordinance.

We were concerned about party patrols starting springtime, and in the summer we met with our chief of EPD, she said. We respectfully asked that changes be made, and in exchange for that we agreed to educate students.

Isakharov said ASUO wants to prepare students for interacting with police during lively neighborhood gatherings. ASUO and Greek life presidents participated in an educational workshop on Oct. 23, according to Isakharov. Topics included interactions with law enforcement, what students rights are as outlined in the ordinance and legal terminology students should know regarding partying.
Australian Dollar Outlook:

AUD/JPY and AUD/USD rates have broken multi-month downtrends.

A pullback in US yields, a rise in commodity prices, and a rebound in equity markets is helping the high beta Australian Dollar stage a rally.

According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , AUD/JPY rates have a mixed bias while AUD/USD rates have a bullish bias.

Recommended by Christopher Vecchio, CFA Get Your Free AUD Forecast Get My Guide

More Favorable Conditions for Aussie

The past few days have seen several fundamental factors shift in the Australian Dollars favor. Commodity prices have rallied, with base metals, precious metals, and energy prices turning higher. Risk appetite has improved, as a decline in US Treasury yields coupled with a continued rally by US equity markets has reduced demand for safe havens in FX markets. In turn, the Aussie has found itself on the verge of a more meaningful technical turn higher, after both AUD/JPY and AUD/USD rates broke above multi-month downtrend resistance.

AUD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (October 2021 to October 2022) (CHART 1)

AUD/USD rates are a few weeks removed from setting a fresh yearly low, but over the past few days they have found themselves climbing above the sharp downtrend in place since mid-September. Moreover, for the first time since September 12, the pair is on the verge of closing above its daily 21-EMA (one-month moving average). Momentum is starting to improve, with daily MACD climbing (albeit below its signal line) and daily Slow Stochastics having moved above their median line. Near-term resistance lies above 0.6500 in the coming sessions.

Recommended by Christopher Vecchio, CFA The Fundamentals of Range Trading Get My Guide

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/USD RATE Forecast (October 25, 2022) (Chart 2)

AUD/USD: Retail trader data shows 71.04% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 2.45 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 7.94% lower than yesterday and 5.44% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 32.79% higher than yesterday and 0.71% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests AUD/USD prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current AUD/USD price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

AUD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (October 2021 to October 2022) (CHART 3)

But for a few days at the start of August, the beginning of September, and in early-October, AUD/JPY rates have been trading in a sideways range between 91.42 and 96.88 since the second week of June. But the pair is turning higher within this consolidation as momentum continues to build in a more bullish manner. AUD/JPY rates are above their daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMAs, although the EMA envelope is not yet fully in bullish sequential order. Daily MACD is on the verge of crossing above its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are holding just below overbought territory. Should the rally continue, resistance lies ahead three-fold: the October high at 95.74; the range high at 96.88; and the yearly high at 98.60.

Recommended by Christopher Vecchio, CFA The Fundamentals of Breakout Trading Get My Guide

IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/JPY Rate Forecast (October 25, 2022) (Chart 4)

AUD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 36.63% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.73 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 1.83% higher than yesterday and 21.28% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 0.52% higher than yesterday and 8.13% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests AUD/JPY prices may continue to rise.

Positioning is less net-short than yesterday but more net-short from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed AUD/JPY trading bias.

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist
In his inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak had two key objectives.

The first was to galvanise and unite the fractured and rudderless Tory party.

The second was to reassure the country he had a credible plan to repair Britain's battered economy as millions face hardship.

On both counts this was a statesmanlike and eloquent performance.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Sunak left his audience in no doubt about the daunting challenges ahead.

But with Labour 37 points ahead in the polls and increasingly seen by voters as more competent on every issue, he exuded an urgency and sense of purpose that has been sorely lacking in recent months.

In his inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak had two key objectives. The first was to galvanise and unite the fractured and rudderless Tory party

You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief that the madness which has engulfed the Government may finally be over. The calm after the storm  we hope.

While praising Liz Truss, Mr Sunak made clear his determination to fix the 'mistakes' of her botched mini-Budget. But the truth is, this economic crisis has been at least 20 years in the making. Even before Covid the country was living way beyond its means.

So it's imperative to put the public finances on a stable footing. It would be immoral, he said rightly, to 'leave your children and grandchildren with a debt to settle that we were too weak to pay'.

Clearing up the mess will be no easy task. Mr Sunak deserves credit for looking the nation squarely in the eye and admitting there are 'difficult decisions to come'.

Spending cuts are unavoidable, and there will be howls of protest from the public sector over every attempt to economise.

But the state has become more bloated than ever since the pandemic and there is plenty of waste to cut.

Bringing back Suella Braverman as Home Secretary is welcome evidence Mr Sunak wants to get a grip on the Channel migrants

Mr Sunak should be wary of putting an even greater squeeze on hard-pressed families. The tax burden is already at a 70-year high, having risen with inexorable speed during his own stint as Chancellor.

And while he hailed key Tory values of growth, enterprise and job creation, how that squares with pushing corporation tax to a stifling 25 per cent is anyone's guess.

The new PM's promise of safer streets, unwavering support for our armed forces and controlled immigration tick the right boxes. But voters want action, not words.

His reshuffle merits immense praise. Not only is the best talent being promoted, it is being done in a spirit of reconciliation. In an attempt to defactionalise the febrile party, his Cabinet reflects every strand of it.

Bringing back Suella Braverman as Home Secretary is welcome evidence Mr Sunak wants to get a grip on the Channel migrants. It was wise keeping Ben Wallace at the MoD as we support Ukraine's fight against Putin's illegal invasion. And there was even a comeback for plotting addict Michael Gove to drive through Boris Johnson's levelling up agenda.

Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Sunak left his audience in no doubt about the daunting challenges ahead

Labour is calling for an election, but that is the last thing Britain needs in these parlous days (and they never complained when Gordon Brown was gifted power).

As Mr Sunak said yesterday, this government has a clear mandate after winning a landslide in 2019 and its manifesto pledges have not changed.

With rank hypocrisy, Labour has resorted to smear tactics over his wealth, suggesting he's out of touch with struggling families.

But Sir Keir Starmer himself is a multi-millionaire and Emily Thornberry (aka Lady Nugee) positively rolls in money.

Mr Sunak's grandparents came to Britain with nothing. The exalted position he now holds is down to hard work and education.

To most people, he is an inspiration. That Labour derides him simply proves they are the enemies of aspiration.

While they fight arcane class war battles, the Government must focus on persuading voters it has their best interests at heart.

After the tumult of recent months, we must hope calm and common sense prevails.
Rishi Sunak delivered a good speech outside No 10 two days ago. Yet there was a worrying omission that went unnoticed.

While promising to fulfil a Tory 2019 manifesto pledge to 'support our Armed Forces', the Prime Minister had nothing to say about the need to strengthen our defences in the throes of a new European war.

Mr Sunak is not strong on defence, and I wonder how much he knows about it. They don't teach it at Goldman Sachs, where he cut his financial teeth. He has never shown much interest in the subject.

As Chancellor, he showed little sympathy towards those who rightly argue that the world is an increasingly dangerous place and that Britain must raise its defence spending, which stands close to a post-war low.

Last October, Mr Sunak announced a real terms fall of 1.4 per cent in the annual growth of day-to-day defence expenditure between 2021 and 2025. In his Spring Statement in March weeks after Russia's invasion of Ukraine  he produced no new money for defence.

Nor would he commit to sticking with Liz Truss's target of increasing defence spending by roughly half by 2030, when the European Research Group of Right-wing Tory MPs recently cross-examined him. As a result, they declined to endorse him.

Rishi Sunak (pictured) delivered a good speech outside No 10 two days ago. Yet there was a worrying omission that went unnoticed

There have been leaks suggesting that, far from increasing the relatively meagre resources devoted to the Armed Forces, Mr Sunak and the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt (right), are planning to freeze them

There have been leaks suggesting that, far from increasing the relatively meagre resources devoted to the Armed Forces, Mr Sunak and the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, are planning to freeze them.

This would be a monumental mistake  bigger even than David Cameron's in 2010, when the Tory-led Coalition took power. In a spending squeeze similar to the one we face now, Cameron and the then Chancellor, George Osborne, slashed the defence budget by 8 per cent.

Whoever said that the Tories always prioritise the defence of the realm? It's fair to say that our Armed Forces have never recovered from the raid mounted by Cameron and Osborne, who knew about as much about defence as Rishi Sunak does now.

The Army is smaller than it has been for nearly two centuries, and is due to be further reduced by 10,000 to 72,500 by 2025. It is doubtful whether we could then deploy more than 10,000 combat troops abroad in the event of war.

The Navy has been reduced to a pitiable shadow of its former strength. We have two new aircraft carriers that are prone to breaking down and don't have enough aircraft. They depend on frigates from other Nato countries to protect them when they go to sea because we have so few of our own.

As for the RAF, it has the smallest number of combat jets in its history  about 120, a reduction of 43 per cent since 2007, and about an eighth of the number we had at the height of the Cold War. According to the 2022 World Air Forces report, the United States has 1,957 such aircraft, China 1,200 and Russia 772.

Twelve years ago, when those rash cuts were made, Vladimir Putin (pictured) was still thought of as a human being, and almost no one imagined that Russian forces would invade Ukraine and threaten Eastern Europe

Last week, as the same President Xi Jinping (pictured) made himself leader for life, he called for faster military development. China is not our friend, and in truth never has been

All this is in large measure the work of Cameron and Osborne. What can be said in mitigation  though it's not much  is that when they took the scythe to the defence budget the world was much less dangerous than it is now.

Twelve years ago, when those rash cuts were made, Vladimir Putin was still thought of as a human being, and almost no one imagined that Russian forces would invade Ukraine and threaten Eastern Europe.

China was unwisely considered a friend and potential partner, with George Osborne being particularly anxious to invite Chinese businessmen and scientists into the inner sanctum of the British State. When President Xi Jinping visited Britain in 2015, we rolled out the red carpet.

Last week, as the same President Xi Jinping made himself leader for life, he called for faster military development. China is not our friend, and in truth never has been.

We live in an unstable and increasingly perilous world which is why, in conjunction with our European allies, we must spend more money on defence. Liz Truss may have been wrong about many things, but she was absolutely right to insist that spending should rise to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030.

I realise that times are hard, and difficult decisions about expenditure and taxation must be made. But it would be an act of recklessness, such that history will neither understand nor forgive, if the Government's response to these mounting threats was to do nothing.

What is baffling is that whereas Rishi Sunak probably hasn't thought much about defence, Jeremy Hunt  the son of an admiral and a himself a former foreign secretary  definitely has. He could even be described as a bit of an expert.

For years, long before Russia tore up international law by invading Ukraine, Mr Hunt has been arguing for greater defence spending. As recently as July, when he was standing in the Tory leadership contest, he echoed Miss Truss's target of 3 per cent of GDP, saying that it should be reached two years earlier, by 2028.

But the new Chancellor now sends out messages entirely at odds with what he said only three months ago. One suggestion is that he wants to maintain spending at present levels of around 2 per cent until 2026-27, before then increasing it significantly to 3 per cent by 2030.

That would be near lunacy. For one thing, it is impractical, except in times of war, to increase a defence budget by 50 per cent in only three or four years. Complex new weapon systems have to be planned, ordered and built; extra troops recruited and properly trained.

In any case, the danger exists now and must be addressed now. Saying that we might respond in five years' time to what is a present threat is, to put it mildly, dim-witted.

Watching Rishi Sunak yesterday during Prime Minister's Questions, I thought: what a clever, adept and charming man. But is he a sophisticated bean counter or a prudent statesman? The test comes now

As I say, I don't doubt the Prime Minister and Chancellor have their work cut out balancing the books, though I am suspicious of the way pundits speak authoritatively of a '40 billion black hole' in public expenditure, as though it is set in stone by divine edict. Black holes in government finances can grow, contract or disappear.

But if there really is a black hole of this magnitude, freezing defence expenditure, so that this country remains ill-prepared for potentially deadly threats, is not the way to fill it.

By the way, although I thoroughly support the sending of weapons and ordnance to Ukraine, I hope they are being quickly replenished so that we are not dangerously exposed.

The announcement yesterday that the Chancellor's financial statement is being postponed from October 31 until November 17 is welcome. It will give him and Mr Sunak time to listen to the arguments of those who believe that the economic crisis mustn't stand in the way of rearmament.

Look at Ukraine, where I fear there is worse to come. Kyiv is only 1,325 miles from London. On our continent the Russians have invaded a sovereign country, killed thousands of civilians and committed countless barbarities. It is not another world.

Watching Rishi Sunak yesterday during Prime Minister's Questions, I thought: what a clever, adept and charming man. But is he a sophisticated bean counter or a prudent statesman? The test comes now.
King appears on a special edition of The Repair Shop on Wednesday on BBC One

King Charles has labelled the lack of vocational education in schools a 'great tragedy' during a special edition of The Repair Shop - and said 'not everybody is designed for the academic'.

Presenter Jay Blades and the team visited Dumfries House in Scotland for a one-off episode to mark the BBC's centenary filmed when Charles was still the Prince of Wales.

In The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit, which airs on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One, Charles needs help with an 18th-century bracket clock and a piece made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware.

He said the damaged 19th century ceramic piece fell over when someone was opening a window - 'they didn't own up', he joked.

King Charles has labelled the lack of vocational education in schools a 'great tragedy' during a special edition of The Repair Shop (pictured) - and said 'not everybody is designed for the academic'

Presenter Jay Blades and the team visited Dumfries House in Scotland for a one-off episode to mark the BBC's centenary filmed when Charles was still the Prince of Wales

In The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit, which airs on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One, Charles needs help with an 18th-century bracket clock and a piece made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware

In the episode, Charles meets students from the Prince's Foundation Building Craft Programme - a training initiative that teaches traditional skills such as blacksmithing, stonemasonry and wood carving.

The monarch said: 'I still think the great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools, actually not everybody is designed for the academic.

'I know from The Prince's Trust, I have seen the difference we can make to people who have technical skills which we need all the time, I have the greatest admiration for people.

'I think that's been the biggest problem, sometimes that is forgotten. Apprenticeships are vital but they just abandoned apprenticeships for some reason. It gives people intense satisfaction and reward.'

Charles said the thing he 'really loves' is students returning as tutors year after year - 'filling the school gaps', he said.

In the episode, Charles (right) meets students from the Prince's Foundation Building Craft Programme - a training initiative that teaches traditional skills such as blacksmithing, stonemasonry and wood carving

The monarch (pictured left) said: 'I still think the great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools, actually not everybody is designed for the academic'

Elsewhere, the monarch (pictured on the show) chatted about his love of clocks, saying: 'To me I just love the sound, the tick-tock but also if they chime, that's why I love grandfather clocks'

Charles continued (pictured right): 'I find it rather reassuring in a funny way and they become really special parts of the house... the beating heart of it. So that's why they matter to me'

Elsewhere, he chatted about his love of clocks, saying: 'To me I just love the sound, the tick-tock but also if they chime, that's why I love grandfather clocks.

'I find it rather reassuring in a funny way and they become really special parts of the house... the beating heart of it. So that's why they matter to me.

'I'm afraid it is something I learnt from my grandmother, she had great fun putting a few together and trying to get them to chime at the same time in the dining room, which made it very enjoyable because everybody had to stop talking.'

Blades and ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, horologist Steve Fletcher and furniture restorer Will Kirk set out to repair the King's clock and ceramics in the episode.

'I'm afraid it is something I learnt from my grandmother, she had great fun putting a few together and trying to get them to chime at the same time in the dining room, which made it very enjoyable because everybody had to stop talking,' added Charles (pictured right)

Blades and ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, horologist Steve Fletcher and furniture restorer Will Kirk set out to repair the King's clock and ceramics in the episode (pictured)

Before the results are unveiled, Charles (pictured right) asks the crew: 'Have you sorted this? The suspense is killing me.'

The monarch (pictured with presenter Jay) also lends Prince's Foundation graduate Jeremy Cash to The Repair Shop to work with metalwork expert Dominic Chinea on a third item described as a fire set in the shape of a soldier with a poignant story behind its existence

The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit (pictured) will air on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One

Before the results are unveiled, Charles asks the crew: 'Have you sorted this? The suspense is killing me.'

The monarch also lends Prince's Foundation graduate Jeremy Cash to The Repair Shop to work with metalwork expert Dominic Chinea on a third item described as a fire set in the shape of a soldier with a poignant story behind its existence.

The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit will air on Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.
Verizon and AT&T have already limited their 5G signals near airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urges smaller telecommunication companies to follow suit since the signal may pose a threat to plane flights, as mentioned in CNET.

The two telecommunication giants' careful deployment of 5G in the C-band frequency range has been overseen by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), so they could limit the coverage around the airport. This was already done before while airlines upgraded their equipment and checked their fleets, but the ban was extended until July 2023 voluntarily.

Further Bans from Other Telecommunication Companies

The FAA has been adamant about the ban with other telecommunication companies. FAA Administrator, Billy Nolen, has written to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) expressing his concern for the safety of aircraft. He stated that if the US government does not codify certain operating limits in the 5G C-band environment, the FAA will take steps on its own to ensure safe travels for the public.

So far, there is still no news about whether the smaller telecommunication companies will also be banned, the way Verizon and AT&T are from C-Band 5G until July 2023. As for the actions that the FAA will take if the NTIA did not respond to their request, it is still unclear at this time since there are no official statements regarding it.

Read Also: Verizon 5G Start Unlimited Plan to Get Upgraded Mobile Hotspot Data - Will There be Extra Costs?

Why is it Important to Limit 5G Signal Frequencies?

The Federal Aviation Administration expressed that 5G interference could potentially affect altitude readings on some jets and airplanes. This started when the United States auctioned the mid-range 5G bandwidth to mobile phone companies in early 2021, according to Reuters.

Since it operates in the 3.7-3.89GHz range, it is in the spectrum known as the C-band. This could get in the way of aircraft instruments like the altimeter, which measures how far the plane is above ground while traveling in the air and may affect low-visibility landing.

Although altimeters operate at a higher range, which is 4.2-4.4 GHz, the FAA still thinks that's too close to the range that telecommunication companies use. In the meantime, AT&T, Verizon, and other potential telecommunication companies will have to defer to wireless towers near airports, so they wouldn't disrupt the scheduled flights.

So far, Verizon and AT&T claim that C-band has been deployed in 40 other countries, but there have been no interference issues with aviation. Regardless, they still agreed to buffer zones around 50 airports in the US.

For a different perspective, New Scientist explained that the C-band radio spectrum in which the wireless industry and airlines exist is a public resource. Industries secure their portion in the spectrum. Since the 5G's highest frequency range is 3.89GHz and the altimeters' lowest is 4.2GHz, there's a chance that it may overlap, causing interference. Once that happens while pilots are flying in low visibility, they will be, in a manner of speaking, partially blind.

Related Article: Here's How 5G Technology Will Help You Today and Tomorrow
Makeup mogul and What Not to Wear star Trinny Woodall has broken down in an Australian interview after describing the moment she had to tell her daughter Lyla that her father had died.

Trinny, 58, sat down with journalist Jessica Rowe for an episode of The Big Talk Show on her recent trip Down Under to promote her skincare and makeup range Trinny London.

She came up with the idea of her stackable cream makeup products at the age of 50, around the same time her ex-husband Johnny Elichaoff, who had battled an addiction to painkillers for 20 years, fell to his death from a car park roof in 2014.

She came up with the idea of her stackable cream makeup products at the age of 50, around the same time her ex-husband Johnny Elichaoff, who had battled an addiction to painkillers for 20 years, fell to his death from a car park roof in 2014

Trinny described how she would co-parent with Mr Elichaoff from Lyla's third to her sixth birthday, leaving on a Sunday to go and work on her famous fashion show and returning on Friday to spend the weekend with her daughter

Trinny described how she would co-parent with Mr Elichaoff from Lyla's third to her sixth birthday, leaving on a Sunday to go and work on her famous fashion show and returning on Friday to spend the weekend with her daughter.

It was the only way the businesswoman could see that the family would be able to financially provide for their daughter.

'When I was 50 Lyla's father died under tragic circumstances. I had stopped doing TV. I didn't have an income. I was living off the residue of a couple of books,' Trinny said.

It was during this year that the idea for Trinny London's makeup range went from a pipedream to a reality.

'I remember I was at the funeral of my husband and afterwards I had people around to my house and I had some very good friends and they said "Trinny we know you want to start this idea but you need to be responsible for Lyla. Maybe you should get a job instead?"

'I said to them I can't be 60 and wish I'd started it earlier. So they said send us the business plan when you're ready, and they were one of the first investors.'

Trinny recalled the day it happened before becoming emotional when re-living what it was like to tell her daughter Lyla, who has just turned 11

Trinny met her late husband Mr Elichaoff, 55, a former musician, in the 1990s at a rehab clinic. She has been open about her struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction in the past.

'We met in recovery. He had a very bad motorcycle accident and he had taken painkillers... every year of our marriage he was in rehab dealing with that addiction,' she said. They were married for a decade before divorcing in 2009.

'It's very hard to end a marriage when it's not like someone has gone off with somebody else. It's more of a sense of responsibility that you need to take ownership of the decision.

'But we were good after that. We would speak everyday and by that stage I had met Charles [Saatchi] as well. Then stuff just started to go wrong for him and he took his own life.'

Trinny recalled the day it happened before becoming emotional when re-living what it was like to tell her daughter Lyla, who has just turned 11.

Telling Lyla (pictured) about her father's death was one of the hardest days of Trinny's life

Trinny met her late husband Mr Elichaoff, 55, a former musician, in the 1990s at a rehab clinic. She has been open about her struggles with cocaine and alcohol addiction in the past

'There's an amazing woman called Julia Samuel and she wrote a book called Grief Works and she actually worked with William and Harry when their mum died,' she said.

'She was just known to be that fantastic person and she happened to be a friend of my sister. And the day it happened, my sister said, I'm going to call her.

'Lila was at school and the police had come around and I just said, I don't know how to tell her. So Julia came around and then she said "just say he had a heart attack in his head".

'So she came home from school and there'll be, oh, I always get upset about this. She came home from school and I took her upstairs and I told her. She let out this scream like an animal. And I remember I really hugged her, you know, when you have a child feeling pain, you really hug and I just sort of said to her these words Julia had told me and that was the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire life.'

Trinny launched her brand at the age of 53 after bootstrapping the business

Mr Elichaoff was previously rock drummer with the group Stark Naked and the Car Thieves, who toured the world supporting U2 and Siouxsie Sioux during the 1980s.

But he soon gave up the rockstar lifestyle and became a financial adviser and eventfully appeared on Channel 4 Four Rooms as an antiques dealer.

Johnny and Trinny married in Knightsbridge in 1999 at St Columba's church where Miss Woodall was christened, her parents had married and her grandfather was buried.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a donation to charities working in Nigeria after the Duchess announced she is 43 per cent Nigerian on her latest Archetypes podcast, it has been revealed.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, released her sixth episode of her audio series yesterday and explained she discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian after doing a genealogy test 'a couple years ago'.

And in a press release which accompanied the episode, a Spotify representative confirmed that the couple's Archewell Foundation made donations to Save the Children and Unicef.

The spokesperson said the unspecified donations to the charities would 'help provide relief following devastating floods wreaking havoc in Nigeria.'

Floods in the country, blamed by the government on heavy rain and a water release from a dam in neighbouring Cameroon, have killed more than 600 people, displaced around 1.4 million and damaged or destroyed 440,000 hectares of farmland across Nigeria.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a donation to charities working in Nigeria after the Duchess announced she is 43 per cent Nigerian on her latest Archetypes podcast, it has been revealed

Save the Children shared the news on Twitter, announcing the couple had made an unspecified donation through their Archewell Foundation

Meanwhile Save the Children Nigeria tweeted: 'More than 1.5 million children are at risk after devastating flooding in Nigeria.

'Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Foundation has donated to Save the Children in Nigeria as our teams deliver life-saving supplies to affected families.'

The couple have previously given their support to Save The Children, with Meghan sharing a video alongside their son Archie for the charity's Save with Stories campaign in 2020.

During the episode which was titled 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth', the Duchess said she is 'going to start to dig deeper into all this' during her discussion with comedians Issa Rae and Ziwe Fumudoh on her new podcast instalment.

Meghan (pictured on 5 September 2022) revealed that she discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian after doing a genealogy test 'a couple years ago' when speaking in her latest Archetypes episode

Elsewhere in the episode, released yesterday on Spotify, mother-of-two Meghan admitted she is 'particular' but insisted 'telling people what you need does not make you demanding' as she claimed black women are stereotyped as 'angry'.

Speaking to Nigerian-American comedian Ziwe, Meghan explained: 'I just had my genealogy done a couple years ago... [I'm] 43 per cent Nigerian.'

She added: 'I'm going to start to dig deeper into all this because anybody that I've told, especially Nigerian women, are like "What!"'

'This is huge for our community,' a shocked Ziwe, 30, replied. 'No, honestly, you do look like a Nigerian, you look like my Aunt Uzo. So this is great.'

The Duchess said she is 'going to start to dig deeper into all this' during her discussion with comedians Issa Rae and Ziwe Fumudoh on her new podcast (pictured) instalment, titled 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth'

Meanwhile, discussing her behaviour in work situations, the Duchess spoke of her frustration at 'cowering and tiptoeing into a room' due to the fear she could be perceived negatively.

'I'm particular, I think a high tide raises all ships, we're all going to succeed so let's make sure it's really great because it's a shared success for everybody,' she said.

'But I also find myself cowering and tiptoeing into a room and - the thing I find most embarrassing - when you're saying a sentence and the intonation goes up, like it's a question.

'And you're like, ''oh my God, stop stop, like whispering and tiptoeing around it. Just say what it is that you need. You're allowed to set a boundary. You're allowed to be clear, it doesn't make you demanding. It doesn't make you difficult, it makes you clear.'

In 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth', the Duchess of Sussex chats to comedians Issa Rae (left) and Ziwe (right) to explore the stereotypes around 'women of colour'

The 41-year-old has previously been branded 'Duchess Difficult' following claims about her 'dictatorial' behaviour and 5am emails - which allegedly prompted her aide Samantha Cohen to quit.

Other 'broken' royal aides told of being reduced to tears by bullying and temper tantrums. Meghan has always strenuously denied any claims of bullying.

Early in the episode, comedian Ziwe described how her 'brash and rude' onscreen persona was 'in direct opposition to what a woman should be publicly, according to sexism'.

In a monologue responding to her comments, Meghan said she was 'so right' and that 'when looked at through the lens of black women' her point of view was 'pretty inspiring'.

Meghan's latest podcast comes as she faces backlash for saying Deal or No Deal 'reduced her to a bimbo' (pictured on the show)

Introducing the next segment - a conversation with the actress Issa Rae - Meghan said it was time to 'try on what it feels like when we're allowed to just live our truths'... 'to be direct without being called angry, to exist on our own terms, to just be, to just be human'.

After asking Rae if she wants a coffee, Meghan reveals she 'only recently started drinking coffee again' after 'not even thinking about it' when she was in the UK.

'When I was on set, of course it was like Nespresso all day, every day. And then I didn't drink it really in the UK and didn't think about it.'

Asked why she started drinking it again in the UK, Meghan said: 'It's a great question, it's a great question but like I guess because life started to come back and so people started to come when guests come or meetings or and they're like oh would you like coffee?'

The duchess later gave another insight into her own acting appointment, and how when she used to go through casting lists of black characters 'they always had to have an edge or an attitude'.

One example of alleged racism against black women discussed on the podcast was the treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate judiciary committee hearings.

Elsewhere in the episode, released on Spotify, mother-of-two Meghan (pictured with her husband Prince Harry) admitted she is ' particular ' but insisted 'telling people what you need does not make you demanding' as she claimed black women are stereotyped as 'angry'

Jackson, the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, was quizzed on her views on issues like critical race theory and whether they would interfere with her decision making.

Meghan said: 'I remember watching these hearings in the summer of 2022. They were gripping and painful. Then Judge Jackson remained poised and composed no matter what was happening for her beneath the surface, which I cannot begin to imagine.'

At the end of the podcast the royal paused to hear a rendition of the poem 'I Rise' by Maya Angelou.

Meghan's latest podcast comes as she faces backlash for saying Deal or No Deal 'reduced her to a bimbo.'

The Duchess made the comments while speaking on her podcast with Paris Hilton. The episode, called Breaking Down the Bimbo, heard Meghan say she wants her daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her mind, rather than 'beauty not brains' as she was on the TV gameshow.

'I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks. And little substance,' the Duchess said of her 34-episode stint on the show.

Actress and chat show host Whoopi Goldberg said Meghan's remarks were naive. 'That's TV, baby. But what did you think you were going to? You know that's what the show was,' she said. 'When you're a performer, you take the gig.'

Women who appeared on the show at the same time as Meghan, tell a rather different story from the Duchess. They say the atmosphere was fun rather than oppressive or sleazy.

One of the briefcase girls who worked with Meghan was Lisa Gleave, a successful Australian model, TV presenter and actress now living in LA.

Like Meghan, she had to master the art of walking downstairs in a dress and five-inch heels, holding a briefcase and remembering the cardinal rule: look delighted for the contestant if things go well for them and sad if not.

Gleave told the Mail of her stint on Deal Or No Deal that she felt 'blessed and lucky to have been on it', adding: 'For me it was a joy and a great career move. Most of the girls would say that.'

She said: 'I never looked at it as a show that objectified women. The cast and crew treated us very well. It was a professional set. For many of us, it was a stepping stone on our careers and we went on to greater things.'

While Lisa acknowledged the show 'revolved around beautiful women', they were 'all smart and intelligent women and nobody treated us like bimbos'.
Great British Bake-Off viewers have slammed the show's Custard Week episode after popular baker Sandro Farmhouse was 'robbed' of the Star Baker accolade.

As the seventh episode of the Channel 4 series saw the contestants bake floating islands, pistachio ice cream and a show-stopping custard gateau, viewers were baffled at why 30-year-old Sandro's three-tiered creation with three different types of cake and custard didn't earn him Star Baker.

Taking to Twitter to air their frustration, viewers said Sandro, who has only won Star Baker once despite frequently being top of the table, had been 'robbed' of the title, which went to Syabira, and added.

Sandro's 'tribute to a friend' custard gateaux, from episode seven of this series of the Great British Bake Off, was described as a 'triumph' by judge Paul Hollywood - but viewers were upset he did not win Star Baker

Sandro Farmhouse, 30, from London, revealed his gateau was a tribute to his late friend who had encouraged him to apply for the show

Viewers took to Twitter to air their frustration that Sandro had not been crowned Star Baker in Custard Week

During the episode, Sandro presented the judges with a cherry, chocolate and brandy infused 'floating island' - which is a dessert comprised of meringue sat on top of custard.

Although the judges deemed it a little too boozy while Paul Hollywood said it looked 'busy', they enjoyed his signature dish.

In the technical challenge, which staggered contestants' start and finish times for the first time ever, they were tasked with making pistachio ice cream in a waffle cone from scratch, which was to be dipped in chocolate and praline.

Sandro, who was the first baker to begin the challenge, ended up top of the leaderboard for his perfectly-set ice cream, presented neatly with two scoops per cone - as Prue Leith had hoped for.

Sandro's three-tiered gateau was iced neatly in white and decorated with piped purple 'flowers' before he adorned it with gold flakes

As the judges cut into the cake, Sandro explained the sophisticated combination of flavours including coffee, orange and vanilla

Finally came the episode's shop-stopper challenge during which the bakers had to present an impressive layered dessert featuring different types of custard, which were intended to be the 'star' of the bake.

At the beginning of the challenge, Sandro revealed the three-tiered custard gateau he was building was an ode to a late friend of his, who had always encouraged him to apply to be on the show.

Although he did not reveal much about his friend, he commented during the challenge that he was feeling 'emotional' as he put together his tribute.

Presenting the gateau, which was smoothly covered with buttercream and iced with piped purple 'flowers', to the judges, Sandro explained the complicated flavour combinations he had managed to infuse in the cake.

He said: 'The bottom tier, the sponge is coconut and you've got the mango custard' before explaining he had filled the second and top tiers with coffee, orange and vanilla flavours.

Viewers took to Twitter to air their views about Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood's decision to crown Syabira Star Baker, claiming Sandro deserved the title more

Paul described Sandro's bottom tier as 'a triumph', while Prue said: 'I love it'.

She added: 'I think every one of those cakes is highly saleable, absolutely delicious and would be gobbled up by anybody.'

However, Sandro faced a tiny criticism from Paul, who said his coffee custard was 'glutinous and dry'.

At the end of the episode, viewers were convinced Sandro was in the running for Star Baker, having had another great week in the tent.

However, when presenters Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas announced Syabira had won the title for the second week running, viewers took to Twitter to express their sense of injustice.

One person wrote: 'Sandro deserved Star Baker this week. They are so unfair, Syabira was just ok.'

Another said: 'I need Sandro to get Star Baker soon or even a handshake. I'm really sad about it.'

One viewer simply commented: 'Sandro's been robbbbbed!' (sic)

While many viewers were annoyed he did not claim Star Baker this week, they also expressed how they were moved by his custard gateaux as a tribute to his late friend.

'Bless Sandro - the custard cake tribute to [his] friend is simply beautiful,' one person said.
The 21-year-old entrepreneur has answered work calls while on a beach in Bali

A savvy 21-year-old entrepreneur lives a luxurious lifestyle thanks to her six-figure salary, revealing she has to work for just three hours a day and has even employed her own mother.

Ange Eb from Switzerland has always had a nose for business; from the age of 16 she would make and sell her own lip balms, sell clothes on Depop, bake cakes, and is now a full time dropshipper.

Dropshipping is an e-commerce retail business where the seller accepts customer orders without keeping stock on hand.

Ange, pictured above in Florida, has been able to help her family following her success with the dropshipping model, employing her own mother as staff

The 21-year-old now enjoys a life of opulence, pictured above in Bali - just one of the places she has travelled to on her six-figure income

Ange's dropshipping business took off and she was able to quit her full-time job and reduce her working day to just three hours

Ange has managed to do this all from the comfort of her own bedroom, working for three hours a day, while also being able to give back to her family and sending money to family in Cameroon.

The 21-year-old said: 'When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a CEO, I just wanted to run something.

'I started early, I was knocking on people's doors offering babysitting services at 14, and then started making and selling lip balms at 16.

'I then sold my old clothes and realised I was selling out very quickly, making around 800 in my first month and then it was doubling over time.

When she was younger Ange would make cakes to sell, as well as flogging her old clothes on Depop for cash

Homemade lipgloss is where everything started, Ange would make her product at home and sell them

'I had a cake-baking business too as I was obsessed with baking, but I was doing it whilst still working full-time job so started getting so overwhelmed.

'I have kept this business but have reduced the workload.

'Then I found out about dropshipping. I started this a year ago after seeing a video about it on YouTube.

'I'm buying trending products from China and reselling them on my own website. I learnt how to market and advertise myself.

'It can be hard sometimes as you always have to find products to sell, but I love it. I made money without needing to leave my home, I couldn't believe it.

A typical working day at her desk in Bali- fot the 21-year-old powerhouse, Ange Eb - who can work from anywhere in the world as long as she has her laptop and Wifi

Ange now, with a Balenciaga bag enjoying the night life in Bali - after deciding to quite the 9-5 for a three-hour working day

After starting her own lipgloss business aged 16, Ange got a taste for entrepreneurship and decided to build up her own dropshipping business she is pictured above enjoying the spoils of her labor in Florida

Ange's business has become so successful she's been able to quit her full-time job, but revealed she had to explain to her parents what was going on.

She said: 'It started getting so successful I was able to leave my full-time job and make this my full-time business, and I only work three hours a day.

'My parents had no idea what I was doing when I told them I sell products online, but once they saw the money coming in, they became more interested.

'I don't hold the stock, so I don't have an inventory. Ultimately I'm the person in between the customer buying the product and the supplier so I buy from suppliers, and I do the customer service part.

Ange has mastered the art of working online, which means she can work from anywhere around the world, even answering emails on the beach in Bali.

She added: 'I can work from anywhere in the world as long as I have my Laptop and WiFi.

'The best place I've worked from was Bali, I was answering emails with breath-taking views over the ocean - it was an experience for sure.

Ange was able to give up her full-time job to work just three hours a day from anywhere in the world,; and send money to her family in Cameroon

'Ever since I've started dropshipping I've taken my laptop and iPad to places I've wanted to visit for so long but could only dream of previously.

'The very first trip I booked for myself with my dropshipping income was in 2021, when I went to Duabi.

'Since then, I've also been able to work from, Bali, Miami, LA, Paris, London and Milan.

'I would say I'm addicted to making money. When you work for someone else you always get the same salary, but when you're self-employed, it's all profit so you get addicted and make more money, so you work a lot more.

'You want to work all around the clock as the money is yours.

'I've helped my mum and also my family in Cameroon out who I now send money to. I am so happy I can do that now.'
Mail-order fashion brand Boden might not be top of the list for millennials in the UK when it comes to re-vamping their wardrobe.

But after the company recorded record sales in the US, it seems the quintessentially British brand has found its target market across the pond - and the Princess of Wales might well have something to do with it.

The brand, which Kate Middleton has chosen to wear on several occasions for public engagements, is known for its bold patterns and cute designs - and it is thought the US's fondness for the British Royal Family that has fuelled sales for the brand across America, with some labelling the Princess of Wales the 'antidote' to celebrities like the Kardashians.

British brand Boden, which has had a resurgence in the US, has been worn by the Princess of Wales for several royal engagements including a visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2018 when she was pregnant with Prince Louis, during which she sported a red Boden coat (pictured)

Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh sported a patterned dress from Boden as she attended the brand's 30th birthday bash in London last year

Actress Sienna Miller was spotted strolling in New York City last week wearing a pair of paperbag jeans from Boden, which originally retailed at 80

The Telegraph reports that last year, the brand founded by Johnnie Boden in 1991, recorded an enormous increased in sales from the previous year - jumping from 111 million to 134 million. In the rest of the world, its takings were significantly less impressive.

It is thought young people in the UK have tended to shun the brand for its 'mumsy' style - which perhaps isn't helped by its old-fashioned catalogue model.

In particular, many UK millennials remember their own mothers ordering from the catalogue in the 1990s which has put them off. By contrast, people in the US of the same age do not have the same associations with Boden as it branched out across the pond later on.

The newspaper reports Boden's US profits now 'far outstrip' the UK, with its pandemic offering appearing to have attracted a cult following for its 'polished-but-not-too-glamorous' designs that were easy to order online.

Radio presenter Amanda Holden arrived at a charity event for Global Make Some Noise in 2019 in a Boden t shirt and pink skirt

Glen Senk, director of Boden and US citizen, told the publication it was the brand's Britishness that accounted for its thriving reputation across the pond.

He said: 'Bodens particular British sensibility does resonate with the US customer. We love British music, British theatre and television  and we love British fashion.'

Glen added that 'thirty-something' women in the US see Boden as a brand that is designed for them, whereas women of the same age in the UK don't.

Another potential explanation for the rise of Boden in America is the fall of once-beloved brand J Crew, which had previously been popular with young people but declared itself bankrupt in 2020 when the world was in the grips of the Covid pandemic.

But one of the main reasons for Boden's success in America has been put down to the Princess of Wales's appearances in outfits from the British brand - both at in-person royal engagements and on Zoom during the pandemic.

In 2018, Kate, then pregnant with Prince Louis, wore a bright red collared coat on a royal engagement as she visited Great Ormond Street Hospital.

During the pandemic, she also appeared on Zoom calls for various engagements while wearing Boden outfits, including a 110 pink tie-neck blouse as she spoke to Jasmine Harrison, the youngest woman to sail the Atlantic Ocean solo, to mark International Women's Day in 2021.

The Princess of Wales wore a 110 pink tie blouse from Boden as she joined a Zoom call to mark International Women's Day in March 2021

Johnnie Boden (pictured in New York this month) admitted the Princess of Wales provided inspiration for new designs for his brand, which are put together with her in mind as their target customer

A few months earlier in November 2020, when the UK was in a month-long lockdown, the Princess of Wales sported a 75 blue scalloped cardigan from the British brand as she took part in a Zoom call to mark the end of her Hold Still digital exhibition.

And it seems Kate has started a trend among other public figures - with lots of UK celebrities stepping out in Boden outfits for big events.

In 2019, radio presenter and reality TV judge Amanda Holden dazzled in a brightly-coloured outfit from the brand - with a 48 multicoloured, striped t-shirt paired with a 70 pink belted miniskirt.

Amanda donned the outfit to attend a Global Make Some Noise charity event - and made a grand entrance in the outfit as she used a scooter as a walking aid, following an injury.

Made in Chelsea star and mother-of-two Millie Mackintosh also donned a patterned, high-collar maxi dress from Boden to attend the brand's 30th birthday celebrations in London in September last year.

Most recently, Hollywood actress Sienna Miller stepped out in New York City in a grey turtleneck jumper and white paperbag jeans from Boden - originally priced at 80 but currently on sale for 40.

New York-based fashion writer Eloise Parker told the publication Kate was the 'antidote' to Kim Kardashian.

She said: 'No mother of young children wants to roll to the school pick-up wearing skin-tight Balenciaga  but put on a print maxi dress or a trench like Kate does and you feel amazing.'

It seems the Princess of Wales has become an accidental ambassador for the brand through her design choices over the past few years, with Johnnie Boden recently admitting the brand's bosses design clothes with a Kate-like figure in mind.
An etiquette expert has revealed why older people should avoid using the thumbs up emoji, because it's seen as 'passive aggressive'

An emoji etiquette expert has warned that you should avoid sending a 'passive aggressive' thumbs up to a Gen Z, while a 'slight smile' might also be taken the wrong way.

Keith Broni, 32, from Dublin, the editor-in-chief of emojipedia explains the hidden meaning of emojis that can get lost in translation between generations.

Many have developed sexual innuendos such as the eggplant, peach and water droplets, and devil smiling face which shouldn't be used out of context.

The crying with laughter emoji is losing popularity with Gen Z - people born in the late 90s to 2010 - and it's not the 'norm' to replace words with emojis, according to Keith.

He says emojis are fast becoming more popular than using punctuation marks.

The crying with laughter face is declining in popularity among Gen Z (left). The smiling devil face shouldn't be used out of context to avoid causing offence

Keith added: 'In more serious and formal setting emojis should usually be avoided as it may come across as not appreciating the gravity of a situation.'

Gen Zs are calling for people to ditch the passive aggressive 'thumb up' emoji and are ditching the crying with laughter face, according to emojipaedia.

Keith said: 'As with language, we should address who we are speaking to before sending them an emoji.

'People from younger generations are trying to avoid the thumbs up emoji as they see it as passive aggressive and a low effort response.

'A Gen Z demographic might also view the 'slight smile' face as highly performative and slightly passive aggressive,' added the linguist.

Keith Broni is an Irish emoji etiquette expert who educates others on emoji trends, which can be influenced by pop culture - for instance the red scarf emoji was popular last year over the course of a month after Taylor Swift released a song alluding to a 'red scarf she left at the house of her lover's sister'

MailOnline recently reported that a thumbs-up can be seen as passive aggressive and even confrontational, according to Gen Z who claim they feel attacked whenever it is used, confirming Keith's findings.

Whether the chat is informal, between friends or at work the icon appears to have a very different, 'rude' meaning for the younger generation.

A 24-year-old on Reddit summed up the Gen Z argument, saying it is best 'never used in any situation' as it is 'hurtful'.

'No one my age in the office does it, but the Gen X people always do it. Took me a bit to adjust and get [it] out of my head that it means they're mad at me,' he added.

Rather than a slight smile, texters should opt for an overly expressive emoji to add emotional clarity, he suggested.

Keith said: 'Emojis are generally used in a positive emotional context and between peers for a sense of rapport.'

According to the digital linguist, you should err on the side of caution when communicating with bosses and mirror their communicative style- for example if they use emojis to communicate you can reciprocate the smileys.

Keith said: 'Emojis are symbols of emotional intent and are used more often in positive situations.

The emojis pictured above, including a shaking face (top left) a long requested pink heart(top right) are new releases for 2022

'They're often playful and are clearly expressive.

'They add to words and punctuation as part of a great stew of expression.'

The top ten emojis that make you look 'old' 1 - Thumbs up - 24% 2 - Red love heart - 22% 3 - OK hand - 20% 4 - Tick - 17% 5 - Poo - 17% 6 - Loudly crying face - 16% 7 - Monkey eye cover - 15% 8 - Clapping hands - 10% 9 - Lipstick kiss mark - 10% 10 - Grimacing face - 9% Advertisement

Keith explained it is also good etiquette to check the receiver has updated their phone and can see the emoji can be seen by them.

It's also good practice to check if the emoji appears different on the receivers- there can be small nuances in the emoji designs which could lead to confusion.

He said: 'Before 2018, people with Samsung devices 'rolling eye' emoji had a smirk and looked slightly suggesting- this was completely different to the iPhone equivalent.

The chair emoji was confusingly co-opted as a symbol of laughter on TikTok earlier this year as an 'in joke'.

He said: 'It became a viral trend to use the chair as a laughter emoji. There was no immediate substance as there is no relation between a chair and laughing.'

To avoid making communicative faux-pas, texters can consult emojipedia.org before adding emojis to a message.
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among the celebrities sending social media users wild as they celebrate the stars as 'Short Kings'.

Earlier this year, social media users on TikTok and Twitter began using the hashtag #ShortKingSpring online to share their love of men measuring up to 5'8' or less.

While the term 'short king' has been used online since 2018, it has grown increasingly popular on TikTok this year - with the hashtag #shortking reaching over 340 million views on the platform.

In recent days, Ncuti, who is 5ft 8in, made his Doctor Who debut as the new Time Lord, while Rishi, 5ft 6in, became Britain's new Prime Minister.

Many social media users were quick to share their excitement over the trend, with one commenting: 'Rishi Sunak really showing 2022 is the year for Short Kings.'

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among the celebrities sending social media users wild as they celebrate the stars as 'Short Kings' (pictured, Rishi who is 5ft 6in)

In recent days, Ncuti, who is 5ft 8in, made his Doctor Who debut as the new Time Lord, (left) while snaps from the Iron Claw set of Zac Efron, who is 5ft 8in, also impressed many online (right)

And the trend is not just limited to British politicians, with unlikely shorter pin-ups attracting attention online including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who measures up to just 5ft 7in

It is believed the trend began in 2018, when comedian Jaboukie Young-White tweeted: 'I'm f******* tired of 'short' used as an insult.

''Short' gave you Donald Glover. 'Short' gave you Tom Holland. 'Short' gave you Daniel Kaluuya.

''Short' gave you Bruno f******g Mars.

'Short kings are the enemy of body negativity, and I'll be forever proud to defend them.'

Many social media users were quick to share their excitement over the trend, with one declaring '2022 is the year for Short Kings'

However it was only in the spring of this year that the term picked up traction on social media, with term term 'Short Kings' quickly going viral on TikTok and Twitter.

Many influencers have even been calling 2022, 'the year of the short king', while others have been celebrating a host of celebrity couples who embody the trend.

Among those who are pioneering the movement are Abbie Herbert on TikTok, and her smaller musician husband, Josh.

She often shares videos about the pair's height difference, including 'how to pose with a short king', and 'why height doesn't matter'.

It is believed the trend began in 2018, when comedian Jaboukie Young-White tweeted she was 'f******* tired of 'short' used as an insult'

Short men make good husbands, research reveals Women regard taller men as excellent for a fling but see short men as better companions to settle down with. 'Taller men have higher social status, earn more and are at lower risk from illness,' said anthropologist Dr Boguslaw Pawlowski from the University of Wroclaw in south-west Poland. 'They also have better reproductive success.' However, the benefits quickly wear off, along with the initial attraction. Evolutionary psychologist Dr Nick Neave said: 'You don't want to be surrounded by these guys all the time. 'The guys who are real leaders of the pack tend to not be very nice people. You don't want them around kids, they can be violent and leave you for someone else. 'If they are very handsome and very desirable there will be lots of other women competing for their attention. For a short-term relationship, you want somebody you are sexually attracted to, they don't have to be the best to get on with. 'But for a long-term relationship, yes, you are having kids together, but you are also raising them and educating them. For that you want someone much more amenable, who has resources and who is kind and caring.' Dr Neave, of Northumbria University, said men should not be too quick to blame their height for any lack of success with women. Life is much more complex than the findings suggest, he said. 'Women look at the whole picture - how tall a guy is, how he dresses, how he speaks, how educated he is and what he does for a living,' he said. 'Life is not as simple as this experiment.' The researchers gave 110 women sets of drawings showing six couples of different heights. The men ranged from being 19 per cent taller than the woman they were pictured with to 4 per cent shorter. The volunteers were asked to pick their ideal height difference for both short-term and long-term relationships. Tall men were twice as popular for flings than for long-term relationships, according to the findings published in the journal Biological Psychology. The scientists also looked at how women's fertility affected their choice of mate. They found that at the time of the month when women are most fertile, they were more attracted to taller men. Other research has shown women are turned off by show-offs. They are much more likely to be bowled over by men who avoid taking unnecessary risks than those who try to impress with reckless behaviour, such as driving too fast. Advertisement

Speaking in a clip, she said: 'Tall queens and short kings, it's all about the illusions and the angles.'

Commenting on one popular video, TikTok user Jaida Boodram received 244k likes when she declared: 'It's short king spring.'

And now, many users have taken to celebrating their all time favourite 'short kings', including politician Rishi.

One commented: 'I don't agree with Rishi's politics but for a short king, he's damn fine.'

Other stars to have been celebrated for their height include Tom Holland, who is 5ft8in with his girlfriend Zendaya, who is 5ft 10in, and Joe Jonas, who is 5ft 8in, with his wife Sophie Turner also 5ft 8in

Another A-lister couple who have showed off their height difference while walking the red carpet is Nicole Kidman, who is 5ft 10in, and Keith Urban, who is 5ft 8in

Another wrote: 'Rishi Sunak becoming PM is a win for short kings everywhere.'

A third added: 'Rishi proved short kings matter.'

And the trend is not just limited to British politicians, with unlikely shorter pin-ups attracting attention online including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who measures up to just 5'7.

One wrote: 'Zelensky is a short king, for real, for real.'

Another added: 'A brief Googling suggests Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Olof Scholz, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky are all 5'7, it's an unprecedented consolidation of European power in the hands of short kings.'

TikTok user Abbie Herbert has gained thousands of followers on the app by sharing videos including 'how to pose with a short king'

Meanwhile fellow 'short king' Ncuti has also seen success in recent weeks, with the Sex Education star making his first appearance as the 14th Doctor in a teaser trailer for the upcoming 2023 series.

At the end of Sunday's episode, a trailer teased Ncuti's much-anticipated arrival as the star was seen asking: 'Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?'

Elsewhere, Zac Efron, whose recent snaps from the set of his new film Iron Claw have wowed social media users, has also impressed many online.

The High School Musical star, who is 5ft 8in.

Other stars who have a smaller stature but have wowed social media users include Daniel Radcliffe, 5ft 5in, and Bruno Mars, 5ft 5in.

Meanwhile smaller A-listers who have sent hearts afluttering online include Daniel Kaluuya, who is 5ft 6in.
Prince Harry met with young adults to 'share personal stories about how social media affects their mood, well-being, and interactions with family' on a visit to a Gravesham's youth service during his trip to the UK.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, talked with youth from The Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG), with the meeting thought to have taken place when the prince was in Britain in September with wife Meghan Markle, prior to Queen Elizabeth II's death.

The group is a partner organization to 5Rights Foundation, an 'Archewell ally focused on improving online safety for young people everywhere', Harry and Meghan's organization said on its website.

A resurfaced image from the visit showed a beaming Prince Harry posing alongside those he had chatted to from the youth service.

Prince Harry met with young adults (pictured together) to 'share personal stories about how social media affects their mood, well-being, and interactions with family' on a visit to a Gravesham's youth service during his trip to the UK

A statement about the event read: 'As part of Archewell Foundations ongoing commitment to a future of tech that works for families, Archewell Foundation hosted a conversation with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and the amazing young people of The Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG), a partner organization to 5Rights Foundation, an Archewell ally focused on improving online safety for young people everywhere.

'The young adults shared personal stories about how social media affects their mood, well-being, and interactions with peers, teachers, and family.

'These important stories and experiences continue to help leaders contextualize the global conversation around online harms and inspire new partnerships, ideas, and policies for solving the challenges young people and parents face in a digital world.'

The resurfaced image comes after it was revealed Meghan and Harry made a donation to charities working in Nigeria after the Duchess announced she is 43 per cent Nigerian on her latest Archetypes podcast.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, released her sixth episode of her audio series yesterday and explained she discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian after doing a genealogy test 'a couple years ago'.

And in a press release which accompanied the episode, a Spotify representative confirmed that the couple's Archewell Foundation made donations to Save the Children and Unicef.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a donation to charities working in Nigeria after the Duchess announced she is 43 per cent Nigerian on her latest Archetypes podcast, it has been revealed

Save the Children shared the news on Twitter, announcing the couple had made an unspecified donation through their Archewell Foundation

The spokesperson said the unspecified donations to the charities would 'help provide relief following devastating floods wreaking havoc in Nigeria.'

Floods in the country, blamed by the government on heavy rain and a water release from a dam in neighbouring Cameroon, have killed more than 600 people, displaced around 1.4 million and damaged or destroyed 440,000 hectares of farmland across Nigeria.

Meanwhile Save the Children Nigeria tweeted: 'More than 1.5 million children are at risk after devastating flooding in Nigeria.

'Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Archewell Foundation has donated to Save the Children in Nigeria as our teams deliver life-saving supplies to affected families.'

Meghan (pictured) revealed that she discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian after doing a genealogy test 'a couple years ago' when speaking in her latest Archetypes episode

The couple have previously given their support to Save The Children, with Meghan sharing a video alongside their son Archie for the charity's Save with Stories campaign in 2020.

During the episode which was titled 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth', the Duchess said she is 'going to start to dig deeper into all this' during her discussion with comedians Issa Rae and Ziwe Fumudoh on her new podcast instalment.

Elsewhere in the episode, released yesterday on Spotify, mother-of-two Meghan admitted she is 'particular' but insisted 'telling people what you need does not make you demanding' as she claimed black women are stereotyped as 'angry'.

Speaking to Nigerian-American comedian Ziwe, Meghan explained: 'I just had my genealogy done a couple years ago... [I'm] 43 per cent Nigerian.'

She added: 'I'm going to start to dig deeper into all this because anybody that I've told, especially Nigerian women, are like "What!"'

'This is huge for our community,' a shocked Ziwe, 30, replied. 'No, honestly, you do look like a Nigerian, you look like my Aunt Uzo. So this is great.'

The Duchess said she is 'going to start to dig deeper into all this' during her discussion with comedians Issa Rae and Ziwe Fumudoh on her new podcast (pictured) instalment, titled 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth'

Meanwhile, discussing her behaviour in work situations, the Duchess spoke of her frustration at 'cowering and tiptoeing into a room' due to the fear she could be perceived negatively.

'I'm particular, I think a high tide raises all ships, we're all going to succeed so let's make sure it's really great because it's a shared success for everybody,' she said.

'But I also find myself cowering and tiptoeing into a room and - the thing I find most embarrassing - when you're saying a sentence and the intonation goes up, like it's a question.

'And you're like, ''oh my God, stop stop, like whispering and tiptoeing around it. Just say what it is that you need. You're allowed to set a boundary. You're allowed to be clear, it doesn't make you demanding. It doesn't make you difficult, it makes you clear.'

In 'Upending The Angry Black Women Myth', the Duchess of Sussex chats to comedians Issa Rae (left) and Ziwe (right) to explore the stereotypes around 'women of colour'

The 41-year-old has previously been branded 'Duchess Difficult' following claims about her 'dictatorial' behaviour and 5am emails - which allegedly prompted her aide Samantha Cohen to quit.

Other 'broken' royal aides told of being reduced to tears by bullying and temper tantrums. Meghan has always strenuously denied any claims of bullying.

Early in the episode, comedian Ziwe described how her 'brash and rude' onscreen persona was 'in direct opposition to what a woman should be publicly, according to sexism'.

In a monologue responding to her comments, Meghan said she was 'so right' and that 'when looked at through the lens of black women' her point of view was 'pretty inspiring'.

Meghan's latest podcast comes as she faces backlash for saying Deal or No Deal 'reduced her to a bimbo' (pictured on the show)

Introducing the next segment - a conversation with the actress Issa Rae - Meghan said it was time to 'try on what it feels like when we're allowed to just live our truths'... 'to be direct without being called angry, to exist on our own terms, to just be, to just be human'.

After asking Rae if she wants a coffee, Meghan reveals she 'only recently started drinking coffee again' after 'not even thinking about it' when she was in the UK.

'When I was on set, of course it was like Nespresso all day, every day. And then I didn't drink it really in the UK and didn't think about it.'

Asked why she started drinking it again in the UK, Meghan said: 'It's a great question, it's a great question but like I guess because life started to come back and so people started to come when guests come or meetings or and they're like oh would you like coffee?'

The duchess later gave another insight into her own acting appointment, and how when she used to go through casting lists of black characters 'they always had to have an edge or an attitude'.

One example of alleged racism against black women discussed on the podcast was the treatment of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate judiciary committee hearings.

Elsewhere in the episode, released on Spotify, mother-of-two Meghan (pictured with her husband Prince Harry) admitted she is ' particular ' but insisted 'telling people what you need does not make you demanding' as she claimed black women are stereotyped as 'angry'

Jackson, the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, was quizzed on her views on issues like critical race theory and whether they would interfere with her decision making.

Meghan said: 'I remember watching these hearings in the summer of 2022. They were gripping and painful. Then Judge Jackson remained poised and composed no matter what was happening for her beneath the surface, which I cannot begin to imagine.'

At the end of the podcast the royal paused to hear a rendition of the poem 'I Rise' by Maya Angelou.

Meghan's latest podcast comes as she faces backlash for saying Deal or No Deal 'reduced her to a bimbo.'

The Duchess made the comments while speaking on her podcast with Paris Hilton. The episode, called Breaking Down the Bimbo, heard Meghan say she wants her daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her mind, rather than 'beauty not brains' as she was on the TV gameshow.

'I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks. And little substance,' the Duchess said of her 34-episode stint on the show.

Actress and chat show host Whoopi Goldberg said Meghan's remarks were naive. 'That's TV, baby. But what did you think you were going to? You know that's what the show was,' she said. 'When you're a performer, you take the gig.'

Women who appeared on the show at the same time as Meghan, tell a rather different story from the Duchess. They say the atmosphere was fun rather than oppressive or sleazy.

One of the briefcase girls who worked with Meghan was Lisa Gleave, a successful Australian model, TV presenter and actress now living in LA.

Like Meghan, she had to master the art of walking downstairs in a dress and five-inch heels, holding a briefcase and remembering the cardinal rule: look delighted for the contestant if things go well for them and sad if not.

Gleave told the Mail of her stint on Deal Or No Deal that she felt 'blessed and lucky to have been on it', adding: 'For me it was a joy and a great career move. Most of the girls would say that.'

She said: 'I never looked at it as a show that objectified women. The cast and crew treated us very well. It was a professional set. For many of us, it was a stepping stone on our careers and we went on to greater things.'

While Lisa acknowledged the show 'revolved around beautiful women', they were 'all smart and intelligent women and nobody treated us like bimbos'.
Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy has shared her first picture of her baby son Leo on Instagram.

The former City lawyer welcomed her first child in January with husband Sam Cutmore-Scott, 37, 'without virtually anyone knowing she was pregnant', according to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden.

But the new mother, also 37, who split up with Harry after a seven-year relationship, proudly showed off her son in an adorable snap shared to her social media account today.

Shared alongside a blue heart emoji, the photo showed the stunning blonde cuddling up to her baby while standing on a balcony in front of a picturesque sea view at an unspecified location.

Both mother and son looked away from the camera, with Ms Davy sporting a cut-out blue top and denim shorts in the image. The jewellery designer wed Mr Cutmore-Scott, a successful hotelier who was in the year above Harry at Eton, in a secret ceremony, it emerged earlier this year.

Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy has shared her first picture of her baby son Leo on Instagram (pictured)

The former City lawyer welcomed her first child in January with husband Sam Cutmore-Scott (pictured together), 37, 'without virtually anyone knowing she was pregnant', according to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden

But the new mother, also 37, who split up with Harry (pictured together in 2010) after a seven-year relationship, proudly showed off her son in an adorable snap shared to her social media account today

Her son's birth was kept so private that his arrival only emerged three months later after he was introduced to their local parish council in Norfolk. Many of Chelsy's friends didn't even know she had become pregnant in lockdown.

Sam is the brother of Jack Cutmore-Scott, 35, the dashing Hollywood actor best known for his role in Christopher Nolans Oscar-winning film Tenet and the drama series Deception.

The siblings are close, and Chelsy is believed to have spent time with him in LA since she met her now husband around three years ago. They were first pictured together on a family holiday to Mauritius over Christmas 2019.

Oxford graduate Cutmore-Scott is managing director at The Harper Hotel in Holt, the family business, and the couple are believed to split their time between a townhouse in Chiswick and the Norfolk coast.

They are married, a friend told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden in May 2022, adding: Very few people knew about the wedding.

Shared alongside a blue heart emoji, the photo showed the stunning blonde cuddling up to her baby while standing on a balcony in front of a picturesque sea view at an unspecified location

Chelsy found her man after an 'on-again, off-again', relationship with Harry, who had told friends before they split in 2011 that she was 'the best thing that's ever happened to me'.

They had met in London when they were both at school but got together in 2004, during Harry's gap year travels in Zimbabwe, where Chelsy's millionaire father owns and runs a game reserve.

It became so serious palace officials remarked that he had started calling her 'wifey' and she in turn called him 'hubby'.

It was clearly serious when Chelsy would not only attend Harry's cousin Peter Phillips' wedding to Autumn Kelly - where she was introduced to the Queen - but she would also be invited to Prince Charles's 60th birthday celebrations.

Chelsy began dating Prince Harry (pictured together in 2006) while she was a pupil at Cheltenham Ladies' College, with the duo breaking up in 2010

But the pressures of their conflicting careers and long periods apart as Harry served in Afghanistan took their toll yet again. They split in 2010 and Chelsy has remained largely out of the spotlight in the 12 years since.

Party-loving Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe and now runs a jewellery and luxury travel business, revealed in 2020 that she had a serious boyfriend.

At the time she did not give his name, explaining: 'There is someone, and I am quite taken by this one, but it's very new and I don't want to say too much.'

Her last known boyfriend before then was dashing television producer James Marshall, from whom she split in 2018.
The Queen said in 1985 that she was 'terrified' of being recognised by crowds

A rare night of freedrom for the young Princess Elizabeth has been recreated for The Crown - with actors spotted filming a re-enactment of the night the late monarch and her sister Princess Margaret escaped Buckingham Palace to join VE Day celebrations.

The young princesses' historic night on the town will be documented in the hit Netflix's drama last season - which is expected to air in late 2023.

The royal sisters have been recast for the fourth time in the show's four-year history - with Viola Prettejohn, 18, stepping into the role of the late Queen while Beau Gadsdon, 14, takes on Princess Margaret.

Glimpses from the set in Hull show the sisters - who were just 19 and 14-years-old when WWII ended on May 8, 1945 - immersing themselves in the crowds while celebrating soldiers scale lamp posts and wave Union Jacks.

While The Queen famously wore her junior commander uniform for the evening out with her sister and cousin Margaret Rhodes, Princess Margaret appears in a salmon pink dress and pearl necklace for the heartwarming scenes.

Viola Prettejohn, 18,has been cast as a young Princess Elizabeth in season six of The Crown. The actress - pictured filming in Hull - is best known for playing Fake Ciri in The Witcher

Beau Gadsdon, 14, has been cast as Princess Margaret in the flashback scene in The Crown season six. The actress - pictured filming in Hull - has previously starred in Netflix's The Crown

The royal sisters famously snuck out of Buckingham Palace on May 8, 1945 to celebrate the end of WWII with the crowds. Pictured: Netflix's recreation of 1940s London

Princess Elizabeth served as a junior commander in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during WWII. Pictured at the wheel of an army vehicle in 1945

As well as chatting to soldiers, the sisters are seen warming their hands over a bonfire in Netflix's recreation of central London and singing along to chants from crowds.

On the 70th anniversary of VE Day in 2015, Princess Margaret told Channel 4 that the royal party was granted permission by the King to go and join the celebrations.

Margaret, Elizabeth and their cousin slipped through the Buckingham Palace gates at 9pm along with the future Queen's lady-in-waiting Jean Woodroffe - who was 22 at the time.

The group also included Lord Porchester, later to become the Queens racing manager, and Peter Townsend, the kings equerry who caused a national crisis a decade later when, as a divorce, he won the heart of Princess Margaret.

The Queen revealed in 1985 that she tried to cover her face with a hat to avoid being recognised by crowds in London. Viola pictured wearing the uniform of the Auxiliary Territorial Service

Beau Gadsdon seen filming 1940s flashback scenes for the hit Netflix show in Hull, east Yorkshire

A Hitler doll dangles from a lampost in Netflix's recreation of 1940s London.

Members of the public and soldiers wave Union Jacks as war is declared over in Netflix's VE Day recreation

Reflecting on their evening out, Margaret said she 'loved the freedom' of 'being an ordinary person' - if only for a few hours.

In 1985, The Queen - who passed away at the age of 96 on 8 September 2022 - gave a rare interview about her VE Day experience.

Speaking to the BBC on the 40th anniversary of the historic occasion, the Queen said: 'I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life.

We were terrified of being recognised, so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes.'

However, Her Majesty - who served as a junior commander in the Auxiliary Territorial Service from 1944-1945 - was then called up on the state of her uniform by an unknowing Grenadier officer.

Black-and-white image taken on May 8 1945 shows cheering crowds in Piccadilly Circus celebrating the German surrender on VE Day

Crowds bring traffic to a standstill in Piccadilly Circus on May 8, 1945 with the boarded-up statue of Eros at its heart

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were given permission by their parents to join the celebrating crowds on VE Day. Pictured on the Buckingham Palace balcony earlier in the day

With the princesses on their outing was the Queens cousin, the Hon Margaret Rhodes, 19, daughter of the Queen Mothers elder sister Mary. She was just under a year older than the Queen, and the pair (pictured) remained friends until Margaret died in 2016, aged 91

She continued: 'A Grenadier officer among our party of about 16 people said he refused to be seen in the company of another officer improperly dressed, so I had to put my cap on normally.

At 10pm, the royal party moved down The Mall before heading to Whitehall.

The Queen continued: I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief.

'I also remember when someone exchanged hats with a Dutch sailor; the poor man coming along with us in order to get his hat back.

By 10:30pm, they had reached Trafalgar Square, which Margaret Rhodes told BBC documentary makers was 'jammed'.

Describing the scene, she said: 'It was a scene of joyful whoopee  full of people kissing policemen and other people. It was complete mayhem but rather nice mayhem.

Netflix has recreated 1940s London in Hull, East Yorkshire. A glimpse of the set shows sandbags lining the streets as war is declared over

The final season of The Crown will revisit Elizabeth and Margaret's VE celebrations as they went unrecognised by members of the public. Pictured: an extra on the set of The Crown

Princess Elizabeth in her Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform in front of an Army ambulance during the second world war in 1945.

An hour later, the group decided to take their celebrations to The Ritz and stunned 'stuffy' guests with their partying.

Margaret Rhodes recalled: For some reason, we decided to go in the front door of the Ritz and do the conga. The Ritz was so stuffy and formal  we rather electrified the stuffy individuals inside.

'I dont think people realised who was among the party  I think they thought it was just a group of drunk young people. I remember old ladies looking faintly shocked. As one congaed through, eyebrows were raised.

However, the young women still managed to keep their promise of making it back to the Palace by midnight - even though they failed to sneak back in unrecognised.

We were successful in seeing my parents on the balcony, having cheated slightly by sending a message into the house, to say we were waiting outside, The Queen admitted in 1985.

Before being cast as a young Princess Elizabeth, Viola Prettejohn has previously starred in Netlflix's The Witcher while her co-star Beau Gadsdon is most famous for playing Katherine Ryan's on-screen daughter in The Duchess.

It has been confirmed that the final season of The Crown will dramatise Princess Diana's final months and her death in a tragic car crash in Paris in 1997 as well as featuring this Queen Elizabeth flashback scene.




Rising Korean pianist Lim Yunchan has signed a contract with the international classical music management company IMG Artists.







"IMG Artists is thrilled to announce that the sensational pianist, Yunchan Lim, joins its roster for General Management," the company said in a press release posted on its official website Tuesday.







The 18-year-old rose to international stardom after becoming the youngest person to ever win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June with his astonishing performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3.







He will be represented by two managers from the company's London office in conjunction with MOC Production for Asia, IMG added.







"I'm very excited and delighted to be joining IMG Artists," Lim was quoted as saying in the release. "I will now be represented globally, and I am looking forward to sharing my music making with the greatest audiences in the most renowned concert halls."







Lim is currently in his second year at the Korean National University of Arts and plans to go on recital tours in the United States, Asia, Europe and South America. (Yonhap)


Princess Sofia of Sweden looked sophisticated as ever as she and her husband kicked off day two of their visit to Varmland - a historical county in the nation.

The royal, 37, stunned in a cool-toned ensemble comprised of a colour-block printed midi skirt and burgundy turtleneck.

Smiling for photos with Prince Carl Philip, she finished the look off with a chic black coat and heeled leather boots.

The princess opted for minimal make-up, styling her highlighted blonde tresses in sophisticated waves.

Princess Sofia of Sweden looked sophisticated as ever as she and her husband kicked off day two of their visit to Varmland - a historical county in the nation

It comes as Sofia yesterday was effortlessly elegant in an all-white ensemble as they kicked off their two-day Varmland visit

Elsewhere the prince, 43, looked dapper in a navy suit, adorned with a two-toned tie.

The royal couple grinned as they paid a visit to The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) in Karlstad - the county's capital - and were pictured with Governor Georg Andre and his wife Maria Andren.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia also today visited Hennickehammar's manor in Filipstad, taking in the scenes of gorgeous countryside.

It comes as Sofia yesterday was effortlessly elegant in an all-white ensemble as they kicked off their two-day Varmland visit.

The royal, 37, stunned in a cool-toned ensemble comprised of a colour-block printed midi skirt and burgundy turtleneck

The princess (pictured with her husband, Governor Georg Andre and his wife Maria Andren) opted for minimal make-up, styling her highlighted blonde tresses in sophisticated waves

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia also today visited Hennickehammar's manor in Filipstad, taking in the scenes of gorgeous countryside

She donned cream-toned culottes, paired with a chic knit jumper, as they made an appearance at the library in Grums - a municipality in the county.

The royal looked graceful as she teamed the outfit with brown ankle boots, opting for few accessories along her hands.

They were also welcomed to look at wind turbines in Knostad, with green energy company Siemens Gamesa last night tweeting: 'Today we were honored to have both Prince Carl Phillip and Princess Sofia of Sweden visit our SG 5.8-170 turbines at the Knostad wind project!

'It was great to have a royal visit at the project powering 26,000 Swedish households.'

She yesterday donned cream-toned culottes, paired with a chic knit jumper, as they made an appearance at the library in Grums - a municipality in the county

The royal (pictured at the library yesterday) looked graceful as she teamed the outfit with brown ankle boots, opting for few accessories along her hands

The prince and princess and the library yesterday, They were also welcomed to look at wind turbines in Knostad

The royals' Instagram account today featured snippets of the visit on Stories, including a clip of the prince and princess at pen-writing company Ballograf, featuring Sofia having a go at one of the machines.

The couple earlier this year shared a sweet family photograph - and wished the country a 'wonderful summer'.

The image, posted on Instagram, pictured the proud parents with their three children: Prince Alexander, five, Prince Gabriel, four and Prince Julian, one.

The family sat together in a field of daisies in the joyful snap, with Princes Alexander and Gabriel grasping flowers in their hands.

Princess Sofia held her eldest son on her lap, while her husband stayed close to the younger two boys.

In the caption of the image, the royal family wrote: 'Our family wishes you all a wonderful summer!'
If you have trouble spelling words like 'calendar,' 'arctic,' and 'niece,' you are certainly not alone - as new data obtained by Quillbot has revealed that hundreds of thousands of Americans are making spelling mistakes every month.

Using Google search data, the grammar checking website uncovered what the most commonly misspelled words in the US are - and disclosed just exactly how many times people were searching for the words incorrectly per month.

According to Quillbot, 'calendar' is the word that most people have trouble on, with the company revealing that every single month, 257,000 Google users search for the word 'calender' instead.

The word 'arctic' came in second place, with 87,000 Americans accidentally leaving the first C out of the word and writing 'artic' every month.

If you have trouble spelling words like 'calendar' and 'niece,' you are not alone - as Quillbot revealed that thousands of Americans are making spelling mistakes every month (stock photo)

Based on the data, it appears that a mistake people often make when it comes to spelling is getting the I and the E mixed up in words like 'niece,' 'receive,' 'believe,' and 'siege.'

Other commonly misspelled words include 'separate,' 'rhythm,' 'occurred,' 'congratulations,' 'until,' and 'license.'

It appears that many Americans also have trouble spelling some common foods like broccoli and spaghetti - as the words 'brocoli' and 'spagetti' are searched 13,000 times each per month - while the state Connecticut was also on the list with 20,000 misspellings each month.

Experts blamed the population's poor spelling on tools such as spellcheck and auto-correct, which both play a prominent role in modern-day living.

'Many Americans struggle with spelling, especially in a digital age of spell checkers,' a spokesperson from QuillBot said.

'However, if you sometimes get your letters jumbled up, there are things you can do to improve your spelling.

The most commonly misspelled words Word Misspelling Misspellings per month Calendar Calender 257,000 Arctic Artic 87,000 Niece Neice 73,000 Receive Recieve 62,000 Separate Seperate 33,000 Rhythm Rythm 30,000 Believe Belive 25,000 Connecticut Conneticut 20,000 Occurred Occured 18,000 Congratulations Congradulations 17,000 Until Untill 16,000 License Licence 15,000 Broccoli Brocoli 13,000 Spaghetti Spagetti 13,000 Siege Seige 13,000 Advertisement

'Reading more frequently can improve your spelling. This is because you get to see the letters on a page in front of you.

'Writing more often can also help with your spelling. Try using a dictionary every time you think you may have spelled a word wrong, and then highlight the word.

'Slowly you will start to see an improvement in your spelling, especially for the words that we all struggle with.'

Back in 2009, a study of 2,000 US adults found that one in four admitted to having problems with spelling common words - and it's only gotten worse since then.

In 2015, a UK survey revealed that only two-thirds of adults had the spelling level expected of elementary school children.

People taking part were asked to spell 35 different words taken from SAT tests over the prior three years.

1,000 adults aged between 16 and 77 were tested, and only 67 per cent achieved the grade four level, while less than half (44 per cent) got to level five; 15 per cent of the adults who participated failed to even reach level three, which is below the level expected of children at age 11.
The brooch was purchased by the Princess of Wales in 1866 as a wedding gift

Queen's only daughter paired the sapphire and pearl brooch with her navy gown

Princess Royal, 72, hosted a dinner for the President of the Republic of Uganda

Princess Anne paid tribute to The Queen last night as she wore her late mother's sapphire and pearl brooch to dinner at the British High Commissioner's residence in Uganda.

The Princess Royal, 72, is currently visiting the African nation with husband Sir Tim Laurence, 67, as part of their first royal tour since The Queen passed away at the age of 96 on 8 September.

Last night, the Queen's only daughter hosted a dinner for Yoweri K Museveni - the President of the Republic of Uganda - and his daughter Natasha at the state residence in Kampala.

The mother-of-two wore a navy silk printed wrap dress for the occasion with a pair of matching low patent heels.

Finishing off her evening ensemble, Anne wore Empress Maria Feodorovna's Sapphire Brooch - which has been passed down to her by The Queen.

Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence hosted a dinner for Yoweri K Museveni - the President of the Republic of Uganda - and his daughter Natasha at the British High Commissioner's residence in Uganda last night

The Queen's only daughter wore her late mother's sapphire and pearl brooch for the occasion. Her Majesty wearing the historic piece of jewellery during a tour of the Solomon Islands in 1982

The distinctive sapphire brooch is encircled by two rows of diamonds and has a removable pearl droplet which hangs delicately underneath.

The historic piece of jewellery - which Crisscut Magazine estimates to be worth 500,000 - was first purchased by the Princess of Wales in 1866 as a wedding present to her sister Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Following the Empress' death in 1928, Queen Mary reportedly purchased the brooch from her estate for 2,375.

When the Queen inherited the throne in 1952, the brooch passed down to the late monarch and she was pictured wearing it multiple items over the years - both with and without the pearl drop.

The historic piece of jewellery was first purchased by the Princess of Wales in 1866 as a wedding present to her sister Empress Maria Feodorovna. Left: The Queen pictured wearing the brooch on July 1 2003. Right: The distinctive sapphire brooch is encircled by two rows of diamonds and has a removable pearl droplet which hangs delicately underneath.

Princess Anne paired the historic brooch with a navy silk printed wrap dress for the special occasion

Sharing photos from the dinner, the President of the Republic of Uganda said he 'wishes her good luck' on the rest of Princess Anne's tour

Sharing images from the royal dinner on Twitter, the President wrote: 'I was hosted to a dinner by Her Royal Highness, Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence at the British High Commissioners residence in Kampala.

'We talked about the different patronages she has come to support here. I welcome her and wish her good luck.'

During the couple's visit, Anne opened the first commercial bank in the Nakivale Refugee settlement in her role as patron of Opportunity International.

Before their return to the UK on Friday, Princess Anne and Sir Tim will conclude their tour by watching female students complete the 'Safe Way, Right Way' HGV truck driver training programme as part of her work with Transaid.

In a statement after her mother's death, Princess Anne revealed she was by the Queen's side in her final 24 hours. The Queen and her only daughter pictured at the 2018 Braemar Highland Gathering

The Princess Royal co-founded the organisation - which provides safe and sustainable transport - with Save the Children and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) 25 years ago.

The princess was in Scotland when the Queen was taken ill, and stayed at her bedside at Balmoral Castle, as senior royals rushed to say their final farewells.

In a statement shortly after Her Majesty passed away, the Princess said it had been 'an honour and a privilege' to accompany the Queen on her final journey as she travelled with the monarch's coffin back to London.
He is set to be stripped of his royal titles by his grandmother Queen Margrethe II of Denmark - and Prince Nikolai is now facing more bad news as he 'struggles to sell' his Copenhagen apartment.

The 23-year-old son of Prince Joachim has dropped the price of his three-room property for a third time, according to Royal Central, with the model now asking for 4.6 million Danish krone (536,431).

Nikolai first placed the ground floor apartment on the market in September 2021 for 5,495,000 DKK, before reducing it three times. He most recently cut the price last month by 400,000 DKK.

September was a difficult time for the Danish Royal Family, with Prince Joachim openly criticising his mother Margrethe's decision to strip his children, Nikolai, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10 of their royal titles.

He is set to be stripped of his royal titles by his grandmother Queen Margrethe II of Denmark - and Prince Nikolai (pictured in 2018) is now facing more bad news as he 'struggles to sell' his Copenhagen apartment

The 23-year-old son of Prince Joachim has dropped the price of his three-room property (thought to be pictured above) for a third time, according to Royal Central, with the model now asking for 4.6 million Danish krone (536,431)

Nikolai (pictured with his family) first placed the ground floor apartment on the market in September 2021 for 5,495,000 DKK, before reducing it three times. He most recently cut the price last month by 400,000 DKK

Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023

And while the dust appears to have settled on the royal row, several Danish media sources have reported that Nikolai is 'having issues selling his home', according to the publication.

The prince apparently bought the apartment for 4,100,000 DKK in 2019, when starting at the Copenhagen Business School.

He moved to Paris in September 2021 to study a semester abroad for his degree in Business Administration and Service Management. He returned to the Danish capital in January.

Following his grandmother's move to strip him and his siblings of their titles 'for their own good', Nikolai said that he was sad, shocked and confused.

Nikolai has become a runway staple at every fashion show after making his debut for Burberry in 2018, left. Right, pictured walking for Dior Homme Menswear that same year

Nikolai in a loose, tailored suit on the runway during the Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 in Paris in 2018

Left Nikolai wearing a pastel suit for Dior in 2018 at Paris Fashion Week. Right: The royal strutting his stuff on the runway in January 2020

Both of Margrethe's grandsons Nikolai and Felix turned to modelling in their late teens. Pictured with their grandmother in May 2021

Queen Margrethe said Prince Joachim's four children would be known from next year as His/Her Excellencies rather than His/Her Royal Highnesses and would instead hold Count/Countess titles.

Nikolai's mother Countess Alexandra's press secretary previously questioned why the change could not have waited until their wedding day, when they would 'lose their titles anyway'.

'My whole family and I are of course very sad. We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone,' Prince Nikolai, Prince Joachim's eldest son, told Danish newspaper Extrabladet.

'I am very confused as to why it has to happen like this,' he told reporters from outside the Copenhagen apartment where he lives with his girlfriend.

Prince Nikolai, from left, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim and Prince Felix arrive for the command performance at the Danish Royal Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of Danish Queen Margrethe II's accession to the throne in Copenhagen, Saturday, September 10, 2022

Out of a title: The four grandchildren who will no longer be TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Advertisement

Countess Alexandra, mother to Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, was also 'very sad' and 'shocked' about the decision.

'She can't believe why and why now, because there's no good reason.' Helle von Wildenrath Lvgreen, press secretary to Countess Alexandra told CNN.

'They would lose their titles anyway when they get married one day.

'Her sons are young men so maybe they might get married in the near future so why shouldn't it wait until that day so that the titles would disappear on a happy day?'

Prince Joachim told Ekstra Bladet that his children had been 'hurt' by the decision - and claimed he had only been given a few days to break the news to them before the announcement was made publicly.

He later admitted his relationship with his brother, heir to the throne Crown Prince Frederik, whose children were unaffected by the change, was 'complicated'.

In an extraordinary move, Queen Margrethe responded with a public statement in which she apologised for the way in which her decision was announced, but insisted it was the right thing to do.

She added her decision had been made in order for her grandchildren to live a more normal life.

After nearly two weeks of reported tension within the family, it had been revealed that Prince Joachim and Queen Margrethe held talks to smooth things over.
With the cost-of-living crisis biting harder, most of us are making sacrifices. That posh coffee, the new shoes, resisting turning on the heating for a few more days.

But there are some things even the most prudent feel they cant live without. An online poll received numerous responses when it asked what the one thing you could never forgo was.

Here, our favourite writers share their own sine qua non, with some very surprising results . . .

TOMATOES AT 13 PER KG AND REALLY POSH TEA

Hannah Betts, beauty columnist

Contrary to popular opinion (not least my Scrooge-like beloveds), Im actually not too bad at economising. A student until almost 30, my income wasnt sufficient for me to be taxed until the age of 28. At 51, I live without luxuries others consider must-haves, namely: meat, booze, a television, a car and offspring. However, experience has taught me that a woman has got to maintain standards in a few scant areas, otherwise she is not so much living as existing.

First off, good tea. Lapsang souchong is less an essential than a basic human right. You may get by with supermarket own brands; I demand the Twinings camellia sinensis version, smoked over a pinewood fire, at 3.49 a box.

Second, decent tomatoes. My financial adviser says that when he sees posh greengrocer Natoora crop up on my statements, he knows hes in for a fight over expenditure.

Heirloom tomatoes are his  and my  nemesis, at a whopping 13 per kilogram. However, if I cannot afford to go on holiday, nothing instils such a feeling of Mediterranean happiness.

Jo Hansford, celebrity hair stylist can't go without a good-quality Australian Shiraz or Argentinian Malbec are a musthave for me. Ive always loved red wine and enjoy a glass each night  its the perfect way to switch off after a busy day in the salon.

Simon Mills, writer: Spending 50 quid on a hot water bottle might seem like an extravagance but this galvanised metal yutanpo (left), a sturdy, Japanese industrial design classic and a mini heating powerhouse, is worth it

A DRIVER  AND THE BRITISH NEWSPAPERS

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, author

I couldnt live without my driver service, which I use weekly. I work in the car, making calls to my UK and U.S. publishers, my agent, my banker, PR, and friends. I have always liked to use my time wisely, and clearing my calls on the move allows me to write at my desk without interruption.

Having a car and driver  I book him on an ad hoc basis for 115 an evening  also allows me to feel safe travelling by myself. I can be taken directly home after a dinner, event or appointment. Bob, my late husband, always used to say: Be in control of everything you do and have your own wheels so you are independent. Luckily, its a luxury I can afford and I really appreciate it.

My other passion is newspapers. I live in New York and religiously read the British papers every day as I want to know whats going on in my home country. I went to work on the Yorkshire Evening Post when I was 15, and have been very much involved with newspapers ever since.

Barbara Taylor Bradfords A Man Of Honour (HarperCollins) is out now.

THE 50 JAPANESE HOT WATER BOTTLE

Simon Mills, writer

Spending 50 quid on a hot water bottle might seem like an extravagance but this galvanised metal yutanpo a sturdy, Japanese industrial design classic and a mini heating powerhouse, is worth it. Fill it up with hot water then pop it in its soft, fleecy bag, being careful not to burn your fingers. It delivers an instant warm, cosy hug  no need to crank up the radiators.

If you put it at the bottom of your duvet to keep your feet toasty in bed at night, miraculously, the weapons-grade yutanpo will still be packing heat in the morning.

I picked up mine at a market in Seoul, South Korea, a few years ago. I wish Id bought at least a dozen more to be placed, preheated, on every chair and bed in the house this winter.

My dream? To one day afford the cult-favourite copper one, yours for a whopping 150.

PRISTINE 800 THREAD COUNT SHEETS

Jenni Murray, Femail columnist

There is one luxury I really cannot bear to be without. On my bed, there are John Lewis 800 thread count silky-soft white cotton sheets.

Having spent my youth sleeping on the awful brushed nylon bedding my mother believed was cheaper, easier to wash and didnt need to be ironed, I couldnt wait to convert to cotton when I set up my own home.

Aggie MacKenzie, TV presenter: I run the washing machine only when down to my last pair of knickers, and Ive yet to turn on the heating. But one thing Im not prepared to scrimp on is my splash of Portrait Of A Lady by Frederic Malle

Yes, theyre expensive (135 for a king-size sheet) and theres an added expense to keeping them pristine  a laundry.

On a Sunday night, I put a bag containing my fitted sheet, duvet cover and pillowcases on the front doorstep. Monday morning theyre gone. Wednesday morning theyre back  whiter than white and pressed perfectly smooth, at a cost of 20 a time. But oh, the joy of settling into them. Worth every penny.

A DAILY GLASS OF PROPER RED WINE

Jo Hansford, celebrity hair stylist

Good-quality Australian Shiraz or Argentinian Malbec are a musthave for me. Ive always loved red wine and enjoy a glass each night  its the perfect way to switch off after a busy day in the salon.

On my travels, I often visit vineyards, and Malbec became a firm favourite after I trialled some of the best in Mendoza, Argentina, a few years ago. Id rather spend 20 or 30 on a high-quality, rich and full-bodied wine to savour, than scrimp with a cheaper bottle. Life is too short!

My other luxury is my Range Rover Sport. I dont spend much on clothes and, as I am on my feet all day, driving in comfort is non-negotiable. I love driving and its always a pleasure to get behind the wheel.

I upgrade every two years. I have a good relationship with the dealer so always get a competitive deal. Im obsessed with keeping it clean, so its washed at least once or twice a week for 25 at the local car wash.

Jo Hansford has salons in Mayfair and Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge (johansford.com).

SOMEONE ELSE IRONING MY SHIRTS

Henry Deedes, parliamentary sketch writer

Seize my television set, remove my satellite dish, turn down the heating in my draughty flat. See if I care.

As someone who prides himself on being careful with the pennies, I resent the idea of vast chunks of my payslip ending up in these greedy energy firms already swollen pockets anyway. Heck, I might even consider drinking own-brand supermarket lager should the economic situation become dire enough.

But the thing I really cannot live without is having someone iron my shirts. All that faff, all that fuss.

If forced to get the ironing board out myself in an emergency, the result is an embarrassing hotchpotch even Boris Johnson might feel ashamed to pull over his belly.

Fortunately, the wonderful launderette down the road is still happy to wash and iron half a dozen of my shirts for less than a tenner. Its the best money I spend all month.

400 ROSES IN A 270 BOTTLE OF SCENT

Aggie MacKenzie, TV presenter

I run the washing machine only when down to my last pair of knickers, and Ive yet to turn on the heating. But one thing Im not prepared to scrimp on is my splash of Portrait Of A Lady by Frederic Malle.

I first came across this scent (left) when it was worn by my sons girlfriend and I knew I wanted the fragrance in my life: think Turkish roses (400 in a 100ml bottle), patchouli, sandalwood and frankincense, with blackcurrant and raspberry notes.

I love how the smell seeps into my clothes  comforting and sexy at the same time. Last Christmas, with no boyfriend to hint at, I decided to treat myself. How big a bottle was I prepared to buy?

The 10ml is 54, so 100ml at 270 seemed almost a bargain. So I took a deep breath, handed over my card, and Ive not regretted it. Moreover, theres still about half left. The only downside? My son and his girlfriend split up acrimoniously so Im banned from wearing it in his company.

LUXURY 25 TIGHTS AND BLACK CABS

Clare Foges, former No 10 speechwriter

CASH may be tight but my tights cant be compromised on. Luxury tights, to be precise. The top brands Wolford and Falke are my drug. It is with a blush that I must reveal my gossamer thins can cost about 25 a pair. I have tried going back to cheaper ones but the gusset drop is too demoralising. How can one conquer the world when the crotch of your tights hangs around your knees?

Black cabs are another luxury I cant ditch. I dont live in London, but whenever I visit, I treat those charming cabbies like my personal chauffeurs.

Each trip I resolve that this time I will ride the Piccadilly and Jubilee lines and save a small fortune . . . then I see the gorgeous orange light of a vacant taxi and my hand shoots up to hail it as though in spasm. Sliding onto those leather seats and shooting the breeze with the driver makes me feel, for ten minutes, like a tycoon steaming through the big smoke on oiled castors.

To me its an essential life lubricant  one of those expenses that makes the days glide by a little more smoothly.

MY CHOCOLATE STASH IS AN ADDICTION

Rowan Pelling, author

The one essential item in my apocalypse survivor kit would be good-quality chocolate. Where other people need coffee, cigarettes or gin to keep going, I reach for Hotel Chocolats Dizzy Dark Chocolate Pralines (4.50 for six), nibbling at the ambrosia.

I think and write better with 85 per cent cocoa bars by my side. Theyre my personal Prozac, and I have a hidden stash in my bags secret pocket, or behind novels on my shelves. My spouse once noted: You treat that stuff like youre a drug addict  trying to hide any evidence from others. Ive been known to go without proper meals so I can feast on Rococos Venus Nipples coffee truffles.

The canny chocaholic can still score bargains, though. Staff at the Kings Cross branch of Hotel Chocolat know me by sight, as I always come in asking whats on discount. And the chocolate department in Londons Liberty often has discounted items close to their sell-by date near the till.

My current go-to item is Montezumas organic 74 per cent cocoa dark chocolate buttons (2.50 from Sainsburys): exquisite with a morning cuppa. Ill give up showering before I surrender them.

P.S. THERES NOTHING I COULDNT GIVE UP

Julie Burchill, author

I can do perfectly well without luxuries of any sort. When I moved out of the marital home, I craved minimalism. My new flat was an austere Art Deco beauty; as I ordered essentials  a bed, chairs, a table  I realised what I didnt want cluttering it up.

Two years on, I dont have a TV (my computer will do), a kettle (I live in a bustling cafe quarter) or a telephone  neither mobile nor landline.

As a writer, Im on my computer when Im at home and email can do anything a phone call can. And all my life, Ive had people ask Is your mummy in? when I answer the phone, due to my high-pitched voice, which is annoying when youre a sexagenarian.

Besides, I wanted to see what essentials I could do without as part of my ongoing project to become a Stoic  a school of thought which believes that needing things is weak.

Also, of course, I love shocking people. The look on their faces when they comprehend that I have not a single phone is the best yet.
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Amber Heard vowed to focus on 'full-time' motherhood in the wake of her $10.3 million court case loss to ex-Johnny Depp - and it looks as though the actress is committed to doing just that after she was spotted enjoying a low-key outing in London with her one-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige yesterday.

The mother-of-one, who welcomed her baby girl in April 2021 via surrogate, was pictured out and about in the British city with her young daughter and a female pal; the actress, 36, appeared happy and relaxed as she visited a wine shop, where she was seen perusing the selection while cuddling her little girl.

Heard dressed comfortably for the outing, donning a gray skirt and top, with a black pea coat on top to keep her warm amid London's cold weather.

Amber Heard was spotted out and about in London with her one-year-old daughter Oonagh Paige Heard - after vowing to focus on motherhood following her loss in the defamation trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp

The mother-of-one, who welcomed her baby girl in April 2021 via surrogate, enjoyed a day out in the British city on Tuesday

Heard dressed comfortably for the outing, donning a gray skirt and top, with a black pea coat on top to keep her warm amid London's cold weather

She completed the look with a pair of laced-up combat boots; she appeared to be makeup free, and kept her long, blonde locks up in a ponytail

The actress, 36, appeared happy and relaxed as she visited a wine shop with her daughter and an unidentified female friend

As for little Oonagh, she bundled up in a fuzzy jacket, blue pants, and pink sneakers

She completed the look with a pair of laced-up combat boots; she appeared to be makeup free, and kept her long, blonde locks up in a ponytail.

The one-year-old also donned a white hat with a pom-pom on each side

As for little Oonagh, she bundled up in a fuzzy jacket, blue pants, and pink sneakers; the one-year-old also donned a white hat with a pom-pom on each side.

After leaving the liquor store, the Aquaman star and her pal chatted as they went for a stroll - with Heard pushing her daughter in a stroller as they enjoyed some fresh air.

They even stopped to grab some food at one point, as the 36-year-old was seen munching on an unidentified snack that she ate from a white carton.

Heard revealed that she had become a mom in July 2021 via Instagram, writing at the time that she was both 'the mom and the dad' to Oonagh.

'I hope we arrive at a point in which its normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib,' she added.

The outing comes just over four months after a verdict was reached in her and Depp's highly controversial $100 million defamation trial, with the jury ruling firmly in favor of the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 59.

Exes Heard and Depp - who tied the knot in 2015, and were married for one year before Heard filed for divorce in 2016 - battled it out in court to determine if a 2018 Washington Post essay written by Heard, in which she accused the actor of domestic abuse, defamed Depp.

Heard held onto her young daughter as she checked out the wine selection

Oonagh rested her head on her mother's shoulder at one point during the shopping trip

After leaving the liquor store, the Aquaman star and her pal chatted as they went for a stroll

Heard pushed her daughter in a stroller as the ladies enjoyed some fresh air

They even stopped to grab some food at one point, as the 36-year-old was seen munching on an unidentified snack that she ate from a white carton

Heard revealed that she had become a mom in July 2021 via Instagram, insisting that she was both 'the mom and the dad' to Oonagh

'I hope we arrive at a point in which its normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib,' she wrote at the time

The outing comes just over four months after a verdict was reached in her and Depp's highly controversial $100 million defamation trial, with the jury ruling firmly in favor of the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 59

Heard and Depp tied the knot in 2015, and were married for one year before Heard filed for divorce in 2016

The exes battled it out earlier this year in court to determine if a 2018 Washington Post essay written by Heard, in which she accused the actor of domestic abuse, defamed Depp

After a months-long trial, Heard was ordered to pay the actor $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, although the second payment was reduced to $350,000 per Virginia law by the judge

After a months-long trial, Heard was ordered to pay the actor $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, although the second payment was reduced to $350,000 per Virginia law by the judge.

Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages out of the $100 million she was seeking in her countersuit against her ex.

Afterwards, Heard called the verdict 'unfair' during an interview with the Today show, and insisted that she was going to 'stand by every word of her testimony until the day she dies.'

The movie star doubled down on her allegations that Depp was physically violent towards her during their one-year of marriage, and accused him of 'lying' on the stand when he said that he 'never hit her,' while speaking to Today host Savannah Guthrie.

She also told the outlet that she was looking forward to focusing on being a mom following the trial, explaining, 'I get to be a mom full time, without having to juggle calls with lawyers.

Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages out of the $100 million she was seeking in her countersuit against her ex

Afterwards, Heard called the verdict 'unfair' during an interview with the Today show, and insisted that she was going to 'stand by every word of her testimony until the day she dies'

The movie star doubled down on her allegations that Depp was physically violent towards her during their one-year of marriage

She accused him of 'lying' on the stand when he said that he 'never hit her,' while speaking to Today host Savannah Guthrie

She also told the outlet that she was looking forward to focusing on being a mom following the trial, explaining, 'I get to be a mom full time, without having to juggle calls with lawyers

She added: 'I want to move on with my life. I have a baby. I have to move on. I want to move on, and I want Johnny to move on, too'

However, it doesn't appear as though she's moved on, as it was recently reported that Heard had filed an appeal against the defamation trial

According to documents filed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia, Heard, who still owes Depp $10.3 million in damages, claimed that her ex-husband misled the jury and that the trial had a lack of 'clear and convincing evidence' for actual malice

She also called out the court's alleged failure to invalidate the damages awarded to both her and Depp after ruling they both defamed each other

It was reported that Heard was living in Mallorca, Spain, with her daughter and her partner, cinematographer Bianca Butti, following the trial, but now, it appears as though she's jetted off to London

Heard appeared every part a doting mother during the London outing on Tuesday

She stopped to attend to her one-year-old daughter at one point during the walk

The mother-of-one even offered Oonagh some snacks during their walk

The actress seemed in good spirits as she spent quality time with her daughter

But when the toddler tried to pull off her hat, Heard appeared unamused

'I want to move on with my life. I have a baby. I have to move on. I want to move on, and I want Johnny to move on, too.'

However, it doesn't appear as though she's moved on, as it was recently reported that Heard had filed an appeal against the defamation trial.

According to documents filed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia, Heard, who still owes Depp $10.3 million in damages, claimed that her ex-husband misled the jury and that the trial had a lack of 'clear and convincing evidence' for actual malice.

She also called out the court's alleged failure to invalidate the damages awarded to both her and Depp after ruling they both defamed each other.

It was reported that Heard was living in Mallorca, Spain, with her daughter and her partner, cinematographer Bianca Butti, following the trial, but now, it appears as though she's jetted off to London.
King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, entrusted The Repair Shop team with two antiques in August 2021

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The Repair Shop viewers have praised King Charles and presenter Jay Blades as a 'great unlikely double act' following the monarch's appearance on the BBC show this evening.

During the hour-long episode as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations, Charles, 73, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time of filming in August 2021, turned to the experts for help restoring a piece of Wemyss Ware pottery made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and an 18th century clock.

When giving Jay a tour around the Dumfries House estate in Scotland and meeting the team, the monarch appeared in great spirits as he cracked jokes with the presenter - leading excited fans on Twitter to label them 'the double act we didnt know that we need'.

During one light-hearted moment after viewing the King's two products, Jay told the monarch: 'We're going to take these items to take a better look at them, and maybe you might join us at the barn.'

'I've got a barn, you've got a barn,' Charles joked. 'We can have a barn dance.' Blades cheekily said: 'I'll put the kettle on,' to which the King replied: 'Oh, will you?'

Meanwhile, after viewing the handiwork on the clock when its chimes had been restored, Charles appeared visibly moved, saying: 'It shows what love, care and attention does.'

The Repair Shop viewers have praised King Charles and presenter Jay Blades as a 'great unlikely double act' following the monarch's appearance on the BBC show this evening

During the hour-long episode as part of the BBC 's centenary celebrations, Charles, 73, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time of filming in August 2021, turned to the experts for help restoring a piece of pottery made for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and an 18th century clock. Pictured, a viewer's reaction to the programme

On Twitter, one excited viewer wrote: King Charles and Jay Blades is the double act we didnt know that we need,' while another noted: 'Jay and King Charles casually having a natter.'

'Watch out Ant & Dec. What a great double act these two are, praised another viewer, while a fourth said: '#TheRepairShop Jay and his new BFF King Charles!'

Before the big reveal of the restored clock, presenter Jay greeted the monarch with a cup of Earl Grey tea presented in an HRH mug, to which Charles responded: 'How did you guess.'

As he entered The Repair Shop barn, Charles asked horologist Steve Fletcher: 'Have you got the bells working again? The suspense is killing me.'

Following the uncovering, the royal said: ;Oh my, look at that you see. Fantastic. It just shows what love, care and attention does. Marvellous.

'Having seen what it was like I can't thank you enough, it really is wonderful. It will look really special back in Dumfries House.'

After the pendulum was swung in order to hear the clock's tick tock, Charles glanced at his wristwatch to compare the time, saying: 'Sorry, just checking.'

On hearing the clock's chime, Charles added: 'You see, such a good sound. That's it, just trying to work out what the tune is. It's a Scottish tune, is it? It took me a long time to realise there is one at Clarence House that plays the national anthem, it took me a long time to realise it was.'

Jay Blades, the King, then Prince of Wales, Steve Fletcher, Kirsten Ramsay and Will Kirk who appear in a special episode of The Repair Shop as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations

'I've got a barn, you've got a barn,' Charles joked during one moment (pictured). 'We can have a barn dance.' Blades cheekily said: 'I'll put the kettle on,' to which the King replied: 'Oh, will you?'

Reaction: When giving Jay a tour around the Dumfries House estate in Scotland and meeting the team, the monarch appeared in great spirits as he cracked jokes with the presenter - leading excited fans on Twitter to label them 'the double act we didnt know that we need'

Talking about the clock, which had been hidden under a Rothesay tartan, Charles joked: 'Very tactful' - referring to his previous Scottish title as the Duke of Rothesay.

Later in the episode, Charles was shown restorations made to the damaged 19th century piece made by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware.

'I fear it was a terrible challenge. I told you it would test you,' he said to ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay. After the reveal, Charles said: 'Now look at that. That is fantastic, it really is. How you do it I don't know.'

He twisted the piece around to get a better look, adding: 'I would never have believed that, I really wouldn't. I was thinking as I was coming "I bet she hasn't managed it."

'It's my favourite, I have been collecting these for years, Wemyss Ware, utterly wonderful. I'm thrilled I promise you. Now you can all get back to what you're meant to be doing rather than me getting in the way, so thank you.'

When Jay asked if he was happy about the restorations, Charles added: 'Oh God yes. I am so grateful to you.'

King Charles appeared to be in great spirits as he chatted with host Jay during the BBC special on BBC One this evening

During one chat, Charles opened up about clocks being the 'heartbeat of the home', which is why he especially wanted to get his antique fixed (pictured)

The monarch (pictured right) continued: 'To me I just love the sound, the tick-tock but also if they chime, that's why I love grandfather clocks'

While speaking to ceramics expert Kirsten, horologist Steve and furniture restorer Will Kirk, Charles admitted that the priceless piece of pottery he was looking to have restored had toppled over when someone was opening a window.

'They didn't own up,' the monarch joked.

Having taken a closer look at the two items, Jay Blades told the King that the team would have to take them back to their headquarters in Lee-on-the-Solent.

During the chat, Charles opened up about clocks being the 'heartbeat of the home', which is why he especially wanted to get his antique fixed.

He continued: 'To me I just love the sound, the tick-tock but also if they chime, that's why I love grandfather clocks.

'I find it rather reassuring in a funny way and they become really special parts of the house... the beating heart of it. So that's why they matter to me

Elsewhere in the episode, Charles (pictured on the show) labelled the lack of vocational education in schools a 'great tragedy' and said 'not everybody is designed for the academic'

In the episode, Charles (pictured right) met students from the Prince's Foundation Building Craft Programme - a training initiative that teaches traditional skills such as blacksmithing, stonemasonry and wood carving

The monarch (pictured left) said: 'I still think the great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools, actually not everybody is designed for the academic'

'I'm afraid it is something I learnt from my grandmother, she had great fun putting a few together and trying to get them to chime at the same time in the dining room, which made it very enjoyable because everybody had to stop talking.'

Elsewhere in the episode, Charles labelled the lack of vocational education in schools a 'great tragedy' and said 'not everybody is designed for the academic'.

In the episode, Charles met students from the Prince's Foundation Building Craft Programme - a training initiative that teaches traditional skills such as blacksmithing, stonemasonry and wood carving.

The monarch said: 'I still think the great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools, actually not everybody is designed for the academic.

'I know from The Prince's Trust, I have seen the difference we can make to people who have technical skills which we need all the time, I have the greatest admiration for people.

'I think that's been the biggest problem, sometimes that is forgotten. Apprenticeships are vital but they just abandoned apprenticeships for some reason. It gives people intense satisfaction and reward.'

Charles said the thing he 'really loves' is students returning as tutors year after year - 'filling the school gaps', he said.
Rottnest in WA took home the gong for Best Island while the title for Best Ice Creamery went to Planet 72

Sydney's Shangri-La won Best Hotel View and Gumnut patisserie won the gong for the Best Neenish Pie

Three New South Wales' businesses earned awards with Shhmoakesys on the Central Coast winning Best Pie

Travel site Wotif.com has announced the winners of the fifth annual Uniquely Aussie Awards

The most incredible travel experiences have been voted best in the country revealing the best local gems

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The best and most 'unique' experiences in Australia for 2022 have been named - from an ice creamery offering 72 different flavours to a hotel with show-stopping views and a patisserie known for its gourmet neenish tarts.

Travel site Wotif.com has announced the winners of its fifth annual Uniquely Aussie Awards as a guide to the country's best local gems voted by travellers and locals.

The awards aims to shine a spotlight on some of the country's best kept local secrets so others can experience some of the best businesses, places and food the country has to offer.

This year's categories include delicious and underrated travel experiences locals look for on a holiday, from island getaways to the humble meat pie.

The best and most 'unique' experiences in Australia for 2022 have been named - from an ice creamery offering 72 different flavours to a hotel with show-stopping views and a patisserie known for its gourmet neenish tarts (pictured)

New South Wales won three awards including gourmet bakery Shhmoakesys on the central coast which earned the crown for Best Pie while Gumnut patisserie in Bowral won the gong for the country's favourite Neenish Pie.

Queensland's Planet 72 in Torquay was named Best Ice Creamery while Western Australia's Rottnest Island claimed the title for Best Island.

Best Hotel View went to Sydney's Shangri-La for its sweeping views of the city's famous harbor and landmarks and Adelaide Fringe won the award for Best Festival.

Wotif 2022 Uniquely Aussie Award National Winners Best Pie: Shhmoakesys Gourmet Pies, Kincumber, NSW Best Hotel View: Shangri-La Sydney, Sydney, NSW Best Island: Rottnest Island, WA Best Festival: Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide, SA Best Ice Creamery: Planet 72, Hervey Bay, QLD Best Neenish Tart Gumnut Patisserie, Mittagong, NSW Advertisement

Best Pie: Shhmoakesys Gourmet Pies, Kincumber, NSW

It's no secret there are plenty of good pies in Australia, but Shhmoakesys in Kimcumber, NSW has come out on top thanks to a smoked meat filling that's prepared for over eight hours.

While the 'delicate melt-in-your-mouth pastry' is also a crowd-pleaser, the generous size of the pies is what makes them a crowd favourite.

Shhmoakesys founder and owner Chris Oakes spilled the secret to what makes their pies so delicious is the puff pastry and the fact they don't 'over gravy' the inside so diners get to experience full flavour of the smoky meat.

'We have a little secret with the pastry and I will let you in on it - we don't use shortcrust, we use puff pastry only,' he said.

'That happened by mistake. We ran out of shortcrust so we used puff and that week we had so many comments about how nice the pastry was so we thought we'd keep it that way and since then everybody comments on how nice the pastry is.'

It's no secret there are plenty of good pies in Australia, but Shhmoakesys in Kimcumber, NSW has come out on top thanks to a smoked meat filling that's prepared for over eight hours

Best Hotel View: Shangri-La Sydney, Sydney, NSW

Shangri-La Sydney is an elegant sanctuary with unparalleled panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and the largest windows of any harbourfront hotel in the city.

Rooms looking over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House makes guests feel like they're floating above the best view in the world.

One guest described the scenery as 'out of this world' while another said one of the five-star rooms facing the harbour was 'definitely worth' spoiling yourself with.

Shangri-La Sydney is an elegant sanctuary with unparalleled panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and the largest windows of any harbourfront hotel in the city

Rooms looking over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House makes guests feel like they're floating above the best view in the world

Best Neenish Tart: Gumnut Patisserie, Mittagong, NSW

The ultimate neenish tart requires the perfect combination of icing, filling, and pastry base, and at Gumnut Patisserie in Mittagong you can find just that.

Gumnut Patisserie's head pastry chef Tracy Nicki said customers would 'pester' the team to add neenish tarts to the extensive menu and the sweet treat is like a 'childhood memory' reminding Aussies of the food their grandparents used to buy for them as kids.

While a traditional neenish pie is usually has a two colour split, Tracy said has 'a classical thin house-made pastry case, house-made raspberry jam and buttercream made from real butter'.

'Instead of using a chocolate fondant we do a chocolate label, a neenish label out of Callebaut chocolate, and it's cut with a water-cut machine which is using high pressure water to cut chocolate,' he explained.

The ultimate neenish tart requires the perfect combination of icing, filling, and pastry base, and at Gumnut Patisserie in Mittagong you can find just that

Best Island: Rottnest Island, WA

Home to the iconic quokka, Rottnest is described as a 'bucket list location for every Australian'.

Thanks to the island's sandy beaches, aquamarine-coloured waters and beach cottage accommodation, Rottnest comes out on top as a 'very uniquely Australian island getaway'.

The paradise-like island received worldwide attention after Aussie superstar actor Chris Hemsworth posted a 'quokka selfie' prompting travellers to flock to the island to do the same.

The smiley marsupials are just one of the highlights of the island which can be explored by bike and any Perth person will tell you it has some of the best beaches in the state.

Thanks to the island's sandy beaches, aquamarine-coloured waters and beach cottage accommodation, Western Australia's Rottnest Island comes out on top as a 'very uniquely Australian island getaway'

The paradise-like island received worldwide attention after Aussie superstar actor Chris Hemsworth posted a 'Quokka selfie' prompting travellers to flock to the island to do the same

Best Ice Creamery: Planet 72, Hervey Bay, QLD

Home of the largest display of scooped ice cream and gelato in Australia, the family-owned Planet 72 has been commended for its 'friendly' and 'down to earth' service.

It has 72 flavours for visitors to choose from but owner and operator Dallas Harch said it was no easy feat bringing his dream of an ice creamy with dozens of varieties to life as many manufactures thought it was 'unviable'.

However one eventually took them on and they now have a repertoire of classic, unique and exclusive flavours on offer with rock-salt caramel being the most popular.

Locals will tell you the Snickers-flavoured ice cream tastes like 'heaven on a cone' while the liquorice flavour has a 'cult following' and the much-loved burnt fig and honey comb is completely unique to Planet 72.

Home of the largest display of scooped ice cream and gelato in Australia, Planet 72 in Hervey Bay business has been commended for its 'friendly' and 'down to earth' service

It is aptly named with 72 flavours for visitors to choose from including the most popular rock salt caramel as well as the Snickers-flavoured ice cream which locals say tastes like 'heaven on a cone'

Best Festival: Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide, SA

Commended for bringing the city 'alive for a month', the festival, running from 17 February - 19 March 2023, stretches from Whyalla all the way across the state to Naracoorte, with eclectic and vibrant events that include cabaret, theatre, comedy, circus, music, visual arts, workshops, and so much more.

With both local and international talent, the event is praised for having 'something for everyone' and is the Southern Hemisphere's largest and Australia's biggest open access arts festival.

Event registrations are still open for 2023 so the line-up remains unknown but it is set to be bigger than ever as last year saw 5,820 artists participate and with more than 727,000 tickets sold.
The woman in the 70s said the checkouts only accepted card, not cash

An elderly Australian claims the new Aldi self-serve checkouts are 'ageist'

An elderly Australian has accused Aldi of being 'ageist' after feeling 'disappointed' by a store checkout change - and she's not the only one to complain.

The woman in her 70s was shocked to see her local store had installed self-serve checkouts that only accept card not cash and vented her frustration on Facebook.

'I love Aldi but today I was very disappointed. Our local has just installed self checkouts - which I am happy to use,' she wrote.

'I went prepared but - only card - no cash. Come on Aldi that is ageism! I am 70+ and I use cash, so do most of my generation. It is not often I am disappointed by Aldi.'

In June last year Aldi Australia started offering self-serve checkouts across a number of stores in New South Wales as a trial.

An elderly Australian has accused Aldi of being 'ageist' after feeling 'disappointed' by a store checkout change. The woman in her 70s was shocked to see her local store had installed self-serve checkouts that only accept card not cash and vented her frustration on Facebook

'I went prepared but - only card - no cash. Come on Aldi that is ageism! I am 70+ and I use cash, so do most of my generation. It is not often I am disappointed by Aldi,' the woman wrote on Facebook

The social media post quickly caught the attention of others, and many agreed with the woman's views.

'They have left the elderly and disabled behind. I work with the ageing population and they are extremely stressed and alienated by technology,' one person commented.

'I prefer to use cash - especially as Aldi charges to use a card. having card only self checkouts is discriminatory,' another claimed.

A third said: 'I'm 32 and mostly use cash. It's not just a seniors way. Cash is king and always will be.'

Poll Is it 'ageist' for self-serve checkouts to not accept cash? Yes, it's definitely ageist No, it's development in technology Is it 'ageist' for self-serve checkouts to not accept cash? Yes, it's definitely ageist 50 votes

No, it's development in technology 46 votes Now share your opinion





But some had disagreed and putdown the latest update to advances in technology.

'This has nothing to do with ageism/discrimination. Please don't go throwing those sorts of accusations around lightly because it diminishes the real issues that face people who suffer actual discrimination,' one said.

'The debit card has been around since the early 80s. A person inability to use a debit card is not due to a lack of accessibility, it's a choice.

'Many people have managed to embrace smart phones, tablets and computers so they can access communities such as this one to make complaints about Grocery stores. I'm sure inserting a plastic card and typing in a four digit pin isn't that far of a reach.'

Another said: 'It's not ageism, it's technology, as many generations use cash.'

'They should offer both then. They are discriminating against older generations,' someone else said.

The claims sparked a heated debate among shoppers. An Aldi spokesperson told FEMAIL options are available for customers at all stores

An Aldi spokesperson told FEMAIL options are available for customers at all stores.

'Self-serve checkouts are a quick and convenient way for customers to shop, and all ALDI self-serve checkouts are card only to maximise efficiencies.

'If a customer prefers to use cash, our regular checkouts are always available.'
More than seven in 10 NHS trusts did not see patients who were urgently referred for suspected cancer within two weeks, new analysis shows.

The NHS's standard is that 93 per cent of people should see a consultant within 14 days from an urgent GP referral with suspected cancer.

The number not hitting the official target is the highest it's been for at least three years, according to analysis by PA.

It found that 84 out of 117 trusts in England for whom there was complete data from August 2019 to August 2022 did not meet the target each year, on average.

This is nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of the 117 trusts, and included three that have never reached the target during the three years  University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.

It comes after official statistics last week revealed almost 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of Covid

In August alone, more than 60,000 people had to wait more than two weeks to see a cancer specialist after a GP referral in August alone, other new analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows.

People across the country face a postcode lottery, with some trusts seeing just a third of patients within the two-week target, while other trusts never miss the target, according to the research seen by the Daily Mail.

Trusts that have not met the target for more than two years include West Suffolk, which last hit it in December 2019, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals, which last reached the standard in March 2020, according to PA.

Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals and Oxford University Hospitals have not reached the target since May 2020.

North-West Anglia, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals, United Lincolnshire Hospitals and Country Durham & Darlington all achieved the target for just one month out of 37.

Naser Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Any cancer waiting times target that is missed is unacceptable.

In August, NHS England performed a record number of cancer checks. However, the graph shows the health service still failed to hit a key target to start treatment for the disease within two months of an urgent referral (red line) and near-record numbers of people were left waiting more than two months to have cancer ruled out or confirmed (blue lines)

NHS England figures show the five-year survival rates for different types of cancer. Rates are highest for lung, stomach and colon cancer

Lockdown's collateral cancer timebomb Almost 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of Covid, according to official statistics last week which laid bare the 'true and catastrophic impact' of the pandemic. Just 290,000 people in England were told they had cancer in 2020, down by roughly a tenth on one year earlier  the biggest drop logged since records began half a century ago. It was also the fewest annual diagnoses in a decade. It means 100 fewer Britons daily were told they had cancer, equating to one every 13 minutes  prompting fears of a cancer timebomb. Half of the missed tumours are thought to be prostate and breast cancers. The NHS prioritising Covid care, a lack of in-person appointments and the public avoiding the health service due to fear of catching the virus or adding to NHS pressures have all been blamed for the downturn. Top experts today warned the figure is just the 'tip of the iceberg' as the backlog in diagnosis is 'still present and actually growing', with tens of thousands facing 'agonising' delays. Continued Covid disruption means more Britons are living with missed and untreated serious cancers, which will cause cancer deaths to shoot up within years, doctors warned. Advertisement

'However, this target should be a minimum standard. The fact that it is now not being met just goes to show how strained our health service has become.

'We expect the number of people going to the doctor about suspected cancer to fluctuate throughout the year, but the NHS should be equipped for that.

'It's also important to remember that it's better to be on a waiting list than to sit at home with symptoms.

'Listen to your body  if you sense something isn't right, see your GP and persevere to get an appointment. Your doctor wants to hear from you.'

The data shows the best performing trusts are Calderdale & Huddersfield, East Kent Hospitals University and Portsmouth Hospitals University, which have never missed their operational standard of 93 per cent.

Medway Trust has consistently hit its target since May 2020, while Birmingham Women's & Children's Trust has hit it every month since August 2020.

Minesh Patel, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 'There are huge pressures even at that early stage of the cancer pathway, let alone when you get to treatment, and it is really worrying for somebody's prognosis.

'If somebody starts treatment later, the more worrying the outcome could be in terms of their ability to survive their cancer, to have minimal after-effects after a treatment.

'This is about survival and giving people the best chance and improving their quality of life ultimately.'

Liberal Democrat Health spokesman Daisy Cooper MP said the 'grim postcode lottery' when it comes to trusts' cancer target performance was 'a national scandal'.

'The evidence tells us how critical a speedy cancer diagnosis is yet thousands of people are left waiting far too long. The sheer number of people anxiously waiting is completely unacceptable.

'The Government must prioritise resources to clear record backlogs, slash dangerously long ambulance waiting times, and solve the healthcare postcode lottery.'

An NHS spokesman said: 'In order to fully recover from the pandemic, GPs are now referring 20 per cent more patients every day than before the pandemic, which is good news as it will mean more people will get checked and diagnosed earlier.

'The NHS is investing billions to expand diagnostic treatment capacity to meet this extra demand, and has written to trusts with the longest backlogs asking them to urgently set out plans to reduce cancer waits  helping them redesign their care to keep up with increased demand.'
Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, center and front, poses for a photo with diplomats from 14 Pacific island countries at the 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the southern port city of Busan, Oct. 26. Yonhap



The top diplomats of Korea and 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) held talks Wednesday in the southern port of Busan to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in diverse regional issues, including climate change.



Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin also sought support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan as he welcomed the participants at the 5th Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting.



"No other country has chosen climate change as the theme or sub-theme of the World Expo," Park said in his opening remarks. "The World Expo will significantly benefit the region if it were to be held in Busan as climate change is the single greatest threat to the Pacific island countries."



Under the theme of "Vision for the Resilient Blue Pacific," the top diplomats agreed to expand partnerships on climate change, maritime and other issues of regional concern.



"Korea is committed to strengthening partnerships with the Pacific island countries for the regional sustainable development and enhanced resilience," Park said.



He added that Korea will also expand development aid for the Pacific island nations to help them cope with climate crisis.



"Under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, we will increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) that effectively accommodates the demands of the Pacific countries," he said.



Participating in the meeting were foreign ministers from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Tonga, Palau, Niue, Nauru, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa and the Cook Islands.



Since 2011, Korea and the 14 Pacific island nations have held talks of foreign ministers. Korea plans to host its first-ever summit meeting with the PICs next year. (Yonhap)


Family doctors face an exodus of female GPs unless they are given more support through the menopause, an influential report has warned.

One in five female doctors in the UK are aged between 45-54, when menopause is likely to occur  about 10 per cent of the entire GP workforce.

They face symptoms such as anxiety, depression, poor concentration, brain fog, dizziness and insomnia while having to care for patients themselves.

Yet despite most working within the NHS, just one in seven said they felt supported by their employers with one in six reporting colleagues had been dismissive of symptoms.

One in five female doctors in the UK are aged between 45-54 when menopause is likely to occur  about 10 per cent of the entire GP workforce

A fifth said they have considered early retirement as a result, with two-thirds (65 per cent) feeling they had nowhere to turn at work for health, according to the Medical Protection Society (MPS) survey.

Experts warned the problem risked exacerbating the shortage of family doctors, which has seen numbers fall by nearly 500 since 2019, from 28,094 to 27,627.

Dame Jane Dacre, MPS President, said it was clear many women were 'suffering in silence' and needed more support.

She said: 'It is striking that while most doctors report feeling confident in supporting and managing patients who are impacted by menopause symptoms, so many female doctors do not feel well supported at work when they are affected by these symptoms themselves.'

WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is when a woman stops having periods, and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. It is a normal part of ageing and caused by levels of the sex hormone oestrogen dropping. Some women go through this time with few, if any, symptoms. Others suffer from hot flushes, sleeping difficulties, mood swings and brain fog, which can last for months or years and might change over time. HRT replaces the hormones and is the main treatment used to treat symptoms  which can be severe and disrupt day-to-day life. Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month. Advertisement

She added that while symptoms can vary in severity, they could be particularly challenging when working in a complex environment like healthcare.

Many are fearful mistakes could cause them to be sued, with one respondent saying 'there is nowhere to hide as a frontline clinician if you are having an 'off' day. You have got to be just as good, just as competent every day.'

Another said: 'The only matter where a woman can take time off for her reproductive health that is widely accepted is pregnancy  that's the reality.'

A recent government report on the future of GPs warned many were 'demoralised', with more than 40 per cent of GPs and GP trainees set to leave general practice in the next five years.

Another described the UKs reliance on international medical graduates as 'precarious' with numbers up by 40 per cent in the last five years compared to just 10 per cent of UK graduates.

The MPS is calling for flexible working arrangements for clinicians struggling with menopause, such as making reasonable workplace adjustments and ensuring staff take breaks or time off when needed  without fear of adverse impacts on their career or professional reputation.

Managers and senior leaders in the NHS and in private healthcare settings should be trained in the subject and use occupational health teams to support staff.

Professor Dacre added: 'Making improvements in this area is not only right and fair, it is also essential. If we do not destigmatise menopause, we may lose many skilled and passionate doctors during a time when the profession can ill-afford it.

'A supportive culture will alleviate additional stress, enable these doctors to continue to perform at their best for patients, and thrive in their careers for longer.'
China has started rolling out the world's first inhalable Covid vaccine.

The vaccine, developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Cansino Biologics, is being dished out as a booster dose for free in Shanghai.

Convidecia Air, as the vaccine is dubbed, is taken as a mist that's sucked in through the mouth.

Officials in the country hope it will increase uptake among the needle-shy, allowing draconian Covid restrictions still in place to be lifted.

It was approved in China last month  but has not yet got past medical regulators elsewhere, including in the UK or US.

An inhalable Covid vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Cansino Biologics Inc is being dished out for free to people who have already had a jab in Shanghai. Pictured: A visitor demonstrates how the vaccine would work during the 5th Hainan International Health Industry Expo at Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center

Convidecia Air, as the vaccine is dubbed, is taken as a mist that is sucked in through the mouth

Pictured: A Cansino Biologics Inc employee works on the production of Convidecia Air at Thousand Oaks Biopharmaceutical in Haimen in eastern China's Jiangsu province

What is the advantage of nasal sprays for Covid vaccines? Scientists have been chasing a nasal spray Covid vaccine as an alternative to the needle-based method. They hope that it could 'enhance' immune responses because it is administered to the lining of the nose, the first place the virus infects. Experts also say it can help people with a fear of jabs get the vaccine. The fear  known as trypanophobia  affects about 10 per cent of adults. There is still little evidence that they are as good as standard jabs, however. Oxford University found they only sparked immunity in a minority of participants. The sprays have been approved for use in China and India. But studies on this are yet to be released. Advertisement

Cansino Biologics presented its clinical trial data at the World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this month.

The World Health Organization (WHO) gave the company's regular jab, Convidecia, emergency use listing in May.

That is already cleared in Hungary, Pakistan, Malaysia, Argentina and Mexico, where the inhalable vaccine is also being trialled.

Scientists believe inhalable vaccines might 'enhance' protection because they target the lining of the nose, where the virus infects first.

Experts hope they will also help expand inoculation in poor countries because they are easier to administer and transport.

The vaccine has the potential to consign physical Covid jabs to history.

Scientists across the world are also working on nasal sprays, like the one given to children to protect against the flu.

A clip posted by Chinese state media showed people at a community health centre putting the short nozzle of a translucent white cup in their mouths.

Accompanying text said that, after slowly inhaling, one individual held his breath for five seconds, with the entire procedure completed in 20 seconds.

'It was like drinking a cup of milk tea,' one Shanghai resident said in the video. 'When I breathed it in, it tasted a bit sweet.'

Dr Vineeta Bal, an immunologist in India, said oral vaccines could fend off the virus before it reaches the rest of the respiratory system.

Larger droplets would train defences in parts of the mouth and throat, while smaller ones would travel further into the body, she said.

Convidecia Air was developed as an aerosol version of the same company's one-shot adenovirus vaccine, which piggybacks a relatively harmless cold virus.

Meanwhile, regulators in India have approved a nasal vaccine, another needle-free approach, but it has yet to be rolled out.

The vaccine, developed in the US and licensed to Indian vaccine-maker Bharat Biotech, is squirted in the nose.

About a dozen nasal vaccines are being tested globally, according to the World Health Organization.

A study earlier this month revealed AstraZeneca's leading Covid nasal spray vaccine does not protect well against the virus.

The University of Oxford  which is developing and running trials of the vaccine  said only a minority of patients mounted an immune response.

Even those who did react to the jab had lower antibody levels than someone given a shot-in-the-arm vaccination.

Dr Sandy Douglas, who ran the UK-based AstraZeneca trial, said the spray did not perform 'as well as we had hoped'.

Nasal vaccines for the flu called Fluenz Tetra are already dished out by the NHS in the UK.

It is offered to children every year to help protect them against the virus.
A new weight-loss injection could help fat people beat the bulge.

Scientists say the drug  yet to be named  is even better than already-approved medicines.

The jab hijacks the body's own appetite-regulating system within the brain, tricking people into feeling full.

US researchers tested BI 456906, as it is currently labelled, on 400 overweight and obese people in their fifties.

They weighed 15st 4lbs (97kg), on average, before the four-month trial began.

People given the highest dose shed roughly 9 per cent of their body weight  the equivalent of 1st 5lbs (8.7kg).

For comparison, patients given Wegovy  another weight loss drug approved in the UK and US over the past year and described by experts as a 'game changer'  lost 5.4 per cent. This was the equivalent of 12lbs (5.2kg).

A US study saw around 400 overweight and obese people in their fifties given an injection that lowers their food intake and blood sugar levels. Those taking the highest dose of the drug, called BI 456906, saw the scales drop by nine per cent in just four months

Wegovy, made by the Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk (above) contains semaglutide, a synthesised version of a gut hormone that curbs appetite

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR BODY MASS INDEX - AND WHAT IT MEANS Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height. Standard Formula: BMI = (weight in pounds / (height in inches x height in inches)) x 703 Metric Formula: BMI = (weight in kilograms / (height in meters x height in meters)) Measurements: Under 18.5: Underweight

Underweight 18.5 - 24.9: Healthy

Healthy 25 - 29.9: Overweight

Overweight 30 - 39.9: Obese

Obese 40+ : Morbidly obese Advertisement

BI 456906 is still being trialled and must clear more scientific hurdles before it is ever approved.

But its creators, German and Danish firms Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma, believe it could eventually be given to 'many' overweight patients' who are 'in need of new treatment options'.

It could also be rolled out for patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the future.

BI 456906 works in a near-identical way to Wegovy, which was found to be just as effective as gastric band surgery.

It triggers the body to produce glucagon-like peptide-1, released naturally from the intestines after meals.

The hormone helps to control blood sugar and makes people feel full, so they know when to stop eating.

Dr Julio Rosenstock, director of Dallas Diabetes Research Center, and team recruited 411 people with type 2 diabetes.

The participants, who were all classed as overweight or obese, were divided into eight groups of around 50 people.

Six of the cohorts were given BI 456906  either a 0.3, 0.9, 1.8 or 2.7mg weekly dose or a 1.2 or 1.8mg dose bi-weekly.

Another group was given a placebo jab.

The final cohort was given 1mg injection of semaglutide, the generic name for Wegovy.

Results showed lower doses of BI 456906 worked just as well as Wegovy, which was approved in the US last summer and given the green light in Britain earlier this year. But the strongest bi-weekly dose of the unapproved drug worked better.

The results are set to be presented The Obesity Societys annual meeting in San Diego, California next week.

Among those taking BI 456906, the 0.3mg dose lost 1.9 per cent of their body weight, while the 0.9mg group lost 4.4 per cent, the 1.8mg cohort lost 6.6 per cent and 2.7mg group shed 6.7 per cent.

Those taking the drug bi-weekly saw the scales drop the most  either by 7.2 per cent (1.2mg dose) or 9 per cent (1.8mg dose).

The placebo group saw the smallest fall in their weight, losing just 1.2 per cent.

The researchers admitted that eight in 10 people taking BI 456906 reported side effects, most of which related to their digestion. This forced 15.9 per cent of those taking the drug to quit the study.

The reactions were worsen as the dose increased and when the drug was taken for longer periods of time, the researchers said.

The team suggested that people could be started on a low dose of the drug and before slowly increasing how much they take over time to avoid side effects.
Widespread mass staff walkouts are also on the horizon as unions ballot on pay

It comes as the NHS deals with record treatment lists and emergency wait times

England has had 5 Health Secretaries since the start of 2021, 4 in the last year

They claim the crises facing the NHS is not getting the need attention it needs

The 'merry-go-round' of Health Secretaries must stop if the Government has any chance of fixing the ailing, medical unions demanded today.

Record waiting lists, a broken emergency service system, strikes and the prospect of the worst winter in living memory are just a selection of NHS issues No10 must get a grip on.

Newly anointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last night appointed Steve Barclay as his Health Secretary, with the expectation of fixing NHS spending.

Mr Barclay becomes the fourth MP to hold the position in the last year.

It is also his second attempt at the job, having briefly filled the post between July and September after Sajid Javid quit in a wave of resignations that led to the downfall of PM Boris Johnson.

His most memorable event in the role was being accosted by a member of the public outside a hospital who accused him of doing 'bugger all' about the ambulance crisis, which has seen patients wait up to 40 hours to be transported to hospital.

Mr Barclay replaces Therese Coffey, who kept the seat warm for a grand total of 49 days as part of the ill-fated Liz Truss administration.

Ms Coffey last night thanked her ministerial team on Twitter, saying 'we achieved a lot together in seven weeks'.

Steven Barclay's back again. Boris Johnson's pick for Health Secretary earlier in the year made a triumphant return yesterday under new PM Rishi Sunak. He inherits a mammoth task of fixing the many crises facing the NHS including the prospect of mass staff walkouts over pay

Mr Barclay inherits the position from Therese Coffey, who herself inherited it from him, but was only in post for 49 days

In a Tweet last night Ms Coffey thanked her ministerial team for their hard work and celebrated what they had achieved in her seven week tenure, some of her most memorable moments in the post include forbidding staff from using Oxford comma and admitting to illegally sharing antibiotics with friends and family

WHAT PARTS OF THE NHS COULD STRIKE? Nurses The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is urging its 300,000-plus members to vote in favour of strike action when ballots open next month. Doctors The chair of the British Medical Association  which represents 16,000 members  has warned strike action is 'inevitable'. It could see tens of thousands of doctors, consultants and GPs walk out, with multiple staff groups considering industrial action. Junior doctors are first staff group to say they will ballot on industrial action, in a poll to be held in the New Year. Midwives The Royal College of Midwives will put putting industrial action to a vote to its 50,000 members. Two-thirds have already said they would be willing to strike in a preliminary poll. Physiotherapists The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said more than eight in 10 of its 60,000 members are prepared to strike. Members will be balloted for the first time in the CSP's 100-year history over pay. Advertisement

Some of her most memorable achievements include implying NHS nurses unhappy with their pay can leave the UK, telling civil servants to stop using Oxford commas, and admitting to illegally supplying antibiotics to her friends.

Today, unions called for an end to chaos in Westminster and for Mr Barclay to get a grip on the staffing crisis they claim is fuelling the issues facing the health service.

Unison, which is about to launch a strike ballot for its some 300,000 NHS members in an attempt to boost pay across the health service, said the constant changes must stop.

The union's deputy head of health, Helga Pile, said: 'Fixing the NHS so patients get the care they need is one of the governments biggest challenges.

'The merry go round of blink-and-you-miss-them health secretaries has made things far worse. Without stable leadership, its no wonder there are record waiting times and a workforce crisis.'

Ms Pile said if Mr Sunak wanted to fulfil his promise of a stronger NHS, he must boost staff pay now.

'Thats the only way to prevent staff feeling theyve no choice but to leave in droves, or vote for strike action to protect the future of the health service,' she said.

The British Medical Association (BMA), which is preparing to launch an industrial action ballot for junior doctors in the New Year, is also hoping for swift action from No10.

BMA council chair, Professor Philip Banfield, said the union was hopeful Mr Sunak's experience in the Treasury and new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's previous tenure as Health Secretary would be beneficial to the NHS.

'While Westminster has been subsumed by chaos and political manoeuvring over the last few months, the problems facing the health service, staff and patients have only worsened,' he said.

Sajid Javid was Mr Barclay's original predecessor stepping into the role after Matt Hancock for just over a year before resigning during the Boris Johnson leadership crisis

Mr Hancock is the longest serving Health Secretary in recent times, having an almost three year stint before resigning after footage of him emerged breaching social distancing guidelines by kissing a colleague

WHO IS STEPHEN BARCLAY? Mr Barclay went to Sandhurst military academy and served in the British Army before studying at the University of Cambridge. He has been the MP for North East Cambridgeshire since 2010. He took on a series of junior frontbench roles where he became known as a hard-working, loyal and subservient minister. Mr Barclay was promoted to the Cabinet in 2018 when Theresa May made him Brexit Secretary  a job he kept even when Mr Johnson took over, in a sign of his flexibility given their vastly different views on departing the EU. He was demoted to No2 in the Treasury, during Mr Javid's final days in No11, after his Brexit ministerial brief came to an end following the UK's official departure from the EU. He moved back to the cabinet 18 months later as Cabinet Office minister. This February, a hasty reshuffle after a string of scandals including Partygate saw him appointed Mr Johnson's chief of staff, which he juggled with his cabinet role of chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. The appointment highlighted Mr Johnson's faith in the former lawyer from Lancashire. The title used to be referred to as the most powerful unelected official in the UK and Mr Barclay was the first MP to hold the role. He was part of a shake-up of No10 aimed at getting 'grown ups' in the room and stabilising his boss's premiership, which ultimately failed after the Chris Pincher row. His promotion to Health Secretary suggests Mr Johnson's team do not necessarily blame him. Advertisement

'The presence of a PM that knows the role of Chancellor and a Chancellor who understands the problems of the NHS are equally as relevant to making the bold decisions any Secretary of State for Health might have to make to secure retention of doctors in a system at breaking point.'

He added that the scale of the crisis facing the NHS that has been brewing as Health Secretaries have come and gone couldn't be underestimated.

'The number of patients suffering on long waiting lists, in the back of ambulances or in hospital corridors, has grown, while doctors morale has plunged even deeper as they struggle to meet their patients needs and become increasingly frustrated with real-terms pay cuts and absurd pension taxation charges,' he said.

'The re-appointed Health Secretary and wider Government must now urgently get a grip on the crisis facing the NHS  which is primarily a workforce crisis  and talk to us as soon as possible to discuss how we can recruit and retain the expert doctors needed to ensure patients get the care they deserve.'

But more hardline unions say the chaos is too far gone and a root and branch approach was needed in Government.

Union GMB's acting national secretary, Rachel Harrison, said the NHS has been left 'on its knees' whilst the Conservative Party fought amongst itself and called for a general election.

'Ministers have been moving themselves around like chess pieces instead of focusing on the crisis in health and social care,' she said.

'They've ignored the workers who are at breaking point and they are heading into a winter of deadly patient delays and desperate industrial action.

'The only way out of the mess is a General Election, then a Labour Health Secretary who will oversee the investment our health service desperately needs.'

Mr Barclay faces a mammoth task of clearing record waiting lists, solving the scandalous ambulance and A&E waiting times, and resolving multiple industrial disputes with NHS staff.

And Mr Barclay must do this all as the health service faces a tough winter with both Covid and flu predicted to cause a spike in admissions and No10 looks to tighten the nation's public spending.

During his 49-day break away from the role, the NHS reached the grim record of more than 7million people in England now waiting for routine ops such as hip and knee replacements.

The NHS waiting list for routine operations has breached 7million for the first time ever. This includes almost 390,000 patients who've been forced to wait over a year for treatment

Ambulances took an average of 47 minutes and 59 seconds to respond to category two calls , such as burns, epilepsy and strokes. This is more than twice as long as the 18 minute target

A&E waits have also breached a record, with the number of patients facing 12-hour waits exceeding 30,000

Damning monthly NHS performance stats from the NHS also revealed that more than 30,000 patients faced 12-hour waits in A&E  another record.

Ambulance waits haven't fared better with the latest data showing paramedics took just under 48 minutes on average to respond to category two emergencies, which include heart attacks and strokes  more than double the target of 18 minutes.

The rising cost of living is also pushing NHS staff to the brink, with some professionals like nurses quitting the health service to work in retail.

Some NHS hospitals have also opened foodbanks for staff that are struggling to feed themselves.

Under this backdrop nurses, doctors, midwives and other staff groups are considering or voting on industrial action in what could be the largest NHS strikes since the dispute with junior doctors in 2016.

A series of strikes by junior medics in England led to the cancellation of about 100,000 patient appointments.
Slapping graphic cigarette-style warnings on sugary drinks may help curb the child obesity epidemic.

A team of US researchers showed nearly 1,000 parents images of sugary drinks with labels that included written or picture notices about their health risks.

Images either depicted how much sugar was in each drink, such as in teaspoons, or the physical effects of consuming too much, such as tooth decay, weight gain and kidney disease.

The study, carried out in a virtual convenience store, asked parents to pick a drink for their child, giving them free scope to choose what they wanted.

Purchases of sugar-laden drinks were a tenth lower among parents who saw the sugar or tobacco-style warnings.

Respondents said they were put off because the notices worried and disgusted them.

The researchers did not share graphic warnings they placed on sugary drinks but they included 'sugar graphic warnings'  cubes, teaspoons or packets of sugar to depict how much was contained within each beverage  and health graphic warnings', such as images of feet on scales, decaying teeth or dialysis to show the possible risks of drinking too many sugary drinks. Pictured: images from an earlier study that called for labels highlighting the risks of consuming too much sugar

HOW MUCH SUGAR IS TOO MUCH? The amount of sugar a person should eat in a day depends on how old they are. Children aged four to six years old should be limited to a maximum of 19g per day. Seven to 10-year-olds should have no more than 24g, and children aged 11 and over should have 30g or less. Meanwhile the NHS recommends adults have no more than 30g of free sugars a day. Popular snacks contain a surprising amount of sugar and even a single can of Coca Cola (35g of sugar) or one Mars bar (33g) contains more than the maximum amount of sugar a child should have over a whole day. A bowl of Frosties contains 24g of sugar, meaning a 10-year-old who has Frosties for breakfast has probably reached their limit for the day before they even leave the house. Children who eat too much sugar risk damaging their teeth, putting on fat and becoming overweight, and getting type 2 diabetes which increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. Source: NHS Advertisement

It comes amid an obesity crisis in the UK, with four in 10 children and more than half of adults being overweight or obese. The rates in the US are nearly identical.

The researchers, led by Dr Aviva Ann Musicus at Harvard University, recruited 961 parents who had children aged between six and 11.

Parents were split into four groups, with different warnings visible on labels of the sugary drinks they say.

The first group, the control, saw an array of beverages with a standard calories label, similar to ones already used.

The second saw a written warning about the sugar content in each drink.

Drinks seen by the third cohort were branded with 'sugar graphic warnings'  cubes, teaspoons or packets of sugar to depict how much was contained within each beverage, along with written warnings.

The final participants were shown drinks that 'health graphic warnings'.

These included pictures of feet on scales, decaying teeth or someone getting dialysis to show the possible risks of drinking too many sugary drinks. They also included text warnings.

The results, which will be presented at The Obesity Society's annual meeting in San Diego, California next week, show that the picture warnings were most effective.

Some 13.4 per cent fewer parents bought a sugary drink for their child, compared to the control group, when the packaging showed the 'sugar graphic warning'.

And there was a similar effect among those shown the 'health graphic warning', with 14.7 per cent fewer parents opting for high-sugar beverages.

Parents also rated their perceptions of different drinks and the labels.

They reported being worried, scared, guilty and disgusted in response to the picture warnings  emotions which trigger behaviour change, according to the researchers.

And the volunteers' estimates of the amount of sugar in each drink was more accurate when the labelling included the sugar graphic. They also felt more trusting of these label.

Parents also said they supported the images of how much sugar was in each drink more than the health graphic warnings.

Sonia Pombo, a nutritionist at Action on Sugar, told MailOnline: 'Any measure that helps draw attention to the excessive levels of sugar in drinks has to be a good thing.

'This research supports existing evidence that labelling works in guiding consumers to make healthier more informed choices.

'What is key is its consistency  for full impact we need mandatory labelling across all food and drink products.

'In doing so this would force companies to show the true value of their product, and hopefully encourage them to reformulate.'

Dr Linda Greenwall, founder of Dental Wellness Trust, told MailOnline: 'Given that emergency teeth extractions are now the most common reason for children to go to hospital in England with some 78 occurring each day, we need tougher measures.

'What's more, the UK is set to see higher rates of tooth decay among the Covid-generation of pre-school children who have never seen a dentist or delayed seeing one for too long.'

Consuming too much sugar can cause weight gain, which over time raises the risk of heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes. It can also cause tooth decay.

Some US states and cities have brought in rules ordering drink makers to include warning labels on sugary drinks.

However, the UK has so far avoided similar 'nanny state' interventions, despite some experts calling for them to reduce sugary drink purchases.

It comes as England is in the grips of an obesity crisis, with 36 per cent of adults overweight and 28 per cent being obese.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight, while a quarter are obese. Rates soared during the pandemic, with experts blaming a rise in junk food sales and lower levels of activity.

Campaigners have urged the Government to take action on the health crisis.

Calories added to menus of large businesses and banning junk food from being displayed at prominent store locations are steps already taken this year.

But ministers are now reviewing the rest of their anti-obesity strategy, which was expected to see junk food adverts banned before 9pm.

And they are even thought to be reviewing the sugar tax, which charges soft drink makers if their drinks are too sugar-laden, despite it being credited with causing Britons to consume less.
The new bivalent Covid vaccines are no more effective than the original shots, according to two new studies.

Made by Moderna and Pfizer, the updated vaccines were advertised as being able to boost protection against Omicron subvariants that have become world-dominant.

The US Government spent $3.4billion in taxpayer money for 105million doses of the shots to help protect against the mild but highly transmissible strains this winter. Britain has purchased at least 26million doses for an undisclosed fee.

But research by Harvard and Columbia University found 'essentially no difference' between the immunity gained from the old or new shots.

In both studies, people who had already been triple vaccinated were given either a standard Covid shot or an updated bivalent booster.

Blood samples were taken three to five weeks later and analyzed for antibodies and T-cells  immune molecules that fight off the virus.

Dr David Ho, a microbiologist at Columbia University who led one of the studies, said: 'We see essentially no difference [between the shots].

'We can't say that a few months from now there won't be any difference... [but] at least at this time point, there's no discernible benefit.'

Uptake of the bivalent shots is sluggish in the US with less than 19.5million out of the 225million people who are eligible having come forward.

President Joe Biden got his updated booster yesterday  his fifth shot to date  in the latest White House effort to boost the numbers getting inoculated.

The above graph shows antibody levels in people given the old vaccine (left) versus the bivalent (right). It shows there is virtually no difference in immunity triggered between the two. For the original booster levels of antibodies were boosted by 15 times compared to before shots, while for the updated one they were raised by 17 times. But scientists said this was not significant, meaning the difference could be down to chance

President Joe Biden pictured yesterday receiving the updated bivalent booster. It is his third booster to date, and fifth shot overall. He urged others to get the vaccine

Biden gets his THIRD booster President Joe Biden received his third COVID booster shot on Tuesday and encouraged all Americans to get their next shot in the arms ahead of the holidays. 'The truth is not enough people are getting' their booster, the president said. 'Get the shot.' He warned, that with cases rising in Europe as the cold weather comes, the death rate could spike in the United States. 'Let me be as plain as I can. We still have hundreds of people dying each day from covid in this country. Hundreds. That number is likely to rise this winter. But this year is different from the past. This year nearly every death is preventable,' he said. 'New variants emerge here in the US and around the world,' he noted, adding that it was important to get updated shots as 'the weather getting colder; people will spend more time indoors.' Advertisement

The updated Omicron shot works the same way as the original vaccines.

These vaccines see mRNA  the building block for proteins  injected into human cells.

It codes for cells to manufacture Covid spike proteins  which the virus uses to invade cells  triggering an immune response.

The old boosters shore-up protection against the Wuhan strain.

But the updated versions also aim to boost protection against BA.4 and BA.5 which have risen to prominence.

In the Columbia trial, scientists recruited 40 people who were already triple vaccinated against Covid.

Half were given a fourth dose of the original vaccine, while the other half received the updated booster shot. It was not clear whether it was from Pfizer or Moderna.

Blood samples showed antibody levels against the variants were 'slightly higher' in those who got the updated booster three to five weeks later.

But this was not significant, meaning the difference may be down to chance rather than one shot producing a stronger immune response.

In the Harvard trial, scientists looked over data from 33 people in Israel.

Like in the other study half received the original booster but the other half got the bivalent Covid vaccine.

Blood tests showed that antibody levels rose 15-fold in about four weeks in those who got the original dose, but surged 17-fold in those who got the top-up.

The scientists also measured T-cell levels, but saw no change in their levels between the two groups.

Other areas of the immune system were not measured, however.

But the independent results are the first sign that the new vaccines may not be as effective as hoped.

Dr Dan Barouch, a virologist at Harvard who led the study, said: 'Unfortunately, neither one increased T-cell responses very much.

'We believe that T-cell responses in addition to antibody responses are important for protection against severe disease.'

Earlier this year Pfizer and Moderna claimed their updated shots sparked a larger immune response than the original Covid vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later approved the shots based on data from mice and previous human trials using a slightly different booster shot.

At the time, little was known about how protective they might be in people.

It comes as the US urges people to get the updated booster vaccine with uptake languishing at 8.5 per cent more than a month into the roll out.

President Joe Biden got his fifth Covid shot yesterday and called on other Americans to also get the booster.

But it still lags behind with 19.4million of the 225million eligible over-5s coming forward.
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Pfizer has been accused of 'daylight robbery' after it emerged the company plans to sell its Covid shot with an estimated 10,000 percent markup in the US next year  despite enjoying extraordinary surges in profits during the pandemic.

Once the government uses up the doses it has already bought, Pfizer will hike the price to as much as $130 for a single dose of the vaccine which is estimated by some experts to cost just $1.18 to make.

Health insurers are expected to cover the cost of the shots for those who have coverage, but wall street analysts warn that it will cause upward pressure on insurance premiums.

The US government has been paying around $20 per dose up to this point and then distributing the shots for free to the public.

Analysts speculate that the move was made so Pfizer could still meet its target of $32billion of projected vaccine revenue this year.

Critics say that the decision shows the firm's greed. Peter Maybarduk, director of access to medicines at Public Citizen, told DailyMail.com that the firm was already in a good of financial position that they could take some loss.

Pfizer was one of the major winners of the pandemic. While lives and businesses crumbled amid lockdowns and disruptions to life during Covid, the New York City firm became a household name.

Vaccines like Pfizer's were mandated by employers and businesses in dozens of countries, forcing sales of the shot upon certain populations.

Pfizer projects $102billion in total revenue this year with the vaccine and Paxlovid - its antiviral pill backed by the White House to treat Covid - leading the way.

This is more than double the company's yearly revenue in 2019 and 2020 - before the jabs came out - this is nearly double the $40.9billion and $41.6billion earned the two years prior.

The company's leaders have benefited greatly from this endeavor as well. CEO Albert Bourla is estimated to make around $50million across 2021 and 2022.

Dr Ugur Sahin, the brains behind the Covid shot and CEO of Pfizer's German partner BioNTech, is among nine 'vaccine billionaires' who emerged during the pandemic.

He has an estimated net worth of $4billion, a figure which rapidly rose over the past two-and-a-half years.

The People's Vaccine Alliance (PVA) - a non-profit that campaigns for vaccine equity - described the price hike as a 'daylight robbery'.

Pfizer is charging $130 for its COVID-19 vaccine - a 10,000% mark-up from the estimated $1.18 it costs them to develop a single dose of the vaccine. The firm was charging the US government around $20 per shot but rose prices in an effort to make up for poor demand for the jabs. It is forecasted to rake in over $100billion in revenue this year, and brought in $81.2billion last year. These figures well clear the $40billion per year it was earning the years prior. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has earned $50million in compensation over the past two years, while BioNTech found Dr Ugar Sahin is now a billionaire.

Pfizer announced that it would price its shot at $130 last week. The price will go into effect in the US when the supply of shots the government has runs out.

'Experts have estimated that Pfizer's vaccine costs just $1.18 per dose to make,' Julia Kosgei, policy advisor to PVA said in a statement.

'Charging $130 per dose would represent a markup of more than ten thousand per cent. This is daylight robbery.

'Governments must not stand by while companies like Pfizer hold the world to ransom in a global pandemic.'

Up to early 2023, vaccines are free to obtain for all Americans no matter their insurance status.

The federal government purchases the shots from Pfizer at a price of around $20 per dose, then distributes it to providers around the country.

The Biden Administration has failed to convince congress to approve $15billion in funding to continue the purchase of vaccines and therapeutics into next year.

New bivalent Covid vaccines DON'T give people better immunity, studies show The new bivalent Covid vaccines are no more effective than the original shots, according to two new studies. Made by Moderna and Pfizer, the updated vaccines were advertised as being able to boost protection against Omicron subvariants that have become world-dominant. The US Government spent $3.4billion in taxpayer money for 105million doses of the shots to help protect against the mild but highly transmissible strains this winter. Britain has purchased at least 26million doses for an undisclosed fee. But research by Harvard and Columbia University found 'essentially no difference' between the immunity gained from the old or new shots. In both studies, people who had already been triple vaccinated were given either a standard Covid shot or an updated bivalent booster. Blood samples were taken three to five weeks later and analyzed for antibodies and T-cells  immune molecules that fight off the virus. Dr David Ho, a microbiologist at Columbia University who led one of the studies, said: 'We see essentially no difference [between the shots]. 'We can't say that a few months from now there won't be any difference... [but] at least at this time point, there's no discernible benefit.' Uptake of the bivalent shots is sluggish in the US with less than 19.5million out of the 225million people who are eligible having come forward. President Joe Biden got his updated booster yesterday  his fifth shot to date  in the latest White House effort to boost the numbers getting inoculated. Advertisement

Pfizer claims it will have trouble meeting revenue projections this year without boosting the price of the jabs, according to a Reuters report.

Mr Maybarduk argues that these projections were made assuming that demand for the shots would grow infinitely, when Pfizer knew that was not the case.

He also said that the firm has already made an 'obscene' amount of money, and will be ok if they do not meet revenue projections that were likely inflated anyways.

American uptake of the additional shots has been low.

Less than 20million people have received the newest bivalent booster - which Pfizer was hoping would be a financial boon.

Pfizer told DailyMail.com that the price of its shot falls in line with the 'value' it delivers, and that out-of-pocket costs will be minimal as it will be covered by insurance.

Mr Maybarduk said that Pfizer still has not said how they would guarantee access to shots to the 26million uninsured Americans.

'Pfizer has made an obscene amount of money from its Covid vaccines and treatments so far and should be cooperating,' he said.

The New York City-based firm has been one of a major winners during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, which both its vaccine and antiviral drug Paxlovid raking in cash.

Mr Maybarduk's group's report found that the mRNA vaccines could be produced for just over a dollar, a figure dwarfed by the figure Pfizer is charging for the shot.

He speculates that the situation is worse when considering Pfizer incurred little, if any, research and development costs. While it was not a part of Operation Warp Speed itself - BioNTech did receive $450million from German taxpayers.

The US government also guaranteed Pfizer a market for its shot as well.

Before it was ready for market, the firm had already been promised a purchase of nearly $2billion by the federal government - removing risk from the firm investment.

Mr Maybarduk compared the situation to a government-abetted monopoly.

'This is Pfizer holding the US over a barrel,' he said.

Jennifer Reid, senior adviser to health and vaccine equity at the UK-based non-profit Oxfam, slammed the firm as a monopoly as well.

'A 10,000 per cent markup on any product is extreme but on a lifesaving vaccine it's indefensible. The central problem is that Big Pharma corporations can set any price they want thanks to the monopoly control they have over life-saving products,' she said.

'Governments have a choice in how these government-granted monopolies are applied.'

He also notes that government funded research into mRNA technology and HIV vaccines even before the pandemic contributed to the vaccine's development.

Pfizer has greatly benefitted from the situation as well. On top of more-than doubling its revenue, the firms stock price has reached record levels as well.

It closed at $59.48 on December 17, 2021, an all-time high. The price closed at $45.54 on Tuesday, which also would be a pre-Covid record.

On December 17, 2019, two years before the all-time high stock price and before the pandemic, its price closed at $36.91.

This jump in price was largely fueled by the shots, which brought in $36billion in revenue in 2021 and an estimated $32billion by the end of 2022.

Mr Bourla has long been a proponent of repeated Covid shots, even saying that an annual vaccine will be necessary to control the virus going forward.

Pfizer's stock price his an all-time high on December 17, 2021, closing at 59.48 per share. It currently sits at around $46 per share, which also would have been a record pre-pandemic

His total compensation will total around $50million between 2021 and 2022, earning around $25million each year on the back of the company's success.

Other board members that have significantly benefitted from the rise in stock price include Dr Scott Gottlieb, former head of the Food and Drug Administration who signed on to Pfizer after leaving the agency in 2017.

When he made the move, Sen Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said it 'smacks of corruption' and was a signal that 'Big Pharma' and leading federal regulators were in too-close contact.

Susan Desmond-Hellmann serves as a board member at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute alongside her post at Pfizer.

The amount of power Mr Gates and his institutions have had over the rollout of the vaccines and the pandemic in general has been criticized by some leading experts because of a lack of oversight.

Joseph Echevarria serves on Pfizer's board as well. He also serves as an advisor to the Obama Foundation and as chair emeritus of Obamas My Brothers Keeper Alliance.

Dr Sahin is also among an illustrious group of pharma and biotechnology moguls who made out well from the pandemic.

Oxfam includes him among its nine 'vaccine billionaires', nine people who reached the status because of their firm's success selling the shots.

His $4billion net worth makes him second on the list, only to Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel who is worth an estimated $4.3billion.
Hospitals are already experiencing their 'worst' RSV year in decades

Parents are now sharing their horror stories of hospital visits with their infants

Cases of RSV are at record high after two years and surged a month early

More than 70 per cent of the nation's 40,000 pediatric beds are already full

Parents of babies hospitalized with RSV have shared their horror stories amid an aggressive and early outbreak that threatens to overwhelm kids' hospitals.

Three-quarters of pediatric beds across the US are full with children with respiratory and other illnesses in what has been described as the 'worst RSV season' in decades.

Allison Blocker from North Carolina revealed her horror after daughter Ava was put on a ventilator when a 'mucus plug' caused her lungs to 'collapse'.

She said: 'You can't help but go to that place, you can't help but go to, "I'm going to lose my baby. I got just eight weeks with my baby, I'm going to lose my baby".'

Mother Shanistry Ireland from Columbus, Ohio, also revealed her two-month-old son Asa was rushed to hospital after RSV left his breathing 'restricted and labored'.

She said it left her just 'bawling my eyes out' in the wards, adding: 'I had no idea what my child had, and I had no idea that he was quite frankly fighting for his life.'

Experts have repeatedly told DailyMail.com lockdowns and measures used to contain Covid like face masks also suppressed the spread of germs which are crucial for building a strong immune system in children.

It comes amid mounting concern over a 'tripledemic' this winter with seasonal menaces returning 'with a vengeance' while Covid infections are also expected to tick back up.

The above graph shows the number of positive tests for RSV viruses by date in the United States. It reveals they have now reached their highest levels since 2020, before the pandemic began. Data is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Asa Ireland, two months old and from Columbus, Ohio, was hospitalized with RSV after it left him struggling to breathe. He is pictured with mother Shanistry, who said it had left her 'scared' and 'bawling my eyes out'

Mother Allison Blocker said her daughter Ava had to be put on a ventilator for a week after an RSV infection led her lungs to collapse. Speaking of her fears, she said: 'You can't help but go to that place, you can't help but go to, "I'm going to lose my baby"

Paitynn Brand, two months old, (left) was left struggling to breathe by an RSV infection. She eventually had to be airlifted to a hospital 100 miles from her home. On the right is Asa Ireland, who was left struggling to breathe by an RSV infection

Ms Blocker explained how when her daughter first fell ill earlier this month she had just a cough and a runny nose.

But within a few days the eight-week-old started to wheeze and struggle to breathe.

Concerned Ms Blocker took her to the local clinic where nurses had 'just one look' before calling an ambulance.

In hospital she was hooked up to an oxygen machine for two-and-a-half days to boost her breathing, before being intubated and put on a ventilator.

Ava Blocker, eight weeks old and from North Carolina, was put onto a ventilator for seven days after catching RSV. Her mother said the it was traumatizing

But after two-and-a-half days they put her on a ventilator when mucus led to her lungs collapsing.

Ms Blocker told FOX8 that seeing her little daughter on the machine 'just rips your heart out'.

'It makes you feel like... that you're losing the ability to breathe because your baby can't breathe,' she said.

'This is something that no parent ever wants to see. No parent should ever have to see.'

After a week on a ventilator Ava's condition improved, allowing her to be discharged.

WHAT IS RSV? Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus that almost all children become infected with by the age of two. In older children and adults, RSV can trigger colds and coughs, but it can cause bronchiolitis in young children. The virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can survive on a surface for up to 24 hours. Children remain infectious for up to three weeks, even after their symptoms have passed. RSV accounts for 450,000 GP appointments, 29,000 hospitalisations and 83 deaths per year among children in the UK. In the US, it leads to around 58,000 hospitalisations and 100 to 500 deaths among children aged younger than five. Advertisement

But Ms Blocker says the family will continue to live with the mental scars of the experience.

In another case two-month-old Asa Ireland from Ohio needed to 'fight for his life' by an RSV infection that left him gasping for air.

Like Ava, he also had mild cold-like symptoms in mid-October.

But these quickly progressed to 'severe' making his breathing 'labored and restricted' and his rib cage undergoing retractions as he gasped for air.

He was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed RSV alongside bronchitis, rhinovirus and an ear infection.

His mother Shanistry told TODAY: 'It was terrifying.

'I was standing there in trauma, talking to doctors and nurses, and I'm just bawling my eyes out, and they were trying to explain to me what was going on.'

She added: 'I could tell his ribs were contracting. I saw a V underneath his neck that showed he was really labored, and his head was bobbing every time he was trying to breathe.

'It was a big struggle for him to get a breathe of air.'

Her eldest Adam, now six, had also been hospitalized with RSV when he was just six weeks old.

Afterwards doctors had told her to keep an eye out for the symptoms, but Ms Ireland admitted that she did not know what they were  even after a quick Google.

The whole experience has left her feeling 'extremely guilty' that 'I let it get that far' and that another child has been hospitalized with RSV.

He was only discharged after four days on the wards.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common infection that virtually all children get before they are two years old triggering cold-like symptoms.

Pictured is Georgia Vacca, four months old, who was hospitalized with RSV

But during the pandemic restrictions like face masks and social distancing meant to stop Covid also stopped this virus from circulating.

This has led to what scientists are calling the 'immunity gap'  or a lack of immunity in youngsters against common viruses.

The virus usually appears in late autumn/winter and then disappears for the spring and summer months.

But this year cases of RSV started showing up in spring.

They are now at levels comparable to December 2019  the last bad RSV year  and at their highest point in October for four years.

It is not clear how many have died in the current wave, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says normally 100 to 500 die from it every year.

Many hospitals are already buckling under the strain with one  Connecticut Children's  having to call in the National Guard to shore up overstretched units.

Her mother Hannah Brand said her daughter had to be put on oxygen and sedated to help her recover from the common respiratory illness

In another case of a serious RSV infection Georgia Vacca, four months old, was hospitalized with serious breathing problems due to the virus.

Her father Bill said: 'Her breathing, you could hear not just sounding very congested, but her chest was doing a lot of up and down rapid movements, contracting.'

They quickly scrubbed plans for daycare to take her to the emergency room near their home in Albany, New York, which was 'packed' with other sick infants.

After developing a cold the youngster then started to 'pant' every time she took a breathe

She was diagnosed with an RSV infection, and admitted to hospital for four days requiring oxygen every few hours. She also had suction to clear mucus from her airways.

Bill told TODAY: 'We were definitely terrified, especially when we saw that she needed to go on oxygen and had tubes in her nose and all the cords hooked up to her.

'We all had a moment of crying and couldn't believe that this was happening.'

More than 70 per cent of the nation's 40,000 pediatric intensive care beds are already full, figures suggest, with many infants suffering from RSV.

Doctors say the RSV season appears to have started at least a 'month early' and is already shaping up to be 'the worst' in decades.

Dr Suresh Nagappan, from Moses Cone Children's Unit in North Carolina, said: 'We are seeing probably the worst RSV year that I've seen in my career.

'We're really just supporting them through until the virus gets better and unfortunately there's no magic medicine that will make them better right away.'

Get ready for the TRIPLEDEMIC this winter The US could be thrashed by 'tripledemic' of viruses this winter as the knock-on effects of lockdown begin to bite. Already cases of RSV  an infection that can be deadly in babies  are at their highest level in two years and the outbreak is months ahead of schedule. The resurgence in RSV has caused a surge in pediatric hospital admissions with nearly 70 per cent of children's hospital beds now filled by youngsters with respiratory bugs. Experts have repeatedly told DailyMail.com lockdowns and measures used to contain Covid like face masks also suppressed the spread of germs which are crucial for building a strong immune system in children. Meanwhile, flu cases have tripled in the past month and there are signs Covid is rebounding in 13 states. Dr Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said he expects this winter to be 'more aggressive' than normal because immunity to seasonal bugs is so low. Advertisement

Dr Tracey Ginaitt, a clinical manager at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, told TODAY: 'It's very worrisome because we're not even in winter. It's still only fall.

'As the winter hits, as flu starts coming, where are we going to put these kids?'

She said her hospital is already at 125 per cent capacity, with some sick children now having to be put outside the main wards.

Connecticut Children's hospital is already under such strain that it has been left with no alternative but to call in the National Guard.

In another case a two-month-old baby girl was airlifted 100 miles away from her home to her hospital after an RSV infection left her struggling to breathe.

Mother Hannah Brand said her daughter Paitynn initially appeared to just be suffering a cold.

But after a few days she began to 'pant' every time she took a breath, and was almost sweating. At times the skin around her ribs would sink in as she gasped for air.

Ms Brand rushed her daughter to a local hospital, which decided to airlift her to the Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, 100 miles away.

Paitynn was put on oxygen to help her breathing and sedated to help her get more sleep and rest.

This quickly led to her oxygen improving and heart rate, leading her to slowly recover. She was discharged after two days.

Ms Brand, who works as a pediatric nurse, told GMA: 'When she would breathe, she was panting and you could see she was almost kind of sweating. She was working so hard to take a breath.

'A huge alarm to me was the sinking in of the skin around her ribs, called retractions, and for kiddos, especially in a two-month-old, retractions is a huge sign of increased work of breathing.

'So this was a big, big indicator that something is wrong here, that this is more than just a cold.'

Asked whether her training helped, Ms Brand said: 'It was a huge advantage that I knew what to look for and how to intervene should I need to.

'But at the time I was 100 per cent in mom mode and I was very terrified.'

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows there were 2,700 flu cases last week.

That was up by 31 per cent from the previous week, and triple the level a month ago when there were around 800.

But the figures represent a vast underestimate because the US does not routinely test for influenza in the same way as Covid.

Experts are on high alert about the virus after it made a resurgence in the southern hemisphere  which typically has a flu season that runs from April to October.

Covid cases in the US are also now starting to plateau at about 35,000 infections a day. They are beginning to rise in some states including Hawaii, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Ruth Sunderland, the Group Business Editor of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday

Ruth Sunderland, the Group Business Editor of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, has been named Business Journalist of the Year.

She was handed the prestigious award by the London Press Club at a ceremony at Stationers Hall in the heart of the Square Mile.

Praising her campaigning and lucid commentary, the judges said: Ruth Sunderland continues to deliver her hard hitting pieces about the biggest business, investment and economics stories of the day.

Recent successes include the Save LV campaign to stop the historic mutual insurer being sold to private equity. The proposed sale to Bain Capital for 530m was eventually voted down by LV members following months of campaigning by this newspaper.
He is rightly being heralded as the UK's first non-white PM, but Rishi Sunak's height is making fewer headlines.

This is despite the fact that, at just 5ft 6inches tall, the former Chancellor is the shortest occupant of Number 10 since Winston Churchill.

At 5ft 5in, Second World War hero Sir Winston was shorter than Mr Sunak, who is now joining the 'under 5ft 7in club' of European leaders.

French president Emmanuel Macron is just under 5ft 7in, Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to be around 5ft 5 and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is only slightly taller than his German counterpart.

Mr Sunak is however almost certainly taller than infamous French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte was.

Whilst Napoleon is believed to have been of average height for his era - around 5ft 5in - the notion that he was short was ingrained in public consciousness by famed English cartoonist James Gillray.

He is rightly being heralded as the UK's first non-white PM, but Rishi Sunak's height is making fewer headlines. This is despite the fact that, at just 5ft 6inches tall, the former Chancellor is the shortest occupant of Number 10 since Winston Churchill. At 5ft 5in, Second World War hero Sir Winston was shorter than Mr Sunak

Mr Sunak, who is now joining the 'under 5ft 7in club' of European leaders. French president Emmanuel Macron is just under 5ft 7in, whilst Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is 5ft 6

Mr Sunak is however almost certainly taller than infamous French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte. Whilst Napoleon is believed to have been of average height for his era - around 5ft 5in - the notion that he was short was ingrained in public consciousness by famed English cartoonist James Gillray

Mr Sunak's height does put him at odds with many of the UK's other allies.

US President Joe Biden is just under 5ft 10, whilst Canada's Justin Trudeau is 6ft 1 and Dutch PM Mark Rutte is 6ft 3in.

Russia's despot ruler Vladimir Putin is an estimated 5ft 7in, but North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is just 5ft 2in.

Mr Sunak's predecessor as PM, Liz Truss, is around 5ft 5in, whilst his former boss Boris Johnson is just under 5ft 8.

Other recent Tory PMs have also been taller than Mr Sunak. David Cameron is just over 6ft, whilst Theresa May is around an inch taller than the new PM.

Former Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are 6ft and 5ft 11in respectively, whilst Margaret Thatcher was 5ft 5in.

Her successor John Major is 5ft 11in.

Going back further, Labour's James Callaghan was 6ft 1in, but his party colleague Harold Wilson, who served twice as PM, was 5ft 8.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz is just 5ft 5in, making him even shorter than Mr Sunak

US President Joe Biden is just under 5ft 10, whilst Canada's Justin Trudeau is 6ft 1

It comes after Mr Sunak left Twitter users baffled yesterday when he appeared to gain an inch or two as he was cheered by party colleagues outside Tory party headquarters.

Video showed him suddenly rising in the air as other MPs clapped around him.

Some users suggested he may have been walking backwards up some steps which gave the illusion of suddenly getting taller.

Last year, it was reported that the then PM Mr Johnson was appointing tall ministers to annoy Mr Sunak.

In his September 2021 reshuffle, he appointed 6ft 5in Simon Clarke as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

The Treasury team also included Economic Secretary John Glen, who is more than 6ft.

The image-conscious Mr Sunak is also known for positioning himself in photos so that his shorter stature is less obvious

Mr Sunak's predecessor as PM, Liz Truss, is around 5ft 5in. Above: Ms Truss leaves Downing Street for the last time as PM today

Boris Johnson is just under 5ft 8. Above: The then PM walks around stalls at the Tory party conference in October last year

Theresa May is around an inch taller than the new PM. Above: Mrs May attending the Woman of the Year Awards in 2019

Other recent Tory PMs have also been taller than Mr Sunak. David Cameron is just over 6ft

Former Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are 6ft and 5ft 11in respectively

Long-serving Conservative PM Margaret Thatcher was 5ft 5in. Above: She is seen during a visit to Japan in 1986

In a photo with his Treasury team in March last year, he was seen at the top of the staircase of Number 11, with taller members of his team lower down.

The average height for a man in the UK is 5ft 9in, whilst for a woman it is 5ft 3in.

Mr Sunak took up the reins as leader of the Conservative Party without a vote after rivals Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson dropped out of the race for No 10.

Allies hope he will stabilise the party following Mr Johnson's dramatic downfall and his successor's tumultuous tenure spanning only six weeks.

The new Tory leader is expected to address the nation just before noon, before entering No 10 as the UK's first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

The former chancellor will then turn his attention to assembling a top team that he will hope can return a measure of stability to both the Conservatives and the country.

Out to bat for the Sunak camp on Tuesday, former minister Victoria Atkins said she believed the Tories had 'turned a corner' and would now 'settle down' under the stewardship of the new PM.

She insisted he would stick to the Conservative 2019 manifesto, meaning there would be a continued focus on levelling up, the NHS and security.

Last year, it was reported that the then PM Mr Johnson was appointing tall ministers to annoy Mr Sunak. Above: Mr Sunak as Chancellor with his fellow Treasury ministers

The image-conscious Mr Sunak is also known for positioning himself in photos so that his shorter stature is less obvious In a photo with his Treasury team in March last year, he was seen at the top of the staircase of Number 11, with taller members of his team lower down

Mr Sunak now has the daunting task of leading the nation through an economic crisis only exacerbated by the chaotic legacy of Ms Truss.

A wave of industrial unrest, a buckling health service and the risk of a nuclear escalation by Russian President Vladimir Putin are only some of the challenges he faces.

Mr Sunak's ascendency from MP to PM is the fastest in modern political history, having first won the constituency of Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015.

However, 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's 'non-dom' status for tax purposes.
President Yoon Suk-yeol gives a speech explaining his administration's budget proposal for next year in the National Assembly's main hall on Tuesday. The president highlighted the significance of the Seoul-Washington alliance for the economies and security of both countries at the Korea Times Forum hosted by The Korea Times on Wednesday. Yonhap





Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho, distinguished guests, congratulations to The Korea Times for hosting the forum titled, "New Challenges for Korea-U.S. Alliance."







I hope today's forum can produce fruitful proposals for how the alliance can become stronger than ever before at this particular time when active debates are underway regarding the role and tasks of the Korea-US alliance.







We are now at a critical watershed moment in which the conventional international order is being forced to change. From here and there around the world, different values and ideologies are clashing. Economy and national security have become integrated, forcing global competition among countries over economic security. The rise and fall of a country hinges on its response to transnational challenges and threats, such as the health crisis, food security, climate change and energy transition.







The global supply chain is the very sector where clashes of national interest are the most evident. Solidarity and cooperation based on mutual trust will ensure the stabilization of the supply chain and, as a result, sustainable prosperity.






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Gisele Fetterman has tweeted about her love for her Uncle Telmo, who died in 2020. For the first time, DailyMail.com reveals his role in a wiretapping scandal in Brazil that triggered ministerial resignations and a criminal probe

Gisele Barreto Fetterman has moved from political novice to key campaign booster as her husband John recovered from a stroke.

She gave the victory speech when he won the Democratic nomination to run for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat; she took the congratulatory call from President Joe Biden; and in the past two weeks she has hit out at journalists that she believes have not treated her husband fairly.

The result has been a rash of profiles detailing how Gisele, 40, arrived in the U.S. from Brazil as an undocumented child fleeing violence.

What they do not describe is how her beloved uncle, whom she describes as a 'father figure,' was a member of the secret police and renowned as the nation's 'biggest wiretapping agent.'

And he was at the heart of a bugging scandal at the Brazilian national development bank, that captured conversations between the nation's president and his ministers as they set about privatizing a major telecommunications company.

In 2002, Temilson Antonio Barreto de Resende was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

But to Gisele Fetterman he was simply Uncle Telmo.

In a series of emotional social media posts, she described how he was ill with COVID-19 and asked for prayers in May 2020.

'I dont know how to do this ask, but my beloved uncle, my father figure and one of the best people in the entire world, has COVID and is in critical care in a Rio de Janeiro Hospital,' she wrote on Twitter.

'If you could please lift him in healing and strength, I would appreciate it so much.'

He died a month later, she wrote.

'He was my favorite person in the entire world,' she said. 'I only have his voicemails now and I listen to them daily, and weep.'

Fetterman is now at the heart of one of the most bad-tempered Senate races in the country. Television's Dr. Oz, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania's open seat, has turned his fire on her, suggesting she is the real candidate while her husband recuperates from a stroke.

And her assured performances in front of the cameras have triggered a surge in interest about her path to the spotlight.

So far that has not included her beloved Uncle Telmo.

Gisele Fetterman has taken on a central role in her husband's campaign for the Senate ever since John Fetterman suffered a stroke in May. The result has been a string of profiles about her life, including arriving from Brazil as a child fleeing violence

The story she hasn't told is that her uncle, Temilson Antonio Barreto de Resende, was named in a 1998 criminal case that led to him being sentenced to prison for his role in listening in on conversations between the president of Brazil and ministers. A photograph published in 2000 by the Brazilian newspaper Folha shows him leaving a police station in Rio de Janeiro

Fetterman posted a picture in celebration of the Fourth of July last year showing her family visiting the Empire State Building with Uncle Telmo soon after she had arrived in the U.S. from Brazil

The Brazilian public knew a different side to him as a bombshell legal case in 1998 named him as a former member of ABIN, the country's main intelligence agency.

By then he was reportedly a freelancer, offering his skills for the right price.

He and an accomplice, private detective Adilson Alcantara de Mattos (later sentenced to two years in prison), were accused of tapping phone lines at the Brazilian National Development Bank and listening in on the telephone conversations key government figures of the time including the then Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

The government was planning the $14 billion privatization of the state-owned telephone company Telebras. And when the contents of the calls were leaked it triggered accusations that ministers were pushing for certain bidders to be treated favorably.

Minister of Communications Luiz Carlos Mendonca de Barros and the then president of the development bank, Andre Lara Resende, resigned.

A newspaper article at the time reported how the wiretapping case 'was casting a shadow over the (official workplace of the Brazilian president) Palacio do Planalto.'

Details of who was behind the wiretapping were exposed after Federal Police investigators, acting on a tip-off, monitored Resende's mobile phone for a month, as well as the phones of two of his friends also believed to be involved.

According to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, the investigations both confirmed suspicions of wiretapping, but also revealed other illicit activity including obtaining the details of the banks account holders and the selling of Brazilian passports to international criminals.

It was believed Resende, described as the 'biggest wiretapping expert' in Brazil, had offered his services to businessmen who were interested in the privatization of the state companies.

Resende, 47 at the time, denied the accusations.

'I don't have anything to do with this, I don] have the slightly idea what is happening and I don't work with this type of thing,' he said. 'I know nothing about telephony.'

Gisele Fetterman with her husband and the United Steelworkers District 10 union during a Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh

Uncle Telmo's life and career in Brazil's intelligence agencies In 1998, private detectives told the Folha De Sao Paulo newspaper that Temilson Antonio Barreto de Resende was an expert in 'clandestine eavesdropping.' The report cited documents revealing that 'Telmo' had been a member of the National Information Service of Brazil. By then it had been transformed from a civilian agency to a military intelligence unit, and worked closely with the CIA in combating communism. One study suggests it had more than 50,000 employees before it was dissolved in 1990. It used human informants and wiretaps to gather information. Such was its power and influence that two presidents were drawn from its ranks. It later resumed operations as the Brazilian Intelligence Agency of ABIN. The head of ABIN in Rio and its coordinator in Brasilia were both caught up in the wiretap case but were acquitted in 2002. Advertisement

In 1999, he insisted he was simply an intelligence analyst rather than a spy.

'I don't know how to bug phones,' he told Epoca magazine, which said he declined to be photographed for the story.

'In the work he has done for 25 years , he learned to keep his image private,' his lawyer Carlos Kenigsberg is quoted as saying. 'He knows not to show his face.'

It also emerged Resende had already been investigated for suspected 'illicit enrichment' when he worked for the Federal Police providing security for heads of state at the Eco 92 Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

A report on the investigation described how Resende spent 'much more than his declared income.'

And in 1994, his name appeared 10 times in another investigation into the illegal gambling game Jogo do Bicho, including offering bribes to policemen.

Following his 2002 trial Resende launched an appeal, and when the sentence was confirmed on second instance in 2008 he took his appeal to Brazil's Superior Court of Justice.

The Fetterman campaign declined to respond to questions about Resende.

His trial predated Gisele's flight from Brazil. She has described leaving her home because of local violence and arriving in New York with her mother and brother at the age of seven or thereabouts.

She has talked about growing up in poverty in a one-bedroom apartment.

'We didn't have anything, and my mother worked so hard just to pay the rent. It was hard to justify buying a dresser or a bed,' she said in 2016.

'Walking around the city, we noticed a shocking trend. People would put their old furniture on the curb for the garbage men to take away. All of these things were perfectly usable and had a lot of life left in them.'

She described how her educated mother found the only work she could: cleaning houses and hotels.

Since then her story has become a key part of Fetterman's campaign, as ill health has forced him to cede some of the spotlight to his wife.

His lead in the contest has slipped to just a percentage point or two. And on Tuesday evening, he struggled to articulate his answers in a televised debate with his Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Gisele Fetterman has taken a leading role in the campaign since her husband's stroke.

Mehmet Oz, the Republican candidate for the Senate seat (right), has attacked Fetterman, accusing him of hiding details about his recovery from a stroke. On Tuesday, Fetterman struggled to articulate his answers in a televised debate

Oz has turned Fetterman's recovery from a stroke into a campaign issue and kept up a steady stream of attacks on his wife.

He has accused the candidate of hiding details about his health and tried to hint that Gisele might in fact take up the Senate seat.

'This is not about me or him. This is about the voters,' he told the Hugh Hewitt show last week.

'They have a right to know what's going on in his body so they can tell if his wife is right or not. Is she going to be the senator or is he going to be the senator?'

But the Fettermans have shrugged off the question as nothing but partisan mischief making.

'Just keeping the seat warm for him,' is how Gisele Fetterman put it to NBC News.
'Multicultural' fairy tales such as 'Ghanaian Goldilocks' should be introduced

A university review that recommends 'adapting' fairytales to be more multicultural has suggested rewriting one classic as 'The Ghanaian Goldilocks'.

And it also wants to get children to question the plots of other fables - and bizarrely suggested asking if Rapunzel could have 'built a zip line using her hair to escape'.

The review, by University of South Australia researcher and teacher Glenn Saxby, says teachers can use classic stories like Rapunzel and The Princess And The Pea to educate children on science, maths and technology.

But the review also added that more 'multicultural fairy tales' should be introduced because so many children are from families with parents born outside of Australia.

It mentioned several 'multicultural' fairy tales that could be taught in Australian classrooms including The Ghanaian Goldilocks, Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story and The Three Little Javelinas (instead of the Three Little Pigs).

A university review that recommends 'adapting' fairytales to be more multicultural has suggested rewriting one classic as 'The Ghanaian Goldilocks' (pictured, UK TV star Michaela Strachan as Golidlocks in a pantomime version of the fairytale)

A review of fairy tales suggests classic fairy tales like Rapunzel (pictured) and the Princess and the Pea should be adapted to help teach gender studies, maths and science

'[Three Little Javelinas] not only encourages students to think critically but is a celebration of cultural diversity, and includes a female character that outsmarts the nefarious villain,' Mr Saxby wrote.

Poll Do classic fairytales need to be adapted for today's children? Yes No Do classic fairytales need to be adapted for today's children? Yes 1 votes

No 88 votes Now share your opinion





Fairytales in schools can also help children understand changing gender roles and remain important for teaching values like kindness and cooperation, it says.

'Fairytales can easily be adapted in the primary school to teach a range of subjects,' the review says.

They have many benefits, it adds, 'from understanding the structure of a compelling tale, to teaching literacy or even science, technology, engineering and mathematics' and understanding gender stereotypes.'

The research also said educators 'need to be cautious' because fairy tales often contain 'outdated, gender-ignorant' messages and because 'gender equity has not yet been achieved in fairy tale literature'.

An example is asking students 'Could have Rapunzel built a zip line using her hair to escape her tower prison?'

The research also said educators 'need to be cautious' because fairy tales often contain 'outdated, gender-ignorant' messages and because 'gender equity has not yet been achieved in fairy tale literature'

It recommended teachers encourage students to 'challenge stereotypical gender representations'.

This includes questioning how traditional fairy tale roles such as 'victim heroes' (such as princesses) and 'seeker heroes' (including princes) compare with the roles of women and men around them in reality.

It noted it was important to remind children that female characters can be portrayed as 'strong and intelligent characters rather than being passive participants'.

'A teacher does need to consider how they will discuss these traditional fairy tales with twenty-first-century students to provide a fair and balanced view of gender roles in modern Australian society'.

But the research also said fairy tales remain useful tools for teaching 'across several subject areas of the curriculum' and because 'they can help explain complex issues to children'.

Government guidelines on reading fairy tales to children suggest asking kids whether the ending was 'fair'

How to read young children fairytales When you reach the end of the fairy tale and everyone is living happily ever after, you can ask your child questions such as what did the main character(s) look like?

did the pictures match the words in the story?

did you think the ending was fair?

what do you think is the lesson of this fairy tale?

do you know any similar fairy tales? Source: learningpotential.gov.au Advertisement

Fairy tales are also valuable tools to teach children good values such as empathy, kindness, ethics, and cooperation.

'Incorporating a range of fairy tales in an inclusive and thoughtful way allows teachers a valuable opportunity to teach multiple skills and subjects in the contemporary classroom.

'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.'

Fairytales are taught in Australian primary schools and the Australian government also suggests parents read them at home.

The advice to parents is they ask children questions such as 'did you think the ending was fair?'

Government advice says reading fairytales is useful to teach children language, characters and 'plot structure'.

When you reach the end of the fairy tale and everyone is living happily ever after, you can ask your child questions such as whether the ending of a story was 'fair'?
A lesbian couple that had been dating for seven years became the first same-sex couple to be legally married in Cuba last week.

Serious, standing upright and dressed in long gala dresses - despite the midday Cuban heat - Lisset Diaz and Liusba Grajales walked up the ten steps of the notary office, their hands clenched and shaking.

Nearly an hour later, when they walked out of the doors, the tension on their faces was replaced by smiles. From that moment, they were wives.

Same-sex marriage became a possibility just three weeks before on the island when Cuba's new Family Code - opening up everything from equal marriage to surrogate mothers - came into effect.

The couple is one of the first to make the decision to get legally married in Cuba following the code.

'It's a big day,' said Liusba Grajales, a manager at the Central University of Las Villas, just 250 kilometers from the capital. 'Love is love, just the way it is. Without imposition, without prejudice ... I don't know whether I should laugh or cry. It's a mix of so many strong emotions.'

Lisset Diaz (left) and Liusba Grajales (right) became the first gay couple to be legally married in Cuba last Friday. The couple have been together for seven years

Liusba Grajales (left) shares a kiss with Lisset Diaz (right) before they became the first gay couple to be legally married in Cuba. The communist island is the ninth country in Latin America - following Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Colombia - to legalize gay marriage in recent years

Lisset Diaz (left) and Liusba Grajales (right) toast to their marriage moments after getting married

Just a few meters away, Lisset Diaz, a 34-year-old dancer, shared her joy. 'I feel proud,' she added. 'Im amazed.'

The code was approved after heavy campaigning by the Cuban government, and support by the most vocal advocate for gay rights on the island, Mariela Castro, the daughter of former president Raul Castro.

It made Cuba the ninth country in Latin America - following Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Colombia - to legalize gay marriage in recent years.

Cuban elections routinely produce victory margins of more than 90 percent - as did a referendum on a major constitutional reform in 2019.

Despite that, a third of the country, 33.15 percent, voted 'no.' The text faced a large campaign against it from evangelical groups that reject gay marriage.

Meanwhile, 66.85 percent of the Cubans who came out, voted 'yes.' Nearly 6 percent left blank or voided ballots.

Liusba Grajales (left) put makeup on her daughter Ainhoa as her partner Lisset Diaz got ready before their wedding in Santa Clara, Cuba, last Friday

The code also was rejected by some groups opposed to the government, which called for a 'no' vote as a way of rejecting Cuban authorities amid rising discontent with the government of Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.

It was also opposed by some members of the LGBTQ community, which said they were abstaining to vote on something they considered to be a human right in the first place.

'Many people in the community were against voting 'yes' because they don't believe that they need some paper to tell them they have this on paper (to be recognized as a couple). I think we do need the right, that it protects us,' said Liusba.

Though she said she believes the island is still 'a decade away' from becoming a 'better and more inclusive' society.

The old Family Code, dating back to 1975, established that marriage was between a man and a woman - not between two people - which excluded lifelong partners from things inheriting the belongings of the other when one died.

Together, they live with their two daughters, 11-year-old Laura and three-year-old Ainhoa. The latter was born by insemination at home because at the time they had no access to assisted fertility treatments because they didn't have male partners.

The new law goes further than equal marriage - which activists tried to include in the Constitution in 2019 without success - or the ability for gay couples to adopt or use surrogates.

The law regulates for the first time the visitation rights of grandparents over grandchildren and communication with stepparents in situations of divorce and even custody of minors in the latter when it's necessary for the child's welfare.

Laura Gil (left) stands with her mother Lisset Diaz Vallejo (center) outside the notary office after her mother married her partner Liusba Grajales (right)

A wedding cake that reads in Spanish 'Congratulations wives' awaits the celebration of newlyweds Lisset Diaz Vallejo and Liusba Grajales on their wedding day in Santa Clara, Cuba, last Friday

Liusba Grajales smokes in the kitchen as her fiancee Lisset Diaz Vallejo exits the bathroom at their Santa Clara, Cuba, home last Friday before they became the first gay couple in the communist island to be legally married

It also allows for separate property regimens for married couples, authorizes parents to choose the order of their children's surnames, and extends protections for the disabled and elderly, among other rights.

The women considered marriage a way to also protect their children if something were to ever happen to them.

Ainhoa, also dressed in her best dress for the occasion, didn't quite understand her mother's marriage ceremony but walked around introducing her Laura. 'She is my sister,' she repeated.

With a pride flag over her balcony, Lisset Diaz sweeps the sidewalk in front of her house the afternoon of her wedding day in Santa Clara, Cuba, last Friday

Brides Lisset Diaz Vallejo (left) and Liusba Grajales (right) travel in a taxi to the notary office to get married in Santa Clara, Cuba, last Friday

Newlyweds Liusba Grajales (left) and Lisset Diaz (right) embrace after getting married at the notary office in Santa Clara

'I'm happy for what the wedding means,' Laura added to The Associated Press very circumspectly, wiping tears away alongside her mothers.

But it came from strong opposition from evangelical churches, which alleged the law was against the 'traditional family' established by God, which they claim is the union of a man and a woman meant to procreate. In some rural areas, the code appeared to receive less support.

While the country's capital of Havana received 70 percent approval, and Villa Clara - home of Liusba and Lisset - received 66 percent, in southeastern Holguin it got 53 percent.

The pushback 'indicates that we have to keep working in those areas and deepen and direct educational work,' said Francisco 'Paquito' Rodriguez, a blogger and one of the first Cuban activists for the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Though he still called the new code a victory.

Cuban authorities did not disclose how many gay couples were married in these three weeks, although Rodriguez thinks it could be at least a dozen based on the information he's gotten from social media.

'In 2007, we celebrated for the first time the International Day for the Fight Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Cuba. It took 15 years of fighting to make it law,' Rodriguez said. 'It seems like a long time in the life of an individual, but it's an achievement in the course of our history.'
James Comer, top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, wrote a letter to the FBI demanding the agency give Congress information on CCP-linked Hunter Biden associate JiaQi Bao and her deals with the Biden family.

In the letter obtained by DailyMail.com, Comer noted that 'Bao provided Hunter insight into purchasing liquified natural gas reserves in the United States to sell to China, had access to the Biden familys financial information, and liaised with CCP-affiliated agents on the Bidens behalf.'

Comer is requesting by Nov. 9 the FBI hand over all documents and communications relating to Bao, all documents and correspondence provided to or by Thibault regarding the Hunter Biden investigation and everything regarding CEFCs efforts to purchase American energy and infiltrate the Biden family.

Timothy Thibault, a top FBI agent accused of bias in handling the Hunter Biden investigation, resigned in August after whistleblowers alleged he slow-walked the probe and told agents 'not to look into the laptop' because he did not want an FBI investigation to interfere with the 2020 election.

Comer cited concerns that Bao's alleged liaising between the CCP and the Biden family threatened national security and that Thibault 'ignored information' about Bao's role in the Biden family business.

James Comer, top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, wrote a letter to the FBI demanding the agency give Congress information on CCP-linked Hunter Biden associate JiaQi Bao and her deals with the Biden family

Comer pointed to DailyMail.com's May 2021 report demonstrating Bao and Biden's relationship went 'beyond professional obligations - a common tactic employed by Chinese agents.'

Emails obtained from Hunter Biden's laptop reveal his close relationship with the Chinese-American secretary who worked for him when he went into business with the man he called the 'spy chief of China.'

The mysterious young assistant wrote the president's son flirty messages, sent him opposition research for Joe's White House run and encouraged him to draw funds from the company's accounts when the joint venture collapsed and even ended up with Hunter's military dog tags.

As the committee letter notes, Bao received a degree from Tsinghua University - a recruiting hub for China's intelligence service and then worked for the PRC's National Development and Reform Commission, which approves projects that receive foreign funding.

As Hunter Biden's assistant, Bao provided him with insight into purchasing liquid natural gas reserves in the U.S. to sell to China, had access to the Biden familys financial information, and liaised with CCP-affiliated agents on the Bidens behalf, Comer notes.

In 2017 Hunter went into business with Patrick Ho, secretary general of Chinese oil giant CEFC.

Hunter described Ho in a call recording on his abandoned laptop as the 'spy chief of China', and the Chinese businessman was later surveilled by US law enforcement as a foreign intelligence threat before he was convicted of bribery in 2018.

After launching his multi-million-dollar joint venture with CEFC, Hunter was assigned a 29-year-old Chinese-American assistant, JiaQi Bao, who quickly struck up a close and intriguing relationship with her Biden boss.

At first, emails show the New York-based Bao diligently scheduled flights, hotels and even doctor's appointments for the president's son.

But mysteriously, the young assistant also sent him opposition research to help Joe Biden's 2020 election bid, urged him to take cash from the joint venture's accounts as the business collapsed and wrote flirty and personal messages and even ended up with Hunter's military dog tags in her New York apartment  the same tags he can be seen wearing in home-made porn videos he recorded on his laptop.

DailyMail.com did not find any explicit photos or videos of the assistant.

DailyMail.com can reveal flirty messages between Hunter Biden and a young woman JiaQi Bao secretary who worked for him when he went into business with the man he called the 'spy chief of China.' Bao, then age 29, sent him opposition research to help Joe Biden's 2020 election bid, wrote flirty and personal messages and ended up with Hunter's military dog tags

In one flirty and personal message Bao wrote that she ended up with Hunter's military dogt ags in her New York apartment  the same tags he can be seen wearing in home-made porn videos he recorded on his laptop. DailyMail.com did not find explicit photos or videos of Bao on Hunter's laptop

The young secretary, JiaQi Bao, was assigned to Hunter after partnering with Chinese oil giant CEFC in a multi-million-dollar deal, and diligently scheduled flights, hotels and even doctor's appointments for him

A Senate probe highlighted links between Hunter's Chinese backers and the country's spy machine, and reported that his dealings with the Chinese 'raise criminal financial, counterintelligence and extortion concerns'.

The joint venture collapsed the following year when CEFC's secretary general Patrick Ho was arrested and later convicted of bribery in a US federal prosecution

But it is still unclear whether Bao was aware of Hunter's partner's alleged links to the intelligence services at the time  as the New York-based clerical worker has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Hunter and Joe Biden's brother Jim partnered with CEFC in 2017, in a deal that was meant to generate billions of dollars and create a string of oil and gas projects in the Middle East and Europe.

But the joint venture collapsed the following year when CEFC's secretary general Patrick Ho was arrested and later convicted of bribery in a US federal prosecution.

Ho was suspected of working with the Chinese intelligence services, and had been monitored by federal law enforcement under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, court documents revealed.

Seemingly looking out for Hunter's financial benefit, Bao told Hunter that Ho's arrest would 'present a great opportunity for you to gain' and 'you should continue to pursue this investment thesis on natural gas,' according to Oversight Republicans.

'Baos efforts to remain close to the Biden family following the CEFC venture collapse raises serious concerns about Bao's motives and plans with the Biden family,' Comer's letter reads. 'Specifically did the CCP push Bao to ensure that the Bidens continued selling American LNG to China? If so, this presents and alarming national security threat.'

The Senate homeland security and finance committees issued a joint report in September 2020 scrutinizing Hunter's business deal with CEFC, noting the company's deep ties to the Chinese government and concluding that the millions of dollars transferred from the firm to Hunter and his uncle 'raise criminal financial, counterintelligence and extortion concerns.'

In November, then finance committee chair Senator Chuck Grassley wrote to the Department of Justice, demanding an investigation into Hunter's business dealings with his corrupt foreign billionaire backers.

The president's son admitted in December last year that he is currently the subject of an FBI investigation, reportedly for tax crimes, though it has been reported that investigators are also scrutinizing his foreign dealings.

Hunter himself seems to have believed his business partner's ties to Chinese intelligence agencies  telling a friend in an audio recording on his laptop that Ho was the 'spy chief of China'.

As Hunter's joint venture with the Chinese began to crumble that month amid the arrests of its two leaders, Bao wrote one of her most surprising emails encouraging him to take funds from the coffers of one of Hunter and CEFC's joint corporate vehicles called Hudson West. 'I'm a bit hesitated to say this to you, because I don't want you to misunderstood me as a messed up bad girl. However, for your benefit, I can't hold it back to myself,' Bao wrote in the March 26 email marked 'confidential'

After partnering with Chinese oil giant CEFC in the multi-million-dollar deal, Bao was appointed as his secretary and assistant, acting as a go-between for his Chinese business partners, translating documents and performing clerical work for Hunter in the joint venture.

According to Bao's LinkedIn page, she has worked as an analyst and assistant in finance and private equity in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and New York since 2011.

Her Chinese-American family are based in Arizona, and she studied at the state's university before taking a masters at top Beijing university Tsinghua.

Her LinkedIn page does not mention CEFC or the joint venture with the Bidens, only listing 'Hedge Fund / Asset Management / Financial Services' as her job from February 2016 to July 2019.

Their correspondence in emails obtained by DailyMail.com from Hunter's abandoned laptop were at first purely professional, with Bao booking plane tickets and hotel rooms and translating reports on Hunter's oil and gas ventures into Chinese for his CEFC business partners.

But in November 2017, just weeks after Bao's first email to Hunter, Ho was arrested in New York on charges of bribing the president of Chad for oil rights.

After the arrest, Bao wrote Hunter an email asking for information about the case 'as a learning opportunity'.

'I just don't get it, why the US has the legitimacy or the authority to sue when whatever involved is not happening in the U. S. and no U. S. company is involved?' she wrote.

'In case if someone really should sue, it should be Hong Kong or the African country government as it involves its citizen...how is this has anything to do with the U. S.? Or something happened in the U. S. and through a U. S. bank ? Or some international lawy that every country follows?

'So the US government thought he did, based on the U. S. government's standard, might be his dealing with whatever various circle(s)/companies he close to, or a personal matter, may or may not related to CEFC...why the US government is so certain of the linkage?'

She ended the message by lavishing compliments on the president's son, writing: 'Many thanks for having been the most amazing and understanding boss, and the most charismatic friend and coconspirator-in-mischief.'

According to Bao's LinkedIn page, she has worked as an analyst and assistant in finance and private equity in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and New York since 2011. Her Chinese-American family are based in Arizona, and she studied at the state's university before taking a masters at top Beijing university Tsinghua

After the joint venture had dissolved, Bao emailed Hunter with a conspiratorial message encouraging him to help his father run for president and listing talking points to combat criticism of Hunter's dealings with the Chinese. 'Trump advocate's stupid book with exaggeration and fabrication on your business connection with Chinese or that NYTimes article mentioning a retired Hong Kong official trying to reach you/Uncle Jim when need help have no relevance whatsoever!' she wrote

By January 2018 Bao was becoming more familiar in her emails to Hunter, telling him: 'One of my New Year's Wishes is that you could drink less I will do anything and everything to make you happy so that alcoholic beverages' widely believed mythical function as a stress reliever won't be an excuse for indulgence!

'You have such a charismatic personality and I know you are a super nice person that I'm naturally draw to, so you know, I have your best interest at heart and I want to do something for you to show my appreciation.'

Bao's messages became strangely obsequious, even emailing Hunter to tell him not to pay her for the whole month of February because she took four vacation days to see her family.

Hunter and Joe Biden's brother Jim ( pictured in 2008) partnered with CEFC in 2017, in a deal that was meant to generate billions of dollars and create a string of oil and gas projects in the Middle East and Europe

'I'm taking too many days off on February, I really should not waste your money like this,' the diligent assistant wrote. 'Please do not pay me any salary for the month of February.'

In one striking email Bao revealed that she had Hunter's military dog tags and asked him to visit her New York apartment to pick them up.

Hunter wears the tags in several naked selfies on his laptop, as well as in home-made porn videos shot with prostitutes which he uploaded to his Porn Hub account. Bao does not appear in any explicit pictures or videos on the laptop.

'Your doggy chain necklace: I thought I would simply bring it to you whenever I see you during your last trip in NY, but you were too busy and that didn't happen. Please let me know when and where I should bring it to you or how would you like it to be delivered,' Bao wrote to Hunter in March 2018.

'I think the most convenient way might be to simply pick it up whenever you are in NY next time. For the meanwhile, it is in a safe place awaiting for you.'

As Hunter's joint venture with the Chinese began to crumble that month amid the arrests of its two leaders, Bao wrote one of her most surprising emails encouraging him to raid the coffers of one of Hunter and CEFC's joint corporate vehicles called Hudson West.

'I'm a bit hesitated to say this to you, because I don't want you to misunderstood me as a messed up bad girl. However, for your benefit, I can't hold it back to myself,' Bao wrote in the March 26 email marked 'confidential'.

'Here is my two cents: Whatever money from Hudson West, please take them, take as much as possible, or figure out a way to spend them for your own benefit.

'It doesn't matter whether the left-over operational fund for Hudson West is labeled as 'personal goodwill / loan' or 'non-recourse' 'recourse' 'borrowing/drawing'...just take it and keep as much as possible.

'If you do not take that money, the money would ended up become 'nobody's money.' So it is better to use it for good. 'Nobody's money' means they take away whatever you give up to no body knows where in the system it will end up and whomever stranger might simply take the money for granted.'

Hunter left his MacBook Pro laptop at a Wilmington, Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 and never returned for it. DailyMail.com authenticated its content with firm Maryman and Greenfield saying it found 'no evidence' of fabrication by Russians or anyone else

A breakdown of Hunter's expenses at the Yale Club in May 2018 totaling $16,578.69

In an earlier email Bao also encouraged Hunter to add personal bills into his expenses reports for the joint venture. 'I included your Yale Club Quarterly Contribution starting from last year up to the latest one, not sure if the accounting department will let this go, but let's try,' she wrote. 'Don't worry about our drinks, it's on me, no need to be included in this report'

Delaware company filings show the Biden-CEFC joint venture corporation, Hudson West III, was dissolved in November 2018, eight months after Baos email recommending Hunter take any remaining money in its accounts.

According to last years Senate committee report, payments to Hunter from the corporation continued through September 2018.

The report also says that between January 2018 and October 2018, Hudson West III wired Jim Bidens consulting firm Lion Hall Group a total $76,746.15 with the memo, office expense and reimbursement.

Wire orders on the abandoned laptop show Hunter also transferred about $1.4 million of funds from his company Owasco to his uncles consulting firm between August 14th 2017 and August 3rd 2018.

In an earlier email Bao also encouraged Hunter to add personal bills into his expenses reports for the joint venture.

'I included your Yale Club Quarterly Contribution starting from last year up to the latest one, not sure if the accounting department will let this go, but let's try,' she wrote.

'Don't worry about our drinks, it's on me, no need to be included in this report.'

After the joint venture had dissolved, Bao emailed Hunter with a conspiratorial message encouraging him to help his father run for president and listing talking points to combat criticism of Hunter's dealings with the Chinese.

'Trump advocate's stupid book with exaggeration and fabrication on your business connection with Chinese or that NYTimes article mentioning a retired Hong Kong official trying to reach you/Uncle Jim when need help have no relevance whatsoever!' she wrote.

After the arrest, Bao wrote Hunter an email asking for information about the case 'as a learning opportunity'. She ended the message by lavishing compliments on the president's son, writing: 'Many thanks for having been the most amazing and understanding boss, and the most charismatic friend and coconspirator-in-mischief'

Hunter's laptop is brimming with evidence of apparent criminal activity by him and his associates including drug trafficking and prostitution. This photo of him grabbing a unidentified woman's hair was recovered from his laptop. DailyMail.com did not find explicit photos or videos of Bao on the laptop

Bao listed negative stories about Trump for Hunter to use, including allegations of selling citizenship to corrupt Chinese officials, his alleged links to a Chinese-owned Florida 'prostitution parlor', and letting human rights violations slide in negotiations with China.

Bao also attacked Trump's trade war with China, slamming it as 'a complete failure thus far, resulting in tremendous loss to Americans'.

Under the heading 'Uncle Joe 2020', the former assistant encouraged Hunter to tell his father to 'lead by example', 'bring back sensibility', and emphasize his experience and age as a strength.

Bao's suggestions appear to fit with China's foreign policy at the time. Joe Biden was expected to have a less confrontational policy towards China, and appeared to be preferred by the Chinese government over Trump.

Bao did not respond to requests for comment.
The Alaska Republican Party voted to censure Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Monday over his 'inappropriate endorsement' of incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Murkowski is running for re-election against the Trump-backed Republican, Kelly Tshibaka, who the Alaska Republican Party has been supporting since July 2021, despite Murkowski representing the state as a Republican for nearly 20 years.

McConnell and his Senate Leadership Fund PAC, on the other hand, decided to keep supporting Murkowski, providing the incumbent with money and ads, which the party said in a Facebook statement Monday was in 'direct contradiction' to its wishes.

The Alaska Republican Party voted to censure Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured) Monday over his 'inappropriate endorsement' of incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (left), who has represented Alaska in the Senate as a Republican since 2002, attracted a primary and now general election challenger, the Trump-backed Republican, Kelly Tshibaka (right)

'Much of the financial support from the Senate Leadership Fund has been used for malicious political attack ads targeted at our endorsed candidate, Kelly Tshibaka, that are gross distortions of fact,' a resolution from the Alaska Republican Party read.

'We request the Senate Leadership Fund immediately stop the attack ads against Kelly Tshibaka and discontinue the support of all other opposing candidates,' it continued.

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, which is how two Republicans are able to compete against one another in the November general election.

Murkowski was censured in March 2021 after she voted in favor of Trump's second impeachment.

At the time, Alaska Republicans said Murkowski was prohibited from being a candidate in the GOP primary, which she promptly ignored.

In November 2021, Trump officially endorsed Tshibaka - making it a midterm goal to take out the lawmakers who voted to impeach him over the role in the January 6 Capitol attack.

In the August primary, which also used ranked-choice voting, both Murkowski and Tshibaka advanced to the general election.

Murkowski received about 45 percent of the vote share to Tshibaka's 39 percent.

This week, Murkowski further annoyed the GOP party faithful by endorsing Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola - the first Native Alaskan to serve in Congress - over Republican hopefuls Sarah Palin and Nick Begich.

In August, Peltola beat Palin and Begich in a special election to serve out the remainder of the late Republican Rep. Don Young's term.

In November, the trio is on the ballot again, this time to serve a full two-year House term, starting in January.
Gladys Berejiklian has been spotted out shopping with a mystery friend for the first time since a cyber-hack brought unwanted publicity to her new employer, Optus.

The telecoms giant was hit by the hack in September, before being sent a ransom note demanding $1.5million for the safe return of 11.2 million customers' data.

Hackers even claimed they stole passport and driving licence numbers from 4.2 million users.

Ms Berejikilian joined the company's executive team in February after stepping down as NSW premier following the announcement of an ICAC inquiry into her behaviour - which came after the revelation she had secretly been dating MP Daryl Maguire.

Despite her prominent position at the telecom giant, the 52-year-old had not been spotted publically before her outing on Tuesday to Double Bay, one of Sydney's ritziest suburbs.

She was casually dressed for the rare outing, wearing blue jeans, a stylish black jacket, a black and white patterned top and black shoes with a slight heel.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) was spotted with a mystery friend for the first time since a cyber-hack brought weeks of unwanted publicity to her employer, Optus

Given Sydney's unpredictable weather of late, she also had a raincoat slung over her arm.

Ms Berejiklian's companion wore a long blue dress, from which the former politician seemed to be wiping something off.

Last February, she accepted an executive role as Managing Director of Enterprise, Business and Institution with Optus.

Despite the high profile of the position, which Optus said she holds as a 'proven leader', Ms Berejiklian hasn't fronted the media since the company suffered the hack.

The leak has been called the worst privacy breach in Australian history and followed a flood of customer complaints and a series of network crashes.

It's not suggested Ms Berejiklian was responsible for any of the issues involved in the security breach, but she faces a mountain to climb in helping rebuild Optus's tarnished reputation.

She has yet to discuss the hack in public, despite being the best known person in Optus's corporate division - she became a national name for her leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Berejiklian quit politics after ICAC launched an investigation into claims she prioritised funding to projects pushed by her secret partner, the now ex-Liberal MP Maguire.

Her Optus salary has not been revealed, but her Telstra equivalent - David Burns, group executive enterprise - takes home $1.1million a year.

Gladys Berejiklian (right) was seen out shopping in Double Bay, one of Sydney's ritziest suburbs

'I'm going in another different direction and I'm looking forward to the opportunities next year brings,' she told Nine radio last year.

'I'm looking forward to a much less public life.'

ICAC is investigating whether ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian...

1. Engaged in conduct between 2012 and 2018 that was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a close personal relationship between 2015 and 2018. 2. Exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially by refusing to exercise her duty to report any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC. 3. Exercised any of her official functions partially in connection with two multimillion-dollar grants in Mr Maguire's electorate, to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. Advertisement

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said in February that Ms Berejiklian would be a 'game-changer' for their department in charge of business customers.

'Gladys is a proven leader,' said Ms Rosmarin.

Eight months later, those skills hailed by her CEO will be tested to the limit as the company tries to restore confidence after the cataclysmic data breach.

Last month's hack saw personal details of around 10 million Australians accessed, including passport and driver licence numbers, email and home addresses, dates of birth and telephone numbers.

It followed a string of Optus outages, including a major crash in April that saw hundreds of thousands of people unable to make calls or use data.

The series of crises come as Ms Berejiklian is tasked with closing the gap with Telstra and tries to block a proposed network-sharing deal between TPG and Telstra.

Both Optus and the former premier will also be concerned at the possible fallout from ICAC's verdict, whenever that comes.

A recent book revealed that despite managing to keep her clandestine 'close personal relationship' with Mr Maguire so secret her own family did not know about it, Ms Berejiklian did confide in one person that there was a man in her life.

In 2015, she told her trusted former media adviser and close friend Lisa Mullins that she was in love, but would not reveal who with, saying it would be too much of a shock to everyone - a sentiment which turned out to be a huge understatement.

She told Ms Mullins she wanted to have a baby with the mysterious partner, a revelation that would subsequently emerge publicly in the ICAC hearings.

The public had no idea of the extent of ICAC's investigations into Ms Berejiklian, including devastating phone taps, until public hearings.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (front) is seen after her appearance at ICAC concluded

Gladys Berejiklian (left) is pictured with her boyfriend Arthur Moses in October 2021

Starting on Monday, October 18, 2021 and ending two weeks later, assisting counsel Scott Robertson spoke softly when questioning her, but came armed with audio recordings and a meticulously detailed paper trail.

Sometimes on intercepted calls with Mr Maguire, the then premier sounded 'like a bored girlfriend, humouring her partner's relentless talk of hopeless side hustles,' Alexandra Smith wrote in her book, The Secret.

But when she was recorded saying 'I don't need to know that bit', 'she sounded like she was actively trying to turn a blind eye'.

Ms Berejiklian is now in a relationship with barrister Arthur Moses, who represented her at a previous ICAC inquiry.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Berejiklian seeking comment for this story.
A former nurse in North Carolina is accused of murdering two patients and nearly killing a third by administering lethal doses of insulin.

Johnathan Hayes, 47, who worked at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill announced on Tuesday.

Hayes is said to have given a lethal dose of insulin to Gwen Crawford on January 5, O'Neill said. Crawford died a few days later on January 8.

Then on January 22, Hayes injected Vickie Lingerfelt with a dose of insulin, O'Neill said. Lingerfelt died on January 27.

Hayes is also accused of giving a near-fatal dose of insulin to Pamela Little back on December 1, 2021, but Little survived, O'Neill said.

Hayes was terminated from the medical center in March after an initial investigation began, according to an Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist representative. He was taken into custody on the murder charges on Tuesday.

Johnathan Hayes, 47, who worked at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, is accused of murdering two patients and nearly killing a third by administering lethal doses of insulin

Hayes has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill announced on Tuesday

The investigation began earlier this year on March 21, when O'Neill said he and Winston-Salem police detectives met with officials from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

He said Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist had first conducted their own investigation and shared information that appeared to show that Hayes allegedly administered a lethal dose of insulin which killed a patient, and that he may have done the same to others.

'We were presented on that day with information by an investigative team that appeared to show that a nurse, Johnathan Hayes, may have administered a lethal dose of insulin causing the death of that patient and perhaps others,' O'Neill said.

The District Attorney's Office and Winston-Salem Police Department took the information and joined forces to conduct another thorough investigation that include interviews, collecting evidence and talking to families of the deceased.

Hayes gave gave a lethal dose of insulin to Gwen Crawford on January 5, O'Neill said. Crawford died a few days later on January 8

Then on January 22, Hayes injected Vickie Lingerfelt with a lethal dose of insulin, O'Neill said. Lingerfelt died on January 27

O'Neill said that the totality of the information and evidence gathered showed that Hayes acted alone and led O'Neill to bring the murder charges against the 'rogue' former nurse.

'All of the evidence indicates Hayes acted alone,' O'Neill added.

O'Neill also emphasized that Hayes is charged with murder and attempted murder, 'not involuntary manslaughter' as he would be for medical malpractice.

'What upsets me about these kinds of cases is that we have a particularly vulnerable kind of victim,' O'Neill said.

'Johnathan Hayes has forfeited the honor of being called a nurse,' O'Neill said. 'From this day forth, he'll be known as a defendant. No one in this community should hesitate or be reluctant to seek treatment from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center or any of our outstanding healthcare facilities that we're blessed to have here in Forsyth County.'

Winston-Salem Police Department has dedicated a phone line for anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Hayes. The number is (336) 757-0357. It is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m.  5 p.m.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing.
A Manhattan hospital is appealing for help to discharge into rehabilitative care an 80-year-old woman who was brought to them six months ago - and is tied to one of Europe's wealthiest families.

The elderly woman was found inside her rent-controlled Central Park South studio apartment on April 4, and taken to Mount Sinai West hospital.

With no health insurance or apparent savings, and having lived an obsessively-controlled hermetic life lived on $2,000-monthly checks, the hospital has run up over $600,000 in bills.

Birgit Thyssen-Bornemisza remains in a shared ward in the hospital, surviving via a feeding tube, while a court-appointed guardian attempts to unravel her finances and any inheritance and ultimately move her to rehab to try and teach her to swallow and walk again.

In August, Judge Lisa Ann Sokoloff appointed a guardian, with temporary authority over the baroness's person and finances.

Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (far right, sitting next to his wife Maud) is pictured in 1930. He died in 1947, aged 72. Heinrich had four children: Stephan, Hans Heinrich, Gabriella and Margit. Stephan's step daughter is now in a New York City hospital, with no apparent means to pay

The 80-year-old scion of one of Europe's wealthiest families has been in a ward in this hospital since April - with no evident means of paying her bill, or financing her rehabilitation

Birgit's step uncle, Hans Heinrich, is pictured in 1985 marrying his fifth wife, Spanish beauty queen Carmen. Hans Heinrich died in 2002: Carmen, 79, is worth an estimated $1.3 billion, and told The New York Times she has tried to help Birgit

The guardian was tasked with applying for a social security number and Medicaid to get her discharged from the hospital, but the elderly woman, despite her frailty, strongly resisted.

When the Swiss foundation that had been sending her monthly checks told her she needed a social security number, to comply with anti-money laundering regulations, she refused and the checks stopped.

'We really are in the dark about her finances,' said Judge Sokoloff at the hearing, according to The New York Times.

'She may have money squirreled away, she may not.'

Birgit Muller, born in Hanover, Germany, was four years old when her mother Ingeborg married Baron Henrik Gabor Istvan Agost Freiherr Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon et Imperfalva, known as Stephan Thyssen-Bornemisza.

He was the eldest son of Heinrich Thyssen, a German industrialist and scion of a centuries-old family.

Stephan's brother, Hans Heinrich, ran the family firm: on his death in 2002 he had accumulated arguably the greatest private art collection in the world, which formed the Thyssen Museum in Madrid, and ran an empire estimated at the time to be worth $2.7 billion.

Hans Heinrich and Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza are pictured at their home in Sant Feliu de Guixols, 80 miles north of Barcelona, in 1998. He died there in 2002, aged 81

Hans Heinrich is seen in 1988. He had one of the world's finest private art collections: when he decided to open a museum, a bidding war between London, Paris and Los Angeles was launched. The museum was ultimately opened in his wife's native Spain

The Thyssen-Bornemisza museum remains one of the most-visited sites in Madrid

Birgit, her mother and stepfather lived a nomadic life, with stints in Monte Carlo and Havana before ending up in New York City in 1961, where they took up residence at the Plaza Hotel.

Stephan Thyssen-Bornemisza was not close to his siblings - Hans Heinrich and sisters Margit and Gabriella - and had 'settled' in 1952 for a payout of $20 million, which The New York Times calculated is equivalent to about $224 million today.

The trio spent much of the money, and came to depend on an additional stipend of several thousand dollars per month, paid through a family foundation.

Birgit's stepfather died in 1981 without a will, an obituary or death notice, and none of his three siblings attended the funeral.

Her mother died in 2002, following a stroke: she had no health insurance, having refused offers to arrange coverage, and the hospitalization depleted what savings she had.

Birgit, then roughly 60, could barely afford the cremation said her lawyer Stanley Cohen.

'They didn't want anything to do with government,' he told The New York Times.

'They were happy being completely anonymous. They didn't trust anybody.'

Birgit's Spanish step-aunt Carmen - the fifth wife of Stephan's brother Hans Heinrich - has tried to help, but when her assistant died the correspondence stopped.

Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, 79, worth an estimated $1.3 billion according to Forbes, told The New York Times she had repeatedly reached out to Birgit but Birgit spurned her offers of assistance.

Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza is pictured in October 2019. She said she has tried to help her step-niece

'She was sweet, a very adorable person,' she told the paper.

'She was really lost when her mother died. I asked her to come to Switzerland. But she was not even able to make decisions without her mother.

'I said: 'Whenever you want, I'm here.'

Birgit's housekeeper said that, in September, she told her she had $10,000 in cash stashed in the apartment, and access to a storage unit where some art was kept.

But it is unclear whether the story is true.

Judge Sokoloff in August said that it was a 'very sad case', which was worsened by Birgit's 'lifelong obsession  and it was an obsession  for keeping her life private.'

She noted the determination to live away from any form of scrutiny, and the fixation with living outside the international financial system, had resulted in 'possibly getting herself cut off from her only income.'
The fiery moment a transgender woman is kicked out of a hotel room after an encounter with the owners has been caught on video.

Cassie Love, 27 claims she was evicted from the property because she is transgender, but the owner says it was because she was smoking cannabis in the room, an allegation she denies.

Footage of the fiery encounter has been uploaded to TikTok and received nearly two million views.

Love was staying at the Whitewood Suites in Christchurch, New Zealand in April, with her partner when she was confronted by the owners of the motel, Mike Woodfield and Elsa Lee at the door of her room.

Love tried to greet them, but her handshake offer was refused as the woman Lee tells her, 'we know what you've been doing. We have a CCTV.'

The fiery moment a transgender woman is kicked out of a hotel room after an encounter with the owners has been caught on video.

The owners then ordered Love and her girlfriend to leave, alleging they had smoked marijuana in the room and left it in a mess.

'Go in the bedroom and f***ing dress and f***ing get out,' Woodfield said. 'I'm sick of f***ing c***s like you.'

As Woodfield orders the guests to leave, Lee phones the police and is heard saying, 'he dress up like a girl'.

'We're getting out stuff sir,' Love says as the angry hotel owner confronts her.

'Well f***ing grab it quick, you're running out of f***ing time,' said Woodfield.

The explosive video, which has been seen 1.7 million times on TikTok, begins with the guest filming as she opens the hotel door to the owner and another woman standing outside

Love tries to greet the owners but her offer of a handshake is refused as the female owner quickly tells her 'we know what you've been doing, we have a CCTV'

Love claimed she has 'never been so scared' during the confrontation

Love says she has complained to the NZ Human Rights Commission over the incident

Love said she had 'never been so scared'.

'Even though I'd been attacked before, at least then I knew that like the public would see it or it was going to be on camera.'

She alleges that she was targeted because she is transgender, however the motel owner claims she was evicted because she and her girlfriend smoked marijuana in the room, allegations Love denies.

'People are people, Im not going to judge them,' he told Stuff.co.nz.

Asked if he has issues with transgender people, Mr Woodfield replied 'I don't care mate if he f...s rabbits. I mix with gay people, I mix with whoever.'

Woodfield also said the couple left behind a mess in the hotel room that took days to clean.

He claimed he refereed to Love by male pronouns because 'she had booked the room under her legal birth name and checked in wearing masculine clothing.'

Love said she couldn't understand why Woodfield was continuing to misgender her when speaking about the situation with other media.

'I haven't been that person for 10 years,' she told the New Zealand Herald.

She also alleged the hotel management took another $300 from her card a month later.

Ms Love said NZ 'is not as progressive as we think it is'.

'I didn't do anything wrong. I've let so many things slide in my life. This is too far.'

She claimed to have lodged a complaint with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission."

Daily Mail has approached the Whitewood Motel for comment.
The would-be kingpin of a commercial empire built on selling body building supplements containing banned drugs linked to cancer, strokes, heart attacks and blindness has pleaded guilty to distributing prohibited harmful substances.

Sydney university student Christopher Ramsey, 30, controlled three companies that made and sold the supplements, which were found to contain drugs banned from Australia and substances that are banned for human use.

Although his warehouse has been raided and company records seized one of the associated websites still advertises the products online.

In a Sydney court hearing last week Ramsey pleaded guilty to more than 200 charges, which included manufacturing, advertising and selling harmful substances and selling unlicensed products, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A Sydney man has pleaded guilty to selling banned harmful and unlicenced substances which were turned into body building and mental enhancement supplements by his three companies, one of which traded as Aus Labs

One of those substances, Cardarine, is considered so cancerous it is banned altogether in Australia but was found in four of the 36 products seized by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

There were 35 other chemicals banned for human use found in the 40 products offered by Natural Franchises Pty Ltd, which traded as Aus Labs, SARMs International Pty Ltd and Smart Labs Pty Ltd - all of which listed Ramsey as sole director.

Some of the substances were known to cause liver toxicity, stroke and blindness, while others had only been tested on animals or were considered 'experimental' with uncertain long-term effects, according to the agreed facts submitted to court.

Christopher Ramsey, 30, has pleaded guilty to distributing the harmful substances in the body building supplements made and sold by his three companies

The Aus Labs website remains online and appears active.

The TGA found Ramsey sold almost $750,000 worth of product after October 2018, some of which were advertised as 'the next step in the process of human improvement and evolution'.

Two of Ramsey's companies made and sold injectable peptides and SARMs (Select Androgen Receptor Modulators), which were marketed as muscle-building alternative to anabolic steroids.

US authorities issued a warning in 2017 that SARMS increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and liver damage and in Australia they can only be obtained with a medical prescription.

No mention was make of this in the Aus Labs advertising which called SARMS 'the pinnacle of years of research' which will 'drastically improve one's endurance and recovery'.

Under the auspices of his Smart Labs company Ramsey also sold 'nootropics', or 'smart drugs', where were claimed to enhance concentration and memory as well as improving a user's social life and combatting hangovers, stress and anxiety.

According to records seized in a 2019 raid by the Therapeutic Goods Administration Ramsey's companies sold $750,000 worth of product after October 2018

The TGA found the active ingredient in these products, which sold as a powder at $130 a kilo, was phenibut, which is listed as an addictive poison in Australian and is banned for everything but research purposes.

In a May 2019 raid of Ramsey's warehouse and laboratory, which was located in two premises along the Princes Highway at Kirrawee in Sydney's south-east, the TGA seized 1.8kg of pure phenibut.

According to records seized by the TGA Ramsey's companies sold close to 500 SARM or peptide products to 3662 customers from October 2018 onwards.

The products being offered by Ramsey and his companies promised they were an alternative to anabolic steroids for muscle building

Ramsey imported the prohibited chemicals from Russia and China to manufacture his products, which proved so popular he roped in his mother and partner to help bottle and label them for shipping.

Neither the mother or partner have been charged.

Ramsey and his associated companies will face sentencing in March next year.
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Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming speaks during a forum organized by the Gwanhun Club, an association of senior Korean journalists, in Seoul, Oct. 26. Yonhap



The top Chinese envoy in Korea on Wednesday described the United States as the "biggest external challenge" to relations between Seoul and Beijing, while calling for the rejection of "outside interference" in order to develop bilateral ties in a "stable" manner.



Ambassador Xing Haiming's blunt remarks, quite unusual for a seasoned career diplomat, came as Washington has been striving to strengthen partnerships with Seoul, Tokyo and other "like-minded" countries amid its intensifying rivalry with Beijing and Pyongyang's sabre-rattling.



"(China-Korea ties) are facing a new critical moment," Xing said during a forum organized by the Kwanhun Club, an association of senior Korean journalists. "The biggest external challenge is the U.S."



Noting that relations between the U.S. and China are "going downhill," Xing pointed out that the ties between the great powers are having a sizable impact on relations between Korea and China.



"Relations between China and the U.S. at this point are going downhill, which has been spawning worries and tension in the world," he said. "That is by no means what China wants, and the root cause of that does not rest with China as it is because of the U.S.' biased perception regarding China."



Xing also took issue with "some" Korean media outlets' "negative" reporting on China, which he claims has worsened public sentiment. He portrayed unfavorable public opinion as the biggest "internal" challenge to relations between the two countries.



"It's very regrettable to note favorability between the peoples of the two countries isn't high," he said. "Candidly speaking, I believe a key reason for that is the inordinately negative reporting on China by some Korean media outlets."



Reflecting on the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Beijing, the ambassador pointed out that bilateral engagement has brought about "practical benefits" for both countries.



"I would greatly appreciate it if Korea sees China and its relations with China in light of the interests of its nation and people," he said. "I would also be greatly grateful if Korea wards off outside interference and develops bilateral relations in a stable, long-term fashion."



Xing rejected the notion that China is pushing a country to take its side in the midst of an intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry.



"What I want to stress is that we have never demanded a country pick a side," he said. "We believe that all countries should make their own independent choice based on their own interests and from righteous historical perspectives." (Yonhap)


Diesel fuel has leaked into the water at a popular Australian holiday destination after a luxury superyacht caught fire and sank.

The 25-metre Sunseeker 82 Yacht, believed to be called 'Time Out', was docked on Hamilton Island, in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, when a blaze erupted onboard.

Firefighters were called to Marine Terrace marina at about 10.40am on Monday and worked for over seven hours to extinguish the engulfed vessel.

Active flames were still visible on the bow just before 8pm as the rear of the boat sank spilling less than 100 litres of diesel fuel into the crystal clear water.

Debris, ash and diesel fuel pictured in the water on Hamilton Island Marina, in Queensland's Whitsundays region, after a superyacht caught fire and sank

The vessel had 2,000 litres of fuel on board, however due to the quick thinking of the salvage team who shut off the fuel valves, less than 100 litres leaked out.

While the vessel was engulfed in flames, pollution absorbent booms were placed around the boat, which prevented debris from entering the water, with all debris contained and eventually scooped out.

The booms will remain in place allowing any further debris falling from the boat to be removed from the water.

An eyewitness who was holidaying on the island said massive plumes of smoke billowed from the yacht for at least 10 hours as fire crews set up a base outside the island's only supermarket.

She told Daily Mail Australia giant fans were installed to cool the firefighters down as they scrambled to contain the blaze on a 30C day on the humid tropical island.

The yacht was built in the UK, with interiors styled by British designer Ken Freivokh - boasting four suites which could sleep eight people.

Emergency Services VMR Whitsundays Skipper Mal Priday said VMR1 had to be moved several times to get clear of the acrid, thick smoke in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

'On the way across, we could still see smoke even from the middle of the Whitsunday Passage, more than six hours after it had started,' Mr Priday wrote.

'We had permission to disembark the firies and their gear as close as we dared to get to the burning boat.

'Some adjacent boats had smoke and a bit of heat damage, lucky no other vessels suffered the same fate.

'VMR1 had to be moved a couple of times to get clear of the acrid, thick smoke that was swirling around, with flames rising up to 5 metres...'

The 25-metre Sunseeker 82 Yacht, believed to be named 'Time Out', was docked on Hamilton Island when a blaze erupted onboard and completely engulfed the vessel in flames, sending plumes of black smoke into the air (pictured)

The yacht, was delivered in 2003 by UK-based luxury superyacht builder Sunseeker and sold for up to $7.5m new, with pre-owned boats selling between $2.1m and $3.95m (pictured, stock image of 2003 Sunseeker 82 Yacht)

Mr Priday said firefighters decided to let the fire burn out despite active flames still visibly burning on the bow of the boat as it was impossible to get to them.

Queensland Ambulance Service said some members of the public who had gone to the marina to watch the fire suffered smoke inhalation.

'Time Out' was delivered in 2003 by UK-based luxury superyacht builder Sunseeker.

The yacht, which was part of the Sunseeker 82 line, featured an exterior design signed off by longtime Sunseeker partner Don Shead Yacht Design.

The luxury boat accommodated eight guests across four staterooms and three crew members in two cabins and was powered by twin engines - giving it a top speed of 32 knots.

The model sold for up to $7.5m in the year it was released, with pre-owned boats selling for between $2.1m and $3.95m in 2022.

No one was onboard the luxury boat when the fire broke out and there are no reports of anyone injured.

It took firefighters over seven hours to extinguish the blaze with an eyewitness claiming they saw smoke billowing from the yacht for at least 10 hours

Active flames were still visible on the bow just before 8pm as the rear of the boat sank (pictured)

The fire was contained to the superyacht with smoke and heat damage affecting some neighbouring vessels.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, however an investigation is ongoing.

Hamilton Island is a luxury holiday destination off the coast of Queensland near Airlie Beach.

The Island is located 265 km from the Great Barrier Reef - roughly two hours via catamaran.
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Rishi Sunak stepped up to the international stage last night taking calls from world leaders as he laid down the foundations for his premiership.

The new PM had earlier hit headlines with a dramatic cabinet reshuffle that saw him displace key Truss allies while retaining Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor and James Cleverly as Foreign Secretary and reappointing Suella Braverman to the Home Office.

Hours after his cabinet reshuffle, Mr Sunak took a call from US president Joe Biden and discussed the war in Ukraine, as the US President called the UK his country's 'closest ally'. This was despite the president earlier mispronouncing the PM's name as 'Rashee Sanook' in his congratulatory speech.

The new Prime Minister will meet Joe Biden in the coming weeks at the G20 summit in Indonesia.

Sunak reiterated the 'special relationship' between the UK and US by referring to the two countries 'the closest of allies' in an Instagram post, alongside a picture of himself taking the call.

The PM also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledged the UK would continue to provide support as it defends itself from Russian aggression. Zelensky in turn invited Sunak to visit Ukraine.

Yesterday, the PM received congratulatory messages from a host of other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Gloria Meloni, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

But not all reactions were quite as welcoming, as Russia acknowledged the new Prime Minister in the frostiest of terms.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that in Moscow, 'we do not see any preconditions, grounds, or hope that in the foreseeable future there will be any positive changes' in the relationship between the United Kingdom and Russia.

Rishi Sunak posted a picture on Instagram of his conversation with President Joe Biden and sought to strengthen the special relationship between the UK and US by calling the two countries 'the closest of allies'

The new PM had a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured today) and doubled down on the UK's commitment to assist Ukraine defend itself against Russia's war

A Downing Street spokesperson said that Mr Biden had congratulated Mr Sunak on his appointment, adding that 'the leaders looked forward to working closely together'.

Both of Sunak's predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss had vocally promised full support to war-torn Ukraine and on Tuesday evening the new Prime Minister said the UK's support would be as 'strong as ever' under his leadership.

Calling it a 'privilege' to speak to Mr Zelensky, who had earlier sent him congratulations, Mr Sunak tweeted: 'Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support.

'We will always stand with Ukraine.'

Mr Zelensky, in a tweet, called it an 'excellent conversation' with the pair agreeing to 'write a new chapter' in relations between the two countries.

Speaking outside Number 10 on Tuesday, the new Prime Minister referenced Russia's invasion of Ukraine twice, saying: 'Putin's war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over.'

'President Biden said that the UK remains America's closest ally, and the Prime Minister agreed on the huge strength of the relationship,' said a Downing Street spokesman

In his congratulatory message to Mr Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron said the UK and France will work together to tackle the challenge of the war in Ukraine.

In recent days, Biden appeared to publicly criticise short-lived PM Liz Truss's doomed economic strategy, in a rare intervention by the US President.

Relations between the two countries have also been somewhat strained in recent years amid ongoing UK-EU tensions over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland, with White House concerns over the impact on peace in the region.

The issue appears to have come up in the call, according to details released by Downing Street, as well as the war in Ukraine and the rising power of China.

President Zelensky congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and wished him a happy Diwali. The Prime Minister thanked him and said he hoped they would see each other in person soon.'

In his congratulatory message to Mr Sunak earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron also said the two countries would work together to tackle the challenge of the war in Ukraine.

Ms Truss was widely criticised after she declined to say whether Mr Macron was a 'friend or foe' when asked during the previous Tory leadership contest.

Mr Macron later suggested it was a 'problem' if Britain could not call itself a friend of France.

From Italy, newly-installed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (left) said that she was 'eager to cooperate with Mr Sunak'; while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) tweeted: 'I look forward to our further cooperation and partnership in NATO and the G7 as close friends'

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari (left) said that with Sunak 'as the first Prime Minister of British-Asian descent and the youngest in about 200 years, these milestones will be especially inspiring for young people'; while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) did not wait for Sunak to be officially appointed, sending congratulations via Twitter on Monday

WHAT DID RISHI SUNAK TALK ABOUT IN CALLS WITH BIDEN AND ZELENSKY? A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'President Biden congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and the leaders looked forward to working closely together. 'President Biden said that the UK remains America's closest ally, and the Prime Minister agreed on the huge strength of the relationship. 'The leaders discussed the extent of UK-US cooperation, both bilaterally and in regions such as the Indo-Pacific where the AUKUS pact forms part of our efforts to enhance stability and counter China's malign influence. 'They reflected on the leading role our countries are playing in supporting the people of Ukraine and ensuring Putin fails in this war. 'The Prime Minister and President Biden also agreed on the need to ensure the people of Northern Ireland have security and prosperity through preserving the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. 'The leaders looked forward to meeting in person at the upcoming G20 Summit in Indonesia.' The spokesperson added that Sunak's call with Zelensky had been 'to underline the United Kingdom's steadfast support for Ukraine'. 'The Prime Minister said the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine would be as strong as ever under his premiership, and President Zelensky could count on his Government to stand in continued solidarity. 'The Prime Minister also noted the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency's work in Ukraine to ensure nuclear safety and provide transparency around any disinformation. 'Both leaders agreed on the need to continue to place pressure on Putin's barbaric regime through continued economic sanctions.' Advertisement

Ms Truss eventually hailed the French President as a friend when the pair met at the first summit of the European Political Community in Prague.

In his message to Mr Sunak, Mr Macron tweeted: 'Congratulations to Rishi Sunak, who has become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

'Together we will continue working to tackle the challenges of the moment, including the war in Ukraine and its many consequences for Europe and the world.'

The new PM received a host of congratulations from other world leaders during his first day in office.

From Italy, newly-installed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that she was 'eager to cooperate with (Sunak) and his cabinet on the common challenges, standing for our shared values of freedom and democracy.'

'I look forward to our further cooperation and partnership in NATO and (the) G7 as close friends,' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tweeted.

Maros Sefcovic, the European Union's point man on post-Brexit ties with Britain, said that 'a positive EU-UK relationship is of strategic importance'.

He vowed to work towards 'a partnership in full respect of our agreements' - including the contentious issue of British province Northern Ireland's land border with EU-member Ireland.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that 'in these testing times for our continent, we count on a strong relationship with the UK to defend our common values'.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that with Sunak 'as the first Prime Minister of British-Asian descent and the youngest in about 200 years, these milestones will be especially inspiring for young people' in the Commonwealth, the association mostly of former British colonies.

'We seek to deepen our partnership with Britain' to address challenges including terrorism, food insecurity, energy and climate change, Buhari added.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Sunak to be officially appointed, sending congratulations via Twitter on Monday.

'As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues,' Modi wrote.

'Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership,' he added.

Sunak is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys.

The Prime Minister also made time to speak with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, in a stark contrast with Ms Truss who was strongly criticised for failing to speak with Mr Drakeford in her time in office.

It is expected that the first meeting of Mr Sunak's new-look Cabinet could come as soon as this morning, in what would amount to a gathering of Sunak allies, former Truss backers and figures too from the right-wing of the party.

A No 10 source said that the new Cabinet 'brings the talents of the party together' and that it reflects a 'unified party'.

The coming days are likely to bring details of what policies Mr Sunak might pursue alongside continuing Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as the pair ponder how to fill the multi-billion pound fiscal black hole inherited from the Truss administration.

Sunak will face off against Labour leader for his first PMQs today. His government's fiscal statement is still scheduled for October 31, but there is speculation that date could shift.
Dr Charlie Teo has denied he is 'money hungry' or 'unethical' after he was accused of charging desperate families large fees to operate on their loved ones - as he admits that if he was 'driven by money' he would have quit years ago.

The famous 'last chance' neurosurgeon told the Today Show that surgery was only unethical if it was done for reasons like glory, money or 'proving a point'.

Dr Teo said his job was to be the patient's advocate when deciding whether it was safe to operate - especially if their loved ones were desperate to keep them alive.

'It's no wonder you want to keep them alive because you love them so much and you can't bear them dying,' he told hosts Ally Langdon and Karl Stefanovic.

'That is not a good enough reason for me to operate on that person.'

The famous 'last chance' neurosurgeon (pictured on the Today Show on Wednesday) said surgery was only unethical when it was done for reasons like glory, money or 'proving a point'

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints.

The surgeon appeared on A Current Affair on Tuesday night to speak to allegations that he charged exorbitant fees to the desperate families of young patients, a four-year-old Indian boy, and a girl, seven, from the Hunter Valley.

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 for help.

The operation to remove the tumour from his brain stem left him unable to walk, speak or breathe unaided again. He died ten months later, in August 2019, shortly after the tumour inevitably returned.

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

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

Bella Howard, of Shoal Bay, was 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 and died seven months later after the tumour returned.

Langdon asked if the two young patients had been 'collateral damage'.

Teo responded: 'That is so emotive that term, Ally, it sounds terrible.'

Langdon continued questioning him, asking: 'But I put that to you, do you have to accept that what you're doing and how experimental it is that you have Mikolaj and Bella who are paying the price?'

'They have paid a terrible price,' Dr Teo said.

'Mikolaj was the cutest little boy. I mean, he came up, he cuddled me, he called me Dr Charlie, and I've got to live with that.

'But I still do it is because for every Mikolaj, there's more patients who do well, who would have died that are either cured or their lives have been extended with surgery.

'I have more successes than failures, Dr Teo explained. 'Those successes are very significant successes.

'The man from Germany was dying and I took out his tumour, he is now alive three years later, enjoying life.

'He is in a wheelchair but he rides a wheelchair bike, he still spends time with his children. And it could have been worse.

'He could have died with surgery or died four weeks later. He took that risk and it paid off. And he's just one of several others who have done extremely well,' Dr Teo said.

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints (the surgeon is pictured with partner Traci Griffiths)

'I am pushing the boundaries. But someone's got to push the boundaries, and unfortunately some people pay the price.

'As long as they pay the price knowing full well why I'm doing it. I do it for good reasons, to the greater good, for the benefit of the patient and sometimes it doesn't work. That's why we call it brain surgery.'

Dr Teo said Bella or Mikolaj's families hadn't sued him because he had been 'acutely honest' with them he outlined the risks of surgery.

Stefanovic said there was 'constant' reference to Dr Two as 'money hungry' and asked if the surgeon 'grabbed too much from families who can't afford it'.

Dr Teo said he wished he didn't have to 'grab anything' and pointed to his four months of pro bono work overseas and $50 million raised for charity.

'Money doesn't drive me. Do I have to have money? Absolutely. I've got to pay my malpractice insurance,' the surgeon said.

'If I was driven by money I would have got out ages ago, I would have been in a business that brings in money.

'If I was driven by ego or celebrity status, I would have had that and stopped.

The surgeon (pictured) said he wasn't a money-hungry person and that it was the opportunity to help his patients that made him eager to continue operating

Dr Teo (pictured mid-operation) said he hadn't been sued by Bella or Mikolaj's families because he had been 'acutely honest' with them when outlining the risks of surgery

'Patients call me every day asking to see me. Someone is dying, my child is dying, what can you do? To be able to say to them, yes, I can give you hope, or yes I can operate or, yes, I can give you a second opinion, that is what drives me.'

The controversial neurosurgeon was asked whether he gives patients with just days, weeks or months to live false hope or over-promises the surgery will be successful.

'You've got to be in my shoes,' the surgeon replied.

'You've got to sit in that room, deal with the patients, feel the emotion, listen to all of that honesty. You have to feel my pain when the patient doesn't do well and then if you've walked a mile in my shoes you can make a judgement.

'Until then, it's too simplistic and reductionist to say he does that or does that.'

When ask if he would live to work in Australia again, the surgeon said it would be hard to work in a hostile work environment that could influence his practice.

'I'd love to work again in Australia but it's hard to work in a hostile environment. I mean, brain surgery is bad enough as it is and then when you have knives poised at your back and media breathing down.

'I'm sorry, but if you have media breathing down your throat looking for the failures and looking to condemn you, it's added stress,' he explained.

'The stress should be the stress of the operation. So I want to operate in an environment where it's perfect, where I can just focus on the disease, that's the enemy.'
DOMINIC RAAB

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Raab's stint on the backbenches following Liz Truss's reshuffle was a brief one, having been rewarded for his loyalty to Rishi Sunak with a return to Government.

Conservative MP Dominic Raab arrives for a meeting with newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street yesterday

Newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waves to members of the media before entering 10 Downing Street after delivering his first speech

The karate blackbelt and former Foreign Office lawyer will be given an opportunity to pick up where he left off under Boris Johnson, as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary.

JEREMY HUNT

Chancellor of the Exchequer

A vastly experienced minister across the many departments, Mr Hunt replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor this month.

He put in a measured performance from the Commons despatch box as he tore up Miss Truss's tax-cutting plans, calming the markets.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt stands outside 10 Downing Street yesterday as he is reappointed to the role

Mr Hunt, the longest-serving health secretary in British political history, keeps his job and remains in No 11 Downing Street.

SUELLA BRAVERMAN

Home Secretary

Mrs Braverman is a leading figure on the Right of the party, and came out in support of Rishi Sunak during the latest leadership contest.

She returns as Home Secretary, a week after she was forced out of Government for breaking the ministerial code after emailing a sensitive document from a personal account.

Glad to be back: Suella Braverman strides out of No10 yesterday

Often outspoken, she recently blamed eco-protests across the country on 'the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati'.

JAMES CLEVERLY

Foreign Secretary

Mr Cleverly retains his job as Foreign Secretary  one of the Great Offices of State  despite being an old ally of Boris Johnson. In fact, Mr Cleverly publicly endorsed Mr Johnson for PM in the latest leadership race and had previously been a staunch backer of Liz Truss.

BEN WALLACE

Defence Secretary

Retaining former soldier Mr Wallace as Defence Secretary is likely to be an attempt to soothe the military community amid growing unease over defence spending. The Sandhurst graduate has been in post for more than three years, making him one of the longest-serving ministers to hold the same position.

STEVE BARCLAY

Health Secretary

Mr Barclay returns to his job in Government having previously been sacked as Health Secretary as part of Liz Truss's reshuffle. He previously held the role for two months and was memorably interrupted by a heckler while giving an interview outside a hospital. Mr Barclay worked with Rishi Sunak at the Treasury during the pandemic. He will be expected to get a grip on NHS spending.

NADHIM ZAHAWI

Minister Without Portfolio

Mr Zahawi earned a reputation during the pandemic as a safe pair of hands and skilled media performer. But the former vaccine minister's magic touch well and truly deserted him during the two recent Tory leadership races after a series of loyalty flip-flops.

OLIVER DOWDEN

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Mr Dowden now holds the most senior Cabinet position after the PM. The ex-Culture Secretary has been rewarded for his unwavering support during the leadership races. He quit as party chairman after taking responsibility for the Tories' disastrous by-election defeats in two seats in the summer.

GRANT SHAPPS

Business Secretary

Grant Shapps who has been appointed Business Secretary after briefly being appointed as Home Secretary by ex-PM Liz Truss, leaves Downing Street

Mr Shapps is another to have served across multiple government departments, most recently as Home Secretary less than a week ago following the departure of Suella Braverman. He was a prominent figure during the pandemic as transport secretary.

GILLIAN KEEGAN

Education Secretary

Passed the test: Gillian Keegan is the new Education Secretary

Mrs Keegan is the fifth person this year to hold the position of Education Secretary. She spent a year as health minister before moving to the Foreign Office as part of Liz Truss's doomed premiership.

She was forced to apologise earlier this year for an 'error of judgment' after continuing a meeting with grieving fathers despite testing positive for Covid part- way through.

PENNY MORDAUNT

Commons Leader

Penny Mordaunt has been appointed Britain's Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

In a major humiliation, there was no big promotion for Miss Mordaunt, the former magician's assistant who holds on to her position as Leader of the House of Commons.

She stood against Mr Sunak for the leadership this weekend, but pulled out at the last moment when it became clear she did not have the backing of enough MPs.

She appears to have paid the price for her failure to strike a deal with her rival.

MEL STRIDE

Work and Pensions Secretary

Mr Stride is well known to Rishi Sunak, having managed his campaign to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. He publicly criticised Liz Truss's ill-fated mini-Budget, saying it had put the Conservative Party's reputation for managing the economy in jeopardy. The chairman of the Treasury Select Committee is a former president of the Oxford Union.

THERESE COFFEY

Environment Secretary

A big demotion on the face of it for ex-health secretary Miss Coffey, though the fact she remains in Government despite her support of Liz Truss suggests the PM was keen to appease his predecessor's followers. The self-confessed karaoke fan admitted she was 'not the role model' when it came to her own health after being questioned about her lifestyle. She left Downing Street yesterday by announcing she was 'going home to Defra'  a department which she served in for three years from 2016.

SIMON HART

Chief Whip

The former Welsh Secretary is not exactly a household name. But he takes on one of the most significant roles in Government, responsible for ensuring discipline within the Conservative Parliamentary Party.

SIR GAVIN WILLIAMSON

Minister Without Portfolio

The former education secretary and master of the parliamentary arts and will attend Cabinet, a clear reward for his staunch backing of Mr Sunak's campaign.

Other appointments yesterday: Michelle Donelan, Culture Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, International Trade Secretary, Mark Harper, Transport Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary, Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, David TC Davies, Secretary of State for Wales, Lord True, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords, Victoria Prentis, Attorney General, Jeremy Quin, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Tom Tugendhat, Security Minister, Robert Jenrick, Immigration Minister, Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development
The company states any items on the balcony must receive prior approval

A strata management company has sent a letter to tenants warning that all items on their balconies, including pot plants and barbeques, will now require approval.

The company contacted residents in an apartment building in Sydney on Monday informing them of the new process.

The letter warned residents that anything added to unit balconies facing the street must gain prior approval from the strata management company.

This included but was not limited to: outdoor furniture, barbeques and pot plants in what they describe as 'loud colours'.

'With several apartments currently for rent or sale, we must present the building as favourably as possible,' the letter posted on Reddit read.

A strata management company has informed tenants all items on balconies, including pot plants and barbeques will require approval from the apartment complex

The notice also reminded all tenants that every unit is fitted with a dryer and therefore there is 'no reason' for laundry to be visible from the street.

The notice stated that a 'change request' must be submitted to the supplied email seven days prior for approval.

'We suggest complying with the above guidelines to avoid issues going forward,' the letter states.

The notice also reminded all tenants that every unit is fitted with a dryer and therefore there is 'no reason' for laundry to be visible from the street.

The letter noted a 'change request' must be submitted to the supplied email seven days prior for approval for anything to be added onto the balcony

The letter states, 'laundry should not be visible from your balcony at ANY time. There is a dryer in every unit so there is no reason to be airing laundry outdoors.'

Reddit user @HellsAverageRig posted the strata notice alongside the caption, 'Just got this utterly bizarre note from strata. They want to approve our furniture purchases and PLANT POTS now? Surely this isnt enforceable?'

Other users agreed, echoing the ridiculousness of the request.

'Honestly if I was interested in purchasing a unit I would like all the balconies to look a bit different.. seeing one grey pot plant with one grey chair on each balcony would turn me off knowing I would be locked into the same stupid uniform regulations with no free will,' one person commented.

'Print a bunch of these off and leave them absolutely everywhere so that all prospective new tenants know what theyre getting into,' a second said.

'No reason to dry laundry outdoors? It's better for the environment (and your energy bills!),' a third wrote.

''There is a dryer in every unit' - yeah pal but who's paying the electricity bill,' a fourth said.

In NSW if a tenant wishes to make an alteration to a property, they are expected to ask the landlord, owners' corporation or strata body for permission to do so. If the alteration is minor in nature, the landlord cannot unreasonably withhold their consent.

If a dispute arises, NSW's Department of Fair Trading suggests tenants first try to resolve it directly with the strata corporation. It also offers a free mediation service that can be applied for online.

Finally, a tenant can take the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a formal decision on whether that garish yellow pot plant stays or goes.
One of Australia's best known media commentators is looking for answers after bureaucracy left her stranded in a wheelchair outside Sydney Airport.

Journalist Tracey Spicer, who suffers from an 'energy production disorder' as a result of long Covid, uses a wheelchair at times and needed one to get into the airport on Tuesday.

Taking to Twitter, Spicer revealed she was in a 'bloody ridiculous' situation after the driver of her hire car was refusing to wheel me inside the terminal'.

Spicer previously said long Covid had left her feeling 'like a shadow of my former self'.

Tracey Spicer (pictured) said long Covid had left her feeling 'like a shadow of my former self'

Spicer, who suffers from 'energy production disorder' as a result of long Covid, uses a wheelchair (similar to the one pictured) at times, which caused difficulties for her at Sydney Airport on Tuesday

Spicer, who got an Order of Australia award for her media and charity work, said she was at a stalemate, with her airline Virgin also 'refusing to come outside to wheel me inside, in order to put my wheelchair on the flight'.

'Any advice?' she asked her 61,000 followers.

Supporters of Spicer quickly took to the tweet to blast both the airport and Virgin Australia, with one labelling the situation as 'rank ableism'.

However the situation was eventually resolved.

'The driver FINALLY agreed to push my wheelchair into the terminal, after I stood up for myself. (Metaphorically,)' she wrote.

'The lovely staff at Virgin Australia said next time all the driver has to do is ask the high-vis vest attendants to go inside and ask someone to come out.'

Spicer said she 'eventually got help through passive resistance'.

'I simply said I would not leave the car without some form of help,' she wrote.

'I wasn't budging, so the driver eventually relented and pushed me in.

'But the (Virgin) staff member confirmed they are not supposed to leave the terminal - and drivers are not supposed to wheel people in - so what can we do...?

What is an 'energy production disorder' Mitochondria are the 'energy factory' of our body. Mitochondrial diseases are long-term, genetic, often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for the body to function properly. One in 5,000 individuals has a genetic mitochondrial disease. A recent long Covid study suggests a wholesale shift in muscle production may have occurred. Sources: clevelandclinic.org and healthrising.org Advertisement

'It's bloody ridiculous.'

Having copied Virgin Australia into her tweets, the airline's social media account quickly tweeted sympathy, but not much help for future difficulties Spicer may encounter.

'Hi Tracey, we are glad to hear you are on safely inside the terminal. We do sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused.

'We hope you have a wonderful flight,' Virgin Australia said.

Spicer said she feared there may be more trouble ahead.

'Thank you, however I have more flights coming up and I'm worried about being stuck outside again,' she said.

'Also worried about how other people navigate the grey space from a vehicle to inside the terminal.

'How can we arrange for someone from Virgin to come to the kerb to assist us?'

She later tweeted the advice she had received from the airport.

'Apparently if you have no family help, each time you go to an airport with a wheelchair, the driver has to call the airport management authority and request permission to push the person inside the terminal,' she wrote.

Spicer said Virgin told her the situation with wheelchairs was 'an airport rule - but Qantas seems to be able to offer the service, no problem'.

Responding to one of her followers, Spicer said she was 'sure the reason for Virgin is quite valid'.

'Workers compensation issues outside the terminal itself,' she wrote.

Tracey Spicer said in a tweet (pictured) that the situation which left her stranded at Sydney Airport is 'bloody ridiculous'

'But there has got to be a plan in place, in order to avoid discriminating against people with disabilities.'

Commenters agreed with her, with one saying 'What a load of c**p! I am furious! This rank ableism is just disgusting!'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Spicer, Virgin Australia and Sydney Airport seeking comment for this story.

Journalist Tracey Spicer reveals the 'absolutely crushing' reality of living with long Covid and how her chest pain was so severe she thought she was having a heart attack

Tracey Spicer says she feels like 'a shadow of her former self' after long Covid

She contracted virus in January and still suffers from most of her symptoms

The journalist is calling on the government to do more to understand condition

By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

A triple vaccinated journalist suffering from long Covid is calling on the government to recognise the illness as a disease - noting it's left her feeling like 'a shadow of her former self'.

Tracey Spicer contracted Covid in January while holidaying on the Gold Coast and still hasn't entirely recovered three months on.

She told nine.com.au menial tasks are 'absolutely crushing'.

Spicer noted the lack of clear advice among healthcare professionals when a person believes they're suffering from long Covid.

Recognised by the World Health Organisation and considered a disease in the United States, long Covid is generally noted as when a coronavirus infection lasts beyond two months.

Tracey Spicer (pictured) has noted the lack of clear advice among healthcare professionals when a person believes they're suffering from long Covid

Common symptoms include fatigue, 'brain fog' and shortness of breath, among others.

'We need a government-led public information campaign to inform health care workers and doctors as well as the public about the symptoms, and what they should be doing about it,' Spicer suggested.

The Walkley Award winning newsreader said one GP advised her to push through crippling fatigue while a Covid expert at St Vincent's Hospital gave her completely opposing advice.

She can barely walk around the block, cooking a meal exerts significant amounts of energy and she's suffered 'debilitating exhaustion'.

'I had a very worrying four weeks where I was in and out of hospital with chest pain, I thought I was having a heart attack,' she said.

'I felt like a shadow of my former self.'

She can barely walk around the block, cooking a meal exerts significant amounts of energy and she's suffered 'debilitating exhaustion'

Spicer noted the lack of clear advice among healthcare professionals when a person believes they're suffering from long Covid.

Recognised by the World Health Organisation and considered a disease in the United States, long Covid is generally noted as when a coronavirus infection lasts beyond two months.

Common symptoms include fatigue, 'brain fog' and shortness of breath, among others.

'We need a government-led public information campaign to inform health care workers and doctors as well as the public about the symptoms, and what they should be doing about it,' Spicer suggested.

Tracey Spicer is pictured in her time as a new presenter on Channel Ten. She got an Order of Australia award for her media and charity work

The Walkley Award winning newsreader said one GP advised her to push through crippling fatigue while a Covid expert at St Vincent's Hospital gave her completely opposing advice.

The expert warned her to cut all exercise from her routine or risk 'feeling like this for years'.

Spicer was left bedridden for two weeks when she first came down with Covid. While some of her symptoms, like a persistent cough, eased over time, she's seen little improvement with her overall health.

With almost 4.5 million known cases of Covid in Australia since the pandemic began, there is very little information about how many people could be suffering long Covid.

Modelling by Deakin University estimates up to 300,000 people could already be suffering.

The Australian government urges anyone who is concerned they may have long Covid to visit their GP.
Britain's newly-appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been called the 'premier from the slums' by a Russian newspaper.

The financial publication Kommersant used the slur against the prime minister, 42, as well as dubbing him the 'first black head of the British government' - a term that is often used to refer to someone who is 'dark-skinned'.

Kommersant used sixteen images to document Rishi's rise to power, and in the first wrote: 'Both of Rishi Sunak's grandfathers are Punjabis from the most disadvantaged regions of British India.'

Sunak's paternal grandparents - Ramdas and Suhag - were born in Gujranwala, in what was then British India but is now Pakistan. Little is known about their upbringing but the couple are unlikely to have grown up wealthy.

At some point they relocated to Tanzania to small community of Punjabi Indians. Living in the same region - in what was then the nation of Tanganyika - were Rishi's maternal grandparents Raghubir, an immigrant, and Sraksha, who was born locally.

In the 1960s, Sraksha sold her wedding jewellery to move to the UK where she got a job as a book-keeper and saved up enough to move the rest of the family - including Rishi's parents Yashvir and Usha - to Britain.

The financial publication Kommersant used the slur against the prime minister, 42, as well as dubbing him the 'first black head of the British government'. Kommersant used the headline for a photo gallery illustrating Sunak's path to the top job, pictured

Yashvir and Usha settled in Southampton where he worked as an NHS GP and she ran a pharmacy, which was where RIshi was born in 1980.

The publication put out the images on their website and social media after Sunak was elected.

It chronicled his journey into politics from the age of 17, when he wrote his first political manifesto.

And the paper also wrote of the jobs he had before he came a politician in 2015.

The article also published images of Sunak and his wife and discussed the politicians whom he has supported throughout his career.

Kommersant also wrote of Sunak's riches, as the new leader and his wife take the position of 222nd richest in the world, with a combined fortune of 730 million.

The article also published images of Sunak and his wife and discussed the politicians whom he has supported throughout his career. Pictured: Sunak and his wife in February this year

Kommersant also wrote of Sunak's riches, as the new leader and his wife take the position of 222nd richest in the world, with a combined fortune of 730 million. Pictured: Akshata Murthy, Sunak's wife, in August

The use of the slurs to describe Sunak comes after Russia, who is in an ongoing war with Ukraine, said there is 'no hope' of an ease in tensions under the new leader.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the appointment of the former chancellor will do little to repair the damaged diplomatic relationship caused by Vladimir Putin's barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

However, Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the new leader, after forging a strong friendship with Boris Johnson who was unwavering in his support of Kyiv.

Peskov said yesterday: 'At the moment, we do not see any preconditions, grounds, or hope that in the foreseeable future there will be any positive changes.

'Russia maintains its openness and readiness to discuss the most difficult issues at the negotiating table. But not to the detriment of its own interests.'

Russia has already blasted any hope of improving ties with Britain, saying there is 'no hope' of an ease in tensions under new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Volodymyr Zelensky, seen with Boris Johnson in Kyiv earlier this year, instead welcomed Mr Sunak as leader. He forged a strong friendship with Mr Johnson during his tenure

Mr Zelensky said it was a chance to strengthen ties even further with a key military ally

Mr Zelensky instead congratulated Mr Sunak and said it was a chance to strengthen ties even further with a key military ally.

The Ukrainian President said: 'Congratulations to Rishi Sunak on taking office as British Prime Minister!'

'I wish you too successfully overcome all the challenges facing British society and the whole world today.

'I'm ready to continue strengthening the Ukrainian-British strategic partnership together!' the Ukrainian leader added.

Emmanuel Macron also joined in with the chorus of congratulations from world leaders for the new PM.

The French President had a tricky relationship with Mr Johnson and Liz Truss, who refused to say whether he was a 'friend or foe'.

Liz Truss and French President Emmanuel Macron. The former PM refused to say whether he was a 'friend or foe'

Mr Macron said yesterday: 'Congratulations to Rishi Sunak... together we will continue working to tackle the challenges of the moment, including the war in Ukraine and its many consequences for Europe and the world.'

Elsewhere in Europe, German chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Mr Sunak after he became Britain's third prime minister this year, and vowed to continue working closely with London.

'I look forward to our further cooperation and partnership in NATO and G7 as close friends,' Mr Scholz tweeted.

From Italy, newly installed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that she was 'eager to cooperate with [Mr Sunak] and his Cabinet on the common challenges, standing for our shared values of freedom and democracy.'

Maros Sefcovic, the European Union's pointman on post-Brexit ties with Britain, said that 'a positive EU-UK relationship is of strategic importance'.

He vowed to work towards 'a partnership in full respect of our agreements'  including the contentious issue of British province Northern Ireland's land border with EU-member Ireland.

Across the Irish Sea, leaders welcomed the news but cautioned that Sunak must move quickly to resolve an impasse on the Northern Ireland protocol.

Prime minister Micheal Martin called on Mr Sunak to move quickly to start substantive engagement with the European Union on post-Brexit trade rules governing Northern Ireland.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Mr Sunak to be officially appointed and sent his congratulations via Twitter on Monday

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr Sunak on Twitter and wrote: 'Special Diwali wishes to 'living bridge' of UK Indians as we transform historic ties into modern partnership'

He said in a statement: 'Building on work already under way, there is a real opportunity for the EU and UK to find jointly agreed solutions on the issues pertaining to the [Northern Ireland] Protocol, and I urge Prime Minister Sunak to move quickly to substantive engagement with the EU on that basis.'

Ireland's deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar, who is due to take over as prime minister in December, said he was encouraged by the pragmatism and lack of 'magical thinking' demonstrated by Mr Sunak.

Mr Varadkar, who was a key player in trade talks between Britain and the European Union during an earlier stint as prime minister, said however that Ireland would be realistic about Mr Sunak's history as a Brexit supporter.

'I think he has demonstrated during his period as chancellor that he did have a real understanding of the economy and how it works ... and a real concern for businesses and jobs,' he said of Sunak at a press briefing today.

'And I think he has probably demonstrated a lot of pragmatism and less of the magical thinking that we perhaps have seen from some British politicians and I think that is encouraging,' he said.

Dublin, however, needs to be realistic in its expectations of a breakthrough due to Sunak's history as an early supporter of Brexit, Mr Varadkar said.

Joe Biden also hailed the appointment of Britain's first non-white prime minister as a 'groundbreaking milestone,' but failed to pronounce his name correctly in an embarrassing gaffe.

The US President stumbled over Mr Sunak's name, making several failed attempts before calling him 'Rashee Sanook'.

Joe Biden, speaking at a White House event to mark the Indian holiday of Diwali, said Rishi Sunak, who is also of Indian descent, is expected to be named Prime Minister today after seeing King Charles. But he stumbled over his name, calling him 'Rashee Sanook'

In his speech, Mr Biden said: 'And whether it's the United Kingdom, where just today, we've got news that [Rishi Sunak] is now the prime minister.

'As my brother would say, ''go figure!"' he exclaimed, to a round of laughs from the audience.

'And the Conservative Party, expected to become the Prime Minister, I think, tomorrow when he goes to see the King.

'Pretty astounding. A groundbreaking milestone. And it matters, it matters.'

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Sunak to be officially appointed, sending congratulations via Twitter on Monday.

'As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues,' Mr Modi wrote.

'Special Diwali wishes to the "living bridge" of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership,' he added.

Mr Sunak is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Sunak, pictured, to be officially appointed, sending congratulations via Twitter on Monday

Mr Sunak is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys. Pictured: With King Charles in February

Elsewhere, the president of Rishi Sunak's home temple in Southampton said the UK is undergoing its own 'Barack Obama' moment with him becoming PM.

Sanjay Chandarana, president of the Vedic Society Temple - which Mr Sunak's grandfather co-founded 50 years ago - also said his elevation to Prime Minister meant more fireworks would be needed for Diwali celebrations on the 24th October and that Mr Sunak would be an 'inspiration for youngsters'.

Parliamentarian Raghav Chadha tweeted on Monday: 'Today, as India celebrates Diwali in its 75th year as an independent nation, the UK gets an Indian-origin Prime Minister. History comes full circle.'

The president of Rishi Sunak's home temple in Southampton said the UK is undergoing was own 'Barack Obama' moment with him becoming PM

With his victory coming on Diwali, Mr Sunak will be the UK's first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

'It is a moment of pride for India that the country which ruled us for many years has now a prime minister of Indian heritage,' said Manoj Garg, a New Delhi businessman.

Mr Sunak will be the first person of colour to become prime minister, an accomplishment reflecting that of Kamala Harris, a woman of Indian heritage who became US vice president last year.

Former Bihar state government chief secretary Dr M.A. Ibrahimi tweeted: 'Rishi Sunak is now set to be elected leader of Conservative Party to become UK PM. All Indians are proud of his achievement.'

Tory former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid said Rishi Sunak becoming the first prime minister of Asian heritage is 'something we can all celebrate'.

President of the Vedic Society Temple Sanjay Chandarana (pictured) said that Mr Sunak would be an 'inspiration for youngsters'

Mr Sunak will be the first person of colour to become prime minister, an accomplishment reflecting that of Kamala Harris, a woman of Indian heritage who became US vice president last year (Pictured: Vedic Society Temple in Southampton)

'I've always believed the UK is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth - and I think this takes it to a new level,' he told ITV's Peston.

'This is beyond politics and it's something we can all celebrate.'

Mr Chandarana, 41, who works at an investment bank in London, said: 'We are going to need more fireworks now,

'Rishi becoming prime minister is Great Britain's Barack Obama moment,' he said.

'This will be a proud moment for everyone who is Hindu. We are no longer just a community that is not part of the mainstream, we are part of the mainstream.'

Citizen TV in Kenya also drew comparisons with Obama's rise to the White House.

Indian TV channels celebrated Sunak's victory, with New Delhi Television announcing 'Indian son rises over the empire'.

Former Bihar state government chief secretary Dr M.A. Ibrahimi tweeted: 'Rishi Sunak is now set to be elected leader of Conservative Party to become UK PM. All Indians are proud of his achievement'

India Today news channel took a jibe at the UK's economic and political turbulence, using the Hindi term for someone of Indian background: 'Battered Britain gets 'desi' big boss.'

Some said Mr Sunak's selection was particularly special for the country with its recent celebration of 75 years of independence from British colonial rule.

Others celebrated Mr Sunak as a 'proud Hindu', saying he did not shy away from embracing his faith and Indian culture.

They shared videos on Twitter showing Mr Sunak taking his oath of allegiance in 2020 on the Hindu holy book Bhagvad Gita.

Other videos shared on Twitter showed Mr Sunak praying to a cow, considered holy by Hindus, when he was running for Britain's top job for the first time in August.
Will Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's jubilation at Rishi's elevation be followed by a request for help in repatriating the Koh-i-Noor diamond?

Modi wants back the troublesome diamond given to Queen Victoria in 1850 and used to crown the last three Queen Consorts: Alexandra (1902), Mary (1911) and the Queen Mother (1937).

Will Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's jubilation at Rishi's elevation be followed by a request for help in repatriating the Koh-i-Noor diamond?

He has form. Since becoming PM in 2014 he has persuaded Australia, Germany and Canada to return historic artefacts.

Hindu Modi will expect support from his fellow religionist and Britain's first Anglo-Indian PM.

With Pakistan and Afghanistan also claiming the diamond, Rishi might have an even larger diplomatic headache than anticipated. One previous compromise proposed cutting the diamond into four with one segment staying in Britain and the others given to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Previous governments rejected this but with two full-size replicas in the Tower of London, the PM may be tempted to call in the gem cutters.

Wykehamist Rishi may have paused the stranglehold of 20 Eton-educated PMs, but does he retain a whiff of Floreat Etona? The posh school's late headmaster Sir Eric Anderson  pupils included David Cameron and Boris Johnson  moved on to the Rectorship of Oxford's Lincoln College, where his undergraduates included Rishi Sunak. Was studious Sunak too old for the Jesuit maxim: 'Give me the child until he is seven and I'll give you the man'?

Eddie Redmayne, pictured, explains why thespians airily address each other as 'darling'.

'You work with people and don't see them for ten years,' he says.

'And you meet them again, but you can't for the life of you remember their name.'

Wasn't darling Eddie once mistaken for actress Jennifer Garner?

Stephen Fry had few friends when he infuriated playwright Simon Gray and co-star Rik Mayall, disappearing after three performances of Gray's play Cell Mates in the West End in 1995. One loyal chum was the late spy scribbler John le Carre, who is revealed in a new book to have written to Fry offering to assist with his clandestine departure. Apparently suicidal and missing for three days, Fry left a telephone recording at his London flat: 'Please leave a message unless you are a journalist, in which case, f*** off.'

Emma, Duchess of Rutland, who shares Belvoir Castle with her estranged husband, delights in The Crown using the historic pile's Elizabeth Saloon for filming. She tells woman&home magazine: 'Not wanting to get in the way of filming, I once dressed as a servant to have a peek!'

Lack of a canteen at GB News prompts Eamonn Holmes to complain: 'Our ad breaks are only two minutes long  so you've no time to eat.' Shades of the Jon Culshaw BBC spoof of a peckish Eamonn devouring studio guest Frankie Dettori declaring: 'I was fierce hungry, so I was.'
A black accountant at a firm which owns jewellery giant Cartier and pen maker Montblanc has won a race harassment case after four of her colleagues refused to get in a lift with her.

Cheryl Spragg, an account manager at Richemont UK, held the elevator doors open for her co-workers but was 'snubbed' as they 'deliberately ignored' her and walked past.

The four employees at Richemont - which also owns Net-A-Porter and fashion label Chloe - even pulled faces to each other during the incident, an employment tribunal heard.

Ms Spragg, who is of Jamaican descent, successfully sued the firm for race harassment, race discrimination, and victimisation.

Her colleagues denied they were ignoring the account manager due to her race but were rather playing a 'racing game' to the bottom of the London building.

However, the tribunal ruled that it was race harassment, citing that it was 'offensive and humiliating' and 'violated her dignity'.

Ms Spragg, who began working for Richemont in 2006, is now entitled to compensation.

One Malaysian Chinese worker claimed that the London Richemont office was rife with 'casual racism'.

Cheryl Spragg, an account manager at Richemont UK, has won a race harassment case after four of her colleagues refused to get in a lift with her. Pictured: Richemont London office

Ms Spragg had been waiting for the lift in May 2016 when senior credit controller Byron Burgess and accounts workers Sara Decort, Divya Patel, and Beata Grzegorcyk-Rapacewicz all approached her.

Ms Patel was caught on CCTV turning around and 'pulling a face with a wide-open mouth', and the tribunal was told Mr Burgess made a 'whipping noise'.

All of them admitted at the London tribunal they saw her holding the door open for them.

Ms Spragg called this 'bullying and ostracism' and raised it in a grievance in December 2016, saying she was the only black member of staff at the lift, and they decided not to get in the lift with her, and behaved with 'total disregard' for her feelings.

She told the tribunal that when she complained about the lift incident, she was told the grievance would 'take too long' and might be better off looking for another job.

The tribunal found this investigation was 'dismissive' of race discrimination.

HR manager Charlene Saint-Cast, who investigated the incident, told Ms Spragg: 'I might remind you that you are not the only 'black member of staff' within your team.

'No allegations of racism have ever been raised by any member of staff in the past.'

The four employees at Richemont - which also owns Net-A-Porter and fashion label Chloe- even pulled faces to each other during the incident, an employment tribunal heard. (File image)

But Ms Spragg raised the incident once more in January 2017 which was investigated by then global HR director Caroline Welch-Ballentine.

The tribunal found Ms Welch-Ballentine was 'not sufficiently open minded' and and 'she did not probe matters with [Ms Spragg] and was content to accept the finding that had already been made, despite the footage showing differently'.

Ms Spragg was told to stop contacting HR and to delete the CCTV footage, or she would face disciplinary action, which the tribunal ruled as an act of victimisation.

The tribunal also stated she experienced direct discrimination when applying for a controller job role in March, finding there was a 'preference for white continental Europeans'.

In addition, she experienced 'disproportionate' covert surveillance into her personal life by having her picture taken when Managing Director Kevin Boltman saw her outside of work in May 2017, when she was off work with a bad back.

Ms Spragg, of Jamaican descent, was an account manager at Richemont - who own jewellery giant Cartier. Pictured: Cartier store on New Bond Street, London

Regarding the lift incident, Employment Judge Elliott concluded: 'The actions of Mr Burgess were because of race. We have found that the three more junior women were just following his lead.

'He could not say why he acted as he did. We have drawn an adverse inference that this was because of race. [Ms Spragg] was the only black employee present on that occasion.

'We find she was snubbed by the other four when she held the lift door open for them, and they walked past her in single file, in Mr Burgess's case making a strange movement and, in Ms Patel's case pulling a face.

'We find this was conduct which was violating to her dignity. It was offensive and humiliating.'

Judge Elliott also said there was a 'lack of sensitivity' in dealing with Ms Spragg's complaints: 'We found a lack of sensitivity on this discrimination complaint.

'We find that the respondent was incredulous that anyone could complain about race discrimination. It had never happened before.

'Yet this came from an HR professional, in a team of HR professionals, including at the very top, who had never received any training on equality and diversity, and it was not a racially diverse HR team.'
U.S. President Joe Biden and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have reaffirmed their two countries' 'special relationship' and agreed on the importance of supporting Ukraine.

The affirmation came as the pair shared a phone call yesterday in which they also agreed on the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by China and to secure sustainable and affordable energy resources, a White House statement said.

They also discussed their commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, it said, something which Biden has previously expressed concern over and has been insistent that Britain do nothing that could endanger a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland.

Their conversation was held just a day after Biden stumbled over Sunak's name during a speech congratulating the new Prime Minister.

The President, speaking at a White House event to mark the Indian holiday of Diwali on Monday, made several failed attempts at Sunak's name before calling him 'Rashee Sanook' - the latest in a long line of gaffes that will only fuel widespread speculation of his declining mental state.

Sunak, a 42-year-old multimillionaire former hedge fund boss, yesterday became the country's youngest leader in modern times and its third in less than two months as his Conservative Party endures a period of considerable turmoil.

United States President Joe Biden speaks at the White House in Washington, DC, October 5, 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions on October 26, 2022 in London, England

Sunak is pictured speaking to Joe Biden yesterday

In his speech on Monday, Biden said: 'And whether it's the United Kingdom, where just today, we've got news that [Rishi Sunak] is now the prime minister.

'As my brother would say, ''go figure''!' he exclaimed, to a round of laughs from the audience.

'And the Conservative Party, expected to become the Prime Minister, I think, tomorrow when he goes to see the King.

'Pretty astounding. A groundbreaking milestone. And it matters, it matters.'

However, an opposition member of Parliament in Britain spoke out on Twitter against Sunak, claiming his appointment is 'not a win for Asian representation' because of his vast personal wealth.

Nadia Whittome, a Labour party MP and member of the Socialist Campaign Group, told her followers that Britain's new leader is 'not on your side.'

'Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister isn't a win for Asian representation,' the 26-year-old, who also has Indian roots, tweeted yesterday.

'He's a multimillionaire who, as chancellor, cut taxes on bank profits while overseeing the biggest drop in living standards since 1956.

'Black, white or Asian: if you work for a living, he is not on your side.'

Her tweet was later deleted after she was contacted by Labour headquarters and told to remove it, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Rishi Sunak has been named as the new Prime Minister today (pictured with 1922 Committee officers) after Boris Johnson sensationally dropped out of the Tory leadership race

Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy hails from Indian business aristocracy: her father is Narayana Murthy, a billionaire sometimes dubbed the 'Bill Gates of India' who founded a software firm Infosys in the early 1980s and is now the country's sixth richest man

Nadia Whittome, a 26-year-old MP and member of the Socialist Campaign Group, claimed Britain's newest Prime Minister was 'not on your side'

Although her initial tweet was deleted, Ms Whittome doubled down on her critique of Mr Sunak's personal fortune in later tweets

With his victory in the Conservative party leadership race coming on Diwali, Sunak became the UK's first-ever Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage and the youngest to take up the mantle in more than two centuries at the age of 42.

Sunak ascends to Downing Street after previous the prime minister, Liz Truss, resigned having spent just 45 days in office.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sunak on Twitter and wrote: 'Special Diwali wishes to "living bridge" of UK Indians as we transform historic ties into modern partnership.'

Sunak has previously spoken about how his Asian identity matters to him, telling the BBC: 'I'm a first generation immigrant. My parents emigrated here, so you've got this generation of people who are born here, their parents were not born here, and they've come to this country to make a life.'

The UK's first  and only other  minority prime minister was Benjamin Disraeli, who was Jewish, in 1874.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Robstown, Texas, Oct. 22. Reuters-Yonhap



'Diplomacy works only when Pyongyang is trying to move away from China, Russia'



By Jung Min-ho



South Korea should prepare for a United States controlled by more isolationists and skeptics regarding American intervention in foreign affairs as Washington braces for a major Republican win in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a security expert on Northeast Asia.



The projected results of the Nov. 8 elections are about to bring new challenges to Northeast Asia, where the U.S.-China rivalry is intensifying and North Korea is speeding up the development of its nuclear weapons despite international outcry. Recent polls show that the conservative U.S. party will take control of the House and possibly win the Senate as well.



"Many of the Republicans today are more isolationists and less internationalists than they used to be. That's reflected most recently in signs that, if the Republicans retake the House, they are not going be so open to continue aid to Ukraine. No one is saying anything about our South Korea alliance, but it is certainly a trend in the wrong direction," Joel Wit, founder of 38 North, a website devoted to analysis about North Korea, said at Wednesday's forum hosted by The Korea Times. "If you look forward to the next presidential election, there is always a possibility that [former President] Donald Trump will come back and he's not a big fan of our alliances overseas ... Other Republican candidates may not as be as enthusiastic about American ties with overseas countries."



Previously, a similar warning came from former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who said in his memoir that Trump had kept the plan of pulling U.S. troops completely out of South Korea as his second-term priority.



Some U.S. politicians, including those predicted to become new members of the House, say they will block aid to Ukraine. How is it going to affect the war? How will the consequences affect North Korea, Russia's ally, and the prospects of its nuclear weapons? These are some of the questions South Koreans should ask themselves and prepare for, according to Wit.









Decades of international efforts to keep North Korea from developing nuclear arsenals have failed. It is now estimated to be on the verge of conducting its seventh nuclear weapons test.





Joel Wit, a security expert on Northeast Asia and the founder of 38 North, speaks during his online presentation at the Korea Times Forum, "New Challenges for Korea-U.S. Alliance," in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The two teens high-fived after the teen was fatally stabbed

Angus died after a knife was thrust into his chest in a fight in Redcliffe

The two boys were jailed for the murder of Angus Beaumont in March 2020

A supporter of two boys jailed for murder has approached the 15-year-old victim's grieving parents outside a Brisbane court, after the family branded the sentences given to the pair a 'joke'.

The two boys high-fived after year 10 student Angus Beaumont was fatally stabbed through the heart north of Brisbane in March 2020.

Angus died after a knife was thrust 14cm into his chest in a fight with the two teenagers outside McDonalds at Redcliffe.

The two boys - who can't be named - were 14 at the time. One is now 16 and the other is 17.

Angus' mother Michelle Liddle said the two boys had laughed about her son's death and described the jail sentences handed down in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as a 'joke'.

Security has intervened after a supporter of the two boys jailed for murder approached the 15-year-old victim's grieving parents outside a Brisbane court

Angus' mother Michelle Liddle (left) said the two boys had laughed about her son's death and described the jail sentences handed down in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as a 'joke'

The 17-year-old received a seven-and-a-half year jail term while the 16-year-old - who inflicted the fatal wound - was handed a nine year sentence.

Both boys - who have long criminal histories with one offending from the age of 11 - will serve only 60 per cent of their terms due to 'special circumstances'.

'It's got to change ... this is just so wrong,' Ms Liddle told media outside court.

'These kids are playing these courts, or these courts are just not taking into account the victims' lives.'

Ms Liddle said the two boys had shown no remorse and accused them of making up rap songs about the fatal stabbing.

She also claimed the two boys' supporters and families had intimidated them.

As she spoke to media outside court, a supporter of one of the boys approached the grieving family before being moved on by security.

'They have mocked us, they have laughed about our son's death ... they do not care,' Ms Liddle said.

The two boys high-fived after year 10 student Angus Beaumont (pictured) was fatally stabbed through the heart north of Brisbane in March 2020

The boys were found guilty of murder by a jury in June.

CCTV footage shown during the trial captured the incident with the two boys pursuing a group of youths that included Angus, claiming they were 'ripped off' in a drug deal.

Wearing knuckle dusters and handed a knife by another member of his group, Angus confronted the duo and he was stabbed in the chest after being set upon in a two-on-one fight.

The two boys are seen congratulating each other by slapping hands as they 'skipped and ran off' as Angus lay dying nearby.

Justice David Jackson said the hand slap was a gesture that indicated that they had 'won the fight'.

'The fight lasted only a matter of seconds, only one lunge connected,' he said.

One boy was on probation and the other was on bail at the time of the murder.

Neither had previously received custodial sentences.

The boy now aged 17 also pleaded guilty to three more offences including dangerous operation of a vehicle after stealing a car and sparking a police chase in May 2022 while on bail for murder.

His history included an incident in October 2019 when he stabbed another 15-year-old in the shoulder with scissors.

CCTV footage shown during the trial captured the incident with the two boys pursuing a group of youths that included Angus, claiming they were 'ripped off' in a drug deal

The now 16-year-old boy had a 'repeated pattern of responding to conflict with aggression including the use of a knife', Justice Jackson said.

But both boys will serve 60 per cent of their sentences due to factors including their young age, mental health and 'fractured' childhoods, Justice Jackson said.

Time already served was also taken into account.

The 16-year-old has served 720 days and the 17-year-old 776 days pre-sentence custody.

'I'm so angry. All these things they take into account for these boys aren't excuses to kill someone,' Ms Liddle said.
Friends are rallying around a young British woman who was seriously injured after falling from a balcony, just seven months after she moved to Australia.

Tyler Andrews, who is originally from Wigan in the north of England, plunged from the third floor of a building on Friday night.

The traffic controller, who lives in Sydney, survived but suffered very serious injuries.

Those included a broken pelvis, wrist, elbow, knee, ankle and nose as well as an injured spleen, a serious blow to the head and facial injuries.

Tyler Andrews (pictured) fell from a third floor balcony to the ground last Friday night

Ms Andrews has already had 'three operations and is awaiting more as she begins her road to recovery,' said a friend on the Go Fund Me page.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help Ms Andrews, which by Wednesday afternoon had already almost raised its goal of $10,000.

Some of Ms Andrews' family members have flown to Sydney from the UK to be by her side.

She is being treated at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney 'and has a long road to recovery ahead of her,' according to a friend who has set up the fundraising page.

'So we are looking to raise funds to help towards after care, mobility services and physio etc that will be needed during her recovery, and helping support her family.'

Ms Andrews previously worked as an eyelash technician in the UK.

One of her old employers, Orchid Hair Tanning & Beauty posted a link to the fundraising site.

Ms Andrews (pictured) suffered a broken pelvis, wrist, elbow, knee, ankle and nose as well as an injured spleen along with a serious blow to the head and facial injuries

'Devastating news this morning truly heartbreaking,' the post said.

'Let's try and all come together and raise as much as we can for Tyler.'

CSK Services, which is believed to be Ms Andrews' employer in Sydney, donated $3,000 to the fundraiser.

Caroline Davies, another contributor, said 'Wishing you a speedy recovery. We are all thinking about you and sending you loads of love.'

Tyler Andrews (pictured) previously worked as an eyelash technician in the northern England city of Wigan
One adult has died and several children were seriously injured after a car and truck crashed on Wednesday morning.

Perth Children's Hospital said one child is in a critical condition and four children are stable after they were rushed to the hospital following the crash.

An adult in a station wagon died in the crash, while the male driver of a cement truck suffered minor injuries.

Two rescue helicopters (of the type pictured) were deployed to a major incident 100 kilometres north-east of Perth on Wednesday morning

A major rescue operation took place after the incident in Wongamine, in Western Australia's wheatbelt, left several people trapped.

Two rescue helicopters were deployed to the incident, which happened at around 6.15am local time along Goomalling-Toodyay Road, about 100km northeast of Perth.

St John Ambulance said four children were flown to Perth Children's Hospital by helicopters and another was driven down by ambulance.

Other emergency services also attended the crash scene, including at least five ambulances and six fire trucks.

At least five ambulances and six fire trucks attended the scene. Pictured is a Western Australia police car

A spokeswoman for St John told the Perth Now news site they were treating 'multiple people with serious injuries'.

Dozens of firefighters worked to free people trapped in the cars.

Ambulance officers, police and volunteer firefighters remain at the scene.

Western Australia's Major Crash police unit is investigating.

Road closures are in place for motorists travelling in the area, with Main Roads WA advising everyone to drive with 'extreme caution' when passing through the area near Irish Town Road.
William Mooney, 56, used to call himself Australia's leading ear, nose and throat specialist

A celebrity cosmetic surgeon who was banned from practicing after two people died as a result of botched operations has allegedly been caught buying cocaine.

William Mooney, 56 - who once rubbed shoulders with the likes of Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell and classified himself as Australia's leading ear, nose and throat specialist - has found himself in trouble with the law.

At about 10.15pm on Saturday, police saw Mooney and 22-year-old Marlee Luisa 'acting suspiciously' on Blair Street in Sydney's Bondi Beach.

The pair were searched and Mooney was allegedly found with a bag of cocaine.

Mooney will appear in Waverley Local Court charged with possessing a prohibited drug on December 6, a NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

Luisa was allegedly found with 11 bags of cocaine and $3000 cash, and was charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, dealing with the proceeds of crime and breach of bail.

She was formally refused bail and will appear in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

Mooney made headlines in April this year when he was deregistered for a year after the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found his negligence resulted in the deaths of two patients.

William Mooney (pictured left, with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell) was deregistered for a year

The tribunal found that a 24-year-old aspiring pilot, known as Patient A, went to Mooney in March 2018 for an operation to fix his snoring.

Mooney nicked an artery during the procedure, but he didn't review the patient over the following two days - following up only by phone, even though he knew the patient bled during the operation.

Patient A subsequently vomited blood from his nose and mouth and tried the emergency contact numbers Mooney gave him, but nobody answered and he was rushed to hospital.

He had emergency surgery for a recurrent haemorrhage, but had a heart attack during the operation and later died.

His mother and younger sister, who relied on him for financial support, then took their own lives, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

William Mooney (pictured with two women) went to lengths to avoid mandatory drug testing

An expert told the Tribunal that Mooney took an 'astonishingly short' time to operate, suggesting 'little time could have been spent on achieving control of the brisk arterial bleeding which had occurred'.

A 41-year-old man, Patient B, went to Mooney for sinus treatment in 2017. During the operation, he penetrated the bone below the brain and disrupted an artery causing bleeding into the right frontal lobe.

Patient B later died without regaining consciousness.

The tribunal found that Mooney completed the very complex procedure too quickly to take appropriate care.

What these patients did not know was that their surgeon had conditions on his practising certificate due to alleged cocaine use.

Mooney also was found to have lied about a personal relationship, of more than two years, with a young and vulnerable patient.

He inappropriately prescribed her a weight loss medication when he should have known she had a longstanding eating disorder.

In December 2018, he returned a positive test for cocaine and his registration was temporarily suspended.

William Mooney (pictured) also was found to have lied about a personal relationship, of more than two years, with a young and vulnerable patient

Authorities could not determine whether the positive test was the result of illegal drug use or through treatments he used during surgery.

He was ordered to get a drug test every three months during investigations into the dead patients, but he went to extreme lengths to avoid them.

Mooney didn't show up to his first test, and then handed in a medical certificate to say he was ill and couldn't take a test, but the tribunal found Medicare records that showed he was seeing patients when he was meant to be sick.

Two weeks later, he got a buzzcut so drug testers only had access to 2.75cm of hair.

Small amounts of cocaine were found in the hair sample, but they could not work out whether the drugs were taken recreationally or if it was due to exposure through work.

The tribunal accepted he was remorseful for his role in the two deaths and had made changes to address the shortcomings in his practice and operation procedures.

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While one woman has come forward with claims that her late father is a ruthless serial killer who murdered dozens, her older sister has rebutted the claims - vowing to restore their father's name.

Lucy Studey claimed her father Donald Dean Studey was a serial killer who forced her and her siblings to dump bodies of women he killed into a 100ft well on their Iowa farmland decades ago.

However, her older sister Susan Studey rejected the accusations and said their father was strict, but certainly not a killer.

'My father was not the man she makes him out to be,' Susan Studey told Newsweek. 'He was strict, but he was a protective parent who loved his children... Strict fathers don't just turn into serial killers.'

Donald Studey, who died in March 2013 at age 75, is accused by his daughter Lucy of killing between 50 to 70 women and at least two men - one in his 40s and one in his 20s. Lucy has said she tried to tell people over the years, but no one would listen.

Donald Dean Studey, who died in March 2013 at age 75, is accused by his daughter Lucy of killing up to 70 women, yet his other daughter Susan says the allegations are simply untrue

The property, on Green Hollow Road, is being searched, but is not an official crime scene because officers have not yet discovered any remains

After 45 years, police are now investigating allegations that the Iowa farmer murdered up to 70 women  after his daughter told authorities 'I know where the bodies are buried.'

The Fremont County Sheriffs Office confirmed that cadaver dogs alerted at least four spots on the property last week, with the last getting multiple 'hits'. The dog handler and sheriff have said they believe the remains are human as the dogs are trained to ignore animal bones.

However, Lucy's older sister Susan believes the cadaver dogs that searched the property last weekend were fooled by the the remains of Donald Studey's stillborn infant sister, who was buried in a shoebox on the property, as well as remains of a golden retriever.

While Lucy told authorities that their father forced the siblings to use a wheelbarrow in the warmer months and a toboggan in winter to move the corpses across the farmland in Thurman, Iowa, her sister refuted this.

Susan told Newsweek that the first time she ever heard about any bodies being buried on the property was when she talked to Lucy about a year ago.

'I'm two years older than Lucy. I think I would know if my father murdered,' she said. 'I would know if my dad was a serial killer. He was not, and I want my father's name restored.'

Susan added that the only time she remembers her father getting violent was when a neighbor ran over their dog  which led to Donald Studey fighting the man.

Her sister Lucy has repeatedly offered to take a lie detector test to support her claims, Newsweek reported.

A third sister in the sibling bunch could not be reached. Their brother died by suicide when he was 39.

Lucy Studey claims that her father Donald Dean Studey was a serial killer who forced her and her siblings to transport bodies of women he killed into a 100ft well

Authorities were alerted to her claims, in which she details using a wheelbarrow in the warmer months and a toboggan in winter to move the corpses across the farmland in Thurman, Iowa

Fremont County Sheriffs office confirmed that cadaver dogs alerted to several spots on the property, as well as some on neighboring land

According to Lucy, the four siblings did their father's bidding when he told them to 'go to the hills' because they were terrified they 'wouldn't come back' according to his daughter.

Lucy said that her father was routinely drunk and liked to kill women by smashing or kicking in the heads of the women inside a trailer.

Both of his wives died before him, with police records confirming one died after strangling herself with an electrical cord and the other shot herself.

Investigators believe his daughter's claims, and if true, would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

Law enforcement suspect that he lured woman, thought to be sex workers from Omaha, Nebraska, to his five acres of land before murdering them.

Lucy claims that the women all had dark hair, were white and most were in their 20s and 30s except for a 15-year-old runaway - and two men.

They were all buried clothed and wearing jewelry, with Lucy claiming that her father kept the gold teeth as trophies.

However, Lucy's older sister Susan believes the cadaver dogs were fooled by the the remains of Donald Studey's stillborn sister, who was buriedon the property, and remains of a pet

According to Lucy, the four siblings did their father's bidding when he told them to 'go to the hills' because they were terrified they 'wouldn't come back' according to his daughter

Investigators believe his daughters claims, which would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history

Lucy told Newsweek: He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant.

Every time I went to the well or into the hills, I didn't think I was coming down. I thought he would kill me because I wouldn't keep my mouth shut.

I don't feel anything for my father. Nothing at all. I wanted justice when my father was alive, but he's gone. I just want for the families some closure and a proper burial.

Studey reportedly forced his children to pile dirt and chemical lye on top of the bodies after dumping them into the well.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope confirmed the investigation on Tuesday, saying I believe her 100 percent that there's bodies in there and said if they do excavate the scene it will be a big mission.

He added that the cost of boring the well would be around $25,000 while a full excavation would be more than $300,000.

The property, on Green Hollow Road, is not an official crime scene because officers have not yet discovered any remains.

The FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are both assisting the local police force with the investigation

The FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are both assisting the local police force with the investigation.

Studey, who had love and hate tattooed on his knuckles, is understood to have a criminal history but was known to use several aliases.

He was jailed in Missouri in the 1950s for petty larceny, in Omaha in 1989 for a drunk driving offense  as cops confirmed they rarely went to the trailer where he lived because they were wary of him.

She added: All I want is to get these sites dug up, and to bring closure for people and to give these women a proper burial. My father was a lifelong criminal and murderer.

It is unclear if her siblings have been cooperative with the authorities, with her brother Gary committing suicide aged 39.

Lucy claims that she told her stories to several people over the years trying to get something done about it but no one would listen to her.
Aussies will soon be able to book a trip to some of their favourite holiday spots around the world and fly home for free as part of Jetstar's huge 48-hour flash sale.

Hawaii, New Zealand, Asia and cities around Australia are all included in the sale where travellers will only have to pay for their departing flight.

The sale will run from 12am on Thursday and finish at 11.59pm on Friday.

The free return fares will be available for trips booked from May to August next year.

Aussies will soon be able to book a trip to some of their favourite holiday spots around the world and fly home for free as part of Jetstar's huge 48-hour flash sale (pictured is Hawaii)

Jetstar is offering a huge 48-hour flash sale with return flights on offer for free

Some of the destinations include Honolulu, Auckland, Tokyo, the Whitsundays, Bangkok and Queenstown.

Sydneysiders can travel to Ho Chi Minh City and back from just $339 between May and June next year.

Those in Cairns in northern Queensland can book a return trip to Tokyo from just $444, while those wanting to fly from the Gold Coast to the New Zealand capital of Wellington can fly and return for just $275.

Tokyo is one of the destinations Jetstar travellers can fly to with a return trip for free

Travellers can also travel to Vietnam as part of the sale

A return trip from Melbourne to Honolulu between August 9 and August 30 next year will set travellers back just $499.

Those wanting to fly from the Victorian capital to Bangkok can book a flight for $399 if they're planning to travel between July 18 and August 31.

Flights are also on offer for domestic trips around Australia.

Flights from Melbourne to Perth and back start from $240, while Darwin to Sydney return starts at a low fare of $224.

Anyone living in Adelaide can fly to the Sunshine Coast and back by forking out $140.

Club Jetstar members can check out the sale early from midday on Wednesday.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has made a joke about his huge ears to deflect a live TV gaffe about rising power prices in the Budget.

During the election campaign, Labor said 97 times that it would reduce household power bills by $275 by switching to 'cheaper' greener energy.

However, power prices have skyrocketed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine weeks before the May 21 poll.

Dr Chalmers' Budget predicted prices would rise 56 per cent over the next two years - 30 per cent this financial year and 30 per cent in 2023-24.

But the treasurer was blunt when asked about the $275 promise during a live appearance in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Nine Network political editor Charles Croucher asked: 'There's probably a one word answer to this question... should Australians still expect that $275 off their power bills, particularly off pre-election prices?'

Dr Chalmers replied: 'Yep. It's in the Budget'.

The opposition relentlessly has hammered the point since Parliament resumed, and continued during Question Time on Wednesday.

Energy spokesman Angus Taylor asked: 'A short time ago, the Treasurer was asked whether Australians can expect $275 of their power bills, he said, "yep, it's in the Budget".

'What page refers to a reduction of $275?'

Dr Chalmers was forced to admit he 'misheard the question' following his speech to the National Press Club just an hour earlier.

The treasurer looked to the House of Representatives press gallery to address the journalist who asked him the question and apologise for his stuff-up.

'I thought you were asking me a different question, I misheard it and I answered a different question,' he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked if the $275 power bill saving Labor promised during the election would still be possible, and replied 'yep, it's in the Budget', when the opposite was true

Dr Chalmers repeated his claim of mishearing the question when pressed again by the opposition, using a joke about his ears to fend off the criticism.

'Mr Speaker, I do confess that when you have ears as big as mine and you say that you misheard something, I know that people might doubt that - but it's the truth,' he said.

'Now, that I have fessed up, to mishearing a question at the National Press Club, it's time for you to fess up in your role in energy policy chaos.'

The treasurer was referring to the Morrison Government, and Mr Taylor in particular, not revealing forecasts back in March that power prices would rise.

In his explanation of his gaffe, Dr Chalmers laid into Mr Taylor for his role in the not revealing the prediction.

Mr Chalmers was pulled up on it during Question Time an hour later and fessed up to mishearing the question and answering something else

'This is the guy that gave us the wasted decade of missed opportunities with electricity market chaos and now that weve got this war in Ukraine,' he said.

'Our energy markets are more vulnerable than they should be because of the rank and competence of the shadow treasurer.'

In his second attempt at explaining his gaffe, Dr Chalmers insisted power bills would in the longer term be cheaper by switching to green energy.

'Second of all, theres a war in Europe which is causing havoc in energy markets and pushing up electricity prices and, thirdly, the energy policy chaos brought to us by the dregs of the former government over there have made things harder rather than easier for us to deal with it,' he continued.
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John Fetterman's debate performance on Tuesday night was greeted with dismay by many of his sympathizers - with a CNN panel widely panning the Democrat hopeful.

Separately, Chris Cuomo said he 'struggled' and Barack Obama's former senior adviser saying Fetterman 'did not help' his cause.

'Hi, goodnight everyone,' Democratic populist Fetterman opened the night's highly anticipated match-up.

Fetterman, 53, is suffering some lingering speech and auditory impediments from a stroke he suffered in May.

In advance of the debate - the only one for the Pennsylvania Senate race - Fetterman's campaign had tempered expectations, saying there would be 'awkward pauses' and 'delays and errors,' because the Democrat would be reading closed captioning due to his auditory processing issue.

He's being challenged by TV doctor Mehmet Oz, hoping to claim outgoing GOP Senator Pat Toomey's seat for the Republicans on November 8.

Fetterman at times struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Oz, with his delivery often halting and choppy.

His celebrity rival, meanwhile, turned on the charm he had honed over 13 seasons of his show, and attacked Fetterman for being 'extreme.' The pauses and stumbles happened throughout the debate.

At one point Fetterman was asked to clarify his position on fracking, as moderators pointed to a 2018 interview where the lieutenant governor expressed broad opposition to the practice, but not a ban.

'I do support fracking - I don't, I don't - I support fracking, and I do support fracking,' he answered.

He landed a somewhat confusing jab on his opponent for his own support of fossil fuels, declaring that Oz 'has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about.'

At another instance, Fetterman was asked specifically about charges Oz made about some of the Democrat's campaign ads being pulled down for being factually inaccurate. Fetterman, instead, stuck to the topic of abortion.

'I'm going to let Mr Fetterman respond specifically to the ads being pulled off the air, and we're going to return to you, Mr Oz,' said one of the moderators.

Fetterman didn't acknowledge the question.

'Yeah, I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. If you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz, than you have a choice, but if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for,' Fetterman said.

'Roe v. Wade for me, should be the law, he celebrated when it went down. And my campaign would fight for Roe v. Wade - and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.'

Over the course of the debate, Fetterman twice refused to say he would release his full medical record to the public.

'My doctor ultimately believes that I'm fit to be serving and that's what I believe,' Fetterman said. He also said that 'for me, transparency is about showing up.'

At other times, it seemed clear what he was getting at, but he was clearly seen struggling to find the correct phrasing.

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman at points struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Republican Dr Mehmet Oz

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (left) debated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

His answer when asked about small business owners who are concerned about raising the minimum wage was: 'We all have to make sure that everyone that works is able to- that's the most American bargain, that if you work full time you should be able to live in dignity is well true.'

'We can't have businesses being subsidized by not paying individuals that just simply can't evade to pay their own way,' he said.

Their face-off comes exactly a week before Election Day. As of noon on Tuesday, nearly 640,000 early ballots have already been cast in Pennsylvania.

Both candidates opened the highly anticipated debate in attack mode.

'I'm running to serve Pennsylvania, he's running to use Pennsylvania,' Fetterman said of Oz.

'Here's a man who spent more than $20 million of his own money to try and buy that seat.'

Fetterman also labeled Oz a 'liar' and chided the TV doctor for having 10 houses, saying that he couldn't understand the struggles of everyday Pennsylvanians.

The lieutenant governor attacked Oz for having products with his name on them made in China.

After it wrapped, a CNN panel of lawmakers and pundits shared a damning assessment of Fetterman's performance.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he was 'astounded' and 'stunned' by Fetterman's poor performance, while Alyssa Farah Griffin, Donald Trump's former communications director, said she found it 'painful to watch'.

Even CNN host, Alisyn Camerota, said she was disturbed by the spectacle.

CNN's panel on Tuesday night was highly critical of Fetterman's performance

Camerota, right, said that she felt Fetterman was not speaking with his previous clarity

Charlie Dent, a Republican former congressman, was strident in his criticism of Fetterman's performance on Tuesday night

'I've interviewed him many times as lieutenant governor,' said Camerota.

'And he sounds - he's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing.'

Dent said Fetterman was not fit to be on the debate stage.

'I thought someone should have invoked the mercy rule 20 minutes into the debate,' he said.

'I don't know if it was the stroke or he's just a lousy debater or if he doesn't understand the issues.

'He was flustered he, was confused. He should have not been out there.

'And I've had a number of people say why was this guy in on the ballot after that?

'I don't know if the debates matter that much. But people watch that, they are going to question his capacity to serve.

'The bar was set very low. It should've been set lower.'

Griffin agreed.

Republican hopeful Dr. Mehmet Oz participated in the Pennsylvania Senate debate on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

'I want to be careful because I think some of the most consequential leaders in history have had different kinds of disabilities. I don't think it should preclude someone from serving,' she said.

'But what we saw today was someone who was not ready to be in office.

'And the lack of transparency leading up to this actually shocked people watching.

'I found it extremely hard to watch.

'And the question I found myself asking is: is the way that he's struggling a result of his stroke? Or is it because he does not have a grasp on the issues?'

On NewsNation, disgraced former CNN host Chris Cuomo said he was troubled by the performance.

'John Fetterman struggled,' Cuomo said. 'He clearly is dealing with health issues that affect his ability to process and his ability to speak. Clearly, fitness for office is going to be on the table.'

He added: 'That may not be fair, to some, for me to say - but if the voters aren't talking about it, I'll be shocked.'

Other Democrats agreed.

David Axelrod, a Democrat strategist who served as a senior adviser to Obama, tweeted: 'Fetterman needed to show he's sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.'

And while some praised Fetterman's bravery in appearing on the debate stage at all, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, said: 'There is no amount of empathy for and understanding about Fetterman's health and recovery that changes the fact that this is absolutely painful to watch.'

Republican critics were gleeful.

'OMG John Fetterman it's worse than any of us could have ever imagined,' tweeted Donald Trump Jr.

'At this point the moderator is filibustering to make sure he doesn't get any more Qs. I think that's 4 in a row to @DrOz.

'Even today's partisan hack media can't cover for Fetterman being brain dead!'

And Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's speechwriter, tweeted: 'Just so we are all clear: that was Fetterman WITH weeks of prep and specialized computer assistance throughout.

'So what you just saw is the very, very best Fetterman can do. Which is terrifying.'

For his part, Oz did not hesitate to go after Fetterman on crime - a hot button issue for Republicans stuck in close races across the country..

'John Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers - convicted and sentenced to life in prison - out of jail as possible,' the TV doctor said.

After Oz said Fetterman had called the Pennsylvania energy industry a 'stain' on the state, the Democrat pounced.

'He has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about,' Fetterman said.

A new poll taken up until the day before John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz's first and only debate shows the Democrat's lead over his Trump-backed rival sitting at only 2 percent

Oz confirmed that he didn't believe the minimum wage in Pennsylvania should be raised to $15 across the board, explaining he wanted to preserve the right for businesses to pay workers less.

'I think market forces have already driven up the minimum wage,' Oz said.

'But John Fetterman thinks the minimum wage is the weekly allowance from his parents.'

On abortion, Oz said he didn't think the federal government should handle the decision - suggesting he wouldn't support Senator Lindsey Graham's 15-week federal abortion ban, but not answering the question directly.

'I want women, doctors, local political leaders, leading the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive,' Oz said.

'To put the best ideas where states can decide for themselves.'

Oz had moderated his position, having previously called abortion at any stage 'murder.'

Fetterman has consistently had a small edge in polls, which continues, though several recent surveys show it's close.

On Tuesday, a CBS News survey put the distance between the two candidates at two points.

According to the survey, 51 percent of likely Keystone State voters back Fetterman, compared to 49 percent who back Oz.

The Democratic populist's lead falls well within the 4.4-percent margin of error.
High profile neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo has angrily denied claims he's money-hungry - and described money as 'the root of all evil'.

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints.

He's also under investigation from the Healthcare Complaints Commission.

Fresh allegations came to light this week when he was accused of charging huge fees to the desperate families of two children, one of whom was left in a vegetative state - and who both died within a year.

Dr Teo has since broken his silence to defend himself in two fiery television interviews before another intense grilling from 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham on Wednesday.

The controversial surgeon was rattled towards the end of the interview when Fordham asked him straight out if whether he needed the money.

The question sparked a fiery response.

High profile surgeonDr Charlie Teo (pictured) angrily hit back at critics labelling him as money hungry. 'Money is the root of evil,' He pictured with partner Traci Griffiths

'Ben! Again, I find this incredibly despicable. I am not a money hungry person,' an exasperated Dr Teo replied.

'Talk to anyone who knows me knows I don't dress in nice clothes, I don't have a nice car  I don't have a car. If it wasn't for Audi being generous and giving me a car, I wouldn't have one.

'I don't live in the Eastern Suburbs. I don't have a boat. There's no spoils of wealth. I'm not into money.'

Dr Teo pointed out he does four months of pro bono work a year while still paying for malpractice insurance and expenses associated with running his business.

'I'm paying to operate on people around the world for no financial gain, it's out of the goodness of my heart,' he continued.

'I don't want a medal for that. I'm not saying I'm a saint, I'm simply saying money isn't in my sphere. It's not part of my drive.

'Money is the root of all evil, I just don't like it and the fact that people try to label me as a money hungry surgeon who has disregard for life because of money, that is really despicable.'

Dr Charlie Teo says he's not into money, which he described as them root of evil

Fordham ended the interview by telling Dr Teo the questions are coming from his critics and not him personally.

'I'm on the record many times and I'll say it until the day I die, I've met so many families who love what you've done for them, some of them have loved ones who are still alive,' Fordham told him.

Earlier in the interview, Dr Teo admitted he's made mistakes that he regrets and that bad outcomes have taken a heavy physical and mental toll on him.

'I've even published those mistakes, there's two publications just on complications of surgeries and another name for complications is mistakes,' he said.

'The buck stops with you. No one else can be blamed. It's the surgeon who has to take responsibility for bad outcomes, complications and mistakes.'

Dr Teo said he would be a sociopath if he wasn't sorry for surgeries which have led to bad outcomes.

'What I deny the accusation that it means nothing to me,' he added.

'I don't know any doctor who isn't impacted personally by bad outcomes. That's the insult.'

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

'What I reject and vehemently deny is that doesn't impact on me, that I'm callous, that I'm money hungry and that do these operation for self gain or personal reward.'

'I treat all my patients like a member of my own family and if things go wrong, it does affect me.'

Dr Teo was also asked if it was arrogant to think if he was among the best surgeons and stood by the belief he was.

'I've always said, unless you think you're the best, then you shouldn't be operating on the patient,' he said

'If you really care for the patient's outcome and the patient says to you 'doctor, are you the best' and you say 'no, I'm not the best.'

'If a surgeon said that to me, I'd say 'can you point me in the direction of who is the best.'

Famous 'last chance' brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo is performing operations on Australians in overseas hospitals after being restricted in this country

Heated moment Dr Charlie Teo is asked if he's 'money hungry' - before the 'miracle' surgeon fires back at his haters who want him to stop operating

Dr Charlie Teo has denied he is 'money hungry' or 'unethical' after he was accused of charging desperate families large fees to operate on their loved ones - as he admits that if he was 'driven by money' he would have quit years ago.

The famous 'last chance' neurosurgeon told the Today Show that surgery was only unethical if it was done for reasons like glory, money or 'proving a point'.

Dr Teo said his job was to be the patient's advocate when deciding whether it was safe to operate - especially if their loved ones were desperate to keep them alive.

'It's no wonder you want to keep them alive because you love them so much and you can't bear them dying,' he told hosts Ally Langdon and Karl Stefanovic.

'That is not a good enough reason for me to operate on that person.'

The famous 'last chance' neurosurgeon (pictured on the Today Show on Wednesday) said surgery was only unethical when it was done for reasons like glory, money or 'proving a point'

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints.

The surgeon appeared on A Current Affair on Tuesday night to speak to allegations that he charged exorbitant fees to the desperate families of young patients, a four-year-old Indian boy, and a girl, seven, from the Hunter Valley.

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 for help.

The operation to remove the tumour from his brain stem left him unable to walk, speak or breathe unaided again. He died ten months later, in August 2019, shortly after the tumour inevitably returned.

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

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

Bella Howard, of Shoal Bay, was 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 and died seven months later after the tumour returned.

Langdon asked if the two young patients had been 'collateral damage'.

Teo responded: 'That is so emotive that term, Ally, it sounds terrible.'

Langdon continued questioning him, asking: 'But I put that to you, do you have to accept that what you're doing and how experimental it is that you have Mikolaj and Bella who are paying the price?'

'They have paid a terrible price,' Dr Teo said.

'Mikolaj was the cutest little boy. I mean, he came up, he cuddled me, he called me Dr Charlie, and I've got to live with that.

'But I still do it is because for every Mikolaj, there's more patients who do well, who would have died that are either cured or their lives have been extended with surgery.

'I have more successes than failures, Dr Teo explained. 'Those successes are very significant successes.

'The man from Germany was dying and I took out his tumour, he is now alive three years later, enjoying life.

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints (the surgeon is pictured with partner Traci Griffiths)

'He is in a wheelchair but he rides a wheelchair bike, he still spends time with his children. And it could have been worse.

'He could have died with surgery or died four weeks later. He took that risk and it paid off. And he's just one of several others who have done extremely well,' Dr Teo said.

'I am pushing the boundaries. But someone's got to push the boundaries, and unfortunately some people pay the price.

'As long as they pay the price knowing full well why I'm doing it. I do it for good reasons, to the greater good, for the benefit of the patient and sometimes it doesn't work. That's why we call it brain surgery.'

Dr Teo said Bella or Mikolaj's families hadn't sued him because he had been 'acutely honest' with them he outlined the risks of surgery.

Stefanovic said there was 'constant' reference to Dr Two as 'money hungry' and asked if the surgeon 'grabbed too much from families who can't afford it'.

Dr Teo said he wished he didn't have to 'grab anything' and pointed to his four months of pro bono work overseas and $50 million raised for charity.

'Money doesn't drive me. Do I have to have money? Absolutely. I've got to pay my malpractice insurance,' the surgeon said.

'If I was driven by money I would have got out ages ago, I would have been in a business that brings in money.

'If I was driven by ego or celebrity status, I would have had that and stopped.

The surgeon (pictured) said he wasn't a money-hungry person and that it was the opportunity to help his patients that made him eager to continue operating

Dr Teo (pictured mid-operation) said he hadn't been sued by Bella or Mikolaj's families because he had been 'acutely honest' with them when outlining the risks of surgery

'Patients call me every day asking to see me. Someone is dying, my child is dying, what can you do? To be able to say to them, yes, I can give you hope, or yes I can operate or, yes, I can give you a second opinion, that is what drives me.'

The controversial neurosurgeon was asked whether he gives patients with just days, weeks or months to live false hope or over-promises the surgery will be successful.

'You've got to be in my shoes,' the surgeon replied.

'You've got to sit in that room, deal with the patients, feel the emotion, listen to all of that honesty. You have to feel my pain when the patient doesn't do well and then if you've walked a mile in my shoes you can make a judgement.

'Until then, it's too simplistic and reductionist to say he does that or does that.'

When ask if he would live to work in Australia again, the surgeon said it would be hard to work in a hostile work environment that could influence his practice.

'I'd love to work again in Australia but it's hard to work in a hostile environment. I mean, brain surgery is bad enough as it is and then when you have knives poised at your back and media breathing down.

'I'm sorry, but if you have media breathing down your throat looking for the failures and looking to condemn you, it's added stress,' he explained.

'The stress should be the stress of the operation. So I want to operate in an environment where it's perfect, where I can just focus on the disease, that's the enemy.
The jury in the trial of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist will deliberate for a seventh day.

Ms Higgins alleges ex-Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in Parliament House on March 23, 2019, after a drunken night out in Canberra.

Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. He is being tried in the ACT Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, the court heard jurors had not yet managed to determine a verdict.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said: 'Members of the jury, thank you. No one could suggest you are not working extremely hard.

'In the absence of any other indication from you, I assume you want to go home at 4 o'clock.'

She reminded jurors they are 'all equals in the jury room', and told them to ask for help if they need it.

Federal police warned Brittany Higgins that speaking to the media could jeopardise the trial of her alleged rapist, a court has heard. Ms Higgins is pictured outside the ACT Supreme Court on Friday

On Tuesday, the court heard the jury were deadlocked.

Justice McCallum received a note from the jury at about 3pm that day saying they were 'unable to agree' on a unanimous verdict.

However, she instructed them to go back into the jury room and continue deliberating.

The chief justice urged them to 'relax, hit the gym or walk the dog or whatever you need to do to rest from this arduous task'.

She also reminded jurors of the oath or affirmation they took before the trial began to only hand a verdict down if they genuinely believe it was the right decision.

'You each take in your personal experience and wisdom and you are expected to judge the evidence fairly in that light.

'Calmly weigh up each opinion in the jury room and discuss them.'

Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. He is pictured outside court on Tuesday

Earlier in the week, the jury asked for 'a little extra time' and the chief justice assured them there was no rush.

She instructed the jurors to find a verdict according to the evidence presented in the courtroom and said they should not feel pressured to make a decision.

The deliberations followed a 12-day trial where jurors heard from 29 witnesses, including Liberal senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash.

Ms Higgins alleges Lehrmann raped her in the parliamentary office of Senator Reynolds when they worked for her as defence industry minister in March 2019. He denies any sexual interaction happened.
Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu attends the Korea Times Forum on the Korea-U.S. Alliance at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Lee Hae-rin



Envoys who participated in The Korea Times Forum on Wednesday said that the Korea-U.S. alliance is much more than a bilateral issue between the two countries and related to more than peace and stability in East Asia, noting that many other countries are also affected by the nature of Korea-U.S. ties.



"The strength of the Korea-U.S. alliance in every sphere is key for all of us, and is very important for the success of Israel-Korea relations as well," Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor said. "The strategic and economic stability of this region (East Asia) impacts our own strategic concerns in the Middle East in predictable and unpredictable ways, and hence we follow Northeast Asia closely and with interest."



The Israeli envoy's remarks indicate that the role of the Korea-U.S. alliance goes far beyond maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula alone, as the two countries exert an influence on Israel.





Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko, from left, speaks with International Organization for Migration Chief of Mission to Korea Steve Hamilton, Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu agreed that a strong alliance between Korea and the U.S. in both economic and political aspects is in the interest of her country, explaining that Brazil and the U.N. Security Council have consistently spoken for the immediate cessation of North Korea's missile tests and in favor of denuclearization.



During the forum, envoys from more than 20 countries attended and they intently listened to what the panelists said about economic security, global supply chain disruptions and the Korea-U.S. alliance. Divided into two sessions, Session 1 was about economic security and Session 2 was about the Korea-U.S. alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. Panelists exchanged their views on the prospects of global supply chain disruptions and the impact of the Korea-U.S. alliance on the region. The forum was conducted in a hybrid format with some participants joining sessions online.



Some envoys spoke positively about the event, saying the two sessions were very informative and that they learned a lot.



"This was an excellent panel and an excellent initiative that increased my understanding of all elements of the present challenges," Abreu said.



"On the security alliance in the Indo-Pacific, I believe that the panel contributed a lot to my understanding of the situation, which is certainly very complex, and which I will be following with great interest."





From left, Korea Network of Women in Finance Chairperson Kim Sang-kyung, Swiss Ambassador Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli and Deputy Head of Mission at Australian Embassy Alexandra Siddall attend the VIP session of the Korea Times Forum. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Between May 31 and June 1, 1921, a mob of 10,000 white men descended on the community of Greenwood in Tulsa and attacked black residents and burned businesses.

Many of them had weapons and some were deputized by city officials. It led to the worst act of racial violence in US history, with more than 800 people taken to hospital and 6,000 black residents interned in buildings across the city.

The final death toll has never been confirmed, with estimates ranging between 75 and 300 fatalities. Around 10,000 black residents were left homeless and the firebombing caused more than $1.5millon in damage.

A group of National Guard Troops, carrying rifles with bayonets attached, escort unarmed African American men to the detention center at Convention Hall

After World War I, Tulsa was recognized for its affluent African-American community known as the Greenwood District.

The community was often referred to as the 'Black Wall Street' because of its thriving businesses and residential area, but in June 1921, the community was nearly destroyed during the Tulsa Race Riot.

The area was fraught with racial and political tensions with servicemen returning from fighting in Europe, the resurgence of the Klu Klux Klan and the memory of the end of the Civil War in 1865.

There was also an economic slump in Tulsa, that drove up unemployment, and increased tensions between white veterans and professional, well-educated African-Americans who populated Greenwood.

In 1919, the 'Red Summer', industrial cities in the Midwest and Northeast experienced significant race riots because of the tensions.

The events leading up to the riot began on May 30, 1921, when a young black shoe shiner named Dick Rowland was riding in the elevator with a woman named Sarah Page.

The details of what followed vary from person to person and it's unclear what actually happened, but Rowland was arrested the next day by Tulsa police, with reports suggesting Rowland assaulted Page.

The police questioned Page and determined Rowland assaulted her, even though a written account has never been produced backing her claims.

During the Tulsa Riot, 35 city blocks were completely destroyed and more than 800 people were treated for injuries. Historians believe as many as 300 people may have died in the riot

Subsequently, a report in the Tulsa Tribune dated May 31, 1921 was published that night with an accompanying editorial stating that a lynching was planned for that night.

Hundreds of men then gathered around the jail where Rowland was being held. They encountered a group of black men who were supporting Rowland.

This started a confrontation between black and white armed men at the courthouse, with the white men demanding that Rowland be lynched while the black men tried to protect him.

During a struggle between two men in the mobs over a gun, shots were fired and a white man was shot, causing the the African-American group to retreat to the Greenwood District.

In the early morning hours of June 1, 1921, Greenwood was looted and burned by an estimated 10,000 white rioters, who flooded into the streets shooting residents. Planes also reportedly dropped incendiary bombs on the area.

Many of the white mob had recently returned from World War I and trained in the use of firearms, are are said to have shot Black Americans on sight.

Pictured: Part of Greenwood District burning during the Race Riots, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, June 1921. More than 1,400 homes and businesses were destroyed. The picture caption above says 'Burning of Church Where Ammunition was Stored-During Tulsa Race Riot-6-1-21'

In addition, more than 1,400 homes and businesses were destroyed, and nearly 10,000 people were left homeless.

The riots lasted for two days, and Governor Robertson declared martial law, and National Guard troops were called in to Tulsa.

During the riot, 35 city blocks were completely destroyed. Historians believe as many as 300 people may have died in the riot - mostly Black Americans -and more than 800 people were treated for injuries.

Bodies were buried in mass graves while families of those who were killed in the riots were held in prison under martial law according to Scott Ellsworth, a University of Michigan historian, in December.

The families of the deceased were never told whether their loved ones died in the massacre, or where they were buried, and no funerals were held.

Until the 1990s, the massacre was rarely mentioned in history books, and in 2001, the Race Riot Commission was organized to review the details of the deadly riot.

Source: Tulsa History.org
One person put up a photo of Mr Asham's favourite table at his workplace

Tributes have flooded in for Mr Ahsam from both colleagues and close friends

Mr Ahsam texted singer Nuz Ngatai a week beforehand saying he was 'sick as'

He died in his sleep on Monday afternoon after spending time in hospital

Richie Ahsam, 50, was the head of security at the Hollywood Showgirls club

Respected security boss in the Surfers Paradise strip joint has died suddenly

A 'friend to the stars' security chief at a popular Gold Coast strip club has died suddenly after telling a mate he was feeling 'sick as'.

Tributes have flooded in for much-loved Richie Ahsam, 50 - including a haunting photo of his favourite table lying empty at his Hollywood Showgirls workplace.

Mr Ahsam was a well known local icon in Surfers Paradise and was frequently pictured with celebrities, including Mike Tyson.

He died on Monday afternoon, a week after he had checked himself into a hospital feeling unwell.

Mr Ahsam had texted his friend Ngahere Ngatai, a member of the vocal trio The Koi Boys, to tell him that he was feeling unwell.

Tributes have flooded in for much-loved Richie Ahsam, 50 (pictured with wife Danielle)

Richie Ahsam (pictured), 50, died in his sleep on Monday afternoon after spending time in hospital

Mr Ahsam was the respected head of security at the Surfers Paradise strip club, Hollywood Showgirls (pictured, Mr Ahsam with Hollywood Showgirls owner Craig Duffy and former professional boxer, Mike Tyson)

'On my way to hospital bro. Sick as,' he wrote.

Mr Ngatai responded: 'Aw noo. No good bro. Get well gee.'

'Thanks my bro,' he said.

After leaving the hospital and returning home, Mr Ahsam went to sleep and never woke up, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Tributes have flown in for the security boss in the Gold Coast and across Australia.

A Facebook group set up to remember Mr Ahsam shared a photo of his regular table in the Hollywood Showgirls strip joint where he sat.

The image shows the table, sectioned off with rope, now deserted with a single beer sitting on top.

The social media user who posted the image simply captioned it: 'Richie's Table.'

Mr Ngatai published a tribute for his friend on Facebook, writing, 'It was just last week we touched base. You felt sick and now you are not here with us brother. In such a short time we formed a bond and you became like a big brother.'

'Full of energy, full of jokes, we didn't get to meet your famz but our heart goes out to your partner and your two kids. So so sad, love you bro.'

The band member recalled a time when Mr Ahsam followed The Koi Boys to an RSL to watch them perform.

The security boss told Ngahere Ngatai, a member of the band The Koi Boys, that he was feeling unwell and heading to hospital a week before he died

Tributes flowed in for Mr Ahsam including a haunting photo of the table in the Hollywood Showgirls strip club he often sat at - now deserted

Hollywood Showgirls owner Craig Duffy described him as a 'loveable rogue' who was 'well liked', while co-founder Jamie Pickering said he was 'like Superman' for his ability to keep 'the venue safe' (pictured, Mr Ahsam with former NZ Rugby player Israel Dagg)

Hollywood Showgirls owner Craig Duffy described him as a 'loveable rogue' who was 'well liked' amongst many.

'Sad news. Doesn't seem real. A Glitter Strip icon gone way too early,' he said.

The pair had a close bond and went on trips to Las Vegas together.

Hollywood co-founder Jamie Pickering spoke about how reliable Mr Ahsam was and how he dealt with problems in a 'difficult job' as head of security.

'He kept a lot of problems away from us and kept the venue safe. He was like Superman,' he said.

Mr Ahsam leaves behind a wife, Danielle, and two children including daughter, Leilani, and son, Isaiah

Mr Ahsam lived in New Zealand before he moved to Australia.

He started working security at Hollywood Showgirls soon after it was opened by Mr Duffy and Mr Pickering 19 years ago.

During his career, he also worked at prominent venues in Sydney.

Mr Ahsam leaves behind a wife, Danielle, and two children including daughter, Leilani, and son, Isaiah.
The sister of a young man tragically killed in a shocking workplace explosion has posted a heartbreaking tribute on social media.

Kyah McDonald, 21, was fighting for life after he was one of three people injured when a truck at a Gold Coast Isuzu dealership burst into flames on Tuesday.

He suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body in the fireball and was rushed by paramedics to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital where he died later that night.

His sister Holly shared the emotional tribute to Facebook on Wednesday morning alongside photos of the pair growing up together.

Kyah McDonald (left), 26, has been remembered as a 'kind and funny' brother

Mr McDonald's sister shared a heartfelt tribute to him (pictured) on Wednesday after he died following an explosion at a truck dealership

'To my big brother .. I can't even comprehend losing you this early in life. You truly brought so much joy to all of our lives and I want to thank you for being such a kind, funny and overall big brother,' Holly wrote.

'I'm speechless, no words can describe the pain our family is going through right now... Not one person in this world didn't like you. Rest peacefully now, I love you. 21 forever.'

Emergency crews were called to the Isuzu dealership on Newheath road in Arundel just before 8am on Tuesday and found the three men badly injured.

His sister Holly shared photos of the two of them growing up (pictured)

A spokesperson for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) told Daily Mail Australia four crews responded to a call that a workshop was on fire at the site at 7.50am.

Queensland Ambulance Service supervisor Stuart Cutajar said the 21-year-old man sustained 'life-threatening' burns and was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBH) for treatment.

A second man, 19, sustained 'significant' burns to his face, arm and torso, while another, 33, suffered burns to his hand.

A fourth worker who witnessed the incident unfold was treated for shock on scene.

Mr Cutajar said workers on scene 'did a fantastic job helping us treat these patients' by performing first aid before paramedics arrived.

'Four crews arrived on scene and quickly contained the fire to a small area of a workshop, with the fire extinguished at 8.10am,' a QFES spokesperson said.

Three men were treated for burns after the fireball at an Isuzu dealership on the Gold Coast (pictured)

An ambulance spokesperson said the workers on site did an excellent job of providing first aid to the men

Gold Coast Isuzu, which is overseen by Peter Warren Automotive Holdings, issued a statement.

'Peter Warren Automotive Holdings (ASX: PWR) advises that following an explosion on the Gold Coast at its Arundel facility, two employees have suffered severe injuries and other employees are also receiving medical treatment,' it said.

'The company is focused on supporting our people and their families and ensuring that they are getting the best care and medical attention.

'The safety and wellbeing of our employees is our highest priority.'

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are investigating and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been congratulated by his father-in-law, the billionaire IT tycoon Narayana Murthy.

In a rare public statement, the 76-year-old said: 'We are proud. We are confident he will do his best for the people of the United Kingdom.'

Mr Murthy has previously been dubbed 'India's Bill Gates' due to his role pioneering the country's tech boom.

The scion of a middle class family, he amassed unimaginable wealth after founding tech company Infosys in the early 80s and is now worth an estimated 3.9bn.

Narayana Murthy and his wife, Sudha, with his daughter, Akshata, and Rishi Sunak at a wedding reception in Bangalore

His daughter, Akshata Murthy, met Mr Sunak, also 42, while they were studying at Stanford University in the US.

The couple share two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, and will be the first Hindu family to occupy Number 10.

Mr Sunak is the UK's first PM Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

The news has been welcomed in India, with the country's leader, Narendra Modi, sending his 'warmest congratulations'.

Meanwhile, parliamentarian Raghav Chadha tweeted: 'Today, as India celebrates Diwali in its 75th year as an independent nation, the UK gets an Indian-origin Prime Minister. History comes full circle.'

TV channel NDTV called it a 'stunning' while CNBC TV18 described his rise as 'nothing short of a miracle' and said Sunak had made the impossible happen.

Mr Sunak is the UK's first PM Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42

It also praised British society for giving Sunak the opportunity to reach the highest office.

'The greater credit is to Britain itself, for bringing in institutions and developing a culture where Rishi Sunak could be possible,' it said.

Together, the Sunaks have a combined fortune of 730 million, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed in May.

Ms Murthy has previously come under public scrutiny for her non-domiciled tax status, which meant she did not have to pay tax on earnings outside the UK.

It is thought the bulk of her 430m wealth comes from Infosys, which is based in Bangalore.

After the tax revelation was revealed, the couple faced intense backlash  which led to Ms Murthy 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 decided to give it up.

The statement read: 'It has become clear that many do not feel it is compatible with my husband's 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.'

Akshata and Rishi have been married to since 2009 after meeting Stanford University

The couple have a combined fortune of 730 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List

In an interview with The Times in August, as he languished behind Liz Truss in the first Tory leadership contest, Mr Sunak 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.

Mr Sunak added there are several other ways in which the couple are like chalk and cheese  with housekeeping being their biggest difference.

'I'm incredibly tidy, she's very messy,' he said. 'I'm much more organised, she is more spontaneous... she is not going to love me for saying this but I'll 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.'

Ms Murthy, 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.

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)

While her father Narayana went on to found Infosys and build his fortune, her 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, Ms Murthy 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, who was studying at the top college after being granted a Fulbright scholarship.

Mr Sunak recently admitted there was 'clearly something' there when he and his wife 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.
A 46-year-old businessman who touched the leg of a teenage girl while 'high on drugs' on a flight to Manchester, before telling her: 'It's a shame you are 17 because I want to f*** you', has been spared jail.

Andrew Reay left his victim feeling 'awkward' and 'disgusting' on board the easyJet flight from Lanzarote, which departed on September 2, 2020, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

He also berated an autistic boy and his mother and harassed cabin crew, who moved him to another seat, the jury was told, almost forcing the captain to divert the aircraft. Fortunately Reay fell asleep before being arrested upon arrival.

At sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Maurice Greene allowed him to walk free from court and return to the Canary Islands, insisting that Reay's employees would be 'affected' by a prison sentence for their boss.

He had pleaded not guilty to section 3 sexual assault on a female at Manchester Magistrates Court, but was convicted following a trial. Reay was handed a four-month prison sentence yesterday, suspended for 12 months.

Prosecuting, Virginia Hayton had told the court how Reay, who was sat to the right of the Spanish student, was 'loud and messing around' with another passenger who appeared to be his friend. Reay bought alcohol from the cabin crew and, after consuming it, began to make the teenager feel 'uncomfortable'.

Andrew Reay (pictured), 46, left his victim feeling 'awkward' and 'disgusting' on board the easyJet flight from Lanzarote, which departed on September 2, 2020, Minshull Street Crown Court heard

Ms Hayton said: 'She tried to move but he would get hold of her arm, telling her to stay.' She told the court that after more than an hour, Reay's friend fell asleep, before the defendant 'turned all his attention' to her.

Ms Hayton explained that the teenager described Reay being 'super friendly' and encouraging her to have a drink. Despite making her feel 'awkward', Reay 'kept on at her' and eventually she 'relented' and had a drink.

The court heard that Reay boasted about having taken drugs before the flight - claiming cannabis was 'not hard enough' for him so he had 'put white powder' in his joints 'to make them good'. Reay was 'touchy' with members of cabin crew, Ms Hayton said, while he continued to grab the girl's arm.

Ms Hayton said Reay opened his legs wide enough to touch the teenager's, which made her feel 'horrible'. He then placed his left hand on her thigh and 'ran it up and down over her trousers', leaving her feeling 'disgusting', the court heard.

'She said she just wanted to go home and have a shower,' said Ms Hayton. The court heard how Reay made comments about having sex with the teenager and she pushed his hand away.

Ms Hayton said: 'He said 'it's a shame' she was only 17 and 'he would like to f*** her'.' She added: 'She felt like crying. She felt scared. She thought he could get violent at any time.'

The teenager called cabin crew, who moved Reay to another seat on the plane. Ms Hayton told the court that another passenger, whose son had autism and wore a head harness, then described Reay 'shouting and swearing' at them.

In a statement, the flight's captain said he considered diverting the flight to Birmingham Airport because of Reay's behaviour. But Reay eventually fell asleep in his new seat, and he was arrested at Manchester Airport.

The court heard Reay, of Crewe, now lives on the Canary Islands and runs a business there. He had pleaded not guilty to section 3 sexual assault on a female at Manchester Magistrates Court, but was convicted following a trial.

At sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Maurice Greene allowed Reay (pictured) to walk free from court and return to the Canary Islands, insisting that Reay's employees would be 'affected' by a prison sentence for their boss

Defending, Eleanor Gleeson said her client 'understands the seriousness of the offence' and now shows 'remorse' for his actions. Reay had no convictions since the year 2000, and although His Honour Greene said the defendant had 'a number of difficulties' in his youth, had since 'made a life for himself in the Canary Islands'.

The judge described the incident as 'extremely unpleasant', but felt it was 'not the behaviour that [Reay] exhibits on a regular basis' - instead suggesting he was affected by the influence of alcohol, drugs or both.

His Honour Judge Greene also commented how a prison sentence would have an 'effect on his employees' and told court he was following guidelines.

He added: 'You targeted this 17-year-old Spanish student who was minding her own business and you were suggestive to her. You gave her little room, opened your legs out so your legs were against her legs, and then rubbed her leg up and down.

'You knew that was unpleasant for her. You said at one point, 'am I making you uncomfortable?'. You knew she was 17 because you said 'it's a shame you are 17 because I want to f*** you.

'This was a young lady of 17 who all she wanted to do was fly from one place to another, and she had to contend with your attentions in a place that she could not really escape, on a plane.' Reay must also pay costs of 400 and had signed the sex offenders register following his conviction.
A top police officer's comment that an indigenous teen allegedly bashed to death was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' has sparked furious outrage.

Critics claim Commissioner Col Blanch 'victim-blamed' Cassius Turvey for his death on October 13 as the police chief fielded questions over the alleged murder.

Cassius was allegedly bludgeoned with a metal pipe when he and three friends were allegedly set upon by thugs while on their way home from school in Middle Swan, in Perth's north east.

Cmr Blanch said the alleged attack was sparked by a 'damage incident' where windows had earlier been broken, and said the teen had been 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'.

The remarks sparked online fury, with many reacting angrily to the top cop's comments.

Cassius Turvey (pictured) was allegedly bludgeoned with a metal pipe on October 13 when he and three friends were allegedly set upon by thugs while on their way home from school

Police Commissioner Col Blanch (pictured) was blasted by social media critics after saying, the incident may have been a case of being 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'

Cassius (pictured) suffered serious head injuries and spent five days in hospital before being discharged. However, just hours after leaving he suffered a seizure and two strokes and was rushed back. He then died on Sunday

Commissioner Blanch was speaking to radio host Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast Radio when he made the comments.

Parker pressed the commissioner if police knew if Cassius and his friends had anything to do with the damage incident.

'At this point in the investigation, we've got nothing to suggest that,' he told the radio host on Wednesday.

'It may be a case of mistaken identity. It may be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I wouldn't want anyone in the community to jump to any conclusions.'

Social media lit up in the wake of the interview as commenters reacted to the commissioner's comments, amid fears the alleged attack was racially motivated.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, has since been charged with murder over the attack.

'Where would be the right place for a child getting off the school bus,' one commenter added to the social media post (pictured)

'Where would be the right place for a child getting off the school bus?' one commenter said.

'Victim blaming a kid on their school run. A new low,' said another.

'Struggling to find "the right place"', another added.

'Wrong place/Wrong time is a disgusting statement from the police,' one more said.

'The implication of wrong place, wrong time reeks of victim blaming,' another user wrote.

'They refuse to see it for the clear racism it is,' said another.

But one commenter defended the commissioner, adding: 'He was saying the police were looking into whether it was mistaken identity, in trying to identify a motive'.

Critics took to social media (pictured) over the commissioner's remarks, with one saying, 'Victim blaming a kid on their school run. A new low'

Commissioner Blanch insisted police were not 'operating on any principles of racism or motivations at this point,' and said it would be wrong for him to speculate over the reasons for the death.

He added investigations into the 'tragedy' were ongoing, as homicide detectives were still gathering evidence and seeking witnesses.

One of the alleged attackers was 21-year-old Jack Steven James Brearley, (pictured) who has been charged over the horrific murder

It is alleged three men in a black ute pulled up next to the group of teens, after the boys had gotten off a bus.

The men allegedly started racially abusing the schoolboys, accusing them of smashing car windows.

They then allegedly got out of the car armed with a machete and metal pipe, before telling the children to 'run'.

While Cassius' friends hid in a nearby TAFE, the 15-year-old was allegedly caught by the group who proceeded to violently assault him.

He suffered serious head injuries and spent five days in hospital before being discharged. However, just hours after leaving he suffered a seizure and two strokes and was rushed back. He then died on Sunday.

A GoFundMe page was put up to help Cassius' family pay for the 'extra expenses' of the funeral and to 'fight for justice' for the boy.

So far it has smashed past the page's $125,000 goal, reaching a whopping $235,000 by Wednesday night.
An armed man has been shot in the leg by police outside a suburban Sydney Woolworths supermarket as they attempted to arrest him.

Police were called about 4.30pm to the Woolworths on Bunnerong Road in Matraville in the city's eastern suburbs after a man, 26, was allegedly assaulting two women with a knife.

Four police patrol cars from Eastern Beaches Area Command were on the scene and the man was confronted by officers in a nearby carpark where he allegedly threatened them with the knife.

Police have shot a man in the thigh as they tried to arrest him outside a Sydney Woolworths supermarket (pictured)

One man was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a stable condition (pictured)

Officers discharged a taser and then shot the man in the thigh. He was treated on the scene by paramedics and then rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a stable condition.

A critical incident team comprised of officers from Inner West Police Area Command will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm.

That investigation will be subject to independent review.

More to follow.

Officers confronted a man in a nearby carpark (pictured) and discharged their weapons when he threatened them with a knife
Cambridge University is in the grip of a new free speech row after faculty bosses issued a grovelling apology to students for 'distressing' them by inviting them to a 'harmful' debate on gender ideology by a feminist journalist - after dozens of masked trans activists tried to boycott the event.

An advert for last night's forum with Helen Joyce, an Irish journalist and former Britain editor at The Economist, was sent to faculty mailing lists across the university to invite undergraduates.

The debate at Gonville and Caius college by professor of philosophy Arif Ahmed sparked outrage among students accusing Dr Joyce of being a Terf (trans exclusionary radical feminist).

It was even attacked by Professor Pippa Rogerson, master of Gonville and Caius, and senior tutor Dr Andrew Spencer, who told students they would avoid the discussion, labelling Dr Joyce's views on transgender people as 'offensive, insulting, and hateful to members of our community'.

Dr Joyce, who maintains biological sex is immutable and is the author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, faced dozens of masked protesters outside St Mary's Church, and later said the event went ahead with 'genuinely hostile' audience questions which was 'great' for healthy debate.

But the free speech row escalated when Cambridge's sociology faculty apologised to students for distressing them with an advert.

In the memo seen by MailOnline and the Telegraph, Professor Manali Desai, the head of sociology, said: 'We are very sorry for the distress caused to you by the circulation of an email promoting the Helen Joyce event.

An advert for last night's forum with Helen Joyce, an Irish journalist and former Britain editor at The Economist, was sent to faculty mailing lists across the university to invite undergraduates

Dr Joyce faced dozens of masked protesters outside St Mary's Church

Professor Pippa Rogerson (left) and Dr Andrew Spencer (right) said they support freedom of expression but would not be attending Dr Joyce's talk

'We have looked at our processes and realised we need an authorisation route for circulation of events to ensure that administrative staff do not inadvertently promote potentially harmful material, as happened in this case.'

She added: 'The department is firmly committed to ensuring that we actively promote events that contribute to increasing awareness of LGBTQ+ inclusion and I would like to reaffirm that the inadvertent circulation of this event via email was not intended to promote it'.

The sociology faculty said it would 'raise concerns' with Gonville and Caius college, Cambridge's fourth oldest, over the event.

An advert for a protest organised outside St Mary's Church in Cambridge, where Dr Joyce's debate on gender ideology took place last night

Cambridge's LGBT network condemned the talk and Cambridge Students' Union called for it to be scrapped - while the college ran a 'welfare event' tearoom on campus for 'distressed' students, held at the same time as the debate.

A Cambridge University spokesperson said: 'The Department circulated a notice notifying students about the talk. The head of the Department later received complaints from some students opposed to the views of the speaker.

'An email was subsequently sent out to make it clear that the Department was neither actively endorsing or promoting the contents of the talk. There was never any attempt to either persuade or dissuade people from attending.'

MailOnline has contacted Prof Desai and Gonville and Caius college for further comment.

In her book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, Dr Joyce argues that the trans lobby is trying to 'supplant biology', equating the movement to a 'new state religion, complete with blasphemy laws'.

Writing to undergraduates in a personal capacity, Prof Rogerson and Dr Spencer insisted they wholeheartedly support the principle of freedom of expression but will not attend, according to the Varsity student newspaper.

They added: 'We have worked hard and we will continue to strive to make Caius an inclusive, diverse and welcoming home for our students, staff and Fellows.

'We feel events such as this do not contribute to this aim.

In her book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, Dr Joyce argues that the trans lobby is trying to 'supplant biology', equating the movement to a 'new state religion, complete with blasphemy laws'

The debate was hosted at the college by Caius fellow and professor of philosophy, Arif Ahmed

'Caius should be a place for the highest quality of research to be produced and discussed, rather than polemics.'

However, Prof Ahmed defended the planned talk, saying Dr Joyce would be 'discussing important questions to do with sex and gender'.

He said: 'These are matters of great public interest on which it is very important that there is free and open debate. Anyone who would like to learn about Helen Joyce's views and her reasoning, and to discuss them with her, should feel free to come along. Everyone is welcome.'

A Gonville and Caius spokesman previously said the college 'prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive community'.

He said: 'The event on October 25 is an external event hosted by Professor Arif Ahmed, a Caius Fellow. It is not a College event.

'We support free speech and would encourage those within the College community and wider society to challenge views they find reprehensible through debate and to celebrate our diversity.'
Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has declared the war in Ukraine to be 'the Big Jihad' while urging Russian Muslims to rise up and fight 'demons' and the forces of 'Satanic democracy'.

Kadyrov, one of Putin's most hardline supporters, ranted against gay people, the transgender, and Western liberals online - saying they have overrun Ukraine, want to destroy Russia, and it is the duty of patriots to take up arms against them.

'They want to break our Motherland into pieces, humiliate, trample in the dirt and, in the end, defile our faith and culture so that we don't have any identity and not a single family value,' he said. 'I see degradation and Satanism in this.

'And I'd rather fight it in the bud than let this abomination envelop our Motherland.'

His language was then adopted by the Russian Security Council which last night proclaimed that hundreds of Satanist sects are now spreading across Ukraine and that the country must be 'completely de-Satanzied'.

It marks a shift in tone from earlier in the war, when Moscow declared it was fighting against fascists and wanted Ukraine to be 'de-Nazified'. Now, at least according to the Kremlin, they are fighting the Devil.

Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen warlord and Putin hardliner, has ranted against Satanists and demons he claims are fighting in Ukraine - and declared the war 'the Big Jihad'

A Ukrainian soldier fires a heavy mortar towards Russian lines in the northern Kharkiv region

Kadyrov raged: 'I swear with the Almighty's name, this is the Big Jihad which we must all take part in.

'And we will not stop. We will be killing them wherever they are. No matter who is helping them, America or Europe. There is nothing to worry about.

'They don't have as much means and forces, they will run out soon. Our ancestors during World War Two had even less.

'They didn't have enough to eat, but they won, because they had spirit and belief.'

Kadyrov also promised that anyone signing up to fight in Ukraine would get to kill 'shaitans', an Islamic word meaning 'evil spirit' or 'demon'.

He added: 'I do not understand those who love the Fatherland only in words. Honestly, I don't understand. I don't understand those who don't see the obvious.

'[The West] want to break our Motherland into pieces, humiliate, trample in the dirt and, in the end, defile our faith and culture so that we don't have any identity and not a single family value. I use the word "Satanism" for a reason

'In the West, Satanism is openly acting against Russia. Satanic democracy is when the rights of atheists are protected, but believers are offended.

'Or when traditional couples are deprived of children who are transferred to same-sex families. Intentionally same-sex, not by chance.

'In Europe they have swallowed it. They consider it modern, civilised. The more liberated "below the belt" topic, the better for them.

'And I see degradation and Satanism in this. And I'd rather fight it in the bud than let this abomination envelop our Motherland here.

'Today the state and the president [Putin] need us.'

Putin has been forced to conscript hundreds of thousands of men into the Russian military in order to try and halt Ukraine's fight-back (pictured, recruits in the Krasnodar region)

Russian conscripts ferry ammunition for an armoured vehicle or tank across a training ground as they prepare to go to the frontlines in Ukraine

Kadyrov is a Putin stooge appointed to rule over Chechnya with an iron fist after Vladimir crushed an uprising there as one of his first acts as president.

He has typically been loyal to his paymaster, but as the war in Ukraine has lurched from disaster to disaster he has become more openly critical.

Though he has not attacked Putin directly, Kadyrov has railed against Russia's commanders and insisted he could have achieved victory by now.

Another Putin loyalist who has turned critical in recent weeks is Vladimir Solovyov, a state TV propagandist, who last night called for Ukraine's second-largest city to be wiped 'off the face of the f***ing earth.'

Kharkiv - a major hub for Russia diaspora before the war broke out - is 'obviously Ukraine's main logistic and supply centre', according to Solovyov.

'Wipe it off the face of the f***ing earth if we have to,' he said.

'Warn the civilians, tell them "You've got 24 hours, 48 hours [to leave]" After that we begin to destroy the city block by block.

'The same goes for the threat [to] Kherson. Where's the threat coming from. Mykolaiv? Then destroy Mykolaiv. It's simple and clear.'

Talk of 'de-Satanizing' Ukraine comes after Putin himself railed against the forces of evil he claimed were arrayed against him during a speech annexing occupied regions of the country to Russia.

Hew said: 'Do we want to have, here, in our country, in Russia, instead of mom and dad, to be a "parent number one", "number two", "number three".

Firefighters conduct work in a destroyed building after Russian attacks in Kyiv, Ukraine

'Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed on children in our schools from the primary grades?

'To be drummed into them that there are supposedly other genders besides women and men, and to be offered a gender reassignment operation?

'Do we want all this for our country and our children? For us, all this is unacceptable, we have a different, our own future...

'Such a complete denial of man, the overthrow of faith and traditional values, the suppression of freedom acquires the features of a 'reverse religion' - outright Satanism.'

Putin's rhetoric has become increasingly unhinged as he loses the war in Ukraine.

What was supposed to be a days-long invasion to re-take control of the country - mirroring his 2014 annexation of Crimea - has turned into an eight-month war.

Russia's army has been given a mauling at the hands of Ukraine, which is increasingly being armed with state-of-the-art Western weaponry.

Vladimir Putin is attempting to hold on to the territory he has already taken in Ukraine after his army was fought to a standstill

Putin's forces have virtually stopped advancing having achieved none of his war aims, and are instead struggling to hold on to the territory they already hold.

To help, Vladimir has been forced to conscript 300,000 men into the military to plug holes on the frontline and has declared martial law across occupied Ukraine and in border regions of Russia.

But Ukraine continues to advance. Troops are currently pushing east into Luhansk province from Kharkiv - which was almost-totally recaptured last month - and south towards Kherson.

Sergei Surovikin, Putin's top man in Ukraine, has floated the possibility of a retreat from the southern city which is also the capital of a province Putin annexed.

President Zelensky has vowed to continue fighting until all Ukrainian territory is back under Kyiv's control.
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Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt today postponed a key financial announcement due to take place on Halloween to give them more time to 'get under the bonnet' of the nation's broken finances.

The fiscal statement due to be held on October 31 will now be held on November 17, they told the new look Cabinet this morning.

It came as the new Prime Minister prepared for his first face-off with Labour's Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.

The statement was originally set for November 23 by former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, but he was forced to bring it forward amid economic turmoil created by last month's mini-Budget.

The markets have been calmed by the replacement of Mr Kwarteng and Liz Truss in the top jobs, potentially giving the new team more time to play with.

But they are facing a serious task of how to find savings to fill in a black hole in the public coffers of up to 40billion.

Mr Hunt said today that he had discussed the plan last night with the Bank of England, after Kwarteng left Andrew Bailey out of the loop.

Mr Hunt told broadcasters: 'I want to confirm that it will demonstrate debt falling over the medium term which is really important for people to understand.

'But it's also extremely important that that statement is based on the most accurate possible economic forecasts and forecasts of public finances.

'And for that reason the Prime Minister and I have decided it is prudent to make that statement on November 17 when it will be upgraded to a full autumn statement.'

The new Prime Minister convened his Cabinet this morning ahead of his first face-off with Labour's Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Hunt said today that he had discussed the plan last night with the Bank of England, after Kwarteng left Andrew Bailey out of the loop.

Mr Sunak will meet Kwarteng's successor Jeremy Hunt (pictured today in Downing St) and could push it back by either days or weeks to give them more time to assess the situation they have inherited.

Ministers including Education Secretary Gillian Keegan began arriving in Downing Street this morning ahead of the Cabinet meeting. Michael Gove arrived early to help Mr Sunak prepare for his first PMQs

Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab walk into No10 Downing Street this morning

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt arrived for Cabinet this morning with Chief Whip Simon Hart, while Environment Secretary Therese Coffey arrived with Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick

Mr Cleverly said: 'The Prime Minister and the Chancellor know they need to work quickly on this but they also want to get it right, so we'll see what happens to that date.'

Zelensky invites Sunak to Ukraine as pair hold first phone call Rishi Sunak stepped up to the international stage last night taking calls from world leaders as he laid down the foundations for his premiership. The new PM had earlier hit headlines with a dramatic cabinet reshuffle that saw him displace key Truss allies while retaining Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor and James Cleverly as Foreign Secretary and reappointing Suella Braverman to the Home Office. Hours after his cabinet reshuffle, Mr Sunak took a call from US president Joe Biden and discussed the war in Ukraine, as the US President called the UK his country's 'closest ally'. This was despite the president earlier mispronouncing the PM's name as 'Rashee Sanook' in his congratulatory speech. The new Prime Minister will meet Joe Biden in the coming weeks at the G20 summit in Indonesia. Sunak reiterated the 'special relationship' between the UK and US by referring to the two countries 'the closest of allies' in an Instagram post, alongside a picture of himself taking the call. The PM also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledged the UK would continue to provide support as it defends itself from Russian aggression. Zelensky in turn invited Sunak to visit Ukraine. Yesterday, the PM received congratulatory messages from a host of other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Gloria Meloni, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi But not all reactions were quite as welcoming, as Russia acknowledged the new Prime Minister in the frostiest of terms. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that in Moscow, 'we do not see any preconditions, grounds, or hope that in the foreseeable future there will be any positive changes' in the relationship between the United Kingdom and Russia. Advertisement

In a statement, a No10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister and the Chancellor agreed that the fiscal event would now take place on the November 17, and would be an Autumn Statement.

'He (the chancellor) said it is important to reach the right decisions and there is time for those decisions to be confirmed with Cabinet.

'The Autumn Statement will set out how we will put public finances on a sustainable footing and get debt falling in the medium term and will be accompanied by a full forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

It came as the head of the International Monetary Fund backed Mr Sunak to steer Britain towards fiscal sustainability.

Kristalina Georgieva said today he was right to warn the public of difficult decisions ahead and welcomed what she said was Sunak's clarity and constructive attitude that she knew from his time as finance minister.

She expects to speak to the recently appointed finance minister Jeremy Hunt in coming days.

'The new prime minister comes with a platform that he has shaped during his days as a chancellor, and it is one of being very prudent in bringing fiscal discipline in the UK,' she said in Berlin.

'I listened carefully to him talking to the British people, and this is a message that should resonate across the world. These are tough times, and tough times require tough decisions.'

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: 'This delay risks leaving mortgage borrowers, pensioners and struggling families under a damaging cloud of uncertainty.

'Rishi Sunak must confirm now that benefits and pensions will be up-rated in line with inflation, and there will be no cuts to our NHS and other crucial public services.'

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had earlier hinted this morning that a delay could occur. He told BBC Breakfast: 'Obviously the date of that fiscal statement was originally set with no expectation of a change of prime minister. We've now had a change of prime minister.

'Thankfully that's happened very quickly, because nobody wants uncertainty.

'But the Prime Minister was appointed less than 24 hours ago. He is in the process of forming a Government. He will want some time with his Chancellor to make sure that the fiscal statement matches his priorities.

'Now, I don't know whether that means that date is going to slip but, as you suggested, the current date is only a couple of days away.

'The Prime Minister and the Chancellor know they need to work quickly on this but they also want to get it right, so we'll see what happens to that date.'

When it was put to him that a delay would bring more uncertainty, Mr Cleverly said that 'a short delay, in order to make sure that we get this right, I think that is not necessarily a bad thing at all'.

Last night the new PM plunged the knife in on Liz Truss with a pledge to 'fix' her 'mistakes' and win back the public's 'trust'.

The incoming premier addressed the nation from Downing Street after being asked to form a government by King Charles in the traditional 'kissing hands' ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

In a sombre speech, he warned of 'difficult' decisions to deal with the 'profound economic crisis' facing the country, saying he 'understood' that Britons were suffering. Rebutting jibes that he is too wealthy to identify with the struggles of ordinary people, he said: 'I fully understand how hard things are.'

In a swipe at Boris Johnson, who dramatically pulled out of the Tory leadership battle on Sunday night, Mr Sunak said the 'mandate' from the 2019 election did not belong to any individual. He also stressed his government will have 'integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level'.

Mr Sunak then embarked on a Cabinet reshuffle, with Jacob Rees-Mogg and Brandon Lewis early casualties.

A slew of further Truss appointments followed them out the door, including some who had backed him for the leadership. They included work and pensions secretary Chloe Smith, education secretary Kit Malthouse and environment secretary Ranil Jayawardena. Meanwhile Tory Party chairman Jake Berry, a close ally of Boris Johnson, also quit.

The PM will face his first Commons appearance as Prime Minister at lunchtime, as he begins the gruelling task of uniting his party and restoring the UK's economic credibility.

The new Prime Minister will square off against Sir Keir Starmer later, fresh from appointing a new Cabinet that he hopes will bring a measure of political stability to the country.

It comes after another momentous day in British politics that saw Mr Sunak cull nearly a dozen of Ms Truss's top-tier ministers, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, while reviving the careers of a host of big names, including Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hinted this morning that a delay could occur. He told BBC Breakfast: 'Obviously the date of that fiscal statement was originally set with no expectation of a change of prime minister. We've now had a change of prime minister.'

Johnny Mercer BACK as veterans minister weeks after his wife called Liz Truss an imbecile Tory MP Johnny Mercer will return to the role of Veterans' Affairs Minister just a month after his wife called Liz Truss an imbecile and compared her to a Muppet for axing him. The Plymouth Moor View MP, 41, arrived at No10 Downing Street tonight as Rishi Sunak resurrected Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove to the Cabinet while keeping Jeremy Hunt on as Chancellor. The news of his reappointment was announced on No10's social media page and his wife, Felicity Cornelius-Mercer, tweeted: 'So proud of him and huge thanks to the creators and signers of the petition too. 'I wasn't sure that he would want the front bench again; it was so bruising last time but ultimately he couldn't say no for Veterans causes.' The former British Army officer previously revealed that Ms Truss laughed at him when she sacked him as Veterans Minister, adding that the move was a 'gut punch' that sent him into depression. As soon as she took office on September 6, Ms Truss removed him from his post and folded his responsibility for veteran care into James Heappey's role as Defence Minister. 'When this happened it was such a gut punch. I remember Liz kind of laughing while she did it,' Mr Mercer said in an interview for the Men's Health Talking Heads series by Alastair Campbell. Advertisement

Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday will be the first test of how unified the party is behind its new leader, after Mr Sunak used his first public address on Tuesday to brace the country for 'difficult decisions' as he criticised much of the legacy left behind by Liz Truss's brief tenure.

'Some mistakes were made. Not born of ill will or bad intentions - quite the opposite in fact. But mistakes nonetheless,' he said.

'I've been elected as leader of my party and your Prime Minister in part to fix them - and that work begins immediately.'

Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden were among the first world leaders Mr Sunak spoke to on Tuesday evening, as he told the Ukrainian president that the UK's support for the war-torn country would be as 'strong as ever under his premiership'.

He also made time to speak with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, in a stark contrast with Ms Truss.

It is expected that the first meeting of Mr Sunak's new-look Cabinet could come as soon as Wednesday morning, in what would amount to a gathering of Sunak allies, former Truss backers and figures too from the right-wing of the party.

A No 10 source said that the new Cabinet 'brings the talents of the party together' and that it reflects a 'unified party'.

Mr Raab, who was among several Sunak loyalists rewarded with key roles, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and won a return to Justice Secretary.

Elsewhere, Mark Harper was handed the role of Transport Secretary, while former Education Secretary Sir Gavin Williamson returned to Government as minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office.

Opponents and rivals took some spots too, with Penny Mordaunt kept in place as Commons leader while Truss ally Therese Coffey became Environment Secretary.

There was also a return to his old role of Levelling Up Secretary for Michael Gove, while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly both kept their jobs.

The most controversial appointment however came in the return of Suella Braverman to Home Secretary, only days after she dramatically quit the Government after being accused of breaching the ministerial code.

Mr Sunak, who earlier promised that his new Government would be one of 'integrity', immediately faced questions about the decision to re-hire Ms Braverman as Labour accused the new PM of 'putting party before country'.

Rishi Sunak does something on his first day that Liz Truss didn't do in six weeks: speak to Nicola Sturgeon Rishi Sunak spoke to the first ministers of Scotland and Wales on Tuesday evening in constructive talks, emphasising their 'duty' to work together in order to respond to the UK's 'shared challenges'. In a marked contrast to predecessor Liz Truss, Mr Sunak spoke to Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford following the conclusion of his cabinet reshuffle. Ms Truss is not believed to have spoken to either leader about policy, sharing only a few words with Ms Sturgeon at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. During the summer leadership election, Ms Truss came under fire for saying she would 'ignore' Ms Sturgeon. Following the conversation last night, Mr Sunak said it was 'good to speak to' Mr Drakeford and Ms Sturgeon. He tweeted: 'I emphasised our duty to work closely together to respond to the shared challenges we face, so that collectively we can deliver for the people of the United Kingdom.' Ms Sturgeon said the call had been 'constructive', tweeting: 'I expressed hope that we will build a UK/Scottish Government relationship based on mutual respect - including for mandates - and my fear that further austerity will do real damage to people and public services. 'I look forward to further engagement soon.' Following the call, a Scottish Government spokesperson said Ms Sturgeon congratulated Mr Sunak on his appointment and wished him well. 'She expressed her hope that political differences notwithstanding, they would build a constructive working relationship,' the spokesperson said. 'She made clear that the Scottish Government would do everything possible to establish such a constructive relationship but stressed that this must be built on mutual respect.' Ms Sturgeon said the UK Government should 'address the pressure' and pain being felt by people and businesses as a result of other economic pressures and further austerity could exacerbate the problems. It is understood Mr Sunak 'assured' Ms Sturgeon the UK Government would engage with the devolved governments ahead of the Chancellor's forthcoming budget statement. Mr Drakeford said he took the opportunity to congratulate Mr Sunak on his appointment as prime minister. The Welsh Labour leader tweeted: 'Tonight, I spoke to the Prime Minister. 'A chance to congratulate the Prime Minister and discuss the importance of working together as four nations to address the urgent challenges we face as a United Kingdom.' Earlier this month, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's political editor Chris Mason she had not had a conversation with former prime minister Liz Truss since she was appointed on September 6, other than 'an exchange or two' at events following the death of the Queen. 'It's quite absurd in many ways. When I became First Minister, David Cameron was prime minister and I think we spoke on the phone the first night I became First Minister,' she said. 'I spoke on the phone to Theresa May within a day or two of her becoming prime minister, same with Boris Johnson actually. 'I have deep political differences with all of these politicians, but we have a duty to work together constructively.' Welsh government minister Jane Hutt said Ms Truss had not contacted Mr Drakeford during her brief spell in office. Advertisement

Rishi Sunak puts his hope in a team of loyal backers (and a few surprises)... so who's who in the new Prime Minister's Cabinet?

DOMINIC RAAB

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Raab's stint on the backbenches following Liz Truss's reshuffle was a brief one, having been rewarded for his loyalty to Rishi Sunak with a return to Government.

Conservative MP Dominic Raab arrives for a meeting with newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street yesterday

Newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waves to members of the media before entering 10 Downing Street after delivering his first speech

The karate blackbelt and former Foreign Office lawyer will be given an opportunity to pick up where he left off under Boris Johnson, as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary.

JEREMY HUNT

Chancellor of the Exchequer

A vastly experienced minister across the many departments, Mr Hunt replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor this month.

He put in a measured performance from the Commons despatch box as he tore up Miss Truss's tax-cutting plans, calming the markets.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt stands outside 10 Downing Street yesterday as he is reappointed to the role

Mr Hunt, the longest-serving health secretary in British political history, keeps his job and remains in No 11 Downing Street.

SUELLA BRAVERMAN

Home Secretary

Mrs Braverman is a leading figure on the Right of the party, and came out in support of Rishi Sunak during the latest leadership contest.

She returns as Home Secretary, a week after she was forced out of Government for breaking the ministerial code after emailing a sensitive document from a personal account.

Glad to be back: Suella Braverman strides out of No10 yesterday

Often outspoken, she recently blamed eco-protests across the country on 'the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati'.

JAMES CLEVERLY

Foreign Secretary

Mr Cleverly retains his job as Foreign Secretary  one of the Great Offices of State  despite being an old ally of Boris Johnson. In fact, Mr Cleverly publicly endorsed Mr Johnson for PM in the latest leadership race and had previously been a staunch backer of Liz Truss.

BEN WALLACE

Defence Secretary

Retaining former soldier Mr Wallace as Defence Secretary is likely to be an attempt to soothe the military community amid growing unease over defence spending. The Sandhurst graduate has been in post for more than three years, making him one of the longest-serving ministers to hold the same position.

STEVE BARCLAY

Health Secretary

Mr Barclay returns to his job in Government having previously been sacked as Health Secretary as part of Liz Truss's reshuffle. He previously held the role for two months and was memorably interrupted by a heckler while giving an interview outside a hospital. Mr Barclay worked with Rishi Sunak at the Treasury during the pandemic. He will be expected to get a grip on NHS spending.

NADHIM ZAHAWI

Minister Without Portfolio

Mr Zahawi earned a reputation during the pandemic as a safe pair of hands and skilled media performer. But the former vaccine minister's magic touch well and truly deserted him during the two recent Tory leadership races after a series of loyalty flip-flops.

OLIVER DOWDEN

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Mr Dowden now holds the most senior Cabinet position after the PM. The ex-Culture Secretary has been rewarded for his unwavering support during the leadership races. He quit as party chairman after taking responsibility for the Tories' disastrous by-election defeats in two seats in the summer.

GRANT SHAPPS

Business Secretary

Grant Shapps who has been appointed Business Secretary after briefly being appointed as Home Secretary by ex-PM Liz Truss, leaves Downing Street

Mr Shapps is another to have served across multiple government departments, most recently as Home Secretary less than a week ago following the departure of Suella Braverman. He was a prominent figure during the pandemic as transport secretary.

GILLIAN KEEGAN

Education Secretary

Passed the test: Gillian Keegan is the new Education Secretary

Mrs Keegan is the fifth person this year to hold the position of Education Secretary. She spent a year as health minister before moving to the Foreign Office as part of Liz Truss's doomed premiership.

She was forced to apologise earlier this year for an 'error of judgment' after continuing a meeting with grieving fathers despite testing positive for Covid part- way through.

PENNY MORDAUNT

Commons Leader

Penny Mordaunt has been appointed Britain's Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

In a major humiliation, there was no big promotion for Miss Mordaunt, the former magician's assistant who holds on to her position as Leader of the House of Commons.

She stood against Mr Sunak for the leadership this weekend, but pulled out at the last moment when it became clear she did not have the backing of enough MPs.

She appears to have paid the price for her failure to strike a deal with her rival.

MEL STRIDE

Work and Pensions Secretary

Mr Stride is well known to Rishi Sunak, having managed his campaign to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. He publicly criticised Liz Truss's ill-fated mini-Budget, saying it had put the Conservative Party's reputation for managing the economy in jeopardy. The chairman of the Treasury Select Committee is a former president of the Oxford Union.

THERESE COFFEY

Environment Secretary

A big demotion on the face of it for ex-health secretary Miss Coffey, though the fact she remains in Government despite her support of Liz Truss suggests the PM was keen to appease his predecessor's followers. The self-confessed karaoke fan admitted she was 'not the role model' when it came to her own health after being questioned about her lifestyle. She left Downing Street yesterday by announcing she was 'going home to Defra'  a department which she served in for three years from 2016.

SIMON HART

Chief Whip

The former Welsh Secretary is not exactly a household name. But he takes on one of the most significant roles in Government, responsible for ensuring discipline within the Conservative Parliamentary Party.

SIR GAVIN WILLIAMSON

Minister Without Portfolio

The former education secretary and master of the parliamentary arts and will attend Cabinet, a clear reward for his staunch backing of Mr Sunak's campaign.

Other appointments yesterday: Michelle Donelan, Culture Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, International Trade Secretary, Mark Harper, Transport Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland Secretary, Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, David TC Davies, Secretary of State for Wales, Lord True, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords, Victoria Prentis, Attorney General, Jeremy Quin, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, John Glen, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Tom Tugendhat, Security Minister, Robert Jenrick, Immigration Minister, Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development




South Korea's military on Wednesday conducted amphibious landing drills with a focus on enhancing "real-world" combat capabilities, the Marine Corps said, amid its stepped-up efforts to counter evolving North Korean threats.







The drills took place in Pohang, 272 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as part of this year's Hoguk defense exercise that began Oct. 17 and runs through Friday.







The military mobilized some 6,000 personnel from the Navy and Marine Corps, and around 40 amphibious vehicles, as well as about 50 aircraft and more than 10 military vessels, including the ROKS Dokdo amphibious assault ship.







"Through the training this time, we will be equipped with capabilities to make an immediate response anytime, anywhere and under any circumstances, when given a mission," a Marine official was quoted as saying.







The training was designed to practice harnessing various armed services' assets for joint amphibious operations to charge into the coast to secure a target area, the Marine Corps said.







The drills also simulated "complex" enemy threats and were joined by other branches of the military, including the Army Aviation Operations Command, the Air Force Operations Command and the Cyber Operations Command.







The training comes in the wake of Pyongyang's continued saber-rattling, including its firing of multiple rocket launchers into the West Sea on Monday. (Yonhap)






Comes days after controversy over her taxpayer-funded 115k allowance

Liz Truss could shower her closest allies with knighthoods and peerages as part of a controversial resignation honours list despite serving as prime minister for less than two months.

Mark Fullbrook, the former premier's chief of staff, is understood to have suggested she reward her outgoing staff and advisers with gongs.

Key members of Miss Truss's team and senior donors could receive knighthoods or peerages regardless of her disastrously short tenure.

Those in line to receive honours could include special adviser Jason Stein, who was suspended last week over a critical briefing about Sajid Javid.

Other names touted include policy adviser Jamie Hope, head of strategy Iain Carter economic adviser Matthew Sinclair and deputy chief of staff, Ruth Porter.

It was also suggested last night that Mr Fullbrook had pushed for an honour himself, but this was denied by sources close to the former adviser.

Downing Street sources insisted it would be following convention for an outgoing prime minister to issue such a list. Opposition parties have already widely rounded on the suggestion.

Willie Sullivan, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: 'If Liz Truss chooses to pack the Lords with new peers on leaving office, it will only further damage Westminster's legitimacy at a time when public faith in politics is already stretched to the limit.'

Former prime minister Liz Truss outside 10 Downing Street yesterday as she formally resigns following her disastrously short tenure

A removal van outside Downing St delivers Miss Truss's belongings back to her family home

Mark Fullbrook, the former premier's chief of staff, is understood to have suggested she reward her outgoing staff and advisers with peerages. Sources close to the adviser last night rejected claims he had pushed for his own gong

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 No10, used the grace-and-favour mansion in Buckinghamshire for a string of goodbye parties.

It was suggested that her mooted honours list could be as controversial as Harold Wilson's notorious 1976 'Lavender List' in which a number of recipients were rich businessmen.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson's resignation honours list has not yet been published.

Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both shunned the opportunity to submit resignation honours amid the cash for expenses scandal.

Mr Brown did give out honours as part of his 'dissolution list' following the conclusion of Parliament that saw more than two dozen peerages handed out.

It comes days after a backlash broke out over Miss Truss's controversial compensation package following the dramatic collapse of her premiership.

The ex-PM is in line for a near-20,000 payout and a taxpayer-funded allowance of up to 115,000 a year following her resignation after just 44 days in office.

The Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) was introduced in 1991 in the wake of the departure of Margaret Thatcher to assist former prime ministers still active in public life.

A London-based removal van outside Whitehall after Rishi Sunak was confirmed as Britain's youngest ever Prime Minister yesterday

Liz Truss, pictured leaving Downing Street on Friday, used Chequers for a string of goodbye parties over the weekend

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

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.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it would be the right thing to do for Miss Truss not to claim any of the allowance.

He added: 'She's done 44 days in office, she's not really entitled to it, she should turn it down and not take it'.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats were accused of hypocrisy after calling for Miss Truss to turn down the 115,000 annual allowance  despite the fact their former leader Sir Nick Clegg claimed it for four years after his party was annihilated in 2015.

Sir Tony Blair still claims the full allowance despite being a millionaire. One Tory MP said: The hypocrisy of the Left is always breathtaking. It knows no bounds.
A top British general who served in Afghanistan and the Gulf war has been appointed to crack down on Albanian migrants crossing the Channel.

Lt General Stuart Skeates, who also served in the Bosnian war, has been hired as a special coordinator on illegal Albanian migration, the Telegraph reported.

He was previously working as an advisor to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, preventing vulnerable people being 'exploited by human traffickers' and 'protecting UKs Borders'.

Now Lt General Skeates has been recruited to tackle the growing problem of Albanian Channel crossings. Since the start of the year more than 37,000 migrants have reached British soil - at least 10,000 are believed to be from the Balkan state.

The number of Albanians arriving across the Channel surged at the start of the summer, and they now make up around 60 per cent of arrivals from northern France.

Lt General Skeates is expected to work with the Albanian government to help tackle the trafficking gangs behind the surge.

Lt General Stuart Skeates, who served in Afghanistan, has been hired as a special coordinator on illegal Albanian migration

At least 10,000 Albanians are believed to have made crossed the Channel in small boats this year alone

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel Patel signed a deal with the Albanian government to fast-track deportations back to the Balkan state and for Albanian police officers to be stationed in Dover.

Earlier this month, a reported 12 migrants were put on a plane to Albania within days of arriving in Britain in small boats.

The Government has been trying to introduce policies to fast-track Albanian nationals who cross the Channel back to Albania - in an effort to deter more from making the journey.

Before the summer, around nine out of ten Albanians were claiming asylum  even though there has been no conflict there for more than 25 years.

Lt General Skeates was previously commander of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (pictured with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi)

The military career of the General tasked with halting illegal Albanian migration Lt General Stuart Skeates was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1989 and served in the Bosnian war, which took place from 1992 to 1995. He took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - in which he had command of over 100 soldiers. His career then saw him serve as Military Assistant to the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland in the final years of Operation Banner. He returned to Afghanistan in 2007 as Deputy Commander of 52nd Brigade - deployed as Task Force Helmand. By 2009 he was the Deputy Commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). After leaving the army he worked as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and had a role in Nato. Advertisement

Lt General Skeates began advising Cabinet Office ministers on tackling human trafficking after Steve Barclay was asked by Boris Johnson to head a cross-government review of the Channel migrant crisis in 2021.

However, since then an increasing rate of migrants are making the crossing - with a record 1,295 people crossing in 27 boats on August 22.

Lt General Skeates' distinguished military career saw him reach positions such as deputy commander of Nato's allied joint force command in Holland, and joint force commander at the UK's strategic command in Northwood in northwest London.

He was also the commander of the 19th light brigade, head of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and acting as deputy commander of the UK taskforce that supported the Afghan forces in Helmand.

He is not the first person with a military background to be hired to tackle the Channel migrants.

Dan O'Mahoney, a former Royal Marine who then joined the National Crime Agency and Border Force, was appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander in 2020, the Telegraph reported.

A Government spokesman told the Telegraph: 'The government stands united in its efforts in preventing dangerous Channel crossings, stopping exploitative criminal gangs and protecting those in genuine need.

'The Home Office and Ministry of Defence have a strong track record of working closely together to tackle this issue.'

They confirmed Lt Gen Skeates was seconded to the Home Office on October 12, 2022.
Businesswoman Jordan Knight, 36, has been banned from driving for 12 months at Warrington Magistrates Court

A single-mother-of-one wept in court as she was banned from the roads for a year after being caught driving her Audi A3 six points over the drink-drive limit.

Businesswoman Jordan Knight, 36, was pulled over and breathalysed outside a restaurant after she was earlier spotted driving erratically on the M56 motorway in Cheshire.

Tests showed she had 41 micrograms of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath.

The legal limit in England is 35mg but police will only charge motorists whose breath test readings are 40mg and over - making Knight just 2mg over the limit in real terms.

Knight, who lives at a farmhouse in the remote village of Shocklach near Malpas, wept at Warrington Magistrates Court as she feared her automatic driving ban would leave her stranded at home and unable to run her solo-run cleaning business which services rural homes and livery stables.

The defendant, who lives in a tiny farming hamlet, faced isolation and told the court she worried how she'd get her daughter to school without her car as there is 'no public transport'.

'It has taken me three years to get to where I am now,' she said. 'I am a single parent with a seven-year-old little girl who attends the village school and I live in the middle of nowhere.

'We do not have any public transport at all. No buses, no trains, nothing. We do not even have a shop.

She was caught driving her Audi A3 six points over the drink-drive limit on the M56 motorway in Cheshire

Knight, who lives at a farmhouse in the remote village of Shocklach near Malpas, wept as she was told about her driving ban

'If I was to walk my daughter to school I would have to go down lots of windy country lanes. There are no pavements or street lights and I am just a bit worried for my daughter's safety and in winter it's going to be dark.

'I drive from house to house to clean, as well as to liveries and things like that and these places are also very rural. I would not be able to get any public transport to the houses to clean so I would not be able to work.

The single mother-of-one worried about how she would get her daughter to school without a car as they live in 'the middle of nowhere'

'I don't know how I will go about looking for another job because there's no public transport where I live.'

After being asked by magistrates if anybody could help take her daughter to school, she said 'I don't know, I will have to ask.'

The incident occurred at 8.30pm on October 8 this year when Knight was seen driving on the M56 Eastbound between Junction 11 and 10 at Warrington.

Prosecutor Rachel Bennion said: 'The officers saw her Audi A3 which was described as lane hugging and swerving in its lane. It came to a stop of its own accord outside the Stretton Fox, Warrington.

'The officers found the defendant in the driver's seat. She smelt of intoxicants and her speech appeared to be slurred.

Knight was banned from driving for 12 months and was fined 80 and ordered to pay a 92 victim surcharge

The businesswoman feared she would be unable to work as she relies on her car to get her to jobs

'A roadside breath test was conducted which found the presence of alcohol. The defendant was transported to custody where the drink drive procedure was undertaken.

'She provided a reading of 41 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. There was no interview. She has no previous convictions and this is a low reading.

'It is just within the lowest band of the guidelines but there was some evidence of bad driving in the description I have provided.'

Knight was banned from driving for 12 months and was fined 80 and ordered to pay a 92 victim surcharge.

'We have to disqualify you today, we do not have an option,' Chairwoman Dr Elaine Hemmings said.

'But we do offer you the drink-drive awareness course. If you successfully complete that you can reduce the ban by three months.'
The South African government has refused to seize a superyacht belonging to a sanctioned Russian oligarch attempting to dock in Cape Town, with a government spokesperson adding the country has 'no reason' to comply with Western sanctions.

The $500million superyacht belongs to Alexey Mordashov, a 57-year-old billionaire named in the Pandora Papers, who owns the Russian mining companies Nordgold and Severstal.

With a net worth of $13.2billion, Forbes ranked Mordashov as the 51st richest person in the world last year, but Western sanctions have sent the oligarch sinking in world wealth rankings as of this year.

'South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by sanctions imposed by the US and EU,' said Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for South Africa's president. 'We have no reason to prevent their entry into South Africa.

'South Africas obligations with respect to sanctions relate only to those that are specifically adopted by the United Nations. Currently, there are no UN-imposed sanctions on the particular individual.'

Members of the African National Congress party, which governs South Africa, were observers in sham referendums held in regions of Ukraine last month as a pretext for annexing occupied territory in the east of the country.

Superyacht Nord, which has two helipads, mini-submarines, 20 en suite staterooms, and costs 200,000 a day to run

Alexei Mordashov, owned of the superyacht, is thought to be onboard, with his arrival drawing criticism from South Africa's opposition party. Pictured: Vladimir Putin listens to Russian steelmaker Severstal Chairman Mordashov (right) as they attend the opening of a tube-rolling plant outside Saint Petersburg, 2006

The ANC has strong historical ties to the former Soviet Union, which trained and supported its forces during South Africa's apartheid era.

But Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town, doesn't want his city to become a safe harbour for Russians fleeing sanctions from the West.

He said South Africa has a 'moral duty to protest unjust war,' according to The Times.

Hill-Lewis, part of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, has urged the government to block the superyacht from docking, posting on Twitter that there should be 'no place' for 'enablers of Putin's war'.

Cyril Ramaphosa, the sitting president of South Africa, blamed Nato's expansion as the reason for instability in Ukraine.

Ramaphosa was forced to deny allegations last month that he illegally held around 3.46million in cash at his game ranch.

The former head of South Africa's national spy agency made a criminal complaint to police, accusing Ramaphosa of money laundering and other offenses.

His foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, complained of Western 'bullying' over the superyacht issue in August during a visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Superyacht Nord, which has two helipads, mini-submarines, 20 en suite staterooms, and costs 200,000 a day to run, was seen leaving the Far East Russian port Vladivostok on October 6 after arriving there from the Seychelles.

It's arriving in South Africa after taking a trip to Hong Kong following sanctions, after the oligarch appears to have spent some time in the picturesque Seychelles onboard his yacht.

Mordashov has lost around 10billion since the start of this year due to western sanctions against him and his business interests.

A spokesperson for South Africa's president has said there is no reason for the country to comply with Western sanctions against Russia. Pictured: President of ruling African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa President Ramaphosa addresses the 6th National Policy Conference in Johannesburg

The Italian police seized one of his smaller vessels, the 215ft Lady M, in March.

Putin's own 100million superyacht, recently renamed Killer Whale, was spotted earlier in the month off the coast of Estonia  it narrowly escaped seizure when the war broke out in February.

More than a dozen yachts owned by Russia's wealthy elite, worth a combined 2billion, have been seized by Western authorities since Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Many yachts have fled to Turkey, which has not severed ties with Russia and continues to trade with Putin's regime.

South Africa in 2009 refused entry to the Dalai Lama, where he was scheduled to attend the 14th world summit of Nobel peace laureates, in a move that was widely criticised at home.

It was the third time in five years the Dalai Lama was refused a South African visa.
A five-star hotel owner has won a 'completely mad' 29-year tug of war with her family over a purple suitcase full of photos which belonged to her dead mother.

Judith Andersson, 76, and her brother Tim Wards widow Diane, 77, racked up 70,000 in legal bills fighting over a family archive of papers and pictures previously owned by her mother, Frieda Ward, with 'no monetary value'.

The treasured archive was said to be a valuable record of the history of her family, which founded Jerusalems iconic American Colony Hotel.

The high-end hotel became a destination for celebrity visitors to the city and played host to Lawrence of Arabia, Sir Winston Churchill and Bob Dylan among others.

Following Friedas death in London in 1993, the photos ended up in the hands of Tim.

After he and their other sibling John died within a month of each other, Judith launched a court fight to get the pictures from her sister-in-law.

She sued Diane and her son Peter, as executors of his estate, at Central London County Court, demanding that they give the archive  contained in a purple suitcase which was brought to court  to her.

Judith Andersson outside Central London County Court in July after a hearing for her case against Diane Ward over who owns her mother's suitcase full of family photos and papers

Handing victory to Judith last week, Judge Mark Raeside KC said the photographic archive had been held by Tim on trust for all three siblings and that it was now 'Judiths time to benefit from them'.

And in a case previously described by another judge as 'completely mad' since it involved items of 'no monetary value', he ordered Diane and her son Peter to pick up the 70,000 lawyers bill for the case.

The court heard during the trial that Frieda was born in Jerusalem, where her grandparents Horatio Gates Spafford and Anna Spafford formed the American Colony in the late 19th century, centred around a former palace which became the American Colony Hotel.

The colony was formed of devout American and Swedish Christians, who were known for their charity work with local people, irrespective of their religion in the divided Middle East.

The hotel became a haven for Western holidaymakers and today is seen as an 'oasis of neutrality' in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

It describes itself as one of Jerusalems 'premier boutique hotels' and a 'home away from home for discerning travellers'.

Both Judith and Diane, having inherited from Tim, are part owners of the hotel to this day.

Frieda had trained as a nurse and lived in Israel, Cyprus, Nigeria and New York, but was living in Hampton Wick in west London, when she died, aged 77, in 1993.

Judith sued her brother Tim's widow, Diane Ward (pictured), for the suitcase, claiming his family's refusal to let her have it now was part of her sibling's 'twisted retribution' after an earlier inheritance row

The 'purple suitcase' at the centre of court row between Judith Andersson and Diane Ward outside Central London County Court

She left her estate to her three children, Judith and her brothers John and Tim.

But Judith  who now lives in the United States  told Judge Raeside that the 'archive' contained in the suitcase was a 'special' set of property, which was to be treated differently to the rest of their mothers estate.

They had agreed that all three would own it, but that Tim would take possession initially, with it then passing to each sibling as the others died, ultimately remaining intact and in the family, she claimed.

The American Colony Hotel: 'An oasis of neutrality' in Jerusalem The hotel dates back to the end of the 19th century when the Spafford family, devout Christians from America, and their friends settled in Jerusalem and bought the building. It was initially designed as a palace for a pasha and his four wives and often used as a hospital in the turbulent years that followed. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Jerusalem's Jaffa Gate, one of the main entrances to the old city, and so it is an ideal base for exploring the ancient sites that Jerusalem has to offer. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and is supposed to have risen from the dead, is a 20-minute walk away from the palatial hotel. A suite costs 620 per night, while the hotel offers a junior suite for 500. A standard room comes in at around 250-300. Guests who have entered its calming lobby over the years have included Lawrence of Arabia, the painter Marc Chagall and Sir Winston Churchill. More recently, Robert de Niro and Bob Dylan and Tony Blair have stayed there. Mr Blair was there during his time as Middle East peace envoy. Advertisement

'It was specifically anticipated that the last one of us remaining alive would hold the archive...that the archive would remain with one of us,' she told the judge.

Her barrister, Oliver Ingham, said the suitcase is an 'invaluable repository of her family history', stressing that it is not a 'trivial' matter despite the fact it has 'no monetary value'.

He also said the archive has 'potential historic interest, given the family links to the British presence in Israel'.

He argued that the siblings had agreed that, despite the archive going to Tim initially, it would be owned by all of them, and any of them could ask for it to be handed over.

Despite that, Tim had refused to provide it to his sister when she asked and, following his death, his widow Diane, who lives near Northampton, had also refused to hand it over, he told the judge.

'It is clear that Judith has spent the best part of 29 years taking various steps to try and obtain access to the archive,' he added.

For Diane and Peter, Elissa Da Costa-Waldman claimed that, following Friedas death, the siblings had discussed their mothers possessions and chosen which each would take, with Tim choosing the papers and photos held in the suitcase.

But in a partial ruling at the end of the trial in July, Judge Raeside found that the archive had been held on trust by Tim for the benefit of all three siblings, and was not to be split up.

Returning to court last week to decide what should happen to it, he rejected a suggestion by Diane and Peter that they should be allowed to keep one of the photo albums in the suitcase.

'The proper approach is that the whole of the archive shall not be divided up. Each of Judiths siblings has had the benefit of it during their lifetime and it is now Judiths time to have it,' he said.

'I order that the archive shall be given by Diane and Peter, as co-executors of the will of Tim Ward, to Judith within 21 days and for her to retain it for her lifetime only.

'On the death of Judith, this archive shall be returned to the UK and shall be retained by Diane and Peter, as executors of the estate of Tim Ward, and therefore come back to its proper home.'

The iconic five-star American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem, founded in 1902, has played host over the years to Lawrence of Arabia, Sir Winston Churchill and Bob Dylan among others

Mr Ingham, for Judith, argued that Diane and Peter had been given several chances to agree what happened to the archive without a court fight and that they had 'behaved unreasonably'.

But Ms Da Costa-Waldman insisted that because some legal issues had been decided against Judith, the case had resulted in a 'no-score draw' and each should pay their own costs.

She said the fight had been 'strenuous and stressful' for Diane, who is a pensioner and who had suffered from ill health as a direct result of the strain of being sued.

She had brought the suitcase at the centre of the row to court during the trial in the hope that 'common sense would prevail' and the row could be settled without a trial.

But landing Diane and Peter with the costs of the case, Judge Raeside said that, although she had not succeeded on all of the legal arguments, Judith had brought the claim to get hold of the archive and had been successful in that bid.

'Diane and Peter should pay Judiths costs,' he said.

As well as their own 32,800 legal costs, Diane and Peter, as executors of Tims estate, will have to pay Judiths lawyers bills, estimated at 37,800, with 30,000 up front.

After hearing of the legal costs which had been racked up, Judge Nigel Gerald, who sat at an earlier hearing the row, described the dispute as 'completely mad'.
Post came after Corden apologized for berating restaurant staff over omelet

The flight attendant, who no longer works for BA, accused him of 'vile behavior'

But McNally used picture of a different flight attendant to illustrate his post

Balthazar owner Keith McNally posted that during a flight from New York to London, BA flight attendant told him she 'never cared for James Corden either'

Balthazar owner Keith McNally has been accused of 'vile behavior' by a former BA flight attendant after he used a picture of her in an Instagram post about how an unrelated crew member had told him on a flight to London that she's not a fan of James Corden either.

McNally said in an Instagram post that on a flight from New York to London a member of the BA cabin crew leaned over to him ten minutes before landing and whispered, 'I never cared for James Corden either' amid the now infamous omelet saga.

The restauranteur said that the flight attendant had hovered over him for five hours - so close that it became 'quite weird' - before he discovered her reason was that she had recognized him and wanted to tell him that she wasn't a fan of Corden.

But in a bizarre twist, McNally was forced to remove the post after he used a picture of a different BA flight attendant to illustrate his post - only for the woman in the image to call him out on using a picture of her without her consent in 'his drama with Corden.'

Ellie Toyn, who used to work as an air hostess for BA and had been pictured in the past for commercial use, screenshotted McNally's since deleted post and accused McNally on Instagram of 'vile and completely thoughtless behavior'.

McNally swiftly apologized and deleted his Instagram post.

It comes as Corden, 44, made a public apology on his Late Late Show on Monday night for berating staff at McNally's New York City restaurant Balthazar.

Corden told viewers that he was 'rude' to the server after his wife Julia Carey, 46, found a bit of egg white in her egg yolk omelet at Balthazar.

But Corden had denied McNally's version of events, insisting he did not 'yell like crazy' and claimed for the first time that the reason why he was so upset was that his wife was given food she is 'seriously allergic' to.

Balthazar staff responded to Corden's attempt to explain the situation, telling DailyMail.com the British comedian is simply 'very, very rude.'

Corden made a public apology on his Late Late Show on Monday night for berating staff at McNally's New York City restaurant Balthazar

Balthazar owner Keith McNally (pictured) has reignited his war of words with James Corden by saying that a BA flight attendant flagged him down to say she's not a fan of the British comedian either

McNally said in an Instagram post that on a flight from New York to London the member of the BA cabin crew leaned over to him ten minutes before landing and whispered: 'I never cared for James Corden either'

Meanwhile, McNally was criticized for using a picture of former BA flight attendant Ellie Toyn to make a point about Corden.

He had written in a since deleted Instagram post which was illustrated with a picture of a BA flight attendant leaning over a seat inside a plane: 'For the first hour of my flight from New York to London I was really pleased by how easy it was for me to get the flight attendant's attention.

'But then it changed, and for the next five hours the flight attendant hovered so close to my seat that it became quite weird.'

He added: 'Then I discovered her reason. Ten minutes before landing, she leaned into me conspiratorially and whispered "I never cared for James Corden either".'

But Toyn, who was pictured in McNally's post, screenshotted it and write on Instagram: 'Tell me how it's okay for this man to use an image of me without my consent in his drama with James Corden.

'I've not worked for British Airways for over a year, yet he's using my face as a cover for his story. This is vile behavior and completely thoughtless Keith McNally.'

McNally quickly apologized and deleted the post.

He commented on Toyn's post and wrote: 'My sincere apologies. I just wanted to use a random photo of a BA airline attendant to illustrate an incident that recently happened to me flying BA. I didnt mean to offend you. My post certainly wasnt about you personally.

'I just deleted the post. Again, my apologies. KM.'

It comes as Balthazar staff mocked Corden's attempt to explain away his omelet tantrum on Monday night by claiming he was worried about his wife's 'serious' egg allergy, telling DailyMail.com the comic is simply 'very, very rude' and shouldn't have ordered the dish.

The infamous omelet saga began on October 9 when Corden and his wife Julia dined at the restaurant with friends. Julia asked for an all-yolk omelet - something that is not on the extensive brunch menu.

Ellie Toyn, who used to work as an air hostess for BA and had been pictured in the past for commercial purposes, screenshotted McNally's since deleted post and wrote on Instagram: 'Tell me how it's okay for this man to use an image of me without my consent in his drama with James Corden.'

When it arrived, the dish contained some egg whites. Corden sent it back to the kitchen and when it was returned, he says it was still 'wrong'.

'My wife explained that she has a serious food allergy. The meals came, my wife was given the food that she was allergic to...her meal came wrong to the table the third time,' he said on Monday night on his CBS show.

Corden apologized for being 'ungracious' to the waiter when he snapped at him and made a snide remark that he'd cook the egg yolk omelet himself.

Corden's rude behavior saw McNally ban Corden from the restaurant briefly but the restaurant owner said on Tuesday afternoon that he had forgiven Corden and lifted his restaurant ban.

'It takes a real man to do this. In the past, I've behaved much worse than Corden but wasn't man enough to apologize. For this reason, I'm going to lift the ban on Corden,' McNally said on Tuesday.

But McNally later added fuel to the fire by saying that a BA flight attendant had told him she 'never cared for Corden either'.

And the staff at the restaurant haven't bought Corden's apology on Tuesday.

'I'm sorry but that is bulls**t,' one server, who declined to be named, told DailyMail.com.

The mid-week breakfast menu at Balthazar. There are only two omelet options on this menu and on the brunch menu, which Corden ordered from. Both contain egg whites

Corden's wife ordered the Omelette with Herbs but requested it be cooked using only egg yolks and no egg whites

There are only two omelets on the menu at the famous New York City eatery; the $25 Omelette with Herbs, and the $27, Egg-White Omelette. Both come with a side of home fries or salad.

The servers explained that Corden was asking for something that is not offered, and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards.

Why then would you even bother ordering an omelet if you're allergic to eggs? Balthazar waiter

'He wanted an omelet that had only egg yolks. Not the egg-white omelet, just egg yolks.

'Why then would you even bother ordering an omelet if you're allergic to eggs?' he asked.

There are plenty of egg-free options on the Balthazar Sunday brunch menu.

The staff at Balthazar suggested that the egg allergy was not the real reason for Corden's outburst and that he had been rude to them in the past.

'We deal with that kind of behavior from people all the time.

'But he... he was very, very rude,' George, one of the barmen, said.

The egg-white menu at Balthazar which is served with salad or home fries. Staff on Tuesday offered a complimentary glass of champagne when ordered. They previously told the owner that Corden began 'yelling like crazy' when Julia's all-yolk omelet was brought out with home fries instead of salad

Corden and his wife Julia eating at Scott's in London in 2018. He said his wife told staff politely that she had a 'serious food allergy'

Some doctors advise that a person with an egg allergy can safely eat cooked egg yolks since yolks contain less protein than whites and are therefore less allergenic.

At the foot of the long breakfast and brunch menu is a note to inform diners that while 'every effort will be made to accommodate food allergies, staff cannot always guarantee' it will be possible.

In comparison to Corden's pubic outburst at the restaurant, a female diner having brunch with her partner at the bar on Tuesday sent back her dish quietly.

She had ordered the egg-white omelet but was served the yolky alternative.

The server George apologized and promptly swapped them, insisting it was 'entirely his fault'.

The woman gladly accepted the replacement.

McNally also owns Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi in the West Village - three well-known, well-respected New York institutions that are regularly frequented by celebrities.

He first shamed Corden on Instagram, telling his followers how the comedian had twice abused staff.

Balthazar owner Keith McNally forgave Corden on Tuesday after his on-air apology

On the first occasion, he said Corden demanded free drinks for his entire table after finding a hair in his food, which McNally accepted was 'diabolical' but happens in most restaurants occasionally.

The brunch incident occurred on October 9. Julia ordered an all-yolk omelet - an uncommon request.

McNally's original description makes no note of the egg-white allergy.

'Mr. Corden's wife ordered an egg yolk omelette with gruyere cheese and salad.

'A few minutes after they received the food, James called their server, M. K. and told her there was a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk. M. K. informed the floor manager, G.

'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad.

'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!'

Corden, last night, claimed he was calm, did not yell and therefore did not think he'd done anything wrong.

In an interview with The New York Times the day after McNally's post, he said the subject was 'beneath' discussion.

'I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication,' he told the reporter.

Last night, he apologized on his show for being 'snide'.

'Because I didn't shout or scream, I didn't get up out of my seat, I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language, I have been walking around thinking that I've not done anything wrong.

'But I have. I made a rude comment,' he said, adding that he 'values and respects' anyone and everyone in the service industry.

Corden's current contract with Viacom CBS for his Late Late Show expires next year.

He and his wife are selling their $9.7million home in Brentwood and are planning to return to the UK next year.
Were you in Piccadilly this afternoon and saw what happened? Contact: Eleanor.blake@mailonline.co.uk

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Just Stop Oil caused chaos by blocking a busy junction outside The Ritz today and gluing themselves to the tarmac, prompting expletive-ridden clashes with angry motorists who dragged protesters out of the road.

At around midday, eco zealots blocked Piccadilly near Green Park by sitting in the road with banners while three had glued themselves to the tarmac.

Police said 11 people have been arrested for wilful obstruction of the highway and taken into custody at a central London police station, with the road re-opening just before 1pm.

Footage emerged showing angry drivers in a heated confrontation with the eco activists, who were blocking the road outside The Ritz hotel, with one saying: 'Move out the f***ing way you c***s'.

Other irate motorists accused the protesters of holding up ambulances.

Hours earlier, two climate activists were arrested for criminal damage after they sprayed orange paint on luxury car showrooms in Berkeley Square, central London.

A man is seen dragging Just Stop Oil protesters out of the road as they blocked a busy junction in Piccadilly this afternoon

A group of around 16 eco activists glue themselves to the pavement and block a busy junction in central London

A man is seen dragging a Just Stop Oil protester out of the road near The Ritz hotel

The roadblock prompted angry clashes with motorists who accused the eco mob of holding up ambulances and keeping people from putting food on the table for their families

At around midday 16 eco zealots blocked Piccadilly near Green Park by sitting in the road with banners

Woman sprays orange paint on the display glass at luxury car showroom in Berkeley Square, central London, today

Two activists were arrested for criminal damage this morning after they sprayed orange paint on luxury car showrooms

By the afternoon, protesters had set up a roadblock, sparking motorists to drag them out the middle of the road, with one person heard saying: 'You are assaulting someone, I'm getting it on video'.

Another person can then be heard shouting: 'They are just trying to get to work and put food on the table for their families.'

During the confrontation, another driver said: 'You might call that assault but what do you call it if they are holding up ambulances? How do you know you're not holding up ambulances?'

A separate video showed a woman tussling with protesters as she ripped a banner out of their hands while onlookers clapped. Police arrived at the scene shortly after and begun to remove protesters out of the road.

The Metropolitan Police said that it received reports of protesters blocking Piccadilly at the junction with Dover Street at 12.18pm.

'Officers were on scene within five minutes and are engaging with those present. Officers are working to re-open the road,' they said.

Just Stop Oil has been behind a number of headline-grabbing stunts in recent weeks, including throwing tomato soup over Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery and chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles III at Madame Tussauds.

Police detain a Just Stop Oil activist for dousing luxury car showrooms with orange paint this morning

Cleaners have begun removing the spray paint Just Stop Oil doused over the luxury car showrooms in Berkeley Square

The Ferrari car dealership on Berkeley Square was among showrooms to be targeted by eco zealots

The extent of orange paint sprayed across car showrooms in central London by two Just Stop Oil protesters

Indigo Rumbelow, a Just Stop Oil protester, appeared on BBC Radio 4 this morning to defend the group's tactics while being quizzed over when it is acceptable to break the law in order to further their aims.

Popstar wannabe eco-zealot compares herself to a PRISONER OF WAR after football fans pelted her with drinks when she stormed pitch during Spurs v West Ham clash A popstar wannabe eco-zealot has compared herself to a prisoner of war after football fans pelted her with drinks when she stormed onto the pitch during a Premier League match. Louise Harris was spared jail earlier this summer for the disruption caused when she and another protester  both clad in orange Just Stop Oil T-shirts  tried to tie themselves to goal posts during Tottenham Hotspur's clash with West Ham in March. Reflecting on the incident, the activist  who self-styles as a 'pop singer-songwriter  aligned herself with rebels during the Irish War Of Independence. In a Facebook post, she declared that 'we must learn form history' to stop climate activists being executed like rebels were. Louise Harris tried to tie herself to goal posts during Tottenham Hotspur's clash with West Ham in March The English protester, 24, has even said she would go to war 'to save the human race' if the time comes. However, she followed the sentiment by acknowledging 'war is awful' and she would rather 'be part of nonviolent civil resistance instead'. Harris supposedly came to the realisation that her climate activism shared parallels with the conflict during a holiday to Ireland this month. She visited a Galway museum during her road trip  which has a room dedicated to the war  and shared a number of anecdotes. Harris  who self-styles as a 'pop singer-songwriter  aligned herself with rebels during the Irish War Of Independence She wrote in a lengthy Facebook post: 'Activists were, and are, hated by the majority of the general public. At the football action, drinks were thrown at us. 'At the jubilee action, I was called a 'stupid b***h' and a 'sl*g'. Just look at the hatred Just Stop Oil is receiving in response to throwing a bit of soup on a bit of glass. 'The public are complicit in the climate crisis every time they choose to side with this genocidal government against activists. 'You are just as involved as we are. You are either for change or you are for extinction. Which will it be?' Harris shared pictures from parts of the museum which detailed the suffering that rebels, soldiers and prisoners of war went through during the conflict. One was an information board that penned how Irish prisoners of war had mud thrown at them and were 'booed and hissed'. Harris continued in her post: 'It took the executions of Irish rebels for the public to wake up and realise who is the real enemy here. In a Facebook post, she said 'we must learn from history' 'Should climate activists now expect the same fate? No sympathy until we are murdered? 'It is only a matter of time before you realise who is standing for you, for all of us. 'But time is what we are running out of. We must learn from history.' Harris was handed an 18-month conditional discharge and a three-year Football Banning Order in July for disrupting the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Advertisement

Ms Rumblelow argued there were 'many times' when it is acceptable for people break the law, giving examples of breaking a window to save a child from a burning house and when new oil and gas is being pursued by governments despite warnings from the global scientific community.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Just Stop Oil use tactics 'to disturb everyday life' and ensure that everyone is aware of the 'very very serious' threat of climate change.

She continued: 'There's many times when I'm sure you will agree that it's correct that people break the law. If there is a burning house and I want to save a child I will break a window causing criminal damage.

'If there's a government who's persecuting a group of peoples, I will hide them in my house no matter what the risk to myself is. If there's a government pursuing new oil and gas despite the warnings of the global scientific community, then I will stop them.'

Later this morning, two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after spraying orange paint over luxury HR Owen, Bugatti, Ferrari and Bentley car showrooms in Berkeley Square, central London.

A by-passer could be heard saying: 'What are you doing? You're a disgrace' as the two eco activists doused the showrooms with the orange substance from a fire extinguisher at around 8.30am on Wednesday, marking the eco mob's 26th day of protests this month.

Just Stop Oil said that Emma Brown, 31, and Carmen Lean, 28, had travelled down from Scotland to carry out the stunt to demand that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.

Afterwards, they stood outside the showroom and explained the reason for their actions.

In a video uploaded to social media by Just Stop Oil, eco activist Ms Lean said: 'In what is it okay to be buying and selling luxury cars when people can't even afford to eat or heat their homes?

'And when people all over the world are suffering and dying because of the devastating impact of the climate crisis. The government needs to step up.'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed two people had been arrested for criminal damage.

They said: 'Protesters have sprayed paint at the Ferrari and Bentley garages in Berkeley Square at 08.30hrs. Met offices were rapidly on scene at 08.46hrs, arrested two people for criminal damage. They have been taken into custody at a central London police station.'

Ms Lean, 28, an architecture student from Glasgow, said: 'We pay exorbitant bills for oil and gas but it's nothing compared to the price our kids will pay for it.

'New oil and gas is a death sentence for people all around the world. You can throw us in prison but it won't stop our outrage at this government throwing millions of people under the bus. We're not asking for no new oil, we're demanding it.

'This government is using the crisis to push through more austerity on one hand and new oil licences on the other.

'Both are death sentences. If this government cared about people, they would be insulating homes, investing in affordable public transport and massively scaling up renewables.'

Ms Brown, 31, also from Glasgow, said: 'We have come down from Scotland to demand this toxic government in Westminster do another U-turn.

'This time on our broken energy system. Get your hands off our North Sea Oil and rapidly upscale the renewable energies that will prevent catastrophic climate breakdown and reduce our bills.

'This is the immediate action we need to help the cost of living and the climate crisis. Not more oil for billionaires to profit from.'

The Ferrari showroom refused to comment and HR Owen has been contacted.

Also on BBC Radio 4's Today programme was Rupert Read, a professor of philosophy at the University of East Anglia who helped found Extinction Rebellion.

Mr Read argued that a more moderate approach is now needed when it comes to climate protests.

He said the first major wave of Extinction Rebellion protests in April 2019 'achieved something dramatic and extraordinary, a real increase in climate consciousness' but that now mass action is needed.

'What we need is masses of people who are prepared to take action in their own lives, in their communities, where they work, to effect the changes that need to be made,' he said.

'What I'd say to people who don't like Just Stop Oil's tactic is: "Well fine, but don't waste your energy cursing at them but instead do something that you actually judge to be better, to be more positive, to be more effective."'

Today's action follows three weeks of continuous civil resistance by supporters of Just Stop Oil during which the police have made 585 arrests.

Since April 1, Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested 1,900 times, with seven of their eco-warriors currently serving time behind bars.

Yesterday, footage emerged of a fanatic dousing the front of 55 Tufton Street in Westminster, home to the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) and other fossil fuel lobby groups, in the liquid.

The spray paint came as part of a wider protest which saw a total of six protesters block nearby Horseferry Road. Some protesters glued themselves onto the tarmac in the road while others locked themselves together.

A furious taxi driver was seen driving over the pavement as zealots lay in the middle of Horseferry Road to block traffic. The Metropolitan Police said the chaos was cleared up by 1.20pm.

Officers arrested one person on suspicion of criminal damage and seven others on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway.

The protester who threw the paint, identified by Just Stop Oil as a 'normal guy from south London', said he attacked the property in an attempt to fight 'big oil, famine, pestilence and war'.

On Monday, a group of protesters were arrested for throwing chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles III at Madame Tussauds.

Just Stop Oil activist sprays an orange substance over the headquarters of climate-change-sceptic lobby groups yesterday
Rishi Sunak today dodged a question over whether Whitehall officials had raised concerns about his decision to reinstall Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

The new Prime Minister returned Mrs Braverman to the role last night just six days after she had been forced to resign for breaching ministerial rules.

The Home Secretary quit last Wednesday after admitting to sending an official document from her personal email.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon claimed Mr Sunak had done a 'grubby deal' with Mrs Braverman to give her back her job, after she supported his Tory leadership bid at the weekend.

Sir Keir and Mr Sunak clashed over the row in the House of Commons at Prime Minister's Questions.

The PM, speaking in the Commons for the first time since taking office, told MPs he had been 'delighted' to welcome Mrs Braverman back as part of a 'united Cabinet that brings experience and stability to the heart of Government'.

But the Labour leader suggested Mr Sunak's appointment of Mrs Braverman meant the PM had immediately reversed his promises on entering No10.

'Yesterday, the PM stood on the steps of Downing Street and promised integrity, professionalism and accountability,' Sir Keir said.

'But then, with his first act, he appointed a Home Secretary who was sacked by his predecessor a week ago for deliberately pinging around sensitive Home Office documents from her personal account.'

Labour was granted an Urgent Question to ask Ms Braverman about her resignation and reappointment after PMQs. But rather than face questions she left the Commons and left it Paymaster General Jeremy Quin to answer.

Rishi Sunak returned Suella Braverman to the role of Home Secretary last night just six days after she had been forced to resign for breaching ministerial rules

The Home Secretary quit last Wednesday after admitting to sending an official document from her personal email

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon claimed Mr Sunak had done a 'grubby deal' with Mrs Braverman to give her back her job

At PMQs the Labour leader asked Mr Sunak whether officials had 'raised concerns about his decision to appoint' Mrs Braverman.

After the PM swerved the question, Sir Keir responded: 'I listened carefully, that was clearly not a no.

'We can all see what's happened here. He's so weak he'd done a grubby deal trading national security because he was scared to lose another leadership election.

'There's a new Tory at the top but, as always with them, party first, country second.'

Mrs Braverman had updated fellow Cabinet ministers this morning on her department's work to tackle illegal immigration.

At a Cabinet meeting in No10 prior to PMQs, Mr Sunak told his top ministers 'this was a complex and challenging issue but that the public rightly expected the government to find a long-lasting solution'.

Reports suggest that Mr Sunak agreed to put Mrs Braverman back in her old job under a weekend agreement in which she agreed to back his leadership bid.

The former attorney general, who ran for leader herself in the summer, has emerged as a standard-bearer for the party Right with Culture War attacks on the 'tofu-eating wokerati'.

Her return has left Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who advises on the ministerial code, 'livid', according to the Times.

But a source close to the Home Secretary told the paper that it was a 'confected row', adding: 'Ministers do this all the time. They use private email and are also WhatsApping documents all the time too.'

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly today insisted there was no deal, insisting that Mr Sunak had the numbers to win the leadership anyway.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The PM clearly wants to make sure that he has experience at the top of the Home Office. That's why he's reappointed her.'

Ms Braverman's experience at the Home Office amounts to around six weeks. She was first appointed in September by Liz Truss.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also defended Mrs Braverman's re-appointment by Mr Sunak.

'She apologised for her mistakes. Shes been fully accountable for those mistakes, she stepped down as Home Secretary,' Mr Hunt said.

'But from the point of view of people at home, who want stability in the economy, they also need to see a united Conservative Party and thats why the PM has put together a Cabinet of all the talents.'

Tory backbencher Kevin Hollinrake claimed the row should be kept 'in proportion' as Mrs Braverman had not shared information 'with the Russian secret service'.

'She made a mistake, she apologised for that. But I think you should keep things in proportion,' he told the BBC.

'She didn't share this information - which was information that had already been shared with MPs in some form or other - she didn't share it with the Russian secret service.

'She shared it with a trusted colleague, a fellow MP - someone who was acting as an informal adviser for her own policy decisions.'

Ms Braverman (pictured today) returned to the Home Office yesterday just just six days after quitting for breaching the ministerial code by emailing Cabinet documents to a backbench supporter.

Reports suggest that Mr Sunak agreed to put her back in her old job under a weekend agreement in which she agreed to back his leadership bid.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson told Today: 'It was a grubby deal that he struck in order to get over the line and become Prime Minister'

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson suggested Mr Sunak had immediately reversed his pledge to lead a Government of 'integrity' by giving Mrs Braverman her job back.

She told Today: 'One moment Rishi Sunak is telling us he will lead a Government of integrity, and then another minute he's appointing someone back into the Cabinet who'd been sacked only the week before for a serious breach of security and a potential breach of the ministerial code.

'It was a grubby deal that he struck in order to get over the line and become PM.

'We end up in this bizarre position where all we're talking about is what's right for the Conservative Party and how they keep themselves united.

'I want us to be thinking about how we deliver a better Britain for the country. This should be about the future of our country, not the future of the Conservative Party.'

Mr Sunak appointed Mrs Braverman back to her former job as the new Prime Minister carried out a reshuffle of Government ranks on entering No10.

She replaces Grant Shapps, who had filled the role for the six days Mrs Braverman was away from the Home Office.

It means Mr Shapps now holds the unenviable record - previously held by Mrs Braverman when her first 43-day spell in the role ended in disgrace - as the shortest-serving Home Secretary in modern political history.

Mrs Braverman's return to the job of Home Secretary will be viewed as part of Mr Sunak's efforts to woo the Tories' right-wing as he bids to reunite the party.

She is popular among Conservative eurosceptics and was among the Brexiteer 'Spartans' who held out against Theresa May's Brexit deal in 2019.

The 42-year-old holds a hardline stance on immigration and recently said it was her 'dream' to have a flight take off to Rwanda as part of the Government's plans to send illegal migrants to the country.

Mrs Braverman has also spoken out on transgender issues and recently launched an attack on 'the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati' as she defended proposals to crackdown on environmental protests that have caused recent disruption.

Mr Cleverly was asked this morning about Mr Sunak's claim yesterday that his government would have 'integrity, professionalism and accountability'.

Asked if Ms Braverman displayed these things, he said: 'So yes, by saying that she made a mistake, by apologising for that mistake, for standing down, she did.

'The Prime Minister has taken her apology and he has decided that what he wants is an experienced Home Secretary that has got recent - very, very recent - experience at the Home Office.'

But former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell has said he would not have given Suella Braverman the role back.

Asked if her reappointment undermines Rishi Sunak's claim to be a Prime Minister of integrity, Lord Barwell, who worked for Theresa May, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I can entirely understand why he wanted to include her.

'She's clearly the sort of champion of the ERG group of MPs, but I think given the events behind her very recent dismissal, personally I wouldn't have put her back in quite a senior job.

'So, looking at the day as a whole yesterday, and I think it was a pretty good start, the speech I think struck the right tone, that appointment of Suella is probably the one sort of contentious note.'

Ms Braverman's appointment came just days after she dramatically quit the Government after being accused of breaching the ministerial code.

Mr Sunak, who earlier promised that his new Government would be one of 'integrity', immediately faced questions about the decision to rehire Ms Braverman as Labour accused the new PM of 'putting party before country'.

The Liberal Democrats have called for a Cabinet Office probe into the return of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary after she was sacked for breaching the ministerial code.

Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: 'Suella Braverman's appointment makes a mockery of Rishi Sunak's claims to be bringing integrity to Number 10.

'There must be a full independent inquiry by the Cabinet Office into her appointment, including any promises Sunak made to her behind closed doors.

'If it is confirmed that Suella Braverman repeatedly broke the ministerial code and threatened national security, she must be sacked.

'A Home Secretary who broke the rules is not fit for a Home Office which keeps the rules.'
A wife and registered nurse is accused of trying to murder her dementia-victim husband after nine years of caring for him.

Wendy Ruth Sym, 62, allegedly injected her husband Ken, 69, with a high dose of insulin after he was admitted to the Joondalup Health Campus, in northern Perth, in January 2021.

Appearing in Stirling Magistrate's Court via video from Melaleuca Women's Prison on Wednesday, Ms Sym applied for bail with her defence lawyer telling the court she was suffering 'carer's fatigue' last year.

The court heard nurses at the hospital found Mr Sym, who is also a type II diabetic, in a comatose state with abnormal blood glucose levels after they had checked them and found them normal just a few hours earlier.

Registered nurse Wendy Sym (pictured) is accused of trying to kill her husband by injecting him with insulin

A vial of insulin was found in a nearby toilet with Ms Sym's DNA on it which she had allegedly administered in an attempt to kill him, reports WA Today.

He recovered but died two months later from a heart attack.

Ms Sym was first questioned by police late last year and was arrested last week in Busselton in the state's south west.

State prosecutor Katrin Robinson said she was found by police with prescription pills, a will, and note she described as 'akin to a suicide note'.

Part of the note read: 'I can't bear the thought of a court case where I have to convince strangers I am not a horrible person'.

After her first police interview last year, she had previously tried to take her own life by taking 80 blood pressure tablets.

In applying for bail, her defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty said she was at that point suffering 'carer's fatigue' and was in a 'state of despair' but was no longer a danger to herself.

He added she often wrote her feelings down and had driven to Busselton to clear her head.

He said Ms Sym could offer a $200,000 surety and would comply with strict bail conditions.

Ms Sym was arrested in Busselton in WA's south-west last week with what prosecutors say was a 'suicide note'

Magistrate Janet Whitbread said she had concerns for Ms Sym's safety should she be released and noted she did not have a psychologist's report to refer to.

Mr Rafferty asked the court for a remand and permission to obtain the report.

The request was granted but the magistrate added a favourable report would not guarantee bail being granted.

Sym will appear again on November 25 for a continuation of her bail hearing.
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Brits are set to enjoy a brief Indian summer this week with temperatures up to 21C before snow showers hit next month.

The Met Office have said the weather will continue to be 'unseasonably warm' this week after a mild October so far.

Temperatures could peak at 21C on Thursday and 20C on Friday with warm nights expected - though conditions will be unsettled with blustery winds and showers.

An Indian summer - seen this week - is a name often used to describe a warm, calm spell of weather that occurs in autumn.

But around the middle of next month conditions are expected to turn truer to winter with colder days, chilly nights, mist, frost and fog in some places - and snow showers in the north and western parts of the country.

The Met office have said the weather will continue to be 'unseasonably warm' this week - pictured is the sunset on Monday in Hunstanton, Norfolk

Temperatures today have already climbed into the teens and are expected to peak at 19C as Brits enjoy an Indian summer this week

The Met Office's long range forecast for November 9-23 says: 'Unsettled conditions are expected to continue at first, with further heavy rain possible.

'An increasing chance of settled weather from mid-month, bringing a potential for colder, drier weather especially for the north and west.

'This would likely bring a risk of chilly nights with mist, frost and fog in places, with some snow possible in any showers in northern and western areas, especially over high ground.'

But before the wintry conditions hit, forecasters have said this week there will be unseasonably warm days as well as very mild nights, with minimum temperatures higher than what would usually be expected by day in late October.

The Met Office said: 'It's been a mild October so far and this week will remain unseasonably warm.

'A trough in the jet stream keeps low pressure anchored to the west of the UK and maintains southerly winds, allowing temperatures to reach the low 20s Celsius in places.'

Currently, the warmest recorded temperatures in the UK in October and November are 29.9C on 1 October 2011, in Gravesend, Kent, and 22.4 C on 1 November 2015, at Trawsgoed, Ceredigion.

Today began as an 'exceptionally mild start to the day' with temperatures already reaching the teens. Throughout the rest of the day it will be windier than yesterday but will still feel very mild as sunny periods creep in amongst a few blustery showers.

Temperatures will hit highs of 19C in the south east in the afternoon and will continue to be warmer than average over the next few days. But the jet stream will cause unsettled conditions with blustery winds and showers in parts.

Wimbleball reservoir in Exmoor, Somerset which has historically low water levels, on October 20. The level in the reservoir is currently at 20 per cent capacity compared to 70 per cent at the same time last year amid dry and warm weather

The Stithians Reservoir near Falmouth, Cornwall, has also plummeted to 'frighteningly' low levels - prompting hosepipe bans in Cornwall

Forecasters warn there could be some heavy rain this week. Pictured: Dog walker braves the rain on Wimbledon Common in south-west London on Sunday

A van driving through a large puddle soaks members of the public sheltering under blankets during heavy rain in Greenwich on Sunday - more heavy rain is forecast for Thursday

The Environment Agency has also issued one flood warning today for Poole Harbour at West Quay and Lower Hamworthy Quay.

This is in addition to 21 flood alerts in places including the Isle of Wight coast, Christchurch Harbour, Southampton Water and Hamble, and the Mersey Estuary at Warrington.

On Thursday, despite the warm temperatures, there will be outbreaks of heavy rain moving northwards which will clear in most areas as the day goes on, leaving just sunny spells and isolated showers.

The outlook from Friday to Sunday is very mild - but with heavy rain and strong winds likely in the west.

These unsettled conditions continue into next week, with temperatures dropping closer to average for the time of year.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup speaks at a conference on the South Korea-U.S. alliance at a hotel in central Seoul, Oct. 25. Yonhap



Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said Wednesday the focus of efforts to deal with the North Korean nuclear issue should be shifted to deterring the use of nuclear weapons from curbing their development.



"We have put our focus on trying to prevent North Korea from conducting additional nuclear tests and advancing its nuclear capabilities, but it's time to change our strategy," Lee said in a meeting of the ruling People Power Party's committee on the North's nuclear threat.



"The priority should be on deterring the use of nuclear weapons by giving them a clear sense that if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will bring about an end to the North Korean regime and it will disappear completely."



Lee called for measures to further ensure the execution of the U.S. "extended deterrence" commitment to use the full range of its military assets, including nuclear capabilities, to defend an ally like South Korea.



"We need to come up with an institutional device clearly guaranteeing the U.S. extended deterrence commitment," he said. "In that sense, we are discussing various issues with the U.S., and we plan to expand the scope of our involvement in intelligence sharing, planning, exercises and drills."



South Korea should also strengthen its own defense capabilities, such as the "three-axis" system, he said.



The "three-axis" refers to the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation, an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict; the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform; and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system, aimed at countering the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats.



"While keeping in mind how to integrate and effectively operate the three-axis system, we're working on a plan to launch a strategic command. We also plan to secure intelligence surveillance assets," Lee said. "We should have capabilities to watch all of their moves starting from pre-launch stages so as to neutralize them in advance physically or non-physically." (Yonhap)


The mother-of-four rushed her 'screaming and shaking' children to safety

Jordan Brown says she heard a 'loud bang' before the pump went up in flames

A motorcycle caught fire while fuelling at an Esso station in Washington

A family fled for their lives after a petrol station erupted in flames on Tuesday

A mother-of-four says her family narrowly escaped when a fireball hurled at their car as a terrifying fire engulfed an Esso petrol station.

Flames shot into the air yesterday after a motorcycle erupted in flames while the rider was parked at the pumps to refuel.

Jordan Brown, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, says her children were 'screaming and shaking' as their family ran for their lives as the inferno began to spread across the station.

The family heard a 'loud bang' as they watched the petrol pump 'go up in flames.' Dark smoke was billowing in the sky as the inferno raged on.

The family fled into the shop on the forecourt as their car was dangerously close to the blaze.

Firefighters told Mrs Brown, 30, 'had it been any longer, the car and the rest of the place would have gone up' in flames.

Mother-of-four Jordan Brown (pictured with her husband and children) says her family ran for their lives when a fireball hurled at their car as a terrifying fire engulfed an Esso petrol station

Flames shot into the air yesterday after a motorcycle erupted in flames while the rider was parked at the pumps to refuel

Firefighters rushed to the Esso petrol station on Heworth Road, Washington, around 3.25pm yesterday after huge plumes of smoke could be seen for miles around.

A motorcycle had caught fire while fuelling. The blaze spread to the pump which was still receiving fuel from the storage tanks under the ground, it is understood.

Staff and customers fled in terror as the inferno engulfed the forecourt.

Mrs Brown said she was inside paying for fuel when the bike pulled up on the forecourt. She claims the rider and their passenger were revving the engine of the bike while they fulled up.

Her husband, Jonathon Brown, also 30, who works at Asda distribution, and their four kids were in the family car, parked next to the bike,

Seconds later, the petrol station exploded in a terrifying blaze as the bike went up in flames while parked at the pump.

'I heard them revving the engine, and the attendant asked me to wait a minute,' Mrs Brown recalled.

'He pulled out his phone and then my husband started beeping the car horn to get my attention. When I turned around I seen the bike and the pump go up in flames with a loud bang.

At that moment I just ran out the shop to help my husband get my kids out the car.'

A fire exploded at an Esso petrol station in Washington on Tuesday after a motorcycle erupted in flames while the rider was parked at the pumps to refuel. Dark smoke billowed in the sky as the inferno engulfed the forecourt, forcing staff and customers to flee in terror

Flames shot into the air after the bike caught fire and spread to the pump which was still receiving fuel from the storage tanks under the ground, it is understood

Mrs Brown recalled how she narrowly escaped the blaze with her children, Ollie, aged ten, Luca, aged eight, Silver-Rose, six, and two-year-old Parker.

She said: 'I grabbed my two youngest and my husband grabbed the two oldest from the boot of our seven-seater car.

'We ran into the shop because we didn't want to run in front of the fire as we didn't know how long it was going to take for it to actually blow up properly.

'We were banging on the door that leads out to the back, and shouting over the counter for the attendant, who had already left the premises.

'I started moving the stuff off the counter ready for us to climb over when my husband tried the door.

'Thankfully it wasn't locked. We ran out the back and across the road to where the other shops were.'

The fire service says the Brown family was lucky to survive without any injuries, but Mrs Brown said the memories of the incident will haunt the family. Their seven-seater van is pictured

'One of the firemen has said that had it been any longer the car and the rest of the place would have gone up too,' Mrs Brown said. 'The car (pictured) has minimal exterior damage but nothing that can't be fixed or sorted'

The fire service says they were lucky to survive without any injuries, but Mrs Brown said the memories of the incident will haunt the family.

She said: 'My oldest Ollie, 10, was scared but managed okay, he was more concerned because he took his shoes off in the car.

'Luca alerted my husband in the car that there was a fire, he is diagnosed ASD/ADHD, and coped incredibly well.

'He panicked and was frightened then calmed down when he realised we were safe.

'Silver-Rose, who is six, I won't ever get her face out of my head. She was screaming and shaking, she was so so petrified.

'Parker, who is two, was asleep in his car seat at the time, as I pulled him out I woke him up so he was upset from shock rather than actually knowing what was going on.

'We're so thankful that we're all still here because it could have been so much worse,' Mrs Brown explained.

'One of the firemen has said that had it been any longer the car and the rest of the place would have gone up too.

'The car has minimal exterior damage but nothing that can't be fixed or sorted.'

Images taken after the blaze was extinguished reveal the business was left a smoking ruin

The blaze left extensive external damage to fuel pumps and the petrol station roof

Firefighters spent 30 minutes battling the blaze and trying to isolate the petrol pump involved to avert an even more serious incident.

They called for reinforcements from Tyne and Wear Fire Service and the fire was brought under control. It was put out at 3.56pm following the attendance of two appliances at the scene.

It is not yet clear how the bike caught fire, but crews say they had to cut the supply of fuel to the blazing pump before the site could be fully evacuated.

Shocking images taken after the blaze was extinguished reveal the business was left a smoking ruin.

There is extensive external damage to fuel pumps and the petrol station roof.

A spokesperson for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Our crews responded to a fire at Esso Petrol Station on Heworth Road in Washington following a call at 15.26pm. Two appliances attended the scene.

'Upon arrival, crews found a motorbike had caught alight and spread to a petrol pump. The supply to other pumps was quickly isolated and the petrol station evacuated as a precaution.

'Thankfully nobody was reported to have been injured and the fire was safely extinguished by firefighters before we left the scene at 3.56pm.'

ExxonMobile, Esso's parent company, had not responded to MailOnline's request for comment at the time of publication.
A missing teenager revealed details of her traumatic past in a series of chilling videos including a disturbing clip of her bruised and bloodied face - and another where she warned: 'Always take risks in life, you never know when it's going to end.'

Tea Wright-Finger, 19, was last seen by a friend who dropped her off near her blue Toyota Prado 4WD in Richmond in far north-west Queensland on Sunday, October 16. Neither the teen or her 4WD have been seen since.

In a video from last year, she is seen grief-stricken and emotional, sobbing uncontrollably with blood smeared over her nose, face and hand.

One video sees a distressed Tea with blood on her face and hands. While she didn't elaborate on what happened, friends of the young woman reached out to her in the comment section to see if she was okay

It is part of a montage of clips and selfies showing her bashed-up face and later bruises as the wounds heal.

There is no explanation given for the injuries, but she captioned the clip: 'When its toxic, its toxic.'

She also dubbed an audio clip to the video of a man saying: 'Now that was a lot of damage - woah.'

Friends reached out to her in the comments to check she was safe. 'Hope you OK my girl xx' wrote one, and another added: 'Sweetheart are you ok?'

One follower warned: 'Get out of their sis, it will get worse.'

Police and SES volunteers have conducted an extensive land and aerial search spanning hundreds of kilometres to find the young cattle station worker.

One of the teenager's most recent clips was on her 19th birthday to reveal the lessons she had learnt so far in life, including the ominous warning that: 'It's okay to feel lost sometimes'.

The teenager posted a series of TikTok videos that have given a glimpse into her past including one where she revealed the 'life lessons' she had learnt in her 19 years

The last lesson was captioned over an eerie bleak and barren outback landscape, similar to the one where police and search teams are now hunting for her.

The video, posted in September, included a series of selfies of Tea as she went through what she'd learnt.

'Always take risks in life, you never know when it's going to end,' she says at the start of the video.'

Tea's video of her life lessons included a picture of an outback landscape where she explained that it was 'okay to feel lost sometimes'

Another added: 'You always have to work hard to get what you want, no one is going to hand it to you.'

She added: 'If people want you in their life, they will make time for you.'

Another videos posted to TikTok before she vanished revealed her pain and anguish at the loss of loved one a year before in a touching tribute video.

She combined clips of the young man joking around with his mates and an apparent memorial service where friends and families released balloons in his memory.

She captioned the heartrending clip, posted in May: 'Been a year since you grew your wings and left us' and tagged it #mentalhealthawareness.

Another videos posted to TikTok before she vanished revealed her pain and anguish at the loss of loved one a year before in a touching tribute video

Tea Wright-Finger (pictured), 19, had been missing for 10 days after she was dropped off by a friend in Richmond in far north-west Queensland

But in Teas' final TikTok video - posted less than a fortnight before she went missing - she told followers: 'I don't feel so good, I want to go home.'

The video - featuring pictures of the missing woman and rural outback scenes - has since been inundated with comments from worried friends.

Her mother Tracy Wright revealed police have tracked her mobile phone and discovered it was switched on briefly on Tuesday morning in the week prior in the Flinders River area.

The desperate police search entered its third day on Monday focusing on the area of where her mobile phone was last traced.

SES volunteers and local community members spent the day searching tracks and areas of thick vegetation on the banks of the Flinders River and neighbouring rural properties.

The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter also scoured the area from above after it covered more than 700 kilometres on Sunday.

Ms Wright-Finger's frantic mother has thanked everyone involved and says she prays Tea will miraculously be found safe and well.

Tea posted her last TikTok video 12 days before she went missing

Tea's blue Toyota Prado 4WD (pictured) also hasn't been seen in eight days

'The community of Richmond have been absolutely wonderful. The search plane was also up looking yesterday and again today,' Ms Wright posted on Tuesday

Ms Wright revealed several days earlier her daughter hadn't accessed her bank account since the day she disappeared.

'Richmond police just phoned - they got a ping off Tea's phone on Tuesday and it was still in the Richmond area,' she wrote on Saturday.

'It was not until Wednesday morning that it started going straight to message bank.

'Because of this they have two helicopters up again today searching and driving all the roads again. They have had quite a bit of rain so the gravel roads are very wet.

'They have pinged her phone so if she turns it on or uses it, we can get an idea where she is.'

On October 4, 12 days before she went missing, Ms Wright-Finger posted the chilling TikTok clip of herself and footage of an outback cattle station she described as home.

The post has sparked an outpouring of concern and grief from concerned friends.

'Please let someone know you're safe Tea, I'm worried about you and so is your mum and your old high school friends,' one wrote.

Tracy Wright (left) is praying her daughter Tea (right) will be found alive and well

Police hold grave concerns for Tea (pictured), who hasn't been seen in eight days

A RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has spent the last two days scouring the remote terrain

Ms Wright-Finger worked at Richmond Downs Station, where she loved her job, according to her mum.

Townsville-based officers have travelled 500km to help coordinate the large-scale search.

They hold grave concerns for the teen but have vowed continue searching.

'The terrain out at Richmond, particularly coming into summer, can be quite challenging,' Townsville District Western Patrol Group Inspector Damien Crosby told reporters.

'We have the assistance of SES, trained search and rescue coordinators, and some local Richmond Shire Council employees who have a really good local working knowledge of the terrain involved.'

'Our priority continues to be to locate Tea safe and well and we will continue to search in that Richmond area until we're given information to the contrary.'

Tea is described as Caucasian, 180cm tall, medium build and blondish/light brown hair.

She has connections to the Northern Territory, Bundaberg in Queensland and farms near Richmond in the state's far north-west.

Her vehicle is a blue 2013 Toyota Prado 4WD with Queensland registration 210-TLA.

Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that investigators were still trying to find Tea.

Anyone with information is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers.

Police have vowed to continue searching for the missing Queensland teen (pictured)
A county lines boss who made 750,000 running a narcotics empire and financed his girlfriend's 'fearless' spending habits will have his 40,000 designer clothes sold off to pay back some of his ill-gotten gains.

Jonathan Walsh, 34, peddled thousands of pounds' worth of cannabis and amphetamine from Greater Manchester to Nottinghamshire.

Walsh's girlfriend Jodie Bowie, 32, was also involved in the drugs plot and enjoyed a luxury lifestyle of designer clothes, expensive jewellery, high-powered cars and cosmetic surgery appointments.

Convicted armed robber Walsh was jailed for 15 years, while Bowie avoided jail.

Jodie Bowie, seen with her boyfriend Jonathan Walsh, had 'fearless' designer spending habits

The 32-year-old enjoyed a luxury lifestyle with the 'sophisticated' drugs empire funding expensive jewellery and high-powered cars

Payback: Jonathan Walsh

Under Proceeds of Crime laws, which relate to the confiscation of funds made from criminal activities, Walsh will have to pay back more than 40,000, representing the value of items seized by police.

This includes designer clothes worth around 38,000 and a van worth 2,000.

He benefited from crime to the tune of 738,750, a hearing at Manchester Crown Court heard.

Walsh has 41,010 worth of available funds  the value of the designer clothes and a Citroen Berlingo van, which will be sold off by police.

Bowie, who worked as a carer for the elderly, is also set to face proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Her case was adjourned until next month.

The couple met on Facebook after he served a 14-year prison sentence for armed robbery, with Bowie becoming involved in Walsh's drugs scheme.

Walsh and Bowie financed their luxury lifestyle by shifting 1.36m worth of cannabis  plus amphetamine worth 130,000  across Britain in a county lines trafficking operation

When Bowie's home was raided by police, officers discovered more than 100,000 worth of designer clothes as well as 10,000 in cash

When one of Walsh's couriers was arrested, Bowie enlisted her mother Janice, 53, father David, 52, and brother Lee, 34, to help with moving the drugs cash.

When Bowie's home was raided by police, officers discovered more than 100,000 worth of designer clothes as well as 10,000 in cash.

Another visit by police recovered clothing valued at 27,000, another 5,410 in cash, while messages on her phone showed her making arrangements with Walsh to spend around 5,000 on cosmetic surgery.

Bowie, of Medlock Road, Failsworth, Manchester, is also set to face proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act

Police discovered Bowie recruited her parents Janice (left), 53, and David (right), 52, and older brother Lee, 34, to help with moving the cash generated by the drugs racket

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Tom Challinor said of the couple's initial weeks together: 'Over a very short period of time Walsh began to accrue possessions of a lavish lifestyle, including Rolex watches, designer clothing, and driving expensive cars at 1,300 a month.

'They decked out their house in lavish decor which indicated that sort of lifestyle.

'Jodie Bowie worked at the time but was not on the sort of income which could have supported that lifestyle. When it came to spending money, she was fearless.'

Walsh, of Warwick Road, Failsworth in Manchester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering and was later found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm, conspiracy to possess ammunition and conspiracy to possess an explosive device after trial at Manchester Crown Court in September last year.

Bowie, of Medlock Road, Failsworth, received 21 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

She was also given a three-month curfew between 7pm and 5.30am, 140 hours' unpaid work and ten rehabilitation activity requirement days, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class B cannabis and money laundering.

Her parents were convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Janice, who denied wrongdoing, was sentenced to 12 months' custody suspended for 18 months.

David, who admitted the charge, was given ten months' jail suspended for 18 months.
A male police officer has been suspended following the alleged rape of another officer at a police college.

The alleged incident happened at the Police Scotland College at Tulliallan in Kincardine, Fife, on October 14.

Police Scotland said an investigation was launched 'immediately' and that a police officer had been suspended.

Attack is said to have happened at the Police Scotland College at Tulliallan in Kincardine, Fife

The college is a key training site for the force.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'A report of a serious sexual assault was received on Friday October 14 2022 and an investigation by a team of specialist officers was launched immediately.

'An officer was also suspended at that time. He remains suspended while this investigation continues.'
Taxpayers are paying nearly 7million a day to house tens of thousands of asylum seekers in hotels after the Home Office managed to process just four per cent of asylum claims from people who crossed the Channel last year, it emerged today.

Some 96 per cent of asylum applications submitted by migrants making the journey in 2021 are still outstanding, Dan O'Mahoney, Border Force clandestine threat commander, told the Home Affairs Select Committee.

Of the 4 per cent completed, 85 per cent were granted refugee status or another protection status.

MPs heard 5.6m a day was being spent on hotels for people who have arrived in the UK and have submitted a claim, with an additional 1.2m paid to house Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban takeover while long-term accommodation is sought.

The total 6.8m is over 2m more than the Government said it was spending in February (4.7m). Asked by committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson if the cost was likely to go up again, Abi Tierney, director general of the passport office and UK visas and immigration, replied: 'Yes.'

Today, it also emerged that the proportion of attempted crossings that were being intercepted by French police has fallen, from around 50 per cent last year to 42.5 per cent so far in 2022. The French have stopped 28,000 migrants from crossing in 1,072 boats this year, Mr O'Mahoney told MPs.

A total of 28,526 people tried to cross the Channel in small boats last year. Pictured are migrants on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, on October 12

Migrants are brought to shore at Dungeness by the RNLI in two lifeboats on October 12

'One to two per cent of the young male population of Albania cross Channel in small boats' Mr O'Mahoney described an 'exponential' rise in the number of Albanians making the Channel crossing - 12,000 this year, including 10,000 single men. He said this was equivalent to roughly one to two per cent of the young male population of the country. This category is understood to include men aged 20 to 40. 'Two years ago, 50 Albanians arrived in the UK on small boats, last year it was 800 and this year, so far, it's been 12,000 - of which about 10,000 are single adult men,' he said. 'So the rise has been exponential, and we think that is in the main because Albanian criminal gangs have gained a foothold in the north of France and have begun facilitating large numbers of migrants. There are within that cohort undoubtedly people who need our help, there are also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system.' Advertisement

He accepted this was a lower percentage but stressed it was a 'much, much bigger number', telling how French authorities had stopped 28,000 migrants crossing the Channel and intercepted and destroyed 1,072 boats so far this year.

'I should put on record my thanks to the French ... this is around double what they managed to achieve last year, so that is really, really significant,' Mr O'Mahoney said.

But he added: 'It is correct to say that migrants can attempt to cross on more than one occasion and therefore those 28,000 migrants may not be individual, different migrants, so it's 28,000 attempts.'

More than 38,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in over 900 boats in 2022 to date, compared with 28,526 last year.

Curbing the increase in migrants risking their lives by crossing the Channel will be one of the main priorities for Rishi Sunak as he begins his term as Prime Minister.

In France migrants are not detained and processed after being caught attempting to cross the Channel.

Mr O'Mahoney said French laws make it 'difficult for French officers to take any action in that way'.

He told the committee French beach patrols in the north of the country were only 'one brick in the wall' of the efforts to curb Channel crossings.

Work by the UK and French authorities have led to 55 serious organised crime gangs behind such crossings being 'dismantled' since a joint intelligence cell was set up in France a couple of years ago, he added.

The Novotel hotel chain is also understood to have also reached lucrative agreements with the Home Office to house migrants (pictured: Novotel at Newcastle Airport)

Hotels that have been used to house migrants include four-star rated accommodation like the Royal Hotel in Hull

Suella Braverman was reinstalled as Home Secretary yesterday just six days after being forced out for breaking the Ministerial Code

Call for inquiry as Braverman returns to the Home Office six days after sacking Rishi Sunak is facing calls for an official inquiry into Suella Braverman after he reappointed the Home Secretary six days after she was sacked for a security breach. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats raised 'national security' concerns and demanded a Cabinet Office investigation on Wednesday after the new Prime Minister brought her back. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the most senior civil servant, is 'livid' over her swift return and 'very concerned' about the breach, a source told the Times. Liz Truss forced Ms Braverman out after she breached the ministerial code by sending an official document to a Tory backbencher from a personal email. Ms Braverman, who had been in the role six weeks, said she made a 'mistake' which she conceded was a 'technical infringement' of the rules. But questions remain about why she sent the document to fellow right-winger Sir John Hayes and how she accidentally copied in an aide to another MP, who sounded the alarm. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper wrote to Mr Case demanding an investigation 'into the extent of this and other possible security breaches'. 'Given the Prime Minister's decision to reappoint her to the Cabinet post overseeing national security, it is vital for the public to have transparency on what occurred,' she wrote. Advertisement

In October alone, at least 5,000 have made the journey, according to provisional Government figures, but no crossings were recorded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday or Tuesday.

Mr Sunak has committed to continuing the Government's bid to send migrants who enter the UK illegally to Rwanda. But the 120million scheme has still yet to get going, amid a series of legal challenges, despite it being announced back in April.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel unveiled the plans as a means of clamping down on the number of migrants making perilous journeys to Britain across the Channel.

Mr Sunak will have to decide how he will push forward with the scheme, including possibly overhauling Britain's relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights.

And, if the scheme continues to stall, the PM will have decide on what further action to take to try to stem the number of migrants arriving in small boats.

Suella Braverman was reinstalled as Home Secretary yesterday just six days after being forced out for breaking the Ministerial Code.

Earlier this month, Ms Braverman set out new plans which would ban migrants who cross the Channel from claiming asylum and said it was her 'dream' to see a government flight deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda.

'We have to stop the boats crossing the Channel. This has gone on for far too long,' Ms Braverman told the Conservative Party conference.

'I will pledge to you today that I will bring forward legislation to make it clear that the only route to the United Kingdom is through a safe and legal route.'

The new powers would go further than existing legislation and were designed to create a blanket ban on anyone who enters Britain illegally, including on small boats across the English Channel, from claiming refuge, a government source said.

Charity Care4Calais called the government's proposals 'barbaric, untruthful and unnecessary' and said most asylum seekers who come to Britain are genuine refugees.
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For decades, the SAS has been well-known for being the British Army's most elite band of men.

The fearsome trained killers have protected Britain's interests wherever required - most famously in the 1980 siege of the Iranian embassy, when they rescued 24 hostages as millions watched on the television news.

But now, a new BBC drama re-tells the story of the previously top secret origins of the Special Air Service, which was formed in North Africa in 1941 by Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling.

Along with key members such Paddy Mayne, Jock Lewes and Reg Seekings, Stirling led a force that existed to wreak havoc behind enemy lines during the Second World War.

They targeted dozens of airbases and destroyed hundreds of German and Italian planes.

SAS Rogue Heroes, the first episode of which airs on Sunday, depicts the real-life events that were revealed at great length by historian Ben Macintyre in his 2016 book of the same name.

Stirling, who was described by Britain's most senior military officer as 'quite mad', is played by Sex Education star Connor Swindells, with Jack O'Connell - who recently appeared in Lady Chatterley's Lover - playing Mayne and Games of Thrones' Alfie Allen depicting Lewes.

Mayne was infamous for his violent antics before war had even broken out, whilst his feat of tearing out the control panel of an enemy aircraft in one raid has gone down in SAS legend.

Lewes, an Oxford graduate, was known to practise parachute jumps by leaping from the back of speeding lorries, whilst intelligence officer Dudley Clarke - who gave the SAS its name - once created a fake parachute regiment and spread information about it to terrify Italian troops. Clarke is portrayed by Dominic West.

A new BBC drama re-tells the story of the lesser-known origins of the Special Air Service, which was formed in North Africa in 1941 by David Stirling. Along with key members such Paddy Mayne, Jock Lewes and Reg Seekings, Stirling led a force that existed to operate behind enemy lines - and did so with devastating effect. Above: Mayne (front) is seen with other SAS members during the war

SAS Rogue Heroes, the first episode of which airs on Sunday, depicts the real-life events revealed at great length in historian Ben Macintyre's 2016 book of the same name. Above: Actors (left to right) Stuart Campbell, Jacob Ifan, Jacob McCarthy, Tom Glynn-Carney and Alfie Allen star as SAS members Bill Fraser, Pat Riley, Johnny Cooper, Mike Sadler and Jock Lewes

Stirling got the idea for the new elite regiment after witnessing the British Army's drubbing against German military chief Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in Egypt.

'Big Dave' successfully argued the case that Britain needed to send guerilla fighters behind German lines to create chaos.

Given Britain's plight on the battlefield in North Africa at the time, permission was given to Stirling for him to assemble his unit, which was made up of soldiers who had proven themselves to be fearless.

From the start, the elite unit was made up of as few as 100 men, all of whom had been trained beyond the standards of all other fighting men.

Others who were key to the inception of the SAS included intelligence officer Clarke who worked out of a converted bathroom in a British Army office in Cairo. He is played by Dominic West in SAS: Rogue Heroes.

Clarke was responsible for naming the unit, after creating the fake paratrooper regiment to worry the Italians about possible attacks.

He then agreed to work with Stirling if he would adopt the name Special Air Service for the regiment.

Many would-be recruits were rejected for not being tough enough. One had walked across the desert for 40 miles in only his socks after his boots fell apart.

Those who did make it were the men willing to kill with guns, knives and even their bare hands without a moment's hesitation.

Stirling (pictured left in 1942, and depicted right by Connor Swindells) got the idea for the new elite regiment after witnessing the British Army's drubbing against German military chief Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps in Egypt

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne was another original member of the SAS. He is portrayed in SAS: Rogue Heroes by Jack O'Connell

Jock Lewes was a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) graduate from Oxford. Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen depicts him in the new series. He was among the small group of volunteers chosen by Stirling to form the original SAS

Reg Seekings was another of the original SAS members. He took part in the unit's first raid, which proved to be a disaster as only 21 men returned out of the 64 who had originally jumped. He is portrayed by Theo Barklem-Biggs in the new series

Others who were key to the inception of the SAS included Dudley Clarke, an intelligence officer who worked out of a converted bathroom in a British Army office in Cairo. He is played by Dominic West in SAS: Rogue Heroes. He is pictured left in 1941 in an infamous series of photographs in which he was seen dressed as a woman and also in a suit

Their sabotage missions would see them trek up to 300 miles across seemingly unending desert before sneaking into German and Italian air bases and blowing apart parked planes.

Stirling's biggest success came in July 1942, when his SAS squadron raided the Sidi Haneish airfield in German-held Egypt. A total of 37 Axis aircraft were destroyed, with only one Allied soldier killed.

But Mr Macintyre's book does also reveal how the SAS's contribution to Britain's victory in the war was actually not that significant.

Instead, the consequence of eye-catching raids that did short-term damage to the enemy was a high casualty rate and the use of resources that could have been used elsewhere.

Even the SAS's first raid proved to be disaster, with the men failing to achieve a single hit on the enemy. Instead, 34 of those who took part were killed, injured or missing, with only 21 returning to base.

Stirling was captured by the Germans in January 1943 after yet another raid. Although he did initially escape, the officer was re-captured by the Italians and, despite another four attempts to get away, he was imprisoned for the rest of the war at the infamous Colditz Castle.

General Bernard Montgomery was among senior officers who initially did not look kindly on the SAS. He described Stirling as 'mad, quite, quite mad'.

The unit were however elevated to full regimental status in the British Army after Randolph Churchill, the son of Prime Minister Winston, joined a mission to Libya and reported back to his father with a glowing review of the raid.

Members of the SAS are pictured in training in 1941. Men who made it into the SAs were those who were willing to kill with guns, knives and even their bare hands without a moment's hesitation

Members of the SAS are pictured here ahead of practice jumps at Manchester Airport, then known as Ringway, in 1941

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne is pictured right in Norway in 1945. The SAS wreaked havoc against German and Italian positions

Once they were made a formal part of the army, they had to give up their sand-coloured headwear and instead don the red berets of paratroopers.

After Stirling had been captured, Mayne took up command of the SAS and the unit continued operating throughout the rest of the war.

Beyond North Africa, they worked to orders in Italy, France and Germany.

In the latter, they helped ease the final Allied advance in 1945 by destroying Nazi communications, collecting intelligence and training Resistance fighters.

However, there too they sustained horrendous losses as Hitler's feared SS carried out his Commando Order to execute British saboteurs whom they caught.

After the war, the unit was disbanded, with its ongoing existence not deemed to be necessary. But bosses changed their minds just two years later and the SAS were among those sent to fight in the Korean War.

In writing his book, Mr Macintyre had access to a 500-page 'war diary' compiled by the SAS's archivists. It was a gold mine of first-hand reports from men who took part in successive secret operations from 1941 until 1945.

Stirling, an aristocratic Scots Guards officer, was aged just 25 when the SAS came into being. The soldier was known for his heavy drinking and frequent disobeying of orders.

The new six-part drama has been created by screenwriter Steven Knight, who was behind the hugely popular series Peaky Blinders.

Alfie Allen (left), Connor Swindells and Jack O'Connell are seen as Jock Lewes, David Stirling and Paddy Mayne walking in front of an Allied plane in SAS: Rogue Heroes

Looking back: The series shows how the SAS were formed in North Africa during the Second World War

Jack O'Connell and Connor Swindells are seen starring as Paddy Mayne and David Stirling in the new BBC drama SAS: Rogue heroes

Alfie Allen's Jock Lewes poses next to Theo Barklem-Biggs's Reg Seekings. Seekings was among the men on the SAS's first ever mission

Speaking on a panel for the show's premier at the British Film Institute this week, Knight revealed how he chose to exclude some of the astonishing exploits of Sterling and his men, due to the fact that they would not be believed by viewers.

On one occasion, Stirling threw a real hand grenade into a bar in Paris so he could clear the room, according to Mike Sadler, 102, who is the last surviving member of the SAS.

But the depiction of the terrifying moment on screen is toned down to make it more convincing.

'He [Sadler] told me the story that he and Stirling were in a bar in Paris and somebody said "you can't use this table, we are using it all night",' Knight said, according to the Telegraph.

'The hand grenade he threw was a real hand grenade. To make it seem realistic I turned it into a dummy hand grenade. The actual hand grenade was real. They were beyond reason.'

He added that he had to change the depiction of other real-life events 'many times, so many times' for the same reason.
Donald Trump claimed that he had 'good chemistry' with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward has revealed in a clip from his audiobook.

The former president told Woodward: 'I'm the only one he deals with,' in reference to the leader of the pariah state with whom Trump attempted to broker a peace deal.

'The word chemistry. You meet somebody and you have a good chemistry,' Trump said in an audio clip released by Woodward and aired on CNN in which he likened meeting Kim to the experience of developing chemistry with a woman.

'You meet a woman. In one second, you know whether or not it's all going to happen,' he added.

Woodward also told Trump that the CIA thinks Kim is 'ultimately stupid' - a claim which Trump refuted, instead describing the North Korean leader as 'cunning' and 'crafty' and 'very smart'.

While in office, Trump attempted to improve relations with North Korea, personally traveling to meet Kim, and also encouraged the despot to enter peace talks with South Korea.

North Korean-US relations appeared better in the latter stages of Trump's presidency, with the two leaders maintaining frequent correspondence, but the former president could not prevent Kim from proceeding with the nation's nuclear weapons programme and relations have declined dramatically under the Biden administration.

The pariah state has test-fired a record number of missiles this year, with one recent ICBM launch over Japan prompting widespread evacuations and strong condemnation from US, Japanese and South Korean officials.

The latest recording released by Woodward comes shortly after he revealed that the former president knew the letters he exchanged with Kim - which were among documents retrieved from Mar-a-Lago - were classified, but showed them to Woodward anyway.

Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone in 2019

Despite the seeming mutual fondness depicted in letters between Trump and Kim and two sit-down meetings, North Korea continued to ratchet up its nuclear program throughout the Trump administration

Newly released recordings of conversations between journalist Bob Woodward (pictured) and Donald Trump prove the former president knew his correspondence with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, which was among documents retrieved from Mar-a-Lago, was classified

Woodward reacts to Trump's remarks Your browser does not support the audio element.

In December 2019, Trump showed Woodward the 'love letters' Kim had written to him, but seemed to acknowledge he was not supposed to be showing them around.

'Treat them with respect, and don't say I gave them to you, okay? But I'll let you see them,' Trump said after her handed the journalist a stack of letters.

One month later in January 2020 on a phone call Woodward pressed Trump to show him the letters he had written back to Kim.

'Oh, those are so top secret,' Trump replied, according to excerpts from 'The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Trump.'

The audiobook includes more than eight hours of the Woodward's raw interviews with Trump interspersed with the journalist's commentary.

The comments reveal Trump was aware the 27 letters he and Kim exchanged were classified, and took them to Mar-a-Lago anyway. Trump has repeatedly insisted that none of the documents he improperly took from the White House were classified.

Instead, he claims that he had the power to declassify documents 'even just by thinking about it.'

'There doesn't have to be a process, as I understand it,' Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity in September.

'You're the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it's declassified, even by thinking about it.'

'In other words, when I left the White House, they were declassified,' Trump said.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) clawed back 15 boxes of documents from Trump's Florida property in January, among them the letters between him and Kim.

The FBI and Justice Department executed an unprecedented search warrant on the former president's residence in August, turning up 103 documents marked classified and 11,000 not marked classified as part of an ongoing probe into Trump's handling of the sensitive material.

English translations of the letters were printed in 2020 showing Trump and the Korean dictator fawning over each other, with Kim referring to the American president as 'Your Excellency' and wrote that the 'deep and special friendship between us will work as a magical force.'

And despite the seeming mutual fondness depicted in letters between the two leaders and two sit-down meetings, North Korea continued to ratchet up its nuclear program throughout the Trump administration.

This file photo taken on June 30, 2019 shows US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un talking before a meeting in the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) in Panmunjom

This picture taken on January 27, 2022 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 28 shows what North Korea says is a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile test-fire conducted by the Academy of Defence Science of the DPRK at an undisclosed location

During the December 2019 meeting Trump asked Woodward what he had done with the letters, asking if he had made a 'photostat of them or something,' referring to a photocopy.

'No, I dictated them into a tape recorder,' Woodward said.

After Trump agreed to share the letters he wrote to Kim, Woodward said he returned to the White House and read the new set of letters into his tape recorder.

Woodward said he saw no classification markings on the documents, though officials have indicated they were classified.

In that December 2019 interview, Woodward pressed Trump about North Korea's nuclear program, prompting the then-president to boast about the US's seemingly new - and likely highly classified - weapons system.

'I have built a weapons system that nobody's ever had in this country before,' Trump told Woodward. 'We have stuff that you haven't even seen or heard about. We have stuff that Putin and Xi have never heard about before.'

In a moment of self-awareness, Trump reflected that he seemed to get along with world leaders better 'the tougher and meaner they are.'

'I get along very well with Erdogan, even though you're not supposed to because everyone says what a horrible guy. But you know for me it works out good,' Trump said in a January 2020 interview.

'It's funny, the relationships I have, the tougher and meaner they are, the better I get along with them. You know?' he continued.

'Explain that to me someday, okay. But maybe it's not a bad thing. The easy ones are the ones I maybe don't like as much or don't get along with as much.'
Royal Navy personnel watched on in horror while their panic-stricken colleague collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest just four laps into a warm-up jog, an inquest has heard.

Ian Fleming, 53, tragically died during the first day of a four-week training programme at HMS Collingwood as he battled to secure promotion to the rank of petty officer.

The Acting Petty Officer, who had been awarded multiple medals during tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, had been dreading taking the fitness test and had requested its postponement, Portsmouth coroners court heard.

The exercise involved an obstacle course, a log run and team-building tasks, and failing to complete it could have resulted in losing pay, his accommodation and rank.

As a warm up for a 'Dogwatch' training activity commenced, shocked students witnessed Mr Fleming slow down and collapse only four laps into a 'light jog'.

Stuart Lawson said he was 'in shock' as first aiders rushed to APO Fleming's aid: 'Ian Fleming was a long way back.

'[I] was conscious that Ian gradually slowed down and then aware that he had collapsed. I just heard someone shout "man down".'

Michelle Fleming told the hearing in Portsmouth that her husband, who was a smoker and had heart disease, had been given an 'ultimatum' by seniors which left him with 'no choice' but to take part in a 'physically demanding' leadership course.

'Exemplary' officer Ian Fleming died from a cardiac episode he suffered while undergoing the physical training on duty

Before training commenced, APO Fleming - known as 'Paddy' - had been seen to struggle while running to the muster point, waving the group on as he walked the rest of the 700metre route.

PO Claire Edwards added: 'During the exercise Paddy was struggling and [I] was then aware that he had collapsed.'

Despite attempts to resuscitate Mr Fleming - a smoker who did not regularly exercise - he was declared dead at the scene on November 16, 2020 by South Central Ambulance Service paramedics.

Consultant pathologist Dr Adnan Al-Badri later found that Mr Fleming had a 'significantly enlarged' heart and was suffering from 'severe' ischaemic heart disease when he died.

Mr Fleming's wife Michele, who he married in 2000, told the inquest her husband was 'noticeably anxious' about undergoing the training course, and had asked for it to be rescheduled several times.

She said: 'As soon as Ian found out the date [of his training] he went into a complete meltdown.

'This was out of character for Ian as he was always laid back. He always gave 100 per cent to his job and wanted to do his best.'

Mr Fleming sent an email to his chain of command, saying he 'wasn't in the right place' to do the course, and he would be setting himself 'up to fail'.

Area coroner Mrs Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp said APO Fleming had been so 'frightened' by the prospect of undergoing the programme that he had put it off five times.

Addressing the court in Portsmouth, Hants, during the second day of the inquest, she said: 'It appears to have caused him tremendous anxiety.

'He was having panic attacks. He was in tears.

'He was worried particularly about his physical fitness, his age, and that he'd be shouted at.

He was awarded several medals during his career, including the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, the Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, the General Service Medal, the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal

CPO Michael Rickwood, who had been overseeing Mr Fleming's preparation for the course, said APO Fleming had told him: 'They're going to shout at me. I'm not being belittled by people who are junior to me.'

Warrant Officer Writer Claire Talbot, APO Fleming's Divisional Officer, said many sailors felt anxiety about the leadership course: 'There was a level of apprehension.

'It is all kept cloak and dagger. People do have a genuine fear.'

PO Lawson also told the court he expected the course to be 'quite strenuous'.

Mrs Rhodes-Kemp, addressing CPO Rickwood, said: 'We heard he was bullied and told you either do this course or you're out of the Navy.'

CPO Rickwood said: 'I'm taken aback by that. That did not happen.

'You don't get thrown out of the Navy for not doing a course.'

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Bean added that he 'would not have spoken' to APO Fleming as such, and said: 'We could not have terminated his employment [from the Navy].'

A Service Inquiry was conducted, and the final report - including findings of the inquiry and its recommendations to improve defence safety - were published in March of this year.

The inquest, expected to last four days, continues.
Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine.

Up to 30,000 members of the elite National Army Commando Corps were abandoned by the West when the country fell to the hardline Islamist group last year.

Now, the US-trained light infantry force that fought side by side with allied troops for nearly 20 years could be joining Vladimir Putin's savage war effort.

It is believed the shadowy Wagner Group is behind the recruitment drive, exploiting the jobless commandos.

An ex-official told Foreign Policy: 'I am telling you [the recruiters] are Wagner Group. They are gathering people from all over.

Afghan special forces attend a graduation ceremony at the Kabul Military Training Centre in July last year

A view shows a gas station destroyed by yesterday's Russian military strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues in Dnipro

'[The Afghan commandos] would be better used by Western allies to fight alongside Ukrainians. They don't want to fight for the Russians; the Russians are the enemy. But what else are they going to do?'

Many say they have been contacted via WhatsApp and Signal with offers to join the Russian 'foreign legion' in Ukraine.

Senior military and security officials in Afghanistan fear as many as 10,000 soldiers could be tempted to join, because they have 'nothing to lose'.

Only a few hundred senior officers were evacuated by the US in the dramatic withdrawal from Kabul in August 2021.

Many Afghan soldiers fled to neighbouring countries and others went into hiding fearing reprisals from the Taliban for their loyalty to the collapsed government and the West.

A member of the Ukrainian National Guard fires a mortar launcher at a position along the front line in Kharkiv region

Up to 30,000 members of the elite National Army Commando Corps were abandoned by the West

The US-trained light infantry force that fought side by side with allied troops for nearly 20 years could be joining Vladimir Putin's savage war effort

The commandos were honed by US Navy Seals and the British SAS, with a staggering 80billion spent on their training by the US.

An ex-security official said their call-up to Ukraine would be a 'game-changer' in Putin's faltering war.

Last year, Rep. Michael McCaul warned abandoning the commandos could prove to be a costly mistake by the US as they could be recruited for adversary armies.

One Afghan ex-commando captain who is now in hiding said he helped his comrades connect with recruiters in Iran.

They were flown to Tehran and then on to Russia where their phones are switched off and they carry out their mission 'secretly', he said.

The 35-year-old said: 'We are very disappointed. For 18 years, shoulder to shoulder, we performed dangerous tasks with American, British, and Norwegian consultants. Now, I am in hiding. I am suffering every second.'

Despite the appealing offer, many are reluctant to fight for a country which under the guise of the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and recently supported the Taliban.

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers march during a ceremony at a military base in the Guzara district of Herat province in 2020

It is not the first time Russia has tapped up foreign powers to assist in its brutal campaign in Ukraine.

Syrian mercenaries with years of experience fighting in their country's civil war were offered $1,000 a month for joining the war.

The first group of at least 300 of Syrian fighters arrived in Russia in March to begin military training - and to return the favour to Moscow for helping Al-Assad in the civil war, the New York Times reported.

Iranian troops have also been secretly sent to the frontline to help train Moscow's forces in how to operate kamikaze drones.

Up to 50 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specialists have been sent to the southern and eastern front with hundreds of Shahed-136 drones.

Iran has denied shipping drones or troops to be used against Ukraine

But Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said: 'It's just indicative of the kinds of rhetoric that you hear coming from Iran and from Russia, trying to say that these are not Iranian drones when they clearly are.

'In many ways, these drones are used to, as psychological weapons used to create fear.

'But from an operational, from a strategic standpoint, it still doesn't change the fact that Russian forces on the ground continue to lose territory or at best hold ground.'

But the recruitment of Afghan troops will serve as a major embarrassment to the US, after years and billions of dollars spent on their training.

The Wagner Group, led by billionaire Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been linked to a string of killings, rapes and war crimes is known as Putin's private army which carries out his dirty work at an arm's length from the state.

The Wagner Group is operating in Ukraine and has been linked to a string of horrific killings

The army-for-hire, allegedly run by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin - a close ally of the Russian president who is often dubbed 'Putin's chef' - was flown into Ukraine at the start of the war.

It has previously been deployed to Africa, where it has carried out black ops operations that the Kremlin wants done while avoiding direct responsibility.

They are currently engaged in a bloody battle with Ukraine in the eastern town of Bakhmut.

Russia has officially denied the group's existence and its origins are murky, though it first appeared in 2014 in the Donbas.

Initially, it was made up of only a few hundred Russian army veterans. They were ordered to assassinate Donbas leaders who were broadly supportive of Russia, but refused to follow instructions from the Kremlin.

These assassinations were then blamed on Ukrainian forces, according to security experts.

Wagner's founder is Dmitry Utkin, a shaven-headed former lieutenant colonel in Spetsnaz  Russia's special forces. He named it after his Spetsnaz code name.

Utkin is seen as a neo-Nazi and was described by one Russian newspaper as having 'an appreciation of the aesthetic of the Third Reich', complete with tattoos of the Waffen-SS on his shoulder and an eagle on his chest.

Mercenaries are illegal in Russia but Putin used Wagner to crush Syrian rebels and even awarded Utkin a medal.

Eventually, however, the Wagner Group became so dangerous that even the Russian government refused to pay them.

This led to Putin appointing oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin to control the group.
But she revealed her true features later on Iranian TV, showing herself in hijab

A Zombie Angelina Jolie lookalike, whos known for posting spooky Instagram pictures, has finally revealed her real face on Iranian TV after being released from prison.

Sahar Tabar, contrary to popular belief, looks nothing like her 'zombie' alter ego.

Many people believed she underwent cosmetic surgery to achieve her demonic appearance, but she revealed herself on Iranian TV channel Rokna.

Tabar, 21, whose real name is Fatemeh Khishvand, from Tehran, had originally been jailed for obscenity and insulting the hijab, according to the Iran Human Rights News Agency.

She was arrested in October 2019 for corruption and blasphemy and sentenced to ten years in prison.

But the media star was recently released after serving only 14 months, as reported by activist Masih Alinejad.

Zombie Angelina Jolie lookalike Sahar Tabar has revealed her real face on Iranian TV after being released from prison

Tabar posted spooky photos of herself on Instagram using computer effects. Many people believed she underwent cosmetic surgery to achieve her demonic appearance

'What you saw on Instagram was the computer effects I used to create the image,' she was quoted as saying, according to Lad Bible.

Announcing Tabar's jail sentence back in 2020, the activist wrote online: 'Sahar Tabar is only 19. Her joke landed her in jail.

'Her mother cries every day to get her innocent daughter freed. Dear Angelina Jolie! we need your voice here. Help us.'

It was also reported that Tabar had caught Covid-19 in 2020, with the US-based Center For Human Rights In Iran saying a judge in the country refused to grant her bail despite the fact that coronavirus was rife in the country's prisons at the time.

Ms Alinejad called on Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie to petition for Tabar's release in a video, adding 'Islamic Republic has a history of tormenting women. We need to be united against this gender apartheid.'

This year, Iran has been rocked by widespread protests and strikes raging across the country for the sixth week in a row following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed in custody after being accused of breaching Iran's strict dress code for women.

Her death has fuelled the biggest anti-government protests seen in the Islamic Republic for years.

Tabar, 19, whose real name is Fatemeh Khishvand, from Tehran, had originally been jailed for obscenity and insulting the hijab, according to the Iran Human Rights News Agency

It was reported in 2017 that Tabar had had 50 surgeries to look like Angelina Jolie, which the Instagram star denied. Pictured: The actress waves during an event to mark the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

In 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Channel 3 (IRIB TV3) said that Tabar was facing between three months and two years in prison.

The social media star shot to fame in 2017 after she reportedly had 50 surgeries to make her look like the Oscar-winning actress Ms Jolie.

She later confirmed her look was mostly was achieved through make-up and editing in a pre-trial television interview in which appeared as a 'zombie', with her face mostly blurred out.

She told the interviewer that she did not look like her Instagram pictures because they were heavily edited in Photoshop.

Charges against Tabar included blasphemy, inciting violence, gaining income through inappropriate means and encouraging youths to corruption

Tabar also said that it had been her childhood dream to become famous, and that she had persisted with her efforts to build her Instagram following despite her mother's objections.

She later admitted she'd had some surgery such as a nose job, lip fillers and liposuction but insisted most of her unusual appearance is down to make-up and editing.

Cosmetic surgery is hugely popular in the Islamic republic, with tens of thousands of operations taking place each year.

Instagram is the only major social media service accessible in Iran unlike Facebook and Twitter and the Telegram messenger service are officially banned. It has since been blocked in certain areas of the country since the 2022 protests.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum visits the Sejong the Great destroyer to check troop readiness, Oct. 26. Yonhap



South Korea's top military officer called Wednesday for a stern response to a potential North Korean provocation as he visited a Navy destroyer participating in a major defense exercise.



Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Kim Seung-kyum also stressed the importance of tight vigilance, saying it remains unknown "when, from where and how the enemy" will unleash provocations.



"I call on you to take the Hoguk exercise as an opportunity to check the practical combat readiness posture against potential enemy provocations," Kim was quoted by his office as saying during his visit to the Sejong the Great destroyer.



He added, "I instruct you to be equipped with the capabilities and posture to lead your mission to a victory on the ground by effectively using joint forces for a stern response in case of an enemy provocation."



The Hoguk exercise kicked off on Oct. 17 and runs through Friday.



Later in the day, Kim visited the Second Army Corps and checked its readiness posture.



There, he also directed field commanders to respond "sternly" to an enemy provocation "in light of the country's right to self-defense," according to the JCS. (Yonhap)


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A used food packet from the first British ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 is among an incredible archive from the famous expedition that is set to fetch 20,000 at auction.

The package contained cocoa, orangeade powder and a banana bar to fortify the brave adventurers as they made history to climb the world's highest mountain 69 years ago.

It bears an official Everest Expedition label and is signed by Colonel John Hunt - the British Army officer who led the successful attempt.

Fellow mountaineers Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary - who were the first to reach the summit - have also signed the packet which is inscribed with 'Everest '53'.

The memento was treasured by Tom Stobart, a British cameraman, filmmaker and author, who passed it onto his son Patrick before his death in 1980.

Tom was the official cameraman on the expedition and was able to capture footage to create The Conquest of Everest, a film of the event which earned him an OBE.

The expedition was the ninth attempt to climb Everest and news of its success reached London in time to be released on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2.

It took a 15-strong team seven weeks to reach the top of the Himalayan mountain, which stands at 29,035 feet (8,849m) above sea level.

Now items amassed by Tom over a lifetime of adventure - including a pickaxe he used during the Tibetan Hunt for the Abominable Snowman in 1954 - are up for sale.

The archive, which also includes cameras, scientific instruments and ephemera, could fetch 10,000-20,000 when they go under the hammer at Hansons London on October 29.

A used food packet from the first British ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 is among an incredible archive from the famous expedition that is set to fetch 20,000 at auction. The package contained cocoa, orangeade powder and a banana bar to fortify the brave adventurers as they made history to climb the world's highest mountain 69 years ago. Above right: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay pose for a photo during the 1953 Everest exhibition. They were the first humans to reach the mountain's summit

Items amassed by Tom over a lifetime of adventure - including a pickaxe he used during the Tibetan Hunt for the Abominable Snowman in 1954 - are up for sale. The archive, which also includes cameras, scientific instruments and ephemera, could fetch 10,000-20,000 when they go under the hammer at Hansons London on October 29

The memento was treasured by Tom Stobart (pictured), a British cameraman, filmmaker and author, who passed it onto his son Patrick before his death in 1980. Tom was the official cameraman on the expedition and was able to capture footage to create The Conquest of Everest, a film of the event which earned him an OBE

Mr Stobart, 77, a company director from Nottingham, has treasured the collection for decades but has decided to part with it to ensure it is saved for posterity.

Mr Stobart, who at 16 travelled by road to Tehran, Iran, with his father to film and worked as a wildlife biologist in Africa, said: 'I hope the collection may go to a museum.

'I am extremely proud of my father and my grandfather Ralph Stobart. He was also a mountaineer.

'There is a microscope in the collection coming up for auction used by all three of us.

'The framed food packet, which I displayed on the wall in my home, is particularly interesting.

'It was made of a lightweight foil to make it easy to carry and preserve food during the seven-week expedition.

'I also like a canvas painting of the Wheel of Life which was donated to my father in 1953 by a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on the slopes of Everest.

Tom Stobart's scrap book from the expedition. The news of the successful climb of Everest was reported in Britain on June 2

The archive also includes tickets for the Conquest of Everest screening and an advert for Sir John Hunt's book, The Ascent of Everest, which featured a foreword by the Duke of Edinburgh

Also up for sale in the auction is a 19th century microscope that was owned by Tom Stobart. Tom captured some of the most famous events in human history

Some of Tom's photographs from the expedition are seen arranged in a scrapbook. His images have become iconic

Also in the sale is a cabinet packed with specimen slides of leaf scales, pollen grains, fungal spores, insect antennae, marine biology, sections of butterfly wings and feathers - some from Australia and Peru

THE FIRST ASCENT OF EVEREST News of the success of the expedition to scale Everest reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2, 1953. It was the ninth British mountaineering expedition to scale the famous mountain, and the first confirmed to succeed. The team led by Colonel John Hunt felt under particular pressure, as the French had received permission to mount an expedition in 1954, and the Swiss in 1955, meaning the they would not have another chance at Everest until 1956 or later. The 'Icefall party' reached Base Camp at 17,900 feet on 12 April 1953. A few days were then taken up, as planned, in establishing a route through the Khumbu Icefall, and once this had been opened teams of Sherpas moved tons of supplies up to Base. A series of camps were created, slowly reaching higher up the mountain, with groups of climbers gradually leap-frogging each other as they inched their way to the summit. By May 21, Wilfrid Noyce and Sherpa Annullu had reached the South Col, just under 26,000 feet, and the first of two previously selected climbing pairs, Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, set out for the summit five days later. Using closed-circuit oxygen the pair successfully achieved the first ascent of the 28,700ft South Summit, coming within 300ft of the final summit until they were forced to turn back due to problems with their oxygen equipment. The next day the expedition made its second and final assault on the summit with the second climbing pair, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal. They reached the summit at 11:30 am on 29 May 1953, climbing the South Col route. Advertisement

'He carried it with him throughout the expedition.'

Other mementoes include tickets and an official programme for the first screening of The Conquest of Everest, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

An original letter of invitation to meet members of the Everest Expedition at London Airport, dated June 30, 1953, is also in the archive.

Black and white photos of Tom and numerous newspaper cuttings recording the Everest expedition and 'Yeti Hunt' are also included.

Camera equipment being sold includes a Paillard Bolex H-16 Reflex 16mm cine camera, possibly used by Tom during the hunt for the Abominable Snowman.

A Paillard Bolex Swiss-made speed-control motor and an Adam's Minex De Luxe Model plate camera are also among the collection.

Scientific Instruments include 19th century microscopes and cabinets packed with specimen slides of leaf scales, pollen grains, fungal spores, insect antennae, marine biology, sections of butterfly wings and feathers - some from Australia and Peru.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: 'This is an incredible collection which reminds us of a significant moment in history.

'After years of dreaming about it, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, on May 29, 1953.

'They were the first people to ever reach the summit. Tom captured the emotion of the moment on film.

'In fact, he captured some of the most famous expeditions and achievements in human history.

'During his career, he followed a team of scientists exploring Antarctica in 1949, as well as the Tibetan hunt for the Abominable Snowman in 1954.

'It's an honour to offer this important historical archive at auction. We hope it will attract museum interest.'

Tom was born in Darlington, County Durham, and educated at St Bees School near Whitehaven, Cumberland.

He attended Sheffield University and Cambridge University where he studied zoology.

He made Army instructional films in India during the Second World War, went on a 1946 expedition to the Himalayas, and on an expedition to North Queensland.

He also made the official film of the 1949-50 Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition.

Edmund Hillary (left) and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (right), with expedition leader Colonel John Hunt (centre) in Katmandu, Nepal, after descending from the peak of Everest

Tenzing Norgay and and Edmund Hillary are seen drinking tea after their successful ascent of Mount Everest in May 1953

It took a 15-strong team seven weeks to reach the top of the Himalayan mountain, which stands at 29,035 feet (8,849m) above sea level. Above: Members of the British-led team are seen with Nepalese Sherpas

Hillary and Tensing on their return to Camp IV, the advanced base, after their successful assault on Mount Everest

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay pose for a photo during their 1953 Everest expedition

The Daily Mail's coverage of the expedition told of the 'Crowning Glory' of the successful attempt to climb Everest. The news was reported on the same day as the Queen's coronation

During the 1953 Everest challenge, John Hunt recalled that Tom had a 'seemingly endless repertoire of adventure stories'.

Tom was also a talented cook and his books include Cook's Encyclopaedia and Herbs, Spices and Flavourings.

Sadly, he was left partially disabled after being shot twice in the legs during a filming trip to Ethiopia in around 1956. He died suddenly in 1980 aged 66.
A secret bid to stop the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins from facing trial can be revealed after the judge lifted a non-publication order.

Bruce Lehrmann tried to quash his high profile jury trial before it began by claiming he had faced damaging publicity, a court decision said.

However, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum dismissed the application for a stay of the case, the published April judgment from the ACT Supreme Court said.

Lehrmann's legal team had made an application for a permanent stay on his charge - which meant he wanted the case dropped entirely on the basis that the case received too much publicity and he would not be able to get a fair trial.

Failing that, he wanted a temporary stay.

A secret bid to stop the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins (pictured) from facing trial can be revealed after the judge lifted a non-publication order

The chief justice dismissed the submission, but the reason could not be released at the time because they were subject to a non-publication order.

However, the court confirmed the order was lifted on Wednesday evening.

Lehrmann is accused of raping Ms Higgins at Parliament House after a night out in March 2019.

He pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and is being tried in the ACT Supreme Court. A jury is deliberating.

According to published remarks by Justice McCallum on April 29, Lehrmann's former barrister John Korn argued that Ms Higgins had 'set out' to discuss her allegations with the help of the media and the backing of 'famous people, including the Prime Minister'.

On April 29, Lehrmann's former barrister John Korn argued that Ms Higgins had 'set out' to discuss her allegations with the help of the media and the back of 'famous people, including the Prime Minister' who was at that time, Scott Morrison, pictured.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) is accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House after a night out in March 2019

He was referring to the moment in February this year when then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued an apology to victims of sexual harassment and assault in government offices.

Mr Morrison also apologised directly to Ms Higgins for the 'terrible things' that happened in parliament.

Mr Korn told the court that Mr Morrison's apology was 'particularly egregious as it imputed the accused with guilt of the offence, or at least implicitly assumed the truthfulness of (Ms Higgins)'.

He said the sheer volume of publicity that came from the apology meant it would be 'impossible to provide a complete catalogue of potentially prejudicial material'.

Furthermore, the moment Ms Higgins spoke at a 'Women's March 4 Justice' on the lawn of Parliament House was also brought up.

The moment Brittany Higgins spoke at a 'Women's March 4 Justice' on the lawn of Parliament House (pictured) was also brought up

According to Mr Korn's submission, she was 'unashamedly invoking her own complaint as the truth' rather than as allegations.

It was also argued that Ms Higgins addressed the National Press Club with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame where they gave what was described at the time as 'incredibly powerful speeches'.

During that speech, according to the court documents, Ms Higgins said: 'I was raped on a couch in what I thought was the safest and most secure building in Australia.'

The chief justice accepted the complainant's allegations were treated as truths in some instances where she was publicly supported, and described the case as 'unique'.

However, she did not accept that the matter was too far gone and rejected Mr Korn's arguments.

'Accepting that by far the most part of the publicity assumes the complainant's truthfulness, I am not persuaded that the matter is beyond rescue,' she told the court.

'Certainly not to the extent required to be established in order to obtain a stay.'

Justice McCallum went on to say it was 'unfortunate' that Ms Higgins' credibility had been the subject of public commentary, and pointed out the Lehrmann wasn't identified when the Liberal staffer went public with her allegations.

Mr Korn had also tried to argue that empanelling an impartial jury would be an 'impossibility' due to the publicity.

However, Justice McCallum said 'the mere fact that a member of the panel is aware of the pre-trial publicity is not of itself problematic'.

'The critical concern is for the trial judge to take steps to ensure that each potential juror feels capable of giving impartial consideration to the case.'

The chief justice was 'not satisfied' with the arguments for a permanent stay.

Mr Korn also applied for a 'take-down' order to be imposed, which means the defence wanted all stories about the case to be removed from the internet.

Brice Lehrman's former barrister John Korn applied for a 'take-down' order to be imposed, which means the defence wanted all stories about the case to be removed from the internet

He also called to ban the media from publishing any information about the accused.

However, Justice McCallum said: 'To seek instead to regulate media discussion of criminal proceedings by the inexact tool of suppression and non-publication orders is a pious hope, particularly since the advent of the internet and social media.'

She also rejected the notion that the court was 'condoning a media free for all'.

A jury of 12 have been deliberating on whether Lehrmann is guilty or not for six days.

On Tuesday, they sent Justice McCallum a note to say they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

She asked them to go back into the jury room and reconsider, but they asked to be sent some for the day 40 minutes later.

Justice McCallum urged them to 'relax, hit the gym or walk the dog or whatever you need to do to rest from this arduous task'.

By 4pm on Wednesday, they had not reached a verdict.

She reminded them that they are 'all equals in the jury room', and told them to ask for help if they need it.

The jury will reconvene at 10am on Thursday.
US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said the leak of the draft opinion that overturned the constitutional right to abortion made majority justices 'targets for assassination'.

Alito condemned the leak of his draft opinion last May that eventually overturned Roe v. Wade during an event in Washington DC organized by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

'The leak also made those of us who were thought to be in the majority in support of overruling Roe and Casey targets for assassination because it gave people a rational reason to think they could prevent that from happening by killing one of us,' Alito said on Tuesday.

Alito also gave no indication as to whether the court had identified who leaked the draft opinion to Politico weeks before its scheduled release. However, he said the leak 'was a grave betrayal of trust by somebody'.

Republican appointed-Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett (circled) all voted to strike down Roe v. Wade along with Samuel Alito.

The Supreme Court has since launched its investigation to uncover the leaker of the draft decision.

Alito said the leak left him in 'shock' and 'certainly changed the atmosphere at the court for the remainder of last term'.

The Supreme Court had been left on high alert since June as a man had been charged with attempted murder after being arrested near the Maryland home of conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Nicholas John Roske was arrested in June after showing up to Justice Kavanaugh's home armed with a gun and knife. He turned himself into US marshals stationed outside Kavanaugh's home and admitted his intentions to them.

Supreme Court Justice Alito also denounced the ongoing debate over the institution's legitimacy amid a backlash over its decision on abortion last June. He said much of the criticism had focused on 'character' rather than the court's rulings.

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito said the leak of the draft ruling made justices 'targets for assassination'

The nine Supreme Court Justices posed for an official group portrait in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court in Washington earlier this month for the start of the new term.

The legitimacy of the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, largely depends on its acceptance by the public as an institution whose actions are based on the law, not the justices' political preferences. Polls show that the court's public approval has reached record lows.

Everyone is free to strongly criticize the court's decisions or the reasoning behind them, Alito said. 'But to say that the court is exhibiting a lack of integrity is something quite different. That goes to character, not to a disagreement with the result or the reasoning.'

Alito added: 'Someone also crosses an important line when they say that the court is acting in a way that is illegitimate. I don't think anybody in a position of authority should make that claim lightly.'

The conservative majority has shown an increasing willingness to take on divisive issues as it steers the court on a conservative path.

The court's new term, which began on October 3, promises to be just as consequential. Potential rulings in major cases could end affirmative action policies used by colleges and universities to increase campus racial diversity, hobble a federal law called the Voting Rights Act, and make it easier for businesses to refuse service to LGBT people based on free-speech rights.
Xi Jinping has begun his historic third term as Chinese leader by crashing the stock market, with tens of billions wiped off the value of leading firms in recent days.

Exchanges in Hong Kong, Shangahi and Shenzhen all fell this week after Xi was handed another five years in power and used it to tighten his grip on the country.

Some $70billion was also wiped off the value of Chinese firms listed overseas as foreigner investors fled in the face of Xi's increasingly authoritarian plans for the Chinese economy.

It comes after he stripped top economists and experts from positions of power and instead filled the posts with loyalists, with analysts saying it appears he is willing to stunt China's growth provided it hands him more power.

Xi Jinping began his third term in power by overseeing a sell-off on Chinese stock markets as foreign investors balked at his increasingly authoritarian rule

Charles Parton, a former British diplomat now with the Council on Geostrategy, told MailOnline: 'Xi placed much more emphasis on the party than the economy.

'What Xi believes in is economic model where he relies on state sector, and the private sector is controlled by the party.

'He thinks that is essential, and that if he reforms then he loses control.

'With economy goes money, and with money goes power, and only the Communist Party gets to have power.'

Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index, which is dominated by mainland Chinese firms, fell more than 6 per cent Monday after Xi gained his third term.

It means the index is now down more than a third since the start of the year and is the world's worst-performing.

Shares also fell in Shanghai and Shenzhen, mainland Chinese financial hubs, as markets balked at Xi's push for control.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell particularly sharply on Monday as Xi began his third term, and is now the world's worst-performing index in 2022

Shanghai's market also fell as Xi stripped his top team of economists and experts and replaced them with hardliners and ideologues

Shenzhen's stock market also fell sharply after Xi's term began before rallying, though remains below where it was before he was given five more years in power

The Leninist leader outlined his vision for the next five years at the weekend, vowing to protect China from what he sees as an increasingly hostile world while indoctrinating every sector of society - including business - into 'Xi Jinping thought'.

He also announced a new Politburo Standing Committee - six men who will help him run the country - which he stacked with ideologues who are seen as short on expertise and experience.

Li Qiang was brought in as a new premier, the former leader of Shanghai who oversaw a zero Covid lockdown on the city that wrecked its markets and brought misery to millions of citizens.

He replaces Li Keqiang, a more-moderate politician who had called for 'all possible means' to help Chinas pandemic-hit economy recover.

Yi Gang, the governor of China's central bank, was also dropped from the Central Committee - sparking rumours he may resign or be forced from his post.

Xi's third term looks set to include tighter controls of the economy and greater protection of markets from outside influence, which has balked investors (file image, Shanghai)

Daniel Rosen, an expert in economic policy with the CSIS think-tank, said China is facing several large and growing economic crises and Party Congress had failed to address them.

While he admitted that is not congress's job 'in normal times', he argued: 'These are not normal times.'

He added: 'The short-term picture is that nobody is feeling better about the outlook for growth in China.

'The medium-term and long-term outlook - I think what we see is a set of structural, systemic economic problems.

'The good thing about Xi's first two terms is that he showed he understood these problems and had plans to address them.

'But no indication he understands the new problems well enough to push past them

'His new team doesn't seem like it has disposition to carry out fiscal reforms, clean up the banking sector, reform the equity markets. These problems were just not spoken to adequately [at Party Congress].'
Germany plans to legalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use as well as its sale and production.

Under a proposal agreed today by the cabinet, possession of up to 1oz of the substance will become legal, health minister Karl Lauterbach said.

Adults will be allowed to buy cannabis from dispensaries, people will be allowed to grow up to three plants at home, and farmers will be allow to cultivate it for sale.

Germany plans to allow adults to possess up to 1oz of cannabis for recreational use, as well as licensing traders to sell and produce the drug

However, the plan faces multiple hurdles before it can come into effect including approval by the EU courts to make sure it complies with European law.

If Brussels gives the thumbs up then the plans will go back to Germany for parliamentary debate, which may not come until 2024.

But the fact it is even being discussed represents a sea-change from current German laws that allow it only for medical use - and even then, only for the terminally ill.

Mr Lauterbach described the plan as creating 'the most liberal legalization of cannabis in Europe' while also building 'the most-regulated market'.

The hope is that it will create a model that other European states can follow, Mr Lauterbach added.

It is thought the plan would ban the import of cannabis - meaning plants consumed in Germany would have to be grown in Germany - and ban advertising.

Marijuana sold in dispensaries or pharmacies would be limited to a THC content of no more than 15 per cent, with a 10 per cent cap for customers aged 18 to 21.

And sellers would have to be located away from schools, children's facilities or youth clubs.

Karl Lauterbach, the German health minister, said the plan is designed to combat black market sales but must first be approved by EU court

Legalising controlled sales of cannabis is one of a series of reforms outlined in last year's coalition deal between the three socially liberal parties that make up Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

They said the plan would ensure quality control while also protecting young people, and agreed that the 'social effects' of the new legislation would be examined after four years.

In other liberalising plans, the government has removed a section Germany's criminal code that made it illegal for doctors to provide information on abortion procedures.

It also wants to ease the path to German citizenship, lift restrictions on dual citizenship, and reduce the minimum age for voting in national and European elections from 18 to 16.

The government also hopes to scrap 40-year-old legislation that requires transsexual people to get a psychological assessment and a court decision before officially changing gender, a process that often involves intimate questions.

It is due to be replaced with a new 'self-determination law'.
A prominent lawyer who specialises in criminal law is accused of playing a major role in an alleged multi-million dollar money laundering syndicate.

Michael Frederick Bosscher, 53, was one of two men arrested in Australian Federal Police raids across Brisbane and the Gold Coast on Monday.

Search warrants were executed on homes in Graceville, Bardon, Brisbane and Helensvale as part of the eight-month investigation.

Officers seized $70,000 cash from two safes that were hidden under stairs and a cash counter at a Bardon premises while $160,000 cash was seized from a safe at a Helensvale home further south.

Police also seized a number of mobile phones for further forensic examination.

A second man, 67, from Helensvale was also charged.

Criminal lawyer Michael Frederick Bosscher must report to police twice a week

A large media scrum awaited Michael Bosscher as he left the Brisbane Watchhouse on Tuesday after being granted bail

Police will allege Bosscher from inner-city Graceville supplied millions of dollars of funds that are the suspected proceeds of crime to be deposited into the accounts in an effort to avoid detection by authorities.

He was charged with conspiring to deal in the proceeds of general crime and at the time of dealing the value of the money or property was $1 million or more.

He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where acting magistrate Rowan Silva granted him bail, which was opposed by the Crown.

Bosscher was later surrounded by media crews while leaving Brisbane Watchhouse after being bailed.

He must report twice a week to police, live at his Graceville address and not contact his co-accused, a prosecution witness or seven other people who are part of the investigation.

Bosscher also must not leave Queensland, go within 500m of an international departure point, and must surrender his passport and have only one phone.

His matter will be back in court for mention on December 2.

Police allegedly found thousands of dollars stashed inside stairs in a Bardon home in Brisbane's west

The second man, training executive Richard Franks, 67, from Helensvale faces a string of charges including conspiring to deal in the proceeds of general crime and at the time of dealing the value of the money or property was $1 million or more.

The charges relate to the movement of millions of dollars in 35 transactions over a 20-month period, Commonwealth prosecutor Christopher Moore told the court.

'Investigations are ongoing in relation to the movement of the money and a forensic accountant has been engaged to assist with that process,' he said.

He was granted bail in the Southport Magistrates Court under strict conditions that he surrender his passports and have no contact with Bosscher or the complainants.

Bosscher was previously charged in 2017 by Queensland's corruption watchdog with aggravated fraud and eight counts of fraudulent falsification of records.

The magistrate likened his offences, which included taking cash payments under the table, to an 'alleged rapist having a cup of tea with a complainant'.

$70,000 cash allegedly found in two safes hidden under stairs and a cash counter were seized

AFP officers have charged two men and haven't ruled out further arrests. Pictured is one of the arrests

Search warrants were executed on homes in Graceville, Bardon (pictured), Brisbane and Helensvale as part of the eight-month AFP investigation

His law firm Bosscher Lawyers describes Bosscher as one of Australia's most experienced criminal law practitioners.

He became a solicitor in 1993 and has since represented serial killers, rapists and drug kingpins.

'Michael has spent over a quarter of a century practising exclusively in criminal law,' the firm's website states.

'Michael has appeared in some of Australia's most famous criminal law cases over the past 25 years and is also a published author on criminal law topics.

'His reputation for his knowledge and experience in the field is nationally recognised and he provides advice not only directly to clients but also to educational institutions, sporting bodies and law reform stakeholders.'

The AFP haven't ruled out further arrests.

'Money laundering is the backbone of organised crime. Money is the sole reason organised crime exists and taking away their ill-gotten wealth is a key priority for the AFP,' Acting Commander Telfer said.

'We will continue to target the structures that enable organised crime to hide their wealth and can't rule out more arrests as our investigators follow the money.'

$160,000 cash (pictured) was allegedly seized from a Helensvale home on the Gold Coast
Pannett was remanded in custody to appear before a crown court for sentencing

Her fake reports triggered a number of buildings to take precautionary action

A woman has admitted making a series of hoax bomb threats to high-profile locations in central London  including The Shard, the Palace of Westminster, Conservative Party HQ and St Thomas' Hospital.

Meredith Pannett  who describes herself as 'an advocate for peace'  set off security alerts when she made a string of malicious calls to the locations, including Mansion House and University College London (UCL).

The 51-year-old's fake reports on the morning of Wednesday, October 19, triggered a number of the buildings to take precautionary action, including closing entrances and restricting access to certain areas.

Social media users posted pictures of police cordons in the City close to Bank station and at the entrance to St Thomas' Hospital that morning.

Meredith Pannett  who describes herself as 'an advocate for peace'  set off security alerts when she made a string of malicious calls to the high-profile locations

A spokesman for Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that no wards were evacuated, but the ground floor entrance area had to be cleared.

UCL closed its main campus gates on police advice and reduced access to a small number of buildings at about 10.30am that morning.

A spokesperson said: 'On further advice, all areas were reopened a short time later.

'The measures were precautionary, and we thank those affected for their patience.'

A Parliamentary spokesman added: 'The safety and security of all those who work in Parliament is our top priority. However, we cannot comment on specific security matters.'

Pannett has pleaded guilty to six counts of making a bomb hoax by communicating false information

An update from the Metropolitan Police on Twitter last Wednesday afternoon read: 'Officers attended a number of locations in central London, including St Thomas's Hospital, this morning following a series of hoax bomb threats.

'We are satisfied there is no risk to the public. A woman was subsequently arrested in Kent and remains in custody.'

Pannett, of Tenterden, Kent, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Thursday, October 20, charged with six counts of making a bomb hoax by communicating false information.

She pleaded guilty to all charges, and was remanded in custody to appear before Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing on a date yet to be set.

On her website, Pannett describes herself as 'an advocate for peace through health worldwide'.

The club runner competed in races across the south of England, posting a 10k time of 33:59 at Chichester in 2003.

She says she was 'brought up in a family of Church of England Christians by my mother and father' and feels strongly about 'encouraging others'.
He was jailed for a further 16 months and told he must not dress as a schoolgirl

Also invited to young runaways to his home and gave them cider and cigarettes

He approached three girls under 16 and asked if they liked his tie, court heard

A convicted sex offender has been jailed again after dressing up as a schoolgirl in order to talk to pupils and plying two young boys with booze.

Mark Nicholson, 55, sat outside Blessed Trinity school in Burnley, Lancashire, dressed in the uniform of a white tie, blazer and a skirt.

A court heard he tried to engage in conversation with three girls, aged between 10 and 15, last November by asking if they liked his tie.

Preston Crown Court was also told in May this year, he met two runaway teenage boys who'd been reported missing from their care home.

He took them back to his house where they smoked cigarettes and he gave them a cup of cider.

Kathryn Johnson, prosecuting, told the court: 'The police received a call from the safeguarding lead at Blessed Trinity to say three female children from the school, aged between 10 and 15, had seen a male sat outside on Queen Victoria Road dressed in a school uniform that matched theirs.

Mark Nicholson, 55, sat outside Blessed Trinity school in Burnley, Lancashire, dressed in the uniform of a white tie, blazer and a skirt

'He was arrested the following day at his home address and the school uniform was recovered by officers from his bedroom.

'The defendant was interviewed the same day and told police he didn't speak to the girls but accepted that he had been wearing the uniform, saying that he wears it for comfort.'

Judge Stephen Unsworth KC jailed Nicholson for 16 months for twice breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

That order was in place after Nicholson was jailed for 18 months in 2019 for 60 child sex offences.

The judge banned Nicholson from wearing items of clothing relating to a girl's school uniform and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The incident took place outside of Blessed Trinity College in Burnley, Lancashire (pictured)

He said: 'This is a worrying picture that's presented to the court and is extremely worrying for the parents and carers of these children.

'If there's any repeat of this behaviour you can expect lengthier periods in prison - you must stay away from young people and must stop this behaviour.'

Defending Nicholson, Anna Chestnutt said his behaviour 'had no place' and he would 'not be repeating it'.

In respect of the offences in May, Ms Chestnutt said her client encountered the boys on a bus and it was them who spoke to him first.

She said: 'Nothing sexual took place in the hour they spent at his home address.'

Police were alerted to the incident involving the two young boys after an employee raised the alarm that they were missing from their residential care home.

When the boys eventually returned home, they revealed they'd met the defendant and asked to go back to his home, and he agreed.

'They stayed around an hour and then left and returned to Blackburn,' the court heard.
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This is the terrifying moment a pickaxe-wielding woman smashed through the windows of her neighbor's Pasadena home just inches from a newborn baby.

Beverly Baker, 65, was caught wielding the weapon in the horrifying attack on Monday. She was filmed by Arman Tchoukadrian's Ring camera approaching the home then smashing through its windows before walking away and returning again to smash more.

Baker then started marching back to her own home a few blocks away. On her way there, she yelled: 'I'll be back! Get out!'

Tchoukadrian's mother-in-law was in the home with his baby daughter, who was sleeping in a bassinet near one of the windows. He says the baby would have been seriously injured if her grandmother hadn't saved her.

Exactly what caused Baker's outburst remains unclear. She is being held in custody and is due in court this morning on a felony vandalism charge.

Commander Bill Grisafe of Pasadena Police Department said the pair have no relation and Baker was having some form of mental health crisis.

'We have no reason, no motive for this,' he told DailyMail.com. He would not say whether she had any kind of record with the department.

Tchoukadrian says she owns multiple properties in the area but that he had never seen her before. He fears he was the target of a racist attack because he is Armenian, but police are yet to confirm the woman's motive. Records show that Baker owns a $1million home across the street from where the family lives with one of her children.

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Pasadena Police later arrested her at her home just a few blocks away from where the attack had taken place

She managed to snatch the baby away from the window just before it was shattered, but Baker continues her assault and came back several times

The terrifying incident was caught on the homeowner's Ring camera. It remains unclear what prompted the attack, or if the victims know Beverly Baker

Investigators say Baker may have been suffering from mental illness, though that is not confirmed. Homeowner Arman Tchoukadarian says his baby might have been seriously injured if his mother-in-law hadn't been there. His baby's bassinet is shown, right

Baker lives nearby, just a few blocks from the home she attacked. She owns other properties on the street - including one which looks onto the house she vandalized. Her motive remains unclear

It comes amid skyrocketing crime in LA, with the total number of violent crimes up 4.2 per cent.

Arman Tchoukadarian said that he feels like the family 'lost their safe place' in the incident.

The homeowner estimates that about $20,000 worth of damage was done to the house during the attack.

His mother-in-law was alone with the baby when Baker brazenly walked up to the property with the large weapon.

She managed to snatch the baby away from the window just before it was shattered, before Baker returned to the scene.

Tchoukadarian told KTLA: 'If my mother-in-law didn't act as fast as she did, my daughter wouldn't be here.

'She broke one window, went back. My mother-in-law came out screaming and yelling to get my attention.

'Police found her, nonchalant, walking with a pickaxe on her back, like she'd just finished working with it.'

Baker returned multiple times, with the pickaxe swung over her shoulder, shouting: 'Questions? Questions anyone? I'll be back, get out.'

The homeowner estimates that about $20,000 worth of damage was done to the house during the attack

Baker returned multiple times, with the pickaxe swung over her shoulder, shouting: 'Questions? Questions anyone? I'll be back, get out'

Pasadena Police later arrested her at her home just a few blocks away from where the attack had taken place.

Investigators say Baker may have been suffering from mental illness, though that is not confirmed.

Baker refused to surrender for around half an hour but was eventually taken into custody and faces charges of felony vandalism.

Tchoukadarian said his family has been traumatized by the ordeal, adding: 'She needs to be in the right place, getting the right help.

'That's no excuse to go attack someone's family, attack someone's newborn and ruin their dream home, and ruin their life and sanity.'
A Brit has been knocked down and killed by a young motorist after leaving a shopping entre in Queensland, Australia.

The 57-year-old man was crossing the road in the city of Biggera Waters outside the Harbour Town shopping centre when he was hit by a 19-year-old driver.

The teenager tried desperately to save him, according to police, but emergency services declared the man dead at the scene.

Police said he was hit at about 5.15pm local time today (9.15am BST). The vehicle was a white 2012 Holden Colorado dual cab.

A man has died after being struck by a vehicle at Biggera Waters this afternoon, Wednesday October 26. Filephoto: The Broadwater foreshore at Biggera Waters, Queensland

'Preliminary information indicates the 57-year-old man was crossing Oxley Drive when he was struck by a white 2012 Holden Colorado dual cab utility travelling south,' said the police in a statement.

'The driver, a 19-year-old Biggera Waters man stopped and rendered immediate assistance to the man ahead of the emergency response, however the pedestrian died at the scene.

'The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate and are appealing for witnesses, especially those with dashcam vision or CCTV of the crash, or the moments leading up to it to come forward.'

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

A teenager driver also killed a Brit in 2018 while driving a pizza delivery truck.

In August this year, British expat Alistair Bidmead was killed where working as a stonemason in Sydney when several tonnes of scaffolding and bricks came loose and killed him.
A public postnatal care center / Courtesy of South Jeolla Province



The number of babies born in Korea touched an all-time low in August with deaths soaring to a record high amid rapid aging and the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed Wednesday.



A total of 21,758 babies were born in August, down 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea.



It marked the lowest number for any August since the statistics agency started compiling related data in 1981. But it was up from 20,441 newborns in July.



Korea remains dogged by a chronic decline in childbirths as many young people delay or give up on getting married or having babies in the face of an economic slowdown and high home prices, combined with changing social norms about marriage.



The country broke its own record for the world's lowest childbirths last year.



Its total fertility rate  the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime  came to 0.81 children in 2021, down from 0.84 the previous year. Last year marked the fourth straight year that the number was below 1.



Rapid aging and the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic also pushed up the number of deaths to a record high in August.



A total of 30,001 people died in the month, up 15.8 percent from a year earlier. It marked the highest figure for any August and also represented the 18th straight month of increase.



As the number of deaths outpaced that of births, the nation's population declined by 8,243 in August, marking the 34th consecutive month of fall.



Korea reported the first natural fall in its population in 2020, as the grim demographic trend has continued.



Meanwhile, the data showed the number of marriages rising 6.8 percent on-year to 15,718 in August as more people tied the knot amid softer COVID-19 rules.



Divorces inched down 1.8 percent on-year to 8,227 in the month. (Yonhap)


An estate owner accused by hunt saboteurs of driving a 4X4 suspected of a hit-and-run has tonight furiously denied being involved.

Janice Saunders, who runs a historic countryside wedding venue, revealed she was now receiving death threats and was 'in fear of my life.'

She told MailOnline: 'It is nothing to do with me. I'm being harassed by hunt saboteurs, it's been going on all day.'

Ms Saunders, who lives on a picturesque estate in Rutland, alerted police and begged for assistance.

She told Leicestershire Police, after dialling 999: 'I'm in fear of my life. I'm being harassed by hunt saboteurs. Now I'm getting death threats and I need some help.'

She said she was being wrongly targeted after saboteurs posted a horrific video showing an animal rights protester being run over by a car in a suspected hit-and-run on Tuesday.

Footage shows a woman in her 40s being knocked down by a 4x4 while trying to disrupt a hunt. She was treated in hospital.

Footage before the incident shows the woman walking down a lane in Leicestershire

Ms Saunders insisted: 'It is nothing to do with me.' Asked why she was unfairly being targeted she told MailOnline: 'Because I have a presence online.'

She told the police operator during her phone call: 'I can understand why children take their own lives through Twitter trolls.'

Police later visited her to check on her well-being.

Horrific footage shows a hunt saboteur being run over by a car in a suspected hit-and-run yesterday  now being probed by police.

A woman in her 40s was seen being knocked down by a 4x4 while trying to disrupt a hunt in Leicestershire.

The animal rights activist was rushed to hospital to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Horses and hounds then pass the activists on Braunston Road in Oakham, Leicestershire

The incident was captured on video and uploaded to social media by Hertfordshire Hunt Sabs before being shared by hundreds online, including actress Amanda Abbington.

As the sabs observed the horses and hounds pass along Braunston Road, one of the group members was struck by a car.

Leicestershire Police has confirmed that officers were called to the scene shortly before midday and has launched an investigation.

They said the driver of the car has been identified by officers.

The woman before she is knocked down by a car while trying to disrupt a hunt in Leicestershire

Detective Inspector Charles Edwards added: 'Our investigation into this incident is in its early stages.

'We're aware of a video of the incident which has been posted online.

'I would ask anyone who was in the area and saw what happened  or who has footage of the incident or events leading up to and after it  to come forward.'

In the video, a woman can be heard panting as riders hurtle past, before shrieking in terror as another individual is run over.

The vehicle speeds away while the woman lies motionless and sabs cry: 'Oh my god, she's been hit by a car!'

Hertfordshire Hunt Sabs have also been contacted for comment.

You can pass on information to Leicestershire Police by visiting and quoting reference 22*623684.
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Vladimir Putin watched on today as Russia simulated a 'massive nuclear strike' with terrifying practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.

The despot remotely observed the annual exercise, called 'Grom' or 'Thunder', which uses test launches to put Moscow's nuclear forces through their paces in a show of force to the West.

Defence minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the drills were intended to simulate a retaliatory 'massive nuclear strike' by Russia.

The drills involved the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the northern Plesetsk launch site and the launch of a Sineva ICBM by a Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea, just ten miles away from the shores of NATO member Norway.

As part of the exercise, Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at practice targets.

Footage shows a large nuclear submarine in the water during the simulation that featured multiple drills.

The large team were filmed making preparations for the simulation nuclear strikes and following launch protocol as they took part in the annual exercise.

Clips also showed them flicking switches, running up stairs, speaking to each other on radios and monitoring the missiles before they were fired.

As the test began, the Russian Sineva was seen soaring through the air from the water and disappearing into the clouds.

Meanwhile the Yars later shot into the air after switches were flicked and a sound indicated that it was about to go off.

After it was launched, a huge ball of flames engulfed the sky and left a cloud of smoke in its wake as a loud bang was also heard.

The drills were monitored remotely by Putin, who also spoke to some of his military chiefs after the drills.

Russia rehearsed its response to a nuclear attack on Wednesday in an exercise involving nuclear submarines, strategic bombers and ballistic missiles at a time when tensions are high over a 'dirty bomb' allegation it has made against Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles

Russia's Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is launched during exercises held by the country's strategic nuclear forces at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome

A Russian Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile is fired by the nuclear-powered submarine Tula during today's exercises

A Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea launched a Sineva ICBM at the Kura firing range on the far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula

Russian President Vladimir Putin remotely observed the annual exercise, called "Grom" or "Thunder", which uses test launches to put Moscow's nuclear forces through their paces in a show of force designed to deter and intimidate foes

The manoeuvres followed Putin's warning about his readiness to use 'all means available' to fend off attacks on Russia's territory in a reference to the country's nuclear arsenals.

The Kremlin said that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets.

Such drills involving land, sea and air components have taken place on an annual basis to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness.

The Biden administration said on Tuesday that Russia gave notice it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities.

The Pentagon and US State Department said Russia had complied with the terms of the last US-Russia arms control agreement in notifying Washington of the upcoming tests.

As part of the exercise, Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at practice targets

Russia's Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile is launched by the nuclear-powered submarine Tula near the coast of Norway

The Russian exercise comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a 'dirty bomb' in a false flag attack to blame Russia

Test launches of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles from land and sea, and cruise missiles fired from the air by TU-95MS strategic bombers, had passed off successfully, Russia said

Drills involved the launch of a Sineva ICBM by a Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea

Wednesday's drills involved the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile

The Russian despot monitored the drills from the Kremlin as the country's strategic nuclear forces practised multiple launches of ballistic and cruise missiles

Such drills involving land, sea and air components have taken place on an annual basis to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness

Defence minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the drills were intended to simulate a retaliatory 'massive nuclear strike'

Putin later told a meeting of intelligence officials from ex-Soviet countries that the potential for conflict in the world remained high

The Russian exercise comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a 'dirty bomb' in a false flag attack to blame Russia.

Ukraine and its allies strongly reject the allegation, and today NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: 'This is absurd. Allies reject this blatantly false accusation, and Russia must not use false pretexts to escalate the war further.'

NATO's Stoltenberg underlined that the 30-nation military organisation 'will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraine's right to self-defence for as long as it takes.'

There are fears that Russia is pushing the claims because that it what the Kremlin is planning to use the deadly device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste.

Putin told a meeting of intelligence officials from the CIS group of ex-Soviet countries that the West was 'pumping' Ukraine with heavy weapons, adding: 'There are also plans to use a so-called 'dirty bomb' for provocations.'

Shoigu today called his counterparts from India and China to convey Moscow's concern about the purported Ukrainian plan.

Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bomber is seen landing during exercises held by the country's strategic nuclear forces at an unknown location

The Kremlin said in a statement that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets

He voiced Moscow's concern about 'possible Ukrainian provocations involving a 'dirty bomb'' in the calls with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, and China's Wei Fenghe, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The conversations followed Shoigu's calls with British, French, Turkish and U.S. counterparts Sunday in which he made the same claim. Britain, France, and the United States rejected that claim as 'transparently false.'

Poland's government said it is preparing for the Kremlin's potential use of nuclear or chemical weapons after its warnings on Ukraine.

Marcin Ociepa told Polish state broadcaster TVP1 the government believes Putin 'may reach for nuclear or chemical weapons' because his country's forces are struggling in Ukraine and that Poland 'must be prepared for all scenarios.'

Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, national security ministers and leaders of Poland's armed forces met Tuesday to discuss aid for Ukraine and the course of the war, including Russia's nuclear threats.

The head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said after the meeting that the leaders discussed the risks and consequences associated with the use of any type of nuclear weapons in light of the changing characteristics of the war as well as the approaching winter.

Despite the Western dismissal of the Russian claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that 'we have the information that there is an ongoing preparation in Ukraine for such a terror attack.'

'We will continue to energetically inform the global community about what we know to persuade it to take action to prevent such irresponsible action by the regime in Kyiv,' Peskov told reporters.

Moscow also took its accusation to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, voicing its concerns during a closed-door meeting.

A destroyed car is seen in the town of Balakliia, liberated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces

A view of the damaged gas station after the Russian missile attacks in Dnipro, Ukraine

Russia has not made public the evidence that it asserts it has, but says it has prepared its troops to work under conditions of nuclear contamination.

Its deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters after the Council meeting that it had passed intelligence information to Western counterparts with the 'necessary level of clearance'.

Britain's Deputy U.N. Ambassador, James Kariuki, called the allegations 'pure Russian misinformation of the kind we've seen many times before'.

Russia targeted more than 40 villages around Ukraine over the past day, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday, killing at least two people and sustaining the terror that forces people into air raid shelters each night.

Russian forces launched five rockets, 30 air strikes and more than 100 multiple-launch rocket system attacks on Ukrainian targets, the Ukrainian armed forces general staff said.

A view of damage in the retaken territory in the north of the Kharkiv Oblast as Russia-Ukraine war continues

Residents clean debris at Zestafoni Street in the Zaporizhzhia region damaged by fighting

A Ukrainian official reported Wednesday that a Russian strike hit a gas station in the city of Dnipro, killing two people, including a pregnant woman.

The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Valentyn Reznichenko, said four people wounded were hospitalized.

Mykolaiv, a southern port city near the war's front line, is among the places where residents have lined up to receive rations of bread and canned food as increases in food prices and losses of income add to the war-time burdens of low-income households in Ukraine.

Several buildings and neighborhoods were struck in Mykolaiv on Tuesday, though it was still unclear if there were any casualties, according to local authorities.

Missiles continued early Wednesday morning.

The sole food distribution point in Mykolaiv allows each person to receive free bread once every three days. Many must walk long distances to collect the essential food items for their family.
The parents of a teenager who was shot by a rookie cop as he ate McDonald's are now accusing the officer of racially targeting their son.

In an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Eric Cantu Sr and Victoria Casarez demanded former San Antonio Police Officer James Brennand be charged with attempted murder for shooting 17-year-old Erik Cantu Jr on October 2.

The interview came just hours after the parents held a news conference outside the Bexar County courthouse announcing that they are also considering filing a civil suit against the 25-year-old former officer as well as the entire City of San Antonio.

Brennand was arrested on October 11 on two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, but was released on a $200,000 bond the next day.

Meanwhile, Erik remains in critical condition at a local hospital and is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday, his father revealed to DailyMail.com.

'This man's out walking around, guess where my son's at? Laying with a tracheotomy in his throat?' Eric Cantu Sr told ABC News Correspondent John Quinones.

Eric Cantu Sr and Cantu's mother, Victoria Casarez, are now demanding that former San Antonio Police Officer James Brennand be charged with attempted murder for shooting their son. They are pictured here with famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump

In an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, Eric Cantu Sr, the father of 17-year-old police shooting victim Erik Cantu, claimed the shooting must have been racially motivated

.@ABC EXCLUSIVE: "We want justice ... We want Erik to live to tell his story."



The parents of Erik Cantu, 17, who was shot by a San Antonio police officer in a McDonalds parking lot, speak out and give update on their son's condition. @JohnQABC reports. https://t.co/JZZifPb7ba pic.twitter.com/hvdvoqxAXV  Good Morning America (@GMA) October 26, 2022

In the interview Wednesday morning, Cantu's parents claimed that the shooting must have been racially motivated.

'I believe he had that in his mind frame,' Eric Cantu Sr. said of Brennand, who had only been on the force for seven months before he opened fire on the 17-year-old as he ate McDonald's in the parking lot with a friend.

'He already had a present thought about who that person was and how he was going to take care of that problem,' Cantu Sr claimed.

The father said that body camera footage from the altercation shows just how afraid his son was when Brennand came up to his car that fateful day pointing a gun at his head.

Brennand was arrested on October 11 on two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, but was released on a $200,000 bond the next day

He apparently suspected the maroon car Cantu and his girlfriend were eating in was stolen  but police confirmed Cantu's car had a license plate registered to a different vehicle.

At that point, Brennand abruptly opened the door and demanded Cantu get out.

When Cantu questioned the officer's orders, the footage shows, he attempted to put the car in reverse.

But the door caught Brennand, who rapidly fired into the driver's side of the vehicle.

Cantu continued to try to drive away, but Brennand continued shooting, firing a total of 10 shots, four or five of which hit the teen in his liver, diaphragm, bicep, chest and stomach.

'I know my son's faces,' his father told Good Morning America about his son's expression in the video. 'He was scared, he was surprised and he reacted.'

Cantu now remains on life support at a local hospital, where Casarez says he's been trying to communicate with his hands 'and he tries his best.

'It's hard for him,' she said, with Eric adding: 'I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable saying he's getting better until I see him walk out of there.'

In the meantime, Casarez said: 'We would like to see the charges raised to attempted murder on two counts, and other charges made to any officers involved in the brutality during the arrest.'

But, she added, 'We want justice, yes, but we want Erik to live. We want Erik to live to tell his story.'

Brennand is due back in court on November 23.

If convicted of the aggravated assault charge by a grand jury, Quinones reports, he could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

James Brennand, 25, shot Erik Cantu as he sat in his car in a McDonald's parking lot

Body camera footage from the shooting on October 2 shows how Brennand fired a total of 10 shots at Cantu, who was eating McDonald's at the time, after suspecting him of stealing the car

The interview came just hours after Cantu's parents held a news conference demanding that Brennand be charged with attempted murder.

They said that Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales told them that Brennand assumed their son was a suspect because he was 'a Hispanic kid with a bowl-shaped haircut.'

And famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump alleges that Brennand violated Cantu's Fourth Amendment rights by assuming Cantu had stolen the vehicle he was driving.

'That's it,' Crump said. 'That's why we're here. That's why [Brennand] shot 10 times.'

The family also revealed that there is more body cam footage that has not been released to the public and are demanding his bail to be revoked.

'No one is safe with him out on the streets,' Casarez said.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said he believes 'there is no question in anybody's mind looking at that video that the shooting is not justified' and that the body cam footage is 'horrific' to watch.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Cantu's parents revealed that they are considering filing a civil suit against the former officer as well as the entire City of San Antonio

Crump alleges that Brennand violated Cantu's Fourth Amendment rights by assuming Cantu had stolen the vehicle he was driving. He is pictured comforting Casarez at the news conference on Tuesday

Cantu Sr was pictured hugging one of his daughters at the news conference

Cantu's parents also revealed just how dire their son's situation is.

They said their son goes into cardiac arrest when his doctors reduce his pain medications  which include fentanyl to keep him 'alive and comfortable.'

'It's a rat race of fentanyl stopping him from breathing and the [life support machine] keeping him going,' Cantu Sr. said, adding that the doctors are trying to wean him off the heavy 'cocktail of sedatives,' but the teenager 'shakes and convulses from not having them.'

He also experiences hallucinations where he mimics hitting a car's gas pedal.

And because of his prolonged intubation from being in the ICU for three weeks, he is also suffering from pneumonia.

'These are the things that we have to see daily that no one should have to see and no one should have to feel,' Cantu Sr. said.

Cantu  who once dreamed of becoming a police officer himself  is now expected to remain in the ICU for at least three more weeks as he continues to be listed in critical condition.

When he was growing up, his parents revealed, Cantu actually wanted to be a police officer

His parents believe the shooting on October 2 was racially motivated

In an update on Facebook on October 18, Cantu Sr wrote that his son 'has made some progress'

Still, Cantu's parents have said there have been signs their son's health is improving.

In a Facebook post last week, Eric Cantu Sr. wrote: 'The last two days, after 14 scary, unsettling days, Erik has made some progress.

'He has a long way to go, but we will take any and every little bit we can get,' Cantu Sr. wrote as he thanked everyone for their prayers.

'Normally, you can't keep me quiet, but today, my heart is ny heart is overflowing from the love and support from all of my friends and family that I'm actually at a loss for words.

'These types of events will change a man, and I feel it.

'They would do that in many ways as making one stronger in faith, determination and will to make the world a better place,' Cantu Sr. wrote, adding: 'I know with the support Erik and I have we will do all we can to make that change.'

He then posted an update on a GoFundMe set up to help the family with Erik's medical bills over the weekend: 'We never expect too much, but while we see some of Erik's superficial wounds heal, many other things continue to surface, hindering him from mental relaxation and physical healing.

'Doctors anticipate another two to three weeks in [the] ICU alone, but with your thoughts and prayers, hopefully we can shed a bit more light on that outcome.'
It comes as Qantas posts record profits, expecting up to $1.3billion before tax

The airline invested $200million in surplus resources to mitigate these issues

He explained that plane manufacturers were struggling to quickly send parts

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says supply issues will hamper the airline for 18 months

Embattled Qantas CEO Alan Joyce claims the airline will be hampered for the next 18 months due to aviation supply chain issues from plane manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.

And he revealed the company was just 11 weeks from going broke at the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

It comes as Qantas faces mounting problems from recent delays and cancellations to rising costs and staff undertaking industrial action.

Mr Joyce explained at an American Chamber of Commerce Australia event in Sydney that supply chain woes were still a major concern for aviation presently as the industry strives to recover from Covid.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured) spoke at an American Chamber of Commerce Australia event in Sydney on Monday and explained that the airline was still facing supply chain issues

Plane manufacturers have been struggling to provide spare parts quickly enough for airlines trying to accomodate more passengers as operations and air flight returns to pre-pandemic levels.

'Aircraft windshelds are now a worldwide restricted item,' he said. 'We used to be able to replace a windshield in 12 hours, maybe 24.

'It took Jetstar nearly seven days to source last month.'

Qantas has invested $200million in surplus resources to offset some of these issues but the problem still remains for the airline and others across the globe.

Mr Joyce said that there was great difficulty in trying to revive the aviation industry so soon after it had effectively shut down for an extended period of time.

He then referenced the exhaustive process in recovering Qantas's A380s in the Mojave Desert in California, which involved replacing the parts, retraining the pilots and completely restoring the 12 aircraft that were stranded.

'Waking up a single A380 is 4500 hours, or two months' work,' he said. 'It requires 10 engineers to work for two months in the desert.

'It's 22 wheels and 16 brakes require replacing, it's oxygen cylinders, fire extinguishers, wi-fi, all of it requires replacing. All of this just to get one aircraft out of the desert.'

The airline chief insisted the recovery from the pandemic had not been simple and that it was understated how badly affected Qantas was by it.

He explained that in March 2020 there was 'no vaccine', 'no hope' and the airline was just 11 weeks from bankruptcy.

Australian airlines are having supply chain issues as plane manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus struggle to source and deliver spare parts

Mr Joyce said the airline had a 'remarkable turnaround' post pandemic and had turned over a 'very strong' profit before tax of between $1.2 and $1.3billion

But the airline has since bounced back, with Qantas reporting a return to profitability after five consecutive half-year losses.

Mr Joyce says the carrier expected a 'very strong' profit before tax of between $1.2billion and $1.3billion for the first half of 2022/23.

'It's a remarkable turnaround,' he said earlier this month.

'The main drivers of this performance are strong travel demand, both domestically and internationally.'

He claimed Qantas would boost worker pay by 10 per cent.

This comes despite the fact about 1500 Qantas cabin crew staff filed applications in the Fair Work Commission to undertake work bans and strikes.

About 1500 Qantas cabin crew staff are set to undertake work bans and strikes after the airline allegedly threatened to outsource jobs if workers didn't sign a new agreement (pictured, cabin crews on board a Qantas flight)

The move was sparked by alleged threats from the airline to outsource work if crews didn't sign a new agreement that reduced their breaks and extended their hours, according to The Flight Attendants Association of Australia.

Qantas has denied the allegations, claiming the grounds for which the FAAA was taking steps towards industrial action was 'misleading'.

'Our focus is on reaching agreement with our people, it's not our plan to outsource this work,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

'The shift length changes we're asking for are the same that apply to crew working at other domestic airlines in Australia. The FAAA signed off on these conditions as part of agreements for those airlines, so it's bizarre they're now claiming they're unsafe.'

The earliest date for industrial action from cabin crews would be November 18.
A female prison officer has been jailed for 14 months for sending two inmates pictures of herself in her underwear and letters signed 'Your future wife'.

Emma Webster, 34, a mother-of-two, also had phone sex with jailed drug dealer Bradley Brammall during 17 banned calls with the A-Wing prisoner using a smuggled in phone.

Eight days after being dumped by Brammall, Webster swapped night shifts with colleagues to start flirting with C-Wing inmate Jimmy Bennett, who is behind bars for a knife attack on an 18-year-old man.

During a series of 75 prohibited phone calls to Bennett, the operational grade prison officer at Lincoln Jail was asked to pull down her pants while at home in her bedroom and appeared to be pleasuring herself while breathing heavily.

Webster, of Ermine East, Lincoln, admitted misconduct in public office from August 18, 2021 to November 14, 2021.

Emma Webster, 34, has been jailed for 14 months for misconduct in public office. Pictured outside Lincoln Crown Court

Prosecutor Lauren Fisher said that Webster smuggled contraband into HMP Lincoln including letters and intimate photographs, but there was no evidence of any physical sexual contact.

She also accepted gifts from prisoners including an unknown item valued at 200 and had 'unauthorised contact' with prisoners outside of work duties including the letters and 75 phone calls to Bennett and 17 phone calls to Brammall.

Miss Fisher said an investigation began after a new phone number under the name of 'Emma Smith' appeared on both Brammall and Bennett's prison list of contacts.

The prison began eavesdropping on the conversations and recognised the caller's voice as Webster.

During one call when Webster was out walking her dog, she promised Brammall she would send 'better pictures' after he asked her to go into a field or hedge.

The pair talked about 'having sex' during a further call, but they broke up in October 2021 after Webster met a mutual friend of Brammall's and a gift was not delivered.

Miss Fisher said within eight days Webster had begun an inappropriate relationship with Bennett, who she knew before he was jailed.

An investigation began after a new phone number under the name of 'Emma Smith' appeared on both Brammall and Bennett's prison list of contacts

Prison staff noticed Webster had switched night shifts and Bennett was frequently pressing his cell buzzer.

During another call, Webster revealed she was at home and had put her bed across the door to stop her mother coming in.

Miss Fisher said Bennett asked Webster: 'Are you pulling your panties down?,' to which she said yes, adding: 'She is described breathing heavily during that phone call and it appears she is pleasuring herself.'

During letters to Bennett, the prison officer signed herself off as 'your future wife,' and a photo of Webster in her underwear was found when staff searched his cell.

Pieces of paper with the name Emma Smith and a phone number were also discovered.

Webster professed her love for Bennet during one phone call and called him her boyfriend.

Webster at first told police officers that she was only being friendly with Brammall, but admitted having a non-sexual relationship with Bennett.

She admitted contacting Bennett under the name Emma Smith using a different SIM card to the number she used for Brammall.

Neil Sands, mitigating, said that his client had two children to look after and had co-operated with the investigation.

He said Webster had acted out of character following the breakdown of a relationship.

'There can be no better example of someone who acted out of character. She accepts what she's done,' he said.

'She must have known these proceedings were going to go ahead and also the background of the collapse of her relationship.

Webster begun an inappropriate relationship with Bennett eight days after the contact with Brammall ended. File image of HMP Lincoln

'Those must have been a very difficult seven months to have these matters hanging over her.

'There are defendants with that sort of pressure hanging over them might revert to offending behaviour but she does not.

'She does everything that she can to put matters right and to support her two children.

'Her full cooperation, her acceptance and lack of deflection must speak to her credit.'

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight said: 'It is clear your were chasing, rather than just being manipulated.'

'You had a position of trust as an operational grade prison officer at HMP Lincoln, a Category B prison.

'In that prison you misconducted yourself by first having a relationship with one prisoner, and then another.

'You communicated with them via letters and calls and smuggling articles into prison... It is clear you craved attention.

'A sexual relationship with a prisoner leaves staff open to corruption.'
The sponsor of the Pennsylvania Senate debate denied allegations from John Fetterman's campaign that closed-captioning 'errors' led to the Democratic candidate's disastrous performance.

During the Tuesday night debacle, Fetterman struggled to respond to the moderator's questions during his debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz. He missed words and paused awkwardly as he answered questions.

His campaign blamed the closed-captioning system, which Fetterman was allowed to use as he is still recovering from a stroke he had in May. Above the moderators were two 70-inch monitors to show the text of what was being said during the question and answer session.

'He did remarkably well tonight  especially when you consider that he's still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors. John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Oz's cruelty and attacks,' Fetterman communications director Joe Calvello said after the debate.

But Nexstar, the news outlet that hosted the debate, pushed back, saying the closed captioning process was working. The company used professional typists to transcribe what was happening in near real-time.

'Nexstar's production team went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the effectiveness of the closed captioning process, and to accommodate several last-minute requests of the Fetterman campaign,' Nexstar communications chief Gary Weitman said in a statement said.

'The closed captioning process functioned as expected during rehearsal and again during tonight's debate. We regret that Mr. Fetterman and his campaign feel otherwise.'

He also said Fetterman didn't take his practice opportunities in order to be better prepared for the evening.

'It is unfortunate that Mr. Fetterman is now criticizing the closed captioning process employed by Nexstar during tonight's debate,' Weitman said.

'Both candidates agreed to the technical set-up for the closed captioning process weeks ago, which was implemented at the request of the Fetterman campaign. Both candidates were offered the opportunity for two full rehearsals with the same equipment used in tonight's debate; Mr. Fetterman chose to do only one,' he noted.

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman (left) at points struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Republican Dr Mehmet Oz (right)

Oz, the Republican nominee and a former television personality, was comfortable on camera as he reeled off zingers against Fetterman.

A snap poll from WPXI Online showed Oz was the clear winner of the night with 82%. Fetterman garnered a mere 18%.

Democrats - many of whom are Fetterman supporters - bemoaned the night.

'Why the hell did Fetterman agree to this?' one Democratic lawmaker and Fetterman backer told Axios. 'This will obviously raise more questions than answers about John's health.'

And a senior Democratic official in Pennsylvania told Axios: 'I wished Fetterman was in a better place to clap back. Overall, I argue it wasn't great for us but still a draw. Remember in these next few weeks that Oz's campaign is spending tens of millions of dollars against a man with a major medical condition.'

Even a CNN panel widely panned the Democrat hopeful.

Separately, Chris Cuomo said he 'struggled' and Barack Obama's former senior adviser saying Fetterman 'did not help' his cause.

'Hi, goodnight everyone,' Democratic populist Fetterman opened the night's highly anticipated match-up.

Fetterman, 53, is suffering some lingering speech and auditory impediments from a stroke he suffered in May.

He addressed his health at the start of the night.

'Let's also talk about the elephant in the room: I had a stroke,' he said in his opening remarks, adding of Oz: 'He'll never let me forget that.'

In advance of the debate - the only one for the Pennsylvania Senate race - Fetterman's campaign had tempered expectations, saying there would be 'awkward pauses' and 'delays and errors,' because the Democrat would be reading closed captioning due to his auditory processing issue.

As Fetterman struggled, giving a halting and choppy, Oz turned on the charm he had honed over 13 seasons of his show, and attacked Fetterman for being 'extreme.' The pauses and stumbles happened throughout the debate.

The two men are fighting to claim outgoing GOP Senator Pat Toomey's seat in the November 8 election. Polls show the race is essentially tied and the winner will help decide which party controls the Senate next year.

At one point during the debate, Fetterman was asked to clarify his position on fracking, as moderators pointed to a 2018 interview where the lieutenant governor expressed broad opposition to the practice, but not a ban.

'I do support fracking - I don't, I don't - I support fracking, and I do support fracking,' he answered.

He landed a somewhat confusing jab on his opponent for his own support of fossil fuels, declaring that Oz 'has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about.'

At another instance, Fetterman was asked specifically about charges Oz made about some of the Democrat's campaign ads being pulled down for being factually inaccurate. Fetterman, instead, stuck to the topic of abortion.

'I'm going to let Mr Fetterman respond specifically to the ads being pulled off the air, and we're going to return to you, Mr Oz,' said one of the moderators.

Fetterman didn't acknowledge the question.

'Yeah, I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. If you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz, than you have a choice, but if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for,' Fetterman said.

'Roe v. Wade for me, should be the law, he celebrated when it went down. And my campaign would fight for Roe v. Wade - and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.'

Over the course of the debate, Fetterman twice refused to release his full medical record to the public.

'My doctor ultimately believes that I'm fit to be serving and that's what I believe,' Fetterman said.

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (left) debated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

Both candidates opened the debate in attack mode.

'I'm running to serve Pennsylvania, he's running to use Pennsylvania,' Fetterman said of Oz.

'Here's a man who spent more than $20 million of his own money to try and buy that seat.'

Fetterman also labeled Oz a 'liar' and chided the TV doctor for having 10 houses, saying that he couldn't understand the struggles of everyday Pennsylvanians.

The lieutenant governor attacked Oz for having products with his name on them made in China.

After it wrapped, a CNN panel of lawmakers and pundits shared a damning assessment of Fetterman's performance.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he was 'astounded' and 'stunned' by Fetterman's poor performance, while Alyssa Farah Griffin, Donald Trump's former communications director, said she found it 'painful to watch'.

Even CNN host, Alisyn Camerota, said she was disturbed by the spectacle.

CNN's panel on Tuesday night was highly critical of Fetterman's performance

Camerota, right, said that she felt Fetterman was not speaking with his previous clarity

Charlie Dent, a Republican former congressman, was strident in his criticism of Fetterman's performance on Tuesday night

'I've interviewed him many times as lieutenant governor,' said Camerota.

'And he sounds - he's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing.'

Dent said Fetterman was not fit to be on the debate stage.

'I thought someone should have invoked the mercy rule 20 minutes into the debate,' he said.

'I don't know if it was the stroke or he's just a lousy debater or if he doesn't understand the issues.

'He was flustered he, was confused. He should have not been out there.

'And I've had a number of people say why was this guy in on the ballot after that?

'I don't know if the debates matter that much. But people watch that, they are going to question his capacity to serve.

'The bar was set very low. It should've been set lower.'

Griffin agreed.

'I want to be careful because I think some of the most consequential leaders in history have had different kinds of disabilities. I don't think it should preclude someone from serving,' she said.

'But what we saw today was someone who was not ready to be in office.

'And the lack of transparency leading up to this actually shocked people watching.

'I found it extremely hard to watch.

'And the question I found myself asking is: is the way that he's struggling a result of his stroke? Or is it because he does not have a grasp on the issues?'

On NewsNation, disgraced former CNN host Chris Cuomo said he was troubled by the performance.

'John Fetterman struggled,' Cuomo said. 'He clearly is dealing with health issues that affect his ability to process and his ability to speak. Clearly, fitness for office is going to be on the table.'

He added: 'That may not be fair, to some, for me to say - but if the voters aren't talking about it, I'll be shocked.'

Other Democrats agreed.

David Axelrod, a Democrat strategist who served as a senior adviser to Obama, tweeted: 'Fetterman needed to show he's sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.'

And while some praised Fetterman's bravery in appearing on the debate stage at all, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, said: 'There is no amount of empathy for and understanding about Fetterman's health and recovery that changes the fact that this is absolutely painful to watch.'

Republican critics were gleeful.

'OMG John Fetterman it's worse than any of us could have ever imagined,' tweeted Donald Trump Jr.

'At this point the moderator is filibustering to make sure he doesn't get any more Qs. I think that's 4 in a row to @DrOz.

'Even today's partisan hack media can't cover for Fetterman being brain dead!'

And Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's speechwriter, tweeted: 'Just so we are all clear: that was Fetterman WITH weeks of prep and specialized computer assistance throughout.

'So what you just saw is the very, very best Fetterman can do. Which is terrifying.'

For his part, Oz did not hesitate to go after Fetterman on crime - a hot button issue for Republicans stuck in close races across the country..

'John Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers - convicted and sentenced to life in prison - out of jail as possible,' the TV doctor said.

After Oz said Fetterman had called the Pennsylvania energy industry a 'stain' on the state, the Democrat pounced.

'He has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about,' Fetterman said.

A new poll taken up until the day before John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz's first and only debate shows the Democrat's lead over his Trump-backed rival sitting at only 2 percent

Oz confirmed that he didn't believe the minimum wage in Pennsylvania should be raised to $15 across the board, explaining he wanted to preserve the right for businesses to pay workers less.

'I think market forces have already driven up the minimum wage,' Oz said.

'But John Fetterman thinks the minimum wage is the weekly allowance from his parents.'

On abortion, Oz said he didn't think the federal government should handle the decision - suggesting he wouldn't support Senator Lindsey Graham's 15-week federal abortion ban, but not answering the question directly.

'I want women, doctors, local political leaders, leading the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive,' Oz said.

'To put the best ideas where states can decide for themselves.'

Oz had moderated his position, having previously called abortion at any stage 'murder.'

Fetterman has consistently had a small edge in polls, which continues, though several recent surveys show it's close.

On Tuesday, a CBS News survey put the distance between the two candidates at two points.

According to the survey, 51 percent of likely Keystone State voters back Fetterman, compared to 49 percent who back Oz.

The Democratic populist's lead falls well within the 4.4-percent margin of error.
A child drag queen whose appearance at an event in an Oregon pub named after Satan sparked fierce protests was mentored by her aunt and a suspected pedophile.

Vanellope Macpherson Dupont was introduced to drag aged seven by her aunt, Jennifer D Hibbs, a drag queen who performs under the name Sunshine Ray MacPherson.

The child was then introduced to Kelsey Boren, 31, a former elementary school employee who is currently in custody on child sex abuse charges.

Boren, who performed drag under the name Alwaiz Craving, is accused of sharing child porn images and told detectives that she has an 'uncontrollable itch' to communicate with pedophiles.

She has scribed herself as drag mom of the child who was slated to perform at a drag queen story time event in Eugene, Oregon, at the Old Nick's pub, which also hosts fetish nights.

Vanellope's act at the Sunday morning event was canceled after violent clashes outside.

Suspected pedophile Kelsey Boren described Vanellope, 11, as her 'drag child' in online posts

Boren, who is in custody facing several charges, uploaded several pictures with the little girl

She still attended the event, which went ahead despite confrontations between supporters of the event and protesters who claim such events are sexual and inappropriate for young children.

Details of Boren's links to the girl emerged amid the uproar about the story time event.

Boren has already reportedly told cops that she had spent several years prior to her arrest swapping child porn with pedophiles online.

She was initially arraigned in August on two counts of encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree.

One charge relates to creating a pornographic image which police believe was of a neighbor. Court documents state the picture was taken several years ago and that she shared the image often.

Vanellope's aunt, Jennifer Hibbs (pictured), introduced the girl to drag when she was seven

Vanellope's aunt, Jennifer Hibbs (pictured), performs with the name Sunshine Ray MacPherson

Boren claimed her interactions with pedophiles were a compulsion, or uncontrollable itch, that she couldn't stop, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Boren, who is in custody in Lane County Jail awaiting trial, claimed she spoke with pedophiles because she both found them interesting and was lonely and denied her motives were sexual.

Vanellope was introduced to drag at aged seven by her aunt, Jennifer D Hibbs, who performs under the name Sunshine Ray MacPherson.

The girl's family has since tried to distance themselves from Boren - and minimize the suspected pedophiles relationship with the girl.

But in pictures posted to Instagram, Boren repeatedly describes herself as Vanellopes drag mom.

Vanellope also previously used the name 'Vanellope Craving MacPherson DuPont' - an apparent nod to Boren's own drag handle.

Vanellope's family has tried to minimize the link to Boren, despite her claim to be a 'drag mom'

One post by Boren from September 2018 is captioned: Me and my drag child, Vanellope Craving! #drag #biodrag #dragqueen #salemdrag #livingthedraglife #salemcourt #ISCWE #HMISG #GaySalem #GaylemXLI

The little girl, wearing a colorful wig and tiara, is smiling alongside Boren, who is also dressed in drag and has her hands placed on the girls shoulders.

Another image from the same event is captioned: Last night was our annual Junior Closet Ball Pageant, and I had the privilege to paint a 7 year old little girl.

Omg she got the Craving sass and just rocked that stage last night, and she won Ms Junior Closet Ball, beat a lot of older kids, some were teenage girls! Im so proud of her and I hope she wears her tiara with pride at school today! So please welcome my Drag child, Vanellope Craving! Shes gonna be going places! #drag #biodrag #dragqueen #salemdrag #livingthedraglife #salemcourt #ISCWE #HMISG #GaySalem #GaylemXLI

A third picture uploaded in March 2020 is captioned: Me and my drag kid, Vanellope, at Salem Coronation last year!

The girls family said her aunt, Hibbs, introduced her to drag when she was seven.

Tense confrontations outside Old Nick's Pub in Oregon, which hosted the drag story event

Some protesters were armed with semi-automatic rifles during the standoff outside the event

Hibbs uses the drag name Sunshine Ray MacPherson and is described as the childs drag mother and mentor.

Vanellopes family insist she has not been forced into this and took up drag after asking Hibbs, who wanted to support her niece and let her express herself.

V has been a shining star that grows brighter and brighter every time she is able to perform on stage, a statement said.

Her dreams include becoming a Broadway star, or in the movies, and she still loves to play with things like slime, does fashion design, and loves to participate in putting on plays with her friends.

So, we have all been at her side helping her explore her dreams and let her creativity blossom.

She loves what she does and has faced bullying and criticism from kids her own age, but never from adults that should know better.

Fierce protests broke out outside the Old Nick's Pub where Vanellope was slated to perform

The pub promoted the event by claiming it would show what '11-year-old drag queen could do'

Some protesters were armed with semi-automatic rifles during the standoff outside the event

Vanellopes family sought to clarify the childs relationship with Boren by insisting it was a professional one - but did not explain what that meant.

Their statement said: Meta-Boren only interacted with V a total of maybe 4 or 5 times in professional settings for venues and charity events.

Meta-Boren was not a family friend, nor was she ever a mentor for V in the drag world.

They, also, have not had any contact since before covid, and all ties have been severed as of the time of Meta-Borens arrest in August.

She is currently in jail, awaiting charges, and has absolutely nothing to do with the Story Hour that is being produced. Due to the lack of interactions between them, V is not a victim of Meta-Boren.

There was never any grooming or even mentorship between Meta-Boren and V.

Fierce clashes broke out at the drag queen story event as protesters faced off with supporters.

Some demonstrators on both sides of the roughly 200-strong standoff were armed, police said, including with semi-automatic rifles.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared she would reimpose a mandate that saw more than 1,750 unvaccinated people fired a day after a judge ruled they could finally have their jobs back.

She made the controversial remark during a debate with GOP rival Lee Zeldin, who she blasted along with former President Donald Trump as 'the masterful Covid-deniers'.

She told him: 'You've been an election-denier, a climate change-denier.

'We are dealing with the real crisis.

'The more people that get vaccinated, those shots in arms... I would do it (the mandate) all over again.'

New York Governor Kathy Hochul declares she would reimpose a mandate forcing unvaccinated health care workers out of their jobs

The vaccine mandate which came into effect in October last year has now been ruled illegal and unconstitutional by Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio.

All of the fired employees - including 850 teachers and classroom aides - were told they could return to full employment as of 6am yesterday and are now entitled to backpay in salary from the date they were terminated.

In his 13-page decision released on Monday, Porzio said: 'We shouldn't be penalizing the people who showed up to work, at great risk to themselves and their families, while we were locked down'.

In his ruling, Porzio wrote that former city Health Commissioner David Choksi's October 20, 2021 vaccine mandate 'violates the separation of powers doctrine' enshrined in the United States Constitution.

Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio who has ordered 1,750 fired healthcare workers can now return to their jobs

He then went on to slam Choksi for implementing the mandate, despite not having the 'power and authority to permanently exclude [employees] from the workplace.

Porzio went on to slam another order that extended the mandate to private employers, and an executive order issued by Eric Adams excluding athletes and performers from the mandate, as 'arbitrary and capricious'.

He claimed the order was not about healthcare but about 'compliance', and said if it was about public safety, the mandate would have been extended city-wide to all residents.

The overruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this year by 16 former Sanitation Department workers who were fired in February for refusing to get the jab.

They 'all claim and provided laboratory documentation that they have natural immunity to COVID-19 from prior infections,' according to the ruling, and even received a letter in June saying they could get their jobs back if they were willing to comply with the mandate.

But, Porzio said, the pandemic has proved that the immunity provided by the mRNA vaccines are 'not absolute,' with breakout infections occurring 'even for those who have ben vaccinated and boosted.'

He noted, however, that his ruling 'is not a commentary on the efficacy of vaccination, but how we are treating our first responders, the ones who worked day-to-day through the height of the pandemic.

'They worked without protective gear. They were infected with COVID-19, creating natural immunity.

'They continued working full duty while their exemption requests were pending,' Porzio continued. 'They were terminated and are willing to come back to work for the City that cast them aside.'

Kathy Hochul aired her opinion on the vaccine mandate during a debate with opponent Rep. Lee Zeldin, who she blasted as a 'masterful Covid-denier'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Adams administration and the fired employees named in the lawsuit for comment.

But a spokesperson for the Law Department told the New York Post it is already appealing Porzio's decision.

'The city strongly disagrees with this ruling, as this mandate is firmly grounded in law and is critical to New Yorkers' public health.

'We have already filed an appeal,' the spokesperson noted. 'In the meantime, the mandate remains in place as this ruling pertains solely to the individual petitioners in this case.

'We continue to review the court's decision, which conflicts with numerous other rulings already upholding the mandate.'
A New York City commuter has been stabbed in the neck while trying to break up a fight between two women on a Manhattan subway.

The latest violent attack comes as a 62-year-old grandfather who was randomly shoved on the tracks over the weekend issued a tearful plea begging Mayor Eric Adams to take action and make the network safe again.

On Monday, the MTA appeared to take some small steps towards that goal by asking state judges to expand a 2020 law banning people convicted of sex crimes on the subways or of assaulting transit employees to include those who attack their fellow passengers.

Crimes on the subways are now up 41 percent over last year, according to recent data from the NYPD  as subway murders have risen to their highest level in 25 years with nine reported so far this year.

Assaults on the subway system are also up 17 percent from the same time last year, with 431 attacks reported as of October 16 compared to 370 at the same time last year.

But Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly claimed there is only a 'perception' that crime is out of control on the subways, even as he and New York Gov Kathy Hochul announced they would add more police to patrol the system.

Mayor Eric Adams was spotted riding the subways in an effort to show the city that he thinks the subways are safe

Police said the victim of the Wednesday morning stabbing was riding a downtown 4 train approaching the Brooklyn Bridge station at about 6am when he tried to stop a fight going on between two women.

The nature of the altercation is unclear, but the male victim wound up stabbed in the neck and in the arm.

The women both fled the station. The stabber was believed to be in her mid-twenties, and wore green shorts and had short black hair, according to NBC 4.

The victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay.

Cops have become increasingly present in the New York City subway as crime on the system has reached a 25-year high

Mayor Eric Adams shakes hands with a subway rider. Many called his riding of the subway a cheap play to make things appear well and good on the beleaguered system

Ronald Baptiste, an electrician and grandfather from the Bronx, teared up describing his attack which saw him punched randomly in the back of the head and shoved onto the tracks at a Bronx station over the weekend.

'What he did is attempted murder,' Baptiste told the Post. 'I could have hit my head and gone into concussion. I could have ended up a veggie. I could have been hit by a train.'

Cops said 21-year-old Deshaun Smith took the swing at Baptiste, and that the attack may be a part of a social 'knockout game,' in which people challenge each other to try to knock strangers unconscious with single punches. After he was apprehended Smith claimed Baptiste provoked him.

'He said he was provoked? That's not true,' Baptiste said. 'That's crazy. He didn't yell or say anything. I was alone, just walking.'

Baptiste issued Mayor Adams a plea to make real change on the subway.

'Mr. Mayor, what are you doing? You're talking to the media, you're talking the talk, but we're not seeing any improvement. People don't feel safe in New York,' he said.

'My message to the mayor is to stop talking. Actions speak louder than words. He has the resources to put in place to fix the subway system, so let's do it and make citizens feel safe once again to use the subway.'

Lamale McRae, 41, was arrested for shoving 32-year-old David Marin on the tracks of a Brooklyn subway station last week

On Monday, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber pushed New York State judges to expand a 2020 law which allows judges to ban people from public transit if they are convicted of illegal sexual conduct while using the system or of assaulting MTA employees.

'The current statute is plainly too narrow,' Lieber wrote in his letter to New York State District Attorneys in the metropolitan area, according to the New York Daily News.

'For example, there is no good reason why rider-on-worker assaults are ban-eligible while rider-on-rider assaults.'

He then asked district attorneys to promote a policy of 'pursuing transit bans in appropriate cases, including via plea agreements,' as well as designate staff to work with the MTA legal department.

'We are aware of no cases in which courts have actually used the ban authority created by the Legislature,' Lieber wrote.

'That is despite a steady stream of disturbing, high-profile crimes in the transit system.'

Lieber went on to highlight the growing list of subway attacks that have left commuters on edge, and asked high-ranking judges Anthony Cannataro, Lawrence Marks and Kathie Davidson to forward the letter to judges in 12 counties the MTA serves.

Crimes on the subways are now up 41 percent over last year, leading to an increase in police on the system

Governor Kathy Hochul caused outrage during a debate with her gubernatorial opponent Lee Zeldin when she dismissed the issue

Many are blaming the recent spate of New York City crime on state-wide reforms that were brought in under former Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019, which released thousands of 'low level' offenders from custody back into the streets by stripping away bail requirements.

Governor Kathy Hochul caused outrage during a debate with her gubernatorial opponent Lee Zeldin when she dismissed the issue.

'We're halfway through the debate and she still hasn't talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes,' Zeldin said.

Hochul replied: 'Anyone who commits a crime under our laws, especially with the change they made to bail, has consequences. I don't know why that's so important to you.'

Her remark enraged Republicans and viewers who took it as a sure sign that she will not impose tougher rules if she is elected in November.

Zeldin is running on a campaign of cracking down on crime in New York, whereas Hochul is focusing on campaigning for stricter nationwide gun laws.

During the debate Zeldin said Hochul was distracted from the issues in New York that she should be focusing on.

'My opponent thinks that right now there's a polio emergency going on but there's not a crime emergency  different priorities than I'm hearing from people right now,' Zeldin said.

'They're not being represented from this governor  who still, to this momenthasn't talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes.'
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Several New York City sanitation workers who were fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine have since lost their homes and were forced to relocate, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The ousted employees spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com about the strains the vaccine mandate put on their families - financially and emotionally - in the year since it was enacted, with at least two saying they were forced out of the Big Apple in the aftermath.

Those two former employees are among 16 sanitation workers who have since filed a lawsuit against city officials for enacting the vaccine mandate, which a New York State judge ruled was unlawful Monday night.

As part of his ruling, Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio ordered city officials to reinstate and hand back pay to the more than 1,760 municipal workers who were fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine.

They were due to be reinstated to their full employment as of 6am Tuesday. But when they returned to their jobs, Patricia Buccellato told DailyMail.com, they were told to go home as city officials seek to appeal the decision.

It now remains unclear whether they will return the workplace after being forced to move away  though at least some seem eager to get back to work.

Curtis Cutler and Russ Piazza, both 42, told DailyMail.com how they were forced to move away from the Big Apple after being fired from their Department of Sanitation jobs in February

The two men are among 16 former Department of Sanitation workers who filed a suit against city officials for imposing the vaccine mandate last year. On Monday, a New York State judge ruled the mandate was unlawful

Curtis Cutler and Russ Piazza, both 42, told DailyMail.com how they were forced to move away from the Big Apple after being fired from their Department of Sanitation jobs in February.

'This mandate ruined my career, put a massive strain on friendships, extended family and most of all my wife and daughter,' Piazza, a 20-year veteran of the sanitation department, said. 'It's a disgrace how higher-ups have no compassion for anyone and how we are just pawns in their game.'

Because he wasn't getting paid anymore, and New York City's vaccine mandate had expanded to even private employers, Piazza said: 'They forced me to move out of New York, which caused a strain on my family.'

Piazza now resides in North Carolina, according to his Facebook.

Meanwhile, for Cutler, the vaccine mandate meant that he had to separate his family after he was forced to sell the Staten Island home he had bought just the year before  and spent over $61,000 renovating.

It was the first home he bought, he said, and he worked hard for months to replace all the floors, add railings to the steps, renovate the kitchen and two bathrooms, add carpet and paint.

'We kind of poured our heart into that place we didn't have any intention of leaving New York,' Cutler said.

But after city officials denied his religious exemption request to getting the COVID vaccine, even though he was a deacon in an evangelical church, Cutler said he was forced to relocate.

Records show they sold their Staten Island home for $535,000 in August, and Cutler said he is now living in South Carolina with his wife and 9-year-old daughter.

His 17-year-old son, though, wanted to finish his senior year of high school back in New York, so, he said, the family decided to split up  letting his son stay with his grandmother.

'That has been very hard,' he said, adding that he was the only deacon at the Tottenville Evangelical Free Church in Staten Island 'so when the mandate came down and I had to leave, it damaged to the religious community.'

Now, Cutler says, he does not know whether he will ever return to the Big Apple.

'I have not made any decisions but I don't trust the city,' he said, explaining that in his opinion 'the city is run by many who care not for the religious freedom of men like myself.

'I pray God will change the hearts and minds of many who lead the city into virtuous ideals,' Cutler said, adding: 'I pray on behalf of all New Yorkers who have been affected that they may be relieved and put back to work.'

Piazza is pictured here protesting New York City's vaccine mandate after it went into effect last year

After losing his Department of Sanitation job, Cutler said he was forced to sell the Staten Island home he had bought just one year prior (pictured) and spent months renovating

Cutler said he worked hard for months to replace all the floors, add railings to the steps, renovate the kitchen and two bathrooms, add carpet and paint. The house is seen here before and during Cutler's renovations

Records show they sold their Staten Island home for $535,000 in August after Cutler poured more than $61,000 into renovations. The finished house with Cutler's renovations is pictured here

Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio ordered city officials to reinstate and hand back pay to more than 1,000 employees who lost their job for refusing the COVID jab

But even after Staten Island Justice Ralph Porzio ordered city officials to reinstate and hand back pay to all of the employees who were fired for refusing to get the COVID vaccine, they remain stuck in limbo as New York City's Legal Department fights for an appeal.

The employees had been scheduled to return to work as of 6am Tuesday under Porzio's ruling, but when they returned to their worksites that morning they were turned away.

'Everyone who was terminated should be reinstated,' Patricia Buccellato, another of the former Department of Sanitation workers who filed the suit against the city, told DailyMail.com.

'We all showed up to work during the pandemic when the city needed us the most,' the 31-year-old added. 'We didn't deserve this.'

She went on to say that she loves her job 'wholeheartedly,' and to 'lose it left me depressed, lost and dumbfounded.

'DSNY was more than just a job  I gained a family,' Buccellato said of the department, adding: 'Even though the fight isn't over we will win I have faith.'

In his ruling on Monday, Porzio wrote that former city Health Commissioner David Choksi's October 20, 2021 vaccine mandate 'violates the separation of powers doctrine' enshrined in the United States Constitution

In his ruling on Monday, Porzio wrote that former city Health Commissioner David Choksi's October 20, 2021 vaccine mandate 'violates the separation of powers doctrine' enshrined in the United States Constitution.

He then went on to slam Choksi for implementing the mandate, despite not having the 'power and authority to permanently exclude [employees] from the workplace.

Porzio wrote that Choksi (pictured) overstepped his authority by implementing the vaccine mandate

'Though the Board of Health has the power to regulate vaccinations and adopt measures to reduce the spread of infectious diseases... the Board of Health does not have the authority to unilaterally and indefinitely change the terms of employment for any agency.'

Porzio determined that the mandate violated the workers' 'substantive and procedural due process rights.

And in general, Porzio ruled, Choksi's order, another that extended the mandate to private employers and an executive order issued by Eric Adams excluding athletes and performers from the mandate were 'arbitrary and capricious.

'The vaccination mandate for city employees was not about safety and public health; it was about compliance,' he wrote in his 13-page decision.

'If it was about safety and public health, unvaccinated workers would have been placed on leave the moment the order was issued,' Porzio continued.

'If it was about safety and public health, the Health Commissioner would have issued city-wide mandates for all residents.'

Porzio added that the city could have simply continued with its test-or-vaccinate policy rather than force everyone to be vaccinated, noting that nearly 80 percent of city residents were already jabbed at the time.

And, Porzio said, 'we shouldn't be penalizing the people who showed up to work, at great risk to themselves and their families, while we were locked down.'

Porzio also deemed an executive order enacted under Mayor Eric Adams that barred performers and athletes from the mandate 'arbitrary and capricious'

Porzio also concluded that the 16 Department of Sanitation workers who filed the suit had tried to apply for an exemption to the law and 'provided laboratory documentation that they have natural immunity to COVID-19 from prior infections.

They then received a letter in June saying they could get their jobs back if they were willing to comply with the mandate.

But, Porzio said, the pandemic has proved that the immunity provided by the mRNA vaccines are 'not absolute,' with breakout infections occurring 'even for those who have ben vaccinated and boosted.'

He noted, however, that his ruling 'is not a commentary on the efficacy of vaccination, but how we are treating our first responders, the ones who worked day-to-day through the height of the pandemic.

'They worked without protective gear. They were infected with COVID-19, creating natural immunity.

'They continued working full duty while their exemption requests were pending,' Porzio continued. 'They were terminated and are willing to come back to work for the City that cast them aside.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Adams administration and the fired employees named in the lawsuit for comment.

A spokesperson for the Law Department, however, told the New York Post it is already appealing Porzio's decision.

'The city strongly disagrees with this ruling, as this mandate is firmly grounded in law and is critical to New Yorkers' public health.

'We have already filed an appeal,' the spokesperson noted. 'In the meantime, the mandate remains in place as this ruling pertains solely to the individual petitioners in this case.

'We continue to review the court's decision, which conflicts with numerous other rulings already upholding the mandate.'

New York State Gov Kathy Hochul doubled down on the vaccine mandate in a debate Tuesday night

She claimed she would once again implement the controversial mandate for healthcare workers

Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has doubled down on the vaccine mandate in a televised debate with her opponent Rep. Lee Zeldin.

In the debate on NY1 News Tuesday night, Hochul declared she would reimpose the mandate for health care workers.

She made the controversial remark during a debate with GOP rival Zeldin, whom she blasted along with former President Donald Trump as 'the masterful Covid-deniers'.

She told him: 'You've been an election-denier, a climate change-denier. We are dealing with the real crisis. The more people that get vaccinated, those shots in arms... I would do it all over again what I did last year  that mandate for health care workers.'




A German priest was confirmed dead in a fire at a reclusive Catholic monastery in the southeastern city of Sangju police and fire officials said Wednesday.







The blaze started at one of 12 one-floor residence halls inside of Carthusian Cloistered Monastery in Sangju, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 10:34 p.m. on Tuesday, they said.







The body of the 55-year-old Catholic monk from Germany was discovered in a hallway, they said.







Police and firefighters plan to look into the exact cause of the fire.







It is the only Carthusian monastery in Asia. Carthusian monks  estimated to number around 450 globally  are almost completely cut off from the world, even from their families. (Yonhap)


Three people have died and at least three others including two police officers have been injured in a shooting in Spain.

A farmer, a police officer, and the gunman himself were killed in the attack which took place in the town of Villamayor de Calatrava, central Spain, around 10.30am.

The three wounded are two other police officers and the shooter's 81-year-old father, who had tried to flee the scene of the attack.

Three people including a police officer and the gunman are dead and three others, including two cops, have been hurt in a shooting in Spain (scene, pictured)

The shooting is thought to have begun as a row between the elder man and his son in the early hours of Wednesday, before the younger man grabbed a rifle.

The father is thought to have fled their country house and sought help from a local farmer, who his son shot and killed.

The father was also wounded before the gunman - holed up inside the house - began shooting at random cars passing by.

Police closed a nearby road to stop vehicles being targeted before the gunman turned his sights on them, killing one officer and wounding another.

A second officer was also hurt while trying to help his colleagues.

The attack is thought to have taken place after the shooter, aged around 50, got into an argument with his 81-year-old father (scene pictured)

The shooting rampage was eventually brought to an end after a police marksman opened fire and killed the attacker.

Villamayor de Calatrava mayor Juan Antonio Callejas said the road had been closed before the incident was resolved because someone was shooting at all the cars in an area he described as being full of holiday homes.

It is not clear exactly what the gunman and his father had been arguing about or how he obtained the rifle used in the killings.

Investigations are now underway.
Democrats are nervously eyeing several key Senate races across the country as a once-positive outlook for their chances of keeping the chamber now hangs on a knife's edge.

Election forecasts have long showed Republicans likely winning the House of Representatives, but the left had remained hopeful about keeping the Senate.

It's currently split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris operating as Democrats' majority tie-breaking vote. Republicans have 21 seats to fight for this year, while Democrats are only defending 14.

But tightening races combined with polls suggesting an eleventh-hour boost in GOP voter enthusiasm are gradually shifting the tide, potentially putting a Republican victory in the Senate within reach on November 8.

Democratic incumbents in Washington, Nevada, and New Hampshire are fighting in competitive battles to keep their seats.

In Pennsylvania, Democrat John Fetterman's clumsy debate performance on Tuesday night shows he is still very much grappling with lingering effects of a stroke he suffered in May.

It's well known that he is dealing with an auditory processing disorder and some speech difficulties following the incident, but his awkward phrasing of many answers, long pauses and stumbling over sentences could serve to alienate Independent voters in the tight race.

Projections of the likely midterm outcomes are shifting in Republicans' favor with two weeks until Election Day on November 8. Four states in particular are likely to be nail-biters for Democrats

Despite leading in most polls, John Fetterman's debate performance, which showed that he is still dealing with some auditory processing issues after suffering a stroke in May, calls his chances of victory into question

His lead over Republican Mehmet Oz had already been shrinking - a CBS News poll conducted up until the day before the debate showed the Trump-backed celebrity doctor only trailing Fetterman by 2 percent - when he was down 5 points last month.

Democrats also appear to be panicking in solidly-blue Washington state, where veteran Senator Patty Murray is up against Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley.

The left is pouring millions of dollars into the state's Senate race, according to Politico, despite President Joe Biden winning it by nearly 20 points in 2020.

A new SurveyUSA poll shows Murray slipping below the 50 percent majority support threshold.

She's still leading Smiley by 49 percent to 41, but the Republican more than doubled her gains from when she was trailing Murray by 18 points.

Their Monday night debate followed a similar script to close races around the country, where the Republican attacked Murray for her 30-year career in Washington and blamed her for the poor state of the economy and rising crime.

In Washington, a state Joe Biden won by nearly 20 points in 2020, Democrats are pouring in cash as Senator Patty Murray (left) sees her lead over Republican challenger Tiffany Smiley (right) narrowing

Murray by contrast sought to tie Smiley to national Republicans, especially those who are looking to ban or limit abortion, and accused her of sticking to GOP 'talking points.'

But it looks like the Supreme Court's overhaul of federal abortion protections, which happened in June, is not going to energize Democrats' base to the same level the party had hoped.

While inspiring nationwide protests and a record surge of women registering to vote, surveys show that abortion - while still a significant issue - has taken a back seat to problems with crime and the economy in voters' minds.

Another race where that's playing out is New Hampshire, where Senator Maggie Hassan is facing an unexpectedly formidable challenge from a challenger who echoed Donald Trump's 2020 fraud claims during his GOP primary, Don Bolduc.

Republicans have watched that race with a wary but hopeful eye.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, led by Florida Senator Rick Scott, is pouring money into New Hampshire after GOP Leader Mitch McConnell's leadership PAC withdrew its multi-million dollar plan for the state, according to Axios.

'The NRSC is proud to stand with General Bolduc. Were going to win this race so Don Bolduc can bring real leadership back to this Senate seat,' Scott told the outlet.

New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan (left) is facing a similarly close race against Republican Don Bolduc (right), a retired brigadier general who previously parroted Donald Trump's 2020 election fraud claims

The Florida Republican also wrote off Murray in her Washington race in a Wednesday morning interview with Hugh Hewitt, claiming she is 'not nice' and 'just not likable.'

Nevada's Senate race, while it hasn't garnered the national attention that other close elections have, could also be one to decide the future of the Senate.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is facing Trump-backed Adam Laxalt in the battleground state. The only Latina senator is also among the most vulnerable Democrats of the 2022 cycle.

Conservative group Club for Growth conducted a recent poll showing Laxalt eking ahead of Cortez Masto by two percent. He was previously down by three, according to the survey obtained by Politico.

The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, though felt across the globe, was an especially tangible blow to Nevada when the Las Vegas strip was shut down to slow the disease's spread.

It's the state's first election without Harry Reid, the former Nevada Senator who served as longtime Senate Democratic Leader, whose powerful political machine helped keep the party afloat.

Republicans have a possible pickup opportunity in Nevada, where Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (left) is seen as one of the most vulnerable Democrats this cycle. She's up against Trump-backed Adam Laxalt

Former Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkeley, a Democrat, told DailyMail.com she was 'cautiously optimistic' about Cortez Masto's chances of winning but conceded that frustrations over the pandemic still linger.

'I'm sure that his actions ultimately saved lives, not only here in Nevada, but across the country,' Berkeley said, referring to the governor's decision to shut down.

'But it did create a lot of displacement, and even though our economy is hotter than a pistol right now, people - they were in their homes for two and a half years, and suffered losses that they're still living with.'

The former lawmaker, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate herself in 2012, said the anger being directed at leaders like Cortez Masto is part of why the race is so close.

'It was a very tough time and people are understandably frustrated and angry, and I think they're taking it out on incumbent office holders,' she said.

A victory in Georgia, whose Democratic incumbent has been caught up in a tight race for months, and a win in Nevada could secure the Senate for Republicans.
Priests and nuns watch internet porn, Pope Francis admitted while speaking with seminarians in Rome on Monday.

Pope Francis said internet porn was a 'vice' shared between members of the church.

'It is a vice that many people have, many laymen, many laywomen, and also priests and nuns,' said the 85-year-old Pope.

'The Devil gets in that way. And I'm not just talking about criminal pornography like that involving the abuse of children, that is already degeneration. But pornography that is a little "normal"', he continued.

He cautioned priests and nuns, saying: 'Dear brothers, be careful about this.'

Pope Francis said he was concerned about porn while speaking with seminarians in Rome, telling them on Wednesday that 'the Devil gets in that way'

The Pope made the remarks on Monday, according to ANSA.

Catholic priests and nuns are forbidden from watching pornography, with the Catechism defining sexual imagery as an 'offence against chastity' under article 2354.

In 2020, Pope Francis Instagram account appeared to 'like' a racy photo of a Brazilian bikini model dressed in stockings and suspenders.

The model, Natalie Garibotto, said the pontiffs verified Franciscus account was among the thousands that liked the October 5 image.

But the account subsequently 'unliked' the photo, shortly before the Vatican said it was launching an inquiry.

'At least Im going to heaven,' she joked after the incident dew attention on social media.

The Brazilian model's management said Garibotto had 'received the Pope's official blessing'.

The Popes social media accounts are managed by a team.
The lawyer of a 39-year-old man who was killed while ziplining at a beach in northeastern Brazil of Ceara has accused the private operator of negligence.

Sergio Lima was filming himself sliding down the zip line cable at Canoa Quebra beach in the municipality of Aracati on October 10 when one of the wood beams collapsed and sent him plunging as his girlfriend watched in horror.

The harrowing footage shows a smiling Lima wowing at the camera when he suddenly plummets to the sand dunes 15 seconds into the ride.

Sergio Lima was ziplining at a beach in Ceara, Brazil, on October 10 when one of the wooden support beams collapsed and sent him crashing to the sand dunes. The 39-year-old died while he was been rushed to a local hospital

Still image from a video filmed by Sergio Lima's girlfriend shows the harrowing moment the zip line cable snapped after one of the wooden support beams tipped over

A second video of the tragic accident that was recorded by his girlfriend at the end of the platform reveals the horrifying moment the zip line cable snapped.

The support beams that were made of wood were not well buried, they were buried only at a superficial level of the sand, Joao Monteiro, the familys attorney, told Brazilian news outlet G1 on Tuesday. Therefore, they did not provide the necessary firmness for those who carried out the tour.

According to the lawyer, Lima questioned one of the zip line station workers about the cable lines sturdiness before he was hooked to the harness.

Before boarding, he asked the zip line employee, Can it handle my weight? Look, I weigh 352 pounds, Monteiro said.

The harness Sergio Lima was hooked on to moments before the zip line cable broke

Sergio Lima died after falling off a zip line at Canoa Quebra beach in the northeastern Brazilian municipality of Aracati on October 10

Lima, who was visiting from the northern state of Para, died as he was being rushed to a nearby hospital.

Monteiro said the zip line operators failure of providing equipment such as a helmet and a vest played a part in Limas death.

It was precisely the cause of death  Sergio (Lima) died of brain trauma, Monteiro said.

The Aracati city government shut down all zip line companies the day after the accident and is still investigating the incident.
President Joe Biden's approval crashed down to 39% just two weeks before the midterm election that will decide control of Congress.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 55% disapprove of the job the president is doing as voters prepare cast their ballot on November 8.

Biden's low numbers have some Democrats worried it could hurt their chances in the election. And some candidates have been shy about appearing with the president on the campaign trail.

The White House has deflected questions about why President Biden isn't doing more campaign events as the midterms approach.

Biden has proven a popular fundraiser for Democrats but he's had a far lighter campaign schedule than Barack Obama did during the 2010 midterm, a DailyMail.com anaylsis found.

And there have been no traditional campaign rallies for Biden.

His events have been with smaller audiences or have fundraisers, raising more questions about whether or not candidates are reluctant to appear with him.

Those fundraisers have been behind closed doors.

Biden will participate in three more on Wednesday night when he does virtual events for Democratic candidates.

On Friday he will campaign for Democrats in Pennsylvania.

Biden's approval rating has been hovering in the mid-40s. But it drifted to as low as 36% in May and June.

And it's those voters who disapprove of the job he is doing that will decide how the next two years of his presidency will play out.

The latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll also had a 55% disapproval rating for Biden.

It is those voters who will decide control of Congress, a decision that will shape Biden's next two years in office.

The poll found 85% of those who strongly disapprove of Biden say theyll vote for the Republican candidate for Congress.

President Joe Biden's approval crashed down to 39% just two weeks before midterm election

Republicans are favored to win control of the House - they just need a net gain of five seats - and have a chance at taking control of the Senate in the November 8th election. Even if the GOP wins just one chamber of Congress they can stymie Biden's legislative agenda for the next two years.

In an analysis this week, FiveThirtyEight noted momentum appeared to be on the Republicans' side. As recently as Oct. 13, Democrats had a slight edge on the generic congressional ballot. Now, however, Republicans have taken the lead, indicating voters' mood had shifted to the right.

The White House has pointed to Biden's West Coast trip earlier - he visited Colorado, Oregon, and California - to prove he's active on the campaign trail.

He campaigned in Pennsylvania last week for Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman. He's also going to Florida on Tuesday to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.
Childcare experts are expressing alarm over transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaneys popularity bump after her White House debut, saying social media is driving a spike in teens seeking sex-change procedures.

Clinicians say Mulvaneys sit-down time with President Joe Biden has raised the social media sensations profile, extending her reach and likely influencing teenage fans who may themselves be questioning their own gender identity.

Mulvaneys TikTok following grew to 8.4 million after her White House appearance, and while she is entitled to share her experiences online, experts told DailyMail.com that online influencers like her in part drive an alarming uptick in teen transitioning.

Theyre called social media influencers because they influence people, said Lisa Marchiano, a clinician with the Gender Exploratory Therapy Association, a group of therapists.

Its very concerning to see social media influencers get this kind of attention, being asked to visit the White House, celebrated and valorized without any critical appraisal or explanation or alternative viewpoints  and that could affect people.

Trans TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney was among a panel of progressives who interviewed President Joe Biden, a Democrat, at the White House for NowThis News. It was aired on Sunday

Trans TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney already had millions of followers  but that jumped to 8.4 million in the days after her appearance at the White House, in Washington DC

Candice Jackson, a lawyer and US-based spokesperson for Genspect, a global coalition of clinicians and parents against some so-called gender-affirming care, also called Mulvaneys White House debut worrying.

Young people look up to celebrities and politicians, and if they only hear one side, with no cultural counterweight, they're hearing that transitioning is somehow consequence free and risk-free, said Jackson.

Thats ignoring the growing cohort of de-transitioners who come to regret their procedures.

Mulvaney, 25, has gained a massive following on TikTok as she documents her transition to a transgender female  originally identifying as 'nonbinary' but telling followers in March that she was a girl.

She first joined TikTok back in 2020 after a stint playing Elder White in the Book of Mormon on Broadway. The influencer plans to get gender reassignment surgery on her face in December.

Mulvaney met Biden on Friday as part of a panel of six progressive activists for NowThis News. In the interview, which aired on Sunday, the Democrat vowed to protect 'gender-affirming care,' saying states should not limit access to transgender treatments.

Dylan Mulvaney's frequent online posts clock up millions of views on TikTok, and her visit to the White House may have gained her tens of thousands of new followers

Dylan Mulvaney's posts clock up millions of views, but childcare experts warn that social media is driving a spike in teens seeking sex-change procedures

For those experiencing gender dysphoria, transitioning with drugs and surgery can be life-saving. Yet some experts warn against providing irreversible treatments to adolescents, pointing to growing numbers who come to regret procedures and seek to de-transition.

Poll Are social media influencers behind the rise in teenage transitioners? Yes No Are social media influencers behind the rise in teenage transitioners? Yes 1228 votes

No 83 votes Now share your opinion





Whether to allow young people to take puberty-blockers, hormones or undergo surgery has become a hot-button issue in America's culture wars, and Republican officials in Arkansas, Alabama, and Texas have sought to limit access to procedures.

Statistics on this issue are contested, but there does appear to be a rise in the number of young people seeking to transition, and studies suggest that online social media and peer groups play a role in the uptick.

Researchers from Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, this month found that the number of chest reconstruction surgeries being performed on trans children shot up nearly five-fold between 2016 and 2019, when it reached 489.

A report by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), published this year found that 300,000 US children aged between 13 and 17 identified as transgender in 2020  doubling in number from 2017.

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

Experts are divided over the rise and its likely causes. Many link it to growing understanding and acceptance of gender dysphoria, others liken it to a contagion or fad driven by peers and social media.

A 2018 study by Brown University scholar Lisa Littman says ever-more social media content on transgender issues encourages vulnerable individuals to believe that nonspecific symptoms and vague feelings should be interpreted as gender dysphoria.

Adolescents may come to believe that transition is the only solution to their individual situations, that exposure to internet content that is uncritically positive about transition may intensify these beliefs, says Littmans study.

Worried moms and dads describe their kids binge-watching videos on YouTube and other platforms that drive an urgency to transition and instruct minors how to deceive parents, doctors, and therapists to obtain hormones quickly, says the study.

In one prominent example of social media content driving transitions, the Florida plastic surgeon Dr Sidhbh Gallagher, who runs Gallagher Plastic Surgery in Miami, has been reported for using her huge TikTok following to 'unfairly and deceptively' sway teens.

Dr Sidhbh Gallagher has been criticized for using the phrase 'yeet the teets'  a glib reference to breast-removal surgery  in her viral social media posts. She even calls herself 'Dr Teetus Deletus'

Dr Gallagher posing with a scarred patient following surgery. A user says they'll get the same procedure when they're 'old enough'. The clinic rejects a complaint that it uses TikTok to market at teens

A complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) obtained by DailyMail.com, says Dr Gallagher, who dubs herself 'Dr Teetus Deletus'  a glib reference to breast removal surgery  uses catchy videos with pop music backing tracks as a marketing gimmick to attract 'vulnerable and impressionable' minors to surgical procedures.

The clinic denies any wrongdoing.

Julia Mason, an Oregon-based pediatrician (pictured) criticizes the 'drugs-first' policy for transgender youth

Several medical groups, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, support gender-affirming care and say sexual reassignment procedures are safe if properly administered.

But the picture is different in Europe. Britains National Health Service this week unveiled plans to restrict puberty blockers and other treatments for children, saying they are often only going through a transient phase. Sweden and Finland have made similar moves.

Julia Mason, an Oregon-based pediatrician and an advisor for the Society for Evidence-based Gender Medicine, said Bidens meeting with an advocate of transitioning was sending the wrong message to young people.

I look forward to President Biden meeting a de-transitioner to get some alternative views of this topic, said Mason.

'Its disappointing that the Biden team chose to elevate the status of this TikToker  social media is toxic to young people, especially young women. It presents them with unrealistic ideas about womanhood and drives anxiety and depression.
Around 10,000 single adult men from Albania have illegally travelled to the UK by small boat so far this year, the Home Office confirmed today - as a top British general was appointed to tackle the problem.

Dan O'Mahoney, Border Force clandestine threat commander, said 12,000 Albanians have crossed the Channel by small boat since the start of this year, 10,000 of whom were 'single adult males'.

He said this was equivalent to roughly one to two per cent of the young male population of the country - a category that is understood to include men aged 20 to 40.

Dan O'Mahoney, Border Force clandestine threat commander, said 12,000 Albanians have crossed the Channel by small boat since the start of this year, 10,000 of whom were 'single adult males'. File photo of migrants crossing the Channel

'Two years ago, 50 Albanians arrived in the UK on small boats, last year it was 800 and this year, so far, it's been 12,000 - of which about 10,000 are single adult men,' he told the Home Affairs Select Committee.

'So the rise has been exponential, and we think that is in the main because Albanian criminal gangs have gained a foothold in the north of France and have begun facilitating large numbers of migrants.

'Just to put this into context, that number of 10,000 is between one and two percent of the entire adult male population of Albania who have travelled to the UK in small boats.'

Mr O'Mahoney said only a low proportion of Albanian men who made asylum claims were successful.

'Some of them will of course need our help and will make legitimate asylum claims but the grant rate for single Albanian men - about 12 per cent,' he said.

'A lot of them are not actually interested in seeing their asylum claim through. We'll typically put them in a hotel for a couple of days then they'll disappear and work illegally in the UK for six months, possibly a year then go back to Albania.'

He said this was equivalent to roughly one to two per cent of the young male population of the country - a category that is understood to include men aged 20 to 40 (pic: A small boat used by migrants is removed from Dover harbour)

The officer warned there was a 'huge amount of very harmful serious and organised criminality' being committed in the UK by organised Albanian gangs.

Lt General Stuart Skeates, who also served in the Bosnian war, has been hired as a special coordinator on illegal Albanian migration, the Telegraph reported.

He was previously working as an advisor to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, preventing vulnerable people being 'exploited by human traffickers' and 'protecting UKs Borders'.

Now Lt General Skeates has been recruited to tackle the growing problem of Albanian Channel crossings. Since the start of the year more than 37,000 migrants have reached British soil - at least 10,000 are believed to be from the Balkan state.

The number of Albanians arriving across the Channel surged at the start of the summer, and they now make up around 60 per cent of arrivals from northern France.

Lt General Skeates is expected to work with the Albanian government to help tackle the trafficking gangs behind the surge.

Lt General Stuart Skeates, who served in Afghanistan, has been hired as a special coordinator on illegal Albanian migration

At least 10,000 Albanians are believed to have made crossed the Channel in small boats this year alone

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel Patel signed a deal with the Albanian government to fast-track deportations back to the Balkan state and for Albanian police officers to be stationed in Dover.

Earlier this month, a reported 12 migrants were put on a plane to Albania within days of arriving in Britain in small boats.

The military career of the General tasked with halting illegal Albanian migration Lt General Stuart Skeates was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1989 and served in the Bosnian war, which took place from 1992 to 1995. He took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 - in which he had command of over 100 soldiers. His career then saw him serve as Military Assistant to the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland in the final years of Operation Banner. He returned to Afghanistan in 2007 as Deputy Commander of 52nd Brigade - deployed as Task Force Helmand. By 2009 he was the Deputy Commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). After leaving the army he worked as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and had a role in Nato. Advertisement

The Government has been trying to introduce policies to fast-track Albanian nationals who cross the Channel back to Albania - in an effort to deter more from making the journey.

Before the summer, around nine out of ten Albanians were claiming asylum  even though there has been no conflict there for more than 25 years.

Lt General Skeates began advising Cabinet Office ministers on tackling human trafficking after Steve Barclay was asked by Boris Johnson to head a cross-government review of the Channel migrant crisis in 2021.

However, since then an increasing rate of migrants are making the crossing - with a record 1,295 people crossing in 27 boats on August 22.

Lt General Skeates' distinguished military career saw him reach positions such as deputy commander of Nato's allied joint force command in Holland, and joint force commander at the UK's strategic command in Northwood in northwest London.

He was also the commander of the 19th light brigade, head of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and acting as deputy commander of the UK taskforce that supported the Afghan forces in Helmand.

He is not the first person with a military background to be hired to tackle the Channel migrants.

Dan O'Mahoney, a former Royal Marine who then joined the National Crime Agency and Border Force, was appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander in 2020, the Telegraph reported.

A Government spokesman told the Telegraph: 'The government stands united in its efforts in preventing dangerous Channel crossings, stopping exploitative criminal gangs and protecting those in genuine need.

'The Home Office and Ministry of Defence have a strong track record of working closely together to tackle this issue.'

They confirmed Lt Gen Skeates was seconded to the Home Office on October 12, 2022.
A murderer serving life for fatally knifing his Canadian girlfriend more than 90 times was banned from meeting his own mother after smashing up her car.

Jack Sepple, 23, launched a 'brutal and cowardly' attack on Ashley Wadsworth, 19, at his Essex home days before she was due to be reunited with her family in Canada.

Sepple strangled Ms Wadworth and stabbed her more than 90 times in a vicious attack, before Facetiming his sister to show her Ms Wadworth's dead body.

Police found him lying in a pool of blood in bed next to her body at the property.

Sepple, who had met Ashley virtually on a dating app, had eight previous convictions, nearly all of which were for domestic violence.

He was jailed for life at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 10, with a minimum term of 23 years and six months.

Tracy Dalton (pictured with her son Jack Sepple) had a restraining order issued against her son back in 2018 when he smashed up her car

Jack Sepple, 23, who is serving life for fatally knifing his Canadian girlfriend more than 90 times was banned from meeting his own mother after smashing up her car. Pictured with Ashley Wadsworth

Sepple strangled Ms Wadworth and stabbed her more than 90 times in a vicious attack

Jack Sepple, 23, admitted killing Ashley Wadsworth, 19, at his Essex home just two weeks before Valentine's Day

He had a restraining order taken out against him by his mother, Tracy Dalton, 55, after Sepple smashed-up her car, and damaged three windows and two doors at her home, The Mirror reported.

The restriction was issued in 2018 by Essex Magistrates' Court, after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage, and was sentenced to eight weeks in a young offenders institution.

The sentence took into account how Seeple had harassed a previous partner, and breached the suspended sentence imposed for doing so.

The restraining order, which banned Seeple from approaching his mother's home, expired in July 2019.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Edward Murray told Chelmsford Crown Court that Sepple, who had previous convictions for offences including battery and harassment against his mother, had displayed a 'clear pattern of violent and controlling behaviour for a number of women'.

Earlier this year, Mrs Dalton went on a trip with her son and Ms Wadworth, sharing pictures of the couple on Facebook.

Around two weeks later, Seeple murdered Ms Wadworth.

The 'possessive' boyfriend (pictured left) was jailed for life for the murder of his 19-year-old Canadian girlfriend, Ashley Wadsworth in a brutal stabbing

An inquest hearing was told Ms Wadsworth (pictured with Sepple in London) died from multiple stab wounds to the chest

Ashley Wadsworth, 19, was originally from Vernon in British Columbia, Canada, but moved to the UK to 'escape small-town life'. She was due to fly back to Canada to see her family days after she was murdered

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that she was just two days away from flying back to Vernon, British Columbia, when she was found dead.

The aspiring lawyer had upended her 'small-town life' to fly across the Atlantic on a six-month tourist visa to be with her new boyfriend in November last year.

But the idyllic lifestyle they tried to share online hid a dark truth. Family members said she had begged them to buy her a ticket home and spoke of Sepple's possessive and abusive behaviour in the days leading up to her death.

The teenager's death prompted an outpouring of grief from the Chelmsford community, as well as international tributes. Vigils were held for her in local parks, and friends were quick to share their memories of her.

In a statement released by Miss Wadsworth's family, they said she was a 'kind and beautiful woman' with an 'unforgettable laugh', while loved ones celebrated her 'spontaneous, witty, kind personality'.

Ms Wadsworth was originally from Vernon, British Colombia.

Ashley Wadsworth, pictured with boyfriend Sepple, was found dead at his home in Chelmsford in early February
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is running up a 14-point lead over his Democratic opponent in a new poll  in a race that Democrat Charlie Crist warns could set the table for a presidential run by his opponent.

Most Floridians have already made up their mind, according to the survey by the University of North Florida's Public Opinion Research Lab. Just 4 per cent said they were undecided an less than 1 per cent said they would vote for another candidate.

It comes days after a debate where DeSantis refused to commit to serving out a four-year time, amid speculation he might run for the Republican nomination in 2024  something he has refused to rule out despite former President Donald Trump's interest.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads former Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist 53-39 in the new poll released Wednesday

He leads his Democratic opponent 53-39 in the new poll, bringing up his average poll lead to 11 per cent in the RealClearPolitics poll average.

Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio is running up a similar margin over Democratic Rep. Val Demings, leading her 54 to 43.

'The surprise in these numbers is that a statewide race in Florida is closer to a blowout than a recount,' said Dr. Michael Binder, the faculty director for the research lab that conducted the poll.

'Florida has become a red state, it will likely take an exceptionally weak Republican candidate for Democrats to win statewide  and Rubio is not a weak candidate,' he told the Tallahassee Democrat.

Throughout the debate Crist repeatedly pressed the governor on his political ambitions and whether he'd spend all four years of his term in the governor's mansion

A blowout win by DeSantis would only drive further focus on his potential presidential prospects, in a state carried by former President Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden heads to Florida next week to hold both a rally and a fundraiser for Crist, a former Democratic member of Congress who served a term as governor of Florida as a Republican and an Independent.

It will put him back in a state he visited while accompanied by DeSantis after hurricane Ian slammed the state's Gulf Coast.

'Why don't you look in the eyes of the people of the state of Florida and say to them if you're re-elected, you will serve a full four-year term as governor,' Crist asked his rival.

'Will you serve a full four-year term if you're reelected governor of Florida? It's not a tough question. It's a fair question.'

DeSantis took a long pause as the debate crowd cheered the question.

'I know that Charlie's interested in talking about 2024 and Joe Biden, but I just want to make things very, very clear,' DeSantis shot back. 'The only worn-out, old donkey I'm looking to put out to pasture is Charlie Crist.'

In another recent poll, released Friday by Florida Atlantic University, DeSantis held a 51-40 lead among likely voters. Rubio's lead over Demings was tighter  he led the former sheriff 48 to 42 per cent.
She accused him of 'vile behaviour' and using 'her face for a cover for' spat

Ellie Toyn hit out at Keith McNally after he used a picture of her in a post about how BA crew member had told him on flight that she was not a fan of Corden

A former BA flight attendant has blasted Balthazar owner Keith McNally as 'misogynistic and vile' after the celebrity restaurateur dragged her into his squabble with James Corden.

Ellie Toyn, 28, hit out at McNally after he used a picture of her in an Instagram post about how an unrelated BA crew member had told him on a flight from New York to London that she was not a fan of Corden.

McNally wrote that the unnamed BA flight attendant had leaned over to him ten minutes before landing and whispered, 'I never cared for James Corden either' amid the now infamous row over an omelette.

McNally had used a close-up image of Ellie in her uniform smiling as she worked onboard an aircraft to illustrate the Monday morning post, prompting the former BA flight attendant to hit out at the British restaurateur and brand him as 'misogynist and a hypocrite'.

Ellie told MailOnline: 'This is vile behaviour. It's horrendous. I'm shocked and disgusted.

'He's having a drama with James Corden and he's used my face as a cover for it. I obviously did not consent to him using it and manipulating the story with me being the face of it.'

Ellie only realised that her image had been used after she was alerted by her shocked father that he had seen her photograph on the Tuesday evening TV news in an item about the row between Corden and McNally.

McNally swiftly apologised and deleted his Instagram post on Tuesday night, after Ellie screenshotted it and called him out for being 'completely thoughtless'.

McNally had posted the dig at Corden on Monday morning (LA time) hours before the British comedian made a public apology on his Late Late Show on Monday night for berating staff at his New York City restaurant Balthazar.

Corden told viewers that he was 'rude' to the server after his wife Julia Carey, 46, found a bit of egg white in her egg yolk omelette at Balthazar.

But Corden had denied McNally's version of events, insisting he did not 'yell like crazy' and claimed for the first time that the reason why he was so upset was that his wife was given food she is 'seriously allergic' to.

Balthazar staff responded to Corden's attempt to explain the situation, telling DailyMail.com the British comedian is simply 'very, very rude.'

Ellie Toyn, 28, (pictured) hit out at McNally after he used a picture of her in an Instagram post about how an unrelated BA crew member had told him on a flight from New York to London that she was not a fan of Corden

McNally had used a close-up image of Ellie in her uniform smiling as she worked onboard an aircraft to illustrate the post, which was posted on Monday (LA time), prompting the former BA flight attendant to hit out at the British restaurateur and brand him as 'misogynist and a hypocrite'

Ellie only realised that her image had been used after she was alerted by her shocked father that he had seen her photograph on the Tuesday evening TV news (pictured) in an item about the row between Corden and McNally

Balthazar owner Keith McNally (pictured) said that a BA flight attendant flagged him down to say she's not a fan of the British comedian either

Corden made a public apology on his Late Late Show on Monday night for berating staff at McNally's New York City restaurant Balthazar

Before Corden's on-air apology, McNally had posted about how a flight attendant had hovered over him for five hours - so close that it became 'quite weird' - before he discovered her reason was that she had recognized him and wanted to tell him that she wasn't a fan of Corden.

But McNally has been criticized for using a picture of Ellie to make a dig at Corden, with the former flight attendant accusing him of being 'vile'.

Ellie said: 'It makes it look like I was really flirting with him and over the top when I wasn't even there.'

She added: 'The way he used the picture it's as if he had taken it himself and suggested I was the flight attendant who was very over attentive and then whispered in his ear something about James Corden.

'At the very least it was incredibly thoughtless.'

The photograph McNally used in his Instagram post was taken three years ago to commemorate British Airways' centenary.

Ellie and her mother Donna, who had worked for the airline for more than 30 years, were among three teams of mothers and daughters who crewed a flight from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur as part of the 100 year celebrations in October 2019.

Ellie added: 'It's really degrading to think he has gone online and used my picture without consent or anything.

'I've been misrepresented and that's the most scary thing.

'He's in this thing with James Corden at the moment and I think to use my face in his game - it's just not good enough.

'I haven't been following it that closely but this is something between two high profile people that is so petty and other people are getting dragged into it.'

Ellie told MailOnline: 'This is vile behaviour. It's horrendous... I'm shocked and disgusted. 'He's having a drama with James Corden and he's used my face as a cover for it.'

Ellie screenshotted McNally's since deleted post and wrote on Instagram: 'Tell me how it's okay for this man to use an image of me without my consent in his drama with James Corden.'

Ellie added: 'He's undermined his whole position. If he's taken his stand against James Corden who was being rude to people who were working very hard and doing their best.

'That's all well and good if you are going to stand up for your staff about that behaviour but you shouldn't do it at the expense of somebody else - he's just as bad.

'On this occasion he's doing exactly the same.

'He has nearly 100,000 followers and some of them are quite high profile, people like Gordon Ramsay.'

Ellie continued: 'I still have a lot of friends at BA who are very shocked. It's misogynistic behaviour. It's offensive to me but it is also generally offensive to women.

'Some of the comments people were writing on the post were equally as awful. They were saying they hoped he married me or got my number or had joined the Mile High Club.

'I think that's so degrading towards me but also towards other flight attendants.

'People should be aware what a hypocrite he is. He's stereotyping flight attendants and he's used that to help his story which is not right.

'Being a flight attendant is one of the hardest jobs out there. I did it for three years and my mum did it her whole career. He didn't take into account how much damage that post would do.'

Ellie quit the airline industry over a year ago to open a tattoo studio with boyfriend Alex Lloyd, 29, in Godalming, Surrey.

She said of McNally: 'He had no idea what position I am in at the moment. It could have been so much worse for me.

'I'm lucky that I work for myself. If I was still working for an airline, if I was still working for BA, I would have been in a whole heap of trouble. I feel like I would have been marched into an office and asked what I was playing at.

'If I worked for another airline or any other employer, I think my integrity would have been questioned and that's something I pride myself on.

'To bring that into question is an abuse of his power. It's scary what people can post about you like this. It is thoughtless and I think it is just appalling.'

Corden and his wife Julia eating at Scott's in London in 2018. He said his wife told staff politely that she had a 'serious food allergy'

Corden's wife ordered the Omelette with Herbs but requested it be cooked using only egg yolks and no egg whites

Ellie was alerted to McNally's post at about 7.30pm on Tuesday (UK time) after her father had seen her photograph on the early evening TV news in an item about the row between Corden and McNally.

She said: 'My picture has been on ITV and Channel 4 News, people have taken screenshots of my picture.

'My dad was watching the news on Tuesday evening and called me saying' Your face is on the news, what's going on?'

'People have been messaging me and my mum and my dad asking how I was involved in this.

'I run my own business now. It has nothing to do with me.'

McNally has deleted his post and went on to issue an apology to Ellie on her Instagram account, which has just over 2,700 followers, after friends rallied around her.

He wrote on her account: 'My sincere apologies. I just wanted to use a random photo of a BA airline attendant to illustrate an incident that recently happened to me flying BA.

'I didn't mean to offend you. My post certainly wasn't about you personally. I just deleted the post. Again, my apologies.'

But Ellie said: 'The damage has already been done. He's on a global scale. Compared with him I'm tiny. There are possibly millions of people who saw that without me even knowing about it.

'He's obviously a big figure in his industry. He owns a load of restaurants and is high profile.

'For someone of his standing he has a responsibility to be genuine with what he posts and he has clearly gone against that and it's really upsetting.

'He has apologised on my Instagram now. I appreciate the apology but that post was on there for well over a day, so many people have seen it. I don't think that makes up for what he's done.'

McNally wrote on Instagram of the attendant during the flight: 'I only had to move a fraction in my seat and she'd come running over. Then I discovered her reason.

'Ten minutes before landing, she leaned into me conspiratorially and whispered, 'I never cared for James Corden either'.'

McNally had uploaded the post early on Monday morning (LA time) but it was deleted the following evening - after Corden publicly apologized on his Late Late Show on Monday night for the omelette saga.

Corden told viewers he had been ungracious' to a restaurant server in an incident which saw him temporarily banned from Balthazar.

The infamous omelette saga began on October 9 when Corden and his wife Julia dined at the restaurant with friends. Julia asked for an all-yolk omelette - something that is not on the extensive brunch menu.

When it arrived, the dish contained some egg whites. Corden sent it back to the kitchen and when it was returned, he says it was still 'wrong'.

Corden apologized for being 'ungracious' to the waiter when he snapped at him and made a snide remark that he'd cook the egg yolk omelette himself.

Addressing the issue for the first time Corden denied McNally's version of events, insisting he did not 'yell like crazy' and claimed the reason why he was so upset was that his wife was given food she is 'seriously allergic' to.

He said his remarks had been 'in the heat of the moment' and promised he would 'apologise in person' to the member of staff.

Balthazar owner Keith McNally forgave Corden on Tuesday after his on-air apology

Corden's rude behavior saw McNally ban Corden from the restaurant briefly but the restaurant owner said on Tuesday afternoon that he had forgiven Corden and lifted his restaurant ban.

'It takes a real man to do this. In the past, I've behaved much worse than Corden but wasn't man enough to apologize. For this reason, I'm going to lift the ban on Corden,' McNally said on Tuesday.

McNally added that he was going to ban himself from Balthazar for two weeks in an attempt to bring his dispute with Corden to a close.

He wrote: 'I'm going to ban myself from Balthazar for two weeks. People who live in glass houses'

In an exchange with followers he added: 'I regret the whole thing'.

But Balthazar staff have mocked Corden's attempt to explain away his omelette tantrum on Monday night by claiming he was worried about his wife's 'serious' egg allergy, saying the comic is simply 'very, very rude' and shouldn't have ordered the dish.

'I'm sorry but that is bulls**t,' one server, who declined to be named, told DailyMail.com.

The mid-week breakfast menu at Balthazar. There are only two omelet options on this menu and on the brunch menu, which Corden ordered from. Both contain egg whites

There are only two omelettes on the menu at the famous New York City eatery; the $25 Omelette with Herbs, and the $27, Egg-White Omelette. Both come with a side of home fries or salad.

The servers explained that Corden was asking for something that is not offered, and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards.

'He wanted an omelette that had only egg yolks. Not the egg-white omelette, just egg yolks.

'Why then would you even bother ordering an omelette if you're allergic to eggs?' he asked.

There are plenty of egg-free options on the Balthazar Sunday brunch menu.

The staff at Balthazar suggested that the egg allergy was not the real reason for Corden's outburst and that he had been rude to them in the past.

'We deal with that kind of behavior from people all the time.

'But he... he was very, very rude,' George, one of the barmen, said.

The egg-white menu at Balthazar which is served with salad or home fries. Staff on Tuesday offered a complimentary glass of champagne when ordered. They previously told the owner that Corden began 'yelling like crazy' when Julia's all-yolk omelette was brought out with home fries instead of salad

Some doctors advise that a person with an egg allergy can safely eat cooked egg yolks since yolks contain less protein than whites and are therefore less allergenic.

At the foot of the long breakfast and brunch menu is a note to inform diners that while 'every effort will be made to accommodate food allergies, staff cannot always guarantee' it will be possible.

In comparison to Corden's pubic outburst at the restaurant, a female diner having brunch with her partner at the bar on Tuesday sent back her dish quietly.

She had ordered the egg-white omelette but was served the yolky alternative.

The server George apologized and promptly swapped them, insisting it was 'entirely his fault'.

The woman gladly accepted the replacement.

McNally also owns Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi in the West Village - three well-known, well-respected New York institutions that are regularly frequented by celebrities.

He first shamed Corden on Instagram, telling his followers how the comedian had twice abused staff.

On the first occasion, he said Corden demanded free drinks for his entire table after finding a hair in his food, which McNally accepted was 'diabolical' but happens in most restaurants occasionally.

The brunch incident occurred on October 9. Julia ordered an all-yolk omelette - an uncommon request.

McNally's original description makes no note of the egg-white allergy.

'Mr. Corden's wife ordered an egg yolk omelette with gruyere cheese and salad.

'A few minutes after they received the food, James called their server, M. K. and told her there was a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk. M. K. informed the floor manager, G.

'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad.

'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!'

Corden on Monday night claimed he was calm, did not yell and therefore did not think he'd done anything wrong.

In an interview with The New York Times the day after McNally's post, he said the subject was 'beneath' discussion.

'I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication,' he told the reporter.

Last night, he apologized on his show for being 'snide'.

'Because I didn't shout or scream, I didn't get up out of my seat, I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language, I have been walking around thinking that I've not done anything wrong.

'But I have. I made a rude comment,' he said, adding that he 'values and respects' anyone and everyone in the service industry.

Corden's current contract with Viacom CBS for his Late Late Show expires next year.

He and his wife are selling their $9.7million home in Brentwood and are planning to return to the UK next year.
President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks to reporters after arriving at the presidential office in Seoul, Oct. 26. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk-yeol voiced regret Wednesday after the main opposition party boycotted his budget speech, saying the party has left a bad precedent that could weaken public confidence in the National Assembly.



Yoon delivered a budget speech in a half-empty National Assembly hall Tuesday after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decided to boycott the session in protest over the prosecution's recent raid of its headquarters and other actions it described as suppression of the opposition.



"It's a shame that something that has established itself as a custom in the history of our constitutional government, regardless of the political situation, over the past 30 or so years, starting from the days of President Roh Tae-woo, collapsed as of yesterday," Yoon told reporters as he arrived for work, referring to presidents delivering budget speeches before a full parliamentary session.



"From now on, it's possible members of the National Assembly will every now and then not attend a president's budget speech depending on the political situation, and wouldn't that ultimately further weaken the people's confidence not only in grand unity but also in the National Assembly?" he added.



Yoon said he believes there is room for reflection on whether such action is desirable for the National Assembly and that good practices should be maintained regardless of the circumstances.



Yoon's speech came a day after the prosecution raided the DPK headquarters to seize evidence in connection with a corruption scandal that led to the arrest of a key confidant of DPK leader Lee Jae-myung over the weekend.



Lee has called for an independent counsel investigation into the scandal amid fears the prosecution could be zeroing in on him.



Yoon declined to comment when asked to respond to Lee's request.



"Have a good day," he said. "Many people have already stated their positions on that." (Yonhap)


A former Black Panther who spent decades on death row for the highly publicized murder of a white police officer will petition for a new trial on Wednesday, following the discovery of fresh evidence that casts doubt on his conviction.

If successful, the appeal would see convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal, 68, back on the streets after more than 40 years in prison, following the December 9, 1981 fatal shooting of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner.

Skirting a death sentence in the several years since through a series of appeals, Abu-Jamal's case, while contentious, had come to represent for many how the appellate court system can be hurtful to crime victims and their families.

However, that perception could shift drastically Wednesday, when attorneys air never-before-seen evidence that could exonerate the incarcerated radical - after it gathered up dust for decades in a room at the city's famously woke district attorney's office.

The development is further dividing an already polarizing case - with aspiring Pennsylvania U.S. senator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday panning opponent John Fetterman during their Tuesday debate for allegedly supporting Abu-Jamal's release.

Abu-Jamal's case has drawn attention over the years from Amnesty International, Hollywood celebrities and death penalty opponents worldwide (pictured in 1995). If successful, the appeal would see convicted cop killer back on the streets after more than 40 years in prison

Despite being found guilty of the slaying in 1982, Abu-Jamal was moved off death row in 2011 and has since been held on life without parole - much to the dismay of Faulkner's widow and proponents of the death penalty.

However, four years ago, Abu-Jamal's case - which garnered international attention at its height - returned to the limelight when officials in the Philadelphia district attorneys office came across evidence that seems to suggest the ex-radical may have been framed.

That evidence refers to six filing boxes marked with the prisoners name that were found in a storage room in the Philadelphia DA's office in December 2018.

Among the misplaced evidence trove, Abu-Jamal's lawyers say there is a handwritten letter from the trials key witness who helped spur the guilty verdict, to prosecutors asking, 'how long will it take to get the money' he said was owed to him.

The current Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, Fetterman, while never explicitly expressing support for Abu-Jamal's cause, has long pushed for an end to mandatory life sentences for people convicted of second-degree murder.

The Democrat has subsequently put his Board of Pardons tenure front-and-center in his campaign against Republican Oz, 62, bragging that he 'transformed' the lieutenant governor position by leading 'the fight to free the wrongfully convicted and give second chances to deserving longtime inmates.'

Abu-Jama allegedly shot Philly police officer Daniel Faulkner dead on a street corner in 1981

A Washington Free Beacon report last month called attention to Fetterman's hiring of Celeste Trusty to serve as secretary of the board, with the outlet revealing she is a 'friend' and avid supporter of Abu-Jamal, who she regularly writes and calls her 'buddy.'

The report spurred the official to come forward to assert that he has never supported the defund the police movement - another cause woke worker Trusty apparently supports.

'It was always absurd to defund the police,' Fetterman, 53, said this week ahead of his highly anticipated showdown with political newcomer Oz. 'From my own experience, Id say, anytime you have fewer police, you're going to have more crime.'

With that said, Fetterman has still aligned himself with many activists who do support the controversial movement to exonerate Abu-Jamal - a fact that an ever- opportunistic Oz did not fail to hone in on Tuesday by bringing Faulkners widow, Maureen Faulkner, as his guest to the debate.

'Maureen Faulkner is at the debate [as my guest],' Oz tweeted out to his nearly 4million followers on the social media platform before taking a jab at Fetterman for his previous mercy for incarcerated killers and the city's recent crime epidemic.

'Her husband Danny was a Philadelphia police officer who was brutally murdered,' Oz wrote. 'Crime is out of control, but John Fetterman voted repeatedly to release murderers like the one who killed Officer Faulkner.'

The development is further dividing an already polarizing case - with aspiring Pennsylvania senator Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) on Tuesday panning opponent John Fetterman during their politicized debate for allegedly supporting Abu-Jamal's release.

Fetterman has faced scrutiny for his board record, voting to free numerous murderers often against the wishes of families of victims.

Earlier this year, he was the only member of the five-person board to vote last year to pardon Wayne Covington, a man was convicted of first-degree murder after killing a a 18-year-old boy to steal money to buy heroin.

Covington, found guilty of the slaying, struck a plea deal in his case in order to avoid the death penalty.

On Tuesday night, addressing crime and the state's failure to address it, Oz began the Pennsylvania Senate Debate by bringing up Faulkner's widow, in an apparent effort to capitalize on the city's unrest and potential dissatisfaction with officials' lenient treatment of murders.

It comes as gun violence has unquestionably soared in Philadelphia, with more murders last year than any before, and nearly 2,000 gunshot victims this year to date. More than 400 of those were shot fatally.

Fetterman is aligned himself with many activists who do support the movement to exonerate Abu-Jamal - a fact Oz did not fail to hone in on Tuesday by bringing Faulkners widow, Maureen Faulkner, a fierce advocate for sentencing Abu-Jamal to death, as his guest to the debate

'John Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers - convicted and sentenced to life in prison - out of jail as possible,' the TV doctor said of his opponent.

Maureen Faulkner, meanwhile, who did not appear on stage during or after the event but was reportedly watching the proceedings from Oz's studio, has long campaigned for a more stark sentence for her husband's convicted killer.

She has joined the state's Fraternal Order of Police and thousands of Abu-Jamal supporters in calling for the removal of the state's notoriously soft-on-crime District Attorney Larry Krasner from the case, for different reasons.

With that said, the trajectory of the 40-year-old case - as well as the public's perception of it - could change greatly in the coming days as a packed courtroom is expected to convene Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania for Abu-Jamal's latest hearing.

The hearing will determine if Abu-Jamal should be granted a new trial following the alleged discovery by his defense team of new evidence in the case, handed over to the court by the district attorney's office in 2019.

Abu-Jamal's lawyers subsequently petitioned for Wednesday's hearing, citing some of the contents found in six-decade-old filing boxes found in a storage room in the Philadelphia district attorneys office in December 2018.

The existence of the boxes was disclosed to Abu-Jamals lawyers the following month, spurring the petition.

The trajectory of the 40-year-old case - as well as the public's perception of it - could change greatly in the coming days as a packed courtroom is expected to convene Wednesday morning in Pennsylvania for Abu-Jamal's latest hearing

One of the documents found in the boxes was a handwritten letter sent from the states star witness at trial, then 22-year-old cab driver Robert Chobert, to the prosecutor, Joseph McGill.

'I have been calling you to find out about the money own (sic) to me,' Chobert reportedly wrote in the potential bombshell correspondence. "Do you need me to sign anything?' the witness then allegedly asks. 'How long will it take to get it?'

The issues that would stem from such a letter, if legitimate, are obvious.

Abu-Jamals lawyers argue the letter indicates that Chobert 'understood there to be some prior agreement or understanding between himself and the prosecution, such that the prosecution "owed" him money for his testimony.'

The state has since confirmed the legitimacy of the correspondence but has disputed that interpretation, asserting Chobert had been asking for money to compensate himself for lost earnings after the trial had finished.

According to the DA's office, the prosecutor, at the time, merely said he would 'look into it.'

Four years ago, Abu-Jamal's case - which garnered international attention at its height - returned to the limelight, when officials in the Philadelphia district attorneys office came across evidence that seems to suggest ex-radical may have been framed

It is not immediately clear how much Chobert, now 64 and living in Morrisville just outside of Philly, was paid for his participation in the trial, during which he said he saw Abu-Jamal carry out the killing while parked directly behind Faulkners patrol car.

The second witness who testified she saw Abu-Jamal shoot Faulkner was Cynthia White, a prostitute with 38 previous arrests on her record, who is currently serving six life sentences in the 1976 murders of an Indiana couple and their four children.

She was in prison in Massachusetts at the time of the trial, during which time she had five current criminal cases pending against her, including those relating to the aforementioned killings.

Among the previously unfound evidence in the boxes were letters from the DAs office to prosecutors involved in each of the cases against White, which Abu-Jamals lawyers argued 'reveal a concerted effort by Mr McGill and several Philadelphia DA unit chiefs to bring Ms White back from Massachusetts, secure an early trial date in order to expedite her release.'

She has joined the state's Fraternal Order of Police and thousands of Abu-Jamal supporters in calling for the removal of the state's notoriously soft-on-crime District Attorney Larry Krasner from the case, for different reasons.

The attorneys further claimed that after using her to help garner a conviction, prosecutors would then 'ultimately allow her cases to be dismissed.'

Such favorable treatment, they wrote, was designed to make 'life easier for her in exchange for her testimony against Abu-Jamal.'

The lawyers also point out that within the half-dozen boxes - which all bore Abu-Jamals name - were handwritten notes McGill had kept as he reportedly filtered out possible jurors for the trial during selection.

The notes show McGill had placed a large letter 'B' next to any prospective juror who was black, with the prosecutor eventually striking 15 people from the pool  10 of whom were black.

Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of Daniel Faulkner's murder after his brother got into a scuffle with the policeman during a 4am traffic stop in Philadelphia.

Faulkner was shot several times and died at the scene, Abu-Jamal was later found with a bullet wound from Faulker's gun, and a .38 caliber handgun registered to Abu-Jamal was found at the scene.

It took a Pennsylvania jury just three hours to find him guilty and he was sentenced to death.

However, over the years Abu-Jamal challenged the predominantly white makeup of the jury, the instructions given to the jurors, and the accounts of eyewitnesses.

Abu-Jamal had his sentence reduced to life in jail in 2011 after three decades of campaigning by supporters

Skirting a death sentence in the several years since through a series of appeals, Abu-Jamal's case, while contentious, had come to represent for many how the appellate court system can be hurtful to crime victims and their families

He also said that his lawyer was ineffective, that the judge was racist, and that another man confessed to the crime.

The one-time journalist's own 1995 book, 'Live From Death Row,' depicts prison life and calls the justice system racist.

He got worldwide support from the 'Free Mumia' movement, with hundreds of vocal supporters and death-penalty opponents regularly turning out for court hearings in his case.
Two men who were part of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang have lost an appeal against deportation back to Pakistan following a seven-year legal battle, immigration judges have ruled.

Adil Khan, 51, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 52, had been told they are to be deported from the UK for the public good after being part of a gang convicted in 2012 of a catalogue of serious sex offences against young girls.

Judges Charlotte Welsh and Judge Siew Ling Yoke, a diversity and community relations judge, released their 31-page legal ruling today stating that Khan had shown a 'breathtaking lack of remorse' and in his and Rauf's case there was a 'very strong public interest in their removal.'

A decade after they were jailed and following a legal battle involving multiple legal challenges and appeals up to the Court of Appeal, both have been told their challenge against deportation on human rights grounds has failed.

In June, their appeal against deportation was heard before an Immigration Tribunal.

Khan got a girl, 13, pregnant but denied he was the father, then met another girl, 15, and trafficked her to others - using violence when she complained.

He was sentenced to eight years in 2012 and released on licence four years later.

Rauf, a father-of-five, trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex, driving her to secluded areas to have sex with her in his taxi and ferry her to a flat in Rochdale where he and others had sex with her. He was jailed for six years and released in November 2014 after serving two years and six months of his sentence.

Former taxi driver Qari Abdul Rauf, 52, (pictured) and Khan, 51, have been told they are to be sent back to Pakistan for the public good after they were part of a gang convicted of a catalogue of serious sex offences against young girls

Adil Khan got a girl, 13, pregnant but denied he was the father, then met another girl, 15, and trafficked her to others

Khan told the tribunal hearing earlier this year he wanted to stay in the UK to be a 'role model' for his son.

Both men cited their human rights as reason not to be kicked out of the UK and that they had both had certificates 'renouncing' their Pakistani citizenship.

The pair, along with another man Abdul Aziz, had fought and lost a long legal battle against an order depriving them of UK citizenship, the prelude to deportation, losing a final Court of Appeal ruling in 2018.

The failure to then deport them has led to anger in Rochdale, where victims were living alongside their tormentors, and has heaped public criticism on a number of home secretaries.

The tribunal heard Khan and Rauf's reasons for appealing against deportation were on the grounds of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to a private and family life.

Other grounds of appeal cited were 'statelessness' after both renounced his Pakistani nationality, receiving a certificate of proof in September 2018, so could not be returned there.

But this only came after the Court of Appeal decision in June to deport them from the UK, though the deprivation order was only received by them in November 2018.

During the appeal hearing it emerged Abdul Aziz, a ringleader of the gang, had been allowed to remain in the UK because he had also renounced his UK citizenship but earlier than the other two and just days before the Court of Appeal ruling.

Aziz, Khan and Rauf were part of a nine-strong gang of Asian men convicted of sex offences against vulnerable girls in 2012.

For two years from early 2008, girls as young as 12 were plied with alcohol and drugs and gang-raped in rooms above takeaway shops and ferried to different flats in taxis where cash was paid to use the girls.

The Rochdale grooming gang's abuse was dramatised in a BBC programme called Three Girls (pictured)

Police said as many as 47 girls were groomed. During multiple deportation appeal hearings Khan complained about having no rights in the UK and said he needed to remain in the UK to be a role model for his son and teach him, 'right from wrong'.

He also denied grooming offences, saying his prosecution was motivated by racism and claiming he could not groom anyone as he could not speak English.

Home Office lawyers argued the case had taken a 'very long time' and it is in the public interest to deport both men 'as soon as possible'.

Judge Charlotte Welsh granted an application, opposed by the PA news agency and The Sun, for anonymity for the lawyers representing Rauf, who is legally aided, that they should not be named in any report of the hearing.

At an earlier hearing, the KC representing Rauf, who is legally aided, said: 'The matter needs to be thoroughly litigated' and similar cases had gone, 'all the way to Strasbourg'.

Their crimes were dramatised in a BBC show called Three Girls.
Tuesday night's debate between John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz was one of the most difficult that I have ever sat through in my life.

It made me extremely sad. It was uncomfortable to watch. Quite frankly, it never should have happened. But most importantly, Americans cannot pretend that we didn't witness what we witnessed last night.

We saw a man in the throes of a difficult recovery from a stroke. And we were exposed to a political and media scandal. I would go so far as to call it a cover-up.

Now, you cannot be human without feeling for John Fetterman. Above all else, he is a man with a family and a compelling political career. He is a man with hopes and ambitions, who was nearly killed by a stroke as he was on the verge of realizing - no doubt - a dream. And nonetheless, as he said last night, he got back up.

Of course, we've known for weeks that John Fetterman had lingering problems from his stroke.

His campaign put out a statement before the debate saying as much  advising voters that he will be relying on a closed captioning system to convert spoken words into written form so that he can read them, and warning that he might 'mush' words together.

But Tuesday night, he struggled to clearly express his thoughts. Journalists who previously spoke to Fetterman were taken aback.

Charlotte Alter, Time's senior correspondent, tweeted, 'I spoke to Fetterman recently, and I expected him to be very bad tonight. But he was much much worse than I expected (and much worse than in our one-on-one conversation.)'

Tuesday night's debate between John Fetterman (left) and Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) was one of the most difficult that I have ever sat through in my life.

David Axelrod, prominent former senior adviser to Obama, tweeted, 'Fetterman needed to show he's sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.'

A panel of CNN hosts and pundits were disturbed.

'He's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing,' said Alisyn Camerota.

And it wasn't just his inability to communicate that was jarring.

Fetterman tried to go back on his previous positions on fracking and socialized medicine. He continually threw ad hominem attacks at Dr. Oz, and most importantly, he provided zero substance for voters.

Last night wasn't just a tragedy for Fetterman. It was a tragedy for Pennsylvania voters.

Almost 640,000 early votes have already been cast in Pennsylvania. More than 7 in 10 of those voters have been from Democrats. I imagine they were not fully aware of Fetterman's status.

No one was  except those closest to the candidate.

Political and media malpractice led to this moment.

Let me tell you from experience, a lot of people were aware of Fetterman's condition and many staff members are complicit in what happened. Any who thought it smart to suggest to voters that he was able to handle the rigors of the U.S. Senate and then put him that debate stage should never work in politics again.

Barack Obama is supposed to campaign for Fetterman on November 5th. Will this go forward? Does the former president believe this is appropriate?

We will see...

The Fetterman campaign has refused to release his medical records or make his doctors available to the media.

Why? Well, I think we all now know why.

His doctors released notes giving him a clean bill of health, but Dr. Nicole Saphier in a piece for DailyMail.com wrote how those notes fell far short of full transparency.

His recent campaign appearances were limited, and his wife even waved off a reporter asking him a question at a recent event with President Joe Biden in Pittsburgh.

'We're not doing interviews. We're here to celebrate,' she said.

It was a statement I found simultaneously arrogant and bizarre. The man is campaigning for the Senate, he's supposed to take questions.

Gisele Fetterman has said it is bigotry  ableism  to suggest her husband may not be fit to serve.

She has gone so far as to shame NBC News reporter Dasha Burns, who bravely did her job when she interviewed Fetterman and remarked that he didn't seem to understand her questions.

Mrs. Fetterman even demanded there be 'consequences' for Burns doing her job.

A panel of CNN hosts and pundits were disturbed. 'He's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing,' said Alisyn Camerota (in pink above).

Mrs. Fetterman even demanded there be 'consequences' for Burns (above left) doing her job.

Which brings me to my second point about Tuesday night  the exposure of egregious media malpractice.

There are too many so-called reporters to count who vouched for John Fetterman. Remember their names: Molly Jong Fast, Kara Swisher, Rebecca Traister and John Hendrickson just to name a few.

Hardly anyone came to Dasha Burns' defense. In fact, major media figures, like Swisher, brought out the pitchfork and claimed the reporter was to blame. Maybe Burns is bad at 'small talk,' tweeted Swisher.

The message was clear, if you dare to report on Fetterman's condition your career is in jeopardy.

The Washington Post and Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh Gazette called for Fetterman release his medical records weeks ago, but the silence from the rest of the media has been deafening.

Potentially, one of the most egregious examples of media malpractice was committed on the part of MSNBC.

A source told DailyMail.com that in three of four interviews that John Fetterman conducted on the cable news network between the time of his stroke and the Burns interview, closed captioning was used and not disclosed to the audience.

In one of the interviews, on September 16, Fetterman raised the issue himself.

'I'm speaking with closed captioning right now, just because after the stroke that could have taken my life, the actual -- is the lingering issue of auditory processing,' he said.

However, in the three other interviews, on August 31st, September 20th and October 4th this accommodation was not discussed.

In a statement, Rod Hicks, Director of Ethics and Diversity for the Society of Professional Journalists, told DailyMail.com in response to an inquiry about this, 'Citizens deserve to know a lot about candidates seeking public office, including any serious medical issues, so they can make their own assessment of the candidates' ability to effectively perform the duties of the office. The role of journalists is to provide  not withhold  this information.'

The sheer ugly truth is that the media didn't want to know because this Senate seat is too critical to them.

It gives Democrats a chance to hold on to the Senate, so the vast majority of those in the media don't want to consider whether a candidate who suffered a stroke is healthy and fit to serve.

Gisele Fetterman (above right) even waved off a reporter asking her husband a question at a recent event with President Joe Biden in Pittsburgh.

In a way, they don't care about Fetterman. He's not a person, he's a warm body to fill a seat and he fits the correct political agenda.

David Sirota, a journalist for The Guardian, said the quiet part out loud. 'Being a senator is America's easiest job,' he tweeted. 'You just have to sit there and say 'yay' or 'nay.' Kara Swisher retweeted it. Before Sirota took it town.

I thought the left cared about democracy? Now, it doesn't matter whom we elect?

Finally, partisans on the left call reasonable people who witnessed what happened last night  ableists. That's absurd.

Of course, Americans with disabilities deserve accommodation, compassion and respect. But let's not twist the meaning of the word to justify partisan politics.

Ableism is discrimination against a person based on his physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities, who is otherwise qualified to do a job.

We all witnessed John Fetterman last night and we can all evaluate his ability to serve as an individual in the United States Senate for ourselves.

A U.S. Senate seat is not guaranteed to anyone. No one is entitled to it, no matter what their personal struggles are. A U.S. Senate seat must be earned through persuasion of the people. It is the people who are served by their senator. Not the other way around.

This seems to be something our political establishment and mainstream media has either forgotten or ignored.

Pennsylvanians deserve better. They have been treated like they are stupid. People to be manipulated by a political and media elite who think they know better.

John Fetterman deserves better.
Harrowing images have emerged of the moment an hysterical newlywed bride was led away from the scene of her husband's murder in Mexico with her white wedding dress soaked in his blood.

Antonio Rosales Contreras, 32, a computer systems engineer who married his lawyer fiancee in her home city of Caborca in Sonora, was gunned down mere feet away from their wedding guests on Saturday just minutes after tying the knot.

Medics descended on the scene, administering CPR and loading the stricken Contreras into an ambulance.

But he died on his way to the hospital as a result of his injuries, according to local media reports.

The devastated bride was seen being dragged away from her husband's motionless body by a wedding guest, her dove-white dress soaked with deep red patches having been dragged through her husband's blood pooling on the floor.

The victim's sister, Michele Adriana, 23, was also shot in the back in the attack, but is said to be recovering from her injuries.

This horrifying image shows the moment a newlywed bride was led away from the scene of her husband's shooting with her white wedding dress soaked in his blood

Picture shows the unidentified bride and Antonio Rosales Contreras. The groom was killed leaving the wedding, in Caborca, Mexico, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

The governor of Sonora, Alfonso Durazo, stated that the incident may have been a 'direct attack', arguing that local residents should therefore not be alarmed.

He added: 'The first lines of investigation suggest that it was an attack specifically directed against the person who unfortunately lost his life.'

The Sonora governor was then accused of playing down the levels of violence in a region plagued by insecurities in a number of online comments after he allegedly described the incident as a one-off attack and was quoted as stating that there was no need for public 'psychosis' by Mexican journalist Michelle Rivera.

But on Sunday night, state officials announced that no line of investigation had been ruled out.

The Sonora Attorney General's Office said that although Contreras' murder was likely a 'direct attack', it is believed the bullets may have been intended for someone else, making the slaughter a tragic case of mistaken identity.

'Investigations indicate that the attack was directed towards another individual who was also getting married at the same time in a different nearby city,' the statement read.

Another man was reportedly shot at his wedding in a neighboring city on the same night, according to local media, underscoring the escalating violence in the region.

Picture shows wedding guests and emergency crew with the victim in a stretcher, at the church, in Caborca, Mexico, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022

Located in the north east of Mexico, Caborca is home to an eponymous cartel presided over by Rafael Caro Quintero, who as earned the moniker 'narco of narcos' due to his notoriety.

Quintero has been entrenched in the drug running industry for decades, and stands accused of torturing and murdering a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in 1985.

He was arrested in Mexico earlier this year and is currently awaiting extradition to the US.

Despite the innumerable examples of lethal violence on the streets, Americans are flocking to Mexico with travel now eclipsing pre-pandemic levels, according to Mexico's Tourism Department.

But a security expert has warned that heading south of the border remains 'risky', with the US State Department having issued a travel warning for the country in late September.

Former DEA Special Agent Derek Maltz told The Courier-Journal that he cautioned a friend against sending his daughter for spring break in the Cancun, one of the top six cities tourists prefer to visit in Caribbean coastal state of Quintana Roo.

A series of mid-August weekend attacks across the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Baja California by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel prompted the State Department to issue the travel advisory.

The government implored American citizens not to travel to the states of Colima, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Michoacan and Sinaloa as a result of the escalating number of brutal attacks in tourist hotspots.

Security cameras show how armed drug dealing gang wandered through Hyatt beach front hotel in Mexico before gunning down two rival dealers in November 2021

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is said to have been responsible for unleashing a wave of attacks in August across the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Baja California, torching several businesses and vehicles

Still image from a surveillance camera showed how a man pulled out a gun at the Hotel Xcaret in Playa del Carmen before two Canadian men were murdered inside a restaurant in January

Everard Meade, director of Proceso Pacifico, a peace-building organization based in Mexico, also suggested that tourists stay away from the Guerrero resort town of Acapulco.

At least 236 people were murdered from January to June in the region this year, in comparison with 213 during the same period in 2021.

'Acapulco is the one place where I would really tell people to hesitate. And I hate doing it,' Meade said.

The Department of State advisory also urged prospective visitors to reconsider traveling to the states of Sonora, Morelos, Guanajuato, Durango, Chihuahua, Baja California (where the August attacks took place), and Jalisco, the site of a mall shooting Sunday that left a bodyguard dead after Jalisco New Generation Cartel gunmen attempted to kidnap a businessman at a mall in broad daylight.

The US government also listed 16 states and Mexico City, the capital, as places where Americans have to 'exercise increased caution.'
A Malibu school district is ordered to pay $45 million to a family of autistic twins who were routinely abused by a school aid.

Last week, a Los Angeles judge ruled in favor of Charles and Nadine Wong and their now 12-year-old sons on October 20 after the couple alleged the boys were physically abused as second graders at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School by instructional aid Galit Gottlieb.

The lawsuit against Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District was filed in 2019 and said the abuse was initially reported by a bus driver that saw Gottlieb restrain and put hand sanitizer on the then eight-year-old boy's cuts during the 2017-18 school year.

The Wongs claimed in the lawsuit that the second graders were abused for months which led to 'significant challenges' with behavior and communication.

'As a parent, you know something is wrong when your child is treating everyone different,' Nadine Wong told ABC 7. 'You know yourself and you look at your child and you say, "What has happened to you?" But they can't tell us.'

Charles Wong added: 'Finally, we can prove what they did. It's out in the open now and the jury saw it.'

Nadine and Charles Wong filed a lawsuit in 2019 after discovering their twin boys with autism were being routinely abused by an instructional aid. A Los Angeles ruled in favor of the family receiving a $45 million settlement on October 20

The boys were eight-years-old at the time of the abuse during the 2017-18 school year at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School

The couple claimed the boys were physically abused as second graders at Juan Cabrillo Elementary School (above) by instructional aid Galit Gottlieb

The Wongs later told Rappler.com earlier this year that they would see hand prints and scratches on their children's bodies but the twins couldn't speak.

Before the abuse came to light, the couple went as far as seeking advice from medical professionals but couldn't find the issue.

'We found out that the aide of the boys was twisting his arm, trying to get him to comply, was pushing his hands down on the seat, was restraining him without any type of authorization to restrain him,' Mr. Wong said in April.

The abuse was reported by multiple staff members to school administrators, but action wasn't taken until a teacher made an official report to police, according to Attorney Omar Qureshi, one of the two representatives on the Wongs' legal team.

'A teacher at the school made a report of child abuse,' Qureshi told ABC 7. 'That got the sheriffs sent over to the Wongs' house to check up on the boys and that's where the family learned that there was abuse in the classroom.'

Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati said the school board will be requesting an independent review for the decision because officials believe the $45 million is too much

Once police arrived at the Wongs' home, the couple instantly connected the abuse to the change in their children's behavior.

Attorney David W. German, who also represents the family, told the Santa Monica Daily Press: 'District administrators failed the twins by allowing them to be abused for months despite clear warning they were being harmed. Even now, they refuse to acknowledge the extent of the harm their employee caused. Fortunately, the jury saw through their continued attempt cover-up what occurred.'

Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati said in a statement to the SMDP that the well-being of students is the priority but the school board believes the amount awarded is excessive.

'This decision sends a clear message that students well-being must always be a priority, and we agree completely with this value proposition; however, the Board of Education feels that the amount awarded is excessive given the fact of the case, so we will [be] asking for an independent review of the decision.'

The Wongs said earlier this year that they would see hand prints and scratches on their children's bodies but the twins couldn't speak

Attorney Omar Qureshi (left) and David German (right) represented the Wong family in the lawsuit

The legal ruling comes after five daycare workers in Mississippi were charged with child abuse after a shocking video emerged of one of the workers wearing a frightening Halloween mask to terrify 'bad' children.

The Lil' Blessings Childcare workers - Sierra McCandless, Oci-Anna Kilburn, Shyenne Shelton, Jennifer Newman and Traci Huston - were charged this week.

The horrific video that went viral earlier this month showed several workers scaring multiple toddlers into behaving. One worker in the video can be heard telling the masked monster to avoid certain toddlers who have 'been good,' saying 'don't get her.'

Sierra McCandless, also known as CeeCee by the children, was the one behind the Scream-like Halloween mask.

In one of the horrific videos, McCandless was seen grabbing children who were running away in terror as she got inches away from their faces.

Newman, Shelton, Kilburn and McCandless face three counts of child abuse for participating mayhem and Hutson faces two charges for not reporting the abuse, according to ABC News.

Sierra McCandless (left), also known as CeeCee by the children, was the one behind the Scream-like Halloween mask. She posted a groveling apology to Facebook. Traci Hutson (right) is charged with failing to report the child abuse

Shynne Shelton (left) was among the woman charged, as well as Oci-Anna Kilburn (right)
Monzon has a prominent history of violence and racist comments most notably spotted at the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia

Its believed Monzon suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw and will need facial reconstructive surgery

Christopher Monzon, 27, was brutally beaten by people who allegedly said Republicans 'weren't allowed' in the Hialeah Florida neighborhood

A second suspect has been arrested for the brutal beating of a GOP campaign volunteer in Hialeah Florida, after it was revealed the victim is a 'former' neo-Nazi.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital Johnathan Alexander Casanova, 27, allegedly joined Javier Lopez, 25, in attacking Christopher Monzon, 27, a canvasser for Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio on Sunday night.

They're accused of telling Monzon the area he was in banned Republicans from visiting, before launching the assault.

'After tirelessly working to bring justice to the victim, Hialeah Police Detectives have arrested and charged Jonathan Alexander Casanova for the attack which occurred on Sunday, October 23, 2022,' Sergeant Jose Torres said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Monzon has a prominent history of violence and racist comments most notably spotted at the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

There, white nationalists held a torchlight procession through the streets, resulting in the death of a counter-protester named Heather Heyer.

Back in 2017, the then-22-year-old was also arrested at a protest in Hollywood ahead of a city commission meeting over whether to change the name of streets honoring Confederate leaders, according to the Miami New Times.

Police accused Monzon, a counter-protester who was wearing a shirt that said 'League of the South,' of jabbing a flag, containing a Confederate design, at people.

At the time, he faced charges of aggravated assault, inciting a riot and disorderly conduct.

Police have arrested Johnathan Alexander Casanova, 27, (pictured) in relation to an alleged assault of a canvasser for Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio that took place on Sunday night

According to an arrest affidavit Casanova joined Javier Lopez, 25, (pictured) in attacking the canvasser and allegedly said he 'wasn't allowed' in their neighborhood in Hialeah Florida

Christopher Monzon (pictured) was revealed to be the victim and has a prominent history of violence and racist comments most notably spotted at the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Virginia

White nationalists held a torchlight procession through the streets, resulting in the death of a counter-protester

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors domestic extremism, the League of the South is a 'neo-Confederate' hate group.

Last year Monzon told Daily Dot he had reformed while running for public office in South Florida.

Over the summer the 'former' white supremacist was paid more than $10,000 by the Republican Party of Florida between June and September, records from the Federal Election Commission show.

Rubio came out swinging in defense of the volunteer on Monday, as he shared photos of the man lying in a hospital bed, and tweeted that he was beaten by people who said Republicans 'weren't allowed' in the Hialeah, Florida area.

It's believed the campaigner suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw and will need facial reconstructive surgery, Rubio's post read.

'Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a Desantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans weren't allowed in their neighborhood in #Hialeah #Florida.

'He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery.'

Back in 2017, the then-22-year-old Monzon was also arrested at a protest in Hollywood ahead of a city commission meeting over whether to change the name of streets honoring Confederate leaders

Police accused Monzon, a counter-protester who was wearing a shirt that said 'League of the South,' of jabbing a flag, containing a Confederate design, at people. He faced charges of aggravated assault, inciting a riot and disorderly conduct

Miami's racist "Cuban-American 'Clayton Bigsby'" charges activists protesting streets honoring Confederate generals https://t.co/rJy3FOxAjW pic.twitter.com/SjRAK3RtLD  Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 31, 2017

In the disturbing images, the 27-year-old canvasser can be seen being looked after by emergency services with a bruised and bleeding face wearing campaign merchandise.

On Monday police in Hialea, Florida arrested a 25-year-old suspect named Javier Lopez, according to a statement sent to DailyMail.com. However, it made no mention of political animosity as described by Rubio.

Lopez allegedly 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,' the statement continued.

'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.

Rubio posted photos of the 27-year-old canvasser with a bruised and bleeding face in the care of emergency services wearing a campaign shirt (pictured)

It's alleged that the young republican (pictured) suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw and will need facial reconstructive surgery

According to Hialea Police the victim (pictured) tried to avoid the confrontation by walking across the street where he was again confronted

Monzon was supported by fellow Republicans as he left hospital

Mayor 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 Democratic House Rep. Val Demings

The canvasser was also wearing a Ron DeSantis hat in support of the Florida governor

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.
A brave 97-year-old woman fought off a mugger who tried to steal her Pomeranian dog in New York while menacing her with an umbrella.

The unlikely heroine bravely defied the crook after he set upon her in Brooklyn - as New York battles soaring crime rates.

Despite her age, the woman was able to resist and escape unharmed along with her dog, the NYPD said.

NYPD Crime Stoppers has released CCTV footage of the suspect behind the incident on Monday at around 2pm, near Dahill Road and 24th Avenue.

A statement said: 'The suspect menaced a 97-year-old female victim with an umbrella while demanding her dog. Her and the dog fled unharmed.'

A $3,500 reward has been offered to catch the perpetrator.

The suspect is described as a black male with a bald head. He was wearing a black outfit, black glasses and prowling the street with a black umbrella.

The robbery attempt comes as certain types of violent crime, including felony assaults and robbery, soar in the city.

Overall crime is up around 30 percent so far this year, with Mayor Eric Adams under pressure to tackle the surge.

Driving the increase is a more than 35 percent increase in the number of robberies, and a 32.4 percent increase in burglaries.

Felony assaults are also up 15 per cent over last year, while grand larcenies are up 43 percent. Rapes have also risen by 11 percent.

The suspect was prowling the streets with an umbrella which he used to 'menace' the woman

The NYPD say the man tried to steal her Pomeranian (file picture) but she fled with her dog

Overall crime in New York City has increased by 30.5 percent compared with last year

The rise includes a spate of subway 'pusher' attacks with commuters shoved onto tracks. David Martin, 32, suffered a fractured collarbone when a violent shove (pictured) sent him flying

Mayor Eric Adams has promised to address the influx of incidents plaguing the city, including its embattled subway system, but has so far made little headway.

Transit-related crimes have increased 43 per cent in the last 12 months in addition to a 16 per cent growth in felony assault charges, according to police records.

Adams, himself a former NYPD cop, recently sparked anger after blaming news outlets for worsening the 'perception' of crime on the subways with grim reports on multiple serious attacks.

But official NYPD data shows that transit crimes have indeed rocketed by a huge 41 per cent year on year. So far this year, there have been more than 1,800 transit crimes, compared to just over 1,300 for the same period of 2021.

Meanwhile, subway murders have risen to their highest level in 25 years with nine reported so far this year.

The NYPD has added around 1,200 officers per day to subway stations amid the surge in crime

The mayor has claimed there is only a 'perception' that crime is out of control on the subway

Adams recently met commuters in a show of solidary amid fears about safety on the subway

Assaults on the subway system are also up 17 percent from the same time last year, with 431 attacks reported as of October 16 compared to 370 at the same time last year.

Murders and shootings overall in New York City are down marginally by a respective 14 and 12 percent from 2021 when officials recorded 485 murders - the most in the city in a decade.

The current murder rate, with more than two months of the year to go, is already higher than annual averages recorded since 2011, before unrest brought by the pandemic caused killings to spike.

Governor Kathy Hochul enraged New Yorkers on Tuesday night by recently asking why bail reforms that many believe have caused New York City's spiraling crime problem are 'so important'.

The attempted dog theft happened in Brooklyn on Monday afternoon but the woman escaped

Republican Lee Zeldin challenged Hochul over the state-wide reforms that were brought in under former Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2019, and which released thousands of 'low level' offenders from custody back into the streets.

Many New Yorkers believe it is one of the key contributors to the city's worsening crime problem now.

'We're half way through the debate and she still hasn't talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes,' Zeldin said during a fiery TV debate.

Hochul replied: 'Anyone who commits a crime under our laws, especially with the change they made to bail, has consequences.

'I don't know why that's so important to you.'
He blamed Kerrie and went to the house, smashing the window with a rock

A young man who stabbed and killed an intruder who smashed his window and broke into his home has been jailed for three-and-a-half years by Ireland's Central Criminal Court.

Dean Kerrie, 21, was entitled to defend himself, the judge found  but he said that the use of force was excessive.

Kerrie was 17 at the time, but the court case lasted years before a sentence could be announced.

The judge imposed a sentence of four years and six months, but suspended the final year.

The last year of the sentence is backdated to June 30 of 2022, to take into account time Kerrie has already spent in custody.

The young man said he was defending his mother during the attack.

Dean Kerrie (21) was found guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday and jailed for three-and-a-half years after stabbing a man who broke into his home

Jack Power (pictured) was fatally stabbed in the incident

Kerrie stabbed Jack Power  a fisherman described as tall and well-built  when the man entered his home at Shanakiel in Dunmore East, Waterford in the early hours of July 26, 2018.

Power had been drinking when he returned home at around 3am to discover his car had been damaged.

He believed Kerrie had wrecked the car, and went to confront the teenager, according to The Mirror.

The fisherman smashed the front window of the Kerrie home with a rock before entering through the front door.

Kerrie told the police that he found a knife by the side of the bed and stabbed Power after his mother was attacked.

The sitting judge said he doubted Kerrie's version of events, however, noting that he 'armed himself quickly'.

The harbour of Dunmore East in Waterford, where the stabbing occurred, is pictured

Kerrie was twice tried for murder but was eventually convicted by a jury of manslaughter for killing Power in July, sentenced on Wednesday.

An adult who had committed the same crime would have faced a headline sentence of seven years, the judge added.

Mr Justice McDermott said: 'Nothing I do or say will alleviate this suffering. The sentence I impose must be proportionate to the gravity of the offence of manslaughter and also appropriate to his [Kerrie's] circumstances.'
Former two-term Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Wednesday that fellow Democrat John Fetterman should not have agreed to rival Dr. Mehmet Oz on the terms both men agreed to in Harrisburg last night.

Rendell, a longtime party loyalist who once helmed the Democratic National Committee, blamed the format, while acknowledging that Fetterman struggled on stage.

'No, he shouldn't have, particularly the format,' Rendell said, when asked if Fetterman should have done the debate.

'The format was very difficult for John  15-second answers on rebuttal, 15 seconds isn't time enough for anybody to formulate an answer,' Rendell told CNN.

''The format was very difficult for John,' said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who said he would not have advised Lt. Gov. John Fetterman to do the debate under the agreed upon format

He spoke hours after Fetterman struggled to respond to a question on his change of position on fracking, and sometimes struggled for words as the candidate said he might at the top of the debate, as DailyMail.com reported Tuesday.

'So I think he had a tough time struggling with the format. But his cognitive abilities are great.' Rendell said he was at a fundraiser with Fetterman last week, calling his cognitive abilities good.

'You don't have to worry, he will be in great shape when he takes office in January,' said Rendell.

One Democratic lawmaker asked Axios: 'Why the hell did Fetterman agree to this?' The lawmaker added: 'This will obviously raise more questions than answers about John's health.'

David Axelrod, a Democrat strategist who served as a senior adviser to Obama, tweeted: 'Fetterman needed to show he's sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.'

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman (left) at points struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Republican Dr Mehmet Oz (right)

Sparring with Rendell was former Pennsylvania GOP congressman Charlie Dent, who usually uses his TV commentator appearances to part ways with Donald Trump.

But on Wednesday, Dent gave poor reviews to Fetterman, who is seeking to wrest a seat from GOP hands and potentially keep the Senate under Democratic control.

'I have been saying for some time that the Fetterman campaign has not been transparent and they have understated the severity of his health situation,' said Dent. 'I have functional eyes and functional ears and I know what i witnessed last night. He is simply not ready to serve. I don't know if it's the stroke or if he is a poor debater or if he has a problem with public policy, of articulating those issues, but I walked away astounded and stunned,' said Dent.'

'I don't know anyone, even the most staunch Fetterman supporters, who think that went well last night,' a senior Pennsylvania Democrat told Reuters Wednesday.

The Fetterman camp thinks it has at least one bright spot, in Oz's comment on involving 'local political leaders' in abortion decisions a woman faces.

'Our campaign will be putting money behind making sure as many women as possible hear Dr. Oz's radical belief that 'local political leaders' should have as much say over a woman's abortion decisions as women themselves and their doctors,' said Fetterman campaign spokesman.Joe Calvello.

The reviews by former officeholders and advisors came after the sponsor of the Pennsylvania Senate debate denied allegations from Fetterman's campaign that closed-captioning 'errors' led to the Democratic candidate's disastrous performance.

During the Tuesday night debacle, Fetterman struggled to respond to the moderator's questions during his debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz. He missed words and paused awkwardly as he answered questions.

His campaign blamed the closed-captioning system, which Fetterman was allowed to use as he is still recovering from a stroke he had in May. Above the moderators were two 70-inch monitors to show the text of what was being said during the question and answer session.

'He did remarkably well tonight  especially when you consider that he's still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors. John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Oz's cruelty and attacks,' Fetterman communications director Joe Calvello said after the debate.

But Nexstar, the news outlet that hosted the debate, pushed back, saying the closed captioning process was working. The company used professional typists to transcribe what was happening in near real-time.

'Nexstar's production team went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the effectiveness of the closed captioning process, and to accommodate several last-minute requests of the Fetterman campaign,' Nexstar communications chief Gary Weitman said in a statement said.

'The closed captioning process functioned as expected during rehearsal and again during tonight's debate. We regret that Mr. Fetterman and his campaign feel otherwise.'

He also said Fetterman didn't take his practice opportunities in order to be better prepared for the evening.

'It is unfortunate that Mr. Fetterman is now criticizing the closed captioning process employed by Nexstar during tonight's debate,' Weitman said.

'Both candidates agreed to the technical set-up for the closed captioning process weeks ago, which was implemented at the request of the Fetterman campaign. Both candidates were offered the opportunity for two full rehearsals with the same equipment used in tonight's debate; Mr. Fetterman chose to do only one,' he noted.

Oz, the Republican nominee and a former television personality, was comfortable on camera as he reeled off zingers against Fetterman.

A snap poll from WPXI Online showed Oz was the clear winner of the night with 82%. Fetterman garnered a mere 18%.

Democrats - many of whom are Fetterman supporters - bemoaned the night.

'Why the hell did Fetterman agree to this?' one Democratic lawmaker and Fetterman backer told Axios. 'This will obviously raise more questions than answers about John's health.'

And a senior Democratic official in Pennsylvania told Axios: 'I wished Fetterman was in a better place to clap back. Overall, I argue it wasn't great for us but still a draw. Remember in these next few weeks that Oz's campaign is spending tens of millions of dollars against a man with a major medical condition.'

Even a CNN panel widely panned the Democrat hopeful.

Separately, Chris Cuomo said he 'struggled' and Barack Obama's former senior adviser saying Fetterman 'did not help' his cause.

'Hi, goodnight everyone,' Democratic populist Fetterman opened the night's highly anticipated match-up.

Fetterman, 53, is suffering some lingering speech and auditory impediments from a stroke he suffered in May.

He addressed his health at the start of the night.

'Let's also talk about the elephant in the room: I had a stroke,' he said in his opening remarks, adding of Oz: 'He'll never let me forget that.'

In advance of the debate - the only one for the Pennsylvania Senate race - Fetterman's campaign had tempered expectations, saying there would be 'awkward pauses' and 'delays and errors,' because the Democrat would be reading closed captioning due to his auditory processing issue.

As Fetterman struggled, giving a halting and choppy, Oz turned on the charm he had honed over 13 seasons of his show, and attacked Fetterman for being 'extreme.' The pauses and stumbles happened throughout the debate.

The two men are fighting to claim outgoing GOP Senator Pat Toomey's seat in the November 8 election. Polls show the race is essentially tied and the winner will help decide which party controls the Senate next year.

At one point during the debate, Fetterman was asked to clarify his position on fracking, as moderators pointed to a 2018 interview where the lieutenant governor expressed broad opposition to the practice, but not a ban.

'I do support fracking - I don't, I don't - I support fracking, and I do support fracking,' he answered.

He landed a somewhat confusing jab on his opponent for his own support of fossil fuels, declaring that Oz 'has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about.'

At another instance, Fetterman was asked specifically about charges Oz made about some of the Democrat's campaign ads being pulled down for being factually inaccurate. Fetterman, instead, stuck to the topic of abortion.

'I'm going to let Mr Fetterman respond specifically to the ads being pulled off the air, and we're going to return to you, Mr Oz,' said one of the moderators.

Fetterman didn't acknowledge the question.

'Yeah, I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. If you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz, than you have a choice, but if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for,' Fetterman said.

'Roe v. Wade for me, should be the law, he celebrated when it went down. And my campaign would fight for Roe v. Wade - and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.'

Over the course of the debate, Fetterman twice refused to release his full medical record to the public.

'My doctor ultimately believes that I'm fit to be serving and that's what I believe,' Fetterman said.

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (left) debated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

Both candidates opened the debate in attack mode.

'I'm running to serve Pennsylvania, he's running to use Pennsylvania,' Fetterman said of Oz.

'Here's a man who spent more than $20 million of his own money to try and buy that seat.'

Fetterman also labeled Oz a 'liar' and chided the TV doctor for having 10 houses, saying that he couldn't understand the struggles of everyday Pennsylvanians.

The lieutenant governor attacked Oz for having products with his name on them made in China.

After it wrapped, a CNN panel of lawmakers and pundits shared a damning assessment of Fetterman's performance.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he was 'astounded' and 'stunned' by Fetterman's poor performance, while Alyssa Farah Griffin, Donald Trump's former communications director, said she found it 'painful to watch'.

Even CNN host, Alisyn Camerota, said she was disturbed by the spectacle.

CNN's panel on Tuesday night was highly critical of Fetterman's performance

Camerota, right, said that she felt Fetterman was not speaking with his previous clarity

Charlie Dent, a Republican former congressman, was strident in his criticism of Fetterman's performance on Tuesday night

'I've interviewed him many times as lieutenant governor,' said Camerota.

'And he sounds - he's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing.'

Dent said Fetterman was not fit to be on the debate stage.

'I thought someone should have invoked the mercy rule 20 minutes into the debate,' he said.

'I don't know if it was the stroke or he's just a lousy debater or if he doesn't understand the issues.

'He was flustered he, was confused. He should have not been out there.

'And I've had a number of people say why was this guy in on the ballot after that?

'I don't know if the debates matter that much. But people watch that, they are going to question his capacity to serve.

'The bar was set very low. It should've been set lower.'

Griffin agreed.

'I want to be careful because I think some of the most consequential leaders in history have had different kinds of disabilities. I don't think it should preclude someone from serving,' she said.

'But what we saw today was someone who was not ready to be in office.

'And the lack of transparency leading up to this actually shocked people watching.

'I found it extremely hard to watch.

'And the question I found myself asking is: is the way that he's struggling a result of his stroke? Or is it because he does not have a grasp on the issues?'

On NewsNation, disgraced former CNN host Chris Cuomo said he was troubled by the performance.

'John Fetterman struggled,' Cuomo said. 'He clearly is dealing with health issues that affect his ability to process and his ability to speak. Clearly, fitness for office is going to be on the table.'

He added: 'That may not be fair, to some, for me to say - but if the voters aren't talking about it, I'll be shocked.'

And while some praised Fetterman's bravery in appearing on the debate stage at all, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, said: 'There is no amount of empathy for and understanding about Fetterman's health and recovery that changes the fact that this is absolutely painful to watch.'

Republican critics were gleeful.

'OMG John Fetterman it's worse than any of us could have ever imagined,' tweeted Donald Trump Jr.

'At this point the moderator is filibustering to make sure he doesn't get any more Qs. I think that's 4 in a row to @DrOz.

'Even today's partisan hack media can't cover for Fetterman being brain dead!'

And Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's speechwriter, tweeted: 'Just so we are all clear: that was Fetterman WITH weeks of prep and specialized computer assistance throughout.

'So what you just saw is the very, very best Fetterman can do. Which is terrifying.'

For his part, Oz did not hesitate to go after Fetterman on crime - a hot button issue for Republicans stuck in close races across the country..

'John Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers - convicted and sentenced to life in prison - out of jail as possible,' the TV doctor said.

After Oz said Fetterman had called the Pennsylvania energy industry a 'stain' on the state, the Democrat pounced.

'He has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about,' Fetterman said.

A new poll taken up until the day before John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz's first and only debate shows the Democrat's lead over his Trump-backed rival sitting at only 2 percent

Oz confirmed that he didn't believe the minimum wage in Pennsylvania should be raised to $15 across the board, explaining he wanted to preserve the right for businesses to pay workers less.

'I think market forces have already driven up the minimum wage,' Oz said.

'But John Fetterman thinks the minimum wage is the weekly allowance from his parents.'

On abortion, Oz said he didn't think the federal government should handle the decision - suggesting he wouldn't support Senator Lindsey Graham's 15-week federal abortion ban, but not answering the question directly.

'I want women, doctors, local political leaders, leading the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive,' Oz said.

'To put the best ideas where states can decide for themselves.'

Oz had moderated his position, having previously called abortion at any stage 'murder.'

Fetterman has consistently had a small edge in polls, which continues, though several recent surveys show it's close.

On Tuesday, a CBS News survey put the distance between the two candidates at two points.

According to the survey, 51 percent of likely Keystone State voters back Fetterman, compared to 49 percent who back Oz.

The Democratic populist's lead falls well within the 4.4-percent margin of error.
Rishi Sunak has restored a ban on fracking after it was briefly lifted during Liz Truss's premiership, Downing Street confirmed today.

The new Prime Minister has returned to a Tory manifesto commitment - made ahead of the 2019 general election - to a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of shale gas.

Ms Truss had performed a U-turn on that pledge during her seven-week spell in No10.

She had argued fracking would help boost Britain's energy security in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But the move was met be fierce opposition - including among Tory MPs - and saw a chaotic House of Commons vote on the issue last week.

The shambolic scenes in Parliament proved to be a deciding factor in Ms Truss's downfall.

Mr Sunak has now reversed Ms Truss's U-turn and re-committed to the 2019 promise.

Rishi Sunak has returned to a Tory manifesto commitment - made ahead of the 2019 general election - to a moratorium on fracking

Operations at the Preston New Road site near Blackpool were suspended in 2019 following the recording of tremors

The new PM was quizzed on fracking during his first Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon.

Green MP Caroline Lucas asked Mr Sunak if he would maintain the moratorium on fracking now that he had replaced 'reckless' Ms Truss.

'Yesterday, he promised to fix her mistakes, as well as to uphold his partys 2019 manifesto,' she asked.

'If he is a man of his word, will he start by reversing the green light she gave to fracking - since it has been categorically shown not to be safe - and instead maintain the moratorium that was pledged in that very manifesto he promised to uphold?'

The PM replied: 'I have already said that I stand by the manifesto on that.'

Mr Sunaks official spokesman later confirmed that Mr Sunak was committed to the effective ban on fracking set out in the Tories' 2019 manifesto.

That document, written under Boris Johnson's leadership, stated: 'We placed a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect.

'Having listened to local communities, we have ruled out changes to the planning system.

'We will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.'

The moratorium on fracking was introduced by Mr Johnson in November 2019 amid concerns about earthquakes being triggered by the process.

It came weeks after operations at the Preston New Road site near Blackpool had been suspended following the recording of tremors.

Pro-fracking campaigners had amplified their calls for the effective ban to be overturned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which caused gas prices to rocket.

They have also claimed the risk of significant earthquakes from fracking was being overstated by opponents.

Responding to the PM's reinstatement of the fracking ban, Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said: 'Last week Rishi Sunak voted against Labour's fracking ban, but this week his spokespeople tell us he is in favour of the temporary moratorium on fracking in the Conservative manifesto.

'Whatever their latest position, the truth is that the Tories have shown that they cannot be trusted on the issue of fracking.

'The only way to guarantee that fracking will be banned for good is to elect a Labour government.'




Jo Sang-jun, a deputy director of the National Intelligence Service who is considered a confidant of President Yoon Suk-yeol, has offered to resign for unclear reasons, multiple parliamentary sources said Wednesday.







The NIS confirmed Jo has offered to step down for personal reasons, but did not provide details.







Jo is not expected to attend a parliamentary audit of the agency scheduled for Wednesday, the sources said.







A former senior prosecutor, Jo is known as one of Yoon's close aides, along with Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon.







He was appointed to the NIS post in June. (Yonhap)


A South Carolina judge has order former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to testify before a grand jury in a Georgia 2020 election meddling case.

'I am going to find that the witness is material and necessary to the investigation and that the state of Georgia is assuring not to cause undue hardship to him,' Judge Edward Miller said Wednesday morning at the end of a hearing.

The case is being tried in South Carolina because Meadows now lives there and Atlanta-area prosecutors sought an order forcing his compliance with their subpoena.

Meadows, 63, had been trying to avoid appearing before the jury investigating election interference by Trump and his allies.

Meadows, 63, had been trying to avoid appearing before the jury investigating election interference by Trump and his allies

'I am going to find that the witness is material and necessary to the investigation and that the state of Georgia is assuring not to cause undue hardship to him,' Judge Edward Miller said Wednesday morning at the end of a hearing

Meadows' lawyer James Bannister said he would appeal the decision.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is spearheading the grand jury investigation, which was prompted by a phone call between former President Trump and Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger where Trump told Raffensperger to 'find' 11,000 votes to secure him a win over President Biden in the Peach State.

The investigation has swelled to include a fake electors plot where Trump allies presented slideshows to Georgia lawmakers promoting voter fraud claims.

Willis has said she hopes to be able to 'send the grand jury on their way' by the end of the year.

Atlanta area investigators, in demanding Meadows' testimony, pointed to his involvement in the Trump-Raffensperger call and to a December 2020 White House meeting about election fraud claims touted by Meadows.

Their filings also cite a trip Meadows took to a site where an audit of Georgia's election was going on and emails sent to the Justice Department peddling fraud claims.

Bannister said that Meadows was not a material witness to the Trump-Raffensperger call and cited executive privilege as a reason to quash the subpoena.

The special grand jury was impaneled back in May. It has the power to recommend criminal charges but cannot criminally charge itself.

Last week a judge from the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. would have to sit for questioning in the election probe, before Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas stepped in and temporarily froze the lower court order. Graham had been appealing an August ruling that also ordered his testimony.

Willis has said she wants to question Republican senator from South Carolina about phone calls he made to Raffensperger in the weeks after the election.

Graham has said, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was interested in cases of possible voter fraud. He's denied any wrong doing.
The young man who was recently dragged to his death by a New York City subway train has been identified.

Joseph Ancona, 20, was named Tuesday by friend of his twin sister in a GoFundMe for his family and any expenses they may encounter in the coming weeks and months.

The organizer, Mackenzie Vreeland, says that she decided to create the fund for her roommate, Gianna Ancona, Jacob's twin.

'Tragically, Gianna lost her twin brother, Joe-- something no one was prepared for. This tragedy has influenced her family, friends, and community immensely,' the GoFundMe states.

'There are no words to describe the pain everyone is going through, but for now, the biggest help is having the support of a community,' Vreeland continues.

20-year-old Joseph Ancona was the victim who was killed when his bag became lodged in the door of a subway train car Monday in New York

The incident happened Monday evening around 5pm at the 59th Street station

Gianna called Joseph, who went by Joe, her 'other half' and said that he was her 'rock'

The 20-year-old victim was dragged Monday when his bag became stuck in the southbound 1 train's door, pulling him along and ultimately killing him.

Officials were not immediately able to identify him after the incident.

'As a small act to help, Danielle Chenoweth, another close friend of Gianna's, and I have decided to raise money to help Gianna and her family during this struggling time,' the GoFundMe continues.

'Any small amount would mean the world to her family,' Vreeland writes.

As of early Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe arranged for the family had raised just over $4,000 in less than 24 hours.

Additionally, the organizer provided a message from the family regarding Joseph's death, as well as his 'amazing' life.

'Joseph Ancona was a beloved 20-year-old from Westwood, New Jersey. He was working as an electrician and stagehand in New York City. He passed away on October 24th in a tragic accident in New York City,' his family said in a statement.

Joseph and his twin sister, Gianna, were incredibly close, according to a social media post

The Ancona family shared a statement with Vreeland and Chenoweth for the GoFundMe description, calling Joseph 'amazing' and thanking friends for their thoughts and prayers

'Joe was loved by so many, and we want him to continue being remembered as the amazing man he was. We thank everybody for their prayers and condolences and thank you for thinking of our family in this difficult time.'

Joseph was born and raised in Westwood, New Jersey, a suburb located less than 25 miles northwest of New York City.

Officials with The Met also confirmed Joseph's death, calling him 'respected and well-liked' in a statement released following his tragic death.

'I regret to inform you of the tragic death of Joe Ancona, a member of the stage crew who worked in the electric construction shop, who was killed in a subway accident last night. Only 20 years old, Joe joined the Met last March and was respected and well-liked by his fellow crew members,' said Doreen Bartholomew, a guest experience representative for The Met.

Gianna herself also confirmed the heartbreaking news of her twin's death in a social media post Tuesday, calling her brother her 'other half.'

Joseph worked with the stage crew for The Met beginning in March and was 'respected and well-liked' by his coworkers and colleagues

'There is a half of me that is missing that could never be replaced. There will never be enough words or pictures in the world that will help me show how beautiful of a soul you are,' Gianna wrote in a touching Instagram post Tuesday.

'You are my rock and my forever other half. I will love you indefinitely. until I see you again,' the twin said.

On Wednesday, she shared another post to her Instagram, a reel, with photos of the two of them accompanied by the song 'Big Black Car' by Gregory Alan Isakov.

'Your nickname at work was smiley for a reason. You brought so much laughter and light into this world, an energy that could never be replaced,' Gianna wrote.

'You taught me so much, and because of you i will forever be a better person. I love you unconditionally,' she said.

New York Daily News also spoke with Joseph's cousin and aunt, who said that they are 'heartbroken' over his death.

Michael Valentine, Joseph's cousin, said: 'I always wanted a younger brother  he fulfilled that for me. He was a goofball.'

'Were just heartbroken,' said aunt Maria Ancona. 'We cant make sense of it. His parents are distraught. How do you gear up for this kind of news? I still cant believe this occurred. Beyond consideration.'

Investigators were seen Monday at the Upper West Side subway station after the incident

The subway entry was roped off for hours on Monday after Joseph was killed while boarding the southbound 1 train

Initially, police on scene had reported that the 20-year-old was struck by the train at the Columbus Circle station.

Emergency responders declared Joseph dead at the scene.

No criminal activity was suspected, investigators said.

'A person on the tracks was hit by a train and our thoughts are with his family, the train operator and riders who witnessed this tragedy,' said New York City Transit President Richard Davey, according to Fox5.

'We will get to the cause and learn any lessons that may emerge as there is no higher priority than safety.'

The news comes only months after another commuter was killed in a similar incident on the subway in July.

The straphanger died after his pants got caught in the door of a subway train in Brooklyn, dragging him across the platform and onto the tracks.

The 37-year old unidentified man was exiting a northbound Q train at Brooklyn's Avenue M stop at around 11.50pm on Wednesday when he was dragged across the platform by the moving train and then thrown onto the tracks, where another train was arriving.

Early in the year, two people were shoved onto the tracks and another stabbed. New York said it will increase the presence of police officers in the transit system. Pictured: An office waits outside the station where the accident occurred

Early in the year, two people were shoved onto the tracks, including Michelle Alyssa Go, who was killed after being pushed onto the Times Square station track by a homeless man.

A man who fell onto the tracks in rush hour during a fight in Queens was recently killed by a subway train, while another man was fatally stabbed while riding a train in Brooklyn.

After the series of violent deaths on the subway, governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced on Saturday a plan to increase the presence of police officers in the transit system.

'We're all fighting for our city but there's more work to do. That's why we're investing in mental health services, more officers in the subways, and more affordable housing,' Adams said on Twitter on Sunday.
The two wives of a dead 'serial killer,' who has been accused by his daughter of murdering up to to 70 women, killed themselves, police reports said.

Donald Dean Studey, who died in 2013, has been accused of killing between 50 and 70 women and two men on his Iowa property.

Many have speculated that Studey's two late wives were also murdered by the alleged killer, but police reports say otherwise.

Both of Studey wives killed themselves, police said. One reportedly died by strangulation and the other shot herself.

The revelation comes after Studey's name has been brought up in the news after his daughter Lucy said she knew 'where the bodies were buried.'

Lucy claimed her father forced her and her siblings to dump bodies of women he killed into a 100-foot well on their Green Hollow Road farmland decades ago. Lucy insisted she tried to tell people as a child, but people didn't listen to her.

However, her older sister Susan rejected the accusations and said their father was strict, but certainly not a killer.

'My father was not the man she makes him out to be,' Susan Studey told Newsweek. 'He was strict, but he was a protective parent who loved his children...Strict fathers don't just turn into serial killers.'

An investigation into the alleged murders has been opened and the FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are both assisting the local police in it.

Donald Dean Studey, who died in March 2013 at age 75, is accused by his daughter Lucy of killing up to 70 women, yet his other daughter Susan says the allegations are simply untrue. It has been revealed that his two wives killed themselves - one by strangulation, the other by gunshot wound. Many speculated that he murdered them too

The property, on Green Hollow Road, is being searched, after Studey's daughter Lucy claimed she knew 'where the bodies are' and cadaver dogs smelled human remains on the property.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope confirmed the investigation on Tuesday, saying: I believe her 100 percent that there's bodies in there.'

Law enforcement suspect that he lured woman, thought to be sex workers from Omaha, Nebraska, to his five acres of land before murdering them.

Forty-five years after Studey's death, the Fremont County Sheriffs Office confirmed that cadaver dogs alerted to at least four spots on the property last week that contained human remains, with the last getting multiple 'hits.'

The dog handler and sheriff have said they believe the remains are human as the dogs are trained to ignore animal bones.

However, Susan believes the cadaver dogs that searched the property last weekend were fooled by the the remains of Studey's stillborn infant sister, who was buried in a shoebox on the property, as well as remains of a golden retriever.

While Lucy told authorities that their father forced the siblings to use a wheelbarrow in the warmer months and a toboggan in winter to move the corpses across the farmland in Thurman, Iowa, her sister refuted this.

Susan told Newsweek that the first time she ever heard about any bodies being buried on the property was when she talked to Lucy about a year ago.

Lucy Studey (pictured) accused her father of being a murderer and forcing his children to drop bodies into a 100-foot well on their farmland

'I'm two years older than Lucy. I think I would know if my father murdered,' she said. 'I would know if my dad was a serial killer. He was not, and I want my father's name restored.'

Susan added that the only time she remembers her father getting violent was when a neighbor ran over their dog  which led to Studey fighting the man.

According to Lucy, the four siblings did their father's bidding when he told them to 'go to the hills' because they were terrified they 'wouldn't come back' according to his daughter.

Lucy said that her father was routinely drunk and liked to kill women by smashing or kicking in the heads of the women inside a trailer.

Investigators believe his daughter's claims, and if true, would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

Lucy Studey claims that her father Donald Dean Studey was a serial killer who forced her and her siblings to transport bodies of women he killed into a 100ft well

Authorities were alerted to her claims, in which she details using a wheelbarrow in the warmer months and a toboggan in winter to move the corpses across the farmland in Thurman, Iowa

Fremont County Sheriffs office confirmed that cadaver dogs alerted to several spots on the property, as well as some on neighboring land

Lucy claims that the women all had dark hair, were white and most were in their 20s and 30s except for a 15-year-old runaway - and two men.

They were all buried clothed and wearing jewelry, with Lucy claiming that her father kept the gold teeth as trophies.

Lucy told Newsweek: He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant.

Every time I went to the well or into the hills, I didn't think I was coming down. I thought he would kill me because I wouldn't keep my mouth shut.

I don't feel anything for my father. Nothing at all. I wanted justice when my father was alive, but he's gone. I just want for the families some closure and a proper burial.

However, Lucy's older sister Susan believes the cadaver dogs were fooled by the the remains of Donald Studey's stillborn sister, who was buriedon the property, and remains of a pet

According to Lucy, the four siblings did their father's bidding when he told them to 'go to the hills' because they were terrified they 'wouldn't come back' according to his daughter

Investigators believe his daughters claims, which would make Studey one of the most prolific serial killers in American history

Studey reportedly forced his children to pile dirt and chemical lye on top of the bodies after dumping them into the well.

Lucy has repeatedly offered to take a lie detector test to support her claims, Newsweek reported.

Lucy added: All I want is to get these sites dug up, and to bring closure for people and to give these women a proper burial. My father was a lifelong criminal and murderer.

It is unclear if her siblings have been cooperative with the authorities.

A third sister in the sibling bunch could not be reached. Their brother died by suicide when he was 39.

The FBI and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are both assisting the local police force with the investigation

If police to bore the well and excavate the scene it will be a 'big mission.'

Authorities added that the cost of boring the well would be around $25,000 while a full excavation would be more than $300,000.

The property, on Green Hollow Road, is not an official crime scene because officers have not yet discovered any remains.

Studey, who had 'love' and 'hate' tattooed on his knuckles, is understood to have a criminal history but was known to use several aliases.

He was jailed in Missouri in the 1950s for petty larceny, in Omaha in 1989 for a drunk driving offense  as cops confirmed they rarely went to the trailer where he lived because they were 'wary' of him.
For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time or visit their website

The grieving family of a soldier who died at an army base linked to several deaths say they hope an inquest will provide answers.

Nicholas Hart, known as Nicki, 33, was found dead in his barracks in February and had been suffering from mental health problems, his loved ones say.

Father-of-three Nicki, from Ton Pentre, Wales, served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and was based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.

He is believed to be one of several soldiers to have died at the base in recent years.

Following his death, Nicki's devastated family including his wife Sara, 36, and his sister Jamie Hart-Dobbs, 37, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help investigate.

A pre-inquest review hearing took place in North Yorkshire on October 25 and a full inquest will take place at a later date.

Nicholas Hart (pictured), known as Nicki, 33, was found dead in his barracks in February and had been suffering from mental health problems, his loved ones say

Father-of-three Nicki, from Ton Pentre, Wales, served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and was based at Catterick Garrison (above) in North Yorkshire

Ayse Ince, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Nicki's loved ones, said: 'The past eight months have been incredibly difficult for Nicki's family who are understandably struggling to come to terms with losing him in such a tragic way.

'In addition, the number of deaths and incidents of self-harm reported at the Catterick Army base in recent years is deeply worrying, and Sara, Jamie and the rest of the family continue to have many questions around Nicki's death.

'While the inquest process will no doubt be very hard for them, it's a major milestone in being able to support the family. We're determined to help provide them with a fair hearing and establish the answers they deserve.

'It's also vital that, if the during the inquest process any issues are identified, action is taken to improve the care and safety of soldiers in the future.'

In August 2021, one of Nicki's friends, based at Catterick Garrison, took his life.

At the time, Nicki was working with the Scots recruitment team in Inverness where he lived with Sara and their children.

However, he returned to Catterick Garrison after recruitment ended.

Following this, Nicki's family said he began struggling with his mental health.

He is believed to be one of several soldiers to have died at the base in recent years

He underwent a medical review in September 2021 which was around the same time he attempted suicide.

In late January this year, Nicki was referred to the Department of Community Mental Health which provide military centres dedicated to treating serving Armed Forces personnel.

Nicki attended an appointment with the mental health team on February 3 with a follow-up planned for four days later.

However, he was found dead in his room on February 5, 2022.

He had been married to Sara for nearly two years, but they were together for nine years.

They have three children together including Aidan, 17, six-year-old Kian and Sophia, aged six months.

Sara said: 'The past few months have been the worst of my life. Not only have I lost my husband, but my children have lost the most loving and gentle dad.

'It breaks my heart to know that they have to move forward with their lives without him, and he didn't even get to meet Sophia.

'After Nicki lost his friend, his mental state went downhill rapidly.

In August 2021, one of Nicki's friends, based at Catterick Garrison, took his life

'I'll never forget getting the phone call to tell me he had died. It felt like my whole world had crumbled from under me and I didn't know how to deal with it myself, let alone tell our children.

'Our grief is made worse by the many questions we have surrounding Nicki's death and whether more could have been done to help him.

'To find out that Nicki was one of several men to have died at this specific Army base in such a short timeframe is truly shocking.

'I know hearing evidence about what happened to Nicki will be incredibly difficult, but it's something I need to do to honour his memory and get the answers we're looking for.

'We also urge that any issues found within the Army are taken seriously and improvements are made to help prevent other families from suffering like we have.

'Sadly, there's still a taboo around mental health, particularly in men, and we hope that sharing our story will raise awareness. If it helps just one person, it's been worthwhile.'

The family's lawyers say earlier this year a freedom of information request submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) asked for details relating to suicides and attempted suicides at the Catterick Garrison base.

Irwin Mitchell say in a written response, the MoD confirmed between November 1, 2019, and February 15, 2022, 'there have been two coroner confirmed suicides among UK Army...based at Catterick Garrison.'

In addition, 'there were a further four deaths...where the mechanism of injury suggests suicide' but are currently awaiting an inquest.

It also confirmed that between November 1, 2019, and October 31, 2021, 'there were 94 UK army personnel at Catterick Garrison with at least one incident of self-harm recorded.'

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time or visit their website.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman duped Joe Biden's administration into thinking there was a deal for more oil production ahead of the president's July trip to Saudi Arabia only to renege on the matter and, ultimately, slash the number of barrels of crude being produced.

A stunning report in the New York Times on Wednesday outlines how Biden's aides thought they had a handshake agreement with the Saudis ahead of president's visit to Jeddah, where his fist bump with MBS - the crown prince is known by his initials - caused a political shake up in the United States.

Administration officials thought the deal to boost oil production through the end of the year - thus keeping gas prices down during the midterm election - was worth breaking Biden's campaign pledge to shun MBS and the Saudi kingdom.

Instead, after the trip, the Saudi-led OPEC Plus energy alliance, which controls 40% of the world's crude production, announced it would cut back its output by two million barrels a day, which represents about 2% of global oil production.

The announcement was the latest speed bump in the rocky road of a relationship between Biden, 79, and MBS, 37, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia.

U.S.-Saudi relations have declined under the Biden administration. It started back during the 2020 presidential campaign when Biden pledged to treat the kingdom like a 'pariah' after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

MBS, in return, has mocked Biden's age and questioned the president's mental prowess. He's also told aides he preferred President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported.

President Joe Biden (left) fist-bumping Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) as he arrived for a meeting with the controversial royal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in July

Biden administration thought they had a deal for Saudi Arabia to increase oil production only to have the Kingdom renege on the agreement - above Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq oil processing plant

The Kingdom's reversal of the agreement to increase oil production infuriated the administration and led Biden officials to claim that Saudi Arabia was helping Russia, a member of the greater OPEC alliance, with its war in the Ukraine.

'Look, it's clear that OPEC Plus is aligning with Russia with today's announcement,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at the time.

OPEC's decision caused gas prices to spike. Energy is Russia's greatest revenue generator and is a major source of funding for Vladimir Putin's war. Biden has released more crude oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve in at attempt to bring down prices at the pump.

Biden administration officials said that in the days leading up to the OPEC Plus announcement, they had received assurances from MBS that production would not be slashed.

When they learned of Saudi's reversal they made a futile last-ditch push to change it but failed in their attempt.

In a statement to The Times, the Saudi Energy Ministry said that 'the kingdom rejects these allegations and stresses that such mischaracterizations made by anonymous sources are entirely false.'

Meanwhile, the White House indicated it might seek retribution and some Democrats in Congress are backing such a move.

A DEAL IN THE MAKING

When White House officials starting planning for Biden's stop in Saudi in July, they reached a private oil deal that would see the Saudis would accelerate an OPEC Plus production increase of 400,000 barrels per day already planned for September to July and August.

Additionally, the Saudis would arrange for OPEC to announce a further production increase of 200,000 barrels per day for each month from September to December.

A presidential visit would be a win for the Saudis. Biden had made his clear his distain for MBS, saying early on his administration he would only talk to the aging Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

But the politics and economics behind America's driving need for oil outweighed the president's personal feelings on the matter. The deal administration officials made helped smooth the path for Biden's sit down with the crown prince.

President Joe Biden (left) being escorted into Al Salman Palace by 'MBS,' Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in July

On June 2, OPEC Plus announced the production increase of 200,000 barrels per day.

The White House praised the move.

'The United States welcomes the important decision from OPEC+ today to increase supply by more than 200,000 barrels per day in July and August based on new market conditions,' said Jean-Pierre in a statement at the time.

Shortly thereafter, the White House confirmed Biden would visit Jeddah in July after his stop in Israel.

The price of oil was dropping when Biden arrived on July 15th. His fist-bump greeting was heavily criticized back in the States particularly by the family and friends of Jamal Khashoggi.

The president laughed off the criticism when asked about it by a DailyMail.com reporter. He said it was a 'silly question' when asked how he can be sure another murder like that of Khashoggi wouldn't happen again.

Biden also insisted that he brought up Khashoggi's murder in his meeting with bin Salman, who is often referred to by his initials, MBS.

'In respect to the murder of Khashoggi, I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time, and what I think of it now,' Biden told reporters from a Jeddah hotel after his meetings with the Saudis. 'I was straightforward and direct ... I made my view crystal clear.'

White House officials believed the political fallout was worth the oil deal they cut.

But then the Saudis showed signs they were reneging on the deal.

In August, OPEC announced a production increase of 100,000 barrels a day - half of what was agreed upon. In September, they cut back production by 100,000 barrels a day - making the August increase moot.

On Sept. 24, American officials held an in-person meeting in Saudi Arabia with MBS and his brother Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi energy minister.

MBS reassured them there would be no production cuts, U.S. officials with direct knowledge of what transpired told The Times.

President Joe Biden (left) seated alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right)

President Joe Biden (center) flanked by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (right) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) participate in a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi leaders

But, on Oct. 5, OPEC Plus announced it would cut production by 2 million barrels a day.

Administration officials had received an early head's up this was in the pipeline. They had Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen call Mohammed al-Jadaan, the Saudi finance minister, to argue against the move - to no avail.

Now the Biden administration reviewing whether the Saudi relationship is serving U.S. national security interests. The Saudis also said they are re-evaluating relations with the U.S.

'Rarely has the chain of broken expectations and perceived insults and humiliations been greater than they are now,' Aaron David Miller, a veteran U.S. diplomat in the Middle East now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Wall Street Journal. 'There's almost no trust and absolutely no mutual respect.'
Saudi Arabia's energy minister appeared to share a veiled warning for US President Joe Biden on Tuesday over the American leader's controversial decision to release more oil from the nation's strategic petroleum reserves.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), accused some countries of using their emergency stocks to manipulate markets.

He said it would have 'painful' effects in the near future, as the winter months take hold and as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to force energy prices upwards.

The Saudi official's comments come after Biden announced the US would put 15 million oil barrels from the strategic reserves on the market - less than a month before the midterm elections, where his party is expected to see some big losses in Congress.

'It is my profound duty to make clear to the world that losing (releasing) emergency stocks may be painful in the months to come, the Saudi minister told the Future Initiative Investment (FII) conference in Riyadh.

He also said Saudi Arabia remained the world's most reliable oil supplier and had increased its sales to Europe to 950,000 barrels in September from 490,000 barrels the same time a year ago.

Relations with the United States deteriorated earlier this month when the OPEC+ group of oil producers, of which Saudi is the de facto leader, decided to dramatically cut output.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud accused some countries of using their emergency stocks to manipulate markets after OPEC+ announced dramatic production cuts

It comes after President Joe Biden responded to the cuts by releasing 15 million more oil barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve

It prompted the Biden administration to warn there would be 'consequences' for US ties with Riyadh.

The prince said Saudi Arabia had chosen to be 'the maturer' party when asked about how to get the energy relationship with the US back on track.

'I keep hearing are you with us or against us? Is there any room for we are for Saudi Arabia and the people of Saudi Arabia,' he said.

A report emerged after OPEC+'s decision that said Biden officials had pleaded with the oil cartel to delay the decision until a time frame that would have had less impact on the midterms.

The economy and rising costs of living are among Republicans' strongest issues to run on ahead of November 8.

While unveiling his plan at the White House on October 19, Biden noted that gas prices had fallen since their $5 per gallon peak but conceded they are 'not falling fast enough.'

'With my announcement today, we're going to continue to stabilize markets and decrease the prices at a time when the actions of other countries have caused such volatility,' the president promised.

Meanwhile he was also criticized for the move by Republican lawmakers who accused the president of creating a national security risk just for political gain.

'It's strategic petroleum reserve, not the political petroleum reserve,' House Foreign Affairs committee ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas told Fox News host Harris Faulkner.

'[Biden] is playing politics with this national security asset that we have, that's really developed- really for a time of war, that we need the energy.'

Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee's ranking member, had a similar sentiment.

'The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was built for a national energy crisis  not for a Democrat election crisis,' he said.

'Joe Biden is draining our emergency oil supply to a 40 year low. His dismal approval rating is not a justifiable reason to continue to raid our nations oil reserves.'

Barrasso called on Biden to instead 'unleash American energy production.'
An Indian artist has celebrated Rishi Sunak's appointment as prime minister by designing a sand sculpture of him, but some think it looks more like former Labour leader Tony Blair.

Sudarsan Pattnayak, a specialist sand artist, made the sculpture on Puri Beach in Odisha, India.

The large design, created by Mr Pattnayak himself, is complete with an image of Rishi Sunak in front of a Union Jack.

Mr Pattnayak used red and blue lettering for the beach sculpture, the latest way of honouring the new prime minister's appointment in India.

Sudarsan Pattnayak, a specialist sand artist, made the sculpture on Puri Beach in Odisha, India, pictured

The large sculpture, designed by Mr Pattnayak himself, pictured, is complete with an image of Rishi Sunak in front of a Union Jack

But some are sceptical about the likeness of the sculpture to Mr Sunak. Online, comparisons have been drawn between the image and Tony Blair

But some are sceptical about the likeness of the sculpture to Mr Sunak.

Online, comparisons have been drawn between the image and Tony Blair.

Mr Blair was the former leader of the Labour Party and prime minister from 1997 to 2007.

One person wrote: 'Oh hi Tony Blair' while another said 'IS TONY BLAIR BEHIND THIS.'

Others quipped: 'I didn't know Tony Blair was serving another term' and 'Call me Tony (Rishi).'

People came to see and take photographs of the new sculpture, pictured, after it was designed by Mr Pattnayak

A visitor photographs the image of Mr Sunak in Puri Beach, India, pictured

Sudarsan Pattnayak, the sand artist, pictured, who made the sculpture as his own way of congratulating Mr Sunak

It comes after Rishi's success was splashed across national newspapers in India, hailing his new role.

And prime minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Sunak to be officially appointed, sending congratulations to him via Twitter on Monday.

'As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues,' Mr Modi wrote.

'Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership,' he added.

Mr Sunak is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi did not wait for Sunak, pictured, to be officially appointed, sending congratulations via Twitter on Monday

Mr Sunak is married to an Indian, Akshata Murty, the daughter of the co-founder of IT giant Infosys. Pictured: With King Charles in February

Elsewhere, the president of Rishi Sunak's home temple in Southampton said the UK is undergoing its own 'Barack Obama' moment with him becoming PM.

Sanjay Chandarana, president of the Vedic Society Temple - which Mr Sunak's grandfather co-founded 50 years ago - also said his elevation to Prime Minister meant more fireworks would be needed for Diwali celebrations on the 24th October and that Mr Sunak would be an 'inspiration for youngsters'.

Parliamentarian Raghav Chadha tweeted on Monday: 'Today, as India celebrates Diwali in its 75th year as an independent nation, the UK gets an Indian-origin Prime Minister. History comes full circle.'

The president of Rishi Sunak's home temple in Southampton said the UK is undergoing was own 'Barack Obama' moment with him becoming PM

With his victory coming on Diwali, Mr Sunak will be the UK's first Hindu prime minister, the first of Asian heritage, and the youngest for more than 200 years at the age of 42.

'It is a moment of pride for India that the country which ruled us for many years has now a prime minister of Indian heritage,' said Manoj Garg, a New Delhi businessman.

Mr Sunak will be the first person of colour to become prime minister, an accomplishment reflecting that of Kamala Harris, a woman of Indian heritage who became US vice president last year.

Former Bihar state government chief secretary Dr M.A. Ibrahimi tweeted: 'Rishi Sunak is now set to be elected leader of Conservative Party to become UK PM. All Indians are proud of his achievement.'

Tory former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid said Rishi Sunak becoming the first prime minister of Asian heritage is 'something we can all celebrate'.

President of the Vedic Society Temple Sanjay Chandarana (pictured) said that Mr Sunak would be an 'inspiration for youngsters'

Mr Sunak will be the first person of colour to become prime minister, an accomplishment reflecting that of Kamala Harris, a woman of Indian heritage who became US vice president last year (Pictured: Vedic Society Temple in Southampton)

'I've always believed the UK is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth - and I think this takes it to a new level,' he told ITV's Peston.

'This is beyond politics and it's something we can all celebrate.'

Mr Chandarana, 41, who works at an investment bank in London, said: 'We are going to need more fireworks now,

'Rishi becoming prime minister is Great Britain's Barack Obama moment,' he said.

'This will be a proud moment for everyone who is Hindu. We are no longer just a community that is not part of the mainstream, we are part of the mainstream.'

Citizen TV in Kenya also drew comparisons with Obama's rise to the White House.

Indian TV channels celebrated Sunak's victory, with New Delhi Television announcing 'Indian son rises over the empire'.

Former Bihar state government chief secretary Dr M.A. Ibrahimi tweeted: 'Rishi Sunak is now set to be elected leader of Conservative Party to become UK PM. All Indians are proud of his achievement'

India Today news channel took a jibe at the UK's economic and political turbulence, using the Hindi term for someone of Indian background: 'Battered Britain gets 'desi' big boss.'

Some said Mr Sunak's selection was particularly special for the country with its recent celebration of 75 years of independence from British colonial rule.

Others celebrated Mr Sunak as a 'proud Hindu', saying he did not shy away from embracing his faith and Indian culture.

They shared videos on Twitter showing Mr Sunak taking his oath of allegiance in 2020 on the Hindu holy book Bhagvad Gita.

Other videos shared on Twitter showed Mr Sunak praying to a cow, considered holy by Hindus, when he was running for Britain's top job for the first time in August.
A second woman has alleged that Herschel Walker, the Republican candidate for US Senate in Georgia, encouraged and paid for her abortion after she became pregnant with his child.

The woman, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, spoke directly to reporters through a conference call at the Los Angeles office of powerhouse attorney Gloria Allred on Wednesday afternoon.

Doe claimed that in April of 1993, following a multi-year romantic affair with Walker, he pressured her to have an abortion, paid for the procedure, and drove her to a clinic in Dallas, where he waited in the car for her to terminate the pregnancy.

'I was confused, uncertain and scared. After discussing the pregnancy with Herschel several times, he encouraged me to have an abortion and gave me money to do so,' she said. 'Herschel says he is against women having abortions, but he pressured me to have one.'

Allred presented reporters with a number of 'exhibits' supporting Doe's claim that she had a six-year affair with Walker while he was a married NFL star, showing a receipt from a hotel room, cards with tender messages signed 'H', and a purported photo of Walker and the woman in a hotel room.

However, Allred did not offer any physical evidence directly supporting the woman's allegation that she had an abortion at Walker's behest, such as a receipt from the clinic or medical records.

Speaking at a campaign event in Georgia as Allred's press conference unfolded, Walker, who is a staunch opponent of legal abortion, issued a blanket dismissal of the allegations, calling them false and politically motivated.

Attorney Gloria Allred presented reporters with a number of 'exhibits' supporting Doe's claim that she had a six-year affair with Walker while he was a married NFL star

A second woman has alleged that Herschel Walker, the Republican candidate for US Senate in Georgia, helped her get an abortion

If follows claims first reported by the Daily Beast that Walker encouraged and paid for another girlfriend to terminate her pregnancy in 2009.

Walker has also denied those allegations, and his campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

At the press conference, Doe said that she was concealing her identity out of fear of reprisals, saying 'I choose to protect my identity to protect the ones I love.'

She denied that her allegations against Walker were politically motivated by his Republican candidacy, saying that she is a registered independent and voted for Donald Trump in the last two presidential elections.

Doe, who did not answer questions, delivered a statement that went into great detail outlining what she said was a six-year affair with Walker.

She said that they first met in the 1980s, when he was a player for the Dallas Cowboys, and that their friendship evolved into a romantic and sexual relationship starting in 1987.

'He told me that he had problems with his marriage and wanted to end his marriage. Quite frankly, we fell in love,' she said.

She said the romance continued when he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in November 1989, and likewise after he switched to the Philadelphia Eagles in June 1992.

Doe said the affair continued as she would visit him in those cities and attend his road games, and that he led her to believe he intended to leave his wife to be with her.

A blank screen is seen on a Zoom call as 'Jane Doe' delivered a statement to reporters, declining to reveal her name or her face as she made the allegations

Allred shows reporters a photo purportedly depicting her client and Walker on a hotel bed

'I was very devoted to Herschel, and he gave me the impression he was devoted to me as well,' she said.

'I believed that he was going to get divorced, but he kept leading me on,' said Doe. 'There was always some reason he wasn't quite ready to do so.'

In April of 1993, she said that she learned she was pregnant, and was 'surprised' because she had been on birth control for years. She said she had not been intimate with anyone besides Walker in the preceding time period and knew the baby was his.

Walker is seen with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1993, the year Doe says she had the abortion

Doe said that when she told Walker of the pregnancy, he gave her cash for an abortion and encouraged her to have one.

But, she said, when she went to the abortion clinic, she became overcome with emotion and doubts about whether she wanted the procedure, and left without getting the abortion.

Doe said that when she told Walker what had happened, he insisted on driving her to the Dallas abortion clinic himself, and waited outside for hours until she had undergone the procedure.

She said she was 'traumatized' by the incident and left Dallas days later, not to return for another 14 years. She said it marked the effective end of the alleged affair.

Allred is a super-star attorney prominent in the field of women's rights, and represented 28 of the women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault, among a slew of other high-profile cases.

She also has a history of representing women making claims against Republican politicians, including several who accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, which he denied.

Allred shows card she claims Walker sent to her client during their alleged romance

Allred (above) is a super-star attorney prominent in the field of women's rights, known for representing accusers in high-profile sexual misconduct cases

In 2017, Allred represented a woman who accused Roy Moore, then the Alabama GOP candidate for US Senate, of sexually assaulting her when she was 16.

Those claims and others like them derailed Moore's campaign, and Alabama elected a Democrat to the Senate for the first time since 1992.

For his part, Walker has denied prior claims that he paid for an abortion for another unnamed former girlfriend, who said she went on to have a child with him after terminating the first pregnancy.

During his debate with the incumbent, Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock, Walker caused confusion by denying his previous support for an outright national ban on abortion.

Walker's claim contradicted statements he had made repeatedly on the campaign trail, including in July when he said 'that's a problem' that there is no national ban.

Walker said at the debate that his position is the same as Georgia's state law, the so-called heartbeat bill that bans abortion at six weeks, before many women know they're pregnant.

That law went into effect this year after the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which had legalized abortions nationwide.
At least 84 undocumented migrants were found hidden in a dump truck during a traffic stop on a highway in Texas one hour away from the border with Mexico on Tuesday.

Texas state troopers made the discovery after the truck driver, Robert Flores Jr., was pulled over on Interstate 35 in Cotulla.

Footage released by the Texas Department of Public Safety showed some of the migrants sitting on the edge of the container that was sealed with a tarp made out of mesh.

Texas state troopers discovered 84 migrants from Guatemala and Mexico inside a dump truck after the driver was pulled over on Interstate 35 in Cotulla on Tuesday

Robert Flores Jr., of Poteet, Texas, is facing 84 counts of human smuggling after he was stopped on a road in Cotulla transporting migrants who were unlawfully present in the United States

The young men were identified as Guatemalan and Mexican nationals and turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Chris Olivarez.

Flores Jr., of Poteet, Texas, had driven past a ranch road and skipped a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Webb County when he was finally stopped.

He has been charged with 84 counts of human smuggling.

Olivarez said Flores Jr. was headed north on Interstate Highway 35 to San Antonio.

State troopers in Texas disrupted a migrant smuggling attempt when a dump truck driver was stopped on Interstate 35 in Cotulla on Tuesday

Migrants sit on top of the dump truck and on the ground after the vehicle they were being ferried on was pulled over on Interstate 35 in Cotulla

U.S. Border Patrol agents registered 2,378,944 encounters with migrants who were stopped for illegally crossing the southwestern border in fiscal year 2022, which spanned from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

Its unknown if the migrants had been smuggled directly from Mexico in the dump truck or if they were already in the United States and were being transported from one of the Texas border cities to San Antonio.

The bust comes a month after the Department of Justice unsealed the indictment of eight defendants in Texas who were part of a $2 million migrant smuggling scheme.

Erminia Serrano and her co-conspirators arranged the transportation and housing of undocumented migrants who were smuggled across the United States-Mexico border near Laredo, Texas, and were then ferried to Austin, San Antonio, and other towns in the interior of the country.

Last Friday, US Customs and Border Protection released the southwestern border report for the fiscal year ending 2022 and it showed that U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 2,378,944 encounters with migrants who were stopped for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022.

In comparison, there were 1,734,686 interdictions registered in the fiscal year 2021.
The Los Angeles Holocaust Museum was flooded with anti-Semitic messages after offering Kanye West a private tour to change his views about Jewish people.

The museum announced the hate crimes on Twitter days after inviting West - who changed his name to Ye - on October 11 through an Instagram post after he openly threatened to go to war against Jewish people.

West later rejected the invitation on October 15 while on the 'Drinks Champs' podcast and said that Planned Parenthood was his Holocaust museum. The controversial rapper and designer has since said he doesn't regret his anti-Semitic tirade.

The museum has since received an influx of hate messages on social media with threats and criticism and have urged West to use his influencer status to make a positive difference.

'Ye, since we invited you to visit us at Holocaust Museum LA we have received a tremendous amount of social media messages and comments... some filled with hate, threats, and vitriol,' Museum officials wrote in a tweet. 'Others were saddled with hurt and yearned for further discourse.

The statement concluded: 'Ye, you have over 30m Twitter followers (twice as many Twitter followers as the total number of Jews on earth). You and anyone reading this can make a difference, you can choose to join us in building bridges rather than tearing them down.'

The Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles has received an influx of anti-Semitic messages after inviting Kanye West for a private tour on October 11

The museum has since received an influx of hate messages on social media with threats and criticism and urged West to take action in using his social media for good

The museum announced the hate crimes on Twitter days after inviting West - who changed his name to Ye - through an Instagram post following his anti-Semitic social media posts

The Holocaust museum extended an invite to West earlier this month with a statement that read: 'Words matter and words have consequences Ye.

'We urge you to come visit us at Holocaust Museum LA to understand just how words can incite horrific violence and genocides. The Holocaust started with only words that sadly begat stereotypes, racial and religious troupes and blaming others and led to the murder of six million Jews.

'At Holocaust Museum LA it is out mission to commemorate those who were murdered, educate on the Holocaust and all genocides including the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian People (of which your children would be included), and inspire a more dignified and human world.'

The statement concluded: 'Your words reach millions and you can choose to incite or you can choose to inspire. We are located at 100 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 090036 and welcome you any time.'

While West denied the invitation and has since appeared on television shows with hosts Piers Morgan and Chris Cuomo.

In the interview with Morgan, West said he 'absolutely' does not regret his anti-Semitic Twitter tirade.

He later sat down with Cuomo on October 17 and went onto another anti-Semitic rant, saying that a 'Jewish underground media mafia' is ruining his career.

West complained a 'mafia' of Jewish media executives attacked his White Lives Matter stunt at the Paris Fashion Week and are always calling him a rapper instead of a billionaire.

'When I wore that White Lives Matter t-shirt, the Jewish underground media mafia already started attacking me,' Ye said from the back seat of a car.

'They canceled my store, SoFi stadium shows,' he claimed.

In that interview, Ye claimed that the 'Jewish people that I'm talking about' have a certain 'privilege' and he is now 'calling out the Jewish community as a whole.'

Cuomo tried to assure the rapper there is no secret group of wealthy Jews colluding to harm his career, saying it is 'either a figment of your imagination or a projection of your prejudice.

'You may have had bad business dealings with people, OK,' the anchor said. 'It's about those people, it's not about religion or faith.

'And I know that you are intelligent and understand that when you target people because of their faith, other people may do the same,' Cuomo told the 45-year-old rapper, adding that people 'may be abused or killed because of what they believe and who they are. 'We won't tolerate that,' Cuomo declared.

'And I won't tolerate it as a black person,' Kanye interjected as he doubled down on the idea of a Jewish cabal, noting the large number of Hollywood executives who are Jewish.

The Holocaust museum extended an invite to West earlier this month

In the interview with Piers Morgan, West said he 'absolutely' does not regret his anti-Semitic Twitter tirade.

West complained a 'mafia' of Jewish media executives attacked his White Lives Matter stunt at the Paris Fashion Week and are always calling him a rapper instead of a billionaire

In an interview from the back seat of a car Monday night, Kanye West launched into another anti-Semitic rant, blaming a 'Jewish underground media mafia' for ruining his career. He is pictured above with Chris Cuomo

Some say West's anti-Semitic comments from his now-deleted Tweet earlier this month has triggered an influx of hate against Jewish people in Los Angeles.

The October 9 tweet from West read: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.'

He added: '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 who opposes your agenda.'

Since West's tweet, a group of people giving Nazi salutes have appeared over the weekend on the Los Angeles 405 overpass with signs reading 'Kanye is right about the Jews.'

Meanwhile, some Beverly Hills residents woke up on Sunday to anti-Semitic flyers on their lawns.

A widely-circulated photo shows a group of people giving a Nazi salute on the 405 freeway overpass in Los Angeles with a sign reading 'Kanye is right about the Jews

Residents in Westwood woke up on Sunday morning to anti-Semitic flyers concealed in sand bag on their lawns

The flyers contained the conspiracy theory that BLM, different news organizations, and more were connected to Jews

Kanye promised to 'go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' in a shocking tweet earlier this month

West was recently dropped by attorney Camille Vasquez, the lawyer who defended Johnny Depp, as well as a top talent agency CAA.

Companies cut ties with Kanye after anti-Semitic tweet A number of companies and entities have cut ties with Kanye West in recent weeks. They include: JP Morgan Chase

The Gap

CAA

Balenciaga

Production studio MRC

Attorney Camille Vasquez Advertisement

But insiders at TMZ revealed that Vasquez informed her firm, Brown Rudnick, that she would no longer work with West, after he doubled down on his on his anti-Semitic remarks.

The rapper's documentary is also being shelved by production studio MRC, the company announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian has broken her silence on the drama and shared her support for the Jewish community on Monday.

'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,' Kim wrote.

Celebrities and fans have been waiting for the rappers partnership with Adidas to be dropped after the shoe company announced last week that the case was under review.

Adidas announced on Tuesday that they would be terminating their partnership with West - a move some celebrities, such as Florence Pugh said, 'was too long of a wait for something so obvious.'

Fashion house Balenciaga has also dropped their partnership with West.

On Monday, Kim finally broke her silence on ex husband Kanye West amid his anti-Semitic scandal




The government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) pledged Wednesday to significantly bolster efforts to tackle ever-growing drug use, officials said.







The PPP and the government held a policy consultation meeting at the National Assembly and discussed various measures to prevent people from abusing substances and provide help to those suffering from drug addiction.







"Our party and the government will put in all-out efforts to completely eradicate drugs from people's daily lives and become a drug-free country once again," PPP's top policymaker Sung Il-jong said.







Sung also called for a more advanced system to respond to evolving drug crimes and an improvement in social awareness on the matter.







"The prime minister's office will become a control tower to push for strong drug investigations at an interagency level, launch an information sharing system to respond to advancing drug distribution and strengthen addiction treatment and prevention education," policy coordination minister Bang Moon-kyu said. (Yonhap)


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Twenty-five people have been shoved onto the subway tracks in New York City so far in 2022, killing at least two while others narrowly avoided death.

Figures from the New York City Police Department obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that with two months still left in the year there have already been more subway pushings than there were in all of 2021.

As of October 16 the NYPD had recorded 22 subway shovings this year. Since that date three more New Yorkers have been tossed to the tracks - one of them fatally - pushing the total well above the 21 which occurred all of last year.

In response to the seemingly ceaseless acts of violence, on Monday MTA chairman Janno Lieber sent a letter to state authorities asking them to ban from the subway anybody who assaults passengers. The request would expand a similar ban already in place for people convicted of sex crimes on the subway or of assaulting transit employees.

October was a particularly prolific month for subway shovers, with at least five incidents occurring so far while there are still as many days left in the month.

There were at least two subway shovings in September, three in June, one in April, and another two in January.

Manhattan saw at least six shovings - including both fatalities. The Bronx and Brooklyn saw at least three pushings each, and Queens saw one.

Deshaun Smith, 21, (above) allegedly punched Ronald Baptiste, 62, in the back of the head without warning and then pushed him onto the tracks

The latest shoving took place just last Sunday at the 149th Street-Grand Concourse station in the Bronx at about 9:45pm on October 23.

Ronald Baptiste, a 62-year-old grandfather, was waiting on the platform while on his way to work when Deshaun Smith, 21, allegedly punched him in the back of the head without warning

Police said Smith then shoved Baptiste onto the tracks and fled. Baptiste was able to pull himself off the tracks before a train arrived.

Upon his arrest Smith claimed he was defending himself against Baptiste who he said had insulted him. Baptiste insisted he had been minding his own business and that the attack was completely random.

'He said he was provoked? That's not true,' Baptiste told the New York Post while tearfully recalling the attack. 'That's crazy. He didn't yell or say anything. I was alone, just walking.'

Cops said they believed the attack may have been a part of a social media 'knockout game,' in which people challenge each other to try to knock strangers unconscious with single punches.

Baptiste issued a plea to New York City Mayor Adams to use his power to clean up the subways.

'Mr. Mayor, what are you doing? You're talking to the media, you're talking the talk, but we're not seeing any improvement,' he old the Post. 'People don't feel safe in New York.'

Lamale McRae, 41, randomly charged across the platform and knocked 32-year-old David Martin down into the tracks

Lamale McRae, 41, as arrested on Monday, and his relatives described him as mentally unwell. He previously served 20 years in jail for attempted murder

Two days prior on October 21, 32-year-old David Martin was walking down the Wyckoff and Myrtle Avenue subway station in Brooklyn when Lamale McRae, 41, randomly charged across the platform and knocked him down into the tracks.

The attack was caught in a terrifying video which showed McRae - a career criminal who had served 20 years in jail for attempted murder - calmly placing his bag down on the subway before launching himself after Martin and then fleeing.

Martin is now suffering from a broken collarbone and a swollen face. His mother revealed that he is traumatized to the point of being suicidal, telling the Post that Martin is so disturbed by the attack that she had to take a knife away from him to prevent him from hurting himself.

'Mentally I don't know how to even get through this,' she told ABC News.

McCrae was arrested on Monday, and his relatives described him as mentally unwell.

On October 17, 48-year-old Heriberto Quintana (above) died after Carlos Garcia, 50, punched him in the face and knocked him in front of an oncoming train

Carlos Garcia, 50, was arrested and charged with assault and manslaughter. He allegedly punched Quintana in the face during a fight and knocked him in front of an oncoming train

Quintana had accidentally knocked Garcia's phone onto the tracks after bumping into him, and Garcia (above) demanded he retrieve it

On October 17, 48-year-old Heriberto Quintana died after Carlos Garcia, 50, punched him in the face and knocked him in front of an oncoming train.

Quintana had accidentally knocked Garcia's phone onto the tracks after bumping into him, and Garcia demanded he retrieve it.

When Quintana refused the two began to fight, which ended with Quintana being punched into the oncoming F train.

Garcia was arrested and charged with assault and manslaughter.

Miguel Ramirez, 35, stalked 26-year-old German Sabio across the East 149th Street Station at 11:50am on October 15

Days earlier, footage emerged showing Miguel Ramirez, 35, stalking 26-year-old German Sabio across the East 149th Street Station at 11:50am on October 15.

Ramirez - wide-eyed and with unkempt hair - then suddenly lunged after Sabio and pushed him into the path of an oncoming train

26-year-old German Sabio

He then fled the station as shocked onlookers rushed to the Sabio's aid. They were able to pull him to safety before the train rushed through the station.

'I think he was looking for someone to do it, and I wasn't aware of what was going on around me, and that's why he pushed me on the tracks,' Sabio said.

Ramirez was arrested last week and remained silent as reporters asked him why he pushed Sabio.

The October spree kicked off on the 3rd when Clarence Anderson, 32, a Bronx man with more than 40 arrests to his name, shoved a 25-year-old man onto the 6 train tracks at the 14th Street Union Square Station.

Bystanders helped the man off the tracks. Anderson was later detained uptown at the Columbus Circle station after he threw a rock at a construction worker.

Anderson was sent to Bellevue Hospital after his arrest, where it was deemed he was likely an emotionally disturbed person, according to the Post

On September 19 a 22-year-old Brooklyn woman was left with a battered and swollen face after on way home from work when a random man knocked her unconscious with a punch and then pushed her onto the tracks in Crown Heights.

She managed to come to and pull herself from the tracks before a train came into the station. The suspect fled with her phone and has not yet been apprehended, according to Fox 5.

Clarence Anderson, 32, a Bronx man with more than 40 arrests to his name, shoved a 25-year-old man onto the 6 train tracks at the 14th Street Union Square Station

On September 19 a 22-year-old Brooklyn woman was left with a battered and swollen face after on way home from work when a random man knocked her unconscious with a punch and then pushed her onto the tracks in Crown Heights

On September 5, 59-year-old Xing Zhou was on her way to church when Vladimir Pierre, 41, walked up to her and punched her in the face at Union Square Station

On September 5, 59-year-old Xing Zhou was on her way to church when Vladimir Pierre, 41, walked up to her and punched her in the face at Union Square Station.

Vladimir Pierre, 41, had been arrested and released for sucker-punching another random person just four days prior

Zhou, who is deaf, fell back onto the tracks. She was rescued by a pair of bystanders.

Pierre was arrested, and it was revealed he had been arrested and released for sucker-punching another random person just four days prior.

On June 25 at the 125th Street Station in Manhattan, a 64-year-old man was pushed onto the tracks at 2:40pm while trying to break up a fight.

The man made it off the tracks before tragedy, and one suspect was taken into custody.

Days earlier on June 17, a 51-year-old was pushed to the tracks during a fight at 42nd Street and Grand Central station in Midtown Manhattan.

The fight went down at about 4pm, with the suspect fleeing before cops arrived on the scene.

Shocking video from June 4 showed Theodore Ellis, 31, randomly grabbing a 52-year-old woman and aggressively throwing her onto the tracks.

The woman broke her collarbone, dislocated her shoulder, and suffered head injuries.

Ellis was charged with attempted murder, and later told cops that he had been drinking when he committed the assault and didn't mean to do it, according to the Post.

Shocking video from June 4 showed Theodore Ellis, 31, randomly grabbing a 52-year-old woman and aggressively throwing her onto the tracks

In April a 24-year-old narrowly avoided disaster at the 59th Street station in Brooklyn when 23-year-old Ricky Vidal shoved them from behind in attempt to knock them to the tracks.

Vidal had been arrested days before for assaulting a 73-year-old man, and was described as 'a ticking time bomb' by cops, according to the Post.

On January 23 a 62-year-old man was pushed from behind onto the tracks at the Fulton Street Station in Lower Manhattan just as a train was pulling into the station.

The victim managed to crawl unto a space under the platform, but his leg was struck by the train. He was transported to a hospital in stable condition.

The year kicked off with the fatal shoving of Michelle Go, 40, on January 15 at the Times Square Station

A vigil is held for Michelle Go in Times Square after she was shoved onto the subway tracks and killed in January

The year kicked off with the fatal shoving of Michelle Go, 40, on January 15 at the Times Square Station.

Go was waiting on the NQRW platform that Saturday at about 9:40am when 61-year-old Simon Martial shoved her in front of an oncoming train.

Martial, who has a lengthy criminal history, gave a deranged answer when asked by reporters why he pushed Go.

'Yes, because I'm God. Yes, I did it. I'm God. I can do it,' he repeated as he was led into a police car.

Martial, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was committed to a mental hospital months after his attack.
He reportedly wants to 'right-size' CNN because some departments are 'bloated'

Licht's letter to staff said decisions on who faces the chop will be made this year

The network boss said fears about the economy will impact 'people and budgets'

CNN chief Chris Licht has warned staffers that plans to axe jobs at the network will be accelerated within weeks and to brace themselves for 'unsettling' changes.

In a grim letter to employees sent Wednesday, Licht said there was 'widespread concern' about the global economy that will impact 'people, budgets, and projects'.

His missive came as he adopted the term 'right-sizing' to describe planned cuts to CNN, which has around 4,500 employees, that could leave scores of workers jobless.

Licht took the top job in May and has conducted a months-long review into the business which has concluded some departments are 'bloated'.

The network's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is also laying off 1,000 of its 40,000 workers before the year ends - and CNN staff fear they face the chopping block.

Licht has already led a cull of veteran staff who have earned the network a reputation as woke. Trump critics Brian Stelter and John Harwood recently departed CNN in a move that left some staff fearing the most vocally anti-Trump talent was being forced out in a bid to return CNN to the neutral image it enjoyed prior to Trump's election.

He told staff today: 'There is widespread concern over the global economic outlook, and we must factor that risk into our long-term planning.

CNN boss Chris Licht has told staff that plans to slim down the network will be accelerated

Licht took CNN's top job in May and is tasked with slimming down the network's operations

'All this together will mean noticeable change to this organization. That, by definition, is unsettling.

'These changes will not be easy because they will affect people, budgets, and projects.'

He said CNN bosses want to decide who'll be let go 'by the end of the year so we can start 2023 feeling settled and prepared for the future'.

Licht said the network will be a 'more nimble organization' following the cuts.

The network has been hammered by the rise in streaming services, which have hurt viewing figures. Its profits this year are expected to fall below $1billion for the first time since 2016.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has told Licht to transform the network.

Cuts already made include axing CNN+, the doomed streaming services which closed within a month of launch and reportedly cost $300million.

CNN staff were already on edge about cuts after the high-profile firings of correspondents Brian Stelter and John Harwood, both critics of Trump.

Some employees felt the decisions were part of a move to cull woke staff. They believed the cuts were part of a move to lose staff who were critical of Donald Trump and his allies.

CNN is thought to want to project itself as a more neutral organization. Licht denies he's removing top stars who've contributed to the network's liberal reputation.

CNN staffers are afraid of a network-wide purge of woke talent following the sudden firings of WH correspondent John Harwood (left) and Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter (right)

Kaitlan Collins (left) and Poppy Harlow (right) will appear in the new show CNN This Morning

Don Lemon will also appear on CNN This Morning, which will be a 'more relaxed' news show

Licht warns job cuts 'wont be easy' An extract from CNN boss Chris Licht's letter to staff on Wednesday morning: We have already begun working toward CNNs future, implementing a strategy that puts our journalism first and grows our digital stronghold. We restructured our digital team and are investing significantly in the product. We combined our newsgathering operations across linear and digital to ensure we can bring our full reporting firepower to any platform we are on. We are beginning to reimagine our morning and primetime lineups, officially launching our new morning show next week. Weve started building our Sunday night long-form program. We have also begun to reduce or eliminate areas that arent core to our mission. All these moves are designed to keep CNN essential across platforms to ensure that wherever and however people get their news, they must have CNN. There is a lot more to be done. I am writing to you today to say that over the next several weeks, that work will accelerate. There is widespread concern over the global economic outlook, and we must factor that risk into our long-term planning. All this together will mean noticeable change to this organization. That, by definition, is unsettling. These changes will not be easy because they will affect people, budgets, and projects. We will be strategic in this process and will minimize the impact on our core newsgathering operation and Digital, both of which have already executed smart changes. Let me be clear: I will not allow these changes to affect our position as the worlds leading news source, and we will continue to invest in growth areas. When we conclude this process, CNN will still be the largest, most-respected newsgathering organization in the world. We will continue to cover any story, anywhere, any timewith more resources than anyone else. Full stop. Advertisement

The shakeup at the network also includes a new morning show, CNN This Morning, hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins.

The show has been billed as a 'more relaxed approach' to morning news.

Licht said Zaslav's vision for CNN is exactly the kind of network I would like to see'.

He told CNBC: 'Theres no daylight between his vision for this network and my vision for this network. The only reason why I took this job is because it was him in charge. I thought, I can deliver this for him.'

Staff are also reportedly unsure of Licht's 'hands-off style', which some view as a way to evaluate his team.

He's said to hope CNN can start to tell stories that families will discuss around the table, with less focus on politics.

Licht is said to be keen to focus on more general interest stories, including those focusing on business, technology and sport.

Licht took over following the resignation of Jeff Zucker, a network stalwart who quit over an undisclosed consensual relationship with ex-CNN exeuctive Allison Gollust.

That emerged after former star Chris Cuomo - a close friend of Zucker's - was axed from his CNN show for briefing his brother Andrew - the disgraced ex-Governor of New York - on how to survive allegations of sexual harassment.
President Joe Biden is getting ready to fire up the jets for a whirlwind of international international travel after the November elections  with the president of Israel suggesting Wednesday that Biden would join him for a summit in Egypt.

Israel President Isaac Herzog made the statement while meeting with Biden at the White House Wednesday, talking up future participation at the upcoming UN environmental summit COP27, to be held at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt.

'One item that you and I will be participating in, Mr. President, with leaders from all over the world is COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt a few weeks down the road,' Herzog said.

His comment came after the White House tamped down a Washington Post report earlier this month when the paper reported Biden would attend.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog made a comment in the Oval Office suggesting Biden would attend the upcoming COP27 summit in Egypt. ''One item that you and I will be participating in, Mr. President, with leaders from all over the world is COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh,' Herzog said

'We don't have any travel to preview,' a White House spokeswoman told DailyMail.com on Wednesday when asked about Herzog's comment.

Attending the event would allow Biden drive home his positions on climate change and environmental issues, capping off a year where he pushed through legislation to funnel billions toward electric vehicles and charging stations, as well as other measures meant to reduce greenhouse emissions.

It would also have him leaving Washington just as the election results could be sinking in. The summit runs from Nov. 6 through Nov. 18th.

The White House has announced that Biden will attend the upcoming ASEAN summit of southeast asian nations in Cambodia, followed by a trip to Indonesia for the G20 summit, amid expectations he may meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

By flying East, Biden could stop by Egypt on the way.

Herzog made the comment during an availability where the two men mentioned a maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the killing of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini

Leaders from around the world will gather at the Red Sea resort next month

If Biden does go, he won't have long: he is due to attend summits in Cambodia and Bali

The White House has not announced any scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who consolidated power at the annual party congress in Beijing

Biden touted a new maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon, calling it a 'historic breakthrough'

Herzog also brought up other regional issues, including the killing of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini after being detained by the regime's 'morality police.'

He said of Iran: 'This is an example of Iran crushing their own citizens while moving forward towards nuclear weapons and supplying lethal weapons that is killing innocent citizens in Ukraine. The Iranian challenge will be a major challenge to be discussed.'

Ukraine has been urging Israel to share its 'Iron Dome' missile defense technology, but Jerusalem has resisted and said instead it would provide other forms of relief.

Herzog also thanked Biden for the U.S. role in helping Israel and Lebanon reach a maritime deal, ending a long-running dispute. Officials are set to ink the agreement Thursday. The U.S. helped the two sides reach the agreement.

Biden called it a 'historic breakthrough.'

'It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it,' he told his Israeli counterpart. 'It took some real guts. It took principled and persistent diplomacy to get it done.'

Herzog also said he and Biden addressed anti-Semitism, without mentioning any specific instances, after sponsors dropped rapper Ye following some of his online postings.

'We've discussed the issue of anti-Semitism. It's a major issue, which we see as a main challenge in various frontiers all over the world. Clearly as the nation-state of the Jewish people we care for our brothers and sisters around the world,' he said.
A drama teacher jailed for sexually abusing a schoolgirl she was mentoring at her family home has been banned from teaching for life - but insists she has done no wrong.

Kim Connor, 46, began grooming the student when she was just 13 and invited her for extra tuition at her house.

She was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust and jailed for nine months in July 2020.

At a misconduct hearing, a panel heard that Connor acknowledged that she did not appeal the conviction in the criminal courts. But she wished to record that she did not agree with the convictions.

However, the panel underlined that she had denied the offences in court - but had been found guilty and sentenced.

Ms Connor had been employed as a performing arts teacher at a school from 1996 until 2015.

Kim Connor (pictured outside Manchester Crown Court in 2019) began grooming the student when she was just 13 and invited her for extra tuition at her house

She then taught at a different school for one term, before returning to the original school - where she worked until being suspended in March 2018.

The sexual abuse took place between Connor and the pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in 2004.

At her criminal trial, jurors heard how the pair met when the teenager enrolled at the school where Connor had just joined the drama department.

Staff described her as 'trustworthy, truthful and an honest person of morals and integrity'.

The court heard the two later became close and when she turned 13.

Mother-of-two Connor began to offer the girl weekly private tuition at her home in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Darren Preston, prosecuting, said: 'During a lesson Connor kissed the girl on the lips when she was 14 in a chaste way and the situation began to develop."

It was claimed the relationship then became more sexual and they would swap texts and Connor would sign off saying 'your Kim'.

The court also heard that Connor showed the victim a safe in her wardrobe that contained various sex toys.

The teenager subsequently became 'enthralled and besotted' with Connor, while the her unsuspecting parents mistakenly assumed the teacher was mentoring their daughter.

Connor and the pupil also went on holiday together to Portugal, had meals out at restaurants and spent nights away in hotels.

The relationship lasted nearly six years, until the victim discovered that Connor had secretly been undergoing IVF treatment to have a baby.

She was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust and jailed for nine months in July 2020

The schoolgirl kept the relationship secret until 2018, but spoke to police after being inspired by the #MeToo movement.

Paul Hawkins, chair of the panel at the Teaching Regulation Agency hearing earlier this month, said: 'The panel found that the seriousness of the offending behaviour that led to the conviction, and in particular that it involved sexual activity with a child who was and had previously been a pupil in her care, was relevant to Ms Connor's ongoing suitability to teach.

'There was no evidence that Ms Connor's actions were not deliberate.

'In fact, the panel noted the Judge's sentencing remarks which stated, 'These were not isolated incidents. The Pupil was groomed and manipulated'.

'The panel did not consider Ms Connor had shown insight or remorse for her actions, and determined there was a risk of repetition and therefore a continued risk to pupils.'

Banning Connor from teaching for life, Alan Meyrick, for the Education Secretary, said: 'I am particularly mindful of the finding of abuse of position of trust in this case and the impact that such a finding has on the reputation of the profession.

'In my view, it is necessary to impose a prohibition order in order to maintain public confidence in the profession.'
A police manhunt is underway after a 19-year-old university student was stabbed to death in south Manchester in the early hours of this morning.

The man died today after he was found 'seriously injured' on Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, near the University of Manchester's Fallowfield accommodation campus.

Murder squad detectives have now launched a murder investigation, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed.

The man was given CPR by police officers who were flagged down at around 2am this morning. Police have confirmed he was a university student.

Officers who attended the scene established the victim suffered stab wounds. Police are now working 'to find the person responsible'.

Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield in south Manchester was cordoned off by police this morning with two tents in place after a stabbing led to a university student's death

Police officers were alerted to the 'seriously injured' student, 19, at around 2am this morning and attempted CPR before he sadly died near the University of Manchester's Owens Park halls

A huge cordon (pictured) was put in place on the busy Wilmslow Road as forensic officers combed the scene for evidence

A huge cordon was put in place on the busy main road as forensic officers combed the scene for evidence. The road was taped off near the row of shops and takeaways outside student halls at Owens Park.

Parts of Cawdor Road, Furness Road and Landcross Road were also cordoned off. Two forensic tents were in place within the cordon.

Traffic services confirmed Wilmslow Road reopened at around 4.45pm this afternoon.

A GMP spokesperson said: 'Greater Manchester Police Detectives are investigating the murder of a 19-year-old University student and are appealing to members of the public for information.

'At around 2am on Wednesday 26 October 2022, officers were alerted to the stabbing on Wilmslow Road.

'Officers attended and established that a 19-year-old man had been stabbed. CPR was commenced at the scene.

'The man was taken to hospital but tragically passed away a short time later as a result of his injuries.

'His next of kin have been informed and specially trained officers have been deployed to support them at this difficult time.'

Murder squad detectives have now launched a murder investigation, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed. Pictured: Police a the scene earlier today

Traffic services confirmed Wilmslow Road (pictured with police tents at the scene) reopened at around 4.45pm this afternoon

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division said: 'This was a terrible crime which has robbed a young man of his life and my thoughts are with his family at this devastating time.

'I understand it will cause distress and concern to many in Fallowfield and across Manchester more widely, including our large student community.

'The investigation is in its early stages, but I can assure you that our officers are working round the clock and carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

We are actively pursuing leads and will relentlessly pursue the offender to ensure they are brought to justice.'

'This was a terrible crime which has robbed a young man of his life and my thoughts are with his family at this devastating time,' said Detective Superintendent Neil Jones of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division

Det Spt Jones has said there will be higher numbers of police officers out in Fallowfield as they search for the knifeman

Det Spt Jones added: 'There will be more officers out on the streets in Fallowfield and the surrounding area over the coming days conducting high visibility and plain clothes patrols to gather intelligence and reassure the community.

Greater Manchester Police operates a Student Safe Operation with our partners on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights where our officers patrol the student areas at night, and these efforts will ramp up and be given extra resources.

'I hope this goes some way to reassure the community and if anyone has any information about this incident or has any concerns, I urge you to speak to these officers. They are there to help and support you.'

A statement from a University of Manchester spokesperson this morning read: 'A serious incident in the early hours of this morning occurred opposite Owens Park on A6101 Wilmslow Road with Greater Manchester Police and other emergency services attending. The road remains closed between Moseley Road and Langley Road, with a police cordon and diversions in place.

'Bus services have been diverted around from the route, and people are being urged by Greater Manchester Police to avoid the area. Buses will instead use Dickenson Road, Birchfields Road, and Moseley Road in both directions. We will update with further information in due course.'
A gun discovered in a Liverpool cemetery is not linked to the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, police have said.

The weapon, found along with ammunition in West Derby Cemetery last week, was forensically tested by police to see whether it was used by the gunman who shot Olivia at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22.

The Glock handgun, found in a bag, was also tested to see if it was linked to the murders of Sam Rimmer, who was shot in Dingle on August 16, or council worker Ashley Dale, 28, who was killed in Old Swan on August 21.

On Wednesday, Merseyside Police said it was not linked to any of the murder investigations.

Police have said two weapons were used by the gunman who shot Olivia and injured her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, as he chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee, into their home.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22

A gun, bag and bullets were found at West Derby Cemetery

Merseyside Police at the scene last week in West Derby Cemetery on Lower House Lane, Liverpool

A police cordon was in place as investigators carried out their enquiries

A .38 revolver was the weapon which killed Olivia and a a Glock-type self-loading 9mm pistol was also fired, detectives said.

Thomas Cashman, 34, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, has been charged with Olivias murder and is due to stand trial in March.

A provisional trial date for Cashman had been set for March 6 next year. David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, said the trial is expected to last four weeks.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC said Cashman will appear at the next hearing via video-link. He also told him: 'In the meantime you must remain in custody.'

Thomas Cashman, 34, was in Liverpool Magistrates' Court today, alleged to have killed the nine-year-old

Paul Russell, 40, who is accused of assisting an offender by helping Cashman dump his clothes

In a eulogy, Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel (pictured holding a pink teddy) said: 'Liv touched so many people's hearts and was loved and adored by everyone. She will never be forgotten'

Nine-year-old Olivia was shot dead in her home in Liverpool in August

A court artist sketch of Thomas Cashman appearing in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates' Court this morning

Police motorcycles block the road to other traffic as a vehicle carrying Thomas Cashman arrives at Liverpool Magistrates' Court

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin arrives at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool in a horse-drawn carriage on September 15

Cashman is alleged to have killed the nine-year-old, who was shot dead after convicted burglar Joseph Nee was chased by a gunman into her home in Didcot, Liverpool, on August 22

Cashman is charged with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Russell, of West Derby, charged with assisting an offender, is accused of driving Cashman to an address and disposing of his clothing, according to the wording of the indictment.

Cashman, also from the West Derby area, is further charged with two counts of possessing a firearm to endanger life.

There have been 11 arrests over Olivia's death so far, with nine men previously detained as part of the wide-scale investigation, all of whom were later bailed.

Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel died in after being shot in her home in Liverpool in August

Police and forensic officers at the property in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, where nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot

Rebecca Wilkinson, headteacher of St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School in Huyton, said the nine-year-old 'oozed kindness' and would be remembered for her smile.

'We have had counsellors in every class,' she said.

'(The children) are devastated at the loss of their friend, they truly are, but the counselling has definitely helped and we have been so proud of the resilience the children have shown since they've been back.'

Olivia's funeral was held at St Margaret Mary's Church in Knotty Ash last month.
Media pundits rushed to defend Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman's tumultuous debate performance on Tuesday night against Republican celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz

It was their first and only in-person matchup ahead of the critical November 8 midterm elections, now less than two weeks away.

Fetterman, 53, is suffering some lingering speech and auditory impediments from a stroke he suffered in May.

He at times struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Oz, with his delivery often halting and choppy.

His celebrity rival, meanwhile, turned on the charm he had honed over 13 seasons of his show, and attacked Fetterman for being 'extreme.' The pauses and stumbles happened throughout the debate.

The next day, The View co-host Joy Behar accused Oz of violating his Hippocratic Oath as a surgeon for his political attacks against his Democrat rival.

'The Republican Party is running a bunch of ads about showing Fetterman stumbling on things because of the stroke. What kind of a doctor is behind that, arent they supposed to do no harm?' Behar said, referring to the physician vow.

'Its so unsympathetic to the guy, you know?'

She denounced Oz as a celebrity with no real political experience - which he is - but compared a vote for the Republican to a vote for herself.

The View co-host Joy Behar said on Wednesday that voting for Mehmet Oz would be like voting for herself for Senate

'Voting for the slick person on TV is like voting for me,' the host said. 'Dont vote for me for politics. I do work on television.'

Meanwhile, an MSNBC opinion columnist accused Oz of relying on 'blatant ableism.'

'Strong candidates dont need to rely on ableism to win. If Oz wants a fair fight, he can stick to attacking his opponents policies rather than his disabilities,' opinion writer Liz Plank wrote.

The New York Times ventured to say Fetterman was 'fluent enough' in voicing his views but conceded his stroke side-effects could not be ignored.

'Mr. Fettermans words were frequently halting, and it was apparent when he was delayed in either reading or reaching for a phrase or word,' the outlet's coverage of the debate read.

'But he was also fluent enough over the course of the hour to present his Democratic vision for a state that could determine control of the Senate.'

Left-wing pundits on Twitter were more graphic in their comments.

'John Fetterman is a brave man who admits his frailties, pushes himself, meets challenges and triumphs over adversity. Dr. Oz is a p***y. See the difference?' wrote liberal online personality JoJo from Jerz.

While the majority of debate watchers agreed Fetterman lost the match-up, some pundits leapt to defend the embattled lieutenant governor

New York Times opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie wrote on the site: 'i personally think that fetterman speaking with a disability is less painful and off-putting to watch than ozs cruel and smirking jabs at fettermans stroke.'

He appears to have been referring to one point at which Oz took a veiled shot at Fetterman's condition, telling him: 'Apparently I wasn't clear enough for you to understand this.'

A writer for the Daily Beast acknowledged that he would not vote for Fetterman due to idealogical differences but said Oz came off worse in the debate.

'Contrarian take: I wouldnt vote Fetterman for philosophical reasons. But if I were leaning toward him, last night would make me root for him even more. Dr. Oz risks coming off looking like a bully who is taking advantage of a tragedy. Would love to see some post-debate polling,' Matt Lewis wrote on Twitter.

In advance of the debate - the only one for the Pennsylvania Senate race - Fetterman's campaign had tempered expectations, saying there would be 'awkward pauses' and 'delays and errors,' because the Democrat would be reading closed captioning due to his auditory processing issue.

'Hi, goodnight everyone,' Democratic populist Fetterman opened the night's highly anticipated match-up.

At one point Fetterman was asked to clarify his position on fracking, as moderators pointed to a 2018 interview where the lieutenant governor expressed broad opposition to the practice, but not a ban.

'I do support fracking - I don't, I don't - I support fracking, and I do support fracking,' he answered.

He landed a somewhat confusing jab on his opponent for his own support of fossil fuels, declaring that Oz 'has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about.'

At another instance, Fetterman was asked specifically about charges Oz made about some of the Democrat's campaign ads being pulled down for being factually inaccurate. Fetterman, instead, stuck to the topic of abortion.

'I'm going to let Mr Fetterman respond specifically to the ads being pulled off the air, and we're going to return to you, Mr Oz,' said one of the moderators.

Fetterman didn't acknowledge the question.

'Yeah, I want to look into the face of every woman in Pennsylvania. If you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz, than you have a choice, but if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, that's what I fight for,' Fetterman said.

'Roe v. Wade for me, should be the law, he celebrated when it went down. And my campaign would fight for Roe v. Wade - and if given the opportunity to codify it into law.'

Over the course of the debate, Fetterman twice refused to say he would release his full medical record to the public.

'My doctor ultimately believes that I'm fit to be serving and that's what I believe,' Fetterman said. He also said that 'for me, transparency is about showing up.'

At other times, it seemed clear what he was getting at, but he was clearly seen struggling to find the correct phrasing.

Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman at points struggled to get through his hour-long debate with Republican Dr Mehmet Oz

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (left) debated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz (right) on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

His answer when asked about small business owners who are concerned about raising the minimum wage was: 'We all have to make sure that everyone that works is able to- that's the most American bargain, that if you work full time you should be able to live in dignity is well true.'

'We can't have businesses being subsidized by not paying individuals that just simply can't evade to pay their own way,' he said.

Their face-off comes exactly a week before Election Day. As of noon on Tuesday, nearly 640,000 early ballots have already been cast in Pennsylvania.

Both candidates opened the highly anticipated debate in attack mode.

'I'm running to serve Pennsylvania, he's running to use Pennsylvania,' Fetterman said of Oz.

'Here's a man who spent more than $20 million of his own money to try and buy that seat.'

Fetterman also labeled Oz a 'liar' and chided the TV doctor for having 10 houses, saying that he couldn't understand the struggles of everyday Pennsylvanians.

The lieutenant governor attacked Oz for having products with his name on them made in China.

After it wrapped, a CNN panel of lawmakers and pundits shared a damning assessment of Fetterman's performance.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he was 'astounded' and 'stunned' by Fetterman's poor performance, while Alyssa Farah Griffin, Donald Trump's former communications director, said she found it 'painful to watch'.

Even CNN host, Alisyn Camerota, said she was disturbed by the spectacle.

CNN's panel on Tuesday night was highly critical of Fetterman's performance

Camerota, right, said that she felt Fetterman was not speaking with his previous clarity

Charlie Dent, a Republican former congressman, was strident in his criticism of Fetterman's performance on Tuesday night

'I've interviewed him many times as lieutenant governor,' said Camerota.

'And he sounds - he's sounded different before the stroke. In the interviews, he was much more, sort of, clear spoken than what I'm hearing.'

Dent said Fetterman was not fit to be on the debate stage.

'I thought someone should have invoked the mercy rule 20 minutes into the debate,' he said. 'I don't know if it was the stroke or he's just a lousy debater or if he doesn't understand the issues. He was flustered he, was confused. He should have not been out there.'

'And I've had a number of people say why was this guy in on the ballot after that?

'I don't know if the debates matter that much. But people watch that, they are going to question his capacity to serve. The bar was set very low. It should've been set lower.'

Griffin agreed.

Republican hopeful Dr. Mehmet Oz participated in the Pennsylvania Senate debate on Tuesday night in Harrisburg

'I want to be careful because I think some of the most consequential leaders in history have had different kinds of disabilities. I don't think it should preclude someone from serving,' she said.

'But what we saw today was someone who was not ready to be in office. And the lack of transparency leading up to this actually shocked people watching. I found it extremely hard to watch. And the question I found myself asking is: is the way that he's struggling a result of his stroke? Or is it because he does not have a grasp on the issues?'

David Axelrod, a Democrat strategist who served as a senior adviser to Obama, tweeted: 'Fetterman needed to show he's sufficiently recovered, and this debate surely did not help.'

And while some praised Fetterman's bravery in appearing on the debate stage at all, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York Magazine, said: 'There is no amount of empathy for and understanding about Fetterman's health and recovery that changes the fact that this is absolutely painful to watch.'

Republican critics were gleeful.

'OMG John Fetterman it's worse than any of us could have ever imagined,' tweeted Donald Trump Jr.

'At this point the moderator is filibustering to make sure he doesn't get any more Qs. I think that's 4 in a row to @DrOz.

'Even today's partisan hack media can't cover for Fetterman being brain dead!'

And Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's speechwriter, tweeted: 'Just so we are all clear: that was Fetterman WITH weeks of prep and specialized computer assistance throughout.

'So what you just saw is the very, very best Fetterman can do. Which is terrifying.'

For his part, Oz did not hesitate to go after Fetterman on crime - a hot button issue for Republicans stuck in close races across the country.

'John Fetterman, during this crime wave, has been trying to get as many murderers - convicted and sentenced to life in prison - out of jail as possible,' the TV doctor said.

After Oz said Fetterman had called the Pennsylvania energy industry a 'stain' on the state, the Democrat pounced.

'He has never met an oil company he doesn't swipe right about,' Fetterman said.

A new poll taken up until the day before John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz's first and only debate shows the Democrat's lead over his Trump-backed rival sitting at only 2 percent

Oz confirmed that he didn't believe the minimum wage in Pennsylvania should be raised to $15 across the board, explaining he wanted to preserve the right for businesses to pay workers less.

'I think market forces have already driven up the minimum wage,' Oz said. 'But John Fetterman thinks the minimum wage is the weekly allowance from his parents.'

On abortion, Oz said he didn't think the federal government should handle the decision - suggesting he wouldn't support Senator Lindsey Graham's 15-week federal abortion ban, but not answering the question directly.

'I want women, doctors, local political leaders, leading the democracy that's always allowed our nation to thrive,' Oz said. 'To put the best ideas where states can decide for themselves.'

Oz had moderated his position, having previously called abortion at any stage 'murder.'

Fetterman has consistently had a small edge in polls, which continues, though several recent surveys show it's close.

On Tuesday, a CBS News survey put the distance between the two candidates at two points.

According to the survey, 51 percent of likely Keystone State voters back Fetterman, compared to 49 percent who back Oz.

The Democratic populist's lead falls well within the 4.4-percent margin of error.
Mrs Squire said it was 'not acceptable' for her not to know the final moments of her eldest daughter's life

She has demanded a face-to-face with the killer because 'there are so many questions' left unanswered

Relowicz attacked Libby after she became separated from her friends and dumped her body in the river Hull

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The mother of a university student who was brutally killed after becoming separated from friends on a night out is steeling herself to come face to face with the man who took her daughter's life.

Lisa Squire is preparing to meet the sexual predator who raped and murdered her eldest daughter Libby, 21, in Hull in 2019. Polish butcher Pawel Relowicz, 26, was convicted of killing the philosophy student when he chanced upon her after she had been out with friends.

Relowicz has agreed to see Mrs Squire, which feels like an inversion of the natural order.

Surely it should be she, the bereaved parent, who determines whether the meeting takes place?

'I get that he has to know he has some control over it,' she says. 'He has committed the worst offences imaginable and the prospect of seeing the mother of the person he killed must be quite difficult.

'He may be a bit nervous,' she concedes both with understatement and astounding magnanimity. 'It's quite a brave thing for him to do.

'I don't hate him, I really don't. I find anger and hatred incredibly draining, so I choose not to go down that route. Just trying to muddle through life without Libby is hard enough and there are days when I don't even want to mother my other three children, or go to work, or walk the dog. I just want to wallow in my Libby world.

Libby Squire was a 21-year-old student at the University of Hull when she was raped and murdered by Pawel Relowicz in the early hours of February 1, 2019, following a night out in the city

Libby Squire's mother Lisa, a maternity nurse from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has dedicated herself to campaigning to end violence against women and girls. She is determined to meet Relowicz to find out what happened to her daughter

Pawel Relowicz, 26, had a history of spying on female students and was on the prowl looking for a vulnerable victim when he murdered Libby on February 1, 2019

Every parent's worst nightmare: How the loss of her daughter led Lisa Squire to campaign for an end to violence against women and girls Libby Squires, 21, was a philosophy student in Hull and was last seen sitting on a park bench after becoming separated from her friends and refused entry in a nightclub in the early hours of February 1, 2019. She was targeted by married father-of-two Pawel Relowicz, 26, who had a history of spying on female students and was on the prowl looking for a vulnerable victim. He lured her into his car and drove her to a nearby park, where he raped her before dragging her body to the freezing water of the River Hull. Her body was later discovered in the Hull estuary seven weeks after she went missing. In February last year, Relowicz was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years and is currently behind bars at high-security HMP Wakefield. Since Libby's death, Ms Squire has lobbied politicians for tougher measures on low-level sex offenders to prevent more serious crimes from being committed. Mrs Squire, who also has three teenage children, previously urged people to report all non-contact 'minor' offences to the police. She said: 'I know Libby was flashed at, a few weeks or months before she died. It happened after a night out around November time. 'I'm not sure exactly when. She told him to 'p**s off' basically, and berated him. 'I said to her 'you should really report it' and she said 'Oh mum, I gave him a mouthful and told him what a pathetic human being he was.' But she didn't report it. 'And that absolutely haunts me now because likely or not that was him.' Lisa said she wants to see an early intervention along with education in school on the subject of flashing and sexual harassment. Following the murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard, Mrs Squire said: 'It is the same with Sabina and Sarah. Saying they are vulnerable because they are alone on the street is victim blaming. 'We can't accept our girls being murdered on the streets. Women have the right to be out whenever they like. 'The only way to stop this is to look out for one another - to teach our children, our sons, how to look out for their sisters and girlfriends.' Advertisement

'Grief can be all-consuming. So if I had hatred to contend with on top of all that it would just be an extra layer of s***; too much to cope with.'

What she wants, she says, are answers about how her daughter died. Relowicz, a Polish butcher who is now serving 27 years for his heinous crimes, has always denied his guilt.

He was 24 and a married father of two when he killed Libby  then 21, and a second-year philosophy student at Hull University. The fact that he had also committed a string of sexual offences  eight crimes in the preceding 19 months including voyeurism, outraging public decency and burglary (he stole intimate items from women's homes)  before he murdered Libby should have been a red flag.

But he did not have a criminal record and police did not apprehend him. Could he have been prevented from killing Libby if they had? It is a question that haunts Lisa: 'Such offences are known as 'low-level' sex crimes. Let's just call them what they are: sex crimes. And people who commit them should be tagged for five years, then maybe their offences would be taken seriously.'

Libby Squire disappeared during a night out with university friends in Hull in January 2019. She had gone to a nightclub but doormen considered her too drunk to be admitted. Her friends put her into a taxi, paid the fare and gave instructions for her to be taken home.

But after the driver had dropped her at her shared student house, she'd wandered off, into the cold, snowy night, perhaps to clear her head, and became hypothermic, confused, tearful. She was in this vulnerable state when Relowicz pounced.

It was seven weeks before her body was dredged from the Humber Estuary, submerged for so long that pathologists were unable to determine the cause of her death.

Lisa was so close to her bright, kind daughter that they felt like a single entity, tied by bonds of love so strong that death could never break them. The puzzle of how Libby spent her last hours of life has never been solved and that plagues her mum. 'The questions I have are simple ones: What happened to Libby? Was she scared? Did she ask for me? I want Libby to know  and I have a sense that she does know  that I did everything I could to find out what happened.

'There is no question of forgiveness but I can try and get something positive out of this horrendous situation. And as soon as he has answered one question, another will take its place. I'll always want to know more.

'I'm not interested in hearing he is sorry, or that he has a problem or that it was a lapse of judgment. I want to know how Libby died. It will be hard, but not harder than living without her. The worst has happened. There is nothing he can say or do that will be worse.

'But at the moment, my mind fills in the blanks and it goes down some dark paths. I wonder: did he torture her? I thought at the start, maybe she wasn't dead when she went into the water. But we know she was, because of the post-mortem. There were none of the signs of drowning. And before I saw her body I thought, 'Did he stab her?' I had to look to satisfy myself that he didn't.

'He said in court that when he first came across her, she was crying and cold and  by then disorientated by hypothermia  asking for him to take her home to her mummy. I knew she'd ask for me and I'm grateful he confirmed that. She knows that she is never far from my thoughts, that although I wasn't with her physically that night, my love was there with her.'

Since Libby's death, Mrs Squire has lobbied politicans for tougher measures on low-level sex offenders to prevent more serious crimes from being committed

She said she feels strong enough to find out what happened during Libby's final moments and wants to speak to the depraved killer in person. Pictured: Lisa and Russell Squire

Lisa still speaks of Libby in the present tense; as if she were a palpable, living presence. And there is, even now, a communion between mum and daughter.

'I still feel the bond. I talk to her every day: 'I've really missed you. Why did you die? What happened?' I hear her voice replying, 'Mum, it doesn't matter,' and there is a real sense that she is at peace now; happy and never far from us. I know we will be together again when I die, not that I want to hasten my death.

'But how lovely it is that I'll see her again. That is a gift from her. And I try not to sink into the depths of grief because I know she'd feel guilty if I did; that it's her fault. That's another reason to keep myself going.

'I'm not nervous about meeting him at all. It doesn't make my stomach churn. It fills me with hope that I might put a few pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together.

'It is about honouring Libby. I want to do everything I can to find out what happened. It's no different from wanting to support a living child. That mothering instinct never goes away. You don't stop being a mother to your child just because she is dead.'

Lisa, 52, a nurse on a postnatal hospital ward, is married to engineer Russell, 56, and their three other children, Beth, 21, Maisy, 16, and Joe, 15, are a source of hope and solace. She believes, unequivocally, that Relowicz should have been handed a full-life tariff.

Lisa Squire, 51, said she feared no lessons have been learned since her daughter (pictured together) was raped and murdered in 2019 by Polish butcher Pawl Relowicz

During the trial, the court heard Relowicz 'targeted' Libby after seeing her 'drunk' and 'vulnerable' in the streets of Hull, East Yorkshire

'If you kill someone you should forfeit your freedom for the rest of your life,' she says. 'He is due for release in 27 years, but Libby will not come back to us then. So why should he be allowed out? He shows no remorse now. Why will he in the future? If he is released, he will do it again. There is no doubt in my mind. So as long as I have breath in my body I will make sure he never comes out of prison.'

Lisa met Boris Johnson, then prime minister, to petition him on this. 'When he said, 'There aren't enough spaces in prison' I said, 'Then build more prisons.' ' Grief and loss have made her fearless, uncompromising.

She casts her mind back to the heart-stopping horror of that awful night when Libby went missing. She was working a night shift at the hospital when a friend of her daughter rang in the early hours saying, 'We can't find Libby.'

Lisa waited vainly for news  and with mounting terror: 'When her friend rang I felt immediate panic. I did my work, continued my observations, and phoned her friends. There was still no news. I rang the police, university security, and did some more work.

'Then I finished my shift at 8am with this sense of dread. I had the strangest feeling; an emptiness along my left-hand side where she always sat. I knew she was dead.'

'Sexual deviant' Pawel Relowicz, 26, was jailed for life in February to serve a minimum of 27 years for the rape and murder of Libby Squires

Relowicz's mother Marzena (pictured), 53, revealed her own inner torture at her sons shocking crime. Speaking from her home in Warszewice, Poland, in 2019, she said: A beautiful girl was killed. Its heartbreaking.' She said the murder had 'torn her heart apart'

Lisa had the unenviable task of telling Russell, Beth, Maisy and Joe that Libby was missing. By 2.30pm that afternoon, when she had not turned up at a lecture, Lisa called her parents, who arrived to look after the children. Lisa and Russell then began the 200-mile drive from their home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to Hull. 'I was crying all the way and when we got to the Humber I said, 'She's in the water.' I just knew she was. I knew she wasn't coming back because she hadn't contacted me, and she'd text me three times a day.'

These messages marked their relationship. Libby would text saying, 'I love you.' Lisa would reply: 'I love you more.' Back would come, 'I think you'll find I love you more,' and Lisa would counter: 'I'm your mother. I think you'll find I do.'

All the minutiae of Libby's life were charted in their chatty exchanges  the spider she had found in the bath, what she had eaten for breakfast. 'She texted me about everything.' Then came silence. Lisa just knew.

Still, she was tormented by the terrible ambiguity of loss: certain that Libby was dead but refusing to concede that she'd never see her again. 'I felt guilty for not having hope and, although I knew she was never coming back, somehow I didn't  and still don't  feel it.

'I'm terrified of the day when I feel she's dead. I always think she'll walk through the door, that I'll wake up from this really horrible dream; that she'll be there saying, 'Oh my god, Mum. They said I was dead but I'm not.' I still cling to that.'

In those early days when there was no word of Libby, Lisa reflects: 'I felt completely numb, but the human brain is incredible because somehow you carry on.'

Days turned into weeks. Still Libby was not found.

Despite her first instinct that her daughter was dead, Lisa's mind ran in panicked circles.

'I was thinking, 'Where is she? Could she have been trafficked, abducted, held against her will? Has she banged her head and lost her memory?' You have a different thought every minute.'

Then, after seven weeks, police called to say they had discovered her body in the Humber. Lisa recalls: 'You think you'll fall on the floor and scream but I was really quiet. I said to Russell: 'They've found her. Does that mean she is dead?' I still didn't want to believe it.

'And after that, I couldn't wait to see her. The coroner said I couldn't. [Forensic investigations were still being carried out.] But I said, 'I'm coming.' For me, it was a primal need.'

The fact that Libby's body had been submerged for so long delayed its decomposition. 'I would have taken doors off their hinges to get to her. And when I saw her she looked absolutely beautiful. Her body was just a vessel. I felt her presence in the room.'

It was September, nine months after Libby's death, before Lisa could, again, see her daughter's body  this time at the funeral home. 'I chatted to her as if she was still alive. I stroked her head and kissed her face and hands, sat with her. I was desperate to lie next to her and give her a hug and if I could have picked her up and taken her home I would have done.

'It seemed fitting  a privilege, in fact  that I'd been the first person to see her when she was born and the last to see her after she died.'

I wonder if she feels any residual animosity to Libby's friends who failed to accompany her back to her student house that night with such tragic consequences.

She chooses her words carefully: 'If I'm honest, to begin with I was really disappointed that they hadn't gone home with her. But they put her in a taxi, thought she'd go home and be safe. They have to live with Libby's death for the rest of their lives. I don't bear them any animosity. There is only one person to blame for Libby's death and that's Pawel Relowicz. But I tell my children now: 'You go out as a pair; you come back as a pair.' '

Hull MP Dame Diana Johnson is now backing Lisa, calling for offences such as indecent exposure to be reported and treated with gravity by police.

'What we do know is that this sort of behaviour often escalates to far more serious offending and murders, as happened in the case of Libby Squire in Hull and Sarah Everard in London,' Dame Diana told Parliament last year.

Baroness Casey of Blackstock, who publishes her final report into failings at the Metropolitan Police in February, is also expected to focus on this point.

The report was commissioned after the murder of Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzens, who is alleged to have previously exposed himself four times to women.

Pawel Relowicz, 26, who was found guilty of raping and murdering Libby Squire, 21, was photographed grinning in a pair on reindeer antlers just weeks before he killed the student

After Relowicz was arrested, Jagoda visited him in prison only to be told by him that he had been seeing prostitutes during their marriage, his friend revealed

Libby's murder is explored in a three-part Sky Crime documentary starting tonight  Libby, Are You Home Yet?  which features previously unreleased footage of Relowicz laughing as he is told he is being arrested for Libby's rape and murder. In it, too, we see the grainy CCTV footage of her last, vulnerable steps. We also witness the genuine affection and care of her closest friends.

No date has yet been set for Lisa's meeting with Relowicz, arranged via a restorative justice charity, and although he has said he does not want to talk about what happened on the night he killed Libby, Lisa says: 'I will wear him down eventually. I'll keep on until I find out.'

Libby was, says her mum, the sort of gregarious, funny, loving girl that everyone counted as their best friend. 'She was a one-off, unique: a fantastic, kind daughter, adored by her brother and sisters.'

Every year, on January 1, the family marks her birthday: 'We have a cake and a celebration for her. I buy her a present every year. A place is set for her at the table whenever we sit down for a family meal.

'She has a bench we dedicated to her on the hill where I go in the morning and chat with her.

'I am still a mum of four and although there are days when I'm really tearful I try not to feel sorry for myself.

'I'm not brave. It's Libby who gives me strength. She's an amazing person. I still think of her in the present tense.

'She got an incredibly dangerous man off the streets and stopped him from killing other women, saving countless lives. I'm so proud of her  but for that she paid the ultimate price.'
Donald Trump's attorneys agreed to accept the January 6 subpoena for his testimony and documents  days after the panel released it publicly  though former top aide for the ex-president Mick Mulvaney said he will 'never' agree to testify.

Attorney's for Trump received the subpoena on Monday, according to Politico, and Dhillon Law Group's Matthew Sarelson accepted service of the subpoena.

Mulvaney, Trump's former acting Chief of Staff, speculated that Trump won't comply, despite mutterings he could agree to testify if it's live and televised.

The former president's one-time acting chief of staff said that there is 'zero' significance to the subpoena for Trump's testimony because it won't actually ever happen.

'He could be convicted and sentenced to jail and he could still run for and hold the office of the President of the United States,' Mulvaney told Sky News in an interview Wednesday.

Donald Trump's attorneys agreed to receive the January 6 subpoena on Monday  three days after the panel publicly published a copy of the summons

Trump's former acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told Sky News that the former president would 'never' agree to testify. 'He's never going to show up and testify  he's sort of hinted that he would.. They can't make him testify. It's nothing,' he insisted

'That's not an exaggeration,' he continued. 'Only the House and the Senate could deprive any citizen over the age of 35 of their right to be the president under our constitutional system. So while it does some damage, maybe, politically, it doesn't do damage politically.'

Mulvaney said he 'cringes' when speaking to his European friends and explaining that Trump could still run for president again even if charged.

The January 6 select committee publicly published a subpoena on Friday for Trump's testimony and to provide relevant documentation related to their investigation into the infamous Capitol attack.

Dhillon Law Group, which is representing Trump in his dealings with the committee, received the subpoena on Monday.

The group's top lawyer Harmeet Dhillon retweeted multiple posts attacking the January 6 committee's subpoena  and in a statement last week, Dhillon Law Group attorney David Warrington criticized the panel for publicly releasing a copy.

Reports emerged with anonymous sources close to the former president saying that he has signaled he would comply with the subpoena if permitted to have live and televised hearings as former witnesses have had in hearings throughout the beginning of the summer.

The January 6 panel voted in a public meeting earlier this month to issue a subpoena for Trump's testimony and to turn over relevant documents

'How significant do you think the summons  the legal summons for former President Trump to give evidence at the January 6 hearings  how significant do you think that could be?' presenter Dermot Murnaghan asked Mulvaney in a remote interview.

'Not at all. Zero. None whatsoever,' Mulvaney insisted.

'He's never going to show up and testify  he's sort of hinted that he would,' the former top Trump aide added. 'They can't make him testify. It's nothing.'

All nine members of the January 6 panel voted to subpoena Trump at the conclusion of their latest public meeting earlier this month.
A South Carolina woman whose arms were ripped off by two pitbulls in a savage attack that shocked the country has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking meth.

Kyleen Waltman, 38, was arrested earlier this week in Abbeville after police performed a traffic stop on one of her friends.

They found her purse in the vehicle which contained eight grams of methamphetamine.

When police searched Kyleen, they found an additional seven grams of the drug in her pockets.

She was arraigned on charges of drug trafficking on Wednesday and remains in custody.

The arrest comes just weeks after her family renewed their plea for money from the public to help pay her medical bills.

Kyleen Waltman, 38, was arrested earlier this week in Abbeville after police performed a traffic stop on one of her friends. They found her purse in the vehicle which contained eight grams of methamphetamine

She was arraigned on charges of drug trafficking on Wednesday and remains in custody

Kyleen Waltman is shown after the horrendous attack in March. She lost both of her arms

Kyleen was mauled by a pitbull in March. She had both of her arms amputated after the attack, and suffered such horrendous facial injuries that she now has permanent scars.

Since then, the GoFundMe page has raised $300,000.

On October 4, a relative posted on a GoFundMe account set up in her name that they were having trouble finding a doctor to operate on her.

'Its been a struggle with trying to get everything for Kyleen and having to fight for her Medicaid and disability,' the GoFundMe update said.

'We are at our wits end dont know what else to do.

'Every bit of the donations this far has been to help get the medical equipment and pay her bills, but now its her medicines and regular everyday needs she needs help with,' they added.

Her family has not commented on her arrest. It's unclear how much of the GoFundMe money has been used.

A GoFundMe page set up for the woman in March has raised $308,000 out of its $350,000 goal

As recently as October 4, her family was asking for help to buy her medicine and pay her medical bills

Before: Waltman is shown before the attack in March

Kyleen was walking home from her boyfriend's house when she was attacked by two pitbulls and a German shepherd.

She was rescued by a friend who fired a gun into the air, but had lost consciousness by the time she was saved.

The dogs bit through her skull and also chewed her colon, according to officials at the time of the horrific attack.

The dog owner, Justin Minor, was charged with multiple offenses and the animals were euthanized.

Waltman had to undergo surgery to her voice box to ensure she'd be able to speak again, and spent weeks in the hospital.
Pusan National University political science professor Robert Kelly, right, speaks during a session of the Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Wednesday. At left is Soo Kim, a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation who moderated the session. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul









By Kang Seung-woo







Along with massive economic assistance, the normalization of diplomatic relations with the West  particularly with the United States  has long been viewed by countries outside of North Korea as one of the carrots that could persuade the reclusive state from seeking nuclear weapons.







But a former U.S. diplomat said that North Korea has no intention to get rid of its nuclear weapons in exchange for economic incentives or the normalization of diplomatic relations. Joe DeTrani said the reclusive state wants both: to normalize diplomatic relations with the West while keeping its nuclear arsenal intact.







"The North Koreans have been telling us, and certainly they've been telling me from 2003 to 2016, when I've been meeting them officially or track 1.5 meetings with a deputy foreign minister, that North Korea wants to be accepted as a nuclear weapons state and they want normal relations with the United States  they want both," DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy for negotiations with North Korea, said during a session of the Korea Times Forum on the theme "New Challenges for Korea-U.S. Alliance," at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Wednesday. DeTrani, now in Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the discussion remotely.







According to the former ambassador, North Korea wants to be accepted as a nuclear state like Pakistan, while also stressing that the North has claimed its nuclear program is intended as a deterrent and will not be used offensively.







"We've told them, 'No accepting you as a nuclear weapon state.' It's going to lend itself to a nuclear arms race in the region," DeTrani said, expressing concerns over the possibility of nuclear proliferation or fissile material getting into the hands of a rogue state or a non-state terrorist.







Wi Sung-lac, right, South Korea's former chief nuclear envoy to the six-party talks, and Joseph DeTrani, the U.S.' former special envoy to the six-party talks, participate remotely in a session of the Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul





"For those reasons, we're talking about complete, verifiable denuclearization in return for what you want," DeTrani continued.







Stressing that it took two and a half years for the six-party talks to come up with a joint statement, he added, "We have to be patient."







As North Korea has been advancing its nuclear program rapidly, skepticism is arising over whether denuclearizing Pyongyang is a realistic goal.







Since 2006, North Korea has conducted a total of six nuclear tests and a seventh is believed to be just around the corner, triggering much talk about accepting it as a legitimate nuclear weapons state. The totalitarian regime has sought to win the recognition from the United States in what appears to be a move to get international sanctions against it lifted.






Dozens of firefighters worked to free those who had become trapped in the car

He said loss felt 'surreal' and vowed to raise their kids to the best of his ability

Mother-of-six sadly died at scene with two of her children in a critical condition

She had been travelling on Goomalling-Toodyay Road before head-on collision

Hannah Foster and her six children crashed into a cement truck on Wednesday

A mum-of-six who was killed when her family's van collided with a cement truck in a devastating crash that left her six kids fighting for life has been pictured for the first time as her devastated husband pays tribute.

Hannah Louise Foster, 30, was driving her Kia Carnival west on Goomalling-Toodyay Road, in Wongamine, north of Perth, when it smashed into the cement truck travelling east on the same road at about 6.20am on Wednesday.

Ms Fraser sadly died at the scene with her six children, aged between 14 months and 12 years old, rushed to hospital for treatment.

Four kids were airlifted from the harrowing scene while two were rushed in an ambulance to Perth.

Despite desperate efforts to save mother-of-six Hannah Louise Foster, 30, (pictured) she sadly died at the scene in Perth's north after her family van collided with a cement truck

The 58-year-old male driver of the cement truck suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital as a precaution, with a dog also seen fleeing the scene (pictured)

The 58-year-old male driver of the truck suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital as a precaution, with a dog also seen fleeing the scene.

First responders were tasked with a major rescue operation at the crash scene in Wogamine, in WA's wheatbelt, with several people left trapped in the vehicle.

Dozens of firefighters worked to free those trapped while paramedics worked on Ms Foster, who sustained severe injuries in the crash.

Despite frantic efforts to save the Maddington mother, she sadly died at the scene.

As of Wednesday night, two of the children were in a critical condition as their heartbroken father grappled with the loss of his 'soulmate'.

Ms Fraser's heartbroken husband Leighton posted an emotional tribute to his late wife and 'soul mate' on Thursday morning (pictured, the long-time couple on their wedding day)

Leighton Fraser posted an emotional tribute to his late wife on Thursday morning and vowed to raise their six children to the 'absolute best' of his ability.

'To the love of my life,' the Facebook post began.

'I'm sure I got the chance to tell you just how much your presence in my life made me a better man or just how much you meant to me.

'I hope that in the years we spent side by side my actions told you every day that I love you more than words can describe.'

'The thought of you not being here with me is so surreal.'

Mr Fraser said he knew his wife was 'right here' and that she would be 'sitting on the throne of God in awe of him just like we always talked about'.

'So as I look to our future I vow to raise the kids to the absolute best of my ability and promise that I will always honour the amazing person you are,' he wrote.

'Till I see you again rest easy my darling. I will love and cherish you always.

'Gone but never forgotten.'

Ms Fraser (pictured) suffered severe injuries in the crash and died at the scene on Wednesday

Leighton Fraser posted an emotional tribute to his late wife on Thursday morning (pictured) and vowed to raise their six children to the 'absolute best' of his ability

The long-time couple were due to celebrate eight years of marriage in November.

Mr Fraser's father, Corey, has started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his heartbroken son and their six 'beautiful children'.

The campaign has raised more than $20,000 in less than 12 hours, with donors also leaving tributes and words of support for the family.

'My love and thoughts are with you guys! Always here day or night no matter what,' one woman wrote.

'Absolutely heartbreaking. Praying for your family,' another said.

Louise Ryan paid tribute to her 'beautiful' friend, who she said had done everything a 'little bit too early' and had now met Jesus, also 'way too early'.

'A mum at 16, homeschooling all her babies, a leader and a loyal friend. I'm devastated for her husband, children, best friends and the community that have lost someone with so my life and love,' she wrote.

The long-time couple (pictured) were due to celebrate eight years of marriage in November

WA Police released a statement after the crash, warning motorists it is a stark reminder of how lives can be turned upside down in an instant.

'In addition to the tragic loss of life in this crash, there are six children and the driver of the truck who have all personally experienced a traumatic event and will need ongoing support,' it said.

'Incidents like this also impact on the police officers and other emergency responders who attend the scene, and who provide ongoing care to those involved.'

Major Crash detectives will investigate the circumstances of the crash with anyone with dashcam footage of the collision urged to contact police.
A teenage girl sobbed in court today as the rapist who attacked her in a flowerbed in a secluded alley at Westfield Stratford shopping centre was jailed for over 10 years.

The 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was separated from her friends after a night of drinking at the Bat and Ball bar in Westfield on September 4 last year despite being underage.

At around 10.30pm, while 'heavily under the influence of alcohol', she was approached by Albanian national Rufat Kasamaj, 36, who was caught on CCTV observing her.

Sexual predator Kasamaj, of High Road, Leyton, east London, led his young victim to a secluded alleyway and 'dragged' her into a flowerbed before raping her.

Prosecutor Tim Forster told the Old Bailey: 'She became separated from her friends after one of them got involved in some sort of fight and from her recollection, the defendant started touching her on her bum right at the start.'

Sexual predator and Albanian national Rufat Kasamaj (pictured), 36 of High Road, Leyton, east London was today jailed for 10 and a half years for the rape of a 15-year-old girl at Westfield Stratford

Kasamaj led his young victim to a secluded alleyway outside the Westfield shopping centre (pictured) and 'dragged' her into a flowerbed before raping her on September 4 last year

Kasamaj, who came to the UK in 2017, initially pleaded guilty to the offence in October last year at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He was allowed to vacate that plea in March this year.

A trial date was set for July 11 but on that day Kasamaj pleaded guilty once more.

He appeared at the Old Bailey today wearing a grey wool jumper and spent the hearing looking down at the floor.

Kasamaj was jailed for ten-and-a-half years. He will serve two-thirds of that sentence in prison before an extended licence period of five years. He will be indefinitely subject to notification requirements.

A second count of sexual assault by penetration was ordered to lie on file.

The Bat and Ball bar bar nearly lost its licence as a result of the incident as she had been served alcohol despite being underage. The Metropolitan Police's PC Gary Watson told Newham Council that there had been no challenge from bar staff despite the group looking 'considerably less' than 18.

The girl, now 16, sat in the well of the court between her parents and cried intermittently throughout the hearing.

Judge Mark Dennis told Kasamaj: 'On 4 September last year you committed a truly dreadful offence subjecting your 15-year-old victim to a traumatic ordeal showing no pity or concern for her suffering in pursuit of your own sexual, violent gratification.

'You were far from drunk.

'In a calculated way you chose to take advantage of a lone female who was clearly in no position to protect herself from any such assault.

'It was plainly her young age and vulnerability that you recognised and seized upon, regardless of the irrevocable harm that you would thereby inflict on her.'

The judge said the victim had shown 'commendable fortitude' from the outset.

Taking to the witness stand in person, his victim tearfully said that she had been left 'constantly reliving my worst nightmare' and that she had been forced to miss out on her education and take medication due to stress

'I went through some dark places,' she told the court.

'I had to sleep with my bedroom light on through fear and anxiousness.

'I had loads of sleepless nights crying myself to sleep with thoughts of suicide running through my head.'

'This is what you had done to me,' she told the rapist.

The 15-year-old girl was separated from her friends after a night of heavy drinking at the Bat and Ball bar (pictured) in Westfield despite being underage

She went on to say that she was supposed to start her final year in school and do her GCSEs a few days after the incident.

'This unfortunately was not possible. I was an emotional, physical mess.

'I couldn't sleep, let alone function and focus at school.

'I have been through my darkest days as a 15-year-old girl.

'Emotionally, this crime has torn me to pieces.'

The teenager said she wanted to end on a 'positive note' and told the court how she ended up sitting every one of her GCSEs, is now in college and has a part time job.

'I'm determined that this incident will not ruin my life and make me a stronger person than I once was.'

Tim Forster, prosecuting, said: 'This case in summary involves the vaginal rape of a heavily intoxicated and vulnerable 15-year-old girl by a stranger more than twice her age on 4 September at Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford.

'On that day the victim went to the shopping centre with friends.

'She became heavily intoxicated after drinking at a bar and, after being separated from her friends, she encountered this defendant.

'They had never met before.

'After guiding her out of the shopping centre and eventually taking her behind a concrete seating area and flowerbed, he digitally penetrated her vagina and then did so with his penis.

'Although she was too intoxicated to resist she made it clear to him several times that she did not want to engage in sexual activity and also told him she was under 16.

'After raping her he simply walked away and left her where she was.'

CCTV captured Kasamaj guiding his victim through the shopping centre and made clear, from her unsteadiness, that she was 'heavily intoxicated'.

She had twice the legal driving limit of alcohol in her blood, the court heard.

'It's clear that she drank too much alcohol but it's also clear that she was in a bar where she should never have been served,' Mr Forster said.

'She told him she had lost her friends and he attempted to give her reassurance but the Crown say this was clearly a pretence,' he added. 'He told her he would help her get home. He did quite the opposite.

'He started putting his hand down the back of her leggings, his finger into her vagina, she told him she was 15 but he continued doing it aggressively so that it caused her pain. All the while he was guiding her or steering her as they walked around the shopping centre.'

The court heard that Kasamaj was 'bodily holding her throughout, even steering her past a seat when she wanted to sit down' while walking past members of the public.

After leading her outside, he was caught on CCTV steering his victim towards an area of concrete benches to continue the assault. Despite the victim appearing 'totally unresponsive' members of the public continued to walk past, which attracted the attention of Kasamaj.

'In a calculated way you chose to take advantage of a lone female who was clearly in no position to protect herself from any such assault,' Judge Mark Dennis told Kasamaj at the Old Bailey

The prosecution said because of this he 'dragged the victim further into a flowerbed and even reached over to pick up her handbag so that he continue the more serious aspects of the sexual assault and the rape'.

They were then out of sight from the CCTV cameras for 20 minutes, during which he raped her despite her crying and begging.

The rapist then zipped up his trousers and walked away 'with hardly a backwards glance'.

The girl emerged dazed and approached members of the public.

Mr Forster went on: 'It was then that she encountered another stranger, this one much kinder.

'A man called Mr Marian Petrea who was walking through the shopping centre as he left the gym.

'She told him that she had been raped.

'He contacted her father and even took the trouble to escort her by train back to... where she lived before making sure she was safely back in the hands of her family.'

Her first words to Mr Petrea were: 'Please don't hurt me.'

Judge Dennis commended Mr Petrea's actions for showing 'great strength of character' and 'commendable public spirit'.

'He displayed exceptional care and compassion.'

Mr Petrea will be rewarded 1,000.

Following the rape, Kasamaj was seen returning to the scene of his crime on two occasions and at one point urinated there. Following a police investigation, he was subsequently arrested on September and claimed that he had been 'unconscious' during the assault and could not remember anything due to alcohol.

However, it was noted by the prosecutor that there was 'nothing from his demeanour to suggest he was intoxicated'.

Beata Kopel, defending, said that the offending was serious but 'not extreme'.

She added that Kasamaj had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the offence and wished to apologise to his victims and her family.
A carer who lied about visiting the home of a vulnerable woman in her final days, leaving her to die from covid in 'disgraceful' conditions has today been jailed for eight months.

Miya James, 25, was due to attend the home of a vulnerable 71-year-old woman who had just been discharged after eight weeks in hospital on January 24 and 25, 2021.

The woman was suffering from Covid-19, had been discharged from Whiston Hospital and suffered from mobility problems which meant she could not walk down stairs.

James failed to attend three of the four visits she was scheduled to undertake across those two days, but falsely logged her attendance on the company's system in an attempt to get paid.

The woman, who had been admitted to hospital with a range of conditions including cardiac failure, was pronounced dead on January 25.

James, of Fell Grove, St Helens, pleaded guilty to wilful neglect on September 28 this year. She was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

Miya James, 25, was sentenced to eight months in prison today after pleading guilty to 'wilful neglect'

The judge at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) told James: 'One of your motivations was to be paid for going on January 25. That makes it a real sin of omission'

Prosecuting barrister Stella Hayden told the court the 71-year-old woman was discharged on January 7, 2021 and returned to her home in St Helens, where she lived alone.

St Helens Council initially provided care for her before care company Yes Care took over on January 20.

The woman's close friends and family members, including her cousin, would also attend her home and assist with looking after her.

However, she tested positive for Covid-19 on January 15 and family members who had been in close contact with her had to self-isolate until January 25.

Yes Care was to continue providing three visits a day to her house - in the morning, afternoon and evening, to provide duties such as washing, providing fluids and meals. Meals and drinks had to be delivered upstairs due to the woman's lack of mobility.

Yes Care employee James was meant to attend the morning and lunchtime visits on both January 24 and January 25. She did not attend the afternoon visit on January 24.

Another member of Yes Care staff attended the evening visit at around 8.50pm on January 24 and found the woman in a state of undress, with her bedroom drawers pulled out and the contents all over the floor.

The court heard she also saw human waste on the stairs and raised concerns with Yes Care as a result.

James, who is married and a mother to one young child, then did not attend either of her scheduled visits on January 25, the final day of the family's isolation.

However, she falsely logged attendance in the morning on the company's system.

The woman's cousin's self-isolation ended on January 25, so she went to the house to check on her.

At around midday, she found the woman unresponsive and cold in her home. She was later pronounced dead with the cause of death given as Covid-19.

Miss Hayden told the court that James, who had worked as a carer since September 2020, told a colleague she had not attended the morning visit because she overslept.

Despite that, she logged her attendance with the company. She was later arrested and charged with wilful neglect.

In a statement read to the court by Miss Hayden, the woman's cousin said the scene she found at the home on January 25 was 'like something out of a horror movie'.

She said the usually tidy kitchen was incredibly messy, while the food she had bought before her isolation remained unused, apart from some milk.

She added the woman's sleep apnoea machine, which was required upstairs in her bedroom, was downstairs, covered in excrement.

She said her cousin was a 'hard-working, well liked member of the community', but she spent her final week alone in conditions that were 'an utter disgrace'.

In mitigation, Paul Lewis said James said she had not been able to find the woman's care plan on her work app. James also said she had received very little formal training.

In an interview, James said when she attended the home on January 24, the woman did not allow her upstairs and she was not made aware of her mobility issues.

However, Mr Lewis accepted James should have been able to know what she was supposed to do.

He said: 'She didn't turn up to deal with a vulnerable lady who had been discharged from Whiston Hospital.'

James also claimed she quit the job at Yes Care on January 24, but the court heard she had only sent an email saying she was thinking of quitting and would have been required to work a notice period anyway.

Sentencing, Judge David Hale told James: 'You were due to visit on January 24 in the morning and the afternoon and provide basic care. It (a care plan) should have been available to you to see exactly what care you should have been giving.'

He said there was a discrepancy regarding whether James had been given a care plan or not, but told her she should have given basic care, such as cleaning and providing food and water 'to this poor lady who had covid'.

The judge added: 'But you didn't go. She was visited by someone else in the evening. How she left her is by no means clear.

'The next morning - the day she died - you should have gone again. You didn't go but you made entries to indicate you had been. You didn't quit. You did not go on January 25.

'One of your motivations was to be paid for going on January 25. That makes it a real sin of omission'.

He added there was no suggestion that James could have prevented the woman's death. However, he added: 'You just made it worse and deprived her the possibility of some comfort in death.'

The judge said: 'It is a job you volunteered to take' and told James: 'You knew you had a responsibility.'

Judge Hale ruled that neglect of this gravity requires a custodial sentence, and jailed her for eight months.
Darpa, the US army's scientific wing, recently announced successful tests of what it called a HAWC missile (Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept)

UNITED STATES

The US military has a number of hypersonic weapons programs across the Navy, Army and Air Force but most are still in development phase and highly top secret.

However the known programs are all more conventional hypersonic weapons that strike from high altitude, rather than orbital bombardment systems that strike from space which the Chinese were revealed to have developed tis week.

The only US hypersonic weapon know to have been successfully tested is the Air Force's GM-183 ARRW which is designed to be launched from a large bomber aircraft.

It then accelerates to hypersonic speeds using of up to 15,345mph using a supersonic combustion ramjet to strike targets within 1,000 miles. Donald Trump referred to a 'super duper missile' while in office and this is believed to be the AGM-183 ARRW.

The Navy's submarine launched Long Range Hypersonic Weapon is expected to be operational by 2023 and will have a range of 1,725 miles.

Darpa, the US army's scientific wing, recently announced successful tests of what it called a HAWC missile (Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept) but kept details such as range, speed and payload secret.

The missile uses oxygen in the atmosphere as part of its fuel - marking the first successful test of that class of weapon since 2013.

The missile, which is built by Raytheon, was released from an aircraft just 'seconds' before the scramjet engine from Northrop Grumman kicked on, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said.

The engine works by compressing incoming air with hydrocarbon fuel to create a fast airflow mixture, one capable of reaching over 1,700 meters per second, or five times the speed of sound.

Earlier this year, a test of a hypersonic missile from the U.S. Air Force was abandoned after it was unable to complete its launch sequence.

On March 19 last year, the Pentagon flight-tested a hypersonic glide vehicle at its Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. It deemed the test a success and 'a major milestone towards the department's goal of fielding hypersonic warfighting capabilities in the early- to mid-2020s.'

Unlike Russia, the United States says it is not developing hypersonic weapons for use with a nuclear warhead. As a result, a U.S. hypersonic weapon will need to be more accurate, posing additional technical challenges.

In 2004, NASA's experimental unmanned hypersonic aircraft X-43 reached 7,366mph (Mach 9.6) using a scramjet engine, setting the current record.

In 2019, DailyMail.com reported that the Raytheon and Northrop Grumman-developed missile would use an engine made by a 3D printer.

Last year, DARPA said it was working with Aerojet Rocketdyne on a nearly $20 million project to develop a hypersonic rocket that could intercept enemy missiles mid-air.

Russia recently launched a hypersonic missile, the Zircon, from a submarine and has the hypersonic nuclear-capable Avangard missiles

RUSSIA

Russia recently launched a hypersonic missile, the Zircon, from a submarine, and since late 2019 has had the hypersonic nuclear-capable Avangard missiles in service. The Avangard can travel at up to Mach 27, changing course and altitude.

The range of Russia's hypersonic missile, the Zircon, is 621 miles with a speed of 9,800mph.

But the missile flies below the atmosphere and uses fuel to power itself to hypersonic speeds rather than the Earth's orbit.

Earlier this month, Russia announced it has successfully test-fired the Zircon from a nuclear submarine for the first time.

The 6,670mph weapon hit a target in the Barents Sea according to the Moscow defense ministry, who claims the missile is capable of Mach-9 speeds and able to evade all Western defenses.

Russia said it had completed flight tests of the new-age missile from a frigate - the Admiral Gorshkov - and a coastal mount, but it had not previously been launched from a submarine.

The Zircon has been identified by Moscow's state-controlled TV as Vladimir Putin's weapon of choice to wipe out coastal American cities in the event of an atomic conflict.

He has declared the missile as 'truly unparalleled anywhere in the world', and the Russians have boasted it is 'unstoppable' by Western defenses.

Putin first announced the development of an array of new hypersonic weapons in 2018, insisting that they would be able to hit almost any point in the world and evade a US-built missile shield.

The Zircon is due to go into service next year, and will first be deployed via the Admiral Golovko frigate which carries significant stealth-technology.

A key use of the missile is taking out enemy ships and reports suggested its maximum range is between 188 and 620 miles.

But there have been unconfirmed reports its true range is some 1,200 miles.

The missile system's design and development have been conducted in deep secrecy, and Putin has warned that foreign spies have tried to steal its secrets.

It is one of a number of hypersonic missiles Russia is deploying including the 188-tonne Sarmat - known in the West as Satan-2 - which will be the biggest beast in Russia's nuclear arsenal, due for tests in the autumn with deployment slated for next year.

In May, Russia said it tested three 'invincible' hypersonic 'Satan 2' missiles that some have said could wipe out areas the size of England and Wales.

China launches its nuclear-capable, hypersonic nuclear missile DF-26 which 'could reach US territory and sink aircraft carriers' in a military drill

CHINA

The hypersonic orbital bombardment system that China tested in August reportedly reaches a top speed of 21,000 mph and strikes from space.

The core concept of China's 'new' weapon - deliver a warhead into orbit and have it circle the globe before hitting a target - was first developed by the Soviets in the 1960s.

Called a Fractional Orbital Bombardment System, or FOBS, it was developed to evade powerful US radar arrays and missile defense systems.

Those systems work by detecting launches of ICBMs - very long-range missiles that can be tipped with nukes - and tracking them into space, then firing at the warheads as they come down in the hope of blowing them up before they hit their targets.

This is possible because ICBMs and their warheads follow a predictable trajectory that rises high into space - making them relatively easy to spot and allowing defense crews to calculate where they are aimed so they can be shot out of the sky.

FOBS aim to negate these defenses by firing their warheads along a much-flatter trajectory - assisted by Earth's gravity.

This means they pass under the scope of many radar detection arrays and are harder to track. It also makes the warheads much harder to shoot down because their trajectory is harder to calculate.

The use of orbit makes a warhead's range potentially unlimited, meaning it can be fired at its target from any direction. This helps to avoid radar systems which generally point at a fixed spot in the sky - in America's case, over the North Pole.

Meanwhile, China has also unveiled a hypersonic medium-range missile, the DF-17, in 2019, which can travel around 2,000 kilometers and can carry nuclear warheads.

In October, China deployed the DF 17 missile to coastal areas in preparation for a possible invasion of Taiwan.

The weapon has a maximum range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and is capable of achieving speeds of up to 7,680 miles per hour (12,360 kph) - or 10 times the speed of sound - while carrying a nuclear warhead, according to previous reports.

It has been billed as 'a death sentence' to aircraft carriers within its range.

Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound in the upper atmosphere - or about 6,200 km per hour (3,850 mph). This is slower than an intercontinental ballistic missile, but the shape of a hypersonic glide vehicle allows it to maneuver toward a target or away from defenses.

Combining a glide vehicle with a missile that can launch it partially into orbit - a so-called fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS) - could strip adversaries of reaction time and traditional defenses mechanisms.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), by contrast, carry nuclear warheads on ballistic trajectories that travel into space but never reach orbit.

China on Monday insisted that the test in August was a routine one for a spacecraft rather than a missile.
Boeing revealed on Wednesday that its losses on its contract to build two new planes to act as Air Force One have hit $1.9 billion.

Then-President Donald Trump negotiated a fixed price of $3.9 billion for the presidential planes, leaving Boeing to foot the bill for anything over that amount.

'We didn't get enough price,' Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told CNBC, adding the 'biggest mistake' on the Air Force One 'was the fixed price nature' of the contract.

He said the defense company would take a $766 million loss this year on the contract. Boeing previously booked about $1.1 billion in losses - bringing its total cost to $1.9 billion for constructing the planes.

The contract is also three years behind schedule.

The new Boeing 747-8s, which are being modified into flying White Houses, aren't expected to fly until 2026 and 2027.

There needs to be two planes as there is always a backup for any presidential travel. The distinct blue-and-white Air Force Plane carries the call sign 'Air Force One' when the president is on board.

Boeing said the losses on the contract were 'driven by higher costs to incorporate certain technical requirements, increases to factory modification labor and support engineering, schedule delays and higher supplier costs.'

Boeing revealed on Wednesday that its losses on its contract to build two new planes to act as Air Force One have hit $1.9 billion

Then-President Donald Trump negotiated a fixed price of $3.9 billion for the new presidential planes, leaving Boeing to foot the bill for anything over that amount - above Trump in the Oval Office with a model of the new Air Force One plane

Earlier this year, President Joe Biden scrapped Trump's red, white and dark blue color scheme for the new Air Force One planes, citing the additional costs it would require.

The administration said changing the plane's distinctive colors could drive up additional engineering, time and costs.

That means the Biden administration is keeping the light blue and white scheme that goes back to the Kennedy era.

The Air Force revealed earlier there's a design flaw in Trump's color plan: it called for the underside of the new 747s and its engine area to be painted dark blue.

But that could contribute to excessive temperatures on the plane, a problem that Boeing would have to pay out-of-pocket to fix.

Trump revealed his redesign in 2019.

The colors resembled the color scheme of Trump's personal Boeing 757, which 2016 campaign crowds called 'Trump Force One.'

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in April that the company should have refused Trump's terms for building the two new presidential planes.

The presidential plane contains classified communication gear to allow the president to be in constant communication with the outside world and features special items like a surgery suite.

It has a private office and conference room for the president's use. If necessary, a president could run a nuclear war from his plane.

Unlike a normal 747, the plane has its own retractable stairways, for the rear entrance and the front entrance. And its own baggage loader so it can be entirely self servicable if it needs to be.

It also has an in-flight refueling system that gives it the ability to stay up in the air indefinitely.

Trump's deal involved a fixed price of $3.9 billion, leaving Boeing to foot the bill for any design changes or ballooning costs.

'Air Force One I'm just going to call a very unique moment, a very unique negotiation, a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably should not have taken,' Calhoun said, 'but we are where we are, and we're going to deliver great airplanes.'

Air Force One on the ground in Florida in early October, the new presidential planes aren't expected to fly until 2026 and 2027

President Joe Biden canceled Donald Trump's plans to have the new Air Force One planes painted to match his personal Boeing 757, dubbed 'Trump Force One'

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in April that the company should have refused Trump's terms for building the two new presidential planes

Trump took a close interest in plans for the new presidential airplane.

A model of the new design took pride of place in the Oval Office, on the coffee table by the fireplace where he often showed it off to guests.

The work on the two 747s is taking place in San Antonio, Texas.

The last Air Force One reboot came during John F. Kennedy's presidency when industrial designer Raymond Loewy worked with first lady Jackie Kennedy on a sky blue and cyan motif.

That design stayed when the converted Boeing 747-200 planes that President Biden flies on were placed into service in 1990.

A rare color picture showing John and Jackie Kennedy in front of the Air Force One design which they oversaw. The photograph was taken when they landed in San Antonio, Texas, the day before JFK was assassinated. Air Force One at the time was a Boeing 707

History of Air Force One In 1943, officials became concerned about the president traveling on commercial airlines. A C-54 Skymaster was converted for presidential use, carrying Franklin D. Roosevelt to Yalta in 1945 before it was used by Harry Truman. The call sign was created in 1953 after a Lockheed Constellation, named Columbine II, was almost destroyed. Dwight Eisenhower was on board when air traffic controllers confused flight numbers of Eastern Airlines flight 8610 and the presidential craft, which at the time was called Air Force 8610. Officials thought it was wise to use the name 'Air Force One' to prevent an event like that happening in the future The first Lockheed Constellation was replaced by another, Columbine III, and then two Boeing 707s from the 1960s. Since 1990, two customized Boeing 747-200Bs have been used. Advertisement

'Air Force One' isn't really a specific plane. It's the radio call sign of any aircraft the President of the United States is aboard.

But the name has become shorthand of the specific jumbo jet that attracts attention and photographers wherever it lands.

Soon after taking office, Trump publicly criticized 'out of control' costs of Boeing's then deal to build a new presidential plane.

'Cancel order,' he tweeted.

The result was that Dennis Muilenburg, then Boeing CEO, personally negotiated terms with the president at the White House and at Trump's Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago.

Trump trumpeted the fixed-price agreement in 2018.

'Boeing gave us a good deal,' he said. 'And we were able to take that.'

Boeing also spoke favorably about the deal at the time.

'Boeing is proud to build the next generation of Air Force One, providing American presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers,' the company tweeted.

'President Trump negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people.'

But last year Boeing sued a subcontractor that it blamed for delays.

In April, Boeing officials said the pandemic and supply-chain issues have also slowed the work.

The company said the new Air Force Ones will be based on its 747-8 series.

And Calhoun said he did not want any more fixed-price contracts.

Since the 1940s, seven different plane types have been specifically designed to carry the American president.
The White House hit back again in its running tit-for-tat with Saudi Arabia over oil production cuts, describing the running partnership as more than a 'high school romance.'

The comment, from national security spokesman Adm. John Kirby, came after the Saudi energy minister took a jab at the U.S. following a rupture when OPEC+ announced oil production cuts.

The kingdom's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said earlier this week that the Saudis decided to be the 'mature guys'  which implied that the U.S. side was throwing a tantrum.

'I obviously refute that, of course,' said Kirby, who serves as White House communications coordinator for national security. 'You know, it's not like some high school romance here. We're talking about a significant, important bilateral relationship. A partnership that has survived over 80 years  an important partnership, a strategic partnership.'

Rivalry week: 'You know, it's not like some high school romance here,' said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby when asked to respond to a comment by a top Saudi energy official

'We said that even before the trip,' he said in reference to Biden's summer trip to Riyadh.

'I don't think talking about it in in terms like that necessarily lends the gravity of how important this relationship is to the way that we're considering it. The decision was was regretful it was, as the President said, a mistake to make that cut.'

'It was certainly not in keeping with our analysis of what needed to be done to help better balance supply and demand on the market,' he added.

The prince, the uncle of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), accused some countries of using their emergency stocks to manipulate markets.

He said it would have 'painful' effects in the near future, as the winter months take hold and as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to force energy prices upwards.

'We, as Saudi Arabia, decided to be the mature guys,' Salman said at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh  known as 'Davos in the desert' on Tuesday.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said earlier this week that the Saudis decided to be the 'mature guys'

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps U.S. President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2022

That came after Biden announced additional releases from the nations Strategic Petroleum reserve totaling 15 million barrels.

Biden has regularly pointed to dropping gas prices, with fuel costs registering as a top issue for Americans, and American voters.

'By the way, the cost of gasoline continues to fall,' Biden said Wednesday. 'The most common price now in America is $3.39 a gallon. It's going to come down more,' he said at the White House.

As for what consequences the U.S. would impose following a move that the U.S. said only boosted Russia's war effort, Kirby was circumspect. Biden said there would be 'consequences.'

'The President's national security team is taking a look at that right now,' he said.

'We're not in a hurry, he added, and we don't need to be in a hurry,' he added.
Conservative are celebrating Hillary Clinton's birthday by digging up her 2016 embarrassing tweet in which she referred to herself as the 'future president.'

On Wednesday, James Woods sent his birthday wishes to the former secretary of state in a tweet that contained a screenshot of Clinton's social media post from the year she ran for president.

'Six years ago today,' Woods wrote, alongside a celebration and a birthday cake emoji.

On October 26, 2016, Clinton tweeted a childhood picture of herself with the caption, 'Happy birthday to this future president.'

Clinton's post came just days ahead of her stunning defeat in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Conservative James Woods mocked the former first lady Wednesday in a tweet that contained a screenshot of Hillary Clinton's 2016 birthday wish to herself

Former President Donald Trump famously went on to win the 2016 Presidential Election in a shocking upset. Trump won by sealing the deal with 304 Electoral College votes to Clinton's 227. Clinton, however, raked in nearly three million more ballots in the popular vote

Happy birthday to this future president. pic.twitter.com/JT3HiBjYdj  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 26, 2016

The campaign was still well underway and Clinton was slated to win with big margins by most media accounts.

She, of course, went on to lose the Electoral College to former President Donald Trump; the former president won by sealing the deal with 304 votes to Clinton's 227.

Clinton, however, raked in nearly three million more ballots in the popular vote.

Critics of the former first lady have revived the tweet yearly on her birthday as a way to mock Clinton and how poorly the tweet aged.

On Wednesday, thousands of Woods' followers liked his birthday greetings, with hundreds more replying to the tweet with their own 'wishes.'

'She tweeted happy birthday to HERSELF, and called herself the future prez,' one person said. 'Well that was kind. I hope she tweeted thank you back!'

Another responded to Woods, writing: 'That will never not be funny.'

'One of the best tweets of all time,' said one follower.

'Oh yes, the good old days, it seems so long ago that she felt entitled to the Presidency oh wait she still does,' a Twitter user said.

Hillary Clinton has been mocked every year since 2016 when she posted a tweet, wishing herself a 'happy birthday to the future president'

Hillary Clinton was largely predicted to win when it came to the 2016 Presidential Election. November 9, 2016, while making her concession speech

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com reported that Clinton may be considering yet another presidential run in 2024, after her two failed previous campaigns.

Dick Morris, who worked for Bill Clinton and now advises Donald Trump, said in a recent interview that he sees Hillary possibly campaigning as a 'moderate' 2024 candidate.

'Hillary is just dusting off Bills playbook that I wrote for him and applying it herself this year,' Morris told radio host John Catsimatidis of Cat's Roundtable on WABC.

He cited both the Clintons' recent comments suggesting they're aware of the worsening border crisis, striking a different tone than that of progressives in their party.

Clinton had recently said in an MSNBC interview that she condemned Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis sending migrants from the southern border to Martha's Vineyard but conceded that 'nobody wants open borders.'

Hillary Clinton could be gearing up to run for president in 2024 as a 'moderate,' a former adviser to her husband said on Sunday

'I see more and more signs that Hillary's going to run. Bill  said there was a limit to the number of people the US can absorb. And Hillary a week ago  said Americans do not believe in open borders,' Morris said on Sunday.

'These are all signals that she is going to be the moderate candidate for president,' Morris said.

The advisor to Trump said he believes she will wait until Democrats lose the House of Representatives in November during the midterm elections.

It's also possible that Democrats lose control of the Senate, which is currently 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker.

'Shes going to say after the election, "See, the left cost us the House and the Senate. If we stay with a left-wing candidate in 2024, were going to lose the White House. Im the only one who will tack to the center and give us a chance at victory."' Morris said.

'I know thats her strategy because its the strategy I designed for Bill Clinton in 1992.'

Despite the claims made by Morris, Clinton has repeatedly denied that she will ever run for The Oval Office again.

'No, no,' the former First Lady said when asked about her future White House prospects by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell.

'But I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that we have a president that respects our democracy and the rule of law and upholds our institutions.'
Suella Braverman was probed by Government officials as part of an inquiry into the leak of a sensitive story involving Britain's security services, the Daily Mail can reveal today.

The Home Secretary was included in an investigation this year by a little-known unit within the Cabinet Office that handles leak inquiries.

The leak related to a story about the Government's plan to apply for an injunction against the BBC to stop it from identifying a spy who was accused of using his position to terrorise his former partner.

At the time, Mrs Braverman was Attorney General, the Government's chief legal advisor  and the story said that it was she who was seeking the injunction. It is understood that the leak about her plans caused 'concern' to the Security Service, MI5.

An investigation was launched by the Government Security Group, a little-publicised unit within the Cabinet Office. As the leak involved an issue of national security, it is understood that MI5 also had a role in the inquiry.

Suella Braverman was probed by Government officials as part of an inquiry into the leak of a sensitive story involving Britain's security services, the Daily Mail can reveal today

An investigation was launched by the Government Security Group, a little-publicised unit within the Cabinet Office. As the leak involved an issue of national security, it is understood that MI5 also had a role in the inquiry

The Mail understands that the investigation ultimately found no 'conclusive evidence' of who the leaker was. A Whitehall source said: 'They did not find conclusive evidence of who the leaker was. There was a wide field of potential leakers.' The source added: 'If there had been solid knowledge of who was responsible, the matter wouldn't have been left to rest there.'

Last night, a Cabinet Office spokesman: 'We do not comment on alleged leak investigations.'

The disclosure of Mrs Braverman's inclusion in the investigation may pose further questions for No 10 about the decision to reappoint her as Home Secretary on Tuesday.

Mrs Braverman was brought back only six days after she resigned for a breach of the ministerial code. The breach related to the alleged sending of a sensitive policy document from a personal e-mail account on her mobile phone.

The new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since faced criticism for re-appointing her to the Home Office so soon after her resignation. There has been speculation that his decision was influenced by Mrs Braverman backing him for leader at the weekend, an endorsement which proved crucial to his election as Tory leader and PM.

Yesterday, Mr Sunak was questioned over the issue in his first Prime Minister's Questions. He defended her, saying: 'The Home Secretary made an error of judgment but she recognised that, she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake.'

The new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since faced criticism for re-appointing her to the Home Office so soon after her resignation

There has been speculation that his decision was influenced by Mrs Braverman backing him for leader at the weekend, an endorsement which proved crucial to his election as Tory leader and PM

Downing Street also faced questions over issue  and over reports that Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, had been 'livid' at her reappointment. A No.10 spokesman denied that  but declined to deny suggestions that Mr Case had advised against rehiring Mrs Braverman so soon.

In the Commons yesterday the Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked a series of questions about Mrs Braverman's re-appointment, and even asked whether the Home Secretary had been granted top-level security clearance which allows her to view 'Top Secret' material.

Miss Cooper highlighted how the then PM Liz Truss had sacked Mrs Braverman last week for sending sensitive documents from a personal email account  a breach of ministerial rules.

Miss Cooper said: 'The Home Secretary is responsible for national security, so has the Home Office, Cabinet Office or Security Service now undertaken an investigation into her security breaches to see how many others there have been?'

The Labour front-bencher asked 12 specific questions about the affair, including whether any senior officials raised 'security concerns' about the re-appointment.

She also asked if it was true that 'the Home Secretary was, while she was Attorney General, investigated for a leak of information relating to the Security Service'.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Jeremy Quin, replied: 'I believe in redemption, I hope the Right Honourable lady [Miss Cooper] can as well. The Prime Minister has made clear that this Government will act with professionalism, integrity and accountability. That is exactly what this Government will be doing.'

The leak at the centre of the latest claims involved a story in The Daily Telegraph, published on January 22, setting out details of the Government's plan to apply for an injunction against the BBC.

Mrs Braverman was brought back only six days after she resigned for a breach of the ministerial code

The Government's legal action was intended to prevent the Corporation from naming a spy, referred to as 'Agent X', who was accused of using his position to terrorise his former partner. At that stage Mrs Braverman was in Boris Johnson's Cabinet as Attorney General, the Government's most senior law officer, and was overseeing the legal action.

It is understood there was 'concern' in MI5 about the leak and an inquiry  by the Government Security Group  was triggered. It is understood Mrs Braverman was included in the investigation, but it is not known what the inquiry involved. Typically those included in leak inquiries can have their phones taken from them.

The Government Security Group is comprised of officials drawn from different departments including the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence. Some are also on secondment from M15 and M16. They are known to be ruthless in their inquiries.

During one leak probe during Boris Johnson's government they turned up unannounced one evening at the home of a Cabinet Minister and demanded he hand over his mobile phone.

Mrs Braverman was promoted to Home Secretary by Miss Truss this September. At that moment, she became responsible for overseeing the work of the Security Service. One of the most sensitive jobs in government, the Home Secretary is responsible for signing off surveillance warrants and other highly-classified functions of Britain's spy agencies, as well as for the UK's counter-terrorism policy.

Last Wednesday Mrs Braverman was forced to resign after a 'fiery' row with Miss Truss over immigration, and after it emerged she had sent a sensitive policy document from a personal e-mail account on her mobile phone. Mrs Braverman admitted that she had 'made a mistake' and had committed a 'technical infringement' of the rules. The leak of the story about the Government's plans for an injunction over the BBC's story ultimately proved to be detrimental to the Government's case.

In a hearing on January 26 before Mr Justice Chamberlain, lawyers for Attorney General Mrs Braverman argued the case should be heard behind closed doors. The judge ruled against the Government  in part because information was already in the public domain  and said the case should be partly heard in open court.
The blonde woman in the polka-dot dress was clutching a huge teddy bear as she stood with a small group awaiting the arrival of an early morning flight from Moscow two weeks ago. 'We're waiting for the kiddies,' she said. 'We're so excited in anticipation. We have tears.'

Then the cluster of children were led into the arrivals hall. First came an infant in a bright pink anorak, carried by a woman clutching the tiny hand of another small girl also dressed in pink.

They were followed by 22 more exhausted-looking boys and girls bearing name tags on their coats, bobble hats on their heads and baffled looks on their faces.

Despite the toys, the hugs, the shrieks of excitement from the waiting adults, these children were not being greeted by the familiar faces of loving family members.

Instead, they were victims of a horrific human trafficking operation run by the Kremlin, cruelly snatched from the security of their homes in Ukraine and flown thousands of miles to Siberia.

There, they were being handed over to Russian families like human spoils of war, while being filmed  innocent pawns in Vladimir Putin's propaganda campaign.

Bewildered: A child taken from Luhansk region arrives in Siberia

Sickening: Children's Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova and the Moscow Governor greet children with teddies

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed this month that more than 1.6 million of its citizens have been deported during the war, many stripped of all documents and then dispersed across Russia. 'They are stealing people,' he said.

Yet the most heinous aspect of this ethnic cleansing is the trafficking of unaccompanied children, with 9,441 known to have been forcibly deported and thousands more missing. This month, three military planes with a cargo of 234 snatched children, including 53 babies, flew into Moscow from occupied areas of Ukraine. Days later, 104 more were despatched from Moscow into the arms of new families in places such as Siberia, the sprawling region once infamous for its Soviet gulags.

The regional governor in Siberia claimed the children were young refugees who had 'found a family, home, warmth, peace and security'. He added that they expected another batch to arrive within weeks.

His officials insisted these 'orphans' all met their 'future parents' by video and agreed to live with them. Given the obvious youth, one has to question his claim. When those 24 children from Luhansk landed in the Siberian capital Novosibirsk, the youngest was just two years old.

Maria Lvova-Belovab, pictured, greets a child. She is part of the scheme to deport thousands of Ukrainian babies and infants to Russia where they are put in forced adoptions

Others looked little older as they were handed over to families in front of Maria Lvova-Belova  the woman holding the big stuffed bear  who was appointed Russia's Children's Ombudsman shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Lvova-Belova is the wife of a priest, mother of 23 mostly adopted children and a loyal ally of Putin who gushes about the 'indescribable delight and tears of joy' she experiences from such meetings.

Yet she is the central figure in these Kremlin war crimes of astonishing inhumanity. She tells the regime's patsy media Moscow is acting benevolently, providing security for frightened children found in orphanages or cowering in basements and bombed-out streets.

This ignores the obvious fact that these terrified children, like all Ukrainians, would be living in peace if Putin had not invaded their nation. They are victims of a callous Kremlin policy that sweeps up the young from occupied lands with no attempt made to find their family members  a clear breach of international law.

The theft of children and eradication of their past and culture is a tactic carried out by some of the most repulsive regimes in recent history, including the Nazis and Islamic State.

President Vladimir Putin meets with Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 9

Yet Lvova-Belova  who has five birth children and five adopted children living at home as well as 13 more with disabilities in care settings  boasted last month in the Russian parliament about the success of their campaign. She told a tale of 30 children taken to Moscow after being 'found in the basements' of Mariupol, a key port ferociously battered by Russian forces before it fell in May.

The children, she said, 'spoke negatively about the president [Putin], said all sorts of nasty things, sang the anthem of Ukraine and shouted 'Glory to Ukraine'.' But after they were handed over to local families  including one 16-year-old boy that the Ombudsman herself adopted  their 'negativity . . . turns into love for Russia', she bragged.

In a chilling social media post, Lvova-Belova said another 370 teenagers had been taken to Russia for 'rehabilitation' that included daily lessons in language and history  and now 'they say that they are ready to go to the front line'.

Little wonder this sanctimonious official in her floaty dresses, who reports directly to Putin, was sanctioned by Britain for 'orchestrating a new policy to facilitate . . . forced adoptions in Russia'. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, said these deportations proved genocide. 'They invaded, destroyed their city, killed their parents and now they are taking away their identity,' he said.

Pictured: Lvova-Belova with children who have been deported to Russia for forced adoptions

The scale of these atrocities was revealed by childcare officials in the Russian region of Krasnodar, next to Crimea. They inadvertently issued a statement at the end of August celebrating their adoption of 'more than 1,000 young children from the liberated Mariupol'. The online bulletin  which was hastily deleted  said the 'small' children were dispersed across Russia including to a far-off region bordering Mongolia. It added that 300 more babies were 'looking forward to meeting their new families'.

Ukrainian officials warn that children are being sent as far as possible from their homes so that even if tracked down, their families might not be able to afford to collect them. They add that siblings are routinely separated.

Kyiv's government angrily condemns 'state-organised kidnapping of children and destruction of the future of the Ukrainian state', warning it intends to prosecute Russians who adopt their children. Yet only 98 lone minors taken into Russian hands have been returned to Ukraine. They include Kira Obedinsky, 12, saved by the fame of her father, a sporting hero in Ukraine, and the steely determination of her grandparents.

Kira, whose mother died soon after childbirth, stumbled upon her father's corpse after emerging from hiding in a Mariupol cellar at the end of a bombardment. Then she was hit by shrapnel from a mine, as she fled with other residents. The bereaved child, bleeding from neck and leg wounds, was taken by Russian-speaking soldiers for treatment in Donetsk, the Ukrainian region first occupied in 2014 and illegally annexed by Putin last month.

Another insight into the Kremlin's sinister programme came from a 17-year-old attending a holiday camp in Mariupol with his five younger siblings when war broke out. Stranded behind enemy lines, they were stopped at a checkpoint when they tried to return home

But her father was the former captain of the national water polo team and her grandparents used the media to win attention for her plight. She called her grandfather, Oleksander, using her father's mobile in tears from a Donetsk hospital on the other side of the front line. Medical staff told him she would be sent to an orphanage in Russia, sparking fears they would never meet again.

So Oleksander embarked on a risky four-day journey through Poland, Turkey and Russia to save Kira. 'Nobody believed it would be possible  but thank God we managed,' he said. 'This venture could have ended with neither me nor Kira being released.'

Another insight into the Kremlin's sinister programme came from a 17-year-old attending a holiday camp in Mariupol with his five younger siblings when war broke out. Stranded behind enemy lines, they were stopped at a checkpoint when they tried to return home.

First the children were paraded on Russian television. Then the eldest brother was told he would be sent to a new school and his siblings put in an orphanage before being handed out to new families. 'I was terrified,' he said.

Eventually his mother, helped by the head of a children's charity, won their release after two months of negotiation. But the teenager said other Ukrainian children with them were given new identity papers for the so-called Donetsk People's Republic.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova at the Kremlin in March

Amid the chaos of war, many families are left searching for children with no idea if they are alive, injured or been given a new name, parents and documents after forced adoption.

One woman living in Spain is searching desperately for two nephews and a niece, last seen by their teacher in May being driven away on a bus from Mariupol. 'I don't know where are they and what happened. I'm so worried for the kids,' said Olena.

Now there are fears many more will disappear amid the confusion as Ukrainian troops advance in the south. Kyiv's armed forces said about 170 children were 'taken away' from the occupied Kherson region in the first fortnight of this month as Russian stooges ordered an evacuation. The painful irony is that Russia's own orphanages, notoriously underfunded and infamous for atrocious care, are overflowing with unwanted children.

Russian law bars adoption of foreign children. But in May, Putin backed an edict that made it easier to adopt and give citizenship to Ukrainian children without parental care. This makes it much harder for Ukrainians to take them back.

During one meeting in the Kremlin, Lvova-Belova told her president that Russian families were 'queueing up' to take 'orphans' from 'various child-care facilities' in occupied Ukraine. Many prospective parents will have been convinced by state propaganda they are saving war victims.

Yet there are also hefty benefits for big families to counter Russia's falling birth rates and population, along with adoption benefits such as a one-off payment of 2,260 plus 300 a month for each child in Moscow.

One pro-Kremlin newspaper, reporting on Lvova-Belova's handover stunt in Siberia last week, even admitted the Luhansk children being doled out for adoption were all 'social orphans  that is Mum and Dad are alive but were stripped of parental rights'

Not all the children in Ukraine's orphanages lack parents, however. Many are placed in them, sometimes temporarily, after family-care failures due to alcoholism, drug addiction, mental health problems or financial struggles.

One pro-Kremlin newspaper, reporting on Lvova-Belova's handover stunt in Siberia last week, even admitted the Luhansk children being doled out for adoption were all 'social orphans  that is Mum and Dad are alive but were stripped of parental rights'.

Putin denies kidnap allegations, praising his Ombudsman's work. 'It is only natural she evacuated children from the zone of combat operations or dangerous areas in Donbas. We should make a low bow to her,' he said.

But the Kremlin strategy is as deliberate as it is heartless since seizures of children began the day before the full invasion, when officials in Donetsk began transporting Ukrainian children from orphanages to Russia.

Then proxy leaders of other occupied regions said any child born after February 24  the day Putin's troops poured over Ukraine's border  would be automatically deemed Russian citizens.

The director of one Donetsk orphanage spoke to a TV reporter from the train taking some of her 225 children to Moscow for adoption. 'Every child wants warmth, motherly care, fatherly care,' she said. 'The children, of course, gave their consent.' The youngest was three years old. And despite the staged footage, two bemused-looking brothers aged eight and nine admitted they had a grandmother in Ukraine.

There is also evidence some Russian military leaders see Ukrainian orphans as war booty. In one video shared by Ramzan Kadyrov, the brutal Chechen leader, his troops express dismay at failing to seize children from a village near Kyiv

There is also evidence some Russian military leaders see Ukrainian orphans as war booty. In one video shared by Ramzan Kadyrov, the brutal Chechen leader, his troops express dismay at failing to seize children from a village near Kyiv.

'We didn't start clearing this village, did not do reconnaissance, but immediately brazenly really fast went straight to this orphanage,' says one heavily-armed man.

'We quickly blocked it, got inside but, unfortunately, there were no children there. The cribs were still warm. It turned out that we were late only by a couple of hours.'

Putin's forced adoptions have been condemned by UN bodies and leading charities. 'What is happening in Ukraine is truly horrifying,' said Peter McDermott, chief executive of Lumos, a child protection charity set up by the author J.K. Rowling.

International law states that adoption should not be used for unaccompanied children in emergencies. 'Even those children who have been separated from parents cannot be assumed to be orphans,' McDermott said.

Ultimately, this is one more petrifying front in Ukraine's fight  to stop more of its children falling into the clutches of Putin and his cruel allies, who hide their evil intent behind cold smiles and teddy bears.

Additional reporting: Kate Baklitskaya
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hurled compliments at Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman from the podium Wednesday, after his painful performance in Tuesday night's debate against Republican Dr. Oz.

'The president has found him to be impressive, incredibly bright and talented person, who's just as capable, as always, to carry out his office, the duties of his office,' Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday afternoon's press briefing.

Fetterman's after-effects from the stroke he suffered in May were on full display during his hour-long Harrisburg face-off with Oz, as he mangled responses and missed words, with even some Democrats and liberal media figures expressing concern.

Jean-Pierre said she wasn't able to confirm whether or not Biden watched any of the back-and-forth.

'So I actually tried to get an answer for you, went to the Oval, but the president has had a really busy morning, as you all know, with the Israeli president he's hosting who was in town. So I was not able to get an answer on that, if he was able to watch the debate last night,' the press secretary said.

Biden did have back-to-back events Wednesday - an announcement on 'junk fees,' and meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and U.S. military leaders - but Fetterman's questionable performance dominated the political news.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre hurled compliments at Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman from the podium Wednesday, after his painful performance in Tuesday night's debate against Republican Dr. Oz

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's after-effects from the stroke he suffered in May were on broad display during his hour-long Harrisburg face-off with Oz, as he mangled responses and missed words, with even some Democrats and liberal media figures expressing concern

The press secretary couldn't say if President Joe Biden watched the debate, telling reporters in the press briefing, 'the president has had a really busy morning.' Biden is captured in a meeting with military leaders Wednesday afternoon

'I will say this, the president looks forward to working with the lieutenant governor when he is, when he is in the Senate,' Jean-Pierre continued. 'I could say also that, you know, in his conversations that he's had with Lt. Gov. Fetterman, he finds the lieutenant governor to be a strong and authentic advocate for the middle class.'

'And as you know, he has traveled many times to Pennsylvania and they've had events together and he's looking forward, again, to work, to continue to work with him,' she added.

Jean-Pierre said it was up to the Senate hopeful - locked in one of the tightest races that could determine if Democrats keep the upper chamber - to disclose his full medical record.

'I've been asked this question and I leave that over to the lieutenant governor to make that decision,' she answered.

She was also pressed on whether Biden had expressed any concerns about Fetterman's health.

Biden, she said, 'respects the courage and the honesty that he sees from the lieutenant governor, that he's experienced in their conversations and their relationship over time.'

At the debate and at campaign stops, Fetterman has addressed the 'elephant in the room,' his stroke, which has left him with 'auditory processing' issues.

To get through the debate last night he used closed captioning technology.

One reporter asked Jean-Pierre if it 'was an important moment in terms of welcoming people who have disabilities into the public sphere.'

On the debate stage, Fetterman twice refused to publicly release a full medical record.

He previously bowed to pressure and released a second doctor's letter, which said he was fit to serve.

'And we have, of course, as relates to your question about his health - seen the same comments from independent medical experts that you all have noted and that the improving symptoms he has have to do with the speech and hearing, not at all with cognitive function,' Jean-Pierre said.

She also demurred when asked if the president believes Democrats will be able to still hold onto the Senate after Fetterman's rocky debate, a rosy picture Biden painted just days before.

'I mean, look, I'm not gonna get into analysis here,' she answered. 'There are people out there who are political pundits who are clearly doing that every day for the next two weeks, or less than two weeks.'

Biden has largely stayed off the campaign trail compared to his predecessors, but Pennsylvania has been the exception.

He plans to raise funds in Philadelphia alongside Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday.

Axios also reported this week that Biden will join forces with former President Barack Obama for a November 5 Pennsylvania swing to help Fetterman and gubernatorial hopeful Josh Shapiro in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Viewing Pennsylvania as a key battleground, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday also announced a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on November 5, as he's backed both Oz and GOP gubernatorial hopeful Doug Mastriano since the Pennsylvania GOP primary.




President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, saying his administration will work hard to increase exchanges between the two countries.







The meeting took place as Buhari was in Seoul to attend the inaugural World Bio Summit co-hosted by South Korea and the World Health Organization.







He is the first Nigerian president to visit South Korea in 10 years.







"Nigeria has developed friendly and cooperative relations with us in various areas during the 42 years since our countries established diplomatic ties," Yoon said during the meeting at the presidential office, adding that Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and a cultural powerhouse.







Yoon also noted that South Korea opened its first cultural center in Africa in the Nigerian capital of Abuja in 2010.







"I am confident Nigeria's economic and cultural capabilities will make even larger contributions to our two countries' exchanges and cooperation, and my government will also make active efforts," he said.







Buhari thanked Yoon for inviting him to South Korea and for his well-wishes over the recent flooding in Nigeria. (Yonhap)


A wannabe Tory MP trying to unseat a Labour rival has bungled his campaign website after a picture of Scotland was used instead of the Reading East constituency he wants to represent.

Craig Morley is standing in the Berkshire town at next month's General Election and is trying to oust Labour's Matt Rodda, who was elected there in 2017.

And on his campaign homepage Mr Morley included six scenes from around the Berkshire town.

But instead of including one of historic Reading Abbey ruins, his team mistakenly used Melrose Abbey in Scotland - 350 miles away.

Spot the difference: In the top banner the picture on the right is Melrose Abbey, Scotland, now replaced in the new bottom banner with the correct ruins, Reading Abbey

The blunder was spotted by his rivals who have jumped on the mistake.

Labour councillor Richard Davies, of Reading Borough Council said: 'It's amazing that he wasn't able to identify our most important heritage asset and one that the council worked hard with local people to restore and re-open to the public.

'It would be obvious to anyone who had visited Reading Abbey ruins that that picture was of a totally different place.'

The photo on Reading East Conservative candidate Mr Morley's website has now been changed.

It appeared alongside photos of the town's train station and Oracle shopping centre.

Mr Morley said: 'I was born and raised in Reading, it is my home town constituency.

'The Abbey is an important landmark of the town.

'I grew up with its imprint on the Reading landscape. My website designer added the wrong image in my website banner header. It was an easy mistake for an external agency to make.'

He added: 'Over the past few months, I have been out and about across Reading East meeting residents and listening to their their concerns.

'I was focused on helping give residents the voice they need.

'I wasn't stuck at my desk checking the website header that had been added. It has now been amended.'
His identity has been suggested as Reichard Wilhelm, the firstborn son of a Count of Starhemberg

A CT-scan showed he had telltale signs of pneumonia and rickets, and is thought to be his cause of death

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The cause of death of a mummified toddler has been revealed around 400 years after he died, as a result of a 'virtual autopsy'.

The child was found buried in a wooden coffin inside an Austrian family crypt, where the mummification process had preserved his soft tissue.

His body was given a CT scan which showed telltale signs of pneumonia and vitamin D deficiency, while radiocarbon dating was performed on the tissue and skin to give a range of dates as to when he died.

Historic records also revealed information about his background, suggesting that he was the son of one of the Counts of Starhemberg - a 17th Century aristocratic family.

The researchers, from the Academic Clinic Munich-Bogenhausen in Germany, conclude that the boy is likely Reichard Wilhelm, who died in 1625 or 1626.

Lead author Dr Andreas Nerlich said: 'According to our data, the infant was most probably [the count's] firstborn son after erection of the family crypt, so special care may have been applied.'

The infant mummy (pictured) of the Hellmonsodt crypt was found buried in a wooden coffin in a silk coat

The boy's burial conditions and mummification preserved his tissue to the extent that it could be analysed using cutting-edge technology to reveal more about his life and death

His body was given a CT scan (pictured) which showed telltale signs of pneumonia and vitamin D deficiency. A: Three-dimensional reconstruction of the skeleton. B: A section of the topogram showing the rosary of the costochondral junction in the ribs (thin arrows) that suggests rickets

THE COUNTS OF STARHEMBERG The House of Starhemberg is the name of an old and distinguished noble family originating from Upper Austria, specifically Steyr and Steinbach. They were Counts of the Empire from 1643, and raised to princely rank in 1765. Members of the family played important political roles within the Holy Roman Empire and later in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Notable members include Count Ernst Rudiger von Starhemberg (1638-1701), who was a politician, field marshal and commander of the Vienna city defence against the Turks in 1683. Erasmus of Starhemberg (1503-1560) was an Austrian noble and the great, great grandfather of Reichard Wilhelm. Advertisement

The Counts of Starhemberg is one of the oldest aristocratic families in Austria, and their crypt is located close to their residence at Wildberg Castle in the village of Hellmonsodt.

The crypt contained numerous members of the family, all of which were buried in elaborately decorated metal coffins, with the exception of a single infant whose casket was wooden and unmarked.

His burial conditions and mummification preserved his tissue to the extent that it could be analysed using cutting-edge technology to reveal more about his life and death.

For the study, published today in Frontiers in Medicine, Dr Nerlich's team studied his teeth and measured the lengths of his bones, which suggested that the child was between 12 and 18 months old when he died.

The body's anatomy showed that the child was male, had dark hair and was overweight for his age, suggesting that his parents were able to feed him well.

However, when the researchers performed a virtual autopsy through CT scanning, they saw that his ribs had become malformed in the pattern called a 'rachitic rosary', which is usually seen in severe rickets or scurvy.

This suggests that, although he received enough food to put on weight, he was still malnourished enough to contract one of these conditions.

It is thus believed it was the result of a vitamin D deficiency after being hidden away from sunlight.

The authors say that, in the Renaissance period, socially highly-ranked people avoided sunlight exposure as Aristocrats were expected to have white skin, and this also applied to small infants.

Dr Nerlich said: 'The combination of obesity along with a severe vitamin-deficiency can only be explained by a generally 'good' nutritional status along with an almost complete lack of sunlight exposure.

'We have to reconsider the living conditions of high aristocratic infants of previous populations.'

The Counts of Starhemberg is one of the oldest aristocratic families in Austria, and their crypt is located close to their residence at Wildberg Castle in the village of Hellmonsodt. Pictured: The original coat of arms of the Starhemberg family

CT scan of the costochondral junction in the boy's ribs with an enlargement such as seen in 'rickety rosary' or 'scurvy rosary'

Axial CT sections through the chest showing remnants of lung tissue in the right chest cavity with some adhesions indicative of pneumonia

CT-scan of the skull base showing the extensive dislocation of the bones. The damage is thought to have been sustained after he died as there were no accompanying bone fractures, blood residue or tissue damage. Thin arrows: Disruption of sutures. Middle arrow: Dislocated right petrous bone. Thick arrow: Dislocated parts of spine

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE MUMMIFIED INFANT? Sex : Male Hair: Dark Age: 12 to 18 months Cause of death: Pneumonia and vitamin deficiency Year of death: 1625 or 1626 Identity: Reichard Wilhelm, firstborn son of a Count of Starhemberg Lifestyle: Well-fed but malnourished due to lack of sunlight Advertisement

While his bones were not bowed in the way typical of someone suffering from rickets, his approximate age suggests he died before he was old enough to walk or crawl, which would have resulted in this deformation.

Children with rickets are more vulnerable to pneumonia, and the CT scan also revealed that he exhibited inflammation of the lungs characteristic of the infection.

As a result, the researchers determined this was likely his cause of death, but his nutritional deficiency may have contributed.

While there was also deformation in the bones of his skull, this is thought to have been sustained after he died as there were no accompanying bone fractures, blood residue or tissue damage.

It is thus assumed to be the consequence of his flat, narrow coffin that wasn't big enough for his body.

When it came to finding out the child's identity, there were further clues that could be taken from the remains.

Specialist examination of his clothing showed that he had been buried in a long, hooded coat made of expensive silk, while radiocarbon dating of a skin sample suggested he was buried at some point between 1550 and 1635.

The researchers also looked into the history of the crypt of the powerful Counts of Starhemberg, and found that it was where they buried their title-holders - mostly firstborn sons - and wives.

Records also indicated that the crypt underwent renovation around the year 1600, and that the boy was likely buried after this.

Considering he was the only infant buried in crypt, was likely a firstborn son of a Count and the range of years when he could have died, the researchers believe the little boy is Reichard Wilhelm.

They suggest that his grieving family intentionally buried him alongside his grandfather and namesake Reichard von Starhemberg.

Dr Nerlich said: 'This is only one case, but as we know that the early infant death rates generally were very high at that time, our observations may have considerable impact in the overall life reconstruction of infants even in higher social classes.'
True love's kiss be damned! New research shows that a fairy tale ending can actually be a quiet night alone, doing whatever you like.

Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus conducted a study to discover why more people than ever are choosing to stay single.

It found that the top reasons are being able to have more time for yourself, focus on your goals and make your own decisions.

However, men rated 'freedom to flirt' more highly, while women saw more benefit from 'no tension and fights'.

'Fights between couples may escalate to physical violence to which women are more vulnerable, which, in turn, would motivate them to avoid such situations, with one way to do so being not to be in an intimate relationship,' the researchers explained.

Researchers from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus conducted a study to discover why more people than ever are choosing to stay single. It found that the top reasons are being able to have more time for yourself, focus on your goals and make your own decisions (stock image)

TOP TEN REASONS WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO STAY SINGLE More time for myself Focus on my goals No one dictates my actions Not getting hurt Peace of mind No tensions and fights Freedom to flirt around Save resources Not do things I dislike Better control of what I eat Advertisement

Studies have shown that more people are choosing to live the single life voluntarily, which seems to contradict evolutionary theory.

The researchers, led by Menelaos Apostolou, wrote: 'Children require considerable and prolonged parental investment to survive to sexual maturity.

'This fact means that people who fail to attract long-term partners face a considerable reduction in their chances to have their genetic material represented in future generations.

'In turn, strong selection pressures are generated, giving rise to behavioral mechanisms that motivate individuals to establish long-term intimate relationships.'

To try and determine the primary reasons why people would rather not couple up, the team asked 269 men and women to write down some of the advantages of single life.

Independent researchers then analysed their answers, and categorised them into 84 different benefits.

These benefits were then presented to 612 study participants, who were asked to rate how important they would be to them if they were single.

Finally, the 84 benefits were narrowed down into ten broader categories based on participants' ratings using statistical analysis.

The results, published this month in Evolutionary Psychological Science, revealed that the three most highly rated factors were 'more time for myself', 'focus on my goals', and 'no one dictates my actions'.

In order of decreasing importance, the other seven factors were: 'not getting hurt', 'peace of mind', 'no tensions and fights', 'freedom to flirt around', 'save resources', 'not do things I dislike' and 'better control of what I eat'.

However, there were key differences in the priorities of single men and women.

Men rated 'freedom to flirt around' as more important than women did, which the researchers predicted as it allows them to engage in more casual relationships.

Men rated 'freedom to flirt around' as more important than women did, which the researchers predicted as it allows them to engage in more casual relationships (stock image)

WHAT ARE THE DOS AND DON'TS OF FLIRTING? Which flirting techniques work? Women want men to be funny and generous when it comes to flirting, according to researchers in Norway. However, on the flip side, males prefer the opposite sex to appear sexually available and to laugh at their jokes. And which don't? Last month, sientists from the University of Nicosia in Cyprus revealed the 11 most off-putting flirting tactics, which are 'dealbreakers' for many people. They are: Slimy approach Bad hygiene Lack of exclusive interest Different views Vulgar vocabulary Lack of intelligence Narcissism Lack of humour and self-esteem Excessive intimacy Poor looks Stinginess Advertisement

The researchers wrote: 'Men's reproductive output is positively related to the number of women they gain sexual access to.

'Thus, for men in particular, having casual intimate relationships with different women can potentially increase their reproductive output.'

In contrast, women found the 'focus on my goals' and the 'no tensions and fights' more important than men.

A difference was also identified between age groups, with older respondents rating 'more time for myself' and 'not do things I dislike' as more important than younger groups.

'One possible explanation is that, as people get older, they become more rigid and less willing to make compromises,' the authors wrote.

As part of the questionnaire, the participants were also asked about how successful they are in flirting and forming relationships, to gauge their 'mating performance'.

It was found that those who scored low in mating performance found the identified advantages in single life more important than high scorers.

The authors suggest that people who want to be in a relationship, but find it difficult to form one, may find single life more attractive as it is less effort to maintain.

'On the other hand, in terms of mating effort, it could also be the case that people who see single life as attractive would not put much effort into finding a partner,' they wrote.

The researchers noted that many of the ten advantages can be grouped by what they provide for a single person.

Many of the top rated ones, like having more time and resources, enable the single person to develop their own attractive qualities.

These could be a good career, strong social standing and resource provision potential.

Other advantages, like having 'peace of mind' and avoiding tension, point to an avoidance of experiencing negative emotions, such as jealousy, anger and sadness.

The 'freedom to flirt' advantage also shows an appreciation of the ability to engage in casual relationships while single.

Finally, the factors 'better control of what I eat', 'no one dictates my actions', and 'not do things I dislike' suggest a lack of necessity to compromise as a benefit.

The authors wrote: 'For instance, people need to discuss their actions and choices with their partners, socialize with their partners' friends and relatives, even if they do not like them, or adjust their eating habits to the ones of their partners.

'Such adjustments can be taxing for individuals, as they would frequently find themselves doing things they do not like or not doing things they like.'

They note that this study was conducted within the Greek cultural context, and further research should be done to see if their findings apply more generally.

However, it was concluded that the advantages highlighted show how 'being single can beneficial for limited time periods'.

'Thus, instead of only asking whether mated or single life is better, we can ask when it is better for an individual to be single and for how long,' the authors wrote.

'Considerable more research is necessary however, in order to address such questions.'
Thousands of Americans have fallen victim to stalkware planted on their smartphones by someone they know - and an Android app is collecting and storing their personal information.

TechCrunch obtained leaked data from the app, TheTruthSpy, that has a database teeming with personal information like call logs, text messages, location data and passwords from users across the US.

TheTruthSpy, which launched in 2019, markets itself as a way for people to surreptitiously monitor the communications of their spouses.

Mapping software revealed the app captured 278,861 location data points from Americans over the course of six weeks - a total of 608,966 worldwide.

The database was also held 1.2 million text messages and 4.42 million call logs, which included the duration of calls and the name and phone numbers of contacts.

TheTruthSpy has been the center of several data dumps, including one in June when the app was found to expose images of children and other personal photos from victims personal devices.

TheTruthSpy app captured 278,861 location data points from Americans over the course of six weeks - a total of 608,966 worldwide. TechCrunch, which obtained the data, reported it was able to see exactly locations, such as someone riding a train or at church

DailyMail.com has contacted TheTruthSpy for comment.

Reviews of those who purchased the app shared that it does not deliver what it promises, but it seems capture personal information from phones very easily.

TechCrunch reports it found about 360,000 unique device identifiers worldwide, a number associated with a smartphone and tablet, which highlights how many devices have been scraped of data during the operation that started on March 4 through April 14, 2022.

The database also included passwords, text messages and call logs of people who had the app planted on their Android smartphone

The database showed the app captured 164 unique device identifiers in 11 US states during the operation that started on March 4 through April 14, 2022

Stalkware can spy on your phone Stalkware is software that allows you to spy on someone's phone or tablet. They are often advertised to parents who wish to track the online activity of their child, or bosses looking to snoop on their employees. Typically, stalkware allows you to remotely intercept messages, photos, browsing history, GPS coordinates and even phone call data. They work by pairing an online account to an app that is installed on the device you wish to spy on. Users can then remotely access the phone's data without the owner knowing they are under surveillance. Stalkware apps are technically legal, but have stirred controversy in the past when people have employed them for illicit spying. Advertisement

The location data, however, is so specific, it shows victims while riding on buses, going to church and other sensitive locations, Zach Whittaker with TechCrunch reports.

While the US had more data points collected, India came in second with more than 77,425, then Indonesia with more than 42,701 and fourth is Argentina with 19,015.

The UK was ranked as fifth with 12,801 collected location data points.

TechCrunch also notes in its report that it observed data that was likely pulled from devices belonging to children.

Breaking the data down to focus on just the US, the database shows 11 states where thousands of calls were recorded from 164 devices - California had the most compromised devices with 76.

The other states are: Pennsylvania (17 devices); Washington (16 devices); Nevada (14 devices); Illinois (14 devices0; Massachusetts (10 devices); Florida (six devices); New Hampshire (two devices); and Delaware with one device.

Photos and videos stored on the devices were also found in the database - a total of 473,211 records.

This allowed TechCrunch to sift through screenshots, images exchanged in text messages and those saved to the camera roll.

There was also 454,641 records of data pulled from the users keyboard, known as a keylogger, which included sensitive credentials and codes pasted from password managers and other apps.

And the database had 231,550 records of networks that each device connected to, such as the Wi-Fi network names of hotels, workplaces, apartments, airports and other guessable locations.
A Play-Doh like material that bends like plastic, but conducts electricity like metal could soon upheave the electronics industry by powering iPhones, solar panels and other devices more efficiently.

The innovation, developed by scientists with the University of Chicago, was made possible by laying molecular fragments in a jumbled and disorganized formation, instead of the traditional straight, closely packed rows, which allowed for flexibility.

Scientists, although baffled by their creation, are amazed that the material can be formed at room temperature instead of having to be melted like traditional metal.

The scientists said the new material is like 'conductive Play-Dohyou can smush it into place and it conducts electricity,' John Anderson, the senior author on the study, said in a statement.

The innovation, developed by scientists with the University of Chicago, was possible by laying molecular fragments in a jumbled and disorganized formation, instead of the traditional straight, closely packed rows, which allowed for flexibility

'In principle, this opens up the design of a whole new class of materials that conduct electricity, are easy to shape, and are very robust in everyday conditions.' Anderson continued.

Metals are the oldest and largest group of conductors, which include copper, gold and aluminum.

However, it was not until just 50 years ago did scientists design new conductors made from organic materials.

This was done using a chemical treatment known as 'doping,' which sprinkles in different atoms or electrons through the material.

The scientists believe the new material could power devices like an iPhone and solar panels more efficiently

This is when scientists also began to organized atoms, or molecules, into straight, closely packed rows - thinking this was the only formation that could efficiently conduct electricity.

Jiaze Xie, the first author of the paper who received his Ph.D at the university this year, was tinkering with materials discovered years ago, but were largely ignored.

He strung nickel atoms like pearls into a string of molecular beads made of carbon and sulfur, and began testing.

The results showed the new material easily conducted electricity, if not stronger than traditional conductors.

'We heated it, chilled it, exposed it to air and humidity, and even dripped acid and base on it, and nothing happened,' said Xie, while noting such an ability is a game changing function in the real world.

Anderson notes that looking at the formation of the molecules, there is no way the material should be able to be a metal - but it is.

Xie, Anderson, and their lab worked with other scientists around the university to try to understand how the material can conduct electricity.

After tests, simulations, and theoretical work, they think that the material forms layers, like sheets in a lasagna.

Even if the sheets rotate sideways, no longer forming a neat lasagna stack, electrons can still move horizontally or verticallyas long as the pieces touch.

The end result is unprecedented for a conductive material.

The new material has no such restriction because it can be made at room temperatures. It can also be used where the need for a device or pieces of the device to withstand heat, acid or alkalinity, or humidity has previously limited engineers' options to develop new technology.

The team is also exploring the different forms and functions the material might make.

'We think we can make it 2D or 3D, make it porous, or even introduce other functions by adding different linkers or nodes,' said Xie.
The ozone hole over the South Pole has shrunk by 700,000 square miles - a size similar to Texas - compared to this time last year, providing hope to scientists who believe it is the elimination of ozone-depleting substances that is decreasing the hole.

NASA shared the announcement Wednesday, noting the hole reached an average area of 8.9 million square miles between September 7 and October 13, which is slightly smaller than the the 8.99 million square miles it was last year.

Satellite observations determined the ozone hole area reached a single-day maximum of 10.2 million square miles on October 5, but is now back to the consistent depletion observed over the last few years.

The closing of the gap is likely due to the Montreal Protocol, a treaty adopted 35 years ago to ban the release of harmful ozone-depleting chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, that were used in aerosols.

The hole reached an average area of 8.9 million square miles between September 7 and October 13, which is 700,000 square miles smaller than this time last year

Paul Newman, chief scientist for Earth sciences at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement: 'Over time, steady progress is being made, and the hole is getting smaller.

'We see some wavering as weather changes and other factors make the numbers wiggle slightly from day to day and week to week.

'But overall, we see it decreasing through the past two decades. The elimination of ozone-depleting substances through the Montreal Protocol is shrinking the hole.'

The ozone layers sits in stratosphere, protecting Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays and when there is a hole those rays are able to hit our planet.

This year's hole is slightly smaller than the the 8.99 million square miles it was in 2021 (pictured)

However, the layer thins and forms a hole' above the South Pole every September due to chlorine and bromine from human-produced compounds attaching to high-altitude polar clouds each southern winter.

The reactive chlorine and bromine then initiate ozone-destroying reactions as the sun rises at the end of Antarctica's winter.

Researchers at NASA and NOAA detect and measure the growth and breakup of the ozone hole with instruments aboard the Aura, Suomi NPP, and NOAA-20 satellites.

Some scientists were concerned about potential stratospheric impacts from the January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano.

The 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption released substantial amounts of sulfur dioxide that amplified ozone layer depletion.

However, no direct impacts from Hunga Tonga have been detected in the Antarctic stratospheric data.

The Montreal Protocol, established in 1987, is an international treaty that protects the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

The closing of the gap is likely due to the Montreal Protocol, a treaty adopted 35 years ago to ban the release of harmful ozone-depleting chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, that were used in aerosols

The treaty came about to mend a giant hole in the ozone layer that appeared in the early 1980s.

Without the Montreal Protocol, researchers said we would already be facing the reality of a 'scorched Earth,' according to a 2021 study.

Banning the chemicals, which include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) once widely used in fridges and spray cans, protected the climate in two ways, the research found.

It helped curb their greenhouse effect and, by protecting the ozone layer, shielded plants from damaging increases in ultraviolet radiation (UV).

Without the treaty, we would have experienced a worldwide collapse in the ozone layer by the 2040s and 60 percent less ozone above the tropics by 2100.

The strength of the UV from the Sun in mid-latitudes, which includes most of Europe including the UK, US and central Asia, and also New Zealand, would be stronger than the present day tropics by 2050.

The depleted ozone layer would have seen the planet, and its vegetation, exposed to far more of the Sun's UV.
The winning and commended pictures are currently on display at an exhibition at London's Tower Bridge

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These astonishing pictures underscore the bewitching wonder of the Earth's oceans - and their fragility.

They're winning and commended pictures in the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022 awards, a prestigious annual contest that sets out to 'shine a light on the beauty of the ocean and the threats it faces'.

This year the contest received thousands of submissions from around the world, with a photograph of a surfer battling a Teahupoo wave, one of the heaviest waves in the world, wowing the judges the most and earning French Polynesia-based photographer Ben Thouard the title of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022.

A sweet picture of a sea lion checking out its reflection in a camera lens, a heartwarming shot of a family of cuddling polar bears, and a harrowing image of a 'beached and bloody' whale in Mexico are among the other pictures that caught the judges' attention.

An exhibition at London's Tower Bridge, which runs until November 7, showcases the mesmerising pictures that have snapped up accolades.

And below is a selection of the wonderful photographs that have made the cut in the awards. Scroll down to the very bottom to see Thouard's award-winning wave shot...

This sweet picture - highly commended in the Conservation category - of an adorable harp seal pup was captured by Ellen Cuylaerts. She snared the picture at sunset on Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine, an archipelago in Quebec, Canada

Landing the bronze medal in the Wildlife category, this picture of a manta ray off the coast of Mexico is the work of Juan Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez. The photographer draws attention to the 'beautiful symmetry' of the creature

Two polar bear cubs cosy up to their mother in this uplifting photograph captured in Norway by Nadia de Lange. It is highly commended in the Wildlife category

This is one of a series of incredible photographs taken in Western Australia that have earned photographer Brooke Pyke the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, which honours women working in ocean photography. It depicts two Stokes' sea snakes mating

Behold another wonderful photograph by Pyke, this time showing a 'playful' sea lion looking at its reflection in Pyke's camera

Dolphins pose for Pyke in a heartwarming picture she took in Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef

LEFT: Above is a fourth photograph by Pyke, showing a whale shark 'and company' swimming in the same direction. RIGHT: Feast your eyes on the gold medal winner in the Adventure category, captured by Franco Banfi. In the shot, which was taken off the coast of Dominica, a freediver swims with a pod of five sperm whales

This bird's-eye shot shows 'a male polar bear roaming the Arctics rapidly thinning and melting spring ice', photographer Florian Ledoux reveals. The picture, which was captured in Norway, is highly commended in the Conservation category

This vibrant picture was taken by Martin Broen in the Chikin Ha cenote [a sinkhole] in Mexico, helping to earn him the silver medal in the Portfolio category. The image demonstrates how tannic acid, a substance released through the decomposition of organic matter, alters the colour of the water and 'creates a rainbow effect'

Above, in another sensational picture by Broen, a blue whale mother and her calf can be seen swimming off the coast of the Mexican city of La Paz

Photographer Matty Smith's collection of photographs reigns supreme in the Portfolio category, and this 'family portrait' of Australian sea lions is one of the brilliant pictures that make up his body of work

In this, another magnificent picture by Smith, a school of fish gather under an eye-catching rocky outcrop at sunset in the Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat

Photographer Jake Wilton, whose portfolio comes third in the Portfolio category, snared this fascinating photograph of a whale shark moving through a bait ball - when small fish cluster together in a circle to protect themselves from predators - in Australia's Ningaloo Reef

Above is another eye-opening photograph from Wilton's portfolio. The photographer reveals that it shows a mother and calf dugong pass by the edge of the Ningaloo Reef in search of seagrass to feed on

Highly commended in the Human Connection category, this picture shows onlookers 'dwarfed' by waves at the lighthouse in the Portuguese town of Nazare. It was captured by photographer Joao Pompeu

The waters of French Polynesia were the setting for this mesmerising picture of a humpback whale, her calf and a human, snared by Josh Munoz. It's highly commended in the Human Connection category

A seagull flies past a breaking wave in the light of the rising sun in this glorious photograph by Gergo Rugli, which was taken in Australia. It's highly commended in the Fine Art category

Reigning supreme in the Fine Art category, this transfixing picture by Michael Spencer shows waves breaking on a misty morning in Scarborough on Englands North Sea coast

Highly commended in the Adventure category, this amazing photograph sees a freediver 'hover amongst light beams' in a cenote in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Fabrice Guerin, who was behind the lens, notes that the hydrogen sulfide cloud (formed by the decomposition of organic matter in the water) below the figure has been disturbed by the diving

This entrancing picture is ranked third overall in the awards and shows a cormorant [waterbird] diving through a massive school of baitfish creating, observes photographer Brook Peterson, 'a series of shapes that mimics that of a human face'. The image was captured off the coast of the U.S

A surfer paddles out through 'churning white water' off the coast of Hawaii in this striking shot by Karim Iliya, which is highly commended in the Human Connection category

Rafael Fernandez Caballero was behind the lens for this heartwarming shot of a pod of pilot whales posing 'for a family portrait' off the coast of Spain. Impressing the judges, it tops the podium in the Wildlife category

Above is another captivating picture by Caballero, this time showing a mako shark  'the fastest shark in the ocean', he reveals  speeding beneath the setting sun off the coast of Spain. It's highly commended in the Wildlife category

This poignant photograph, also by Caballero, shows 'a dead sperm whale, beached and bloody, its tail showing signs of entanglement' along the Mexico coast. Compelling the judges, it's second in the Conservation category

A goosefish feeds in shallow water in Italy in this eye-catching picture by photographer Massimo Zannini, which is highly commended in the Wildlife category

This shot, captured by overall winner Ben Thouard, is highly commended in the Fine Art category. Snared in French Polynesia, it shows 'a solitary wave breaking in the final moments before a storm rolls in'
They are both known for strutting their stuff on Strictly Come Dancing.

But Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are taking a break from the dancefloor as they are set to star in a new travel show coming to BBC One in 2023.

The three-part series will see dancer Giovanni, 31, introducing Strictly judge and pal Anton, 56, to his beloved home of Sicily.

Scicily: Strictly's Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are taking a break from the dancefloor as they are set to star in a new travel show coming to BBC One in 2023

Giovanni will be Anton's guide as the pair discover what the sensational Mediterranean island has to offer.

The duo will explore everything from traditional food to famous landmarks and will even enjoy a tango or two.

Anton said: 'When I first heard about this trip it was pretty irresistible. What's not to love? It's all my favourite things, great food, great country and spending time in the sunshine with Giovanni. Marvellous!'.

Pals: The three-part series will follow as dancer Giovanni, 31, introduces judge and pal Anton, 56, to his beloved home of sun-kissed Sicily

Giovanni agreed, saying: 'To say this has been a dream project is an understatement! Taking Anton to my much-loved home of Sicily was simply Bellissima!'.

'We danced, we laughed, and had the time of our lives - with great culture, food and company. I cannot wait for viewers in the UK to come on this journey with us. See you in the Sicilian sun! Ciao, x.'

Anton joined the BBC dancing show from it's inception from 2004 and was promoted to a full time judge in 2021 and won the coveted Best judge award at last week's NTAs.

Co-stars: Anton (left) first joined the show in 2004 and Giovanni in 2015 with the duo going on to tour their Him & Me show together

Meanwhile, Giovanni joined the ranks during the show's 13th season back in 2015 and the duo have since gone on to tour their Him & Me show together.

BBC's Creative Director Mel Balac said:'Viewers will get to see Anton and Gio in a completely different light as we follow them on their road trip across Sicily'.

She continued: 'Alongside seeing the boys enjoy and experience everything that Sicily has to offer, viewers will also see their amazing friendship grow as they learn new things about one anotherincluding some things that they would probably rather not let anyone know!'.
Fans of A Current Affair have slammed the show for airing an 'unfair interview' with controversial neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo on Tuesday.

During the broadcast, host Tracy Grimshaw grilled the surgeon on recent claims he made false promises to patients and charged large sums of money for futile operations that left some of them catastrophically injured.

The claims, which Dr Teo furiously denied, were originally aired by Channel Nine's 60 Minutes on the weekend.

Aussies have slammed A Current Affair for airing what they believe was an unfair interview with controversial neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo on Tuesday. (Dr Teo is pictured responding to questions during the interview)

Critics have since branded the ACA interview a 'hack job' and 'witch hunt', claiming it unfairly painted Dr Teo as an immoral, money-hungry physician whose successes are overshadowed by his failures.

'I would always support Dr Charlie Teo. He is an amazing man and we need him. Typical Current Affair. No wonder I don't normally watch it,' one viewer tweeted.

'Another hack job on Dr Teo. It's BRAIN SURGERY!!! Things go wrong,' tweeted another, adding: 'Hate to disillusion you, Tracy, but all patients are lab rats and have been since surgery [was] invented. Also, patients listen with rose coloured glasses They don't hear the bad, only the good, and complain later.'

During the broadcast, host Tracy Grimshaw grilled the brain doctor on recent claims he made false promises to patients and charged large sums of money for futile operations that left patients catastrophically injured

One critic branded the episode 'the most disgraceful piece of journalism,' while another tweeted: 'This horrible witch hunt is so typical in Australia. Why? He has saved the lives of numerous people I know'

One critic branded the episode 'the most disgraceful piece of journalism,' while another tweeted: 'This horrible witch hunt is so typical in Australia. Why? He has saved the lives of numerous people I know.'

They added: 'He helped where other doctors abandoned the patients. I just don't understand.'

Other users called Dr Teo a 'hero' and accused ACA of perpetuating 'tall poppy syndrome'.

On the other hand, some viewers have claimed Grimshaw was fair and balanced in her approach to interviewing Dr Teo.

'Tracy Grimshaw gave a masterclass in the right balance with Dr Charlie Teo on A Current Affair tonight,' one tweeted.

'Thanks Tracy for a balanced interview with Dr Teo. He addressed all points as well. This interview dispelled a very negative picture projected by 60 Minutes,' another agreed, adding: 'May Dr Teo continue to help those desperately ill.'

On the other hand, some viewers have claimed Grimshaw was fair and balanced in her approach to interviewing Dr Teo

Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia for the past 15 months without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints.

He's also under investigation from the Healthcare Complaints Commission.

Fresh details of the allegations came to light this week when he was accused of charging 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 strenuously denied claims he made false promises to patients during his is interview with Grimshaw.

'No, absolutely not,' Dr Teo said adamantly. 'Look, I know I didn't.'

Grimshaw also asked Dr Teo how he saw his Healthcare Complaints Commission hearing being played out.

For the last 15 months, Dr Teo has been unable to operate in Australia without written approval from a fellow surgeon due to restrictions placed on him by the Medical Council of NSW after the body received three complaints

Dr Teo (pictured with partner Traci Griffiths) strenuously denied claims he made false promises to patients during his interview with Grimshaw

'How do you see the future for you?' she continued.

An emotional Dr Teo hesitated for a few moments before responding.

'Oh... Tracy,' he said.

In another part of the interview, Grimshaw grilled the surgeon on the question that has divided Australians - who is the real Charlie Teo?

'They either believe the critics who think you're a cowboy who has a God complex or they believe you're a hero who pushed the convention and they're trying to figure who is the real Charlie Teo,' she explained

'That's what I want to do. I want to shed some light on that so they can answer that for themselves.'

'Can you understand there are these two clear images of you?'

Dr Teo agreed, replying: 'Yeah, I understand that. Because you always think other people respond the way you respond. So, in other words, if you're money hungry you're going to think everyone else is money hungry.'

'If you're a bad person, you're going to think everyone else will act badly. If you're a good, kind, person, then you expect that of other people. So of course you're going to project your own feelings and prejudices onto someone else,' he added.
Samantha Jade and Pat Handlin went shopping at Westfield Bondi Junction on Tuesday after their recent wedding in Italy.

The newlyweds wore matching black outfits as they rushed around the busy shopping centre.

The pop star, 35, pulled her blonde hair back into a tight low bun and teamed a pair of skintight leggings with a white T-shirt and blazer.

Samantha Jade (right) and Pat Handlin (left) went shopping at Westfield Bondi Junction on Tuesday after their recent wedding in Italy

She accessorised with dark sunglasses perched atop her head, white sneakers and a black cross-body Prada bag worth $2,500.

The X Factor winner opted for natural-look makeup and accessorised with gold hoop earrings.

Her new husband, a former Sony Music Australia executive, wore lightwash jean shorts and a black T-shirt which showed off his arm tattoos.

The newlyweds wore matching black outfits as they rushed around the busy shopping centre

The pop star, 35, pulled her blonde hair back into a tight low bun and teamed a pair of skintight leggings with a white T-shirt and blazer

She accessorised with sunglasses perched atop her head and a black cross-body Prada bag

The X Factor winner opted for natural-look makeup and accessorised with gold hoop earrings

He completed his look with white sneakers, a black cap and silver wristwatch.

The newlyweds were all smiles as they walked through the shopping centre hand-in-hand, with Samantha flashing a huge diamond wedding ring on her finger.

They hit Myer first to no avail, leaving the store empty-handed.

Her new husband, a former Sony Music Australia executive, wore lightwash jean shorts and a black T-shirt which showed off his arm tattoos

He completed his look with white sneakers, a black cap and silver wristwatch

Samantha flashed her huge diamond engagement ring

Samantha and Pat enjoyed each other's company as they linked their hands together

Zara appeared to be a hit as Samantha spoke with a sales associate about a stunning emerald gown on one of the racks.

Pat got a phone call in the middle of the store, but it didn't keep him from flicking through the men's section and picking out a white tank top for himself.

He may have grabbed another item as black material was seen sticking out the top of his Zara shopping bag as the pair left the store.

They hit Myer first to no avail, leaving the store empty-handed

Zara appeared to be a hit as Samantha spoke with a sales associate about a stunning emerald gown on one of the racks

Pat got a phone call in the middle of the store, but it didn't keep him from flicking through the men's section and picking out a white tank top for himself

With Pat still on the phone, Samantha seemed happy and content carrying her own Zara bag as they smiled for the paparazzi.

The lovebirds tied the knot in a very intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy, recently.

They exchanged vows in front of a celebrant and their friends Guy and Jules Sebastian.

He may have grabbed another item as black material was seen sticking out the top of his Zara shopping bag as the pair left the store

The lovebirds tied the knot in a very intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy, recently

They exchanged vows in front of a celebrant and their friends Guy and Jules Sebastian

Samantha was seen carrying a Zara shopping bag
Recurring accidents might forecast troubling times for national carrier



A Korean Air passenger jet overshot the runway at Cebu International Airport in the Philippines while attempting to land late on Sunday. There were 162 passengers on board along with 11 cabin crew.



The Airbus SE A330, which had departed from Incheon, South Korea, attempted to land twice in bad weather before it overshot the runway on the third attempt. The aircraft could not sufficiently reduce its speed after landing and ended up 250 meters past the runway. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but matters onboard appeared to be very urgent, considering that all 173 people made an escape via the emergency slides.



The plane's nose landing gear appeared to have been damaged by the overshoot. The transport ministry said it would cooperate with the Philippine authorities to investigate all possible causes of the accident. Some experts are raising the possibility that the aircraft's brake system might have malfunctioned.



This is not the first time Korean Air has been involved in an accident. On Sept. 29, a Korean Air plane came into contact with an Icelandair aircraft while taxiing to the runway at London's Heathrow Airport. The plane's passengers had to wait for hours until an alternative jet arrived. A Korean Air aircraft, flying from Istanbul to Incheon, made an emergency landing in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on July 10 due to a defect in one of its engines. In the second half of this year alone, Korean Air has suffered three accidents.



People's distrust of Korean Air has, therefore, grown recently. But any aircraft mishap can never be tolerated, considering that it might escalate into a major disaster. At this juncture, it might be necessary to consider disallowing Korean Air's planned acquisition of Asiana Airlines. If combined, the two carriers will account for over 70 percent of international flight passengers here, prompting fears that they might neglect their safety duties due to an overly confident mood caused by their dominant market position.




Armie Hammer surfaced this week in Los Angeles in a dressed-down ensemble including sandals and what looked like a shrunken t-shirt.

The 36-year-old actor is currently on the outs in Hollywood after he faced accusations of sex abuse and having a cannibalism fetish.

Now his latest sighting comes on the heels of news that American Express is suing him over a nearly $67K unpaid balance.

Stepping out: Armie Hammer surfaced this week in Los Angeles in a dressed-down ensemble including sandals and what looked like a shrunken t-shirt

An insider informed TMZ that the account, which Hammer has held since 2011, was shared with his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers.

It has been claimed that as a result, the matter of the unpaid balance will be sorted out when the pair finalize their divorce.

Although rumors spread over the summer that Hammer was selling timeshares abroad, he has been spotted multiple times in Los Angeles in recent weeks.

Hammer appears to have been staying in the Cayman Islands this summer, though there is some confusion as to how he was earning a living.

Scandal: The 36-year-old actor is currently on the outs in Hollywood after he faced accusations of sex abuse and having a cannibalism fetish

Embattled: Now his latest sighting comes on the heels of news that American Express is suing him over a nearly $67K unpaid balance

A viral tweet claimed that Hammer was a concierge at a resort, but both the actor's attorney and the hotel's director of sales denied he worked there.

However DailyMail.com obtained pictures of him walking around the resort property in an outfit similar to the staffers' uniforms.

Reports in Variety and TMZ stated that he was indeed working for the hotel, but as a timeshare salesman rather than a concierge.

Hammer's lawsuit comes weeks after he was played by James Austin Johnson in an SNL skit of a game show titled Send Something Normal, with the premise being celebrities choosing how to respond to flirty DMs on Instagram.

Looking ahead: It has been claimed that as a result, the matter of the unpaid balance will be sorted out when the pair finalize their divorce

Back in town: Although rumors spread over the summer that Hammer was selling timeshares abroad, he has been spotted multiple times in Los Angeles in recent weeks

Vocalist Adam Levine and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson were also parodied as contestants in the skit, while cast member Bowen Yang played himself.

The Hammer character asked for a 'big welcome back to Hollywood round of applause' upon his announcement, adding, 'Look, I know there's been a lot of talk about me in the press, but I've done a lot of work on myself and I've changed. So I have my message - I want to break open your bones and suck out the marrow.'

Hammer, known for his performances in films such as Call Me By Your Name, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Lone Ranger, fell into controversy in early 2021 amid multiple accusations of sex abuse and a stated penchant for cannibalism.

Hammer was seen week after he was played by James Austin Johnson in an SNL skit of a game show titled Send Something Normal

The premise of the skit was celebrities choosing how to respond to flirty DMs on Instagram

He was subsequently dropped from his agency WME and lost a number of roles he had on tap, including the Jennifer Lopez film Shotgun Wedding and the Paramount Plus series The Offer.

A rep for Hammer's estranged wife spoke out last month after one of the actor's accusers was critical of Chambers' remarks about being in a 'really great place' with the embattled actor.

Chambers, 40, spoke with E! News last month about her relationship with the actor, who she filed for divorce from in July of 2020. Chambers said that Hammer has been 'focused on his healing' and she has been supportive of him.

Effie, a woman who accused Hammer of rape, which he denied, took to Instagram Stories with screen grabs of messages she said Chambers sent her, allegedly supporting her going public with her allegations against Hammer.

A rep for Armie Hammer's estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, 40, has spoken out after one of the actor's accusers was critical of Chambers' remarks about being in a 'really great place' with the embattled actor, 36. Pictured in LA in 2020

A rep for Chambers explained to People the rationale the TV personality - who is mother to daughter Harper, seven, and son Ford, five with the actor - had in sending Effie messages.

'Given the extent and nature of allegations that were made, Elizabeth sought to determine the veracity of those allegations,' the rep said. 'She was very sensitive to all parties involved. The safety and well-being of their children remains her priority.'

In one of the messages Chambers purportedly sent Effie, she encouraged her to remain 'focused' in 'getting the stories on record' and 'not just the internet.'

In another alleged exchange, after Chambers questioned Effie whether she had hired an attorney, Effie responded that she was 'feeling a tad bit suicidal' and didn't have time to chat. Chambers responded to her, 'I really need custody of my precious children,' pressing her to file a declaration of her experience with Hammer with the court.

Chambers and Hammer were snapped at the Parisian premiere of his film Call Me By Your Name in 2018

Chambers purportedly said, 'I don't want to pressure you, but your insight is much more in depth than the others we have,' adding that she would keep things under wraps.

Effie said in her recent Instagram Stories post, 'Just some things to keep in mind before anyone else keeps wishing rapists "healing."'

Effie initially took to the social media site to make the allegations against Hammer over a 2017 incident, and eventually appeared alongside famed lawyer Gloria Allred to state her allegations in a news conference in which she said Hammer 'mentally, emotionally and sexually' abuse her.

In the interview with E!, Chambers opened up about her co-parenting arrangement with Hammer.

'We're committed fully and wholly to our children and to being together as much as possible in a nonromantic way for our kids,' she said. 'Kids need their mom; kids need their dad. So there's nothing we won't do.'

Effie shared excerpts of text messages she allegedly exchanged with Chambers over Hammer's actions

She said of Hammer: 'There's the oxygen mask theory: You can't really take care of someone until you are taken care of. There's a reason on the plane they say, 'Secure your own mask before helping others.

'He has been very busy securing his own mask. My mask has been secured, [the kids'] masks are on, so right now it's really been a lot about focusing on them, protecting them.'

Chambers said she was willing to 'support that process' in an effort to help Hammer be 'the best father' and 'the best person he can be.'

Chambers added that, 'Time does heal, but time alone doesn't heal,' as 'You need to work through it.'

She continued: 'People are flawed. People make horrible mistakes. People change, by the way. For me the whole time it has been about, "These are my boundaries. If you can meet them, then we can take the next step." That's with everyone in my life, but also with myself.'

Chambers told the outlet that she feels herself to be a feminist and remains 'in solidarity with anyone who has been a victim of any sort and hope they find healing.'

She noted, 'I'm not being here, like, "My life is amazing," because it's been hell for a long time.'
A grave robber fought with an army of rats in a new trailer released on Monday for Graveyard Rats from the Netflix anthology series created by Guillermo del Toro.

The trailer for the second episode of Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities opened at a Salem cemetery and showed Masson [David Hewlett] snipping the ear of a corpse to steal an earring.

The cemetery caretaker who also robs graves was next shown holding up a gold tooth, but dropped it as a squealing rat bit him.

Grave robber: Grave digger Masson fought of an army of rats in a new trailer released on Monday for Graveyard Rats from the Netflix anthology series created by Guillermo del Toro

'So you is telling me rats is stealing bodies out of coffins?,' asked Nabeel [Hans Overfist].

A buried coffin with the lid open was then shown with a corpse being yanked away from it.

'Rat's can't do that,' Nabeel said.

'Oh, my dear fellow, they most certainly can,' Masson told him.

Squealing rat: A rat squealed as it bit Masson after he pulled out a gold tooth from a corpse

Pulled away: A buried coffin with the lid open was then shown with a corpse being yanked away from it

Stealing bodies: 'So you is telling me rats is stealing bodies out of coffins?,' asked Nabeel [Hans Overfist]

Masson was shown going after the rats in tunnels beneath Salem and the trailer ended with a giant monster screeching in his face.

Graveyard Rats was directed by Vincenzo Natali, 53, and is the second installment in the horror anthology series Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities that premiered on Tuesday on Netflix.

Two of the episodes are co-written by 58-year-old del Toro, including the first episode Lot 36 that also was released on Tuesday.

Episode director: Graveyard Rats was directed by Vincenzo Natali, shown earlier this month in London, and is the second installment in the horror anthology series Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities that premiered on Tuesday on Netflix

The remaining episodes will be released daily with two each day through Friday.

Graveyard Rats was based on the horror short story The Graveyard Rats by late Los Angeles writer Henry Kuttner who died in 1958 at age 42.

The Graveyard Rats was first published in the magazine Weird Tales in March 1936.

Graveyard Rats director Natali also directed the first two episodes of the new Amazon Prime Video sci-fi series The Peripheral, which is based on the 2014 book of the same name by cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson, 74.

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities features an introduction in each episode by the Oscar-winning Mexican film director.
Kathy Hilton put on a united front with her daughters Paris and Nicky Hilton over the weekend as they threw a baby shower for Brooke Brinson Wiederhorn, who is Kathy's niece, at their home in Bel Air.

The 63-year-old Hilton matriarch looked effortlessly elegant in a classic floral dress while weathering her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills costar Erika Jayne's claim that she used a homophobic slur while on the show's Aspen trip.

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Hilton and Bravo for comment.

Family: Kathy Hilton, 63, looked lovely in a floral dress while joined by daughters Paris, 41, and Nicky, 39, at a baby shower she threw in Bel Air for her niece Brooke Brinson Wiederhorn

Kathy opted for a modest white and pale pink dress covered in floral designs with flecks of green.

It had a long skirt that reached down to her ankles, as well as mid-length sleeves that revealed her forearms.

She complemented the look with pink pumps, and she swept her long blond hair back to reveal her dangling earrings, which were decorated with folded fabric flowers.

Kathy's older daughter Paris wore the most opulent look of the family trio with along lacy pink dress that reached down to the ground.

Old school: Kathy opted for a modest white and pale pink dress covered in floral designs with flecks of green. It had a long skirt that reached down to her ankles, as well as mid-length sleeves that revealed her forearms

Pretty in pink: Kathy's older daughter Paris wore the most opulent look of the family trio with along lacy pink dress that reached down to the ground

Delicate: The look was enlivened with lustrous pink satin ribbons and bows traversing her figure, and her bust was covered by a particularly opulent bow

Long hair, don't care: Her long blond pin-straight hair was draped down one side of her chest, while the rest was tucked behind her ear and pushed over her shoulder

Showing off: Nicky went with the shortest dress of the three. Her outfit was a shade of pale lilac with lilac with rows of vertical lavender designs and a short white lace skirt that highlighted her long legs

The delicate look was enlivened with lustrous pink satin ribbons and bows traversing her figure, and her bust was covered by a particularly opulent bow.

Her long blond pin-straight hair was draped down one side of her chest, while the rest was tucked behind her ear and pushed over her shoulder.

She appeared to have on simple beige heels under her dress.

Nicky went with the shortest dress of the three. Her outfit was a shade of pale lilac with lilac with rows of vertical lavender designs and a short white lace skirt that highlighted her long legs.

The blond beauty elevated her stature with jeweled open-toe heels, and she styled her hair in thick waves.

Guest of honor: The Hiltons were celebrating Brooke, who is the daughter of Kathy's half sister Kim Richards, before she welcomes a baby girl. She beamed while cradling her growing baby bump in a white-and-red patterned dress with wedges

Family: Her half-sister Whitney Davis crouched down to playfully kiss her tummy. She was dressed in a beige patterned dress with a plunging neckline and a ruffled skirt

The Hiltons were celebrating Brooke, who is the daughter of Kathy's half sister Kim Richards, before she welcomes a baby girl.

The guest of honor beamed while cradling her growing baby bump in a white-and-red patterned dress with wedges.

While Brooke posed on a balcony outside Kathy's home, her half-sister Whitney Davis crouched down to playfully kiss her tummy.

She was dressed in a beige patterned dress with a plunging neckline and a ruffled skirt.

Old pals: Inside the party, Kathy caught up with her longtime friend Faye Resnick

Cute: She wore a lustrous sheer pink dress with a ribbon tied around her midriff

Inside the party, Kathy caught up with her longtime friend Faye Resnick. She wore a lustrous sheer pink dress with a ribbon tied around her midriff.

Alexia Umansky, the daughter of Kathy's sometimes-estranged half-sister Kyle Richards, looked relaxed in a dark olive skirt with a beige crop top revealing her toned midriff.

Kimberly Collette Jackson showed off in a white lace dress with a plunging neckline, while Farrah Brittany was more casual in a pajama-like white satin top and matching pants.

Inside the shower, Kathy was seen sampling some of the delicate sweet treats for the guests.

The whole gang: Kathy was joined by friends and family members

Yum! Inside the shower, she was seen sampling some of the delicate sweet treats for the guests

Kathy was focused on family despite Erika Jayne's recent accusation during the final part of the three-part RHOBH reunion that she used a homophobic slur with her castmates while away on the show's Aspen trip.

'Erika claims Kathy used the slur against someone the cast was around earlier this season, but production cameras were not rolling when the alleged incident happened,' a source told TMZ on Tuesday.

'Production investigated Erika's claim following the Aspen trip, but found it's basically a case of she said, she said.'

Airing this Wednesday! The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne (L) reportedly accused her co-star Kathy (R) of uttering a homophobic slur during their chaotic Aspen trip in the 12th season reunion finale

The hotel heiress was said to have strongly denied the 51-year-old former gay club siren's allegation and some of her RHOBH castmates defended her while her estranged half-sister Kyle Richards 'sat quietly.'

Last month, Bravo aired the Aspen episodes where Kathy appeared to feel left out, having little success trying to gather everyone for a tasting of Casa Del Sol tequila (her daughter Nicky is an investor).

Hilton (born Richards) then attempted to start a conga line at a country western bar, but when no one joined in she snapped at Sutton Stracke: 'If you don't go home with me, you are not my friend.'

A source told TMZ on Tuesday: 'Erika claims Kathy used the slur against someone the cast was around earlier this season, but production cameras were not rolling when the alleged incident happened'

The insider continued: 'Production investigated Erika's claim following the Aspen trip, but found it's basically a case of she said, she said'

Rumor: The hotel heiress was said to have strongly denied the 51-year-old former gay club siren's (3-R) allegation and some of her RHOBH castmates defended her while estranged half-sister Kyle Richards (3-L) 'sat quietly'

Anyone? Last month, Bravo aired the Aspen episodes where Kathy appeared to feel left out, having little success trying to gather everyone for a tasting of Casa Del Sol tequila (her daughter Nicky is an investor)

The gang then stopped by the members-only Caribou Club where the Manhattan-born socialite was allegedly 'raging and screaming,' broke her sunglasses, and got in a sprinter van with Lisa Rinna.

Rinna claimed Kathy yelled about NBC, Bravo, and co-stars including her sister Kyle: 'I will take down this show single-handedly, I will f***ing ruin you all.'

'[Lisa and Erika] are desperate for a storyline, and they'll throw anybody under the bus,' Hilton told TMZ last Wednesday.

Hilton (born Richards) then attempted to start a conga line at a country western bar, but when no one joined in she snapped at Sutton Stracke: 'If you don't go home with me, you are not my friend'

CongaGate: The gang then stopped by the members-only Caribou Club where the Manhattan-born socialite was allegedly 'raging and screaming,' broke her sunglasses, and got in a sprinter van with Lisa Rinna (L)

Rinna (R) claimed Kathy yelled about NBC, Bravo, and co-stars including her sister Kyle (L): 'I will take down this show single-handedly, I will f***ing ruin you all'

Hilton told TMZ last Wednesday: '[Lisa and Erika] 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'

'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 mother of Paris Hilton eventually got to lead a conga line of various Real Housewives at DIRECTV's 'Wives Night Out' meet and greet on October 13.

On Monday night, Kathy attempted to make light of the Aspen drama by reposting conga line jokes via Instastory.
Alessandra Ambrosio bared her tanned torso during a tropical photoshoot she posted to Instagram Monday.

The 41-year-old model left little to the imagination in a tiny pink and white bikini and knitted gray sweater she left wide open.

She added a matching bucket hat to her chic look, and her light brown hair fell in wispy strands down to the top of her back.

Leaving little to the imagination: Alessandra Ambrosio bared her tanned torso during a tropical photoshoot she posted to Instagram Monday

The Brazilian model accessorized with silver thick bracelets, and she held small white and yellow flower.

She puckered up her bright pink lips in one snap and goofily pulled her hat down over one eyes in another.

Ambrosio captioned the set of photos, 'Brand new week beginning! Hows is your #Monday energy.'

Bikini top: The 41-year-old model left little to the imagination in a tiny pink and white bikini and knitted gray sweater she left wide open

Matching hat: She added a matching bucket hat to her chic look, and her light brown hair fell in wispy strands down to the top of her back

She then provided four options for her followers to pick, three emojis and an 'all of the above' option as well.

Her Instagram post came a day after she was spotted with boyfriend Richard Lee at the beach in Santa Monica.

The supermodel and her boyfriend have been linked ever since March of last year, when they were first spotted in each other's company.

Loving couple: The supermodel and her boyfriend have been linked ever since March of last year, when they were first spotted in each other's company (pictured 2021)

Ex-fiance: The supermodel was previously romantically involved with Jamie Mazur, to whom she became engaged in 2008

The supermodel was previously romantically involved with Jamie Mazur, to whom she became engaged in 2008.

The pair started a family that year with the birth of their daughter Anja, aged 14, and they later added a son named Noah, aged 10, to their lives in 2012.

However, the former couple eventually separated and called off their engagement in April of 2018.

Ambrosio eventually moved on with designer Niccolo Oddi, with whom she was spotted shortly after splitting from Mazur.

The former couple remained together for two years before they stopped seeing each other.
Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey has announced a secret gig in Australia.

But fans hoping to secure tickets to the exclusive concert next month will need to guess the location by solving a series of cryptic poems.

The clues will be posted on Wild Turkey's official Instagram page.

Matthew McConaughey, 52, (pictured) has announced a secret gig in Australia next month

Headlined by Aussie rockers Boy & Bear, select fans who make the discovery and secure their spot will be congratulated by McConaughey himself.

'Trusting yourself, your instincts and spirit are the key to discovery and will always lead you down the right path in life, or a road up north,' he said in a statement.

'For this reason, Wild Turkey and Boy & Bear are challenging Aussies to let go of the monotony of the last few years and let yourselves discover again.'

Fans hoping to secure tickets to the exclusive concert next month will need to guess the location by solving a series of cryptic poems

The Dallas Buyers Club star, 52, continued: 'The Discovery Series Acoustic Session fuels this spirit. However, it's more than discovery; it's for the love of the wilderness, and the enjoyment of bourbon and, most of all, music.

'So, sit back, check into the words and Trust Your Spirit  I'll be waiting patiently to congratulate those who take on the journey.'

Those who trust their spirit and make the discovery will have the chance to experience the exclusive and intimate set  all with a drink in hand.

McConaughey previously appeared in a promotional campaign with Aussies Chris and Cam Grant (all pictured) in 2019 when they built a hideaway in the wilderness called The Reserve with their company Unyoked, which designs eco-friendly remote cabins

McConaughey previously appeared in a promotional campaign with Aussies Chris and Cam Grant in 2019 when they built a hideaway in the wilderness called The Reserve with their company Unyoked, which designs eco-friendly remote cabins.

In an interview with Smart Company, the brothers said the experience was 'surreal'.

'Cam and I werent out there fishing for it, he came to us,' Grant said. 'I think when we came across his desk it just piqued his interest.'

Having grown up in Texas and spending time in Australia as a teenager, Matthew's 'outdoorsy' interests were already there when they began the project.
Bindi Irwin has refused to engage with trolls who called her 'pathetic' over her response to an American farm owner whose emu had fallen sick.

The wildlife warrior, 24, chose to ignore her haters as she returned to Instagram amid the backlash on Tuesday, opting instead to post a romantic tribute to her husband Chandler Powell, 25.

'A #flashback just because I love this handsome guy so much. This photo was taken right after we got engaged,' she wrote next to a photo of the couple embracing at Australia Zoo in July 2019.

Bindi Irwin has refused to engage with trolls who called her 'pathetic' over her response to an American farm owner whose emu had fallen sick. Rather than hitting back, she posted this throwback photo to Instagram on Tuesday alongside a tribute to her husband Chandler Powell

'@chandlerpowell, you make me happier than I ever thought possible,' she added.

In the photo, Bindi offered a glimpse of her engagement ring as she ecstatically threw her arms around her beau's shoulders.

Chandler responded in the comments section: 'I'm the luckiest man alive. You inspire me to be the best I can be and I love you. You are amazing.'

Bindi said the photo was taken moments after Chandler proposed at Australia Zoo in July 2019

Chandler (pictured with Bindi and their daughter Grace Warrior, two) responded in the comments: 'I'm the luckiest man alive. You inspire me to be the best I can be and I love you'

The post came hours after Bindi was slammed by cruel trolls for her response to an American farm owner's plea for help after she lost 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza.

Taylor Blake, also known as 'Eco Sister' on Twitter, sent a desperate message to the Irwin clan last week after she thought her beloved emu and TikTok fan favourite Emmanuel had contracted the virus.

She offered to fly any of their contacts or members of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital to her Knuckle Bump Farm in South Florida to help save Emmanuel.

The post came hours after Bindi was slammed by cruel trolls for her response to an American farm owner's plea for help after she lost 99 per cent of her birds to avian influenza

Bindi responded by saying she wasn't able to provide too much support because the team at the hospital had never treated birds with avian flu, but did send her 'love and prayers' to the farm.

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!'

But some fans flocked to social media to slam Bindi's response, with one calling it 'pathetic' and 'useless'.

Taylor Blake (pictured), also known as 'Eco Sister' on Twitter, sent a desperate plea to the Irwins last week after she thought her beloved emu Emmanuel had contracted avian influenza

'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 letter response pretending you care.'

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

While some fans criticised Bindi, others praised her for responding to Taylor.

'I'm sure just the response lifted spirits of recovery for Emmanuel. That's all one could even hope for,' one supporter said.

'I think it is so cool that Bindi Irwin replied. Still praying for Emmanuel,' another agreed.

'Thank you, Irwins. We are all [praying] for Emmanuel. He is deeply loved around the world,' a third wrote.

Some fans flocked to social media to label Bindi's response 'pathetic and useless'

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.

She explained she had lost every chicken and duck as well as many geese, turkeys and swans.

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.

While some fans criticised Bindi, others praised her for supporting and responding to Taylor

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.'

Taylor has been sharing her story on social media since her Knuckle Bump Farm in South Florida was struck down with the epidemic. 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

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.

'We will need to rely on our fellow animal experts with more experience with this avian flu.'

Taylor Blake is pictured with her beloved pet emu

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.'

Bindi (centre, with her mother Terri Irwin, left, and brother Robert, right) 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'

Taylor has since revealed Emmanuel tested negative for avian flu and she believes her beloved bird instead fell ill from stress.

'Emmanuel Todd Lopez tested negative for avian influenza at two separate labs, swab, fecal and blood. He does not have the virus, and is not actively shedding the virus,' she tweeted.

'We believe this all stemmed from stress. Emus are highly susceptible to stress. He was incredibly overwhelmed by the state coming in and euthanising our flock (although it was necessary, it was still very stressful on him). He stopped eating the day they depopulated.'
Former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess ditched her usual conservative style in favour of an uncharacteristically racy look on Wednesday.

The journalist and mother of two, 33, shared a video on Instagram of herself running errands in a slinky black dress with a very low neckline.

She slipped a black jacket over the top as she held up her phone to offer a better view of her cleavage and $5,540 Bottega Veneta bag.

Phoebe Burgess shared a video on Instagram on Wednesday of herself running errands in a slinky black dress with a very low neckline

Smiling as she pounded the pavement, Phoebe completed her look with black boots and sunglasses, and wore her cropped blonde hair loosely.

At the end of the video, she pressed her expensive designer handbag to her chest.

It comes just over a week after Phoebe's ex-husband Sam Burgess went public with his new girlfriend at the premiere of Russell Crowe's new film Poker Face in Rome.

The former NRL WAG ditched her usual conservative style in favour of an uncharacteristically racy look on Wednesday

The Rabbitohs legend, 33, looked absolutely smitten as he cuddled up to Lucy Graham, who is a hairdresser from Leeds.

Sam's new partner is English and they have known each other for about 20 years, a source close to the footy player told Daily Mail Australia.

While it's not known how long they have been together, Sam has been telling friends they are 'taking things steady'.

At the end of the video, she pressed her expensive designer handbag to her chest

Lucy is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019, reported So Dramatic Online.

Sam's new relationship comes after a series of flings that followed his acrimonious split from ex-wife Phoebe in January 2019.

The father of two is said to have briefly dated Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking in January this year, as well as American waitress Oak Schuetz in late 2019.

It comes just over a week after Phoebe's ex-husband Sam Burgess (left) went public with his new girlfriend at the premiere of Russell Crowe's new film Poker Face in Rome

Meanwhile, Phoebe, who shares daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, three, with Sam, has remained single since their divorce.

The pair married in 2015 and separated in late 2018.

They resumed their relationship in early 2019 before breaking up for good on October 2 that year and later divorcing.
Kanye West had a strong retort to Howard Stern, after the shock jock compared him to Adolf Hitler for his recent anti-Semitic rants.

West, 45, appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast in a segment posted Monday, where he spoke about his recent spate of controversies, at one point segueing into a series of barbs at the satellite radio star.

'What is the version of the apology short of kissing Howard Stern's d***?' West said. 'That's the whole point, Howard Stern, nobody wants to kiss your d*** so shut the f*** up!'

The latest: Kanye West, 45, had a strong retort to Howard Stern, 68, after the shock jock compared him to Adolf Hitler for his recent anti-Semitic rants

West acknowledged he was 'antagonizing' Stern, who he was once a fan of, but now feels his time has passed.

Said West: 'By the way, I'm antagonizing you Howard Stern, I used to be a fan of you; now youre just doing clickbait like everybody else, now youre just a sad old man Howard.

'Now, Howard Stern, this is the first time anyone's said your name in years - your family doesn't say your name unless they're calling to get their bills paid.'

West wondered if Stern was going to be 'screaming at' him over his comeback. He said of Stern, 'I think he's just jealous - not just jealous of my c***, he's jealous that I started my campaign earlier than him. You gotta let go of that jealousy, Howard.'

West acknowledged he was 'antagonizing' Stern, who he was once a fan of, but now feels his time has passed

West chat with podcast host Lex Fridman (L) on a variety of topics surrounding his recent controversies

The rapper said, 'Now, Howard Stern, this is the first time anyone's said your name in years - your family doesn't say your name unless they're calling to get their bills paid'

West spoke out days after Stern said that the ordeal surrounding West was 'depressing,' saying that West 'used to be fun crazy,' and 'now he's like Hitler.'

'I almost don't want to give any energy to this Kanye West character,' the radio veteran said last week on The Howard Stern Show. 'I don't know much about Kanye West. I'm not big into the rap scene, but he is ... I'm really tired of people excusing his behavior by saying, "Well, he's just mentally ill."'

Stern's co-host Robin Quivers chimed in, 'So was Hitler and someone elected him to run a country.'

Stern said Kanye West now comes off like Adolf Hitler after the rapper made anti-Semitic remarks over a number of platforms over the past month

Stern noted how 'a lot of media organizations' were giving West 'attention' over it 'and rightly so' in 'exposing him.'

Stern, who is Jewish, went on to note how he has experienced anti-Semitic behavior earlier in his life in 'fights' and 'groups of people with chains hitting' him.

He continued, 'Boy, what this guys into, its the same old stuff with the Jews, you know ... but anyway, Kanye was on the Chris Cuomo show, and good lord, you gotta hear the s*** this guy's into, and f*** this mental illness, self-defense thing that he's into, you know, like, "Oh yeah, he's just mentally ill, don't worry about it."'

Quivers said, 'If he was so mentally ill, they wouldn't have on TV - he's not so mentally ill, you don't let him say this stuff.'

Stern said, 'If he's so mentally ill, why don't they appoint a conservator over his money like they did with the poor Britney Spears?'

Stern noted how 'a lot of media organizations' were giving West 'attention' over it 'and rightly so' in 'exposing him'

Stern played a clip from a Chris Cuomo interview in which West said he faced professional consequences from the 'Jewish underground media mafia'

Stern responded, 'If he's so mentally ill, why don't they appoint a conservator over his money like they did with the poor Britney Spears?'

Stern played a clip from a chat with Chris Cuomo in which West said he faced professional consequences from the 'Jewish underground media mafia' via the canceling of a series of shows he had set for SoFi Stadium; propagating the notion that he is 'crazy;' and never referring to him as a 'billionaire,' 'inventor,' 'tycoon' or 'visionary.'

Stern retorted, saying, 'Guess what, douchebag? When they write about me, they call me the shock jock - you don't have control over - you're a rapper, that is what you are, that's how you became famous.'

He added: 'If a newspaper article doesn't point out the fact that you're some sort of designer or genius, maybe that's not because he's Jewish, but maybe because he just doesn't put that much thought into who the f*** you are and what your business is.'

Stern described the series of events as 'so depressing,' saying, 'Kanye used to be fun crazy - now he's like Hitler.'

West's turbulent month of race-related controversies kicked off October 3 when he and conservative commentator Candace Owens donned tops that read White Lives Matter during a Paris Fashion Week showcase for his Yeezy line.

West faced restrictions on his social media sites after he tweeted October 8: '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.'

West was asked by Piers Morgan last week if he regretted the tweet and he said, 'No - absolutely not, absolutely not ... I fought fire with fire - Im not here to get hosed down - thats a different type of freedom fighter.'

He later clarified: 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt. I feel like I cause 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 use my platform where you say, "Hurt people hurt people," and I was hurt.'

West made the offensive remarks on October 8 after he faced restrictions on Instagram

West's latest racism controversy came less than a week after a Paris Fashion Week showcase for his Yeezy line that saw him and conservative commentator Candace Owens don tops that read White Lives Matter on the back

West's name made further headlines over the weekend after a group took to the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles saluting Adolf Hitler with banners that read, 'Kanye is right about the Jews' and 'Honk if you know.'

The professional fallout to West's repeated anti-Semitic statements continued Tuesday as Adidas announced it was immediately cutting ties with the controversial artist and his Yeezy line in a move it said expected to lose around $246 million on.

'Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech,' the company said Tuesday. 'Yes recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.'

Foot Locker and Gap have also pledged to remove Yeezy from its shelves, while fashion mainstays including Vogue magazine and Balenciaga have publicly distanced themselves from the rapper/fashion designer.

The talent agency CAA dropped West from its roster, while a documentary about West made by the studio MRC will be shelved in the wake of the scandal.
Lily Collins and her husband, Charlie McDowell, attended the Time100 Next Gala, which took place in New York City on Tuesday evening.

The 33-year-old performer appeared to be loving the spotlight as she posed for several shots during her time on the event's red carpet.

The Emily In Paris star and her husband, 39, have been married for just over a year and have collaborated on several projects in the past.

There they are: Lily Collins and her husband, Charlie McDowell, attended the Time100 Next Gala, which took place in New York City on Tuesday evening

Collins wore a gorgeous red dress that conformed tightly to her chiseled form during the star-studded event.

The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile star's clothing showed off a considerable amount of skin.

Her gorgeous brunette hair was partially styled into a bun, while much of it fell onto the nape of her neck.

McDowell kept it classy in a black suit and tie while spending time with his wife.

Dressed up: Collins wore a gorgeous red dress that conformed tightly to her chiseled form during the star-studded event

Ooh la la! The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile star's clothing showed off a considerable amount of skin

Collins and her husband initially met while working on the set of his upcoming film Gilded Rage in 2019.

The pair went on to begin a relationship, and they went Instagram official that same year.

The happy couple made their first public appearance in 2020, and they became engaged during a trip to New Mexico that took place that September.

They eventually tied the knot during a wedding ceremony that took place in Colorado last September.

Starting off strong: Collins and her husband initially met while working on the set of his upcoming film Gilded Rage in 2019

Collins and McDowell went on to collaborate on the crime feature Windfall, which was released on Netflix last year.

The movie, which also starred Jesse Plemons and Jason Segel, was centered on a wealthy couple who become hostages after visiting their vacation home.

The stars of the film, as well as its director, all served as producers on the film, which received mixed reviews upon its release.

Back at it: Collins and McDowell went on to collaborate on the crime feature Windfall, which was released on Netflix last year

Collins recently spoke about her relationship with McDowell during an interview with E! News, where she expressed that she and her husband had learned to adapt to each other's hectic schedules.

'We can kind of conquer anything...We've been through so many changes,' she stated.

The performer went on to express that, despite the fact that she and her husband were often apart, they constantly remained in contact.

Working it out: Collins recently spoke about her relationship with McDowell during an interview with E! News, where she expressed that she and her husband had learned to adapt to each other's hectic schedules

'To be able to have a partner next to you that makes you laugh in times when you need it the most and helps you emotionally get through things, like moving to a foreign country for four months,' she stated.

Collins concluded by expressing that she was happy to have McDowell in her life.

'I just feel so grateful that I have someone next to me to be able to accomplish that and [have] your best friend with you all the time'
Home and Away's Kawakawa Fox-Reo has shocked fans with his latest makeover.

The soap star debuted a new hairstyle during a holiday in Los Angeles this week.

The Sydney-based actor, 24, who plays Nikau Parata, normally has raven locks - a look he has maintained throughout his two years on the Channel Seven soap.

But on Tuesday, the actor looked unrecognisable with bleached blond hair while posing for an Instagram selfie shirtless.

Home and Away's Kawakawa Fox-Reo has shocked fans with his recent makeover. The Sydney-based actor, 24, who plays Nikau Parata, normally has raven locks - a look he has maintained throughout his two years with the Channel Seven soap

During his time in the US, Fox-Reo also met up with his former co-star Ryan Panizza.

Kawakawa's fans were left divided, while others speculated whether it will impact his character.

'I don't think (Home and Away) would re-dye his hair - most likely would write it in. Kawa obviously bleached it (because) he knew he didn't need to keep it black for his job anymore,' one Instagram comment said.

'I don't think blond really suits him,' wrote a second.

'Damn, he's a mystery leaving us guessing. Wondering if he's gone onto better things, or just backpacking around the world for example!' added a third.

But on Tuesday, the actor looked unrecognisable with bleached blonde hair while posing for an Instagram selfie shirtless

It comes after the actor was forced to apologise after fans took offence at a recent post he shared on Instagram.

Fox-Reo shared a since-deleted photo of himself at the gym on March 30, captioning it: 'I love steroids'.

The post was deleted after the publication contacted Channel Seven, with Kawakawa then issuing an apology.

It comes after the actor was forced to apologise after fans took offence at a recent post he shared on Instagram

'I know I have made a serious error in judgement with this post and I have deleted it,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'I realise my attempt at humour was misguided and misleading and sincerely apologise.'

The offending post received over 2,000 likes and 36 comments in the 12 days before it was deleted.

But not everyone saw the humour, with one Instagram user claiming she was unfollowing Kawakawa, while another branded it 'idiotic'.

'Surely this is a joke? Pretty sure your producers wouldn't be a fan of you advertising roids [steroids],' commented one fan.
LG Energy Solution CEO Kwon Young-soo, center, discusses project ideas with employees at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 21. Courtesy of LG Energy Solution



By Kim Jae-heun



LG Energy Solution (LGES) CEO Kwon Young-soo promised to make his company a workplace that employees have pride in and to open his ear to staffers' voices.



"The strongest motive to realize our dreams comes from employees' happiness. In the not-too-distant future, I will make sure our staffers around the world say 'LG Energy Solution is the best place to work without a doubt. Everyone is so happy here,'" Kwon said in a message to employees earlier this month.



The company is already well-known as a "company that guarantees the growth of individuals and itself."



With the rapid growth of the global electric vehicle and battery markets, LGES, the No. 1 battery company in Korea, is also expanding its business size every year. It is making various efforts to advance the working environment for executives and junior staff including strengthening the capacity of its employees and improving the corporate culture.



As of the end of last year, LGES had 9,564 local employees, about 80 percent of whom are in their 20s and 30s. This helped the company to establish a free working environment and horizontal corporate culture faster than other local firms.



"The company provides much freedom to its employees by allowing them to work from home or at other offices near their homes. It also strives to improve working environment consistently and many young jobseekers take note of this. LG Energy Solution is one of the companies that they work to work in," a 28-year-old employee surnamed Kim working at LGES said.



The company has also adopted the EnTalk online communication platform, which allows some 24,000 company employees around the world to communicate freely including with Kwon. They can ask questions and share ideas related to work while receiving replies from the CEO.



Since EnTalk was introduced at the company last November, a total of 650 business proposals have been shared online. Kwon manages to give a direct answer to one question each week.


The Block's Ankur Dogra was mercilessly mocked on Twitter this week for saying he has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the show.

He made the bold claim about his mental health on Monday's episode after he and wife Sharon Johal had a heated clash with foremen Keith Schleiger and Dan Reilly.

The Melbourne-based couple took offence after the supervisors pointed out they were significantly over budget.

The Block's Ankur Dogra (left, with wife Sharon Johal) was mercilessly mocked on Twitter this week for saying he has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the show

The foremen singled out Ankur in particular, saying he should have noticed the $26,000 overflow because he's an accountant.

Ankur and Sharon said this remark was unfair and could potentially affect his career outside the show.

'It's pretty confronting. I think I have PTSD from this and previous occurrences with Scott Cam,' Ankur said after the encounter.

He made the bold claim about his mental health on Monday's episode after he and wife Sharon Johal had a heated clash with foremen Keith Schleiger (left) and Dan Reilly (second from left)

Shocked viewers flocked to Twitter to ridicule Ankur's claim that a stern talking-to had given him a mental health condition.

'You're not going to get PTSD from spending too much money that isn't yours,' one angry fan tweeted.

Another tweeted: 'Ankur just said he has PTSD. Are you kidding me?'

The Melbourne-based couple took offence after the supervisors pointed out they were significantly over budget. The foremen singled out Ankur in particular, saying he should have noticed the $26,000 overflow because he's an accountant

Shocked viewers flocked to Twitter to ridicule Ankur's claim that a stern talking-to had given him a mental health condition

Earlier this month, Ankur and Sharon lashed out at Scott Cam's decision to freeze their spending.

It followed the host's drastic move to prevent them from further blowing out their budget by forcing them to have their expenses approved by a financial advisor.

Ankur and Scott came to blows as the frustrated presenter told the pair they were already $53,000 over budget.

Ankur was furious and said the move was a direct affront to his career in finance.
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Megan Fox looked just like cartoon siren Jessica Rabbit as she hit the red carpet at Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Tuesday her fiance Machine Gun Kelly.

As the power couple arrived to the star-studded event, which brings together notable figures across a range of industries, the 36-year-old Jennifer's Body debuted fiery cooper locks while rocking a figure-hugging gold gown with a dramatic slit.

The mother-of-three - who sparked rumors she'd had a boob job when she unveiled a more buxom look last month - rocked a maroon lipstick, dramatic smokey eyeshadow and bronzer for a sun-kissed glow for the glamorous gala.

Red hot! Megan Fox looked just like Jessica Rabbit at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Tuesday

Her husband-to-be, 32, cut an edgy figure in a barely-there black latex outfit, consisting of a corset with no bodice attached to a pair of shoulder-length, trousers and a silver chain necklace.

The rapper, who displayed his extensive ink collection across his chest and torso, kept his long platinum blonde hair styled partially in a bun while letting the rest loose.

In addition to Fox and Emo Girl hitmaker, Jeannette McCurdy, Lily Collins, Keke Palmer, Lily Collins, Law Roach, Joe Alwyn and more celebrities were all in attendance.

Stunning: Fox effortlessly worked her angles for the camera before heading inside

MGK looked in awe of his fiancee during their red carpet stint

Glam: Megan rocked a bold red lip and shimmering eyeshadow on her lids

Edgy: The rapper, who displayed his extensive ink collection across his chest and torso, kept his long platinum blonde hair styled partially in a bun while letting the rest loose

Holding hands: The duo were seen holding hands as they arrived to the event in Brooklyn

In good company: In addition to Fox and Emo Girl hitmaker, Jeannette McCurdy, Lily Collins, Keke Palmer, Lily Collins, Law Roach, Joe Alwyn and more celebrities were all in attendance

Shining bright: All eyes were on the actress as she commanded attention in her gorgeous floor-length dress

Speaking of the rising stars and changemakers on the 2022 list, TIME editor in chief wrote: 'Real change requires urgency and the determination to respond with speed to global challenges.'

'The leaders featured on this year's TIME100 Next list have demonstrated that spirit. They are shaping our worldand demanding we join them,' he continued on a statement on his publication's site.

Emily in Paris' Lily Collins, who eared a nod on the list, attended the event with her husband Charlie McDowell while rocking a bright red dress with a keyhole back.

Big night: Speaking of the rising stars and changemakers on the 2022 list, TIME editor in chief wrote: 'Real change requires urgency and the determination to respond with speed to global challenges'

'The leaders featured on this year's TIME100 Next list have demonstrated that spirit. They are shaping our worldand demanding we join them,' he continued on a statement on his publication's site

Seated: The couple took their seats inside after storming the carpet as a couple

Say cheese! The pair posed for a photo with Bolivian politician Eva Copa

Late-night bite! After the gala, Megan and MGK decided to grab dinner at celeb-loved restaurant Carbone

Gentleman: Once their SUV arrived, MGK helped his soon-to-be wife slide out of the backseat

On stage: Machine Gun Kelly gives a toast at the TIME100 Next Gala

Cool guy: Once inside, the father-of-one spoke to the audience with a microphone

Taking a moment: At one point, Machine Gun Kelly took a puff of a cigarette in the backseat of a car as he prepared to head inside

The 33-year-old Golden Globe nominee's oozed Hollywood glamour in her chic ensemble as she opted to wear her brown hair in a retro beehive.

After recently celebrating her first wedding anniversary with McDowell om September 4, Lily told E! News that she's thankful to have the writer and director by her side.

'I just feel so grateful that I have someone next to me to be able to accomplish that and your best friend with you all the time,' she gushed.

Red hot! Emily in Paris' Lily Collins, who eared a nod on the list, attended the event with her husband Charlie McDowell while rocking a bright red dress with a keyhole back

The first year of their marriage included traveling to France to shoot Emily in Paris.

'We can kind of conquer anything,' she contended. We've been through so many changes globally, personally, and to be able to have a partner next to you that makes you laugh in times when you need it the most and helps you emotionally get through things, like moving to a foreign country for four months.'

The pair also worked together on Windfall, which was directed by Charlie, who also co-wrote the script. Lily starred with Jason Segal and Jesse Plemons in the drama about a man who breaks into a tech billionaire's home, only to have bad things happen when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last minute getaway. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.

Going strong: Collins posed for a photo with her spouse, Charlie McDowell, who looked handsome in a black tuxedo

Gorgeous: Collins radiated beauty as she smiled for photos while rocking a glamorous makeup look

Chic: Jennette McCurdy, who opened up about her harrowing details of child stardom in her new memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, which was released earlier this year, rocked a purple strapless blouse and voluminous black and beige skirt

Chic: Jennette McCurdy, who opened up about her harrowing details of child stardom in her new memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, which was released earlier this year, rocked a purple strapless blouse and voluminous black and beige skirt

Radiant: For the occasion, she wore her blonde hair in a sleek ponytail, hoop earrings and a black choker necklace

Both grew up in showbusiness families. Lily is the daughter of British rocker Phil Collins, 71, and his second wife, American Jill Tavelman. Charlie is the son of Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen, 69, and British actor Malcolm McDowell, 79.

The Young Hollywood award winner is current listed as being in pre-production for Titan, starring as a young woman looking for answers in the death of her environmentalist sister.

The versatile star is also slated to star in a film about the popular doll Polly Pocket, for Lena Dunham. The Girls creator told The Hollywood Reporter she is working on a second draft of the script and gave a hint about the plot, saying 'we have a lot of fun with the idea of what happens when a small person encounters a big world.'

Barbie-inspired: Keke Palmer, who was tapped to host the second annual TIME100, wore a pink halter minidress with tons of ruffles and tulle

Beaming: The Scream Queens star, 29, smiled brightly on the red carpet as she sported a wavy updo

Stylish: Palmer posed for photos with stylist Law Roach

Jennette McCurdy, who opened up about her harrowing details of child stardom in her new memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, which was released earlier this year, rocked a purple strapless blouse and voluminous black and beige skirt.

For the occasion, she wore her blonde hair in a sleek ponytail, hoop earrings and a black choker necklace.

Keke Palmer, who was tapped to host the second annual TIME100, wore a pink halter minidress with tons of ruffles and tulle.

Turning heads: British actress Lashana Lynch wore a skintight mint green gown with an open back

Fashionable: Simone Ashley, best known her breakout role in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton, wore a semi-sheer black and yellow-print blouse and matching pants
Ben Feigin, who served as executive producer on the hit sitcom Schitt's Creek, passed away Monday at the age of 47.

The Emmy Award winner died of complications due to pancreatic cancer, Deadline reported. He was instrumental in helping the show get made.

The outlet also reported he was the mastermind behind a number of the show's fascinating marketing strategies.

Tragic: Ben Feigin, who served as executive producer on the hit sitcom Schitt's Creek, passed away Monday at the age of 47

It was reportedly Feigin's idea to take the show on an international tour with LiveNation, and he helped get the Netflix documentary Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitts Creek Farewell.

He even worked to turn a town in New York into a permanent Schitt's Creek.

Feigin was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marketing: The outlet also reported he was the mastermind behind a number of the show's fascinating marketing strategies (pictured 2019)

Accolades: Throughout his career, Feigin won a number of awards including an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Producers Guild Award, all for Schitt's Creek (pictured 2018)

He helped make history with the first livestreamed event featuring both musicians and comedians.

Feigin also reunited Cheech and Chong in the film Cheech & Chong: Hey Watch This.

He is survived by his wife, Heidi, and 11-year-old daughter, Ellie.

Star-studded: Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy starred in the show which ran from 2015-2020 (pictured 2018)

Dozens of episodes: Eighty episodes of the show were made over the years, and it received numerous accolades during its run (pictured 2018)

Throughout his career, Feigin won a number of awards including an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Producers Guild Award, all for Schitt's Creek.

The seminal, late 2010s sitcom centered around a family which becomes the victim of fraud and goes from 'extremely wealthy to penniless overnight. The only asset left to them is a small, unsophisticated town: Schitt's Creek. They relocate there. Culture shock ensues,' according to the show's IMDb page.

Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Annie Murphy starred in the show which ran from 2015-2020.

Eighty episodes of the show were made over the years, and it received numerous accolades during its run.
Elizabeth Banks and Busy Philipps both opted to wear fashionable jumpsuits while attending the Reproductive Rights Gala in New York on Tuesday.

Banks, 48, showed off her toned arms at the event - held at Jazz at Lincoln Center - in a spaghetti strap look, which she paired with clear heels featuring a heart in the center.

Meanwhile Philipps, 43, looked stylish in a blue and white floral jumpsuit with long sleeves, which she paired with a silver Chanel bag.

Stylish gals: Elizabeth Banks and Busy Philipps both opted to wear fashionable jumpsuits while attending the Reproductive Rights Gala in New York on Tuesday

The gala supports the Center for Reproductive Rights, a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of law to 'advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.'

Banks wore her blonde tresses parted in the middle and styled straight for the evening.

As for glam, the Charlie's Angels star drew attention to her eyes with black eyeliner and mascara and wore pink lipstick.

Chic: They flashed their megawatt Hollywood smiles while posing for the shutterbugs at the event, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Meanwhile Busy added some extra height to her frame with pointed-toe black heels.

The Dawson's Creek beauty wore her blonde tresses parted on the side and cascading down her shoulders.

The Freaks and Geeks star highlighted her features with a hint of blush and wore red lipstick on her pout.

She's a peach: Banks, 48, showed off her toned arms in a spaghetti strap look, which she paired with clear heels featuring a heart in the center

Striking: As for glam, the Charlie's Angels star drew attention to her eyes with black eyeliner and mascara and wore pink lipstick

The ladies happily posed together, flashing their megawatt Hollywood smiles for the shutterbugs.

At one point both Banks and Phillips held up green handkerchiefs with the Spanish phrase: 'Causa Justa por la eliminacion del delito de aborto.'

The phrase is in reference to a lawsuit filed in 2020, seeking to decriminalize abortion in Colombia.

Floral vibes: Meanwhile Philipps, 43, looked stylish in a blue and white floral jumpsuit with long sleeves, which she paired with a silver Chanel bag

Beauty: The Dawson's Creek beauty wore her blonde tresses parted on the side and cascading down her shoulders

On February 21, 2022, the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled to decriminalize abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation.

The ruling made Colombia the eighth country in Latin America and the Caribbean to decriminalize abortion during early stages of pregnancy.

Prior to the ruling, abortion in Colombia was a crime with only a few exceptions, such as risk to the health of the mother.

Social issues: At one point Banks and Phillips were both seen holding up a green handkerchief with a Spanish slogan referring to a landmark abortion lawsuit in Colombia

Activist: Philipps has openly spoken out about her own abortion at age 15, and was even arrested while protesting for abortion rights outside the Supreme Court following the reversal of Roe v. Wade in June

Philipps is known for her fight in the reproductive rights sphere. She has openly spoken out about her own abortion at age 15, and was even arrested while protesting for abortion rights outside the Supreme Court following the reversal of Roe v. Wade in June.

Meanwhile Banks stars in the upcoming movie 'Call Jane' where she plays a woman seeking an underground abortion in the 1960s.

The film - directed by Phyllis Nagy - is set to premiere on October 28.
Chris Hemsworth showed off the fruits of his labour on Monday when he stripped down his tight wetsuit to reveal his ripped physique and wax up his surfboard in Byron Bay.

The hunky actor, 39, put his iconic bulging biceps to use as he unloaded his truck and prepped his board for a surf on the overcast day.

Barefoot in the parking lot, the Thor star peeled his wetsuit down to his lean hips as he bent over his aqua board and slathered it in wax.

Chris Hemsworth showed off the fruits of his labour on Monday when he stripped down his tight wetsuit to reveal his ripped physique and wax up his surfboard in Byron Bay

Once he was finished, he and his friend unpacked the rest of the truck bed and headed down to the shoreline.

He had to squint out at the water as he strolled along the sand past the lifeguard station.

At one point, he stopped to pull his wetsuit back up to guard against the chill before tucking his board back under his arm and continuing on into the water.

The hunky actor, 39, put his iconic bulging biceps to use as he unloaded his truck and prepped his board for a surf on the overcast day

Barefoot in the parking lot, the Thor star peeled his wetsuit down to his lean hips as he bent over his aqua board and slathered it in wax

His put his muscular back muscles and huge arms on display

He walked along the shore with his mate as they seemingly struggled to find any good surf.

Chris seemed disappointed at one stage as he took in the lack of waves on offer, but didn't give up.

He looked relieved to be spending some time with friends back in the water after wrapping up four months of hard work filming Mad Max: Furiosa.

Chris made sure he was sun smart by rubbing zinc all over his body and face

He used his superhero strength to unpack boards and items out of his truck

The actor had a look of concentration on his face as he prepped for his day out on the waves

The Hollywood star revealed his singlet top tan lines during the day out

Once he was finished, he and his friend unpacked the rest of the truck bed and headed down to the shoreline

Chris is regularly seen going for a morning surf in his hometown in Byron Bay

The sighting comes after Chris' plans to build a second home on a massive 35-hectare site in Byron Bay were approved.

He and wife Elsa Pataky were given the green light in August to build a 'celebrity guesthouse' next to their own $30million mansion.

Chris bought the land for $4.25million in 2019 and proposed $4.4million worth of works, bringing the finished property to $8.6million, reported the Daily Telegraph.

The actor warmed up for the waves by going for a jog on the beach

He was seen surveying the water for the perfect wave

Detailed plans show the home will have two dwellings with a total of seven bedrooms.

The primary mini-mansion will include five bedrooms while the second home will have two, each with its own ensuite bathroom.

Chris and Elsa live in their $30million mega mansion in Byron Bay with their daughter India Rose, ten, and their twin eight-year-old boys Sasha and Tristan.

At one point, he stopped to pull his wetsuit back up to guard against the chill before tucking his board back under his arm and continuing on into the water

Chris seemed disappointed as he took in the lack of waves on offer, but didn't give up

The star keeps fit by going for daily surfs and working out with his personal trainer
Charlize Theron head all eyes on her as she rolled up to the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood ahead of her appearance on Tuesday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The Academy Award-winner, 47, strutted her stuff in a sexy blue vinyl pencil skirt and a pair of black patent heels that highlighted her toned legs.

Theron has been busy promoting her latest film The School For Good And Evil, which premiered on Netflix on October 19.

Head turner: Charlize Theron head all eyes on her as she rolled up the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood ahead of her appearance on Tuesday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Academy Award-winner, 47, strutted her stuff in a sexy blue vinyl pencil skirt and a pair of black patent heels that highlighted her toned legs

The Monster actress styled her vinyl skirt with an oversized royal blue sweater with zipper detailing up the sides and on the sleeves.

She kept the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and tucked the front portion of the sweater into her waistband.

Theron's cropped brunette locks was tucked behind her ears and she kept her gaze hidden behind a pair of cateye shades.

The mother-of-two opted for a soft glam look with a radiant complexion and glossy pink lip.

Promo mode: Theron has been busy promoting her latest film The School For Good And Evil, which premiered on Netflix on October 19

Cozy: The Monster actress styled her vinyl skirt with an oversized royal blue sweater with zipper detailing up the sides and on the sleeves

As she strolled towards the theater's entrance, Theron was greeted by fans eager to get her autograph or snap a picture.

In The School For Good And Evil, Theron and Scandal star Kerry Washington are responsible for shaping a new generation of heroes and villains.

In the adaptation of Soman Chainani's popular book series of the same name, Theron portrays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil while Washington, 45, plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good.

The book is the first in a six-part saga released by Chainani, and was an instant New York Times bestseller when it was published in 2013.

Chic: Theron's cropped brunette locks was tucked behind her ears and she kept her gaze hidden behind a pair of cateye shades

An inside look: Theron shared a pair of behind-the-scenes images that had been taken while she was getting ready for her appearance to her Instagram account and Story on Tuesday

Appreciative: The performer wrote that she 'had the best time' while appearing on the show

The series has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 30 languages, with the final book in the series  named 'The School of Good and Evil: One True King'  was released by HarperCollins in 2020.

To celebrate the film's release, Theron and Washington reunited to film a fun Instagram video.

Washington was wearing a violet top with her curly hair put up in the video, as she shifted the camera between her and Theron, donning a white top under a grey pinstriped suit coat.

Headmistresses:In The School For Good And Evil, Theron and Scandal star Kerry Washington are responsible for shaping a new generation of heroes and villains

Evil: In the adaptation of Soman Chainani's popular book series of the same name, Theron portrays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil while Washington, 45, plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good

'Theres no GOOD without EVIL. And theres no Dovey without Lesso,' she captioned the post along with #TheSchoolForGoodAndEvil hashtag.

'When you see me, you see her,' Washington began, before turning the camera briefly to Theron.

'When you see her, you see me, b***h. And without me, there's no her, and without her, there's no me, b***h,' Washington concluded.
Ella Bleu Travolta attended Neiman Marcus' Holiday Event, which took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

The 22-year-old cut a seriously stylish figure in a monotone outfit during the function, and she appeared to be enjoying her time in front of the cameras.

The daughter of John Travolta and Kelly Preston is currently preparing for the release of a major motion picture in which she will star.

There she is: Ella Bleu Travolta attended Neiman Marcus' Holiday Event, which took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening

Travolta wore a sleek black dress that draped over much of her form during the event.

The performer stayed comfortable by draping a button-up sweater over her shoulders for the length of the function.

The songwriter also donned a stylish leather belt and a chic set of high-heeled shoes.

Her dark brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders while she posed for a few shots.

Fashionable: Travolta wore a sleek black dress that draped over much of her form during the event

Covering up: The performer stayed comfortable by draping a button-up sweater over her shoulders for the length of the function

Travolta made her acting debut in 2009's Old Dogs, which starred both her mother and father.

The performer went on to appear in 2019's The Poison Rose, which saw her father costarring alongside Morgan Freeman.

Last year, it was announced that the actress would be making further strides in her acting career by starring in the upcoming film Get Lost.

Deadline announced that she had been added to the cast of the feature last March.

Leading lady: Last year, it was announced that the actress would be making further strides in her acting career by starring in the upcoming film Get Lost

The movie is a modern retelling of Alice In Wonderland, albeit set in Budapest.

Travolta portrays a character named Alicia/Alice, whose chance encounter with a strange girl leads her on an overnight journey.

The performer shared several photos that she had taken while working on the feature to her Instagram account last September.

In the shots, Travolta was seen spending time with several of her costars, and her father made an appearance in one of the shots.

Good times: The performer shared several photos that she had taken while working on the feature to her Instagram account last September

She also penned a short message in the post's caption to express that she greatly enjoyed working on the upcoming movie.

'This has been such an incredible experience. Budapest has been a dream and most importantly I've gotten to meet and work with so many amazing people,' she wrote.

Travolta added: 'Thank you so so much to all of the cast and crew who worked so hard on this film and brought everything to life so beautifully. Thank you to our wonderful director, Daniela, for your kindness and guidance always.'

Get Lost's release date has not been revealed to the public as of yet.
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies has defended James Corden's food tantrum.

Corden, 44, who is best known for hosting The Late Late Show in the U.S., was banned from a hip New York hot spot last week after abusing the staff.

'As a famous person...people try to f*** with you,' the 45-year-old funnyman told Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday.

Aussie comedian Jim Jefferies (pictured) defended James Corden's food tantrum on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday

During the interview Jefferies admitted that Corden did not sound like he was 'very nice' to staff, which triggered the incident.

But he went on to suggest, jokingly, that celebrities because of their fame, can fall victim to pranks from the public, especially from restaurant staff.

Sandilands agreed and made a suggestion that fast-food staff were soiling his meals with their bodily fluids.

Corden, 44 (pictured), who is best known for hosting The Late Late Show in the U.S., was banned from a hip New York hot spot last week after abusing the staff

'Are they [fast-food staff] j***ing in my burger as I go through the drive-thru?' the radio host asked.

Jim went along with Kyle's tasteless joke: 'Not in a drive thru,' the controversial comedian said, 'not enough time.'

Elsewhere in the chat Sandilands jokingly said that 'servers' - the waiters responsible for delivering food to guests at restaurants - were 'low level' and were 'allowed to be abused'.

During Jefferies interview Kyle Sandilands (pictured) made a suggestion that fast-food staff were soiling his meals with their bodily fluids: 'Are they [fast-food staff] j***ing in my burger as I go through the drive-thru?,' the radio host asked

Henderson objected to the suggestion immediately: 'Don't say that!'

It comes after Corden declared he 'didn't do anything wrong' after fiery restaurateur Keith McNally - owner of NYC hot spot Balthazar - demanded Corden apologise to his staff.

Corden apologised for being rude to two young servers after he was called out by the Balthazar owner on Instagram.
Sam Burgess has been pictured with his children Poppy, five, and Billy, three, for the first time in 10 months amid reports he was unable to see them.

The ex-Rabbitohs star, who shares the children with socialite Phoebe Burgess, was every inch the doting father on Wednesday in shared images to Instagram.

Sam, 33, was all smiles as the two kids sat on his lap surrounded by children's books in what appeared to be a restaurant.

Sam Burgess was every inch the doting father when he was pictured with his two children Poppy, five, and Billy, three, for the first time in 10 MONTHS - after bitter split from ex-wife Phoebe. All pictured

'My two little monkeys,' he wrote beside the images.

Sam and his kids were later seen walking with his brother Luke and his daughter Grace, eight.

Sam captioned the image with three red love heart emojis.

It comes amid reports Sam was unable to see the kids for over seven months according to The Daily Telegraph in July.

Sam, 33, was all smiles as the two kids sat on his lap surrounded by children's books in what appeared to be a restaurant. 'My two little monkeys,' he wrote beside the images

The former NRL player has been living in Coffs Harbour for the past few months and misses his kids dearly, the report read.

The publication claims Burgess, who 'couldn't comment on the matter for legal reasons', hasn't seen his young children since December, when he was celebrating his 33rd birthday.

Sam, who finalised his divorce from Phoebe in 2020, shared a photo to Instagram of himself bonding with their children at the time, along with his mother Julie Burgess and his brothers and their partners.

Sam and his kids were later seen walking with his brother Luke and his daughter Grace, eight. Sam captioned the image with three red love heart emojis

Sam revealed in the post's caption that the reunion was well overdue, with it being the 'first time in over two years'.

In the family photo, a casually-dressed Sam huddled around the couch and was joined by mother Julie, and brothers George, Tom and Luke Burgess.

The wives and girlfriends were also present, including Luke's partner Tori May, Tom's fiancee Tahlia Giumelli, George's wife Joanna Burgess, and their children.

Sam, who finalised his divorce from Phoebe in 2020, shared a photo to Instagram of himself bonding with their children at the time, along with his mother Julie Burgess and his brothers and their partners

'Sundays done right. First time in over two years all together. 1 great grandmother. 1 grandmother. 8 great/grandkids. 4 Broskis (sic) and 3 partners in crime. HOW GOOD,' Sam captioned the post.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Phoebe is any way responsible for Sam not seeing his children.

Sam and Pheobe, 33, were married for four years before their acrimonious split in October 2019.
Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa captured attention as he posed up a storm on the red carpet at the Time100 Next Gala in New York on Tuesday.

The actor, 30, put on a stylish display in black shorts and an oversized white shirt, which he wore underneath a fitted black corset.

He styled his edgy ensemble with a pair of chunky patent black suit shoes and a white necktie, fixed in place with a gold ring.

Looking good: Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa captured attention as he posed up a storm on the red carpet at the Time100 Next Gala in New York on Tuesday

Ncuti, who is set to take over from Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who next year, accessorised his look with an array of chunky silver rings and a brooch.

He was joined by his Sex Education co-star Simone Ashley on the red carpet, and the pair appeared in jovial spirits as they shared an embrace while posing for pictures.

Bridgerton's Simone, 27, looked effortlessly glamorous in a sheer black gown embellished with yellow floral patterns as she joined her friend at the event.

Ncuti's appearance on the red carpet came after he made his first appearance as the 14th Doctor in a teaser trailer for the upcoming 2023 series.

Edgy: The actor, 30, put on a stylish display in black shorts and an oversized white shirt, which he wore underneath a fitted black corset

At the end of Sunday's episode, a trailer teased Ncuti's much-anticipated arrival as the star was seen asking: 'Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?'

The Power of the Doctor was jam-packed with excitement as famous faces reprised their roles, Jodie Whittaker bowed out after five years as the Time Lord and David Tennant made his return.

Peter Davison returned to Doctor Who for Jodie's nostalgic last episode, which saw an array of famous faces from the sci-fi's show history reprise their roles.

The 5th Doctor was reunited with his former assistant Tegan (Janet Fielding) as he appeared to her as a hologram to help her through the trials she faced.

Stylish: Ncuti, who is set to take over from Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who next year, accessorised his look with an array of chunky silver rings and a brooch

Pals: He was joined by his Sex Education co-star Simone Ashley on the red carpet, and the pair appeared in jovial spirits as they shared an embrace while posing for pictures

David Bradley also reprised his role as the first doctor after taking over from the late David Hartnell while Colin Baker, who famously played the Doctor from 1984 to 1986, also made a cameo.

The exciting episode pulled in 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million, according to 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.

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.

New face: Ncuti's appearance on the red carpet came after he made his first appearance as Doctor Who in a teaser trailer for the upcoming 2023 series

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 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.

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.'

Back again: The Power of the Doctor was jam-packed with excitement as famous faces reprised their roles, including Peter Davison (he is pictured left in the show, right in 1981)

'Right then, Doctor Whoever-I-am-about-to-be. Tag, you're it,' before Tennant made his shock appearance.

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.

Goodbye: Following an action packed episode that saw many famous faces returning, the Time Lord regenerated into a very familiar face as Jodie bid farewell to the role

The feature length 60th celebration of the sci-fi series will also star Catherine Tate before Ncuti will take control of the Tardis.

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!'




Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) CEO Whang Joo-ho, second from left, meets with Industry and Trade Minister of the Czech Republic, Jozef Sikela, at the ministry in the Czech Republic, Sept. 19 (local time). Korea Times file
Julia Fox put on a racy display as she headed out in New York carrying a bizarre dog-shaped handbag on Tuesday evening.

The model and actress, 32, dressed to impress in a sheer white corset mini dress, flashing a black bra and thong beneath.

She showed off her toned pins by adding a pair of chunky black lace up boots and a padded pair of gloves as she carried the unusual bag with a fur tail.

Dressed to impress: Julia Fox put on a racy display as she headed out in New York carrying a bizarre dog-shaped handbag on Tuesday evening

The Uncut Gems star styled her long brunette tresses in a wet look and hid behind a large pair of black sunglasses.

The beauty made sure all eyes were on her as she posed up a storm while crossing the road.

Julia recently gave her fans some helpful tips on making stylish clothing from household items in a fun TikTok video she posted.

She turned a simple beach towel into a chic low-effort dress with just a few snips of her scissors and some carefully placed safety pins.

Eye catching: . The model and actress, 32, dressed to impress in a sheer white corset mini dress, flashing a black bra and thong beneath

Posing up a storm: . She showed off her toned pins by adding a pair of chunky black lace up boots and a padded pair of gloves as she carried the unusual bag with a fur tail

The model also shared a video to the platform calling out trolls on social media who were attacking her for her former relationship with Kanye West in the wake of his recent anti-Semitic comments.

'I'm going to give you guys some end-of-the-world fashion inspo today,' Julia began her clip while wearing a white graphic T-shirt and large black bug-eyed sunglasses.

'It's no secret that towels have made their way to the runway,' she continued while turning her camera down to a blue-and-white floral print beach towel reading, 'Hawaii.'

'So today, we're going to cut up this towel and make it a dress!' she said before cutting a slim slit about two-thirds of the way down the towel, where her head could poke out.

Puppy love: The Uncut Gems star styled her long brunette tresses in a wet look and hid behind a large pair of black sunglasses

Chic: The beauty made sure all eyes were on her as she posed up a storm while crossing the road

Incredible: Julia hid behind a large pair of black sunglasses as she placed her hand on her slim waist for photos

Julia was more sombre in a short follow-up clip posted on Tuesday morning.

She filmed herself at the bottom of the screen while including a screen recording from TikTok of a user who had been trolling her over her former relationship with Kanye West, 45.

'So, I have this theory that people that preach about being empaths and loving and all that bulls***, that they're actually just really s****y f***ing people and they just try to project that image because they're insecure,' she said while scrolling through a list of comments.

One user, whose name she did a half-hearted job of censoring, posting several comments making fun of her for her association with Kanye.

'Are you the girl that was with Kayne? or am I wrong? I don't know who you are [sic,' read one comment, seemingly unprompted. 'No one knew who you were until Kayne [sic],' she continued, while another comment read, 'I can see why Kayne left [sic].'

Two-faced: Julia was more sombre in a short follow-up clip posted on Tuesday morning as she opined that people who describe themselves as 'empaths are hypocrites

Julia also showed the user's home page to reveal that she described herself as an 'empath' in the comments.

Julia and Kanye were first seen together at the end of December 2021 when they met up at New Year's Eve party in Miami, before they enjoyed a dinner date at Carbone in New York City shortly afterward.

Julia and Kanye were quickly inseparable, and he bought her a new closet of high-fashion clothing to suit his tastes while she made several eye-catching appearances with him.

But just over a month later, the rapper was making regular calls on social media to reunited with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, and the two called it off in February of this year.

Although Julia didn't mention it, Kanye has been engulfed in scandal in recent weeks.

After months of harassing his ex-wife Kim and her former boyfriend Pete Davidson, the rapper set off controversy by wearing a 'White Lives Matter' shirt at his fashion show for Paris Fashion Week.

More recently, the hitmaker made multiple anti-Semitic comments that got him suspended from Instagram and Twitter.

On Tuesday, Adidas said it was terminating its contracting with West after he doubled down on his comments and claimed that Adidas would never drop him over his statements.

Other fashion brands that have collaborated with the rapper, who has been open about suffering from bipolar disorder in the past, also followed suit to cut ties.

Gap, which ended its collaboration with West in September, announced on Tuesday that it would remove all Yeezy Gap products from its stores, and Balenciaga, which designed a number of striking outfits for West and Kim Kardashian in recent years, also ended its relationship with him.
They've never been a couple that shies away from the spotlight.

And Machine Gun Kelly and fiancee Megan Fox ensured all eyes would be on her at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Tuesday.

The pair made for a picture perfect couple as they strutted their stuff at the event before heading out for dinner at Carbone.

Turning heads: Machine Gun Kelly and fiancee Megan Fox ensured all eyes would be on her at the Time100 Next Gala in New York City on Tuesday

MGK - real name Colson Baker - cut an edgy figure in a barely-there black latex outfit, consisting of a shrug and corset with no bodice attached.

The 32-year-old rapper teamed the look with leather trousers and a silver chain necklace, while displaying his extensive ink collection across his chest and torso.

He wore his long platinum blond hair styled partially in a topknot while leaving the rest loose.

Working it: The pair made for a picture perfect couple as they strutted their stuff at the event before heading out for dinner at Carbone

Bold: MGK - real name Colson Baker - cut an edgy figure in a barely-there black latex outfit, consisting of a shrug and corset with no bodice attached

Tatt's your lot: The 32-year-old rapper teamed the look with leather trousers and a silver chain necklace, while displaying his extensive ink collection across his chest and torso

Blond ambition: Machine Gun Kelly wore his long platinum blond hair styled partially in a topknot while leaving the rest loose

By his side was Megan, 36, who looked just like cartoon siren Jessica Rabbit with her ravishing red locks.

As the power couple arrived to the star-studded event, which brings together notable figures across a range of industries, the Jennifer's Body star debuted fiery cooper locks while rocking a figure-hugging gold gown with a dramatic slit.

The mother-of-three - who sparked rumours she'd had a boob job when she unveiled a more buxom look last month - rocked maroon lipstick, dramatic smokey eyeshadow and bronzer for a sun-kissed glow for the glamorous gala.

In addition to Fox and Emo Girl hitmaker, Jeannette McCurdy, Lily Collins, Keke Palmer, Lily Collins, Law Roach, Joe Alwyn and more celebrities were all in attendance.

Seeing double: By his side was Megan, 36, who looked just like cartoon siren Jessica Rabbit (right) with her ravishing red locks

Gorgeous: The Jennifer's Body star debuted fiery cooper locks while rocking a figure-hugging gold gown with a dramatic slit

Stunning: The mother-of-three - who sparked rumours she'd had a boob job when she unveiled a more buxom look last month - rocked a glamorous makeup look for the gala

The Midnight in the Switchgrass castmates met in March 2020 on the set of the movie, and soon began a whirlwind romance.

They famously drank each other's blood after getting engaged on January 11 at the Ritz-Carlton's Spa Botanico in Puerto Rico.

Megan legally separated from the father of her three children - 90210 alum Brian Austin Green - in November 2019 and their divorce was finalized on February 8.

Meanwhile, MGK co-parents his 13-year-old daughter Casie with his ex Emma Cannon.
Natalie Imbruglia went makeup free when she arrived at Sydney airport on Wednesday.

The age-defying Australian performer, 47, gave a big thumbs up to onlookers as she made her way through the crowded terminal in a pair of tinted sunglasses.

Carrying a water bottle in one hand, the London based beauty looked fresh and happy after her flight, as she wore a military style khaki jacket over a floral dress.

Natalie Imbruglia (pictured) went makeup free when she arrived at Sydney airport on Wednesday. Carrying a water bottle in one hand, the London based beauty wore a military style khaki jacket over a floral dress

She teamed the casual look with a pair of retro white lace-up sand shoes.

Natalie wore her long dark hair out, and styled it with a part on the side.

The 'Torn' star accessorised with a number of beach-style necklaces, and a double set of loop earrings on each ear. She also wore a set of rings on her right hand.

Known for her youthful beauty, the popular performer carried a designer bag over her right shoulder and another larger brown bag over her left shoulder.

The age-defying Australian performer, 47, gave a big thumbs up to onlookers as she made her way through the crowded terminal in a pair of tinted sunglasses after touching down

She teamed the casual look with a pair of retro white lace-up sand shoes

The pop star first rose to fame after selling more than four million copies worldwide with her 1997 debut single Torn.

Natalie has always been known for her youthful visage, and in 2014 revealed the secret behind her amazing complexion.

'Sleep is probably the best thing,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Natalie wore her long dark hair out, and styled it with part on the side

'I go on lots of little detox holidays and do take care of myself, and then I eat what I want and have a drink, so I just enjoy life,' she added.

The former X Factor judge also thanked her parents for her fantastic complexion.

'It all down to genes. My dad's Italian, my mum's gorgeous, I think a lot of it's that. I mean I do take care of myself, not as much as some people have,' Natalie stated.

The brunette was also quick to point out at the time that she definitely hadn't had any help from injections.

'I don't think there's any Botox going on there!' Natalie exclaimed.

The 'Torn' star accessorised with a number of beach-style necklaces, and a double set of loop earrings on each ear - she also wore a set of rings on her right hand which she teamed with a large set of bright coloured bangles
Sir Billy Connolly left fans starstruck as he made a rare appearance at a popular Glasgow restaurant during a trip to his native Scotland.

The comedian, 79, who lives in Florida, paid a surprise visit to the Mediterraneo Ristorante and Champagne Bar, much to the surprise of guests.

The Italian restaurant took to Facebook on Monday to share a photograph from Sir Billy's visit as they described him as a 'Glasgow legend'.

Unexpected arrival: Sir Billy Connolly left fans starstruck as he made a surprise appearance at a popular Glasgow restaurant during a trip to his native Scotland

Sir Billy, also known as the Big Yin, kept it casual in a grey jumper and a stylish dark denim jacket as he posed outside the venue.

He sported his signature round brown glasses and his white beard as he smiled for the photograph with the excited restaurant owner.

Alongside the snap, the restaurant penned: 'Serving a Glasgow Legend! Billy Connolly at #Mediterraneo.'

Fans took to the comments section to share their excitement at the legendary funnyman, who retired from stand-up after his Parkinson's diagnosis, being seen in Glasgow.

Visiting: The Italian restaurant took to Facebook on Monday to share a photograph from Sir Billy's visit as they described him as a 'Glasgow legend'. Pictured: Billy in April 2019

One person wrote, 'a true legend. Lovely man', while another said: 'Great picture he's amazing. A legend.'

A third commented: 'Aw gutted! I was in today wished I had seen him! Met him few times over the years he's brilliant.'

One gushed, 'my favourite comedian, he tells it like it is', and another penned: 'We all love Billy, the funniest man on the planet!!'

Excited: Fans were quick to take to the comments section to share their excitement at the legendary funnyman being spotted in Glasgow

Sir Billy was visiting his native Glasgow from Florida, where he lives with his wife Pamela Stephenson, who he tied the knot with back in 1989.

The actor retired from stand-up comedy in 2018 and looked back at his 50-year career in ITV documentary My Absolute Pleasure, which was released in December.

He recently revealed that he thinks about death every day after his Parkinson's Disease diagnosis in 2013.

Married: Sir Billy was visiting his native Glasgow from Florida, where he lives with his wife Pamela Stephenson (both pictured in 2016), who he tied the knot with in 1989

The brain disorder affects people's ability to move, talk and their coordination, causing them to shake.

While Sir Billy insists he's not afraid of dying, he says he thinks about it 'a lot' after seeing people die.

In December, he told The Sun: 'I think about death a lot. Not an excessive amount. I think about it every day.

'I've seen people die and it's OK. It's not painful. You just go away. You exhale and it's gone. It's nothing to be frightened of. It's just the next step.'

Health: Sir Billy (pictured in February 2013) recently revealed that he thinks about death every day after his Parkinson's Disease diagnosis in 2013

Sir Billy went on to explain how he's unable to do things he used to enjoy, including playing musical instruments and singing.

He said: 'Parkinson's has taken a lot from me. I can't play the banjo any more. It's just a noise. I can't yodel any more  I used to like yodelling. I can't smoke cigars.

'As it goes along it's taken more and more of what I like. And it's kinda painful. I have to behave in a certain way so my children don't think I'm a dead loss. I want them to think: "He does well with what he's got".'
Heidi Klum looked like she was being taken out for a walk by her huge dog, not the other way round, in amusing snaps shared to social media on Tuesday.

The model, 49, took to Instagram to give an insight into how she and husband Tom Kaulitz walk their two large dogs - Irish wolfhound Anton and German pointer Capper.

In an array of pictures, Heidi could be seen grinning as she seemingly struggled to hold on to her two dogs' leads.

Outing: Heidi Klum looked like she was being taken out for a walk by her huge dog, not the other way round, in amusing snaps shared to social media on Tuesday

The amusing snaps made it look like her massive Irish Wolfhound was the one taking her out for a walk - not the other way around.

Heidi kept it casual in oversized cream tracksuit bottoms and a lime green hoodie, which she teamed with a pair of bright yellow trainers for the outing.

She shielded her eyes from the bright sunshine with a pair of white sunglasses and tucked her golden tresses beneath a beige fluffy bucket hat.

The German-American TV host was joined by her husband Tom, who cut a laidback figure in black trousers and a white T-shirt.

Amusing: The model, 49, took to Instagram to give an insight into how she and husband Tom Kaulitz walk their two large dogs - Irish wolfhound Anton and German pointer Capper

Dog walk: In an array of pictures, Heidi could be seen grinning as she seemingly struggled to hold on to her two dogs' leads

The pair enjoyed a picturesque walk around a lake with their two pooches, with Heidi writing in a caption alongside the post: 'Monday.'

But her fans were quick to take to the comments section to joke about how large her Irish Wolfhound Anton is, quipping that her pet resembled a 'horse'.

One joked: 'I see the dogs are taking you for a walk. Enjoy.'

Another said, 'you keep a horse in your house?!', while someone else humorously added: 'Pull your arms out of socket.'

Walkies! The amusing snaps made it look like her massive Irish Wolfhound was the one taking her out for a walk - not the other way around

All smiles: The German-American TV host was joined on the outing by her husband Tom, who cut a laidback figure in black trousers and a white T-shirt

A fourth quipped, 'you have a horse for a dog??' and another wrote: 'Those dogs are incredibly gorgeous!'

Her latest post comes after Heidi celebrated reaching 10million followers on Instagram earlier this month.

In a post to mark the milestone, she thanked all of her fans and followers by sharing a video of herself laying in bed eating cake decked out in skimpy red lingerie.

'10 Million Thank you !!!!!!! This Cake is for you, but i will eat it,' she gushed in the caption.

Family: The pair enjoyed a picturesque walk around a lake with their two pooches, with Heidi writing in a caption alongside the post: 'Monday'

'I see the dogs are taking you for a walk': Her fans were quick to take to the comments section to joke about how large her Irish Wolfhound Anton is, quipping that her pet resembled a 'horse'

The clip began with a close-up of her chocolate cake, which was decorated with multi-colored icing, as she relaxed in bed.

She had scrawled 'thank you' across the cake in icing and the video then zoomed out to reveal Heidi sitting in her racy ensemble.

Her outfit included a red robe and she fixed a red rose in one ear, with her blonde locks flowing over her shoulders and chest.

A version of Andrew Gold's 1978 hit song Thank You For Being A Friend then belted out in the background as she enjoyed eating her chocolate treat.

Milestone: Her latest post comes after Heidi celebrated reaching 10million followers on Instagram earlier this month

Heidi's impressive milestone came just nine months after she celebrated reaching nine million Instagram followers.

Back on January 20, she shared a boomerang video, where she blew a kiss towards the camera as she marked her last achievement.

'Thank you to everyone following me on Instagram. I have so much fun posting Pictures , because I know all of you are watching. This kiss is to all of you,' she gushed in the caption at the time of her previous milestone.

Prepared for the occasion, she could be seen posing in front of a make-up trailer with massive gold balloons on either side of her that spelled '9M.'
Chronicles of Narnia star Georgie Henley has revealed she secretly battled a flesh eating bug that nearly killed her and saw her narrowly avoid having her arm amputated.

The actress, 27, took to Instagram on Tuesday as she revealed she had been hiding her scars for years because she believed she'd lose out on work.

After gaining international recognition playing Lucy Pevensie in the fantasy film series The Chronicles of Narnia she went on to study English at the University of Cambridge.

Shocking: Chronicles of Narnia star Georgie Henley has revealed she secretly battled a flesh eating bug that nearly killed her and saw her narrowly avoid having her arm amputated (pictured in October)

Yet within weeks of starting her course she contracted Necrotising Fasciitis, a rare but serious bacterial infection that can happen if a wound gets infected.

The bug affects the tissue beneath the skin and surrounding muscles and organs and can be fatal, with treatment typically involving antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected area.

Discussing her secret battle with the bug, Georgie shared a black and white snap of herself as she penned: 'When I was eighteen years old and in my sixth week of university, I contracted necrotising fasciitis, a rare and punishing infection that nearly claimed my life and wrought havoc throughout my body.

'In order to prevent the amputation of my left hand and arm I received gruelling invasive surgery, and later extensive reconstructive surgery which resulted in a series of skin grafts and scars.'

Screen debut: Georgie gained international recognition playing Lucy Pevensie in the fantasy film series The Chronicles of Narnia (pictured with co-star James McAvoy)

Detailing the impact it has had on her life, Georgie continued: 'It has taken me a long time to heal both physically and mentally but I hoped that one day there would be the right time to talk about what happened. Today is a start.

'For the last nine years I have been open about my scars in my personal life, but have hidden them entirely in any professional context: wearing bandages or coverings, makeup on set and stage, long sleeves whenever I might be photographed, trousers so I could put my hand in a pocket.

'The industry I am part of often focuses on a very narrow idea of what is deemed aesthetic perfection, and I worried that my scars would prevent me from getting work.

Candid: The actress, 27, took to Instagram on Tuesday as she revealed she had been hiding her scars for years because she believed she'd lose out on work

Sweet: Georgie was immediately flooded with support by her celebrity friends

'The truth is there is no such thing as perfection, but I have still lived with the shame of feeling different, exacerbated by the expectations that came with beginning my career at a young age.'

NECROTISING FASCIITIS: THE VICIOUS FLESH-EATING BACTERIA Necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease', is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotising' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Because it is so virulent, the bacteria spreads rapidly throughout the body. Symptoms include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin, rapidly-spreading bruising, sweating, chills, fever and nausea. Organ failure and shock are also common complications. Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent death, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue. Amputation can become necessary if the disease spreads through an arm or leg. Patients may undergo skin grafts after the infection has cleared up, to help the healing process or for aesthetic reasons. There are 500 to 1,500 cases reported a year, but 20 to 25 percent of victims die. Advertisement

On learning to change her mindset, she continued: 'But my scars are not something to be ashamed of.

'They are a map of the pain my body has endured, and most importantly a reminder of my survival.

'They do not affect my capacity as an actor, and Im proud to be a person who has visible scars in this industry.

'I would like to thank Addenbrookes hospital for their exceptional care.

'I want to thank my family and friends for their enduring love and support throughout the hardest of times, particularly my parents who have weathered every storm with me no matter how devastating.

'Thank you to my agents and the people who have employed me in the last nine years, who never saw my scars as a problem and respected who I was as a person and actor.

'Thank you lastly to every person who is reading this and has supported me and my work, it truly means more than you can know.'

She concluded: 'Im sure I will talk more about my experiences in the future but today I am simply happy to feel, for the first time in a very long time, finally free.'

Georgie was immediately flooded with support by her celebrity friends.

Emma Corrin penned: 'Love you geo '; while Honey Ross commented: 'I love you more than words can say.

'The wisest, kindest, most phenomenally powerful woman. Best friend for life. And then some.'

Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie wrote: 'Love you Georgie! ' as model Charli Howard wrote: 'You are gorgeous inside and out '

Like Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame, Georgie made her screen debut aged nine in a hugely successful childrens film.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2010 ahead of the release of the final film in the franchise, Georgie explained that she was wary of using social media.

Fantastic four: Georgie made her screen debut aged nine alongside Anna Popplewell as Susan, William Moseley as Peter, and Skandar Keynes as Edmund

She revealed: I envy my friends because Facebook is fun and you get to see whats happening in other peoples lives. Emma lets me use hers so I can sometimes stalk, but not in a creepy way!

You know, maybe Im lucky because five or six years from now, when we are all auditioning for jobs, employers will find all these pictures of them drunk, and there wont be any of me!

Since her turn in Narnia, Georgie appeared in a series of movies and most recently starred alongside Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael in The Spanish Princess TV series.
Johnny Ruffo has told of his girlfriend Tahnee Sims' devotion as the former Home and Away star battles brain cancer.

The courageous 34-year-old actor and performer has revealed he would be 'lost' without Tahnee.

'She's just everything,' Johnny said in an interview with Now to Love on Tuesday.

Home and Away's Johnny Ruffo paid tribute to his girlfriend Tahnee on Tuesday as he continues his brain cancer battle. Pictured: Johnny Ruffo and Tahnee Sims

Johnny, who was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2017, revealed his prognosis was terminal earlier this year.

In his chat with the publication, the popular star paid tribute to his girlfriend, who he has been with since 2015.

'She comes home from work and she's probably so tired and just wants to have a break, and then she has me,' he said in the interview.

'She wants to try and make me smile... I don't know how she does it. I really don't.'

The courageous 34-year-old actor and performer revealed to Now To Love on Tuesday he would be 'lost' without Tahnne. Last month Johnny released a memoir, titled No Finish Line, which delves into his life and current cancer battle (pictured)

Elsewhere in the chat Johnny detailed how Tahnee helped him get through the challenges of chemotherapy - used to fight his disease - which can be hard to endure for patients.

The brave X-Factor star said Tahnee was always there by his side to help motivate him when things got tough to handle.

The gifted performer has made no secret of the level of support Tahnee has given him, even crediting her for 'saving' his life in a WHO magazine interview.

Johnny won fans during his appearance as a finalist on The X-Factor Australia in 2011

Johnny and Tahnee first met at a dance studio back in 2015, and they've been together since.

Last month Johnny released a memoir, titled No Finish Line, which delves into his life and current cancer battle.

Johnny previously told Who magazine that he loves his partner Tahnee 'more than anything' and it breaks his heart to see the pain she is going through as his condition deteriorates.
Zac Efron has shocked fans after he debuted his new extremely beefed-up physique to play a wrestler on the set of The Iron Claw on Monday.

The 35-year-old actor displayed a completely unrecognisable look, as he prepares to play Kevin Von Erich in the film.

The star, who has always been known for his hunky frame, has gained a substantial amount of muscle to recreate Von Erich's frame, while sporting a deep tan.

Woah! Zac Efron has shocked fans after he debuted his new extremely beefed-up physique to play a wrestler on the set of The Iron Claw on Monday

Zac, who recently addressed speculation over his changing face, also donned a bowl style wig as he strolled around the set on his phone, clad in nothing but a blue towel.

But fans were divided on the new look, with some praising the actor for trying to accurately recreate the wrestler's body, while others worried he had gone too far.

One said: 'Zac Efron came out here looking like sexy Ned Flanders'.

Unrecognisable! The star, who has always been known for his hunky frame, has gained a substantial amount of muscle to recreate Von Erich's frame, while sporting a deep tan

Twins: The star was the spitting image of the real Kevin Von Erich (pictured in the ring in the 1980s)

Change: He looked a far cry from his old appearance in the new photos (pictured at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2018)

While another aghast Twitter user wrote: 'This cant be my Zac efron'.

A third echoed: 'What is going on with Zac Efron?'

And a fourth claimed: 'Wow I never thought wed lose zac efron to excessive plastic surgery'.

A fifth agreed, tweeting: 'Oh my god Zac Efron you destroyed your face'.

And a sixth quipped: 'The David Hasselhoffification of Zac Efron'.

Concerns: But fans were divided on the new look, with some praising the actor for trying to accurately recreate the wrestler's body, while others worried he had gone too far

Hilarious: One quipped that the actor looked the spitting image of a 'sexy Ned Flanders', a character from The Simpsons (pictured)

Others were surprised at how well the actor had transformed into the famous wrestler and took to Twitter to praise him.

One said: 'That's Zac Efron? Woah! He's unrecognizeable!'

While another tweeted: 'I actually was cool with Zac Efron playing Kevin Von Erich in the new A24 films bio pic. From this shot it looks like Zac was the right choice from a physical aspect. Now just gotta hear his Texas drawl.'

A third praised: 'Zac Efrons body transformation is INSANE'.

And a fourth declared: 'Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich is sending me to the goddamn moon'.

Pleasantly surprised: Others were surprised at how well the actor had transformed into the famous wrestler and took to Twitter to praise him

It's not the first time the High School Musical star has been at the centre of a hot debate about his looks.

Zac previously was accused of having plastic surgery after he displayed a massive transformation in his face last year.

But the actor denied the claims and instead confessed he change in looks were caused by a nasty accident at home.

In an interview with Men's Health Magazine, he recalled how he slipped on a pair of socks while running at his home causing him to smash his chin into a granite fountain.

The star explained that he lost consciousness only to wake up with 'his chin bone hanging off his face.'

Causing a stir: Fans noticed Zac's jaw looked quite different in a 2021 Earth Day video (pictured right) than from his High School Musical days (pictured left in 2006) and wondered if he went under the knife

Zac said that when he was injured, the masseter muscles on the inside of his face and jaw then 'compensated' for his injury causing them to grow in size - hence his remarkable transformation.

He says this explains why he looked so different at the time. 'The masseters just grew. They just got really, really big.'

The High School Musical star also claimed to not know that he was a huge talking point on social media and had in fact gone viral for his different-looking jaw, until his mother called to ask if he had gone under the knife.

'If I valued what other people thought of me to the extent that they may think I do,' he told the magazine, 'I definitely wouldn't be able to do this work.'

Truth revealed: Zac explained that a fall at home is what left his jaw looking swollen during this 2021 video and shut down plastic surgery rumors once and for all

In April 2021, Zac started trending on Twitter after he was seen on a video for Earth Day! The Musical displaying a more prominent square chin and heavier jawline.

In the clip, Zac eagerly calls Bill Nye a 'genius' after hearing that he and Justin Bieber were working on a fictional Earth Day musical.

It lead fans to speculate that the handsome star had sought plastic surgery.

Zac also spoke about what he did to achieve his sculpted physique for the Baywatch film in 2017.

He said: 'That Baywatch look, I dont know if thats really attainable. Theres just too little water in the skin. Like, its fake; it looks CGId.

'That required Lasix, powerful diuretics, to achieve. So I dont need to do that. I much prefer to have an extra, you know, 2 to 3 percent body fat.'
Chloe Burrows has been seen for the first time since her split from her boyfriend Toby Aromolaran, as she enjoyed a night out in London on Tuesday.

After MailOnline exclusively revealed that the pair had ended their relationship earlier this month, the newly-single reality star showed her ex what she was missing as she headed out for the evening with a female pal.

Showing off her impressive pins, Chloe slipped into a perilously high-split black mini dress teamed with chunky knee-high boots as she enjoyed a fun night out.

Out and about: Chloe Burrows has been seen for the first time since her split from her boyfriend Toby Aromolaran , as she enjoyed a night out in London on Tuesday

As she prepared to head out to the Soap And Glory party, Chloe showed off her incredible figure in the form-fitting black polo neck mini-dress .

The Love Island star added an edgy twist with chunky leather boots and a matching coat as she strolled through London to make her way to the bash.

Earlier this month, MailOnline revealed that Chloe and Toby had split after a year-long romance, with the star jetting to Morocco to escape her breakup woes with former co-star Millie Court, 25, who has been supporting her during the tough time.

Jovial: The newly-single reality star showed her ex what she was missing as she headed out for the evening with a female pal

It's over! Earlier this month MailOnline exclusively revealed that Chloe and Toby had ended their year-long romance

Stylish: As she prepared to head out to the Soap And Glory party, Chloe showed off her incredible figure in the form-fitting black polo neck mini dress

Bold: The Love Island star added an edgy twist with chunky leather boots and a matching coat as she strolled through London to make her way to the bash

They're over! Earlier this month, MailOnline revealed that Chloe and Toby had split after a year-long romance, with the star jetting to Morocco to escape her breakup woes

A source told MailOnline that Chloe and Toby are still living at their Essex home but are making arrangements to go their separate ways after a difficult few months of trying to make the relationship work.

'Chloe and Toby put everything into their relationship  but it just hasn't worked out between them', a source explained.

'There's been no wrongdoing, they have simply grown apart, and over time realised it's better for them both to split.

'Naturally, Chloe has found the breakup difficult but being able to spend time abroad with Millie has given her the space she needed to start moving on.'

Tough time: A source told MailOnline that Chloe and Toby are still living at their Essex home but are making arrangements to go their separate ways

Done! The pair's split came after they endured a difficult few months trying to make their relationship work

Insider: 'Chloe and Toby put everything into their relationship  but it just hasn't worked out between them', a source explained

Revelation: The source continued: 'There's been no wrongdoing, they have simply grown apart, and over time realised it's better for them both to split'

Ahead of the news of her split from Toby, Chloe tweeted: 'You know I f***ed off for a week to Morocco with Millie yo all I had to say was I want to go and she did everything. Millie Court deserves the f***ing world.'

Writing on Instagram, she added: 'Took a break and f***ed off to Morocco and want to award Millie Court the award for being the best f***ing friend I've ever had.'

Days later, Toby addressed his split from Chloe for the first time on TikTok, as he referenced the social media platform BeReal in the short video and said: 'I don't need BeReal - I need to BeSingle'.

Healing: The insider continued: 'Naturally, Chloe has found the breakup difficult but being able to spend time abroad with Millie has given her the space she needed to start moving on'

Breaking silence: Days later, Toby addressed his split from Chloe for the first time on TikTok, as he referenced the social media platform BeReal

Woes: The former Islander last shared a photo on Instagram with Toby in August as the pair watched Coldplay together at Wembley, saying it was one of the best nights of her life

Former couple: Chloe and Toby met on Love Island last year and came runners-up in the competition to Millie and Liam Reardon, who split in July

The former Islander last shared a photo on Instagram with Toby in August as the pair watched Coldplay together at Wembley, saying it was one of the best nights of her life.

Toby dedicated a post to Chloe on her birthday last month, captioning a selfie of them on holiday: '27 years around the sun. Happy Birthday to the second pea in my pod.'

Chloe and Toby met on Love Island last year and came runners-up in the competition to Millie and Liam Reardon, who split in July.

They moved into a 1million Essex mansion last November and celebrated the milestone by toasting with champagne.
Roxy Jacenko has given fans a glimpse inside her stunning Vaucluse mansion.

The Sydney entrepreneur threw open the doors to the palatial property - which features marble accents, fine furnishings and an eye-watering Hermes Birkin collection valued at over $1million - during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday evening.

Roxy, 42, purchased the eastern suburbs property for a cool $6.6million four years ago, and has painstakingly renovated it to her taste.

Roxy Jacenko shared a glimpse inside her stunning $6.6M Vaucluse mansion on Wednesday. The palatial property features marble accents, fine furnishings and an eye-watering Hermes Birkin collection valued at over $1million

Roxy began the tour by showing off her marble-walled entrance which features cotemporary furniture, fittings and abstract art.

The Sweaty Betty star then showed off the incredible master bedroom she shares with husband Oliver Curtis, which features bi-fold doors leading to a private outdoor area with a luxe sofa adorned with cushions.

Next up, Roxy's showcased her master bathroom, a minimalist's dream of grey marble with a statement his and hers shower cubicle.

Roxy began the tour by showing off her marble-walled entrance which features cotemporary furniture and fittings

Roxy showed off another view of the entrance, with the business mogul noting to her adoring fans: 'everything is for sale for the right price!'

The Sweaty Betty star then showed off the incredible master bedroom she shares with husband Oliver Curtis, which features bi-fold doors leading to a private outdoor area with a luxe sofa adorned with cushions

Next up, Roxy's showcased her master bathroom, a minimalist's dream of grey marble with a statement his and hers shower cubicle

Elsewhere, Roxy's living room featured a black marble fireplace and dark floorboards, continuing the mansion's monochromatic palette.

Meanwhile, her study featured a large desk adorned with a designer lamp and chairs surrounded by objet d'art.

Roxy's exercise in minimalism continues with an all-white kitchen which features a white-marble countertop alongside state of the art appliances.

Elsewhere, Roxy's living room featured a black marble fireplace and dark floorboards, continuing the mansion's monochromatic palette

Meanwhile, her study featured a large desk adorned with a designer lamp and chairs surrounded by objet d'art

Roxy's exercise in minimalism continues with an all-white kitchen which features a white-marble countertop alongside state of the art appliances

Finally, the star showcased her fully stocked cellar with a number of pricey wines

Finally, the star showcased her fully stocked cellar with a number of pricey wines.

But they pale in comparison to her glam room filled with her extensive collection of Hermes Birkins.

The highly sought after leatherwear was once valued at more than $1million, with the handbags considered an investment among collectors.

The highly sought after leatherwear was once valued at more than $1million, with the handbags considered an investment among collectors. Pictured: Roxy's Hermes Birkin collection




By Kim Hyun-bin







The Busan World Expo 2030 Bidding Committee has put forward carbon neutrality as a differentiating point to win more support to host the event in Korea. Carbon neutrality is a topic that SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, who serves as the co-chair of the Busan Expo bid committee, has been continuously pushing, according to industry officials, Wednesday.







The government and the city of Busan officially submitted its proposal on Sept. 7 to the secretariat of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris for hosting the World Expo 2030 with the theme of "a great transformation of the world, a voyage to a better world." The plan included hosting the Expo to be carbon-neutral as one of the differentiating strategies to beat Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its main competitor.



SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won





The bid committee plans not only to operate the Expo itself without carbon emissions, utilizing hydrogen and electric vehicles (EV) and supplying eco-friendly energy, but also to make carbon neutrality a major goal of the Expo to share and seek solutions together on the global stage.







Chey has been presenting carbon neutrality as a theme that will be highlighted at the Expo since the beginning of his tenure as the co-chair of the bid committee. The reason he chose carbon neutrality is to use the Busan Expo as a platform for solving common problems facing all of humanity.







The chairman attended the Korea Night event held last month in New York to which U.N. ambassadors were invited. "The Expo in Busan is not intended to be a mere economic reward, but to become a platform that responds to the common tasks facing humanity," he said at the event.







Carbon neutrality is also a goal that Chey has been pushing for since before the Expo bid, serving as the chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which has been holding the "Carbon Neutrality and Energy Policy Seminar" every other month since April, and has been striving to lay the groundwork to spread carbon neutrality awareness, including policy support and incentive proposals.







He has also made carbon neutrality a major management task at the SK Group level, and also stated that SK will contribute to the reduction of 200 million tons, which is 1 percent of the global carbon reduction target, by 2030.







Busan also declared itself a carbon-neutral city and is striving to secure differentiated competitiveness, with the goal of becoming a "leading city for carbon neutrality by 2050."







"If the purpose and sincerity of the Expo in Busan to create a forum for discussing carbon neutrality with the world are conveyed, it will be a clear differentiating factor to attract people," an industry official said.


Gerard Butler continued to pack on the PDA with girlfriend Morgan Brown during their romantic getaway to Italy on Wednesday.

The actor, 52, looked loved-up as the couple kissed while taking a break from sightseeing in Rome.

The pair couldn't keep their hands off one another as they cuddled while strolling the streets of the city.

Loved-up: Gerard Butler continued to pack on the PDA with girlfriend Morgan Brown during their romantic getaway to Italy on Wednesday

Gerard cut a smart figure in a beige open shirt which he wore over a grey T-shirt and maroon trousers.

The P.S I Love You actor wondered around the city in a pair of tan shoes and sunglasses while styling his dark hair in a messy do.

Morgan, 50, looked effortlessly chic in a floral plunging maxi dress which boasted stylish puff sleeves.

She teamed the garment with towering beige knee high boots and accessorised with tinted glasses and large drop cross earrings.

Cosying up: The actor, 52, looked loved up as the couple kissed in Rome while in a pub taking a break from sightseeing

The couple were seen earlier this week locking lips in Florence as they cosied up in the packed streets.

Butler and Brown have been on and off since 2014, but their relationship seems to currently be going quite well.

The brunette beauty used to be a model when she was younger but soon switched over to the real-estate business.

The couple, for the most part, have kept their relationship private.

Romantic: The couple, who first started dating in 2014 but broke up a few times and rekindled, couldn't keep their hands off each other as they strolled the streets of the city

The Scottish star has had a few other relationships in the past, but had a difficult time settling down in the past due to a very busy schedule.

'I have no personal life,' the Phantom Of The Opera actor explained to People back in 2017.

The pair started dating in 2014 but broke up in 2016, only to get back together the following summer.

They split again during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, but were seen periodically together as recently as October 2021, in Puerto Rico, around the time he was wrapping on the shoot for The Plane.

Gerard has been open and honest in sharing his desire to start a family, which includes being in a serious 'relationship' with 'one or two kids.'

'It's about time,' he confessed to People on October 2017.
Grammy-nominated actress Selma Blair and her service dog Scout were surrounded by ladies as they headed inside Skylight Books in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood on Tuesday.

The Michigan-born 50-year-old was scheduled to host a 3:30pm reading/signing for her memoir Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, which was released back on May 24.

Selma was wearing a b&w-patterned blouse, black slacks, and pink peep-toe heels for the ticketed event.

All smiles: Grammy-nominated actress Selma Blair and her service dog Scout were surrounded by ladies as they headed inside Skylight Books in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood on Tuesday

Blair (born Beitner) appeared to be in great spirits following her October 17 exit from Dancing with the Stars.

'Oh the places I've been! But I never considered I would be in a dance rehearsal space for a live @disneyplus ballroom dance show,' the Far More actress - who boasts 3.5M social media followers - wrote on Instagram that same day.

'And I loved every single second of it. Having an "atta girl" from so many people in my life and on here and in the @dancingwiththestars world has changed me for the better. And always to @sashafarber1 for being my first and only partner. All love.'

Selma's dance partner Sasha Farber replied in the comments: '@selmablair thank you so much, you have inspired me for a lifetime.'

Literary debut: The Michigan-born 50-year-old was scheduled to host a 3:30pm reading/signing for her memoir Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, which was released back on May 24

Signing autographs: Selma was wearing a b&w-patterned blouse, black slacks, and pink peep-toe heels for the ticketed event

Cute silver heart locket! Blair (born Beitner) appeared to be in great spirits following her October 17 exit from Dancing with the Stars

The Far More actress wrote on Instagram that same day: 'Oh the places I've been! But I never considered I would be in a dance rehearsal space for a live @disneyplus ballroom dance show. And I loved every single second of it. Having an "atta girl" from so many people in my life and on here and in the @dancingwiththestars world has changed me for the better'

Blair's (born Beitner) Instagram post received supportive comments from Michelle Pfeiffer, Linda Evangelista, Cary Elwes, Vinny Guadagnino, Shangela, Britt Stewart, Peta Murgatroyd, Traci Lords, and CariDee English.

The platinum-blonde beauty - who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October 2018 - previously explained that she had pushed her body to its limit while competing on the 31st season of the Disney+ dance competition.

'I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can't. I can't. I can't go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could,' Selma explained the Moscow-born 38-year-old.

'With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit. It's way too much for the safety of my bones. There's just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want.'

Bowing out: Selma - who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October 2018 - previously explained that she had pushed her body to its limit while competing on the 31st season of the Disney+ dance competition

Blair explained the Moscow-born 38-year-old: 'I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can't. I can't. I can't go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could. With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit. It's way too much for the safety of my bones. There's just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want'

Inspiring performance: The platinum-blonde beauty and Sasha went on to receive honorary 10s across the board from the judges for their waltz to Jackie DeShannon's 1965 song What the World Needs Now Is Love

Blair and Farber went on to receive honorary 10s across the board from the judges for their waltz to Jackie DeShannon's 1965 song What the World Needs Now Is Love.

Cheering the Cruel Intentions alum on from the audience during DWTS were her 11-year-old son Arthur Saint and her Topanga-based ex-partner Jason Bleick, whom she split from in 2012.

'So proud of Selma for the beautiful performance last night on DWTS,' the 52-year-old 'brand formist' wrote on September 20. 'And showing the world what you can accomplish by being strong never giving up. We love you mama and can't wait to see the next show.'

Selma has come a long way since receiving chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago in 2019, which was all captured for her Discovery+ doc Introducing, Selma Blair.

'We love you mama!' Cheering Selma on from the audience during DWTS were her 11-year-old son Arthur Saint (R) and her Topanga-based ex-partner Jason Bleick (L), whom she split from in 2012
Sam Faiers put on a loved-up display with her partner Paul Knightley as they headed out for an afternoon stroll with their infant son Edward on Wednesday.

The former TOWIE star, 31, looked as smitten as ever as she walked hand-in-hand with property developer Paul, 30, in London, Chelsea, after leaving the Corinthia Hotel.

She appeared to be in excellent spirits as she flashed a huge grin and laughed with her partner, who pushed her son Edward, five months, in a pram.

Sweet: Sam Faiers put on a loved-up display with her partner Paul Knightley as they headed out for an afternoon stroll with their infant son Edward on Wednesday

It comes after Sam risked an awkward run-in with Ferne McCann at Monday's Pride Of Britain Awards after Ferne allegedly called her a 'fat c***' in leaked voice notes.

During her afternoon stroll, Sam looked effortlessly chic in navy skinny jeans and a white vest top, which she wore underneath a beige jacket.

She kept comfortable in a pair of sand coloured slip-on shoes and shielded her eyes from the sunshine with black cat-eye sunglasses.

The TV personality accessorised with a dainty necklace and swept her brunette tresses back into a tight ponytail.

Tension: In voice notes leaked earlier this month, Ferne McCann allegedly branded Sam a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch'

Holding hands: The former TOWIE star, 31, looked as smitten as ever as she walked hand-in-hand with property developer Paul, 30, in London, Chelsea, after leaving the Corinthia Hotel

Her partner Paul - who has been with Sam since 2014 - kept it casual in beige cargo trousers and a navy hoodie, which he styled with a pair of black shoes.

He styled his silver locks in a slicked-back style and pushed his son Edward in a pram during the outing.

The couple looked happier than ever as they walked holding hands and were seen laughing and joking together.

Sam and Paul recently welcomed their third child Edward, while they also share son Paul, six, and daughter Rosie, four.

Family: She appeared to be in excellent spirits as she flashed a huge grin and laughed with her partner, who pushed her son Edward, five months, in a pram

Stylish: During her afternoon stroll, Sam looked effortlessly chic in navy skinny jeans and a white vest top, which she wore underneath a beige jacket

It comes after Sam's longtime friend Ferne allegedly branded her a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b***h' in leaked voice notes.

And the pair risked an awkward run-in at the Pride Of Britain Awards on Monday evening as they were both spotted on the red carpet.

Just last week, Ferne broke her silence after the shocking 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' on the show.

Chic: She kept comfortable in a pair of sand coloured slip-on shoes and shielded her eyes from the sunshine with black cat-eye sunglasses

Looking good: The TV personality accessorised with a dainty necklace and swept her brunette tresses back into a tight ponytail

She wrote: 'What a journey. Taking part in @sas_whodareswins was one of the most humbling and toughest things I've ever done.

'I can honestly say it's 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. It's given me the confidence to finally confront difficulties in my life, deal with them and move forward.'

She added: 'Moments will floor you, you will mess up but you've got to find that resilience & grit to pick yourself up and go again.

Doting father: Her partner Paul - who has been with Sam since 2014 - kept it casual in beige cargo trousers and a navy hoodie, which he styled with a pair of black shoes

Loving: Paul was seen collapsing the pram to put in their car as he doted on their son Edward during the outing

'Just when you think you've got it all figured out life will always throw something else up, and as the DS say, it's about how you deal with it,' she added in part of her lengthy post.

Ferne hit headlines earlier this month after the shocking 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***'.

Family: Sam and Paul recently welcomed their third child Edward, while they also share son Paul, six, and daughter Rosie, four

'Her thighs are so big and I looked really skinny today,' the message said - cutting to other clips where allegedly describing Sam, Ferne said: 'Sort of girl that she is, she's just a narcissistic b***h, 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.

'As a friend you should be supporting your friends not running to other friends and slating them.'

Falling out: Sam has been embroiled in an ongoing feud with Ferne (both pictured in 2019), after audio was leaked which allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a 'fat c***'

Awkward: Sam also risked an awkward run-in with Ferne McCann at Monday's Pride Of Britain Awards amid the drama

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 child Edward.

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 don't 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 unfollowed Ferne on Instagram amid the drama, with her sister Billie reportedly calling her former co-star to find out the situation.

Social media friends: Sam has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram following the leaked voice notes, but Ferne is still following Sam

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.

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.'

Protective: Sam's mum Suzie dismissed claims that Sam and Ferne were 'feuding' and said the past few days have been very 'hurtful' (Suzie pictured with daughters Sam and Billie)

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.

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.
She finally broke her silence over her ex Kanye West's controversial anti-Semitic statements.

And Kim Kardashian prioritized her wellbeing as she sought help from a spiritual healer on Tuesday.

The reality star, 42, was spotted visiting the healer in Beverly Hills, clad in a sporty blue jacket and black leggings.

Spiritual assistance: Kim Kardashian visited a spiritual healer in Beverly Hills on Tuesday after speaking up against her ex Kanye West's anti-Semitism controversy

She displayed her edgy side by concealing her eyes behind a massive pair of Balenciaga shades and let her platinum blonde locks tumble down freely.

A coat of flawless makeup complimented her famous complexion.

She stepped out wearing a pair of black Vans sneakers and carrying her cell phone.

It has been a tumultuous time for Kim in the wake of her ex-husband's anti-Semitism scandal.

Style icon: Even for her trip to the healer, Kim was looking stylish in a sporty blue jacket and black leggings

On Monday, Kim finally broke her silence regarding the controversy, taking to Twitter to publicly support the Jewish community and condemn any hate speech.

'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.

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.

Scandal: West has recently been vocal about anti-Semitic content and conspiracy theories on social media and media appearances

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.'

Speaking up: Kim finally addressed Kanye's scandal in a tweet publicly supporting the Jewish community and condemning any hate speech

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.

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.

Happier times: Kim pictured with Kanye in 2015

The rapper's Twitter account was later suspended.

West was asked by Piers Morgan last week if he regretted the tweet and he said, 'No - absolutely not, absolutely not ... I fought fire with fire - Im not here to get hosed down - thats a different type of freedom fighter.'

He later clarified: 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt. I feel like I cause 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 use my platform where you say, "Hurt people hurt people," and I was hurt.'

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.
Perry says he went to 600 AA meeting and did 15 rehab stints

He also delved into the importance of social support in Diane Sawyer interview

Perry claims they made out one night her husband Eddie Van Halen passed out

He says he was obsessed with her while costarring on Sydney in 1990

In his new memoir, Perry, 53, details his infatuation with Bertinelli, 62

Matthew Perry delves into some of his past romantic obsessions, including his infatuation with his one-time costar Valerie Bertinelli, in his upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing.

Perry, 53, claims in his memoir that his crush on the former child star, now 62, became so intense that he ended up making out with her one night after her then-husband Eddie Van Halen had allegedly passed out, according to Page Six. DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Bertinelli for comment.

The actor, who also delved into his odd feud with Keanu Reeves in the upcoming book, recently sat down for a forthcoming interview with Diane Sawyer in which he discussed the importance of having friends and a social safety net to combat his years-long struggle with addiction.

His idol: Matthew Perry, 53, claims he once made out with his Sydney costar Valerie Bertinelli in his upcoming memoir, according to Page Six; seen in 1990

Perry writes in his memoir that his stint as Valerie's brother on Sydney got intense because he 'fell madly in love with Valerie Bertinelli, who was clearly in a troubled marriage.'

He adds, 'My crush was crushing; not only was she way out of my league, but she was also married to one of the most famous rock stars on the planet, Eddie Van Halen.'

Perry details how intense his infatuation with the actress was, leading him to plan out a future together.

'It is important to point out here that my feelings for Valerie were real. I was completely captivated  I mean, I was obsessed with her and harbored elaborate fantasies about her leaving Eddie Van Halen and living out the rest of her days with me,' he writes.

Infatuated: Perry 'fell madly in love with Valerie' while playing her brother on the series, and he says it seemed as if her marriage was 'troubled'

At last: Perry says he and Bertinelli ended up making out one night at her house after Van Halen had passed out from drinking too much

Things finally escalated when he was invited over to Bertinelli and Van Halen's home, at which he was 'just hanging out and gazing at Valerie, trying to make her laugh.'

'When you made her laugh, you felt ten feet tall,' he gushes.

But 'Eddie had enjoyed the fruits of the vine a little too hard, one more time, and eventually he just passed out, not ten feet away from us,' Perry says, adding that, 'This was my chance!

'If you think I didnt actually have a chance in hell youd be wrong, dear reader  Valerie and I had a long, elaborate make-out session. It was happening  maybe she felt the same way I did.'

He claims Bertinelli even seemed to reciprocate his affections.

'I told her I had thought about doing that for a long time, and she had said it right back to me,' Perry says.

Failure: But she acted normal upon returning to work, and the two never spoke of the tryst again. He said he was relieved when the show was canceled; Bertinelli and Van Halen seen in 1990

But when he confessed about the night with Bertinelli to his costar Craig Bierko, Bierko was cautious rather than optimistic and told him to watch himself.

As for Bertinelli, she 'made no mention of what had happened and was behaving  as she should have been  like this was just a normal day.

'I quickly got the hint and also played the role I was supposed to, but inside I was devastated,' Perry says.

Bertinelli's professionalism allegedly led to sleepless, tearful nights for the future Friends star, and he saw the failure of Sydney as an escape from the obsession, as he 'didnt have to see Valerie anymore.'

The actor gives a Freudian explanation for his attraction to Bertinelli and other women who couldn't love him back.

'I have spent my life being attracted to unavailable women. It doesnt take a psychology degree to figure out that this had something to do with my relationship with my mother,' he writes.

Freudian: 'I have spent my life being attracted to unavailable women. It doesnt take a psychology degree to figure out that this had something to do with my relationship with my mother,' he writes

It takes a village: In an excerpt from his interview with Diane Sawyer, Perry talks about how 'Addiction is far too terrible for anyone to defeat alone'

The latest excerpt from his book arrives ahead of Perry's interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC News, in which he details the importance of having a support system to combat addiction.

Sawyer notes in the newest clip that Perry is sending 'postcards from hell to anyone who needs it.'

She says that the actor, who spent weeks in a coma after his colon ruptured due to his opioid use, had gone through '600 AA meetings,' along with '30 years' of therapy and 15 stints in rehab.

'Addiction is far too terrible for anyone to defeat alone, but together, one day at a time, we can beat it down,' Sawyer reads from his memoir.

'Your disease is just outside, just doing one-arm pushups, just waiting for you, waiting to get you alone. Because alone, you lose to the disease,' Perry warns.

In the company of Friends: 'Your disease is just outside, just doing one-arm pushups, just waiting for you, waiting to get you alone. Because alone, you lose to the disease,' Perry warns

However, he added that now he finally feels 'OK' and has some 'strength.'

He explained that being 'OK' means he has 'developed some safety nets around this. I'm doing really well now.

'For some reason  it's obviously because I was on Friends  more people will listen to me,' he added.

His fame and platform made him see the confessions of his memoir as a form of reaching out to help others.

'I've got to take advantage of that. I've got to help as many people as I can,' he says.

Perry's memoir Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing will be published on November 1.
Alexis Bellino had some family news to share on Tuesday.

The Real Housewives of Orange County veteran shared on Tuesday that her 14-year-old son, Miles, is transgender.

'Hey world, this is Miles. My transgender son. He's now a month shy of 15 yrs old, so he's seen the questions and comments made about him on my IG,' the 45-year-old TV star wrote online.

New news: Alexis Bellino had some family news to share on Tuesday. The Real Housewives of Orange County veteran shared on Tuesday that her 14-year-old son, Miles, is transgender

A portrait: 'Hey world, this is Miles. My transgender son. He's now a month shy of 15 yrs old, so he's seen the questions and comments made about him on my IG,' the 45-year-old TV star wrote online

She shares Miles with ex-husband Jim Bellino. The couple parted ways in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. The exes also share son James, 16, and Miles twin sister, Mackenna.

In December 2020, Alexis got engaged to Andy Bohn.

Alexis wrote a lengthy caption for Miles. 'Miles now has a voice and has asked me to do this post,' she added.

'I had stopped posting for the past few months due to this transition in Miles' life, but he's now ready to "come out" and to use this platform to stop any hate or questions.'

Out: Alexis wrote a lengthy caption for Miles. 'Miles now has a voice and has asked me to do this post,' Alexis added. 'I had stopped posting for the past few months due to this transition in Miles' life, but he's now ready to "come out" and to use this platform to stop any hate or questions'

The reality TV beauty also said she hesitated before making the post.

'I refused to post this for him for a while, but now I know Miles truly wants me to post this because he's tired of the misgendering and confusion people have, so we are setting the record straight and hopefully bringing clarity,' she said.

She also said she appreciates the courage it took for Miles to do this.

'Im extremely proud of him and I want everyone to understand that love doesnt change in these situations. Its unconditional love,' noted Bellino.

Alexis also said that Miles came out as a transgender boy to her over 16 months ago.

Last year: Seen in November 2021 with siblings and cousins. She shares Miles with ex-husband Jim Bellino. The couple parted ways in 2018 after 14 years of marriage. The exes also share son James, 16, and Miles twin sister, Mackenna

In late September: Miles is seen far right during this family photo

'He hid it from everyone else for a while, but eventually he got to where we are right now,' she said.

And she added that her son has now 'flourished!!'

Bellino wrote: 'My son now smiles naturally for the first time in years! My son now loves the clothes he wears. My son can breathe knowing he can be his true self. My son lights up every single time a stranger calls him he. My son runs with the boys. My son can actually FEEL. My son can live life now with his true self.'

And she is proud of Miles for wanting to 'stop the hate' noting it is brave to step forward at such a young age.

In March: Here Alexis is seen with family at Hamilton in California

Her full note: She had a lot to say in the Instagram caption. She ended the note with 'thank you Jesus for our family'

'He now has his entire life to live the way he should.'

Alexis also warned her Instagram followers that all hate on her social media will be immediately deleted and that user instantly blocked.

'Lets bring peace and happiness and unity from this. We are all human and we are ALL equal. I am 100% fully supportive of my son. I hope you will be too. I love you all.

'Thank you for supporting me and my family through all of our many transitions through the years. This world needs more love and kindness.'

It was recently announced that there will be a new cast member for the Real Housewives of Orange County.

The star used to star on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and recently appeared on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
Maya Jama absolutely stunned as she attended a fashion event in Qatar on Wednesday.

The TV and radio personality, 28, looked elegant in a flowing black strapless dress at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize 2022 Awards Ceremony, held at the National Museum Of Qatar.

The beauty, who recently landed the Love Island hosting gig, put her best fashion foot forward at the event, wearing her thigh-split dress with matching stockings that highlighted her trim pins.

Stunning: Maya Jama was the picture of elegance in a flowing black strapless gown at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize awards in Qatar on Wednesday

Maya's frock featured a glittery material and a strapless design.

Maya made a statement in her frock thanks to the flowing trains, which ensured all eyes were on her on the red carpet.

She completed her glamorous look with a golden glow, her hair out in tousled curls and makeup including lashings of mascara and a glossy nude lip.

Flawless: Maya's frock featured a glittery material and a strapless design. She completed her glamorous look with her hair out in tousled curls and makeup including a glossy nude lip

She's pleased: The new Love Island presenter flashed a smile as she greeted onlookers at the star-studded event

Details: Maya made a statement in her frock thanks to the flowing trains, which ensured all eyes were on her on the red carpet

She also wore a deep red manicure and jewels including small earrings and a bracelet.

Other notable guests in attendance included the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell, 51, and model Jourdan Dunn, 32.

Fashion Trust Arabia aims to support talented local fashion designers.

Documenting it all! Maya appeared to have a great time at the event, sharing a picture of herself in a chauffeur-driven car ahead of the night out

Maya appeared to have a great time at the event, sharing a picture of herself in a chauffeur-driven car before a video of herself dancing on the night out.

It's been a busy month for Maya, who has just been confirmed as the new Love Island host, replacing Laura Whitmore, who quit the show in August after three series.

Maya is to begin hosting the first of two series of Love Island, which will be filmed in South Africa, from early 2023.

Having fun: She shared a video with fans of herself dancing to music at the event

Maya said in a statement: 'I've always been such a massive Love Island fan and I'm so excited to be hosting one of the nation's favourite shows! I can't wait to get into the Villa to meet all of the Islanders.'

Both Maya and Love Island shared a video of herself scrolling through stories about her being the rumoured presenter on various media outlets to confirm the news.

The Love Island account shared: 'Okay, the rumours are true Say hey to your brand-new #LoveIsland host @mayajama!'

Maya wrote in the comments section: SO BLOODY EXCITED. GET ME ON THAT ISLAND. '
Matthew Perry has shared a tongue-in-cheek guide to how you can tell what drugs he was using during his years in Friends, simply based off his appearance in the show.

Perry, 53, laid bare the intimate details of his battle with substance abuse in his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which drops on November 1.

In a snippet obtained by Page Six, the actor spoke out about how his addiction to opioids and alcohol affected the way he looked on screen, and revealed how those watching the NBC comedy series can figure out how severe his drug use was based off his weight and beard length.

'You can track the trajectory for my addiction if you gauge my weight from season to season,' he wrote in the book.

Matthew Perry has shared a tongue-in-cheek guide to how you can tell what drugs he was using during his years in Friends, simply based off his appearance in the show

Perry (seen in September), 53, laid bare the intimate details of his battle with substance abuse in his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which drops November 1

In a snippet obtained by Page Six, the actor spoke out about how his addiction to opioids and alcohol affected the way he looked on screen. He is seen in the show alongside Courteney Cox

'When Im carrying weight, its alcohol; when Im skinny, its pills; when I have a goatee, its lots of pills.'

The actor became an international sensation practically over night after he landed the role as Chandler Bing in Friends in 1994.

Perry (pictured in the show in 2003) revealed that those watching the NBC comedy series can figure out how severe his drug use was based off his weight and beard length

But while he came off as the hilarious and heartwarming guy who always had a smile on his face on the screen, behind-the-scenes, the star was facing a downward spiral of drug addiction, alcohol use, and overdoses that left him with just a two per cent chance of survival.

Perry told People magazine recently while discussing his book that he turned to drugs to deal with the immense fame and pressure that came with starring in one of the most popular shows of all time - revealing he needed 14 surgeries on his stomach and has been in rehab 15 different times as a result of his drug and alcohol use.

In 1997, Perry got into a jet ski accident and was prescribed Vicodin, a powerful and addictive pain medication - which would eventually turn into in a years-long battle with addiction.

He said in the episodes where he looked bigger in size, he was drinking a lot of alcohol, while in parts where he appeared skinnier, he was using pills. He is seen left in 2002 and right in 1998

Perry added that his most severe drug use occurred when he grew a beard and mustache, explaining, 'When I had a goatee, it was lots of pills.' He is pictured in the show in 1996

The comedian admitted to the outlet that during the height of his career, he was taking 55 pain killers per day and dropped down to only 128 pounds.

'When it happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while,' he previously told the New York Times of his overnight success.

Perry (seen in 2017) told People magazine recently while discussing his book that he turned to drugs to deal with the immense fame and pressure that came with starring in one of the most popular shows of all time - revealing he has been in rehab 15 different times as a result of his drug and alcohol use

'For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of "I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world."

'And then you realize that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life.'

He spent 28 days at a treatment center in Minnesota in 1997, but his struggles didn't end there.

In May 2000, his battle with alcohol and drug use had become so severe that he was admitted to the hospital with pancreatitis, a potentially deadly condition that develops from heavy drinking.

And while he insisted that he 'never drank on set,' he told the Times that he would often come to work 'extremely' hungover.

'It's so horrible to feel that way and have to work and be funny on top of that,' the actor said, adding that he would sometimes find himself sweating and shaking on the Friends set.

'I didn't know how to stop,' he also admitted to People. 'If the police came over to my house and said, "If you drink tonight, we're going to take you to jail," I'd start packing.'

While he was working on the movie Serving Sara in 2001, things became so bad that Perry realized he couldn't go on like that any longer, and he decided to take a break from filming to go back to rehab.

He stepped out of the spotlight for more than two months, before he returned to finish filming Serving Sara.

The comedian admitted to the outlet that during the height of his career, he was taking 55 pain killers per day and dropped down to only 128 pounds. He is pictured in the show

Now, he told the outlet that he is 'pretty healthy,' and that he feels he is finally 'safe' from going back to the 'dark side,' but he didn't reveal how long he has been sober. He is seen in 2019

While it seemed to the public that Perry's battles with addiction ended after that, he secretly almost lost his life a few years ago, at age 49, when his colon burst due to opioid overuse.

He spent two weeks in a coma and five months in the hospital, and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.

'The doctors told my family that I had a two per cent chance to live. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that's called a Hail Mary. No one survives that,' he explained to People.

Now, he told the outlet that he is 'pretty healthy,' and that he feels he is finally 'safe' from going back to the 'dark side,' but he didn't reveal how long he has been sober.

He added that going through the near-death experience helped open his eyes.

'The next time you think about taking Oxycontin, just think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life,' he recalled his therapist telling him, adding, 'A little window opened and I crawled through it and I no longer want Oxycontin anymore.

'There were five people put on an ECMO machine that night and the other four died and I survived. So the big question is why? Why was I the one? There has to be some kind of reason.'
Michael J. Fox has reflected on a painful past year which saw him suffer multiple broken bones and grieve the loss of his mother - amid his 30-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.

In an emotional interview with People, the Back To The Future star, 61, said his condition 'got worse' and he became uncharacteristically 'short with people' after he broke his cheek, hand, shoulder and arm and his mother Phyllis died aged 92.

The actor had previously cited 2018 as one of his worst years, when he had spinal cord surgery to remove a tumor, after which he broke his left arm.

Inspiration: Michael J. Fox has reflected on a painful past year which saw him suffer multiple broken bones and grieve the loss of his mother - amid his 30-year battle with Parkinson's Disease (pictured October 2022)

He said: 'I broke my cheek, then my hand, then my shoulder, had a replacement shoulder put in and broke my [right] arm, then I broke my elbow. I'm 61 years old, and I'm feeling it a little bit more.

'I was never really a cranky guy, but I got very cranky and short with people. I try to nip it in the bud. I always think of these aides who work with me. And I often say to them, 'Whatever I say, just imagine I said "please" at the beginning and "thank you" at the end. Just take a second and absorb that I might have said that if I was more myself, but I didn't, so I apologize.'

The actor was first diagnosed with Parkinsons, a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, in 1991. He went public with his diagnosis in 1998, and continued his acting career.

The disease affects the body's nervous system and causes tremors, muscular rigidity and loss of balance. Medication can help control the symptoms but there is no cure.

Icon: In an emotional interview with People , the Back To The Future star, 61, said his condition 'got worse' and he became uncharacteristically 'short with people' after he broke his cheek, hand, shoulder and arm and his mother Phyllis died aged 92

Sad news: Michael shared that his mom, Phyllis Fox, had passed away at the age of 92 on September 24; Pictured in 2014

The actor turned advocate launched the Michael J Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research for therapies and cures to treat the degenerative disorder. The organization has raised more than $1 billion dollars since its founding.

He retired from acting in 2020, explaining that the Parkinson's had begun to affect his ability to speak and his memory.

The star said he is now 'feeling good' as the last of his injuries heal and detailed his mission to 'not fall down.'

Michael, who was seen struggling with his movement at this month's Comic-Con where he reunited with BTTF co-star Christopher Lloyd, said: 'So whatever works to not fall down, whether it's a walker or a wheelchair, a cane, a guy with a belt around my waist holding onto it  I use all those tools.'

Michael added that he is now well on the way to walking steadily again.

The Good Wife actor said his positive outlook stemmed from always trying to 'find gratitude wherever I am', and how, despite his difficult few months, he had 'come out the other side of it more kind' and finally happy again.

The star has been married to actress Tracy Pollan, 62, since 1988. They share four children, son Sam, 33, and daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 27, and Esme, 21.

Michael praised his wife Tracy for her love and support throughout their marriage and his health battles

Doc and Marty reunited ! Michael, who was seen struggling with his movement at this month's Comic-Con where he reunited with BTTF co-star Christopher Lloyd, said: 'So whatever works to not fall down, whether it's a walker or a wheelchair, a cane - I use all those tools'

Earlier this month, Michael shared that his mother, Phyllis Fox, had passed away at the age of 92 on September 24.

The actor revealed the sad news during his appearance at the 2022 New York Comic Con over the weekend.

Michael remembered Phyllis by recalling a funny anecdote about how she didn't want him to shoot Family Ties in the daytime and Back to the Future at night in the 1980s.

'I was 23 years old, and I called her, she was in Canada, and I said, "They want me to do this Steven Spielberg movie, but I have to do it at night and I have to do Family Ties in the daytime." And she said, "You'll be too tired,"' he shared.

The Canadian-American star told his mom in response: 'I live for this kind of tired. It'll be okay.'

He then added, 'To this day  well, till two weeks ago  my mother thought it was a really bad idea for me to do Back to the Future. She loved the movie, [but she was right], I got tired.'

According to an online obituary, Phyllis was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1929.

She is survived by sons Steve and Michael, as well as daughters Jackie and Kelli, and her nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.

Phyllis 'took special pride in raising awareness for Diabetes and Parkinsons Disease, and in serving on the board of the Michael J Fox Theatre in Burnaby.'

Family first: The star has been married to actress Tracy Pollan, 62, since 1988. They share four children, son Sam, 33, and daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 27, and Esme, 21

Timeless: He retired from acting in 2020, explaining that the Parkinson's had begun to affect his ability to speak and his memory Pictured in a 1985 still from Back to the Future

During Comic Con Michael also shared about his own health struggles, and how he remains optimistic despite them.

'Well, in the last year I've broken my cheek, my eye socket, my hand, my elbow  my shoulder. I had a rough year of getting beat up. But that was really cool because it made me realize  with gratitude, it's sustainable,' he stated.

'If you can find something to be grateful for, if you can find something and say, "Well, that's good,"  It'll always get better I'm very optimistic.'

Happy again: The Good Wife actor said his positive outlook stemmed from always trying to 'find gratitude wherever I am', and how, despite his difficult few months, he had 'come out the other side of it more kind' and finally happy again (pictured October 8 2022)

'I'd say optimism is thinking that things are more likely to get better than they are to get worse. If you believe in that, and you are grateful for it, that'll sustain you the rest of your life,' he added.

Michael previously shared his Parkinson's struggles in a 2020 interview with People, discussing his short-term memory, tremors and rigidity.

'My short-term memory is shot,' he stated, adding, 'I always had a real proficiency for lines and memorization. And I had some extreme situations where the last couple of jobs I did were actually really word-heavy parts. I struggled during both of them.

He is now looking ahead to an AppleTV+ documentary due for release in 2023 which will chronicle his life.
Model Jourdan Dunn made sure all eyes were on her as she attended the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize Awards in Qatar on Wednesday.

Jourdan, 32, stunned as she showed off her incredible figure in a white draped dress at the star-studded event.

The brunette beauty, who was scouted in a Primark store in 2006, added height to her statuesque frame with a pair of stylish gold heels.

All eyes on her! Jourdan Dunn stunned as she showed off her model figure in a white draped dress at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize Awards in Qatar on Wednesday

Jourdan commanded attention in her dress, which hugged her figure in all the right places.

The stylish frock featured a high neck, long sleeves and a slim-fit skirt.

Jourdan pulled her hair back and off her face into a sleek bun and wore makeup including dewy foundation, a bronze eye and a deep nude lip.

Dolled up: Jourdan pulled her hair back and off her face into a sleek bun and wore makeup including dewy foundation, a bronze eye and a deep nude lip

Other notable guests in attendance included the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell, 51, and Maya Jama, 28.

Fashion Trust Arabia aims to support talented local fashion designers.

Before jetting to Qatar, Jourdan has been busy in recent weeks attending the various fashion weeks across Europe.

Gorgeous: The stylish frock featured a high neck, long sleeves and a slim-fit skirt

Jourdan is one of Britain's top models who was scouted at a Primark in London at the age of 15.

She has modelled for the likes of Prada and Victoria's Secret.

However she recently revealed that she wants to focus on acting and aspires to be in a Marvel film one day so that her son Riley, 11, will think she is the 'coolest mum ever'.

She previously told Harper's Bazaar: 'Before lockdown, I decided I wanted to take the time to focus on acting. When lockdown happened, it felt like the perfect time to dedicate to it. I started therapy.'




By Kim Hyun-bin







The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) invited a diplomatic delegation to Seungsan Village in South Gyeongsang Province for the Korean Entrepreneurship Exploration Program, while requesting support for Busan's bid to host World Expo 2030, according to the lobby group, Tuesday.







Seungsan Village is the birthplace of the founders of major domestic conglomerates such as GS and LG, and Jisu Elementary School, which closed in 2009 and was the school of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul, LG group founder Koo In-hoi and Hyosung group founder Cho Hong-je.







"Businessmen from Seungsan Village are contributing to economic development and job creation in various parts of the world. We ask for your active support so that we can show it at the Busan Expo," Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the FKI, said.







Greek Ambassador to Korea Ekaterini Loupas attended the event along with ambassadors from eight other countries including Sierra Leone, Myanmar, Brunei, Dominica, Romania and Algeria.







There was also time to visit Hanwha Aerospace Changwon plant, a representative company in the domestic aerospace field, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, to examine the latest status of Korea's defense industry (K-Defense).


Sabrina Elba made a style statement as she attended the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize Awards in Qatar on Wednesday.

The wife of Idris Elba, 33, stepped out at the glitzy event wearing a black figure-hugging dress and a bright fuchsia embellished cape.

Adding a touch of glamour to her look, the model wore a pair of long black gloves.

Style statement: Sabrina Elba stunned in a figure-hugging black dress and a statement Fuchsia cape at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize Awards in Qatar on Wednesday

Sabrina's cape stole the show and featured jewel embellishment around the neck and a stylish bird design on the train.

She added height to her frame wearing simple black heels.

Sabrina looked polished with her short dark locks out and around her face, neatly straightened, and makeup including dewy foundation and a nude lip.

Polished: Sabrina looked polished with her short dark locks out and around her face, neatly straightened, and makeup including dewy foundation and a nude lip

Sabrina wore jewels including an emerald green ring and studded earrings.

Other notable guests in attendance included the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell, 51, and model Jourdan Dunn, 32.

Fashion Trust Arabia aims to support talented local fashion designers.

Earlier this week meanwhile, Sabrina stunned in a white dress as she attended the Pride of Britain Awards in London.

Dazzling: Sabrina's cape stole the show and featured jewel embellishment around the neck and a stylish bird design on the train

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.
Being the son of F1 legend James Hunt may come with its perks, but fellow racing driver Freddie Hunt admits that living in his famous father's shadow hasn't always been easy.

'It was hard at the beginning of my career being compared to my father and it caused major problems with my mental state,' Freddie, 35, tells me at the premiere of his film Hunt Vs Lauda: The Next Generation at Soho's Ham Yard hotel.

Hunt senior was rumoured to have slept with up to 5,000 women but Freddie remains committed to his entrepreneur girlfriend Aimee Watts.

And the man who has just joined Amazon's Car And Country: Rush as a presenter, does advise sportsmen with a bevy of women admirers to be careful, 'because keeping yourself on the leash is the hard part'.

Being the son of F1 legend James Hunt may come with its perks, but fellow racing driver Freddie Hunt admits that living in his famous father's shadow hasn't always been easy

Hunt senior was rumoured to have slept with up to 5,000 women but Freddie remains committed to his entrepreneur girlfriend Aimee Watts

Stalker fear forces Lady Sitwell to flee home

Former 'face of Royal Ascot' Martha Sitwell claims she has been stalked for the past few months by a mentally ill man with a history of strangling women.

The ex-wife of baronet Sir George Sitwell says that after the man approached her in the street and attempted to gain entry into her home she was left so traumatised that she now feels she has no choice but to move away.

'I've had a stalker since April, and he's out on police bail. He tried to break into my flat last weekend, but the police did nothing about it. They wouldn't even come and take forensics,' the 42-year-old tells me.

'He's a very mentally ill man who needs to be in hospital. I don't know him, but he came up to me on the street. It was pretty scary, especially as I've heard he has a history of strangling women.'

Martha is seeking to raise enough money to relocate by selling some of her possessions via her Instagram account, including a pair of Crocodile Christian Louboutin shoes, the majority of the contents from her designer wardrobe, and even her wedding dress.

Former 'face of Royal Ascot' Martha Sitwell claims she has been stalked for the past few months by a mentally ill man with a history of strangling women

But in light of recent events, she's grown wary of meeting potential buyers and letting them know where she is based.

'I won't be giving out my address to anyone. People can message me, and if I trust them I'll send them my location,' she adds. 'Hence the move, and hence the massive clear-out. I'll pay off my debts and move.'

Martha, daughter of late gastronome Justin de Blank, married former film producer Sir George in 2007 and lived with him in Northamptonshire at 3.25 million Grade II-listed Weston Hall.

But her relationship with the great-nephew of poet Dame Edith Sitwell turned frosty and she held a 'divorce party' in 2017 to mark the end of their ten-year union.

He may have been pushed to the margins of the Labour Party, which removed the parliamentary whip from him two years ago, but never underestimate the devotion former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn inspires in his supporters.

Their donations, I can disclose, have paid off eye-watering legal fees of around 100,000 which Corbyn ran up as he prepared to fight a libel action  even though the case was eventually settled out of court.

Corbyn's acolytes sent the cash to JBC Defence Ltd, a company established 'to pay Jeremy's legal cost if and when he is sued for defamation as a result of standing up for the values and beliefs to which he has devoted his life', explains one of its directors.

All right for some.

If anyone based in leafy Surrey spots a strange-looking man running about in the witching hour, fear not  it's just TV supervet Noel Fitzpatrick out for his very early jog.

'I run between 12am and 2am. I don't have a torch, I just feel the ground through my feet. It's quiet and it's just you and the universe,' says the 54-year-old.

Sophie ditches heels (they were murder on the dancefloor)

Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor has decided high-heel fashion is no longer for her.

'After the lockdowns I looked at all the heels and I thought 'Why did I ever do that to my feet?' Stilettos, what was I thinking?' says the 43-year-old mother-of-five.

However, she insists that she still won't part with any of them. 'I've got well over 200 pairs, I'd say. But then I don't really get rid of anything, even when I don't really wear them any more.'

Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor has decided high-heel fashion is no longer for her

Dom Joly fooled countless people with his Trigger Happy TV series, but was he himself recently caught out?

A man known only as 'Jim' told Joly he wanted to make a 'massive cinematic version' of his show.

'He told me he'd made loads of money in crypto,' says Joly. 'I agreed to meet for lunch. We got on really well. He was smart, charming and believable.'

A deal was signed and Joly waited for the money to roll in from the U.S., but soon realised he'd been had.

What he can't fathom is 'Jim's' motive for the stunt, since he paid for the lunch.

Jess Mills, daughter of the late MP and former Labour minister Tessa Jowell and David Mills, has released her first song with her new band, Do No Harm.

Mills, 41, previously performed as a solo artist but this is the first music she has released with a band.

The ditty, titled Damascene, was released last week and is the first of a trilogy of EPs that will come out over the next few months.

Chelsy shows off little Leo

When I disclosed that Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy had welcomed a baby boy at the beginning of the year with English hotelier husband Sam Cutmore-Scott, it came as a surprise to many.

Now the Duke of Sussex's former flame, Zimbabwe-born Chelsy, 37, has shared the first picture of her son, Leo, who shares his blonde locks with his mum.

Chelsy, who runs a jewellery and travel business, gave birth to Leo at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She and Cutmore-Scott, also 37  who was in the year above Harry at Eton  live in Chiswick, West London.

Now the Duke of Sussex's former flame, Zimbabwe-born Chelsy, 37, has shared the first picture of her son, Leo, who shares his blonde locks with his mum

Strictly Craig's 999 over fiance's TV habits

Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood is best known for his acerbic putdowns on the show, and it seems he's equally judgmental when it comes to the viewing habits of his fiance, horticulturist Jonathan Myring.

'He forces me to watch these ghastly shows, like 24 Hours In A&E and Ambulance,' groans the choreographer, 57. Myring, 43, is training to be a paramedic.

'I end up watching open brain surgery when I just want to relax after a day's Strictly filming, darling.'

Might that be a factor in why the pair, who have been engaged since 2020, are yet to walk down the aisle?
Matthew Perry has detailed a secret Hollywood date that went very wrong 15 years ago.

In his new memoir titled Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, the 53-year-old actor shared that he was set up with Cameron Diaz after she split from Justin Timberlake in 2007.

But when he came face to face the star - who is now 50 - she got stoned and showed little interest in him before punching him in the face by accident.

Yikes! Matthew Perry has detailed a secret Hollywood date with Cameron Diaz that went very wrong 15 years ago. In his new memoir titled Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing, the 53-year-old actor shared she hit him

His dishy tell all: Perry's book is full of juicy stories from his Hollywood past

DailyMail.com has reached out to Diaz's rep for a comment.

He begins the story by sharing that he was set up with movie star Diaz - best known for There's Something About Mary and Charlie's Angels - for a date, according to PageSix.

It was soon after she split from pop star Timberlake in 2007. Diaz was single and apparently open to dating.

It was not a one-on-one date with Perry but rather a group dinner party where they were meant to get to know each other.

When she walked in the room she got 'immediately stoned,' according to Perry.

Not long after this ended: It was soon after she split from pop star Timberlake in 2007. Diaz was single and apparently open to dating

And during the dinner she paid little attention to the Friends actor as she seemed to be not 'interested in [him] at all,' he said.

Matthew tried his best to win her attention by saying 'something witty' to her when they were playing Pictionary, he alleged, but it did not go well.

He claimed in his book that she tried to hit him in the shoulder but then she 'accidentally' hit his face.

'Are you f***ing kidding me?' he remembers saying to Cameron.

She moved on: Diaz has since wed Benji Madden in 2015. Together they share a daughter named Raddix Madden, age two. Seen in 2016

Diaz has since wed Benji Madden in 2015. Together they share a daughter named Raddix Madden, age two.

Also in his book he said that he broke up with Julia Roberts - who guest starred on Friends - because she was just too smart and pretty for him. And he said that he had a crush on Jennifer Aniston but she had no interest in him.

And the star also said that he made out with Valerie Bertinelli when her husband Eddie Van Halen was passed out.

The actor claimed that his crush on Valerie, now 62, became so intense that he ended up making out with her one night after her then-husband Van Halen had allegedly passed out, according to Page Six.

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Bertinelli for comment.

The actor told Diane Sawyer the importance of having friends and a social safety net to combat his years-long struggle with addiction.

His idol: Perry claims he once made out with his Sydney costar Valerie Bertinelli in his upcoming memoir, according to Page Six; seen in 1990

Perry writes in his memoir that his stint as Valerie's brother on Sydney got intense because he 'fell madly in love with Valerie Bertinelli, who was clearly in a troubled marriage.'

He adds, 'My crush was crushing; not only was she way out of my league, but she was also married to one of the most famous rock stars on the planet, Eddie Van Halen.'

Perry details how intense his infatuation with the actress was, leading him to plan out a future together.

'It is important to point out here that my feelings for Valerie were real. I was completely captivated  I mean, I was obsessed with her and harbored elaborate fantasies about her leaving Eddie Van Halen and living out the rest of her days with me,' he writes.

Infatuated: Perry 'fell madly in love with Valerie' while playing her brother on the series, and he says it seemed as if her marriage was 'troubled'

Things finally escalated when he was invited over to Bertinelli and Van Halen's home, at which he was 'just hanging out and gazing at Valerie, trying to make her laugh.'

'When you made her laugh, you felt ten feet tall,' he gushes.

But 'Eddie had enjoyed the fruits of the vine a little too hard, one more time, and eventually he just passed out, not ten feet away from us,' Perry says, adding that, 'This was my chance!

'If you think I didnt actually have a chance in hell youd be wrong, dear reader  Valerie and I had a long, elaborate make-out session. It was happening  maybe she felt the same way I did.'

He claims Bertinelli even seemed to reciprocate his affections.

'I told her I had thought about doing that for a long time, and she had said it right back to me,' Perry says.

Failure: But she acted normal upon returning to work, and the two never spoke of the tryst again. He said he was relieved when the show was canceled; Bertinelli and Van Halen seen in 1990

But when he confessed about the night with Bertinelli to his costar Craig Bierko, Bierko was cautious rather than optimistic and told him to watch himself.

As for Bertinelli, she 'made no mention of what had happened and was behaving  as she should have been  like this was just a normal day.

'I quickly got the hint and also played the role I was supposed to, but inside I was devastated,' Perry says.

Bertinelli's professionalism allegedly led to sleepless, tearful nights for the future Friends star, and he saw the failure of Sydney as an escape from the obsession, as he 'didnt have to see Valerie anymore.'

The actor gives a Freudian explanation for his attraction to Bertinelli and other women who couldn't love him back.

'I have spent my life being attracted to unavailable women. It doesnt take a psychology degree to figure out that this had something to do with my relationship with my mother,' he writes.

Freudian: 'I have spent my life being attracted to unavailable women. It doesnt take a psychology degree to figure out that this had something to do with my relationship with my mother,' he writes

It takes a village: In an excerpt from his interview with Diane Sawyer, Perry talks about how 'Addiction is far too terrible for anyone to defeat alone'

The latest excerpt from his book arrives ahead of Perry's interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC News, in which he details the importance of having a support system to combat addiction.

Sawyer notes in the newest clip that Perry is sending 'postcards from hell to anyone who needs it.'

She says that the actor, who spent weeks in a coma after his colon ruptured due to his opioid use, had gone through '600 AA meetings,' along with '30 years' of therapy and 15 stints in rehab.

'Addiction is far too terrible for anyone to defeat alone, but together, one day at a time, we can beat it down,' Sawyer reads from his memoir.

'Your disease is just outside, just doing one-arm pushups, just waiting for you, waiting to get you alone. Because alone, you lose to the disease,' Perry warns.
Six-time Emmy winner Bryan Cranston is overseeing the script process for a potential reboot of his Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, in which he famously starred as the well-meaning yet inept patriarch Hal Wilkerson.

'I would love to know what the family's up to,' his onscreen son Frankie Muniz told Fox News Digital on Monday.

'I know Bryan Cranston is really into the idea and he's kind of heading writing the script and getting everything rolling. So, there might be something. I would be down 100 percent. But I don't know - we'll see what happens.'

Surprise! Six-time Emmy winner Bryan Cranston is overseeing the script process for a potential reboot of his Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, in which he famously starred as the well-meaning yet inept patriarch Hal Wilkerson (pictured September 7)

The 66-year-old Hollywood native not only acted in Linwood Boomer's hit family show, which aired for seven seasons spanning 2000-2006, he also directed seven episodes.

In the MITM series finale, Hal was horrified to discover his wife Lois was pregnant with their sixth child just as they were entering the empty nest stage of their lives.

Meanwhile, the 36-year-old former child star's genius character Malcolm Wilkerson starts attending Harvard University while working part time as a janitor.

Bryan and Frankie last reunited virtually in 2020 with their MITM castmates Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Christopher Masterson, and more to perform a live script reading of the pilot 'I Am Not a Monster.'

His onscreen son Frankie Muniz told Fox News Digital on Monday: 'I would love to know what the family's up to. I know Bryan Cranston is really into the idea and he's kind of heading writing the script and getting everything rolling. So, there might be something. I would be down 100 percent. But I don't know - we'll see what happens'

Throwback! The 66-year-old Hollywood native not only acted in Linwood Boomer's hit family show, which aired for seven seasons spanning 2000-2006, he also directed seven episodes

Screaming: In the MITM series finale, Hal was horrified to discover his wife Lois was pregnant with their sixth child just as they were entering the empty nest stage of their lives

Future POTUS? Meanwhile, the 36-year-old former child star's genius character Malcolm Wilkerson starts attending Harvard University while working part time as a janitor

The Zoom session, benefitting the 67-year-old creator's favorite charity Healing California, marked the 20th anniversary of the show's premiere.

In 2019, Cranston's onscreen wife Jane Kaczmarek came to see him perform in the Broadway play Network at the Belasco Theatre in Manhattan.

And in 2017, Muniz shared a snap of his double date with the Jerry and Marge Go Large actor and their respective spouses, Paige Price and Robin Dearden.

Zooming: Bryan and Frankie last reunited virtually in 2020 with their MITM castmates Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Christopher Masterson, and more to perform a live script reading of the pilot 'I Am Not a Monster'

'Hal & Lois together again': In 2019, Cranston's onscreen wife Jane Kaczmarek came to see him perform in the Broadway play Network at the Belasco Theatre in Manhattan

'Dinner with my hero/dad!' And in 2017, Muniz shared a snap of his double date with the Jerry and Marge Go Large actor and their respective spouses, Paige Price (L) and Robin Dearden (R)

Bryan has substantial experience putting shows together having co-created Amazon Prime Video crime drama Sneaky Pete (2015-2019) and Amazon Prime Video dramedy The Dangerous Book for Boy (2018).

But first, Cranston will next play a mystery role in Wes Anderson's star-studded rom-com Asteroid City, which is about a fictional stargazer convention in an American desert town circa 1955.

Meanwhile, Frankie - who commands $129 on Cameo - currently stars in the seventh season of The Surreal Life, which airs Mondays on VH1.

Staring down Giovanni Ribisi! Bryan has substantial experience putting shows together having co-created Amazon Prime Video crime drama Sneaky Pete (2015-2019) and Amazon Prime Video dramedy The Dangerous Book for Boy (2018)
Jerry Lee Lewis is still alive and well in Memphis, despite an earlier report erroneously claiming he had passed away.

After claiming that he had died, TMZ then reported that someone claiming to be Lewis' representative had incorrectly informed them Lewis had passed, which turned out to not be true.

Lewis - whose first hit was the 1957 track Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, followed by the iconic song Great Balls Of Fire - recently sparked health concerns among fans when it was revealed that he had been suffering from the flu.

Jerry Lee Lewis is still alive in Memphis, despite an earlier report claiming he had passed away

A representative for Lewis told Page Six: 'He's alive. TMZ reported erroneously off of a bullst anonymous tip.'

Lewis' recent health issues forced the star to miss his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame after catching the flu.

His team posted a photo of the musician in bed as he received the award from Kris Kristofferson, who accepted the gong in his honor.

Accompanying the photo was his acceptance note, where he expressed his 'heartfelt sadness and disappointment' at not being able to attend the ceremony in person.

TMZ, which erroneously reported the death, reports someone claiming to be Lewis' representative informed them he had passed away, which turned out to not be true

'It is with heartfelt sadness and disappointment that I write to you today from my sick bed, rather than be able to share my thoughts in person,' began his acceptance note.

'I tried everything I could to build up the strength to come today - I've looked so forward to it since I found out about it earlier this year. My sincerest apologies to all of you for missing this fine event, but I hope to see you all soon.

'To be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is the highest honor in Country music. Through over 60 years singing music professionally, country has always been the genre where I felt the most at home - between my fellow artists, the radio and the industry players -- some of them anyway.'

Lewis's pioneering music career began in the 1950s and both Rolling Stone Mick Jagger and Beatle Paul McCartney have named him as their inspiration

Lewis sparked health concerns last week after he was unable to attend his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame after catching the flu

'I am honored to be going into that Hall of Fame rotunda with some of my heroes - Hank Williams Sr., Jimmie Rodgers and the like - not to mention so many amazing friends who have been so good to me through the years.

'Thank you all for your support and love and for electing me into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and most of all, thanks to God for allowing me to experience this honor while I am still here.'

'Since I could not be in-person with you today, I have asked one of my closest and dearest friends to accept this great honor for me - and he's no stranger to this process: the legendary, Kris Kristofferson.'

Nicknamed The Killer, Lewis's pioneering music career began in the 1950s and both Rolling Stone Mick Jagger and Beatle Paul McCartney have named him as their inspiration.

Accompanying the photo was his acceptance note, where he expressed his 'heartfelt sadness and disappointment' at not being able to attend the ceremony in person; Lewis pictured in 2022

In one interview, Jagger said: 'Jerry Lee Lewis is a pioneer who introduced the world to a whole new level of showmanship.'

Elvis Presley once said that if he could play the piano like Lewis, he would stop singing.

Lewis is famed for his showmanship  he once played a burning piano  a turbulent private life and seven marriages.

Lewis was in the first class inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last week.
Paige Thorne put on a busty display as she posed up a storm at her star-studded Forever Unique launch party on Wednesday night at Menagerie in Manchester.

The Love Islander star, 25, looked effortlessly stylish in a plunging silver co-ord for the event to celebrate her debut collection with the fashion brand.

She had her gorgeous curves on display in the corset-style crop top, wide leg trousers and matching blazer while beaming away.

Stunning: Paige Thorne put on a busty display as she posed up a storm at her star-studded Forever Unique launch party on Wednesday night at Menagerie in Manchester

Welsh paramedic Paige boosted her height with silver heels and accessorised with a simple pendant necklace.

The brunette beauty wore her long glossy tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a glamorous makeup look.

The launch event was attended by the likes of Love Island's Laura Anderson, Faye Brookes, Charlotte Dawson and Antigoni Buxton.

Pose: The Love Islander star, 25, looked effortlessly stylish in a plunging silver co-ord for the event to celebrate her debut collection with the fashion brand

The highly anticipated 40 piece collection features stylish, timeless staples perfect for the festive season and became available at 12pm on Monday.

Inspired by Paige's premium and girly aesthetic, the new party-wear edit showcases high-fashion, feminine shapes designed to elevate customers' looks, with attention to detail being at the core.

The exclusive new campaign was shot in the stunning eternal city of Rome, boasting panoramic views and iconic backdrops.

Style: The launch event was attended by the likes of Love Island's Laura Anderson, Faye Brookes, Charlotte Dawson and Antigoni Buxton (pictured)

Posing up a storm: Charlotte Dawson looked sensational in a busty co-ord for the star-studded event

Girly: Love Island's Laura Anderson wore a puffy pink dress which she teamed with silver heels and a brown clutch bag

Paige said: 'I'm so excited that my collection is finally available to shop! I am obsessed with every piece and I love that it brings out my more confident and bolder side.

'It feels totally unique and premium and there's a piece for every shape and every woman'.

MailOnline exclusively revealed how Paige had signed a six-figure-deal with Forever Unique back in August.

The Welsh paramedic said at the time: 'This is a real pinch me moment, I can't believe I have my very own collection with a brand I've loved for years!'

Earlier this week Paige claimed her ex-boyfriend Adam Collard 'literally ghosted' her after cheating claims emerged.

The Love Island finalist split from her co-star, 26, earlier this month after videos emerged of Adam with other women.

Despite the couple trying to make the 'long distance thing' work, they were not meant to be after Adam was spotted with a woman in McDonald's after a night out.

Gals together: L-R: Siannise Fudge, Laura Anderson and Emily Milner all arrived in typically glamorous style

Shortly after the initial incident, he was pictured cosying up to another girl while partying in Ibiza and then headed to Bali, where he stopped responding to Paige entirely.

The former paramedic told Cosmopolitan that she knew their relationship was over after the personal trainer 'literally ghosted me'.

She said: 'He wasn't texting me back. He would leave me on read for the entire day. My own boyfriend literally ghosted me.

'From then, I was just like, "We're done. This is beyond a joke now". He replied, "I didn't want it to go this way, but at least we both know where we stand".'

Paige went on to say the couple 'were making the long distance thing work pretty well' despite the rumours.

She explained how they were 'making the time' and 'taking turns visiting each other' so 'there were no problems'.

Paige, who became official with Adam after leaving the Love Island villa, told the publication that 'he was telling me nothing happened' and to 'get over it'.

The reality star continued: 'Why would I believe everything everyone says when he was treating me a certain way? I thought, "We can overlook this. We can get through this. Nobody else will have to find out about the video. I still want to be with you".'

Leggy: Faye Brookes wowed in a short glitzy black dress as she arrived and toted a leather handbag

Following the clip of Adam in McDonald's with his arms wrapped around another women fuelled speculation he had cheated, things blew up for the couple.

Paige has since removed all traces of Adam from her social media account and has unfollowed him.

Adam later confirmed he and Paige are no longer together, telling The Sun: 'We're not together. Things happen. But I mean she is a great girl.'
Emmett is also involved in legal proceedings with ex-fiancee Lala Kent, 32, over custody of their daughter

Randall Emmett's ex-wife Ambyr Childers filed for a domestic violence restraining order against the film producer in Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday, saying she had 'legitimate fear for [her] safety and well-being.'

According to the Los Angeles Times, a judge denied a request made by Childers, 34, for an emergency temporary order Tuesday, citing little evidence, but set a November 14 hearing to review the issue in further detail.

A rep for the producer told US Weekly, 'Randall is very pleased the court recognized that there was no merit to any of these claims and denied the request.'

The latest: Randall Emmett's ex-wife Ambyr Childers, 34, filed for a domestic violence restraining order against the film producer, 51, in Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday, saying she had 'legitimate fear for [her] safety and well-being'

Childers, who shares joint legal and physical custody of two daughters with the producer, London, 12, and Rylee, eight, told the court that on Friday, she emailed Emmett, 51, that their older daughter's school had notified her that their child was routinely tardy while in her father's care.

Childers, an actress who has been seen on show such as You and Aquarius, said in legal docs that she inadvertently got a look at emails Emmett and his lawyer Ben Valencia exchanged after his response included previous emails he and his lawyer had corresponded in, the paper reported.

Childers said that in the email, Valencia said to Emmett, 'When will you get some real money together so we can take this c*** out once and for all. This is not good for your girls.'

Emmett replied, 'I dont have real money for this and you know it,' according to court records.

Emmett was snapped at the premiere of Gotti in June of 2018

Childers was wed to Emmett from 2009 until their divorce was finalized in 2017. They were pictured at a 2013 event in LA

Childers told the court that she was scared by the 'finality and desperation' of the message sent by Valencia, and didn't put anything past Emmett.

'If not the infliction of physical harm on me, would the money be to set me up?' Childers said in court docs. 'Is it some sort of bribe for law enforcement? With Randys history of illegal and/or intimidating activity, nothing is off the table, and all possible interpretations make me fear for my safety.'

Childers said in legal docs that during their marriage Emmett 'would put his hand around my neck and tell me that I could never get away from him.'

Childers told the court she discovered a tracking device on her vehicle in January of 2017, and that Emmett later admitted to putting it there, via a private investigator he hired at his lawyer's advisement.

Childers told the court she discovered a tracking device on her vehicle, which she said that Emmett later admitted to putting there. Pictured in 2020

Emmett is also involved in legal proceedings with ex-fiancee Lala Kent, 32, over custody of their one-year-old daughter Ocean. Kent was pictured in LA last month

Emmett was at the center of a story from the newspaper released in June that detailed accusations of sexual misconduct; Childers said that at the time, Emmett made her a $50,000 offer to 'stand beside him and refute what the article said,' but she would not as she considered herself 'just as much a victim as the other victims in the article.'

In legal docs, Childers is asking the court to force Emmett to keep 100 yards away from her, her house and her car; and wants him mandated to enter a batterer intervention program that spans 52 weeks.

Emmett is also involved in legal proceedings with ex-fiancee Lala Kent, 32, over custody of their one-year-old daughter Ocean.

Childers and Emmett are friends, a source told US Weekly in September, adding that 'theyre supportive of each other and have each others backs.'

Kent praised Childers as 'a great woman and a great mom' and 'the best thing that ever happened to' Emmett on Watch What Happens Live earlier this year.
After being forced to make an emergency landing during a dangerous storm, a pilot and a fugitive must join forces to survive in the first trailer for Plane.

Gerard Butler stars as Brodie Torrance, a commercial airline pilot whose told before his next flight that a fugitive Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter) is being escorted to his extradition on his flight with several federal agents.

When a storm forces them to make an emergency landing in a war-torn land, both the pilot and fugitive must join forces to survive.

Trailer: After being forced to make an emergency landing during a dangerous storm, a pilot and a fugitive must join forces to survive in the first trailer for Plane

The pilot and the fugitive: Gerard Butler stars as Brodie Torrance, a commercial airline pilot whose told before his next flight that a fugitive Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter) is being escorted to his extradition on his flight with several federal agents

The trailer begins with Torrance meeting Shellback (Remi Adeleke), who informs the pilot there will be a, 'fugitive extradition' on his flight.

A worried Torrance asks if he's 'dangerous' and asks what he did, to which Shellback responds, 'Homicide, 15 years ago.'

While Torrance argues, 'I don't want to scare the rest of the passengers,' Shellback insists, 'I'm afraid you're stuck with us' as they board the plane.

Extradition: The trailer begins with Torrance meeting Shellback (Remi Adeleke), who informs the pilot there will be a, 'fugitive extradition' on his flight

Dangerous: A worried Torrance asks if he's 'dangerous' and asks what he did, to which Shellback responds, 'Homicide, 15 years ago'

Torrance tells his flight crew, 'Get 'em on board, let's have a good flight.'

Later in the flight deck, Torrance tells Dele (Torrance An) that they're, 'cutting right through the top of the storm' as he tells one of the flight attendants to, 'keep everyone in their seats, no exceptions.'

Another flight attendant named Bonnie (Daniella Pineda) rushes through the aisle with a flashlight telling everyone to, 'have your seatbelts securely fastened.'

Good flight: Torrance tells his flight crew, 'Get 'em on board, let's have a good flight'

Storm: Later in the flight deck, Torrance tells Dele (Torrance An) that they're, 'cutting right through the top of the storm' as he tells one of the flight attendants to, 'keep everyone in their seats, no exceptions'

Bonnie: Another flight attendant named Bonnie (Daniella Pineda) rushes through the aisle with a flashlight telling everyone to, 'have your seatbelts securely fastened'

Torrance tells the tower that they're, 'dark' as one of the engines has seemingly failed and no one will answer them.

The plane goes down in jungle, as Scarsdale (Tony Goldwyn) is heard saying the plane, 'went down in the Jolo Island cluster,' which is, 'run by separatists and militias. The Filipino Army won't even go there anymore.'

Scarsdale tells others in his room that 'the clock is ticking' adding they can count those minutes, 'in lives lost or lives saved.'

Scarsdale: The plane goes down in jungle, as Scarsdale (Tony Goldwyn) is heard saying the plane, 'went down in the Jolo Island cluster,' which is, 'run by separatists and militias. The Filipino Army won't even go there anymore'

Ticking: Scarsdale tells others in his room that 'the clock is ticking' adding they can count those minutes, 'in lives lost or lives saved'

While the passengers all head out, they see a number of green vehicles approaching, though Dele tells them to get back because they don't know who's in those vehicles.

Torrance is seen in a building on a phone trying to reach someone, when he's attacked... but the pilot quickly turns the tables and subdues him, as Scarsdale says, 'I like this guy.'

The separatists are seen filming the terrified passengers, telling them to say their name and home country.

Phone: Torrance is seen in a building on a phone trying to reach someone, when he's attacked... but the pilot quickly turns the tables and subdues him, as Scarsdale says, 'I like this guy'

Filming: The separatists are seen filming the terrified passengers, telling them to say their name and home country

Torrance says he has to go after them, 'they're my passengers, they're my responsibility,' while he unlocks Louis from his handcuffs and says he'll need his help.

Louis hands him a rifle and says he'll need that, as Brodie asks if he's, 'former military or something' as they're seen working in unison.

'You could say that,' Louis says as Brodie asks why they locked him up then.

Rifle: Louis hands him a rifle and says he'll need that, as Brodie asks if he's, 'former military or something' as they're seen working in unison

Why: 'You could say that,' Louis says as Brodie asks why they locked him up then

'Nobody cares what really happened, but they say that redemption can be found in the most unusual places,' Louis says while seen wielding a sledge hammer.

Louis tells Brodie, 'If you do this, you'll never see your family again,' but Brodie asks, 'What about their families?'

'I have a daughter and I have every intention of making it home,' Brodie says over several action-packed shots.

'They are gonna come at us with everything they've got,' Brodie says as the plane is seen taking off while the tires are falling off the plane.

'We're getting off this island,' Louie says, as the trailer comes to an end.
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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
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, fifth from left, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, fifth from right, Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Tae-yong, fourth from left, and other officials shovel sand at a groundbreaking ceremony for the automotive group's electric car and battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia, Tuesday (local U.S. time). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



Hyundai, Kia, Genesis EVs to be produced in US by 2025



By Baek Byung-yeul



Hyundai Motor Group's three car brands  Hyundai Motor, Kia and Genesis  will start producing electric vehicles (EV) in the U.S. state of Georgia by 2025. The automotive group made the announcement at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new U.S. factory, Wednesday.



The automotive group plans to inject $5.54 billion to produce various kinds of EV models and EV batteries at Metaplant America in Bryan County, Georgia. The plant will begin production in the first half of 2025 with an annual output capacity of 300,000 EVs.





Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the automotive group's electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Bryan County, Georgia, Tuesday (local U.S. time). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



Chung Euisun, chairman of the group, said the new plant will help the automotive group take a leap forward in the EV business.



"Hyundai and the people of Georgia share many qualities: respect for our histories, ingenuity, creativity and determination to make the world better for the next generation," Chung said during the groundbreaking ceremony.



"Today, our EVs are recognized as best in class, and with this partnership, we are determined to be the global leader in electrification, safety, quality and sustainability. With the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, we will continue to evolve beyond an automaker to the world's leading mobility solutions provider."



The new plant will not only help increase Hyundai's presence in the U.S.' fast-growing EV market, but also contribute to the development of Georgia's economy as it is expected to create more than 8,100 jobs in the next few years, according to Hyundai.



"With more Georgians working than ever before, record jobs and investment coming to all parts of our state, and award-winning workforce development programs and infrastructure, the Peach State's economy is reaching new heights," Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said.



"Our partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and the groundbreaking of this innovative facility exemplifies that unprecedented success. With a long-term commitment to improving lives and livelihoods, we look forward to continuing this partnership and seeing its impact on both this community and our state as a whole."





Seen is a concept image of Hyundai Motor Group's manufacturing plant in Bryan County, Georgia, which will begin mass production of electric vehicles and batteries in 2025. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Asiana Airlines planes are parked at an airport. Newsis



Asiana Airlines, Korea's second-biggest carrier by sales, said Wednesday it will resume some routes to China next month amid eased virus curbs.



Asiana plans to reopen the routes from Incheon to Hangzhou and Shenzhen starting next Wednesday and Nov. 29, respectively, with one flight a week on each route, the company said in a statement.



The flights on the two Chinese routes will be available 2 1/2 years after their suspension in March 2020, the company said.



Currently, the carrier provides a flight a week on the routes from Incheon to Beijing, Changchun, Nanjing and Harbin. It plans to double the number of flights on the Changchun route Thursday, it said.



In July, Asiana resumed its Incheon-Beijing route after suspending it for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Before the pandemic, the key route between the two countries was used by some 1.1 million passengers annually. It was suspended in March 2020 under the Chinese government's COVID-19 restrictions.



Asiana said it will consider increasing the number of flights on Chinese routes if the Chinese government eases its travel restrictions further.



In China, overseas arrivals are required to undergo a mandatory quarantine period for 10 days, which is shorter than the previous two to three weeks. (Yonhap)


HAUNTFEST celebrates Halloween & Community Oct. 29

The best and biggest Halloween party in the Miami Valley is returning for its 36th year on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 7pm to 1am on Fifth Street in the Oregon District.

Its definitely an experience, said Andy Rowe, president of the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) and manager of Blind Bobs Its a chance for Daytonians to come together to celebrate and enjoy the spirit of our neighborhood. Its definitely an experience, said Andy Rowe, president of the Oregon District Business Association (ODBA) and manager of Blind Bobs Its a chance for Daytonians to come together to celebrate and enjoy the spirit of our neighborhood.

This years HAUNTFEST will feature live music and DJs, food trucks, beer trucks, street performers, and a costume contest with cash prizes. Prizes will be awarded in categories: Best individual, Best Group, and Best theme.

Even if you dont want to participate in the costume contest, everyone is encouraged to dress up. The people watching is reason enough to attend.

And, if youre feeling the music, bring your dancing shoes. The intersection of 5th and Wayne transforms into a giant dance party thanks to two DJs. With another stage for live music at Pine and 5th theres no shortage of opportunities to relax, danceif youd likeand experience a feeling of togetherness with 18,000 of your neighbors.

More information: Hauntfest on Fifth 2022
A garlanded portrait of child actor Rahul Koli, starring in 'Chhello Show', India's official entry to Oscars 2023. (Photo: PTI)

AHMEDABAD: Rahul Koli was very much excited to see "Chhello Show", India's official entry to Oscars 2023, on screen, but days before its release the teenage actor who played the character of the friend of the protagonist in the Gujarati film died of leukemia.

He was 17.

"Chhello Show" (Last Film Show), directed by Pan Nalin, is slated for October 14 release.

Rahul, who hails from Hapa town in Gujarat's Jamnagar district, died of leukemia on October 2, nearly four months after he was hospitalised at the cancer hospital in Ahmedabad, his father Ramu Koli said on Tuesday.

Rahul has played the role of the friend of the nine-year-old protagonist Samay (Bhavin Rabari) in the Gujarati coming-of-age drama "Chhello Show".

The film was nominated as India's official entry for the 95th Academy Awards.

"Rahul was looking forward to watching the movie on the big screen. He used to say that the release of the movie would launch his future, little knowing that he would die before October 14," Koli, an autorickshaw driver, told PTI over the phone.

Rahul was diagnosed with leukaemia- the cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues- this year. He was initially treated at a Jamnagar hospital. After remaining in the hospital for two weeks, he was admitted to the Ahmedabad cancer hospital four months ago.

"He was undergoing treatment and breathed his last on October 2," Koli said.

Rahul had only seen the trailer of the movie. He was very keen to watch it in the theatre, the grieving father recalled.

Koli said the makers of the movie helped them a lot with Rahul's treatment.

"When he (director Nalin) came to know about it, he extended all possible help to us. He was even planning to shift Rahul to Mumbai," said Koli.

Rahul was selected for the role through an audition conducted in Jamnagar.

"He was picked for an audition from a government school at Hapa where he lived with his family," said Lalit Joshi, a Jamnagar-based theatre artist.

The movie is inspired by Nalin's own memories of falling in love with movies as a child in rural Gujarat and is set in a remote rural village of Saurashtra.

The film portrays the story of a nine-year-old boy and his lifelong love affair with cinema when he bribes his way into a rundown movie palace and spends a summer watching movies from the projection booth.

"Chhello Show", which features Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena, Dipen Raval and Paresh Mehta, had its world premiere as the opening film at the Tribeca Film Festival in June last year.

It won multiple awards during its festival run, including the Golden Spike at the 66th Valladolid Film Festival in Spain where it also enjoyed commercial success during its theatrical run.
On the eve of Diwali and the day after the festival, air quality "only" dropped to "very poor" instead of "hazardous", which is a small victory and mercy over the consistent environmental onslaught of the last decade.

On October 17, the Central government's Commission of Air Quality Management issued a statement, based on IARI analysis of NASA data, that paddy stubble burning incidents have reduced between September 15 to October 16 -- from 2,375 in 2021 to 1,444 in 2022 in Punjab and from 1,026 in 2021 to 244 in 2022 in Haryana. All of this could be attributed to better governance and PUSA decomposer spraying but is more likely a function of the asynchronous Diwali-crop season, extended monsoon, heavy unseasonal rainfall and marginal bureaucratic improvements.

Regardless of reduction in stubble burning incidents, Delhis air pollution will worsen over the next few weeks as we enter the dry winter, festival season and the farmers dire need to plant wheat and vegetables. The most important and powerful first responder will be the state comprising the legislature, democratic and bureaucratic executive and judiciary. It is the most influential lever of social change and can use persuasion, regulation, coercion and action. What can it do better this time?

Stubble burning and air quality has gone from bad to worse because of lack of public buy-in, absence of political will, lack of a stable policy ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship for public problem solving and fragmented bureaucratic actions organized by departments instead of outcome. There is an underdeveloped research ecosystem for innovation and low coordination between judges, scientists and businesses, causing great public harm. The solution lies in dialogue on war-footing instead of monologues on the back-burner, where Occams razor takes precedence of Hanlons razor.

First, the Judiciary. The Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and High Courts of north India can do citizens a great service by bringing scientific rigour, business viability and market sustainability as the central pivot for problem-solving. In an age where the judiciary is known for executive action, it can replicate its experiences from Covid-19, where industry was a key stakeholder in problem solving with vaccines (Bharat Biotech, Serum Institute) and oxygen (Inox, Linde) whilst renowned academics and doctors were consulted to understanding the multi-dimensional problem directly.

Similarly, for the respiratory crisis that is air pollution, the courts should consult public sector research organisations (IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, CSIR) and private think tanks (WRI, Clean Air Fund, Open Philanthropies) on air quality directly to solve this crisis created by misaligned incentives and improper policy design. This will help create concrete and implementable plans instead of promoting unscientific, cost-ineffective or unsustainable solutions like smog towers and mechanised sweeping. The current Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, who has been amicus curiae in several pollution cases, and is in office till November 10, will spend his last few weeks in Delhis toxic air. He has the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy on north Indias air quality if he were able to create a systematic, sustainable and scientific plan to monitor and evaluate solutions proposed in several orders of Supreme Court Writ Petition 13029.

Second, the government (and the legislature). Governments must find a way to implement multi-pronged solutions in an outcome-oriented manner, to treat the fundamental ailment, instead of treating the symptoms. North Indias executive-led legislatures, for example, must reconsider the legislative instruments (Preservation of Subsoil Water Acts) enacted in 2009, aimed at water conservation in Punjab and Haryana, which gave the government the power to define a precise date of the year before which farmers are prohibited from transplanting paddy. While seeking to reduce groundwater depletion, it has reduced the number of days available between the kharif and rabi crops, and created incentives to burn the stubble in order to rapidly clear the field. Each year over the last 13 years, the agrarian crisis gets worse through bad policy planning and implementation, leading to poor fertilizers, failing crops and falling incomes. Free electricity for agricultural pumps without boundary conditions or community disincentives, and excessive continuous reliance on paddy due to its MSP and history has made things worse for water, soil, crops, farmers and the state.

To solve for this Nemean Hydra, groundwater depletion needs to be tackled by creating ponds, rejuvenating lakes and cleaning rivers using natural treatment methods and peoples participation. Delhis model of lake rejuvenation and Sant Balbir Seechewals model of cleaning the Kali Bein rivulet can be mainstreamed inside the government to bring science and community together. A new model of agrarian electricity governance should be proposed that provides for two lines to be connected to each village, one for agricultural use and one for residential use. The village residential line, with 24 hours of electricity, can power homes. Free but metered and scheduled electricity can be provided for agricultural pumps for a few hours in a day on the agricultural line. These two lines should have strict usage norms with village-level disincentives and individual fines if abused. Simultaneously, the long-term policy and program on crop diversification to increase farmer incomes must be pursued with vigor, which can create a sustainable market in the agrarian economy that removes the need for coercive laws. This means promoting millets and mushrooms which are less water intensive through state policies and instruments like MSP, as also creating a market for green business alternatives for paddy straw through mulching, green energy, eco-cutlery, eco-friendly housing and composting to supplement farmer incomes by creating value from waste. All these executive programs would benefit immensely if individual legislators showed greater agency to bring executive projects and practices to fruition and success.

And finally, the bureaucracy. The iron frame of the bureaucracy has the scope for highest impact because they can work in the background and apolitically implement best practices from within and outside their state. District magistrates in Punjab and Haryana can learn from Pathankot, which was able to reduce farmer apprehension in using stubble as fodder for cattle by sharing best practices, innovative communication and creating market linkages between agriculturists and dairy farmers. In 2019, this led to no stubble fires in the district. Similarly, they could replicate and scale the prudent and practical work of the Kheti Virasat Mission on crop diversification conducted by them in Faridkot, in their own district. They could emulate Chhattisgarhs Gauthan model of allowing composting on a 5-acre patch of barren land that enables social entrepreneurs and cooperatives to localise production and distribution of fertilizers using stubble as an input, again generating local value from local waste.

Senior bureaucrats in the government of India and state governments can connect disconnected silos of funds, plans and mandates to align disparate functions with common outcomes. If coordinated well, the Finance Commission grants for stubble burning reduction, pollution cess in states, CSR donations of private companies and philanthropic donations could be mobilized rapidly into a common air quality emergency fund to implement innovative solutions at scale. For example, it could use granular and fidelitous satellite data to implement outcome-driven payment of incentives to farmers and villages that dont indulge in stubble burning. It could bring to life and catalyse existing central and state government mandates of using biomass, for fuelling power plants and industrial boilers, instead of coal that is currently prevented by organisational inertia and viability gap funding for decentralised or local solutions.

Public problem solving requires participation and action from private markets, civil society and academia. Science can frame and measure the problem better and with its help technology can expand the scope of potential solutions. Companies, CSR and philanthropies can bring rapid scale, viability and sustainability to these solutions. Civil society activists and citizens can bring individual and collective action in implementing these solutions with tenacity and passion. However, for that, the state must understand that it cant solve this problem by itself. It can get by with a little help from its friends. Collaboration with competence with a base layer of compassion might be the only way that we can collectively breathe easy.

Roshan Shankar has been an advisor in the Delhi government since 2015.

Prasun Bansal holds degrees in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering and management from IIT Delhi, Stanford and IIM-Ahmedabad respectively. Previously he has worked with NASA and Boeing.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak who was appointed Britains Prime Minister on Tuesday and is the first Indian-origin person to occupy the post.

Modi 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.
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that a total sum of Rs 5,005 crore was spent on housing programmes under the Navaratnalu  Pedalandariki Illu scheme in the 2022-23 financial year.

At a review meeting on the housing department, the chief minister directed officials to expedite works in districts that showed slow progress, namely Nellore, Nandyal, Palnadu and Alluri Seetharama Raju. Officials must give priority for proper maintenance of TIDCO houses in order to ensure that they do not turn into neglected slums.

The officials informed the CM that 40,576 TIDCO houses were handed over to the beneficiaries.

He said proper upkeep of TIDCO houses is a must to ensure cleanliness. Extend a helping hand to welfare associations in adopting best maintenance methods. TIDCO should work in coordination with the representatives of the housing associations, he said.

The officials said a total of 1,10,672 TIDCO houses would be handed over to beneficiaries by December. The number will reach 1,10, 968 by March next. The officials said the process of registrations in the first phase was almost over.

They said while the department is paying special attention to construction of the houses sanctioned in Visakhapatnam, works on facilities such as electrification of the colonies are also being expedited where the buildings were already constructed. Residents welfare associations are being formed in colonies where there are more than 1000 housing units.

Awareness is being created among the welfare associations on proper maintenance of sanitation, sewage treatment plants and street lights.

Municipal and urban development minister Audimulapu Suresh, housing minister Jogi Ramesh, APSCL chairman D Dora Babu, AP TIDCO chairman J Prasanna Kumar, special CS (Municipal and Urban Development) Y Srilakshmi, Special CS (Housing) Ajay Jain and other officials were present.
Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Oct. 25. AP



The United States has no immediate plans to adjust its defense posture in the Indo-Pacific, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday, amid speculation that North Korea may soon conduct a nuclear test.



Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also underscored that the U.S. has no plans to deploy strategic assets such as tactical nuclear weapons to the region.



"I don't have anything to announce today in regards to any changes in force posture," the spokesman said.



"As you know we do maintain a robust presence in the Indo-Pacific region, (We) continue to work very closely with our allies and partners to ensure that our security relationships and our commitments continue to be in place," he added.



The remarks come one day after Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said the U.S. is prepared to make "both short- and longer-term adjustments to our military posture as appropriate" to respond to North Korean provocations, including a nuclear test.



Price reaffirmed the possibility of a North Korean nuclear test on Tuesday, saying, "It has been our assessment for some time now that the North Koreans are in a position to conduct a nuclear test, which would be their seventh nuclear test, really at any point."



North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test in September 2017.



Ryder dismissed the possibility of the U.S. deploying strategic assets in response to a potential nuclear test when asked.



"I think we have a long standing relationship with the Republic of Korea, with our allies and partners in the region to include Japan, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure that there's a strong deterrent so that we cannot get to the point of any type of conflict," he said, referring to South Korea by its official name. (Yonhap)


Patients wait for their turn to get treatment at Sarojini Devi eye hospital at Mehdipatnam following eye related injuries after Diwali on Tuesday. (DC Image/SSR)

HYDERABAD: Twenty eight people sustained eye-related injuries while bursting crackers during Diwali on Monday. They were immediately rushed to the Osmania General Hospital and Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in Mehdipatnam for treatment.

Around 10 people with eye injuries sought care at the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, and four were hospitalised and six received treatment in the outpatient department.

Seventeen patients with burns were treated by medical personnel at the outpatient department of Osmania General Hospital (OGH). Hospital superintendent Dr G. Nagender stated that another patients had 95 per cent burns.

Dr Najabi Begum, a surgeon at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, stated on Sunday, the day before Diwali, they had three cases of eye injuries from crackers, and on Monday, 10 casesof which four were seriouswere brought in. Out of these, a child has lost his eye and the other three will have to undergo surgery, she said.
HYDERABAD: After having been the target of poster attacks targeting its leaders in the Munugode Assembly constituency, the BJP on Tuesday launched a campaign of its own targeting TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

The two dozen posters targeting what state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who was accompanied by senior party leaders N Indrasena Reddy, and Dr Gangidi Manohar Reddy, described as a list of KCRs lies were released by him at the BJP camp office at Marriguda village in the constituency.

Each of these posters highlights one lie of the Chief Minister, a promise made the to people and not fulfilled, Sanjay said. This series of KCRs Jhoota Matalu (KCRs lies) is a reminder of how the TRS and the Chief Minister are once again trying to fool people of Munugode and the state, Sanjay said.

He said that the TRS was trying to buy Munugode voters by luring them with liquor, food, and money, and these posters will be timely reminders to the people why they should not trust KCR. He called on party workers to widely circulate the posters through various social media platforms so they reach the most number of people.

Among the posters were promises of TRS including making a Dalit the Chief Minister, three acres of land for Dalit families, setting up of Ambedkar Vikas Kendras in all mandal headquarters, a guarantee to buy all the grain raised by farmers, and Rs. 3,016 unemployment allowance to the jobless.
HYDERABAD: TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao called the Rozgar Mela inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide jobs to 10 lakh people as yet another 'drama'. He said it was 'cruel' by the PM to betray youth and the unemployed only for gains in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections.

In an open letter to the PM on Tuesday, Rama Rao alleged that it had become a practice for PM to indulge in such acts of betrayal before elections. Rama Rao reminded Modi of his promise to provide 2 crore jobs to youth every year, made during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign, and dared Modi to release a white paper on the jobs provided in the last eight years.

He said the TS government had 2.24 lakh jobs in the government sector and 16.5 lakh jobs in the private sector in eight years.

"The BJP government could not fill even 50,000 posts per year. But now you claiming that you will provide employment to 75,000 youths through Rozgar Mela. I am sure unemployed and youth in the country are keenly watching your false claims on jobs," Rao noted.

He alleged that due to privatisation and clsoure of PSUs (public sector undertakings) in the last eight years, over 2 lakh regular employees have lost jobs.

Rama Rao demanded that the PM take concrete steps to issue notifications immediately to fill all the vacancies in various central government departments first instead of indulging in 'cheap publicity stunts' in the name of rozgar melas.
Pakistans former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced to launch his much trumpeted long march on October 28 to force the government to agree on the dissolution of the National Assembly and announce snap polls.

Khan, 70, was disqualified last week by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to inform it about the money he received after selling the state gifts, also known as the Toshakhana case.

However, the Islamabad High Court observed on Monday that Khan was not barred from contesting elections in the future as it heard the disqualification case of the former prime minister by the countrys top election body.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Lahore, the place he chose to launch the protest towards capital Islamabad, Khan said that the protest will begin from the Liberty Chowk on October 28 and he will himself lead it.

We will gather at 11 and then we will start marching to Islamabad, he said. Khan said the march was actually the countrys actual fight for real freedom and his protestors would achieve their objective through peaceful means.

We are not going to Islamabad for any violence; we will not break any law; we will not enter the (high security) Red Zone; and we will hold protest in the capital at a place which has been designated by the Supreme Court, he said, reiterating that the marchers would remain peaceful.

Khan, who also held a protest march on May 25, said that the peaceful march was called off to avoid bloodshed in the country.

There is our march for haqeeqi azaadi and it has no timeframe. We will reach Islamabad from the GT Road and the nation will come from across Pakistan to Islamabad, he said.

He announced that it would be the biggest protest in the history of the country which was not for politics but for the future of the country.

This is something way beyond politics, it is a war for freedom from these thieves that have been imposed over us. This jihad will decide where the country will go, he said.

Khan alleged that a bunch of thieves was installed in the country to form the government and he wanted to show that the people were with him and to translate the support of the people, there should be fair and free elections.

We want the people to make the decision. Today, I am appealing to the entire nation that you will have to decide the direction of the nations. Do we want to go on this way to become a free country or serve these thieves, he said.

He also alleged that the prominent journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead in Kenya on Sunday night, was silenced by those who were afraid of him.

Khan announced the construction of a monument in his name in Lahore.

Separately, Khan addressed lawyers in Peshawar and revealed that Sharif was receiving threats from unknown numbers and he had asked him to leave the country.

Khan was ousted from power in April this year through a no confidence vote and since then he has been holding rallies to force the government announce fresh elections as he is confident to win.
Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday retained several senior ministers from predecessor Liz Truss's top team, including Jeremy Hunt as finance minister, as he bids for a stable transition.

Sunak, 42, kept James Cleverly as foreign secretary and Ben Wallace in defence, despite them both backing an aborted comeback by ex-leader Boris Johnson.

In an astonishing return just days after she quit Truss's cabinet, he re-appointed hardline right-winger Suella Braverman as interior minister, in charge of policing and immigration control.

Also Read | UK's new PM Rishi Sunak vows to fix Truss 'mistakes'

Sunak also kept his most recent leadership rival Penny Mordaunt, who withdrew from the race Monday after failing to secure enough Tory MPs' support, as Leader of the House of Commons.

The role -- which oversees government business in parliament -- is neither a promotion nor demotion but may disappoint Mordaunt, who had been tipped for more senior roles such as foreign secretary.

The appointments appear aimed at signalling continuity in top portfolios after the dramatic upheavals seen under Truss.

Grant Shapps, a longtime Johnson loyalist who had briefly replaced Braverman at the interior ministry and backed Sunak in the latest leadership contest, was named business secretary.

Also Read | Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata earned Rs 126 cr dividend income from Infosys in 2022

The role involves partial oversight of climate policy.

Shapps replaced Johnson's close ally Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was one of at least 10 ministers to leave the cabinet under Sunak's new rule.

Other appointments included Simon Hart as chief whip in charge of party discipline in the House of Commons, which unravelled under Truss and threw government business into disarray.

Oliver Dowden was named chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, making him a key troubleshooter across cabinet departments.

Nadhim Zahawi became a minister without portfolio, while also reportedly being appointed chairman of the Conservative Party.
Rishi Sunaks UK government is in talks with India over whether to increase the number of business visas granted to Indian nationals as part of a potential trade deal, a stance that risks causing friction in the new prime minsters top team.

Business visas remain an area of active negotiation in the discussions, Trade Minister Greg Hands told the House of Commons on Wednesday. He said talks are complete on the majority of the deal.

The government is trying to highlight the benefits of Brexit by adding to the new trade deals its struck since leaving the European Union, and Hands said an agreement with India will give exporters greater access to a billion consumers. But loosening visa arrangements could also put Sunak  the UKs first British prime minister of Indian origin  on a collision course with Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who recently expressed concerns about the arrangements.

Also Read | Whats not on Sunaks to-do list? Ending racism

Braverman, a hardline Brexiteer whose parents are also both of Indian origin, appeared to oppose a more generous visa policy in an interview with the Spectator earlier this month, saying: I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country -- the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.

Sunak is already under pressure for appointing Braverman back to the post she quit just a week ago over a security breach that she herself acknowledged broke ministerial rules.

Braverman also told the Spectator that she had concerns about having an open-borders migration policy with India because I dont think thats what people voted for with Brexit.

Not Immigration

At the time, the British press reported that her comments provoked the ire of former prime minister Liz Truss, who had wanted a more flexible migration policy in her short-lived effort to boost growth.

But Hands suggested that increasing the number of temporary business visas for Indians was a separate issue to permanent migration. In the area of trade, what were talking about is mode four arrangements. These arent immigration arrangements. These relate to business visas not for permanent settlement, he said.

Some 16 chapters across 26 policy areas have been agreed so far, according to Hands, who said talks will resume shortly.

We are working towards the best deal for both sides and wont sign until we have a deal that is fair, reciprocal and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the UK economy, Hands said.
President Joe Bidens administration has appointed career diplomat Elizabeth Jones as the acting envoy of Washington DC to New Delhi amid continuing uncertainty over the confirmation of the appointment of Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, as the ambassador of the United States to India.

Jones, who earlier served as the US ambassador to Kazakhstan, will replace Patricia A Lacina as the Charge dAffaires at the American Embassy in New Delhi.

She recently served as the coordinator of the Biden Administrations effort to relocate the Afghans, who had fled their country after it had gone under the control of the Taliban in August 2021, according to a press release issued by the US State Department announcing her appointment.

The US Embassy in New Delhi has been headed by acting envoys ever since the term of Kenneth L Juster as the American Ambassador to India concluded in January 2021 with the end of the presidency of Donald Trump.

Trumps successor Biden nominated Garcetti, the Mayor of Los Angeles, as the next US ambassador to India on July 9, 2021.

Garcetti, however, has not yet taken up his new assignment as his nomination has not been confirmed by the US Senate. He was accused of being aware of the alleged sexual misconduct of his top aide Rick Jacobs. The Mayor of Los Angeles denied the allegation persistently during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination in December 2021.

But a whistleblower, Naomi Seligman, who earlier worked as the communications director at the office of the Mayor of Los Angeles, urged the US Senate officials to examine his claims further. This prompted Republican Senator Chuck Grassley to get his office to conduct a probe and come out with a report on May 10 this year. The report concluded that Garcetti was likely aware of the alleged misconduct by Jacobs.

The US Senate has not yet voted on the nomination of Garcetti as the US ambassador to India, but the allegations against him made the Democratic Party unsure about garnering enough support in his favour. The voting is unlikely to be held anytime soon, as the US Congress is on a break till the Mid-Term polls on November 8, which will be followed by a busy lame-duck session.

Grassleys allegations were denied by the Biden Administration though.
Right on the heels of the Miya Museumthat supposedly showcases the culture of immigrant Muslims in Assambeing sealed by the Goalpara district administration, three persons were arrested and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for having alleged links with Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Bangladesh-based Islamic terror group Ansarul Bangla Team (ABT).

Mahar Ali, Abdul Baten and Tanu Kumar Dhadumiya were detained from their homes in Goalpara, Dhubri and Dibrugarh districts, respectively on Wednesday, hours after the administration in Goalpara district sealed the museum.

Two others, Sadek Ali and Jekibul Ali, were also arrested on the same charges on Wednesday. The five were arrested in connection with a case registered at Ghograpar police station in Nalbari district. The case was registered for investigation into activities of AQIS and ABT in Assam.

All five have been remanded to police custody for interrogation, and have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on charges of criminal conspiracy and Section 10 and 13 of UAPA, for allegedly being part of an unlawful organisation.

Assam police have arrested more than 40 Muslims since March as part of its investigation to unearth modules of AQIS and ABT in the state, particularly in the Muslim-dominated districts of Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri and Morigaon.

Ali, Baten and Dhadumiya were, however, arrested soon after a controversy erupted over the opening of the Miya Museum on October 23 at the residence of Mahar Ali, chairperson of All Assam Miya Parishad at Dapkarbhita in Goalpara district.

The Bengali-speaking immigrant Muslims in Assam, who constitute nearly 30 per cent of the states population, are referred to as Miyas. The ruling Bharatiya Janta Party, however, considers them a threat to the identity and culture of the states ethnic communities, which the saffron party had made into a poll issue before the Assembly elections in 2016 and 2021. It also said it would protect the indigenous communities against the demographic threats posed by the immigrant Muslims.

The private museum displayed items showcasing the culture and traditions of the Miyas in Assam, akin to museums showcasing the culture of other ethnic communities in Assam. It displayed the tools used in cultivation, fishing and other activities, which were disappearing fast.

But the Goalpara district administration sealed the museum as it was opened in a house provided under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. Dhadumia, a non-Muslim, was arrested for being part of the programme to inaugurate the museum.

The museum was sealed after several BJP MLAs and leaders demanded its demolition and even Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned it stating that there is no community called Miya in the state. He said that most of the items displayed in the museum belong to the indigenous communities in Assam.

When I opposed the idea of Miya museum and Miya poetry earlier, many called me communal. Now it is time for those to ponder over how they have opened the museum by stealing the items of our indigenous communities, Sarma had said.
A man charged with slashing another man in the face has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court after a judge said 'someone who manages to do that to another human being is a danger to the public.'

James Logan (32) of Primrose Street in Derry appeared charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent on a man on October 21.

He was also charged with possessing a knife on the same date and causing criminal damage to an electronic tag.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court that police were called by the Ambulance Service to Woodleigh Terrace.

When they attended they found a large pool of blood on a landing and blood elsewhere.

They found three males and a female in the flat and one of the males was being attended to in the bathroom for 'a large gash in his left cheek.'

It was said he was 'bleeding heavily'.

CCTV was examined and the alleged victim could be seen arriving at the flat and then it appeared he was forcibly removed.

An incident then takes place and the defendant 'appears to swipe' at the face of the alleged victim in front of what the officer said was 'the shocked female.'

The defendant was said to have left the scene and on October 24 he handed himself in to police.

Police objected to bail on the grounds the defendant could be 'a flight risk' as he had connections in Scotland.

The officer said that the defendant was in breach of his bail by being on the city side.

He added that there was an arrest warrant for Logan in Scotland.

Defence solicitor Derwin Harvey said his client came here from Scotland as he had family here.

He said his client had met the alleged victim in the case shortly after coming here and he had been kind to Logan.

The solicitor said that it appeared allegations were made about the alleged victim in the case and there had been some sort of falling out.

During the incident Logan said he had grabbed the knife hoping the other man would see it and leave.

Mr Harvey said Logan was adamant 'he did not want to cause the injury' and while it was 'an horrendous injury' his client maintained it was in self defence and he thought he was 'in immediate danger.'

Following the incident the solicitor said his client had taken off his tag and slept rough for a few days before handing himself in to police.

District Judge Barney McElholm was shown photos of the injuries and said Logan was not a suitable candidate for bail.

He remanded Logan in custody to appear again on November 10.
A County Derry primary school has marked their centenary celebrations by officially opening a new five-classroom extension to their premises.

Crossroads Primary School, Kilrea, last week held a mass marking the opening of the new classrooms and to celebrate their 100th year in education.

In a speech given at the mass, Principal Mr Eugene Mullan said the school were 'blessed' with a loyal community.

Having been appointed to the role of Principal at Crossroads Primary School in September 2017, I could quickly sense the unique ethos of community, togetherness, and pride, he said.

The provision of high-quality experiences for the pupils of our school is a team effort.

We all do our best to remember the three key words in our school mission statement; nurture and inspire the children and they will flourish.

As a school we have always been blessed to have staff who truly care for our pupils as though they were family.

I wish to thank them all for their hard work and commitment to all aspects of school life as we have seen major developments and improvements over the past few years.

The rich history of the school over the past 100 years reminds us that as a school community, we are the caretakers.

For the short time that were lucky enough to be involved, we do our best to make positive contributions for the children in our care.

Mr Mullan said the five-classroom extension had been the result of years of hard work.

For many years the staff and pupils of Crossroads PS have been forced to shift from one mobile classroom to another.

Never once was there a complaint from a pupil about their classrooms which often had patches of damp and leaky roofs.

Such is their resilience and acceptance; their focus was always on the enjoyment of friendships and learning; just as it should be.

After years of waiting and the combined effort of the leadership, Staff, Board of Governors and parents and wider school community, the pupils of 2022-23 are finally able to enjoy brand new classrooms.

All our pupils under one roof, with first class facilities that will hopefully serve this school community for many, many years to come.




U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russia on Tuesday against using a nuclear weapon in the war with Ukraine, saying such an escalation would be a grave error.







Asked by reporters whether he thinks Russia is preparing a "dirty bomb" attack that it would then blame on Ukraine, Biden said: "Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake were it to use a tactical nuclear weapon."







Russia has repeatedly warned that Ukraine could use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory.







This is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials which get disseminated in an explosion.







The U.S. and its allies suspect Russia might itself use a dirty bomb in a "false flag" attack, possibly to justify use of conventional nuclear weapons by Moscow as it finds itself on the back foot in eastern and southern Ukraine.







Biden said, "I'm not guaranteeing that it's a false flag operation yet. We don't know."







The Pentagon said Tuesday that Russia would face repercussions for using such a device.







"If Russia were to employ nuclear weapons or a dirty bomb, there would be consequences," spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told journalists, without providing specifics. (AFP)


Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has today officially opened Rossmar Special School in Limavady.

The school is split across three wings: nursery and primary; multi-purpose hall, school meals accommodation and classrooms for home economics, art, science and music and finally secondary level for pupils aged up to 19.

There are also two sensory rooms, a soft playroom, a total immersion room and specialist subject rooms including Home Economics, Music, Design and Technology.

Speaking at the official opening, Michelle McIlveen said: I am so impressed with the fantastic facilities at Rossmar Special School following a significant investment of 14.5m from my Department.

Students from nursery age right up to 19 now have access to bright and colourful classrooms and specialist rooms for therapy targeted at supporting children with special educational needs.

I want to congratulate everyone involved in bringing this impressive project to fruition, including school staff, Governors, consultants, contractors, and officials.

Staff and pupils moved into the new school building in April 2021.

Principal of Rossmar Special School, Principal Caroline Clements said: Today is another milestone for pupils and staff as we are finally able to celebrate our official opening. It has been a long journey with many challenges to reach this point with many years of waiting for approval up until the first sod was cut in 2018. In the middle of the pandemic, we had to move from the old school into the new one but thanks to the commitment and determination of our staff and governors we succeeded in making it as easy and comfortable as possible for our pupils.

All of our hard work over the last years have resulted in a fantastic new school of which we are all very proud. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in bringing us to this stage including our staff, pupils, governors, contractors, the Department and the Education Authority and of course the wider school community.
If you see a group of dressed up revellers dance silently towards you this Halloween weekend, fear not, you have not stumbled upon a zombie apocalypse but the latest party phenomenon to hit the North West.

North West Silent Disco Tours have been guiding head setted groups through the beautiful city centre of Derry for over a year now and this Halloween they will host three spooky dress up specials on Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th October from 4-5pm.

The project is the brainchild of cousins Laura Martin, Jamie Quigg, Niamh McColgan and Maria McCabe who decided to work together following the passing of their grandmother Mary Ann Meenan last year.

We all have our own full time jobs but when our granny passed away in 2021 we realised the only time we all get together is at wakes and funerals and that it would be nice to start something together, explained a spokesperson for the business.

We put it into our family group chat about starting something and we were the five mental cases that signed up!

Their party at last years Halloween celebrations has been one of the highlights with even then Mayor, Alderman Graham Warke, getting involved.

The collective experience of listening to music together on headphones has led to even the most reserved of their participants getting lost in the music and losing their inhibitions about dancing in the street.

There are no words that will do it justice, honestly, the spokesperson continued. You have to experience it, at first you feel a bit embarrassed but after the warm up you get this confidence you would never normally have and you forget everything and everyone.

Its just good clean fun and you burn like 500 calories which is always an added bonus.

Last Halloween was our first year and it was far better than we thought it would be.

We werent sure if people would sign up to our tours because they arent spooky or scary or informative but every single person on our tours had an absolute ball and a completely different experience to anything else that was happening in the town, even the Mayor loved it.

This year people can expect a laugh, a dance and all the Halloween songs you can think of.

We advise people to wear comfortable shoes and suitable clothing and if you are a bit shy then wear a costume so no one knows who you are!

Limited tickets are available across all the days and tickets are 5pp and can be purchased on our website www.northwestsilentdiscotours.com

Derry Halloween is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Tourism Northern Ireland, Donegal County Council, the North West Development Fund and the NI Executive Office.

The full programme as well as Traffic and Travel information detailing all road closures and traffic restrictions is available at www.derryhalloween.com.
Johnny Mercer is returning to Government, after being appointed to his former role of veterans minister by Rishi Sunak.

Mr Mercer, who was in recent weeks was a vocal critic Liz Trusss mini-budget, was sacked as veterans minister when the now ex-PM took over in September.

He supported Rishi Sunak in the race to replace Ms Truss and recently spoke about being sacked as a gut punch.

While his return was welcomed by his friends and supporters, the re-appointment comes as the Governments controversial legacy bill continues to move through Parliament.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which proposes an effective amnesty for Troubles crimes for people who co-operate with an information body, has sparked widespread opposition in the region.

The Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP @JohnnyMercerUK has been appointed a Minister of State (Minister for Veterans Affairs) in the Cabinet Office @CabinetOfficeUK. He will attend Cabinet. #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/PMWORBT48K  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 25, 2022

There is almost universal opposition to the proposed legislation which would see an effective amnesty offered for people accused of Troubles offences as long as they co-operate with a new truth recovery body, with the issue among several that has prompted repeated warnings from the Irish Government.

It is also set to halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.

The Bill has been through the House of Commons and is set for consideration by the House of Lords.
Members of the House of Lords have paid tribute to Baroness May Blood, the first Northern Irishwoman to be given a life peerage, after she died aged 84 on Friday October 21.

Lady Blood was a peace activist, civil rights campaigner and trade unionist who served as a Labour peer from 1999 to 2018.

Extending Labours condolences to Lady Bloods family, opposition frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington said: May was the first woman from Northern Ireland to be elevated to this House, reflecting her long record of defending and advancing the rights of women, children and working people.

I hope that her family will find some small comfort in the warm tributes from all communities and political parties in Northern Ireland, which must be a reflection of the peace process she did so much to advance.

Former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Hain paid tribute to a stalwart warrior for peace, who crunched fearlessly through all the political posturing, was dynamic, warm, passionate, blunt at times, and incredibly courageous on the frontline of peace.

Former leader of the SDLP in Northern Ireland, Labour peer Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick added: May was a fearless campaigner in Belfast for the rights of the underdog, for integrated education, believing that children should be educated together rather than apart, and, above all, for the rights of women in work and factories.

Former DUP deputy leader Lord Dodds said of Lady Blood: She lived and was brought up in the same part of Northern Ireland that I had the honour of representing for almost 20 years, so I knew her very well indeed.

I pay tribute to her great resilience, hard work, dedication and tenacity in her pursuit of the issues in which she believed strongly, as well as her dedication to young people in the Shankill and integrated education.

Lady Blood was born in the Shankill district of Belfast in 1938, leaving school at 14 to work at the local linen mill.

She joined the Transport and General Workers Union, working on health and safety issues, long working hours and wages, and remained working at the mill until its closure in 1989.

She then became a community worker on a project for long-term unemployed men, worked with the Great Shankill Early Years Project, and was chairwoman for Barnardos Northern Ireland committee.

Lady Blood participated at grassroots level in the peace process in Northern Ireland in the 1990s and was a founding member of the Northern Ireland Womens Coalition.

She was given an MBE in 1995 for services to equal opportunities and to industrial relations and elevated to a peerage in 1999.

She retired from the House of Lords in September 2018.
Northern Ireland businesses are facing a tipping point and require the help of a functioning Stormont Executive, the leaders of an industry body have warned.

The president and vice president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged politicians at Stormont and in Westminster to reach a resolution which would restore the powersharing institutions.

The DUP is blocking the functioning of the powersharing institutions in Belfast as part of its protest against the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol which has created barriers on the movement of goods 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.

Current legislation says that unless Stormont is restored by this Friday, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has to call Assembly elections, which he has said he is prepared to do.

Gillian McAuley president of the NI Chamber, and vice president Cathal Geoghegan, said this week was pivotal for the Northern Ireland economy.

A joint statement said: Despite very significant pressures, most businesses are continuing to trade well, or at least reasonably.

But the alarm bells are ringing with one in five businesses telling us that they are just covering costs.

We are on a downward trend and now is the time for action; to build confidence, protect jobs and encourage investment.

While a functioning Executive will not solve all the problems, the in-tray of overdue reforms and resultant crises continues to grow.

They continued: Over 170 days have passed since the election and within days we could be without local ministers.

Thats more time lost for decisions about spending and overdue reforms on health, climate change and planning.

Employers are in a cost of doing business crisis and our households are seeing the greatest squeeze on their finances of any UK region.

We are at a tipping point that at the very least requires a functioning Executive.

We do not underestimate the political challenges but decisions need to be made.

We have been here before and are all too familiar with life without an Executive.

We cannot repeat the stagnation of 2017-2020.

Today, we urge all our political stakeholders at Stormont and in Westminster to reach a resolution with the sense of urgency it demands.
Stormont must act to ensure public money is not being paid out to active paramilitaries, the Justice Minister has said.

Naomi Long expressed concerns about people with links to paramilitary groups being involved on boards or in organisations that were in receipt of taxpayer funds.

Ms Long told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee there was a need to review funding procedures and contracts to ensure that Stormont departments did not end up giving cover or status to current paramilitaries.

The minister was giving evidence to the committees inquiry into paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

Committee member SDLP MP Claire Hanna had raised concerns about public funds being paid to people who were aligned with paramilitaries and who were community workers by day and troublemakers by night.

She raised specific concerns around the make-up of Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) and some other publicly funded bodies.

Ms Long replied: We are very clear in terms of DoJ funding that current links to current paramilitarism would be contrary to the contracts we have signed with those organisations who deliver.

And, where someone is deemed to be in breach of that, where there is evidence, I would argue where there is strong suspicion that that is the case, where the police are concerned that that is the case, we would want to be able to take robust action because this is not just about where people are breaking the law, it is where people breach trust, or place the reputation of a funder at risk by their behaviour.

And its incredibly important that when that happens, we take robust action.

The minister added: It is a fear that I have had for some time, its a suspicion that I have had and a concern that I have had, it has been reinforced by some recent events, and therefore I think it is timely for us to review how we ensure that we robustly protect public funds and that we ensure that where we are funding people to do work, we are not giving cover or status to current paramilitaries who are exerting coercive control on communities or behaving in a way that is contrary to the rule of law.

Ms Long said her department could not compel other departments to change how they awarded and monitored public funding allocations.

We can certainly lead on it, however we cant force anyone to do anything, she said.

You will appreciate the nature of the executive it is not an easy job to get the executive agreed, but this is part and parcel of the tackling paramilitarism programme. That is an executive agreed programme.

It is not just a DoJ issue, and what we are doing is leading on building that consensus.

She added: A number of executive colleagues are clearly open to looking at the contract issue. I think the thing is that youve got to put it in at the ground level, there is no point trying to hold people accountable if it isnt part of their contract.

So, its got to be there contractually. Its got to be clear and understood from the outset when youre dealing with organisations that these are the standards that we expect, that anything short of those standards will lead to something being removed, and then the onus is on them to live up to those commitments and then the onus is on us to monitor and ensure that they do.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan was also asked about the issue as he gave evidence to the committee on Wednesday.

He said he was not aware of any current specific cases of the sort referred to by Ms Hanna.

But he added: We are supportive of departments or other bodies who are trying to carry out due diligence in terms of the constitution of boards and who may be receiving public funds.

Where we suspect or where we have an opportunity to deal with criminality we will deal with it without any fear or favour and well then bring it to the attention of the appropriate authority in terms of that funding. So, where we find that, we will do that.

Mr McEwan also told the committee that efforts by the police and other agencies to tackle paramilitarism in Northern Ireland were working.

We are making progress, having an impact, he said.

This is the lowest year in the last 10 years in terms of security trends, this has been the lowest number of shootings and bombings.

And I am talking about within communities and things like pipe bombs at the lower end as well.

Its the lowest per casualties of paramilitary style shootings and the lowest paramilitary style assaults.

So, by those stark statistics, we are making an impact.

Mr McEwan told the committee the police were aware of 68 organised crime groups operating in Northern Ireland. He said these groups were involved in crimes such as drug importation and people trafficking.

The senior officer said of the 68 groups, 32% had a direct link to paramilitary organisations in the region.
Samsungs Foldable phones have evolved to their fourth generation and have gradually refined the Foldable experience for users. These innovatively designed phones transform their shape and thus open up new experiences that add unforeseen value. The slick Galaxy Z Flip4 is a powerful tool for self-expression and the Galaxy Z Fold4 is particularly exciting for consumers who like to do a lot on their phones.

In modern times, when people constantly feel the need to be at the top of their game, a device like the Galaxy Z Fold4 promises to make life simpler by overcoming regular smartphone constraints. This new Samsung Foldable addresses modern productivity needs and offers all the tools you need to be productive on the move.

Lets talk about how the Galaxy Z Fold4 assures to be the ultimate do-more device that makes it easier for modern professionals to attain that perfect work-life balance.

Multi-window: To work with multiple apps feels very natural on the Galaxy Z Fold4

Opening more than one app at a time can feel intimidating on a regular phone. Certainly not on Galaxy Z Fold4, though! Every time you feel the need to jump to another app, you can quickly pull it on the screen with a few intuitive swipes. That too without disturbing your workflow in the app that you are currently using!

You can simply drag and drop apps from the PC-like taskbar at the bottom to use apps in a split-screen view. Or you may even pin App-pairs on the taskbar for up to three apps that you frequently use side-by-side. You can also drag and drop apps from the side edge panel or even squeeze the app from full screen to split-screen view by swiping with two fingers from the bottom, left or right edges.

So, without disrupting the flow of your online meeting, you can check your worksheets side-by-side or pull up the notes app to jot down important tasks. Or while watching a video you can continue chatting with a friend and checking out your emails.

Taskbar is a massive advantage for multitasking!

One of the most impressive features of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is its taskbar. The taskbar makes it remarkably simpler to switch between your most used apps and recent apps. If you often find yourself in a situation where you are juggling between multiple apps, you will find this taskbar to be a godsend.

For instance, if you need to fact-check before pushing an impulsive tweet, you can quickly drag and drop the browser from the taskbar in a split-screen view. Or if you are filling a google sheet collating data from a few different sources, the taskbar makes it incredibly easy to move back and forth between mail, notes, messenger, sheets and more such apps.

(Extra-) Large and Immersive Screen

And when you are getting some serious work done, the larger-than-usual screen of the Galaxy Z Fold4 proves to be a blessing. Even the selfie camera is underneath the display to facilitate a completely immersive experience.

The 7.6-inch Full HD AMOLED display can accommodate an astonishing amount of detail which will make you feel more confident while dealing with work-related matters on your phone.

This high-contrast display can get astonishingly bright which makes it an absolute treat for consuming cinematic HDR content. The 120Hz screen also promises a smooth and immersive gaming experience.

Not just the primary display, but even the 6.2-inch cover screen is now wider and more spacious, allowing users to easily tend to incoming notifications and other distractions without unfolding the phone.

Make the most of the expansive screen with the enhanced S Pen

The light and ergonomic enhanced S Pen of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is an awesome companion that lets you make the most of the expansive screen. Apart from quickly jotting down notes, doodling and sketching, you can use this low-latency stylus for precise touches and easy navigation across multiple windows. This makes it an important asset that helps boost productivity and multitasking efficiency.

It can also be used to grab text from images and can be a lifesaver when you need to digitally sign and share urgent documents on the move.

Go hands-free with the Flex mode

The Flex mode leverages the unique form factor of the Galaxy Z Fold4 and lets you go completely hands-free. Instead of tiring your hands through long video calls, you can simply fold the phone halfway and set it down on the table in perfect orientation. Your hands are now free to spin your S Pen or to hold your coffee.

The flexed half acts as a stand that also comes in incredibly handy when you are watching videos or even when you are taking long exposure night-time shots.

A complete experience!

Overall, the Galaxy Z Fold4 offers a complete flagship experience. This is a phone that promises to drive away all anxiety by making it seamless for consumers to switch between work and play on the fly.

Its the thinnest and lightest Fold phone to date and is forged from tough materials like armour aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus+. It assures of making the most of such advanced multitasking tools because it is backed by a very capable 4nm process-based Snapdragon 8 Gen1+ chipset and a long-lasting 4400mAh battery.

True to its flagship stature, it has a fascinating camera system that includes a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera that offers up to 3x optical zoom and up to 30x space zoom. The Nightography night camera makes the phone stand out. Larger pixels in the camera sensor paired with smart AI-enabled algorithms allow brighter and clear night photos, natural portraits and stable night videos.

In India, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is available in three stunning colours - Greygreen, Phantom Black, and Beige for a starting price of INR 1,54,999.

Check the latest deals and offers on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 here.
Herrera

Lancaster

Zhang

Clark

Follansbee

Patel

Herrera welcomed four new employees to its Seattle and Portland offices. Yashvi Patel joins the firm as an environmental engineer based out the Seattle office. She has a bachelor's degree in BTech and civil engineering from Nimra University and a master's degree in environmental science and engineering from University of South Carolina-Chapel Hill. Patel has three years of experience specializing in engineering design, environmental assessment, monitoring, and permitting.

Emily Follansbee was hired as an environmental engineer also based out of the Seattle office. She has five years of experience in civil engineering, environmental science, renewable energy, and data collection and analysis. Follansbee has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Gonzaga University and a master's degree in earth and environmental sciences from Columbia University. She comes to Herrera from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, where she worked as an energy project manager.

Tim Clark joins the firm as a limnologist based out of the Portland office. He has 10 years of experience in lake and watershed management, long-term stormwater and wastewater planning, water quality monitoring, and project management. Clark comes to Herrera from King County Water and Land Resources Division, where he worked as a limnologist/water quality planner.

Xiaoyu Shawree Zhang was hired as a scientist based out of the Seattle office. Zhang interned with Herrera throughout the summer and will now join the team full-time. Zhang is a recent graduate of the University of Washington, with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and resource managementwildlife conservation.

Herrera also announced the appointment of Alice Lancaster as regional manager at the firm's Seattle office. In her 18 years at Herrera, Lancaster has played an integral role in the firm's strategic growth, while managing several of Herrera's largest projects in Washington.

As Seattle's regional manager, she will drive, coordinate, and support Seattle region business development, Seattle-based multidisciplinary projects, and staff engagement and development. In addition to this new role, she will continue to lead projects and share her expertise in green stormwater infrastructure across the West.




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SEATTLE  A small apartment building at 1515 Bellevue Ave. sold for nearly $5.1 million, according to King County records.

The seller was 1515 Bellevue LLC, which acquired the property in 2018 for $4.7 million.





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The White House on Tuesday welcomed moves taken by Saudi Arabia to help Ukraine in its war with Russia as President Joe Biden ponders how tough to be against the Saudis for joining an oil output cut.







White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden and his team would take their time in assessing what consequences Saudi Arabia should face for an Oct. 12 decision by Saudi-led OPEC+ to cut oil output.







Biden, worried that gasoline prices will spike ahead of Nov. 8 congressional elections, has warned the Saudis will face consequences for siding with Russia and agreeing to cut output. Some lawmakers want the United States to suspend arms sales to the longtime Middle Eastern ally.







Since the OPEC+ decision, Saudi Arabia's representative to the United Nations has condemned Russia's annexation of four regions inside Ukraine.







"We've taken note since the OPEC+ cut that Saudi Arabia voted against Russia at the United Nations and also pledged $4 million to support Ukraine's reconstruction and humanitarian needs," Jean-Pierre told reporters.







The White House has given no timeline for completing a policy review on Saudi Arabia.







Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said at a forum in Riyadh that his country and the United States will get over their "unwarranted" spat, highlighting long-standing corporate and institutional ties. (Reuters)






Irelands premier Micheal Martin has said there cannot be direct rule from Westminster in the event of powersharing not being restored at Stormont this week.

The Taoiseach said if the institutions are not reformed in time, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) kicks in and the Irish Government will have a consultative role in the running of Northern Ireland.

He also reiterated his plea for the DUP to facilitate the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions before Fridays deadline.

Mr Martin made the remarks in the Dail (Irish parliament) in response to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald as the deadline for the restoration of powersharing in Northern Ireland looms.

Mr Martin said in the event of no restoration of the institutions the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference kicks in and the Good Friday Agreement provides for meetings of that in respect of close consultation with the Irish government in terms of matters pertaining to Northern Ireland.

The BIIGC was set up under the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. Chaired by the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister and Northern Ireland Secretary, it guarantees the Irish Government a say in non-devolved Northern Ireland issues.

A recent report by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assemblys Sovereign Affairs Committee highlighted that, before Brexit, UK and Irish representatives met regularly at official and ministerial levels during EU proceedings.

It said formal meetings of both parties through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference should be less episodic and not only focused on crisis events.

He added: In the event that there is a sustained period with no functioning of the Northern Ireland executive body, assembly, there cannot be a return to the direct rule arrangements of the past.

And the Government will fully pursue its consultative role under the Good Friday Agreement, that is the position. That we will exhaust every possibility within that framework if there is a sustained period of absence of the executive or the assembly.

The Taoiseach reiterated his plea for the DUP to engage with the other political parties in Stormont and form an executive before Friday.

I made it clear to the DUP that they should come back into the assembly, facilitate the restoration of the assembly and the executive. It is a denial of democracy not to do so, he said.

Ive been very consistent since the election that the results of the election should be vindicated. The people have voted and the results should be reflected in the composition of the executive.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris reiterated his vow to call an Assembly election if a powersharing executive is not formed at Stormont.

The UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call an election if an executive is not in place by Friday.

Ms McDonald said unionists need to understand wrecking the Stormont institutions will not result in direct rule from London as she called for the DUP to engage with her party.

Sinn Fein stands ready to form an executive for all, ready to work with others to shape a better future. Its with this objective in mind that the assembly was set tomorrow, she said.

Our message to the DUP is clear: end your boycott, join with us, work with us together in an executive to tackle the cost of living, to fix the health service and to make peoples lives better.

Ms McDonald added: Political unionism has to understand that wrecking the institutions of government will not usher in direct rule from London.

If the restoration of the executive in Belfast is blocked indefinitely by the DUP, the only alternative would be an arrangement of joint authority between the Irish state and the British state.

This is in line with the position taken in 2006 by the Irish and British governments, when facing into a deadlock situation.

She added that she hoped that the Dail can maintain a unified stance on the important matters that lie ahead.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach attends a news conference on legalising cannabis, in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday. Reuters-Yonhap



Germany on Wednesday set out plans to legalise cannabis, in a move promised by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government that would make it one of the first countries in Europe to make weed legal.



Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented a cornerstone paper on planned legislation to regulate the controlled distribution and consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes among adults.



Acquiring and possessing up to 20 to 30 grams of recreational cannabis for personal consumption would also be made legal.



The coalition government struck an agreement last year to introduce legislation during its four-year term to allow the controlled distribution of cannabis in licensed shops.



Lauterbach did not give a timeline for the plan, which would make Germany the second European Union country to legalise cannabis after Malta.



Many European countries, including Germany, have already legalised cannabis for limited medicinal purposes. Others have decriminalised its general use, while stopping short of making it legal.



According to the paper, private self-cultivation would be permitted to a limited extent. Ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings connected to cases no longer illegal would be terminated.



The government also plans to introduce a special consumption tax, as well as developing cannabis-related education and prevention work. (Reuters)




A unique chair crafted by emerging furniture designer Ann Marie Woods from Dunleer, has just finished a very successful stint on display at the National Museum of Ireland (NMI), as part of the exhibition Our Irish Chair: Tradition Revisited.

Ann Marie is currently studying on the B.Sc. in Furniture Design and Manufacture programme at ATU Connemara, Letterfrack, Co Galway (formerly GMIT - Letterfrack). She designed and crafted a three-legged chair that was chosen for display by a panel of adjudicators from the National Museum of Ireland, ATU Connemara and the Office of Public Works. It went on display at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo, from October.

The work is a result of a partnership initiative by the National Museum of Ireland and ATU Connemara, which challenged furniture design students to respond to examples of chairs in the national collections and design a piece of furniture for the modern home. The students were inspired by a particular Irish chair type known as the Tuam or Sligo chair.

Ann Marie was at the National Museum of Ireland recently for a special event to celebrate the significant contribution of ATU Connemara to the exhibition, which was originally launched during difficult circumstances when strict COVID-19 public health restrictions were in place. Her unique take on the Tuam/Sligo chair was inspired by the Mary McAleese bridge in Drogheda. Called 'The Emblematic Chair', it is light and elegant with minimalist architectural lines and a curved seat for comfort.

Speaking at the event at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Paul Leamy, Head of Centre for ATU Connemara, National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology, said: We were delighted to work with the National Museum of Ireland on this exciting project.

"Our students were challenged to respond to a stimulating design brief. The final chair designs are impressive contemporary interpretations of the original Tuam/Sligo chairs, but yet are thoughtful in paying respect to the masters of the past.

Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the Irish Folklife Collection at the NMI - Country Life, said: It is inspiring to see how these emerging designers applied such creativity, skill and commitment to their individual works. I think that speaks immediately to the visitor when considering each piece of furniture.

"It is especially engaging to see how the modern interpretations are so striking and vibrant yet still manage to evoke a sense of an enduring design passed down through the generations by dedicated craftspeople.

Our Irish Chair: Tradition Revisited is on display at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, until March 2023. Admission is free. Visit www.museum.ie for further information.
Gardai have issued a warning to students and those aged over 55 who are regularly targeted to be money mules, a criminal offence which often results in a court appearance.

As part of its #SafeAtCollege campaign and in partnership with the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland, An Garda Siochana is warning third level students against becoming a Money Mule.

A money mule is a person who allows their account to be used for the transfer of others stolen or illegal money. They may or may not be aware of the crime, however, they are complicit if they recklessly allow their account to be used to launder the proceeds of criminality.

Those aged 18-24, and those over 55 years of age are the most commonly targeted age groups by organised crime gangs to act as money mules, according to gardai.

Vulnerable people such as those who are new to the country, students, people who are unemployed or under financial pressure are also likely to be targeted. Those who purchase illegal drugs may be offered to pay off their drug debt by becoming a money mule.

Gardai caution that ignorance is no excuse, and the penalties include a prison sentence of up to 14 years, a criminal conviction with a lifetime criminal record, extradition to the country where the predicate crime occurred, and not being permitted to open another bank account.

Young people are asked to heed warning signs. For instance, an approach via a social media platform or in-person (usually in a social setting or at college) with an offer to make easy money. The individual who makes the approach only uses a social media handle and will not provide information to identify themselves. The person approached is then requested to provide all details relating to their account, including online security access codes.

There can also be advertisements for jobs on online platforms offering seemingly easy or quick money that are in fact a recruitment front for money mules.

Anyone who thinks they are being approached to become a money mule should refuse to provide their bank details and to contact An Garda Siochana. If an account has already been compromised, the account holder should contact their bank and An Garda Siochana.

Earlier this month, An Garda Siochana confirmed that over 830 money mules had been identified in Ireland in the past number of years.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau estimate that there are at least 4,000 money mules linked to their investigations who have used Irish addresses. The vast majority are young people in all corners of Ireland.

Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) said: "Those who agree to allow their bank account to be used for the transfer of illegally obtained money may not necessarily realise that they are enabling very dangerous international criminal organisations and are involving themselves with these criminals.

"It seems quite simple and at the same time quite lucrative, but the reality is that those who allow their bank account to be used are taking a huge personal risk. More than that, they are in essence assisting ruthless criminals involved in human trafficking, people smuggling, terrorism, and even wars.

"An Garda Siochana is sending this warning because it isnt the hardened criminals face on CCTV at an ATM. It isnt their phone number or bank account details linked to the transfer of illegal gains  its those of the money mule  if an offer sounds too good to be true it probably is. There is no easy money to be made, Supt Cryan said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin watches a training to test the strategic deterrence forces via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Putin monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles. AP-Yonhap



Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles in a show of force amid the heightened tensions with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.



Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise was intended to simulate a ''massive nuclear strike'' by Russia in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia.



The maneuvers followed Putin's warning about his readiness to use ''all means available'' to fend off attacks on Russia's territory in a clear reference to the country's nuclear arsenals.



Wednesday's drills involved the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the northern Plesetsk launch site and the launch of a Sineva ICBM by a Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea.



As part of the exercise, Tu-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at practice targets.



The Kremlin said in a statement that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets.



Such maneuvers involving land, sea and air components of the Russian nuclear triad have taken place on an annual basis to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness.



The Biden administration said Tuesday that Russia gave notice it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities. The Pentagon and U.S. State Department said Russia had complied with the terms of the last U.S.-Russia arms control agreement in notifying Washington of the upcoming tests.



The Russian nuclear exercise comes amid Moscow's warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a ''dirty bomb'' in a false flag attack to blame Russia.



Putin himself repeated the dirty bomb claim on Wednesday. Shoigu, the Russian defense ministry, also called his Chinese and Indian counterparts Wednesday to discuss it. Ukraine and its Western allies strongly reject the allegation.



The Ukrainian government has said it suspects Russia is planning its own false flag operation. (AP)


I LEFT Ireland on a year out, taking a sabbatical from UCC in December, 2015. I had decided to travel for a year with a friend and we had a few countries in mind.

After having done my YTT training in Bali in 2013, I knew I wanted to return. The island is so nice, the people so friendly, it almost felt like home from home, an island but in the sun. So, after travelling through Australia, we found ourselves back in Bali and the rest is history!

I continued to extend my career break then got stuck here during the pandemic as the airport closed with travel restrictions. I found work to keep me going and have now since resigned from UCC, making Bali home for now.

HOW I SPEND MY DAYS

My life here is pretty balanced, I wake up to warm sunshine most days (except for rainy season) and work-out, whether that be bootcamp with a local trainer Eka and friends, or taking a private Muay Thai lesson at home with Rai. Breakfast is generally fresh tropical fruits, or a smoothie bowl, and some of the best coffee in the world is found here. I then ready myself for the day and pop on my scooter to drive to work.

In the evenings, I can be found watching a sunset at a local warung (small restaurant) at the beach, or gathering with friends, having food or a fresh coconut.

Aimie Mullins, who loves to explore the island on her time off.

A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

On weekends, I love to explore the island, visiting its many beautiful spots, beaches, waterfalls and temples. There are over 20,000 Temples in Bali. Some of these include water temples where people go for water cleansing rituals. But the most special day of the year in the Balinese Calendar, and something the world should embrace in my opinion, is Nyepi (Day of Silence). The period of total silence on the Island of the Gods. Everyone needs to stay home, shut the lights, and remain quiet. Nobody is allowed to be outside, all businesses are shut down, a night of darkness, where even the airport closes.

Bali is not only very relaxed, but a very accepting place and the Balinese are extremely welcoming. Its important, like when living anywhere, to familiarise yourself with local ways, build a solid foundation, be informed, open your heart and mind and enjoy the magic.

MY WORK

I work in an architectural firm, Superset Design Studio, as a Procurement & Project Manager. Our company works on international high-end projects in collaboration with acclaimed professionals.

We create not only beautiful spaces, but also furniture design, lighting, art and bespoke accessories. My role is the management of the furniture and lighting production across Indonesia and Asia.

WHAT I WOULD DO BACK HOME

I definitely miss my family and friends back in Cork. Its a big sacrifice that you make living abroad as an expat.

Aimie Mullins, works for an architectural firm.

If I was in Cork for a day, I would wake up in my sister Emilies home in Watergrasshill, with her hubby John and two kids Theo and Tillie. Wed head to OMahonys for early brunch with my parents. Then make our way to Fitzgeralds Park for some fun play activity and ice cream.

Take a walk through the city, head to the English Market to pick up some snacks, and then take a spin to Garrettstown beach for a picnic and walk. Wed wrap up the evening with some fresh fish and chips in Kinsale, and maybe a cheeky Kinsale G&T. Possibly then rope in a babysitter and head to one of Cork citys hotspots for some cocktails.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

My most memorable moment so far was the first Nyepi I experienced on the Balinese New Years Day of complete silence. Before the silence, there are colourful processions and purification ceremonies which take place on the coastlines. The famous ogoh-ogoh takes place across the island the night before Nyepi. Large, scary creatures depicting evil spirits and monsters are made by the local villages for weeks leading up to the ogoh-ogoh parade. They are then carried through the streets accompanied by lighting effects and music. This happens island-wide, to attract evil spirits from the island to the ogoh-ogohs.

The monsters are then destroyed and burnt to cleanse the island of evil spirits in preparation for the New Year.

Then, starting from sunrise to sunrise the following day, there is a day of complete silence across the island. This is the only place in the world where the government will shut down an airport for meditation and introspection!

Aimie Mullins, celebrating St Patrick's Day.

WHAT I MISS MOST

It goes without saying I miss my family dearly, my mum and dad, Elma and Bill Mullins, and my dear sister Emilie and her wonderful family. I still have my closest school friends in Cork, Emer OMahony and Lucy Feely. Not to mention my sidekick Jonathan Horgan, my bestie.

Im blessed to have a great network of friends in the city, all of whom I cant mention right now, but send you all my love.

Im looking forward to a trip back home in the coming months, and squeezing the life out of my family. Whilst topping up on some Clonakilty fry-ups,Taytos and Tanora!
A man who is in custody at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) on the grounds that he is unfit to enter a plea to a charge of the attempted murder of his mother is to appear in court next month after he was found fit to plead to a charge of stealing alcohol from a supermarket.

Gearoid Coughlan (31) of Ballycoughlan, Innishannon in Co Cork, was previously remanded in custody at the CMH on the grounds that he is unfit to enter a plea in relation to a charge of attempting to murder his mother in Innishannon, Co Cork last June.

Mr Coughlan faces two charges of theft of a few cans of beer and a bottle of gin from Aldi supermarket in Dunmanway on May 28 and 29 of this year.

One week later, on June 4, he was accused of attempting to murder his mother Mary at the family home in Bandon, Co Cork.

Today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court Judge Helen Boyle directed that Mr Coughlan be assigned a second counsel following an application from the defence in the case. Judge Boyle said that it was appropriate to assign a second legal counsel for the theft charge given the complicated history of mental illness of the accused.

Mr Coughlan, who is represented by defence barrister Jane Hyland, is set to appear before the court in person on November 10 next. He was not required to be in the body of the court room for the call over of the list today as his case was listed for mention.

Unfit to plead

Mr Coughlan had previously been found unfit to plead to the theft charge, following the presentation of oral psychiatric evidence. However, he has now been found fit to enter a plea in relation to the alcohol theft charge.

Previously, Dr Eugene Morgan testified that Mr Coughlan appears to have chronic schizophrenia.

Unfortunately, he also takes illicit drugs including head shop drugs  he consumes quantities of drugs and then gets quite psychotic. He has responded well to medication in the past but he is extremely paranoid and has a complex delusionary pattern (about being attacked.)

Dr Morgan, who is a consultant psychiatrist in Cork Prison, gave this opinion to the court prior to Mr Coughlans admission to CMH. He outlined Mr Coughlans long standing history of paranoid schizophrenia and poly substance drug abuse.
RESIDENTS and business owners in Cork city are bracing themselves for localised flooding during high tides in many areas of the city on Thursday morning and evening.

High tide tomorrow morning is at 7.17am and is expected again at 7.34pm tomorrow evening.

Cork City Councils Flood Assessment Team issued a warning on Wednesday afternoon that there is a threat of minor flood risks for Thursday morning and evening in several parts of Cork city due to a period of high astronomical spring tides.

It is likely that some roads and parking areas along low-lying Quays in the city centre may suffer localised flooding during high tides. Cork City Council is continuing to monitor the situation closely, a spokesperson for the Council said.

Cork City Council also warned that it is likely that some roads and parking areas along low-lying quays in the city centre may suffer localised flooding during high tides which include Morrisons Quay, Fr Matthew Quay, Trinity Bridge, Union Quay, Sharman Crawford Street, Wandesford Quay, Frenches Quay, Probys Quay, Crosses Green, Lavitts Quay, Kyrls Quay, South Terrace, Rutland Street, Sawmill Street and South Mall.

Cork city has been besieged by flooding this month. Many homes and businesses were affected by heavy flooding following incessant rainfall that occurred on Sunday, October 16.

FLOOD SCHEME

The citys main flood defence plan, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, is set to come before the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath for approval confirmation towards the end of this year or in early 2023, the Office of Public Works (OPW) confirmed recently.

The proposed scheme would run from Inniscarra Dam to the city centre, with the OPW stating that the scheme would protect more than 2,100 properties, including 900 homes and 1,200 businesses, against tidal and river flooding.

The Save Cork City Community Association CLG (SSCA) recently mounted a Supreme Court bid to have planning permission for certain flood relief works in Cork City overturned.

They want the decision by the High Court last year to refuse to strike down the planning permission for the works around the Morrisons Island area reversed.

Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill said he is in favour of the Morrisons Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project.

Im very much in favour of Morrisons Island proceeding to show people what the final project would look like, but more importantly to protect the properties in the vicinity of Morrisons Island.

Cork City Council said that crews will be deployed across the city and they have urged commuters to drive with care.
By Amy Gibbons and Jonathan McCambridge, PA

New British prime minister Rishi Sunak has told Taoiseach Micheal Martin that he would prefers a negotiated outcome to issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The two leaders held a phone conversation on Wednesday evening.

Mr Martin said they discussed the need to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

The post-Brexit trading treaty, which is fiercely opposed by unionists in Northern Ireland, has led to the collapse of the Stormont Assembly and Executive.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke to Rishi Sunak on Wednesday. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA

The DUP has said it will not engage with the devolved institutions in Belfast until decisive action is taken to remove the protocols effect on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The UK 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.

The European Commission has warned that such unilateral action at Westminster would be in breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action.

Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening. Discussed cooperation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI.



Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the Protocol.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 26, 2022

Following his conversation with Mr Sunak, the Taoiseach tweeted: Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening.

Discussed co-operation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI. Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said: The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Sunak spoke this evening.

The Taoiseach congratulated PM Sunak on his appointment and looked forward to the two Governments working closely together. They discussed cooperation in the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They both agreed on the importance of EU-UK engagement to find agreed solutions to the issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol, and they discussed ongoing developments in Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister reiterated their commitment to a strong British-Irish relationship and looked forward to an early opportunity to meet.

Pleased to speak to @MichealMartinTD tonight, discussing how the UK and Ireland as close neighbours & friends can work together in the coming months.



I also thanked him for Irelands steadfast support for Ukraine.  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 26, 2022

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Taoiseach Micheal Martin this evening.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of a strong relationship between the UK and Ireland and expressed their determination to build on that friendship in the coming months.

The Prime Minister welcomed Irelands ongoing support for Ukraine, and the leaders agreed on the importance of continued international unity in the face of [Vladimir] Putins aggression.

Discussing the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Prime Minister set out that his preference remained a negotiated outcome and hoped all parties would approach the current challenges with pragmatism and goodwill.

The leaders agreed on the urgent need for a functioning executive in Northern Ireland. Both undertook to continue discussions in the coming weeks and months.

Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak



 are strategic partners.



Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change.



And on finding joint solutions under the Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability. pic.twitter.com/iJ8czqwQoB  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 26, 2022

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also had a phone conversation with Mr Sunak.

She tweeted: Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak. [The EU and UK] are strategic partners.

Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change. And on finding joint solutions under the [Northern Ireland] Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability.
By Cate McCurry, PA

Communities that welcome in many refugees from Ukraine could receive a multimillion-euro fund to improve public facilities under plans supported by the Tanaiste.

Leo Varadkar told the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening that he wanted to see a community fund for areas to improve schools, public transport, community and sporting facilities.

He said the state will not turn any refugees away but stressed that the welfare and accommodation support will remain a real constraint.

Leo Varadkar (Niall Carson/PA)

He told the meeting that housing needed to be built rapidly on suitable sites.

Disused army barracks and modular homes are among the measures being considered by the Government to help plug the accommodation crisis for refugees.

Fine Gael TDs also supported the use of rapid-build housing.

Mr Varadkar said the numbers of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland are at unprecedented levels.

Ireland has taken in around 55,000 Ukrainians, with approximately 12,000 in schools, 10,000 working and paying taxes, and 1,000 in third level and higher education.

Earlier, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said old army sites could be quickly converted to house Ukrainians as the state struggles with the number of people seeking refuge.

Ms Humphreys defended the Governments handling of the crisis, saying it is doing everything it can.

Some refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have been forced to sleep on the floor at Dublin Airport as state accommodation reaches capacity.

The Government is scrambling to find rooms and accommodation to help address the shortage.

Ms Humphreys said Ireland has welcomed refugees with its arms open.

We have supported a lot of Ukrainians coming into this country and when you put it into perspective, we have almost 55,000 Ukrainians here and that is the total population of Co Monaghan, the Fine Gael minister added.

So we have done a lot. I want to acknowledge the work that people have done in terms of taking them into their houses, and indeed the work that Minister (Roderic) OGormans department has done in identifying accommodation for them and, yes, we are under pressure at the minute but were working through a number.

Heather Humphreys (Liam McBurney/PA)

We did have a Cabinet meeting on Monday and theres a number of proposals being brought forward, such as increasing the amount of support that we give to families who take Ukrainians into their homes.

Were looking at identifying other possible opportunities in terms of maybe old disused army barracks that could be quickly converted, were looking at modular homes, so were doing everything we can.

I think its important to say that this is something that it shouldnt be an us and them.

She said Irish people have historically gone abroad to seek refuge, employment and a new life.

In this country we have held our arms open, we have brought people in here, and we need to support them, and we should never forget where theyre coming from, she added.

The horrific circumstances that they find themselves in, and they have lost loved ones. Many of them are women and children that are here, they dont know where their husbands are. Theyre fighting in the war effort and I think we need to be conscious of that.

A bus leaving the City West hotel and conference centre which is being used to house Ukrainian refugees (Niall Carson/PA)

There are pressures, certainly  we are doing everything we can as a Government to try and alleviate those areas where there is pressure.

The Government also has plans to encourage more people to host families or individuals fleeing Ukraine.

The minister repeated comments by Mr Varadkar that the state cannot guarantee accommodation to those arriving in Ireland after senior government ministers met on Monday night to discuss the accommodation crisis.

Proposals included increasing the monthly payment for people taking in Ukrainian refugees to 800.

Measures are set to be agreed at a meeting later this week or at Cabinet next week.
TWO Cork mums who spent most of their pregnancies wearing their husbands sweaters because they couldnt find anything else, came up with the perfect solution  they launched their own maternity range.

Lorna Sewell, 40, originally from Blarney, and now living in Rathcormac, is a mum of four children ranging in age from three to 12.

Joanna Dwornicka, 41, originally from Poland, and living in Ireland for the last 20 years, and Rathcormac for the last four, is a mum-of-one.

Lorna is a midwife and Joanna is a dental nurse and the pair became pals through their sons, who are best friends.

The friendship deepened during Covid as theyre also neighbours and they helped each other out with childcare.

And now, were two moms just taking a chance in business! they said.

Their lightbulb moment for their new online and breastfeeding clothing range came last September, said Joanna.

We were chatting over a cuppa around Lornas kitchen table and we started talking about our pregnancies. It came up that both of us struggled to get clothes to fit our changing body shapes, despite our very different sizes. We had one main thing in common, that both of us spent most of our pregnancies wearing our husbands oversized, unflattering jumpers. This got us agreeing that there was a need for more choice in maternity clothing, she said.

Some of the maternity and breast feeding clothing available from Maternitytobaby.ie

Lorna added: To be honest, we both kind of walked away laughing that it was a pipe dream. But at 3am I was awake looking at wholesalers online!

What followed, she said, was a whirlwind few weeks.

Myself and Joanna were messaging at all hours of the day and night, back and forth, bouncing ideas off each other. Then we decided wed take the plunge. We booked flights to Poland within three weeks of our original chat, with our two sons, during mid-term break, to meet prospective suppliers last October.

This gave us a unique opportunity to assess the quality of the products before we ordered and also see the locations and working conditions where they were being made.

On return from our trip, we had fire in our bellies and with this motivation we started looking for a Cork-based web designer and accountant, said Lorna.

A maternity dress from Maternitytobaby.ie

The friends readily admit it was a huge leap into the unknown as well as being a financial risk.

We have both invested our personal savings into setting this up. There were many a days where one of us just wanted to give up, but those were the days where we spurred each other on, they said.

Even though most definitely out of their comfort zone, they were determined.

After research, visits to suppliers, time, energy and personal finance, Maternitytobaby.ie was launched the end of January and is growing from strength to strength, said Lorna.

We are already seeing a growing number of women who may have purchased from us during pregnancy and are returning now to purchase breastfeeding clothes.

This to us is testament to the fact that what we are offering is quality and comfort at affordable prices.

The two are also very proud to be able to say that 95% of their stock is made in Europe by small suppliers, who make to their order quantities, reducing waste and fast fashion.

Maternity-wear is a busy market but the pals pride themselves on quality and comfort, crucially at competitive prices.

More the new clothing range from Maternitytobaby.ie

As mothers, we understand that comfort is key during pregnancy and breastfeeding, said Lorna.

Launching a business at such a challenging time in terms of rising energy costs hasnt been ideal.

The rising cost of fuel has made our logistics costs between Poland and Ireland a bit more expensive and some of our suppliers have been forced to increase their prices due to rising material costs. We have tried to keep our prices as competitive as we can for our customers and even absorbed some of these costs ourselves, said Joanna.

The business was founded after the two women couldn't find adequate maternity wear when they were pregnant.

Future plans include showcasing some of the products at the Pregnancy & Baby Fair in the RDS.

And we are working with our main supplier to have prototypes made and hope to have a specific collection of Maternitytobaby branded clothing within the next year, said Lorna.

Every day is a learning day for them.

Quality checking products before we order is key. Learning to navigate social media and the website, while still learning to try and have some work/life balance, especially when the kids are still young  its a juggle but we love it, they said.

Aoife and Orla Lynch, founders of Firkail, sustainable clothing business, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

KINSALE SISTERS GO SUSTAINABLE WITH NEW BRAND

THE fast fashion industry has had a detrimental impact on the environment, and not only that, it also impacts the quality of the clothes we wear, writes Aisling Meath

Kinsale-based sisters Orla and Aoife Lynch have responded to the situation by recently launching a sustainable clothing brand, Firkail, with all their garments made from hemp, one of natures most sustainable fabrics.

Their range includes wardrobe staples such as tee shirts, hoodies and jumpers.

Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants in history, with research estimating that it has been used since as far back as 8,000BC.

Today, with serious concerns about protecting the fragility of the planet, more and more people are searching out alternative ways of living, and this includes making informed choices about what they wear.

I had eczema growing up, and have always been really drawn towards natural fibres as a result. I find them more breathable and kinder to my skin, said Aoife.

When I buy an item of clothing that I like, I tend to want to hold on to it. Im a bit of a hoarder in that way, in that I like to re-wear items which I love over and over again.

What you have next to your skin impacts how you feel. When I had a baby for the first time, thats when I became really conscious of the fabric I was wearing. I wore only natural fibre because I was so warm having a baby close to me all the time, and I was also conscious of the babys skin next to it.

We always had an interest in sustainability and clothing, but particularly after we had our own children, it was something that kept niggling at us, so we wanted to create something that was not only kind to the skin, but that would last, said Orla.

We really wanted to set up a causal clothing company, mostly for women initially, and it had to be truly sustainable if we were going to do it, as we wanted to address the problem of clothes sitting in landfill.

Aoife had just turned 40, and I was at the end of my maternity leave through lockdown. It was at that point we both realised that we wanted to do something to make a difference, and we both shared a passion for fashion.

We discussed at length our vision for Firkail in term of sustainability, textiles and style.

Over some great chats, coffees, and a few happy tears and hugs later, we realised how well we could work and create together. Theres not much we disagree on, and it became obvious that our hopes for this company were very much aligned.

When the sisters were growing up in Cork, they were always naturally aware of sustainability from the example set by their parents, who always recycled and supported local businesses.

Mom always brought her reusable shopping bags with her long before the Bag for Life came in, and my parents were always very conscious of waste and turned their backs on over-packaging.

Our grandparents had always grown their own veg, so sustainability was very much something that was at the heart of the lifestyle in our family, and this in turn was passed down to us.

Aoife did a lot of research into the best textiles to use for the garments.

We designed every piece of clothing ourselves at the kitchen table and we do all the work at Firkail together, finding our niche as we go along.

We decided that hemp was the best option for us. Its biodegradable, and our products are made with natural dyes and without any plastics, so we wont be leaving any trace behind us. The more we investigated it, the more benefits we found.

Hemp cotton is such an amazing material to wear. Its soft and long lasting and has natural UV protection.

As well as the advantages to wearing it, hemp is a super crop, so if you are conscious of your carbon footprint, then hemp is worth the investment.

Aoife and Orla Lynch pictured at Garrylucas Beach, Kinsale, for the launch of their lifestyle brand Firkail, which sells sustainable clothing and accessories made from 100% organic cotton hemp.

It consumes 50% more carbon than trees, and is pesticide free. It enhances soil health by adding nutrients and reducing soil toxicity. This is the plant that just keeps on giving!

We think that if Ireland could ease the legal restrictions on hemp to enable more widespread growing, it would help to reduce its cost.

Despite this obstacle for now, if we can educate people as to why hemp is so great and long lasting, than hopefully people will be willing to invest when they realise that they will be able to get much longer out of their clothes.

Ireland is ideal for growing this crop - its a weed after all. Resources such as the Hemp Cooperative and Hemp4Soil on Loop head have lots of information on its amazing benefits.

All our clothes are made by an Irish supplier who works directly with farmers in the south-west of Ireland, who are keen to grow the plant locally. The next step is to build the infrastructure to make an Irish hemp fabric.

Our goal to is to have a 100% Irish product from seed to stitch, and we have lots of plans for the future, including sustainability workshops, said Aoife.

The sisters have clearly tapped into a growing interest in leaving behind fast fashion.

Fast fashion is so destructive, not only because of the waste it causes in landfills all over the world, but because the plastics in the clothing are not biodegradable, not to mention the negative effects on the climate in terms of emissions, and also on people in terms of unfair wages and child labour.

We wanted our clothes to be ethically sourced and balance out the negatives with something positive, both for the wellbeing of the planet and also for our children, said Orla.

Right from the very start, we agreed that Firkail could not be part of this problem. We aim to always try to do better, and to keep adapting to whats available.

We must be role models for our children in order to make real change in their future. We can only do our best, but small changes can make a big difference.
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.

Dozens of climate and fuel poverty activists occupy a hall at the heart of parliament to tell the government: Chaos costs lives. Suzanne Plunkett / Greenpeace

The UK now has its second new prime minister in less than two months, and environmental and anti-poverty activists want him to take stronger action on the climate and cost-of-living crises.

To that end, more than 30 protestors from Greenpeace and Fuel Poverty Action occupied the lobby of parliament Monday and called on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to tax the excess profits of oil and gas companies, facilitate the transition to renewable energy and better insulate British homes.

We now need a government capable of confronting crises, not creating them. Almost a quarter of the country is suffering fuel poverty thanks to ridiculous gas prices and the oldest, coldest housing in Europe, Greenpeace UK Co-Executive Director Will McCallum said during the protest, as The Independent reported. Winter is coming and lives will be lost if the government keeps failing to solve the problem.

Today 30+ Greenpeace activists occupied parliament, bringing energy bills and reading out testimonies from people across the country just as @RishiSunak is announced as the new Prime Minister. He must deliver a proper windfall tax to insulate homes. #ChaosCostsLives pic.twitter.com/ecVytnsqYc  Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) October 24, 2022

Sunak became the UKs third prime minister in two months on Monday following the resignation of Liz Truss on October 20 and the resignation of Boris Johnson in July, as AP News reported at the time. During this period, the country has faced a mounting crisis over energy prices. The countrys energy regulator was going to raise the household energy price cap by 80 percent beginning in October, but this was forestalled by Trusss government, which at first promised a two-year Energy Price Guarantee that would see the average household energy bill rise to 2,500 a year. However, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt then said the guarantee would only last through April, after which it would be reviewed, as Sky News reported.

Truss faced protests from climate activists because of her decision to expand oil and gas drilling in the North Sea and to go against her own Conservative Partys manifesto by lifting a ban on fracking, as Greenpeace pointed out. Environmentally minded members of the Tory Party and some green groups believe that Sunak will be less hostile to environmental aims, as The Guardian reported.

Sunak said he wanted to stick to the 2019 manifesto, which was pretty good on this stuff, and Liz Truss wanted to junk it, think tank Green Alliance executive director Shaun Spiers said, as The Guardian reported.

Mondays protest took place in the lobby of the Houses of Parliament hours after Sunak was officially named prime minister, The Independent said. The activists first entered the Palace of Westminster as tourists and then linked their arms together and began to read statements from people struggling to pay their energy bills, as Sky News reported. They also carried a banner reading Chaos Costs Lives.

Since Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister, this government has spent more time looking for a new leader than leading the country, McCallum said, as The Independent reported.

Greenpeace noted that the UK had the sixth highest number of excess winter deaths in Europe even before the energy crisis. The rising fuel prices are an environmental justice issue because they disproportionately impact people in poverty, people of color, older people and disabled people whose necessary equipment often requires electricity.

The protest had three main demands:

Spending 6 billion to go door-to-door insulating homes. Transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Taxing the windfall profits of oil and gas companies.

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, McCallum said, as Sky News reported.

Fuel Poverty Action and Disabled People Against Cuts, which also supported the protest, are further calling for energy for all to meet basic needs of heating and lighting.

#EnergyForAll means giving everyone a free amount of energy  that is enough energy, free, to cover the basics like heating, cooking, and lighting  to give us all the security we need, taking account of peoples actual needs related to their age, health, and housing, Diane Skidmore of Fuel Poverty Action wrote in a petition calling for the policy. To pay for this new pricing system, Energy for All, were urging the Government to introduce a Windfall Tax on the profits of oil and gas producers, traders and suppliers, and to STOP subsidising fossil fuels with millions of pounds every day.

And were off!! 



Come on down to Westminster and stand with us to demand #EnergyForAll @trussliz !



We are calling for a free allowance of energy to cover our basic needs.



Heat and light are basic rights!  pic.twitter.com/owXb3pPgDO  Fuel Poverty Action (@FuelPovAction) October 19, 2022

Police did not approach Mondays demonstrators, who departed on their own after reading their statements.




Belgium's pig farmers once more excluded from making contributions to budget fund for animal health, product quality

Pig farmers in Belgium will again be exempted from contributing to the country's budget fund for the health and quality of animals and animal products.

The Belgian pig sector has long been regarded as a sector in crisis. The government had thus extended that statute until the end of this year. The sector has been confronted with various crises in recent years. Its problem is further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

Contributions to the budget fund, also known as the Sanitary Fund, represent approximately 3 million euros and would mean an exemption of an average of 650 euros per company in the industry.

- Vilt (Belgium)




Thai firm's Vietnam chicken plant begins export to Japan



The Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), a major Thai conglomerate, has purchased the biggest chicken processing plant in Southeast Asia, based in Vietnam, as it starts exports to Japan, Nikkei Asia reported.

The plant in the province of Binh Phuoc was constructed with an initial investment of US$250 million and has a monthly production capacity of 5,000 tonnes. The roughly 2,500-person workforce will grow as production picks up pace.

After receiving approvals, CP Group plans to use the facility to export goods to more than 10 nations, with about 60% of the facility's capacity devoted to Japan. The plant, which already serves the domestic market and Hong Kong, wants to run at full capacity by 2026.

The Vietnam plant will allow CP Group to export chicken to Japan for about 10% less money even though the company already has facilities for producing chicken in Thailand.

In comparison to Thailand, Vietnam has cheaper labour costs. Hanoi, unlike Bangkok, benefits from lower tariffs with Japan as a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which includes 11 nations.

With the help of CP Group, the Japanese trading company Itochu will market some of the factory's goods.

- Nikkei Asia




Egypt plans to plant wheat in Congo



Egypt plans to plant wheat and other strategic crops in the Republic of Congo to cover its food needs following an acute water shortage in Egypt, Al-Monitor reported.

According to a friendship agreement between Egypt and the Republic of the Congo, 20,000 hectares (48,000 feddans) of arable land in the city of Mossendjo have been given over to Egypt by the Congolese government to be planted with crops like wheat and rice, Sherif Al-Gabali, head of the parliamentary African Affairs Committee, announced on October 17.

Based on the agreement, 40% of the harvested crops will go to the Congo, and 60% will go to Egypt. Sherif Al-Gabali said the offered lands are very fertile, and since Congo is a country with plenty of water, irrigation is not a problem there.

Ahmed Hamdy Bakr, deputy assistant foreign minister for central African affairs, said a concern for Egypt's national security is agricultural investment in Africa, adding that African agricultural investment benefits Egypt's efforts to achieve food security.

The world's biggest importer of wheat is Egypt. Egypt consumes up to 21 million tonnes of wheat annually, of which 13 million tonnes are imported, according to the national statistics agency CAPMAS.

However, because 80% of Egypt's wheat imports come from these two nations, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has significantly disrupted the country's wheat supply, forcing Cairo to look for alternatives.

However, experts dismissed the initiative, citing the Congo's hot climate and a lack of skilled farmers as the main barriers to growing wheat there.

Nader Noureddine, a professor of water resources and land reclamation at Cairo University, said the Congo Republic, as well as the rest of the equatorial region, have weak overall wheat cultivation.

He said cold climate regions like Russia, Canada, the United States, and Argentina are where wheat is grown. In Egypt, wheat is grown in the Nile Delta, whereas it produces poorly in the hotter Upper Egypt.

Former Egyptian irrigation minister Mohamed Nasr al-Din Allam said the lack of skilled farmers, according, could jeopardise efforts to cultivate wheat in the Republic of Congo.

He said that efforts to increase wheat production to feed the nation's expanding population are hampered by Egypt's water shortages.

- Al-Monitor




New consortium aims to drive growth of aquaculture in East Africa

A new consortium made up of African and European organisations has unveiled a project promoting the growth of East Africa's aquaculture sector, with a focus on training fish farmers and other stakeholders across the farmed-fish supply and value chains.

The US$1.96 million capacity-building project, to be promoted by the consortium dubbed Samaki Poa, has brought together five organisations with financing from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The participants include Blue Planet, Lake Harvest Group, Larive International, Lattice Aquaculture and Skretting/Tunga Nutrition.

"The newly launched Samaki Poa consortium will improve food security and provide practical and applicable expertise to empower the aquaculture sector in East Africa," the groups said in a joint statement.

The consortium will develop tailor-made digital and vocational training courses to give an estimated 10,000 current and aspiring fish farmers throughout Africa improved access to relevant knowledge in fish farming and associated value chain businesses.

"The e-curriculum, consisting of animated videos covering all relevant topics for tilapia and catfish farming, will be freely available on the newly launched website," the consortium said.

The project has been designed to enable access to users that don't have access to the internet through the upgrading of five Tunga Nutrition farm supply hubs in East Africa, to allow for on-site training.

"Besides digital training, there will also be on-site vocational training," the consortium said.

Within the project, a new aquaculture academy will be established in Jinja, Uganda, following the success of a similar academy in Kenya.

In both Kenya and Uganda, aquaculture specialists drawn from the consortium will train more than 1,200 fish farmers on the most-important aspects of the fish-farming business.

"We are elated with the skillset brought together in this consortium from fish feeds, hatchery, farming, training, and digital content creationsall necessary expertise is brought together for maximum sector benefit," Larive International project coordinator Wouter van Vliet said.

The consortium anticipates that with the establishment of a new hatchery in Jinja, Uganda  and its vocational and digital training efforts  the Samaki Poa project will impact 7,500 households and create 1,250 jobs throughout the aquaculture value chain in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

- SeafoodSource




Malaysian consumers' association calls for probe on poultry farms over food safety standards



The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the Malaysian authorities to probe all of the country's poultry farms over food safety standards after neighbouring Singapore recalled Malaysian eggs due to the presence of salmonella enteritidis (SE), Free Malaysia Today reported.

Mohideen Abdul Kadir, CAP President, said an investigation is required to make sure that poultry farms adhere to food safety laws.

Mohideen urged the authorities to investigate the chickens' rearing practises because they may have contributed to the salmonella contamination.

He said that while SE can be killed by heat, it can survive in raw and undercooked eggs, leading to food-borne illnesses like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Despite the fact that it's believed that 30 million eggs are consumed daily in Malaysia, he said, it is strange that such an incident was not discovered by our local authorities earlier, adding that it is possible that many Malaysian consumers unknowingly consumed contaminated eggs.

In addition, Mohideen requested the formation of a committee to look into the "weaknesses of our monitoring system" in terms of food safety.

He asserted that Malaysia "rarely hears" of local produce being recalled despite the existence of laws like the Food Act 1983, Food Regulations 1985, and Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.

He noted that over the previous seven years, the US, China, and Singapore had all rejected Malaysian produce due to health and safety concerns, including everything from vegetables to prawns.

These factors include the presence of banned antibiotics, pesticide and sulphur dioxide levels that exceed foreign agency limits, and pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacterium found in sewage, soil, water, and faeces.

He said Malaysia's food safety monitoring is insufficient, as evidenced by the recurrent reports from foreign authorities on unsafe Malaysian food products.

- Free Malaysia Today
Amex Starting To Close Manx Accounts

American Express has started to close the accounts of Isle of Man Cardholders.

Amex has been criticised for their conduct in the matter as Cardholders say they were given no notice about the changes and that correspondence from the firm stated that cards were blocked immediately pending account closure.

It follows decisions by Lloyds, Tesco and M&S who all withdrew their credit card products from Isle of Man residents.

Earlier this year, MHK Jason Moorhouse raised the matter in Tynwald.

In March, Mr Moorhouse said:

"The changes really started to have an impact on Isle of Man residents on January 1, 2019.

The changes meant that the UK financial system was ring fenced and as a consequence of this some residents going to England, Scotland and Wales started to have issues accessing their Manx bank accounts while visiting the UK. New expectations were placed on all financial institutions as a direct consequence of the change.

The risk and cost of offering banking and many other financial products rose and there was the risk of high fines and reputational damage for those financial institutions unable to monitor their networks outside the UK.

As a direct consequence of this ring fencing, most credit card providers stopped offering new products to residents in the Isle of Man and anywhere else outside the UK.

American Express told Energy News that they would not discuss internal business decisions and will not therefore comment.

This is the latest blow to residents of the Isle of Man who are paying the price of having local legislation. The financial institutions say that having different laws for the Isle of Man was 'too complicated' for them to deal with, given the small number of customers available.
There are still sales to be had on gadgets from Apple, Google Samsung and others.
NASA previously announced that it would create a panel to study "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP), aka UFOs  while saying it doesn't believe they're "extraterrestrial in origin." (Sure, NASA.)

Now, the space agency has unveiled the 16-member panel that will focus on these unclassified sightings, chaired by David Spergel, former head of astrophysics at Princeton University. Other members include Anamaria Berea, a research affiliate at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Life) Institute in California; retired NASA astronaut and test pilot Scott Kelly; and astrophysicists, science journalists and more.

NASA

The US government is effectively running two tracks of UFO probes. Theres also a Pentagon group looking into UAPs reported by military pilots and investigated by US defense and intelligence officials.

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 Mat Smith

The Morning After isnt just a newsletter  its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

The biggest stories you might have missed

But is it only coming to Europe?

When the European Parliament voted in favor of making USB-C the common charging standard in the region, it was obvious Apple was going to be the company most affected by the mandate. While the tech giant already has iPad models with USB-C ports, its iPhones still require a lightning connector. Now, in an interview at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event, Apple's SVP of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak has confirmed that the tech giant will be transitioning to USB-C connectors to comply with the EU's regulation. "We have no choice as we do around the world but to comply to local laws," Joswiak said. However, he didn't say whether Apple is only making a different variant for the European market while continuing to sell phones with lightning connectors elsewhere.

Continue reading.

Itll remain on BBC in the UK and Ireland.

The BBC and Disney have announced future seasons of Doctor Who will stream on Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Back in July, Bloomberg reported that Disney was looking for established brands to bolster its streaming platform. Now it has the worlds longest-running science-fantasy series.

Continue reading.

Its still weird, its still chaotic.

Platinum Games

Bayonetta 3 is full of classic Bayonetta madness, all of it amped up by one degree. The stakes are higher than theyve ever been, the enemies are absolutely massive, Bayonettas magic is incredibly powerful, her outfits are outstanding and the fights dont stop coming. Shes still a witch with gun shoes, but new abilities mean she can transform into demon hybrids, adding even more dimensions to the epic fights. Its still all very silly, very meme-able and for now, its a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Read on for our full review.

Continue reading.

The S1 Hoonitron is kind(er) to the planet.

Gymkhana

Rally driver Ken Block has released his first Gymkhana video with an electric car  and this time, the vehicle is almost as important as the hooning. The "Electrikhana" sees Block drift around Las Vegas landmarks in a one-of-a-kind Audi S1 Hoonitron. It borrows design cues from the well-known Sport Quattro S1 while using a dual-motor system. Think of it as a souped-up cousin of the E-tron GT. With drifting and tire smoke, its a different kind of sales pitch for electric cars. Initially associated with eco-conscious drivers, they're becoming the machines of choice for performance-minded enthusiasts thanks to their instant torque and supercar-beating low-end acceleration.

Continue reading.

DALL-E artwork could soon be widespread online.

Shutterstock has widened its deal with OpenAI, and will start selling stock images built using the DALL-E 2 AI generator. The approach will offer "direct access" to DALL-E through the Shutterstock website, and compensate creators whose pictures played a role in developing the technology through a new Contributor Fund. The company also plans to pay royalties to artists when the AI uses their work. The deal represents one of the first practical uses of the tech.

Continue reading.

The new Earth Blue variant is available now.

Sony

Sony's original LinkBuds S were already being made with recycled plastics from automobile parts, but the company has now announced an Earth Blue variant made from even more reclaimed materials. The company says the body and case for this version of the LinkBuds S are made from "factory-recovered plastic and reclaimed water bottles." The recycled materials are what give the exterior surfaces a marble pattern. The new Earth Blue variant will be available at the end of October.

Continue reading.
You'll have to wait a few months if you want to see Team Ninja's latest take on Nioh-style demon slaying. Koei Tecmo has confirmed that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty arrives March 3rd for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC (via the Microsoft Store and Steam). It will also be accessible through Xbox Game Pass on launch.

Wo Long is effectively Team Ninja's love note to Koei Tecmo's long-running obsession with Three Kingdoms-era China (see: Dynasty Warriors). You play a militia member fighting a demon onslaught in the later Han Period. You'll encounter famous warriors in the process. As with the Nioh series, you can expect an action-based battle system that rewards different playstyles, but is also unforgiving  when the creators talk about gaining strength by "overcoming adversity," it's safe to presume you'll die often.

You'll have something to play in the meantime, depending on your choice of platform. Sony just revealed that the remastered Nioh 2 will be one of PlayStation Plus Essential's free games for November alongside the Lego Harry Potter Collection and Heavenly Bodies.

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It's not clear if Wo Long will continue Team Ninja's track record. There is a large potential audience, at least. Team Ninja has announced that the two Nioh games have shipped a combined 7 million copies since the franchise's debut in February 2017. While that won't make FromSoftware nervous (Elden Ring alone had sold 16.6 million units by July this year), it suggests the new title could have plenty of fans.
This is the new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks speech on the steps of Downing Street.





"Good morning,





I have just been to Buckingham Palace and accepted His Majesty The Kings invitation to form a government in his name.





It is only right to explain why I am standing here as your new Prime Minister.





Right now our country is facing a profound economic crisis.





The aftermath of Covid still lingers.





Putins war in Ukraine has destabilised energy markets and supply chains the world over.





I want to pay tribute to my predecessor Liz Truss, she was not wrong to want to improve growth in this country, it is a noble aim.





And I admired her restlessness to create change.





But some mistakes were made.





Not borne of ill will or bad intentions. Quite the opposite, in fact. But mistakes nonetheless.





And I have been elected as leader of my party, and your Prime Minister, in part, to fix them.





And that work begins immediately.





I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this governments agenda.





This will mean difficult decisions to come.





But you saw me during Covid, doing everything I could, to protect people and businesses, with schemes like furlough.





There are always limits, more so now than ever, but I promise you this





I will bring that same compassion to the challenges we face today.





The government I lead will not leave the next generation, your children and grandchildren, with a debt to settle that we were too weak to pay ourselves.





I will unite our country, not with words, but with action.





I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.





This government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.





Trust is earned. And I will earn yours.





I will always be grateful to Boris Johnson for his incredible achievements as Prime Minister, and I treasure his warmth and generosity of spirit.





And I know he would agree that the mandate my party earned in 2019 is not the sole property of any one individual, it is a mandate that belongs to and unites all of us.





And the heart of that mandate is our manifesto.





I will deliver on its promise.





A stronger NHS.





Better schools.





Safer streets.





Control of our borders.





Protecting our environment.





Supporting our armed forces.





Levelling up and building an economy that embraces the opportunities of Brexit, where businesses invest, innovate, and create jobs.





I understand how difficult this moment is.





After the billions of pounds it cost us to combat Covid, after all the dislocation that caused in the midst of a terrible war that must be seen successfully to its conclusions I fully appreciate how hard things are.





And I understand too that I have work to do to restore trust after all that has happened.





All I can say is that I am not daunted. I know the high office I have accepted and I hope to live up to its demands.





But when the opportunity to serve comes along, you cannot question the moment, only your willingness.





So I stand here before you ready to lead our country into the future.





To put your needs above politics.





To reach out and build a government that represents the very best traditions of my party.





Together we can achieve incredible things.





We will create a future worthy of the sacrifices so many have made and fill tomorrow, and everyday thereafter with hope".








Hundreds of thousands of Russians are being mobilised into the Russian army to participate in the military aggression against Ukraine. Recruits are promised to undergo months of training and to be well equipped, but in reality  they are immediately sent to the front line in Ukraine. Many of them get killed and captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The timeline of the Russian 'mobilisation-to-grave'  see in the following report.
"The laws governing AI art are outdated and need to be changed," according to multi-published author Gini Graham Scott, who has published over 200 books, including three dozen picture books. After she began creating some AI illustrations for four of the books, she learned that it is not possible to copyright AI art, since the copyright office has ruled it is not created by humans. Also, she discovered that there are infringement issues raised about the use of AI images which are created by on combining images or parts of images that are available on the Internet or other online sources.

As Scott discovered, the laws were written for a previous era and don't reflect the way individuals are creating and using AI art today. Plus she found that the laws governing AI writing need to be revisited and revised. So now she is looking for intellectual property lawyers and others who want to get involved in a campaign to change the laws.

As Scott explains in an article recently published on Medium, she first got involved in creating AI art about a month ago after reading an article about the Midjourney platform and using it to create the illudytsyiond for four picture books. Then, she began wondering about the big concern of many artists and writers: will AI replace them; will it cause them to lose jobs and clients, since AI can create images and copy much more quickly and cheaply. At the same time, it is a tool that writers and artists can use to create other writing and art, just like any new technology has been adopted and used throughout history. Thus, while AI writing and art may be disruptive in some ways, it is helpful in others and is here to stay.

But if it is here to stay, that raises two legal questions, as she describes in her article: "Protecting one's rights in any AI created art or writing raises copyright issues, while considering how AI can be used legally raises concerns about infringement. But the laws affecting AI were developed before AI has become widely popular today. Thus, these laws need to be changed."

She then goes on to discuss the huge number of AI artists in the millions, how AI-based image generators work, the problem with copyright law, and what to do about the infringement issue. As she points out: "The problem with copyright law is that the U.S. Copyright Office has ruled that AI art can't be copyrighted on the grounds that an image generated through AI lacks the 'human authorship necessary to support a copyright claim.'"

Yet, Scott believes the law is wrong because while AI images may be generated by a machine, there is human authorship in creating the prompts that generate a series of images. Also, there is human authorship in selecting the image or part of an image to be featured in a book, painting, or art piece. Thus, she wants the law changed to permit the copyright of AI-created works.

She also believes the laws about infringement should be updated to explicitly include AI-generated content. As she writes: "There shouldn't be any infringement if the data-mining process results in using an image or part of an AI-generated imageunless it is using a recognizable copyrighted, branded, or trademarked image, such as a Disney or Marvel character. Otherwise, the use of the image should be covered by the fair use exception that has long permitted the use of small sections of text or parts of images or transformed images."

She cities the Google Books battle with the Author's Guild which claimed infringement when Google created the Google Books database by digitizing of millions of images. Ultimately, after ten years of litigation in a case that went up to the Supreme Court in an appeal, the courts decided that there was no copyright infringement. Rather, there was fair use, because "The ultimate goal of copyright is to expand public knowledge and understanding."

Thus, Scott believes that whatever restrictions already apply to art created by artists should apply to AI-created art, and this should be codified in the law, so AI art, with a few exceptions, should be clearly protected from infringement claims and be able to be copyrighted, once the copyright law is changed.

As she concludes the article, she hopes it might "bring together a network of artists and writers who would like to see the law changed to provide copyright protection for AI created works and affirm that AI created works are covered by the fair use doctrine, apart from the exceptions for branded and trademarks art. Then, she hopes this network can help to get lawmakers to support such legislation.

For more information, and you can read the full article on Medium at https://ginigrahamscott.medium.com/lets-change-the-laws-governing-ai-art-b0f1a2703de9 and you can join the Facebook group  The AI Revolution and Writers and Artists  at https://www.facebook.com/groups/508303514489177/people

*********

Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. is the author of over 50 books with major publishers and has published 30 books through her company Changemakers Publishing and Writing (http://www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com). She writes books and proposals for clients, and has written and produced over 50 short videos through Changemakers Productions. (http://www.changemakersproductions.com). Her latest book is I Was Scammed, available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Was-Scammed-Updated-Expanded-Becoming-ebook/dp/B09PNB38GJ. A paperback and hardcover are available, too. She is also the author of How to Find and Work with a Good Ghostwriter.

Jana Collins



Jones & O'Malley



http://www.jonesomalley.com



818-762-8353
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Macedonia and Jordan have discussed the potential introduction of flights between the two countries as part of an initiative to strengthen ties. The Macedonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, and Jordans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, agreed to examine the feasibility of scheduled flights between the two countries and facilitate the issuance of visas. They stressed a nonstop air service would enhance economic, tourism, commercial and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Fairfield, MT (59436)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 14F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 3F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Anglesey dairy farming brothers Sion and Gareth Roberts have been announced as the winners of this year's Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award.

The Roberts, from Bodorgan, were awarded the NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual title at this week's Welsh Dairy Show, which returned after a three year absence.

The competition, now in its ninth year, recognises the contribution a good stockperson can make to a dairy enterprise, as well as the wider Welsh dairy industry.

The brothers, who farm 480 dairy cows and followers and produce approximately five million litres of milk, have grown the family business significantly.

The family have overseen a large expenditure on infrastructure in recent years, replacing their old parlour with a new rotary parlour.

This has also meant that milking times have lessened, helping with the well-being of the family.

The Roberts have diversified and now have a milk vending machine, and they also welcome schools on to the farm regularly for educational visits.

Sion and Gareth work together to complete and manage all aspects of managing the dairy herd, the milking, feeding, breeding, housing and health management.

They liaise proactively with their nutritionist and vets to ensure the welfare of animals on the farm is kept to a very high standard to ensure optimum milk production. They are also working on reducing their antibiotic usage.

Speaking after the presentation, NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chair Abi Reader said: I would like to offer my congratulations to Sion and Gareth on winning this award.

"Sion and Gareths passion for their work, their determination to drive the business forward and embrace new technologies, along with their eagerness to invite school children on to the farm to tell the Welsh farming story, meant that they stood out during the judging process.

"They join some illustrious company in being awarded the Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year title and this win is thoroughly deserved.

Rhys Williams, NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Group Secretary, added: "Sion and Gareth demonstrated their passion for new technologies and their diversification shows they are planning for the future.
Leading Scottish politicians will address farmers and crofters at an upcoming rally which is set to call for food production to be at the centre of new agricultural policy.

Momentum is growing behind the #FoodNeedsAFarmer demonstration taking place outside the Scottish Parliament on 2 November from 12pm to 2pm.

The aim of the rally is to deliver a message to the Scottish government and MSPs that farming and food production must be the central pillar of new farm policy.

Politicians who have accepted an invite to address the rally include the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon and Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross.

Scottish Labour Partys Colin Smyth MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and Green MSP Ariane Burgess will also attend.

The demonstration comes at a time when Scotlands farmers and crofters are being consulted by the Scottish government on a future agricultural policy for the nation.

However, according to NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy, farmers and crofters were being asked to discuss "massive issues in an information vacuum".

Despite several requests, he said the industry had no information on how new powers created by the proposed new Agriculture Bill would put food production in the spotlight.

He said: Farmers will deliver a clear message that any powers created by the Agriculture Bill must put food production at the heart of delivering all the economic, social and environmental benefits that agricultural businesses will be asked to deliver.

The Scottish Parliament must acknowledge that active farming and crofting have the answers when it comes to putting high quality, local, sustainable, and affordable food on the table.

Only farmers and crofters can turn the dry legislation of a new Agriculture Bill into practices that deliver for food, climate and nature but we need to know now from Scottish Government what those options look like."

He warned that the lack of recognition of the industry within the Bill was "unacceptable" as it "fails to acknowledge the urgent need to address the worsening food security crisis."

"We are holding this rally to drive home the message that #FoodNeedsAFarmer," Mr Kennedy said.
The new Defra Secretary Therese Coffey has been told to 'work quickly' to improve the governments flagship Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS).

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents 28,000 rural firms and farmers, has urged Dr Coffey to focus on the post-Brexit system of support.

The body said many farmers and landowners were 'yet to be convinced' the schemes were right for their business.

This was not helped by 'very poor communication' from ministers about their intentions for the schemes through the 'recent political chaos'.

Dr Coffey was appointed the new Environment Secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, replacing Ranil Jayawardena who had been in the role for just 48 days.

While the CLA said it 'warmly welcomes' her to the new role, it called on her to "give farmers the confidence they desperately need".

The ELMS is the most significant change to UK farming and land management in over five decades, replacing the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP).

The new system is made up of three payment schemes - the sustainable farming incentive (SFI), local nature recovery and landscape recovery.

Under these, farmers will receive payment for taking actions which generate environmental benefits, such as improving grasslands or soils.

But Mark Tufnell, president of CLA, said the new Environment Secretary must "work quickly to improve the schemes".

This includes fast-tracking key elements of SFI standards, as well as announcing measures for 2023 and beyond.

"This will give farmers the confidence they desperately need that ELM can help them feed the nation as well as help to improve the natural environment," he said.

The previous government created a new role of Minister of Rural Economic Growth, a move Mr Tufnell said recognised the "enormous economic potential of rural businesses".

He added that it was vital for this role to be maintained, as it gave the government "a laser-like focus on removing the many barriers to starting and growing a business in rural communities.

Mr Tufnell added: "We warmly welcome Dr Therese Coffey to her new role, in a department with which she is already well familiar having served there in 2016 - 2019."
The Northern Irish government has proposed to introduce restrictions on herds that retain persistently infected animals (PI) or animals with inconclusive test results as part of new BVD measures.

The Department of Agriculture (DAERA) has launched a new bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) consultation on the herd restriction proposals, and is asking farmers to provide views.

A compulsory eradication scheme was introduced in Northern Ireland in 2016, and significant progress has been made in driving down the incidence of disease.

However, DAERA said the virus continues to pose a 'significant risk' to the health of cattle in the province.

BVD is one of the biggest disease issues facing the cattle industry today, costing UK farmers in total between 25-61m.

The main source of virus is from persistently infected animals (PI), animals that have become infected with the virus while in the womb and which are likely to suffer from poor health.

PI animals generally do not thrive, most fail to reach slaughter weight and, ultimately, they have a major impact on the health and productivity of the herd as they shed virus throughout their lives.

Announcing the consultation, farming minister Edwin Poots: I am pleased that most farmers appreciate the risk that PI animals present to herds and are already removing these animals as soon as they can following a positive test result.

"I find it disconcerting, however, that there are farmers that are not testing all animals in their herd and continue to retain PI animals despite the risks they pose to their herd and to other herds, maintaining the cycle of infection.

To further support the ongoing efforts of industry and protect unaffected herds, I propose to introduce restrictions on herds that retain PI animals or animals with inconclusive test results."

DAERA is asking for views on whether it should have the power to restrict herds that fail to test animals for BVD within a specified period.

It also seeks views on the introduction of an additional legal requirement to test any bovines without a BVD status that were born in or entered a herd prior to the introduction of the 2016 statutory scheme.

Dr Sam Strain, chief executive of Animal Health & Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI), said the introduction of herd restrictions had been shown to be effective elsewhere, such as Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Responding to the consultation, he said: This is particularly important given the trading implications that the recent EU approval of the ROI BVD eradication programme has brought for Northern Ireland farmers.

"I would encourage those from the bovine livestock sector to read and respond to this consultation.

The consultation closes on 20 December 2022.
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The FC Feminine Barcelona wants to follow with his almost perfect form in Europe this Thursday (18.45 hours) in the second day of the phase of groups of the Champions League. The cules have had to travel in this occasion to the Malmo Idrottsplats to confront to the Rosengard, the Swedish champion, after imposing by 9-0 to the Benfica in the first party of the competition of this season, where are the current subcampeon.

The big aim that has the Barcelona group is to attain the first place of the Group D, something that probably will have to play with the most difficult rival in the paper, the Bayern of Munich, what forces him to not tripping in the rest of meetings. Thus, the visit to the Rosengard is the most complicated challenge in this sense afterwards that the Swedish complicated him the party more than the expected to the Germans in the first day, in which so alone fell by 2-1, and besides had attained to advance in the marker with a so much of Loreta Kullashi, although the Bayern was upper along the party.

The last clash between the Barca and the Rosengard has good memories for the Barcelona, since they achieved the pass in the quarter-finals of the Champions 2016-17. The Swedish team was led then by Marta Scallop gives Silva, the maximum goleadora historical of the Brazilian Selection, but the Catalan group solved the eliminatory with a 0-1 and a 2-0 respectively.

Very good news

For the meeting of this Thursday, Jonatan Giraldez will have two important pieces that did not have in the party in front of the Benfica, the goalkeeper Sandra Cloths and the forward Salma Paralluelo. Both players have recovered of his respective injuries. Whereas in the infirmary follows the goalkeeper Tasting Coll, the defences Laia Codina, Jana Fernandez and Emma Ramirez, the midfield player Alexia Putellas and the forward Bruna Vilamala.
It is becoming more difficult for companies in Germany to obtain new loans. Currently, 24.3 per cent of companies in ongoing credit negotiations report restraint on the part of banks  the highest proportion since 2017. This is a finding of surveys by the ifo Institute, an economic thinktank.

The difficult economic climate is currently making banks more cautious, Klaus Wohlrabe, head of surveys at ifo, said in a press release. Without new loans, some companies might struggle for economic survival.

Among service providers, as many as 28.8 per cent of companies seeking credit say that banks are reluctant to lend. In manufacturing, around 8.4 per cent of companies seeking credit in the chemical industry and 22.5 per cent of those seeking credit in the automotive industry reported difficulties. In trade, however, the figure was just under 15 per cent of these companies.

Companies in Germany are finding it more difficult to obtain new loans. Currently, 24.3 per cent of companies in ongoing credit negotiations report restraint on the part of banks  the highest proportion since 2017 in Germany, as per ifo Institute. Among service providers, 28.8 per cent of companies seeking credit say that banks are reluctant to lend.

Nevertheless, it is microenterprises and the solo self-employed that are most affected. Here, around one in two companies seeking credit reported that it is hard to obtain loans. For microenterprises, other forms of financing such as bonds are more difficult or impossible to use. They often depend on bank loans, said Wohlrabe.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
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Around 39 per cent of UK consumers surveyed have admitted that they had never heard of the concept of a circular economy before they were shown the definition. While 41 per cent of respondents believed companies take advantage of circular economy processes to benefit economically from government initiatives, 36 per cent thought it is just a policy for greenwashing.

Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of respondents opposed the statement that businesses are doing enough to cut down on waste, according to a press release by Gartner, owner of software solutions company GetApp UK. Whilst 84 per cent of consumers would like more transparency regarding businesses sustainability measures.

Around 39 per cent of UK consumers surveyed have admitted that they had never heard of the concept of a circular economy before they were shown the definition. While 41 per cent of respondents believed companies take advantage of circular economy processes to benefit economically from government initiatives, 36 per cent perceived it as a greenwashing policy.

Furthermore, an overall majority of 89 per cent maintained that the government could be doing more to monitor company compliance with circular economy practices.

GetApps second study demonstrates how, much like businesses, consumers principally participate in the circular economy to save money. Fifty per cent stated they buy second-hand products to spend less, compared with just 12 per cent that do it for sustainability purposes.

GetApps study also reveals buyers passive perspective towards shopping for second-hand products, as 28 per cent admit to not doing it very often, whilst 15 per cent never shop second-hand. Some of the main reasons given by people who didnt wish to shop second-hand were that they prefer new products (64 per cent), followed by their apprehension towards the quality of second-hand products (53 per cent) and concern regarding how long the item would last (48 per cent).

Additionally, 29 per cent of consumers don't sell second-hand items very often. Of those that do, three times more consumers voted making money as the primary motivation behind selling second-hand items (54 per cent), in comparison to those that do it for sustainability purposes (18 per cent).

Overall, GetApps study uncovers how the circular economy model is not taken seriously enough by the UK government or businesses. This in turn generates mistrust among the UK public, and therefore reduces the likelihood of consumers themselves investing in it. Additionally, when they do participate, their primary motivations lie in also making money, instead of being more environmentally friendly.

A large proportion of our sample (39 per cent) had never heard of the circular economy before. Yet, it seemed clear from our findings, that practices such as anti-waste, renewable energy, and reuse of materials, which are common circular processes, were regarded well by consumers, said David Jani, content analyst at GetApp UK. However, the publics commitment to performing these practices themselves is still somewhat limited. It is also clear that the main incentive for doing so is saving money or earning additional income. This seems to reflect that whilst the circular economy is an everyday practice for many people, greater awareness and engagement are needed to drive sustainability in the UK.

Data for the circular economy study was collected in July 2022, in which 1,027 UK consumers responded to GetApps survey.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2022) - Stukkert&Co, in partnership with Stankevicius MGM, has been organizing an exclusive invite-only Investment Congress as a business event in Europe since 2017.

The Investment Congress is primarily focused on real estate and private equity investment sectors, bringing key industry figures into an exclusive atmosphere at iconic locations and places for business development. The Congress was attended by billionaire figures from Europe, Middle East and South East Asia Pacific.

This year, in 2022, Stukkert&Co expanded the Congress to France and Monaco, and nominated very prestigious people to attend. One of the key elements of the Congress is the award ceremony where selected unique business personas from different industries get awarded by Anna Stukkert, the CEO and founder of The Investment Congress. The special guest to receive an executive award of honor in Paris 2022 was the CEO of Forbes Monaco.





(Forbes Monaco CEO Luiz F Costa M receiving an award from Anna Stukkert)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7633/141673_c319afa7e4b5c856_001full.jpg

Expansion of The Investment Congress in 2023

Anna Stukkert has been hosting The Investment Congress within European borders, yet from 2023 new horizons are set, expanding the business to the more economic areas of the EU and even to the Middle East.

In January 2023, Stukkert&Co will launch a special edition called Davos International Investment Congress & Conference in partnership with ILP Group focusing on global real estate, investment behavior in modern markets, and residency and citizenship discussions by investment.

Following in February and March, Stukkert&Co is set to expand to the Middle East with Bahrain and Dubai branches.

Back in Europe, in early Q3, Stukkert&Co will launch a new edition of Cannes International Investment Congress for Investments in Fashion and Film Industry.

Redefining business event industry to the finest

Stukkert&Co vision is to create a unilateral platform in multiple regions of the world where business leaders, politicians, creators, founders, investors and investors can connect, share ideas and make business together.

The Investment Congress has a special Congress Commission to review accreditations of participants and investors in order to create a true place of connection and networking for true leaders and business executors.

As founder and CEO, Anna Stukkert says: "At our investment congress we look to bring real business characters and most importantly we try to create balance between entrepreneurs and investors."

The numbers that matter

Part of the investment congress is also broadcasted online reaching an overall audience of 7 million people together with offline attendees. The audience includes a high number of category A angel investors and corporate investors from diverse industries like real estate, citizenship investments, commodities, art, aviation, special investor clubs, blockchain and cryptocurrency, bio industries, fashion and franchising.

The overview results of the 10th edition of the Investment Congress 2022 organized by Stukkert&Co in partnership with Stankevicius media relations has gained over 8000 offline participants from 29 countries while each representing a property value from 5 million euros up to 50 million euros. The participant statistical information also reveals the total turnover of trade business executed by the participants reached over 340 million euros in 2022. Nevertheless, there have been over 500 direct new B2C client contracts established from 25 countries in 2022.

2022 Award Recognitions and Special Appreciation

In the recent Paris session, to receive award recognition trophies, a special appreciation was given to:

Alina Kremms who is a communications partner at a joint venture of Fortune 500 company at the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine and interpreter of the president of Ukraine Leonyd Kravchuk (1992).

Sergej Tschernjaswkij, a strategic investment congress partner, political expert and a famous creative person inside European private business societies.

Baron Louis Petiet, a Mayor of Verneuil Sur Avre, Honorary Mayor in Normandy France. Baron Louis Petiet has an astonishing background involving mutual support and rapprochement with Emmanuel Macron. Louis P. has advised the main Anglo-Saxon association, Rosehaugh Stanhope, JMB, Olympia and York, as well as administrations of the Docklands. Louis P. is also the holder of the Order of the Knights of the Legion of Honor.





(Baron Louis Petiet on the right, next to Anna Stukkert. Hadi Al Alawi in the center. Sergej Tschernjaswkij on the left.)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Hadi Al Alawi, a Chairman and founder of Al Hayat Group established in the 1990s. Hadi is a successful entrepreneur and businessman who also holds executive seats as Chairman of Mackenzie Forbes Group and is a board member of Innovative Film City. Hadi Al Alawi has been representing global companies in the Middle East for over 25 years. Hadi is elected member of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce from 2020.

A special appreciation was also given to Tiffany's Fashion Week Paris Show, which was created by Fashion Designer Tiffany McCall in 2012. The 5th season of Tiffany's Fashion Week in Dubai will take place on March 11, 2023.





(Award receiver, Maria Spartalis on the right, Tiffany McCall in the center, Anna Stukkert on the right)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Mariya Spartalis received an Award as 2022 Financial Influencer. Mariya Spartalis is an expert in finance for more than 20 years. She is a successful wealth manager for millionaires and billionaires structuring their wealth and providing brilliant private banking and investment solutions.

Stukkert&Co is looking to bring new talents and new businesses from Europe and overseas into the Middle East and connect the talent and capital.





(The CEO of Stankevicius MGM, Paulius Stankevicius, has been also awarded as Top Influencer 2022 in business.)



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About Stankevicius MGM (Masters in Global Media)

Stankevicius MGM is a professional public relations and investor relations firm which is a member of Stankevicius Group. Stankevicius MGM has worked with over 500 clients including Fortune 500 companies. Stankevicius has raised $500M in funding for clients from the public markets and $200M from private equity.

For more information about Tiffany visit: tiffanysidb.com

Follow Tiffany's Fashion Week Paris on Instagram: @tiffanyfashionweekparis

For more information about investment congress visit: congress-realty.com/en

For media relations for investment congress and Stukkert&Co contact: pr@stankeviciusmgm.com

To learn more about Stankevicius Group visit: corporate.stankeviciusgroup.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141673
The Only Iranian-born Mayor in U.S., Vincent Salimi Says Pinole is the First U.S. City But It Won't Be the Last

PINOLE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2022issued to a standing ovation the first proclamation in the USA "asking for a Free Secular Democratic Republic in Iran, and In Support of Human Rights in Iran, Including the Immediate Cessation of Human Rights Abuses on the Demonstrators in Iran and the Immediate Release of Political Prisoners in Iran."

The proclamationaffirms the City of Pinole's support for human rights in Iran, including equal rights for women, the LGBTIA community, and minorities and the end of apartheid against women and targeted religious, nonreligious and cultural minorities. Through the proclamation, the City Council strongly condemns the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini and asks for the immediate cessation of human rights abuses against the Iranian people and also asks for a free, secular, democratic, republic of Iran where everyone can live freely and prosper regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, and religion.

Pinole Mayor Vincent Salimi is the only Iranian-born American mayor in the United States. The Mayor stated, "All politics start at the local level. Pinole might be the first American city asking for a free secular democratic republic in Iran, but it will not be the last. Many more cities will adopt this proclamation, and it will impact the American foreign policy."

Contact Information:

Vincent Salimi

Mayor

vincent@ci.pinole.ca.us

510-230-9207



Related Images











Image 1: Mayor Vincent Salimi





Pinole Mayor Vincent Salimi, Iranian-born American Mayor

















Image 2: Map of Iran





map of Iran

















Image 3: Pinole Proclamation





City of Pinole Proclamation









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
TOKYO, Oct 26, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Vodafone and NTT DOCOMO, INC. (DOCOMO) agreed to cooperate to bring the benefits of open radio access networks (Open RAN) to a wider operator and vendor community.In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today, Vodafone and DOCOMO agreed to cooperate towards harmonizing mobile operator system integration and test processes including testing criteria and experiences to create common test scripts, a series of software instructions needed to conduct a test. This uniform approach to testing will mean that vendors can avoid repetition when dealing with multiple operators, saving them time, capital outlays, and resources, also making sure the industry delivers, no matter the region, secure by design, high quality products as defined by the industry bodies - 3GPP and the ORAN Alliance. The cooperation will be performed by exchanging the respective expertise and technologies between the parties.The cooperation will drive greater interoperability between different vendor systems worldwide giving customers a seamless service across 4G and 5G Open RAN networks no matter where they live, work, or travel. Smaller suppliers and startups will particularly benefit by avoiding costly duplicate testing with multiple operators, strengthening diversity in the global supply chain.The two companies also aim to maximize the benefits of the Service Management Orchestrator - a component of the Open RAN Network Operation Support System - and the RAN Intelligent Controller platform (SMO/RIC). They intend to identify the key features of SMO/RIC, determine their likely evolution and define the underlying software architecture.In addition, Vodafone and DOCOMO plan to cooperate to lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for operators by enhancing the efficiency of RAN technologies, integration processes, artificial intelligence/machine learning and automation techniques, with a view to publishing a whitepaper.Johan Wibergh, Chief Technology Officer of Vodafone, said: "The collective R&D power of Vodafone and DOCOMO will lower the entry barrier for many more companies across Europe and Asia wishing to build Open RAN networks. Rather than fragmenting the industry, Open RAN is bringing us together, across continents, to drive diversification of network equipment vendors and ensure greater systems integration."Naoki Tani, Chief Technology Officer of NTT DOCOMO, said: "We look forward to combining Vodafone's R&D and thought leadership in Open RAN system integration and DOCOMO's experience in deploying a multi-vendor 5G Open RAN commercial service in Japan. Our collaboration will help to accelerate the broad commercial adoption of Open RAN and realize a vibrant RAN ecosystem for 5G and beyond."The two companies have also agreed to look to remotely connect their lab capabilities, which will complement their existing Open RAN R&D centers in the UK (Vodafone, Newbury) and Japan (DOCOMO's Shared Open Lab, Yokosuka). These labs are based on a distributed testing operating model that is distinct from the current single vendor-centric approach in use today.Instead of each vendor setting up their own centralized lab for all parts of a mobile base station, Open RAN requires a coordinated network of labs - each being responsible for part of the radio infrastructure, such as the radio unit or the software. Vodafone's calculations published earlier this year show that cost savings of up to 40% can be achieved for the industry when moving to a distributed system integration lab network.Going forward, Vodafone and DOCOMO will explore other areas of potential collaboration to further build foundations for a thriving ecosystem and an improved customer experience.About VodafoneUnique in its scale as the largest pan-European and African technology communications company, Vodafone transforms the way people live and work through its innovation, technology, connectivity, platforms, products and services.Vodafone operates mobile and fixed networks in 21 countries, and partners with mobile networks in 47 more. As of 30 June 2022, we had over 300m mobile customers, more than 28m fixed broadband customers and 22m TV customers. Vodafone is a world leader in the Internet of Things (IoT), connecting around 160m devices and platforms.We have revolutionised fintech in Africa through M-Pesa, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2022. It is the region's largest fintech platform, providing access to financial services for more than 50m people in a secure, affordable and convenient way.About NTT DOCOMONTT DOCOMO, Japan's leading mobile operator with over 84 million subscriptions, is one of the world's foremost contributors to 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile network technologies. Beyond core communications services, DOCOMO is challenging new frontiers in collaboration with a growing number of entities ("+d" partners), creating exciting and convenient value-added services that change the way people live and work. Under a medium-term plan toward 2020 and beyond, DOCOMO is pioneering a leading-edge 5G network to facilitate innovative services that will amaze and inspire customers beyond their expectations.https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/.Source: NTT DOCOMOCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
OUTSCALE expands from providing infrastructure as a service to operating three levels of experience cloud that enable a unified cyber governance

Holistic collaborative universes combine data science, virtual twin experiences and process modeling for new business experiences that create value for customers

New cloud ecosystem will focus on developing business experiences and addressing cyber governance

Dedicated, experienced OUTSCALE leadership team will make OUTSCALE the trusted partner of choice for customers

Dassault Systemes (Paris: DSY) today announced its ambition to become the leading sovereign and sustainable operator of trusted cloud services.

Dassault Systemes' cloud brand OUTSCALE is expanding its offering from trusted hyper-scalable infrastructure as a service to sovereign environments for trusted business experience as a service. Through this transition, Dassault Systemes will strengthen the position of OUTSCALE as the strategic, sovereign cloud partner for governments and companies in all industries, thereby driving digital autonomy with three levels of experience cloud: dedicated cloud for sovereign collaboration in a customer's space; private cloud for trusted collaboration in a common legal and fiscal space; and international cloud for secured collaboration.

OUTSCALE will deliver business experience twins that empower all business users to excel in their role by benefiting from data science, breaking down silos, and capturing knowledge and know-how within their organization and ecosystem from market intelligence and cost optimization to talent management, innovation acceleration, asset intelligence, and in-service quality enforcement. Dassault Systemes will execute this ambition by relying on its 40 years of expertise across multiple industry verticals. The OUTSCALE portfolio leverages the company's extensive knowledge and know-how to host all its own platforms on a scalable cloud and accelerate the move-to-cloud.

OUTSCALE is building its cloud ecosystem to develop business experiences as well as to address cyber governance. Today, Dassault Systemes announced the first alliance for a European sovereign cloud responding to country-specific governance. This will be supported by a joint venture with Banque des Territoires, Docaposte (digital subsidiary of La Poste group), and Bouygues Telecom.

Laurent Seror, founder of OUTSCALE, will continue to lead as board member of OUTSCALE. Philippe Miltin has been named CEO of OUTSCALE, with more than 20 years of experience in the digital industry, most recently at Atos. He will focus on the development and sale of OUTSCALE's portfolio of ready-to-use cloud solutions. Arnaud Bertrand joins OUTSCALE as Senior Vice President, Research and Development. With more than 20 years of experience in big data and high performance computing experience, most recently at Bull, Arnaud Bertrand will manage OUTSCALE's research and development teams.

"Our strategy for OUTSCALE and its offering are unique in the industry. We are applying 40 years of expertise at an industrial level to deliver an end-to-end sovereign cloud offering that is intricately linked to each customer's core business and enables them to create value from data at multiple levels," said Pascal Daloz, COO, Dassault Systemes. "With its dedicated and experienced leadership team, OUTSCALE will become the trusted partner of choice for our customers."

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com

ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTEMES

Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production to achieve a more sustainable world for patients, citizens, and consumers. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com

Dassault Systemes. All rights reserved.3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006101/en/

Contacts:

Dassault Systemes Press Contacts

Corporate France Arnaud MALHERBE arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com +33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

North America Natasha LEVANTI natasha.levanti@3ds.com +1 (508) 449 8097

EMEAR Virginie BLINDENBERG virginie.blindenberg@3ds.com +33 (0) 1 61 62 84 21

China Grace MU grace.mu@3ds.com +86 10 6536 2288

India Kriti ASHOKkriti.ashok@3ds.com+91 9741310607

Japan Yukiko SATO yukiko.sato@3ds.com +81 3 4321 3841

Korea Jeemin JEONG jeemin.jeong@3ds.com +82 2 3271 6653

AP South Jessica TAN jessica.tan@3ds.com +65 6511 6248
OSLO, Norway , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Norwegian Energy Company ASA ("Noreco" or the "Company") today published its third quarter 2022 results. The Company's producing assets continued to deliver strongly, with production above September's quarterly guidance for Q3, resulting in a robust financial result that further underpins the value of Noreco's portfolio of Danish upstream assets.

Highlights:

Hydrocarbon production of 25.1 mboepd, above quarterly guidance

Total Revenues of USD 294 million , with YTD Revenues of USD 737 million

, with YTD Revenues of EBITDA of USD 198 million , YTD USD 471 million

, YTD Cash flow from operating activities of USD 215 million and USD 486 million YTD

and YTD Free Cash Flow of USD 131 million and YTD 251 million

and YTD 251 million Several milestones on Tyra II achieved, further de-risking the project

Net hydrocarbon production for the quarter of 25.1 mboepd. This is above the latest guidance published for Q3 of 24 - 25 mboepd and has also allowed the Company to positively revise the full year 2022 guidance for the fourth time to 26.5 - 27 mboepd. The overarching strong production trend of 2022 continued during the quarter and was further strengthened by the successful Halfdan well restimulation campaign which delivered approximately 2 mboepd of additional gas volumes. During the quarter the company also carried out a well-managed and planned 21 days maintenance shut-in of the NOGAT pipeline

The Tyra Redevelopment project reached several major milestones during the latter part of the quarter following the COVID-19 driven revision of the Tyra start-up date from Q2 2023 to winter 2023/2024. On 1 September, Noreco announced the successful sail-away of the process module (the "TEG") from the yard in Batam and on 4 October Heerema Marine Contractors' Sleipnir lifted and installed the 17,000 metric tons heavy TEG at the Tyra field, an offshore lift that set a new world record. During the five following days, the two remaining bridges and flare tower were lifted in place. Tyra II now has its final shape with all eight platforms in place and all major lifts and installations safely completed.

The financial result for third quarter shows a continued strong development with revenues of USD 294 million and EBITDA of USD 198 million. Free Cash Flow generation in the quarter was USD 131 million prior to the voluntary and redrawable USD 100 million repayment of the Reserve Based Lending facility (the "RBL"). As a result, the Company had total liquidity of USD 473 million at the end of the quarter with cash on balance sheet of USD 273 million and available undrawn RBL capacity of USD 200 million. Despite the planned maintenance shut-in of the NOGAT pipeline, cash flow generation from the producing assets continues to be the strongest since closing the acquisition of Shell's Danish upstream assets in 2019, providing Noreco with additional flexibility.

"Noreco has delivered another quarter of excellent performance. Operationally, the HCA restimulation campaign was exceptionally impactful and, combined with high uptime and the well-managed NOGAT shutdown, it allowed us to deliver record quarterly revenue, EBITDA and free cashflow generation; an outcome that was delivered despite almost a month of planned gas export capacity downtime. On Tyra, completing the offshore installation campaign was an important de-risking step and doing so ahead of schedule is a positive backdrop as we look forward to first gas at the end of 2023. Our focus continues be on maximising gas output in the short, medium and long-term, an objective that is supported by our strong operational base," said Euan Shirlaw, Chief Executive Officer of Noreco.

The report and investor presentation may be downloaded from the Company's website www.noreco.com or www.newsweb.no.

The Company will host a webcast today at 11:00 CEST.

To join webcast:

https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20221026_15

Contact:

Cathrine F. Torgersen, EVP Investor Relations & ESG

Phone: +47 915 28 501

Email: ct@noreco.com



This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation, and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The stock exchange announcement was published by Cathrine Torgersen, Executive Vice President Investor Relations & ESG, Norwegian Energy Company ASA, at the date and time as set out above.

***

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/4225/3654979/1643639.pdf Noreco Q3 2022 Report https://mb.cision.com/Public/4225/3654979/8f5f11d08f24013d.pdf Noreco Q3 2022 Presentation

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/noreco-announce-third-quarter-2022-results-operational-and-financial-outperformance-301659455.html
Paris, France - October 26th, 2022- Atos today announces the win of a seven-year contract with Siemens Healthineers to provide, deploy and manage Software Defined Access (SDA)-enabled global LAN (local area network) services in close to 60 customer locations in 15 countries. This contract showcases Atos' ability and commitment, as global network infrastructure partner, to support Siemens Healthineers on its journey towards a modernized and independent LAN network based on Cisco SDA.

Siemens Healthineers is striving for a network technology that addresses the challenges of a changing world where experts and R&D teams need to collaborate, independent of their location across the globe. To that end, the provided SDA LAN service will replace the legacy LAN service and will help to bring together the worlds of Siemens Healthineers and Varian by enabling global network collaboration.

By relying on a SDA-enabled LAN technology, Siemens Healthineers will not only benefit from a stable and robust but also from a more flexible network, including all the advantages of an automated network, an easy-to-handle access administration and a secure environment with a ZeroTrust approach.

The solution ensures reliable, IoT ready and stable operations by leveraging Atos' deep understanding of the business intentions of Siemens Healthineers for its network. It also builds on Atos' state-of-the-art network management practices, supported and continuously improved by our own network experts.

The solution proposed by Atos leverages the results of the SDA-specific Design Project conducted by Siemens Healthineers and Atos in partnership with Cisco. The result demonstrates innovative features, such as micro segmentation, automation and how they can be incorporated into the solution design and operational set-up.

As the current provider, Atos can reuse recently refreshed SDA-ready devices from the installed base, as well as the customer specific tool interfaces and IT service management (ITSM) processes, enabling a seamless, cost-efficient 24-month transformation with no or minimal impact on business users and their processes.

Nourdine Bihmane, co-CEO in charge of Tech Foundations, Atos said "We are delighted to support Siemens Healthineers in their digitization journey and help transform their network infrastructure with the purpose of enhancing collaboration throughout the company. The project in partnership with Cisco is yet another example of Atos' mission to securely deliver innovative technologies for business change while maintaining continuity."

Dr. Stefan Henkel, Head of IT of Siemens Healthineers said "With this agreement, we are renewing our trust in our partnership with Atos to transform and innovate network services for our manufacturing sites and R&D labs towards a Zero-Trust-Architecture. This transformation program is an essential cornerstone of our journey to Digitalize the Core of Siemens Healthineers. We look forward to executing the program together with Atos, to build an innovative, resilient, and efficient foundational service for our new network infrastructure."

***

About Siemens Healthineers

Siemens Healthineers AG (listed in Frankfurt, Germany: SHL) pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. As a leading medical technology company headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, Siemens Healthineers and its regional companies is continuously developing its product and service portfolio, with AI-supported applications and digital offerings that play an increasingly important role in the next generation of medical technology. These new applications will enhance the company's foundation in in-vitro diagnostics, image-guided therapy, in-vivo diagnostics, and innovative cancer care. Siemens Healthineers also provides a range of services and solutions to enhance healthcare providers' ability to provide high-quality, efficient care. Further information is available at www.siemens-healthineers.com.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 111,000 employees and annual revenue of c.  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on Euronext Paris and included in the CAC 40 ESG and Next 20 indexes.

The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contact

Constance Arnoux | constance.arnoux@atos.net| +33 0 6 44 12 16 35

Attachment
MEXICO CITY (dpa-AFX) - Fresnillo plc (FRES.L) reported that its third quarter attributable gold production was 159,205 ounce, down 7.7% from the previous year, mainly due to a lower recovery rate as higher volumes of sulphide ore are processed and lower ore grade at Herradura, and a decrease in volume of ore processed and lower ore grade at Noche Buena and Cienega. These factors were partly mitigated by the higher ore grade at Saucito. Quarterly attributable silver production was 13.6 million ounce (including Silverstream), up 7.4% from the previous year due to the higher contribution from Juanicipio, higher ore processed and ore grade at Fresnillo and higher ore grade at Saucito. This was partly offset by the expected lower ore grade and decreased volume of ore processed at San Julian Disseminated Ore Body. The company said it remains on track to meet 2022 full year guidance of 50.5 million ounce to 56.5 million ounce of attributable silver (including Silverstream) and 600 thousand ounce to 650 thousand ounce of attributable gold production. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British drug major AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.L) Wednesday announced positive high-level results from the CAPItello-291 Phase III trial of capivasertib in combination with Faslodex (fulvestrant) in advanced HR-positive breast cancer. The trial met both primary endpoints.



Capivasertib is an investigational oral treatment currently in Phase III trials for the treatment of multiple subtypes of breast cancer, prostate cancer and a Phase II trial for haematologic malignancies.



CAPItello-291 is a Phase III, double-blind, randomised trial that is part of a larger clinical programme focused on capivasertib, an investigational AKT (serine/threonine kinase) inhibitor.



The trial showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival or PFS versus placebo plusFaslodexin patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low or negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, following recurrence or progression on or after endocrine therapy -with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor.



In the trial, PFS was improved in the overall patient population and in a prespecified biomarker subgroup of patients whose tumours had qualifying alterations in the PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN genes.



The company noted that the overall survival or OS data were immature at the time of the analysis, but early data are encouraging. The trial will continue to assess OS as a key secondary endpoint.



In the trial, the safety profile of capivasertib plus Faslodex was similar to that observed in previous trials evaluating this combination .



AstraZeneca will present the trial data at a forthcoming medical meeting and will be shared with global health authorities.



Capivasertib was discovered by AstraZeneca subsequent to a collaboration with Astex Therapeutics.



For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com



Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

ASTRAZENECA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Himiway has recently announced to introduce of their state-of-the-art fat tire long-range electric bikes to the UK scene in the final week of October

LONDON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The UK ebike market is on an inspiring rise lately and is poised to grow at 10.56% CAGR from 2021 to 2027. Himiway, one of the most internationally-acclaimed long range fat tire electric bike experts, has recently announced plans to launch their industry-leading electric bikes in the UK. The launch is officially scheduled for October 26, 2022.





As per the latest reports, 1 in every 20 adults in the United Kingdom has their own electric bike. The electric bike industry is also advancing to upgrade the market with more advanced designs. One of the latest advancements in the latest e-bike industry is the launch of fat tire models. What makes the fat-tire models more advanced is that the fat-tire design assures higher ground contact and traction compared to regular electric bike tires. And, the advantage extends to all kinds of terrains as well.

The company is a globally recognized name. Among the many reasons, one of the key factors that help Himiway bikes to stand ahead of the curve is their long range. Himiway's highly advanced long-range electric bike models are able to offer a mighty range of 60-80 miles while the regular e-bikes are still limited to 30-40 miles.

"The UK e-bike scene is showing booming growth lately and we are more than excited to introduce our best electric bikes in the country," stated the marketing manager from Himiway.

Himiway would be launching two models of electric bikes for the UK market at present. One is the Himiway Cruiser. It's a cutting-edge all-terrain fat tire long-range bike that is designed to offer a smooth and highly comfortable ride across all kinds of terrains- including the most complex terrains.

The second model to be launched is Step-Thru Cruiser- an upgraded version that comes with an advanced Step-Thru build that has been designed to assure better riding comfort for senior citizens.

Himiway is also offering discounts for the UK market. Customers will get 150 pounds off on the purchase of one bike, and 300 pounds off on purchase of two. For more information please visit uk.himiwaybike.com.

Contact:

marketing@varlascooter.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1860877/brand_logo_2_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/himiway-launching-advanced-fat-tire-long-range-electric-bike-in-the-uk-301658634.html
EQS-Ad-hoc: Dexus Finance Pty Limited / Key word(s): AGM/EGM

Dexus Finance Pty Limited: 2022 Annual General Meeting results



26-Oct-2022 / 09:21 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Dexus (ASX: DXS) ASX release 26 October 2022 2022 Annual General Meeting results In accordance with Listing Rule 3.13.2 and section 251AA of the Corporations Act, Dexus advises the outcome of each resolution put to the Annual General Meeting held today, 26 October 2022. The following resolutions were passed on a poll: Resolution 1 - Adoption of the Remuneration Report Resolution 2 - FY23 grant of long-term incentive performance rights to the Chief Executive Officer Resolution 3.1 - Approval of an Independent Director - Mark Ford Resolution 3.2 - Approval of an Independent Director - The Hon. Nicola Roxon Resolution 3.3 - Approval of an Independent Director - Elana Rubin AM Resolution 4 - Constitutional Amendments Details of the total number of votes cast on the poll and the total number of proxy votes are attached to this release. The full results are available to download at https://www.dexus.com/investor-centre/listed-funds/dexus-dxs/results-and-reporting/asx-announcements



Authorised by Scott Mahony, Company Secretary of Dexus Funds Management Limited. For further information please contact: Investors

Rowena Causley

Head of Listed Investor Relations

+61 2 9017 1390

+61 416 122 383

rowena.causley@dexus.com Media

Louise Murray

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

+61 2 9017 1446

+61 403 260 754

louise.murray@dexus.com Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this announcement:



About Dexus Dexus (ASX: DXS) is one of Australia's leading fully integrated real estate groups, managing a high-quality Australian property portfolio valued at $44.3 billion. We believe that the strength and quality of our relationships will always be central to our success and are deeply committed to working with our customers to provide spaces that engage and inspire. We invest only in Australia, and directly own $18.4 billion of office, industrial and healthcare properties, and investments. We manage a further $25.9 billion of office, retail, industrial and healthcare properties for third party clients. The group's $17.7 billion development pipeline provides the opportunity to grow both portfolios and enhance future returns. Sustainability is integrated across our business, and our sustainability approach is the lens we use to manage emerging ESG risks and opportunities for all our stakeholders. Dexus listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is supported by more than 29,000 investors from 24 countries. With over 35 years of expertise in property investment, funds management, asset management and development, we have a proven track record in capital and risk management and delivering superior risk-adjusted returns for investors. www.dexus.com Dexus Funds Management Ltd ABN 24 060 920 783, AFSL 238163, as Responsible Entity for Dexus (ASX: DXS)

Level 25, 264 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 26-Oct-2022 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


AIM and Media Release

26 October 2022

BASE RESOURCES LIMITED

Notice of 2022 Annual General Meeting

Base Resources Limited (Company) gives notice that its 2022 annual general meeting of members will be held on Friday, 25 November 2022 at 11.00am (Perth time) (Meeting):

in the Subiaco Room at the Vibe Hotel, 9 Alvan Street, Subiaco , Western Australia ; and

, ; and online via the Lumi software platform accessible at https://web.lumiagm.com using the Meeting ID 347-783-111.

A full version of the notice of annual general meeting (Notice), including the explanatory memorandum in respect of the items of business to be considered at the Meeting and instructions on how to access the Lumi software platform, is available from the Company's website: https://baseresources.com.au/investors/announcements/.

The items of business to be considered at the Meeting are set out below.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

Accounts and Reports

To receive and consider the financial report of the Company, the Directors' report and the auditor's report for the year ended 30 June 2022.

Item 1 - Adoption of the Remuneration Report

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

"That the Remuneration Report, which forms part of the Directors' report for the financial year ended 30 June 2022, be adopted."

Item 2 - Re-election of Mr Malcolm Macpherson as a Director

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

"That Mr Malcolm Macpherson, who retires in accordance with rule 3.6 of the Company's constitution, be re-elected as a Director of the Company for a fixed term ending following the conclusion of the Company's 2023 Annual General Meeting."

Item 3 - Approval of the grant of Performance Rights to Mr Tim Carstens

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

"That, for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.14 and for all other purposes, members approve the grant of 2,702,895 Performance Rights by the Company to Mr Tim Carstens, in accordance with the Base Resources Long Term Incentive Plan and otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions summarised in the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying this Notice."

Other business

To consider any other business brought forward in accordance with the Company's constitution or applicable law.

IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION FOR THE MEETING

Right to vote

The Directors have determined that, for the purpose of voting at the Meeting, the members entitled to vote are those persons who are registered holders of shares in the Company (Shares) at 4.00pm (Perth time) on 23 November 2022.

Chair's voting intention

The Chair of the Meeting (where appropriately authorised) intends to vote all available undirected proxies in favour of all Items.

Voting prohibitions applying to key management personnel

Key management personnel and their Closely Related Parties (as both terms are defined in the full Notice) are prohibited under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act) from voting in a manner contrary to the voting prohibitions for Items 1 and 3 described in the section titled "Voting Prohibitions and Exclusions" in the full Notice.

Attending and voting online

Members or their attorneys or corporate representatives who wish to participate online may do so, from their computer or mobile device, by entering the URL in their browser: https://web.lumiagm.com.

If you choose to participate in the Meeting online, registration will be open at 10.00 am (Perth time). Members, corporate representatives, and attorneys can log in to the Meeting by entering:

the Meeting ID, which is 347-783-111;

their username, which is the SRN/HIN for the holding; and

their password, which is the postcode registered to the holding if the registered address is an address in Australia. For a holding with an overseas registered address, please refer to the Lumi Online Meeting Guide on pages 23 to 27 of the full Notice for the password details.

Proxy holders and visitors should refer to the Lumi Online Meeting Guide on pages 23 to 27 of the full Notice for details about how to log in to the Meeting.

Attending the meeting online will enable you to view the Meeting live and, if you are not a visitor, to ask questions (both orally and via a text-based Q&A function) and cast votes in the real time poll while voting is enabled.Please note that if you join the Meeting online as a member and vote, any proxy appointed by you will not be entitled to vote and votes lodged by your proxy in respect of your Shares will be withdrawn.

Further details are set out in the Lumi Online Meeting Guide on pages 23 to 27 of the full Notice.

Appointment of proxies

Each member entitled to vote at the Meeting may appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the Meeting. A proxy need not be a member and can be an individual or a body corporate. A member entitled to cast two or more votes may appoint two proxies and may specify the proportion or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise.

A body corporate appointed as a member's proxy may appoint a representative to exercise any of the powers the body may exercise as a proxy at the Meeting. The appointment must comply with section 250D of the Corporations Act. The representative should bring to the Meeting evidence of his or her appointment, including any authority under which the appointment is signed, unless it has previously been given to the Company.

Sections 250BB and 250BC of the Corporations Act apply to voting by proxy. Members and their proxies should be aware of these provisions of the Corporations Act. Generally, these sections provide that:

if proxy holders vote, they must cast all directed proxies as directed; and

any directed proxies which are not voted will automatically default to the Chair, who must vote the proxies as directed.

Proxies on Items 1 and 3

If members appoint the Chair as their proxy (or the Chair is appointed by default) and they do not complete any of the boxes "For", "Against" or "Abstain" opposite Items 1 or 3 on the Proxy Form, they will be expressly authorising the Chair to vote on the relevant Item in accordance with the Chair's stated voting intention, even though the Item is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of key management personnel. The Chair intends to vote (where appropriately authorised) all available undirected proxies in favour of all Items.

If members appoint the Chair as their proxy and wish to direct him how to vote, they can do so by marking the boxes for the relevant Item (i.e. by directing him to vote "For", "Against" or "Abstain").

If members appoint a member of key management personnel (other than the Chair) or any Closely Related Party of a member of key management personnel as their proxy, they must direct that person how to vote on Items 1 or 3 if they want their Shares to be voted on those Items. If members appoint a member of key management personnel (other than the Chair) or any Closely Related Party of a member of key management personnel and they do not direct them how to vote on Items 1 or 3, such a person will not cast their votes on that Item and their votes will not be counted in calculating the required majority.

Lodgement of proxy documents

For an appointment of a proxy for the Meeting to be effective:

the proxy's appointment; and

if the appointment is signed by the appointor's attorney - the authority under which the appointment was signed (e.g. a power of attorney) or a certified copy of it,

must be received by the Company at least 48 hours before the start of the Meeting (i.e. by 11.00 am (Perth time) on Wednesday, 23 November 2022). Proxy appointments received after this time will be invalid for the Meeting.

The following methods are specified for the purposes of receipt of proxies:

Online

investorvote.com.au

By mobile

Scan the QR Code on your proxy form

and follow the prompts

Custodian voting

Intermediary Online subscribers only (custodians) www.intermediaryonline.com By mail

Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited

GPO Box 242 Melbourne

Victoria 3001, Australia By fax

1800 783 447 (in Australia)

+61 3 9473 2555 (outside Australia)

United Kingdom (CREST voting instruction)

Depository Interest holders in CREST (DI Holders) may transmit voting instructions by utilising the CREST voting service in accordance with the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider, should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider, who will be able to take appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for instructions made using the CREST voting service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (CREST Voting Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual (available at www.euroclear.com/CREST).

To be effective, the CREST Voting Instruction must be transmitted so as to be received by the Company's agent (Computershare UK) no later than 21 November 2022 at 11.00 am (GMT). For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the CREST Voting Instruction by the CREST applications host) from which the Company's agent is able to retrieve the CREST Voting Instruction by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. DI Holders in CREST and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the transmission of CREST Voting Instructions. It is the responsibility of the DI Holder concerned to take (or, if the DI Holder is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that the CREST sponsor or voting service provider takes) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a CREST Voting Instruction is transmitted by means of the CREST voting service by any particular time.

DI Holders and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

Form of instruction

DI Holders are invited to attend the Meeting (either physically or online, in each case, as a visitor) but are not entitled to vote at the Meeting. In order to have votes cast at the Meeting on their behalf, DI Holders must complete, sign and return the Forms of Instruction sent to them to the Company's agent, Computershare UK, by no later than 21 November 2022 at 11.00 am (GMT).

ENDS.

For further information contact:

James Fuller, Manager Communications and Investor Relations UK Media Relations Base Resources Tavistock Communications Tel: +61 (8) 9413 7426 Jos Simson and Gareth Tredway Mobile: +61 (0) 488 093 763 Tel: +44 (0) 207 920 3150 Email: jfuller@baseresources.com.au

About Base Resources

Base Resources is an Australian based, African focused, mineral sands producer and developer with a track record of project delivery and operational performance. The Company operates the established Kwale Operations in Kenya and is developing the Toliara Project in Madagascar. Base Resources is an ASX and AIM listed company. Further details about Base Resources are available at www.baseresources.com.au

PRINCIPAL & REGISTERED OFFICE

Level 3, 46 Colin Street

West Perth, Western Australia, 6005

Email: info@baseresources.com.au

Phone: +61 (0)8 9413 7400

Fax: +61 (0)8 9322 8912

NOMINATED ADVISOR

RFC Ambrian Limited

Stephen Allen

Phone: +61 (0)8 9480 2500

JOINT BROKER

Berenberg

Matthew Armitt / Detlir Elezi

Phone: +44 20 3207 7800

JOINT BROKER

Canaccord Genuity

Raj Khatri / James Asensio / Patrick Dolaghan

Phone: +44 20 7523 8000
AAA Sales Management GmbH will add euNetworks products and services to its portfolio of solutions available for its clients

euNetworks Fiber UK Limited ("euNetworks'), a Western European bandwidth infrastructure company, has entered into a Master Agent Partner Agreement with Swiss telecom consulting firm AAA Sales Management GmbH ("AAA"). Under the terms of this agreement, AAA will include euNetworks fibre-based products and services in its portfolio of solutions used by its teams when consulting with clients. AAA advises European medium-sized companies and international corporations on complex telecom requirements with regard to site networking, data centre solutions and cloud connections.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005048/en/

Paula Cogan, President, euNetworks (Photo: Business Wire)

euNetworks owns and operates 17 fibre based metropolitan networks connected with a high-capacity intercity backbone covering 53 cities in 17 countries across Europe. Those metropolitan networks cover the cities of London, Manchester, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Paris, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Milan Madrid. The company leads the market in data centre connectivity, directly connecting over 490 today and continues to invest in additional network developments, both in cities and to deliver more multi-route long haul connectivity options for customers.

In Switzerland, euNetworks has pre-deployed capacity between 15 key data centres across a network spanning Zurich, Geneva, Basel and the Lake Area. This means the company can offer a fast bandwidth service turn up, with 20 working days delivery time SLA between the 15 locations. Along with a reliable, scalable and efficient solution in Switzerland, euNetworks' extensive European footprint enables a seamless onward connection to over 475 other European data centres.

"We are delighted to be working with AAA, enabling more businesses to benefit from our growing network of fibre-based data centre to data centre connectivity products in Europe," said Paula Cogan, President, euNetworks. We look forward to growing a successful working relationship as they consult on complex networking solutions for their clients."

Mr Wilhelm Pfeifer, Chairman of AAA Sales Management GmbH said: "The partnership with euNetworks enables our Sourcing Advisor Team to take a holistic approach to designing appropriate solutions for customers in a redundant, highly available and independent manner."

About euNetworks

euNetworks is a critical bandwidth infrastructure company, owning and operating 17 fibre based metropolitan networks connected with a high capacity intercity backbone covering 53 cities in 17 countries across Europe. The company leads the market in data centre connectivity, directly connecting over 490 today. euNetworks is also a leading cloud connectivity provider and offers a targeted portfolio of metropolitan and long haul services including Dark Fibre, Wavelengths, and Ethernet. Wholesale, finance, content, media, mobile, data centre and enterprise customers benefit from euNetworks' unique inventory of fibre and duct based assets that are tailored to fulfil their high bandwidth needs. For further information visit eunetworks.com.

About AAA:

AAA Sales Management GmbH is a consulting company with a focus on international telecom and data center solutions. The company advises European medium-sized companies and international corporations on complex telecom requirements with regard to site networking, data center solutions and cloud connections. The company is based in Baar, Switzerland and has been recognized for its services by various telecommunications companies for more than 12 years. More information can be found at www.aaa-sales.ch.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005048/en/

Contacts:

Hannah Britt Senior Director, Marketing IR euNetworks

5 Churchill Place London E14 5HU

hannah.britt@eunetworks.com email +44 7717 896 446 mobile



Maria Groechenig Online Marketing Communications AAA Sales Management GmbH

Maria.groechenig@aaa-sales.ch email +41 41 560 7771 mobile
Gainesville, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Byppo, an online food delivery service company, has recently announced its newest service BYPPOCampus, which provides tailored services to universities and students.





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BYPPOCampus provides solution for students looking to make additional income, network effectively, and earn work experience within the confines of campus grounds. In cooperation with universities and its dining services, BYPPO will allow students to sign-up as student runners to deliver food within school premises from on-campus food sources. The app will incentivize students to dine on campus with an in-app rewards program, BYPPOBucks.

As part of their sustainability efforts, BYPPOCampus' student runners will either walk or use energy-efficient scooters, public transportation, and bikes for their deliveries. Aside from student runners, the service will also employ a team of campus-verified delivery personnel to ensure that, despite class schedules, all business hours are covered.

In addition to being a delivery solution for students, BYPPOCampus allows students to experience what it will be like to run their own business by becoming the student "BYPPOCampus CEO" for their campus. As "Student CEOs," students can apply their skills directly from the classroom to campus grounds.

BYPPOCampus is a program tackling critical issues in today's food and higher education industry. Many of these include how to increase student employment, educating students on unconventional sustainable practices, and building a social enterprise right on university campuses.

CEO Victoria Liu shares, "BYPPOCampus is a unique solution that connects students with safety, sustainability, and social responsibility at its core."

Byppo has already started offering its new service to universities in the United States, including Liu's alma mater, the University of Florida.

"Our collaboration with BYPPOCampus introduced the future of food delivery on college campuses. Food connects us, and using student-to-student delivery methods created a sense of community and warmth that is missing from commercial food delivery services," shared Tim Bucolo, director of Gator Dining at the University of Florida.

Lary Lee, executive director of auxiliary services at the University of Colorado, praised the app for innovating in hospitality in higher education.

He shares, "The future of Higher Ed hospitality includes delivery as an innovative way to meet students, faculty, and staff where they are. And BYPPOCampus is simply the superior solution being able to connect with anyone, anywhere, at the moment of truth. Combined with experiential learning opportunities and social enterprise, there is no competition."

BYPPOCampus is an innovative delivery platform for universities, currently delivering food from dining locations, but it will be expanding to include university bookstore deliveries by 2024. Students will soon be able to get lunch delivered, school supplies, and textbooks straight to their dorm rooms by another student-peer right on campus grounds.

About Byppo

Byppo Technologies LLC is a Florida-based online-ordering service that connects customers with local establishments by partnering with them and providing their users with a streamlined food-ordering experience. BYPPO offers affordable services and environmentally friendly alternatives to standard delivery methods.

Victoria Liu

BYPPO Email: support@byppo.com

BYPPO Phone number: (352) 325-3635

Website: www.byppo.com, www.byppocampus.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141954
NUREMBERG, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Bridge Market Research offers an extensive analysis of the company Paessler including insights on their history and milestones, growth analysis, market presence, opportunities and drivers reviewed in the report.





Paessler offers a comprehensive monitoring software for IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to help customers drive the organization up, running, and optimized while keeping everything remarkably simple. From the start, the company has sought to change the world for the better through technology that builds stronger relationships. Market players must be more resilient, ready, and flexible to adapt; thus, they need a trusted technology and monitoring partner to guide them forward and support them to do more with less.

Paessler, headquartered in Nuremberg in Germany, is an IT monitoring company with a headcount of over 300 employees from over 25 countries. The company has a presence in the U.S. and Malaysia, with around 4,000 partners worldwide. Every industry faces an exclusive social, economic, environmental, and technological challenge. To combat that, Paessler believes monitoring plays an essential role in minimizing people's consumption of resources.

Paessler's Journey in Nuremberg and Global Markets with Fortune 100 Companies using its PRTG network monitoring software

Paessler was founded in 1997 by Dirk Paessler, in the metropolitan region of Nuremberg. The market giant is now present in many international markets, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use Paessler PRTG. Explore the journey of Paessler:

1997-2001:

The Garage Phase: One student, one vision, one "garage" - the components for a classic 90s startup.

2001-2003:

The Founding Phase: As the need for a performance monitoring software arose, Paessler successfully invented the PRTG monitoring solution.

2003-2007:

The Corporate Name: Along with network experts and developers, in 2025 Paessler GmbH was changed into Paessler AG, to make it easier for employees to participate in the business.

2007-2011:

Software Consolidation: Paessler merged PRTG Traffic Grapher and IPCheck Server Monitor into a single solution and produced PRTG Network Monitor.

2011-2016:

International Coverage: Paessler became a global player with 2 relocations, 130 new employees in 7 countries, and more than 200,000 customers in 5 years.

2017-2018:

Quest for Innovation: With a fruitful completion of 20 years, Paessler had entered into new territories and scaled up its presence.

2019-2020:

New Products & Solutions: Paessler successfully launched PRTG Enterprise Monitor and industry solutions for manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors.

2020-Present

Aim for 2030: As a monitoring company, Paessler took responsibility and has set its aim to reduce the consumption of resources by humankind. Monitoring data will help customers to save resources, from optimizing their OT, IT, and IoT infrastructures, and to lessen energy consumption or emissions.

There is more to Paessler's expertise in IT, OT, and IoT

Paessler is recognized as a front-runner in monitoring data and a leader in IT, OT, and IoT monitoring with > 500,000 users of PRTG Network Monitor, PRTG Enterprise Monitor, and PRTG Hosted Monitor.

The products and services offered by Paessler help companies across industries to monitor everything and eventually optimize their resources. This is how Paessler's products provide benefits:

PRTG Network Monitor: PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure.

PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure. PRTG Enterprise Monitoring: Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability.

Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability. PRTG Hosted Monitor: PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs.

PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs. Paessler solutions for IoT monitoring: Paessler combines IoT sensor technology with their monitoring solutions to support businesses in digitalizing their processes. In IoT monitoring, Paessler also focuses on changing the manual collection of data with automatic remote monitoring.

Paessler Bringing Down Consumption of Resources with its Products & Services Proving Beneficial to Various Companies

Paessler's highly effective products, services, and solutions are already making it easier for companies of every size to offer more with less monitoring. In fact, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use PRTG to improve productivity and efficiency. Paessler has also successfully helped its customers reduce the consumption of resources, for instance:

Engie Solutions : ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor

: ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor Rexroth Bosch Group: PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing productivity

PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing productivity Aquafin : Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG

: Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG Kennedy Industries: Kennedy Industries helps keep communities safe and operational with PRTG

Paessler Addresses Critical Challenges of Resource Efficiency and Sustainability with its Partners and Customers

Paessler is highly focused on sustainability and resource saving. Therefore, the company has unswervingly continued and expanded their activities in this area over the last few years. For instance:

In 2016 - PHQ powered by green electricity

In 2017 - CO2 compensation of all business trips

In 2019 - 100 kWp solar-powered energy system on PHQ roof

In 2020 - Paessler was CO2 neutral with the help of compensation

In 2022 - CO2 neutral or even CO2 negative

To Get a Detailed Insight, Visit at https://www.paessler.com/company/about-us/reduce-consumption-of-resources

Strategic Decisions Taken by Paessler to Boost its Market Presence

In May 2022 : Paessler appointed its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT LIMA DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI INDONESIA in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region.

its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI in and respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region. In January 2022 : Paessler announced the expansion of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). In May 2022 : Paessler and Rittal combined their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview

their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview In June 2022 : Paessler announced two appointments to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic.

to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic. In April 2021 :Paessler was being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. Paessler's partner program was selected because the company produced vertical-specific sales training materials for partners to improve sales strategies in healthcare, education, and industrial IT markets.

Paessler'sGot Solutions for its Clients

Paessler provides a helping hand to SMS group to digitize steel production. SMS group GmbH uses PRTG Enterprise Monitor to monitor performance and reliability. It also helps to identify and eliminate weak spots during the construction, testing, and startup of steel production plants and thus optimize the quality of its production lines.

Somnitec AG delivers Swiss IT precision with PRTG. With the help of the PRTG experts at CORP-IT, Somnitec AG has set up comprehensive monitoring to maximize the consistency of its customers' IT systems.

With PRTG Network Monitor, SE3 has found a solution that allows viewing all industrial and communication components in a single system. SE3 uses PRTG as a solution to monitor wastewater treatment

LUMC monitors all its IT systems with the help of PRTG. LUMC chose the tool due to its large number of users, ability, and flexibility to monitor medical equipment. There are around 20 servers within LUMC using PRTG and 1,000 servers running in PRTG

CowManager monitors every cow in a dairy farm 24/7, and to do this efficiently, CowManager uses PRTG, which helps to see what cows are doing and whether their movements are still considered healthy. Paessler also provides monitoring for large-scale farms having 20,000 cows and more.

Foxtons turned to PRTG Network Monitor to get good clarity in terms of monitoring. After experiencing the benefits of the solution, Foxtons signed up for a perpetual license and soon extended its use across more areas of the organization to cover all key platforms.

PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time monitoring and network management to Acurus. With its granular permissions policy, PRTG helped Acurus in providing its monitoring services to its customers and also ensuring their security and privacy.

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative monitors ground data associated with CO2 sequestration using PRTG Hosted Monitor. This solution provides a good overview of the reactions and products in the soil by displaying soil and weather data from connected sensors. It also includes data transmitted from other measuring systems and laboratory data.

Some of Paessler's Global Partners:

Acronis: MSP Cloud Security Platform

MSP Cloud Security Platform AWS: Cloud Services

Cloud Services Axis: CCTV/Security

CCTV/Security barramundi: Unified Endpoint Management

Unified Endpoint Management Check Point: Network Security

Network Security Cisco: Networking Solutions

Networking Solutions CORP IT: SLA Reporting

SLA Reporting LoRa: LPWAN Solutions

LPWAN Solutions Men&Mice: DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM

DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM Plixer: Flow monitoring

Long-term Goal

Since 2020, Paessler has been completely CO2 neutral and has set a goal to become climate positive in the near future, probably by 2025. The core mission of Paessler is to empower technical teams to manage their infrastructure by ensuring maximum productivity. The company is also actively developing solutions to sustain digital transformation strategies and the IoT.

In the coming years, Paessler is certainly expected to be the customer's choice to monitor everything. Paessler has aimed to set its goal in all 3 strategic market segments: IT monitoring, industrial IoT monitoring, and commercial IoT monitoring.

Latest Report by DBMR Where Paessler is Mentioned:

Network Management Systems Market- Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-management-systems-market

Virtual Infrastructure Manager Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-virtual-infrastructure-manager-market

Data Center Infrastructure Management Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-data-center-infrastructure-management-market

Network Configuration and Change Management (NCCM) Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-configuration-and-change-management-nccm-market

Information Technology (IT) Operations Analytics Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-it-operations-analytics-market

Network Automation Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-automation-market

Log Management and Reporting Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-log-management-and-reporting-security-information-and-event-management-siem-market

Network Security Software Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-security-software-market

Infrastructure Monitoring Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-infrastructure-monitoring-market

Application Performance Monitoring Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-application-performance-monitoring-market

Container Monitoring Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-container-monitoring-market

About Paessler

Paessler AG (Nuremberg) is highly renowned and has established itself as a leader in IT monitoring among companies of all sizes, from small-to-medium-to large enterprises. With over 4,000 partners worldwide, Paessler has efficiently expanded its services.

In 1997 Paessler transformed IT monitoring with the introduction of PRTG Network Monitor. Over 300,000 IT administrators in more than 170 countries depend on Paessler PRTG to monitor their devices, business-critical systems, and network infrastructures. PRTG monitors the IT infrastructure 24x7 and helps IT professionals to solve problems before they impact users.

For More Information, Get in Touch With Paessler at https://www.paessler.com/contact

About Data Bridge Market Research:

Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune.

Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.

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FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - German banking major Deutsche Bank AG reported Wednesday that its third-quarter profit grew more than threefold with higher revenues and weak expenses. Profit before tax was its highest third quarter result since 2006. Meanwhile, Assets under management declined. The bank said it is on track to meet fiscal 2022 outlook.



Deutsche Bank shares were losing around 2 percent in the morning trading in Germany, and more than 1 percent in pre-market activity on the NYSE.



Christian Sewing, CEO, said, 'In the third quarter and first nine months of 2022, we delivered our best profits in more than a decade for both these periods. . We have significantly improved Deutsche Bank's earnings power and we are well on track to meet our 2022 goals.'



In its third quarter, net inflows were 8 billion euros, driven by Alternatives and Cash products.



Assets under management were 833 billion euros at quarter-end, down 5 percent from 880 billion euros in the prior year quarter.



Profit attributable to shareholders soared to 1.11 billion euros from 194 million euros in the prior year. Earnings per share were 0.57 euros, compared to 0.14 euros a year ago.



Profit before tax was 1.62 billion euros, up nearly threefold compared to 554 million euross in the prior year quarter.



The company noted that its profit growth reflected 15 percent year-on-year growth in net revenues together with an 8 percent reduction in noninterest expenses.



Core Bank, which excludes the Capital Release Unit, produced third-quarter pre-tax profit of 1.8 billion euros, more than doubled from last year, driven by 14 percent growth in net revenues combined with a 6 percent reduction in noninterest expenses.



The Capital Release Unit delivered its 10th successive quarter of year-on-year loss reduction with a loss before tax of 216 million euros.



Provision for credit losses was 350 million euros in the quarter, up from 117 million euros in the prior year quarter.



Total net revenues were 6.92 billion euros, up 15 percent from last year's 6.04 billion euros, with growth in all core businesses.



Corporate Bank revenue was up 25 percent to 1.56 billion euros, and Investment Bank revenue rose 6 percent to 2.37 billion euros. Private Bank revenue increased 13 percent to 2.27 billion euros. Asset Management revenues went up 1 percent to 661 million euros.



In Germany, Deutsche Bank shares were trading at 9.13 euros, down 1.52 percent.



In pre-market activity on the NYSE, the shares were trading at $9.17, down 1.3 percent.



For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.



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Moissanite Engagement Rings (0435-232-015), a boutique-grown moissanite jeweler based in Melbourne, has a new collection of ethical gemstone engagement rings.

Fitzroy, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Moissanite Engagement Rings' new ethical stone collection exclusively features ethically sourced and lab-grown moissanite of the highest quality. The renowned jeweler brings Australian customers this rare, naturally occurring mineral which bears a striking resemblance to diamonds in appearance and mineral composition, with the added advantage of possessing a broader refractive index and a rainbow-like light reflection.

More details can be found at https://moissaniteengagementrings.com.au





Moissanite Engagement Rings In Melbourne Launches Ethical Gemstone Collection

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In its recently launched collection, Moissanite Engagement Rings offers Internationally Certified GRA Gemstones combined with recycled gold for the ultimate environmental and ethical final product.

With its latest gemstone range, Moissanite Engagement Rings affirm its commitment to ethical diamond alternatives like moissanite when the traditional diamond industry remains rife with problems. According to a recent industry expose from CBS, blood diamonds still represent 4% of global diamond sales. Moreover, according to Human Rights Watch, 12 out of the world's 13 largest diamond-sourcing firms were found guilty of allowing grave human rights violations to occur in their mining process.

With these sobering facts in mind, Moissanite Engagement Rings believe that when a person gets down on one knee to propose, the best way to do so is with one of their new 100% ethical engagement rings.

New rings that interested customers can purchase include their timeless, understated Oval Solitaire. Like most Moissanite Engagement Rings pieces, this ring is available in 14 or 18K yellow, rose or white gold, or in pure platinum. Customers can also select their preferred carat size, from a more modest 1-carat moissanite solitaire to a weighty 4.9-carat stone.

For customers seeking a more dramatic look, the jeweler offers pieces like the Oval Halo With Full Pave or the even more unique Oval With Pronged Halo And Pave. Their new collection also features pear, emerald, and round-cut moissanite gemstones.

Moissanite Engagement Rings display its new moissanite rings online, but they can also be viewed at its showroom in Melbourne. The boutique jeweler ships its handcrafted ethical rings across Australia.

Moissanite Engagement Rings said, "Discovered in a meteorite, naturally occurring moissanite is rarer than diamonds. With moissanite, which shines brighter than a diamond, you can get your dream ring with more sparkle."

More information is available at https://moissaniteengagementrings.com.au

Contact Info:

Name: Jarod Guthrie

Email: jarod@moissaniteengagementrings.com.au

Organization: Moissanite Engagement Rings

Address: 425 Smith St, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia

Website: https://moissaniteengagementrings.com.au/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141964
The 16th VapExpo was held in Paris on the 22-23 October at the Paris Event Center, and was an opportunity for e-cigarette brands, distributors, professionals, and consumers to come together to discuss current trends and new innovations in the industry.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005461/en/

ECO series (Photo: Business Wire)

With a global reach, and a European focus, the Paris VapExpo is the most influential vaping industry show in France. FEELM, the flagship atomization technology platform belonging to SMOORE the world's largest vape manufacturer, presented a variety of solutions and customized disposable vape for European customers at the show.

Previously, in the European market, the disposable vape HEXA GO equipped with FEELM Max technology has been marketed in Belgium and the Netherlands and has been warmly welcomed by local consumers. The impact of FEELM Max is spreading rapidly in the European market due to its more puffs, velvet silky and same great taste till last puff. On the show floor, FEELM revealed that the products are also landing in Italy, UK, Germany, France, and other European markets.

Following the trends already found in the United States, the European market is accelerating from open to closed system. Data from ECigIntelligence shows that, in France, closed products now account for around 33 per cent of all sales; in the United Kingdom, this has reached a high of 40 per cent, and shows no sign of slowing down. During the exhibition, many retailers were predicting that the proportion of closed products sold in their stores will only continue to increase.

The closed system market consists of closed pod and disposable vape. In the past two years, the number of disposable users grew rapidly, and has become the fastest growing category of closed products overall. Disposable products have attracted a large and growing number of consumers because of their ease of use and rich taste. However, with greater attention now turning to the potential environmental problems around disposable vapes, and a growing consumer awareness, the industry is undergoing rapid transformation.

FEELM are leading the way on this issue and introduced its Eco (eco-friendly) series at the Paris VapExpo show as a clear solution. Having already won the IF Design Award, the Red Dot Award, and other global design awards, the Eco series is at the forefront of this new trend toward environmentalism within disposable vapes. It has also been exhibited in Birmingham in the UK and in Stuttgart in Germany, and is gaining the attention of many leaders within the European vaping space.

FEELM's ECO series, demonstrated at the Paris VapExpo, adopts an integrated design of product packaging, with the overall material made of biodegradable materials. Its innovative design of packaging-free and product integration maximizes FEELM's goal of being low-carbon and environmentally friendly. The ECO series aims to deploy the large-scale use of environmentally friendly resources to replace the original plastic, silicone, and other non-biodegradable materials; it is recyclable, waterproof, lightweight, strong, tear-resistant, and has a unique texture.

At the same time, the auxiliary materials used in ECO series, such as internal brackets, are biodegradable PLA (polylactic acid) materials, with a greater emphasis on biosafety, fast degradation, and more environmentally friendly. Compared with traditional e-cigarette products, the Eco series reduces plastic by more than 50 per cent, and the packaging removes plastic entirely.

FEELM has previously been awarded the "Carbon Neutral Technology Pioneer Award" for its continuous attempts in the field of carbon neutrality. Earlier in May, FEELM announced its carbon neutrality goal, which is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and 30 per cent of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030.

As a leader in its field, FEELM has introduced the world's first ceramic coil solution FEELM Max into the European market and is continuing to introduce environmentally friendly solutions to meet local needs in different markets. FEELM Max also brought the innovative design of a "Semi-translucence Mouthpiece" to address the pain point of users who do not know when the vaping liquid is finished, which also attracted the attention of many attendees at the Paris VapExpo.

What further innovations will disposable products bring to consumers in the future? This question remains to be further answered by the market.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005461/en/

Contacts:

Bluehole New Consumption

Cheng Bianji, (086)13530848319

FEELM Official

feelm@smooretech.com
Toronto Daegu Assets has confirmed its commitment to providing an online stockbroking platform for its private retail investors. The new digital platform has been scheduled to be available to its clients by the third quarter in 2023.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Toronto Daegu Assets, a global financial management company, has confirmed that it will launch a new online stockbroking platform. The new platform will enable the company's retail investors to actively self-manage their portfolio while offering competitive execution-based trading.

This new solution will be progressively rolled out, with the company committing to a complete platform launch by September, 2023. Its initial testing phase was offered to a small handful of clients, which has been well received with positive remarks. The ongoing efforts will be spent to improve the platform's mobile usability and expand its offerings.

"Expanding our digital offerings is a continuous cycle that follows the constant evolution of our client's ongoing needs. We know from experience that in today's world, every second does count, with financial news being so readily available. Therefore, it makes sense that the company is rolling out this new trading platform for our clients. With real-time tradable prices, our clients will be able to execute a trade within a few clicks. The additional platform alongside our advisory service works hand in hand. We are all extremely enthusiastic about its launch," commented Edward Thompson, Director of Capital Markets at Toronto Daegu Assets.

The company has affirmed that they have been working on this platform for the last 14 months. Once available, the online platform will deliver a range of investment solutions that cater to the varying tastes, preferences, and risk appetites of Toronto Daegu Assets retail investors. Additionally, the platform will feature over 4,000 global stocks that are supported by analytical tools such as advanced charting and market news feeds.

"With market-leading commission rates and access to international stock markets, this is gearing up to be truly beneficial to all our clients. As a company, we fully embrace new technology and the advantages they bring," added Harrison Goddard, Chief Finance Officer at Toronto Daegu Assets.

Toronto Daegu Assets have also added that they will provide the platform to mobile via a diverse suite of apps. More info on Toronto Daegu Assets can be found at: https://www.tdainvestments.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Samuel Johnston, Head of Analysis

Email: samuel.johnston@tdainvestments.com

Organization: Toronto Daegu Assets

Address: 8F One York Street, Toronto, M5J 0B6, Ontario, Canada

Phone: +1-647-558-6670

Website: https://www.tdainvestments.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141972
H.I.G. Capital, LLC ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $52 billion of equity capital under management, announced that it has hired Alessio Lucentini as Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Asset Management in Europe.

Mr. Lucentini joins H.I.G. from EQT Exeter where he was a Managing Director. Prior to EQT, he spent 16 years at AXA Real Assets where he was part of the Executive Committee. He previously worked at Cushman Wakefield and for the real estate development company AIG/Lincoln.

Riccardo Dallolio, Managing Director and Head of H.I.G. Europe Realty Partners, commented: "We are thrilled to welcome Alessio to the team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will prove invaluable as we continue executing our differentiated real estate strategy across Europe focused on value-add investments."

"H.I.G. has a long and successful track record investing across the real estate asset spectrum and has built a best in class real estate business in Europe," said Mr. Lucentini. "I am delighted to join the H.I.G. Realty team and help the firm further drive value-add initiatives across Europe."

About H.I.G. Capital

H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with $52 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bogota, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added approach:

H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector.

Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com.

Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006042/en/

Contacts:

Riccardo Dallolio

Managing Director

rdallolio@higrealty.com
Africa Finance Corporation, the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has successfuly closed a US$389 million dual currency Samurai term loan facility, split into US$382 million and JPY 1 billion.

The transaction marks AFCs second foray into the Japanese capital markets, following an inaugural Samurai loan facility in 2019, when the Corporation raised US$233 million and JPY1 billion.

The 3-year tenor facility is an important step as AFC builds a coalition of investors to diversify its funding sources, including more institutional capital from Asia and existing partners in Europe and North America. Japanese investors showed strong interest in the issuance with Mizuho Bank Ltd, MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) acting as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners. Other participating financial institutions include Bank of Yokohama, Norinchukin Bank, Shiga Bank and Gunma Bank. Proceeds from this facility will be used for general corporate purposes.

AFC has a strong record in the Asian capital markets, issuing a US$300 million loan facility through the Export-Import Bank of China in 2018 and a US$140 million Kimchi term loan facility in 2019. Asia is key to Africas next phase of growth and Japan, in particular, is an important player as the country has shifted the focus of its engagement with Africa in recent years from giving aid to increasing investment. The government of Japan, shifting its focus from aid to investment, recently pledged $30 billion over the next three years for the resilient and sustainable development of the African continent. The announcement was made during the recently concluded eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), signalling a boom in Africa-Asia economic relations.

Banji Fehintola, Senior Director and Treasurer of AFC, said: Asia is a very important region for us and the participation of Asian investors in our bond issuances has grown significantly over time. The success of this loan offering is testament to AFCs ability to diversify its funding sources in mobilising global capital to build critical infrastructure in Africa and transform lives.

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Options Technology, the leading Capital Markets services provider, today announced the achievement of VMware Cloud Verified status in TR2 Toronto.

The accomplishment follows the VMware Cloud Provider Principal Partner Status awarded to the firm last year. Options also holds Cloud Verified status at NJ2, PRDC, LHC, LD4 and NY5 sites.

Cloud Verification assures that a partner is validated to expertly deliver cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service across VMware's best-in-class network, storage, and compute solutions to meet specific individual client needs.

It also enables customers to achieve unmatched consistency, performance, and interoperability levels for traditional and containerised enterprise applications based on the most advanced VMware cloud technologies.

Options President and CEO Danny Moore said, "Toronto has emerged as a leader in the convergence of tech leadership, financial services and innovation, bringing best-in-class infrastructure even closer to our clients and bolstering our operational presence in the region.

As the sixth certification in recent months, today's news is a further demonstration of Options' growing portfolio of VMware solution architecture and the continued rollout of service excellence, capability and choice for our customers across the capital markets."

Today's news comes as the latest in a series of strategic announcements for Options, including its tenth Microsoft Gold Partner status, its partnership with on-demand market data provider QUODD, hosting capabilities in Aruba IT3 Bergamo, and the launch of its Quantify and Data Store products.

In 2019, Options received investment from Boston-based Private Equity Firm Abry Partners. This investment has enabled Options to accelerate its growth strategy and develop its technology platform while expanding its global reach in key financial centres.

About Options (www.options-it.com

Options Technology is the No. 1 provider of IT infrastructure to global Capital Markets firms, supporting their operations and ecosystems.

Founded in 1993, the firm began life as a hedge fund technology services provider. Today, the company provides high-performance managed trading infrastructure and cloud-enabled managed services to over 550 firms globally, providing an agile, scalable platform in an Investment Bank-grade Cybersecurity wrapper.

Options clients include the leading global investment banks, hedge funds, funds of funds, proprietary trading firms, market makers, broker/dealers, private equity houses, and exchanges. With offices in 9 key cities; New York, Toronto, Chicago, London, Belfast, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Auckland, Options are well placed to service its customers on-site and remotely.

In 2019, Options secured a significant growth investment from Abry Partners, a Boston-based sector-focused private equity firm. This investment has enabled Options to considerably accelerate its growth strategy to invest further in its technology platform and expand its reach in key financial centres globally.

Options has been named among the UK's leading growth companies in the 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table.

For more on Options, please visit www.options-it.com follow us on Twitter at @Options_ITand visit our LinkedIn page

About Abry Partners (www.abry.com)

Abry is one of the most experienced and successful sector-focused private equity investment firms in North America. Since its founding in 1989, the firm has completed over $82 billion of leveraged transactions and other private equity or preferred equity placements. Currently, the firm manages over $5.0 billion of capital across their active funds.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005509/en/

Contacts:

Press: Niall McAleer

Email: niall.mcaleer@options-it.com
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Start-up pioneers organoid technology to make nature identical, cultured eel meat at cost parity

REHOVOT, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Forsea Foods, Ltd., a FoodTech start-up, is the first company to use organoid technology for culturing seafood products. With a goal of redressing the destruction of marine life due to overfishing, Forsea embarked on a mission to cultivate seafood-initially eel meat-without harming sea life. The eel has become an endangered species, while the demand for its meat keeps increasing in markets such as Europe and Asia.





Toward this effort, Forsea has raised USD5.2M in a seed round led by Berlin-based Target Global. Also invested in the round were The Kitchen FoodTech Hub; PeakBridge VC; Zora Ventures; FoodHack, and Milk & Honey Ventures. The new funding will initially go towards growing cultivated eel meat, high in demand for kabayaki and sushi. Target Global's contribution to this round marks one of its first investments in the FoodTech industry.

Founded a year ago with the support of The Kitchen FoodTech Hub part of The Strauss-Group, Forsea is dedicated to preserving the fish population by creating a viable alternative to wild-caught seafood and leaving the fragile marine ecosystem completely untouched.

Organoid platform vs scaffolding cultivated seafood

Forsea utilizes a non-GMO organoid platform in which the eel meat is grown ex vivo as a three-dimensional tissue structure in the same manner it would grow in a living fish.

This technology bypasses the scaffolding stage and requires fewer bioreactors, a process that is much simpler and more cost-effective than traditional cell culturing. It also dramatically reduces the amount of expensive growth factors required, making the final product more affordable. Iftach Nachman, PhD, Co-founder of Forsea, developed the organoid technology to solve the bottleneck of the eel meat industry.

"We are eager to take part in Forsea's quest to create sustainable, better-for-you seafood products that do not disrupt the biodiversity of the oceans," says Shmuel Chafets, Executive Chairman and Founder of Target Global. "Forsea is poised to make a dramatic impact on the seafood ecosystem. Its pillar platform solves a bottleneck in the cultivated meat industry by creating affordable, ethical, cultivated seafood products that can replace vulnerable fish species."

Future plans

Forsea will inaugurate its pilot plant during 2023. The plant will allow the company to create a preliminary design for a large-scale alpha production system, and to launch the company's first products. The start-up will invest the newly raised capital to accelerate R&D for both growing eel meat and developing the process for other fish species. Forsea also will improve and expand its core technology to enable organoid growth in large-scale bioreactors, while developing methods to increase production yield and profitability at a lower cost. These include perfecting a continuous feeding strategy and nutritional support. Recently Forsea expanded its R&D team and activities to Rehovot, in the heart of Israel's FoodTech valley.

"We are very excited to announce the completion of this funding round," states Roee Nir, CEO, a biotechnology engineer and Co-founder of Forsea. "Our investors express their trust in our game-changing technology for producing seafood with a minimal footprint on the environment. The patented organoid technology allows us to contribute to a safe and more resilient food system consumers demand."

"We are extremely pleased to invest in Forsea and welcome the company into our growing portfolio," comments Yoni Glickman, Managing Partner of FoodSparks by PeakBridge. "Forsea has demonstrated breakthrough technology, having recruited an experienced team to solve a significant problem in the food system caused by overfishing and habitat loss."

"Depletion of world fisheries is a major threat to our food security," adds Amir Zaidman, Chief Business Officer of The Kitchen Hub. "For this reason, we teamed up with Nir and the founding team and backed Forsea from its inception at The Kitchen. We are proud to continue our support and to participate in the seed round of Forsea as it continues to attain its goals."

"We can produce a product identical in flavor, texture, appearance, and nutritional values to real eel," emphasizes Nir. "Organoid platform allows us to design the fish fillet exactly as it grows in the fish, that is, in a 3-dimensional structure, without growing the fat and muscle tissues separately."

About Forsea

The three Co-founders-biotech engineer Roee Nir, MBA; Iftach Nachman, PhD; and Yaniv Elkouby, PhD-founded Forsea in October, 2021 with support from the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA) and The Kitchen Hub. Nir, A biotech engineer with an MBA from NYU Stern, has held years of executive roles in FoodTech, Biotech and Digital Health companies. Nachman, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University, developed the technology through several grants received from The Good Food Institute. Elkouby, a senior researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and expert in cell developmental biology, devoted decades to studying piscine biology.

The organoid approach to cultivating fish tissue involves creating an ideal environment for fish cells to spontaneously form their natural composition of native fat and muscle. They grow as a three-dimensional tissue structure, just like, they would grow in nature.

About Target Global

Target Global is a pan-European technology investment firm with more than 3 billion in assets under management. It invests in companies across all stages of their lifecycle, from pre-seed to pre-IPO. Since 2012, Target has invested in global winners including Delivery Hero, Revolut, Auto 1 Group, Copper, Rapyd, Wefox, Flink, Cazoo, and many others. Target's experienced team of investors, many of whom began their journeys as founders and operators, help exceptional entrepreneurs build leading companies that target trillion-dollar markets. To date, Target has backed 15 unicorns, had 21 exits and 7 realized IPOs. Target has six offices around the world with investing offices across Berlin, London, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona. To learn more about Target Global, please visit: https://www.targetglobal.vc

Company Contact Forsea Foods Ltd. Roee Nir, CEO and Co-Founder Email: info@forseafoods.com Web: www.forseafoods.com Press Contact NutriPR Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-9742893 E-mail: liat@nutripr.com Web: www.nutripr.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930028/Forsea_Team.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/forsea-attracts-usd5-2m-to-expand-cultivated-seafood-without-harming-sea-life-301659635.html
LIMA, Peru, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minera IRL Limited ("Minera", the "Company" or "we") (BVL:MIRL) (CSE:MIRL) (FWB:DZX) (OTCQB:MRLLF) is pleased to announce that its ordinary shares have been uplisted from OTC Pink to the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") in the United States under the symbol "MRLLF". In addition, the Company's ordinary shares are now eligible for deposit and withdrawal with the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), which should facilitate electronic clearing and settlement of trades in the United States.



To be eligible for quotation on the OTCQB, which is operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc., companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com (http://www.otcmarkets.com).

The Company's ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima in Peru (BVL:MIRL), the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:MIRL) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB:DZX).

About Minera IRL Limited

Minera IRL Limited is the CSE, BVL, FWB and OTCQB listed holding company of Minera IRL S.A. and Compania Minera Kuri Kullu S.A., two precious metal mining companies engaged in mining exploration, development, and operations in Peru, with a primary focus on gold. Minera is led by an agile and experienced senior management team with extensive mining industry experience, particularly in South America. Minera operates the Corihuarmi Gold Mine located 5,000 meters above sea level in Central Peru while assessing opportunities to advance its Ollachea Gold Project located in the Department of Puno, Southern Peru. For more information, please visit www.minera-irl.com (http://www.minera-irl.com).

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Minera IRL Limited

Gerardo Perez

Executive Chairman

Diego Benavides

CEO and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Minera IRL Limited

Pedro Valdez

Head of Investor Relations

+51 1 418-1230

Susan Gabbie

Manager, Communications

+51 1 418-1230

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking statements." Forward looking statements are based on assumptions. While management believes these assumptions and statements are reasonable in context, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to political, legal, regulatory, business, environmental and economic risks and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements in this press release include a reference to the Company's expectation that the uplisting and DTC eligibility should facilitate electronic clearing and settlement of trades in the United States, and its belief that the Company's ordinary shares will continue to trade on its other active markets. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Minera IRL's actual results and future performance to be materially different than those expected or estimated future results, performance or achievements and that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results, or achievements.

Minera IRL assumes no obligation, except as may be required by law, to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Risks, uncertainties and contingencies and other factors that might cause actual performance to differ from forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Peru's ability to continue to contain the COVID-19 crisis, changes in and access to the capital or precious metals markets, weather, labor unrest, the uncertainties inherent in mineral exploration and changes to legislative, political, social, health or economic developments both within Peru and in general.
Yarrow-1 and Sailfin-1 are the 8th and 9th discoveries on the Stabroek Block in 2022

Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2 developments are currently operating at their combined production capacity of more than 360,000 gross barrels of oil per day, with a third development at Payara on track for startup at the end of 2023

Hess Corporation (NYSE: HES) today announced two new discoveries at the Yarrow-1 and Sailfin-1 wells on the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The discoveries, which are the eighth and ninth this year, will add to the block's previously announced gross discovered recoverable resource estimate of approximately 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The Yarrow-1 well encountered approximately 75 feet (23 meters) of high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 3,560 feet (1,085 meters) of water and is located approximately 9 miles (14 kilometers) southeast of the Barreleye-1 discovery.

The Sailfin-1 well encountered approximately 312 feet (95 meters) of high quality hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 4,616 feet (1,407 meters) of water and is located approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of the Turbot-1 discovery.

The Banjo-1 exploration well was drilled earlier in the third quarter and did not encounter commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

"We are excited to announce two more discoveries on the Stabroek Block, bringing our total this year to nine," CEO John Hess said. "These discoveries will add to the discovered recoverable resource estimate for the block of approximately 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, and we expect to be producing more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day in 2027."

Hess and its co-venture partners currently have four sanctioned developments on the Stabroek Block. The Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2 developments are currently operating at their combined gross production capacity of more than 360,000 barrels of oil per day. The third development at Payara is on track to come online at the end of 2023 utilizing the Prosperity FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day. The fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come online in 2025, utilizing the ONE GUYANA FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

A Plan of Development is expected to be submitted to the Government of Guyana before year end for a fifth development, Uaru, which is expected to come online at the end of 2026 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres. ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information on Hess Corporation is available at www.hess.com.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "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. Words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "guidance," "could," "may," "should," "would," "believe," "intend," "project," "plan," "predict," "will," "target" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. Our forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, the expected number, timing and completion of our development projects and estimates of capital and operating costs for these projects; estimates of our crude oil and natural gas resources and levels of production; and our future financial and operational results. Forward-looking statements are based on our current understanding, assessments, estimates and projections of relevant factors and reasonable assumptions about the future. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our current projections or expectations of future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: fluctuations in market prices or demand for crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas, including due to COVID-19, competing or alternative energy products and political conditions and events; potential failures or delays in increasing oil and gas reserves, including as a result of unsuccessful exploration activity, drilling risks and unforeseen reservoir conditions, and in achieving expected production levels; changes in laws, regulations and governmental actions applicable to our business, including legislative and regulatory initiatives regarding environmental concerns; the ability of our contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to us, including the operation of joint ventures which we may not control; unexpected changes in technical requirements for constructing, modifying or operating exploration and production facilities and/or the inability to timely obtain or maintain necessary permits; potential disruption or interruption of our operations due to catastrophic events, including COVID-19 or climate change; and other factors described in Item 1A-Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any additional risks described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As and when made, we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, given these risks and uncertainties, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements since such statements speak only as of the date when made and there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will occur and actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement we make. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

We use certain terms in this release relating to resources other than proved reserves, such as unproved reserves or resources. Investors are urged to consider closely the oil and gas disclosures in Hess Corporation's Form 10-K, File No. 1-1204, available from Hess Corporation, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 c/o Corporate Secretary and on our website at www.hess.com. You can also obtain this form from the SEC on the EDGAR system.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006156/en/

Contacts:

Investor:

Jay Wilson

(212) 536-8940

jrwilson@hess.com

Media:

Lorrie Hecker

(212) 536-8250

lhecker@hess.com


Consul General of Malaysian Consulate in Dubai Mohd Fadly Amri Aliaman; ED of Malaysian Genomics Azri Azerai; Co-Founder/Director of Wellness by Design Dr. Lama Al Naeli; Chairman of ASC, BALSAM and Wellness by Design Dr Hisham Hakim; CEO of Balsam Health Services Abdulkader Awad; CEO of IAC Nurul Faten Jasmee; Director of ASC Kair Hakim and Secretary General of Malaysian Business Council Izwan Adnan [L-R]



Director of ASC Kair Hakim; ED of Malaysian Genomics Azri Azerai; Consul General of Malaysian Consulate in Dubai Mohd Fadly Amri Aliaman; Chairman of ASC, BALSAM and Wellness by Design Dr Hisham Hakim; CEO of Balsam Health Services Abdulkader Awad, and CEO of IAC Nurul Faten Jasmee [L-R]

United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oct 26, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Bursa: MGRC, 0155), a leading genomics and biopharmaceutical specialist, today announced the signing of a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) outlining partnerships to market and distribute the Group's Dtect(R) range of genetic screening services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Other than Malaysian Genomics, the SCA involves American Spine Center (ASC), a Dubai, UAE-based specialist in spinal injury and spine pathology; BALSAM Health Services, a Dubai, UAE-based healthcare service provider; Wellness by Design FZ LLC, a Dubai, UAE-based nutrition, obesity and weight loss specialist, and Sharjah, UAE-based IAC International LLC.Under the SCA, Malaysian Genomics, ASC, Balsam and Wellness by Design will explore common strategies for joint or allied projects that translate to innovative healthcare tools or solutions, while the role of IAC is to support activities in priority areas, aligning the parties and work with other organisations, where appropriate. IAC will also be the point of contact between Malaysian Genomics and ASC, Balsam and Wellness by Design.Noor Azri bin Dato' Sri Noor Azerai, Executive Director of Malaysian Genomics, said, "The SCA will allow us to formally explore how the parties can work together, including technical trials and evaluation of our Dtect screening tests for commercialisation in the UAE. Malaysian Genomics' role will be to provide technical and scientific support under the SCA. In addition, we constantly look for opportunities to partner with like-minded businesses and organisations in expanding our market reach for Dtect and our other services."Dr. Hisham Hakim, Chairman of ASC, BALSAM and Wellness by Design, said, "We welcome this first step in a working relationship with Malaysian Genomics and IAC, and look forward to the inclusion of Dtect to offer more choices to our patients. We are committed to clinical and technological excellence as we bring coordinated patient care with compassion and commitment while ensuring cost efficiency."Ms. Nurul Faten Jasmee, CEO of IAC, said, "There are lots of opportunities for the expansion of genetic screening services in the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We will provide the coordination, business delivery and project management between the parties during the technical trials for Dtect in the UAE, followed by the commercial rollout and expansion throughout the MENA region."Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad: 0155 [BURSA: MGRC] [RIC: MGRC:KL] [BBG: MGRC:MK], http://www.mgrc.com.my/Source: Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre BerhadCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Objectives:

More than 60 M in turnover and 14% of EBITDA[1] margin by 2027 only through organic growth

Supporting the consolidation of the imaging sector through the conclusion of new strategic and/or financial alliances and partnerships with major players in the sector

Diagnostic Medical Systems Group (Euronext Growth Paris - FR0012202497 - DGM) is pleased to announce its strategic plan called Imaging 2027, with the ambition to become a key player of medical imaging in Europe within the next five years. This strategic plan is presented today to the institutional investors, at the occasion of a videoconference at 10 am, and to DMS Group's shareholders and individual investors during a videoconference at 6 pm.

Through its subsidiary DMS Imaging, DMS Group is today a French specialist and recognized player in medical imaging, with high-end imaging solutions dedicated to digital radiology and bone densitometry. This strategic plan aims to make DMS Group a leading and independent European medical imaging medtech, partner of the largest international medtechs and player in the consolidation of its market.

Imaging 2027 relies on three strategic axes: innovation, organic growth & sector consolidation.

Innovation: Platinum Neo and new high-end imaging solutions

Through its key products in radiology and bone densitometry, equipped with the most advanced technologies, DMS Group aims to bring more innovation and excellence to its medical imaging customers.

Over the past few years, DMS Group has built its development on its, Platinum and Optima X-ray tables, integrating the imaging software suite Adam which includes image processing capacities based on artificial intelligence (AI) and the most efficient innovative patient workflow management on the market.

Presented a year ago during the 2021 French Days of Radiology, the new Platinum Neo X-ray table, first solution available on the market including a "machine intelligence" engine, has been commercialized since 2022. It represents the high-end key product of the X-ray room segment for the next years. The Platinum Neo received the innovation prize during the 2021 French Days of Radiology and was just installed in a world-renowned reference site, the American Hospital of Paris.

In parallel, DMS Group started the development of two new high-end imaging solutions, a radiology mobile and a C-arm for operating rooms, which will be manufactured in France and will reinforce the product range of DMS Imaging by 2024 and 2025. These new solutions will support future growth and will bring innovation and intelligence, both to assist medical personnel but also for a better patient diagnosis.

In the framework of this project, DMS Group made a strategic partnership with the Australian company Micro-X to supply cold cathode X-ray tubes, a leading innovative technological solution, whose first integration tests are underway.

Called MC2, this structuring development project is financed by the French government as part of the Recovery Plan (Plan de Relance) and the Investments for the Future Program (Programme d'investissements d'avenir - PIA).

This project enters into the strategies for a better efficiency of the patient pathway (agile imaging going towards the patient), implemented in developed countries after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finally, in bone densitometry, DMS Group aims to develop a new bone densitometers range in middle and high-end market segments, with higher added value and a high level of scientific validation. The Group's ambition is to position these new solutions on the American market, first global market in bone densitometry, by 2025.

Organic growth: make DMS Group one of the main OEM partners worldwide

Over the past few years, DMS Group has been strongly reinforced with business experts from process industries. These new skills, associated to the historic teams' savoir-faire, and the means offered by the modern production unit in Gallargues-le-Montueux will allow to serenely address the future challenges.

To this day, DMS Group is already the industrial partner of Canon Medical System Europe, Carestream Healthcare and Fujifilm Healthcare worldwide in the framework of white-label contracts. With Imaging 2027, the goal is to make DMS Group one of the main industrial partners of global imaging giants who are looking for better solutions for their digital conventional imaging.

In parallel, DMS Group aims to continue marketing its own-brand solutions to hospitals and radiology centers, both on its domestic market thanks to major referencing agreements with central purchasing agencies (UniHA, Ugap, Resah) who handle direct sales and distribution to public hospitals, but also through its network of 140 distributors in the world.

Sector consolidation: being a major European player in medical imaging

Beyond its important organic growth potential, DMS Group aims to be a leading player of the medical imaging sector consolidation movement as part of the Imaging 2027 plan in order to become a European leader in the sector.

In this perspective, the group would like to make new strategic and/or capital alliances to create a genuine French and European medical imaging industry (horizontal and vertical consolidation).

Moreover, the group would like to reinforce its shareholder base and find one or several reference shareholders to guide and support its development.

Today DMS Group is completely involved in the French Healthcare dynamic, as member of the board. French Healthcare is a brand supported by the ministry of Europe and foreign affairs aiming to promote French excellence in health and to export this excellence. DMS Group aims to actively contribute to the Imaging strategic committee, prospective authority depending on the prime minister, with the ambition to develop a French industrial sector and strengthen the position of imaging in patients care.

A new ambitious step for DMS Group

In the context of Imaging 2027, DMS Group has ambitious goals by 2027:

Reach a new growth milestone and aim for a turnover of at least 60 M (vs. 37.1 M in 2021 including 36.3 M for the DMS Imaging division);

(vs. 37.1 M in 2021 including 36.3 M for the DMS Imaging division); Reach a new level of profitability and aim an EBITDA[2] margin of 14% (vs. 5.1% in 2021 including 6.8% for the DMS Imaging division).

These goals are based on organic growth only.

Implementation of a strategic committee for the DMS Imaging division

To guide the developments of the Group in the context of the Imaging 2027 plan, the new DMS Group's Board of Directors decided to implement a strategic committee for the DMS Imaging division with high level personalities from the medical imaging field and specialized in business strategy.

DMS Group is pleased to announce the first members of this strategic committee:

Mark Holmshaw

Mark Holmshaw has spent his entire career in the medical imaging industry.

He started as an engineer for Philips Medical Systems, he progressed to sales management at Toshiba Medical UK before being promoted to vice-president of sales, marketing and service at Toshiba Medical Europe in 2012. In 2017, he was named President and CEO (General Director) of Toshiba Medical Systems Europe. In 2018, he became President and CEO of Canon Medical Systems Europe after the sale of Toshiba's medical division to Canon.

With an impressive background in engineering, sales and management of medical imaging global leaders, Mark Holmshaw will bring his experience in terms of partnerships, innovation and communication to DMS Group.

Christophe Lala

Christophe Lala has spent his entire career in the Healthcare division of General Electrics.

With a degree in electronics, Christophe Lala has held several management positions at GE Healthcare, before taking on the position of CEO of GE Healthcare for western Europe between 2014 and 2021.

He also held positions as administrator, vice-president, and member of the Snitem board (National Syndicate of Medical Technologies Industries), first professional organization representing most of companies from the field of medical devices. He is the pilot of the medical imaging group of the Strategic Committee (CSF Imaging).

In addition, the Group can also rely on the international expertise of Jean-Francois Gendron, independent administrator of DMS Imaging and French foreign trade advisor. Jean-Francois Gendron was vice-president in charge of international development in the group Hcare International and President of the international CCI. He is the current President of the French Healthcare association.

Project of disengagement from DMS Biotech: memorandum of understanding to organize the sale of shares held by DMS Group in Hybrigenics

DMS Group concluded on October 19th a memorandum of understanding to organize the sale of all shares held in the capital of Hybrigenics, representing 43.41% of the company's social capital.

The operation aims to add value to this participation, both for DMS Group's shareholders and Hybrigenics'.

This operation will allow DMS Group to strengthen its available treasury in order to finance investments aiming to accelerate its developments and its growth as part of the Imaging 2027 plan but also stay focused on its strategy and goals in terms of medical imaging.

Project of free allocation of equity warrants to thank the shareholders of DMS Group

To thank the shareholders who have accompanied the company for a long time during the different steps of its development, DMS Group confirms its intention to conduct a project of issuing and free allocation of equity warrants (BSA) to its shareholders.

Further details on the modalities of this operation project will also be communicated in the upcoming weeks.

Financial calendar for 2022

Date Event January 20th 2023 Publication of the 2022 annual turnover

The publications will be made when the Euronext Paris market is closed. These dates are given as an indication, they can be changed if necessary.

About DMS Group

DMS Group is composed of companies with a high innovation potential. Historically centered on medical imaging industry, the activity is developing in new directions. By investing on the future and betting on research, DMS Group hopes to bring the solutions of tomorrow.

Specialized in high technology for medical diagnosis, DMS Imaging is now the French leader in development, design and manufacture of imaging systems dedicated to radiology, bone densitometry, 3D modeling and posturology. DMS Imaging (previously ASIT Biotech) is quoted on the Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris markets (ISIN: BE0974289218 - memo: DMSIM).

DMS Biotech supports the development strategy of the group in the field of biotechnologies, and more specifically, technologies for the treatment of osteoarthritis and regenerative medicine based on the injection of fat stem cells. Hybrigenics is quoted on the Paris Euronext Market (ISIN: FR0004153930 - memo: ALHYG).

DMS Group is on every continent through a network of over 140 national distributors, subsidiaries and joint ventures. DMS Group is quoted on the Paris Euronext market (ISIN: FR0012202497 - memo: DGM).

More information on www.dms.com

FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF DMS GROUP AT WWW.ACTUSNEWS.COM

Contacts

DMS Group

Samuel SANCERNI CEO 04 67 50 49 00 Mathieu OMNES - ACTUS FINANCE Investors relations 01 53 67 36 92 Nawel NAAMANE - ACTUS FINANCE Press Relations 01 53 67 36 34

[1] The EBITDA corresponds to the recurring operating income before interest, taxes, depreciations, and amortization.

[2] The EBITDA corresponds to the recurring operating income before interest, taxes, depreciations, and amortization.

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Atlanta, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Jon Ostenson, the founder and CEO of America's leading non-food franchise consulting firm FranBridge Consulting, announces the launch of his new book, 'Non-Food Franchising: The better path to business ownership'. The book is being published by Aragon House Publishing and the launch is scheduled for later this month. His intention behind writing the book is to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with a guide as to why non-food franchising is increasingly seen by many investors as a better way to own a business. Jon explains the reasons why, according to him, there is more to the franchise offering than just fast-food chains.

The book covers a wide range of topics related to the franchise business model. The topics covered include franchising vs. startups, franchising vs. entrepreneurship through acquisition, the franchise landscape and ownership roles, industry opportunities, funding and returns of franchise businesses, selecting a franchise, long-term strategies and understanding the franchisor's perspective, etc.

As an experienced consultant, Jon Ostenson, through the book, provides insights and expert advice on financial opportunities in a number of non-food portfolios. He shares some of the popular industries, including home and property services, health and wellness, automotive, pets and many more. These are some of the sectors which have the potential to thrive in times of recession. The book also answers some of the fundamental questions regarding the franchise business. He explains why he believes franchising is more attractive than startups or acquisitions, and also how franchises can be run with a semi-passive 'executive model'. It further explains why real estate investors are so active in franchising and how individuals can strategically select the best opportunity within franchising. The book also explains the financials of franchising which include investment, revenue, and profit potential.

"My aim is to help others achieve their dreams of freedom and wealth generation through business ownership. 100% of profits from this book will be donated to Hope International, a Christian non-profit that supports entrepreneurs in underserved communities around the world through avenues such as microfinance loans and savings groups. Their 'hand-up vs. hand-out' approach empowers sustainable commerce that has an exponential impact on the entrepreneurs' families and communities for years to come," says Jon Ostenson, CEO of FranBridge Consulting.

Jon Ostenson is a top franchise consultant in the U.S. and is a frequent contributor on the topic of 'non-food franchising' for outlets such as Inc., Forbes, The Franchise Journal and Franchise Connect.

Media contact

Name: Jon Ostenson

Email: info@franbridgeconsulting.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141976
NEWBURY, England, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the UK's leading telephone answering services, Verbatim Telephone Answering Service ( www.verbatim-cc.co.uk ) has commissioned research revealing staggering statistics showing how accountancy firms are lagging far behind when it comes to digital customer service. The research found that one in three accountancy firms are virtually invisible in search engine results, and over 75% of firms are failing to use social media to promote their business.

Falling behind

The research shows the accountancy industry falling behind in all aspects of digital customer service:

1 in 3 accountancy companies have websites that are virtually invisible in search results, preventing customers from finding their business online.

81% of the accountancy websites reviewed would be classed as 'difficult to read'

Only 8% of companies reviewed had web chat on their website, despite 75% of millennials confessing to prefer chat to phone.

Despite over 95% of digital users frequently using social media, three-quarters of the accountancy companies reviewed, either didn't have a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, or didn't actively use it to promote their business.

Despite the relentless move to digital, the research commissioned by Verbatim showed that accountancy firms were often reluctant to embrace new channels and technology.

Lost in cyberspace



A third of the accountancy companies researched appeared only in google when their own company name was typed in (known as a 'brand search') - severely limiting their ability to gain new customers through their website

Don't talk to me, just chat



Despite 75% of millennials admitting to avoiding phone calls, over 90% of accountancy companies don't use web chat on their website, consequently accountants who are not embracing web chat are missing out on an important customer-service channel.

Over 60% of accountancy websites do not load fast enough on mobile



Half of all website traffic now comes through mobile devices, which are convenient for doing business on the go. Slow-loading websites are guaranteed to drive potential customers away.

The research concludes that accountancy companies need to do more when it comes to embracing digital customer service. To read more research findings and discover some examples of best practice, view the full report here . (https://verbatim-cc.co.uk/are-uk-accountancy-firms-embracing-digital-customer-service/)

For more information about the research please contact: Dave Patterson, dave.patterson@verbatim-cc.co.uk, 01635 576070

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/three-quarters-of-uk-accountancy-firms-are-invisible-on-social-media-channels-new-research-by-verbatim-shows-301659815.html
To support distributed work arrangements, Deel provides WeWork memberships on its global perks platform

In another step to simplify the world of HR, global payroll company Deel has partnered with WeWork (NYSE: WE), the leading flexible workspace provider, to offer companies WeWork All Access memberships for employees.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005161/en/

Deel and WeWork partner to provide workers flexible space (Graphic: Business Wire)

As international hiring has skyrocketed over the past few years, distributed teams are becoming more commonplace. There is still, however, a need for workspaces to maintain in-person connections, build culture, and facilitate collaboration. Research also shows that giving more working options to employees has become a major factor in attracting and retaining talent. Per LinkedIn's data, a flexible work arrangement has become the fastest-growing priority among job candidates since 2020.

To meet this demand, Deel is now offering through its self-serve platform a way for employers to provide WeWork memberships to their employees around the world. Deel has been using this perk for its own workforce teams in over 80 countries to great fanfare; it's now extending it to other companies. In just a few clicks, Deel business customers can request a WeWork All Access monthly membership for their new hires when they go through the onboarding process. Deel will then manage all things workspace on their teams' behalf from automating access requests, to solving issues that may arise. The goal is to enable more workers, regardless of where they live or where their headquarters are, to gain access to convenient and high-quality workspace options.

Where you work is yet another aspect of building a global team that Deel is trying to simplify. Before Deel, it was complex to onboard, pay, and manage people in other countries. Now, companies can do all of this from one online platform, reducing manual work. It's making global hiring a lot easier and more attractive to companies, and it's making distributed work a much better experience for employees and contractors around the world.

WeWork All Access is a monthly subscription-based membership that unlocks access to 700+ workspaces around the world. Launched in August 2020, WeWork All Access has experienced record growth, most recently reaching a total of 62,000 members as of June 30, 2022. Data from WeWork shows that in the last year, demand for this flexible workspace product has grown 210% year-over-year.

"We use WeWork to give our own global teams a more flexible work environment, so it only made sense to extend the partnership to our customers. Offering workspaces directly through Deel is just another way we're simplifying the world of HR," said Alex Bouaziz, co-founder and CEO of Deel.

"As hybrid work models have accelerated the demand for turn-key, centrally located flexible workspaces, WeWork is proud to partner with Deel to provide its global customer base with All Access memberships enabling companies to provide their people with work environments that foster connection and collaboration," said Melinda Holland, President and COO of The Americas at WeWork.

About Deel

Deel helps companies hire anyone, anywhere through its global payment management and compliance solution. With its platform, companies regardless of type and size can hire, manage and pay independent workers and full-time employees in more than 150 countries, in a few minutes, compliantly. For more information, visit Deel.com.

About WeWork

WeWork Inc. (NYSE: WE) was founded in 2010 with the vision to create environments where people and companies come together and do their best work. Since then, we've become a leading global flexible space provider committed to delivering technology-driven turnkey solutions, flexible spaces, and community experiences. For more information about WeWork, please visit us at wework.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005161/en/

Contacts:

WeWork

Jaycie Cooper

press@wework.com

Deel

Elisabeth Diana

press@deel.com
iCapital and UnicornSP bring a diversified menu of private market and hedge funds from iCapital's flagship platform to wealth managers and their clients in the region

Unicorn Strategic Partners (UnicornSP), a leading distribution partner to asset managers, and iCapital1, the global fintech platform driving access to alternative investments for the wealth management industry, announced an exclusive partnership to distribute private market and hedge fund investments to financial advisors in Latin America and intermediaries in the US servicing non-resident LATAM clients.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005406/en/

UnicornSP will serve as a local distribution partner and product specialist introducing funds available on the iCapital flagship platform to wealth managers in the region. To ensure comprehensive market coverage, UnicornSP will add new senior hires fully dedicated to private markets to its teams in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and the United States. To best serve its clients, iCapital will provide UnicornSP with product support through its in-house research and diligence team, and a bespoke suite of educational tools.

"This is a new chapter for Unicorn Strategic Partners and its clients. It underscores our commitment to providing wealth managers and their clients broader access to an array of diverse investment opportunities," said David Ayastuy, Managing Partner at UnicornSP. "In launching our partnership with iCapital, we are powering our ability to meet high-net-worth investors' growing demand for private market and hedge fund strategies, and better support their desired portfolio outcomes."

UnicornSP services clients including private banks, broker-dealers, registered independent advisors, multi-family offices, and external asset managers across the Latin American markets and financial intermediaries in the US servicing non-resident LATAM clients. Launched in 2017, UnicornSP is a leading fund distribution specialist in the region, offering comprehensive strategies and diverse investment solutions.

iCapital and UnicornSP see significant demand for private market and hedge fund investments in LATAM alongside a desire for comprehensive educational support.

"We are delighted to strengthen our presence in the Latin American market in partnership with Unicorn Strategic Partners," said Marco BizzozeroHead of International at iCapital."Latin America is of strategic importance to iCapital. This partnership represents our commitment to the wealth managers in the region by providing them with the relevant private markets and hedge fund investment solutions, expertise, and education to help them achieve their clients' investment objectives."

About Unicorn Strategic Partners

Unicorn Strategic Partners was founded in 2017 by a group of renowned professionals in the asset management distribution industry in LATAM, supported by NFQ Group in resources and infrastructure. UnicornSP offers the managers it represents with a first-class distribution Team, with extraordinary adaptability and a consolidated track record in traditional and alternatives distribution businesses across LATAM markets. The most important asset of this organization is its team of professionals, with more than 20 years average experience in the asset management distribution business. UnicornSP specializes in selecting the best capabilities in each asset class, representing managers who share the same meritocracy and performance-driven culture to develop long-term partnerships. UnicornSP's team provides sales and marketing support to the major wirehouses, broker-dealers, independent channels, global private banks and family offices. It has local presence in New York, Miami, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Lima, Mexico, and Madrid.

For additional information, please visit the UnicornSP website at www.unicornsp.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unicorn-strategic-partners

About iCapital

Founded in 2013, iCapital is the leading global fintech company powering the world's alternative investment marketplace. iCapital has transformed how the wealth management, banking, and asset management industries facilitate access to private markets investments for their high-net-worth clients by providing intuitive, end-to-end technology and service solutions; education tools and resources; and robust diligence, compliance, and portfolio analytics capabilities. iCapital's solutions enable organizations to streamline and scale their operational infrastructure for alternative investments and to provide access to direct investments and feeder funds at lower minimums through simplified digital workflows. iCapital-managed platforms offer wealth advisors and their high-net-worth clients access to an extensive menu of private investments, including equity, credit, real estate, infrastructure, structured investments, annuities, and risk-managed solutions. iCapital has been recognized on the Forbes Fintech 50 list each year from 2018 to 2022, the Forbes America's Best Startup Employers in 2021 and 2022, and MMI/Barron's Industry Awards as Solutions Provider of the Year in 2020, 2021 and 2022. As of Sept. 30, 2022, iCapital services more than US$148 billion in global client assets, of which about US$33 billion are from international investors (non-US Domestic) across more than 1,130 funds. Employing more than 1,040 people globally, iCapital is headquartered in NYC and has offices worldwide, including in Zurich, London, Lisbon, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto.

For additional information, please visit the iCapital website at www.icapital.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icapital-network-inc Twitter: @icapitalnetwork

This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, and may not be relied on in any manner as legal, tax or investment advice, a recommendation, or as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a recommendation of any interest in any fund or security offered by Institutional Capital Network, Inc. or its affiliates (together "iCapital"). Alternative investments are complex, speculative investment vehicles and are not suitable for all investors. This material does not intend to address the financial objectives, situation or specific needs of any individual investor. The information contained herein is subject to change and is also incomplete. This industry information and its importance is an opinion only and should not be relied upon as the only important information available. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed, and iCapital assumes no liability for the information provided.

This material is confidential, is the property of iCapital and may not be shared without the written permission of iCapital. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission of iCapital.

Products offered by iCapital are typically private placements that are sold only to qualified clients of iCapital through transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder ("Private Placements"). An investment in any product issued pursuant to a Private Placement, such as the funds described, entails a high degree of risk and no assurance can be given that any alternative investment fund's investment objectives will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital. Further, such investments are not subject to the same levels of regulatory scrutiny as publicly listed investments, and as a result, investors may have access to significantly less information than they can access with respect to publicly listed investments. Prospective investors should also note that investments in the products described involve long lock-ups and do not provide investors with liquidity.

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Securities and services may be offered through iCapital Securities, LLC, Axio Financial LLC, and/or SIMON Markets LLC, each of which is a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA and SIPC, and subsidiary of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. ("iCapital"). iCapital Advisors, LLC, a subsidiary of iCapital, is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These registrations and memberships in no way imply that the SEC, FINRA or SIPC have endorsed the entities, products or services discussed herein. iCapital and iCapital Network are registered trademarks of Institutional Capital Network, Inc. Additional information is available upon request.

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Contacts:

Unicorn Media

Latam

Andrea Faraco

Andrea.faraco@unicornsp.com

+598 99 177 160

iCapital Media

North America

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icapital@neibartgroup.com

+1 919- 602-2806
Communications platform dynamically scales to meet demands year round with distributed SQL in the cloud

MariaDB Corporation today announced that Hit Labs, the creators behind the all-in-one communication platform Pronto, is powering its business with Xpand, MariaDB's distributed SQL database, deployed on a fully managed cloud database service MariaDB SkySQL running on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Facing a fast-growing user base, Pronto turned to Xpand in SkySQL for its elasticity and high availability making it easy to scale out and onboard millions of users. To give their team the ability to focus fully on delivering the best communications experience to their customers, Pronto also brought in SkyDBAs for proactive and expert care of its cloud databases.

A Cloud Database That Expands to Meet Seasonal Peaks

Pronto provides a mobile-optimized communication platform for higher education institutions through chat, video conferencing, announcement tools, automatic language translation, file sharing and task management. Given a large part of its business supports higher education institutions, much of Pronto's seasonal peaks are aligned with the academic school year. Pronto turned to Xpand in SkySQL for its elasticity and high availability with zero downtime to support their changing needs throughout the year. With SkySQL, Pronto only pays for the resources used, giving them the ability to save costs if they scale back during summer break.

"Moving to the cloud with MariaDB Xpand in SkySQL was an easy decision for us," said TJ Hunter, software engineer and co-founder at Pronto. "Since the pandemic started, higher education institutions and professors rely heavily on our product Pronto as their remote learning solution. Powered by SkySQL, Pronto onboards thousands of students within minutes, allowing educators to communicate directly with their students, in addition to students communicating with other students. Xpand in SkySQL lets us scale horizontally to meet these new demands with the push of a button so we can focus on growing our business."

Personalized Office Hours with SkyDBAs

By being a small and lean organization, many of Pronto's resources are focused on enhancing product offerings for its customers. With SkyDBAs, Pronto gets expert database support at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to offload many of its database responsibilities and operations such as daily maintenance, backup and disaster recovery. "Our SkyDBAs are great and we consider them an extension of our team," said Hunter. "They provide proactive 24x7 expert care to ensure we're getting the best performance and quickly resolving any issues. They've been instrumental in taking things off my plate and exploring options to optimize our operations."

Available on AWS and Google Cloud, SkySQL is MariaDB's fully managed cloud database service. SkySQL takes care of everything from provisioning the cloud infrastructure to installing and deploying the database, configuring the database for production environments, and automating failover. It is capable of scaling out a single database to hundreds of nodes with ease using distributed SQL and can deploy modern data warehouses for interactive, ad hoc analytics on massive data sets to meet enterprise demands all at a fraction of the cost of legacy databases.

Additional Resources

Join the Database Innovation Summit: Scale to the Cloud with Distributed SQL

Get started with MariaDB Xpand in the cloud

Explore MariaDB SkySQL and get started now

Learn about SkyDBA benefits

Visit mariadb.com

Follow @mariadb on Twitter

Read MariaDB's blog

Earlier this year MariaDB announced the intent to become a publicly traded company via combination with Angel Pond Holdings Corporation (NYSE:POND). To learn more, go to https://mariadb.com/IPO.

About MariaDB

MariaDB frees companies from the costs, cloud lock-in, constraints and complexity of proprietary databases, enabling them to reinvest in what matters most rapidly developing innovative, customer-facing applications. MariaDB uses pluggable, purpose-built storage engines to support workloads that previously required a variety of specialized databases. With complexity and constraints eliminated, enterprises can now depend on a single complete database for their needs, whether on commodity hardware or their cloud of choice. Deployed in minutes for transactional, analytical or hybrid use cases, MariaDB delivers operational agility without sacrificing key enterprise features, including real ACID compliance and full SQL. Trusted by organizations such as Bandwidth, DigiCert, InfoArmor, Oppenheimer, Samsung, SelectQuote, SpendHQ MariaDB meets the same core requirements as proprietary databases at a fraction of the cost. No wonder it's one of the fastest-growing database management systems companies. Real business relies on MariaDB

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005475/en/

Contacts:

James Meredith

pr@mariadb.com


CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Boeing Co. (BA) on Wednesday reported a loss for the third quarter that sharply widened from last year, reflecting higher commercial volume and losses on fixed-price defense development programs. Both core loss per share and quarterly revenues came in well below analysts' expectations.



Looking ahead, President and CEO Dave Calhoun said, 'We remain in a challenging environment and have more work ahead to drive stability, improve our performance and ensure we're consistently delivering on our commitments.'



The Chicago-based aerospace and defense giant reported that its third-quarter net loss attributable to shareholders sharply widened to $3.28 billion or $5.49 per share from $109 million or $0.19 per share in the prior-year quarter.



Core loss for the quarter was $6.18 per share, compared to core loss of $0.60 per share in the year-ago quarter.



On average, nine analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.02 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.



Total revenues for the quarter grew 4 percent to $15.96 billion from $15.28 billion in the same quarter last year. Analysts expected revenues of $17.86 billion for the quarter.



Total company backlog at quarter-end was $381 billion.



Commercial Airplanes revenue increased 40 percent year-over-year to $6.26 billion, driven by higher 737 deliveries and the resumption of 787 deliveries in August. Boeing said it is producing at a low rate with an expected gradual return to five per month over time.



During the quarter, Commercial Airplanes delivered 112 airplanes and backlog included over 4,300 airplanes valued at $307 billion. It also secured orders for 167 737 airplanes, 27 767 airplanes, 18 777 airplanes, and 15 787 airplanes.



Meanwhile, Defense, Space & Security revenue decreased 20 percent to $6.31 billion from $6.62 billion in the previous year, driven by higher estimated manufacturing and supply chain costs, as well as technical challenges.



Global Services revenue increased 5 percent year-over-year to $4.43 billion, primarily driven by higher commercial services volume and favorable mix, partially offset by lower government services volume.



For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com



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Eliminate leak paths by finding and securing unknown, rogue, and shadow clouds, network infrastructure, and endpoints

FireMon, the leading network security policy management company that brings visibility, control, agility, and automation to enterprise cloud and hybrid network infrastructure, has announced that their real-time network visibility solution, Lumeta, is being re-launched as Cyber Asset Manager. The name Cyber Asset Manager speaks directly to its key use cases of real-time network discovery, identification, and threat detection. Cyber Asset Manager will help organizations maintain continuous security and compliance by providing a complete view of all their assets across hybrid, multi-cloud environments. Jody Brazil, CEO of FireMon, is attending the it-sa Expo Congress currently underway in Nuremberg, Germany, where he is engaging with stakeholders at Europe's leading trade fair for IT security. Brazil will be highlighting the importance of real-time, active, and passive targeted network and device discovery to safeguard business assets.

The FireMon Cyber Asset Management solution is an evolution of Lumeta technology, a company FireMon acquired in 2018 to advance its mission of improving intent-based security that bridges the traditional gap between business and security. This is done by enabling network and security operations teams to improve security hygiene by finding and securing unknown, rogue, and shadow clouds, network infrastructure, and endpoints.

According to Deloitte, the growing global cyber risk landscape could slow the pace of technological innovation by as much as $3 trillion in lost economic value. Even though organizations have increased their investments in cybersecurity over the past decade, the cyber risk gap is widening and significantly hampering the potential of advanced technologies in business across all industry verticals. In the DACH (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) region, 99% of companies surveyed admitted to having fallen victim to a direct cyber-attack due to vulnerabilities during the past year. This illustrates the need to harden the cybersecurity environment and gain complete network visibility.

Simply put, organizations can't manage what they can't see. To confidently protect their network, technology leaders need to have a complete and accurate inventory of all devices, connections, routes, and appliances that run on it. Importantly, this must extend beyond on-premises environments to encompass the organization's hybrid and multi-cloud real estate.

FireMon Cyber Asset Manager delivers real-time L2 and L3 device detection across on-premises networks and cloud environments. It provides a graphical representation of all devices and connections within and external to the network.

After all, it only takes one unsecured device to grant an attacker access to the entire corporate network. FireMon Cyber Asset Manager detects threats for cloud, virtual, physical, SDN, endpoints, operational technology (OT), and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It also provides automatic device profile information and can group and highlight devices by attributes, types, OS, or vendors.

FireMon Cyber Asset Manager continuously scans and discovers the entire network infrastructure for every device and connection. This includes routers, endpoints, and cloud devices. Using advanced behavioral detection techniques, FireMon Cyber Asset Manager builds a baseline of network patterns and alerts security teams when suspicious activities or compliance violations are detected.

"Security challenges grow exponentially as the complexity of the network expands. Every new device, user, and service requiring connectivity to other resources increases the complexity of the environment. For instance, even a seemingly simple environment of 300 firewalls can lead to over 1.4 billion firewall rules accounting for IP addresses and services. Managing this is impossible without some form of automated analysis," said Jody Brazil, CEO of FireMon.

Using FireMon Cyber Asset Manager, organizations can consistently ensure device policies are enforced and that networks are secure. Administrators are instantly notified when devices violate business and network policies. And network vulnerability assessments find all authorized and unauthorized ingress and egress points on the network, including rogue Internet connectivity. FireMon Cyber Asset Manager also checks connectivity and security between networks to detect leak paths that traverse one or more zones.

Additionally, it conducts deep investigation of networks and individual elements. The full network dynamic discovery of FireMon Cyber Asset Manager supplements existing vulnerability tools to enhance the organization's defensive posture. And all this is done through the automation essential to view and manage the entire network cybersecurity real estate.

About FireMon

FireMon's mission is to improve security operations that will in turn lead to better security outcomes. FireMon delivers industry-leading security policy management, cloud security operations, and cybersecurity asset management solutions to over 1,700 enterprises in nearly 70 countries. Our security policy management platform is the only real time solution that reduces firewall and cloud security policy-related risks, manages policy changes, and enforces compliance. FireMon's DisruptOps offering is the only distributed cloud security operations offering that detects and responds to issues in the fast-paced public cloud environments such as AWS and Azure. Our cloud-based Cyber Asset Management solution (formerly Lumeta) can scan an entire enterprise infrastructure, from on-premises networks to the cloud, to identify everything in the environment and provide valuable insights into how it's all connected together. Learn more at FireMon.com and the FireMon Blog.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005158/en/

Contacts:

Sarah Shkargi

sarah@tnsmediacomms.com
TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to announce that it will release the results for its third quarter for the three and nine month period ended September 30th, 2022 on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 after market close. Subsequently, the Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022, at 8:00 am EST hosted by Shaun Maine, Chief Executive Officer and Richard Lecoutre, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Wednesday, November 9th, 2022

Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time

Participant Webcast Link:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/kOdERzOlj7K

Participant Dial-in Details:

Confirmation #: 18195364

Toronto: 416-764-8609

North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605

International Toll-Free Numbers:

Germany: 08007240293

Ireland: 1800939111

Spain: 900834776

Switzerland: 0800312635

United Kingdom: 08006522435

Recording Playback:

A recording of the webcast will be available after the call using the following link:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/kOdERzOlj7K

Expiry Date: November 9th, 2023

A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ . Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a software-enabled IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions and services. Converge's global solution approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

For further information: Converge Technology Solutions Corp., Email: investors@convergetp.com, Phone: 416-360-1495

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/converge-announces-third-quarter-2022-financial-results-conference-call-date-301659417.html
Demand for Contactless Payments Pushes and Growing demand for Fresh Groceries in the UK may Propel the Growth of the Online Grocery Market in Europe. The Asia Pacific represents the largest market for online grocery.

NEWARK, DEL, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global online grocery market is expected to showcase lucrative growth opportunities by exhibiting a CAGR of 23% from 2022 to 2032. The global market is anticipated to generate a revenue of US$ 2778.4 billion by 2032, up from US$ 350.55 billion in 2022. According to Future Market Insights analysis, smartphone apps account for around 90% (by volume) of online grocery orders with web-based platforms making up the remaining 10%.





Over the last three quarters, top companies around the world have invested more than US$ 100 million in online grocery start-ups. Online shopping for convenience food is likely to increase. On the basis of product type, packed food is anticipated to account for around 50% of the global online grocery market by the end of the year. North America is predicted to account for a significant share of the global market. Proliferating e-commerce platforms and rapid digitization across the region are expected to be supportive of the expansion of the online grocery market.

Download Sample Copy@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11715

Over the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region is expected to continue its dominance over the global online grocery market, by accounting for the largest market share in 2022. Factors responsible for the increased demand for online grocery markets include population growth, increasing disposable income, and sophisticated food lovers across the region are among the factors driving the increase in demand for the industry. In addition to that, rising mobile accessibility and broadband adoption are yet another prominent factor challenging the traditional grocery-buying business model, allowing customers to buy food anywhere, anytime.

Key Takeaways

The global online grocery market is expected to grow as disposable income rises. People these days are looking for products that can meet their comfort levels. People are more likely to spend money on services they can easily obtain and are more willing to save time by shopping online. Online grocery shopping has become an easy and convenient option for many people. Their willingness to pay for these goods is also higher than usual.

Rapid urbanization has led to a surge in incomes which resulted in a rise in the standard of living. Online grocery markets have rapidly gained traction due to the growth of middle-class populations and advances in internet infrastructure. As a result of being relieved from physically going to stores, people are expecting to dispose of their income a little bit more when ordering products online from the comfort of their homes.

The online grocery business is expected to run on two pillars packing up orders and delivering them. Owing to a surge in technological advances and automation, large grocers are spending heavily on making online shopping more popular.

The implementation of automation has proven to be extremely helpful for retailers as it helps fulfill the grocery demands of consumers efficiently. Automated pickup has already been implemented in developed countries such as the U.S., Canada , the U.K., etc. In the future, consumers will turn to online groceries for convenience as a result of such automation.

, the U.K., etc. In the future, consumers will turn to online groceries for convenience as a result of such automation. Packaged foods are one of the major portions of this segment. This segment is dominated by packaged foods due to the wide array of food products available to consumers. Some of these foods include bread, tinned vegetables, dairy products, meat products, cakes, biscuits, ready-to-eat meals, and much more.

Competitive Landscape

Companies are drastically focusing on strategic expansion through acquisitions and partnerships in order to gain a competitive edge over other companies through expansion into new regions, which is highly competitive.

Key Companies Profiled in Online Grocery Market are Amazon.com Inc., Walmart Inc., The Kroger Co., Peapod LLC, Fresh Direct LLC, Publix Super Markets Inc., Target Corporation, Best Buy Co. Inc., Instacart, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Safeway Inc., Carrefour S.A., Edeka Group, Tesco PLC, Aldi, Alibaba Group, JD.com, Honestbee, Grofers India Pvt. Ltd., Avenue Supermarts Ltd.

Have a conversation with Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-11715

More Insights into the Online Grocery Market

Europe is expected to emerge as a dominant region by focusing on expanding its existing base. A significant investment in promotional campaigns is anticipated to boost the growth of the online grocery market. Moreover, the growing penetration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and big data, is also contributing to the market's growth.

The surge in government administrations and financial organizations actively promoting the use of mobile payment methods to contain virus spread is expected to boost market revenue. Several payment firms have shifted to contactless payments attributing to the growth of the market.

Market Segmentation

Product Type:

Packed Foods



Snacks



Baked Products



Breakfast & Cereal



Ready To Eat Foods



Ready To Drink Beverages



Dairy Products



Staples & Cooking Essentials

Fresh Produce

Purchaser Type:

One Time Purchase

Subscription

Delivery Type:

Home Delivery

Click & Collect

End User:

Individuals

Distributors

Browse Full Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/online-grocery-market

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

Have a Look at More Valuable Insights of Consumer Product

Online Clothing Rental Market Size: Online clothing rental market is projected to reach ~US$ 4,828.3 Million by 2032, with overall demand growing at a robust CAGR of ~9.2% from 2022 to 2032.

Pet Hotels Market Analysis: Pet hotels market, due to the growing demand during the forecast period. It is anticipated to be appraised at US$ 9,679.1 Mn by 2032, up from US$ 4,320.6 Mn in 2022.

Maternity Apparels Market Share: The global maternity apparel market is projected to have a moderate-paced CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. The current valuation of the market is US$ 23.05 Billion in 2022.

AC DC Power Adapter Market Trends: The overall demand for AC DC power adapters projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% between 2022 and 2032, totaling around US$ 3,129.4 Million by 2032.

Welding Consumables Market Demand: Welding consumables market is valued at US$ 17.22 billion as of 2022. The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6% during the period 2022-2032

About Future Market Insights, Inc.

Future Market Insights, Inc. is an ESOMAR-certified business consulting & market research firm, a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and is headquartered in Delaware, USA. A recipient of Clutch Leaders Award 2022 on account of high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries.

Contact Us:

Future Market Insights Inc.?

Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive,

Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA?

T: +1-845-579-5705?

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com??

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The No. 1 imported Mexican beer brand and iconic tattoo artist team up to pay tribute to Mexican culture and lost loved ones through a digital experience and living altar tattoo contest

CHICAGO, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Modelo, the beer brewed for those with The Fighting Spirit, and renowned Mexican American artist, Mister Cartoon, are teaming up again to help consumers commemorate loved ones on Dia de los Muertos. Those who celebrate Dia de los Muertos, a holiday to welcome back the souls of loved ones who have passed, create colorful home altars filled with marigolds, decorative skulls, candles and even their favorite food and drinks. This year, Modelo is launching the "Raise One In Their Honor" campaign, a digital experience where consumers can celebrate the lives of lost loved ones by creating a shareable living altar, or ofrenda. Fans can submit their ofrendas for a chance to win a tattoo of their loved one from Mister Cartoon.



"As a beer brand born in Mexico nearly 100 years ago, Modelo is committed to creating rich and authentic experiences to celebrate Mexican culture," said Greg Gallagher, Vice President, Brand Marketing, Modelo. "This Dia de los Muertos, we encourage more people in the U.S. to celebrate the holiday and honor their loved ones in a more interactive way. Ofrendas are at the core of Dia, so with the help of Mister Cartoon, Modelo created a digital space to share inspiring stories of loved ones who have passed on to Raise One In Their Honor so they are never forgotten."

Consumers 21 or older can visit http://raiseoneintheirhonor.com/to create their own digital altar to commemorate the life of a deceased loved one, 21 or older. Fans can then enter their digital altar, along with a photo and caption that best memorializes their loved one1, in the contest for a chance to win their own memorial tattoo from Mister Cartoon. The renowned tattoo artist will review submissions with Modelo and award the winner an exclusive two-hour tattoo session. Fans will also have the chance to add their personalized altar to the gallery displayed on the contest website, which will continue to grow and serve as a celebratory commemoration of past loved ones.

Mister Cartoon designed Modelo Especial and Modelo Negra LTO cans for the brand's 2021 Dia de los Muertos campaign, and this year Modelo is elevating Cartoon's role to encourage more fans to take part in the holiday. His Fighting Spiritmade him one of the world's most recognized tattoo artists, and Modelo wants to give fans the chance to commemorate a loved one through powerful, iconic art from Mister Cartoon himself.

"Dia de los Muertos has always been a day of celebration and a way to pay respect to family and friends who are no longer with us so I'm excited to partner with Modelo again to bring these traditions to even more people," said Mister Cartoon. "It will be an honor to create a meaningful and symbolic piece of Dia de los Muertos art for the Modelo fan I get to meet."

For complete details and to learn more about the contest, see official rules at http://raiseoneintheirhonor.com/

No purchase necessary to enter the contest. Contest open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., who are 21 or older and possess a web-enabled mobile device. Contest starts at 10:00 AM ET on 10/11/22 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 11/2/22. The Modelo Dia de los Muertos Living Altar contest is sponsored by Crown Imports LLC. No alcohol is awarded with prize. Void where prohibited.

About Modelo

Born in 1925 in the small town of Tacuba, Mexico, Modelo has been bringing distinctive high-quality beer to people ever since, including Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and a flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas. Modelo Especial is a golden, full-flavored Pilsner-style Lager with a clean, crisp finish. As the #1 imported beer in the U.S., Modelo Especial recently surpassed 150MM cases sold in 2021. The Modelo family of beers are exclusively brewed, imported and marketed for the U.S. by Constellation Brands.

About Mister Cartoon

Mister Cartoon's richly detailed, hand-rendered designs are inspired by the style of tattoos that originated in the streets of 1970s' Los Angeles - fine line Chicano black and grey custom tattoo art. Cartoon took this style of tattooing and brought it into mainstream culture. He is known as a pioneer in the tattoo world, and as one of the first artists to get global notoriety by tattooing celebrities, athletes, musicians, and actors alike.

Media Contact:

Stephanie McGuane

Stephanie.mcguane@cbrands.com

_______________________

1Caption parameters available in the Official Contest Rules here

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fbc595c-77ce-4e60-bf1d-8dc0ffd0b6f5
LONDON, UK and DUBLIN, IRELAND / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / (CSE:POKO): Poko Group Innovations award-winning skincare range, Poko Beauty, has signed a major distribution deal with Uniphar , Ireland's leading retail market distributor to Irish pharmacies.

Poko Beauty, known for its CBD-infused skincare line, is ready to expand its pharmacy reach in Ireland with this agreement with Uniphar. A trusted global partner, Uniphar operates big pharmacy chains such as Allcare Pharmacy , Life Pharmacy and Hickeys Pharmacy ; the company recently acquired McCauley Pharmacy , further solidifying its leading position in the Irish retail pharmacy market.

Having shipped its initial order of over 2,500 units, Uniphar will make Poko Beauty products available to more than 1800 pharmacies throughout Ireland. The company has more than 50 years' experience and provides vendors with a variety of promotional support. Management believes this is a promising step forward for Poko.

"For Poko, being able to partner with Uniphar and getting the support of its team has been unparalleled. Expanding our presence in Ireland has been paramount to our growth - this partnership not only removes roadblocks to reorders from our existing stockists, it also enables us to grow. Thanks to Uniphar's five decades of experience, its expertise and their own flagship pharmacy brands, I am excited to see Poko's skincare line in so many stores across Ireland. Thanks to our deal with Uniphar and other distributors, we now have an impressive network in Ireland - in 2023 we will build on this success with a further rollout of Poko Beauty in the UK."

- Justine O'Hanlon. Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer

The distribution agreement includes a robust marketing plan, to be implemented by Poko Beauty, to support the launch of the skincare line in Uniphar's platform. Even though Poko Beauty is a newer brand, it provides comprehensive marketing support to its partners. Poko's award-winning skincare line contains 11 SKUS retailing from 23.95 to 39.95, with its Soothing Serum, Luxury Facial Oil and Daily SPF 50 Moisturizer its three most popular products. Poko Beauty products are available for sale In EU at www.pokobeauty.com and in the UK www.pokocbd.co.uk For wholesale enquiries, Poko is available at www.uniphar.ie .

About Poko Beauty

Poko is a cruelty-free skincare brand that aims to transform your skincare routine by harnessing active ingredients found in nature and combining them with CBD to keep your skin hydrated and manage a number of skin problems such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, signs of ageing, dryness and more. Poko was created from a passion to improve problematic skin. Justine O'Hanlon, Poko's Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, suffers from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a hormonal disorder which is common among women of reproductive age. Her passion to find skincare that helped hormonal breakouts like hers is why Poko was created. www.pokobeauty.com

About The Poko Group, Ltd

The Poko Group is a collection of CBD focused companies that bring innovative, inspiring solutions to the CBD industry through the company's leading platforms which, when working together, form a complete ecosystem. The Poko Group is an award-winning UK CBD company that has developed a unique business model comprising complete "turnkey solutions," including fintech payment processing and white label opportunities. Poko plans to export its signature products to the EU and the USA. For more information, please visit https://www.pokogroup.com/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

With the exception of the historical information contained in this news release, the matters described herein, may contain 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. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise, include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could", are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. These statements, involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may individually or materially impact the matters discussed, herein for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the company, including, but not limited to, the company's ability to raise sufficient financing to implement its business plan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's business, operations and the economy in general, and the Company's ability to successfully develop and commercialize its proprietary products and technologies. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the company's filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update, or revise, any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations

Michael J. Porter, President

Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc.

T: (973) 865-9357

E: mike@plrinvest.com

Poko Instagram

LinkedIn

@PlRinvest

####

SOURCE: Poko Innovations Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722360/Poko-Agrees-to-Major-Distribution-Agreement-with-Uniphar
Jotul Capital is a newly launched trading platform. Recently, the company has introduced new brokerage services for traders in the market.

London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Jotul Capital emerges as a trading platform. In the latest development, Jotul Capital has developed new trading services that facilitate traders in the brokerage process. The services mainly revolve around closing the needs of traders, as the company makers felt the void in the trading market.





Jotul Capital



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8621/141826_img.jpg

Jotul Capital focuses on the essential points for a trader. In that case, Jotul Capital offers customized conditions and time as valuable resources to ensure traders do not have to wait for orders to be executed. The company's newly launched services entail:

Quick deposit and withdrawal of funds.

Advanced analytical tools: It yields an availability of analytics tools-financial market reviews from leading analysts to build the right strategy. The training material is made so that it allows people to structure the knowledge for more efficient use of their experience, even for experienced traders.

Training: It provides the availability of a training center for new traders who know little about the financial markets.

Safety: Jotul Capital operates as a self-respecting platform using all the modern mechanisms to protect the funds. Therefore, the team does not write about encryption techniques, audits, protection against bots, and SYN flood since all of this has already been used. And when the officials of Jotul Capital are confident in their company's security, it remains only to protect the trader from mistakes and provide tools for use.

Furthermore, the features of Jotul Capital include a complimentary demo account. Before opening a live trading account, users can try a complimentary demo account to explore the intuitive trading platform and improve skills.

Jotul Capital also enables its traders to manage risk. Traders can use risk management tools to limit losses. The company publishes figures and statistics so that traders can evaluate the effectiveness of interaction.

About Jotul Capital

Jotul Capital is a trading platform established in 2013. Jotul Capital has over 2,700,000 transactions per month. The company is expanding its international portfolio with over 800 different stocks from various global markets, and in 2019 Jotul Capital trades in the global financial market, achieving its goal: to act in the interests of traders.

Potential traders must visit the following link to avail of Jotul Capital's services: https://jotulcapital.com/

Media Details:

Company Name: Jotul Capital

Contact Person: James Bell

Phone Number: +447717077906

E-mail Address: james.bell@jotulcapital.com

Location: Main office; 30 ST. MARY AX LONDON ENGLAND EC3A 8EP

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141826
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Silk Road Energy Inc. (TSXV: SLK), doing business under the name of Record Gold, reports that it has received approval of its acquisition of the Four-Nations Grenfell gold property from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The agreement enables Record Gold to earn a 100 percent interest in two claim-blocks comprising 5.2 square kilometres in the Grenfell Township located approximately 8.5 kilometres due west from the Macassa Mine near Kirkland Lake, Ontario.

The Four-Nations Grenfell property claims host multiple gold occurrences according to historical work files submitted to the Ontario Government. There has also been drilling conducted on the property that intersected gold mineralization.

The agreement also includes 13 claim-cells in Northwestern Ontario in the vicinity of the Manitoba border.

This is an arms-length transaction in which Record Gold will pay a private exploration company $50,000 in cash over three years and issue a total of two million shares.

The shares are paid over two years: one million payable upon closing and 500,000 shares each to be issued on the first and second anniversaries of the closing date. There are no work commitments on the properties.

Record Gold will act as sole operator of the exploration program on the claims. The vendor will hold a 1.5% Net Smelter Royalty (NSR) on the Asset. One third of this NSR can be purchased by Record Gold for $400,000.

The company also reports that it has completed three kilometres of magnetic and VLF geophysical surveys on its recently acquired Kenogami East property. As well, Record Gold management visited the Four-Nations Grenfell property, as well as the Kenogami East gold property to verify the locations and existence of data as reported in assessment files.

The Hecmac Syndicate, an exploration group, drilled four short-holes in 1959 which assayed 3.5 grams per tonne gold over 1.07 metres (0.10 oz/t gold over 3.5 feet). Trenching in 1960 by another group reported assay values ranging from 1.7 grams per tonne gold (0.05 oz/t gold) to 16.4 grams per tonne gold (0.48 oz/t gold).

There has also been drilling, trenching and small-scale mining conducted on the adjacent property that intersected significant gold mineralization.

The company also reports that it has closed its private placement announced in 2021. Additional funds in the amount of $12,000 were generated from the issuance of 200,000 shares at $0.06 per share. The terms of this share offering are now no longer available. In connection with this final share issuance was the issuance of 200,000 warrants exercisable at $0.12 per share. A total of $101,000 was raised through this private placement in a series of closings. The company reports that, following this financing, it will have 29,276,104 shares outstanding. This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange, regulatory and board approvals.

Qualified Person:

Edward Procyshyn, P.Geo, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

For more information please contact:

Michael C. Judson, Chairman & CEO

Silk Road Energy Inc. (doing business under the name Record Gold)

T. +1-514-865-5496

Website: www.recordgoldcorp.com

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes", an or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would" , "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: approval of the Private Placement and obtaining a full revocation order. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the market acceptance of the Private Placement; the ability of the Company to obtain a full revocation order and the receipt of all required approvals in connection with the foregoing. Forward looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market price for securities; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, court or regulatory approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. 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 the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

The Units and the securities comprising the Units have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in the Unites States, or any other jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142003
The "Germany Washing Machine Market, By Type, By Machine Capacity, By Technology, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Competition, Forecast Opportunities, 2017-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Germany washing machine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.23% during the forecast period, and reach USD 3.62 billion by 2027, owing to increasing working population, growing affordability, and the launch of technically advanced washing machines.

Furthermore, increased purchasing power, product innovation, and rising per capita income are expected to boost the Germany washing machine market during the forecast period.

The enormous Germany washing machine market has seen the most advancements. The goal of every market leader is to offer their customer brand-new, technologically advanced washing machines. The Germany washing machine market can be divided into front load automatic, top load automatic, and semi-automatic in terms of type.

The growth of online washing machine sales and higher internet penetration rates have given manufacturers new ways to reach out to their customers.

The increased disposable income of Germany is improving the purchasing power of customers and thus is boosting the demand for washing machines during the forecast period. To encourage market expansion, numerous innovations are being developed simultaneously. For example, a new washing machine from Beko was just introduced that helps prevent microfibers and microplastics from entering waterways and oceans and contaminating them.

The new technology prevents rivers and seas from receiving up to 90% of the microfibers that are washed away. The filter box in the detergent drawer filters the leftover water before it is discharged. The actual microplastic filter is composed of 98% recycled components.

The fibers are trapped inside the filter when water is forced out at the end of each cycle, preventing them from being flushed into pipes, entering sewers, and ultimately entering the ocean. Wi-Fi connectivity is frequently seen as the future of washing machine and a potential market growth driver.

Due to trade restrictions and a nationwide production halt caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, washing machine sales decreased. But after COVID, online purchases of home appliances are becoming more and more popular. The future growth of the washing machine market will mainly come from digital channels.

Increasing working population leading to the market growth

The dual-earner households in Germany tend to have more disposable income than single-earner households. Thus, the demand for various home appliances is growing along with the number of these households. With more people working, consumers have busier schedules, which increases the need for washing machines.

Launch of technologically advanced washing machines

The development of goods and technology that are environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and pollutant-free has received more attention in the 21st century. To advance technological development, washing machine manufacturers incorporate innovations into their products.

In the modern world, consumers frequently use these intelligent systems to automate their tasks while away from their homes. e.g., the Artificial Intelligent Direct Drive (AI DD) of the LG ThinQ front-load washer, which is based on weight and softness, can automatically choose the best motions for the fabric.

Depending on the type of laundry, optimized washing may cause fewer damaged items than conventional washing. Due to strict regulations on electric home appliances and technological advancements, energy-efficient washing machines have become more popular.

An increase in disposable income will lead to the market growth

Increased growth of the country's economy has led to increased purchasing power; thus, a larger working population may spur job growth and innovation, promoting the market growth. As disposable income increases, there will be more demand for washing machines, which will elevate market growth.

Competitive Landscape

New market players have also been actively entering the market in recent years, further strengthening future market growth.

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Germany washing machine market.

Robert Bosch Hausgerate GmbH

Electrolux Hausgerate GmbH

Bauknecht Hausgerate GmbH

Miele Cie. KG

Beko Grundig Deutschland GMBH

Haier Deutschland GmbH

LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH

Samsung Electronics GmbH

Midea Europe GmbH

Hisense Gorenje Germany GmbH

Report Scope:

Germany Washing Machine Market, By Type:

Front Load Automatic

Top Load Automatic

Semi- Automatic

Germany Washing Machine Market, By Machine Capacity:

8 kg and Above

Below 8 Kg

Germany Washing Machine Market, By Technology:

Non-Smart

Smart Connected

Germany Washing Machine Market, By Distribution Channel:

Supermarkets/ Hypermarkets

Multi-Branded Stores

Online

Others (Direct Sales, Wholesales, etc.)

Germany Washing Machine Market, By Region:

South-West

South-East

North-West

North-East

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v1omjv

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005620/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

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AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / Xtra Energy Corp. (OTC PINK:XTPT) announces the on-site visit and tour of its 100% owned American Antimony Project by Chairman Mac J. Shahsavar, P. Eng. An exploration program is being put together that is expected to continue throughout the winter months of 2022 into early 2023 focused on the historically documented Bernice Mining District in Churchill County, Nevada. A district comprising several documented historically producing antimony mines at minimum grades of over 50% Antimony.

After a week of meetings and mine tours led by Steven Cyros of Red Beryl Mining Company, Inc. Xtra Energy Chairman Mac Shahsavar, P.Eng. commented "I was Amazed with the potential sitting dormant in Nevada. The landscape and geology on how the antimony was created is quite unique. The density of the antimony rock in these mountains is astonishing. I have commissioned Steven Cyros to do multiple physical inspections of the Arrance Antimony Prospect described in the 9/26/2022 Company News. Xtra Energy will release individual videos of these on-site inspections as they come in. Shahsavar continued that based on his tour of the Historic Bernice Mining District, he expects that shareholders will be quite excited with what they will see."

Viewing of this video can be found at the link provided :https://youtu.be/NTJSM7F6OwY

*the historic Middlegate Station, Bar, and Motel. (see more on the Middlegate Station.)

*the historic Middlegate Station, Bar, and Motel

Contact & Learn More:

Xtra Energy Corporation

Phone: 512-412-3636

Corporate Website: https://americanantimony.com/ and/or xtraenergycorp.com

Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtra-energy-corp/

Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/xtra_corp

Corporate Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/xtraenergycorp/

Corporate Youtube :https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb5MiP0c-UzS6XdHu-QxvCQ

About Xtra Energy Corp.

Xtra Energy Corp. is an antimony exploration company focused on developing its flagship project "American Antimony". Known in historical records as the "Antimony King Mine" located approximately 31 miles northeast of Eastgate, Nevada. Xtra Energy Corp. holds a 100% ownership in a 64 lode claim, 1320 acre antimony project surrounding the historical Antimony King and covering several documented antimony producers. The Company is seeking to develop this portfolio of potentially antimony-rich assets to become a major supplier of antimony based products.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/XTPT/disclosure.

SOURCE: Xtra Energy Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722359/Xtra-Energy-Corp-Chairman-Mac-J-Shahsavar-P-Eng-Visits-The-American-Antimony-Project-and-Discusses-Initial-Impressions-of-What-Potential-Xtra-Energy-May-Have-Based-on-His-Visit-Video-Attached
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British drug major AstraZeneca plc (AZN.L) said that results from SERENA-2 Phase II trial showed that camizestrant provided a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to FASLODEX, which has been used to treat patients with HR-positive breast cancer for almost twenty years. AstraZeneca stated that its next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader camizestrant met the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival benefit at both 75mg and 150mg dose levels versus FASLODEX (fulvestrant) 500mg in post-menopausal patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, previously treated with endocrine therapy for advanced disease. Camizestrant was well tolerated, and its safety profile was consistent with that observed in previous trials with no new safety signals identified. In addition, the company has announced positive results from the CAPitello-291 Phase III trial of capivasertib in HR-positive advanced breast cancer. The results from the CAPItello-291 Phase III trial showed that AstraZeneca's capivasertib in combination with FASLODEX (fulvestrant) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival versus placebo plus FASLODEX in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low or negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, following recurrence or progression on or after endocrine therapy. According to the company, the trial met both primary endpoints, improving PFS in the overall patient population and in a prespecified biomarker subgroup of patients whose tumors had qualifying alterations in the PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN genes. Although the overall survival data were immature at the time of the analysis, early data are encouraging. The trial will continue to assess OS as a key secondary endpoint. For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BANGALORE, India, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Mattresses market size is estimated to be worth USD 25560 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 34640 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 5.2% during the review period.





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Major factors are driving the growth of Mattresses market

Mattresses, pillows, and other home furnishings have seen an increase in sales as a result of rising product demand from the real estate industry to meet the needs of the residential market.

Economic growth, the booming luxury hotel and travel sectors, the construction of healthcare facilities to accommodate the greatest number of patients, and other factors are projected to increase the growth of Mattresses market.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF MATTRESS MARKET:

Worldwide, not only in the main cities but also in smaller cities and villages, the consumer readiness to spend for sleep solutions has altered substantially. With increased awareness, people's desire to do thorough research, evaluate prices, and choose wisely when buying mattresses and other sleep solutions have significantly increased. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the mattress market.

Custom-made/customizable products to influence the Mattress Market growth. Over the past ten years, customizable mattresses have become a major fashion trend. Customers who purchase these devices have access to a wide range of preset options, such as design, height, stiffness options, and toppings. To build a stronger brand name, leading industry players have recently launched cutting-edge products. With the rise in custom/customizable product popularity across the globe, other significant industry players are anticipated to take advantage of the commercial potential in this sector.

Furthermore, the Mattress Market is fueled by an increase in consumer expenditure on bedding and home furnishings together with an increase in housing buildings around the world. A separate room for each family member is required across all nations due to the rise in single-occupancy dwellings and nuclear families, which increases demand for the product.

Due to the improved quality of the bedding used in these hotels, the rise in the number of luxury hotels in the United States is also anticipated to have a substantial impact on Mattress Market growth. The price difference between these items and standard bedding is expected to have a favorable effect on the mattress market.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-19B4346/global-mattresses-sales

MATTRESS MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Innerspring Mattress

Foam Mattress

Latex Mattress

Buy Chapters on Market Data by Type: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-19B4346/global-mattresses-sales/4

By Application

Private Households

Hotels

Hospitals

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MATTRESS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

In 2017, China held 33.96% of the market for production. North America and Europe follow, making for roughly 24.60% and 16.42% of the entire worldwide industry, respectively. There is less manufacturing in other nations. Geographically speaking, North America and China made up roughly 26.69% and 26.65% of the total volume of global consumption in 2017, respectively.

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Key Companies:

Serta Simmons Bedding

Tempur Sealy International

Sleep Number

Hilding Anders

Corsicana

Ruf-Betten

Recticel

Derucci

Sleemon

MLILY

Therapedic

Ashley

Breckle

King Koil

Pikolin

Mengshen

Lianle

Airland

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SIMILAR REPORTS:

- Smart Mattress market was valued at USD 251 Million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 8249.5 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 64.0% during 2021-2027.

- Bed Mattress market was valued at USD 34030 Million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 50910 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during 2021-2027.

- Global and Japan Medical Mattress Market Insights, Forecast to 2026

- Global Foam Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Mattress and Mattress Component Market Insights, Forecast to 2028

- Global Latex Foam Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

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- Global Memory Foam Mattress Sales Market Report 2022

- Global Heated Mattress Pads Market Insights, Forecast to 2028

- Global Gel Foam Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Innerspring Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Smart Adjustable Mattresses Market Research Report 2022

- Global Air Mattress Pump Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Pressure Relief Air Mattresses Market Research Report 2022

- Global Orthopedic Mattress Sales Market Report 2022

- Yoga Mat market size is estimated to be worth USD 1907.8 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 3765.6 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 12.0% during the review period.

Click here to see related reports on Mattress Market

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mattress-market-to-grow-usd-34640-million-by-2028-with-a-cagr-of-5-2--valuates-reports-301659924.html
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) -Bhang Inc. (CSE: BHNG) (OTCQB: BHNGF) ("Bhang" or the "Company"), a global cannabis CPG brand company with an award-winning portfolio, announced today that Jessica Billingsley and Andrea L. Johnston have resigned from their respective positions as Directors of the Company. The Company thanks both Ms. Billingsley and Ms. Johnston for their contributions to Bhang and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has appointed Sara Lee Irwin and Paul Pellegrini to its Board of Directors.

Ms. Irwin is a nationally recognized public voice on cannabis and cannabinoids for therapeutic use. With over decades of experience as both an industry consultant and chronic pain patient, Sara has leveraged her personal experience to become a leading representative and liaison working to bridge interests across multiple stakeholder groups, including patients, physicians, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, institutional brokers, and government.

An early advocate of the benefits of the pharmaceutical application of cannabinoids, Ms. Irwin was the Director of Investor Relations at Cannasat Therapeutics between 2004 - 2010, an early-stage cannabinoid pharmaceutical company that, in 2006, became the first publicly traded herbal cannabis company in North America.

Ms. Irwin was a founding director of Miraculo Inc., an integrated media, technology and consumer product company in the medical cannabis and CBD industry which was recently acquired by Trees Corporation, a premier Canadian cannabis retailer.

Mr. Pellegrini is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Sussex Strategy Group. He brings a track record of proven success in strategic consulting based on direct government experience and his relationship-building expertise. In 1990, as President of HealthWatch, Mr. Pellegrini began providing strategic consulting services to clients in the public and private sectors on a wide variety of business, government relations and public affairs matters.

Mr. Pellegrini's expertise in issues management, crisis communications, and stakeholder relations was called upon to serve in a variety of senior roles in federal and provincial ministerial offices. Subsequent to his tenure in the public sector, Mr. Pellegrini founded Sussex in 1998.

Mr. Pellegrini currently serves on the Campaign Cabinet for the new Vaughan hospital and sits on the Board of Directors for CHAR Technologies. He is recognized as an active community leader advocating for numerous non-profit and charitable causes. Often interviewed for his insights into current government issues, Mr. Pellegrini has been a political commentator on CP24.

About Bhang

Bhang (CSE: BHNG) (OTCQB: BHNGF) has been providing consumers around the world with an award-winning portfolio of premium brands for over a decade. With roots in master-chef-created chocolate and cannabis edibles, the Company continues to grow as a global consumer packaged goods company dedicated to providing products designed to enhance and complement consumer happiness, health, and well-being. Find out why life is better with Bhang at bhangnation.com. For additional Bhang news, visit us at bhangnation.com/blogs/press.

INVESTORS CONTACT:

Graham Simmonds

Executive Chairman & Interim CEO

Bhang Inc.

(416) 843-2881

invest@bhangcorporation.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142007
Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - First Phosphate Corp. ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received drilling permits for its Lac a l'Orignal and Begin-Lamarche properties. The Company is thankful to the local Innu First Nations for their assistance to the Company in obtaining the drilling permits in such a timely fashion: Tshinashkumitinan. Drilling activities will be carried out by Forage Premieres Nations - First Nations Drilling of Mashteuiatsh, Quebec and will comprise job training opportunity for aspiring local youth.

The Lac a l'Orignal drilling permit consists of up to 150 holes for a total of up to 25,000 metres (m) of drilling. The drill program will aim at increasing the extent of the known titanium-phosphate-bearing gabbronorite horizon on which an NI 43-101 maiden resource estimate is being finalized. Infill drilling on a 50 m centre will set the stage for a Preliminary Economic Assessment to be conducted for the project.

The drilling permit for the Begin-Lamarche property allows the Company to start a maiden drilling program consisting of a minimum of 7,600 m across 38 drill holes. The drilling program will have the objective of verifying the continuity at depth of the surface titanium-phosphate occurrence recently discovered, where grab samples assayed at up to 12% TiO2 and 18% P2O5. The samples were collected over a strike length of 1.5 km. The width of the mineralized zone is at least 230 m. A strong magnetic linear anomaly occurs directly over the mineralized area. The program will consist of seven drill hole fences, 200 m apart across the entire width and length of the titanium phosphate occurrence. Once completed, the Company expects to be in a position to prepare an NI 43-101 resource estimate for the property.

"Today's announcement is an important step in the development of First Phosphate's six phase development plan for the North American lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery industry," said First Phosphate President Peter Kent. "Our team is committed to producing battery grade phosphate material through clean and environmentally safe processing methods, for a consistent, ethically sourced supply right here in Quebec, Canada that benefits all of North America and the world."

First Phosphate's flagship Lac a l'Orignal property is located approximately 110 km driving-distance north of the City of Saguenay, Quebec's sixth largest city, which hosts daily flights to Montreal, a skilled industrial workforce, strong local infrastructure, and which is 30 km driving-distance from the deep sea Port of Saguenay.

First Phosphate's Begin-Lamarche property is located approximately 90 km driving distance from the deep sea Port of Saguenay. The Company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of Saguenay to secure deep sea access to global markets and a valuable industrial port development footprint. The company is executing on its advanced phosphate materials strategy that it seeks to integrate directly into the supply chains of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America.

First Phosphate will hold open-access local information sessions on the drilling plans on Monday, November 28th in Saguenay City (Hotel Chicoutimi), on Tuesday, November 29th in the Municipality of Begin, and on Wednesday, November 30th in the Municipality of Lamarche. Residents and chalet owners from all local municipalities surrounding the Begin, Lamarche and Lac a l'Orignal areas are invited to attend. Details on exact times and locations of meetings will be provided through local municipal offices. Aspiring local area entrepreneurs, business owners, service/equipment providers and employment seekers are also encouraged to attend and to meet with First Phosphate management.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8917/141966_024041c914381aab_001full.jpg

-30-

For additional information, please contact:

Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com

Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com

Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com

Follow First Phosphate:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate/

About First Phosphate Corp.

First Phosphate is a mineral exploration and development company fully dedicated to extracting and refining titanium and advanced phosphate material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") Battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, at full ESG standard and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to integrate directly into the research & development and supply chain functions of major North American LFP Battery producers that require battery grade phosphate material that emanates from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of total land claims in the Saguenay Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous rock formation that generally yields high purity titanium oxide and phosphate concentrate devoid of high concentrations of deleterious heavy metals.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate Corp. included in this News Release have been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdiere is Geologist and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects.

Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's future development plans of its Saguenay region claims; the Lac a l'Orignal and Begin-Lamarche drilling permits allowing the Company to achieve the stated purposes; the drill programs will be completed under the stated purposes and in the manner stated herein; the Preliminary Economic Assessment will be conducted in the manner stated herein; the Company's continued commitment to producing battery grade phosphate through clean and environmentally safe processing methods; the Company's MOU with the Port of Saguenay will accomplish the Company's goals as stated; the Company's focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company's completion of its 43-101 technical report for its properties under the stated timelines herein.

Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company will develop its Saguenay region claims; the Lac a l'Orignal and Begin-Lamarche drilling permits will allow the Company to achieve the stated purposes; the drill programs will be completed under the stated purposes and in the manner stated herein; the Preliminary Economic Assessment will be conducted in the manner stated herein; the Company will produce battery grade phosphate through clean and environmentally safe processing methods; the Company's MOU with the Port of Saguenay will accomplish the Company's goals as stated; the Company's will focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company will complete its 43-101 technical report for its properties under the stated timelines herein.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to develop its Saguenay region claims; the Lac a l'Orignal and Begin-Lamarche drilling permits will not allow the Company to achieve the stated purposes; the drill programs will not be completed under the stated purposes and in the manner stated herein; the Preliminary Economic Assessment will not be conducted in the manner stated herein; the Company will not produce battery grade phosphate through clean and environmentally safe processing methods; the Company's MOU with the Port of Saguenay will not accomplish the Company's goals as stated; the Company's will not focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company will not complete its 43-101 technical report for its properties under the stated timelines herein.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141966
TD SYNNEX now offers SupremeRAID NVMe/NVMeoF next-generation RAID controller, enabling maximum SSD performance for high-intensity workloads

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRAID Technology, creators of award-winning SupremeRAID for PCIe Gen 3 and Gen 4 deployments, today announced its partnership with TD SYNNEX, a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. The agreement enables GRAID Technology's customers and channel partners to purchase SupremeRAID next-generation NVMe/NVMeoF storage solutions directly through TD SYNNEX.

SupremeRAID directly processes I/O out of path to deliver unparalleled throughput and free up CPU resources for high-performance applications - enabling superior NVMe/NVMeoF performance in AI-accelerated compute, all-flash arrays, HPC applications, and traditional IT applications. Designed for both Linux and Windows operating systems, SupremeRAID supports RAID levels 0/1/5/6/10 while the core software license supports up to 32 native NVMe drives.

Now a part of the TD SYNNEX portfolio, GRAID Technology offers flexible, easy-to-configure IT infrastructure solutions that deliver the speed, ease of use, flexibility and TCO the market demands for the future of high-performance workloads.

"TD SYNNEX is committed to uniting IT solutions that deliver business outcomes today and unlock growth for the future," said Gary Palenbaum, EVP Endpoint Technology Solutions, TD SYNNEX. "With GRAID Technology added to our vast portfolio of vendor partners, we're able to enrich the breadth and depth of our offerings so customers can do great things with technology."

"Collaborating with TD SYNNEX is a critical step to educate the market on the impressive data protection and performance capabilities SupremeRAID provides," said Leander Yu, GRAID Technology founder and CEO. "SupremeRAID unparalleled RAID capabilities joined with TD SYNNEX's world-class support, pre-sales services, and global fulfillment capabilities are how our customers will maintain a competitive advantage in the market."

Learn more about SupremeRAID by GRAID Technology here.

About TD SYNNEX

TD SYNNEX is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We're an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX's 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.comor follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebookand Instagram.

About GRAID Technology, Inc.

GRAID Technology Inc. is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with an office in Ontario, CA, and an R&D center in Taipei, Taiwan. Named one of the Ten Hottest Data Storage Startups of 2021 by CRN, as well as a 2022 Emerging Vendor in their Storage & Disaster Recovery category, SupremeRAID by GRAID Technology is breaking world records as the first NVMe and NVMeoF RAID card to unlock the full potential of your SSD performance. For more information, visit graidtech.comor connect with us on Twitteror LinkedIn.

Additional Resources

SupremeRAID and Solidigm D5-P5316 QLC NVMe: Case Study

Blocks & Files Compares GRAID Technology's Killer RAID Against The Competition

TechZine Analyzes The Unmatched Speed of SupremeRAID?

GRAID Technology Named Most Innovative Flash Memory Startup, Best of Show FMS 2022

Contact Information:

Andrea Eaken

GRAID Technology Director of Marketing & Media Relations

andrea.eaken@graidtech.com



Related Files

GRAID Technology SupremeRAID Brochures.pdf

GRAID Technology SupremeRAID Technical Specs.pdf

Related Images











Image 1: GRAID Technology Announces Partnership With Global IT Solutions Aggregator TD SYNNEX









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Attachment
The "United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market By Type, By Formulation, By Function, By Application Method, By Crop Type, By Region, Competition Forecast Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Market growth can be attributed to the rising demand for the higher yielding crops.

Microbials are actively used to prevent the degradation of plant bodies caused by pests. Growing food security demands, combined with the adoption of new agricultural technology to boost productivity, will drive the expansion of the agricultural microbials market in the United Kingdom during the next five years.

Furthermore, the rapidly increasing use of integrated pest management (IPM) practices and lower development costs for microbials compared to traditional chemical pesticides will aid in the expansion of the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market during the next five years.

Agricultural microbials are microorganisms that are actively used to improve agricultural products. Bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other agricultural microbes are currently used in agricultural techniques. These bacteria boost plant and crop quality by increasing soil quality. They are also useful in crop protection, which increases agricultural yields.

The country's growing population and ongoing demand for food security will fuel the expansion of the agricultural microbials market in the United Kingdom over the next five years. The employment of microbes to improve plant development and crop quality is a primary element affecting the need for bacteria to aggregate agricultural produce, hence assisting market growth.

In 2021, the total agricultural land area in the United Kingdom was 18.63 million hectares. Despite the fact that crop land in the country was just 4.48 million hectares in 2021. As a result, demand for larger crop yields grows even more.

Furthermore, increased demand from health-conscious consumers seeking premium products and healthier options will influence the growth of the agricultural microbials market in the United Kingdom during the next five years. The government and for-profit groups are boosting their efforts to increase farmers' and cultivators' awareness of agricultural microbials.

Furthermore, traditional knowledge of using agricultural microbials to improve soil quality and plant and crop growth is anticipated to aid the growth of the agricultural microbials market in the United Kingdom during the next five years.

The bacteria segment is expected to hold the largest share in the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market during the forecast period, owing to the wider application of bacterial aided materials into biopesticides, biofertilizer, and bio-stimulants.

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market from 2017 to 2021.

To estimate and forecast the market size of United Kingdom agricultural microbials market from 2022E to 2027F and growth rate until 2027F.

To classify and forecast the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market based on type, formulation, function, application method, crop type, region, and company.

To identify the dominant region or segment in the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

To identify drivers and challenges for the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers acquisitions, etc., in the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

To identify and analyze the profiles of leading players operating in the United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in United Kingdom agricultural microbials market.

Syngenta UK Limited

BASF UK Limited

Certis UK

Bayer UK Limited

Sumitomo Chemical (U.K.) Plc.

Novozymes UK Ltd.

Andermatt Biocontrol UK Ltd.

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2017-2020

Base Year: 2021

Estimated Year: 2022E

Forecast Period: 2023F-2027F

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Type:

Bacteria

Fungi

Virus

Others

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Formulation:

Liquid

Dry

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Function:

Soil Amendment

Crop Protection

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Application Method:

Foliar Spray

Soil Treatment

Seed Treatment

Others

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Crop Type:

Cereals

Oilseeds Pulses

Fruits Vegetables

Others

United Kingdom Agricultural Microbials Market, By Region:

London

East Anglia

Southwest

Southeast

Scotland

East Midlands

Yorkshire Humberside

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/afehwk

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005695/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
KINGSTOWN, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A significant step towards market accessibility has been taken recently, as the leading online trading brand HFM (formerly Hotforex) announced the official launch of its app , available for both Android and iOS devices. This award-winning mobile application has already managed to spark the interest of many traders around the globe, even prior to its release, and now has become the talk of the town in the online brokerage industry.

"We are proud to release our new and improved app, and we are certain that it is going to be a game changer in the field," stated the spokesperson for HFM. "With diverse market coverage, customized trading features and the latest tech in terms of interface and security, this app is just another way in which we fulfill our commitment to remaining industry leaders, and setting the path for other trading brands to follow. We invite all of our users, whether new or veteran, to give the app a try. We are sure it will help them improve their trading routine."

What mobile trading should be like

Among the interesting features of the new HFM trading app, there are a few that stand out, such as the ability to conduct a 'favorites' list, multilingual support 24/5, real-time quotes and news updates, and an enhanced pack of tools and indicators. Furthermore, traders have access to detailed history of their performance with just a few taps, as well as a multifunctional digital wallet for multiple trading accounts.

"We've spent months designing this app to be as optimal as possible for today's trader, fine-tuning every small detail before releasing it to our valued users," added the spokesperson. "We are also constantly updating and improving it when necessary, so there is definitely more worth waiting for in the near future."

About HFM

Catering to traders of all expertise levels for over a decade, HFM is a multi-regulated and awarded broker, setting standards of excellence in the online brokerage sector. With over 3.5 million active customers, HFM today is a place where traders have access to thousands of instruments across varied asset classes. Support is granted 24 hours on regular trading days, via multiple means of communication, including a live support function. For more information regarding the benefits and features of HFM, traders are invited to visit the brand's official webpage .

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-hfm-trading-app-released-available-in-stores-now-301660083.html


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Commerce Department released a report on Wednesday showing new home sales in the U.S. pulled back sharply in September after unexpectedly skyrocketing in August, although the decrease was smaller than expected.



The report showed new home sales tumbled by 10.9 percent to an annual rate of 603,000 in September after soaring by 24.7 percent to a revised rate of 677,000 in August.



Economists had expected new home sales to plunge by 14.6 percent to a rate of 585,000 from the 685,000 originally reported for the previous month.



The sharp pullback in new home sales largely reflected a steep drop in the South, where new home sales plummeted by 20.2 percent to an annual rate of 356,000.



New home sales in the West also fell by 0.7 percent to a rate of 135,00, while new home sales in the Midwest jumped by 4.3 percent to a rate of 73,000 and new home sales in the Northeast spiked by 56.0 percent to a rate of 39,000.



Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said the median sales price of new houses sold in September was $470,600, up 8.0 percent from $435,800 in August and up 13.9 percent from $413,200 a year ago.



'The rise in prices reflected a shift in the composition of sales toward higher-priced homes,' said Nancy Vanden Houten, Lead U.S. Economist at Oxford Economics. 'We expect new home prices to come under pressure in the months ahead as builders cut prices to clear inventory.'



The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of September was 462,000, up 1.1 percent from 457,000 at the end of August and up 23.2 percent from 375,000 at the end of September 2021.



The unsold inventory represents 9.2 months of supply at the current sales rate compared to 8.1 months in August and 6.1 months a year ago.



'We look for new home sales to decline further in the months ahead, falling below 500k in Q4 2022 and early next year, before gradually rising in H2 2023,' added Vanden Houten.



Last Thursday, a separate report released by the National Association of Realtors showed a continued decrease in U.S. existing home sales in the month of September.



NAR said existing home sales slid 1.5 percent to an annual rate of 4.71 million in September after falling by 0.8 percent to a revised rate of 4.78 million in August.



Economists had expected existing home sales to slump by 2.1 percent to a rate of 4.70 million from the 4.80 million originally reported for the previous month.



Existing home sales declined for the eighth consecutive month, falling to their lowest level since spring of 2020.



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Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / CanXGold Mining Corp., (TSXV:CXG)(FRANKFURT:3G8C)(OTC Pink:GDMRD), ("CanXGold" or the "Company"), announces that its 2022 drilling program is now completed at its Phoenix Property, part of the Greenwood Precious Metals project in southeastern BC.

Map of VTEM Conductivity (TauSF) showing target areas of high conductivity in purple.

Holes drilled in 2022 at locations 1-3.

CanXGold's third diamond drill hole is now complete. This hole targeted a large conductive anomaly detected by the 2022 airborne geophysical survey, located 2 kilometers west of the historic Phoenix open pit mine. The hole was collared over the eastern boundary of the anomaly and drilled to the west to a depth of 303.89 meters depth at an inclination of 55 degrees, for an effective vertical penetration of 248.9 meters. Depth to the top of the anomalous conductivity was estimated at 150 meters so the hole penetrated the anomaly.

The bedrock intersected this hole consists of Paleozoic Knob Hill Complex metasedimentary and metavolcanic strata. Metasedimentary rocks include chert and graphitic argillite. Local disseminated pyrite was observed. The conductive anomaly is attributed to graphite in the argillaceous sections.

Readers are cautioned that historical records referred to in this News Release have been examined but not verified by a Qualified Person. Further work is required to verify that historical records referred to in this News Release are accurate.

Technical disclosure in this news release has been approved by Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., President of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

For more details, please see the most recent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Company's website at www.CanXGold.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

CANXGOLD MINING CORP.

Per: "Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson CEO

For further information, please contact:

CanXGold Mining Corp. - Corporate Communications:

Tel: 604-288-2610

Email: Office@CanXGold.com

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, preliminary plans for a consolidation of the Company's Shares. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange will not approve the proposed share consolidation, and that the Company may not be able to raise sufficient additional capital to continue its business. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION.

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.

SOURCE: CanXGold Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722402/CanXGold-Mining-Corp-Targeting-BCs-Next-Major-Copper-Deposit--Hole-3-Completed-Testing-Conductive-Anomalies-From-2022-Airborne-Survey--Greenwood-BC
The award acknowledges Making Science's growth of cloud service provision at Google Cloud Iberia's 'Hackathon Awards 2022' event, which explores the key trends, messages and developments that identify the challenges the cloud industry faces



Despite the UK government recently unveiling ambitions to strengthen the digital economy through the UK Digital Strategy, only a thirdof UK businesses who work with digital data currently use cloud providers, highlighting continued room for growth in the cloud technology marketplace

Making Science, a digital acceleration company, has received the Cloud 2022 Award in the Sales Growth in 2022 category, from Google Cloud. With this recognition, which is part of Google Cloud Iberia's 'Hackathon Awards 2022', the technology giant seeks to reward the work of various companies in areas such as growth, investment in capacities or growth, investment in capabilities or industry solutions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005596/en/

Left to right: Santiago Larrauri, New Business Director at Making Science, Miguel Lopez, Architecture Infrastructure Engineering Director at Making Science, Penelope Los Arcos Llaneza, Cloud Partner Development Manager, Iberia at Google, Bruno Heese, Managing Director, Partners and Channels, EMEA at Google, and Francois Tabard, Channel Sales Director EMEA South at Google. (Photo: Business Wire)

With the overall goal of strengthening its presence on a global stage, the UK is currently looking to expand R&D tax reliefs to cover cloud computing as a part of its moves to encourage growth in its digital economy. Yet, with two thirds of businesses working with digital data not yet using cloud providers, increased demand for support in cloud technology adoption is imminent. "This recognition highlights Making Science's commitment to the Cloud and the return on investment for our customers. The cloud offers easily accessible data storage and computing power that provides potential cost savings and increased productivity," explains Alvaro Verdeja, Director of Global Tech and Data at Making Science.

This award demonstrates the company's commitment to this type of technology and the great results of the collaboration between Google and the consultancy when it comes to operating Cloud technology in different clients from different verticals, jointly developing new strategies so that brands can grow their businesses by relying on cloud technology.

Verdeja explains that "the sector's growth will be reinforced by new technologies that offer more efficiency, scalability, and flexibility. This is just the beginning. Cloud has experienced exponential growth in recent years. Total investment in cloud infrastructure reached approximately 134 billion pounds last year, 37% more than in 2020, according to data from Synergy.

In line with cloud technology market growth, Making Science's main objective is to export its expertise and cloud services globally, maximising the company's exponential expansion in recent years. The company considers the Cloud to be one of its core services and currently offers consulting and cloud operations alongside Google Cloud in the countries in which it operates.

About Making Science

Making Science is a digital acceleration company with more than 1000 employees and a presence in 13 markets, driving technological development across: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Georgia, Germany and the USA. The areas in which Making Science operates are digital advertising, data analytics, e-commerce, and cloud, all of them with high growth rates.

The consultancy firm has been ranked 15th in the FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies 2022, in the "Technology" category, positioning it as the fastest-growing Spanish company in the technology sector. Making Science has also joined the Pledge1% initiative, supporting non-profit organisations in its community with a commitment that will have a major impact on the future.

In 2021, the company joined Local Planet, the world's largest network of independent media agencies, as a consulting partner specialising in digital, technology, and performance marketing for the international group.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005596/en/

Contacts:

Making Science

Monica Gonzalez, Director of Marketing Communications

E: monica.gonzalez@makingscience.com

T: 91 309 02 09
26 October 2022

MANCHESTER AND LONDON INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") of the Company will be held by means of an Electronic Facility on Monday, 21 November 2022 at 12.00 noon. The 2022 AGM will be a fully virtual meeting by means of an Electronic Facility and Shareholders are invited to participate in the AGM electronically via Microsoft Teams.

The notice of this meeting, which includes an explanation of the items of business to be considered at the meeting and on how to participate in the AGM electronically, has now been circulated to Shareholders and is available on the Company's website. The full Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2022 can also be found on the Company's website - www.mlcapman.com/manchester-london-investment-trust-plc.

LEI: 213800HMBZXULR2EEO10
Accelerated growth momentum in subscription-based 1 revenue (+57.7%)

Strong growth in subscription-based ARR (+38.8%)

Total recurring revenue growth of 11.6%

Total revenue up 2.3% compared to Q3 2021

Regulatory News:

Verimatrix (Euronext Paris: VMX) (Paris:VMX), reports its revenue for the third quarter period ended October 30, 2022.

(in US$ million) 3Q22 3Q21 3Q22

vs. 3Q21 YTD

9M22 YTD

9M21 9M22

vs. 9M21 Recurring revenue 6.9 6.1 11.6% 19.2 18.6 3.1% of which subscriptions 2.2 1.4 57.7% 5.4 4.2 29.8% of which maintenance 4.6 4.7 -2.3% 13.8 14.4 -4.6% Non-recurring revenue 9.2 9.5 -3.6% 25.7 32.7 -21.3% Total software revenue 16.0 15.6 2.3% 44.9 51.2 -12.3% NFC licensing program 16.6 Total revenue 16.0 15.7 2.3% 44.9 67.7 -33.7% ARR2 26.5 25.6 3.5% of which subscriptions 9.0 6.5 38.8% of which maintenance 17.5 19.1 -8.4%

Asaf Ashkenazi, chief executive officer of Verimatrix, commented on the release: "We are very pleased with these quarterly numbers. Acceleration in our subscription revenue and subscription ARR is core to the execution of our strategy. We have also managed to achieve overall stability in both maintenance and non-recurring revenue. This quarter we closed significant deals on Threat Defense, including one the biggest Banks in Europe, which is another proof that our products are key for the cybersecurity market. I am confident in our ability to continue transforming Verimatrix according to our strategic plan, generating value for our shareholders."

Third-quarter and year-to-date revenue 2022

In the third quarter, Verimatrix posted revenue of $16.0 million, up 2.3% from last year's $15.7 million. Consistent with Verimatrix' transformation, this evolution is explained by stability in maintenance revenue, in line expectedly with previous quarters, while subscription-based revenue growth accelerates. Performance is driven by major deals such as the contract with the Mexican telco company Izzi Telecom, encompassing all Group solutions.

Year-to-date, revenue amounted to $44.9 million, down 12.3% from $51.2 million (excluding $16.6 million revenue from the NFC licensing program in 2021), showing gradual improvement from -36.5% at the end of March and -18.6% at the end of June.

Total ARR reached $26.5 million, up 3.5% year-on-year and 1.5% when compared to that at the end of the first half.

Recurring revenue

Over the period, recurring revenue from subscriptions jumps 57.7% to $2.2 million, compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021, gaining momentum from previous quarters (14.3% in Q1 and +33.3% in Q2). This performance is underpinned by strong growth in Extended Threat Defense in particular and Streamkeeper. On a year-to-date basis, subscriptions have generated revenue of $5.4 million, up 29.8% from last year. On that same basis, its contribution to total revenue now reaches 12% vs. 11% in H1.

Fueled by sales momentum in subscriptions, subscription ARR rose 38.8% over the 3rd quarter, compared to 2021. It stood at $9.0 million, vs. $8.0 million as of end of June 2022.

Showing further signs of stabilization, maintenance revenue is close to unchanged (-2.3%), at $4.6 million. It was $4.6 million in Q1 and $4.5 million in Q2. On a year-to-date basis, Verimatrix recorded maintenance revenue of $13.8 million, vs $14.4 million in the first 9 months of 2021. Due to end-of-period cancellations by legacy customers, maintenance ARR however dropped $0.6 million to $17.5 million, from $18.1 million in H1.

As a result, recurring revenue is up 11.6% over the quarter, to $6.9 million and up 3.1% to $19.2 million since the beginning of the year. Core to the Group's strategy, acceleration in recurring revenue is a very encouraging sign. As of October 31, it contributed 43% to total revenue, vs. 36% at the same time last year (on a constant scope basis), on is way towards reaching the 2025 objective of 70%.

Non-recurring revenue

Over the 3rd quarter, non-recurring revenue is slightly down 3.6% to $9.2 million. With year-to-date revenue of $25.7 million, situation continues to sequentially improve since the beginning of the year, with a 51.5% fall in Q1, mainly due to largely unfavorable comparables, -28.4% in H1 and now -21.3%, when compared to the first nine months of 2021.

A solid financial structure, further strengthened by additional financing

During the quarter, Verimatrix secured additional financing under the form of "Pret Participatif Relance" (PPR State-sponsored equity loan for economic stimulus) for an amount of 2.8 million (approximately the same amount in US dollars). Added to the 4.5 million (c. $4.7 million) PPR already collected in the first half, it further strengthens the Group's balance sheet and cash position, allowing even more flexibility in the execution of the new strategic approach.

Annual guidance reiterated

With a solid cash position and financial structure adequately supporting growth, healthy sales momentum in subscription-based revenue, Verimatrix is well under way to deliver as announced for the full year, and on its 2025 strategic plan.

Verimatrix reiterates its full-year objectives, i.e., 5% growth in recurring revenue, driven by 25% growth in subscription, assuming further stability in maintenance revenue. Such continued success in executing its transformation plan based on recurring revenue will improve the profitability of Verimatrix overall.

Financial calendar

2022 full year results: March 9, 2023 (after market)

About Verimatrix

Verimatrix (Euronext Paris: VMX) helps power the modern connected world with security made for people. We protect digital content, applications, and devices with intuitive, people-centered and frictionless security. Leading brands turn to Verimatrix to secure everything from premium movies and live streaming sports, to sensitive financial and healthcare data, to mission-critical mobile applications. We enable the trusted connections our customers depend on to deliver compelling content and experiences to millions of consumers around the world. Verimatrix helps partners get to market faster, scale easily, protect valuable revenue streams, and win new business. Visit www.verimatrix.com

Supplementary non-IFRS financial information

Verimatrix uses performance indicators that are not strictly accounting measures in accordance with IFRS. They are defined in Appendix 1 of this press release. They should be considered as additional information, which cannot replace any other strictly accounting-based operating or financial performance measure, as presented in the consolidated financial statements, including the income statement set out in Appendix 1 hereof.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Verimatrix. Although Verimatrix believes its expectations to be based on reasonable assumptions, they do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, the Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements owing to a number of risks and uncertainties.

Appendix 1 - Supplementary non-IFRS financial information Reconciliation of IFRS results with adjusted results

The performance indicators presented in this press release that are not strictly accounting measures are defined below. These indicators are not defined under IFRS, and do not constitute accounting elements used to measure the company's financial performance. They should be considered as additional information, which cannot replace any other strictly accounting-based operating or financial performance measure, as presented in the company's consolidated financial statements and their related notes. The company uses these indicators because it believes they are useful measures of its recurring operating performance and its operating cash flows. Although they are widely used by companies operating in the same industry around the world, these indicators are not necessarily directly comparable to those of other companies, which may have defined or calculated their indicators differently than the company, even though they use similar terms.

Adjusted gross profit is defined as gross profit before (i) the amortization of intangible assets related to business combinations, (ii) any potential goodwill impairment, (iii) share-based payment expense and (iv) non-recurring costs associated with restructuring and business combinations and divestiture undertaken by the company.

Adjusted operating income/(loss) is defined as operating income/(loss) before (i) the amortization of intangible assets related to business combinations, (ii) any potential goodwill impairment, (iii) share-based payment expense and (iv) non-recurring costs associated with restructuring and business combinations and divestiture undertaken by the company.

EBITDA is defined as adjusted operating income before depreciation, amortization and impairment expenses not related to business combinations.

Annual Recurring Revenue, or ARR, corresponds annualized value of all recurring revenues from current contracts at the time of measurement. ARR includes all contract types that are recurring in nature, such as maintenance support, SaaS and non-SaaS subscriptions, and for which revenue is currently being recognized. The ARR is a rolling number that accumulates over time whereas the Total Contract Value (or TCV) metric also used by the Company, is typically used to measure (new or incremental) sales bookings within a period. The Company computes an ARR for SaaS and non-SaaS subscriptions and another combining subscriptions and maintenance.

1 Includes SaaS and non-SaaS subscription revenue

2 As at end of period.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005609/en/

Contacts:

Investor and media contacts

Investor Relations

Jean-Francois Labadie

Chief Financial Officer

+33 (0)4 42 905 905

finance@verimatrix.com

Financial Press

Mathias Jordan

+33 (0)1 56 88 11 19

mjordan@actifin.fr

Verimatrix Media Contact:

Matthew Zintel

+1 281 444 1590

matthew.zintel@zintelpr.com
Regulatory News:

Mercialys(Paris:MERY):

As proposed by the Appointments, Compensation and Governance Committee, Mercialys' Board of Directors decided, on October 20, 2022, to co-opt Mr Jean-Louis Constanza as an independent director. He has been appointed to replace the company Generali Vie, represented by Mr Sebastien Pezet, which had indicated on July 1, 2022 that it was resigning from its position as a director of the Company. The ratification of this co-opting will be submitted for approval at the General Meeting to be held on April 27, 2023.

The appointment of Mr Jean-Louis Constanza will enable the Board of Directors to benefit from his strong entrepreneurial expertise, as well as a strategic vision concerning technological, human and societal stakes for Mercialys' future developments.

Mr Jean-Louis Constanza has a DEA in Marketing and Strategy from Universite Paris Dauphine-PSL and an MBA from INSEAD, and graduated from Ecole Nationale Superieure et de l'Espace (ENSAE-SUPAERO) after studying at Stanford and UCLA. After starting out in the aerospace sector, and moving into consulting in the internet and telecoms sector with Arthur D. Little (1991-1998), he joined Tele2 in 1998 and developed Tele2 France then Tele2 Southern Europe. Tele2 became one of Europe's leading alternative telecommunications operators with over 15 million customers. Building on this entrepreneurial success, Mr Jean-Louis Constanza was involved in setting up Envie de Fraises (2006), one of the first full web fashion brands, and in the same year he founded Ten (mobile internet), which was acquired by Orange. From 2007 to 2013, he was CEO of Orange Vallee, then became Chief Innovation Officer at Criteo. In 2012, he co-founded Wandercraft, a leader for robotic exoskeletons for people with disabilities, where he is Chief Business Officer in charge of products, marketing, clinical activities, investor relations and international development. He is also a member of the company's Board of Directors, and was previously a director of Direct Energie, Ingenico and Visa Europe in London.

Mercialys' Board of Directors is compliant with governance best practices. It now comprises nine directors, six of whom are independent (67%), and respects the gender diversity principle, with 56% women and 44% men.

This press release is available on www.mercialys.com.

About Mercialys

Mercialys is one of France's leading real estate companies. It is specialized in the holding, management and transformation of retail spaces, anticipating consumer trends, on its own behalf and for third parties. At June 30, 2022, Mercialys had a real estate portfolio valued at Euro 3.1 billion (including transfer taxes). Its portfolio of 2,130 leases represents an annualized rental base of Euro 168.8 million. Mercialys has been listed on the stock market since October 12, 2005 (ticker: MERY) and has "SIIC" real estate investment trust (REIT) tax status. Part of the SBF 120 and Euronext Paris Compartment B, it had 93,886,501 shares outstanding at June 30, 2022.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding future events, trends, projects or targets. These forward-looking statements are subject to identified and unidentified risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Mercialys' Universal Registration Document available at www.mercialys.com for the year ended December 31, 2021 for more details regarding certain factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect Mercialys' business. Mercialys makes no undertaking in any form to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, nor to report new information, new future events or any other circumstances that might cause these statements to be revised.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005701/en/

Contacts:

Analysts and investors

Luce-Marie de Fontaines

Tel: +33 (0)6 45 36 22 83

ldefontaines@mercialys.com

Olivier Pouteau

Tel: +33 (0)6 30 13 27 31

opouteau@mercialys.com
SamanTree Medical, a medical technology company driven to support clinicians with their intraoperative decisions and improve cancer surgery outcomes, announced today the publication of clinical data unraveling the potential of its proprietary medical imaging platform, the Histolog Scanner.

Charles S. Carignan MD, SamanTree Medical's Chairman stated, "This publication is an important step in the setting up of the Histolog Scanner as a new standard in point of care assessment. Accurate intraoperative assessment of the surgical specimen is of prime importance to enable a safe conservative treatment in breast cancer by avoiding re-operations. Unfortunately, clinicians are most of the time flying blind, as they do not have timely access to surgical specimen morphology information in the operating room. This publication is one of several to come that shows the value of the Histolog Scanner, in breast conserving surgery and other critical indications."

The Polarhis study was conducted at St-Vincenz Hospital, Paderborn Germany, under the supervision of Professor Michael P. Lux. It involved 5 breast surgeons and 1 pathologist that evaluated the Histolog Scanner for intraoperative use. "In most of the cases, re-operations are due to remaining DCIS lesions, and our study demonstrated how well the Histolog Scanner enables their detection at the time of surgery. In our hands, the Histolog Scanner could have avoided re-operations for 9/12 patients, representing reduction of the re-operation rate up to 75%; this is groundbreaking results for breast conserving surgery. Reducing the re-operation rate is important not only for the patients, but also for hospital administration as it is not reimbursed in Germany and represent an important cost", explained Professor Michael P. Lux.

Bastien Rachet, SamanTree Medical CEO commented, "this publication is exciting news for us and for the breast conserving surgery community facing a unmet medical need. These results are part of a broader landscape of clinical work we are conducting for more than 3 years, with upcoming publications in prostate cancer, ENT, and brain cancer. The Histolog Scanner brings an entirely novel imaging modality to the hospital. It supports clinicians throughout the patient journey and across multiple indications, and we are pleased to see these results published, which will certainly accelerate the adoption in Europe."

A few words on prostate cancer:

Earlier this year at the European Congress of Pathology, the medical team from Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (Netherlands), presented promising results showing that the Histolog Scanner enables the assessment of the nerve-bundles adjacent to the prostate with performances comparable to the NeuroSAFE procedure, but with 80% time reduction. Additional details from this study will be published soon.

About SamanTree Medical

SamanTree Medical has developed a breakthrough medical imaging modality that enables new medical procedures with the will to improve cancer treatment. The Histolog Scanner is a CE mark product since 2016 for high resolution imaging of the surface of fresh tissue. It is based on a novel ultra-fast confocal microscopy technology invented in EPFL in 2010. This innovation finds its application along the patient journey, from biopsy taking to surgical diagnostics.

https://samantree.com/ Contact: info@samantree.com

About Histolog Scanner

The Histolog Scanner (CE mark in 2018) provides a breakthrough innovation for enhanced intraoperative guidance. This new imaging modality offers clinicians the real-time ability to assess fresh tissue; the clinician is one touch-on-the-screen away from visualizing cancerous cells immediately during surgery. It covers a broad range of surgical and diagnostic applications in oncology. The Histolog Scanner is an investigational device in the US.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005647/en/

Contacts:

Francois Mange, Head of Marketing, francois@samantree.com, +41-21-623-00-73
Revenue increase driven by business in France and the rest of the world, which grew by 40% and 73% respectively

Third consecutive quarter of revenue growth

Success of the proposed capital increase with preferential subscription rights for 2.77 million

Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral implants, today announced its revenues for the third quarter of 2022 and for the first nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Ludovic Lastennet, IMPLANET's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We have achieved solid growth in the first nine months of 2022, both in our domestic market and in exports. This growing third quarter was also an opportunity to strengthen our positioning in the United States and to return to an annual sales rate of approximately 2 million euros in this strategic region. We also recently announced the success of our 2.77 million capital increase, combined with an additional 2.77 million fundraising to take place in Q1-2023, with the support of our partner Sanyou Medical. These funds will allow us to deploy our range of products dedicated to spine surgery on the Chinese market while reinforcing our investments in R&D and securing our products at the regulatory level. By building on all of these elements and capitalizing on our strategic partnerships, we are confident in Implanet's ability to reach a new milestone and achieve financial stability in the medium term."

In K IFRS standards1 2022 2021 Variation Total 1st quarter revenue 2,016 1,026 +96% Total 2nd quarter revenue 2,096 1,575 +33% 3rd quarter France 691 750 -8% United States 476 409 +17% Rest of the World 696 617 +13% Spine 3rd quarter revenue 1,863 1,775 +5% Knee Artho 3rd quarter revenue -1 Total 3rd quarter revenue 1,862 1,775 +5% TOTAL 9-Month France 2,492 1,785 +40% United States 1,278 1,302 -2% Rest of the World 2,183 1,265 +73% Spine 9 months revenue 5,952 4,352 +37% Knee Artho 9 months revenue 22 23 -6% Total 9-month revenue 5,974 4,375 +37%

*Unaudited figures

Third quarter of 2022

During the third quarter of 2022, the activity recorded a +5% growth, from 1.78M over the same period in 2021 to 1.86M.

Despite the fact that business in France is still affected by the shortage of hospital staff, which has prevented a return to normal levels of activity, the growth observed in the quarter is explained by:

a 17% increase in sales in the United States, to 0.48 million from 0.41 million in the third quarter of 2021, enabling the company to return to an annual sales rate of 2.0 million in this territory. This growth is also marked by the resumption of orders and deliveries to SeaSpine.

the acceleration of commercial development in the rest of the world, with growth of +13%, to reach 0.70 million compared to 0.62 million for the same period in 2021.

First nine months of 2022

In the first nine months of 2022, the activity increased by a factor of 1.4, i.e. by +37%, from 4.38 million in the same period in 2021 to 5.97 million. This increase is explained both by the organic growth of the JAZZ activity (+18%) and by the acquisition of OSD which generated revenues of 2.21 million in the first nine months of 2022.

In France, the activity amounts to 2.49 M, a growth of +40% compared to the same period in 2021. Activity in the United States has returned to the level observed in 2021 thanks to the good performance recorded in the third quarter of 2022 (+17%), ensuring revenues of 1.28 million for the first nine months of 2022, compared with 1.30 million for the same period in 2021.

In the rest of the world, the export activity has been multiplied by 1.7, going from 1.27 M in 2021 to 2.18 M.

Cash position

Following the success of the capital increase with preferential subscription rights announced on October 20, 2022, Implanet now has a cash position of 2.8 million. Sanyou has also informed the Company of its irrevocable intention to exercise the warrants it holds for an amount of 2.5 million during the first quarter of 2023. Completely, the payment of the balance of the MADISON businessTM for a total amount of 2.3 million, is spread over time depending on the achievement of regulatory milestones related to CE marking, of which 0.6 million is expected in 2022 and 0.9 million in the first half of 2023. These funds will be allocated to the commercial development of the JAZZ range in China, as well as to the finalization of the new complete range of ORION hybrid fixtures initiated with Sanyou Medical.

With these new financial resources, the Company has also decided to put an end to the issuance of new convertible bonds within the framework of the financing line, ensured by the company Nice Green and signed on January 13, 2021.

2022 Highlights

First surgeries in the United States with JAZZ PF, an innovative solution from the JAZZ line

First surgeries in the U.S. with the ORIGIN Cervical Spine Plate marking the first successful synergies with OSD products

Signature of a commercial, technological and financial partnership with Sanyou Medical, the second largest Chinese manufacturer of medical devices for spinal surgery: Distribution agreement for Implanet's JAZZ platform in China, the world's largest market (by volume) for spine surgery; Technology partnership: joint development of a new European range of hybrid fastening systems; Financial partnership: proposed capital increase with preferential subscription rights through the issue of shares with warrants attached (ABSA), guaranteed to the tune of 5 million by the partner Sanyou Medical.



Success of the capital increase with preferential subscription rights for shareholders for an amount of 2.77 million.

Upcoming financial event:

2022 annual Revenue, January 17, 2023, after market close

About IMPLANET

Founded in 2007, IMPLANET is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around a comprehensive innovative solution for improving the treatment of spinal pathologies (JAZZ) complemented by the product range offered by Orthopaedic Spine Development (OSD), acquired in May 2021 (thoraco-lumbar screws, cages and cervical plates). Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on the traceability of its products. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ has obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark in Europe and ANVISA approval in Brazil. IMPLANET employs 39 staff and recorded a consolidated revenue of 6.1 million in 2021. Based near Bordeaux in France, IMPLANET opened a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. IMPLANET is listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. For further information, please visit www.Implanet.com.

1 Unaudited figures

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005600/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, General Manager

David Dieumegard, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 05 57 99 55 55

investors@implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel: 01 44 71 94 94

implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Arthur Rouille

Tel: 01 44 71 94 94

implanet@newcap.eu
26 October 2022

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares

Rightmove plc ('Rightmove') announces that today it purchased 46,786 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 493.133p. The highest price paid per share was 494.00p and the lowest price paid per share was 487.800p. Rightmove purchased these shares through Numis Securities Limited.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0056% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 478,345,247 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 828,333,771. Rightmove holds 12,375,052 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

Contact: Carolyn Pollard, Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
CUPERTINO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / In order to introduce the most delicious fish Taiwan grouper to the US market, Taiwan Trade Center, San Francisco hosted a press conference and a mixer at Alexander's Steakhouse in Cupertino on Oct, 25th 2022. This event was initiated by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan of Taiwan and cooperated with Michelin star chef Claude Le Tohic. By using Taiwan grouper, the chef demonstrated various techniques and recipes in fusion cooking. About 40 journalists, seafood importers, dealers, group buying wholesalers and restaurant professionals are invited to sample tasting of Taiwanese grouper in a fine-dining setting.

This event was initiated by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan of Taiwan and cooperated with Michelin star chef Claude Le Tohic. By using Taiwan grouper, the chef demonstrated various techniques and recipes in fusion cooking. (Photo was provided by Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco)

Minister Chi-chung Chen of the Council of Agriculture shared through video that there are eight species of farmed grouper in the world, and Taiwan accounts for seven of these species. "The grouper farming industry in Taiwan is very well-known in the world. Overcoming many challenges, Taiwanese groupers are cultivated in open seas to ensure perfect taste without any chemical additives." James Huang, Chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council, an expert of fish introducing via the film the benefits from Taiwan grouper which was also selected as one of the dishes in state banquets.

Taiwanese Grouper is available in both online and in-store markets, as well as many restaurants across the U.S. now. We hope to share the best dish to all American families. (Photo was provided by Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco)

John Chu, deputy director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, tried Taiwanese grouper in Western-style dishes at the event. "The taste and seasoning are perfectly matched. Taiwanese grouper can be eaten from head to tail. We are excited that Taiwanese grouper is heading to the US market." Joan Tsou, director of the Taiwan Trade Center in San Francisco also mentioned, "Taiwanese Grouper is available in both online and in-store markets, as well as many restaurants across the U.S. now. We hope to share the best dish to all American families."

Chef Claude Le Tohic presented three innovative and delicious dishes. He is currently the head chef and Partner at ONE65. (Photo was provided by Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco)

Chef Claude Le Tohic presented Grouper in Artichoke Barigoule Sauce, Grouper with Black Pepper Sauce and Baby Spinach, and Grouper with Curry Sauce on the event. Le Tohic is currently the head chef and Partner at ONE65, a six-story multi-concept culinary destination in San Francisco. Throughout his career, he has led his team to win many Michelin stars, and has also held guest banquets in Taiwan. "Mixing and matching ingredients has become the definitive American way of cooking," said Le Tohic, "it suits the country's unique mix of ethnicities."

About 40 journalists, seafood importers, dealers, group buying wholesalers and restaurant professionals are invited to sample tasting of Taiwanese grouper in a fine-dining setting. (Photo was provided by Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco)

In fact, fish farmers in Taiwan have been raising grouper for decades, and Taiwan has gained a reputation as the "grouper kingdom". Joan Tsou, director of the Taiwan Trade Center in San Francisco also mentioned in closing remarks that Taiwanese Grouper is available in both online and in-store markets, as well as many restaurants across the U.S.

Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco: https://sf.taiwantrade.com/home

Contacts:

Emily Lin

emily5418201@gmail.com

sf@taitra.org.tw

SOURCE: Taiwan Trade Center San Francisco

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722485/Michelin-Star-Chef-Demonstrates-Techniques-and-Recipes-Using-Taiwanese-Grouper
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / Luxury is something that many people look for when thinking about travel. Whether it is better seats on planes or staying in a place that provides certain key amenities, luxury can make or break a trip. However, luxury often also comes at a big price, but what if it didn't have to be that way? That is where Bouge Villas comes in!

One of these short term rentals offering luxury stays is Bouge Villas in Florida. Bouge Villas provides custom designed luxury villas to their clients with all sorts of luxury amenities that can be swapped in or out and tailored to meet every individual need. Having something for everyone is their main goal and they offer prices for their villas ranging from 500 dollars a night in Florida to 3500 dollars a night in the Hamptons.

The idea for Bouge Villas really came to fruition at the height of the pandemic when much of the real estate market was in shambles. There was a massive demand for different types of housing that allowed people to cook and clean themselves.

The goal of Bouge Villas is to offer luxury at a price that fits the renter. While you can get the full package, that does not mean you have to pay the price that goes along with it. In places like Miami, to get the kind of luxury that Bouge Villas provides, you often have to pay over 1000 dollars a night. Bouge Villas has different locations that can exceed that amount, but the idea is to bring luxury to every price point, which is why they offer a customizable luxury experience.

Bouge Villas was also met with challenges on their quest to success. Finding the right location is always a struggle in the real estate world, but at the height of the pandemic, it was even more of a difficulty as much of the world was shut down. The perseverance to keep searching and not settle is another testament to their determination to provide the best experience for their guests.

The creator and mastermind of Bouge villas is Hassan Chowdhury. Hassan is not only the head of Bouge Villas, but also two other businesses in completely different industries. This has allowed him to learn different techniques and skills, and what makes Hassan unique is that he is willing to continue learning and growing and does not see himself as an all knowing business extraordinaire.

"I am not a business expert, I still have a lot to learn, understand and grow. I really care about my client satisfaction when it comes to hospitality related business doesn't matter if you're going to a vip nightclub in the city, renting a luxury short term villa or chartering a private jet for your comfort, I always make sure that our clients get the best service possible and that's what makes my business more successful than others in the market," Hassan states.

Bouge Villas is looking to continue expanding into new places. Bouge Villas is a short term housing business based out of Miami, Florida. To find out more about their business, follow them on instagram here and check out their website here .

About Bouge Villas

Bouge Villas is a collection of luxury houses in South Florida, providing quality amenities and activities for everyone to enjoy. They provide custom designed luxury villas to their clients with all sorts of luxury amenities that can be swapped in or out and tailored to meet every individual need. The company was created to make luxury accessible to others in high volume vacation spots like Miami and the Hamptons.

CONTACT:

Paula Henderson

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phendersonnews@gmail.com

SOURCE: Bouge Villas

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The "Enterprise Application Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global enterprise application market reached a value of US$ 249.9 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the market to reach US$ 403.9 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.33% 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.

Enterprise Application Market Trends:

Due to the expansion of business globally, enterprises are facing challenges in managing large amounts of data. This represents one of the key factors driving the adoption of enterprise applications worldwide as they provide enhanced collaboration, improved efficiency, reduced risk, connected data, and real-time insights to build a smart business.

Moreover, they are employed in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector to make a balanced financial structure and hire qualified talent.

Apart from this, the integration of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and edge computing are providing agility to make critical decisions, optimize investments to fund innovation, and deliver essential customer experiences. This is further expanding the usage of enterprise applications in various end use industries.

Furthermore, due to the growing focus on rapid innovation and continuation, organizations are deploying and managing ERP software across hybrid cloud solutions, which, in turn, is catalyzing the demand for enterprise applications around the world.

Additionally, several vendors are providing customization options to upgrade various features of enterprise applications, which is anticipated to impel the growth of the market.

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global enterprise application market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global enterprise application market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the solution?

What is the breakup of the market based on the organization size?

What is the breakup of the market based on the deployment mode?

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 enterprise application market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being

Accenture plc

Fujitsu Limited

Infosys Limited

International Business Machines Corporation

iTransition Group

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Pegasystems Inc.

Salesforce.com Inc.

SAP SE

Software AG

Tata Consultancy Services Limited.

Key Market Segmentation:

Breakup by Solution:

Customer Relationship Management

Enterprise Resource Planning

Supply Chain Management

Analytics and Business Intelligence

Human Capital Management

Productivity Tools

Others

Breakup by Organization Size:

Small and Medium Enterprises

Large Enterprises

Breakup by Deployment Mode:

On-premises

Cloud-based

Breakup by End User:

BFSI

Manufacturing and Retail

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

IT and Telecommunication

Government

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vvfps0

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The Expanded TSMC Open Innovation Platform Drives New Ecosystem Collaboration to Enable Next-Generation HPC and Mobile Applications

TSMC (TSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today announced the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) 3DFabric Alliance at the 2022 Open Innovation Platform Ecosystem Forum. The new TSMC 3DFabric Alliance is TSMC's sixth OIP Alliance and the first of its kind in the semiconductor industry that joins forces with partners to accelerate 3D IC ecosystem innovation and readiness, with a full spectrum of best-in-class solutions and services for semiconductor design, memory modules, substrate technology, testing, manufacturing, and packaging. This alliance will help customers achieve speedy implementation of silicon and system-level innovations and enable next-generation HPC and mobile applications using TSMC's 3DFabric technologies, a comprehensive family of 3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies.

"3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies open the door to a new era of chip-level and system-level innovation, and also require extensive ecosystem collaboration to help designers navigate the best path through the myriad options and approaches available to them," said Dr. L.C. Lu, TSMC fellow and vice president of design and technology platform. "Through the collective leadership of TSMC and our ecosystem partners, our 3DFabric Alliance offers customers an easy and flexible way to unlocking the power of 3D IC in their designs, and we can't wait to see the innovations they can create with our 3DFabric technologies."

"As a pioneer in both chiplets and 3D silicon stacking, AMD is excited about the introduction of TSMC's 3DFabric Alliance and the vital role it will play in accelerating system-level innovation," said AMD senior vice president of technology product engineering Mark Fuselier. "We've already seen the benefits of working with TSMC and its OIP partners on the world's first TSMC-SoIC-based CPUs, and we're looking forward to collaborating even more closely to drive the development of a robust chiplet stacking ecosystem for future generations of energy-efficient, high-performance chips."

OIP 3DFabric Alliance

As the industry's most comprehensive and vibrant ecosystem, the TSMC OIP consists of six alliances: the EDA Alliance, IP Alliance, Design Center Alliance (DCA), Value Chain Alliance (VCA), Cloud Alliance, and now, the 3DFabric Alliance. TSMC launched OIP in 2008 to help customers overcome the rising challenges of semiconductor design complexity by creating a new paradigm of collaboration, organizing development and optimization across TSMC's technologies, electronic design automation (EDA), IP, and design methodology.

Partners of the new 3DFabric Alliance have early access to TSMC's 3DFabrictechnologies, enabling them to develop and optimize their solutions in parallel with TSMC. This gives customers a head start on their product development with early availability of the highest-quality, readily-available solutions and services from EDA and IP to DCA/VCA, Memory, OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test), Substrate, and Testing

"The Amazon Annapurna Labs team is responsible for building innovation in silicon for Amazon Web Services customers, and we have been collaborating with TSMC closely as we develop our AWS Trainium product using TSMC's advanced packaging technologies including CoWoS and its support infrastructure from architecture definition, package design, and process validation, to successful production," said Nafea Bshara, Amazon Web Services vice president and distinguished engineer. "As a TSMC customer, we are pleased by the introduction of TSMC's OIP 3DFabric Alliance, which demonstrates TSMC's leadership and commitment to next-generation 3D IC design enablement."

New Collaboration with 3DFabric Alliance Partners

EDA partners have early access to the TSMC 3DFabric technologies for EDA tool development and enhancement to offer optimized EDA tools and design flows to enable 3D IC designs more efficiently.

partners have early access to the TSMC 3DFabric technologies for EDA tool development and enhancement to offer optimized EDA tools and design flows to enable 3D IC designs more efficiently. IP partners develop 3D IC IPs compliant with die-to-die interface standards and TSMC 3DFabric technologies to provide a broad variety of highest-quality, proven IP solutions for customers.

partners develop 3D IC IPs compliant with die-to-die interface standards and TSMC 3DFabric technologies to provide a broad variety of highest-quality, proven IP solutions for customers. DCA/VCA partners gain early collaboration with mutual customers in 3DFabric technologies and roadmap alignment with TSMC that will improve their service capability for 3DFabric design, IP integration, and production.

partners gain early collaboration with mutual customers in 3DFabric technologies and roadmap alignment with TSMC that will improve their service capability for 3DFabric design, IP integration, and production. Memory partners have early technology engagement to define specs and early alignment on engineering and technical criteria with TSMC that will shorten time-to-market for future HBM generations to meet 3D IC design requirements.

partners have early technology engagement to define specs and early alignment on engineering and technical criteria with TSMC that will shorten time-to-market for future HBM generations to meet 3D IC design requirements. OSAT partners supporting TSMC's production quality and technical requirements collaborate with TSMC to fulfill customers' production demands with continuous improvements in all aspects of technology and production enablement and support.

partners supporting TSMC's production quality and technical requirements collaborate with TSMC to fulfill customers' production demands with continuous improvements in all aspects of technology and production enablement and support. Substrate partners have early technology engagement and development with TSMC to meet future requirements of 3DFabric technologies that will improve substrate material quality, reliability, and new substrate integration to speed up production of customers' 3D IC designs.

partners have early technology engagement and development with TSMC to meet future requirements of 3DFabric technologies that will improve substrate material quality, reliability, and new substrate integration to speed up production of customers' 3D IC designs. Testing partners have early collaboration with TSMC to develop test and stress methodologies for TSMC's 3DFabric technologies, offering comprehensive coverage of reliability and quality requirements to help customers quickly launch their differentiated products.

"NVIDIA has been manufacturing with TSMC's CoWoS technologies and supporting infrastructure for several generations of high-performance GPU products," said Joe Greco, senior vice president, advanced technology group, NVIDIA. "TSMC's new 3DFabric Alliance will extend the technology to a broader set of products and an enhanced level of integration."

TSMC 3Dblox

To address the rising complexity of 3D IC design, TSMC introduced the TSMC 3Dblox standard to unify the design ecosystem with qualified EDA tools and flows for TSMC 3DFabric technology. The modularized TSMC 3Dblox standard is designed to model, in one format, the key physical stacking and the logical connectivity information in 3D IC designs. TSMC has worked with EDA partners in the 3DFabric alliance to enable 3Dblox for every aspect of 3D IC designs, including physical implementation, timing verification, physical verification, electro-migration IR drop (EMIR) analysis, thermal analysis, and more. TSMC 3Dblox is designed to maximize flexibility and ease of use, offering ultimate 3D IC design productivity.

TSMC 3DFabric Technologies

TSMC 3DFabric, a comprehensive family of 3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies, further extends the Company's advanced semiconductor technology offerings to unleash system-level innovations. TSMC's 3DFabric consists of both frontend, 3D chip stacking or TSMC-SoIC(System on Integrated Chips), and backend technologies that include the CoWoS and InFO family of packaging technologies, enabling better performance, power, form factor, and functionality to realize system-level integrations. In addition to CoWoS and InFO that have been in volume production, TSMC also started TSMC-SoIC silicon stacking manufacturing in 2022. TSMC now has the world's first fully automated fab for 3DFabric in Chunan, Taiwan that integrates advanced testing, TSMC-SoIC, and InFO operations together, offering the best flexibility for customers to optimize their packaging by leveraging better cycle time and quality control.

Alliance Member Quotes:

Advantest

"Advantest has been actively working with TSMC in chip testing for many years," said Juergen Serrer, executive vice president of Advantest's SoC business unit. "We're excited about TSMC's new 3DFabric Alliance, and we look forward to collaborating on 3D-related chip testing such as power management, handling, design for test (DFT), and system-test at sort to fulfill customer demands."

Alchip

"As an experienced, mass production 2.5D ASIC provider, Alchip looks forward to joining the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance," said Johnny Shen, president and CEO of Alchip Technologies. "This new initiative solidifies TSMC's semiconductor leadership by providing strategic opportunities for leading-edge, high-performance ASIC companies to extend the most advanced packaging capabilities to innovative technology companies."

Alphawave

"Alphawave IP is very excited to be a founding partner in the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance as die-to-die interconnects are a very promising technology that we've been investing in for a long time," said Tony Pialis, president and chief executive officer of Alphawave. "TSMC is a long-time leader in building ecosystems that enable its customers to build the world's best semiconductor products and we look forward to working with TSMC in this new alliance to accelerate new technology and enable chiplet products to enter into the mainstream."

Amkor

"Amkor, a leading OSAT provider, welcomes the creation of TSMC's OIP 3DFabric Alliance as a catalyst for closer collaboration among multiple partners from design to advanced packaging, assembly, and test. OSATs are a critical extension of TSMC's manufacturing and enable optimization of IC performance, power, and area (PPA)," said Kevin Engel, corporate vice president flipchip and wafer level business unit at Amkor. "Amkor is honored to join this Alliance to support industry growth vectors, such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, networking, and wireless communications."

Ansys

"3D IC technology is triggering major changes in semiconductor design methods by blurring the distinction between chip design and system design," said John Lee, vice president and general manager of the semiconductor, electronics, and optics business unit at Ansys. "With strong market positions in both semiconductor signoff and system level simulation, Ansys is well situated to collaborate with TSMC's 3DFabric Alliance in delivering proven solutions and open design platforms for 3D IC design to our mutual customers."

ARM

"Chiplets will be increasingly prevalent in the next generation of compute solutions, and Arm Neoverse platforms adopt 2.5D and 3D design to enable high core counts and heterogenous combinations with a diversity of accelerators, memory, and IO," said Dermot O'Driscoll, vice president of product management, infrastructure line of business, Arm. "Arm is excited to join the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance to enable our mutual customers to innovate faster, with increased compute and cache resources optimized for yield and cost, allowing for silicon upgrades and reuse."

ASE

"ASE is excited to be part of the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance, which will allow us to optimize our advanced packaging technologies together with other best-in-class partners within the 3D IC ecosystem,"said Mike Hung, senior vice president of central engineering, ASE Inc. "The exponential growth of the high-performance computing (HPC) market is accelerating the role of heterogeneous integration. ASE has already built a robust technology portfolio to help customers achieve superior computing performance and better power efficiency. Joining this new Alliance will augment our capability to offer customers complete turnkey services and bring their products to market faster."

Cadence

"Over the years, Cadence has worked closely with TSMC on EDA and IP collaborations to enable customers to successfully leverage TSMC 3DFabric technologies," said Dr. Chin-Chi Teng, senior vice president and general manager of the digital signoff group at Cadence. "Our latest collaboration with TSMC includes EDA innovations on TSMC 3Dblox standard and the certification of the Integrity 3D IC platform, our unified 3D IC planning, implementation, and analysis solution. On IP, we've delivered the 40Gbps/channel Ultralink D2D PHY IP and the 112G-XSR PHY IP, illustrating a strong roadmap for the Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) standard for connecting chiplets. By joining the new OIP 3DFabric Alliance, we're reinforcing our commitment to jointly advance design and analysis innovation across emerging multi-chiplet-based technologies for hyperscale computing, mobile, 5G, and AI applications."

GUC

"We are looking forward to participating in TSMC 3DFabric Alliance at a time when advanced packaging technologies have begun a design revolution for HPC, AI, and network processors. Adopting TSMC's 3DFabric technologies such as TSMC-SoIC allows much more efficient connectivity for these designs," said Dr. Sean Tai, president of GUC. "As a long-standing TSMC OIP partner, GUC has successfully developed a platform to shorten design cycles and allow for low risk, high yield production of ASICs adopting TSMC 2.5D and 3D technologies."

IBIDEN

"The development of information and communication technology requires further integration and performance improvement of semiconductors," said Mr. Koji Kawashima, director senior executive officer at IBIDEN. "IBIDEN welcomes TSMC's initiative to launch the 3DFabric Alliance to further develop 3D packaging technology and will contribute to product realization in cooperation with joint partners."

Micron

"Micron has been working closely with TSMC in previous and current High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction," said Akshay Singh, vice president of advanced packaging technology development at Micron. "Micron is excited to join TSMC's OIP 3DFabric Alliance and will help expand the scope with deeper collaboration in the delivery of solutions for future HBM generations to support customers' success in system product innovations."

Samsung Memory

"Samsung Memory has been in close collaboration with TSMC in previous and current HBM generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction," said Kyungsoo Ha, vice president of memory product planning group, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung Memory joining TSMC's OIP 3DFabric Alliance will further expand the scope of work and delivery of solutions for future HBM generations to help customers unleash system-level innovations."

Siemens

"Siemens EDA has worked closely with TSMC for years to qualify more of our industry-leading tools and flows, as demand for sophisticated 3D IC design solutions has grown over time," said Joe Sawicki, executive vice president of IC-EDA for Siemens Digital Industries Software. "Today, that work has been formalized by Siemens extending its partnership with TSMC to now include participation in the foundry's new OIP 3DFabric Alliance. We look forward to continuing to deliver highly innovative new products and flows for our mutual customers to use in their design of 3D IC technology solutions."

Silicon Creations

"We recognize the importance of 3D stacking and advanced packaging technologies in enabling continued performance increases and cost management for leading integrated circuit products," said Randy Caplan, principal/co-founder of Silicon Creations. "As a leading supplier of clocking and interconnect solutions for TSMC's leading process technologies, Silicon Creations is proud to join other top silicon IP providers as founding members of TSMC's 3DFabric Alliance to provide robust IP solutions for the adaptive clocks demanded by stacked die."

Siliconware Precision Industries

"As a leading provider of assembly and test, we are consistently collaborating with TSMC and are excited to join the new 3DFabric Alliance to enable system innovation and cutting-edge technology," said Dr. Yu-Po Wang, vice president of corporate R D, Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. "By utilizing top notch 3DFabric technologies, the flexible silicon stacking and modularity enable the best value for the product and customer."

SK hynix

"SK hynix has been working closely with TSMC in previous and current HBM generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction," said Dr. Kangwook Lee, senior vice president, head of PKG development at SK hynix. "By joining the new 3DFabric Alliance, SK hynix is engaging in even deeper collaboration with TSMC to deliver solutions for future HBM generations and enable system product innovations."

Synopsys

"Through the new 3DFabric Alliance, Synopsys and TSMC are accelerating multi-die system design for cost-effective integration, optimized performance and energy efficiency," said Sassine Ghazi, president and chief operating officer at Synopsys. "We bring unified EDA and system design solutions and an IP portfolio that is the broadest in the industry. And together with TSMC's 3DFabric technologies, we're enabling our mutual customers to efficiently handle all aspects of multi-die design and heterogeneous integration to support advanced packaging for complex, compute-intensive applications."

Teradyne

"Teradyne is excited to be a founding member of TSMC's 3DFabric Alliance," said Regan Mills, vice president of SoC marketing at Teradyne. "Early collaboration with TSMC and other alliance members will ensure the development of new, comprehensive test methodologies, accelerating readiness of the ecosystem and enabling faster time to market all while meeting or exceeding stringent quality objectives."

Unimicron

"With a goal of being the global leading substrate supplier, Unimicron is dedicated to quality-adhered production and customer-oriented service," said Unimicron Chairman T.J. Tseng. "It's our great pleasure to join TSMC's new 3DFabric Alliance. As a member of the Alliance, Unimicron has been given the opportunity to contribute to the innovation of packaging technologies, and to develop and optimize advanced solutions in parallel with other semiconductor and tech leaders. Together with TSMC, we will provide our mutual customers with high-quality solutions in a timely manner."

About TSMC Open Innovation Platform (OIP)

TSMC launched the Open Innovation Platform in 2008 to reduce design barriers and promote the speedy implementation of innovation in the semiconductor design community by bringing together the creative thinking of customers and partners. TSMC's Open Innovation Platform (OIP) brings together the creative thinking of customers and partners under the common goal of shortening design time, time-to-volume, time-to-market and ultimately, time-to-revenue. The TSMC OIP features the most comprehensive design ecosystem alliance programs covering industry-leading EDA, library, IPs, Cloud, and design service partners. TSMC has worked closely with these ecosystem partners ever since the Company was established and continues to expand its libraries and silicon IP portfolio to more than 55,000 IP titles and provides more than 43,000 technology files and over 2,900 process design kits, from 0.5-micron to 3-nanometer, to customers.

About TSMC

TSMC pioneered the pure-play foundry business model when it was founded in 1987 and has been the world's leading dedicated semiconductor foundry ever since. The Company supports a thriving ecosystem of global customers and partners with the industry's leading process technologies and portfolio of design enablement solutions to unleash innovation for the global semiconductor industry. With global operations spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, TSMC serves as a committed corporate citizen around the world.

TSMC deployed 291 distinct process technologies and manufactured 12,302 products for 535 customers in 2021 by providing broadest range of advanced, specialty, and advanced packaging technology services. TSMC is the first foundry to provide 5-nanometer production capabilities, the most advanced semiconductor process technology available in the world. The Company is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan. For more information, please visit https://www.tsmc.com.

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Contacts:

TSMC Spokesperson:

Wendell Huang

Vice President and CFO

Tel: 886-3-505-5901

Media Contacts:

Nina Kao

Head of Public Relations

Tel: 886-3-563-6688 ext.7125036

Mobile: 886-988-239-163

E-Mail: nina_kao@tsmc.com

Tiffany Yang

Public Relations Manager

Tel: 1-408-382-7934

E-Mail: tiffanyy@tsmc.com
Rising application high-throughput screening procedure is triggering growth in global microplate washers market

Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers to clean cells could augment market growth during forecast period

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The last few years have witnessed an increase in research and development activities worldwide in a bid to develop medication owing to factors such as rising prevalence of new disorders such as coronavirus, globally.





Microplate washers have emerged as key product in research and development activities performed in R&D centers and laboratories, worldwide.

Microplate washers have been used in different application areas such as bead-washing, cell-based assay, and vaccum filtration and have been used in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, which is assisting in market growth.

As per Transparency Market Research study, the global microplate washers market is expected to advance at compound annual growth rate of 3% during the forecast period, starting in 2020 and ending in 2030.

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Leading players in microplate washers market are increasing their production capacities to manufacture automated microplate washers which can emerge as suitable alternative for existing instruments, during the forecast period and contribute to market growth.

Key Findings of Microplate Washers Market Study

Increasing Demand in High-throughput Screening Procedure Boosting Growth in Global Microplate Washers Market: The last few years have witnessed a steady rise in use of multi-purpose microplate washers in high-throughput screening processes. High-throughput screening is an automated procedure used in drug discovery process. Automation has become a key aspect of high-throughput screening and uses robotic microplate washers, which is assisting in growth of microplate washers market. Furthermore, high-throughput screening has been deployed in development of new therapeutics due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases which in turn, is triggering the growth in microplate washers market

The last few years have witnessed a steady rise in use of multi-purpose microplate washers in high-throughput screening processes. High-throughput screening is an automated procedure used in drug discovery process. Automation has become a key aspect of high-throughput screening and uses robotic microplate washers, which is assisting in growth of microplate washers market. Furthermore, high-throughput screening has been deployed in development of new therapeutics due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases which in turn, is triggering the growth in microplate washers market Increasing Demand from Life Science Industry Augmenting Growth in Microplate Washers Market: The last decade has witnessed continuous growth in the life science industry, worldwide. Automated microplate washers are witnessing massive demand from life science industry in different application areas such as immunocytochemistry, which is boosting the growth in microplate washers market

The last decade has witnessed continuous growth in the life science industry, worldwide. Automated microplate washers are witnessing massive demand from life science industry in different application areas such as immunocytochemistry, which is boosting the growth in microplate washers market Rising Demand for Full-plate Microplate Washers Could Propel Overall Market: Leading manufacturers in global microplate washers market are looking to introduce full-plate microplate washers which can be used in different ways to clean cells. Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers could augment the growth in overall microplate washers market during the forecast period

Leading manufacturers in global microplate washers market are looking to introduce full-plate microplate washers which can be used in different ways to clean cells. Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers could augment the growth in overall microplate washers market during the forecast period COVID-19 Pandemic Fueled Growth of Microplate Washers Market: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic fueled the growth in overall microplate washers market. Microplate washers witnessed massive demand from diagnostic centers and laboratories in the development process of vaccines that would help combat the coronavirus which boosted market growth during the pandemic phase

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Microplate Washers Market-Key Drivers

Rising product demand to perform precise immunoassays in enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assays examinations is one of the key growth drivers of global microplate washers market

Increasing product sales over online distribution channels such as e-commerce websites is triggering the growth in overall microplate washers market

Microplate Washers Market-Key Players

The global microplate washers market is competitive, with the presence of numerous leading players. It is anticipated that the entry of new players will further intensify the competition in overall market, during the forecast period.

Well-established market players are investing in R&D activities to produce improved microplate washers that would meet customer requirements in different end-use industries.

Few prominent players in global market include ThermoFischer Scientific, Tecan Trading AG, Biosan, CAPP, and Molecular Devices LLC.

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The global microplate washers market is segmented as follows:

Modality

Automated



Manual

Type

Strip Washers



Full-plate Washers

Application

ELISA



Vacuum Filtration



Bead Washing



Cell-based Assay



Others

End-Use

Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Industries



Academics & Research Institutes



Labs & Diagnostic Centers

Region

North America



Europe



Asia Pacific



Latin America



Middle East & Africa

Modernization of healthcare in terms of both infrastructure and services have pushed the healthcare industry to new heights, Stay Updated with Latest Healthcare Research Reports by Transparency Market Research:

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About Transparency Market Research

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting its results for the third quarter, Globe Life Inc. (GL) tightened its full year 2022 outlook. Globe Life now projects net operating income per share in the range of $8.00 to $8.20 for the year ending December 31, 2022. Previously, the company expected net operating income per share in the range of $7.90 to $8.30 for the year ending December 31, 2022. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters currently estimate earnings of $8.03 per share for the year. For the year ending December 31, 2023, the company estimates net operating income per share, to be in the range of $9.00 to $9.70. Analysts currently estimate earnings of $9.40 per share. Separately, Globe Life announced Co-Chairmen and Co-Chief Executive Officers Gary Coleman and Larry Hutchison will step down as Co-Chief Executive Officers, effective December 31, 2022. They will continue to serve in an executive capacity as Co-Chairmen of the Board of Directors on and after such date. The company's board has appointed Matthew Darden, currently Globe Life's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, and Frank Svoboda, currently Globe Life's Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, as Co-Chief Executive Officers, effective January 1, 2023. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Duck Creek OnDemand enables Argyle to roll out its first product through brokers in Australia

Sydney, Oct. 26, 2022.

Through Duck Creek's modern core system, including software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for policy, billing, and data insights, Argyle Insurance will deploy a hybrid operating model into the Australian general insurance market. Their new platform will give brokers access to a wider range of insurers and their products, allowing them to offer their SME clients more choice and competition, improving client outcomes. The sub-60-day execution was achieved through the use of an innovative Australian SME template built by the Duck Creek APAC regional product development team.

"Partnering with leading organisations in the insurance sector is a key to Argyle's value proposition. Duck Creek was able to embrace the vision to redefine, through the use of technology, how intermediaries and customers do SME insurance," said Anthony Day, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Argyle. "Duck Creek worked hand-in-hand with our team to deliver our underwriting system in record time"

"Argyle's unique model connects all stakeholders in the ecosystem through an AI-augmented platform. More than five thousand dynamic questions, rules and pricing combinations were set up during the implementation to deliver effective value to the entire insurance community," said Matthew Morgan Chief Commercial Officer and Co-Founder "Working with the Duck Creek platform, we were able to achieve our desired objective to advance the Australian general insurance market and remain continuously relevant and engaged with customers."

"Duck Creek and Argyle's unique relationship, which enabled the 60-day delivery, comes down to our alignment of purpose and vision that the future of insurance is agile, intelligent and evergreen," said Shaji Sethu, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Duck Creek Technologies. "We are both focused on driving better, easier-to-understand insurance products, which are tailored to policyholders' needs and are adaptable to their changing priorities."

Both teams embraced an unwavering level of commitment and flexibility that made the rapid launch successful. This implementation project was slated to span more than 60 days, however, the spectacular collaboration between Duck Creek and Argyle, supported by the deep domain and technical expertise of Coforge, allowed the teams to beat their target goal.

"Coforge is equally proud to be a part of Argyle's record-setting go-live journey powered by Duck Creek OnDemand. A significant achievement to deliver a core platform transformation project within 60 days. A true example of seamless collaboration between Argyle, Duck Creek Technologies and Coforge to set new normal for Core Insurance Platform Rollout" said Deepak Agarwal, SVP and Global Delivery Head - P&C Insurance for Coforge.

About Argyle

Argyle Insurance is a true digital underwriting agency with technology to meet customers' changing insurance requirements. Argyle's strength comes through innovation. It has delivered a new way to connect customers to their brokers digitally that comes with a suite of tools to interact in more meaningful ways.

About Duck Creek Technologies

Duck Creek Technologies, and all are available viaDuck Creek OnDemand. Visitwww.duckcreek.comto learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information -LinkedInandTwitter.

About Coforge

Coforge is a global digital services and solutions provider, that enables its clients to transform at the intersect of domain expertise and emerging technologies to achieve real-world business impact. A focus on very select industries, a detailed understanding of the underlying processes of those industries and partnerships with leading platforms provides us a distinct perspective. Coforge leads with its product engineering approach and leverages Cloud, Data, Integration and Automation technologies to transform client businesses into intelligent, high growth enterprises. Coforge's proprietary platforms power critical business processes across its core verticals. The firm has a presence in 21 countries with 25 delivery centers across nine countries with a key focus on Insurance as a vertical.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - South Korea will on Thursday release an advance estimate for Q3 gross domestic product, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. GDP is expected to rise 0.1 percent on quarter and 2.8 percent on year, easing from 0.7 percent on quarter and 2.9 percent on year in the previous three months. Australia will provide Q3 numbers for import and export prices; in the three months prior, import prices were up 4.3 percent on quarter and export prices jumped 10.1 percent on quarter. China will see September results for industrial profits; in August, profits were up 0.80 percent on month and down 2.1 percent on year. Taiwan will release October results for its consumer confidence index; in September, the index score was 62.59. Thailand will provide September figures for industrial production, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 6.0 percent on year after spiking 14.52 percent in August. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Japan Crate, a Los Angeles, CA-based provider of subscription boxes and online store that share the culture of Japan with an expanding base of consumers worldwide, received a financing from Decathlon Capital Partners.

Details of the revenue-based funding transaction were not disclosed. No equity or ownership was exchanged for the growth capital from Decathlon, and Japan Crate was not required to give up any control of the company. They will repay the financing through its future revenues.

The company intends to use the funds to to expand its product offerings, enhance its distribution and expand its customer support.

Led by Hank Rao, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Japan Crate is a Japanese culture subscription box that shares the experience of Japan through monthly crates of candy, snacks, kawii items, stationery, noodles, toys and beauty products. Products include Japan Crate, Doki Crate, Umai Crate, Gacha Crate, Kira Crate and Inku Crate. The company also shares Japanese culture through its Sugoi Mart online store. Founded in 2014, Japan Care has offices in Toyko and Los Angeles.

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
Image provided by Brian Sheth

Lucas Joppa, Microsofts former chief environmental officer, is filling a new role at Haveli Investments, a new private equity firm focused on video gaming. The firm is owned by founder Brian Sheth, a billionaire private equity investor based in Austin, Texas. Sheth has raised over $500 million toward a goal of $750 million in initial funding.

Joppa initially joined Microsoft as a computational ecologist in 2010 and was promoted to chief environmental scientist in 2017. Microsoft appointed Joppa as its first environmental chief in 2018. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant announced its climate plans in 2020, along with its intention to become a corporate leader in this space. Microsoft also created a Climate Innovation Fund worth $1 billion to invest in technologies that will help control the global climate, supporting Microsofts plan to become carbon-negative by 2030. Joppa was one of the chief architects of this plan, which got Sheths attention when he started looking for someone to fill a similar role at Haveli.

So I was very lucky to get the opportunity that I did at Microsoft, Joppa told Bloomberg. It was the opportunity of a lifetime at that point in my life, and I think it proved extremely transformative for corporate sustainability on a global scale. But then the second step of the strategy was always, OK, prove you can repeat it.

New Role at Haveli

Joppa will make investments on behalf of his firm as a member of Havelis investment committee. This committee will primarily target well-established gaming studios with meaningful sustainability goals. The purpose of these investments is to help those firms retain talent and take creative risks, according to Joppa. Haveli also expects to expand into other areas within the tech industry.

The investments will allow Joppa to shape sustainability initiatives for multiple companies simultaneously. He reports that private equity requires investors to make deeper engagements with longer financial commitments than other types of investments. As a result, investors must give greater thought to a companys ownership, operations, and governance.

Impact

Joppa says he has always wanted to have an impact on his companys sustainability by placing it at the core of its operations. He compares this process to debugging an operating system, where the goal of each step is to make it run a little bit more efficiently. Joppa was also motivated by the opportunity to make changes at a powerful company when he accepted his position at Microsoft. He considers it to be the opportunity of a lifetime, since Microsofts program has become so influential in corporate sustainability.

He told Bloomberg, Ive always had the thesis of impact  prove that a company can take sustainability and start placing it at the core of how it operates. What inspired me to do this when I joined Microsoft, it was almost like debugging a corporate operating system with, Hey, can you really steer this thing in the same direction, but in a slightly different way? Running a little bit more efficiently? And if youre going to try to get a company to do something, you can try to get a big, powerful company to do something.

Repeating Success

Joppa is currently attempting to duplicate his previous success with Microsoft. His new roles as Havelis chief sustainability officer and senior managing director will help him build a company from scratch, which has been a long-standing goal for Joppa. He intends to accomplish this through parallel efforts, meaning that hell operate across multiple companies simultaneously while ensuring that each one meets its sustainability requirements.

Timing

The timing of Joppas move to Haveli was largely influenced by the results of COP26 in 2021, a conference on global climate held in Glasgow, Scotland. His main takeaway from that event was that money was finally starting to move with respect to corporate sustainability, marking the second wave in this space. The first wave was characterized by large corporations making meaningful commitments and reporting their progress on meeting these pledges, even when these actions dont require significant resources.

Coming out of COP26, the furthest I came from the thought of that incident was, Wow, the money is starting to grow. I knew this because I was moving money to Microsoft, but I actually came away with, The second sustainability wave has begun. The first wave was all about large corporates making meaningful commitments and showing progress on their promises. The second was that the corporate leadership was then about to start the flow of resources into the economy.

Brian Sheths Biggest Challenge

While companies are creating their own sustainability targets, Joppa has some concerns about how seriously they take them. This issue is one of the reasons he went into private equity, now that organizations are starting to enter the climate space in earnest. These businesses often include companies in the early stages of venture capital funding that can be particularly vocal about environmental concerns. However, Joppa looks for businesses with deeper engagement on these issues, which is possible through the majority ownership that private equity allows.

This is what makes Joppa such an ideal fit for Brian Sheth: A self-made billionaire, Sheth has long been consumed by environmental activism.

The biggest challenge of my generation is to maintain some sense of ecological balance and [to ensure] that we have clean air and clean water for my kids and hopefully several generations after that, Brian Sheth said in an interview with Worth magazine.

If you look at something thats going to impact all of the people on the planet  and disproportionately impact people who are used to a great standard of living, i.e. Americans  environmental degradation is No. 1 on the list.

Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance

Environmental, social, and corporate governance is the process of evaluating the extent to which an organization works toward social goals. It has become particularly politicized in some U.S. states, although ESG isnt a political issue. In Europe and the U.K., ESG is trending toward greater transparency in emissions, but this has yet to occur in the U.S.

Current Climate Changes

Recent summers have been particularly hot, making it a challenge to remain optimistic about reversing climate change before its too late. Joppa believes its already too late in the sense that humans have been manipulating the climate and other aspects of the environment on a global scale for many years. He adds that this situation was dire two years ago, but is even worse today.

At this point, achieving a solution to these problems needs to occur as quickly as possible. However, we have historically failed to take on climate change, so its reasonable to assume that we wont be willing to pay the necessary price until we really start to feel its impact. Joppa remains optimistic about this outcome because he believes it will occur while its still possible. Unfortunately, this scenario means that we must learn from our mistakes.

Joppa remains hopeful. I am very optimistic that we, as a species  we, as a global society  will respond to the inputs that come into our systems, he said. And the good news is that solutions are beginning to form. Financing is now available. Its all happening. Sure, its a race against time, but Im optimistic that its a race were going to win.
Nordic Capital, a Stockholm, Sweden-based private equity investor, closed Nordic Capital Fund XI funds, at $9 Billion.

Fund XI attracted investors from across the globe, with investors from every continent including 34% from North America, 31% Europe, 23% from Asia, 10% from the Middle East and 1% from RoW. The investor base comprises a well-diversified mix of institutional investors: public and private pension funds (c. 42%); sovereign wealth funds (c. 23%); fund of funds (c. 14%); endowments and family offices (c. 11%) and financial institutions (10%).

The fund will continue to apply deep and specialist experience to its core sectors including Healthcare, Technology & Payments and Financial Services, and selectively, in Industrial & Business Services. Its mandate includes investment in mid to large companies within these sectors in Europe; and within Healthcare and Technology & Payments globally.

Nordic Capital has already enabled the fund to make three investments, including:

RiskPoint Group, a global independent specialty insurance underwriter based in Copenhagen, with offices in Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich, Madrid, London and New York;

Equashield, a global provider of hazardous drug compounding technologies, with products sold across five continents and the Closed System Drug-Transfer Device (CSTD) in the US, and

the public to private acquisition of Cary Group, a European leader in the repair and replacement of vehicle glass and automotive bodywork.

Nordic Capital is a private equity investor commitment to creating a businesses through operational improvement and transformative growth. Its focus sectors are Healthcare, Technology & Payments, Financial Services, and selectively, Industrial & Business Services. Key regions are Europe and globally for Healthcare and Technology & Payments investments.

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
Upside, a Sydney, Australia-based Web3 focused Investment Decentralised Autonomous Organisation, raised $5M.

Upside DAO is comprised of some of Australias Web3 founders and contributors, including organisations such as Apollo Capital, Banxa, Caleb & Brown, FTX Australia, Ren Protocol, Synthetix, Chainflip, and ZedRun. The DAO also includes industry specialists such as Mike Bacina, Luke Bortoli, and Chloe White.

Led by Kyall Walker, Co-Founder and GM, Upside is not a traditional investment fund. It has been established as a DAO, which means investment decisions and advisory for portfolio teams are coordinated by the members.

It launches publicly with its portfolio of early investments under its belt across DeFi, Web3 tools, infrastructure, Metaverse and GameFi.

Initial investments include:

Reservoir  a developer platform that enables next-generation NFT products to be delivered to market.

 a developer platform that enables next-generation NFT products to be delivered to market. PrePO  a decentralised synthetic assets exchange allowing anyone, anywhere to gain exposure to any pre-IPO company or pre-token crypto project

 a decentralised synthetic assets exchange allowing anyone, anywhere to gain exposure to any pre-IPO company or pre-token crypto project Mirror Planet  a rich metaverse world overlayed onto real streets and buildings using Google Maps

 a rich metaverse world overlayed onto real streets and buildings using Google Maps Astro Lab (France)  next generation yield farming using automated, multi-chain strategies

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
Valence Security, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based SaaS security remediation company, raised $25M in Series A funding.

The round, which brings total funding to $32m, was led by Microsofts M12 venture fund with participation from YL Ventures, Porsche Ventures, Akamai Technologies, Alumni Ventures and Michael Fey.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by CEO Yoni Shohet, Valence Security is a security company offering collaborative remediation workflows that engage with business users to contextualize and reduce SaaS data sharing, supply chain, identity, and misconfiguration risks with scalable policy enforcement and automated workflows. With Valence, teams can secure their critical SaaS applications like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Slack and ensure continuous compliance with internal policies, industry standards and regulations, without impeding business productivity or the speed of SaaS adoption.

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
Vara CEO Jonas Muff

Vara, a Berlin, Germany-based provider of an AI breast cancer screening platform, has just announced a 4.5m extension funding.

In conjunction with the announcement, Jonas Muff, the CEO of the company, answered our questions about Vara, the product they provide and what they want to solve through it, the funding itself and future plans.

Driven by a vision to increase global access to high-quality healthcare, Jonas has dedicated his career to transforming healthcare with artificial intelligence. To realize this vision, he works every day to create an environment at Vara where his team can challenge the status quo, while challenging themselves to discover new possibilities in science. Muff was born and raised in Switzerland. He studied business in St. Gallen (HSG). Soon after, he grew START, Europes leading student conference for entrepreneurship to over 2,000 participants. Later, Jonas joined Europes leading venture studio, Merantix, as one of the first employees.

Lets speak about the company. Which is the market problem do you want to solve? Which is the real opportunity?

Jonas: More than 685,000 women die each year from breast cancer around the world.

Varas mission is to find every deadly breast cancer early  because if breast cancer is detected early, (1) survival rates increase by more than 60 percentage points when diagnosed at stage I compared to later stages (2) treatment costs are lower and less invasive and (3) life quality increases significantly.

800 million women are currently at risk of developing breast cancer, many of which will not get access to suitable screening. We envision a world where cancer screening is accessible for everyone, regardless of geography or background.

To accomplish that, we have developed a breast cancer screening platform with Artificial Intelligence at its core. It allows local radiology clinics to make better use of their existing mammography scanners to provide high-quality and reliable breast cancer screening at much lower costs  proven by leading and globally accepted clinical evidence.

How does it work? Which are the main features?

Jonas: Vara is unique because were approaching the problem holistically  which is required to establish breast cancer screening in developing markets in a cost-effective and scalable way:

 We help our partners raise awareness and provide education to more women and remove the barriers that prevent them from accessing effective screening (via Varas strong medical brand, its corporate partnerships and clinician network).

 Our AI decision referral pathway (published in Lancet Digital Health and developed in Germany) augments our partners radiologists, such that they can screen more women and achieve better efficacy.

 The Vara platform navigates the entire screening workflow, from appointments to the follow-up after screening (incl. real-world evidence monitoring).

What are the features differentiating the product from competitors?

Jonas: Other AI companies focus exclusively on the algorithm, which is too narrow to bring screening to previously underserved populations. Vara goes much beyond the algorithm and creates an entire ecosystem around it. For example, we take an active part in supporting our partner clinics to raise awareness of breast cancer screening. Be it with partnerships with local NGOs, gynaecologists, and other community leaders or through social media campaigns.

Moreover, we take an active role in creating health plan benefits opportunities by directly

providing mammograms powered by Vara to large employers or institutions  making Varas approach completely unique.

You just raised a new funding round. Please, tell us something more about it

Jonas: Vara is backed by Merantix, Europes first AI venture studio which is backed by limited partners such as SoftBank. Vara has raised a Series A round, the recent extension of which puts the overall round at EUR 11M. The round was led by VI Partners, and some of our previous investors including the EQT Foundation.

Whats your medium-term plans?

Jonas:

1. Ultimately, our vision is that breast cancer screening is provided to every woman at risk. For this, well need to bring the health systems and bodies that fund screening (e.g. insurance companies) on board which will help us to roll-out breast cancer screening at a wide scale. For this, we need to be able to demonstrate the health economic return on investment were able to deliver to healthcare systems  which requires prospective, real-world evidence.

In Germany  where we already work with 30% of the screening market  we have therefore launched the PRAIM study, a prospective, real-world observation study that aims to prove the non-inferiority of our decision referral AI pathway on a nationwide scale. The PRAIM study is the first of its kind worldwide and by far the largest ever prospective study conducted. By June 2023, well have included 400.000 women. PRAIM is the foundation for future studies to evaluate health economic endpoints both in Germany and the emerging world. The study is led by Prof. Dr. Alexander Katalinic, Director of Social Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Lubeck and scientific advisor to the German Mammography Screening Program.

2. The second north star is to continue reaching more women in Mexico, where we have launched 5 Vara-powered clinics together with Mamotest such in Monterrey and other regions in Mexico. Hundreds of women are screened every week and we are very focused on launching further clinics and growing the ecosystem in Mexico, which was joined by large corporations as well as NGOs such as ProMujer. We launched in Mexico this year but already see exciting interest and support coming from large international Corporations.

3. We are launching later this year in Egypt and India too and are excited to announce very soon what we have been working on in the past months!

4. Were also working on expanding our AI technology to other modalities, starting with 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) to be able to provide the best possible screening quality to women with dense breast tissue.
Photo: VETRESKA Oasis Cactus Pet Supplies

Vetreska Future Pet Food, the Singapore-based subsidiary of leading Chinese pet lifestyle brand Vetreska, received US$50M in funding from Quest FoF.

From 2021 to June 2022, Vetreska closed three financing rounds, of which, Series B3 was led by Altrui Investment, with significant investment from BOJIA Capital. Series B2 was fully subscribed by existing shareholder Clearvue Partners, and Series B+ was exclusively invested by existing shareholder BOJIA Capital. In 2020, the company raised US$20 million in two financing rounds, of which, Series B was led by private equity firm Clearvue Partners, while Series A2 at the beginning of the year was led by China Growth Capital and followed by SIG China, which had oversubscribed in the Series A+ financing round. Earlier investors include Galileo Venture, IDG Capital and Hejun Capital.

Founded in 2017, Vetreska is a pet lifestyle brand in China. Since inception, the brand has developed a line-up of products, including Soil-free Cat Grass, Oasis Cactus Cat Tree, Watermelon Kitty Kove, and Bubble Pet Carrier.

Upon completion of this strategic investment, the companys pet supplies and pet food divisions will be spun-out as two stand-alone businesses. In line with the groups roadmap for the next stage of growth, the new Singapore subsidiary, Vetreka Future Pet Food, will fully manage the pet food business as part of the companys multi-brand portfolio. In August of this year, Vetreska established an Overseas Headquarters in Singapore, building a strong team specializing in business development, direct-to-consumer (DTC) operations, branding and marketing, in a move to connect its core business and supply chain capabilities in China to its brand expansion plans globally. In the same month, the company opened its New York office. In 2022, its online business, including its website for North American markets and its flagship store on Amazon, has been growing rapidly. The firm has partnered with major retail chains and department stores in many countries and regions, most notably in North America, Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, paving the way for the companys next stage of overseas business expansion.

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
Contact:

Communications Office

NewsMedia@flhealth.gov

850-245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.  Today Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced additional mental health initiatives that are available for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Florida Department of Health (DOH).

Available now, DCF has launched the Family Support Line, which connects individuals and families who were impacted by Hurricane Ian with peers who were impacted and have recovered from Hurricane Michael. Volunteers from the Panhandle will use their personal experiences to provide support, advice and a helping hand to victims of Hurricane Ian. These peers have lived through similar loss and are well acquainted with the road to rebuilding that Southwest Florida is facing. Volunteers will also help direct Hurricane Ian survivors to resources that are available at the state, federal and local level, including information about bridge loans, roof repair, disaster unemployment assistance and disaster SNAP benefits. Individuals who would like to talk with a Family Support Peer can call 888-850-SWFL.

DOH and DCF have also partnered with BetterHelp to provide three months of free online therapy to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform that matches licensed, certified therapists with people who seek help and support.

To access these free services, Floridians can visit betterhelp.com/voucher and use code: HurricaneIan. BetterHelp will then prompt the user to answer questions that allows them to be matched with a licensed mental health professional.

Floridians are resilient and these tools will generate conversations to break the stigma of mental health and encourage impacted residents to seek help. Following Hurricane Michael, DOH conducted a survey to assess mental health impacts in the panhandle. This survey found that:

Nearly 50% reported anxiety

Nearly 40% reported depression

Nearly 35% reported trouble sleeping or nightmares

The State of Florida is providing access to mental health counseling throughout Hurricane Ian recovery efforts to mitigate the development of mental health issues among impacted communities, including survivors and first responders. By providing tools and resources that build resiliency, communities are supported to get back on their feet.

DCF and DOH have also developed materials with information to be distributed in impacted areas on how to deescalate a stressful situation in real time. It includes information on the Family Support Line, and a QR Code for free BetterHelp services. Community partners are encouraged to assist with distribution in their areas.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, call 988 to be connected to the National Suicide Hotline. If you are experiencing or see a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.


ZIMBABWE is among 20 countries whose citizens are increasingly living under authoritarian rule, according to the latest 2022 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index.

The report says lack of adherence to the rule of law in the country had worsened in the past year.

According to the findings from 140 surveyed countries, Zimbabwes overall rule of law score decreased by less than 1%

The country was ranked 124th after rising three positions from last year.

Regionally, Zimbabwe was ranked 28th out of 34 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The regions top performer on rule of law is Rwanda, ranked 42nd followed by Mauritius and Namibia.

The three countries with the lowest scores in the region are Mauritania, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (137th globally).

The World Justice Projects original data in 140 countries and jurisdictions shows that adherence to the rule of law fell in 61% of countries this year, including Zimbabwe, the report read.

Globally, 4,4 billion people live in countries where rule of law has declined over the past year. Index data shows that authoritarian trends that predate the pandemic, such as weaker checks on Executive power and increased attacks on the media, continue to erode the rule of law globally.

The WJP Rule of Law Index measures the extent to which those who govern are bound and held accountable by law.

Zimbabwe scored better in the civil justice index where it was ranked 99th, on an index which measures the accessibility of civil justice systems in the country.

The country was also ranked 94th on the criminal justice index which measures the effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a key aspect of the ruleof law in redressing grievances and bringing action against individuals for offences against society.

WJP executive director Elizabeth Andersen said: We are emerging from the pandemic, but the global rule of law recession continues. At its heart, rule of law is about fairness  that is, accountability, equal rights, and justice for all. And a less fair world is bound to be a more volatile one.

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, his Information ministry counterpart Monica Mutsvangwa and her deputy Kindness Paradza were not picking calls.

Ministers and other government officials are attending the Zanu PF elective congress. Newsday
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the Company or Algernon) (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW0) (OTCQB: AGNPF) a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company is pleased to announce that it has entered an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) with Yale University (Yale) for the investigation of multiple intravenous doses of DMT for the treatment of depression. The trials principal investigator is Professor Deepak Cyril DSouza, an experienced researcher with DMT and other controlled substances.



As part of the CTA, Algernon will provide cGMP DMT for the study. In return, Algernon will jointly own intellectual property around the clinical use of DMT arising from the study (IP) developed jointly by Algernon and Yale, and the option to negotiate licenses to both IP developed jointly and IP developed solely by Yale. (This is subject to rights reserved by the United States Government in conjunction with publicly funded research). In addition, the Company will receive data from the study, which may assist in its DMT stroke research program.

The study may enhance our current understanding of the dosing regimen in the subjective effects induced by DMT, said Deepak DSouza, MBBS MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Schizophrenia Neuropharmacology Research Group at the Yale University School of Medicine.

After careful consideration, we chose to support Dr DSouzas clinical DMT study and work with Yale University, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals. Although the treatment of psychiatric disorders with DMT are not the Companys current focus, we have patents pending on novel forms of DMT which could potentially be used across a broad range of diseases. In addition, we believe the data generated from this study may help inform Algernons stroke research program.

Moreau continued, A rising tide lifts all boats, and we feel a corporate responsibility as well to improve global awareness and support psychedelic medicine research when possible. It is in that spirit that we also chose to become the lead sponsor of Wonderland, the worlds largest conference on psychedelic medicine to be held November 3-5 in Miami.

DMT Study Summary

The proposed double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover-controlled study will compare different bolus and constant infusion dosing regimens of DMT in healthy control participants and individuals with depression.

About Yale University School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine is one of the worlds leading centers for biomedical research, advanced clinical care, and medical education.

About DMT

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug producing effects similar to those of other psychedelics like LSD, and psilocybin. DMT occurs naturally in many plant species and animals including humans and has been used in religious ceremonies as a traditional spiritual medicine by indigenous people in the Amazon. DMT can also be synthesised in a laboratory.

About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Algernon is a Canadian clinical stage drug development company investigating multiple drugs with global unmet medical needs. Algernon has active research programs for IPF with chronic cough, chronic kidney disease, and a psychedelic program investigating a proprietary form of DMT for stroke.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Christopher J. Moreau

CEO

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

604.398.4175 ext 701

info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com

investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com

www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.
Albany, NY, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstLight, a leading provider of digital infrastructure services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, announced today that the company is on track to complete the construction of over 1,700 route miles of fiber in New York this year.

Headquartered in Albany, NY, FirstLight has already constructed an impressive 8,000 route miles in New York prior to 2022. The company has maintained a strong focus on delivering a vast and reliable portfolio of products and services to wireless and wireline carriers, manufacturers, retailers, state and local government entities, as well as some of the most well-known higher education, financial, and healthcare institutions in the state since 1999.

As part of its continued commitment to New York State, FirstLight has built 1,280 route miles year-to-date, and has plans for an additional 480 route miles constructed by year end. FirstLights low-latency, carrier grade fiber network spans the state from Buffalo to Albany, and from the Hudson Valley to Plattsburgh. With over 5,000 buildings on its network and another 82,000 additional buildings immediately passed by the network in New York alone, FirstLight has positioned itself to provide high-speed, symmetrical broadband services to countless organizations across the Empire State, as well as reach many unserved and underserved communities in rural parts of the state. Additionally, over 50% of FirstLight employees live and work in New York, so its network and complementing solutions are backed by local, responsive support.

In addition to being home to FirstLights headquarters, New York is an integral part of our network geography, said Kurt Van Wagenen, Chief Executive Officer for FirstLight. Since FirstLights inception in 1999, the focus has been to design a robust and reliable fiber-optic network in New York and our mission remains the same. As we grow throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, it is important that we continue to expand our capabilities as well as extend our network reach to best serve our longstanding customers.

A complement to FirstLights high speed, low latency fiber network, are its two data center locations in New York, offering secure cloud and colocation services. FirstLight offers a variety of managed services, unified communications, and security solutions, as well as networking and monitoring solutions that are not limited by geography. Additionally, FirstLight has support centers, offices, certified engineers, and a full construction services team based throughout the state. As part of FirstLights Corporate Sponsorship Program, the company supports several nonprofit organizations in New York, including the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, Albany Medical Center, Golisano Childrens Hospital, and Lifetime Assistance.

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. FirstLights 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.

Media Contact:

Maura Mahoney

Mmahoney@firstlight.net
Vaughan, ON, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) welcomes the Government of Ontarios needed reforms to address the housing crisis in Ontario. Today in Ontario, too many government departments and agencies have needlessly slowed the development process with costly delays for too long, making the housing crisis worse. The reforms unveiled by Ontarios Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing earlier today are a great next step to solving the housing crisis.

Minister Clarks clear proposals will:

Enable the building of the missing middle across Ontario

Incentivize affordable housing

Streamline the planning process

Enacted together, the Ontario governments reforms mean more homes can get built, faster. It will also create new momentum for more development to meet the demands of a growing province.

RCCAO welcomes the Government of Ontarios leadership to bring the much needed reforms to address Ontario's housing crisis, said Nadia Todorova, Executive Director of RCCAO. Minister Clarks bold proposals are strong next-steps to build momentum for more development to meet the critical infrastructure demands of a growing province and will enable more people to get to work to end Ontarios housing crisis.

The reforms once enacted will bring predictable parameters and timelines to not only get shovels in the ground faster, but give greater certainty to builders and homebuyers. This certainty will allow the development process to shift from years to months and is a welcomed change. RCCAO will continue to advocate for supporting critical infrastructure investments aligned with increased housing supply in communities large and small.

RCCAO will take the time to review all the proposed changes and legislation. We will continue to work with governments at all levels to offer constructive solutions to the challenges that stall development and ensure critical infrastructure meets the needs of a growing province.

RCCAO Executive Director Nadia Todorova is available for interviews.

Background on RCCAO: The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is a labour-management construction alliance. Since its formation in 2005, RCCAO has been a leading industry advocate for infrastructure investment. It has commissioned 60 independent, solutions-based research reports to help inform decision makers. www.rccao.com

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A week is a long time in politics! This famous quote attributed to former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson became a reality for Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) Insiza Ward 4 aspiring councillor Augustine Gumede who suffered heavy losses in a week.

Gumede had his home destroyed by suspected Zanu PF members last Monday and went on to lose the by-election held on Saturday.

The assailants destroyed window panes at Gumedes homestead, windscreens of his two vehicles, asbestos, solar panel, and other household properties.

Gumede, however, escaped before they could get to him and went into hiding but resurfaced on election day.

Gumede went on to lose to ZANU-PFs Daniel Dube, who polled 578 votes against his 415, according to results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

CITE caught up with Gumede Saturday, who was the first person to cast his vote at Mleja Primary School Polling Station, Insiza South.

I want to set a good example for my followers to follow and appreciate the fact that voting has to be done in the morning, he told CITE.

Yes indeed there was political violence and I dont know how I survived. I was helped by people who were around who managed to block the attackers, allowing me to escape, otherwise, I would have been killed.

Gumede further explained: My homestead is now ruined because they literally destroyed everything. I escaped and hid in the bush. This is what I have been doing: I have been coming home to check the situation, cook, eat and then return to the bush. I would sit on top of a hill so as to closely monitor what is happening around my homestead.

He said there was no way the by-election could have been free and fair citing voter intimidation.

ZANU-PF needs to be retired, he added.

It is an old political party. They should just retire and give the younger generation a chance to lead. CITE
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra or the Company) (NYSE American:GTE)(TSX:GTE)(LSE:GTE) announces that the Company will release its 2022 third quarter financial and operating results on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, after market close. Gran Tierra will host its third quarter 2022 results conference call on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.



Interested parties may register for the conference call by clicking on this link . Please note that there is no longer a general dial-in number to participate and each individual party must register through the provided link. Once parties have registered, they will be provided a unique PIN and call-in details. There is also a new feature that allows parties to elect to be called back through the Call Me function on the platform.

Interested parties can also continue to access the live webcast from their mobile or desktop devices by clicking on this link , which is also available on Gran Tierra's website at www.grantierra.com . An audio replay of the conference call will be available at the same webcast link two hours following the call and will be available until November 3, 2023.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its subsidiaries is an independent international energy company currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional growth opportunities that would further strengthen the Companys portfolio. The Companys common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Information on the Companys does not constitute a part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.

Gran Tierras U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The Company's Canadian securities regulatory filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism ("the NSM") website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. Gran Tierra's filings on the SEC, SEDAR and the NSM websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Contact Information

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Gary Guidry

President & Chief Executive Officer

Ryan Ellson

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Rodger Trimble

Vice President, Investor Relations

+1-403-265-3221

info@grantierra.com
PINOLE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, the City of Pinole in California issued to a standing ovation the first proclamation in the USA "asking for a Free Secular Democratic Republic in Iran, and In Support of Human Rights in Iran, Including the Immediate Cessation of Human Rights Abuses on the Demonstrators in Iran and the Immediate Release of Political Prisoners in Iran."

The proclamation affirms the City of Pinole's support for human rights in Iran, including equal rights for women, the LGBTIA community, and minorities and the end of apartheid against women and targeted religious, nonreligious and cultural minorities. Through the proclamation, the City Council strongly condemns the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini and asks for the immediate cessation of human rights abuses against the Iranian people and also asks for a free, secular, democratic, republic of Iran where everyone can live freely and prosper regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, and religion.

Pinole Mayor Vincent Salimi is the only Iranian-born American mayor in the United States. The Mayor stated, "All politics start at the local level. Pinole might be the first American city asking for a free secular democratic republic in Iran, but it will not be the last. Many more cities will adopt this proclamation, and it will impact the American foreign policy."

Contact Information:

Vincent Salimi

Mayor

vincent@ci.pinole.ca.us

510-230-9207



Related Images











Image 1: Mayor Vincent Salimi





Pinole Mayor Vincent Salimi, Iranian-born American Mayor

















Image 2: Map of Iran





map of Iran

















Image 3: Pinole Proclamation





City of Pinole Proclamation









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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YERINGTON, Nev., Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) (OTC: NEVDF) (FSE: ZYTA) (Nevada Copper or the Company) is pleased to provide an update with respect to the proposed financing package (the Restart Financing Package) that was previously announced in the Companys news releases dated August 25, 2022, September 26, 2022 and October 6, 2022 (the Prior Announcements) and additional details in furtherance of its application pursuant to Section 604(e) of the TSX Company Manual for a financial hardship exemption.



The Company and its key financing partners intend to enter into definitive documents in respect of and close the Restart Financing Package concurrently on October 28, 2022 (the Closing Date).

The Restart Financing Package is expected to provide up to US$123 million of liquidity to the Company in order to support the restart and ramp-up of the Pumpkin Hollow underground copper mine (the Underground Mine). The closing of the Restart Financing Package will be subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX). The change of control proposal received from the third-party strategic investor referred to in the October 6, 2022 Prior Announcement is not expected to proceed.

Restart Financing Package Update and Comparison to Previous Package

The significant changes to the dilutionary components of the Restart Financing Package as compared to the key components disclosed in the September 26, 2022 Prior Announcement (the Previous Package) are as follows:

Equity Investments (US$40 million): Pala Investments Limited (Pala) is expected to fund its equity investment by the cancellation of US$20 million in short-term debt as opposed to US$13.5 million in short-term debt and US$6.5 million in cash. Dilution is expected to increase as a result of the lower current market price of the common shares in the capital of the Company (Shares). Pala and Mercuria Energy (Mercuria) have agreed to accept Shares in settlement of their respective reimbursable expenses.

Stream and Royalty Financing (US$30 million): Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. (Triple Flag) has agreed to accept Shares in settlement of its reimbursable expenses.

Pala Debt Consolidation and Pala Warrants: The principal amount of indebtedness under the Pala amended debt instrument (the Pala Debt Instrument) will be approximately US$76.5 million as opposed to US$73 million. Pala will receive 100% warrant coverage on the Pala Debt Instrument and the Pala Debt Instrument will no longer be convertible into Shares. Dilution is expected to increase as a result of the lower current market price of the Shares.

Additional Backstop Support from Pala (US$25 million): Pala is expected to provide the Company with backstop funding of up to US$25 million in exchange for issuances of Shares, convertible and/or non-convertible debt of the Company (the Backstop). The Backstop was not contemplated in the Previous Package.

A summary of the key components of the Restart Financing Package and the expected dilution resulting from the Restart Financing Package compared to the expected dilution from the Previous Package as follows (note: the Illustrative Equity Subscription Price and illustrative Exercise Price (each as defined below) are US$0.1510 and US$0.1810, respectively, as per the calculation assumptions set out below (previously US$0.1665 and US$0.2000, respectively, in the Previous Package):

Equity Investments (US$40 million): Pala, the Companys largest shareholder, and Mercuria, a significant shareholder of the Company, are each expected to provide US$20 million in exchange for Shares. Pala has already advanced US$20 million of such funding to the Company.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package):



132,407,767 Shares pursuant to Palas US$20 million equity investment (previously 120,088,496 Shares).

10,089,723 Shares in satisfaction of Palas guarantee and other fees (previously 9,999,655 Shares).

5,627,330 Shares in satisfaction of Palas reimbursable expenses (previously nil).

Up to 132,407,767 Shares pursuant to Mercurias US$20 million equity investment (previously 120,088,496 Shares).

1,655,097 Shares in satisfaction of Mercurias estimated reimbursable expenses (previously nil).

Up to 138,887,000 Shares on exercise of Mercuria Warrants (defined below) (previously 119,205,651 Shares). Total: Up to 421,074,684 Shares (previously up to 369,382,298 Shares).

Stream and Royalty Financing (US$30 million): Triple Flag is expected to increase its existing net smelter returns royalty on the Companys open pit project from 0.7% to 2% for a purchase price of approximately US$26.2 million, subject to a full buyback of the increased royalty percentage. In addition, Triple Flag is expected to accelerate the approximately US$3.8 million remaining to be funded under the Companys existing metals purchase and sale agreement with Triple Flag.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package):



1,655,097 Shares in satisfaction of Triple Flags estimated reimbursable expenses (previously nil). Total: Up to 1,655,097 Shares (previously nil).

KfW Facility Extension (US$15 million committed): The Companys senior credit facility (the KfW Facility) with KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH (KfW) is expected to be amended to provide for a new tranche of up to US$25 million, of which Pala, Triple Flag and Mercuria would commit the first US$15 million as a backstop.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package): None (previously none).

Deferrals under Senior Project Facility and Working Capital Facility (expected to be approximately US$13 million): KfW is expected to defer three interest payments under the KfW Facility. Concord Resources Limited is expected to defer interest and principal payments under the Companys working capital facility.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package): None (previously none).

Pala Debt Consolidation and Pala Warrants: Pala will consolidate approximately US$76.5 million of the indebtedness currently owing to Pala by the Company into the Pala Debt Instrument.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package):



Up to 422,638,440 Shares on exercise of Pala Warrants (defined below) (previously 374,402,808).

Additional warrants (with an exercise price equal to the then current market price of the Shares) in the event the Company does not pay interest in cash. Total: Up to 422,638,440 Shares (plus such additional warrants in the event the Company elects not to pay interest in cash) (previously 374,402,808 Shares (plus such additional warrants in the event the Company elects not to pay interest in cash)).

Additional Backstop Support from Pala (US$25 million): Pala is expected to provide the Company with the Backstop. The amount available pursuant to the Backstop will be reduced, from time to time, by amounts raised by the Company pursuant to alternative financings after the Closing Date. The Company may exercise the Backstop if, subject to other conditions, an aggregate of US$65 million of the committed funding (excluding Palas equity contribution, which has already been funded) under the Restart Financing Package has been made available to the Company. The issuance of any Shares and/or convertible debt of the Company upon the exercise, from time to time, of the Backstop will be subject to the approval of the TSX and the pricing of any equity component will be based on a 20% discount to the then current market price. The Backstop will expire 12 months from the Closing Date.

Expected Dilution

(Previous Package Dilution):



Up to US$25 million of Shares, convertible and/or non-convertible debt of the Company upon valid exercise of the Backstop (previously n/a).

6,620,388 Shares pursuant to a 4% (US$1 million) commitment fee in respect of the Backstop (previously n/a). Total: 6,620,388 Shares (plus such number of Shares, convertible and/or non-convertible debt of the Company, if any, to Pala upon valid exercise of the Backstop) (previously n/a).

Please see the Prior Announcements and below for additional details regarding the Restart Financing Package.

Nevada Copper reminds shareholders that the terms of the Restart Financing Package are currently non-binding and closing is subject to, among other things, finalization of the specific terms thereof, negotiation and execution of definitive documentation and the satisfaction of various regulatory requirements.

As disclosed in the Prior Announcements, there can be no assurance that binding agreements will be entered into or completed (or the required regulatory approvals obtained) on terms satisfactory to the Company and within the required timeframe, or at all. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise the further funding to supplement the Restart Financing Package that will be required to complete the restart and ramp-up process.

The Company expects the costs of the restart and ramp-up process to be in the range of US$70 million-US$75 million. In addition, the Company needs to satisfy and/or defer various outstanding vendor payables. Together these costs and payables are expected to exceed the amount of the new cash proceeds of the Restart Financing Package. As a result, the Company continues to evaluate other additional financing options, including a public offering.

The Company intends to use the available new cash proceeds from the Restart Financing Package of approximately US$87.5 million (representing the US$123 million of liquidity less US$20 million already advanced by Pala, US$2.5 million of interim funding to be repaid to Pala on or about the Closing Date and less US$13 million in deferrals under the KfW Facility and the Companys working capital facility) to fund ramp-up costs (approximately US$15.9 million to fund capital expenditures and approximately US$35.9 million to fund operating costs), vendor payments (approximately US$24.5 million) and for general corporate purposes, such as overhead (approximately US$4 million).

If the Restart Financing Package is not completed, absent other sufficient financing, the Company will not be able to continue carrying on business in the ordinary course and may need to pursue proceedings for creditor protection. The Companys creditors may also seek to commence enforcement action, including realizing on their security over the Companys assets.

Potential Maximum Dilution in Respect of the Restart Financing Package

Pala currently owns 167,759,110 Shares, representing approximately 37% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis. Mercuria currently owns 48,700,000 Shares, representing approximately 11% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis.

Pala is expected to fund its equity investment of US$20 million, by the cancellation of US$20 million in short-term debt advanced to the Company by Pala as interim financing. The Pala Equity Investment will be at a subscription price equal to a 15% discount to the five-day volume weighted average price (the VWAP) of the Shares on the TSX as of the trading day prior to the Closing Date (the Equity Subscription Price). By way of illustration, if the closing of the Pala Equity Investment occurred today, 132,407,767 Shares would be issued to Pala using a subscription price of US$0.1510, representing a 15% discount to the five-day VWAP of C$0.2420 and then converting such VWAP into U.S. dollars using the Bank of Canada exchange rate on October 25, 2022 of C$1.00=US$0.7332 (the Illustrative Equity Subscription Price). In addition, approximately US$1.5 million of guarantee and other fees will be satisfied by the issuance of Shares to Pala at the Equity Subscription Price. Based on the Illustrative Equity Subscription Price, this will result in an additional 10,089,723 Shares being issued to Pala. The transactions described in this paragraph together with the warrants associated with the Pala Debt Instrument are referred to as the Pala Equity Investment herein.

Mercuria is expected to fund its equity investment of US$20 million in two tranches. The first tranche of US$10 million will be paid on the Closing Date. The second tranche of US$10 million will be deposited into escrow on the Closing Date and will be released upon the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. These conditions include the completion of certain steps in the ramp-up process that the Company expects to achieve before the end of 2022. The first tranche of the Mercuria Equity Investment will be at a subscription price equal to the Equity Subscription Price. The second tranche of the Mercuria Equity Investment will be at a subscription price equal to a 15% discount to the five-day VWAP of the Shares on the TSX as of the trading day prior to the applicable date of closing. By way of illustration, if the closing of both tranches of the Mercuria Equity Investment occurred today, 132,407,767 Shares would be issued to Mercuria using the Illustrative Equity Subscription Price.

In connection with the Mercuria Equity Investment, Mercuria is expected to receive Share purchase warrants of the Company (the Mercuria Warrants). Each Mercuria Warrant will entitle Mercuria to, subject to satisfying certain vesting conditions, acquire one Share at an exercise price equal to a 20% premium to the Equity Subscription Price (the Exercise Price). The Mercuria Warrants will vest, from time to time, in conjunction with the exercise of the Pala Warrants (defined below), thereby providing Mercuria with an ability to maintain its pro rata shareholding. The vesting of 50% of the Mercuria Warrants will also be subject to the condition that the second tranche of the Mercuria Equity Investment has closed. The Mercuria Warrants will expire on January 31, 2026 (the maturity date of the Pala Debt Instrument) subject to acceleration in the event that all amounts under the Pala Debt Instrument are repaid at an earlier time. By way of illustration, if all Mercuria Warrants vested and were exercised today, 138,887,000 Shares would be issued to Mercuria assuming the exercise in full of the Pala Warrants. The transactions described in the foregoing two paragraphs are referred to as the Mercuria Equity Investment herein (the Mercuria Equity Investment together with the Pala Equity Investment are referred to herein as the Equity Investments).

Pala is expected to consolidate approximately US$76.5 million of the indebtedness currently owing to Pala by the Company into the Pala Debt Instrument. The Pala Debt Instrument will not be convertible into Shares. The loans outstanding to be consolidated into the Pala Debt Instrument would include (i) the total of approximately US$52.7 million outstanding under the existing credit agreement entered into by Pala and the Company in November 2021 plus accrued interest; and (ii) US$20 million that was advanced to the Company under a promissory note in June and July 2022 plus accrued interest. In connection with the entering of the Pala Debt Instrument, a 4% fee on the US$20 million amount referred to above plus accrued interest will be payable to Pala and capitalized as additional principal under the Pala Debt Instrument.

In connection with the Pala Debt Instrument, Pala is expected to receive Share purchase warrants of the Company (Pala Warrants). Each Pala Warrant will entitle Pala to acquire one Share at an exercise price equal to the Exercise Price. The Pala Warrants will expire on January 31, 2026 (the maturity date of the Pala Debt Instrument) subject to acceleration in the event that all amounts under the Pala Debt Instrument are repaid at an earlier time. By way of illustration, if the Pala Warrants were exercised today, 422,638,440 Shares would be issued to Pala.

In connection with the Backstop, Pala is expected to receive Shares, at a deemed subscription price equal to the Equity Subscription Price, in satisfaction of a 4% commitment fee (US$1 million). Additionally, all expenses and costs incurred by Mercuria, Pala and Triple Flag in connection the Restart Financing Package are reimbursable by the Company and are expected to be paid by the Company by the issuance of Shares to Mercuria, Pala and Triple Flag, respectively, at a deemed subscription price equal to the Equity Subscription Price.

Based on the above illustrations, the number of Shares that will be issued as a result of the Equity Investments is set out below, assuming exercise in full of the Mercuria Warrants and Pala Warrants:

Total Number

of

Shares

currently held (Number in Previous Package) Total Number of Shares that will be held after the Equity Investments excluding exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants(1)

(Number in Previous Package) Total Number of Shares that will be held after the Equity Investments including exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants(1) (Number in Previous Package) % of

Shares currently owned

relative to

Shares currently

outstanding (Percentage in Previous Package) % of Shares owned

relative to Shares

outstanding after the Equity Investments excluding exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants (Percentage in Previous Package) % of Shares owned

relative to Shares

outstanding after the Equity Investments including exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants (Percentage in Previous Package) Pala 167,759,110

(167,759,110) 322,504,318

(297,847,261) 745,142,758

(672,250,069) 37.41%

(37.41%) 43.65%

(42.63%) 57.30%

(56.39%) Mercuria 48,700,000

(48,700,000) 182,762,864

(168,788,496) 321,649,864

(287,994,147) 10.86%

(10.86%) 24.73%

(24.16%) 24.73%

(24.16%)

(1) Includes the issuance of 6,620,388 Shares in satisfaction of the 4% committee fee owing to Pala (the Commitment Fee Shares) and up to an aggregate of 8,937,524 Shares (1,655,097 Shares to each of Mercuria and Triple Flag and 5,627,330 Shares to Pala) in satisfaction of the Companys estimated expense reimbursement obligations (Expense Shares).

The total number of Shares to be issued pursuant to the Equity Investments (excluding exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants but including the Commitment Fee Shares and the Expense Shares) is 290,463,170 (250,176,647 disclosed in Previous Package), which represents approximately 64.77% relative to the number of Shares currently issued and outstanding (56% disclosed in Previous Package). The total number of Shares to be issued pursuant to the Equity Investments (including exercise of the Mercuria Warrants and the Pala Warrants and the Commitment Fee Share and the Expense Shares) is 851,988,610 (743,785,105 disclosed in Previous Package), which represents approximately 189.98% relative to the number of Shares currently issued and outstanding (166% disclosed in Previous Package).

TSX Financial Hardship Exemption

Nevada Copper has applied to the TSX, pursuant to the provisions of Section 604(e) of the TSX Company Manual, for a financial hardship exemption from the requirements to obtain shareholder approval of components of the Restart Financing Package.

The board of directors of the Company (the Board) has formed a special committee (the Special Committee) consisting of members of the Board who are independent of Pala, Mercuria and management of the Company, to consider and oversee the negotiation of the proposed terms of the Restart Financing Package, including the terms of the Equity Investments, the Pala Debt Instrument, the Backstop and all other related transactions involving Pala and Mercuria. The Special Committee has met continuously throughout the negotiation of the proposed terms of the Restart Financing Package. Please see the September 26, 2022 Prior Announcement for additional details regarding the Companys financial hardship application.

Nevada Copper expects that as a consequence of its financial hardship application, the TSX will conduct a remedial delisting review of the Company. Although Nevada Copper believes that it will be in compliance with all continued listing requirements of the TSX upon the closing of the Restart Financing Package, no assurance can be provided as to the outcome of such review or continued qualification for listing on the TSX. There can be no assurance that the TSX will accept the application for the use of the financial hardship exemption from the requirement to obtain shareholder approval described above.

About Nevada Copper

Nevada Copper (TSX: NCU) is a copper producer and owner of the Pumpkin Hollow copper project. Located in Nevada, USA, Pumpkin Hollow has substantial reserves and resources including copper, gold and silver. Its two fully permitted projects include the high-grade Underground Mine and processing facility, which is now in the production stage, and a large-scale open pit project, which is advancing towards feasibility status.

Randy Buffington

President & CEO

For additional information, please see the Companys website at www.nevadacopper.com, or contact:

Tracey Thom | Vice President, IR and Community Relations

tthom@nevadacopper.com

+1 775 391 9029

Cautionary Language on Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of the funding package described above, including the terms and timing thereof, the plans and requirement for supplementary financing and the expected amounts thereof, regulatory requirements, the Companys financial hardship exemption application, and the use of proceeds from the Restart Financing Package. There can be no assurance that the Restart Financing Package will close or that the cost estimates or allocation thereof will be accurate.

Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, potential, is expected, anticipated, is targeted, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, or believes or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future performance and results. They are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and events to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.

Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those relating to: requirements for additional capital and no assurance can be given regarding the availability thereof; the outcome of discussions with creditors and vendors; potential creditor protection proceedings; the ability of the Company to complete the ramp-up of the Underground Mine within the expected cost estimates and timeframe; the impact of COVID-19 on the business and operations of the Company; the state of financial markets; history of losses; dilution; adverse events relating to milling operations, construction, development and ramp-up, including the ability of the Company to address underground development and process plant issues; ground conditions; cost overruns relating to development, construction and ramp-up of the Underground Mine; loss of material properties; interest rate increases; global economy; limited history of production; future metals price fluctuations; speculative nature of exploration activities; periodic interruptions to exploration, development and mining activities; environmental hazards and liability; industrial accidents; failure of processing and mining equipment to perform as expected; labour disputes; supply problems; uncertainty of production and cost estimates; the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore reserves, grade of mineralization or recovery rates from managements expectations and the difference may be material; legal and regulatory proceedings and community actions; accidents; title matters; regulatory approvals and restrictions; increased costs and physical risks relating to climate change, including extreme weather events, and new or revised regulations relating to climate change; permitting and licensing; dependence on management information systems and cyber security risks; volatility of the market price of the Companys securities; insurance; competition; hedging activities; currency fluctuations; loss of key employees; other risks of the mining industry as well as those risks discussed in the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis in respect of the year ended December 31, 2021 and the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2022. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are based upon assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including, without limitation: no adverse developments in respect of the property or operations at the project; no material changes to applicable laws; the ramp-up of operations at the Underground Mine in accordance with managements plans and expectations; no worsening of the current COVID-19 related work restrictions; reduced impacts of COVID-19 going forward; the Company will be able to obtain sufficient additional funding to complete the ramp-up, no material adverse change to the price of copper from current levels; and the absence of any other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

The forward-looking information and statements are stated as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information and statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Specific reference is made to Risk Factors in the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis in respect of the year ended December 31, 2021 and the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2022, for a discussion of factors that may affect forward-looking statements and information. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, should other risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and events may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements and information. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Companys filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until December 19, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: ARGO), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 13, 2018 and August 9, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.



Get Help

Argo Group investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-argo/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Argo Group and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On August 8, 2022, the Company disclosed that it had entered into a Loss Portfolio Transfer agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Enstar Group Limited covering a majority of the companys U.S. casualty insurance reserves and that it anticipated recognizing an after-tax charge of approximately $100 million in connection with the transaction in the third quarter of 2022.

On this news, shares of Argo stock plummeted approximately 28%, from a closing price of $32.22 per share on August 8, 2022 to a closing price of $23.10 per share on August 10, 2022.

The case is The Police & Fire Retirement System City of Detroit v. Argo Group International Holdings, Inc., Thomas A. Bradley, Scott Kirk, Kevin J. Rehnberg, Mark E. Watson, III and Jay S. Bullock, 1:22-cv-08971.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.
LONDON, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Promatix, a London-based oncology drug discovery and development company that uses multi-omics to identify novel therapeutics, today announced a collaboration with the laboratory of Professor Jasmin Fisher to develop new proprietary computational executable cancer models for Promatixs CipherPro suite of algorithms to mine the TxPro databank and identify new oncology drug targets.



TxPro is the most comprehensive membrane protein tissue databank for identifying oncology drug targets in the world and has thousands of primary tissue samples from healthy and diseased states. The databank is continually evolving and growing through select data acquisitions. CipherPro is a proprietary suite of algorithms to mine TxPro and other databanks to support oncology drug discovery and development.

Using predictive modelling, computational executable cancer models can simulate cancer biology in silico to discover new therapeutic targets, validate existing drug targets, and suggest new drug combinations.

The agreement via UCL Consultants means Promatixs Principal Computational Scientist, Dr Daniel Holdbrook, will work with the Fisher Lab to develop new computational executable cancer models.

The Jasmin Fisher Lab is globally recognised for state-of-the-art computational models and analysis techniques, and we are excited to now be working with them on computational executable cancer models for our drug discovery and development engine, said Promatix CEO Dr Robert Balfour.

This is an exceptional opportunity to tap the techniques pioneered by Jasmin Fisher, PhD, FRSB, Professor of Computational Biology at UCL, to model specific cancer indications.

Professor Fisher, who is on the Promatix advisory board, is internationally renowned for her vision and groundbreaking achievements in this space.

By combining these models with TxPro, our proteomic databank and existing CipherPro algorithms, we are creating a world-leading platform to build a pipeline of therapeutics with the potential to transform the way we treat cancer.

Prof Fisher said:



We are pleased to work with the Promatix team to accelerate identification of new oncology therapeutic targets and suggest new drug combination treatments.

Programmable analysis and data modelling can identify drug targets in seconds, saving considerable time, money and resources, and most importantly, time to the clinic.

We have developed an innovative approach called Executable Biology, a toolset to model and analyse biological mechanisms as if they were computer programs.

This is the future of drug discovery.

Our goal at the Fisher Lab is to determine the mechanisms by which oncogenic signalling pathways regulate the onset, progression and when blocked, regression of cancers.

We do this by computational modelling of oncogenic signalling networks and how they are linked to cell fate decisions (such as proliferation and cell death). In this way, we can understand how cellular decisions are made and how aberrations in those decisions drive cancer pathology.

About Promatix:

Promatix was founded to develop transformational therapies for cancer patients. It takes a data-driven approach utilising a confluence of multi-omic datasets and proprietary algorithms. Its proprietary databank, TxPro, comprises a wealth of proteomic data, which is combined with genomic and transcriptomic data, and the CipherPro suite of Algorithms to validate known targets and uncover novel targets and combinations, paving the way for transformative new medicines in cancer treatment.

For further information, please visit www.pro-matix.com.

About the Jasmin Fisher Lab

The Fisher lab develops state-of-the-art computational models and analysis techniques to study cancer evolution and mechanisms of drug resistance to identify better-personalised treatments for cancer patients.

The labs research is focused on understanding how cancers evolve by identifying molecular mechanisms that underpin cell-fate decision programs during normal development and disease.

For further information, please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cancer/research/department-pathology/computational-cancer-biology.

About UCL Consultants:

UCL Consultants (UCLC) is one of the UKs leading providers of academic consultancy services. Established by University College London (UCL) as a wholly owned subsidiary to administer the arrangements for consultancy and tendered services undertaken by UCL staff, it connects clients with our academic experts to solve problems, create new opportunities and develop capabilities to better understand complex issues.

About ALSA Ventures

ALSA Ventures is a London-based early-stage investor in life sciences. Focused on therapeutics, the team brings a mix of operational expertise in pharmaceutical R&D and a background in company building and working with exceptional entrepreneurs to make todays potential tomorrows reality.

For further information, please visit https://www.alsaventures.com/.
English Finnish

Savosolar Plc

Business review, Insider information 26 October 2022 at 8.30 (CEST)

Savosolar Plcs business review for JanuarySeptember 2022

Key figures and significant events in JanuarySeptember 2022

Savosolars revenue in JanuarySeptember amounted to EUR 2.9 million (JanuarySeptember 2021: EUR 2.2 million).

Operating result (EBIT) in JanuarySeptember amounted to EUR -3.5 million (EUR -3.2 million).

Net result for the period totalled EUR -3.7 million (EUR -3.5 million).

Contracts with Newheat SAS on the delivery of a solar thermal field to Verdun, France, and with Jorgensen Thermal Solutions APS to Sonora, Mexico.

On 29 August 2022, Savosolar announced a conditional share exchange agreement under which Savosolar Plc will acquire the entire capital stock of Meriaura Ltd if implemented.



Key figures in JulySeptember 2022

Savosolars revenue in JulySeptember amounted to EUR 0.8 million (JulySeptember 2021: EUR 0.5 million).

Operating result (EBIT) in JulySeptember amounted to EUR -1.1 million (EUR -1.0 million).

Net result for JulySeptember totalled EUR -1.2 million (EUR -1.2 million).



Savosolars CEO Jari Varjotie:

Interest towards solar heat is stronger than ever before, and our sales and system design teams are actively supporting both our current and potential new customers, especially in Europe, to find solutions for the deployment of emission-free and reliable thermal energy. However, we did not yet receive any new customer orders in the third quarter.

In addition to climate targets, interest in large-scale solar thermal systems is growing especially in response to the need for energy self-sufficiency and the price competitiveness of solar heat. In addition, the utilisation of solar heat also accelerates the transition to clean energy production when emission-free electricity of limited availability can be utilised elsewhere than in heat production. Heat accounts for about half of all energy consumption in Europe and globally. However, in the short term, the turbulent energy market and the general uncertainty of the economic outlook hinder the customers decision-making.

Our revenue in JanuarySeptember grew by 35 per cent compared to corresponding period of the previous year and was EUR 2.9 million. The third quarter accounted for EUR 0.8 million of the revenue. During the current year, the net result has been weakened by the increase in material costs, which we have been unable to fully transfer to the previously agreed-upon fixed customer prices. In new tenders, we have taken the changes in material costs into account more strongly than before. Our order backlog at the end of September stood at EUR 1.0 million, compared to EUR 0.6 million a year ago.

Our new deliveries started this year are progressing as planned both in Verdun, France, and in Sonora, Mexico.

Dozens of large-scale solar thermal systems are planned in Europe and are awaiting implementation decisions. Energy companies investment decisions in particular are currently being complicated not only by the turbulence in the energy market, but also by the compelling need for energy companies to deposit cash collateral for the amounts under their previously agreed-upon fixed supply contracts when the price of energy has risen dramatically. In industrial process heating, the maker of the investment decision is often a party other than a traditional energy company, for which reason they are not faced with a similar deposit collateral problem. As it is, industrial process heating has become even more promising than the district heating market, at least in the short term. Industrial process heating has already been a strong segment for us, as evidenced by our recent deliveries to Issoudun and Verdun.

A new phase in Savosolars business development will begin if the aforementioned conditional share exchange agreement is implemented, in which case we will get VG-Shipping, a company specialised in low-carbon and sustainable transport, as our anchor owner. VG-Shipping has a strong track record in successful business development in marine logistics and in the production and utilisation of renewable energy. Together with Meriaura, a company currently owned by VG-Shipping, we can meet the growing demand for solutions based on renewable energy and fill the supply gap. The objective of the merger is to speed up business expansion in solar heat and in various sustainable hybrid solutions for energy and heat production, as well as in low-carbon marine logistics and other projects promoting the green transition. The planning of the new groups operations and strategy has proceeded well. We expect the merger to be completed by the end of November.

Even though the recent turbulence in the energy market has held back investment decisions, I believe that the growth of large-scale solar heat utilisation will accelerate, and I see than the merger with Meriaura will increase our ability to respond to growing demand both financially and by expanding supply. The group that will be formed as a result of the share exchange will be able to better address customer needs and significantly increase the shareholder value.



COMPARISON BY REPORTING PERIOD

(EUR 1,000) Jul-Sep 2022 Jul-Sep 2021 Change

(%) Jan-Sep 2022 Jan-Sep 2021 Change

(%) Jan-Dec 2021 Revenue 802 540 48.3 2,934 2,168 35.3 2,497 Operating profit/

loss (EBIT) -1,096 -1,017 -7.8 -3,519 -3,218 -9.3 -4,554 Profit/loss for the period -1,157 -1,204 3.9 -3,706 -3,537 -4.8 -5,772

The comparison figures presented in this business review refer to the corresponding period in the previous year, unless otherwise indicated.

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN JANUARYSEPTEMBER 2022

Savosolars revenue in JanuarySeptember increased to EUR 2.9 (2.2) million. The revenue for JulySeptember was EUR 0.8 (0.5) million.

It is typical of project-based operations that the revenue of individual quarters and half years may vary depending on the degree of completion of the project deliveries.

The works on the solar thermal field to Newheat SAS in Verdun, France, are proceeding as planned. The system is due to be commissioned at the end of this year and will be handed over to the customer in the spring of 2023. Once completed, this solar thermal field worth around EUR 3 million will produce heat for Lactalis Groups whey powder factory, being the largest solar heating system in France for industrial process heat.

Deliveries to the mining project contracted by Jorgensen Thermal Solutions ApS in Sonora, Mexico have also started as planned. The value of the delivered solar thermal field for Savosolar is approximately EUR 0.2 million. The commissioning and handover of the plant will take place in 2023. As the first delivery by the company for process heating in the mining industry, the Sonora delivery is of more significance than its size indicates.

Savosolars operating result (EBIT) for JanuarySeptember amounted to EUR -3.5 (-3.2) million. The net result for JanuarySeptember totalled EUR -3.7 (-3.5) million. The third quarter operating result was EUR -1.1 (-1.0) million and the net result EUR -1.2 (-1.2) million.

The reason for the weaker than expected result development was that revenue fell clearly short of what was expected due to delays in new project contracts. Profitability was also considerable affected by the increase in material costs, which the company has been unable to fully transfer to the previously agreed-upon fixed customer prices.

Equity at the end of the reporting period amounted to EUR 4.8 (3.2) million, with the equity ratio being 72.2 (68.8) per cent.

CONDITIONAL SHARE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT ON THE ACQUISITION OF MERIAURA LTD



On 29 August 2022, Savosolar Plc signed a conditional share exchange agreement with VG-Shipping Ltd to acquire marine logistics company Meriaura Ltd and the business of VG EcoFuel Ltd, producer and marketer of biofuels. If the share exchange is executed, Savosolars current shareholders will own about 28% and VG-Shipping about 72% of the merged entity, when taking into account also the shares to be subscribed in the directed share issue relating to EUR 1.0 million guarantee for the 2-2021 warrants given by VG-Shipping.

Together, Savosolar, Meriaura and VG EcoFuel will respond to the growing demand for solutions based on renewable energy. Meriaura is a profitably growing company and a pioneer in the provision of low-carbon marine transport. The merger will speed up business expansion in solar heat, low-carbon marine logistics and other projects promoting the green transition. Following the merger, the company will have two business areas: renewable energy and marine logistics. The transaction will be executed by arranging a directed share issue to VG-Shipping Ltd, which owns all the shares of Meriaura Ltd. VG-Shipping Ltd is a holding company that owns Meriaura and has no other actual business.

Meriauras revenue for the first half of 2022 was EUR 33.2 million, operating profit EUR 4.1 million, and the number of personnel 148. The revenue increased by 30% on previous year. VG EcoFuels revenue for JanuaryJune was EUR 0.6 million, an increase of 30%. Operating profit was EUR 0.02 million. In the share exchange agreement, it has been agreed that at the time of the transaction, Meriaura Ltd and VG EcoFuel Ltd will together have a maximum of EUR 21 million of interest-bearing debt and at least EUR 4.4 million of cash and cash equivalents.

Jussi Malkia will continue as the principal owner and Chair of the Board of Directors of VG-Shipping. Kirsi Suopelto will be proposed as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Savosolar Plc, the parent company of new Savosolar Group. Jari Varjotie will continue as CEO of Savosolar Plc, the parent company of Savosolar Group and Bengt-Erik Rosin as Meriauras Managing Director.

The contemplated transaction is conditional to the decisions of Savosolar Plcs General Meeting of shareholders. Execution of the transaction requires a written consent to the change in the companys ownership from Meriauras financiers (Nordea, Finnvera, Varma).

Savosolar Plc aims to continue being listed on the First North Growth Market in both Stockholm and Helsinki. The company description on the new company is intended to be published before the Extraordinary General Meeting of Savosolar Plc which will decide on the transaction. According to the agreement, the transaction will be executed by 30 November 2022.

More detailed information about the draft terms of merger has been published in the company announcement of 29 August 2022.





CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES

The number of Savosolar Plcs shares registered with the Finnish Trade Register as at 30 September 2022 was 216,959,964 (at 31 December 2021, the number of shares was 165,187,636).

The number of shares increased during the first half of the year by 33,991,820 new shares as a result of the share subscriptions carried out on the basis of the 1-2021 warrants, which were registered with the Finnish Trade Register on 8 April 2022.

The share subscription period for Savosolars 2-2021 warrants started on 12 September 2022 and ended on 23 September 2022. Of the warrants, about 46 percent were exercised to subscribe for shares, and a total of 17,780,508 were subscribed for. Savosolar raised with the subscriptions proceeds of approximately one million euros before transaction costs. The new shares were registered with the Finnish Trade Register on 3 October 2022. Additionally, based on the received subscription undertaking, the company will decide on a directed share issue of approximately EUR 1.0 million to VG-Shipping Ltd if the conditional share exchange announced on 29 August 2022 is executed. The subscription price is EUR 0.056 per share, which is the same as the subscription price based on the warrants. The share exchange is planned to take place on 30 November 2022.

On 29 August 2022, Savosolar announced a conditional share exchange agreement under which Savosolar Plc and Meriaura Ltd will merge. If the share exchange is executed and following the one-million-euro directed share issue to VG-Shipping Ltd related to guarantee for the warrant plan 2-2021, Savosolars shareholders will have about 28% and VG-Shipping Ltd about 72% of Savosolars shares instead of the originally announced 30% and 70%, respectively. The new shares to be issued in the directed share offering are planned to be applied for trading on the First North Growth Market once the transaction is closed.

After the transaction defined in the share exchange agreement, the number of Savosolar Plcs shares will rise to approximately 782,723,687 shares. VG-Shipping Ltd is committed not to transfer the Savosolar Plc shares subscribed for in the share exchange during a period of 12 months from the implementation of the share exchange.

SAVOSOLAR PLC

Board of Directors

More information:

CEO Jari Varjotie

Phone: +358 400 419 734

E-mail: jari.varjotie@savosolar.com

Savosolar Plc discloses the information provided herein pursuant to EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication on 26 October 2022 at 8.30 (CEST) by the aforementioned person.

Savosolar in brief

Savosolar with its highly efficient collectors and large-scale solar thermal systems has taken solar thermal technology to the next level. The companys collectors are equipped with the patented, optically high-quality coated direct flow absorbers, and with this leading technology, Savosolar helps its customers to produce competitive clean energy. Savosolars vision is to be the first-choice supplier to high performance solar installations on a global scale. The company focuses on large solar heat collectors as well as heating systems in excess of 1,000 m2 in district heat generation and industrial process heating  the market segments with a big potential for rapid growth. The company primarily delivers complete systems from design to installation, using the best local partners. Savosolar is known as the most innovative company in the business and aims to stay as such.



Savosolar's shares are listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Sweden with the ticker SAVOS and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland with the ticker SAVOH. www.savosolar.com

The Companys Certified Adviser is Augment Partners AB, info@augment.se, tel. +46 8-604 22 55.

Attachment
English French

OTTAWA, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canadas symposium, Rebuilding Abundance: Priorities for a Resilient Ocean in Ottawa today is bringing together leading ocean and fishery experts, Indigenous and fishing industry leaders and policymakers from across Canada, along with award-winning actor and Oceana board chair Sam Waterston known for his roles on Law & Order and Grace and Frankie. The symposium is intended to chart a course for restoring abundance in Canadas oceans, prioritizing rebuilding depleted fish populations for the long-term health and viability of the countrys coastal communities, seafood economy and oceans. Fisheries rebuilding is an urgent issue, with threats like climate change, overfishing and pollution devastating the oceans.



Since its first symposium in 2016, Oceana Canada has seen significant progress in the governments efforts to rebuild depleted fish stocks, including injecting new funding into the National Oceans Protection Plan. Oceana Canada has also campaigned for and applauded the introduction of new legislation and regulations to rebuild abundance through the Fisheries Act. However, less than one-third of Canadas fisheries are considered healthy. There is an urgent need to accelerate government commitments and action to bring Canadas fish populations back to health, prioritizing thriving fisheries and healthy oceans that build resilience in communities, contribute to the seafood economy and provide essential social-cultural and nutritional value.

Without immediate action by the Canadian government to rebuild ocean abundance, coastal communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems are being put at risk. Already faced with climate change-induced threats leading to warming oceans and climate events, such as hurricane Fiona, failing to act on ending overfishing and fisheries mismanagement is creating an uncertain future said Josh Laughren, Executive Director, Oceana Canada. There has never been more urgency to come together to accelerate decision-making to build resilience

The event also includes the participation of The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Indigenous leader Elder Dr. Albert Marshall, Moose Clan of the Mikmaw Nation, both of whom will be joining the event virtually for talks and questions. Speakers and panelists include academics from across Canada, representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Fisheries Council of Canada, and Ocean Choice International. Others include fishing industry associations Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) and Skipper Otto, a community-supported fishery, and the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters Federation. Discussions will be moderated by prominent journalists with expertise in fisheries and oceans from across the country.

In November, Oceana Canada will be releasing its sixth annual Fishery Audit, an analysis of Canadas fisheries and how they are being managed. Since the first audit was conducted in 2017, the data has found that Canada is still overfishing depleted stocks, such as capelin, and is consistently failing to support rebuilding wild fish populations or take into consideration the threats such as climate change to the countrys most economically valuable stocks, invertebrates including snow crab and lobster.

Todays symposium agenda focuses on three core themes:

An Abundant Ocean is Possible: what is the potential for rebuilding abundance in Canadas oceans in the next decade

An Abundant Ocean is our Legacy: what are the growth opportunities for food security, income and livelihoods in coastal communities?

Unlocking Canadas potential for a thriving blue economy: what changes to ocean governance and investment is required over the next five years?



For a full list of speakers and bios and to learn more about Rebuilding Abundance: Priorities for a Resilient Ocean please visit: https://oceana.ca/en/oceana-canadas-science-symposium .

Oceana Canada has partnered with Only One on digital communications to raise awareness and grassroots support to rebuild fisheries, thanks to support from Becht Foundation. To date, nearly 40,000 people have signed a petition calling on Canadas Fisheries Minister to stop overfishing in Canada.

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canadas formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canadas oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca . Twitter: @OceanaCAN

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5785f3a3-8d24-4dd0-9b25-172a4bd6d7d0
LEON and Harro Hofliger to build and commercialize LEONs NANOus, a novel aseptic manufacturing device to facilitate commercial production of LNP-encapsulated genetic materials and other APIs

By enabling easy scale-up, PAT and GMP-compliance, NANOus targets unmet needs of pharmaceutical and biotech industries and CDMOs

NANOus is the first product based on LEONs proprietary technology platform NANOnow

Companies to attend CPHI in Frankfurt (Nov. 1-3, 2022)

ALLMERSBACH IM TAL and MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The mechanical engineering and process specialist Harro Hofliger, and leon-nanodrugs GmbH (LEON), a disrupting enabler of nanotechnology for the pharmaceutical industry, today announce their collaboration on a manufacturing device to encapsulate mRNAs or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). NANOus is a flexible small-to-high-volume manufacturing device designed for aseptic GMP-compliant nanoencapsulation of APIs, based on LEONs proprietary NANOnow technology.

The two companies are in the process of assembling the market-ready device, which will enable rapid and cost-efficient, seamless scale-up for production of LNP-encapsulated therapeutics. NANOus can enable continuous manufacturing of several million vaccine doses per day. The collaboration builds on Harro Hofligers longstanding experience and engineering capabilities in order to meet the needs of the manufacturing pharmaceutical sector, while LEON provides access to its core technology platform NANOnow. The two companies will draw out the potential of LEONs proprietary jet-impinging reactor by implementing it into other devices and allowing commercial manufacturing of LNP-based therapeutics on a large scale, thus making LNP-based drugs more economically feasible for healthcare systems.

In this joint undertaking, the two companies will realize a state-of-the-art product, NANOus: While the LEON reactor itself allows for seamless scale-up from small to large volumes, high-flowrates without impacting product quality, and product concentrations several times higher than currently available devices, the NANOus device is built for commercial scale manufacturing. It will incorporate process analytical technology (PAT) to enable real-time product release. Staying true to LEONs maxim One process, one reactor, scale-up takes place without any exchange of device equipment and therefore much faster.

Harro Hofliger has taken a significant step into the aseptic manufacturing space already, not least on the back of our new baXeptic platform, thus demonstrating our ability to constantly advance our competencies  following our motto From Lab to Production, said Thomas Weller, CEO of Harro Hofliger. Were looking forward to expanding our footprint in the area of nanotechnology, as we are introducing innovative technical solutions together with LEON, through the efforts of the research and product development by our Pharma Services department.

Andrea Cusack, CEO of leon-nanodrugs, commented: Harro Hofliger has an extensive track-record of successfully bringing new pharmaceutical production processes from lab-scale to commercial production. This makes Harro Hofliger the ideal partner for LEON as we seek to bring our technology to the biopharmaceutical industry. While the field of nanomedicine has really come to the forefront, we are aiming at unparalleled solutions to manufacturing those medicines in a very efficient and effective way. Our technology will allow much broader accessibility of mRNA vaccines, therapeutically enhanced biologics or small molecules, adding much needed targeted treatment options for all patients and their caregivers.

LEON will be exhibiting at CPHI 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany (November 1 to 3, 2022), presenting their NANOnow technology platform at Harro Hofliger's booth 60C10 in Hall 6.

ABOUT HARRO HOFLIGER

Harro Hofliger specializes in the development of customer-oriented process and production solutions for pharmaceutical and medical applications as well as market-oriented consumer products. In addition to innovative machine platforms and packaging machines, customized turnkey system solutions for product assembly, processing of web materials, as well as dosing and inhalation technology are the companys core expertise. Furthermore, Harro Hofliger offers extensive services related to process development. The systematically structured portfolio of up-scalable test machines and modules, as well as requirement-oriented technology platforms, results from many years of experience and targeted research and development. For further information, please visit https://www.hoefliger.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

ABOUT LEON-NANODRUGS

leon-nanodrugs (LEON) aim is to create a new norm for the production of nanoparticle-based therapeutics by establishing their technology for seamless scale-up and high-performance output. The Munich-based private company was founded in 2011 and since then has successfully pursued its mission of enabling the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, as well as Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), with a disruptive manufacturing technology to encapsulate mRNAs or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The increase in efficiency and speed will broaden access to mRNA vaccines, therapeutically enhanced biologics or small molecules, and improve economic feasibility for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems. LEONs intellectual property is broadly protected with international coverage through 2041.

For further information, please visit https://leon-nanodrugs.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

CONTACT:

leon-nanodrugs GmbH

Andrea Cusack, CEO

Phone: +49-89-41424889-0

e-Mail: A.Cusack@leon-nanodrugs.com

Harro Hofliger GmbH

Thomas Weller, CEO

Phone: +49 7191 501-5113

e-Mail: thomas.weller@hoefliger.de

MEDIA INQUIRIES: MC Services AG

Katja Arnold / Eva Bauer

Phone: +49-89-210228-0

e-Mail: leon-nanodrugs@mc-services.eu



Harro Hofliger GmbH

Rosemarie Christ

Phone: +49 7191 501-1627

e-Mail: rosemarie.christ@hoefliger.de





For high resolution photos, please contact leon-nanodrugs@mc-services.eu


Dublin, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Hair Care Market By Type, By Distribution Channel By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2017-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global hair care market is expected to reach USD54.09 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.03% during the forecast period

Hairstylists as well as consumers use haircare products in salons and at home alike. Shampoo, conditioner, hair style gels, colorants, serums, glazes, hair spray, hair growth products, and hair accessories are just a few of the many varieties of hair care products available in the market, depending on the type of hair and its demands among consumers. Moreover, modern hair care products such as hair mask, hair bb creams, etc. are able to address issues such as split ends, rough, weak, dull, and dehydrated hair.



Haircare comprises cleaning, protecting, and enhancing the texture and look of one's hair with a number of products. These items include gels, oils, tonics, rinses, masks, serums, shampoos, conditioners, dressings, and sprays.

Furthermore, in order to keep up with the ever-changing hair trends, several hair care companies are now developing new silicone and sulfate-free products. Furthermore, during the projection period, factors such as rising disposable income, rising living standards, and the increased use of advanced grooming procedures are likely to function as growth catalysts for the hair care market.



Due to the different hair types and concerns, several hair care companies around the world are offering customized products in order to meet specific consumer needs, that range from cleansing, styling, softening, and strengthening to scalp care, thermal protection, damage repair, frizz control, color retention, moisturization, bond-building, and so on.

Additionally, one of the industry's important developments is a growing awareness of hair-related issues as a result of climate change, air pollution, and other environmental circumstances.



COVID-19 has had an influence on the hair and scalp care sector, since many retail and salon shops have closed, resulting in decline in the global sales of a variety of beauty and personal care goods. Many beauty salons have shut down due to worries about direct physical touch and even though a few of these salons were still running, consumers had shunned these services. As a result, DIY hair coloring has become increasingly popular.



Consumer Demand for Natural Products Drives the Market Growth



Consumers are increasingly seeking natural components and formulations free of potentially toxic compounds such as parabens, sulphates, and silicones. Consumers are also becoming more concerned about the health of their hair and scalp and are increasingly looking for solutions that address specific issues such as moisturizing, damage repair, hair regrowth/hair loss prevention, or scalp treatments.



Rising Number of Hair-Related problems is Fueling the Market Growth



Hair problems such as greying, dandruff, and hair loss are growing more widespread, which are likely to lead to a rise in demand for hair care products. According to research published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research in October 2018, 60.3% of males aged 18-50 had hair loss and 17.1% have dandruff. Furthermore, since the elderly are more prone to hair problems than younger people, demand for such products is expected to rise in the coming years which will further contribute to the growing demand of hair care products in the country due to increase in geriatric population.



Increasing Innovation Drives the Market Growth



A few important disruptive technical innovations have fueled the hair care industry's expansion across markets. Industry participants have prioritized innovation in order to deliver best-in-class solutions with minimum negative effects. Due to rising consumer purchasing power and professional demands for style and fashion, product premiumization has widely expanded.

The industry has developed in terms of experimentation with the millennial (Gen-Y) consumer group, and with the entry of Gen-Z into the buyer's market, it is necessary to expand the product variety with tailor-made solutions catering to unique customer wants.



Rise of Male Grooming Industry Fuels the Market Growth



In the last five years, the male grooming market has risen at a high rate. Increased hair loss, receding hairlines, early balding, and other issues have heightened the need for hair care operations among men. In addition to medical concerns, millennial males face professional demands that require hair care solutions. Hair care has become a part of human well-being across communities and markets as a result of today's lifestyle and environmental conditions.



Market Segmentation



The global hair care market is segmented based on type, distribution channel, region, and competitive landscape. Based on the type, the market is segmented into shampoo, colorant, conditioner, hair oil, hair gel & wax, and others. On the basis of distribution channel, the market is segmented into supermarket/ hypermarket, grocery/department stores, specialty stores, salon/parlor, online, and others.

The market analysis also studies the regional segmentation to devise regional market segmentation, divided among Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa. In terms of country, the United States hair care market is forecast to grow at impressive rate and is expected to reach around USD5.04 billion by 2027.

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global hair care market.

Shiseido Company, Limited

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Unilever

Amway

Oriflame Cosmetics AG

Procter & Gamble Co.

L'Oreal SA

Revlon Inc.

Kao Corporation

Beiersdorf AG

Report Scope:



Hair Care Market, By Type:

Shampoo

Colorant

Conditioner

Hair Oil

Hair Gel & Wax

Others

Hair Care Market, By Distribution Channel:

Supermarket/Hypermarket

Grocery/Department Stores

Specialty Stores

Salon/Parlor

Online

Others

Hair care Market, By Region:

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

Australia

South Korea

Indonesia

Thailand

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Russia

Italy

Spain

Netherland

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Colombia

Middle East & Africa

Egypt

UAE

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

Israel

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ksaesj

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ZUG, Switzerland, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a leading global fertilizer company, EuroChem Group AG is driven by the world's increasing need for food. Our goal is to help farmers across the globe improve crop yield and quality.

As the United Nations warns of an impending global food emergency that threatens to send millions more into conditions of hunger and starvation, EuroChem Group AG remains committed to fulfilling the world's requirement for food, and ensuring that farmers around the world have continued access to high-quality crop nutrients.

EuroChem Group AG is headed by Executive Chairman Samir Brikho, in conjunction with the Board of Directors. EuroChem Group AG is a subsidiary of AIM Capital, a Cyprus-based entity under the control of Linetrust PTC. The Chairman of Linetrust PTC is Ronald Noble.

No sanctioned party or person has any control over any of the entities within the Group.

As confirmed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) EuroChem Group AG is not, directly or indirectly, subject to any sanctions of the US. Likewise, EuroChem Group AG is not on any sanctions lists of the EU, UK or other jurisdiction.

###

Contact Information:

David Nowak

david.nowak@eurochemgroup.com

+41 76 427 46 10



Related Images











Image 1: EuroChem Group AG





EuroChem Group AG committed to continuing operations as UN warns of global food emergency









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PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intersolar North America (ISNA) and Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the industrys premier solar + storage event, today announced the official theme for the 2023 conference program: Climate Solutions Start Here: Solar + Storage Lead the Way.



The conference, to be held February 14-16, 2023, at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, will highlight the readiness of solar and storage as available and immediate climate solutions. The program will also emphasize how grid electrification is a pillar of climate response strategies, in addition to the integral role solar and storage play in that transformation.

Our 2023 conference theme is more relevant and inspiring than ever, designed to meet the moment with on-point content, authoritative speakers, and stimulating formats, said Wes Doane, Event Director, Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America. As the conference approaches, we look forward to delivering the forward-looking insightsand inspirationattendees need to power their career as the industry advances in the coming year.

Highlighted Sessions

EVs as Grid Storage Resource/V2X Interconnection, moderated by Ed Burgess, Policy Director, Vehicle-Grid Integration Council (VGIC)

Residential Solar Adoption Timelines and Permitting, presented by Jesse Cruce, Energy & Policy Market Analyst, Strategic Energy Analysis Center at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Utility Approaches to Energy Storage Fire Safety, presented by Jay Sadler, Distributed Energy Operations Manager, Duke Energy Corporation

Innovation in Project Structuring to Support Project Finance, moderated by Gary Dorris, CEO, Ascend Analytics

Virtual Power Plant Business Model, presented by Nehal Divekar, Manager, Emerging Technologies, Customized Energy Solutions



Register for the #isnaesna23 Conference

Industry professionals are encouraged to register today to take advantage of Early Bird pricing while it remains available through December 15, 2022.

About Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America

Intersolar North America and Energy Storage North America is the premier U.S.-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure. Dedicated to accelerating the energy transition, the combined event delivers actionable education, invaluable networking, and an immersive exhibit hall experience  which includes the popular Solar Games installer competition.

Join 6,000+ energy leaders and 300+ exhibitors on February 14-16, 2023, in Long Beach, CA, to help shape the next phase of our clean energy transformation. Learn more online at intersolar.us and esnaexpo.com .

About Diversified Communications

Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products, Diversified Communications connects, educates, and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: renewable energy, healthcare, natural and organic, food and beverage, and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA, with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: https://www.divcom.com .

Media Contact:

Gene Hunt

Trevi Communications, Inc.

Gene@trevicomm.com

978-750-0333 x101
Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation, the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, will host the third annual World Music Benefit for UNICEF. The star-studded event raises awareness and encourages donations for the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children in 190+ countries worldwide. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to UNICEF USA. Tickets include dinner, a silent auction, personal testimony, and a night full of music at Philadelphias City Winery on November 8th, from 6 PM to 10 PM ET.

The price of a ticket serves to make a difference #ForEveryChild, shares Rajant CEO and Co-founder Robert Schena. November kicks off the holiday season. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we are mindful of starving children and the suffering of malnutrition they endure each day. Rajant believes we can make a difference. Hosting the Rajant World Music Benefit for UNICEF brings us together, perhaps with more folks like you, that know we can do better for these kids. The best part of November 8th will be having you with us as everyone, from our sponsors to our talent, will be there volunteering. Thats fantastic.

Sponsors include companies and individuals. They are Tessco, KHS America, Jennifer & Tim Behle, Madison Technologies, Alliance Corporation, Steel City Displays, Mary Herzog, Denise Richardson, FastSigns, Crossover, and IGM Creative. Scott McClure, VP of Rajant distribution partner Alliance, states, Alliance is proud to be participating with Rajant on such a worthy cause. Their fundraising initiatives to support organizations such as UNICEF confirm that Rajant is more than just a class-leading technology to include in our offering of wireless networking and IoT solutions. They are a team of high-character people who value using their creativity and talent to give back as excellent global citizens. Fellow sponsor Jennifer Paradis Behle, also serves on UNICEF USAs New York Regional Board. She adds, As an advocate for UNICEF and someone who has served on its behalf in the Greater Philadelphia community, I am overjoyed by Rajants ongoing support to make a difference for children in need. Mr. Schena and the Rajant team continue to outdo themselves, bringing greater awareness and donations #ForEveryChild.

Musicians include Haydn Viteras Tequila Rock Revolution, President of The Recording Academy (Philadelphia chapter) Donn T and her renowned singer-songwriter partner Jake Morelli, members of Opera Philadelphia, acclaimed opera tenor James Valenti, Philadelphias Walt Lafty, Kentucky bluegrass legend Ray McLain, and an exceptional performance from Kentuckys Mountain Music Ambassadors. Denise Richardson is the emcee and host of the Rajant World Music Benefit for UNICEF. Ms. Richardson co-hosted The Pledge Drive on PBS for more than twenty years and is a former Good Morning America correspondent as well as a lifestyle and news reporter for Fox 5s Good Day New York.

Buy your tickets today to build on the contributions of the sponsors and talent.

####

About Rajant Corporation

Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh networking, BreadCrumb wireless nodes, and InstaMesh networking software. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajants Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 75 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, oil & gas, petrochemical plants, municipalities, and agriculture. Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Houston, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR), the worlds fourth largest producer of wind and solar energy, has reported its end-of-third-quarter results, carrying on showing solid growth owing to its larger installed capacity, greater strengthening of renewable resources and average sales price recovery. The result of all of this is an EBITDA of 1.482 billion euros and a net profit of 416 million euros.

EDPR is well and truly on target with its ambitious growth plan owing to its record 4 GW renewable energy capacity under construction in 15 markets around the world, likewise, providing the company with broader technological diversification. In parallel to all of this, gross investments in the amount of 4.4 billion euros have enabled EDPR to increase its international presence across 28 different national markets via acquisitions such as that of Sunseap. Additionally, EPPR has been able to carry on generating value via its asset rotation program, closing three transactions in Spain, Poland, and Italy, which have contributed to the creation of 264 million in profit.

Operating results are also posting growth due to the increased installed capacity and strengthening of renewable energy products. This installed capacity of up to 14.3 GW has led to stable operating performances. Of note, EDPR has, as of the date of this press release, managed to hit 10.8 GW of the additional 20 GW goal set for the 2021-2025 period (so 55% achieved), with over 40% of this goal either already installed or under construction. Furthermore, the company carried out its asset rotation ahead of schedule, with 3.4 billion euros of the 8-billion-euro income goal already achieved via agreements generating twice the per MW value compared to what was set out in the Business Plan.

In the words of Miguel Stilwell dAndrade, CEO of EDP: EDPR is in a very strong position to deal with all the challenges presented by the energy transition, and we have already achieved 55% of the renewables capacity we set out to develop for the 2021 to 2025 horizon. During the first nine months of this year and even given the bumpy business context the energy sector finds itself in we were able to invest over 4 billion euros in renewable energy projects.

Financial results

For the first nine months of 2022 EDPRs EBITDA increased to 1.482 billion euros (a 62% interannual gain) due to solid business line results underpinned by a 10% gain in installed capacity and a 14% gain in renewable energy generation.

Elsewhere on the balance sheet operating income increased to 331 million euros (a 129 million interannual gain), which was mainly derived from asset rotation transactions closed in Poland, Spain, and Italy.

Lastly, net profit increased to 416 million euros (a 181% interannual gain), which was partially offset by higher net financial costs, which went up in the amount of 296 million euros (up 58% interannually) due to increased debt, the foreign exchange rate, and the cost of debt.

EDPR is as committed as it has ever been to its Business Plan as well as leading the energy transition in those markets where they maintain a presence.

About EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA)

EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), its affiliates, and its subsidiaries develop, construct, own, and operate wind farms and solar parks throughout North America. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with 58 wind farms, nine solar parks, and eight regional offices across North America, EDPR NA has developed more than 8,800 megawatts (MW) and operates more than 8,200 MW of onshore utility-scale renewable energy projects. With more than 950 employees, EDPR NAs highly qualified team has a proven capacity to execute projects across the continent.

For more information, visit www.edpr.com/north-america.

About EDP Renewables (EDPR)

EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR) is the worlds fourth-largest renewable energy producer and is present in 28 markets throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia Pacific. Based in Madrid and with regional head offices in Houston, Sao Paulo, and Singapore, EDPR holds a robust development portfolio with first-class assets and market-leading operating capacity in terms of renewable energy. This includes onshore wind energy, large-scale and distributed solar energy, offshore wind energy (via a 50/50 joint venture with OW), and renewable energy-adjacent technologies such as batteries and green hydrogen.

EDPRs employee-centered policies have seen them named a 2022 Top Workplace in the United States and a 2022 Top Employer in Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Romania, Portugal, and Poland) and Brazil, as well as being listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.

EDPR is a division of EDP (Euronext: EDP), a leader in the energy transition with its focus on decarbonization. In addition to its solid standing with the renewable energy sector (via EDPR and its hydroelectric operations) EDP also maintains a support network for public services in Portugal, Spain and Brazil made up of electricity networks, customer solutions and energy management services.

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OWINGS MILLS, MD, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In November, Maryland Public Television (MPT) will offer 15 hours of programming devoted to the nation's military veterans and their families. The lineup includes the national television debut of the MPT-presented documentary P.O.W: Passing on Wisdom, on Friday, November 11, Veterans Day.



For the past several years, MPT has been collaborating with producer 3 Penny Films, in association with the United States Naval Academy Foundation and Finnegan's Wake Films, to bring P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom to public TV stations nationwide.



P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom shares the inspirational stories of Vietnam prisoners of war as they recall their experiences in surviving imprisonment and explores how these experiences can be used as a guide for anyone dealing with contemporary life challenges.

As the 50th anniversary of the homecoming of the Vietnam prisoners of war approaches (February 2023), the POWs who are interviewed express remarkable gratitude, having survived post-traumatic stress to achieve post-traumatic growth. They define themselves by the principles of leadership and camaraderie instilled at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and absorbed from their senior leaders during imprisonment. The film includes a look at USNA midshipmen in 2020, living through the challenge of a pandemic and applying the same principles as their Vietnam-era predecessors.

MPT will premiere the film on November 11 at 9 p.m. and air an encore on Sunday, November 13 at 5 p.m. Both broadcasts are on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at https://vimeo.com/754797854.

P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom is being presented nationally by Maryland Public Television through distribution by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

Among other productions on MPT's November schedule are:

Last Ring Home , the story of Lt. Minter Dials Annapolis Naval Academy ring that miraculously made its way home 17 years after he was killed as a Japanese POW in WWII. The film airs Friday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m. on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at minterdial.com/books/last-ring-home .

, the story of Lt. Minter Dials Annapolis Naval Academy ring that miraculously made its way home 17 years after he was killed as a Japanese POW in WWII. The film airs Friday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m. on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at After Action, conversations with veterans reveal what life is like before, during, and after military action. It airs Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. on MPT2. A film trailer is available at pbs.org/show/after-action.

Other veterans-related productions are also viewable online. These streaming-only productions include The Misty Experiment: The Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail, True North: Sailing to Salvation, American Veteran, From Honor to Medal: The Story of Garlin M. Conner, Scattering CJ, Parables of War, and Known But To God.

Also available online is the three-hour 2016 documentary Maryland Vietnam War Stories, the award-winning production that marked the culmination of MPT's four-year salute to the state's Vietnam veterans.

The complete rundown of broadcast and online offerings can be found on MPT's website at mpt.org/veterans.

P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom is a production of 3 Penny Films, in association with the United States Naval Academy Foundation and Finnegan's Wake Films.

# # #

Note to editors: Several former Vietnam War POWs and former midshipmen who appear in P.O.W: Passing on Wisdom are available for interviews.

About Maryland Public Television

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy awards. MPTs commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPTs year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bidtellect, a leading demand-side platform and advertising technology company, recently spoke on the "biggest secret" of the ad tech world at Digiday's Media Buying Summit in Palm Springs, California, during a session titled: 360 Workshop With Bidtellect: The Future of Green in Advertising: Radical Transparency & Sustainability. The session followed an article published on Digiday's site by Bidtellect Chief Operating Officer Jashon Boshoff the week before titled How ad tech is positioning itself for success in sustainable programmatic ecosystems.

Wrote Boshoff: "Advertisers are demanding a clearer picture of where their ad is going and what they're paying for; a hazy path to delivery is unsettling and no longer tolerable. They also want to know they're saving money and reducing their carbon footprint."

In Palm Springs, Bidtellect presented its vision of a sustainable digital advertising landscape driven by transparency to a group of senior leaders in media buying and ad tech. Arthur Hainline, Bidtellect's Vice President of Product, said, "A cleaner, more direct path in ad buying not only allows more working media dollars to flow from advertisers to publishers but also benefits the environment. Bidtellect is excited to champion this cause and continue bringing it to light, but we're also ready to provide tangible solutions and products to empower ad tech companies to do their part, as well."

Attendees raved about the simplicity and accessibility of Bidtellect's platform, upcoming solutions and partnerships, and clear goals for advertisers. "Bidtellect is uniquely positioned to offer unparalleled transparency into where advertiser budgets are going," concluded Hainline.

The sustainability issue has existed for years, and the severity of it is finally coming to light. The internet, as a whole, has a carbon footprint that's said to be larger than the entire airline industry. A study by ISBA and PwC found that half of online ad money is being siphoned off by the adtech ecosystem before it reaches publishers; of that, about one-third of the money was "completely untraceable." 88% of dollars could not be traced from end to end.

To learn more about Bidtellect and its sustainable offerings, visit www.bidtellect.com.

About Bidtellect

Bidtellect is a performance-driven DSP specializing in context-first optimization, cookieless solutions, and native programmatic. We pride ourselves in premium supply quality and optimizing down to the placement level while offering deep campaign insights across a wide range of KPIs for our brand, agency, and trading desk partners. Bidtellect consistently outperforms competitors in nearly every head-to-head performance test thanks to industry-leading brand safety technology, premium supply quality, superior context capabilities, and proprietary bid factoring and optimization technology: delivering ads that work. To learn more, visit www.bidtellect.com.

Contact Information:

Madeleine Moench

madeleine@newswire.com



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Image 1: Bidtellect









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Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, California, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southwestern Law School celebrated Constitution Day 2022 by gathering to hear Dean Erwin Chemerinskys riveting analysis of constitutional originalism, the view that the U.S. Constitutions meaning is fixed, and why he believes that mode of constitutional interpretation is undesirable and dangerous. During the presentation, which focused on his new book, Worse Than Nothing: The Dangerous Fallacy of Originalism, published by Yale University Press in September 2022, Dean Chemerinsky illustrated how the Supreme Court is poised to overturn long-held precedent.

Dean Chemerinsky questioned the originalist premise that the only fundamental rights are those contained in the Constitutions original text or within its original meaning. Under an originalist reading of the Constitution, rights considered by many to be basic to American life, including the right to marry, procreate, buy birth control, and refuse lifesaving medical treatment, cannot be justified because they are not included within the Constitutions literal text. Accordingly, they are all in jeopardy.

I was serious when I introduced Dean Chemerinsky as the GOAT (greatest of all time) of constitutional law. Southwestern was fortunate to have such a brilliant and renowned scholar as our 2022 Constitution Day speaker. (Darby Dickerson  Southwestern's President & Dean)

One of the most thought-provoking segments of Dean Chemerinskys talk occurred when he described originalisms primary defect: evaluating contemporary issues based on a document created in the context of an agricultural slave society and the standards of the late 1700s.

During the question-and-answer session, a student asked Dean Chemerinsky if he had any predictions for this terms Supreme Court decisions. Dean Chemerinsky expressed the most concern about the outcome of Moore v. Harper.

In North Carolina, computer-assisted gerrymandering enabled a Republican-controlled legislature to create a map that gave Republicans 11 of the states 14 congressional districts. Chemerinsky fears that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn the N.C. Supreme Court's finding that the gerrymandering violated the North Carolina Constitution.

In Moore, the Republican legislators advance an independent state legislative theory to argue that the state legislature holds exclusive authority over all aspects of elections, including allocating presidential electors. Chemerinsky cautions that if the Court accepts this and rules that N.C. state courts cannot enforce the state's constitution, "the country falls apart" because the legislature could substitute their electors in place of those supported by the popular vote and thus negate the peoples will.

After several students expressed frustration that some decisions from the last term, especially Dobbs, were decided on political and not legal bases, Dean Chemerinsky reminded them of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s quote that "the arc of the moral university is long, but it bends toward justice" and encouraged them to take a long view of their work on matters of law and policy.

The last student to pose a question exclaimed that she felt like she had just "attended constitutional church" and was uplifted. Without missing a beat, Dean Chemerinsky jokingly chanted, "Separation of church and state!" The audience then sent Dean Chemerinsky off with an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Visit Southwestern's blog to replay the live stream and see photos of Constitution Day 2022.

###

Erwin Chemerinsky is Dean, and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, at U.C. Berkeley School of Law. Before assuming his current position, he was the founding dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and a professor at Duke Law School, University of Southern California Law School, and DePaul Law School. He is the author of 15 books and over 200 law review articles. He frequently argues appellate cases, including in the United States Supreme Court. He is the 2022 President of the Association of American Law Schools.

Southwestern Law School has been at the forefront of legal education for more than 110 years. Founded in 1911, Southwestern Law School is the only ABA-approved law school offering five J.D. courses of study differing in scheduling and instructional approach, including traditional full- and part-time programs. Its two-year accelerated program (SCALE) is the best-attended and longest-running program of its kind. Its urban campus includes the landmark Art Deco Bullocks Wilshire building and LEED-certified student residences. Southwestern graduates are well-rounded, entrepreneurial, community-minded, and prepared for practice. Take the virtual tour.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bath & Body Works announces Kelie Charles has joined the company as VP, Chief Diversity Officer. Charles will be the principal diversity, equity and inclusion leader and strategist for the company, working closely with associates and senior leadership to continue to evolve and refine the companys journey to becoming an even more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization.



Charles joins Bath & Body Works from The Home Depot where she led the company in defining the DEI strategy, programs and initiatives for associates, communities and suppliers. She is highly regarded for her accomplishments, including devising strategies for the professional development of diverse associates and partnering to strengthen talent management processes to be more inclusive and equitable. She brings deep experience in retail, previously working as a buyer for Target and as a merchant for The Home Depot.

Charles and the Bath & Body Works DEI team will partner with executives and senior leaders to develop, resource and accelerate DEI strategies and enterprise-level programs that enable, promote and advance a high-performing, diverse and inclusive workforce.

At Bath & Body Works, our purpose goes beyond selling products. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us stronger, and its one of our core values as company, says Deon Riley, Bath & Body Works Chief Human Resources Officer. Kelie brings a deep experience in this area to help forward this work for our organization.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is more than just the right thing to do, it is a business imperative, says Kelie Charles. Bath and Body Works weaves DEI into all facets of its business and I am excited to join the team in supporting the diversity of our associates, customers, and communities.

To learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at Bath & Body Works, visit bbwinc.com.

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS

Home of Americas Favorite Fragrances, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including the #1 selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the companys predominantly U.S.- based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,770 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 360 international franchised locations to an online storefront at bathandbodyworks.com.

For more information, please contact:

Bath & Body Works, Inc.:

Media Relations

Emmy Beach

Communications@bbw.com

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fragrance Creators Association's Board of Directors welcomes its newest members: Catherine Remy, Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development, Flavors and Fragrances Business Unit at LANXESS, and OnScent CEO Bertrand Lemont.

"We are fortunate to have these seasoned and distinguished leaders join our Board of Directors," said Fragrance Creators President & CEO Farah K. Ahmed. "Catherine and Bertrand's commercial perspectives will help our organization as we develop and advance industry policies that empower a diverse marketplace where all responsible businesses have opportunity to thrive. I look forward to working with them and the entire Board to drive results that help our members grow and make valuable contributions to the industry and the public."

Catherine Remy oversees the Global Sales and Business Development teams at LANXESS. A chemist by education, Remy has spent most of her career in various commercial roles within the specialty chemicals market. Before joining LANXESS and Emerald Kalama Performance Materials, Remy spent over 13 years at the Stepan Company, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals where she held positions as the sales director for Europe, the North American sales director for home and personal care, and the global director for key accounts for consumer products. Before joining Stepan Company, Remy was a sales manager and representative at chemical manufacturers SEPPIC and Brenntag.

"I am honored to join Fragrance Creators' Board of Directors," said Remy. "I'm thrilled that my career has allowed me to combine my passions for chemistry and scents on a broad scale. Fragrance Creators similarly emphasizes both the beauty of fragrance and the state-of-the-art science behind the industry. Together with my fellow Board members, I look forward to helping propel the association forward."

Bertrand Lemont has more than 25 years of experience across a wide range of product categories, including fine fragrance, beauty care, fabric care and home care. His demonstrated track record of success in this broad swath of the industry will be key as he joins the Board of an association that represents the entire fragrance value chain. Before joining OnScent as CEO, Lemont spent decades in various positions across the industry, including senior leadership roles at Givaudan, drom fragrances and International Flavors and Fragrances.

"I look forward to diving into my new role on Fragrance Creators Board of Directors," said Lemont. "I respect the association's dedication to science-based information and recognition of the overall artistry of the industry. I know how important it is to work together to achieve our goals. I am eager to join with my fellow Board members in leading the association to continue doing just that."

Both LANXESS (formerly Emerald Kalama Chemical) and OnScent (formerly Intarome, Premier Specialties, and Fragrance Solutions) are longstanding members of the Fragrance Creators Board of Directors. Remy replaces Kelly Pippine, LANXESS' former Vice President of Global Marketing for the Flavors and Fragrances Business Unit, and Lemont replaces Kenneth McCallister, former Director of Business Development at Intarome.

"We thank Kenneth and Kelly for their contributions to the organization," said Ahmed. "Their dedicated service has been invaluable."

###

Fragrance Creators Association is the trade association representing the majority of fragrance manufacturing in North America. We also represent fragrance-related interests along the value chain. Fragrance Creators' 60+ member companies are diverse, including large-, medium-, and small-sized companies that create, manufacture and use fragrances and scents for home care, personal care, home design, fine fragrance and industrial and institutional products. In addition, our members include companies that supply fragrance ingredients, including natural extracts and other raw materials that are used in perfumery and fragrance mixtures. Fragrance Creators established and administers the Congressional Fragrance Caucus, ensuring ongoing dialogue with members of Congress and staff. We are an active participant in IFRA and have a designated representative on the IFRA Board to help ensure the association's membership is represented in global discussions and the North American perspective is considered in global fragrance positions and policies. Fragrance Creators also produces The Fragrance Conservatory, the comprehensive digital resource for high-quality information about fragrancewww.fragranceconservatory.com. Learn more about our work for people, perfume and the planet at fragrancecreators.org.

Contact Information:

Malory Todd

mtodd@fragrancecreators.org



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Irvine, California, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irvine, CA, October 26, 2022 -- Origence, for the third consecutive quarter in 2022, and for the 4th straight quarter overall, has delivered a record amount in credit union loans through its lending platforms.

Credit unions funded 2 million loans through the Origence arc OS consumer LOS and CUDL lending platforms through the third quarter of 2022, a 24% year-over-year increase, generating a record $62.1 billion in credit union loans.

Credit unions using the CUDL auto lending network funded 1.5 million indirect auto loans through September of 2022 and continue to be the nations largest auto lender as an aggregate, experiencing 27% loan growth through August, according to data from AutoCount. CUDL credit unions have been the nations largest auto lender over the last five years.

Credit unions on the CUDL Network continue to outpace the loan growth of the remaining top 10 lenders in 2022, according to AutoCount data, and are the only lender experiencing double-digit growth year-to-date. The CUDL Network is the industrys largest credit union auto lending network that includes 1,100 credit unions and 16,000 auto dealers nationwide.

Credit unions continue to be a driving force in auto lending, capturing 26% of market share in the second quarter, their highest market share in five years, said Tony Boutelle, president and CEO of Origence.

Origence also introduced its Origence arc platform in the third quarter. The platform is comprised of arc OS (formerly Lending 360), arc MX (formerly Intuvo Marketing Automation), and the companys new arc DX member-facing digital origination portal. Combining these three applications, Origence arc has set the foundation for the future of the company and its lending products, providing credit unions with the technology to transform the entire origination journey for their institutions and their members.

Were committed to delivering lending technology that helps our credit union partners make more loans, advance the digital experience for their members, and gives them a true marketplace advantage today and in the future, noted Boutelle.

# # #

About Origence



Origence provides lending technology that elevates the origination experience to increase loan volume, create efficiencies, and grow accounts. With Origence, financial institutions can originate consumer and indirect loans with greater levels of productivity and increased scale, while also delivering a convenient and personalized borrower experience. Solutions also include marketing automation, auto shopping, lending operations, and more. Origence is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, visit www.origence.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
West Conshohocken, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, November 2nd the Templeton Prize will host a special event at The Times Center in New York City to honor 2022 Templeton Prize laureate Dr. Frank Wilczek. A Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist and author, Dr. Wilczek received the Templeton Prize for his discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the forces that govern the universe. In a statement earlier this year announcing the 2022 Prize recipient, John Templeton Foundation president Heather Templeton Dill said of Dr. Wilczeks achievements, Throughout Dr. Wilczeks philosophical reflections, there is a spiritual quality to his ideas. By uncovering a remarkable order in the natural world, Dr. Wilczek has come to appreciate different ways of thinking about reality, and through his written work, he has invited all of us to join him in the quest for understanding. When we come face to face with the beauty that Dr. Wilczek describes, we cant help but wonder about humankinds place and purpose in the universe.

The upcoming event at The Times Center in New York, New York will include remarks by Heather Templeton Dill, a lecture given by Dr. Wilczek, and a conversation with author and journalist Derek Thompson of the Atlantic, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

The Templeton Prize is one of the largest individual prizes in the world ($1.3M+). Since its founding in 1972, the Prize has been given to some of the most influential people of our time including Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2013), the Dalai Lama (2012) and Mother Teresa, who was awarded the inaugural Prize in 1973. The 2021 Templeton Prize was awarded to ethologist and conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall.

Dr. Wilczek, 71, will deliver remarks at the Times Center to an audience that will include scientists, journalists, and leaders of philanthropy. The program will also feature a brief film about his life and values, How Beauty Leads to Truth in Physics.

About the Templeton Prize

Established in 1972, the Templeton Prize is one of the worlds largest annual individual awards. It is given to honor individuals whose exemplary achievements advance Sir John Templetons philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it. Currently valued at 1.1 million British pounds, the award is adjusted periodically so it always exceeds the value of the Nobel Prize. Winners have come from all faiths and geographies, and have included Nobel Prize winners, philosophers, theoretical physicists, and one canonized saint. The Templeton Prize is awarded by the three Templeton philanthropies: the John Templeton Foundation, based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and by the Templeton World Charity Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust, based in Nassau, The Bahamas. To learn more, visit TempletonPrize.org.

About the Speakers

Frank Wilczek

Dr. Frank Wilczek is a Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist and author whose boundary-pushing investigations into the fundamental laws of nature have transformed our understanding of the forces that govern our universe. In May 2022, Dr. Wilczek was announced as the winner of the 2022 Templeton Prize.

The Templeton Prize, valued at more than $1.3 million, is one of the worlds largest annual individual awards. Established by the late global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, it is given to honor those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it. Dr. Wilczek is the sixth Nobel laureate to receive the Templeton Prize since its inception in 1972.

Dr. Wilczeks achievements in physics, which include establishing the theoretical description of one of the four fundamental forces in nature and proposing a leading explanation for dark matter, put him in the first rank of scientists. Moreover, as a public intellectual, his lectures and writings have illuminated the philosophical implications of his ideas. Across his work, he reveals a vision of a universe that embodies mathematical beauty from the magnificently large to the unimaginably small: a universe inherently beautiful in all its parts.

The Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Wilczek won the Nobel Prize in 2004 for his early-career work establishing the fundamental theory of the strong nuclear force. Since then, he has continued to pioneer new concepts in physics, naming and developing the theories of anyons, time crystals, and axions, each of which now defines major fields of inquiry. Throughout his career, Dr. Wilczek has used his exceptionally fertile scientific imagination to unveil previously hidden realities.

Dr. Wilczek has also engaged with a wide audience as a writer and speaker. He has written several popular books, including A Beautiful Question (2015) and The Lightness of Being (2008). In his most recent book, Fundamentals (2021), Dr. Wilczek presents a set of ten distilled insights drawn from physics and harmonized with artistic and philosophical sources to illuminate characteristics of physical reality. A columnist for the Wall Street Journal, he reflects on scientific subjects for a broad readership. His witty, enlightening authorial style puts him in the company of other great physicist-writers such as Nobel winner Richard Feynman and 2000 Templeton Prize laureate Freeman Dyson.

Dr. Wilczek received a B.S. at the University of Chicago in 1970, and a Ph.D. in physics at Princeton University in 1974. Currently he is the Herman Feshbach professor of physics at the MIT; Founding Director of the T. D. Lee Institute and Chief Scientist at Wilczek Quantum Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Distinguished Professor at Arizona State University; and Professor at Stockholm University.

He has been married to the journalist and author Betsy Devine since 1973. They have two daughters, Amity and Mira.

Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he publishes the newsletter Work in Progress on science, tech, and culture. He is the founder and host of the news podcast Plain English with Derek Thompson with the Ringer Podcast Network. He was previously the host of the podcast Crazy/Genius, which won the 2020 Publisher Podcast Award for best podcast of the year. A news analyst with NPR, Derek appears weekly on the national news show Here and Now and is also a contributor to CBS News. His first book, the national bestseller Hit Makers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction, has been translated into more than a dozen languages and was named the 2018 Book of the Year by the American Marketing Association. He is currently working on his second book, co-authored with Ezra Klein, on how to overcome a scarcity mindset and create a world of abundance. Derek lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife.

Heather Templeton Dill

Heather Templeton Dill is president of the John Templeton Foundation. Prior to assuming this role in 2015, she served as executive liaison to the president under her father, the late Dr. Jack Templeton. Dill is the granddaughter of the late Sir John Templeton.

In her tenure as president, Dill and the Foundation have awarded 1,334 grants and donations totaling more than $874 million. The John Templeton Foundation funds research and discovery across a range of subjects in the sciences, philosophy and theology from gratitude and hope to the psychology of purpose and positive neuroscience.

One of the main programs of the Foundation is the Templeton Prize, valued at $1.3 million. It is one of the worlds largest annual individual awards to honor individuals whose exemplary achievements advance her grandfathers philanthropic vision: harnessing the power of the sciences to explore the deepest questions of the universe and humankinds place and purpose within it.

The 2022 Templeton Prize Laureate, Dr. Frank Wilczek joins a list of 51 Prize recipients including St. Teresa of Kolkata (the inaugural award in 1973), the Dalai Lama (2012), and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2013). The 2021 Templeton Prize went to ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Preceding her was Dr. Francis Collins, former Director of the National Institutes of Health and leader of the Human Genome Project, for his demonstration of how religious faith can motivate and inspire rigorous scientific research. Other physicists who have won the Prize include Marcelo Gleiser (2019), Martin Rees (2011), John Barrow (2006), Charles H. Townes (2005), George Ellis (2004), Freeman Dyson (2000), and Paul Davies (1995).

Dill has spoken at various venues on living in a pluralistic world, on the research-supported benefits of a life of purpose, as well as the importance of intellectual humility. In 2020, she received the Citizen Diplomat of the Year Award, from Citizen Diplomacy International Philadelphia, jointly with Jennifer Templeton Simpson, and she was selected by Main Line Today magazine for its 2019 Women on the Move issue.

She served as a trustee of the John Templeton Foundation from 1997-2003 and 2009-2015 and has been a member of the Foundations executive, finance, and strategic planning committees. Dill previously served on the Templeton Religion Trust steering committee and the Templeton World Charity Foundation board and is currently a member of the board of First Trust Bank Limited. She holds a masters degree in American history from Villanova University and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in history and a concentration in public policy.

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CHICAGO, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autism Community Ventures ("ACV"), a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations and a mission to drive social, economic, and financial inclusion among neurodiverse jobseekers, is pleased to announce that its founder and neurodiversity expert Dr. Maureen Dunne was featured this week as a keynote speaker at the 2022 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit (the "Summit"), which took place virtually from Oct. 23-25.

Dr. Dunne's keynote presentation, "Investing in Neurodiversity to Build a More Inclusive Future", centered on the importance of innovation and investment in neurodiversity inclusion through private sector projects and funding, as well as the critical role neurodiversity will play in driving organizational performance and social progress in the years ahead. Dunne's experience as senior neurodiversity expert for the LEGO Foundation's $20 million Play For All Accelerator Fund, which launched earlier this year, was highlighted. Her presentation also offered an original framework for models of authentic inclusion.

The presentation will be available for on-demand viewing in the near future. More information can be found at the Summit's website.

Dunne also moderated a panel at the Summit to introduce entrepreneurship as a vital opportunity pathway to meaningful employment among the neurodiverse community. Panelists included business leaders selected for sponsorship as part of the Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Program, which was formed earlier this year through a partnership between Innovation DuPage (ID) and Autism Angels Group (AAG) to provide ongoing support to neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

The Stanford event follows Dr. Dunne's participation as an invited speaker at The Atlantic Festival 2022 (the "Festival"), which took place at the Wharf in Washington D.C. in September. Dunne was invited by The Atlantic as a key speaker as the Festival addressed the topic of neurodiversity within the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion segment for the first time in its history. The session was moderated by celebrated journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Donvan who authored the New York Times bestseller, "In a Different Key: The Story of Autism."

About Autism Community Ventures

Autism Community Ventures is a public benefit corporation with a global network of partner organizations and a mission to drive social, economic, and financial inclusion.

Contact Information:

Elyse Burton

Marketing Manager

elyse@nommedia.co



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BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IRL) (the Fund) announced today that the Board of Directors of the Fund adopted a proposal to liquidate the Fund. Subject to stockholder approval of the plan of liquidation (the Plan) adopted by the Board, the Fund plans to sell its assets, discharge its liabilities and distribute the net proceeds to stockholders.



The determination to seek the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund was based on an assessment of a variety of factors, including the Funds current level of assets and expenses, the Funds current discount to net asset value, as well as a review of potential alternatives. Ultimately, it was determined by the Board of Directors that it was in the best interest of stockholders to liquidate the Fund.

The Board plans to submit a proposal to stockholders to approve the Plan at a special meeting of stockholders (the Meeting) to be held in January 2023. If the proposal is approved by stockholders, the Fund will commence the orderly liquidation of its assets in accordance with the Plan. Following the liquidation of the Funds assets, the Fund will pay one or more liquidating distributions to stockholders of record.

Any solicitation of proxies by the Fund in connection with the Meeting will be made only pursuant to separate proxy materials filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under applicable federal securities laws. Because the proxy materials will contain important information, including a more detailed description of the Plan, stockholders are urged to read them carefully when they become available.

Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement for the Meeting with the SEC, the Fund will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Meeting. We urge stockholders to read the proxy statement (including any supplements thereto) and any other relevant documents that the Fund will file with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement and any other documents filed by the Fund with the SEC in connection with the Meeting at the SECs website at www.sec.gov , or by contacting the Fund at 1-800-468- 6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com.

Investment Objective: The New Ireland Fund, Inc., a closed-end, non-diversified investment company seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity securities of Irish securities.

The Fund is managed by KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBI Global Investors Ltd. based in Dublin, Ireland. KBI Global Investors Ltd. is majority owned by Amundi Asset Management, Europes largest asset manager by assets under management.

The Fund is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol - IRL. For further information, please contact the Fund at 1-800-468-6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com .
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the No. 1 app for daily prayer, Pray.com is partnering with renowned researchers to study the benefits that digitally enabled prayer can have on mental health and well-being during the current pandemic-induced mental health crisis. With approximately 26% of the U.S. adult population suffering from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to John Hopkins Medicine, and at a time when people are more interconnected digitally than in-person, Pray.com believes it's important to scientifically study the benefits of digital engagement with prayer for the first time.

"We know from experience and the existing anecdotal research, that prayer, meditation and consumption of faith-based content is beneficial to your mental and spiritual well-being," said Founder and CEO Steve Gatena. "We are excited to contribute to the scientific knowledge to further examine the science behind digital prayer and its impacts on mental, physical and spiritual health, an area of research that has been largely overlooked."

Partnering with established scientists in this space, Pray.com will conduct multiple first-of-their-kind studies to assess the impact of digitally-enabled prayer on mental health and wellness, bringing together science around mental health and digital prayer.

Dr. Jennifer Huberty, former Director of Science at Calm, who recently joined Pray.com as Fractional Chief Science Advisor, is leading the company's research efforts in partnership with Dr. Todd Hall, a professor of psychology at Biola University and a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program; Dr. Joshua Hook, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of North Texas; and Dr. Daryl R. Van Tongeren, Associate Professor of Psychology at Hope College.

"I am very passionate about mental health," said Dr. Huberty. "If we can show that spiritual well-being is linked to mental health benefits, then Pray.com, with its spiritual well-being offerings, could be a strategy to help people improve their mental wellness. By understanding its users' needs, the platform gives them an opportunity to connect with others and improve their mental health, which translates into other areas of their lives."

As the first religious mental health and wellness app to do so, Pray.com's purpose in these studies is to drive scientific insight into the impact digitally enabled prayer has on mental health and to use its findings to raise more awareness of ways to strengthen mental health by practicing the healthy habit of daily prayer.

About Pray.com

Founded in 2016 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community, Pray.com is the world's No. 1 app for daily prayer and Bible-based audio content. It recently launched a 24/7 live-streaming video channel, PrayTV. Reaching more than 10 million people worldwide through its mobile app and website, Pray.com is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Pray.com provides encouragement and inspiration through daily devotionals, Pastor podcasts, and Bedtime Bible Stories. Pray.com founders are Steve Gatena, Mike Lynn, Ryan Beck and Matthew Potter. See more at www.pray.com/discover.

Contact Information:

Melany Ethridge

melany@alarryross.com

(214) 912-8934



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Bosch has begun production of electric motors at its Charleston, S.C. manufacturing facility. Additionally, the company plans to invest more than $260 million to expand further the production of electrification products at the site, which is expected to create at least 350 net new jobs by 2025.

Electric motors from Bosch can deliver anywhere from 50 kilowatts to up to 500 kilowatts with torque ranging from 150 Nm to 1000 Nm. They feature up to 98% efficiency, which helps to maximize range of the vehicle. With a voltage range up to 850V, Bosch has developed electric motors suited for a variety of applications from passenger cars to light commercial vehicle use.

We have grown our electrification business globally and here in the North American region. Weve invested more than $6 billion dollars in electromobility development and in 2021 our global orders for electromobility surpassed $10 billion dollars for the first time. Local production helps to advance our customers regional electrification strategies, and further supports the market demand for electrification. Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America

Production of electric motors at the Charleston site began in October. It covers approximately 200,000 square feet in an existing building on the Bosch Charleston campus. The new assembly area includes the production of rotors and stators, and the final assembly of the electric motor.

The company has secured additional electromobility business that requires further expansion at the plant. An additional approximately 75,000 square feet will be added onto the existing building to make room for future production. The total investment for the expansion will be more than $260 million for the expansion and new high-tech manufacturing equipment. The expansion is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.

The Charleston plant stands out with a long history of process competency as well as its knowledge in the area of automation and robotics. Production at the site features highly-automated processes, and the site utilizes artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 methods to gain more efficiency.

Bosch has continued to invest in its presence in South Carolina. To move ahead the vision of sustainable mobility, Bosch announced its fuel cell stack production lately in August in Anderson, South Carolina, as part of a more than $200-million investment also expected to create at least 350 new jobs by the start of production in 2026.

The Bosch Charleston facility, which opened in 1974, is the largest manufacturing site in the United States for Bosch from an employment perspective with around 1,500 associates. It covers more than 900,000 square feet of floor space located on 118 acres.

The newly launched production of electric motors is located in a building formerly occupied by production of diesel components. Bosch announced in January 2020 that production of diesel powertrain components would be slowly ramped down. The site indicated it would secure electrification business.

The Bosch site in Charleston supports multiple products from the Bosch Mobility Solutions portfolio. It produces high-pressure fuel injectors and pumps for internal combustion engines. It also manufacturers safety-related products such as electronic stability control or ESP, an anti-skid technology that is estimated to have saved more than 9,000 lives in the US from 2008-2015 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Mass production of the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid began at Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM). The CR-V hybrid features a new two-motor hybrid system produced at Hondas Ohio Transmission Plant (TMP-O), and a newly refined Atkinson-cycle engine unique to hybrid models that is made at the Anna Engine Plant (AEP), also in Ohio.





The Indiana Auto Plant (IAP) and the East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) in Ohio, which produced the previous CR-V Hybrid, will begin production of the 2023 CR-V hybrid in the coming months. HCM is the global lead plant for CR-V hybrid production, the first time a hybrid has been built in Canada.

Representing a key step in Hondas electrification strategy, starting with the 2023 model year, about 50% of CR-Vs annual sales in the US will be powered by Hondas new, more powerful fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system.

The all-new 2023 Honda CR-V Sport and Sport Touring trims come standard with the new hybrid system featuring the more refined 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine that adds direct fuel injection and Hondas new fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system, featuring a pair of electric motors now arranged side-by-side in a parallel axis layout.

This new configuration allows for the use of a larger propulsion motor with increased torque output. Combined system output is 204 hp (a 3 hp increase, ISO net), while the traction-motor peak torque rises to 247 lb-ft of torque (up 15 lb-ft).

The hybrid-electric system is more refined at highway speeds and for the first time offers up to 1,000 pounds of towing capacity. Linear Shift Control elevates the driving experience by mimicking the vehicle speed-linked rev feel associated with a conventional drivetrain shifting gears at wide open throttle. The new hybrid-electric system also allows for a substantial increase in continuous maximum speed, which climbs from 86 mph to 115 mph.

The new CR-V is longer and wider with premium proportions and a significantly broader stance, further advancing the Honda rugged design direction for light trucks with a low horizontal beltline and a long, powerful front end. Hondas most popular SUV backs up its strong new looks with a more fun-to-drive personality, more confident and refined dynamics, and increased torque and capability.

All three plants producing CR-V in North AmericaHCM, IAP and ELPworked in close collaboration with the Anna Engine Plant (AEP) and the Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio (TMP-O), which are responsible for the all-new powertrain for the latest Honda electrified vehicle.

With the sales plan of the new CR-V and Accord hybrid trims expected to represent about 50% of the sales mix of each model, and three different Honda plants in North America producing the new CR-V hybrid models, both AEP and TMP-O were required to increase production volume for the new engine and hybrid system.

For AEP, this increase included more in-house production of engine components and an increase in local sourcing for parts previously supplied from Japan. For example, AEP is now producing the camshaft for the engine in-house, requiring new equipment and a higher number of processes for associates. TMP-O associates will be increasing production volume of the two-motor system 300% (from 500 to 1500 units per day) within just the first two to three months.

The 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine built at AEP is the first Honda engine to combine high-pressure direct-injection with multistage injection for an extremely homogeneous mixture that delivers clean combustion.





An associate at the Anna Engine Plant assembles the Atkinson-cycle engine.

To control high exhaust gas temperatures, the cylinder head uses a new two-piece water jacket, new gas-cooling exhaust ports and a large capacity cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve to bring exhaust gases from the exhaust system back into the chamber to reduce emissions.

The cylinder head is the largest that associates at AEP have ever produced and required modifications to the cylinder head casting area. The cylinder head casting department implemented a unique sand core mould designed by the production engineering team to accommodate the new EGR valve and enhance productivity for cylinder head production.

The engine also features a more rigid crankshaft and secondary balancer to reduce vibration and all-urethane engine cover, a first for Honda. Honda associates at AEP apply new lightweight fiber-foam insulators, that are highly resistant to heat and vibration, directly on the engine in three different places, creating a quieter and more comfortable ride.

The fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system made at TMP-O features a new arrangement, switching from coaxial motors of the same size stacked on top of each other to a two-motor parallel axis system with engines of different sizes mounted side-by-side. The new system also includes new high- and low-speed lockup ratios for direct engine drive on the highway and in the city.





Associates at the Ohio Transmission Plant assemble the two-motor hybrid unit.

Altogether, the new design improves responsiveness for a sportier driving feel and creates a more relaxed driving environment at highway speeds. It also allows for a higher sustained top speed, improves fuel economy and enables up to 1,000 pounds of towing.

TMP-O is the lead plant for production of the new two-motor system in North America. Combined with the higher volume production to meet Hondas hybrid sales strategy, TMP-O associates were challenged with an increased number of partsmore than double the previous systemthat had to be matured for mass production. The new system has more than 80 new parts being sourced from local suppliers, compared to just over 20 parts with the outgoing system.

Smart automation was employed in several locations to minimize the number of machines TMP-O added to produce the new system, boosting efficiency and reducing the need for additional space and investment. For example, the TMP-O machining department worked to commonize features and minimize the need for exclusive tooling. The assembly team then worked to apply flexible automation utilizing common robots that can quickly change end-of-the-arm tooling when running different models. This was a unique approach from what Honda plants in Japan and China pursued and paid off with increased flexibility and efficiency and more efficient use of floor space within the Ohio facility.

While installing new equipment and processes for the fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric system, TMP-O also had to continue production of the third-generation two-motor system on the same manufacturing lines to meet demand for the record sales of current CR-V and Accord hybrid models. Key strategies included adopting sub-assembly lines for the new shaft in order to keep the main assembly line processes the same, even with different and larger parts.

TMP-O associates also worked to reduce the length of time required for line modifications by one and a half months to enable the team to start production trials earlier and continue production of the prior generation two-motor unit.

Honda has produced automobiles in North America for 40 years, beginning in November 1982 at the Marysville Auto Plant. Honda began manufacturing operations in North America in 1979 with motorcycle production in Marysville, Ohio.

Cumulatively, Honda has invested nearly $24.6 billion in its North American manufacturing capabilities, including more than $3.6 billion over the past five years alone. The company works with nearly 800 original equipment suppliers in North America with cumulative parts purchases of more than $535 billion.
As much as skeptics insist that the internal combustion engine (ICE) is dead and hydrogen is a non-starter, it appears that significant research and development is being conducted into the technology across geographies. China, despite being one of the worlds largest producers and market for electric vehicles (EVs), is actively exploring alternate energy technologies for automobiles to meet its sustainability goals, including hydrogen internal combustion engines (H 2 ICEs) for commercial vehicles, finds GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

As ICE technology is predicted to be slowly fading away, there has been a boom around H 2 ICE in China to combat pollution and climate change. Such developments are happening at par with hydrogen production, charging infrastructure, and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles (FCEVs) to scale up to the requirements of a greener environment. Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData

Generating hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, is a costly business but with government support, domestic firms are developing hydrogen-compatible ICEs for large commercial vehicles dubbed hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles (HICEVs). These engines offer zero vehicular emissions, quick charging, and better ranges. But on the flip side, they are complex and expensive to build and maintain while having safety concerns. Abhishek Paul Choudhury, Senior Disruptive Tech Analyst at GlobalData

GlobalDatas Innovation Explorer database highlights innovations in China that are accelerating the development of H 2 ICE technology.

China Yuchai. China Yuchai International (China Yuchai) launched its first operating hydrogen engine YCK05 for Chinas commercial vehicle market. The hydrogen-powered engine leverages advanced technologies, including high-pressure multi-point input air injection, high-efficiency low-inertia turbocharging, and high-efficiency lean burn combustion. Its design improves the engine structure as well as its supporting systems like the combustion and gas distribution systems.

FAW. FAW Group (FAW), through its subsidiary FAW Jiefang, developed the first domestic heavy-duty commercial vehicle direct-injection H 2 ICE. It is a 13L heavy-duty engine that can run with a power of more than 500hp. With a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2L, an indicated thermal efficiency of around 55%, and a turbocharger, the engine offers dual fuel injection of hydrogen and ammonia, which can be flexibly converted into hydrogen and other net zero-carbon fuel products.

GAC. GAC Motor (GAC) tested a hydrogen combustion engine that has a high thermal efficiency of 44%. It also includes an upgraded hydrogen supply system that increases power density and lowers the possibility of hydrogen leakage. The new engine seemingly has better heat dissipation capabilities which reduce the risk of combustion.

Weichai Power. Weichai Power partnered with China National Heavy Duty Truck (Sinotruk) to release Chinas first commercial H 2 ICE truck under the Yellow River brand. Weichai Power created the vehicles 13L H 2 ICE, the commercial applications for which include ports, cities, power plants, steel mills, industrial parks, and other unique transportation environments.
Neste will supply the Air France-KLM Group with more than 1,000,000 tons (approximately 1.26 billion liters or 333 million gallons US) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel over a period of 8 years starting in 2023. This SAF agreement is one of the largest of its kind in the aviation industry and supports the Air France-KLM Groups commitment to a more sustainable aviation sector.





Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over the fuels life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel.

The Air France-KLM Group (AF-KLM) and Neste expanded their existing cooperation with this new strategic partnership for the supply of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to the Group. This new SAF agreement for a period of 8 years is one of the largest of its kind in the aviation industry to date.

The Air France-KLM Group aims to reduce its CO 2 emissions per passenger/km by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019a target which has been submitted to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Its decarbonization trajectory includes the incorporation of 10% SAF by 2030, alongside fleet renewal and eco-piloting. The contract with Neste, part of a first set of long-term supply agreements, constitutes a further step for the Group to achieve its 10% SAF incorporation targets.

The agreement builds on SAF supply to the Air France-KLM Group which started in 2019. The two companies have been working together for several years with KLM being one of the first airlines using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

As the worlds leading producer of SAF, we are helping the aviation industry to work towards a more sustainable future, already today. This long-term collaboration with Air France-KLM shows how we are working together in a number of areas. By the end of next year, Neste will have an annual SAF production capacity of 1.5 million tons, ready to support the Air France-KLM Group and other airlines in Europe and across the globe. Thorsten Lange, Executive Vice President, Renewable Aviation at Neste

Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is an available solution today. As a drop-in fuel it can be used with existing aircraft engines and airport fuel infrastructure, requiring no new investment. Neste MY SAF is produced from 100% sustainably-sourced, renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil and animal fat waste.
Timeline for One UI 5 rollout revealed: Galaxy S and Z models to get it by the end of the year
Following its initial introduction in Korea back in July and a subsequent launch for the Chinese market in September, Samsung is now rolling out Maintenance mode globally. This feature, also known as Repair mode in Korea, allows you to block access to your personal data on your phone while it's being serviced.

The rollout of Maintenance mode starts with "select models" from the Galaxy S21 and S22 series running the just-released One UI 5. The rollout will continue throughout 2023, "with availability expanding to more Galaxy devices", Samsung says.

If you are lucky enough to have a device that gets this feature, you'll find it in Settings > Battery and device care. Once you turn on Maintenance mode, and then reboot your device, all your personal information will be inaccessible to the person working on repairing your phone. They won't be able to retrieve your installed apps either.

The data and accounts generated by them while in Maintenance mode, as well as the apps downloaded from the Galaxy Store, will be automatically deleted when you exit it. Speaking of exiting it - you do this by tapping the mode's quick settings icon, and then authenticating using your fingerprint. After that, the phone reboots into normal mode as if nothing ever happened.

This sounds pretty great to us; you just need to ensure your local repair shop doesn't have a blanket policy of hard resetting devices before they come in (and/or before they go back out to customers).

Source | Via
Gubernatorial candidate Felix Camacho, whose platform states Guam Memorial Hospital and the private Guam Regional Medical City can co-exist and complement each others services, now is proposing that the government of Guam buy, expand and take over the $400 million GRMC facility.

Long-term plan

Building a new GMH should instead be a long-term plan, Camacho, a former Republican governor, said during an interview this week on KUAM. It is unclear if the 136-bed GRMC facility, which opened in 2015, is for sale.

Camachos running mate, Sen. Tony Ada, who last year agreed with the $1.4 billion plan for GovGuam to build a new hospital and government medical complex, now is questioning whether the project should happen.

The situation is quite a bit different from last year and I do not believe GovGuam will be able to afford the facility as planned, Ada said Wednesday. Planning for a new hospital is a good idea. We need a new hospital. But we need to fix GMH, get it accredited and plan for a hospital we can afford concurrently.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has said she plans to build a new hospital and medical complex on leased military land in Mangilao within the next three to four years.

The governor is talking about the health campus that she wants to build up in Eagles Field, Ada said during one of the Camacho campaigns videos, on Sept. 19. First of all, shes taking land away from original landowners, then she wants to build a billion-dollar facility. Would the people of Guam be able to afford the debt service on that billion-dollar facility?

It certainly is something that has to be considered, Camacho responded.

Ada co-sponsored

Ada a year ago co-sponsored and voted for Bill 121-36, which allows the governor to build the health care facility and approves government funding to pay for it on a lease-to-own basis. The bill passed unanimously, with Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and Sen. Mary Torres absent.

The bill, which became law last October, allows the governor to sign a contract to finance, design and build a new government health care center, which will include a new Guam Memorial Hospital and new facilities for the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.

The law authorizes up to $35 million per year in lease payments, for up to 40 years, and Leon Guerrero has said she plans to use as much as $300 million in American Rescue Plan funding toward the cost of the new GMH.

Changes

Ada on Wednesday said the following things have changed during the past year: Only $170 million in American Rescue Plan funding might be available for the hospital; and federal Earned Income Tax Credit reimbursements to GovGuam, which were identified as a primary funding source for the $35 million annual payments, are not available for the hospital.

On the issue of using ancestral land, Ada said the law for the health care complex requires it to be built on GovGuam land. The law states the property shall be in GovGuams inventory.

State of failure

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which assessed the existing GMH facility in November 2019, recommended that Guam build a replacement hospital at a cost of about $743 million instead of spending $761 million to renovate the current facility.

The current infrastructure of the GMH facility is in an overall state of failure due to age, environmental exposure, lack of financial resources to support pre-planned capital infrastructure replacements and lack of previous facilities design adherence to building codes, the Army Corps reported.

Replacement or extensive repair of the facility is required in order to ensure compliance with hospital accreditation standards and to protect staff, patients and visitors, the Army Corps reported.

Eagles Field

Camacho, who is seeking an unprecedented third term as governor, has opposed using the Eagles Field site for a new hospital. His platform states his administration would instead prioritize the construction of a new GMH facility in Tamuning, where all major medical infrastructure and ancillary support services are located.

Camacho, during a KUAM candidates interview this week, described the construction of a new hospital as a long-term project, working with lawmakers.

Do a short-term fix on GMH, negotiate a potential buyout for GRMC and plan long-term for the buildout of a new hospital, Camacho said.

Use existing facilities

Instead of building new public health and mental health facilities, his platform proposes renovating and continuing to use existing facilities. Mental health services should be community based, replacing programs administered out of central facilities, the platform states.
A commission would be formed to tackle many of the outdated sections of Guams criminal code, something that hasnt been done in nearly 50 years, if a bill that advanced during session at the Legislature on Tuesday night becomes law.

The last time the local government took a hard look at its criminal code was in 1977  before the Supreme Court of Guam was even established. Bill 311 would stand up a new team to review the current code and give them $250,000 to complete the work.

Once the review is done, recommendations on how the law can be changed will be passed on to lawmakers for final approval.

Its going to be a lengthy process and discussion, Sen. Frank Blas Jr., the bills main sponsor, said during session. These titles within our Guam Code Annotated  for lack of a better term are antiquated. Some of these go back as far as the 1800s.

There have been many piecemeal attempts to fix the criminal code over the years, said Supreme Court Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido, and I have seen firsthand from my responsibilities on the Supreme Court many shortcomings.

Upon questioning from Sen. Sabina Perez, he said a review of Guams sentencing laws were at the forefront of issues for the public.

Carbullido said the $250,000 investment was modest for the major undertaking, and that the Judiciary of Guam, which will take the lead on the potential review, will end up donating much of its resources, along with working after hours, to complete the task.

Checks and balances

But some lawmakers were uncomfortable with having the Judiciary take the lead, when that branch of government would ultimately be the one to rule on whatever laws were adopted.

Sen. Mary Camacho questioned the move, given that we generally are under the impression that the judiciary doesnt comment on laws or have positions on laws. They merely interpret laws.

Carbullido responded that having the judiciary involved in a criminal code review was common in other jurisdictions. It would ultimately be up to the Legislature to decide on passing any laws, he added.

I think we satisfied ourselves internally, that we can provide our expertise without necessarily really conflicting ourselves, Carbullido said.

The chief justice would be responsible for appointing the executive director of the commission, along with three members of the 15-member panel.

Speaker Therese Terlaje said she was very uncomfortable having the judiciary involved in setting policy for the government of Guam, Its at the heart of the legislative function.

Terlaje noted that there were some states that did not involve the courts at all when conducting a review of their criminal code, and that the last time it was done in Guam, only one person was selected to represent the judiciary.

She succeeded in amending the bill to add two members of the Guam Bar Association to the potential commission.

The commission would otherwise be made up of:

Three appointees from the chief justice.

Three appointees from the governor.

Three appointees from the Legislature.

The attorney general.

Executive director of the Public Defender Service Corporation.

Chief of police.

Director of corrections.

The compiler of laws as a nonvoting member.

The executive director of the review commission, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.

No funding yet

There currently is no money available for appropriation in GovGuams fiscal 2023 budget, which will require that the $250,000 appropriation for the review commission will have to come from any excess revenue from fiscal 2022.

Blas amended the measure to draw the money from fiscal 2022 excess upon the completion of GovGuams annual audit.

While the government collected $103.5 million more than its target tax revenue last fiscal year, much of that money has already been obligated. Several provisions in the 2023 Budget Act seek to tap into whatever is left after the audit is finalized, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

Bill 311 moved to the voting file without objection.
Former Guam Police Department Lt. Jojo Templo Garcia, who is on trial on three counts of terrorizing as a third-degree felony, four counts of reckless conduct and one count of official misconduct  all as misdemeanors  took the stand in his trial once again on Wednesday, saying police officers at the scene during the November 2021 investigation didnt do their jobs properly.

They know the job. They should know the job. I dont like to micromanage, Garcia said.

How were they doing their jobs? You were observing what they were doing, what was your assessment? asked prosecuting attorney Dannis Le.

They didnt do a proper investigation, said Garcia.

Officers Peter Quenga and Jason Young previously testified that they were among the four officers that were on the scene in November 2021 during the fight Garcia had with Joseph Andrew Borja and a woman.

Garcia, who was a GPD lieutenant and commander of the Dededo Precinct at the time, said the police officers didnt do crucial parts of the investigation  such as writing down or recording notes taken from all the individuals they encountered.

He also said officers did not immediately follow up in the search for another individual who was present during the incident.

It was only done after the fact. Someone identified him, said Garcia, explaining that he later found out that the individual had an outstanding warrant of arrest.

Additionally, he said that no arrests were made that night when they should have been.

However, Garcia did tell the court that he did not review the other officers' reports of that night and he was told by his superiors to write an incident report the next day.
The body of a man was recovered after a reported drowning Oct. 22, 2022, at Hagatna Marina. Police are currently investigating.
Fentanyl has already made its way to Guam, but nowhere near the levels that are being seen in states, including Hawaii, where fentanyl overdoses have been on the rise, authorities said.

At this point, its important to spread awareness about fentanyl and prevent widespread use on Guam, they said.

Fentanyl is serious. Fentanyl is a problem. Its all over the mainland. Is it here? Again, it depends on who you talk to, right? I would say, its coming. There have been several cases locally that weve seen, but nowhere near what is being seen nationwide, nowhere near, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Erwin Fejeran said.

Fejeran was a guest speaker at the Guam Chamber of Commerces Wednesday membership meeting at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. His agency is the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine, but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Its also up to 100 times more potent than heroin.

That stuff kills, Fejeran said, adding that mere exposure to fentanyl may be fatal.

Narcan

In Hawaii, theres even a push for Narcan to be placed in every classroom after authorities noted a rise in fentanyl overdoses.

Narcan is used to reverse overdoses of opioids, such as fentanyl. It comes in a nasal spray.

Fejeran said Homeland Security Investigations has worked with the Guam Police Department and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency to make Narcan available to officers, but theres no telling whether every Guam ambulance or police car has it.

At the meeting, Fejeran showed a video clip of a stateside police officer who nearly died after being exposed to fentanyl, and how Narcan helped him survive at the scene.

Authorities have said that meth or ice remains the most widespread illegal drug on Guam, and that it is tied to home invasions, thefts, robberies and assaults.

Rainbow fentanyl

Fentanyl can be made to appear like regular pills. Rainbow fentanyl can also look like candy or sidewalk chalk.

With Halloween approaching, authorities are asking parents to be more vigilant about trick-or-treat candies.

Fejeran, who is a former Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, said the community needs to help authorities address the drug problem.

If a parent is medically prescribed morphine for pain, for example, that parent needs to make sure the medicine is not accessible to children and others.

For those who want to anonymously turn in leftover or expired medication to prevent it from being sold or used illegally, theres a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration prescription drug takeback day on Oct. 29 at several locations, such as the Guam Premier Outlets and Agana Shopping Center.

Call 911 if you suspect an overdose of any medication, Fejeran said.

One of the telltale signs is the bluish discoloration, because theyre not breathing. Theyre gonna turn blue, that tells you theyre not getting enough oxygen, he said.

If Narcan is available, the person giving it to a heroin addict, for example, should be aware of how the person may react.

Because guess what you did? You just messed up their high. So theyre gonna come out of that in a frantic state and they want to fight. Just be careful and know that thats gonna occur, he said.

Even if Narcan is administered, the person should be taken to the hospital, Fejeran said. Thats because the effects of the opioid would linger.

Flaw in our culture

During a question-and-answer with Chamber members, authorities said a fentanyl pill could sell $5 to $10 on the mainland, depending on where it is bought.

Fejeran, who grew up on Guam, said theres one flaw in our culture that affects how the island deals with illegal drugs.

Its the none-of-my-business attitude, where people say, Let it go. God will take care of it.

Those days are over, my friends. We need to take a stand and do whats right. If we know people or we know of people that are doing illegal things, i.e. selling drugs, we need to take a stand, and take our community back. Report it, whether its to Customs, to GPD or to HSI, he said. Meth is bad. Its been rampant for several years. God only knows what happens when fentanyl gets here.

Ed Untalan, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, brought up the issue of fentanyl during the business organizations September membership meeting, and is glad that HSIs Fejeran and GPD Sgt. Chris Dangan took the time to share more information about the drug.

The important message is everyone needs to be aware and everybody needs to work together to be able to protect our island, he said.
Ron McNinch is a longstanding member of the Guam community and frequently gives his opinion on a wide range of topics.




Haiti - FLASH : Attempted kidnapping and assassination of journalist Roberson Alphonse





The Ministry of Communication learned with horror the news of the attempted kidnapping and assassination perpetrated early Tuesday, October 25, 2022, in Delmas 40B, against the highly respected career journalist within the Haitian press, Roberson Alphonse, while on his way to his workplace at Magik9 for the presentation of his morning news program.



According to information provided by Frantz Duval, Editor-in-Chief of the daily newspaper Le Nouvelliste and Director of Magik9, the vital prognosis of Roberson Alphonse is, fortunately, not engaged, despite the fact that he was hit by several projectiles.



The Ministry takes this painful opportunity to wish a speedy recovery to the journalist and show its total solidarity with the family of the victim, his collaborators as well as the entire corporation hard hit by this unfortunate event which threatens once too often the press sector in Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2022/10/25 | Source

New actor Lee Kwang-hee will join the drama "Love Class - Season 2".

Advertisement

Lee Kwang-hee's agency, AtsuroiENT, said, "Lee Kwang-hee, an actor, is in the "Love Class - Season 2" as Ma-roo".

"Love Class - Season 2" is a follow-up to "Love Class" which depicts a loser getting flirting lessons from a handsome man. It's a drama about the love and youth of college freshmen and a love story between three couples who stick together because they like each other but also bicker and fight all the time due to their egos.

Lee Kwang-hee will play the role of innocent and love-filled freshman Ma-roo in the drama and work with BAE173 member J-Min, and will revitalize the drama with fresh visuals and natural acting like a new actor.

Actor Lee Kwang-hee, who is in the acting department of the Korea National University of Arts, has appeared in a series of short films such as "Head Gear", "The Reason Christmas is Warm", and "A Dog Barking Night", showing rapid growth and has drawn attention to the producers.

Meanwhile, Lee Kwang-hee, who is drawing attention as a new actor who is looking forward to the future, will begin filming "Love Class - Season 2" later this month.
Markku Broas , the chief physician of infectious diseases at the Hospital District of Lapland, said the recommendation was issued based on the wishes of hospital staff.

THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT of Lapland on Tuesday announced it is recommending that social and health care professionals receive a fourth dose of a coronavirus vaccine, deviating from the national recommendation issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

People in administration and clinics expressed their hope that, if theres enough research data, we start the fourth vaccinations of social and health care workers because of the very high number of coronavirus patients weve had, he explained to YLE.

Mia Kontio, a senior expert at THL, said to the public broadcaster that expanding the national recommendation is not necessary given the high proportion of people who have received a fourth vaccine dose in Finland.

Last week wed given the fourth most fourth vaccine doses among EU countries, she told.

Eeva Ruotsalainen, a deputy chief physician at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), viewed on YLEs A-studio yesterday evening that the Hospital District of Lapland has taken a step in the right direction.

Im naturally hoping for a nationwide ruling so that were all on the same page about the issue. I understand well the step forward taken in Lapland, and I hope well all follow suit, she said.

Ruotsalainen pointed out that not recommending the fourth dose to social and health care staff makes Finland an exception in the EU. The European Commission on 12 October recommended that fourth doses be administered to social and health care staff.

Were in a camp of our own in Finland, she said. I do believe theres medical justification for administering the vaccine. Weve now received an entirely new vaccine, one thats tailored to combat the omicron variant. It could have the effect of preventing people from both contracting and transmitting the virus.

The nationwide recommendation is not binding, reminded both Otto Helve, the head of health security at THL, and Taneli Puumalainen, a director at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Municipalities and hospital districts are responsible for organising and carrying out coronavirus vaccinations. They have the opportunity to make decisions that differ from those made by THL, Puumalainen stated to YLE.

Helve also estimated that it is not necessary to start administering fourth doses to under 60-year-olds without underlying medical conditions.

Our population is protected fairly well against severe forms of the disease. Were of course monitoring the situation constantly and will amend the recommendation if necessary, he commented.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Late payment reminders were sent to higher education students who registered as attending by 30 September 2022 but did not pay the student healthcare fee by the due date.

The due date is 30 September 2022 for students in higher education who registered as attending for the autumn term by 30 September 2022. Altogether about 230,000 students paid the healthcare fee by the due date.
Clocks are changed in all EU Member States at the same time on the same date.

In Finland , summer time ends and clocks are changed back to Eastern European Time on the night between Saturday and Sunday. Clocks will be changed back by one hour next Sunday, 30 October 2022, at 4.00 in the morning.

Adjusting the clocks at the same time is important for international rail and air traffic, for example. Clocks are always changed on the last Sunday of March and October. Early Sunday morning was chosen as the time causing the least inconvenience because the volume of traffic is at its lowest then.

Finland has observed Daylight Saving Time without interruption since 1981. Switching to summer time and back to winter time is a unified practice within the European Union.

Decision on ending seasonal time changes postponed

In 2018, the European Commission proposed that the biannual clock changes would be abandoned across Europe in a harmonised manner.

The initial target schedule for the Commissions proposal has not been met. In spring 2019, the European Parliament voted in favour of ending seasonal time changes. At that time, the Parliament proposed that clocks be changed for the last time in 2021.

However, the proposal is still awaiting consideration by the Council of the EU, for the issue shall be decided jointly by the Council and the Parliament. The Councils consideration would require all Member States to form their position on the matter. For now, the matter is not under consideration in the Council.

HT

Source: Ministry of Transport and Communications
Majanen argued that although the purpose of both taxes  curtailing tax planning  is valid, they would only generate little tax revenue and have stirred up concerns among businesses, with the start-up community interpreting them as hostile measures.

JUHA MAJANEN , the permanent state secretary at the Ministry of Finance, on Tuesday told Helsingin Sanomat he believes the government should consider scrapping its capital appreciation and work trip taxes in order not to undermine economic growth.

Helsingin Sanomat highlighted that it is unusual for a key government official to comment publicly on government proposals.

Also Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko (Centre) viewed last week that the government should withdraw the proposals, adding that she appreciates the importance of the proposals for the left-wing parties in the ruling coalition.

Her assessment drew a response from Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP).

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, Marin stated to YLE on Sunday.

The capital appreciation tax has been designed to prevent wealthy individuals from avoiding capital gains tax by relocating to a country with a lower tax on capital gains. The tax would enable authorities to tax assets sold overseas for the amount the asset had appreciated while the individual was living in Finland.

The tax has been branded as an exit tax particularly by its critics.

A similar tax is in place in several western countries, including Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

The work trip tax, meanwhile, would introduce the concept of an economic employer to enable authorities to levy tax on work done for a Finnish employer even if the employees formal employer was based overseas.

Helsingin Sanomat explained that the tax would apply to certain individuals coming to Finland to work for a temporary economic employer. An employee coming from outside the company would be immediately liable for taxes, while employees coming through an internal transfer would be liable for taxes if their stay exceeded 14 days or their work trips to the country added up to 46 days in a single year.

Both draft proposals have been criticised as shoddy by the Finnish Council of Regulatory Impact Analysis. Neither has yet to be presented to the Parliament.

Majanen said the flaws are attributable to the attempts of tax specialists from different parties seeking to influence the contents of the proposals from the very beginning. It wasnt the kind of normal preparatory work where the officialdom drafts a proposal and mulls over the appropriate parameters, he stated.

Although some of the flaws have been rectified, he remains genuinely concerned about the feedback from businesses.

Ive been contacted by numerous start-up companies that compete for top experts in the global markets. Even though the contacts are probably mostly about interest protection, these taxes have been interpreted  rightly or wrongly  as hostile measures or punishments, said Majanen.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
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Over 120 models introduced at Vietnam Motor Show 2022

Over 120 models are being displayed at the Vietnam Motor Show 2022 which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26.









Over 120 models displayed at the Vietnam Motor Show 2022. (Photo: VNA)

The five-day event, jointly held by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) and the Vehicles Importers Vietnam Association (VIVA), attracted the participation of 14 renowned brands, namely Audi, Brabus, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Morgan, MG, RAM, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.



The Vietnam Motor Show 2022 also marks the first-time participation of other means of transportation from well-known brands in the industry including trucks, large capacity vehicles and electric vehicles.



It not only features display activities with exceptional products but also offers visitors intriguing and novel experiences through engaging in interactive activities.



Visitors are offered an opportunity to experience a synchronised technology journey from check-in to taking part in surveys and QR code scanning games to collect brand logos and a wheel of fortune to receive gifts. Visitors can also experience AR technology showing the exhibition's 3D car models, videos and images of car brands with their own smartphones.



Laurent Genet, a representative from VIVA, said that through the show, VAMA, VIVA and manufacturers want to show their efforts to bring high-quality products to consumers, and contribute to the development of Vietnams automobile industry./.
This winter, Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi invites travellers to reignite their sense of adventure with the launch of new Beach Tented Villas. Set amongst lush foliage and with direct access to the sugar-white sand beach, the villas have been thoughtfully designed to sit in harmony with the natural island environment, striking the perfect balance between luxury, adventure, space, and seclusion. A unique alternative to the traditional beach villa and overwater accommodation, the Beach Tented Villas will be available to book from November 2022.

In celebration of the launch, Fairmont Maldives has introduced a new Conscious Castaway experience, with unique in-villa experiences, from intimate movie nights under the stars, to private beachfront BBQs, as well as in-depth exploration of the island's many sustainability initiatives, including snorkelling safaris around the Coralarium, and Sustainability Lab.

The Beach Tented Villas

Set on their own private pocket of beach, the new villas are designed provide a safari-style stay whilst mirroring the beauty and diversity of the island's verdant flora and fauna. Natural wooden frames are swathed in white fabric, which can be rolled up completely to offer unparalleled views of the turquoise ocean beyond from floor-to-ceiling windows. A neutral colour palette is accented with an eclectic collection of patterned throws and cushions, pieces of striking Maldivian artwork and rattan rugs, with a centrepiece chandelier lighting up the luxurious lounge area. Spacious and secluded, the Beach Tented Villas house a master suite with California King Bed and en-suite bathroom, separate children's bedroom, spacious alfresco decking area with loungers and hammocks, outdoor roll-top tub and rain shower, and a Sala for communal dining that overlooks the private pool.

The archipelago's most luxurious glamping experience, guests of the villas can call on the island mixologist to prepare cocktails at the private bar, host a BBQ on the sand prepared by the chef or relax with a spa treatment or yoga session on the deck. Each villa is also equipped with bicycles, a telescope for stargazing and a personal villa host, available 24 hours a day to ensure guests have everything they need to explore the island in style. What's more, the team will leave messages in a bottle for guests to find throughout their stay, containing special experiences for them to enjoy, from an Indian-head-massage at Willow Stream Spa to a round of sunset cocktails at Onu Onu.

Hotel website
The hotel group's newest brand, Vignette, will celebrate its first anniversary with the signing of its 10th hotel.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a Management Agreement with HOC Hospitality Investments Ltd., for a new build Vignette hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The signing marks the brand's foray into Middle East and Africa region, as the 10th Vignette hotel, coinciding with its first Anniversary.

Vignette Collection is a family of one-of-a-kind exclusive hotels curated for guests seeking rich and varied independent stay experiences. Where luxury meets purpose, Vignette Collection hotels weave responsibility, community, and locality together and exist to make a positive impact in every way.

House of Chinhara - Vignette Collection will open in January 2026 in the city of Victoria Falls and offer an urban resort hospitality option to over 250,000 annual tourist visitors. The awe-inspiring waterfall, one of the largest in the world, and its Rainforest National Park and Elephant Trails attract leisure visitors seeking both serenity and adventure. However, following the recent designation of the town as a financial services Special Economic Zone and the creation of the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, the area is expected to see a significant increase in corporate and MICE demand as well.

Based in the city centre, and just 20km from the airport, the House of Chinhara is made up of 99 keys and includes 2 F&B outlets, and 3 bars/cafes on site. Guests can also make use of its health club and 800 sqm of spa/retail space. Also catering to corporate demand, the hotel will include four meeting rooms comprising 620 sqm, with the largest room hosting up to 360 people in a theatre style layout.

The hotel will complement the Six Senses Victoria Falls, which is also being developed by HOC Hospitality Investments Ltd. as the brand's first riverside game lodge resort in the Victoria Falls National Park buffer zone, a UNESCO Protected Area. The property will have 54 rooms and three food and beverage outlets including an all-day dining, a specialty dining, and a signature dining & sundowner bar, as well as a spa, integrated retail and concept store.

IHG's Vignette Collection gives owners of world-class independent hotels the opportunity to retain their distinctive identity, while benefitting from a global scale and Luxury and Lifestyle expertise. Vignette Collection hotels are unique in their own right, with their own distinct outlook and story to tell, and this new signing is no exception. It joins existing Vignette properties across countries including Portugal, Austria, Thailand and Australia, but House of Chinhara marks the brand's first foray into the IMEA region.

The town of Victoria Falls is located in the northwest of Zimbabwe on the border with Zambia and has a population of 35,000, which increases up to 10-fold through tourist visitation annually. While the town is remote in relation to the rest of the country, it enjoys a central location in the region relative to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi.

Hotel website
Drusch was promoted to general manager of The Pfister Hotel and managing director of both The Pfister Hotel and Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, succeeding Tim Smith who retired this fall.

Drusch has over 15 years in the hospitality industry, beginning his career while still in college. He most recently served as general manager at Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel since 2020. Under his leadership, Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel became a AAA Four Diamond property in 2021 and has been honored by Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awardsas one of the top hotels in the Midwest for three consecutive years. Prior to this role, he served in various operational leadership positions while at The Pfister Hotel and Hilton Milwaukee City Center, both Marcus Hotels & Resorts' properties. He also held management roles at properties in the Phoenix-area at the start of his career. In his new role as managing director and general manager of The Pfister Hotel, Drusch will oversee operations of The Pfister Hotel and Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel.

Drusch holds a bachelor's degree in justice studies from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He also serves on the Greater Milwaukee Hotel & Lodging Association's board of directors. In 2022, Drusch was named a Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient for his significant contributions to the hospitality industry and the local community.
Lee Hayhurst sat down with Mike Reyes, Sabre vice president of platform product management, at the recent T2RL 'Engage' conference in London to hear more about its vision for supporting retailers that are ambitious to become the 'Amazon of travel'

The COVID pandemic has accelerated efforts to sunset the traditional travel technologies and this is expected to usher in a golden age of travel retailing.

Mike Reyes, vice president of platform product management at Sabre, foresees one of the fallouts of the pandemic will be travel firms adopting tech to become better digital retailers.

And he says this is what underpinned Sabres exclusive partnership with search giant Google agreed before the pandemic and its focus as the crisis fades and travel looks to the future.

We had a decision to make at Sabre, Reyes said, do we retrench or do we look ahead at what travel will look like coming out of this and what do we want to be.

And we made a decision to make a bit of a transformation to help our customers be better retailers.

With everyone sitting at home and no one flying, the pandemic emboldened us to say what do we think airlines will be looking for.

Reyes was speaking to Travolution at the recent T2RL Engage airline conference in London where he gave a keynote on Sabres vision of a digital retail revolution in travel.

He said with airlines historic data rendered worthless by the pandemic, the focus has to be on accelerating the use of Artificial Intelligence to be more attuned to customer needs.

Sabre decided before COVID to end its multi-source technology strategy and to work exclusively on Google as it retires its own legacy mainframe systems and shifts to the cloud.

Reyes said it chose Google as much as Google chose Sabre because, despite its own in-house travel IT expertise, the search giant needed a travel partner with a shared vision.

We started thinking about what does it mean when we are fully off mainframe. What it was about was could we have a shared vision of a tech partner not just a tech vendor.

They [Google] were trying to grow their market share. But they look at it in terms of how many companies in the next years are going to go through a transformation, getting out of legacy technology and moving towards cloud.

The pie is going to be several times bigger than it is today. They chose to say they want strategic partners in a host of verticals, including travel, that they can invest in. For us Google were clearly the best in class.

Although Sabre and Google are technically competitors  ITA software, that was acquired by the search giant for $700 million in 2011, still sits behind its Flights product  travel retailing remains a small part of its overall business.

Read the full article at travolution.co.uk
Fort Lauderdale, FL - Advantage Reserve, a leading provider of high-quality central reservations services to the hospitality industry, has announced its partnership with Margaritaville, the global lifestyle brand synonymous with fun and escapism, for 12 of its resorts and hotels located in the U.S. and Costa Rica, with plans for expansion as the brand develops additional properties around the world.

After a considerable vetting process, Advantage Reserve was selected for several benefits, including:

personalized, hands-on care from both agents and company executives

dedicated team of agents that act as extensions for Margaritavilles businesses and brand

accelerated response times and service to potential guests

range of substantial hard- and soft-cost efficiencies

proximity of the two corporate locations  Margaritavilles corporate office is in Orlando and Advantage Reserve is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale

Advantage Reserve has a proven track record of operating as an extension for our partner-hotels businesses and brands, said Andrea Coleman, Vice President of Client Services at Advantage Reserve. For Margaritaville, and for all of our partner-hotels, our teams act like a proactive sales force  understanding each of the propertys unique value to guests, increasing the average daily rate through the up-selling of profitable amenities, and delivering up-to-the second statistics to management teams at each location."

Were proud of our relationship with Margaritaville, one of the hospitality industrys most recognized brands, and were very excited about being the go-to resource for Margaritavilles guest reservations in the U.S. and Costa Rica. Advantage Reserve is proud to support Margaritavilles developing business as it expands in the industry."

About Margaritaville

Margaritaville, a state of mind since 1977, is a global lifestyle brand inspired by Jimmy Buffett, whose songs evoke a passion for tropical escape and relaxation. Margaritaville features over 20 lodging locations and over 20 additional projects in the pipeline, with nearly half under construction, two gaming properties and over 60 food and beverage venues including signature concepts such as Margaritaville Restaurant, the award-winning JWB Prime Steak and Seafood and 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill. More than 20 million travelers every year change their latitude and attitude with a visit to a Margaritaville resort, residential real estate destination, vacation club, vacation home rental or restaurant. Consumers can also escape everyday through a collection of Margaritaville lifestyle products including apparel, footwear, frozen concoction makers, home decor, a satellite radio station and more. For more information, visit www.margaritaville.com.

About Advantage Reserve

Advantage Reserve is a provider of high-quality central reservations services exclusive to the hospitality industry. The Advantage Reserve team provides services to customers and guests 24/7/365. Since 2007, Advantage Reserve works with individual properties and management companies to personalize a set of solutions that reduce internal costs, optimize conversions, and increase revenues. More information on Advantage Reserve's products and services can be found at www.advantagereserve.com.

Follow Advantage Reserve on Twitter at twitter.com/advantagereserv and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/advantage-reserve.

Tom ONeill
Six Senses takes top spot for the third successive year

Rocco Forte Hotels enters top 12 for the first time

Welcome to our annual Worlds Best Luxury Hotel Brands report.

This is not just another World's Best list. LTI  Luxury Travel Intelligence  has taken the past 12 months to apply the perfect assessment process: a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands.

This year, our algorithm has 128 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4628.

The touch points relate to overall brand performance, not the performance of individual properties. The focus is on a brands ability to deliver: its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.

Continuing investment and how its used is also a major factor  particularly for new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.

Here are this years results, reflected as percentages, with last years positions in brackets:

Six Senses 82.6% (1) Mandarin Oriental 81.0% (2)

Rosewood 80.3% (9)

Auberge 78.8% (3) Aman 77.3 4% (4)

Oetker Collection 75.7% (7)

One&Only 75.0% (6)

Belmond 74.7% (5)

Four Seasons 71.2% (8) Viceroy 70.9% (11)

Rocco Forte 69.4% (New Entry) COMO 69.1% (10)

Other brands that rated sufficiently to be monitored throughout the year are (in alphabetical order): Alila, Anantara, Banyan Tree, Dorchester Collection, Firmdale, Jumeirah, Leela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Peninsula, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, Raffles, Red Carnation, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection.

Brands that currently have less than ten properties (our minimum requirement) but rate highly when applying our algorithm are (in alphabetical order): Airelles, Althoff Collection, Bulgari, Capella, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, La Reserve, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach, Pendry, Soneva, Virgin Limited Edition.

About The Worlds Best Luxury Brands Report

No other organisation connects with the global luxury hotel industry as LTI does. Our researchers engage with everyone from CEOs of the brands we have rated to thousands of managements, staff and guests. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for our members  affluent, discerning travellers  but it also allows us to create this unique report.

Every year the process starts again  so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year. This inevitably leads to volatility in each years results, but this is a dynamic sector, and we want to reflect what is really happening out there.

Six Senses: Worlds Best Luxury Hotel Brand

We continue to be very impressed with Six Senses. It delivers an authentic blend of wellness, sustainability, warm hospitality and crafted guest experiences.

Also, with Six Senses London and Rome due in 2023 this is an exciting time for the brand and its loyal followers.

New Entries

Only Rocco Forte breaks in to our top 12, in the year they celebrate 25 years of operating in Europe. They continue to demonstrate all that is good about being passionate hoteliers in the luxury sector.

About LTI  Luxury Travel Intelligence

We are a global members-only organisation, providing digital, up-to-the-minute reporting for affluent travellers who wish to make informed travel decisions, based on our honest and detailed intelligence. We cover luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and nightlife, in granular detail. We do not sell travel, have a booking engine, or carry advertising. Membership fees are our only revenue and we only answer to our members.

Jane Lucas

LTI - Luxury Travel Intelligence
HotelRunner, a leading global hospitality and travel technology company, announces its participation in WTM London 2022 between 7-9 November at ExCeL. The event will stage a meeting hub for HotelRunner to establish new dialogues to exchange ideas and insights. The company will also exhibit its cutting-edge hospitality technology platform at its stand TT415.

The motto of WTM London 2022, The Future of Travel Starts Now, aligns with HotelRunners goal of growing its product range constantly and making its partners future-ready by feeding on its own data and industry experience. Founders and Managing Partners Ali Beklen and Arden Agopyan, Director of Demand Rza Kaynak, Director of Supply Cihan Coskuntuncel, and the HotelRunner Team, each an expert in their field, will represent HotelRunner at the event. WTM London carries substantial importance for HotelRunner as a communication, exhibition, and business hub.

Having opened its London office 3 years ago and accelerated its growth in the UK and Europe, HotelRunner will organize one-on-one meetings to discuss potential partnerships and demonstrate its sales-first, end-to-end platform during the event. In addition to that, HotelRunner emphasizes the value of knowing a partner's needs, contests for a growing tourism ecosystem, and therefore attaches great importance to vis-a-vis communication to strengthen relationships with the members of the hospitality industry.

HotelRunners high awareness of its partners expectations and needs finds its roots in its history as the company was founded first to remove the burden of labor-intensive operation of running a property. Today, thanks to HotelRunners wide range of cutting-edge technology, the company enables accommodation providers to get direct reservations and payments from their website, connect to 150+ travel agencies, discover alternative sales channels, manage their entire operations, and communicate with guests.

At this global event, HotelRunner will also be making an eagerly anticipated announcement to the industry. The company invites travel and hospitality industry members to its stand #TT415 to connect.

Click here and request a meeting with the HotelRunner Team now!

About HotelRunner

HotelRunner is a SaaS-enabled unified sales, operations, and distribution management platform and B2B network for accommodations, travel agencies, and payment providers. HotelRunner has thousands of accommodation and travel agency partners globally. HotelRunner is a Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner, Expedia Elite Connectivity Partner, Airbnb Software Partner, Agoda Innovative Supplier, Oracle Gold, Hotelbeds, and Google Hotel Ads strategic partner.

For more about HotelRunner, visit our website.

Follow us:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelrunner

Twitter: @HotelRunner

Facebook: HotelRunner

Instagram: @hotelrunner

HotelRunner Media
he Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and its charitable arm, the GBTA Foundation, announced today new developments in its commitment, partnering and programming in sustainability to empower the global business travel industry to reduce carbon emissions and build a greener future.

As an industry, through individual organizations as well as our collective efforts, were making real progress toward more sustainable global business travel. Theres a lot more to be done, but each step brings us closer to scaling solutions that will help decarbonize business travel, said Delphine Millot, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, GBTA and Managing Director, GBTA Foundation.

GBTA Becomes a Signatory of the Glasgow Declaration

GBTA recently became a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. Officially launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021, the Glasgow Declaration unites travel and tourism behind a common set of pathways for climate action, aligning the sector with global commitments and catalyzing collaborative solutions to the many challenges facing businesses and destinations globally.

With a commitment to lead by example and raise awareness, GBTA is among the 230 supporting organizations who have stepped forward to date to help accelerate climate action in tourism and take action to cut emissions in half by 2030 and achieve Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050.

GBTA partners with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance

GBTA also announces it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to enhance collaborative action to enable the hospitality industry to have a lasting positive impact. A key pillar for joint action will be to drive the uptake of a consistent and robust approach to carbon measurement for the accommodation sector. Harmonizing the way emissions are measured on an industry-wide, global scale is critical to allow corporations to effectively calculate and compare emissions from their hotel stays.

This is why GBTA recognizes the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI), the carbon calculation methodology developed by the Alliance, as a go-to standard measurement which is included in GBTAs revamped Sustainability Toolkit, a guide for corporate travel managers to track and improve the environmental performance on their travel programs.

If we are to make net positive hospitality a reality, we need to involve all parts of the hospitality chain from owner to guest. We are therefore delighted to be partnering with the GBTA Foundation. This partnership brings together our reach and expertise within the hospitality sector, with GBTAs impact in the business travel community, to create a better future for the planet and its people, said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.

GBTAs first-ever Sustainability Summit slated for November 8 in Brussels

GBTA will be hosting its first ever Global Sustainability Summit on November 8, 2022, in Brussels, focusing on Driving Action to Net Zero Business Travel. This one-day, high-level event, will bring together speakers, experts, industry and policy leaders to outline concrete solutions to decarbonize business travel, in alignment with the Paris Climate Goals  and concurrently to the 27th UN Climate Summit in Egypt.

The Summit will foster connections and exchange by providing a forum for frank discussions on topics such as:

Best practices to decarbonize travel: including modal shift, sustainable aviation fuels, and carbon budgets

Measuring emissions: how to get accurate data on scope 3 emissions

Green hospitality: how to navigate the various criteria and certifications

Electromobility: how to bridge the gap on electrification and rethink mobility

Finance and collaboration: role of business travel to accelerate the green transition

Speakers include Walter Goetz, Head of Cabinet for EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean; Member of European Parliament Jan-Christoph Oetjen; Zlatko Kregar from the European Commissions Sustainable Transport Forum; Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer for Accor and Former French Secretary of State for the Environment; Paul Abbott, CEO American Express Global Business Travel; Glenn Mandziuk, CEO Sustainable Hospitality Alliance; and Kim Carnahan, Head of the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), among others.

Dr. Gabrielle Walker, Founder and Director of Valence Solutions and non-profit, Rethinking Removals, will also talk about The Climate for Change and what a low carbon future looks like for business travel.

Click here for more information and to register for the GBTA Sustainability Summit.

About the GBTA Sustainability Program

In late 2021, GBTA launched its Sustainability Program to support climate action initiatives. Working in tandem with its members and the industry, GBTAs focus includes policy and advocacy, measures and tracking, C-level engagement and public affairs, and education. Since the programs inception, GBTA has released a comprehensive, landmark study, The State of Sustainability in the Global Business Travel Sector, and hosted an inaugural Sustainability Pavilion at the 2022 GBTA Convention featuring Green Talks and Roundtables on key sustainability topics for travel buyers and suppliers. The association has also welcomed expert advisors from across the industry as part of its Founding Partners, Sustainability Leadership Council and Corporate Advisory Board. Learn more about the GBTA Sustainability Program or email [email protected].

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTAs global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy.

About the Global Business Travel Association

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world's premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA's members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn more, visit gbta.org.

About the GBTA Foundation

The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of GBTA, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and a better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA's global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy.
Cancelled flights and complicated travel protocols have become all too common amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, whose outbreak all but grounded the global airline industry. However, we still know little about how these new job stressors actually affect airline workers. Shedding light on this important issue, Professor Sam Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-researchers identified the major pandemic-related stressors that have emerged for airline workers and explored their effects on workers mental health and job-related outcomes such as satisfaction, motivation and performance. The authors findings offer invaluable practical guidance for alleviating the worrying knock-on effects of the pandemic on the well-being of airline employees and the growth of the airline industry as a whole.

Irregular schedules, night shifts, physical exertion and time zone changes are part of life for airline workers. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, however, employees have faced a horde of fresh difficulties. With planes grounded across the world, mass redundancies and restructuring have profoundly increased job insecurity. Safety-related stressors such as sanitisation and mask wearing requirements, along with strict and time-consuming immigration procedures, hotel quarantine and fear of contracting the virus, are now also part of employees new routine. The new types of stressors resulting from the pandemic, as well as traditional stressors, will have many job-related consequences, warn the researchers.

More exposure to stressors means more job-related stress. Studies have found that such stress explains the high prevalence of physical and mental health problems in flight attendants and triggers emotional exhaustion, burnout, depersonalisation and depression in hotel employees. Protecting employees mental health  which has been damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic  is not only a major public health issue but also critical to business success. Yet studies that scrutinise the antecedents of mental health problems and their consequences in the hospitality and tourism industry are still limited, say the authors. Recognising this, they set out to pinpoint what the major new stressors are for airline workers and how and to what extent they impact mental health and job outcomes.

The effects of mental health on job outcomes  such as job satisfaction and job performance  in the hospitality and tourism industry are understudied. Perhaps unsurprisingly, research in other contexts has shown that an unhealthy working environment and work stress decrease job satisfaction. Poor mental health may also worsen job performance. This may in turn generate significant costs for employers, state the researchers, such as increases in work-related injuries, reduced productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism, and employee compensation claims. Mental health could also influence employees perception of company image, which reflects workplace morale, pride and motivation. People with poor mental health also tend to have a reduced responsiveness to others needs, which creates obvious problems in the service sector.

The researchers also examined the possibility that job satisfaction in turn influences job performance, company images and prosocial behaviour. Job satisfaction has been found to enhance job performance in flight attendants, and to predict more positive perceptions of company image in airline employees. More generally, job satisfaction is thought to increase an individuals willingness to contribute to the community in the form of pro-social behaviours. But how has job satisfaction affected these work outcomes in airline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Also of interest was whether sociodemographic and job-related characteristics alter the relationships between job-related stress, mental health, and job outcomes. For example, during crises like the pandemic, age may determine contract renewal, layoff, or fringe benefit provision, say the researchers.

The questionnaire used in this study was developed in several careful stages, the first being in-depth interviews with 15 airline employees to better glimpse working conditions before and during the crisis. Insights were used for subsequent creation of the questionnaire. Its 40 items assessed job stressorsincluding traditional and new stressorsjob satisfaction, organisational commitment, perceived company image, job performance and pro-social behaviour. As a final preparatory step, the questionnaire was piloted with 100 Hong Kong airline employees to doublecheck its validity and reliability.

After tweaking, the questionnaire was distributed to 374 Hong Kong airline employees between 15 July and 30 December 2020. Over half of the participants were men (63%), and most were in their 20s or 30s. The vast majority worked for full-service carriers in Hong Kong. More than 75% worked in flight operation departments and 20.9% worked in ground operation departments. Almost half had worked in the airline industry for 10 years or more. With regard to their positions in the airline industry, 46% were at supervisory level, followed by entry-level (43.8%) and managerial level or above (10.2%). The questionnaire responses were analysed to examine the structural relationships between the variables.

Passenger arrivals at Hong Kong International airport decreased by 98.5% between October 2019 and October 2020. This simple fact could account for the studys first finding  that traditional job-related stressors did not affect airline employees mental health after the COVID-19 outbreak. When airline employees can perform few of their normal duties, physical exhaustion, schedule conflicts and demanding workloads cannot affect mental health status, explain the authors. Nevertheless, the pandemic brought with it three significant new stressors: hygiene requirements, safety concerns, and job instability. Of these, safety concerns and job instability significantly impacted mental health.

The researchers found that more intense safety concerns were detrimental to mental health. As the researchers note, airline employees mental health is important to enable them to consistently provide high quality service to passengers. Therefore, overcoming safety concerns could be a decisive strategy. Airlines could follow the example set by Emirates Airline, which has distributed hygiene kits, organised individual hotel rooms in outport destinations, and enforced a 14-day quarantine for its employees. More transparency about confirmed cases on specific flights and providing information about safety measures in risky destinations could also reduce concerns.

Quite unexpectedly, job instability was associated with better mental health. On the face of it, this is mystifying, at odds with pre-pandemic reports that job uncertainty worsens mental health. Airline crew seemed to feel grateful to retain their jobs in an economic crisis, infer the authors. Cost-saving measures implemented by an airline could also signal its efforts to ride out hardship together with its employees, thus generating positive mental health effects.

This important study shed light not only on the factors shaping mental health but also on its consequences: good mental health was found to enhance job satisfaction, job performance, perceived company image, and prosocial behaviours. Job satisfaction also improved job performance, perceived company image and prosocial behaviours. These findings underscore the potentially far-reaching benefits of fostering a healthy working environment and promoting employee satisfaction.

Airlines wishing to support their employees mental health should also note that perceived stressors and their effects differ according to age, sex, job position, and working experience. Mental health programmes are required to be differently applied according to employees career or demographic characteristics, conclude the authors.

Shedding new light on mental health in airline workers, this work suggests that airlines should eradicate safety concerns as much as possible. Surprisingly, job instability was found to improve workers mental health. However, airlines and governments should by no means use this finding as an excuse to overlook the issue, not least because job instability and unemployment are serious problems in Hong Kong. Cabin crew who have worked for their airline for a long time should be helped to upgrade their skills and know-how to dissipate job stressors during the present unstable business environment in the airline industry, conclude the researchers.

Kim, Seongseop (Sam), Wong, Antony King Fung, Han, Heesup, and Yeung, Man Wah (Vanessa) (2022). How Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Influence Travel Industry Employees in Hong Kong? Structural Relationships Among Airline Crews Job-Related Stressors, Mental Health and Other Consequences. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, Vol. 27, Issue 1, pp. 69-85.

About PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2021/2022 for five years in a row, rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017, and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 for the sixth consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from diverse cultural backgrounds, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Pauline Ngan

Marketing Manager

+852 3400 2634

Hong Kong Poly
The case of Tackpay, a recent cashless tipping app, is highlighted here as an effective tool in the hospitality sector when it comes to driving employee engagement. In the midst of today's labor shortage, it's important to harness creative technology that allows to empower employees by reducing the gap between those who deliver a service and the consumers.

A people-to-people sector

While research like the Digital Vortex 2021 shows that technology is playing a relevant role in the evolution of the industry, contributing more and more to the value creation process, hospitality should still be considered mainly a people-to-people sector, an industry with people at its core. This is well demonstrated by the key role of employees in creating customer centricity.

In analyzing the value and the importance provided by this stakeholder group in the industry today, the impact of the pandemics disruption should also be taken into account. Media calls the Great Resignation a global phenomenon of disengagement and social disillusion which is affecting workers, starting from the less qualified jobs as well as affecting artisans and office jobs. The trend has severe repercussions also in hospitality creating a swap the turnover rate which is now affecting the generations in their 30s-45s more than the younger ones, traditionally less engaged in a longer term.

At the same time researchers have identified that, with the growth in new digital payment means and the increasing limitations for the use of cash, the service sector has been severely penalized. Many businesses have in fact decided not to accept tipping means by credit card because of its administration complexities. This trend has been identified even before Covid19 with progressively more severe impact on staff on demand like young and seasonal workers.

These evolutions create new challenges: while jobs will have to be more relevant and meaningful, employers will have to question how to provide a sense of satisfaction together with better salary conditions for workers. From a management perspective then, this complex issue has become a priority, deserving to be at the top of the agenda and to be analyzed from multiple sides. Management literature links the global issue of the Great Resignation with Leadership and the need for businesses to understand their Corporate Purpose which is a key element for employee attraction and engagement. To this end, management policies should be focused on:

Creating relationships with the new generations of employees (i.e., digital natives) involved in the life of the organization.

Motivating employees' work participation considering their key role in achieving customer centricity.

Factors that drive employee engagement

There is convergence among researchers and experts that employee engagement factors do not change over time. Each of these four defined elements affects different areas of a persons professional identity:

Purpose - A person's sense of meaning and raison d'etre.

- A person's sense of meaning and raison d'etre. Autonomy - The possibility to operate with agency, free of hierarchies favoring initiative and creativity.

- The possibility to operate with agency, free of hierarchies favoring initiative and creativity. Collegiality - A sense of social and mutual participation.

A sense of social and mutual participation. Opportunity to grow - The potential for future engagement that generates positivity towards the future and motivates performance.

It is a management's responsibility to address each of these factors. To support this perspective, it is interesting to introduce the results of a Pew Research study that found out that 89% of employee surveyed were very or somewhat satisfied with the activities they had to do on a daily basis. Gallup Research further contributed: It is not what people do at work that makes a job engaging per se, rather the way people are managed.

Addressing these dimensions is not easy for traditionally structured businesses but we are now seeing the emergence of new forms of businesses such as Exponential Organizations which are changing industries with their ability to operate in turbulent times and adapt to disruption. It is the case of businesses such as Airbnb or OYO, leading the way in applying best practices and managing the engagement issue with dynamism.

Exponential Organizations (ExOs) are businesses that are able to leverage digital technologies by gathering both their customers and internal team around a strong purpose which is at the same time massive and transformative, like Belong Anywhere for Airbnb. Focusing on corporate purpose, although, is typically a strategic initiative that has a long term impact on business. For this reason, while digital native organizations are becoming progressively more aware of this need, for traditional organizations this is somehow a polarizing topic that often only bigger and more structured companies recognize as critical and decide to explore. It is the case of the Augmented Hospitality concept identifying the ACCOR Group.

The role of digital tools

For the majority of the hospitality market characterized by a big number of small ventures, including single structures like family hotels and restaurants, the challenge is to identify solutions that can be implemented without committing to complex programs and highly conceptual work, while achieving the desired results.

Possible solutions could be found in using creative technology that allows to empower employees by disintermediation (the reduction in the use of intermediaries between producers and consumers).

This is the case with TACKPAY, a web app platform that allows direct tipping in a cashless way. This is thanks to a QR code provided to guests that allows direct payments via mobile phone to a worker's bank accounts. Born with the vision of enabling everyone to send, receive and manage tips in a completely digital way, Tackpay has been slowly penetrating the hospitality market by creating different use cases that we have found extremely valuable as engagement practices.

As previously explained, cash limitations are affecting worker engagement with an estimated 30% of employee income loss, while at the same time businesses are not always keen to manage digital tips within their accounting functions as this implies extra cost and complexity. By tapping into this specific disruption, Tackpay has developed a seamless solution that has been adapted by different players in hospitality, from hotels to restaurants, from hostels to transportation vectors.

If on one side the definition of the organizational purpose and its management requires time, dedication and a sophisticated management culture, the implementation of ExO tools like Tackpay can be used to solve the employment and engagement issues focusing on three of the four previously defined dimensions.

Tackpay can be implemented to address employee engagement in the context of opportunities to grow.

First of all, Tackpay allows workers to keep a secondary and parallel source of renumeration which has been often relevant for the category, and to try and compensate the circa 30% reduction due to the cashless payment methods.

Secondly, Tackpay allows a transparent and direct worker-customer relationship which can be expressed in different events impacting the customer experience overall. The creation of different tipping moments, related to service topic specificities, could be used to measure the customer response and create motivation at every single potential interaction, improving talents. In this scenario, Tackpay allows the creation of a feedback culture. In the traditional context of cash tipping, it is not easy to find transparency and feedback is not always available because tracking of the various tips is not always possible. This can be solved with the creation of dashboards and dedicated interfaces that allow business owners and managers to map, overview and evaluate the staff on their performance. Visibility is created on every tip received acting as relevant feedback providing simple KPIs for employee evaluation.

Thirdly, all these data could converge towards a future job marketplace where the most tipped profiles could gain visibility and generate new opportunities to grow.

Lastly, Tackpay improves employee engagement since it can be used in the Team Tipjar mode which allows fair and transparent treatment to all workers. While bypassing the central payment accounting system, Tackpay allows tips to be collected in a single tip jar allowing collegial benefits for every member according to the Dumas Four Musketeers' motto: All for one and one for all."

Source: EHL

Team building spirit

The collected tips are then split among workers in a custom way, allowing front and back end jobs to be equally or differently remunerated accordingly to the team desires and the culture of the organization. This mode allows a strong Tip the team call to action which can be very useful in several occasions, especially when its about customer centricity and the final experience is very much dependent on everyones effort. Several businesses have already implemented this practice to leverage workers' remuneration while managing team building spirit.

We have found different creative ways of using the cashless service to improve collegiality. In restaurants, the Tackpay QR code has been given to customers as a sticker on a marshmallow box, brought to the table at the end of the meal or provided to guests together with the dinner bill in an anchovy-shaped box in the case of this seafood restaurant Acciughetta, in Genoa, Italy.

Source: EHL

Other businesses chose to include it on the last page of the menu, presented as a sticker on every dining table or positioned at the bar counter where people go to pay. It can even be installed as a special tipping POS hardware which allows a physical and more structured presence.

The last dimension of customer engagement is a worker's sense autonomy. From an employee's perspective, being autonomous is a necessary condition to achieve self-expression which can transform routinely tasks into something more creative. From the organizational side, favoring conditions for employee autonomy is risk free and it is becoming a necessary conditions to avoid disengagement, especially for younger generations. To address this specific dimension, hospitality business can use Exponential Organizations like Tackpay to support the employee's search for exceeding customer expectations.

As an example, the European hostel chain HostelOne, named Best Hostel Worldwide 2018, has integrated Tackpay as a tool to support their extra mile activities when it comes to customer experience. Workers from Barcelona to London and Prague have created multiple touchpoints that facilitate digital tipping to enforce the bond between guests and staff. It is the case for the Tip the Chef call to action inviting travellers to tip and prove their appreciation for the tradition of complementary sandwiches during their stay.

Source: EHL

Connecting customers and workers in multiple occasions during the same customer journey is a great way to enforce the relationship and to create immediate feedback loops on different levels of the hospitality experience.

An effective digital tipping platform

The hospitality industry after Covid is a different place than before from many aspects. In defining the importance of employee engagement as a strategy to face the current challenges of the hospitality industry, new tools are necessary. We have analyzed the case of Tackpay, a cashless tipping Exponential Organization that is used by several market leaders to address employee engagement, improving opportunity-to-grow, collegiality and autonomy.

While we consider hospitality a people sector at the core, in an industry that is progressively heading towards technology intensity, the challenge for business and management is to keep people at the heart of the service while using digital tools to empower the human potential as opposed to aiming for a substitution. For all these reasons, we can conclude that platforms and tools should be seen as enablers of the relationship and, after having analyzed the app, it would not be wrong to consider Tackpay an effective employee engagement platform.

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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The Awesome Responsibility is a concept I came up with a number of years ago. It describes the role an employee has when interacting with a customer. In that moment, one person in the company represents everything about the company. When people walk away from doing business with a company, they will often say things like, I enjoy doing business with them, or, They are so helpful.

Typically, the word they is used to describe the individual who helped the customer. That person was responsible for delivering the experience that represents the company. Thats a pretty important job, which is why I refer to it as The Awesome Responsibility.

Some may call that employee a brand ambassador or advocate for the company, but I have a new title for that individual: CEO of the Moment.

Each employee has a huge amount of power.

They can confirm your reputation  or not. They can deliver on your brand promise  or not. Or, they can reflect the values of your company  or not. You get the idea.

Anyone who, at any time, is interacting with a customer is confirming or eroding your brand promise. That is why hiring the right people and properly training them is so important.

Lets talk about training for a moment. Ive had debates with clients about training seasonal employees, part-timers, and employees they know will leave within a year. My position is that everyone must be trained. Some can go through different levels of training, but they all must be trained to deliver a certain standard of customer service.

One employee is your brands reputation.

Consider this. You have 100 employees, and 99 of them are amazing. However, one hasnt been properly trained and doesnt quite get the culture. If customers happen to be talking to any of the 99 amazing employees, they will love your company. But for the customers who are unlucky and get the one who hasnt been trained and doesnt have the right attitude, to them, that is what every employee is like. That one employee is your brands reputation.

For employees to embrace the CEO of the Moment concept, they must first be a good fit for your company. They must be properly trained. And they must be empowered to make good customer-focused decisions. They must understand their awesome responsibility.

So, it comes down to hiring, training, and empowerment. You cant have two out of three. Its like a three-legged stool. Take away one of the legs, and the stool falls over.

Shep Hyken is a customer service expert, keynote speaker, and New York Times, bestselling business author. For information on The Customer Focus customer service training programs, go to www.thecustomerfocus.com. Follow on Twitter: @Hyken

Shep Hyken

Shepard Presentations, LLC.

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North Adams Endorses Funding for Flood Control Study

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The City Council on Tuesday approved the appropriation of $500,000 to be used toward a feasibility study of the Hoosic River flood control chutes.

The funding is the city's share of the estimated $3 million study being done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which constructed the chutes in the 1950s.

"This is a pledge that the city of North Adams is behind this project," Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council. "The majority of this a federal project which has been in process for many, many years. Since I've been in office, I have worked diligently with the Hoosic River [Revival] people to get the attention of the feds."

Another $1.5 million is being advocated for in a state bond by the Berkshire delegation and local officials are hoping the balance will be in federal funds. The state has received about $9 billion from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

U.S. Rep. Richie Neal, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, had initially asked for $1.5 million as part of his Community Project Funding Request for Fiscal Year 2023. Only $200,000 was earmarked in June by the Appropriations Committee in the $57 billion Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies funding.

Later in August, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a look at the collapsed flood chute wall in the Willow Dell and heard from river advocate Judith Grinnell of the Hoosic River Revival.

Officials found a sympathetic ear in Warren, who agreed there was an urgency to the project but who also noted that this was something Congress and the Corps had to get on board with.

The Hoosic River Basin Flood Control System was constructed in the 1940s and 1950s by the Corps of Engineers to prevent the destruction and loss of life in North Adams after a number of devastating floods.

While it's done its job well, the structure's age and below par construction is starting show as five of the 20-foot concrete panels have collapsed into the river over the past decade or so, including by the $65 million Building 5 at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Most have been repaired or jury-rigged.

It took 11 years and $18.8 million to dredge and bank some 6 miles of river and contain more than a mile of it with concrete walls. Advocates are estimating $150 million to $200 million in today's dollars to reconstruct and, in some places, rehabilitate the river's concrete course.

Macksey said there is no timeline for when the money might be borrowed or how much might be used. Rather, she said, it is a commitment by the city to show it is behind the project.

"For us to ask for the Corps, we need to have buy in at a local level," the mayor said.

City Council President Lisa Blackmer called it "a pretty good bargain" to pay about 18 percent of the feasibility study. Councilor Keith Bona, who asked about the cost of repairs in the chutes, noted the city's portion of the study price was about the same as fixing two or three panels in the flood chute.

"We need the commitment of all the parties before we can develop a timeline," Macksey said in response to questions, "but it can be anywhere from probably two years to five years."

Macksey said representatives of the Hoosic River Revival would attend the next council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 9, to provide more information on the study. The federal government will be releasing $300,000 to kickstart the project, she said, adding she hoped to know more in the next few months.

"We've finally got some traction. We have a senator at the federal level who is listening to us," the mayor said. "And now is our time. If you don't approve the earmark for the $500,000, our application will not move forward."
Chadian journalist Oredje Narcisse, who worked for Radio FM of CEFOD (Centre de Formation et du Developpement), was shot dead while covering a protest in the capital N'Djamena on 20 October 2022 when the Chadian armed forces opened fire on protesters.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate LUnion des journalistes Tchadien (UJT) in condemning this act of brutality and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

According to media reports, opposition and civil society groups in Chad had called for the protest to mark " the end of the 18-month period initially agreed upon for the transition period. Hundreds of Chadians took to the streets in NDjamena and other cities to protest against the extension of the transitional military council headed by General Mahamat Idriss Deby, demanding a quicker transition to democratic rule. At least 50 people were reportedly killed, including journalist Oredje Narcisse and about 300 people were confirmed wounded.

Chadian Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said that the protest had quickly become an armed uprising.

UJT in a press release issued on Friday 21 October denounced Oredje's killing as a severe blow to the media profession in Chad as the profession has been deprived of a young and promising journalist with a great future. The UJT called for an independent investigation into the murder of their colleague and for the perpetrator(s) to be brought to justice.

The IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said that the shooting of unarmed civilians by the security forces is totally unacceptable.  The security forces should have taken adequate measures to protect civilians and journalists' lives. It is disheartening to note that an unarmed journalist who was covering a protest was gunned down in cold blood. Such brutal and inhumane acts can only be described as deliberate and an attempt to silence the media.

The IFJ joins its affiliate, UJT in calling for an independent an impartial investigation into the murder of Oredje Narcisse and all civilians killed on Thursday and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Reporter Farhan Abdi Isse from HornCable TV and Sadaq Saed Nur, a former employee from Galmudug state TV and now freelance, were assaulted on 22 October by the police as they were carrying out their journalistic duties. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in condemning these arrests and calls on the Somali government to stop silencing and intimidating journalists.

The journalists were respectively arrested in Gabiley district and in Galkayo of the state of Galmudug.

Despite the adoption of a Somali National Action Plan to strengthen the safety of media workers in the country and to strongly protect press freedom while enhancing democracy, these two new attacks worsen the already alarming situation regarding the security of journalists.

On 22 October, Farhan Abdi Isse got arrested by the police of Somaliland, in the district of Gabiley. Abdi Isse was covering a meeting organised by a group of young activists wanting the district of Gabiley to be fully a region and not just an interim regional administration as it is now. Governor of Gabileys district ordered the arrest of the journalist.

On the same day, in the regional state of Galmudug, freelance photojournalist and videographer Sadaq Saed Nur and a former journalist of Galmudug state TV, spent the night at the police station for a posting on his Facebook about a fight in an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp DP in Galkayo during a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. His phones were confiscated and all the content on his Facebook page were deleted. Despite his release, he was asked not to post anything about Galkayos camp.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said We are disturbed by the twin arrests of journalists in Somaliland and Galmudug on 22 October 2022 and call for an end to the sustained campaign of intimidation and censorship against independent journalism.

IFJ Secretary General, Anthony Bellanger, said: We condemn these arrests that are meant to silence and intimidate journalists and encourage Somali authorities to further strengthen the National Action Plan for the safety of media workers. The safety crisis facing journalists on the ground is extremely concerning and must be put to an end without further delay.
Two journalists have been summoned by the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) after publishing two articles on a ministers request to dismiss Gastao Pereira, the Director of Internal Intelligence at the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Timor-Leste Press Union (TLPU), in condemning the summons and urging the authorities to cease targeting journalists and safeguard press freedom.

Editor-in-chief of the Jornal Independente, Jorginho dos Santos, and journalist, Domingos Gomes received letters from law enforcement summoning them to a police station for their article detailing recent political developments in Timor-Leste.

The piece detailed allegations that Timor-Lestes Deputy Minister of Justice, Jose Edmundo Caetano, had sent a letter to senior government officials requesting the resignation of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director of Internal Intelligence, Gastao Pereira, for his failure to comply with disclosure regulations.

According to reports, Pereira is accused of sharing confidential information about an upcoming investigation into the seizure of USD 130,000 and 40 million Indonesian Rupiahs (approx. USD 2,566) at a Timor-Leste airport.

The summoning of the Santos and Gomes by police is the latest in a series of media rights violations in Timor-Leste. In May, the IFJ documented defamation charges brought by a parliament minister against journalist Francisco Belo Simoes da Costa, following coverage of an allegation of ministerial corruption. Two months later, the chief editor of news portal Oekusipost.com, Raimundos Oki, was accused of breaching judicial secrecy for an investigative report arguing that several virginity tests were forcibly conducted on inmates at the Topu Honis Shelter in Kutet, Oeecusse.

The TLPU said: TLPU stands firm on its position to promote and defend freedom of expression and information, and freedom of the press and media. Therefore, TLPU laments the illegal action of the PNTL as journalists are not criminals and perpetrators. TLPU demands that PNTL must stop issuuing unjustifiable notification letters to the media and journalists."

The IFJ said: "All journalists must be able to report on issues in the public interest without fear of reprisal or legal harassment. The IFJ condemns the summoning of Jorginho dos Santos and Domingos Gomes by Timor-Leste police and urges the government to uphold press freedom."
On 25 October 2022, eleven journalists were arrested following raids on their homes in the cities of Ankara, Istanbul, Van, Diyarbakir, Urfa and Mardin in Turkey. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) join their affiliates TGS and DISK Basin-Is in urging the authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and stop the raids on their homes.

Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaks during his partys group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) in Ankara on October 5, 2022. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP)

According to IFJ and EFJ affiliates, Turkish authorities raided the homes of 10 journalists as part of terrorism-related investigations led by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutors Office. According to DISK, the journalists were flown to the floor head down, handcuffed with weapons pointed at them.

Premises of the two pro-Kurdish media outlets were searched and the alleged relations of these journalists with outlawed Kurdish militants supposedly led to their arrests. Journalists of Mesopotamia Agency and JINNEWS were targeted, both pro-Kurdish media newsrooms.

A 24-hour restriction order was issued against the detained journalists. Restrictions on lawyers have been imposed and journalists offices are also being sought.

The arrested journalists were:

Diren Yurtsever, Selman Guzelyuz, Emrullah Acar, Hakan Yalcn, Berivan Altan, Zemo Aggoz, Ceylan Sahinli, Mehmet Gunhan (former reporting intern) from Mesopotamia Agency

Habibe Eren, Oznur Deger, Derya Ren from JINNEWS

According to the Mezopotamya, over 100 books but also, computers, newspapers, Kurdish magazines and ID cards were confiscated by the police.

Turkey's parliament passed on 13 October a highly criticised law that could see reporters and social media users jailed for up to three years. The law criminalises free flow of information by providing a framework for extensive censorship of online information. Journalists found guilty of deliberately publishing disinformation and fake news could face up to three 3 years in prison . This enables the government to further subdue and control public debate in the lead up to Turkey's general elections in 2023.

DISK Basin-Is said: We are concerned that this number will increase. Journalism is not a crime. We appeal to our colleagues and the whole community. Don't be silent against pressure. If you keep quiet, one day it will be your turn.

TGS said These operations are an attack on the citizen's right to be informed. We want our colleagues to be released as soon as possible. Journalists cannot go to the elections by being detained! You will not be able to criminalise journalism with these applications! 

The Federations said We are highly concerned by this new development just a few weeks after the adoption of the new Disinformation law. We call for the immediate release of the journalists and urge the authorities to stop the crackdown on our journalists colleagues.
In the latest targeted prosecution of Jimmy Lai by Hong Kong authorities, the media tycoon and founder of Apply Daily was convicted of fraud on October 25 after a court found he violated the terms of a lease. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the courts verdict and the ongoing persecution of Lai and calls for his immediate release from prison.

Jimmy Lai (C), who was convicted of fraud on October 25, looks on as activists demonstrate outside court on November 3, 2020. Credit: Peter Parks / AFP

District Court Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi found Lai had concealed the fact that he was subletting part of his newspapers office headquarters to a secretarial firm, also owned by Lai, between 2016 and 2020, violating agreements with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp. The judge added that he did not believe Lai had forgotten the firm was occupying the space.

Wong Wai-keung, Lais former colleague, was also convicted of fraud, while a former senior executive of Next Digital, Royston Chow, evaded criminal liability by making a deal with the prosecution.

Lai is also facing charges of collusion with foreign powers under Hong Kongs national security law and is due to stand trial on December 1. According to Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who leads the international legal team for Lai, this latest verdict means that Lai will be a convicted prisoner going into his national security law trial.

Lai has faced repeated arrests and prosecutions for his pro-democracy activism and criticism of the Chinese Communist Partys encroachment on Hong Kongs autonomy. He was arrested following a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2019 and is currently serving a 20-month sentence for his role in organising unauthorised demonstrations against police brutality.

Lais lawyers are urging the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and various criminal charges on the basis that it represents legal harassment.

On October 14, the IFJ released its 2022 report on freedom of expression in Hong Kong, expressing deep concern at the nations gutting of independent media and press freedom. The IFJ called on governments internationally to maintain vigilance in condemning the actions of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments and urging for respect to Hong Kongs Basic Law obligations and press freedom.

The IFJ said: The District Courts verdict to convict Jimmy Lai on fraud charges sets a grave precedent for his upcoming trial under the draconian national security law. The Hong Kong authorities ongoing arbitrary persecution of Lai violates fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The IFJ urges the authorities to withdraw all charges laid against Lai immediately and release him from prison.
The DYC or the Digital Young Creative competition, one of the most-awaited events of the IMMAP DigiCon has announced the winners of the highly anticipated contest. The team from Ogilvy & Mather represented by Samantha Dedel and Henry Glo has won over 45 competitors and will represent the Philippines in the 2022 Cannes Digital Young Lions competition. The competitors were asked to develop a digital campaign for Ronald McDonald House Charities Read to Learn Program.

So far, the country has won a bronze in the competition courtesy of Lance Francisco and Zach Lim who were then representing Wunderman Thompson. This year, the competition was made more exciting with a record number of 46 entries! We also made some changes in the competition with the help of our committee members Brandie Tan, Wacky Torres, and Ollie Rabatan., Rudy Villar, IMMAP DYC Committee Chair said.

This time, we held The Digital Young Creative Competition differently by adding an elimination round. The first round was judged using a scoring system similar to what is used in Cannes Lions. The final round is deliberated among a group of judges who determined which team will go and compete in Young Lions next year., said Brandie Tan, DYC committee member and Jury Chair.

Instead of holding face-to-face workshops for the competitors, IMMAP gave the competitors access to a series of videos created by notable industry leaders and past winners. This is called Brainstorm Buddies, an innovative mentoring program for the young creatives.

Second place winners came from TBWA represented by Renzo Valmonte and James Mendoza. Third placers were Nicole Aslee Babia and Marian Hannah Louise Vailoces from Publicis Manila Inc.

The IMMAP Digital Young Creative (DYC) competition is a project of the IMMAP Education Committee headed by Gara Santos-Ontiveros, Industry Head, CPG+Retail at Google Philippines under the guidance of the 4As, the countrys official representative to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

The event is presented by McDonalds Philippines.
It's safe to say that virtually all data-driven enterprises require a steady power supply to remain viable. And now that the landscape of work setups is continuously evolving, uninterrupted power is essential for productivity to thrive.

According to a study by SEEK Asia, when the work-from-home setup was applied in the Philippines because of the pandemic, 85 percent of Filipinos switched. However, in the same data, almost 97 percent prefer a hybrid setup over a full work-from-home setup.

While the current working arrangement is no longer fully remote as the world is slowly returning to normal, it is evident that the work-from-home setup opened new challenges for enterprises an inadequate setup for employees that is not conducive for work, the devices that employees use are not as efficient compared to the devices onsite, or work is more prone to interruption due to unpredictable power outages.

Nowadays, hybrid setup is the new normal. To make this setup effective, enterprises must consider the power supply issues looming on the horizon. To solve potential power interruption issues is a robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. While there are efficient UPS solutions in the market, we foresee lithium-ion as the go-to power source for UPS systems regardless of your enterprise," said Jason Lim, country manger, Vertiv Philippines.

Here's how the new UPS powered by lithium-ion can enable a more efficient hybrid setup:

Compact, lightweight, and flexible in installation. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter than their lead-acid counterparts. Therefore, this battery has been used in digital watches, smartphones, and other portable electronic devices. Lithium-ion-powered UPSs weigh about 40 percent to 60 percent. This reduced weight gives lithium-ion UPS systems a more compact footprint giving you a lot more flexibility regarding where to install them.

Longer service life. UPS with lithium-ion has a reliable service lifespan of up to 15 years. Due to its long lifespan, it is more cost effective since you won't have to change your UPS frequently. Moreover, this long service life also makes lithium-ion systems almost maintenance-free, making them suitable for a wider range of applications.

High heat tolerance and capacity. Lithium-ion batteries' most evident advantage is their tolerance to high heat environments. Lithium-ion batteries can function in temperatures of up to 40C without significant loss in performance. This means you don't have to invest in a more elaborate cooling system when employing a lithium-ion UPS system which, makes it perfect for work-from-home setups.

Besides increased tolerance to heat, lithium-ion batteries also have a higher energy density which means a lithium-ion UPS can offer more energy to different devices.

Faster recharge and monitoring capabilities. For a UPS system to offer the best benefits, its batteries need to recharge as quickly as possible. Lithium-ion batteries require just two to four hours to be fully recharged.

Another benefit exclusive to lithium-ion batteries and their UPS versions is their integrated battery management system (BMS). This system safeguards the battery against charging, thermal, and current issues to optimize battery charging and extend its service life.

Lower overall costs. Overall, you get what you pay for with a lithium-ion-powered UPS. It is an excellent investment, especially if you are an enterprise that wants to invest in a complete hybrid working setup. In an exercise conducted by Vertiv, they concluded that you could get a return on your investment with a lithium-ion system making it valuable enough to save money.

Given the crucial nature of hybrid setups and its role in keeping businesses operational, efficient, and profitable, the choice of UPS systems is not to be taken lightly. For its part, Vertiv aims to ensure that it ticks all these factors for its customers so they can ensure their business continuity.

Vertiv brings together cutting-edge lithium-ion UPS solutions, helping ensure continuous uptime of critical operations so businesses can perform at their peak and maximize their resources.

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of todays vital business, visit Vertiv.com.
India has once again emphasised to China that the development of relations between the two countries will continue to be guided by the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests  with peace and tranquillity at the border areas being a determining factor.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed the message to outgoing Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong who paid a farewell call to him in New Delhi today.

It is not the first time that Jaishankar has indulged in some plain-speak on the matter. Even as discussions on disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) continue, India has made it clear to China that any expectation that life can carry on undisturbed despite the situation at the border is simply not realistic.

Sun was appointed as the Ambassador of China to India in July 2019  nearly a year before the faceoff at Galwan Valley in June 2020.

Immediately after the incident, the Ambassador had accused Indian troops of crossing the disputed border and remarked that the onus is not on China, causing furore and putting the bilateral relationship under further stress.

However, in his farewell speech on Tuesday, the Chinese Ambassador reflected on the longstanding historical and cultural ties between ancient oriental civilizations adjacent to each other for thousands of years.

In a significant climbdown, Sun said that both countries should realise that their common interests outweigh their differences and should strive to resolve it through dialogue and consultation.

We should respect each others chosen political system and development path, and adhere to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, said the Chinese diplomat.

Sun hoped that, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries and the joint efforts of both sides, the India-China bilateral relations will eventually clear the clouds and return to the right track.

It can be said that in the 2,000-year history of exchanges between China and India, friendly times have accounted for the vast majority, he said.

Citing adherence to the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sun mentioned that China and India are not competitors but partners which do not pose a threat to each other and should realise that the dance of dragon and elephant is the only correct choice for them.

While India has welcomed the recent disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area along the LAC, it has maintained that China disturbing the peace and tranquillity in border areas will impact the relations.

Our relationship is not normal, it cannot be normal as the border situation is not normal, Jaishankar had said on the issue in August.

The normalization of India-China relations is in the interest of both countries, of Asia and the world at large.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 26, 2022

Much before Suns reflections on Tuesday, the EAM had summed up eight broad propositions to stabilizing the India-China relationship while addressing the All India Conference of China Studies, last year.

First and foremost, he said, was that agreements already reached must be adhered to in their entirety, both in letter and spirit.

Second, the LAC must be strictly observed and respected with any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo being completely unacceptable.

Third, he mentioned, that peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the basis for the development of relations in other domains. If they are disturbed, so inevitably will the rest of the relationship.

Fourth, Jaishankar said, while both nations are committed to a multipolar world, there should be a recognition that a multi-polar Asia is one of its essential constituents.

Fifth, he said that relationships between major states are reciprocal in nature even as each state will have its own interests, concerns and priorities but sensitivity to them cannot be one-sided.

Sixth, as rising powers, each will have their own set of aspirations and their pursuit too cannot be ignored.

Seventh, there will always be divergences and differences but their management is essential to bilateral ties.

And eighth, Jaishankar stated, civilizational states like India and China must always take the long view.

Also Read: Will delivery of Brahmos missiles help Philippines deter China in the Pacific?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will shortly begin the pilot release of e-rupee for specified use applications after the Union Government announced the launch of the digital currency in this year's budget.



The Reserve Bank of India recently published its concept note for central bank digital currency (CBDC). The concept note is aimed at improving understanding of CBDC and the characteristics of the digital rupee (e), according to the RBI.

What is e-rupee?

According to RBI, the CBDC is a central bank's digital version of bank notes. The central bank (in this case, the RBI) issues it as a sovereign or fully autonomous currency in compliance with the nation's monetary policy.

Once it has been formally issued, CBDC will be regarded by all three partiescitizens, governmental entities, and businessesas a form of payment and legal tender. It is freely convertible into cash or notes from any commercial bank since it is government-recognized.

my big plunge

However, the e-rupee with interest is not supported by RBI. Considering that this could lead to a banking crisis if individuals withdraw money from banks and convert it to a digital rupee.

How will e-rupee work?

A token-based method will be used to transfer e-rupees to the general population. The recipient's public key must be known by the person sending the digital money (a sort of digital address). The recipient's private key (unique password) is used in conjunction with the public key to complete the transfer.

The RBI concept note stated that "...unique tokens based on approved methodologies would need to be created, which could be slightly resource-intensive."

Transactions are likely to be somewhat anonymous; those involving larger sums may be required to be reported, whilst those involving lesser sums may be completely anonymous, exactly like cash transactions.

How is it different from Cryptocurrencies?

The distributed ledger technology that underpins cryptocurrencies could support some aspects of the digital rupee system, although the RBI has not yet made a decision on this. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and Ethereum, however, are "private" by definition. On the other side, the RBI will be the one that issues and manages the digital rupee.

ET spotlight

In July 2022, 105 nations were investigating CBDC. The tenth country to introduce CBDC is Jamaica, with JAM-DEX being the latest. The Bahamian Sand Dollar was launched in 2020.

What are the various versions of CBDC?

While wholesale CBDC (CBDC-W) is only intended for certain financial firms, retail CBDC (CBDC-R) might potentially be used by everyone, including the private sector, non-financial customers, businesses, and organizations.

CBDC-R is an electronic copy of currency specifically intended for retail transactions, whereas CBDC-W is intended for the processing of interbank transactions and associated wholesale operations.

The RBI stated that a token-based CBDC, which is a bearer instrument like banknotes, is considered a preferred mechanism for CBDC-R as it would be closer to actual currency. Whoever owns the tokens at a given point in time would be presumed to own them.

It is possible to investigate using account-based CBDC for CBDC-W (which necessitates keeping track of all holders' transactions and balances as well as identifying who owns the financial balances).

indiatoday

It would make more sense to issue non-interest-bearing CBDCs, especially in light of the fact that actual cash carries no interest.

The RBI emphasized that among other things, lowering operational costs associated with physical cash management, promoting financial inclusion, bringing resilience, efficiency, and innovation to the payment network, enhancing efficiency in the settlement system, and driving innovation in the cross-border transaction space are the main reasons for exploring the issuance of CBDC in India.

A CBDC that relies on tokens would function as a bearer instrument similar to banknotes, requiring the recipient of the token to certify that he actually owns it. Since it would be more similar to actual money, a token-based CBDC is considered the preferred CBDC-R form.

A balance-based system would need to keep track of all CBDC holders' transactions and balances in order to identify who is the rightful owner of the money in the account. In this situation, an intermediary will confirm the account holder's identification. For CBDC-W, this system may be taken into consideration.

Is CBDC a risk-free option?

The CBDC is anticipated to produce large amounts of data in real-time. It will be difficult to use the Data effectively and protect its privacy and address concerns about its anonymity. However, the RBI paper notes that CBDC will offer the public usage that any private virtual currency can offer, without the associated risks.

In remote locations, the use of CBDC's offline capability would also be advantageous and provide availability and resilience advantages when mobile service or electricity is unavailable.
Everythings big in Vegas right? But ITC seems to get bigger and bigger, said Sydney based Jamieson. This year, I think there were just under 10,000 people.

Jamieson attended as part of an Australian delegation of about 25 people supported by QBE ventures, Investment NSW and Insurtech Australia.

Its enormous, he said. The trade floors - you cant even see from one end to the other, there are just so many exhibitors, so many people, so many countries participating, and so many speaker sessions and opportunities.

ITC takes place at the Mandalay Bay at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The resort, casino and conference centre occupies 120 acres including an artificial river and a lagoon.

Read next: Who are the countrys leading industry experts?

Jamieson said its quite intense and a bit overwhelming deciding where to go.

Everyone had different objectives, said Jamison. Some people are there looking for investment, some people are looking for product-market fit or to understand what the landscape is, others are looking to understand how they would expand into the US.

One of Jamiesons objectives was to understand the product-market fit for his new platform, AdvisrME. So we wanted to understand the broker and agent market and see what they were doing, he said.

However, one of the challenges, he said, is coming to grips with a very different insurance sector.

Its a very different market compared to Australia when it comes to insurance both from a regulatory perspective and how its organized with 50 states all individually licensed, said Jamieson. So selling a product is tricky  and its scale is big.

One characteristic of many of the US brokers that impressed Jamieson was just how engaged they are.

Theyre open to innovation and theyre actually thinking about it in a really interesting way from the broker perspective, he said.

Jamieson said he learned how big American brokerages are grouping together to work out how to take advantage of new opportunities and build their core businesses.

What theyve done is create a thing called Broker Tech Ventures, he said. So theyve come together and created a filter that enables them to work out what businesses they can run through this filter that then might help their core business.

Jamieson said the brokerages that are forming these alliances are among the top 20 biggest in the US, often employing more than 1,000 brokers and with up to 20 offices across the country.

I think thats a very powerful proposition and very smart because it enables them to focus on their core business and have someone else doing a bit of filtering for them on what the opportunities could be that they could then plug straight in, he said.

Jamieson suggested this could be an interesting proposition for Australian brokerages.

In Australia weve got more of a build a network, own that network approach to some degree, he said.

Another conference takeaway: confidence in the future role of brokers and agents.

There was also a sense that the role of the broker and the role of the agent is not going away and its actually becoming more valuable, not less valuable, said Jamieson.

One issue discussed by speakers, he said, was how to enable brokers to work better with customers, improve their information gathering and find more time to work on the important parts of their business.

So, as far as US brokers are concerned, theres a big drive around efficiency and a big drive around customer engagement, said Jamieson.

Read next: ANZIIF to hold its first insurtech conference

Sessions at ITC included a Claims Transformation Summit, Striking a Balance Between Digitising and Humanising Claims and Expanding Embedded Partnerships.

There were also panel discussions around the ethical use of data, low code, commercial property insurance and catastrophes, industry top trends and pricing.

Delegates could also enjoy 8am beach yoga sessions.
The report found that 95% of SME workers said that benefits are important to them, while 72% of those who do not currently have workplace benefits said they would leave their job for one that offers a health benefits package.

The numbers line up with a previous study by RBC Insurance, which found that young Canadians aged 18-34 (73%) and 35-44 (69%) would be likely to leave their current employer for another that is offering better benefits.

Read more: What percentage of young Canadians would leave their current role for one with better benefits?

It also happens that employee recruitment and/or retention is an issue Eastern Canada SMEs are grappling with, as the survey found that 27% identified the concern as their main challenge, Benefits Canada reported.

Apart from dental, drug, and vision coverage, Medavie Blue Cross report also found that among Eastern Canada SMEs, the most important benefits were hospital coverage (77%), critical illness insurance (74%), diagnostic tests (73%) and long-term disability (72%).
Dees began his career with WoodmenLife in 1988 as a sales representative in Angleton, Texas. He became a regional director in 1996 and served in that position in several states. In 2009, Dees moved to WoodmenLifes home office, where he held various senior management positions. He was appointed president and CEO in 2017.

Read next: WoodmenLife taps new chief risk officer

McCauley joined WoodmenLife in 2008 as vice president for core operations. In 2011, she was promoted to senior vice president of operations, and in 2015, she was named executive vice president and COO. Prior to joining the company, McCauley held various senior positions in the financial services sector.

Denises commitment to excellence and passion for enriching the lives of others will serve her well as the organizations 14th president and CEO, Dees said. I know she will continue to create value for our members while driving growth for the organization.
Our team is excited about the opportunities ahead with EPIC, said Sitzmann. The partnership will bring both businesses added knowledge, market reach and expanded resources. We anticipate numerous opportunities to collaborate with EPIC in ways that will greatly benefit our clients and employees.

SLCO brings extraordinary talent and client services to the EPIC Retail West business region. The SLCO team will expand and strengthen our presence within Northern California, and throughout the country, as we look forward to achieving great success together, added EPIC West Region president KJ Wagner.

Read more: EPIC Insurance Brokers acquires The National Benefit Corp

Earlier this month, EPIC acquired The National Benefit Corp (TNBC), a full-service service insurance marketing organization based in West Des Moines, IA. Founded in 1977, TNBC offers advisors a wide range of financial products such as life and long-term care and disability income insurance  with a specialization in annuity solutions.
This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync.

AgentSyncs roots are in the insurance industrys pain points: The premise started from insurance professionals looking at manual and repetitive producer license compliance processes and thinking there has to be a better way.

As we continue to grow and change, we will rely heavily on the voices of our customers as well as the shared experience of our team, who often are sourced from industry backgrounds and attracted by the premise that the industrys backend processes could be easier.

Take, for example, Sandy Allen who is a Solutions Architect in the Insurance Vertical. She has been with us since our inception and just so happens to be our fourth employee (were now over 200). If you know AgentSync, you know Sandy Allen, a key employee who brings a wealth of insurance experience to our company. Sandy exemplifies all the qualities an insurtech company would seek.

Sandy Allen  a highly experienced insurance professional with an itch to scratch

Sandy began at AgentSync nearly three years ago when our founders Jenn Knight and Niranjan Niji Sabharwal were looking for an experienced insurance professional who not only understood the plumbing of the insurance business but also who was a visionary.

Sandy accepted their proposal and came aboard with over 30 years of insurance industry experience. Many of her previous positions involved assisting insurance companies in streamlining their processes and becoming more efficient, and she frequently acted as an internal knowledge base. Sandy had always felt there had to be a better way to handle producer onboarding and compliance, so it was a breath of fresh air to start on this new journey with two professionals who shared and were acting on her dream of automated compliance.

What our founders discovered in Sandy wasnt just a highly experienced and competent insurance professional, but a person who knew the insurance industry needed a technology upgrade. As we have continued to grow, these characteristics are a commonality among many team members here at AgentSync.

And there are many other proverbial Sandy Allens within our ranks. They share similar traits and experience, and we will explain why and how that benefits all of our customers.

A sample of AgentSync employees who began in the insurance trenches

AgentSync is filled with professionals who have a deep understanding of, as well as pedigree in, the insurance industry. Some even come from long family legacies in insurance, basically born to be insurance professionals. The stability of the business drew many, as did the chance to help people recover from misfortune. With AgentSync arriving on the scene and making a splash, these insurance professionals were immediately attracted to its mission to make compliance and producer onboarding easier and faster.

Following are three profiles out of the dozens of employees at AgentSync who bring a myriad of insurance experiences and a true understanding of the business, inside and out.

Kristen Bryant  Director of Product Management, Contracting

Kristen has an inspiring story that began 13 years ago in licensing and contracting and led her to found her own company, eContractPro, which AgentSync acquired in 2022.

For much of her career, she was required to use paper records and multiple electronic systems to piecemeal this whole process [licensing and contracting] together. She knew this existing manual process was not the most effective and founded her company to address the daily pain points she experienced. Her extensive knowledge of the need for BGAs to contract their insurance agents quickly and easily has been a boon for us here and our customers. Were grateful to have her experience and passion for this space within our organization.

Andrea Noravian  Product Manager

Andrea has been in the insurance industry since 2011, where she began as a producer, serving as a captive agent for New York Life. Shes since held roles in everything from compliance to call centers. During her time as a producer, she literally had a briefcase full of paper applications as she traveled around the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) meeting clients and closing sales. Andrea ultimately landed here at AgentSync, as she knew there had to be a better way to help producers, and the industry as a whole, become more efficient.

Dustin Poland  Strategic Account Executive

Dustin began in the insurance business as a small claims adjuster where he got yelled at all day attempting to explain to policyholders that this is what your policy states. While admittedly stressful, he was able to get solid, foundational experience in the business. How did Dustin get the insurance bug? It runs in the family, as his mother worked for State Farm for many years. Dustin also has sold artificial intelligence (AI) tools to insurance carriers, proving he not only has insurance experience in the trenches, but he also possesses vitally important technical acumen.

The insurance industry is at the core of who we are

As you can see, in essence, we are our customers. Many of our employees have held positions in the insurance industry that actually enjoy the benefits of AgentSyncs technology. We understand the day-to-day struggles the unsung heroes of the industry endure, and we help to make their lives a little easier.

Understanding our customers as we have walked in their shoes also informs how we build our products. The Scratch Your Own Itch theory on how a successful business is born is alive and well here at AgentSync.

What makes an AgentSync employee stand out is deep industry knowledge with an eye for the future. They know that technology is the key to unlocking impressive efficiencies that lead to happier employees, successful recruitment efforts, and higher revenue.

People are the heartbeat of an organization, and their experience and skills can create a culture of excellence. AgentSync is composed of tech savvy employees with an extensive insurance background, creating an unmatched insurtech workforce. See how AgentSync can help you build a cutting-edge and efficient culture at your company.

Topics Agencies
Flexsteel Industries Inc. has agreed to a consent decree that requires it to pay $9.8 million for the cleanup of contamination at the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site (Lane Street Site) in Elkhart, Indiana, and to reimburse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a portion of its past costs incurred at the Lane Street Site.

According to the complaint filed simultaneously with the proposed consent decree in the Northern District of Indiana, Flexsteel is liable for the cleanup because its former manufacturing operations contributed to contamination at the Lane Street Site. Previously, EPA entered into administrative settlements with two other potentially responsible parties for their alleged contributions to the contamination at the Lane Street Site.

This settlement ensures that the responsible party and not the taxpayers fund the cleanup of the Lane Street Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. The cleanup funded by this agreement protects the environment and the health of the surrounding community.

The Lane Street Site consists of approximately 65 acres of residential and light industrial properties in Elkhart, Indiana, impacted by a groundwater plume contaminated primarily with solvents and degreasers such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene. In 2016, EPA issued its record of decision for the Lane Street Site that selected a remedy for treating the groundwater plume by breaking down the contamination into harmless compounds. The proposed consent decree funds implementation of the selected remedy.

Source: DOJ

Topics Indiana Training Development
WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (AP)  Roughly half of a small Missouri town burned Saturday after a wildfire spread quickly from a farm field and destroyed or heavily damaged 23 buildings, officials said.

No one died and only one person was taken to a hospital for an injury that was not life-threatening, but the entire town of Wooldridge had to be evacuated Saturday because of the fire. The blaze was sparked in a field by a combine that was harvesting crops. A nearby stretch of Interstate 70 had to be closed for nearly two hours Saturday evening because of heavy smoke.

Cooper County Fire District spokesman Jim Gann said Sunday that between 4.6 and 5.4 square miles burned before the fire was brought under control. Firefighters were working Sunday to keep hot spots under control with strong winds forecast in the afternoon.

Wooldridge is a town of less than 100 people about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Columbia along the Missouri River. Stephen Derendinger, an engineer with the Jamestown Rural Fire Protection District, said half the town is burnt.

Its devastated, Derendinger said.

Firefighters saved the Wooldridge Baptist Church, Wooldridge Community Club and post office as they pumped water from swimming pools to help battle the blaze.

Elsewhere in Missouri Sunday, some Kansas City area residents were being urged to evacuate because of a grass fire near Interstate 470 and Raytown Road between Raytown and Lees Summit.

Kansas City Police spokeswoman Officer Donna Drake said police were called to the area around 11 a.m. Sunday and started knocking on doors to let residents know about the fire. Drake said the blaze started as a mulch fire at a business before spreading quickly toward a neighborhood.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol shut down Interstate 470 in the area Sunday afternoon for a couple hours because visibility was poor and fire had spread to both sides of the highway.

High winds and dry conditions helped the fire spread quickly. Kansas City Fire Chief Donna Lake said the fire began on the south side of I-470 before the wind carried embers from the initial fire over the highway and started a second fire in a wooded area north of the highway.

Lake said fire crews had to battle fires in two locations.

Drought conditions are common across Missouri and the National Weather Service warned about high winds in the northwest corner of the state Sunday, creating conditions ideal for wildfires to spread.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Missouri
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Chubb Appoints Bill Hazelton Head of North America Industry Practices

Chubb named Bill Hazelton executive vice president, head of North America industry practices. He will lead the companys efforts to enhance delivery of comprehensive industry-focused insurance coverages, risk engineering and claims services to customers in all market segments.

Hazelton will continue to serve in his current role as real estate & hospitality industry practice leader, which is a part of Chubb North America industry practices with life sciences, construction, private equity, energy, financial institutions, transportation, manufacturing, technology and healthcare.

Hazelton joined Chubb in 2005 and has served in several leadership capacities. Prior to his current role as real estate & hospitality industry practice leader, he was head of North America claims and he served as Chubbs environmental, excess casualty and construction industry practice leader.

Nexus Underwriting US Announces Senior Appointment to Lead New Specialty Casualty Division

Specialty managing general agent Nexus Underwriting has appointed Christof Bentele as president of their new specialty casualty business. Bentele will be working out of the Morristown, New Jersey office.

Bentele is a global market leader and has run specialty casualty teams at Aon, JLT group and, most recently, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty where he was a director within the alternative risk business. Nexus Underwriting has its global headquarters in London.

Topics Chubb Casualty
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In the span of just a month, federal judges rejected the US Justice Departments attempts to block three mergers in the health technology, agriculture and defense contracting industries.

The agency is considering appeals  and points out its racked up wins in its aggressive antitrust enforcement push when companies abandoned deals following its lawsuits.

But the trio of litigation defeats illustrates the difficulties facing President Joe Bidens administration as it seeks to persuade a conservative federal judiciary to reverse decades of business-friendly court decisions favoring deals.

The Justice Department is having a bumpy time in the courts, said William Kovacic, an antitrust professor at George Washington University Law School who served as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission under President George W. Bush. The departments lawyers have taken a very strong stand on settlements, saying that unless we have the utmost confidence in the settlement were going to move to block. But judges, who often know little about antitrust, arent convinced, he said.

The setbacks come as antitrust officials weigh whether to block pending deals including two bank mergers and JetBlue Airways Corp.s proposed acquisition of Spirit Airlines Inc.

Since Biden took over in January 2021, the Justice Department has filed a record number of antitrust suits to block deals it alleges would harm consumers or workers  a contrast to the Trump and Obama administrations, which routinely approved mergers with conditions.

The stepped-up enforcement has yielded results: Companies have abandoned four deals in the face of government lawsuits. Those included Aon Plc and Willis Towers Watson Plc, two of the worlds largest reinsurance companies, and China International Marine Containers Group Co. and Maersk Container Industry A/S, two of the four largest suppliers of refrigerated shipping containers.

Our enforcement record is strong, said Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter in a statement, pointing to the abandoned mergers.

In the last year, the agency has brought its first case under an agriculture antitrust law, the Packers and Stockyards Act, and announced an initiative aimed at enforcing a dormant law forbidding executives from sitting on the boards of competing companies, Kanter said.

In six merger challenges, the companies opted for litigation, requiring Justice Department attorneys to prove to a federal judge that the deals would likely result in less competition. The department has lost in three of those cases.

In two of the unsuccessful challenges, DOJs backers have touted how the litigation extracted greater concessions than the companies initially offered in negotiations, softening the loss.

Part of the job that we have before us is to litigate cases, and to take risks, Kanter told a Senate panel last month in the wake of his divisions first loss. I am committed to bringing difficult cases.

Among those difficult cases was one in which a federal judge last month found in favor of UnitedHealth Group Inc. in its acquisition of Change Healthcare Inc., rejecting DOJ allegations that the largest US health insurer would use sensitive data from Changes network to disadvantage rivals. The agency is considering whether to appeal.

A week later, a Delaware federal judge ruled against DOJ lawyers who argued that US Sugar Corp.s purchase of a rival sugar producer owned by the Netherlands Louis Dreyfus Co. would lead to higher prices. And earlier this month, a Maryland federal court sided with Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. in its bid to buy rival defense contractor EverWatch Corp., a move that prosecutors said would eliminate competition for a key National Security Agency contract.

Case Appeals

The Justice Department is appealing in the sugar case and considering an appeal against Booz Allen. Appeals courts would likely take months to rule.

A judge has yet to decide another lawsuit challenging a merger between Penguin Random House and rival book publisher Simon & Schuster Inc., while the government is still litigating a case in Boston to unwind a partnership between American Airlines Group Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp.

A trial over a proposed merger of Swedens Assa Abloy AB and Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. has yet to be scheduled.

DOJs unprecedented string of losses may cause companies pursuing deals to view the agency as a paper tiger when it comes to its antitrust lawsuits, said Joel Mitnick, an antitrust attorney with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

An investigation is inevitable, but an injunction is not, Mitnik said. If a client is willing to go the length of fighting something in court, they may not have such a bad chance of success.

George Washington Universitys Kovacic noted that despite the spate of losses, the government still has a chance to win on appeal.

These cases present opportunities to clarify some key points on merger law, he said. This is hardly over.

Photo: Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general of antitrust for the U.S. Department of Justice, speaks during an interview in Washington, D.C., on March 17. Kanter is planning an aggressively activist approach to his new job  to reverse decades of lax enforcement that he said has allowed companies to dominate industries and thwart competition./Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Profit Loss
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AmTrust Financial Services announced that it has acquired the middle market management liability business of DUAL North America, a Florida-based specialty program administrator that offers property/casualty products.

DUAL is part of the DUAL Group, an large underwriting team based in Naples. It is a nationwide admitted program for-profit and not-for-profit entities. The portfolio includes directors and officers liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability and crime coverage, the company said.

AmTrust, headquartered in New York, is a multinational insurance holding company that offers specialty products, including workers compensation, business liability and extending warranty coverage, the company said in a news release.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Commercial Lines Business Insurance
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John C. Frances workers compensation claim cleared the way for Arizona first responders to receive workers compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress syndrome.

But the former Gila County Sheriffs Office sergeant cannot pursue a bad faith claim against the Arizona Counties Insurance Pool for denying his PTSD claim because he waited too long to file suit. A state Court of Appeals panel ruled Friday that a one-year statute of limitations for claims against public entities starts running on the date the claim is denied.

The 3-0 opinion says we reject Frances contention that before he could file a bad faith claim, he was required first to establish coverage for the industrial injury.

France filed for workers compensation after he shot and killed a man who was pointing a shotgun at him in June 2017. It turned out that the gunman had never released the safety on his weapon. France, badly shaken, was diagnosed with PTSD.

The insurance pool denied the claim because under state law, mental health claims are not compensable unless the disorder is caused by unexpected, unusual or extraordinary stress. The Arizona Industrial Commission agreed and ruled that Frances claim was not compensable.

The state Supreme Court reversed that decision, ruling in March 2021 that the shooting did cause extraordinary stress for France, even though his ordinary job duties required him to responding to armed suspects.

France filed a bad-faith action against the insurance pool in August 2019, more than a year after the Industrial Commission ruled he was not eligible for benefits. The insurance pool argued that France had missed the one-year deadline imposed by the statute of limitations for claims against public entities.

The appellate panel, however, said the clock started running even before then. The opinion says to preserve his right to pursue a bad-faith action, France need to file suit within one year after the insurer denied his claim on Aug. 7, 2017.

The panel said Arizona Revised Statute Section 12-821 requires parties to file claims against public entities within six months after the claim accrues. A lawsuit must be filed within one year of accrual.

Frances attorney and the insurance pool had different opinions about when Frances bad faith claim accrued. The insurer argued that the clock started running when the Industrial Commission ruled on his workers compensation claim on March 27, 2018. France argued that his bad faith claim didnt accrue until May 6, 2021, when the Industrial Commission issued a final ruling awarding benefits after the Supreme Court reversed the commissions earlier decision denying the claim.

The appellate panel said both were wrong. Nothing in the statutes requires a claimant to exhaust all administrative remedies before filing a bad faith claim, the opinion says. If a bad faith claim hinges on whether there is coverage, the parties may stipulate to stay proceedings until the issue is resolved.

We stated this approach is arguably the most cost effective and promotes judicial economy,' the opinion says, citing a previous ruling.

in sum, the final coverage determination neither tolls nor affects the accrual of a bad faith claim, the panel concluded.

Topics Arizona
European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness hails EU plan for mandatory instant payments to help firms and consumers.

Ms McGuinness proposed a draft EU law that will require banks across the 27-country union to offer and receive "instant payment" (IP) services for a fee that is the same or lower than they charge for traditional credit transfers.

Currently, some banks charge far more for an IP transfer, up to 30 in some cases, compared with traditional transfers.

"Moving from next-day transfers to 10-seconds transfers is seismic and comparable to the move from mail to email," McGuinness said in a statement, adding that delays in transfers tie up 200bn in transit daily.

Instant payments have been rolled out in many parts of the world, including the EU, but voluntary take-up in the bloc has flatlined, with only two-thirds of banks offering IP which accounts for only about 13% of all credit transactions.

US duo Visa and Mastercard dominate cross-border card payments, and Brussels hopes that IP, combined with reforms such as open banking, or fintechs using a customer's bank data to offer a range of services, will boost competition.

IP is part of helping wider reforms, such as the anticipated digital euro.

"We want to extend euro instant payments internationally at a later stage," European Commission executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters.

IP allows people to receive and make instant payments 24/7, critical if payday falls on a weekend, and for businesses to manage their cashflows by receiving funds instantly after a sale.

"By mandating instant payments, the biggest blockers to open banking payments becoming mainstream are instantly solved," said Tom Greenwood, CEO of instant payments gateway Volt.

Once in force, the proposed law, which needs approval from EU states and the European Parliament, would require euro area banks to receive euro IPs within six months, and ability to send euro IPs within a year, with banks elsewhere in the EU given 24 months to offer euro IP services.

Payments Europe, which represents card firms, said markets should decide on pricing IP transactions, and the six-month compliance deadline is "too narrow and could endanger the safety and security of transactions".

- Reuters
Rishi Sunak has resurrected Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove to the Cabinet while keeping Jeremy Hunt on as Chancellor and vowing to fix the mistakes of Liz Trusss leadership.

On his first day as British prime minister, Mr Sunak culled nearly a dozen of Ms Trusss top-tier ministers including Jacob Rees-Mogg before reviving the careers of ousted frontbenchers.

The new Tory leader warned the UK is facing a profound economic crisis and braced the nation for difficult decisions as he criticised his predecessors record.

Eager to reassure the markets, Mr Sunak maintained Mr Hunts position in the Treasury after he was brought in to secure the economy after Ms Trusss disastrous mini-budget.

The cost of Government borrowing dropped and the pound rallied to the highest level since before the chaos, as Mr Hunt warned it will be tough ahead of his Halloween financial statement.

Boris Johnsons loyalists who stayed close to Ms Truss were among the 11 ministers who were out of government, while Mr Sunak rewarded allies with Cabinet roles.

Mr Raab won the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, roles he held under Mr Johnson before being sacked by Ms Truss.

Ms Braverman returned as British home secretary six days after launching an attack on Ms Truss when she was forced from the role over a breach of the Ministerial Code.

The chief rebel behind Ms Trusss U-turn on the top rate of income tax, Mr Gove returned to the Levelling Up Secretary role he was dismissed from after telling Mr Johnson to quit.

Steve Barclay, who supported both of Mr Sunaks bids for the Tory leadership, became his health secretary, returning to the role he lost under Ms Truss.

Grant Shapps was demoted from the top of the UK home office to business secretary to allow Ms Bravermans return, as Kemi Badenoch clung on to trade secretary.

Having the two popular figures on the Conservative right in prominent positions will be seen as a bid to bring together the warring party.

(PA Graphics)

Penny Mordaunt came out of the reshuffle as House of Commons Leader, failing to win a promotion after she challenged Mr Sunak for the leadership.

Allies of Mr Sunak benefited, with Mel Stride appointed work and pensions secretary and Oliver Dowden becoming Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, having resigned as party chairman after a disastrous double by-election loss under Mr Johnson.

Therese Coffey, one of Ms Trusss closest friends in Westminster, was demoted from deputy prime minister and health secretary to become his environment secretary.

James Cleverly was kept on as UK foreign secretary and Ben Wallace as defence secretary, showing Mr Sunak was not entirely breaking with the past two administrations.

Simon Hart was brought in as chief whip to restore party discipline, with Mr Sunak having warned the party: Unite or die.

It was also confirmed that Chris Heaton-Harris has been re-appointed as British secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

Kit Malthouse and Simon Clarke followed Mr Rees-Mogg out of Sunak's cabinet as loyalists of Mr Johnson who stuck by Ms Truss.

Tory chairman Jake Berry, a champion of Mr Johnsons levelling up agenda, and chief whip Wendy Morton also departed.

More than an hour after Ms Truss defended her economic strategy in her farewell speech from Downing Street on Tuesday morning, Mr Sunak stood outside No 10 criticising her brief tenure.

Mr Sunak said his predecessor, whose 49 days in office made her the shortest-lasting PM in history, was not wrong to want to drive up growth, describing it as a noble aim.

But some mistakes were made. Not born of ill will or bad intentions  quite the opposite in fact. But mistakes nonetheless, he added.

Ive been elected as leader of my party and your Prime Minister in part to fix them  and that work begins immediately.

Mr Sunak, 42, became the UKs first Hindu PM, the first of Asian heritage and the youngest for more than 200 years when he was appointed by Charles at Buckingham Palace.

The King welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace where he invited the new Tory leader to become Prime Minister (Aaron Chown/PA)

Ms Truss had used her valedictory speech to stress the need to be bold as she defended her tax-cutting ideals despite being forced to reverse most of her policies.

She made no apologies for her mini-budget and stressed the need for lower taxes, before wishing Mr Sunak every success, for the good of our country.

After Mr Sunak was pictured shaking the Kings hand during a formal handover of power in which the monarch was graciously pleased to accept Ms Trusss resignation, he sought to explain why he was now British prime minister.

Right now our country is facing a profound economic crisis, he warned, blaming the lingering aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and Vladimir Putins destabilising war in Ukraine.

He vowed to place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this Governments agenda, after the financial chaos triggered by Ms Truss.

(PA Graphics)

This will mean difficult decisions to come, he said, but he promised to repeat the compassion he showed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Sunak entered Downing Street after winning the swift Conservative leadership contest on Monday, with rivals Mr Johnson and Ms Mordaunt pulling their campaigns before a single vote was cast.

Mr Johnson, who had plotted a comeback less than two months after he resigned following a series of scandals, offered his congratulations to Mr Sunak just after his speech ended.

He welcomed the historic day and said this is the moment for every Conservative to give our new PM their full and wholehearted support.

Ms Truss delivered a speech outside Downing Street before meeting the King at Buckingham Palace (James Mannng/PA)

As he became the third UK prime minister based on the mandate won by Mr Johnson in the 2019 general election, Mr Sunak vowed to deliver on the last manifestos promises.
Ash Carter, who served as defence secretary under the Obama administration, opening military combat jobs to women and ending a ban on transgender people serving, has died aged 68.

Mr Carter died after suffering a heart attack on Monday evening, according a statement from Douglas Elmendorf, dean of Harvard Universitys Kennedy School. Carter had served as as director of the schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

In December 2015 Mr Carter ordered the military to open all jobs to women, removing the final barriers that kept women from serving in combat, including the most dangerous and gruelling commando posts.

I made the decision to admit women to all military specialties without exception, Mr Carter said in an interview on the decision. They are 50% of the population. We cant afford to leave off the table half of the population who can, if theyre the ones who have the best qualifications, do the job.

Ash Carter always set politics aside; he served presidents of both parties over five administrations

The following year, Mr Carter was responsible for ending the ban on transgender troops serving in the US military, saying it was the right thing to do.

Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so, Mr Carter said in June 2016, laying out a one-year plan to implement the change.

Our mission is to defend this country, and we dont want barriers unrelated to a persons qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can best accomplish the mission.

Mr Carter also often spoke with pride on his role in speeding the acquisition of armoured vehicles for Iraq and Afghanistan during the height of both conflicts to better protect US troops from roadside bombs.

Mr Carter served as the 25th defence secretary and loved nothing more than spending time with the troops, making frequent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit US forces with his wife Stephanie, his family said in a statement.

Ash Carter always set politics aside; he served presidents of both parties over five administrations.

President Joe Biden said Mr Carter took seriously his sacred obligation to the men and women in uniform.

He was relentless in his pursuit of technology solutions for our warfighters, rapidly accelerating delivery of mine resistant vehicles to our troops to protect them from improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Biden said in a statement. His work saved countless lives and limbs.

Barack Obama said in a statement that he relied on Ashs strategic counsel as we invested in innovation and a stronger, smarter, more humane, and more effective military for the long term.
Interview Our Objective Was to Force Junta Troops From Southern Kawkareik: KNLA

KNLA troops. / AFP

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its resistance allies, including the Kyar Phyu (White Tiger) group, attacked Myanmar junta targets in Kawkareik, Karen State, where the KNLAs political wing, the Karen National Unions (KNU) Brigade 6 is based, on October 21.

Kawkareik town is on the trade route with Thailand and held by junta troops while Karen armed groups control rural areas.

The October 21 attack was described in the media as an offensive to seize the town from the junta. But KNLA Battalion 27 commander Lieutenant Colonel Saw Yan Naing said the attack was a response to regime refusals to withdraw from Karen villages in southern Kawkareik and to stop junta shelling. Lt-Col Saw Yan Naing talked to The Irrawaddy about the fighting.

How long did the fighting last?

The fighting continued all day. We attacked at 7am from the north and south and took a police outpost and crushed junta security forces at a hilltop outpost. Then we attacked a police station and Battalion 97 in the town.

We stayed in the town the whole day. After regime air strikes and junta troops left southern Kawkareik to reinforce the town  which was our primary objective  we withdrew.

Our objective was to force junta troops from southern Kawkareik and not to control the town.

But from the experience, we believe we will be able to take the town if we follow a systematic plan.

How many casualties did the revolutionary forces suffer?

One fighter died and three others were injured. According to the commander Bo Kyaw Thet, around nine junta personnel were killed. And weapons were seized from the hilltop outpost.

How many civilian casualties were reported in Kawkareik?

We attacked where there were few civilian houses and mainly staff quarters. But civilians were hit by junta shells in Khin Aye Mu village, which is far from where we attacked.

There have been criticisms about Brigade 6s good treatment of prisoners of war. Why does the brigade treat captives well?

People have criticized us for the way we handle prisoners of war. The KNU is an armed organization with political objectives. We are not blood-thirsty killers. The KNU strictly follows the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war.

We feed them properly, treat them humanely and keep them freely and do not tie them up unless necessary. We are fighting because we oppose the dictatorship. We dont want to be the next dictators.

What do you want to tell junta soldiers, police and civil servants who have not yet joined the Civil Disobedience Movement [CDM]?

They are junta supporters. We will decisively defeat them on the battleground as they are pillars of the regime. But we will handle detainees in line with international provisions.

As to strikers who have joined the CDM, we warmly welcome them and arrange our best for them. Even if they want to bring families, we try our best and carry out family reunion programs.

What message do you want to give the people?

There is one message: many people have endured everything unbowed. I bow to them. Some want to join [the revolution]. But they have fears, concerns and doubts that the revolution will win. Do not fear because we will definitely win this fight.
Burma ASEAN Countries Must End Forced Returns of Refugees to Junta-Ruled Myanmar: UN Envoy

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah looks on as Noeleen Heyzer, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, speaks at a press conference at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur on July 26. / Photo: AFP

The United Nations special envoy has urged Southeast Asian countries to end forced returns of Myanmar nationals fleeing for safety and develop a joint regional framework for refugee protection.

Noeleen Heyzer, the secretary-generals special envoy on Myanmar, told the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on October 25 that the recent forced return of Myanmar nationals underlines the urgent need for a coordinated ASEAN response to address shared regional challenges caused by the conflict.

She called on ASEAN countries to urgently discuss development of a framework for refugee protection that respects the principle of non-refoulement, protects human rights and serves regional shared interests, ahead of the ASEAN Summit in November.

The UN envoy also strongly condemned recent attacks including the juntas deadly airstrike at the weekend that killed more than 60 people and injured over 55 at a celebration in Kachin States Hpakant Township.

According to UNHCR, hundreds of Myanmar nationals including refugees and military defectors have been sent back against their will by Malaysia in the past two months.

Among recent deportations were six officers who defected from the Myanmar navy and were arrested by Malaysian authorities before being deported on Oct. 6, according to Reuters. One officer and his wife were detained upon arrival back in Yangon, it stated. At least four reportedly sought UN refugee status in Malaysia. In the latest case, Malaysia deported a Myanmar asylum-seeker from detention despite UNHCR interventions.

The reports have sparked growing concern for political refugees and military personnel who defect and join the anti-regime movement.

Writing in an open letter to Malaysia, groups representing Myanmar military defectors said deportations put them in serious danger. They called on the neighboring country to immediately stop repatriating political refugees, including military personnel who join the civil disobedience movement against the regime.

Since the February 2021 military coup, the junta has carried out a nationwide campaign of mass killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and indiscriminate attacks that amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.

As of Tuesday, nearly 2,400 civilians had been killed and about 16,000 people arrested by junta forces, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Burma Myanmar Junta Frees NLD Election Chiefs

Union Election Commission chairman U Hla Thein (left) and secretary U Myint Naing. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars military regime has released the head of the electoral body appointed by the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government after 20 months in custody.

Prison sources told The Irrawaddy that the Union Election Commission (UEC) chairman U Hla Thein and a commission secretary U Myint Naing were released from Yamethin Prison in Mandalay Region on Wednesday.

They were detained in February last year when the military staged its coup, accusing the NLD of vote rigging in the 2020 general election that saw another NLD landslide victory.

A regime court in July this year sentenced them to three years imprisonment for electoral fraud.

Domestic and international election observers insisted that the 2020 election was free and fair, despite the regimes claims. Millions took to the streets to protest against the coup.

The junta filed the same charges against NLD President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and three other senior figures, sentencing them to three years each.
Burma Myanmar Junta Helicopters Raid on Township Administration Hub

A junta helicopter drops troops during a drill. / Junta Website

A Pale peoples administration hub in Sagaing Region has been raided by Myanmars junta troops on Tuesday.

A Russian MI-35 helicopter attacked the resistance base, which was defended by Pale Peoples Defense Force (PDF) while more than 100 regime grounds, who were dropped by two other helicopters, stormed the compound, a Pale PDF representative said.

The base was responsible for the townships civilian administration and held many pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members, junta soldiers, junta informants and other criminals.

Almost all of the administrative staff and PDF fighters escaped after being tipped off, the spokesman said.

However, many prisoners of war were seized by regime forces while they were being evacuated in a vehicle, the PDF spokesman told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

Regime forces burned the buildings at the base and houses in the adjacent village.

The administrative team have governed the township well. We are sorry that our base was occupied but we will continue to struggle, the PDF spokesman said.

He said there was relief that all the administrative staff escaped unhurt but some PDF members are still missing.

The regime claimed on Tuesday that its forces freed 26 people, including civil servants and villagers detained by the civilian National Unity Government and PDFs.

It said the raid was to rescue the wife of an army officer who was captured by the resistance fighters on October 12 while she was traveling to Magwe Region from Monywa in Sagaing Region.

The bodies of PDF fighters and ammunition were seized during shootouts, the junta said.

On October 19, regime forces used six aircraft to raid Yin Paung Taing and nearby villages on the border between Pale and Yinmabin townships in Sagaing Region to supposedly search for the officers wife.

Two women were reportedly shot dead by regime forces while fleeing.

On October 20, regime troops raided nearby Shwe Hlan village, supposedly to search for the officers wife.

During the mission, shootouts broke out at a resistance base and some resistance fighters bodies were seized, the junta claimed.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Nine resistance fighters were killed at Shwe Hlan village and burned by regime forces along with a villager, residents told the media.

Eight civilian houses in the village were reportedly burned.

The junta faces attacks from resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations across the country and is using air raids to indiscriminately attack civilian targets.
Burma Myanmar Junta Rounds Up Rakhine Civilians as AA Clashes Increase

Buthidaung Township. / CJ

Family members are concerned about around 20 Buthidaung Township residents in Rakhine State who were detained by Myanmars military regime on Sunday.

Troops from the 15th Military Operations Command rounded up residents at the central market in Buthidaung, including shopkeepers, traders and porters, according to relatives of the detainees.

Among the detainees was a policeman from the towns jetty office. Others included 10 ethnic Rakhine and seven Muslim traders and three porters, said residents.

Their whereabouts are unknown.

A former Buthidaung lawmaker said: I think they are making arrests just to instill fear. They ask for ransoms and if their relatives cant find the money they find trumped-up charges. They are crooks and do whatever they want.

Since fighting escalated between Myanmars regime and the Arakan Army (AA) in August, the junta has not been able to launch offensives against the AA. Instead, it is shelling villages, blockading roads and waterways and arbitrarily arresting civilians.

On October 14, junta troops detained a treasurer of the Garuna Network charity in Maungdaw at his house and charged him and other members under the Unlawful Association Act over alleged ties with the AA.

On October 12, junta troops detained nine boats coming from Rathedaung, Ponnagyun and Maungdaw to buy food in Sittwe, the state capital. The regime released the passengers but crews remain at Sittwe police station.

The regime has detained hundreds of residents in northern Rakhine and in Taungup, Ramree, Manaung and Kyaukphyu townships to the south since August. They are often charged under Article 505 of the Penal Code and the Unlawful Association Act. Many are being held incommunicado, according to Rakhine charities.
War Against the Junta Nearly a Dozen Myanmar Junta Personnel Killed in Two Days of Resistance Attacks

--

Myanmars regime saw the deaths of nearly a dozen more of its personnel, including ward administration staff, in the last two days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) attacked junta targets.

PDF groups also targeted a junta-controlled gas pipeline in central Myanmar.

Incidents were reported in Yangon, Mandalay, Bago and Sagaing regions and Kayah and Kachin states.

The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks by PDFs and EAOs, as well as regime raids.

Explosion at junta gas pipeline in Mandalay

A local resistance force, Myingyan 35, claimed on Tuesday that it and another PDF group blew up a gas pipeline of junta-controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region on the weekend.

Explosions hit the gas pipeline, which transports gas from a plant in Minbu Township, Magwe Region to Mandalay, in two locations, the PDF group said.

PDF camp raided in Sagaing

A PDF camp in Pale Township, Sagaing Region was raided and occupied by two Mi-35 military helicopter gunships and troops flown in on two other choppers on Tuesday afternoon, according to local media reports.

Quoting resistance forces, the media reported that all PDF fighters escaped from the air raid as they had been tipped off.

Military detachment hit by mines in Sagaing

Three junta soldiers were killed and around 20 injured when three PDF groups joined forces to ambush a military detachment by triggering land mines in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region on Monday, Myinmu PDF group, which coordinated the attack, claimed on Tuesday.

Regime forces abandoned the bodies of three dead comrades in an irrigation canal nearby, the PDF group said.

Military convoy ambushed in Sagaing

Many regime troops are believed to have been killed or injured in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region on Monday evening when Zero Guerrilla Forces (Myingyan District) used a cluster of eight land mines to ambush three military vehicles, the PDF group claimed.

One of the vehicles was directly hit by the blasts.

On that morning, a regime solider was killed in the township when a resistance sniper of the PDF group ambushed an advance unit of the convoy that was searching for land mines on the Myinmu-Sagaing highway.

Woman killed in junta raid in Sagaing

A woman resident was killed and a family of three injured in Budalin Township, Sagaing Region early Tuesday when a military detachment raided and attacked Magyi Oak Village, said Budalin Ture News, a local media outlet sharing information about the township. In the raid, a resistance fighter was also killed, it said.

Military informant assassinated in Bago

Yedashe-PDF claimed on Tuesday that it killed military informant Ko Nga Htay from a village in Taungoo Township, Bago Region on Monday.

The PDF group said the victim helped and guided junta forces in raiding a camp of Yedashe-PDF in the township in April.

In the regime raid, five PDF fighters were killed by regime forces. The victim was also accused of helping regime forces threaten and arrest civilians.

Junta police officer killed in Kayah

Junta police officer Thant Zaw Oo, 41, died in a ward in Kayah States capital Loikaw on Tuesday after being shot by unknown gunmen, according to reports by local media.

The policeman in civilian clothes was gunned down while patrolling in the town with a motorbike.

Ward administration office attacked in Yangon

A woman staffer of a ward administration office was killed and the junta-appointed ward administrator and other workers injured when PDF fighters of Yangon Urban Guerrilla Army attacked the ward administration office near Hlawga junction in Shwepyitha Township, Yangon on Monday afternoon, the PDF group claimed.

The attack was in response to the junta air strike on a Kachin concert in Hpakant Township, Kachin State that killed more than 60 people on Sunday.

On Monday night, the PDF force and other resistance groups also used grenades to attack a police station and a house that is selling civilian motorbikes seized by regime forces in the township.

KIA clashes with junta forces in Kachin

A clash broke out in Hpakant Township, Kachin State on Tuesday morning when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) ambushed a military detachment near a village, local media outlet The 74 Media reported.

In the clash, a nearby military base supported its ground troops with artillery strikes on the KIA forces.

However, casualties on both sides were unknown.
Commentary Right to the End, Cambodia Fails Myanmars People as ASEAN Chair

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) and Myanmar military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pose for photos in Naypyitaw in January 2022. / AFP

From the start, Cambodias tenure as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been a time of dismay for Myanmar, with Phnom Penh never failing to find some new way to disappoint the people of the country. Even as it prepares to hand off to its successor, it is still finding ways to frustrate them. Take its latest announcement on Myanmar on Wednesday.

In his capacity as the ASEAN chairman, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in the statement that the bloc was gravely concerned over the recent escalation of violence in Myanmar, including armed clashes in Karen State and a deadly air strike on a civilian gathering in Kachin State.

But the statement shamefully avoids naming the perpetrator: the Myanmar military regime, which is responsible for air raids that killed at least 50 people, including civilians, in Kachin as well as deadly air strikes and shelling in Karen State. Both happened late last week.

Rather than directly name the culprit, the statement just says that ASEAN urgently calls on all parties concerned, in particular one with significant power on the ground, to take its repeated and worn-out suggestion to take concrete actions to enable a process of inclusiveness and constructive dialogue and to seek a peaceful solution and national reconciliation in Myanmar and for the sake of peace, security and stability in the region.

Former US ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel tweeted It serves no purpose other than to make one look feckless to refuse to name an offending country or organization while making it 100 percent clear to whom you are referring.

Yes, ASEAN under Cambodias chairmanship has proved to be feckless from the beginning.

Hun Sens legacy is to have been the first international premier to visit Myanmar and hold talks with the junta leadership, while almost the entire world shunned them for seizing power from the democratically elected government and for its bloody post-coup crackdowns on peaceful protesters.

Furthermore, with the upcoming handover of the chairmanship to Indonesia, Hun Sens fantasy of becoming a negotiator between the junta and ASEAN has now fizzled out. He dreamed of coaxing regime chief Min Aung Hlaing into implementing the blocs Five Point Consensus peace plan for Myanmar. He barked at his critics: Please do not bother me; give me time [to meet the leader of Myanmar].

Sadly for him, the juntas stubbornness doomed his dream. He also personally appealed to Min Aung Hlaing not to hang four democracy activists, but to no avail. His special envoy has flown to Myanmar twice, but neither visit yielded significant results. Their deals with the regime on the provision of humanitarian assistance to the country were much criticized for giving the junta control over distribution.

After all his repeated missteps, the failure to name the Myanmar junta as the culprit in the statement Wednesday suggests Hun Sen still hasnt come to his senses about the regime he has been dealing with throughout his chairmanship.

Myanmar will remain a thorn in ASEANs side after Indonesia assumes the chairmanship. The new chair shouldnt follow in Cambodias footsteps. ASEAN as a whole should now reform its approach to Myanmar, as the Five-Point Consensus the bloc adopted for the country has yet to bear fruit more than one year on. Its time to think outside the consensus.

Equally important, ASEAN must not legitimize the juntas actions, such as by officially recognizing the regimes planned election next year. Member states should also refrain from applying double standards on Myanmar issues. In particular, neighboring countries to Myanmar who are members of ASEAN should consider the impacts of living next door to such a politically and socially unstable country. They will be the ones who suffer the destabilization first and most immediatelysome are already struggling with itbefore the whole region experiences the detrimental effects.
 $5 wine & beer? Complete burger meal for under $11? Half off appetizers? BOGO Happy Hour drinks? Yes!

Our participating #tasteofkeybiscayne restaurants are serving up some of the most delicious meal-deals on this Wednesday, October 26, 2022.

Costa Med Bistro

Open for Indoor and Expanded Outdoor Dining, Takeout!

Today, treat yourself to our special homemade black linguine with spicy tomato sauce and lobster chunks

Order online for take out - click here!

Costa Med, a TripAdvisor Traverlers Choice nominated restaurant, is located in the Square Shopping Center. 260 Crandon Blvd. Reservations suggested.

Call Antonio or Harold at (305) 361-7575

Hours.

Lunch Mon to Sat: Noon a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dinner Mon to Sat: 6 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. / Sun 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Golden Hog

Eat Local. Help local. Shop Safely.

Visit us for our Wednesday special Grilled Chicken sandwich, prepared fresh on our grill!

Todays menu.

Soups & Creams: Chicken Kale / Red Beans / Lobster Bisque

Main Course: Pulled Pork / Chicken & Spinach / Bacalao / Vegetable Lasagna

Side Dishes: Yellow Rice / Broccoli / Yuca Sticks

The Golden-Hog has a complete line of specialty groceries for delivery.

Call (305) 361-1300 to place a delivery or take out order; you can also email your orders to orders@thegoldenhogmarket.com or order online here.

Miss Mui Chinese Bistro

Newest #tasteofkeybiscayne dining experience, serving authentic Chinese and Cantonese food.

Miss Mui is a family owned and operated restaurant, serving Cantonese cuisine staples like special fried rice, BBQ Spare Ribs, but also lumpias, a Venezuelan-style spring roll and more.

This Wednesday try their specialty, the Pekin Duck. Reputed to be the best in South Florida!

Miss Mui is located in the Square Shopping Center at 260 Crandon Blvd. Suite 14, on Key Biscayne. To place an order, please call 305)-381-0694.

Follow them on Instagram. Click here.

Sake Room

FREE* Crunchy Crab Salad!!!

Make it a Sake-Lunch-Wednesday and try one of the delicious options in our new Lunch Menu, starting at $10.99.

Open for Indoor and Outdoor Dining, Takeout or delivery!

Join us today, open from Noon to 10 p.m.

New hours! Noon to 10 p.m.

Call (305) 456-0488 to place a takeout or delivery order directly

328 Crandon Blvd Ste 108, Galleria Shopping Center

Grub hub  UberEats also available. Please if you can call us first

*Offer good on any $50+ order

Gran Inka

Open for Outdoor Dining, Takeout or Delivery.

El Gran Inka brings to every dish authentic Peruvian gastronomy featuring a unique creation and a touch of gourmet.

On this Wednesday, join us for MidWeek Happy Hour - all drink 2 for 1 and special $7 appetizers

Offering Delivery or Take out directly from El Gran Inka. Order directly from us by calling (305) 365-7883

Open 7-days Noon to 10 p.m.

606 Crandon Blvd. Suite 4 / Key Biscayne (across from Winn Dixie)

UberEats Available

La Scala

Join us for that special Wednesday dinner night! Or let us deliver you a fresh cooked Italian meal! Today, treat yourself to our delicious Fruti de Mare

A La Scala meal makes any day that much more special. Join us for dine-in, open for indoor dining, limited outdoor seating, reservations recommended.

To place a takeout - offering curbside service - order call (786) 773-3633 or visit us online by clicking here.

Brasas KB

Open for covered Indoor & Outdoor Dining, Takeout or delivery!

Mid-Week $10.99 burger special.... Our delicious half pound hamburger, with one side and a soda, only $10.99 - loaded it up with a fried egg, bacon, cheese and pickles to make it a "completa" for only $4 more! Can't beat the quality! Unmatched value!

Have you tried our Peruvian Chicken Rotisserie Family Combo for lunch or dinner? Package includes 4 sides and sauce of your choice: huancaina, aji amarillo, huacatay and olivas negras peruanas.

Call (786) 615-2399 to place a takeout order. Open Noon to 8 p.m.

328 Crandon Blvd, Galleria Shopping Center

D'Lite Bistro & Bakery

Who says eating healthy means sacrificing taste and flavor? Not at DLite!

We are a unique and healthy restaurant that serves salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, protein smoothies and cold press juices made fresh every morning  including gluten-free, vegetarian and keto options.

This Wednesday, try out any of perfectly packed Wraps.

We open at 7 a.m. daily and close at 8 p.m. everyday except Sat and Sun when we close at 6 p.m.

DLite is located in the Arcade Mall, 180 Crandon Blvd. To place an order, call (305) 882-9284 or visit us online by clicking here.

Kazumi

We are open to serve you with indoor & ample outdoor seating

This Wednesday, treat yourself to our delicious Asian Baby Back Ribs

Modern Japanese fusion restaurant. We offer creative treatments & creativity in our dishes for takeout and delivery by our own employees. Available for lunch and dinner.

Mon to Sat Noon to 9:45 p.m.

Closed Sundays

To place an order call (305) 361-2675 or order online here.

Boaters Grill & Lighthouse Cafe / Bill Baggs

The restaurants inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park  the popular Boaters Grill, located at No Name Harbor and accessible by boat, and the beachside Lighthouse Cafe are ready to serve you.

Start the day with a delicious breakfast under the Lighthouse! Serving traditional breakfast favorites being served at Lighthouse Cafe

Boaters Grill is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lighthouse Cafe is open 7-days a week, from 9 a.m. to Sunset

The restaurants are located inside Bill Baggs State Park, at 1200 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. You can reach them at (305) 361-0080

Randazzo by Yesenia

Open for Indoor & Outdoor dining, Takeout or delivery. Reservations recommended

What could be better than a Randazzo dinner with your favorite wine?

Join us today, between 5 and 7 p.m. for $5 Wine & Beer specials and HALF OFF Appetizers

Please call (305) 456-0480 to place an order or make a reservation

Open Monday, Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., open until 11 p.m. Friday.

Closed Tuesdays

328 Crandon Blvd Ste 112, Galleria Shopping Center

Delivery service with Postmates or UberEats

Check back tomorrow for more specials as we add more restaurants to #tasteofkeybiscayne-To-Go

And please remember to order from the restaurant directly before using one of the apps  this way we support the local restaurants by saving them the commission they are charged, which at times is as much as 30%
Australia's decision to buy nuclear submarines, the so-called AUKUS initiative, has been guided mostly by ex-US Navy admirals who have potential conflicts of interest, the Washington Post has revealed in a detailed investigaton.

Former senior Defence executive Mike Scrafton asked, in a piece for Pearls and Irritations, a blog run by ex-Australian public service veteran John Menadue: "What confidence can Australians have in the soundness of this opaque, over-priced, strategically unjustifiable, and massively under-specified project?"

Unsurprisingly, Menadue's blog was the lone Australian outlet to report the Post's investigation, as the mainstream media tend to generally sing from the government's songsheet.

Headlined "Former US Navy leaders profited from overlapping interests on sub deal", the Post's detailed story said two retired US admirals and three ex-Navy civilian leaders were filling critical but secretive roles as paid Australian Government advisers during the AUKUS negotiations.

The investigation "found that the former US Navy officials have benefitted financially from a tangle of overlapping interests in their work for a longtime ally of the United States".

"Some of the retired admirals have worked for the Australian Government while simultaneously consulting for US shipbuilders and the US Navy, including on classified programs," the report, by Craig Whitlock and Nate Jones, said.

And one of these ex-admirals was forced to quit in 2022 as a part-time submarine consultant to the Australian Government due to a potential conflict of interest over being board chairman of a US company that builds nuclear-powered subs.

Details of the American officials' involvement has been kept secret by the powers in Canberra, and the Post obtained its information through FOIA requests to the US Navy and US State Department.

Clearance from the US Navy for these ex-officials to work for Australia was given speedily, with three getting clearance in less than a week. Two of them applied for work with Australia less than a month after they retired.

"In addition to the six retired US admirals, the government of Australia has hired three former civilian US Navy leaders and three US shipbuilding executives," the Post report said.

"Since 2015, those Americans have received consulting deals worth about US$10 million (A$15.7 million) combined, according to Australian contracting records posted online."

Recommendations made by the American advisers have led to Australia deciding on a nuclear submarine deal which will leave the country without any submarines when the Collins-class boats long retired, until the new boats arrive in 2040.

As the AUKUS deliberations continue to decide on what subs Australia will order  the British Astute class or the American Virginia class  retired US admirals William Hilarides and Thomas Eccles are being paid to be advisers on a six-member panel. The Post said it was more likely that the American boats would be chosen.

Eccles has been paid US$825,000 for four consulting gigs since 2016, according to figures taken from Australian records.

There are two other Americans on the panel: Gloria Valdez, a former Navy deputy assistant secretary responsible for shipbuilding, and Navy ship design expert Howard Fireman.

The Post report is well worth a careful read by all Australians who should understand where their taxpayer funds are being used and how.

Scrafton questioned how much the Americans had influenced the junking of the contract with France, signed by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, an incident that led to a major souring of ties with Paris.

"What remains unclear now is the extent to which the abandonment of the French submarine and the decision to pursue a nuclear powered version was influenced by the Americans," he wrote. "The dramatic shift to the AUKUS project casts the role of the ex-US officials in a different light."

He said Australia's security was the highest responsibility of government  as politicians tended to say often.

"Yet, in the submarine case it appears Australian governments have been prepared to delegate this responsibility to a highly paid group of foreigners.

"The tenor of [Labor] Defence Minister [Richard] Marles comments on strategic policy in office, however, indicate that the Albanese Government is as comfortable with this as its predecessor. A public review of the Australian requirement for a submarine in needed."
Image by Welcome to All !  from Pixabay

Storage vendor Seagate Technologies says in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security has accused the company of violating export regulations by shipping hard drives to an unidentified vendor on the BIS Entity List.

That vendor was identified as Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei Technologies in a report issued in October 2021 by Republican members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Seagate said it had received the proposed charging letter on 29 August. It said it had responded, setting out its position that it had not committed any such act, especially as its disk drives were not subject to the export regulations.

"Seagate believes it has complied with all relevant export control laws and regulations," the company filing said.

"[We have] committed to compliance through its global team of international trade compliance and legal professionals and by maintaining robust trade controls compliance policies and procedures.

"Seagate has been co-operating with BIS and intends to continue to engage with BIS to seek a resolution of this matter."

The regulations in question were tightened in August 2020 and took effect on 14 September that year.

The Republican group issued a seven-page report that claimed: "Any shipment of prohibited products without a licence after 14 September 2020, likely including hard disk drives incorporating semiconductors as component parts, violated this rule."

The group said Roger Wicker, a ranking member on the committee, had sent a letter to Seagate, Western Digital and Toshiba in a bid to find out whether the hard-disk manufacturers were complying with the rule.

In September 2021, the group said Seagate had disclosed that it had not applied for any licences to export hard disk drives to Huawei or its affiliates that are on the Entity List.

"Seagate representatives also disclosed that the company has stopped shipping hard disk drives to Huawei, but declined to provide the date that shipments ended," the group said.

The US had introduced new rules in May 2020, amending the longstanding foreign-produced direct product rule to target Huaweis acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain US software and technology.

The August changes, announced by the Commerce Department, were aimed at cutting off the supply of advanced semiconductors to Huawei.

The BIS added another 38 Huawei affiliates to the Entity List, which imposes a licence requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations and modified four existing Huawei Entity List entries.

Seagate's chief financial officer Gianluca Romano was asked about the new rule changes on the day they took effect, the Republican group said.

He was said to have responded by saying: I dont see any particular restriction for us in terms of being able to continue to ship to Huawei or any other customer in China. So, we dont think we need to have a specific licence...
GUEST OPINION: Every organisation and industry are transforming. They are striving to move faster, become smarter with data and innovate more with technology. In 2022, businesses are acutely aware that digital transformation is a must-do. As organisations navigate this journey, they manage increasingly complex data and tasks. And while data is considered critical for any efficient operation, it also has the potential to become the number one barrier to transformation.

According to the recent Breakthrough study led by Dell Technologies, 61% of Australian respondents believe the opportunity to become a data-driven business will pass them by. Another way to put this is that at every business conference, there is a chance more than half of the attendees are worried about data.

Going deeper, 39% of respondents believe their people wont be able to keep up with technological change. It is an interesting paradox. While technology is an enabler to human potential, the number of solutions and settings to navigate can overwhelm workers with too many choices. However, the path out of the data labyrinth is often a mix of the right set of tools with a human perspective.

Here are five steps to help navigate digital transformation in your business:

1. Have a clear shared vision of how digital transformation can help you realise your business goals.

Every IT problem starts with a business problem. Before laying down the foundation for dealing with your data, consider the challenges you are trying to solve as a company. Once you have that vision, you can articulate the right technology solution and partner with the IT experts on your team to build a plan. You dont have to create an aggressive timeline. A phased approach accounts for your most important assetyour people. Give them enough time to understand the strategy and align with it.

2. Invest in appropriate edge and as-a-Service strategies that can scale.

As-a-Service experiences ease or eliminate your teams infrastructure management burden. With a flexible IT consumption model, you can operate with agility. But you can also control and scale your environment, adapting to different dynamics. And then there is an opportunity at the edgewhere you can act on data near its point of creation to generate. With real-time data analysis, you can work faster and reduce the costs associated with sending large amounts of data to a central location. This is especially true in industries like retail, healthcare, and even public transportation.

3. Automate mundane tasks.

The research shows that people would be willing to partner more with technology if the personal benefits are clear. In fact, 69% of respondents would look forward to having more time to

develop their skills and elevate their roles. By automating work, people are available to focus on what inspires them and on uncovering business opportunities. The curiosity mindset is a valuable skill for data analytics. And once your teams have enough time to look at the data with a strategic approach, you start to pave the way for insights-driven decisions.

4. Start with small-scale pilots.

The sandbox environment is perfect for the test-and-learn method. People feel safe, and you have control over the impact. It is one of the best tactics to gain insights from analytics while stimulating people to adopt and publicise the successes. At this point, you go back to the number one step in this framework. Look at the initial business problem. Combine your newly added technology with your teams recent gains in time to generate a positive outcome. Then assess your pilot, replicate and scale.

5. Provide adequate coaching, mentoring, and reassurance.

Real breakthrough happens at the intersection of people and technology. Thus, it is paramount to recognise that while consumption-based IT models provide the necessary breathing room to your teams, you must deploy them in ways that are sensitive to human behaviour. Make sure that everyone is accessing the necessary tools and has enough training and resources to use them to their fullest. Communicate and establish a platform to contribute ideas and be heard. Lack of communication is one of the areas where respondents say their teams struggle the most.

Technology plays a role in unlocking a company culture shift toward data-driven decisions. Once you enhance human capabilities with automation and consumption-based IT, you create new opportunities and experiences that excite your team. Then you can elevate their productivity to new heights and ensure they find purpose while delivering exceptional outcomes.
Low-power satellite connectivity provider Myriota has signed an agreement with aerospace company Isilaunch to launch satellite Kanyini into orbit.

Under the agreement, Myriota has booked a spot for South Australias homegrown satellite to blast off on a SpaceX Transporter mission in 2023.

Kanyini is a Pitjantjatjara term describing the principle of responsibility and unconditional love for all of creation.

The satellite will help improve bushfire preparedness, response and resilience, and monitoring inland and coastal water qualities.

Myriota, Inovor Technologies, SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, and the South Australian Government are collaborating to build and design the spacecraft.

The IoT payload will add to the Myriota Network, communicating with devices and sensors on the Earths surface, working together with hyperspectral imaging collected from the earth observation payload to enable a wide array of applications. Kanyini will provide access to critical data anywhere and everywhere its needed to help improve and monitor water quality, crop health and bushfire resilience, said Myriota chief technology officer and co-founder David Haley.

Leading the mission, SmartSat has already factored the data collected by Kanyini and HyperScout 2 into a number of projects which will drive research and build experience in operating Earths observation payloads in space.

Securing the launch with Isilaunch is another exciting step for the Kanyini mission which will pioneer sovereign technology in projects such as OzFuel, which will gather real-time data, monitor potentially hazardous conditions specific to Australias eucalypt-dominant bushland, and improve our bushfire preparedness, response and resilience, said SmartSat CEO and professor Andy Koronios.

South Australia is leading the charge in accelerating innovation and growth in the space sector and this mission presents an important opportunity for local industry to play a key role in furthering our national endeavours to build sovereign EO capability, provide secure access to data from space and expand our satellite design, and manufacturing expertise, said South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries Susan Close.

"Our team, which includes local representation in Australia for smooth and fast interaction with the customer, is looking forward to completing all the necessary launch activities to get Kanyini to space, said Isilaunch director Abe Bonnema.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 25 October 2022.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
The UK government's failure to investigate cotton product imports allegedly linked to forced labour by China's Muslim Uyghur minority in its Xinjiang region is "unlawful", Britain's High Court heard Tuesday.

The court is being asked to decide a case brought by the German-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC), which wants British authorities to launch a criminal probe into the sale of goods sourced from Xinjiang, in northwest China.

The non-governmental organisation -- which is suing the UK's interior ministry, tax department and the National Crime Agency (NCA) -- argues the region's cotton factory labourers are subjected to "detention and coercion".

Rights groups say more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are detained in what the United States and lawmakers in some Western countries have said amounts to genocide.

Britain's parliament passed a nonbinding declaration last year that crimes against humanity and genocide were being committed in Xinjiang.

A recent UN report found credible allegations of torture and forced labour there.

However, Beijing has long denied any such accusations, claiming the United States and Western allies are using the issue as a "political tool".

In its legal filing, the WUC warned there was a "high risk" that cotton products sourced from some Chinese businesses by British companies could be produced by "prison or forced labour".

It said the UK government had "resolutely declined to engage" in evidence gathered since 2020 showing the "horrors" allegedly perpetrated against Uyghur people.

Britain's Foreign Prison-made Goods Act and Proceeds of Crime Act may have been breached, but authorities have failed to launch a money laundering probe or civil confiscation processes, the WUC said in written submissions.

Lawyers for the UK government, which has repeatedly criticised Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs, argue the WUC has brought a "hypothetical" case based on "generalised" evidence.

They note the NCA has concluded there was "insufficient material from which to develop any line of inquiry or criminal investigation".

The two-day hearing before judge Ian Dove is set to conclude on Wednesday, with a ruling expected at an unspecified later date.
Northern Ireland appeared to be heading for a second election of the year on Wednesday after the UK governments efforts to resolve months of political deadlock over its post-Brexit status failed to yield any breakthrough.

Chris Heaton-Harris, UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has held talks with political parties to persuade them to form a new executive.

If no agreement is reached by Friday, London is legally obliged to hold snap elections for the devolved assembly in the volatile province.

It has been without a functioning government since February after the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) toppled the executive branch over its staunch opposition to post-Brexit trade rules there.

She wants the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol agreed by London and Brussels as part of the British Brexit deal in 2019 to be revised or abolished altogether. They say it weakens the provinces place within the UK.

Many unionists also argue that the pact threatens the delicate peace balance between the pro-Irish nationalist community and advocates of continued union with the UK.

The measures, which effectively keep Northern Ireland within the European Unions internal market and customs union, were agreed to avoid the return of a hard land border with the neighboring Republic of Ireland, which remains an EU member.

Abolishing this hard border was a key element of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

 Sinn Fein Appeal 

The pro-Irish party Sinn Fein scored a historic first election victory in May, further complicating efforts to restore power-sharing.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said on Wednesday he had reiterated to Heaton-Harris the need to clear the debris of the protocol. An election would do little to resolve the stalemate, he said.

I dont think it will help us get to the solution we need faster or get the political institutions working again, he added.

Donaldson noted that the party was nonetheless prepared to challenge a new vote.

Sinn Fein leader Michelle ONeill, who is set to become Northern Irelands first minister if the executive can be reinstated, renewed her call for the DUP to end its boycott.

I appeal to those blocking an executive to work with the rest of us and put money in peoples pockets, she tweeted Wednesday.

The UK government, battered by political turmoil that has seen three prime ministers in two months, has urged Brussels to overhaul the protocol and is passing controversial legislation to tear it up.

The UK has previously threatened to unilaterally change the protocol.

That has raised fears of a trade war and deteriorating ties with Europe when the economic landscape is already bleak.

 Strong Relationship 

Northern Irelands political impasse was discussed in a phone call on Wednesday between Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin and Britains new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who took office just the day before.

The two leaders agreed on the vital importance of a strong relationship between Britain and Ireland, Downing Street said.

On the Northern Ireland Protocol, Sunak stressed he would prefer a negotiated outcome and hope that all parties will approach the current challenges with pragmatism and goodwill, his office added.

The British PM tweeted that he had spoken to Martin about how Britain and Ireland can work together as close neighbors and friends in the coming months.
Rising star Lee Shin Young returns to the small screen to join the third installment of the high scale project "Dr. Romantic."

Since his debut in 2019 with "Crash Landing on You," Lee Shin Young has appeared in many popular works, slowly building his filmography.

Here's where you can see more of him while waiting for "Dr. Romantic 3" premiere!

'Crash Landing on You'

Lee Shin Young made his scene-stealing debut in 2019 with the international blockbuster hit series "Crash Landing on You."

In the series, he portrayed the role of a North Korean soldier under Hyun Bin. Apart from his promising acting, the actor also captured the fans with his model-like visuals.

Thanks to the series, the actor opened more doors of opportunities, landing him his first major acting role the following year.

'How to Buy a Friend'

The rising actor starred in the coming of age series "How to Buy a Friend" with Cho Yi Hyun, Kim So Hye, Shin Seung Ho and more in 2020.

Marking his first major acting role, Lee Shin Young transformed into a student with talent in writing who works together with Shin Seung Ho to uncover the truth behind the latter's girlfriend's sudden demise.

With his impressive performance, the actor bagged the Best Actor award at the KBS Drama Awards, proving Lee Shin Young's success.

'Awaken'

Lee Shin Young worked alongside veteran stars Namgoong Min, Lee Chung Ah, Yoon Sun Woo and more in the 2020 action thriller series "Awaken."

He played the role of a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Special Team member, an alluding role to his North Korean soldier character in "Crash Landing on You."

"Awaken" marks Lee Shin Young's first ever action thriller in which he conquered gravity-defying scenes and more.

'Rookie Cops'

In "Rookie Cops," Lee Shin Young took on the role of a Judo player who becomes a police officer aspirant.

He played the role of Kang Daniel's one true friend in the series, as well as Park Yoona's love interest. The coming of age series brought a lighthearted feel to the viewers amidst the pandemic, and was given high praises during its run.

"Rookie Cops" also marks Lee Shin Young's first romantic drama since his debut. But because of his impeccable synchronization with his characters, fans believe that he will be able to bag more acting projects in the future.

Are you excited to see Lee Shin Young in "Dr. Romantic 3"? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Army reservists with the BC Dragoons were once called out to dampen Halloween mayhem that used to plague Kelowna streets. In 1958, the editor of The Courier newspaper said Halloween had become a night "of terror, of vandalism, of senseless destruction, and bodily injury".
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helped welcome 60 new Canadians at a citizenship ceremony held in Kelowna in 2017. The number of immigrants living in greater Kelowna rose from 12.5 percent of the region's population in 2016 to 14.4 percent last year, new information from last year's census shows.
Kennesaw State researcher studying appeal of controversial leaders

KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 26, 2022

Why is Elon Musk so popular?

Thats a question Kennesaw State University assistant professor of marketing Prachi Gala hopes to have answered next summer by the conclusion of her visiting research fellowship with the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Prachi Gala

Gala, who teaches in the Michael J. Coles College of Business, was selected for the fellowship following a highly competitive process. She will present at least one seminar, develop one joint research project with a member of Gordon Institute faculty, and spend two weeks in residence in Johannesburg, where the institute is located.

Her research will examine why people are drawn to dark triad personalities, which contain a blend of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.

We see a lot of dark triad leaders out there, but unfortunately or fortunately, they are very well liked in spite of their personality, Gala said. One big example can potentially be Elon Musk. Hes on a rampage; he tweets what he wants; he wants attention. But despite that, he has a big fan following and is beloved.

Musk is often described in news reports as the worlds richest person, famous for leading the electric automaker Tesla, private satellite and space transport company SpaceX and his current bid to buy the social media platform Twitter.

Galas research proposal suggests that dark triad leaders are liked because of the language they use, which is often disparaging.

There are some leaders who are very blunt and dont mind using derogatory words, and thats what actually gives them the favor and puts them in a positive light, Gala said.

Galas research team will collect survey data showing different CEO dialogues  blunt and polite  then ask which dialogue people prefer.

They will also collect secondary information through Twitter and Instagram to see how many followers those leaders have.

Gala also examined CEO behavior earlier this year in an article published in the European Journal of Marketing, which found that CEOs who have high degrees of integrity tend to negatively influence each of the three core dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation: innovation, being proactive and risk-taking.

Galas interest in Africa was spawned earlier this year when she participated in the Jewish National Fund USAs 2022 Summer Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel, which afforded her the opportunity to network with Israeli professors from across the country.

One of her most meaningful interactions, however, involved a group of Ethiopian students who traveled to Israel to learn how to develop agriculture in the desert.

That inspired me to study more about Africa, Gala said. That really inspired me to learn about how these students think. There isnt enough help, so they want to help themselves by learning from external cultures and help their communities from that.

That led Gala to sift through fellowship opportunities in Africa, which ultimately led her to the University of Pretoria, where she will conduct research with GIBS professor Gavin Price.

These global interactions are important to Gala, who teaches an international marketing course in the Coles College of Business.

Relationship building is always a precious resource, Gala said. That is my responsibility, and I want to develop relationships that help Kennesaw State University as well as their university, so that we can have student exchanges or something along those lines where we can expand our relationship.

- David Roberts

Related Stories

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
At first blush we were delighted to see Wisconsin politicians teaming up on legislation to give residents of the villages of Caledonia, Mount Pleasant and Somers their own unique ZIP codes for mail delivery.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Congressman Bryan Steil, proposed the change as they introduced twin bills for Congress last week.

After hearing from residents and community leaders in Racine and Kenosha County about their frustrations with mail delivery mix-ups caused by outdated ZIP code boundaries, I was pleased to work with Sen. Johnson to help, said Steil, a Janesville Republican.

He said, This common-sense legislation instructs USPS to simplify and modernize these boundaries, saving many Southeast Wisconsin residents from needless headaches.

Indeed, ZIP code allocations and mailing addresses do seem counter-intuitive at times with some residents of Caledonia listing their mailing address as Racine, and some Kenosha County residents also listing Racine as their mailing address.

And we have no doubt that being able to use your own village name as your mailing address would build community pride and foster a greater sense of identity to the three growing area villages. Geographic boundaries are something we can all relate to.

But the five-digit ZIP codes that were introduced nationwide in 1963 and then enhanced in 1983 when the USPS introduced ZIP+4 codes to allow sorting by block, street or building were developed to assist in the efficient sorting and routing of mail  they were not developed with the idea of nurturing community identity.

That system has resulted in some quizzical ZIPs in the area  like the 53182 code that stretches all the way from the Town of Paris in Kenosha County, north through Union Grove and then almost to Wind Lake.

The Village of Caledonia has at least three ZIP codes and we have to wonder what will happen if they all get merged into one code that reflects the villages boundaries.

Before Johnson and Steils proposal sails through Congress we would urge lawmakers to get some input from the USPS on exactly how this would be implemented  and, yes, what the cost would be. We dont know if it would be a simple matter of reprogramming sorting machines or if it would affect actual mail routes. We would hope that it would be a simple, non-disruptive change, but Congress should look at that.

We say that because USPS has been struggling financially and last year posted a $4.9 billion net loss. That came on top of a $9.2 billion loss in 2020, according to Reuters news reports. That triggered a cost-cutting campaign that included slower delivery of some first-class mail  one-to-three day service standards were changed to one-to-five days. First class stamp prices were increased to 58 cents from 55 cents.

We like the idea of promoting community identity through single unique community ZIP codes, but before we march down that road, we want to know if we can afford it.
At the recent, Network Ireland Business Woman of the year awards, two Kilkenny women were highly commended for their incredible businesses and all that they have accomplished to date.



Ireland is full of talented and dedicated female professionals. They have successful careers, run successful businesses, but in many cases also juggle the needs of their families plus are involved in the community and carry out voluntary work. Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards are designed to recognise the achievement of these women.



The awards were announced at a gala black-tie ball in the Salthill Hotel in Galway. Two Kilkenny women were highly commended for their businesses, Anne Healy of Biddy's Good Luck Horse Shoe and Emer OKeeffe of Spotlight Skills.

Valerie O'Sullivan, President of Network Ireland Kilkenny said she was so proud of Anne and Emers achievements. To be at the awards, celebrating and supporting these women is inspiring. They have each achieved so much in their individual businesses and have leveraged their membership of Network Ireland to great success.



Anne Healy, Biddy's Good Luck Horse Shoes was highly commended in the Creative Professional Businesswoman of the year. Anne is the owner of Biddy's Good Luck Horse Shoes, she makes beautiful Irish pieces of good luck for all occasions from genuine horse shoes which she sends around the world. A gift that brings joy and happiness and is a keepsake for life. Anne loves sharing good luck and you can check out her unique pieces on www.biddysgoodluckhorseshoes.com





Emer O Keeffe, Spotlight Skills was highly commended in the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Businesswoman of the year category. Through her EdTech company founded in early 2020, Emer has developed innovative cloud-based software for school admissions in Ireland. Parents/guardians can easily search and apply for schools and school administrators can easily manage applications, send offers and monitor responses. This will solve a complicated process for all involved in the annual admission to primary and post-primary schools. Principals can contact info@namedown.ie to register their school. www.namedown.ie

Another three incredible business owners represented Kilkenny at the awards, having won the Kilkenny branch awards earlier this year, they included: Deirdre Martin, Deirdre Martin Consulting, Jeanette Delahunty, TSK Academy, and Lucy Gernon of Lucy Gernon.com.
A previously unknown enclosure was discovered earlier this year by Rothe House tour guide Anne-Karoline Distel.

OpenStreetMap is an OpenSource map which works like Wikipedia in that anyone can edit it.

Anne was working on OpenStreetMap Irelands project to add all buildings to Irelands map using satellite imagery, when she spotted a circular crop mark in the townland of Garryard.

Being just as passionate about Irish heritage as she is about mapping, her interest was triggered.

Checking against older maps, she established that it was not recorded anywhere and reported her find to Jean Farrelly at the National Monuments Service.

The verdict arrived promptly with Jean calling it a lovely find and attributing a Sites and Monuments Record number to the structure: TS053-102.

Without further archaeological investigations, the structure was classified as an enclosure which could refer to an animal enclosure, but it could also be a ringfort where a farmers family would have lived and worked the surrounding fields.

Both Anne and Jean noticed a tree line south of the structure following the curvature of the crop mark.

This could indicate an old boundary surrounding a much larger (c. 120m diameter) structure around the possible ringfort.

This tree line is part of the townland boundary between Garryard and Garranmore, suggesting that this part of the townland boundary goes back to a time when the possible ringfort was settled.

Anne, who comes from an area in central Germany which is incidentally also called the Golden Vale and who has no formal background in archaeology, was thrilled about her find.

She said: Even though there are numerous ringforts already recorded in this area due to the fertile nature, I am excited to have found another one, especially with the added intrigue of the townland boundary following its curvature.

It shows how meaningful and rewarding citizen science can be.

Anne, who lives in Kilkenny, has combined her passions for mapping and Irish heritage by starting a YouTube channel called OSM for History Buffs.

There she presents tutorials on how to map historical features like ringforts, field names, holy wells and creameries, to name but a few.
Hubert Butler was born in a very small place, Bennettsbridge in County Kilkenny, yet his outlook was utterly international. Born to an Irish Protestant family on October 23 in 1900, he arrived with a new century that would be tumultuous and see immense changes in the world. Hubert Butler would be directly involved in some of the most dramatic events of that century both internationally and in Ireland.



Born into a minor branch of the Butlers of Ormonde, the family was nevertheless wealthy by the standards of the day. Butler was therefore educated in the English public school system going to Charterhouse and later to Oxford followed by the School of Slavonic Studies in London, where he learned Russian and Serbo Croat. On graduation he taught English in Soviet Russia in Leningrad and translated the major Russian writers including Chekov.



Meeting young Serbs and Croatians in college had sparked his interest in the region so he travelled to Central and Eastern Europe in the 1930s. While the early part of these travels was idyllic, they later awoke Butler to the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe.



In 1938 after the Night of Broken Glass when Jewish communities across the Third Reich were attacked, he travelled to Vienna to help hundreds of Jews to escape Nazi persecution. There he worked with the Quaker community in the city, using his Anglo Irish charm and manners to woo embassy officials and obtain exit visas for the people he was trying to save.



Some of these Jewish families he brought to Bennettsbridge, giving them temporary shelter before they moved on to new lives in other locations.



After World war II, Butler returned to Croatia to investigate what had happened to the hundreds of thousands of victims who had died in Nazi death camps there. At the time it was evident to Butler that no other Western person had been there before him to investigate these appalling war crimes. He discovered evidence of ethnic cleansing of the Orthodox Serbs with the complicity of the local Catholic Church. When he subsequently tried to make this knowledge public, it made him deeply unpopular with the Irish authorities and the Irish Catholic hierarchy.



Butler exposed the behaviour of Ante Pavelic, the leader of a puppet regime in Croatia during WWII when he was the head of the Ustashe, a fascist militia who began a programme of death and persecution mere weeks into their rule. Hubert wrote extensively about what had happened in the concentration camp Jasenovac, where the Ustashe clinically slaughtered thousands of people, mostly Serbs, but also Jews Roma and political opponents.



This ruthless campaign was carried out to make Croatia racially and spiritually pure by forcibly converting Orthodox Serbs to Catholicism with the tacit support of the Catholic hierarchy. Local Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac gave his blessing to the Ustashe and Ante Pavelic when they assumed power, although he later condemned their murderous campaign. He was arrested by Marshall Tito when the communist assumed power in Yugoslavia after the war and was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. Hubert attended some of the war trials in Zagreb and even interviewed Stepinac briefly on one occasion.



In Ireland Stepinac became a cause celebre due to his incarceration, so when Butler sought to inform a meeting in Dublin about the forced conversion campaign and the Papal Nuncio to Ireland walked out in protest, it was a major controversy. Butler was subsequently ostracised by the national and local Kilkenny establishment. He was forced to resign as Secretary of Kilkenny Architectural Society, the society he had revived and suffered accusations that he was a communist sympathiser and a spy.



Ireland, then dominated utterly by the Catholic Church, was not a place that tolerated dissent, and Butler paid dearly for his honesty. He resigned from KAS despite surviving a motion to expel him, was shunned in the street and was condemned by a Kilkenny Council motion. Butler later said that he had been unaware of the nuncios presence at the meeting and had no intention to cause offence.

Undeterred, Butler continued to write, later investigating how Pavelics fugitive Interior Minister Andrija Artukovic managed to live in Ireland for a year between 1947 and 1948 on false Irish papers that subsequently allowed him to enter America.

When the full extent of the Nazi Holocaust was revealed, Butler was vindicated but was never fully appreciated in Ireland. He received a posthumous apology from the Mayor of Kilkenny in 2000 for the events of the past.



Butler was married to Peggy Guthrie, the sister of Tyrone Guthrie and in 1941 after his fathers death they had returned to make their marital home at Maidenhall, his family home in Bennettsbridge. The couple made the house a centre for intellectual debate and discussion, founding the Kilkenny Lectures to encourage dialogue between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic. In 1944 he revived the Kilkenny Architectural Society and was particularly proud of its role as a place where people of both traditions could meet. Today the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny is named in his and Peggys honour.



Although born into the Protestant Anglo Irish class, Butler as he matured became a passionate nationalist and Wolfe Tone was his personal hero. Throughout his life and in his writings he sought to explore how the identities of Irelands two traditions could be reconciled and live respectfully in harmony. The themes of freedom of thought, the origins of nation states and the violence of totalitarianism defined his work. He also sought to draw attention to the contribution of the Anglo Irish community to Ireland.



He continued to travel and write: in the late 60s he travelled to the Deep South to meet the nascent Civil Rights movement, in 1956 he aided refugees from the Soviet invasion of Hungary and in 1973 explored a US coup detat in Chile. He also remained active in Irish civil rights, campaigning on the pro-choice side in the 1983 8th Amendment to the Constitution campaign.



In his eighties, Hubert found a delayed recognition and appreciation for his writing when the Lilliput Press began to publish his essays in volume form. His unique insights into Eastern Europe and his recognition of the corrupting power of totalitarian states had made his perspective years ahead of his time in the 40 and 50s but now struck a very relevant note. Titles including Escape from the Anthill, The Children of Drancy and The Invader Wore Slippers won him a loyal and devoted readership.



He died aged 91 in 1991. Ironically Butler never considered himself a writer although Roy Foster, the historian said of him that he was one of the great Irish writers. His lessons are still utterly relevant today, particularly those about the aggression of totalitarian empires, the suppression of free speech and the ugly face of extreme nationalism.



His life and his work combined the personal with his devotion to a belief in the need for a more pluralist society. The marginalisation of Hubert Butler for so long meant that Ireland lost the benefit of his wisdom and intellect as the country emerged as an independent nation. Fortunately his books still survive to promote the unique insights of this remarkable man.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High around 55F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Official Ballot Title:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:

remove state prohibitions on purchasing, possessing, consuming, using, delivering, manufacturing, and selling marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one;

require a registration card for personal cultivation with prescribed limits;

allow persons with certain marijuana-related non-violent offenses to petition for release from incarceration or parole and probation and have records expunged;

establish a lottery selection process to award licenses and certificates;

issue equally distributed licenses to each congressional district; and

impose a six percent tax on the retail price of marijuana to benefit various programs?

State governmental entities estimate initial costs of $3.1 million, initial revenues of at least $7.9 million, annual costs of $5.5 million, and annual revenues of at least $40.8 million. Local governments are estimated to have annual costs of at least $35,000 and annual revenues of at least $13.8 million.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, seen here on October 4 in Washington, DC, will announce rebate awards for school districts across the country that will support the purchase of nearly 2,500 school buses -- most of which will be electric,
Darrell Brooks was found guilty of six counts of first-degree intentional homicide on October 26 for driving his SUV into a crowd of Christmas parade attendees in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last November, killing six people and wounding dozens more.
EXO Baekhyun's recently appeared in a webtoon, but why did it make EXO-Ls mad?

Want to know what happened? Here's the full story.

EXO Baekhyun's Name Appears in BL Webtoon, Description Angers EXO-Ls

On October 24, Webtoon Platform A released a list of new works that will be released on the 26th and 27th.

Among the new works, the story's description and name of the main character of the new webtoon, written by Company A, became controversial.

In particular, this is because the main character's name is Ko Baekhyun. Using the name itself is not the problem, but the character's description does not sit well with fans.

"Baekhyun has gained only the reputation of being a light-hearted guy because he only pursued one night (stand)."

As a result, some EXO-Ls (fandom) who encountered the BL webtoon criticized the writer for writing such a description and said:

"You are promoting it with too provocative comments."

"You should have added the character's last name."

"Baekhyun was damaged while staying still."

"Change the name right away."

Fans emphasized that since the name Baekhyun is really rare in Korea, some people who may come across the description of webtoon may automatically think about the popular idol. They added that this may also be used against Baekhyun.

On October 25, the author of the controversial webtoon wrote their response through Twitter.

"I decided to change the name of the main character. It might be a little awkward for those who have seen the work since it's in a blog. I hope you understand. I hope there was no misunderstanding. I'm changing the name of the main character of the work to Lee Hyun."

But amid the controversy, some people defended the author.

Some think that the writer didn't deserve such criticism, saying:

"Why are you cursing at the writer?"

"I don't think that's intentional."

Others then agreed to EXO-L sentiments and wrote:

"The promotional description was phrased wrong."

"I would have felt bad if I were a fan, too."

"I'm upset even if I'm a fan of the writer."

EXO Baekhyun Status 2022

Meanwhile, Baekhyun has been serving as a social service worker since May 2021. He is the sixth EXO member to enlist in the military following D.O., Xiumin, Suho, Chen and Chanyeol. He wasn't able to serve as an active service officer due to his hypothyroidism.

According to reports and the timeline of his service, EXO Baekhyun is expected to be discharged in February 2023.

EXO-Ls are excited about what kind of activities and releases the million-seller artist will showcase as a soloist and as a member of EXO. While serving in the military, he's still occasionally communicating with fans through Twitter, professing his love for them.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
Is LE SSERAFIM Kim Chaewon a natural beauty? Recently, the idol drew attention after her pre-debut clip resurfaced, her visuals and personality being re-examined.

Kim Chaewon Becomes Hot Topic For 'Natural Beauty' Evident In THIS Pre-Debut Clip

On October 25, LE SSERAFIM Kim Chaewon's childhood once again became a hot topic among K-pop fans.

After becoming viral for her "ANTIFRAGILE" performance, Chaewon's past photos and videos are continuously drawing attention from internet users.

In particular, the leader of the quintet was popularly known for joining Mnet's "Produce 48" which led her to debut in IZ*ONE.

However, Kim Chaewon has actually already appeared on TV since elementary school.

When she attended Seoul Poi Elementary School, the idol participated in a choir competition with her friends and classmates, which aired on KBS on November 3, 2012.

This clip has been gaining attention for her debut for beauty and skills, proving she's a "Celestial Celebrity."

In the video, even if they were singing as a chorale, Kim Chaewon stood out for her evident passion for singing, as well as her facial expressions.

Her visuals also received praise, specifically her fair skin, slim jawline, and round eyes at the time are the same as now, proving she's a "natural beauty." Even without makeup, Chaewon flaunted an incredibly pure and innocent beauty.

Fans who saw this left rave reviews such as:

"She only grew taller."

"She's really tall even as a child."

"Wow, that young kid grew up as a leader of a top girl group."

"I'll believe it even if you say it's a video taken yesterday."

LE SSERAFIM Kim Chaewon True Personality Re-Examined

Following the clip, some expressed that they really see Chaewon as a good-natured kid who grew up in a good environment throughout her childhood.

Due to this, her personality back when she was a student also resurfaced, based on alumni's testimonies.

In context, LE SSERAFIM following their debut met its first controversy after Kim Garam was accused of being a school bully.

As a result, the past of other members was re-examined, and surprisingly, Kim Chaewon's alumni gathered to praise her personality and left a cheering message, "I hope she succeeds."

A classmate who graduated from the same high school called Kim Chaewon a "LE SSERAFIM member who will be free from a controversy over school violence" recalled that she was a quiet student who only hangs out with her close friends.

Another classmate also said:

"She used to wear glasses in the past, but she took them off because our classmates told her to take them off at the festival. She was a modest student and everyone asked her to take off her glasses for good because she was so pretty."

As LE SSERAFIM's popularity skyrockets, every move of the members is also drawing attention, including their past history. But Kim Chaewon is a celebrity in nature who is not problematic at all even before she debuted.

READ MORE: LE SSERAFIM Kim Chaewon Suspected of Chest Cosmetic Surgery

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
The online seller of BTS Jungkook's hat, which the idol supposedly left unknowingly at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, has given the item to the police and turned themselves in.

Seller of BTS Jungkook's Hat Reportedly Gives Item to Police & Surrenders

On Oct. 26, media outlets reported that the Seocho Police Station revealed on the 25th that the person, who claimed to be a government official working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attempted to sell BTS Jungkook's hat, approached a police box personnel in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 18th, surrendered, and handed over the item.

The police also said that they are currently conducting an investigation to verify the facts about the listing that is selling the hat. If the item is actually Jungkook's, the government official will be charged with embezzlement of stolen property, which is punishable by imprisonment for not more than a year or a fine not exceeding three million won.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: BTS Jungkook's Lost Item Sold Online by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Staff

If the seller is the manager of the lost and found section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will be charged with business embezzlement. Business embezzlement is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine not exceeding 30 million won.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Park Jin commented in a general audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the 24th, "An internal investigation into the sale of Jungkook's hat by an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is under way. If it is confirmed to be true, it will be dealt with strictly in accordance with relevant regulations."

On Oct. 17, an item was listed on a selling/buying/trading website. The item in question was a Kangol hat supposedly worn by BTS Jungkook and was sold for 10 million won (approximately 6,970 USD). The seller identified themself as an employee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and even uploaded their work ID as proof.

READ MORE: THIS BTS Member Is the Reason HYBE Trainees Normally Go to America for Training

However, the ID is marked as "public employee ID," which is given to civilian workers who participate in the work of assisting public officials.

In Korea, a person who has discovered a lost item must report it to a police station within seven days and submit the found item. The person who found the item cannot claim ownership of the item if the acquirer consistently possesses the found item without reporting it to the police or even if the owner does not show up at the police station to claim it.

BTS Jungkook's Recent Activities

To date, no announcement has been made regarding BTS Jungkook's solo activities but the idol had a few activities in the past nine months.

On June 10, Jungkook returned to the music scene along with his fellow BTS members. They released an anthology album titled "Proof," which features the title track "Yet to Come." "Proof" impressively recorded the second-biggest first-week sales on the Hanteo Chart in history.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: BTS Jungkook Says He's Not Interested in Winning Grammy Award-Here's Why

On June 13 at midnight KST, Jungkook celebrated BTS's ninth anniversary with a special release, a new song titled "My You," which he produced alongside Hiss Noise. He dedicated this track to ARMY (BTS's fandom).

On June 24, Jungkook dropped his collab song "Left and Right" with Charlie Puth. With "Left and Right," Jungkook has become the only second K-pop soloist in history to chart a song for three weeks on Billboard Hot 100 following PSY, who attained the feat twice with his iconic hits "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" back in 2012 and 2013.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Maria Scott
ENHYPEN will no longer live up to what others say and create a new future according to their will through their first Japanese studio album, "Sadame"!

ENHYPEN Drops First Japanese Full-Length Album 'Sadame' + Tracklist

ENHYPEN will start full-fledged activities in Japan, starting with the release of their full-length album!

On October 26, "4th-Gen Representative" ENHYPEN released their first full-length album "Sadame" on various music sites around the world.

This album, comprised of a total of 10 songs, gained massive anticipation even prior to its release as it marks ENHYPEN's first full-length album in Japan since debut.

"Sadame" tells the story of boys who are now aware of their fate and will no longer live as others say, but draw a new future according to their will.

On the same day, the music video for its title track "Future Perfect (Pass the MIC)" was released, which is the Japanese version of the song with the same name from its third mini-album, "MANIFESTO: DAY 1."

Along with the lead song, there are other tracks initially released in Korea that were given a Japanese version through this album such as "Blessed-Cursed," the lead single of its first full-length repackage album, "DIMENSION: ANSWER."

In addition to the aforementioned, "Given-Taken [Japanese Ver.]," "Let Me In (20 CUBE) [Japanese Ver.]," "Forget Me Not" as well as "Tamed-Dashed [Japanese Ver.]," "Drunk-Dazed [Japanese Ver.]" and "Always" from its second Japanese single 'DIMENSION: SENKOU' were also included.

ENHYPEN's third Japanese original song and the theme of the Japanese Tokai TV drama "Supreme Middle aged woman Haruko Nakajima," "Make the change" and their viral song "Polaroid Love" from its first full-length repackage album "DIMENSION: ANSWER" then completed the tracklist.

ENHYPEN To Start Full-Fledged Activities In Japan

In July 2021, ENHYPEN released "BORDER: Hakanai" and "DIMENSION: SENKOU" in May 2022 in Japan, which introduced the group to the foreign market.

Following these releases, they were immensely loved by local fans and proved their impact by becoming the first overseas male artist to reach the top of the Oricon weekly singles chart shortly after the release of their debut single and the second single in a row.

Through this album, it is expected that their influence in Japan will get stronger.

Meanwhile, ENHYPEN will hold a media showcase in Japan on October 27 and hold its first-ever world tour "ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR - MANIFESTO" in three Japanese cities, starting from Aichi on November 1st, Osaka on November 9th to 10th, and Kanagawa on the 15th to 16th.

ENHYPEN will also join CJ ENM's '2022 MAMA AWARDS' as a performing artist. Along with ITZY, TREASURE, and IVE, ENHYPEN will show its status as a "global K-pop rising star" with its performance. These teams will be the artist lineup for Day 2 of the event, which will be held from November 29 to 30 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 26 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that action should be taken against the contractors who delay the restoration of the roads dug for sewage and water pipelines in the state capital Bhopal.

CM Chouhan made the remark during a review meeting on the condition of roads of Bhopal on Wednesday morning.

Also Read | EAM S Jaishankar After China Envoy Sun Weidong's Farewell Call, Says 'Normalization of India, China Ties in World's Interest'.

Chouhan said that the roads of Bhopal should be repaired immediately. Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department (PWD) should work in coordination with each other for the maintenance of roads.

Notably, Chouhan had a surprise inspection of the roads late Tuesday night. Following which he called the morning meeting. Chouhan expressed his displeasure and said, "Yesterday, I suddenly stepped out on a few roads of Bhopal, including Hamidia Road. I never had imagined that it would be so bad".

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Fuel Tanker Catches Fire After Overturning in Khargone; Woman Killed, 23 People Injured.

During the meeting, it is informed that the roads have been affected due to comparatively high rainfall in the last four months. CM Chouhan, however, instructed the officials of the department concerned to repair the roads soon. Another review meeting will be held again after 15 days.

Municipal Commissioner VS Kolsani, Principal Secretary of Public Works Department Neeraj Mandloi and Principal Secretary Urban Development and Housing Manish Singh were present in the meeting. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Guwahati, Oct 26 (PTI) Three persons, including the president and general secretary of the Assam Miya Parishad, have been detained for their alleged association with terror outfits, police said on Wednesday.

The development comes after the controversial 'Miya Museum', set up in a house allotted under PMAY in Assam's Goalpara district, was sealed on Tuesday.

Also Read | Bhai Dooj 2022: President Droupadi Murmu Greets Citizens, Says 'Let's Strengthen Resolve To Ensure Respect, Safety for Women'.

The president of the Miya Parishad M Mohar Ali was picked up from the museum at Dapkabhita in Goalpara district when he was sitting on a dharna, while its general secretary Abdul Baten Sheikh was taken into custody from his residence in Alamganj of Dhubri district on Tuesday night, police said.

Tanu Dhadumia, who had inaugurated the museum on Sunday, was detained from his residence in Kawamari village in Dibrugarh, they said.

Also Read | Vegetable Price Rise in Mumbai: Tomato Prices Shoot Up to Rs 60 per Kg, Ladies' Finger, Parwal, Gavar Cost Over Rs 100 per Kg.

The trio have been brought to Nalbari in connection with a case registered at the Ghograpar police station under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for investigation and interrogation for their alleged association with the Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarul Bangla Team (ABT), a senior police officer said.

A team of government officers had on Tuesday sealed the Miya Museum' at Dapkabhita, and put up a notice that it was done on the orders of the deputy commissioner.

The word 'Miya' in Assam refers to Bengali-speaking migrants whose origin can be traced to Bangladesh.

Following the inauguration on Sunday, senior BJP leaders demanded its immediate closure, and the party's Minority Morcha member Abdur Rahim Gibran filed a complaint at the Lakhipur police station against the setting up of the museum in a PMAY-allotted house.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 26 (ANI): The Coimbatore unit of BJP in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday announced to conduct a 12-hour strike across the city on October 31 as a mark of protest against the car cylinder blast that took place on October 23 in Ukkadam.

The 12-hour strike will be carried out between 6 am to 6 pm.

Also Read | Jharkhand Shocker: Army Officer, Son Beaten With Iron Rod for Seeking GST Bill After Buying Firecrackers on Diwali in Ranchi; Probe Ordered.

BJP leader CP Radhakrishnan sought the support of the shopkeepers in the strike.

"Shopkeepers should support this. In the future, DMK has to understand its mistakes and the government should act any sort of terrorism," he said.

Also Read | Nepal Accident: Passenger Vehicle Slips Off Hilly Road in Rolpa District; Three of Family Killed, 12 Injured.

Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion in a car considering the possibility of cross-state developments and international relations in the investigation.

In the recommendation letter, Stalin has asked to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area to the NIA and continued to ensure security in Coimbatore.

Stalin's order followed a detailed review meeting held earlier in the day at the Head Office under the leadership of the Chief Minister regarding the ongoing investigation of the case.

In this review meeting, the investigation being carried out by the police department regarding the case and the precautionary security arrangements made in the Coimbatore district were discussed; and the Chief Minister directed the police officers to ensure further security in the Coimbatore district regarding the current status of the case being investigated.

In this meeting, it was decided to make appropriate recommendations to the Union Government to transfer the investigation of this case to the NIA as there is a possibility of cross-state developments and international relations in the investigation of such incidents.

The move comes after Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the case, and a day ago arrested five men who were associates of Jameesha Mubin, who was charred to death in suspicious circumstances after an LPG cylinder inside a Maruti 800 he was driving exploded near a temple around 4 am.

As per police, Mubin, 25, who was an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. He has been registered as the primary accused in the case.

The five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27.

Since the explosion occurred in Ukkadam, a communally sensitive area, the state's top police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu and Additional DGP (law and order) Thamarai Kannan, rushed to the spot.

The DGP on Sunday said the police found materials used to make explosives in Mubin's house in Ukkadam. They seized 75 kgs of potassium nitrate, charcoal, aluminium powder and sulphur which can be used to make explosives. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Providing tricks and treats for nearly 25 years

Fred Sherwin

Oct. 26, 2022

When Patrick Albert took his mother Ghislain to see a Halloween display in 1999, little did either of them know that their visit would provide the impetus for the largest Halloween display at a private residence in Orleans and arguably all of Eastern Ontario.

Brian and Patrick Albert are the father and son team behind the spectacular Halloween display on Pintail Terrace in Orleans Wood. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

For sure, Patricks father Brian had no idea. In the early days, the Halloween display was limited to the inside of their two-car garage on Pintail Terrace in Orleans Wood. Over the intervening years, it grew to the point where it now takes up the entire yard, both front and back, and even the side of the house.

During the first two weeks of the October, Halloween enthusiasts flock to the house every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. By the third week of the month, the interest is so high they have to open the display up on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Even then, people are willing to line up around the block to get their turn visiting the haunted display.

Patrick, who is now 38, and 71-year-old Brian begin setting up the outside part of the display in August. The eight rooms that make up the inside part of the display are filled with animatronics, flashing lights and things that go bump in the night. They are left intact year round.

One of the most time-consuming elements of the outside part of the display is a maze in the backyard which has to come down every year after Halloween to prevent the elements from destroying the burlap fencing.

Besides all the animatronics, severed arms, countless skulls, hanging spiders and flying bats, the Alberts have a small army of friends who volunteer to help bring the display to life, including one gentleman who is 6-foot-9 in stature. They don costumes and make-up and hide themselves in little nooks and corners to literally scare the daylights out of people. On Halloween, there are 30 volunteers helping out with the display.

For the past 13 years, the Alberts have used the display to raise money for CHEO. As of this past weekend, theyve managed to raise over $4,000, bringing their 13-year total to nearly $20,000.

This year, theyve added QR codes to several signs on the outside fence so people can make a donation with their cell phones.

If you do plan to visit the display, Patrick advises that you go as soon as it starts to get dark. If not, prepare to wait up to a half hour to get your turn.

One thing is for sure, no matter how long you wait, it will be worth it. The display with its various rooms and installations is not to be missed, and judging by the volume and decibel level of the screams emanating from behind the walls, its sure to spook even the most ardent doubters, which is why the display is such a successful fundraising initiative for CHEO.

And while it took more than six weeks to set up the display, it will take the Alberts less than two weeks to take it all down and put it away just in time to begin setting up their Christmas display.
New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will visit India this week to attend a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.

Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a press conference on Wednesday that Cleverly will be among the dignitaries to attend the UN meet.

Also Read | Bihar: Five Persons Fall Ill and Die After Complaining of Acute Abdominal, Joint Pain in Rohtas.

It will be the first visit by a top-ranking official from Britain after Rishi Sunak took charge as the UK's first Indian-origin prime minister on Tuesday.

The meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee will take place on October 28 and 29.

Also Read | Delhi: Sexagenarian Woman Killed, Youth Injured in Blast While Making Firecrackers in Babarpur.

The meet on October 28 will take place in Mumbai while the second day's deliberations will be in Delhi.

Ways to check use of social media, new fund raising methods and unmanned aerial systems by terror groups will be the focus of the two-day special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Cleverly are set to have a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the UN meet.

On Tuesday, Jaishankar had a telephonic conversation with Cleverly.

India and the UK have been engaged in negotiations for a free trade agreement.

Over a week back, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said both sides are holding negotiations for an early finalisation of the pact that could be beneficial to both sides.

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New Delhi, October 26: One person died and another was injured on Wednesday after a residential lift of a four-storey building in Jaitpur, wrecked down due to mechanical failure in the national capital, officials said. The deceased was identified as Nawab Shah (44).

"Information was received from Apollo Hospital, Jasola Vihar, mentioning a person, namely Nawab Shah (44) succumbed to his injuries, sustained due to breakage of lift of a four-storey building," officials said. During the investigation, it was revealed that Nawab Shah's son was also injured in the incident and sustained minor injuries. Goa CM Pramod Sawant Says 'International Tourists and Labourers Bring Drugs to Coastal State'.

"The building is likely to be constructed 2-3 years back and has 4 storeys. The builder of the building said the elevator is yet to be examined," the officials added. Owing to the negligent act, the Delhi police have registered a case against the unidentified accused.

The police are investigating the matter and further investigation is awaited.

Earlier this month, in Mumbai, a 74-year-old man injured in an elevator accident in a housing colony in Borivali succumbed to his injuries.

The man was under treatment at a local hospital as he breathed his last there.

The deceased was identified as Ratan Patil, a resident of the Borivali area of Mumbai. Patil was injured in a lift accident in his residential area on October 2.

According to the information received from Kasturba Marg police, Patil entered the lift on the first floor, the door of the lift suddenly closed and started going down and suddenly hit the ground. Delhi: Burglars' Gang That Used To Target Locked Houses Busted in South West Delhi; Three Including Woman Arrested.

"We have registered a case under Accident Death Report (ADR) and were investigating to find out if there was any negligence," said a senior police officer of Kasturba police station.Patil suffered injuries on his hand, chest and shoulder after which he was admitted to the nearby Shatabdi Hospital by a security guard posted outside the lobby of Tuljai Society on Carter Road No. 4, Borivali. He was later shifted to Nair hospital due to his deteriorating health where he died. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair an all-important meeting on Wednesday evening at Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar in the presence of several Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and administrators to discuss several important matters concerning regional security.

"Home Minister Amit Shah will address the Regional meeting on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Gandhinagar at 5 pm," sources aware of the development told ANI.

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The sources said that the Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and administrators from Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu are likely to be present in the meeting today.

"Many matters will be discussed about the security and preparedness of the states in the western and central States and Union Territories," the sources told ANI.

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Continuing with its fight against drug trafficking, more drugs will be destroyed today in the presence of Shah and other dignitaries.

"A total of 12,438.96 Kgs of drugs valued at Rs 632.68 crores will be destroyed in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah," sources told ANI.

Two weeks ago, drugs and narcotic substances worth 40000 kgs were destroyed in Guwahati in Amit Shah's presence by the northeastern States.

Under the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) set itself up for a special mission for 75 days to mark India's 75th year of independence to destroy atleast 75,000 kgs of confiscated drugs.

This target was achieved well in advance within 60 days. So far more than a lakh kgs of drugs and narcotics have been destroyed.

The Union Home Minister had started this mission by destroying more than 31000 kgs of drugs by pressing the button on July 30 this year in Chandigarh. (ANI)

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Srinagar, Oct 26 (PTI) Security forces on Wednesday foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing one foreign ultra, officials said.

They said a gunbattle broke out between security forces and terrorists at Sudpora in Karnah sector along the LoC.

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They said one foreign terrorist was killed in the exchange of fire.

Further details of the incident were awaited.

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New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday declined to comment on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's parole. "You always have to pay for whatever you do," he just said.

Dera Sacha chief Ram Rahim was recently released from the Sunaria jail on 40-day parole. He reached Baghpat under security cover.

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The Dera chief's family had submitted an application to the jail authorities seeking month-long parole for him.

Rahim was granted parole for a month on June 17.

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Singh has been incarcerated, since 2017, in Haryana's Sunaria jail where he is serving a 20-year-term for raping two women disciples at his ashram's headquarters in Sirsa.

Earlier in February, the Dera chief was granted three weeks' furlough.

While parole means the release of a prisoner either temporarily for a special purpose or completely before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behaviour, a furlough is a short-term temporary release of convicts from jail.

He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers.

While, on October 8, 2021, the court convicted Rahim and four others in connection with former Dera manager Ranjit Singh's murder case.

Ranjit Singh was murdered in 2002 on the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda.

CBI had registered the case on the orders passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the year 2003 and taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at Police Station Sadar in Kurukshetra.

It was alleged that Ranjit Singh resident of Village Khanpur Kolian, Kurukshetra was murdered on July 10, 2002, when he was working in his fields at village Khanpur Kolian of District Kurukshetra in Haryana.

After a thorough investigation, CBI filed a charge sheet in the year 2007 against six accused and charges were framed in the year 2008. During the pendency of the trial, one accused expired on October 10, 2020, and trial proceedings were abated against him.

The court held the said accused guilty and convicted them on October 8, 2021.

On July 5, Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the writ petition that was filed by some people alleging the replacement of Ram Rahim with a dummy person.

Justice Karamjit Singh of the HC passed these orders while dismissing a plea and said that the plea lacked merit. The plea was filed by Ashok Kumar and 18 other petitioners claiming themselves to be staunch supporters of the controversial preacher.

The petitioners, in this case, said they had sought directions to "verify the authenticity" of the Dera chief as the state authorities in collusion with Dera functionaries including Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet and Prithviraj Nain have replaced a dummy person with the Dera chief. (ANI)

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Madurai (TN), Oct 26 (PTI) The Madurai bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the bank officials to hand over the golden armour of the statue of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar to the Ramanathapuram district revenue officer ahead of the annual 'Thevar Jayanthi' celebrations on October 30.

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The golden shield was gifted by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa on behalf of the AIADMK in 2014. Members of the Thevar community conduct grand celebrations of the leader every year. The statue in his native village is adorned with the golden armour annually during his birth anniversary celebrations.

Also Read | Delhi: Man Dies, Son Injured After Lift Malfunctions, Falls off 4-Storey Building in Jaitpur; Case Registered.

After hearing the petition filed by AIADMK treasurer Dindigul C Srinivasan seeking the court's direction to take the shield to Pasumpon village for 'Thevar Jayanthi' celebrations, Justice Bhavani Subbaroyan ordered the bank to hand over the armour to the DRO who would take action to adorn the same on the statue.

The AIADMK is going through a leadership tussle with party interim chief K Palaniswami and former chief minister O Panneerselvam locked in a legal fight over who heads the party.

The advocate of the faction headed by O Paneerselvam contended that the treasurer cannot be directed to take the shield from the bank when the coordinator and joint coordinator alone were entitled to take it as per AIADMK party bylaws.

The case regarding the status of coordinator and joint coordinator posts in AIADMK is pending before the Supreme Court. The Election Commission had not recognised the appointment of Srinivasan as coordinator of the party.

Srinivasan's lawyer submitted that the party treasurer and those who were in charge of the 'Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Memorial' would sign on behalf of the party in the bank and take the armour from the bank locker.

The advocate argued that Panneerselvam was trying to take away the shield from the bank and stated that the apex court had upheld his removal from the party.

He sought court directions to take the armour from the bank to the memorial for adorning the statue on October 30.

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Palghar, Oct 26 (PTI) At least three workers were killed and 12 others injured in a blast at a chemical factory located at Tarapur MIDC in Boisar town of Maharashtra's Palghar district on Wednesday, officials said.

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The incident occurred at 4.20 pm at the unit that produces gamma acid used in the textile industry, they said.

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The intensity of the blast was such that the roof of the plant got ripped off, the officials said.

"Due to the explosion in the reactor vessel at the chemical factory, three workers died and 12 others suffered injuries. While the bodies of the victims were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, the injured were admitted to a nearby hospital," Palghar police spokesperson Sachin Navadkar said.

On being alerted, personnel from the Boisar police station and local fire brigade rushed to the spot, he said.

A total of 18 employees were working at the factory when the blast occurred, senior inspector of Boisar police station Pradeep Kasbe said.

In the preliminary probe, plant in-charge confirmed that the blast occurred due to the pressure in the reactor vessel, he said.

"The plant manufactures gamma acid that is used in the textile industry. The reactor vessel exploded when the process was underway to mix sodium sulphate with ammonia," he said.

The police will seek technical support from the officials of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health to probe the incident, he said.

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Agartala, Oct 26: A minor tribal girl, who was returning home from a cultural programme, was allegedly gang-raped in Tripura's Khowai district, the police said on Wednesday.

One person has been arrested in connection with the case so far, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Prasun Tripura told reporters. Delhi: Man Dies, Son Injured After Lift Malfunctions, Falls off 4-Storey Building in Jaitpur; Case Registered.

The incident came days after another teenager was allegedly gangraped in Unakoti district, with the opposition claiming that a state minister's son was involved in the crime. According to the police complaint filed by the tribal girl in Khowai, she was returning home with friends from a Kali Puja programme when three men, all drunk, waylaid her and held her captive. Maharashtra Boiler Blast: Two Dead, 5 Injured After Blast in Chemical Factory Due to Gas Leak in Palghar; Investigation Underway.

The girl said that the men snatched phones from them and let the others go, but not her, the SDPO said, quoting the FIR. The men then allegedly took turns to rape her, the girl said in the complaint. "Of the three accused, one has been arrested. The other two will be nabbed soon," Tripura said. The girl has undergone medical tests and her reports are awaited, he added.

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Sambhal (UP), Oct 26 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh minister Gulab Devi on Wednesday said PM Narendra Modi is like an incarnation of god and he can remain on his post as long as he wishes.

"Modiji is like an avatar. He is a person of extraordinary talent. No one can compete with them. If he wishes, he can remain the prime minister till he is alive," the Chandausi MLA told reporters after a programme here.

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When asked that some opposition leaders are saying that a person from a minority community should be made the prime minister, Devi said, "Nothing happens by speculation. He is such an extraordinary personality. God has sent him as his representative."

The minister said Modi makes people do whatever he wishes. "See, the entire country follows his words. What can be a greater acceptance than this," said the minister.

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New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a 'Chintan Shivir' of home ministers and DGPs of states on Friday via video conferencing.

The PMO said the event is being held at Surajkund in Haryana on October 27 and 28.

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Home secretaries of states and director generals of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) will also attend it.

The Prime Minister's Office said the exercise is an endeavour to provide national perspective to policy formulation on internal security related matters in accordance with the 'Panch Pran' (five pledges) announced by Modi in his Independence Day speech.

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The 'shivir' in the spirit of cooperative federalism will bring more synergy in planning and coordination between various stakeholders at Centre and state levels, it added.

Participants will deliberate on issues like modernisation of police forces, cybercrime management, increased use of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management, coastal security, women safety and drug trafficking among other issues.

The five pledges listed by Modi were working to have a developed India by 2047, erasing all traces of servitude, developing pride in India's legacy, keeping unity and fulfilling one's duties.

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Plaine Magnien, Mauritius (PANA) - The fourth Africa Indian Ocean Free Route Airspace Project Management Team (AFIFRA-PMT) meeting which aims at developing a road map for the implementation of Free Route Airspace (FRA) in the AFI region opened in Mauritius on Tuesday
Khargone, Oct 26 (PTI) A tribal man allegedly committed suicide in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district following which his family members and locals claimed he took the extreme step after the forest department demolished his house being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

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However, Divisional Forest Officer Prashant Kumar Singh said the man, identified as Dhyan Singh (45), had encroached upon a forest land.

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The encroachment was removed about a month back and a notice had also been served to the man to know his version, he said.

After the man hanged himself at his home in Navalpura village on Tuesday afternoon, Khargone Collector Kumar Purushottam ordered a magisterial inquiry into it, Kasrawad's sub divisional officer (revenue) Agrim Kumar said.

The deceased's son, Raju Dhyan Singh, alleged that the forest department had demolished their house sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a government housing scheme, without any prior notice and also beat up his parents.

He claimed that his father took the extreme step after being harassed by the forest department.

Gopalpura's panchayat secretary Munnalal Sisodia said the deceased was allocated an amount as first instalment under the PMAY for the house, but the forest department demolished the initial construction.

Sub divisional officer Kumar said after the man committed suicide, locals staged a protest and a road blockade, accusing forest department officials of harassing him.

He said villagers alleged that the forest department had demolished the initial construction of the house sanctioned under the PMAY.

The forest department had also issued a notice to the man for the encroachment of a forest land, he said.

Kumar said he will submit the inquiry report to the district collector within 15 days.

Tribal political outfit Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti's local functionary Dayaram Kurku said they have submitted a memorandum to the administration and demanded registration of a case of abetment of suicide against forest officials.

The outfit also demanded a government job for the son of the deceased and an assistance of Rs 50 lakh for the family.

Meanwhile, Khargone's Sub Divisional Magistrate Narayan Singh Badkul said villagers ended the protest after local administration officials persuaded them.

He said the collector also sanctioned an immediate financial assistance of Rs 25,000 for the deceased's family from the District Red Cross fund and initiated a process to provide other help as per the rules, he said.

Khargone's Superintendent of Police Dharmveer Singh said the police were investigating the case from all possible angles.

Nothing can be said conclusively as a probe is underway into the case, he said.

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New Delhi, Oct 26: Rahul Gandhi understood that voters were upset with the Congress and decided to undertake the Bharat Jodo Yatra, new party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday as he lauded Gandhi for helping the party reach out to the people.

"This is a big achievement of our party and this is a big gift for us, especially for me," Kharge told a gathering at his formal taking over as the new Congress chief. Ministry of Defence Recruitment 2022: Vacancies Notified for 419 Material Assistant Posts, Apply Online at aocrecruitment.gov.in.

He said lakhs of people are being connected with the Congress through the yatra and urged the party members to come together to carry the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to every nook and corner of the country.

"Congress party has been a part of people's life for 137 years. Despite our good work and the sacrifices of our leaders, the voters are somewhat upset with us.

"I express my gratitude to Rahul Gandhi ji who understood this thing and after setting aside every problem set out on the Bharat Jodo Yatra. ''He is meeting people and interacting with them directly and is listening to their sorrows and pain and is meeting them on the way - be it NGOs, intellectuals, journalists, farmers, labourers and children, he is meeting everyone on the way and during intervals," he said. Sonia Gandhi Stepping Down As Congress President Emotional Moment for All Partymen, Says Ashok Gehlot (See Pics).

He said Rahul Gandhi is walking from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and lakhs of people are getting connected with the Congress. "A new energy is being generated in the country and we will not let this energy go waste. It is my duty as Congress president to seek your help," Kharge said. "Today I want to call upon my Congress family to come together to carry the message of Bharat Jodo Yatra to every nook and corner of the country. The message of economic equality, safeguarding constitutional values, communal harmony, more employment opportunities to the youth of India," the new Congress chief said.

"Let's tell the people of India that the Congress is with them in their struggles and aspirations. Tell them that we are going to be their voice and that we will work for an India that was envisioned by forefathers who gave their blood and sweat for this great nation," he also said.

Rahul Gandhi is leading the 3,570-km-long Bharat Jodo Yatra along with other leaders of the party to help promote unity and communal harmony in the country. He has been attacking the BJP, accusing it of creating an atmosphere of hatred and violence in society. He is also raising the issues of price rise, unemployment and growing economic disparity in the country during his yatra.

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Kampala, Oct 26: Six schoolchildren in Uganda's capital have tested positive for Ebola, the health minister said on Wednesday, marking a serious escalation of the outbreak declared just over a month ago.

The children, who attend three different schools in Kampala, are among at least 15 people in the city confirmed to have been infected with Ebola, according to a statement by Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng. Russia Recruiting Afghan Commandos, Trained by US To Fight Taliban, in Its Ongoing Invasion of Ukraine, Says Report.

The children are members of a family exposed to the disease by a man who travelled from one Ebola-hit district and sought treatment in Kampala, the statement said. Authorities are following up 170 contacts from the schools attended by the six children, it said.

Ebola, which manifests as a viral hemorrhagic fever, has infected 109 people and killed 30 since September 20, when the outbreak was declared several days after the disease began spreading in a rural community in central Uganda. Russia Recruiting Afghan Commandos, Trained by US To Fight Taliban, in Its Ongoing Invasion of Ukraine, Says Report.

Ugandan health officials in the district of Mubende, the epicentre, were not quick to confirm Ebola partly because the disease's symptoms can mimic those of the more prevalent malaria. There is no proven vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's circulating in this East African country of 45 million people.

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Canberra, Oct 26 (AP) A former US military pilot and flight instructor who ran an aviation consultancy in China is in custody in Australia awaiting an extradition request from his homeland on an undisclosed charge, officials said on Wednesday.

Daniel Edmund Duggan, who says he is a former US Marine Corps major, was refused bail when he appeared last Friday in Orange Local Court in the New South Wales state rural town of Orange northwest of Sydney, court records show.

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Australian Federal Police arrested him that day pursuant to a request from the United States, a police statement said.

As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment further, police and the Attorney-General's Department said in identically worded statements.

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Defence Minister Richard Marles told his department last week to investigate whether any former Australian military personnel had been recruited to work for the Chinese air force.

His move followed a report that up to 30 former British military pilots had been hired to train members of China's People's Liberation Army.

I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a paycheck from a foreign state above serving their own country, Marles said in a statement.

Britain's Defence Ministry said it was taking decisive steps to prevent Chinese attempts to recruit serving and former British pilots.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin was asked at his regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday to comment on a report of Duggan's arrest amid investigations of pilots being hired to train China's military.

Wang replied, I'm not aware of the situation you mentioned.

Duggan is scheduled to next appear in court in Sydney on November 4, when he can apply for bail.

He is being held in custody under Section 15 of the Extradition Act that prevents a judge from releasing him on bail unless there are special circumstances, court documents show.

The charge that Duggan is to face remains sealed.

The US Justice Department, which has 60 days from Duggan's arrest to request his extradition, declined to comment in a statement.

The US Embassy in the Australian capital, Canberra, also declined to comment.

Duggan said in his LinkedIn profile that since 2017 he had been general manager of AVIBIZ Limited, a comprehensive consultancy company with a focus on the fast growing and dynamic Chinese Aviation Industry. AVIBIZ is based in Qingdao, a city in eastern Shandong province.

Duggan said he spent 13 years in the US Marine Corps until 2002. He became an AV-8B Harrier fighter pilot and an instructor pilot during his service.

He lived in Australia from 2005 and 2014, founding and becoming chief pilot of Top Gun Tasmania, a business based in Tasmania state that offered joy flights in a BAC Jet Provost, a British military jet trainer, and a Chinese military propellor-driven trainer, a CJ-6A Nanchang.

These two planes are used to train air force pilots in combat and military maneuvers, and the Top Gun team ensures that participants experience the magnificent capabilities of these flying machines, the business' website said.

He moved to Beijing in 2014. It is not clear whether he continues to live in China or what he was doing in Orange when he was arrested.

Duggan's lawyer, Dennis Miralis, did not respond to requests for comment.

The United States has had an extradition treaty with Australia since 1976. (AP)

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Atlanta, Oct 26 (AP) A judge determining whether to strike down Georgia's abortion limits has heard conflicting views about how such restrictions affect doctors who care for pregnant women.

Georgia's law bans abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy, though it allows for later abortions to prevent a woman's death or the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.

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That exception is unclear and has hand-tied doctors in the state, who are struggling to determine what conditions meet the standard and when, said Martina Badell, a doctor who specializes in maternal and fetal health at Emory University School of Medicine.

In some situations now, we may counsel and say, That is the standard of care and you should have this option, but I'm sorry, it's not clear we can provide that for you here in Georgia,' she testified on Tuesday, the second day of the trial over Georgia's abortion law.

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Badell, a witness for the plaintiffs seeking to invalidate the law, noted that doctors face possible criminal prosecution for performing an illegal abortion.

Doctors in Texas were initially confused about when they could intervene to provide an abortion that would not violate that state's ban, which took effect before Georgia's, said Ingrid Skop, an obstetrician and gynecologist who testified later as a witness for Georgia officials defending the law.

But Skop said hospitals have since provided helpful guidance, and she expects the same thing will happen in Georgia.

She said obstetricians have always faced a heightened risk of being second-guessed, as evidenced by the large number of malpractice suits they face.

I understand how a felony is scary, but there is nothing that this law is telling doctors to do or not do that we haven't always done, she said of Georgia's abortion restriction. We've always intervened when we needed to to save a woman's life. Skop is the director of medical affairs at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, part of an advocacy group that seeks to end access to abortion.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney scheduled a two-day trial in a lawsuit that argues Georgia's abortion ban violates the state Constitution's right to privacy and liberty by forcing pregnancy and childbirth upon countless Georgians.

The state attorney general's office said in a court filing that Georgia's privacy protections do not extend to abortion because it affects another human life.

McBurney heard from additional witnesses on Tuesday, the second and final day of the trial.

Farr Curlin, a physician at Duke University who also holds an appointment at the college's divinity school, testified for the state in support of Georgia's abortion law and said a heartbeat is an indicator that an animal is alive.

Gloria Nesmith, an ultrasound technician at an abortion clinic in Atlanta, recalled a woman who didn't have child care wailing when she learned she was just past the period when she could have received an abortion in Georgia.

McBurney said earlier that he will not issue a ruling until after November 8.

Georgia's law bans most abortions once a detectable human heartbeat is present.

Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound in cells within an embryo that will eventually become the heart as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. That means most abortions in Georgia are effectively banned at a point before many women know they are pregnant.

The law also includes exceptions for rape and incest, as long as a police report is filed. (AP)

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Berlin, Oct 26 (AP) Germany's health minister unveiled a plan on Wednesday to decriminalise the possession of up to 30 grams (about 1 ounce) of cannabis and to allow the sale of the substance to adults for recreational purposes in a controlled market.

Berlin will check with the European Union's executive commission whether the plan approved by the German government is in line with EU laws and would proceed with legislation only if it gets the green light, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.

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Lauterbach said the new rules could serve "as a model for Europe. Realistically, they won't take effect before 2024," he said.

The plan calls for cannabis to be grown under license and sold to adults at licensed outlets to combat the black market, Lauterbach said. Individuals would be allowed to grow up to three plants, and to buy or possess 20 to 30 grams of marijuana.

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If the legislation comes as planned, this would be, on the one hand, the most liberal cannabis liberalisation in Europe, and on the other hand, it would also be the most tightly regulated market, Lauterbach said.

He said better youth and health protection" are the key aims of the government's proposal.

It could be a model for Europe, which has a patchwork of often restrictive laws, he said.

The minister, who himself was long sceptical about cannabis legalisation, argued that the current system isn't working, with consumption rising and the illegal market flourishing. He said 4 million people in Germany, a nation of 83 million, used cannabis last year and a quarter of 18- to 24-year-olds have used it.

Lauterbach said Germany didn't want to emulate the model long practised by the Netherlands, Germany's northwestern neighbour. It combines decriminalisation with little market regulation.

Germany will examine whether cannabis can be consumed where it is sold, but it doesn't currently plan to allow that, Lauterbach said. The same goes for the sale of the substance in edible form.

Shops that sell cannabis wouldn't be allowed also to sell alcohol or tobacco products, and couldn't be located near schools.

The government does not plan to set a price, but does intend to set quality requirements, the health minister said.

He left open whether a cannabis tax above and beyond the standard sales tax, which could be used to fund information on the risks of the drug, would be levied but said the product shouldn't be made so expensive that it can't compete with the black market.

The cannabis plan is one of a series of reforms outlined in last year's coalition deal between the three socially liberal parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

They agreed at the time that the social effects of the new legislation would be examined after four years.

Among other liberalising plans, the government has removed from Germany's criminal code a ban on doctors advertising abortion services. It also wants to ease the path to German citizenship, lift restrictions on dual citizenship and reduce the minimum age for voting in national and European elections from 18 to 16.

The government also wants to scrap 40-year-old legislation that requires transsexual people to get a psychological assessment and a court decision before officially changing gender, a process that often involves intimate questions. It is due to be replaced with a new self-determination law. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], October 26 (ANI): After the Chinese government said it has "overlapping claims" with Vietnam over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, Indonesia rubbished the statement, rejected China's offer for any negotiations and said that Jakarta's economic interests are threatened by China's Nine-Dash Line.

China's permanent mission to the UN in a letter said, "There is no territorial dispute between China and Indonesia in the South China Sea. However, China and Indonesia have overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests in some parts of the South China Sea," reported Vietnam Times.

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"China is willing to settle the overlapping claims through negotiation and consultation with Indonesia, and work together with Indonesia to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea," the letter said.

This came when the Chinese government, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 2, claimed that there is no territorial dispute with Indonesia and rather the two countries had overlapping claims over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, reported Vietnam Times.

Also Read | Pakistan: Imran Khan to Hold Mega Protest on October 28; to Seek Dissolution of National Assembly, Hold Snap Polls.

Reacting to this, Damos Dumoli Agusman, Director General of international law and treaties at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BenarNews, that there is no relevance in holding any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation.

"Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 Indonesia does not have overlapping claims with the PRC, so it is not relevant to hold any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation," he said. "It was stated that we reject (any negotiation)," Damos added.

Earlier, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia's economic interests are threatened by China's Nine-Dash Line.

China often violates the territorial waters of countries in the East China and South China Seas and it has now mustered Russia's support raising suspicion of military activity in the region, a report said.

Japan spotted Chinese and Russian warships just outside its territorial waters around the disputed East China Sea islands for several minutes on July 4, an article in Asian Lite international read.

Japan claimed that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of their territory historically and under international law, adding that the government will deal with the matter calmly but firmly to protect the Japanese land, territorial waters and air space.

Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry claimed that the activities of Chinese vessels in waters nearby are lawful and justified. Japan's relations with China are deteriorating over geopolitical tensions amid strong undercurrents of anti-China sentiments and security threats.

People in Japan have already expressed their displeasure over China making claims on Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese). The patrolling of the Senkaku Islands, the uninhabited islands controlled by Japan, by China is one such tactic that China continues to use tactics in the Taiwan Strait, the Washington-based group Global Strat View said.

China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year.

China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year.

Japan also protested against Chinese and Russian vessels operating off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the month of May, the publication added. There are two intertwined disputes between China and Japan in the East China Sea. These include the sovereignty issues regarding the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands and the maritime delimitation in the East China Sea.

Several countries including India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are increasing their military budgets and spending as they face increasing aggression from China.

Countries in the East and South China Seas region are trying to increase patrolling and defence preparedness. Meanwhile, the United States is making efforts to ensure free and seamless movement in the region and contain the Chinese military, it added.

The article read that during the recent Tokyo summit in May 2022, the Quad alliance including the US, Japan, Australia and India agreed to launch a satellite-based maritime security initiative aimed at a free and open Indo-Pacific which can help even small countries to safeguard their sovereignty and economic interests.

Despite the Philippines' claims of sovereign rights and jurisdiction, China has imposed a three-month ban on fishing in the waters. Vietnamese fishing and other vessels have also been attacked by China starting from 2013-14 and more frequently from 2019-20.

China, being more powerful than Taiwan, has better chances of overtaking Taiwan than Russia, but the risk of involving the US is higher and they have turned to intimidation and pressure.The example of Ukraine and Russia are being used to display the devastating realities of war and to make the people in Taiwan submissive.

Consequently, the people of Taiwan have made local efforts to protect themselves from an uncertain future by conducting workshops to teach and empower people to survive in warfare while waiting for government resources.

The increasing aggression by China has caused the Taiwanese people to prepare for the unknown even though a peaceful resolution can still be attained. (ANI)

(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 26 (AP) A plane carrying the body of an outspoken Pakistani journalist who was shot and killed by Nairobi police while living in hiding in Kenya touched down at an airport in Islamabad just after midnight Wednesday, officials said.

Arshad Sharif was killed Sunday night when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital and police opened fire. Nairobi police expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of mistaken identity during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

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Sharif was traveling with another Pakistani resident, Khurram Ahmed, when their car failed to stop  for reasons that remain unclear  despite being flagged down at the checkpoint. Police opened fire and laid chase.

Sharif's car flipped over and he was shot in the head and killed. His family in Pakistan said Ahmed, who had initially been identified as Sharif's brother by the Nairobi police, was not a relative but that he was the driver of the car, according to information they received.

Also Read | Pakistan: Imran Khan to Hold Mega Protest on October 28; to Seek Dissolution of National Assembly, Hold Snap Polls.

There was speculation that Ahmed was hurt and taken to a hospital but officials in Kenya have not announced any details about Ahmed's condition or whereabouts.

The 50-year-old journalist fled Pakistan in August amid threats to his life. Early Wednesday, his family, friends and government officials received his body at the Islamabad airport.

A Pakistani plane departed from Kenya earlier Tuesday, carrying Sharif's body, and was expected to land in Pakistan late Tuesday night, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said.

On Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is not related to the slain journalist, spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the incident. Pakistani diplomats were in attendance at the Nairobi airport when the plane with Sharif's remains took off. Later on Tuesday, it stopped in Doha, Qatar, before proceeding on to Pakistan. Sharif's family said his funeral will be held in Islamabad on Thursday.

Arshad Sharif left Pakistan in August after going into hiding in his own country in July to avoid arrest following a citizen's complaint against him on allegations of maligning the country's national institutions, a reference to the military. His whereabouts were not publicly known. Most of his relatives and friends knew only that he had spent time in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and London.

A month later, Sharif's employer  the private ARY Television  fired him, saying he had violated the TV station's social media policy. His talk show POWERPLAY, which aired on Mondays and Thursdays, was discontinued.

The station had earlier in the year remained critical of Pakistan's prime minister following the ouster of his predecessor, Imran Khan, in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April. Khan claims he was ousted as part of a U.S. designed plot, a charge both Washington and the Pakistani government deny. Sharif the journalist had been a prominent critic of Khan's ouster.

Khan on Tuesday announced a convoy of vehicles filled with supporters would descend on Islamabad on Friday from Lahore in a bid to pressure the government to hold snap elections, a demand the government has previously rejected. His announcement comes as the government struggles to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by record-breaking floods, which have killed 1,731 people since mid-June.

Earlier, Khan told a gathering of lawyers in the city of Peshawar that he had asked the slain journalist to leave the country as his life was in danger in Pakistan. He paid glowing tribute to Sharif, saying the man enjoyed a good reputation and he was among those journalists who never bowed to pressure.

Pakistani journalists and the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders have demanded an independent probe into Sharif's killing while a popular Pakistani anchorperson, Hamid Mir, on Monday said there were contradictions in the Nairobi police statements about the incident.

Later on Tuesday, Pakistan's prime minister announced an investigation and promised its findings would be shared with the public. The military and Pakistani journalists had also requested that the government launch a probe into the killing. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Doha [Qatar], Oct 26 (ANI): Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reiterated to continue providing humanitarian support to Afghanistan but political experts believe that the Arab country seems to be disappointed with the Taliban due to lack of reforms which are desperately needed by Afghanistan to be accepted by the international community.

Al Thani "reiterated" Doha's support with "its responsibilities towards our brothers in Afghanistan," Tolonews reported.

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"We reiterate the State of Qatar's commitment to its humanitarian responsibilities towards our brothers in Afghanistan, and our constant keenness and firm position on supporting the Afghan people and their right to live in dignity," he said at a gathering held to celebrate United Nations Day.

But political analysts believe that Qatar has changed its policy towards Afghanistan.

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"Today, Qatar seems to be disappointed with the current government. It is concerned that the reforms which are needed in Afghanistan have not been made - reforms that can help Afghanistan be accepted by the international community, to be able to take its seat at the UN," Tolonews quoted Torek Farhadi, a political analyst as saying.

"Over the past several months, (Qatar) has tried to start political negotiations in Afghanistan and to solve the dispute which is not ended and has remained unsolved, and to play an important role in Afghanistan," said Sayed Zia Hossieni, a university instructor.

Qatar provided a political office for the Taliban in 2013, which is still active as the main diplomatic hub between Kabul and international community.

However, the Taliban said that it formed the "Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures" to pave the way for reconciliation in the country.

"To solve the economic and trade challenges and to create relations and accept each other, the Islamic Emirate announced a general amnesty. It also formed the Commission for the Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures that can solve all the problems that need solutions," Tolonews quoted Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of Taliban as saying. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai, Oct 26 (AP) Iranian state-run media is reporting that gunmen opened fire at a major Shiite holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people.

The official website of the judiciary says two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run.

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The state-run IRNA news agency reported the casualty toll.

Sunni extremists have targeted holy sites sacred to the country's Shiite majority in the past. The attack comes as Iran has been convulsed by anti-government demonstrations for over a month.(AP)

Also Read | Russia Recruiting Afghan Commandos, Trained by US To Fight Taliban, in Its Ongoing Invasion of Ukraine, Says Report.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Nearly a week after protests in Chad were violently repressed, independent experts from the UN and the African Union called on Wednesday for the immediate release of detained protesters
Ankara [Turkey], October 26 (ANI): Turkey has secretly helped Pakistan in setting up a cyber-army camouflaged under the bilateral agreement which was used for domestic political goals as well as directed to attack the US and India and undermine criticism levelled against the Pakistani rulers.

Turkey helped Pakistan in setting up a cyber-army to shape public opinion, influence the views of Muslims in Southeast Asia, attack the US and India and undermine criticism levelled against the Pakistani rulers, Nordic Monitor has learned.

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The plan was given a go-ahead by Imran Khan, the then-prime minister who simultaneously held the position of interior minister, during a meeting with Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu in 2018.

The secret work was camouflaged under the bilateral agreement on cooperation against cybercrime when in fact it was against perceived influence operations pursued by the US, India and other foreign powers, according to sources familiar with the project, reported Nordic Monitor.

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The proposal to establish such a unit was first put on the table during private talks between visiting Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and his host, Shehryar Khan Afridi, the then-minister of state for interior, on December 17, 2018. The matter was discussed at the senior level and kept confidential from most of the staff at Islamabad's interior ministry, Nordic Monitor reported.

The first public admission of this clandestine operation was made by Soylu during an interview on October 13, 2022, with a local TV station in Kahramanmaras. He did not name the country but made clear he was in fact talking about Pakistan when he referred to a country that was a five or six-hour direct flight from Turkey.

Unlike his predecessors, Soylu has gained notoriety in running troll and bot armies in cyberspace on behalf of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and had worked on similar covert operations even before he became interior minister in September 2016, added Nordic Monitor.

The AKP set up teams to dominate social media in influence operations and attacks on critics. When he was deputy chairman of Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2014 with a research and development portfolio, Soylu secretly set up a large Twitter team to insult and target with offensive language prominent social and political figures who did not embrace the AKP's ideals and practices. According to the parliamentary record, he controlled a 6,000-strong troll army at the time.

In the end, using intelligence and information as a weapon, the newly revamped cyber police department was turned into machinery to undermine public view of the opposition and smear critics and dissenters within the ruling party, reported Nordic Monitor.

Instead of investigating real crime on the internet, the teams at the cyber unit are busy hacking opponents' emails and social media accounts, collecting private data from cell phones and computers they gained access to and using the hacked material to intimidate and at times blackmail dissidents. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], October 26 (ANI): The United Nations has taken a grim view of the recent death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif. The United Nations has demanded a thorough investigation from the Kenyan authorities into the case of the death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, reported Dawn on Wednesday. Sharif was reportedly killed on Monday in a shooting incident in Kenya.

While talking to journalists, the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric said "I saw this tragic report of his death. I think the circumstances need to be investigated thoroughly, and the Kenyan authorities said they would."

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Earlier on Tuesday, the United States strongly condemned the killing of Arshad Sharif and demanded a full investigation by the government of Kenya into the incident.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price expressed condolences to Sharif's family members and his loved ones, and to all those who knew him, reported The Nation. He said, "We are deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif."

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Ned Price also talked about protecting journalists and the right to freedom of expression. He praised Arshad's work saying "His work was known around the world."

US State Department spokesperson demanded a full investigation by the government of Kenya into Arshad Sharif's death. He said "It's not entirely clear that we know all the circumstances at this point regarding what led to his death, but we urge a full investigation," reported The Nation.

Earlier on Monday, Arshad Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique informed that her husband died in Kenya after being shot.

"I lost a 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 the hospital. Remember us in our prayers," Sharif's wife Javeria Siddique said in a Twitter post.

Several journalists and politicians across Pakistan have condoled the death of senior Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif who was reportedly shot dead in Kenya.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke to the late journalist's mother over the phone, sympathised with the family, and expressed his grief over the incident, reported Dawn.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has called slain journalist Arshad Sharif 'martyr' and alleged that he was a victim of 'targeted killing'.

Earlier, the Kenyan authorities said that police shot Sharif in case of mistaken identity. However, Sharif's family has outrightly rejected the claim and demanded an independent inquiry, reported Dawn.

As per the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), after Sharif and his brother allegedly drove through a security roadblock, Kenyan police officials opened fire shooting a total of nine rounds, with one hitting Sharif through the back of the head.

Sharif fled from Pakistan in August after multiple sedition cases were filed against him in different regions of Pakistan. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ramnagar, October 26: The investigation of the suicide case of Lingayat seer of Kanchugal Bande Mutt, Basavalinga Sri has revealed that the deceased seer had been honey-trapped, tortured, and forced to end life, police sources said on Wednesday. The investigations have also suggested that another Lingayat seer, who is eyeing the position, is behind this conspiracy.

Police also said that a team of 10 to 15 persons, including politicians, worked and executed the plan. The deceased seer was systematically honey-trapped and blackmailed over release of photos and videos of his private movement, police said. Karnataka: Slain Bajrang Dal Activist Harshas Family Seeks Police Protection From Anti-Social Elements in Shivamogga.

The Kudur police, who are investigating the case, have already taken few persons into custody. The deceased seer had mentioned about the torture and honey-trapping in his death note, police said. Murugha Mutt Seer Sex Scandal: Watched Helplessly As Daughters Taken to Seers Private Room, Minor Girls' Mother Recounts Horror.

SP Santosh Babu has stated that there is no pressure on the police regarding the investigation of the case. Although, a few names are written in the death note, there is no mention of anyone in particular responsible for his suicide. The seer was found hanging on Monday under mysterious circumstances in the mutt. Further investigation was on.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2022 10:22 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Hathras, October 26: A 21-year-old man was allegedly killed by his father, an ex-army man, when he tried to broker peace between his warring parents. The deceased son was also preparing to join the Army.

The parents were involved in a heated argument when the son tried to intervene. The enraged father picked up his licensed rifle and shot the son dead. UP Shocker: Girl Dies by Suicide, Found Hanging in Room After Mother Scolds Her for Chatting on Phone in Kanpur.

The father, with the help of some local people, hurriedly cremated his son's body without informing the police. The victim's mother filed a police complaint after which the police collected the remains from the pyre and sent it for DNA and other tests. UP Shocker: Elderly Man Requests Police To Save Him From His Criminal Son in Kanpur, Video Goes Viral.

Station house officer (SHO) of Sadabaad, Ashish Kumar Singh, said, "The accused has been arrested and the weapon recovered from his possession. Further investigation is on. Action will be taken accordingly." The incident took place in Ghuncha village under the Sadabad police station.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2022 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, a media report said.
Thiruvananthapuram, October 25: Edtech unicorn BYJU's courted further controversy on Tuesday with its employees in Thiruvananthapuram claiming around 170 of them are being forced to resign from the company.

The matter, raised on social media by Technopark Today, an IT professionals community portal, was escalated by IT welfare organisation 'Prathidhwani' to Kerala Labour Minister C. Sivankutty. Employees and Prathidhwani representatives also met the minister on Tuesday. Byjus To Sack Around 2,500 Employees, Hire 10,000 Teachers To Become Profitable by March 2023.

Apart from ensuring that BYJU's does not force employees to resign, they demanded a revision of the company's exit policy for its employees. Along with ensuring payment of their October 2022 salary on November 1, employees are demanding a one-time settlement of three months' salary, earned leave encashment, and full-settlement of variable pay.

According to the employees in Thiruvananthapuram numbering around 170, Byju's, with its office located in the Technopark, is planning to wind up its operations in the state headquarters. BYJUs Cuts 600 Jobs As Edtech Space Shrinks Considerably in India.

Sivankutty, in a Facebook post, said: "The employees of BYJU's app from Technopark Thiruvananthapuram had come to see me. The employees have many grievances, including job loss. The Labour Department will conduct a serious investigation in this regard."

With losses of Rs 4,500 crore reported in FY21, BYJU's has been facing tough times in recent times. The company had recently announced cost-cutting measures including paring down manpower.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2022 10:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Toronto, Oct 26: Indo-Canadian healthcare worker Navjit Kaur Brar has become the first turban-wearing Sikh woman to be elected as Brampton City Councillor in the recent Municipal council polls.

Brar, a respiratory therapist and a mother of three, won the race for City Councillor in Wards 2 and 6, beating Jermaine Chambers, a former Conservative MP candidate for Brampton West. Indians Stranded in UAE: 100 Punjabi Workers Stranded in Abu Dhabi Without Passports; External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Directs Indian Consulate To Extend Help.

Brar had 28.85 per cent of the votes cast on Monday with Chambers as nearest contender with 22.59 per cent, and Carmen Wilson coming in third at 15.41 per cent, the Brampton Guardian reported.

"I am so proud of @Navjitkaurbrar. She was a selfless and dedicated front line healthcare worker during the pandemic. She has stepped up for public service and I am confident she will be a phenomenal addition to Brampton City Council," tweeted Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who won a second term in recent election.

As part of her campaign she knocked over 40,000 doors and spoked to over 22,500 residents in the last two months.

"Over the past 3 years, I've spoken to countless Bramptonians and the sentiment I hear is that they are all hurting, they feel unheard, they feel left behind. With the rising cost of living It's getting harder to raise and provide for your family in Brampton... As your city councillor I will fight for better services for all Bramptonians and ensure that your voices are heard," Brar had said in her campaign pitch. Karnataka: Two Dead, Over 40 Ill After Drinking Contaminated Water on Diwali in Yadgir.

Brar previously ran as the Ontario NDP candidate in Brampton West, losing out to incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Amarjot Sandhu.

Another Sikh candidate, Gurpartap Singh Toor, knocked off his opponent Gurpreet Dhillon in Wards 9 and 10 by a scant 227 votes.

As many as 40 Punjabis were in the fray for Brampton civic elections, according to local media reports.

Out of 354,884 eligible voters in Brampton, only 87,155 of them turned up to cast ballots -- an abysmal voter turnout of approximately 24.56 per cent, according to unofficial results, The Pointer reported.

The Indo-Canadian community, along with the councillor candidates, had raised concerns over the election date overlapping with Diwali -- one of the most-awaited festivals celebrated by the large swathe of Indian diaspora present in the North American country.

"It is very problematic that the elections are taking place on the Diwali day, especially the municipal election that has always seen a low voter turnout," Gurpratap Singh Toor, who has won Wards 9 and 10, had told Omni Punjabi.

Elections for municipal government are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October, which fell on October 24 this time.

These polls usually elect a mayor and city council and sometimes also a school board.

Around 40 per cent of Brampton's population is South Asian, and the municipal election also fell on the religious festival of Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2022 03:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
California was rattled by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake recorded near San Jose. An expert said the California earthquake today was Bay Area's strongest tremor since 2014 that hit Napa at 6.0 magnitude.

According to ABC News, Santa Clara County's Fire Department has not received any calls for service. Meanwhile, Santa Cruz County officials said the shaking did not damage any schools, and classes have resumed.

Cal OES is actively coordinating with local authorities in the region to evaluate any preliminary damage or issues created as a result of this earthquake and provide any assistance that is needed from the state level. https://t.co/Zq5HKbsNjV  California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) October 25, 2022

According to retired U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones, it was the biggest earthquake to hit the Bay Area in 15 years. It was followed by aftershocks measuring 3.1 and 2.2; she told NBC Bay Area.

Despite widespread shaking observed in a region home to almost 5 million people, no casualties or substantial damage were reported.

Did you feel the quake this afternoon in the SF Bay Area? Let us know herehttps://t.co/lH0eD7wCDG pic.twitter.com/qUUlZEn40R  USGS (@USGS) October 25, 2022

READ NEXT: 4.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits California | Here's How to Stay Safe Before and During an Earthquake

ShakeAlert Message Received by Tens of Thousands of People Seconds Before the California Earthquake

The earthquake center was found 12 miles east of San Jose, the biggest city in the Bay Area. The USGS said it happened at 11:42 a.m. and was thought to be 4 miles deep.

CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE: A magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area today, the strongest theyve seen in eight years. It was centered in the hills east of San Jose, about 40 miles southeast of downtown San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/ja5vZzmfdW  CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 25, 2022

Officials from the California Office of Emergency Management and the USGS said about 95,000 individuals who registered for an earthquake warning system got a ShakeAlert message. Most of them got it on their phones just seconds before the ground started shaking, NBC News noted.

Officials stated this number is how many alerts wireless companies have logged for their customers on Tuesday. Robert de Groot, in charge of outreach for USGS ShakeAlert, said that the number is likely to increase sharply as more providers join in.

"People had several seconds of alert time before shaking began at some locations," he said.

Videos of Earthquakes Posted on Social Media

According to USGS seismologist Annemarie Baltay, the epicentre's location was along the Calaveras Fault. Baltay said the shaking was "widely felt," and as of 1 p.m., over 18,000 "did you feel it?" reports had been sent in.

These reports came from Sonoma County, Sacramento, and Central California, among other places.

"Ground shaking appears to have been slightly less than our models expected for this magnitude earthquake," Baltay said.

Meanwhile, many people have posted earthquake videos on their social media accounts.

#BREAKING: Magnitude 5.1 earthquake strikes near San Jose California



#SanJose | #California



Watch as a seismograph in California record a magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck parts of the Bay Area a short time ago with multiple reports of people feeling widespread shaking pic.twitter.com/s3uvOy9DXR  Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) October 25, 2022

According to Baltay, there is a one-in-100 probability that an aftershock with a magnitude greater than 5.0 will occur within the next day.

Over the following week, there could be 10 to 15 aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 3.0, NBC Bay Area reported.

"Aftershocks of this magnitude and duration are totally normal for an event of this type," Baltay said.

READ MORE: Missouri: St. Louis High School Shooting Kills Three, Including Teen Gunman

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 5.1 California earthquake - Seismologist says aftershocks as strong as 4.0 possible - From ABC7 News Bay Area
Over a dozen aerosol dry shampoos made by Unilever have been recalled because they may have "elevated levels" of benzene.

Benzene is a naturally occurring chemical that can cause cancer when it is in high concentrations for a long time.

The consumer goods giant's dry shampoo recall last week was the most recent one related to benzene levels in several aerosol products, including some deodorants and sunscreen.

The Washington Post interviewed aerosol and cosmetics specialists about the recall and the health concerns of chronic benzene exposure. They stated the following:

The source of the benzene, according to Unilever, was the propellant in dry shampoo's aerosol cans, and the company stated it is collaborating with suppliers to find a solution.

Butane, a petroleum product, is a typical propellant in aerosol cans, according to Chris Cappa, an environmental engineering professor at the University of California at Davis.

If the process of refining butane "isn't very good," you can get gas that has other parts of the crude oil, like benzene, in it.

"That gas is where, most likely, this benzene is coming from," Cappa said.

Dry shampoos, according to Minneapolis-based cosmetic chemist Marisa Plescia, are "very basic" solutions that use a combination of powdered starches, silica, and scent to absorb oil from your hair.

No business knowingly includes benzene in its goods. It is pollution, according to Plescia.

Unilever voluntarily recalls aerosol dry shampoos made before October 2021 and sold in the U.S. under Bed Head, Dove, Nexxus, Suave, Rockaholic, and TRESemme.

In a statement, the company said that it had not heard of any "adverse events" related to the recalled products and that an "independent health hazard evaluation" had found that daily exposure to the benzene in those products is not likely to hurt anyone's health.

"Unilever U.S. is recalling these products out of an abundance of caution," the statement said. "Consumers should stop using the affected aerosol dry shampoo products."

There are refunds available from the company for the products listed here.

READ NEXT: Johnson & Johnson Recalling Neutrogena and Aveeno Sunscreens Over Benzene Traces

What Is Benzene?

Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, benzene is in gasoline and cigarette smoke. Benzene is one of the most common compounds made in the U.S.

People can be exposed to the chemical by breathing it in, touching oil products, eating or drinking tainted food or drinks, or touching surfaces that have been contaminated.

According to CBS News, after an internal examination discovered slightly higher levels of benzene in some samples, Unilever voluntarily recalled two Suave 24-hour protection aerosol antiperspirants in late March.

This year, four more companies recalled their products after benzene was found in samples. Last year, there were more than half a dozen recalls for the same reason.

Procter & Gamble Issued Dry Shampoo Recall, Too

Following testing that indicated the presence of benzene, Procter & Gamble announced the voluntary recall of many dry shampoos and dry conditioners from several of its brands.

According to a statement from P&G, the known carcinogen was found in more than 30 aerosol sprays from Pantene, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Waterless, Old Spice, and Hair Food.

However, "the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences," the company said.

The company said no one has complained about bad things because of the benzene in its dry shampoos and conditioners. They only recall the products to be safe.

READ MORE: California Teacher Arrested for Hiding a Missing Teenager in Her Home for 2 Years

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Unilever issues dry shampoo recall over cancer risk - From CBS Evening News
Authorities in Paraguay have dealt a huge blow against the country's Marxist rebels after a military operation resulted in the death of the leader of the communist Paraguayan People's Army (EPP), Osvaldo Villalba.

According to Barron's, the communist rebel leader was killed alongside two other EPP members. They have recently terrorized residents for over a decade with various crimes, including extortion and kidnapping.

The other rebel killed was identified as Luciano Arguello, while the other was only identified as "Simon." They were the only three fatalities from the clash, though one civilian was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital.

After the shootout, members of the military fingerprinted the dead rebels, and one of them matched Osvaldo Villalba's fingerprints.

Operation To Hunt Down Osvaldo Villalba Came After Kidnapping of Former Vice President

Before the operation to hunt down the Marxist leader was carried out, a string of killings and kidnappings occurred in Paraguay.

The most high-profile case was that of the country's former Vice-President Oscar Denis, who, according to the BBC, was kidnapped in September 2020.

On Sunday, soldiers on patrol in Amambay province encountered the rebels, with gunshots being fired. At the scene of the shootout, the soldiers also found two indigenous people dead. It was reported that these indigenous people were accused of providing information to the military and were executed by members of the EPP. However, a spokesperson for the Paraguayan Army stated that it was still unclear why they had attacked those indigenous men exactly.

READ NEXT: Ex-Paraguay President Horacio Manuel Cartes Placed on US Corruption List

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo called on members of the EPP on Sunday and encouraged them to surrender.

"This is not a happy night for anyone," he said. "This is not the way to fight for your ideals. As commander-in-chief, I make a call for peace."

The group financed its armed uprising against the oligarchy through kidnappings and extortion. The death of Osvaldo Villalba complicates things further for the rebel group and is widely seen as a heavy blow to the EPP.

Mother of Rebel Leader Osvaldo Villalba Condemns Death of Her Son

Osvaldo Villalba is the brother of the EPP's founder, Carmen Villalba, who is currently in prison. While the death of the Marxist rebel leader has brought relief to some communities in rural Paraguay, many are not very happy, especially Osvaldo's mother, Mariana Ayala Lopez.

According to ABC TV Paraguay, she condemned the president of Paraguay for what she called "infanticide," in a statement to Radio Nanduti. The mother of the two rebel leaders also called the president other names like a criminal, bloodthirsty, and a murderer. She also added that she has dedicated herself to "defending" her children.

Mariana Ayala's other surviving children are also part of the EPP, including Jose Villalba, who heads the rebel group's logistics, as well as Myrian Viviana Villalba Ayala, who previously led a clash with the Paraguayan military that resulted in the deaths of two minor girls. Both leaders escaped to Argentina in 2021.

READ NEXT: Paraguay Senator Falls Into Lake and Drowns

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Quien fue Osvaldo Villalba? - ABC TV Paraguay
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - UN independent human rights experts on Tuesday demanded real accountability for the year-long brutal crackdown on peaceful protests against the October 2021 military coup in Sudan
A Texas man shot and killed two employees of the Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, Texas on Saturday after accusing his girlfriend, who was at the hospital to give birth, of infidelity.

The suspect was identified as Nestor Hernandez, 30. WFAA-TV obtained an arrest warrant affidavit for the suspect, and it revealed that he arrived at the hospital around 10:20 a.m. to visit his girlfriend in delivery. However, he would then strike her repeatedly in the head with a handgun, accusing her of infidelity.

Hernandez then started making "ominous" calls and text messages to his family. According to the Associated Press, Hernandez told his girlfriend that both of them were going to die, and added that "whoever comes in this room is going to die with us."

Nestor Hernandez's Victims Were Innocent Hospital Workers

The fatal shooting's two victims were employees at the Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The first person he shot and killed was Jacqueline Pokuaa, a 45-year-old social worker. She came to the room to attend to Hernandez's girlfriend but was shot and killed by the gunman.

The second victim was identified as Katie Annette Flowers, a 63-year-old nurse. She looked into the room after hearing gunfire but was also fatally shot. Her death was witnessed by hospital police Sgt. Robert Rangel, who immediately called for backup and took cover outside the room,

After reloading his gun, Hernandez exited the room but was engaged by Rangel, who managed to shoot the gunman in the leg. After a tense standoff with the police, Hernandez was then arrested.

The suspect's girlfriend was treated for her injuries at the same hospital. It was reported that her newborn child, who was also in the room when the attack happened, was unhurt.

READ NEXT: Ted Cruz Hid Inside Capitol Closet During January 6 Says New Book, Senator Gets Booed in Yankees Stadium

Texas Man Was on Probation Before Deadly Attack on Texas Hospital

According to Fox affiliate KDFW-4, Hernandez was a "violent prison parolee" who had already been arrested twice for parole violations. His most recent one happened in June.

Before the attack, he was on parole from state prison for an aggravated robbery he committed in 2015. He was allowed to visit his girlfriend at the hospital and was wearing an electronic ankle monitor.

Hernandez previously cut off his ankle monitor earlier this year, violating his parole conditions. He was released after 100 days at the order of the state parole board.

Dallas police Chief Eddie Garcia openly expressed his frustration that a violent criminal like Hernandez was allowed to go out with an ankle monitor. "This isn't about being on parole," he stated, adding that this was about a violent criminal that was on ankle monitor thinking that this was giving him "a level of accountability."

Hernandez, who was injured after a tense confrontation with the police, is now in stable condition and was sent to another hospital for treatment. He is facing capital murder charges.

READ NEXT: Missing Texas Mom Found Dead Inside Trunk of Car Involved in Chase With Teenage Son Driving

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Dallas hospital shooting suspect accused girlfriend of cheating before killing 2 workers, affidavit - FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
A Florida judge has ruled against Governor Ron DeSantis' office in a legal fight over records related to migrants' flights from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

According to Fox 13 News, Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh on Tuesday said De Santis' office did not comply with the state's public-records law after a group sought records about the decision to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard.

Marsh then gave DeSantis' office 20 days to provide the records sought by the open-government group, Florida Center for Government Accountability.

Marsh referred to requested phone or text logs that could provide information about communications by DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier about the flights.

The Florida judge said the governor's office did not show "any steps, direct steps taken to gather what this court finds are public records."

The director of public access for the center, Michael Barfield, said that Marsh's verbal ruling held the governor accountable for delays in providing public records.

Barfield added that "the public's right of access was vindicated" and that DeSantis was "not immune from being held accountable."

READ NEXT: Treasury Department Is Investigating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Use of Relief Funds in Transporting Migrants

Florida Migrants' Flights Records

Tampa Bay Times reported that Andrew King, an attorney for Ron DeSantis, argued before the court ruling that the governor's administration was working to fulfill numerous records requests regarding the migrant flights.

King then accused the center of "weaponizing" the public records law to get ahead of other people or organizations seeking records. He added that they are "diligently working" to provide all the migrant records in Martha's Vineyard to all the people who have asked.

Attorney for the center, Andrea Flynn Mogensen, said the administration's arguments about a backlog of requests showed of delay that "violates the public records law."

Mogensen noted that they were being told to "get in line and stay in line." The center filed the lawsuit on October 10 and claimed that the governor's office did not comply with requests made on September 21 and 22.

DeSantis' administration is also facing controversy over using the state's money to finance the two September 14 flights, which started in San Antonio, stopped at an airport in the Northwest Florida community of Crestview, and ended at Martha's Vineyard.

Florida Flying Migrants to Massachusetts

Oregon-based charter airline company Vertol Systems had flown the group of migrants, mostly Venezuelans, to Martha's Vineyard.

According to The Washington Post, some of the migrants said they were lured onto the flights with false promises of housing and jobs.

Florida officials did not explain the reason behind the stop in Crestview. Records showed that the state of Florida paid Vertol $615,000 on September 8, or six days before the migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard.

And another $950,000 on September 19, or a day before other migrants in San Antonio, Texas, told The Miami Herald they were scheduled to fly on a flight to President Joe Biden's home state of Delaware.

However, the outlet reported that it was canceled on September 20, when the migrants were supposed to depart.

DeSantis earlier said that the flights carrying migrants were designed to send a message to Democrats. The governor noted that most of the migrants intend to come to Florida.

DeSantis added that they were dealing with the issue at the source. In July, Florida launched the relocation program for incoming migrants.

The migrant flights are currently under criminal investigation in Texas and a civil lawsuit from several asylum seekers.

READ MORE: Texas, Arizona Keep Sending Buses of Migrants to Washington; DC Mayor Devotes $10 Million to Help

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: DeSantis Investigated And Sued Over Migrant Flights | The Katie Phang Show - From MSNBC
Voters in Brazil are being bombarded with online misinformation less than a week before they cast their vote for the country's next leader.

According to Associated Press, it is falsely claimed on social media that Brazil's leftist presidential candidate, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, intends to shut down churches if elected.

There are also rumors that Lula favors allowing men to use the restrooms in public schools close to young girls. They also claim erroneously that right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro confessed to cannibalism and pedophilia in his comments.

Politics in Brazil are reportedly being swirled in a way that is like how politics in the U.S. have been stirred up by false and politically motivated rumors spreading through social media.

Last week, Brazil passed what some analysts call the country's youngest speech restrictions because of the flood of false news.

Rumors that are not real and propagated for political objectives are circulating on social media in Latin America's largest democracy, shaking up Brazilian politics in the same manner they have shaken up U.S. politics.

Due to many false stories, Brazil put in place what some experts call the strictest speech rules in the country's young democracy.

READ NEXT: Brazil Election: Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva Hopes Jair Bolsonaro Will 'Have a Moment of Sanity' and Accept Defeat

Brazil Will Ban 'False or Seriously Decontextualized' Content Ahead of Presidential Election

Brazil's top electoral authority, the Superior Electoral Court, said on Thursday that "false or substantially decontextualized" content that "affects the integrity of the electoral process" would be prohibited. The court may act without a request from the complainant or the prosecutor.

Social media companies like YouTube and Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, will have an hour, much less time than before, to remove problematic information in the days leading up to and after the second round of the election on October 30.

Al Jazeera reported that all of the social media giants had yet to respond. If a platform does not comply, it may be penalized up to $28,000 per hour or be blocked on Brazilian servers for up to 24 hours.

According to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the electoral tribunal's president, the "aggressiveness of this information" and hate speech justifies the measure.

Decision to Battle Misinformation Draws Complaints From Right-wing Brazilian Voters

Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro were outraged by the initiative, and many internet law and civil rights experts were worried about it.

They said it was a dangerous, authoritarian expansion of power that could be used to silence legitimate points of view and change the outcome of the presidential election.

Under the measures passed last week, the elections chief, who is now Moraes, can order the immediate removal of content that he believes has violated previous takedown orders.

As a court justice, Moraes put some of Bolsonaro's supporters in jail for what he said were attacks on the democratic institutions of the country and ordered investigations into the president as a court justice.

He may have been the best check on Bolsonaro, who has been attacking the press, the courts, and the country's voting system for a long time.

However, Moraes has made people worry that his attempts to protect the democracy of the country have made it weaker, the New York Times reported.

"It's a very complicated balancing act," said Philip Friedrich, an elections and technology expert at Freedom House, an American organization that promotes democracy growth.

"Trying to protect the integrity of Brazil's democratic institutions and people's right to free expression while also keeping people safe online," he added.

READ MORE: Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro Ally Attacks Police While Resisting Arrest, Surrenders After Hours-long Siege

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Brazil's Presidential Election Polluted by Misinformation - From FRANCE 24 English
Mexico's Attorney General's Office said five properties of Guadalajara Cartel founder Rafael Caro Quintero in Jalisco state will soon be confiscated in light of a court ruling.

According to Infobae, authorities filed legal assistance for the confiscation of the said properties in Zapopan, Jalisco, in 2019. Caro Quintero, who was arrested in July, reportedly owned the properties.

The FGR said the properties were bought with money from the Mexican drug lord's illegal activities, particularly from selling illicit drugs.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the FGR noted that a petition from the director of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, asking for "international legal assistance for the confiscation" of the five properties, was filed to the General Directorate of International Procedures on October 25, 2019.

The FGR said constitutional and regulatory laws were followed to achieve the extinction of ownership, which will serve for the State to seize property used or linked to criminal activities or acquired with resources from illegal operations.

It was the Sixth District judge in Mexico City that issued a favorable sentence, "judicially declaring the extinction of ownership of the five real estate properties," owned by Caro Quintero "in favor of the State."

The FGR said the Specialized Unit for Domain Forfeiture (UEMED), dependent on the Specialized Regional Control Prosecutor's Office (FECOR), reportedly helped in obtaining the sentence in which the domain forfeiture was declared in favor of the government.

READ NEXT: Like El Chapo, Guadalajara Cartel Founder Rafael Caro Quintero Also Complains of 'Torture' in Mexico Altiplano Prison

Guadalajara Cartel Founder Rafael Caro Quintero Arrested

Rafael Caro Quintero is one of the founders of the Guadalajara Cartel, along with Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo. Dubbed the "Narco of Narcos," he was considered a pioneer in Mexico's drug underworld during the 1980s.

The Guadalajara Cartel founder had spent 28 years in prison for the brutal murder and torture of former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar.

Caro Quintero was allegedly angry about a raid at Rancho Buffalo, a huge marijuana plantation in Mexico's Chihuahua state. Mexican authorities seized the plantation allegedly at Camarena's demand.

Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara in February 1985. A month later, his lifeless body was discovered, with signs showing that he was tortured. Caro Quintero, who was arrested in Costa Rica in the same year, has denied involvement in the killing of Camarena.

In 2013, the Guadalajara Cartel founder was released by a Mexican judge on a technicality. An appeals court overturned the verdict, and the Supreme Court upheld the sentence.

However, it was too late, as Caro Quintero already went underground. Mexican authorities then issued a new warrant for his arrest, and the DEA also put him on their most wanted fugitives list.

Authorities in Mexico said he should continue serving the remainder of his original 40-year sentence. The U.S. government hailed his recent arrest and said it would waste no time requesting his extradition.

Rafael Caro Quintero Made Deals With Rival Beltran Leyva to Bolster Power

After being freed in 2013, Rafael Caro Quintero has reportedly tried to bolster his power and rebuild his criminal empire, according to a leaked Mexican army document.

According to the leaked document, the army learned that the Guadalajara Cartel founder took part in a "key meeting" in Sinaloa after being freed from a Mexican prison and soon went underground, El Pais reported.

There, he reportedly took over a rival drug cartel and exercised control over the northern highlands of Mexico. The Mexican army had reportedly monitored the activities and movements of the Mexican drug lord for five years before he was captured last July.

Many thought that Caro Quintero, who previously allied with the Sinaloa Cartel, would retire from his criminal career after a court decision freed him.

But the Mexican army document said the Guadalajara Cartel founder held a meeting at a mountain lake hotel in Sinaloa in 2017 "to take over the Beltran Leyva criminal organization," an enemy of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Caro Quintero had reportedly allied with his long-time rival after power struggles emerged following Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera's extradition to the U.S.

The Defense Ministry report said the Mexican drug kingpin forged an alliance with the leader of the Beltran Leyva organization Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, which expanded and increased his power while he was on the run.

The report also revealed that Caro Quintero's comeback into the drug trade played a key role in the violent power struggle to control Mexico's northern state of Sonora, a crucial area for drug trafficking and other illicit activities.

The Mexican army file seemed to be solid evidence that the Guadalajara Cartel founder went back into his criminal activities and consolidated power back home in Sinaloa before his recent arrest.

READ MORE: Rafael Caro Quintero's Wife Denies Legal Battle With Guadalajara Cartel Founder Over Alimony Demand

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Gobierno De Mexico Gana Juicio a Rafael Caro Quintero; Capo Pierde Cinco Inmuebles - From MILENIO
An Iowa woman believes her father was among the most prolific serial killers in the United States. Fremont County Sheriff's deputies and state officials are now looking into this claim of Lucy Studey.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope told the Des Moines Register on Monday that Lucy said his father, Donald Dean Studey, killed "five or six" women yearly for many years and buried them in and around an abandoned well on his property near Thurman.

Donald's five-acre property is about 40 miles from Omaha, Nebraska, according to police. Aistrope said two cadaver dogs brought to the site on October 21 had "hits" of the possible existence of decaying remains in the area of the well.

"She's got a hell of a story, but we don't have any proof of anything other than we had a cadaver dog hit... We've got to have more proof than that," Aistrope told the Register.

Aistrope said he had already requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

"I'll get with DCI, and we'll get a game plan here together, and this just adds... credibility to her story," Aistrope noted.

READ NEXT: California Police Closing in on a Possible Serial Killer Linked to 5 Deaths in Stockton; Victims Mostly Hispanic

Iowa Woman Says She Knows Where the Bodies Are Buried

For 45 years, Lucy Studey will tell anyone who would listen that her father had killed and buried dozens of young women with the help of his children. But no one believed her.

"I know where the bodies are buried," Lucy told Newsweek. The Iowa woman described how her father would ask her children, including her, to assist him in moving the bodies, either using a wheelbarrow in summer or a sled during winter.

"He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant... Every time I went to the well or into the hills, I didn't think I was coming down. I thought he would kill me because I wouldn't keep my mouth shut," Lucy said.

The Iowa woman claimed they would put dirt and lye on top of the bodies as his father dropped them into the well. Investigators said early this week that cadaver dogs have now found what they think were human bones in the spots she pointed out in a remote part of western Iowa.

FBI Joins the Investigation for Alleged Serial Killer's Burial Ground

The local sheriff and an FBI source said the FBI is now working with local and state authorities to find out if the victims of an alleged serial killer were buried in the rural area of Iowa.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa DCI are directly communicating with at least one FBI agent from the Omaha field office, the local sheriff said.

All parties will meet next week to discuss the next steps in investigating the allegations by Lucy against her father, who died in March 2013 at the age of 75. The Iowa woman believes that her father murdered 50 to 70 women over three decades.

"We're in a holding patten until everyone gets together," Aistrope told Newsweek.

According to Aistrope, he and his deputies started looking into Lucy's claims in 2021 when she initially contacted the sheriff's office to report his father's crimes.

Since then, Aistrope told the Register that investigators tried to find the well and get permission from the present owners of the property and neighboring properties to conduct searches.

He noted that the old well, since filled in, was 90 feet deep, and excavating it would be an arduous undertaking.

READ MORE: Unilever Issues Voluntary Dry Shampoo Recall; Products Possibly Contaminated With Benzene

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Fremont Serial Killer Investigation Begins - From We Are Iowa Local 5 News
An Indiana woman reportedly jumped out of a moving car to escape a violent kidnapping incident.

According to court documents acquired by News 8, Wade Jackson, 61, was arrested and charged with kidnapping with moderate bodily injury, intimidation, and domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury after the woman jumped out of the car he was driving.

The Bloomington Police Department sent an officer to a nearby hospital on October 18 at 3:30 p.m. because there was a report of a domestic disturbance.

When the police officer got there, he talked to the woman, who said she had jumped out of a moving car on West Tapp Road earlier that day before she was taken to the hospital by a relative. Investigators said Jackson has also been abusing the Indiana woman.

READ NEXT: Florida: Good Samaritan Prevents Kidnapping of 2 Elementary Girls

Indiana Woman Was a Victim of Kidnapping and Domestic Abuse

The Indiana woman told police that she left their shared apartment and stayed at a friend's apartment after they had an argument. She said Wade Jackson found her in her friend's apartment on the afternoon of October 18.

Despite hiding, the woman said Jackson still found her and grabbed her by her ponytail, dragging her outside the apartment while hitting and punching her in the head, back, hips, and legs.

According to WBIW, Jackson told the woman he would kill her if she made a scene once they were outside. Jackson then began to drive, steering the wheel with his left hand.

The Indiana woman said she made the daring escape from the moving car after Jackson hit her with his right hand and threatened to kill her again. The woman told police that she jumped out of the vehicle out of fear for her life.

According to a witness, Jackson was driving "erratically and swerving." She told detectives that she could not see much inside the car since the windows were tinted but thought those inside the vehicle were arguing.

The witness also said she saw a woman jumping out of the car, and the driver sped away. Court documents said the Indiana woman suffered road rash on different parts of her body and a large abrasion on her head.

Jackson was arrested at his apartment on Lenzy Way on Sunday. He is set to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on December 8.

Arkansas Man Arrested for 'Kidnapping Hoax'

A man in Arkansas, who posted on social media that he had been "kidnapped, was arrested by police on numerous offenses.

According to KAIT8, the Helena-West Helena Police Department said in a statement that Cynthia Sparks went to the police station at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday to report that her son was missing.

Sparks told police that her 26-year-old son, Fredrick Gamble, had posted on Facebook earlier that morning that he had been kidnapped. While police were looking into the case, they heard that Gamble was at a house in West Helena's 10th Street.

When Helena-West Helena Police and Phillips County Sheriff's Office deputies executed a search warrant on the residence, they discovered Gamble and his 42-year-old girlfriend Nicole Rohrscheib inside.

"Investigators then determined the kidnapping was a hoax," the statement noted.

Gamble was charged with filing a false report, possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of a firearm, fleeing, driving on a suspended driver's license, three counts of failure to stop at a stop sign, defective equipment, and careless and prohibited driving.

Some of the charges stemmed from Gamble fleeing a traffic stop on October 24. On the other hand, Rohrscheib was also arrested and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Gamble and Rohrscheib are expected to attend a bond hearing on October 26.

READ MORE: Brazil: Rising Misinformation Ahead of Presidential Election Confuses Brazilian Voters

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Arkansas Man Arrested After Faking His Own Kidnapping, Police Say - From ABC24 Memphis
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - All countries should endorse a new political commitment aimed at protecting civilians from the bombing and shelling of cities and towns during wartime, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday in a report released with Harvard Law Schools International Human Rights Clinic
Portlaoise is poised to be the national centre of low carbon expert business advice, with the imminent opening of a new Government backed building.

The Cube in the heart of the historic Portlaoise town centre, is a shining glass building that is hoped to be a shining example of sustainable business excellence in the transition to a low carbon economy.

The architect designed 10,000 sq ft office had lain incomplete for many years, suffering some vandalism.

However Laois County Council sought and won grants to complete the privately owned building and then buy it as a turnkey development, to tackle town centre dereliction and create and support Laois jobs.

Work began in September 2021. It was expected to take under six months, but is now almost complete, according to Laois County Council CEO John Mulholland.

"It will be finished in a week to ten days," Mr Mulholland announced, at the October 24 meeting of Laois County Council.

Cllr Aisling Moran had tabled a motion to the meeting, requesting itemised costings for the project, along with the new Portlaoise Library and Junction 17 National Enterprise Park.

"I will have that information to you in two or three weeks. The information was provided to you before," Mr Mulholland said.

"The Cube will be finished in a week or 10 days. There was no over-run on expenditure. A full account will be sent to each elected member," he said.

Cllr Moran was dissatisfied that the costs were not furnished at the meeting.

"The Cube is now something completely different. I know people who approached about it but were told it's not ready. I'm asking that you provide the information by the end of the week, I think you have ample time," she said.

The council said a year ago in reply to a previous motion by Cllr Moran, that it had spent 300,000 by that time to start up the company. The council has grant approval of 2.2m from Enterprise Ireland under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund to create the centre.

A 1.6 million contract was signed a year ago to buy The Cube in turnkey condition, and sell it to a new associated company of Laois County Council called Portlaoise Innovation Centre DAC (The Cube). A company director was also hired to attract businesses to rent spaces, and provide virtual services connected with a low carbon economy.

The Cube is aimed to be "a Midlands-based national centre of excellence focussed on facilitating economic growth, innovation and education in the Low Carbon and Renewables industry."

it is expected to be a "globally attractive location for the establishment of sustainable focussed business, through a world class cluster of skilled personnel, sustainable innovation development, design and infrastructural capabilities that will provide regional competitive advantage in the Low Carbon economy of the future", and "ensure Ireland is future proofed to benefit from movement to Carbon Neutrality".
A Laois school has been lucky enough to be selected for a National Gallery of Ireland outreach project.

The Your Gallery at School programme is offered to just a dozen schools around Ireland.

The National Gallery of Ireland has said it is delighted to announce the return of Your Gallery at School 2022-23.

St Fintans Boys NS in Mountrath is among those chosen to take part in an exciting series of art workshops - designed specifically for children who may not have access to the Gallery due to socio-economic, gender or geographic barriers.

The school principal is Edel Parkinson.

"We are delighted to be chosen to take part in Your Gallery at School 22-23. This is an exciting opportunity for the boys to work with a professional artist and gain insight into the many possibilities associated with creativity. We look forward to getting started," she said.

Over the course of the 2022-23 school year, the Gallery will work with twelve schools to create a series of tailored activities, appropriate for the students ages and school levels. With a focus on learning through and about art, wellbeing and creative careers, Your Gallery at School comprises individual practical workshops, sensory sessions, talks and Q&As for selected schools.

The programme includes Learning through and about art - a practical workshop inspired by the national collection; Wellbeing - a sensory session focusing on slow looking and mindfulness; and Creative Careers - a talk and Q&A with Gallery staff and an established artist, enabling students to learn about a variety of arts careers.

The Gallery says it is committed to breaking down barriers for people who may have difficulty accessing culture and art in Ireland.

Three exclusive online workshops will also run for all schools that applied to take part in Your Gallery at School  an Earth Explorers practical workshop for primary schools, a Creative Careers day for students, and a Continuing Professional Development workshop for teachers.

Since its pilot in 2021, Your Gallery at School has thrived. This year, the Gallery received almost 400 applications from schools nationwide, a 287% increase on 2021 applications.

Peter Barrett is Chief Executive Officer of aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital, the sponsors.

SMBC Aviation Capital is delighted to see Your Gallery at School go from strength to strength. This innovative initiative brings art directly into the lives of children who may not usually be able to engage with the Gallery. It is fantastic to see the impact of this programme, which can be seen in the growing number of applications year on year, and we are immensely proud to support it.

The other eleven schools are:

Ballagh National School, Roscommon, Scoil Naomh Eoin, Meath, Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Waterford, Scoil Naomh Padraig, Oram, Monaghan, St Declans College, Dublin 7, Davitt College, Mayo, Catherine McAuley School, Limerick, St. Brogan's College, Cork, St. Michael's NS, Cavan, Tyndall College, Carlow and Holy Child BNS, Dublin 9.
Rishi Sunak has faced cross-party calls at Westminster to rethink a controversial move to rip up parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, over warnings it breaks international law and risks a trade war with the EU.

With the new Prime Minister in Downing Street, a series of peers from across the political divide pressed for a change of heart on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which has been likened to placing a gun on the table at negotiations with the EU aimed at finding a solution.

The UK Government faced demands for further details on the impact of the draft legislation before it continued its parliamentary passage through the House of Lords, where it is facing opposition.

The protocol was aimed at avoiding a hard border with Ireland but has created economic barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, causing resentment and anger among many unionists and loyalists.

The dispute has created an impasse in efforts to form a devolved government administration in Belfast, with the DUP refusing to return to powersharing until decisive action is taken raising the prospect of a further election.

The UK Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by way of a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed domestic legislation that would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels.

Critics have argued the Bill represented a sword of Damocles over the talks, broke international law and damaged the UKs global standing.

Relations between the UK and EU appeared to have improved since Boris Johnson left office and both London and Brussels have been talking up the potential for striking a deal through a fresh round of negotiations.

Tory former leader Lord Howard of Lympne said: Theres agreement across the House that the best solution would be an agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. We are told that discussions are taking place. I hope the new administration will give fresh impetus to those discussions.

Labour former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain argued finding a solution to the protocol was easy compared to previous agreements reached in Northern Ireland.

He said: This problem is eminently soluble by serious negotiations, give and take and understanding of the different interests at stake.

We need less dogma, more flexibility and this Bill is getting in the way of that.

Tory former minister Baroness Altmann said: The problems of this Bill are far deeper and more fundamental and more important than Brexit. This is about right and wrong.

She added: This Bill risks upsetting our trading relations with the EU and indeed the US at a time when we need them to boost growth.

The new Prime Minister has a chance to reconsider this Bill and set it aside in the interests of growth. I hope he will decide at the very least to put it on hold so that proper negotiations can take place and trust restored.

Former European commissioner and Tory Cabinet minister Lord Patten of Barnes also urged a rethink.

The Conservative peer said: It cant make sense to proceed in this way with a rotten Bill that can be regarded, at best, as a way of getting other people to the negotiating table. Its no way for a grown-up Government to behave and now I think weve got a Government again that has adult supervision, so I hope that we can see the Government behaving sensibly on this in relation to our European friends.

Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington branded the Bill reckless and unworkable .

She said: Surely any incoming Prime Minister would want to demonstrate an ability to resolve problems rather than prolong them?

Independent crossbench peer Baroness OLoan told the upper chamber that the Bill had been compared to placing a gun on the table at the negotiations.

She said: I hope even at this late stage the Prime Minister will consider the matter further and withdraw the Bill.

Former deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Lord Dodds reiterated his partys opposition to the protocol.

He added: Its not incompatible to support this Bill and to seek a negotiated outcome.

Responding for the Government, Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: It is our view, of the Government, that we need to progress this Bill now to fix the practical problems that have been highlighted.

Pointing out talks were taking place with the EU, he added: We are continuing to engage and have those constructive exchanges.
Communities that welcome in many refugees from Ukraine could receive a multimillion-euro fund to improve public facilities under plans supported by the Tanaiste.

Leo Varadkar told the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday evening that he wanted to see a community fund for areas to improve schools, public transport, community and sporting facilities.

He said the state will not turn any refugees away but stressed that the welfare and accommodation support will remain a real constraint.

He told the meeting that housing needed to be built rapidly on suitable sites.

Disused army barracks and modular homes are among the measures being considered by the Government to help plug the accommodation crisis for refugees.

Fine Gael TDs also supported the use of rapid-build housing.

Mr Varadkar said the numbers of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland are at unprecedented levels.

Ireland has taken in around 55,000 Ukrainians, with approximately 12,000 in schools, 10,000 working and paying taxes, and 1,000 in third level and higher education.

Earlier, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said old army sites could be quickly converted to house Ukrainians as the state struggles with the number of people seeking refuge.

Ms Humphreys defended the Governments handling of the crisis, saying it is doing everything it can.

Some refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have been forced to sleep on the floor at Dublin Airport as state accommodation reaches capacity.

The Government is scrambling to find rooms and accommodation to help address the shortage.

Ms Humphreys said Ireland has welcomed refugees with its arms open.

We have supported a lot of Ukrainians coming into this country and when you put it into perspective, we have almost 55,000 Ukrainians here and that is the total population of Co Monaghan, the Fine Gael minister added.

So we have done a lot. I want to acknowledge the work that people have done in terms of taking them into their houses, and indeed the work that Minister (Roderic) OGormans department has done in identifying accommodation for them and, yes, we are under pressure at the minute but were working through a number.

We did have a Cabinet meeting on Monday and theres a number of proposals being brought forward, such as increasing the amount of support that we give to families who take Ukrainians into their homes.

Were looking at identifying other possible opportunities in terms of maybe old disused army barracks that could be quickly converted, were looking at modular homes, so were doing everything we can.

I think its important to say that this is something that it shouldnt be an us and them.

She said Irish people have historically gone abroad to seek refuge, employment and a new life.

In this country we have held our arms open, we have brought people in here and we need to support them and we should never forget where theyre coming from, she added.

The horrific circumstances that they find themselves in, and they have lost loved ones. Many of them are women and children that are here, they dont know where their husbands are. Theyre fighting in the war effort and I think we need to be conscious of that.

There are pressures, certainly  we are doing everything we can as a Government to try and alleviate those areas where there is pressure.

The Government also has plans to encourage more people to host families or individuals fleeing Ukraine.

The minister repeated comments by Mr Varadkar that the state cannot guarantee accommodation to those arriving in Ireland after senior government ministers met on Monday night to discuss the accommodation crisis.

Proposals included increasing the monthly payment for people taking in Ukrainian refugees to 800 euro.

Measures are set to be agreed at a meeting later this week or at Cabinet next week.
New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told Taoiseach Micheal Martin that he would prefers a negotiated outcome to issues caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The two leaders held a phone conversation on Wednesday evening.

Mr Martin said they discussed the need to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

The post-Brexit trading treaty, which is fiercely opposed by unionists in Northern Ireland, has led to the collapse of the Stormont Assembly and Executive.

The DUP has said it will not 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 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.

The European Commission has warned that such unilateral action at Westminster would be in breach of international law and could prompt retaliatory action.

Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening. Discussed cooperation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI. Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the Protocol.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 26, 2022

Following his conversation with the Prime Minister, the Taoiseach tweeted: Good conversation with British PM @RishiSunak this evening.

Discussed co-operation on Ukraine and ongoing developments in NI.

Agreed on importance of EU-UK negotiations to find agreed solutions on the protocol.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said: The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Sunak spoke this evening.

The Taoiseach congratulated PM Sunak on his appointment and looked forward to the two Governments working closely together.

They discussed cooperation in the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They both agreed on the importance of EU-UK engagement to find agreed solutions to the issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol and they discussed ongoing developments in Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister reiterated their commitment to a strong British-Irish relationship and looked forward to an early opportunity to meet.

Pleased to speak to @MichealMartinTD tonight, discussing how the UK and Ireland as close neighbours & friends can work together in the coming months. I also thanked him for Irelands steadfast support for Ukraine.  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 26, 2022

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Taoiseach Micheal Martin this evening.

The leaders agreed on the vital importance of a strong relationship between the UK and Ireland and expressed their determination to build on that friendship in the coming months.

The Prime Minister welcomed Irelands ongoing support for Ukraine, and the leaders agreed on the importance of continued international unity in the face of (Vladimir) Putins aggression.

Discussing the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Prime Minister set out that his preference remained a negotiated outcome and hoped all parties would approach the current challenges with pragmatism and goodwill.

The leaders agreed on the urgent need for a functioning executive in Northern Ireland. Both undertook to continue discussions in the coming weeks and months.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also had a phone conversation with Mr Sunak.

Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak  are strategic partners. Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change. And on finding joint solutions under the Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability. pic.twitter.com/iJ8czqwQoB  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 26, 2022

She tweeted: Very good phone call with UK PM @RishiSunak

(The EU and UK) are strategic partners.

Looking forward to working on crucial issues such as Russias war on Ukraine and climate change.

And on finding joint solutions under the (Northern Ireland) Protocol on IE/NI that will provide stability and predictability.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the leaders had stressed the importance they both place on the relationship between the UK and EU.

The spokesperson added: The Prime Minister and President von der Leyen agreed that the UK and EU have much in common, not least the challenges we are facing in areas like the economy and climate change.

They resolved to work closely together to tackle those challenges.
Laois soldiers who gave their lives in the service of world peace, or who died since completing their service for the United Nations, have been remembered by their colleagues and families in a revived annual ceremony.

Post 27, the Laois branch of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, held a mass and wreath laying in Portlaoise on Sunday morning, October 23.

More on the story below these photographs by Denis Byrne. Click NEXT to view all.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Ciprian in St Peter & Paul's Church, where a candle was lit and a colour party marched to dip flags and play a royal salute.

A piper led all down to a sunlit Millview memorial park, where IUNVA members formed a guard of honour to the UN monument, a globe of marble.

Wreaths were laid by Michael Carroll, nephew of deceased soldier Trooper Michael Kennedy, as well as by Patrick Joseph McEvoy from Post 27, by visiting members of Post 1 from Dublin, Post 31 from Wexford, and Post 11 from The Curragh.

A piper and a bugler played a lament, the Last Post and Reveille.

Jimmy Shiels is chair of Post 27.

It was the first annual mass for us in two years, it is an important day, I thank everyone who came, and I thank Monsignor Byrne for facilitating us at Mass, he said.

Refreshments followed in their drop in centre, where photos of deceased Post 27 members hang proudly on display.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has told the Leinster Leader that it has not ruled out refurbishing derelict and vacant buildings in the Curragh Camp for displaced Ukrainians.

The update follows after Tom McDonnell, a prominent member of the Lakeside Park, Highfield and Dara Park (LHD Action Group) protesting at planned modular homes for the area, reiterated his suggestion to the Leader of housing displaced Ukrainians in the Curragh Camp.

Mr McDonnell said that he spoke with Deputy Martin Heydon and the Minister Roderic O' Gorman about looking into providing land for modular homes for displaced Ukrainians in the Curragh, but claimed that the group has been 'ignored' by the government.

Mr McDonnell also suggested that the government could use some of the vacant buildings there to set up a school for Ukrainian children.

Labour Senator Mark Wall told the Leader earlier this year that there are up to 43 derelict buildings on the Curragh.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said in a statement: "The Department is working urgently across Government to bring new accommodation on board to ensure that the States humanitarian needs can be met.

"It continues to explore all suitable offers as it has done since March 2022.

"Any offers of accommodation will be considered in line with accommodation needs."

'PEOPLE WANT THIS TO BE A SUCCESS'

Independent TD Dr Cathal Berry, who is also a former member of the Army Ranger Wing in the Defence Forces, recently discussed the potential refurbishment of buildings in the Curragh Camp on RTE Radio 1.

He said that there are a lot of disused military buildings around the country, and that they would be 'very palatable' to house displaced Ukrainians.

"Firstly, they're not really in use anymore, secondly, they are publicly owned, and thirdly, they are already wired for electricity and water, so it is very easy to plug into these systems.

"However, the caveat that I would put on (refurbishing) them is that there needs to be communication with the local population and local community, it can only take place with their consent," he added: "People want this to be a success, and they deserve to be communicated with and consulted (by the Office of Public Works and the Dept) in advance."
The Liffey Lodge in Newbridge will be a mixed-use building, Kildare County Council (KCC) has revealed.

KCC confirmed the news to Fianna Fail Cllr Noel Heavey at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was held on Wednesday, October 19.

Cllr Heavey put forward a motion to KCC on the day, where he urged the council to 'provide details of how and when it will bring forward a process to determine the medium term split of community/housing options for its recently purchased facility known as the Liffey Lodge in Newbridge.'

In its report to members, KCC pointed out that Liffey Lodge is currently in use as a rest centre in support for displaced people from Ukraine, who are fleeing from Russias invasion.

KCC added that when the site becomes available for the use of the wider community in Newbridge, its community department will conduct an expression of interest process.

The council said that this 'will allow local groups to submit their requests to use the facility for community activities. Submissions will be assessed to ensure there is a good mix of activities and groups in the building.'

'HALLELUJAH'

Cllr Heavey welcomed the report, saying: "Hallelujah; I am so relieved and thrilled that this will happen, and I would like to thank those concerned."

Another building that was enquired about was O' Modhrain's Hall, also in Newbridge.

Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Connolly said that KCC should 'pursue vigorously' the Compulsory Purchase Order for the building, and added that it was of 'huge importance' to young people in the town.

A representative from KCC told him that he understood his concerns, and said that the money has been handed into the charities regulator.

KCC explained: "An amount of 19,525 in derelict sites levies accumulated to end of 2021 and these were discharged from the proceeds of sale.

"A further sum of 3,300 will become due in respect of 2022.

"I think the next step is to liase with the new owners, and to look at a timescale (for the reopening)," the representative added.

Cllr Connolly also enquired about water infrastructure upgrades in the Old Connell/Great Connell/Little Connell areas, to which KCC recommended that he bring these matters to one of Irish Water's scheduled clinics.
Minister Roderic O' Gorman's Department has declined to comment on the status of a potential Kildare site to house displaced Ukrainians.

The announcement follows after the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth told the Leinster Leader earlier today that it is 'working urgently across Government to bring new accommodation on board to ensure that the States humanitarian needs can be met.'

When asked by the Leader if the Kill Equestrian Centre is being considered as a potential location, a representative for the Dept said that it is in 'ongoing negotiations' with various providers across the country.

"The Department does not comment on matters that have not been concluded for reasons of commercial sensitivity," the representative added.

The centre has a colourful past as it hosted equestrian events during the 2003 Special Olympics.

However, large-scale flooding in 2011 had damaged the venue.

Back in 2018, Kildare County Council refused planning permission for the demolition of the facility.

The owners were looking to demolish existing buildings, including three equestrian arenas, an American barn, two ancillary sheds and an equestrian walker.

The application was made in the name of developers Newtownsland (Kill) Limited which was set up in February 2017 and was based in Lucan.
Disused army barracks and modular homes are among the measures being considered by government to help plug the accommodation crisis for refugees.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said that old army sites could be quickly converted to house Ukrainians as the State struggles with the rising number of people seeking refuge.

Ms Humphreys defended the Governments handling of the crisis, saying it is doing everything it can.

Some refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have been forced to sleep on the floor at Dublin Airport as State accommodation reaches capacity.

The Government is scrambling to find rooms and accommodation to help address the shortage of houses.

Ms Humphreys said that Ireland has welcomed refugees with its arms open.

We have supported a lot of Ukrainians coming into this country and when you put it into perspective, we have almost 55,000 Ukrainians here and that is the total population of County Monaghan, the Fine Gael minister added.

So we have done a lot. I want to acknowledge the work that people have done in terms of taking them into their houses, and indeed the work that Minister (Roderic) OGormans department has done in identifying accommodation for them and yes, we are under pressure at the minute but were working through a number.

We did have a Cabinet meeting on Monday and theres a number of proposals being brought forward, such as increasing the amount of support that we give to families who take Ukrainians into their homes.

Were looking at identifying other possible opportunities in terms of maybe old disused army barracks that could be quickly converted, were looking at modular homes, so were doing everything we can.

I think its important to say that this is something that it shouldnt be an us and them.

She said that Irish people have gone abroad to seek refuge, employment and a new life.

In this country we have held our arms open, we have brought people in here and we need to support them and we should never forget where theyre coming from, she added.

The horrific circumstances that they find themselves in, and they have lost loved ones. Many of them are women and children that are here, they dont know where their husbands are. Theyre fighting in the war effort and I think we need to be conscious of that.

There are pressures, certainly, we are doing everything we can as a government to try and alleviate those  those areas where there is pressure.

The Government also has plans to encourage more people to host families or individuals fleeing Ukraine.

Hundreds of people offered up rooms in their home at the outbreak of the war but many have not been used because of delays in garda vetting.

We will try and work our way through doing all that we can to ensure that we can get accommodation as quickly as possible for people who come here, Ms Humphreys added.

The minister repeated comments made by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar that the State cannot guarantee accommodation to those arriving in Ireland after senior government ministers met on Monday night to discuss the accommodation crisis.

Proposals included increasing the monthly payment for people taking in Ukrainian refugees to 800 euro.

Measures are set to be agreed at an incorporeal meeting later this week or at the Cabinet meeting next week.
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More than 600 sensors will be installed on ring buoys across the country in a bid to clamp down on the number of stolen life-saving equipment from Irelands waterways.

There are more than 6,000 ring buoys around the country, but hundreds go missing or are vandalised every year.

Around 15 ring buoys go missing or are stolen every week from Dublin City Council alone, costing over 20,000 euro to replace every year.

Dublin City Council, Water Safety Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development launched the Smart Ring Buoys project aimed at saving lives.

The deployment of this new low-cost sensor technology will provide real time alerts when life buoys are stolen or tampered with.

Nearly 650 sensors will be installed in eight local authorities including Fingal County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Laois County Council, Meath County Council, Sligo County Council and Limerick City and County.

These will alert water safety officers when ring buoys are tampered with or go missing, allowing them to be replaced within a short space of time.

Members of the community highlighted that ring buoys were frequently being stolen or tampered with, with a delay to replacement devices being installed.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said: Unfortunately, the issue of this life-saving equipment being tampered with remains prevalent in communities across the country and as minister with responsibility for water safety, I cannot emphasize enough how reckless and dangerous it is to tamper with ring buoys.

They are put in place along our rivers, lakes, canals and our beaches in order to protect lives and assist people who encounter trouble in the water.

To be quite honest, the figures are startling. In 2021 alone lifeguards rescued 473 people from drowning, administering first aid on over 6,000 occasions and reunited over 500 lost children found wandering unsupervised near water with their families.

At Dublin City Council for the launch of the Smart Ring Buoys Initiative. My Dept is investing 125,000 to roll out over 640 sensors across 8 local authorities. This will ensure staff are alerted if a device is stolen or vandalised. A stolen ringbuoy is a stolen life. pic.twitter.com/XFbKT3j9mS  Heather Humphreys (@HHumphreysFG) October 26, 2022

So drowning is a needless tragedy. But sadly, some 80 people drowned in 2021 and this figure could be even higher if it were not for the efforts of our lifeguards, or local authorities and our water safety campaigns.

She said that the new technology will save lives.

Roger Sweeney, acting chief executive of Water Safety Ireland, said that every year ring buoys are used by members of the public to rescue people from drowning.

Speaking at the Dublin City Council offices, he said: However, there have been instances where the ring buoys have been missing.

So these instances where theyre being used to save a life, its not just the life of the person whos in difficulty in the water, theyre designed so theyll keep the rescuer safe from drowning as well.

Theyre particularly effective and they have saved a lot of lives. Theyre proven to work and there are many people alive today, and Ive spoken to many of them, who would attest to the fact that they would not be alive today but for the ring buoy, but yet the ring buoys are regularly stolen.

Theyre vandalised. Ive even heard reports of the ring buoy rope being used as clothesline at the back of houses.

Sean Fox, water safety officer, said that the technology will cut back on the number of checks that are made on ring buoys around the country.

He said they have replaced around 80 ring buoys in the last 12 months, with many repeatedly stolen from the same areas.
Voters in Northern Ireland face the prospect of returning to the polls in December, a little over seven months after the last Assembly election.

Here are answers to some of the key questions about the political turmoil at Stormont.

 What caused the latest powersharing impasse?

Powersharing has been in flux since February when the DUP withdrew its first minister Paul Givan in an escalation of its campaign against Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol.

The regions largest unionist party vowed to disengage with the devolved institutions in Belfast until decisive action was taken to remove the protocols economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Givans resignation automatically ousted Sinn Feins deputy first minister Michelle ONeill, as powersharing rules mean one cannot hold office without the other being in post.

Other departmental ministers remained in position, but the wider executive was unable to meet and major policy decisions could not be taken.

 How did the picture change in Mays Assembly election?

The scheduled Assembly election on May 5 saw Sinn Fein displace the DUP as the largest party in Northern Ireland  the first time a nationalist party had come out on top.

The result meant Sinn Fein was entitled to the first ministers post, with the DUP in line for the deputy first ministers role.

However, the DUP maintained its block on the operation of a fully functioning executive and refused to nominate a deputy first minister.

That made the formation of a new ministerial executive impossible.

The DUP also blocked the election of a new Assembly speaker  a move that prevented the legislature at Parliament Buildings sitting.

 What has happened since May?

The DUP has maintained its stance  meaning an executive has not been formed and the Assembly and its associated scrutiny committees have been unable to meet to undertake normal business.

Prior to a recent law change, the failure to nominate first and deputy first ministers following an election would have left Northern Ireland without any ministers in post.

However, rule changes delivered by the 2020 New Decade, New Approach agreement enabled departmental ministers from the previous mandate to remain in post (as long as they were re-elected as MLAs).

That has essentially led to a continuation of the post-February status quo  with all ministers, apart from the first and deputy first ministers, continuing in their jobs.

Those ministers have been severely hamstrung in the decisions they can take, and any significant executive-wide policy moves, such as passing a budget, have not been possible.

 Why is there a deadline on Friday?

Prior to New Decade, New Approach, a failure to fill the roles of first and deputy first minister within seven days of the first post-election sitting of a new assembly saw the Government assume a legal duty to call another election within a reasonable timeframe.

While this was the legal position following the March 2017 snap election (triggered by the resignation of the late Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness), the Government never actually called another election  instead opting to bring forward legislation that pushed back the requirement to call a poll during what became a three-year powersharing vacuum.

New Decade, New Approach was the deal that restored powersharing in January 2020. It included provisions aimed at creating a greater degree of stability at Stormont in the event of another executive implosion.

It removed the seven-day cliff edge for forming a new administration and replaced it with a maximum timeframe of 24 weeks. The agreement also allowed departmental ministers to remain in post for those 24 weeks.

That deadline runs out on Friday. At that point the sitting ministers will be removed from office and the Government will assume responsibility to call an election within 12 weeks.

The DUP has made clear it does not intend to drop its boycott prior to Friday, citing a lack of progress in UK/EU efforts to resolve issues with the protocol, so unless the party has a sudden change of heart, it will not be possible to form an executive before the deadline.

While the Government could do what it did between 2017-20, and amend the legislation to push back the election deadline, it has not shown any appetite to do so.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has made clear he will call an election if Fridays deadline passes without an executive having been formed.

It is understood any poll would take place on December 15.
Thais do Carmo is not sure what to do with her right to vote. "I'm one of the undecideds!" the 31-year-old with jet-black hair said jokingly. On October 30, in the second round of the Brazilian presidential election, she will have to choose between two political ideologies at opposite ends of the spectrum: the left-wing Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the far-right Jair Bolsonaro. "I feel that I will decide at the last moment, once I arrive in front of the ballot box," she said.

Thais do Carmo, 31, at the headquarters of the G10 Favelas association, in the favela of Jardim Teresopolis in Betim, Brazil, on October 13, 2022. FRANCISCO PRONER/VU FOR "LE MONDE"

In the first round on October 2, this resident of Betim, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, voted for the Labor (PDT) candidate Ciro Gomes. But with her champion getting only 3% of the vote, Ms. do Carmo is now facing a choice described as "difficult." "I work in social entrepreneurship and I hate the welfare culture of the left. But, at the same time, I can't stand Bolsonaro's aggressiveness and vulgarity," she said, adding, "Really, I am hesitant."

She is like the rest of Betim, an industrial and working-class city dominated by small gray concrete houses, located about 30 kilometers west of Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. Symbolically split in two by the highway, the city of 450,000 residents is also one of the most polarized in Brazil. In the first round, Mr. da Silva and Mr. Bolsonaro finished neck and neck here, with 45.78% and 45.43% of the vote respectively, representing a difference of 807 votes.

A microcosm of Brazil

Victory in the election will be decided here, in this former gold mining region near Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The "General Mines" state, the second-largest constituency in the federation, is considered a pivotal part of the country. It is a miniature Brazil, where industrial centers, university towns, favelas, the agricultural trade and the impoverished countryside coexist. Since the return of democracy, no president has been elected without a majority here.

Urban landscape in the center of Betim, Brazil, on October 14, 2022. FRANCISCO PRONER/VU FOR "LE MONDE"

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For a long time, Betim was far from being undecided. In this bastion of the left, Lula obtained more than 75% of the votes during his victorious campaigns of 2002 and 2006. The "red city" is in fact the headquarters of one of the largest assembly lines of the car manufacturer Fiat: a city within a city, taking up 2.2 million square meters and employing 12,000 metal workers. Since its opening in 1976, the plant has produced more than 16 million cars, including the famous "147," which was once the most popular car in Brazil.

"The vilification of the left has had devastating effects. A majority of metalworkers vote for the far right," Alex Custodio, president of the Betim metalworkers' union

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During the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Ottawa on Friday, September 30, 2022. SEAN KILPATRICK / AP

A human rights tribunal on Tuesday, October 26, 2002, rejected a historic Canadian $40 billion (US $30 billion) agreement to reform Canada's discriminatory child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families who suffered because of it. The deal was announced late last year to settle a lawsuit that found the government had underfunded Indigenous children's services compared to those for non-Indigenous children. It was the largest proposed settlement in Canadian history.

Its rejection by the tribunal "is disappointing to many First Nations people," Indigenous services minister Patty Hajdu told reporters in Ottawa. She noted the compensation plan had been "designed by First Nations people for First Nations people in a culturally specific way."

Half of the monies were to go to Indigenous children who were ripped from their families and put into state care, while the remainder was earmarked for reforming the child and family services system.

Read more Subscribers only After Pope's apology, Canada demands action on Indigenous issues

Leaving some children out

Indigenous leaders said the ruling would delay those reforms and compensation for more than 300,000 children and their families. But Ms. Hajdu vowed to continue to work with them. "My commitment to those partners is that we'll be with them for the long haul to get to an agreement," she said.

The human rights tribunal, according to officials citing a summary of its decision, found that the agreement left some children out and did not meet the terms the tribunal had set to provide each child or caregiver Can $40,000 in compensation  the maximum penalty under Canada's human rights act.

The government had lost a challenge to the tribunal's order last year before seeking a negotiated settlement to end the 14-year legal saga. Despite making up less than eight percent of children under 14, Indigenous children account for more than half of those in Canada's foster care, according to a 2016 census.

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All of this comes on the heels of discoveries of hundreds of unmarked graves at former Indigenous residential schools set up by the government to effectively strip students of their culture and language.

Read more Subscribers only Accused of sexually assaulting young Inuits, Father Rivoire still haunts Northern Canada

Le Monde with AFP
French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz on May 9, 2022 in Berlin. JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP

Rarely has the tone been so heated between France and Germany. The sources of disagreement are numerous. A Franco-German Council of Ministers set on October 26 was canceled, preventing members of both governments to talk and exchange, which would have been particularly useful in these times of crisis.

How did we get to that point? The primary responsibility lies, of course, in the weakening of bilateral ties over the years, as a certain routine settled in. The cracks, however, have been aggravated by the unprecedented tensions in the world.

Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has violated the very principle of the charter: A war of aggression is currently taking place on European soil. Several emerging countries, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and India, are redefining their role, asserting their power in a less cooperative global game. The Covid-19 epidemic has plunged tens of millions into extreme poverty. At the same time, the planet is struck by climate change and assaults on nature on an unprecedented scale.

Faced with these profound changes, France and Germany, like all European countries, have vital mutual interests. Unfortunately, the political debates, superficial and largely self-centered, ignore these groundswells. The current disputes between the French and the Germans are part of a fairly typical crisis mechanism, in which each side holds on to its position and points the finger at its former privileged partner.

Review the master plan

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So, what should we do? Engage in a neglected practice, in-depth listening, and taking the necessary time to transcend the short-term perspective. In Franco-German cooperation, there is a precedent that could inspire us: After the disastrous Nice European summit of 2001, chancellor Gerhard Schroder and president Jacques Chirac invented the "Blaesheim process," small informal meetings held every six weeks or so, which made it possible to restore convergence.

Let's set aside mutual recriminations. Germany has not really responded to Emmanuel Macron's political offers since 2017, just as France had ignored those of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 1994 or of German foreign minister Joschka Fischer in 2000. The truth is that, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, we have certainly taken a large number of fundamental decisions in Europe (the creation of the Euro, the enlargement to the East which has sheltered countries from the Soviet zone of influence or even more recently the NextGenerationEU recovery plan). But we are yet to take a fresh look at the common master plan, or try and breathe some fresh air into the European Union.

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In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear disaster caused almost all but one Japanese nuclear power plants to shut down, decreasing the country's energy production by 30%. The aftermath of the accident constitutes a unique case study, in terms of its duration and magnitude, for analyzing the modalities and effects of energy-sufficiency measures in the context of severely-reduced energy production.

After the accident, Japan was forced to find alternative energy sources but also to reduce consumption ("Responding to electricity shortfalls: electricity-saving activities of households and firms in Japan after Fukushima," Osamu Kimura and Ken-Ichiro Nishio, Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy No. 5/1, 2016). The energy-saving measures implemented by the government resulted in a more than 15% reduction in electricity demand in the Tokyo and Osaka regions for nearly four years, thanks to the joint efforts of all stakeholders.

Read more Subscribers only Eleven years after Fukushima closure, Japan wants to build new nuclear reactors

In addition to analyzing the evolution of electricity consumption, economists Osamu Kimura and Ken-Ichiro Nishio conducted several detailed surveys of households and businesses. The outcome showed that the Japanese government called on large industrial companies to reduce consumption and issued guidelines to the population.

Understanding consumers' motivation

Government policy was guided by a dedicated committee constantly assessing the imbalance between electricity supply and demand. In total, large companies contributed the most to energy savings, with a drop in consumption of more than 25% in 2011 and then more than 15% through 2014. Measures such as implementing in-house corporate solutions to generate electricity and shifting business hours to off-peak periods played a major role, but they were not sustainable because of the operational issues they caused.

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The government even set up a "Cool Biz" campaign, encouraging employees to wear less formal clothes to work and reduce the use of air conditioning. It's a piece of advice that sounds common sense, but which was not insignificant, as, in Japan's very hot and humid summer, air conditioning was a more serious issue than heating. At the height of the crisis in 2011, household energy consumption for air conditioning decreased by more than 40%. Finally, stores lowered the lighting levels on their shelves and in their windows.

The study also provides a better understanding of the motivations of the various users. At first, in a context of crisis and price regulation, both companies and households had mostly civic reasons. In a second phase, when energy prices started to increase (up to 30% in 2014 compared to 2010), economic reasons became increasingly important.

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Ireland is searching the most for Halloween on Google this October worldwide which may be no surprise given Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween, so we wanted to share Google trends and data on what exactly Ireland has been searching for when it comes to Halloween 2022.

For starters, what are the kids up to these days? Watching Blippi it seems! Overall, the most searched costume for Halloween 2022 in Ireland is Blippi. If you don't know Blippi, he is known for his blue and orange outfit and educational videos for young children. Hes a phenomenon, who knew?

Other popular childrens costumes searches this year are heavily influenced by TV and film including Pennywise, Ghostbusters, Batgirl, Hocus Pocus, Jack Skellington, Belle, Sonic and Freddy Kruegerthe kids are not holding back!

TV and Film has had an influence on adult costumes too with the release of the Hocus Pocus sequel perhaps having something to do with Sarah Sanderson being the third most popular costume search and Winifred Sanderson not too far behind. Netflix continues to be a source of inspiration with searches for Cobra Kai costumes and of course, crowd favourite, Stranger Things making an appearance across top costume searches, couples costumes and DIY costumes.

The nation's love for baking is alive and well with breakout searches this month including Halloween Cake and Halloween Cupcakes, it looks like Halloween Parties are well and truly back and will be fueled by homemade delicacies! For those opting for a Halloween night of scary movies instead of parties, the trending Halloween movies in Ireland this month include Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey slasher film, Smile, Sleepy Hollow, and the classic Friday the 13th.

And, of course, its nice to see that we havent forgotten our heritage as searches for oiche shamhna poem have spiked over 250% over the past 7 days. Surely everyone knows that Halloween first started in Ireland, right?

Top Halloween Trends

halloween cake andhalloween cupcakes are breakout searches, October

is halloween a bank holiday is a breakout search, October

gingerbread house recipe is a breakout search past 7 days

oiche shamhna poem spiked +250%, past 7 days

coloured contact lenses dublin tripled and cat eye contacts doubled, past 7 days

Ireland is searching the most for Halloween this October, worldwide.

Trending costumes, October 2022, Ireland

Blippi Goddess Sarah Sanderson Huggy Wuggy Cobra Kai Winifred Sanderson Scoops Ahoy Police officer Shaggy Rainbow friends

Trending couple costumes, October 2022, Ireland

Princess Peach and Daisy Angel and Devil Pineapple and Palm tree Danny and Sandy Squints and Wendy Peffercorn Rick and Morty Robin and Steve (Stranger Things) Peter Pan and Tinkerbell Step Brothers Captain Hook and Tinkerbell

Trending kids costumes, October 2022, Ireland

Robot Pennywise Ghostbusters Batgirl Dog Hocus Pocus Jack Skellington Belle Sonic Freddy Krueger

Trending diy costumes, October 2022, Ireland

Dog Astronaut Wonder Woman Gru Tom and Jerry Ginny Weasley Ghost Vampire Little Red Riding Hood Eleven (Stranger Things)

Most searched makeup-looks, October 2022, Ireland

Demon La dia de los muertos Harley Quinn Ghost Zombie Creepy Doll Red Riding Hood Emo Morticia Addams Minnie Mouse

Trending Horror/Halloween movies, October 2022, Ireland
LIMERICK'S All-Ireland SHC winning captain Declan Hannon was back in Croke Park to help launch a new breast health awareness initiative.

The GAA/GPA, UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre and Breast Cancer Ireland have partnered together to promote Breast Health Awareness in GAA clubs across the country, through seminars nationwide to club members in their own community.

GAA clubs are asked to register for an Education and Outreach Coordinator to visit their clubs to educate their community on checking for lumps, symptoms and signs.

Research from earlier this year by Breast Cancer Ireland indicated worryingly low levels across all age groups of self checking behaviours and knowledge of the eight signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

The research shows that 75% of women still do not know how to properly check their breasts, 33% say they dont know all of the signs and symptoms they are looking for and 46% of women say they simply dont make time to check their breasts regularly.

With these findings in mind, the aim of this new initiative is to encourage and educate women and men of all ages about good breast health so that cancer can be detected early and patient outcomes improved.

The educational presentations will be delivered to GAA clubs using a medical mannequin to educate participants on how to perform a self breast examination.

The development and support of this important breast health and awareness programme is a natural fit for UPMC as a trusted health care provider and innovator. UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre is one of the largest integrated networks of cancer experts in the world. In Ireland, we are a cancer care partner to the HSE, various hospital groups, the oncology service for the South East and organisations that support patients throughout their cancer journey," outlined Mary Hickey, Director of Oncology, UPMC in Ireland.

"As official healthcare partner to the GAA/GPA, this programme is a natural fit and will help hundreds of thousands of people in our sporting communities to live healthier lives," said Hickey.

Olivia Carpenter, Outreach Co-Ordinator at Breast Cancer Ireland said they were delighted to expand the initiative to GAA clubs.

"We can further change the landscape of this disease for the better into the future. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the treatment outcome. Outreach across the GAA communities means that we will continue to drive important awareness of this disease in local communities, and in turn save lives," said Carpenter.

To learn more about the Education and Outreach Coordinator or to register for a complimentary visit, GAA clubs are encouraged to visit the Education and Awareness section on www.breastcancerireland.com
A NEW SERVICE designed to reduce unnecessary ED attendances for older people has been rolled out in Limerick.

Pathfinder is designed to safely keep older people who phone 112/999 in their own home rather than taking them to a hospital emergency department.

Pathfinder improves outcomes for older people by providing safe alternative care at home rather than in hospital and will be provided by National Ambulance Service staff working with colleagues from HSE acute hospitals.

The Pathfinder Rapid Response Team respond to 999/112 calls for older people (65 years and older) in their homes.

The older person is assessed by both an Advanced Paramedic and Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist.

Where safe, the team supports the older person at home rather than transporting them to emergency department, by linking with a wide range of alternative hospital and community services.

Pathfinder also operates a Follow-Up Team (Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy) which provides immediate home-based rehabilitation, equipment provision and case-management in the subsequent days following a 999/112 call.

Robert Morton, Director of the HSE National Ambulance Service said the expansion of the NAS Pathfinder Model is part of a plan to offer different groups of patients an alternative pathway other than presenting to a busy emergency department.

"NAS is delighted to be working with University Hospital Limerick, Tallaght University Hospital and the University Hospital Waterford who have agreed to support the expansion of the Pathfinder model to other parts of the country.

"NAS Pathfinder is improving outcomes for older people by minimising unnecessary ED attendances and offering safe alternative care pathways for older people in their own homes rather than in hospital."

Welcoming the introduction of the service to Limerick, Prof Colette Cowan, CEO of UL Hospitals Group said University Hospital Limerick was pleased to be able to offer this service to suitable older people in its catchment area.

"We know that the Pathfinder Model demonstrates that Pre-Hospital Services can help to safely keep older people, who have phoned 112/999, in their own home rather than transporting them to a hospital ED for assessment.

"Many older patients can be safely and appropriately managed in their own home rather than being transported to the ED when they dial 112/999 with low acuity complaints."
A NUMBER of food businesses in Limerick city centre are set to offer significant discounts to customers, this Wednesday evening, as part of new initiative.

In collaboration with Limerick City and County Councils Bloomberg Project, the five premises will remain open until 7pm with 30% discounts being offered from 5pm.

The participating businesses are Coqbull, 50 Thomas Street; Habit Coffee+Retail, 48 Thomas Street; The Spitjack, 6/7 Bedford Row; Sambros, 52 Thomas Street and Gloria Jeans Coffees, 58/59 Thomas Street.

New street furniture has been installed at Thomas Street ahead of the event which is the first of its kind in Limerick city and which is being run to encourage those who would not normally sample the night-time economy, to visit the city centre and sample what it has to offer.

Staff from the local authority will be present in the area throughout the day and they will asking those who wish to engage for their opinions on Limerick citys evening/night time economy.

The Bloomberg-sponsored program provides Limerick City and County Council staff with consulting, training, and networking skills to address key issues facing its residents.

"There has been growing on street vibrancy in the city in the last few years and opportunities like this event allow the people of Limerick to build on this," said Mayor of the city and county, Cllr Francis Foley.

"Engagement with people, face to face, is a key part of life and we look forward to seeing what the feedback is from those who decide to partake. I would also like to thank those organisations who have offered discounts it is a great offering to have," he added.
A FIERCE battle took place at Thomond Park between two Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) societies all to raise much needed funds for charity.

Chartered Accountants Mid-West Society and Chartered Accountants Cork Society both took part in a charity abseil in aid of their two chosen charities.

The two societies were competing to raise the most amount of money for their charities.

The Mid-West society chose Blood Bike Mid-West as their charity whilst the Cork society competed to raise funds for Marymount University Hospital & Hospice.

The abseil took place from the very top of Thomond Park.

Mid West Society Regional Development and Events Executive Cathy McDermott commented: "Every single person that did it was terrified before doing the abseil but once they got to the bottom they wanted to go back up to the top and do it all over again."

"It was an incredible cause for two charities," Cathy added.

The Cork society raised 12,500 whilst the Mid-West society have raised over 4,000 for their respective charities with donations still flooding in.

"The Mid-West society are hoping to do another Christmas event for Blood Bike as well so we should be able to match the Cork donation," Cathy said.

"Everybody has been really generous which is great to see," Cathy added.
LIMERICK motorists are being advised of an upcoming traffic management operation on a busy city route.

Limerick City and County Council wish to advise motorists and road users that art painting works will take place on the Railway Bridge on the R509 Childers Road between the Kilmallock Road roundabout and the Roxboro Road roundabout.

These works will begin on Thursday, October 27, 2022 until Sunday November 6, 2022.

Cllr Sarah Kiely (FG) said that the project both attracts investment and paints Limerick city in a positive light.

"Absolutely delighted to see this project happening next week, how we present our city is very important," she said.

The city-east elected representative described art as "a vital part of who we are", informing constituents that the public consultation which took place gave "lots of feedback and ideas for the project."

"It is part of an overall plan for Childers Road which will transform the area, something I've been working on since my election. Can't wait to see it completed and start on the next piece of the jigsaw," Cllr Kiely concluded.
MUMBAI : The September quarter could be the final quarter of extraordinary profits for banks in the near term, as the ongoing repricing of deposits promises a coming squeeze in net interest margins.

Most banks reported better profit numbers and stronger margins in the September quarter, aided by the combination of front-loaded loan rate hikes and delayed deposit rate increases.

Analysts expect the repricing to happen gradually over the next year as existing deposits get renewed over time, and fresh deposits come at a higher cost.

Until now, banks have been reluctant to raise deposit rates, but the change from liquidity abundance to near-deficit has worked in favour of savers.

Banks are faced with the challenge of bringing savers back into the fold, some of whom had migrated to other investment options.

As Kotak Mahindra Bank told analysts on 22 October, some savings deposit customers have left for other instruments.

And as interest rates have tightened, we have seen some bleed, particularly in the savings account book, mainly on account of our high net-worth and affluent customer base, many of whom have moved their money out of the savings deposit rate to liquid and fixed income instruments, which are offering short-term higher rates," said Uday Kotak, managing director and chief executive, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Kotak said that future spreads and pricing would depend on the percentage of low-cost current and savings account deposits, the cost at which other deposits grow against loans, and the terminal rate for the benchmark repo.

In recent week, banks have tried to claw back lost deposits through higher interest rates for a limited period and through regular rate hikes on new deposits. For instance, State Bank of India (SBI) recently raised deposit rates by up to 80 basis points (bps).

Indias largest bank has offered the 80 bps hike to new depositors willing to park their funds for 211 days to less than a year.

On Wednesday, HDFC Bank raised interest rates on fixed deposits, its second such hike this month.

Others such as Canara Bank, Yes Bank and IDBI Bank have also introduced special festive season offers on deposits, pointing to the increased competition for funds.

My sense is that deposit rates will go up sharply in the next six months, and that would have a greater impact on banks than the credit cost owing to slippages," said Prakash Agarwal, director and head of financial institutions, India Ratings and Research.

According to Agarwal, there could be compression in net interest margins over the next 12 months as the deposit base gets repriced.

Without giving any specific guidance, other bankers also said there are various factors at play that will determine margins in the coming quarters.

Amitabh Chaudhry, chief executive of Axis Bank, said some deposits will get repriced, and since the overall interest rates may continue to rise, there is a potential in the future that the banks cost of deposits will rise faster than what it has seen.

On the flip side, the impact of the increase in some of the marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) will continue to come through. We will also hopefully see high yields in some of our asset classes. And that will also take time to kind of feed into our system," he told analysts on 20 October.

Bankers said that while margins are expected to shrink, it wouldnt be that significant.

While lending rates have gone up by 190 bps, cost of funds have not increased to the same extent. Only on term deposits rates have they gone up. So, average cost of funds will not go up by 190 bps," said a public sector banker on condition of anonymity.

The gap between credit growthstill largely retail-fuelledand deposit growth is at one of the highest ever.

For the fortnight ended 7 October, non-food credit rose 18.4% from a year earlier against a deposit growth of around 9.6%, with the latter gradually declining since the beginning of the year.

Gopika Gopakumar contributed to the story.
Soon after taking charge as UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak spoke to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday evening and said that the United Kingdom will always stand with the war-hit nation.

He expressed UK's solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people.

A privilege to speak to the President of Ukraine@ZelenskyyUa this evening. Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support. We will always stand with Ukraine," Sunak tweeted.

A privilege to speak to the President of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa this evening.



Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UK's continued solidarity and support.



We will always stand with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ycVr3K0DVS  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 25, 2022

"I believe that the partnership between our states, as well as Britain's... leadership in defending democracy and freedom, will continue to strengthen further," Zelensky said after the phone call, in his daily address to the nation.

In an excellent conversation with @RishiSunak we agreed to write a new chapter in - relations but the story is the same - full support in the face of Russian aggression. I appreciate PMs first call to Ukraine. And always grateful for the support of the  people.    (@ZelenskyyUa) October 25, 2022

Rishi Sunak has formally taken charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister after an audience with King Charles III on Tuesday. The 42-year-old former Chancellor of Exchequer, a devout Hindu, is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister.

Sunak also held a conversation with US President Joe Biden over a phone call and both the nations reaffirmed their special relationship. They agreed on various important issues during the conversation, said the White House as quoted by Reuters.

In an official statement, the White House informed that Biden and Sunak agreed on the importance of supporting Ukraine, the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by China, secure sustainable energy resources, and their commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
US President Joe Biden and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a phone call, on Tuesday reaffirmed a special relationship between the two countries. They agreed on various important issues during the conversation, said the White House as quoted by Reuters.

In an official statement, the White House informed that Biden and Sunak agreed on the importance of supporting Ukraine, the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by China, secure sustainable energy resources, and their commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Rishi Sunak has formally taken charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister after an audience with King Charles III on Tuesday. The 42-year-old former Chancellor of Exchequer, a devout Hindu, is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister.

Soon after becoming the UK Prime Minister, Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and reiterated British support for war-hit Ukraine, as per Bloomberg reports.

Taking to Twitter, Sunak said that he had spoken with Zelenskiy and both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UKs continued solidarity and support."

In his own Twitter post, Zelenskiy described the encounter as an excellent conversation" and that the two leaders had agreed to write a new chapter" in relations between their countries. He added that the story is the same -- full support in the face of Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has warned Russia against using a nuclear or radioactive weapon in Ukraine and said hes been in discussions Tuesday about the possibility.

I spent a lot of time today talking about that. Let me just say, Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake were it to use a tactical nuclear weapon," Biden told reporters after receiving a Covid-19 booster shot, his fifth dose of the vaccine.

(With inputs from agencies)
According to the police report, candidate Charles Van Morgan was at the election commission screaming about politics, cursing, getting in peoples faces and harassing voters on Monday. Morgan told us on Tuesday that is not true - he said he was campaigning.
Joey Scott said his son caught the bus to Cleveland Middle School for the first four or five days of the semester. After that, the bus stopped showing up, leaving Scott to find or provide transportation.
WHAT THE TECH? A first look at Gatlinburg's immersive walk along trail
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Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs for Sint Maarten, Silveria E. Jacobs received Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra, today, Tuesday, October 25, during a bilateral meeting hosted in the government administration building. The meeting is part of the Ministers scheduled visit from October 24 to 26, to discuss current geopolitical developments in Europe and the Western Hemisphere with the Prime Ministers and Governors of the Countries.





When we speak of developing Sint Maarten, we see that clear communication between our local, regional, and international partners places us in a space to have dialogue that would otherwise be unavailable to us. With the current state of affairs around the world, it is important to strengthen our strategic partnerships, especially with our Kingdom partners to address global crises which directly impact us as Small Island Developing States, said Prime Minister Jacobs.





The Prime Minister and Minister Hoekstra discussed various matters related to Foreign Affairs, such as the ongoing cooperation with the French side of the island. It was noted that progress is being made on various fronts such as education, health, law enforcement and justice cooperation. Minister Hoekstra indicated that he would be pleased to host a Quadripartite Meeting between Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, France, and The Netherlands to finalize new agreements between the parties regarding improved cooperation on these topics. It is proposed for the beginning of 2023 if the parties capitalize on these matters over the months to come.





Prime Minister Jacobs and Minister Hoekstra are pleased with the progress related to the border negotiations and agree that it is of great importance for the island that the discussion on the exact location of the border is settled. Minister Hoekstra arrived in the afternoon of 24 October and has also met His Excellency Governor of Sint Maarten Ajamu Baly and Prefet of Saint Martin Vincent Berton.





The Prime Minister and Minister Hoekstra will travel on to Curacao today, for a meeting with the Prime Ministers of Curacao and Aruba, connected to the Kingdom Consultation on Foreign Relations or Koninkrijks Overleg Buitenlandse Betrekkingen (KOBB). During the KOBB several topics of





regional importance will be discussed, such as (geo)political developments in the region, issues related to safety and security, the position of Small Island Developing States, access to funding, membership of regional organizations and consular matters.





CU: Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra (right) with Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs for Sint Maarten, Silveria E. Jacobs (left).
Clonfin, a documentary film about the North Longford Flying Column and the Clonfin ambush of 1921, will be released online on Wednesday, October 26.

The film will be made available on the Longford County Library, Heritage and Archives Services YouTube channel.

Its online release follows the premiere of the film in Granard Community Library earlier this year.

The documentary was produced by local company Harp Media, founded and owned by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, rising stars within the film industry.

It was commissioned by Longford County Library, Heritage and Archives Services, part of Longford County Council. It is a Decade of Centuries project.

The historical subject matter is told through a combination of interviews with historians and relatives of those, archival footage and dramatic reconstructions.

Clonfin Ambush: North Longford Flying Columns finest hour as the elite British forces surrender to Sean Mac Eoin The War of Independence in County Longford: 100th Anniversary of Clonfin Ambush Sean O Suilleabhain, renowned local author and historian, has been researching Longfords part in the War of Independence for the past four years, for a book which he hopes to publish later this year. 2020 & 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of some key events in the War of Independence. Indeed, 1920 and 1921 were momentous years in Longfords history and the deeds of Sean Mac Eoin and his Flying Column were legendary. We are delighted that Sean O Suilleabhain is sharing some of his research with Longford Leader readers as he looks back on that era, and this week he looks at the Clonfin Ambush of February 2, 1921, when the elite British forces surrendered to Sean Mac Eoin. The author would welcome any feedback or comments at sosuilleabhain9@gmail.com

Professor Marie Coleman of Queens University Belfast, an expert on County Longford in the revolutionary period, was the historical advisor on the project. Dr Mel Farrell (Royal Irish Academy) and Professor Diarmaid Ferriter (UCD) were also contributors to the project.

For further information, check out Longfordlibrary.ie or follow Longford Heritage and Archives on social media.
Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness

By Chris Boyle Published: October 26 2022

We are thrilled to support this expansion of services that will ease some of the burdens felt by patients in our community, said Head of Healthcare at TD Bank Emmet Conlon.

A $200,000 philanthropic donation from TD Bank will help St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center further expand its services into Queens, and help patients of the Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) communities with their medical needs.

In 2011, St. Francis opened the Cardiac Intervention Group (CIG) Clinic in Fresh Meadows, Queens. This clinic provides unrivaled quality in interventional cardiac procedures and coronary imaging, with one of the highest volumes of cardiac catheterization in the nation. Additionally, this clinic works to address the need for better access to healthcare in the predominantly Korean and Chinese communities of eastern Queens.

Through the generosity of TD Bank and their donation, we can address the non-medical challenges that have been identified through the community outreach efforts of Kathleen Kim, Director of Queens Outreach, said CIG Clinic Interventional Cardiologist Chong Park, MD. Her deep ties to community-based organizations have pinpointed the needs and gaps in patient experience for many Korean and Chinese immigrants that prevent them from receiving the care that they deserve.

This donation will help provide free bus transportation for patients to and from appointments and treatments at the CIG Clinic and St. Francis Hospital, as well as a healthcare navigator that speaks Mandarin or Korean to aid in scheduling appointments, signing up for Medicaid, and making sure patients receive their prescription from their local pharmacy. It will also include translation services so patients can receive their medical care instructions in their first language and charity care for medical services for patients without health insurance.

We are thrilled to support this expansion of services that will ease some of the burdens felt by patients in our community, said Head of Healthcare at TD Bank Emmet Conlon. This fully aligns with the TD Ready Commitment  this is our global initiative to help level the playing field for those who need it most. We fully stand behind the effort to break down barriers to help make healthcare accessible for all.

We are grateful to TD Bank for their gift that will be used to support so many patients in the Queens area, said St. Francis Hospital President Charles L. Lucore, MD, MBA. This will allow us to extend St. Francis high quality of care to the AAPI community right in their own backyards.

About Catholic Health
Food, Wine, & Dining

By Ls Cohen Published: October 26 2022

First on Long Island for expanding ramen restaurant chain.

With one location in New Jersey and another heading to Floral Park soon (others are planned for Pennsylvania), Kinya Ramen & Bar recently opened in the Broadway Mall in Hicksville, the first on Long Island.

The ramen menu includes specialities like their Kinya Ramen, pork broth with black garlic oil flavor, topped with fish cake, chopped scallions, ginger, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, a seasoned boiled egg and 24k gold ($18) or the Tan Tan Ramen, mild spicy miso and chicken broth soup with sesame paste, topped with minced pork, bean sprouts, chopped scallions and a seasoned boiled egg ($16).

On Yelp, Jenny C, from Jericho, said she found Kinya Ramen on Yelp and couldn't have been more excited.

We ordered takeout here last night and I was pretty impressed, she wrote. I had the combo with the Kinya ramen and takoyaki balls. My husband ordered the spicy ramen with soy garlic wings. Each combo costs $22. Everything was packaged very well Overall I'm very happy to have Kinya Ramen in the neighborhood. Love that they are open late into the night. I wish them well so I can come by whenever I crave ramen and don't want to travel far.

David L, from Westbury, gave it five stars.

Tried this new place at Broadway Mall, the folks were nice and the restaurant was clean and hip, he said. The tonkotsu was our favorite. Our waitress, Vanessa did great!

Location: 363 Broadway Mall, Hicksville, (516) 719-0388.
(Alliance News) - Atlantic Lithium Ltd has been making progress on its flagship Ewoyaa project in recent months as it seeks to profit from soaring demand for lithium, fuelled by the transition to electric vehicles.

Over the 12 months year, lithium prices have risen significantly as the resource is an essential component of the batteries used in electric cars. Companies around the world have been searching for sources of the new 'white gold' in order to supply the ever-growing demand.

Atlantic Lithium thinks it is well-placed to do so. The Australian mining company recently completed a pre-feasibility study at the Ewoyaa site in Ghana which suggested the project could generate over USD4.84 billion in revenue over a 12 and a half year mine life. Its net present value at a discount rate of 8% was valued at USD1.33 billion.

And those figures, Executive Chair Neil Herbert said in an interview with Alliance News, were based off "quite conservative prices".

In the study, the longer term SC6 price - a pyroxene mineral which is a source of lithium - was assumed to be USD1,359 per tonne. Herbert said the price at the moment, driven by rocketing demand for lithium for electric vehicle batteries, is near USD7,500 per tonne.

Regarding the costs of the project, Herbert said that its capital expenditure is USD125 million while operational expenditure at USD286 a tonne was "industry leading". The combined costs from operational expenditure and capital expenditure was "just about as good as it gets".

He noted that Core Lithium Ltd, which is coming to production now with a similar project in Australia, has a market capitalisation "five or six times" the size of Atlantic Lithium. Herbert said Atlantic Lithium's operational expenditure figures were lower than Core Lithium, which was the best comparative company.

Last Thursday, the company delivered results from the resource and exploration drilling programme, returning "multiple high-grade pegmatite intervals over 1.5% Li2O and over 80 metres long". Results from drilling will continue to filter through over the next year. Herbert said it was "almost dull how consistent it is".

The numbers, Herbert summarised, "are quite insane".

Earlier in the month, the company submitted its mining application to the Ghanian government. While Herbert said that the regulatory steps "are never a formality", the project itself was so straightforward that it was essentially "one-up from quarrying".

The relevant minister was "very keen to receive our mining licence application", Herbert said, while Ghana as an economy is "very keen to diversify from gold" and to participate in the EV sector.

Herbert, who has 16 years experience in growing mining and oil and gas companies, says the project is the "simplest" he has worked on.

Atlantic Lithium has also been trying to burnish its social credentials, claiming on its website that it is "committed to acting responsibly with all stakeholders and delivering long-term benefits within the communities it operates."

Herbert reiterated these aims, saying that the workforce consists "almost entirely (of) Ghanians". He said that the company had engaged with "local communities through local forums" and "very concerned not to impact any of their traditional areas", in particular their hunting areas.

The company expects to receive the mining licence around a year from now and will be able to break ground at the end of next year.

Shares in Atlantic Lithium were trading 10% higher at 34.60 pence in London on Wednesday afternoon. The stock is up 95% over the past twelve months.

By Chris Dorrell; chrisdorrell@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were mixed come midday on Wednesday as investors reacted poorly to results from US technology giants Alphabet and Microsoft overnight, with losses in Barclays and Standard Chartered in focus on home turf.

At 1202 BST, the FTSE 100 was off by 0.40% to 6,985.32, while the second-tier index was adding 0.68% to 17,952.23.

In remarks to BBC Radio, Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said the Prime Minister may need a bit more time, beyond the following Monday, to present the government's medium-term economic blueprint given recent changes at Downing Street.

"I don't know whether we're going to be able to stick with that, but we do know that people want to have certainty," he said.

The Treasury had made no comments thus far as regards a possible delay or not.

That was however no obstacle for the pound to blast its way 1.1579 for a 0.93% gain on the day, having earlier hit 1.1620. In parallel, Gilt yields were up a tad.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: "European markets are trading around the flatline as investors digest a raft of corporate earnings from the UK, continental Europe, and the US.

"In the United States, earnings across sectors appeared to confirm fears of a growth slowdown facing corporate America highlighting worries about a recession and further weakness for equity markets ahead. A disappointing update from Google's parent company Alphabet highlighted the pressures facing the digital ad sector as the US economy begins to show signs of weakness, and also pointed to the stiff competition for eyeballs particularly among fickle social media users who are currently fixated on their latest obsession, TikTok."

In equity markets, banks were in focus after results from Barclays and Standard Chartered.

Barclays was trading down even as it reported a better-than-expected rise in third-quarter profits despite a sharp jump in bad loan charges as consumers started to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

StanChart was also lower despite posting an estimate-beating 40% increase in third-quarter profit and lifting its annual outlook.

WPP was under the cosh even as the advertising giant lifted its revenue forecast for the full year and reported a 10% increase in third-quarter revenue.

Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser fell even as it narrowed its sales target and posted a jump in third-quarter revenues despite "challenging" market conditions.

Transport operator FirstGroup was in the red after saying it expects to receive $85m from EQT's sale of First Transit.

Software, security and cloud services specialist Bytes Technology slumped despite reporting a rise in first-half profit and revenues amid growth across all areas of the business.

On the upside, AstraZeneca rallied as it said its capivasertib breast cancer drug combined with Faslodex hormone treatment demonstrated a "statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement" in progression-free patient (PFS) survival during a late-stage trial.

Hochschild climbed as the silver and gold miner announced a major discovery at its Pallancata deposit in Southern Peru and said it was on course to meet full-year production after its third quarter turned out to be the strongest quarter so far this year.

Specialty chemicals company Elementis rose after it backed its full-year outlook and said trading in the third quarter had been in line.

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(Alliance News) - US President Joe Biden and the UK's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed in talks Tuesday to work together to support Ukraine and stand up to China, the White House said.

They spoke for the first time hours after Sunak became Britain's third prime minister this year, inheriting an economic crisis after the resignation of Liz Truss after a mere 49-day tenure.

The two leaders also reaffirmed the "special relationship" that exists between the US and Britain, and said they would work together to advance global security and prosperity, the White House said in a read-out of the conversation.

"The leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its aggression," the statement said of the war triggered by the Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour in February.

The White House said Biden and Sunak also agreed to "address the challenges posed by China," which Washington has identified as its top geopolitical and economic rival on the world stage today.

Downing Street had earlier released its own read-out of the call in which it said the pair "discussed the extent of UK-US cooperation, both bilaterally and in regions such as the Indo-Pacific," as well as the more contentious issue of Northern Ireland.

Earlier on Tuesday Biden had congratulated Sunak in a tweet.

On Monday Biden described the naming of Britain's first non-white prime minister as "pretty astounding, a groundbreaking milestone."

the UK has been a key European ally of the US in arming and supporting the Ukrainian military as it tries to repel the Russian invasion, which began last February.

source: AFP

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Masterchef Portugal is recording, in Madeira, for an episode of the sixth and new season, which should debut soon on RTP 1.

During this morning, Largo da Restauracao, in Funchal, was the stage for the filming, which aroused the curiosity of many people who passed by and had the opportunity to see in action the performances of the programs competitors.

Who was also present in this initiative was the mayor of Funchal, Pedro Calado, who highlighted the importance of the Madeiran capital receiving this footage. It helps to enhance what our products and our gastronomy are, he said.

There is still no scheduled premiere date for the sixth edition of Masterchef Portugal, but the program, which debuted on Portuguese television in 2011, should soon arrive on RTP1. The new judges for the program are the chefs: Pedro Pena Bastos, from CURA, a restaurant at the Ritz Hotel Four Seasons Lisboa, which holds a Michelin star; Noelia Jeronimo, from Noelia e Jeronimo, in Tavira; and Ricardo Costa, chef at the Yeatman in Porto, awarded two Michelin stars.

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The U.S. Army has developed and is testing a new SEP (System Enhancement Package) update called SEP4 (or SEPV4) for its M-1 tanks. The last upgrade (Sep3) entered service in 2020 after years of testing. The new upgrade contains lots of incremental improvements of features the SEP3 tanks already have. This includes upgrades to the gunners sight and a meteorological sensor that collects data on weather conditions to improve accuracy of the main gun. The U.S. Army has led the world in tank gun accuracy for decades and the SEP4 features offer small improvements. Since the 1980s there have only been these incremental improvements for use against opponents who largely use T-72 upgrades that have not closed the wide effectiveness gap with the M1 and a few other similar tanks (Leopard 2, Chieftain, LeClerc and Merkava), A major advantage of the M1 is that it has more combat experience than any other tank, especially its primary opponent: improved T-72/90 models. The most recent combat experience for these tanks has been in Ukraine, when the most modern Russian tank failed in a spectacular fashion against modern Western portable anti-tank weapons. These infantry weapons have a long history of success and to capitalize on that Poland has obtained lots of them and even built its own versions.

Noting the similar success of the M1, a year ago Poland ordered 250 M1A2SEP3 tanks for $6 million each. These will be new tanks, not upgrades of older models. The M1A2SEP3 is also known as the M1A2C and is currently the most advanced version of the M1. The Poles consider this tank the best option to deal with any new Russian tank developments. The 66-ton M1A2C also includes the Israeli Trophy ADS (active defense system) which has proved itself in combat and is capable of defeating ATGMs (Anti-tank guided missiles) and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). Deliveries will begin in late 2022 and be completed in about four years.

The 250 Polish M1A2s will complement the 240 used German Leopard 2A4s Poland obtained at bargain prices since 2002, along with a license to upgrade them to the 2A6 standard as the 62-ton Leopard 2PL. Poland is also upgrading over a hundred of its 380 older Russian T-72 tanks, most of them built in Poland during the Cold War and 225 PT-91s, a much-improved T-72 variant designed and built locally since 1995. Poland plans to retire its remaining T-72s as the M1A2s arrive.

Currently the most advanced Russian tank in service is the T-72B3, which is considered as good as the T-90, a 48-ton T-72 upgrade introduced in 1993 as the T-72BU but had a marketing name change to T-90. Over 3,200 were built and most were exported to India where they were produced under license. The 45-ton T-72B3 is cheaper and considered by Russian commanders and crews as equal to the more expensive T-90. Russia uses about 2,000 T-72B3s, put most of its 590 T-90s in storage and uses the T-72B3 for its active-duty units. Russia lost most of those T-72B3s in Ukraine since February along with many of the T-90s brought out of storage. Poland sees its M1 order as a prudent and successful investment.

Russia has a new tank design, theT-14, that improves on the T-72 but has not been in combat and is too expensive to purchase in large quantities. The 48-ton T-14 is a radical new design that appears quite impressive but has so far proved too complex and too expensive to mass produce. Mass production was supposed to have started in 2015 but technical problems and shrinking defense budgets halted that until 2020 when covid19 restrictions again delayed production until 2022. The war in Ukraine means further delays. Russia has fewer than a hundred development and pre-production T-14s which have been undergoing field tests with tank units since 2016. The T-14 has a three-man crew and a fully automated turret with the three crew all in an armored capsule under the turret.

The T-14 relies on a lot of new tech, some more advanced than any other Western tank has installed. Getting all that tech to work reliably has been a major problem. Getting all these problems fixed has made the T-14 more expensive, at about $4 million each. Thats twice what the reliable T-72B3 costs and Russian combat commanders and crews will have to be convinced that the T-14 works and is not just as reliable as the T-72B3, but also better at surviving in combat. Mass production to build less than two hundred more T-14s was supposed to begin in 2022. At the moment it looks like the Polish M1A2Cs will be the first American tanks to meet the T-14 in combat if Russia ever tries to make a move on Poland and has any new tanks to do it with.

The M1A2C tank is considered the best combat proven tank in the world. But there are many different models of M1s, which vary considerably in their combat capability. The earliest model is only about half as capable as the 2013 M1A2SEP2 model. The M1 is an old design with the first of 3,273 M1 tanks produced in 1978. This version had a 105mm gun. The first of 4,796 M1A1s (with a 120mm gun and depleted uranium armor) was produced in 1985. Another 221 were built for the U.S. Marines, 555 co-produced with Egypt and another 200 M1A1s sent to Egypt. Production of the M1A2 (with improved fire control systems) began in 1986, with 77 for the US Army, 315 for Saudi Arabia, and 218 for Kuwait. Another 600 M1s were upgraded to M1A2 standards. Deliveries of these upgrades began in 1998. In 2001 the army began to upgrade 240 M1A2 tanks as part of an ongoing SEP program with better thermal imaging and fire control equipment as well as communications and computer equipment that would allow tanks to operate a full color "battlefield internet" with each other, as well as headquarters and warplanes with similar equipment. By 2013 the army had upgraded 700 tanks to the M1A2SEP2 standard and built another 240 new M1A2SEP2 vehicles. The goal is to get at least 2,000 upgraded to M1A2SEP2 or higher in the 2020s.

So far over 10,000 American M1 tanks have been produced and most of them subsequently updated at least once, mainly in the 1990s. The army is planning to maintain and upgrade its M1 tank fleet (some 7,000 of them) into the 2030s. The M1 has already been in service since the 1980s and may become the first MBT (main battle tank) design to stay in service for half a century. Technically, some World War II tanks achieved that dubious goal but not in the service of a major power.

The SEP3 entered service in 2020 after being introduced for testing in 2017. SEP3 includes more improvements in the previous TUSK armor and RWS (remote weapons station) machine-gun upgrades as well improved electricity generation and distribution for all the electronic gadgets that need recharging (or whatever) as well as upgraded communications and networking and installation of VHMS (Vehicle Health Management System) and the use of LRMs (Line Replaceable Modules) to make it easier to upgrade or repair problems. The new communications features include ADL (Ammunition DataLink) to use airburst rounds. There is also an improved counter-IED (improvised explosive device) armor package, an upgraded FLIR (night vision heat sensor) and an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) under armor to run electronics while stationary instead of the engine. The final addition was the Trophy ADS.

The SEP2/3 upgrades also expanded on MVP (Multifunction Vehicle Protection) features which includes external cameras that let the crew see what is going on outside at all times. (day or night or in bad weather).

The SEP program is continuous, upgrading existing M1A2 tanks to the new SEP3 standard as well as upgrading more M1A2SEPs to the SEP2 level. These upgrades keep the M1, or at least some of them, competitive with more recently designed and built tanks. The U.S. (mainly the army) has over a thousand of the SEP2 upgraded M1A2s and is getting as many of those upgraded to SEP3 as the budget allows.

The original M1A2SEP was developed in the late 1990s by upgrading protection and a few other minor fixes. These were followed after 2003 after combat experience in Iraq with TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) and evolved into the SEP2 upgrade. TUSK was installed on hundreds of tanks headed for Iraq as well as several hundred more M1s that had battle damage repaired and TUSK upgrades installed at the same time.

TUSK entered service in 2007 with reactive armor panels for the side and rear of the tank, to provide added protection from RPGs. A slat armor panel protects the engine exhaust outlet of the tank from RPGs. A 1.5-ton belly armor kit, which can be installed in two hours, provides additional protection from mines and large bombs. Enhancements also include night vision for all crew members. There is also a telephone added to the side of the tank, so that infantry can more easily communicate with the crew when the tank is "buttoned up" (all hatches closed). The complete TUSK kit cost about $500,000 per vehicle and required about twelve hours to install all the components. Later additions to TUSK included a rear-view camera for the driver and RWS so the commanders' .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine-gun could be operated from inside the tank. This is particularly useful if the tank is taking a lot of small arms fire. This led to providing all-round vidcam views of what was going on outside the tank.

The M1A2SEP2 made most of the TUSK items standard and added more improvements like the RWS for the 12.7mm machine-gun as standard, as well in computer hardware, including color flat screen displays for the crew and software, including a new operating system along with improved TUSK ERA (explosive reactive armor), making the external phone standard and upgrading the transmission to make it more reliable.

The electronics on the M1 have undergone several upgrades so far, in addition to new ammo types for the main gun. A major enhancement was depleted uranium armor, which made the M1 virtually invulnerable from the front.

The one remaining item in need of major improvement is the 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine. Past improvements here included electronic monitors on many engine components, an electronic logbook (to record all pertinent engine activity), and a maintenance program that makes the most of all this data. If the engine is monitored closely and constantly, it's possible to carry out maintenance in a timelier (before something fails) manner. The army would also like to develop an improved (more efficient and less expensive to maintain) engine, but that is also a costly item they can't afford at the moment.

MVP can also link to audio sensors that work with video sensors to automatically detect where enemy fire is coming from. The United States tested MVP on their M2 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). New anti-tank weapons are always being developed and the army wants to at least be able to afford new gear to deal with new threats. One threat that is currently ignored is top attack warheads (that put a shaped charge type attack against the thin top armor). There are also new types of mines and electronic threats. If the M1 is to survive for half a century it will have to evolve, as well as endure. The M1A2C is an evolutionary design compared to the T-14 which is a revolutionary design with a lot of new techs introduced at once.
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
Forbes just announced that with Adidas cutting ties with him, Kanye West can no longer be considered a billionaire. Losing his income with the German sportswear brand made him los more than two thirds of his entire net-worth. Before this whole drama happened, Kanye West's entire net worth was at around $2 billion. Although the rapper was never in agreement with Forbes over his estimated net worth. When he first got on the publications billionaire list, they reported he was just past $1 billion.

West immediately responded his actual net worth was $3.3 billion. When he reached $2 billion earlier in 2022, West responded again by saying his net worth was $4.3 billion. However, Forbes estimates that Kanye West's overall deal with Adidas increased his fortune by $1.5 billion. In the sneaker industry, Michael Jordan's deal with Nike made him create Jordan Brand and turned him into the most profitable sneaker brand in history. Many didn't think they would see that day another brand could compete against him. Then Kanye West appeared.

Kanye West shares a Chicago influence from Michael Jordan

During the time in which Michael Jordan was at the peak of his powers as a Chicago Bulls star, Kanye West was growing up in the city of Chicago. He formed a group of young designers that included him, the late great Virgil Abloh, Don C and others. During that time, Kanye West developed his ambition to someday become a fashion designer in this vast sneaker culture industry. He finally made it happen when he signed a deal with NIke. But West and Nike didn't se eye to eye and he jumped boats to Adidas.

As soon as he landed with the German brand, it was clear they finally had a figure that could lead a brand that would compete against Jordan Brand. At a certain moment, the two most requested and sold sneakers were Yeezy and Jordan. But this massive mental breakdown has left Michael Jordan as the undisputed and undefeated sneaker king. Kanye West was probably the only figure who could surpass Jordan, but he blew his chance in a matter of days.

Just last June, it was announced that Jordan Brand reached a $5 billion net worth. Yeezy falls a couple of billion short and it seems doomed to disappear completely. Kanye West quickly tarnished his entire reputation and his legacy with the anti-semitic comments he made. It is pretty shameful and painful to watch. A creative genius that dug his own grave in real time with the entire world watching. Michael Jordan's secreat was to always keep a low profile, something Kanye should've done as well.
In Ukraine, Russia has lost four of its Su-34 fighter-bombers so far. Since the Su-34 entered service in 2014, 17 have been lost, most of them to accidents. Thats 12 percent of the 140 Su-34s the Russians were able to purchase. The last loss was in October and left 14 civilians dead while the two pilots ejected safely. Russian jets have performed poorly over Ukraine this year, which has left Russian combat aircraft with a recent record of poor performance in combat and led to canceled export orders. This is not a sudden development but has been a problem for a long time, especially after the Cold War ended in 1991 and the Russian government was no longer able to purchase large numbers of combat aircraft. After 1991 many state-owned firms were privatized and a lot of defense manufacturers disappeared because they had nothing to sell that anyone wanted. Two exceptions were Sukhoi, which manufactured Su aircraft and MiG (Mikoyan and Gurevich) which only had one major product, the MiG-29 fighter, that was considered inferior to similar Sukhoi aircraft. For the last twenty years the government has been desperately trying to keep the MiG company viable but failed. Until the Ukraine debacle Sukhoi was still viable but now Sukhoi is headed for the same fate as MiG. The MiG-29 dates from the 1980s while Sukhoi has introduced two, the Su-24 and Su-35, in the last decade. Both performed poorly in combat over Ukraine. The Su-34 is a ground support fighter-bomber while Su-35 is an air-superiority fighter. Both have been built in small quantities (about 140 each) and depend on export orders to be financially viable. Same with the Su-57 stealth fighter, which is too expensive for the Russian air force and unable to find any export customers.

A year ago, Sukhoi introduced a new single engine stealth fighter called Su-75 Checkmate. Sukhoi displayed a mockup of the new single-engine Su-75 stealth fighter, which is apparently the Russian answer to the similar American F-35. Su-75 is being developed by the same team that designed the Su-57, the Russian answer to the American F-22. The Su-57 proved to be a failure as an F-22 competitor. The Su-75 appears to be a desperate move to salvage something from all the money spent on developing the Su-57.

The Su-75 wont make its first flight until 2024 and might enter production before the end of the decade. There will be one and two seat versions. The two-seater will be used as a trainer or an electronic warfare aircraft. There were also plans for an unmanned version, without a cockpit, and thus cheaper to build. Russia already has the S-70, a UCAV (unmanned combat aircraft) in production. This stealthy, delta wing aircraft has already been tested accompanying manned fighters and production is underway. Because of the Ukraine fiasco, it is unlikely that the Su-75 will find any export customers and the Russian air force may not be willing to buy.

Problems with recent Sukhoi designs are common. An illuminating example of this is the Su-34. In 2020 the Russian Air Force received the last of 140 Su-34 fighter- bombers. Deliveries began in 2010 but the Su34 did not officially enter service until 2014. Four years of testing and modifying the aircraft were required to get all essential systems working. By 2014 about 60 Su-34s had been built since the first flight in 1990. Before that, in the 1980s, seven test and pre-production Su-34s had been built.

The Su-34 is based on the two-seat trainer version of the Su-27K, an aircraft carrier fighter for aircraft carriers that never got built. In the 1990s the design effort shifted to developing a more complex fighter-bomber to replace the Cold War era Su-24 light bomber. While most nations using Su-24s had retired them by 2014, that was not just because of age, but because they could not afford to operate and maintain them.

During the Cold War the Su-24 was the Russian answer to the American F-111 and European Tornado fighter-bombers. Introduced in the mid-1970s, it was a 43-ton swing-wing design with a crew of two and a short range of only about 600 kilometers. Su-24 carried eight tons of bombs and had good fire control and electronics for the time. Some 1,400 were built before production was halted in 1993. Few Su-24s were built after the 1990s so most still in use date from the late 1980s. Su-24s did not age well and many were retired because of that and the lack of upgrade options. Since 2000, over 20 Su-24s have been lost to accidents. This encouraged Russia and export customers to retire most of their Su-24s.

In 2008, Russia began building the first production model Su-34 fighter-bombers. The 45-ton Su-34 is deliberately similar to the 36-ton American F-15E. Both are two-seat fighter-bombers but F-15E is a variant of the 31-ton F-15C fighter. By 2015 Russia still had about 300 Su-24s in service and only about 60 Su-34s. The new Su-34s will not arrive quickly enough to replace most of the elderly Su-24s. By 2020 there were still about a hundred Su-24s in the Russian air force and about fifty operational with foreign air forces.

The Su-34 has a full set of defensive and offensive sensors (radars, targeting cameras, laser designators) and electronic warfare gear, and it also carries eight tons of missiles and smart bombs. Russia wanted to buy enough Su-34s to replace three-hundred older Su-24s but had to settle for 140. Russia built the first twenty-four Su-34s at a cost of $36 million each, which was less than half the cost of an F-15E. Meanwhile, some of the more recently built Su-24s were upgraded as the Su-24M2 standard. Most of the Su-24s still in service are over 30 years old and many have been grounded several times because of age related problems.

The Su-34 was used a lot in Syria after 2015, where the Russians obtained useful data on how the new aircraft performed in a combat zone. Some have also shown up in Libya. In both these combat zones it was confirmed that the Su-34 was easier to maintain than the Su-24, in part because it does not use the swing-wing feature and does have modern engines and electronics that are designed and built to be more reliable and maintainable. There have been no export customers yet, in part because modern fighters can be equipped to carry out most of the tasks the Su-34 and F-15E perform. Moreover, the F-15E is still more fighter than bomber while the Su-34 is basically a well-equipped light bomber.

While the Su-34 saw lots of use in combat zones, it did not have to face modern air defense systems, especially hostile jet fighters. That changed in Ukraine where the Su-34 suffered heavy losses and was often unable to operate because of enemy air defenses, or because it was too difficult for the Russian air force to adequately maintain the Su-34s. After a few months Russia decided to use its combat aircraft mainly to launch air-to-ground missiles while still in Russia. This was because Russia had few combat aircraft to begin with and was unable to buy or even build replacements because of sanctions. Problems with the effectiveness and reliability of Russian warplanes is nothing new but the problems got worse as the Cold War continued and the decline didnt stop with the Cold War ended. Export customers began to realize that the cheaper Russian warplanes were no bargain compared to more effective and reliable Western designs. Some of those Western designs are now coming from China, which was long a customer for Russian warplanes. That is no longer the case as China found it could build better versions of useful Russian fighters. These designs often copied the Russian originals too much and the Russians threatened repercussions, especially if China sought to export their upgraded Sukhois. In the last decade China has turned to Western designs, often using tech plundered from the Western manufacturers.
Environmental activists have been in the limelight in recent weeks. Scenes of some of them violating famous works of art by throwing food at them have gone around the world... but they have also carried out protest actions against the automobile industry.

The Paris Motor Show has been the perfect loudspeaker for organizations such as Extinction Rebellion that do not seem satisfied with the rapid transition to the electric cars in which Europe is immersed (even with a date set for the disappearance of the combustion engine car). Nor with the immense investments that manufacturers are making to face this transformation.

Glued to a Ferrari

In this case, the way to make their presence felt was through five demonstrators who stuck their hands with glue to the bodywork of three Ferraris that were on display at the Paris Motor Show. They also carried a banner calling for the elimination of the exhibition.

The French organization denounces that the automobile industry is responsible for generating 15 percent of polluting emissions and accuses them of not doing enough to reduce this figure so as not to jeopardize their profits.

But their accusations do not stop there, as they estimate that the sector encourages individual transport, when, according to Extinction Rebellion France, there are 13.3 million French citizens who are in a situation of "mobility precariousness".

Durante mas de 24 horas los activistas tomaron el museo Volkswagen. Scientist Rebellion

They call for lowering the limit to 100 km/h

Before the Paris show, another association, Scientist Rebellion, also carried out a protest action at the Autostadt, the Volkswagen Museum, where they occupied the Porsche stand for several days.

The request of this organization was clear and direct towards the CEO of the Volkswagen Group, Oliver Blume. Scientist Rebellion asked to speak directly with the top executive of the largest German car manufacturer.

The goal: to personally express their proposal to establish a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h in Germany.
Good evening everybody and welcome along to another MARCA in English Champions League live blog as Barcelona take on Bayern Munich, with the home team's hopes of staying in the competition hanging by a thread.

Bayern are already through to the knockout stage, boasting a perfect record of four wins from four, but would still welcome the scalp of another European giant having already beaten Inter.

Inter take on group whipping boys Viktoria Plzen in the earlier kick-off and are expected to beat the Czech outfit, which would leave them into the next round and Barcelona out of the competition. However, if Plzen can get any points and Barcelona beat Bayern then there's a chance they can remain in the competition.

Barcelona v Bayern Munich live: Latest Updates

Update narration

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: When does it start?

It's a 21:00 CEST kick-off local time in Barcelona, meaning it's 20:00 BST for UK viewers.

In the US, viewers can tune in to Barcelona vs Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou at 15:00 EDT and 12:00 PDT

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Where to watch it?

BT Sport 5 and the BT Sport App has TV coverage of this game for the UK, while US viewers can choose between Paramount+, VIX+, Univision or TUDN.
Following an increase in antisemitic occurrences in the Los Angeles region over the weekend, celebrities including Khloe Kardashian, Reese Witherspoon, and Amy Schumer are among those showing support for Jews.

The response to Jessica Seinfeld's Instagram post on Sunday came in response to remarks made earlier this month by Kanye West, who declared that he intended to "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE" in now-deleted social media posts.

"If you don't know what to say, you can just say this in your feed," Seinfeld wrote, "I support my Jewish friends and the Jewish people."

Late on Sunday, Kardashian re-posted the phrases across her social media accounts, and Reese Witherspoon commented on Twitter.

"Anti-semitism in any form is deplorable. In person. Online. Doesn't matter where. It's hate and it's unacceptable," the Oscar winner tweeted on Sunday. "Completely understand why my Jewish friends/ colleagues are frightened for their families. This is a very scary time."

The reaction that Kanye's words provoked

One day before, antisemitic signs and the slogan "Kanye is right about the Jews" were displayed on banners that were flown above a 405 Freeway overpass.

Other white nationalist posters have reportedly surfaced on 101 Freeway overpasses in Ventura County numerous times this year, according to KTLA.

All of the action is a result of an increase of antisemitic animosity.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, such crimes reached an all-time high last year with 2,717 assault, harassment, and vandalism reports and an increase of 61% in attacks against synagogues and Jewish community centers.
Maine combat pilots and support crews will be deployed in February to support U.S. Central Command operations, most likely in the Middle East.

The Maine National Guard based in Bangor announced Tuesday the pending deployment of 36 Maine soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment (3-142).

Aviation unit members operate Black Hawk helicopters and are trained to conduct air assault and movement missions that support combat forces on the ground. The Maine-based unit will provide air support to the U.S. Central Command's Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield for about a year.

Operation Inherent Resolve's mission is to defeat of Islamic State group, while Operation Spartan Shield's mission is to maintain a U.S. military presence in Southwest Asia.

A spokesman for the National Guard said the soldiers are expected to be initially assigned to the Middle East region with other assignments possible.

The last deployment for an Army aviation unit from Maine took place in 2018 when Company G, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, supported military operations in Afghanistan.

In the past, Maine aviation and maintenance crews have supported operations in Iraq, Kuwait, Guatemala and Bosnia, as well as domestically at the Southwest border and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
Medical barracks at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, are still being treated for a bacteria that can cause pneumonia after it was detected in pipes nearly a month ago, forcing 150 patients and staff to be relocated across the base.

Employees and residents at Liberty Barracks, where military patients at the nearby medical center live, have not been allowed back in the building since Legionella was discovered Sept. 30.

"We're waiting for the latest round of test results before making any decisions on moving residents or staff back into Liberty Barracks," Rob Strain, a spokesman for the 502nd Air Base Wing, told Military.com on Wednesday. "The water is being flushed regularly so that it isn't sitting stagnant, but it isn't being used by residents or staff."

Read Next: Airman Becomes First US Woman to Attend Royal Thai Air Force's Air Command and Staff College

About 100 residents and 50 staff from the Behavioral Health Clinic, located inside the barracks, have not been allowed back inside since Sept. 30 and had to be relocated.

Liberty Barracks, a 216,000-square-foot facility capable of housing nearly 400 patients, opened in 2012, designed to provide a place to stay for service members while they receive treatment at the base's medical facilities.

Those residents may also be especially susceptible to catching Legionnaires' disease, a severe type of pneumonia caused by coming into contact with Legionella bacteria, since they are already undergoing medical care. It spreads through microscopic droplets of water and can be transmitted through drinking water, swimming pools and cooling towers in air conditioning systems, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Those who smoke, are 50 years or older, or have weakened immune systems are most susceptible to the illness. Base officials said in a press release last month that there have been "no known cases of Legionnaires disease or other legionella-based infections among residents or staff at Liberty Barracks."

Strain told Military.com on Wednesday that there have been no confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease or Legionella-related infections among residents or staff at Liberty Barracks, "but we are continuing to monitor those who may have been exposed to the facility's water systems for any clinical indications of infection."

Since Legionella was detected last month, the building has been treated with a "super-chlorination process," Strain told Military.com. But subsequent testing for the bacteria showed it may still be present.

"Following the treatment, an initial round of follow-up testing was conducted," Strain said in an emailed statement. "During that process, a positive result for the legionella bacteria was returned from an administrative room on the fifth floor. We are continuing additional confirmatory testing to determine if the test was a false positive or if we need to take next steps in a treatment process to ensure facility safety."

Discovery of Legionella at Joint Base San Antonio is the latest housing and contamination incident among the services.

Last week, the Navy said water from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln's bilges, a type of drainage system, leaked runoff into drinking water on the ship and was responsible for the "odor and cloudy appearance" that sailors observed last month.

Additionally, in late September, the Navy told Military.com that 10 sailors had health issues that might be related to a fuel leak that contaminated water aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

In August, service members stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, began posting dozens of pictures online showing widespread moldy patches in hallways and images of thermostats reading anywhere from 87 to 90 degrees due to broken air conditioning. Base officials created a task force in September to address the issues.

Also in August, the Army announced that more than 1,700 soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, would be evacuated after an inspection found 12 buildings were unlivable due to mold and air conditioning issues. The relocation effort was completed recently, the base said.

This is not the first time Liberty Barracks has detected Legionella. Last year, the building was evacuated after the bacteria was found in the building's plumbing, according to a press release.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a response from Joint Base San Antonio saying there have been no confirmed Legionnaires' infections among barracks residents.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Legionella Found in Pipes at Medical Barracks at Joint Base San Antonio, Forcing Relocations
U.S. service members are seeing little success in making claims for medical malpractice against military hospitals and physicians under a law passed in 2020 that allowed them to file compensation claims.

Data provided by the services to Military.com shows that troops have filed 448 claims with the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force seeking more than $4 billion in damages. But of those, just 11 have been settled, an approval rate of 2%, while more than one-quarter have been denied.

The Pentagon and the services declined to comment on the process, which allows troops to file claims for personal injury or death caused by providers in Department of Defense health facilities.

Read Next: Navy Says It Has Found the Source of Water Contamination Aboard Carrier, Leading to More Questions

But attorneys for some of the service members who have filed claims say the process is flawed and lacks transparency.

New York-based attorney Alan Ripka described the process as "slow and arduous," adding that the appeals process does not include debate over the merit of claims. Ripka said that those reviewing appeals simply look at whether the processing of the claim was handled and denied correctly under the rules that established the practice, with no input from troops' attorneys.

"Basically, they get to be the Yankees and their own umpire. They are umping their own game," said Ripka, who represents several service members or survivors of military personnel harmed as a result of military medical providers.

Service members are barred from suing the federal government for injuries considered to be incidental to service, including medical malpractice, under a 1950s U.S. Supreme Court ruling commonly known as the Feres doctrine.

The legislation passed in January 2020 did not alter or repeal Feres, but it provided a pathway for troops to file claims for neglect or malpractice in the military health system.

According to data from the services, the Navy has received 146 claims from sailors, Marines or their families, seeking $1.1 billion in compensation. The Navy has denied 58 claims and settled one, for $250,000.

The Army did not respond to repeated requests for information, but after publication, it sent its most recent malpractice claims data to Military.com. The service said it had 184 claims alleging damages up to $1.65 billion. It has approved six and denied 36, while another 73 cases received an initial denial and are in the appeals process. The remaining 69 are under investigation.

"Like the other military services, the Army is working diligently to resolve these claims," the service said in a statement to Military.com.

The Air Force has received 118 claims worth up to $1.3 billion. The service has settled four cases and denied 23 without the chance of an appeal. Six additional cases were appealed to the Defense Health Agency, which denied five and is still considering one remaining case.

The Air Force did not answer questions about how much it had paid out to date. In a statement provided to Military.com, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the service is focused "on providing the best medical care possible to our airmen, Guardians and their families."

"It is our policy to immediately investigate any incident to prevent recurrence and improve the safety and quality of health care for our beneficiaries," Kendall said.

The Department of Defense published its final rule on the claims process on Sept. 26 in the Federal Register. By law, troops can file claims for harm caused by military or civilian physicians in military hospitals and clinics, including dental facilities. They cannot make a claim for medical malpractice that occurs in a combat zone or on a ship.

Under the rules, claims seeking less than $100,000 are to be paid out directly by the Pentagon, while the Treasury Department is responsible for reviewing and paying claims that the DoD approves above that amount.

In the final version of the rule, the DoD raised the cap on economic damages, defined as the amount of wages lost to the injury, from $500,000 to $600,000.

Ripka said that one of the reasons the services have been slow to process claims is that they didn't hire additional attorneys to handle the cases from troops. The services have maintained the same level of legal staff that they had to handle claims from civilian users of the DoD health system, including family members, retirees and their families and some civilian employees who were not previously barred from seeking damages.

Natalie Khawam, the attorney for Master Sgt. Richard Stayskal, for whom the 2020 legislation was named, said her client is still waiting for his decision while others have been denied.

"The system isn't moving fast enough," Khawam said. "Several of our clients have died waiting."

California Democrats Reps. Jackie Speier and Mark DeSaulnier introduced a bill last month that would expand the claims process to include service members who were injured on ships with large hospital facilities.

Speier said the legislation is needed to protect personnel from gross medical negligence aboard ships, like Navy Seaman Danyelle Luckey, who died aboard the carrier Ronald Reagan when she was denied medical care for an illness that required a course of antibiotics, according to her father, Derrick Luckey, who testified before Congress in March.

"Her death was a travesty, equaled only by the travesty of justice denied to her loved ones simply because of where she died," Speier said in a statement.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the Army's most recent claims data, shared with Military.com after publication.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Supreme Court Justice Castigates Feres Doctrine, Court in Military Rape Case
A Navy sailor living in Virginia Beach was convicted of dealing illegal machine guns by a federal jury Monday in U.S. District Court.

Patrick Tate Adamiak, 28, is facing 10 years in prison for receiving, possessing, and transferring unregistered machine guns. Adamiak was also convicted of possessing two grenade launchers and two antitank missile launchers.

Adamiak was charged in May after authorities recovered 33 guns in his possession.

Between October 2021 and April 2022, Adamiak sold at least eight unregistered machine guns online to a confidential source with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ( ATF), according to the a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

ATF then conducted a search of Adamiaks Virginia Beach residence, recovering an additional 25 unregistered machine guns.

Adamiak is a master at arms in the U.S. Navy. According to the Navys career page, sailors who serve as a master at arms act as the Navys military police, providing security on ships, bases and installations.

A spokesperson for the Navy could not immediately be reached.

Adamiak is scheduled to be sentenced March 31, 2023. While a judge may hand down a maximum 10-year prison sentence, actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

2022 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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.

We should be deeply concerned that, in the midst of what U.S. President Joe Biden has described as the greatest risk of Armageddon since the Cuban missile crisis, Russia and NATO are this week conducting virtually simultaneous exercises of their nuclear forces, including live (conventional) missile launches. Both Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin no doubt believe the risks involved in signalling their resolve this way are manageable, but experience during the Cold War suggests otherwise.

Clearly, Putin would not use a tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine if he believed it would ultimately lead to a nuclear exchange with the United States. That would be suicidal for the Russian regime, to say nothing of the broader global implications. But even threatening their use or conducting military exercises in a crisis can trigger events that rapidly increase the risk of a wider war. Richard Ned Lebow, an expert on nuclear risk, has identified three primary paths by which this can occur: pre-emption, miscalculated escalation and loss of control.

Pre-emption refers to the dynamics in a crisis in which neither side may want a war but each fears an imminent attack by the other and feels compelled to strike first to prevent a disadvantageous outcome. Of course, there's no significant advantage to either side in striking first in an all-out nuclear war, but leaders may be convinced that advantages exist at lower levels of warfare.

Strategist Thomas Schelling's work on this issue is particularly notable, and cycles of mutually reinforcing belief in imminent attack are possible whenever the element of surprise confers significant advantage.

The risks around NATO's 1983 Able Archer exercise may have come close to triggering such a pre-emptive escalatory cycle. For a range of reasons, Soviet intelligence analysts and political leaders believed the exercise was preparation for a NATO first strike against the USSR, and they started preparing for it.

Miscalculation refers to crossing a threshold in the mistaken belief that the action will be tolerated by the adversary. Two good examples are the American decision to march north of the 38th parallel in Korea in 1950, and Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Both led to responses that had not been considered likely -- Chinese entry into the Korean War, and a determined British campaign to retake the islands.

Loss of control might occur for any number of reasons. Military preparations or procedures might be poorly understood by political leaders, and certain steps taken by one side to defensively heighten readiness might be interpreted by the other as an offensive move. Their early warning and intelligence systems might misread force-posture changes in the adversary, leading one side to increase its own alert levels, which then triggers the other to do the same. The two sides can become locked in an actionreaction feedback loop.

Perhaps the classic example of loss of control is the July crisis of 1914, although it unfolded at a much slower pace than would be the case today with nuclear-armed adversaries. Statesmen and generals made deliberate decisions, including choices to accept or seek 'limited' war. But mutual and interacting mobilisations contributed to the outbreak of a world war in a 'quasi-mechanical manner'.

Failures of technology can also lead to loss of control. In 1960, U.S. early warning systems incorrectly interpreted with high certainty that the rising moon was a Soviet nuclear missile attack. Fortunately, decision-makers correctly identified it as an error. Vastly improved early warning systems would make that sort of error highly unlikely today, although other technological vulnerabilities continue to exist.

A profoundly worrying risk of loss of control relates to the interplay between restrictions placed on nuclear weapons to prevent their accidental or unauthorised use in peacetime (known as 'negative controls') and the systems to ensure their authorised use in crises ('positive controls'). As a nuclear state seeks to prepare forces for potential use -- or simply prepares them to signal resolve to an adversary, without the intention to employ them -- the balance of controls shifts from negative to positive measures.

Under typical peacetime conditions, many nuclear states physically separate warheads and delivery systems. That's not true of all systems; nuclear ballistic missile submarines are a critical case here. But states don't tend to have bombers sitting on the tarmac with nuclear missiles or free-fall weapons already loaded. Examples of positive controls include the protocols and codes through which release authority is communicated and targets confirmed.

At a heightened state of readiness, with warheads married to delivery systems and various potential delivery systems physically dispersed and held at shorter and shorter notice, these positive controls assume much greater relative importance. In effect, the 'safety catches' are gradually released, increasing the capacity to launch and the risk of accidents.

The range of escalation options open to Russia is broad and has been repeatedly parsed over the past eight months. Putin could conventionally target Western supply lines at a border location or conduct a nuclear test in the Artic, or even the Black Sea, as a signal. He could also 'jump rungs' on the so-called escalation ladder and use a relatively small 'tactical' nuclear weapon, either demonstratively on Ukrainian territory or on military targets.

Pre-emption, miscalculation and loss of control -- and their linkages -- could well play out in the lead-up to or aftermath of any of these actions.

Putin may simply not believe that an American-led response would follow a given escalatory action by Russia. Or he could believe that the response would be limited enough to be tolerable. That is, he could miscalculate.

Or, if Putin used a tactical nuclear weapon and the U.S. responded with large-scale, conventional strikes as signalled by retired American general David Petraeus recently, the risks of loss of control and pre-emption might both increase. Russian military leaders might misread preparations for conventional strikes against battlefield targets in Ukraine as instead positioning for strikes on Russia's leadership or command-and-control systems.

Other factors could interact with this kind of escalatory dynamic. We are currently experiencing a heightened period of solar flare or 'sunspot' activity, which has historically interfered with satellites, as well as with terrestrial high-frequency radio. One hopes Russian and American systems have been hardened to withstand this well-known problem, but it is emblematic of any number of prima facie unlikely factors that could contribute to catastrophic escalation.

In 1963, the year after the Cuban missile crisis, U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave a speech professing his commitment to peace. Among many remarks that resonate nearly 60 years later, Kennedy observed: '[N]uclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war. To adopt that kind of course in the nuclear age would be evidence only of the bankruptcy of our policy or a collective death wish for the world.'

Putin's humiliation is Putin's doing, and Ukraine is understandably committed to reconquering its own territory. Paths must be found despite these realities that avert the spectre of the worst possible outcome for Ukraine, Russia and the rest of the world. A good starting point would be for leaders to understand that the risks of nuclear escalation are likely to be even greater than they have assumed.

William Leben is an analyst on secondment to ASPI (where this first appeared) from the Australian Army. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Department of Defence, the Australian Army or the Australian government.

This article originally appeared on 19fortyfive.com.
The island of Okinawa, Japan, is arguably the most haunted duty station U.S. military members can be sent to. The stories of spectral samurai, elderly harbingers of doom and dead soldiers asking the living to light their cigarettes are well-documented -- but previous lists are far from exhaustive.

READ: Why Okinawa Is the Most Haunted Place in the Military

Author Jayne A. Hitchcock lived on Okinawa between 1992 and 1995, where she wrote five books about her time on the island. She documented the history, folklore and, of course, ghost stories that seem to permeate the entire countryside. In 2018, she published the fifth edition of her book, "The Ghosts of Okinawa," an updated edition with even more stories, instructions on how to use a Ouija board and etiquette on entering haunted places.

Just in time for Halloween, here are a few of the newest old military ghost stories floating around the island.

1. The Author's Own Haunted House

Hitchcock is not only an expert on Okinawan hauntings because of her research, she actually lived it as a military spouse. After a mysterious puddle began appearing in her kitchen with no clear cause, she invited local psychics to see whether there was an otherworldly source. They said the spirit of a World War II-era Marine or sailor inhabited the house. Since he was friendly, the Hitchcocks nicknamed him "Mike" and went on with their lives.

Mike, it turned out, had a sense of humor and loved to throw things at the author's husband. Jayne and some friends decided to conduct a seance to talk to Mike. During the interaction, Mike apparently leaned into the ear of one of the guests to whisper the word, "Boo."

2. Security Forces vs. a Japanese Regiment

Kadena Air Base contains a very haunted grassy clearing, located in a secure area. One night, an Air Force security policeman (today known as "Security Forces," for you younger types), decided to stake out the grounds to see whether they were really that haunted. That's when an entire regiment of Japanese ghost troops began marching toward his police car.

Naturally, the sight of a ghostly World War II-era enemy formation marching toward you would be unnerving (to say the least). Legend has it the officer struggled to get his car rolling and accidentally drove through the entire formation of hundreds of ghosts. He refused to patrol the area ever again.

He's not wrong. (Toho Company)

3. Camp Foster's Haunted Barracks

Dorm life for troops can already be pretty stressful. Surprise inspections, lack of privacy and the general unease of living in and around hundreds of other troops in various stages of personal hygiene can make life in the barracks tough.

Imagine nights filled with slamming doors, ghostly laughter and loud footsteps in a room in which you thought you were alone. The barracks on Camp Foster was replete with stories of unseen visitors in the darkness, enough to make anyone consider an arranged marriage just to get better housing.

4. The Angry Okinawan Women of Maeda Point

Okinawa's Maeda Point may have some of the world's best snorkeling sites, but American males are warned to avoid walking around alone during the night. Even walking with another male can be problematic. Hitchcock cites numerous reports of U.S. men being harassed in the night by spectral women.

The women are dressed in World War II-era Okinawan garb and are so consumed with anger and hatred of "evil" American troops that the ghosts will attack them and try to throw men off the cliffs.

Consider yourself warned. (U.S. Marine Corps)

5. Revisiting Building 2283

The story of Building 2283, a house on Kadena Air Base, is nothing new. A ghostly woman who washes her hair in the middle of the night, the ghost of a samurai warrior riding through the living room, and untold stories of the spirits of small children are just a few of the experiences from those who have lived there. What is new is that Hitchcock visited the house at night with a few of her psychically sensitive friends.

When they tried to take a photo of the house, the camera refused. It would work perfectly when taking photos of anything else -- just not the house. Then, one of her friends heard the voice of a man who demanded to know why they were there. After that night, they got permission to conduct a seance inside the house. At night.

During the seance, the author says they made contact with the ghosts in the house at midnight. Two of them, a little girl and boy, loved playing together, but didn't know they were dead. What they knew is that they were afraid of the man on the horse. The seance also revealed that "Mike," the friendly ghost from Hitchcock's house, had traveled to the famously haunted house to protect the living. The experience shook the (living) visitors so much they never returned.

6. The Haunted Kadena Towers Apartment

During Hitchcock's time hunting ghosts on Okinawa, she was asked by a family living in a third-floor apartment in Kadena Towers to investigate their home. They reported cold spots, strange movements and even things being thrown at their children during prayers. The last straw came when one of the parents found their daughter having a conversation with an invisible child who had "walked through the wall."

These children aren't ghosts, but they could be, which just proves that children are terrifying.

It turns out the towers were built on the tombs of the Kamisei-Shimosei clan, a family who lived on the island some 250 years prior. Before the building was constructed, the remains were excavated and the ground blessed by Shinto priests, but that apparently didn't stop a military family version of "Poltergeist" from playing out in the apartments. The Kadena Towers have not (yet) imploded on themselves, however.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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We can't count on many things in this era of upheaval, but the fact that Gerard Butler is starring in a movie pretty much guarantees that sacrifices will be made and asses will be kicked as the hero takes on an impossible task.

We're still waiting for him to return as the world's most lethal Secret Service agent Mike Banning in another "Has Fallen" movie, but we've got "Plane" to keep us occupied while we wait. The movie is set to be released in theaters on Jan. 27, 2023, and Lionsgate has released a trailer for the film.

If you're squeamish, be warned that the trailer features plenty of shots to the head, so many that it's a mystery why it's not age-restricted. This movie may not yet be rated, but it's sure looking like a hard "R" based on this video clip.

Butler plays Capt. Brodie Torrance, an airline pilot whose plane is forced to land on a remote Filipino island controlled by a separatist terror militia. His passengers are facing certain death if a military rescue squad doesn't arrive soon. It looks like they're not arriving soon.

He's got another problem: The FBI was transporting fugitive and alleged murderer Louis Gaspare on the flight, and now this mystery prisoner represents his best ally in any rescue that Torrance may try.

Gaspare is played by Mike Colter, who was outstanding in the Marvel series "Luke Cage" that didn't get enough of a shot back when it premiered on Netflix. He also played the character on the "Jessica Jones" and "The Defenders" series and, if Marvel can bring back Charlie Cox as Daredevil, they should really look at letting Colter play Cage again.

What are the odds that Butler's Torrance was a military pilot before he joined the airline? Approaching 100%. What are the odds that Colter's Gaspare has special forces military training? Definitely a lock. Let's say it's better than 50/50 that he was either wrongfully accused of murder, was defending himself at the time, or was forced to take out a villain who was about to commit a great wrong.

An actual military presence in the movie is a performance by former Navy SEAL Remi Adeleke, most recently seen in the Prime Video television series "The Terminal List," starring Chris Pratt and based on the best-selling novel by former SEAL Jack Carr. Remi's not visible in the trailer, so let's float a guess that he'll be part of the military rescue team that will land on the island just before the movie's climax.

There's more good news about "Plane," and it's not that they've already announced sequels with titles like "Truck," "Tank" or "Submarine" (even though that would be awesome). While the story idea came from first-time writer Charles Cumming, he co-wrote the screenplay with J.P. Davis, the actor-turned-screenwriter who penned the excellent Chris Pine military thriller "The Contractor," which still stands as one of the best movies of 2022.

Related: 'The Contractor' Asks How Ex-Spec Ops Warriors Are Supposed to Feed Their Families

Behind the camera is French director Jean-Francois Richet, who made the incredible 2008 gangster movies "Mesrine: Killer Instinct" and its sequel "Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1." The first movie is streaming on Prime Video, and both films are available to stream for free with ads on Plex.
Every year, Fortune publishes the Fortune 500, its list of the top 500 industrial companies. Leading those companies are the powerhouses of the business world, who oversee billions in investments, strategies and growth. They hold the trust of the American economy and millions of civilian employees

It sounds like a big job (and it is), but any member of this list will readily tell you their military service prepared them for leading America's biggest brands.

1. Frederick W. Smith, FedEx

Smith was a "get it done" kind of Marine, who attended Yale as an undergraduate but didn't shirk service in Vietnam. He did two tours of duty during the war, first in the infantry and then as an OV-10 Bronco forward air controller.

Recipient of a Silver Star, Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, Smith founded what began as a used jet aircraft company into Federal Express, the first-ever expedited delivery service in America.

2. Mark Clouse, Campbell Soup

Clouse is an Ohio native and graduate of West Point who served as a helicopter pilot for six years after being commissioned in 1990. After leaving the military, he went into the industrial food business almost immediately.

Clouse started with Kraft, where he led the company's growth strategy. He then used his growth experience to spark his CEO career at Pinnacle Foods in 2016. He was so successful in growing Pinnacle's market share that Campbell Soup hired him as its CEO in 2018.

3. Robert J. Stevens, Lockheed Martin

While a lot of powerful CEOs on this list tend to be officers and/or service academy graduates, Robert J. Stevens, "The Savior of Lockheed Martin," was an enlisted Marine.

Stevens joined the Corps at age 18, worked his way up in the defense industry before coming to the top of Lockheed in 2004. He navigated the company through the defense industry's turn-of-the century consolidation and the 2008 global financial crisis before stepping down in 2012.

4. Lowell McAdam, Verizon

McAdam has a number of notable accomplishments, not just working his way up in the telecom industry, eventually becoming CEO of Verizon Communications, a position he held between 2011 and 2018. "Top Gun" fans would be interested to know that, while McAdam was a leader of Seabees during his U.S. Navy career, his unit helped build sets for the film.

"The things you learn in the military stay with you for life, and the bonds developed among service members are also lifelong and serve you well in a business career," McAdam said in a 2012 interview.

5. Sumner Redstone, Viacom

Redstone on "Charlie Rose." (PBS Television)

Sumner Redstone, a 64-year-old antitrust lawyer at the time, started a company and a legacy that became responsible for nearly all the media Gen Xers and elder millennials grew up watching, from Paramount Pictures' films to Nickelodeon and MTV.

Redstone started his adult life at Harvard, where he decrypted coded Japanese messages during World War II. When he graduated, he did the same work, moving to a new office in the Military Intelligence Division in Washington. Upon his 2020 death, Redstone was worth an estimated $2.6 billion.

6. Robert S. Morrison, Quaker Oats

Morrison had been another longtime packaged food executive, starting his career with Procter & Gamble before joining Kraft Foods in 1983. After a long career at Kraft, he left to become Quaker Oats' CEO in 1997 as it struggled with debt. By the time he left, it was a profitable purchase for PepsiCo.

His time in the military prepared him for tough situations, as the Marine Corps officer led men in the jungles of Vietnam. He left the war with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart before attending business school in 1969.

7. Alex Gorsky, Johnson & Johnson

Gorsky was nominated to West Point in 1977, then went to Ranger School before earning his Army commission in 1982. He became an artillery officer for six years, serving in both Europe and Panama.

After the Army, Gorsky became a pharmaceutical executive. He first joined Johnson & Johnson in 1988, then left for Novartis, where he'd eventually become CEO. He returned to J&J in 2008, but wouldn't be named CEO until 2012. His tenure saw the value of the company's stock triple before he stepped down in 2022.

8. Robert McDonald, Procter & Gamble

McDonald may be well-known for his service as secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama, but before that he was working his way up at manufacturer Procter & Gamble. McDonald tried to attend West Point at age 11, but was forced to wait.

He graduated in 1975, served in the Army and joined P&G's marketing division right after leaving the military in 1980. By 2009, he was the company's chief executive officer.

9. James Skinner, McDonald's

If someone told you that a college dropout and McDonald's management trainee would one day become chief executive of the entire McDonald's corporation, you might ask for proof. That proof is James Skinner.

Another prior-enlisted CEO, Skinner was a U.S. Navy fire control technician between 1962 and 1971, with two tours of duty in Vietnam under his belt. He went to work for McDonald's the year he left the Navy. Becoming CEO in 2004, he had to revive the company's falling profits, which he did before retiring in 2012.

10. Ken Hicks, Foot Locker

Former Foot Locker CEO Ken Hicks. (Foot Locker)

Gen. David Petraeus once told Forbes, "Ken is, as they say, an energy source, not an oxygen thief."

Hicks became CEO of Foot Locker in 2009, after 27 years in the industry. He would stay in that position until 2014. The son of a World War II veteran, Hicks attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point while the United States was engaged in Vietnam. He became an artillery officer upon graduating.

He led Foot Locker to 19 consecutive quarters of sales growth in his time as CEO. When he took office, the stock price was around $11. By the time he stepped down, it was trading at around $55.

11. Daniel Akerson, General Motors

Unlike some of the other CEOs on this list, Akerson wasn't appointed to head General Motors in 2009 by a corporate board of directors. He took the helm of GM at the behest of the White House, after the company's majority shareholder suddenly became the U.S. Treasury.

Akerson, a 1970 U.S. Naval Academy graduate, shepherded the company back to health, leading it to a record-setting profit during his first year as CEO. He stepped down in 2014, after the Treasury recouped its investment in the company.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Key

Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List  Hexahydrite

1 valid mineral. 1 valid mineral.

Detailed Mineral List:  Hexahydrite Formula: MgSO 4  6H 2 O Reference: personal correspondence with Giles Peatfield (see description)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates  Hexahydrite 7.CB.25 MgSO 4  6H 2 O

List of minerals for each chemical element H Hydrogen H  Hexahydrite MgSO 4  6H 2 O O Oxygen O  Hexahydrite MgSO 4  6H 2 O Mg Magnesium Mg  Hexahydrite MgSO 4  6H 2 O S Sulfur S  Hexahydrite MgSO 4  6H 2 O

References

Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)

Dawson, George M. 1879. Preliminary Report on the physical and geological features of the southern portion of the interior of British Columbia, in Geological Survey of Canada, Report of Progress for 1877-78, Part B, pp. 92 B  93 B. Jambor, J. J. 1976. Geology and hydrothermal alteration at the Maggie porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit, south-central British Columbia. Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 75-17. Jenkins, Phil. 2007. Beneath my Feet  The Memoirs of George Mercer Dawson, with Phil Jenkins. McClelland and Stewart, Toronto. Johnston, Robt. A. A. 1915. A List of Canadian Mineral Occurrences. Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir 74. Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry and Frondel, Clifford. 1951. The System of Mineralogy, Seventh Edition, Volume II, pp. 494-495. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Traill, R.J. 1970. A catalogue of Canadian Minerals. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 69-45. Traill, R. J. 1983. Catalogue of Canadian Minerals  Revised 1980. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 80-18.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

The location of this type locality is not absolutely certain. The description for the mineral in Johnston (1911) is as follows: . . . found on the east coast [sic  side?] of Bonaparte river, about half way between Cargill and Scottie creeks, . . . . There is no gazetted creek with the name Cargill. There is a junction name at the outflow of Hat Creek from the west into the Bonaparte River, and a small creek from the east joining the river at essentially the same place. This may be the creek to which the collector (F. Soues, Gold Commissioner at Clinton  incidentally Johnston misspelled his name as Sones) (perhaps) gave the name Carquile, which Johnston may have misread and called Cargill. Later workers have used Carquile or Carquill; the former name is correct. Halfway to Scottie creek puts the locality immediately across the river from the large flamboyant stain zone of the Maggie porphyry copper deposit; an estimated location is:Latitude 050 55' 15 North; Longitude: 121 24' 30 West.G. M. Dawson travelled the Bonaparte River in 1877. In both his formal report (1879) and in his diaries compiled and edited by Jenkins (2007), he provided a very brief description of the geology on the east side of the Bonaparte River in the area where I have assumed the type locality of hexahydrite to be. Of interest is the fact that he did not mention the major stain zone associated with the Maggie porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit, which lies directly below the Bonaparte River (see Jambor, 1976). This pyritic halo extends well to the east of the river, and probably includes the type locality for hexahydrite. Dawson (1979) wrote that . . . numerous exposures in the road-side, show the intimate association and interbedding of the cherty siliceous rocks with serpentines, pure and impure, and of the latter with volcanic breccias of greenish-grey colour. He did not, however, say much about the alteration of the rocks in this area, beyond noting that an igneous rock in the rock sequence . . . has been altered since its eruption, and would require a more careful examination than I have been able to give it to determine its true lithological character. None of Dawsons observations are particularly helpful in locating the precise location of the type locality for hexahydrite.Hexahydrite [MgSO4.6H2O]: This is the mineral of main interest at this site. It was originally reported, described and named by Johnston (1911), who reported an analysis that included a minor amount of silica (1.78%). He then calculated an ex-silica composition, which very closely approximated the theoretical composition. He later (1915) reported this ex-silica analysis in his list of Canadian mineral occurrences. Palache, Berman and Frondel (1951, p. 494) quoted Johnstons 1911 total analysis, without the removal of silica. They also reported a theoretical composition which differed very slightly (at the second decimal place) from Johnstons (1911) theoretical composition. Traill (1970 and 1983) was careful to quote Johnstons ex-silica composition. I detail this to show why there may be differences in the minerals reported composition depending on which reference is consulted.
More than one in every four new HIV infections in Asia Pacific were in the young people in the Asia Pacific region (in 2020). More worrying is that almost all of these new HIV infections in the young people, were among the young key populations. Writing on the wall is clear: unless we scale up HIV programmes and increase programme effectiveness for the young key populations, we will fail to end AIDS by 2030.

Over 26% of new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific region were in the young people aged 15-24 years (in 2020), with young men almost twice as likely as young women to acquire HIV, said Applesta da Costa, a young psychologist from India who took part in the Asia Pacific Youth Forum: Putting young key populations first to end AIDS by 2030 in Thailand. In some countries, over 45% of new HIV infections were among young people, said Applesta who is a part of Human Touch Foundation team in Goa, India. Asia Pacific Youth Forum was co-hosted by Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, United Nations joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS Asia Pacific), and other partners.

Alarmingly, 99% of new HIV infections in young people (aged 15-24 years) are happening among those from key populations and their sex partners. In Asia Pacific region, 97% of all new HIV infections among young people in 2020 occurred in 10 countries.

It is important to note that number of new HIV infections among key populations (young and older people among the key populations) has been very high compared to general population. HIV prevalence in key populations in India is 6 to 13 times higher than the prevalence in general population in India (0.22%). HIV prevalence among persons who inject drugs is 6.26%, 3.14% among transgender community (including Hijra), 2.69% among gay men and other men who have sex with men, 2.10% among prison inmates, and 1.56% among female sex workers. If we are to progress towards ending AIDS, we have to strengthen HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services for the key populations on priority, said Dr Ishwar Gilada, who represents Asia Pacific region at the Governing Council of International AIDS Society (IAS), and is the President of AIDS Society of India (ASI).

HIV prevention must not slip off the radar

Almost half of new HIV infections in young people in the Asia Pacific region in 2020 were among gay men and other men who have sex with men. But less than 25% of young gay men and other men who have sex with men and young people who inject drugs, received prevention services to protect themselves and other people from HIV.

We really need to find out what are we lacking [in HIV programme], why are we still falling behind? Why are the new HIV infections not declining steeply, especially in the young key populations? rightly questions Applesta.

Legal and policy coherence is missing

Applesta said that legal and policy coherence is vital to achieve across the region to progress on public health and other sustainable development agenda.

We are aware that adolescents as young as 13 or 14 years may be sexually active, said Applesta. But if they wish to get a HIV test then they need their parent or legal guardians consent in India. Lot of young people do not want to go for a HIV test because they do not want to be judged by their parents or legal guardians. Also, there are prejudices related to being sexually active as well.

There are punitive laws. For instance, those young people who inject drugs may be reluctant to access harm reduction related health services.

We need legal and policy harmonization so that everyone including the young can access the full spectrum of HIV services everywhere, especially those who are at a greater risk.

Privacy and confidentiality

Legal requirement to show government identity cards for accessing range of HIV-related services may deter some young key populations from accessing care. Applesta also points out that most of HIV services are available during the time when young people may be in school or college or at workplaces. We need HIV services to be available at the time convenient or preferable for those most in need.

Stigma and discrimination still blocks access to care

HIV-related stigma continues to be a barrier in accessing healthcare services. Key populations face compounded stigma and discrimination. If a healthcare centre is not youth-friendly and not a safe space for the young key populations, then we will not be able to serve most in need as they may be reluctant to opt-in for services, said Applesta.

Self-stigma or shame is another obstacle which impacts self-acceptance, self-perception, self-efficacy, self-esteem and self-confidence. Self-stigma often results when self-issues interact with external causes (such as discrimination or violence in family, school, social or work settings), resulting in depression, low self-esteem, anger and self-harm, even suicidal intent.

Self-stigma contributes to bridging behaviours  such as injecting drug use  that can increase a young persons sexual risk-taking. Self-stigma appears to decrease condom use, as the need to feel love or affection outweighs long-term health consequences of unprotected sex. Also, those who have low self-esteem are less likely to have the power dynamics to negotiate condom use with their partner.

We need to stop neglecting self-stigma. Preventing HIV infections in key populations, requires addressing self-stigma and the linkages with HIV vulnerability and risk behaviours.

Applesta underlined the need to pay more attention to mental health. She stressed upon strengthening HIV prevention services with full range of HIV prevention tools and approaches available and accessible to the young key populations. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is yet to be made available widely in India. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis also needs to be made more widely accessible.

Comprehensive sexuality education is another missing or weak cog-in-the-wheel in Indias education system. Also we need approaches that reach out to the young who are not enrolled in formal education system so that they can benefit from comprehensive sexuality education, as well as other health and social welfare services. Then they will be able to take more informed decisions which will help them in not putting themselves in a vulnerable position, said Applesta.

She called for making HIV self-testing widely available and accessible in India. As per a recent news, in recognition of growing scientific evidence in favour of HIV self-testing, it is likely to be introduced in India by end of this year.

Engaging the young people, especially those from key populations, is vital to find solutions and approaches that work best for them.

HIV rates have declined but not steeply enough

Some countries in Asia Pacific region have made strong gains against their HIV epidemics. Thailand and Viet Nam have reduced their annual numbers of new HIV infections by at least 50% since 2010. These declines were achieved mainly with prevention programmes focused on people from key populations.

New HIV infections in the region overall, however, declined by only 21% between 2010 and 2020. But it has increased in some countries in the same period: 36% increase in Papua New Guinea, 84% in Pakistan and 237% in the Philippines. New HIV infections also increased during 2010-2020 in Afghanistan, Fiji, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste.

Across the region, new HIV infections among young people declined by 32% between 2010 and 2020.

With only 98 months left to end AIDS by 2030, we have to ensure that new HIV infection rates decline much more sharply - and - putting young key populations first is one of the essential components to accelerate progress towards the #endAIDS goals.

Bobby Ramakant  CNS (Citizen News Service)

(Bobby Ramakant is part of the editorial of CNS (Citizen News Service) and a World Health Organization (WHO) Director Generals WNTD Awardee. Follow him on twitter @BobbyRamakant or visit www.bit.ly/BobbyRamakant)
A crisis in education

Government-sponsored schools and training facilities face common challenges. There isnt enough funding, teachers are under-trained, and standards are falling. This means that parents prefer to enroll their children in private schools where they have to pay. Population growth in Africa is faster than in most other countries in the world. Over 60% of the population is under the age of 25. By 2050 the population is projected to more than double from the current one billion.

Higher education opportunities

The state of university education in Africa is chaotic. Many applicants who write university entrance exams do not get admitted. If they have the money, they will go to other continents for their higher education. Africans want to invest in higher education. This is because they realize it can get them higher-paying jobs. But the demand for higher education is greater than African universities can cope with. They are poorly funded and not well run.

Essay writing services: Essay writing is an integral part of university studies. It can be challenging to learn how to write them. African students in college make use of essay writing services. By hiring a plagiarism free essay writer from EduBirdie, they have more time to spend studying. Receiving a quality essay gives them a good example to learn from. It can also help them to improve their own essay writing skills.

Distance learning: Distance learning and online courses are immensely popular among African students.

Private universities: Setting up private universities is capital-intensive. There is such great demand that it could justify such an investment.

Primary and secondary education opportunities

In Sub-Saharan Africa, United Nations reports show that school fees may account for over a quarter of the income of a poor family. This includes tuition and indirect fees such as textbooks and uniforms.

Africans believe in the power of education to help lift them out of poverty. They are prepared to invest money in educating their children. Parents make great sacrifices to ensure their children receive a decent education.

Private schools: Private schools can provide solutions to the growing demand. Two private schools already operating in Africa educate many poor children at low fees. This is Bridge International Academies in Kenya and the Omega school chain in Ghana.

Private tutors: There is also a demand for private tutors to give children extra lessons after normal school hours. Children who receive extra lessons often perform better at school.

Vocational training opportunities

Theres a severe shortage of vocational training facilities in Africa. There are not enough skilled workers like plumbers or technicians. Without skilled workers, its impossible to provide the goods and services necessary for economic growth. The shortage of skilled African workers means skilled foreign workers get jobs. Unemployment is an issue in Africa. Its no wonder the demand for vocational training is high.

Offer vocational training: Vocational training involves practical work. Entrepreneurs who want to offer vocational training need capital to invest. They need workshops, equipment, machines, tools, and materials.

Professional training and certification

Internationally accredited certification is required for certain jobs. Some of the professions where theres a need for certification include:

Business and entrepreneurship

Information technology

Law and management training

Supply chain management

Government-backed organizations or private national or international organizations regulate these professions. Candidates need training according to a specific curriculum. Only then can they write exams and receive certification.

Private certification training: Private companies can train candidates. They can help those who want to get professional certifications. They can also run examination centers and test students for international bodies. They make sure theres no cheating and get a percentage of the fee.

Personal development training

Personal development training to teach soft skills may include courses on:

Leadership

Communication

Team building

Entrepreneurship

Negotiation

Time management

Private training companies: Businesses or government departments may not have the time or ability to train employees in soft skills. This offers an opportunity for private training companies to train them.

Workshops, conferences and retreats: Entrepreneurs may organize courses for individuals. Public and private organizations may also want to send employees to workshops for training in soft skills.

Conclusion

Quality education is in demand in Africa due to governments that cant cope with the demand and a growing population. This means there are many profitable business opportunities available. Entrepreneurs can make money and provide solutions to impact African lives at the same time.
LET ME begin this article by sounding a note of caution or call it a disclaimer. In law, there is an offence known as subjudice which simply means discussing an ongoing case in public with the view to influencing the mind of the jury or the court.

I innocently and fully absolve all media houses who will publish this article from blame. I will try, as a lawyer, to stay clear from commentary on what is going on in the courtroom, but if anybody should think there is a cause for subjudice I alone am responsible.

The dream of every court-going lawyer is to get that one magic case that will propel the lawyer into stardom, I will not say that I am already a star in the Ghanaian courtroom, but by the sheer Grace of the Almighty God, I have never envied any practising lawyer, for the simple reason that I never know what court brief is waiting next hour for me.

The very first time I, Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, set eyes on Aisha Huang was in late 2017 at the famous Kempinski Hotel where I had been invited by a former client, now a very bosom friend, Moses.

I met Moses, seated with a Chinese lady, eating breakfast. He introduced her to me as a Chinese with a legal problem, and that he wanted me to be her lawyer.

I ended up in the courtroom before my Lord Justice Ekow Baiden sitting at High Court Criminal One in Accra. The charges related to galamsey operations.

Right from the Ghana Law School and beyond by experience, all these years I never go to court unless I have been fully paid by a client or where as a matter of Christian policy, I decide to do the case pro bono.

I come from a very humble background so my sympathies are always with the deprived.

The case of the Republic vrs Aisha Huang and 3 others travelled a very long distance before Justice Baiden's court. All through 2018, we went to court, and I had the opportunity to cross examine all the witnesses. They were on bail, and two of the accused persons jumped bail, and the court became apprehensive.

The prosecution closed its case and it was time for us to open our defence on 18th December, 2018. We went to court, innocently to open our defence only to be told that the Attorney General, then Gloria Akuffo, had entered a nolle prosequi (don't prosecute).

His Lordship Mr. Justice Ekow Baiden, the Presiding Justice, had no option but to strike out the case and discharge the accused.

In fact I was confused. So far, apart from a few points here and there Justice Baiden had been very fair in the trial, and it appeared that all things going the same way, my client was going to be acquitted and discharged. Why nolle prosequi?

The Akans say that Otumfuo removes his ring over the shoulders. Government can do anything. Very well. Let us go, Aisha case over. No, no, protests the Immigration officers around  Counsel, we want to take your client for some documentation and later you have her. Very well.

The next thing I heard was that Aisha Huang has been flown out of Ghana back home to China. How? What happened? She called me on phone from China saying they just put her in a plane and flew her out of Ghana.

As a lawyer, I know that the political authority had all the power to throw out any foreigner out of the land, but, I wondered: Aisha Huang? What is so special about this diminutive Chinese woman to cause such political interest?

In fact, upon sober reflection, the conclusion I came to was that Aisha's case was so bad that the court might be compelled to acquit her and if that happens, it will be a big blow to Government, so why not truncate the trial altogether? Send her out of Ghana.

So she was sent out, 2018, 2019, 2020  COVID-19 2021, 2022  suddenly I saw in a newspaper publication here in Ghana that Aisha has been remanded in court  Oh, when did she come back? Why did she not contact me?

Very well- but not very well, because I kept on hearing messages from BNI staff that there is a suspect in their cells who wanted to see me  and I won't go unless I am paid!

Finally, I was compelled by my conscience to send my son, Lawyer Divine, who went, spent three hours without seeing her and came back. The pressure mounted, I sent a female lawyer, Fafa, who, after two hours, met Aisha, and then one thing led to another and now I and the lawyers in this firm, Nkrabeah & Associates, together with other law firms, are jointly representing Aisha Huang.

I am walking on a very tight rope against subjudice so I will not say anything whatsoever about the core matter in the courtroom on the many applications I have made for bail and been refused, whether my Lord's basis for denying bail is proper or improper and so on .. let the law work, on..

But let me use these pages to address the uninformed about the nuances of the law, generally.

All over the world, not only in Ghana, the basic presumption of the law is that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty and so pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Most unfortunately, human life, from generation to generation, works almost by word of mouth and negative tongues with dirty agenda soil human reputation, almost with no redress.

When I was in Legon, I was JCR President of the famous Commonwealth Hall. The next JCR Government that succeeded me audited my accounts and published it, with a report that my government was thus far the cleanest in Commonwealth Hall records.

But, when I contested Legon SRC elections, I lost because one Commonwealth Hall student confessed openly that he used white chalk to write on walls in some halls that I was corrupt as JCR President.

Even though subsequently he died, I still find it or very hard to forgive him  reader, for no reason, every bitterness, sheer hatred, people soil other people's names with raw inventions, calumny and terrible lies, and if you don't get a day in court, if you don't get a lawyer to defend you, if you don't get a judge who will be impartial and fair, they will be pushing you slowly to a shallow grave.

Reader, it is terrible.

Aisha Huang was arrested in late August 2022 and slapped with two counts of selling minerals without licence. On 2nd September, the Prosecutor said Investigations are continuing. On 14th September, they said again Investigations are continuing and yet again on 27th September, they said Investigations are continuing.

When I pleaded with the court and pleaded with the Judge to transfer her to prison custody, BNI woke up from their slumber and set up an 11man panel and reader, 11-man panel, to interview this girl for three days, hunting for excuses to nail her.

For sheer hatred, people soil other people's names with raw inventions, calumny and terrible lies.

What amuses me beyond tolerance levels are comments by those educated in our society who ought to know better, making all manner of accusations against me, for the crime of being lawyer for Aisha Huang.

The other day the noisy Captain Smart was literally calling me a fool for declaring to defend AISHA but when he went foul of the law, he sought refuge in lawyers coming to his defence.

Let me make the records straight  when I was Deputy Minister of State from May 2001 to May 2006, I never stepped in the courtroom. Right now, I am a private legal practitioner, subject to the Ghana Bar Association, licensed to practice, my number is e/GAR /02094/22.

The other day at Nkawkaw High Court, I was humbled to my knees when after openly stating that I was 37 years at the Bar, the next lawyer opposing me quietly told the court, 'I am 53 years at the Bar!'

If it were to have been Achimota School, I would have been described as a Nino Boy .

Reader, let us pray for Aisha Huang. Let all of us do our work, sincerely and humbly, and let the truth come out. Let justice prevail.

Is this our land not of Freedom and Justice?


An 11-nation summit of Central African countries on Tuesday appointed DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi as intermediary in troubled Chad, where dozens were killed last week during protests at the military's grip on power.

Leaders of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) agreed to name Tshisekedi "facilitator in the transition process" -- the official term for Chad's planned return to civilian rule.

The summit came five days after clashes between Chadian police and protestors in which 50 people died, including a dozen members of the security forces, according to a government toll.

Chad, an ECCAS member, was represented by Mahamat Idriss Deby, who was appointed "transitional president" by a national forum earlier this month.

The 38-year-old five-star general has been in power since his iron-fisted father, Idriss Deby Itno, was killed in an operation against rebels in April 2021.

His junta initially vowed to hold elections within 18 months -- a deadline that has now been extended by two years.

Deby also once pledged not to be a candidate in the future ballot, but the national forum declared he was entitled to take part.

Tshisekedi, in an opening speech to the summit, called last week's bloodshed a "dramatic mistake."

Hopes for national consensus, which had been the purported goal of the Chadian forum, "seem to have shattered," he said.

"The political crisis... has unfortunately revived," Tshisekedi said.

"The task now is to get the transition back on track," he said, before initiating talks behind closed doors.

After his appointment by the summit, Tshisekedi promised he would "spare no effort" to carry out his mission.

The summit's final communique issued an "appeal for peace to the Chadian government and people" and condemned what it called violence for political ends.

It also urged Chad's partners, particularly the United Nations and African Union (AU), "to maintain and step up their diplomatic, financial, material and technical support, (which is) needed for the transition process."

'Insurrection'

Thursday's protests had been called by opposition campaigners to mark the date when the junta had initially promised to hand over power.

But in a televised address late Monday, Deby said a "meticulously prepared insurrection" had taken place with the "support of foreign powers," which he did not name.

Chad. By (AFP)

A Geneva-based NGO, the World Organization against Torture (OMCT), has given a provisional death toll of at least 80, in the capital N'Djamena and the southern towns of Moundou, Doba, Koumra and Bebedjia.

"Young people were reportedly summarily executed there this morning," the OMCT said on Monday, adding that hundreds had been arrested, and some tortured.

The AU and European Union (EU) last week issued statements strongly condemning the crackdown and attacking violation of freedom of speech and assembly.
The Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through the Directorate of Trade, organised the 2nd virtual meeting for ECOWAS Institutions and Specialised Agencies on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 13th October 2022.

The objective of the meeting was to keep ECOWAS Institutions and Specialized Agencies informed of the status of the negotiations, as well as the levels of achievement and implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. The meeting also provided the opportunity for discussion on the roles of all ECOWAS Institutions with regards to the implementation of the different aspects of the AfCFTA Agreement.

On behalf of Mrs. Massandje Toure-Litse, Commissioner of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, the Acting Director of Trade welcomed participants to the virtual meeting. He noted that the creation of a single continental markets for goods and services, with free movement of business, people and investments, would help in no small measure to bring deeper integration and turn the 55 single African economies into a more coherent, larger single market. On its part, the Management of ECOWAS is taking concrete steps to ensure that the region benefits optimally from the gains of the AfCFTA, notably among this, is the strengthening of the role of the ECOWAS Commission in coordinating Member States position to preserve the ECOWAS acquis and supporting the operationalization of the Regional Implementation Strategy of AfCFTA.

The meeting, which considered the status of AfCFTA negotiations; the draft regional implementation strategy of AfCFTA; and the role of ECOWAS Community Institutions, noted that some Member States are yet to ratify the AfCFTA Agreement, and reiterated the support of the Commission to the Member States to ratify and deposit their instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission. This is to ensure that all Member States begin the implementation of the agreement at the same time which is a requisite to preserve our regional achievements such as the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET).

The meeting further recommended that the Commission should continue to support all Member States to fully participate at the negotiations of various AfCFTA protocols since the negotiations are Member States driven, as well as the capacity building of national experts and other regional stakeholders involved in the AfCFTA negotiations.

Participants at the meeting included representatives of ECOWAS Parliament, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), West African Health Organisation (WAHO), ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ECRA), West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), West Africa Monetary Agency (WAMA),Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC), Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF),ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), and ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC). The Directorates of Trade, Private Sector, Transport, Education, External Relations, and the Community Development Programme (CDP) also participated in the meeting.

Currently, 54 of the 55 African countries have signed the AfCFTA agreements which includes all ECOWAS Member States. Furthermore, 44 African countries are now State Parties by virtue of their ratifications and deposit of their instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission. For the ECOWAS region, 13 of our Member States are State Parties. The 13th Extra Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) announced that trade in goods under the AfCFTA will start from 1 January 2021.

Source: ECOWAS
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a press release to react to the calls by the Majority in Parliament to have Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta removed.

On Tuesday morning, Majority MPs in an address to the media in Parliament appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to let go of the Finance Minister amid the economic hardships in the country.

Failure of the President to comply, the MPs numbering 80 have warned that they will boycott the 2023 budget hearing and all other businesses of government that will be brought to the House.

After learning of the action taken by the Majority MPs, the leadership of the NPP said it will commence an engagement with the MPs and government.

The National Executive body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a press conference held on Tuesday October 25, 2022, by some members of the Majority Caucus of Parliament, demanding amongst others, the immediate resignation or dismissal of Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minster for Finance; and Hon. Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry respectively.

In view of the above development, the leadership of the party is currently engaging Government as well as the Parliamentary Group, and urges all stakeholders to remain calm as it seeks an amicable resolution to the impasse, a release from the NPP signed by National Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim has said.

The leadership of the NPP insists that it is committed to engaging the government on all issues of utmost interest and concern to the Party, Government, and the citizenry.
Ningo Prampram lawmaker Sam George is questioning why President Nana Akufo-Addo has not addressed the nation yet on the depreciation of the Ghana Cedi against the US dollar and other major trading currencies of the world.

Mr George also wants to know if the handlers of the President have not communicated the major development of the cedi falling against major world currencies to him yet.

Dear President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, after 3 horrendous weeks of a constantly declining currency, you are yet to have the decency and courtesy to address the nation.

What is wrong with you? Don't you realise Ghanaians are suffering? Have your handlers not told you what is happening? What are you waiting for before speaking to us as our President? the Ningo Prampram law maker quizzed.

According to him, the silence of the President is unfit for the position he occupies.

This goes beyond being incompetent, clueless, hapless and downright unfit for the office you occupy.

Sir, this is wickedness in high places! Awake from your slumber and address the nation. The true essence of a leader is felt in the face of adversity. Not in verbose flowery statements made in plagiarised speeches.

He added: Somebody wake Mr President from his deep sleep!

The cedi is currently trading at GHS15.20 against the USD1.

Source: classfmonline.com
26.10.2022 LISTEN

There are certain royal family members opposing the election of super wealthy Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong (Dr K. K. Sarpong) as the successor paramount chief (Omanhene) to the late Offinso paramount chief, Nana Awiafe Akenten III, who passed into eternity on 2 October 2021.

Dr K. K. Sarpong is the former Chief Executive Officer for the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC).

The kingmakers, the queen and the royal family head of Offinso have unanimously elected K. K. Sarpong to fill the vacant Offinsohene post. However, it is a well-established fact that the matrilineal lineage of K. K. Sarpong at a point in their family tree was decoupled from ever ascending to the Offinso paramount throne.

The elders at the time sealed the ban on K. K. Sarpongs maternal ancestry and their future generations with the invocation of the gods, river gods, curses and slaughtering of sheep as is required by tradition. This is what is called in the Akan traditional circles as ya nnom abosom agu won so.

When the above explained tradition takes place, it means the maternal family members of that particular lineage can never again ascend to the paramount throne of their traditional area.

Subsequently, K. K. Sarpong cannot, and should not, be allowed to occupy the Offinso paramount throne as long as the ban has become a permanent albatross hanging around his familys neck.

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has publicly acknowledged this fact hence rejecting the selection of K. K. Sarpong for the Offinso paramount stool.

However, like someone licking back his sputum which although, is anathema to Ashantis, especially their chiefs or traditional leaders, the Asante overlord has redirected how best K. K. Sarpong could be presented to him for enstoolment as Offinsohene despite the standing ban against his line of family?

Why this turnaround by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II? Has some huge money exchanged hands? Why the kingmakers, queen and the family head select K. K. Sarpong in the first place? Did they not know their own history or they were induced with bribe, the obvious occurrences when it comes to selecting a royal-candidate for a vacant paramount throne?

From the video below, I personally dont see honesty and justice becoming the central core of the issue but dishonesty and injustice. What do you see, watching the video?

I will rest my case and leave it with you to render your own judgments.

Ghana has a long way to go in her aspirations to advance if such acts of dishonesty and injustice are accepted as normal and allowed to continue.

Rockson Adofo

Tuesday, 25 October 2022
From the look of things by the middle of October 2022, there would probably be no quick end in sight for criticisms against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

Despite the INEC chairmans assurances that he was working very hard to deliver credible election results in 2023, the leadership and representatives of the opposition coalition led by the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, the Action Alliance and in conjunction with other opposition parties dramatically stormed the UK High Commission, the US and EU embassies to present evidence of compromise of the voters register and to petition against a plot to deactivate the BVAS and another plot to sack the chairman of the electoral commission.

The opposition leaders sought a global hunt down of the conspirators with visa ban, assets freeze and arrest where possible. They urged firm action against people who they said had held Nigeria and its 200 million citizens down and perpetuated themselves in office through rigging, denying the people of their democratic choice, looting the common treasury and acquiring properties across the globe.

According to the opposition leaders, if those politicians properties were seized, they would learn their lessons. They further called on all the foreign missions in Nigeria and abroad to keep a close watch on Nigerias transition process, pointing out that the plot to destabilize INEC could throw Nigeria into a crisis that was capable of conflagrating the polity, truncating democracy and shattering West African regional peace.

Addressing newsmen after their round of visits to the embassies, the spokesperson of the opposition coalition (CUPP) which is the umbrella body of opposition parties in Nigeria, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Ojeozi Ideato), High Chief Peter Ameh from Labour Party, Kenneth Udeze of Action Alliance Party, Rt. Hon. Jeff Ojinika of the Labour Party and Kabiru Yusuf of the Arewa Consultative group said the alert was aimed at engendering peaceful, acceptable, credible, free and fair elections.

In a related development, the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Kano State, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, described the President Buhari-led government as a complete failure in the country. He said the government disappointed the Northern region and Nigeria at large, describing the eight years of Buhari in office as wasted eight years.

Speaking on Friday 14 October 2022 in Kano at the 2023 Dialogue Series organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union Journalists, the gubernatorial candidate lamented that President Buhari wasted his eight years. He failed the north which put a lot of hope in him, and failed Nigerians as well, he said. He said the Labour Party would focus on human capital development as opposed to huge investments in infrastructure. Bashir Ishaq Bashir said human development was a priority and that when people were trained, they would develop and sustain a good environment.

Bashir Ishaq Bashir and Ikenga Ugochinyere

The gubernatorial candidate condemned the level of apathy displayed by the countrys leaders and how they were unconcerned about the difficulties and hardships encountered by their people. He said such leaders were inhuman in their actions and that he who failed to give people their rights when due was doing a complete disservice to humanity. He promised to ensure that people were paid their entitlements in good time, stressing that the presidential candidate of his party did not leave office as a governor until he ensured that every pensioner, salary earner and contractor had received his entitlements.

It was, therefore, no coincidence that during the week, a northern socio-political group, the Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance (ACWGG) called on the Chairman of the electoral commission and members of his team to humbly resign to enable an independent probe into allegations of insertion of foreigners names in the voters register.

Chairman of the group, Hon. Mohammed Grema Adamu, in a statement on Sunday, 16 October asserted it was no longer news that the processes leading to the conduct of the 2023 general elections were on top gear. He said his group was worried that the election umpires were morally compromised to deliver on the onerous task that held the key to national unity and prosperity.

His statement read in part: As some of you may be aware, on 15 September, 2022 one Barrister Ikenga Ugochinyere Michael addressed a world press conference titled Omuma Magic where he alleged that 15,000 foreign names were registered in the rural village of the governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodinma. He alleged that this criminal electoral treason was carried out in over 18 states that would help generate 10 million fake votes using preloaded fake accreditation. He further alleged that scanned passport photographs and burial pictures were used to register voters in most local government areas in Imo state. He rhetorically asked: how come people had access to INEC system to enable them scan and upload passports? Surprisingly, rather than call for the heads of those with the mandate to register and keep such important data in their custody, Mr Ikenga somersaulted and attributed it to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

On 12 October 2022, Mr Ikenga alongside his hallelujah boys organized another press conference under the auspices of CUPP, CSO and Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities which was aired live on Channels, Arise and AIT TV stations, where he alleged that political parties and opposition leaders had uncovered pressure mounted on INEC to deactivate the BVAS from their server and plots to force top INEC officials and the chairman out of office. Luckily, in Ikengas newly invented somersaulting dance steps, he acknowledged that the introduction of BVAS in the Osun, Anambra and Ekiti elections was able to improve the credibility of the elections as perennial problems associated with snatching of result sheets and changing of results at collation centres were resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned parties. But Ikenga and his co-travelers failed to acknowledge and commend the APC-dominated National Assembly for legalizing the electronic transmission of resuls and also, President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave INEC all the needed support to enable it conduct credible elections.

While it is not in our place to speak for the government on this allegation, we have noted with great dismay the unholy silence from the INEC Chairman and his team. We have no other option than to believe that, after Ikengas first allegation of treason, they must have reached out to him and furnished him with the baseless and unfounded allegation of pressure to compromise the 2023 general elections.

As a group, we made frantic efforts to get INEC to extend the registration period in our region following the shutdown of telecommunications networks to enable our armed forces carry out special operations in most northwestern and north central states, which fell on rocky grounds. The unfolding events is a pointer to one fact: INEC is deliberately working against Arewa, in their satanic ploy to suppress votes from our region, and swell those of southern Nigeria through the registration of ghosts and foreigners.

On the strength of the foregoing, we wish to make the following demands: that the bulk stops on the INEC Chairmans office and, therefore, the weighty allegation of criminal electoral treason leveled against him by Mr Ikenga and his co-travelers must not be swept aside. The relevant government agencies must arrest and prosecute Professor Mahmood Yakubu for trying to use his office to effect leadership change in our country in a satanic manner. Professor Yakubu and members of his team should humbly resign to facilitate an independent probe into allegations of insertion of foreigners names in our voters register. Mr Ikenga should stop blowing hot and cold at the same time. He cant accuse INEC of adulterating the voters register, and come again to cry wolf that INEC officials were under pressure to resign.

We hereby pass a vote of confidence on President Buhari-led administration and its commitment to deliver credible elections, come 2023 as he had done in other states during off-season elections. Where Professor Mahmood fails to resign, we will be forced to petition President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Justice, the National Assembly, the US and European Union embassies, British High Commission and other key actors in the electoral process on the danger of retaining the seemingly compromised Professor Mahmood Yakubu. At the instance where we feel our demands are not being treated with needed gloves, we shall be forced to come out in our numbers and occupy all INEC offices in the regions, including the National Headquarters.

True to their threat, the group petitioned the National Assembly, the European Union, the United State Embassy and British High Commission in Nigeria among others. In the petition dated 18 October 2022 and signed by its Chairman, Muhammed Grema Adamu, the group alleged that the INEC boss and his team compromised the voters register, inflated votes in southern Nigeria and suppressed the same in the northern part of the country, which is why it called for a change of leadership in the commission.

The group sought the suspension of the INEC boss to pave way for an independent probe into the allegations. In addition, they requested President Buhari to suspend the 2023 general elections and make good plans to ensure that the election results would be acceptable to all. They said that the continuous stay of Prof Mahmood Yakubu in office up to election time would make the outcome of the process, no matter how credible it might appear, not to be acceptable, thereby posing a serious threat to nations security. For the interest of peace and national cohesion, President Muhammadu Buhari should suspend all process leading to 2023 general elections, until the mystery behind the synthetic and invented names in our voters register is unraveled, they said.

Meanwhile, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega had advised INEC not to bow to pressure from politicians who were not in support of the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, for the 2023 elections. In an interview with a frontline local Nigerian newspaper, the former INEC chairman stressed that with the elections just few months away, politicians would continue to show desperation, which is why there is need for the electoral umpire to remain vigilant and resist whatever pressure the politicians bring forward. I think what is most important is the capacity of the election management body to resist that pressure and having recognised that using technology will add more value to the election, they should just remain focused.

Prof Attahiru Jega

According to Jega, INEC now had the wherewithal to deploy BVAS, since it had now been backed legally by law, and as such, INEC must ensure it resists all pressure from any quarters which may try to dissuade it from using the system. He also enjoined the National Assembly to ensure that INEC nominees are non-partisan, before endorsing them as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners.

In all fairness, the allegations levied by CUPP happened, according to them, in Imo State. It did not happen in Abuja or in INEC head office or even in Professor Yakubus office. So, the call by the Arewa group for Professor Yakubu to resign was too hasty and ill timed. What should normally happen is that the group should have petitioned to the Chairman of INEC who would internally investigate the allegation, and if it was found to be true, the Chairman would know that he had to sack the rotten staff who wanted to give his commission a bad name and prosecute such an errant staff if his action in any way negative affected the results of the elections. Obviously as the Arewa group pointed out, the bulk rests on the table of the INEC chairman. He is the one who should investigate the allegation and not NASS, not to talk of foreign embassies.

The habit of Nigerians petitioning foreign countries like the UK, America and the EU with every little problem that would ordinarily be resolved in the absence of greediness by stakeholders is not doing the image of the country any good. The first thing Nigerians should appreciate is that the impression these countries have is that perhaps it was a mistake for them to have granted Nigeria self rule at the time they did. If we consider the level of insecurity in the country today, the daily killings of innocent Nigerians, the millions who have been forced to become refugees in their country, the tens and hundreds that are daily kidnapped for money along our highways and even in their homes, in markets, in schools, colleges and universities, an honest Nigerian would say those foreigner were probably not wrong.

I would suggest that all parties hold their breath, give peace a chance and let us all see what Professor Yakubu would come up at the end of the end. We have the law courts to turn to if in our view there were discrepancies during the elections. The courts many agree are the last hope of the common man. Let us give ourselves some self respect among the international community, stop washing our dirty linens in public and find sensible ways of solving our problems by ourselves as America, Britain, the EU countries and all those we foolishly report to are solving theirs.

Emeka Asinugo is a London-based veteran journalist, author and publisher of Imo State Business Link Magazine (https://imostateblm.com)
Center for Financial Literacy Education (CFLE) in Africa, non-governmental organization working to enhance the knowledge of young people on Estate and Gift planning has built the capacity of young people to understand the importance of estate planning.

Estate and Gift planning is an essential element of the overall financial planning process in one's life. It's not for only rich people but for all. Without a plan in place, settling down after one's death could have a long-lasting and costly impact on loved ones, even if you don't have a pricey home, huge wealth or valuable art to pass on.

Estate and Gift planning allow one to access the ability to name children's guardian in the event of premature death. it also reduces taxes on what you leave behind as a common estate planning goal, more also it minimizes the chances of family strife or disputes and ugly legal battles.

Mr Peter Kwadow Asare Nyarko Executive Director, CFLE in an opening ceremony on Wednesday for a day capacity building training for students of the Catholic University at Fiapre, Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital noted that the program seeks to improve financial awareness and literacy in Ghana.

He added that the organization was committed to enhancing the quality of life of every Ghanaian household, cause social and economic impact and raise a stress-free and healthy individuals in the communities through personal finance management of which estate and gift planning should be considered.

He encourages every single Ghanaian to make estate and gift planning a priority.

He added that the organization was committed to significantly improving financial awareness and financial literacy across all ages, incomes and demographic groups.

He urges everyone at least twice a year to get and keep their finances in order with a current financial, retirement, estate and gifts plans.

Mr Theophilus Mawuli Kofi Appoh Principal State Attorney at Attorney General's Department, Sunyani speaking on estate planning urged the participants to consider creating a "Will" in order to avoid unnecessary disputes after death.

Mr Appoh noted that a well-structured Will must be signed by the maker and also signed by a witness before a competent court of law.

This he added would however make it a legal document as stated in section (2) of the WILL's Act (360) 1971.

He reminded caretakers of family properties not to add them to their personal properties when willing them as that would be suicidal and can be protested in court by family members or other parties who may be interested.
The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has announced that members will continue to strike until the agreed Conditions of Service with the employer are restored.

The decision has been taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG after holding an emergency meeting on Friday, 21st October.

UTAG and various Labour Unions in public universities, namely, GAUA, SSA-UoG, TEWU-GH, FUSSAG, and TUTAG have been striking for the past few weeks over what they say is the blatant unilateral variation of agreed conditions of service in the face of hostile economic conditions by the employer.

After the hearings at the National Labour Commission (NLC) and meetings with the Employer, the issue of the adjusted ex-pump rate of GH10.99 being implemented to affect Vehicle Maintenance and Off-Campus Allowances is still pending.

Unhappy the agreed conditions of service have not been restored, UTAG has announced that the strike by its members will continue.

The NLC has not been reasonable in its rulings. From the totality of the facts and evidence before it, the NLC should have no difficulty in making a definite order against the Employer to pay amounts on figures agreed and established by convention.

As a result of the disparities in the implementation of the adjusted ex-pump rate, the NEC of UTAG reiterated its resolve to follow through with the decision to withdraw teaching and related activities, namely, assessment of examination scripts and postgraduate theses, processing, auditing and certification of examination results, departmental and related meetings, etc., until further notice and call on all UTAG members across the fifteen (15) branches to observe same, part of a statement from UTAG dated October 25 reads.

Meanwhile, campuses writing End of Semester Examinations are permitted to complete the examinations while UTAG Branch Executives are directed to hold meetings with leaders of the sister Labour Unions to determine Essential Services that can run during the ongoing Strike Action.

As a matter of urgency, we call on the Employer to restore members to the agreed CoS. Following the uneasiness among UTAG members, any delay by the Employer would further exacerbate the already fragile academic calendar to the detriment of all stakeholders, the GUTA statement signed by its National President Prof. Solomon Nunoo concludes.
Education Minister Dr. Yaw Adutwum says claims that the newly appointed acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) is unqualified are unfounded.

Dr. Eric Nkansahs appointment as GES boss has been criticized by some teacher unions because, in their estimation, he does not have the requisite experience to lead the Ghana Education Service.

But at a conference of Directors of Education in Accra on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the Minister presented the new Director-General and said he is qualified and competent.

I officially introduce to you the acting Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Dr. Eric Nkansah.

He continued that, for those that may still be doubting the qualification and diverse experience the new Director brings to the GES: he [Dr. Eric Nkansah] has taught in basic schools, he has taught in secondary schools, Geography, contrary to what you heard.

Dr. Adutwum said Dr. Nkansah at a point went into banking, but soon returned to academia to take up a teaching job that kept him at the Kumasi Technical University for over a decade until his appointment at the Ministry of Education two years ago.

Like some teachers, he left to go and do some banking. He got bored with banking and went to the university to teach, and has taught for over ten years at the Kumasi Technical University. When I became the Minister for Education, I brought him to the Ministry where he became the Director for Tertiary Education so for almost two years, he has been the Director for Tertiary Education.

Another responsibility he has also handled very well was the fact that he was my lead person for all labour negotiations. So the union leaders know him more than me. He has been working with them on labour negotiations. He was the Ministry of Educations lead person for the negotiation of COLA.

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) criticized and expressed disappointment when Dr. Eric Nkansahs predecessor, Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa was relieved of his position in a letter dated Monday, October 17, 2022, as Director-General of the Ghana Education Service.

Expressing his stern opposition to Dr. Nkansah's appointment in an interview with Citi News, the President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu said he must be withdrawn.

We are not happy with the appointment because the gentleman who has been appointed is not a teacher. He has no teaching certificate. He is a banking officer. He has not risen through the teaching ranks.

The Education Minister said he hoped he may have put the issue of qualification of the new Director-General to rest with his recent comments.

Citinewsroom
Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, is expected to announce the fate of Dome-Kwabenya MP Sarah Adwoa Safo today, Wednesday, 26 October 2022, regarding her long absence from the chamber without permission.

Mr Bagbin, before the house went on a three-and-a-half month recess, deferred his ruling on the future of the Dome-Kwabenya MP to this new session.

A former Member of Parliament for the Kumbumgu Constituency, Mr Ras Mubarak, petitioned the Speaker to enforce Article 97(1)c of the 1992 Constitution by referring some four MPs, including Ms Safo, to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves for more than 15 days without permission.

According to the ex-lawmaker, the Standing Orders of Parliament are not clear as to who can or should raise the matter of absenteeism on the floor of the House for a debate and, or referral by Mr Speaker to the Committee on Privileges but it is incidences like this, if unattended to, that threatens Ghanas democracy.

Quoting an Afrobarometer data, Mr Mubarak said trust in Parliament has fallen by 12 per cent between 2002 and 2019.

The report, he said, ranked Parliament as the third corrupt institution in the country  just behind the police and judges.

I humbly submit that democracy can only work if Parliament puts the common good ahead of the party and personal interest. At a time of seeming collapse of trust in politics and Parliament as an institution, it is my fervent prayer that the House would rise to the occasion and be united on this matter, so as to uphold our constitution and also win back waned public confidence, the petition stated.

The Speaker of Parliament referred the matter to the committee.

Ms Safo, however, never appeared before the committee despite several invitations.

In May 2022, the MP said she was not aware she had been invited or served a notice of appearance by parliament over the matter.

I am not aware such a thing has been given to me, she told Accra-based Joy News, adding: I am just hearing it from you.

As we speak, I dont know that I have been invited, she stressed.

I have to be served, she added.

Ms Safo has been in the US for the past few months.

She says she has been attending to her sick child and would only return to Ghana if the child got better.

Source: ClassFMonline.com
A former Minority Chief Whip, Frederick Opare-Ansah has dismissed the assertions of division among the Majority Caucus in Parliament.

His comment follows calls by some New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs who are calling for the dismissal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

The MPs contend that the two ministers have failed to properly manage the economy.

Speaking to Citi News, Frederick Opare Ansah said the MPs expressed their democratic rights.

The fact that a group of MPs from a particular caucus will address the press on their own does not mean that, the caucus is disorganized. No, I will not say that. There are times when one wants to achieve certain objectives. So when a group comes out without their leadership to address the press [it could be leadership is directing from behind].

Some NPP MPs say several efforts to have government address the plights of their constituents with regard to the ailing economy had proved futile.

They held a press conference on Tuesday, October 2022, to voice their disquiet and demanded the head of Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen.

Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority group, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana's economy.

The NPP had called for calm and said it would engage the Majority Caucus in Parliament over the demands to arrive at a favourable resolution.

The leadership of the party herein reiterates its commitment to, at all times, engage government on issues of utmost interest and concern to the party, government and the citizenry, the party said in a statement.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo has asked Majority MPs demanding the resignation of Ofori-Atta to hold on.

He is pleading with the legislators to exercise restraints until Ghana concludes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The President said, terminating the appointment of Ken Ofori-Atta will disrupt the programme .

At a meeting with the aggrieved MPs at the Jubilee House, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed for calm.

Citi News gathered that the MPs are not happy with the appeal and are still insisting on the Finance Ministers exit.

citinewsroom
26.10.2022 LISTEN

Eugene Boakye Antwi, Member of Parliament for Subin, has told the Minority in Parliament not to count on the support of the 80 Majority MPs who also want the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Antwi said the 80 Majority MPs opposed to the Finance Minister were simply making an appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

I don't think we are going to support the NDC to remove our Minister. We have just made a separate call to the President of Ghana.

We are on a different tangent; not the same as the NDC. They are going through a censure motion, Mr. Antwi said.

The MP also said the stance of his caucus members is to show that there was an objective assessment of the performance of the Finance Ministry.

We have demonstrated to the whole country today that it is not NDC members seeking the removal of Ken Ofori Atta. It is rather his own members of Parliament who are not happy with the performance of Ken Ofori-Atta.

On whom should replace Mr. Ofori-Atta, Mr. Antwi said a fellow MP would be preferable.

The president has a pool of competent people in Parliament who can easily replace Ken Ofori-Atta we want a minister who will come out and work with us.

Commenting on the stance of the MPs, the New Patriotic Party Communications Director, Richard Ahiagbah, there will be dialogue with the MPs opposed to the Finance Minister and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

In the spirit of that dialogue, a position will be realised, and I think that right now, there isn't any real position one way or the other to communicate, Mr. Ahiagbah said on Eyewitness News.

citinewsroom
26.10.2022 LISTEN

President Akufo-Addo has said Ghana's ongoing talks with the IMF for a $3-billion extended facility programme is almost coming to an end.

We are talking, and, hopefully, concluding soon," the president announced to some stakeholders he met on Tuesday, 25 October 2022 at the Jubilee House.

"These important negotiations that we are going to have will have a positive impact on the Ghanaian economy in the months immediately ahead, he said.

Last month, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, stated that a deal between Ghana and the IMF should be reached and finalised before the end of the year.

In a closed-door meeting with President Akufo-Addo on Monday, 5 September 2022, on the sidelines of the Africa Adaptation Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the IMF boss told President Akufo-Addo: We understand the urgency, and we will move as quickly as possible.

Describing Ghana as a superb country, she reiterated the determination of the Fund to work with the Government and the Ministry of Finance, and ensure that an agreement is in place before the end of the year.

For his part, President Akufo-Addo indicated to the IMF boss that a lot of work has been done by his Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance, and the document to be presented by the Ghana side is ready for the scrutiny of the IMF.

Source: classfmonline.com
South Africa's post apartheid government has been toying with the idea of decriminalising sex work for almost two decades. But it has hesitated to act with the necessary courage to regulate the industry in a progressive way.

The reluctance to take bold action to decriminalise the sector has detrimental effects for sex workers. Decriminalisation would give sex workers access to labour rights and help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Most importantly, it would give sex workers more protection from violence . The recent discovery of the bodies of six women, believed to be those of murdered sex workers , in Johannesburg once again highlighted the dangers they face.

The incident has reignited the debate on decriminalisation.

Based on my research into the subject  including my 2006 PhD thesis  my view is that progress on this issue is hampered by the government's fears of what might follow. The two biggest fears are that it will lead to a spike in the sex work industry and the possibility of child prostitution .

But these fears do not warrant inaction. Government needs to start drafting a legislative framework to regulate the industry and decriminalise sex work. This is the only way to protect sex workers from further abuse and violence.

Misplaced fear

Sex work is by no means a popular career choice. Decriminalisation is thus unlikely to cause an upsurge in sex work.

In the main, people are forced into sex work by socio-economic circumstances, including poverty , and a lack of alternatives.

Research indicates that 76% of sex workers in Cape Town entered the industry as a result of financial need.

In relation to fears about children, the country already has clear and separate statutory provisions in place to combat child prostitution. These include sections 15, 16 and 17 of the Sexual Offences Related Matters and Amendment Act 32 of 2007 . Perhaps the most important of these is section 17, which specifically prohibits the sexual exploitation of children.

Read more: Murder of Johannesburg sex workers shows why South Africa must urgently decriminalise the trade

With these sections in place, the success of preventing an increase in child prostitution, once adult sex work was decriminalised, would depend on effective law enforcement.

A spike in child prostitution did take place in, for example, the Netherlands and parts of Australia, once they decriminalised the sex industry. Research shows that this was a result of ineffective law enforcement .

Exposure to violence

South Africa is a hotbed of crime and has one of the highest incidences of violence in the world.

Because of the illegal status of their work, sex workers are forced underground, which makes them more susceptible to violence than other citizens  who are already at high risk.

Research indicates that almost half (45%) of the South African sex workers who died in 2018 and 2019 were murdered. There are an estimated 167,000 sex workers in the country.

Sex workers are ideal targets of violence. Meeting clients in discreet places to hide their occupation leaves them exposed to violence from clients. They are also unlikely to report crimes against them if they fear being prosecuted themselves and abused further by the police .

The only way to stop violence against sex workers and protect their basic rights is to decriminalise sex work. The longer this reality is ignored, the more violence, including murders, will follow.

The history

Sex work in South Africa was originally criminalised in terms of section 20 (1A) of the apartheid-era Sexual Offences Act, 1957 , which prohibits unlawful carnal intercourse or acts of indecency for reward. According to this statutory provision, the sex workers ( mostly females ) are the perpetrators of the crime, and their clients are accomplices.

Both the sex worker and the client are liable for prosecution and the same punishment, which includes imprisonment for a maximum period of three years with or without a maximum fine of R6,000 (US$325). But in criminal law terms, the conduct of a perpetrator (in this case the sex worker) is considered more blameworthy than that of the accomplice.

Read more: Sex workers in Nigeria deserve fair treatment from the media

A 2002 minority High Court judgment highlighted this distinction as indirect gender discrimination. The legislature then responded by introducing section 11 to the Sexual Offences Related Matters and Amendment Act 32 of 2007 . The section provides that

A person ('A') who unlawfully and intentionally engages the services of a person 18 years or older ('B'), for financial or other reward, favour or compensation to B or to a third person ('C')- (a) for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with B, irrespective of whether the sexual act is committed or not; or (b) by committing a sexual act with B, is guilty of the offence of engaging the sexual services of a person 18 years or older.

This wording simply shifts the more blameworthy role of being a perpetrator to the client, while the sex worker becomes the accomplice. Although this removes gender discrimination and is more compliant with the constitution, it is not a progressive step in the direction of decriminalisation.

Both the sex worker and client are still liable for prosecution and punishment and are forced to operate underground.

The South African Law Reform Commission first reviewed the law banning sex work in 2006. It opted to continue with the approach of criminalising the sex industry.

Discussions continued in 2009 and again in 2017 . But nothing came of them. The opportunity to make changes was missed again recently when the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act failed to decriminalise sex work.

Looking forward

Fearing what might follow decriminalisation does not justify continuing to criminalise sex work. It is here to stay, whether legal or illegal.

Criminalisation has been shown to be ineffective in eliminating sex work .

In addition, it's been shown that it forces it underground, exposing sex workers to violence, including murder.

It's time South Africa took more progressive steps.

Decriminalisation will come with its own challenges and teething problems, but continuing to turn a blind eye to the plight of sex workers will mean that they live in danger.

Read more: Unequal power relations driven by poverty fuel sexual violence in Lake Chad region

The government can learn valuable lessons from other countries, such as New Zealand, were sex workers are regulated by law .

They enjoy better protection against violence, have labour rights, can decline clients and have access to healthcare. Brothels are only allowed to operate in certain areas and child prostitution remains a crime .

Rinda Botha does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Rinda Botha, Senior lecturer, University of the Free State
The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has held a meeting with members of the Majority Caucus calling for the dismissal of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, lawmaker for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi stressed that Majority MPs are unhappy with the current state of the economy where the citizenry are subjected to unprecedented hardships.

We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentients.

We want the President to remove Ken Ofori and Chares Adu Boahen, he told the press.

Hon. Andy Appiah Kubi continued, We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay.

We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.

We hope that those of us in the back bench and members of the Majority caucus will abide by this prayer.

We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate.

After the announcement by the Majority MPs, the President quickly called for a meeting at the Jubilee House to engage the Caucus Members.

At the end of the meeting on Tuesday evening, the President asked the MPs to exercise patience for the Minister of Finance to complete the negotiations between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to information gathered from sources, the government will next month wrap up a deal with the IMF for a $3 billion support Programme that will make the Ghanaian economy stronger and put it on the path of recovery and growth.
26.10.2022 LISTEN

"The Tree of Democracy is watered with the blood of villains and patriots from time to time,"  Martin Kpebu.

It's almost the anniversary of JJ Rawlings death and what can I say long live the preserver of culture in Ghana and the one who believed the love of money, and the freedom to love money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Ghana is continuously becoming a country of unnecessary killings, crime, corruption, poverty, stupid taxes to fund stupid politicians and rich celebrated thieves and arrant nonsense. We've lost the crippling fear to do evil. We've become desensitised to wickedness, as long as money is involved and call it smart. Gone are the days where a man or woman was subjected to a brutal trial to find the findings of their money and woe betide you if your money was not legit.

Woe betide you to speak of your wealth like it is a ticket to heaven on social media, Woe betide you to insult others based on class in public. Woe betide you to feel like you can't pay your workers, woe betide you to think because of money and position you can do what you like. Woe betide you to kill for properties. Woe betide you to preach or partake in sika gari or false preaching. You dare not.

As time goes by I am convinced everything Rawlings did was for a purpose and he was absolutely right. We cannot go from being one of the beacons of Africa to this level of incompetence so that some can brag to have houses, cars, liposuction, make ups, be prostitutes, slay Queens, have education ( which brings no fruit) and people can show off dresses and lace.

I am beginning to understand why Rawlings waged such war on riches. It seems the love has for money has made some hoard it at the expense of other people's poverty, the love of position has made some inhumane and they actually think they're better than other people. Not because they have gold, rubies or silver but because they have houses and cars.

People are killing their family members or random people for riches, and money rituals.

The ones in power do not care as long as they can buy another range rover and talk about how successful they are and call others jealous.

What I don't understand about the new generation of criminals is they don't want to Rob and do stuff to the thieves in power, the richest people in the world who brag on social media and those of high profile and in the public eye who are clearly thieves and leave the normal people alone. I mean that would make crime actually for a good purpose.

It seems most people are happy to fold their arms while a dwarf and those in social elite bleed the country dry. I don't even have enough room in this article to speak on illegal mining and how our water and natural resources are being bled dry. Why? because some people need more houses, cars, clothes and holidays. So maybe its time for another revolution.

I'm sure if armed robbers, kidnappers and blood money fans start to raise hell on the people who are flashing and stealing wealth and make yourself useful and terrorise them this nonsense of them not caring about the mess they are creating will stop. Many have become dubious because the thieves at the top aren't satisfied with looting. Our young men and women have become criminals, scammers and prostitutes because some people want houses and range rovers.

If they don't want the rest of us to have peace, they can burn with us. When it comes to their front door like the olden days, they won't be like Akuffo Addo saying I don't care if you vote for me again. They know there's no consequence. No traditional court anymore that can plague your families with curses for generations to come. Or the times of Rawlings were consequences were severe.

As KKD the linguist said, thieves and foolish people are raping the land, to exploit wealth, their foolish children will come and say other people's parents didn't work hard. When their parents were thieves. " The powers that be got angry. A thief is a thief, and a lot of the people who want to be worshipped in Ghana are thieves. Gone are the days where you could respect a person of high profile in Ghana.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablwak has rallied his colleagues in the House to vote for the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

According to him, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shown that he is determined to put his family's interest above the collective national interest of the country.

Following the filing of a motion of censure in Parliament to have Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta removed, Samuel Okudzeto Ablwaka insists that it is time to shock the Akufo-Addo's family and friends' government.

With Prez Akufo-Addo determined to put his narrow family interest above the national interest by his nepotistic protection of Ofori-Atta & with Kens shameless refusal to resignour motion is Ghanas only hope.

"Its great Speaker has received it. Time to vote & shock that family, the North Tongu MP shared on social media on Twitter.

On Tuesday, October 25, members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament addressed a press conference and called on President Akufo-Addo to remove the Finance Minister.

According to the MPs who are 80 in number, if President Akufo-Addo maintains Ken Ofori-Atta in office, they will boycott government businesses in Parliament including the 2023 budget hearing.
26.10.2022 LISTEN

Richard Kumadoe has declared his intention to contest the Parliamentary seat on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Sege Constituency come 2024.

Sege Constituency is located in Ada West District, and it's one of the many Parliamentary seat Zones in the Greater Accra Region, in Ghana.

Richard Kumadoe, who is a renowned Fraud Preventions Expert and Global Security Consultant said the motivation is to lead and serve. He noted that through serviceable leadership, community aspirations shall be achieved, and collectively, "we shall make meaningful progress."

He added, "The decision to serve my people as their MP, is one I take very seriously, and the opportunity to serve as their representative in Parliament, will be used creatively, judiciously, and productively.

"Together with my constituents, we shall strive for excellence, serviceable initiatives, and for greater acceptability and opportunities for all."
Lawyer Martin Kpebu

26.10.2022 LISTEN

Private Legal practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu has applauded the members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament for adding to the pressure on President Akufo-Addo to sack Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Speaking to 3FM in an interview, he said the move by the Majority Members of Parliament is an indication that they listen and care about the Ghanaian people.

I was pleasantly surprised, that also means that they are listening. You see how on Saturday we spoke truth to power on Key Points and it resounded with Ghanaians, of course, other people had made this call over and over, it means the Parliamentarians are listening, God bless them. That is the honour we were referring to on the Key Points, Lawyer Martin Kpebu shared.

According to him, Ghana will work again if Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is finally sacked.

Lawyer Martin Kpebu also wants President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be the next to go.

It means Ghana will work again, Ofori-Atta just has to go quickly and Adu Boahen, dont waste time. When they are gone the next thing is the President, the President just has to go. Nana Addo is bereft of ideas, he has to go and Ghana will work again. The international community will be willing to do something to help us when there is fresh ideas, Lawyer Martin Kpebu added.

Today, information gathered from sources indicate that President Akufo-Addo has asked the Majority Caucus to allow Ken Ofori-Atta to finish the talks with the IMF before his fate is decided.
WE ARE back to the issue of galamsey! The President's meeting with the National House of Chiefs and the MMDCEs, media reports with pictures of polluted rivers, conversations on social media, etc. are contributing to this renewed sense of urgency to act.

The Economics of Galamsey

During my doctoral dissertation research work some twelve years ago on the political economy of resource governance in Ghana, I learned quite a bit about galamsey. I was quite struck by the personal risks to those involved including the possibility of death. I also noticed strong economic incentives  jobs and earning a livelihood. I understood, while not excusing, the trade-offs made by those who engage in galamsey.

The small-scale mining sector (in which galamsey occurs) also holds strong economic incentives for the State. In the Small Scale and Community Mining Operational Manual dated September 2021, the importance of the sector is captured as follows:

The sector employs about one million Ghanaians directly and many more indirectly. The sector also contributes to foreign exchange earnings and creation of ancillary economic activities. SSM stimulates local economy and also provides pathfinder clues for discovery of large deposits as well as provision of forward and backward economic linkages. Gold production from the sector has been increasing steadily over the past decade and in 2018, it reached an all-time high of 2.13 million ounces (43% of national production).

It is therefore clear that the State has a strong incentive in ensuring a thriving small-scale mining sector.

The State's Policy Approach

In tracing the State's policy approach in the fight against galamsey, it appears that regularization has been central (Small Scale Gold Mining Law, PNDCL 218, repealed and integrated into the new Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). In my view, these laws provided a proper legal framework within which artisanal and small-scale mining could operate without disrupting its positive economic contributions to the economy. As the environmental consequences of galamsey gained traction, the State introduced another dimension to its policy approach  the use of the security forces (military in particular) to forcibly disrupt their activities. We have seen Operation Flush Out (Kufuor administration in 2006), Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Illegal Small-Scale Mining (Mahama administration in 2013), and Operation Vanguard (Akufo-Addo administration in 2017). One distinguishing feature of the regularisation and use of force by the State is the attempt to provide alternative livelihoods to those involved in galamsey which came with the Akufo-Addo government's approach.

As the conversations intensify, the question I keep asking is What is preventing the State's policy approach  regularisation and use of forcefrom becoming successful?

The Politics of the Fight Against Galamsey

As with any policy issue that needs a solution, one cannot overlook its partisan political dimensions. We have two major political parties (NPP and NDC) in Ghana, both of whom have over the years made efforts to deal with this menace. I do not doubt that both parties recognize the critical importance of the small-scale mining sector as well as the destructive nature of galamsey, which is an illegal unregulated activity. But at the same time, I know both political parties are sensitive to the political consequences of any proposed policy solution which include the potential response of voters in galamsey areas and the exploitation of any vulnerabilities by their political opponents. What will give both parties comfort is galamsey as a zero-sum issue. Dr. Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai captures the political dilemma well. (See The Galamsey Menace in Ghana: A Political Problem Requiring Political Solutions?).

Reconciling The Economics, Policy, And Politics

I have spent time reading and digesting the contents of the Small Scale and Community Mining Operational Manual dated September 2021. I have read several media reports on the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) launched in October 2021. I have also read various updates on their (NAELP) social media page on Facebook. I have requested for and waiting for a full copy of the NAELP policy document.

I am of the strong belief that our policymakers duly understand the economic importance of the small-scale mining sector. They also understand the policy imperative to act:

Properly police the activities of the sector and Deal effectively with the menace of galamsey

The missing link between the economics and policy dimensions of galamsey is the most difficult part  the politics.

There is no denying the many political missteps in the fight against galamsey. But if we can build political consensus around the two policy documents I have referenced above, I see no reason why we cannot succeed in fighting galamsey.

Time and events will tell!



BY John Osae-Kwapong (PhD)

The author is a Democracy and Development (D&D) Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Associate Provost for Assessment, Accreditation, and Institutional Effectiveness, Baruch College, The City University of New York.
26.10.2022 LISTEN

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is worried that removing Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations are ongoing will be problematic for the country.

His comment follows calls by some New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs for the dismissal of Mr. Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

The MPs contend that the two ministers have failed to properly manage the economy.

In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu confirmed that the Majority MPs had earlier brought their grievances before him, but he tried to persuade them to rescind their decision.

I have listened to their concerns, about the fact that if the Finance Minister is removed it might help us in our recovery. I told them I appreciate their concerns. My only concern was the timing. Considering our negotiations with the IMF and how far it has come, and how it may affect the progress we have made so far.

I appealed to them to hold their horses, that was on Sunday, and I even revealed some discussions I had earlier with the President, and I thought that was going to calm their nerves a bit. But at the end of the day, I was unable to dissuade them, he stated.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo has also asked Majority MPs demanding the resignation of Ofori-Atta to hold on.

He is pleading with the legislators to exercise restraints until Ghana concludes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The President said, terminating the appointment of Ken Ofori-Atta will disrupt the programme.

At a meeting with the aggrieved MPs at the Jubilee House, Nana Akufo-Addo appealed for calm.

---citinewsroom
26.10.2022 LISTEN

Actor, politician and farmer John Dumelo has called for value addition to raw materials produced in Ghana.

In his view, that is the way to go in order to make the local farmer competitive.

Speaking during the 3business agribusiness dialogue on Wednesday, October 26, he said We have to look at adding value to our produce and also post-harvest losses.

Most cocoa farmers havent tasted chocolate before yet we are the net exporter of cocoa.

During the event, the 2018 National Best Farmer, James Boateng said Ghana needs to scale up its agricultural production.

He said there was a need to apply technology to scale up production.

He said we are not even applying the little technology that we have.

I don't know why we can't grow tomatoes and onions in Ghana to the extent that we buy from Burkina Faso. We have issues with logistics.

He added We need to look at our inputs. Ghana 2019 did quite well in terms of the provision of inputs and in turn, our maize production increased.

For its part, former Managing Director of the Stanbic Bank, Naa Alhassan Andani observed that the agric sector of the Ghanaian economy and other parts of Africa has been exposed by global happenings.

He indicated that Ghanaians consume more than they produce locally. This means a lot more foreign exchange earnings is required to bring in additional food supplies to feed the people.

When the exchange rate is affected, he said, it means food supply is heavily affected thereby creating difficulties for Ghanaians.

This event could not be happening at a better time and I hope our panellist will elevate the conversation to the level of state and to the level of global coordination.

Agriculture is probably one gifted industry to Ghana, to Africa, not all of Africa, Ghana. When the fundamentals are weak the exchange rate will expose you.

On this one in agriculture the fundamentals are that everything we consume in this country, we consume more of our agricultural product in this country than we produce. Therefore for the surplus that you consume you have to bring from outside.

What do you need? You need foreign exchange and when the foreign exchange is not there the fundamentals will expose you. So I think today's Ghana and the world economy has exposed us in terms of the way we are organized in our agricultural sector.

---3news.com
Ghanaian investigative journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate, Manasseh Azure Awuni has shot down the defense mounted for Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta following calls for his dismissal by members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament.

On Tuesday, Members of Parliament elected on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) addressed the media in Parliament and called on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, lawmaker for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah Kubi stressed that Majority MPs are unhappy with the current state of the economy where citizens are subjected to unprecedented hardships.

We are unhappy with the developments in the country, we consulted our constituents who also expressed same sentients.

We want the President to remove Ken Ofori and Chares Adu Boahen, he told the press.

Hon. Andy Appiah Kubi continued, We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State in the Finance Ministry without further delay.

We want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority Caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of Government by or, for the president by any other Minster.

We hope that those of us in the back bench and members of the Majority caucus will abide by this prayer.

We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing neither will we participate in the debate.

Reports have indicated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the Majority MPs to hold on and allow Ken Ofori-Atta to conclude the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The argument from many who have defended the Finance Minister is that sacking him in the middle of the negotiations with be a disruption.

Reacting to that argument, Manasseh Azure noted that those assertions are unfounded. According to him, negotiations will continue with the Fund even if the Finance Minister falls sick or God forbid, lose his life.

God forbid, but if Ken Ofori-Atta falls sick or dies, will the IMF negotiations cease? The excuse that his removal will derail the IMF negotiations is what we call in Gurune nagenbeto, the renowned Investigative Journalist posted on Twitter on Wednesday.
Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukonor has thrown his weight behind John Dramani Mahama in his quest to be re-elected as flagbearer of the party.

The Deputy General Secretary, who is also aspiring to be the General Secretary of the party, said no one comes close to the former President.

I support John Mahama, even though I am not necessarily supposed to support anyone as a General Secretary hopeful. But then, I do not know if anyone else is going to contest him. Because he is the only one I know, I am comfortable throwing my weight behind him.

I doubt if anyone with aspirations of becoming a flagbearer will contest. Anyone who comes forward to contest him [Mahama] may have other motives. I'm not so sure the person is going in to win.

He said, John Mahama is not only the best bet for the NDC, but for Ghana.

---citinewsroom
Professor Godfred Bokpin, an Economist, says the average Ghanaian politicians are afraid of a powerful domestic private sector because of the role money plays in politics.

He said the fear had made politicians to be more open to facilitating foreign capital because the foreigners were likely not to play a role in the countrys politics.

Prof. Bokpin was speaking at the 11th Edition of the Ghana Economic Forum on the theme: Building a robust and resilient economy through technology, finance, investment, trade and entrepreneurship, in Accra.

If we have done this level of injustice to ourselves, how do we turn around and cry for going to IMF 17 times, he added.

He said, as a country, we have not been able to put in place the right measures and institutions that will ensure the necessary fiscal restraint and drive efficiencies.

Prof Bokpin, who is also a Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, said, therefore, anytime there were challenges, the country needed an external anchor, such as the IMF.

He said evidence showed that anytime the country visited the Fund, we intent to get some level of macroeconomic stability but we are not able to sustain that.

According to him, macroeconomic stability was not an end in itself but a means to an end and that was why nobody should expect the Fund to transform the economy.

Prof. Bokpin said the best helping hand the country could find lies in its own hands.

The Economist said economies were transformed by adding value through manufacturing.

He said until we are conscious in growing some of the SMEs to be regional and international businesses, we are not going anywhere.

The Lecturer argued that Ghana was visibly absent in some of the lucrative sectors of the economy.

Dr. John K. Kwakye, Director of Research, Institute of Economic Affairs, said the Ghanaian economy had been vulnerable for some time now, because we have not built economic buffers to allow us withstand these shocks.

He said the country needed both resources and policies to advance its developmental agenda but unfortunately Ghana lacked adequate resources, while its policies had been ineffective in so many areas.

The Director of Research at IEA said the country has potential to be able to raise big revenue to fund development.

We do not collect enough taxes not because our tax rates are low but it is because of the many loopholes and administrative inefficiencies, he said.

He said studies had shown that of those loopholes and the administrative inefficiencies were blocked tax collection would improve drastically.

Dr Kwakye said because the country failed to raise enough revenue to fund developmental projects, it turns to borrowing.

GNA
26.10.2022 LISTEN

Uncle Kobina Tahir Hammond or K.T, as I will refer to you as this piece unfolds, Greetings. I have hesitated enough in writing this open letter to you because I thought that unlike your unpleasant words to the people of Ketu South that they are Togolese and not Ghanaians, you would for once apologize to the youth of Ghana for insulting them recently. What was their crime, they booed Nana Addo, President of the Republic on September 24, 2022. The booing happened at the recent Global Citizens Festival celebrated in Accra.

K.T., in your insults to the Ghanaian youth, you said, their heads are like coconut. Elders are consulted for decisions; nobody consults the youth when a matter comes up because the elders are wiser. The youth cant and they dont know how to manage the country. The youth galivant in the town with long beard and empty heads.

It seems to me that the presidential booing had some cascading effects on your emotions, K.T., hence you reacted with those derogatory words to the youth. Regardless of the presidential booing effects on you, the youth also expect your usual exhibit of erudition to run simultaneously with civility in speech, which is required of an elderly especially when the elderly are wiser than the youth.

Questions

K.T, before I proceed, it is important that I ask you 22 rhetorical questions enumerated for ease of understanding and reference since you have spent close to 22 years in Parliament. Ponder over these questions objectively and soberly.

These questions may remind you of political history in Ghana and perhaps elsewhere as well as certain current happenings in our neck of the woods. The questions alone constitute episode 1 of the open letter to you.

Why do you often react to issues with vituperations and kneejerk approaches as well as vilification instead of allowing cool heads to prevail? Can you make President Kufuor your role model and learn some tolerance from him since he is a statesman from within your party? Was the August 1, 1962, failed Kulungugu bombing attack on President Nkrumah less dangerous than booing a President in the Fourth Republic or not? Was Constable Amatewee's 1964 killing of a presidential guard (Police Supt. Salifu Dargati) in his attempt to kill President Nkrumah less life-threatening than booing a president in the 4th Republic? Was the incessant attacks on President Nkrumah by members of the National Liberation Movement (NLM), the forebears of your political party less important than booing a President in the 4th Republic? Nana Addos all -die -be -die assertion which was not apologized for. Has it become the chickens that come home to roost in the form of booing? Are you aware that the President was equally booed in Kumasi and even though he is an Akyem, some residents of Akyem-Akroso also booed him for plying a dilapidated road in that town? If all is well with the current Administration, why are 80 MPs of the ruling party calling for the resignation of the Finance Minister who is their fellow party member? Have you been watching video clips of the South African Parliament to at least learn some tolerance therefrom? If not, can you begin doing so with focus on Julius Malema and his EFF colleagues? Is booing the President more dangerous than a court judge and a city mayor being molested physically in Kumasi by your party boys? Don't you think that a physical attack on a judge further solidifies the widespread assertion that your political tradition disrespects the courts especially since the infamous "no court, no court" assertion by Prime Minister Busia as his immediate reaction to the declaratory judgment given E.K. Sallah in the 1970 case of Republic v. Sallah, following the apollo 568 summary dismissal of public servants under the 1969 Constitution? Is the booing of the President more hurtful than the abject economic hardship your Administration has brought onto the nation especially the youth? Why are you often intolerant of opposing views? In your over two decade stay in Parliament as MP for Adansi- Asokwa, did the youth vote for you or only your geriatric folks voted for you? Did your party deceptively use the incompetence tag on President Mahama in 2016 and is the incompetence tag placed on one President less humiliating than booing another President in the 4th Republic? Does the importation of a certain holy rock from Israel for national cathedral project make the old folks more reasonable and decisive than the youth as you comparatively put it? Have you followed the Kwasi Kwarteng dismissal and Liz Truss resignation in a more mature democracy than ours and if yes, any lessons for you the old folks in political leadership in Ghana? Were you in Ghana when your colleague, Ursula Owusu cursed President Mahama any time the lights went off? Is cursing not more dangerous than booing? Which group introduced the politics of insults in Ghana, the youth or the old folks? Have the ruling old folks failed Ghana or the youth did? Can you focus on important issues and brush aside the trivial ones like booing? Is the President higher than Jesus Christ, the son of the Living God who was booed, spat upon, pelted stone, and above all, crucified?

Enough of the questions to you, K.T. I will in due course address the real concerns in episodes 2 & 3 of this my open letter to you.

~Asante Sana~

Philip Afeti Korto

[email protected]
An Executive Member of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council , Dominic Dadzie, has alleged that some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are giving premix allocation, a situation he laments contributes to the scarcity of the product at landing beaches.

According to him, this arrangement has become a great source of worry for fishermen as they end up buying the product from agents of these MMDCEs at exorbitant prices.

I can tell you that DCEs have been given premix allocation and it is sad. These people do not have boats. Some don't even know how fishing is done and yet they get a considerable amount of premix. Now, they end up selling the product back to the fishermen at unbearable prices. This is sad.

He mentioned that apart from this arrangement is the biting issue of shortage. As I speak some landing beaches have been without premix for months.

Mr. Dadzie revealed that the current premix shortage is also because there is a huge debt that government must clear. So there is a huge premix debt.

Speaking at the dialogue series organised by Media General's Takoradi-based radio station Connect FM on the theme Premix, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated IUU Fishing Practices at the Sekondi Landing Beach, Mr. Dadzie expressed worry that the current formula used in distributing premix to the fishermen have been overly politicised.

Just look at the current make of the premix committee. It is made up of representatives of the party of the day. It is only the Chief Fisherman that we can conveniently say is not political.

So other fishermen said to be of the other divide struggle to get premix. So, imagine what will happen when another party comes to power. It's a bad precedent we are setting. So if these arrangements don't change, we will always struggle with the product getting to the right people.

Western Region Director of the Fisheries Commission Joseph Yeboah, on his part, stated that the Ministry of Fisheries is concerned about the supply of premix and is working tirelessly to resolve it.

As I speak, we are looking at digitalising the supply of premix. What it means is that without a card, one will not be able to buy the product. Unfortunately, the fishermen are not coming forward to embrace this innovation. We brought 500 cards and only 200 have so far been collected. So we are indeed concerned and working to resolve the premix issues.

According to him, the growing number of fishermen has also affected the supply of premix.

He, therefore, entreated fishermen to be judicious in the use of the little allocation that they get.

-3news.com
26.10.2022 LISTEN

The Police say some documents needed to build a duplicate docket in the murdered Canadian case are not ready.

According to Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, the Police were yet to receive the full autopsy report on murdered Frank Kofi Osei, the Ghanaian domiciled in Canada.

He, therefore, prayed the Adenta District Court to give the prosecution some time to get all the necessary documents and reports to build the duplicate docket and forward same to the Office of the Attorney General for advice.

The court adjourned the matter to November 11.

Safina Mohammed Adizatu, a student, and Michael Fiifi Ampofo Arku, the two accused persons, are in lawful custody over the murder of Osei at Ashalley Botwe School Junction, in Accra.

Osei, a Ghanaian domiciled in Canada, was in the country for a vacation when he was allegedly murdered last month.

Safina, also known as Safina Diamond on social media, and Arku, are said to have stabbed Osei several times on his chin, jaw, back and strangled him.

Charged with conspiracy and murder, the two accused in the company of their respective lawyers, had their pleas reserved.

Narrating the facts, the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko, said Safina was a 23-year-old Level 100 student of the University of Ghana, and Arku, a Technical Officer of the Crop Research Institute, Kumasi.

The prosecution said Osei, now deceased, was a Ghanaian domiciled in Canada, who was in Ghana on vacation.

It said on July 24, this year, Osei visited Safina, his fiance, who resided at Ashalley Botwe School Junction, Accra, and decided to pass the night there.

According to the prosecution, the accused later allegedly dragged the deceased from the first floor of the storey building through the staircase and dumped him at the gate of the house near where the deceased had parked his Toyota Tundra and washed the blood stains off the staircase.

The prosecution said Safina called a police officer and said her boyfriend visited her, and had died in her room.

The court heard that the police called members of the Police Patrol Team, which rushed to the scene and found the body of Osei lying at the gate of Safina's house, but (she) Safina and Arku were nowhere to be found.

The prosecution said the police traced Safina to Ashalley Botwe School Junction and nabbed her.

It said Arku after allegedly committing the act, absconded to Kumasi, adding that efforts were underway to apprehend other accomplices on the run.

GNA
Kenya recently lifted a ban on the cultivation and importation of genetically modified crops amid the worst drought in 40 years and soaring food prices. This includes white maize , the country's main staple. The decision was welcomed by scientists who see GM crops as the answer for food security. But it is opposed by a spirited lobby who are concerned about potential risks to health and the environment. Benard Odhiambo Oloo, who is a food safety and quality expert, provides insights into the debate.

What are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refer to plants, microbes or animals that have had their genetic make-up altered through the introduction of a select gene from another unrelated species. For crops this is usually for the purpose of conferring a desired characteristic such as increased yield, insect tolerance or drought resistance among others.

Genetic engineering refers to the science involved in the selection of desired genes responsible for specific traits from a species and transferring them into the genes of another organism, thus modifying the second species' genetic makeup.

Humans have been improving the quality of domesticated crops for thousands of years. But this has mostly been through conventional breeding, where important traits are encouraged, selected and passed down from one generation to the next.

Conventional breeding would typically take 10-15 years. The turnaround for genetic engineering is usually less than five years. But, due to the strict regulations on commercialisation, most GM crops have been in the pipeline for decades especially in Africa.

How prevalent is their cultivation in Africa?

The approval and cultivation of GMOs in Africa has been slow . Only a few countries have allowed their commercialisation. South Africa has been a leader in adoption of GMO crops in Africa and has had experience spanning over a decade. The number of countries in Africa where GM crops are cultivated has grown from three in 2016 to 10 by 2022. These 10 countries have commercialised different types of GMO crops.

Apart from South Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana and eSwatini have allowed the planting of GMO seeds. A number of other countries are at different stages of development and commercialisation of a number of GMOs.

The leading GMO crops under consideration across different countries (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and others) are GM cotton (tolerant to African bollworm), GM cassava (resistant to cassava brown streak disease) and GM maize (resistant to stem borer) among many more.

This year Ghana approved the release of pod borer resistant cowpea, thus joining the growing list of African countries to commercialise GM crops. This is the first genetically modified crop to be approved in the country.

In December 2019 the Kenyan government gave the nod for the commercialisation of GMO cotton. After more than two seasons of growing GM cotton, Kenyan farmers have expressed satisfaction with the good yield from Bt cotton in spite of the drought conditions in the last few seasons.

Elsewhere in Africa, farmers have also reported significant reduction in the cost of production through reduced spraying for control of insect pests and diseases. Controlling African bollworm, for example, was costly and the pest caused losses in cotton farming.

This list is expected to keep growing even though in most African countries the cultivation of GMOs has experienced protracted delays through regulatory, political and social blockades.

Why did Kenya ban GMOs? What has changed?

Kenya banned GM crops in 2012. The ministerial statement on the ban was largely informed by a 2012 a scientific report dubbed the Seralini study that associated GMOs with cancer in rats.

Anti-GMO activists have often referred to that report and in addition presented the unknown impact of the modifications as the main reason for pushing for bans. The other issues range from fears about the effect of GMO, the mixed signals from EU about health and safety of GM foods, and the potential risk of GMOs to the environment and biodiversity .

The activists also cite the fear of possible effects of GMOs on non-target organisms and potential development of resistance to insect-pests by the GM crops. Lastly, food safety fears of GMOs remain pertinent in some parts of the continent.

The Kenyan government's change of stance was underpinned by a number of developments. First of which was the report by a task force on genetically modified foods that resulted in proper scientific regulation and presence of a strong regulatory framework .

Another factor is the lingering drought in which over 4 million Kenyans currently face food insecurity. This may have led the government to consider more radical solutions despite opposition .

The government has decided to review each application for introduction of GMOs on a case-by-case basis.

What could go wrong? And what mitigation plans are there?

There are three main concerns about what could go wrong with GMOs. These are unintended harmful effects, food safety, environmental safety and social attitudes, including fears that GMOs are a case of man playing God .

There is also the concern of unintended harmful effects of GMOs on the environment. In anticipation of these risks, scientists working in the field of GMO have created a raft of regulations. These regulations aim to evaluate whether GMOs are just as safe to humans and the environment as their conventional counterparts before they can be accepted for commercialisation .

Food safety: Food safety studies including tests of allergenicity (the ability of an antigen to induce an abnormal immune response) are a mandatory requirement for commercialisation of GMOs. Countries have also instituted biosafety authorities with a mandate to regulate the development and commercialisation of GMOs.

Environmental safety: An international agreement provides a framework for handling, transport and use of GMOs. It provides a clear road-map for evaluation of the impact of GMOs on the environment. It has instituted the practice of post release monitoring and evaluation for 10 years or more after the release of a GM crop.

The potential development of weeds that can resist one or more specific herbicides  so-called super weeds  is a case in point. Herbicide tolerance has helped farmers to control weeds and significantly reduce cost of GM crop production. This is because crops can be genetically modified to confer resistance to common herbicides, such as glyphosate. There is a chance however that farmers can over-rely on this technique of weed control to the detriment of the weeds developing resistance.

The potential for such resistance must be closely monitored. In Kenya, it would fall upon county governments through the extension officers to report any early cases  and to take action  if there are any potential signs of resistance. The aim should be to use multiple approaches to weeds and pest control also referred to as integrated pest managanent systems .

Socio-cultural aspects: The government must make every effort to address people's concerns about GMOs. This includes pointing out that humans have modified crops for thousands of years. GM foods have now been grown and consumed for over 20 years in different countries. There is so far no scientific evidence to confirm any of the fears. GM crops have been evaluated to be just as safe for human consumption and to the environment as conventional crops.

Benard Odhiambo Oloo 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.

By Benard Odhiambo Oloo, Lecturer of Food Science and Technology, Department of Dairy and Food Science and Technology., Egerton University
Designated protected areas for wildlife  such as national parks  are the world's principal conservation strategy. But this model to conserve wildlife in Africa is increasingly coming under pressure. Changing climates , volatile economies and political systems , conflicting sentiments around wildlife management practices ( like trophy hunting ) and unpredictable events, such as pandemics , are just some of the threats that undermine conservation efforts.

Many protected areas didn't fare well during the pandemic, particularly across Africa . Ailing economies and restricted travel reduced the funding and tourism revenues on which many parks depend . As a result, half of surveyed parks across 19 African countries reported reductions in the protection of endangered species, field patrols and anti-poaching measures.

These impacts bring into question the resilience of protected areas where conservation is funded by donations, state budgets and, in some cases, ecotourism. Additional conservation models are called for .

One such model is wildlife ranching. We carried out a study which examined how wildlife ranches in South Africa responded to the impact of the pandemic. There are different types of wildlife ranches . They generate revenue from wildlife through a variety of activities including ecotourism, trophy and meat hunting, wildlife trade and meat sales. On some of these ranches, livestock shared space with wildlife.

Some specialised in one or two of these activities, others had a more diverse income portfolio. We found that, on average, wildlife ranches were more financially resilient and better able to adapt to the impact of the pandemic than protected areas. Importantly, ranches with mixed systems of wildlife and livestock coped the best.

We can learn from these wildlife ranches  and their adaptable business models  to build more resilient conservation systems in an increasingly volatile world.

Wildlife ranches as a conservation model

In several southern African countries  including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia  private landholders and communities are involved in conservation through various models which aim to benefit local people and wildlife. One of these is wildlife ranching.

In South Africa, privately owned wildlife ranches span an estimated 17% of the land , over double that of protected areas. They play a major role in conserving South Africa's wildlife, including iconic species such as white rhinos . An estimated 5 to 7 million herbivores occur on ranches nationally .

On these ranches, wildlife is used to generate livelihoods. Conservation is an outcome rather than a primary objective.

The ranches provide 65,000 jobs , compared with 4,000 permanent jobs in South African National Parks. Wildlife ranches contribute at least US$438 million annually to the economy . Tourism in South Africa's National Parks generates US$120 million annually .

The COVID pandemic presented an opportunity to understand how a major global shock affected the ranches.

COVID and wildlife ranches

To understand responses of wildlife ranches in South Africa to COVID, a cohort of graduates interviewed owners and managers of 78 wildlife ranches.

They found that wildlife ranches that specialised in ecotourism, particularly international tourism, were the worst financially affected by the pandemic. Three in every four ranches lost more than 75% of their revenues.

Ranches that specialised in trophy hunting, similarly dependent on international clientele, also commonly lost more than 75% of their revenues.

By contrast, ranches that generated revenues from a more diverse portfolio of wildlife-based activities before the crisis fared better. Only one in every four ranches lost more than 75% of their revenues. Their activities included wildlife sales, meat sales or meat hunting, often alongside international hunting or ecotourism.

Notably, wildlife ranches that also practised livestock farming suffered the least impact. Some even increased their revenues during the pandemic.

Coping during the pandemic

Unsurprisingly, many wildlife ranch owners (28%) reported reducing their operational costs to cope with diminished revenues. For instance, they decreased staff numbers and anti-poaching measures. A report estimated 18,000 ranch employees were affected by salary cuts or lay offs.

What was surprising is that cost cutting wasn't the most common response. Far more common (40% of ranchers) was to shift strategies towards attracting local tourists or meat hunters, often by offering discounted rates.

Ranchers also commonly shifted their revenue generation to other activities, beyond hunting and ecotourism. These included packaging and selling wildlife meat , or farming livestock.

This shows us that many wildlife ranching business models are adaptable in times of crisis, allowing all interviewed ranches to stay afloat. Some business models were, however, more adaptable than others.

Scaling up activities

All ecotourism-focused ranches reported cutting costs. None shifted to livestock and very few shifted to other wildlife-based activities.

By contrast, only a third of ranches undertaking more diverse wildlife activities cut costs. The majority scaled up live wildlife sales or meat packaging and processing.

This tells us that it is easier for a rancher to scale up an activity that they were already doing to compensate for the loss of another, than it is to start something new.

It also tells us that it is particularly challenging to start consumptive activities  like wildlife meat sales or hunting  if a ranch is focused on non-consumptive activities, like ecotourism.

Lessons in a changing world

Many wildlife ranches demonstrated the ability to adapt in the face of a major global shock. While the significant impact of the pandemic on their revenues must not be overlooked , lessons can be learned from the ways in which these enterprises coped with the crisis.

While conservation models based on international visitors (like ecotourism and trophy hunting) can be lucrative activities in normal times, building resilience requires diversifying revenue streams.

Diversification of revenue streams depends on policies that provide landholders with the right to use wildlife. These rights vary across African countries. In Namibia, for example, communities can benefit from both ecotourism and hunting on their land, while in Kenya trophy hunting is prohibited.

More conventional conservation models  such as national parks  are important for national identity, heritage and conservation. They can survive crises through an injection of state funds. However, they are often expensive for national treasuries. They're also rigid, both institutionally and in what the public finds acceptable . For example, it is usually expected that they are wilderness places where revenue-generation is at best a secondary objective to conservation, and often limited to ecotourism. With diminishing state budgets, many parks are nevertheless increasingly dependent on these revenues to fund their management.

South Africa's national parks cover almost three-quarters of their operational costs through tourism , yet lost 90% of this revenue during the 2020 lockdown. This prompted the call for more diversified income streams going forward .

While we highlight the importance of the greater adaptive capacity seen on wildlife ranches, compared with that of parks, we also recognise that not all adaptations will be good for conservation. For example, reducing anti-poaching measures to cut costs is not ideal, and the longer-term conservation implications of scaling up livestock production should be monitored. It may enhance ecosystem functioning in some contexts .

Read more: South Africa struggles to manage wildlife ranching: why it's a problem

Ultimately, we need both traditional conservation tools like national parks and more pluralistic and adaptable approaches like wildlife ranches to ensure resilience of our natural heritage in times of change. Importantly, wildlife ranches should not be seen as, or measured as, protected areas. They are working lands and require different policy instruments and incentives.

Governments could create enabling environments for more diverse land uses that include wildlife-based models to thrive, such as access to land and tenure security, avoiding over-regulation, and increasing skills development programmes for managing both wildlife and livestock simultaneously.

Hayley Clements receives funding from Kone Foundation, a Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Research Grant, and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD). She is affiliated with the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University and the Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science at University of Helsinki.

Alta De Vos receives funding from the Rhodes University Research Council, the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, a Google Faculty award, and Agence Francaise de Developpement. She is affiliated with the Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University.

Matthew Child is affiliated with the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria

By Hayley Clements, Researcher, Stellenbosch University And

Alta De Vos, Senior Lecturer, Rhodes University And

Matthew Child, PhD candidate, University of Pretoria
In a televised address to the nation, Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera fired Agriculture Minister Lobin Lowe and his deputy to immediate effect for incompetence and gross negligence.

Chakwera did not mince his words on Tuesday evening as he described how Lowe allegedly failed to supply Malawi's 3.3 million smallholder farmers with inputs and fertiliser from the Affordable Imputs Programme (AIP).

The president outlined in detail the alleged fraud committed in the ministry, including how a British agent was used to secure fertilizer for the programme, but was not properly vetted.

The agent was paid 725,000 euros in two installments without any credible evidence that this company had any credibility to secure fertiliser, said Chakwera, adding, The supplier's capacity turned out to be without merit.

The British company, which he did not identify by name, asked for the payment to be made in two different installments in two different bank accounts in two different countries.

In light of this, the food security of the country has been left in great jeopardy, he said.

Over six months ago, at the start of the financial year, he instructed the heads of the agriculture and the affordable inputs program to put the program in place by September.

They have failed to do this, and it is a failure I consider completely unacceptable.

Getting back Malawi's money

Chakwera told Malawians that he went into emergency mode in order to try and salvage the planting season, as well as deal with recovering the money illegally paid to the unnamed British agent.

After terminating the contract, Malawi's attorney general office went to both banks in two different countries that had received the money and is in the process of recovering the money.

Once the $725,000 is back in Malawi the treasury will issue a public notice to inform you of the same, he told viewers, dismissing rumours circulated by an MP in agriculture department who said the missing money totaled 29.3 million euros.

Most important is to rescue this year's AIP and to deliver the needed fertilizer to millions of farmers around the country in time for the upcoming planting season," he said.

Chakwera convened an emergency cabinet meeting during the week of September to deal with this matter and formed a committee overseen by Sam Kawale, minister of lands, who came through in procuring fertilisers immediately.

Farming emergency mode

Although he contends that Malawi normally orders fertilisers directly through manufacturers, the emergency situation prompted the ministry to source available fertilizer from local suppliers.

Some 35,000 metric tons of Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK) and 31,727 metric tons of Urea have been identified within the country, and letters of credit have been issued, he said.

There are 7,000 metric tons of NPK is on its way from Beira in Mozambique; another 51,000 metric tons of NPK is in the process of procurement and 31,500 metric tons of urea have been secured from abroad.

The urgency of getting the fertilizers to farmers on time has not deterred him from his need to reform the farming AIP programme in order to prevent issues like this one from happening again.

Chakwera says the ministry will place next year's fertilizer order early, which will be carried out by people who know how to do the job, instead of by people who want the job, but don't know how to do it.
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is to recruit at least 15,000 unemployed Ghanaian youth nationwide as Community Protection Assistants (CPAs) in close collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.

This is in pursuance of the Agencys mandate to create jobs for the unemployed youth of the country, as well as, assist the Ghana Police Service in preventive and social community policing.

The CEO of YEA, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, who is championing an agenda to make the agency the base of employment among all sectors of the economy, believes that empowering young people, through the creation of stop-gap measures, promotion of skills training and entrepreneurship is a major means of reducing unemployment while ensuring economic growth.

On Wednesday (26 October), the agency began a national physical examination exercise across all the district offices of the country as part of a process to shortlist the first batch of 5000 applicants into the module.

Scores of young men and women who had trooped to the YEA district offices in all regions were seen going through assessment of their heights, visual examination, physical appearance amongst others.

Mr Agyepong, who embarked on a tour of some examination centres together with some members of his management team, said this is an opportune time to be recruited as a beneficiary of the YEA.

He gave assurance to the beneficiaries of the consistent flow of their stipends at the end of the month, hinting of a possible increase.

What is more exciting for Mr. Agyepong and to the beneficiaries is his commitment to ensure that most of the beneficiaries with the requisite certification, skills and knowledge will be drafted into the mainstream police service during their enlistment.

"You are undergoing screening for body selection and physical examinations as part of the eligibility criteria for the recruitment exercise because, this time around we want to ensure that those of you who will perform will be absorbed into the Ghana Police Service as the official quota of the agency, he told told the potential beneficiaries.

The screening exercise will be followed by a training programme to be rolled out in three phases for the 15,000 successful applicants.

Each phase will have a batch of 5,000 successful applicants undergo the mandatory three weeks intensive training by the Ghana Police Service at the various Police Training Colleges across the country.

Recruitment of these 15,000 Community Protection Assistants is coming on the heels of the passing out of 6,000 youth under the Community Health Workers (CHWs) module a fortnight ago.

For Mr Agyepong, creation of sustainable programmes and jobs was top on his agenda as CEO of the YEA and especially in this period of economic hardships. He said it is his vision to reduce the burden of Ghanaians by creating a lot of jobs to solidify President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's One Million Jobs Agenda.

He also hoped to collaborate more effectively with the private sector in pursuit of making YEA the pivot of jobs creation in Ghana.
Local Unions Secretariat of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has announced the withdrawal of some of its services.

This comes on the back of the ongoing sit-down strike declared by the four worker unions in the public universities of Ghana, which began on Monday, 17 October 2022, to demand better conditions of service.

In a statement issued and signed by the Local Secretariat, Wednesday, 26 October 2022, it touched on the services to be withdrawn including: Teaching, Examinations and related activities but not limited to processing of, releasing of results, consideration of examinations results at all levels, from auditing to printing of degree certificates are all withdrawn until further notice.

All admissions activities and related matters not limited to admitting new students, issuing of electronic admission letters are withdrawn until further notice."

It urged all staff working in the offices identified, to take note without exception and fully comply with the directives of the strike.

Meanwhile, the four worker unions in the public universities of Ghana, have said their ongoing sit-down strike will still not be called off.

The unions disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, 25 October 2022.

According to the statement, the National Leaders of UTAG, GAUA, SSA-UoG, TEWU-GH, and FUSSAG attended a meeting with the Employer on Wednesday, 19th October 2022, following an invitation by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC).

Unfortunately, the outcome of the meeting was not favourable as the Employer was adamant to restore the Vehicle Maintenance and Off Campus Allowances to the adjusted ex-pump rate of GHS10.99.

It revealed that: Later that afternoon, the National Leaders attended a hearing at the National Labour Commission (NLC) where the Commission further entreated the parties to continue engaging as per the directive captured in its letter dated 20th October 2022.

However, considering the facts and evidence before it, the national leaders are of the considered opinion that the Commission should have had no difficulty in making a definite order against the Employer to pay amounts on figures agreed and established by convention.

It added: Thus, the National Executive Committees/Councils of the Labour Unions, at their individual meetings, resolved to continue with the ongoing strike action until further notice.

Source: classfmonline.com
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday expressed worry about the activities of the black currency market which has significantly contributed to the weaking of the Cedi against major trading currencies.

He said the situation where the parallel market was driving the supply and rate of foreign exchange transaction was unacceptable, and no effort must be spared to rein in that situation to curb the currency crisis around Cedi.

The President voiced the concern when he met the leadership of the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana at the Jubilee House, Accra.

The meeting, called at the insistence of the President, forms part of the government's wider consultation with key economic players to find solutions to the current economic challenges.

President Akufo-Addo told the association that it must lend support to every action that the government would be adopting to tame currency speculators who have contributed to driving down the value of the Cedi.

He was emphatic that the black market must be eliminated from the financial space to arrest the pace at which the cedi loses its value against major foreign currencies.

The initial impulse for the creation of Forex Bureaus in Ghana was that at the time when our economy was opening and liberalizing there was the need to find a mechanism for putting an end to black market operations on the country's currency.

That was the initial impulse, so we will have these forex bureaus regulated by the Bank of Ghana to make access to foreign exchange in a regulated and controlled manner easier.

Unfortunately, somehow, this initial motivation for the creation of the forex bureaus has still not materialized

As you hear public commentators and commentators of the Bank of Ghana itself say, it is still the black market that is driving both the supply as well as the rate of our foreign exchange transactions.

That for me is completely unacceptable and we have to find a way to work together to drive the black market out of business, President Akufo-Addo stated.

The Cedi has since the beginning of the year witnessed a steep fall in value, depreciating against major currencies due to several factors including the rebound of the strength of the US Dollar, investor reaction to credits ratings downgrade of Ghana's economy, the non-rollover of maturing bonds by non-resident investors, high crude oil prices, loss of access to the external market for borrowing, as well as speculation.

Mr K.T Dadzie, President of the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, told President Akufo-Addo that the past three months had not been easy for operators of Forex bureaus, as well as their customers.

He said the association did not have control over the forex market beyond what the regulator, the bank of Ghana, determined.

We have been in this business since 1988. We have had turbulences, but this is a bit tough for all of us. We have gone through all that happened, but we tried, and we survived, and I know this too shall pass.

With the announcement that we were even meeting yesterday, the rate started coming down. It means it is not natural, this has all been done by people's speculation and trying to make windfall out of the situation that we are in he said.

The meeting went into a closed-door session.

GNA
26.10.2022 LISTEN

Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed has lambasted the Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for challenging the ruling of Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin on the case of absentee Sarah Adwoa Safo.

In Parliament on Wednesday, the Speaker ruled that the report of the Privileges Committee on absentee MP Sarah Adwoa Safo be debated by plenary including two other absentee MPs.

The Speaker argued that Parliament will vote to determine whether the embattled MP's seat should be declared vacant or not.

On the floor, Sueme MP Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah challenged the ruling, insisting that the Speaker acted wrongly.

He said the Speakers ruling is unfortunate, absurd and inconsistent.

The Majority Leader at a press briefing vowed to challenge the ruling of the Speaker.

Speaking to the media in Parliament, Tamale Central MP Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed who was not happy with the utterances of the Majority Leader on the floor of the House lambasted him.

According to him, at the time Majority Leader was selling spare parts at Sueme Magazine Speaker Alban Bagbin was practicing law and for that reason, Majority Leader has no right to challenge Speaker's ruling in the manner he did.

Im saying that for him to think that the committee takes a decision and that is final, is ignorant of the law, is ignorant of the Standing Orders. A committee of Parliament is working for the plenary.

The same committee exonerated the other two members and brought the report to parliament for a decision to be taken. Why didnt Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu argue? He was comfortable then and debated the issue here for the report of the committee to be adopted, the Tamale Central MP told journalists in parliament.

Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed continued, He said that Hon. Bagbin doesnt understand the law. Hon. Bagbin has been in practice as a lawyer for several years. At the time when he (Bagbin) was practicing you Kyei you were selling spare parts at Magazine. Thats what you were doing.

According to the Tamale Central MP, Mr. Speaker ruled in perfecto of the law.
Ghana has been recognized as the only country in Africa to achieve 100% access to financial inclusion on the continent.

The honour was contained in this years State of Inclusive Instant Payment in Africa Report put together by AfricaNenda and launched at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.

This feat was achieved through the successful implementation of the Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI) system, which integrates all payments platforms across banks, fintechs and telcos, allowing every Ghanaian to make and receive instant payments.

Commenting on the monumental achievement at the ongoing Standard Chartered Bank Digital Banking, Innovation and Fintech Festival in Accra on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Vice President Bawumia expressed delight that Governments Digitization agenda, began in 2017 and touched almost every aspect of national life, is beginning to yield the desired results.

In fact, because of mobile money interoperability, where fintechs, banks and telcos have essentially payment platforms that enable every Ghanaian to access and receive payments, Ghana was the only country to score 100% on financial inclusion in Africa at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. And it just makes you proud in this context that yes, we are doing what is actually quite right.

You've seen mobile money interoperability; you've seen the national ID card; you've seen digital addresses, you've seen the paperless ports, universal QR code, Ghana pay, and so on. All of this is laying a particular foundation in this country that will allow us to fully participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It is also comforting to note that even the credit reference agencies are leveraging on these infrastructure, the digital infrastructure that we have put in place, digital addresses, national ID and so on. We are expecting that individual credit scoring by the credit reference agencies will start taking place by the first quarter of next year, which will allow and underpin the development of a real credit system in Ghana which is very, very critical in terms of the development of this country, he stated.

Digital technology has changed the way Africas financial service industry offers products and services to consumers, Dr Bawumia pointed out, noting that new financial service business models based on digital technologies are enabling inclusive access to financial services across diverse product types for consumers.

As a government, we realized it was imperative to adopt digital innovation to transform the economy. It is not a venture without opposition, and there are huge costs associated to get to our destination. However we are unwavering as we are convinced the benefits will outweigh the costs, and these benefits are already beginning to show.

Thus far, we have introduced some interventions such as mobile money interoperability, digital renewal of National Health Insurance, implementation of the digital address system, the national ID card, paperless port system, QR-Code, among others.

We are already seeing the impact of these digitisation initiatives including efficient public service delivery by all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies on the Ghana.gov portal, combating corruption by removing the middle man, and also ghost names in many transactions, bringing more Ghanaians into the formal sector and driving domestic revenue mobilization, amongst others, he emphasised.

To achieve greater success and faster growth, Vice President Bawumia called for more collaboration between all players in the fintech ecosystem  banks, fintechs, telecom companies, governments, regulators and consumers  in order to position Africa as a fintech innovation hub.

A strong regulatory framework is also necessary across the sub region to drive innovation. Central banks need to be ahead of the market and put in place regulations that are innovation friendly bearing in mind all associated risks.

Award

The State of Inclusive Instant Payment in Africa Report examines all instant pay rollouts across the continent to identify the areas of commonality with the view to driving adoption to boost financial inclusion on the continent.

This year, the report focused on inclusive instant payment systems in 12 African countries and Ghana was the only country that scored 100% on access to financial inclusion.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements Systems (GhIPSS), Archie Hesse, who was present at the launch of the report in Kigali, said from a humble beginning of integrating three instant payment platforms into what he called the financial inclusion triangle, GhIPSS has since improved the services by adding other services like Proxy Pay, Internet Gateway Payment, Request to Pay and the Universal QR Code dubbed GHQR, which can be linked to both bank accounts and digital wallets, with affordability as the key driving force.

GhIPSS, in collaboration with the banks, have also come up with a bank-wide wallet called GhanaPay to ensure that the banks also play a role in the mobile money space with the view to bridging the financial inclusion gap, he added.
RULING OF THE RT. HON. ALBAN S. K. BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC OF GHANA IN RESPECT OF A PRELIMINARY OBJECTION RAISED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER TO THE REPORT OF THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE BEING PRESENTED FOR THE DECISION OF THE PARLIAMENT LISTED ON 28TH JULY 2022

Hon Members, as you may recall, during the last sitting of the second meeting of the second session, that is, on the 28th day of July 2022, the Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, raised a preliminary objection as to the listing of one motion on the Order Paper of 28th July 2022. The said motion was for the adoption of the report of the Committee on Privileges on the alleged breach of article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic. The Majority Leader took the view that the motion should not have been listed on the Order Paper and thus same should be withdrawn. His submission was that the determination of the Committee was conclusive and same should not be subjected to the House in plenary for a debate and determination. To quote him;

The Privileges Committee has presented its report and, in my considered opinion, based on the Constitution and not sentiments, is that, there should be that automaticity, once the Committee makes a determination. I disagree that the decision should be taken by the House.

The Minority Leader, Hon Haruna Iddrisu dissented and submitted that like any other Committee of the House, the Privileges Committees report should be subjected to the plenary for a debate in consonance with Order 164 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which mandates the Committee to recommend its findings to the House, which shall be put to a vote. The Minority Leader noted that it was appropriate for the report to be captured on the Order Paper for consideration by the House. He stated further that there were precedents on this matter and referred the House to the case of former MP, Mr. Eric Amoateng.

After hearing both the Hon. Majority and Minority Leader and some other Members of Parliament, I indicated that due to the gravity of the issues raised on the matter, I required some time to provide a reasoned ruling. I accordingly deferred my ruling on the matter to this meeting.

It is against this backdrop that I am giving this ruling to give clarity to the matters in contention and to ensure that progress is made on this matter. The issues raised by the Hon Majority Leader with respect to the listing of the motion are critical issues of public interest and I deem it my sacred constitutional duty as the Speaker of the House to provide clarity and bring certainty to bear on this matter in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.

The decision on whether or not a seat is vacant is one that must be carefully considered and one for which our Constitution, our courts and the rules and best practices of other Parliaments have provided significant guidance. Our job as a House would not be to usurp the functions of any of the arms of Government but simply to apply the law faithfully and in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRELIMINARY OBJECTION

In view of the antecedents of the objection raised by the Hon Majority Leader, it is necessary to recount the facts of the matter before us, from its inception up to and including the stage it has reached before the House.

On the 5th of April 2022, on the conclusion of an attendance audit by the Table Office based on a number of petitions, I referred three Members of Parliament to the Committee of Privileges for their failure to attend Parliament without the permission in writing of the Speaker for fifteen (15) sitting days. The Members were the Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, Hon. Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central and the Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome Kwabenya.

Pursuant to Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution, the mandate of the Committee involves a determination of facts as to whether the three Hon Members absented themselves from attendance of Parliament for fifteen sitting days and if so, whether the absence from the 15 sittings was based on a permission in writing of the Speaker. In case the absence was not based on such permission, whether the three Hon Members have reasonable explanations for so absenting themselves from those sittings Parliament.

Out of the abundance of caution, it is important to reproduce the constitutional and subsidiary rules that govern how this House must act when a member has absented him/herself from Parliament for fifteen (15) sitting days.

Clause (1) c of article 97 provides:

97. (1) C. A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet;.

This is, in my humble opinion a very straightforward provision. It states that if three events occur an MP must vacate his/her seat. These are; (1) unpermitted absence; (2) from 15 sittings in a meeting; (3) inability to provide a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges. It is evident from the wording of the Article that this is a conjunctive article. This means all three events must be established for an MP to vacate his/her seat.

The Constitutional provision is supplemented, however, by Order 16 (1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament which provides:

16. (1) A Member shall not absent himself during a meeting for more than fifteen sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker. Any Member infringing this order shall have his conduct referred to the Privileges Committee

Furthermore, Order 18 of the Standing Orders provides:

18. The seat of a Member shall be declared vacant by Mr. Speaker under clause (1)(b) to (h) of article 97 of the Constitution

Hon Members, there is a school of thought that holds the view that once a Member of Parliament has been found to have been absent from Parliament for fifteen sitting days without the permission of the Speaker, the seat of that Member is vacant. This view found expression in the submissions of a number of MPs of this Parliament on this matter. I disagree with this school of thought because it is based on a partial reading of the text of the Constitution as contained in article 97(1)(c). Read as a whole, article 97(1)(c) contemplates, that a seat of a member, which has been determined, for example, through an audit of the attendance book by the Table Office or a Member or any other person, to have been unoccupied by the absence from Parliament of an incumbent MP, for fifteen sitting days without the permission in writing of the Speaker, may still be saved if that Member provides a reasonable explanation to the Committee on Privileges. The findings of fact and evidence, as well as the recommendations of the Committee are then presented to the House of Parliament for its consideration. The Order, mode and authority for the presentation of business and of the report of a Committee to the House is by a motion or a paper to be moved or presented usually by the Chairman of the Committee, member or as otherwise agreed to by the House. See Standing Orders, 53, 54, 160 and 161.

Item 55 on the Order Paper of Thursday 28th July 2022 read as follows:

That this Hon House adopts the Report of the Committee of Privileges on the alleged breach of Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 16(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament by three Hon. Members of Parliament during the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana

(Chairman of the Committee)

As captured in the introductory paragraphs of this ruling, the Hon Majority Leader raised an objection to the listing of the said item. He alluded, in addition, to what has been capture above, that the motion ought not to have been listed on the Order Paper as the information that came from the Committee of Privileges should have been submitted as a Paper. He argued further that the matter in issue should not be the subject matter of a Motion as it does not require the approval of Parliament.

The Hon Majority Leader added that, once the Committee of Privileges made a determination as to the reasonableness or otherwise of the excuse provided by the Hon Members of Parliament for their absence, an automatic determination was made as to the vacancy of the seat in question and thus the House as a whole had no role to play.

The Majority leader relied on some provisions in the Constitution where the work of a Committee of Parliament was not subject to consideration of the House. According to him, in those instances, upon the conclusion of the work of the Committee, this House becomes functus officio. The Hon Majority Leader cited, among others, the role that the Committee on Finance plays when that Committee authorizes the withdrawal of funds from the Contingency Fund whenever that committee is satisfied that there has arisen an urgent or unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists to meet the need. (See article 177(1) of the Constitution).

For purposes of emphasis, the Hon. Minority Leader argued in favor of the listing of the motion. In the view of the Minority Leader, based on the precedents of the House, rather than argue against the listing of the motion, the appropriate step to take was for the Majority Leader to request the Speaker, to call on the Chairman of the Committee to move the motion on the floor since the matter had been referred to the Committee and the Committee had submitted its report to the House.

The Hon Minority Leader also relied on a statement in the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare v the Attorney General & 3 Ors (Unreported, 2008) (Suit No H1/65/07) (Court of Appeal), that;

The Speaker referred the letter to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges, which met on 22nd February 2006 and recommended to the House of Parliament on 2nd March 2006.

The Hon Minority Leader took the position that any recommendation from the Committee on Privileges must be subjected to the same threshold and held to the same standard as was done in the case of the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Eric Amoateng.

The reply of the Majority Leader to the above submission of the Minority Leader is that, the procedure adopted by the House in the Eric Amoatengs case is a bad precedent and same should not be followed by the House.

From the foregoing summary of the preliminary objection of the Hon Majority Leader and the response to that objection by the Hon Minority Leader, I can see clearly that two pertinent issues have been raised for my determination. These are (1) whether the motion advertised as Item 55 on the Order Paper ought not to have been admitted and listed as a motion but as a paper for the information of the House and (2) whether this House has power to consider and adopt the report of the Committee on Privileges?

Whether or not the Motion ought not to have been admitted and listed on the Order Paper but should have come as a paper?

Hon Members, you may recall that I delivered a ruling dated 20th January 2021 which dealt with the competence and admissibility of motions. In that ruling I noted that the admissibility or otherwise of a motion for listing on the Order Paper was the exclusive preserve of the Speaker. My power to admit motions is provided for under Orders 78 and 79(4) of the Standing Orders as follows:

78. Unless any Order otherwise provides, notice shall be given of any motion which is proposed to make, except

(4) Every notice shall be submitted to Mr. Speaker who shall direct that it be printed in its original terms or with such amendments as he shall direct, or that it be returned to the Member submitting it as being inadmissible.

It is clear from the above provisions that the power to admit a motion is vested exclusively in the Speaker. It is trite knowledge that the exercise of that power by the Speaker is not subject to challenge except by a substantive motion. (See Order 98 of the Standing Orders of Parliament and the practice of the House). A mere objection without notice on the floor of this House is not a sufficient basis to overturn the decision to admit a motion such as the motion advertised as Item numbered 55 on the Order Paper of 28th July 2022.

Be that as it may, the Hon Majority Leaders objection seeks to question the propriety of the decision to admit the motion numbered 55 on the said Order Paper. As defined in Order 7 of the Standing Orders, a motion means a proposal made by a member that Parliament or a Committee thereof to something, order something to be done, or express an opinion concerning some matter. In simple terms, and in accordance with accepted practice and conventions of this House, a motion is a mechanism for decision-making by the House because it sets in motion the process for arriving at a decision. Such a motion may be admitted by the Speaker to be moved if, before the commencement of the sitting, the Member submits to the Speaker, a written notification of the matter to be raised.

When the Speaker determines that, a motion on a specific matter be moved, such a motion would be considered admitted and the Member shall be allowed to move the motion accordingly.

The Hon Majority Leader further submitted forcefully that the motion listed as number 55 on the Order Paper is incompetent and ought to have been laid in the form of a paper for the information of the House. Implicit in this argument is the notion that when the report of a committee is laid as a paper then its content is determinative, and this House cannot purport to take any further action on it by way of a debate and vote. This dichotomy that the Hon Majority Leader sought to draw between a paper and a motion is, with all due respect, a false dichotomy. It is a comparison that does not yield accurate analytical outcomes. I will proceed to demonstrate why this is so.

The Standing Orders of this House provide for the presentation of papers. In terms of Order 74, papers may be presented only by the Speaker, the Chairman of a Committee, a member or a Minister. The mode of presentation of papers is governed by Order 75 which provides, among others, that (1) as soon as sufficient copies of a paper for distribution to Members have been received in the office of the Clerk, notice of the presentation of that Paper may be placed on the Order Paper, and as soon as Mr. Speaker announces Papers for presentation the paper shall be deemed to have been laid on the Table. (2) if so desired by the person presenting a Paper, a short explanatory statement may be made by him upon its presentation.

The tenor of the provisions on the presentation of papers suggests to me that the latitude of action regarding deliberation, debate and decision is extremely restricted when papers are laid. However, it does not mean, as the Hon Majority Leader sought to imply, that this House cannot take steps to adopt or approve such a paper by motion. As a matter of practice and convention of some Parliaments, papers are laid for the information of the House and may not be the subject matter of deliberation, debate and decision. But a paper that is in the form of a report of a committee of this House may be laid and debated using the method of a motion, save expressly and specifically excepted by law.

This position is buttressed by the requirements of the Standing Orders of this House, particularly Order 161, which stipulates, that recommendations of a committee be presented to the House in the form of a report and that at any time after the report has been presented to the House, a motion may be moved by the Chairman of the Committee for the acceptance of the Report. (See para.2, Order 161). This provision would definitely be rendered inutile if we were to accept the position adumbrated by the Hon Majority Leader.

Moreover, precedent from other jurisdictions support the view that I have taken of this matter. For instance, a publication of the Parliament of Australia tituled, House of Representatives Practice (Seventh Edition) relating to the committee of that House known as the Committee of Privileges and Members Interests details the practice following the laying of a report of the Committee as follows:

On presentation of the committees report to the House by the chair, the practice is for the report to be ordered to be made a Parliamentary Paper. The House may then order that it be taken into consideration at the next sitting or on a specified day. A motion or motions may be moved declaratory of the Houses view on the committees report and recommendations and in respect of the Houses proposed action.

Also refer to the practice in New Zealand, India Lok Sabha, United Kingdom House of Commons, Canada, and the United States of America.

Having disposed of the question whether the report of the Committee on Privileges ought to have come by way of a motion or whether it ought to have been laid as a Paper, I will now turn my attention to the substantive issue of whether the House sitting in plenary can consider the report of the Committee for purposes of its adoption.

Can the House in Plenary consider the report of the Committee?

Hon Members may recall that in my formal statement on matters relating to the vacancy of the seat of a Member of Parliament for reason of absence from Parliament, I provided a context on how the House ought to proceed on the matter of absenteeism and what steps should be taken in that respect.

After a careful review of the constitutional provisions, our Standing Orders, case law and the rules and practice of other Parliaments around the world, on a matter of absenteeism of an MP from sittings of Parliament, I noted that a member or any person would be estopped from raising an issue of absenteeism after the meeting and thus a Member of Parliament, or any person desirous of doing same must act timeously during the course of the meeting the MP is alleged to be absent from the sittings of the House.

I also noted that the combined effect of our Constitution, Standing Orders and case law provides a certain process to be followed when it comes to the notice of the House that a member had absented him/herself from the sittings of Parliament in a manner that is inconsistent with the letter and spirit of Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.

For the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate what I highlighted in that statement. Paragraph 19 of the Statement read and I quote:

19. In the light of the combined reading of the provisions in the Constitution and the Standing Orders above, coupled with a decision of the Court of Appeal, on the question of when a seat of a Member of Parliament is vacant by reason of absenteeism, the following processes should be complied with;

The Member must have been absent from a Meeting for fifteen sittings in that Meeting without the permission of the Speaker in writing based on the evidence from the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament.

The fact of the absence of the Member without permission of the Speaker may be raised on the floor of Parliament by a Member and the matter referred to the Committee of Privileges for consideration and report to the House.

The Member so referred shall be required to offer an explanation for the absence to the Committee of Privileges which shall consider whether the explanation is reasonable.

The Committee of Privileges after consideration, shall recommend to the House such action as the Committee may consider appropriate.

The House shall vote on the recommendation of the Committee. Where in the event that the Committees recommendation to the House is to the effect that the Members explanation is reasonable and the House adopts that recommendation, the Members seat shall not be declared vacant.

Where in the event that the Committees recommendation to the House is to the effect that the Members explanation is unreasonable and the House adopts that recommendation, the Members seat shall be declared vacant by Mr. Speaker.

Where Mr. Speaker has declared a seat vacant by reason of absenteeism, the Clerk to Parliament shall within seven days of the declaration notify the Electoral Commission for the necessary processes for a by-election to commence.

Having regard to the process outlined above, the Committee of Privileges considered the matter of absenteeism involving the three Members who had absented themselves from fifteen sittings of the House in a meeting without the permission in writing of the Speaker. I will give a fully explanation of the role each of the actors plays in this matter, if necessary, at the conclusion of this matter. Suffice for this purpose, to restrict myself to the role of the Committee of Privileges. The Committee has a singular mandate in respect of these matters, and that is, to establish that the member absented him/herself from the sitting of Parliament for 15 days in a meeting without the permission of the Speaker in writing, enquire into the reasonableness or otherwise of the explanation offered by the affected Member/s and to report to the House.

Order 7 defines a Standing Committee, like the Committee of Privileges, as a committee appointed under article 103(1) of the Constitution to enquire into and report on such matters as may be referred to it from time to time or on a continuous basis for the duration of Parliament.

The Committee of Privileges is a Committee of Parliament constituted pursuant to Article 103 of the Constitution. As a Committee of Parliament, the way in which the Committee conducts its business is regulated by the Standing Orders of the House.

It is provided by Article 110(1) of the Constitution, 1992 that

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may, by standing orders, regulate its own proceedings.

Article 97(1)(c) stipulates the conditions under which the seat of a Member of Parliament may be vacant. Put differently, once the Member has (a) been absent from Parliament for fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament; (b) not obtained the permission of Mr. Speaker in writing to be absent and (c) cannot offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges, the member automatically vacates the seat. This is the position that was endorsed in the case of Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare v the Attorney General & 3 Ors (Unreported, 2008) (Suit No H1/65/07) (Court of Appeal),

The Plaintiff/Appellant (hereinafter referred to as the Appellant) contends that once a member absents himself from parliament without explanation for more than 15 sittings in this case, that members seat automatically becomes vacant by operation of law. This argument is sound in law and I accept it.

On the other hand, Order 161 of the Standing Orders provides:

(1) The recommendations of a Report of Committee shall be presented to the House in the form of a report.

(2) At any time after the report has been presented to the House a motion may be moved by the Chairman of the Committee for the acceptance of the Report.

Our Orders specifically require that the recommendations of a committee must be subject to the consideration of the House and that the plenary plays an important role in choosing to adopt or reject the recommendations. The rationale for this structure is that committees of Parliament are microcosms and extensions of the House as a whole; they are handmaidens whose core constitutional function is to assist Parliament, in the language of article 103(1) of the Constitution, in the effective discharge of its function.

There are however a few exceptions to this general rule. As noted by the Majority Leader, Articles 106(13) and 177 provide instances where the Committee of Parliaments work operates to automatically bind the House and no consideration whatsoever is required by the Plenary in these instances. May I add that it is also the case with the recommendations of the Committee of Members Holding Office of Profit. In such instances the Constitution specifically says so.

Most Parliamentary decisions are made by the House, acting on the recommendations of one of its committees. It does not follow that all decisions in Parliament must be done that way. Where the Constitution itself specifies a particular process for deciding then it is that process that must be followed. This is because general things do not derogate from special things. However, in contrast with these instances cited, there is nothing expressly stated or necessarily implied in Article 97(1)(c) to the effect that the conclusion of the work of the Committee of Privileges also concludes the matter and no action may be taken by the House on the findings and recommendations of the Committee. Furthermore, the instances cited are not referrals from the House to a Committee of the House.

Article 177 for instance, indicates that the advances from the Contingency Fund may be authorized by the Committee for Finance once the committee is satisfied that there has arisen an urgent or unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists to meet the need. The plenary in this case is not seized with jurisdiction to make a reference or determination on the decision of the Committee for Finance.

The distinction between this provision and Article 97(1)(c) is that, in the case of the former, no referral is made by the House in any way to the Committee for Finance. The Minister responsible for Finance, in making a request for an advance from the Contingency fund is not required to come to the House but can submit his request to the Committee for Finance. The House plays no role in the process. The Constitution mandates the Minister of Finance, after the authorization of the Committee of Finance, to as soon as possible present a supplementary estimate for the purpose of replacing the amount so advanced.

On the contrary, in relation to the matter before us, the absenteeism of the three (3) Members is referred to the Committee in accordance with Article 97(1)(c) after the allegation that the members were absent for 15 days without the permission in writing by the Speaker. A committee of the House is then called upon to enquire into the allegations and report to the House for a decision.

I find the position canvassed strongly by the Majority leader as untenable for the simple reason that, where the framers of the Constitution intended that a committee be clothed with exclusive jurisdiction on a matter without reference to the House, it has expressly (as in the case of articles 106(13) and 177) indicated so within the text of the Constitution. To the extent that a similar express mandate is not conferred on the Privileges Committee in respect of matters arising under Article 97(1)(c), Parliaments procedure with respect to the work of Committees must of necessity apply.

To imply any mandate into Article 97(1)(c) is one I am not prepared to do. Pursuant to article 110 of the Constitution, my understanding is that where the Constitution does not provide a procedure, Parliament may regulate the procedure within that space as long as it does not offend the Constitution. It is in accordance with this power that Parliament captured the dictates of Art 97(1)(c) in Order 16(1) which is to the effect that once a member is alleged to be in breach of the provision, his conduct is referred to the Committee of Privileges for enquiry.

For the purpose of reiterating my humble view, once a referral has been made therefore, the report of the Committee does not complete the inquiry into the matter. The report of the Committee of Privileges, just like that of any other committee is subject to the consideration of the House by way of a motion. Again, I am inspired and convinced this position of the law by the provisions of the Constitutions, rules of procedure and practice of United Kingdom, India, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

CONCLUSION

Honorable Members, as I have noted in this ruling, the decision as to whether or not to admit a motion is the exclusive preserve of the Speaker.

In view of the foregoing, the House, is well within its rights to receive and consider the report of the Committee and make a determination arising out of the recommendations.

In the circumstances, it is my ruling that, the motion was rightfully admitted and the report of the Committee is subject to the consideration of the House. It goes without saying that the preliminary objection of the Majority Leader to the admissibility of the motion for consideration of the report of the Committee, is hereby dismissed in limine.
The Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance, simply known as the Citizens Coalition has commended the Majority Caucus in Parliament for pushing for the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Some 80 Majority MPs on Tuesday addressed the media in Parliament and threatened President Akufo-Addo to get rid of the Finance Minister if he wants them to attend to businesses of government when it is presented to the house.

The MPs warned that if the President fails to replace the Finance Minister, they will not even be present for the hearing of the 2023 budget statement in November.

At a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 26, the Citizens Coalition backed the call by the Majority Caucus, insisting that the President should act without delay.

According to Dr. Kojo Asante who is a leading member of the Coalition, sacking Ken Ofori-Atta will instil some confidence in Ghanas financial market.

We endorse the call by many citizens, the majority of NPP MPs, and many well-meaning Ghanaians who have asked for the dismissal of the Finance Minister and his Deputies. We commend the Majority MPs for taking this important step as his dismissal or resignation would restore some confidence in Ghanas financial market. This should be done without delay, Dr. Kojo Asante told the media.

He disclosed the importance of the press conference saying it is crucial for the coalition to share its grave and deep concerns about the deteriorating economic conditions in the country, and the governments turbid response so far.

Among various demands, the Coalition wants President Akufo-Addo to urgently take morale-boosting measures by reshuffling his Ministers.

He insists from what has transpired in the country in the past year where the citizenry continues to suffer severe hardships, it is evident that appointees have not performed well.
Odeneho Kwaku Appiah

26.10.2022 LISTEN

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 the fight against illegal mining in Ghana.

COKA who appears worried over the recent spate of illegal mining (galamsey) has made a clarion call on Ghanaians to come together and fight the menace destroying water bodies and forest reserves in the country.

Speaking on a radio interview on Monday, October 24, 2022, he said, "We all have a role to play, as far as galamsey is concerned. None should be left out. Winning this war is not a man's business. It requires collective effortschiefs, media, civilians, everybody; I mean all hands on deck. We must also not be party centered. 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), we're not saying it's wrong of mine, No! What we insist is for people in this business to go through the right channels. We're losing our farms and water bodies to galamsey, that should be a source of worry. When it comes to galamsey, we're all guilty until we stand up to it and fight it head-on. I'm confident with this approach we'll 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.
The Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Inclusive Governance, simply known as the Citizens Coalition has indicated that in the midst of the economic challenges facing the country, the governments response has been ineffective.

As a result, the Coalition at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, October 26, has tailored five demands in the form of proposals to build confidence in the State and offer some relief to citizens.

Without any delay, the Citizens Coalition has urged President Akufo-Addo to heed the calls from the Majority Caucus and remove the Minister in charge of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta from office.

We endorse the call by many citizens, the majority of NPP MPs, and many well-meaning Ghanaians who have asked for the dismissal of the Finance Minister and his Deputies. We commend the Majority MPs for taking this important step as his dismissal or resignation would restore some confidence in Ghanas financial market. This should be done without delay, Dr. Kojo Asante, a leading member of the Citizens Coalition who addressed the press conference stressed.

While the Coalition also wants the President to reshuffle his Ministers, it has also proposed that the President should cut down the size of his government to at most 70 Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

The coalition believes when this is done, it will build confidence and offer relief to the suffering citizens.

Below are all five demands made by the Citizens Coalition:

1. We endorse the call by many citizens, the majority of NPP MPs and many wellmeaning Ghanaians who have asked for the dismissal of the Finance Minister and his Deputies. We commend the Majority MPs for taking this important step as his dismissal or resignation would restore some confidence in Ghanas financial market. This should be done without delay.

2. The President should urgently take morale boosting measures by reshuffling his Ministers. Given what has transpired over the last year, it is evident that they have not been excellent. Certainly, the team that led us to the current crisis cannot steer us out of it.

3. The President should reduce the total number of Ministers and Deputies to no more than 70. This will signal a clear commitment to reducing public expenditure as corroborated by the Majority Leader sometime in July. The Citizens Coalition welcomes the call by Occupy Ghana for a lean government.

Based on the Professor Yaa Ntiamoah Baidu Presidential Committee on Emoluments Report of June 2020, the average monthly basic salary of a minister/deputy minister is GHS 30,000. Reducing the current 85 Ministers and Deputies to 70, particularly deputy ministers. will save the taxpayer more than GHS 5 million per year.

In addition, the state will save the cost of a fully furnished official residence or 20% of consolidated salary in lieu of housing, 24- hour security, one 4-wheel drive and one salon vehicle fueled and chauffeured, medical and a gratuity of 4 months salary per year of service for each Minister/Deputy Minister.

4. Government must urgently convene a national stakeholder platform for a discussion and citizens buy-in into the medium-term development plan for the country. We should learn critical lessons from the challenges of the rollout of the E-Levy and not introduce a fait accompli proposal to people through Parliament by way of a national budget. These ideas should be discussed extensively before it is finalized with the IMF and Parliament.

5. Parliament has resumed sitting for the last session of this year. The Cabinet must without delay lay the Code of Conduct for Public Officer Holders Bill before the House for deliberation and passage.
Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT), Ing. Dr. Ken Edem Ashigbey has underscored the need for fiscal policy to focus on incentivising players in the tech industry to invest in areas that will boost digital inclusion across the continent.

He was speaking with Techgh24 ahead of this years Mobile World Conference Africa in Kigali, Rwanda from October 25  October 27, 2022.

Dr. Ashigbey is one of two Ghanaian industry CEOs who will be speaking at this years conference. The other one is the CEO of Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements Systems, Archie Hesse.

Dr. Ashigbey will be on two panels  Assessing the impact of telecoms traffic monitoring systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and Accelerating digital transformation through fiscal policy reforms.

He noted that the conference comes at a time when the Chamber is rounding up on its periodic total tax report for telecom operators in Ghana, and the figures show that the tax component of the revenue the industry generates has inched up a bit to 47Gp of every one cedi, which is a huge disincentive to investments by industry players into innovations that will boost digital inclusion.

According to him, the situation in Ghana is not necessarily a peculiar one, as many African governments tend to front-load when it comes to revenues they expect from the telecoms industry.

He explained that African countries tend to treat telecoms a lot differently from other sectors, and that is reflected in loads of industry specific taxes, fees, charges, surcharges and more, plus very high licensing fees.

Citing the sale of 4G LTE license to MTN Ghana at US$67.5 million in 2015, Dr. Ashigbey said that was a typical example of how governments front-load their revenue expectations from the industry, instead of incentivising players so they could invest their remaining resources to expand accessibility.

Dr. Ashigbey said it is high time African governments reconsidered their approach to generating revenue from the technology sector and looked at reducing the cost of licenses and taxes so the industry players will be in a position to conveniently drive the digital inclusion agenda.

Free Wi-Fi in Rwanda

The Telecoms Chamber CEO noted that in Rwanda, where MWC Africa 2022 will be held, free Wi-Fi is very widespread and that is largely because governments fiscal policy in that country incentivises industry players rather than muscling them for huge taxes and licensing fees.

He believes that such an approach is deliberate, and it rather creates growth in the ecosystem giving rise to more sustainable sources of revenue for government.

It is my fervent hope that the panel discussion on fiscal policy reforms will come out with innovative ways of making fiscal policies a driver of investments to bridge the digital gap faster.

I expect that government representatives and regulators like the NCA (National Communications Authority) and their counterparts on the continent will be present at the session on fiscal policy reforms so they could pick some of the lesson to inform their approach to generating revenue from the industry, he said.

He also lauded the government and people of Rwanda for the speed with which they have and are developing their country, not just in infrastructure but even in the attitudes of the people and the orderliness with which things are done in that country.

I believe as a country we can take a leaf from Rwanda in terms of our own development, he said.

Dr. Ashigbey also expressed his gladness about the fact that MWC this year is focusing on Africa, saying When such conferences are organised at the global level, the African context is often left out, but this time the focus is mainly on Africa and it is refreshing because it creates room for a closer look at opportunities available in Africa and the challenges thereof, so they could be addressed.
The US government has commended Ghanas efforts in preventing violent extremism in the northern part of the country through its awareness and sensitization drive.

This follows a recent visit by a multi-agency US Government delegation to Ghana and its neighbours in the sub-region to discuss US support and regional efforts in building peace and bolstering resilience.

Speaking in a digital roundtable media briefing, Robert Jenkins, Assistant to the Administrator, US Agency for International Development, said he is impressed with the strategies government is implementing in countering violent extremism.

There is a growing awareness and efforts to increase that awareness. Ghana is at threat of increased instability, one of the things that excite me most about this strategy across West Africa is its focus on prevention.

Ghanas prevention-focused strategy can be a model for other countries across West Africa, he added.

Ghana is a wonderful example of where we can help the people and the government of Ghana to actually prevent a situation from getting worse and before, God forbids, gets out of hand, Robert Jenkins said.

A report published by Promediation, a French NGO revealed that, Ghana serves as a withdrawal point for extremist groups who operate within Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire area.

Another report, presented to the United Nations Security Council, indicates the presence of a terrorist warehouse in Ghana, Togo and Benin.

So far, Ghanas neighbours, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire have all experienced attacks from terrorists. Ghana has since been spared.

According to security analysts, the reason behind the non-attacks is due to the enabling environment Ghana indirectly provides for the operation of violent activities in the Sub-Region.

With support from international partners like the United States, Ghana is accelerating its sensitization campaign thus, See something, say something for citizens to be alert, report suspicious activities by persons in their communities.

The delegation also visited other coastal West African nations, including Cote dIvoire, Guinea and Togo.

Anne Witkowsky, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, US Department of State, said the US is committed to maintaining a supporting role to its African partners to address regional challenges and emphasized the need for teamwork, coordination and innovation to enhance security.

When we work together with a common interest, we are all stronger, she said.

-citinewsroom
October 26, 2022 Ukraine Open Thread 2022-183 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 26, 2022 at 10:46 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Bahrains Labour Fund Tamkeen announced its support for the upcoming King Hamad American Mission Hospital (King Hamad amh), located in AAli through which around 200 Bahrainis will be employed in healthcare fields.

Tamkeen's support will further the upskilling opportunities for Bahrainis, and create high-value, sustainable jobs.The announcement comes as part of Tamkeens strategy to support all sectors, while incentivising high-potential sectors, which includes specialised healthcare, in line with national priorities and the economic recovery plan.

The Hospital will continue to offer unique collaboration opportunities with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the Childrens hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which will help create an innovative healthcare hub.

King Hamad AMH is also collaborating with Mayo Clinic in the United States, one of the top hospitals in the world, for establishing a Mayo network center in the region that will promote healthcare of the highest level and health tourism in Bahrain. Quality, patient experience, research and training will be at the core of this collaboration.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has the oldest hospitals in the region with the first hospital, the American Mission Hospital, established in 1903. King Hamad American Mission Hospital, the hospitals fifth location in Bahrain, will also be the first eco-friendly, solar-run hospital in Bahrain with a world class IT infrastructure that will future-proof the building, making it a smart hospital.

In addition, it will include a medical innovation hub through which local surgeons will be trained by a highly skilled medical team in the use of specific technologies in healthcare. Other facilities include single-roomed intensive care units, a fertility center, a 270-seat auditorium for training and lectures, and a special needs childrens development assessment and treatment center.

The private healthcare sector employs 2 per cent of the total workforce and contributes 1.5 per cent towards the Kingdoms GDP. The expansion of healthcare facilities and new private healthcare clinics are in response to the growing population and rising need for specialised healthcare. In addition, the future of healthcare delivery is fundamentally evolving to become patient-centric, virtual, driven by data and analytics, and enabled by new medical technologies.

Khalid Al Bayat, Business Development Executive Director at the Labour Fund Tamkeen, said: Our support for the King Hamad American Mission Hospital comes as part of our strategic direction to support all sectors while incentivising high-potential sectors, which includes the rapidly evolving medical industry. This project will create hundreds of high-quality jobs for talented Bahrainis within the medical field and will position Bahrain as a hub that provides strong value-added and innovative medical services.

Dr George Cheriyan ,AMH Corporate CEO and Chief Medical Officer expressed his gratitude towards Tamkeens support saying: this new innovative project will further optimise the medical services provided to the Bahraini community, as well as boost Bahrains attractiveness as a medical tourism hub. We have seen our hospital grow from a small clinic in Manama Souq in 1895, becoming the first hospital in the region in 1902. We will continue to develop our offerings and services with this pioneering spirit in mind. We are delighted to work with all key partners within Team Bahrain to achieve this milestone project and are looking forward to continuing to work towards advancing the strategic objectives of the economic recovery plan. TradeArabia News Service
UW, Wyoming SBDC Network to Host Webinar on Infrastructure Investment

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in Americas infrastructure and competitiveness. Small-business owners in Wyoming can learn how they fit into that picture.

Rob Creager will discuss the new legislation during a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network webinar titled Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Wednesday, Nov. 2, from noon-1:30 p.m. Small-business owners will learn what work opportunities exist; where they should look for project updates; what the next steps are across a range of industries; and what they can do to be ready for coming opportunities. To register, go here. Registration is free.

Creager is senior business and economic development policy adviser for Gov. Mark Gordon.

Additional presenters are Aikta Marcoulier, Region VIII administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); Jesse Kirchmeier, special projects officer, Wyoming Department of Transportation; Glen Murrell, executive director, Wyoming Energy Authority; Bob Budd, executive director, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust; and Janean Forsyth Lefevre, program manager, Wyoming Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

For more information, call Maureen Johnson, CARES Act recovery program manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA.
Ukrainian director Maryna Er Gorbach speaks with Reuters before the premiere of Klondike in Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 24, 2022.
The sweet story about how Peanut Butter Paradise landed at the State Fair of Texas
(Natural News) The federal government of Canada is moving forward with plans to make euthanizing infants legal.

Only seven countries in the world legally permit euthanasia  Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain. Of these, Canadas euthanasia laws are arguably the most permissive. Euthanasia is also legal in several Australian states.

Canadas euthanasia laws are relatively new, with the practice only being legalized in 2016 to allow adult, terminally ill patients in intolerable pain and with no potential for recovery to end their lives with the assistance of physicians. However, the requirements to qualify for legal euthanasia have been exceptionally loosened since then. (Related: Canada to become ASSISTED SUICIDE capital of the world.)

Today, any adult who can claim some form of hardship from a serious illness, disease or disability may be eligible to receive physician-assisted suicide, regardless of how minor these medical concerns might be. Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos said Canadas euthanasia protocols recognizes the rights of all persons  as well as the inherent and equal value of every life.

Recently, the Quebec College of Physicians made a statement declaring its support for euthanizing infants who experience grave malformations, where life expectancy is basically nil. The group recommended that Canadas medical assistance in dying (MAID) laws be amended to allow for these instances.

This recommendation was unfortunately picked up by many Canadian parents. Doctors have reported that specific and explicit requests for MAID have come from parents involving very young children.

Dr. David Lysecki, a pediatric palliative care specialist at the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University in Ontario, said he has received requests from parents seeking death for their child, even though, with enough medical support, we can sometimes keep [them] alive for years.

But that child would never be able to process the outside world in a cognizant way, he continued. Some families ask, If theyre going to die at the end of this anyway, maybe three weeks from now, and we dont believe theyre going to have meaningful positive experiences between then and now, why must we all have to go through this period of waiting?'

Proponents of infant euthanasia claim its merciful to kill babies

Dr. Alain Naud, a family physician and clinical professor at Laval University in Quebec and one of the provinces most vocal proponents of euthanasia, said the option to provide infants with medically assisted death would only be given to infants who wont live long, and not to just any infant with any kind of disability.

We are not at all talking about babies born with a handicap, claimed Naud. We are really talking about situations which, at birth, are incompatible with life in the short term  in a matter of days, weeks or months.

But even this alleged limitation to the proposal to legalize infant euthanasia has been met with pushback. University of Toronto professor and bioethicist Kerry Bowman pointed out that such a move would go against the wishes and values of the patient  the infant  and would only benefit the parents.

Look, I get it, thats what we do, thats what parents do  make decisions for children, said Bowman. But its not as clean a distinction, ethically, as it is when someone says, Ive been living with this pain for 15 years and I cant do it anymore. Thats very different from guessing what you think a baby would want.'

Baxter Dmitry, writing for NewsPunch, disagrees with the notion that infant euthanasia is an act of mercy. He argued that infants, unlike adults, are incapable of providing free consent to their own deaths.

Instead, Dmitry recommends that euthanasia proponents shift their resources to providing higher quality palliative and comfort care for terminally ill children. In addition, he recommends the hiring of dedicated medical professionals who recognize the dignity and worth of each child and the establishment of stronger support systems for parents who care for disabled children.

Watch this clip from InfoWars as host Harrison Smith talks about how the Canadian government euthanized over 10,000 people last year.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Canadian hospice group pushes to normalize euthanasia of children who are suffering  many due to vaccine injuries.

Claim: Witnesses say UK healthcare facilities are using Midazolam to euthanize elderly.

New Zealand now paying euthanasia doctors $1,000 a pop to murder COVID patients.

NOT SATIRE: Germans wanting to die now have to get vaccinated for COVID first before receiving euthanasia.

Dutch government backing euthanasia for terminally ill children.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A panel that advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about vaccines voted unanimously last week to recommend the addition of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) jabs to the official childhood vaccine schedule. The result, many expect, will be a full-fledged exodus of children from American public schools.

In many states, whatever injections the CDC recommends end up becoming a requirement in order to get an education. Consequently, millions upon millions of American children will end up being forced to accept Fauci Flu penetration as a condition of staying enrolled and going to class  unless their parents withdraw them, of course.

Some 30 million-or-so American children remain unvaccinated, we are told. All of these children and their families could soon be told that in order to avoid being expelled, all students must roll up their sleeves for gene editing and DNA reprogramming. (Related: Remember when the CDC was planning to develop covid concentration camps for those deemed to be unclean?)

CDC caught lying about childhood jab schedule  vaccines ARE required in more than a dozen states for children to attend school

One of the few mainstream news personalities to address the matter is Fox News Tucker Carlson who ran a segment about how the CDCs adoption of covid injections to the childhood jab schedule would end up forcing unvaccinated students to get pricked.

Carlson and the network received a litany of criticism from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical players, but to no avail. Carlson tweeted  see below  that he stands by what he said and has even more to say about the matter:

The CDC complained about our segment on the Covid vaccine being required for kids to attend school. We stand by what we said. Heres our response. https://t.co/R5DqVkzef4 pic.twitter.com/y2srvIgAHf  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) October 20, 2022

According to the CDC, individual states decide whether or not to require its childhood vaccine schedule. However, as Carlson explained, the agency is lying as more than a dozen states follow the CDCs childhood jab schedule as a requirement  not a suggestion  in order to attend school.

In Virginia, for instance, the Department of Health says that vaccines must be administered in accordance with the harmonized schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is a similar situation in Massachusetts where it has been codified that no student shall attend a preschool, elementary school or secondary school program without a certificate of immunization documenting that the child has been successfully immunized.

Keep in mind here that no distinction is made between public and private schooling. In order to attend school period, a child must complete the entire CDC vaccination schedule  including covid jabs in the event that those are officially added in the future.

While the 15-0 CDC advisory committee vote to add covid shots the schedule was unanimous, it is not technically binding  though more often than not it is followed by the CDC.

The CDC has received more than 31,000 public comments and counting, most of them being in opposition to the addition of covid jabs to the official childhood immunization schedule in the United States.

Lets hope this causes millions of families to pull their kids from government schools, wrote a commenter.

Is anyone surprised? asked another.

At this point there is no excuse to be sending your kid to public school, wrote someone else. Money and your job are not a good enough reason to destroy your childs mind and body.

Despite being long over, covid is still being used as a weapon by the CDC and other corrupt government agencies. To keep up with the latest, visit Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Modern American psychiatry, which is heavily influenced if not completely controlled by British psychiatry, has a serious transgender problem.

The Tavistock Clinic in London, which has long pushed a transhumanist agenda particularly on the vulnerable and the abused, is largely behind the radical gender reassignment agenda currently sweeping the rest of the world.

Several recent scandals at the Tavistock Clinical are starting to unravel the institutions dark and evil history  but what has been uncovered thus far is only just the tip of the iceberg.

Since the very beginning, explains David Gosselin on his Substack, the Tavistock Clinic has been conducting radical experimentation on psychologically vulnerable groups and trauma victims. (Related: Back in 2019, the mother of a transgender child sued the Tavistock Clinic for lying to her and her child about the safety of puberty-blocking pharmaceuticals.)

Guided by a belief in the endless possibility of remolding human personality and the images of man, Tavistockians and their progeny have for over a century functioned as premier social engineers for an Anglo-American financial establishment committed to re-imagining humanity a la Brave New World, he adds.

For modern Tavistockians and the City of London-Wall Street gods whom they serve, human beings are nothing more than blank slates to be written on, individuals with personalities that can be shaped and remolded into whatever image these social engineers deem fit.

There is no innate divine spark of creative reason; there exists no deeper science of the human soul  only the conditioning of reflexes and thought patterns in talking animals.

Transgenderism is social engineering by the globalists to depopulate the planet of real humans

Put differently, the globalists behind the Tavistock Clinic and their partners on Wall Street see humanity as nothing more than a collection of slightly more complex Pavlovian dogs.

With certain triggers, humanity can be controlled by the gods of the planet to live and behave how the social engineers desire  one of their biggest desires currently being to reprogram humanity as trans rather than male and female.

The way the Tavistock Clinic and its Wall Street partners accomplish this feat is by using shock doctrines. This includes strategies of terror, which then inflict the trauma necessary to recondition people into the image of the New World Order.

The ultimate goal is to prevent humans from connecting to their Creator and living in the freedom and sovereignty that He provides. Instead, the social engineers want a race of easily malleable trans robots that obey everything they are told without resistance or emotion.

Much of this is actually covered in Aldous Huxleys famous Brave New World, which is no longer just science fiction. Now a science reality, Brave New World lays a novelistic blueprint for everything taking place at the Tavistock Clinic.

What happens to the best of Western civilization and its greatest traditions today remains to be seen, Gosselin writes.

However, our ability to understand the deeper nature and history of the intellectual and spiritual disease that has rotted out much of the Western world may very well decide whether our civilization succeeds in removing the cancer, whether the disease consumes the entire body, or if we simply end up chopping off the wrong parts.

With the way things are going, it seems the cancer has won apart from a divine miracle. With each new unpacking of the truth, however, more eyes are opened which in the end could result in a revolution, of sorts, through which humanity as a whole is able to take back what has been stolen from them.

Gosselins piece is lengthy but worth the read. It is both disturbing and eye-opening.

Interested in learning more about the Western transgender onslaught? Visit Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

DavidGosselin.substack.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) In an attempt to stoke more fear among the public, mainstream media outlets in the United States are now warning of a supposed triple threat of viruses that can affect the populace this winter  the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These messages are supported by top public health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The Chief Medical Advisor to the White House and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is already claiming that children all over the country are getting sick and filling up hospitals.

This is particularly problematic because as we get into the flu season, you might have a convergence of three significant respiratory illnesses at one time in children, said Fauci. RSV, influenza and, of course, theres always the concern, as we get into winter, about a surge of a new variant of COVID-19. (Related: Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams: Thomas Renz preparing to expose Fauci for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.)

As people pull back, no longer wear masks, congregate together, then you get a surge of infections that might have been spread out over a period of time, he added.

Other health officials are supporting Faucis claims. Dr. Alpana Waghmare, an infectious diseases expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and a physician at Seattle Childrens Hospital, claimed that everything is coming back with a vengeance.

Mainstream media supporting Fauci

Tara Campbell, reporting for ABC7 out of California, pushed this claim by publishing her interview with Fauci. She wrote that hospitals in at least 43 states, including California, have already informed the station that they are also grappling with supposed early influxes of the flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses.

As of today, we are seeing equal numbers of COVID, flu and RSV and thats really concerning because we are very early for flu and RSV activity, said Dr. Diego Hijano, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Its going to be a rough winter.

David Muir, on his ABC News program World News Tonight, further claimed that the tripledemic virus threat America is facing is hitting children particularly hard. Erielle Reshef of ABC News claimed that around 75 percent of the countrys approximately 40,000 pediatric beds in hospitals are currently occupied.

Reshef further claimed that the number of adults hospitalized for influenza has risen from around 1,332 who were admitted in early October to more than 1,600 as of press time.

She ended her reporting segment on World News Tonight by pointing out that there are vaccines available for COVID-19 and the flu, and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims it is safe for children to take both at the same time.

Coincidentally, Pfizer is developing a vaccine for RSV that is currently in late-stage clinical trials. The Big Pharma company is also developing an antiviral drug for the virus.

Many doctors have echoed their support for people getting up to date on their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Andrew Read, an evolutionary biologist at Penn State University, even claimed that people not keeping up with their COVID-19 vaccinations is to blame for the rise in cases.

Youve got this waning COVID immunity, coinciding with the impact of the flu coming along here, and RSV, said Read. Were in uncharted territory here.

Waghmare added that people with weakened immune systems are still at risk even despite getting all of the recommended or even additional doses of vaccine.

Dr. Aubree Gordon, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, said the latest boosters by Pfizer and Moderna raise antibody levels even if they are not specifically designed for the newer variants. She also expressed her support for people getting the flu vaccine.

Most of the time it doesnt make you very sick, but sometimes it can, said Gordon of the flu. We do have an effective vaccine against influenza, so Id encourage people to go get vaccinated.

Learn more about infectious diseases and pandemics at Pandemic.news.

Watch this clip from InfoWars featuring President Joe Biden admitting that another plandemic is on the way.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Plandemic end game: Real agenda behind pandemic is to enslave the human race following depopulation, says Dr. Judy Mikovits.

THE NEXT VAX: Big Pharma pushing to release ANOTHER mRNA vaccine, this one for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

JABBED UNTIL DEATH: Endless mRNA jabs are now planned for multiple vaccine types, including influenza, HIV, RSV, Pneumococcal, Zika and many more.

Fauci, Collins and others at NIH accepted hundreds of millions of dollars in secret payments prior to the plandemic.

PLANDEMIC: Decades of research show how TYRANNY thrives during global pandemics.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

NYTimes.com

ABC7News.com

ABCNews.go.com

Pfizer.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Governments around the world will soon pay more to buy the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine from Pfizer  a LOT more.

For more than two years, the United States government has bought all of the COVID vaccines given in the country in what has become the biggest public vaccination campaign in American history. (Related: Pfizer bullied, blackmailed government officials to push covid vaccines and maximize corporate profits.)

Those procurements have included more than 500 million doses from Pfizer. The price of the first 100 million was about $20 a dose, thanks to a previous agreement in which the U.S. government invested $1.95 billion in vaccine production. The remaining doses were purchased for about $30 each.

Nevertheless, once the U.S. government supplies dry up, probably in the first quarter of 2023, the COVID vaccines and therapeutics will be transferred to the commercial health platforms and Pfizer can increase the cost of its shots.

On October 20, the company declared that it plans to sell the COVID vaccine, which is marketed under the brand name Comirnaty, for $110 to $130 per dose.

This is about four times the present selling price and 100 times the value cost of producing the vaccine.

Pfizer spending less than $1.20 to manufacture each dose of COVID vaccine

Pfizer spends less than $1.20 to manufacture each dose of the vaccine, as reported by The Peoples Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of over 100 organizations seeking to end vaccine inequity. This estimate was taken from a study carried out by international nonprofit Oxfam, based on data from the consumer advocacy Public Citizen and the Imperial College London.

The 2023 price represents a 10,000 percent markup over the production cost.

The company did give an explanation for the price increase. There are key differences between an emergency and traditional model that increases the costs of making and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer told Quartz via email.

The price, according to the company, includes distributing through several channels and payers instead of one. It added that manufacturing the doses in single vials can be up to three times more costly.

Pfizer stated it had contracts with other developed nations that extend through 2023 with earlier agreed-upon prices. It added the contracts would shift to normal cost as the pandemic distribution model disappears.

Meanwhile, analysts said the move could lead to price increases by competitors.

Moderna had earlier estimated commercial price outlooks in a range of $64 to $100 a shot. It refused to give additional remarks. Novavaxs COVID vaccine, which was approved this year, has not yet achieved a foothold in the U.S. market.

Before Pfizers announcement, Novavax Chief Commercial Officer John Trizzino said on Oct. 19 that his company would consider lowering prices to acquire market share.

The business plan, obviously, is to maintain as many vaccine mandates as possible and have health insurance companies cover the cost of repeated vaccinations, child vaccinations and others.

As an example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended receiving the bivalent booster two months after a prior booster.

A two-dose primary series and one bivalent mRNA booster dose of either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech are recommended for people ages 12 years and older, according to the CDC.

The principal series doses are separated by three to eight weeks and the bivalent mRNA booster dose is given at least two months after completion of the primary series for people who have not received any booster doses, or at least two months after the last monovalent booster dose.

Follow Vaccines.news for more news about COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to know more about the FDA cover-up that led to the approval of the Pfizer vaccine.

This video is from the Free4eva Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pfizer CEO says yearly COVID vaccines for Americans almost certain.

Pfizers COVID-19 vaccines contain nanotechnology to track people, scientists say.

First batch of FOIA documents released by FDA about Pfizers covid vaccines shows 1,223 DEATHS already reported in early February 2021.

Pfizer documents & official real-world data prove the COVID vaccines are already causing mass depopulation.

Conflict of interest: PR firm representing Moderna and Pfizer is also working with the CDC to push vaccine propaganda.

Sources include:

News.Yahoo.com

Reuters.com

NewsPunch.com
(Natural News) Average test scores in reading and mathematics for 2022 saw a major drop, a repercussion of the school closures related to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)  known as the Nations Report Card  released Oct. 24 showed serious declines for fourth- and eighth-graders in both math and reading.

For math, the average score for fourth-graders decreased by five points (236) compared to 241 in 2019. Meanwhile, the average score for eighth-graders dropped by eight points (274) compared to 282 in 2019. The average eighth-grade mathematics score was lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2003, the NAEP stated.

Reading scores for both fourth- and eighth-graders also saw a decrease in 2022. The average reading score decreased by three points compared to 2019, as per the NEAP. Fourth-grade reading scores dropped to 217 from the earlier 220, while eight-grade reading scores fell to 260 from the earlier 263.

This translated into serious problems for the nations children. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth-graders failed to grasp basic math concepts, the Associated Press (AP) reported. (Related: School pandemic shutdowns to blame for historic drop in mathematics and reading proficiency scores among American children.)

Moreover, the AP pointed out that not a single state saw a notable improvement in average test scores. This was seconded by the NAEP results, which showed that states had no significant changes in average test scores  if not reporting a decline.

Scores had been stalling before the pandemic, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before, the AP ultimately remarked.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), under the Department of Educations Institute of Education Sciences, administered the NAEP between January and March to hundreds of thousands of fourth- and eighth-graders.

The decline in average test scores coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns to purportedly curb the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the school setting and a shift to virtual learning. However, a heavy toll was extracted from students in the form of lower average test scores for math and reading.

Dismal NAEP results a wake-up call

NCES Commissioner Peggy Carr called the disappointing results a serious wake-up call for us all.

She said in an interview: In NAEP, when we experience a one- or two-point decline, were talking about it as a significant impact on a students achievement. In math, we experienced an eight-point decline  historic for this assessment.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona reiterated that the dismal test score did not sit well with him. Let me be very clear: These results are not acceptable, he said.

Just like Carr, the secretary commented that the scores were a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using federal funds given to schools.

Among all the major school districts, Cleveland saw the largest single drop. It reported a 16-point decline in fourth-grade reading and a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon remarked: This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard. He added that the school district has intensified its summer school program and added after-school tutoring.

Im not concerned that they cant or wont recover. Im concerned that the country wont stay focused on getting kids caught up, said Gordon.

Carr ultimately pointed out that the NAEP results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in their reading and math skills.

We want our students to be prepared globally for STEM careers  science, technology, engineering [and] math. This puts all of that at risk, she said. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and its not going to go away on its own.

Watch this video that talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic erased 20 years worth of progress in math and reading in American schools.

This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Americas public education COLLAPSING as 2018 student test scores the worst in history.

Thousands of elementary school teachers FLUNK basic math test these are the morons teaching our children.

College entrance test scores collapse across America as dumbed-down liberal education system teaches social justice instead of thinking skills.

Sources include:

Axios.com

NationsReportCard.gov 1

NationsReportCard.gov 2

APNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) After almost 80 years, the U.S. Armys renowned 101st Airborne Division  known by the moniker Screaming Eagles  was deployed in preparation for missions on the Ukrainian front.

According to CBS News, the light infantry unit is a modular division of the Army trained to deploy on any battlefield worldwide within hours, ready to fight. Paratroopers from the division  who were particularly trained for air assault missions  gained notoriety during World War II for participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the D-Day landings in Normandy. It was later reclassified twice during the Vietnam War, first as an airmobile division and then as an air assault division.

CBS News joined the divisions deputy commander, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, 2nd Brigade Combat team commander Col. Edwith Matthaidess during a trip to the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. The two officers traveled in a Black Hawk military helicopter for the hourlong trip to the very edge of the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) land territory.

Were ready to defend every inch of NATO soil, said Lubas. We bring a unique capability, from our air assault capability. Were a light infantry force, but again, we bring that mobility with us for our aircraft and air assaults.

Matthaidess, meanwhile, told CBS News that he and his troops were the closest U.S. forces to Ukraine. It keeps us on our toes, he said, referring to how they have been closely watching the Russian forces, building objectives to practice against and conducting drills that replicate exactly whats going on in the war.

About 4,700 soldiers from the 101st Airbornes home base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky were deployed to secure NATOs eastern territory. They have been establishing a garrison at the air base of the Romanian Armed Forces, named after the countrys third prime minister. (Related: Biden regime putting American troops in Ukraine, setting country up for direct engagement in World War III.)

The real meaning for me, to have the American troops here, is like if you were to have allies in Normandy before any enemy was there, remarked Maj. Gen. Iulian Berdila, the commander of the Romanian Land Forces Multinational Brigade South-East.

Deployment comes amid the Russia-Ukraine war taking a different turn

The deployment of the Screaming Eagles came amid Ukrainian forces advancing in the Kherson region, which Russia recently annexed alongside the Zaporizhzhia region and the Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics. Moscow is believed to have fortified Kherson to prevent Kyiv from retaking it.

Russia is determined to capture the two Ukrainian port cities of Mykolaiv and Odesa in order to cut off Kyivs access from the Black Sea and limit its forces to the ground. To accomplish this, the Russian forces have conducted aerial raids against Ukraine. The resulting attack hit civilian settlements and impacted energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages.

The 101st Airbornes deployment served as a response to combat the threat of Moscow taking the two port cities by using its advantage over Kherson. Incidentally, the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base is located in Constanta County, which faces both Mykolaiv and Odesa.

Both Lubas and Matthaidess reiterated that while they are in Romania to defend NATO territory, they are completely prepared to cross the border into Ukraine the moment combat intensifies or if a NATO country comes under attack.

WWIII.news has more stories related to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Watch this video about updates from the Russia-Ukraine war, including the deployment of the 101st Airborne Division to Romania.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Democrat Sen. Chris Coons wants to send American troops to Ukraine.

It is only a question of time before British and American troops are sent to Ukraine.

ESCALATION: NATO deploys 30,000 troops, 50 warships for huge war games on Russias border.

Sources include:

EurasianTimes.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Nearly half of the countrys attorneys general have launched investigations into alleged ties between American banks and the United Nations Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

Investments in so-called environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives remain a point of contention between the two political parties as those on the left embrace them in the name of fighting climate change or global warming.

Those on the right are opposed to ESG, especially when tied to banking and finance, because it impedes economic growth while pushing green agendas like the elimination of fossil fuels. (Related: Credit Suisse and BlackRock have both been banned from Texas for their anti-energy ESG agendas.)

We know from the UNs Net-Zero Banking Alliance website that the groups members control about 40 percent of the worlds banking assets. All members are committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Net-Zero Banking Alliance is a massive worldwide agreement by major banking institutions, overseen by the UN, to starve companies engaged in fossil fuel-related activities of credit on national and international markets, added Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, one of the attorneys general who launched an investigation into the matter in his state.

Are ESG banks committing treason against the United States?

Back in May, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance issued a statement claiming that while it does not support the financing of fossil fuel expansion, it still believes that immediate divestment from existing fossil fuel positions will not necessarily bring about the required real economy decarbonization that the world needs.

Schmitts response to this is that he is currently leading a coalition to investigate banks deemed to have ceded their authority over to the UN. The goal, he says, is to prevent the killing of American companies that dont subscribe to the woke climate agenda.

These banks are accountable to American laws  we dont let international bodies set the standards for our businesses, Schmitt further added in a statement.

In addition to Missouri, the following states are also on board with investigating the banking cartels: Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

The investigations include a demand of banks that they describe their involvement with each Global Climate Initiative in which they participate, including dates joined, promises and pledges made, along with any other commitments.

Schmitt and his allies also want to know what actions offending banks have made with regard to these Global Climate Initiatives. This will help determine the extent of corruption implicit at each financial institution.

In West Virginia, opposition to ESG principles is so strong in state treasurer Riley Moore that he is now seeking to move state money from associated financial institutions. Other state treasurers are reportedly attempting the same.

In a statement, Will Hild, executive director of Consumers Research, praised the launch of these new investigations.

States are holding big banks accountable for obvious violations and for peddling highly questionable climate initiatives under the label of ESG  all part of a coordinated effort to handicap American energy at the expense of U.S. consumers, Hild said.

On the flip side of the argument, various environmental groups are criticizing ESG-associated banks for not going far enough with their environmental and social justice extremism.

Its time for the NZBA [Net-Zero Banking Alliance] to make clear that banks who continue to finance massive fossil fuel expansion while making grand pronouncements about climate goals are not welcome in the alliance, said the Sierra Clubs Adele Shraiman, who sits on the organizations Fossil-Free Finance campaign at Climate Week NYC.

The latest climate cult news can be found at Climate.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a renowned cardiologist based out of England, made another appearance in the media, this time with Fox News Laura Ingraham to warn against Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines.

Malhotra told Ingraham that all mRNA (messenger RNA) injections, including those from Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna, need to be immediately suspended from all further use.

The harm caused by the shots is so significantly vast and irrefutable that continuing to administer the shots, he said, amounts to a global scandal of epic proportions  watch below:

BREAKING FOX NEWS Vaxxed Cardiologist: Suspend mRNA Product Now I find it very difficult to believe that Pfizer executives didnt know this was going to cause significant harm If this is the case then this is a global scandal Interview here https://t.co/SKhgD4FB4p pic.twitter.com/3yj7niWTga  Dr Aseem Malhotra (@DrAseemMalhotra) October 19, 2022

Malhotra explained to Ingraham that from the very beginning, the data showed that the heart risks associated with mRNA shots  and, to be fair, the viral vector shots from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca as well  are extreme.

That data suggested at the time that it was likely to cause more harm than good in most people, Malhotra said. And thats the smoking gun.

Thats more than enough evidence for us to pause and stop the vaccine rollout. (Related: Malhotra used to support covid jabs until realizing that they are a farce).

In people 16-39, theres a 25% absolute increase in heart attacks and cardiac arrest

For reasons that are still somewhat shrouded in mystery, the jabs seem to harm younger people  and particularly younger males  much more than older people.

Malhotra went on to reveal that research out of Israel found that people aged 16-39  meaning people in the prime of their life  have a 25 percent absolute increase in heart attacks and cardiac arrest, which cannot be attributed to the alleged covid virus itself.

In other words, the thing that is harming people is not some fantasy disease floating around in the air, but rather the chemical concoctions found inside the mystery vials they are calling vaccines.

This has not been replicated in Florida, Malhotra went on to state about the Israeli research confirming all this.

Thats why the general surgeon of Florida has come out and suggested that certainly people in that age group should not be having the vaccine.

According to Malhotra, who dug through the data even more deeply, this risk of heart harm does not just apply to people aged 16-39  it actually applies to everybody.

Not to that same degree, he clarified, but it does apply to everybody.

It is at this point in the interview that Ingraham tries to play defense for those who rolled out the jabs at warp speed  mainly Donald Trump and his administration, which she does not name specifically.

Ingrahams suggestion is that the jabs were unleashed at record speed because of the plandemic, which the powers that be were supposedly trying to get in front of with the fast release of the injections.

Malhotra responded to this defense by explaining that he finds it hard to believe that nobody knew from the very beginning that the shots were deadly and unsafe. All they seem to have cared about, it seems, is money (as usual).

Its likely they knew this, which means that  it probably should never have been rolled out in the first place, Malhotra said.

Ingraham responded to this with a wow, followed by a statement about how if all of what Malhotra is saying is true, then this is a global scandal and is as big as it gets.

Want to keep up with the latest news about the fight against Fauci Flu shots? You can do so at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) According to Zelenko Freedom Foundation (ZFF) Co-Chairs Ann Vandersteel and Kevin Jenkins, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines awakened people to the fact that Big Pharma is poisoning them.

The two made this assertion during the Oct. 19 episode of The Zelenko Report on Brighteon.TV. In particular, they zeroed in on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommending the inclusion of the COVID-19 vaccine to the immunization schedule for children and adults.

The ACIP ruled in a unanimous vote that children six months and older, as well as adults, should get the COVID-19 shot and boosters when they are eligible for it. (Related: CDC is about to add covid-19 vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule, creating total liability protection for Pfizer & Moderna.)

But according to NBC News, the recommended immunization schedule is not a vaccine mandate. CDC is expected to sign off on the recommendation, but local government units can make their own rules about which vaccines are required for school attendance.

Jenkins explained that thanks to the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Americans became aware that drug companies were freed of any liability  allowing them to inject poison into children. Moreover, Jenkins pointed out that people now understand the vaccine industry due to the COVID-19 shots.

When we were younger, we might have had two vaccines and maybe the schedule was like three to four shots. But now, it is 79, he said. This whole notion that vaccines are a gateway to health we all know now that it is not true.

Vandersteel agreed, adding that people have awakened to the medical tyranny due to mask and vaccine mandates. She recounted how she developed cancer twice, only to discover that the conditions were linked to the vaccines.

ZFF co-chairs urge Americans to show up and vote in the midterms

Elsewhere in the program, Jenkins urged Americans to show up and vote during the midterms. The ZFF co-chair emphasized that the midterm elections will serve to return power to the people and make their voices heard.

Get out there not just to vote, but to show that your vote has power and that you have a voice, he said.

I want to say one thing to you: Your government has failed. They are not coming to your rescue. No ones going to help you. The only government thats important is the government we the people are with.

Jenkins ultimately remarked that people are at the tipping point now and that everybodys holding their breath for November.

We should not be holding our breath to see whos going to win the House, he said. You are not going to let anybody that wins in this next election get away with being silent. We dont have to wait to get the gavel. We have seen that before. We have to get our own gavel and gavel them out.

VaccineDamage.news for more updates on the growing dangers of vaccines.

Watch the full Oct. 19 episode of The Zelenko Report with Ann Vandersteel and Kevin Jenkins below. Catch new episodes of the program every weekday at 1-2 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Del Bigtree: CDC continues to promote vaccine schedule for babies despite the shots containing aluminum that causes asthma.

Dr. Stephanie Christner: Innocent people are walking into a poison prison called the vaccine schedule  Brighteon.TV.

High risk, NO reward: CDC officially includes COVID-19 vaccine in its recommended immunization schedule for kids despite proven DANGERS.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Congress.gov

NBCNews.com
(Natural News) At the onset of the covid-19 scandal, governments around the world signed liability-free contracts and indemnity clauses with companies Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. These companies were commissioned to develop experimental, genetic interference injection programs (covid-19 vaccines) even before the causative agent for covid-19 was identified. An investigation into the supply contracts finds that EU governments contracted with Pfizer, knowingly exposing healthy populations to unknown adverse events, while protecting Pfizer from any claim of adverse events.

EU governments conspired to harm the population while protecting Pfizer, as they caused mass illness and death

These diabolical supply contracts use the covid-19 emergency declarations to protect the vaccine makers from any claims of adverse events. This is why governments around the world are taking very little to no action in addressing catastrophic vaccine injuries and deaths. The pharmacovigilance systems around the world have documented hundreds of millions of injuries, but none of it is taken seriously. The vaccine makers have contractually asserted that they are above the law, and government leaders have already signed their allegiance away.

Between Italy and Greece lies the country of Slovenia, which is home to about 2.1 million people. The Slovenian government entered into a liability-free contract with Pfizer knowing that the experimental injection would subject the population to adverse events. In fact, the contract protects Pfizer from any claim of adverse events and emergency use protocols. In the contract, the Slovenian government knew they were forcing a vaccine onto the population that had no efficacy against viral transmission, no efficacy for reducing viral load, and no efficacy for lowering symptoms of disease. The Slovenian government knew that these are all critical end points to clinical trials, but they contracted with Pfizer and pushed out their experimental injection without any data, without any evidence of safety or efficacy.

From the contract:

The Participating Member State acknowledges that the Vaccine and materials related to the Vaccine, and their components and constituent materials are being rapidly developed due to the emergency circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be studied after provision of the Vaccine to the Participating Member States under the APA. The Participating Member State further acknowledges that the long-term effects and efficacy of the Vaccine are not currently known and that there may be adverse effects of the Vaccine that are not currently known. Further, to the extent applicable, the Participating Member State acknowledges that the Vaccine shall not be serialized.

Governments around the world LIED about the covid vaccine, poisoning the population for profit

Like almost every other government, Slovenia marched its population into the jaws of this experiment, claiming that the vaccine would stop transmission, infection, hospitalization, and death. Thousands of politicians across the EU and British Commonwealth recited the mantra that these were vaccines, that they are safe and effective, that they must be mandated in order for life to return to normal.

In their purchase orders and contracts, however, these governments were not assured of any positive clinical end point  no positive public health result. Instead, these governments signed contracts knowing that the vaccines would cause adverse events, and the governments provided liability shields for the vaccine makers.

In Pfizers phase 3 clinical trials, the adverse event rate was 24 percent in the vaccinated group versus six percent in the placebo group, so there was never any standard of safety to begin with. With each new supply contract, Pfizer confirmed that the injections would not be the same as the injections that were studied during the original clinical trials, which is why Pfizer confirmed in the contracts that there could be even more unknown adverse effects. All the EU member states signed these contracts  which clearly state that all long-term effects are unknown.

To make matters worse, these contracts are never updated. Every time a government signs a new purchase order with Pfizer, the verbiage on the contract is always the same: (The) State further acknowledges that the long-term effects and efficacy of the Vaccine are not currently known. This was the case in the December 2020 contract, after preliminary clinical trials showed that the vaccine did cause symptoms in healthy people. It was still the case in the September 2021 contract, when there was ample real-world evidence that the vaccine was causing all sorts of health problems in previously healthy people.

The Professor who uncovered Pfizers contract with the Slovenian government, Professor Norman Fenton, said: While that may have been a reasonable statement to include in the December 2020 contract, it is curious that no update at all had been added by the end of September 2021 given all the data on hundreds of millions of doses that had been administered by then.

Slovenias supply contract appears to be a template that was drafted by an EU Commission, and was pushed out to all the EU member states. Here is a link to a scanned .pdf of the 25-page contract.

Sources include:

PeterHalligan.substack.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

OpenVAERS.com
(Natural News) Every city worker who was fired for refusing to get vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) must now be reinstated, ruled the New York state Supreme Court this week.

After a lengthy legal battle following the Empire States abolishment of religious exemptions, the state Supreme Court delivered a long-awaited victory to unvaccinated staff members in the Big Apple who were let go for preserving their natural immunity.

Being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting Covid-19, the court ruled, ordering all affected employees who were fired to be immediately reinstated with back pay.

Covid jab mandates, the court went on to confirm, were about compliance, having absolutely nothing to do with public health. Forcing people to get injected is unconstitutional, arbitrary, and capricious, the court further said.

Attorney Chad LaVeglia announced the verdict outside the Richmond County courthouse, declaring the citys now-defunct covid jab mandate to be null and void.

So, we just defeated the vaccine mandate for every single city employee  not just sanitation, LaVeglia further stated.

All public workers, including the New York Fire Department (NYPD), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the Department of Corrections, are free to come back to work unvaccinated, with back pay  and there is nothing the covid fascists can do about it.

For all the brave men and women who have been our first responders and have been brave through all this are now free, and you should be able to go back to work, LaVeglia added.

No more covid jab mandates!

The suit that led to this verdict was filed by George Garvey and 15 other workers at the Department of Sanitation who were terminated for refusing to permanently destroy their DNA with covid injections.

They filed it on July 20, which eventually led to Judge Ralph Porzio ruling against New York City and its mandate, which did contain exceptions. Porzio also called out Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, for making a different decision for similarly situated people based on identical facts in his Executive Order No. 62.

Because NYCs covid jab mandate was being selectively applied, Porzio decided that it was arbitrary and capricious. He says there is nothing on the record to support the rationality of keeping a vaccination mandate for public employees, while vacating the mandate for private sector employees or creating a carveout for certain professions, like athletes, artists, and performers.

This is clearly an arbitrary and capricious action because we are dealing with identical unvaccinated people being treated differently by the same administrative agency, Porzio further declared.

All but one of the 16 plaintiffs in the case had requested exemptions, only to receive generalized and vague denials, prompting the suit. They were also prevented from working for no reason while their exemptions were being processed, depriving them of pay.

There was no reason why the City of New York could not continue with a vaccinate or test policy, like the Mayors Executive Order that was issued in August 2021, Porzio said.

Roughly 80 percent of the City is said to be vaccinated, which only further destroys the credibility of the now-defunct mandate. Eighty percent should easily constitute herd immunity, even as defined by the drug-pushers.

It is clear that the Health Commissioner has the authority to issue public health mandates, Porzio went on to state. No one is refuting that authority. However, the Health Commissioner cannot create a new condition of employment for City employees.

In the comments, someone emphasized that this whole thing was a crock from the very beginning.

The latest news about Fauci Flu shot mandates and the fight against them can be found at VaccineWars.com.

Sources for this article include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NaturalNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com
(Natural News) A new study has concluded that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), has a unique fingerprint that proves it could only have originated from a laboratory.

The two most common theories regarding the origin of the coronavirus are the natural origin theory and the lab-leak theory. The former claims that the virus originated in wild animals and infected humans by zoonotic transfer. The latter claims that the coronavirus was being experimented upon in a lab and then leaked out into the public. (Related: From conspiracy theory to viable theory: Indy media was right again about COVIDs lab origin.)

In the joint German-American study, titled Endonuclease fingerprint indicates a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV-2, the three researchers who worked on this believe they have definitively proven the lab-leak theory to be true.

Dr. Alex Washburne, one of the researchers studying the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, compared it to previously discovered coronaviruses.

He and the two other researchers, Antonius VanDongen of Duke University and Valentin Bruttel of University Hospital Wurzburg in Germany, detected peculiar patterns in the genome sequence  which they concluded were the hallmarks of a virus that was manufactured instead of originating from the natural world. They described SARS-CoV-2s genome sequence as having a synthetic fingerprint.

We found that the virus has the restriction site fingerprint that is typical of synthetic viruses. The synthetic fingerprint of SARS-CoV-2 is anomalous in wild coronaviruses, and common in lab-assembled viruses, wrote the researchers. The type of 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-CoV-2, they concluded.

Scientists laud study for proving lab-leak theory correct

Many scientists who have read through Washburnes study have lauded it and how it proved that the coronavirus came from a lab.

Evidence that strongly suggests SARS-CoV-2 was engineered may have been hiding in plain sight all along, said Viscount Matt Ridley, a British science writer and former member of the House of Lords.

Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute of the University College London, said that the study was the strongest piece of evidence to date against a simple scenario of strict zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2. Balloux added that the study looks solid both conceptually and methodologically. He even said he was able to replicate the studys key findings, proving that the confirmed synthetic genomic patterns are genuine.

Indian physician and radiologist Dr. Pooja Toshniwal Paharia, writing for News Medical, said that the study findings showed that it was very probable SARS-CoV-2 originated synthetically as an infectious clone assembled in vitro.

The findings could aid policy-making and research to prevent future pandemics and encourage biosafety improvements worldwide, she added.

However, other scientists said Washburnes study is highly misleading, very poorly controlled and cherry-picked. Some, like Benjamin Neuman, a professor of biology at Texas A&M University, even called it tinfoil hat bonkers.

In response to the criticisms, Washburne invited his detractors to prove him and his colleagues wrong.

I will celebrate their ingenuity and commitment to the truth, and if I am proven wrong, I will change my mind, he said. He added that science can save lives and revolutionize our civilization, but only if scientists and our broader society remain honest, curious and open-minded.

Learn more about the coronavirus at Pandemic.news.

Watch this clip of Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on Fox News discussing how Dr. Anthony Fauci does not want the world to discover COVID-19s origins.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Keep the Republic: EcoHealth whistleblower has evidence to prove coronavirus was created in Wuhan lab, says Thomas Renz  Brighteon.TV.

New Lancet report suggests coronavirus may have leaked from US lab.

Wuhan lab where coronavirus is believed to have originated eligible for TAXPAYER FUNDING until 2024.

COVID-19 is Man-made: From Fauci, to Gates, to Daszak; a timeline of bio-terror.

Why did Collins and Fauci try so hard to quash the lab leak theory and hide coronavirus gain-of-function research they approved?

Sources include:

WND.com

BioRxiv.org

Telegraph.co.uk

News-Medical.net

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Two Ukrainain firms are in the final stages of producing a dirty bomb, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov told journalists on Monday.

(Article by Sean Adl-Tabatabai republished from NewsPunch.com)

According to the information we have available, two Ukrainian organizations have concrete instructions to create a so-called dirty bomb. Work is at the final stage, Kirillov declared.

Tass.com reports: The Russian Defense Ministry has data on contacts of the Ukrainian presidential office with the UK on the issue of potentially obtaining these nuclear technologies, Kirillov told a news briefing.

The Kiev regime has sufficient research and production potential to make a dirty bomb, including three active nuclear power plants and large amounts of spent nuclear fuel, he went on to say.

Thus, Ukraine has nuclear industry enterprises with stockpiles of radioactive substances that can be used to make a dirty bomb. They are three active nuclear power plants: Yuzhno-Ukrainskaya, Khmelnitskaya and Rovnenskaya, which have nine spent fuel pools that contain up to 1,500 tons of uranium oxide enriched to the level of 1.5%, Kirillov said.

In addition, according to Kirillov, there are 22,000 spent fuel assemblies containing uranium-238 at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant. It also contains products related to operation: uranium-235 and plutonium-239, which are the main components of the nuclear charge, the lieutenant general stressed.

On Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu held telephone conversations with his British, French and Turkish counterparts, as well as with the Pentagon chief. Shoigu conveyed to his colleagues concerns about Ukraines possible use of a dirty bomb. For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova spotlighted Ukraines nuclear blackmail. According to her, Kiev was planning to turn the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant into a dirty bomb.

Read more at: NewsPunch.com
(Natural News) Energy experts called for the U.S. to rethink its plans of adopting green energy, taking cues from Europes energy collapse.

Investigative reporter Sharyl Atkisson caught up with experts in the United Kingdom and Germany to discuss how the energy collapse took over the climate emergency, and how the U.S. can avert such a crisis.

Europes Green Experiment author John Constable was baffled by the Biden administrations refusal to focus on the disastrous repercussions of the Green New Deal.

The experiment has been disastrous, to put it no stronger, he said. Since around 2008, weve spent nearly $800 billion subsidizing renewable energy. The costs have not fallen. Weve not got a green industry. All weve done is increased consumer costs  dramatically increased consumer cost.

Alexander Libman, professor at the Free University of Berlins Institute for East European Studies, pointed out that it is very difficult to master the great transition under the conditions of economic crisis and with a population that will fully suffer from a possible energy deficit.

There are simply no alternatives for gas supply on the global market Germany and other European countries can rely upon. There is no substitute, he said. The hope is that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin doesnt stop the gas supply.

In the midst of skyrocketing energy bills and the impending cold and dark winter, European governments have been implementing policies that carry a hefty price tag of $500 billion tab and growing and ultimately billed to taxpayers.

Dimon: Going green is a fantasy that only worsened climate crisis

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon thinks that the U.S. has it completely backward in terms of cutting back the development of oil and resources in solving climate change. (Related: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon: We have it completely backwards on green energy.)

We are not getting this right, Dimon said. The world needs effectively 100 million barrels of oil and gas every day, and we need it for 10 years. To do that, we need proper investing in the oil and gas complex.

Like Constable, the CEO also believes that the Biden regime must learn from what Europe has experienced.

Well, I think we are getting energy completely wrong, which is, you know, ever since the [Ukraine] war started, weve known that Europe is going to have a problem and that it was pretty predictable that Putin was going to cut off some gas and certain oil, and oil prices go up, he said in a recent CNBC interview.

In fact, he added, it made the climate worse because people had this bad assumption that high oil prices and gas prices reduce CO2. No. Poor nations, India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, are turning back on coal plants, as are rich nations called Germany, Netherlands and France, he said.

Dimon also stressed that America should have asserted itself more in the oil industry following Russias invasion of Ukraine. We should have gotten that right starting in March, he said.

GreenDeal.news has more stories about governments around the world pivoting to green energy.

Watch the below video that reveals how the energy crisis may have uncovered corruption between energy developers and the European Unions member nations.

This video is from the Iron Age News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Green energy not the answer to global energy crisis.

Operators say green energy transition rendered US power grid unreliable, prone to blackouts.

Green energy GENOCIDE: Without fossil fuel, therell be no more fertilizer to grow food.

EU declares fossil fuels and nuclear to be green energy sources.

Sources include:

ActivistPost.com

FullMeasure.news

WesternJournal.com

Twitter.com

Brighteon.com
Electric cars have long relied on lithium batteries as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and pave the way for cleaner energy. Lithium is a chemical element and is also a key component of most electric car batteries. However, the extremely large lithium price increase since 2020 has proven to be a burden for some consumers. This trend is reportedly likely to continue in the coming years.

Previous studies have shown lithium mining has both environmental and ecological repercussions. With this, the quest for finding alternative battery technology has started to take place to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which emits climate-damaging greenhouse gases that warms the planet. Since lithium is expected to become obsolete in the future, scientists are looking for another chemical element: sodium.

Now, a new report suggests that sodium, also one of the most common minerals and the sixth most abundant element on Earth, is being considered as a game-changer element. The increasing potential of sodium as a candidate for alternative technology for electric cars are based on its said abundance. For this reason, future sodium batteries could finally deviate us from our reliance on fossil fuels.

Alternative Battery Technology

Lithium has increased by 900% since 2020 and could persist since US President Joe Biden's objective is to make electric cars as part of 50% of US vehicle sales by the year 2030 and will allow for the increase in global demand for lithium by a factor of six by the year 2032, according to analysts, as cited by Newsweek.

Lithium mining and other hazardous human activities have led use to engage in global energy transition to reduce the harvesting and burning of fossil fuels. When it comes to electric cars, scientists have attempted to look for alternative electric car batteries to achieve our net-zero goals of harmful airborne particles. Yet, it has also allowed use to rely heavily on scarce resources, even harming ecosystems.

In April 2022, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reported what was at stake amid the lithium mining in Chile's Atacama Region, which endangers indigenous communities and leaves them in dry conditions. The NRDC report highlights that while the activity is driven by thought that the metal fuels a clean technology, it also drains water resources, which also leaves animals with nothing to drink.

Also Read: How Are Lithium Batteries Making The World Easier?

Future Sodium Batteries

Due to the 'double-edged sword' nature of lithium mining and lithium batteries in general, a UK based startup company called Faradion, has been experimenting in sodium-based alternative battery technology since 2011.

Faradion Director of Technology Ruth Sayers told Newsweek that operational principle is the same when using lithium-ion battery, but the difference is that the cathode and electrolyte contains sodium rather than lithium. The estimated production cost of sodium batteries is between 20% and 35% cheaper than lithium iron phosphate cells.

In May 2022, a so-called "sodium-ion battery technology" took a spotlight in the battery world when it comes to potentially ousting lithium-ion battery technology. Faradion reported that a sodium-based battery is now ready and cheap yet safe to use, according to the American Chemical Society.

Related Article: Engineers Developed A Battery That Is Low Cost Than Lithium Ion Battery
Dual ancestries from two separate ancient human groups were found from fossils in the United Kingdom, according to a new study led by the University College London (UCL). The human remains belong from Late Glacial Paleolithic populations, becoming the UK's oldest human DNA. The fossils indicate that some of the early humans migrated into Great Britain by the end of the last ice age period.

The findings are considered to be the UK's first genetic data from Paleolithic human individuals, who were likely part of a group who migrated into Northwest Europe when climate warming and glacial melting occurred. Through carbon dating technology, DNA sequencing, and DNA sequencing, the study was able to prove that even some the UK's oldest human skeletal material can be a source of genetic information.

For hundreds of thousands of years, scientists believed early humans entered and left the UK in a recurrent manner due to extreme environmental and climate changes. As adaptive hunter-gatherers, evidence from the new research shows our ancestors in the land of what is now the British Isles, which consists of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and other islands.

UK's Oldest Human DNA

Findings about the UK's oldest human DNA was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution on Monday, October 24. In contrast to the notion of a linear or singular British ancestors, the UCL researchers, along with the Francis Crick Institute and the Natural History Museum (NHM), indirectly debunked this idea. This comes following the growing evidence of the UK's dual ancestries.

The study's research team explored the UK's oldest genetic data from an individual remains from Gough's Cave in Somerset and from a second individual from Kendrick's Cave in North Wales. Both individuals lived over 13,500 years ago. Skeletons of this magnitude are very few in Brain, with only a total of a dozen across six sites, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) cites.

Also Read: What Makes Us Human? This Often Overlooked DNA May Provide Answers

First Britons

Prior to the UCL paper, scientists and scholars believe the presence of our ancestors in the UK came longer than previously thought. In fact, the first Britons arrived in the group of islands nearly one million years ago as newcomers. However, their arrival was met with a dramatically changing environment as a challenge for their survival, according to the NHM.

Located between the Atlantic Ocean and continental Europe, ancient Britain contained traces left behind by its earliest inhabitants and are believed to be scattered across the landscape, according to investigations conducted by the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain (AHOB). This was made possible by combining evidence coming from animal fossils and plant fossils, as well as tools and artefacts.

The investigations were conducted by AHOB in collaboration with the NHM and other research institutions, which concluded there were at least 10 separate waves of occupation in ancient UK. Furthermore, the presence of modern humans in Britain had been continuous over the past 12,000 years.

Related Article: 'Alien' DNA Strands Discovered in Human Genome
Gators in the Cape Fear River were the subject of a recent study that discovered the animals had elevated blood serum levels of 14 different perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in addition to genetic and clinical indicators of impacts on the immune system.

The study expanded the body of research linking PFAS exposure to unfavorable immune system effects.

49 Gators, 23 Forever Chemicals PFAS

On 49 alligators that lived along the Cape Fear River between 2018 and 2019, the research team, under the direction of Scott Belcher, an associate professor of biology from the North Carolina State University, collected blood samples and assessed the health of the animals.

These findings were contrasted with the 26 alligators from the nearby Lumber River basin's Lake Waccamaw, which were the reference population.

Belcher said that they examined 23 different PFAS and discovered distinct variations in the types and concentrations of PFAS detected in the two populations.

Comparatively, the Lake Waccamaw population had an average of five distinct PFAS, while the Cape Fear River samples had an average of ten different PFAS.

Additionally, according to Belcher, Alligators from the Cape Fear River basin had higher blood concentrations of fluoroethers like Nafion byproduct 2, whereas these levels were much lower, or close to undetectable, in alligators from Lake Waccamaw.

Their findings demonstrated that overall PFAS concentrations decreased as the research transitioned downstream from Wilmington towards Bald Head Island.

Long-Lasting Lesions

The team's most peculiar discovery, however, was that a number of the Cape Fear gators had unhealed or infected lesions.

Belcher said that gators very rarely get infected and do get wounds, but they typically recover quickly.

Concerned by infected lesions that haven't been healing properly, the team decided to focus on the relationships between PFAS, or forever chemicals exposure, and alterations in the alligators' immune systems.

A qRT-PCR genetic analysis found that the interferon-alpha (INF-) responsive genes were 400 times more abundant in the Cape Fear River alligators than in the Lake Waccamaw gators, which had much lower blood concentrations of PFAS.

Belcher explained that a secreted immune protein called INF- plays a role in triggering an immune response.

The group examined a set of INF- responsive genes that are typically associated with viral infections.

Read also: Study: 'Forever Chemicals' PFOS in Water-Repellant Causes Liver Cancer

Long-term or chronic high expression of this group of genes in humans is a significant sign of autoimmune disorders, particularly lupus.

Furthermore, some human PFAS exposures have been associated with long-term autoimmune conditions like ulcerative colitis and thyroid disease.

He explained further that, therefore, elevated INF- expression in these alligators indicates a disruption in one or more aspects of their immune systems.

According to NC State University News, the researchers are in a good position to continue observing PFAS exposure and health differences in both individuals and the larger alligator populations within both habitats because they have data samples for the past five years, much of it collected from the same gators on an annual basis.

Human Health Too

According to Belcher, alligators are sentinel species that signal health risks to humans.

These connections between exposure to PFAS and impaired immune function in Cape Fear River gators provided evidence that PFAS exposure has negative effects on both human and animal health, Phys Org reported.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, and the North Carolina Sea Grant all provided funding for the research that was published in Frontiers in Toxicology.

The project, which was created in association with Cape Fear River Watch and the PFAS testing network, has Belcher as its corresponding author.

Related article: Exposure to Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' Linked to Low Sperm Count
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: the remains of a fish rest in mud at Riverside Park Marina in Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park along the Mississippi River on October 19, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. Lack of rain in the Ohio River Valley and along the Upper Mississippi has the Mississippi River south of the confluence of the Ohio River nearing record low levels which is wreaking havoc at marinas, and with barge traffic, driving up shipping prices and threatening crop exports and fertilizer shipments as the soybean and corn harvest gets into full swing. (Photo : Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Farmers often test the soil's content by burying a set of underwear and watching how fast they decomposed.

The concept is that the more natural microorganisms in the soil, like fungi and bacteria the quicker the fabric will deteriorate. Bury the pants now, and they might be found in excellent condition the very next year.

This is because experts estimated that more than quarter of the world's soil samples has been degraded.

Improving Soil Health

In India, soil pollution is one of aspects, along with debt, that is believed to have contributed to the disturbing chart of well almost 30 people in the agricultural sectors committing suicide every day.

Knowing the composition of soil could give rise to entirely new industry sectors, such as biotech, which centered on enzyme assembling the microbes in soil in order supply landowners with the finest nutrient content for their land.

Advanced plowing turns the soil to remove weeds, but it also exposes microbes beneath the soil that are essential to its health.

The EU also created the EU Soil Observatory last year to gather and record soil data, as well as to assist land policy and research development.

In the meantime, cover crops, those that are not collected but are planted to prevent the earth from becoming bare aid in improving soil quality by raising organic matter.

Grazing, only rising one crop at a period, as well as too much use of synthetic pesticides are all contributors to soil degradation.

"We must ensure that technology promotes soil and plant health, we all recall being astonished by images of the North American dust bowl from the 1930s," stated by David Montgomery, professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington and author of three books on soil, including Dirt.

From one experiment, which was aspect of the Soil Association's Innovative Farmers program, willow wood pellet mulch was used all over trees to inhibit weeds and disease.

It's combining some deep wisdom, like farming techniques and crop rotation, with advanced technology - sensors, robotic systems, and exploration for beneficial microbes.

Samples taken will be sent to a laboratory for analysis, but this can be costly and time-consuming.

Harvest Agri, a UK company that offers a microbiometer soil test, is led by Jack Ingle.

According to a Chemistry World article, natural compounds from the topsoil microbiome are indeed a potential resource of medicinal compounds.

If we remove all of that and the soil turns to sand, this is over, he stated.

Researchers simply believed that only about 10% of ground life has been recognized. Poor compost has historically had catastrophic consequences.

This really old piece of machinery is a quit essential part of agricultural life throughout the world, from livelihood small holdings in Africa to massive agricultural production in North Dakota.

Also read: 'Supercharged' Hurricanes Rise Significantly in US Atlantic Coast

Popular Indian Guru

To strive to improve things, Sadhguru, a popular Indian guru, is still leading a global movement called SaveSoil, which aims to enhance soil nutrients around the world.

However, Ben Raskin, head of agroforestry and horticulture at the UK's Soil Association, believed we will have to reconsider the function of technology in agriculture activities.

If you continuously degrade land faster than it can be rebuilt, you're draining its capacitors, its ability to sustain agriculture productivity.

Prof Montgomery believes that for a wide range, the entire world that lies beneath ground was basically unnoticeable to science, and he is advocating for landowners to be given benefits, including monetary assistance, to maintain an average of 3% content aggregation in their soil.

Related article: Cave in Poland Reveals Extinct Human Species Half a Million Years Old
The existence of the fabled animal and the reason it is Scotland's national animal have been the subject of some speculation since archaeologists discovered what might be a fossil of an ancient unicorn in a remote area of the Scottish Highland.

The fossils seem to be mostly unaltered, though some may have had their spiraled horns lost or removed.

Since more excavations are anticipated in the area, the find's precise location has not yet been made public.

The Unicorn

Since antiquity, the unicorn has been depicted as a mythical animal with a single, enormous, pointed, spiraling horn sticking out of its forehead.

Ancient Indus Valley Civilization seals featured unicorns, and Greek natural history writers also made mention of unicorns in their writings.

The re'em, which some editions translate as a unicorn, is another animal that the Bible mentions.

One of Scotland's national animals, unicorns has a long history of being connected to Scottish history. In recognition of this, a unicorn is depicted on the United Kingdom's royal coat of arms.

Although there are no solid, conclusive records or evidence, there has been speculation about why this animal is so prominent in Scottish history and why the unicorn is Scotland's national animal.

Recent reports of the remains of all other unicorn species have raised the possibility that the extinct status of unicorns is much shorter than previously thought.

The ancient unicorn fossil was later determined to be a Siberian unicorn, Knowing Daily reported.

Siberian Unicorn

Only five rhinoceros species still exist today, but there were once as many as 250 different species, according to the Natural History Museum.

Elasmotherium sibiricum was among them, and it was one of the most impressive.

It lived on the grasslands of Eurasia, from western Ukraine and Russia to Kazakhstan and Siberia, and could weigh up to 3.5 tonnes.

The species eventually perished, though the exact time has been disputed.

One of the most important occurrences during that time for those researching the last Ice Age fauna was the extinction of the megafauna.

Many enormous, well-known species, including the woolly mammoth, the saber-toothed cat, and the Irish elk, went extinct during this time.

Read also: US and UK Museum Officials Decode the 'Origins' of Unicorn Myth

Adrian Lister, a professor and Merit Researcher from the Museum, explained that after about 40,000 years, this megafaunal extinction event began to take place.

Elasmotherium, which appears to have gone extinct 100,000 years ago, has not been included in the same event.

However, there have been some indications in recent years that this previously believed extinction date for E. sibiricum may not be accurate.

Lister said that to their surprise when they carbon dated a few specimens-including the exquisite complete skull on display at the Museum-they discovered that they were less than 40,000 years old.

This didn't mean much on its own, but by collaborating with Dutch and Russian researchers, several more fossils were analyzed.

The researchers eventually had 23 dated specimens after starting with no radiocarbon-dated Elasmotherium fossils at all.

Lister said that they all strongly agreed that this species continued to exist until around 39,000 years ago and possibly as recently as 35,000 years ago.

Their research on the ancient unicorn species was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Related article: Siberian Unicorn: Massive Real-Life Unicorn That Walked the Earth 35,000 Years Ago
Not all the edible fish caught from the oceans are meant for human consumption; only 66% of daily harvests are being used for this purpose.

The rest are being fed to fish.

Aquaculture, or fish farming, was promoted by environmentalists as a solution to the oceans' fish shortage.

This was meant to be the answer, but because this industry became so demanding, it turned out to be a problem in and of itself.

They began feeding the farmed fish high-protein pellets known as fishmeal, which were created from enormous quantities of fish that were caught at sea and then ground into powder, to fatten the fish faster.

Today, over 30% of all fishes removed from the ocean are fed to other fish on land.

The Outlaw Ocean

The Outlaw Ocean Project is a nonprofit journalism organization with headquarters in Washington, DC.

The organization traveled to West Africa for an offshore patrol to investigate this paradoxical situation where hundreds of fishing boats, including Chinese vessels, trawl for the production of fishmeal, destroying the local food supply and polluting the coastline.

The fifth installment of the "The Outlaw Ocean" podcast from the LA Times and CBC Podcasts, posted on Spotify, discusses fishmeal and the unfavorable effects it has had on Gambia, the tiniest nation in continental Africa.

It was mentioned that almost everyone consumes fishmeal, which was intended to prevent the oceans from running out of fish, however, it is actually worsening the issue.

Bloody Omen of 2017

The town of Gunjur, which has 15,000 residents, is located in southern Gambia along the Atlantic Ocean.

The town's white-sand beaches were bustling with activity in the spring of 2017.

Bolong Fenyo, a wildlife reserve, is located five minutes inland and is intended to protect an oblong lagoon, wetland, savanna, and 790 acres of beach.

The reserve, a wonder of biodiversity, is essential to the economic and ecological health of southern Gambia and annually draws hundreds of birdwatchers and other tourists.

However, the Gunjur community awoke on May 22, 2017, to find that the Bolong Fenyo lagoon had changed overnight, turning a cloudy shade of red as fish carcasses floated to the surface.

Some locals questioned whether the terrifying scene was a bloody sign.

More likely, sudden changes in oxygen levels or pH concentrations caused water fleas in the lagoon to turn red.

There were soon reports that a significant number of local birds had stopped nesting close to the lagoon.

Africa News reported that the Chinese company was obliged to pay 25,000 USD to pay for the environmental damages and testing fee.

Polluting for Fishmeal

According to a local microbiologist, the waters had 40 times as much phosphate and nitrate and double the volume of arsenic that was considered safe.

Only illegally dumped waste from Golden Lead, a Chinese-owned fish processing facility that runs on the edge of the reserve, could be the cause of pollution at these levels.

To quickly meet the rising demand for fishmeal, which would be exported to the Americas, Europe, and Asia for use in aquaculture, factories like Golden Lead and others were built.

Its production is among the fastest-growing in the world in West Africa, where more than 50 processing facilities are active along the coastlines of Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Gambia.

Additionally, they consume a tremendous amount of fish. One plant alone in Gambia imports over 7,500 tons of fish annually, the majority of which is a silvery fish roughly 10 inches long known as bonga in the region.

Read also: Dark Maggots Bring Life to Hawaii Fish Farms, Benefit Local Ecosystems, Boost Export Economy - Experts Hope

Closed Hubs Instead of Jobs

Gunjur's citizens were informed that Golden Lead might bring employment opportunities, a fish market, and a newly paved 3-mile road.

In fact, the plant's foul smell forced the closure of a popular beachfront hotel; there is a noticeable decline in the local fish market, and a pothole-filled road poses a safety risk to both locals and visitors.

The development of aquaculture drastically altered the working conditions for the region's fishermen, the majority of whom cast their nets manually from pirogues propelled by small outboard motors.

The Gambian coast was invaded by hundreds of foreign fishing vessels, both legal and illegal, including purse seiners and industrial trawlers, decimating the area's fish stocks and endangering local livelihoods.

According to a local fisherman who has been selling his catch at the Tanji market, located north of Gunjur, bonga were so common two decades ago that they were occasionally given away for free.

However, the cost of the fish has increased significantly in recent years, making bonga out of reach for many Gambians-half of whom live in poverty.

Today, the Gambia exports a large portion of its fishmeal to Norway and China, where it is used to feed cheaply and in large quantities to raise salmon for consumption in Europe and the United States.

While this is going on, the fish that the Gambians themselves depend on is disappearing quickly, Yahoo! News reported.

Related article: Why the World Needs a Replacement for Fishmeal with Sustainable Functional Ingredient
Weather agencies have been monitoring three potential areas over the Atlantic basin that could develop as possible tropical depressions or storms before the end of October.

Portions of the United States in Northwest and Southern parts recorded rainfall that could help drench drought farmlands and ease the heat.

According to the National Hurricane Center update (As of 8 pm EDT Tuesday, Oct 25), the weather center has been monitoring three separate areas in the North Atlantic basin, which have the potential development in the next five days.

Any of the three brewing systems could become a tropical storm or depression, depending on the environmental conditions that could help strengthen.

The Hurricane Center said the low-pressure system brewing over Bermuda could transform into a tropical depression, unleashing heavy rainfall and gusty winds in communities near Bermuda.

On the other hand, developing the low-pressure system in the west-northwest of Bermuda would be short-lived due to the less conducive environmental conditions to strengthen.

The low pressure in Bermuda was expected to move northward.

Meanwhile, the NHC also discovered a low pressure near the Puerto Rico waters, noting that gradual subtropical developments for the system could be possible due to the conducive environment.

The NHC said that the low pressure in Puerto Rico had zero chance of formation in 48 hours, while there was a 30% chance in the next five days.

Also Read: Much-needed Rain in Northwest To Continue Until Early November; Heavy Mountain Snow Also Expected

According to AccuWeather, the names for the tropical storms in the 2022 season are said to be Lisa, Martin, and Nicole.

Moreover, the Hurricane Center announced that a low-pressure area could emerge in the eastern Caribbean sea this coming weekend or earlier.

The report added that the said low-pressure environmental conditions were conducive to graduate development.

Residents near the brewing systems should stay updated with the progress and expect rain showers.

According to AccuWeather's Weather News, Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty explained that the islands of Bermuda could expect drenching showers and rough seas.

He also added that the tropical development of a system in the Caribbean was low.

Storm conditions

Meanwhile, Northeastern and Northwest portions of the United States are forecasted to experience heavy rains due to severe weather conditions.

Reports added that the heavy rainfall could also cause minor flooding.

On the other hand, the winter season is nearing, and residents in the United States noticed the early arrival of winter, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.

Residents in Colorado and Denver recorded heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service said mountain snow is a potential hazard for mountain travelers.

Rainy November

With a few days before Halloween and kids excited to collect their treats, portions of the United States would experience a rainy start in November.

AccuWeather forecast showed that rain showers are expected in New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Bat Cave.

It is best to bring umbrellas if it starts to rain during Halloween visits.

Related Article: A Tropical Depression or Storm Could Emerge from a Brewing System in Bermuda, Forecast Says

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A new study from University of Louisville researchers in the Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute has found that exposure to e-cigarette aerosols can cause heart arrhythmias in animal models -; both in the form of premature and skipped heart beats. The study findings, published Oct. 25 in Nature Communications, suggest exposure to specific chemicals within e-cigarette liquids (e-liquids) promote arrhythmias and cardiac electrical dysfunction.

Our findings demonstrate that short-term exposure to e-cigarettes can destabilize heart rhythm through specific chemicals within e-liquids. These findings suggest that e-cigarette use involving certain flavors or solvent vehicles may disrupt the heart's electrical conduction and provoke arrhythmias. These effects could increase the risk for atrial or ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest." Alex Carll, Assistant Professor, UofL Department of Physiology, Study Leader

The researchers tested the cardiac impacts of inhaled e-cigarette aerosols solely from the main two ingredients in e-liquids (nicotine-free propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin) or from flavored retail e-liquids containing nicotine. They found that for all e-cigarette aerosols, the animals' heart rate slowed during puff exposures and sped up afterwards as heart rate variability declined, indicating fight-or-flight stress responses. In addition, e-cigarette puffs from a menthol-flavored e-liquid or from propylene glycol alone caused ventricular arrhythmias and other conduction irregularities in the heart.

Conducted in collaboration with Daniel Conklin and Aruni Bhatnagar, professors in the UofL Division of Environmental Medicine, this work adds to a growing body of research on the potential toxicity and health impacts of e-cigarettes reported by the American Heart Association Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, for which UofL serves as the flagship institute.

"The findings of this study are important because they provide fresh evidence that the use of e-cigarettes could interfere with normal heart rhythms -- something we did not know before," Bhatnagar said. "This is highly concerning given the rapid growth of e-cigarette use, particularly among young people."

As e-cigarette use has grown nationwide, the potential advantages and harms of vaping have been debated. Since vaping does not involve combustion, it exposes users and bystanders to little if any carbon monoxide, tar or cancer-causing nitrosamines compared with conventional cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes can deliver aldehydes, particles and nicotine at levels comparable to combustible cigarettes. Vaping might help smokers quit combustible cigarettes, but the appeal and addictiveness of e-cigarettes may encourage youth to vape amidst unknown long-term risks or take up smoking. More than 25% of high schoolers and 10% of middle schoolers in the U.S. reported using e-cigarettes before the pandemic.

Additional research by Carll and Matthew Nystoriak, an associate professor of medicine at UofL, to determine the effects of vape flavorings on the heart recently received $3.6 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

"Our team's findings that specific ingredients in e-cigarette liquids promote arrhythmias indicates there is an urgent need for more research into the cardiac effects of these components in both animals and humans," Carll said.
New autism diagnoses 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.

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." Dr Andres Roman-Urrestarazu, Lead Researcher, Department of Psychiatry and Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge

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."

This work was supported by the Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellowship, Institute for Data Valorization, Fonds de recherche du Quebec-;Sante, Calcul Quebec, Digital Research Alliance of Canada, Wellcome Trust, Innovative Medicines Initiative, Autism Centre of Excellence at Cambridge, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, Templeton World Charitable Fund, Medical Research Council, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England-;Population Evidence and Data Science.
Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine have demonstrated in a mouse model that a specific type of T cell, one of the body's potent immune defenses, produces cytokines that are necessary for the body to acquire immunity against fungal pathogens. This finding could be instrumental in developing novel, effective fungal vaccines.

Despite vaccines being hailed as one of the greatest achievements of medicine, responsible for controlling or eradicating numerous life-threatening infectious diseases, no vaccines have been licensed to prevent or control human fungal infections.

This lack proved especially deadly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In countries where steroids were widely used to suppress inflammation of the lungs, COVID-19 patients with preexisting conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes showed a greater likelihood of developing lethal fungal infections.

T cells could produce protective or pathological response

A particular type of T cell [T H 17 cells] that expresses GM-CSF [granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor] was linked to greater severity of illness in people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19." Dr. Som Nanjappa, Assistant Professor of Immunology, University of Illinois

"Our study shows that IL-17A+ CD8+ T cell (Tc17), which also expresses GM-CSF, is necessary for mediating fungal vaccine immunity without instigating hyperinflammation. So clearly, the antigen specificity of T cells-;whether they target viral vs. fungal or bacterial pathogens-;has a huge impact on whether they play a protective or detrimental role."

The article, "GM-CSF+ Tc17 cells are required to bolster vaccine immunity against lethal fungal pneumonia without causing overt pathology," appeared in Cell Reports on October 25. Dr. Nanjappa's coauthors on the study are Srinivasu Mudalagiriyappa, a former graduate student now a scientist with Insmed Incorporated, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serious and rare diseases; Jaishree Sharma, a graduate student in the Department of Pathobiology; and Miranda D. Vieson, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology as well as a boarded veterinary pathologist in the college's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

T cells for fungal vaccine immunity

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In the study, colonies of mice were given an experimental fungal vaccine. The mice were then exposed to virulent fungal pathogen to cause lethal pulmonary infection. Researchers could determine the necessity of GM-CSF+ Tc17 cells to mediate vaccine immunity. Further, they found that IL-1 and IL-23 cytokines are necessary for eliciting GM-CSF+ Tc17 cells to vaccine. While IL-23 is dispensable for the long-term memory homeostasis of these cells, it is essential for vaccine immunity against pulmonary fungal infection.

This study identifies a beneficial subset of T cells for fungal vaccine immunity that bolsters efforts to develop a vaccine platform containing suitable adjuvants to potentiate such a T cell subset.

"In line with this, we have identified a functional phenotypic marker that could be targeted to enhance this subset to augment vaccine efficacy," said Dr. Nanjappa. He recently received NIH-R01 funding to pursue this strategy for a fungal vaccine.
More collagen in the human body is not always good, and Karin Wuertz-Kozak is investigating how disease progresses because of the increase in this important protein.

Wuertz-Kozak recently received more than $400,000 from the Congressional Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) to investigate new therapeutic approaches for scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disease that involves overproduction of collagen, also referred to as fibrosis.

Collagen is one of the most important matrix proteins in your body. And although a loss of collagen is associated with numerous diseases, overproduction of collagen also has detrimental effects, as seen during scleroderma." Karin Wuertz-Kozak, the Kate Gleason Endowed Professor, Biomedical Engineering Department, Rochester Institute of Technology

The CDMRP is a Department of Defense funding initiative to transform healthcare and encourage new treatment alternatives. Wuertz-Kozak is the first faculty member at RIT to be funded through this initiative, and she will partner with Benjamin Korman, physician and assistant professor of allergy/immunology and rheumatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, to develop new testing models and treatment options.

Scleroderma is not easily diagnosed and, to date, there are limited treatments for this progressive disease that leads to hardening and tightening of the skin and impaired movement. It can also affect other organs, such as the lungs, where fibrosis and scarring inhibits breathing.

Wuertz-Kozak and her team will develop 3D skin models that can be used to simulate and assess fibrotic disease onset, progression, and treatment using a cutting-edge technology called electrospinning. The process entails a high voltage applied to a polymer solution creating minute, nanoscale fibers. The accumulated material on a grounded collector plate resemble natural collagen fibers.

"Using variations in this process and the selected polymers, you can create nanofibrous constructs simulating different types of tissues," she said. "We started doing this as a way to have a more cost effective and controllable, high-throughput system for skin testing that can be used as an alternative to animal testing. For our skin model, we combine classical electrospinning with cryogenic electrospinning to create bi-layered tissue constructs that simulate the dense structure of the epidermis and the more fluffy structure of the dermis."

There are several aspects to the overall project. The first involves developing a model of fibrotic skin using this double-layered technique. To induce overproduction of collagen, dermal cells seeded in these carriers require additional stimuli, such as treatment with the growth factor TGF-beta and exposure to serum from scleroderma patients, she explained.

In the second project part, Wuertz-Kozak's training as a pharmacist becomes evident. Prior to coming to RIT, she was trained in pharmacology and has extensive experience in orthopedic research and biomechanics. This experience is essential as she investigates whether overproduction of collagen in this model-;and ultimately in patients-;can be reversed, or paused, through pharmacological approaches.

"First results look really promising," said Wuertz-Kozak, who has been working on ion channels in health and disease for more than five years.

The interdisciplinary project extends for three years. Early work had been conducted by Andrea De Pieri, who joined Wuertz-Kozak's Tissue Regeneration and Mechanobiology lab in 2020 as a post-doctoral researcher. He is originally from Italy and obtained his Ph.D. in Ireland. More recently, Patricia Alvaro Llopis from Spain joined the team.

Wuertz-Kozak is an international scholar herself. Originally from Germany, she worked in Vermont and Switzerland before joining RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering in 2019. Her expertise is in understanding cellular mechanisms and underlying pathologies of inflammation toward new treatment options and of tissue regeneration and pain reduction. She has acquired nearly $2 million in organizational funding since joining RIT and is involved in many national and international research collaborations.

"Our research will lay the groundwork to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of scleroderma," said Wuertz-Kozak. "This could be a way to realize improvements in the care and quality of life of those affected by scleroderma-induced skin alterations."
An international study led by a Rutgers scientist comparing new and older treatments against complicated urinary tract infections has found a new drug combination to be more effective, especially against stubborn, drug-resistant infections.

Describing the results in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers in the ALLIUM Phase 3 clinical trial showed that a combination of the drugs cefepime and enmetazobactam was more effective in treating both complicated urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis (AP), a bacterial infection causing kidney inflammation, than a standard treatment combining piperacillin and tazobactam. Urinary tract infections are considered complicated when they are associated with risk factors  including fevers, sepsis, urinary obstruction or catheters  that increase the danger of failing antibiotic therapy.

"This new antibiotic was superior to the standard-of-care therapy," said Keith Kaye, chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

"It represents an exciting option for treatment," said Kaye, the principal investigator of the study and lead author on the publication.

Kaye added this drug combination also fights an often-dangerous category of bacterial illnesses caused by pathogens known as extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) infections, named for an enzyme the bacteria produce. ESBL-producing bacteria can't be killed effectively by many of the antibiotics conventionally used to treat infections, such as penicillins and cephalosporins.

We are looking for antibiotics that are active against resistant bacteria, such as ESBLs, and we found this new combination to be highly effective." Keith Kaye, Professor of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

The trial was conducted at 90 sites in Europe, North and Central America, South America and South Africa from September 2018 to November 2019. More than 1,000 patients participated in the study. Some 79 percent of the patients receiving the new combination of cefepime and enmetazobactam were successfully treated for their illness, as opposed to 58.9 percent of those receiving the conventional treatment of piperacillin and tazobactam.

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Of the 20 percent of patients from the overall group belonging to the subset of those with ESBL infections, 73 percent of the patients receiving cefepime and enmetazobactam achieved a clinical cure, as opposed to 51 percent of the patients on the standard therapy.

The antibiotic cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that was approved for use in the 1990s and is available generically. Enmetazobactam, an experimental drug made by the French biopharmaceutical company Allecra Therapeutics, is a beta-lactamase inhibitor, meaning it attacks the beta-lactamases, including the types of enzymes produced by ESBL-producing bacteria. The drug combination has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Kaye said he expected the company to apply for FDA approval early next year.

More than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die from them, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a 2019 study on antibiotic resistance, the CDC characterized ESBLs as a serious threat to human health.

A JAMA editorial by Sonali Advani and Kimberly Claeys, both of Duke University School of Medicine, praised the Rutgers-led study: "The clinical trial by Kaye et al presents a promising novel antibiotic therapy that expands the limited armamentarium for resistant organisms and an exciting new therapeutic option for the management of acute pyelonephritis or complicated [urinary tract infection]."
The Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center at the University of Illinois Chicago will expand its services nationwide with the help of a new $3 million grant.

The center, which was founded in 1988 to provide HIV/AIDS training for medical students and primary care physicians, already works to bring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration's National HIV Curriculum to medical students and professionals in 10 midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.

MATEC will build on the lessons learned from a previous project carried out in the past four years when we worked with 16 academic institutions with accredited programs of medicine, nursing and pharmacy in the Midwest. With this project, we successfully integrated content from the National HIV Curriculum E-Learning Platform into their existing curricula. By doing so, we firmly believe we enhanced the quality of HIV education and training at those institutions." Dr. Ricardo Rivero, MATEC's executive director and co-principal investigator on the grant

MATEC, which is based in the UIC Department of Community and Family Medicine at the College of Medicine, will use these new funds to introduce the curriculum to academic institutions in the 57 jurisdictions outside the Midwest that have been designated "high priority" by the federal government's Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative.

In addition to continuing its work with graduate schools in medicine, nursing and pharmacy, MATEC will use the new funds to target physician residency programs for dentists and family medicine practitioners.

"The National HIV Curriculum has a tremendous impact on our students' ability to provide knowledgeable and compassionate care to people living with HIV," said Natacha Pierre, UIC clinical assistant professor of population health nursing science at the College of Nursing and co-investigator on the grant. "Increasing the number and quality of health care providers is essential to increasing access to care and ending the HIV epidemic. If we are to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, we need to go national. We are up for the challenge."

According to Corina Wagner, MATEC research and evaluation manager and co-principal investigator on the new grant, "The project will assist existing faculty, especially those who are not HIV specialists and who may lack the HIV clinical background, with knowledge of HIV content, teaching methods and ways to address potential students' reluctance to engage with vulnerable communities such as the ones most affected by HIV."

Rivero said, "By doing so, the project will continue to address students' and residents' attitudinal barriers to care for people living with or at risk of acquiring HIV, and we expect that those who have been trained in HIV care through the integrated National HIV Curriculum will be able to identify, address or properly refer their patients with HIV-related needs, particularly for chronic illness interventions that appear as a growing number of people living with HIV age."

Other key faculty and co-investigators on the new grant include Dr. Mahesh Patel, assistant professor at the College of Medicine; Blake Max, clinical associate professor at the College of Pharmacy; and Dr. Sarah Henkle, assistant professor of clinical family medicine at the College of Medicine.
Thought Leaders Professor Roberto La Ragione Chair of Trustees Humanimal Trust

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Professor Roberto La Ragione, Chair of Trustees at Humanimal Trust, about the concept of One Medicine and how human and veterinary medicine can collaborate, share knowledge, and initiate research for the benefit of both humans and animals.

Please can you introduce yourself, tell us about your professional background, and your role at Humanimal Trust?

I am Professor Roberto La Ragione, Chair of Trustees at Humanimal Trust.

I graduated in 1995 and then studied for a postgraduate degree in veterinary microbiology at the Royal Veterinary College (University of London). In 1996, I moved to the government's Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) to undertake a Ph.D. on the pathogenesis of E. coli in poultry. Upon completing my Ph.D. studies, I commenced a post-doctoral position at Royal Holloway, University of London, studying E. coli virulence factors and vaccine development.

Since 2001, my work has focused largely on understanding the pathogenesis of zoonotic bacterial pathogens to develop control strategies. I have led several commercial, Defra, research councils (BBSRC, MRC, EPSRC, AHRC, Innovate) and EU projects in this area.

My current research interests focus on the pathogenesis of food-borne pathogens with a particular interest in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the development of intervention strategies, including vaccines, rapid diagnostic, pre, and probiotics. I have published over 190 papers in the area of host-microbe interaction, with a particular emphasis on E. coli, Salmonella, vaccines, probiotics, and AMR.

In 2005, I was appointed Head of Pathogenesis and Control at the AHVLA, and in 2010, I was appointed Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology at the University of Surrey. I gained the FRCPath in 2010, and in 2012, I was appointed the Associate Dean for Veterinary Strategy in the new School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey. In 2014, I was appointed to the position of Head of the Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases and Director of the Veterinary Pathology Centre. In 2019 I was appointed Deputy Head of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey, and then in 2021, I was appointed Head of the School of Biosciences and Medicine.

I am the past president of the Med-Vet-Net Association and the Veterinary Research Club, the current Chair of Humanimal Trust, a member of the FSA ACMSF AMR sub-committee, a Trustee of the Houghton Trust, a member of the APHA Science Advisory Board and Chair of the Royal College of Pathologists Veterinary Pathology SAC. I am an Associate member of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology, and in 2020, I was awarded an Honorary Associateship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Humanimal Trust is a unique organization. Please could you tell us about the organizations origin, purpose, and values?

Humanimal Trust is the only organization in the UK with the sole and specific purpose of progressing One Medicine.

It was founded in May 2014 by world-renowned orthopedic-neuro veterinary surgeon Professor Noel Fitzpatrick - otherwise known as the TV Supervet. As a vet, Noel Fitzpatrick experienced personally the deep divide between human and animal medicine and saw how unfair this was.

Image Credit: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com

Frustrated by the lack of opportunities to share what he was learning from veterinary practice or to benefit from relevant learning from human medicine, he decided to create the platform himself. This laid the foundations for the work Humanimal Trust does today, removing barriers and seeking to close the divide between human and animal medicine.

Our five areas of work spell out I-CARE, which sums up the way we feel, our supporters feel, and we hope everybody will one day feel about One Medicine:

Influence  we care about bringing together everyone who cares about One Medicine to create a road map for change in public policy, education, and at the clinical coalface.

 we care about bringing together everyone who cares about One Medicine to create a road map for change in public policy, education, and at the clinical coalface. Collaboration  we care about creating opportunities for human and veterinary professionals and students to learn from one another (in person and virtually) by demonstrating One Medicine at work.

 we care about creating opportunities for human and veterinary professionals and students to learn from one another (in person and virtually) by demonstrating One Medicine at work. Awareness - we care that people should know and understand the benefits of One Medicine for humans and animals, about non-animal alternatives to laboratory models, and how much human and animal medicine can learn from one anothers clinical practice  saving time, money, and lives.

- we care that people should know and understand the benefits of One Medicine for humans and animals, about non-animal alternatives to laboratory models, and how much human and animal medicine can learn from one anothers clinical practice  saving time, money, and lives. Research  we care about research  funding it, facilitating it, shouting about it  that could benefit humans and animals without using laboratory animal models.

 we care about research  funding it, facilitating it, shouting about it  that could benefit humans and animals without using laboratory animal models. Education  we care about learning  every child learning about the connections between humans and animals; veterinary and human medical students learning with and from one another; practitioners learning continuously from their peers.

Humanimal Trust advocates for One Medicine. What is One Medicine, when did this concept originate, and how has the understanding of it evolved in recent years?

The origins of One Medicine date back to the nineteenth century when Rudolf Virchow linked human and animal health. Sir William Osler, Dr. Calvin Schwabe, Lord Lawson Soulsby, and others have since continued to expand the One Medicine concept, identifying the connections, commonalities, and synergies between human and veterinary medicine.

It was whilst studying the history of medicine that Professor Fitzpatrick came upon a term used to describe human and veterinary medicine working with one another: One Medicine. The third edition of Dr. Calvin Schwabes seminal publication in 1984 of Veterinary Medicine and Human Health which spoke of One Medicine, laid the foundation for what we now know as One Health, but in considering this text, Fitzpatrick identified a need to move away from a public health agenda to a common health agenda focusing on infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Moreover, when reviewing the three Rs (refinement, reduction, and replacement) in relation to animal use in research, it became clear that a fourth R was missing from the 3Rs principle  the principle of reciprocity so that not only do medical practitioners and allied researchers benefit, but also patients, regardless of their species.

By considering the contribution that animals can make to research by studying their lives and their responses to naturally occurring, spontaneous diseases rather than using experimental animal models in research, the use of animals in research can be significantly reduced.

One Medicine and the 'Biology of the Future' (Biology Week 2020) Play

Why is it currently the case that human and veterinary medicine are kept separate, and why would it be beneficial to change this?

Although the practice of bringing veterinary and human medical and research professionals together is thought to stimulate new and innovative research, historically, this has been challenging. A number of studies have investigated why this could be, and different levels of awareness and priorities may be one reason. A 2020 study, which surveyed vets and GPs in Australia, found that vets generally had more awareness and felt more confident in engaging in zoonoses management compared to GPs, and were also more likely to initiate cross-professional referrals.

The Trust believes that education is key to One Medicine. Only by learning about the similarities between humans and animals from the earliest stage to collaboration in the most advanced science and clinical practice will we promote change. Therefore, we must ensure that the best research, clinical practice and learning, benefiting both humans and animals, are accessible, funded, encouraged, and promoted.

A study published in 2017 by a group of scientists in The Netherlands noted that having a clear common goal (like One Medicine) can help to stimulate collaboration. The study also suggested that professional organizations could be important facilitators of collaboration in this area.

With this in mind, in 2020, the Trust launched the Humanimal Hub, a free online platform for all human and animal medical and veterinary professionals to meet, collaborate, share knowledge, and initiate research for the benefit of both humans and animals.

While still in its infancy, the Hub already has over 250 members. It provides a much-needed virtual space for connections to be made and conversations to be initiated, which the Trust actively seeks to nurture. For example, Anna Radford, a Consultant in Paediatric Surgery at Hull University NHS Trust and Leeds Childrens Hospital, was looking to collaborate with an individual or group in veterinary medicine with a specialty in problems with urinary tract or kidneys and/or antimicrobial resistance. Through the Hub, we were able to identify a suitable professional, and as a result, an interdisciplinary group has been set up to identify common urological conditions affecting both humans and companion animals.

Anna was also introduced to a diagnostics company working in the animal medical care field at the Trusts inaugural global One Medicine Symposium: Stronger Together in May 2021. Through them, Anna has set up a new collaboration to determine whether this diagnostic technology developed with companion animal medicine in mind could potentially also be useful to help diagnose urinary, joint, and cerebrospinal fluid infections in a busy NHS hospital setting.

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These are just two examples of how we know that great things can happen when animal and human health professionals and scientists come together.

Which areas of medicine do you currently focus on, and what benefits does One Medicine provide to this particular area?

I believe One Medicine has transformative potential across all areas of medicine where physiological and genetic similarities exist between humans and animals. There are five main pillars of research that the Trust currently seeks to fund, namely infection control and antimicrobial resistance; cancer; bone and joint disease; brain and spinal disease; and regenerative medicine.

In line with this, the Trust began an important collaboration with the childrens charity Action Medical Research in 2020 to help support two child-focused medical research projects. The first study, led by Professor Hall-Scraggs at University College London, focuses on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Patients with JIA have a disease that causes inflammation of their joints. This leads to pain, joint deformity, disability, and reduced quality of life. There are newer drugs now available that suppress joint inflammation, but these are expensive and can have side effects, the most serious being life-threatening infection. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can show inflammation of joints. By measuring inflammation in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, the study could help optimize their treatment by showing how much inflammation is present and whether it changes with treatment.

Image Credit: Amir Bajric/Shutterstock.com

The second study, which is ongoing, is investigating infection prevention and its impact on antimicrobial resistance in critically ill children, led by Dr. Nazima Pathan, Lecturer in Paediatric Intensive Care at the University of Cambridge. The transferable data from both studies has real potential to help improve the lives of humans and animals with similar conditions.

Another example of research the Trust has funded concerns liquid biopsies for canine patients. This research was undertaken by Professor Joanna Morris and Dr. Tomoko Iwata at the University of Glasgow and is a great example of reciprocity whereby human and animal bladder cancer patients may benefit from this research.

Are there any particular examples of where either human or veterinary medicine has led to advances in the other?

Cancer research is perhaps the area for which One Medicine is most well-known. For example, dogs, long considered our best friends, dont just share our lives but also risk factors for certain diseases. Many diseases also share genetic similarities between humans and dogs. Canine lymphoma, the second most common cancer in dogs, has relatively similar characteristics to human non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Around 1 in 8 golden retrievers will develop canine lymphoma, and CRUK estimates that 1 in 39 males and 1 in 51 females are at risk of being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Both species need better, more effective ways to treat the disease, and clinical trials with canine veterinary patients have been helping to fast-track the development of new treatments in this area for several years.

Image Credit: Varvara Serebrova/Shutterstock.com

The US-based DISCO initiative recognizes the value of aligning veterinary and human drug development projects and explains why it can be worthwhile to include veterinary patients at an early stage in cancer drug development trials. From shortening drug development times to encouraging cross-collaboration between the disciplines for the benefit of both human and veterinary patients, the potential advantages of this approach are clearly laid out in a landmark 2019 paper, which came about from a workshop of the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations One Health committee.

What is the one thing you wish people knew about One Medicine?

One Medicine is about human and animal healthcare advancing hand in hand, in an equitable and sustainable way, and not at the expense of an animals life.

How can people, both medical professionals and the general public, get involved with Humanimal Trust and support the One Medicine cause?

Human and animal medical professionals, students, and researchers can join the Humanimal Hub for free and use it as an opportunity to collaborate, share knowledge, and initiate research with other like-minded individuals. The Trust also holds an annual One Medicine Day event that brings together researchers, doctors, vets, allied healthcare professionals, and students from around the world to discuss practical ways forward for One Medicine. The years One Medicine Day Seminar: One Medicine in Action talks can be found here.

There are also opportunities to join our team as a volunteer Ambassador, write articles for us, present at events or act as a moderator for the Hub.

There are many ways that members of the public interested in One Medicine can get involved too, from signing The Humanimal Pledge or organizing a Paws for a Picnic fundraiser with family and friends to leaving a gift in your will or becoming a volunteer speaker in your local community.

What is next for yourself and Humanimal Trust?

We recognize the need to present One Medicine consistently through an education lens. Our absolute priority is to improve understanding at every level - from pre-school to professional training (veterinary and medical undergraduates) and development - of the relationship between human and animal health and the need for collaboration and reciprocity of benefit to humans and animals.

With this in mind, our focus for the next twelve months is on four key areas of activity:

Focused awareness building among key audiences

Developing partnerships, networks, and collaborations

Education

Research funding, engagement, and influencing activity

To help drive this, we have appointed a new CEO, Joe Bailey, who will be joining us in November from RSPCA Assured, together with a new Trustee, Anna Radford, whom I referred to earlier. I have no doubt that their understanding of and passion for our purpose will help take Humanimal Trust to the next level.

We are expanding our Science Committee, which will strengthen our ability to draw on the best available expertise to make better-informed decisions about which research activities we prioritize for funding or support. In addition, to support the strategic development of our educational program, we have created a new role - Schools Education Manager - which will enable us to initiate the long-term development of a One Medicine curriculum.

We will soon launch our new Podcast series, which Im very excited about. This will follow the Trusts previous series, Humanimal Connection, but with a very different feel to it, so watch this space.

Where can readers find more information?

Further details can be found on our website: https://www.humanimaltrust.org.uk/

You can also email us at [email protected] and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Professor Roberto La Ragione, BSc (Hons) MSc Ph.D. FRSB CBiol FIBMS CSci AECVM FRCPath HonAssocRCVS

I am a Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Head of the School of Biosciences and Medicine at the University of Surrey. My role includes delivering and overseeing teaching and research in the School and running my own research group, which consists of vets, doctors, and scientists. My current research interests focus on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and understanding the pathogenesis of zoonotic bacterial pathogens (those that can be transmitted from animals to humans and, in some cases, from humans to animals). I also have a particular interest in developing control and intervention strategies, including rapid diagnostics, vaccines and probiotics for controlling bacterial pathogens in companion and food-producing animals. I have published over 190 peer-reviewed papers in the area of microbiology and pathology.
As the covid-19 pandemic worsened a mental health crisis among America's young people, a small group of states quietly withdrew from the nation's largest public effort to track concerning behaviors in high school students.

Colorado, Florida, and Idaho will not participate in a key part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior surveys that reaches more than 80,000 students. Over the past 30 years, the state-level surveys, conducted anonymously during each odd-numbered year, have helped elucidate the mental health stressors and safety risks for high school students.

Each state has its own rationale for opting out, but their withdrawal  when suicides and feelings of hopelessness are up  has caught the attention of school psychologists and federal and state health officials.

Some questions on the state-level surveys  which can also ask students about their sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual activity, and drug use  clash with laws that have been passed in conservative states. The intense political attention on teachers and school curriculums has led to a reluctance among educators to have students participate in what were once considered routine mental and behavioral health assessments, some experts worry.

The reduction in the number of states that participate in the state-level CDC survey will make it harder for those states to track the conditions and behaviors that signal poor mental health, like depression, drug and alcohol misuse, and suicidal ideation, experts said.

"Having that kind of data allows us to say 'do this, not that' in really important ways," said Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, which oversees the series of health surveys known as the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. "For any state to lose the ability to have that data and use that data to understand what's happening with young people in their state is an enormous loss."

The CDC developed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System in 1990 to track the leading causes of death and injury among young people. It is made up of a nationally representative poll of students in grades nine through 12 and separate state and local school district-level questionnaires. The questions focus on behaviors that lead to unintentional injuries, violence, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, drug and alcohol misuse, physical inactivity, and more.

The decisions by Colorado, Florida, and Idaho not to participate in the state-level questionnaires will not affect the CDC's national survey or the local school district surveys in the states that have them.

Part of what makes the survey a powerful tool is the diversity of information collected, said Norin Dollard, a senior analyst with the Florida Policy Institute, a nonprofit research and advocacy group. "It allows for the analysis of data by subgroups, including LGBTQ+ youth, so that the needs of these students, who are at a greater risk of depression, suicide, and substance abuse than their peers, are understood and can be supported by schools and community providers," said Dollard, who is also director of Florida Kids Count, part of a national network of nonprofit programs focused on children in the United States.

The CDC is still processing the 2021 data and has not released the results because of pandemic-related delays, said Paul Fulton, an agency spokesperson. But trends from the 2009 to 2019 national surveys showed that the mental health of young people had deteriorated over the previous decade.

"So we started planning," Ethier said. "When the pandemic hit, we were able to say, 'Here are the things you should be looking out for.'"

The pandemic has further exacerbated the mental health problems young people face, said Angela Mann, president of the Florida Association of School Psychologists.

Nearly half of parents who responded to a recent KFF/CNN mental health survey said the pandemic had had a negative impact on their child's mental health. Most said they were worried that issues like self-harm and loneliness stemming from the pandemic may affect teenagers.

But the CDC's survey has shortcomings, said health officials from some states that pulled back from it. Not all high schools are included, for example. And the sample of students from each state is so small that some state officials said their schools received little actionable data despite decades of participation.

That was the case in Colorado, which decided not to participate next year, according to Emily Fine, school and youth survey manager at the Colorado health department. Instead, she said, the state will focus on improving a separate study called Healthy Kids Colorado, which includes questions similar to those in the CDC survey and Colorado-specific questions. The Colorado survey, which has been running for about a decade, covers about 100,000 students across the state  nearly 100 times the number that participated in the CDC's state-level survey in 2019.

Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, which also have their own youth surveys, either never participated or decided to skip the previous two CDC assessments. At least seven states will not participate in the 2023 state-level survey.

Fine said the state-run option is more beneficial because schools receive their own results.

In Leadville, a Colorado mountain town, a youth coalition used results from the Healthy Kids Colorado survey to conclude that the county had higher-than-average rates of substance use. They also learned that Hispanic students in particular didn't feel comfortable sharing serious problems like suicidal thoughts with adults, suggesting that opportunities to flag issues early were being missed.

"I feel like most kids tell the truth on those surveys, so I feel like its a reliable source," said high schooler Daisey Monge, who is part of the youth coalition, which proposed a policy to train adults in the community to make better connections with young people.

Education officials in Florida and Idaho said they plan to gather more state-specific data using newly created questionnaires. But neither state has designed a new survey, and what questions will be asked or what data will be captured is not clear.

Cassandra Palelis, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, said in an email that Florida intends to assemble a "workgroup" to design its new system.

In recent years, Idaho officials cited the CDC survey data when they applied for and received $11 million in grants for a new youth suicide prevention program called the Idaho Lives Project. The data showed the share of high school students who had seriously considered attempting suicide increased from 15% in 2011 to 22% in 2019.

"That is concerning," said Eric Studebaker, director of student engagement and safety coordination for the State Department of Education. Still, he said, the state is worried about taking up class time to survey students and about overstepping boundaries by asking questions that are not parent-approved.

Whatever the rationale, youth mental health advocates call opting out shortsighted and potentially harmful as the exodus erodes the national data collection. The pandemic exacerbated mental health stress for all high school students, especially those who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

But since April, at least a dozen states have proposed bills that mirror Florida's Parental Rights in Education law, which bans instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

The law, which critics call "Don't Say Gay," and the intense political attention it has focused on teachers and school curriculums are having a chilling effect on all age groups, said youth advocates like Mann, the Florida school psychologist. "Some of these discussions about schools indoctrinating kids has bled into discussions about mental health services in schools," she said.

Since the law was adopted, some Florida school administrators have removed "safe space" stickers with the rainbow flag indicating support for LGBTQ+ students. Some teachers have resigned in protest of the law, while others have expressed confusion about what they're allowed to discuss in the classroom.

With data showing that students need more mental health services, opting out of the state-level surveys now may do more harm than good, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a professor of school psychology at the University of Colorado-Denver, who has used the national youth risk behavior data to analyze trends.

"It's going to make it more difficult to really get a handle on what's happening nationally," she said.

KHN Colorado correspondent Rae Ellen Bichell contributed to this report.
In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers analyzed the phenotypes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs), the molecular responses to infections from these VOCs, and the evolving virus-host interactions using a comparative genomic and proteomic approach.

Background

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, multiple SARS-CoV-2 VOCs have emerged, starting with the Alpha (B.1.1.7) lineage, progressing through Beta, Delta, and Gamma lineages, to the most recent Omicron variant. While the Beta and Gamma variants were not very widespread, the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron lineages have shown high transmissibility. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that the SARS-CoV-2 VOCs have evolved independently from the wave one (W1) early-lineage viruses.

While the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is the most mutated region in the VOCs, mutations in other regions, such as the nucleocapsid, envelope, and membrane proteins, have been known to influence immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms of the host responses to non-synonymous mutations in regions outside the spike protein sequence have not been comprehensively examined.

About the study

In the present study, the team examined the changes in viral replication and immune responses due to mutations in the VOCs by comparing SARS-CoV-2 VOC-infected air-liquid interface cultured primary human airway epithelial (HAE) cells. The study included the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omicron VOCs and two W1 isolates. Infected lung epithelial Calu-3 cells were used for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) sequencing (RNA-seq), phosphoproteomics, and abundance proteomics using mass spectrometry.

Viral replication was determined from quantified single-stranded RNA levels and cumulative intensities of non-structural proteins. Additionally, the effect of structural protein alterations on viral production and infectivity was tested using a SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle containing a luciferase encoding reporter genome and nucleocapsid, membrane, spike, and envelope structural proteins. The study also compared the phosphorylation of viral proteins across VOCs to examine the regulation of viral protein activity.

The team performed an integrative structural and sequence analysis of the mutations cataloged in the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database to understand the adaptive VOC mutations. All the proteins in the VOCs that were mutated in comparison to the original Wuhan strain were examined using affinity purification mass spectrometry to assess the effect of mutations in protein-coding genes on the protein-protein interactions between the virus and the host.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

Furthermore, an integrative computational approach was used to explore the impact of SARS-CoV-2 VOC infections on the hosts cellular biology to understand diverging host responses to viral evolution and identify targets for pan-variant antiviral therapies. Average host responses (AHR) were used to compare VOCs.

The RNA-seq data was used to plot pro-inflammatory gene induction signatures against interferon-stimulated genes to compare immunomodulation across VOCs. Levels of viral protein and RNA were analyzed to explore the association between the expression of viral proteins and the regulation of inflammatory pathways by the VOCs.

Results

The results indicated that mutations in regions other than the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein sequences could significantly impact the interactions between the virus and the host. The study found VOC-specific differences in the expression levels of viral proteins and RNA, such as nucleocapsids and some Orf regions.

Investigation of host-virus protein-protein interactions revealed that the regulation of biological pathways in the hosts was conserved and divergent for infections with VOCs. Regulation of translational pathways in the host was highly conserved. Still, host inflammatory response modulation varied greatly for different VOCs, with the Alpha and Beta variants antagonizing the interferon-stimulated genes but not the Omicron variant.

The regulation of cellular pathways associated with cytokine and innate immune responses divergent considerably across VOCs, and the authors believe that this ability to modify the hosts innate immunity could explain the sequential replacement of dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The spike protein mutations in the Omicron variants reduced the dependence of viral entry on the serine proteases, but the Omicron variants were not as effective as the Alpha and Delta variants at suppressing the hosts innate immunity. However, the more recent Omicron variants, such as BA.5 showed increased expression of antagonist genes such as Orf6, indicating that after having achieved immune escape, the emergent Omicron variants are evolving under the next strongest selective pressure of suppressing the hosts innate immune responses.

Conclusions

Overall, the results suggested that mutations outside of the spike protein regions significantly influence viral production and transmission. Furthermore, the SARS-CoV-2 variants have divergent protein-protein interactions with the host and different levels of protein expression, which allow them to evade the hosts innate immune responses. Additionally, the study revealed similarly regulated mRNA processing and translational pathways across VOCs that can be targeted for developing pan-variant anti-viral therapies.

*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 used a stochastic compartmental model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission to examine various sentinel surveillance indicators and determine the minimal sampling effort required for a reliable alert indicating a one-step increase in transmission rate.

Background

In the initial stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, before SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were widely available, governments resorted to non-pharmaceutical disease mitigation strategies such as lockdowns and restrictions on businesses to limit the transmission of the virus and ease the burden on the public healthcare system. While timely interventions to flatten the curve are necessary, premature enforcement of restrictions could have serious economic repercussions, and delayed responses can cause widespread and harder-to-control infections.

The mitigation policies are often based on commonly-used health indicators such as hospital admissions and the number of reported cases. Hospital admissions often occur two weeks after infection, and reported cases are dependent on diagnostic testing facilities, making these indicators unsuitable for accurate and timely assessment of disease transmission.

Sentinel surveillance includes recorded data on symptom onset, status, and testing date for each recently-symptomatic outpatient case. Sentinel cases can provide a timelier alert to increase transmission rates than hospital admissions as there is a significantly shorter delay in detecting infection, especially for milder cases that do not require hospitalization but can transmit the virus in a population.

About the study

In the present study, the researchers used a stochastic Susceptible Exposed Infected Recovered (SEIR) compartmental model to evaluate the efficiency of surveillance indicators such as hospital admissions, hospital occupancy, and sentinel cases in providing timely, but not premature, alert to a one-step increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The model included symptom statuses ranging from asymptomatic to severe and considered various disease outcomes such as hospitalization requirement, intensive care unit requirement, and death. Multiple surveillance scenarios were evaluated for each indicator.

Sampling efforts of five, 10, 20, 50, and 100% were considered for sentinel cases to determine the minimal sampling required for a reliable warning of transmission increase. The performance of each indicator was calculated based on how efficient the indicators were in providing a timely alert for mitigative strategies to be enacted.

The cost-benefit analysis for each surveillance indicator was performed using the number of extra days required for disease mitigation and the number of averted deaths in each simulation run. The analysis was also performed for an age-structured SEIR model, with two age groups, one above and one below 40, having different transmission rates and probabilities of symptomatic infections.

Results

The results reported that outpatient sentinel surveillance with a 20% capture of mild cases could report a mild increase in transmission two to five days earlier and a moderate to a severe rise in transmission six days earlier than hospital admission-based indicators. Furthermore, according to the simulations, the sentinel surveillance resulted in fewer false alarms and fewer deaths per day of mitigation.

The study found that hospital admissions were more effective in monitoring transmission rates among the older age group than in the general population since many of the COVID-19-related hospitalizations were older than 40.

The transmission increase warning was dependent on the age group that first experienced the transmission hike, with alarms being delayed when the transmission increases first occurred in the under 40 years age group. While a 20% sampling of sentinel surveillance cases triggered the alarm six days earlier than hospital admissions when the transmission hike was uniform across age groups, greater than 20% sampling of sentinel surveillance cases was required for a seven-to-nine-day earlier alert when the transmission hike occurred in the under-40 age group first.

The authors believe that one of the challenges in using sentinel surveillance for developing mitigation strategies is achieving the minimum sampling levels, which requires outpatient testing sites to diligently record symptom onset dates and status. With the availability of at-home rapid antigen test kits, the strategy to collect sentinel surveillance data will also have to be reconsidered.

Conclusions

Overall, the results suggested that sentinel surveillance with a 20% sampling of recently-symptomatic cases could provide a reliable and timely alert to increases in COVID-19 transmission rates, despite changing transmission conditions. Developing public health and disease mitigation strategies based on an on-time warning could help avoid widespread infections within a population while circumventing the severe economic consequences of prematurely enforced disease mitigation measures.

*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.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, yesterday visited a number of families to mark the festival of Diwali.

He conveyed the greetings of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the Kavalani, Vaidya, Kewalram, Asarpota, and Muljimal families on this occasion.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman expressed his best wishes to the families on the festival and praised their contributions to the Kingdoms multicultural environment.

The families expressed their gratitude for HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers commitment to engaging all segments of Bahrains community and promoting the values of communication and coexistence.

They also expressed their gratitude for HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salmans visit, and wished the Kingdom of Bahrain continued progress and development.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman was accompanied on the visits by a number of senior officials.

He said that the Kingdoms core values of compassion, tolerance and openness, reflect the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the ongoing support of HRH Prince Salman.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman noted the Kingdoms principles of coexistence and pluralism, which are cornerstones of its rich heritage and history.

His Highness affirmed that Bahrain is a melting pot of cultural diversity, where the values of communication, coexistence, and religious diversity are evident.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa praised the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman which strengthened the bonds of brotherhood between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Sultanate of Oman.

At the invitation of HM King Hamad, HM Sultan Haitham visited the Kingdom from Monday until yesterday. HM the King affirmed that the two countries are distinguished by their deep-rooted civilisations that span for decades which is witnessing a bright present and have a prosperous future, and stressed on the importance of exchanging visits between the two countries.

His Majesty was speaking as he held a meeting with HM Sultan Haitham at Al Sakhir Palace. The meeting reviewed the close and distinguished relations between Bahrain and Oman and their leaderships, and ties of love and respect that bind their two brotherly peoples.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Nass Corporation and Nass the Group organised a breast cancer awareness event with the support of Al Hilal Healthcare Group for their employees at Al Hilal Salmabad auditorium on 20 October.

It aimed to raise awareness about breast cancer and reduce breast cancer risks.

More than 50 women attended the event. Shawqi Al Hashimi, CEO of Nass Corporation, inaugurated the event.

Mrs Melani Jacobs shared her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor.

Dr Sharath Chandran, CEO of Al Hilal Healthcare Group, extended his appreciation and congratulated the management of Nass Corporation and Nass the Group for organising this great initiative.
NHK - Nov 29

The time-honored tradition of ringing the year out with a restaurant party is making a comeback in Japan, according to a major online booking site that says reservations are at nearly 70 percent of the level seen just before the pandemic.
TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - With its promise to address the disproportionate discrimination experienced by Black communities living in Canada, Centennial College has launched its Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report and Institutional Commitments. It's the product of more than two years of research and consultation with the college's students, faculty and staff to create a set of recommendations that address persistent anti-Black racism.

"Anti-Black racism remains deeply embedded throughout all aspects of society and continues to have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing, prosperity and personal safety of Black communities," says Dr. Craig Stephenson, president and CEO, Centennial College. "Members of these communities, as others, are integral to who we are as an institution, a society and a nation. With these institutional commitments now firmly in place, Centennial will be well-positioned to address systemic issues and create safe, equitable spaces for all."

The Black National Survey revealed that 70 per cent of Black Canadians regularly experienced racism in their day-to-day lives, which echoes the findings from the task force's extensive engagement with Black students, faculty and staff, whose lived experiences were essential to contextualizing the data and history. The task force, formed in the wake of George Floyd's violent death in May 2020 and the summer of racial unrest, also consulted with the broader college community before developing their final report and recommendations towards collective action and accountability.

"These recommendations symbolize hope," says Mede Ovbiagele, a success advisor at Centennial and task force member. "The hope is for these recommendations to materialize into actions, and for these actions to result in transformative changes for us now and for those who are here after us."

Centennial's commitments speak to challenging practices of marginalization, creating systems which address inequality through education, communication and action, and realize a psychologically safe working and learning environment. Among the seven commitments are pledges to review and revise program curriculum and academic practices to disrupt anti-Black racism; build anti-racist literacy and intercultural competency within College senior leadership; educate all employees and students on how to address systemic and individual inequities; and pursue data collection to measure the impact of anti-Black racism and Black inclusion processes.

Additionally, Centennial College has signed the Scarborough Charter committing to tackling anti-Black racism  one of only six Canadian colleges to do so to date  and spearheaded Canada's first Racially Responsive Leadership conference co-presented with the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.

About Centennial College

Established as Ontario's first public college in 1966, Centennial College primarily serves the Greater Toronto Area with five distinct campuses. It is known for its exemplary teaching, innovative programming and extensive partnership building. Centennial offers more than 400 diploma, certificate, graduate certificate, apprenticeship and degree programs in business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, hospitality/tourism and transportation. These programs, delivered in class and online, promote experiential learning with laboratory instruction, co-op education and industry placements. Centennial enrols 25,000 full-time students and 18,000 part-time learners annually.

SOURCE Centennial College

For further information: Mark Toljagic, Senior Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-605-6012; [email protected]
Scale, grade and continuity of anomaly on par with saprolite gold anomalies known to overlie other ~ 27million-ounce Birimian gold deposits.





K4 South is demonstrably a rare poly-folded gold system of similar scale to the only other known poly-folded Birimian gold deposit  The 13 Million Ounce Wassa Mine, Ghana.





The Company has also prepared a detailed presentation of results and maps/figures to accompany this release and encourages readers to view it (Here)

https://tajirigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Final-Figures-for-K4-South-25-10-2022-press-release-High-res-.pdf (copy paste link)

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Tajiri Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: TAJ) is delighted to report power auger drilling at the K4 South Prospect, Reo Project, Burkina Faso has discovered, an in-situ, top metre of saprolite, gold anomaly that has all the hallmarks of an anomaly overlying a potentially large world class gold deposit.

K4 South, located at the southern end of the Company's 1,200 km2 Reo Project in west-central Burkina Faso (Figure 1) is one of an extensive cluster of prospects that were investigated by an ~ 18,000m auger drilling program conducted by the Company between November 2020 and May 20211. Technical details of the program are given in the Appendix, but in brief the auger drilling sampled the top metre of saprolite, below a variable cover of in situ and transported lateritic soils and has thus delineated bed rock/in-situ gold anomalism.



____________________________________ 1 Release of results of these drilling results were delayed until the Company received renewed tenure overlying K4 South (see press release dated October 4, 2022.)





Key results of the auger drilling program at K4 South and interpretation of the same based on existing extensive data sets are as follows:

K4 South presents as an extensive area of high tenor gold in saprolite anomalism (Figure 2) which has returned multiple +100ppb Au and numerous +250ppb and 500ppb Au results within an envelope spanning ~1700m x 1000m . The peak gold value returned was 9,201ppb Au (9.2g/t Au)





. The peak gold value returned was 9,201ppb Au (9.2g/t Au) In all key aspects of grade, size and continuity- the K4 South gold anomaly is on par with other in-situ saprolite gold anomalies that were initially delineated over what turned into multimillion ounce West African gold deposits such as M1 South, Namdini, and Banken NE (Figures 3-6 and Table 1 )





The central third of the K4 South Anomaly is situated within and around an extensive area (700 x 450m ) of artisanal workings (Figure 7) which not only demonstrate that the anomaly is under sampled to the east (Figure 10) and has excellent potential to expand, but critically the form of the workings outline a self-evidently a poly folded gold system (Figures 7- 10) with last generation F3 fold axial traces striking 015-020.





) of artisanal workings (Figure 7) which not only demonstrate that the anomaly is under sampled to the east (Figure 10) and has excellent potential to expand, but critically the form of the workings outline a self-evidently a poly folded gold system (Figures 7- 10) with last generation F3 fold axial traces striking 015-020. Re-processed airborne magnetic data from a 100 metre line spaced survey flown in 2010 and a 3D inversion of a 2013 IP/resistivity survey and trends visible in high resolution satellite DEM imagery all support K4 South being a a poly-folded gold system (Figures 12, 13 & 5) with at least two phases of folding and likely three.





The shape of the K4 South auger anomaly which was interpolated by following lithological contacts interpreted from magnetic and IP data also shows a poly-folded form ( Figures 5 & 10)





In addition, along a broadly NNE striking 100km x 20km belt centred on K4 South almost every artisanal working visible in satellite imagery demonstrates a form that is controlled by the interplay between F2 and F3 fold generations examples given in Figures 16A & B). This district level similarity of gold mineralisation style along with all other data makes the interpretation of K4 South as a poly-folded gold system almost indisputable.





Historic drilling of the K4 South gold anomaly and associated artisanal workings is now seen to have been mostly ineffective with drilling confined to the periphery of the anomaly and being poorly oriented to test the poly-folded mineralisation. Nonetheless, historic drilling returned a few notable intercepts such as 4m @ 8.5g/t, 10m @ 3.5g/t and 36m @ 1.3g/t Au that at least demonstrate that K4 South hosts economic grades of gold mineralisation.





@ 8.5g/t, @ 3.5g/t and @ 1.3g/t Au that at least demonstrate that K4 South hosts economic grades of gold mineralisation. The implications of K4 South being a poly-folded gold system are far reaching and extremely positive.





Poly folded deposits are in general rare with the Wassa deposit located in southern Ghana being the singular, other example known from the West African Craton.





being the singular, other example known from the West African Craton.

Globally poly-folded gold deposits though rare tend to be large to immense e.g., Homestake ~62Moz, Telfer ~56Moz, Kibali ~23Moz, Wassa 13Moz, & Haverion 9.4Moz.







At Wassa, the best empirical comparative because it occurs within the same geological terrane, gold mineralisation has been dated to have first been hydrothermally emplaced at the earliest phase of the Eburnean orogeny- the Eoeburnean and was thus subsequently affected all following phases of the Eburnean deformation event resulting in its poly-folded form.







Other West African deposits interpreted to be of Eoeburnean age and though shear hosted with some a fold influence, are the big ones Obuasi, (49-80Moz (depending on whose estimate)) Bogoso-Prestea ( 17M Oz) and Ahafo ( 15M Oz).





Oz) and Ahafo ( Oz).

While we do not know the age of mineralisation at K4 South, given mineralisation has been affected by at least 2, likely 3 phases of Eburnean deformation it is probably of similar early Eoeburnean age to Wassa and thus dates from the time of the most prolific gold deposition event in the West African Craton.







At Wassa, high grade mineralisation is concentrated in tight F3 isoclinal folds and to a lesser extent other F1 and F2 closures. Folds often have extenuated limbs that exhibit weak and narrow < 10m gold mineralisation, whereas mineralisation in fold closures is >3.0g/t, tends to be or in excess of 25- 30m thickness, has dip extents of ~150- 200m , and enormous contiguous down plunge extents that exceed at least 2,000m .





gold mineralisation, whereas mineralisation in fold closures is >3.0g/t, tends to be or in excess of 25- thickness, has dip extents of ~150- , and enormous contiguous down plunge extents that exceed at least .

Assuming mineralisation at K4 South follows a similar "blueprint" to that of Wassa, one might expect that much mineralisation at K4 South will have been missed in areas outside and some inside, the close spaced 25 x 25m auger grid that was used in the central part of K4 South (diagonals on a 25m square grid are 36m across).





auger grid that was used in the central part of K4 South (diagonals on a square grid are across).

Using the Wassa blueprint, better auger results, combined with magnetics and interpreted mineralised outlines from artisanal workings give us several potential high-grade shoots, hosted in fold closures which are ready to be drilled:







a) the 9.2g/t F3 nugget pit area (Figure 7),





b) Those shown in Figure 14





c) The area around the 36m @ 1.3g/t drill intersection (see Figure 11)

@ 1.3g/t drill intersection (see Figure 11)



d) The 250m strike length ~ 50m wide zone of >500ppb Au auger values with a peak value of 2,263ppb Au located at the southern end of K4 South (Figure 2).





strike length ~ wide zone of >500ppb Au auger values with a peak value of 2,263ppb Au located at the southern end of K4 South (Figure 2).

Given the style of mineralisation at Wassa, with the bulk of gold ounces being carried by small, high grade, fold hosted shoots, Wassa packs a lot of ounces into a small surface footprint of only 1,200 x 700m , yet has a net endowment of 13 Million ounces in an area of similar size to mineralisation outlined by both auger anomalism and artisanal workings at K4 South (Figure 17)

In summary the implication of K4 South being of similar size, poly-folded form and potential age to the 13 Moz Wassa deposit are extremely positive and K4 South clearly has superlative potential to host a substantial gold discovery.

Chairman's Comments

"I'm pretty sure we have a monster on our hands. K4 South is our first reported prospect investigated in our 2020-2021 auger drilling campaign and it is just one of several prospects that are likely cojoined within a very large poly-deformed gold system. We look forward to describing results from the other prospects to you shortly.

In our collectively >100 year careers in gold exploration and mining, this is by far and away the most tantalisingly exciting discovery we have made. While it was frustrating to await renewal of tenure it has been worth the wait. The results and the visuals presented here speak for themselves."

Fixed Stock Option Plan

The Company also wishes to report that it has adopted, and the TSX Venture Exchange has approved a fixed stock option plan that will allow the Company to grant up to 12,575,661 to Employees, Directors and Consultants at a price not less than the discounted market price of the Company's securities at the date of grant. This will be the only option plan in effect until the Company obtains approval from shareholders of any additional plan through regular proxy voting.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is Dominic O'Sullivan a geologist, member of the AusIMM, Executive Chairman of Tajiri who has reviewed and approved its contents.

On Behalf of the Board,

Tajiri Resources Corp.

Graham Keevil,

President & CEO

About Tajiri

Tajiri Resources Corp. is a junior gold exploration and development Company with exploration assets located in two of the worlds least explored and highly prolific greenstone belts of Burkina Faso, West Africa and Guyana, South America. Lead by a team of industry professionals with a combined 100 plus years' experience the Company continues to generate shareholder value through exploration.

www.tajirigold.com

Table 1 Comparing areas of saprolite auger defined anomalism at various gold cut-offs as reported for other Brimian Gold Deposits. Where data is not reported other companies have not reported results for that cut-off grade.

Anomaly

Cut off Au. K4 South Namdini (Shandong

Gold) Bankan

NE Predictive

Discovery Sanbrado M1 South West

African

Resources Sanbrado less M1

South West

African

Resources Wassa Endowment ? 7.2Moz @

1.2g/t 3.9Moz @

1.63g/t 1.8Moz @

11.2g/t 3.3Moz @

1.4g/t 13Moz

@ 3.2g/t

Area m2 Area m2 Area m2 Area m2 Area m2 Area m2 12ppb 2,456,000 658,700

740,300 2,359,700

25ppb 1,601,000 488,419 4,557,000





50ppb 1,205,000 298,252







80ppb 611,200



151,200 748,800

100ppb 521,900 197,563 497,263





160ppb 257,100



49,790 297,400

250ppb 157,100

220,183





500ppb 82,230

105,100 8,750 47,670

Drilled

Footprint

>500ppb









214,300

APPENDIX

Technical Details

Results reported today are from a program of ~ 18,000 metres completed in 4,125 auger drillholes drilled between November 2020 and May 2021 at the K4-K5 Prospect. Auger drilling was conducted to infill historic 400 x 100m spaced saprolite auger sampling at varying infill grids; predominantly 200 x 50m regionally and 100 x 25m and 25 x 25m over the K4 South Target. Regional 200 x 50m lines were oriented NW-SE while the 100 x 25m and 25 x 25m auger grids were oriented E-W.

Drilling with hollow stem power auger was conducted and supervised by Sahara Natural Resources and whole samples of 1-4kg were assayed by 50 gram fire assay with a DIBK extraction at SGS laboratories, Ougadougo, Burkina Faso along with standards, blanks and duplicates making up 10% of the assayed samples. Assay sensitivity was 1 ppb Au.

The top metre of textured saprolite was sampled and auger drill holes ranged from 3 to 29m in depth. As saprolite was sampled by our auger program and lateral chemical dispersion of gold in saprolite in the Sahel region of West Africa appears to be minor, detected gold anomalism should be in-situ as confirmed in places by underlying historic RAB and RC drill results.

All samples will be subject to multielement analysis by XRF to allow identification of elements consanguineous with gold mineralisation and the discrimination of lithologies by major and minor element associations.

Geology

K4 South is hosted by a package of siliciclastic and volcanoclastic sediments, volcanics intruded by co-sanguineous diorite and granodiorite sills. Volcanics are mostly dacites to andesites with lessor basalts and rare rhyolite. However, due to previous wide spaced historic drilling and lack of outcrop a detailed lithological model for K4 South has not yet been constructed, and though we have analysed all historic multielement data to discriminate lithologies  given the now known poly-folded geology correlation of wide spaced samples is not

Source Materials :

For Wassa figure showing Wassa drilling and age of Wassa Mineralisation: Perouty, S et al. The Wassa deposit: A poly deformed orogenic gold system in southwest Ghana- Implications for regional exploration. Journal of African Earth Science 2015

Wassa gold endowment is the total of all resource categories Measured, Indicated, Inferred and past production as reported in: "Wassa Gold Mine NI-43-101 Technical Report March 2021 (M+I = 3.537Moz; Indicated 8.183Moz) Past production ~ 2.197Moz

Sanbrado Resources: Resource Source West African Resource/Reserve Statement 9 March 2021

M1 South Auger results: West African Resources Press Release 15 June 2015.

Namdini Auger Results: Cardinal Resources, Presentation 15 November 2017.

Namdini Resources: Cardinal Resources Ltd.  "NI 43-101 Namdini Gold Project Feasibility Study" November 27 2019.

Banken NE Auger Results: Predictive Discovery ASX press release, 13 October 2020. "92M at 1.9g/t Gold- Diamond drilling Expands Bankan Project."

SOURCE Tajiri Resources Corp.

For further information: Contact Information:Tajiri Resources Corp., Graham Keevil, President, CEO, 604-642-0115 or Toll Free 866-345-0115, 604-642-0116 (FAX), [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - The last two years have underscored the crucial role airports play in supporting essential air services. By ensuring community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response, airports contribute to keeping Canadians safe and connected from coast to coast to coast. Canadians rely on safe and well-maintained local and regional airports to support vibrant communities.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at local and regional airports in Manitoba.

Through Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program, 15 airports in Manitoba will receive over $5.1 million from the Government of Canada for projects and equipment that will help maintain safe airport operations for passengers, crews, and airport workers. The airports receiving funding are:

Berens River

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

Bloodvein River

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

to install wildlife control fencing - $940,655

Flin Flon

to purchase runway friction tester - $6,420

to purchase a grader - $438,000

to replace runway approach lighting  $90,329

Gods Lake Narrows

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

to purchase a loader mounted snow blower - $210,000

Norway House

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

Oxford House

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

Pukatawagan

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

Red Sucker Lake

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

South Indian Lake

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

St. Andrews

to purchase a sweeper - $395,200

St. Theresa Point

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

Tadoule Lake

to purchase a compactor (tow behind) - $50,000

to install wildlife control fencing - $1,029,573

The Pas /Grace Lake

to purchase a loader mounted snow blower - $234,000

Thompson

to purchase a snowplow - $358,960

York Landing

to install wildlife control fencing - $926,610

The equipment will be used in maintaining aircraft movement surfaces and the removal and control of ice and snow from airside surfaces such as runways, taxiways and the apron. For airports with a gravel runway, a compactor is used to compress the gravel on the runway, creating a stable surface for safe landing and takeoff operations. The wildlife fencing will keep large mammals away from secure airfield areas.

This funding is in addition to the more than $20.8 million provided under the Program in 2021 to support safety-related projects at the Flin Flon, Gods Lake Narrows, Lac Brochet, Red Sucker Lake, Shamattawa, and Thompson airports.

Quotes

"Airports play a crucial role in keeping Canadians connected across our vast country, and the last two years have only underscored this. Today's investment of over $5.1 million for 15 airports across Manitoba is great news for the region's air sector and for the communities these airports serve. Investments like these will ensure that our air sector comes out strong as we enter post-pandemic recovery, and help us keep our commitment to building safer, stronger communities."

The Honourable Omar Alghabra

Minister of Transport

"Our regional airports here in Manitoba keep communities connected and ensure vital supply chains are maintained. The new equipment being used will ensure our airports are safe for travelers, staff, air crew and residents. Our government will continue to be there to support operations at local and regional airports with these important investments, creating economic opportunity, connecting families and friends, and improving the quality of life for all Manitobans."

The Honourable Daniel Vandal

Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

Quick Facts

As announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020, the Airports Capital Assistance Program received a one-time funding top-up of $186 million over two years.

over two years. The Fall Economic Statement 2020 also announced the temporary expansion of eligibility for the Airports Capital Assistance Program to allow National Airports System airports with less than one million annual passengers in 2019 to apply for funding under the Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

Since the Airports Capital Assistance Program started in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.2 billion for 1,215 projects at 199 local, regional and National Airports System airports across the country. Funded projects include runway and taxiway repairs/rehabilitation, lighting enhancements, purchasing snow clearing equipment and firefighting vehicles as well as installing wildlife control fencing.

Associated Link

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

For further information: Nadine Ramadan, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected]
BOWMANVILLE, ON, Oct. 25, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada's abundant natural resources and its ability to develop them  sustainably and inclusively  are a significant comparative advantage in the global energy transition. That transition presents a generational opportunity to create good jobs, economic growth and prosperity for Ontarians and all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Natural Resources, and the Honourable Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy, announced that Ontario is formally joining the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, a partnership among the federal government and each province and territory to support economic growth and strong communities across the country.

For Ontario, this means supporting expansion of the province's clean electricity grid, which is an advantage in attracting investment and good jobs, supporting the province's manufacturing base through developing critical minerals needed for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, advancing new nuclear technology like small modular reactors, and clean hydrogen deployment.

Canada and Ontario have agreed to focus on 5 key priorities:

Ontario's growing clean and affordable electricity grid

growing clean and affordable electricity grid Developing critical mineral value chains

Leadership in nuclear technology deployment

Accelerating clean hydrogen opportunities

Advancing a sustainable and innovative forestry sector

Across each of these areas, the Canada-Ontario Regional Table will also be focussed on ensuring that regulatory requirements for energy and resource projects are implemented effectively and in a timely fashion.

Canada is committed to working with Ontario as it advances its recently announced procurement of 4,000 MW of electricity capacity and particularly its commitment to launching in 2023 the largest procurement of clean energy storage resources in Canada's history. Ontario's commitment to procure at least 1,500 MW of stand-alone energy storage is key to the province's plan to provide reliable electricity to support economic growth and electrification while keeping costs down for ratepayers.

Today's announcement at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station brings the number of provinces and territories participating in the Regional Tables to nine. British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador helped launch the first phase of the Regional Tables in June, and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Yukon were part of Phase II earlier this month.

Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, the Government of Canada and Ontario will continue to engage with Indigenous partners while enlisting the input and advice of union partners, municipalities, industry, workers, experts and civil society to advance the top economic priorities in the province's natural resource sectors.

The goal is to align resources, timelines and regulatory approaches as part of an economic strategy to capitalize on key regional opportunities and priorities. Today's small modular reactor announcement is a concrete example of what federalprovincial collaboration can accomplish.

By working together, Canadians will create the good jobs and enduring prosperity that will come with the unprecedented economic opportunities of building a net-zero world.

Quotes

"Just as any successful business must be capable of interpreting and reacting to changes in the business environment, countries must also be capable of thoughtful response and appropriate action to sustain and enhance their level of prosperity. This initiative will enable Ontario and other provinces and territories, the federal government and key Indigenous partners to collectively accelerate economic activity and position Canada as an economic leader in the global shift toward a low-carbon future."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Natural Resources, Government of Canada

"We are growing Ontario's world-leading advantage of affordable clean electricity to continue to attract investment and good jobs in our strong manufacturing sector. Ontario is quickly becoming a leader in electric vehicles, battery manufacturing and critical mineral development. The province's expertise in clean nuclear technology is supporting this success. We look forward to working with our federal partners to help us continue to build Ontario and keep costs down for Ontario families."

The Honourable Todd Smith

Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario

"Our government is making Ontario a leader in critical minerals development and building supply chains for innovative technologies such as electric vehicles by connecting mining operations in the North with the manufacturing might of the south. Collaborating with our federal partners on critical minerals development and processing, as well as funding for the Ring of Fire infrastructure, will help us achieve our goals. We need more stable sources of critical minerals in this province to support the transition to a low-carbon economy for Ontario, Canada and the world."

The Honourable George Pirie

Minister of Mines, Government of Ontario

Quick facts

Federal Budget 2022 included $25 million to launch the Regional Energy and Resource Tables to work with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and relevant stakeholders to advance regional economic growth opportunities, accelerate energy transformation priorities and create sustainable jobs. This initiative was referred to in the Budget as Regional Strategic Initiatives.

to launch the Regional Energy and Resource Tables to work with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners and relevant stakeholders to advance regional economic growth opportunities, accelerate energy transformation priorities and create sustainable jobs. This initiative was referred to in the Budget as Regional Strategic Initiatives. In November 2021 , Ontario announced its plans to begin procuring new electricity resources to meet supply needs after 2025, after having been operating with an electricity surplus for over a decade. Through Ontario's deployment of the world's first grid-connected nuclear small modular reactor at Darlington and a competitive procurement, Ontario has a clear path forward to meeting its electricity needs. Early this month Minister Todd Smith also announced that Ontario would procure 4,000MW of capacity, including Canada's largest procurement of energy storage resources, of at least 1,500 MW.

, announced its plans to begin procuring new electricity resources to meet supply needs after 2025, after having been operating with an electricity surplus for over a decade. Through deployment of the world's first grid-connected nuclear small modular reactor at and a competitive procurement, has a clear path forward to meeting its electricity needs. Early this month Minister also announced that would procure 4,000MW of capacity, including largest procurement of energy storage resources, of at least 1,500 MW. Ontario launched their provincial Critical Minerals Strategy 2022-2027 in March 2022 , a five-year roadmap to secure Ontario's position as the global leader of responsibly sourced critical minerals, including in the Ring of Fire. Following consultations, including with provinces and territories, Canada will be launching their national Critical Minerals Strategy before the end of the year. As part of these efforts, both jurisdictions will help unlock critical mineral reserves by advancing infrastructure projects and upholding responsible mineral development which respects the rights of Indigenous peoples.

launched their provincial Critical Minerals Strategy 2022-2027 in , a five-year roadmap to secure position as the global leader of responsibly sourced critical minerals, including in the Ring of Fire. Following consultations, including with provinces and territories, will be launching their national Critical Minerals Strategy before the end of the year. As part of these efforts, both jurisdictions will help unlock critical mineral reserves by advancing infrastructure projects and upholding responsible mineral development which respects the rights of Indigenous peoples. Ontario also launched its Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy in April 2022 , which sets out eight concrete and immediate actions to achieve an eight-fold increase in the province's production capacity of low-carbon hydrogen and support the nascent market to meet its potential.

also launched its Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy in , which sets out eight concrete and immediate actions to achieve an eight-fold increase in the province's production capacity of low-carbon hydrogen and support the nascent market to meet its potential. The Regional Energy and Resource Tables will build on work done by the Industry Strategy Council, which brings together business leaders to offer experienced perspectives from key sectors of our economy and to engage with a diverse set of businesses and stakeholders from coast to coast to coast, including labour and Indigenous Peoples. In its report " Restart, recover, and reimagine prosperity for all Canadians " released in 2020, the Council provided recommendations to:

" released in 2020, the Council provided recommendations to: support all natural resource sectors in becoming global environmental, social governance suppliers and product innovators;



leverage clean technology strengths to accelerate exports and domestic adoption and to decarbonize key industrial sectors; and



incentivize all sectors to meet Paris commitments with a cost- and time-optimal decarbonization pathway.

commitments with a cost- and time-optimal decarbonization pathway. With the addition of Ontario , a total of nine provinces and territories are now participating in the Regional Energy and Resource Tables  after British Columbia , Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador helped launch the tables on June 1, 2022 , and New Brunswick , Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island , the Northwest Territories and the Yukon joined on October 13, 2022 . The federal government is setting up these tables with the goal of establishing them among all 13 provinces and territories by early 2023.

, a total of nine provinces and territories are now participating in the Regional Energy and Resource Tables  after , and and helped launch the tables , and , , , the and the joined on . The federal government is setting up these tables with the goal of establishing them among all 13 provinces and territories by early 2023. In the coming months, the Government of Canada will announce the details of the Pan-Canadian Grid Council, a technical advisory group with a mandate of removing barriers to providing clean electricity to every region of Canada by 2035. The Council will feed into the Regional Energy and Resource Tables process.

will announce the details of the Pan-Canadian Grid Council, a technical advisory group with a mandate of removing barriers to providing clean electricity to every region of by 2035. The Council will feed into the Regional Energy and Resource Tables process. The Government of Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Canada's Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy is a detailed plan that lays out an achievable sector-by-sector path toward Canada's emissions reduction target of 4045 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 205.

Associated Links

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan ( http://twitter.com/nrcan )

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

For further information: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-323-7892, [email protected]
Future Minerals Forum will take place from January 1012, 2023, in Riyadh and is expected to attract more than 9,000 participants

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 25, 2022 /CNW/ -- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) today announced initial details about the second Future Minerals Forum (FMF), which will take place from January 10-12, 2023 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

FMF 2023 will gather global mining industry leaders, including governments and business executives from around the world, and provide a platform to discuss the future potential of mining in Africa, and West and Central Asia.

Speaking about the event, His Excellency, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, said, "The Future Minerals Forum is a one-of-a-kind event for global mining leaders to convene, discuss and explore the new mining hub emerging from Africa to Western and Central Asia. With vast untapped mineral resources, these lands represent significant investment opportunities for those with the vision and capabilities to support the development of the global circular carbon economy and the transformation of the energy sector."

FMF is expected to welcome more than 9,000 participants and 170 prominent international speakers, including government ministers, mining investment leaders and heads of major mining companies from more than 100 countries. On January 10, the Ministerial Roundtable will be attended by high-level government delegations and non-governmental organizations involved in the mining sector.

On January 11 and 12, FMF will host numerous sessions, presentations and discussions on regional and international topics related to the sector. Among the issues on the agenda are:

The global outlook and future of mining, regionally and worldwide

The sector's critical role in the energy transition

The contribution of mining to the development of societies

Mining opportunities in the Kingdom and the wider region that stretches from Africa to Western and Central Asia .

The event also will provide opportunities for attendees to explore how they can collaborate more closely to maximize the benefits of mining for sustainable economic development, the development of integrated value chains, technology, and sustainability.

The first edition of FMF, held in January 2022, was attended by governments, international organizations, major mining companies, financial institutions, academics and researchers. Participants unanimously agreed on the importance of the region (Africa, West and Central Asia) in meeting global mineral demand thanks to its unique geology and significant reserves of high-demand mineral commodities. Moreover, attendees praised Saudi Arabia for its mining sector, agreeing that the nation has all the right ingredients to become a center of mining excellence, able to lead the development of the industry from Africa to West and Central Asia.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1928831/Future_Minerals_Forum_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Future Minerals Forum

For further information: Omar Shereen, [email protected], +966-50-663-0489
First and only biologic to consistently and significantly reduce exacerbations in a broad population of severe asthma patients

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, AstraZeneca and Amgen announced the Canadian availability of Tezspire (tezepelumab injection), indicated for the add-on maintenance treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years and older with severe asthma.1

Tezspire was approved based on results from the PATHWAY Phase llb trial and NAVIGATOR Phase III trial in which Tezspire demonstrated significant improvements across every primary and key secondary endpoint in patients with severe asthma, compared to placebo, when added to standard therapy.2

Tezspire is a first-in-class biologic for severe asthma that acts at the top of the inflammatory cascade by targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial cytokine.2-5 It is the first and only biologic to consistently and significantly reduce asthma exacerbations across Phase II and III clinical trials which included a broad population of severe asthma patients irrespective of key biomarkers, including blood eosinophil counts, allergic status and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO).2,3,6-13 Tezspire is the only biologic approved for severe asthma with no phenotype (e.g., eosinophilic or allergic) or biomarker limitation within its approved label.1

"Patients with severe asthma often have difficulty achieving control of their disease because of its complex and heterogeneous nature. They face a significantly reduced quality of life, frequent exacerbations, and an increased risk of hospitalization," said Dr. Anne Ellis, Professor of Medicine at Queen's University, Chair of the Allergy/Immunology Department, and President of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. "Tezspire represents an important new treatment for many Canadian patients who remain underserved and continue to struggle with severe asthma."

"With the approval of Tezspire, physicians are able to offer a new treatment that has the potential to transform care for a broad population of severe asthma patients in Canada," said Kiersten Combs, President of AstraZeneca Canada. "Tezspire marks the first biologic treatment for severe asthma without phenotypic limitations and irrespective of biomarker levels."

"Tezspire introduces a new era in severe asthma management, in which a broad patient population will have a treatment option that controls inflammation at the source, regardless of the cause," said Dr. Daniel Martinez, Executive Medical Director, Amgen Canada. "This is a true win for Canadian patients, providing a much-needed treatment option for a complex and debilitating disease."

In clinical studies, the most frequently reported adverse reactions in patients who received Tezspire were pharyngitis, arthralgia, and injection site reaction.1

Results from the NAVIGATOR Phase III trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2021. There were no clinically meaningful differences in safety results between the Tezspire and placebo groups in the NAVIGATOR trial.2

Notes

Severe Asthma

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease affecting an estimated 339 million people worldwide, including an estimated 3.8 million Canadians.14-16 Asthma is the third most common chronic disease in Canada and 5%-10% of asthma patients have severe asthma.16,17 Despite the use of inhaled asthma controller medicine, currently available biologic therapies and oral corticosteroids (OCS), many severe asthma patients remain uncontrolled.15,18,19 Due to the complexity of severe asthma, many patients have unclear or multiple drivers of inflammation and may not qualify for or respond well to a current biologic medicine.18-21

Severe, uncontrolled asthma is debilitating with patients experiencing frequent exacerbations, significant impairment in lung function and a reduced quality of life.15,18, 22 Patients with severe asthma are at an increased risk of mortality and compared to patients with persistent asthma have twice the risk of asthma-related hospitalizations.23-25 There is also a significant socio-economic burden, with these patients accounting for approximately 50% of asthma-related costs.26

Tezspire

Tezspire (tezepelumab injection) is being developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with Amgen and is a first-in-class human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the action of TSLP, a key epithelial cytokine that sits at the top of the inflammatory cascade and is critical in the initiation and persistence of allergic, eosinophilic and other types of airway inflammation associated with severe asthma, including airway hyperresponsiveness.3,4 TSLP is released in response to multiple triggers associated with asthma exacerbations, including allergens, viruses and other airborne particles.3,4 Expression of TSLP is increased in the airways of patients with asthma and has been correlated with disease severity.3,5 Blocking TSLP may prevent the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by immune cells, resulting in the prevention of asthma exacerbations and improved asthma control.2,3,5 Tezspire acts at the top of the inflammation cascade and has the potential to help address a broad population of severe asthma patients irrespective of biomarker levels.2,3

Tezspire was approved by Health Canada in July 2022. Tezspire has also been approved in the US, EU, and Japan for the treatment of severe asthma, and regulatory reviews are ongoing in additional countries around the world.27

Tezspire is also in development for other potential indications including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chronic spontaneous urticaria and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a focus on the discovery, development, and commercialization of medicines that transform lives. Our core scientific focus is in the areas of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic (CVRM) disease; Oncology; Rare Disease; Respiratory & Immunology; and Vaccine & Immune Therapies. AstraZeneca operates in more than 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. In Canada, the company employs more than 1,200 people across Canada, including roughly 700 employees at our head office and clinical research hub in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.astrazeneca.ca.

Amgen

As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario's vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new ways of using existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading healthcare, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgencanadagm.

References

1. Tezspire Canadian Product Monograph. Available at: https://www.astrazeneca.ca/en/our-medicines.html. [Last accessed: July 2022]. 2. Menzies-Gow A, et al. Tezepelumab in Adults and Adolescents with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384: 1800-1809. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2034975. 3. Corren J, et al. Tezepelumab in adults with uncontrolled asthma [supplementary appendix; updated April 18, 2019]. N Engl J Med. 2017;377: 936-946. 4. Varricchi G, et al. Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Isoforms, Inflammatory Disorders, and Cancer. Front Immunol. 2018; 9: 1595. 5. Li Y, et al. Elevated Expression of IL-33 and TSLP in the Airways of Human Asthmatics In Vivo: A Potential Biomarker of Severe Refractory Disease. J Immunol. 2018;200: 22532262. 6. Hanania NA, et al. Omalizumab in severe allergic asthma inadequately controlled with standard therapy: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154 (9): 573-82. 7. Yancey SW, et al. Disease burden and efficacy of mepolizumab in patients with severe asthma and blood eosinophil counts of 150-300 cells/L. Respir Med. 2019; 151: 139-141. 8. FitzGerald JM, et al. Predictors of enhanced response with benralizumab for patients with severe asthma: pooled analysis of the SIROCCO and CALIMA studies. Lancet Respir Med. 2018; 6 (1): 51-64. 9. Castro M, et al. Dupilumab Efficacy and Safety in Moderate-to-Severe Uncontrolled Asthma. N Engl J Med. 2018; 378 (26): 2486-2496. 10. Ortega HG, et al; on behalf of the MENSA Investigators. Mepolizumab treatment in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(13):1198-207. 11. Bleecker ER, et al, on behalf of the SIROCCO study investigators. Efficacy and safety of benralizumab for patients with severe asthma uncontrolled with high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists (SIROCCO): a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet 2016: 388 (10056): 2115-2127. 12. FitzGerald JM, et al, on behalf of the CALIMA study investigators. Benralizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 receptor alpha monoclonal antibody, as add-on treatment for patients with severe, uncontrolled, eosinophilic asthma (CALIMA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2016: 388(10056): 2128-2141. 13. Wenzel S, et al. Dupilumab efficacy and safety in adults with uncontrolled persistent asthma despite use of medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a long-acting 2 agonist: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pivotal phase 2b dose-ranging trial. Lancet. 2016 Jul 2;388(10039):31-44. 14. The Global Asthma Network. The Global Asthma Report 2018. [Online]. Available at: http://globalasthmareport.org/resources/Global_Asthma_Report_2018.pdf. [Last accessed: December 2021]. 15. Chung KF, et al. International ERS/ATS guidelines on definition, evaluation and treatment of severe asthma. Eur Respir J. 2014; 43 (2): 343-373. 16. Asthma Canada. Asthma Facts and Statistics. Available at: https://asthma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Asthma-101.pdf. Last accessed July 2022 17. FitzGerald JM, et al. Recognition and management of severe asthma: A Canadian Thoracic Society position statement. Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. 2017; VOL. 1, NO. 4, 199221. 18. Wenzel S. Severe asthma in adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005; 172: 149-160. 19. Peters SP, et al. Uncontrolled asthma: a review of the prevalence, disease burden and options for treatment. Respir Med 2006: 100 (7): 1139-51. 20. Hyland ME, et al. A Possible Explanation for Non-responders, Responders and Super-responders to Biologics in Severe Asthma. Explor Res Hypothesis Med. 2019; 4: 3538. 21. Tran TN, et al. Overlap of atopic, eosinophilic, and TH2-high asthma phenotypes in a general population with current asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016; 116: 3742. 22. Fernandes AG, et al. Risk factors for death in patients with severe asthma. J Bras Pneumol. 2014; 40: 364-372. 23. Chastek B, et al. Economic Burden of Illness Among Patients with Severe Asthma in a Managed Care Setting. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2016;22: 848861. 24. Hartert TV, et al. Risk factors for recurrent asthma hospital visits and death among a population of indigent older adults with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002;89: 46773. 25. Price D, et al. Asthma control and management in 8,000 European patients: the REcognise Asthma and LInk to Symptoms and Experience (REALISE) survey. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2014; 24: 14009. 26. World Allergy Organization (WAO). The management of severe asthma: economic analysis of the cost of treatments for severe asthma. Available at: https://www.wordallergy.org/educational_programs/world_allergy_forum/anaheim2005/blaiss.php [Last accessed: December 2021]. 27. Tezspire (tezepelumab) US prescribing information; 2021.

SOURCE AstraZeneca Canada Inc.

For further information: Mary-Anne Cedrone, AstraZeneca Canada, E-mail: [email protected]
A federal high court in Umuahia, Abia state, has ordered the federal government to return Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of ...

A federal high court in Umuahia, Abia state, has ordered the federal government to return Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Kenya.

Kanu was extradited from the East African country to Nigeria in June 2021.

The court also ordered the government to pay Kanu N500 million as damages for his illegal abduction and violation of his fundamental human rights.

In the suit filed through his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu had challenged his extradition from Kenya by the agents of the federal government.

Kanu alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.

He argued that the federal government should be required to show the legal document or authority that served as the foundation for his abduction or extraordinary rendition.

My client remains an unlawfully expelled individual, and cannot be subjected to any trial because he was unlawfully renditioned, the lawyer said.

He also said the United Nations commission on human rights had already directed the Nigerian authorities to unconditionally release Kanu, and compensate him for the violation of fundamental human rights.

Among several reliefs sought, Kanu prayed the court for an order mandating and compelling the respondents to pay the sum of N25,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Billion Naira) to the applicant, being monetary damages claimed by the applicant against the respondents jointly and severally for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, property and other damages suffered by the applicant as a result of the infringements of applicants fundamental rights by the respondents.

An order is also sought to halt Kanus prosecution and restore him to the status quo before his rendition on June 19, 2021.

Delivering a ruling in the suit on Wednesday, Evelyn Anyadike, the presiding judge, agreed that the extradition of Kanu from Kenya without recourse to the legal process was a flagrant abuse of his fundamental human rights.

She held that the respondent failed to disprove the claims of the applicant that he was arrested, blindfolded, tortured, and chained to the ground for eight days in Kenya before his extradition.

This verdict is coming barely a week after the court of appeal in Abuja discharged Kanu on charges of terrorism on the grounds that he was illegally renditioned to Nigeria.

The court further held that having illegally and forcefully renditioned the appellant, the trial court is stripped of jurisdiction to continue to try Kanu.
Dele Momodu, director of strategic communication of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council, has cautioned Festus Keyamo, mini...

Dele Momodu, director of strategic communication of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council, has cautioned Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour, against making unguarded utterances.

Momodu gave the warning on Tuesday while responding to a recent comment by Keyamo, who is the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council.

Following the unveiling of the manifesto of Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, Momodu had criticised the document, saying it is an appropriation of MKO Abiolas legacy.

Reacting, Keyamo said the publisher of Ovation Magazine should stick to praise-singing instead of critiquing policy statements.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Momodu said Keyamo is a certified nuisance who has become a shadow of his old self after he was appointed as a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.

I have just read Festus Keyamos response to my critique of the APC Manifesto of lies. Im not surprised that all he could do was yell as usual without examining or practically addressing the content of my article. Unfortunately, he picked on the wrong customer, the statement reads.

Let me take a few minutes to educate this young friend of mine who has since become a shadow of his old self since he was offered an appointment, that makes him look so incompetent, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Any self-respecting soul would have since resigned but Festus Keyamo was not at home the day shame came visiting. The Ministry in which hes a mere figurehead is in total shambles and only a Bola Tinubu would have given the job of a spokesperson to such a certified nuisance.

What did Festus say I did wrong? He quoted copiously from an article I wrote about two years ago, which the Tinubu media teams have been using to campaign endlessly because they have no stronger voice of their own. Im indeed flattered.

There is no doubt that I love Tinubu the Man but I disagree vehemently with Tinubu the Politician. This is not the first time I will say it publicly. Since I now have the opportunity of presenting the bones of my disagreement with Tinubu, courtesy of Festus Keyamo, I will lay them bare.

I hope Keyamo does not delude himself that I cannot make my own choices. I certainly have, and done so openly and boldly. Atiku Abubakar is my choice. He is not a pretender to the throne. He has pursued his dreams with grace, good comportment, self-discipline and uncommon equanimity.

Festus and his gang keep quoting a 2019 article that I wrote. They should go and frame my other writings too.

As for that political neophyte called Keyamo, he still has a lot to learn while trying hard to be a lap dog. He should be reminded that he is still a Minister of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, paid at the taxpayers expense. He should learn to moderate his undue exuberance.

I could go on ad infinitum but lets cool temper for now.
The Police in Ogun State Police said they have arrested four notorious armed robbery suspects, who specialize in snatching motorcycles at g...





The Police in Ogun State Police said they have arrested four notorious armed robbery suspects, who specialize in snatching motorcycles at gunpoint.





The suspects were identified by the police as 20-year-old Muhammad Adamu, 22-year-old Okacha Alidu, 28-year-old Yusuf Mohammed and 20-year-old Muniru Sunmaila.





Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects were nabbed following a distress call received at the Ajuwon police division at about 3 AM on October 24.





Oyeyemi said the police were informed that the suspects had attacked one Sunday Doile at Onibudo area of Akute and snatched his Bajaj motorcycle at gunpoint.





Upon the distress call, the DPO of Ajuwon division, SP Andrew Akinseye, was said to have mobilized his patrol team to the scene.





Sighting the policemen, Oyeyemi said the hoodlums numbering six, fled in different directions, while one of them escaped with the snatched motorcycle.





Four of the gang members were apprehended following a chase by the police.





On interrogation, they confessed to being the syndicate responsible for various cases of motorcycle snatching in Ajuwon and its environs. They confessed that their mode of operation is to use a motorcycle belonging to one of them to cross the one they want to snatch, and they will show their gun to the victim and order him to surrender his motorcycle, the Police Public Relations Officer explained.





According to them, any of their victims who struggles with them will be hit on the head with an iron rod, and the motorcycle will be taken away while the owner is unconscious.





They claimed to have killed one of their victims in the process, the Police Public Relations Officer explained.





He added that two locally-made pistols, one iron rod, one cutlass, one live cartridge, three expended cartridges and assorted criminal charms were recovered from the suspects.





Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to State CIID while directing that the escaped members of the gang be hunted down.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said he would prefer to be called President Muhammadus co-pilot and not spare tyre. Osinbajo spoke a...





Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said he would prefer to be called President Muhammadus co-pilot and not spare tyre.

Osinbajo spoke at the launch of a book, Deputising and Governance in Nigeria, authored by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday in Abuja.

He gave an analogy of the spare tyre widely used to describe the role of the deputy to the president.

Osinbajo, however, argued that a better description would be that of the relationship between a pilot and his co-pilot in an aircraft.

He said: Imagine a commercial flight with people, including you on a plane, there is the captain, and then there is his deputy.

The captain flies the plane, but no human being can be completely focused for several hours.

So, sometimes he gets up and goes to the bathroom while the flight is on; his deputy had better be a good pilot, otherwise lives are at risk.

Can you imagine a situation where the captain leaves the cockpit briefly and you hear an announcement from the cockpit: Ladies and gentlemen, I am the deputy to the captain.

The captain is in the restroom, and I am only a spare tyre and I am not sure what to do now? If you are in that plane you will ask God for forgiveness for expecting that a deputy or assistant plays no role.
A man in Adamawa State has been sentenced to death for killing his girlfriend and harvesting parts of her body for a N10 million prize alleg...





A man in Adamawa State has been sentenced to death for killing his girlfriend and harvesting parts of her body for a N10 million prize allegedly offered by a buyer.





The Adamawa State High Court sentenced Abubakar Mohammed to death by hanging for killing Christiana Augustine, removing her eyeballs, cutting her breast and removing her tongue.





Facts of the matter gathered on Wednesday, revealed that Abubakar, who is a father of seven children and who hails from Jauro Tukur village in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, relocated to Shagari Phase II, Yola South LGA of Adamawa State in search of a means of livelihood.





He became a water vendor and along the line fell in love with Christiana.





He had also, in the course of time, come in contact with a man known as Buhari Mohammed, also a resident of Yola, who allegedly hinted him about a man who had indicated interest to buy eyeballs at N10 million.





It was gathered that Abubakar thought of where he could get it and finally settled on his girlfriend, Christiana.





This initial stage of the story dates back to the 26th January in 2019 when Abubakar went to Christianas house to see her and to get her to meet him where they used to meet for their amorous adventure.





Christiana turned up at the uncompleted building where they had met in the past, but instead of the usual love making, Abubakar took out his knife, slit her throat and plucked one of her eyeballs while damaging the other one in the process of trying to remove it.





The following day, the convict took the eyeballs to Buhari who, it was said, expressed shock and chased Abubakar away with the eyes.





Abubakar was thereafter trailed and arrested after the lifeless body of Christiana was found in the uncompleted building the following day; hence, his arraignment and prosecution.





The Adamawa State High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Bulila Ladokiya Ikaro, at the most recent sitting on the case on Tuesday, sentenced the convict for culpable homicide after he was tried and found guilty for being in possession of the human parts.
The US government has issued a security alert warning its citizens about the possibility of terror attacks in South Africa. In the alert...

The US government has issued a security alert warning its citizens about the possibility of terror attacks in South Africa.

In the alert posted on its embassy website on Wednesday, the US said it received information that terrorists may be planning to attack large gatherings of people in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Saturday.

The US advised its citizens to avoid large gatherings in the named area.

The US government has received information that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 October 2022, the alert reads.

There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack.

The US embassy has advised staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg during the weekend of October 29-30 2022.

On Sunday, the US warned its citizens in Nigeria about possible terror attacks in parts of the country.

It said the federal capital territory (FCT) stands a high risk of attack, and that terrorists may target government buildings, places of worship, schools and markets.

However, the Department of State Services (DSS) has called for calm over the alert on the likelihood of attacks in Nigeria, adding that security agencies are taking measures to ensure safety.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable.
NTV News 24 is a service of Nippon Television, Japan's leading broadcasting network. This page provides a selection of today's stories in English.
ArcelorMittal North America, now headquartered in Schererville, recently broke ground on a $1.8 billion decarbonization project at its Dofasco plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The steelmaker is partnering with the governments of Canada and Ontario on the project, which it said will help it meet its goal of reducing carbon intensity by 25% by 2030.

This project will transform how we make steel in Hamilton by introducing coal-free, lower-carbon technologies. It will enable us to make significant progress this decade, reduce our emissions in Hamilton by approximately 60% and lay strong foundations for near-zero steelmaking, Chairman Lakshmi Mittal said. It will also ensure that Hamiltons rich history of steelmaking endures, and that ArcelorMittal Dofasco is able to produce the advanced steel solutions Canada needs to support its own vision of transitioning to a net zero economy.

Canada contributed $400 million to the project and Ontario $500 million. ArcelorMittal said such support is needed to help heavy industry do its part in limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.

ArcelorMittal Dofascos steel plant is not just a cornerstone of the Canadian economy and the Hamilton community  its an example to the world of what clean innovation will look like. By investing in ArcelorMittal Dofascos project to produce clean steel, were investing in the future of this plant and this industry, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference. Together, were delivering real results: good, middle-class jobs, a strong economy, and clean air for today and generations to come.

ArcelorMittal will transform the mill, one of the few it kept in North America when it sold most of its assets to Cleveland-Cliffs, to reduced iron-electric arc furnace steelmaking.

It will no longer operate as an integrated mill that burns coke, a purified form of coal in blast furnaces. Instead, it will install a 2.5 million ton direct reduced iron furnace that will initially use natural gas but be able to convert to hydrogen in the future.

The steel mill currently has three blast furnaces.

ArcelorMittals ambition is to lead the decarbonization of the steel industry. Steel is a critical material that will sit at the heart of a decarbonized economy. It is a vital material for the renewable energy infrastructure, the electric vehicles and the low-carbon buildings that will build our zero-carbon world, ArcelorMittal CEO Aditya Mittal said. The scale of this opportunity is significant, and we want to ensure that we can meet the demand this opportunity will bring with growing volumes of increasingly lower-carbon steel.

A DRI plant will be built on the site of the decommissioned coke plant at ArcelorMittal Dofasco.

ArcelorMittal said the mill will have a much lower carbon footprint. It could be a template for global change in how steel is made, Mittal said.

This groundbreaking at ArcelorMittal Dofasco is a very significant day for ArcelorMittals journey to near-zero steelmaking. It shows what is possible as a result of partnership, trust and understanding, Mittal said. For a hard-to-abate sector like steel I hope what we have achieved here in Canada can help to accelerate the development of the conditions required for decarbonizing steel globally.
GARY  Staff and community members unhappy with the management of the Gary Community School Corp. vented their frustrations at a public forum Tuesday at the Gary Area Career Center.

Representatives of MGT Education, the firm managing Gary schools, heard concerns about lack of planning, the disposition of school properties and student achievement.

Robert L. Suggs Jr., president of the GCSC Advisory Board, questioned MGT on several fronts, including a drop in third-grade reading proficiency.

Paige McNulty, GCSC manager, said the school system would respond online to all comments within 14 days. She said public meetings would be held monthly for public input.

Andre Wright, MGT senior vice president, has been put in charge of academic achievement and strategy. The goal, he said, is to make sure all students are prepared ... to make sure, at any level, kids are ready for what happens next.

The GCSC has 4,500 students in 11 school buildings.

Earlier in the day in Indianapolis, the Distressed Unit Appeal Board, the state body with authority over local agencies taken over by the state, received updates from GCSC officials on student academic progress.

The DUAB extended MGTs contract in Gary two years through June 2024.

The contract provides that the state will pay $5.5 million to MGT as base compensation between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024, along with up to $2.3 million in incentive payments during the two-year period based largely on academic, rather than financial, achievements.

Rajeev Bajaj, MGT executive vice president, said the company is working on a 21-month schedule which, pending legislative approval, would return control of the school system to a school board by July 2024.

In the meantime, McNulty said, the school system is seeking public input on the demolition of some school properties and sale of others. Closed buildings facing demolition are Ambridge, Duncan, Melton, Norton and Riley elementaries. For sale are Lincoln and Webster elementaries and Roosevelt High School.

With $3 million available for demolition, McNulty estimated only a couple buildings could be razed at this time. The demolition of Lew Wallace High School alone would cost $2 million, she said.

During public comments, community members expressed their doubts about MGTs performance to date.

Emmitt Mosley, a former East Chicago school trustee, felt blown away by a perceived lack of adequate information available to the public. Where is the plan of action? he asked. I dont see it.

Colin McCullough asked how school properties are assessed. That assessment, he said, will determine who has access to our community.

Glen Eva Dunham, president of the Gary Teachers Union, said that under MGT, people are treated like dirt, like dogs. Were not having a say-so in this administration.

With 44 years in education, Dunham said, I hope you bring something new to the table. We definitely need something new.

Ludeen Kilgore, a product of Gary schools who returned to the city, noted, Gary is unique. I dont think you understand that. Its frightening what I see.

State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, who attended the DUAB meeting, told MGT officials, You gotta have a plan. Without a plan you go nowhere.

Smith added that Gary is losing too many young people.

I just want to save our children, Smith said, calling for a user-friendly plan that includes all the stakeholders.

Times Staff Writer Dan Carden contributed to reporting.
GARY  A 43-year-old man facing attempted-murder charges was aiming at his wife when he fired bullets into the car she was riding in on Sunday.

Priscilla Rice-Perez of Valparaiso was in the passenger seat of a black Acura MDX around 3:40 a.m., traveling eastbound on Interstate 80/94, when her husband, Andres Perez of East Chicago, shot at the vehicle, striking the passenger door and Rice-Perez's foot, court records show.

Rice-Perez said she was at a club in Highland with two friends when Perez called and asked her where she was. After she told him, he showed up and a confrontation between the two occurred.

Rice-Perez and her friends left to go to a nearby White Castle, and Perez followed her. The confrontation continued, and Perez shoved Rice-Perez and punched the navigation screen in the Acura, shattering it, according to court records.

Rice-Perez said she, the driver and other passenger drove away from the White Castle and onto I-80/94. Perez, driving erratically, followed the Acura in his GMC Yukon and shot at Rice-Perez near Burr Street.

The driver of the Acura drove until the Perez's GMC was out of sight and stopped on an exit ramp near Ind. 49 to call police. Rice-Perez was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Chesterton for treatment, according to court records and Indiana State Police.

Perez was out on bond for an attempted murder allegedly committed in July, Indiana State Police said. Domestic violence charges filed in April against Perez are pending in Porter County, according to court records.

After Sunday's incident, Perez was taken into custody and lodged in the Lake County Jail without bond. He faces felony charges of attempted murder, stalking while armed with a deadly weapon, battery by means of a deadly weapon and three counts of criminal recklessness with a firearm.
CROWN POINT  A 64-year-old man was arrested Monday on charges he murdered his wife during an argument earlier this month outside their Gary home.

Ellis W. Bishop is accused of shooting 60-year-old Victoria Staples-Bishop in the abdomen Oct. 8 in the 2300 block of Marshalltown Lane. She later died at a Chicago hospital.

Bishop had not yet made an initial appearance on one count of murder and a firearm enhancement, which could add years to any sentence he receives if convicted.

About 40 minutes before the shooting, Staples-Bishop told a relative during a phone call that she was sitting in her car because Bishop was "acting crazy" and had told her to leave their home, according to Lake Criminal Court records.

The relative told police Staples-Bishop refused to leave "because it was her house."

Gary police were dispatched to the residence about 3 p.m. and learned Staples-Bishop had been shot during a domestic dispute with her husband, charging documents state.

While she was being treated at Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus in Gary, Staples-Bishop told two police officers she and Bishop had been drinking alcohol and began arguing.

She alleged Bishop pushed her out of the house, retrieved a gun and intentionally shot her.

Staples-Bishop told medical staff she was unable to move her legs and could not feel anything from her lower back down, records state. She later died at University of Chicago Medical Center.

Bishop was at the residence when officers arrived and claimed she shot his wife after she maced him, according to court documents.

Police didn't believe Bishop's claim because he did not appear to have any symptoms associated with having been maced.

While officers were taking Bishop to the Gary Police Department, he said, "I hope she's OK," "I didn't mean to shoot her, the gun just went off," and "I just wanted to scare her," records state.

Police doubted those claims, too, because the revolver recovered from inside the couple's home would have been difficult to fire by accident, charging documents state.

Police found no signs of a struggle inside the home and no containers of Mace were located in the area, records state.
Indiana State Police are seeking the public's help in locating a woman sought in the death of her 5-year-old son, whose body was discovered in April stuffed inside a suitcase and dumped in a rural area in the southern part of the state.

Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, of Atlanta, was last known to be in Los Angeles but is known to travel, according to police. Her photos were released by police.

Police said they traveled to San Francisco on Oct. 19 and arrested Dawn Elaine Coleman, 40, of Shreveport, Louisiana, in connection with the child's death. Officers were unsuccessful at finding Anderson in the Los Angeles area.

A mushroom hunter discovered the child's body stuffed inside a distinctive Las Vegas-themed hard-shell suitcase in rural Washington County, state police said.

"No family members, witnesses or acquaintances came forward to identify the boy or provide any information," police said. "Leads from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also proved unsuccessful, as well as tips called in by the general public."

An autopsy revealed that the boy died as a result of an electrolyte imbalance, likely caused by viral gastroenteritis.

State police investigators continued their efforts and identified Coleman and Anderson as suspects and identified the boy as Cairo Ammar Jordan from Atlanta. He would have turned 6 this past Monday.

Anderson is described as a black female, 5-feet-5 and about 135 pounds. She had short, dark brown hair but is known to often wear wigs or hair extensions, police said.

Anyone who spots Anderson or has other information is encouraged to contact the local police department.
John Lowry John Lowry, 48, of Michigan City.

MICHIGAN CITY  Police tried to stop a Michigan City man on an unlicensed motorcycle before a tumultuous series of events led to his arrest Tuesday, Michigan City police said.

Officers were patrolling around 3:25 a.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of East 10th Street when they saw a westbound motorcycle without a license plate. When the officers tried to conduct a traffic stop, the motorcyclist fled.

John Lowry, 48, of Michigan City, fell off the motorcycle near West Eighth and Grant streets and continued his attempted escape. Officers followed. Police said they found him hiding behind a garage in the 200 block of Grant Avenue.

Lowry was in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia at the time of his arrest, police said.

He was taken to the LaPorte County Jail and faces charges of resisting law enforcement, unlawful possession of a syringe and possession of marijuana.
Two experienced businessmen with similar hopes of attracting new residents to the Region are competing in a rare open-seat contest for Lake County Council District 4.

Republican Pete Lindemulder and Democrat Nick Petrovski aspire to succeed Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, who is giving up his seat representing Schererville, northern St. John and northwest Crown Point on the county's financial governing board to run for Indiana Senate.

Lindemulder, 41, of Schererville, owns several waste-disposal businesses and has extensive experience leading nonprofits. He said he wants to use his background and training to wisely manage Lake County's finances in an open and transparent manner.

Specifically, Lindemulder believes Lake County could do a better job making budget and spending data available to the public and potentially reduce spending by making county procurement opportunities easier to find on the internet.

"It is difficult for most people to understand 500 pages of appropriations divided out by department," he said. "I would work to simplify, consolidate and organize our financials so that when posted to the county website, they more clearly compare the budgets to the money actually being spent.

"I want to make sure we continue building on the current momentum of the state of Indiana so that families from not only across the border in Illinois but also from around the country can look at Lake County as a great place to raise their families, open businesses and thrive."

Petrovski, 58, of Crown Point, is a real estate developer and former television advertising executive. He said he's committed to maintaining Indiana's property tax advantage over Illinois by ensuring that Lake County continues carefully managing its tax revenue and spending.

At the same time, Petrovski said, Lake County residents are entitled to safe, vibrant communities, award-winning schools, great medical facilities, abundant retailers, top-quality infrastructure, numerous parks and natural amenities  and he'll see to it that the county delivers.

"I'll bring my skill set to the job at the Lake County Council. Its a professional office and it needs a leader who acts like one, who follows the rules and who strives to be the best, the most responsible and is accessible to all," he said.

"I intend to be a strong leader who inspires others to do their best because Im doing my best."

The winner in the Nov. 8 election will earn a four-year term on the seven-member county council.
VALPARAISO  The Porter County Council has reached a compromise on funding for the Memorial Opera House renovations and for nonprofits: Each side gets money through the American Rescue Plan Act, but not as much as either had hoped.

The revised spending plan approved 6-1  Councilman Andy Bozak, R-at large, voted "no"  goes to the Board of Commissioners.

Funding for the 1893 Memorial Opera House wasnt in the plan approved by the ARPA steering committee after extensive public input. The commissioners approved that recommended plan without changes.

The compromise on funding for nonprofits and the opera house came after Project Neighbors offered to reduce its funding request to $700,000, council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said. Project Neighbors had sought $1 million to address homelessness in the county.

That cut prompted the council to reduce funding for other nonprofits by 10%. Nonprofits will get $8.9 million from that fund now.

The opera house project was pegged at $7.5 million, but the county will pay $5 million as part of the $33 million in federal ARPA funds. The Memorial Opera House Foundation will need to come up with the remainder.

The project includes extensive renovations to the building, including plumbing, HVAC, electrical and masonry; and a connector to the 1860 sheriffs residence next door, which will open up the opera house lobby and provide accessible restrooms in the connector. The sheriffs residence will house offices and storage for the opera house.

The 1871 old jail connected to the sheriffs residence will be used by the Porter County Museum to tell the story of how the jail was used. The museum, which moved across Franklin Street to its new location, now offers an exhibit on mastodon bones found in south Porter County.

At the council meeting, resident Rebecca Tomerlin asked the council to fund the nonprofits. She was a member of the Nonprofits and Employers Subcommittee. My only concerns are that many of us spent many, many hours listening to all these nonprofits and their needs and had faith in the process, she said. I am concerned that we are using some of those funds to fill a gap in our budget.

It might be logical to do so, she agreed, but then asked a different question: Is it ethical to do?

We have a lot of people who are homeless, she said. Were not all government workers, but we do need the government, and we do need your help.

At previous council meetings, the ARPA money for nonprofits was held up by a discussion over maintaining county facilities, including the Memorial Opera House, Porter County Jail and center garage.

The jail and highway garage werent included in the final ARPA agreement approved by the council. The bonds for construction of the jail are set to be paid off soon.

Money for the opera house was included in the original plan approved by the commissioners, but it was withdrawn and the process restarted with extensive public comment and involvement amid criticism of funding for the opera house project.
VALPARAISO  Valparaiso residents submitted a "record" number of redistricting maps, said attorney Brian Bosma of Kroger Gardis and Regas LLP.

This year, the city allowed public participation in the City Council redistricting process, providing a toolkit to help residents craft their own maps. Five people submitted six maps; however one was later withdrawn. At the same time, City Council President Casey Schmidt, R-3rd, and Council Vice President Diana Reed, D-1st, worked with Kroger Gardis and Regas to create a map, called the "coordinator's map."

"(The plans submitted by the public) were good, they were well-thought-out and impressive, in all honesty," Bosma said.

All municipal legislative maps have to be redrawn after each new census to keep districts equal. Valparaiso's population grew from 31,730 in 2010 to 34,428 in 2020. The additional residents, paired with general population fluctuations  people moving, dying and starting families  caused the city's five legislative districts to have a population deviation of about 19.7%. District deviation should be under 10% and ideally closer to 5%.

To ensure equal representation, each of Valparaiso's districts would have a population of close to 6,830 residents. Currently, districts 2, 4 and 5 are all about five to six percentage points larger than the ideal size. District 1 is about 13.4% smaller, and District 3 is 5.4% smaller than the ideal size.

Bosma, former speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican state representative, presented the coordinator's map during a Monday council meeting. The coordinator's plan didn't split any precincts and had a deviation of 5.28%. While some of the submitted plans had a lower deviation, they split precincts, which Bosma said is allowed, but not usually preferred.

If a precinct is split, the county clerk's office would have to reorganize the impacted residents, which can cause confusion for the county and for constituents Bosma said.

"It's (the coordinator's map) more compact than your current map and the cores of your prior districts are maintained, including each incumbent in their original district," Bosma said.

In the coordinator's map, one precinct was swapped in all five districts. The new deviation for District 1 would be -2.31%, for District 2 it would be 1.48%, 2.97% for District 3, -2.02% for District 4 and -0.1% for District 5.

Residents who submitted plans also presented during the Monday night meeting. Multiple said they split precincts because the current precincts are so unbalanced.

Barbara Domer, who submitted a plan with a total deviation of 9.65%, said she was concerned that the coordinator's map moved precinct 22 from District 5 to District 1.

"This precinct shift creates a significant advantage for the Republicans in District 5," Domer said, explaining that 2019 election results show that precinct 22 is majority Democratic. "By moving this precinct into the District 1, the consultant is ridding District 5 of the Democratic-majority precinct and packing it into an already-majority Democratic District 1."

Most City Council members supported the coordinator's plan, saying they appreciated its simplicity. Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, who has criticized Bosma's involvement as a former Republican politician, thanked Bosma "for a very respectful job."

The council is scheduled to approve the final map during its Nov. 14 meeting. All of the maps, including the coordinator's map, can be found on the city website, by going to the "Department" tab and selecting "Legal Department."

Many of the residents who submitted maps said the entire redistricting process needs to be changed.

Domer asked the City Council to adopt a resolution supporting a citizen-led redistricting commission, consisting of members "who represent the city's diversity, partisan balance and geography, for all future redistricting."

Over the past few years both Bloomington and Goshen have passed ordinances creating citizen redistricting commissions.

Kathryn Meyer, who submitted two maps, said she did so to show that citizens care.

"Were willing and able to participate in our city government," Mayer said. "Redistricting only happens once every 10 years, and thats why its so important.
PORTER  Attorney Ken Allen pulled out stuffed animals and pretended to listen to them tell him which student was the chosen recipient. Even the second-graders teacher, Heather Dunkle, was given a buddy.

Allens $22,000 donation to the United Way of Northwest Indiana for the project is an annual gift he loves giving.

At 4,000 plush toys a year, he figures that he has donated 50,000 to 80,000 of them over the years. The toys are distributed to schools in Lake and Porter counties.

Dunkle has taught at Yost Elementary for 10 years.

I think its one of the most favorite things that the kids love to have in second grade, she said. They really help them build confidence, especially when they can be shy or a little bit reluctant to read.

Anicia Kosky, chief impact officer for United Way of Northwest Indiana, said the agency is happy with the programs success.

For almost 10 years, we have been providing the Reading Buddies program to support childhood literacy, Kosky said. "Our buddies are incorporated into classroom curriculum to help elementary school students build confidence in their reading skills."

Allen read Oh, the Places Youll Go by Dr. Seuss to Dunkles students before she shut off the classroom lights so they could read quietly to their new buddies.

Ive always tried to recognize the importance of educators and getting a good education, Allen said.

My father had the opportunity to attend only four years of school. He was a child of the Depression. He had to go to work when he was 11 or 12. He always instilled in me and my family a high respect for educators and a desire to learn and do well in school.

I think reading is the core of education and success."

His parents read to him when he was a child. It was a very literate family in that we were expected to read a lot and do well in school. In hindsight, Im glad back then it wasnt so bad to be disciplined by your parents because otherwise I think Id be outside all day playing instead of reading.

His delight in donating the stuffed animals comes from seeing children's faces light up.

Theres really nothing more rewarding than that, is there?
The work is part of an approach to cancer treatment called de-escalation: an effort to individualize treatment to a specific subtype of the disease, achieving the same results with less treatment and fewer interventions.

Some women with breast cancer are able to forgo chemotherapy if gene tests determine that it will not be helpful and other drugs are available, sparing them both short-term side effects and long-term complications; some lung cancer patients are also able to forgo chemotherapy. Breast-conserving lumpectomy rather than mastectomy is also part of de-escalation, as is forgoing surgery altogether, as in this trial. In a separate clinical trial, Dr. Kuerer is also examining whether radiation is always necessary.

What I really appreciate about the study is that it takes the next step and asks a bold question: How do we take all the advances that weve made in more tailored and specific cancer therapy, and convert that to reducing the number and types of interventions any one patient needs to incur? said Karen Knudsen, the chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society.

Asking whether we can scale back surgery is a reasonable next consideration for the future of cancer care.

Pamela Romero, who participated in the trial and was deemed eligible to skip surgery, had traveled from her home in New Iberia, La., to MD Anderson in 2018 to get a second opinion shortly after discovering a small lump near her breast bone. Her tumor was HER2-positive, and about the size of a grape.

(A HER2-positive tumor contains cells with receptors for human epidermal growth factor 2. Only women with HER2-positive tumors and triple-negative tumors, which contain cells that lack receptors that respond to estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2, were included in the trial.)

The doctor asked, How do you feel about surgery? and I said, Im scared to death of it, Ms. Romero, 66, recalled in an interview. I said, If I can get rid of the cancer without having surgery, Im all for it.
The designer Daniel Roseberry recalls first encountering Barefoot Contessa, the cookbook author Ina Gartens hit series on Food Network, in 2006, during his freshman year at New Yorks Fashion Institute of Technology. He instantly became hooked on the show, in which the warmly bantering Garten welcomes viewers into her East Hampton, N.Y., kitchen and guides them through the preparation of classic, luscious often-French-inspired fare. From the minute I saw Inas world, Roseberry says, I wanted to be a part of it.

Later, as a designer at Thom Browne, he would survive long days during fashion weeks by returning home to watch episodes of Barefoot Contessa. It was the ultimate self-soothing exercise for me, he explains, adding that his entire family soon became fans, too; the Roseberry household now packs its holiday tables each year with nothing but Gartens dishes. Ina taught me everything I know in the kitchen, he says. But more than that, I really think she has defined what it means to cook and entertain in America.

Image Gartens latest cookbook, Go-To Dinners. Credit... Go-To Dinners  2022 by Ina Garten. Photographs  2022 by Quentin Bacon. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House

Ts editor, Hanya Yanagihara, is a friend of Roseberry and knew of his passion for Gartens work. So when T hoped to enlist Garten for the first episode of a new video series, T 101, in which one creative person teaches another how to make something, we approached Roseberry, who jumped at the chance to roll up his sleeves with his longtime idol. Garten, who is just as famous for her convivial gatherings as for her food  she often invites friends over to share a meal on Barefoot Contessa, and this year she debuted a new show, Be My Guest, in which she cooks with visiting celebrities such as the chef Marcus Samuelsson and the actor Emily Blunt  graciously accepted. And so in August, Roseberry traveled from Paris, where he has been the creative director of the storied French house Schiaparelli since 2019, to Gartens home for a lesson in how to cook risotto, a dish he had never made before. The encounter was the start of a friendship that, in Roseberrys mind, had been years in the making.
Leaving his recent Long Days Journey Into Night aside, Robert OHara doesnt typically direct revivals; nor, leaving Shakespeare aside, does the Public Theater typically produce them. Yet on Tuesday the Public opened OHaras take on Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun: not merely a revival but a further exploration of an earlier production of a 1959 classic that is arguably as well known today as it was epochal when it debuted.

How, then, to make it new? Apparently, on the evidence of this staging, by furiously underlining its subtleties and downplaying its conventional strengths, a reversal of standard procedure that produces a sometimes stunning, sometimes stunted result.

Its not as if the play needed help to feel relevant; like all great works it has proved itself incessantly timely. In telling the story of the Youngers, a Black family aiming to move from a rat trap tenement on Chicagos South Side to a house in a working-class white neighborhood, it both reports on and anticipates the racist backlash to upward mobility that has been a blight on American life since Reconstruction. And in dramatizing the effects of that backlash on Walter Lee, the feckless dreamer of the family, it offers a piercing psychological portrait of Black manhood in distress.

As was customary in her time, Hansberry prioritizes the real estate plot, wrapping Walter Lees personal drama (and that of his mother, wife, sister and son) in its ultimately hopeful arms. Beginning with the indignities of ghetto-itus  there are just two bedrooms for the three generations and a bathroom shared with neighbors down the hall  the play ends with them all moving out. Even the feeble houseplant, symbolically undernourished in the light-deprived apartment, is promised a new life.
Just hours before Mr. Biden spoke at the White House, Ukraine responded, accusing the Russians of secretly building dirty bombs themselves at Europes largest nuclear power plant, which Russian troops now occupy.

American intelligence officials are divided about Russias intentions. Some believe that the repeated threats to use nuclear weapons are a bluff; others say they are part of a Russian military doctrine called escalate to de-escalate, in which a small nuclear device is set off to warn adversaries to stay away.

Over the past few weeks, the Biden administration has been conducting tabletop exercises, trying to game out how Russia might try to gain an advantage by threatening to use a nuclear weapon  and under what conditions it might actually detonate one. The purpose of the exercises, officials say, is to figure out how the United States and its allies might respond.

No one in the administration is arguing for a nuclear response. But among the options under debate are conventional military strikes on Russian forces inside Ukraine, likely executed by Ukrainian forces. The United States and its NATO allies would use the moment to further isolate Russia from the world  especially China and other nations, like India, that have been continuing to buy its oil. But it is unclear how Beijing in particular would respond to a Russian use of a small nuclear weapon, no matter how destructive.

On Tuesday, Mr. Biden was asked by a reporter whether Russia is preparing to deploy a dirty bomb itself or a nuclear weapon. The president focused on the second part of the question. While officials say a dirty bomb would be a tragic escalation, their clear concern is what it could portend. In American intelligence agencies and the Pentagon, there is fear Russia would stage a provocation to justify using a nuclear weapon in response.

American officials appeared to have some intelligence that backed up the fear, but they refused to discuss what it is, or how convincing it is. But in making public Russias claims to Mr. Austin and General Milley, they appeared to be following a pattern of making information public in an effort to box in Mr. Putin as he looks for options beyond relying on his failing military force.

Russia is pushing transparently false allegations, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Tuesday. In the past, weve seen Russia use allegations as a pretext to escalate. And as the president said, we dont know if that is the case here.
The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to force the two top lawyers in Donald J. Trumps White House to provide additional grand jury testimony as prosecutors seek to break through the former presidents attempts to shield his efforts to overturn the 2020 election from investigation, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors filed a motion to compel testimony from the two lawyers, Pat A. Cipollone and Patrick F. Philbin, last week. They told Beryl A. Howell, a judge in Federal District Court in Washington who oversees grand jury matters, that their need for the evidence the men could provide should overcome Mr. Trumps claims that the information is protected by attorney-client and executive privilege, the people said.

The filing was the latest skirmish in a behind-the-scenes legal struggle between the government and Mr. Trumps lawyers to determine how much testimony witnesses close to the former president can provide to the grand jury, which is examining Mr. Trumps role in numerous schemes to reverse his election defeat, culminating in the mob attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Mr. Cipollone, Mr. Trumps former White House counsel, and Mr. Philbin, who served as his deputy, initially appeared before the grand jury last month after receiving subpoenas, but declined to answer some of the questions prosecutors had about advice they gave to Mr. Trump or interactions they had with him in the chaotic post-election period, one of the people familiar with the matter said.
Many Democrats in Congress, and some Republicans, would support a rebuke to Riyadh. Several leaders of key committees have already announced that they will refuse to approve future arms sales without a change in Saudi attitudes.

But Representative Tom Malinowski, a Democrat from New Jersey who is on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he found it a bit puzzling that the administration was pushing this on Congress at a time when Congress was out of session.

The most likely vehicle for congressional action would be an amendment attached to the annual defense authorization bill, which has passed the House but not the Senate. Saudi Arabia, Malinowski said, had become a partisan actor in U.S. politics, and it was time to move to punitive actions.

Any move like this would send a very powerful signal to the kingdom that the U.S. is unhappy with the crown prince, Riedel said, noting that the young Saudi leader has many enemies inside the kingdom.

None of that has happened yet, however; U.S. officials viewed some of the ideas kicking around Congress as impractical, and thought it was important to consult with both parties.

Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said he appreciated that the administration had not acted rashly to punish Saudi Arabia, arguing in favor of a deeper reassessment of U.S. involvement in the Middle East. And if the Saudi decision accelerated U.S. moves toward alternate sources of energy, he added, it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

As for fears that Saudi Arabia might turn to other security partners, such as China, Murphy and others noted the kingdoms utter reliance on U.S. support for its military. The United States, he said, needed to get out of a situation in which Saudi Arabia benefits from this deep security relationship, but then knifes us in the back.
NEWBURGH, N.Y.  All was calm on a recent morning in Downing Park, a pastoral landscape of rolling lawns, winding paths, majestic trees and a placid pond in which ducks were paddling. But tensions have been simmering in this city on the west bank of the Hudson River some 60 miles north of New York over plans for some new additions to the park.

Ever since 2008, a group of residents here has been searching for a place to build a memorial and reinter the remains of African Americans whose nearby burial ground was taken over by municipal projects. After other sites didnt work out, they identified a serene spot here, high on a hill overlooking the Hudson. The City Council approved the selection in May.

Not everyone in this city of about 28,000 is happy with the plan.

Downing Park is a landscape of significant cultural and historic interest  the only one by two generations of Olmsteds (the famed Frederick Law and a stepson who helped carry on the firm) and two generations of Vauxs (Calvert, who partnered with Olmsted on New Yorks Central Park and other notable projects, and a son who likewise went into his fathers profession). The park, which opened in 1897, was the last collaboration by the elders Olmsted and Vaux and was created in honor of a Newburgh native, Andrew Jackson Downing, an influential author, designer and horticulturalist who was a champion of public parks.

The place is not in tiptop shape  Newburghs fiscal struggles have taken their toll  but preservationists and longtime park stewards are keen to protect its original design.
Some mornings, it is a silvery gray, he told the critic Bernard Ceysson in 1979. Sometimes, capturing the light reflected from the sea, it is blue. At other times it can be tinged a coppery brown. In fact, it always corresponds to the light that falls on it. One day, I even saw it green: There had been a storm, and there was a blaze of sun on the trees not far away.

Pierre Jean Louis Germain Soulages was born in Rodez, in the south of France, on Dec. 24, 1919. His father, Amans, was a carriage maker who died when his son was 5, and Pierre was raised by his mother, Aglae Zoe Julie (Corp) Soulages, and his older sister.

From an early age, he was captivated by prehistoric art, notably the cave paintings in France and Spain, and after graduating from a local lycee he traveled to Paris to study drawing with a private teacher. He was accepted by the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts but he returned to Rodez after being exposed to the curriculum. It was everything I hated, he told Interview.

With the outbreak of World War II he was called up for military service. After the fall of France in 1940 he went to Montpellier to study at the citys school of fine arts, where he met and married a fellow student, Colette Llaurens. She later managed his studio and served as his liaison with museums and other institutions throughout his career.
Iranians mourn Mahsa Amini

Tens of thousands of demonstrators in Iran gathered yesterday to mark the 40th day of the traditional Islamic mourning period for Mahsa Amini, whose death in police custody set off protests across the country.

The mourning was marred by violence as security forces attacked and shot at demonstrators across the country. By evening, demonstrations had spread across the country to many cities and university campuses, with large crowds in the streets clapping and defiantly chanting the mantras of the protests: Women, Life, Freedom and We will fight and take Iran back, according to videos on social media.

Security forces attacked protesters with tear gas, beat them with batons and in some places, like Tehran, Qazvin and Saghez, opened fire on them, videos showed. Some crowds in the capital fought back, chasing security forces and setting fire to their motorcycles.

In Tehran, women tossed their head scarves onto bonfires in the street, shouting Freedom! Freedom! videos showed. In many places, the protesters condemned the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and chanted for his death and removal.
This winter, the U.S. could be in for a tripledemic, a nasty collision of three viruses  the flu, the coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus (R.S.V.)  which could cause a surge of patients seeking treatment at hospitals that are already stretched thin.

To understand how the next few months might play out, I turned to my colleague Apoorva Mandavilli, who covers infectious diseases.

Lets look ahead to the winter. How is Covid shaping up in the U.S.?

At the moment the rates are low, but we know that a winter wave is coming. Many European countries already are having waves and we generally tend to follow them. Theres almost no doubt that we will see something, its just a matter of how big it will be.

At the moment, it looks like the two variants that we probably need to worry about the most are BQ.1.1 and XBB, both of which are variations of Omicron, and both seem able to get around immunity pretty well, at least in terms of infection.
Bed Bath & Beyond, the beleaguered retail chain that is in the midst of an attempted turnaround, said on Wednesday that Sue Gove would officially assume the title of chief executive after four months as an interim in the role.

Ms. Gove has been an independent director for the company since May 2019. She became the interim chief after Mark Tritton stepped down and left the company following several quarters of declining sales. The companys stock has tumbled 65 percent since the start of the year.

Now, Ms. Gove will assume the task of reviving Bed Bath & Beyonds fortunes.

Following the announcement of a restructuring plan in August, the company is in the process of closing 150 of its big-box stores, from New Jersey to California. Roughly 70 store closures are already underway, and another wave will begin soon. It has laid off employees and, where possible, transferred workers from stores that are closing to others nearby. It is trying to ease some of its supply chain pains by adding a new regional distribution center and working with a third-party company to analyze its network.

On Tuesday, the company completed an at-the-market offering program for 12 million shares, and authorized a new $150 million at-the-market offering, in order to increase liquidity. It also has a bond exchange program that it hopes will reduce its debt. In August, the company said that it had taken out more than $500 million in new financing.
The disruptions come amid a spate of ambitious orders over the past two years as airlines emerged from the depths of the pandemic. Last year, Southwest announced plans to buy 100 more Boeing Max planes, while United Airlines announced a blockbuster deal for 200 Max jets and 70 Airbus A321neo planes. Early this year, JetBlue expanded an order for Airbus A220 aircraft to more than 100 planes, while Delta Air Lines this summer said it planned to buy 100 of the Max 10 variant.

Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest passenger airline in the United States, announced on Wednesday that it planned to buy 52 Max planes, bringing its total Boeing order to 146 planes through 2026. The airline also has an option to buy another 105 of the aircraft by the end of the decade.

This is the biggest fleet announcement in Alaskas history, Nat Pieper, an Alaska executive who oversees fleet and airline alliance strategy, said in an interview. This deal with Boeing ensures access for us for sufficient aircraft through 2030 for our replacement needs, and for our growth levels that we anticipate achieving in that time.

For airlines, the orders serve multiple purposes, allowing them to replace older planes, benefit from the fuel efficiency and cost savings of modern engines and technology, and offer more service as travel continues to grow.

Alaskas purchase, for example, will help the airline to rapidly expand its fleet and achieve its goal of becoming an all-737 operator by the end of next year. Flying a single type of plane yields benefits, making it easier to reassign pilots, swap planes and maintain a uniform inventory of parts. Alaska expects to eventually save about $75 million to $100 million annually from the simplification of its fleet, Mr. Pieper said. Southwest Airlines, the nations third-largest carrier, also operates an all-737 fleet.

The new Max jets will also allow Alaska to expand its hold on West Coast travel while adding more transcontinental service. The Max 8 variant has fewer seats than the Max 9, but more range, making it well suited to longer flights, such as those between the West Coast and Hawaii, Mr. Pieper said. The Max 10 has the most seats, making it optimal for heavily trafficked routes.

The Max was banned globally for almost two years after a pair of fatal crashes in which 346 people died. The plane was allowed to resume flying in late 2020, after Boeing agreed to make changes, including to the MCAS flight control software implicated in the crashes. Since then, the Max has been used to carry out nearly a million flights, according to Boeing.
A Twitter spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Musks appearance at Twitters offices suggests that he plans to close the deal after a drawn-out and tumultuous few months. The billionaire agreed to buy the company in April. But within weeks, he appeared to regret his decision and tried to back out.

Twitter then sued Mr. Musk to force him to abide by the deal contract, with the case scheduled to go to trial this month. This month, the billionaire changed his mind again and recommitted himself to the purchase. The Delaware Chancery Court judge in the case delayed the trial, giving a deadline of Oct. 28 for the deals completion.

Mr. Musk has promised to transform Twitter by taking it private, doing layoffs and nurturing subscription businesses. He has said he is a free speech absolutist and wants to loosen rules around content moderation on the service, including reversing the ban on former President Donald J. Trump from the platform. He has added that Twitter should become an everything app modeled after WeChat, a Chinese platform that offers social media, instant messaging and mobile payments.

Mr. Musk has spent the last three weeks finalizing the terms of his financing for the deal, which include $12.5 billion in debt from Wall Street banks. Investment banks typically sell the debt they arrange for such deals to minimize risk that sits on their balance sheets. But given the quick pace at which Mr. Musk is now racing to close the deal, as well as the soured market for such debt, they are instead keeping that debt on their balance sheets at least for the time being, two people with knowledge of the situation said.

With so much uncertainty swirling over the deal, some of Twitters 7,500 employees have been jittery. Last week, the company sought to quell employee concerns after reports that Mr. Musk planned to lay off as many as 75 percent of them. Twitter told workers that the current management had no plans for layoffs but could make no promises about what Mr. Musk might do.
The Texas Tribune, one of the biggest nonprofit newsrooms in the country, announced on Wednesday that Sonal Shah will be its next chief executive.

Ms. Shah, who has extensive experience in social innovation and nonprofits, will take over from Evan Smith, who was a founder of The Tribune in 2009 and has run it since. Mr. Smith said in January that he intended to step down by the end of the year after running the organization for 13 years.

The Tribune, which is free to read, has more than 10,000 paying subscribers and more than 175,000 newsletter subscribers, according to the company. The newsroom will continue to be led by Sewell Chan, who joined last year from The Los Angeles Times.

Ms. Shah, 54, is currently an interim executive vice president at United Way and has spent more than 25 years leading social impact work in various sectors. She founded Georgetown Universitys Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, as well as The Asian American Foundation.
First it was cake smeared on the Mona Lisa in Paris, then tomato soup splattered across a van Gogh in London, and then, on Sunday, liquefied mashed potatoes hurled at a Monet in a museum in Potsdam.

What these actions shared, aside from involving priceless art and carbs, was the intentions of the protesters behind them. Desperate to end complacency about the climate crisis and to pressure governments to stop the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, they said they had resorted to such high profile tactics because little else has worked.

None of the paintings were harmed, as all were encased in protective glass. But the actions went viral and set off an international storm of outrage and debate. Were the activists misguided attention-seekers who harmed the climate movements legitimacy while doing nothing to help the Earth? Or did they force a spotlight onto everything at risk if significant climate action isnt taken fast?

Its unclear whether throwing food at artwork, which follows a long line of guerrilla protest tactics, was a success.
George T. Stagg, a sought-after Kentucky bourbon whose annual release is an event among aficionados, is returning for 2022, after a two-year absence.

There was no 2021 release for George T. Stagg, a barrel-proof, unfiltered bourbon, because Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky., did not consider the barrels of whiskey it put down for the purpose in 2006 to be up to the usual standard.

It just didnt look right, Drew Mayville, the master blender at Buffalo Trace, said last year. It didnt match the taste profile we expect from Stagg.

This year, however, the bourbon made the grade.

I really liked it this year, said Mr. Mayville, calling the bourbon really rich. Its also stronger than it has been in recent years, he said. The 2022 Stagg will have a hefty proof at 138.7 (about 69 percent alcohol), its highest since 2016. The bottles will ship to distributors next month.
Weeks after Valeria Schenkel took an experimental drug named after her, the daily seizures that had afflicted her from birth became less frequent. But the drug caused fluid to build up in her brain, and a year later, she died at age 3.

The drug was given to only one other child, and she experienced the same side effect and nearly died last year.

The drug contained snippets of genetic material tailor-made to turn off the mutated gene causing the extremely rare form of epilepsy that these children were born with. A handful of researchers and nonprofit organizations have raised millions of dollars to make these treatments, known as antisense drugs, for at least 19 children and adults with severe diseases that are too rare to garner interest from pharmaceutical companies. The treatments have helped some of these patients, raising hopes that the personalized approach might one day save thousands of lives.

But the brain side effect, known as hydrocephalus, reported on Sunday at the American Neurological Association meeting in Chicago, is a blow for the niche medical field that has made rapid progress over the past five years. Hydrocephalus happens when too much fluid fills cavities in the brain, increasing pressure on brain tissue and risking lethal damage if untreated.
The World Health Organization has released a ranking of fungi that threaten human health in its most ambitious effort to draw attention to a constellation of pathogens that are largely overlooked, even as they have become increasingly widespread, resistant to treatment and deadly.

The health agency listed 19 invasive fungal diseases, including four it described as a critical priority, that collectively kill 1.3 million people and contribute to the death of five million others each year. Many of those deaths occur among people with H.I.V., cancer, tuberculosis and other underlying health conditions that leave them vulnerable to infection.

Health officials say the death toll from fungal infections is likely much higher because many hospitals and clinics, especially in poorer countries, lack the diagnostic tools for detecting them.

The bottom line is that invasive fungal infections are becoming more prevalent, but frequently they are not recognized in patients and not correctly treated, Dr. Carmem L. Pessoa-Silva, a W.H.O. official focused on disease surveillance and control, said at a news conference on Tuesday. We do not have a real sense of the size of the problem.
The stars said they were equally impressed by a decision that Lindholm made later in production. When they started to film a sequence in which Chastain would be printing sensitive data from a hospital computer, looking over her shoulder for Redmayne and suddenly startled by him, the director called cut on the scene  and then cut it entirely from the movie. Lindholm had decided it was too overwrought and unrealistic.

As producers raced onto the set, Redmayne recalled, I was like, Tobias, why dont we just shoot it so you have it, in case you need it? And he was like, No, this is the only moment in the film that doesnt come from a true place. Go home. I just admired it so much.

Chastain said she also felt bolstered by Lindholms on-the-fly assessment. As an actor, thats what I longed for, she explained. I want someone to captain a movie. And when a director has that, it makes me feel safe.

Following The Good Nurse, Lindholm and the Succession star Jeremy Strong have been developing a mini-series, tentatively titled The Best of Us, that will dramatize the lives of several people exposed to toxic debris following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

It is a project that Strong explained has required months of careful preparation, delving into existing research and journalism, reading firsthand accounts and speaking to people who experienced the aftermath. This is obviously a very sensitive and serious subject, and hes not someone whos going to just waltz into it, Strong said. He shares the belief that the right to tell any story must be earned, and certain stories are hard won.

Lindholm said that when the gravity of the material can start to overwhelm him, he thinks back to the advice he received from his wife some months ago. At that time, he was feeling especially burdened by the pandemic and his work on The Investigation, which dramatizes the efforts to solve a chilling real-life murder. She said your only responsibility as a filmmaker is to make sure that there is hope  always add hope to the stories, he explained.

He added, If we can provide an inspiration to feel that youre part of this world, that there are ways out of complete darkness, then were making a difference in our lives and thats worth something.
The new investigation, by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, is centered around one of Congresss most powerful members, and a fixture in the civic life of New Jersey who rose from the tough political world of Union City.

But the nature and extent of the investigation, which was first reported early Wednesday by Semafor, is unclear. A spokesman in Mr. Menendezs Senate office referred questions to Mr. Soliman. A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

One person who said he was subpoenaed, Antranig Andy Aslanian Jr., a lawyer based in Fort Lee, N.J., said in an interview Wednesday evening that he and his own lawyer met with three prosecutors from the Southern District about two and half months ago.

Based on the questions he was asked, Mr. Aslanian, 83, said he concluded that the investigators were interested in the senators interactions with people that he also knew. The investigators also asked about a company authorized to certify halal meat for export, which Mr. Aslanian had helped a friend incorporate.

Mr. Aslanian, who said he had known Mr. Menendez casually for years, said he was aware of at least two other people who were also subpoenaed. He said he had not heard from prosecutors since the meeting.
More than six in 10 homeless children living in shelters were defined as chronically absent last year, which means they missed at least 10 percent of school days, more than double the rate of their peers in permanent housing.

Even during more normal times, homeless students often face disruption, sometimes commuting long distances to their schools and transferring to new ones as they bounce between living situations, even though a federal law gives them the right to remain in the same school when they move.

The regular upheaval hurts their academic performance: Only 60 percent of homeless high school students living in shelters graduate in four years. Their high school drop out rate is three times higher than that of students in stable housing.

New York City schools could soon receive a boost in funding for each student they enroll who lives in temporary housing, after a city task force signaled it might propose changing the formula for distributing funds to city schools. The current formula attaches extra money to several groups, including students with disabilities and those learning English as a new language, but it is missing some special populations, said Sheree Gibson, a member of the task force, at a recent public meeting in Queens.

The task force will make its recommendations to the schools chancellor, David C. Banks, this month, and the decision about whether to change the formula lies with him. It is unclear if changes will become effective before funding for the next school year is calculated.

Mr. Banks has already agreed to hire 100 staff members to work in shelters this year and to help families get their children to school more often. Still, several top staff roles in the office of the citys Education Department that oversees students in temporary housing are vacant, including the executive director who exited recently.
So why has federal spending for abstinence-focused programs gone up?

When I talked to Elizabeth Nash, a state policy analyst at the Guttmacher Institute, she said part of the issue is inertia. Its incredibly difficult to reshape a federal program, especially one that has been there for decades, she explained. As Samuel G. Freedman reported for The Times in 2006, funding for abstinence-only education began in the 1980s and gathered money and momentum as part of the welfare-reform law passed in 1996, during Bill Clintons presidency. It really took off during the presidency of George W. Bush, who, Sheryl Gay Stolberg reported for The Times in 2002, promised during his campaign to spend as much on programs that teach abstinence until marriage as on medical services that provide contraceptives to teenagers.

Nash said President Barack Obama ran up against state laws that required abstinence-only education. Usha Ranji, an associate director for womens health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, explained that some Sexual Risk Avoidance Education programs can provide information about contraception, but they cannot demonstrate the use of contraceptive devices, and their focus is still on abstinence.

The Trump administration reinvigorated abstinence-only efforts beginning in 2017. Still, its tough to know specifics of what teens are learning from school to school, as there may be variation even within the same school district. The content of sex ed programs can be incredibly different, based on where the student lives and who is doing the teaching, Nash said. Ranji has found the same thing in her research.

Julie F. Kay, a lawyer and author who wrote a 2008 report for Legal Momentum, the Harvard School of Public Healths program on international health and human rights and the human rights program at Harvard Law School about the way that abstinence-only education can be harmful to girls and women, speculated that theres still government money going to abstinence-focused education because there isnt a coordinated constituency for comprehensive sex ed as much as an affirmative movement against it.

Ranji also said that all sex education programs in the United States teach abstinence as an option. And knowing that abstinence is one option, if not the only option, can help teens learn to draw appropriate boundaries for themselves. It also seems that some parents might prefer their children to learn scientifically accurate information about sex from teachers rather than from social media. Unlike in 2004, todays teenagers and tweens have access to a whole universe of easily misinterpreted and just plain wrong information on their devices.

Further, in a majority of states, parents can opt their children out of sex ed if they dont want it taught to them in school, which seems like a reasonable compromise. A 2020 briefing from the National Conference of State Legislatures said that 36 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children and that five states require parental consent before a child can receive sexual ed instruction.

Though I disagree with them, Im sympathetic to the 18 percent of parents who told Pew they dont think sex education should be taught in schools at all. With math scores falling in nearly every state, I could see a reasonable argument that just about every penny from the federal government allocated to K-12 education should be spent on teaching core competencies and that sex ed should be taught through other means.
On the economic front, he faces smoldering crises, including an economy that is slowing sharply, a property sector meltdown and record-breaking youth unemployment. These problems have been exacerbated by the Covid controls and by Mr. Xis common prosperity campaign  a strategy for narrowing inequality and addressing monopolistic behavior by big tech firms and other private companies, which was punctuated by an abrupt and sweeping regulatory crackdown last year that has alarmed investors. The market backlash was intense: Within months, more than a trillion dollars in value at many of Chinas most innovative companies evaporated.

On foreign policy, Mr. Xi has projected an ambition to challenge American primacy. The Trump administrations chaotic handling of the pandemic prompted Mr. Xi to boast that the East is rising and the West is declining. But his triumphalism was premature. China is far from an even match with the United States in economic, military or technological power. And while American democracy is in crisis, the United States remains strong, a true superpower and a free country able to criticize and renew itself. Mr. Xi criticizes the West for seeking to contain China, but his hubris and aggressive approach helped bring about this threat.

To be sure, Mr. Xi does not intend to completely abandon the capitalist success that rejuvenated China and brought global respect and influence. And to his credit, he has confronted serious problems that his predecessors swept under the rug, particularly corruption and economic inequality. His vision of a powerful China, respected on the global stage, is warranted given his countrys size and economic clout.

But addressing Chinas myriad problems will require measured steps that Mr. Xi seems disinclined to take. Putting out fires in Chinas economy must begin with relaxing Covid restrictions and importing more effective vaccines, something that his government has prevented. These wont be miracle cures, but they are necessary first steps that will go a long way toward alleviating stress on Chinas people and reassuring investors that his leadership team has not lost all sense.

Mr. Xi has plunged China into a vicious cycle: A hubristic and authoritarian leader, unaccountable to society and unchallenged even by his own advisers, makes poor policy choices, which add to his problems, exacerbating his fears of a revolt and leading to more repression.

The consequences of his decision to emphasize security over economic vibrancy will be global. China is the worlds second-largest economy and the biggest trading partner of dozens of countries. A prolonged economic slowdown in China will increase the risk of a global recession, with many countries sharing the pain. In the long run, there may be winners as Chinas waning competitiveness hastens a shift in global supply chains to other emerging economies. But if China turns inward, it will lose. Chinese tech companies are already expanding overseas to compensate for a restrictive home environment.

Chinas great capitalist revolution under Deng and his successors is now history. So is Mr. Xis first 10 years in office, when there was at least a minimal layer of checks on his power from moderate, non-loyalist officials. China under Mao and the former Soviet Union proved that absolute dictatorships fail miserably at making nations prosperous and strong. They bring only impoverishment and false security. Mr. Xi is likely to relearn those lessons in the coming years.
The law is middle-aged. Its regulatory machinery is creaky. It needs more money to help states and cities, and tighter standards controlling toxins and other pollutants. No less important, it needs affirmation from the Supreme Court in a case that could greatly narrow the laws reach.

In broad political terms, what the act could most use right now is a big dose of the citizen activism and congressional concern that brought it into being in the first place. As America in the 1960s opened its eyes to the damage caused by unregulated industries and cities, so too did Congress. There were obvious heroes: Gaylord Nelson, the Democratic senator and governor from Wisconsin, and a guiding spirit behind Earth Day, and Maines Edmund Muskie, another Democratic senator, whose determination gave birth to the Clean Air Act of 1970. There were unlikely champions as well, not least President Richard Nixon, who in his 1970 State of the Union address committed himself and challenged the country to rescue the American environment from years of human indifference. His address said in part: The great question of the 70s is: Shall we surrender to our surroundings or shall we make our peace with nature and begin to make reparations for the damage we have done to our air, to our land and to our water?

But Nixon actually vetoed the clean water bill when it came to his desk. Too costly, he said. A bipartisan Congress quickly overrode him, and for the first time the country had in place a law that essentially said to industry and to cities, Enough is enough. The act regulated so-called point-source pollution, requiring factories and towns to stop direct discharges or remediate them in some way. It provided grants for sewage treatment plants. And it established water quality standards that, when achieved, were intended to make lakes and streams safe for fishing and swimming, at the same time protecting drinking water supplies.
To the Editor:

Re New Yorkers Step In to Help Ease the Arrivals of Asylum Seekers (news article, Oct. 23):

I was heartened to read about private citizens in New York City who have taken it upon themselves to greet the migrants being transported from Florida and Texas, some in cruel publicity stunts by those states governors. The immigrants are finding succor in New York after being treated like cattle by the elected officials of these two Southern states.

Citizens of Florida and Texas, do your governors represent who you really are? Is this how you wish to be known?

David Baldwin

Petaluma, Calif.

To the Editor:

Instead of housing migrants getting bused to New York City in a tent camp, Mayor Eric Adams should think bigger. A quick review of New York State census records shows large numbers of counties and cities in the state that have suffered population declines in the past decade. That is a problem that needs a solution.

Accordingly, Mayor Adams should facilitate the resettlement of a large number of these courageous individuals, with the money he would have spent on them in New York City anyway, so they can rebuild their lives while also contributing to those communities, which could benefit from their obvious energy and industry.
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On a routine afternoon, Shane Booth, a photography professor living in Benson, N.C., was folding laundry in his bedroom, when he was startled by a loud, crashing noise. He stepped out to find a shattered front window and his dog sitting outside it. He was confused, how could his dog have jumped through the window with enough force to break it?

After cleaning up the glass, Mr. Booth came back to his room, where all of the clothes he had just folded were scattered and strewn about, he said. Thats when I thought, this is actually really scary now, said Mr. Booth, 45.

In an interview, Mr. Booth described several other inexplicable, eerie encounters that have led him to believe that his century-old house is haunted. Pictures that hed hung on the wall hed later discover placed perfectly on the floor with no broken frames to indicate a fall. He noticed vases moved to different locations, had momentary sightings of a ghost (an old man), and heard bellowing laughter when no one else was in the house. Theres so many little things that sporadically happen that you just cant explain, he said.
But the messages he has delivered have also caused problems. This month, in a Twitter post, he said he could not indefinitely fund Ukraines use of Starlink, before suddenly reversing course.

Late last month, Mr. Musk attended a private event in Aspen called The Weekend. Organized partly by the former Google chief executive and government adviser Eric Schmidt, the event brought together American business and political leaders, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Al Gore and the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford.

At lunchtime, under a tent on a golf course, Mr. Musk took the stage for a sweeping conversation with the billionaire businessman David Rubenstein, according to two people who attended the event and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

At the end of the conversation, to the surprise of many in attendance, Mr. Musk proposed a peace plan for the war in Ukraine that would allow Russia to annex Ukrainian land, seeming to align himself with the Kremlin.

The idea outraged many at the event, according to attendees. The next day, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to President Biden, gave a video talk at the event and a questioner raised the issue of Mr. Musks peace plan. Mr. Sullivan did not comment on Mr. Musks remarks at the event, according to a National Security Council spokesperson. Nonetheless, Mr. Musk revealed his plan 10 days later on Twitter. The Kremlin publicly supported the idea.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and his top aides fiercely rebuked Mr. Musks plan. But his shifting positions put them in a bind: Starlink terminals have become a crucial means of communication for the Ukrainian Army.

Mr. Musk did not respond to several requests for comment.

In mid-September, as the army advanced into southern territories previously occupied by Russia, it lost access to Starlink in some areas near the front lines, four people with knowledge of the matter said. Two of them said this was because Mr. Musk had geofenced the service so that it was available only in certain areas. It was not clear why the satellite system was not working, and others in Ukraine reported that it was working fine.
How do you mean?

LINDSAY-ABAIRE Uh oh 

JEANINE TESORI I dont know if you can open that door.

LINDSAY-ABAIRE Look, I love my family very much. And they messed me up just enough for this play to be what it is. [Tesori pats Lindsay-Abaires arm, remarking, Wow.] I dont feel messed up by them. But I feel messed up just enough to be the writer and be the person that I am.

TESORI Thats what makes you a storyteller. Healthy enough to write, damaged enough to want to write.

The play didnt have monologues for Kimberly, but it did have monologues for her parents. Was creating the musical a way to create more interiority for her?

LINDSAY-ABAIRE During Shrek, I said to Jeanine, I would love to write a musical the way that I write a play, where it would just be us figuring it out for as long as we needed to figure it out. And then Jeanine said, Well, how about one of your plays? I think Kimberly Akimbo could be a musical. It has a really deep, complicated inner life. Those characters want to sing to me, their emotions are deep. And I like how funny it is.

By making it a musical, we had a way into the characters that the play did not have. We could crack open Kimberlys heart, and let her express all of those feelings and emotions and fears and desires and longings, that are only subtext in the play.

TESORI I feel it in my body when something sings, I cant put it into words. And these characters, they reminded me of people I grew up with, they reminded me of people in my family  and not always people who are center stage, especially in a musical.

Jessica, how did you direct Victoria Clark, who is 63, and Justin Cooley, who plays her boyfriend, Seth, whos now 19? They come across as being the same age.
The parade was disrupted in a sudden, violent fashion by the arrival of a maroon Ford Escape, driven by Mr. Brooks at a high speed as he was fleeing a nearby domestic disturbance. Mr. Brooks toppled barriers, then turned directly toward the parade, charging into the spectators, dancers and marching band musicians, and ignoring pleas to stop.

Mr. Brooks fled the scene but was arrested in a residential neighborhood in Waukesha on the evening of the attack.

Throughout the first two weeks of the trial, prosecutors showed multiple video clips of Mr. Brooks driving his car into the parade, and called witnesses who described the horrific scene that had unfolded.

Adam Bonesteel, who was driving a parade float that day, recounted seeing Mr. Brookss vehicle veering around and striking Jane Kulich, 52. Her body flew up onto the hood of Mr. Brookss car, he said, fell to the ground and then was run over by Mr. Brooks again. She was one of the six who died from the attack.

At that point, I was just focused on the body on the ground, Mr. Bonesteel said. But I remember hearing the roar of the engine again.

The Rev. Matthew Widder, a Catholic priest who witnessed the attack, said that he first knew something was amiss when he heard shouts from the crowd.

All of a sudden I kind of heard the screaming, he said. I turned to my left and there was an S.U.V. just flying down the road. My next experience would be kind of hearing it striking people.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating whether a secretly recorded conversation among three City Council members and a labor leader that included racist insults and slurs was made illegally, Chief Michel Moore said on Tuesday.

The leaked audio, recorded last year and made public this month, prompted calls from across the nation for those involved to resign and highlighted racial tensions in Los Angeles.

Chief Moore told reporters on Tuesday that the department had initiated a criminal investigation into an allegation of eavesdropping related to the conversation.

Chief Moore said that all four people captured on the leaked audio had approached the department on Friday to request an investigation. They told the department that they had been unlawfully and surreptitiously recorded, he added.
If the House, where Republicans hold a significant majority, votes to impeach Mr. Krasner, the next step would be for the State Senate to hold a trial. The state Constitution requires a two-thirds vote to convict, which would entail at least five Democrats and an independent joining all of the Senate Republicans.

The drive to impeach Mr. Krasner is the latest salvo between conservative state governments and a growing cadre of liberal district attorneys, who have been elected and re-elected promising to make changes like ending cash bail or decriminalizing low-level offenses. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended an elected prosecutor who publicly vowed not to prosecute those seeking abortion and removed another from a high-profile case because of her opposition to the death penalty. Republican state officials and lawmakers have made efforts to curb the authority of progressive prosecutors in Georgia, Missouri and Virginia as well.

Over the past few years, gun violence has risen sharply in Philadelphia, as it has in cities and even small towns across the country. More than 400 people have been killed in Philadelphia this year so far, and there have been more than 1,000 carjackings. The city has tried a range of solutions, including curfews and funding for community groups.

But many local politicians and community activists say that an explosion in the number of guns in the city is a driving factor; Pennsylvania judges and Republican state lawmakers have repeatedly blocked attempts by Philadelphia to adopt stricter local gun laws.

Mr. Krasner has argued that focusing heavily on illegal gun possession, which the police in the city have been making arrests for in record numbers, does little to reduce violence. At the same time, he has said, it takes resources away from investigating more serious crimes, including murders, a majority of which go unsolved.

Mr. Krasners approach has led to some friction with other city leaders. Philadelphias police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, said in a recent statement that the police were repeatedly arresting people with extensive criminal histories, and that the question needs to be asked as to why they were yet again back out on the street. The House included her statement in the articles of impeachment.
The strategy could have implications for a number of other out-of-state witnesses whose testimony is still being sought by the special grand jury, including Michael Flynn and Newt Gingrich, a longtime Georgia political figure who now lives in Virginia  not to mention Mr. Trump, if his testimony is sought by Ms. Williss office. However, the district attorney could choose to conduct depositions of witnesses in their home states if their local courts refuse to produce the witnesses.

Mr. Meadows, a South Carolina resident, did not appear at the hearing Wednesday morning.

In court, Mr. Bannister tried to persuade Circuit Court Judge Edward W. Miller that the grand jury in Georgia was not criminal in nature. But the South Carolina judge noted that the judge in Fulton County, Robert C.I. McBurney, who is overseeing the Atlanta proceeding, had considered the question, and had recently ruled that the grand jury was indeed criminal in nature. Do I give full faith and credit to our sister states rulings? Judge Miller said.

The Fulton County investigation is being conducted by a body known under Georgia law as a special-purpose grand jury. It can sit for longer periods than a regular grand jury, and has the ability to subpoena targets of the investigation to provide testimony, but it lacks the power to issue indictments itself. Instead, a special-purpose grand jury issues a report and recommendations, which prosecutors can then use to seek indictments from a regular grand jury.

Ms. Willis said in a statement earlier this month: We expect every state to abide by the constitutional requirement to ensure that full faith and credit is given by them to the laws and proceedings of other states. That requirement includes abiding by the interstate compact to produce witnesses for other states judicial proceedings.

Congressional hearings into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol have shed light on Mr. Meadowss integral role in challenging the election results after Election Day. Drawing heavily on records that Mr. Meadows turned over to investigators, the hearings have found that, among other things, Mr. Meadows repeatedly asked the Department of Justice to conduct investigations based on Mr. Trumps unfounded theories about election improprieties around the country.
A nurse in North Carolina has been charged with murder over what a prosecutor said were lethal doses of insulin given to two patients in January.

The nurse, Johnathan Hayes, 47, of Winston-Salem, N.C., was also charged with attempted murder after a third patient survived a nearly lethal insulin dose at the hospital, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, in Winston-Salem, Jim ONeill, the Forsyth County district attorney, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Mr. Hayes was arrested on Tuesday and appeared in Forsyth County District Court on Wednesday, where he heard the charges and an arrest warrant, Hannah DeBenedetto, a court clerk, said. Mr. Hayes is being held without bond until his next appearance on Nov. 10, and will be appointed a capital defender, she said.

Mr. ONeill said he did not have information about a motive for Mr. Hayess alleged actions, but said he had acted alone. He also could not say whether the nurse knew the patients, which unit the patients were in, or why they were in the hospital.
Working her first political campaign, Ms. Holland has shown little interest in dealing with mainstream reporters to shape stories about Nevadas closely watched Senate race  and she didnt respond to a request for comment for this article. She has used her Twitter account, however, to repeatedly post negative information about Hunter Biden, President Bidens son, and criticize Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the Democratic incumbent in the race, for not participating in more TV interviews.

Ms. Hollands posts on Instagram  posing with fellow conservatives or modeling Republican merchandise  have regularly drawn hundreds or even thousands of likes. Several of her memes attacking Mr. Biden have been viewed more than 100,000 times.

Influencers are being subsumed into the political apparatus on the right and the left, said Samuel C. Woolley, who has studied social media and politics as the project director of the propaganda research team at the University of Texas at Austin. There has been a blurring of the line between influencers and their positions as staffers that has historically been behind the camera.

In Florida, Christina Pushaw had about 2,000 Twitter followers before Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her as his press secretary in May 2021. She now has more than 220,000 followers  far more than Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez and nearly as many as Casey DeSantis, Floridas first lady.

Ms. Pushaw built her following with an aggressive social media persona that sometimes includes five or six dozen postings a day, often attacking Democrats and the mainstream media. She has called the president a seemingly senile 79-year-old aspiring dictator and suggested that a neo-Nazi rally in Orlando had been staged by Democrats, although she later deleted that tweet.
Democratic officials and campaign operatives in Pennsylvania quickly seized on a statement by Dr. Oz that abortion decisions should be up to women, doctors, local political leaders. Those involved with the Fetterman campaign said they had made the right decision in going forward with the debate, arguing that it had given them a politically damaging moment for Dr. Oz that would linger longer than Mr. Fettermans overall performance.

On Wednesday, the Fetterman team turned Dr. Ozs remark into an ad for television and digital platforms and blasted it across social media.

I want women, doctors, local political leaders  letting the democracy thats always allowed our nation to thrive  to put the best ideas forward so states can decide, Dr. Oz said on Tuesday, after repeatedly declining to say directly whether he would support a 15-week federal ban on abortion.

The comment, Fetterman allies said, allows Democrats to tie Dr. Oz to Doug Mastriano, the struggling Republican nominee for governor, who has vowed to ban abortion without exceptions. Mr. Fettermans campaign said it had raised $2 million since the debate, a number it said illustrated the steadfast commitment of the partys base.

John obviously struggled with some words, said Mike Mikus, a Democratic strategist in Pennsylvania. I thought he would have performed better. But in the end, mashing up some words is not going to matter to swing voters.

Republicans, looking to capitalize on the debate, highlighted a moment when Mr. Fetterman was questioned on his views on fracking. In a 2018 interview, he expressed opposition to it; he now says that he has always supported the practice  a major issue in the state. But it was also a moment that showed Mr. Fettermans difficulties with articulating his thoughts. Mr. Fetterman said the captions did not make clear that the question was directed to him, causing him to pause before answering, according to a senior campaign aide.
WASHINGTON  Since before the war, Russia has spread disinformation about its need to stamp out Nazism in Ukraine. But in recent days, Moscows propaganda has shifted, arguing that it is battling terrorism and falsely accusing Ukraine of planning a dirty bomb attack as part of that narrative.

The new propaganda, spread on social media and in the news, also includes unsupported allegations that the Ukrainian government intends to destroy a dam in its own territory, according to European and American government officials and independent researchers.

The push is meant to shore up Russian support for the war but also to denigrate Ukraine in the West, potentially softening support for more arms shipments to Kyiv, officials and researchers say.

They seem to have decided on a talking point that this is a counterterrorism operation now, said Kyle Walter, who leads the U.S. investigation team at Logically, a tech start-up that helps governments and businesses counter disinformation. Rather than framing this as something thats anti-Nazi or anti-Satanist, you now have a concerted effort to frame it as a counterterrorism operation.
But Texas is the most populous state to do away with handgun permit requirements. Five of the nations 15 biggest cities are in Texas, making the permitless approach to handguns a new fact of life in urban areas to an extent not seen in other states.

In the border town of Eagle Pass, drunken arguments have flared into shootings. In El Paso, revelers who legally bring their guns to parties have opened fire to stop fights. In and around Houston, prosecutors have received a growing stream of cases involving guns brandished or fired over parking spots, bad driving, loud music and love triangles.

It seems like now theres been a tipping point where just everybody is armed, said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez of Harris County, which includes Houston.

No statewide shooting statistics have been released since the law went into effect last September. After a particularly violent 2021 in many parts of the state, the picture of crime in Texas has been mixed this year, with homicides and assaults up in some places and down in others.

But what has been clear is that far fewer people are getting new licenses for handguns even as many in law enforcement say the number of guns they encounter on the street has been increasing.

Big city police departments and major law enforcement groups opposed the new handgun law when it came before the State Legislature last spring, worried in part about the loss of training requirements necessary for a permit and more dangers for officers.

But gun rights proponents prevailed in the Republican-dominated Capitol, arguing that Texans should not need the states permission to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
The Constitution makes reference to voting 15 times in the original document and another 22 in the amendments. But somewhat surprisingly, none of those mentions makes an explicit declaration that Americans have a right to vote  something many politicians and their supporters consider fundamental to democracy. Heres a look at why that is, and what rights voters actually have.

What did the founding fathers believe about the right to vote?

If it seems odd that such a fundamental right was not enshrined in writing, the explanation is simple enough: The authors of the Constitution, many of them deeply suspicious of universal suffrage, could not agree on a single standard for the right to cast a ballot.

For all their talk about We, the people, most of the founding fathers wanted to limit voting rights to property owners like themselves, the Harvard law professor and historian Michael J. Klarman wrote in his 2016 book The Framers Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution.

Gouverneur Morris, a New Yorker who wrote the preamble to the Constitution, argued that the ignorant and the dependent can be as little trusted with the public interest as could children, Dr. Klarman wrote. James Madison warned that voting should be restricted to the wealthy, the safest repositories of republican liberty, because the poorer classes would be swayed by populist appeals. Benjamin Franklin, the most prominent dissenter, pointed out that it was the commoners who had fought for and won American independence and that the rich were hardly immune to corrupting influences.
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MEXICO CITY  The Mexican president said his government had finally solved the mystery behind the haunting disappearance of 43 students, one of the worst human rights abuses in the countrys recent history.

In August, the government unveiled a truth commission report saying that after being abducted in 2014, the students were killed by drug traffickers working with the police and the military. A slew of arrest warrants followed.

But since then, the case has unraveled. Arrest warrants for military suspects were revoked. The lead prosecutor resigned. And now, the backbone of the governments explosive new report is in question.
He was very tense, Mr. Horncastle said of one of the men. I felt he was quite aggressive when he first approached us, but as soon as we said we werent there to fight, he was all right.

The men claimed to have permission from the local Maori tribe, or iwi, to remove the fossil, and said they were doing so to protect it, Mr. Horncastle said. One of them was wearing an out-of-date uniform associated with New Zealands Department of Conservation, according to one resident, who said the man seemed to be posing as a ranger.

We just sort of had to leave it, Mr. Horncastle said.

Whether the people, who have not been identified, broke any law by taking the fossil is unclear. But residents of nearby Karamea, a village of about 350 people about 60 miles north of the town of Westport, were irate.

Its just the arrogance of thinking, No one knows about it  I see it, I want it, I take it, said Tane Franken, a former resident who recalled wading through the water, his child on his shoulders, to see the fossil. He added: Its bloody tragic, Im absolutely livid about it  that people think theyve just got the right to just take it.

The fossil had never been easy to reach, requiring good weather, no flooding and a low tide.

If all the stars aligned, thats where youd go, Mr. Franken said. It was really special  something that isnt in a museum, that is real, in situ. It makes it even better.
The Dutch government said on Wednesday that it was investigating reports that Chinese law enforcement agencies illegally operate offices in the Netherlands  without Dutch knowledge or approval  to police Chinese citizens overseas.

The Chinese embassy in the Netherlands said it was not aware of and not involved with the offices described in the reports. Chinas judicial and law-enforcement authorities strictly abide by international rules and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries, it said in a statement.

The exchange came after the Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws and the investigative journalism outlet Follow the Money published a report on Tuesday about two Chinese operations, set up in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, that are apart from its embassy and consulates.

The Dutch government did not explicitly confirm the existence of the offices. But it was never informed of them, which would make them illegal, said Maxime Hovenkamp, a spokeswoman for the Dutch foreign ministry.
LONDON  A day after King Charles III welcomed him to the 1844 room in Buckingham Palace, laying out a table of treats for the festive holiday of Diwali, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ventured into the less genteel confines of the House of Commons. His Labour Party opponents skipped the treats.

Hes so weak hes done a grubby deal, trading national security, because he was scared to lose another leadership election, Labours leader, Keir Starmer, said on Wednesday, ripping into Mr. Sunak for naming an immigration hard-liner to his cabinet only a week after she was fired from her post for a security violation.

From there, Mr. Starmer moved on to the evils of non-domiciled tax status, a loophole used by Mr. Sunaks wife, Akshata Murty, to avoid paying British taxes on her global income. Earlier this year, Ms. Murty, the daughter of an Indian technology billionaire, agreed to pay those taxes in the future.

I dont need to explain to the prime minister how non-dom status works  he already knows all about that, Mr. Starmer said, moments after he had congratulated Mr. Sunak on becoming the first British-Asian prime minister.
The Biden administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on more than 20 Moldovan and Russian individuals and entities for assisting Russian efforts to manipulate Moldovas political system.

Moldova, like its neighbor Ukraine, wants closer relations with the West but has long battled Russian political interference and intimidation. Russian-backed separatists have controlled a strip of the country since 1992, and Moldovan leaders worry that should Russia prevail in Ukraine, their country may be Moscows next target.

The new American sanctions are aimed at punishing Moldovans allied with Moscow who have worked to keep the country in Russias sphere of influence.

In a statement, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken singled out two Moldovan oligarchs, Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor. He said that Mr. Plahotniucs bribery of law enforcement officials reflects his longstanding efforts to capture and corrupt Moldovas judicial and law enforcement institutions, while using his wealth and political influence to undermine political rivals and rule of law in the country.
HUWARA, West Bank  As an Israeli Army front-end loader approached, the Palestinian mayor tried one last time to stop the soldiers from blocking an intersection in Huwara, his town in the northern West Bank.

The soldiers were unmoved: They said a Palestinian child from Huwara had thrown a stone at a passing Israeli bus. The machine raised its giant bucket, tipping a mound of earth and rubble onto the ground, sending a plume of dust across the street and blocking off the road.

This is collective punishment, the towns mayor, Moin Damedi, said. Youre suffocating us.

This road closure on Tuesday was the latest expansion of a much wider Israeli lockdown in the northern West Bank that has now entered its third week.

Since early October, the Israeli Army has blocked or restricted access to at least nine roads in the roughly 25 square mile region, after a wave of violence in the occupied West Bank that has centered on the northern cities of Nablus and Jenin. The closures have placed Nablus, a city of about 160,000 people, under a semi-blockade, damaging its economy and creating hourslong bottlenecks. They have also limited movement and harmed trade in smaller nearby towns like Huwara.
Researchers have discovered that green tree frogs in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone have turned dark in order to better mitigate the effects of radiation.

In April of 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded, releasing approximately 100 times the energy released by the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and drastically altering the lives of both humans and wildlife in the surrounding area. But while authorities were able to evacuate most civilians from the area closest to the nuclear disaster, the animals were left to their own devices. In the decades since, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has become a wildlife refuge that offers a unique view into the evolution triggered by the nuclear meltdown.

Photo: German Orizaola and Pablo Burraco

In 2016, a team of Spanish researchers ventured into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone to examine and study the influence of nuclear radiation on the local flora and fauna. One of the first animals they noticed were these dark-skinned frogs that looked and sounded like eastern tree frogs (Hyla orientalis), apart from the color. Eastern tree frogs are usually bright green, only these were much darker, and some specimens were actually pitch black.

Pablo Burraco, a biologist with the Donana Biological Station in Seville, Spain, and his colleagues wanted to understand what had caused this change in coloration, so between 2017 and 2019, they examined the coloration of Eastern tree frogs in different areas of northern Ukraine. They analyzed over 200 male frogs captured in various breeding ponds, from some of the most radioactive areas on the planet, to places outside the exclusion zone, for control.

After analyzing the data, researchers concluded that the dark skin of the usually green tree frogs is a direct consequence of their adaptation to radiation levels. Chernobyl tree frogs have a much darker coloration than frogs outside the exclusion zone, and some are completely black.

Photo: iNaturalist.org

We consider the most plausible explanation to [why] frogs within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone [are changing color] is that the extremely high radiation levels at the moment of the accident selected for frogs with dark skin, the Spanish researchers wrote in the recently published study.

It is believed that the frogs underwent a process of rapid evolution in response to radiation, where the darker-skinned frogs were more resistant to the high levels of radiation around the Chernobyl reactor, and thus had a higher chance of survival. The higher levels of melanin in the frogs skin are believed to have shielded them against radiation.

They actually did not change color, what changed was the proportion of dark versus normal/green frogs, German Orizaola, co-author of the study, told EuroNews. We suppose that this happened shortly after the accident (first years), when radiation levels were much higher, and radioisotopes more diverse.

The dark frogs survived the radiation better, bred better, and now, 10-15 generations from the nuclear disaster, they make up the majority of specimens found in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, especially in areas known to have been affected by high levels of radiation.

It was indeed the extraordinary selection pressure caused by ionizing radiation that directed the evolution of amphibians from green to black, the study authors conclude.
French champagne brand G.H. Mumm has poured a lot of time and resources into developing a futuristic champagne bottle that can be used in space.

The Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is the first champagne designed specifically for space travel. It comes in a half-glass bottle and features a specially-designed stainless steel opening-closing device that curves over the classic cork. The unique bottle apparently features a finger-controlled valve which, when engaged, releases a globule of champagne spheres. Astronauts or space tourists can then scoop the drink out of the air using special glasses that resemble tiny egg cups.

This project is, of course, very stimulating because of its highly technological nature and its 100 percent French identity, from design to manufacturing, designer Octave de Gaulle said. But it is also very exciting because technology serves a greater purpose here: champagne condenses the memory of a terroir, a climate, an ancestral savoir-faire and tasting sensations for all those who will evolve far from Earth.

Regular champagne bottles arent really fit for zero gravity. The champagne itself reacts differently to space conditions, as the bubbles do not rise to the surface and so they do not release the aroma molecules as they do on Earth, thus changing the smell and primary notes of the drink. In 2017, when the idea of commercial space travel started getting traction, G.H. Mumm decided to tackle all these issues.

After five years of research and collaborations with the likes of CNES (Centre National dEtudes Spatiales), the French government space agency, and privately-funded American space company Axiom Space, the French champagne maker recently unveiled the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar.

Imagine a crew in their capsule on their way to March for five months, whose members have not seen a fruit or vegetable since their departure, are no longer in direct dialogue with Earth. They are confined to one or two rooms, sleep in sleeping bags hung on a wall And one day, its the birthday of one of them, or Christmas. How to mark this moment? Octave de Gaulle asked. With the champagne that we have developed, they will have a moment of conviviality and humanity. Its not about drinking, risking drunkenness, but about recreating up there a ritual that we know on Earth, where it is impossible to realize it for the moment.



Apart from the futuristic bottle that comes in a protective shell made of aeronautical-grade aluminum, G.H. Mumm also created a very special champagne designed for enjoyment in zero gravity. The companys chief winemaker, Laurent Fresnet, aged the liqueur dexpedition in oak barrels and then kept the finished champagne sur latte for five years.

The result of Fresnets work is a bolder and spicier champagne, with stronger fruit notes and more vibrant acidity than the version of Mumm Cordon Rouge meant for terrestrial consumption. However, it is worth keeping in mind that these intense aromas and flavors will feel much less intense when experienced in outer space.



G.H Mumm has not currently put a price on its innovative Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar champagne, but unless youre planning to travel in outer space anytime soon, you shouldnt really be interested in it, as its designed for consumption in zero gravity.
Kanye West

How could a German company, especially one that had close ties to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party, wait so long before cutting ties with a business partner that spews anti-Semitic hatred?

Thats a great question for adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted and supervisory board chairman Thomas Rabe.

They apparently adopted the Its not personal. Its just business management strategy used by Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

The duo waited nearly a month before cutting ties with rapper Kayne West (aka Ye) for his anti-Semitic tirades. Were they hoping the controversy would just go away?

Adidas on Oct. 25 terminated its relationship, effectively immediately, with West because it finally decided that it does not tolerate antisemitism and any sort of hate speech."

West, who was at the Paris Fashion Show earlier this month wearing a White Lives Matter" shirt, appeared on Fox News Tucker Carlsons show on Oct. 6 and other programs making offensive remarks about the Jewish people. He also tweeted about going death con 3 on Jewish people.

Italian fashion brand Balenciaga and talent agency CAA severed ties with the rapper, while adidas decided to put the relationship with West under review.

That led to an Oct. 20 stinging rebuke from the ADL, which asked Rorsted and Rabe: What more do you have to review?

The ADL also expressed alarm that adidas planned to introduce the Yeezy Boost 350 line in the run-up to the anniversary of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre on Oct. 27, the most violent antisemitic attack in US history.

Adidas says it will take a $250M 2022 profit hit by dropping its deal with West.

Thats chump change compared to the long-term reputational damage that adidas would have suffered had it maintained ties with the disgraced West.

Amateur time for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The last thing Democrats need in the run-up to the midterm elections is the emergence of the appeasement caucus in its left-wing flank.

The CPC released a letter to Joe Biden on Oct. 24 that urged him to pair the military and economic support for Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push aimed at war criminal Vladimir Putin.

That letter is music to Putins ears. He has been trying to undercut US support for Ukraine and split up the western alliance.

The letter said the US has the responsibility to seriously explore all possible avenues, including direct engagement with Russia, to reduce harm and support Ukraine in achieving a peaceful settlement.

The letter came as Russia is threatening to escalate the war, claiming that Ukraine plans to deploy a dirty bomb."

After jaws dropped on Capitol Hill, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the CPC, backtracked.

She issued a statement on Oct. 24, to clarify the letter to Biden. Let me be clear: 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.

Too little too late.

On Oct. 25, the very embarrassed CPC said, never mind. It withdrew the Biden letter, which was drafted several months ago and released without vetting

Jayapal also complained that the timing of the letters release is being conflated by some as being equivalent to the recent statement by Republican leader McCarthy threatening an end to aid to Ukraine if Republicans take over."

You got that right, Pramila.

The CPC, which includes squad members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Mondaire Jones and Ayanna Pressley, proved that it is not ready for prime time.
Weber Shandwick Paris has devised an awareness campaign aimed at normalizing breastfeeding in public spaces. The uncover, an optical illusion that can transform any person reading in public spaces into a breastfeeding mother, was designed to fit over magazines because they can be read anywhere  at the beach, on the subway, in the library or in a park. It also contains testimonies of parents and health professionals, with additional videos accessible by scanning a QR code. The uncover will be distributed in France and can be downloaded on www.uncover-project.com and used wherever women are harassed for breastfeeding in public spaces. The campaign is a collaboration between CoFam, a French advocacy organization; FRIDA, etc., a French maternity brand; MagicMaman, Frances leading parenting publication; and the breastfeeding collective Les Allaitantes des bancs publics. "At Frida, our mission has always been to help women feel free to breastfeed comfortably without hiding," explains Anne Greard and Caroline Berthou, the co-founders of Frida.

Clarity acquires Political Intelligence Ltd, the UK division of public affairs and strategic communications consultancy Political Intelligence. The independent Political Intelligence businesses in Belgium, Spain and Portugal are not part of this agreement and will continue to operate under the Political Intelligence brand, though they will continue to maintain a collaborative working relationship with Clarity. Political Intelligence founder and UK chairman Nicholas Lansman, as well as managing partner Philip Reid, will join Clarity to head up the offering and expand the practice under the leadership of Clarity president, global communications Rachel Gilley. The acquisition expands the companys global headcount to 160. Our clients need specialist expertise at the intersection between technology and policy, which the team at Political Intelligence UK brings, says Clarity founder and CEO Sami McCabe.

Beit Agency, based in Kyiv, Ukraine, is elected to membership in PROI Worldwide. Founded in 2003, Beit Agency is part of the One Philosophy group, which includes centers of expertise in resilience consulting solutions, healthcare, public affairs, strategic communications, leadership consultancy, culture transformation and human-centered brands and solutions design. In addition to the new business opportunities that we can develop with our new partners within and outside Ukraine, we see PROI membership as a chance to exchange knowledge and practices with a vibrant, dynamic and open PROI community that impressed us from the first acquaintance, said Beit Agency acting managing director Miroslava Gribova. PROI Worldwide global chair and Lambert Global chair Jeff Lambert added that Ukraine was a key growth market for PROI prior to the war, and we believe working with a market leader like Beit in the future will be an important resource for our partners and clients seeking to help rebuild the country in coming years.
Lilia Dashevsky

The national media spotlight has been on the antisemitic rants and abhorrent antics by rapper and clothing designer Kanye Ye West. Say what you will about Ye and his lyrics, fashion choices, his mental illness, or just about anything else; the man commands and harnesses attention.

But why has it taken weeksyears, reallyfor corporate America to finally stand up in defense of Jews, and for once and for all publicly decry antisemitism?

Jewish people around the world just celebrated Simchat Torah, marking the conclusion of publicly reading the Torah in its entirety and starting the reading cycle once again. The very first portion in Genesis, that was read across synagogues on Saturday, begins with God speaking light into existence. As I sat in my temple listening to my Rabbi, I was struck by the paradox and the timing of this particular verse and line.

However, what I couldnt comprehendespecially as someone who has been working in communications, politics and with the press for over a decadeis why Ye was willingly given a platform to spew his antisemitic hatred on.

Everyone from Fox News Tucker Carlson all the way to Chris Cuomo and Drink Champs welcomed him. What exactly were their expectations aside from going viral on Twitter? (Missions which were sadly accomplished, by the way.)

The blame for elevating his antisemitic rhetoric shouldnt be exclusively put on the media. Time and time again, corporations have led the way in supporting diversity, equity and inclusion movements.

In fact, the private sector has often acted in a bigger and bolder fashion than elected officials or governments, which has garnered them immense trust with the public.

The largest brands in our country, and even across the world, were at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2020, and stood shoulder to shoulder against Asian American and Pacific Islander violence in 2021.

When I advise clients through a media crisis or a reputation management moment, I encourage them to reflect on their organizations values, act accordingly and ensure that the message we are projecting is poignant and above reproach, even from the staunchest of detractors.

However, somewhere down the line, Adidas made the decision to do the worst possible thing a company can do in a public crisis: take no substantive action at all (and no, the investigation which was likely suggested by their PR counsel to buy time wasnt nearly enough).

The result was further emboldening Ye and the extremist voices looking to advance their agendas. Whats worse is that other major brands and corporations did and said nothing at all. Corporate social responsibility, at this moment, simply wasnt convenient or on message.

What bystanders and culprits alike dont seem to understand is that antisemitism is at the highest point it has ever reached in our country.

According to research from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), there were 7,343 antisemitic incidents in 2021, reflecting a 5 percent jump from 2020 and a staggering 55 percent increase from 2019. These reported cases only tell a fraction of the story for the 5.8 million Jews living in the U.S.

All brands, organizations, employers, communications professionals, elected officials and Americans must speak out and thwart antisemitism.

Simply posting an Instagram story and a Tweet is not enough. We must do more. Donate to groups aimed at rooting out antisemitism. Take the time to educate yourself and your community about the forms of antisemitism.

Use your public platforms like your website, blogs and social media to consistently decry violence, extremism, hate and antisemitism. Ask members of your local Jewish community to tell you their own stories and experiences.

Your Jewish colleagues, friends and neighbors do not deserve to live in fear and wonder when or where the next attack on our communities or institutions might be. Jewish children in America do not deserve to prepare for bomb threats. Jewish Community Centers do not deserve to be patrolled 24/7 by law enforcement. Jews attending synagogue do not deserve to walk through metal detectors or jump whenever theres a loud noise during a holy service.

"Let there be light is not a simple phrase from the Torah, as my Rabbi explained last Saturday. Rather, its an unspoken mission statement for how we should go about everyday life by bringing light, equality and peace to all. Let this latest public incident serve as the light that ignites real change.

***

Lilia Dashevsky is VP-Public Affairs at Clyde Group in Washington, DC, and a member of the Anti-Defamation Leagues D.C. associate board.
BORD na Mona is hosting public meetings next week on its plan for another wind farm in Offaly.

The energy company already has wind farms operational at Mountlucas and Cloncreen and its next project is a 21-turbine facility at Derrinlough.

Over three evenings next week (November 1-3) it will hold Community Engagement sessions in Cloneygowan, Garryhinch/Cloneyhurke and Mountmellick about Garryhinch Wind Farm.

The study area for this proposed wind farm stretches across the Offaly and Laois boundary and is about 2km from Cloneygowan village and St Brigid's Community Centre, Cloneyhurke.

Bord na Mona has also signalled its intention to build a 17-turbine wind farm at its bog in Lemanaghan.

In addition, it has plans for another on the Offaly/Kildare border, Ballydermot Wind Farm, where it hopes to locate 47 turbines, some of which will rise to a tip height of 220 metres, making them Ireland's tallest.

All of the wind farms are being developed on former peatlands in line with Bord na Mona's switch from 'brown to green' as it becomes an 'energy solutions' company following its exit from peat harvesting for power stations.

Meanwhile another company, Statkraft, is building the 12-turbine Moanvane Wind Farm on agricultural land between the villages of Geashill, Cloneygowan and Walsh Island.

The project was granted planning permission in 2018 and is expected to link up to the grid in 2024.

The maximum tip height will be 169 metres and the company said the wind farm will be able to power up to 35,000 homes.

Its operator says rates worth up to 500,000 will be paid to Offaly County Council.

Elsewhere in the county, SSE Renewables is the company behind the 29-turbine Yellow River Wind farm project between Rhode and Croghan. The turbines will be located on sites leased from 22 local landowners.

Gaelectric opened its two-turbine Leabeg Wind Farm near Boora in 2016 and Element Power switched on four turbines at Meenwaun near Banagher in 2017.

Statkraft has another nine turbines under construction near Cloghan and has a plan for eight more in east Offaly and one in Kildare in the Cushaling Wind Farm.

Figures released to Offaly Live reveal that Offaly County Council is already collecting 1.5 million per annum in rates from wind farms in the county.

This figure is set to surge in the coming years as the wind farms currently under construction, or granted planning permission, come on stream.

The figures also show that since 2018, the County Council has received 1,054,000 in development contributions from wind farm projects in the county. These are charges which are levied based on the megawatt output of the wind farms.

One of the largest solar farms granted permission by Offaly County Council is to be located at Greenhills and Wood in Rhode. Initially covering 132 hectares, permission was subsequently granted to extend the solar farm by close to another 23 hectares bringing the total size of the solar farm to almost 400 acres.

This development will net Offaly County Council over 1.2 million in development contributions.

As of yet, Offaly County Council has not received any development contributions or rates from solar farms in the county. However planning permission has been granted for eight solar farms and each will be levied with a development contribution.

Once the solar farms are constructed, they will also be required to pay commercial rates.

Separately, energy companies are also making grant contributions to local communities which they say run into millions of euros.

The rates and development contribution figures are revealed following a Freedom of Information request submitted to Offaly County Council by Offaly Live. The Freedom of Information request sought figures pertaining to income streams from wind farms and solar farms in the county.

The Bord na Mona public meetings in relation to the Garryhinch Wind Farm will take place at the CYMS Hall, Cloneygowan on Tuesday, November 1 (5-9pm), Mountmellick Conference Centre, MDA Business Park on Wednesday, November 2 (5-9pm) and St Brigid's Community Hall, Garryhinch/Cloneyhurke on Thursday, November 3 (5-9pm).
THE Director of the Bridge House and Palace nightclub in Tullamore, has welcomed legislation which will see nightclubs opening until 6am and closing times for pubs extended to 12.30am.

The Palace Nightclub at the Bridge House operates every Saturday night except on Bank Holiday weekends when it also opens on a Sunday night.

Director Connor Lenaghan believes the new legislation might bring more people into the town from surrounding areas.

'' It's obviously very positive news, but 6am might be too late for rural towns. Tullamore is different to Dublin and Galway where the demand might be there,'' he said.

''It's up to businesses to monitor the situation. I do think people will go out later and have a similar volume of drink. Also we might have two shifts of people, those who go out early and leave early and those who will go out later. It's hard to gauge until it comes into effect. It will depend on each venue. I don't think we will finish up at 6am. '' he said.

Is he worried about people becoming very drunk and passing out on the premises?

''We have a duty of care to the people to make sure they are safe and to monitor how much they are drinking.'' Connor also feels there will be less anti-social behaviour if patrons are coming out onto the streets at different times rather than all at once. However, he says he would like to see the new legislation piloted in a town like Tullamore to see how it goes before it is rolled out nationwide.

In a related announcement, Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, has announced a pilot initiative, ''to support the development of a vibrant and diverse Night-Time Economy across the country.''

Support will be provided to 9 pilot cities and towns to enhance their night-time culture including Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana and Longford Town.

At a meeting of Tullamore Municipal District earlier this year, Councillor Tony McCormack put forward the suggestion that Tullamore should apply to take part in this scheme. It's not clear if his suggestion was taken on board, but Tullamore has not been included in the list of pilot towns.

Each of the 9 towns will see Night-Time Economy Advisors being employed to develop arts and culture at night.

Minister Catherine Martin said; ''It is one of my priorities as Minister to invest in bringing life and vitality back to our towns and villages through culture and arts, and supporting the Night-Time Economy is a crucial aspect of this.''

''Nine pilot towns and cities have been announced and they will recruit new Night-Time Economy Advisors who will help drive and support a more diverse and sustainable Night-Time Economy in their localities, engaging with the community, businesses, venues and artists to implement plans that make sense for each town or city.

Senator Roisin Garvey, Green Party Spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Trade and Employment added;

''This pilot initiative announced by Green Party Minister Catherine Martin, along with the reform of the licencing laws, will finally bring Ireland out of the dark ages and revitalise the nightlife of our cities and towns.

We've seen this work so well in Europe where supports and extended opening hours leads to less antisocial behaviour, less noise issues and a better night life for the community.

When you extend opening hours, it means crowds move around the city or town at different times and it avoids a big spill out onto the streets all at one time. It means a healthier, happier, safer and stronger community as well as night time economy."

Minister Martin secured 6 million in budget 2023 for developing the Night-Time Economy and as part of the announcement has also committed to working with the sector and other relevant stakeholders to develop a grant process for sound-proofing of suitable venues.




Plans to place refugee families into thatched holiday cottages in a rural North Tipperary village have met strong opposition among elected representatives and the local community.

Plans are in motion for a Dublin based property group to acquire 12 thatched cottages in the centre of Puckane village, which were built in the 1960s. The quaint thatched cottages have become a famed local landmark and have been vacant since 2020, but might soon be put to use accommodating 12 families fleeing war and persecution in their home countries.

News that Puckane's population, which is less than 250 people, will grow by approximately 70 people overnight has prompted local representatives to point out the village school is already at capacity and essential services are already overstretched.

Due to limited public resources and Puckane's capability to accommodate such a sudden population increase, local elected representatives have objected to the plans and described Puckane as "the wrong fit" for an asylum centre and claim that profit is being put before the welfare of people.

The holiday cottages are 12 three-bedroom thatched cottages and went on the market during the summer for 2-million. The property has been described by elected representatives as purpose built holiday rental accommodation and not equipped to accommodate people seeking asylum in Ireland.

The issue was raised at the monthly meeting of the Nenagh Municipal Council by Councillor Joe Hannigan, who was Cathaoirleach of the District in 2019 when an asylum centre to accommodate 16 families was created in Borrisokane.

Cllr. Hannigan said that project remains a continuing success due to the support of the local community, who formed a committee and became involved in the development, which was supported by several government agencies.

However, the community of Puckane are not receiving the same support and said the company overseeing the plans, Dublin based Double Property Group, opted for a "megaphone approach" when they attempted to address the dearth of consultation by publishing a letter in a local newspaper.

Cllr. Hannigan said he chaired a public meeting in Puckane and stressed the community in Puckane "want to play their part and help" but are very concerned about the village's ability to accommodate traumatised families "who need professional support".

Cllr. Hannigan said he is "amazed at the lack of research" the property company performed into Puckane before making such a significant decision and criticised their letter in the local media as "filled with inaccuracies".

"Local people feel they aren't getting a straight answer", Cllr Hannigan said and called on the Municipal Council to contact Minister for Children, Equality, Integration and Disability, Roderic O'Gorman to arrange a meeting with a delegation to debate the issue.

Cllr. Seamie Morris strongly supported Cllr. Hannigan, saying the plans are "all about profit and nothing to do with human rights" - adding the letter from Double Property "showed their contempt for local people".

Cllr. Ger Darcy also attended the public meetings in Puckane and applauded the community's "calm and responsible" reaction to the news. He said "putting 12 to 14 families into a village with a population of 200 shows no balance at all."

Cllr. Darcy said the national school in Puckane "is full'' and that "huge work has gone into creating a tourist product in the lakeside region and it would be a terrible loss" for the village to lose the cottages "that have been there for so long".

Cllr. Michael O'Meara supported the call for a meeting with Minister O'Gorman and said "Puckane is the wrong fit". The letter from the property company "smacks of one upmanship" he said, and described the government's approach as "just get them in and throw money at it".

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Hughie McGrath supported the calls for a meeting with Minister O'Gorman and urged Tipperary's Oireachtas members to become involved. "Even TD's find it hard to get a meeting with a Minister and I'm not sure how successful a delegation from Nenagh Municipal District might be", he cautioned.

"Our Oireachtas members are in Dublin every week with the Minister and they might have better success meeting with him. I understand that time is of the essence here and will contact the Minister's office", the Cathaoirleach said.
A group of residents in Puckane say plans to create a permanent asylum centre in the small rural village have caused "major distress" in their community.

Following recent coverage of plans by a Dublin based property group to convert the village's 12 thatched holiday cottages to a permanent facility for accommodating people seeking asylum in Ireland, the Puckane residents group issued a statement outlining why they feel the property is unsuitable for the repurposing plans.

Double Property Group (DPG), a family run company, have over 25 years of providing properties to the government for social housing initiatives, but in recent years have diversified into the development of Direct Provision Centres and now Asylum Seeker Reception Centres.

After securing a tender in August of this year, DPG set on meeting the tender requirements by finding a development of 10 (minimum 2 bed) units for sale. The thatched cottages in Puckane were put on the market in the summer priced at 2-million.

The DPG group published a letter last week in a local newspaper, which received strong condemnation from local representatives at the montly meeting of the Nenagh Municipal Council last week.

Strong objections to accommodating asylum seekers in Puckane

The Puckane Community Group issued a statement critical of the plans and said "what has has ensued is a perfect example of complete lack of research, pitiful stakeholder engagement and ultimately a complete disregard for the ultimate wellbeing of

those they are supposed to accommodate and decimation of a local community".



The group representing the wider community say they are focused on three issues: Suitability for incoming residents; the decimation of Puckane's tourism potential and the unsustainable growth of a local community.

"DPG will be unable to provide a basic standard of living and adequate access to services for the incoming residents. Detailed in the tender requirements, there is a condition that the premises proposed should ideally be in a city or town and must be within walking distance of services and amenities - this is for a valid reason", the group said.

"How can they justify the selection of a small tourist village like Puckane for this requirement? Focusing on the issue of access to basic services, there are no schools in the area (including Nenagh) that arent currently operating over the governments teacher/student ratio and all have confirmed there wont be room for any additional students.

"This lack of basic research stretches to healthcare provisions also  there are already substantial waiting times for healthcare services in the area", the community group said.

The group also expressed concern for their village's capability to cope with such a dramatic and sudden increase in the community's population - which they say will represent a 27-30% overnight increase in the local population (70-90

people added to a population of 220).

"DPG have not been able to provide any example of a success story or a plan to integrate such a number into a small community in one go. While it has been requested, they have not been able to produce a clear written communication strategy and action plan for engagement with the local Puckane community", the group said.

"Puckane has for generations been a well-known tourism destination. Our cottages, at the heart of the village are one of the few remaining 'Rent an Irish cottage' locations  they have been a go-to for tourists coming from around the world for over fifty years now" the group said.

"The site has a large impact on the local economy - from supporting local hotels and wedding venues, restaurants and bars, taxis and hackneys to activity providers based in neighboring villages  all will all see a substantial loss during the high season. Covid had positive impact and reinvigorated the appetite to holiday in Ireland and there has been large uptick in activity around the cottages in recent years.

"Double Property Group were unwilling and unable to thoroughly discuss any of the issues at a recent stakeholder engagement meeting- they were of the view that once they have provided accommodation, it is the various government departments responsibilities to provide the essential services for the people they are accommodating.

"This complete disregard for the wellbeing of those who might take up residence in Puckane poses a grave risk to both their well-being as well as the future prosperity of our village, all for the sake of profit for Double Property Group", the group said.
THE District Court judge for Offaly and Laois has said there are too many cases coming before him and another judge is needed.

Judge Andrew Cody said he had 270 cases on his list at Tullamore District Court today (Wednesday, October 26) and only prosecutions where there were guilty pleas, adjournments or strike-outs could be heard.

The list is split up into a number of different time slots but many of those scheduled for before lunch were not reached until 2pm.

Later that afternoon and with many more cases still to be heard he told the court: I'm doing my best but it's just not possible to cover that amount of ground.

He added: We're not going to be able to deal with contested cases.

Many contested cases, where pleas of not guilty were entered, were adjourned to January next year to fix dates for hearings.

Already special sittings of Tullamore District Court, in additional to the regular Monday and Wednesday sittings, have been organised.

Judge Cody cited statistics for other District Court areas around the country to back up his argument that the workload in District Number 15, which covers Offaly and Laois, is too heavy.

In 2021 there were 13,746 cases in Offaly and Laois, significantly more than Galway city which had over 10,000 the same year.

Cork city had 23,310 in 2021 and Dublin, with a total of 20 judges, had 115,000.

Judge Cody told those gathered in the District Court courtroom in Tullamore that he had made the same point before.

Speaking in Portlaoise District Court earlier this month he said the level of business there is unsustainable and another judge is needed.

He described Portlaoise District Court as the second busiest court in the country and block adjourned road traffic matters.

He said some District Courts get through 1,000 cases a month but Portlaoise in the past had covered 500 each 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.

He said: I am going to see what I can do to get a second Judge I hope for next year we get a permanent second part time judge.

At a sitting of Tullamore District Court a week before that he adjourned all cases scheduled for 12 noon and 2pm that day because they would not have been heard, given the volume earlier on the day's list.
Wisps of fragrant smoke rise from a clutch of incense sticks on the wooden deck of a boat chugging gently out into Kalemya bay, as the sun begins to peek over pine-covered slopes in the distance.

On deck, young women in activewear sit cross-legged on lavender-coloured yoga mats, listening to waves rolling into the horizon.

Do you mind? asks Rida Kirasi, somatic experimentation practitioner and founder of Soundala Therapy (soundalatherapy.com), proffering a small piece of smouldering wood.

I nod and she wafts the smoke around me, its piney aroma filling the air. Its palo santo, she explains. Its a tree from Peru used in shamanic healing.

Once everyone on board has been cleansed with the smoking twig, we settle down and our breathwork and sound-healing session begins.

Its not a psychedelic experience; its about untangling the energy in the body, Kirasi says, instructing us to sit with our eyes closed and palms open (energy flows through the hands) as we breathe in and out to a count of four  into the belly for one second, into the chest for another, then out for two seconds.

Soundtracked by upbeat instrumental piano music, the breathwork is a lot more energetic than Id imagined. Theres no chance to feel sleepy while listening to the guided meditation and concentrating on breathing in time.

When the 20 minutes are up, we lay down, cover ourselves with blankets and place bean bag masks over our eyes as Kirasi and her assistant take up their instruments.

Gongs reverberate softly, Tibetan singing bowls hum, something called a Shruti box (a classical Indian instrument, a bit like an accordion) drones pleasantly.

With the boat bobbing up and down, I feel myself falling into an intensely relaxed yet alert state. When Kirasi, who is moving about the deck, runs her fingers across a set of delicate chimes close to my ears, I feel a wave of euphoria spread over me, tingling from head to toe.

As someone whos long been sceptical about this kind of woo woo stuff, Im shocked at how engrossed I become in just a few minutes. By the time the anchor is up and were sailing back to shore, clutching cups of green tea, I consider myself a convert.

The Soundala session is part of Feel Good Week, held twice a year at the five-star Hillside Beach Club (hillsidebeachclub.com), where guests are invited (but not obliged) to take part in a variety of wellness-themed activities.

The autumn edition at the resort  located just outside the port city of Fethiye on Turkeys southern coast  is perfectly timed to take advantage of balmy daytime temperatures, when the summer heat has passed.

As well as dipping into the wellness offering, during my stay I schedule in plenty of sunbathing time at Serenity, one of the hotels two adults-only beaches, and book a traditional Turkish hamman at Sanda Day Spa.

Dating back to the Byzantine era, a time when most Turks didnt have their own bathrooms and instead visited communal baths, the treatment is invigorating, to say the least.

Laid out like Vitruvian man on a huge, round, heated slab of marble, wearing nothing by disposable underwear, Im sloshed with warm water by my tellak (therapist), who scrubs me from top to toe with a coarse kese mitt, sloughing off what feels like years of accumulated dead skin.

The thorough exfoliation is followed by a warm, foamy massage, a quick scrub with a handful of crushed ice (thankfully on my limbs only), then a final warm rinse, leaving my skin squeaky-clean and baby-soft.

Turkey is one of the few countries where tired cliches about melting pot history and east meets west actually ring true.

A wonderful mosaic of cultures is how tour guide Atilla Yay describes the blend of European, Asian and Middle Eastern influence, as we begin a walk through the crumbled ruins of Kayakoy ghost town.

There arent any ghosts, dont you worry, Yay says, describing how the 18th century village was first populated by Greek settlers, then Turks, before being abandoned by the 1940s.

The wooden roofs of homes, chapels, and a school have long since disintegrated, but the stone walls have held fast for centuries, because the builders used egg white in the mortar, Yay explains.

Descendants of former Kayakoy residents now run nearby restaurant Antik (facebook.com/kayaantikk), which specialises in Turkish breakfasts so big they make the full English look puny in comparison.

Served family-style on a big round table, the meal starts with dishes of cucumber and tomato slices, olives, a variety of local cheeses, runny honey, apricot and fig jams, and a basket of fluffy flatbreads fresh from the oven, accompanied by strong, sweet Turkish coffee or black tea.

Just when I think the waiters are done, along come the hot dishes: potato cakes, fried cheese-filled pastries, slices of spicy sausage, scrambled eggs with tomato and peppers, plus pancakes with the option of lemon and sugar or hazelnut spread.

With such delicious fresh local produce, eating healthily doesnt feel like a chore here.

At Hillside, theres plenty of opportunity to indulge in epic buffets at every meal, but alongside the pasta and paella stations and vast dessert selection, theres also freshly-caught seafood grilled to order, loads of scrumptious salads and a wellness section laid out with nutritious nuts, chia seeds, kefir and other trendy superfoods.

Evenings at the resort are about letting your hair down, with live music on the beach and DJs by the pool bar, where the dancefloor is always buzzing.

When kids (and tired mums and dads) head off to bed, those still up for a boogie (myself included) shimmy over to the after-party at Pacha, a dinky nightclub carefully tucked away, so the music doesnt disturb guests who want their beauty sleep.

I might not have made it to yoga on the beach the next morning as planned, but thats OK. Wellness doesnt mean sticking to a strict schedule and banning all guilty pleasures, its about finding your own path  especially when youre on holiday.

From peaceful moments of morning bliss to lazy days and joyous evenings, I think I found the right balance.

How to plan your trip

British Airways Holidays offers seven nights at the 5* Hillside Beach Club, from 1,149pp, travelling on selected dates between April 1-30, 2023 inclusive. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport, 23kg luggage allowance and accommodation on full-board basis. 10% hotel saving also included. Book by October 31, 2022 at www.britishairways.com/turkey.
Starting a career in multi-media Advertising Sales could prove to be your launchpad into a long-term, successful future in the media sector. If you have the communication skills to present well and persuade customers of the immense value of advertising, it could be both highly lucrative and personally rewarding.

Media Sales Advisor - Multi-Media - Attractive salary package - Roscrea/ Birr/ Tullamore

About us

Iconic is Irelands largest independently owned newspaper group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. As part of the groups development strategy, we are now seeking Media Sales Advisors to join the advertising sales team working on the Midland Tullamore Tribune and OffalyLive.ie.

About the role

As a Media Sales Advisor you will be responsible for a portfolio of existing customers and for developing new relationships with potential advertisers. You'll be part of an experienced and dedicated team and will be fully supported in understanding the role and how to achieve targets.

About you

Previous customer facing or telesales experience (retail or call-centre) would be desirable but is not essential for this role. Above all else, we are seeking ambitious people with strong communication skills who can build relationships with existing and potential customers. To be a success youll need to be energetic, self-motivated and able to think on your feet. Professional, personable and able to inspire others, youll also need to demonstrate the confidence to hit the ground running.

We offer a competitive salary and massive career progression for the right fit.

To apply please email your CV with a covering letter to ocooper@iconicnewspapers.ie

Strictly No Agencies
The worlds reliance on fossil fuels is compounding global risks to health following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, said a new report last night. Risks include air quality, food and energy security, as Brits brace for a tough winter as oil and gas costs soar. The EU-funded Lancet Countdown, an annual report on climate [...]
The decision wont put an end to racial profiling overnight, Judge Michel Yergeau wrote in his ruling, but the court is giving the province six months to adjust laws so police can no longer pull people over without a reason such as a traffic infraction.
A purported Brazilian researcher, who has been identified as a graduate of the University of Calgary, has been detained on suspicions of being a Russian spy, Norway's domestic security agency said Tuesday.
Shalva Papuashvili, together with the parliamentary delegation, is participating in the first parliamentary summit of the international Crimean platform in Croatia."At the Crimean platform, we will have the opportunity for parliamentary delegations to once again express their solidarity with Ukraine," said the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.According to him, Georgia knows what Russian aggression means and how important it is to respond appropriately from the international community."About our delegation and my speech, based on Georgia's experience, we will have a conversation about what Russian aggression means, what the international community's inappropriate response was at the time, and what should be the correct response to Russian aggression.We are a country that has experienced Russian aggression several times and we know very well what the right reaction should be. Based on our experience, we will talk about what should be meant by solidarity with Ukraine", said Shalva Papuashvili.Within the framework of the summit, the Speaker of the Parliament addresses the participants.43 delegations of 32 parliaments, 5 international parliamentary organizations and 26 parliament chairpersons are participating in the first parliamentary summit of the Crimea International Platform.Within the framework of the visit, bilateral meetings of the Speaker of the Parliament and the parliamentary delegation are also planned.It is very important to agree that the elections in this country should be held transparently, political parties should prepare for the elections, and on the day of the elections, it should be decided who deserves to be in power, said Levan Ioseliani, Deputy Speaker of the "Citizens" Party, at the 10th International Conference on Election Administrations.According to him, one of the topics discussed at the conference is the implementation of the electronic election system in Georgia, which already exists in many democratic countries."I am attending a very important conference, which serves one of the very important goals for our country - it is the introduction of electronic elections in Georgia, which is happening for the first time on such a scale and which should bring an absolutely different attitude towards elections in our country. The elections should no longer be the subject of controversy, heated discussions between people and parties. At least on the day of the elections, we should have the feeling that there is no question mark regarding the elections", said Levan Ioseliani.He also talked about the problems that exist in the country during the pre-election period."Certainly, in the pre-election period, there are many problems related, among others, to bribery of votes, use of administrative resources, and these problems still exist today. Today, we are talking about completely changing the administration of the election day, which should insure the election day from such types of problems, although this does not rule out that we will not have similar challenges in the pre-election period," Ioseliani said.
ODN 24 Nov 2022

As the world opens up, China locks down, again.



This is a protest outside the worlds largest iPhone factory, where..
ODN 26 Oct 2022

Hours after entering Number 10, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already appointed his new Cabinet.

And it seems Liz..
A police officer has been suspended following the alleged rape of another officer at a police college.
A woman who poured human faeces over a memorial for Captain Sir Tom Moore has been spared jail as she apologised for any offence caused to his family.
A Ukrainian minister has urged refugees who fled the country after Russia's invasion to stay away this winter.
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Russian investigators on Wednesday raided the home of Ksenia Sobchak, the glamourous daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin's one-time boss, in a move that has sent shockwaves through the country's political scene.
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Photo: (Photo : Getty Images/ Aris Messinis)

A Maryland firefighter was nine months pregnant and was already having labor contractions when she was involved in a multi-car crash and rescued a person trapped in a car.

In an incident earlier this month, 30-year-old pregnant Megan Warfield brushed off her labor contractions to save a fellow woman trapped in her vehicle.

She initially thought she was going to direct the traffic until she saw that a car was overturned.

"I started to climb in there with her, but then I was like, 'What are you doing? You're nine months pregnant,'" Warfield told Today. And yet "running on adrenaline," as she had described, she continued and decided to hold onto the victim to keep her in place since she did not know the injuries that she got.

Wired to help and serve, she set aside what she was feeling and made sure that the victim remained calm, knowing that it was such a traumatic incident.

From saving to giving birth

The paramedics arrived shortly after to take over. Joshua Daugherty, Warfield's boyfriend and father of the unborn baby, was one of the paramedics that first arrived on the scene.

Warfield immediately went to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to have herself checked. She found out that the accident had already induced labor and had knocked the baby in her tummy into a traverse or sideways position, Motherly reported.

What she thought was just a check-up turned into labor and straight into giving birth.

Warfield and Daughtery welcomed a healthy little girl named Charlotte on October 4, less than 24 hours after the crash. Charlotte joined siblings Ellie, 6, and Jameson, 5.

Read Also: Fire Officials Praise Neighbor for Saving a Mom, Two Children From a Burning Building in Boston

'A true public servant'

According to Elise Armacost, director of public affairs for the Baltimore County Fire Department, the Baltimore County emergency medical service (EMS) units were able to transport six patients to two local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

In an email to Today, the Chief of Warfield, Joanne Rund, commended her heroic act saying that they take pride in their dedicated Fire and EMS personnel who give their all on and off duty.

On the other hand, the Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department posted their praises on their Facebook page, stating that no good deeds should be left unrecognized and calling Warfield "selfless" and "a true public servant."

The said post now has 1.2k shares and 3.6k likes. There were also almost 350 comments, all applauding Warfield's bravery.

One comment described the firefighter as an "angel amongst us," and another as a "true hero."

One Karen Rigney declared that Warfield is a blessing to her community and is "already an amazing mother and role model" not only to her baby girl but to girls of all ages.

Related Article: Mother-Daughter Firefighters From Yakima Fire Department Team Up to Battle Fire
Photo: (Photo : DOMINICK REUTER/AFP via Getty Images)

Ashlie Johnson calls on other parents to learn basic first aid for the sake of their children after her toddler son almost died after choking on a common kids' snack. When the Queensland mom decided to give her son Declan a few apple slices for his healthy snack, she never imagined that it could nearly cost the young boy his life.

The mom of four said that her two-year-old child was happily watching television and eating the bite-sized fruit slices when the horror suddenly unfolded, the New York Post reported.

Her little kid let out a weird scream just minutes later and appeared to be trying to cough as the boy's face went bright red. Neither Ashlie nor Tyson, her partner, had a first aid certificate. The couple used their instincts to help their baby boy bring up the stuck piece of apple.

Toddler rushed to hospital after a piece of apple got stuck in his lung

But when a few hard thumps to the child's back failed to help clear Declan's airway, they decided to call paramedics. An ambulance rushed to their residence in Toowoomba, Queensland, to help save Declan.

In an interview, Ashlie recalled the scary experience, saying Declan was walking towards her with his arms up. She said that her son wanted to be picked up by her. She knew something was wrong as her son was red in the face and was trying to cough. She added that Declan eventually coughed, and he was coughing quite hard and quite profusely.

The tot was rushed to Toowoomba Base Hospital, where an X-ray showed a small piece of the apple she gave him was lodged inside his lung. Given the severity of the situation, doctors decided to fly the sedated toddler to Queensland Children's Hospital. He was to see a specialist there after attempts by doctors to shift the piece of apple in his lung failed.

He had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the piece of apple that was hampering his breathing. The mom explained that before surgery, the doctors thought the apple had moved in her child's lung, which caused his oxygen levels to drop.

Read Also: Tragedy in Ohio as Canton Teen Dies in Car Crash Near Toledo

Ashlie wants to raise awareness about importance of understanding basic first aid

She said that Declan appeared to be in distress, with the child starting to go blue. Doctors decided to put young Declan on a ventilator with the kid's life hanging in the balance. That way, they could run Declan's whole breathing for him. She said they flew to Brisbane for treatment, and he went from the helicopter to the theater.

One hour after being admitted to the hospital, the parents were relieved to hear that their son's surgery had been successful. The toddler was given the green light the next day to go home. Ashlie said she was happy to hear that her kid was okay.

They thought at first that he would have had to go to ICU after the surgery or be kept on a ventilator, but Declan did not need to, which was great for the family. Ashlie's goal right now is to raise awareness about basic first aid and its importance following her son's health scare, particularly how to deal with kids having a sudden choking episode.

Related Article: Denver Mom Learns Her Newborn Twins Have the Same Names as Their Delivery Nurses
Photo: (Photo : GETTY IMAGES/Alberto Rodriguez)

The Hollywood A-star honors her son on his 19th birthday, and proudly tells the world how awesome he is.

The Big Little Lies actress celebrated son Deacon Phillippe as he turned 19 last Sunday, posting two photos of him on Instagram - a current one of the budding actor, and one when he was still a kid.

Witherspoon proudly told the world that his son gives out the "most joyful energy, endless drive, ambition and talent," and carries the "biggest heart in the world," in a heartfelt greeting.

Witherspoon co-parents Deacon and daughter Ava, 23, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.

Lookalikes Issue

Same with Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe also celebrated his son's birthday with posts on social media.

In his Instagram Story, he posted a photo of Deacon in sunglasses and a hat leaning against a ledge with the sea behind him. Ryan captioned with a birthday greeting and calling her son the "best."

He later shared a selfie with his son and expressed how much he missed him.

With regards to the popular belief that her ex-wife and daughter Ava are lookalikes, Ryan, 48, shared to Extra earlier this month that what he actually gets a lot is that people think Deacon looks like Witherspoon and Ava looks like him.

In an interview with the Morning Show actress in Today with Hoda and Jenna, where they were called "twins," Witherspoon, however admitted that she and Ava do not really see what the public see, and declared that they are not a "spitting image of each other."

Read Also: Ryan Philippe Opens Up About His Divorce With Reese Witherspoon And How It Impacted Their Children

Different parenting styles

The star of Legally Blonde, 46, is also mom to son Tennessee, 10, whose father is Witherspoon's husband Jim Toth.

When asked about her parenting style, she emphasized that having three children at very different life stages led her to take different parenting approaches with each one.

"You establish a different relationship. First of all, you're managing them a lot when they're little and it's very physical. And then it's more emotional support. And suggestions, not telling them what to do when they get a little bit older.But you have to really nurture your adult relationship with your children too. And give them respect and space to become who they are, not who you want them to be," the actress expressed.

As to the age gap of her kids with Ryan and her 10-year-old Tennessee, the actress shared that Deacon and especially Ava loves being a big brother and sister.

In fact, Ava has revealed in a birthday post for Tennessee that the 13-year age gap worried her before, yet she now finds their bonding over her favorite childhood movies, shows, books, activities as the "greatest gift," along with all the other memories she gets to share with him.

The 23 year-old influencer expressed how grateful she is for everything that youngest brother teaches them just by simply being him.

Related Article: Reese Witherspoon's Teen Parenting Style: 'Big Little Lies' Momma Says She's The Weird Parent - Here's Why!
Photo: (Photo : Pexel/Pixabay)

Allergists and immunologists have been treating kids with RSV even before its season has started.

In fact, Dr. Juanita Mora, whose clinic is in Chicago, treated an 8-month-old baby with this infection last September, and she was not expecting it for another 2 months.

The doctor said that they are seeing RSV infections going "rampant all throughout the country," CNN Health reported.

She further stated that the hospital's emergency department is getting flooded with sick kids having the infection. Thus, they want parents to know that they can actually go to their pediatrician and get tested for RSV, influenza and even Covid-19. Moreover, parents also need to know whether there is a need to go to the hospital or they can treat it at home.

Symptoms

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that almost all children catch RSV at some point before they turn 2. Adults who catch it have a mild illness but for the elderly, those with chronic heart or lung disease or those with a weak immune system, the effects of the infection may be dangerous.

However, RSV for infants and kids can be especially tricky.

Dr. Mora, also a volunteer medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, cannot help but stress the importance for parents, caregivers and daycare workers to know what to watch for with RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Kids with RSV might have cold-like symptoms, such as a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, mild headache, cough, fever, the kid not eating or drinking well, and having a general ill feeling.

Sometimes, an RSV infection can lead to wheezing, a whistling sound heard with breathing, and dehydration. Serious ones lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia, especially in premature babies, infants younger than 1 year old, and kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system. Thus, parents need to be really cautious.

Doctors say that parents may find it hard to tell the difference between respiratory illnesses like RSV and flu. When in doubt, parents need to take their sick babies or kids to a pediatrician and be evaluated sooner rather than later.

Read Also: Bismarck Mom Educates Others About Dangers of RSV After Baby Daughter Falls Victim to Virus

Treatments & Preventions

There's no available antiviral, specific treatment, or a vaccine for RSV, unlike a flu.If the kid is sick, these are the things parents should do.

Make sure that the kids are drinking enough fluids. The fever and pain can be managed and cured with non-aspirin pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure to talk to the pediatrician before letting your children take any over-the-counter cold medicines because these might contain ingredients that are bad for kids.

Look out for dehydration, especially for infants. Dr. Mora warns parents that if their babies stop eating or their urine output has decreased, it is already a sign that they either go to a pediatrician or to the emergency department.

She further said that labored breathing is another sign that the kid is having trouble with this virus. If parents see that their child's chest is moving up and down when breathing, cannot sleep because of their cough or worse, it's high time to go to the emergency department as they might need nebulization treatment or supplemental oxygen.

In terms of prevention, doctors say that the best way is for parents to teach their children to cough and sneeze into a tissue or into their elbows, and not on their hands. They also need to clean frequently touched surfaces.

If someone is sick in the house, make sure that a mask is worn and that hands are washed regularly. Most of all, if anyone is sick, stay at home to not spread the disease.

For children who are at highest risk for severe disease, a monoclonal antibody treatment can be done. Though it may not be available for everyone, it can protect the most vulnerable. This treatment comes in the form of a shot that children can get every month during the usual RSV season. Parents should not hesitate to talk to their doctor to check if their children qualify.

Related Article: Unusual RSV Cases Popping Up in the Summertime; What are the Symptoms?
Photo: (Photo : Pexel/Tima Miroshnichenko)

It is not enough for parents to just introduce God to their kids and have them discover more of Him.

Children need to know that the God their parents are praying and giving thanks to is alive and can do for them what He is doing in their parents' lives.

So, how should parents share with their kids what God is doing in their lives?

Jennie Allen, two-time New York Times Best Selling Author and blogger, encourages parents to do these three simple ways to give their kids an extensive view of God.

Let kids get to know God more

1. Parents need not fear sharing their mistakes.

Most often, parents think that parenting needs to be this extensive exercise in perfection. But they should know that perfection robs them of the need for God. There is beauty in imperfection; not only will it be appreciated by the children, but it will make them better individuals, too - less self-conscious and kinder to themselves.

When kids witness their moms and dads being imperfect, they witness their parents needing God, telling them they also need Him. Parents ought to be the "best apologizers and confessors" their kids will ever know.

2. Learn about God together.

There will be "sweeter conversations" if parents and children study and discover God together. More so, this is actually following a command in Scripture:

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

Parents do not need to know everything. They just need to trust God, and in doing so, their kids will see the significance of it.

3. Have the end goal in mind.

Parents can do a million other things, but there's nothing more important than giving their kids to God.

Years go fast, and this can put a lot of pressure on parenting. Yet, it can also give parents a lot of vision.

It does not have to be a structured, scheduled, routinary discipleship time all the time. Parents must be intentional in the "little moments" throughout their day. With this, the children will see and experience God working, and God present in their daily lives as they grow.

Read Also: Sam Worthington In 'The Shack': Exploring Fatherhood, Harsh Parenting And Faith In God

Kids may connect with God differently

In all these simple ways, however, parents should not assume that their way of connecting with God is the same way their kids should commune with God, Focus on the Family emphasized.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to faith.

Pastor and author Gary Thomas once said that there is nothing God wants but to know His child genuinely, not a "caricature" of who somebody else wants them to be. God wants His people to worship Him according to how He uniquely made them with a certain personality and spiritual temperament.

God delights in the difference between His children. Thus, parents should not miss those teachable moments, but they need to expect that these may look different from theirs or their other children.

Parents can also consider helping their children by finding mentors with the same spiritual temperament as theirs, someone who can teach them how to connect with God in the same way they do.

A parent's ultimate role is to open their eyes to the unique way God communicates with their kids. Only then can they respond by using those three simple ways to partner with Him in their children's journey.

Related Article: A Mother's Worth Should Be Seen in the Eyes of God and Not of Society
Tomorrow Apple will hold its financial conference call and one of the questions investors may want to know about is the new lockdown that began in China's Zhongyuan District and now spreading to Foxconn's Zhengzhou compound, the largest iPhone plant in the world.

Today, Foxconn Technology Group has confirmed that the worlds largest iPhone factory, in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou, is dealing with a small COVID-19 outbreak but said production remains "relatively stable," that's not exactly a comforting description.

For the small number of employees affected by the pandemic, Foxconn, in compliance with local epidemic prevention policies, is providing the necessary guarantees for livelihoods, including material supplies, psychological comfort and responsive feedback, the company said in its statement.

Foxconn added. At present, the epidemic prevention work in Zhengzhou is progressing steadily, and the impact on the group is controllable.

The company had to respond to the news of COVID hitting the iPhone plant that was raging on Weibo and ByteDance's Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. The talk was about the COVID situation on the Zhengzhou campus, which has been sealed off to maintain operations in a "production bubble" with tightened restrictions.

Videos and texts complaining about a strict lockdown at the Zhengzhou compound were also shared widely on Chinese social media, including the Instagram-style Xiaohongshu and Weibo. On Weibos Foxconn topic page, many users asked for help and more attention on the outbreak. Some users said there were new positive cases from the factorys nucleic acid tests every day, but many people were not receiving food and medication.

A Foxconn employee, who declined to be named, said that the factory was not doing enough to separate the positive cases in a timely manner. I just want to work. I dont want to be infected because there will be trouble for me to find a new job in the future, the person said in a message on Douyin when reached by the Post.

The conversation was cut short when the person said she received a notice from her manager that she had received a positive COVIDE test result. She declined to answer further questions after getting the news.

Iris Deng reporting for the South China Morning Post noted that "The struggles for the Foxconn campus reflect the challenge for the Chinese government as it seeks to meet economic development targets while maintaining zero tolerance for any COVID outbreaks.

The countrys strict pandemic control measures, including lockdowns in Shanghai and Shenzhen earlier this year, have undermined investor confidence in the worlds second largest economy as a stable manufacturing base and accelerated the relocation of facilities to other markets."

A series of news reports have surfaced in the last year of Apple moving production to Vietnam and India. As an example, Patently Apple reported this week that Apple is aiming to produce iPads in India.

Apple's MacBook shipments suffered in Q2 due to a lockdown in Shanghai that caused riots. A stricter lockdown in iPhone 14 production could spell trouble for Apple. For now, however, the situation is "relatively stable."

For more on this, read the full report by the South China Morning Post.
Traders at Kantamanto within the central business district (CBD) of Accra have welcomed calls by the Majority caucus in Parliament for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to relieve Ken Ofori-Atta of his duty as Minister of Finance.



They have described the move as lucid and a step in the right direction to help fix the ailing economy.



The Majority Members of Parliament (MPs) earlier on Tuesday, October 25 issued a unanimous notice to President Akufo-Addo to sack Mr Ofori-Atta.



The MPs, numbering about 80, want the president to sack not only Ken Ofori-Atta but also Charles Adu Boahen, who is a Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, because they have failed.



Addressing the media on Tuesday, October 25, MP for Asante Akyem North Andy Appiah-Kubi said they have been compelled to come public on their demands because several appeals to the Presidency through the leadership have failed.



He insisted vehemently that should the president fail to heed their call, they will not participate in any business of government by or for the president.



The Chairman of the Used Clothes Dealers Association, Micheal Oppong, reacting to this in an interview with Onua FM, indicated that the call by the Majority Caucus is welcoming yet long overdue.



He underscored that the Finance Minister should have been rejected or fired a long time due to his abysmal performance.



I strongly support the call by the Majority to sack Ken Ofori-Atta because he has collapsed the economy, rendering the business community to suffer.



A bale of used clothes sold at GH1000 is now selling at GH4000, which is making it difficult for our members to sustain their capital; so I think Ken should go and allow a better person to take over, he reiterated.



He appealed to President Akufo-Addo to heed to the call and sack the Finance Minister to help restore hope in the government.



Some members of the Association who spoke with the news team equally expressed joy over the call and prayed that President Akufo-Addo would heed to it and change the finance ministers.



They are positive that there are equally better people in the NPP to replace Mr Ofori-Atta.

Source: 3news.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Accra Psychiatric Hospital has 200 patients at the facility who have been abandoned by their relatives.

A Psychiatrist at the facility, Dr Nana Adobea Brown, who made this known, said although some of them had recovered, they were still at the facility.



Dr Brown was speaking during a presentation she made on behalf of the Medical Director of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital at a symposium to mark the 2022 World Mental Health Week campaign in Accra.



The theme for the celebration was, 10 years post Mental Health Act: Achievements, drawbacks and lessons learnt and projecting into the future.



Drugs



Dr Brown, who was speaking on the Achievements of the Mental Health Act said presently, there were drugs readily available to treat patients but the problem was where they would go after treatment.



According to her, most psychiatric hospitals in the country had access to enough psychotropic drugs today than 10 years ago.



That, she attributed to the passage of the Mental Health Act in 2002.



Hitherto, she said, the main psychiatric hospitals in the country always had a shortage of those drugs which were needed badly to stabilise their patients.



Psychotropic drugs are anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications, stimulants, anti-psychotics, and mood stabilisers used at mental facilities to threat patients.



She said today, due to the coming into effect of the Act, most regional and district hospitals which had mental health units attached to them had access to drugs all year round for the treatment of their patients.



She said although some facilities registered shortages, that had nothing to do with the Central Medical Stores as they were always stocked with psychotropic medications.



Dr Brown mentioned the successes of the Act to include the ongoing training of 50 psychiatrists.



Stress



The Hospital Director, Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Kwadwo Marfo Obeng, in a presentation, said 21 per cent of the countrys working age group was under stress, saying that it translated into one in every five working persons.



However, he said when one added the number of people who were not working to the figure, it became alarming.



A Consultant Psychiatrist, the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Dr Eugene Dordoye, who spoke on the topic, Mental health system in Ghana  Past and present, said the first legislation in Ghana to make mention of persons with mental illness was the Prisons Ordinance of 1876, which considered such persons as criminals to be incarcerated in prisons.



He said the Lunatic Asylum Ordinance was passed in 1888 to recognise such persons as requiring special custodial care.



Dr Dordoye said the passage of the Mental Health Act gave birth to the Mental Health Authority (MHA) which was responsible for mental health care in the country, to decentralise and spread mental health services all over the country.



Justice



The Medical Director of the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Frank Baning, who spoke on Drawbacks and lessons leant, said the continuous criminalisation of suicide by the countrys law system was a drawback to the successful implementation of the MHA.



Also, he said, 10 years after the passage of the Act, there was still no Legislative Instrument (LI) to guide it.



Dr Baning also spoke about the absence of Mental Health tribunals in the country to help in seeking justice for mentally ill patients.



According to him, despite the many laws protecting the rights of citizens, especially persons with disability, none of the perpetrators had been reported to the law enforcement agencies nor prosecuted.



He said there was still the lack of public awareness of the rights of the person with mental illness in the country although the law called for public education on mental illness.









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
Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has taken a shot at Okyehene, Amoatia Ofori Panin II for describing critics of President Akufo-Addo's governance as villagers and witches.



The paramount Chief speaking at the inauguration of the Archeaconry Service held at the St. Martin Anglican Church in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region on Sunday, October 23, 2022, advised Ghanaians to appreciate President Nana Addo's initiatives towards the development of the country.



Villagers and Witches Comment



We must appreciate the feat of the president and show him an appreciation for what he has done for Ghana. We must defend and protect him", Okyehene Amoatia Ofori Panin II said.



To the critics of the President, he said "those insulting the President are children of villagers".



He continued; "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 a villager then you may be a witch or wizard.



But the Chief Linguist to the Okyehene, Nana Kwadwo Antwi Boasiako says his King never used such words on Ghanaians venting their frustrations about President Nana Addos governance.



In an interview on NEAT FMs morning show, Ghana Montie, he claimed the revered King's comment have been "twisted" and taken out of context.



He [Amoatia Ofori Panin II] never said that those people (criticising Akufo-Addo's poor governance) are villagers and witches, listen to the full tape and tell me where he said that, he challenged.



Kwesi Pratt's Subtle Jab



However, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Tuesday morning, Mr. Pratt argued that those villagers that the Okyehene makes reference to are the bedrock of President Nana Addo's governance and must be listened to when they voice their frustrations.



"In Ghana, these villagers outnumber the city boys...So, if the children of villagers are incensed and expressing their views, you have to listen to them. It is because of them that you are serving...There is nobody in Ghana, be it a villager, city boy, witch or Prophet...who can say things are going well", he said.



Kwesi Pratt further threw a subtle jab at the Chief saying "if you sit on the seat here in the studio to talk and care is not taken, you will be called a witch or children of villagers...Now, we have all turned into witches".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Davis Ansah Opoku, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency, Eastern Region has revealed that the continued stay of Ken Ofori-Atta in office as Finance Minister will delay the country's IMF bailout.



He explained that the finance minister has lost credibility in leading the countrys restructuring program,



In a Facebook post, the lawmaker said Ken Ofori-Atta has lost the trust of many, including Members of Parliament and the whole country hence the need to the president to appoint a new face.



Kwasi Kwarteng never wanted to leave his post. His mere resignation stopped the slide of the pound. The same is needed in Ghana to stem the hedging.Ken has spoken against credit rating agencies and the IMF. His continuous presence is delaying the program. He doesn't have the credibility to lead a debt restructuring program, hence his delegation of responsibility to a 5-member committee. He has lost the trust of many, including Members of Parliament and the whole country.A fresh face will bring the 3 C's. Competence, confidence and credibility.He needs to help the President. He must resign now! Davis Opoku posted on Facebook. The Minority and Majority Members of Parliament seem to be on the same page following the call to remove the finance minister from office.



While the Minority in Parliament has filed a motion to have Ken Ofori-Atta sacked, the Majority also threatened to boycott the 2023 budget presentation if the finance minister is not relieved of his post.



The MPs explained that their position follows several concerns over the poor management of the economy, which has forced the government to seek IMF assistance.



While addressing the parliamentary press corps, the minority urged the majority to not relent on calling the finance minister out.



The Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, noted as representatives of the people and as duty bearers, we must move a motion to call for the end of the Finance Minister.



Our brothers in the Majority believe in this. What they should do is to support the call of the Minority Leader and the motion for the Minority Leader for the dismissal of the Finance Minister.

Source: Ghanab.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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President of the Global Peace Mission, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, has pledged to sponsor this year's Ghana Journalists' Association awards.



He has promised an amount of Ghc 500,000 towards the event and underscored plans to organize training programmes for Journalists to build their capacity.



He complimented the efforts of the government saying, "we want to help the government in every policy they may implement for a successful governance".



Prof. Ato Duncan made the remarks when GJA executives paid a courtesy call on him to invite him to chair this year's Journalists support fund as well as the awards at Owosourkrom in the Abura Asedu Kwamakese district of the Central Region.



He thanked the executives for placing faith in him and accepted their invitation to chair the program.



Prof Ato Duncan charged Journalists to be circumspect in their reportage.



"We should also assess the way we speak against leadership especially government in power or Party in opposition, we should therefore give respect to the seat, and be careful about our speech and utterances," he stated.



He also urged every Journalist to be an ambassador for peace.



"Every Journalist must see themselves as an ambassador for peace just as the centre of the global peace mission want them to be, to help maintain the peace in Ghana and across the world."



President of GJA, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour on his part thanked Prof Ato Duncan for the kind gesture and promised to put the money in good use.



He was optimistic that the GJA will work to protect the lives of Journalists.

Source: Sally Ngissah/Peace News









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Ghana has been recognized as the only country that has reached maturity stage in access to financial inclusion in Africa.

This is contained in this years State of Inclusive Instant Payment in Africa Report put together by AfricaNenda and launched at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.



The report seeks to tell a story about all instant pay rollouts across the continent to identify the areas of commonality with the view to driving adoption to boost financial inclusion on the continent.



This year, the report focused on inclusive instant payment systems in 12 Africa countries and Ghana was the only country that scored 100% on access to financial inclusion.



Ghanas feat was based on the successful mobile money interoperability (MMI) platform, which integrates all payments platforms across banks, fintechs and telcos, giving access to every Ghanaian to make and receive instant payment.

Ghanas mobile money interoperability is hosted by a state institution  Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements Systems (GhIPSS), headed by Archie Hesse, who was present at the launch of the report in Kigali.



During a panel discussion, he explained how GhIPSS was able to achieve that level of financial inclusion by integrating three instant payment platforms into what he called the financial inclusion triangle.



According to him, GhIPSS started by first integrating banks to make them interoperable on the back of the GhIPSS Instant Pay (GIP); then GhIPSS introduced a biometric payment system called e-zwich, which was also made interoperable, before moving on integrate the mobile money operators into an interoperable platform.



What we then did was to close the triangle by making all the three platforms interoperable to ensure that no matter who is making payment and from wherever, they will be able to do so seamlessly and instantly, he said.



Archie Hesse said GhIPSS has since improved the services by adding other services like Proxy Pay, Internet Gateway Payment, Request to Pay and the Universal QR Code dubbed GHQR, which can be linked to both bank accounts and digital wallets, with affordability as the key driving force.



He said GhIPSS, in collaboration with the banks have also come up with a bank-wide wallet called GhanaPay to ensure that the banks also play a role in the mobile money space with the view to bridging the financial inclusion gap.



Meanwhile, there is still a gap of about 32% in Ghanas financial inclusion target, but that is not for lack of access, but more to do with education and individuals slowness to adoption.



Archie Hesse believes that with the introduction of GhanaPay, plus regular public education on the advantages of instant payment, that gap will be close.



He also underscored the importance of fintechs in driving adoption, saying that fintechs are the ones that will innovate and create services in the areas of insurance, agriculture and others to drive last mile adoption.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta has expressed appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for leading Tuesday's stakeholder engagements on the economy.



In a series of tweets by the Finance Minister's office, it was explained that the stakeholder engagements will continue on Wednesday with market women.



The Finance Minister has come under pressure this week with some members from the majority caucus asking President Akufo-Addo to remove him, together with Charles Adu Boahen, a Minister of State at the Finance sector from office.



The MPs believe that the removal of the two will help restore some confidence in the sector.



Already, the leader of government business in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has disclosed that President Akufo-Addo has told members of the majority caucus clamouring for the removal of the Finance Minister to consider the timing of their call.





The timing here is in reference to the discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta was leading and they are getting closer to a deal.



Again, President Akufo-Addo also wants the members to consider the timing for the preparation of the 2023 budget, the impact of Mr Ofori-Attas removal on the economy, the impact on the budget and the crafting of the 2023 budget.



President Akufo-Addo, according to Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Minister of Parliamentary affairs made the passionate plea when he met with the caucus on Tuesday night after some members of the group had held a press conference to demand the sacking of Mr Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister, and Charles Adu Boahen, as a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.





Stakeholder engagement is key to ensuring that all voices are heard as we work towards Ghanas economic recovery. BOG officials this morning had a very productive meeting with Heads of Banks and Forex Bureaus. #RobustRecoveryAhead #GhanaFirst pic.twitter.com/2GWA157ntK  Office of the Finance Minister-Ghana (@oofmghana) October 25, 2022













At todays stakeholder engagement with the @GhanaChamber of Commerce, hosted by @GhanaPresidency, I shared among other policy assurances, that the government is determined to protect our domestic markets and industries. #BuildingGhanaTogether #RobustRecoveryAhead #GhanaFirst pic.twitter.com/2ft037Td6p  Office of the Finance Minister-Ghana (@oofmghana) October 25, 2022







Now is the time for us to come together and demonstrate a united front for Ghana; we need a progressive consensus to see us through this period. Victoriously and #AsOnePeople  #GhanaMustUnite #RobustRecoveryAhead pic.twitter.com/rtIDOs5EKz  Office of the Finance Minister-Ghana (@oofmghana) October 26, 2022







Thank you @NAkufoAddo @GhanaPresidency for leading todays Stakeholder Engagements. We continue tomorrow with our market women, @ghanaemployers, @TucGhana etc. We will arise & continue to buildand God will surely prosper Ghana again. #BuildingGhanaTogether #RobustRecoveryAhead pic.twitter.com/ctWw1Wxjkm  Office of the Finance Minister-Ghana (@oofmghana) October 25, 2022













Source: graphiconline.com









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The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has kick- started a process for recruitment of some fifteen thousand (15000) unemployed Ghanaian youth nationwide as Community Protection Assistants (CPAs) under a working collaboration with the Ghana Police Service (GPS).



This is in pursuance of the Agencys mandate to create jobs for the unemployed youth of the country and also to augment the Ghana Police Service in preventive and social community policing across the country.



The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, who is championing an agenda to make the Agency the base of employment among all sectors of the economy, believes that empowering young people through the creation of stopgap measures, promotion of skills training and entrepreneurship is a major means of reducing unemployment while ensuring economic growth.



On Wednesday, the Agency began a national physical examination exercise accross all the district offices of the country as part of a process to shortlist the first batch of 5000 applicants into the module.



Scores of young men and women who had trooped to the YEA district offices in all Regions were seen going through assessment of their heights, visual examination, physical appearance amongst others.



According to the CEO, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, who embarked on a tour of some examination centres together with some members of his Management team, this is an opportune time to be recruited as a beneficiary of the Youth Employment Agency.



He assured the Beneficiaries of consistent flow of their stipends at the end of the month and a possible increase in the stipends.



What is more exciting for Mr. Agyepong and the beneficiaries is his commitment to ensuring that most of the beneficiaries with the requisite certification, skills and knowledge are drafted into the mainstream Police service during their enlistment.



"You are undergoing screening for Body Selection and Physical examinations as part of the eligibility criteria for the recruitment exercise because, this time around we want to ensure that those of you who will perform will be absorbed into the Ghana Police Service as the official quota of the Agency", Mr Agyepong told the potential beneficiaries.

The screening exercise will be followed by a training program to be rolled out in three phases for the 15000 successful applicants.



Each phase will have a batch of 5000 successful applicants undergo the mandatory three weeks intensive training by the Ghana Police Service at the various Police Training Colleges across the country.



Recruitment of these 15000 Community Protection Assistants is coming on the heels of the passing out of 6000 youth under the Community Health Workers (CHWs) module a fortnight ago.



For Mr Agyepong, creation of sustainable programmes and jobs was top on his agenda as CEO of the YEA and especially in this period of economic hardships, it is his vision to reduce the burden of Ghanaians by creating a lot of jobs to solidify President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's one million jobs agenda.



He also hoped to collaborate more effectively with the private sector in pursuit of making YEA the pivot of jobs creation in 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.

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The Gambian parliament has assigned its select committee on health, disaster and humanitarian relief to investigate the deaths of more than 80 children after taking Indian-manufactured cough syrup.



This news came during an extraordinary session about the deaths.



The committee is expected to come up with findings and present it to parliament on 30 November.



It is tasked with investigating the causes and the impact of the acute kidney injuries that killed the children after taking the medicine, the potential culpability of the suspected importer and pharmacy linked to the syrups, and other issues regarding legal and regulatory framework.



Police are already investigating the matter and a commission was set up by President Adama Barrow, however, parliamentarians still see the need for a select committee to conduct their own independent investigation.



The ministry of finance has released $20,000 (17,000) to the ministry of gender, children and social welfare to enable it to lead government condolences to families of victims.



Most parents have rejected the government's outreach and they are insisting on an independent investigation and prosecution of all those responsible.



The concern among lawmakers is that 8,000 bottles of syrups that are still unaccounted for could pose a threat to children whose parents are still reluctant to surrender the syrups to health authorities.



Health Minister Lamin Samateh is under pressure to resign to pave the way for a smooth investigation and restore confidence in the country's health sector.



Mr Samateh has ignored the calls, saying his resignation wont have any benefit.



Parents of the victims and civil society organisations attended the session and they remain determined to get justice.

Source: BBC









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Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT), Ing. Dr. Ken Edem Ashigbey has underscored the need for fiscal policy to focus on incentivising players in the tech industry to invest in areas that will boost digital inclusion across the continent.



He was speaking with Techgh24 ahead of this years Mobile World Conference Africa in Kigali, Rwanda from October 25  October 27, 2022.



Dr. Ashigbey is one of two Ghanaian industry CEOs who will be speaking at this years conference. The other one is the CEO of Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlements Systems, Archie Hesse.



Dr. Ashigbey will be on two panels  Assessing the impact of telecoms traffic monitoring systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and Accelerating digital transformation through fiscal policy reforms.



He noted that the conference comes at a time when the Chamber is rounding up on its periodic total tax report for telecom operators in Ghana, and the figures show that the tax component of the revenue the industry generates has inched up a bit to 47Gp of every one cedi, which is a huge disincentive to investments by industry players into innovations that will boost digital inclusion.



According to him, the situation in Ghana is not necessarily a peculiar one, as many African governments tend to front-load when it comes to revenues they expect from the telecoms industry.



He explained that African countries tend to treat telecoms a lot differently from other sectors, and that is reflected in the loads of industry-specific taxes, fees, charges, surcharges and more, plus very high licensing fees.



Citing the sale of 4G LTE license to MTN Ghana at US$67.5 million in 2015, Dr. Ashigbey said that was a typical example of how governments front-load their revenue expectations from the industry, instead of incentivising players so they could invest their remaining resources to expand accessibility.



Dr. Ashigbey said it is high time African governments reconsidered their approach to generating revenue from the technology sector and looked at reducing the cost of licenses and taxes so the industry players will be in a position to conveniently drive the digital inclusion agenda.



Free Wi-Fi in Rwanda



The Telecoms Chamber CEO noted that in Rwanda, where MWC Africa 2022 will be held, free Wi-Fi is very widespread and that is largely because governments fiscal policy in that country incentivises industry players rather than muscling them for huge taxes and licensing fees.



He believes that such an approach is deliberate, and it rather creates growth in the ecosystem giving rise to more sustainable sources of revenue for government.



It is my fervent hope that the panel discussion on fiscal policy reforms will come out with innovative ways of making fiscal policies a driver of investments to bridge the digital gap faster.



I expect that government representatives and regulators like the NCA (National Communications Authority) and their counterparts on the continent will be present at the session on fiscal policy reforms so they could pick some of the lesson to inform their approach to generating revenue from the industry, he said.



He also lauded the government and people of Rwanda for the speed with which they have and are developing their country, not just in infrastructure but even in the attitudes of the people and the orderliness with which things are done in that country.



I believe as a country we can take a leaf from Rwanda in terms of our own development, he said.



Dr. Ashigbey also expressed his gladness about the fact that MWC this year is focusing on Africa, saying that When such conferences are organised at the global level, the African context is often left out, but this time the focus is mainly on Africa and it is refreshing because it creates room for a closer look at opportunities available in Africa and the challenges thereof, so they could be addressed.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said that bridging the huge digital gap in Africa requires deliberate and constant partnership between governments and the private sector.



He said governments must lead the way by deliberately reducing the tax burden on the private sector in exchange for obligated investments into innovations that will deliver very affordable digital access for the masses, adding that anything short of that is mere lip service that will not deliver any dividends.



President Kagame was delivering the keynote address on to the topic  Building a Digital Future Together  at the opening of the Mobile World Congress Africa in Kigali, Rwanda.



The GSMA flagship event comes to Africa for the first time and brings together over 2,000 participants from across 75 operators and with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, to be addressed by at least 187 speakers in 47 sessions.



A cross-section of delegates at the opening of MWC Africa 2022



In what was described as shocking statistics about the digital divide in Africa, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that in Africa in 2021, only 33 percent of the population was using the internet, meaning an estimated 871 million people are not realizing digital dividends.



This is in spite of the fact that several Africa governments, including Ghana, brag about having built substantial infrastructure geared toward driving digital inclusion.



President Kagame said it is common knowledge that technology is catalytic to national and human development and yet almost half of Africas population do not have access, in spite of the usual boast by governments about having built infrastructure.



Digital infrastructure is key, but it is not enough, he said. We must make the infrastructure meaningful to our people through deliberate partnerships with the private sector.







Partnership in Rwanda



He noted that in Rwanda the partnership between government and private sector has been very deliberate and the message is driven regularly across the entire ecosystem to ensure that everyone is playing their part to bridge the digital gap.



According to him, digital inclusion goes beyond connectivity, explaining that if people have connectivity but cannot afford to access it, that connectivity is meaningless. Again, if people could access the connectivity but it does not address their specific economic, health, educational and other needs, that connectivity is meaningless.



Connectivity must be affordable, accessible and meaningful to the target groups and that requires very strong public and private sector partnership, the President said.



According to him, the other factor required to make connectivity meaningful to the masses is skills development that will enable people take advantage of the digital connectivity, and that should form a critical part of governments policy.

He said, in Rwanda, partnership with the private sector has resulted in high-skilled youthful workforce, which has given birth to lots of innovative start-ups in the country.



The Youth



President Kagame noted that Africa is full of vibrant youth who are looking for opportunities to contribute to national development and we cannot afford to reduce them to a statistic.



He said initiatives like Smart Africa and others on the continent are geared towards addressing the digital gap, particularly from the perspective of empowering the youth with skills and resources to play an active role in the progress of the continent.



However, as individual counties, we need to be deliberate and constant about public and private sector partnerships in address our specific needs within the context of bridging the digital gap at the country level and ultimately at the continental level, he said.



According to him, African countries cannot afford to leave anyone behind the digital curve if the continent is to see a success implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has asked other African leaders to learn from Ghana and also champion the digitalization agenda to enable their economic and future gains to be incredible.



She said digitization has huge prospects in supporting the rapid prototyping of ideas, seeding digital innovations, targeted business incubation and acceleration programmes in the digital industries, and also helping to mitigate some of the challenges identified within the tech ecosystem.



Speaking at the High-Level Seminar on Accelerating Digital Transformation: Realizing Dakars Call to Action in Western and Central Africa in Washington DC, Mrs Ursula Ekuful said, Ghanas digitalization agenda has shaped a lot of sectors in the economy.



She urged other leaders on the African continent to emulate the same in ways to drive financial inclusion, close information gaps, and change the way of work despite challenges that may encounter from the initial stage of its implementation.



Ghana, she indicated has gained and seen tremendous progress in every sector of the economy since the aim to shift to the digitalization side.



Our digital transformation journey has been challenging yet very exciting. Challenging due to the continuous demand for resources from all sectors to digitize and improve business processes but the excitement is from the modest gains achieved with relatively minimal investment. Since 2017, our government has taken deliberate steps to formalise our economy through digital technology. We have focused on foundational digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity, reskilling and upskilling our youth, and building interoperable platforms and a single national database on our national E ID which is linked to Ghana Revenue Authority and Tax identification Numbers (TIN) to enhance tax administration and compliance, E ID is also linked to Health Insurance, SIM registry, Pensions Authority, Companies Registry, DVLA, Passports, Digital address system, etc.



She added, We are also focusing on strengthening the regulatory oversight on Electronic transactions by building the capacity of the National Information Technology Agency and other regulators in the sector including our Cybersecurity Authority and have just launched the AfCFTA hub as a one-stop shop for all e-commerce, e logistics, courier companies, MNOs, payments systems operators, standards authority, FDA and the key regulators in the sector NCA, PCRSC, CSA, DPC, among others to promote trust and facilitate easy uptake of trade within Ghana and with Ghanaian companies.



She said Ghanas achievement over the period in the digitalization agenda has been to successfully improve connectivity to all regions of the country, creating the enabling environment for the private sector to further invest and thrive, implementing a Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project (GRT&DIP), building over 300 high school digital labs for students and teachers use, digitizing Parliament and Cabinet - Public Procurement Systems which she indicated is projected to save the country in excess of USD 100 million dollars per annum  digitalization of the Judicial systems and Office of the Attorney General.



Also, digitizing the Birth and Deaths Registry, Registrar General Department, Office of the Attorney General, Ghana Revenue Authority, Immigration, and critical utility agencies like the Electricity Company of Ghana ECG, Ghana Water as well as additional government payments platforms such as the GIFMIS and GHANA.GOV platforms, among others.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A Private legal practitioner who openly supported President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos governance says he is highly disappointed.



Lawyer Martin Kpebu who was discussing Ghanas economic crisis on NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie' said Ghana is deeply in a watershed.



He insisted the President must resign for his ineffectiveness to steer the affairs of the country.



Honestly, what the President is doing is not good, he must resign, if he doesnt, we must stage a demonstration against him . . . At 78 he is weak, he no longer has any fresh ideas and doesn't haven't the strength. He needs relaxation at a holiday destination, he jabbed.



Watch video below





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has criticized the long fleet of cars in the President's convoy whenever he is en route.



The President recently visited the Ashanti Region and videos of his convoy surfaced on social media.



The viewers claimed they could count over 40 cars in the presidential convoy.



The convoy is said to be a complete waste.



Addressing this while speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Tuesday morning, Henry Kokofu explained that, "the official Presidential convoy is a maximum of seven cars", so whenever one sees vehicles more than seven, it means the rest of the cars are Parliamentarians and other people who have decided to go with the President.



However, the EPA Boss condemned such activity stating, "it is not proper that way".



He advised the MPs to take the lead when the President is visiting their constituencies to avoid the unnecessary long convoy.



"We can't continue doing this; embarrassing ourselves," he emphasized.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu has filed a motion for the impeachment of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

The motion is expected to be moved by the Minority Leader during todays proceedings.



The Minority, therefore, has urged their counterparts in the Majority Caucus to throw their weight behind the motion to garner the two-thirds majority of 183 MPs needed to push for the Finance Ministers removal.



Reasons for impeachment



Addressing a press conference in Parliament, the First Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed, said when the Business Committee met last Monday, the Minority Leader indicated to the Majority Leader and the Chairman of the Business Committee that he was going to proceed with a motion to impeach of the Finance Minister.



He said the move was based on the poor economic mismanagement, inconsistencies, non-performance and the lack of performing statutory obligations.



He, therefore, expressed shock at the move by the Majority Caucus to hold a press conference to call on the President to dismiss Mr Ofori-Atta.



The Minority Leader told the chairman of the Business Committee, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, that as the representatives of the people, we must move a motion to call for the head of the Finance Minister.



So, if our brothers in the Majority believe in this, what they should do is to support the motion by the Minority Leader for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, he said.



Why Presidents not sacking minister?



Mr Ahmed described the press briefing by the Majority as long overdue since they failed in the past to act.



If they meant well, the day they went to Cabinet meeting and President Akufo-Addo pointed to them that you want me to sack my finance minister when he was sponsoring my campaign where were you they should have acted



This is what the President told them in Cabinet meeting and that was the day we were expecting them to come with such a statement but you sat down and came to correct the communication outside to say that Mr Ofori-Atta performed for the first three years and that is why the President is not sacking him, he said.



He added that: The reason why Nana Akufo-Addo does not want to change Ken Ofori-Atta is that Ofori-Atta used his data bank to support his campaign to become President and therefore the Finance Ministry is as a compensation to the Finance Minister.



Accusing the Majority Caucus of failing to come up with a motion to censure the Finance Minister, Mr Ahmed said if their counterparts meant well we need two-thirds of MPs to sack the Finance Minister.



So, it should not be the Majority or the Minority coming to make a press conference.



If we have 137 Minority and 137 Majority plus one and both sides believe that the Finance Minister is killing the economy and therefore he must go, it should not be difficult to mobilise 183 MPs to dismiss or to reshuffle him, if the President is failing to do that, he added.



It would be recalled that earlier today, some Majority Members of Parliament numbering about 20 have asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo to remove finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the minister of State at the ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, from office now to help restore confidence in Ghanaian economy.

The group said it will not do business with government if the president fails to heed to their call.



Spokesperson, Andy Appiah-Kubi, NPP Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North constituency told a press conference at Parliament House on Tuesday that members of the majority will not participate in any government business including the budget hearing until their demands were met.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Team West, Carlos Ahenkorah, has explained why more than two-thirds of the majority caucus, including himself, are demanding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo sacks the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.



According to Ahenekorah, the MPs came to the decision after feedback from their constituents during their recess disclosed that most Ghanaians were unhappy with the government because Ofori-Atta was still at post.



He said that most of the majority caucus MPs spoke about how their constituents were suffering due to the economic challenges in the country.



Speaking in a Neat FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Ahenkorah intimated that they had to inform the president of the difficulties of their constituents so that it does not affect the NPP's fortunes in the future.



Most of the majority caucus came to this decision because it is what our constituents wanted. This is not something we wanted to do but it is what the people who voted for us, our constituents wanted. This was not by a rebel group in the caucus.



There is a lot of pressure on us. If you go to your constituency office and you listen to the concerns of your constituents it is very disheartening. Just yesterday, three women visited my office and they were crying while narrating how they had lost their businesses because the price of a gallon of oil they used to purchase for GH60[600] is now selling for GH1000.



The other MPs also shared their experience and we saw that it all boils down to the same thing. So, this is how we came to the decision that we have to let the president know what our constituents want. We had to let him know, otherwise, our people will not listen to us if we go to them again, Ahenkrorah said in twi.



A group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the finance ministry, Adu Boahen, to restore public confidence in the economy.



This was announced in a media briefing by their spokesperson, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who is the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North, in parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.



The group said it will not do business with the government nor support the 2023 budget if the president fails to heed their calls.



According to them, the move follows previous concerns sent to the government that have not yielded any positive results.







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.

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Managing Editor of the National Forum newspaper, James Kwabena Bomfeh, has pleaded with Ghanaians to offer prayers for the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



According to him, in the face of the adversity coupled with the members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament calling on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, it is incumbent on every person to take full responsibility by supporting the President to manage the country.



MPs Threaten Boycott



Over 80 NPP MPs have threatened to boycott Parliament should the President fail to heed their request.



Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the MPs stated, if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate.



New Patriotic Party(NPP) Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi, in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, reiterated that, "if he says he won't let Ken Ofori-Atta go we are going to boycott all government business in Parliament".



"We have demonstrated to this country that there are genuine, honest, patriotic Ghanaians who have the country at heart . . . if he says he won't remove Ken he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta," he furiously added.



Hon Boakye Antwi believed the Finance Minister "seems to be experimenting with this country and we've had enough".



To Err Is Human



But to James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly called 'Kabila', the President is merely human and not immune to making errors, hence advised the populace to soften their stance on him.



He noted that the President cannot be entirely blamed for Ghana's economic crises, asking "is there not a cause?"



He argued that, "everything that is going on today is the result of things that have built up over the years".



Using the biblical account of the life of King Solomon, Kabila urged the citizenry to pray for God to give the President 'wisdom' to rule.



"In these times, we need to pray for the President for God to help him to take the right steps . . . I pray for the wisdom that God blessed Solomon with for President Akufo-Addo. He is human; he's done a lot of things as President. They have not all gone the way we wanted but we shouldn't be speaking like the President has done nothing since he came into power," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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James Kwabena Bomfeh has vehemently descended on the New Patriotic Party(NPP) Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi for insisting that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta must be sacked.



Hon. Eugene Boakye Antwi, in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', has reitirated that President Akufo-Addo should heed the calls of the over 80 MPs calling for the heads of Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



The Majority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, at a press conference addressed by Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi, threatened to boycott Parliamentary sittings if the President does not relieve the two of their positions.



Democracy Is Not Family Dynasty



Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi, Hon Boakye Antwi strongly argued that the Finance Minister "seems to be experimenting with this country and we've had enough."



He reinforced his position on the Finance Minister saying, "we have demonstrated to this country that there are genuine, honest, patriotic Ghanaians who have the country at heart...if he (President) says he won't remove Ken he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta".



"We are running a democracy not a family dynasty...we are not backing down, why should we back down?...we have many competent and experience people in this party and in Parliament to do the job that Ken Ofori-Atta is doing...if he likes we can nominate one but that is not the issue," he fumed.



Cut Akufo-Addo Some Slack



James Kwabena Bomfeh, also called 'Kabila', who is the Managing Editor of the National Forum newspaper, has asked the MPs to cut the President some slack.



According to him, the hardships Ghanaians are currently experiencing cannot be attributed to the President's performance nor the Finance Minister's.



He asserted that the economic problems are a consequence of the unfortunate events that have hit the nation in the past years.



"What is happening now is the consequence of what happened yesterday. Everything that is going on today is the result of things that have built up over the years. We all have to take responsibility," he argued.



Speaking on 'Kokrokoo' Wednesday morning, Kabila scolded the Subin MP by asking him "what has been his role in the over 20 years that he claims to have walked with the President, what has been his contribution to where we are now?"





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has ridiculed Ex-President John Dramani Mahama's state of the nation address to be held on Thursday, October 27, 2022.



The former President will address Ghanaians on on the current economic challenges facing the country at the UPSA Auditorium, Madina, under the theme "Building The Ghana We Want".



An aide to the former President, Joyce Bawa Mogtari hinted that Mr. Mahama's presentation will suggest solutions to the economic challenges.



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, she tweeted.



John Mahama's presentation tomorrow has provoked laughter from Kwamena Duncan as he likened it to a 'prostitute' trying to teach people about morals.



"This is like a world-acclaimed prostitute self-electing to give high moral lessons on chastity," he stated.



To him, Mr. Mahama cannot cajole Ghanaians into voting for him in the next elections.



"His intention is that I am going to ride on this crisis and to sweet-talk the Ghanaian people. I have said and I'll repeat it any day any time that he cannot, the former President, cannot be an alternative . . . We lived under his governance for eight years . . . he cannot be an alternative in spite of the challenges", he said on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Minister for Central Region, Kwamena Duncan, has slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament calling for the dismissal or resignation of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



The MPs have signed a petition demanding the heads of the two Ministers and threatened to boycott Parliament if the President fails to heed their request.



MPs' Demands



If our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate, the MPs said in an address to the press on Tuesday.



Also speaking in an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning programme, Member of Parliament for Subin constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi asserted that if the President refuses to "remove Ken, he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta".



He chided President Akufo-Addo for being strong-willed in his resolve not to sack the Finance Minister.



"We are running a democracy not a family dynasty...we are not backing down, why should we back down?...we have many competent and experience people in this party and in parliament to do the job that Ken Ofori-Atta is doing...if he likes we can nominate one but that is not the issue," he said.



"If Ken Ofor-Atta dies won't there be somebody to step in as Finance Minister?" he rhetorically asked.



Kwamena Scolds NPP MPs



Kwamena Duncan, discussing the matter on Peace FM's morning programme, was utterly unhappy with the behavior of the NPP MPs.



He wondered at what point did the MPs realize that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta is incompetent, so now demanding his resignation or dismissal.



"Are you saying that the four-year period that Ken Ofori-Atta was the Finance Minister, you never saw him as incompetent?...This was the same man who led the finance machinery to ensure our re-election. Was he not or is he not?", he asked.



To him, the MPs are holding the President to ransom.



" . . linking it to the fact that if the President doesn't do their bidding, they will no longer carry on with their parliamentary business, what does that mean? You are holding the President to ransom."



He further blasted them for publicly showing no confidence in the Finance Minister, saying they should have had rather sought audience with the President behind closed doors.



"If they wanted a meeting with the President, I am wondering how if they had gone on to insist, they were not going to get one from the President. What would have been better? That, look, you meet the President and speak to him passionately that, Mr. President, this is how we feel. Now, you do this in public and then you give a condition that if the President doesn't do that, you will not attend upon your parliamentary business, you hold the President to ransom," he fumed.





"This period is a very critical period that if there was anybody that should be seen to be showing sympathy, it is you," he added.



The former Minister also berated the MPs asking should the President heed their call, "what else will you not do the next time?"



Kwamena Duncan offered an advice to the NPP MPs saying, "individuals go through crisis. Communities go through crisis. And if a nation were an individual, a nation goes through crisis...This is a stormy period of the voyage, a rare stormy period of the voyage, but we need to rally together...Who told you that the Lord who saw us through 82 and indeed saw us through 2014 will not see us through today? He will!...This is not the time to be doing finger-pointing".

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, speaks during the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation to expand a public health partnership between the United States and the African Union with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department, Friday, March 11, 2022, in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Manuel Balce Ceneta, Pool
Ignacio Moron Clinches Latest GGPoker Super MILLION$ Title

October 26, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

Mexico's Ignacio Moron is the latest in a long line of players to take down the $10,300 Super MILLION$ online at GGPoker. Moron was one of 171 entrants that fought it out for the lion's share of the $1,710,000 prize pool, and was the last player standing once the dust had settled. Moron's reward? Glory, bragging rights, and the not-so-small matter of $347,576 in prize money.

GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Ignacio Moron Mexico $347,576 2 LJoseph62 Canada $272,528 3 Rodrigo Sirichuk Brazil $213,685 4 Jack Salter Mexico $167,547 5 Wiktor Malinowski Macau $131,371 6 Samuel "vivaegipto" Bernabeu Mexico $103,006 7 Aleks "JustaMortal" Dimitrov Macedonia $80,765 8 Andrei "Mr-Doberman" Nikonorov Russia $63,326 9 Zhao Zi Long Hong Kong $49,653

The first player busted 15 minutes into the final table's action. With blinds of 20,000/40,000/5,000a, Moron min-raised to 80,000 under the gun, Zhao Zi Long three-bet to 260,000 in the cutoff, only for "LJoseph62" to four-bet to 520,000 from the big blind. Moron folded, Long shoved for 1,208,080, and LJoseph62 snap-called. It was pocket queens for Long, which were up against ace-king. A king on the flop sent Long to the rail.

Russia's Andrei "Mr-Doberman" Nikonorov was the next player heading to the showers. Rodrigo Sirichuk min-raised to 100,000 from under the gun before instantly calling when Nikonorov three-bet all-in for 754,680 from a couple of seats across. Sirichuk showed pocket kings, which were crushing his opponent's pocket nines. The kings remained true, and the final table was now down to seven players.

GGPoker's $50M GTD Bounty Hunters Series is BIGGER and BETTER Than Ever Before

Those seven became six with the elimination of Aleks "JustaMortal" Dimitrov, who had let his stack dwindle to a shade over four big blinds. That super short stack went into the middle with ace-deuce under the gun, and Moron called from the small blind with pocket tens. The five community cards provided no drama, and the field was cut ever shorter.

Samuel "vivaegipto" Bernabeu busted in sixth and collected the tournament's first six-figure haul. Bernabeu shoved for only three big blinds with what turned out to be ace-six, and Moron called in the big blind with queen-four. The door card was an ace, but the board ran with four cards to a Broadway straight, gifting Moron the pot and sending Bernabeu home.

The other finalists breathed a sigh of relief when Wiktor Malinowski fell by the wayside. LJoseph62 min-raised to 160,000 with pocket nines before calling the 803,312 shove from the dangerous Malinowski in the big blind. Malinowski turned over a pair of sevens, both players flopped a boat, but that was no good for Malinowski.

Jack Salter

A huge hand went down immediately after Malinowski busted. It started with a raise to 215,000 from Jack Salter and a three-bet to 550,000 from LJoseph62. Salter responded with a four-bet jam worth 3,117,786, and LJoseph62 called after a little deliberation. Salter held ace-jack and needed to improve against the ace-king of LJoseph62. Salter did not improve and he headed for the rail while LJoseph62 claimed a narrow chip lead.

Third place went to Brazilian star Sirichuk, who busted at the hands of Moron when he could not let go of his pocket aces. Moron raised to 420,000 from the small blind with ace-queen, and Sirichuk decided to lay a trap and simply flat-call with pocket aces. Sirichuk's plans backfired when the flop came down with two queens, gifting Moron trips. Moron led for 221,250, and Sirichuk called. The king of hearts turn put two hearts on the board, and Moron bet 331,875. Again, Sirichuk called. The jack of hearts completed the board, putting a possible straight and flush out there. Moron bet 1,680,000, and Sirichuk called off the 1,503,391 he had behind, only to realise he had the worst hand by some distance.

GGPoker TwitchSquad's Hristivoje Pavlovic on Taking Down Big Fields and Hunting Big Scores

That last hand gave Moron an 11,307,899 to 5,792,101 chip advantage over LJoseph62, and Moron had one hand on the huge top prize. LJoseph62 turned the tables on his opponent before Moron fought back and reclaimed the lead. Neither player could shake the other off until LJoseph62 raised to 368,000 at the 80,000/160,000/20,000a level with nine-seven of diamonds, and Moron called with king-deuce of clubs. A four-three-three rainbow flop saw Moron check-call LJoseph62's 248,320 bet. The king of diamonds turn gave LJoseph62 a flush draw, but Moron top pair. LJoseph62 over-bet the pot to the tune of 1,500,000, but Moron was going nowhere and he check-called. The river was an offsuit ace, and LJoseph62 continued his triple-barrel bluff when checked to with another overbet, one worth 5,129,244, which left him only 160,000 chips behind. Moron called and it was essentially game over.

The very next hand, LJoseph62 was all-in with queen-deuce against jack-five. A queen on the flop looked to have secured a double for LJoseph62, but running cards improved Moron to an unlikely wheel straight! LJoseph62 finished in second place only two weeks after finishing third; they are edging closer to a victory. Second place came with $213,685, while Moron banked $347,576 for his impressive victory.
"raw_dawg" Wins 888poker XL Retro Main Event for $70,164

October 26, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

The 888poker XL Retro Main Event drew in a crowd of 2,162 players who created a guarantee-busting $508,070 prize pool. "raw_dawg" is the player who gets to call themselves the Main Event champion and who is now $70,165 richer than a few days ago.

"raw_dawg" came into the nine-handed final table with the chip lead in tow and emerged a worthy winner after a little over two hours of play. The champion kept their cool even when there were a few technical hiccups attempting to throw a spanner in the works, and they will now forever be part of 888poker's long and illustrious history.

XL Retro Main Event Final Table Standings

Place Name Country Prize 1 raw_dawg $70,164 2 kryingkid Brazil $51,213 3 mylly8 Finland $37,648 4 crizelda Brazil $27,893 5 DragoDanzig Finland $20,628 6 brubsb Brazil $15,395 7 Rochinh2011 Brazil $11,533 8 Illraise8 Canada $8,739 9 iNFOsHOVE Sweden $6,656

"iNFOsHOVE" was the first of the finalists to find air where their chips once stood. The second-shortest stack open-shoved with king-ten and could not win the coinflip against the pocket eights of "Rochinh2011."

Eighth place and the tournament's last four-figure prize went to "Illraise8." Just like the previous elimination, the exit hand was a coinflip, Illraise8 holding king-eight and racing against the pocket fours in the hand of "brubsb." The fours held and Illraise8 was gone.

Rochinh2011 found themselves down to ten big blinds when they looked down at king-queen. They ripped in their stack, only for "kryingkid" to wake up with the dominating ace-king two seats across. Neither player improved their hand, and Rochinh2011 fell by the wayside.

A huge pot went down during the 45th level of the tournament, which altered how things were panning out. A near six-million chip pot went to kryingkid after the Brazilian's pocket jacks remained best against the ace-king of brubsb. Kryingkid soared to the top of the chip counts and now had almost double the number of chips as any of his opponents.

9saulte46 Takes Down the 888poker XL Retro Super High Roller

The field was whittled further when "DragoDanzig" and raw_dawg clashed. The former got their stack in good with ace-ten versus king-ten of clubs, but raw-dawg improved to a flush to leave only four players in the hunt for the title and the $70,164 top prize.

Those four became three after the untimely demise of "crizelda" at the hands of raw_dawg. Crizelda's ace-king needed some help to beat raw_dawg's pocket sixes but that help never arrived, and crizelda had to make do with a fourth-place finish.

Heads-up was set when a very short-stacked "mylly8" lost out as both active players checked down the hand to ensure their elimination. Raw_dawg held a near three-to-one lead over kryingkid going into heads-up, but that did not stop the duo from discuss a potential deal. However, they could not agree on the numbers and play continued.

Kryingkid clawed their way into the lead after winning a few of the early confrontations but then raw_dawg's queens held against ace-six to put the ball firmly in raw_dawg's favor. It was all over soon after with raw_dawg shoving with pocket threes and kryingkid calling with queen-ten suited. The board did not even hint at helping kryingkid and they headed into the night with the $51,213 consolation prize, leaving raw_dawg to bank $70,164 and the title of champion.
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Many pundits and legal analysts, including those at this site, have pointed to the weeks after the mid-term elections as the targeted time during which any indictments against Trump or his inner circle would likely be filed. Only DOJ knows whats to come, but the Departments recent activity and aggressive pace are consistent with the timeline and plans noted above. Now, DOJ wants to pierce former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbins claims to attorney-client privilege (and-or executive privilege) regarding their discussions with Trump, in a move that CNN reporter Katelyn Polantz has said, if its successful, thats the ballgame. From CNN:

The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to force the top two lawyers from Donald Trumps White House counsels office to testify about their conversations with the former President as it tries to break through the privilege firewall Trump has used to avoid scrutiny of his actions on January 6, 2021, according to three people familiar with the investigation.

The move to compel additional testimony from former White House counsel Pat Cipollone and deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin just last week is part of a set of secret court proceedings. Trump has been fighting to keep former advisers from testifying before a criminal grand jury about certain conversations, citing executive and attorney-client privileges to keep information confidential or slow down criminal investigators.

The fact that the hearings were kept secret (at least last week) is truly a testament to their importance both as a court proceeding and to keep third parties unaware. Recently, we have seen John Eastmans claim to attorney-client privilege overridden by the crime exception, whereby the privilege doesnt apply if the conversations involve plotting a crime. The evidentiary decision isnt definitive as to whether Trump committed a crime, it was just likely enough for the judge in that matter. Piercing Cipollone and Philibins discussions wouldnt fall under the same exception, it could fall under an exception where an attorney gives a client advice on how to avoid committing a crime, and the client commits the crime anyway. Hence the thats the whole ballgame summary.

The attempt follows on the heels of the first successful piercing of the executive privilege with respect to Mike Pences staff, in which Marc Short and Greg Jacob testified.

Jacobs testimony on October 6, which has not been previously reported, is the first identifiable time when the confidentiality Trump had tried to maintain around the West Wing after the 2020 election has been pierced in the criminal probe following a court battle. A week after Jacob spoke to the grand jury again, Short had his own grand jury appearance date, CNN reported.

It really is almost impossible to get closer to Trump and possible incriminating statements  answers which go to intent to commit a crime, than deposing Pat Cipollone in front of a grand jury. Cipollone has knowledge of Trumps intentions on January 6th and the Florida files. So, if Cipollone finds himself in front of the grand jury Ball game if it happens. They arent there yet, but as said up top, this is what one would expect to see a month out from possible filings.
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Lt. Gov. John Fetterman struggled to phrase some of his answers during his Pennsylvanian U.S. Senate debate last night against Mehmet Oz, while Fetterman also read closed captioning questioning, leading some national pundits to worry about his performance. But many Pennsylvanians, who have known Fetterman for years, saw a strong and determined man who gained by showing up and exposing Oz, who gave the most damaging answer of the night. The hours after the debate resulted in an avalanche of small donor support for Fetterman.

The Fetterman campaign announced the fundraising in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

Lt. Governor John Fettermans campaign for U.S. Senate this evening announced that it has raised over $1 million since the Pennsylvania Senate debate ended at 9:00 p.m.

The unprecedented and massive haul for a Pennsylvania Senate race demonstrates the deep grassroots enthusiasm Fetterman has behind his campaign.

Fetterman campaign manager Brandon McPhillips said, Its clear that the people of Pennsylvania have Johns back in this race. They stepped up tonight with a gigantic show of support for John and his debate performance. Were honored and grateful for the support heading into the last two weeks of the race.

Despite some national concern over Fettermans speech and audio cognition, pundits uniformly saddled Oz with the most harmful answer of the night. In a state that favors womens choice, Oz muttered that he always believed abortion should be a decision made by a woman, her doctor, and the local state politicians as if there is a place for Mastriano in a womans exam room.

Dr. Oz literally said tonight that he wants "local political leaders" (like his buddy Doug Mastriano) to decide whether or not women have access to safe + legal abortions That is EXTREME These critical decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor. Period. pic.twitter.com/lWeYm6lTgN  John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) October 26, 2022

The Fetterman influx of money in the hours post-debate surely represents supporters making a statement about a temporary disability (that does not impact judgment) and the utter horror of hearing Oz expressly state that local political leaders should have a say in that exam room between a woman and her doctor.

Ultimately, Pennsylvanians know John Fetterman and know that a temporary disability cannot change his fundamental values. Meanwhile, Pennsylvanians are still trying to figure out why Oz even wants to be in the Senate or what he believes. At times, it seems as though Oz believes whatever Republican pollsters tell him to believe on any given day. The race will not be decided by ones physical ability to debate. It may, however, come down to a terrifying answer elicited in a debate. A shower of money seems to prove that Fetterman walked away with supporters backing him more solidly than ever.
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Dr. Oz begged for the debate with John Fetterman, but it backfired on him and caused Fetterman to raise more than $2 million in less than 24 hours.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, the Fetterman campaign announced:

Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fettermans campaign for U.S. Senate announced that it has raised over $2 million since the Senate debate ended at 9:00 p.m. last night.

The unprecedented and massive haul for a Pennsylvania Senate race demonstrates the deep grassroots enthusiasm Fetterman has behind his campaign. Some of the cash will be used to air a new TV ad featuring Dr. Ozs extremely radical comments on abortion from last nights debate in key markets.

While Oz has to loan his campaign money to get through the home stretch, the grassroots are stepping up and supporting John Fetterman. The reason why small donations are valued as an electoral metric is that there is a direct correlation between small donors and the likelihood of voting. Campaigns with large small donor bases also tend to have the most committed voters.

Fetterman campaign manager Brandon McPhillips promised that the fundraising windfall would be used to make sure that Pennsylvania women understand Ozs position on abortion, This is a gigantic show of support for John and his debate performance. Were honored and grateful for the support heading into the last two weeks of the race. Our campaign will put this money behind making sure as many Pennsylvania women as possible hear Dr. Ozs radical belief that local political leaders should have a say in their personal healthcare decisions.

The national media has been obsessed with Fettermans health for months, but what they should be examining is the health of his campaign. The debate that Dr. Oz wanted so badly led to the Republican making the biggest gaffe and may have backfired and doomed his campaign.
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Mark Meadows has been ordered to testify in the Fulton County, GA criminal investigation of Trump for violating election laws.

According to The New York Times:

Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff who was deeply involved in efforts to keep former President Donald J. Trump in power after the 2020 election, was ordered on Wednesday to travel to Atlanta to testify in a criminal investigation into election meddling.

Mr. Meadows, 63, has been fighting to avoid appearing before a special grand jury that has been investigating election interference in Georgia by Mr. Trump and his allies. The inquiry is being led by Fani T. Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Ga.

Mr. Meadowss lawyer, James Bannister, said he would appeal the decision.

Outside of Trump, Meadows would appear to be the big fish in the Georgia investigation. Meadows was involved in the efforts to overturn the election and has direct knowledge of the Trump White Houses efforts to pressure the states election officials to overturn the Biden Georgia victory for Donald Trump.

The 1/6 Committee has not been able to compel the testimony of Meadows, but that is possibly due to the DOJ either looking at the former chief of staff in other criminal investigations like the fake elector plot or being concerned about the possibility of a credible executive privilege claim.

The situation in Georgia is different executive privilege doesnt cover potential violations of state criminal law.

Trump has lawsuits, criminal investigations, and congressional inquiries coming at him from every direction, but the situation in Georgia represents one of the biggest threats to Trump and his associates.
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said that he is going to win reelection because he always tells voters the truth. He was then immediately confronted with his lie that he would only serve two terms in office.

The exchange:

Republican @SenRonJohnson says in Beloit today that hes always told voters the truth and thats why he will win against @TheOtherMandela When asked about his promise to only serve two terms, Johnson said, That was my intention. Things change. pic.twitter.com/0bvEddIyYc  Scott Bauer (@sbauerAP) October 26, 2022

Ron Johnsons position is that he always intends to tell the truth, but he doesnt always do it because circumstances change.

When put in its proper context, Johnsons comments are not the compelling argument for sending him back to the Senate for a third term that he seems to think they are.

Sen. Johnson is locked in a tighter-than-expected contest with his Democratic opponent Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Johnson is not popular, and he has spent most of his second lying to the people of Wisconsin about everything from Russia to COVID to Hunter Biden.

There is a reason why Johnson has been nicknamed QANONRon.

The biggest lie that Sen. Johnson told voters was that he would limit himself to serving two terms in the Senate. Johnson has a 51% disapproval rating in Wisconsin and only 41% of voters believe that he has character and integrity.

Ron Johnson is a serial liar who praises himself for telling the truth.
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On Wednesday morning, two more big name Republicans, David L. Hobson and John M. Bridgeland, came forward to endorse Democrat Tim Ryan in his race for the U.S. Senate in an opinion piece ominously titled: A republic, if you can keep it on Cleveland.com.

They opened with a reminder from history of what is at stake:

When Benjamin Franklin emerged from Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and a woman shouted, Doctor Franklin, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?, Franklin responded, a republic, if you can keep it. The midterm elections, particularly for the next U.S. senator from Ohio, call the question on whether voters will support candidates who will defend our democracy and sustain our republic.

Weve written rather extensively about the authoritarian threat posed by the Republican Party to the United States and the frightening drop in our freedom standing. Republicans are literally taking instructions on how to achieve the autocratization of our country from Hungarys soft fascist leader, Viktor Orban, who was able to cause democratic backsliding in Hungary by using the same mechanisms Republicans are using here.

So these Republicans are not just blowing smoke about the threat.

Vance, they write, undercut faith in our democracy by advancing the myth that the 2020 presidential election was rigged  apparently only in the states that Trump lost, given that Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points. Vance propagated this myth even after Trump incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol where police officers and other Americans were killed and injured and refused to attend the inauguration of the new president, signaling he was not interested in the peaceful transfer of power.

The question for election deniers is why is it only the races they lost that they claim were rigged? What would their response be if their own wins were challenged by unsubstantiated claims that gave way to a domestic terrorist attack on our country?

Tim Ryan, on the other hand, they see as showing consistency in his core values and beliefs.

As Republicans, we dont agree with every position he holds, but there is a lot to like about his honesty and approach  from supporting manufacturing jobs in Ohio and training workers, and supporting our police officers and law and order, to enabling the vulnerable to get a good education and a pathway to a decent job. He also has written a book about reigniting the American spirit at a time when America should be moving forward, not relitigating a presidential election.

Addressing the tendency to vote in our own camps, they urge conservatives to put country over party: We urge Ohioans to vote for Tim Ryan for the U.S. Senate, to think of our country over party, and to keep our democracy strong and vibrant for generations to come.

From all corners of the Republican Party, we have seen real patriots come forward during these dark times as our democracy is under severe threat and strain from their own party leaders.

Tim Ryan is running a solid campaign against a venture capitalist Trump supporting election denier, yet the race is still a tight one. Ryan has a long list of endorsements , but even if he didnt, at this point the most important question of any candidate is will they protect the United States of America and the individual liberties and freedoms of her people. No Trump supporting Republican can honestly answer yes to that question, as they are only being championed by Trump because theyre willing to sell their souls to him for power.
Historian and author Wayne O'Bryant will speak at the Center for African American History, Art & Culture.
Ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages flocked to 10th Annual Tinsel Trot Holiday Fun Run/Walk extravaganza on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday Nov. 19 at the Santee Cooper two-mile course at 900 Stony Landing Drive. The family-friendly event was one of many holiday celebrations on tap over  Read moreHot for Tinsel Trot
Demand for the 787 jets that Boeing Co. builds in North Charleston is getting stronger as air travel recovers from the pandemic, but supply chain snarls and the aerospace giant's need to regain trust lost with customers and regulators will tamp down any short-term increases in production.

"One thing that remains strong is demand for airplanes," Dave Calhoun, Boeing's president and CEO, said during an Oct. 26 conference call with Wall Street analysts.

Calhoun said the commercial airplane market "is playing out better than expected" and that, despite economic challenges, "this demand has proven resilient."

But the planemaker has struggled to get the parts it needs  particularly engines  to build the planes customers want. And Calhoun said he won't push Boeing's production floors to build more jets than is feasible, or safe, despite demand pressures.

"Our job in this supply-constrained world (is) in the factories we don't push the system too fast," he said. "We slow down when we have to, and we try not to compound problems that may arise from the supply chain or from our own shops."

Calhoun's remarks followed the release of a disappointing third-quarter earnings report, with revenues falling far short of Wall Street's expectations and losses widening to $3.3 billion for the quarter.

Boeing also took a $2.8 billion hit in its defense business, saying expenses were coming in higher than what the fixed-price contracts were paying. That includes the price for the Air Force One that former President Donald Trump negotiated with ex-Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg.

During an interview with the CNBC cable network, Calhoun admitted the Air Force One and other fixed-price contracts were a mistake.

"Well, it turns out the critics were right," he said. "So, we didn't get enough price, and that's fairly obvious to all of us."

A bright spot in the earnings report was the $2.9 billion in free cash flow Boeing notched in the quarter, due in part to the Federal Aviation Administration giving the go-ahead for 787 Dreamliner deliveries to resume. Those deliveries had been paused for 15 months after the regulator learned of manufacturing flaws in the wide-body's fuselage.

Boeing delivered nine Dreamliners during the third quarter, including three 787-10s to American Airlines, which expects to receive nine more 787s through the first half of next year.

All told, Boeing has 115 Dreamliners in inventory  Calhoun said most will be turned over to customers over the next two years  and more than 400 unfilled orders are on the books for the twin-aisle jet.

"The product that we're getting off the line is really, really nice," Robert Isom, American's CEO, told CNBC last week, referring to the 787 and Boeing's single-aisle 737-Max jet. "It's servicing our needs, our customers enjoy it."

Isom also said American needs Boeing not to be just good, but to "be great."

"We depend on them for our livelihood and I'm confident the leadership ... is going to get back on track," he said.

Calhoun acknowledged the company lost trust with customers and regulators after a pair of deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that grounded the aircraft and led to a management shakeup. Mending those fences has been a long road, he said.

"We ... are regaining the trust of our regulator, working hand-in-hand with them (and) not putting deadlines on the product portfolio," he said. "Will the public want to fly it? The answer is yes. ... Now the last straw for us is the supply chain, get it stable, get it predictable and deliver."

Calhoun said the planemaker also is investing in training and development of its workforce "to accelerate their experience curve and improve our productivity over time." While Boeing has hired 10,000 employees companywide this year, a company spokeswoman said workforce totals for the North Charleston plant won't be released until January.

Boeing currently builds two 787s per month  down from a peak of 14 before the 737 Max accidents  and eventually plans to ramp up to five per month, but Calhoun would not put a timetable on the production boost.

The current low production rate, along with rework that's being done on 787s that have already left the factory's assembly line, led to $330 million in "abnormal" costs for the program during the third quarter. Boeing anticipates those expenses eventually will total $2 billion, with most of it being incurred by the end of 2023.

The Arlington, Va.-based company consolidated all Dreamliner production to the North Charleston plant in 2021, but some of the rework is being done in Everett, Wash.

"Despite the challenges, I'm very pleased with the progress broadly," Calhoun said of the 787 program. "Our deliveries have returned. It's a reflection on us focusing on the right things. Strict conformance with respect to our manufacturing processes is very important. We've gotten it right, and the delivery process has started. So far, so good."
COLUMBIA  A 2021 school bus hijacking in Richland County has led to a simple, yet important change to South Carolinas public school buses: placing numbers on the roof so buses can be identified from the air.

On the morning of May 6, 2021 as students were being transported to school, a trainee from Fort Jackson left the base armed with his assigned rifle and boarded a bus full of elementary students from Richland School District Two.

The 23-year-old trainee, Jovan M. Collazo, pointed the rifle at the bus driver and repeatedly said drive, drive, drive, video footage from the bus shows.

Deputies in an aircraft tried to spot the hijacked bus but all the white tops of the yellow school buses looked the same, Richland Sheriff Leon Lott said.

There were school buses all over the place, Lott said. All the school buses look the same (with aircraft having) no way to identify the school bus.

After a six-minute drive down Percival Road, Collazo allowed the driver and 18 children off the bus. He then got behind the wheel and attempted to drive off. Collazo made it just over a mile down the road before fleeing on foot.

Collazo, who is from New Jersey, was arrested and charged with 19 counts of kidnapping. The case is still pending in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.

Following the hijacking, Lott said he spoke to school officials across the state suggesting the bus numbers should also be placed on the roof.

You look at bad situations and you learn from them, Lott said.

All of the public school buses in the state  more than 5,600 of them  will have their identification numbers placed on top within the next eight to 10 months, said Katrina Goggins, chief communications officer for the S.C. Department of Education.

All new buses will have the number placed on the top, and current buses will get the number at service centers when they come in for maintenance, Goggins said.

So far, around 29 buses have the number on the roof, she said.
The South Carolina superintendent of education and a former superintendent have made opposing endorsements in the race for the positions next successor.

Molly Spearman, a Republican who currently occupies the states top schools job, endorsed Republican candidate Ellen Weaver on Oct. 25. Spearman will step down from office on Jan. 2 after serving as superintendent for eight years.

Inez Tenenbaum, a Democrat who was superintendent from 1999 to 2007, endorsed Democratic candidate Lisa Ellis a day after Spearman's announcement.

Both education officials cited their respective candidates widely different backgrounds as their strengths.

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Spearman emphasized the next superintendent needs to have executive leadership and management experience in her statement announcing the endorsement. Weaver is the head of the conservative think tank Palmetto Promise Institute and is a member of the S.C. Education Oversight Committee, the states education watchdog agency. After first being appointed to the board in 2016, she chaired it from 2019 to 2021.

I have known Ellen Weaver for nearly a decade and have been impressed with her work ethic, willingness to reach out to others and listen, and strong desire to make meaningful change for the students and teachers of our state, Spearman said.

Tenenbaum pointed to Ellis classroom experience in the Oct. 26 statement announcing her endorsement.

As a lifelong educator in South Carolina public schools, Lisa Ellis understands more than any other candidate the challenges facing public education in our state, Tenenbaum said. She knows that building and maintaining a teacher workforce is critical for the future of our state.

Ellis will also keep public funds in public schools, Tenenbaum added. Ellis is opposed to using tax money to help parents pay for private tuition or public school choice options such as open enrollment and charter schools. Weaver has been a longtime advocate of such policies.

Spearmans backing of Weaver is fairly new. During the Republican primary for superintendent, Spearman endorsed Kathy Maness, Weavers opponent and the head of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

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The endorsement comes shortly after Weaver announced she completed the requirements for her masters degree at Bob Jones University. State law requires the state superintendent to have a masters degree, and Weaver was one of a few candidates without one at the start of the race.

With the completion of a masters degree in educational leadership, Ellen is fully qualified to serve and Im proud to support her campaign, Spearman said.

Still, Weaver finished the masters degree in roughly six months, despite the university previously advertising the program as taking between 12 to 18 months to complete. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which oversees Bob Jones accreditation, is now investigating if the university followed its policies and procedures with Weaver.

In an Oct. 17 interview with The Post and Courier, the Republican candidate dismissed the criticism surrounding her degree and said people were focusing on the issue because they dont have any other way to attack me.

In a statement, Weaver said she was honored to have Spearman's support.

Under her leadership, Superintendent Spearman has advocated for higher pay for teachers, implemented a school safety vision to keep our students and teachers safe, and led the way in ensuring that our more rural school districts are run efficiently and sharing services to create better opportunities for their students, she added.

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.

Ellis similarly said she was proud to receive Tenenbaum's backing.

"Such an endorsement signals the significance of experience in public education leading our states public education system," Ellis said in a statement.

A debate between Ellis and Weaver will be held on Nov. 2.
This is part of The Post and Couriers Daily Digest series, in which one of our food reporters asks a local to describe a day of eating in detail.

Christina Haisfield lives in Mount Pleasant, runs Jetset Christina, and is a new mom of a baby boy.

This morning, I woke up at my baby boy Harrison's bright-and-early wake up time of 6 a.m. I fed him his breakfast (milk), then headed downstairs to make coffee. I have coffee every day, and prefer to make it at home because I have my own coffee recipe that I'm obsessed with. It starts with high-quality Colombian coffee (my swimwear line manufactures our swimwear in Colombia, and every time I visit, I stock up on their coffee  it's the best), I add Malk brand oat milk, collagen powder, a half spoonful of coconut oil, and blend it all together in a blender, to make it super frothy.

Once the coffee is made, I'll pour it into a Yeti travel mug and be out the door with the baby and my husband for our morning walk around the neighborhood. When we get back, I rev up the blender again to make some morning smoothies. We love a good acai breakfast smoothie with frozen fruit, spinach and half an avocado added in (try it!).

Today, we were so busy working we forgot to think about lunch, but luckily the Square Onion is right in our neighborhood. They have amazing sandwiches and wraps that always hit the spot. I ordered a prosciutto caprese on a baguette and it was delicious. I felt like I had just grabbed a takeaway sandwich from a street-stand in Rome, biting into the juicy tomatoes and crispy bread as I worked my way to the Spanish Steps.

I love food that has the ability to bring you right back to a destination, to a memory, like that.

After the workday, we had family in town, so I made a quick charcuterie board and we opened a bottle of wine. I grew up in Northern California, so good wine is a part of my blood. Tonight's wine was En Route. Our wine fridge is arguably my favorite part of the house  it is always stocked with favorites ready to share with family and friends, or just cuddle up together on the couch with. From all of our go-to Napa Valley and Sonoma cabernets, pinots and chards, to special bottles brought back from destinations we've traveled together around the world, it's always exciting deciding what to open for a certain occasion.

After our happy hour at home, we headed to one of our favorites for dinner, Sullivan's Fish Camp. To be honest, I go for the dessert  the Key lime pie  but everything else is great, too. We ordered the truffled fried shrimp (our favorite), the peel 'n' eat shrimp (big shrimp day, what can I say), a lobster roll and a salad to share. We always sit outside, under an umbrella, with the baby in his stroller right next to us. Tonight, Harrison didn't feel like sleeping through dinner and wanted to be right in my lap  always a part of the party! Meanwhile a couple next to us had their dog with them, too. I love how baby-friendly (and fur-baby-friendly) Sullivan's is.

I'd be remiss not to mention that on any other night, I'd be home making homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert  they're my all-time comfort food, and I make the dough at least a few times a week (when I was pregnant, EVERY day!). I just love the indulgence of warm, ooey-gooey homemade cookies after dinner, and always love having something sweet and special ready to pop in the oven if a friend stops by.

I can't give away my secret recipe, but I will tell you I bake them at 375 degrees for seven to eight minutes, no more, to keep them nice and doughy, and I always finish them off with a sprinkle of Maldon Sea Salt.
GEORGETOWN  Parkersville residents are suing the county in an attempt to nullify Georgetown County Council's approval of site plans for two townhouse developments in the African American community.

The suit, filed Oct. 24 in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Common Pleas, involves the Regatta Townhomes and the Osprey Townhomes, which entail a total of 88 multi-family units along the southern Waccamaw Neck  41 in the Regatta Townhomes east of Petigru Drive and 47 in the Osprey Townhomes east of Parkersville Road.

The defendants named in the lawsuit, in addition to Georgetown County, are Samuel J. Nesbit of Columbia, Laine Commercial Real Estate and TriStar Land.

The Georgetown County Planning Commission voted to deny site plan approval of both developments in August. County Council approved the site plans the following month.

The seven Parkersville residents named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit are joined by the Parkersville Planning & Development Alliance, Keep It Green and Preserve Murrells Inlet.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment that the county has "a statutory mandate to bring residential zoning ordinances and land development regulations, including the Petigru and Parkersville parcels, into conformity with the current Georgetown County Comprehensive Plan."

The plaintiffs also contend County Council did not have authority to "review, hear, or change" the planning commission's August decisions, which were never appealed to circuit court and thus should be declared "valid and binding."

The plaintiffs seek to appeal the county council's Sept. 27 decision if the court finds that the council in fact had the power to render its decision.

The developments drew considerable criticism from Parkersville residents during public hearings at the Aug. 18 Planning Commission and the Sept. 27 County Council meetings.

Neither development could be approved without violating the countys comprehensive land use plan, argued Cynthia Ranck Person, executive director and chief legal counsel of Keep It Green, a Pawleys Island-based nonprofit law firm.

Person said the proposed density for the developments would put them in the category of high-density development, whereas the plan's Future Land Use Map designates both parcels as medium-density.

Councilman Steve Goggans, who represents the county district in which the Parkersville developments are contained, said in September the precedent in this case is whether the applicant conformed with zoning requirements. He also consulted Georgetown County Attorney Jay Watson as to whether the countys comprehensive plan took precedence over the countys zoning ordinance. Watson replied that it does not.

Councilman Bob Anderson, who cast the only votes against site plan approval of Regatta and Osprey on Sept. 27, told fellow council members that he felt the 41-unit Regatta development proposed too many townhomes for its 6.87-acre lot.

Person, who is representing the plaintiffs, told Georgetown Times that the plaintiffs had "no choice" but to take the issue to court.

"For years citizens and citizens' groups have tried to work together with the county to resolve these issues amicably," Person wrote in an Oct. 25 email. "We sent a letter dated Sept. 2, formally requesting the county to sit down with us to discuss these issues. The county neither acknowledged nor responded to our letter and continued making land use decisions based on zoning ordinances that are not in compliance with our comprehensive land use plan."

Defendant Samuel Nesbit is one of the heirs of Will Nesbit who own the parcels designated for the townhouse developments. Laine and TriStar are Charleston-area LLCs who entered a contract to purchase the heirs' properties "contingent upon approval of applications for land development projects," according to the lawsuit.

No attorneys for the defendants were named in Georgetown County's public index of court cases as of the afternoon of Oct. 25.

Laine Commercial Real Estate did not respond to a request for comment, while Georgetown County spokeswoman Heather Pelham told Georgetown Times that the county does not comment on pending litigation.
The Summerville Medical Center recently showcased their "adorable butterballs" fresh out of the oven and born on Thanksgiving. The bundles of joy (Tiana, Jack and John) were all sporting our special holiday onesies for their respective debuts. Read moreS'ville Medical Center presents Thanksgiving babies
With three grown children out of the nest and building their own lives, a widowed Eva Samuel suddenly found herself alone. But still with so much love to share, her nurturing instincts told the native Summervillian that her days of mothering were far from over. Read moreFoster mom opens her heart to needy youth
Alex Murdaugh's former law office is going on the offensive in response to a recent claim that lawyers at the storied Hampton firm helped Murdaugh steal from one of their former clients.

In a new filing, lawyers for the firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick slammed the Oct. 7 lawsuit as "false and highly defamatory" and asked a judge to sanction the two Orangeburg attorneys who filed it.

The 41-page motion alleges attorneys Glenn Walters and Korey Williams authored the lawsuit earlier this month without properly investigating their claims or first reviewing their client's PMPED file "which would have immediately alerted them to the fact that their allegations were false."

The PMPED response blasted a lawsuit filed on behalf of Manuel Santis-Cristiani, a Mexican national, who hired Murdaugh and the PMPED firm to represent him in a personal injury case after a 2008 car accident in Colleton County.

Walters and Williams, who now represent Santis-Cristiani, alleged Murdaugh and other PMPED lawyers settled Santis-Cristiani's case in 2013 but never told him the settlement's worth and never sent him any of the money.

In reality, PMPED's lawyers wrote, Santis-Cristiani knew about the settlement and received the full amount he was owed from it  nearly $74,000.

PMPED attached to its filing a copy of a wire transfer showing it sent the money to Santis-Cristiani after his case ended in 2016.

In a strange twist, the firm conceded that Murdaugh did steal a separate, $70,000 chunk of the settlement proceeds. But that money was owed to a hospital for Santis-Cristiani's 2008 medical bills, not Santis-Cristiani himself, PMPED said. And the firm said it had no knowledge of that theft until last year.

Efforts to reach Walters and Williams for comment Oct. 25 were unsuccessful.

Jim May, one of several outside attorneys representing PMPED, said the new filing "speaks for itself" and declined to comment further.

Walters and Williams filed the Santis-Cristiani lawsuit in the wake of criminal indictments and other civil lawsuits that have accused Murdaugh of using various accomplices and a fraudulent bank account to steal nearly $9 million from legal settlements and fees owed to his clients, law partners and others who trusted him.

The Santis-Cristiani lawsuit was the first that accused other PMPED attorneys of being involved in Murdaugh's alleged schemes. The PMPED firm, which has since dissolved and rebranded as the Parker Law Group, has denied any knowledge of Murdaugh's thefts until September 2021, when it accused the once-respected Hampton attorney of stealing and forced him to resign.

Murdaugh has been disbarred by the state Supreme Court and faces decades in prison in connection with those alleged financial crimes. He also stands accused of killing his wife and son in a pair of grisly slayings that sparked international attention in June 2021.

The new PMPED filing accuses attorneys Walters and Williams of violating judicial rules by filing their lawsuit without first checking the facts of their claims. It asks a judge to remove the law firm and two of its former partners, Ronnie Crosby and William Barnes III, as defendants in the case.

Santis-Cristiani "was fully aware of the terms of the settlement and approved them," the filing states. He even traveled to Hampton County from Mexico in March 2013 to take part in a mediation that led to the settlement, it states.

Santis-Cristiani does not speak English and relied on an interpreter, Blanca Simpson of Hampton County, to keep him apprised of developments in the case, PMPED said in the filing.

In sworn affidavits attached to the filing, Crosby and Barnes said they called Simpson after they were named as defendants in Santis-Cristiani's new lawsuit. Simpson, who was ultimately granted power of attorney to act on Santis-Cristiani's behalf, told them Santis-Cristiani knew about his settlement and received the money, according to those affidavits.

Crosby and Barnes said Simpson told them they had done nothing wrong and shouldn't have been named defendants in the new lawsuit. They said Simpson wasn't aware of the lawsuit or the allegations made in it until speaking with Barnes on Oct. 10, three days after the claim was filed.

"This wasn't supposed to go this far," Crosby said Simpson told him.
MYRTLE BEACH  A Myrtle Beach man was arrested after a six-hour stand-off with police.

Shots were fired at Myrtle Beach Police officers after they responded to a domestic incident at a home in the Long Leaf Circle area, along Little River Road, at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25.

A man inside the residence allegedly fired several shots when officers tried to make him leave the residence. No injuries were reported, according to police.

Local, regional and federal law enforcement agencies responded to the scene. Police evacuated neighboring residences and set up police barricades along 44th Avenue and Little River Road.

After about six hours of attempting to negotiate with the man, police heard loud noises inside the house which then caught fire.

Police then fired tear gas into the home, which caused the man to surrender. No one else was inside the home, according to police.

"It's unclear exactly what happened inside that caused the fire," said Major Cpl. Tom Vest, public information officer for the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Vest said at about 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25 that the barricades would be lifted soon.

"We've handed over the scene to the Myrtle Beach Fire Department," Vest said. "From here, they're going to work on minimizing the damage to surrounding buildings and put the fire out of the house."

No formal charges had been filed against the man, as of 4 p.m. Oct. 25.
Charleston will soon have a new tool to crack down on absentee landlords but not as much authority as city staff had originally hoped.

City Council voted Oct. 25 to give initial approval to a rental registry program that will require some landlords to fill out an annual registration form that lists their name and contact information as well as a local emergency contact if the landlord does not live within 30 miles of the city. It will go before council for a final vote Nov. 8.

The program will not, as first drafted, require landlords to get a special permit that would subject them to regular inspections and could be revoked for certain types of livability violations.

"I would want what we had originally proposed," Charleston Livability Director Dan Riccio said. "That had much higher accountability; however, this what council wants and it's still a beneficial tool."

The new policy will be run as a pilot program in the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood beginning Jan. 1. If successful, City Council will have the chance to vote to make it a permanent for that area. Council also could decide later to expand to other neighborhoods.

Cannonborough-Elliottborough, adjacent the College of Charleston, was chosen because it received the highest number of livability complaints about issues such as loud parties and improper disposal of bulk trash in 2021. Leaders of the neighborhood association have been campaigning for such a policy for years.

Cannonborough-Elliottborough has a high number of landlords who do not live in the city, Riccio said. They can be hard to reach when problems arise because they list an LLC on their property tax records and attorneys' mailing addresses as their contact information.

Having a landlord's direct contact information will allow the city to more quickly determine whether problems at a property are caused by the tenant or the owner, Riccio said. Whoever is deemed responsible will be given a summons to livability court and potentially face a fine depending on the violation.

A landlord with tenants who repeatedly receive livability citations can also be summoned to livability court as well. This will be particularly applicable to landlords who have new college students cycle through a property frequently.

"If we make them aware of the problem and it is still repeated, the landlord is held accountable," Riccio said.

Instead of creating a new permit, the new policy requires more landlords to apply for business licenses. This is in addition to filling out the new registration form that lists their contact information.

Prior to the new ordinance, only landlords who own five or more residences had to apply for a business license. Now, landlords with two or more units need to apply. The city can revoke a business license for "unlawful activity or nuisance."

The pilot program was originally proposed to begin on the East Side, expand to other areas of the peninsula and eventually apply to the entire city. Now it will start in Cannonborough-Elliottborough and will only be expanded on an as-needed basis, depending on the amount of neighborhood disturbance calls an area gets.

Before we would extend the program to any other areas, we would research what it would look like and bring it back to the City Council, said Mayor John Tecklenburg.

Council approved the program 12-1. Councilwoman Caroline Parker voted against it. During a presentation to the Community Development Committee on Oct. 20, she said she did not want to approve any policy that had the possibility of expanding to her district on James Island.

"This adds another layer of bureaucracy that I don't think my constituents want," she said.

An earlier version of the policy was deferred on Sept. 13 because several council members found the proposal too restrictive to landlords. Although it was supported by the Trident Association of Realtors, it was opposed by the Charleston Apartment Association.

The permit would have included a $25 fee per unit and required landlords to sign a statement that the property meets building code standards. After that, the property would have been subject to code inspections every five years.

The permits also would have carried a point system similar to a drivers license. The more livability violations that a landlord racked up, the more points they would lose. If they lost all 15 points associated with the permit, they would have had their permit suspended or permanently revoked.
At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang, Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, will pay an official visit to China starting from November 1.

Dragon TV: You just announced the upcoming visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China. Can you share more information on the visit? How does China see its relations with Pakistan? Whats the expectation for this visit?

Wang Wenbin: This visit will be Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs first trip to China after taking office and a continuation of the sound momentum of close high-level exchanges between our two countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is among the first foreign leaders to visit China upon invitation after the successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, which speaks to the special friendship and strategic mutual trust between China and Pakistan. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Premier Li Keqiang will hold talks with him, and Chairman Li Zhanshu will meet with him. The leaders will have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest, and jointly chart the course for and steer the growth of China-Pakistan relations.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends. Over the past 70-plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, we have always rendered each other mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support. In recent years, in the face of changes in our world, our times, and history, China and Pakistan have marched forward shoulder-to-shoulder. We have jointly responded to the challenges of COVID-19 and major natural disasters, pursued high-quality CPEC cooperation, deepened exchanges and cooperation across the board and worked in close coordination in international and regional affairs. China looks forward to working with Pakistan to take this visit as an opportunity to further advance our all-weather and high-level strategic cooperation, build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future and make greater contribution to upholding regional peace and stability and international fairness and justice.

Reuters: The United States, Japan and South Korea warned on Wednesday that if North Korea conducts a seventh nuclear bomb test, that would warrant an unparalleled response. My first question is, does the foreign ministry have any comment on this warning to North Korea? Second, does the foreign ministry share the concerns of the US and its allies that North Korea could be about to resume nuclear bomb testing for the first time since 2017?

Wang Wenbin: We hope the parties concerned will face squarely the root cause and timeline of events of the protracted impasse on the Korean Peninsula and do more to enhance mutual trust and address parties concerns in a balanced way.

AFP: According to the White House website, US President Biden spoke with the UKs new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday, and the two sides agreed to address the challenges posed by China together. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: China is a development partner and an opportunity for other countries, not a threat or challenge. We urge the US to abandon the zero-sum mentality and embrace the trend of our times. Instead of propagating the obsolete China threat theory and piecing together small blocs that are bound to fail, the US might as well try to adopt a new vision featuring openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation and do more to contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

CCTV: It is reported that a Taiwan universitys research vessel New Ocean Researcher 1 was interfered with and demanded to leave by a patrol ship of the Japan Coast Guard when operating in waters east of Taiwan. The patrol ship claimed that the research vessel should not conduct research activities in what it called Japans Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without Japans consent. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: The incident you mentioned occurred in waters only 60-plus nautical miles off the coast of the island of Taiwan. Chinese research institutions, including those from Taiwan, have the right to carry out scientific research activities in those waters free from foreign interference. China and Japan have not yet carried out maritime delimitation in waters east of Taiwan. China does not accept the notion of the so-called Japanese EEZ and the so-called exercise of jurisdiction. The Chinese side has made demarches to the Japanese side and asked Japan not to interfere with the research activities of Chinese vessels, including the vessels from the Taiwan region, in those waters.

AFP: The first question is about a potential deal between Chinas COSCO and Hamburgs container terminal. A source has told AFP that the German government could consider allowing COSCO to buy a 24.9% stake in the terminal. Do you have any comment on this possibility? And the second question is about Dutch media reports that say China is running two illegal police stations in the Netherlands. Can you confirm if China has any police operations there? Do you have any response to these reports?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, cooperation benefits both sides. We hope relevant parties will view China-Germany practical cooperation in a rational light and stop groundless hype.

On your second question, the allegation is simply untrue. Chinese public security authorities are fully committed to fighting transnational crimes in accordance with the law, while strictly observing international law and fully respecting the judicial sovereignty of other countries.

With regard to what you referred to as overseas police stations, they are in fact overseas Chinese service centers. It is learned that due to COVID-19, a large number of overseas Chinese nationals are unable to return to China in time for services such as renewing their driving license. As a solution to these particular difficulties, relevant sub-national authorities have opened up an online licensing platform. The purpose of the service centers is to help overseas Chinese nationals in need access the platform to have their driving licenses renewed and receive physical examinations. I would refer you to the competent authorities if you need more details.

CCTV: We have noted that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has included in the Party Constitution the statement on holding dear humanitys shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. Why does China underline humanitys shared values? Why are they relevant to our times? And what are their significance for human development and progress?

Wang Wenbin: The 20th CPC National Congress, which was successfully concluded a few days ago, deliberated and unanimously adopted the revised Constitution of the Communist Party of China, which included in the Party Constitution the statement on advancing humanitys shared values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. This is a strong message from the CPC with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to respond to the questions and changes of our times in light of Chinas national rejuvenation endeavor and the global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century. It reflects the deep sense of commitment and responsibility of Chinese communists to the common good of the world and humanity.

Peace is the common aspiration of people in the world and humanitys long-cherished dream. Like air and sunshine, peace is hardly noticed when we are benefiting from it. But none of us can live without it. Development is an eternal theme of humanity and provides what is essential for promoting peoples wellbeing in the world. Equity and justice are the cornerstones of the international order and are vital to the moral foundation of international relations. Democracy and freedom are political ideals and an unremitting pursuit of humanity. They are humanitys common rights, not a patent possessed by a few countries or individuals. They are about achieving common and well-rounded development for all, not a privilege of a few. As President Xi Jinping stressed, peace and development are our common cause, equity and justice our common aspiration, and democracy and freedom our common pursuit. This is the essence of humanitys shared values of our times.

China is a staunch advocate and active practitioner of humanitys shared values. Over the past decade since China entered the new era, we have put forth the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, practiced true multilateralism and worked to build an open world economy, make international relations more democratic and boost exchange and mutual learning between civilizations. The list goes on and on. What China has proposed and done are inspired by its cultural heritage which informs us that a just cause always finds great support and that all people under heaven are of one family. They are also inspired by the CPCs commitment to contributing more to human progress. They are evidence of the bright prospects of humanitys shared values.

Humanitys shared values embody the common aspiration for a better life shared across civilizations. They transcend the hypocrisy of Western-centrism and civilizational superiority. They transcend the arbitrariness of Cold-War mentality, bullying and hegemonism. They transcend exporting values and stoking ideological confrontation. They provide the true yardstick for identifying right from wrong and good from evil.

We are firmly convinced that as long as we stand on the right side of history and human progress, countries in the world will seek common ground while reserving differences, live in harmony, pursue win-win cooperation, and promote mutual understanding and affinity. The world will work together to build a human community with a shared future and jointly make the world a better place.
A Citadel cadet who stormed the U.S. Capitol as part of a violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021, faces up to a year in prison after pleading guilty before a federal judge.

Elias Irizarry, 20, also must pay $500 in restitution toward the $2.7 million in damages to the Capitol building as part of an Oct. 26 plea deal that saw his other charges dropped.

Irizarry pleaded guilty to a single federal misdemeanor and will be sentenced in March. The Department of Justice has agreed to recommend no more than six months of incarceration, but Judge Tanya Chutkan is not bound by that request.

The plea agreement makes Irizarry, a Fort Mill resident and the son of soap opera star Vince Irizarry, the 11th South Carolinian to acknowledge criminal wrongdoing as part of the failed uprising at the Capitol. Eight others, including one arrested earlier this week, have charges pending against them in what has become the largest criminal investigation in American history.

It is unclear how Irizarrys conviction will affect his place at The Citadel, South Carolinas military college.

The Charleston school has allowed the political science major to remain enrolled since his March 2021 arrest, though The Citadels Republican Club ousted him as a member in the aftermath of the riot.

The college has previously declined to comment on Irizarrys criminal case, aside from saying it takes all relevant information, including legal determinations, into account during discipline proceedings.

A Citadel spokesman said Oct. 26 the college is aware of Irizarry's guilty plea. But because of student privacy laws, spokesman Zach Watson said, "we are unable to comment or speculate on any potential disciplinary proceedings."

The schools disciplinary code cites as grounds for dismissal the commission of any act unbecoming to a cadet and/or one which would tend to bring discredit upon the institution or to the uniform.

Irizarry and a pair of companions climbed into the Capitol through a broken window as part of a crowd of thousands that marched on the building from a nearby Stop the Steal rally. There, then-President Donald Trump and other speakers touted baseless claims that Democrats had stolen the 2020 presidential election. They urged the crowd on toward the Capitol, where Congress was meeting that day to formally certify Democrat Joe Biden as the elections victor.

Irizarry wore a dark-red hoodie, brown boots and a red Make America Great Again hat to Washington, D.C., that day. He was photographed toting a pipe as the crowd violently overpowered the small police force guarding the Capitol, though investigators uncovered no evidence that Irizarry assaulted anyone that day.

The crowd ultimately swept into the building, forcing members of Congress to flee to safety.

Irizarry lingered in the Capitol for nearly 30 minutes, climbing on statues in Statuary Hall and taking pictures with his friends.

He said little during his plea hearing Oct. 26 aside from acknowledging the facts of his offense, including that he knew he wasn't allowed inside the Capitol that day.

Relatives described Irizarry and his co-defendant, Elliot Bishai, as polite young men who were swept up in the furor of the mob but werent involved in any of the violence of Jan. 6.

Bishai, who attended Nation Ford High School with Irizarry, pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to 14 days in prison in July. At his sentencing, prosecutors noted that investigators found a trove of Nazi and White supremacist material on Bishais phone. They also pointed out that Bishai could be heard shouting lets go, keep pushing and Civil War II, in videos he filmed during the riot.

The pair were turned in to federal investigators by tipsters who recognized them in news footage of the riot. All told, federal agents have arrested nearly 900 defendants in connection with the Jan. 6 riot. More than 400 of those cases have been resolved so far, and all but a handful have ended in guilty pleas or convictions at trial.

Irizarry has been a stellar student since his arrest, earning gold stars and a place on the deans list for his high grades, his lawyer said in court filings. He also has volunteered at Charlestons veterans hospital and become vice president of the colleges Russian-Area Studies Club, according to court records.

The Citadel even afforded Irizarry a scholarship to study abroad in Estonia this summer, a trip that Judge Chutkan initially blocked before an appellate court overruled her.

Irizarrys father, Vince Irizarry, starred for years in All My Children and Guiding Light. After his parents split, Irizarry was raised mostly by his mother, a flight attendant, the family told the judge handling his case.

Irizarry had no criminal record before the Jan. 6 riot, a fact that will help him at his upcoming sentencing hearing.
The federal Department of Justice will not pursue charges against two former Charleston County deputies in the jail death of Jamal Sutherland, saying prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt the deputies willfully violated federal criminal civil rights statutes.

Officials made the decision Oct. 26 after closing a review of Sutherland's death, Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake said.

Sutherland, a 31-year-old Black man with a history of mental illness, died Jan. 5, 2021, as deputies Brian Houle and Lindsay Fickett tried to forcefully remove him from a jail cell for a bond hearing.

Houle and Fickett repeatedly used pepper spray, Tasers and physical force to extract Sutherland from the cell. He died as the officers struggled with him.

Amy Sutherland, Jamal's mother, said she was hurt but not surprised by the Justice Department's decision.

"Nobody goes to jail for killing Black people," she said.

Two pathologists  one from the Charleston County Coroner's Office and another who was independently retained  conducted autopsies on Sutherland. Both concluded the deputies' actions were not the sole cause of the man's death.

Dr. Kim Collins, the independent pathologist, concluded dysrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, killed Sutherland. A combination of "schizophrenia, medications administered, absence of medications and the deputies actions" caused the dysrhythmia, Collins said.

Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson previously asked the Justice Department in April 2021 to review Sutherland's death for possible civil rights violations.

Wilson announced in July 2021 her office would not charge Houle and Fickett in his death, saying state prosecutors couldn't establish criminal intent.

Still, Wilson said "error after error after error" led to the tragedy, including "clear negligence" by deputies.

"There is no question they were negligent," Wilson said. "There is negligence throughout this case. The problem in proving the criminal intent, however, is that this is how they were trained."

Wilson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Justice Department decision.

A 52-page report from Gary Raney, a correctional use-of-force expert who was hired by the Solicitor's Office to review the case, outlined the systemic failures in policies, training and supervision at the detention center that contributed to Sutherland's death.

Sutherland, who had no prior criminal history, was being held in the jail on a charge of third-degree assault and battery  a misdemeanor, on allegations he got into a fight at Palmetto Behavioral Health. If found guilty he would have faced up to 30 days in jail. His parents checked him into the mental-health treatment center for symptoms related to his bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Graphic video of his death was released in May 2021, prompting protests over the deputies' rough handling of Sutherland, who appeared to be suffering a mental health episode during the encounter.

That same month, Houle and Fickett were fired and Charleston County Council approved a $10 million settlement to resolve claims against the Sheriff's Office and the North Charleston Police Department related to Sutherland's death.

Federal prosecutors reviewed evidence from state investigators and the FBI in its monthslong investigation, Shoemake said. They tried to determine whether Houle and Fickett's use of force violated any federal laws.

Prosecutors had to establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, the deputies willfully deprived Sutherland of his constitutional rights. It is a high standard to meet: neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence nor bad judgment can prove a civil rights violation, Shoemake said.

After looking at all the evidence, prosecutors declined to press charges.

Amy Sutherland's voice shook with anger and hurt Oct. 26 as she told The Post and Courier how her family feels like the entire system failed her son. She said they still want answers about why Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health sent her son to jail when he was in the throes of a mental health crisis. (The Sutherland family has pledged to pursue legal action against the facility.)

She blames the entire state for perpetuating a broken system that criminalizes mental health, placing responsibility at the totality of power  from Gov. Henry McMaster and Charleston County jail deputies and police all the way down to the staffer at Palmetto Behavioral Health who called 911 that January night.

"Nobody in this state has the right to convict my son of a crime before he ever went to any jail system. He was convicted by the entire system," she said. "I blame everybody for my son's death. I really do."

Amy Sutherland also said she would be connecting with Ben Crump, the prominent civil rights attorney her family retained along with Columbia attorney Carl Solomon, to discuss next steps through legal action.

Crump has helped secure multimillion-dollar settlements on behalf of the families of Michael Brown, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor  all Black Americans whose deaths at the hands of law enforcement officers in recent years have ignited protests and a national reckoning with race.

"Because it can happen again," Amy Sutherland said, with an ache in her voice. "It can happen again."

Caitlin Byrd contributed to this report.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Nearly everyone in the world is familiar with the White House, but relatively few know of its designer, said the president of the White House Historical Association on Oct. 25.

Theres nothing more fundamental to the history of the White House than the man who built the house, said Stewart D. McLaurin at a meeting of the James Hoban Society of the United States, which is based in Charleston.

Hoban, an Irish-born architect, also designed the Charleston County Courthouse. Erected in 1792, it served as a model for the Washington, D.C., home and office of the nation's president.

The local building underwent a major restoration in 1995, thanks to Thomas Masi and his colleagues on County Council at the time. They came up with the cash and a plan to make the old courthouse come alive again, insisting that the probate court should take up residence there.

McLaurin, in an appearance meant to raise the architect's public profile, delivered a keynote presentation that described Hobans professional trajectory. In doing so, he provided a short history lesson in a city long with such.

Hoban got his start as a wheelwright and carpenter, then moved to Dublin and worked with architect teacher and mentor Thomas Ivory. In Dublin, Hoban was exposed to various great buildings, including Leinster House, which then was the home of the Earls of Kildare and now houses the Irish Parliament. Its neoclassical style inspired much of Hobans future work.

A Roman Catholic subject to penal laws that prevented him from rising to the top of his field, Hoban left Ireland in 1785 for Philadelphia. Two years later, came to Charleston.

The Charleston Courthouse replaced an earlier building destroyed by fire and which was originally meant to serve as the South Carolina Statehouse. By the time it was finished in 1792, the state capital had moved to Columbia, so the neo-classical structure instead became the hub of legal activities. The first two floors accommodated state and federal courts, a housing circuit and sheriffs office.

The third story was devoted to cultural matters, housing the Charleston Library Society and Charleston Museum  the first established in the new country.

When in 1791 George Washington, on his Southern Tour, stopped in Charleston, the courthouse made an impression. Soon after, the first president of the United States summoned Hoban to Philadelphia where the young builder won the contract to erect the White House in the swampy terrain of the Potomac River.

That project took eight years, laborers free and enslaved (including three carpenters  Ben, Daniel, and Peter  who were owned by Hoban), Scottish stone carvers and various European artisans, McLaurin said.

In 1814, during the second war with England, the British set fire to the White House. Hoban was there to oversee its repair.

After President James Monroe took up residence there in 1817, Hoban supervised the construction of the South Portico. After Andrew Jackson moved in in 1829, he asked Hoban to add the North Portico.

His lifes work for 29 years was on this building, McLaurin said.

The Irishman who found a career in the nascent United States, and who left a notable legacy, died in 1831 at 76.

Irv Condon, a Republican running for reelection as Charleston County's probate judge against Democrat Tamara Curry, founded the James Hoban Society of the United States 20 years ago. This is the first year the society has named honorees, Condon said.

He drew a comparison between the Irishmans apprenticeship to his mentor Ivory, and the educational work of a couple of the societys honorees, such as Ben and Kelly Navarro, who recently established the Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, and Anita Zucker, who has provided financial support to schools in South Carolina and Florida.

Condon also paid tribute to Masi, former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, developer Michael Bennett (whose new Embassy Suites hotel near Patriots Point hosted the event), Seacoast Church founder Greg Surratt, and Frances Scott, mother of Sen. Tim Scott. Bennett and Masi attended the event.

The James Hoban Society of the United States and its Irish counterpart hope to expand education offerings in Hoban's birthplace in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and elsewhere.
News that Republican Ellen Weaver completed a quickie masters degree leaves us relieved that South Carolina voters will be able to cast their ballots without facing the prospect of a court overturning their choice for state education superintendent.

After the trumped-up claims of voter fraud and stolen elections over the past two years, the last thing we need is a court instead of voters deciding who takes office, even if the court is right on the law.

How much Ms. Weaver's degree is worth is up for debate, since the nominee completed a program that typically takes one or two years in less than six months  while holding down a full-time-job  and running a statewide election campaign. Of course, theres unfortunately nothing uncommon about online degree programs handing out degrees of questionable value, and theres nothing in state law about the quality of the degree required here. It's also doubtful that anyone would have questioned the quality of the degree had it been obtained before Ms. Weaver filed for office.

Were not even convinced that a masters is necessary to do a good job as education superintendent, and some argue that any attempt to place qualification on an elected official violates voters constitutional rights. (The qualification was added in conjunction with a failed constitutional amendment that would have let the governor appoint the superintendent.)

But the law is the law, and Ms. Weaver has never suggested that the law was unconstitutional. What disturbed us from the start was how she either did not respect the law or else was not attentive enough to details to know about a state law that so directly affects candidates for superintendent of education.

Also disturbing, of course, is that Republican primary voters chose Ms. Weaver over Kathy Maness. Unlike Ms. Weaver or Democratic nominee Lisa Ellis, Ms. Maness stood a good chance of following in the footsteps of current Education Superintendent Molly Spearman, who was able to focus on education and oversee our schools in a way that won her the respect of both educators, who tend to be more liberal, and the states conservative political establishment.

Neither Ms. Weaver nor Ms. Ellis has a history or a platform that demonstrates the ability to set aside politics and work well across the political aisle  Ms. Weaver because of her culture-war approach to education and Ms. Ellis because of her union-like approach. We would urge whoever wins to learn from the way Ms. Spearman has governed and to seek out her help in emulating that approach.

The good news out of all of this  and this is really stretching to call this good news  is that Bob Jones Universitys accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, is investigating complaints about Ms. Weavers degree. As The Post and Couriers Sara Gregory and Maura Turcotte report, the accreditor wants to make sure the university followed its own policies and is looking specifically for a policy that explains how the school ensures that students who complete degree work at an accelerated pace actually do all the work.

If USC's accreditors felt the need to investigate when a member of the University of South Carolinas Board of Trustees suggested to other members that they needed to take a vote on whether to hire Bob Caslen as president, then Bob Jones' accreditors certainly need to investigate how the favorite political candidate of that university's president managed to earn a six-month masters degree without the classroom experience that is typically required.

For that matter, it would be helpful for Bob Jones or Ms. Weaver to tell us precisely when Ms. Weaver started the program (we know she was still enrolled in a different online program as of March 31), and actually provide the transcript that Ms. Weaver has promised. Although the college cant do that without her OK, it certainly can once she gives it.

Its natural that anybody would have questions about a degree thats awarded under these circumstances, and doubly so given the cozy political circumstances: Ms. Weaver did her undergraduate work at Bob Jones, the university featured her in at least one campaign forum this year that didnt include any of her political opponents, and her goal of spending tax dollars to send children to private schools is consistent with the political goals of many of the colleges leaders, some of whom have been public supporters of her campaign.

We hope the accreditor is able to find compelling evidence that Bob Jones didnt bend the rules for Ms. Weaver. That will be particularly important if shes elected, but its important even in the unlikely event that she loses, because whatever you think of its politics, Bob Jones is a valuable institution in our state.
In most cases, I dont think political debates change a lot of minds. But in this years rather wacky election season, there have been some doozies that could make a difference.

First is the Pennsylvania senatorial debate that Scott wrote about here. Democratic nominee John Fetterman was exposed as incapable of functioning at an adequate level. Mehmet Oz is now viewed as a clear favorite in the race, as reflected in betting odds:

Betting markets were close to even in the PA senate race when tonights debate started. This is where they are right now. Ive never seen line movement like this based on a single one hour debate. pic.twitter.com/0G7iCJqJEy  Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 26, 2022



What I dont understand is why anyone was surprised. Fettermans condition has long been obvious to anyone who paid attention. But it looks like his debate performance may have been the tipping point.

Then we have New York, where Rep. Lee Zeldin has come storming from behind in his race against incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, who took office when Andy Cuomo resigned. Zeldin was able to pin Hochul down to just one debate, which took place last night. By all accounts, it was a great night for Zeldin, and Real Clear Politics now rates the race a toss-upa stunning decline for Hochul, who once had a 24-point lead in the polls.

Hochul had a tough night, but her headline blunder came when she seemed to express puzzlement over Zeldins demand that criminals be locked up: I dont know why thats so important to you, Hochul said. [UPDATE: While I was writing this, Scott did a post on the New York debate, immediately below.]

But at least Fetterman and Hochul showed up. Give them credit for that. In Arizona, Republican contender Kari Lake has been hounding Democrat Katie Hobbs for an opportunity to square off in public. But Hobbs resolutely refuses to debate. That might be a good decision, given how much more skilled and prepared Lake is. This brief video shows Katie Hobbs in action:

I suspect that, while understandable, Hobbss refusal to debate will go down as an important factor when Lakes victory is analyzed, post-election.

And finally, we have Minnesota. Incumbent Governor Tim Walz has gone to great lengths to avoid debating challenger Dr. Scott Jensen. They had one live debate before a Jensen-friendly crowd at FarmFest during the summer. Jensen corralled Walz into one further debate, in Rochester, with the proviso that it couldnt be broadcast in the Twin Cities. Walz didnt want anyone to see it.

Finally, KSTP television scheduled debates for all of the constitutional offices: governor, attorney general, auditor and secretary of state. The other debates took place as planned, but Walz refused to show up. So KSTP went ahead with a gubernatorial debate, with Walz represented by an empty podium. The moderators asked Dr. Jensen questions for a half hour, as he had the stage to himself. Talk about a bad look!

What was Walz thinking? I cant explain it.

So this year, the debates might contribute more toward eventual victory than is usually the case. One thing I think we can say for sure is that, unless the candidate is truly disabledthink Fettermanhe or she ought, at a minimum, to show up.
John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz are contesting for the Pennsylvania Senate seat to be vacated by Republican Pat Toomey. Its a marquee matchup that has taken on horror-movie elements as Democrats and their media adjunct seek to push Fetterman over the finish line. Hobbled by the aftereffects of a severe stroke, Fetterman is obviously unfit for high office. He is fit for the doctors office.

They met last night for their one and only debate preceding the election. I watched it live on NewsNation. I discovered that NewsNation is carried on channel 810 of our cable feed and that it is the current home of Chris Cuomo, whose show followed the broadcast of the debate. Former FOX News reporter Leland Vittert also hangs his shingle out at NewsNation. He turned up to comment immediately following the debate.

As expected, Dr. Oz turned in a professional performance. He makes the appearance of a mainstream politician of generally conservative disposition and reassuring demeanor. He was a little too ardent in arguing Fettermans radicalism in response to almost every question, but I thought he made a good appearance.

Fetterman looked like he had wandered in off the set of Night of the Living Dead. Shot by George Romero on location in western Pennsylvania, the film would have been a fitting preview of Fettermans performance.

The debate was hosted by two (lame) moderators. The format presented questions that required answers in quiz-show bites ranging from 15 to 60 seconds as dictated by the moderators with an old-fashioned call bell marking the expiration of the time afforded. Mr. Oz, Ill give you 15 seconds to respond. Mr. Fetterman, you have 30 seconds.

I thought the format worked to Fettermans advantage. He was repeatedly saved by the bell when he only had a three-second thought. And yet it is difficult to see how he or the falsehoods peddled on his behalf can be taken seriously after last night.

Fetterman could not understand the questions posed to him in oral form. He was served by a mostly unseen large screen behind the moderators. The screen presented a running transcript of the debate in closed captions. Questions posed to Fetterman were frequently followed by delays of several seconds as he read them on the screen before answering. The time delay made it seem like the questions were phoned in from outer space.

Fetterman struggled to articulate his thoughts. The debate revealed Dr. Clifford Chen to be a fraud. According to Chens doctors note released this week by the Fetterman campaign, Fetterman spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits and his speech is normal. I score that 0 for 2.

The moderator asks Fetterman twice if he will release his medical records. Fetterman rambles for a while but does not give a yes or no "Again, my doctor-al believes that Im fit to be serving and thats what I believe is where Im standing." pic.twitter.com/9ro0ysuXsz  Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 26, 2022

Dr. Chen is a liar. The Fetterman campaign is a hoax. Thinking of Fetterman, I would say it is a cruel hoax. Dr. Chen is complicit in the cruelty perpetrated by Fettermans handlers.

This is a classic case of who ya gonna believe  Chen or your own eyes? Im going to believe my own eyes.

The moment John Fetterman lost the PA Senate race pic.twitter.com/P4KeExntFL  Jesse Hunt (@JJHunt10) October 26, 2022

Fettermans ability to articulate seemed to me at a juvenile level  a young juvenile. The juvenile level of his articulation correlated perfectly with the juvenile level of his thought.

The moderator asks Fetterman how to make college more affordable Fetterman: "I just believe, I just making it that much more. It, it, it costs too much. and I believe providing the resources to reduce the tuition to allow families to be able to afford it." pic.twitter.com/3IFPr6jXhT  Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 26, 2022

The candidates were given 90 seconds to make closing statements. Fetterman is clearly impaired. I attributed his interjection during Ozs closing to lack of impulse control. The interjection was unrelated to anything Oz was saying.

Out of nowhere, Fetterman yells "YOU WANT TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY!" during Oz's closing statement. The moderator has to jump in, saying "Mr. Fetterman, it's his turn for his closing." pic.twitter.com/keXVXgoO4v  Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 26, 2022

It was weird. The Washington Free Beacon has compiled this two-minute video of the lowlights.
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President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Seoul invited top Korean business executives to increase their investments in Nigeria, while his administration would continue to make determined efforts to improve the enabling domestic environment for businesses to flourish.

Speaking during an audience he granted representatives of strategic Korean companies and industries on the sidelines of the World Bio Summit 2022 in the Republic of Korea capital, the president declared that Nigeria remains committed to creating a stable and enabling business environment for foreign investors through the formulation of sound economic policies and improved governance, adding that the security forces have been working assiduously with local communities to ensure the security of lives and properties of Nigerians and foreign investors.

According to him, Our administration, has prioritized Power infrastructure under the Presidential Power Initiative. In this regard, Nigeria has procured modern power equipment which was inaugurated in September 2022 as part of the phased project to generate 25,000 megawatts of electricity by 2025. Furthermore, to ensure ease in the clearing of cargo, giant strides have been digitalised of the processes in our Sea-Parts as well as airports.

Making a case for the country as investment friendly and choice destination, President Buhari further highlighted that, With a nominal GDP of 431.97 billion USD, Nigerias economy remains the largest in Africa with vast human capital and natural resources. The steady improvement from the global economic downturn of 2020 indicates that the Nigerian economy is on firm path of recovery. I implore you, therefore, to take advantage of the many investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially in the areas of Oil and Gas, Trade, Manufacturing, ICT, Creative Industry and Culture exchange. It is worthy of emphasis to underscore that the business environment in Nigeria offers low corporate tax regime/ VAT rates, flexible labour market conditions and simple procedures for establishing businesses.

Acknowledging some significant investments by Korean companies in Nigeria in the fields of construction or heavy-duty industries, ICT and electronics as well as chemical production estimated as of 2021 at no fewer than twenty registered companies in Nigeria, among which are the Samsung, Daewoo and Hyundai Heavy Duty Industries as well as the LG and Samsung electronics and the Lotte Chemical industry, the Nigerian President expressed delight that these companies have continued to contribute immensely to the growth of the Nigerian GDP and have created job opportunities in the country.

According to him, I look forward to increased investments by Korean private companies in Nigeria as we resolve the issues of enabling relevant agreements such as Investment Promotion and Avoidance of Double Taxation between our two countries.

The Nigerian leader hoped that his engagements with Korean economic operators in priority areas would be mutually beneficial to both countries and their peoples.

Among the Captains of Industry that made remarks at the event were; Byung-Kwan KIM, Chairman Korean Importers Association; Sam Ka, CEO Korea Ship Building and Offshore Engineering; Seung Il Chow, Chief Operating Officer of Daewoo Engineering and Construction; Jaycee Jung, President/CEO, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Sang Ho Shiu, CEO, Kelon Group.

Speaking from the Nigerian end were Ladi Jadesinmi, Chairman LADOL; Mele Kyari, Group CEO, NNPC Ltd, and Bashir Yusuf Jamo, DG, NIMASA.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria says it has redesigned all major naira notes and will by December 2022 start circulating them.

The affected denominations are N100, N200, N500, and N1000.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, announced this at a press briefing on Wednesday. He said the notes were redesigned following a request from the federal government.

The last time the bank redesigned the naira was in 2014 when it changed the design of the 100 naira note to commemorate Nigerias centenary.

Although global best practice is for central banks to redesign, produce and circulate new local legal tender every 58 years, the Naira has not been redesigned in the last 20 years.

On the basis of these trends, problems, and facts, and in line with Sections 19, Subsections a and b of the CBN Act 2007, the Management of the CBN sought and obtained the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign, produce, and circulate new series of banknotes at N100, N200, N500, and N1,000 levels, he said.

According to the governor, the CBN has finalised arrangements for the new currency to begin circulation from December 15, 2022.

He said the new and existing currencies will remain legal tender and circulate together until January 31, 2023 when the existing currencies shall cease to be legal tender.

He also said all commercial banks currently holding the existing denominations of the currency may begin returning these notes back to the CBN effective immediately.

ALSO READ: Naira down to N758 at parallel market

The newly designed currency will be released to the banks in the order of first-come-first- serve basis, he said.

Customers of banks are enjoined to begin paying into their bank accounts the existing currency to enable them withdraw the new banknotes once circulation begins in mid-December 2022.

All banks are therefore expected to keep their currency processing centers open from Monday to Saturday so as to accommodate all cash that will be returned by their customers.

He said for the purpose of this transition from existing to new notes, bank charges for cash deposits are hereby suspended.

However, deposits above N150,000 will still attract charges.

We would like to use this opportunity to reassure the general public that the CBN would continue to monitor both the financial system in particular, and the economy in general, and always act in good faith for the achievement of the Banks objectives and the betterment of the country, Mr Emefiele said.

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In his first-ever interview since he regained freedom, Olajide Kareem, commonly called Seun Egbegbe, has said the police unjustly jailed him for six years for an offence he never committed.

The Lagos socialite, known for his lavish lifestyle, finally regained his freedom after spending five years and six months in prison.

He was incarcerated on 10 February 2017, while his trial officially began on 10 May 2017, with over 30 BDC operators storming the court to testify against him.

The police said that he fraudulently obtained money from fewer than 40 Bureau De Change operators in Lagos from 2015 to 2017.

Mr Kareem, who became famous over his love affair with a Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, a few years ago, was said to have been abandoned by his colleagues and proteges during his travail.

In an interview with BBC, Mr Kareem described his incarceration as a blessing in disguise as his prison experience helped him identify his enemies disguised as friends around him.

He said: Those I thought were my friends before I had that issue, I found out were my enemies after I returned from prison. None of my explanations will be acceptable to some people, and they will keep saying its a lie because there are too many enemies around me, but I thank God for life.

I believe God made me go to where I went for a purpose because my eyes were open to a few things while I was there. The crime I was incarcerated for six years over, I didnt commit, but I am happy I went there to know what living on earth means. 95% of the people surrounding me were enemies, not my friends. If this had not happened, I would have lived a worthless life because I believe those around me are my friends.

Toyin Abraham

Mr Kareem, whose publicised affair with Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, shot him into the limelight a few years ago, also said his colleagues & proteges alike have abandoned him.

During his heyday, the filmmaker financed the production of several Yoruba films under his Ebony Films Productions imprint.

He produced more than 20 movies, including Ebony Alhaji, Igbayilola, Tani Kabe?, Kura, Ile Olalewu, Ipo Agba and Odaran.

When asked about his relationship with his ex-lover, the famous actress, the ex-convict, appealed not to comment on issues relating to the actress.

I do not want to say anything about Toyin Abraham. Let us respect her. She is married with a kid, and I am happy for her. May the devil never separate her from her husband.

The ex-Nollywood filmmaker said he has turned a new leaf and was captured on video as he attended a church service.

A video of the producer was shared online by an Instagram user, and he looked sober and repentant as he looked pretty serious, studying his bible and jotting points as the service progressed.

Changed being

Mr Kareem said his most significant achievement in prison custody was his closeness to God.

Right now, I want to open a foundation that will care for the inmates in the country. My best achievement in Ikoyi prison was surrendering my life to God. I am now born again. There is a 100 per cent difference between Seun Egbegbe before going to jail and now.

The socialite who declared that he is now a born again also vowed never to hit a lady, regardless of the offence.

Then, for every little thing done by a woman, I would have started beating her, but when I got to prison, I saw people who were in prison for merely pushing their wives. For me, thank God, I will never hit a woman again in my life.

He also appealed to men to shun gender-based violence in society.

I also want to appeal to all the men out there to stop assaulting ladies, no matter the provocation. And to the women, whatever your partners might have done to you, please forgive them. There is no perfect person on earth.

Mr Kareem, who once managed Fuji artistes Wale Ayinde, Tekoma and Pasuma, appreciated everyone who stood by him during his travail, saying, may the lord stand by you and your households too.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has delisted 2,780,756 registrants from the millions of new voters who registered during the just concluded Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

This was disclosed by the commissions chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday, at a quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

A total of 12,298,944 registrants were initially declared to have successfully completed the exercise which lasted between June 2021 and July 2022.

However, Mr Yakubu, at the meeting, confirmed that a total of 2,780,756 (22.6%) of the 12 million registrants have been declared invalid due to infractions such as double registration, and underage registrants, among others.

At the end of the exercise, 12,298,944 Nigerians successfully completed the registration as new voters. All along, we have repeatedly assured Nigerians that our process of cleaning up the register is robust.

After a rigorous cleaning-up of the data using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), a total of 2,780,756 (22.6%) were identified as ineligible registrants and invalidated from the record, among them double/multiple registrants, underaged persons and outrightly fake registrations that fail to meet our business rules. Consequently, the number of valid registrations (post-ABIS) is 9,518,188, the INEC boss said.

Mr Yakubu said the noticeable infractions were carried out by some of our Registration Officers involved in the field exercise and could easily be traced.

He added: Each registration machine is operated using an access code tied to a dedicated email assigned to a staff member. There is therefore an audit trail that gives the total number of persons registered by each official involved in the registration exercise.

In some cases, some of them made as many as 40 attempts or more to register one fake voter. As a result, the Commission has so far identified 23 Registration Officers involved in this unethical conduct and disciplinary action has commenced.

Mr Yakubu said with the delisting of the 2.78 million registrants from the voter register, there are now 93,522,272 registered voters in the country.

He, however, said the new total figure may still change in the coming days after the register is subjected to public scrutiny at the ward and local government levels across the country in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act

The 9,518,188 new voters have been added to the existing register of 84,004,084 voters. The preliminary register of voters in Nigeria now stands at 93,522,272. It is preliminary because Section 19(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 requires the Commission to display the hard copies of the register of voters for each Registration Area (Ward) and Local Government Area (and simultaneously publish the entire register on the Commissions website) for a period of two weeks for scrutiny, claims and objections by citizens not later than 90 days to a General Election, he stated.

Before the release of the latest figure, the commission in September raised concerns over cases of double, multiple and ineligible registration it uncovered. It put the number of invalid registrants at the time at 1,126,359.

Nigerias voting population stood at 84,004,084 before the recent CVR exercise.

Breakdown

Giving the breakdown, Mr Yakubu said 76.5 percent (7.2 million) of the 9.5 million new registered voters in the country are young people between 18 and 34 years old.

He said while the female gender accounts for 4.8 million which is 50.82 per cent. the males account for only 4.6 million of the new voters

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The Nigerian government has insisted that the country including the capital Abuja is safe for citizens and foreigners, contrary to an advisory by the US and UK governments.

The government also criticised the updated advisory by the US government, saying each country has its security challenges.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, restated the governments stance Wednesday in Abuja.

I want to reassure both citizens, non-Nigerians, Nigerians living in this country, that security agencies are on top of this matter, the minister said. Of course, the terrorists would not stop to try to embarrass or intimidate government but what Im saying is that this country is safe. And theres no cause for alarm. No cause to panic.

Mr Mohammeds Wednesday remarks follow an updated advisory by the US embassy in Nigeria. The embassy on Wednesday authorised the evacuation of its non-emergency employees from Abuja due to heightened risk of terrorist attacks.

This follows an earlier advisory by the US and UK embassies in Nigeria warning their citizens to avoid Abuja due to the risk of a terrorist attack.

Mr Mohammed had in reaction to the earlier advisory blamed the Nigerian media for reporting it. He accused the media of reporting the advisory just for clickbait and the attendant monetary gain.

On Wednesday, however, the minister walked back on his statement, saying his statement was wrongly interpreted. He said the advisory by the two foreign governments had caused panic in the Nigerian capital.

Unfortunately, because of that travel advisory on Sunday, many schools were closed, shops were closed, travel plans were disrupted. We dont need it. The security  our soldiers, our police are working round the clock to contain any terrorist attack. This is where we stand, he said.

Mr Mohammed then compared the security situation in Nigeria with the multiple school shootings in the US.

Look how many school shootings happen in the US? How many senseless killings happened in the US? So have they been able to predict whats going to happen next, which school is going to be a victim next? Do Nigerians in the US also feel safe? he said.

The minister told the journalists interviewing him to stop demarketing your home country.

Every country has its security challenges. We have ours and we are facing them. Which side are you, American side? he said.

Since the advisory by the US and UK governments, there has been increased security presence in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Security operatives carried out random checks of homes and cars in some parts of the city including the popular TradeMoore estate in Lugbe.

Nigeria is facing various forms of insecurity including attacks by Boko Haram and its affiliates in the North-east, armed bandits in the North-west and North-central and violent secessionists in the South-east.

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There was early morning fire outbreak at the headquarters of Nigerias office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Wednesday, but the examination body has said the situation is under control.

Videos of flames at the WAEC headquarters located in Yaba, Lagos, were in circulation early Wednesday morning with unconfirmed reports suggesting that staffers were trapped in the building.

According to sources, some of the workers and particularly the non-academic staff union members had resumed when the fire incident was observed.

However, no one could ascertain the cause of the outbreak as everyone reportedly scampered for safety.

Situation under control -WAEC

Reacting to the development in a telephone conversation, the Acting Head of the Public Affairs Unit of WAEC, Moyosola Adesina, said the situation was under control.

Mrs Adesina said no one was hurt and that everyone in the building was successfully evacuated by fire fighters.

She said; Yes, the fire outbreak was noticed at the headquarters this morning and the fire fighters were quickly invited.

I can confirm to you that everyone in the building was successfully evacuated and that the fire has been put out.

The spokeswoman said she could not ascertain the cause of the incident yet but that efforts were on to do that.

WAEC had on Thursday officially launched a platform for digital certificates but this has been followed by mixed reactions.

While some users of the platform commended the examination body for the innovation, many others have accused it of rip off.

But WAEC said all the identified issues were being looked into for resolutions.

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Since 2013, communities in Cameroons Far North Region have suffered attacks from the violent extremist group Boko Haram. The divisions of Mayo-Tsanaga, Mayo-Sava and Logone-et-Chari have been hardest hit (see map). The terror group has also been responsible for several kidnappings, most recently in the Lake Chad communities of Tchika (in August) and Kofia (in September).

Areas most affected by kidnappings in Cameroons Far North Region

But other groups besides Boko Haram are increasingly kidnapping people, according to research in the North and Far North regions done by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Association Sembe. Perpetrators include former shepherds and criminal gangs comprising Cameroonians, Nigerians, Nigeriens and Chadians. The kidnappers live in the bushes and mountains along the Cameroon-Nigeria border and team up with local accomplices who act as informants.

The phenomenon has continued for over a decade, with trends worsening in the past four years. One interviewee said: About 60 cases have been recorded, and a lot more go unreported as most families prefer not to raise the alarm when their loved ones are in captivity.

People are generally reluctant to involve the authorities in finding their relatives. In most cases, they fear their family members will be killed if the government or security forces become involved, so they negotiate privately with the kidnappers. Families also doubt the security forces ability or commitment to free their loved ones safely. Vigilantes are sometimes called on to help but lack the appropriate weapons to confront the criminals.

Kidnappings are more frequent in the dry season when communities are accessible. The attacks often occur late at night. Armed groups of about four to 10 people storm houses, sometimes firing shots in the air to dissuade residents from resisting. Many victims are taken across the border into Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic or kept in Cameroonian hideouts.

The research shows that subdivisions like Bourrha, Hina, Mogode and Mokolo are the most affected in the Far North (see map). In Cameroons North Region, the Touboro subdivision is the hardest hit, with over a dozen cases reported from January to October 2022.

The most targeted villages are situated in rural areas with little or no state presence, including police, gendarmerie or military. It takes time for information to reach the security forces when incidents occur.

The ransom amount demanded depends on the status of the victim or their family and ranges from 1 million CFA francs to tens of millions of CFA francs. Male family heads are often the prime targets, but women and children are also taken.

Negotiations take days, sometimes weeks, with gangs upping the pressure and threats to obtain the ransom. They use well-planned tactics to cover their tracks, including regular changes of hideouts in or outside Cameroon. Victims are usually released unharmed once the criminals demands are met, but some are injured if their families delay paying the ransom.

In places where Boko Harams terror attacks are rife, kidnapping by criminal gangs is almost non-existent. These include Moskota, Tourou, Kolofata, Amchide and Fotokol, among others. However Boko Haram seeks to expand into new areas, as is happening in Nigeria, so communities cannot afford to be complacent.

Efforts have been made to address the problem. On 3 August, the gendarmerie uncovered a gang of male and female kidnappers in Ngong in Cameroons North Region after the abduction of a four-year-old girl. In June, gendarmes arrested 10 people responsible for several incidents in Badjengo. In the same month, the Rapid Intervention Battalion secured the release of eight hostages in Touboro. The security forces success and restoration of order were credited to their close collaboration with local authorities.

While Boko Haram takes hostages not just for ransom but to use as recruits, suicide bombers, labourers and brides for fighters, economic gain remains the primary motivation for the ongoing kidnappings.

Before Boko Haram, highway robbers terrorised border communities in the North and Far North regions. But the terrorist insurgency has made the areas more volatile. Criminal groups now have access to more sophisticated arms, and some have adopted Boko Harams modus operandi. Security forces are more likely to be deployed where Boko Haram attacks are high, leaving other border villages with little or no protection. This makes them fertile ground for criminal gangs.

The increase in kidnapping networks could see Cameroons security situation degenerate further. The more money these groups make, the more powerful they become, with the potential for staging further high-profile attacks. The lucrative nature of kidnapping could attract recruits to the gangs and enable them to equip themselves better.

ISS research shows how Boko Haram and bandits team up in Nigeria to carry out criminal activities, including kidnapping. The proximity and coordination between these groups in Cameroon mean the same could happen there.

Kidnappings are causing untold hardship in border communities already suffering from poverty and the effects of climate change. Insecurity has also fractured community life, as villagers have become more suspicious of one another.

More police, gendarmes and military posts are needed across border communities. At the same time, civilians and law enforcement must collaborate to share information and build mutual trust.

Authorities need to tap into existing community-centred approaches to enhance vigilance and tracking capabilities. And those accused of abductions must be arrested and prosecuted. Building the socio-economic resilience of communities is also essential to help them resist the lures of bandit groups.

Remadji Hoinathy, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin and Agha-Nwi Fru, Founder, Association Sembe, Cameroon

This article was produced with the support of the governments of the Netherlands and Norway.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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Since 2013, communities in Cameroons Far North Region have suffered attacks from the violent extremist group Boko Haram. The divisions of Mayo-Tsanaga, Mayo-Sava and Logone-et-Chari have been hardest hit (see map). The terror group has also been responsible for several kidnappings, most recently in the Lake Chad communities of Tchika (in August) and Kofia (in September).

But other groups besides Boko Haram are increasingly kidnapping people, according to research in the North and Far North regions done by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Association Sembe. Perpetrators include former shepherds and criminal gangs comprising Cameroonians, Nigerians, Nigeriens and Chadians. The kidnappers live in the bushes and mountains along the Cameroon-Nigeria border and team up with local accomplices who act as informants.

The phenomenon has continued for over a decade, with trends worsening in the past four years. One interviewee said: About 60 cases have been recorded, and a lot more go unreported as most families prefer not to raise the alarm when their loved ones are in captivity.

People are generally reluctant to involve the authorities in finding their relatives. In most cases, they fear their family members will be killed if the government or security forces become involved, so they negotiate privately with the kidnappers. Families also doubt the security forces ability or commitment to free their loved ones safely. Vigilantes are sometimes called on to help but lack the appropriate weapons to confront the criminals.

Kidnappings are more frequent in the dry season when communities are accessible. The attacks often occur late at night. Armed groups of about four to 10 people storm houses, sometimes firing shots in the air to dissuade residents from resisting. Many victims are taken across the border into Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic or kept in Cameroonian hideouts.

The research shows that subdivisions like Bourrha, Hina, Mogode and Mokolo are the most affected in the Far North (see map). In Cameroons North Region, the Touboro subdivision is the hardest hit, with over a dozen cases reported from January to October 2022.

The most targeted villages are situated in rural areas with little or no state presence, including police, gendarmerie or military. It takes time for information to reach the security forces when incidents occur.

The ransom amount demanded depends on the status of the victim or their family and ranges from 1 million CFA francs to tens of millions of CFA francs. Male family heads are often the prime targets, but women and children are also taken.

Negotiations take days, sometimes weeks, with gangs upping the pressure and threats to obtain the ransom. They use well-planned tactics to cover their tracks, including regular changes of hideouts in or outside Cameroon. Victims are usually released unharmed once the criminals demands are met, but some are injured if their families delay paying the ransom.

In places where Boko Harams terror attacks are rife, kidnapping by criminal gangs is almost non-existent. These include Moskota, Tourou, Kolofata, Amchide and Fotokol, among others. However Boko Haram seeks to expand into new areas, as is happening in Nigeria, so communities cannot afford to be complacent.

Efforts have been made to address the problem. On 3 August, the gendarmerie uncovered a gang of male and female kidnappers in Ngong in Cameroons North Region after the abduction of a four-year-old girl. In June, gendarmes arrested 10 people responsible for several incidents in Badjengo. In the same month, the Rapid Intervention Battalion secured the release of eight hostages in Touboro. The security forces success and restoration of order were credited to their close collaboration with local authorities.

While Boko Haram takes hostages not just for ransom but to use as recruits, suicide bombers, labourers and brides for fighters, economic gain remains the primary motivation for the ongoing kidnappings.

Before Boko Haram, highway robbers terrorised border communities in the North and Far North regions. But the terrorist insurgency has made the areas more volatile. Criminal groups now have access to more sophisticated arms, and some have adopted Boko Harams modus operandi. Security forces are more likely to be deployed where Boko Haram attacks are high, leaving other border villages with little or no protection. This makes them fertile ground for criminal gangs.

READ ALSO: Cameroon joins Africa Finance Corporation in push toward manufacturing economy

The increase in kidnapping networks could see Cameroons security situation degenerate further. The more money these groups make, the more powerful they become, with the potential for staging further high-profile attacks. The lucrative nature of kidnapping could attract recruits to the gangs and enable them to equip themselves better.

ISS research shows how Boko Haram and bandits team up in Nigeria to carry out criminal activities, including kidnapping. The proximity and coordination between these groups in Cameroon mean the same could happen there.

Kidnappings are causing untold hardship in border communities already suffering from poverty and the effects of climate change. Insecurity has also fractured community life, as villagers have become more suspicious of one another.

More police, gendarmes and military posts are needed across border communities. At the same time, civilians and law enforcement must collaborate to share information and build mutual trust.

Authorities need to tap into existing community-centred approaches to enhance vigilance and tracking capabilities. And those accused of abductions must be arrested and prosecuted. Building the socio-economic resilience of communities is also essential to help them resist the lures of bandit groups.

Remadji Hoinathy, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin and Agha-Nwi Fru, Founder, Association Sembe, Cameroon

This article was produced with the support of the governments of the Netherlands and Norway.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Wednesday secured another legal victory against the Nigerian government, as the Federal High Court, Umuahia, ordered the government to halt his prosecution.

IPOB special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, broke the news via his Twitter handle on Wednesday afternoon.

The suit, which is a fundamental rights case, was filed in March by Mr Ejimakor on behalf of Mr Kanu.

Mr Ejimakor said the court granted all the seven prayers sought by Mr Kanu, including a request that the government should restore the IPOB leader to his state of being as of 19 June, 2021.

The court denied the federal governments application to transfer the extraordinary rendition suit to Abuja. The court ruled that Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit, the lawyer said in the Twitter post.

Mr Kanu had asked the Federal High Court, Umuahia, to declare his arrest, detention and prosecution illegal.

He had asked the court to compel the government to release and repatriate him to Britain, his country of domicile and citizenship.

Mr Kanu told the court that his arrest and detention in Kenya, as well as subsequent trial in Nigeria was an infringement on his fundamental rights to personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

The IPOB leader had asked the court to compel the Nigerian government to pay him N500 million, being monetary damages for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, property and other damages he suffered as a result of the infringements of his fundamental rights through his unlawful extradition to Nigeria.

He had also asked the court to declare as unlawful the military invasion of his home in Abia State in September 2017, and to compel the Nigerian government to tender a public apology to him for the infringement of his fundamental rights.

The court, in granting the reliefs sought by Mr Kanu, ordered the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to stop further prosecution of the IPOB leader consequent upon his extraordinary rendition, and that the federal government should restore Nnamdi Kanu to his status quo before 19th June 2021.

Shortly after the court judgment, Mr Ejimakor urged the Nigerian government to comply with the judgment, by returning Mr Kanu to Kenya where he was arrested in June 2021 and repatriated to Nigeria to continue with his trial.

Wednesdays ruling occurs several days after the Court of Appeal ordered the federal government to release Mr Kanu.

The government is yet to release him and has asked the appeal court for permission not to implement the ruling.

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The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, (MDCN), has denied allegations that it signed a bilateral agreement aimed at restricting the emigration of Nigerian-trained doctors to the United Kingdom (UK).

A Twitter user @doctorisonu, had, in the early hours of Wednesday, tweeted that The MDCN visited the General Medical Council (GMC) office in Manchester UK and that There was a bilateral agreement that all Nigerian-trained doctors must practice in Nigeria for at least 10 years before being qualified to live and work in the UK.

In a statement posted on its official twitter handle Wednesday night, MDCN confirmed its visit to the UK medical body but said it was for a different purpose, thereby disregarding the tweet circulating on social media.

The agency said it had various discussions with the UK medical council including the repatriation of some funds in line with global health initiatives from Nigerian doctors, who were trained with taxpayers funds.

The statement reads in part; We had a lot of useful discussions, amongst which is the possibility of the UK government to repatriate some funds in line with global health initiatives from Nigerian doctors who were trained with taxpayers funds.

Discussion around stemming the tide of brain drain also took place.

Therefore, the rumour about bilateral agreement that all Nigerian  trained doctors must practice in Nigeria for at least 10 years before being qualified to live and work in the UK or elsewhere is FALSE, uncalled for, mischievous and should be totally disregarded.

However, no form of agreement was signed.

Brain Drain

Various statistics have shown that the majority of Nigerian-trained doctors are migrating to other developed countries, with a high percentage of them choosing the UK.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Uche Rowland, at a recent symposium to discuss the brain drain in the countrys health sector said at least 5,600 Nigerian medical doctors have migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) in the last eight years.

Mr Rowland also said a total of 727 medical doctors trained in Nigeria relocated to the UK in six months, between December 2021 and May this year; an indication that the total figure for 2022 would be higher than previous years.

He noted that Nigeria has the highest number of foreign doctors in the UK after India and Pakistan.

Quoting the UK medical council, he said there are 9,976 Nigerian trained doctors presently practicing in the country.

MDCN

MDCN is the agency that registers and regulates the medical profession in Nigeria.

The agency, as part of its duty, is tasked with the responsibility of registering newly inducted doctors, renewing licenses of doctors in the country, and also keeping records of those leaving the country.

It is also meant to have a record of foreign doctors who come into the country to work.

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Ministers of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his Information counterpart, Lai Mohammed, have blamed the attitude of some Nigerians for the devastating flooding throughout the country.

The ministers said this while briefing State House correspondents Wednesday evening.

There have been extensive flooding in 30 of the countrys 36 states. Several people have been killed in the flood and properties such as houses and farmlands have been destroyed.

Mr Mohammed said the disregard for town planning by people contributed to the escalation of the floods.

You see, its a human affair, an environmental disaster. And I did not see any country that can prepare adequately, especially when citizens refuse to cooperate. As far back as February, NIMET, warned everybody. People have built across channels. Theyve built on villages, they violated at will the planning regulations. Now disaster comes and you say water resources was not ready, humanitarian affairs was not ready and even information was already.

The information minister also called on people to stop blaming the federal government or the All Progressive Congress APC for the flooding as government is focusing on providing temporal accommodation to Nigerians who are affected and have no were to go.

On his part, Mr Fashola said after the warnings were given, some people decided not to take the advice to relocate despite the alert through the Flood Warning System

At least, let us dimension that whether it was in Pakistan, Florida, this early warnings were issued. Some people left, some people didnt leave. There are human issues. So lets just understand, first of all, is a human issue and let us not situate it as a Nigerian problem.

Were prepared

Similarly, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar  Faruk, said the ministries involved in providing relief materials to victims of the floods were ready to deliver.

Mrs Umar  Faruk said the ministry has dent grains to the states were the floods were expected to happen.

To say that the ministries were not prepared for this emergency or this disaster that was about to happen, is not correct. Because we have repositioned our warehouses to take stock of deployment as approved by His Excellency, Mr President to be handed over to the ministry and we have deployed these grains to the respective states that we expect this flood is going to happen. So, to say that we were not prepared is really not correct. We did our best and we are still doing what were supposed to do, the minister said.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the minister of Water Resources, Sulaiman Adamu, said the ministry worked on available data concerning the floods menace.

There is no technology on earth, none that can tell you the extent of the floods, none whatsoever. You work on the basis of data that you have before. Now that the rains have come, that is what hydrology is all about, this is a record and now were resetting the clock. In our future plans, we will now consider that this is the historical catastrophic level that we will not account for, that is what engineering does. This has never happened before.

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The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has finally thrown his own salvo at Kashim Shettima on the Ice Cream seller comment.

Mr Osinbajo, on Tuesday, during Governor Umar Guandujes book launch, said Mr Shettima is the major shareholder and Chairman of the Yemi Osinbajo Ice Cream company.

Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, who is also the majority shareholder and Chairman of Yemi Osinbajo Ice Cream company, he said.

In the build-up to the presidential primary, Mr Shettima had during an interview described the vice president as a nice man, adding that nice men do not make good leaders.

Osinbajo is a good man. He is a nice man. But nice men dont make a good leader. Nice men should be selling popcorn and ice cream, he said at the time.

He equally poked fun at another aspirant, Senate President Ahmad Lawan with his tomato seller comment.

Go to Ohiafia and ask of Ahmad Lawan, the first thing that will come to their mind is that of a tomato dealer from Maiduguri. Go to any other part of the south, does the name sell?, Mr Shettima had said.

Mr Shettima later tendered an unreserved apology to the duo, noting that his comments were to underline the promise Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubus presidential bid held for those yet to establish the certainty of the hurdle ahead of the APC.

Mr Osinbajo and several others were later defeated at the APC primary election by Mr Tinubu, who polled 1,271 votes.

Since the convention, Mr Osinbajo has somewhat distanced himself from the Tinubu/Shettima campaign. His name is not in the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC.

The ruling party, however, said Mr Osinbajo was excluded at the request of President Muhammadu Buhari, to enable him focus on governance.

The vice president was a political ally of Mr Tinubu. He had served the latter as attorney general and commissioner for justice when he was Lagos State governor.

Mr Tinubu is widely believed to have nominated Mr Osinbajo as the APC vice presidential candidate in 2015.

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Tuesday expressed its desire to partner with ambassadors of its 193 member states to propagate media and information literacy (MIL).

Speaking at a parallel session of the Global MIL Week titled Ambassadors as messengers championing MIL, UNESCOs Assistant Director General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, invited ambassadors to join in the quest to make cyberspace safe.

The Nigerian government on Monday flagged off the Global MIL week in Abuja with an opening ceremony at the State House.

Ambassadors are symbols of international cooperation and key stakeholders at UNESCO. This is a message of solidarity to ambassadors of different countries to make sure cyberspace is safe, Mr Jelassi said.

He added that the partnership must focus on how to repair the already broken trust people have in the information in cyberspace. In doing this, we have to co-regulate with stakeholders to ensure the cyberspace is safe and used for the public good.

He said UNESCO plans to hold a regulation conference in February 2023 with big tech companies. Mr Jelassi however, clarified that the aim of the conference is not to promote censorship but responsibility- to ensure that information remains for the public good.

If you regulate, you negatively impact freedom of expression, we are very much aware of that. You know it is a very thin line and we have to balance. Because UNESCO has been the lead UN agency on freedom of expression, freedom of the press and safety of journalists, we cannot shoot ourselves in the foot

Chinas ambassador to Nigeria, Ciu Jianchun, who was one of the panellists, welcomed the invitation by UNESCO on behalf of his colleagues (ambassadors). He said information and technology change is as important as climate change which the world is paying attention to at the moment.

We believe that ambassadors, embassies can do something to support this because diplomatic assignment is not only overseeing on the political, economic, security and international affairs but should also focus on the people and communication and how we can utilise our technology, he said.

He added that citizens of the world have to maximise the advantages and benefits of technology and minimise harm.

Mr Jianchum added that it is important at this time for the international community to work together to identify the root cause of information disorder and proffer solutions.

He also proposed an incentive model for the media  a model that rewards platforms that produce and promote authentic information.

According to the moderator of the panel, Hajo Sani, Nigerias permanent delegate to UNESCO, other ambassadors in Abuja who were meant to be on the panel could not make it following the security alert issued by the US and the UK.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the US and UK missions in Nigeria on Sunday issued separate security advisories warning of likely terror attacks in Abuja.

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Cross River State Government has vowed to sanction Primary Healthcare (PHCs) facilities that charge pregnant women more than N3,000 for childbirth .

The Director-General of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Janet Ekpenyong, said this during an integrated meeting with PHC Ward Focal Persons and the State Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme in Calabar.

Ms Ekpenyong, a medical doctor, said the agency had received complaints that some PHCs charge as much as N10,000.

She said the PHCs are supposed to charge just N3,000 for delivery to purchase consumables and this is only when they dont come with their own consumables as stated on the list initially given to them.

We are looking at ways to encourage pregnant women to patronise health facilities instead of Traditional Birth Attendants.

While we totally condemn these actions, we have set up a team headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health to ensure that culpable PHCs and personnel are adequately penalised.

She said that out of the 196 PHCs in the state, more than 130 have been accredited for the Cross River Basic Healthcare Insurance scheme, adding that as the scheme grows, other PHCs will be accredited too.

She warned officials of the PHCs to be aware that they would either encourage or discourage clients from coming back to their facilities by their attitude.

The Director-General, Cross River Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme, Godwin Iyala, said the scheme is essential to the health of pregnant women and during childbirth.

Mr Iyala said the PHCs were picked in a bid to achieve Universal Health Coverage because they are the closest to the people.

According to him, 50 laptops are being distributed to the PHCs accredited for the Basic Healthcare Provision Scheme.

He added that the laptops, which have been configured, are for record keeping and transfer of information for the scheme in the PHCs.

Every month, the PHCs will be paid based on the number of enrollees they have, after proper monitoring and evaluation by third party administrators that will go round the facilities from time to time.

Mr Iyala said the programme was organised to achieve service delivery, adding that the agency had zero tolerance for irregularities from PHCs.

The Special Adviser to the Governor Ayade on Health, David Ushie, appealed to officials to treat customers with respect as patients satisfaction is key to the success of the scheme.

(NAN)

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The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign in Rivers State, Leloonu Nwibubasa has advised the State Governor, Nyesom Wike to stop feeding the people of the state with misinformation.

Mr Nwibubasa, who served as commissioner in Governor Wikes administration, was reacting to statements made by the governor at the inauguration of Rivers PDP campaign council.

Mr Wike, in his remark at the event held in Port Harcourt on Monday, said that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, picked people from Rivers into the presidential campaign council without his contribution.

The governor said people from the state serving as members of the presidential campaign council were enemies of Rivers.

I have never seen how people would disrespect a state like Rivers (State) and go and choose those who are enemies of the state without the contributions from us, Mr Wike had said.

Although Mr Wike did not mention names of those he described as enemies of the state, this newspaper earlier reported that Mr Atiku appointed former national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, from Rivers, as his technical adviser.

Two former deputy speakers of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche and Austin Opara, from Rivers, are members of the presidential campaign council.

Others are a senator, George Sekibo, former senator, Lee Maeba and George Sekibo and former transportation minister under Olusegun Obasanjo, Abiye Sekibo, as well as a retired army general, Kenneth Minima.

Reacting to the governors statements, Mr Nwibubasa, who is a former commissioner in Mr Wikes administration, said the governors claim was incorrect.

Rather its the governor that denied Rivers people more representation in the campaign council by refusing to send in nominees, Mr Nwibubasa said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

Enemies of Rivers supported your ill-fated presidential bid

Mr Nwibubasa reminded the governor that those he labelled as enemies of the state supported his ill-fated presidential bid and governorship bid back in 2015.

It is a great surprise and also of grave concern that Governor Wike openly declared our leaders, fathers and kinsmen enemies of the state for their decision to support Atiku.

Rivers People must recall that a few months ago, the same enemies of the state traversed the length and breadth of this country, risking their lives on land and in the air to help Governor Wike in his ill-fated presidential bid.

They gave their best. If their best could not push Governor Wike through, should they also join Governor Wike to destroy the party that made them, With Governor Wike being the highest beneficiary?

Also remember, that though Mr Wike was not the most qualified to be governor of Rivers State in 2015, more so for reasons bothering on equity and fairness, (former) Governor Rotimi Amaechi having done two terms from the same Ikwerre ethnic group, these men who are now named enemies of the state for the love of PDP, for party cohesion and unity supported Mr Wike in no small measure to be governor of Rivers State.

Mr Nwibubasa urged the people of Rivers to support Atiku, adding that no other presidential candidate has the states interest than the PDP presidential candidate.

He said Atiku has created over 750,000 jobs in Rivers through his various investments in the state.

Mr Wike has been in a political battle with Atiku since the PDP presidential primary was concluded, which the former vice president of Nigeria, won.

The Rivers governor is leading a group of four other governors and other party chieftains who are demanding the removal of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to achieve a regional balance since Messrs Ayu and Atiku are both from the north.

Mr Wikes allies who were appointed into the PDP presidential campaign council last month announced their withdrawal from the council.

Members of the group also boycotted the presidential campaign flag-off of the party. They are adamant that Mr Ayu must be replaced with a southerner.

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The Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests Association has said that it would mobilise effectively the churchs faithful to go out and vote in the 2023 elections.

The President of the Calabar Archdiocesan chapter of the association, Emmanuel Duke, said this at its 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Calabar on Wednesday.

This years AGM has as its theme, The Imperative of Effective Evangelism through Inclusiveness.

Mr Duke, whose archdiocese is hosting 170 priests from 56 dioceses, said the theme was apt because it was about the church and society.

He said the church, especially the Catholic Church, would want to change the political narrative in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria by encouraging its faithful to exercise their franchise.

According to him, Next years elections are like no others. We did a lot of grassroots mobilisation during the voters registration and we will do the same for the polls.

We specially wrote the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration units and had every person of voting age registered. We have also mobilised them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

It is the same measure we will adopt during the elections; properly mobilise everybody to exercise their franchise.

We have told them to vote according to their conscience on election days and that they should not sell their conscience because of money.

They should vote candidates they believe are sincere, committed and dedicated.

The association bemoaned the insecurity in the country but said they would remain undeterred.

Charles Etim, a reverend father, who is the chairman of the Central Organising Committee for the meeting, said insecurity would not make Catholic priests shy away from the responsibility God has assigned to them.

He stressed that even with the level of insecurity in the country, a priest should not be seen to be carrying a gun.

Our Lord did not carry arms or security guards, we believe that the Lord is there to protect us, he said.

In his address, the National President of the association, Johnbosco Ezehi, a reverend, encouraged clerics in the country to remain undaunted despite the present challenges.

He encouraged Nigerians to pray so that God will lead them into electing good and responsive leaders in 2023.

(NAN)

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The Police Command in Ogun on Wednesday said it has arrested four suspects that specialised in snatching motorcycles from owners at gun points.

The police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that the suspects were arrested on 24th October in the Onibudo area of Ajuwon.

Mr Oyeyemi said in Ota, Ogun, that the suspects were arrested following a distress call received at Ajuwon Police Divisional Headquarters at about 3.00 a.m., that they were operating and had attacked one Sunday Doile at Onibudo area of Akute and snatched his Bajaj Motorcycle at gunpoint.

Upon the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ajuwon Division, SP. Andrew Akinseye quickly mobilised his patrol team and moved to the scene.

On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums who are about six in number took to different directions, while one of them escaped with the snatched motorcycle, others were hotly chased and four, amongst them were apprehended.

During interrogation, they confessed being the syndicate that was responsible for various cases of motorcycle snatching in Ajuwon and its environs, he said.

The police spokesperson said they confessed further that their mode of operation was to use a motorcycle belonging to one of them to cross the one they want to snatch.

ALSO READ: Angry youths set ablaze suspected motorcycle thief in Jos

He added that they used to display their guns to the victim and order him to surrender his motorcycle.

According to them, any of the victims who struggled with them will be hit on the head with an iron rod and the motorcycle will be taken away, while the owner is unconscious.

Mr Oyeyemi said that two locally made pistols, one iron rod, a cutlass, one live cartridge, three expended cartridges, and assorted charms were recovered from them.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.

Mr Bankole, according to him, also directed that the escaped members of the gang must be hunted for wherever they might be. (NAN)

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A Non-Governmental Organisation has urged medical practitioners to admit victims of accidents and gunshots without asking for a police report.

Gloria Egbuji, the founder of Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON), at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, advocated the domestication of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act passed in 2017.

Of the 36 states in Nigeria, only two states  Lagos and Anambra  have domesticated the law.

Mrs Egbuji said that since 1998, the organisation has been leading the cause of gunshots and accidents victims by urging medical staff in private and public hospitals to admit the victims for treatment before asking them to produce a police report.

She said that it is now an offence for medical facilities to deny any gunshot or accident victim the right to be treated before being subjected to the submission of a police report.

Mrs Egbuji also said it is an offence for the police to arrest or harass medical staff for treating a gunshot or accident victim who does not have a police report at the time of admission.

Regrettably, in spite of the fact that there is already a law on the compulsory treatment of gunshot and accident victims without making the submission of

police report a condition before treatment, some Nigerian hospitals have continued to demand a police report thereby putting the lives of such victims at risk, the lawyer said.

In the last 18 months, Nigeria has lost some of her citizens through the careless refusal of the hospitals to accept the victims for treatment.

Among the recent victims of gunshot who died as a result of refusal of hospitals to treat them without police report even after the enactment of the Gunshot Victims Act was a gospel music producer cum final year Higher National Diploma (HND) student at Ibadan Polytechnic popularly known as Ebenezer Ayeni.

ALSO READ: Senate passes bill to protect victims of gunshots

He was shot on Thursday 10 June 2021 at his Ibadan, Oyo State residence by armed robbers a few days before his wedding.

He was said to have been rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and later a private hospital but reportedly rejected by hospital staff

who demanded a police report before they could treat his gunshot injury. He died hours later in a pool of his own blood.

The lawyer urged the state government to set up funds for indigent victims so that they can access the funds for their treatments.

She added that the police should adopt other means of taking statements from the doctors rather than subjecting them to endless statements.

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A group, Zarephath Aid, has said the practice of holding charges in Nigerias criminal justice system contributes to the congestion in the countrys custodial centres.

Ben Abraham, the founder of the group, said at a press conference in Lagos Wednesday, that it is appalling for an inmate in 21st century Nigeria to stay 10 years or more in a custodial centre on holding charge awaiting trial.

This is the shocking but true story of many inmates in prisons in Nigeria, said Mr Abraham, a lawyer.

A holding charge is a practice where a magistrate, presiding over a case that cannot be tried by the court, remands crime suspects pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The current capacity of Nigerias custodial centres is about 58,000 but there are over 70,000 inmates across the country, according to an official.

Section 264 to 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2015 as amended provides for the process of remand by the magistrate court upon application by the police in offences that cannot be tried by the magistrate.

However, in reality, the legal check which that section seeks to introduce is not actualised because, after the remand, the role of the remanding magistrate as outlined in Section 264 (6), (7), (8) is not fulfilled.

The police arrest suspects for felonies and offences triable by information, hurriedly remand them and dump their files somewhere, anywhere while these suspects, deemed innocent in the eyes of the law, languish for years on end.

Mr Abraham said although appellate courts in many cases over the years had pronounced the practice of holding charges unlawful, the practice has persisted.

It does not accord with justice and legality for a magistrate court to remand a suspect on a charge the court has no jurisdiction to try ab initio.

We, therefore, call on the authorities in Lagos State and indeed other states to, as a matter of urgency, set up mechanisms to stop the inhuman and illegal practice of holding charge. Thousands of lives and destinies have been ruined in this practice over the years.

He said his organisation is handling a case involving five persons who have stayed a cumulative time of 50 years awaiting trial, having been arrested in 2012.

The matters are subjudice so we restrict our comments but suffice to say that such tales should no longer be told in our clime. It reeks of viciousness, cold-heartedness, and sadism to say the least.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday inaugurated an upgraded headquarters and three newly constructed fire stations to tackle fire emergencies in the state.

The upgraded fire service headquarters is located at Alausa, Ikeja; while the three newly constructed stations are situated at Ebute Elefun, Oniru and Ajegunle.

Speaking at the inauguration, held at Ikeja and Ebute Elefun, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the building and inauguration of the stations were in fulfilment of the governments commitment to the protection of the lives and property of the residents.

He said that having more fire stations would ensure effective and timely response the fire emergencies in the state.

According to him, two years ago, a performance assessment study of all First Responders was carried out, where gaps responsible for limiting the effectiveness of their response to emergencies were identified.

Our response to these identified gaps was not only proactive but very strategic, as we developed a road map that will address them and reposition the agencies for optimum performance.

Specifically, one of the challenges identified was the inadequate fire stations for a growing state such as ours. As we all know, fire outbreak is an emergency that can only be prepared for, but the time, speed, and scale at which it will happen cannot be pre-determined.

This is where response time is critical as it can make a lot of difference between life and death.

Therefore, to enable Fire Responders reduce the distance and overcome other unplanned encumbrances on the way to the fire scene, the idea of having at least one fire station in each of the twenty Local Government Areas of the state was conceived.

To this end, contract for the construction of six new fire stations in different parts of the state were awarded. Three out of these six fire stations that have been completed along with their headquarters are being commissioned and handing over today, he said.

The governor said the remaining three stations at Ijede, Kosofe, and Ijegun would be completed and delivered before May 2023.

He said the construction of new fire stations would allow quicker response to the scene of emergencies within their specific area of coverage because the proximity or nearness of fire stations to incident locations was very crucial to rescue and safety operations.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the earlier the fire was attacked, the lesser the damage it would have on people and property.

The governor enjoined residents, especially those living around the locations of the new and upgraded fire stations, to take ownership of them and ensure their protection from attack or damage.

They are provided with your taxes. They are your properties. Please protect them, he said.

Earlier, Mobolaji Ogunlende, the special adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, said that the event was a milestone in the journey to rebrand and reposition the state fire and rescue service for improved service

Mr Ogunlende said the need for new fire stations was conceived to overcome the challenge of distance and quicken the response time of the Service.

He said that the target was to localise the presence of fire service stations in each of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

With the huge investments made by the Sanwo-Olu administration in this sector, I am confident that Lagosians will begin to experience improved services from the fire and rescue service.

I am also convinced that the officers are ready to justify the confidence reposed in the service by the administration, the SA said.

Also speaking, Margaret Adeseye, the director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said the new station at Ebute-Elefun would serve an estimated population of over 1,353,600 residents.

Mrs Adeseye said the Ajegunle station would serve an estimated population of over 2,256,000 residents, while that of Oniru would serve over 1,579,200 residents.

Gbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland, Lagos, said the inauguration of the fire station was proof of Mr Sanwo-Olu administrations commitment to protect and preserve the lives and property of the residents.

Mr Lawal said that for a long time, Iru Kingdom and its environs have had to depend on the emergency response from the fire stations located in Chevron and Marina.

He commended the governor for approving the construction of a modern fire station in Iruland and utilising the land that was bequeathed to the state government by the late Idowu Abiodun Oniru in 2011.

According to him, a prepared community can make a huge difference during emergencies and help save lives.

In her remark, Rashidat Adu, the chairperson, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, urged residents of the area to be safety conscious at all times.

Mrs Adu urged market men and women to always remember to switch off all electrical appliances at the end of business in the market, to prevent fire outbreaks and loss of life and property.

(NAN)

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Two Nigerians living in Canada have been appointed to the cabinet of the new government of Alberta.

Another Nigerian also won a councillorship election into a city office in a Canadian city.

Messrs Kaycee Madu and Akolisa Ufodike were appointed by Danielle Smith, the new premier of Alberta, on Monday, 24 October.

Mr Madu, who was formerly Albertas justice minister, moved to the ministry of labour and immigration and is now Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions.

Mr Ufodike will serve as Deputy Minister at Albertas Ministry of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Ms Smith, speaking on her cabinet, said, I am thrilled to be working with this strong, determined, united group of MLAs.

Albertas future is bright  but theres a lot of work to be done. Our team will work every day to gain your trust, make bold changes and continue to build the most innovative, entrepreneurial and welcoming province in the world, she added.

Also in Canada, Ayo Owodunni became the first black person to become a City Councillor in Kitchener, London Ontario, Canada.

Mr Owodunnis election has been commended by President Muhammadu Buhari who praised the contributions of the Diaspora in promoting Nigerias image abroad and acting as brand ambassadors.

Mr Owodunni won the Municipal elections for Ward 5 in a keenly contested race for the office, according to a statement by Mr Buharis office.

Speaking on Mr Owodunnis historic victory, President Buhari said the record-setting election of the Nigerian, the first ever for a black person highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by him as a consultant, facilitator, and trainer, supporting businesses in their efforts to promote learning and bring diversity, inclusion and cultural understanding in the workplace.

The President urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to always promote the governments development agenda wherever they lived and never be afraid to dream big and never give up on your dreams.

The President congratulated Owodunni and his spouse, Folake and their two children on this very important election victory, the presidents spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement.

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A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has nullified all the primaries conducted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state over illegal exclusion of some members of the party as delegates.

Some members of the party in the state, led by George Orlu, had approached the court asking it to nullify the party primaries over their exclusion.

The Judge, E.A. Obile, on Monday ruled that the aggrieved persons were shut out of the primaries illegally, and thereby rendering the outcome a nullity, according to a report by the Punch newspaper.

Justice Obile ordered that those that emerged from the primaries of the party should not be recognised as candidates for next years general elections.

The APC in Rivers have been fractionalised between loyalists of the former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and a former governorship aspirant of the party, Magnus Abe.

Mr Abe defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he picked the governorship ticket for next years election, after he was outmaneuvered by Mr Ameachi faction at the APC primaries.

The plaintiffs in the case were mainly loyalists of Mr Abe.

Its a travesty of justice  APC

Reacting to the court judgment, APC spokesperson in the state, Darlington Nwauju described it as a travesty of justice.

Mr Nwauju, who stated this in a statement on Tuesday, said an attempt to repeat the 2019 event on the party in 2023, where the APC in Rivers State were barred from fielding candidates for elections, would fail.

He said the claimants in the case are now members of the SDP and assured party supporters in the state that the appellate court would overturn the ruling.

Our immediate response is that the Supreme Court has decided on a plethora of cases suggesting that political parties are their own chief executive officers and can regulate their own internal affairs.

The subject matter for which Justice Obile granted the relief of plaintiffs to nullify the congresses of our party is entirely an internal party affair, therefore its a travesty of justice as far as we are concerned.

We assure Rivers people that the attempt to rehash the 2019 episode in Rivers State is already dead on arrival.

Nothing will stop the APC in Rivers State from being on the ballot in 2023.

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Polaris Bank is giving away millions of Naira in cash prices and other special rewards in its ongoing

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The management of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and the institutions chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and other Associated Institutions (NASU) have disagreed over the seven days warning strike by the latter.

The university has just resumed following the suspension of the eight months nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The current seven-day strike is a result of a dispute between NASU and the FUNAAB Vice Chancellor, Felix Salako.

While declaring the seven-day strike, the union said it was protesting what it described as anti-NASU policies and activities of the vice chancellor.

But the university dismissed the claims of the union and accused it of falsehood. It said parts of the grievances of the union are already before the Court of Appeal, saying the strike amounts to the union resorting to self-help.

The strike

On 20th October, the Senior Assistant General Secretary of NASU, Damola Adelekun, wrote to the vice-chancellor to notify him of a seven-day-strike by NASU over undue interference with the activities of the local chapter of the union, victimisation of members and the instigation of members against the union.

The university swiftly called for a meeting with the local chapter of the union to resolve the issues the next day.

At the meeting, the union told the university that it would engage the national body before it can suspend the strike, said the chairperson, Samson Edivri.

To our surprise, on Sunday around 2 p.m., the registrar released a statement trying to blackmail the leadership of the union, he said in a telephone conversation on Tuesday. So we held our congress on Monday and we told our members to go home that the strike had commenced.

He, however, assured the students that the strike would be suspended at the end of the seven days. We have assured the students that by the grace of God, after this seven-day (strike), we are going to end the strike. So after that we are going back to our normal duty with the hope that they will constitute the so-called committee so that we can engage ourselves, he added.

NASUs Demands

A statement by NASU chairperson, Mr Edivri, said the vice chancellor has refused to obey the order of the Industrial Court in Ibadan which ordered him and the governing council to desist from interfering with the affairs of the union.

He accused the vice chancellor of denying a member of the union, Ishaq Odunjo, of career progression because he once challenged the vice chancellors interference in the leadership of NASU.

He also accused the vice chancellor of illegally suspending some members of staff for downing tools based on the order of the national body.

It was since 2019 that Mr Ishaq Odunjobecame a threat to the University Management under the leadership of Prof. F.K. Salako who at one time described Mr Odunjo as an asset to the university peace, progress and development, said Mr Edviri.

Monitoring strike

PREMIUM TIMES monitored the NASU strike on Monday and observed that members of the union are divided over the strike as some of them were seen at their duty posts.

A member of NASU, Ajani Yomibo, condemned the strike, saying it was selfishly called by two leaders of the union and their footsoldiers who have already turned the local branch to their private enterprise.

The student union president of the university, Seyi Ale, led other students to protest against the NASU strike on Monday, insisting nothing will elongate our just concluded eight months strike. We have been patient enough.

The student leader wondered why any union would be calling for a strike just after the termination of an eight-months strike by ASUU.

University reacts

In its reaction, the university accused the union of simply attempting to force the management to promote Mr Odunjo whom it said failed promotion interviews and competency tests.

A statement by the university Registrar, Bola Adekola, alleged that other issues listed as grievances were simply to mask its actual intent of seeking promotion for Mr Odunjo.

Its important to call the attention of the public to the fact that four of the issues raised by NASU National body for calling its members out on this proposed illegal action are just a smoke-screen for the real one which was to force and arm-twist the hand of management to promote the former Chairman of NASU- FUNAAB and a current member of National Executive Committee of NASU, Mr Ishaq Odunjo who couldnt pass promotion interviews and competency test usually conducted for the University officers aspiring for CONTISS 14 positions like some others who also took part in the processes, said the university.

The university also said the suspension of some NASU members was for the violation of the university rules.

It added that the university members of NASU were included in the disciplinary process to ensure transparency. But NASU stated that its members withdrew from the committee as a result of the lack of transparency.

We are taken aback by the half-truth being dished out on the issue relating to the discipline of some NASU members who violated the rules of the University in 2019 and were taken through the disciplinary process of the University using the extant rules and regulations. Even the local NASU officials were involved in the process for transparency. The Governing Council not only did justice to the matter but also took the appeal of the National body on the matter before it was restored in 2019. The University Council reaffirmed its decision on the matter, the statement said.

Background

The FUNAAB chapter of NASU and the university management have long been in dispute that has seen both parties appear in court for recourse.

In July 2021, some university staff attempted to join NASU but were stopped by the university on the account that they had signed an undertaking not to join any labour union on the campus.

The individuals who are mostly junior staff in the university were also issued queries.

When they demanded the withdrawal of their membership application from NASU after the queries, NASU rejected their withdrawal.

Mr Odunjo, a former chairman of the union, told PREMIUM TIMES that the union informed the vice chancellor that the university has no say in determining who joins NASU and who does not but he was adamant.

We wrote questioning his (the vice chancellors) decision. That it is not his responsibility to determine who joins the union among the staff of the university or which of the union they join. We wrote another one, appealing to him to rescind that decision but he did not, he said.

The union, therefore, sued the university vice-chancellor and the governing council to the Industrial Court in Ibadan for allegedly meddling in the internal affairs of the union.

In the suit filed on 26 October 2021, NASU asked the court to declare the undertaking signed by the junior staff as a gross violation of their (staff) Fundamental Rights as provided for by Section 40 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended and thereby null, void and of no effect whatsoever).

In a judgement delivered on 5 May, the Industrial Court ruled in favour of NASU and awarded N200,000 in damages.

The judgement by Justice J.D Peters, nullified any purported undertaking for any of the eligible members of the claimant (NASU) not to take part in any union action.

It also restrained the university from meddling in the affairs of the union in terms of membership and the way it ran its affairs.

Parts of the pronouncements in the court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES reads: I order immediate disbandment of the investigation Committee set up to investigate the eligible members of the claimant on the ground of an undertaking not to take part in any union actions as contained in the query latter and set aside the findings of the disciplinary committee on the violation of undertaking not to part in any Union action as contained in the query letter.

Dissatisfied with this ruling, FUNAAB and the vice-chancellor approached the Court of Appeal in Ibadan on 27 May, to request that the judgement of the industrial court be set aside on grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case as well as an alleged lack of fair hearing.

FUNAAB also sought a stay of execution of the earlier judgement pending the declaration by the court of appeal.

But the Industrial Court dismissed the application for a stay of execution of the first judgement on grounds that the appeal court did not request for it.

Justice J.D Peters dismissed the application on 5 July and ordered another payment of N100,000 to the union.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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The Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Oyo State, Wale Lasisi, has called on the government to give doctors incentives to mitigate the issue of brain drain bedeviling the health sector.

Mr Lasisi made the call in Ibadan on Tuesday at the opening of the 2022 Physicians Week, with the theme: Nigerias Healthcare Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative.

He said the problem of brain drain had been on since 1960, as many people leave the country on a daily basis.

In those days, the pattern was people training abroad and coming home to practise.

As things degenerated over time, many people who have been exposed abroad ran back while those who have had the opportunity of training abroad also ran back when they saw the quality service there.

UK is trying to replace its own workforce and make sure its people get the best of healthcare, thus coming down to Third World nations in Africa, including Nigeria, to recruit medical personnel.

In the immediate future, the best that the government can do is to add incentives to retain those who are on ground, Mr Lasisi said.

In his lecture, Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, Ayodeji Agboola, advised those contesting for one position or the other to put the issue of healthcare in the front burner.

We have heard several promises from 1960 till when the civilian rule started in 1999.

So much legislation had also been made and we have heard that they wanted to develop primary healthcare but we have not seen any significant improvement.

My advice and plea to all of them is to make sure that they put primary healthcare into focus, Mr Agboola said.

Fola Adeniji, of University College Hospital, Ibadan, said if the brain drain trend should be allowed to continue, the country would be at the risk of having a collapsed health system.

For every physician trained in Nigeria, government must have spent an average of N3.8 million, which is equivalent to $10,000.

So if that individual decides to leave the country, that means the country will be losing investments in that individual, Mr Adeniji said.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the event, Akinyinka Omigbodun, described doctors as endangered species, as many of them were leaving for other places, with the few remaining already overwhelmed with the number of patients.

Mr Omigbodun urged the association to bring together policy makers and stakeholders to implement policies that would benefit the sector.

In his goodwill message, the Chief Medical Director of UCH, Jesse Otegbayo, noted that the nations healthcare system had suffered a lot, especially in terms of poor allocation of resources to the sector.

He, however, said this years budget had given the sector the highest allocation, for the first time in many decades.

(NAN)

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Zhavoronkov's "Longevity Pledge" invites the world's 1% and longevity enthusiasts to make longer, healthier human lifespans a reality for everyone

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the artificial intelligence, biotech and longevity pioneer Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, has publicly called for the world's most successful founders, altruistic billionaires, and dedicated longevity pioneers to join him in his unorthodox and principled "Longevity Pledge."

Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, is the founder and Chief Longevity Officer of Deep Longevity, the founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, and an adjunct professor at the esteemed Buck Institute for Research on Aging. He serves on the Visionary Board of the Longevity Science Foundation, is part of the advisory board for longevity and biotech venture capital firm LongeVC and advises multiple other non-profits and startups working in longevity biotechnology. He is a renowned artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and longevity expert, founder, and scientist, hailing from Canada and Latvia.

Today, Alex Zhavoronkov formally announced his personal " Longevity Pledge ." Through this pledge, Zhavoronkov committed all of his wealth and resources, as well as all of his remaining time to supporting and developing research and clinical solutions for extending healthy productive longevity for everyone on the planet.

"Making productive longevity, or the ability to live a longer, healthier life, is the most altruistic cause you can support," said Alex Zhavoronkov. "If we could extend everyone's life by just one more high-quality, healthy year, our world would benefit from roughly 8 billion more impactful years in a few generations. These years could mean thousands of new medical and scientific discoveries, impactful action on climate change, and more. This is no time to waste. I hope my example will motivate people with similar backgrounds to not only commit their wealth, but also their intellect, skills, and ingenuity to this strangely underappreciated cause."

Alex Zhavoronkov's personal Longevity Pledge included:

- Committing his entire fortune (including future earnings) to the cause of human longevity

- 100% of his time to advising, founding, creating and pursuing longevity initiatives

- Invest solely in companies with the potential to extend healthy, productive life, forming a global longevity ecosystem. These companies can grow, become sustainable, give rise to other companies, and return profits that can be reinvested in other longevity enterprises.

The full pledge can be read here.

By inviting others to join the Longevity Pledge, Alex Zhavoronkov believes that four significant breakthroughs for human longevity will be accelerated from approaching release in 20+ years to broadly available in 5 years:

- The development of AI-powered drug discovery platforms that will significantly derisk, accelerate, and democratize the discovery of novel therapeutics. The cost of drug discovery and development may exceed $3 billion to launch just one novel drug on the market. The process from disease hypothesis and target discovery to launch of the drug in the clinic can take at least 12 years and fails 99% of the time (source: Insilico Medicine, founded by Alex Zhavoronkov, which is at the forefront of this field and utilizes artificial intelligence, robotics and its global team to accelerate drug discovery).

- Personalized medicine, treatment and drugs: Develop fully automated systems that can customize care to each patient and help discover novel therapeutics and therapeutic combinations for individuals.

- Cryotherapy/cryobiology and biostasis: Recent advances can allow doctors to freeze and unfreeze organs rapidly, and possibly entire bodies, to enable long-term storage, transport, and even "biostasis" for the terminally ill or irreparably frail.

- Artificial intelligence and robotics-powered hospitals: All of the above breakthroughs support the creation of entirely new research and clinical infrastructure for medical care and repair. Creating an AI/robotics-driven preventive and regenerative research hospital is Alex Zhavoronkov's ultimate goal.

To learn more, please visit Longevity.Pledge .

About Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD

Professor Zhavoronkov is a Latvian and Canadian scientist and founder. He received his bachelor's degrees from Queen's University in Canada. After graduating, he began his career in the telecommunications and graphics processing unit (GPU) semiconductor industry, which catalyzed his interest in artificial intelligence and neural networks. In 2004, he decided to pursue a career in aging and longevity biotechnology and completed a master's degree at Johns Hopkins University and his PhD in biophysics from MSU. Afterwards, he directed the bioinformatics and regenerative medicine laboratories at one of the world's largest pediatric hematology, oncology, and immunology research centers. He also worked at and consulted several biotechnology companies and charitable foundations. In 2014, he founded Insilico Medicine , one of the first and largest AI-powered clinical-stage biotechnology companies with end-to-end drug discovery capabilities. At Insilico, he raised over $415 million, developed eight preclinical candidates, and took the aging research- and AI-discovered and AI-designed antifibrotic drug into human clinical trials. He also founded Deep Longevity , which is now part of a publicly-traded Endurance Longevity, a company specializing in aging biomarkers, and published the first aging clocks using deep learning. In 2013, he founded the Aging Research for Drug Discovery (ARDD) conference in Basel, Switzerland, which moved to the University of Copenhagen in 2019. Today it is the largest industry conference in longevity biotechnology. He serves on the Visionary Board of the Longevity Science Foundation and is the head of the advisory board for longevity and biotech venture capital firm LongeVC. Since 2012, he has published more than 160 peer-reviewed articles in Nature, Science, PNAS, and many other top journals. He also wrote a book called " The Ageless Generation ," published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2013, which explained the pressing need to accelerate aging research to revive the global economy and avoid economic collapse. Since 2018, he has contributed to Forbes.com on pressing topics in AI and longevity. Learn more about Alex Zhavoronkov and the Longevity Pledge at www.LongevityPledge.org .

Press Contact

Rachel Pipan, [email protected] , +31642213615

SOURCE Longevity Science Foundation
Govtech leader recognized for outstanding SaaS solutions, recent enhancements to the Accela Civic Platform, and outstanding customer impact

SAN RAMON, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela , the trusted provider of cloud solutions for government, today announced that it has won an Overall SaaS Award from the 2022 APPEALIE SaaS Awards . APPEALIE recognized Accela as a winner in the IT management and operations category for significant product improvements in the last 18 months, resulting in outstanding customer satisfaction and impact.

"Accela is dedicated to bringing the best cloud solutions to government agencies so they can modernize how they deliver vital services and provide a more seamless experience for residents and staff," said Tom Nieto, chief operating officer of Accela. "We are honored to have APPEALIE recognize Accela's commitment to supporting governments as they leverage the benefits of the cloud to build more engaged communities."

Modernizing government services is a top priority to agency leaders, with a recent National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) report finding more than half of state CIO respondents saying they are utilizing tech to create a better experience for residents. Modernization also helps ensure government agencies can operate more efficiently with the resources they have. Accela's award-winning SaaS solutions are assisting governments to improve their IT systems and meet these important goals.

Leveraging the power of the cloud, Accela transforms the way government technology is deployed  speeding implementation from years to months, and building decades of government service delivery best practices right into the software. The rapid build-out of a dozen Accela Civic Applications delivered the essential capabilities expected of every regulatory and compliance agency responsible for building communities, growing local economies, and protecting residents. The Environmental Health Civic Application, for example, allows for huge leaps forward in governments' ability to protect the public's health in the built and natural environments.

Also contributing to this award win were Accela's recent enhancements to its Civic Platform upon which the Civic Applications and other bespoke solutions are built  allowing for shared data across departments and a single experience for residents, field staff, and office employees. The latest features focused on improving staff efficiency, such as enhanced staff global search, better script management, personalized login environments to differentiate across multiple environments, and more flexible payment options for residents and businesses.

"As the cloud continues to grow, user expectations are also growing. Our highly selective software award honors customer-obsessed SaaS platforms that deliver extraordinary experiences and results," commented Arabella Solaybar of APPEALIE.

Overall SaaS Award winners were chosen based on several factors, including Net Promoter Scores (NPS), UI/UX, recent product improvements, and third-party analyst research. A complete list of winners: can be found here .

In addition to this APPEALIE award, Accela recently won Microsoft's 2022 US Government Partner of the Year for the third consecutive year, was selected as Sammy's Organization of the Year, and named to Fast Company's 2022 World Changing Ideas Award list, in partnership with the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Labe, for SolarAPP+.

To learn more about Accela solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions .

About Accela

Accela provides a unified suite of cloud solutions trusted by governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 275 million citizens worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security.

With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. Three-consecutive year Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and was selected by Fast Company for its World Changing Ideas Award in 2022. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com.

Contact: Holly Langbein, (916) 769-2199, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela
CENTURY CITY, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pegasus Investments Real Estate Advisory, Inc. and its affiliates ("Pegasus") welcomes Andrew Rosen, an experienced and dynamic leader with a proven track record of success, as its Chief Operating Officer. Pegasus makes this prominent hire at a significant inflection point in the firm's history, where client demand for its full-service and vertically integrated platform has never been greater. Pegasus realized record performance across all services, including investment sales, capital markets, asset management and leasing in 2021, and momentum has continued to build through 2022.

Andrew Rosen, Chief Operating Officer at Pegasus

"While many other companies, across all industries and including real estate services, are currently implementing hiring freezes or slashing headcounts Pegasus is poised for exponential growth," said David Chasin, Managing Director at Pegasus. "Rosen's hire is evidence that Pegasus is serious about positioning the firm for acceleration, but equally as important, will be doing so in a calculated, responsible and intelligent manner," added Chasin.

"I am excited to lead Pegasus' strategic growth process," said Rosen. "Regardless of the economic backdrop or industry, it all comes down to effective execution. I have witnessed many companies fail, not because they lacked competitive platforms or services, but because of an inability to adequately implement cogent plans, an ignorance toward an ever-evolving market landscape and insufficient, or non-existent, internal accountability measures. Pegasus has primed itself to capture targeted market share through its best-in-class, client-focused service, a sterling industry reputation on a national level, an educated and sophisticated client base and a relentless pursuit of innovation. I am extremely confident we will continue to raise the bar in a fragmented industry and widen our competitive advantage gap by leveraging, and expanding, the firm's highly experienced and talented team."

Chasin remarked, "while I have full confidence that we will look back at Andrew's hiring as a key inflection point in Pegasus' growth cycle, we have a lot of hard work ahead of us as we fulfill the aggressive commitments we have made to ourselves and our valued team members. I am personally excited to hand over the key management and operational reins to an experienced professional like Andrew, not only so that I can focus on my clients, but also because the firm and its people have earned the privilege of being led by someone of Andrew's caliber," Chasin added. "At exciting, pivotal moments such as this, I would be remiss if I didn't also thank everyone who has played a role in helping us get to where we are today, whether they are still at Pegasus or have moved on to new opportunities. Thank you." Chasin concluded.

Prior to joining Pegasus, Rosen was the CEO and co-founder of Sea Pine Technologies, Inc., a software company in the highly competitive automotive sector, which he navigated to a successful exit by way of merger into, and acquisition by, Zurich American Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group. Rosen also spent several years working in Goldman Sachs' Consumer & Wealth Management division. During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, Rosen developed relationships with Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs and other high-net-worth individuals and families, crafting complex financial strategies intended to grow and preserve generational wealth. Rosen began his career at Eastdil, a global real estate investment bank, where he gained broad exposure working on deals spanning various transaction types and asset classes. Rosen earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Emory University's School of Law and Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree from Emory University's Goizueta Business School.

Based in Century City, Los Angeles, Pegasus is a national commercial real estate advisory firm that has a well-diversified services platform consisting of investment sales, capital markets, asset management and leasing. By leveraging its suite of services and investing heavily in its integrated marketing, technology and research capabilities, Pegasus has successfully positioned its valued clients to withstand and thrive in all market cycles since the firm's inception in 1988. All of the services within the Pegasus platform have been thoughtfully and organically developed over the firm's 30+ year history for the sole purpose of providing the highest level of real estate advisory to its exclusive roster of clients. Pegasus delivers superior results with an unparalleled degree of quality and consistency by building a truly comprehensive, in-house suite of services and solutions designed around its discerning clients' needs and objectives. By building long-term relationships and developing a deep and intimate knowledge of its clients' real estate positions, Pegasus enables its clients to achieve consistent, reliable and elite investment performance.

For more information on Pegasus' career opportunities, please contact [email protected] or visit https://www.pegasusinvestments.com/careers.

Press Contact:

Aaron Garcia

Marketing Director, Pegasus Investments

[email protected]

SOURCE Pegasus Investments Real Estate Advisory Inc.
Anesthesia Monitoring Devices to Be Extensively Utilized by Hospitals & Clinics Worldwide to Provide Painless Surgery

Fact.MR's latest report on the anesthesia monitoring devices market provides a 10-year forecast through 2022 & beyond. The report further explicates crucial dynamics such as drivers, challenges, and opportunities shaping the market. To present the information in a vivid way, the report is segmented into product type, end user, and region.

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global anesthesia monitoring devices market is projected to grow from US$ 2.2 Billion in 2022 to US$ 3.4 Billion in 2027. As per the study, overall sales are slated to expand at an impressive CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period (2022-2027).

Increasing number of surgical cases is likely to drive growth in the anesthesia monitoring devices market during the forecast period. Rising technological advancements and developments in the field of anesthetic delivery technology are also expected to drive growth in the anesthesia monitoring devices market. Moreover, surging desire for patients to undergo pain-free surgical operations is anticipated to support the expansion of the anesthesia monitoring devices market.

Rising prevalence of degenerative diseases and chronic illnesses has resulted in an increased dependence on surgeries and treatments. As a result of the rising need for continuous monitoring, the anesthesia monitoring devices market is set to expand.

Integrated devices developed by key players come with decision support and advanced monitoring capabilities that not only measure complicated parameters, including inhalation anesthetics, end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen concentrations, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation, but also provide data analysis to help doctors make surgical and therapeutic intervention decisions.

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By end user, the hospitals and clinics segment is projected to lead the global anesthesia monitoring devices market during the forecast period. Emergence of technologically advanced equipment and instruments to serve to a larger population base with maximum patient comfort is expected to drive the segment. Key companies are set to distribute their in-house products in hospitals with the presence of advantageous reimbursement regulations for hospital procedures.

Furthermore, North America is anticipated to emerge as the most lucrative market for anesthesia monitoring devices due to increasing need for patient safety, rising awareness among patients and physicians about non-invasive surgeries, and favorable government support in the region. The U.S. is estimated to remain at the forefront in North America in terms of share amid presence of a good reimbursement network in the country.

Key Takeaways:

China anesthesia monitoring devices market is expected to showcase steady growth at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period (2022-2027).

anesthesia monitoring devices market is expected to showcase steady growth at a CAGR of 11% during the forecast period (2022-2027). The anaesthesia monitoring devices market in the U.S. is currently worth US$ 480 Million in terms of valuation.

in terms of valuation. Based on product type, the advanced anesthesia monitors segment is likely to generate a revenue of nearly US$ 1.4 Billion by the end of 2027.

by the end of 2027. Demand for anaesthesia monitoring devices is set to surge among hospitals and clinics by 2027 with growing rate of hospitalization.

The global anesthesia monitoring devices market is expected to showcase considerable growth at a CAGR of 9.1% during the evaluation period.

Growth Drivers:

Emergence of automated record-keeping systems will drive the demand for anesthesia monitoring devices.

High demand for continuous perioperative monitoring due to rising geriatric population prone to diseases is projected to boost the market.

Restraints:

General anesthesia can lead to side effects such as sore throat, confusion for a few days, chills, and vomiting, which may hamper demand in the market.

Some people can inherit malignant hyperthermia, which is a deadly reaction to anesthesia that can occur during surgeries, thereby hindering the market.

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Competitive Landscape:

To accomplish growth in the global anesthesia monitoring devices market, key companies are employing a wide variety of methods, including new collaborative advancements, product approvals, mergers & acquisitions, and partnerships, among others.

For instance,

In March 2022 , BioIntelliSense, a clinical intelligence firm, expanded its remote care technology portfolio with the introduction of BioButton, a new rechargeable wearable monitoring gadget.

BioIntelliSense, a clinical intelligence firm, expanded its remote care technology portfolio with the introduction of BioButton, a new rechargeable wearable monitoring gadget. In November 2021 , MDoloris Medical Systems received regulatory approval in Japan for their HFVI MOC-9 high-frequency variability index monitor. According to reports, the HFVI MOC-9 technology is Japan's first monitoring solution for patients undergoing analgosedation and anesthesia.

MDoloris Medical Systems received regulatory approval in for their HFVI MOC-9 high-frequency variability index monitor. According to reports, the HFVI MOC-9 technology is first monitoring solution for patients undergoing analgosedation and anesthesia. In August 2020 , Getinge received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for two devices, namely, the Flow-e and Flow-c anesthesia systems. These solutions are capable of providing tailored anesthetic delivery for even the most difficult patients, ranging from infants and paediatrics to the morbidly obese.

Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR

Mindray Medical International Limited

Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

Masimo Corporation

Monitor Mask Inc.

GE Healthcare

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Schiller AG

Pfizer Inc.

BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Criticare Systems Inc.

HEYER Medical AG

Infinium Medical Inc.

Acoma Medical Industry Co. Ltd.

Siare Engineering International Group S.r.l.

Danmeter A/S

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Fukuda Denshi

UTAS Co.

IRadimed Corporation

General Meditech Inc.

Medtronic

More Valuable Insights on Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market

In the latest study, Fact.MR offers a detailed study on global anesthesia monitoring devices market for the forecast period of 2022 to 2027. This study also highlights key drivers promoting the sales of anesthesia monitoring devices through detailed segmentation as follows:

By Product Type:

Basic Anaesthesia Monitors

Integrated Anesthesia Workstations

Advanced Anesthesia Monitors

Gas Monitors



Standalone Capnography Monitors



Monitors for Depth of Anesthesia



MRI-compatible Anesthesia Monitors

Other Product Types

By End User:

Hospitals & Clinics

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Other End Users

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

APAC

MEA

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https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=EB&rep_id=7683

Key Questions Covered in the Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market Report

What is the projected value of the anesthesia monitoring devices market in 2022?

At what rate will the global anesthesia monitoring devices market grow until 2027?

Which are the factors hampering the growth in the anesthesia monitoring devices market?

Which region is expected to lead in the global anesthesia monitoring devices market during 2022-2027?

Which are the factors driving the anesthesia monitoring devices market during the forecast period?

Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Healthcare Domain

Dermatology CRO Market: Fact.MR predicts the global dermatology CRO market to grow at a robust CAGR of 9.1% during the forecast period between 2022 and 2032. Demand for topical dermatological drugs such as anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, local anesthetics, emollients, and cleansers to treat acne is driving the market.

Point of Care Diagnostics Market: The global point of care diagnostic market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 7% between 2021 and 2028, reaching a valuation of US$ 66 Billion by 2028. Rising popularity of rapid testing kits around the world is estimated to drive the global point of care diagnostics market in the next ten years.

Blood Ketone Meter Market: The global blood ketone meter market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% between 2022 and 2032, reaching a valuation of US$ 646.3 Million by 2032. Expansion of the blood ketone meter market is being fueled by increasing number of government initiatives and support for boosting the use of glucose monitoring devices.

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.

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The joint venture which was announced earlier this year will operate under the name YFA Automotive Safety and will develop, produce, and commercialize inflators for automotive airbag applications. Prime Minister of North Macedonia Mr. Dimitar Kovacevski, ambassadors from both China and USA, and other high-ranking representatives participated in today's official founding ceremony at ARC's manufacturing site in Skopje, North Macedonia.

This joint venture includes state-of-the-art equipment and production lines spanning 22,000 square meters, which is shared with 400 employees from ARC Automotive in Skopje. The joint venture is looking to hire an additional 100 employees over the next few years in North Macedonia.

With the joint venture, ARC will further strengthen its footprint in Europe and better serve its customers and European OEMs. In addition, Yanfeng is expanding its safety product portfolio in Europe and further enhancing its expertise. As inflator devices are a core component of the airbag module, they are strategically important for Yanfeng. With this partnership, Yanfeng can offer all customers in Europe a complete range of inflators for all airbag applications, including driver, passenger, side curtain, and knee airbags, in addition to its other safety products such as steering wheels and seat belts.

"Our relationship with Yanfeng has been established for many years and I'm glad that both of our companies will work closely together in this new joint venture. We will primarily serve the European market, but plan to expand quickly over time to other markets. Thanks to this partnership we can accelerate our development activities, expand our customer base and grow together in all regions," said Alex Qin, CEO ARC Automotive Inc.

"Today marks an important milestone for our company on the way to the planned growth and localization of our production outside of China, as well as on the way to the globalization of our safety business," said Mike Hague, Vice President and General Manager of Yanfeng Safety Systems in Europe and North America.

For more information please contact:

Robert Knight

VP Sales & Marketing, ARC Automotvie

Tel.: +1 586 530 2545

E-Mail: [email protected]

About ARC

ARC Automotive, Inc. is a global manufacturer that produces a full complement of inflators for automotive airbag applications (driver, passenger, side, head, knee, seat, seatbelt, and curtain). With nearly 70 years of design expertise in inflator technology, ARC Automotive is committed to providing customers innovative, high-quality products and services.

For more information, please visit www.arcautomotive.com.

About Yanfeng

Yanfeng is a leading global automotive supplier, focusing on interior, exterior, seating, cockpit electronics and passive safety. Yanfeng has more than 240 locations and approximately 55,000 employees worldwide. The technical team of 4,200 experts is located at 10 R&D centers and other regional offices, with complete capabilities including engineering & software development, design and user experience, and test validation. Focusing on smart cabin and lightweight technology, Yanfeng supports automakers to explore future mobile spaces and provide leading cabin solutions. For more information, please visit www.yanfeng.com.

SOURCE ARC Automotive, Inc.
--ASC10 has two indications: monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. The Investigational New Drug (IND) application of the latter was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2022 and Phase Ib clinical trial in COVID-19 patients is underway in the U.S.

--Preclinical studies shows that ASC10 has potent antiviral activities against both monkeypox and SARS-CoV-2 viruses

--The IND filing of ASC10 for monkeypox indication in the U.S. will further broaden Ascletis' pipeline portfolio in viral diseases

HANGZHOU and SHAOXING, China, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672, "Ascletis") today announces that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of ASC10, an oral antiviral drug candidate targeting viral polymerase of monkeypox virus, has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

ASC10 is an orally bioavailable and broad antiviral spectrum double prodrug which has a new and differentiated chemical structure from the single prodrug molnupiravir. After oral administration, both ASC10 and molnupiravir are rapidly and completely converted in vivo into the same active metabolite ASC10-A, also known as -D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC) or EIDD-1931. Ascletis has filed multiple patent applications globally for ASC10 and its use in viral diseases including monkeypox virus infection.

The data from the in vitro antiviral cellular assay with infectious monkeypox virus demonstrated that ASC10-A has potent antiviral activity against monkeypox virus, suggesting that ASC10 has the potential to be an effective treatment of monkeypox virus infection. This study was conducted at IIT Research Institute, headquartered at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, U.S. and sponsored by Ascletis.

In August 2022, a research paper was published by Dr. Watashi et al. at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan[1]. In this research, Dr. Watashi et al. tested 132 drugs and showed that molnupiravir (active metabolite ASC10-A) and other two drugs have potent cellular antiviral activity in the infectious monkeypox virus assay. The rest of 129 drugs such as remdesivir, favipiravir, sofosbuvir and ribavirin, etc. do not have antiviral activities against monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar to smallpox[2]. As of October 26, 2022, there had been over 75,000[3] confirmed cases globally and monkeypox virus had been spread in over 100 countries[3] according to data from World Health Organization (WHO). In particular, a total of 28,061[4] confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases have been reported in the U.S. In China, the first confirmed case was reported on September 19, 2022. WHO assesses the risk of monkeypox virus in the European Region and the Region of the Americas as high[3].

By applying a double prodrug strategy, ASC10's permeability in Caco-2 cells (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells) and active metabolite exposure in monkeys reached 3.2-fold and 2.1-fold of molnupiravir's, respectively. Studies have demonstrated[5,6] that ASC10-A has potent cellular antiviral activity against various Omicron variants (BA.1 EC 50 =0.3 M; BA.2 EC 50 =0.25 M; BA.5 EC 50 =0.23 M; BA.2.75 EC 50 =0.90 M). The Phase Ib clinical trial in COVID-19 patients is underway in the U.S.

"As China's leading biotech company in antiviral area, Ascletis is dedicated to applying our sciences to address the challenges of viral diseases. Currently there is no treatment approved for monkeypox virus infections globally. This IND filing of ASC10 for monkeypox in the U.S. will further broaden Ascletis' pipeline portfolio in viral diseases, and may provide a solution to monkeypox virus infections." said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis.

[1] Daisuke Akazawa, Hirofumi Ohashi, Takayuki Hishiki, et al. Potential anti-monkeypox virus activity of atovaquone, mefloquine, and molnupiravir, and their potential use as treatments. bioRxiv preprint. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.08.02.502485

[2] https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox/#tab=tab_1

[3] https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/index.html

[5] Takashita E, Yamayoshi S, Fukushi S, et al. Efficacy of Antiviral Agents against the Omicron Subvariant BA.2.75. N Engl J Med. 2022; 387(13): 1236-1238

[6] In-house studies

About Ascletis

Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis focuses on three therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs from a global perspective: viral diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and oncology. Through excellent execution, Ascletis rapidly advances its drug pipeline with an aim of leading in global competition. To date, Ascletis has three marketed products, i.e. ritonavir tablets, GANOVO and ASCLEVIR, and 20 drug candidates in its R&D pipeline. The most advanced drug candidates include ASC22 (HBV functional cure), ASC10 and ASC11(oral small molecules for COVID-19 treatment), ASC40 (recurrent glioblastoma), ASC42 (PBC, primary biliary cholangitis), and ASC40 (acne).

For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.

SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc.
Hunter Communications announces 2.5G/2.5G internet, nearly twice as fast as other area ISPs

MEDFORD, Ore., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hunter Communications announces its fastest internet speed to date, 2.5G/2.5G. This offering makes Hunter the only service provider in its territory to offer fiber-to-the-home internet speeds this high.

The capabilities that 2.5G symmetrical speeds offer are crucial to future progress. Modern advancements like the metaverse, smart homes, and gaming will rely on this kind of technology for years to come. Outside of Hunter's offering, the next fastest option in its service territory is half the speed.

Hunter Communications announces its fastest internet speed to date, 2.5G/2.5G. This offering makes Hunter the only service provider in its territory to offer fiber-to-the-home internet speeds this high.

"The industry has seen an uptick in the use of gaming applications and smart home devices, making these speeds critical for Oregonians," said Michael Wynschenk, CEO, Hunter Communications. "We chose to invest in this infrastructure  nearly doubling the speeds of our competitors  to ensure we are on the right side of future progress and advancements. We are excited to see what can be accomplished in the Oregon communities that now have access to these high speeds."

To compliment this work, Hunter is focusing on expanding into new markets to give more communities access to modern technology. Most recently, Hunter expanded into the Eugene/Springfield market, and is on track to offer fiber-optic internet to 5,000 homes by the end of 2022, with significant market growth plans in 2023.

"Eugene/Springfield is in great need of reliable high-speed internet, with speeds that meet current and future demands," said Stephen Parac, Eugene General Manager, Hunter Communications. "Our community is a hub for so many activities and brings in people from all over the world, so it's imperative that Lane County has the infrastructure to support these demands. From world-renowned track meets to A-list concerts and thousands of college students, Hunter is working to ensure Eugene/Springfield remains on the cutting edge of technology."

Following recent growth and success in downtown Eugene, Hunter will also continue to expand its commercial services into the surrounding areas.

The 2.5G/2.5G residential offer is $149.99/month plus an installation charge. Customers receive price for life, no contract, and a free router. To learn more about this and other offers, visit Hunterfiber.com.

About Hunter Communications

Hunter Communications provides ultra-high-speed fiber optic broadband internet, data and voice services to business and residential customers in communities throughout Oregon and northern California. With multi-Gig speeds, no data caps, and competitive pricing, Hunter's 2,000+mile fiber network is nationally recognized for performance and reliability. BroadbandNow recognized Hunter with four 2020 Internet Service Provider Awards, including for fastest business internet speeds in Oregon and among the top 10 nationwide. In 2022, PC Magazine recognized Hunter as one of the top internet service providers for gamers in the Northwest.

Founded in 1992, Hunter is headquartered in Medford, Oregon where the company established a legacy of service excellence and commitment to local communities. Hunter Communications was acquired in 2020 by Grain Management, LLC. Additional information is available at Hunterfiber.com .

SOURCE Hunter Communications
The defence and aerospace industries use bearings extensively, which is expected to support expansion of the global bearing market.

Increasing adoption of ball bearings amongst manufacturers of heavy vehicle and light vehicles are expected to drive the segment

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, the value of the global bearing market stood at US$ 123.6 Bn. The global market is anticipated to expand at 6.1% CAGR during the forecast period, from 2022 to 2031. It is anticipated that by 2031, the global bearing market will touch value of US$ 216.7 Bn. Due to technological improvements in various types of bearings, widespread usage across several end-use businesses, changing regulatory environment, and rising usage of lightweight automotive parts, the global bearing market is predicted to expand during the forecast period.

Numerous businesses, including agriculture, automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, power transmission, construction, and others, use bearings significantly. In order to grow their revenue share in the market, bearing manufacturers are offering lightweight, high-capacity bearings. Additionally, the utilization of bearings in various automotive parts is being directly influenced by the rise in vehicle manufacturing across the globe. Leading companies in the bearing market are concentrating their R&D efforts on technical advancements, product breakthroughs, and new material and quality options to diversify their sources of income.

A rise in demand for bearing from the automotive sector is expected to bolster growth of the global bearing market. Air bearings and automotive mounted bearings are a few of the several types of bearings found in automobiles. The growth opportunity for bearing is anticipated to grow as demand for specialty bearing solutions catering to various industry-specific criteria increases.

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Key Findings of Market Report

In 2021, the ball bearing category accounted for a significant portion of the global bearing market in terms of products. It is anticipated that it will continue to dominate the market throughout the anticipated timespan. Ball bearings are preferred by producers of light and heavy vehicles, which is expected to propel the category during the forecast timeline.

Several nations are ramping up their defence infrastructure, which is anticipated to raise demand for bearings. For various mission-critical applications in aircraft equipment, specialized bearings like linear bearings and thrust bearings are essential. This factor is expected to drive future of bearing market in the years to come.

Sensors embedded into smart bearings collect information about their environment, including speed, vibration, load, direction, temperature, levels of debris, and many other parameters. An automated system that monitors the particular bearing action receives the information that smart bearings collect. Magnetic bearings and smart bearings, which are intended to let manufacturers continually monitor bearing operations, are estimated to be key technology for the future of bearings. Innovations are expected to come up as key marketing strategy for bearing manufacturers.

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Global Bearing Market: Growth Drivers

Depending on application type, in 2021, the automotive industry accounted for a sizable portion of the global bearing market. This is brought on by rising demand for bearings for use in various automobile parts. Rising vehicle manufacturing all around the world is directly driving up use of bearings in automotive components.

Global Bearing Market: Key Competitors

RBC Bearings Incorporated

The Timken Company

NTN Bearing Corporation

Schaeffler AG

Rexnord Corporation

JTEKT Corporation

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Global Bearing Market: Segmentation

Product

Ball Bearing

Roller Bearing

Plain Bearing

Others

Material

Plastic

Ceramic

Metal

Type

Unmounted Bearing

Mounted Bearing

Component

Balls

Rollers

Cages

Rings

Others

Application

Automotive

Construction

Aerospace

Power Transmission

Oil & Gas

Agriculture

Others

Distribution Channel

Online

Offline

Factory Automation Research Reports

Cooling Tower Market- Cooling Tower Market is expected to reach value of US$ 5.1 Bn by the end of 2031

Industrial Automation Market - Industrial Automation Market is prognosticated to expand at a stellar CAGR of 7.56% over the period between 2019 and 2027.

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market - Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market expand at a CAGR 5% with 37 US$ Bn by 2027.

Industrial Gloves Market - Industrial Gloves Market is expected to have a sales value of US$ 42.1 Bn by 2018. The market is expected to grow in terms of volume sales at a CAGR of 9.3% during the period 2019-2027.

Industrial Brushes Market - The Industrial Brushes Market to Reach Valuation Of US$ 922 Mn By 2027.

Industrial Gas Regulator Market - Industrial Gas Regulator Market valued at US$ 2537.5 Mn in 2018 and expected to grow with a CAGR of 2.8% from 2019 to 2027.

Industrial Floor Scrubber Market - The demand for industrial floor scrubbers is gaining pace amidst the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, since healthcare facilities are increasing efforts to ensure effective disinfection of floor surfaces.

Industrial Gear Market - Industrial Gear Market is estimated to exceed value of US$ 111.4 Bn by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, is a global market research company providing custom research and consulting services. TMR provides in-depth insights into factors governing demand in the market. It divulges opportunities across various segments based on Source, Application, Sales Channel, and End-Use that will favor growth in the market over the next 9 years.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Two out of three babies will get RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) before the age of one, and RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants in this age group in the United States. The risk of contracting RSV is even higher for premature babies, which is of particular concern for African American women, who have a higher risk of giving birth to a preterm baby. This virus usually emerges in late fall, and peaks during the winter months. Symptoms of RSV can include a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing, fever, lessened appetite, and wheezing, and can lead to bronchiolitis. In babies under six months, symptoms may be irritability, decreased appetite, decreased activity and difficulty breathing.

Currently only 29% of all parents are aware of the severity of the disease, and therefore, it is crucial that parents be made aware of preventative measures that can be taken to protect their children.

October is National RSV Awareness Month, and in an effort to increase awareness of RSV among African Americans, Black Health Matters (BHM), with support from Sanofi, is engaging in outreach efforts to young African American mothers to educate them about the disease and its warning signs. The multi-platform approach will reach the Black patient population using BHM outlets to create awareness among young mother organizations and grandmothers.

About Black Health Matters

Black Health Matters (BHM) is the leading health, wellness and chronic disease interactive digital platform dedicated to improving health outcomes among African Americans. Launched in 2012, we feature informative yet dynamic presentations and conversations on relevant health conditions and disease with world class healthcare professionals that focus specifically on the medical disparities that affect the African American community. BHM empowers patients, advocates, and caregivers by providing them with the most up-to-date information on various chronic conditionsincluding treatment options and clinical trialsso they will better understand how to identify risk factors that directly impact them and their community. For more information go to www.blackhealthmatters.com .

SOURCE Black Health Matters
Drawing inspiration from Jean-Michel Basquiat's time in Los Angeles, the Special Edition bottle features one of Basquiat's earliest works, his Untitled (L.A Painting). Never before licensed and only displayed to the public once, it is a masterpiece influenced by the surrounding remote environment of Venice Beach where Basquiat found security and solitude away from the distractions in New York in 1982. Exhibited in Basquiat's second ever show, the piece features many of the key motifs that are associated with his work: the crown, the bird, the coin and the skull which are all beautifully collaged over soft hues of blue. Through the social commentary behind his graffiti inspired artwork, Jean Michel created a global legacy and has greatly influenced modern and contemporary art.

The collaboration between BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and the Basquiat Estate kicked off in April, when BOMBAY SAPPHIRE became the official spirits sponsor of "King Pleasure," the Basquiat Estate's first ever family-run exhibit in New York City where over 200 never-before-seen pieces and rarely shown works of the artist are on display. Running through January 1st 2023, the exhibit aims to help awaken artistic expression for people in different walks of life and honor Basquiat's legacy.

"We are honored to shine a light on Basquiat's dynamic creativity and offer an entirely new way to experience art," said Jaime Keller, Brand Director of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE North America. "This bottle represents our longstanding history of supporting creative visionaries in our mission to make the art world more accessible. Through the release of our third artist-designed Special Edition bottle, we are allowing people access to Jean-Michel Basquiat's art to be inspired by his work for generations to come."

Like Basquiat and his sisters, Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has a longstanding history in spotlighting diverse voices and fostering creative self-expression. From holding its annual emerging arts competition, aptly entitled the Artisan Series, to collaborating with artists Cey Adams and Dianne Smith to turn staid billboards in Harlem into works of art, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE constantly strives to open alternative pathways to champion equal representation in the arts.

"We are excited to collaborate with Bombay Sapphire to share Jean-Michel's work with those passionate about his art, life, and journey," said Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux of the Basquiat Estate.

Recognized as the ultimate canvas for cocktail creativity that inspires bartenders and drinkers to experiment with flavor and versatility, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and the Basquiat Estate have created a signature cocktail  the "King Meets Queen". Inspired by Basquiat's sharp colors, stark lines and stabbing contrast, this cocktail is made to stand out and shine next to the Special-Edition bottle this fall and beyond, as an ode to Basquiat's constant curiosity.

The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Jean-Michel Basquiat Special Edition bottle is available in select states this October and at ReserveBar.com.

High-res imagery: HERE

BASQUIAT X BOMBAY SAPPHIRE SPECIAL EDITION

SIZE: 750 ML

SRP: $23.99

ABV: 47%

ON SHELVES: FROM OCTOBER 26th, 2022

LINK FOR PURCHASE: [HERE]

"King Meets Queen"

The Official Cocktail of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure

1.5 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin

0.5 oz Real Pineapple Puree

0.5 oz Lemon juice

0.5 oz Honey syrup 1:1

5 oz Fever-Tree Premium Tonic

METHOD: Build ingredients in balloon glass with fresh cold draft ice. Garnish with two pineapple top leaves and a few slices of jalapeno (or other pepper) in the drink.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Nike Communications

[email protected]

Erika Lam

Director, Brand PR

[email protected]

ABOUT THE BASQUIAT ESTATE:

The Estate is the heir to the legal rights and interests of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Estate works to preserve and exhibit his artwork, and to be a source of accurate information about the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Estate was administered by Gerard Basquiat, the late artist's father, until his passing in 2013. It is currently administered by the late artist's sisters, Jeanine Heriveaux and Lisane Basquiat.

Partnership done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing high-profile artists, photographers, designers and creatives.

 Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.

ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE:

Based on a 1761 recipe, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin is created by perfectly balancing a unique combination of 10 hand-selected exotic botanicals from around the world. The design of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE distillery at Laverstoke Mill has won a BREEAM award for sustainability and is the home of the unique Vapour Infusion process, where the natural flavors of the botanicals are skillfully captured, resulting in the fresh and vibrant taste with which BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is synonymous. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is on a mission to be the world's most sustainable gin, with all 10 botanicals being certified sustainably sourced, by the For Life certification from Ecocert S.A. The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND CREATIVITY:

With its 'Stir Creativity' campaign, launched in 2018, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is leading a global mission - a call to arms for everyone to engage with their creativity and unlock their creative potential. From advocacy programmes including the Tales of the Cocktail Most Imaginative Bartender competition, which has run in the US for over a decade, to hosting The Glasshouse Project, which brings together the world's top bartenders in a series of creative workshops designed to push the boundaries of cocktail creativity. For eight years, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ran The Artisan Series, an art competition created by the brand to provide emerging artists with an international platform.

BE BRILLIANT AND INSPIRED. DRINK RESPONSIBLY

2022. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND ITS TRADE DRESS ARE TRADEMARKS.

IMPORTED BY THE BOMBAY SPIRITS COMPANY U.S.A., CORAL GABLES, FL. GIN - 46% ALC. BY VOL.

Related Links

https://www.bombaysapphire.com

www.instagram.com/bombaysapphire

www.facebook.com/BombaySapphire



SOURCE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
Partnership included rebranding the Foundation and launching their new website.

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowen Family Foundation , a non-profit 501c3 organization, has recently hired Orbital Lab to rebrand and launch the Foundation's new website. This announcement comes after the Foundation recently decided to revamp its digital footprint.

The Bowen Family Foundation envisions a day when educational opportunities are available equally, to all people, regardless of gender, race, creed or ability to pay.

The Foundation was the brainchild of Robert and Terry Bowen in the early 1990s, with a mission to give back and pay it forward, and a purpose to improve the lives of others. Specifically, the focus was to empower underserved populations in Indianapolis, Indiana, by providing scholarships to traditional and non-traditional students, to include older candidates wishing to return to college. The first higher ed partnership was with Ivy Tech of Central Indiana , which marked the beginning of the largest partnership success story to date. Partnerships have grown over time, to include Associate and Bachelor degree programs at: Ivy Tech Terre Haute , Indiana University , Purdue University , Marian University , University of Indianapolis , University of Evansville , and Tuskegee in Alabama, all with similar mentoring programs in place.

"The Orbital Lab team was the driving force for our Foundation to enter the modern era with a strong digital footprint," said Terry Bowen, founder and chairman, Bowen Family Foundation. "The decision to establish the Bowen Family Foundation has been one of the finest decisions we have made in our entire lives. Having our brand and website reflect the excitement we have created sets us up to evolve the storytelling of our talented Bowen Scholars."

Orbital Lab, a digital marketing agency in Indianapolis that integrates website development, online advertising and social media channels to maximize return on investment, was the lead creative firm on the project.

"The joy and excitement that the Bowen Family Foundation brings into this world changes people's lives. To be able to partner and work with an organization of this caliber is extremely fulfilling," said Kevin Holden, founder and chief creative officer of Orbital Lab. "At the end of the day, storytelling will always remain king. This new brand platform and website will highlight the intelligence and ability of these Bowen Scholars."

About Bowen Family Foundation

The Bowen Family Foundation envisions a day when educational opportunities are available equally, to all people, regardless of gender, race, creed or ability to pay. With the right education, people are empowered to secure good jobs, reach their potential, and improve their socioeconomic standing. The Bowen Family Foundation, Inc. was established in 1993 as a non-profit 501c3 organization and provides scholarships to underrepresented individuals living in Marion County, Indiana and its surrounding counties. To learn more about Bowen Family Foundation, Inc., visit bowenfamilyfoundation.com

About Orbital Lab, Inc.

Orbital Lab, Inc. is an Indianapolis-based Incubator Agency that takes a galaxy approach to digital marketing - integrating website development, online advertising and social media channels to maximize your return on investment. Whether you're starting a business, launching a campaign or anything in betweenchances are you're working on something the world has never seen before. Orbital Lab, Inc. goes beyond the ordinary to make your brand relevant, distinctive and memorable through creativity, strategy, and digital integrations. To learn more about Orbital Lab, Inc., visit orbitallab.com

SOURCE Orbital Lab, Inc.
CareFTP Inspires Climate Solutions With Realistic Digital Artwork Depicting Endangered Animals

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brinds Will founded CareFTP, an abbreviation of Care For The Planet, to address fundamental issues with climate awareness and solutions. In 2022, climate change poses an existential threat to life on this planet. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is humanity's most significant public health threat. UN COP gatherings take place annually to address climate issues globally with actionable solutions. CareFTP celebrates these annual gatherings and speaks to individuals from all backgrounds with the universal language of art. Full-body, realistic digital artwork represents many extinct and seriously threatened animals, such as the Steller's Sea Cow, Tasmanian Wolf, and Northern White rhinoceros. CareFTP is thrilled to commemorate each COP gathering with "a meaningful digital collectible token that addresses real issues in the real world."

CareFTP CareFTP

Each year, the United Nations Climate Change supreme body meets for its annual Conference of the Parties (COP). COP gatherings produce unprecedented results for climate change by intensely focusing on climate change indicators, potential solutions, and compromise. On November 6th, 2022, attendees will again come together for our planet at COP26 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. CareFTP's curated digital token collection celebrates the twenty-six previous United Nations COP gatherings and the upcoming 27th COP. In contrast to other digital tokens, CareFTP tokens are handcrafted by human beings and accompanied by The Climate Change Song, titled "Do It While You Can" (DIWYC). There are forty different versions of DIWYC available, including an instrumental version. In preparation for COP27 in Egypt, the Arabic version of DIWYC is sung by an Egyptian vocalist and professionally translated.

Climate change and global warming are issues affecting humans and animals worldwide. Therefore, CareFTP's digital collectible tokens will always have value, utility, and global relevance. The combination of digital art and "The Climate Change Song" creates a catchy and passionate call to action. CareFTP seeks to inspire and motivate people worldwide to become part of the solution. CareFTP and its digital collectibles benefit worldwide autonomous youth-led organizations and local affiliates. Soon, CareFTP will adapt its system to allow the general public to create unique online tokens. Visit careftp.com to see all twenty-seven digital tokens from the CareFTP Collection launched in celebration of the annual UN COP gatherings.

Media Contact:

Brinds Will

CareFTP

(213)304-0740

[email protected]

SOURCE CareFTP
The limited-edition Carhartt x Rumpl collection is built for versatility and seamless transitions from the jobsite to outdoor adventures

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As fall weather brings on seasonal activities like camping, hiking and other outdoor excursions, premium workwear brand, Carhartt, has partnered with technical outdoor blanket brand, Rumpl to launch a new, limited-edition collection designed to fuel hardworking people with their next outdoor adventure s comfortably.

Premium workwear brand, Carhartt, has partnered with technical outdoor blanket brand, Rumpl to launch a new, limited-edition collection designed to fuel hardworking people with their next outdoor adventures comfortably

United by a shared love for getting outside, the Carhartt x Rumpl collection remains true to each brand's origins, featuring functional, lightweight, and durable products. The line offers a variety of rugged  yet comfortable  products for any outdoor occasion, including a first-of-its-kind poncho, a variety of blankets, a stuffable pillowcase and beverage blankets, all inspired by Carhartt and Rumpl's iconic styles and colors.

"From jobsite to the great outdoors, Carhartt is synonymous with protecting people from the elements," said Brian Spiro, strategic partnerships, and influencer marketing manager at Carhartt. "With shared values of developing gear built to work, built to last and designed to help people embrace adventure, the Rumpl collection underscores Carhartt's commitment to versatility, sustainability and high-quality gear ready for whatever the outdoors bring."

Rumpl, the leader in premium and technical blankets, strives to make blankets for everyone and everywhere. The new collection marks the first time Rumpl blankets will utilize Carhartt's classic duck brown and unique camouflage designs.

"Rumpl is always on the lookout for iconic brands that align with our values of making premium outdoor gear and activewear for everyday life. Carhartt is exactly that," says Wylie Robinson, founder and CEO at Rumpl. "Our hope with this new collection is to build off the heritage of the Carhartt brand and create a unique collection of products that our shared consumers can bring to their everyday outings, whether that's tailgating with friends after a long day of work or warming up after a cold day fishing."

The Carhartt x Rumpl collection includes:

NanoLoft Puffy Blanket (50 th Anniversary Camo) : Made with a proprietary synthetic alternative to down, the NanoLoft Puffy blanket traps warmth inside small pockets of air to efficiently preserve heat, regardless of conditions. Built for cold weather and rugged conditions, this limited-edition blanket features Carhartt's heritage camo print straight of out the archives.





: Made with a proprietary synthetic alternative to down, the NanoLoft Puffy blanket traps warmth inside small pockets of air to efficiently preserve heat, regardless of conditions. Built for cold weather and rugged conditions, this limited-edition blanket features Carhartt's heritage camo print straight of out the archives. Original Puffy Blanket : Inspired by bright fluorescent colors in the field, the Original Puffy Blankets will keep users cozy whether braving the elements or cuddled up around the campfire.





: Inspired by bright fluorescent colors in the field, the Original Puffy Blankets will keep users cozy whether braving the elements or cuddled up around the campfire. Sherpa Puffy : The sherpa puffy is where tradition meets contemporary  Carhartt's iconic brown with Rumpl's new school attitude. Bringing Carhartt Sherpa Fleece lining paired with Rumpl's 100 percent Post-Consumer Recycled, DWR treated Polyester ripstop, this blanket will keep users cozy after a long day at the job site or camp site.





: The sherpa puffy is where tradition meets contemporary  Carhartt's iconic brown with Rumpl's new school attitude. Bringing Carhartt Sherpa Fleece lining paired with Rumpl's 100 percent Post-Consumer Recycled, DWR treated Polyester ripstop, this blanket will keep users cozy after a long day at the job site or camp site. The Beverage Blanket 6 Pack : Stuff drinks in the ultimate compressible beverage blanket with The Beverage Blanket 6 Pack. Cold beverages? Good. Cold hands? Bad. Once done wearing, hang the Beverage Blanket up using the attached snap.





: Stuff drinks in the ultimate compressible beverage blanket with The Beverage Blanket 6 Pack. Cold beverages? Good. Cold hands? Bad. Once done wearing, hang the Beverage Blanket up using the attached snap. Stuffable Pillowcase: The Stuffable Pillowcase is packable and lightweight to join you on any road trip, red eye, or thru-hike. Just stuff a jacket, hoodie, or whatever you find at the bottom of your pack for a choose-your-own-comfort instant pillow. The attached stuff sack lets you pack away your pillowcase, ensuring no nap gets left behind.





The Stuffable Pillowcase is packable and lightweight to join you on any road trip, red eye, or thru-hike. Just stuff a jacket, hoodie, or whatever you find at the bottom of your pack for a choose-your-own-comfort instant pillow. The attached stuff sack lets you pack away your pillowcase, ensuring no nap gets left behind. Sherpa Puffy Poncho: Designed to endure the elements, the Original Puffy Poncho is built with a 100 percent post-consumer recycled shell. The poncho features a Durable Water Repellent (DWR)-treated body, 5K laminated waterproof shoulders and a hood to keep users dry and stylish. Packed with a post-consumer recycled insulation and lined with Carhartt Sherpa fleece, this poncho will keep users cozy while enduring the elements.

The full Carhartt x Rumpl collection is available at Rumpl.com and in select Scheels and Dick's Sporting Goods retail locations. Select pieces of the collection are available at Carhartt.com and in Carhartt retail stores.

About Carhartt

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with approximately 5,400 employees worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company's founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.

About Rumpl

Based in Portland, Oregon, Rumpl makes Blankets for Everywhere. Utilizing material technologies commonly found in activewear and outdoor gear, Rumpl aims to modernize the everyday blanket. Rumpl's high-quality, versatile blankets keep you comfortable no matter where you are. The materials have been tested and proven in harsh environments, yet specifically selected for comfort and durability. Rumpl believes the blanket you use every day deserves the same attention to detail as a sleeping bag you might use ten times a year. The end result is a premium and multi-purpose blanket that can be used anywhere you go ... or when you don't go anywhere. www.rumpl.com.

Contact: Spencer Stewart Maria Brickman

Zeno Group for Carhartt Rygr for Rumpl

903-357-9547 970-236-1668 ext. 2104

[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Carhartt
The collaboration aims to maximize patient safety through robust medical device security efforts

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TRIMEDX , an industry-leading, technology-enabled provider of clinical engineering, medical device cybersecurity, and clinical asset management solutions, announced a collaboration with Indiana University Health to develop a cybersecurity lab to test medical device security and reduce device security threats as part of the product development process.

The existence of cutting-edge TRIMEDX technology combined with the Medical Device Security Lab at IU Health brings new opportunities for healthcare professionals and the cybersecurity industry. Such innovative technology is not readily available to most health systems, and TRIMEDX hopes to extend the research to others over time.

"The increase in threats and vulnerabilities is exactly why this collaboration is so important," says Nick Sturgeon, executive director of information security at Indiana University Health. "The collaboration will allow us to be at the forefront of innovation and to continue to protect the health and security of patients."

Industry-wide, healthcare cybersecurity breaches hit an all-time high in 2021, making the importance of cybersecurity around medical devices even more crucial. In addition, 68% of medical devices are projected to be connected devices by 2025. The security of connected medical devices has never been more critical. This Medical Device Security Lab allows the testing of the healthcare system's medical devices for vulnerabilities and interoperability.

"Mitigating cybersecurity threats is vital to protecting patient safety and data," says Sturgeon. "The cutting-edge device testing lab enhances the ability to remediate vulnerabilities before equipment reaches the patient floor."

The lab will perform enterprise security testing on medical equipment in an environment that poses no risk to patients. It also will enhance TRIMEDX's unmatched approach toward medical device cybersecurity and innovation in the industry with three headlining objectives:

Testing of net-new devices in advance of them being implemented in the hospital.

Testing of configurations and security setups to discover what services need to be turned on and what ports need to be available on the network.

Active scanning of equipment specific to security testing with no live network or risk of patient impact.

"We expect that this Medical Device Security Lab will pave the way in creating a space for devices to be tested before usage and begin to flag common security issues prior to the implementation of the devices in a healthcare setting," says Doug Folsom, TRIMEDX chief technology officer and president of cybersecurity. "The intent is to see an overall decrease in device security threats and eventually make this research open and available to many more organizations."

To learn more about TRIMEDX and its offerings, visit trimedx.com .

About TRIMEDX

TRIMEDX is an industry-leading, independent clinical asset management company in the United States delivering comprehensive clinical engineering services, clinical asset informatics and medical device cybersecurity. We help healthcare providers transform their clinical assets into strategic tools, driving reductions in operational expenses, optimizing clinical asset capital spend, maximizing resources for patient care, and delivering improved safety and protection. TRIMEDX was built by providers, for providers, and leverages a history of expert clinical engineering with data on 92% of all active medical device models.

Media Contact

BLASTmedia for TRIMEDX

Emylee Eyler

317-806-1900 ext. 139

[email protected]

SOURCE TRIMEDX
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading boba tea brand, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, has announced its plans to expand throughout the United States amidst positive growth. Since the 2011 opening of its first store in New York, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice has continually studied bubble tea demands worldwide and expanding the number of stores each year, allowing the premium bubble tea company to open 5,000 outlets globally to date.

(PRNewsfoto/OCOCO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.)

By tracking consumer preferences and buying patterns, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice has managed to adopt new business models in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to create strategic supply chains while ensuring that its franchisees maintain sustainable and positive growths.

25 years of boba goodness

This year, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice will be celebrating its 25th anniversary by enabling more boba lovers to experience the goodness of CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice through the opening of its first store in Rotterdam in July 2022. Hundreds of consumers were spotted flocking to the shop on its first day of operation to celebrate and get a taste of the newly refreshing boba drinks.

From 2017 to 2022, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice made its mark by winning the World Branding Awards for three consecutive years. This award authenticates the credibility and respect that CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice has gained internationally and will continue to be awarded in 2023 next year.

"The key to our success lies in a solid operating foundation, cooperation, and trust from our consumers," says Tommy Hung, Chairman of CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice. "Our brand is built with consistent persistence and dedication, not by mere chance or luck. We are committed to deliver our best craftsmanship behind every drink. We aim to continue to provide our consumers with the assurance needed by holding true to our core values."

Bubble tea and more popular drinks

In addition to the wide bubble tea selection and healthy fruit tea options offered by CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, the company also focuses on recreating the tea-drinking experience and offering innovative novel drinks to the market. Its most popular drinks include the CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice Signature Milk Tea, Bubble Gaga, and Lemon Dunk.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice ensures that every cup served to consumers is developed and made with the freshest local ingredients and highest quality tea, thus generating competitive products that meet the demand of today's consumers.

With consumers increasingly turning away from carbonated beverages, more are turning towards drinks made from natural ingredients such as the bubble tea. Made using black, green, oolong, or white tea, bubble teas often contain tapioca balls or fruit jelly for the chewy component in bobas.

Coco Fresh Tea & Juice is committed to provide consumers with high-quality drinks. The company is constantly searching the world for the best high-quality teas and fruits that comply to the natural, clean and hygienic standards.

For more information, please visit https://www.coco-tea.com or www.taiwantrade.com

About CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice aims to create a diverse and sustainable community for its consumers by providing visually refreshing products. We continue to be one of the fast-growing companies and are looking for enterprising partners to join the CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice franchise networks. Check CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice's official website and start your application now.

Media Contact:

OCOCO FRESH TEA & JUICE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.

Fino Wu

+886-2 8821826 #1595

[email protected]

SOURCE OCOCO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
Webinar to showcase ground-breaking collaboration with a health information exchange (HIE) to close gaps in care circles

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Connect America, the nationally recognized innovator in digital health and safety solutions that enable seniors to gracefully age in place, today announced that it is teaming up with the American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a national trade association representing the health insurance industry, to host a webinar highlighting how ground-breaking collaborative approaches with health information exchanges (HIEs) can close gaps in care circles.

The free one-hour webinar, "The First of Its Kind: Visibility into the Home & Hospital," will be held on Nov. 2, 2022, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Although most aging adults want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, payers, accountable care organizations, caregivers and family members are often the last to know when critical care events and hospitalizations happen. This lack of visibility erodes a person's independence and can accelerate the transition to assisted living. However, there is a better way for all stakeholders.

This webinar will share key details of Connect America's collaboration with an industry-leading HIE serving patients in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The collaboration will result in a first-of-its-kind service from Connect America that delivers crucial patient information to caregivers and case managers in near real-time when hospitalizations occurhelping to close a gap in the care circle.

Webinar attendees will learn more about this distinct collaboration including:

How a more expansive digital health and safety platform that includes Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS) and AI-enabled Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) can enhance engagement for a person aging in place, improve clinical outcomes, and lower healthcare spending.

The importance of HIEs in delivering crucial Admit, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) information to caregivers, case managers and family members in near real-time when hospitalizations occur.

"The home has always been considered a 'black box' of healthcare, offering little visibility to payers, providers, and caregivers," said Rosemary Kennedy, Chief Health Informatics Officers, Connect America. "As healthcare continues to shift to the home, and with the integration of RPM, PERS, and advanced analytics, stakeholders can peel back the curtain to gain new insights that close the care gap, improve outcomes and lower costs. We are thrilled to team up with AHIP to share details of this innovative collaboration."

This webinar is well-suited for healthcare leaders, payers, ACOs, caregivers and others wishing to learn about this innovative way forward in connective care technology for seniors and vulnerable populations wishing to age gracefully in place.

To register for the webinar, click here.

About Connect America

Connect America, and its family of brands, is the leading provider of connective health solutions dedicated to empowering aging adults and vulnerable populations to live safely and independently at home for as long as possible. The company's AI-assisted digital health and safety platform includes Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions, Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS), Medication Management, Analytics, and SDoH support that enables continuous in-home and mobile monitoring of aging and at-risk populations for more timely interventions and smart escalations of care. With improved outcomes, reduced hospitalizations and lower care costs, patients and their care circles have peace of mind knowing Connect America is how health and home connect. To learn more, visit https://www.connectamerica.com.

CONTACT:

Mardi Larson

Amendola for Connect America

[email protected]

SOURCE Connect America
TORONTO, Oct 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Conscia.ai, a Composable Experience Orchestration and Personalization platform, has partnered with industry-leading composable technologies Contentstack, Cloudinary, commercetools and BILDIT to showcase how quickly and easily a personalized e-commerce experience can be delivered on multiple touchpoints and devices. The 10-day challenge was delivered on schedule today. The showcase debunks the myth that you need an all-inclusive suite to create enterprise-class experiences, as well as shifts power in favor of openness and agility within this brave new marketplace of headless and composable vendors.

If you want to learn more about what was delivered as part of the Omnichannel Showcase, you will find it here: https://conscia.ai/omnichannel-showcase

Sana Remekie, the CEO of Conscia.ai and a MACH Ambassador, delightfully announced the launch of the Omnichannel, Personalized and Composable showcase this morning. She said, "This would not have been possible if we weren't working with truly headless and composable technologies like Cloudinary, Contentstack, commercetools and BILDIT."

Nishant Patel, co-founder and CTO of Contentstack, elaborated on the importance of headless technologies. He said, "When enterprises choose headless, they gain speed, flexibility, and scalability, capitalizing on the founding principles of composable architectures."

Creating omnichannel experiences in a composable ecosystem requires orchestration, and to do it in 10 days requires a zero-code solution that empowers marketing teams to be self-sufficient in managing the experience, which is exactly what Conscia.ai offers.

The web front-end was built using a Next.js front-end framework, while the native app development framework was provided by BILDIT. Both mobile and web front-ends connected to a single, unified API offered by Conscia.ai's DX Engine, accelerating the time to market by leaps and bounds. The CEO and founder of BILDIT, Matt Hudson, said, "Integrating with Conscia.ai was a breeze. The best part was that we only had to do one integration for all the data sources, commercetools, Contentstack and Cloudinary."

When asked why it is important to deliver omnichannel experiences in e-commerce, the Global Director of ISV Partnerships, Christopher Holley, from commercetools said, "The answer is very simple: it is how your customers buy. Merchants who deliver a unique customer experience all deliver on the promise of omnichannel."

As brands further understand the power of dynamic visual experiences for shoppers online, Media Experience Management has cemented its place as a business-critical layer in any tech stack. "This 10-day challenge highlights the impact of visual media and the value of headless and composable architectures for modern commerce," said Gary Ballabio, VP Technology Partnerships, Cloudinary.

About Conscia.ai

Conscia.ai is the pioneer of the Digital Experience Engine (DX EngineTM) that empowers marketers to orchestrate and personalize omnichannel experiences within a composable technology stack. The DX EngineTM connects with API-First CMSs, DAMs, CDPs and Commerce Engines via a zero-code framework and delivers intelligent experiences, headlessly, to every customer touchpoint. This real-time decision engine acts as the brain of the overall DX stack, enabling brands and retailers to adopt a truly composable architecture. For more information, please visit: https://conscia.ai/

About Cloudinary

Cloudinary's mission is to empower companies to deliver visual experiences that inspire and connect by unleashing the full potential of their media. With more than 50 billion assets under management and 9,000 customers worldwide, Cloudinary is the industry standard for developers, creators and marketers looking to upload, store, transform, manage, and deliver images and videos online. For more information, visit www.cloudinary.com.

About commercetools

The inventor of headless commerce, commercetools is an innovative technology disruptor that has established itself as an industry-leading eCommerce software provider. As the visionaries leading the modern MACH (Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native and Headless) architecture movement, commercetools provides customers with the agility to innovate and iterate on the fly, merge on and off-line channels, drive higher revenue and future-proof their eCommerce business.

About Contentstack

Contentstack  the Content Experience Platform (CXP) category leader  empowers marketers and developers to deliver composable digital experiences at the speed of their imagination. Companies such as ASICS, Chase, Express, Holiday Inn and Shell trust Contentstack to power their most critical content experiences with uncompromising scale and dependability. Contentstack is also a founder of the MACH Alliance, setting the industry agenda for open and composable technology that is Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native SaaS, and Headless. Learn more at https://www.contentstack.com.

About BILDIT

BILDIT is the mobile app 'head' for headless commerce. BILDIT enables eCommerce brands to spin up a mobile app as easily as they spin up their web site. The mobile app experience is where loyal customers prefer to shop: BILDIT's apps are highly performant and utilize a modern technology stack, API first principles, and a robust architecture. This allows enterprise teams to cut their mobile development costs in half and gives the premium customer a premium experience. Learn more at https://www.bildit.co

Media Contact:

Jason Yen

(877) 500-6544

[email protected]

SOURCE Conscia.ai
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Critical Start, a leading provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity solutions, today announced that it has placed fifth on this year's Dallas Business Journal Middle Market 50 list, an annual ranking of the fastest-growing middle market companies in North Texas.

"Today companies are faced with a volatile and sophisticated cyber-threat environment that requires around the clock vigilance to prevent security breaches and subsequent business disruptions," said Rob Davis, Founder and CEO of Critical Start. "We are honored to be recognized in this year's Middle Market 50 for the growth we have achieved with our MDR service, helping understaffed IT teams stay ahead of adversaries with 24/7/365 security alert monitoring in a fraction of the time."

The Dallas Business Journal's eighth annual Middle Market 50 list honors the fastest-growing private and public companies based in Dallas-Fort Worth that are nominated based on revenue growth from the last three years. Eligible companies have annual revenue between $10 million and $1 billion.

Critical Start has announced numerous recognitions for its success over the last year, including being named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America and CRN's Fast Growth 150 List. Additionally, the company also has made three new hires and two executive promotions in recent months. In the last three years, Critical Start has grown annual recurring revenue by more than 400% and grown its network through integrations with third-party cybersecurity software providers.

Click here for more information on this year's list: https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2022/08/23/middle-market-50-2022.html

About Critical Start

Today's enterprise faces radical, ever-growing, and ever-sophisticated multi-vector cyber-attacks. Facing this situation is hard, but it doesn't have to be. Critical Start simplifies breach prevention by delivering the most effective managed detection and incident response services powered by the Zero Trust Analytics Platform (ZTAP) with the industry's only Trusted Behavior Registry (TBR) and MOBILESOC. With 24x7x365 expert security analysts, and Cyber Research Unit (CRU), we monitor, investigate and remediate alerts swiftly and effectively, via contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for Time to Detection (TTD) and Median Time to Resolution (MTTR), and 100% transparency into our service. For more information, visit criticalstart.com. Follow Critical Start on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

About the Dallas Business Journal

Founded in 1977, the Dallas Business Journal is the premier source for local business news, research and events in Dallas-Fort Worth. From breaking news to live events, the Business Journal serves its readers by helping them grow their businesses, advance their careers and simplify their professional lives.

In addition to our weekly print publication, we also offer the annual Book of Lists, free daily morning and afternoon news updates via email, along with networking and awards events. The Business Journal is a division of American City Business Journals, the country's largest publisher of business publications. It is owned by Advance, a private, family-held business that invests in a broad range of media and technology companies.

SOURCE CRITICALSTART
In conjunction with the merger, N2K also announced today a successful $5.4 Million Series A funding round led by Graham Holdings Company, with participation by DataTribe. The merger of these two cybersecurity leaders will create powerful new opportunities for professionals to keep abreast of the latest developments in their industry, climb the knowledge curve quickly, and stay ahead in a continuously changing world.

"One of the critical insights we gained about our business since we launched back in 2016 is that individuals and enterprises weren't just listening to the CyberWire to keep up on the latest newsthey were listening to learn. And over time, we became an integral part of people's professional lives and essential to how they do their jobs," said Peter Kilpe, CEO of N2K. "That's 'news to knowledge,' and we're excited to lean in on this idea."

"I've experienced the cyber skills shortage first-hand building teams in the intelligence and national security community. Our goal is to tackle the skills gap in a way that actually solves the needs of the cyber community and builds more resilient workforces and organizations," said Simone Petrella, the company's President. "Joining forces with CyberWire is realizing that vision. Combining education and media is an exciting and cutting edge approach to give talent the skills and knowledge needed to be effective in a constantly changing cyber threat environment."

"Simone and Peter have each built businesses that provide cybersecurity solutions to the market around news, education, and workforce training. By combining these businesses, we believe we are able to offer solutions to employers across the full stack of their needs," said Timothy O'Shaughnessy, President and CEO of Graham Holdings Company. "We're excited to see what the teams can accomplish together."

For media inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].

About N2K Networks

The news to knowledge network is how you succeed in a rapidly changing world. Our flagship brands include CyberWire, the world's leading B2B cybersecurity audio network, and CyberVista, an industry leader in data-driven cybersecurity training. As industries rapidly change, we help professionals and enterprises succeed by getting them up the knowledge curve fast and keeping them there. Our business is to ensure you stay in the know through the continuous spectrum of news to knowledge. Learn more at N2Knetworks.com .

About The CyberWire

The CyberWire gets people up to speed quickly on cybersecurity, and helps keep them a step ahead in a continually changing world. Situational awareness, continuing education, and professional development are the cornerstones of our programs. The CyberWire has long been trusted by many of the most influential leaders and professionals in both the public and private sectors, around the world. We separate the signal from the noise. Learn more about our podcasts and newsletters at thecyberwire.com .

About CyberVista

CyberVista is a cybersecurity workforce development company. CyberVista's mission is to build and strengthen organizations by providing cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to drive growth and defense. Founded in 2016, CyberVista benefits from the rich 85-year history of Kaplanone of the world's premier training providersas its sister company and ally. In 2018, CyberVista welcomed Transcender into the brand. Transcender brings over 25 years of helping organizations and practitioners build technical job skills across all areas of IT and cybersecurity. Transforming today's workforce to meet tomorrow's cybersecurity challenges. Learn more at cybervista.net .

About Graham Holdings Company

Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC) is a diversified holding company whose operations include: educational services, home health and hospice care, television broadcasting; online, print and local TV news, automotive, hospitality and manufacturing companies. For more information, visit ghco.com .

About DataTribe

DataTribe is a startup foundry that invests in and co-builds world-class startups focused on generational leaps in cybersecurity and data science. DataTribe was launched in 2015 with the vision of empowering technologists in the Washington, D.C. region to build and grow successful companies. Founded by leading investors, startup veterans and alumni of the U.S. intelligence community, DataTribe commits capital, in-kind business services and decades of professional expertise to co-build the next generation of cybersecurity, big data and analytics companies. For more information, visit datatribe.com .

SOURCE The CyberWire
Leading cloud-based dive shop point of sale built for dive shops by dive shop owners and managers

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dive Shop 360 , the leading dive shop management system and the only all-in-one, cloud-based POS created exclusively for dive shops, announced today SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI integration , enabling dive shops to easily and efficiently manage SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI diving certifications and courses directly through their Dive Shop 360 POS system.

The group of training and certification agencies Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) and Performance Freediving International (PFI) form one of the largest diving certification agencies in the world - International Training - whose courses and certifications are recognized as the gold standard all over the world.

The new integration eliminates the need for dive shops to jump back-and-forth between their POS and the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI portal to view certifications and assign eLearning codes to students. Now, dive shops can automatically sync customers between both systems and assign eLearning codes through the Dive Shop 360 platform.

Designed with the input of over 1,000 dive professionals, Dive Shop 360 is a best-in-class dive shop POS system created to make dive shop business customer transactions quick and easy. The all-in-one, cloud-based platform integrates POS, website and marketing tools and comes bundled with all modules necessary to manage a successful dive business, including courses, rentals, repairs, service reminders, destination travel, charter, air cards, gift cards and sales orders.

"Diving certifications are an important part of any dive business as they drive customer loyalty and revenue," said Ken Colbert, General Manager, Dive Shop 360. "Dive Shop 360 is the most advanced, all-in-one dive shop POS solution and our integration with SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI, the gold standard for diving certification courses, is now a key part of that solution. Dive Shop 360 enables dive shops to spend less time managing their POS and more time with their customers, building customer loyalty and driving revenue."

Key features of the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI integration include:

All-in-One POS Certification System  Student information is automatically synced between Dive Shop 360 and the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI certification portal, enabling dive shops to see certifications, sign students up for classes, and speed up time to eLearning starts, all directly through Dive Shop 360.

 Student information is automatically synced between Dive Shop 360 and the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI certification portal, enabling dive shops to see certifications, sign students up for classes, and speed up time to eLearning starts, all directly through Dive Shop 360. Integrated Course Catalogs  Users can browse the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI catalog of courses to see course names and descriptions and select courses from the integrated catalog.

 Users can browse the SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI catalog of courses to see course names and descriptions and select courses from the integrated catalog. eLearning Code and Assignment System  Quickly generate and assign codes individually for SDI/TDI/ERDI/PFI eLearning courses directly through the Dive Shop 360 platform.

Dive Shop 360 will showcase the new integration at DEMA Show 2022 in Orlando, Florida, Nov 1-4 at booth #2024.

About Dive Shop 360

Dive Shop 360 was built for dive shops by dive shop owners and managers. Designed with the input of over 1,000 dive professionals over the course of 20 years, Dive Shop 360 has become the leading dive shop management system in the world. For more information, visit diveshop360.com.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Moritz

Zer0 to 5ive for Dive Shop 360

[email protected]

917-748-4006

SOURCE Dive Shop 360
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The drip emitters market size is expected to grow by USD 487.3 million at a CAGR of 13.06% during the forecast period of 2021-2026. The market is segmented by end-user (agriculture and others) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The drip emitters market provides a detailed analysis of the market overview, market drivers, opportunities, and potential applications. Request Free Sample Report.

Drip Emitters Market: Vendor Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Drip Emitters Market 2022-2026

The market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

The leading vendors are attempting to maintain market competition by expanding their market presence through M&A. They are also attempting to increase their presence in different regions by opening new manufacturing facilities. Such acquisitions help vendors to expand their geographic footprint and product reach to newer locations. Vendors are also offering various innovative drip emitters to ensure additional benefits to end users.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Chamartin Group, Chinadrip Irrigation Equipment Co. Ltd., DIG Corp., DripWorks Inc., Elgo Irrigation Ltd., Golden Key Middle East FZE, Hunter Industries Inc, Irritec SpA, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., KSNM DRIP, Lindsay Corp., Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., NORMA Group SE, Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV, Rain Bird Corp., Rivulis Irrigation Ltd., Sujay Irrigations Pvt. Ltd., The Toro Co., and TL Credit Co.

Drip Emitters Market Major Vendor Offerings:

DripWorks Inc.: The company offers drip emitters or emitters with basic and pressure-compensating water drippers.

The company offers drip emitters or emitters with basic and pressure-compensating water drippers. Golden Key Middle East FZE: The company offers drip emitters called adjustable Online drippers and PE pipe with an adjustable online dripper.

The company offers drip emitters called adjustable Online drippers and PE pipe with an adjustable online dripper. Hunter Industries Inc: The company offers drip emitters known as Point Source Drip Emitters with pressure compensating flow of 2, 4, and 6 liters per hour.

The company offers drip emitters known as Point Source Drip Emitters with pressure compensating flow of 2, 4, and 6 liters per hour. Irritec SpA: The company offers a drip emitter called Junior classic dripline with a compact cylindrical dripper, adjustable with supply flow, and excellent irrigation uniformity.

The company offers a drip emitter called Junior classic dripline with a compact cylindrical dripper, adjustable with supply flow, and excellent irrigation uniformity. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.: The company offers drip emitters in various colors with a nominal pressure of 1 kg per square.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Drip Emitters Market: Segmentation Analysis

By End-user

Agriculture



The agriculture sector will significantly increase drip emitters' market share during the forecast period. One of the most important aspects of agriculture is irrigation systems, and a drip emitter is one of the most important parts of drip irrigation systems. Drip emitters are high in demand in the agriculture industry due to their simple installation. The two most widely utilized forms of drippers are online and in-line drippers. In-line dippers are frequently used to irrigate cotton, onions, and other field and row crops. Due to the growing global population, there is a constant increase in the need for food goods.



Others

By Geography

North America



North America will contribute 35% of market growth. The major drip emitters markets in North America are the US and Canada . The market for drip emitters in North America will expand during the forecast period due to the rising emphasis on resource efficiency.

will contribute 35% of market growth. The major drip emitters markets in are the US and . The market for drip emitters in will expand during the forecast period due to the rising emphasis on resource efficiency.

APAC



Europe



South America



Middle East and Africa

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Drip Emitters Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.06% Market growth 2022-2026 $487.3 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 12.36 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, France, and Russia Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Chamartin Group, Chinadrip Irrigation Equipment Co. Ltd., DIG Corp., DripWorks Inc., Elgo Irrigation Ltd., Golden Key Middle East FZE, Hunter Industries Inc, Irritec SpA, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., KSNM DRIP, Lindsay Corp., Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd., NORMA Group SE, Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV, Rain Bird Corp., Rivulis Irrigation Ltd., Sujay Irrigations Pvt. Ltd., The Toro Co., and TL Credit Co. 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 Content:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ 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 End-user

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user

5.3 Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Agriculture - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Agriculture - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Agriculture - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by End-user ($ 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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Russia - 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 DripWorks Inc.

Exhibit 89: DripWorks Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 90: DripWorks Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: DripWorks Inc. - Key offerings

10.4 Golden Key Middle East FZE

Exhibit 92: Golden Key Middle East FZE - Overview



Exhibit 93: Golden Key Middle East FZE - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: Golden Key Middle East FZE - Key offerings

10.5 Hunter Industries Inc

Exhibit 95: Hunter Industries Inc - Overview



Exhibit 96: Hunter Industries Inc - Product / Service



Exhibit 97: Hunter Industries Inc - Key offerings

10.6 Irritec SpA

Exhibit 98: Irritec SpA - Overview



Exhibit 99: Irritec SpA - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Irritec SpA - Key offerings

10.7 Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.

Exhibit 101: Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 102: Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 103: Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 104: Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. - Segment focus

10.8 KSNM DRIP

Exhibit 105: KSNM DRIP - Overview



Exhibit 106: KSNM DRIP - Product / Service



Exhibit 107: KSNM DRIP - Key offerings

10.9 Lindsay Corp.

Exhibit 108: Lindsay Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 109: Lindsay Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 110: Lindsay Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 111: Lindsay Corp. - Segment focus

10.10 Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV

Exhibit 112: Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV - Overview



Exhibit 113: Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV - Key offerings



Exhibit 115: Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV - Segment focus

10.11 Rivulis Irrigation Ltd.

Exhibit 116: Rivulis Irrigation Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 117: Rivulis Irrigation Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 118: Rivulis Irrigation Ltd. - Key offerings

10.12 The Toro Co.

Exhibit 119: The Toro Co. - Overview



Exhibit 120: The Toro Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: The Toro Co. - Key news



Exhibit 122: The Toro Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: The Toro Co. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 124: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 125: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 126: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 127: Research methodology



Exhibit 128: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 129: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 130: 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 Us:

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
HACKENSACK, N.J., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern DataComm is doing its part to foster safer school environments with its latest efforts to inform school and district leaders on a recent emergency notification and response trend that has some serious limitations: Application-based emergency notification solutions.

As our country grapples with school shootings nationwide, it is becoming a hard-learned, but valuable lesson for many school administrators and law enforcement officials that effective lockdown response goes far beyond just a phone app-based notification system.

"...effective lockdown response goes far beyond just a phone app-based notification system." Tweet this Learn why LENS + OPTICS is the emergency notification solution and continuous monitoring service that schools rely upon to safeguard their communities. Related Documents View PDF In the wake of numerous school shootings nationwide, it is becoming a hard-learned, but valuable lesson for many school administrators and law enforcement officials that effective lockdown response goes far beyond just an app-based message notification system. This brief information sheet explores how best to keep your school connected and protected through an integrated, robust school safety technology ecosystem.

In light of this fact, Eastern DataComm shares its insight in a webinar entitled, "Why Apps Are Not Enough". This live, interactive presentation explores the complexities and vulnerabilities that many schools experience when it comes to their emergency response during events that warrant a lockdown like an active shooter event.

Whether those complexities include a building with poor cellphone reception (a common issue in many school buildings), access to applications by visitors or substitutes, limited phone access during classes like labs or physical education, or even guidelines for students and educators that impact their access to cell phones during the school day, the presentation will explore the many intricacies that make application-only solutions ineffective in providing comprehensive emergency notification.

The webinar also highlights how a holistic approach to creating the school safety ecosystem can make all the difference when every second counts. This complimentary educational program offers practical guidance for designing a lockdown and emergency response system that suits the unique needs of the school or district.

From choosing efficiency and effectiveness of response as the priority over so-called "security theater", to identifying the key aspects of an effective, integrated emergency notification and response solution, the webinar highlights where app-only approaches fall short. Participants will learn what it really takes to keep a campus and school community safe.

Mark your calendars for any of the 3 dates/times listed below to participate in this can't-miss educational opportunity  free of charge.

Tuesday, November 15th at 12 pm EST

at Wednesday, November 16th at 1 pm EST

at Thursday, November 17th at 2 pm EST

To learn more and reserve your place, visit the webinar registration page .

In addition to Eastern DataComm's webinar, their team of safety and communications advisors have released a helpful handout and accompanying blog that serve as helpful supporting documents on the topic. We encourage educators, administrators, and families to leverage these assets to gain a greater understanding of what it truly takes to keep schools and districts safe and prevent future tragedies from occurring.

To learn more, visit https://easterndatacomm.com .

About Eastern DataComm

Based in Hackensack, New Jersey, Eastern DataComm is a full-service safety and communications firm that specializes in emergency notification systems, VoIP solutions, video surveillance, wireless networking, network security, and structured wiring. Eastern DataComm is committed to supporting the nurturing environment of every school across the nation with practical, cost-effective technology solutions to improve safety and communications strategies. With over 30 years of providing technology solutions to hundreds of school districts throughout the metropolitan tri-state area, Eastern DataComm has received numerous accolades in industry. The most recent honor awarded to the team, Education Partner of the Year, came from Mitel, telecommunications leader, for their accomplishments that keep schools connected and protected. From individual school buildings, to large, multi-site campuses, Eastern DataComm offers its proprietary Lockdown and Emergency Notification System and continuous monitoring service, LENS + OPTICS , as a holistic, customizable, and integrated solution for emergency response and notification. The team is committed to sharing valuable information, educational resources, and guidance on best practices riding under the mantra: When it comes to school safety, we're all in this together.

Media contact:

Gina Kleinhans

+18889024091 ext 132

[email protected]

SOURCE Eastern DataComm
TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - As organizations experience pressure from employees and other influential organizations to be more transparent amid an already-challenging labor market, McLean & Company, one of the world's leading HR research and advisory firms, has released the timely resource The Rise of Organizational Transparency. This data-backed blueprint was designed to help HR leaders understand the spectrum of transparency and determine organizational readiness using five key criteria.

Organizational transparency sits on a spectrum, as demonstrated by this model from McLean & Company. (CNW Group/Mclean & Company)

The movement toward organizational transparency is driven by employee expectations as well as external pressures, such as the publicized transparency in pay, succession planning, decision-making, and other processes by major organizations like Microsoft, Adobe, and Glassdoor. While organizational transparency might be daunting to some, almost three in four employees want their employers to provide more transparency, equating to nearly 75% of the workforce supporting more transparency around salaries, job growth opportunities, and more.

"There is no one-size-fits-all approach to organizational transparency," says Janet Clarey, director of HR research and advisory services at McLean & Company. "The level of transparency an organization implements can fall anywhere on the spectrum, from zero transparency to radical transparency. Different levels of transparency can be used for different HR programs, organization processes, and operations, and can even vary between internal and external stakeholders."

According to the McLean & Company Engagement Survey Database, employees who felt they understood the reasoning behind leadership decisions were 3.7 times more likely to be engaged and 3.6 times more likely to agree that their organization supports an inclusive environment where individual differences are valued and respected. Employees who felt their organizations' transparency around HR functions was actively being implemented were 1.4 times more likely to rate their HR department as highly effective, as outlined in the firm's 2022 HR Trends Report.

However, organizations need to exercise caution and determine which level of transparency is most suitable for them while responding to employee and external demands. The new McLean & Company industry research will help organizations address the call for transparency in a way that makes sense for both the business and its employees, highlighting five critical criteria that must be considered when evaluating transparency readiness:

A Healthy Work Culture



A healthy work environment is crucial for transparency efforts to be successful and will provide psychological safety, collaboration, and aligned organizational values. People leaders should model the appropriate behaviors for employees and be equipped with the tools and training they need to be comfortable having difficult conversations.



A Strong Communications Plan



Communications can make or break efforts to improve transparency. Before increasing transparency, organizations must create a strong communications foundation with infrastructure in place to support it. Frequent communication will also play a vital role in sustaining transparency levels.



Accurate Information and Stakeholders Willing to Share



Stakeholders who are open to sharing accurate information are vital to transparency. Organizations must provide enough clarity and information to tell the full story. Those who control access to information, such as CEOs, executives, senior leaders, or managers, must be fully onboard with the idea of increased transparency.



A Suitable Timeline for Sharing Information



Organizations must choose an appropriate timeline for increasing transparency, either deciding to be transparent about the current state and then implementing changes or improving the current state of transparency before sharing. With either option, transparency must be followed by action.



Effective Change Management Initiatives



Change management initiatives are essential to support transparency. It takes time and effort to adjust to greater levels of transparency, making it a long-term process requiring consistent monitoring and enforcement. Organizations should also have change management processes in place before increasing transparency.

For HR leaders considering whether increased organizational transparency is the right fit for their organization, The Rise of Organizational Transparency is available to assist in assessing organizational readiness.

To learn more about McLean & Company or to download all the latest research, visit hr.mcleanco.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter.

About McLean & Company

Through data-driven insights and proven best-practice methodologies, McLean & Company offers comprehensive resources and full-service assessments, action plans, and training to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future.

McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and Industry analysts through the ITRG Media Insiders Program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Mclean & Company
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated October 15, 2021, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated September 10, 2021.

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Great Panther Mining Limited (OTCPK: GPLDK) ("Great Panther" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with Newrange Gold Corp. ("Newrange") to sell to Newrange the Company's subsidiaries, Great Panther Peru Holdings Ltd. and Great Panther Silver Peru S.A.C.(the "Subsidiaries"), which together own Great Panther Coricancha S.A.C., which in turn holds the Coricancha Mine in Peru.

Coricancha, located in the central Andes of Peru approximately 90 kilometres east of Lima, is a past producing mine which the Company acquired in June 2017 and has remained in care and maintenance since then.

Under the terms of the Agreement, Newrange will acquire the Subsidiaries for a total purchase price of US$750,000 (the "Transaction"), payable in cash.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia required to be obtained in connection with the Company's ongoing restructuring proceedings and receipt by Newrange of the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT GREAT PANTHER

Great Panther Mining is a precious metals producer focused on the operation of the Tucano Gold Mine in Brazil where the Company controls a land package covering nearly 200,000 hectares in the prospective Vila Nova Greenstone belt.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the completion of the Transaction and the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to closing set forth in the Agreement.

These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant procedural, operational, business, economic and regulatory risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the Transaction will not be approved by the Supreme Court of British Columbia or the TSX Venture Exchange, and the risks described in respect of Great Panther in its most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com and its most recent annual report on Form 40-F and management's discussion and analysis on Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov .

There is no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove accurate or that actual results will not vary materially from these forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management's current views of our near- and longer-term prospects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Great Panther Mining Limited
On/Go Test to Treat Offers Speed, Convenience, and Safety With Home Testing, Telehealth Prescriptions, and Anti Viral Paxlovid Delivery Within Hours Through Its Mobile App, Which Now Also Includes Support for Long COVID

MIAMI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrivo , the leading health technology company behind On/Go rapid COVID-19 tests and the AI-powered mobile app , today announced the launch of its free, at-home Test to Treat program , plus new medical support resources for people suffering from long COVID. On/Go Test to Treat is the most accessible, seamless, end-to-end test to treat solution on the market, launching at a crucial time when Americans have struggled to access COVID treatments like the antiviral medication Paxlovid. As cases are rising globally and new COVID-19 variants are emerging, On/Go offers speed, convenience, and safety by allowing eligible users who test positive to receive free antiviral medication without leaving their homes.

"Speed matters with Paxlovid," said COVID-19 expert and critical care physician Dr. Roger Seheult, M.D., a member of Intrivo's medical advisory board. "Right now, we need to help more people because merely 11% of Americans with COVID-19 are prescribed antiviral treatment. On/Go Test to Treat is a fast, innovative way of helping people in their homes within hours. This is the future of COVID-19 treatment and a precursor for many other potential use cases."

The solution was designed by Intrivo's in-house team of user experience experts, engineers, and data scientists to be widely applicable to other types of treatment in the future. To use On/Go Test to Treat, consumers use the On/Go #1-rated COVID test, which is free with health insurance reimbursement, and follow a few simple steps :

Download the On/Go mobile app for iOS or Android . Follow the instructions to take the test and receive results. If results are positive, complete a brief eligibility form in the app, which an independent clinician reviews to determine if you are a candidate for Paxlovid treatment. If treatment is the right option, choose a pharmacy where the clinician can issue a Paxlovid prescription. Select free, rapid delivery and the medication arrives at your home within hours.

"We now have more tools to control the spread of COVID-19 more effectively than before, but it's not always easy for people to access them quickly, easily, and affordably," said Ron Gutman, Co-CEO of Intrivo. "With our Test-to-Treat solution, we ensure that eligible people who really need Paxlovid can start their antiviral prescriptions almost immediately because we know time is of the essence and we have the leading edge technology to deliver it. When someone tests positive, they may not know what to do next  from test results to prescription fulfillment to rapid delivery to lingering symptoms, we've got our users' backs and can help them control COVID-19 for good."

About one in five people (19%) who contract COVID-19 end up with long COVID complications, so On/Go has also launched a new service to help people take care of lingering symptoms, as they have an urgent need to reduce suffering and anxiety. The On/Go long COVID solution includes an easy-to-use symptom checker and access to a virtual COVID-19 care clinic, featuring live telemedicine video calls with specifically trained clinicians. The detrimental effects of long COVID reduce quality of life and can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, shortness of breath, joint and muscle pain, heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, menstrual changes, changes to taste and smell, inability to exercise, and more. Intrivo's long COVID support has been developed with leading clinical experts across the nation, including Stanford University-based researchers and Intrivo's own in-house medical advisory board. These experts guide product development with the latest research and treatment options.

"We imagine a world where people who are sick won't have to put themselves and others at risk just to get the life-saving treatment they need," said Reeve Benaron, Co-CEO of Intrivo. "Healing people in the comfort of their own homes is the future of healthcare, and our goal is to help everyone stay safer, especially as we enter this winter when COVID-19 cases are traditionally on the rise."

To experience On/Go Test to Treat and long COVID virtual care, and learn more about how Intrivo is creating innovative, delightful technology to keep Americans healthier and safer, download the On/Go mobile app and visit LetsOnGo.com/Test-to-Treat and LetsOnGo.com/long-covid-clinic .

About On/Go:

On/Go is a trusted self-testing platform that helps people live healthier lives by combining an easy-to-use, rapid COVID-19 test with a best-in-class, AI-powered mobile app. Since it launched in 2020, On/Go has helped hundreds of millions of people with fast and accurate testing. The brand's premier antigen test, On/Go One , delivers results with 98.2% accuracy in 15 minutes, detects all major known COVID-19 variants, and works with or without symptoms. The smartphone-sized test pairs with the top-rated On/Go companion mobile app to make testing simple and portable. Tests are covered by insurance and can be purchased on Amazon and LetsOnGo.com for home delivery. The On/Go app includes antiviral prescriptions via telemedicine, testing guidance, live medical support, instructional videos, virtual health resources, and much more. On/Go is backed by Intrivo 's data-driven population health platform, which enables hospitals and other organizations to understand viral trends based on test results and identify infection clusters in real-time. For more information, visit LetsOnGo.com .

About Intrivo:

Intrivo is a Miami-based health technology company that harnesses the power of AI and user-centered design to provide the first scalable, comprehensive testing-to-tracing solution on the market. Intrivo's Diagnostic as a Service (DaaS)  offering is a trusted, high-quality solution that helps consumers, companies and organizations stay ahead of the COVID-19 curve. It combines the top-rated On/Go self-test with an open-source, AI-backed platform to revolutionize how people, organizations and communities identify viral outbreaks and make health decisions in real-time.

Founded in 2020 amid the onset of the global pandemic, Intrivo continues to fight on the front lines of COVID-19, actively working to apply its team's expertise in expanded capacities and forge new partnerships with stakeholders across all parts of the healthcare ecosystem. Intrivo's ultimate goal is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for both consumers and enterprises, allowing people to live healthier, happier and safer lives. To learn more about Intrivo's world-class, tech-driven solutions, visit Intrivo.com .

This product has not been FDA cleared or approved but has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS- CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. This product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C.  360bbb- 3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization is revoked sooner.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Intrivo
Ship to overnight in celebration of the cruise line's 150th Anniversary

SEATTLE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line's Rotterdam arrived at New York City this morning on its maiden call to the city following a transatlantic crossing that departed Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Oct. 15. The ship is nearing the end of a 15-day cruise that is recreating the maiden voyage of Holland America Line's first ship  Rotterdam I  that departed Rotterdam 150 years ago Oct. 15, 1872.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine officially declared today, Oct. 26, an "honorary day" for Holland America Line to recognize the occasion and the historic contributions of the company to Manhattan throughout its 150 years.

To celebrate the milestone, an event is being held on board tonight for invited guests. A highlight of the evening will be the performance of a musical piece by Emmy Award-winning producer and Emmy-nominated composer Steven Schoenberg, written exclusively for Holland America Line's anniversary to accompany a special short film about the cruise line's journey. The composition will be performed by a 25-piece ensemble of former Holland America Line's Lincoln Center Stage musicians.

In addition, the premium line will introduce a partnership with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation to celebrate the cruise line's 150-year journey from immigrant carrier to consumer ocean liner fleet. The partnership features on-board video content across Holland America Line's entire fleet produced by an Ellis Island researcher, as well as a curated exhibit launching in 2023 at Ellis Island detailing the brand's historical prominence in bringing one in 10 immigrants from Europe to the United States.

"We are excited to be celebrating our 150th Anniversary in such a vibrant city with our newest ship on a rare overnight call," said Gus Antorcha, Holland America Line's president. "There's nothing like sailing into New York under the Verrazano Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Standing on deck, you can't help but think back to more than a century ago, feeling the emotion of arriving in America for the first time. Recreating our first voyage has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

During the crossing, guests indulged in exclusive menus that showcase Holland America Line's 150-year history with entrees each evening reminiscent of dishes served as early as the 1920s. One special 150th Gala Menu only featured items  from appetizers to desserts  from a previous Holland America Line voyage.

In addition to the cuisine, special programming included a "Throwback Happy Hour" that rolled back time with drinks priced as low as 25 cents, Dutch High Tea, presentations that relived the history and roots of the company and anniversary-themed trivia. Holland America Line also introduced a limited-edition Pilsner beer  HAL Pils  in a commemorative can adorned with the iconic Jan van Beers advertising poster of 1898 showing a woman holding a Holland America Line steamship above her head.

For travelers looking to continue the celebration, many of the same special culinary and enrichment programs will be offered on another 150th Anniversary Transatlantic departing April 6, 2023, from New York, ending at Rotterdam April 18, the cruise line's 150th birthday.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Editors Note: Photos and video of the ship's arrival are available at https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/7zj3ur6n.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

Holland America Line has been exploring the world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations. Offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for 75 years  longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from a Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.

CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890 EMAIL: [email protected]

SOURCE Holland America Line
Companies unite under the LIBRA brand to become the largest independently owned Life Insurance Marketing Organization (IMO) in America

BALTIMORE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LIBRA Insurance Partners and Insurance Designers of America, LLC (IDA) announce the merger of the two organizations, creating the largest independently owned life insurance marketing organization (IMO) in the United States. The combined company will operate under the LIBRA Insurance Partners (LIBRA) brand.

Bill Shelow, CEO and president of LIBRA Insurance Partners, and J. Craig Collins, president and executive director of Insurance Designers of America, along with the respective Board of Directors and more than 110 combined affiliated partner agencies, have approved entering a merger agreement. The merger will take effect on January 1, 2023, upon completing the transition process.

"We recognize that during a time of mass BGA transactions and industry-wide consolidations, only those with the ability to scale, innovate and evolve will remain relevant and thrive throughout consistently-changing market conditions," said William (Bill) Shelow, CLU, ChFC, CPCU, LLIF, president and CEO of LIBRA. "This merger uniquely positions LIBRA as a leader in the IMO community, both in size and influence, and through our combined teams and collective value-driven service models, proprietary tools, and leading resources, positions us as the premier partner for agencies, carriers, financial advisors and consumers now and into the future. LIBRA is the home for any BGA that values independence."

The firm retained the services of Paradigm Partners International, a third-party research firm specializing in the insurance landscape, to assess LIBRA's market position post-merger. The study concluded that the combined LIBRA team is the largest independently owned life IMO in America by way of gross annual production.

"We've worked alongside LIBRA for many years. I have tremendous respect for the leadership team and its agency partners," said J. Craig Collins, president and executive director of IDA, "Our firms are aligned in values and commitment and with many synergistic and complementary offerings, we can now leverage those strengths to offer even more robust benefits for our partner firms, their distribution sources, and insurance company partners."

Insurance Designers of America will merge into the LIBRA brand, adding as many as 50 agency partnerships to the LIBRA Insurance Partners community. IDA's team, distribution network, technology offerings and extensive advisor resources will be available to all LIBRA-affiliated partners post-integration. J. Craig Collins will continue in a leadership position as executive vice president and chief relations officer, overseeing carrier partnerships and agency services. The united firm will continue its core commitment to providing unmatched value to partner agencies, independent insurance producers, brokers and financial institutions with life, annuity, and linked benefit insurance solutions.

LIBRA's combined resources will offer agency partners greater operating efficiencies, enhanced technological capabilities, and expanded distribution opportunities. Specifically, the now more than 110 LIBRA agency partners will have access to an array of unique benefits, including:

established relationships with an expanded lineup of affiliated carriers and reinsurers

dedicated underwriting and new business teams

case design resources and direct access to high-level contacts to facilitate the processing of complex cases

a dedicated medical director

product white papers and benchmarking tools

a streamlined quick quoting and informal processing platform

proprietary products and underwriting platforms

invitations to exclusive training resources and events, and more.

The combined team will continue to provide objective, knowledgeable, hands-on support for case design and management as it continues to help its partner agencies innovate, adapt, and excel in the ever-changing landscape of the insurance industry.

About LIBRA Insurance Partners (LIBRA)

LIBRA Insurance Partners is an insurance marketing organization dedicated to serving independent insurance producers, brokers and financial institutions. Formerly known as LifeMark Partners and BRAMCO Financial Resources, the firm exists to leverage strategic relationships, expertise and innovation to expand life insurance distribution for the benefit of all stakeholders. LIBRA Insurance Partners is dedicated to the ongoing development and enhancement of resources to differentiate partner agencies from the competition. Its firms benefit from robust proprietary service offerings, unparalleled partnership, product expertise and access to industry-leading resources. To learn more about becoming a LIBRA partner firm, visit www.LIBRAInsurancePartners.com or call (410) 837-3022.

About Insurance Designers of America, LLC (IDA)

Insurance Designers of America was founded in 1986 by former insurance company executives to fill a void in the distribution of insurance products during a time when insurance companies were shifting focus from distribution to product manufacturing. Over the past thirty-plus years, IDA has grown to become a leading distributor of life insurance, annuities, and related products.

MEDIA CONTACT

AdvisorPR

Alana Kohl & Jill Schofield

702-685-7450

[email protected]

SOURCE LIBRA Insurance Partners
Company to sponsor, kick off opening session at Electricity Transformation Canada trade show

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LONGi, the world's leading solar technology company, is expanding its presence in the rapidly growing Canadian solar market and will have a leading role in the Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) show, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on October 26-28, 2022.

As part of the expansion, LONGi is bringing its flagship distributed solar module for the Canadian residential and commercial sectorsthe Hi-MO 5 54-cell module. LONGi is accepting orders for the high-performance 415-watt monofacial module from its Canadian distribution partners, with first deliveries slated for late Q1 2023.

Based on the same M10 182-mm monocrystalline wafer technology used in the company's market leading large-format utility-scale 72-cell modules, the Hi-MO 5 54-cell module delivers superior power generation, consistent performance, high module efficiency and reduced system costs with an aesthetic appearance for rooftop distributed generation (DG) projects. Like other LONGi modules, its robust mechanical design make it a reliable choice to deal with large snow loads, subzero temperatures, hail and other adverse weather conditions encountered in Canada.

The module's availability bolsters LONGi's already strong order pipeline in Canada. In 2023, LONGi anticipates its Canadian order book will double in size and will be hiring new team members to support the growing business.

"LONGi has a strong presence in the Canadian market, where we work with all the major DG distributors as well as some of the largest energy companies on the utility project side," said Steven Chan, General Manager of LONGi North America. "The Canadian solar sector is experiencing exponential growth, especially in Alberta, with other provinces such as Ontario also poised for gigawatt-scale capacity additions. The combination of availability, quality, reliability and competitive pricing along with the full attention of our dedicated team positions LONGi well in this rapidly expanding market."

Canada's total renewables capacity is expected to expand from 19.6 GW in 2021 to almost 45 GW in 2025, driven primarily by growth in onshore wind and solar energy projects, according to Rystad Energy. Significant large-scale projects in Alberta are scheduled to come online this year that will push the province's capacity to close to 10 GW before 2023a total that will double again by 2025, reaching almost 21 GW, nearly half of Canada's overall market.

The LONGi team will be out in force at ETC this week in partnership with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) and other show organizers. The company is hosting a lounge on the show floor and a happy hour at the October 26 opening reception, and will be co-sponsoring the Renewables UnWind networking event on October 27. LONGi modules will also be displayed in the Polaron (#415) and BayWa r.e. (#215) booths. LONGi's Mike McFadden and Tony Hu will be delivering the opening session presentation at the ETC show floor conference at 11 a.m. on October 26, where they will provide an outlook on the global and Canadian markets as well as a discussion of PV cell and module technology trends.

For more information about the new Hi-MO 5 54-cell module, download the technical datasheet here. To set up a meeting with a LONGi representative at ETC, please contact us at [email protected].

About LONGi

LONGi leads the solar PV industry with breakthrough monocrystalline silicon technology innovations, supplying high-efficiency solar modules for all market segments and project types in the United States. LONGi is one of the world's most valuable solar technology companies with a market capitalization of $8.24 billion and supplies more than 70 GW of solar wafers and 38.5 GW of solar modules worldwide in 2021, about one-fifth and two-fifths of global market demand, respectively. As a fully vertically integrated, sustainably focused company, LONGi offers leading technology. Visit us at LONGi, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

SOURCE LONGi
Leader of extraordinary experiences shares inspiration behind some of the world's best designed hotels

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Bonvoy  Marriott International's extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, award-winning loyalty program, and endless experiences  today announced the launch of Travel by Design, an integrated content platform showcasing never-before-told design stories that inspired some of the world's most extraordinary hotels. Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with Samsung to create the first-ever exclusive branded destination within Samsung's free, ad-supported streaming service, Samsung TV Plus. Starting November 1, 2022, Samsung TV Plus viewers can simply select a tile on the service home screen to explore the on-demand library to immerse themselves in a curated collection of travel video content.

Travel By Design - Uncover the stories behind extraordinary hotel designs

"We are excited to launch our Travel by Design platform to introduce travelers to the design visionaries behind some of the world's most remarkable hotels, fusing them closer to destinations and cultures for a more immersive travel experience," said Annie Granatstein, Vice President, Content Marketing, Marriott International. "We know travelers are rethinking how they want to see the world and we are proud to be able to offer them this one-of-a-kind, at-home experience to fill their bucket lists."

From a secluded overwater villa in the Maldives, to a reimagined royal palace in Budapest, or a trendy hotspot in downtown Los Angeles, Travel by Design brings tales of design and architecture to life from world-renowned creatives, such as Frank Gehry and Yabu Pushelberg, with articles, films, podcasts, and photography across multiple channels, including digital, editorial, and social platforms.

Travel by Design features a collection of short films showcasing four fascinating stories, where iconic destinations meet design from beloved brands like W Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection Hotels, and more. The transportive visual series will be available on streaming platforms, such as Samsung and Roku as well as YouTube, and featured in hotel rooms globally on Marriott Bonvoy TV.

The Travel by Design podcast hosted by Hamish Kilburn, Editor at Hotel Designs, meets the architects, designers, and visionaries who dive deep into the craft and hear what sparked their concept, how their creative process changes throughout, and what it is like to enjoy the space as a traveler. Six audio episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.

For more information on these new openings and Marriott Bonvoy, enroll in the program for free, or to book directly, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com.

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. Download the Marriott app. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
BANGALORE, India, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Mattresses market size is estimated to be worth USD 25560 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 34640 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 5.2% during the review period.

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Major factors are driving the growth of Mattresses market

Mattresses, pillows, and other home furnishings have seen an increase in sales as a result of rising product demand from the real estate industry to meet the needs of the residential market.

Economic growth, the booming luxury hotel and travel sectors, the construction of healthcare facilities to accommodate the greatest number of patients, and other factors are projected to increase the growth of Mattresses market.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF MATTRESS MARKET:

Worldwide, not only in the main cities but also in smaller cities and villages, the consumer readiness to spend for sleep solutions has altered substantially. With increased awareness, people's desire to do thorough research, evaluate prices, and choose wisely when buying mattresses and other sleep solutions have significantly increased. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the mattress market.

Custom-made/customizable products to influence the Mattress Market growth. Over the past ten years, customizable mattresses have become a major fashion trend. Customers who purchase these devices have access to a wide range of preset options, such as design, height, stiffness options, and toppings. To build a stronger brand name, leading industry players have recently launched cutting-edge products. With the rise in custom/customizable product popularity across the globe, other significant industry players are anticipated to take advantage of the commercial potential in this sector.

Furthermore, the Mattress Market is fueled by an increase in consumer expenditure on bedding and home furnishings together with an increase in housing buildings around the world. A separate room for each family member is required across all nations due to the rise in single-occupancy dwellings and nuclear families, which increases demand for the product.

Due to the improved quality of the bedding used in these hotels, the rise in the number of luxury hotels in the United States is also anticipated to have a substantial impact on Mattress Market growth. The price difference between these items and standard bedding is expected to have a favorable effect on the mattress market.

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MATTRESS MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Innerspring Mattress

Foam Mattress

Latex Mattress

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By Application

Private Households

Hotels

Hospitals

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MATTRESS MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

In 2017, China held 33.96% of the market for production. North America and Europe follow, making for roughly 24.60% and 16.42% of the entire worldwide industry, respectively. There is less manufacturing in other nations. Geographically speaking, North America and China made up roughly 26.69% and 26.65% of the total volume of global consumption in 2017, respectively.

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Key Companies:

Serta Simmons Bedding

Tempur Sealy International

Sleep Number

Hilding Anders

Corsicana

Ruf-Betten

Recticel

Derucci

Sleemon

MLILY

Therapedic

Ashley

Breckle

King Koil

Pikolin

Mengshen

Lianle

Airland

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SIMILAR REPORTS:

- Smart Mattress market was valued at USD 251 Million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 8249.5 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 64.0% during 2021-2027.

- Bed Mattress market was valued at USD 34030 Million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 50910 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during 2021-2027.

- Global and Japan Medical Mattress Market Insights, Forecast to 2026

- Global Foam Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

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- Global Heated Mattress Pads Market Insights, Forecast to 2028

- Global Gel Foam Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Innerspring Mattress Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

- Global Smart Adjustable Mattresses Market Research Report 2022

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- Global Pressure Relief Air Mattresses Market Research Report 2022

- Global Orthopedic Mattress Sales Market Report 2022

- Yoga Mat market size is estimated to be worth USD 1907.8 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 3765.6 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 12.0% during the review period.

Click here to see related reports on Mattress Market

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Rising application high-throughput screening procedure is triggering growth in global microplate washers market

Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers to clean cells could augment market growth during forecast period

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The last few years have witnessed an increase in research and development activities worldwide in a bid to develop medication owing to factors such as rising prevalence of new disorders such as coronavirus, globally.

Microplate washers have emerged as key product in research and development activities performed in R&D centers and laboratories, worldwide.

Microplate washers have been used in different application areas such as bead-washing, cell-based assay, and vaccum filtration and have been used in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, which is assisting in market growth.

As per Transparency Market Research study, the global microplate washers market is expected to advance at compound annual growth rate of 3% during the forecast period, starting in 2020 and ending in 2030.

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Leading players in microplate washers market are increasing their production capacities to manufacture automated microplate washers which can emerge as suitable alternative for existing instruments, during the forecast period and contribute to market growth.

Key Findings of Microplate Washers Market Study

Increasing Demand in High-throughput Screening Procedure Boosting Growth in Global Microplate Washers Market: The last few years have witnessed a steady rise in use of multi-purpose microplate washers in high-throughput screening processes. High-throughput screening is an automated procedure used in drug discovery process. Automation has become a key aspect of high-throughput screening and uses robotic microplate washers, which is assisting in growth of microplate washers market. Furthermore, high-throughput screening has been deployed in development of new therapeutics due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases which in turn, is triggering the growth in microplate washers market

The last few years have witnessed a steady rise in use of multi-purpose microplate washers in high-throughput screening processes. High-throughput screening is an automated procedure used in drug discovery process. Automation has become a key aspect of high-throughput screening and uses robotic microplate washers, which is assisting in growth of microplate washers market. Furthermore, high-throughput screening has been deployed in development of new therapeutics due to rising prevalence of chronic diseases which in turn, is triggering the growth in microplate washers market Increasing Demand from Life Science Industry Augmenting Growth in Microplate Washers Market: The last decade has witnessed continuous growth in the life science industry, worldwide. Automated microplate washers are witnessing massive demand from life science industry in different application areas such as immunocytochemistry, which is boosting the growth in microplate washers market

The last decade has witnessed continuous growth in the life science industry, worldwide. Automated microplate washers are witnessing massive demand from life science industry in different application areas such as immunocytochemistry, which is boosting the growth in microplate washers market Rising Demand for Full-plate Microplate Washers Could Propel Overall Market: Leading manufacturers in global microplate washers market are looking to introduce full-plate microplate washers which can be used in different ways to clean cells. Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers could augment the growth in overall microplate washers market during the forecast period

Leading manufacturers in global microplate washers market are looking to introduce full-plate microplate washers which can be used in different ways to clean cells. Rising demand for full-plate microplate washers could augment the growth in overall microplate washers market during the forecast period COVID-19 Pandemic Fueled Growth of Microplate Washers Market: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic fueled the growth in overall microplate washers market. Microplate washers witnessed massive demand from diagnostic centers and laboratories in the development process of vaccines that would help combat the coronavirus which boosted market growth during the pandemic phase

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Microplate Washers Market-Key Drivers

Rising product demand to perform precise immunoassays in enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assays examinations is one of the key growth drivers of global microplate washers market

Increasing product sales over online distribution channels such as e-commerce websites is triggering the growth in overall microplate washers market

Microplate Washers Market-Key Players

The global microplate washers market is competitive, with the presence of numerous leading players. It is anticipated that the entry of new players will further intensify the competition in overall market, during the forecast period.

Well-established market players are investing in R&D activities to produce improved microplate washers that would meet customer requirements in different end-use industries.

Few prominent players in global market include ThermoFischer Scientific, Tecan Trading AG, Biosan, CAPP, and Molecular Devices LLC.

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The global microplate washers market is segmented as follows:

Modality

Automated



Manual

Type

Strip Washers



Full-plate Washers

Application

ELISA



Vacuum Filtration



Bead Washing



Cell-based Assay



Others

End-Use

Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Industries



Academics & Research Institutes



Labs & Diagnostic Centers

Region

North America



Europe



Asia Pacific



Latin America



Middle East & Africa

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mind Cure Health Inc. (CSE: MCUR) (OTCQB: MCURF) (FRA: 6MH) ("MINDCURE" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three months ended August 31, 2022. All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

The special committee of the Company's board of directors is continuing to explore, review and evaluate a broad range of strategic alternatives with its strategic review process. The Company's cash position and balance sheet remain strong and the Company looks forward to finding the best path forward for all shareholders.

A copy of the Company's financial statements for the three months ended August 31, 2022 and the related management's discussion and analysis are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Larissa Chaikowsky has resigned as a director of the Company's board of directors effective November 1, 2022. While the special committee of the Company's board of directors continues to consider strategic alternatives, a replacement will not be appointed. "On behalf of the board of directors and the Company, I would like to thank Larissa for her contribution and support. Her commitment and insight were very much appreciated by the board and management. " stated Philip Tapley, CEO and Chair of the board of directors of MINDCURE.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Philip Tapley, CEO

Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by management of MINDCURE, including, without limitation: the considerations and outcome of the strategic review process and cost-saving measures; COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian economy and the Company's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect the Company's business; no unanticipated expenses, costs or detrimental consequences of the Strategic Review Process or cost-savings measures will arise; availability of additional capital required to execute the Company's business plan; the lack of necessity of further developmental expenditures related to the Company's business plan with respect to the execution of strategic alternatives for the Company; the ability to preserve the value of the Company's assets, including its public company status with Canadian securities regulators; and the ultimate availability of any strategic alternatives for the Company.

Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information the Company's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information inherently entails known and unknown risks and uncertainties about the future and actual results and involves significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information presented, there may be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as no forward-looking information can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE Mind Cure Health Inc.
World-class pianists to perform in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, Nov. 13, Music at St. Mary will present a concert by award-winning Cuban pianists Orlay and Orlando Alonso. The event starts at 3:45 with a pre-concert artist interview with radio personality Christopher Purdy; followed by the performance beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary Church 684 S 3rd St. Admission is $25, with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Welcome to Havanesque, a colorful take by Cuban pianists, The Alonso Brothers, on the classics of the 1930s through the 1960s; featuring original arrangements in a variety of styles  from the seductive melodies of the bolero, and the fiery drive of Latin jazz, to the intricate Afro-Cuban rhythms of the mambo, and conga. Havanesque celebrates Cuba's diverse culture and rich history.

The Music at St. Mary Concert Series supports the artistry of local top-rank musicians in the beautifully renovated sanctuary of St. Mary Catholic Church in German Village.

Dazzling audiences with their artistic exuberance and expression, virtuoso pianists Orlando and Orlay Alonso have been playing since they were children growing up in Cuba. Both attended the National School of the Arts in Havana and earned degrees from Yale University, Ohio State, Mannes and Manhattan School of Music.

After successful solo ventures, the brothers have teamed up to pay homage to their beloved homeland. As a duo, The Alonso Brothers bring their own signature styles to the stage and complement one another in their approach to performing and recording.

Applauded for their emotive gifts, elegance, and polish, The Alonso Brothers shine with a charisma and stage presence that is truly timeless.

"It is never about showing off what they can do technically, but rather about bringing the listener into the meaning of the music. They are real virtuosos of their instrument not only because of their rock solid performances, but because of their considerable intelligence, sensitivity, intense feeling and contagious joy."  The New York Times

Tickets: https://st-mary-catholic-church.ticketleap.com/the-alonso-brothers/?rc=650hq8v

Website: www.southcolscatholic.org/musicseries

Contact:

Music at St. Mary Concert Series

Mark Voris

(614) 445-9668

[email protected]

www.southcolscatholic.org/musicseries

SOURCE Music at St. Mary
The two San Francisco organizations sign an affiliation agreement to increase research collaboration

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gladstone Institutes and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub signed an affiliation agreement to increase their research collaboration. The two San Francisco organizations, both located in the Mission Bay neighborhood known for being a hub for health and biotech, will partner to uncover the fundamental mechanisms of disease in order to find new prevention strategies, treatments, and cures.

Gladstone Institutes and CZ Biohub sign an affiliation agreement to increase research collaboration. From left to right: Gladstone COO Robert Obana, Biohub President Joe DeRisi, Biohub COO Mandana Asgharnejad, and Gladstone President Deepak Srivastava. Photo: Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes

"For decades, Gladstone has distinguished itself as a top biomedical research institution, and Biohub scientists have regularly collaborated with Gladstone's talented researchers," says Joe DeRisi, PhD, CZ Biohub president. "This new affiliation will make these exchanges even more robust and productive."

Gladstone researchers are eligible to apply to become CZ Biohub Investigators, and as part of the new agreement, those selected can use Biohub's funding to support their research both at Gladstone's and Biohub's scientific facilities.

"Both Gladstone and Biohub are focused on supporting the boldest and riskiest ideas, knowing these will lead to the most disruptive solutions to overcome unsolved diseases," says Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone. "It's exciting to join forces so we can achieve our common missions."

Combining Skills and Resources

The new affiliation agreement enables Gladstone investigators who are appointed as CZ Biohub Investigators to have access to resources to participate in research at both organizations. These investigators can also hire postdoctoral fellows and staff to work at the Biohub's facilities to support their science.

Current Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigators at Gladstone include virologist Melanie Ott, MD, PhD; data scientist Katie Pollard, PhD; and bioengineer Seth Shipman, PhD.

"CZ Biohub is known for being exceptionally collaborative, which is a value we share at Gladstone," says Gladstone Chief Operating Officer, Robert Obana, MBA. "By combining our unique strengths, I believe we will successfully accelerate the pace of our discoveries and help make a substantive impact on medicine and healthcare through our research."

Media Contacts

Gladstone Institutes: Julie Langelier | [email protected] | 415.734.5000

CZ Biohub: Julie Chao | [email protected] | 415.816.5571

About Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease.

About CZ Biohub

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is a nonprofit research center that brings together physicians, scientists, and engineers from Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of California, San Francisco. Working at CZ Biohub are some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers who together with our partner universities seek to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease and develop new technologies that will lead to actionable diagnostics and effective therapies.

SOURCE Gladstone Institutes; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
The donation will provide internet connectivity for over 100 schools

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Polaris Program announced today a donation of $500,000 to connect over 100 schools in Chile and Brazil with Starlink. Increasing internet connectivity to communities around the world is one of the core tenets of Polaris Dawn, the first of the Polaris Program's three human spaceflight missions. SpaceX is working with nonprofit organizations  Ensena Chile in Chile and MegaEdu in Brazil  to identify schools in each country in need of great internet and to implement Starlink. Starlinks are being delivered to schools in Chile throughout October, followed by Brazil in November.

Polaris Program Provides Starlink Connectivity to Schools in Chile and Brazil

Powered by a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit, SpaceX's Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable. The service is currently available in over 40 countries around the world, connecting communities that previously had inadequate or no connectivity. High-bandwidth connectivity enables access to essential online services and resources for rural communities.

"Access to information is foundational to solving many of the world's problems. Starlink connectivity is an example of how progress in space benefits those on Earth," said Mission Commander Jared Isaacman.

"Rural schools in Brazil must have reliable high-speed internet to provide their students equitable opportunities, and a satellite-powered solution is essential to reach these schools," said MegaEdu CEO Cristieni Castilhos. "This donation will allow underserved Brazilian schools to use Starlink's innovative technology, bettering the education of students."

Jared and the Polaris Dawn crew  Mission Pilot Kidd Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis, and Mission Specialist/Medical Officer Anna Menon  talked via Starlink to children at the San Miguel de Quintrilpe school, located in La Araucania region in Chile. The entire school of 80 students and teachers participated in the event, asking the crew questions about their training, what to expect when in orbit, and what the crew hopes to achieve with the Polaris Dawn mission. The school is the first to be connected as part of this effort.

"The donation from Polaris will connect more than 50 schools in Chile to quality internet, contributing to the development of more than 7,500 students and more than 700 teachers. This technological tool, complemented by an educational component of teacher training, allows us to continue improving educational quality and bringing opportunities to children," said Tomas Recart, executive director of Ensena Chile.

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), attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk, and test Starlink's laser-based communications in space.

Media Contact:

Sarah Grover

Communications Director for the Polaris Program

[email protected]

About the Polaris Program

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 led Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to orbit that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To learn more about the Polaris Program, visit www.PolarisProgram.com and follow along on Twitter (@PolarisProgram) and Instagram (@PolarisProgram).

SOURCE Polaris Dawn
By allowing pharmaceutical and biotech companies to virtually execute thousands of clinical trials in minutes, QuantHealth is transforming the clinical trial design process, helping to bring new drugs to patients faster and at lower costs

TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QuantHealth , an AI-powered clinical trial design startup, today announced its emergence from stealth, along with a $2.6 million seed financing round led by Shoni Top, with participation from Pitango HealthTech, Nina Capital, Bessemer (Renegade), Atooro Fund, Boston Millenia Partners and Brigham Hyde. The funding will be used to further develop QuantHealth's platform, and expand its partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies.

Clinical trials are the most expensive and lengthy part of drug development. Less than 10% of drugs that begin clinical trials fail to make it to the market. Trial failures account for an estimated $45B/year, representing ~25% of global pharma R&D budget that is wasted each year. Nearly 75% of these failures happen due to lack of safety and efficacy, caused by lack of drug-population and drug-protocol fit.

QuantHealth has built a unique AI-based clinical trial simulation platform that allows pharmaceutical companies to simulate their upcoming clinical trials in a cloud environment, and test thousands of protocol variations to discover the trial design that will maximize the likelihood of success.

"QuantHealth has developed a ground-breaking solution to a problem that has plagued drug development companies for decades," said Orr Inbar, CEO and co-founder of QuantHealth. "We are transforming the way that pharmaceutical companies are approaching their clinical trials, giving them the ability, for the first time ever, to see how their clinical trial will unfold, and to succeed where so many have failed. So far, we have simulated over 30 trials in oncology and auto-immune diseases with a success rate of over 85%."

QuantHealth's AI solution is based on the integration of a large real-world dataset of over 350M patients with a biomedical knowledge-graph of over 700K biomedical entities and therapeutics. This unique integration allows for granular and comprehensive simulations, which is already applied by various pharma customers in US and EU.

About QuantHealth

90% of drugs fail the clinical stage, representing a direct $45B annual waste to pharma companies. To address this challenge at its core, QuantHealth's Clinical-Simulator predicts how each patient in a clinical trial will respond to treatment, allowing trial design teams to predict how an entire clinical trial will play out, and adapt accordingly. Based on its novel AI engine and a vast dataset of 350m patients and over 700K therapeutics, QuantHealth's simulator can predict clinical trial results with high accuracy, allowing users to answer mission critical questions such as trial go/no-go, cohort optimization, drug repurposing, and more. QuantHealth was founded by healthcare experts who led commercial, product, and data science at various leading companies in the US and Israel. QuantHealth is backed by expert Life-Science investors in the US, Europe and Israel, and is supported by an advisory board of physicians and scientists from leading academic institutions.

Media Contact:

Arnon Horev

[email protected]

Logo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930195/QuantHealth_Ltd_Logo.jpg

SOURCE QuantHealth Ltd.
In association with Exiger and The Human Trafficking Institute, Relativity examines how AI can disrupt human trafficking in supply chains

CHICAGO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal and compliance technology company, kicks off the first day of its annual conference Relativity Fest with the debut of its documentary "On the Merits: Labor Trafficking" which explores the role of data and AI in disrupting human trafficking in supply chains.

The documentary aims to help viewers understand the motivations of human traffickers, data's role in enabling and preventing abuse, and how AI and public-private partnerships can mitigate human trafficking. The Relativity film in association with the Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) and Supply Chain Risk Management SaaS company and Relativity Partner Exiger, features in-depth interviews from technologists, labor advocates, supply chain experts, prosecutors and human trafficking survivors.

Forced Labor in the Global Supply Chain

According to the International Labour Organization, approximately 21.2 million people were subjected to labor trafficking in 2021. Forced labor has long been an endemic issue in global supply chains. Suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors create a complex web making labor trafficking difficult to detect.

The documentary tells the story of labor trafficking survivor, Ronny Marty, who came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic under the promise he'd receive a good job. However, he soon found out that he was misled. While working at the manufacturing company that employed him, he endured intimidation, withheld wages and threats of deportation and violence against his family that tethered him to inhumane working conditions. In the documentary, Marty shares his harrowing story of how he escaped and is now an advocate for human trafficking awareness.

"Ronny's story of escaping labor trafficking is extremely inspiring, but unfortunately, if we don't move upstream to stop the traffickers, they will keep exploiting more victims," said Victor Boutros, CEO of Human Trafficking Institute. "People sometimes think that victims of labor trafficking must be physically bound or coerced by traffickers, but traffickers use a variety of threats and tactics to coerce labor trafficking victims and create a climate of fear that makes it scary or difficult for them to report the trafficker's crimes to authorities. That's why it's imperative that we form specialized anti-trafficking enforcement units and equip them with the skills and data they need to be more effective at proactively finding and arresting traffickers and protecting their victims."

Using AI to Fight Human Trafficking

Public-private partnerships increase the quantity and quality of data used to train AI, exponentially accelerating the ability of law enforcement or advisors like HTI to find critical patterns in a sea of data that might indicate human trafficking. In some cases, HTI reported it could take up to six months for their team to comb through data that AI could cull in seconds.

"With a large scale and far-reaching problem as egregious as human trafficking, time is always the imperative," said Brandon Daniels, CEO of Exiger. "Using AI to deliver transparency into supply chains in real-time to identify labor trafficking is a gamechanger. We are revolutionizing the previously unmanageable process of surfacing modern slavery red flags in a sea of commercial activity and, ultimately, helping to save lives. It fuels our work to know that we have tangible examples where we have collaborated with our customers and stopped human traffickers in their tracks."

Exiger partners with the world's largest corporations, banks, government agencies and NGOs like HTI to detect insightful patterns and help find the signal in the noise through AI processes like machine learning and natural data processing. Models built by running open-source data through AI algorithms help find outliers in business practices or patterns that can point toward abuse so investigators can draw conclusions about possible trafficking practices and disrupt them before they happen.

"A lot of companies are thinking of taking risk management a step further," said Daniels. "Partnering with NGOs like HTI is a moral good that we as corporations  which are just collections of people  have a belief in. There's not just risk in financial loss to consider, there's the risk to civil society as we know it. The imperiling of our values should be included in what corporations and the corporate ecosystem think of as risk."

"Bad actors rely on innovation to survive, and technology has certainly played a role in enabling human trafficking," said VP of AI at Relativity, Apoorv Agarwal. "However, these traffickers are leaving behind a trail of digital footprints, so I also believe technology  specifically AI and machine learning  will be the key that ultimately unlocks exposing them."

Partnering with the Relativity Community to Power the Pursuit of Justice

Relativity's "On the Merits" docuseries provides the legal technology community a true look at important world events and the people who work to redress wrongs. It looks at the role data plays in compelling current events that involve Relativity's customers, and how technology helps Relativity, through Relativity's community, advance its mission to organize data, discover the truth and act on it.

"The honor of working at Relativity is helping our partners, like Exiger, tell their stories in novel ways," said JC Steinbrunner, Senior Director of Brand at Relativity. "Relativity builds more than a platform for technological innovation; it's our privilege to maintain the story circle that celebrates our community and shares their experiences of problem solving, invention, passion and hope."

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.

About Exiger

Exiger is revolutionizing the way corporations, government agencies and banks manage risk and compliance through its combination of technology-enabled and SaaS solutions. In recognition of the growing volume and complexity of data and regulation, Exiger is committed to creating a more sustainable risk and compliance environment through its holistic and innovative approach to problem solving. Exiger's mission to make the world a safer place to do business drives its award-winning AI technology platform built to anticipate the market's most pressing needs related to evolving ESG, cyber, financial crime, third-party and supply chain risk. Exiger has won 30+ AI, RegTech and Supply Chain partner awards. Learn more at Exiger.com and follow Exiger on LinkedIn.

About Human Trafficking Institute

Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) exists to decimate trafficking at its source by empowering investigators and prosecutors to stop traffickers. Working inside criminal justice systems, HTI provides embedded experts, world-class training, investigative resources, and evidence- based research necessary to protect victims.

SOURCE Relativity
YBO - A high-ranking delegation of Yen Bai province led by Tran Huy Tuan, Vice Secretary of the provincial Communist Party of Vietnam Committee and Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, paid a working visit to Laos on October 24.

Chairman of the Yen Bai Peoples Committee Tran Huy Tuan visits the boarding school for ethnic minority students in Vangvieng district of Vientiane province.

The trip took place amid a number of activities being held to mark the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 - 2022), and 45 years since the signing of the two countries Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - 2022).





At the talks with the Yen Bai delegation, Khamphan Sithidampha, Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party Committee and Governor of Vientiane province, emphasised the long-standing relations between Vietnam and Laos, as well as between Vientiane and Yen Bai. He described the Yen Bai delegations working visit as a contribution to the special solidarity and cooperation between the two Parties and States, including between Vientiane and Yen Bai.





The host noted that during 14 years of cooperation, leaders of the two provinces have made mutual visits, shared experience, and assisted each other. Vientiane has received considerable support from Yen Bai for many projects. Their mutual assistance in multiple fields has helped increasingly strengthen the special ties between the Parties and States of Laos and Vietnam.





In his remarks, Tran Huy Tuan congratulated Vientiane on its recent all-round achievements and considered these as an important prerequisite for it to continue developing more strongly in 2023 and the following years.





The Yen Bai delegation and the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos pose for a group photo.





Informing his host about Yen Bais achievements in the first nine months of 2022 and its goals and orientations for 2025, he affirmed that the solidarity and friendship between the two provinces have been flourishing in an intensive, practical, and effective manner. They have also carried out many cooperation activities in such fields as politics, economy, education - training, and heath care.





According to a report delivered at the talks, Yen Bai and Vientiane have implemented cooperation activities since 2008 and reaped encouraging outcomes. They have organised 61 mutual visits regarding many areas, including health care, culture, education, information technology, and natural resources - environment. Yen Bai has also provided assistance worth over 189 billion VND (7.6 million USD) for Vientiane to build infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and offices.





For 2023, the two provinces agreed to send three delegations to visit each other and share experience. Yen Bai will continue helping Vientiane to build headquarters of agencies and receive 10 more students from the Lao province to learn the Vietnamese language and then specialities at local schools.





On this occasion, the Yen Bai delegation made a courtesy call on the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, visited the Lao - Viet Bank in Vientiane and the boarding school for ethnic minority students in the provinces Vangvieng district, and paid tribute to the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts falling down during the resistance war against France in Laos at a memorial site in Vientiane.





Chairman of the Yen Bai Peoples Committee Tran Huy Tuan presents a gift to the Lao - Viet Bank.





On behalf of Yen Bai leaders, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Tran Huy Tuan presents 35 sets of computer to Vientiane province.





An overview of the talks.
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mrs. Sonja Rossteuscher, the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tristone Flowtech Group, a global automotive tier one supplier, is joining Rock Tech as its new Chief Financial Officer on November 01, 2022. Mrs. Rossteuscher is taking over the position from Mr. Stefan Krause who has held the role on an interim basis. Mr. Krause retains his seat as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Sonja Rossteuscher new CFO of Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (CNW Group/Rock Tech Lithium Inc.)

Mrs. Rossteuscher comes to Rock Tech with significant financial executive experience from both privately held and stock-listed international companies. Her achievements in securing and managing credit lines in combination with streamlining and structuring global finance organizations will enhance the Company's ability to prepare and run the project financing for its planned Guben Converter and Georgia Lake Mining Projects.

"It is very exciting to join Rock Tech, a company at the heart of the electric mobility revolution with the potential for significant growth for many years to come. Securing the best possible project financing with leading international debt and equity partners will be my and my team's key priority in the coming months," said Mrs. Rossteuscher.

A Canadian by birth with more than 20 years' experience in Germany, Mrs. Rossteuscher embodies the Rock Tech DNA perfectly. Her strong communication skills and proven track-record in successful financings creditor and investor relations, cash management and organizational design and development will have a positive impact at both corporate level and across the whole Group.

Sonja Rossteuscher has served on various executive teams and boards and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

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.

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, where applicable. 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. Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words or phrases such as "expect", "will", "plans" and similar expressions 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:; the Company's expectations regarding its planned and prospective activities and projects, including 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; Mrs. Rossteuscher's opinion on the the electric vehicle industry and her anticipated services to the Company; 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 supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; the Company's ability to procure supplies of spodumene concentrate and other equipment necessary for its business; Ms. Rossteuscher providing the services described herein to the Company; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies, including with respect to the Company's competitors. 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 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 ; 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. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking information or otherwise.

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
MIAMI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) has scheduled a conference call for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, November 3, 2022, to provide a business update and discuss third quarter financial results. The call will be simultaneously webcast on the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available at the same website for 30 days following the call.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to more than 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award-winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 10 ships on order as of September 30, 2022. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group
DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Royal House Partners ("RHP") a leading provider of residential and commercial HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma welcomes the addition of Dave's Heating & Air Conditioning based in Taylor, Texas, to their family of businesses.

RHP was founded in 2021 by CPS Capital, a Toronto-based investment firm, and 1801 Holdings, a Dallas-based group of seasoned home services professionals, who have spent a considerable amount of time developing a residential and light commercial HVAC, plumbing and electrical roll-up strategy.

As a leadership team, we have been busy the last several months acquiring businesses in the Home Services space. The addition of Dave's marks our third Texas investment in the last 12-months to further expand our HVAC footprint.

Dave's HVAC team consists of experienced and licensed journeymen. Dave's has been caring for their loyal residential and light commercial clients for 30+ years.

Paul Adams, Chief Growth Officer & Founder of RHP, notes "Dave's is a nice fit for our existing HVAC operation, and it allows us to further expand our Central Texas customer radius east."

Darwin Tanksley, Regional Vice President Texas, notes, "Dave's Heating and Air Conditioning is such a spectacular addition to our team. What Dave and Wendy have built is such a blessing. Not only for Royal House Partners but more importantly the community. To be able to continue this wonderful legacy is one of my life's greatest honors."

HVAC businesses interested in joining the RHP team should contact Paul Adams [email protected]

For more information about RHP, visit https://www.royalhousepartners.com/home

About CPS Capital:

CPS Capital is a lower middle market private equity firm, based in Toronto, founded by owner-operators who look to partner with business owners to realize their growth and transition goals. CPS Capital is focused on North American opportunities to invest in exceptional businesses in growing industries with attractive characteristics. We look to become value-added partners with every business we work with. We bring significant capability, expertise, and capital to provide business owners with an attractive option compared to traditional financial or strategic buyers.

For more information, please visit us at https://cpscapital.com/

SOURCE Royal House Partners
RuggON and T3RRA Now Offer a Complete Solution to Farmers and Others Who are Experts in Terraforming That Minimizes Downtime

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RuggON, an international maker of ruggedized mobile solutions, and T3RRA, an international developer of easy-to-use, powerful terrain-management software, recently joined forces to provide the agricultural community with a total software-digital system compatible with the state-of-the-art John Deere technology and equipment that farmers use. While other manufacturers' tablets could satisfy much of T3RRA's needs, only the RuggOn PX501 included a serial port capable of handling the fast communication being sent and received by users of their software on equipment in the field.

RuggON and T3RRA Now Offer a Complete Rugged Computing Solution to Farmers and Others who are Experts in Terraforming That Minimizes Downtime

"We pride ourselves in providing awesome software for awesome farmers," commented Gwen Brittain, Manager, North American Operations for T3RRA. "So, we needed an awesome rugged tablet to partner with. The RuggOn PX501 was it. It literally had everything we wanted. And having a serial port was like double icing on the cake. Our customers love how rugged and substantial the unit is, as it aids them in avoiding costly downtime. We're glad to be working with RuggOn and look forward to our relationship."

The RuggON PX501 10.1" tablet is fully rugged, meeting IP65, MIL-STD-810G, and MIL-STD-461G standards; is water and vibration resistant, making it perfect for in-cab use; supports Windows 10 IoT Enterprise; and has multiple I/O ports, including an RS-232 serial port.

Its high-resolution WUXGA (1920x1200) and 1000 nits brightness sunlight-readable display is perfect for bright sunny days in the field. The unit is paired with an IP54 digitizer pen to ensure accurate touchscreen interaction. In addition, a quick-release function makes removing the tablet from the in-cab mount easy when it's quitting time.

The unit has many options and accessories: an optional ruggedized keyboard, docking station, in-cab 12V power adaptors and chargers, and more. RuggON also developed a pigtail to change the 12V to a 3-pin convenience-outlet option, making the PX501 even better and more practical for many users.

"We were thrilled when T3RRA told us the PX501 was everything they had been looking for and everything necessary to keep the John Deere equipment humming along, literally, out in the field," stated Tom Wang, RuggON North America CEO. "Farming has become a very technologically focused industry. The software T3RRA develops to help farmers get the most out of their land is truly amazing. Though we play a small part in the grand scheme of things, we feel blessed to have a role in providing food for the world."

About RuggON

With decades of ruggedized mobile solution expertise, RuggON strives to improve mobile productivity in harsh environments. A committed engineering team delivers devices of exceptional value and quality that improve user experience. The company is dedicated to understanding the various demands of different industries in order to provide application-oriented, tailored solutions that are efficient and effective. RuggON is committed to higher standards to achieve customer satisfaction. It prides itself on providing endless possibilities today to meet the demands of tomorrow. For more information, visit www.ruggon.com.

About T3RRA

Rooted in agriculture, T3RRA is an innovative, proactive company that develops easy-to-use, powerful software. Its ground-breaking solutions help farmers and contractors optimize land leveling, ditching, terrace, contour bank, and levee applications. The company is dedicated to meeting the needs for land forming across the globe. Its software is specifically designed to integrate with high-end John Deere farming equipment. Its customers are farming operations of all sizes as well as contractors. The company maintains offices in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia and Little Rock, AR. For more information, visit its website at: www.t3rra.com.

PR Contact:

MegaHertz PR

T: 949-994-2052

E: [email protected]

All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.

 2022 RuggON. All rights reserved.

SOURCE RuggON
SEATTLE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 21, 2022, a joint venture between Security Properties and STARS REI purchased 624 Yale, a trophy type-one midrise style multifamily property located in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood for $104,000,000. This will be the second asset for this partnership, following the acquisition of Augusta Apartments in the University of Washington's University District back in 2019. Security Properties now owns 113 assets totaling approximately 22,500 units across its portfolio. This includes 30 properties and more than 6,400 units in the Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue MSA.

624 Yale Apartments, Seattle, WA 624 Yale Apartments, Seattle, WA

624 Yale was completed in 2018 and consists of 206 residential units spread across two connected buildings. The property also features ~1,942 SF of ground level retail space. Floorplans consist of studios, one and two-bedroom units averaging 711 square feet. Unit interiors consist of white or light brown cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, hardwood flooring, double and triple-paned windows, spacious closets, and private balconies in select units. From an amenity perspective, the property offers a leasing center, fitness center with yoga studio, two rooftop spaces with sweeping views of downtown Seattle and Lake Union, controlled building access, secure parking garage, bike storage, dog washing station and a mail room with parcel lockers. The business plan is a long-term hold with strategic value-add upgrades to both unit interiors and amenity spaces.

South Lake Union has solidified its reputation as one of the nation's marquee technology and innovation hubs. Industry leading companies such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Google's appetite for expansion in the area has magnified in recent years, fueling robust economic growth in the area. South Lake Union also sits within the Circle of Employment, which hosts numerous high-wage technology and life-sciences companies surrounding Lake Union such as Adobe, Tableau, the University of Washington, PEMCO, and many more. In addition to being home base to Seattle's thriving tech scene, the neighborhood includes lakefront access, 170 acres of parks, public art, multiple transportation options, museums, residential and office high-rises, and a wide array of bars and restaurants.

According to Alex Gauper, Director at Security Properties, "the acquisition of 624 Yale represented a unique opportunity to purchase a fully stabilized trophy mid-rise asset at a basis significantly below current replacement cost. As renters continue to return to the core, we feel 624 Yale's dynamic location at the center point of Seattle's most robust and diversified employment center well positions the asset to fully capture the recovery and future growth of the South Lake Union submarket. We are very excited to have a partner in STARS REI that shares in our long-term conviction and to add 624 Yale to our Seattle core portfolio."

"We are delighted to keep increasing our residential portfolio in Seattle with Security Properties as our partner. We remain bullish in the long-term on this city due to its powerful and unique ecosystem" said Felipe Laso, Sr. Associate at STARS REI, a privately held real estate investment management company headquartered in Santiago, Chile. "We both share the conviction that opportunities appear in uncertain times, so instead of putting our pencils down, we are trying to be as active as possible in finding high-quality buildings such as 624 Yale."

The property will be managed by Security Properties-affiliate Security Properties Residential.

About Security Properties

Security Properties is a national real estate investment, development, and operating company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more than 50 years, Security Properties has provided quality housing to its residents as well as excellent financial performance for its investors. Since its founding, Security Properties has acquired or developed over 83,000 residential units at a cost of over $5.7 billion. Security Properties maintains a focused multi-family strategy supported by integrated teams of professional acquisition, development, construction, investment, and property management specialists. For more information, visit www.securityproperties.com

About STARS REI

STARS REI is a global, privately held company with real estate holdings in the U.S. and the U.K. We invest in real estate opportunities that have the potential to improve the property and the surrounding area, placing an emphasis on the quality of life of individuals in and around the property itself. As of today, Stars REI's real estate portfolio includes holdings in the Bay Area, Denver, Boston, Cambridge, Seattle, Washington D.C., New York City, and in London, and totals more than 1.3 million square feet. Further information is available at www.starsrei.com.

About Security Properties Residential

Security Properties Residential is the affiliated property management firm of Security Properties, created to increase the value of its real estate holdings by more closely managing its assets. Operating throughout the Western U.S., Security Properties Residential is committed to delivering exceptional service to its apartment communities and residents. Services include property, construction and compliance management services that create positive living environments for residents and build value for clients.

News media contact:

Ed McGovern

206.628.8019

[email protected]

SOURCE Security Properties
TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Skyservice Business Aviation ("Skyservice") is pleased to announce the expansion of its Fixed Base Operation in Oregon with the completion of a best-in-class business jet center at Redmond Municipal Airport-Roberts Field (RDM) and the opening of a state-of-the-art aircraft hangar at Bend Municipal Airport (BDN).

Skyservice Redmond, Oregon FBO at Redmond Municipal Airport-Roberts Field (RDM) (CNW Group/Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. - Mississauga, ON) Skyservice Bend FBO - Newest Hangar at Bend Municipal Airport (BDN) (CNW Group/Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. - Mississauga, ON)

Throughout 2022, Skyservice has grown across several cities in North America to help address the increasing demand for business aviation services. Doubling the company's footprint at Pierre Trudeau International Airport in Montreal (YUL) and opening a second location at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), two of Canada's busiest airports, the expansion in Oregon builds on Skyservice's 36-year history of delivering clients convenient, high-quality service.

"Skyservice is committed to delivering world-class business aviation services across all of our business service lines, addressing the growing demand for private aviation travel in North America," said Benjamin Murray, President and CEO, Skyservice Business Aviation. "We are excited to open our newest fixed-base operations and hangar facilities in Oregon, a popular place for recreation and tourism, and to improve the client experience through excellent service, safety, and amenities."

Skyservice's recently constructed, 32,000-square-foot facility in Redmond features a contemporary hangar designed with 28-foot hangar doors and a large ramp, expanding the company's service offering to include modern aircraft, such as the Global 7500 and 8000.

In Bend, Skyservice has constructed an additional 16,000 square-foot hangar to accommodate the increased number of clients looking to base their aircraft conveniently at the airport. It joins the business' 10,000-square-foot maintenance, repair, and overhaul services complex.

About Skyservice

Skyservice is a North American leader in business aviation dedicated to innovation, responsible operations, safety, and service excellence. Celebrating its 36th successful year, Skyservice is at the forefront of the business aviation industry with best in-class facilities across North America. Our skilled maintenance teams, outstanding fixed base operation facilities, first-class aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and acquisition provide our customers with an experience that is truly above and beyond. To learn more, visit http://www.skyservice.com/.

SOURCE Skyservice Business Aviation Inc. - Mississauga, ON
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Smart Pole Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026" report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio is proudly partnering with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Smart Pole Market 2022-2026

The potential growth difference for the smart pole market between 2021 and 2026 is USD 13.83 billion. Also, the report expects the market to witness a YOY growth of 18.57% in 2022 and accelerate at a CAGR of 19.88% during the forecast period. To estimate the size of the market, Technavio has considered various factors including voice and data traffic growth, IP traffic and internet traffic growth, broadband speed requirements, revenue generated by vendors, and mobile and internet penetration rates among others. Our sample includes market data points, ranging from trend analyses to market estimates & forecasts. See for yourself by Downloading a Free Sample Report .

Segmentation Analysis:

The global smart pole market is segmented by type (retrofit installations and new installations) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa, and South America).

The market growth will be significant in the retrofit installations segment. Retrofit installations involve the upgrade of existing conventional street light poles with smart poles. The retrofit installations segment dominates the global smart pole market as a large number of street light poles are being upgraded to smart poles across the world. The high contribution of street light poles to a city's energy consumption is also a crucial factor for the increasing upgrade of the existing conventional street light poles. Street light poles contribute 40% to 70% to the total energy consumption in cities globally. This is acting as an important factor for the growth of the retrofit installations segment of the global smart pole market.

By region, North America will have the largest market share. The growing need to increase urban efficiency through smart city applications is driving the adoption of smart poles in North America. In addition, the growing effort of the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop personal rapid transit in the urban environment will have a positive impact on the growth of the regional market during the forecast period.

Key Market Dynamics:

Market Driver

Market Challenges

The global smart pole market is driven by the multiple functionalities enabled by smart poles. Smart poles provide several benefits for city infrastructure when compared with conventional street lights. The LED lights in smart poles save around 40% of energy owing to the presence of features such as auto-dimming that adapts light illusion according to the surrounding light. Smart poles also help cities in monitoring the environment, increasing public and traffic safety, upgrading connectivity by providing Wi-Fi hotspots, and delivering location-based services such as smart parking and smart navigation. Also, smart poles can identify toxic chemicals, pollen counts, or air pollution levels with the help of sensors. Speakers installed in these poles can alert the public in case of high toxic content in the atmosphere. Many such benefits are increasing the adoption of smart poles globally.

However, the high costs associated with smart poles will challenge market growth. The average cost of a smart pole is about USD 14,000, and the installation cost of a smart pole ranges between USD 500 and USD 1,000. This makes smart pole installation expensive for governments and municipalities. In addition, the repair cost is significantly higher for smart poles, as smart poles are complex in nature. The shortage of skilled technicians that repair smart poles is further increasing the repair costs. All these factors are expected to reduce the growth potential in the market.

Get detailed insights into the impact of drivers, trends, and challenges on the growth of the global smart pole market. Buy Report Now

Major Vendors in Smart Pole Market:

Acuity Brands Inc.

ELKO EP Holding SE

Goldspar Australia Pty Ltd.

Hubbell Inc.

Koninklijke Philips NV

Lumca Inc.

Mobile Pro Systems

MosChip Technologies Ltd.

Norsk Hydro ASA

OMNIFLOW SA

Safepro AI video Research Labs Pvt. Ltd.

Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd.

Signify NV

Sunna Design SA

TEKVIHAAN ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

Telelink city Ltd.

The Jaquar Group

Valmont Industries Inc.

Wipro Lighting

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Smart Pole Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 19.88% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 13.83 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 18.57 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 34% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Acuity Brands Inc., ELKO EP Holding SE, Goldspar Australia Pty Ltd., Hubbell Inc., Koninklijke Philips NV, Lumca Inc., Mobile Pro Systems, MosChip Technologies Ltd., Norsk Hydro ASA, OMNIFLOW SA, Safepro AI video Research Labs Pvt. Ltd., Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd., Signify NV, Sunna Design SA, TEKVIHAAN ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, Telelink city Ltd., The Jaquar Group, Valmont Industries Inc., and Wipro Lighting Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type

5.3 Retrofit installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Retrofit installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Retrofit installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Retrofit installations - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Retrofit installations - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 New installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on New installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on New installations - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on New installations - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on New installations - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



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 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 78: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 79: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 80: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 81: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 ELKO EP Holding SE

Exhibit 89: ELKO EP Holding SE - Overview



Exhibit 90: ELKO EP Holding SE - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: ELKO EP Holding SE - Key offerings

10.4 Hubbell Inc.

Exhibit 92: Hubbell Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 93: Hubbell Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 94: Hubbell Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 95: Hubbell Inc. - Segment focus

10.5 Koninklijke Philips NV

Exhibit 96: Koninklijke Philips NV - Overview



Exhibit 97: Koninklijke Philips NV - Business segments



Exhibit 98: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key news



Exhibit 99: Koninklijke Philips NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: Koninklijke Philips NV - Segment focus

10.6 Lumca Inc.

Exhibit 101: Lumca Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 102: Lumca Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 103: Lumca Inc. - Key offerings

10.7 OMNIFLOW SA

Exhibit 104: OMNIFLOW SA - Overview



Exhibit 105: OMNIFLOW SA - Product / Service



Exhibit 106: OMNIFLOW SA - Key offerings

10.8 Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 107: Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 108: Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 109: Shanghai Sansi Electronic Engineering Technology Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.9 Signify NV

Exhibit 110: Signify NV - Overview



Exhibit 111: Signify NV - Business segments



Exhibit 112: Signify NV - Key news



Exhibit 113: Signify NV - Key offerings



Exhibit 114: Signify NV - Segment focus

10.10 Sunna Design SA

Exhibit 115: Sunna Design SA - Overview



Exhibit 116: Sunna Design SA - Product / Service



Exhibit 117: Sunna Design SA - Key offerings

10.11 The Jaquar Group

Exhibit 118: The Jaquar Group - Overview



Exhibit 119: The Jaquar Group - Product / Service



Exhibit 120: The Jaquar Group - Key offerings

10.12 Wipro Lighting

Exhibit 121: Wipro Lighting - Overview



Exhibit 122: Wipro Lighting - Product / Service



Exhibit 123: Wipro Lighting - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 124: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 125: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 126: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 127: Research methodology



Exhibit 128: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 129: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 130: 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
Leading Hospitality Management Company Strengthens California Presence with Management of Boutique Oasis in Orange County

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Springboard Hospitality, a leading hospitality management company with 41 independent and branded properties throughout the U.S., today announced it will manage The Hills Hotel in Laguna Hills, California. Recently acknowledged by Hotel Management magazine as a top hotel management company, Springboard Hospitality will bring its industry-leading hotel management platform to The Hills Hotel, a full-service boutique offering.

"We are excited to begin working with The Hills Hotel and introduce them to our suite of hospitality management services," said Ben Rafter, Chief Executive Officer, Springboard Hospitality. "The hotel's prime location and picturesque rooms provide an optimal offering for business and leisure travelers, and our entire team looks forward to seamlessly elevating the hospitality experience."

Ideally located between Los Angeles and San Diego, The Hills Hotel offers 148 plush guest rooms including two signature bridal suites, a full-service onsite restaurant plus the Emerald Lounge offering chic cocktails, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and fitness center. A convenient location for banquets and events, the hotel offers 11,000 square feet of meeting space including the Crystal Ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests, an executive boardroom and breakout meeting rooms. Just a 15-minute drive to Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Newport Beach, and Irvine Spectrum Center, a short drive to Disneyland and Legoland California, and only 14 minutes from John Wayne Airport, the hotel welcomes adults and families eager to gather, stay, and explore the best of Orange County. Rooms start at $170/night.

Each property in the Springboard Hospitality portfolio is able to leverage a best-in-class suite of tools through the Hospitality Intelligence (H.I.) platform, combined with industry-leading talent, to deliver streamlined operations, personalized guest experiences and maximized revenues. Springboard Hospitality's hotels and resorts benefit from H.I. with smarter, more efficient, and profitable concepts that provide a defensible competitive advantage.

The Springboard Hospitality team specializes in creating lifestyle hotels with experience across a multitude of services including accounting, revenue management, sales, marketing, food and beverage, human resources, and new hotel development.

About Springboard Hospitality

For more than 30 years, Springboard Hospitality, previously known as OLS Hotels & Resorts, has transformed people, properties and communities as a leader in the hospitality industry managing and developing innovative boutique and branded properties throughout the U.S. With dual offices in Honolulu and Los Angeles, Springboard operates more than 41 properties across 11 states. Led by technology entrepreneur Ben Rafter, Springboard specializes in using analytics and technology with its Hospitality Intelligence (H.I.) to ensure properties are optimizing return on investment. The company offers a full spectrum of hotel services with expertise in creative management, marketing, sales, revenue management, food and beverage and more. The Springboard Hospitality team is committed to going above and beyond with high-touch, personalized service in every aspect of its operations, from its interactions with guests to its relationships with owners.

For more information, please visit www.springboardhospitality.com. Follow Springboard Hospitality on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

The Point PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Springboard Hospitality
TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Royal Bank of Canada  Canada's #1 fossil fuel financing bank  announced its latest climate targets , essentially more greenwashing as the bank continues to bankroll high-polluting sectors like fossil fuels. The bank released only 'intensity-based' targets for energy sector clients, essentially a license to continue to pollute.

Richard Brooks, Stand.earth Climate Finance Program Director, said:

"There's a dictionary-official definition for RBC's climate targets: it's called greenwashing. With RBC continuing to bankroll polluters, these pledges are just more smoke and mirrors. While people across Canada bear the brunt of fires, floods, and deadly heat, Canada's #1 fossil fuel-financing bank continues to pour gas on the flames, bankrolling gas, tar sands, oil, and coal. Instead of financing Indigenous rights-violating fracked gas pipelines, RBC has the opportunity to reinvest in climate-safe solutions and truly live into its climate rhetoric."

Canada's Competition Bureau recently opened an investigation into RBC's allegedly misleading climate advertising .

Bank of Montreal set absolute emissions reduction targets for energy sector clients. Last week, Deutsche Bank , French bank SocGen , and the UK's Lloyds all released absolute emissions targets for oil and gas clients. Citibank, the world's second largest fossil fuel financier, set an absolute target for energy sector clients of 29% by 2030. Even these targets, already inadequate, were not met by RBC today.

"By continuing to pump billions into fossil fuels and failing to set science-based targets for reducing financed emissions, RBC is out of step with Canada's climate plans," Brooks added. "We can't advance towards meeting our national goals and global responsibility if the country's largest bank is dragging us backwards."

RBC remains one of the largest funders behind new fossil fuel projects, including Indigenous rights-violating pipelines like Coastal GasLink through unceded Wet'suwet'en land , and co-lead arranger and financer of the latest $10 billion loan to build the over-budget, much-delayed TransMountain pipeline.

RBC joined the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero (GFANZ) a year ago, promising to align the bank's lending and investment portfolios with a science-based pathway to net zero by 2050. Ahead of COP27, RBC risks getting booted from the network as they push back against global financial standards for climate risk.

SOURCE Stand.earth
Regional-market introduction is part of company's test-and-learn approach to innovation and growth

BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard and Dogfish Head, announces the launch of Loma Vista Tequila Soda (5.5% ABV), a spirits-based, ready-to drink (RTD) beverage made from premium tequila blanco, real lime juice, carbonated water and natural flavors.

The Boston Beer Company Introduces First Tequila-Based RTD Beverage, Loma Vista Tequila Soda. Tweet this Loma Vista Tequila Soda

Debuting in 4pk/12oz cans in both lime and mango flavors, Loma Vista Tequila Soda will be introduced in Austin, Fort Collins, Kansas City and Wichita later this month. The product sits at the crux of two macro trends: the explosive growth of the RTD beverage segment, which is up +80% this year*, and the rise in popularity of tequila, which holds the third-largest share of the spirits category*. With the novelty of tequila-based RTDs, Loma Vista Tequila Soda offers Boston Beer an opportunity to stake its claim in the space.

Loma Vista Tequila Soda was inspired by the mind-soothing, body reinvigorating, deep purple and fiery orange sunsets that can be seen from the highest point on the multi-generational Yarborough family ranch in West Texas. This pristine peak, aptly named Loma Vista, is a place where gathering at dusk to revel in the view is not only a good idea, but a decades-old tradition. Steeped in natural beauty, it calls adventurers from all over to kick up their boots, let loose and rediscover their inner wild.

"Because we know not everyone can trace the winding trails out to Loma Vista's remote, yet awe-inspiring view, we worked in collaboration with Justin Yarborough of the Yarborough ranching family to develop Loma Vista Tequila Soda, an authentic lifestyle brand rooted in a real place, a real story and real tequila," said Sammy Cohen, The Boston Beer Company's co-head of brand innovation. "As refreshing as the view that inspired it, this transportive beverage offers folks everywhere the chance to drink in the magic of an all-day, Loma Vista sunset, one sip at a time. It's an indescribable and totally immersive experience that we're so excited to share. When the sun sets, we drink!"

The Boston Beer Company aspires to be the most innovative consumer-oriented beverage company in the world. Its two-fold innovation strategy includes thoughtful expansion of existing product lines to meet consumer needs as well as purposeful development of new brands that capitalize on current and future industry trends. While some new products are launched nationally, others will be released in a limited number of markets to test and learn before being released to broader audiences.

"Our two-tiered approach to innovation allows us to be both 'big and small'," said Robert Vail, head of innovation at The Boston Beer Company. "Regional test-and-learns like Loma Vista enable us to jump on trends quickly while also giving us the space to gather direct consumer feedback and hone the brand before expanding. And when we introduce line extensions of larger brands, we also have the ability to activate our sales force and our wholesalers  both of which are the best in the industry  to scale up nationally. It's the best of both worlds."

For more about The Boston Beer Company and Loma Vista Tequila Soda, visit www.bostonbeer.com and www.drinklomavista.com, respectively.

*IRI Total US MULO + Conv, L13WE 10/9/22

DIGITAL ASSETS: Lifestyle & Product Images

LOMA VISTA TEQUILA SODA:

Inspired by the deep purple and fiery orange sunsets that can be seen from the highest point on the multi-generational Yarborough family ranch in West Texas, Loma Vista Tequila Soda is a spirits-based, ready-to drink beverage made from premium tequila blanco, real lime juice, carbonated water and natural flavors. Created in collaboration with Justin Yarborough of the Yarborough ranching family, Loma Vista Tequila Soda offers everyone the chance to drink in the refreshing magic of an all-day sunset, one sip at a time. From The Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard and Dogfish Head. For more, visit www.drinklomavista.com or follow @drinklomavista on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. When the sun sets, we drink!

SOURCE Loma Vista Tequila Soda
Global agency Think share research on the effect the Proclamation 10043 introduced in 2020 on the education system in the United States. The key findings are:

PP10043 discriminates against young Chinese students.

It's against U.S. education institution's values. Organizations and experts are in favor of national security but also in freedom of education.

More than 20 interviews with education experts and university heads were conducted. All emphasized the value of Chinese students in very important areas for the U.S. and are concerned about the loss of talent in the future.

Freedom of education is a universal right of all young people and is necessary for the solution of future problems in country and world.

MADRID, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In June Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, acting on behalf of more than 40 higher education organizations, requested a briefing from the State Department to better understand the implications of Proclamation 10043 for international students and scholars. An update has yet to be provided.

According to Ted Mitchell's own statement: "We are asking to be able to work with federal officials to address concerns that may exist between U.S. national security and students of any nationality, and currently those of Chinese origin."

Think investigates impact of PP10043 in US education system

"We cannot accept the generalization and casting of suspicions and accusations towards a minority as large and important as Chinese students, it violates the rights enshrined in our constitution. We are proud to be Americans and what we stand for, so we want to do our job and ensure national security while helping our country's economy grow, but we can only do that if we make sure we have the brightest students."

Ted Mitchell concludes: "We are sending a very negative message to the world that America no longer welcomes the world's talented students and scholars."

PP10043 is a presidential proclamation signed by the former Trump administration, at the height of the polarization suffered in the United States and a trade war with China, where students of Chinese origin could not continue attending their studies in some of the most prestigious Ivy League universities. This worsened when many of them could not return home due to the COVID pandemic, which left them totally defenseless, with no options to travel, nor to work and above all to study.

This measure created a great rejection and insecurity at the international level. In the face of this uncomfortable climate, candidates started looking for other alternatives in prestigious European universities or in new ones such as in Qatar or China. According to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Ranking 2021, seven of the hundred most prestigious universities worldwide are in China.

According to Chad Losse, Director of Admissions at Harvard: "Some of the students who pass through the classrooms of these universities have a good chance of excelling professionally. But being chosen as a Harvard student is not easy; the admissions rate is very low. We always look for the best academic records, so that they develop other characteristics that are considered fundamental for the next world leaders: Leadership, Service, Commitment, Solution-Orientation, Passion, Vision and Integrity, it makes no sense to exclude a brilliant mind, just because of its origin."

NYU Admissions Department emphasize that in the 2017/2018 academic year there were about 360,000 Chinese students in U.S. universities, representing 33% of the foreign students. During the pandemic the number of Chinese students dropped to about 90,000 students.

The U.S. has historically benefited from welcoming international students with the brightest minds in the world, many of them Chinese, and providing them with the necessary means to make great advances in research, technology, engineering, etc. Trump's presidential proclamation law PP10043 has created a loss of talented minds in the U.S. And a loss in its economy, particularly from those Chinese students for the high fees and donations paid by parents.

The class action lawsuit filed by Chinese international students in the summer of 2022 who are affected by PP10043 is being funded with small contributions through crowdfunding and are still waiting for a resolution to their claims and for the media to echo this. These young students state: "We are not spies, we are students who have worked very hard and we feel discriminated against because of our nationality. Our life and studies have been completely derailed."

Christoph Guttentag, Director of Administration from Duke University's opinion is that: "The proclamation of law 10043 has no academic justification. It was a very important asset for the best Chinese students to study and train in U.S. universities, so that we can establish international ties. This law came at a time of great division in our country and where the relationship with other countries became polarized."

In recent decades, international students have played a critical role in the research that underpins the America's growth and fuels its innovation. Their estimated economic impact is $36.9 billion and they generate 450,000 jobs. The year 2016 saw the highest number of Chinese students studying in the U.S., bringing $12.25 billion in wealth to the country.

"It's legitimate to worry about the vulnerabilities of universities," says Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, and a former U.S. diplomat in Beijing. But, he adds, it should be measured against the "enormous benefit we have derived from the contribution of the brain drain of Chinese students and academics over the past 40 years in the United States." In other words, this veteran politician admits that science and technology brains from China play a big role in U.S. research capacity. If it were not for Chinese academics and students living in the country, U.S. patents would have been compromised.

As Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education at Qatar Foundation (QF) tells us, "Today, universities around the world are on the hunt for the brightest students. From 1995 to 2012, as Executive Director of the Consortium for North American High Education, I saw that parents of international students were increasingly choosing to have their children study in the U.S. as a matter of 'social prestige'."

Mike Devlin, Director of Admissions at the prestigious Stanford University, shares his vision: "Right now we are teaching knowledge that we have no idea if it will be useful or not in a short period of time. Our young people will work in jobs that right now are not even invented, isn't it better to have the largest number of talents studying in U.S. universities and that a large part of them then develop their new companies in our territory, right now we are investing in tomorrow?"

About Think

Think is a global agency specializing in developing documentary, research and entertainment content. The company boasts a team of experts from different fields such as production, creativity, and journalism, some have over 25 years of experience in major production companies in Spain. Think also recruits the most talented young professionals. Curious by nature, we are concerned about what is happening in the world around us, so we like to tell and share what is happening in the world.

SOURCE Think
Former rockstar D.A. Wallach and drug development executive Tim Wright announce contrarian biotech strategy with support from notable investors Chris Sacca, Ron Burkle, and Wildcat Partner Holdings.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Time BioVentures , an early-stage life sciences venture firm, today announced the close of its first fund, Time BioVentures I, LP with $100 Million in assets under management. Backed by an A-List roster of biotech and healthcare luminaries, the fund will finance game-changing innovations in medicine. Its initial investments include Neuralink , Elon Musk's brain-computer interface start-up, and Kling Biotherapeutics , a groundbreaking Amsterdam-based drug development company.

The firm's general partners are an unlikely duo: former rockstar D.A. Wallach and accomplished drug developer Tim Wright, who pioneered multiple blockbuster drugs while at Pfizer and Novartis, where he led Global Pharma Development. Beyond pharma, Wright has served on the boards of numerous private and public biotechs and as an advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Wallach, an acclaimed musician discovered by Pharrell Williams, has been investing for over a decade in start-ups ranging from Spotify to SpaceX, with a specific focus on healthcare innovators including Beam Therapeutics and Devoted Health.

Together, Wallach and Wright are seeking iconoclastic founders aiming to reinvent today's broken healthcare system with radically better drugs, diagnostics, research tools, devices, and care delivery models. "This is perhaps the largest addressable market in the global economy, and we believe that the Mark Zuckerbergs and Larry Pages of healthcare are out there and will build generationally important companies that will transform medicine for decades to come," says Wallach.

"We are not interested in incremental improvements in healthcare," adds Wright. "Patients are waiting for innovations that will have great impact on their lives and we plan to be a catalyst to deliver these products."

Bolstering the core investment team, Time BioVentures advisors include Sean Parker, Nobel Prize winner Jim Allison, oncology pioneer Dr. Padmanee Sharma, and former Illumina Chairman and CEO Jay Flatley. Founding LPs in the fund include Chris Sacca, Ron Burkle, and Wildcat Partner Holdings.

About Time BioVentures

Time BioVentures is a life sciences and healthcare investment firm based in Southern California. www.TimeBioVentures.com

CONTACT

Shannon Wilsey, Public Relations | Time BioVentures

[email protected]

SOURCE Time BioVentures
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 Labelle https://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

Time Is Eternal

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: [email protected], [email protected] 917-907-2169

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921953/Berite_Labelle_Time_Is_Eternal_Mermaid.jpg

SOURCE Berite Labelle
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Partnership awards recognizes individuals and organizations that build and nurture referral, affiliate, brand, and influencer partnerships that add value to customers, fuel creativity, and accelerate growth.

The inaugural awards cover a wide range of modern partnerships across a variety of channels, including Affiliate Marketing, Performance Marketing, Content Marketing, and Influencer Marketing.

Digital marketing agency, Today's Business, was awarded Gold for Best Content Partnership at the US Partnership Awards. Tweet this Today's Business Wins Gold at US Partnership Awards for Best Content Partnership

Today's Business won the Best Content Partnership award for their affiliate marketing work with Tomahawk Shades and Awin - beating out huge companies, such as Anthropologie and Conde Nast.

"Such a strong campaign! I think the objectives were clear, and the approach was incredibly well thought out. Many levers were pulled and the focus on growing relationships with content partners is clear."

-Judges Comment

Tomahawk Shades is a direct to consumer eyewear brand, run by Long Island-based twin brothers Andrew and Ryan Shapiro, with the goal of establishing the brand's credentials through the voices and experiences of trusted authorities.

"We are honored to be recognized for our work and win such a prestigious award. Winning gold for Best Content Partnership is a testament to the outstanding strategy and team we have at Today's Business. This wouldn't be possible without the excellent collaboration with the teams at AWIN & Tomahawk Shades," stated Joe Sanfilippo, Manager of Growth & Partnerships at Today's Business.

Using Awin's platform, Today's Business established partnerships with a variety of media publications & content creators, demonstrating expertise in the men's fashion space that proved hugely successful. So successful in fact, affiliate marketing is now the biggest revenue driver for the Tomahawk Shades' website.

For more information about Today's Business

Joe Sanfilippo | Manager, Growth & Partnerships

708-214-9474

[email protected]

SOURCE Today's Business
Leading HR Solutions Provider Recognized for Its 'People Matter' Campaign

DUBLIN, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive human resource solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced it has been named to Fast Company's 2022 Brands That Matter list. Fast Company's list honors brands that have achieved relevance through cultural impact and social engagement, and authentically communicating their missions and ideals.

TriNet Named in Fast Companys Second Annual List of Brands That Matter - Leading HR Solutions Provider Recognized for Its People Matter Campaign

TriNet, awarded in the category for large companies with 1,000 or more employees, was recognized for its People Matter marketing campaign, which launched in late 2020 during the height of the pandemic and celebrated the hard-working and diverse employees of its tens of thousands of SMB customers.

"It is an honor to be recognized among such internationally renowned companies as one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter," said Michael Mendenhall, TriNet Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Communications Officer. "Our goal when the pandemic hit was to become a steadfast resource to these critical SMBs. This type of validation from Fast Company is further proof that focusing on humanity in an honest and thoughtful way is the most important foundation of any successful marketing campaign."

"This year, we've expanded the Brands That Matter program to evaluate honorees in the context of how they matter within the category in which they compete for people's attention or loyalty. The result is a wide-ranging list of honorees that are making their mark on culture, and through social impact," said Brendan Vaughan, Fast Company's editor-in-chief.

TriNet's People Matter campaign highlighted the human side of HR. The nation-wide, omni-channel campaign also featured out-of-home ads in New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, in addition to television commercials and radio spots across the country, and a major digital push that included website, digital ads and social media.

Fast Company editors judged each brand on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity, and business impact to compile the list. The final list, which includes large multinational conglomerates, small-but-mighty companies, and nonprofits, recognizes 144 brands that give people compelling reasons to care about themand offer inspiration for others to buy in. All 144 have found an ability to forge an emotional connection with customers, whether leading on the environment or pop culture, engaging B2B customers, or responding meaningfully to current events.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About TriNet

TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service HR solutions tailored by industry. To free SMBs from HR complexities, TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation and compliance, payroll, all enabled by industry leading technology capabilities. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, Benefits, Employee Engagement, Payroll and Time & Attendance. From Main Street to Wall Street, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters mostgrowing their business and enabling their people. TriNet, incredible starts here. For more information, visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter .

SOURCE TriNet
-Hassan Kamran, MD, FACC is the Latest Addition-

HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vital Heart & Vein, Houston's largest private cardiology practice, announced today that Hassan Kamran, MD, FACC has joined its interventional cardiology team and will lead Vital Heart & Vein's newly established cardiology service located in Northwest Houston.

Dr. Hassan Kamran

Kamran attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine and subsequently completed his residency, cardiology fellowship, and interventional training at Baylor College of Medicine as well. Kamran served as chief interventional cardiology fellow and graduated with honors. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society during his fellowship.

"Dr. Kamran is an outstanding physician and a valued partner to his patients. We are pleased to have him lead our newly established location in Northwest Houston and are honored to have a physician of his caliber join our team," said Gay Nord, CEO of Vital Heart & Vein.

"Vital Heart & Vein continues to establish itself as a preeminent leader in cardiovascular care, and I'm enthusiastic about being part of such an elite team," said Kamran.

For more information on Vital Heart & Vein, visit https://vitalheartandvein.com.

About Vital Heart & Vein

Vital Heart & Vein was established in 1998 by a team of highly trained cardiologists in Houston, Texas. Utilizing the latest technology, they provide a full spectrum of diagnostic testing and comprehensive therapies for coronary, electrophysiology, vascular, and vein diseases.

They have locations throughout the Houston area, including Humble, Kingwood, Pearland, and the Texas Medical Center. Vital Heart & Vein strives to become a valued partner for each patient by providing individualized, accessible, and high-quality care. Their board-certified cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and podiatrists are committed to treating each patient with the highest level of care and compassion. For more information, visit www.vitalheartandvein.com.

Media Contact:

Laura Frnka-Davis, APR

LFD Communications for Vital Heart & Vein

[email protected]

346-388-3787 office

713-409-1480 cell

SOURCE Vital Heart & Vein
ROCHESTER, Minn., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivek Gondikar, CEO, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Pinnacle Executive for his outstanding excellence and in acknowledgment of his work with GFM, LLC.

As the Chief Executive Officer of GFM, LLC, Mr. Gondikar specializes in automotive manufacturing, operations, and problem-solving. He has nine years of experience in his current position and over 20 years of expertise in his field. GFM, LLC is a Michigan-based company specializing in precision metal stampings for motor vehicle manufacturing.

Vivek Gondikar

Before embarking on his professional career, Mr. Gondikar attended Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, for his Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering, which he completed in 2001.

Among his professional memberships and affiliations, Mr. Gondikar is a member of the Automotive Society of Mechanical Engineering.

Looking to the future, Mr.Gondikar hopes to continue growing his company, connect with similar industries by networking, and expand his knowledge. He attributes his success to determination, prioritizing, and remaining focused.

In his free time, Mr. Gondikar enjoys hiking and trekking. He donates and volunteers to SEWA International, his local Indian temple and churches, and children's STEM educational programs.

For more information, visit gfmcorp.com.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VPT, Inc. (VPT), a HEICO company (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI), today announced that its VSC Series of DC-DC converters has earned the Military & Aerospace Electronics Innovators Awards Platinum recognition, its highest honor. This distinction recognizes companies in the aerospace and defense electronics industries who have made groundbreaking contributions and innovative solutions to solve design challenges.

VSC Series of DC-DC Converters

The VSC Series of commercial off the shelf (COTS) products are intended for "New Space" applications as part of our space product line. The series ranges from 5W to 30W of output power and includes single and dual outputs of 3.3, 5, 12, and 15V with a wide input range of 15V to 50V with 80V transient capability. The VSC Series is radiation tested to 42 MeV/mg/cm2 and guaranteed to 30 MeV/mg/cm2 for SEE and tested to 40 krad(Si) and guaranteed to 30 krad(Si) for TID. A full line of input EMI filters is available to meet MIL-STD-461 or equivalent conducted emissions requirements. The series is designed for smaller satellites in low earth orbits (LEO), and NASA Class D missions where the balance of cost and guaranteed performance is critical.

"The VSC Series leverages VPT's extensive experience in radiation hardened DC-DC converter development to provide the appropriate level of radiation performance for LEO applications at an extremely competitive price point" said Leonard Leslie, Vice President of Engineering. "We are honored that our VSC Series has been recognized with the platinum level award by Military & Aerospace Electronics."

About Military & Aerospace Electronics

Military & Aerospace Electronics is the leading media resource serving program and project managers, engineering managers, and engineers involved in electronic and electro-optic design for military, space, and aviation applications. Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine delivers time-sensitive news, in-depth analyses, case studies, and real-world applications of new products, industry opinion, and the latest trends in the use of mil-spec, rugged and commercial off-the-shelf components, subsystems, and systems.

About VPT and HEICO

VPT, Inc., part of the HEICO Electronic Technologies Group, is a global provider of innovative DC-DC power converters, EMI filters, and custom engineering services for avionics, military, space, and industrial applications. Every day, organizations like NASA, ESA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE Systems, Thales and many more depend on high-reliability solutions from VPT to power critical systems. For more information about VPT, please visit www.vptpower.com.

HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI.A) (NYSE:HEI) is engaged primarily in niche segments of the aviation, defense, space and electronics industries through its Hollywood, FL based HEICO Aerospace Holdings Corp. subsidiary and its Miami, FL-based HEICO Electronic Technologies Corp. subsidiary. For more information about HEICO, please visit www.heico.com.

Products described in this communication are subject to all export license restrictions and regulations, which may include but are not limited to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and the Export Administration and Foreign Assets Control Regulations. Further restrictions may apply. The information provided is considered accurate at time of publication, errors or omissions excepted. VPT, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to products or services without prior notification and advises customers to obtain the latest version of all relevant technical information from VPT to verify data prior to placing orders. VPT, its logo and tagline are registered trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other names, product names and trade names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1929386/VPT_050_SpaceCollage_6_VSC30_15_5_A.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1609827/VPT_Logo.jpg

SOURCE VPT, Inc.
BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop recently opened its first independent personal insurance agent-based community outlet in Shenzhen, which is the first outlet that cooperates with community healthcare centers on insurance service.

Critical to Shenzhen's medical service system, community healthcare centers, rooted in residential communities, aim to create "10-minute medical service circles" and meet people's daily healthcare needs. In its planning for healthcare during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shenzhen Municipal Government puts the expansion and improvement of community healthcare services on top of the agenda.

Ms. Li Jia,Waterdrop Vice President, said, insurance is naturally aligned with healthcare. Operating through outlets, Waterdrop will provide integrated family Insurance risk management services for community residents. The launch of independent agent-based community outlets in Shenzhen will help build the ecosystem that combines insurance and healthcare and contribute to community residents' family health and related risk protection.

Li Jia commented, "Waterdrop deploys the outlets in communities to learn more about customer needs. Providing services within a 500-meter radius of community areas, the outlets can be better perceived by customers, and keep them well informed of product features, application and claim processes and meanings of health declaration and other clauses before making a purchase."In addition, Waterdrop has launched WFind, a family insurance needs diagnosis system. Different from the traditional product-oriented operation mode, the customer-centric WFind system enables brokers to diagnose customer needs like doctors based on customers' family population, income and expenditure gap, and future expectations. With SOPs in place throughout the insurance service process, WFind ensures the delivery of scientific insurance solutions.

Actually, since the end of 2021, Waterdrop has stepped up efforts to develop offline brokerage. In March 2022, it launched the "basic law" for independent personal insurance agents. In June 2022, its first independent agent-based community outlet was opened, and made profits. By far, it has established offline broker teams in nearly ten cities in China.

Li Jia said, "Waterdrop will explore more models that combine insurance with communities, to deliver visible insurance services through community stores and contribute its due share to building a community healthcare system."

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.
Revenue Up 71.9% Year-Over-Year to RMB28,395 Million

Net Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company Up 107.1% Year-Over-Year to RMB7,378 Million

Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) Up 90.1% Year-Over-Year to RMB2.30

Adjusted Non-IFRS Net Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company Up 77.9% Year-Over-Year to RMB6,772 Million

Adjusted Non-IFRS Diluted EPS Up 76.2% Year-Over-Year to RMB2.29[1]

Operating Cash Flow Up 142.1% Year-Over-Year to RMB7,431 Million

SHANGHAI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi AppTec (stock code: 603259.SH / 2359.HK), a global company that provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients, is pleased to announce its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022 ("Reporting Period").

This release provides a summary of the results and is not intended to be a comprehensive report. For additional information, please refer to the 2022 Third Quarterly Report and other relevant announcements published on the websites of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (www.sse.com.cn) and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (www.hkexnews.hk), and the designated media for dissemination of the relevant information. Investors are advised to exercise caution and be aware of the investment risks in trading Company shares.

All financial information disclosed in this press release is prepared based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in currency of RMB.

The 2022 Third Quarterly Report of the Company has not been audited.

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

Revenue grew 77.8% year-over-year to RMB10,638 million. This is primarily attributable to the Company's continuing strong execution of our unique Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) business model to achieve synergy and strong growth:

WuXi Chemistry revenue grew 114.8% to RMB7,843 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 117.0% to RMB3,262 million , with a gross profit margin of 41.6%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 117.0% to , with a gross profit margin of 41.6%. WuXi Testing revenue grew 28.1% to RMB1,572 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 54.3% to RMB612 million , with a gross profit margin of 38.9%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 54.3% to , with a gross profit margin of 38.9%. WuXi Biology revenue grew 36.6% to RMB689 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 12.3% to RMB288 million , with a gross profit margin of 41.8%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 12.3% to , with a gross profit margin of 41.8%. WuXi ATU revenue grew 8.4% to RMB306 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was RMB(17) million , with a gross profit margin of -5.5%

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was , with a gross profit margin of -5.5% WuXi DDSU revenue declined 30.3% to RMB217 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit declined 58.5% to RMB49 million , with a gross profit margin of 22.7%.

Unit: RMB million

Segment Revenue Change Adjusted

Non-IFRS

Gross Profit Change Adjusted

Non-IFRS

Gross Profit

Margin WuXi Chemistry 7,842.54 114.8 % 3,262.19 117.0 % 41.6 % WuXi Testing 1,572.04 28.1 % 612.18 54.3 % 38.9 % WuXi Biology 688.73 36.6 % 287.77 12.3 % 41.8 % WuXi ATU 306.24 8.4 % (16.87) Note1 -5.5 % WuXi DDSU 216.72 -30.3 % 49.16 -58.5 % 22.7 % Others 12.04 42.3 % 6.68 110.3 % 55.5 % Total 10,638.30 77.8 % 4,201.11 83.1 % 39.5 %











Notes: 1. Adjusted Non-IFRS Gross Profit of WuXi ATU was RMB(16.87) million in the third quarter of 2022,

compared to RMB17.07 million in the third quarter of 2021, a decreaseof RMB33.95 million.

2. Any sum of the data above that is inconsistent with the total is due to rounding.

IFRS gross profit increased 83.5% year-over-year to RMB4,038 million . Gross profit margin was 38.0%. [2]

. Gross profit margin was 38.0%. Adjusted Non-IFRS gross profit increased 83.1% year-over-year to RMB4,201 million . Adjusted Non-IFRS gross margin was 39.5%.

. Adjusted Non-IFRS gross margin was 39.5%. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased 209.1% year-over-year to RMB2,742 million .

. Adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased 81.9% year-over-year to RMB2,471 million .

. Diluted EPS increased 170.0% year-over-year to RMB0.81 , while adjusted diluted non-IFRS EPS increased by 82.6% year-over-year to RMB0.84 .

Year-to-Date 2022 Financial Highlights

Revenue grew 71.9% year-over-year to RMB28,395 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 ("Reporting Period"):

WuXi Chemistry revenue grew 106.6% to RMB20,817 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 102.4% to RMB8,576 million , with a gross profit margin of 41.2%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 102.4% to , with a gross profit margin of 41.2%. WuXi Testing revenue grew 25.3% to RMB4,177 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 36.0% to RMB1,539 million , with a gross profit margin of 36.8%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 36.0% to , with a gross profit margin of 36.8%. WuXi Biology revenue grew 24.9% to RMB1,779 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 22.8% to RMB732 million , with a gross profit margin of 41.1%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 22.8% to , with a gross profit margin of 41.1%. WuXi ATU revenue grew 25.2% to RMB922 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was RMB(60) million , with a gross profit margin of -6.5%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was , with a gross profit margin of -6.5%. WuXi DDSU revenue declined 27.9% to RMB672 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit declined 54.2% to RMB189 million , with a gross profit margin of 28.1%.

Unit: RMB million

Segment Revenue Change Adjusted

Non-IFRS

Gross Profit Change Adjusted

Non-IFRS

Gross Profit

Margin WuXi Chemistry 20,816.66 106.6 % 8,576.04 102.4 % 41.2 % WuXi Testing 4,177.08 25.3 % 1,538.75 36.0 % 36.8 % WuXi Biology 1,779.38 24.9 % 731.89 22.8 % 41.1 % WuXiATU 921.65 25.2 % (59.62) Note1 -6.5 % WuXiDDSU 671.80 -27.9 % 188.79 -54.2 % 28.1 % Others 28.00 58.9 % 14.88 140.8 % 53.2 % Total 28,394.56 71.9 % 10,990.74 71.8 % 38.7 %











Note: 1. Adjusted Non-IFRS Gross Profit of WuXi ATU was RMB(59.62) million in the first three quarters of 2022,

compared to RMB13.67 million in the first three quarters of 2021, a decrease of RMB73.28 million.

2. Any sum of the data above that is inconsistent with the total is due to rounding.

IFRS gross profit increased 72.0% year-over-year to RMB10,465 million . Gross profit margin was 36.9%. [3]

. Gross profit margin was 36.9%. Adjusted Non-IFRS gross profit increased 71.8% year-over-year to RMB10,991 million . Adjusted Non-IFRS gross margin was 38.7%.

. Adjusted Non-IFRS gross margin was 38.7%. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased 107.1% year-over-year to RMB7,378 million .

. Adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the Company increased 77.9% year-over-year to RMB6,772 million .

. Diluted EPS increased 90.1% year-over-year to RMB2.30 , while adjusted diluted non-IFRS EPS increased by 76.2% year-over-year to RMB2.29 .

, while adjusted diluted non-IFRS EPS increased by 76.2% year-over-year to . Operating cash flow increased 142.1 % year-over-year to RMB7,431 million .

Year-to-Date 2022 Business Operation Highlights

- During the first nine months of 2022, demand for our services was strong and we grew our customer base to more than 5,900 active accounts by adding over 1,000 new customers. We continued to optimize our cross-platform synergies to better serve our customers worldwide, strengthen our unique competitive advantage as a fully integrated Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) and Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO) platform, and provide one-stop services for our clients from discovery to development and manufacturing. Revenue growth was demonstrated across our expanding global customer base:

Revenue from US-based customers grew 110% to RMB18,991 million ; revenue from Europe -based customers grew 21% to RMB2,897 million ; revenue from China -based customers grew 30% to RMB5,318 million ; and revenue from other regions grew 22% to RMB1,188 million .

; revenue from -based customers grew 21% to ; revenue from -based customers grew 30% to ; and revenue from other regions grew 22% to . We continued to expand our customer base and retain existing clients. During the Reporting Period, revenue from existing clients grew 80% to RMB27,546 million and new clients contributed RMB849 million in revenue.

and new clients contributed in revenue. During the Reporting Period, revenue from the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies grew 175% to RMB12,918 million ; revenue generated from all other customers grew 31% to RMB15,477 million .

; revenue generated from all other customers grew 31% to . Our unique positioning across the pharmaceutical development value chain drove our "follow-the-customer" and "follow-the-molecule" strategies and enhanced synergies across our business segments. Customers using services from multiple business units contributed RMB25,915 million in revenue, growing 83% year-over-year.

- WuXi Chemistry: CRDMO integrated business model doubles revenue

Revenue grew 106.6% to RMB20,817 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 102.4% to RMB8,576 million , with a gross margin of 41.2%. Excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, WuXi Chemistry revenue grew 38.3%. Revenue from new modalities-related services grew 192.5%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 102.4% to , with a gross margin of 41.2%. Excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, WuXi Chemistry revenue grew 38.3%. Revenue from new modalities-related grew 192.5%. Revenue from small molecule discovery services ("R") grew 36.2% to RMB5,394 million .

i. Our industry-leading small molecule drug discovery platform delivered more than 379,000 custom synthesized compounds to our clients in the past twelve months. Through our small molecule discovery services, we enabled our customers to accelerate their research while generating opportunities for our downstream business units. As part of our "follow-the-customer" and "follow-the-molecule" strategies, we established trusted partnerships with our global customers, supporting the rapid and sustainable growth of our CRDMO business.

ii. We continued executing our "long-tail" strategy, and those customers continue to have strong demands for our discovery services in small molecules, oligonucleotides and peptides.

Revenue from our small molecule development and manufacturing (D&M) service grew 152.2% to RMB15,423 million .

i. During the Reporting Period, the Company added 692 new molecules to our D&M pipeline, including 1 new molecule at the commercialization stage. To date, our pipeline consists of 2,123 molecules, including 44 in commercial stage, 53 in phase III, 288 in phase II and 1,738 in phase I and pre-clinical stages.

ii. D&M services for new modalities is also gaining strong momentum. During the Reporting Period, the number of oligonucleotide and peptide D&M clients increased 98% to 97 customers, and the number of oligonucleotide and peptide molecules increased 101% to 155 molecules. Revenue from oligonucleotide and peptide D&M grew 406% to RMB1,101 million.

We continued our capacity construction of WuXi Chemistry to meet customer demands. During the Reporting Period, we began operations in part of our Changzhou Phase 3 facility, including a new R&D center and 5 plants. We also announced the opening of a new large-scale oligonucleotide and peptide manufacturing facility in July 2022 . The new facility underscores our ongoing commitment to enhancing our capacity and capabilities to meet the fast-growing customer needs for oligonucleotide and peptide therapeutics development and manufacturing worldwide. In September 2022 , we opened a new sterile lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation development and manufacturing facility as well as our first high potency oral drug product manufacturing facility at our Wuxi campus, which further enhances our global integrated CRDMO platform capability. In addition, we opened a new campus in Wuhan , continuously expanding our capacity for drug discovery service. In the third quarter of 2022, we also announced the construction plan for a new site in Singapore . We also held a groundbreaking ceremony for our new pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Middletown, Delaware , USA to serve our global customers' future needs.

- WuXi Testing: strong growth in lab testing services

Revenue from WuXi Testing grew 25.3% to RMB4,177 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 36.0% to RMB1,539 million , with a gross margin of 36.8%.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 36.0% to , with a gross margin of 36.8%. Revenue from lab testing services grew 35.2% year-over-year to RMB3,042 million .

i. The Company provides a full range of laboratory testing services for our customers, including drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), toxicology, and bioanalysis for drug development testing as well as medical device testing. We leveraged our integrated WuXi AppTec Investigational New Drug (WIND) program to generate preclinical data and prepare global regulatory submissions of investigational new drug (IND) packages, expediting the IND application process for many customers worldwide. We signed 89 WIND service packages with customers from January to September 2022.

ii. Drug safety evaluation services achieved strong revenue growth of 49% year-over-year. We maintained our industry-leading position in Asia Pacific for drug safety evaluation services that meet global regulatory requirements.

iii. Our largely US-based medical device testing business has turned around and grew 30% year-over-year.

iv. On the capacity side, a 55,000 square meters lab and animal facilities were under construction for mid-2023 delivery.

Our clinical CRO & SMO (Site Management Organization) reached a revenue of RMB1,135 million , slowed to a growth of 4.6%, due in part to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in many cities across China this year. Meanwhile, our clinical business has rebounded by approximately 95%.

i. For clinical CRO, despite the challenges this year, the Company provided services to approximately 190 projects, enabling our customers to obtain 10 IND approvals.

ii. For SMO, the Company maintained No.1 leadership position in China and continued to grow. Our SMO business maintained more than 4,700 staff across around 150 cities in China, providing services at more than 1,000 hospitals. During the Reporting Period, revenue from our SMO business grew 20.0% and backlog grew 34.9%. From January to September 2022, our SMO business supported 23 new drug approvals for clients.

- WuXi Biology: new modalities-related biology services drive growth

Revenue from WuXi Biology grew 24.9% to RMB1,779 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 22.8% to RMB732 million , with a gross margin of 41.1%. Although revenue growth in the second quarter was temporarily impacted by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 epidemic in Shanghai , business recovered in the third quarter due to the dedication of our employees.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit grew 22.8% to , with a gross margin of 41.1%. Although revenue growth in the second quarter was temporarily impacted by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 epidemic in , business recovered in the third quarter due to the dedication of our employees. The Company has one of the largest discovery biology enabling platform, with more than 2,800 experienced scientists who provide comprehensive biology services covering all major stages and therapeutic areas of drug discovery. The Company has established 3 centers of excellence for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), anti-viral, neuroscience and aging.

Both cancer discovery service, rare and immune disease service continued to grow, providing customers with integrated high-quality services from target discovery to clinical biomarker detection.

The Company has a leading DNA Encoded Library (DEL) and compound generation platform, providing these services for more than 1,300 customers. A customer advanced a project into clinical stage based on the hits generated using our DEL screening technology. This is the first reported clinical candidate from our DEL hits, which is also an important validation of our platform.

The Company continues to build its biology capabilities for new modalities, including target protein degradation, nucleic acid-based and conjugated modalities, oncolytic virus, vector platform, and novel drug delivery vehicles. During the Reporting Period, WuXi Biology revenue from new modalities and large molecules grew 76%. Its revenue contribution grew to 20.5% year-to-date 2022 from 14.6% in 2021, suggesting that new modalities-related biology services have become an increasingly important driver of growth.

- WuXi ATU: CTDMO business model drives growth

Revenue from WuXi ATU grew 25.2% year over year to RMB922 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was RMB(60) million , with a gross margin of -6.5%. Revenue from Testing service grew 44%, and revenue from Development service grew 54%. Gross profit declined largely due to under-utilized capacities of the newly built Shanghai Lingang site in China .

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit was , with a gross margin of -6.5%. Revenue from Testing service grew 44%, and revenue from Development service grew 54%. Gross profit declined largely due to under-utilized capacities of the newly built Shanghai Lingang site in . During the Reporting Period, the Company focused on improving our CTDMO integrated enabling platform and strengthened testing services, capabilities, and capacities. We provided development and manufacturing services for 67 projects, including 50 pre-clinical and Phase I projects, 9 Phase II projects, and 8 Phase III projects (4 projects are in BLA preparation stage). Up to date, we have supported two BLA filings on behalf of our clients, including one for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from an US-based client and one for Lenti-viral vector used for CAR-T product from a China -based client.

-based client. The Company announced the launch of Tetracycline-Enabled Self-Silencing Adenovirus (TESSA) in March 2022 . TESSA technology is a revolutionary and novel process for transfection-free, scalable manufacturing of adeno-associated virus (AAV). This process is now scaled to 200L and produces more than 10 times the amount of AAV products produced through traditional plasmid-based manufacturing.

. TESSA technology is a revolutionary and novel process for transfection-free, scalable manufacturing of adeno-associated virus (AAV). This process is now scaled to 200L and produces more than 10 times the amount of AAV products produced through traditional plasmid-based manufacturing. In August 2022 , we announced a Licensing Agreement with Janssen for TESSA Technology.

, we announced a Licensing Agreement with Janssen for TESSA Technology. At the end of the third quarter of 2022, we had 38 TESSA evaluation projects with customers, including 6 large biotech/pharm companies.

- WuXi DDSU: business evolving to focus on innovative drug discovery services

Revenue from WuXi DDSU declined 27.9% to RMB672 million and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit declined 54.2% to RMB189 million , with a gross margin of 28.1%. DDSU's revenue decline was mainly attributed to business evolution that aims to better serve the growing needs of clients in China for novel and innovative products. Mainly focused on the discovery of potential best-in-class molecules and new modalities molecules, the business will set a higher bar for R&D and requires longer development cycle, which will impact the business performance in the current period.

and adjusted non-IFRS gross profit declined 54.2% to , with a gross margin of 28.1%. DDSU's revenue decline was mainly attributed to business evolution that aims to better serve the growing needs of clients in for novel and innovative products. Mainly focused on the discovery of potential best-in-class molecules and new modalities molecules, the business will set a higher bar for R&D and requires longer development cycle, which will impact the business performance in the current period. From January to September 2022 , our success-based drug discovery service unit filed INDs for 15 drug candidates and obtained 26 Clinical Trial Applications (CTAs), exceeding the total number of 23 CTAs for the whole year in 2021. As of September 30, 2022 , we have cumulatively submitted 159 new chemical entity IND filings with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and obtained 136 CTAs, with 1 project in NDA review stage, 5 projects in Phase III clinical trials, 21 projects in Phase II clinical trials, and 77 projects in Phase I clinical trials. We will begin receiving royalty income once our customers launch these products in the market.

, our success-based drug discovery service unit filed INDs for 15 drug candidates and obtained 26 Clinical Trial Applications (CTAs), exceeding the total number of 23 CTAs for the whole year in 2021. As of , we have cumulatively submitted 159 new chemical entity IND filings with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and obtained 136 CTAs, with 1 project in NDA review stage, 5 projects in Phase III clinical trials, 21 projects in Phase II clinical trials, and 77 projects in Phase I clinical trials. We will begin receiving royalty income once our customers launch these products in the market. We are now putting our efforts towards the discovery of potential best-in-class molecules and new modalities molecules for customers. Currently, we support 15 pre-clinical projects for customers in new modalities that include Peptide/Peptide-Drug-Conjugation (PDC), protein degraders and oligonucleotides. Several of these projects are expected to file an IND in late 2022 or early 2023.

- The unique CRDMO and CTDMO business model of the Company continue to successfully drive record high financial performance. The business of the Company continued its healthy growth while large scale commercialization production projects generated strong cash flow, the Company decided to terminate the Proposed Issuance of H Shares which obtained the approval by the CSRC on August 17, 2022.

Our commitment to ESG

As an enable of innovation, a trusted partner, and a contributor to the global healthcare industry, the Company is committed to environmental protection and sustainability, and to be a good global corporate citizenship.

In August 2022, we received a "Strong" management score by Sustainalytics and ranked in the top two percent in the global pharmaceutical industry with a "Low Risk" rating. As of September 23, 2022, we outperformed 98% of our global peers in the 2022 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. In addition, we received an "AA" rating for a second consecutive year in the 2022 MSCI ESG Ratings.

By the third quarter in 2022, our carbon emission intensity, energy consumption intensity and water use intensity reduced by 16.8%, 19.8%, and 22.0%, respectively, compared to the same period of 2021.

Management Comment

Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec, said, "We achieved record growth for the first nine months of 2022. Our revenue increased 71.9% year-over-year and our adjusted Non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the company increased 77.9% year-over-year. Our third-quarter revenue reached the milestone of over RMB 10 Billion for the first time in our history. WuXi AppTec's performance during the first three quarter of 2022 demonstrate again the Company's unique CRDMO and CTDMO business models allow us to better meet growing demands from customers worldwide and continue to drive rapid growth for the company."

"As COVID-19 continue to create uncertainty for many around the world, we effectively implemented our business continuity plan and leveraged our global capacities and comprehensive capabilities, to ensure we were able to advance our customers important and life-changing work. We remain committed to putting our customers first. The Company will further enhance our capacity and capabilities to support our partners in their efforts to bring groundbreaking therapies to patients around the world. The Company is confident to adjust the revenue growth target for the full year of 2022 from the previously announced 68%-72% to 70%-72%, and remains the 2021-2024 revenue CAGR growth target of no less than 34%, reflecting the Company's confidence in its continuous accelerated growth driven by CRDMO and CTDMO business models."

"The Company has achieved excellent results in ESG in the third quarter. The Company remains committed to 'doing the right thing and doing it right.' We will continue to focus on delivering our ESG commitments and ensuring ESG remain a priority across our business operations today and in the future."

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss[4]

RMB Million Three Months

Ended September

30, 2022 Three Months

Ended September

30, 2021 Quarter-over-

Quarter Change Nine Months

Ended September

30, 2022 Nine Months

Ended September 30, 2021 Year-over-

Year Change Revenue 10,638.3 5,984.8 77.8 % 28,394.6 16,521.4 71.9 % Cost of services (6,600.2) (3,784.7) 74.4 % (17,929.6) (10,437.6) 71.8 % Gross profit 4,038.1 2,200.1 83.5 % 10,464.9 6,083.8 72.0 % Other income 113.3 80.6 40.6 % 353.8 286.7 23.4 % Other gains and losses 668.4 (24.3) N/A 2,058.3 716.3 187.3 % Impairment losses under expected credit

losses ("ECL") model, net of reversal (35.2) (1.5) 2,224.0 % (94.0) (23.2) 305.7 % Selling and marketing expenses (199.7) (141.9) 40.7 % (555.3) (497.2) 11.7 % Administrative expenses (791.3) (543.1) 45.7 % (2,099.2) (1,538.3) 36.5 % Research and development expenses (432.1) (239.8) 80.2 % (1,089.3) (644.2) 69.1 % Operating Profit 3,361.5 1,330.1 152.7 % 9,039.4 4,383.9 106.2 % Share of results of associates (36.0) (201.7) -82.2 % (106.8) 15.6 N/A Share of results of joint ventures (1.9) 3.0 N/A (0.4) (19.3) (97.7) % Finance costs (45.3) (28.8) 57.3 % (112.9) (97.6) 15.6 % Profit before tax 3,278.4 1,102.7 197.3 % 8,819.3 4,282.7 105.9 % Income tax expense (507.4) (206.7) 145.5 % (1,372.7) (694.4) 97.7 % Profit for the period 2,771.0 896.1 209.2 % 7,446.6 3,588.2 107.5 %

Profit for the period attributable to:











Owners of the Company 2,742.2 887.1 209.1 % 7,377.9 3,562.2 107.1 % Non-controlling interests 28.8 8.9 222.6 % 68.7 26.0 164.1 %

2,771.0 896.1 209.2 % 7,446.6 3,588.2 107.5 %

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss (continued)[5]



Three Months Ended

September 30,

2022 Three Months

Ended

September 30, 2021 Quarter-over-

Quarter Change Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

2022 Nine Months

Ended

September 30,

2021 Year-over-

Year Change













Weighted average number of ordinary

shares for calculating EPS(express in

shares)











 Basic 2,933,269,400 2,929,033,317 0.1 % 2,926,045,926 2,911,520,929 0.5 %  Diluted 2,953,335,314 2,949,275,618 0.1 % 2,951,099,205 2,931,763,230 0.7 %



























Earnings per share attributable to

ordinary shareholders of the Company

(expressed in RMB per share)











 Basic 0.93 0.30 210.0 % 2.52 1.22 106.6 %  Diluted 0.81 0.30 170.0 % 2.30 1.21 90.1 %

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position[6]

RMB Million September 30, December 31,

2022 2021





Non-current Assets



Property, plant and equipment 21,795.8 15,848.7 Right-of-use assets 1,862.0 1,779.5 Goodwill 1,934.2 1,925.6 Other intangible assets 878.6 889.8 Interests in associates 1,101.9 619.4 Interests in joint ventures 61.0 58.9 Deferred tax assets 619.6 389.8 Financial assets at fair value through profit or

loss ("FVTPL") 9,402.0 8,714.1 Other non-current assets 1,697.9 2,182.4 Biological assets 940.5 733.5

40,293.5 33,141.7





Current Assets



Inventories 5,123.6 4,554.6 Contract costs 455.0 594.9 Biological assets 1,002.7 755.5 Amounts due from related parties 81.4 343.3 Trade and other receivables 8,009.2 5,968.5 Contract assets 948.5 773.4 Income tax recoverable 0.2 0.2 Financial assets at FVTPL 70.2 527.3 Derivative financial instruments - 229.1 Pledged bank deposits 0.3 63.4 Bank Balances and Cash 9,214.0 8,175.3 Other current assets 550.6 -

25,455.7 21,985.6





Total Assets 65,749.2 55,127.4

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (continued)[7]

RMB Million September 30, 2022 December 31, 2021





Current Liabilities



Trade and other payables 7,740.4 6,856.0 Amounts due to related parties 10.6 21.4 Derivative financial instruments 1,290.2 3.7 Contract liabilities 3,959.0 2,986.4 Borrowings 3,173.2 2,261.5 Income tax payables 871.8 459.3 Lease liabilities 246.8 220.2 Other current liabilities 181.9 176.2

17,473.9 12,984.6





Non-current Liabilities



Borrowings 373.2 - Deferred tax liabilities 341.8 324.1 Deferred income 871.5 770.6 Lease liabilities 1,004.5 1,019.0 Convertible bonds-debt component 507.0 607.1 Convertible bonds-embedded derivative

component 40.2 657.3 Other long-term liabilities 0.1 7.2

3,138.3 3,385.3





Total Liabilities 20,612.1 16,369.9





Net Assets 45,137.1 38,757.5





Capital and Reserves



Share capital 2,960.4 2,955.8 Reserves 41,849.6 35,535.7 Equity attributable to owners of the Company 44,810.0 38,491.5 Non-controlling interests 327.1 266.0 Total Equity 45,137.1 38,757.5

Reconciliation of Non-IFRS and AdjustedNon-IFRS Net Profit Attributable to the

Owners of the Company[8]

RMB Million Three

Months

Ended

Septemb

er 30,

2022 Three

Months

Ended

Septembe

r 30, 2021 Quarter- over-

Quarter Change Nine

Months

Ended Septembe

r 30, 2022 Nine

Months

Ended

Septemb

er 30,

2021 Year-

over-

Year Chang

e Profit Attributable to the

owners of the Company 2,742.2 887.1 209.1 % 7,377.9 3,562.2 107.1 % Add:











Share-based

compensation expenses 143.4 108.4 32.3 % 503.4 419.1 20.1 % Issuance expenses of

convertible bonds 0.4 0.5 (18.9) % 1.3 2.4 (45.3) % Fair value (gains)/losses

from derivative

component of

convertible bonds (342.5) (24.5) 1,300.3 % (617.1) 1,468.9 N/A Foreign exchange related

(gains)/losses (207.4) 6.7 N/A (365.9) 73.4 N/A Amortization of intangible

assets acquired in

business combinations 13.8 14.9 (7.2) % 42.5 41.1 3.4 % Non-IFRS Net Profit

attributable to the owners of

the Company 2,349.9 993.2 136.6 % 6,942.1 5,567.1 24.7 % Add:











Realized and unrealized

losses/(gains) from

venture capital

investments 119.7 368.2 (67.5) % (170.4) (1,780.0) (90.4) % Realized and unrealized

share of (gains)/losses

from joint ventures 1.9 (3.0) N/A 0.4 19.3 (97.7) % Adjusted non-IFRS net profit

attributable to the owners of

the Company 2,471.5 1,358.4 81.9 % 6,772.2 3,806.3 77.9 %





















About WuXi AppTec

As a global company with operations across Asia, Europe, and North America, WuXi AppTec provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable the global pharmaceutical and healthcare industry to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients. Through its unique business models, WuXi AppTec's integrated, end-to-end services include chemistry drug CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization), biology discovery, preclinical testing and clinical research services, cell and gene therapies CTDMO (Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization), helping customers improve the productivity of advancing healthcare products through cost-effective and efficient solutions. WuXi AppTec received an AA ESG rating from MSCI in 2022 and its open-access platform is enabling more than 5,900 customers from over 30 countries to improve the health of those in need  and to realize the vision that "every drug can be made and every disease can be treated." Please visit: http://www.wuxiapptec.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" which are not historical facts, but instead are predictions about future events based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. Although we believe that our predictions are reasonable, future events are inherently uncertain and our forward-looking statements may turn out to be incorrect. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks relating to, among other things, the ability of our service offerings to compete effectively, our ability to meet timelines for the expansion of our service offerings, our ability to protect our clients' intellectual property, unforeseeable international tension, competition, the impact of emergencies and other force majeure. Our forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law or listing rules. Accordingly, you are strongly cautioned that reliance on any forward-looking statements involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set forth in this section. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-IFRS and Adjusted Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We provide non-IFRS gross profit and non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the Company, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, issuance expenses of convertible bonds, fair value gain or loss from derivative component of convertible bonds, foreign exchange-related gains or losses, amortization of intangible assets acquired in business combinations and goodwill impairment. We also provide adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the Company and earnings per share, which further exclude realized and unrealized gains or losses from our venture capital investments and joint ventures. Neither is required by, or presented in accordance with IFRS.

We believe that the adjusted financial measures used in this press release are useful for understanding and assessing our core business performance and operating trends, and we believe that management and investors may benefit from referring to these adjusted financial measures in assessing our financial performance by eliminating the impact of certain unusual, non-recurring, non-cash and non-operating items that we do not consider indicative of the performance of our core business. Such adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to owners of the Company, the management of the Company believes, is widely accepted and adopted in the industry the Company is operating in. However, the presentation of these adjusted non-IFRS financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. You should not view adjusted results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under IFRS, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.

[1] In first three-quarters of 2021 and 2022, WuXi AppTec had a fully-diluted weighted average share count of 2,931,763,230 and 2,951,099,205 ordinary shares, respectively. [2] If prepared under Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises of PRC, the gross profit grew 85.4% year-over-year to RMB 4,104 million. Gross profit margin was 38.6%. [3] If prepared under Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises of PRC, the gross profit grew 72.5% year-over-year to RMB10,541 million. Gross profit margin was 37.1% [4] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding [5] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding [6] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding. [7] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding. [8] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding.

SOURCE WuXi AppTec
HAIFA, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM) announced today that the Company will release its third quarter 2022 financial results on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, before the U.S. financial markets open. Management will host a conference call and webcast (along with a slide presentation) to review the results and provide a corporate update at 8:00 AM ET.

To access the live conference call by telephone, please dial the following numbers: United States 855-265-6958 or +1-718-705-8796; Israel +972-3-721-9662 or UK/international +44-1-212-818-004. The call (and slide presentation) will be available via live webcast through ZIM's website, located at the following link. Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website here.

About ZIM

Founded in Israel in 1945, ZIM (NYSE: ZIM) is a leading global container liner shipping company with established operations in approximately 100 countries serving approximately 30,000 customers in over 350 ports worldwide. ZIM leverages digital strategies and a commitment to ESG values to provide customers innovative seaborne transportation and logistics services and exceptional customer experience. ZIM's differentiated global-niche strategy, based on agile fleet management and deployment, covers major trade routes with a focus on select markets where the company holds competitive advantages. Additional information about ZIM is available at www.ZIM.com.

ZIM Contacts

Media:

Avner Shats

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-865-2520

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Elana Holzman

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-865-2300

[email protected]

Leon Berman

The IGB Group

212-477-8438

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458457/ZIM_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
OCALA, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HiBid.com facilitated sales exceeding $53.4 million in gross auction proceeds in 1,577 online-only and webcast auctions held from October 17th through the 23rd. HiBid averaged 1.68 million bids on the site per day and over 600,000 lots sold for the week, topping previous totals from recent weeks. Thousands of items are now open for bidding, with current large auctions featuring rare gold, silver, and copper coins; a diverse range of paintings, sculptures, and other artwork; antique furnishings and rugs; and vintage wood and metal toys.

HiBid.com brings buyers and sellers together every day with a wide-ranging selection of items across hundreds of categories that appeal to bidders worldwide. HiBid is fully integrated with Auction Flex 360, providing auctioneers with a comprehensive auction management solution that supports internet-only auctions, webcast auctions, and absentee bidding.

October 17th-23rd, 2022, HiBid.com Highlights

GAP: $53.4 Million

Lots Sold: 637,302

Online-Only Auctions: 1,478

Webcast Auctions: 99

Average Bidders Per Day: 1.03 Million

Average Bids Per Day: 1.68 Million

Current Auctions

The following list includes a small sample from the hundreds of auctions currently open for bidding on HiBid.com. Site visitors can click the Find Auctions menu at the top of the HiBid.com homepage for links to the Featured and Hot auctions, such as those listed below, or use the search box to find auctions nearby.

Oregon Oil Tycoon Coin Auction

Auction Type: Live Webcast (Prebidding Open)

Dates: October 16th-30th

Seller: Gold Standard Auctions

View Auction Items

Luxury Estates of Hunter's Creek and the Cosmopolitan

Auction Type: Online-Only

Dates: October 19th-28th

Seller: Wayne Wheat Auctioneers

View Auction Items

Sailor Return with Treasures of a Ghost Ship Auction

Auction Type: Online-Only

Dates: October 22nd-29th

Seller: Sailors Return

View Auction Items

If you're looking to sell through HiBid.com, click here to describe what you wish to sell, and a local HiBid auctioneer will help you get started.

Interested in receiving updates from HiBid? Sign up to receive newsletter emails, and follow HiBid Auctions on Facebook and LinkedIn.

About HiBid and Auction Flex 360

HiBid is an online auction platform supporting webcast auctions, internet-only auctions, and internet absentee bidding. It is also available as a private-label solution. HiBid is integrated with Auction Flex 360, the market leader in auction software for live and online auctions, with capabilities that include cataloging, clerking, cashiering, accounting, mailing list management, inventory management, and multi-parcel. HiBid and Auction Flex 360 were built from the ground up to function together seamlessly.

SOURCE Hibid-AuctionFlex
MANCHESTER, England, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ACE Money Transfer, a leading UK-based international remittance service provider, and Bank AL Habib, one of the largest banking networks across Pakistan, in line with Pakistan Remittance Initiative's (PRI) vision, have ramped efforts to promote legal channels of remittances by offering free, easy, faster, and secure transfers.

An awareness campaign, including 950 buses, 100 roadside posters and 25 underground stations across the UK, is ongoing, educating expats on the kerb market's downsides that lead to risky and undocumented transfers.

ACE Money Transfer and Bank AL Habib Join Hands to Provide Secure and Free Money Transfers to Pakistan

Mr Rashid Ashraf, CEO of ACE Money Transfer, said, "Expats sending remittances consider many factors, but transfer cost, exchange rates, speed, and security are a few primary concerns. With Bank AL Habib's vast network and our state-of-the-art technology, we can address them all and offer an experience our customers love."

Mr Aun Ali, Group Head  Business of Bank AL Habib, commented, "This affiliation will help both organisations serve Pakistani expatriates for instant and secure transactions. Bank AL Habib keeps playing a vital role in routing remittances through official channels and in providing our services in collaboration with ACE Money Transfer."

ABOUT ACE MONEY TRANSFER

ACE Money Transfer (registered name 'Aftab Currency Exchange Limited'), based out of Manchester, UK, is a growing remittance provider. It offers impeccable online money transfer services to millions of expatriates with an extensive network of 375,000+ locations spread across 100+ countries worldwide.

ABOUT BANK AL HABIB

Dawood Habib Group, the sponsor of Bank AL Habib Limited, has a long track record in banking that dates back to the 1920s. The Group was among the founder members of Habib Bank Limited and played a major role in meeting Pakistan's financial and banking needs. It was nationalised along with other Banks in Pakistan on January 1, 1974.

Bank AL Habib was incorporated as a Public Limited Company in October 1991 and started banking operations in 1992. It is now one of the leading banks in Pakistan, known for its high level of customer service. It has a strong network of over 1050 branches and sub-branches in 433 cities across the country, including a wholesale branch in Bahrain and Malaysia and representative offices in China, UAE, Turkey and Kenya.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

+44 161 3936 999

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930248/ACE_Money_Transfer_Bank_AL_Habib.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1807198/ACE_Money_Transfer_Logo.jpg

SOURCE ACE Money Transfer
AIFL & Israel Mapped in NY Will Host Their Annual Israel [email protected] The NYSE This Year Featuring Business Leaders and Investors Focused On Technology Development That Effectively and Efficiently Manage and Control Commercial Properties

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, Israel Day, organized and hosted by the America-Israel Friendship League ("AIFL") and Israeli Mapped in NY and held in New York City, features Israeli technology from different sectors.

This year's event, in collaboration with the New York Stock Exchange, is dedicated to PropTech, technology developed to manage commercial properties. Traditionally riddled with inefficiencies in management, operations and maintenance, technology has recently jump-started property management to overcome these obstacles. As with many other technical innovations, Israeli companies are leading the charge in this space.

With remarks from leading American and Israeli commercial property owners, Danna Azrieli, Chairwoman of the Azrieli Group, and Lisa Silverstein and Tal Keret, Vice Chairman and President of Silverstein Properties (owners of the World Trade Center) respectively, the conference will shed light upon best practices, leading technologies and financing opportunities.

The conference will also feature founders and CEOs of PropTech companies, and sector investors, who will highlight industry trends and how technology is changing the commercial property experience.

"AIFL is leading the charge in educating the public about the wonderful things that come from Israel, such as art, technology, sciences, history and many other fields that benefit the people of the United States and Israel," said Jonathan Barsade, President of AIFL. Barsade added that "our annual 'Israel [email protected]' conference is designed to highlight key areas, showcasing companies that lead the charge, many of which have advanced to become unicorns, industry leaders and acquisition targets, showcasing the importance that Israeli technology plays in our day to day lives."

"We're thrilled to host this year's annual Israel Day at the NYSE to highlight technology advancements in the real estate industry," said Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group. "The NYSE is also proud to have more than a dozen Israeli companies as members of our NYSE community of entrepreneurs and disruptors."

"As an Israeli who lives and works in the United States, I have worked with dozens of terrific Israeli companies that are improving how businesses operate and interface with their customers across the board," said Tal Kerret, President of Silverstein Properties, one of New York's leading companies, and the leader of rebuilding the World Trade Center after 9/11. "These entrepreneurs and innovators develop enterprise software and fintech platforms, they work in PropTech, cyber security and other industries. We have introduced many of these companies not just to other real estate firms, but to some of the largest, most innovative companies in America."

Danna Azrieli, Chairwoman of the Azrieli Group, the leading commercial property owner and operator in Israel says "the Azrieli Group invests time and resources in designing and building its' properties with an eye to creating the most exciting and innovating customer experience with an emphasis on environmental standards in its building and operation practices, implementing technology and sustainable environmental goals. We have just received the first ever Leed O&M for an existing retrofitted building (built in 1998) alongside our other Leed Gold and Leed Platinum Certificates in our newer buildings."

"The real estate sector in New York has seen an explosion of innovation over the last few years with the lead of over 30 Israeli startups which are based in the city and are disrupting the market in terms of property management, investments, amenities, listings, lending, communities, data, alternative offices and more." Says Guy Franklin, President of Israeli Mapped in NY. Franklin added that "there is an increasing demand for these new technologies in order to increase efficiency and lower costs while providing a better service to the potential client."

"AIFL is a key player in communicating to a large audience, the important relationship that exists between the people of Israel and the United States, relationships that are rooted beyond politics, but rather in key principles and practicalities of day to day living, which form a basis for true friendship," says Eric Gertler, AIFL's Chairman. "Israel Day@', our annual conference, is one more way of highlighting these oftentimes overlooked bonds of friendship."

Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Chairman of the America Israel Friendship League (Israel) concludes that "Israeli companies, working both together with U.S. counterparts and in the U.S. marketplace are key players to a solid relationship between the people of the United States and of Israel." Gillerman adds that " we are managing to show what a complex but wonderful mosaic this creates, a mosaic that is forming common bonds of true friendship."

About AIFL

For more than 50 years, the America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) has been building and mobilizing grassroots support for Israel across the United States and strengthening the relationship between the two countries through people-to-people activities. AIFL enhances bonds of friendship between the people of the United States and Israel by engaging and educating people of all ages, faiths, ethnic backgrounds and political orientations to better understand the common foundations of both countries, both of which are built upon principles of democracy, free speech, protection of individual rights and the quest for knowledge and innovation. These common bonds sustain deep and long-term friendships.

AIFL is continuing the vision of its founders, who sought to promote a strong and enduring friendship and cooperative bond between Americans and Israelis by increasing Americans' understanding of the contemporary Israel story  its entrepreneurship, culture, medical research, agricultural technology, environmental protection initiatives and so much more. This is a story that expands beyond the traditional focus on geopolitical affairs and is unknown to most Americans. Broadening this lens enhances Americans' understanding of Israel and Israelis, the ties between the people of these two countries, and the bonds of long-term friendship and support for Israel.

Media Contact:

Giovanni Cosetti

America Israel Friendship League

Tel: 516-325-1990

e-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE America-Israel Friendship League
ARCADIA, Wis., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashley Furniture Industries (Ashley) is celebrating National Manufacturing Day by providing tours to local students for the sixth year in a row. The company will welcome over 700 middle and high school students to its facilities throughout the month, returning from two years of virtual tours due to the pandemic. National Manufacturing Day, the first Friday in October, is celebrated throughout the month by manufacturers across the country.

Students tour Ashley Furniture's manufacturing facility in Arcadia, Wis.

MFG Day, originated by the National Association of Manufacturers, is the industry's biggest initiative to build excitement around the future of the modern manufacturing workforce and engage with students to demonstrate the exciting opportunities within the industry. As manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying jobs over the next decade, the need to educate the public of the endless opportunities and career pathways is exponential.

Ashley will tour the students through their advanced manufacturing operations, showcasing the drastic advancements that have been implemented with robotics and automation. Employees from various areas of manufacturing will speak to their career paths, including product design, automation, fabrication, assembly, quality and more. Students will also learn about the importance of manufacturing and the economic impact on the surrounding communities as well as the country.

"Our team was very excited to open our doors once more to students from across the U.S.," said Todd Wanek, President and CEO, Ashley Furniture Industries. "With the advancement of manufacturing technologies and equipment, comes an entire new set of careers that require a skilled workforce interested in pursuing them. By sharing this excitement with young students, we hope to inspire the next generation of makers."

"Our students were excited to see the careers available in Ripley, Miss. and how their current education plan may affect which career path they want to pursue," said Damon Ladner, Ripley Middle School. "The visit correlated with the mission of the South Tippah School District: "To build a stronger community through quality education." If students begin seeing the value and rewards for improving their education at an early age, it will improve the workforce available to our community partners. Manufacturing day also served as a starting point for conversations about future career goals and real-world application of subject matter."

Participating schools in Mississippi include North Pontotoc Middle School and Ripley Middle School. Participating school districts in Wisconsin include Arcadia, Blair-Taylor, Eleva-Strum, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, Holy Family Catholic School, Independence, Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School, and Whitehall. Northwest Middle School - Winston Salem in North Carolina and Van Guard High School in Texas are also participating.

Ashley has developed several partnerships with K-12 and post-secondary schools over the past five years, investing millions of dollars and resources towards various initiatives. These combined efforts include investing in STEM-based learning opportunities, scholarships, providing students with exposure to technical trades and career opportunities, instructor training, and robotics programs. As manufacturing continues to advance and the global economy evolves, training and educating our current and future workforce is a crucial part of our country's success.

Ashley Furniture Industries (Ashley) feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, and was named one of America's Best Employers by Forbes in 2021. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world's best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyglobal.com and "like" Ashley Furniture Industries on Facebook.

Media Contact:

Bailey Waldera

608.323.6782

[email protected]

SOURCE Ashley HomeStores, LTD.
ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The AH Board of Commissioners today authorized Atlanta Housing to negotiate a master developer agreement with a joint venture, Bowen District Developers, for the redevelopment of the 74-acre Bowen Homes site.

The selected development team, which includes McCormack Baron Salazar, The Benoit Group, Coleman and Associates, and JG Consulting will also serve as the "Housing Implementation Entity" in Atlanta Housing's application for a $40 million Choice Neighborhood grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"This is a transformational project for Northwest Atlanta that will bring affordable homes and a vibrant neighborhood back to the community," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "I'm excited that Atlanta Housing has identified a development partner and can now pursue the catalytic Choice Neighborhood grant. The City of Atlanta looks forward to partnering in the development of this inclusive neighborhood."

In December 2020, HUD awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to AH to create a Neighborhood Transformation Plan (NTP) for the revitalization of the former Bowen Homes and the Brookview Heights neighborhood, the adjacent Carey Park, and segments of James B. Jackson Parkway and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway--collectively referred to as the Bowen Choice Neighborhood. The BCN is located in NPU-G, Council District 9.

"With an experienced development team and a comprehensive plan for investment in affordable housing, neighborhoods and people, Atlanta is poised yet again to be selected for a Choice Neighborhood grant," said Larry Stewart, chairman of the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners. "This project will be transformative for Northwest Atlanta and will leverage millions more in investments, jobs and opportunities for Atlanta residents."

The development team's plans are consistent with goals established in 18 months of consultation with residents of the surrounding community, former residents of Bowen Homes and other stakeholders in creating the NTP. The community vision includes increasing connectivity; preserving and enhancing the natural environment; prioritizing affordability and viability; and including and honoring the "memory of place." Specifically, the Neighborhood Transformation Plan contemplates more than 2,000 rental and ownership units; several acres of improved greenspace; a green storm water management system; preservation of the natural environment and an improved street network supporting a mixed-income development with retail and community amenities.

Over the next few months, the Bowen District Developers team will work with the Atlanta Housing team and the community to finalize site programming, including the total number of planned market and affordable housing units. The development team won the top recommendation from a diverse eight-member evaluation committee that carefully evaluated two short-listed proposals following an April 2022 request for proposals. Bowen District Partners was recommended as the best overall value for Atlanta Housing.

Bowen Homes was constructed in 1962 and razed in 2009. The 74-acre site is in a sparsely populated area of Northwest Atlanta bounded by Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and James Jackson Parkway.

The development concept will transform the former Bowen Homes site into a true interconnected neighborhood. Retail and community amenities surround a new central square, which serves as the heart of the neighborhood. A mix of uses provides opportunities for local residents to open businesses in affordable commercial space, entrepreneurship support, and job training opportunities at a Community Resources Center and Innovation Hub.

The concept plan builds on ideas generated in the NTP to address environmental and natural assets of the site. A pedestrian green street and linear storm water park connects through the site east to west, creating green infrastructure to reduce flooding. The A.D. Williams Creek Trail will connect to the residential development and surrounding community assets. Atlanta Housing and the City of Atlanta will further work with Atlanta Public Schools on the revitalization of the A.D. Williams school site as part of the redevelopment.

Bowen Homes holds a momentous place in the history of Northwest Atlanta, public housing, African American art and culture, and the personal histories and lived experiences of the thousands of former residents who built their lives there.

ABOUT ATLANTA HOUSING

Led by President and CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia (AH), is the largest housing authority in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation. AH provides and facilitates affordable housing resources for nearly 27,000 low-income households comprised of approximately 45,000 people, including AH-owned residential communities, tenant-based vouchers, supportive housing, and homeownership opportunities. Programs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Visit AH at atlantahousing.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn at @housingatlanta.

SOURCE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF ATLANTA; Atlanta Housing
New Jersey-based health system using "next-generation" functionality to automate access and appointment self-scheduling for healthcare consumers

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. and BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AtlantiCare has implemented the Orbita virtual assistant and conversational AI platform. The technology makes it easier for individuals to connect with their providers and for the healthcare system to support access to self-scheduling options.

AtlantiCare logo

Serving five counties from more than 100 locations in southern New Jersey, AtlantiCare is dedicated to streamlining access to healthcare across its diverse service area. Its programs and services include a two-campus hospital with ambulatory care sites; primary, specialty and urgent care; surgery centers and more. It is also an accountable care organization.

Recognizing that many individuals delayed care for chronic conditions or fell out of the habit of seeking routine services during the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership sought a solution to help it connect with them more efficiently. This included empowering individuals to manage appointments proactively.

"We want to offer tools that will truly help those we serve," said AtlantiCare Chief Medical Informatics Officer Paul Ehrlich, MD, MHA. "As consumers, they expect a certain level of automation and self-service in all areas of their lives. Our team recognizes this and wants to make accessing healthcare as easy and convenient as they deserve."

AtlantiCare is rolling out the Orbita platform in phases, beginning with web-based digital front door, which went live in September 2022. In 2023, AtlantiCare plans to add proactive outbound communications, including post-discharge follow-up information and preventive service reminders.

AtlantiCare selected Orbita's virtual assistant because it is healthcare-specific and supports the unique needs of the organization. The secure platform leverages natural language processing to understand words and phrases people are comfortable with, rather than forcing them to use clinical terms. Additionally, the virtual assistant translates interactions into more than 100 languages, a critical consideration for the diverse communities AtlantiCare supports. Not only does the organization provide care in both rural and urban areas, it also serves the large volume of international tourists traveling into region.

"We appreciate the human-like approach Orbita uses," noted Ehrlich. "Orbita allows us to automate workflows and communication pathways with empathetic and user-friendly interactions." Orbita's hyper-personalized dialogs are built to consider 30 possible variables (e.g., gender, age, location, language) to guide a more effective conversation. This means individuals get the precise information they need and are more likely to have a seamless experience accessing care and services.

"AtlantiCare has a long history of meeting individuals 'where they are' by anticipating their needs. I am proud Orbita can contribute to its commitment for innovation in this regard," said Orbita CEO Patty Riskind. "Orbita's next-generation technology was built to effectively support access and acquisition, and to make it easy for individuals to receive care."

ABOUT ATLANTICARE

AtlantiCare is an integrated healthcare system based in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Its more than 6,000 staff, providers and volunteers serve the community in more than 100 locations in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May and Ocean counties of southern New Jersey. A Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner, AtlantiCare was also included in Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work. AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center was the 105th hospital in the nation to attain the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet designation in 2004 and earned redesignation in 2008, 2013 and 2018. Learn more at atlanticare.org or 1-888-569-1000.

ABOUT ORBITA

Orbita is the connective tissue between providers and patients, to make navigating healthcare easier. We partner with healthcare organizations to implement smart virtual assistants, powered by conversational AI, that engage patients across web, text and voice channels. Our solutions  which meet critical privacy and security standards  help providers improve operational efficiency by automating workflows as they face the challenges of labor shortages, while also capturing revenue generated by routine, chronic and preventative care. Visit Orbita.ai.

MEDIA CONTACT

Karina Stabile

Senior Account Executive, Aria Marketing

[email protected]

(m) 516.317.5835

SOURCE Orbita, Inc.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Altas Ocean Voyages' new, 200-guest World Traveler has been designed to evoke the aesthetic of a luxurious coastal vacation home or superyacht. The intimate vessel was designed by Artur Miranda and Jacques Bec of the award-winning Oitoemponto, based in Portugal.

"The designers have done an amazing job of capturing the spirit and atmosphere of a high-end, mega yacht or residential estate," said James Rodriguez, the line's president and CEO. "There is not a space on World Traveller that has not been touched by design."

World Traveller celebrates 'La Dolce Vita' (the sweet life) of cruising aboard a luxurious private yacht. Tweet this Verandah Stateroom aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages' new World Traveller. 7-AFT Grill aboard Atlas Ocean Voyages' new World Traveller.

From rich, blue and white fabrics to sumptuous, custom-made furnishings with hints of terracotta, green and slate, the ship's decor is warm and inviting, yet sophisticated and stylish. Furniture and lighting have been strategically placed to evolve during the voyage. For example, there are cozy nooks and many tables for two, which are often coveted by couples. But as the voyage ensues, the spaces can magically morph to accommodate parties of six or more so guests can be more convivial and share the experience with newfound friends.

"World Traveller was conceived to celebrate 'La Dolce Vita' (the sweet life) of cruising aboard a luxurious private yacht," according to Miranda. "Our intent was to design a visually stunning ship, but at the same time, to offer a very high standard of comfort for the guests."

While the public rooms and lounges are impressive, the accommodations are equally noteworthy. Corridors were conceptualized to create a dramatic effect before entering suites and staterooms, which are concealed behind a navy blue, leather-clad door.

World Traveller accommodations are all ocean view; nearly 90 percent have verandas. Four Navigator Suites (466 sq. ft.) and two Discovery Suites (445 sq. ft.) feature two closets, flat-screen TV in both the living area and bedroom, double vanities, and a separate water closet. Navigator Suites also have a bathtub. Four Journey Suites measure 382 square feet. All 10 suite verandas are furnished with sun loungers, teak chairs, and a table.

The ship's Horizon staterooms (269 sq. ft.) feature a unique, floor-to-ceiling glass wall with an upper panel that slides open to make the entire room feel like veranda  a concept first developed by parent-company Mystic Invest Holdings for its riverboats.

Staterooms feature a queen-size bed that can be separated, digital safe, bathrobes and slippers, a hairdryer, binoculars, and a stocked refrigerator. Staterooms also include a desk with chair, while Horizon and Veranda staterooms have a sitting area with a loveseat. Bathrooms feature mosaic-tile spa showers with rainfall and handheld showerheads and four adjustable body jets. Bath amenities include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand wash and hand lotion from iconic French beauty brand L'OCCITANE de Provence. Housekeeping replenishes still and sparkling water twice daily and provides make-up and turndown service.

Suites and staterooms are fitted with the requisite technological conveniences that world travelers have come to expect, including a large, flat-screen TV, providing live and on-demand television, movie, music, and audio programming, as well as Bluetooth connectivity for tablets and smartphones. Moreover, the designers strategically placed USB ports and electric (110V and 220V) outlets throughout so guests can recharge their phone or tablet while working at the desk, relaxing in the sitting area, or lounging in bed.

For information and reservations, call a travel advisor or 1.844.44.ATLAS or visit www.AtlasOceanVoyages.com. You can also follow Atlas on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.com/AtlasOceanVoyages or www.instagram.com/AtlasOceanVoyages.

About Atlas Ocean Voyages

Atlas Ocean Voyages is the small-ship, luxury expedition cruise brand of Mystic Invest Holdings. Guests enjoy open bars aboard ship, including craft beers, specialty coffees and smoothies; stateroom bar with coffee, tea, and premium spirits; L'OCCITANE bath amenities; free Wi-Fi; prepaid gratuities; and complimentary emergency medical evacuation insurance. World Navigator, launched in August 2021, and World Traveller, launching in November 2022, both feature accommodations for 200 guests. A sister-ship World Seeker is scheduled to join the fleet in November 2024.

About Oitoemponto

With showrooms in both Lisbon and Porto, Oitoemponto employs 30+ employees and has created award-winning designs, from exclusive residences and vacation villas to large-scale, commercial projects in London, Paris, Riyadh, and Moscow. In addition to World Traveller, the team designed Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator and has been commissioned to design World Seeker, due in November 2024. Each ship will have its own distinct interior design concept.

SOURCE Atlas Ocean Voyages
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BBTV Holdings Inc. (TSX: BBTV) (OTCQX: BBTVF) (Frankfurt: 64V) ("BBTV" or the "Company"), the leading creator monetization company, today is announcing the acquisition of the assets of Outloud Media, a Detroit-based creator economy business with expertise distributing and monetizing creator content across multiple social media platforms like Facebook. The acquisition bolsters BBTV's Multi-Platform Partnership solution, which provides content creators additional revenue across multiple social platforms.

BBTV's Multi-Platform Partnership ( MPP ) solution is focused on redeploying existing creator content for scalable distribution and monetization on other social platforms, such as Facebook and Snapchat. BBTV prioritizes the monetization of creator content across platforms with high scale advertising businesses including Google and Meta.

MPP redeploying monetization BBTV monetization Outloud Media's existing operations and expertise will help drive incremental higher margin Base Solutions revenue for BBTV and its content creators.

BBTV The acquisition is accretive to Base Solutions with gross margins comparable to BBTV's existing Plus Solutions.

"We are excited about the acquisition of the Outloud Media business because it continues our momentum in monetizing social viewers for our creators," commented Shahrzad Rafati, Chairperson and CEO, BBTV. "This low risk, high impact acquisition will expedite higher margin growth in the Company's Base Solutions. This acquisition is an ideal strategic fit that further amplifies BBTV's reach, massive content library, and proprietary tech to benefit our creators, advertisers, and our shareholders."

With a substantial and growing roster of prominent creators, Outloud Media has a strong reputation in the creator economy for proven distribution and revenue generation across social platforms for content creators. This acquisition also provides BBTV access to incremental data and insights to further empower the Company's content distribution and monetization across key platforms.

"We couldn't imagine a better place for the Outloud Media business to thrive," commented Joel Beckett, CEO of Outloud Group. "BBTV is one of the strongest leaders in the creator economy with solutions for content creators that are unmatched in the space. Combining Outloud Media's solutions with those of BBTV is a no-brainer for any content creator looking to succeed across multiple platforms, both for our existing creators within Outloud, and BBTV's large and growing roster."

Outloud Media generated US$4M in revenues over the last 12 months. The acquisition is mainly structured as a 5-year performance earn-out of up to US$5M. The performance-based earn-out will be calculated as a percentage of shareable revenue from Facebook and Snapchat, which is comparable to gross profit less certain additional direct operating costs.

"As the stand out leader in our space and the only provider of truly end-to-end solutions for creators, we're excited to embolden the Multi-Platform Partnership solution that enables success for creators on platforms they don't have the knowledge or bandwidth to capitalize on," comments Erich Lochner, SVP Creator Partnerships, BBTV. "We've seen how incremental revenue on platforms like Facebook can be a game-changer for creators looking to propel themselves into the next level of their career, and BBTV has cemented itself as a staple in their success. Acquiring the Outloud Media business will help us expedite our trajectory and grow our expertise even more quickly."

For more information visit www.bbtv.com .

About BBTV

BBTV is a global media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company's mission is to help content creators become more successful. With creators ranging from individuals to global media brands, BBTV provides comprehensive, end-to-end Solutions to increase viewership and drive revenue powered by its innovative technology, while allowing creators to focus on their core competency  content creation. In January 2022, BBTV had the fourth most unique monthly viewers among digital platforms with more than 600 million globally, who consumed more than 35 billion minutes of video content1. ( www.bbtv.com )



1 Calculations and classifications made by BBTV based on data from Comscore's "Top 12 Countries = January 2022 comScore Video Metrix Media Trend  Multi-Platform  Top 100 Video Properties Report"; Top 12 countries represent ~50% of world's digital population

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forwardlooking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information is not information about historical facts but instead represents the Company's intentions, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and strategies regarding future events and results, and includes certain financial outlooks. Financial outlooks, in particular, are provided to aid in understanding management's goals and expectations regarding future financial matters, and, for all the reasons set out below, may not be achieved. Such financial outlooks may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes statements regarding the planned effect of the acquisition of the Outloud Media business on BBTV, including that Outloud Media's existing operations and expertise will help drive incremental higher margin Base Solutions revenue for BBTV and its content creators; the acquisition is accretive to Base Solutions with gross margins comparable to BBTV's existing Plus Solutions; this low risk, high impact acquisition will expedite higher margin growth in the Company's Base Solutions; and acquiring the Outloud Media business will help us expedite our trajectory and grow our expertise even more quickly. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that the Company considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is given, including but not limited to the Company's assumptions that the integration of the Outloud Media business with BBTV's, and in particular, deal terms with creators using BBTV's MPP solution, will proceed as planned; that the Company's internal financial forecasts and models, including its estimates of costs and revenue, are accurate; that its assumptions regarding the impact of the acquisition of the Outloud assets and continued growth, changes and trends in the Company's industry and the global economy will be met; the absence of new rules or policies of platforms and other strategic partners, that may negatively impact the business of BBTV; our ability to build our market share and enter new markets; and our ability to obtain and maintain financing on acceptable terms on a timely basis. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the risk that the Company's assumptions on which its forward-looking information is based may not be accurate; the effect of competition; that the Company has a history of losses and negative cash flow; that the Company's agreements with platforms, creators or others may terminate early or not be renewed either on similar terms or at all; that the Company's MPP solution may not continue to be attractive to creators and may not realize our expectations; the Company's need for timely performance by its creators and strategic partners; the Company's need for additional capital, which is not assured on a timely basis or at all; and the impact of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic; as well as the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2022 filed on sedar at www.sedar.com and in the Company's other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forwardlooking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

For further information please contact:

Media Relations: [email protected]

Investor Relations: [email protected]

BBTV-C

SOURCE BBTV Holdings Inc.
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkshire Bancorp Inc. (OTCQB: BERK) reported today that TBB Investments LLC ("TBB Investments"), an entity that beneficially owned more than 90% of the common stock of BERK and is controlled by Mr. Moses Marx, members of his family and certain family entities, acquired ownership of all remaining outstanding common stock of BERK as a result of the consummation today of a previously disclosed merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of TBB Investments with and into BERK, with BERK as the surviving corporation. Following these transactions, BERK common stock will no longer be publicly traded.

As a result of the merger, all shares of BERK common stock outstanding immediately before the effective time of the merger were cancelled and holders of shares of BERK common stock outstanding immediately before the effective time of the merger (other than TBB Investments and its subsidiary) became entitled, upon surrender of their BERK shares (together with certain other documentation) to receive a cash payment of $12.40 per share as merger consideration. Alternatively, such holders may exercise certain appraisal rights under Delaware law.

Persons who held shares of BERK common stock at the time of the merger will shortly receive a letter of transmittal and instructions on how to surrender their share certificates in exchange for payment of the merger consideration. Stockholders should wait to receive the letter of transmittal before surrendering share certificates. Stockholders holding BERK shares in street name will receive the merger consideration in their brokerage or similar accounts.

Under Delaware law, no action was required by the stockholders of BERK (other than TBB Investments and its subsidiary) or the Board of Directors of BERK to authorize the merger or for the merger to become effective because, immediately before the effective time of the merger, TBB Investments and its subsidiary owned more than 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of BERK that would have been entitled to vote on the merger.

The merger and certain related transactions were previously approved by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York Department of Financial Services.

Berkshire Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in New York City. Berkshire Bancorp Inc. has one banking subsidiary, The Berkshire Bank, a New York State chartered commercial bank. The Berkshire Bank has its main office and branch at 4 East 39th Street in New York City and additional branches located in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Orange County, New York and Teaneck, New Jersey.

SOURCE Berkshire Bancorp Inc.
77% of businesses uncovered hidden participants in their software supply chain that they were not previously aware of

72% call for greater government oversight of open-source software to increase cyber protection

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today revealed new research at the 9th annual BlackBerry Security Summit, exposing the magnitude of software supply chain cybersecurity vulnerabilities in today's organizations. Four in five (80%) IT decision makers stated that their organization had received notification of attack or vulnerability in its supply chain of software in the last 12 months, with the operating system and web browser creating the biggest impact. Following a software supply chain attack, respondents reported significant operational disruption (59%), data loss (58%) and reputational impact (52%), with nine out of ten organizations (90%) taking up to a month to recover.

The results come at a time of increased U.S. regulatory and legislative interest in addressing software supply chain security vulnerabilities.

The survey of 1,500 IT decision makers and cybersecurity leaders across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia revealed the significant challenge of securing software supply chains against cyberattack, even with rigorous use of recommended measures such as data encryption, Identity Access Management (IAM) and Secure Privileged Access Management (PAM) frameworks. Despite enforcing these measures across partners, more than three-quarters (77%) of respondents had, in the last 12 months, discovered unknown participants within their software supply chain that they were not previously aware of and that they had not been monitoring for adherence to critical security standards.

"While most have confidence that their software supply chain partners have policies in place of at least comparable strength to their own, it is the lack of granular detail that exposes vulnerabilities for cybercriminals to exploit," said Christine Gadsby, VP, Product Security at BlackBerry. "Unknown components and a lack of visibility on the software supply chain introduce blind spots containing potential vulnerabilities that can wreak havoc across not just one enterprise, but several, through loss of data and intellectual property and operational downtime, along with financial and reputational impact. How companies monitor and manage cybersecurity in their software supply chain has to rely on more than just trust."

Results also revealed that while, on average, organizations were found to perform a quarterly inventory of their own software environment, they were prevented from more frequent monitoring by factors including a lack of skills (54%) and visibility (44%). In fact, 71% said they would welcome tools to improve inventory of software libraries within their supply chain and provide greater visibility to software impacted by a vulnerability. Similarly, 72% were in favor of greater governmental oversight of open-source software to make it more secure against cyber threats.

In the event of a breach, 62% of respondents agree that speed of communications is paramount and 63% would prefer a consolidated event management system for contacting internal security stakeholders and external partners. Yet only 19% have this kind of communications system in place. Multiple systems are in place with the remaining 81%, despite only 28% of respondents saying that they need to tailor communications to different stakeholder groups.

For more information on how BlackBerry's comprehensive, prevention-first, AI-driven cybersecurity solutions can help your business prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats, please visit BlackBerry.com.

Notes to editor: Research conducted in October 2022 by Coleman Parkes on behalf of BlackBerry, into 1,500 IT Decision Makers and Cybersecurity professionals across North America (USA and Canada), the United Kingdom and Australia.

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 215M 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 management, endpoint security, 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 and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, 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 Contacts:

BlackBerry Media Relations

+1 (519) 597-7273

[email protected]

SOURCE BlackBerry Limited
ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

Third Quarter 2022

Operating cash flow of $3.2 billion ; continue to expect positive free cash flow for 2022

Resumed 787 deliveries and delivered 9 airplanes

Recorded losses on fixed-price defense development programs

Revenue of $16.0 billion ; GAAP loss per share of ($5.49) and core (non-GAAP)* loss per share of ($6.18)

Total backlog of $381 billion ; including over 4,300 commercial airplanes















































































Table 1. Summary Financial Results

Third Quarter





Nine Months



(Dollars in Millions, except per share data)

2022

2021

Change

2022

2021

Change

























Revenues

$15,956



$15,278



4 %

$46,628



$47,493



(2) %

























GAAP























(Loss)/Earnings From Operations

($2,799)



$329



NM

($3,194)



$1,269



NM Operating Margin

(17.5) %

2.2 %

NM

(6.8) %

2.7 %

NM Net Loss

($3,308)



($132)



NM

($4,390)



($126)



NM Loss Per Share

($5.49)



($0.19)



NM

($7.24)



($0.10)



NM Operating Cash Flow

$3,190



($262)



NM

$55



($4,132)



NM Non-GAAP*























Core Operating (Loss)/Earnings

($3,078)



$59



NM

($4,040)



$461



NM Core Operating Margin

(19.3) %

0.4 %

NM

(8.7) %

1.0 %

NM Core Loss Per Share

($6.18)



($0.60)



NM

($9.31)



($1.72)



NM

*Non-GAAP measure; complete definitions of Boeing's non-GAAP measures are on page 5, "Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures."

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] reported third-quarter revenue of $16.0 billion, GAAP loss per share of ($5.49) and core loss per share (non-GAAP)* of ($6.18). Third-quarter results reflect higher commercial volume and losses on fixed-price defense development programs (Table 1). Boeing generated operating cash flow of $3.2 billion.

"We continue to make important strides in our turnaround and remain focused on our performance," said Dave Calhoun, Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer. "We generated strong cash in the quarter and are on a solid path to achieving positive free cash flow for 2022. At the same time, revenue and earnings were significantly impacted by losses on our fixed-price defense development programs. We're squarely focused on maturing these programs, mitigating risks and delivering for our customers and their important missions. We remain in a challenging environment and have more work ahead to drive stability, improve our performance and ensure we're consistently delivering on our commitments. Despite the challenges, I'm proud of our team and the progress we've made to strengthen our company."























































Table 2. Cash Flow

Third Quarter

Nine Months (Millions)

2022

2021

2022

2021 Operating Cash Flow

$3,190



($262)



$55



($4,132)

Less Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment

($284)



($245)



($896)



($758)

Free Cash Flow*

$2,906



($507)



($841)



($4,890)



*Non-GAAP measure; complete definitions of Boeing's non-GAAP measures are on page 5, "Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures."

Operating cash flow improved to $3.2 billion in the quarter, reflecting higher commercial deliveries, favorable receipt timing, and a tax refund (Table 2).































Table 3. Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt Balances

Quarter-End (Billions)

Q3 22

Q2 22 Cash

$13.5



$10.0

Marketable Securities1

$0.8



$1.4

Total

$14.3



$11.4

Debt Balances:







The Boeing Company, net of intercompany loans to BCC

$55.7



$55.7

Boeing Capital, including intercompany loans

$1.5



$1.5

Total Consolidated Debt

$57.2



$57.2



1 Marketable securities consist primarily of time deposits due within one year classified as "short-term investments."

Cash and investments in marketable securities increased to $14.3 billion, compared to $11.4 billion at the beginning of the quarter, primarily driven by cash from operations (Table 3). The company has access to credit facilities of $12.0 billion, which remain undrawn.

Total company backlog at quarter-end was $381 billion.

Segment Results

Commercial Airplanes















































































Table 4. Commercial Airplanes

Third Quarter





Nine Months



(Dollars in Millions)

2022

2021

Change

2022

2021

Change

























Commercial Airplanes Deliveries

112



85



32 %

328



241



36 %

























Revenues

$6,263



$4,459



40 %

$16,643



$14,743



13 % Loss from Operations

($643)



($693)



NM

($1,744)



($2,021)



NM Operating Margin

(10.3) %

(15.5) %

NM

(10.5) %

(13.7) %

NM

Commercial Airplanes third-quarter revenue increased to $6.3 billion, driven by the resumption of 787 deliveries and higher 737 deliveries (Table 4). Operating margin of (10.3) percent also reflects lower abnormal costs as compared to the third quarter of 2021, partially offset by higher period expenses, including R&D expense.

The company also resumed 787 deliveries in late August, following comprehensive reviews to ensure each airplane meets the company's highest standards. The program is producing at a low rate with an expected gradual return to five per month over time.

Since late 2020, the 737 MAX fleet has completed nearly 1 million revenue flights. During the quarter, the company secured net orders for 227 aircraft, including 167 737 airplanes, 27 767 airplanes, 18 777 airplanes, and 15 787 airplanes. Commercial Airplanes delivered 112 airplanes during the quarter and backlog included over 4,300 airplanes valued at $307 billion.

Defense, Space & Security















































































Table 5. Defense, Space & Security

Third Quarter





Nine Months



(Dollars in Millions)

2022

2021

Change

2022

2021

Change

























Revenues

$5,307



$6,617



(20) %

$16,981



$20,678



(18) % (Loss)/earnings from Operations

($2,798)



$436



NM

($3,656)



$1,799



NM Operating Margin

(52.7) %

6.6 %

NM

(21.5) %

8.7 %

NM

Defense, Space & Security third-quarter revenue decreased to $5.3 billion and third-quarter operating margin decreased to (52.7) percent, primarily due to $2.8 billion of losses on certain fixed-price development programs, driven by higher estimated manufacturing and supply chain costs, as well as technical challenges. These losses were recorded on the KC-46A, VC-25B, MQ-25, T-7A and Commercial Crew programs. Results were also impacted by unfavorable performance on other programs.

During the quarter, Defense, Space & Security captured KC-46A Tanker awards from the U.S. Air Force for 15 aircraft and the Israeli Air Force for four aircraft, and Poland selected the AH-64E Apache as its future attack helicopter. Defense, Space & Security delivered 34 aircraft and two satellites, including the first four MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters to the U.S. Air Force. Also during the quarter, Defense, Space and Security opened the Advanced Composite Fabrication Center in Mesa, Arizona.

Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $55 billion, of which 31 percent represents orders from customers outside the U.S.

Global Services















































































Table 6. Global Services

Third Quarter





Nine Months



(Dollars in Millions)

2022

2021

Change

2022

2021

Change

























Revenues

$4,432



$4,221



5 %

$13,044



$12,037



8 % Earnings from Operations

$733



$644



14 %

$2,093



$1,616



30 % Operating Margin

16.5 %

15.3 %

8 %

16.0 %

13.4 %

19 %

Global Services third-quarter revenue increased to $4.4 billion and third-quarter operating margin increased to 16.5 percent primarily driven by higher commercial services volume and favorable mix, partially offset by lower government services volume.

During the quarter, Global Services was awarded a follow-on KC-767A Performance Based Logistics support contract for the Italian Air Force and received an F/A-18 depot support order for the U.S. Navy. Global Services also signed a Landing Gear Exchange and Airplane Health Management agreement with Ethiopian Airlines. Also in the quarter, Global Services delivered the 100th contracted 737-800BCF to AerCap.

Additional Financial Information























































Table 7. Additional Financial Information

Third Quarter

Nine Months (Dollars in Millions)

2022

2021

2022

2021 Revenues















Boeing Capital

$52



$71



$150



$209

Unallocated items, eliminations and other

($98)



($90)



($190)



($174)

(Loss)/Earnings from Operations















Boeing Capital

$23



$42



$14



$99

FAS/CAS service cost adjustment

$279



$270



$846



$808

Other unallocated items and eliminations

($393)



($370)



($747)



($1,032)

Other income, net

$288



$30



$722



$419

Interest and debt expense

($621)



($669)



($1,901)



($2,021)

Effective tax rate

(5.6) %

57.4 %

(0.4) %

62.2 %

At quarter-end, Boeing Capital's net portfolio balance was $1.6 billion. The change in other income was driven by the absence of a pension settlement charge recorded in the third quarter of 2021. Interest and debt expense decreased due to lower debt balance. The third quarter effective tax rate primarily reflects tax expense due to an increase in the valuation allowance.

Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures

We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company's ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:

Core Operating Earnings, Core Operating Margin and Core Loss Per Share

Core operating earnings is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment. The FAS/CAS service cost adjustment represents the difference between the Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) pension and postretirement service costs calculated under GAAP and costs allocated to the business segments. Core operating margin is defined as core operating earnings expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core (loss)/earnings per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment and Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses. Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses represent the components of net periodic benefit costs other than service cost. Pension costs, comprising service and prior service costs computed in accordance with GAAP are allocated to Commercial Airplanes and BGS businesses supporting commercial customers. Pension costs allocated to BDS and BGS businesses supporting government customers are computed in accordance with U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), which employ different actuarial assumptions and accounting conventions than GAAP. CAS costs are allocable to government contracts. Other postretirement benefit costs are allocated to all business segments based on CAS, which is generally based on benefits paid. Management uses core operating earnings, core operating margin and core earnings per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core earnings measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude non-service pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided on pages 12 & 13.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is GAAP operating cash flow reduced by capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation of free cash flow to GAAP operating cash flow.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "should," "expects," "intends," "projects," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "anticipates," and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable when made, but that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are risks related to: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic and related industry impacts, including with respect to our operations, our liquidity, the health of our customers and suppliers, and future demand for our products and services; (2) the 737 MAX, including the timing and conditions of remaining 737 MAX regulatory approvals, lower than planned production rates and/or delivery rates, and additional considerations to customers and suppliers; (3) general conditions in the economy and our industry, including those due to regulatory changes; (4) our reliance on our commercial airline customers; (5) the overall health of our aircraft production system, planned commercial aircraft production rate changes, our commercial development and derivative aircraft programs, and our aircraft being subject to stringent performance and reliability standards; (6) changing budget and appropriation levels and acquisition priorities of the U.S. government; (7) our dependence on U.S. government contracts; (8) our reliance on fixed-price contracts; (9) our reliance on cost-type contracts; (10) uncertainties concerning contracts that include in-orbit incentive payments; (11) our dependence on our subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the availability of raw materials; (12) changes in accounting estimates; (13) changes in the competitive landscape in our markets; (14) our non-U.S. operations, including sales to non-U.S. customers; (15) threats to the security of our, our customers' and/or our suppliers' information; (16) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government investigations; (17) customer and aircraft concentration in our customer financing portfolio; (18) changes in our ability to obtain debt financing on commercially reasonable terms and at competitive rates; (19) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures/strategic alliances or divestitures; (20) the adequacy of our insurance coverage to cover significant risk exposures; (21) potential business disruptions, including those related to physical security threats, information technology or cyber-attacks, epidemics, sanctions or natural disasters; (22) work stoppages or other labor disruptions; (23) substantial pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; (24) potential environmental liabilities; and (25) effects of climate change and legal, regulatory or market responses to such change.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:





Investor Relations:

Matt Welch or Keely Moos (312) 544-2140 Communications:

Michael Friedman [email protected]

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

















































Nine months ended

September 30

Three months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions, except per share data) 2022

2021

2022

2021 Sales of products $38,767



$39,224



$13,331



$12,552

Sales of services 7,861



8,269



2,625



2,726

Total revenues 46,628



47,493



15,956



15,278

















Cost of products (38,237)



(35,166)



(14,541)



(11,271)

Cost of services (6,725)



(6,771)



(2,230)



(2,288)

Boeing Capital interest expense (20)



(25)



(7)



(7)

Total costs and expenses (44,982)



(41,962)



(16,778)



(13,566)



1,646



5,531



(822)



1,712

(Loss)/income from operating investments, net (27)



195



(24)



120

General and administrative expense (2,757)



(3,169)



(1,226)



(1,097)

Research and development expense, net (2,058)



(1,571)



(727)



(575)

Gain on dispositions, net 2



283



0



169

(Loss)/earnings from operations (3,194)



1,269



(2,799)



329

Other income, net 722



419



288



30

Interest and debt expense (1,901)



(2,021)



(621)



(669)

Loss before income taxes (4,373)



(333)



(3,132)



(310)

Income tax (expense)/benefit (17)



207



(176)



178

Net loss (4,390)



(126)



(3,308)



(132)

Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (89)



(67)



(33)



(23)

Net loss attributable to Boeing Shareholders ($4,301)



($59)



($3,275)



($109)

















Basic loss per share ($7.24)



($0.10)



($5.49)



($0.19)

















Diluted loss per share ($7.24)



($0.10)



($5.49)



($0.19)

















Weighted average diluted shares (millions) 594.0

587.3

596.3

589.0

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)























(Dollars in millions, except per share data) September 30

2022

December 31

2021 Assets





Cash and cash equivalents $13,494



$8,052

Short-term and other investments 763



8,192

Accounts receivable, net 2,673



2,641

Unbilled receivables, net 9,316



8,620

Current portion of customer financing, net 155



117

Inventories 79,777



78,823

Other current assets, net 3,073



2,221

Total current assets 109,251



108,666

Customer financing, net 1,513



1,695

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $21,208 and

$20,538 10,508



10,918

Goodwill 8,045



8,068

Acquired intangible assets, net 2,371



2,562

Deferred income taxes 77



77

Investments 979



975

Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of of $897 and $975 4,814



5,591

Total assets $137,558



$138,552

Liabilities and equity





Accounts payable $9,793



$9,261

Accrued liabilities 21,217



18,455

Advances and progress billings 53,177



52,980

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt 5,431



1,296

Total current liabilities 89,618



81,992

Deferred income taxes 230



218

Accrued retiree health care 3,356



3,528

Accrued pension plan liability, net 7,951



9,104

Other long-term liabilities 2,250



1,750

Long-term debt 51,788



56,806

Total liabilities 155,193



153,398

Shareholders' equity:





Common stock, par value $5.00  1,200,000,000 shares authorized;

1,012,261,159 shares issued 5,061



5,061

Additional paid-in capital 9,705



9,052

Treasury stock, at cost - 416,639,182 and 423,343,707 shares (51,054)



(51,861)

Retained earnings 30,107



34,408

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (11,518)



(11,659)

Total shareholders' deficit (17,699)



(14,999)

Noncontrolling interests 64



153

Total equity (17,635)



(14,846)

Total liabilities and equity $137,558



$138,552



The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

























Nine months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions) 2022

2021 Cash flows  operating activities:





Net loss ($4,390)



($126)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided/(used) by operating activities:





Non-cash items 





Share-based plans expense 528



677

Treasury shares issued for 401(k) contribution 928



951

Depreciation and amortization 1,477



1,610

Investment/asset impairment charges, net 78



72

Customer financing valuation adjustments 39



(3)

Gain on dispositions, net (2)



(283)

Other charges and credits, net 388



(82)

Changes in assets and liabilities 





Accounts receivable (22)



(280)

Unbilled receivables (678)



(2,010)

Advances and progress billings 204



781

Inventories (1,164)



508

Other current assets (860)



279

Accounts payable 590



(3,565)

Accrued liabilities 2,416



(3,168)

Income taxes receivable, payable and deferred 1,382



1,011

Other long-term liabilities (114)



(168)

Pension and other postretirement plans (1,053)



(731)

Customer financing, net 76



170

Other 232



225

Net cash provided/(used) by operating activities 55



(4,132)

Cash flows  investing activities:





Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment (896)



(758)

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment 19



385

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired



(6)

Contributions to investments (2,773)



(27,902)

Proceeds from investments 10,182



35,664

Other (11)



6

Net cash provided by investing activities 6,521



7,389

Cash flows  financing activities:





New borrowings 19



9,822

Debt repayments (1,038)



(11,049)

Stock options exercised 39



36

Employee taxes on certain share-based payment arrangements (36)



(47)

Net cash used by financing activities (1,016)



(1,238)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (134)



(34)

Net increase in cash & cash equivalents, including restricted 5,426



1,985

Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at beginning of year 8,104



7,835

Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at end of period 13,530



9,820

Less restricted cash & cash equivalents, included in Investments 36



56

Cash & cash equivalents at end of period $13,494



$9,764



The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries Summary of Business Segment Data (Unaudited)

















































Nine months ended

September 30

Three months ended

September 30 (Dollars in millions) 2022

2021

2022

2021 Revenues:













Commercial Airplanes $16,643



$14,743



$6,263



$4,459

Defense, Space & Security 16,981



20,678



5,307



6,617

Global Services 13,044



12,037



4,432



4,221

Boeing Capital 150



209



52



71

Unallocated items, eliminations and other (190)



(174)



(98)



(90)

Total revenues $46,628



$47,493



$15,956



$15,278

(Loss)/earnings from operations:













Commercial Airplanes ($1,744)



($2,021)



($643)



($693)

Defense, Space & Security (3,656)



1,799



(2,798)



436

Global Services 2,093



1,616



733



644

Boeing Capital 14



99



23



42

Segment operating (loss)/earnings (3,293)



1,493



(2,685)



429

Unallocated items, eliminations and other (747)



(1,032)



(393)



(370)

FAS/CAS service cost adjustment 846



808



279



270

(Loss)/earnings from operations (3,194)



1,269



(2,799)



329

Other income, net 722



419



288



30

Interest and debt expense (1,901)



(2,021)



(621)



(669)

Loss before income taxes (4,373)



(333)



(3,132)



(310)

Income tax (expense)/benefit (17)



207



(176)



178

Net loss (4,390)



(126)



(3,308)



(132)

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (89)



(67)



(33)



(23)

Net loss attributable to Boeing Shareholders ($4,301)



($59)



($3,275)



($109)

Research and development expense, net:













Commercial Airplanes $1,102



$817



$409



$293

Defense, Space & Security 706



530



240



193

Global Services 89



80



35



30

Other 161



144



43



59

Total research and development expense, net $2,058



$1,571



$727



$575

Unallocated items, eliminations and other:













Share-based plans ($64)



($171)



$44



($29)

Deferred compensation 204



(86)



38



8

Amortization of previously capitalized interest (71)



(66)



(24)



(22)

Research and development expense, net (161)



(144)



(43)



(59)

Eliminations and other unallocated items (655)



(565)



(408)



(268)

Sub-total (included in core operating loss) (747)



(1,032)



(393)



(370)

Pension FAS/CAS service cost adjustment 621



576



208



192

Postretirement FAS/CAS service cost adjustment 225



232



71



78

FAS/CAS service cost adjustment 846



808



$279



$270

Total $99



($224)



($114)



($100)



The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries



























Operating and Financial Data



























(Unaudited)

























































Deliveries

Nine months ended

September 30

Three months ended

September 30



























Commercial Airplanes

2022

2021

2022

2021



























737

277



179



88



66





























747

3



4







2





























767

21



24



9



11





























777

18



20



6



6





























787

9



14



9

































Total

328



241



112



85

































































































































Defense, Space & Security











































AH-64 Apache (New)

20

19

7

4



























AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured)

36

42

8

11



























CH-47 Chinook (New)

10

12

1

6



























CH-47 Chinook (Renewed)

6

5

2

1



























F-15 Models

9

11

4

3



























F/A-18 Models

11

15

3

4



























KC-46 Tanker

9

7

1

3



























P-8 Models

10

11

4

5



























MH-139

4



4





























Commercial and Civil Satellites

2



2





























Military Satellites





























































Total backlog (Dollars in millions)

September 30

2022

December 31

2021



























Commercial Airplanes

$307,168



$296,882



























Defense, Space & Security

54,740



59,828



























Global Services

19,072



20,496



























Unallocated items, eliminations and other

335



293



























Total backlog

$381,315



$377,499

































































Contractual backlog

$362,926



$356,362



























Unobligated backlog

18,389



21,137



























Total backlog

$381,315



$377,499



































































The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(Unaudited)

The tables provided below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures core operating (loss)/earnings, core operating margin, and core loss per share with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, (loss)/earnings from operations, operating margin, and diluted loss per share. See page 5 of this release for additional information on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures.







































(Dollars in millions, except per share data)



Third Quarter 2022 Third Quarter 2021







$ millions Per Share

$ millions Per Share Revenues





15,956





15,278



(Loss)/earnings from operations (GAAP)





(2,799)





329



Operating margin (GAAP)





(17.5) %



2.2 %



















FAS/CAS service cost adjustment:















Pension FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(208)





(192)



Postretirement FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(71)





(78)



FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(279)





(270)



Core operating (loss)/earnings (non-GAAP)





($3,078)





$59



Core operating margin (non-GAAP)





(19.3) %



0.4 %



















Diluted loss per share (GAAP)







($5.49)





($0.19)

Pension FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





($208)

(0.35)



($192)

(0.33)

Postretirement FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(71)

(0.12)



(78)



(0.13)

Non-operating pension expense





(225)

(0.37)



(29)

(0.05)

Non-operating postretirement expense





(15)

(0.03)



(6)



(0.01)

Provision for deferred income taxes on adjustments 1





109

0.18



64

0.11

Subtotal of adjustments





($410)

($0.69)



($241)

($0.41)

Core loss per share (non-GAAP)







($6.18)





($0.60)



















Weighted average diluted shares (in millions)







596.3





589.0



1 The income tax impact is calculated using the U.S. corporate statutory tax rate.

The Boeing Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(Unaudited)

The tables provided below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures core operating (loss)/earnings, core operating margin, and core loss per share with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, (loss)/earnings from operations, operating margin, and diluted loss per share. See page 5 of this release for additional information on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures.







































(Dollars in millions, except per share data)



Nine Months 2022 Nine Months 2021







$ millions Per Share

$ millions Per Share Revenues





46,628





47,493



(Loss)/earnings from operations (GAAP)





(3,194)





1,269



Operating margin (GAAP)





(6.8) %



2.7 %



















FAS/CAS service cost adjustment:















Pension FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(621)





(576)



Postretirement FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(225)





(232)



FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(846)





(808)



Core operating (loss)/earnings (non-GAAP)





($4,040)





$461



Core operating margin (non-GAAP)





(8.7) %



1.0 %



















Diluted loss per share (GAAP)







($7.24)





($0.10)

Pension FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





($621)

(1.04)



($576)

(0.98)

Postretirement FAS/CAS service cost adjustment





(225)

(0.38)



(232)



(0.40)

Non-operating pension expense





(666)

(1.13)



(381)

(0.64)

Non-operating postretirement expense





(44)

(0.07)



(16)



(0.03)

Provision for deferred income taxes on adjustments 1





327

0.55



253

0.43

Subtotal of adjustments





($1,229)

($2.07)



($952)

($1.62)

Core loss per share (non-GAAP)







($9.31)





($1.72)



















Weighted average diluted shares (in millions)







594.0





587.3



1 The income tax impact is calculated using the U.S. corporate statutory tax rate.

SOURCE Boeing
First location to be developed in collaboration with Hertz near LAX and partially funded by California Energy Commission grant

Aims to accelerate adoption of EVs through reliable and convenient fast charging at high demand locations

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- bp pulse announced today plans to establish the bp pulse Gigahub network, a series of large, EV fast-charging hubs designed to serve ride-hail and taxi fleets near U.S. airports and high-demand locations across the nation. The first planned location would be built near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in collaboration with Hertz and is partially funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).

bp pulse Gigahub site concept

The CEC is providing a $2 million grant award to support the proposed project near LAX, and would have bp pulse leading the installation and management of the charging infrastructure, including the use of its proprietary 'Omega' charge management software that optimizes the cost of charging. The bp pulse Gigahub site would be located at one of Hertz's sites near LAX.

Vic Shao, president of bp pulse's fleet division, said: "More and more ride-hail and taxi fleets are making bold commitments to electrify. To do so successfully, they will need access to reliable EV charging. Our Gigahub network will provide a charging experience that is convenient and cost-optimized to drivers at airports across the country."

Jeff Nieman, Senior Vice President of Operations Initiatives at Hertz, added: "Our aim is to provide Hertz customers with access to a national network of chargers that makes the experience of renting an electric vehicle convenient and seamless. Rideshare drivers are essential to the mobility landscape and more than 25,000 Uber drivers have rented EVs through Hertz to date. We are thrilled to partner with bp pulse to offer this charging hub to those drivers at one of Hertz's great sites near LAX. And it's just the beginning."

The development of the Gigahub network is part of bp pulse's commitment to making the adoption of electric transportation simple, reliable, and cost-effective. Globally, bp has a goal of expanding its network of chargers to 100,000 by 2030. Recently, bp pulse and Hertz announced a memorandum of understanding to build out charging infrastructure at Hertz locations across North America.

The grant from the CEC is part of the California Clean Transportation Program's Charging Access for Reliable On-Demand Transportation Services initiative. This initiative aims to mitigate the environmental impact of significant ride-hail penetration in Los Angeles' transportation space.

Patty Monahan, Lead California Energy Commissioner for Transportation, said: "Vehicles employed by California's ride-hailing fleets make up 2.5 percent of the vehicle population, but consume 30 percent of all public fast charging. The California Energy Commission is proud to support projects like the Gigahub network by bp pulse, near LAX in partnership with Hertz, two transportation powerhouses who are working together to help electrify ride-hailing and rental fleets and cut pollution in communities."

Ashwin Dias, Uber's Head of Vehicles and Electrification, said: "When high mileage drivers switch to electric vehicles, they can realize up to four times the emissions benefits compared to an average car owner. But we also know from drivers that charging availability is a key concern when making the switch. The leadership from bp pulse, Hertz and the California Energy Commission to build charging solutions near locations like LAX, where high mileage drivers need them most, is crucial to addressing that barrier and achieving the maximum emissions benefits."

About bp

bp's ambition is to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. bp has a larger economic footprint in the United States than anywhere else in the world, investing more than $130 billion in the economy and supporting about 245,000 jobs. For more information on bp in the US, visit www.bp.com/us.

bp pulse is bp's electric vehicle (EV) charging business, rolling out fast, reliable charge points to consumers and commercial fleets around the world. Entering into the Americas, bp pulse focuses on providing EV charging and energy management to fleets that operate heavy-, medium- and light-duty vehicles. Key offerings for these fleets include intelligent charge management software, Omega, and a Charging-as-a-Service solutionallowing bp pulse to manage the charging of an EV fleet from start to finish, while optimizing energy costs and vehicle utilization. Globally, bp pulse is one of the UK's leading rapid and ultra-fast public EV charging networks. It also operates the largest number of sites with ultra- fast charging in Germany, with a growing charging point footprint in China and the Netherlands. The company aims to increase its network of public EV charging points by 2030 to over 100,000 worldwide.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE bp America
All samples have been designated as non-toxic with a range of full absorption times, demonstrating the potential future development in biomedical applications like soft tissue repair, wound dressings and nerve conduits

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carbon, a leading 3D printing technology company, today announced that its developmental bioabsorbable elastomer platform has demonstrated biocompatibility in vivo, with all samples being designated as non-toxic and exhibiting tunable times for full absorption. This latest milestone indicates the elastomer's potential future development in biomedical lattice applications such as soft tissue repair, wound dressings, and nerve conduits.

Carbon's developmental bioabsorbable elastomer offers impressive mechanical performance, biocompatibility, and tunability. This includes an absorption rate that can be tuned to suit a variety of potential applications, making it versatile for a broad array of medical uses. Additionally, current in vivo studies have demonstrated the required tissue tolerance and desirable healing responses for an implantable device through 26 weeks.

To learn more about novel bioabsorbable implants with elastomeric properties, download the whitepaper here.

"We're very pleased to announce that Carbon's developmental bioabsorbable elastomer platform has demonstrated biocompatibility in vivo," said Jason Rolland, SVP of Materials at Carbon. "These intricate structures made with Carbon Digital Light Synthesis technology may hold the key to addressing the longstanding challenge of optimizing the mechanical properties and degradation rate of an implant. It's a milestone, and we look forward to working with interested partners to further develop applications for this resin."

Printed bioabsorbable elastomer lattices created using Carbon DLS and the resin hold great promise for potential future development for a variety of biomedical solutions. These include:

Soft tissue repair: When repairing a tendon that has been torn or thinned, such devices could improve existing collagen-based xenografts and allografts by reducing the inflammatory response, enhancing elasticity and directionality, and improving the consistency of mechanical properties.

Wound dressings: Absorbable lattice devices could promote healing while maintaining constant force across an uneven surface. They also may enhance the range of motion during healing while potentially reducing the need for repeated dressing changes and their associated pain.

Nerve conduits: The peripheral nervous system can be damaged in a number of ways with severe injuries requiring surgery performed by a neurosurgeon. Carbon's bioabsorbable elastomer potentially could improve existing solutions by enhancing flexibility, porosity, neuro inductivity and neuro conductivity.

Space-filling application: In soft tissue surgery, where it is desirable to fill the site left vacant after the removal of a mass and allow for the ingrowth of natural tissues to minimize deformities.

Temporary mechanical support: Absorbable lattice "cushions" could be used in a variety of surgeries where tension or compression of the tissues must persist post-surgery in order to minimize leakage or bleeding or to maintain soft tissues in place during healing.

About Carbon

Carbon is a 3D printing technology company helping businesses to develop better products and bring them to market in less time. The Carbon DLS process combines versatile printers, advanced software, and best-in-class materials to deliver functional parts with end-use performance and aesthetics, helping engineers and designers to create products that outperform expectations. From prototyping and low-volume production to production-at-scale, global organizations use the Carbon process to create a wide range of functional end-use parts and print them reliably wherever and whenever they need them through Carbon's production network partners. Carbon is a venture-backed company headquartered in Redwood City, CA. To learn more, follow Carbon on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Carbon
The clinic expands its high performance on value-based care initiatives to other parts of the triangle.

CARY, N.C., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cary Medical Management (CCM), a physicians managing service organization, announced that Generations Family Practice, the flagship clinic under its management, has opened a new location in North Raleigh. This location will be the eighth clinic in the Generations network managed by CMM.

Generations Family Practice North Ridge

The new clinic, Generations Family Practice - North Ridge, replaced an internal medicine group previously located at 6729 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27615. In addition to its name, the clinic carries the Generations Family Practice brand, delivering excellence in patient care and customer service. As an extension of the Cary location branch, the medical director is also Justin Glodowski, D.O. Recently voted the best doctor in Cary Magazine's annual Maggy Awards, Dr. Glodowski is a family medicine doctor and doctor of osteopathic medicine.

" The 2022 Kenan Institute's American Growth Project ranked Raleigh and Durham the 4th fastest-growing cities in the U.S.," said CMM co-founder and CEO Siu Tong, Ph.D. This growth adds even more pressure to an already strained medical system. We're excited to add a new clinic under our management and look forward to helping the Generations team provide the best care possible to North Raleigh residents."

Generations Family Practice - North Ridge offers services to people of all ages. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm and accepts various insurances. For a complete list of accepted insurers, visit www.generationsfamilypractice.com .

About Generations Family Practice

Generations Family Practice, P.A., was established in 2005 in Cary, NC, and has grown from a two-person medical practice to the Patient-Centered Medical Home that it is today. Generations Family Practice offers comprehensive primary medical care, from Well-Baby care to Geriatrics and everything in between. Recently ranked one of the region's top 3 family care clinics, they have a strong foundation in value-based care and provide the highest quality care before hours, after hours, and on the weekends. www.generationsfamilypractice.com .

About Cary Medical Management

Established in 2019, Cary Medical Management was created by a group of experienced clinic operators, physicians, and executives of leading healthcare technology companies with a vision to drive home the "trillion-dollar transformation to value-based-care" promised by the Affordable Care Act. CMM's role is to leverage its wealth of healthcare experience and strong financial backing to ensure its portfolio clinics succeed in the new era of healthcare quality and value. www.carymso.com/

Clinic Contact:

Jonathan Fowler, Vice President of Operations, [email protected]

Clifford Tse, Vice President of Acquisitions, [email protected]

Press Contact:

April Koontz, Head of Marketing

919-674-8411

[email protected]

SOURCE Cary Medical Management
HONG KONG and BEIJING, Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Auction is excited to present the 2022 Madison October Live Auction at 11 am (HKT), Saturday, October 29th in Hong Kong, the stunning 432 lots of which includes 383 lots of wines, and 49 lots of whiskies, with a total estimate of HK$18,000,000 - HK$31,000,000.

This sale will be live-streamed on Madison Auction bidding platform (www.madison-auction.com/auctions) and the Madison Auction App (search 'Madison Auction' in the app store). Take advantage of the last few days to place the online absentee bid via the bidding platform and app.

As the first Hong Kong based luxury lifestyle auction house, Madison Auction hosts auctions for the unique pool of high-net-worth clients from APAC and other regions. Madison Auction continues to accept consignments at 0% seller's commission throughout the year for upcoming sales.

In addition to Hong Kong, Madison Auction will also set up salerooms in Shanghai and Singapore, allowing more Asia-Pacific bidders to simultaneously attend the auction via live streaming.

383 Lots Wine (Lots 1  383)

Continuing the good performance, Burgundy makes up over 50% of wine sessions with 210 lots in this sale. Madison Auction has 9 lots from the bright star Arnoux Lachaux (Lot 78, 189 - 197), including the rare Latricieres-Chambertin (Lot 190, 191), Clos de Vougeot, Quartier de Marei Haut (Lot 195), and Romanee-Saint-Vivant ( Lot 196).

Also, from Romanee-Saint-Vivant, Domaine de l'Arlot (Lot 73 & 74) offers great value. The 2012 Liger-Belair Golden Dragon Collection (Lot 198) can definitely add value to the collection or create a memorable domaine vertical wine dinner.

For DRC lovers, they may be thrilled to see the banded original cases from different Grand Crus (Lot 172-174, 176, 177, 179-182, 319, 320, 325, 326), and assortments from 1996 (Lot 183) and 2014 in perfect condition. In addition, the 2001 Jacky Truchot Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes (Lot 201) is beautiful to drink now, but can also be aged for another decade.

Among the Bordeaux lots, don't miss the most unique and rare collection of Chateau d'Yquem, from 1920-1950. These are late releases from the Chateau, all in original wooden cases with impeccable condition (Lot 207 - 232). If people are looking for First Growth to enjoy, the mixed lots of Petrus (Lot 34 & 35) and Lafite (Lot 3) have great prices.

In the past couple of years, Champagne is another hot region among collectors. In this auction, Madison Auction have 17 lots of champagnes for collection or enjoyment, such as the Jacques Selosse Lieux-dits Collection (Lot 204). In addition, the Dom Perignon Oenotheque Mixed Lot (Lot 105) offers aged champagne from great vintages of 1988 and 1990.

Outside of France, Italy also showed great market potential. There are 15 lots of Italian wines in this sale, including some collectors' favorites Masseto ( Lot 103) and Soldera (Lot 100), and Gaja (Lot 101).

In the new world, some of the rarest Napa Valley cult wines can be found in the sale, such as the 2013 Tusk Estate (Lot 49) Magnum, only 354 produced.

49 Lots Spirit (Lots 384  432)

In the 49 lots whiskies, Hibiki takes up 11 lots (Lot 384-395), including limited editions of 12-, 17-, and 21-Year-Old, such as 21-Year-Old- (Lot 387), 17-Year-Old Gold Label White Box (Lot 388), and 17-Year-Old Egret White Heron Beckons Limited Edition (Lot 390).

In addition, there are 4 lots of Karuizawa (Lot 405, 408-412), including Karuizawa Pure Malt (Lot 409), 1978 Karuizawa 36 Year Old (Lot 410), and 1999 & 2000 Karuizawa Spirits of Asama (Lot 412).

Dalmore lovers may appreciate the 45 Year Old (Lot 432) and the 30 Year Old Single Malt Sherry Special Cask Finish bottled by Gonzalez Byass (Lot 426).

Recommendation

Vintage Petrus Mixed Lot (1)

Lot 34 | 3 Bottles, Great for the vintage

Est. HK$ 30,000 - HK$ 55,000

1978 Petrus Pomerol (2)

1983 Petrus Pomerol (1)

Vintage Petrus Mixed Lot (2)

Lot 35 | 3 Bottles, Great for the vintage | 2.RP 93, 3.RP 92

Est. HK$ 40,000 - HK$ 75,000

1992 Petrus Pomerol

1994 Petrus Pomerol

1996 Petrus Pomerol

Even in ordinary vintages, Petrus still present captivating quality wines. The starting prices of these two mixed lots are extremely attractive, seize a rare chance to bid.

2018 Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru

Lot 196 | 1 Bottle | RP 98

Est. HK$ 32,000 - HK$ 60,000

Such a popular star in Burgundy in recent years, not to mention it is from Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru, secure this pearl now.

1945 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 1er Cru Superieur

Lot 220 | 1 Bottle, Banded OWC | RP 100

Est. HK$ 22,000 - HK$ 38,000

An extraordinary artwork with perfect palate and exceptional balance, as the only d'Yquem won a perfect score from Parker in the 20th century, the best Sauternes with no doubt.

Jacques Selosse Lieux-dits Collection

Lot 204 | 6 Bottles, OWC, Disgorged on or before April 2015 | Ullage: 2.5cm below capsule or better Est. HK$ 35,000 - HK$ 65,000

'Les Carelles' Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (1)

'Les Chantereines' Avize Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (1)

'Chemin La Chalone' Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (1)

'Le Bout du Clos' Ambonnay Grand Cru Extra Brut (1)

'La Cote Faron' Ay Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (1)

'Sous le Mont' Mareuil-sur-Ay Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (1)

This rare Lieux-dits Collection includes 'Les Chantereines' Avize and 'Chemin La Chalone' Cramant, the cuvees that can only be found in this assortment.

2012 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Golden Dragon Collection

Lot 198 | 8 Bottles, OWC had been wax sealed | Only 188 cases released Est. HK$ 160,000 - HK$ 280,000

La Romanee Grand Cru (2)

Echezeaux Grand Cru (2)

Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru, Aux Reignots (2)

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Grandes Vignes Rouge (1)

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Clos des Grandes Vignes Blanc (1)

As one of the most sought-after domaines in recent years, Liger-Belair shows an excellent return on investment. This Golden Dragon Collection is limited to only 188 cases, highly collectible.

2001 Jack Truchot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Vieilles Vignes

Lot 201 | 3 Bottles, Overall: Great

Est. HK$ 85,000 - HK$ 150,000

Jacky Truchot, another Burgundy legend alongside Henri Jayer, made this flagship wine before retiring, which has become a swan song. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy this beauty while blooming.

Domaine de l'Arlot Mixed Lot (1)

Lot 73 | 4 Bottles, Perfect condition | 1.BH 95, 2.BH 92

Est. HK$ 12,000 - HK$ 20,000

2012 Domaine de l'Arlot Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (2)

2014 Domaine de l'Arlot Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (2)

Domaine de l'Arlot Mixed Lot (2)

Lot 74 | 5 Bottles, Perfect condition | 1.BH 95, 2.BH 93, 3.BH 91

Est. HK$ 17,000 - HK$ 28,000

2015 Domaine de l'Arlot Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (2)

2016 Domaine de l'Arlot Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (2)

2019 Domaine de l'Arlot Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru (1)

When the prices of Burgundy Grand Crus are rocketing, these two mixed lots are value the price with a great appreciation potential.

Masseto Mixed Lot

Lot 103 | 5 Bottles, Great for the vintage

Est. HK$ 26,000 - HK$ 45,000

1995 Masseto (1)

1996 Masseto (1)

1997 Masseto(1)

1998 Masseto (1)

2000 Masseto (1)

As one of the favorites of Italian wine aficionados, this Masseto 1995-2000 vintage mixed lot is unmissable.

2013 Tusk Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Lot 49 | 1 Magnum (Single OC), Perfect condition | 354 magnums produced

Est. HK$ 10,000 - HK$ 18,000

Established in 2008 as a Napa upstart and now is one of the most notable estates in the region, its scarce Magnum bottle is worth your attention.

Dalmore 45 Year Old

Lot 432 | 1 Bottle (Wooden GB), Overall: Perfect | Single Malt, Abv: 40%, Vol: 700ml

Est. HK$ 55,000 - HK$ 100,000

45 years to mature its charisma, with an attractive starting price, bid now.

Madison Auction continues to accept consignments at 0% seller's commission for our next Auction  Please contact us for an estimation on your collection.

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +852 3188 6613

SOURCE Madison Auction Limited
Evernorth Vitality Index is the first tool to measure health and vitality levels for personal, business and community impact

Cigna announces multiyear partnership with YMCA of the USA to improve community vitality

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna Corporation, a global health service company, unveiled new insights from the Evernorth Vitality IndexTM, the largest study on the state of vitality, health and productivity in America. Findings show that vitality can be a key driver of personal, business and community growth, yet less than 20 percent of Americans are living with high vitality and Generation Z adults (aged 18-24) have the lowest levels of any age group. The full report is available here.

Evernorth Vitality Index is a modern tool that can help us understand and influence vitality to help everyone thrive. Tweet this Cigna Chairman and CEO David Cordani discusses health and vitality with Serena Williams in Nashville on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9002352-cigna-champions-evernorth-vitality-index/

Cigna developed the Evernorth Vitality Index to fill an emerging need as people and businesses recover from the pandemic and seek to improve health and well-being and drive workforce engagement, retention and productivity.

"Harnessing the power of an individual's vitality is critical to our nation's future. The past few years clearly illustrated that health is multi-dimensional and we need a more comprehensive measurement approach  one that can assess how we are showing up at work, at home and in our communities," said David M. Cordani, Cigna Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The Evernorth Vitality Index is a modern tool that can help us understand and influence vitality to help everyone thrive."

Results from the study were previewed at an event in Nashville, Tenn., that featured a fireside chat between Serena Williams and Cordani.

"My personal journey as an athlete, mother and entrepreneur is impacted every day by how I'm feeling about my health, strength and energy, so paying attention to my vitality is incredibly important to me," Serena Williams said.

Evernorth Vitality Index key findings

The Evernorth Vitality Index was developed in partnership with Dr. Richard Ryan, co-founder of the Subjective Vitality scale, and the benchmark survey was given to more than 10,000 American adults (aged 18-75) in May 2022. The results confirmed that those with higher vitality experience a wide range of benefits, from better mental and physical health to higher levels of job satisfaction and performance.

Generation Z adults (aged 18-24) are struggling more than any other age group surveyed. One in four reported low vitality levels, which is in stark contrast to the ten percent of people aged 65-75 and the 16 percent of people aged 25-64 that fall into the low vitality category.

Higher vitality is linked to a more motivated, productive workforce, while low vitality contributes to poor work quality, higher turnover and workplace dissatisfaction. By better understanding vitality and the factors that impact it, employers can help fuel a healthier workforce, and drive business and economic growth.

"Good mental and physical health is central to people's vitality. Our research shows that when people have better health, they feel better about life. Likewise, when people feel higher levels of vitality, their health can improve," said Dr. David Brailer, Chief Health Officer, Cigna. "Vitality is about all the dimensions of our lives that need attention. Going forward, Cigna will explore how health can drive vitality, whether that's through products like Cigna Pathwell that create personalized end-to-end health journeys for patients with chronic conditions, or by addressing the social determinants of health impacting our customers."

The benchmark survey shows that vitality scores vary by life stage, gender, sexual orientation, community density, income and more. Read the full report here.

Cigna announces partnership with YMCA of the USA to support community vitality

The Cigna Foundation will prioritize investing in organizations and entities that support the vitality of local communities. To begin, the Foundation will partner with YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) and contribute $1 million to support three years of vitality programming at YMCAs in Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Phoenix and St. Louis.

"Community organizations demonstrate the importance of vitality every day  they can both strengthen and be strengthened by the vitality of the people they serve," said Susan Stith, President of the Cigna Foundation. "The Y is a perfect example as they have long been at the forefront of responding to community needs through a multi-dimensional lens, and we are honored to partner with them on this important program."

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole-person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 190 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

Media Contact:

Justine Sessions

860-810-6523

[email protected]

SOURCE Cigna Corporation
THUNDER BAY, ON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (FRA: CKU) (OTCQB: CLRMF) is pleased to announce new assay results from the 2022 drill campaign from the Current PGE-Cu-Ni Deposit at the Company's Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals (Pt-Pd-Cu-Ni) Project near Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (the "Project").

New assay highlights from the Current deposit area includes (Table 1):

Infill test Hole CLM22-058 which intersected 10.0m grading 3.31g/t Platinum (Pt), 3.16g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.61% Copper (Cu) and 0.43% Nickel (Ni) from 244.0m - 254.0m downhole including 6.0m grading 4.32g/t Platinum (Pt), 4.11g/t Palladium (Pd), 0.79% Copper (Cu) and 0.52% Nickel (Ni) from 248.0- 254.0m downhole (Figure 1).

Table 1: New Insitu Assay Results Update  Current Deposit Metallurgical Drilling (Figure 1)

Hole ID Company From,

m To, m Length,

m Pt+Pd

(ppm) Cu+Ni

(%) Pt

(ppm) Pd

(ppm) Cu

(%) Ni

(%) CLM22-

012 AIR 382.0 384.0 2.0 1.54 0.43 0.80 0.73 0.21 0.22 CLM22-

012 AIR 398.0 400.5 2.5 2.53 0.59 1.31 1.21 0.34 0.25 CL22-042A AIR 201.6 204.6 3.0 3.72 0.63 1.94 1.79 0.37 0.26 CL22-050 AIR 149.0 153.0 4.0 1.65 0.33 0.90 0.75 0.14 0.19 CL22-051 AIR 134.0 138.0 4.0 1.27 0.31 0.64 0.63 0.15 0.16 CL22-051 AIR 168.0 178.0 10.0 3.32 0.48 1.72 1.60 0.26 0.22 CL22-051 AIR 183.2 196.9 13.7 2.57 0.39 1.34 1.22 0.20 0.19

*incl. 170.0 172.0 2.0 5.20 0.94 2.70 2.50 0.59 0.36 CL22-053 AIR 202.0 204.0 2.0 1.00 0.25 0.52 0.48 0.08 0.16 CL22-053 AIR 210.0 212.0 2.0 1.23 0.25 0.64 0.59 0.10 0.15 CL22-053 AIR 216.0 222.0 6.0 4.75 0.68 2.44 2.31 0.41 0.27

*incl. 218.0 220.0 2.0 5.37 0.75 2.76 2.61 0.45 0.30 CL22-053 AIR 224.0 227.0 3.0 1.45 0.30 0.65 0.80 0.16 0.15 CL22-054 AIR 240.0 246.2 6.2 1.70 0.33 0.88 0.82 0.17 0.16 CL22-055 AIR 186.0 187.2 1.2 1.73 0.39 0.92 0.81 0.16 0.23 CL22-055 AIR 219.0 224.2 5.2 2.64 0.48 1.33 1.30 0.26 0.22 CL22-056 AIR 141.0 157.0 16.0 2.49 0.56 1.27 1.23 0.32 0.24 CL22-056 AIR 165.0 167.0 2.0 1.57 0.46 0.83 0.74 0.23 0.23 CL22-057 AIR 315.0 322.0 7.0 2.76 0.55 1.42 1.34 0.32 0.23 CL22-058 AIR 244.0 254.0 10.0 6.47 1.03 3.31 3.16 0.61 0.43

*incl. 248.0 254.0 6.0 8.43 1.31 4.32 4.11 0.79 0.52



Note: 1) All intercepts are estimated to be >95% of true width based on drill hole inclination 2) Mineralized intervals calculated at 1 ppm Pt+Pd cutoff 3) Metallurgical recoveries estimated at 95% Copper; 85% Sulphide Nickel (52% total Ni); 87% Palladium; 82% Platinum

Figure 1: New Drill Hole Intercepts in the Current Deposit Area

https://cleanairmetals.ca/site/assets/files/5859/oct_2022_cl_map_v3.jpg

Abraham Drost, M.Sc., P.Geo. and CEO of Clean Air Metals stated that "the drilling assay results support prefeasibility study (PFS) mine design at Thunder Bay North. Considerable upside exploration potential for massive sulphides outside the PEA production area remains at the base of the Escape and Current magma conduits along the Escape Lake Fault. The Company is presently expanding its Work Permit footprint to accommodate a drill program on these targets this winter.

These are challenging markets for small cap junior miners. Clean Air Metals is fortunate to hold peer-leading high-grade platinum-palladium-copper-nickel assets at Thunder Bay North with relatively low capital intensity and close to infrastructure with a highly accomplished exploration and development team. PFS level engineering, metallurgical optimization and mineral resource validation continue under the supervision of COO Mr. Mike Garbutt, P.Eng. and are expected to culminate in preparation of a PFS technical report outlining mineable mineral reserves at the Thunder Bay North Project, expected by Q3/2023. In the meantime, environmental baseline fieldwork and hydrogeological test work continue."

Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)

The Company announced a comprehensive mine plan and cashflow model for both the Escape Deposit and Current Deposit as part of a base case PEA for the Current and Escape PGE-Cu-Ni Deposits of the Thunder Bay North Project on December 1, 2021. The related Technical Report was filed on SEDAR on January 12, 2022 https://cleanairmetals.ca/site/assets/files/5750/21015-01-pfs-0000_ni_43_101_pea_12jan2022.pdf. Nordmin Engineering as QP utilized 2-year trailing average metal price assumptions1 for the updated mineral resource as a basis for the PEA.

____________________________ 1 CRU 2-year metal price assumptions can be viewed in the following Link (Click Here)

DRA Selected as PFS Metallurgical Process Provider

The Company again states that DRA AMERICAS INC ("DRA") is the successful bid under a request for proposal (RFP) for Pre-feasibility Metallurgical Testing and Process Plant Design for the Thunder Bay North Project. The DRA team has reviewed the existing and historical metallurgical testing results and marketing studies culminating in the PEA. DRA will leverage existing knowledge on standard crush, grind, flotation process design and smelter payabilities into the next phase of testing and metallurgical optimization, including amenability to hydrometallurgical recoveries of the main platinum, palladium, copper, nickel commodity suite with rhodium, cobalt, gold and silver byproducts.

SLR Selected as PFS Mineral Resource Validation Service Provider

The Company has selected and contracted SLR Consulting through an RFP process to provide independent validation of an updated TBN Project resource estimate for the Pre-feasibility study. The updated resource estimate will include 53600 m of new drilling completed on Escape deposit since the release of the resource estimate in Q1 2021 and 6500m of additional infill drilling on the Current deposit since the cutoff date for the PEA.

COVID Policy

Clean Air Metals continued to apply COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological staff, drilling contractor and service suppliers. Personnel are required to self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. The Company closely follows Ontario Provincial Government COVID guidelines.

Qualified Person

Dr. Geoff Heggie, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and Vice President - Exploration for the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Clean Air Metals uses ALS Global ("ALS"), a well-established and recognized mineral assay and geochemical analytical services company. The Thunder Bay laboratory holds ISO-9000 accreditation; the Vancouver facility holds ISO-17025 registration.

All NQ-sized drill core is cut with a diamond-tipped saw blade with half of the core submitted to ALS for sample preparation and analysis. Core samples from selected intervals are individually bagged and tagged, gathered up in larger sealed poly bags and shipped to the sample prep facility in Thunder Bay, ON under custody of Clean Air Metals' personnel at all times. Sample preparation is completed at the ALS sample preparation facility located in Thunder Bay, ON and analysis is completed at the primary ALS assay laboratory located in Vancouver, B.C.

Clean Air Metals follows a documented quality control procedure for its core assay sampling program consisting of the insertion of blind blanks, duplicates, and certified Palladium-Platinum and Copper-Nickel standards into the sample stream. The insertion procedure results in a minimum of 11% to 12% control sample frequency depending on the length of the sampled interval.

Gold, platinum, and palladium are analyzed using fire assay (FA) with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) finish. Samples with grades above the optimal ICP-MS detection limits are analyzed using an optical emission spectroscopy method (ICP-OES).

Also, thirty-three (33) elements of each sample, including copper, nickel, silver, chromium, cobalt, and sulphur, are analyzed by a multi-element analytical method using the atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) technique following four-acid digestion of the sample. When samples have grades above the optimal detection limits for this analytical method, they are re-analyzed using a high-grade method consisting of either ICP-AES or atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) techniques.

Indigenous Community Social and Economic Engagement

Clean Air Metals Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. acknowledge that the Thunder Bay North Project is on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock First Nation and Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek. The parties together are the Cooperating Participants in a Memorandum of Agreement dated January 9, 2021 (press release January 11, 2021) and Exploration Agreement signed April 13, 2022 (press release April 14, 2022).

The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, traveled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.

About Clean Air Metals Inc.

Clean Air Metals' flagship asset is the 100% owned, high grade Thunder Bay North Project, a platinum, palladium, copper, nickel project located near the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Lac des Iles Mine owned by Impala Platinum. The Thunder Bay North Project hosts the twin magma conduit bodies which host the Current and Escape deposits forming the basis for a robust preliminary economic assessment (PEA) filed January 12, 2002. The PEA of a ramp access underground mine and on-site 3600tpd milling complex and the 2-year trailing average price deck, features a pretax NPV5 of C$425m and an IRR of 31% on initial capital of $367m over a 10-year mine life.

Executive Chair Jim Gallagher and COO Mike Garbutt lead an experienced technical team who are using the Norilsk magma conduit stratigraphic and mineral deposit model to guide ongoing exploration and development prefeasibility studies for a low-carbon, all-electric sustainable mining operation at Thunder Bay North. As the former CEO of North American Palladium Ltd. which owned the Lac des Iles Mine prior to the sale to Impala Platinum in December 2019, Jim Gallagher and team are credited with the mine turnaround and creation of significant value for shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Abraham Drost"

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements regarding the potential of the Thunder Bay North Project and the Escape and Current deposits and timing of technical studies including prefeasibility studies and updated mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projection.

SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc.
Salesforce and Greenpeace alums are behind the latest app connecting DC communities and small businesses through memberships, discounts, and tech.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Regular announced today the launch of The Regular App and The Regular for Business.

The Regular App is free to download. Users can explore local memberships at bars, restaurants, and more. Users subscribe to become "The Regular" and receive benefits - including discounts and access to member events and an in-app "regular only" social feed.

is free to download. Users can explore local memberships at bars, restaurants, and more. Users subscribe to become "The Regular" and receive benefits - including discounts and access to member events and an in-app "regular only" social feed. The Regular for Business lets businesses create or list memberships on The Regular App to attract repeat customers. The Regular works with venues to determine their slow periods and matches them to member events with built-in customers like meetups, karaoke nights, bingo, or pop-ups.

lets businesses create or list memberships on The Regular App to attract repeat customers. The Regular works with venues to determine their slow periods and matches them to member events with built-in customers like meetups, karaoke nights, bingo, or pop-ups. The Regular also wants to have an impact, inviting businesses to donate 3% of subscriptions to local charities of their choice. Meanwhile, businesses collect the lion's share of subscriptions their members pay.

The company has big plans for Giving Tuesday and is already partnered with dozens of DC businesses including Kingfisher, Crown & Crow, metrobar, Zeba Bar, El Chucho, District Karaoke, & DC Bocce.

"People find spouses, friends, and an authentic community by being The Regular in local spots and communities," said Brandolon Barnett, founder of The Regular. "That helps people feel more connected while helping local businesses thrive." Barnett is a local entrepreneur and author who was a director of product management for Salesforce and most recently Chief Product Officer for Y Combinator backed engagement platform Deed.

"Our founding team met because we were regulars in the District Karaoke community," said Ishmael Herod, Chief Community Officer and Co-Founder of The Regular, a Greenpeace alum who is also longtime manager for DC-based District Karaoke. "We want to build something real and more than tech. We're out there multiple nights a week hosting karaoke, bingo, and more in DC, LA, Baltimore, filling up empty nights with community and customers."

About The Regular: The Regular is a black-owned small business based in Washington D.C. focused on supporting communities. It helps people find communities they want to join through The Regular App and connects those community gatherings to slow nights at local businesses with The Regular for Business. It has recently acquired DC Bocce and District Karaoke and is raising a seed round to scale nationwide.

SOURCE The Regular
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Complete Genomics, part of MGI, celebrates the US commercial launch of their DNBSEQTM sequencing product line at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting, from October 25-29, in Los Angeles. MGI is a global life science tool provider offering lab automation and NGS sequencing platforms around the world.

Complete Genomics offers complete NGS instrumentation and related products, including sample extraction, library prep, automation system, sequencing platforms, and bioinformatics. Though new to the US market, MGI has been providing NGS sequencers since 2017 and has more than thousands of sequencers installed around the world. MGI redefines sequencing possibilities through its latest innovation, DNBSEQTM. This technology is available on all sequencing platforms, which eliminates index hopping and clonal errors during the sequencing step of NGS workflow. This process makes sequencing much more accurate, flexible, and affordable, resulting in enhanced sequencing capacities and accelerated scientific breakthroughs for researchers.

At ASHG, Complete Genomics showcases DNBSEQ-E25*, DNBSEQ-G400*, DNBSEQ-T7*, and DNBSEQ-T10x4* at the MGI booth (#1803). Complete Genomics released their DNBSEQ-G400* sequencers in the US in August and placed the first few instruments in customers' labs within a week. DNBSEQ-G400* is a day-to-day, medium throughput (data output up to 1440Gb daily) benchtop sequencer that offers extensive options for researchers. DNBSEQ-G400* has the option to run 1 or 2 flow cells with 2 types of flow cells (550M/reads vs 1800M/reads) and various read length options from SE50 to SE400 or PE300.

Throughout 2023, Complete Genomics will continue to release innovative solutions, from low to very high throughput labs. Included among these offerings are the following:

DNBSEQ-T7* is an ultra-high throughput sequencer. It offers high flexibility among sequencers on the market because it allows four independent flow cells to run at any time. Therefore, more than 20,000 of 30X WGS can be achieved in less than one year. This product will be available starting Jan 2023 .

. DNBSEQ-T10x4* will be the highest throughput (data output up to 18Tb daily) sequencer available with a robotic arm to streamline and accelerate the sequencing process. This product will be available starting Jan 2023 .

. DNBSEQ-E25* sequencer will become available in the US in Q2. DNBSEQ-E25* is a very low throughput (up to 7.5G daily) portable sequencer with built-in bioinformatics. Its ease of setup means it is ready to run in ten minutes. A quick turnaround time means that it only takes 20 hours from sample to FASTQ data. This product will be launched in Q2, 2023.

For all sequencer specifications, please visit the Complete Genomics website .

The launch of the DNBSEQ-G400* sequencing platform has generated great interest within the scientific community and enabled Complete Genomics to form partnerships with various other life science companies to demonstrate high data quality and accuracy and to provide high-end NGS instrumentation for its customers. MGI is pleased to highlight the following organizations among its partners:

- Agilent Technologies

- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

- BioSkryb

- Gencove

- New England Biolabs (NEB)

- Qiagen

- Roche

- Sentieon

- Sophia Genetics

- TwinStrand Biosciences

- Watchmaker Genomics

Complete Genomics also shares its customer's experience on DNBSEQTM platforms at the industry education session from 7-8 am on October 28 at ASHG. Loma Linda University School of Medicine will present their data on "Benchmarking Study of Next-Gen Sequencing Using NASA Spaceflight Mouse Brain Samples", and Sentieon will give a talk on "Accurate Small Variant Calling by DNAscope on MGI DNBSEQ- G400* Sequencing Platform".

MGI takes data security seriously. All our DNBSEQM sequencing platforms can work as a stand-alone system from sample to result without any network connection, so there is no risk of data breaches. Customers will have 100% control of their data security.

About Complete Genomics

Based in San Jose, California, Complete Genomics has been a research and development center of excellence since June 2018. Complete Genomics has a demo lab in San Jose, California with all the sequencers and lab automation equipment for customers to visit and is the supply center for the Americas so that it can deliver its systems and products in a timely manner. Complete Genomics, the headquarters for MGI Americas, released its first next-generation sequencing system, the DNBSEQ-G400* platform in the US, in August 2022.

*Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria and Romania. No purchase orders for StandardMPS products will be accepted in the USA until after January 1, 2023. DNBSEQ-E25*, DNBSEQ-G400*, DNBSEQ-T7*, and DNBSEQ-T10x4* showcased in ASHG are just non-functional models for exhibition purpose only.

SOURCE MGI Tech Co., Ltd.
Seniors Can Learn About their Medicare Options from Home

CHARLESTON, S.C., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniors who are aging into Medicare or want to explore their options for 2023 can attend a virtual seminar from the comfort of their own homes. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians is offering a Virtual Medicare Shop & Compare Expo, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.

The webinar is a great opportunity for seniors to learn more about the differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage and the various choices available to them. Registration is desired, but not required. To register, visit: SeniorCareAdvantageofPalmetto.com.

The webinar will include several sessions, including a physician panel entitled "The Benefits of Value-Based Healthcare;" Medicare 101 sessions by independent, licensed brokers; as well as insurance company presentations. The event is hosted by Senior Care Advantage of Palmetto, a program offered by Palmetto Primary Care Physicians.

Don't worry if you miss the webinar. You can still watch the Medicare information program online at SeniorcareadvantageofPalmetto.com.

About Senior Care Advantage of Palmetto

Senior Care Advantage of Palmetto is not a new Medicare Advantage plan. Rather, it is a collaborative approach to care delivery that focuses on preventive care and providing care coordination resources. This program is open to senior patients of the Palmetto Primary Care Physicians. More information about Senior Care Advantage of Palmetto and Medicare informational resources are available at SeniorcareadvantageofPalmetto.com

SOURCE Senior Care Advantage of Palmetto
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research study published by P&S Intelligence, in 2021, the global consumer drones market was worth around $3,522.60 million, which is set to touch $11,662.60 million, progressing at a 14.2% CAGR from 2021 to 2030. The growing demand for such platforms for recreational and commercial activities is the key reason behind this.

Additionally, manufacturers are automating drone operations with AI. Deep learning algorithms and other ML techniques are being integrated into consumer-focused UAVs to offer them self-navigating capability. A Wi-Fi remote controller is used to operate these drones, so they can travel outside the controller's line of sight.

Get the sample pages of this report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/consumer-drones-market/report-sample

Important Points in Consumer Drones Market Report

Modern drones are equipped with advanced technology, including LiDAR and inertial sensors, which enable them to provide high-quality images and positional data. They are used extensively to examine the vital facilities at renewable energy plants.





The multi-rotor category accounts for the largest share of the market. These UAVs are required for aerial videography and photography since they offer the advantage of vertical launch and landing, which is not feasible with other models.





Lightweight drones are becoming increasingly popular, which helped the hobbyist category generate over 68% of the revenue for UAV firms in 2021. Some hobbyist drones can fly without continual human control, due to the adoption of autonomous flying technologies.





The usage of drones in delivery services is inevitable as the demand for them rises over the coming years. To extract operational benefits and financial success, businesses must continuously engage in drone delivery programs and enable technical improvements.





Consumer drones are frequently used in agriculture to monitor plants and animals, control irrigation, maximize fertilizer use, and assess the effects of pesticides and nutrients on seedlings.





Additionally, using UAVs reduces the need for human involvement, which can reduce time and expenses. Additionally, these airborne platforms can support improved data analytics, which enables businesses to produce interactive 3D models and maps.

Browse detailed report on Consumer Drones Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Report 2022-2030

Why Is North America Dominant Market for Consumer Drones?

Due to the high consumer awareness of drones, North America holds a 38% market share. Additionally, the use of these airborne devices has grown in the North American region due to the development of cutting-edge technology that makes flying drones safer, including geofencing and collision avoidance.

Similarly, because of China, Japan, and India's increasing demand for UAVs, the APAC region is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 15% in the coming years. The Chinese government has started various drone purchase subsidy schemes to encourage the development of technical abilities in industrial sectors.

Global Consumer Drones Market Report Coverage

By Product

Multi-rotor

Nano

By Application

Prosumer

Hobbyist

Photogrammetry

Regional Analysis

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



U.K.



Italy



Spain

Asia-Pacific

China



Japan



Australia



South Korea



India

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico

Middle East and Africa

and Saudi Arabia



South Africa

Browse More Reports Published by P&S

Asia-Pacific Anti-Drone Market Size, Trends, Drivers, and Share Analysis Report

Global Agricultural Drones Market Size, Trends, Drivers, and Share Analysis Report

Global Photonic Integrated Circuit Market Size, Trends, Drivers, and Share Analysis Report

Global Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor Market Size, Trends, Drivers, and Share Analysis Report

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence provides market research and consulting services to a vast array of industries across the world. As an enterprising research and consulting company, P&S believes in providing thorough insights on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. P&S keeps the interest of its clients at heart, which is why the insights we provide are both honest and accurate. Our long list of satisfied clients includes entry-level firms as well as multi-million-dollar businesses and government agencies.

Contact:

Prajneesh Kumar

P&S Intelligence

Phone: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

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SOURCE P&S Intelligence
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US is expected to grow by USD 305.3 million during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 6.32% during the forecast period.

To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Request Free Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2022-2026

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Segmentation Analysis

Product

Devices



The large population of people with undiagnosed sleep apnea, the rising awareness of the detrimental effects of untreated sleep apnea, the rising popularity of oral devices, and the increasing number of businesses entering the sleep apnea devices market is the driving forces of the CPAP device segment growth. The ease and convenience of controlling sleep apnea at home people motivate more people to choose home sleep apnea testing (HSAT).



Accessories



Masks

Distribution Channel

Offline



Specialty stores and company outlets are included in the offline segment. Consumers prefer to buy consumer goods, including CPAP devices and accessories, through offline channels because they can physically inspect the products and choose the desired brand. Discounts and a better shopping experience encourage consumers to buy from offline retail channels. This enables offline sales channels to competitively price a variety of medical devices by offering discounts. Thus, factors such as discounts and improved shopping experiences will boost the offline segment during the forecast period.



Online

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Scope Analysis

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market through study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in us report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the rising cases of sleeping disorders, advancements in technology, and the growing elderly population that offers immense growth opportunities. However, the high cost associated with CPAP devices hinders market growth, patient non-adherence to CPAP therapy and market pressure resulting from the competition will challenge the growth of the market participants.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Vendor Analysis

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:

3B Medical Inc.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Aer x and masks.

The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Aer x and masks. BMC Medical Co. Ltd.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as auto CPAP system m1 mini.

The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as auto CPAP system m1 mini. DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Devilbiss blue standard plus and a heated humidifier for the dv6 series.

The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Devilbiss blue standard plus and a heated humidifier for the dv6 series. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as homecare CPAP devices.

The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as homecare CPAP devices. Hamilton Bonaduz AG: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as hamilton C1 neo.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will assist continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market us growth during the next five years

Estimation of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in us vendors

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

Related Reports:

Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) Market in US Product, Distribution Channel, and Revenue Stream - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) market in US segmentation by product (devices, masks, and aftermarket parts and accessories), distribution channel (offline and online), and revenue stream (insurance and cash pay).

Automatic Stair Climbing Wheelchair Market by Mobility Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the automatic stair climbing wheelchair market segmentation by modified type (manual and powered) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)).

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market In US Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.32% Market growth 2022-2026 $305.3 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.87 Regional analysis US Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3B Medical Inc., BMC Medical Co. Ltd., CASCO BAY MOLDING, Compumedics Ltd., DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH, Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, EVOX, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd., Hamilton Bonaduz AG, Manish Enterprises, Medtronic Plc, Narang Medical Ltd., NXP Semiconductors NV, Philips International BV, ResMed Inc., Sleepnet Corp, Smiths Group Plc, TG Eakin Ltd, and Wellell Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Country Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Revenue Stream



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 08: Parent market



Exhibit 09: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 10: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 11: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 12: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 13: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Chart on US: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on US: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 16: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 17: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 18: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 19: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 20: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 21: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 22: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 23: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 24: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 25: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 26: Data Table on Comparison by Product

5.3 Devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 27: Chart on Devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 28: Data Table on Devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Chart on Devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 30: Data Table on Devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Accessories - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 31: Chart on Accessories - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 32: Data Table on Accessories - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Chart on Accessories - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 34: Data Table on Accessories - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Masks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 35: Chart on Masks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 36: Data Table on Masks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Chart on Masks - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 38: Data Table on Masks - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 39: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 40: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 42: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 44: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 46: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 48: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 50: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 52: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

7 Market Segmentation by Revenue Stream

7.1 Market segments

Exhibit 53: Chart on Revenue Stream - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 54: Data Table on Revenue Stream - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Comparison by Revenue Stream

Exhibit 55: Chart on Comparison by Revenue Stream



Exhibit 56: Data Table on Comparison by Revenue Stream

7.3 Cash pay - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 57: Chart on Cash pay - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 58: Data Table on Cash pay - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Chart on Cash pay - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 60: Data Table on Cash pay - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Insurance - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 61: Chart on Insurance - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 62: Data Table on Insurance - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Chart on Insurance - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 64: Data Table on Insurance - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Market opportunity by Revenue Stream

Exhibit 65: Market opportunity by Revenue Stream ($ million)

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 66: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 67: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

9.4 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 68: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 69: Overview on factors of disruption

10.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 70: Impact of key risks on business

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 71: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 72: Matrix on vendor position and classification

11.3 3B Medical Inc.

Medical Inc. Exhibit 73: 3B Medical Inc. - Overview

Medical Inc. - Overview

Exhibit 74: 3B Medical Inc. - Product / Service

Medical Inc. - Product / Service

Exhibit 75: 3B Medical Inc. - Key offerings

11.4 BMC Medical Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 76: BMC Medical Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 77: BMC Medical Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 78: BMC Medical Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

11.5 DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH

Exhibit 79: DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 80: DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 81: DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH - Key offerings

11.6 Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd.

Exhibit 82: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 83: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 84: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 85: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd. - Key offerings

11.7 Hamilton Bonaduz AG

Exhibit 86: Hamilton Bonaduz AG - Overview



Exhibit 87: Hamilton Bonaduz AG - Product / Service



Exhibit 88: Hamilton Bonaduz AG - Key offerings

11.8 Medtronic Plc

Exhibit 89: Medtronic Plc - Overview



Exhibit 90: Medtronic Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Medtronic Plc - Key news



Exhibit 92: Medtronic Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 93: Medtronic Plc - Segment focus

11.9 NXP Semiconductors NV

Exhibit 94: NXP Semiconductors NV - Overview



Exhibit 95: NXP Semiconductors NV - Product / Service



Exhibit 96: NXP Semiconductors NV - Key news



Exhibit 97: NXP Semiconductors NV - Key offerings

11.10 Philips International BV

Exhibit 98: Philips International BV - Overview



Exhibit 99: Philips International BV - Product / Service



Exhibit 100: Philips International BV - Key offerings

11.11 ResMed Inc.

Exhibit 101: ResMed Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 102: ResMed Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 103: ResMed Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 104: ResMed Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 105: ResMed Inc. - Segment focus

11.12 Smiths Group Plc

Exhibit 106: Smiths Group Plc - Overview



Exhibit 107: Smiths Group Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 108: Smiths Group Plc - Key news



Exhibit 109: Smiths Group Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 110: Smiths Group Plc - Segment focus

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 111: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 112: Exclusions checklist

12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 113: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 114: Research methodology



Exhibit 115: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 116: Information sources

12.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 117: 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
TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to announce that it will release the results for its third quarter for the three and nine month period ended September 30th, 2022 on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 after market close. Subsequently, the Company will hold a conference call on Wednesday, November 9th, 2022, at 8:00 am EST hosted by Shaun Maine, Chief Executive Officer and Richard Lecoutre, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Wednesday, November 9th, 2022

Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time

Participant Webcast Link:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/kOdERzOlj7K

Participant Dial-in Details:

Confirmation #: 18195364

Toronto: 416-764-8609

North American Toll Free: 888-390-0605

International Toll-Free Numbers:

Germany: 08007240293

Ireland: 1800939111

Spain: 900834776

Switzerland: 0800312635

United Kingdom: 08006522435

Recording Playback:

A recording of the webcast will be available after the call using the following link:

Webcast Link - https://app.webinar.net/kOdERzOlj7K

Expiry Date: November 9th, 2023

A live audio webcast accompanied by presentation slides and archive of the conference call will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/ . Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a software-enabled IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions and services. Converge's global solution approach delivers advanced analytics, application modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and digital workplace offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with advisory, implementation, and managed services expertise across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

SOURCE Converge Technology Solutions Corp.
Daylight's Commitment to Excellence is Earning High Praise from the Biggest Names in Beverage Media

SONOMA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daylight Wine & Spirits , one of America's fastest growing independent wine and spirits companies, is backing up its commitment to excellence, earning accolades from the industry's most influential voices.

Nearly a decade ago, co-founders Andy Wahl and Bill Kerr invested in a few tons of grapes and started making wine with an independent spirit and an unrelenting dedication to setting new standards.

Born of grapes from several of Sonoma Countys family-owned vineyards, the 2020 Ammunition Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect representation of the quality for which weve become known. This is a blend of 2, 3 and 4 year old Bourbon, finished no less than 3 months in wine barrels which previously held several vintages of Ammunition Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today, that ethos has evolved into a singular mantra; "Excellence over Everything." This phrase drives every aspect of the company - from grapes to glass, barrel to bottle. That commitment to quality without compromise is paying off, and critics are taking notice with scores to match.

The perfect example of this is the company's flagship brand, Ammunition. Its Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Rye  bound by double-use barrels  continue to gain market share and collect high praise along the way. This fall, the Sonoma County-born Ammunition Cabernet Sauvignon landed 91 points in one of wine's most prestigious publications, Wine Enthusiast .

Not to be outdone, Ammunition's wine-cask finished Bourbon and Rye are hitting the mark amongst whiskey fans and experts alike, with both offerings receiving 90 point scores in Whisky Advocate and the Ammunition Bourbon securing 'Editor's Choice' honors in their Spring '22 issue.

In addition to Ammunition, the company's ultra-premium burgundian brand, Screen Door Cellars , is making waves with equal parts quality and innovation. Vinted in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley, the single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the masterworks of Texas-born head winemaker, Bobby Donnell. The Chardonnay , which is split-aged in concrete eggs, neutral French oak and new French barrels, scored 92 points with Wine Enthusiast and 93 points with The Tasting Panel Magazine.

"We started making wine with one objective; 'make good juice because if all else fails, we'll be the ones drinking it.' Now we jokingly say; 'we only sell what we don't drink' because our products sell out so quickly," said Daylight Wine and Spirits president, alchemist and co-founder, Andy Wahl. He added, "It's wonderful to see such a positive reaction in the marketplace  from the smiles on folks' faces when trying us at their favorite restaurant, to the 90 point scores our brands are receiving. We're proud to see Daylight affirming its place in the industry, and for people to appreciate the thought, care and attention to detail we put into these world-class wines and whiskeys."

Daylight Wine and Spirits brands can be found in select retailers, restaurants and online partners nationwide. For more information on Daylight Wine and Spirits, visit daylightwineandspirits.com and follow along on Instagram at @Drink Ammunition .

About Daylight Wine & Spirits

Since 2013, Andy Wahl and Bill Kerr, co-founders of Daylight Wine & Spirits, have focused on producing world class wines and spirits that resonate with real people. From day one, the Daylight team committed to a singular phrase; "Excellence Over Everything." Nearly a decade later, not only has that commitment taken shape, but it continues to drive every element of the company  from grape to glass, barrel to bottle. Daylight's brands all share a common thread, each challenging stodgy industry conventions and instead focusing squarely on crafting world-class products for passionate consumers, not critics. For more information on Ammunition Wines and Whiskey, Screen Door Cellars and Badgerhound visit: daylightwineandspirits.com.

SOURCE Daylight Wine & Spirits
Customers who need help paying for living expenses are encouraged to reach out to their local United Way, 211 or other assistance programs

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As customers and communities across the state continue to feel the burden of higher living costs, Duke Energy is dedicating $600,000 to 10 Florida-based assistance programs to help customers cover household expenses. This is in addition to a $100,000 contribution Duke Energy Florida announced last week to Share the Light FundSM agencies to distribute to individuals and families in need.

"Duke Energy is committed to supporting our customers during this time of continued economic hardship," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We realize that we can do so much more together than alone, so we are grateful to work alongside these community allies to provide much-needed relief to our customers."

Duke Energy Florida customers may qualify for assistance to help meet a wide range of needs, including utility bills, housing, food and other essentials.

Heart of Florida United Way's emergency assistance is one example of the available programs. The local agency received $160,000 from Duke Energy to help families with rental/mortgage assistance and utility bills.

"Every day, we have hundreds of people across Central Florida turn to us for help," said Jeff Hayward, President & CEO of Heart of Florida United Way. "Unfortunately, the need for help continues to grow substantially. Duke Energy's support of emergency financial assistance comes at no greater time, and we look forward to stabilizing more families and neighbors, bringing assistance to those that need us most."

2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares is another organization that received $160,000 to provide customers with immediate assistance to prevent evictions, keep utilities (electric and water) connected, as well as assist with transportation to health appointments, get food and obtain employment.

"Our Hope Fund helps individuals, families with children and seniors in Pinellas County who are facing unexpected financial hardships," said Micki Thompson, 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares president and CEO. "Together with the support from Duke Energy and other community champions, we are able to provide an immediate solution for our families in crisis."

The following agencies received funding to support Duke Energy Florida customers throughout the state. Customers should contact their local community agency to see if they are eligible.

2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares

Capital Area Community Action Agency

Heart of Florida United Way

Suwannee River Economic Council

The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia

United Way of Central Florida

United Way of Citrus County

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties

United Way of Marion County

United Way of North Central Florida

Duke Energy continues to support customers, connect them with available assistance, and offer tools and programs to help manage their bills. To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.

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
The newly upgraded R11L 11" fully rugged tablet now comes equipped with the latest 12th Gen Intel Pentium Gold processor, combining computing performance with ultra-affordable, feature-rich functionality for the modern professional

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Durabook, the global rugged mobile solutions brand owned by Twinhead International Corporation, announced significant updates to its R11L rugged tablet today. The updated R11L is a competitively-priced 11" fully rugged tablet featuring the latest 12th Gen Intel Pentium Gold processor and architectural innovations to elevate the user experience, making it ideal for those working across industrial sectors, such as warehousing, utilities and logistics, and transportation.

The newly upgraded R11L 11" fully rugged tablet now comes equipped with the latest 12th Gen Intel Pentium Gold processor, combining computing performance with ultra-affordable, feature-rich functionality for the modern professional

"Durabook devices are designed to meet the demanding needs of workers who rely on rugged technology to streamline workflows and improve productivity in even the harshest environments," said Twinhead CEO Fred Kao. "With its upgrade to Intel's 12th Gen CPU, this latest R11L model is 300% faster than its predecessor, offering more computing power for budget-minded professionals."

Affordable Computing Performance

Designed for the modern professional demanding optimum performance, the fully rugged R11L now comes equipped with Intel Pentium Gold Processor 8505, with a more affordable price point for budget-conscious users. In addition, the R11L's performance is 300% faster than its predecessor and 600% faster than Intel Atom based devices.

Exceptional Viewing Experience

Durabook understands that users often work in challenging environments. With this in mind, the R11L features an 11.6" FHD (19201080) 10-point capacitive multi-touch display with Durabook's proprietary DynaVue technology and up to 1,000 nits brightness for exceptional viewing even in direct sunlight. In addition, it boasts four advanced touch modes; glove, stylus, water, and finger, optimizing use for both indoor and outdoor applications. It also comes with a slim stylus as standard for a more precise alternative to the fingertip for ultimate versatility.

Ultimate Customization Flexibility

Durabook knows that customization is key, which is why the latest R11L model has been designed for optimum flexibility. Expansion options include a barcode reader, LAN port, serial port RS-232, RFID reader, smart card, and magnet stripe reader to increase readability and usability for workers outside a traditional office. This versatile functionality is ideal for users such as warehouse personnel who need to gather relevant information on current stock items and track individual objects or attendance records of work personnel.

Unparalleled Connectivity

Equipped with Thunderbolt 4 technology, the R11L is designed to support the modern workspace by providing powerful yet simple and flexible connectivity. In addition to providing exceptional wireless capability via Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, which is five times faster than its predecessor, the R11L features an additional Micro HDMI port for video output. It can connect to multiple devices via its Bluetooth V5.2 bandwidth.

Built Tough; Long Lasting

Thin and lightweight, the R11L is only 20mm (0.79) thick and just 1.2kg (2.65lb), making it the world's most compact tablet in the fully rugged class. Its smooth, streamlined exterior and neat form complement its tough image, guaranteeing optimum operational performance in every situation. At the same time, its ultra-long battery life of up to 15 hours makes it suitable for various professional applications. Certified with MIL-STD-810H to withstand drops of up to 4 feet, the device also boasts IP66 and ANSI/UL C1D2 certification, allowing customers across logistics, industrial, and utility companies to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.

Availability

Packed with Durabook's exceptional 3-Year Accidental Damage Warranty, the R11L fully rugged tablet starts at $1,399 and is available for purchase now.

For full specs and more information, visit https://www.durabook.com/us/products/R11L-tablet.

To find out more about becoming a Durabook reseller, visit https://www.durabook.com/us/become-a-partner, or contact [email protected].

Follow DURABOOK

The Durabook family of rugged laptops and tablets can be followed on various social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

About DURABOOK

Durabook is the core brand of Twinhead International Corporation in Taiwan, a world-renowned manufacturer of rugged mobile solutions for more than 30 years. All Durabook devices are designed, manufactured, and tested to the highest standards to ensure maximum quality and reliability. Committed to engineering and service excellence, Durabook products have been widely adopted by government and enterprise customers, including oil and gas, utilities, field service, military, and public safety for more than a decade. For more information, visit https://www.durabook.com/us/.

PR Contact:

Rita Lee

Copernio

(714) 891-3660

[email protected]

All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.

 2022 Durabook Americas. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Durabook Americas
Destiny Concealed chronicles Eagle Academy's unique founding and honors late co-founder Cassandra S. Pinkney.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle Academy Public Charter School today announced the release of Destiny Concealed, a documentary film honoring its founders and marking its 20th anniversary. Eagle's inaugural campus was established on M Street Southeast in 2003 with 114 students. After rapid expansion, a second location opened its doors a few blocks away on New Jersey Avenue Southeast in 2010. Today, Eagle operates two state-of-the-art campuses in the Congress Heights and Capitol Riverfront neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., bettering the lives of hundreds of children across the city.

Destiny Concealed not only pays tribute to the countless staff, parents, and community members who molded a generation of Eagle Academy students, but it also highlights the immense contributions of its late co-founder Cassandra S. Pinkney. Ms. Pinkney co-founded Eagle alongside Dr. Joe Smith in 2003. "She was a superwoman," Dr. Smith insisted, "She raised a child with special needs on her own after losing her partner to the Vietnam War," he continued. "But, she felt D.C. public schools were lacking, especially in the majority Black communities east of the river, and that there was a real need to get kids in school earlier to set them on the right course for the rest of their lives." He concluded, "I am honored to have played a small part in making her dream a reality."

Ms. Pinkney's only surviving child, Onari Jackson, recounted her mother and Dr. Smith's unstoppable allyship in the film. As a Black woman with ties to the community, Ms. Pinkney "could get into rooms that he couldn't," and, as a white man with extensive experience in the charter school space, Dr. Smith "could get into rooms that she couldn't and sometimes it would take for them to go into those rooms separate[ly] and once they were appreciated and understood in that room then bringing the other person in"

Although the story of Destiny Concealed has been two decades in the making, it was only when the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down that Eagle's leaders had time to stop and reflect on the immense impact of Ms. Pinkney, who passed away unexpectedly in 2016. Subsequently, over a 16-month period, a small but mighty five-person production team executed 44 interviews with Eagle staff, community members, local activists and politicians as well as attended numerous school events to capture the lasting legacy of its late founder.

"As a minority-woman founder myself, I took great pleasure in telling the story of Eagle and, by extension, the story of Cassandra," Insite Media founder and Destiny Concealed director Cheryl Montalvo relayed. "While Cassandra won't get to see this film for herself, this documentary ensures her legacy lives on forever. I cannot wait to share it with the world."

Destiny Concealed will be screened to members of the Eagle community on October 28, 2022, at THEARC Theater in Southeast Washington, D.C. Additionally, Destiny Concealed has been submitted and is in consideration at several film festivals across the country, with plans for additional submissions in 2023.

About Eagle Academy

Eagle Academy Public Charter School was founded by Cassandra S. Pinkney, Dr. Joe Smith, and a diverse group of education, business, and medical leaders in 2003. Eagle Academy was Washington, D.C.'s first charter school focused on early childhood education that also catered to children with special needs. Other defining features of Eagle include an on-site pool and swimming lessons for every student, a sensory room for students with special needs, and a "Dean of Positive Behavior." Eagle operates two campuses in Washington, D.C.'s Congress Heights and Capitol Riverfront neighborhoods. The school will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023.

About Insite Media Network

Insite Media Network is a minority woman-owned company boasting a team of creative media professionals with extensive experience in film, broadcast television, radio, and music serving North America, North Africa, and the Middle East. Insite was established to fill a gap in the market for affordable video production services for news gathering outlets, small businesses, NGOs, PR firms, and startups. Traveling domestically and internationally to fulfill client needs, the Insite Media Network team of videographers, photographers, and graphic artists always go above and beyond to deliver high quality content for clients.

MEDIA CONTACT

[email protected]

202-235-3482

SOURCE Eagle Academy Public Charter School
Resale strategy proves successful in prolonging lifespan of franchise locations

BLACK DIAMOND, AB, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fibrenew, the leading mobile service franchise specializing in the repair, restoration and renewal of leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and upholstery, prides itself on its commitment to franchisees, offering full support to owners starting the moment they first inquire about purchasing a franchise. That support continues throughout the entirety of the lifespan of the owner's location, even if they choose it's time to move on to the next stage in their career. As part of its succession strategy, Fibrenew provides a resale program for franchisees looking to sell their territory to a new owner.

Fibrenew assists in finding new prospective franchisees through means of the brand's online platform, third party websites, and email blasts, along with helping in guide the current owner in advertising locally. Through Fibrenew's careful selection process, outgoing franchisees can be reassured that the business they worked so hard to build will be going into the caring hands of a new owner who will continue that same progress.

"The goal of a resale is to keep a working franchise running and prolong a location's lifecycle," says Jamie Myles, who heads up the resale program with Fibrenew's Corporate Team. "But with Fibrenew's promised dedication to our franchisees, we also want to ensure the current owner has our full support as they consider their eventual exit from their investment, and that they will not be left high and dry to figure out what to do with their franchise on their own."

While the strategy is not unique to Fibrenew, their program has proved successful over the years, with over 36 resales around the world since 2016, including 25 in the U.S.

"Having the ability to offer a resale strategy to our owners proves the brand's sustainability, especially through times of economic uncertainty," Myles said. "Fibrenew works hard to grow our brand with people who are the right fit."

While some new franchisees have achieved the same level of performance with their location, others have gone on to grow their business, either expanding to multiple territories, or within their location. With 300 locations in operation around the world, Fibrenew remains dedicated to ensuring its franchisees find success in their operations.

About Fibrenew

Fibrenew is a leading mobile service franchise that specializes in the repair, restoration, and renewal of leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and upholstery. With a rich history that dates back to 1985, Fibrenew manufactures a highly-specialized proprietary product line and has pioneered the repair techniques and exclusive color matching technology used by its technicians every day. With 300 franchise locations and 350+ technicians across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, the company's eco-friendly restoration services save customers time and money by offering an alternative to replacing their damaged couches and chairs, car and marine components, commercial furniture and more. For more information about Fibrenew franchise opportunities, visit https://www.fibrenew.com/franchising/.

Media Contact: Meg Ryan, Fishman Public Relations: (847) 945-1300 ext. 264, [email protected]

SOURCE Fibrenew International
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global nonprofit foundation, the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, today announced the launch of the 'Algoritmi Prize' with support from global research publisher Springer Nature. The annual science and technology prize has been created to celebrate artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics research that has the potential to produce real-world solutions that address global challenges.

Each year, the Algoritmi Prize will focus on a different global challenge facing the world community across topics such as food and water security, healthcare, energy and climate change. All eligible applicants will be invited to an open competition, evaluated by an independent panel of global experts.

The winning applicants will then receive funding to develop and scale their technology, while getting access to the FII Institute's platforms where they will be able to share their research with investors, academics and decision-makers. Applications will be open in January 2023, and the winners of the first prize will be announced October 2023 at the FII 7th Edition.

In addition, the prize will be accompanied with an annual symposium at the FII meetings, involving an address from a high-profile speaker in the field of robotics. The symposium will bring together delegates from across academia, government and industry with a common interest, creating a path for discussions in robotics and pushing innovation further.

Richard Attias, CEO of the FII Institute, commented, "Our mission at FII Institute is to create an impact on humanity, with a focus on four main areas, including artificial intelligence and robotics. Through launching the Algoritmi Prize, we hope to encourage the brightest minds from around the globe to share their creative ideas with investors and decision-makers and transform them into real-life solutions to solve some of the problems people are facing all over the world."

Global recognition for the importance of AI and robotics in solving current global issues is increasingly growing, and the number of papers published in science journals has risen exponentially year-on-year. As new technology emerges, it is clear that there is a pressing need for robotics research to focus on real-world solutions to address the social, economic and environmental challenges we are facing today.

The development of the prize program has been conducted in collaboration with global research publisher Springer Nature, who with their expertise across scientific and research communication, will be involved in the judging panel and evaluation of entries for the inaugural prize.

Steven Inchcoombe, Chief Publishing Officer said, "Award programs provide important platforms to recognize the researchers who are extending evidence-based approaches to tackling global challenges. We are pleased to support this new award through which FII will shine a light on influential research emerging in AI and robotics."

NOTES TO EDITORS

The event factsheet can be found here.

About FII Institute

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute is a new global nonprofit foundation with an investment arm and one agenda: Impact on Humanity. Global, inclusive and committed to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, we foster great minds from around the world and turn ideas into real-world solutions in five critical areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, Education, Healthcare and Sustainability.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1811613/FII_Institute_Logo.jpg

SOURCE FII Institute
THEBARTON, Australia, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On 09 September 2022, Australia welcomed its first bioanalytical laboratory inside a Phase 1 clinical unit.

Agilex Biolabs, Australia's largest bioanalytical laboratory, has established its first satellite processing unit on the fifth floor of the CMAX Clinical Research facility in Adelaide, SA.

PBMC Processing PBMC services CMAX_building

The Agilex satellite laboratory will perform time-sensitive sample processing techniques in the same building as clinical trial participants, opening the door for drug sponsors to reduce risk in their studies by truncating decline of sample integrity.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) include several hallmark cell types involved in immune response, such as T cells, B cells, and NK (natural killer) cells. Quantitation of PBMCs is often a critical piece in assessing the impact of a drug on the immune system.

Immediate processing of blood samples to isolate and prepare these cells for bioanalysis maximizes the integrity of bioanalytical data.

"Even when the processing lab is only a few kilometres from the clinical site, risk accumulates every minute," said the CEO of CMAX, Jane Kelly. "In partnership with Agilex, we are adding speed and reducing risk for new drug sponsors with CMAX clinical trials."

At CMAX, a blood sample will now go from patient to processing at the specialized laboratory unit in about 15 minutes.

Following onsite processing, samples are shipped quickly to the nearby Agilex Biolabs headquarters also located in Adelaide. With their rapid-turnaround sample analysis team, Agilex provides reliable quantitative data within just a few days of sample collection at CMAX.

"This is a huge win for clinical trials in Australia," said Agilex Chief Scientific Officer, Kurt Sales. "Until now, time-critical whole blood stimulation or PBMC processing had to occur at off-site processing units in Adelaide. A clinical research facility with onsite processing capabilities presents an opportunity to achieve faster turnaround of sample processing and more reliable results."

Agilex Biolabs is Australia's largest and most technologically advanced regulated bioanalytical and toxicology laboratory, providing reliable and defendable data to biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide in support of their drug development programs.

CMAX Clinical Research has been a leader in delivering early phase clinical trials for over 28 years, making it one of the most respected clinical trial businesses in Australia. CMAX's modern facility is equipped with 78 inpatient beds and has ready access to state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and world-class medical and pharmacology specialists.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927646/PBMC_Processing.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927645/PBMC_services.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927649/CMAX_building.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1906255/Agilex_Biolabs_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Agilex Biolabs
Overwhelming Vote in Favor of Representation First in the Region

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cultivation, propagation, and post-harvest workers at Flora Terra Cannabis have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 665. They are the first group of cannabis workers to join the Teamsters under the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act in Northern California.

"Congratulations to our newest members, who stood strong and worked together to make this happen," said Tony Delorio, Local 665 Principal Officer. "California agriculture workers have already gotten great wages, strong benefits, and a united voice on the job with a Teamster contract. We don't expect things to be any different with this company when we begin bargaining."

"Cannabis generates more revenue in California than any other state in the country," said Peter Finn, Teamsters Food Processing Division Director. "We look forward to ensuring that an equitable share of the money generated from this industry goes to those who are most responsible for the success of these companies."

"We're doing this because we know that with a Teamster contract, cannabis can be a fulfilling career that workers can stay in for their entire lives if they want to," said Anthony Benavides, a worker at the Flora Terra facility. "We're part of a massive movement of people working to guarantee that the cannabis industry creates thousands of jobs that provide families with middle-class prosperity."

Teamsters Local 665 represents over 5,000 members throughout the Bay Area in a wide variety of industries. For more information, go to https://www.teamsters665.org/.

Contact:

Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877

[email protected]

SOURCE Teamsters Local 665
Digital Wealth Investing Platform Expands Leadership Team to Drive Continuous Innovation and Enhancements to Offerings for Financial Advisors and Their Clients Across Wealth Management Firms, Banks and Credit Unions

WOBURN, Mass., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FusionIQ  the first-of-its-kind digital investing platform empowering financial advisors to deliver a personalized, end-to-end investment experience to their clients at scale  today announced the appointment of John Kimbro as Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Kimbro will report directly to Mark C. Healy, FusionIQ's CEO.

FusionIQ drives greater growth and efficiency for financial advisors across banks, credit unions, RIA firms and other wealth management businesses through its white-label, customizable digital investing solutions that are available at a fraction of the cost of comparable platforms. Unlike other offerings, the firm's solutions are completely integrated  including the ability to seamlessly deliver data aggregation, reporting and trading on one consolidated platform  and can be offered as an advisor or self-directed experience or a combination of the two.

In his new role, Mr. Kimbro has oversight for all aspects of the firm's holistic technology solutions that support the RIA, broker-dealer, bank and credit union segments of the wealth management space. He has over 32 years of industry experience, including senior technology, operations and strategy roles with Fidelity Investments and Bank of America.

Commitment to Technology Innovation

Mr. Kimbro will leverage his extensive expertise in technology integrations and technology solutions architecture to continuously enhance FusionIQ's existing offerings. He will also work closely with the company's leadership team to innovate new solutions that reinforce game-changing digital service experiences to financial institutions and firms, their financial advisors and the end clients they serve.

Mr. Healy said, "We're thrilled to have a technology leader of John Kimbro's caliber join FusionIQ's leadership time at a moment when financial advisors need our platform's unique solutions more than ever. John is the ideal CTO for our firm as we embark upon the next stage of our strategic growth plan, with a proven understanding of what financial advisors across both the RIA firms and financial institutions segment of the wealth management industry want and need.

"He has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in financial services at some of the nation's most consequential companies, and he brings a passion for developing cutting-edge platforms that elevate the advisor and investor service experience. I look forward to all we will do together to make an impact on our rapidly evolving industry, in ways that directly benefit financial advisors and the clients they serve."

FusionIQ's Next Stage of Growth

Mr. Kimbro said, "I've spent my career at the intersection of business and technology, because that's where you can make a real difference. Even the best technology, without a compelling business rationale, is just another shiny object. But when top-tier technology is effectively harnessed to a clear vision for fundamentally transforming a service experience at a significantly reduced cost, true innovation is created."

"Having had the privilege of getting to know multiple wealthtech leaders over the years, I knew from the outset that FusionIQ offers truly differentiated value that positions the company to grow on an accelerated basis," continued Mr. Kimbro. "I'm excited to be working with Mark and his team as we continue to reinforce FusionIQ's leadership in digital investing platforms."

The appointment of Mr. Kimbro as CTO follows FusionIQ's hiring earlier this year of wealth management industry leader John Guthery, CFA, as Chief Investment Officer. Having previously served in senior management roles at Park Ave Securities, Voya Financial and LPL Financial, Mr. Guthery has experience in market research, due diligence, and platform enhancements, as well as alternative investment risk, return and implementation.

About FusionIQ

FusionIQ is a preeminent software-as-a-service (SaaS) organization, which offers an ecommerce workstation to empower banks, credit unions, RIAs, broker dealers, and wealth managers of all sizes with everything they need to create a revolutionary digital wealth investing experience for their end retail customers. Through either a white label instance with a headless API infrastructure or a completely customized solution, FusionIQ provides financial services firms with unique enterprise-grade functionality that combines business, technology, and compliance logic in every deployment. Some of the largest global financial services brands partner with FusionIQ as their trusted, innovative, and engaging digital wealth platform solution. For more information, please visit www.fusioniq.io.

Media Contacts

Joseph Kuo / Michael Dugan

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4852

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE FusionIQ
MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gate.io , one of the world's largest and oldest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Korean city of Busan.

The agreement entails the cooperation between Gate.io and the Busan Metropolitan City government to develop blockchain infrastructure jointly in Busan.

Following the agreement, Gate.io will leverage its industry expertise to assist Busan in a variety of ways:

Support the rollout and promotion of the city's initiative to develop the blockchain industry locally.

Assisting in the development, operation, and distribution of the city's stablecoin .

Helping to establish and operate the Busan Digital Asset Exchange and ISMS-certified technical platforms, including order-matching and order-routing engines, digital wallets, and other relevant solutions.

Establishing a blockchain and digital asset-related education centre in the city to bolster the local skilled talent pool.

Busan was approved as a "regulation-free blockchain zone" by the Government of South Korea in 2019. As a result, the city launched an initiative to develop a local blockchain hub and a project to form a digital asset exchange. Gate.io will assist in all areas of the initiative and project.

Dr. Lin Han, CEO and Founder of Gate.io , said, "We are pleased to be collaborating with the City of Busan on a collective journey to forge a true blockchain city that will fuel the local blockchain industry. The city's robust approach to blockchain technology, combined with our industry expertise, will help solidify the city as a blockchain leader. We are committed to building a thriving digital asset ecosystem that will set an example and further crypto adoption in South Korea and abroad."

Heong-Joon Park, Mayor of Busan, said, "We are excited to have Gate.io working hand in hand with us to establish the Busan Digital Asset Exchange as a leading digital assets platform set for the global stage. We will establish Busan as a global blockchain and digital finance leader by putting Busan at the forefront of the global blockchain industry."

Gate.io also plans to grow its South Korean operations beyond Busan to stimulate the blockchain industry's growth and enhance its services country-wide.

SOURCE Gate.io
DUBLIN, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Business Email Compromise (BEC) Market by Offering (Solutions and Services), Deployment Mode (Cloud and On-premises), Organization Size (SMEs and Large Enterprises), Vertical (BFSI, Government, Healthcare) and Region - Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global BEC market is expected to grow from an estimated value of USD 1.1 billion in 2022 to USD 2.8 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.4%

Some of the factors that are driving the market growth include growing incidents of business email compromise scams and spear-phishing attacks, huge financial losses due to BEC crimes, and stringent regulatory standards and data privacy compliances.

However, the use of free, open-source, and pirated email security software and the high cost associated with the deployment of BEC solutions are expected to hinder market growth.

Services segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The services segment includes various services that are required to deploy, execute, and maintain BEC detection solutions in organizations. As the adoption of these solutions increases, the demand for these services is also expected to increase. The services include phishing awareness training, simulation services, and technical support services.

Various vendors offer BEC response services, which use advanced technology and analysis tools, to investigate email attacks, saving money and get back quickly and thoroughly to business faster. Some vendors offer services, which can be implemented quickly without additional infrastructure or IT overhead costs.

BEC simulation service mimics actual attack scenarios of different types of BEC attacks, such as fake invoice schemes, CEO spam, account compromise, data theft, attorney impersonation, and tax threats. Employees need to understand the tactics commonly used by cybercriminals, so a crucial role is played by security training services to reduce the likelihood of social engineering attacks resulting in data breaches.

Vendors, such as Barracuda Networks, offer security and awareness training solutions to protect against BEC or account compromise. Awareness helps employees exercise caution when receiving and sharing information via emails.

SMEs to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

While the threat of cybercrime is continuously rising, the general awareness and resilience amongst SMEs remain low. One of the most common forms of cyberattacks against SMEs is BEC fraud.

These frauds usually occur as a result of a security breach of the business's computer network (or that of a third party), resulting in phishing attacks or email spoofing through social engineering techniques. SMEs have less budget to spend on security as compared to large organizations. In the event of a payment redirection fraud, the threat is more immediate. In this, SMEs either suffer a loss of its funds or those of its clients (which will attract potential liabilities).

The COVID-19 pandemic is widely exploited by malicious cyber attackers and APT groups using COVID-19 themes, due to which SMEs are focusing more on the security and adoption of BEC solutions. Even though SMEs have limited budgets, there are various vendors who have curated solutions according to the needs of SMEs. For example, the ZeroFox platform (deployable on cloud) provides advanced, AI-powered protection against phishing and BEC attacks and is the most suited for SMEs.

Asia Pacific to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The region includes emerging economies such as Japan, China, and Australia. Local firms have emerged as major contributors, especially in large markets such as China, Japan, and Indonesia and have been competing with the multi-national companies operating in the region.

China, Japan, and Korea have large ICT sectors, and India and Indonesia have developing markets for eCommerce and online services. In accordance with a report by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), the mobile internet user penetration percentage in the Asia Pacific in 2019 was 48%.

Additionally, with effective government regulations and digitalization initiatives being taken by the government, the BEC market is witnessing high-growth opportunities in this region. The factors such as an increase in internet usage, regulatory compliances, and adoption of smart devices are the major factors fueling the adoption of BEC solutions. The region is also seeing a rise in cybercrimes including BEC attacks.

In recent years, Asia Pacific has undergone tremendous economic growth, political transformation, and social change. Asia Pacific is expected to witness a notable adoption of BEC solutions and services as enterprises and SMEs across verticals are deploying BEC solutions to provide protection to sensitive data.

Premium Insights

Instances of Email Phishing and Business Email Compromise Scams to Drive Market Demand

Solutions Segment to Hold Larger Market Share During Forecast Period

Cloud Segment to Hold Larger Market Share During Forecast Period

BFSI Vertical to Hold Largest Market Size During Forecast Period

Asia-Pacific to Emerge as Best Market for Investments in Next Five Years

Market Overview and Industry Trends

Drivers

Growing Scale of Business Email Compromise Scams and Spear-Phishing Attacks

Huge Financial Losses due to Business Email Compromise Crimes

Stringent Regulatory Standards and Data Privacy Compliances

Restraints

Use of Free, Open-Source, and Pirated Email Security Software

Cost Issues

Opportunities

Growing Use of ML/AI-Powered Business Email Compromise Solutions

Increasing Number of Email Users Globally

Challenges

Lack of Awareness Related to Business Email Compromise Solutions Among Enterprises

Technology Analysis

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Big Data Analytics

Cloud

Use Cases

Seattle Children's Hospital Deployed Proofpoint's Email Fraud Defense Solution to Combat Business Email Compromise Attacks

a Fortune 500 Company Chose Area 1 Security's Solution for Email Protection

Solcyber Partnered with Area 1 Security for Comprehensive Cloud-Email Security

Company Profiles

Key Players

Proofpoint

Mimecast

Check Point

Cisco

Broadcom

Agari

Trend Micro

Zix

Barracuda Networks

Greathorn

Other Players

Ironscales

Area 1 Security

Clearswift

Fortinet

Tessian

Terranova Security

Zerofox

Heimdal Security

Acronis

Phishlabs

Redscan

Startups

Armorblox

Cellopoint

Trustifi

Abnormal Security

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/isqyp3

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Based on current projections, GM has reached its goal of securing enough renewable energy to power all of its U.S. sites by 2025

As one of the earliest adopters of renewable energy among corporate purchasers, GM has already realized positive cash flows from its portfolio, and expects to continue to do so

GM's long-term investments in local renewable energy projects support grid resiliency, as well as job growth and retention

DETROIT, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors today announced the finalization of energy sourcing agreements required to secure 100% of the energy needed to power all its U.S. facilities by 2025. This is in line with the accelerated target announced in September 2021, which is 5 years ahead of the 2030 target announced in early 2021 and 25 years ahead of the initial target of 2050, set in 2016.



By achieving this accelerated goal, GM expects to avoid the production of an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions that would have been produced between 2025 and 2030, equal to the emissions produced by burning 1 billion pounds of coal.



"We believe it is critical  to ourselves, to our customers and to the future of the planet  to step up our efforts and reach ambitious targets that move us closer to a more sustainable world," says Kristen Siemen, GM chief sustainability officer. "Securing the renewable energy we need to achieve our goal demonstrates tangible progress in reducing our emissions in all aspects of our business, ultimately moving us closer to our vision of a future with zero emissions."



Sourcing renewable energy is a critical component of GM's plans to decarbonize. The company's renewable energy strategy is rooted in four pillars:

Increasing Energy Efficiency: GM's energy goals begin with reducing energy consumption by improving energy efficiency. For 11 years, GM has been awarded the EPA Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award for its energy efficiency efforts. Sourcing Renewables: While it works to minimize the amount of energy required to run its facilities, GM also sources renewable energy through direct investment, on-site generation, green tariffs and power purchase agreements. This is the main way through which GM is achieving its renewable energy goal. Addressing Intermittency: GM is creating technology to store renewable energy over the medium and long term, so its power consumption is not disrupted by external fluctuations. Policy Advocacy: Policy efforts are essential to expand transmission, create microgrids that help deploy renewable energy and enable markets to price these solutions to enable a carbon-free resilient power system. GM supports policies that enable a carbon-free, resilient power system.

GM's renewable energy portfolio now includes sourcing agreements from 16 renewable energy plants across 10 states, continuing to lead all automotive OEMs as the largest offtaker of renewable power in the industry. Since 2017, the portfolio has also produced over $75 million of positive cash flows.



In 2019, GM became a founding member of what is now known as the Clean Energy Buyers Association  the largest group of corporate renewable energy buyers in the U.S. CEBA brings companies together to unlock market access, helping organizations of all sizes find cost-effective pathways to buying renewable energy.



"General Motors has been a trailblazer in corporate clean energy procurement for manufacturing facilities for over a decade," said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association. "Today's announcement of securing the energy needed to achieve their 2025 goal is another example of their leadership. But even more impressive has been GM's commitment to sharing their learnings and guiding other corporations who want to follow their lead. In a world of high competition, this community-orientation is truly wonderful."



In 2021, GM announced its Science Based Targets for emissions reduction, as well as plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. In addition, the company plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new U.S. light-duty vehicles by 2035. GM has committed to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles through 2025, with plans to reach more than 1 million units of annual EV capacity in each of North America and China by the end of 2025.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This communication and related comments by management may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact and represent our current judgement about possible future events. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgements are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors, many of which are described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

SOURCE General Motors Co.
Five Transformative NGOs Are Recognized by Iconic Chocolatier For Their Inspirational Work In Uplifting Women In Their Communities: Womenpreneur (Belgium), Canadian Women's Foundation (Canada), AFAWI: Alliance For African Women Initiative (Ghana), Young Women's Trust (U.K.), and Step Up (U.S.)

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, GODIVA, the global leader in premium chocolate, announces the 2022 global honorees of The Lady GODIVA Initiative. Five non-government organizations (NGOs) are being recognized by GODIVA for their transformative work in elevating women's empowerment and female entrepreneurship in their communities -- Belgium, Canada, U.K., U.S., and Ghana, a country that is key to the Company's cocoa value chain. Each organization will receive a financial grant and join a growing list of female forward NGOs who have benefitted from being selected as one of The Lady GODIVA Initiative honorees.

GODIVA honors the important work and exemplary contributions being made by these NGOs in empowering women with this recognition. The Lady GODIVA Initiative honorees for 2022 are: Womenpreneur (Belgium), Canadian Women's Foundation (Canada), AFAWI: Alliance for African Women Initiative (Ghana), Young Women's Trust (U.K.), and Step Up (U.S.).

"We are extremely proud of this remarkable group of NGOs who are providing positive impactful change for women in their region of the world," said Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, Global CEO, GODIVA. "Our signature social impact initiative is dedicated to elevating the inspiring transformations each of these organizations are bringing to their communities. We believe that by continuing to provide global visibility and engagement from our GODIVA community, we are paving a path to help these organizations uphold their missions to champion women around the world. Their outstanding efforts are in keeping with GODIVA's mission to open people's eyes to a more wonderful world in the hope of crafting a better tomorrow."

The Lady GODIVA Initiative honors the legacy of GODIVA's namesake, Lady Godiva, who led the way to empower the people of her community and paved a path that GODIVA continues to walk today. Whether uplifting women out of economic instability through training, finding financial justice through careers in tech and entrepreneurship, providing a pathway for women, girls, and gender-diverse people out of violence and poverty, or providing structured programs and support to help girls lead with confidence, these organizations are recognized for the positive impact they are making in their regions.

Each year, GODIVA selects a small and prestigious group of organizations under a selective vetting process. All organizations being considered are reviewed to ensure they fall under the criteria of having female focused missions with programs that drive forward gender equality, women's empowerment, and female entrepreneurship. Providing support for diverse groups of women is an essential element of GODIVA's signature program. GODIVA's employees are central to the selection process and cast the final vote to choose the Initiative's yearly class of honorees.

This is just one important step in GODIVA's continuous journey to give back, inspired by Lady Godiva's quest more than 1,000 years ago to create a world where we are all appreciated and valued for our inherent worth.

For more information about the Lady GODIVA Initiative, and to learn more about this year's winners, visit us at www.godiva.com/lady-godiva-initiative .

The Lady GODIVA Initiative 2022 Honorees:

Belgium: Womenpreneur: Womenpreneur is a leading women's empowerment organization serving underserved women globally. Womenpreneur works across Europe and the MENA region to lift women out of economic instability through career opportunities in tech and entrepreneurship. It started out as a program supporting 10 women in 2016 and has grown to over 16,000 women across Belgium and beyond. To learn more, visit https://womenpreneur-initiative.com/

Canada : Canadian Women's Foundation

The Canadian Women's Foundation is a national leader in the movement for gender equality in Canada. Through funding, research, advocacy, and knowledge sharing, they work to achieve systemic change. They support women, girls, and gender-diverse people to move out of violence, out of poverty, and into confidence and leadership. To learn more, visit https://canadianwomen.org/

Ghana : AFAWI: Alliance for African Women Initiative

Alliance for African Women Initiative (AFAWI) is a grassroots organization that supports, uplifts and empowers women and children in our communities in Ghana. AFAWI is committed to building the capacities of marginalized individuals in Ghana. Their advocacy builds sustainable outcomes, and they train community members to take control of their own development and to pass on their skills and expertise to peers. To learn more, visit https://www.afawigh.org/

U.K.: Young Women's Trust

Young Women's Trust supports and represents women aged 18 to 30 trapped by low or no pay and facing a lifetime of poverty. Young women are at the center of the charity's work: leading, designing and participating. Young Women's Trust's core mission  achieving financial justice for young women through equal economic and employment opportunities  has never been more important, as young women come out of a pandemic into the cost-of-living crisis and face a 22% gap in their annual income compared to young men. To learn more, visit https://www.youngwomenstrust.org/

U.S.A. : Step Up

Success is subjective. No one destination fits all  so why would one path fit all? Step Up believes girls deserve to define and pursue success on their terms. By bringing girls together in inspired spaces  on and offline  Step Up sparks exploration and discussion of what's possible. With structured support and access to a strong community, the mentorship non-profit guides girls towards their unique goals: first, by identifying those goals and then, in building the roadmap to get there. Whether there is college, an internship, a network, or simply confidence  Step Up's there for it and there for girls. To learn more, visit www.suwn.org

About GODIVA Chocolatier

GODIVA Chocolatier, the global leader in premium chocolate, was founded in Brussels in 1926 by Belgian Chocolatier, Pierre Draps. Today, the iconic brand, which is privately held by Yildiz Holding, is committed to democratizing its premium chocolates so that everyone can enjoy the world's most delicious chocolate whenever they like. With an established global footprint across more than 100 markets, GODIVA continues to extend its reach through an omnichannel approach, quickly expanding beyond formal gifting by investing in consumer-packaged goods as well as online sales. As GODIVA delivers upon its promise of "opening people's eyes to a more wonderful world," customers can expect to find GODIVA in many fine retailers, supermarkets, drug stores, online, and, depending on the market, at brick & mortar locations like boutiques, cafes, and GODIVA Delight, too. For GODIVA, being a responsible corporate citizen is a way of doing business. It's a promise the business keeps with every stakeholder: to take action today for a brighter tomorrow. To optimize its impact, and in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, GODIVA focuses its efforts on Women's Empowerment and Sustainability. To learn more, visit GODIVA Cares.

SOURCE GODIVA Chocolatier
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GovCIO has been awarded a new Mail Management Services (MMS) $478M Task Order on the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Veterans Intake, Conversion, and Communications Services (VICCS) IDIQ Contract. This five-year contract is a follow-on contract to GovCIO's T4NG Paper Mail Conversion Management Services program won in 2020. Through MMS, GovCIO will continue to provide the VBA with innovative manual and automated centralized mail management services and solutions that help streamline VBA's benefits claims process.

For both paper and electronic modalities, GovCIO will handle source material intake, handling, and preparation; data extraction; document indexing, conversion, and imaging. Upon completion of mail processing, images, with associated data, will be integrated and uploaded to VA systems.

"Our Paper Mail Management team has provided delivery excellence and innovation for VBA throughout all periods of contract performance. Our exceptional delivery made it possible for us to earn this follow-on contract," said Megha Chokshi, GovCIO Veteran and Enterprise Technology Sector Senior Vice President.

In addition to maximizing innovation and automation, GovCIO will incorporate quality assurance activities and validation into multiple steps of the mail management process to ensure VA receives images and data of sufficient quality to support its business processes while maintaining complete traceability to validate information integrity.

"We are honored to support the VBA for the next five years helping to ensure Veterans and their families receive the compensation and pension benefits they've earned in an expedient fashion," said Jim Brabston, GovCIO CEO.

About GovCIO

GovCIO is a rapidly growing provider of advanced technology solutions and digital services for the federal government. Combining our extensive federal experience with the latest innovations in IT and disruptive approaches, our experts develop comprehensive solutions to meet the most pressing demands of today's government agencies. From the U.S. military to Health and Human Services, we have an impressive track record of helping our customers optimize how they operate.

GovCIO is transforming government IT, empowering our federal customers to meet the challenges of today while building the government of tomorrow.

Let us show you what we can do. Visit www.govcio.com for more information.

Media Contact:

Geraldene Darden

[email protected]

SOURCE GovCIO
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global hemp fiber market will be driven by factors such as the increasing use of hemp fibers in the textile industry. Hemp fiber is more durable than cotton or synthetic fibers, which makes it more resilient and long-lasting. It is produced in various ways and blended with other complementary yarns. It is lighter and has high insulation qualities when compared to synthetic fibers. Hemp is highly suitable for outdoor wear owing to its features such as resistance to ultraviolet (UV) and mold. It can also be blended with other fibers. These factors will spur the growth of the global hemp fiber market during the forecast period.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Hemp Fiber Market 2022-2026

The global hemp fiber market size is set to grow by USD 4.28 billion from 2021 to 2026, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 15.32% during the forecast period.

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

Vendor Landscape

The hemp fiber market is fragmented due to the presence of several global and local vendors. The vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Prominent vendors in the market are competing based on brand, quality, and price. They are adopting strategies such as collaborations, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions to gain a competitive advantage. The steady growth of the market is expected to attract new entrants, which is expected to increase the competition in the market during the forecast period.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments in the report. Buy Now for access to detailed information about each vendor

Hemp Fiber Market Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Bn, 2021-2026)

Textiles - size and forecast 2021-2026

Personal care - size and forecast 2021-2026

Food and beverages - size and forecast 2021-2026

Others - size and forecast 2021-2026

Hemp Fiber 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

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

Revenue-generating Application Segment

The textile segment will be a significant contributor to market growth during the forecast period. Hemp-based fibers are hypoallergenic and resistant to rotting, mildew, and saltwater. They are robust and contain a high amount of hemicellulose. Hemp is also resistant to ultraviolet light. It is used in manufacturing apparel, fabrics, denim, and fine textiles, which is increasing the demand for hemp fiber in the textile segment.

Major Hemp Fiber Companies

CanvaLoop Fibre Private Ltd.

Dun Agro Hemp Group

Ecofibre Ltd.

Forever Green

Hemp Fortex Industries Ltd.

Hemp Inc.

Hemp Oil Canada

HempAge AG

HempFlax Group BV

HemPoland Sp zoo

Hempro Int. GmbH

HempSense Inc.

Hempys

Ind Hemp LLC

Kingdom Holdings Ltd.

Konoplex LLC

Margaret River HempCo.

Marijuana Co. of America Inc.

Naturalus pluostas UAB

Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd.

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Related Reports

Hemp-based Foods Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The increasing demand for organic hemp-based foods is one of the key trends in the market. The demand for organic food products is increasing at a fast pace. Key vendors in the market are launching organic hemp-based food in the market. This will fuel the growth of the market during the forecast period.

CBD Oil Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The growing legalization of cannabis-based products is a key trend. Currently, 30 states in the US have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, while eight states have been granted permission for the use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes. In 2016, Canada legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Hemp Fiber Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 15.32% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 4.28 Billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 15.1 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 39% Key consumer countries US, China, Russia, France, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled CanvaLoop Fibre Private Ltd., Dun Agro Hemp Group, Ecofibre Ltd., Forever Green, Hemp Fortex Industries Ltd., Hemp Inc., Hemp Oil Canada, HempAge AG, HempFlax Group BV, HemPoland Sp z.o.o., Hempro Int. GmbH, HempSense Inc., Hempy's, Ind Hemp LLC, Kingdom Holdings Ltd., Konoplex LLC, Margaret River HempCo., Marijuana Co. of America Inc., Naturalus Pluostas UAB, and Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis 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.

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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 Textiles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Textiles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Textiles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Textiles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Textiles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Personal care - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Personal care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Personal care - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Food and beverages - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Food and beverages - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Food and beverages - 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 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 (%)

7.4 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 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 60: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on North America - 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 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 82: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 83: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 84: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 85: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 86: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 87: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 88: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 89: Data Table on US - 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 Ecofibre Ltd.

Exhibit 97: Ecofibre Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 98: Ecofibre Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 99: Ecofibre Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: Ecofibre Ltd. - Segment focus

10.4 Forever Green

Exhibit 101: Forever Green - Overview



Exhibit 102: Forever Green - Product / Service



Exhibit 103: Forever Green - Key offerings

10.5 Hemp Inc.

Exhibit 104: Hemp Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 105: Hemp Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 106: Hemp Inc. - Key offerings

10.6 HempAge AG

Exhibit 107: HempAge AG - Overview



Exhibit 108: HempAge AG - Business segments



Exhibit 109: HempAge AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 110: HempAge AG - Segment focus

10.7 HempFlax Group BV

Exhibit 111: HempFlax Group BV - Overview



Exhibit 112: HempFlax Group BV - Product / Service



Exhibit 113: HempFlax Group BV - Key offerings

10.8 Hempro Int. GmbH

Exhibit 114: Hempro Int. GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 115: Hempro Int. GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 116: Hempro Int. GmbH - Key offerings

10.9 Hempys

Exhibit 117: Hempys - Overview



Exhibit 118: Hempys - Product / Service



Exhibit 119: Hempys - Key offerings

10.10 Margaret River HempCo.

Exhibit 120: Margaret River HempCo. - Overview



Exhibit 121: Margaret River HempCo. - Product / Service



Exhibit 122: Margaret River HempCo. - Key offerings

10.11 Naturalus pluostas UAB

Exhibit 123: Naturalus pluostas UAB - Overview



Exhibit 124: Naturalus pluostas UAB - Product / Service



Exhibit 125: Naturalus pluostas UAB - Key offerings

10.12 Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 126: Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 127: Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 128: Shanxi Greenland Textile Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 129: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 130: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 131: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 132: Research methodology



Exhibit 133: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 134: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 135: 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 across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Challenge Seeks Novel Design Concepts to Remove Carbon Particles from New Life Support Systems So Astronauts Can Breathe Easier; Top Ideas to Share $45K Prize Purse

HOUSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HeroX , the leading platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, today launched the crowdsourcing competition, the " NASA Particle Partition Challenge ." The challenge seeks solutions on behalf of NASA .

Challenge Seeks Novel Design Concepts to Remove Carbon Particles from New Life Support Systems So Astronauts Can Breathe Easier; Top Ideas to Share $45K Prize Purse

Astronauts living aboard the International Space Station are sustained through a complex life support system that maintains a breathable atmosphere. Work is underway to develop components that will comprise the next generation of life support for astronauts. A Bosch reactor takes waste carbon dioxide and converts it to solid carbon and water, in the presence of a catalyst and hydrogen gas. Water is an important resource on its own, and it can also be electrolyzed to produce oxygen and hydrogen.

The solid carbon particulates that are produced in a Bosch reactor must be regularly removed for the reactor to operate. Large amounts of carbon are produced per day (roughly 1 Kg per four-person crew), so removal needs to be both efficient and continuous. The safe collection and removal of carbon particulates generated by this reactor, when run continuously, is the central focus of this Challenge.

"This problem has been brought to the right people," said Kal K. Sahota, CEO, HeroX. "The HeroX community is ready to help again, this time breathing life into the length of planetary missions."

The Challenge: The Challenge is looking to identify innovative ways for fine, particulate carbon to be safely and efficiently removed from a Bosch reactor without impacting the reactor's performance. The design concept could help future astronauts breathe easy by contributing to the development of improved life support systems for future extraterrestrial habitats. And, to encourage the next generation of solvers, there will also be a Junior challenge running concurrently for innovators under 18 years of age. This challenge will ask junior innovators to submit ideas for how an extraterrestrial habitat can maintain a breathable atmosphere for its inhabitants.

The Prize: Winners of this single phase challenge will share a total prize purse of $45,000. The top three participants in the Junior category will each receive public recognition and NASA swag.

Eligibility to Compete and Win Prize(s): The prize is open to anyone aged 18 or older participating as an individual or as a team. Individual competitors and teams may originate from any country, as long as United States federal sanctions do not prohibit participation (some restrictions apply). To submit to the Junior category, you must be younger than 18.

To accept the challenge, visit herox.com/NASAParticle

To accept the junior challenge, visit herox.com/BreathJrChallenge

ABOUT HEROX

HeroX is a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourcing innovation and human ingenuity, co-founded in 2013 by serial entrepreneur, Christian Cotichini and XPRIZE Founder and Futurist, Peter Diamandis. HeroX offers a turnkey, easy-to-use platform that supports anyone, anywhere, to solve everyday business and world challenges using the power of the crowd. Uniquely positioned as the Social Network for Innovation, HeroX is the only place you can build, grow and curate your very own crowd.

Explore the latest challenges at www.herox.com

Media Contact:

Alexandra Pony

250.858.0656

[email protected]

SOURCE HeroX
AUSTIN, Minn., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced today its internship program has been honored once again, having been named in the 2023 Vault Best Internships ranking. The company's internship program was recognized in the categories of best internships for the retail and consumer products industry and also top engineering roles.

Vault Top Internship Seal

"Our internship program is an excellent opportunity for those looking to build a career with us and experience all that working for an industry-leading Fortune 500 company can offer. We're currently recruiting interns to start with us over the summer of 2023 for our manufacturing facilities, sales offices and corporate locations," said Amy Sheehan, director of talent acquisition at Hormel Foods. "Those who are interested and want to make a difference by feeding families around the world can view our current openings and apply at hormelfoods.com/careers."

Vault-Firsthand was charged with compiling the ranking, surveying more than 10,800 current and former interns in summer 2022. They were asked to rate their internship experiences in several areas:

Industry and employment factors

Quality of life (company culture, hours, work-life balance, flexibility)

Interview press (application process, requirements, number of interviews)

Career development (including four separate ratings for training and mentoring, quality of assignments, real-life experience, networking opportunities)

Full-time employment prospects (opportunity to obtain a full-time job with this organization)

Diversity (including four separate ratings for diversity with respect to women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals and other underrepresented groups)

This is not the first time the Hormel Foods internship program has been awarded for giving students valuable experiences. In addition to previous mentions from Vault and others, the company was praised nationwide when it quickly developed a virtual internship program in spring 2020, when COVID-19 was causing most major companies to rescind their internship offers altogether. Hormel Foods has a long-standing track record of hiring interns after graduation to full-time positions with the company.

To view the Vault internship rankings visit 2023 Best Retail & Consumer Products Internships, 2023 Best Internships For Engineering. For the full rankings list click here 2023 Vault Best Internship Rankings.

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, WHOLLY, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
PORSGRUNN, Norway, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Reference is made to the recent press releases from DG Fuels and Air France-KLM regarding an Offtake Agreement between DG Fuels and Air France-KLM. DG Fuels will supply Air France-KLM with 210 million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The agreement will last for a minimum of 10 years, with first delivery expected in 2026. HydrogenPro will supply its green hydrogen technology with a capacity of at least 839 MW for DG Fuels' initial production plant in Louisiana, USA.

On a 10-year basis, Air France-KLM emissions is expected to be reduced by 4.7 billion kilograms of CO 2 compared with use of fossil fuels.

"This offtake agreement is yet another important milestone for DG Fuels, and of equal importance to HydrogenPro as technology supplier. We are proud to play an active role globally in decarbonising the future," says Richard Espeseth, interim CEO and founder of HydrogenPro.

Decarbonisation is the biggest challenge facing the aviation industry and gaining a first-mover advantage in the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is critical to reducing emissions and take part in the incumbent decarbonisation due to happen.

The use of SAF can reduce emissions by an average of 80% compared to conventional fuel and is considered more energy efficient. Hence, it provides airlines with operational advantages in addition to its environmental contributions. This Offtake Agreement adds to the slate of recent SAF contract volumes represents over 90% of total production volumes at DG Fuels Louisiana.

HydrogenPro is proud to play a vital role in supplying DG Fuels with its green hydrogen technology.

About HydrogenPro:

HydrogenPro is a technology company and an OEM for high pressure alkaline electrolyser and supplies large scale green hydrogen plants, all ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 certified. The Company was founded in 2013 by individuals with background from the electrolysis industry which was established in Telemark, Norway by Norsk Hydro in 1927. We are an experienced engineering team of leading industry experts, drawing upon unparalleled experience and expertise in the hydrogen and renewable energy industry.

Contact:

Martin Holtet

CFO, HydrogenPro

Tel +47 922 44 902

SOURCE HydrogenPro AS
The recognition program honors companies and nonprofits providing people with compelling reasons to care about them and offering inspiration for others to buy in

DENVER, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast Company announced its second annual Brands That Matter list, honoring brands that communicate and demonstrate brand purpose. These companies and nonprofits have achieved relevance through cultural impact and social engagement, and authentically communicated their missions and ideals.

Founded in 1995 in New Zealand, icebreaker pioneered the ethical and sustainable production of natural performance apparel. Now a part of the VF Corporation, icebreaker continues to challenge the status quo while championing natural, transparent, and responsible ways to do business.

The final list, which includes large multinational conglomerates, small-but-mighty companies, and nonprofits, recognizes 145 brands that give people compelling reasons to care about themand offer inspiration for others to buy in. All 145 have found an ability to forge an emotional connection with customers, whether leading on the environment or pop culture, engaging B2B customers, or responding meaningfully to current events.

All brands that applied were considered for overall recognition. Additionally, there are honorees on category-specific lists based on region, size, and status.

"This year, we've expanded the Brands That Matter program to evaluate honorees in the context of how they matter within the category in which they compete for people's attention or loyalty. The result is a wide-ranging list of honorees that are making their mark on culture, and through social impact," said Brendan Vaughan, Fast Company's editor-in-chief.

"We are excited to be included as one of Fast Company's Brands That Matter," says icebreaker Global President, Jan Van Mossevelde. Our purpose to lead a movement towards a more natural way of living by taking unnecessary plastic out of performance apparel.

icebreaker believes that sustainability goes beyond clothing itself. It's about responsible business practices and leading by example for others to see. Each year, icebreaker publishes a comprehensive Transparency Report, which offers a deep dive into its key business areas like supply chain, materials, and sustainability goals.

Since its inception in 1995, icebreaker has achieved 27 years of natural progress. Now in 2022, icebreaker will use 95% merino and plant-based fibers across its entire range of products.

icebreaker has spent decades establishing long term partnerships with key merino wool growers. Today, icebreaker uses 70 growers as part of the Long-Term Supply Contract Growers Club. Furthermore, 100% of those members have signed up to the ZQRX program, a regenerative agriculture program that helps growers work with nature to continuously improve human, animal and environmental outcomes.

icebreaker is constantly striving to do better in its move to natural journey. It prides itself on its transparency and its belief in the power of natural fibers. Determined to reduce its impact on the environment, icebreaker will continue embarking on a regenerative journey, while remaining accountable through its Transparency Report and drive to build a better future for our planet.

Fast Company editors judged each brand on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity, and business impact to compile the list.

Click here to see the complete list.

The November issue of Fast Company magazine is available online now and will be on newsstands beginning November 1, 2022.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About icebreaker

Founded in 1995 in New Zealand, icebreaker pioneered the ethical and sustainable production of natural performance apparel. Now a part of the VF Corporation, icebreaker continues to challenge the status quo while championing natural, transparent, and responsible ways to do business. icebreaker looks to nature for the answers and for innovative ways to do more with less. Working with what nature provides and adapting as nature does, icebreaker enables consumers to join a movement towards choosing natural and preserving the planet for generations to come. Icebreaker clothing is available in more than 5,000 stores in 50 countries through wholesale, Touch Lab retail stores and e-commerce platforms. www.icebreaker.com

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE icebreaker
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IEX Group (the "Company"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary swXtch.io LLC, today announced the commercial launch of cloudSwXtch, a new cloud-native software product that brings bare-metal on premises performance capability to the major cloud networks.

cloudSwXtch is a new cloud-native software product from swXtch.io, bringing bare-metal on-premises performance capability and missing network features like multicast, broadcast, and packet monitoring to cloud networks for handling the most demanding workflows. Our platform solves the notoriously time-consuming and expensive challenge of bringing high bandwidth networking to the cloud, not only for broadcasters but also for the financial, industrial, and wider media sectors. Do more with less.

cloudSwXtch is a virtual overlay network that adds feature rich, high-performance networking to cloud or edge deployments - while requiring no code changes to existing applications. cloudSwXtch unlocks missing network features that are required for demanding, high-throughput workflows such as financial, industrial, and media applications. These missing features include multicast, broadcast, packet monitoring, and protocol conversion and fanout. Last month, cloudSwXtch made its debut at IBC2022 in collaboration with Microsoft and Evertz Technologies, Ltd., with a launch geared towards the media and broadcast industries. cloudSwXtch is now commercially available on a global scale via the marketplaces of the major clouds.

"Over the past several years, IEX Group has been relentlessly focused on building high performance, reliable, and scalable infrastructure. In part, to operate our national securities exchange which processes billions of messages per day, but also applying our technical expertise to build solutions for other industries that face similar technological challenges," commented IEX Group co-founder and CEO Brad Katsuyama. "At our core, we are a technology company and we are proud to have developed cloudSwXtch, which has the potential to revolutionize cloud networking for multiple industries."

Analysts and other industry pundits often cite multicasting in the cloud as the holy grail  a new way to unlock the gateway and bring high bandwidth networking to the cloud. The groundbreaking cloudSwXtch technology enables multicast along with other mission-critical capabilities such as ground-to-cloud bridging, protocol translation and fanout, and network path redundancy to all the major cloud service providers. Companies across multiple industry sectors can now merge on-premises and cloud workflows into a hybrid production process from anywhere in the world, resulting in significantly lower costs due to minimized infrastructure and power needs. What started as an initiative for financial services and specifically, the migration of data to the cloud for exchanges, has now become a solution for industries looking to shift infrastructures to the cloud quickly and efficiently. With the cloud, and the right technology such as cloudSwXtch, businesses can do more with less, while improving productivity and customer satisfaction.

Since the founding of IEX Group, Inc., the company has been at the forefront of technological advancements. The company received regulatory approval to launch the IEX Exchange in 2016 and has since become one of the largest securities exchanges in the world, trading nearly $25 billion in transactions per day. Concurrently, IEX has been building out a suite of technology offerings with the introduction of cloudSwXtch and the launch of Apperate from IEX Cloud. IEX Group is also expanding into the digital asset/crypto market. In April 2022, the company announced its work with FTX US to build its digital assets business and to establish a clear, simple, and transparent market structure for the buying, selling, and trading of digital asset securities. Development of IEX Group's digital assets business is currently underway.

cloudSwXtch is available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. The Company intends to add support for additional cloud platforms later this year into 2023, including Amazon Web Services, Google and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

IEX Cloud and swXtch.io are wholly owned subsidiaries of IEX Group, Inc. and operate separately and distinctly from its IEX Exchange (Investors' Exchange LLC).

About IEX Group, Inc

IEX Group, Inc ("IEX") builds technology that levels the playing field. We are passionate problem-solvers determined to remove barriers to equal opportunity and sustainable growth. Founded in 2012, IEX launched a new kind of securities exchange in 2016 that combined a transparent business model with innovative design to protect investors and enhance market integrity. Today, we're applying our experience and game-changing technology to advance competitive markets and help scalable, sustainable, and innovative businesses thrive in other industries. Through our Exchange, Digital Assets and Technology groups, IEX provides high-performance infrastructure that helps people access financial markets and seize new opportunities for growth. Learn more about IEX at iex.io.

Media Contact

Jay A. Morakis

M Group Strategic Communications (for IEX)

+1 646 859 5951

[email protected]

SOURCE IEX Group Inc
SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmVira announced its successful signing of Series-C+ financing transaction documents with the first batch of investors recently. This round of financing was initiated by China Merchants China Direct Investments Limited with participation of Lifebay and Unifortune Group. To facilitate a number of ongoing follow investor's continued interest, the Company will keep the round open for a period of not more than two months. Interested investors can follow the agreed-on valuation and terms reached by lead investor and Company.

Dr. Grace Zhou, Chairwoman and CEO of ImmVira said, "We appreciate recognition and trust from our investors in the current challenging capital market environment. The successful signing with the lead investor as well as continuous indication of interest from a number of co-investors is a meaningful representation of the potential value of ImmVira. We intend to use this capital to make new breakthroughs in vector-as a delivery mechanism treatments and further advance our OvPENS new drug development platform. We believe ImmVira's unique insights in application of vector-based treatments represent a distinctive exceptional return to risk for our shareholder partners. "

ImmVira has made numerous progress and breakthroughs since the closing of Series C financing. For pipeline research and development, MVR-T3011 IT (intratumoral injection) program is accelerating Phase II clinical study in the U.S. and China with encouraging efficacy-related immune signals identified in HNC, sarcoma, and along with other indications; MVR-T3011 IV (intravenous injection) program has achieved preliminary robust safety results and validated clinical biological activities in Phase I clinical study in U.S. and China; MVR-C5252 (targeting Glioma) program has successfully obtained IND clearance and ODD from FDA, and will initiate clinical trial shortly; MVR-T7 series (combo with CAR-T/ADC/BiTE) program has completed in-house pilot-scale manufacturing, and is currently under negotiation with multiple partners for IND application of combination treatment; In addition, Company has officially launched its non-viral vector - engineered exosome pipelines with completion of first three product design and is expediting CMC development and IND filing process.

In areas of business collaborations, Company has established a clinical research partnership with Roche and will conduct clinical study on the combination therapy of MVR-T3011 IT and Roche's MEK inhibitor Cobimetinib in the U.S.; and has reached a co-develop agreement with China Resources Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd to jointly promote the clinical development of MVR-C5252 targeting glioma in the Greater China.

The funds raised from this round of financing will be mainly used to support the clinical trials of mono and combo therapies of three pipelines under clinical stage in both U.S. and China, the subsequent IND applications of oncolytic virus and exosome product pipelines, and the discovery and PoC of new candidates, and enhancements to the OvPENS technology platform.

About ImmVira

ImmVira is a biotechnology company focused on development of new generation novel drug vectors driven by clinical benefits in oncology and non-oncology fields. Leveraging naturally evolved delivery mechanisms and proprietary precise gene engineering technology, our products include replicating and non-replicating herpes simplex virus vector and drug delivery exosome. The company has developed science, technology and know-how to support ongoing research, development and commercialization of best-in-class mono and combo therapies on the OVPENS (Open Vector+ Potent, Enabling, Novel & Safe) platform.

Our clinical stage and development stage pipelines target a wide range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies as an initial validation of vector capability in oncology, to be used as single agent or combination treatment solutions for cancer patients at different stages, unresponsive to immunotherapy or with rare tumors, by various administration methods including intratumoral, as well as first-in-class intravenous and intraperitoneal/pleural/vesical injections. The first three oncolytic virus products are undergoing six Phase I or Phase II clinical trials in both United States and China.

SOURCE ImmVira
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers Market is segmented into various categories based on application (telecommunication, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, military and defense, and others), type (100 mm or 4 inches and above, 76.2 mm or 3 inches, and 50.8 mm or 2 inches), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share is expected to increase by USD 106.9 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will decelerate at a CAGR of 13.57%.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers Market 2022-2026

For further insights on market overview and dynamic analysis, Read our FREE PDF Sample Report

Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the global indium phosphide (InP) wafers market as a part of the global semiconductor equipment 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 global indium phosphide (InP) wafers market throughout the forecast period, Download a FREE PDF Sample Report

Vendor Insights

The indium phosphide (InP) wafers market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. To make the best of the opportunity, the market vendors should focus more on the fast-growing segment's growth prospects while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the indium phosphide (InP) wafers market, including Advanced Engineering Materials Ltd., American Elements, AXT Inc., Broadcom Inc., DingTen Industrial Inc.

Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the indium phosphide (InP) wafers market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As, as well as go-to-market strategy support.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and latest developments. Buy Now to gain access to detailed information about vendors

Product Insights and News

American Elements - The company offers indium phosphide (InP) wafers such as indium phosphide wafer IN P 01 WF.

The company offers indium phosphide (InP) wafers such as indium phosphide wafer IN P 01 WF. AXT Inc. - The company offers indium phosphide (InP) wafers such as semiconductor wafer substrates comprising indium phosphide.

The company offers indium phosphide (InP) wafers such as semiconductor wafer substrates comprising indium phosphide. JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corp. - The company offers indium phosphide (InP) wafers such as InP for third and fourth compound semiconductors.

The Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers Market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles and offerings. Download FREE PDF Sample Report

Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers 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.

To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, Download our FREE PDF Sample Report

Key Market Dynamics

Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers Market Key Drivers

Rising adoption of smartphones and tablets

Shipments of smartphones reached more than 1.37 billion units in 2021 owing to the availability of low-cost smartphones in emerging countries such as China and India and the increasing Internet penetration worldwide. This will drive the demand for the indium phosphide (InP) wafers used in mobile handsets. In addition, the rising demand for tablets is contributing to market growth. Many local market participants have started introducing tablets in their respective countries.

Download a FREE PDF Sample Report for highlights on market drivers and trends impacting the indium phosphide (InP) wafers market

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Related Reports

E-Beam Wafer Inspection System Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: This report extensively covers segmentation by end user (IDM and foundry) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). 43% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The e-beam wafer inspection system market share growth in the IDM segment will be significant.

Semiconductor Silicon Wafer Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: This report extensively covers segmentation by application (consumer electronics, telecommunication, automotive, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). 78% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The semiconductor silicon wafer market share growth in the consumer electronics segment will be significant.

Indium Phosphide (InP) Wafers Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 13.57% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 106.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 17.79 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 41% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Advanced Engineering Materials Ltd., American Elements, AXT Inc., Broadcom Inc., DingTen Industrial Inc., Engis Corp., Gelest Inc., InPACT, IQE Plc, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corp., Logitech Ltd., NANOGRAFI Co. Inc., Reade International Corp., Semiconductor Wafer Inc., Stanford Advanced Materials, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Vital Materials Co. Ltd., Wafer World Inc., Western Minmetals SC Corp., and Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis 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.

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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 Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 25: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 26: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Application

5.3 Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 29: Chart on Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Data Table on Telecommunication - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: Chart on Telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 32: Data Table on Telecommunication - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 33: Chart on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Data Table on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Chart on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 36: Data Table on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Pharmaceuticals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 37: Chart on Pharmaceuticals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Data Table on Pharmaceuticals - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Chart on Pharmaceuticals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 40: Data Table on Pharmaceuticals - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Military and defense - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 41: Chart on Military and defense - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 42: Data Table on Military and defense - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Chart on Military and defense - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 44: Data Table on Military and defense - 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 Application

Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by Application ($ million)

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 50: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 52: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Comparison by Type

6.3 100 mm or 4 inches and above - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on 100 mm or 4 inches and above - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on 100 mm or 4 inches and above - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Chart on 100 mm or 4 inches and above - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on 100 mm or 4 inches and above - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 76.2 mm or 3 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on 76.2 mm or 3 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on 76.2 mm or 3 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Chart on 76.2 mm or 3 inches - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on 76.2 mm or 3 inches - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 50.8 mm or 2 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on 50.8 mm or 2 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on 50.8 mm or 2 inches - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on 50.8 mm or 2 inches - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on 50.8 mm or 2 inches - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.6 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 66: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

7 Customer Landscape

7.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 67: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 68: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 70: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 71: Data Table on Geographic comparison

8.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 72: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 74: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 78: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 82: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Europe - 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 84: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 86: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 90: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 91: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.8 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 (%)

8.9 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 96: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 97: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 98: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 99: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 100: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 102: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 103: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 104: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 105: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 106: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 107: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.12 South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 108: Chart on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 109: Data Table on South Korea - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 110: Chart on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 111: Data Table on South Korea - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 112: 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 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

9.4 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption

10.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 117: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification

11.3 American Elements

Exhibit 119: American Elements - Overview



Exhibit 120: American Elements - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: American Elements - Key offerings

11.4 AXT Inc.

Exhibit 122: AXT Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 123: AXT Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 124: AXT Inc. - Key offerings

11.5 JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp.

Exhibit 125: JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 126: JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: JX Nippon Mining and Metals Corp. - Key offerings

11.6 Logitech Ltd.

Exhibit 128: Logitech Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 129: Logitech Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 130: Logitech Ltd. - Key offerings

11.7 NANOGRAFI Co. Inc.

Exhibit 131: NANOGRAFI Co. Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 132: NANOGRAFI Co. Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: NANOGRAFI Co. Inc. - Key offerings

11.8 Semiconductor Wafer Inc.

Exhibit 134: Semiconductor Wafer Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 135: Semiconductor Wafer Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 136: Semiconductor Wafer Inc. - Key offerings

11.9 Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

Exhibit 137: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 138: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 139: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 140: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. - Segment focus

11.10 Wafer World Inc.

Exhibit 141: Wafer World Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 142: Wafer World Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 143: Wafer World Inc. - Key offerings

11.11 Western Minmetals SC Corp.

Exhibit 144: Western Minmetals SC Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 145: Western Minmetals SC Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 146: Western Minmetals SC Corp. - Key offerings

11.12 Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 147: Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 148: Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 149: Xiamen Powerway Advanced Material Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

12 Appendix

About Us

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 150: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 151: Exclusions checklist

12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 152: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 153: Research methodology



Exhibit 154: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 155: Information sources

12.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 156: List of abbreviations

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
Canvas LMS to deliver learning in more than 40 languages through the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, the maker of Canvas, has partnered with Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird) at Arizona State University (ASU), to provide a platform for the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative . This ambitious program is powered by the Canvas Learning Management System and aims to offer quality online education from world-class accredited institutions in 40 languages to learners across the globe. The courses will be provided at no cost to the learner with women and girls accounting for 70 percent of enrollment worldwide.

"The Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative is exactly the type of global care initiative Instructure is excited and proud to put resources and time into supporting," said Steve Daly, CEO of Instructure. "As leaders, we need to think globally about how we deliver first-rate equal access to education with a diverse range of student needs in mind. This global initiative is an engaging online program that offers necessary flexibility and empowers forward-thinking leaders and educators worldwide. We are delighted to be a part of that kind of innovative actionable program."

Francis and Dionne Najafi, both Thunderbird graduates, made an unprecedented $25 million donation to the Thunderbird School of Global Management earlier this year that launched the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative. The program provides world-class education to a population that previously could not access it, especially women and young learners. It continues through 2030.

"We believe access to education is a basic human right, which is why we worked with Thunderbird to create a global initiative that will educate 100 million learners worldwide," said F. Francis Najafi on behalf of him and his wife, Dionne Najafi. "We are excited and deeply humbled to be part of such a bold initiative that combines T-bird's entrepreneurial drive with a desire to do good. We hope to impact communities around the world and be a force that brings us all closer together."

"The Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative is an ambitious large-scale program, and the number of people it aims to reach with online education at no cost is unprecedented," said Shiren Vijiasingam, chief product officer at Instructure. "The program aligns with our goal of extending inclusive education worldwide. We're proud to partner with the initiative and support it with Canvasa world-class solution for the world's classrooms that makes student success more equitable."

The Global Initiative has three pathways for learners depending on their education levels. The foundational courses are for learners of any level; the intermediate courses are for advanced high school learners to current undergraduate learners; the advanced courses are for advanced undergraduate learners and above.

"We are honored to partner with Instructure and their Canvas LMS platform to help accelerate educational empowerment worldwide, support learners and professionals to gain the skills needed to succeed in the dynamic digitalized global economy, and advance sustainable and inclusive prosperity worldwide," said Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean at ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Interested learners can get more information and register for courses at http://100millionlearners.com .

ABOUT INSTRUCTURE

Instructure (NYSE: INST) is an education technology company dedicated to elevating student success, amplifying the power of teaching, and inspiring everyone to learn together. Today the Instructure Learning Platform supports tens of millions of educators and learners around the world. Learn more at www.instructure.com .

Contact

Brian Watkins

Corporate Communications

Instructure

(801) 610-9722

[email protected]

SOURCE Instructure
MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Select students at Jericho High School experienced first-hand what it's like to be a published author, thanks to the Future Authors Project, a writing workshop supported by Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc. These talented Jericho students produced a book titled "With Every Letter Comes a Story," a collection of their personal experiences as told through their own writing and photography.

Jericho High School Future Authors Group Photo Jericho Future Authors Book Cover

The Future Authors Project, which first launched in the Jericho School District in 2017, is an annual program that provides high school students an inside look into the writing process from idea conception, drafting, and editing through to publication. The students also participate in an official book launch, held this year on October 20 at Jericho High School, where they sign copies of the published books, printed on Canon production print technology by Suffolk Printing.

"The stories included in the book are a collection of personal reflections, shared challenges and experiences from each student," said Dr. Daniel Salzman, Curriculum Associate for English Language Arts, Jericho School District. "I am proud of each and every one of our students for creating this wonderful book and sharing it with us, and taking their first professional steps into the world of writing."

The goal of the workshop is to sharpen writing, editing, and storytelling skills. This year's theme of "letters" gave the writers the opportunity to unearth their untold stories through a one-on-one message format, addressing recipients such as "My Younger Self," "Memory," "Loss," and "A Stranger." As part of the program, students used Canon imaging equipment during the creative process to capture vivid photographs to accompany their written work. Canon equipped each student with an EOS M50 Mark II camera and provided training on basic photography principles. The writings and photos of the students were combined into the book "With Every Letter Comes a Story," affording each student a published author credit.

"We would like to give a huge thanks to Canon Solutions America for helping us complete yet another successful book," said Heather McGee, English teacher, Jericho High School. "The Future Authors Project provides our students with the opportunity to unleash their creativity capacities."

For some of the students, this was the first time ever seeing their work published in a printed book, sparking strong feelings of accomplishment. Jericho High School Senior, Jerry Zhao, explained this was a proud moment.

"It was a great experience collaborating with my teachers and fellow students during the writing and photography process," said Zhao. "It was surreal to see the finished product, and I think more schools should offer students wonderful programs like Future Authors."

Andrew MacCallum, senior manager of the Imaging Technologies and Communications Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., visited the Future Authors students at the workshop this summer, to share his knowledge of photography and give tips and tricks about how to take great pictures for the book.

"It's a rewarding experience to help these future authors and future photographersand show them how they can tell their stories through pictures," said MacCallum. "We hope the Future Authors Project strengthens these students' writing and photography skills, and enhances their critical thinking."

Supporting the Future Authors Project is in line with Canon's corporate philosophy of Kyosei, which is defined as "all people regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future."

"This program is a terrific example of what high school students can accomplish when they are provided with the right tools," said Peter P. Kowalczuk, president, Canon Solutions America. "I always enjoy reading their stories and seeing the creativity and inspiration that goes into their work. There is incredible collaboration at work herefrom the students and faculty of Jericho High School, to the team at Suffolk Printing, to the staff at Canon U.S.A. and Canon Solutions America. We all come together in support of the Future Authors Project."

About Canon Solutions America, Inc.

Canon Solutions America, Inc. provides industry leading enterprise, production, and large format printing solutions, supported by exceptional professional service offerings. Canon Solutions America, Inc. helps companies of all sizes discover ways to improve sustainability, increase efficiency, and control costs in conjunction with high volume, continuous feed, digital and traditional printing, and document management solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Solutions America, Inc. is headquartered in Melville, NY and has sales and service locations across the U.S. For more information on Canon Solutions America, please visit csa.canon.com .

Canon Solutions America, Inc. Website:

csa.canon.com

For sales info/customer support:

1-844-443-INFO (4636)

Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

 2022 Canon Solutions America, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Canon Solutions America
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Multifamily housing industry leaders Kerry W. Kirby, founder and CEO of 365 Connect, an award-winning technology firm serving the multifamily housing industry, and Ernest F. Oriente, a property management expert and founder of PowerHour, are excited to announce their receipt of a MarCom Award. This prestigious, global award recognizes Kirby and Oriente for their long running industry-focused webcast series, which airs monthly on MultifamilyBiz.com, the largest media resource in the multifamily housing industry.

The MarCom Awards is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected competitions in the world that recognizes the outstanding achievements of creative professionals. This year's competition boasted over 6,000 entries throughout the United States, Canada, and 43 other countries, with entrants ranging from corporate marketing and communication departments to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The winning entries were selected by an international panel of judges.

Covering a vast spectrum of topics, Kirby and Oriente are two thought leaders with unique perspectives on the market, who have met monthly since 2007, to discuss industry trends as they happen. Their podcast, MultifamilyBiz + PowerHour Webcast Series, has reached more than one-million listeners around the world, broadcasting over 150 episodes across an array of podcast channels, such as Spotify and iHeart Radio. This marks the fifth global award the duo has earned, as they have also received a highly acclaimed Davey Award, Communicator Award, dotCOMM Award, and w3 Award.

Oriente responded to the recent announcement, "Kerry and I are honored to accept this prestigious award. We started this journey with a mission to provide listeners with a mix of time-tested and leading-edge strategies, across a wide range of topics to the more than 12 million professionals who serve our industry. We strive to offer diverse and intriguing content so our audience may accommodate the unprecedented growth occurring in our industry."

Initially starting as a passion project for Kirby and Oriente, the MultifamilyBiz + PowerHour Webcast Series delivers original content that discusses the significance of technology within modern multifamily housing operations and provides innovative growth strategies for gaining traction within that very market. With a combined experience of almost 50 years in the multifamily housing industry, Oriente and Kirby have presented on topics such as digital transformation, contactless communities, vendor relationships, and recruiting team members. After all these years, they remain passionate and committed to discussing informative and thought-provoking monthly content.

Kirby concluded, "Ernest and I have spent more than a decade diligently watching the multifamily marketplace. Today, 43 million Americans call a rental apartment their home, and the rental housing industry and its residents are responsible for contributing over 3.4 trillion dollars to the national economy. It is our goal to highlight the shifts occurring in the market, which allows our audience to prepare for changes in our industry. We are humbled to be recognized with this highly coveted award and are grateful to our growing base of listeners from across with globe."

To explore webcast content, visit MultifamilyBiz.com

MULTIFAMILYBIZ + POWERHOUR WEBCAST SERIES: Founded by multifamily housing industry thought leaders, Kerry W. Kirby and Ernest F. Oriente, the award-winning MultifamilyBiz + PowerHour Webcast is a monthly series of comprehensive, educational, and leading-edge programming. The webcasts are presented and hosted on MultifamilyBiz.com, the largest media platform for the multifamily housing industry, which delivers news, events, and resources to more than one million monthly visitors. Explore: www.MultifamilyBiz.com

MEDIA CONTACTS

MultifamilyBiz  Media Relations

[email protected]

504-299-3444

SOURCE MultifamilyBiz
LONDON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarian, an intelligent pipeline monitoring company, announces a strategic technology agreement with InfinyOn. The agreement with InfinyOn, a real-time event streaming company, will drive innovation into the energy sector with real-time data and actionable insights. Klarian has developed Digipipe, an end-to-end pipeline monitoring solution with a performance dashboard that integrates with InfinyOn, to stream, transform and load events in real-time.

Pipelines transport some of our most valuable natural resources. Pipeline failures can have devastating environmental, social, and financial consequences. Operators need real-time insights into operational data to reduce risk, optimise production, and comply with regulation and environmental goals. Data is collected from Klarian sensors and events are continuously streaming to the Digipipe Cloud Platform with single digit millisecond latency. Operations teams no longer have to rely on old data generated through traditional batch processing.

Empowering users, developers, and data analysts with the ability to collect their own supplementary data alongside the primary Klarian sensor data using Digipipe is a key objective. The Klarian team evaluated several potential solutions to enable Digipipe to operate in real-time with services such as System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), IoT platforms, and serverless functions. The same problems occurred. Proprietary protocols, vendor platform lock-in, and complicated tooling that is expensive and difficult to manage.

Traditional tooling for event streaming such as Kafka, AirFlow, and Broadway was considered by Klarian to quickly develop its platform with real-time data. Building an event streaming architecture that ingests, transforms and distributes data results in a complicated mesh of data acquisition, data transformation, and data storage services.

Klarian selected InfinyOn Cloud, a unified platform for real-time event streaming and data transformation, to power Digipipe. "We started working with more traditional systems and services but quickly identified that they were not a viable option. By deploying InfinyOn Cloud we were able to improve our engineering velocity. The days of blocking deployment or teams waiting for services to be deployed are gone for us." said Ben Cleary, Head of Technology at Klarian.

"Working with InfinyOn has enabled Klarian to realize substantial performance improvements compared to Kafka. During the initial proof of concept, InfinyOn was able to deliver a 3x reduction in latency, 5x improvement in throughput, 7x better CPU utilization and 50x greater memory utilization" said Seyho Chang, CTO of InfinyOn.

InfinyOn Cloud will be the backbone of the Klarian data analytics platform. Klarian plans to continue developing its Digipipe product with upcoming features such as the InfinyOn SmartModule Hub, an industry first data transformation App Store. Together, Klarian and InfinyOn will collect pipeline data from upstream to midstream and transform it into performance clarity for operators in real-time.

About Klarian

The Klarian mission is to optimise pipeline infrastructure for a more sustainable planet. Our intelligent pipeline monitoring solution, Digipipe, captures operations data to mitigate risks, optimise production, improve efficiencies, and comply with regulation and environmental goals. Proprietary algorithms reveal meaningful data, hidden insights, and actionable intelligence to give operations the information needed to manage assets safely, efficiently, and profitably. From upstream to downstream, Klarian transforms pipeline efficiency.

Klarian is open to commercial opportunities and investment. To learn more, please visit klarian.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About InfinyOn

InfinyOn, a real-time event streaming company, has architected a data platform for event stream processing and real-time transformation. Their flagship product, InfinyOn Cloud, is a fully managed Fluvio service, powered by Rust and WebAssembly, that allows organisations to deploy and operate large-scale data pipelines from edge to Cloud. The data platform includes a SmartModule Hub that enables enterprises to program their data pipelines as they flow between producers and consumers for real-time services. Fluvio and InfinyOn Cloud were built using the Rust programming language known for its strong safety, small footprint, and low memory utilisation. To learn more, please visit infinyon.com.

Media contact

Grant Swanson

408-624-7001

[email protected]

SOURCE InfinyOn
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kradle Pet Calming Company, the first calming brand focused solely on providing effective calming solutions to our four-legged friends, today announced the appointment of Ellen Forsyth as the Company's Chief Customer Officer (CCO).

Ellen Forsyth, Kradle's Chief Customer Officer, pictured above with her dog, Oakley.

Ellen Forsyth brings more than two decades of extensive sales and marketing experience in the consumer packaged goods industry to Kradle. Forsyth began her career as a retail sales representative at General Mills, Inc. and ultimately went on to hold several executive leadership positions within the organization, including Vice President of Capabilities and Retail Operations, Vice President of Strategic Revenue Management, and Vice President of US Grocery and Industry Affairs. During this time, Forsyth also earned her Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

Most recently, Forsyth served as the Senior Vice President - Head of Sales at the Blue Buffalo Pet Food Company, where she led a team of 250 sales professionals and 1,200 retail demo partners. Her tenure at Blue Buffalo, from July 2019 to November 2020, resulted in $1.5 billion in sales, category leading growth, and channel expansion.

"We are ecstatic to welcome Ellen Forsyth to the leadership team at Kradle," said Bill Partyka, CEO of Kradle. "Her proven track-record of accelerating growth and her success in the pet category is a key asset for our strategy as we continue to build our business with key retail partners."

As the CCO at Kradle, Forsyth will lead all sales segments, including customer success management, and will be responsible for growing market share and driving top-line sales.

"The idea of working with a mission-first company and the chance to be part of building something amazing from the beginning stages was exactly the type of opportunity I was looking for as I came back from sabbatical. The fact that I am a pet parent to a crazy, young, and anxious pup, who has certainly benefited from Kradle, didn't hurt either!" said Forsyth. "My experiences with consumer packaged goods brands and with customers over the last 20+ years will help bring Kradle to many new pet parents in the near future."

For more information, visit kradlemypet.com or @kradlemypet .

About Kradle

Kradle shares your love for dogs. Launched in June 2020, Kradle's mission is to create happier homes for families with pets through superior calming products for every dog and any anxious moment. Kradle believes that when nature, science, and passion work together in harmony, we get the most out of each and every day with our pets. Passionately dedicated to helping dogs lead happier lives, the Kradle difference is in its proprietary BotaniTek formulations which work to help dogs adapt to everyday stressors and promote overall calmness, focus, and relaxation.

Media Contact:

Jane Fraley

[email protected]

SOURCE Kradle LLC
IFC, Sarona, and other global investors to partner with L Catterton as co-investors in Crediclub

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crediclub, one of Mexico's fastest-growing lending platforms, today announced that several leading global private equity investors have joined as co-investors in the company's recently announced partnership with L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. Several of Crediclub's current investors also participated in the US$80 million round.

Collectively, the investment will help accelerate Crediclub's growth and support its mission to provide all Mexicans with access to greater and more affordable financial products. This partnership provides Crediclub with significant growth capital and harnesses the combined expertise of multiple leading global investors to expand Crediclub's product offering in Mexico, drive customer acquisition, enhance technological capabilities, and accelerate brand awareness. The new co-investors, which are investing as part of L Catterton's original equity commitment include IFC, Sarona and other international players.

"We have developed a strong and productive partnership with L Catterton and are thrilled that they leveraged their broad relationships across the globe to support our continued growth," said Juan Francisco Fernandez, CEO and co-founder of Crediclub. "These new investors bring additional expertise as we enhance the capabilities that make Crediclub such a powerful alternative to traditional banks."

Crediclub continues to invest in technology to improve the customer relationship experience for both its lending and deposit products. The company recently launched several new technological initiatives to expand its suite of simple and easy-to-use lending products, including Credito Express Productivo and a digitally-driven offering in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) lending and investment services.

"We are incredibly passionate about Crediclub's outstanding growth potential serving the underbanked population in Mexico - and about its performance, which is unmatched when compared to other financial disruptors in the region," said Ramiro Lauzan, a Partner in L Catterton's Latin America Fund. "We are very pleased to be joined on this opportunity by some of our most prominent and loyal investors, who share our conviction in Crediclub as a driving force of financial inclusion in Mexico."

The transaction is expected to close in early 2023, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

About Crediclub

Crediclub, S.A. de C.V., S.F.P. is an impact oriented regulated financial institution with a mission to drive financial inclusion in Mexico by offering top-tier financial products. Crediclub has 2.5 million credit operations and more than $2 billion in loans granted historically, in addition to being a pioneer and leader in the digital savings and investment segment. The company's product portfolio includes group, individual, and productive personal loans; savings and investments; a digital wallet with BNPL capabilities; and an offering for small and medium sized businesses. Crediclub was founded in 2005 by an entrepreneurial team supported by a group of international investors with vast sector expertise. The Company's compelling value proposition, combined with outstanding underwriting and operating capabilities and a low-cost, low-risk source of funding, has allowed it to consistently deliver best-in-class unit-level economics and profitability. For more information about Crediclub, please visit crediclub.com.

About L Catterton

With approximately $33 billion of equity capital across its fund strategies and 17 offices around the world, L Catterton is the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. Leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad strategic network of relationships, L Catterton's team of nearly 200 investment and operating professionals support management teams around the world in building strong, category-leading brands. Since 1989, the firm has made around 250 investments in consumer businesses. For more information about L Catterton, please visit lcatterton.com.

About IFC

IFCa member of the World Bank Groupis the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works in more than 100 countries, using capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About Sarona Asset Management

Canada-based Sarona Asset Management is a private investment firm, investing in companies, private equity funds, and venture capital funds in Emerging Markets. Sarona's particular focus is the small to mid-market companies that meet the growing needs of the rising middle class in those markets. Its goal is to achieve superior returns by creating world-class companies employing highly progressive business strategies, and operating to the highest standards of business, ethical, social, and environmental excellence. Sarona is a Certified B Corporation (B Corp), a founding member of the Global Impact Investing Network, an AVPN member, a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the Operating Principles for Impact Management, as well as a member of the 2X Collaborative. For more information, please visit: https://www.saronafund.com/.

Media Contact:

Crediclub

Priscila Escalante

Corporate Development Lead

[email protected]

+52.228.206.0854

L Catterton

Julie Hamilton

Managing Director, Firm Communications

[email protected]

203.742.5185

SOURCE L Catterton
Release Incorporates Clinical Data Connector and Randomization Module to Support End-To-End Management of Streamlined Clinical Labeling Processes

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Loftware, the global leader in Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management solutions, today announced the availability of Loftware Prisym 360 1.16. The latest release of Loftware's cloud-based clinical trials label and content management solution adds two new features designed to increase the efficiency of clinical trial supplies operations while reducing risk and simplifying compliance.

Prisym 360 1.16 introduces a new Clinical Data Connector, which streamlines the end-to-end clinical labeling process by connecting clinical supplies applications to Prisym 360's label and booklet design features. This removes the need for any label data to be input manually, helping to automate the process of GxP-compliant label printing and saving valuable user time while reducing the risks associated with manual inputs.

Supporting widely used industry protocols and standards, such as Web Services, SOAP, and REST, to maximize its compatibility with a customer's existing clinical supplies management applications, the Clinical Data Connector allows for the creation and revision of clinical trial master label data within Prisym 360. Consequently, a customer's existing clinical supplies application gains the ability to send print requests and associated data to Prisym 360 to produce labels on demand.

Additionally, Prisym 360 1.16 introduces a Randomization Module, which provides a comprehensive set of clinical label randomization functions that are fully integrated and available through a simple and intuitive user interface. Providing randomization functionality, especially valuable to organizations or teams without access to a RTSM application, the module has been designed in close collaboration with clinical supplies teams within several leading pharmaceutical R&D organizations and clinical supplies service providers. Through a step-by-step process, users can create randomization definitions to generate data for clinical trials packs while remaining fully integrated and compatible with Prisym 360's other clinical trials labeling functions, including the Clinical Data Connector and the 3-Step Clinical Label Print Process.

Both new features have been developed with direct input from existing users and are designed to support industry best practice. Due to the modular nature of Prisym 360, customers can flexibly upgrade their solution to access this new functionality if desired.

Simon Jones, Loftware VP Product Management, Life Sciences, said: "The pressure to reduce trial start-up times coupled with the growth in adaptive clinical trials has prompted focus amongst clinical supplies software application vendors to help streamline the end-to-end clinical trial supplies process. The Prisym 360 Clinical Data Connector, developed with input from best-of-breed Clinical Supplies Management vendors, such as Signant Health, helps simplify inter-connection with Prisym 360, thereby removing the need for manual data entry.

"Similarly, the new Randomization Module is designed to simplify the process of performing patient and kit-based randomization, as being integral within Prisym 360 aids with ease of use whilst helping customers ensure GxP compliance."

The Prisym 360 Clinical Data Connector and Data Randomization modules are now available as part of the latest 1.16 product release of Prisym 360. For more information, visit www.loftware.com

About Loftware:

Loftware is the world's largest cloud-based Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management provider, offering an end-to-end labeling solution platform for companies of all sizes. Maintaining a global presence with offices in the US, UK, Germany, Slovenia, China, and Singapore, Loftware boasts over 35 years of expertise in solving labeling challenges. We help companies improve accuracy, traceability and compliance while improving the quality, speed, and efficiency of their labeling. As the leading global provider of Enterprise Labeling and Artwork Management, along with Clinical Trials Labeling and Content Management, Loftware enables supply chain agility, supports evolving regulations, and optimizes business operations for a wide range of industries. These include automotive, chemicals, consumer products, electronics, food & beverage, manufacturing, medical device, pharmaceuticals, retail and apparel.

Media contacts:

Laura Hindley, Senior PR & Communications Manager, [email protected]

SOURCE Loftware, Inc.
Aali Qureshi to spearhead Kissflow's North America and Latin America business in an ongoing effort to support expansion into global enterprise accounts

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kissflow, provider of a unified low-code and no-code work platform, today announced that Aali Qureshi has joined the team as Senior Vice President of Sales for the Americas. He is a veteran in the low-code, no-code paradigm and brings nearly 15 years of experience. Most recently he served as Vice President at Bizagi where he was responsible for executing the company's strategy across four continents.

He comes on board to expand Kissflow's international footprint by establishing business transformation hubs in the United States and eventually expanding to Canada and Latin America. He will bolster Kissflow's product offerings across the Public and Private Sector which shall include financial services, insurance, healthcare, oil and gas, federal, and state/local governments.

"Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of being on the front lines of the low-code/ no-code technology revolution. I consider Kissflow to be among the major players in this space, and I truly believe that Kissflow stands apart with its power of a simple value proposition. It is a robust, cloud-native SaaS platform that solves end-end operational transformation challenges," said Aali Qureshi. "My time at IBM, Pega and Bizagi has armed me with the industry knowledge and deep understanding of the customer journey required to approach my role at Kissflow as Sr. VP with tenacity and confidence."

As a committed and successful leader, Aali Qureshi has a knack for connecting with business leaders who value time and technology that empowers business, and who are passionate about pushing digital transformation forward. His global track record of uniting markets and strategically growing product adoption will be an asset to Kissflow as it scales.

"Kissflow's low-code / no-code work platform continues to gain significant traction, and our aggressive expansion plans for the North American market requires a strategic approach led by an industry veteran," said Suresh Sambandam, CEO of Kissflow. "Aali will be instrumental in not only accelerating Kissflow's growth efforts in our key target geographies but he will also provide a fresh perspective backed by years of experience and tangible results."

Aali Qureshi is based in Detroit, Michigan, and studied Decision Science and Information Systems from the University of Kentucky.

About Kissflow

Kissflow provides a unified low-code no-code work platform for enterprises to digitally transform business operations. Kissflow brings enterprise IT and business users together to transform operations by embracing the low-code/no-code paradigm. Kissflow enables every enterprise user to build and manage apps, processes, tasks, analytics, integration, and collaboration in a single unified platform.

Hundreds of global and Fortune 500 brands such as Airbus, Pepsi, McDermott, Comcast and Danone rely on Kissflow to simplify their work. Kissflow has been featured and recognized as an industry leader by Gartner, Forrester and G2. Founded in 2004, Kissflow is an industry pioneer in the low-code / no-code space with a globally distributed workforce. Learn more at https://kissflow.com/

Contact:

Saivinai R

+91 8056108978

[email protected]

SOURCE Kissflow Inc
Lunit invited to join the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community, an invitation-only group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups at the forefront of technological and business model innovation

In 2020, Lunit was nominated among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers"

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX: 328130.KQ), a leading medical AI provider serving more than 1,000 medical sites globally, today announced that the company has joined the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community, a group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of ethical technological and business model innovation.

The World Economic Forum provides the Global Innovators Community with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency. As part of the Global Innovators Community, Lunit will engage with the Forum's Platforms to help define the global agenda on key issues.

"We're pleased to welcome Lunit to the Global Innovators Community and we're looking forward to leveraging their insights to inform our content work on the Forum's Platform for Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare," said Verena Kuhn, Global Innovators Community Head, World Economic Forum.

"Lunit is honored to accept the World Economic Forum's recognition as a global innovator," said Brandon Suh. "We are excited to partake in the community's mission to use our innovative power to help protect the lives and livelihoods of communities and industries around the world. We will continue to work with the Forum in contributing to the global community with our expertise and experiences in the medical AI field."

As one of the first-generation medical AI startups, founded in 2013, Lunit has been developing AI software systems for cancer screening and oncology, providing services in partnership with major industry giants such as GE Healthcare, Fujifilm, Philips, Guardant Health, and more. The company has grown rapidly, serving customers from more than 1,000 medical sites around the world in just 3.5 years since its first product approval, with a high retention rate of 90%.

In 2020, Lunit was nominated among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum's "Technology Pioneers," comprised of early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the design, development, and deployment of new technologies poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

Following its invitation to join the Global Innovators, CEO Brandon Suh of Lunit will be present at the upcoming World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January, at Davos.

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.

About World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is independent, impartial, and not tied to any special interests.

SOURCE Lunit
The brand will join the curated "Buy Good. Buy Black." collection with product available starting October 27th, 2022

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lure, the luxury clean, hemp-infused beauty brand is excited to announce that it will be included in the "Buy Good. Buy Black." collection online and at all three locations of modern department store, Neighborhood Goods. Neighborhood Goods has reimagined the department store model, creating a community-driven retail experience that has attracted some of the most exciting up-and-coming brands across their growing number of stores.

Lure, the luxury clean, hemp-infused beauty brand is available at Neighborhood Goods starting 10/27 Summer Rice, Monica Reese,Kara Kelly: Founders of Lure

Neighborhood Goods will carry the brand's wildly popular lineup, including the Lure Relief Balm ($60), Lure Calming Drops ($95) and Lure Intimacy Oil ($55) and will be showcased as part of the auspicious "Buy Good. Buy Black." program launched in 2021by Roslyn Karamoko. Hand-picked by Karamoko, the program champions an ever-evolving collection of Black-owned brands that democratizes access to retail space.

"As a female founded and majority Black-owned brand, it is an incredible honor to be selected to be part of Neighborhood Goods as they truly share our commitment to showcasing the highest quality beauty products while creating a space where discovery and inclusion is paramount," said Kara Kelly, co-founder of Lure.

"We are so excited to work with Lure on their first brick-and-mortar outpost. I love that this product was created by women who look like me in an effort to create balance and wellness in the lives of all women. The products and founders are just so beautiful and I look forward to the impact that Lure has in the CBD space," said Roslyn Karamoko, VP of Strategic Business Development for Neighborhood Goods.

The Lure line can be found online at Neighborhood Goods (www.neighborhoodgoods.com) and at all three retail locations including South Congress, TX, Chelsea Market , NY and Legacy West, TX starting October 27th, 2022. From decreasing stress, to deepening pleasure and improving sleep - Lure offers modern day essentials made for everyone. https://thelurelife.com

ABOUT Lure:

Lure is a clean, high-quality, plant-based, non-intoxicating, and joy producing CBD wellness products. The line consists of clean beauty essentials that sit alongside skincare and makeup routines and have earned a place on our nightstand creating an overall balance and wellness to daily life. Lure was created by female founders who started the brand to help their own needs as life evolves from anxiety, to sleep issues to intimacy at 40+.

ABOUT Neighborhood Goods:

Neighborhood Goods is a new type of department store, featuring an ever-changing landscape of thoughtful, exciting, and contemporary brands, stories, and events. More than that, they are a place for community, bringing people together to shop, eat, discover, and learn across their growing number of stores throughout the country with locations in New York, NY, and Austin, and Dallas, TX.

PR Contact:

Alana Wodnicki

Sidecar

E: [email protected]

P: 646.228.9018

www.sayhitosidecar.com

SOURCE Lure
SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inside Namtai Inno Park in Guangming District hides a low-profile biomedical development firm  Shenzhen Wingor Biotechnology Co. Upon entering the company, one may feel a different vibe  something gentle yet vibrant, maybe because it's female-dominated. Its founder, most executives and over half the employees are female.

Jiang Shu, the company's founder and chairwoman, has been working in biomedicine for over 20 years, mainly focusing on cellular and genetic technologies, as well as clinical translation and application.

Jiang Shu, founder and chairwoman of Shenzhen Wingor Biotechnology Co.

After Jiang finished her doctoral degree in medicine at Jilin University, she went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for her postdoctoral research. Later, she worked as a senior biotechnology researcher at Stanford University for many years. Jiang has also worked for the well-known U.S. pharmaceutical company Escape, where she has been engaged in biotech research and development, and innovative cellular drug development and translation.

"Compared with developed countries in the West, there is a huge clinical demand in China, and the domestic biomedicine industry has huge development potential. In 2009, with confidence and determination, I was introduced back to China as a high-level overseas talent and set out on a journey to return to China for development," Jiang told Shenzhen Daily in an exclusive interview.

In 2013, she founded Shenzhen Wingor Biotechnology Co. in order to work with her team to keep innovating and developing new-type cellular and gene therapy products in the fields of degenerative, autoimmune and neurological diseases. The company focuses on the whole industry chain from research to development, translation and application of cellular and gene therapies.

"At present, our first-tier products are focused on the development of innovative stem cell drugs. We have formed a high-quality technical and management team of over 80 people, and among them, over 40% are high-level talents with master's degree, doctoral degree or above. Our goal is: Slow down aging, keep diseases away and keep healthy forever," Jiang introduced.

Zhang Yun, co-CEO of the company, is Chinese Canadian. After working in biomedical research abroad for several years, she decided to return to China to focus on the translation and application of biomedical technologies. In 2013, she joined Jiang's team to develop cellular and gene therapy drugs and focus on the research of clinical translation and application.

"The 21st century is the era of cellular therapy. In recent years, cellular therapy has demonstrated a broad prospect in application; and the global stem cell industry is developing rapidly with a gradually expanding market scale which will reach trillions of yuan in the next three years. Stem cell research and application is the most important segment and has become an important indicator of a country's life science and medical development, and many countries are strongly supporting the research in this field," Zhang said.

According to Jiang, when she was conducting cell technology research abroad, there were already several new stem cell drugs in the overseas market, but to date, there is still not a single new stem cell drug in the Chinese market.

"The clinical application of stem cell technology not only provides a new treatment model for various diseases, but also brings hope to seriously and gravely ill patients. We are developing stem cell products which will hopefully fill the gap of stem cell drugs in Shenzhen and even in all of China," Jiang said.

The company, originally set up in Nanshan, is now headquartered in Guangming, and has nearly 10 branches in various areas including South China, North China, Southwest China and Northwest China. It has also established nearly 10 regional cell preparations.

When Jiang was asked about why she set up the company in Shenzhen, without second thought, she listed many of the city's advantages.

"Many people may ask why we didn't set up the company in the Yangtze River Delta because they may think that the biomedicine industry clusters are there. But in fact, Shenzhen is the cradle of the cellular and gene therapy industry in China. It has a solid foundation of technology and industrial transformation," Jiang introduced.

Besides, the city has taken the lead in releasing measures to facilitate the development of this industry, such as the Regulation to Promote Cell and Gene Industry in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone unveiled last year. "At the same time, Shenzhen is a cradle of entrepreneurs thanks to its huge advantages in talents and capital," Jiang added.

As for Guangming District, it's the center of northern Shenzhen, a science and technology innovation center and a hub for high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. The district is building the startup zone for the national comprehensive science center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"On one hand, we are now at a new development stage where we need to expand and need more space. On the other hand, the positioning of our company development is in line with the positioning of Guangming District. Guangming is home to a complete chain of industry, academy and research. Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Sun Yat-sen University Shenzhen Campus and the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University are all nearby, which will no doubt facilitate our development," Jiang said.

In addition, Guangming District has an excellent business environment and has released a series of industrial policies to support enterprises' development. The district took the lead in releasing Several Measures to Support the Integrated Development of Innovation and Industry Chains of Synthetic Biology, which has created a favorable external environment and new momentum for the company's development.

"As one of the first batch of recognized synthetic biology enterprises in Guangming, we enjoy Guangming District's industrial support policy on synthetic biology, and we also have access to more industrial resources," Jiang said.

So far, the company has applied for more than 50 patents, including nearly 10 international patents. Jiang said they will continue to attract high-quality talents to strengthen their research team, increase technological innovation investment, enhance market competitiveness and promote the industrialization of cellular and gene therapies in China as soon as possible.

"We believe that, backed by Shenzhen's high tech environment, we will grow into a leading company in the field of cellular and gene therapies in China and speed up the industrialization and commercialization of the cellular and gene therapy industry!" Jiang said.

This is a Shenzhen Daily report:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/so6f3_TPQHcABDGxdK0wRg

SOURCE Shenzhen Daily
Hugh "Jack" Weidinger Wins National Recognition for Community Service and Industry Accomplishments

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The nomination of Hugh "Jack" Weidinger IV, dealer principal at North Bay Cadillac Co. Inc. in Great Neck, New York, for the 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME. Weidinger is one of a select group of 48 dealer nominees from across the country to be honored with the award.

Jack Weidinger at his Cadillac dealership in Great Neck, New York OPERATION WARM: Jack Weidinger donating new warm winter coats to children in need. BREATHING LIFE INTO THE COMMUNITY: Jack Weidinger with Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, donate CPR equipment to a Long Island Volunteer Fire Department.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry's most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation's most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Weidinger was chosen to represent the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition  one of only 48 auto dealers nominated for the 54th annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide.

"My father and grandfather worked hard to establish our reputation in our market, and I am committed to carrying on that legacy by investing in our employees, our facilities and our communities," nominee Weidinger said.

A 1994 graduate of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.S. in finance, Weidinger received his M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York, New York, in 2004. He also studied automotive management at the NADA Academy to prepare to oversee his family's auto group.

"I grew up going to the Jaguar dealership with my dad since about the age of 8 and worked in parts and service during summers while in school," he said, noting that his family has been selling luxury vehicles on Long Island since 1938. "After one year at a Wall Street firm, I joined the dealership full-time in 1996 at age 24."

"I learned how to manage the business, collaborate with the team and saw a lot of ups and downs while managing this new venture," he said.

In 2002, the group sold Infiniti, took on Hummer and built a new Cadillac Hummer store, and Weidinger was named dealer principal of both locations in 2008. Weidinger added Buick and GMC in 2010 and in 2017, he was appointed a Land Rover franchise. Today, he oversees North Bay Cadillac and North Bay Buick GMC in Great Neck and Jaguar Land Rover Freeport in Freeport, New York.

"While growing up in the dealership I worked hard to earn the respect of my co-workers, some of whom are still working for us today," he said. "As the strongest guide in my life, my father taught me the value of caring deeply for the well-being and success of our dealership employees."

With such deep roots in the retail automotive industry on Long Island, Weidinger has served on the board of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association since 2014 and is currently vice chair of the executive board.

He is equally committed to his community and has served on the board of the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club at Lincoln House for six years. Since 1903, this leading advocate for youth has provided essential after-school services and a safe and nurturing environment for 6- to 18-year-olds in Glen Cove, New York.

"Our dealership staff volunteers every year to create Thanksgiving baskets, prepare meals and collect food for the organization's Thanksgiving dinner and basket giveaway, which helps families in need during the holiday," Weidinger said.

His team is also a leading contributor to the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association's annual winter coat drive to purchase new coats from Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that manufactures brand-new, high-quality coats and shoes for children in need.

"Over the 10 years our customers and staff have participated, we have heavily contributed to the 80,000 coats that have been collected and donated," he said. "We work with five local charities and religious groups to distribute the coats we collect throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties."

Weidinger added, "As a third-generation dealer, the keys to running a successful business and continuing our family tradition have been ingrained in me. Our team prides itself on being honest, respectful, and attentive to the needs of everyone who comes through our dealerships and we treat everyone the way we want to be treated."

Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.

In its 12th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee's 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.

Weidinger was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association. Weidinger and his wife, Julia, have three children.

ABOUT GNYADA

Headquartered in Whitestone, N.Y, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association represents 400+ franchised automobile dealerships in the metro area of New York, generating $62.2 billion in new vehicle sales, $2.7 billion in taxes and supporting 65,500 New Yorkers. The Association opened its doors in 1910 and has continued to serve the needs of the industry and the car-buying public ever since. GNYADA organizes the New York International Automobile Show  the largest auto show in North America  each spring, in Manhattan's Jacob Javits Convention Center. www.gnyada.com

SOURCE Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA)
ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MoistureShield, a signature composite decking brand at Oldcastle APG, today introduced new Solid Core Composite Series Railing and Compass Series Aluminum Railing that adds a contemporary, sophisticated look to any deck design.

"We created our Solid Core Composite Railings with unmatched durability and moisture resistance for years of beauty and performance, much like our proven composite decking," said Matthew Bruce, VP of Sales, MoistureShield. "We then went a step further to develop a superior powder-coated aluminum railing with modern styling that withstands the elements."

Made in the USA, MoistureShield's Solid Core Composite Railings are designed for durability and will rot, splinter, warp or stain. The series includes:

Traverse  Series Composite Railing - a traditional T-Rail profile with a smooth, glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray can be paired with Square Composite or Round Aluminum infill options to match any outdoor aesthetic. (Height: 36" in 6' and 8' lengths). Sold as a complete kit.

Series Composite Railing - a traditional T-Rail profile with a smooth, glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray can be paired with Square Composite or Round Aluminum infill options to match any outdoor aesthetic. (Height: 36" in 6' and 8' lengths). Sold as a complete kit. Discovery  Series Composite Railing - a traditional bread loaf profile with a smooth glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray with color-matched infills as well as black. Optional adapters enable a flat cocktail rail for style and functionality. (Heights: 36" and 42" in 6' and 8' lengths). Sold as a complete kit.

Series Composite Railing - a traditional bread loaf profile with a smooth glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray with color-matched infills as well as black. Optional adapters enable a flat cocktail rail for style and functionality. (Heights: 36" and 42" in 6' and 8' lengths). Sold as a complete kit. Navigator Series Composite Railing  a premium composite railing in Capital, Contempo and Graspable Stair top rail styles with an elegant acrylic satin white finish and look and feel of natural wood. Infill options include Square Composite, Black Round Aluminum and Cable for endless design creativity. (Heights: 36" and 42" in 6' and 8' lengths). Top rail sold separately.

Each Solid Core Composite Railing kit includes top rails, infill options and hidden brackets with no squeaks or rattles. Accessories include post sleeves, gate kits, wired or solar lighting options and ADA components.

MoistureShield's Compass Series Aluminum Railing adds sleek, contemporary edge to any deck design, with Cambridge or Classic style top rail options, in Matte Black or Matte Bronze powder coated finish. The powder coat is rated more than three times the industry standard for durability and rust resistance, especially in harsh coastal conditions. Compass Rail kits feature pre-assembled panels with ProLock strips to ensure secure, screwless connections; 3/4" Square Balusters, adapters for cocktail rail, gate kits and BracketPro installation jig. (Height: 36" in 6' and 8' lengths). Tops rails sold separately.

All MoistureShield railings are code-approved for safety and security and include a Transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Learn more about MoistureShield's new series of Solid Core Composite Railings and Compass Aluminum Railing at www.MoistureShield.com.

About MoistureShield

MoistureShield is a signature composite decking brand at Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, that utilizes protective cap, color and surface technologies to create an innovative product with a natural wood look and the ability to withstand impact and water submersion. The brand's CoolDeck Technology was an industry-first, delivering a solution to deck surface heat absorption. Visit www.MoistureShield.com.

About Oldcastle APG

Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, is an international provider of outdoor living and building materials, with industry-leading positions in hardscapes, concrete masonry, fencing and railing, bagged dry mixes, lawn and garden, pool finishes and composite decking. Oldcastle APG's signature brand portfolio includes Belgard, Echelon, Barrette Outdoor Living, Sakrete, Amerimix, Pebble Technology International and MoistureShield. For more information visit oldcastleapg.com.

SOURCE MoistureShield
CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Montage Capital is excited to announce the appointment of Samantha Kim as Principal. She joins Founder and Managing Director Mike Rose, Managing Director Eric Gonzales, and Principal Chet Kasper as the fourth member of the Montage investment team.

With over ten years of commercial lending experience, Samantha joins Montage after five years at Avidbank, where she was most recently a VP-Relationship Manager and Team Leader in the Specialty Finance Division. Previously, she was at East West Bank in various lending officer roles, supporting a range of growth stage companies. Samantha started out in commercial lending as an Associate at Silicon Valley Bank, where she worked with early stage, venture-backed tech companies and growth stage asset-based companies. After graduating from SVB's formal credit training program, Samantha was promoted to Sr. Associate in the bank's advisory group, where she gained valuable experience with challenging portfolio companies.

Eric Gonzales noted: "We worked with Samantha for several years as a trusted bank partner and were continually impressed by her professionalism and work ethic. After noticing that we were frequently seeking opportunities to partner with her or ask for her advice, we started discussing the possibility of her joining Montage as a key member of our investment team. Fortunately, Samantha is at a stage in her career where she is eager to take on new challenges and expand her skillset in helping companies with their growth capital needs. We especially look forward to her leadership and focus on the Montage Social Impact Fund."

"I am thrilled to be a part of the Montage team," said Samantha. "I am impressed with the team and the business they have built and are continuing to grow. Leveraging my lending experience, I will work collaboratively with my team and our clients to help the Montage portfolio companies succeed. I am especially excited to find great companies and to make meaningful investments from the Montage Social Impact Fund."

About Montage Capital

Montage Capital provides minimally dilutive growth debt to capital efficient companies with at least $3 million in annual revenue. Montage is uniquely positioned as a less dilutive alternative to equity financing, with the experience to offer guidance typical of equity investors. Montage is often the first institutional investor in a company, but Montage also supports venture or private equity-backed companies without requiring a concurrent equity investment. Montage focuses on providing growth debt financings of under $5 million, which is often the right amount of capital for the capital efficient companies the firm supports.

Montage launched its Social Impact Fund in 2012 and remains as one of the only debt firms in the US with a fund focused on supporting the growth capital needs of companies who are driving meaningful, positive change while also building shareholder value.

Contact:

Eric Gonzales

[email protected]

408-659-2299

SOURCE Montage Capital
Leading Home Maintenance, Repair and Improvement Company to Celebrate Spooky Season with Pumpkin Carving Photo Contest and Giveaway Open till Oct 31

WACO, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, the nation's leading home maintenance, repair and improvement franchise, Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company, is getting in the Halloween spirit by hosting an annual Pumpkin Carving Photo Contest. Get all your best tools and spooky supplies ready because Mr. Handyman is inviting the best pumpkin carving pros in the U.S. to show off their talent by sending in photos of their creations on social media.

To enter the Pumpkin Carving contest, visit the Mr. Handyman contest page and submit a photo of your cute, fun, silly and creative pumpkin design before October 31, 2022, to win. Five lucky winners will be randomly chosen from a drawing of all entries to each receive a $250 Home Depot e-gift card.

"Every year, we enjoy seeing everyone's fun entries of their creative pumpkin carvings," said Jeff Palla, President, Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company. "For those who are looking for inspiration or want to learn how to carve pumpkins safety with power tools, download our free guidebook."

To learn more about Mr. Handyman's Pumpkin Carving Contest, please visit www.mrhandyman.com/pumpkin-carving-sweepstakes. For additional decoration inspiration, visit Mr. Handyman's website for free pumpkin carving templates, power tool tutorials and tips to make your pumpkin the best on the block at: https://www.mrhandyman.com/pumpkin.

About Mr. Handyman

Mr. Handyman is North America's leading commercial and residential property maintenance, repair and improvement company. With more than 300 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Handyman is recognized as one of the fastest growing, handyman service franchise systems. Acquired in 2015, Mr. Handyman is part of Neighborly, the world's largest home services company with more than 30 brands and 5,000 franchises collectively serving 12 million+ customers in six countries, focused on repairing, maintaining and enhancing homes and businesses. Neighborly brands are found at Neighborly.com and through the Neighborly mobile app. For more information about Mr. Handyman, visit MrHandyman.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Neighborly, click here.

Media contact: Mia Rusch, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847-945-1300

SOURCE Mr. Handyman
Highlights positive impact of the natural diamond industry on education, conservation, and local business

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This October, the Natural Diamond Council's newly appointed Global Ambassador actress Lily James visited the country of Botswana to experience first-hand the positive impacts of the natural diamond industry, and incredible process of recovering the rare, billion-year-old precious gems.

Lily James and students at Livingstone House Primary School Lily James with Pat Dambe, Vice President Market Outreach and Naledi Kgari, Aggregation & Sight Management Manager, at De Beers Global Sightholder Sales Lily James at Orapa Game Park

Her trip began with four days on Safari at The Selinda Reserve, a picturesque wildlife sanctuary home to thousands of elephants and the famous Selinda lion pride. From there, she visited the Orapa Game Parkpart of the De Beers Diamond Routewhich illustrated firsthand the impact of the natural diamond industry's conservation efforts. Ms. James also met with students and teachers at the Livingstone House Primary School, one of four schools in the community that are run by Debswanaa diamond mining company owned by De Beers and the government of Botswana. This was followed by the opportunity to see natural diamonds at their point of origin with a visit to Lucara Diamond Corp's Karowe Diamond Mine, as well as the De Beers Global Sightholder Sales facility in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. Her last stop was the KGK Diamonds cutting and polishing facility in Gaborone, where she met with some of their remarkable employeesa majority of which are native citizens whose livelihoods are supported by the natural diamond industry.

"I've been awestruck by the natural beauty and the vibrant communities I've seen in Botswana," says Lily James. "To know so much of this landover 1,000 square miles globally is protected by the natural diamond industry makes me incredibly proud to be the NDC's Global Ambassador."

"It's been incredible to experience Botswana for the first time with our Ambassador, Lily James. I'd heard so much about the positive impact of the Natural Diamond industry in this country, but nothing can prepare you for the real experience," says David Kellie, CEO of Natural Diamond Council. "The natural diamond industry is an example to others as to how collaborations between governments and business can transform the lives of so many people and the communities in which they live."

Located in the middle of the Kalahari Desert and believed to be the birthplace of humans 200,000-300,000 years ago, Botswana is a country with a population of 2.35 million people that has been inhabited and remained an important place in the world. Natural diamonds were discovered there in 1967.

Natural diamonds support the livelihood of more than 10 million people worldwide and nowhere is the positive impact felt more than in Botswana, contributing 33% of Botswana's GDP in 2021. Botswana also has highest percentage of women-owned businesses in the world.

The diamond industry's partnership with the government of Botswana sustains a school system educating on average 522,000 children a year. In 1966, there were just three secondary schools. Today there are 300 and every Botswanan child receives free primary and secondary education.

Additional benefits of the natural diamond industry include providing healthcare for more than 4 million people globally and funding critical infrastructure development including schools, hospitals, and roads.

Further information regarding the natural diamond industry's contributions to economies and communities can be found their Natural Diamond Council's Thank You, By The Way campaign, which has recently gained support from industry retailers such as Jared and Ben Bridge Jewelers.

The photography was captured by Molly SJ Lowe.

About The Natural Diamond Council:

The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) inspires and informs consumers about the incredible world of natural diamonds through its Only Natural Diamonds platform. The platform is the authoritative publisher on all things natural diamonds including celebrities and pop culture, epic diamonds and jewelry trends, engagements and weddings, and diamond buying guides.

The NDC supports the integrity of the natural diamond industry by providing transparency and insight on the progress of this sector and its commitments to further betterment. NDC is a global organization whose members' operations span four continents and ten countries including Canada, South Africa, and Botswana. Their operations support the livelihood of 10 million industry employees and their families around the world.

The NDC operates in the US, China, India, UAE, and Europe.

@onlynaturaldiamonds | 'To Treasure, Now & Forever' Campaign | High Res Images

SOURCE Natural Diamond Council
U.S. survey released by Kahoot! confirms:

 Over half (58%) of corporate workers say they are withholding knowledge that could benefit their co-workers

 Gen Z is the top generation for untapped knowledge sharing; 77% of Gen Z'ers say they have more knowledge they could share at work

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahoot! , the global learning and engagement platform company, today announced a new third-party survey of U.S. enterprise workers revealing that "Quiet Constraint" is Corporate America's current hidden threat at work. According to the data, over half (58%) employees say that they hold in valuable knowledge they could share with their colleagues. The Gen Z generation exhibited this behavior more than any other generation, with 77% of Gen Zers reporting that they silently sit on beneficial information in the workplace.

Kahoot! Workplace Culture Report 2022

"This data is a big wake-up call for employers, particularly those with hybrid or fully distributed work models," said James Micklethwait, VP, Kahoot! at Work. "For the first time, we have an insight into what people are really doing when they switch their video off and 'zone out' of those virtual meetings which they don't feel are worth their attention. But what really surprised us from this research was just how much valuable knowledge workers believe sits with them but is not currently being shared. It's clear that employers need to step up and both create a culture which encourages knowledge sharing and provides engaging ways to do so."

Additional insights from the survey revealed the following:

Forget Quiet Quitting; The New Workplace Villain is "Quiet Constraint"

Despite the buzz on quiet quittingthe practice of reducing one's effort and engagement at work to a bare minimumthe survey revealed that 76% of workers want to go the extra mile for their employer at work. However, the survey identified there may be a new phenomenon called 'Quiet Constraint' emerging in workplaces. According to the survey, more than half (58%) of workers hold valuable knowledge that could benefit/help their co-workers that they haven't yet shared.

More men (63%) say that they hold in information at work vs women (57%) and are more likely to do it often (27% vs. 16%).

When asked why workers were holding in information, 26% said they were never asked and 23% said their employer doesn't provide them a channel or means to do so. In addition, 26% said they feel like their talent and self-expression is stifled at work.

More than three-quarters of employees said they would value an engaging way to share knowledge.

While some employers may see quiet constraint as cause for concern, the data shows that many companies' teams are in fact richer in knowledge than they realized, and that most employees are eager to share this knowledge if given the opportunity and resources.

Many Companies Still Not Optimizing Meetings and Employee Training for Virtual and Hybrid Experiences

According to the data, 87% of workers feel bored at work, primarily due to online employee training and virtual team meetings. The survey revealed that 35% of workers said they mentally check out of online employee training, while 32% check out of virtual presentations and 31% check out of virtual team meetings.

Boredom led workers to engage in other work tasks during online meetings. In addition to reading and responding to email (45%), 18% worked on their side hustle businesses, and 11% of younger workers (Millennials and Gen Z) even double-dipped and attended two meetings simultaneously. Furthermore, some workers skipped work altogether. Twenty-three percent of women doodled while 21% of men exercised. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) played with their pets, while 20% napped. This shows that despite most companies now having years of experience hosting virtual meetings, training sessions and events, many have not yet optimized their team collaboration, communication and training for a virtual context.

Employees are Willing to Pay out of Pocket for More Engagement

While 71% of employees are extremely or very interested in their work, 47% would give up some of their wages to be more engaged. In fact, 35% of hybrid workers would give up more than 10% of their pay for a little more excitement and interaction in their day.

Gen Z (68%) was the most willing to forgo a percentage of their salary vs Boomer (32%), Gen X (41%), Millennial (56%). Clearly, this is a signal for employers and HR teams to examine critical stimulus factors and strategies to increase participation and connection with Gen Zs. Calibrating boredom was the most prominent form of boredom among Gen Z.

Friendly Competition is the Answer to Re-Engagement: Generation Z says, "Yes Please!"

Among all generations, Gen Z is the most disengaged. In fact, 29% of Gen Z'ers said they mentally check out of virtual meetings because they feel completely disconnected from their co-workers. Additionally:



31% of Gen Z workers tune out because they are spoken to vs actively participating



51% said the meeting time is too long



33% said that it depends on the time of day

When asked what would help them get engaged, the top 3 responses were:

59% said a little dose of friendly competition could be an effective remedy



51% said brainstorming with co-workers would help them become more present and engaged.



38% said more rich and interactive media would help

About the Kahoot! 2022 Workplace Culture Report

This survey was conducted online within the United States by market-research consultancy Researchscape on behalf of Kahoot! from August 18 to September 12, 2022. The results in this report are from an online survey of U.S. workers employed in firms with 250+ employees; 1,635 responses were collected. Click here to download the full Kahoot! 2022 Workplace Culture report .

About Kahoot!

Kahoot! is on a mission to make learning awesome! We want to empower everyone, including children, students, and employees to unlock their full learning potential. Our learning platform makes it easy for any individual or corporation to create, share, and host learning sessions that drive compelling engagement. Launched in 2013, Kahoot!'s vision is to build the leading learning platform in the world. Since launch, Kahoot! has hosted hundreds of millions of learning sessions with 8 billion participants (non-unique) in more than 200 countries and regions. The Kahoot! Group includes Clever, the leading US K-12 EdTech learning platform, together with the learning apps DragonBox, Poio, Drops, Actimo, Motimate, and Whiteboard.fi. The Kahoot! Group is headquartered in Oslo, Norway with offices in the US, the UK, France, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Spain and Poland. Kahoot! is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker KAHOT. To learn more, visit us at kahoot.com. Let's play!

Media Contact for Kahoot!:

Alejandro Viquez

[email protected]

SOURCE Kahoot!
SOMERSET, N.J., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The doctors at ProCure Proton Therapy Center applaud TV personality Katie Couric for bringing more attention to the importance of annual mammograms as a life-saving tool against breast cancer.

Couric, the former host of NBC's "Today Show," was diagnosed in June after falling behind on her annual mammogram. After undergoing surgery in July and radiation treatment in September, Couric shared her story to raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

"Ms. Couric's story highlights the importance of scheduling your annual mammogram, even if you've fallen behind," said Dr. Brian Chon, ProCure Medical Director. "Unfortunately, data continues to show that women fell behind on their screenings during the pandemic and many have yet to catch up."

The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer detected before it spreads is 99 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. But a statewide poll of more than 200 New Jersey women, conducted earlier this year by ProCure and MW Healthcare, found that nearly half of women ages 45 and older skipped their mammogram in 2021.

"Detecting breast cancer at an earlier, more treatment stage has a significant impact on the outcome of a diagnosis," Dr. Chon said. "If you haven't scheduled your mammogram in over a year, October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to do so."

ProCure, New Jersey's most experienced proton therapy Center, has treated more than 6,000 patients in its first 10 years. Proton therapy targets cancer more precisely than traditional radiation, which means less damage to nearby healthy tissue, including the heart and lungs.

Learn more: https://www.procure.com/breast-cancer/

About ProCure Proton Therapy Center:

ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, NJ, opened in March 2012 as the tri-state region's first proton therapy facility, treating a range of cancers including disease of the prostate, breast, lung, brain, head and neck, and gastrointestinal system, as well as sarcomas and many pediatric cases. Using the most advanced radiation treatment available ProCure has treated more than 6,000 patients and enables many cancer patients to choose a non-surgical treatment personalized to their medical needs and lifestyles, often with fewer side effects and less downtimegiving them more freedom to enjoy what matters most in their lives. For more information, visit ProCure.com.

Media Contact:

Sarah Ferrington, Marketing Manager

Phone: 732-357-2609

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ProCure Proton Therapy Center
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following representatives of ASSA ABLOY AB's shareholders will be members of the Nomination Committee for the 2023 Annual General Meeting:

Anders Morck, Investment AB Latour, Chairman of the Nomination Committee

Mikael Ekdahl , Melker Schorling AB

, Melker Schorling AB Marianne Nilsson , Swedbank Robur Fonder

, Swedbank Robur Fonder Ola Peter Gjessing CBNY-Norges Bank

Liselott Ledin , Alecta

The Chairman of the Board, Lars Renstrom, has convened the Nomination Committee to its first meeting which was held earlier today. Lars Renstrom shall also be co-opted to the Nomination Committee.

The Nomination Committee shall prepare proposals for the Annual General Meeting in 2023 regarding the election of Chairman of the General Meeting, members of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, auditor, fees for the members of the Board including division between the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the other Board members as well as fees for committee work, fees to the company's auditor and, if necessary, changes to the instructions for the Nomination Committee.

The Annual General Meeting will be held on April 26, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Shareholders who wish to submit proposals to the Nomination Committee should send an email to [email protected].

For more information, please contact:

Nico Delvaux, President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82

Erik Pieder, CFO and Executive Vice President, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72

Bjorn Tibell, Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68, e-mail: [email protected]

About ASSA ABLOY

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. The Group operates worldwide with 51,000 employees and sales of SEK 95 billion. The Group has leading positions in areas such as efficient door openings, trusted identities and entrance automation. ASSA ABLOY's innovations enable safe, secure and convenient access to physical and digital places. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3655568/1643983.pdf Press release (PDF)

SOURCE ASSA ABLOY
OSLO, Norway , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Norwegian Energy Company ASA ("Noreco" or the "Company") today published its third quarter 2022 results. The Company's producing assets continued to deliver strongly, with production above September's quarterly guidance for Q3, resulting in a robust financial result that further underpins the value of Noreco's portfolio of Danish upstream assets.

Highlights:

Hydrocarbon production of 25.1 mboepd, above quarterly guidance

Total Revenues of USD 294 million , with YTD Revenues of USD 737 million

, with YTD Revenues of EBITDA of USD 198 million , YTD USD 471 million

, YTD Cash flow from operating activities of USD 215 million and USD 486 million YTD

and YTD Free Cash Flow of USD 131 million and YTD 251 million

and YTD 251 million Several milestones on Tyra II achieved, further de-risking the project

Net hydrocarbon production for the quarter of 25.1 mboepd. This is above the latest guidance published for Q3 of 24 - 25 mboepd and has also allowed the Company to positively revise the full year 2022 guidance for the fourth time to 26.5  27 mboepd. The overarching strong production trend of 2022 continued during the quarter and was further strengthened by the successful Halfdan well restimulation campaign which delivered approximately 2 mboepd of additional gas volumes. During the quarter the company also carried out a well-managed and planned 21 days maintenance shut-in of the NOGAT pipeline

The Tyra Redevelopment project reached several major milestones during the latter part of the quarter following the COVID-19 driven revision of the Tyra start-up date from Q2 2023 to winter 2023/2024. On 1 September, Noreco announced the successful sail-away of the process module (the "TEG") from the yard in Batam and on 4 October Heerema Marine Contractors' Sleipnir lifted and installed the 17,000 metric tons heavy TEG at the Tyra field, an offshore lift that set a new world record. During the five following days, the two remaining bridges and flare tower were lifted in place. Tyra II now has its final shape with all eight platforms in place and all major lifts and installations safely completed.

The financial result for third quarter shows a continued strong development with revenues of USD 294 million and EBITDA of USD 198 million. Free Cash Flow generation in the quarter was USD 131 million prior to the voluntary and redrawable USD 100 million repayment of the Reserve Based Lending facility (the "RBL"). As a result, the Company had total liquidity of USD 473 million at the end of the quarter with cash on balance sheet of USD 273 million and available undrawn RBL capacity of USD 200 million. Despite the planned maintenance shut-in of the NOGAT pipeline, cash flow generation from the producing assets continues to be the strongest since closing the acquisition of Shell's Danish upstream assets in 2019, providing Noreco with additional flexibility.

"Noreco has delivered another quarter of excellent performance. Operationally, the HCA restimulation campaign was exceptionally impactful and, combined with high uptime and the well-managed NOGAT shutdown, it allowed us to deliver record quarterly revenue, EBITDA and free cashflow generation; an outcome that was delivered despite almost a month of planned gas export capacity downtime. On Tyra, completing the offshore installation campaign was an important de-risking step and doing so ahead of schedule is a positive backdrop as we look forward to first gas at the end of 2023. Our focus continues be on maximising gas output in the short, medium and long-term, an objective that is supported by our strong operational base," said Euan Shirlaw, Chief Executive Officer of Noreco.

The report and investor presentation may be downloaded from the Company's website www.noreco.com or www.newsweb.no.

The Company will host a webcast today at 11:00 CEST.

To join webcast:

https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20221026_15

Contact:

Cathrine F. Torgersen, EVP Investor Relations & ESG

Phone: +47 915 28 501

Email: [email protected]



This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation, and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. The stock exchange announcement was published by Cathrine Torgersen, Executive Vice President Investor Relations & ESG, Norwegian Energy Company ASA, at the date and time as set out above.

***

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/4225/3654979/1643639.pdf Noreco Q3 2022 Report https://mb.cision.com/Public/4225/3654979/8f5f11d08f24013d.pdf Noreco Q3 2022 Presentation

SOURCE NORECO
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The off-grid energy storage system market is expected to grow by USD 6.22 billion at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period of 2021-2026. North America will account for 42% of the market growth with a Y-O-Y growth rate of 6.8%. The off-grid energy storage system market provides a detailed analysis of the market overview, market drivers, opportunities, and potential applications. Request Free Sample Report.

Off-Grid Energy Storage System Market: Vendor Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Off-Grid Energy Storage System Market 2022-2026

The global off-grid ESS market is moderately fragmented due to the presence of many global and regional players. The market comprises category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified vendors. The global off-grid ESS market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period due to the rising adoption of renewables for power generation. Hence, the competition among vendors is expected to intensify during the forecast.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Amperex Technology Ltd., Aquion Energy, Boston Power, CALB Co. Ltd., CEA, EnerSys, Fronius International GmbH, General Electric Co, LG Energy Solution Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., NEC Corp., NRG Energy Inc., Primus Power Solutions, Saft Groupe SAS, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Xtreme Power Inc., and ZEN Energy Retail Pty Ltd.

Major Vendor with Key Offerings

Aquion Energy: The company offers off-grid energy storage systems such as new-generation lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, and saltwater batteries.

The company offers off-grid energy storage systems such as new-generation lithium-ion, lithium-sulfur, and saltwater batteries. Boston Power: The company offers off-grid energy storage systems for solar panels and charging batteries.

The company offers off-grid energy storage systems for solar panels and charging batteries. EnerSys: The company offers off-grid energy storage systems such as supersafe SBS XC, OPZV batteries, and OPZS batteries.

The company offers off-grid energy storage systems such as supersafe SBS XC, OPZV batteries, and OPZS batteries. LG Energy Solution Ltd.: The company offers off-grid energy storage systems for power grids, UPS, and commercial and residential uses.

The company offers off-grid energy storage systems for power grids, UPS, and commercial and residential uses. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.: The company offers off-grid energy storage systems such as rechargeable batteries and flywheels.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Off-Grid Energy Storage System Market: Segmentation Analysis

By Battery type

Li-ion



Li-ion batteries have lower self-discharge rates than the majority of other battery chemistries, including lead-acid batteries (LAB), nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd), and nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH). Li-ion batteries are widely preferred because of these characteristics. During the forecast period, these elements are expected to drive the growth of the market in the Li-ion batteries segment



LAB



Sodium-based batteries



Others

By Geography

North America



North America will contribute 42% of the market's growth over the forecast period. The off-grid energy storage system market in North America is mostly centered in the US. Over the forecast period, the rise in ESS investments will support the market expansion for off-grid energy storage systems in North America .

will contribute 42% of the market's growth over the forecast period. The off-grid energy storage system market in is mostly centered in the US. Over the forecast period, the rise in ESS investments will support the market expansion for off-grid energy storage systems in .

APAC



Europe



South America



Middle East and Africa

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Get Free Sample Report.

Imperative Insights on the following aspects:

What was the size of the global off-grid energy storage system industry by value?

What will be the size of the global off-grid energy storage system industry in 2026?

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How has the industry performed over the last five years?

What main segments make up the global off-grid energy storage system market?

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Off-grid energy storage system market research report presents critical information and factual data about the off-grid energy storage system industry, with an overall statistical study of this market based on market drivers, market limitations, and its future prospects.

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Off-Grid Energy Storage System Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7% Market growth 2022-2026 $6.22 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.8 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa 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 Amperex Technology Ltd., Aquion Energy, Boston Power, CALB Co. Ltd., CEA, EnerSys, Fronius International GmbH, General Electric Co, LG Energy Solution Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., NEC Corp., NRG Energy Inc., Primus Power Solutions, Saft Groupe SAS, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Sonnen GmbH, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Xtreme Power Inc., and ZEN Energy Retail Pty 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 Content:

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 Battery 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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Battery Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Battery Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Battery Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Battery Type

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Battery Type



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Battery Type

5.3 Li-ion - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Li-ion - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Li-ion - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Li-ion - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Li-ion - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 LAB - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on LAB - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on LAB - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on LAB - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on LAB - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Sodium based batteries - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Sodium based batteries - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Sodium based batteries - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Sodium based batteries - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Sodium based batteries - 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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



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 Battery Type

Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by Battery Type ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 56: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 64: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 68: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - 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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



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 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Germany - 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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

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 Amperex Technology Ltd.

Exhibit 97: Amperex Technology Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 98: Amperex Technology Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 99: Amperex Technology Ltd. - Key offerings

10.4 Aquion Energy

Exhibit 100: Aquion Energy - Overview



Exhibit 101: Aquion Energy - Product / Service



Exhibit 102: Aquion Energy - Key offerings

10.5 Boston Power

Exhibit 103: Boston Power - Overview



Exhibit 104: Boston Power - Product / Service



Exhibit 105: Boston Power - Key offerings

10.6 CALB Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 106: CALB Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 107: CALB Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 108: CALB Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.7 EnerSys

Exhibit 109: EnerSys - Overview



Exhibit 110: EnerSys - Business segments



Exhibit 111: EnerSys - Key news



Exhibit 112: EnerSys - Key offerings



Exhibit 113: EnerSys - Segment focus

10.8 General Electric Co

Exhibit 114: General Electric Co - Overview



Exhibit 115: General Electric Co - Business segments



Exhibit 116: General Electric Co - Key news



Exhibit 117: General Electric Co - Key offerings



Exhibit 118: General Electric Co - Segment focus

10.9 LG Energy Solution Ltd.

Exhibit 119: LG Energy Solution Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 120: LG Energy Solution Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: LG Energy Solution Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

Exhibit 122: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 123: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 124: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 125: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 126: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. - Segment focus

10.11 NEC Corp.

Exhibit 127: NEC Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 128: NEC Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 129: NEC Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 130: NEC Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: NEC Corp. - Segment focus

10.12 NRG Energy Inc.

Exhibit 132: NRG Energy Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 133: NRG Energy Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 134: NRG Energy Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 135: NRG Energy Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 136: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 137: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 138: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 139: Research methodology



Exhibit 140: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 141: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 142: 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 Us:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

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SOURCE Technavio
Strengthening Educational Collaboration with Junior Achievement

FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Omega's commitment to its community, we are thrilled to enrich our ongoing relationship with Junior Achievement USA. Omega's President, Gloria Bohan, is an inductee of the Washington, DC Business Hall of Fame which recognized her accomplishment in helping fund JA. Aligning with JA's goal of offering our youth a sound financial literacy education, Omega aims to further enhance this collaboration to support their economic success.

Omega World Travel

JA's Finance Park allows participating eighth graders to be immersed in an interactive town-like environment with "storefronts" representing important industries. Contributors' storefronts at the Fairfax, VA Finance Park include an Omega Travel agency, a car insurance office, and a university campus. Participants are assigned a family scenario and, as they visit each business, they calculate their finances (housing, childcare, clothing, groceries, transportation, etc.) to learn how to live within that budget. As they stroll from office to office, these middle schoolers learn essential decision-making skills such as how their spending and investments affect their future. Volunteers guide them in planning their lives based on what type of profession they might choose, what sort of education or training their goals would require and how to budget for a major purchase of a car, home, or vacation.

Junior Achievement volunteers come from various backgrounds, including industry professionals and college students. Volunteers share valuable insights about the everyday steps needed in financial planning. Some examples are balancing a checking account and monthly expenses, deciding how much to save or invest for the future, and learning how to select a college or vocational training.

Recently, several Omega employees toured the Fairfax Finance Park location to discuss new ideas for collaboration. Omega employees plan to volunteer with upcoming groups of eighth graders at the nearby Finance Park. As part of that planning, this site visit provided a wonderful introduction to the JA curriculum and future opportunities for educating our youth.

ABOUT OMEGA WORLD TRAVEL AND FAMILY OF BRANDS: CRUISE.COM TRAVTECH OMEGA M.I.C.E.

Omega World Travel is a Woman Owned travel management company, a full-service travel agency, and a leader in the internet retail travel marketplace. Omega is the largest woman-owned travel management company in the U.S., with more than $1 billion in sales. Omega designs customized travel management programs for corporate, government, and nonprofit clients. Omega's travel service offerings include its wholly-owned meeting, conference, and event management services. Omega also owns Cruise.com, one of the largest sellers of cruises online, and Travtech, a technology development company.

For additional information about Omega World Travel please visit: www.owt.net

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Omega World Travel
The additions of Charles Buisseret and Makayla Stephens deepens the FPA Group's private equity expertise, enhances services to alternative investment firms and reunites a highly experienced team

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. ("Oppenheimer")  a leading investment bank, wealth manager and a subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings (NYSE: OPY) continues the expansion of its Global Fund Placement and Advisory Group ("FPA Group") with the additions of Charles Buisseret, CAIA, as Managing Director and global Co-Head of the FPA Group and Makayla Stephens as Director. Both will be based in the United States.

In their roles, Mr. Buisseret and Ms. Stephens will partner once again with colleagues based in London: FPA Group Co-Head and Managing Director Tanya McHale, Managing Director Andrew Roberts, Director Marcus Klasse and Associate Curran Gaur. This seasoned and cohesive team worked together at a previous firm and will continue to deliver on their highly strategic offering to global alternative managers.

Rob Lowenthal, Head of Investment Banking, said, "Charles and Makayla enhance the ability of the Global FPA Group to serve leading alternative investment firms in the U.S. By reuniting a highly experienced team of professionals, we are putting them in an optimal position to provide industry-leading expertise for primary funds, single asset transactions, GP stakes and secondary solutions. Oppenheimer continues to develop its specialized capabilities within private markets, which are closely aligned with our core industry coverage groups, including Technology, Healthcare and Financial Institutions."

The FPA Group's U.S. team is based in New York and Los Angeles and works alongside the London-based Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) team, which is led by Ms. McHale.

Max Lami, CEO of Oppenheimer's European business, added, "We are delighted that Charles and Makayla have joined the FPA Group. We are committed to building upon this momentum and our private markets business by strategically growing this team, which will allow us to better meet the needs of our clients."

Mr. Buisseret joined Oppenheimer earlier this year and previously served as a Managing Director at MVision Private Equity Advisers ("MVision"), where he spent 10 years. He led teams involved in strategic advisory work for leading alternative investment firms and developed long-term relationships with family offices and institutional investors across the U.S. He studied Biological Sciences at Oxford University and Finance at the London School of Economics.

"I am delighted to see our team expand with familiar and highly talented individuals that complement each other's skill sets," said Mr. Buisseret. "Our integrated approach within the investment banking division at Oppenheimer provides a unique platform to support alternative investment managers across a range of strategic advisory and principal investment services."

Prior to joining Oppenheimer, Ms. Stephens was a member of the investor relations team at Grain Management LLC, a leading private equity firm focused on investments in the global communications sector. She also spent time at MVision, where she was tasked with executing primary fundraises and direct/co-investment transactions, and developing long-term relationships with institutional investors across the United States.

Ms. McHale concluded, "We are excited to be working again with Charles and Makayla. Bringing together former colleagues with complementary backgrounds and skill sets will assist in the rapid, continued growth of our business and build on the successes of the last year since the founding of the FPA Group at Oppenheimer."

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (Oppenheimer), a principal subsidiary of Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (OPY on the New York Stock Exchange), and its affiliates provide a full range of wealth management, securities brokerage and investment banking services to high net-worth individuals, families, corporate executives, local governments, businesses and institutions.

Media Contacts:

Joseph Kuo / Michael Dugan

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4852

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SOURCE Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
DUBLIN, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Haircare Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global haircare market was valued at US$84.512 billion in 2020. Haircare products are used to groom hair and get an aesthetic hairstyle while managing various hair problems such as hair fall, dandruff, frizzy hair, split ends, and dry or itchy scalp. The growing middle-class population and increasing urbanization are the major factors that are boosting the demand for hair care products.

With rising awareness about personal hygiene and a focus on aesthetic appeal, consumers are increasingly opting for different hair care products. The rising level of air pollution and the increasing temperature is also harming the quality of hair, which is also encouraging people to use hair care products so as to protect them from the harmful impact of these environmental factors.



People nowadays are more concerned about hair aesthetics, which has also led to a rise in the number of consumers opting for hairstyle chemical treatments, including dyeing and straightening. Since chemically-treated hair requires premium hair care products to maintain the health and texture of hair, the demand for premium hair care products is increasing significantly, thereby fuelling the overall haircare market growth.

The rising use of social media is also encouraging consumers to explore various global haircare brands, thereby spurring the global haircare market's growth. Continuous expansion of distribution channels such as online stores, speciality stores, and salons are also contributing to the global market growth of haircare as this has made many professional hair care products easily accessible to consumers.

People are becoming more aware of the harmful impacts of several chemicals on the quality of their hair and scalp, which is driving the demand for hair care products with natural and organic ingredients. This is providing a great opportunity for market players to add haircare products made with naturally-derived ingredients into their portfolio and create a mass customer base.



Market players are adopting various growth strategies, including product launches, partnerships and collaborations, expansion of distribution channels, and acquisitions, in order to maintain their market share or/and further expand their customer base, thus bolstering the global haircare market's growth throughout the forecast period.



The global haircare market has been segmented on the basis of product, application, end-user, sales channel, and geography. By product, the global haircare market has been segmented as shampoo and conditioner, hair colour, hair oil, hair masks, and others. By application, the market has been segmented as household and professional. The market has further been segmented by end-user as men and women. The global haircare market has also been segmented by sales channels such as online and offline.



The boom in the e-commerce industry is leading to the growth of the online segment

As per the sales channel, the online segment will witness a higher CAGR during the forecast period. With the growing working female population makes it convenient and time-saving to shop via online stores is boosting the growth of this segment. Furthermore, online stores allow customers to purchase international hair care products easily and at discounted rates as well. As such, many haircare manufacturers have started their own web portals for selling various hair care products.



During the forecast period, Asia-Pacific will experience a notable CAGR.



Geographically, the global haircare market has been segmented into North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific regional market for hair care is poised to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period.

Rising awareness about various hair care products in countries like China, India, and Australia, coupled with the presence of major market players in the region, is boosting the demand for hair care products across APAC countries. Increasing disposable incomes and living standards are also augmenting the demand for premium hair care products. The booming e-commerce industry is also supporting the rising sales of international hair care products, thus positively impacting the regional market growth. North America and Europe also hold significant market shares owing to the high demand for professional hair care services in these regions.

COVID-19 Impact

The Covid-19 Pandemic has negatively impacted the overall market growth due to the lockdown restrictions imposed by the government of various nations. The lockdown has forced the retail and salon stores to shut down completely which leads to weakening sales of various beauty and personal care products in the global market. For example- Beiersdorf AG, has published an article in which it has reported a decline in sales across the entire group by 1.9% during the second quarter of 2020 because of the pandemic. However, the market is growing since 2021 as lockdown restrictions were lifted and the key players are launching innovative products in the market.



Competitive Insights

Prominent key market players in the global haircare market include Unilever, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Procter & Gamble, Kao Corporation, L'OREAL GROUP, VEDA CORP., Amway, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Marico, and Shiseido Co., Ltd.

These companies hold a noteworthy share in the market on account of their good brand image and product offerings. Major players in the global haircare market have been covered along with their relative competitive position and strategies. The report also mentions recent deals and investments by different market players over the last two years.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Function

4.4. Function Value Chain Analysis



5. Global Haircare Market Analysis, By Product

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Shampoo and Conditioner

5.3. Hair Color

5.4. Hair Oil

5.5. Hair Mask

5.6. Others



6. Global Haircare Market Analysis, By Application

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Household

6.3. Professional



7. Global Haircare Market Analysis, By End User

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Men

7.3. Women



8. Global Haircare Market Analysis, By Sales Channel

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Online

8.3. Offline



9. Global Haircare Market Analysis, By Geography



10. Competitive Environment and Analysis

10.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

10.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

10.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

10.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix



11. Company Profiles

11.1. Unilever

11.2. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

11.3. Procter & Gamble

11.4. Kao Corporation

11.5. L'OREAL GROUP

11.6. VEDA CORP.

11.7. Amway India Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.

11.8. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

11.9. Marico

11.10. Shiseido Co., Ltd.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xmv2h8

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

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SOURCE Research and Markets
NUREMBERG, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Bridge Market Research offers an extensive analysis of the company Paessler including insights on their history and milestones, growth analysis, market presence, opportunities and drivers reviewed in the report.

Paessler offers a comprehensive monitoring software for IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to help customers drive the organization up, running, and optimized while keeping everything remarkably simple. From the start, the company has sought to change the world for the better through technology that builds stronger relationships. Market players must be more resilient, ready, and flexible to adapt; thus, they need a trusted technology and monitoring partner to guide them forward and support them to do more with less.

Paessler, headquartered in Nuremberg in Germany, is an IT monitoring company with a headcount of over 300 employees from over 25 countries. The company has a presence in the U.S. and Malaysia, with around 4,000 partners worldwide. Every industry faces an exclusive social, economic, environmental, and technological challenge. To combat that, Paessler believes monitoring plays an essential role in minimizing people's consumption of resources.

Paessler's Journey in Nuremberg and Global Markets with Fortune 100 Companies using its PRTG network monitoring software

Paessler was founded in 1997 by Dirk Paessler, in the metropolitan region of Nuremberg. The market giant is now present in many international markets, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use Paessler PRTG. Explore the journey of Paessler:

1997-2001:

The Garage Phase: One student, one vision, one "garage"  the components for a classic 90s startup.

2001-2003:

The Founding Phase: As the need for a performance monitoring software arose, Paessler successfully invented the PRTG monitoring solution.

2003-2007:

The Corporate Name: Along with network experts and developers, in 2025 Paessler GmbH was changed into Paessler AG, to make it easier for employees to participate in the business.

2007-2011:

Software Consolidation: Paessler merged PRTG Traffic Grapher and IPCheck Server Monitor into a single solution and produced PRTG Network Monitor.

2011-2016:

International Coverage: Paessler became a global player with 2 relocations, 130 new employees in 7 countries, and more than 200,000 customers in 5 years.

2017-2018:

Quest for Innovation: With a fruitful completion of 20 years, Paessler had entered into new territories and scaled up its presence.

2019-2020:

New Products & Solutions: Paessler successfully launched PRTG Enterprise Monitor and industry solutions for manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors.

2020-Present

Aim for 2030: As a monitoring company, Paessler took responsibility and has set its aim to reduce the consumption of resources by humankind. Monitoring data will help customers to save resources, from optimizing their OT, IT, and IoT infrastructures, and to lessen energy consumption or emissions.

There is more to Paessler's expertise in IT, OT, and IoT

Paessler is recognized as a front-runner in monitoring data and a leader in IT, OT, and IoT monitoring with > 500,000 users of PRTG Network Monitor, PRTG Enterprise Monitor, and PRTG Hosted Monitor.

The products and services offered by Paessler help companies across industries to monitor everything and eventually optimize their resources. This is how Paessler's products provide benefits:

PRTG Network Monitor: PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure.

PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure. PRTG Enterprise Monitoring: Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability.

Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability. PRTG Hosted Monitor: PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs.

PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs. Paessler solutions for IoT monitoring: Paessler combines IoT sensor technology with their monitoring solutions to support businesses in digitalizing their processes. In IoT monitoring, Paessler also focuses on changing the manual collection of data with automatic remote monitoring.

Paessler Bringing Down Consumption of Resources with its Products & Services Proving Beneficial to Various Companies

Paessler's highly effective products, services, and solutions are already making it easier for companies of every size to offer more with less monitoring. In fact, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use PRTG to improve productivity and efficiency. Paessler has also successfully helped its customers reduce the consumption of resources, for instance:

Engie Solutions : ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor

: ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor Rexroth Bosch Group: PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO emissions while increasing productivity

PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO emissions while increasing productivity Aquafin : Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG

: Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG Kennedy Industries: Kennedy Industries helps keep communities safe and operational with PRTG

Paessler Addresses Critical Challenges of Resource Efficiency and Sustainability with its Partners and Customers

Paessler is highly focused on sustainability and resource saving. Therefore, the company has unswervingly continued and expanded their activities in this area over the last few years. For instance:

In 2016  PHQ powered by green electricity

In 2017 - CO compensation of all business trips

In 2019 - 100 kWp solar-powered energy system on PHQ roof

In 2020 - Paessler was CO neutral with the help of compensation

In 2022 - CO neutral or even CO negative

To Get a Detailed Insight, Visit at https://www.paessler.com/company/about-us/reduce-consumption-of-resources

Strategic Decisions Taken by Paessler to Boost its Market Presence

In May 2022 : Paessler appointed its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT LIMA DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI INDONESIA in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region.

its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI in and respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region. In January 2022 : Paessler announced the expansion of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). In May 2022 : Paessler and Rittal combined their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview

their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview In June 2022 : Paessler announced two appointments to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic.

to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic. In April 2021 : Paessler was being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. Paessler's partner program was selected because the company produced vertical-specific sales training materials for partners to improve sales strategies in healthcare, education, and industrial IT markets.

Paessler's Got Solutions for its Clients

Paessler provides a helping hand to SMS group to digitize steel production. SMS group GmbH uses PRTG Enterprise Monitor to monitor performance and reliability. It also helps to identify and eliminate weak spots during the construction, testing, and startup of steel production plants and thus optimize the quality of its production lines.

Somnitec AG delivers Swiss IT precision with PRTG. With the help of the PRTG experts at CORP-IT, Somnitec AG has set up comprehensive monitoring to maximize the consistency of its customers' IT systems.

With PRTG Network Monitor, SE3 has found a solution that allows viewing all industrial and communication components in a single system. SE3 uses PRTG as a solution to monitor wastewater treatment

LUMC monitors all its IT systems with the help of PRTG. LUMC chose the tool due to its large number of users, ability, and flexibility to monitor medical equipment. There are around 20 servers within LUMC using PRTG and 1,000 servers running in PRTG

CowManager monitors every cow in a dairy farm 24/7, and to do this efficiently, CowManager uses PRTG, which helps to see what cows are doing and whether their movements are still considered healthy. Paessler also provides monitoring for large-scale farms having 20,000 cows and more.

Foxtons turned to PRTG Network Monitor to get good clarity in terms of monitoring. After experiencing the benefits of the solution, Foxtons signed up for a perpetual license and soon extended its use across more areas of the organization to cover all key platforms.

PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time monitoring and network management to Acurus. With its granular permissions policy, PRTG helped Acurus in providing its monitoring services to its customers and also ensuring their security and privacy.

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative monitors ground data associated with CO sequestration using PRTG Hosted Monitor. This solution provides a good overview of the reactions and products in the soil by displaying soil and weather data from connected sensors. It also includes data transmitted from other measuring systems and laboratory data.

Some of Paessler's Global Partners:

Acronis: MSP Cloud Security Platform

MSP Cloud Security Platform AWS: Cloud Services

Cloud Services Axis: CCTV/Security

CCTV/Security barramundi: Unified Endpoint Management

Unified Endpoint Management Check Point: Network Security

Network Security Cisco: Networking Solutions

Networking Solutions CORP IT: SLA Reporting

SLA Reporting LoRa: LPWAN Solutions

LPWAN Solutions Men&Mice: DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM

DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM Plixer: Flow monitoring

Long-term Goal

Since 2020, Paessler has been completely CO neutral and has set a goal to become climate positive in the near future, probably by 2025. The core mission of Paessler is to empower technical teams to manage their infrastructure by ensuring maximum productivity. The company is also actively developing solutions to sustain digital transformation strategies and the IoT.

In the coming years, Paessler is certainly expected to be the customer's choice to monitor everything. Paessler has aimed to set its goal in all 3 strategic market segments: IT monitoring, industrial IoT monitoring, and commercial IoT monitoring.

Latest Report by DBMR Where Paessler is Mentioned:

Network Management Systems Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-management-systems-market

Virtual Infrastructure Manager Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-virtual-infrastructure-manager-market

Data Center Infrastructure Management Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-data-center-infrastructure-management-market

Network Configuration and Change Management (NCCM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-configuration-and-change-management-nccm-market

Information Technology (IT) Operations Analytics Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-it-operations-analytics-market

Network Automation Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-automation-market

Log Management and Reporting Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-log-management-and-reporting-security-information-and-event-management-siem-market

Network Security Software Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-security-software-market

Infrastructure Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-infrastructure-monitoring-market

Application Performance Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-application-performance-monitoring-market

Container Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-container-monitoring-market

About Paessler

Paessler AG (Nuremberg) is highly renowned and has established itself as a leader in IT monitoring among companies of all sizes, from small-to-medium-to large enterprises. With over 4,000 partners worldwide, Paessler has efficiently expanded its services.

In 1997 Paessler transformed IT monitoring with the introduction of PRTG Network Monitor. Over 300,000 IT administrators in more than 170 countries depend on Paessler PRTG to monitor their devices, business-critical systems, and network infrastructures. PRTG monitors the IT infrastructure 24x7 and helps IT professionals to solve problems before they impact users.

For More Information, Get in Touch With Paessler at https://www.paessler.com/contact

About Data Bridge Market Research:

Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune.

Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.

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SOURCE Data Bridge Market Research
YERINGTON, Nev., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Patricia L. Blake is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Law Enforcement Officer, acknowledging her achievements as a Retired Police Lieutenant and Author.

Patricia joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in May of 1983, as her career spanned over thirty-three years as a sworn LAPD officer. She was then promoted through the ranks to hold the position of Acting and Assistant Detective Commanding Officer, Patrol Watch Commander, and Acting Patrol Commanding Officer.

Patricia L. Blake

Along with her many achievements, she was part of a leadership team at the Foothill Division that focused on crime analysis, developing crime strategies, and implementing cutting-edge Predictive Policing within Foothill.

Upon retirement, Patricia continued as an active reserve officer as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a unique mounted volunteer Cavalry Unit, the Valley Community Cavalry Rough Riders (VCCRR). The Unit's mission includes public outreach, crime prevention and education, mounted color guard and parades, evacuation, and search and rescue. The Unit enhances 'goodwill' and a partnership between police and the local community.

Patricia was an affiliate of the Los Angeles Women Police Officer and Associates (LAWPOA), in which she was recognized in 2014 for her exceptional leadership, mentoring, and excellence throughout her career. Patricia holds a Lifetime Achievement Award through Strathmore's Who's Who Worldwide as a Lifetime Professional and the "Author of the Year" Award for 2023 through the Professional Organization of Women of Excellence (POWER).

Patricia L. Blake is the author of Touched by the Hand of God: In the City of Angels  Send Me. Ms. Blake's book is a personal account of the powerful emotional side of police work and its impact on officers and families. She worked with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1983 to 2016. She continues to work with the LAPD in active reserve with the Mounted Horse Unit. She enjoys her time with the unit and being with her horse Mocha Latte.

"I realized my story could make a difference with people who find themselves in times of terror, stress, or desperation, "Ms. Blake states. "It's important for them to know that there is a higher power that cares and is there for them. I hope that it makes a difference in people's lives. And I hope that they gain new insight and perspective on police officers. I believe most of us are there for the right reason."

Ms. Blake says that Touched by the Hand of God: In the City of Angels  Send Me! required three years of intense work. "When writing a book, every word needs to be the right word," Ms. Blake explains. "I go into some great detail about incidents that made a huge impact on me and things that no person should ever have to witness."

Ms. Blake was inspired to become a police officer following a traumatic near-death experience with her first husband as a 19-year-old. "I experienced a spiritual miracle," she recalls. "God touched me on the shoulder, instantly took away the terror and grief, and filled me with this incredible spirit of peace and love, knowing that God's presence was there. There is a greater spirit of love and peace watching over us."

Since that fateful day, Ms. Blake says that God has guided her throughout her life to protect the innocent and the vulnerable, and she would go on to serve as a police officer for 33 years.

"It was a calling," Ms. Blake says. "I wanted to make a difference to help the children. I loved working in the streets and in the field because it's so fluid, and you make such a difference. I was incredibly blessed to work on different assignments, and I always saw them as a chance to learn how to be a better leader and make a differencenot only in the community but also with the officers themselves. Touched by the Hand of God: In the City of Angels  Send Me! is dedicated to the incredible heroes, our first responders, and our military warriors."

Ms. Blake has loved her career in law enforcement because she has always wanted to help people and still enjoys helping her community. That's a big reason why she wrote her book. She wanted to get her stories out to inspire others so they could overcome difficult situations.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
Will generate 3 megawatts of emission-free power for disadvantaged customers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peninsula Clean Energy and Renewable America are announcing a new solar project that will provide emission-free power to disadvantaged customers in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos.

The Dos Palos Clean Power project will generate 3 megawatts (MWac) of solar power as part of Peninsula Clean Energy's Green Access Program, which is providing more than 1,000 income-qualified customers in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos with a 20 percent savings on their electric bills.

Peninsula Clean Energy and Renewable America are announcing a new solar project that will provide emission-free power to disadvantaged customers in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos.

"This project checks several important boxes for us, including helping us get closer to our central goal of providing all-renewable power to all of our customers at nearly all hours of the day and evening," Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Jan Pepper said. "Sourcing this carbon-free power for our Los Banos customers from their home county also further shows how we are helping produce and deliver clean and affordable power beyond the coastline and into the heart of our state."

"Our team is thrilled to partner with Peninsula Clean Energy to provide locally sourced solar electricity to their members," Renewable America CEO Ardi Arian said. "This project is unique because it will directly benefit the residents of the surrounding community in Los Banos through local investment and job creation. Peninsula Clean Energy is again showing leadership on how community choice aggregation agencies can make clean energy affordable and accessible for more Californians."

Renewable America is developing, financing, constructing, and maintaining operation of the Dos Palos project in Merced County, which is expected to be online in August 2023.

Peninsula Clean Energy's Green Access program is part of a statewide effort from the California Public Utilities Commission to help low-income residents with their energy bills in communities that experience higher levels of environmental pollution.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, the Dos Palos Clean Power project will offset more than 6,100 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This is equivalent to taking more than 1,317 vehicles off the road per year.

About Peninsula Clean Energy

Peninsula Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and for the City of Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Peninsula Clean Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable by 2025. The agency has earned investment grade credit ratings from Moody's and Fitch. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.com, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Renewable America LLC

Renewable America is committed to investing in end-to-end development of strategically located solar, solar plus storage, and multi-customer community microgrids projects. With every project, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting our communities with economic development and renewable energy access while minimizing possible environmental impacts. Renewable America has over 255 megawatts (MWdc) of solar and 590 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage projects under development throughout California. For more information about Renewable America's land acquisition, project engineering, interconnection feasibility, PPA origination, financing, and construction management services, visit www.renewam.com or follow us on Linkedin.

Media Contacts

Darren Goode

Peninsula Clean Energy

[email protected]

202-550-6619

Sunny Xing

Renewable America LLC

[email protected]

SOURCE Renewable America
Through November 30 th , 2022, everyone  regardless of gender identity or ability to grow a moustache  is encouraged to participate in Movember virtually by purchasing one of Movember's facial hairstyles in the Avatar Marketplace for their Roblox avatar. Users can view and try on facial hairstyles in Shavetopia before purchasing for their avatars.

"Shavetopia" provides a 3D online space for Roblox visitors to try virtual hairstyles, play mini-games and spend time with friends and family as they try out new looks to embrace a new sense of virtual identity. Each game will feature unique Philips Norelco power-ups, which provide the opportunity for Roblox community members to wear their selected facial hairstyles and gain unique bonuses. Shavetopia has portals to three fan favorite experiences on Roblox: Retail Tycoon 2, Emergency Response: Liberty County, and Tower Defense Simulator.

"With our purpose of improving people's lives at the forefront of everything we do, Philips is taking our philanthropic efforts into exciting new territory by applying that purpose to self-expression and confidence in both the real world and virtual worlds," said Rafael Viestel da Silva, Philips Grooming and Beauty Marketing Director. "We're excited to extend our partnership with Movember to Roblox, with shared goals of empowerment and working together for social good."

Individual expression and appearance are critical pieces of how we express ourselves, and Philips Norelco wants to empower people to express their true selves, both in the physical and digital worlds. Driven by this purpose, is an extension of the partnership with Movember, which began in 2021 to support important men's health causes.

Movember aims to support men's mental and physical health through research, community outreach and initiatives such as encouraging guys to grow their Mo each November to raise awareness. Any proceeds generated by purchases of facial hairstyles in Shavetopia will go directly to bolster Movember's work in supporting mental health and suicide prevention, as well as prostate and testicular cancer awareness. In addition to partnering with Movember, Philips Norelco is also partnering with Dr. Jake Taylor, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Southwestern Texas Medical Center, to serve as an expert voice in the men's health space.

"It's so important for men to take an active role in both their physical and mental health," said Dr. Jake Taylor. "Even just starting your day with a routine that boosts your confidence, like shaving, can make a big difference for your mental health. That's why I'm thrilled to partner with an organization like Philips Norelco, who is actively committed to supporting both the physical and mental health for men."

"We're thrilled to join forces with Philips Norelco for the second consecutive year. We believe that Shavetopia will help raise awareness for men's health issues among new audiences," said Mark Hedstrom, Movember US Country Director. "These virtual facial hairstyles enable more people, regardless of gender or ability to grow facial hair, to show their support for Movember in ways we never thought possible."

To participate, create an account on Roblox and check out Shavetopia in support of Movember's efforts to improve men's health this fall. You can also update your facial hairstyle with Philips Norelco OneBlade, the all-in-one tool that can trim, edge and shave any length of hair, available for purchase at Philips.com and major retailers.

In addition to creating Shavetopia, Philips Norelco is proud to donate $400,000 to the Movember Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to changing the face of men's health. In addition, for every Philips Norelco & OneBlade handle sold in CVS and Walmart stores in the United States between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, Philips will donate $0.50, up to $100,000, for a maximum total donation of $500,000.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG) (AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum  from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Movember

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health. To donate or learn more, please visit movember.com.

SOURCE Philips Norelco
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEx:2318; SSE:601318) today announced its results for the nine months ended 30 September 2022.

Global capital markets remained volatile in a complex, challenging international environment in the third quarter of 2022. Domestic economic growth faced three headwinds, namely declining demand, supply chain disruption, and weakening confidence amid sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks. Household consumption recovery still faced many challenges, which continued to have an impact on Ping An's long-term protection insurance business. Facing challenges, Ping An pressed firmly ahead with Ping An Life's quality-oriented reform and transformation, continuously strengthened the advantages of integrated finance, and built the "managed care model", thereby providing customers with a "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" experience. Ping An delivered a 19.9% annualized operating ROE, with operating profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company rising 3.8% year on year to RMB123,288 million in the first nine months of 2022. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company decreased 6.3% year on year to RMB76,463 million.

Top business highlights in 9M 2022

Operating profit maintained steady growth. Ping An achieved stable and healthy business results thanks to the "integrated finance + healthcare" strategy. The Group delivered a 19.9% annualized operating ROE, with operating profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company rising 3.8% year on year to RMB123,288 million in the first nine months of 2022.



The integrated financial services model continued to progress steadily. The Group's retail customers increased 2.6% in the period to nearly 228 million as of September 30, 2022 . Contracts per customer grew 1.7% in the period to 2.96. As the Group's retail cross-selling continued to deepen, nearly 40% of retail customers held multiple contracts with different subsidiaries. Ping An Life continued to advance the "channel + product" reform and NBV per agent grew more than 22% year on year. Operating profit of the life and health insurance business rose 17.4% year on year to RMB86,486 million in the first nine months of 2022; Ping An P&C's premium income increased 11.4% year on year to RMB222,024 million in the first nine months of 2022. Combined ratio remained healthy at 97.9% in the first nine months of 2022; Ping An Bank's revenue grew 8.7% year on year to RMB138,265 million and net profit rose 25.8% year on year to RMB36,659 million in the first nine months of 2022. Non-performing loan ratio and provision coverage ratio was 1.03% and 290.27%, respectively, as of September 30, 2022 , indicating adequate risk provisions.



Ping An continued to develop a Chinese version of the "managed care model". In response to the "Healthy China" strategy, Ping An seamlessly combined differentiated healthcare services with its financial businesses, in which Ping An acts as a payer by building a world-leading healthcare ecosystem. The Group empowered its main financial businesses by providing one-stop "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" healthcare services for customers. Over 146 million retail customers of Ping An Group used services from the healthcare ecosystem as of September 30, 2022 . Ping An Life provided approximately 16.44 million customers with "insurance + health management" services in the first nine months of 2022, with an overall service satisfaction rate of 99%.



Ping An continued to empower main financial businesses with technologies. The amount of services provided by AI service representatives exceeded 1.96 billion times in the first nine months of 2022, representing 82% of Ping An's total customer service volume. Sales realized by AI service representatives increased 46% year on year to approximately RMB274.7 billion in the first nine months of 2022. Ping An's technology patent applications increased by 6,544 in the period to 44,964 as of September 30, 2022 , more than most other international financial institutions'.



Ping An fully supported development of the real economy. Using a combination of insurance funds, bank credit and asset management, and other financial resources, the Group invested over RMB5.9 trillion to support the real economy as of September 30, 2022 . Ping An's green investment and financing, and green banking business totaled approximately RMB319.8 billion and RMB184.2 billion , respectively, as of September 30, 2022 . With a "people-centered" approach to development, Ping An's insurance business has handled more than 558.6 million claims over the past ten years, since the 18th National Congress, with a claim amount of RMB1,506.8 billion . Through the "Ping An Rural Communities Support" program, Ping An cumulatively provided nearly RMB50,000 million for poverty alleviation and industrial revitalization as of September 30, 2022 .

In addition, the Board of Directors held a meeting on 26 October, 2022 and resolved to appoint Ms. Zhang Zhichun ("Ms. Zhang") as the chief financial officer (Financial Director) of the Group. The appointment shall become effective upon the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission's approval. Mr. Yao Jason Bo will cease to be the chief financial officer (Financial Director) of the Group and will continue to serve as the Executive Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the Group. According to the announcement, Ms. Zhang joined Ping An in 1998 and served as head of finance, planning, and investment for Ping An Group and Ping An Property & Casualty (Ping An P&C). She has excellent financial, planning and actuarial expertise, as well as extensive experience in business and management.

Ping An Life continued to strengthen its reform and transformation. Ping An P&C, Ping An Bank, and the asset management business maintained stable growth.

Reform of life insurance business is advancing and showing results steadily. China's life insurance sector faced many internal and external challenges due to domestic sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks and complex, changing economic circumstances in the first nine months of 2022. Despite the challenges, Ping An Life continued to advance the "channel + product" reform under the value-oriented philosophy, promoting the high-quality development of multiple channels and developing specialized products and services. Operating profit of the life and health insurance business rose 17.4% year on year to RMB86,486 million in the first nine months of 2022. NBV of Life & Health fell 26.6% year on year to RMB25,848 million in the first nine months of 2022. If the NBV for the first nine months of 2021 were restated using the assumptions and method employed at the end of 2021, the NBV of L&H for the first nine months of 2022 would decline 18.9% year on year. Business quality continued to improve, with 13-month persistency ratio of insurance policies up year on year.

In respect of channels, Ping An Life refined the tiered management of its agent force to optimize the team structure. The proportion of agents with a college education background and above rose by 4.0 pps year on year as of September 30, 2022. Team productivity continued to rise as NBV per agent grew more than 22% year on year. Ping An Life implemented "Talent+" to upgrade and tighten agent recruitment, aiming to gradually raise the proportion of high-quality new agents through high-quality existing ones. The proportion of "Talent +" new agents increased by 10.3 pps year on year in the first nine months of 2022. First year premium per Diamond Agent was 4.8 times the average of all agents in the first nine months of 2022. Ping An Life is steadily advancing the reform of digital business outlets, and will gradually roll out the reform nationwide in late 2022. Ping An Life deepened its cooperation with Ping An Bank which is developing a team of high-quality Private Wealth Advisers for bancassurance business. More than 1,000 Private Wealth Advisers have been recruited, over 90% of whom have a bachelor's degree. Continuing to improve the bancassurance product suite to meet customer demands, Ping An Life launched "Yu Xiang Nian Nian," a whole life insurance product featuring a growing sum assured, in the third quarter of 2022. This product has proved popular with customers. Ping An Life successfully piloted Community Grid in 25 cities and built a team of over 4,000 high-quality specialists as of September 30, 2022. The 13-month persistency ratio of "orphan policies" in pilot cities improved by over 17 pps year on year. In addition, Ping An Life continued to explore an innovative model leveraging insurance consumption scenarios in lower-tier markets.

In respect of products, Ping An Life increased the supply of competitive products to unlock customer demands under the philosophy of "developing heartwarming insurance." Moreover, Ping An Life created differentiation advantages with three core services, namely "insurance + health management," "insurance + home-based elderlycare," and "insurance + high-end elderlycare," by leveraging the Group's healthcare ecosystem. In respect of "insurance + health management," Ping An Life had served approximately 16.44 million customers in the first nine months of 2022, with an overall service satisfaction rate of 99%. In respect of "insurance + home-based elderlycare," Ping An integrates internal and external service providers to offer one-stop, home-based elderlycare solutions through its AI concierges, life concierges and doctor concierges, making the elderly comfortable and their children worry-free. Ping An's home-based elderlycare services had covered 32 cities across China as of September 30, 2022. In respect of "insurance + high-end elderlycare," Ping An provides solutions under the principle of "prime life, exclusive services, and respectful care" to meet the growing high-quality elderlycare demand in China and develop the high-quality elderlycare market. Ping An held a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of its first "Yi Nian Cheng" community in Shekou on July 25, 2022.

Ping An P&C maintained good business quality with steady growth in its written premium. Ping An P&C's premium income increased 11.4% year on year to RMB222,024 million in the first nine months of 2022. Combined ratio remained healthy at 97.9% in the first nine months of 2022 due to robust business management and risk screening. Ping An P&C proactively applies technologies to data-driven online operations and services. "Ping An Auto Owner," the largest automotive service app in China, had over 166 million registered users as of September 30, 2022, with over 100 million vehicles linked to the app. Ping An P&C's pioneering video-based auto insurance claim investigations take only 5 minutes on average. Through various online claims services, 93.2% of auto insurance claim payments were made within one hour in the first nine months of 2022.

Ping An Bank maintained stable business growth and asset quality. Revenue grew 8.7% year on year to RMB138,265 million and net profit rose 25.8% year on year to RMB36,659 million in the first nine months of 2022. Ping An Bank's net interest margin in the first nine months of 2022 was 2.77%, down by 0.04 pps year on year. Non-performing loan ratio rose slightly by 0.01 pps in the period to 1.03%, and provision coverage ratio was 290.27% as of September 30, 2022, indicating adequate risk provisions. Ping An Bank further advanced its retail business transformation, provided professional financial services to a wide range of customer segments through technology, promoted consumption and boosted financial inclusion. Ping An Bank continued to enhance corporate banking business by focusing on strategic industries such as manufacturing, SRDI (specialized, refined, differentiated, innovative) enterprises, and new infrastructure, starting with the industrial chain and supply chain, and injecting financial resources efficiently into the operation of real economy. Ping An Bank's retail assets under management ("AUM") rose 11.0% in the period to RMB3,532,560 million as of September 30, 2022. Retail customers increased 5.1% in the period to approximately 124,211,500, among which wealth management customers increased 12.2% in the period to approximately 1,234,100. The number of corporate customers increased by 16.1% in the period to approximately 592,800 as of September 30, 2022 and the balance of corporate loans grew 12.5% in the period to RMB1,297,461 million as of September 30, 2022.

The Company continued to improve the asset-liability matching of insurance funds. Investment income on the Group's investment portfolio of insurance funds was under pressure due to volatile capital markets in the first nine months of 2022. The annualized net investment yield was 4.2%, and the annualized total investment yield was 2.7%. Ping An is committed to creating stable investment income across macroeconomic cycles and meeting liability needs under a liability-driven approach, taking solvency as a core metric. The Group's insurance fund investment portfolio grew 9.6% in the period to over RMB4.29 trillion as of September 30, 2022.

Ping An enhanced healthcare ecosystem rapidly and built healthcare as a new driver of value growth

Ping An continued to implement its healthcare ecosystem strategy. Acting as a payer, Ping An launched an innovative Chinese version of the "managed care model" to integrate market providers specializing in medical, health management, and elderlycare services. Ping An offers one-stop "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" services covering health, chronic disease, disease and elderlycare management via its world-leading healthcare ecosystem.

In respect of payers, Ping An advanced the research and development of relevant products by effectively integrating insurance and healthcare services. The cumulative number of paying retail users approached 100 million as of September 30, 2022. Moreover, Ping An constantly improved employee health management service programs for corporate customers, covering over 20 million employees of over 47,000 corporate customers in the first nine months of 2022. The Group achieved over RMB110 billion in health insurance premium income in the first nine months of 2022.

In respect of providers: Online, Ping An Health provides healthcare services through its dedicated family doctors to guide customers through end-to-end services (from consultation, diagnosis, treatment to other services) in Ping An's "online, in-store, and home-delivered" service network, realizing 24/7 seconds-level management. Currently, Ping An has a team of nearly 4,000 in-house doctors. Offline, Ping An invests in service capabilities through general hospitals, checkup centers, and imaging centers. Through participation in the restructuring of Founder Group, Ping An enhanced its presence in the healthcare industry by integrating PKU Healthcare's excellent resources into Ping An's existing healthcare ecosystem. These resources include five general hospitals and six specialty medical institutions. In addition to hospitals, Ping An also had 14 health management centers as of September 30, 2022. Ping An integrates excellent resources in China and abroad to provide "online, in-store, and home-delivered" services online and offline, covering five scenarios, namely health, sub-health, disease, chronic disease, and elderlycare management. Ping An had over 50,000 in-house doctors and contracted external doctors, and had partnered with over 10,000 hospitals in China as of September 30, 2022. Moreover, Ping An had partnered with over 1,000 overseas medical institutions in 16 countries across the world as of September 30, 2022.

Ping An Health is an integral part of the Group's "managed care model." With the abundant healthcare management experience and databases over the years, as well as the advanced management platforms and technologies, Ping An Health mobilizes vast full-scenario service resources to reach large numbers of retail users and corporate clients. Leveraging family doctor services and O2O service networks, Ping An Health developed an online-merge-offline healthcare service platform catering to the management of health, sub-health, disease, chronic disease, and elderlycare. Ping An Health is committed to providing users with specialized, comprehensive, high-quality and one-stop health management services.

Ping An continued to strengthen its core technological capabilities to empower its main financial businesses. Ping An's technology patent applications increased by 6,544 in the period to 44,964 as of September 30, 2022, more than most other international financial institutions'. Of the technology patent applications, nearly 94% were for inventions, and 9,333 were made under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and abroad. In the first nine months of 2022, the amount of services provided by AI service representatives exceeded 1.96 billion times, accounting for 82% of Ping An's total customer service volume; sales realized by AI service representatives increased 46% year on year to approximately RMB274.7 billion.

Lufax Holding is one of the leading technology-empowered personal financial services platforms in China. In retail credit facilitation, Lufax Holding efficiently connects borrowers with financial resources providers, including banks, trust companies and insurers, on its "Aggregate Model" retail lending platform to provide small and micro-business owners with quick, convenient lending services. In wealth management, Lufax Holding cooperates with financial product providers and builds a technology-powered smart business framework, using AI to match customers with products and providing middle-class and affluent investors with diverse customized offerings.

OneConnect is a technology-as-a-service provider for financial institutions. It provides clients with "full stack" integrated products, including Digital Banking, Digital Insurance, and Gamma Platform, which offers fintech infrastructure services. OneConnect facilitates the digital transformation of the financial services ecosystem, and provides governments, regulators and enterprises with technological services relating to trade, supply chains, data security, risk management and so on.

Autohome, China's leading online auto services platform, is dedicated to developing a smart auto ecosystem centering on data and technology. In the ecosystem, Autohome provides auto consumers with diverse products and services across the entire auto lifecycle. Autohome continuously upgrades its "ecosystem strategy," and provides comprehensive services for consumers, automakers and various players in the auto ecosystem.

Ping An further advanced its green finance initiative to support the real economy. Ping An cumulatively invested over RMB5.9 trillion to support the real economy as of September 30, 2022. Such investments covered major infrastructure projects, including energy, transportation and water conservancy, safeguarding national strategies including the "Belt and Road" and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Ping An's green investment and financing, and green banking business totaled approximately RMB319.8 billion and RMB184.2 billion respectively as of September 30, 2022. Premium income of environmentally sustainable insurance products totaled approximately RMB110.5 billion in the first nine months of 2022.

The Chinese economy generally stabilized and recovered in the first nine months of 2022 due to strengthened macroeconomic policies. Looking ahead, China's economic fundamentals will remain positive in the long run, with strong potential and favorable conditions for the development of financial and healthcare industries. Ping An said, the Group will study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, uphold China's new development philosophy at the new development stage, keep in mind its mission to give back to society and serve the nation. Remaining "people-centered," Ping An pursues development by serving the real economy, continuously improving the quality and efficiency of services for the real economy. Under the technology-driven "integrated finance + healthcare" strategy, Ping An continuously explores innovations for financial inclusion, and makes every effort to maintain economic and financial security. By doing so, Ping An vigorously pursues high-quality development and contributes to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

 End 

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") strives to become a world-leading retail financial services group. With nearly 228 million retail customers, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation, and employs technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of its financial businesses and enhance risk management. The Company believes "Expertise Creates Value" and "Expertise makes life simple". Ping An develops the "integrated finance + healthcare" service system and builds the "finance + elderlycare" and "finance + healthcare" industry ecosystems to provide professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and elderlycare concierge" services. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Ping An ranked 17th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2022 and ranked 25th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2022.

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- While the rest of the country has been tolerating crime, riots, and trying to defund the police the past two years, Florida has been supporting law enforcement and the rule of law. The entire country can thank Governor Ron DeSantis and the conservative leadership of Republican lawmakers for standing up for police and our communities.

With the 2022 Midterm Election just weeks away, it's time for voters to show their support for these great leaders. American Police Officers Alliance Florida Independent Expenditure Committee is launching a Get Out the Vote campaign in Florida to help galvanize Florida Republicans. "If residents want Florida to continue being a state that upholds the rule of law, voters can't be complacent," the organization said in a statement.

The committee will reach thousands of Floridian voters and through this campaign will encourage them to get them to the polls in November. The multifaceted campaign will reach out to registered voters via text, social media, and digital advertisement on platforms such as Facebook.

The failures of the Democrats and their anti-law enforcement agenda is a major opportunity for conservative leadership to take control in November, but it will only happen if pro-law and order citizens show up and vote. For example, the 2020 Presidential Election resulted in record voter turnout but even so nearly 40% of eligible voters in Florida did not participate in the last election. And the data shows that midterm elections often yield fewer voters than presidential ones.

The organization is urging voters to support Governor DeSantis due to his proven track record supporting law enforcement. He signed anti-rioting legislation into law, offered signing bonuses to attract new police officers, and has taken a stand against illegal immigration.

American Police Officers Alliance Florida Independent Expenditure Committee is an Independent Expenditure Committee created by American Police Officers Alliance. American Police Officers Alliance is a political organization organized under Section 527 with the IRS. Contributions to the American Police Officers Alliance are not tax deductible. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

SOURCE American Police Officers Alliance
Summary: A renowned eye care professional takes the stage at the American Academy of Optometry annual meeting in San Diego to present the results of a multi-site clinical study that represents a breakthrough in the treatment of dry eye disease related to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) affecting over 300 million people worldwide.

ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry in San Diego, renowned Doctor of Optometry, Ron Melton will publicly share for the first time the results of a multi-site clinical study evaluating the effectiveness of a new product designed to treat dry eyes related to meibomian gland dysfunction. The product, EverTears, was designed by doctors at ThermaMEDx to provide the world's first medical device that combines a self-heating eye compress with a pre-moistened cleaning pad for the treatment of dry eyes and styes.

Dr. Ron Melton presents breakthrough clinical study on Dry Eye Disease treatment at American Academy of Optometry Oct 28 Tweet this Your Dry Eyes are likely NOT caused by a lack of tears! Learn the TRUE cause of Dry Eyes and why women are TWICE as likely as men to suffer from Dry Eye Disease. Most important, see how the new breakthrough therapy, EverTears works to address symptoms and help you keep your own NATURAL tears. New EverTears was designed by Doctors to provide a breakthrough approach to treating Dry Eye symptoms. EverTears is patented technology that combines two therapies into one self-heating, pre-moistened cleaning eye-pad. No microwave needed. No need to buy multiple products that only address part of the problem. EverTears is proven science that works in only 5 minutes per day. Each self-heating pad is sterile and comes individually wrapped so you can get relief anywhere. World's first self-heating pre-moisturized pad fully wrapped in cloth, designed to deliver precise controlled moist heat and cleaning directly to the eyelids to address symptoms of dry eyes related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) (PRNewsfoto/ThermaMEDx, LLC)

Dr. Melton will present the much-anticipated conclusions from "Benefit of Controlled Heat and Eyelid Cleaning in MGD: Real World Usage" to doctors, scientists, students and industry attendees of the AAO national event on Friday October 28th. The full report will be available at the conclusion of the presentation and, based on one finding from the study released today, the findings promise to inform how doctors recommend treatment of dry eyes related to MGD.

According to Ben Nobles, a co-founder of ThermaMEDx and former senior executive at eyecare giant Alcon, "The results of this most recent clinical study were outstanding across every measure and mirror the study conducted in 2021 by Dr. Kurt Steele. Just as we have learned from doctors who have been recommending EverTears to their patients over the past year, patients report significant improvement within only a week. The fact that patients in the study reported a 45% reduction in dry eye symptoms after only seven days was both remarkable and gratifying."

The study was a collaborative effort between Dr. Melton and Dr. Patrick Miranda of Charlotte Eye Ear Nose and Throat in Charlotte, North Carolina and Drs. Max Raynor, Mary Massengill, and J. Ross Higgins with support from Mr. Daron Barefoot at Professional EyeCare Associates in Clinton, North Carolina.

EverTears leverages technology developed and first applied for international patent in 2003 by ThermaMEDx co-founder Dr. Michel Guillon, to not only provide relief of dry eye symptoms, but also help restore the eyes' natural tear film when used as directed.

For more information, please visit thermamedx.com/insights-news

About ThermaMEDx

ThermaMEDx was founded to bring Dr. Michel Guillon's vision of harnessing thermal energy to provide an accessible, effective treatment for dry eyes and meibomian gland dysfunction. ThermaMEDx is a family-owned company led by our medical board of renowned doctors on a mission to advance patient outcomes by working to provide the best treatment for dry eyes caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) available for at-home use.

1 International Application No. PCT/GB2003/004782 filed November 5, 2003 (published as WO 2004/041134 A1)

SOURCE ThermaMEDx, LLC
Leading small business finance company strengthens balance sheet and demonstrates continued growth

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Reliant Funding, a leading small business finance company, today announced it closed on certain amendments to its existing accounts receivable securitization facility, notably increasing the committed amount from $75 million to $125 million.

"Reliant Funding has always led small business owners - America's backbone - to the road of success by providing the ability to achieve their greatest growth," said Chief Executive Officer of Reliant Funding, Steve Kietz. "We are very pleased with the terms of the facility as it provides us with greater flexibility to continue our mission and grow our portfolio."

Credit funds managed by Ares Management Corporation, a leading global alternative investment manager, provided the facility with Ares Agent Services, L.P., acting as the administrative agent and collateral agent. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, a full-service investment bank and broker-dealer specializing in the financial services sector, served as Reliant Funding's exclusive financial advisor for the transaction.

The facility, which has a 4-year revolving period (with approximately 2.5 years remaining) and is expandable subject to certain conditions, provides increased availability and has a committed term of five years (with approximately 3.5 years remaining).

Since 2008, Reliant Funding has funded over $3 billion to 30,000 small businesses nationwide. For more information on Reliant Funding, please click here.

Reliant Funding provides customized, short-term funding to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. Headquartered in San Diego with an office in New York, Reliant Funding has surpassed $3 billion in total funding and has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as part of the 5000 fastest growing privately held companies in America. For more information, visit www.reliantfunding.com.

Contact: Kate Kelly, [email protected], (858) 848-9706

SOURCE Reliant Funding
BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn

The Chenhu wetland in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, has become a paradise for waterfowls thanks to sustained efforts in wetland conservation and green development.

Wuhan is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers, with 166 lakes and rich wetland resources

Covering an area of 11,600 hectares in Caidian district, it is the city's first provincial-level wetland nature reserve. It has an abundance of wildlife, including four plant species and 64 bird species under national special protection, according to the administrative bureau of the reserve.

Feng Jiang, a forestry engineer who has worked in the reserve since 2007, recalled that the Chenhu wetland had been plagued by aquaculture for many years.

"In the past, many local villagers operated fishponds and water plant farms in the wetland," Feng said.

But now these pools are home to flourishing lotuses, reeds and a variety of birds. The change is a result of a restoration project launched by the district government in 2019.

Feng said the project involved demolishing illegal buildings, moving aquaculture activities out of the reserve, and restoring 1,400 hectares of degraded wetlands.

In collaboration with Beijing Forestry University, the bureau established a monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence to improve the wetland's management and protection.

"We have installed 59 internet of things devices around the wetland to capture extensive data. Based on this, the smart system can identify species, monitor the environment and track birds," Feng said.

Last winter, a total of 85,000 migratory birds were observed in the wetland, a record high over the past three years, according to data from the bureau.

"A bird-watcher told us he saw a Chinese merganser in November last year," said Tan Wenzhuo, an inspector of the Chenhu wetland reserve.

"Those ducks are picky about water quality, food and the environment. Its appearance indicated that Chenhu has a healthy ecosystem," Tan added.

During the past five years, Wuhan has returned 6,333 hectares of fishponds and about 667 hectares of farmland to wetlands.

Wetlands across Wuhan now occupy 162,000 hectares, accounting for 18.9 percent of the city's total area. Included in the city's wetland network are 63,500 hectares of small and micro wetlands and six national wetland parks.

In June, Wuhan was awarded a wetland city accreditation by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The 14th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will be held on Nov 5-13. The main venue is to be in Wuhan with a parallel session in Geneva, Switzerland. It will be the first time China hosts the international event.

The meeting will discuss the future development of the convention, announce a new batch of wetlands of international importance, and tell the Chinese story of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, an official from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (NYSE American: REPX) ("Riley Permian" or the "Company") announced that its bank group has increased the Company's borrowing base of its senior secured revolving credit facility from $200 million to $225 million.

Additionally, the Company announced plans to release third quarter 2022 financial and operating results on November 14, 2022 after the U.S. financial markets close.

In connection with the earnings release, Riley Permian management will host a conference call for investors and analysts on November 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the Company's results and to host a Q&A session. Interested parties are invited to participate by calling:

Toll Free Dial-In, 1 (888) 330-2214

Toll Dial-In, 1 (646) 960-0161

Conference ID number 5405646

An updated company presentation, which will include certain items to be discussed on the call, will be posted prior to the call on the Company's website (www.rileypermian.com).

A replay of the call will be available until November 29, 2022 by calling:

Toll Free Dial-In, 1 (800) 770-2030

Toll Dial-In, 1 (647) 362-9199

Conference ID number 5405646

About Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.

Riley Permian is a growth-oriented, independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. For more information please visit www.rileypermian.com .

Investor Contact:

Rick D'Angelo

405-438-0126

[email protected]

SOURCE Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.
Two-Tiered Injustice: 9th Circuit Rejects Pro-Lifers' Appeal of $2.4 Mil Judgment in Planned Parenthood Baby Parts Case

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

Oct. 26, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- A three-member panel of the Ninth Circuit Court has denied the appeal of a $2.4 million judgment levied against pro-life journalists, including Operation Rescue President Troy Newman and members of the Center for Medical Progress, who exposed Planned Parenthood's illegal trafficking of tissues and organs harvested from aborted babies for profit in 2015.

The decision in appellate the case, Planned Parenthood v. Troy Newman, et. al., rejected arguments based primarily on the defense of the pro-lifers' First Amendment right to freedom of speech and Newman's right to claim the Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination stemming from a civil suit brought by Planned Parenthood in which the journalists were found to have violated the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations act, or RICO in 2019.

The three-member panel was stacked against the pro-life position, consisting of two appointees of former President Barack Obama and one of former President Bill Clinton, both of which hold radically pro-abortion views and reflected them in their judicial appointments.

"This is a prime example of the two-tiered system of justice that now plagues our nation," said Newman. "We caught Planned Parenthood red-handed breaking a plethora of state and federal laws, and even showed that they were harvesting organs from babies born alive during late-term abortions. Yet those of us who exposed these horrific crimes are punished while law enforcement still looks the other way as Planned Parenthood continues to illegally traffic aborted baby remains for profit."

Newman noted that two members of his investigative team still face criminal felonies in California for posing as representatives of an organ procurement company to conduct their undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood's illicit baby parts trade.

Investigative committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives both referred Planned Parenthood to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution in 2016, but those referrals were ignored by a compromised Department of Justice.

"The political elite will stop at nothing to cover up for Planned Parenthood baby-killing criminals," said Newman. "But the truth cannot be buried forever. I am more determined than ever to expose the truth about Planned Parenthoods illegal and abusive conduct that destroys innocent lives and inflicts human misery on women, families, and society."

Newman said his legal team from the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) plans to appeal to the full Ninth Circuit, which has become more balanced since President Donald J. Trump added several conservative justices to that famously liberal court.

Read the decision.

Read this press statement online.

Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America. Click here to support Operation Rescue.

SOURCE Operation Rescue

CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111

Anne Reed, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-683-6790
Fall Menu launch includes new salad and lemonade and a returning fan-favorite soup, with steak returning to Arizona

PHOENIX, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Salad and Go , an emerging QSR industry disruptor committed to revolutionizing fast food, announced three fresh new menu items including a soup, salad, and lemonade coming to all locations this fall. Arizona Salad and Go fans will be happy to know that in addition to the new fall menu items, the highly anticipated steak protein option will be returning to the state next month.

Salad and Go Fall Menu Items

The new Salad and Go menu will feature the hearty Roasted Autumn Salad, citrusy Pink Lemonade and fan favorite Chicken Pot Pie Soup at all stores beginning on November 2. Steak will also be available for order at all Salad and Go locations for guests to enjoy with the return of the protein option to Arizona markets during the week of November 7.

The three new savory and sweet menu additions include:

Roasted Autumn Salad: A perfect fall salad with hearty roasted sweet potatoes and caramelized brussels sprouts, candied pecans, dried cranberries and grated parmesan cheese. The salad is dressed with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette and served with a protein choice of chicken or tofu (included) or steak (additional charge). The Roasted Autumn Salad can also be ordered as a wrap.

A perfect fall salad with hearty roasted sweet potatoes and caramelized brussels sprouts, candied pecans, dried cranberries and grated parmesan cheese. The salad is dressed with a delicious balsamic vinaigrette and served with a protein choice of chicken or tofu (included) or steak (additional charge). The Roasted Autumn Salad can also be ordered as a wrap. Chicken Pot Pie Soup: A warm and tasty soup, packed full of tender chicken and fresh vegetables.

A warm and tasty soup, packed full of tender chicken and fresh vegetables. Pink Lemonade: A citrusy lemonade with a balance of sweet cranberry juice and tart grapefruit.

"Salad and Go is dedicated to its mission of providing fresh, affordable and convenient food for all and the new fall menu launch is an opportunity for us to not only provide nutritious and affordable food, but to show the diversity of fast food through healthy, craveable and delicious options," said Charlie Morrison, CEO of Salad and Go. "As we continue to expand across Arizona and Texas and into Oklahoma, we will ensure every guest receives a high-quality meal with an unmatched service experience."

The full Salad and Go menu includes a flavorful range of 48-oz made-to-order salads, wraps, breakfast burritos and soup, a line-up of hand-crafted lemonades and teas, cold brew coffees and nutritious options for kids. The menu is fully customizable with various toppings, house-made dressings and proteins to choose from.

The new menu options will be available daily at any one of Salad and Go's drive-thru locations, as well as through digital online ordering at saladandgo.com, or using the Salad and Go mobile app.

Salad and Go is committed to providing fresh, quality meals by sourcing ingredients directly from high-quality local farmers and suppliers whenever possible and keeps costs low for the guest by vertically integrating operations and distribution. The brand's mission drives the company to give back to the community through volunteerism and philanthropy with its weekly donation of 4,000 meals to those in need and in partnerships with nonprofits to fundraise and support various causes.

For more information about the brand as it continues growing across Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and beyond, visit https://www.saladandgo.com

About Salad and Go

Salad and Go is on a mission to make fresh, nutritious food convenient and affordable to ALL. The concept is an industry disruptor, making meals that are not only convenient and affordable, but good for the guest and the local community. The use of raw, fresh ingredients in chef-curated recipes offer nutrient rich meals that are delicious and satisfying. All menu items at Salad and Go are made to order with quality, fresh ingredients. Built on a model of speed and efficiency, Salad and Go is able to serve made-to-order meals quickly and at exceptionally low prices. Salad and Go was founded in 2013 in Gilbert, Arizona. The company currently operates over 50 locations across Arizona and Texas.

SOURCE Salad and Go
CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Locally grown, SelectBlinds, a custom online window covering retailer, is announcing the Grand Opening of its new headquarters in Chandler, Ariz. The new space is part of the San Tan Tech Center, located at 145 S. 79th St. The 29,526-square-foot office will accommodate the company's future growth plans over the next five years.

"We look forward to SelectBlinds putting their roots down in West Chandler," said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. Tweet this The new SelectBlinds headquarters in Chandler, Arizona. The 29,526-square-foot office will accommodate the companys future growth plans over the next five years.

Currently, SelectBlinds employs over 100 people, but the new headquarters can accommodate upward of 300 people. "From tech, accessibility, culture, and even restaurant standouts, Chandler seems to be the place to be," says CEO, Satya Sivunigunta. "At the end of the day, we're a people company. I needed to be in a place where I can attract the best talent. To me, that's why Chandler made sense."

"We are excited to welcome SelectBlinds with their new headquarters located right here in the heart of Chandler. We are thrilled to work alongside the SelectBlinds team as they continue to locally grow their custom online window covering business and winning culture in the business community. We wish them many years of success in Chandler", said Chandler Chamber CEO, Terri Kimble.

The space is undergoing many improvements to create an amazing place for people to work including an expansion to allow for a 1500-square-foot photo studio, as well as a sound and podcast room to accommodate the company's growing need for content creation. SelectBlinds' Samples Department assembles and ships free sample orders going out to customers and will be brought under one roof. Currently, the department is offsite due to the growth the company has seen over the last couple of years.

"We look forward to SelectBlinds putting their roots down in West Chandler," said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. "This office lease will further invigorate this legacy building in Chandler and we wish SelectBlinds many years of success in their new headquarters."

Along with the location move, the company is refreshing its brand to reflect its true personality which is empowering, compassionate and fun. "We are trying not to take the brand too seriously and have a little fun with it", says Shannon Constance, VP Creative Director. The company recently allowed the employees to come up with fun names for the conference rooms and then vote on which ones were the best. The result ended up being fun puns using window-covering language with pop culture, musical icons like "Dr. Drapes", "Mary J Blinds" and even "The Real Slim Shadey".

"We are looking to innovate the world of window coverings in a way that hasn't been done before. Choosing Chandler, Arizona makes so much sense given their focus on being a community of innovation," says Shannon Constance.

The company is hosting a Grand Opening Event on November, 3rd from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at their new headquarters and they are inviting the public to attend. There will be food trucks, a regular event for the company, as well as music and games. Special guest, NASCAR driver, David Ragan will be in attendance signing autographs next to his SelectBlinds racecar which sits in the middle of the open-air workspace.

About SelectBlinds:

SelectBlinds is a leading online retailer of independently branded window fashions. Their vision is to empower people to create spaces they can be proud of by creating an exceptional customer experience that builds confidence with the most diverse selection and helpful resources. For more information on SelectBlinds, visit SelectBlinds.com. Follow them on social media: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , Pinterest , TikTok , and LinkedIn.

About the City of Chandler :

Chandler, Arizona has built a reputation as a Community of Innovation . Life in Chandler goes beyond a thriving and dynamic business community with progressive entrepreneurship. Known for its rich diversity, the City offers an outstanding quality of life for all generations with great schools and recreational opportunities. Chandler has grown to become the state's fourth largest City with a population of more than 283,000. Chandler has been named one of the nation's Best Places to Find a Job and Best Cities for Women in Tech. The City also is one of the safest communities in the nation and boasts AAA bond ratings from all three national rating agencies, one of only 40 communities to achieve this distinction. For more information, visit the City website , or connect with the City on social media .

SOURCE SelectBlinds
"Joska is the first service animal to achieve this lofty status and we wanted to honor her with an event that shows her how special she is to everyone in our company," said Antorcha. "Registered service animals are always welcome aboard Holland America Line ships, and Joska has become a member of our family. She not only brightens the spirits of everyone on board, but she also allows Connie to do what she loves most, which is to cruise and explore the world."

The Dutch couple have been cruising with Holland America Line since 2013 and have taken nearly 60 cruises. From Alaska, Hawaii and Canada to Europe, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, Joska has sailed on more than 50 Holland America Line voyages since joining the Marinussen family in 2014 to assist Cornelia, who is legally blind, and is among the most traveled dogs in the world.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

Holland America Line has been exploring the world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations. Offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for 75 years  longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line's 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from a Culinary Council of world-famous chefs.

CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890 EMAIL: [email protected]

SOURCE Holland America Line
SHARP re-enters the U.S. Market with ROUVO V, a multi-media rich smartphone with 4-day battery life[1] and an immersive 6.5" HD+ display at a great price.

SOMERVILLE, N.J., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SHARP today announced its re-entry into the U.S. market with the launch of its new ROUVO V Android smartphone. Bringing back the legacy of SHARP's display and camera expertise, ROUVO V inherits Sharp's meticulous design and quality craftsmanship to offer consumers a better choice with exceptional performance and premium features to the entry-level smartphone market.

SHARP ROUVO V Key visual

ROUVO V delivers a sleek viewing experience with an immersive HD+ 6.5" display. The 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory provide optimized performance, speed, and efficiency, making it easier to multitask and stay productive.

Bigger is Better: ROUVO V is equipped with a huge 6.5" display with 20:9 aspect ratio, allowing cinematic viewing on the users' smartphone.

ROUVO V is equipped with a huge 6.5" display with 20:9 aspect ratio, allowing cinematic viewing on the users' smartphone. Photoshoot with Stunning Effect: ROUVO V's camera supports Full HD 1 and multiple AI-enabled features, enabling users to shoot like a pro with the enhanced portrait shots, Bokeh effect, softened skin/background, and improve the shots with reductions in blur, noise, and bright lighting.

ROUVO V's camera supports Full HD and multiple AI-enabled features, enabling users to shoot like a pro with the enhanced portrait shots, Bokeh effect, softened skin/background, and improve the shots with reductions in blur, noise, and bright lighting. Long-Lasting Battery Life: ROUVO V is built for all-day use, with more than 4 days of use and 101 hours of standby time [ 2] .

ROUVO V is built for all-day use, with more than 4 days of use and 101 hours of standby time . IP52 Protection from Dust and Water: With IP52-rated protection, ROUVO V is resistant to dust ingress and water spray[3].

For more information about ROUVO V, visit https://www.sharp-rouvo.com/rouvo-v

Pricing and Availability

ROUVO V will be exclusively available in the U.S. region. Sharp is excited to partner with Verizon for this re-entry into the US Market. Verizon began offering the device in-store and online on September 22. ROUVO V is also available at Dollar General since October 13, and Walmart since October 16.

Specifications

ROUVO V Specifications Operation System Android 12 Chipset MediaTek MT6761V/WB SoC, Quad-core up to 1.8 GHz Memory RAM: 3GB, ROM: 32GB (External Memory: 128GB Expandable) Display & Touch 6.52" HD+ with 2.5D NEG, 720 x 1600 resolution, 20:9 Aspect Ratio Camera Rear: 8MP / Front: 5MP Network 4G LTE (4G LTE: B2, B4, B5, B12, B13, B66, Cat4) Connectivity 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, 2.4/5.0GHz / BT 5.0 (BLE), GNSS (aGPS/GPS) Battery Typ. 3500 mAh, Non-removable Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor I/O USB-C, 3.5mm Audio Jack, Single SIM (4FF) + microSD Card HAC M4 / T4 IP Rating IP52 Protection Dimensions 6.692 x 3.047 x 0.353 in / 6.49 oz

Legal Disclaimers

The information provided here is for general information purpose only. While we make full endeavor to keep the information accurate and correct, the information is presented "as is", without promise of warranties of any kind. Certain features or functions may depend on the network and may be subject to additional terms and conditions. Certain charges may apply. All are subject to change without prior notice. SHARP is a trademark of Sharp Corporation used under license from Sharp Corporation. microSD Logo is a trademark of SD-3C LLC. Google, Android, Google Play and other affiliated brands are trademarks of Google LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

Image resolution may vary under different camera modes. Battery DOU (Day of Use by hours) are measured by complying with Verizon's testing standards based on use profiles of a typical user. The measured DOU of this device is 4.24 days of use, approximately 101.77 hours. The IP52 rating specifies that the device is protected against limited dust ingress and against direct water spray up to 15 degrees from vertical.

SOURCE SHARP TAIWAN ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (STE)
Leading global scientists and policymakers will exchange learnings to promote multi-sectoral collaboration to address complex global health challenges

SINGAPORE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th World One Health Congress (WOHC), the world's premier event to advance the One Health agenda, will take place in Singapore at the iconic Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 7 to 11 November 2022. Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, will grace the event's Opening Ceremony on 7 November as its Guest-of-Honour and deliver the Opening Address.

The global One Health movement aims to improve health and well-being by preventing and mitigating crises that originate from the animal-human-environment interface. This year's Congress, hosted by Singapore's SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) under the auspices of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, is themed 'Integrating Science, Policy and Clinical Practice: A One Health Imperative Post-COVID-19', and will promote multi-sectoral efforts and collaborations that advance a 'whole of society' approach and perspective to health hazards and the management of risks. Temasek Foundation is the Pinnacle Sponsor of the Congress.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health, Dr Monique Eloit, will deliver opening remarks on the first day. More than 120 speakers from organisations around the world, such as the World Bank, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will come together to share their knowledge and experiences across five distinct scientific tracks, spanning themes from One Health Science to Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience.

The Congress will feature a hybrid experience of in-person and virtual sessions with renowned keynote speakers, plenary lectures by experts, scientific sessions with abstract presentations and panel discussions on urgent and emerging topics. Leading scientists and policymakers will be joined by representatives from academic institutions, civil society, national governments, the private sector and multilateral organisations from around the world to integrate insights from diverse disciplines, including epidemiology and disease surveillance, animal production and trade, food safety, animal science, human health, environmental science/ecology and global health security.

The biennial congress is taking place at a pertinent moment for the world. "As the world emerges from COVID-19, it is vital for scientific communities, policymakers and clinical professionals to build our collective resilience against future global health challenges," said Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon, Co-Chairman of the WOHC 2022 Steering Committee and Director of SDGHI. "The 7th World One Health Congress will host important conversations and promote integrated regional and global efforts that are essential to prevent, predict, prepare and respond to crises and safeguard our planet's healthy and sustainable future. The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute is pleased to represent Singapore in organising this Congress, and play a part in advancing global efforts to improve health outcomes and achieve health equity for all."

"The crux of the One Health paradigm is about recognising our global interconnectivity across not just the human experience, but animal and environmental determinants as well. This has never been more apparent than throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, during which we have seen first-hand just how much advancing health equity relies on our collective understanding and response to global health threats," said Professor Wang Linfa, Co-Chairman of the WOHC 2022 Steering Committee and Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. "This Congress is a well-timed testament to that and provides a platform to help move the needle in fostering broad collaboration and impact to advance One Health."

Running in parallel to the main WOHC 2022, the Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series is a three-day programme that focuses on the readiness to combat public health threats in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia.

This targeted programme provides a platform for strategic discussions and opportunities for close networking among invited policy makers, healthcare leaders and scientists in the region involved in different disciplines, including zoonotic diseases, bio-surveillance studies and antimicrobial resistance, to enhance the preparedness and response to emerging global health threats.

"Asia urgently needs to build capabilities to be ready to respond to any outbreaks that can potentially pose a major threat to the lives and livelihoods of its populations," said Mr Lim Hock Chuan, Head, Programmes, Temasek Foundation. "One of the most critical lessons learnt from the pandemic is that we must collaborate and share knowledge to tackle the most pressing healthcare challenges. We hope that the Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series provides healthcare leaders an opportunity to continue this spirit of learning and exchange to better prepare the region for future pandemics."

The WOHC is open for registration for both in-person and virtual attendance here . For more information on WOHC 2022 and its speakers, go to www.worldonehealthcongress.org or follow the congress on Twitter and Facebook .

 END 

About SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) draws on the collective strengths of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School to provide our patients and community with the best outcomes and experience.

By leveraging the synergies in clinical care, research and education created through our Academic Clinical Programmes, Disease Centres and Joint Institutes, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC fosters the exchange of scientific knowledge and clinical perspectives to accelerate innovation and new discoveries, advance the practice of medicine as well as nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.

SingHealth delivers comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and integrated care across a network of acute hospitals, national specialty centres, polyclinics and community hospitals. Offering over 40 clinical specialties, SingHealth is Singapore's largest public healthcare cluster.

Duke-NUS, Singapore's flagship graduate-entry medical school, nurtures 'Clinician Plus' graduates to become leaders in the global healthcare and biomedical ecosystem, while scientists from its five Signature Research Programmes and 10 Centres transform medicine and improve lives in Asia and beyond.

For more information, please visit:

www.singhealthdukenus.com.sg

www.singhealth.com.sg

www.duke-nus.edu.sg

About SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) aims to advance health and well-being in Asia and beyond. Working in collaboration with partners, the Institute seeks to strengthen health systems, improve health outcomes and increase health security. Launched in 2018, SDGHI harnesses the capacity of SingHealth, the largest group of health care institutions in Singapore, and the Duke-NUS Medical School, to advance interdisciplinary global health research and capacity development across the region.

About Temasek Foundation

Temasek Foundation supports programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. We aim to strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and enhance regional capabilities, advance science and protect the planet for a sustainable world. Temasek Foundation's programmes, made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.

ANNEX 1

7th World One Health Congress Scientific Tracks

Track 1  One Health Science will review the latest basic science and epidemiology of health and disease at the human-animal-environment interface, drawing attention to the science-policy interconnection and social context to One Health.

Track 2  Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will provide updates on the trends and drivers of AMR, as well as documentation of existing and future mitigation efforts to address this critical issue at the interface between humans, animals and the environment.

Track 3  Policy, Environment and Biosecurity will bring together scientists and policymakers to discuss transdisciplinary cross-border efforts to operationalise One Health and an agenda for enhanced bio-security in a post-COVID-19 world.

Track 4  Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience will focus on the impact of vaccines and one health surveillance on pandemic preparedness and public health security.

Track 5  Impact on and Innovations in Clinical Practice track will bring together clinicians and veterinarians for the first time to examine the interdependence of animal and human health, exploring the need for a One Health approach to innovation in clinical practice and healthcare technology implementation.

ANNEX 2

Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series Sessions

Track 1  One Health Science



How can Asia Learn from Africa's Experience of Constructing & Successfully Running a Regional Pathogen Genomic Initiative

from Experience of Constructing & Successfully Running a Regional Pathogen Genomic Initiative Genomic Sequencing for Public Health Surveillance

Emerging Lessons from the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative 3 Years On

Findings from a Landscape Assessment of the Current Status and Bottlenecks in Genomic Surveillance in Asia

Country Priorities for Genomic Surveillance in Asia

Track 2  Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Infectious Diseases Threats in Southeast Asia

From Zoonosis to AMR

Track 3  Policy, Environment and Biosecurity: Scientific Evidence for Pandemic Communications

Scientific Evidence for Pandemic Communications

The Important Role of Media in Managing a Pandemic or Outbreak

How Did Governments Manage Scientific Communication During the Pandemic?

How Can We Leverage Technology and Social Listening to Improve Scientific Communications and Manage Public Health?

Track 4  Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience

Transformational Innovation for Preparedness and Resilience

Track 5  Impact on and Innovations in Clinical Practice

How Can Health Systems in Low and Middle-Income Countries Leverage on Innovations to Tackle the Growth in Depth and Breadth of Their Disease Burden While Addressing the Concerns of Environmental Sustainability?

SOURCE SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute
HONG KONG, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Startup Factory China with its embedded Smart Factory Kunshan IIoT Hub and Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, laid the foundation and road map for a deeper collaboration to empower Chinese and German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions and cloud technologies in a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The digitalization of manufacturing and maintenance services to counter costs will result in an increase of IT workload by 32 % in the industry and 21 % in manufacturing on (mostly) private clouds by 2025, as predicted by McKinsey in their recent "Cloud in China" outlook.

SMEs in particular, such as the German companies that have invested in the Startup Factory incubator near Shanghai, will require a strong partner like Tencent Cloud for this transformational step  not only in terms of cloud-based data storage, but also for the development of data-driven service and maintenance models for their clients in China.

By joining Smart Factory Kunshan's partner program, Tencent Cloud becomes an active member of the IIoT Hub community from day one and gains access to a powerful platform for various events and real-life demonstrations of its IIoT solutions on the manufacturing shopfloor towards Chinese and German SMEs. Both parties also aim to co-host IIoT events in Smart Factory Lab and real-life demonstrations on the manufacturing shopfloor of Tencent Cloud's IIoT solutions.

The MOU is a step towards the migration of Startup Factory Kunshan's IT systems to Tencent Cloud. "We are very proud to have yet another global technology company to join us as a strategic partner." stated Bernd Reitmeier, founder of Startup Factory and co-founder of Smart Factory Kunshan.

As one of the world's leading cloud companies, Tencent Cloud is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through its robust global data center infrastructure of 70 availability zones across 26 geographical regions, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT and network security.

Tencent Cloud builds the cloud services in accordance with internationally recognized standards for information security and IT management, thereby providing our customers with cloud services certified by authoritative third-party accrediting agencies. We meet a number of international data compliance and information security requirements, including CSA STAR, K-ISMS, ISO 27001, 27017, 27018, 27701 and more. We also strictly abide by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Startup Factory is the largest incubator for small and mid-sized European enterprises that are looking for assembly or production facilities, a repair workshop or a "job shop" in China to expand their business. At present, Startup Factory operates subsidiaries for 38 European companies on 40,000 sqm with a total of more than 350 employees at its site in Kunshan, near Shanghai.

Smart Factory Kunshan IIoT Hub, along with its partner network is an open ecosystem for Industrial IoT technologies especially for medium-sized manufacturing companies and a lighthouse project of bilateral cooperation on intelligent manufacturing between China and Germany. The purpose of the demonstration and integration factory is to create an innovative environment for Industrial Internet of Things/ Industry 4.0 from research to demonstration and education in a real-life production environment.

About Tencent Cloud

Tencent Cloud, one of the world's leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel and transportation.





SOURCE Tencent Cloud
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Pool Services, the fastest-growing swimming pool services company in the United States, announced today that it is rebranding as SPS PoolCare.

"We're excited to launch our new brand identity," said Fraser Ramseyer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SPS PoolCare. "Our refreshed name and look reflect the size and scale of our organization and our mission to elevate the pool industry as a whole."

SPS PoolCare Logo

SPS PoolCare will roll out its new look across the company's family of brands, comprising more than 23 service branches spanning four states  Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada. Heritage regional brands, including Splash Pool Service in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Crystal Falls Pools in Scottsdale, Arizona, will sport localized versions of the new branding, allowing SPS PoolCare to leverage the strong market presence held by its affiliates.

SPS PoolCare engaged Clutch Creative Marketing of Dallas, Texas, to assist in creating the company's new brand identity.

About SPS PoolCare

As the fastest growing swimming pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on pace to perform one million weekly pool services per year and employs more than 500 staff across four states. Backed by Storr Capital, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy, not a burden. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members.

Read more at spspoolcare.com

About Storr Capital

Storr Capital is a platform-specialist private-equity firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, with over $146 million of assets under management. The firm invests in highly fragmented, highmargin industries  creating value through the aggregation, enhancement, and support of strategic core assets. Storr Capital also seeks to actively partner with highquality management teams, unlock operational improvements, and provide capital to support growth initiatives.

Read more at storrcapital.com

SOURCE SPS PoolCare
DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have reached a Tentative Agreement for a new contract to cover the Company's more than 8,000 Customer Service Employees.

"Our goal from the beginning has been to reach an agreement that rewards our Customer Service Employees for their many contributions to Southwest, while being mindful of needed efficiencies to keep our Company agile and competitive. We feel strongly this agreement does just that," said Adam Carlisle, Vice President Labor Relations at Southwest Airlines.

The Tentative Agreement covers Southwest's Customer Service Agents, Customer Representatives, and Source of Support Representatives, who are keenly focused on delivering world-class Hospitality and Customer Service. These valued Employees support Customers during their Southwest journey, whether that is taking a phone call to change a Customer's travel plans or assisting a Customer or Fellow Employee on the ground at one of the airports the Company serves.

The IAM will communicate to its membership the details of the Tentative Agreement and the ratification process.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Having celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2021, Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 62,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a year. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. Southwest is also continuing to develop tangible steps toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, including offering Customers an opportunity to help the airline offset its carbon emissions. To be part of the solution, visit Southwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon.

1) U.S. Dept. of Transportation most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded

2) Fulltime-equivalent active Employees

3) 1973-2019 annual profitability

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
BANGALORE, India, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirometer Market is estimated to be worth USD 881.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1605.1 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 10.5% during the review period.

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Major factors driving the growth of the Spirometer Market

The Spirometers market is anticipated to be driven by an increase in the prevalence of chronic respiratory disorders, a rising desire for home healthcare, and technological improvements.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SPIROMETER MARKET

An increase in respiratory diseases is expected to drive the growth of the Spirometers market. The spirometer has become widely used during the past century for the detection and treatment of numerous respiratory illnesses in both specialized and primary care settings. Spirometry is used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a leading cause of disability and mortality. However, the interpretation of normal has been made more difficult by the significant variation in lung function measures through time, and space, between nations, among individuals, among groups, and across spirometers. Temporal patterns can be extremely striking, with lung function rising in some groups and falling in others throughout the same time frame.

Increasing preference for home health treatment is expected to fuel the Spirometers market. Similar to telehealth, at-home care was growing prior to the pandemic. When compared to care at a long-term care facility or nursing home, many older folks and people with disabilities or chronic problems found at-home care to be more individualized, comfortable, and convenient. Pulse oximeters, spirometers, and similar instruments used for disease condition monitoring are under FDA regulation.

In hospitals all across the world, technology has been a huge help in making asthma monitoring considerably simpler. Portable spirometers that may be used at home have been made possible by modern technology, either on their own or in conjunction with smartphones. Instead of giving the doctor sole responsibility for testing, this gives the patient authority over their asthma. Spirometer lung testing, whether done at the doctor's office or at home, is a crucial step in the management of asthma since it can help to recognize and avoid potential risks. This factor is expected to increase the spirometer market growth.

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SPIROMETER MARKET SEGMENTATION

Segment By Type

Tabletop Spirometers

Handheld Spirometer

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Spirometer Market Segment By Application

Home Use

Clinical Trials Devices

Diagnostic Devices

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SPIROMETER MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on application, Home Use is expected to be the most lucrative. Patients receiving home care for respiratory illnesses have a lower mortality rate, a higher quality of life overall, and a higher probability of surviving. Spirometers used in homes typically run on batteries and can be used frequently. Telemedicine usage and the introduction of new products are two variables that are anticipated to promote category expansion.

Due to technological improvements, governmental regulations, an increase in respiratory disease incidences, rising healthcare costs, and enhanced healthcare infrastructure in North America, this area has the largest market for spirometers.

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Key Players

CareFusion

Schiller

Philips Healthcare

Hill-Rom

Anhui Electronics Scientific Institute

CardioTech

Geratherm Respiratory

Fukuda Sangyo

Medisoft

Thor Medical Systems

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Round co-led by tech investors JLL Spark Global Ventures and Navitas Capital; SwiftConnect to advance leadership in mobile credential technologies

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SwiftConnect, an award-winning software platform provider that enables flexible work by connecting the right people to the right space at the right time, today announced that it has closed its $17 million Series A round of financing. The round was co-led by real estate tech investors JLL Spark Global Ventures and Navitas Capital , with participation from Bridge Investment Group, Crow Holdings , Cushman & Wakefield, Jamf , Nuveen , World Trade Ventures and 1414 Ventures .

Series A round of financing validates SwiftConnect's leadership in deploying NFC mobile credential technology. Tweet this 7 World Trade Center, NYC 7 World Trade Center, NYC

Founded in 2020, SwiftConnect has raised $27 million in total funding. The investment will allow SwiftConnect to further scale its customer success, professional services and engineering teams. The new funding will also support the company's geographic expansion in Europe and Australia.

"The participation of these standard-setting strategic investors is an affirmation of the value, traction and importance of the SwiftConnect platform in the marketplace for managing physical access control," said Chip Kruger and Matt Kopel, Co-Founders of SwiftConnect. "The investment further validates SwiftConnect's vision and provides the foundation for our continued leadership in deploying NFC-based mobile credentials as the need for flexible workplaces continues to evolve. This unique value we deliver is why leading commercial real estate and enterprise brands have chosen to adopt our platform."

The company recently announced a strategic alliance with Microsoft to transform places where people work and was named the 2022 Grand Prize Winner, Emerging Startup category, in the prestigious Real Estate Tech Awards (RETAs) . Earlier this year, SwiftConnect was a core part of deploying NFC mobile credentials at Silverstein Properties' 7 World Trade Center in New York City.

In addition, JLL Spark Global Ventures is strategically partnering with SwiftConnect to deploy SwiftConnect's software across select asset owners and enterprise tenants from JLL's global client base, which includes 600 customers in more than 130 countries. Over six billion square feet is managed in deployed systems within JLL's real estate portfolio.

Insights from Investors

Laurent Grill , Partner at JLL Spark Global Ventures: "SwiftConnect continues to increase momentum at an exponential pace, and the Series A financing will help solidify their position of being the de facto network for accessing and enabling intelligent, flexible workplaces."

, Partner at JLL Spark Global Ventures: "SwiftConnect continues to increase momentum at an exponential pace, and the Series A financing will help solidify their position of being the de facto network for accessing and enabling intelligent, flexible workplaces." Travis Putnam , Managing Partner at Navitas Capital: "Since Navitas Capital first invested, SwiftConnect has become the standard utility for access control amongst owners, operators and occupiers of commercial real estate. The incredible team and innovative platform have helped forge partnerships with major technology customers and drive successful deployments across many major owner portfolios and enterprise office fleets. We are excited to see this new capital allow execution of SwiftConnect's vision as they grow their capabilities and expand into new markets."

, Managing Partner at Navitas Capital: "Since Navitas Capital first invested, SwiftConnect has become the standard utility for access control amongst owners, operators and occupiers of commercial real estate. The incredible team and innovative platform have helped forge partnerships with major technology customers and drive successful deployments across many major owner portfolios and enterprise office fleets. We are excited to see this new capital allow execution of SwiftConnect's vision as they grow their capabilities and expand into new markets." Jake Mosey , VP of Business Development and Integrations at Jamf: "We're excited about the work SwiftConnect is doing to help organizations modernize their workplace through its unique technology. Jamf is proud to be the flagship tech investor to help SwiftConnect continue its success innovating in the connection of access control systems with mobile credential platforms and other systems that influence physical access requirements."

, VP of Business Development and Integrations at Jamf: "We're excited about the work SwiftConnect is doing to help organizations modernize their workplace through its unique technology. Jamf is proud to be the flagship tech investor to help SwiftConnect continue its success innovating in the connection of access control systems with mobile credential platforms and other systems that influence physical access requirements." Jeanne Casey , Global Head of Proptech and Innovation at Nuveen: "SwiftConnect is addressing a strong market opportunity in commercial real estate with the right technology that dramatically simplifies how tenants access and interact with buildings, while increasing operational efficiency at the same time. With its agility to innovate based on the challenges faced by building owners all over the world, we believe SwiftConnect has the potential for immense scale and geographic expansion, which aligns with our broad coverage across multiple markets."

The connected workspace, simplified

According to JLL research, at least 30 percent of the office market will be consumed as flexible space in the next 10 years. To take advantage of this market growth opportunity, SwiftConnect's cloud-based platform simplifies and streamlines the management of building access. The software removes the logistical headache of harmonizing across multiple, disconnected providers since it seamlessly integrates with dozens of existing building and suite-level access control systems. SwiftConnect goes a step further to consolidate these existing, siloed systems into a unified cloud-enabled network and dashboard for building owners and enterprises to efficiently manage user records, access permissions and credentials. This means employees anywhere in the world can instantly use their smartphone, wearable or keycard to access any location, and building owners never have to "rip and replace" existing systems.

About SwiftConnect

SwiftConnect's software platform enables seamless flexible access by automating the provisioning and lifecycle management of access credentials across different buildings and office spaces. Regardless of location, SwiftConnect links the right people to the right office space at the right time, enabling anyone to work from anywhere in the world. For more information, visit Swiftconnect.io

Media Contact

Leah Washington

323-546-9917

[email protected]

SOURCE SwiftConnect
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It is an excellent day at Techy .

Consumers can avoid paying phone insurance with the right credit card. Credit card companies are offering cell phone insurance to help cover phone damage. For consumers that purchase an $800 - $1,000 cell phone, credit card phone protection can be a way to ensure that they are not ditching out more money when accidental damages occur or if they lose their phones.

Visit a Techy near you for repairs.

Cell phone protection covered through a credit card is convenient for consumers because most people already have credit cards. Consumers can choose different types of credit cards that will be a good fit for their spending and lifestyle.

Options for credits with phone protection:

Uber Visa Card

Consumers can take advantage of Uber Visa cards when using them to pay for their phone bills. Coverage with an Uber Visa Card range from $100 to $600. There is no annual fee for this type of card. It offers up to $600 for cell phone damage or loss.

U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

Like Uber Visa Card, U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card covers $600 worth of damage or theft with a $25 deductible. With a U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card, up to two claims of $1200 per 12-month period are included. This coverage can protect consumers' primary and other cell phone lines when paying for cell phone bills.

Delta SkyMiles - Reserve American Express Card

The Delta Platinum card includes up to $1600 in cell phone protection per 12 - month period. As part of the protection plan, phone damages are covered. Submit up to 2 claims annually for $800 per claim. Each claim comes with a deductible of $50.

Consumers Advantage

Many consumers use their credit cards for other purchases from business expenses and retail shopping. It is a simple choice for consumers to use phone protection with credit cards. Consumers have several options to explore the best credit card phone protection.

Visit Techy for your phone repairs.

About Techy

Since 2006 Techy has been serving customers with all their electronic repair and installation needs. Because of its partnership with Walmart, Techy can open new stores inside the major corporate retail store. The fast-growing tech franchise has over 200+ stores in 30 states and nine countries. It is a worldwide company with its 24,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Contact: Nicole Cooper, [email protected], 877-752-0956

SOURCE Techy
DEVELOPED WITH SUPPORT FROM CIGNA, THE DIRECTORY PROVIDES RESOURCE FOR LGBTQ+ PATIENTS AFFECTED BY HEALTHCARE ACCESS DISPARITIES

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tegan and Sara Foundation, the nonprofit started by award-winning musicians Tegan and Sara, alongside GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, the foremost organization of LGBTQ+ medical professionals, are announcing the launch of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory with key support and collaboration from global health service company Cigna. Additional support was provided by Google.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory logo

The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free, searchable database of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the United States and Canada. The directory, developed by Tegan and Sara Foundation, GLMA and Cigna, will reach vital and diverse audiences of medical professionals and LGBTQ+ patients in need of care.

LGBTQ+ patients deserve healthcare providers who they can be open and honest with free from fear of stigma or bias. The simple act of connecting patients with care is a solution to this problem.

Over 15 years ago, GLMA built the very first directory of LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals. Through their vast membership, the directory grew to be the most respected resource of its kind in the United States. Together with input from LGBTQ+ health experts and community leaders, this resource has been updated with innovative search functionality, the highest standards of accessibility and a new set of guiding principles.

Cigna has been a lead supporter of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory and the LGBTQ+ community overall. This includes its commitment to its employees who identify as LGBTQ+, as well as its commitment to address the health disparities the LGBTQ+ community often faces.

Cigna also recognizes the importance of providing cultural competency resources and education to health care providers in order to better equip them to understand and address disparities among customers and within our communities. Cigna engages providers on inclusivity and culturally competent care, providing them with access to LGBTQ+ specific trainings and resources.

LGBTQ+ Health Disparities

LGBTQ+ people experience a number of health disparities . They're at higher risk of certain conditions, have less access to health care, and have worse health outcomes, including:

Greater risk of suicide, suicidal thoughts, mood disorders and anxiety, eating disorders, and alcohol and substance abuse

Transgender women, Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino men have the highest risk for HIV infection

Older LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to rate their health as poor and report more chronic conditions while having less social support

LGBTQ+ people are less likely to have a regular healthcare provider

Lesbian and bisexual women have higher rates of breast cancer, and transgender men and women are at greater risk

LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of HPV infection and related cervical or anal cancers

The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory identifies and provides a platform for healthcare professionals that understand these disparities and reflect the unique needs of LGBTQ+ patients in their care.

The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is now open for provider registration and patient use. Learn more here .

About Tegan and Sara Foundation

Tegan and Sara Foundation (TSF) was founded in 2016 by Tegan and Sara to address inequalities faced by LGBTQ+ women. TSF's mission is improving the lives of LGBTQ+ women and girls. This mission is founded on a commitment to feminism and racial, social and gender justice.

About GLMA

GLMA  Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality is the world's largest association of LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals. GLMA utilizes its multidisciplinary membership to drive advocacy, education, and research to achieve LGBTQ+ health equity.

SOURCE Tegan and Sara Foundation
NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Islands of The Bahamas will once again be prominently displayed at the 63rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), October 26-30, to promote the boating sector in the country.

Owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), and produced by Informa Markets, FLIBS is recognised as the largest in-water boat show in the world.

Photo courtesy of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, investments & Aviation (PRNewsfoto/The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation)

John Pinder, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation along with Dr. Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) are expected to attend the show and meet with various members of the international media, investors and leading boating industry partners.

"Boating is a sector that is very important to The Bahamas especially as we continue to see significant arrivals to our islands by boat. To date we are more than 80% back to pre-pandemic levels", said the Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, investments & Aviation for The Islands of The Bahamas.

"FLIBS is an incredible opportunity for us to showcase the expansive offerings we have available in this space, while networking with key industry partners, media and more. We look forward to another successful year of promoting our partners and experiences to boating enthusiasts in Fort Lauderdale".

With Florida being the largest source market for the boating sector, the team led by Exec Director, Bridgette King and Senior Director, Greg Rolle are geared up for an influx of inquiries for boating season 2023.

In fact, according to Senior Director Rolle, this is perhaps one of the most significant shows of the year and will be an indicator of how the next year will perform. We have a record number of stakeholders at the show this year and by all indications we are confident that 2023 will be another banner year for boating.

Bahamas highlights will include:

FLIBS Booth: Guests are encouraged to stop by The Bahamas booth #23, located in the main tent, to learn about the latest offerings and developments across the boating sector and sign up early for the popular 2023 boating flings. Yacht charter brokers will also be invited to participate in The Bahamas Yacht Charter Show Feb 2023 .

Guests are encouraged to stop by The booth #23, located in the main tent, to learn about the latest offerings and developments across the boating sector and sign up early for the popular 2023 boating flings. Yacht charter brokers will also be invited to participate in The Bahamas Yacht Charter Show . FLIBS Seminars: Attendees will have access to two seminars hosted by The Bahamas :

Attendees will have access to two seminars hosted by The : Oct. 28 : Boating to The Bahamas hosted by Grant Johnson , Bahamas Boating Ambassador and Jonathan Lord , BMOTIA Ambassador. The seminar will take place at 4 p.m. at the Broward County Convention Center.

: hosted by , Bahamas Boating Ambassador and , BMOTIA Ambassador. The seminar will take place at at the Convention Center.

Oct. 29 : Boating to The Bahamas hosted by Robert Brousseau , Bahamas Boating Ambassador and Jonathan Lord , BMOTIA Ambassador - 4 p.m. at the Broward County Convention Center.

: hosted by , Bahamas Boating Ambassador and , BMOTIA Ambassador - at the Convention Center. FLIBS Happy Hour : In partnership with Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Makers Air, The Islands of The Bahamas will host a happy hour on-site. Trade show goers can stop by The Bahamas booth #23 on Oct. 29 between 2-3 p.m. for Bahamian bites and Bahama Mama cocktails.

: In partnership with Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Makers Air, The Islands of The will host a happy hour on-site. Trade show goers can stop by The booth #23 on between for Bahamian bites and Bahama Mama cocktails. And More: The Bahamas will be featured at the evening event experience hosted by Worth Avenue Yachts at the yacht docks. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a taste of Junkanoo, as well as Graycliff's famed cigar rolling and sampling.

The full list of this year's participating Bahamas partners and exhibitors include: Romora Bay Hotel & Marina, Odyssey Aviation Bahamas, Makers Air, Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Sandals Emerald Bay, Atlantis Paradise Island, Bay Street Marina, Valentines Resort, Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Kalik, 3N's Exuma Vacations, Bahamas National Trust, Bahamasair, Bluff House Resort & Marina, Nassau Yacht Haven, Neal Watson Bimini Scuba Center, Tropic Ocean Airways, Silver Airways, Buzz Air, Bradford Marine, Bimini Big Game Club, Abaco Beach Resort, Graycliff Hotel, Sterling Financial Group, Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina and Montage Cay.

For more information, please visit www.FLIBS.com and https://www.bahamas.com/getting-here/boating.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook , YouTube or Instagram to see why It's Better in The Bahamas.

PRESS INQUIRIES

Anita Johnson-Patty

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation

[email protected]

Weber Shandwick

Public Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PT PLN (Persero) today reaffirmed its committed to support the Indonesian government's program to achieve the Net Zero Emission target by 2060 through various strategies, such as the development of new and renewable energy (RE)-based power plants, dieselization programs, and the retirement of steam power plants (PLTU).

Vice Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Pahala N. Mansury outlined how the Ministry strongly supports the efforts of PLN in achieving net zero emissions by 2060 and supports low-carbon development based on the Paris Agreement goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the National Determined Contribution (NDC) of up to 29 percent, as it is stated at the COP26 2021 meeting.

"PLN is committed to decarbonization, such as accelerating the stopping of the use of Coal Fired Power Plant (CFPP) assets, and new renewable energy programs by developing eco-friendly power plants to increase the level of NRE in the energy mix," explained Pahala.

The President Director of PLN Darmawan Prasodjo welcomes the government's support to make the energy transition successful, especially to follow the NZE 2060 target. Since 2021, PLN has prepared a roadmap which was presented at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. This means, continued Darmawan, PLN is ready to lead the energy transition in Indonesia.

Darmawan said in the scenario of business as usual (BAU), Indonesia's carbon emissions are projected to reach more than 4 billion tons of CO2e/year by 2060. There are 2 sectors with a large contribution to Indonesia's carbon emissions, namely the electricity sector and the transportation sector.

"Without significant efforts, by 2060 the electricity sector will produce CO2e emissions of 920 million tons per year, but the intervention by PLN will prepare Indonesia to be cleaner for future generations," he said.

To support this plan, PLN has prepared a roadmap for the retirement of steam power plants (PLTU) to achieve Net Zero Emission by 2060. The steps of retiring the coal-fired power plant of 50.1 gigawatts (GW) until 2056 will be carried out gradually, replacing them with RE power plants.

Darmawan stated that the replacement of PLTU and PLTMG with PLT RE Baseload of 1.1 GW will be carried out in 2025. And in 2030, the first phase of PLTU subcritical retirement of 1 GW will be carried out. Then in 2035, the PLTU subcritical phase 2 will retire at 9 GW. Then in 2040, PLN will operate a supercritical PLTU with a CCUS of 10 GW.

In 2045, the Ultra Super Critical PLTU will be operated by the use of CCUS (carbon capture storage) technology of 24 GW. Furthermore, in 2055, the Ultra Supercritical PLTU with the last CCUS of 5 GW will be operated.

Besides reducing the number of PLTUs, PLN is also conducting a de-dieselization program of 5,200 PLTDs in Indonesia. PLN replaces it with an RE generator based on local natural potential. Currently, the PLTD owned by PLN which will be converted to an RE power plant is around 499 MW. It will be carried out in two steps, namely Phase I in 183 locations with a capacity of 212 MW with a hybrid scheme (PLTS+Baterai+PLTD existing). As a second phase, the conversion of PLTD with a capacity of 287 MW to other RE power plants will be carried out, considering local RE sources.

"This is a big change as it converts import-based energy into cheaper domestic-based energy," he said.

Instead, PLN will also develop an NRE-based power plant of 20.9 GW by 2030. The addition of NRE capacity is a combination of several NRE sources with a composition of 10.3 GW of hydro power (PLTA), and 10.3 GW of solar power (PLTS). 4.7 GW, geothermal power plants (PLTP) of 3.3 GW, and other RE PLTs of 2.5 GW.

PLN also innovates on the biomass co-firing program in PLTU, through the substitution of coal with biomass partially to increase the NRE mix and reducing carbon emissions. "This is a social-based energy ecosystem because the supply of biomass will be run in collaboration of all social elements," he said. The trial implementation of the co-firing program at PLN's PLTU starting in 2020 has been successfully carried out at 47 PLTU locations.

Darmawan added that PLN cannot achieve NZE in 2060 alone, it needs collaboration with various institutions and also political support from the government. "It takes a very large amount of capital to reach Net Zero Emission 2060 at least USD 500 billion. Therefore, we need to be supported on access to low-cost green financing, development grants and G to G pattern support," said Darmawan.

To do so, the Ministry of SOEs is not only encouraging PLN to support the NZE effort, but also all SOEs must contribute to the initiative.

"We have to encourage renewable energy; each state-owned company cannot work separately, but must collaborate to ensure that the 2060 NZE occurs. The energy transition must be carried out based on the transformation desired by Indonesia," said Erick Thohir, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), during the SOE International Conference in Bali (17/10).

SOURCE PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) (PLN)
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rings Market is projected to grow by USD 54.53 million during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period. The market is driven by the increasing number of promotional activities through social media and the increasing focus of vendors on brand endorsement during the forecasted period. Request Free Sample Report.

Rings Market: Segmentation Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Rings Market 2022-2026

Distribution channel

Offline



The offline distribution channel in the global ring market consists of specialty stores, multi-brand stores, and premium fashion stores. Vendors operate their organized retail stores based on customer segments, geographic markets, cultures, manufacturing facilities, and inventory transportation in order to increase their regional and global market shares. Such investments enable vendors to expand their global market reach and customer base.





The use of technology in the stores allows the company to generate and sell rings more efficiently, as well as cater to every consumer category across a large geographical area. This not only boosts ring sales in a specific region but also boosts ring sales in the global market. The growth of retail channels in different cities and regions will drive customer familiarization with the different types of rings available. This will increase the sales of the global rings market during the forecast period.



Online

Geography

APAC



China , India , and Japan are the major countries in the region contributing to the growth of the ring market. Rajesh Export, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Titan, and Emperor Watch & Jewellery are among the prominent vendors in the region. The region's main products are gold and silver rings. The adoption of gold rings is a popular investment option among customers in India and China during weddings and traditional ceremonies. Furthermore, the rising demand for cross-cultural ring designs has prompted vendors to offer modern and western ring designs inspired by a foreign culture which will drive the market during the forecasted period.

, , and are the major countries in the region contributing to the growth of the ring market. Rajesh Export, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Titan, and Emperor Watch & Jewellery are among the prominent vendors in the region. The region's main products are gold and silver rings. The adoption of gold rings is a popular investment option among customers in and during weddings and traditional ceremonies. Furthermore, the rising demand for cross-cultural ring designs has prompted vendors to offer modern and western ring designs inspired by a foreign culture which will drive the market during the forecasted period.

North America



Europe



Middle East and Africa



South America

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report.

Rings Market: Major Driver

One of the key drivers supporting the ring market growth is the increasing number of promotional activities conducted through social media. Marketing and branding are essential for increasing customer interest in gems and jewelry. Vendors strategically engage customers through social media campaigns on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Digital marketing helps increase product sales because of its broad reach. With the increasing penetration of the Internet, the growing adoption of smartphones and tablets, and the popularity of social media platforms, people can easily access jewelry information on the go.

For example, Kalyan Jewellers announced the launch of a special seasonal offer with their Back Home campaign across the UAE in July 2022. According to the campaign, customers who purchase jewelry worth Dh1,500 or more from Kalyan Jewellers will be eligible for free flight tickets to their home country. Such type of campaigns implies that vendors are proactively investing in social media campaigns and promotions in order to increase customer interest and sales. As a result, increasing marketing campaigns will boost ring sales during the forecast period. Download Free Sample Report.

Rings Market: Major Trend

The global ring market is fragmented due to the presence of regional and international vendors offering a wide variety of designs and stones for rings, which are primarily influenced by diverse cultures. The availability of such diverse designs and materials has increased the demand for cross-cultural designs over the last decade. Asian, Italian, Roman, and Egyptian rings are part of popular cross-cultural designs. Rings with such cross-cultural designs are typically molded with various gemstones, most notably diamonds. Awareness and knowledge about such cross-cultural designs among customers across the world raise the demand for such products.

For instance, Kalyan Jewellers, one of the key vendors in India, offers a wide range of ring designs inspired by Asian culture. Therefore, the increasing demand and supply of cross-cultural ring designs in the market will likely drive the growth of the market during the forecasted period.

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Related Reports:

Costume Jewelry Market Growth, Size, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region and Segment Forecast 2022-2026: The report extensively covers market segmentation by distribution channel (offline and online) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

Online Jewelry Market Growth, Size, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region and Segment Forecast 2022-2026: The report extensively covers market segmentation by product (Fine jewelry and Fashion jewelry) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

Rings Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.85% Market growth 2022-2026 $54.53 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.52 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 57% Key consumer countries US, China, India, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Aurum Jewellers, BlueStone Jewellery and Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., CaratLane, CHANEL Ltd., Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd., DAMIANI S.p.A., Emperor Watch and Jewelry Ltd, GIVA Jewellery, Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd., Kering SA, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, P. C. Chandra Gems Pvt. Ltd, Pandora AS, Riddles Group Inc., Signet Jewelers Ltd., Stuller Inc., Swarovski AG, Tiffany and Co, and Titan Company 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 Distribution Channel



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 Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ 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 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 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 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on France - 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 Aurum Jewellers

Exhibit 89: Aurum Jewellers - Overview



Exhibit 90: Aurum Jewellers - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: Aurum Jewellers - Key offerings

10.4 CaratLane

Exhibit 92: CaratLane - Overview



Exhibit 93: CaratLane - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: CaratLane - Key offerings

10.5 CHANEL Ltd.

Exhibit 95: CHANEL Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 96: CHANEL Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 97: CHANEL Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 98: CHANEL Ltd. - Segment focus

10.6 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd.

Exhibit 99: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 100: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 101: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 102: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. - Segment focus

10.7 DAMIANI S.p.A.

Exhibit 103: DAMIANI S.p.A. - Overview



Exhibit 104: DAMIANI S.p.A. - Product / Service



Exhibit 105: DAMIANI S.p.A. - Key offerings

10.8 Emperor Watch and Jewelry Ltd

Exhibit 106: Emperor Watch and Jewelry Ltd - Overview



Exhibit 107: Emperor Watch and Jewelry Ltd - Product / Service



Exhibit 108: Emperor Watch and Jewelry Ltd - Key offerings

10.9 Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd.

Exhibit 109: Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 110: Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 111: Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 Kering SA

Exhibit 112: Kering SA - Overview



Exhibit 113: Kering SA - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Kering SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 115: Kering SA - Segment focus

10.11 LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE

Exhibit 116: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE - Overview



Exhibit 117: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE - Business segments



Exhibit 118: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE - Key news



Exhibit 119: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 120: LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE - Segment focus

10.12 Malabar Gold and Diamonds

Exhibit 121: Malabar Gold and Diamonds - Overview



Exhibit 122: Malabar Gold and Diamonds - Product / Service



Exhibit 123: Malabar Gold and Diamonds - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 124: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 125: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 126: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 127: Research methodology



Exhibit 128: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 129: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 130: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) and Southwest Gas Corporation (Southwest Gas) are marking the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Tres Rios Renewable Gas Center (Tres Rios) biogas cleaning facility.

Located at the Tres Rios Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), this innovative facility was the first of its kind in Arizona connected to the gas pipeline to deliver clean-burning renewable natural gas (RNG) made from biogas to homes and businesses throughout the Pima County community. This partnership advanced innovative solutions to reduce emissions and produce a cleaner-burning fuel.

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Tres Rios' impact is equivalent to removing 2,500 vehicles from the road or generating energy for 5,500 homes, thus both bringing significant benefits to the environment and complementing Pima County's ongoing efforts to preserve unique desert environments and reach carbon reduction emissions goals by 2030.

The Tres Rios facility was connected on Oct. 21, 2021 and has been sending 550-600 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM), or 440 MMBtu/day, of renewable natural gas (RNG) into the Southwest Gas pipeline. Since the facility opened, Southwest Gas has purchased nearly 100,000 dekatherms of RNG from Pima County.

Previously, the biogasa byproduct of the secondary wastewater treatment processwould have been flared off into the atmosphere. The refinery now recovers up to 99.5 percent of the methane; the process removes impurities, moisture and carbon dioxide, leaving a clean burning, low-carbon fuel that is estimated to emit 95 percent less carbon emissions than processes that produce diesel and gasoline.

"RNG is a powerful solution for a balanced energy future that is part of a suite of sustainable energy sources that are helping to transform how we fuel lives, homes and businesses while honoring our commitment to environmental stewardship for long-term change," said Dr. Laura S. Nelson, vice president of sustainability and public policy at Southwest Gas.

Tres Rios WRF serves the metropolitan Tucson area and is the centralized biosolids treatment location for all of Pima County's eight water reclamation facilities. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the facility treats approximately 50 million gallons of wastewater daily.

"Southwest Gas is committed to employing sustainable technologies to assist our communities in achieving their environmental and climate goals. This project is an example of this commitment to partnering with our communities on projects that enhance the quality of life in our service territories," Nelson said.

Tres Rios is now just one of four Southwest Gas RNG partnership facilities in operation throughout Arizona.

About Southwest Gas

Southwest Gas Corporation is a dynamic energy company committed to exceeding the expectations of our over two million customers throughout Arizona, California and Nevada by providing safe and reliable service while innovating sustainable energy solutions to fuel our communities' growth. For more information about how Southwest Gas is supporting a sustainable energy future, please visit swgas.com/sustainability.

SOURCE Southwest Gas Corporation

Related Links

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BRISBANE, Australia, Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trip.com Group, leading global travel service provider, has launched a promotional campaign with Tourism and Events Queensland, targeting travellers from six major markets around the world to experience "A Beautiful Way to Be" in Queensland.

The campaign targets two key tourist segments - couple getaways and family vacations. Set to go live on 25th October and running for one month, the campaign is aimed at travellers in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Trip.com will host dedicated localised pages sharing all the wonders of Queensland, as well as hotel discount coupons for consumers to use when booking Queensland hotels on Trip.com.

According to Tourism Research Australia, Queensland welcomed 194,000 tourists in the June quarter 2022. While this is still down on the pre-COVID period it is up by 542% compared to the same time in the previous year following the loosening of exit and entry policies.

Meanwhile, data from Trip.com showed that searches for Queensland as a destination rose nearly 350% from January to August 2022 compared with the same period last year, with the upward trend continuing.

"Powered by big data, this collaborative campaign delivers promotional content precisely according to user preferences," said Bo Sun, Chief Marketing Officer of Trip.com Group.

"We are very excited to be working with such an incredible destination such as Queensland. We will be sharing the wonders of Queensland across various channels, maximising reach and impact, including through electronic coupons, influencer content sharing, multi-platform social media, and online channel marketing."

Edison Chen, General Manager of Destination Marketing at Trip.com Group, commented on the partnership, "We are incredibly excited to launch our global campaign with TEQ, leveraging the strength of Trip.com Group in key markets around the world. A first in our cooperation with Queensland, this campaign marks a great step forward for Trip.com Group's growth in the region, as well as another clear signal that destinations are eager to welcome travellers to their shores."

Michael Branagh, Group Executive for Marketing at Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) states that the Trip.com partnership is TEQ's first global campaign to launch in six international markets simultaneously.

"Customers around the world can easily access Queensland's destination information, plan their holiday, and book packages through Trip.com's global platform. It has added great value to Queensland's offer and provided competitive advantage to the destination.," he said.

"Queensland is a destination that connects travellers with diverse and epic experiences.

"From being immersed in the vastness of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest in the north to the dynamic cosmopolitans and beautiful beaches in the south, travellers will be changed by their time in Queensland."

-END-

About Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ)

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) is the Queensland Government's lead marketing, tourism experience and destination development and major events agency.

With our vision of 'inspiring the world to experience the best address on Earth', Queensland, we are a consumer-led experience-focused and destination-delivered organisation that connects people and places like never before through innovation and collaboration with the tourism and events industry.

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) is a leading global one-stop travel platform, integrating a comprehensive suite of travel products and services and differentiated travel content. It is the go-to destination for travelers in China, and increasingly for travelers around the world, to explore travel, get inspired, make informed and cost-effective travel bookings, enjoy hassle-free on-the-go support, and share travel experience. Founded in 1999 and listed on Nasdaq in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, the Company currently operates under a portfolio of brands, including Ctrip, Qunar, Trip.com and Skyscanner, with the mission "to pursue the perfect trip for a better world."

SOURCE Trip.com Group
DUBLIN, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Signal Detection and Regulatory Expectations Training Course" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Including the updated Signal Module IX and EudraVigilance quantitative signal requirement



This course will provide a detailed overview of all aspects of safety reviews and signal detection within a company and will cover signal evaluation for both innovator and generic products under the updated Module IX signal management and quantitative assessments.

Increasingly, the most common critical findings in regulatory inspections are being given for signal detection and management - so the need to identify potential signals and risks in patients has never been greater.

The protection of patients through robust and clear methodologies for signal detection amidst the ever-increasing regulations requires companies to have trained and competent staff to perform such activities.



Benefits of attending:

Clarify the EU regulatory requirements for signal detection

Learn to use the EudraVigilance quantitative signal tool

Understand the safety review cycle and the safety review meeting and process

Understand EVDAS functionalities and outputs

Discuss safety communication - the CCSI/SCSI and labelling

Gain a better understanding of risk-benefit analysis - benefit-risk assessments and benefit-risk outcomes

Key Topics Covered:



An introduction to safety signals

History of safety signals

The nature of safety signals

The definition of safety signals

Safety sources for signal detection

Causality and signal detection

Causality assessments for signal review

Data quality in safety assessments

Causality versus incidence (DMEs and IMEs)

Generic and innovator products

The safety review meeting and process

Setting up a safety review

Risk determinations for safety review signal trackers

Information and templates

Logistical safety and product safety

Information from safety reviews

Safety assessments life cycle

Pre-clinical safety

Clinical safety

Class-related safety issues

Post-marketing safety

Product suspensions/withdrawals

The regulatory requirements for signal detection - Module IX

The frequency of safety reviews (risk assessment)

The EU and US signal detection requirements

Signal detection and benefit-risk assessments

The regulators and signals

The signal review cycle

Safety profiling

Signal detection, validation, confirmation

Analysis and prioritisation, assessment

Recommendation for action

Quantitative and qualitative signal detections

Standard MedDRA queries (SMQs) and signal detection

ICSRs and case quality

Follow-up methodology and regulatory requirements

Events of special interest

Signals and their discussion

Signals and DSURs

Signals and PSURs/PBRERs

Signals and risk management plans/REMs and minimisation

Signals and labelling

Safety communication

The CCSI/DCSI and labelling

Triaging for safety amendments

Emerging safety issues

Urgent safety restrictions

Product suspension and withdrawal

Quantitative signal analysis

Signal detection methodologies

Background - why quantitative signal detection?

Measures of disproportionality (PRR, ROR, MGPS, BCPNN)

Regulatory and industry activity (including EudraVigilance)

EVDAS and the EU

The PRAC and signals

The EVDAS system

Signals arising from EVDAS

Risk-benefit analysis

Calculating the extent of benefit by indication

Identifying significant product risks

Benefit-risk assessments

Benefit-risk outcomes

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fg72tt

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
CDPQ leads round with participation of existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, to accelerate Montreal-based Unito's market traction in North America

MONTREAL, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Unito , the leader in workflow management software, today announced the completion of a $20 million funding led by CDPQ with participation from new investors Rainfall Ventures and Investissement Quebec, as well as existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Tom Williams and Mistral Ventures. The new funding will allow Unito to solidify its growing market traction  customers include Atlassian, Corpay, Teamwork, the Cincinnati Reds and Wrike  and expand its connectors across the entire suite of digital productivity solutions.

Unito integrates disparate SaaS applications, enabling workflows that cross the boundaries of tools, teams, and organizations. The unique no-code, two-way integrations allow information to flow freely between apps like Asana, GitHub, Google Sheets, Jira, Salesforce, Trello, and many more, leading to easier collaboration, more efficient work, and higher productivity. The simple-to-use platform can be used by any non-technical knowledge worker. One Unito customer, Boveda, saves one full work day each week with the integrations, while another, Verivox, automated the painful manual process of migrating 50,000 Jira issues to ClickUp.

"As SaaS tools proliferate, companies are embracing integrations that bring tools together and power the cross-functional teams that are the future of work," said Marc Boscher, co-founder and CEO at Unito. "Our customers recognize the impact of no-code, two-way syncs, and we're thrilled to have investors that share our mission of smashing tool silos and uniting work. Unito's integrations cut tool license costs, eliminate hours of manual copy and pasting, and empower teams to close projects faster and rapidly scale."

Unito to become the universal translator for enterprises

The explosion of SaaS applications, amplified by the shift to remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed the way employees work and organizations spend resources. The headaches caused by these changes lent new urgency to the perpetual business problem of cross-team collaboration as distributed teams sought alternatives to meetings to make asynchronous work effective. Most integration players use the same paradigm: if trigger then action. But two-way integrations with this primitive structure are complex and difficult to maintain.

Unito's unconventional solution  easy-to-use, two-way integrations between an ever-growing list of popular tools  has attracted more than 50,000 users at 7,000 companies worldwide with workflows in IT, project management, sales, spreadsheets, software development, and more. To capture this growing demand, Unito tripled its headcount since 2020 and improved its gender pay gap to 4% vs. an industry average of 11%. In 2022, Unito's inbound monthly free trials doubled in six months. The new funding allows Unito to capitalize on its market traction and break into even more SaaS categories, starting with support tools.

"We believe Unito is well positioned to accelerate its global growth by solidifying its considerable market presence and opening up new categories as companies seek simple and powerful workflow integrations," said Wils Theagene, Senior Director at CDPQ and representative of the Equity 253 fund. "We're especially excited to lead this round because Unito shares our commitment to diversity and inclusion."

Unito received the majority of its funding from Equity 253 , a CDPQ investment fund created to increase diversity and inclusion at growing companies. Unito achieved most of the Equity 253 diversity requirements  for its board of directors, management team, and shareholding  five years ahead of the deadline. The company also has a transparent pay structure and adjusts for gender-based salary disparities to ensure fairness.

"Unito is a leader in an integration market that has significant growth opportunities," said Jeremy Levine, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. "Marc and Eryk's vision to allow workers to work from their tool of choice is crucial for distributed teams and the cost savings are important for companies in an uncertain economy. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Unito as the company pursues new markets and continues shaping the flow of work."

Unito exponentially increases the value companies can get out of each of their tools, saving teams hours of manual copying and pasting and allowing businesses to cut tool license costs. Current integrations include Asana, Excel, Github, Google Sheets, Hubspot, Jira, Salesforce, Trello, Wirke, Zendesk, and more. The new funding also will go toward continuing to add top talent as well as adding new integrations as Unito aims to take over the integration market.

To learn more about Unito, visit https://unito.io/ .

About Unito

Founded in 2015, Unito was created to integrate disparate SaaS applications, enabling workflows that cross the boundaries of tools, teams, and organizations. Unito's workflow automation platform and two-way integrations allow information to flow freely between apps like Atlassian's Trello and Jira Software, Asana, GitHub and Google Sheets, leading to easier collaboration, more efficient work, and higher productivity. The company is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. For more information, please visit https://unito.io/ or follow @unitoio .

About CDPQ

At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at As at June 30, 2022, CDPQ's net assets totalled CAD 391.6 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.



CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.





About Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners helps entrepreneurs lay strong foundations to build and forge long-standing companies. With more than 135 IPOs and 200 portfolio companies in the enterprise, consumer and healthcare spaces, Bessemer supports founders and CEOs from their early days through every stage of growth. Bessemer's global portfolio has included Pinterest, Shopify, Twilio, Yelp, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, DocuSign, Wix, Fiverr and Toast and currently has more than $20 billion of assets under management. Bessemer has teams of investors and partners located in Tel Aviv, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, New York, London, Boston, Beijing, and Bangalore. Born from innovations in steel more than a century ago, Bessemer's storied history has afforded its partners the opportunity to celebrate and scrutinize its best investment decisions (see Memos) and also learn from its mistakes (see Anti-Portfolio)

SOURCE CDPQ
Progresando Initiative Empowers Hispanic/Latina/O/X Adults to Achieve Economic and Social Mobility Through High-Impact Careers

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Central Florida (UCF) has been awarded a two-year $250,000 grant from Bank of America to support Hispanic/Latina/o/x students pursuing careers in health care through its Progresando Initiative. The initiative was created to help Hispanic/Latina/o/x students achieve upward economic mobility through careers in health care, while also helping to increase representation and address the shortage of culturally proficient, Spanish-speaking health providers.

As the nursing shortage continues to impact the nation, one alarming statistic shows less than 6% of nurses are Hispanic/Latina/o/x, which is disproportionate to the growing community that is often critically underserved in health care. Nursing is the largest health care profession in the nation, with more than 3.8 million nurses, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Thanks to the investment from Bank of America and support from education consulting firm EAB, UCF has new tools to bolster recruitment efforts and support Hispanic/Latina/o/x student success in undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. UCF was one of 12 Hispanic Serving Institutions selected to join the program. UCF was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution HSI in 2019, after surpassing 25% undergraduate Hispanic/Latina/o/x enrollment.

"UCF's partnership with Bank of America and EAB enables us to expand our efforts in advancing the success of our students while addressing the critical shortage of Hispanic/Latina/o/x health care professionals, said Andrea Guzman, UCF's vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "The success of Progresando surpasses educational access and attainment by leaving a lasting impact within industry and the communities we serve."

Progresando is part of Bank of America's efforts to create opportunities for people and communities of color, including a $25 million jobs initiative that includes partnerships with Hispanic-serving institutions.

"Hispanic/Latino graduate students cite gaps in academic preparation and support, caregiving responsibilities, unanticipated financial pressures, and language barriers as major challenges to degree completion," said Steven Alch, president, Bank of America Central Florida. "Through the Progresando Initiative with UCF we're supporting Hispanic/Latino students beginning health care careers while strengthening the pipeline to support employer demand."

EAB is providing strategic consulting, enrollment support and expert advisory services to six pairs of two-year and four-year Hispanic-serving institutions in states with large Hispanic/Latina/o/x communities and critical gaps in the health care workforce as part of the effort. Valencia College, a local partner with UCF, was also selected as part of the cohort.

"EAB is proud to partner with Bank of America to deliver better outcomes for Hispanic patients by working with HSIs to help more Hispanic students launch meaningful and rewarding health care careers," said EAB Chief Partner Officer Sally Amoruso. "As an HSI committed to advancing social mobility across a diverse community, UCF was a natural fit to invite into the Progresando Initiative, and we are excited to be working with them to design a more empowering journey for their students."

The latest U.S. Census Bureau data indicates 18.5% of U.S. population is Hispanic. However, representation of Hispanic/Latina/o/x people in health care is much smaller. Based on population growth and increasing needs for quality health care, Hispanic/Latina/o/x populations also continue to face disproportionate barriers to access, availability and affordability of health care. Commitments like Progresando are critical to increasing the representation of Hispanic/Latina/o/x health care professionals, enhancing the capacity to deliver health care services and driving greater economic mobility for Hispanic/Latina/o/x communities. With nearly 33% of individuals in the greater Orlando area identifying as Hispanic/Latina/o/x, the effort is especially impactful to the local region.

Part of the $250,000 investment will provide funding for an undergraduate research and writing lab, health care examination test prep and examination fees, and a health care professions education series to benefit more than 1,500 individuals. These are all areas that address several challenges that may prevent Hispanic/Latina/o/x students from graduating and pursuing a career in nursing and other health care professions.

"UCF's College of Nursing is committed to ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all," says UCF College of Nursing Dean Mary Lou Sole. "This effort will not only provide more opportunity for Hispanic nurses to achieve their educational goals and advance their careers, but it will positively impact the health of underserved and underrepresented communities as these new Knight nurses practice as providers, leaders, educators and scientists."

The Research and Writing Lab for HealthCare Programs will be modeled after traditional academic success labs with peer-to-peer assistance, six student-employees and six adjunct faculty, who will be available to assist more than 800 students in health care programs with thesis reading and critiquing, as well as mentoring.

More than 400 students are estimated to benefit from health care examination test preparation sessions and tutoring services. Standardized examinations are required for most health care profession programs for students to graduate and begin practice, the sessions and tutoring will allow students to be better prepared for the exam and increase success rates. Topic-based "Lunch and Learns" will be available in-person and virtually and virtual tutoring sessions will be recorded and made available to students as online sessions in the future. A $70,000 hardship fund will also cover up to $500 in testing fees for individuals with an identified financial need.

In addition to reaching current UCF students, the health professions educational series will spread awareness about medical professions to local middle and high school students through themed discussions led by professionals from diverse backgrounds. It will also provide opportunities for adult learners seeking to retool or upskill to participate in CareerSource Florida and UCF Continuing Education sponsored sessions.

UCF is also using funding awarded through the partnership to help increase awareness and enrollment in select, graduate-nursing programs where an increase in Hispanic/Latina/o/x representation may have the most impact. The programs are offered online, which provides working adults nationwide an opportunity to pursue a high-quality education at their convenience.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,000 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 55 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact:

Matthew Daily, Bank of America

Phone: 1.404.607.2844

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
Social Mobile to Develop a Ruggedized Handheld Device Purpose-Built to Support an Array of Military Operations

MIAMI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Mobile announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract focused on a 5G mobile solution to investigate its potential to fill capability gaps in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Through the contract, Social Mobile will collaborate with the DAF to design and deliver a handheld and chest-mountable device that leverages Android Enterprise and is built to military-grade specifications.

"Building on the success of the previous contract, we look forward to working side-by-side with the Department of the Air Force to develop a mobile solution that meets the needs of their operations today as well as in the future," said Robert Morcos, Founder and CEO. "Our solution will be lighter and more durable than their current device, offer more hands-free capabilities, all while taking full advantage of Android Enterprise with respect to security, features, and updates."

The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through a faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and losing bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering 'The Open Topic' SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now in August 2022, Social Mobile will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

About Social Mobile

Founded in 2011, Social Mobile is a Google Mobile Services (GMS) partner, leveraging the Android operating system to design, engineer, and manufacture turnkey, mobility-as-a-service deployments that enable enterprise organizations to utilize smart solutions that support an array of business-critical operations. An OEM, managed service provider, and consultancy, Social Mobile is uniquely positioned to serve as a domestic design partner to US clients, controlling all aspects of the development supply-chain, and ensuring the utmost in security and availability. To learn more about other Social Mobile products and solutions, visit: https://socialmobile.com.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

AFWERX, a program office at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), connects innovators across government, industry and academia. Through innovation and collaboration with our nation's top subject-matter experts and harnessing the power of ingenuity of internal talent, by expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability.

Additional information is available at: https://www.afwerx.com/.

About AFVentures

AFVentures invests in emerging technologies to scale Department of the Air Force capabilities, strengthening the US industrial base that empowers Airmen and Guardians by incentivizing private, for-profit investment in national security interests. Our success is achieved by connecting novel commercial solutions with defense problem sets, de-risking Airmen and Guardian initiatives to fill capability gaps and transition technologies. Learn more at https://afwerx.com/afventures-overview/.

Media Relations Contact:

Michael Benedetto

Springboard

[email protected]

Company Contact:

Christian Paul

Social Mobile

[email protected]

SOURCE Social Mobile
IRVING, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- US Endo Partners (US Endo) today announced its expansion into multi-specialty, integrated oral healthcare with the addition of a sister company, Specialized Dental Partners (SDP).

Doctor-led, doctor-driven US Endo has grown rapidly since its inception in 2018 by partnering with top-tier endodontists across the country to support those endodontists in their provision of outstanding patient care, while also supporting the next generation of endodontic leaders. SDP will complement the thriving company by offering a partner for endodontists who wish offer fully collaborative practices, under one roof and alongside periodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons, to streamline services for best-in-class patient experiences.

Cameo Dental Specialists (Cameo), a five-location multi-specialty practice in Chicago, was the first to join forces with US Endo to create SDP.

"Cameo is thrilled to be partnering with a group that is both well-established and forward-thinking," said Dr. Vladana Babcic, a Cameo endodontist-partner. "We are ecstatic to be joining forces to share our passion for patient-centered dentistry, and for the potential to introduce nation-wide what we've been doing successfully in Chicago for years."

Cameo pioneered the integrated oral healthcare model and has since witnessed remarkable patient outcomes. Babcic said the beauty of the integrated model of dentistry is that the patient's experience is streamlined  a treatment plan is carefully defined and, if more than one procedure is needed, no time is wasted with multiple appointments or traveling from office to office, and fees are simplified and presented in one bill. Everything happens under one roof and the patient's comfort is always top-of-mind.

Scotte Hudsmith, Chief Executive Officer for both US Endo and SDP, said he believes Cameo is the ideal partner to help lay a firm foundation for the groundbreaking new venture.

"We believe Cameo's model provides patients with exceptional experiences in a very convenient manner," Hudsmith said. "We are honored that the excellent clinicians at Cameo partnered with us to support expanding integrated care across the country."

Dr. Steve Frost, US Endo Chief Clinical Officer, said he and his partner endodontists are excited to help further the integrated care model across the country, and to welcome new specialists to the community.

"Specialized Dental Partners is redefining clinician support in an effort allow those providers to take the total patient experience to the next level," Frost said. "The future is ours and our partners' patients will be the recipients of our combined vision and passion for excellence."

US Endo Partners and Specialized Dental Partners are both subsidiaries of Specialized Dental, LLC.

About US Endo Partners

US Endo is a doctor-led, doctor-driven specialty services partnership for endodontists  a group of endodontic specialists and business experts working together to pursue excellence in patient care and business services. US Endo provides comprehensive operational support services, facilitates peer-to peer leadership and mentoring, helps to apply best practices, fosters innovative new technologies, and reinvests resources to improve performance. US Endo doctors are able to do more of what they love and increase access to care, while securing their professional futures. The company currently boasts the provision of support to more than 250 endodontists in 33 states and has plans for continued growth. For more information, visit www.usendopartners.com.

SOURCE US Endo Partners
YIWU, China, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world. October 21, 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of Yiwugo (yiwugo.com). Instead of holding large gatherings, the company organized a wide array of celebrations, including internal ceremonies, live-streaming programs, online and offline distribution of customized gifts to customers and member stores, placement of graphic commercials, as well as downtown advertising light show for its 10th anniversary. These celebrations, together with in-depth media interviews of General Manager Wang Jianjun and coverage, gave exceptional meaning to the 10th birthday of Yiwugo.

The advertisement of Yiwugo in Hangzhou east railway station

In 2012, the e-commerce industry became a powerhouse for social progress and economic development. It is in that very year of e-commerce for Chinese economy that Yiwugo came into bud. Over the past decade, Yiwugo, a market-oriented platform, has always adhered to its corporate culture of "seeking technology-driven development and putting user experience first" and its core philosophy of "easy buy and reliable deal". With this in mind, Yiwugo has integrated itself deeply with the brick-and-mortar market in the fast-growing internet era, pushed the digitalized transformation of the market at a quicker speed, empowered traditional industries, and relieved the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. While helping market entities break through bottlenecks in doing business, Yiwugo has been constantly expanding the scale and extension of its services for the real economy and exploiting its own potential for growth.

Over the decade, Yiwugo has boomed and thrived, forming a virtuous ecology of e-commerce. To date, Yiwugo has hosted 50,000 merchants and 10 million registered buyers, 10% of whom are overseas buyers. It has 800,000 daily average visits and a daily average PV of 15 million. Today, Yiwugo has become the world's largest commodity market.

Core Philosophy: "Easy Buy and Reliable Deal"

Following the Trend and Supplying Quality Products

Following the trend of development, Yiwugo moved brick-and-mortar stores in Yiwu onto the internet in 2012, with a view to developing an e-commerce platform that integrates online and offline business. The launch of Yiwugo signifies the beginning of e-commerce explorations for specialized brick-and-mortar markets in China.

Facilitated by e-commerce platforms like Yiwugo, the e-commerce industry has played a major role in market transactions and Yiwu has risen strongly as an "e-commerce highland". Online transactions have outrun offline transactions statistically in Yiwu since 2013.

Over the past decade, the thriving internet industry has given rise to numerous e-commerce giants like Alibaba, JD.com and Pinduoduo, as well as new comers such as Tik Tok and Kuaishou that transformed from short-video platforms to e-commerce platforms. Boosted by digital transformation, the Yiwu market that is hailed as the "supermarket of the world" has embraced a new round of development opportunities. In the process of change itself, Yiwugo complements the traditional market by exerting positive influence and following the trend of development.

For 40 years, the Yiwu market has always adhered to the concept of "doing business with credibility", which has long taken root among more than 2 million people in Yiwu, whether they are local residents or migrants. After 10 years of development in the Yiwu market, Yiwugo has developed keen insights into the characteristics of specialized markets. Compared with exposure, Yiwugo attaches more importance to the creation of value. Over years of in-depth communication with the users, Yiwugo has established its core edge based on credibility, reliability and quality services. "Easy Buy and Reliable Deal" has been the founding mission of Yiwugo over the years.

Since Yiwugo was founded, the platform has upheld the principle that for each virtual store, there must be a corresponding brick-and-mortar store, and required all merchants to display their business license when doing business. As such, the information of suppliers is more reliable, and each deal is manageable, controllable and traceable, noted General Manager Wang Jianjun.

To constantly improve users' shopping experience and deliver on its commitments, Yiwugo issued a penalty policy for delayed delivery last year, so as to resolve such problems from the source by imposing punishments on merchants' false or delayed delivery. Today, no matter how small an order is, the buyer will always receive the goods in time.

"We are committed to creating transaction scenarios for both the buyer and the seller, providing certainty in our service delivery capability, guaranteeing better shopping experience for the buyer and assured business opportunities for the seller, and ensuring business growth for both sides," argued Wang Jianjun, "This is where our value lies."

While optimizing its services, Yiwugo is continuously upgrading itself from "diverse supplies" to "quality supplies". In recent years, Yiwugo has been exploring ways for the digital transformation and upgrading of specialized markets, while gradually embracing high-quality industry belts and brick-and-mortar wholesale markets across the country based on its online service experience. To date, nearly 3,000 stores from hundreds of high-quality characteristic industry belts in Hebei, Sichuan and other provinces have passed Yiwugo's stringent screening procedure and settled in its "Industry Belt Section". These high-quality stores will serve more high-end buyers, form virtuous circles, provide positive feedback, and constantly enhance user loyalty.

Promoting In-depth Application of Technologies

Bringing Immersive Purchase Experiences to Users

Through 10 years' market practice, Yiwugo has laid a solid foundation for e-commerce in the Yiwu market and become one of the most frequently visited B2B e-commerce platform in China, second only to "1688". This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Yiwu market. Presently, Yiwu is focusing on new demands and seizing the "ship" and "bridge" of digital transformation to build new systems, reshape novel modes and form new capabilities. This has pointed out the direction of development for Yiwugo for the next decade.

By constantly upgrading the ways and procedures for display, browse, search, recommendation and consulting, Yiwugo is committed to achieving perfection in its online market service. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, this service has gained tremendous popularity. According to Yiwugo's statistics, there were a daily average of nearly 3,000 pairs of buyer and seller engaged in online negotiation before 2020; today, the figure has risen to 5,000.

Empowered by information technology, Yiwugo has launched the "Future City", an online market based on the metaverse technology, in a bid to create fully immersive purchase experiences and offering more efficient and convenient purchase services.

Today, Yiwugo is penetrating into all aspects of daily life for people in Yiwu, the city of commerce, and at the same time making progress driven by people's daily needs. As the world, times and industries go through tremendous changes, Yiwugo will make a new start to continue outputting value and navigate the industry.

SOURCE Yiwugo
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The strong performance and innovative use of financial instruments by digital asset investment specialist Zerocap has been recognised as Zerocap's Smart Beta Bitcoin strategy for wholesale investors was awarded Finder's "Best Digital Currency Innovation" award.

Finder's Innovation Award judges, James Edwards & Molly Wiltshire-Bridle, liked that this innovation has worked. "Many managed funds still struggle to handle Bitcoin risk, while Zerocap appears to be bucking the trend and successfully mitigating risk for its clients."

Zerocap Smart Beta Bitcoin Fund - Q3 2022 Comparison

Zerocap's Smart Beta Bitcoin Fund returned 5.6% in Q3 2022, an outstanding return in challenging markets that bested virtually all other asset classes in the quarter including Bitcoin itself, US equities, European equities, gold, commodities, and corporate bonds.

Whilst investing in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, including Smart Beta Bitcoin Fund, involves considerable risks, Zerocap managers deploy proprietary models for the Smart Beta Bitcoin Fund that rebalance the high volatility of Bitcoin to lower levels, in line with risk profiles of equity portfolios. The objective of Smart Beta Bitcoin is to reduce and balance risk while actually improving risk adjusted returns, all while providing exposure to Bitcoin. Zerocap's Chief Investment Officer Jonathan de Wet said,

"Our approach has paid off, demonstrating that there is a place for this product in well designed portfolios. Smart Beta allows us to maintain an amazing risk-adjusted return profile, but without the volatility".

Zerocap's Head of Trading Toby Chapple said "Based on traditional investment banking techniques developed to cure hedge fund risk profiles, Smart Beta Bitcoin uses a proprietary and rigorous methodology to redistribute risk regularly between Bitcoin and a cash equivalent digital asset to accurately control the swings in the price of Bitcoin to a predetermined level. The product allows investors to control the downside risk of their investments whilst having all the statistical benefits that the asset class offers to a portfolio approach to investing."

About Zerocap

Zerocap's mantra is zero friction, borderless finance. Zerocap is Australia's leading full-service crypto platform, providing tailored investment products and secure digital custody to a global client base of wholesale investors, institutions, HNWs and family offices.

Zerocap creates bespoke solutions for investors to build and diversify their investment portfolio with digital assets, through a range of regulated and direct exposure products across the volatility spectrum to fit with their desired levels of investment and risk.

Zerocap's people bring a deep understanding of digital asset technology, trading, and portfolio optimisation, having processed a billion dollars of digital assets for private investors, family offices and institutions. Zerocap has assembled a team of blockchain experts, institutional portfolio managers and advisers, and experienced traders; backed by strong compliance, security and reporting functions.

Zerocap provides market leading institutional grade digital custody and storage facilities backed by insurance policies for all its investors, utilising best-in-class technology such as MPC cryptography and hardware isolation.

www.zerocap.com

This material is intended for illustrative purposes and general information only. It does not constitute financial advice nor does it take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. You should consider the information in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs before making any decision about whether to acquire or dispose of any digital asset. Investments in digital assets can be risky and you may lose your investment. Past performance is no indication of future performance.

This material is issued by Zerocap Pty Ltd (Zerocap), a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR: 001289130) of Gannet Capital Pty Ltd (GC) AFSL 340799.

SOURCE Zerocap
Rome, Oct 26 : The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has won the confidence of the lower house of parliament, with 235 votes in favour, 154 against and five abstentions.

The cabinet must now pass the second confidence test in the senate on Wednesday in order to become fully operative.

Ahead of the vote, Meloni outlined the key points of her government's programme, vowing to lead the country as best she can through what she described as some of the toughest times in decades. She also pledged to follow European Union (EU) rules, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, is the first woman ever to serve as prime minister in the country.

She won 26 per cent of the vote in snap elections held on September 25. Brothers of Italy ran along with two allies -- Forza Italia and the League -- both of which gained over 8 per cent of the vote.

Therefore, Meloni was asked by President Sergio Mattarella to lead the government on October 22.

In her first speech to lawmakers ahead of the confidence vote, Meloni stressed that Italy would keep moving within the boundaries of Western alliances.

"Italy is fully part of the West and of its alliance system, a founding member of the European Union, the eurozone and the (North) Atlantic alliance," she said.

She also explained that she was aware of the curiosity surrounding her government's posture towards the EU institutions.

"I would rather talk about our posture 'within' EU institutions ... because that is where Italy will make its voice heard, not to hold integration back but to help steer it to greater effectiveness," she said.

On the domestic front, Meloni said the government's priorities include a constitutional reform to introduce a presidential system, a wider "flat-tax" system, and increasing support for households and for women in the job market.
Lucknow, Oct 26 : Three persons received bullet injuries in a clash between two groups in Mandiaon area in Lucknow, late on Tuesday night.

The injured have been admitted to a medical facility.

Three persons have been detained and police teams are carrying out raids to arrest the remaining accused. Additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent fallout.

ADCP (East) Abhijit R. Shankar said that four youths - Samar, Abhilash, Dheeraj and Aman - were standing with their friends when Karan and his friends passed by. They hurled abuses at the four friends which led to a scuffle.

Supporters of both the groups started collecting and soon, they started pelting stones at each other.

The group led by Karan opened fire and three persons were injured. The shots were fired from a country made weapon.

The ADCP said that enmity between the two groups began almost three years ago over their supremacy in the area.

The official said that a case has been registered and the accused would be arrested soon.
London, Oct 26 : UK's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak kicked off a row by reappointing Indian-origin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, just days after she quit over a technical breach of government rules.

Braverman -- an outspoken critic of former PM Liz Truss's economic policy -- stepped down last week after breaching email security rules. In her resignation letter, she also raised concerns about the direction of Truss's government.

"Appointing Suella Braverman as Home secretary just days after she was sacked for a security breach doesn't smack of integrity, competence, professionalism or sensible politics. It's just cynical manoeuvring. This PM's no better than the last two," tweeted Labour MP Chris Bryant.

The London-born daughter of a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, Braverman had come out in support of Sunak saying he is the "only candidate that fits the bill and I am proud to support him".

Braverman's appointment came hours after Sunak said he wanted to lead the Conservative party with "integrity, professionalism and accountability".

Labour MP Yvette Cooper lashed out at Sunak saying, "our national security and public safety are too important for this kind of chaos".

"He said he wants his Government to have 'integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level' yet he has just appointed Suella Braverman to be Home Secretary again a week after she resigned for breaches of the Ministerial Code, security lapses, sending sensitive Government information through unauthorised personal channels, and following weeks of non-stop public disagreements with other Cabinet Ministers," Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, was reported as saying in The Sun.

According to The Guardian, the move is widely seen as a "payback" for her endorsement of Sunak when Johnson threatened a comeback during the leadership race.

According to local media reports, questions were also raised about her stance on migration control, which has drawn sharp reactions from those even within her own party.

Supporting the UK's exit from the European Convention on Human Rights, Braverman says that it is the only way for her country to solve immigration problems.

"I would love to be having a front page of The Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda... That's my dream. That's my obsession," she said at a fringe event at a Conservative party conference earlier in October.

Back in India, the country of her parents' origin, the news of Braverman's reappointment has doused the initial euphoria over Sunak's rise as UK PM with his recent move drawing sharp reactions from the Indian Twitterati.

Braverman nearly scuppered the India-UK Free Trade Agreement by saying that she feared the deal would increase migration to the UK, when Indians already represented the largest group of visa overstayers.

She blamed uncontrolled migration into the UK and the newcomers' failure to integrate for the riots in Leicester.
Kiev, Oct 26 : Ukraine needs 4 billion euros (about $3.97 billion) to go through the winter cold season, said Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov.

"We need four billion euros to get through this winter -- to renovate houses, to support health care and energy supplies," Chernyshov said at the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernisation of Ukraine in Berlin, Germany, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Besides, Ukraine lacks backup equipment for water and power supply, such as mobile water purification stations, mobile heating stations, diesel generators and electric heaters, the minister said.

Ukraine is facing an energy crisis ahead of the winter cold season due to the conflict with Russia that started on February 24.

On October 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia's attacks had destroyed about 30 per cent of Ukraine's power stations, causing massive blackouts across the country.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
San Francisco, Oct 26 : Apple's upcoming next-generation iPhone 15 series will include four models, with bigger feature differences than the iPhone 14 and all the models will feature USB-C charging port, reveals a report.

According to AppleInsider, demand for the iPhone 14 range has been rumoured to be lower than expected, and perhaps most definitely for the base model.

That perceived failure of the larger iPhone 14 follows reportedly poor sales of the smaller iPhone 13 mini. Yet a new report says Apple will continue producing four models for its 2023 iPhone 15 range.

Market intelligence firm TrendForce does not cite any sources, but said the analysis had been made by its Department of Semiconductor Research.

"TrendForce indicates that Apple will maintain a four new model release schedule featuring two processors to further differentiate between standard and high-end models," the report said.

As per the report, chances are high that the Pro series will feature a memory capacity upgrade to 8GB to match its new processor and continue camera specifications improvements, including upgrading its main camera to 8MP and using a periscope lens in the Pro Max model.

The prediction of an increase to 8GB RAM was previously rumoured to be in the iPhone 14 Pro.

The move to USB-C has also been predicted, chiefly because the European Union introduced a mandate requiring it.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lucknow, Oct 26 : A complainant in Lucknow has been arrested for staging his own loot case because he had to repay a loan.

The alleged 'victim' Ram Narain had informed the police that he had been looted of Rs 3 lakhs in Nigohan, in the outskirts of Lucknow, while he was returning home on Monday night.

Ram Narain claimed that he was intercepted by four bike borne assailants who stopped his car and looted the money.

He had claimed the incident to have taken place at Nahar Kheda area.

Superintendent of Police, (Rural) Hirdesh Kumar said that after Ram Narain, who owns a firecracker shop, lodged the complaint, a police team visited the spot and checked CCTV installed near the spot.

"No vehicle could be seen either going or coming in the area where Ram Narain claimed that the loot had taken place. The victim was also asked whether he had any enmity or not and also if he had taken loan to which he first denied and then after investigation nailed his lie, he confessed," said the SP.

Kumar further added that Ram Narain had taken a loan and had not wanted to repay it hence he staged the loot.

A case has now been registered against him and he has been arrested.
Hathras : , Oct 26 (IANS) A 21-year-old man was allegedly killed by his father, an ex-army man, when he tried to broker peace between his warring parents.

The deceased son was also preparing to join the Army.

The parents were involved in a heated argument when the son tried to intervene.

The enraged father picked up his licensed rifle and shot the son dead.

The father, with the help of some local people, hurriedly cremated his son's body without informing the police.

The victim's mother filed a police complaint after which the police collected the remains from the pyre and sent it for DNA and other tests.

Station house officer (SHO) of Sadabaad, Ashish Kumar Singh, said, "The accused has been arrested and the weapon recovered from his possession. Further investigation is on. Action will be taken accordingly." The incident took place in Ghuncha village under the Sadabad police station.
Aligarh : , Oct 26 (IANS) A 24-year-old Army jawan, who had come home to celebrate Diwali, was allegedly shot dead by his lover's husband and seven others near Aligarh.

The victim, Bikan Kumar, and his uncle were on their way to Aligarh in their car when they were attacked with sticks and sharp objects by eight men who then shot dead the jawan.

The incident took place at Rasoolpur village under the Tappal police limits.

Bikan Kumar's father, Janata Singh, said, "My son and wife of one of the accused were in a relationship. He was killed by her husband, Vijaypal, his brother Bablu and six other members of their family." A case has been registered at the Tappal police station under IPC section 302 (murder). Three accused have been arrested so far, police said, adding that Vijaypal is still at large.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said, "The man was killed by one Vijaypal over a relationship with the latter's wife. Eight people have been booked, of which three have been nabbed." Premveer Singh, brother of the deceased, said, "Bikan Kumar was selected in the Indian Army in 2017 and was posted in Hoshiarpur. When he left home with my uncle and others, some villagers attacked his car and shot him in the head. He was taken to hospital where he was declared dead."
Mandya, : Oct 26 (IANS) Karnataka police said on Wednesday that it submitted a charge sheet in record 14 days time after the registration of a case in connection with the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Mandya district.

The gruesome incident had taken place in Malavalalli town triggering public outcry and protests.

The police have arrested the 51-year-old accused Kantharaju, a teacher and manager of a tuition centre. He dumped her body in a water sump tank in an under construction building located behind the tuition centre.

Investigations have revealed that the accused who worked at the tuition centre for 15 years had lured the girl to the under construction building with a chocolate.

ADGP (Law and Order) Alok Kumar appreciated the Mandya district police for speedy submission of the charge sheet.

"Kudos to Mandya police for making efforts to ensure speedy justice," he stated.

He also thanked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra for their support.

The Chief Minister's office had gave a Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victim's family. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and other leaders also visited the family.

The state's education department had ordered closure of all tuition centres which were operating illegally without a valid permit.

It has been warned that a case will be booked if any violation was found.

Government teachers have also been warned not to involve themselves in tuition business.
Baghpat : , Oct 26 (IANS) A UP Police constable allegedly killed his father in Shabka village because the latter did not allow him to marry his girlfriend.

Station officer of Chhaprauli police station, inspector Nitin Pandey, said, "Accused Gaurav Kumar, 25, posted in Unnao, has been arrested after he confessed to the crime during investigation. A case has been registered against him under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide) following a complaint by his mother." The matter came to light when the constable's mother, Vimla Devi, filed a missing person complaint on October 17 after her husband, Sudesh Pal, 52, did not return home.

During preliminary investigation, it was found that the accused policeman had been absent from his duty for the past several months and had a tiff with his father over marrying his girlfriend.

"Gaurav Kumar stuck his father on his head with an iron rod after a heated argument and he died on the spot. Then he packed the body in a sack and dumped it in a sugarcane field on the outskirts of the village. The victim's body was found later," the police official said.
Beirut, Oct 26 : Around 500,000 Syrian refugees have registered for their voluntary return from Lebanon to their homeland, and Beirut has called on the international community and donors to facilitate their forthcoming return.

Abbas Ibrahim, chief of the Lebanese General Security, said on Tuesday that a total of 500,000 Syrian refugees have registered in 17 centres to voluntarily return to their country, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ibrahim's remarks came during a press conference to give an overview of the process that will be followed in returning Syrian refugees to their homeland, which will kick off on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar on Tuesday called on the international community and donors to facilitate the forthcoming homeward return of Syrian refugees safely from Lebanon.

Hajjar made the remarks in the town of Arsal in northeastern Lebanon, where he would supervise the return of the first convoy of Syrian refugees scheduled for Wednesday.

Burdened by the hosting of a large number of refugees, Lebanon has decided to help 15,000 Syrian refugees return home on a monthly basis.

The Minister said the living condition of the refugee camp is "disastrous", and for a small town like Asal, hosting a large body of refugees is overwhelming in almost every aspect.

Hajjar reiterated their home return will be facilitated by the coordination and cooperation between Lebanese security agencies and the Syrian sides.

Lebanon hosts the world's largest number of refugees per capita, with a government estimate of the Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million.

Having been struggling with a worsening financial crisis since late 2019, Lebanon has repeatedly said the influx of refugees weighs heavily on the country's economy and infrastructure.
Kolkata, Oct 26 : Chances of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Amit Shah coming face to face on November 5 are high as the latter is scheduled to attend and chair the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Security Council at the Bengal secretariat of Nabanna.

State secretariat sources said that Mamata Banerjee will be attending the meeting in all probability. The chief ministers from Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Sikkim are also likely to attend the meeting.

However, till now it is not clear whether the Union home minister and the West Bengal chief minister will have any separate one-to-one meeting on the occasion of the former's visit to Kolkata.

Amit Shah, by virtue of being the Union home minister, is the chairman of all the five zonal security councils in the country. He has already attended two such zonal regional council meetings recently. His office has also confirmed his presence at the meeting at Nabanna on November 5, 2022.

However, there is no information with the state unit of BJP on whether the Union home minister will attend any party- related programme during his visit to the city.

Meanwhile, prior to that on November 2, Mamata Banerjee will be flying to Chennai to attend the 80th birth anniversary of the elder brother of the West Bengal Governor, La Ganeshan. It is learnt that the governor personally invited her to attend the function while he went to her residence on Monday on the occasion of the Kali Puja celebration at the chief minister's residence. The chief minister too has accepted the invitation.

It is perceived that with the chief minister accepting the invitation, the bitter tussle between the state government and the governor, which was a regular feature with the current Indian Vice- President Jagdeep Dhankhar in the governor's chair before, is over for the time being.
Visakhapatnam, Oct 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Visakhapatnam on November 11 to inaugurate and lay foundations for various developmental and infrastructure projects.

Railway officials have received the communication that he will be in the port city to lay the foundation stone for Rs 400 crore Visakhapatnam railway station modernisation project. The same day he will lay the foundation stone or inaugurate projects undertaken by the Central government.

These include Rs 26,000 crore Visakhapatnam HPCL petroleum refinery expansion and modernisation project; first phase of modern, green new campus of IIM Visakhapatnam and cruise terminal in Visakhapatnam.

Prime Minister Modi is also likely to address a public meeting in the city the same day. Sources said this public meeting may be held at AU Engineering College grounds.

Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will participate in various programmes along with the Prime Minister.

District collector A. Mallikarjuna held a meeting with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) commissioner Rajababu and other officials to review the preparations for the Prime Minister's visit.

Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao had recently called on the Prime Minister and invited him to visit Visakhapatnam to inaugurate and lay foundations for several developmental and infrastructure projects.

Rao had also requested him to lay foundation stone for the new office complex of the sanctioned South Coast Rail Zone with headquarters in Visakhapatnam; 400 bedded speciality ESI Hospital at a cost of Rs 385 crore and modern mega fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam.

The MP had also said that several projects and developments in Eastern Naval Command and other defence establishments in Visakhapatnam can also be included as part of the Prime Minister's visit.
Jaipur, Oct 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a large public meeting on November 1 at Mangarh Dham, the main pilgrimage site of tribals in Rajasthan's Banswara district.

Thousands of tribals from three states -- Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh -- will attend this meeting. The BJP is eyeing to woo the voters from 99 tribal seats through public meetings and conferences.

As per information, around 25 seats in Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, 27 in Gujarat Legislative Assembly, 47 seats in Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly are reserved for STs. The CM and BJP state presidents of all the three states have been invited to the November 1 rally.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan are also invited to the programme.

Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi and Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal from Rajasthan will also be present in the programme.

The BJP officials confirmed to IANS that the Prime Minister may announce national monument status to the monument of Mangarh Dham.

Mangarh Dham is known for the mass massacre of Adivasi-Bhils in 1913 by the British Army. Around 1,500 tribals had sacrificed their lives under the leadership of Sant Govind Guru, who was running the freedom movement. Even an attempt was reportedly made here to stop the yagya and worship rituals.

Many announcements can be made for the development of this place and the tribals. BJP state president Satish Poonia and several senior leaders of the party can go to Mangarh after two days to take stock of the preparations.

Modi called a meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan and Gujarat on Tuesday regarding Mangarh Dham through video conferencing. Giving information about this by tweeting, CM Ashok Gehlot said that the Government of Rajasthan has assured the Central government that all possible help will be given to make Mangarh Dham a national monument.

Gehlot said, "I hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will declare it as a national monument during his visit to Mangarh Dham on November 1."
Kabul, Oct 26 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan recently issued a fatwa, or Islamic decree, to ban hookahs, which had become a common sight in the war-ton country in recent years, the media reported.

The militant Islamist group considers hookahs, also known as shisha, as an intoxicant, which is banned under Islam, RFE/RL reported.

The ban on hookahs was announced in the western province of Herat earlier this month.

It is unclear if the fatwa extends to the entire country.

The move has had a severe impact on businesses in Herat, where scores of shisha cafes have been forced to close. Restaurants that offer shisha, meanwhile, have been forced to lay off staff as the number of customers fall.

The ban on hookahs is the latest attempt by the Taliban to impose its extremist interpretation of Islamic Sharia law in Afghanistan, where the militant group forcibly seized power in August 2021.

The Cafe Owners Association in Herat said that around 2,500 people had lost their jobs following the ban, aggravating an already dire economic situation for many residents, RFE/RL reported.

The Taliban takeover triggered an economic collapse and worsened a major humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where hunger and poverty are widespread.

Azizul Rahman Mohajer, the provincial head of the Taliban's feared Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said hookahs are "against Sharia".

The Taliban, however, has not imposed any restrictions on naswar, a mild narcotic made from tobacco.

It is popular among Afghan men, particularly in rural areas, including among Taliban fighters, RFE/RL reported.

In April, the Taliban declared a blanket ban on illicit narcotics, although Afghan farmers say they continue to plant crops, including opium.
Srinagar, Oct 26 : Driven by fear in the aftermath of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat's killing by terrorists, about 10 families of local Pandits have left their homes in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district and shifted to Jammu.

Bhat was killed by terrorists outside his home in Chaudharygund village of Shopian district on October 15.

Reports said in the aftermath of Bhat's killing about 10 families comprising 35 members have left their ancestral homes in Chaudharygund village and shifted to Jammu.

These families have left behind everything, including this year's apple crop.

On October 18, two non-locals, Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar were killed by a lone terrorist who hurled a grenade at the rented accommodation where the two were asleep.

Acting swiftly, police arrested the terrorist, who was later killed in terrorist firing on the security forces when they were proceeding for another operation on the disclosure made by the arrested terrorist.
Amsterdam, Oct 26 : The Chinese government has been accused of establishing at least two undeclared "police stations" in the Netherlands, a media reported.

The media report cited evidence that the "overseas service stations", which promise to provide diplomatic services, are being used to try to silence Chinese dissidents in Europe.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Foreign Ministry said the existence of the unofficial police outposts is illegal, the BBC reported.

The Chinese embassy however, said that it was not aware of their existence.

The investigation was sparked by a report by the Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders.

According to the organisation, the public security bureaus from two Chinese provinces had established 54 "overseas police service centres" across five continents and 21 countries.

Most of them are in Europe, including nine in Spain and four in Italy. In the UK, it found two in London and one in Glasgow.

The units were ostensibly created to tackle transnational crime and conduct administrative duties, such as the renewal of Chinese drivers' licences. But, according to Safeguard Defenders, in reality they carry out "persuasion operations", aimed at coercing those suspected of speaking out against the Chinese regime to return home.

RTL News and the investigative journalism platform Follow the Money shared the story of Wang Jingyu, a Chinese dissident who said he was being pursued by Chinese police in the Netherlands.

Speaking in English, Wang told Dutch journalists he received a phone call earlier this year from someone claiming to be from one such station.

During the conversation, he said he was urged to return to China to "sort out my problems. And to think about my parents."
Patna, Oct 26 : Political strategist Prashant Kishor (PK) is likely to turn into a politician around November 10. Currently on the 'Jan Suraj Padyatra', he is touring Bihar to strike a chord with the people.

"We have decided to organise a meeting around November 10 in Bettiah town where members of the Jan Suraj campaign will be invited. They will vote in the presence of mediapersons to decide whether we should form a political party or not. At present, we are only doing padyatra with a theory of Jan Suraj," PK said after completing 200 kms in Bagha.

PK started his padyatra from west Champaran district on October 2 this year and covers a distance of 12 to 13 km every day.

The padyatra of PK has raised questions over its funding. Leaders like Shivanand Tiwari, the RJD vice president, claimed earlier that PK is spending Rs 1 crore every day on his padyatra and is living in lavish tents for the night stay. He also said that PK had given front page advertisements to all newspapers on October 2 to promote his padyatra.

"In case we form a political party, we will do crowdfunding. Bihar has a population of 13 crore and if two crore people donate Rs 100, it becomes Rs 200 crore for the party. At present, there is no banking facility in the country to collect funds directly from the common people. We want to make such a facility where people directly donate funds to the party. Other parties are raising funds through government officials, corruption and scams," PK said.

Reacting on the funding of padyatra, PK said: "Funding is an issue that everyone is talking about. I want to tell them that I was associated with some political parties in the country in the last 11 years and I helped them in winning 10 elections so far. I never charged them for my service to them. Now, I am requesting them to donate funds for the padyatra in Bihar. The sources of the funding for the padyatra are those political parties I was associated with in the last 11 years." PK raised several issues like the pathetic condition of roads in villages, toilets, Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal Yojana, fertilizers, migration of youths, flash flood in West Champaran, health, education and law and order situation of Bihar.

"In the majority of issues, the government of Nitish Kumar has failed to improve these issues for common people. We have heard of good roads in Bihar, but it is only for the national and state highways. When you come to villages, the roads are in pathetic condition. I experienced the same on other issues after interacting with the local villagers of Champaran," he said.
A policeman along with his friends consumed liquor in public and created ruckus in Telangana's Mancherial town. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Oct 26 : The Hyderabad Police on Wednesday booked a case against a woman and her other family members after they allegedly kicked diyas lit by their neighbour in an apartment building on the occasion of Diwali.

The incident occured in a building under the Chikkadpally police station on Monday.

A Christian family allegedly raised an objection to their Hindu neighbour placing Rangoli and litting diays in the common space.

A video of the incident was also circulated by several people on the social media.

The Police said that they have registered a case in connection with the incident.

According to Chikkadpally Circle Inspector, a case has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 355 (Assault or criminal force with intent for dishonouring person), 506 (criminal intimidation) with section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Meanwhile, members of several Hindu right wing organisations staged a protest outside the building and demanded Police to take action. Police officers pacified them saying a case has already been booked and appropriate action will be taken as per law.

Police personnel were deployed at the building to prevent any untoward incident.
Chennai, Oct 26 : Fishermen from Tamil Nadu's Vedaranyam are wary of returning to the sea following a recent shooting incident in which the Indian Navy fired at a fisherman from the area.

On October 21, the Indian Navy ship on patrol in the Palk Bay near the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) fired shots at a fishing boat which had 10 people in board.

K. Veeravel, the 30-year-old fisherman, sustained bullet injuries on his thigh and stomach.

The Coastal Marine Police at Vedaranyam have registered a case against Indian Navy based on a complaint filed by the boat's owner, Selvakumar.

The Indian Navy, however, said that they found a suspicious-looking boat, and even after repeated requests the boat did not stop, and hence it fired the warning shots as per Standard Operating Procedures.

The Navy immediately informed the Air Force base at Ramanathapuram and airlifted the injured fisherman to Ramanathapuram Government Hospital and later to Madurai Government Medical College.

The fishermen said that they feared that the Sri Lankan Navy was at the Palk Bay and they had cut off their nets and were retracting when they heard some inaudible messages.

After this incident many fishermen are apprehensive of going into the sea.

Sivakrishnan, a fisherman from Vedanaranyam, told IANS: " We are afraid of going into the deep sea. Anything can happen in the sea and we have been constantly in fear of the Sri Lankan navy attacking us if we cross the International Maritime Boundary Line, but now our own Navy is attacking us and this is quite unfounded. We have decided not to go to the sea for the time being." The decision by the fishermen has created an unprecedented crisis in the Vedaranyam area as most of the houses are dependent on fish and without the catch, the hustle and bustle at the market are over.

Manikantan. M.K., the fishermen leader of Vedaranyam, told IANS: " The incident of Indian Navy firing at our own fishermen is not acceptable and we demand strong action against those responsible. The fishermen will have to stop fearing and must venture out into the sea." Meanwhile, MDMK leader Vaiko has come out strongly against the firing incident.

He said that the Indian Navy has behaved worse than its Sri Lankan counterparts, adding that the shots were fired at the boat despite it displaying the Indian flag.
Los Angeles, Oct 26 : The judge in Harvey Weinstein's case is allowing one additional woman to testify in the former Hollywood producer's rape trial: one of Weinstein's former assistants, Rowena Chiu.

Chiu will be a supporting, uncharged witness in the trial - meaning that the charges Weinstein faces in the case do not stem from her account. But, the trial will see supporting witness (known casually as "#MeToo witnesses") take the stand to testify about their allegations, in order to establish a pattern of behaviour over the years, reports Variety.

Chiu previously came forward with allegations against Weinstein after the #MeToo movement. She worked as an assistant at Miramax in the '90s and had only met Weinstein two times before she claims he attempted to rape her on a business trip in 1998 at the Venice Film Festival.

She has said that during a late-night meeting to discuss scripts, Weinstein asked her to massage him and then pushed her up against the bed and took off her tights, before she managed to escape the room. Weinstein denies the attack ever happened.

Shortly after the alleged incident, Chiu confided in her colleague, Zelda Perkins, who was then 25 years old. Together, the two women escalated the issue at Miramax, hired a lawyer, and were pressured into signing a NDA and received a monetary settlement. Within their settlement, they required Miramax to include clauses that they hoped would protect other women from his behaviour in the workplace.

Chiu stayed silent for more than 20 years, fearing the safety of her family. In 2019, she broke her silence in an op-ed for the New York Times. In 2020, Chiu broke her NDA to speak to Variety in a wide-ranging interview, following Weinstein's conviction after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault in his New York case, reports Variety.

Tuesday in court, Weinstein's lawyers battled with prosecutors when arguing over whether Chiu should be allowed to testify or not. Weinstein's attorney, Mark Werksman, told the judge that allowing for a fifth supporting witness would be "prejudicial" and "wide and vastly disproportionate" for the defendant.

The attorney alluded to a potential appeal down the road, stating that including Chiu in the trial will be a "real problem" for the court, should there be a conviction. Werksman said there will be "more evidence of uncharged conduct than charged conduct," if Chiu was granted to testify. Ultimately, Judge Lisa B. Lench ruled that Chiu's testimony would be more "probative" than "prejudicial".

Weinstein is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault relating to five women.

However, in his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson made no mention of the fifth accuser, identified as Jane Doe 5.

Asked on Tuesday in the hallway of the courthouse if Jane Doe 5 is still part of the case, Thompson declined to comment. The D.A.'s office responded to Variety's request for comment via email, stating: "While we have no comment at this time, our office is tirelessly ensuring all of the victims in this case receive justice."
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 : Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan already up in arms against the state government over the issue of vice-chancellors of 11 universities, on Wednesday wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he has 'withdrawn the pleasure' against state Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal.

'Withdrawing pleasure' indicates an indirect way to ask the chief minister to sack the minister. But, Vijayan soon wrote back to Khan stating that Balagopal's speech was nothing but a political response and it was not meant to lower the dignity of the governor.

Khan has been upset with Balagopal over a speech that he made early this month when he, without naming Khan, said that "those who come from Uttar Pradesh where vice-chancellors move around with armed security guards, do not know the quality of the universities in Kerala".

But, Vijayan has now written back to Khan stating that the speech was nothing but a political response and it was not meant to lower the dignity of the governor.

Khan is presently travelling to North India.

State CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran reacted to Governor by saying that "it was unfortunate that the governor does not know what his rights, duties and responsibilities are".

"A governor does not appoint ministers, instead it is the chief minister who appoints and withdraws a minister. When a minister is withdrawn by the chief minister, he/ she writes to the governor, who then acts. A governor just cannot appoint or withdraw state ministers," said Rajendran.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the governor and the chief minister were engaged in a fake encounter to fool the people.

"This is nothing but a drama and the two are hand in glove to divert from issues where the CPI(M) leaders are caught in misconduct cases, the law and order situation in the state is appallingly poor, prices are skyrocketing and the two are playing foolery to tell the people that they are against each other, but they are hand in glove," said Satheesan. He pointed out that a governor has no right to withdraw a minister and his letter to this effect does not have any value.
Srinagar, Oct 26 : An encounter broke out on Wednesday between terrorists and security forces in North Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

"Encounter has started at Wanseeran Taripora area of Baramulla. Police and security forces are on the job," the police said.

The firefight started after a joint team of police and security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in the area.

After security forces cordoned off the area, terrorists hiding there started firing.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Satellite communication (Satcom) can be helpful in service delivery through usage of airwaves, Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman said on Wednesday.

Addressing the inaugural session of India Space Congress 2022, organised by Satcom Industry Association (SIA) India, Rajaraman said that new technologies offer convergence and space communications can help in fulfilling key Government schemes like financial inclusion.

He further said that space technologies can put spectrum to better use.

Rajaraman said that the department of telecom is working towards digital inclusion and the aim is to cover around 30,000 villages in the next one year.

In July, the Union Cabinet had approved digital connectivity in 29,616 unconnected villages.

He further said that digital technology along with the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhar and mobile connectivity (JAM) had given the desired results, especially during COVID-19 pandemic.

ISRO chairman S Somnath while speaking on the occasion, said that the idea for reforms was to create an economy of scale.

He said that the country builds two rockets every year and the aim is to take this figure to six, for which the ecosystem needs to be strengthened.

Somnath said that businesses in India should look at areas which are not serviced yet.
Toronto, Oct 26 : Indo-Canadian healthcare worker Navjit Kaur Brar has become the first turban-wearing Sikh woman to be elected as Brampton City Councillor in the recent Municipal council polls.

Brar, a respiratory therapist and a mother of three, won the race for City Councillor in Wards 2 and 6, beating Jermaine Chambers, a former Conservative MP candidate for Brampton West.

Brar had 28.85 per cent of the votes cast on Monday with Chambers as nearest contender with 22.59 per cent, and Carmen Wilson coming in third at 15.41 per cent, the Brampton Guardian reported.

"I am so proud of @Navjitkaurbrar. She was a selfless and dedicated front line healthcare worker during the pandemic. She has stepped up for public service and I am confident she will be a phenomenal addition to Brampton City Council," tweeted Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who won a second term in recent election.

As part of her campaign she knocked over 40,000 doors and spoked to over 22,500 residents in the last two months.

"Over the past 3 years, I've spoken to countless Bramptonians and the sentiment I hear is that they are all hurting, they feel unheard, they feel left behind. With the rising cost of living It's getting harder to raise and provide for your family in Brampton... As your city councillor I will fight for better services for all Bramptonians and ensure that your voices are heard," Brar had said in her campaign pitch.

Brar previously ran as the Ontario NDP candidate in Brampton West, losing out to incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Amarjot Sandhu.

Another Sikh candidate, Gurpartap Singh Toor, knocked off his opponent Gurpreet Dhillon in Wards 9 and 10 by a scant 227 votes.

As many as 40 Punjabis were in the fray for Brampton civic elections, according to local media reports.

Out of 354,884 eligible voters in Brampton, only 87,155 of them turned up to cast ballots -- an abysmal voter turnout of approximately 24.56 per cent, according to unofficial results, The Pointer reported.

The Indo-Canadian community, along with the councillor candidates, had raised concerns over the election date overlapping with Diwali -- one of the most-awaited festivals celebrated by the large swathe of Indian diaspora present in the North American country.

"It is very problematic that the elections are taking place on the Diwali day, especially the municipal election that has always seen a low voter turnout," Gurpratap Singh Toor, who has won Wards 9 and 10, had told Omni Punjabi.

Elections for municipal government are held every four years on the fourth Monday of October, which fell on October 24 this time.

These polls usually elect a mayor and city council and sometimes also a school board.

Around 40 per cent of Brampton's population is South Asian, and the municipal election also fell on the religious festival of Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
Los Angeles, Oct 26 : "Trying to forget last night," Haleigh Breest texted a friend the morning after Paul Haggis allegedly raped the former publicist.

"He definitely f***ed me. He tore me.""He was so rough and aggressive," she added, declaring, "Never again." Breest has been testifying this week in New York City as part of a sexual assault civil lawsuit against Haggis, the Oscar-winning 'Crash' filmmaker and the writer of hits such as 'Casino Royale' and 'Million Dollar Baby'.

Her text messages and e-mails were displayed to jurors and showed Breest's attempts to make sense of what had allegedly happened in Haggis's Soho apartment on January 23, 2013.

Haggis has acknowledged the pair had sex, but claims it was consensual.

Breest told her friend that Haggis assaulted her, but that he was also a "charming person" and "so smart!!!" She would later agree with her friend's assessment that the incident constituted "borderline rape." Still, Breest and Haggis occasionally exchanged e-mails in the weeks following the alleged rape, though there was never any explicit mention of what transpired that night in the filmmaker's apartment.

And Breest continued to see Haggis at events at the Cinema Society, where she was a freelance publicist. She consulted her friend, Lyuda, via text about her mixed feelings towards the filmmaker and toyed with getting together with him again.

"Is this like really weird or what... my mood today is that I want to get together again with Paul and be the one in control," Breest said in a text message dated February 3, 2013. "Is that like f-ed up? My strange thinking to not being the powerless one!" Lyuda responded, "It's not f-ed up that you feel that way. But it's not a good idea." "Stay away from him!!!!"

The exchange between Breest and Lyuda was the focus of defence attorney Priya Chaudhry's lengthy cross-examination of Breest, which seemed to be part of an effort to raise doubts about whether the pair's encounter was as traumatic as Breest claims. And there were moments in their conversation in which Breest struggled to condemn her alleged assailant.

When Lyuda said she wasn't interested in seeing any of Haggis' films, Breest wrote, "They are actually kind of amazing and totally non-aggressive. Ugh I don't know why I'm defending him to you!! You are supportive!! He was just soo aggressive that night and he's sooo low key when you meet him... like he was a totally different person." At this time, Breest had only told one of her Cinema Society co-workers about her alleged rape. In a text message thread between the two of them, Breest laughed at the notion of Haggis potentially attending the same event as her. Later that night, when the co-worker asked if she got home safe, Breest quipped "no director in my bed bahaa." Chaudhry also read aloud the lyrics to "Stupid Girl," a song by the band Garbage, which according to text messages, Breest "wanted to play over and over again after leaving Mr. Haggis' apartment." The defence attorney specifically emphasized the chorus, which reads, "You pretend you're high/ Pretend you're bored/ Pretend you're anything/ Just to be adored." Breest, who made a point of avoiding eye contact with Chaudhry, asked the defence attorney to not refer to her alleged rape as a "sexual experience." "This is not a sexual experience," Breest said.

"This is a sexual assault."
Riyadh, Oct 26 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud have agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and fraternal bonds between the two countries to "new heights".

The two held a bilateral meeting in Riyadh during which they reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, Dawn news reported citing Radio Pakistan as saying on Wednesday.

Taking to Twitter, Sharif described the meeting as "excellent".

"We agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to new heights in line with the requirements of (the) changing world. I told (the Crown Prince) people of Pakistan are eagerly looking forward to his visit," he said.

According to Radio Pakistan, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the fraternal bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The premier thanked the Saudi leadership for extending assistance to Pakistan during the recent devastating floods, particularly for establishing the air bridge between Riyadh and Islamabad to provide relief goods in flood-affected areas, the report said.

For his part, the Saudi crown prince termed the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia very important for the two countries as well as for the region and the world.

Sharif landed in Riyadh on Monday where he was received by Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at the airport.

The premier is accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and other officials.

He also addressed the Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh on Monday, saying that Pakistan was "ripe for market innovation" and the country was ready to reach out to potential investors for the future of its upcoming generations, Dawn reported.
Bengaluru, Oct 26 : The Congress workers in Karnataka are celebrating the coronation of veteran Congress leader from the state, Mallikarjun Kharge, who took charge as the president of the Congress on Wednesday.

The Karnataka Congress unit was jubilant and said that the development would prove to be a shot in the arm for the party in the upcoming Assembly elections of 2023.

Karnataka Congress while congratulating Kharge posted on its Twitter on Wednesday that "his commitment and dedication to get special status for the Kalyan Karnataka region is greater".

"The youth who got employment after the region got special status under Article 371J still remember Kharge's contributions." "Kharge has a special place in the hearts of oppressed classes and Dalits. He had stated many times that he doesn't want to play the card of Dalit to get positions, and refused to answer questions posed to him which were addressed to him as a Dalit," said a party leader.

Old locals recall that Kharge's family was a victim of atrocities by Razakars, who opposed the union of the princely Hyderabad state into Indian union. The Razakars torched the houses and killed hundreds of people. Kharge's mother and his brothers were in one of the torched houses that was gutted in a fire. Kharge along with his father, who were outside the house, escaped the attack and settled down in Kalaburagi.

Though it is a known fact in north Karnataka region, Kharge has never spoken about the incident. He completed graduation in law and emerged as the student leader and later as the union leader.

He joined the Congress in 1969. He entered the Karnataka Assembly from the reserved constituency of Gurumuithakal in 1972. Since then, he got elected continuously nine times till 2008.

He represented Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency twice in 2009 and 2014 parliamentary elections. Experts say that Kharge had come very close to becoming the CM in Karnataka thrice in 1999, 2004 and 2013, but narrowly missed the opportunity.
Kolkata, Oct 26 : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) saved the lives of 20 Bangladeshi fishermen in the Bay of Bengal in the wake of Cyclone Sitrang that claimed at least 35 lives in the neighbouring nation and destroyed property worth crores.

According to a senior ICG official, a Dornier on a routine post-cyclone 'sanitisation' sortie spotted the fishermen on Tuesday near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between India and Bangladesh.

"This was about 90 nautical miles (nearly 167 km) from Sagar Island. Such sanitisation sorties are launched to check if there are any mariners or fishermen in distress after a cyclone. The fishermen were in the water clinging to floats and debris from capsized boats.

"Our Dornier immediately dropped a life raft near them and ensured that all had climbed into it before directing MV Nanta Bhum, a merchant vessel in the area, to pick them up. MV Nanta Bhum was on its way to the Kolkata port from Port Klang in Malaysia. ICG Dorniers then carried out two more sorties to make sure there are no more people in need of assistance," the official said.

ICG ships Vijaya, Varad and C-426 were also diverted to the area to assist in Search and Rescue operations.

The 20 Bangladeshis were subsequently taken over by ICGS Vijaya. They underwent a medical check-up on board the ship and were provided with food and water.

Bangladeshi authorities have also been informed and the fishermen will be handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between it and the ICG.

"The ICG, in co-ordination with the state governments of West Bengal and Odisha, had taken pre-emptive and preventive measures to ensure that no lifes are lost at sea due to the Cyclone. The advisory was also shared with the Bangladesh Coast Guard. Throughout the passage of the Cyclone, weather advisory was aired by ICG through its Radar Station and Remote Operating Stations. We are very happy with the way this operation was carried out," the official added.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Three accused, including a juvenile, robbed a man in Delhi to throw a birthday party, but were nabbed by the police, said an official.

The accused have been identified as Mohit, 20, and Prashant, 18, both residents of Mori Gate in Delhi, besides the juvenile.

"A complaint was received from 30-year-old Hari Shankar Gangwar, a native of district Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and presently manager at a restaurant 'Kake Di Hatti' near Fatehpuri, in which he stated that on the intervening night of October 24-25 when he reached a petrol pump near Rajindra Market near Tis Hazari after closing hotel, 3-4 persons began to quarrel with him," said Sagar Singh Kalsi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North).

"They robbed him of his purse containing Rs 7,800, Aadhar card, driving license and fled away from the spot," said the DCP, adding that a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered at the Sabzi Mandi police station and the investigation was taken up.

"During investigation, the police teams scanned CCTV footage of the area. Consequently, two accused, Mohit and Prashant were arrested and one juvenile was apprehended," said the DCP.

"Police also recovered Rs 3700, a part of the stolen cash from their possession. Further the accused were also identified by the victim," said the officer.

"On interrogation, the accused persons confessed to their involvement in the crime and further said that they did the robbery to hold a birthday party. It was the birthday of one of the accused, Prashant, so Mohit and a 15-year-old juvenile joined him and they all robbed the complainant of his wallet and fled away from the spot," said the DCP.

"Further, they told police that they spent some of the robbed amount on fun and frolic in the market," said the DCP, adding that both Mohit and Prashant were drug addicts and school dropouts. The three were nabbed from the North Delhi area.
Chennai, Oct 26 : The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday recommended a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the Coimbatore car blast case.

The government recommended the NIA probe after a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in which senior state government officials, including Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, Home Secretary Phanindra Reddy, Director General of Police C. Sylendrababu and other senior officials participated.

On Sunday morning, a 25-year-old youth Jameesha Mubin died when a car in which he was travelling exploded near Sangameswara temple, Ukkadam.

The police while conducting a raid at Mubin's residence found large quantities of Potassium Nitrate and Sulphur which were used for making country bombs.

The Police later arrested five of his accomplices -- Mohammed Talka, who is the son of Nawab Khan, brother of S.A. Basha, the founder of the terror organisation, Al-Umma, which was behind the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts on February 14, 1998, in which 56 people died and more than 200 people were injured.

The other accused who were arrested are Mohammed Azharuddin, Mohammed Riyaz, Firoze Ismail and Mohammed Nawaz Ismail. Of this, Ismail was deported by the UAE government in 2020 after his association with Islamic State was revealed.

The Opposition leaders, including AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, deposed AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam, and state BJP President, K. Annamalai have slammed the state government.

The state BJP President has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a NIA probe.
Washington, Oct 26 : A NASA spacecraft named Lucy, the first mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, has captured an stunning image of Earth, along with a photo of the Earth and the Moon, as part of gravity assist to gain some of the orbital energy it needs to travel to this never-before-visited population of asteroids.

NASA's Lucy spacecraft captured the image of Earth at a distance of 620,000 kms. The upper left of the image includes a view of Hadar, Ethiopia, home to the 3.2 million-year-old human ancestor fossil for which the spacecraft was named, the US space agency said in a statement.

Lucy is the first mission to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, an ancient population of asteroid "fossils" that orbit around the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter.

To reach these distant asteroids, the Lucy spacecraft's trajectory includes three Earth gravity assists to boost it on its journey to these enigmatic asteroids.

The image was taken with Lucy's Terminal Tracking Camera (T2CAM) system, a pair of identical cameras that are responsible for tracking the asteroids during Lucy's high-speed encounters.

The T2CAM system was designed, built and tested by Malin Space Science Systems; Lockheed Martin Integrated the T2CAMs onto the Lucy spacecraft and operates them.

Lucy spacecraft also captured an image of the Earth and the Moon from a distance of 1.4 million km.

These Earth flybys provide Lucy with the speed required to reach the Trojan asteroids - small bodies that orbit the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter.

On its 12-year journey, Lucy will fly by a record breaking number of asteroids and survey their diversity, looking for clues to better understand the formation of the solar system.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
San Francisco, Oct 26 : Android phones' built-in earthquake detection functionality, tested during a 5.1-magnitude earthquake near California's San Jose on Tuesday, seems to have passed with flying colours, and also beat iPhones at alerting users.

According to Android Authority, Dave Burke, Google's vice president of engineering for Android, tweeted a neat visualisation showing loads of Android phones detecting the quake before the shock waves hit.

"Earthquake in SF Bay Area today. Yellow/red represents shaking Android phones acting as seismometers. Circles are our inferred estimate of P and S waves. Earthquake alerts sent instantaneously to surrounding phones before the waves hit," he tweeted.

Several social media users reported receiving earthquake notifications five to ten seconds before they felt the shock waves on their Android phones.

Twitter users also noted that Android users received an early warning, while iPhone users received it later, according to the report.

A warning like this isn't the first time Android's earthquake detection network has provided an early warning. Last year, the system delivered early warnings during a quake in the Philippines, the report added.

To enable earthquake detection functionality on your Android phone, you can do so by tapping Settings > Safety & emergency > Earthquake alerts.

However, this feature is not available in every country, so you can check Google's support page for more information.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Retail giant Walmart is reportedly raising up to $3 billion for its e-commerce giant Flipkart to further expand its operations in the country.

With new funds, Flipkart's valuation is set to soar to more than $40 billion, giving a fillip to the Indian funding scene which is going through a harsh winter.

Flipkart Group in July last year raised $3.6 billion to grow and advance the digital commerce ecosystem in India. The investment valued the group at $37.6 billion post the money then.

According to media reports, Walmart may bring strategic investors into Flipkart via this fundraising.

The move, according to close sources, is to keep Flipkart ahead in the e-commerce race as online shopping surges with every festive season in the country.

Reached for a reaction, a Flipkart spokesperson told IANS that "We do not comment on speculation". Walmart declined to comment.

The last fundraise demonstrated significant interest from global investors, including sovereign funds, private equity and crossovers in addition to Walmart. It was led by financial investors GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Walmart, along with investments from sovereign funds DisruptAD, Qatar Investment Authority, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and marquee investors Tencent, Willoughby Capital, Antara Capital, Franklin Templeton, and Tiger Global.

"This investment by leading global investors reflects the promise of digital commerce in India and their belief in Flipkart's capabilities to maximise this potential for all stakeholders," Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Flipkart Group, had said in July last year.

"The quality of the investor group and valuation is further confirmation of global confidence in Flipkart and its mission to transform commerce in India," Judith McKenna, President and CEO - Walmart International, had said.

Bengaluru-based Redseer Strategy Consultants had predicted $11.8 billion worth gross merchandise value (GMV) during the entire festive month up to Diwali. E-commerce marketplaces usually hold up to three sales leading up to the festival of lights.

The online retail platforms in India clocked $5.7 billion (about Rs 40,000 crore) worth festive sales between September 22 to 30, a robust 27 per cent (year-on-year) growth.

Mobile phones continue to lead the market with 41 per cent contribution in gross merchandise value (GMV) and nearly 56,000 mobile handsets were sold every hour, according to the report by Redseer.

Flipkart Group (Flipkart, Myntra and Shopsy) continued to lead the market with 62 per cent market share in GMV.
Mumbai, Oct 26 : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is back to hosting the 'Weekend Ka Vaar' episode after recovering from dengue. The episode will also see Katrina Kaif along with Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khattar coming as celebrity guests in 'Bigg Boss 16'.

Last week Karan Johar was seen hosting the weekend ka vaar episode because Salman Khan was down with dengue.

Salman will be interacting with the contestants and analysing their entire week's activities. Katrina and the entire cast will be promoting their film 'Phone Bhoot'.

Contestants who are nominated for this week include Abdu Rozik, Gautam Vig, Gori Nagori, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, Shiv Thakare, Soundarya Sharma, and Tina Datta. Sreejita De and Manya Singh have already been evicted from 'Bigg Boss 16'.

Meanwhile, Shalin Bhanot and Sumbul Touqeer are seen having an argument as he took her name during the nomination task. Apart from this Abdu Rozik is seen talking about friendship and the housemates will be seen fighting with each other over the captaincy tasks.

'Bigg Boss 16' airs on Colors.

Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 16

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Oct 26 : More than 330 business and financial institutions with combined revenues of more than $1.5 trillion, including Mahindra Group and Tata Steel from India, on Wednesday urged heads of state to move beyond voluntary actions, and "transform the rules of the economic game" to halt and reverse biodiversity loss at the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP15) to be held in Montreal in December.

As the nature crisis worsens, businesses and financial institutions from 56 countries, including Canada, the UK, Japan and China, recognise the role they must play to address their impacts and support the delivery of a once-in-a-decade global biodiversity framework (GBF).

They urged world leaders to adopt, in Target 15, the mandatory requirements for all large businesses and financial institutions to assess and disclose their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity by 2030.

Andre Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman, Roche Holdings, said, "Nature recovery is within our grasp provided we all act now. This statement shows the extensive support from major businesses for an ambitious global deal for nature, with clear goals to drive collective business and finance action.

"The political certainty will accelerate the necessary changes to our business models. We stand ready to do everything in our power to shift to a society where nature, people and business thrive." Business and finance signatories, including more than 100 companies with multi-billion dollar revenues, have declared their critical role in halting and reversing nature loss through a COP15 Business Statement.

In the statement, the firms outlined the voluntary actions they are taking such as assessing their impacts and dependencies on nature, disclosing material nature-related information and transforming their business strategies to protect and restore natural ecosystems.

The statement from more than 330 businesses read: "This won't be easy, but it must happen if we are serious about achieving the Convention on Biological Diversity's 2050 Vision to Live in Harmony with Nature." Helena Helmersson, CEO, H&M Group, said: "As a global fashion retailer, we need to take responsibility in halting and reversing biodiversity loss and collaborating with others to accelerate the change. We support an ambitious Target 15 at CBD COP15 that makes it mandatory for all companies to assess and disclose their impact and dependencies on nature." Despite clear warnings that two out of three of the world's most critical risks to our economies are related to the loss of nature, new CDP data revealed that nature-related disclosures are not happening at the scale and speed required to address emerging and urgent risks.

COP15 is shorthand for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to be held in Montreal from December 7-19.
Mumbai, Oct 26 : The trailer of Samantha Ruth Prabhu's first Hindi theatrical release 'Yashoda' will be launched by Vijay Deverakonda in Telugu, Suriya in Tamil, Rakshit Shetty in Kannada, Dulquer Salman in Malayalam and Varun Dhawan in Hindi.

After the teaser release and a sneak peek announcing the launch date of the trailer, the anticipation for Thursday's trailer reveal that is at an all time high. Earlier the makers of the film dropped the teaser introducing the audience to the world of 'Yashoda' leaving everyone intrigued with the dark and thrilling backdrop of a pregnant woman fighting against all odds.

Samantha, who plays the titular role in 'Yashoda', gained prominence with her work in the second season of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer streaming show 'The Family Man', she then turned into a national sensation with the blockbuster success of her song 'Oo Antava' from 'Pushpa: The Rise'.

Releasing in 5 languages - Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi - 'Yashoda' also stars Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Unni Mukundan playing crucial roles with a strong technical crew onboard.

Directed by Hari and Harish, 'Yashoda' is produced by Sivalenka Krishna Prasad under the banner of Sridevi Movies and is set to release on November 11, 2022.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Oct 26 : The Technology Development and Acceleration Cell of the Naval Innovation Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) under the Indian Navy and Drone Federation of India (DFI) have come together to collaborate towards promoting indigenous development, manufacturing and testing of drone, counter-drone, and associated technologies for the Indian Navy.

As a part of this collaboration, TDAC and DFI will increase the Navy-Industry-Academia synergy, source technology development challenges towards component indigenisation. A special maritime drone testing site shall also be earmarked for the Indian drone industry to facilitate faster development and testing of drones especially in maritime environments, thus enabling development for a host of applications.

Additionally, programmes on sensitisation and skill development shall also be undertaken as a part of this collaboration. "TDAC has been working towards accelerating the development of indigenous technologies to be utilised by the Indian Navy. Our collaboration with the Drone Federation of India will help us in developing a deeper industry connection as well as create a stronger roadmap for induction of drone platforms in the Indian Navy in a time-bound manner." said Cmde A. P. Golaya, VSM, OiC TDAC, Indian Navy.

"It is a proud moment for the Indian drone industry to have established a partnership with the Indian Navy to build and test superior drone platforms. The maritime testing site being developed under this initiative will accelerate the development of versatile and reliable drone platforms for advanced maritime use cases like maritime patrol, drone landings on moving ships, ship to ship deliveries, ship to shore deliveries, etc." said Smit Shah, President, Drone Federation of India.
Panaji, Oct 26 : The first charter flight of tourist season with 180 passengers from Kazakhstan arrived in the coastal state on Wednesday with more to follow from November.

After welcoming the guests at Dabolim airport, Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho said that post COVID, people prefer to come to Goa.

"Goa is brand by itself. Goa is most preferred destination. Goa is famed for various things. Post pandemic people prefer to come to Goa," Godinho said.

He said that e-visa issue will be sorted out shortly and more charter will arrive in Goa.

"From November 3, flights from Russia will arrive and also from the UK as e-visa issue will be sorted out soon," he said.

"Dabolim airport will not be closed. It will not only survive, but it will grow even more stronger," Godinho said.

Earlier, politicians in opposition and stakeholders had expressed fear that Dabolim Airport will be closed once the Mopa International airport is commissioned. However, the state government has clarified that Dabolim airport will continue to operate.

After the tourism stakeholders expressed concern over e-visa issue, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, two weeks ago, had said that the Union Home Ministry has given assurance to resolve the issue related to visa to the UK as soon as possible.

"I have discussed UK visa issue with Home Minister Amit Shah. It will be sorted out soon. There were some foreign ministry related issues, hence it was getting delayed. But he has assured to resolve it as soon as possible. Various other issues related to state were discussed," Sawant had said.

Goa is focusing on charter flights for high spending tourists and trying to attract tourists from various countries.
Chennai, Oct 26 : Tamil Nadu cyber forensic experts are tracing the footprints of Jameesha Mubin and his five accomplices to find out the individuals and organisations they were acquainted with. The police is also trying to unearth the magnitude of the crime and whether this was only the tip of the iceberg.

A senior officer of the Tamil Nadu Cyber wing while speaking to IANS said, "We are tracking the mobile phone calls details of the deceased Jameesha Mubin and the five arrested persons to find out their acquaintances and their ground supporters or foot soldiers." The sleuths are trying to unearth the source of the explosives found at the home of the killed Jameesha Mubin and his accomplices. Chemicals that are used for making country bombs include potassium nitrate and sulphur which were found there.

A meeting of the Tamil Nadu government officials presided over by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has decided to recommend a NIA investigation in the case.

The cyber sleuths are also trying to unearth the places the deceased Jameesha and his accomplices had visited in recent times. The NIA had questioned Mubin in 2019 in connection with a case and let him off.

Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has said that the state home department had not monitored the activities of Jameesha Mubin even after he was questioned by the NIA. The cyber sleuths are now trying to do a fact check on Mubin and the close contacts that he had in various parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Mumbai, Oct 26 : Filmmaker-producer Neeraj Pandey, who is known for films such as 'A Wednesday', 'Special 26', 'Baby', 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' and others, is coming up with a new show titled 'Khakee: The Bihar Chapter' in the capacity of a show creator.

This will be a streaming show inspired by the true story of how Bihar's most dangerous criminal was caught. The crime series follows the tussle between two men on opposite sides of the law - one a dreaded gang lord and the other a fiercely upright Indian Police Service officer Amit Lodha.

The show will soon drop on OTT platform Netflix and will be a first for Pandey, who has earlier worked with Disney+ Hotstar with shows like 'Special Ops'.

Speaking about his collaboration with Netflix and his upcoming series, Neeraj said in a statement, "I am elated to announce Friday Storytellers' (his production banner) partnership with Netflix with our upcoming series 'Khakee-The Bihar Chapter'".

Giving a sneak-peek into the story, he mentioned, "This cop and crime thriller, set in the early 2000s, from the heartland of Bihar is a big story which we have been wanting to create and share for sometime and through the directorial lens of Bhav Dhulia and the production expertise of my partner Shital Bhatia, we have endeavoured to bring the flavour alive with the tonality and treatment." The show has been shot in extremely trying circumstances in Jharkhand and Bihar across multiple Covid waves, and boasts of a talented ensemble of Karan Tacker, Avinash Tiwary, Ashutosh Rana, Ravi Kishan, Anup Soni, Jatin Sarna, Nikita Dutta, Abhimanyu Singh, Aishwarya Sushmita and Shraddha Das depicting strong characters.

The project is produced by Friday Storytellers and directed by Bhav Dhulia.
London, Oct 26 : Afghan commandos who had been trained by Allied forces to fight the Taliban are now being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, a media report said.

Up to 30,000 members of the elite National Army Commando Corps were abandoned by the West when the country fell to the Taliban in August last year, Daily Mail reported.

Now, the US-trained light infantry force that fought side by side with Allied troops for nearly 20 years could be joining Vladimir Putin's savage war effort, the report said.

It is believed the shadowy Wagner Group is behind the recruitment drive, exploiting the jobless commandos.

An ex-official told Foreign Policy: "I am telling you [the recruiters] are Wagner Group. They are gathering people from all over. [The Afghan commandos] would be better used by Western allies to fight alongside Ukrainians. They don't want to fight for the Russians; the Russians are the enemy. But what else are they going to do?" Many say they have been contacted via WhatsApp and Signal with offers to join the Russian 'foreign legion' in Ukraine.

Senior military and security officials in Afghanistan fear as many as 10,000 soldiers could be tempted to join, because they have "nothing to lose", Daily Mail reported.

Only a few hundred senior officers were evacuated by the US in the dramatic withdrawal from Kabul in August 2021.

Many Afghan soldiers fled to the neighbouring countries while others went into hiding fearing reprisals from the Taliban for their loyalty to the collapsed government and the West.

The commandos were honed by the US Navy Seals and the British SAS, with a staggering 80 billion pound spent on their training by the US.

An ex-security official said their call-up to Ukraine would be a "game-changer" in Putin's faltering war.

Last year, Rep. Michael McCaul had warned abandoning the commandos could prove to be a costly mistake by the US as they could be recruited for adversary armies.

One Afghan ex-commando captain who is now in hiding said he helped his comrades connect with recruiters in Iran.

They were flown to Tehran and then on to Russia where their phones are switched off and they carry out their mission 'secretly', he said, Daily Mail reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Oct 26 : The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea by Union Minister Ajay Mishra seeking a direction to transfer the UP government's appeal, challenging his acquittal in an over two decade old murder case, from the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench to the main court itself.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi said: "We do not go into all these issues as in our view, a request to the high court to hear the appeal for disposal on November 10, 2022, the date given by the high court and agreed upon by both the senior counsel would serve the ends of justice. In case the senior counsel is unable to come down to Lucknow, a request for allowing said counsel to make submissions through videoconferencing may be considered by the high court." The bench, in its order, further added: "With these observations, the instant writ petition and the special leave petition are disposed of. Pending interlocutory application(s), if any, stands disposed of." Counsel had informed the bench that the transfer was sought on grounds as the senior advocate, who would argue the matter at Lucknow, was ordinarily based at Allahabad and because of his old age, it would not be possible for him to go all the way to Lucknow for arguments.

The top court, in its order, said: "The instant writ petition has been filed by the complainant seeking directions that the matter which is pending consideration before the high court and which is getting repeatedly adjourned, be directed to be listed and heard at an early date. It is also submitted that the appeal was actually heard in the month of March 2018. However, till April 2022, no judgment having been delivered, a request was made on behalf of the complainant for rehearing of the appeal." Mishra moved the apex court challenging the administrative order passed by the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court declining to entertain a plea to transfer the appeal from Lucknow to Allahabad.

The matter is connected with the murder of 24-year-old Prabhat Gupta, which took place in Lakhimpur Kheri in 2000.

Mishra, Union Minister of State for Home, had faced trial in Gupta's murder but the trial court acquitted him and others for want of evidence in 2004. The state filed the appeal after Mishra's acquittal and the deceased's family also filed a separate revision petition against the judgment.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : A police constable was injured after a member of an inter-state drug peddling syndicate tried to flee in his car from north east Delhi's Karawal Nagar area, police said on Wednesday.

The police said that the accused drove the car in reverse and the constable Harinder, who caught hold of the car's rear hood was dragged for a few metres, and sustained injuries after the car hit a house wall.

The police said that they have also recovered 57.7 kg of cannabis and a Honda Civic car used to transport the drug.

The accused has been identified as 22-year-old Ankur, a resident of Delhi's Dayalpur area.

"On October 25, when the police team was patrolling near Alok Punj School in Karawal Nagar, they noticed a car parked on the side of a 'nullah' (drain). A person was sitting on the driver seat," said Sanjay Kumar Sain, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast Delhi).

"When police team approached him, the man panicked and immediately started the car and tried to drive away in reverse gear dangerously. To save himself, Constable Harinder, who was standing behind the car, caught hold of the rear bonnet," the DCP added.

"After covering some distance, the driver hit the car in the wall of a house following which Constable Harinder also got injured. Somehow police personnel caught hold of the car driver," said the DCP, adding that Harinder was shifted to Max Hospital, Patparganj, and later he was diagnosed with "hip fracture".

"Police also recovered 11 suspected packets wrapped with brown tape stacked in the boot of the car. Following the guidelines of NDPS Act, the packets were checked. On checking 57.7 kg of cannabis was recovered from his possession," said the police officer.

"On questioning, Ankur confessed to his crime and disclosed that he had been working as a driver for a man identified as Rohit, whom he met through one of his friends Pankaj," the officer added.

"Rohit lured him for Rs 20,000 per trip in lieu of transporting the drug consignment inter-state," said the DCP, adding that a manhunt has been initiated to nab Rohit and Pankaj.
Kanpur : , Oct 26 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a video has emerged in which a woman is seen attempting to hang herself from the ceiling fan and the husband, instead of saving her, is busy filming the act.

The woman fails in her first attempt but succeeds in hanging herself in the second attempt.

The woman's father Raj Kishore Gupta told reporters that his son-in-law Sanjeev Gupta called him in the afternoon and said that his wife Shobhita had committed suicide.

"I rushed to her house in Gulmohar Nagar and found her body on the bed. Sanjeev was busy pumping her chest but she was lifeless. When I questioned Sanjeev, he showed me the video and I was shocked that he made no effort to save her but was busy recording the incident. He also did not rush her to the hospital," he said.

The Hanumant Nagar police have been informed of the incident by the deceased's family and the body has been sent for post mortem.

Sanjeev Gupta is being questioned by the police.

The couple had been married four years ago.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Congress Parliamentary Party Chairman Sonia Gandhi has congratulated UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and expressed hope that bilateral ties will be further strengthened.

"I am delighted at your taking over as Prime Minister of Great Britain. It is certainly a matter of pride for all of us in India.

"Indo-British relations have always been very special and I am confident that they will be further deepened during your tenure," she said in a letter to Sunak.

Indian-origin Conservative party politician Sunak on Tuesday officially became the Prime Minister after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

He is the UK's third leader in seven weeks after winning a Tory leadership contest triggered by Liz Truss stepping down as the Prime Minister after around a month and a half in office.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested the director of a private firm in an ongoing investigation of a case related to a chit fund, an official said.

The accused was identified as Sanjoy Kumar Singh, director of Tulips Infonet (India) Private Limited.

The CBI had registered a case in 2018. It was alleged that Singh came into close contact with Soumyarup Bhowmik, the then chairman of Burdwan Sunmarg Welfare Organisation (a ponzi company) in 2011. Since then, Bhowmik is absconding.

"Singh in conspiracy with Bhowmik had illegally transferred Rs 419.9 lakh from the trust account and misappropriated the same. It was also alleged that Singh facilitated Bhowmik in the opening of his bank account in Durgapur by issuing a false identity and address certificate," the CBI official added.

The accused will be produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Paschim Bardhaman at Asansol (West Bengal).

The CBI is all set to seek two-week custodial remand of the accused.
Guwahati, Oct 26 : One more individual has been detained by the Assam Police in connection with setting up of a private "Miya Museum" by Muslims in the state's Goalpara district which was sealed on Tuesday by the authorities, an official said on Wednesday.

Tanu Dhadumia, a leader of Asom Miyan (Asomiya) Parishad was apprehended, taking the number of persons detained in the matter so far to three, the police said.

A police officer on Wednesday said that Dhadumia -- a resident of Namrup in Dibrugarh district, was detained late on Tuesday night, and is being questioned.

He said investigation has been underway to find and verify if the three detainees had any association with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), an affiliate of the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terror group.

The Assam Police on Tuesday had detained two leaders -- Mohar Ali and Abdul Baten of the Asom Miyan (Asomiya) Parishad soon after the Goalpara district administration sealed the private "Miya Museum".

The museum was sealed by the district authorities on Tuesday after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma raised questions on its funding.

Assam's Special Director General of Police G.P. Singh in separate tweets said that further investigation and interrogation being carried out about the detained individuals' association with AQIS and ABT.

The Assam Police, since April this year, have arrested around 40 terror suspects in connection with the ABT terror group and unearth their modules.

A strict vigilance is being maintained, particularly in the minority-dominated areas of western and central Assam over the activities of the AQIS and ABT.

The "Miya Museum" was inaugurated in Dapkarbhita area in western Assam's Goalpara district on Sunday.

The term "Miya" is used mostly by the indigenous communities to refer to Bengali or Bengal-origin Muslims who have settled on both sides of the Brahmaputra river in Assam since the late 1890s after the British brought them for commercial farming and other work.

A notice of Lakhipur Revenue Circle, pasted at the door of the "Miya Museum", read: "As per the direction of the DC, this PMAY-G house of Mohar Ali, S/O Somesh Ali of village Dapkarbhita is hereby closed until further order." The Chief Minister said that the police would initiate a probe into the source of funding for setting up the "Miya Museum".

"Those who set up the Miya Museum would have to answer the government's queries, failing which legal action would be initiated against them," Sarma told the media.

In the "Miya Museum", set up by the Asom Miyan (Asomiya) Parishad, traditional farming and domestic items made from wood and bamboo among others were displayed.
Moscow, Oct 26 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen military drills enacting a retaliatory nuclear strike, a media report said.

Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu described the aim of the drills as testing "Russia's strategic offensive forces' readiness to conduct a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear strike", RT reported.

According to the Kremlin, land, sea and aviation deterrence forces took part in the maneuvers. Targets located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East were obliterated by the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, fired from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Arkhangelsk Region, and the Sineva ballistic missile, launched from the Barents Sea. Tu-95 strategic bombers also took part in the exercises, RT reported.

Putin ordered the readiness level of Russia's strategic nuclear forces to be increased in late February, days after Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine.

In recent weeks, the US and several other Western powers have claimed that Moscow is planning to conduct a tactical nuclear strike in Ukraine -- which the Kremlin has vehemently denied.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of preparing to set off a 'dirty bomb' to frame Russia. Defense Minister Shoigu called his colleagues in the US, the UK, and several other nations to share Moscow's concerns, RT reported.

Ukraine has rejected the allegations as "absurd".

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Aizawl, Oct 26 : In a significant operation, Assam Rifles on Wednesday seized a large cache of Myanmar-bound tactical and war-like stores, including a satellite phone, from Mizorams Siaha district and apprehended four persons in this connection, officials said.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat said that acting on a secret tip-off, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Mizoram police launched the operation in Niawthlang village of Siaha district.

"Tactical and electronic devices, explosive materials, and arms and ammunition were being ferried in four bikes to smuggle them into Myanmar for insurgents based there," he said.

Rawat said the seized materials were of military grade and hence the same are suspected to be used for anti-national activities by Myanmar-based insurgents.

The four detainees and the seized items have been handed over to the Siaha police station for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The seized materials include one satellite phone, five cellphones, eight SIM cards, 105 bullets of point .22 rifle, 35 packets of potassium, 9,000 airgun pellets, 2,79,700 kyat (Myanmar currency), 49 adapters, 50 antennas, 51 battery chargers, three digital transceivers, 10 handcuffs, 16 combat T-shirts, five magazine pouches, five bullet-proof jackets and 19 black suits.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : A man died while his seven-year-old son sustained injuries after the lift they were using malfunctioned and fell in a four storey building in southeast Delhi's Jaitpur area, a police official said on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Nawab Shah, a resident of Samsul Road, Jaitpur Extension Part-2. Shah's son Farhan sustained minor injuries. Shah was working as a builder and residing at Jaitpur for the last one year.

According to a senior police official, on Wednesday, information was received from Apollo hospital in Jasola Vihar that Nawab Shah has been admitted in the hospital after he sustained injuries in the lift mishap.

"Acting on the information, a police team went to the hospital. The doctor told the police that Shah sustained injuries in both legs and both feet when the lift fell," said the officer.

"A police team visited the building where the incident occurred and the lift was found in a damaged condition and it seemed that the accident occurred due to a sudden fault in the machinery," said the officer.

"The four storey building was likely constructed 2-3 years ago. Shah succumbed to his injuries in the hospital," the police said.

"A case under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC has been registered and later, section 304A (causing death by negligence) was registered at the Kalindi Kunj police station," said the officer adding that the builder involved in the construction and installation of the lift is yet to be traced.
Patna, Oct 26 : A Bihar Police constable drowned to death in a boat capsize in the Gandak in Gopalganj district on Wednesday during a raid, officials said.

The deceased, Rajesh Kumar, 36, a native of Dobhi in Gaya district, was part of a team sent to raid Rajwa village under Jadhavpur police station.

"The police team of Jadhavpur received information about the illicit liquor in Rajwa village. Accordingly, a police team on a boat went there. When it reached the middle of Gandak river, the boat overturned. The other police personnel managed to swim out but Rajesh did not know how to swim and died," said an officer of Jadavpur police station.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep condolences to the constable's family members. He also announced adequate compensation for them and a job to one of the family members.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 26 : As many as 106 polling booths in Dhamnagar assembly constituency in Odisha's Bhadrak district have been identified as sensitive booths, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), S.K. Lohani said on Wednesday.

Adequate precautions including security arrangement is being done for peaceful election in these booths, Lohani said while briefing media persons here about the preparedness made for the by-election of Dhamnagar (SC) assembly segment.

Webcasting will be done in 50 per cent of the total booths while 26 micro-observers are being deployed in the identified booths, in addition to other measures, he said.

Four companies of central para military forces are being deployed in the district. There is plan of further deployment of 10 platoons of State Armed Police Force (SAPF) and besides district police for peaceful conduct of election, he said.

The Election Commission has already appointed a general observer and expenditure observer for the by election. To ensure free, fair and transparent election, all possible attempts are being taken, Lohani said.

The CEO said enforcement activities related to law and order have been intensified.

So far, 641 licensed arms have been deposited in police stations and 1909 persons have been bound down under preventive sections - 107/116 of Cr. P.C. A total of 172 non bailable warrants have been executed so far.

About 1,108 polling personnel (including reserve) have been appointed for the poll duty. In order to ensure impartiality, no polling staff who are either a native of Dhamnagar or a voter there, posted in Dhamnagar is put on poll duty. Also, those who are not a regular employee, is not being engaged in poll duty, he said.

Process of postal ballot voting from absentee voters has been completed in the meantime.

The designated polling teams under intimation to contesting candidates have visited the houses of absentee voters (numbering 505) in the categories of PwD voters and above 80 years, who have opted for voting through postal ballot.

As per latest electoral roll, there are a total of 2,38,417 voters in the assembly segment of Odisha. Of this, 1,23,038 are male voters, 1,15,346 are female and 33 are under third gender, he stated.

Required quantity of EVMs and VVPAT machines along with reserve, are ready at the level of returning officer for use in the by-poll.

Dispersal of polling parties will take place on November 1, 2022 from collectorate campus Bhadrak, he added.
Srinagar, Oct 26 : The Kashmir unit of BJP celebrated 'Accession Day' at the party office in Rajbagh on Wednesday in the presence of many senior leaders and party workers were.

Accession Day is a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir commemorating October 26, 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, wherein J&K joined the Dominion of India. It became an official public holiday in J&K for the first time in 2020.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event in Srinagar, senior BJP leader and former minister Sunil Sharma said that Hurriyat leaders and separatists are left with only two options -- either join the national mainstream or go to jail.

Shops that the Hurriyat leaders used to run in Kashmir on the request of Pakistan have been closed and now they have no customers here, he added.

"The only option left for them now is to open Indian shops as now only these shops will operate in Jammu and Kashmir. Hurriyat leaders better mend their ways or get ready to go to jail," Sharma said.

He also said that Accession Day is a historic moment in Jammu and Kashmir which is celebrated to remember the sacrifices made by people who laid down their lives for J&K.
Chennai, Oct 26 : The unit of director Rishab Shetty's Kannada film 'Kantara' is on cloud nine after Tamil superstar Rajinikanth called up the core team to congratulate them for having made a movie which he described as 'masterpiece'.

Responding to Rajinikanth's tweet, director and actor Rishab Shetty said, "Dear Rajinikanth sir! You are the biggest Superstar in India and I have been your fan since childhood. Your appreciation is my dream come true. You inspire me to do more local stories and inspire our audiences everywhere. Thank you sir." The film's producer Vijay Kiragandur also responded to Rajinikanth's tweet, saying: "This is precious. We have been blessed by Rajinikanth Sir. God has been kind. And we feel privileged that we could bring 'Kantara' to light. This has left an indelible mark surely and I'll treasure this moment." Karthik Gowda, the executive producer of Hombale Films, the firm that produced the film, tweeted, "Thrilled to have received a call from superstar Rajinikanth sir after he watched 'Kantara' yesterday. His heartfelt appreciation for the film has made us all emotional and full of gratitude."
Chennai, Oct 26 : The Tamil Nadu Health Department has issued a notice to a private hospital for not retaining the medical documents of southern actress Nayanthara, her husband -- director Vignesh Sivan, and the 'surrogate mother'.

The Health Department in the notice sent to the hospital questioned: "Why the ART centre of the hospital should not be shut down for not retaining the documents in the surrogate mother case?" Nayanthara and Vignesh Sivan had announced on October 9 that they have become parents to twins.

Image Source: IANS News

The celebrated couple has been under the radar of the Tamil Nadu government after speculations came up that they had violated surrogacy laws prevalent in the country.

The health department had also constituted a four-member panel to investigate the process of their surrogacy.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma Subramanian had informed the media that the hospital administration will face legal action.

However, Nayanthara and Vignesh Sivan can heave a sigh of relief as the committee constituted by the state health department found that it was the hospital that had violated the law and that the ART department of the hospital had erred by not properly maintaining the documents regarding the surrogacy procedures of the couple.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Islamabad, Oct 26 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan's much-hyped long march to Islamabad is not for a revolution, but to install an Army chief of his choice, media reports said.

In a statement issued on Twitter on Wednesday, Sharif gave his reaction after the long march was announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, saying that people have seen his 'revolution' during his four-year rule, Express Tribune reported.

"Imran Khan's long march is not for any revolution, but to install an Army chief of his own choice," he said.

Nawaz Sharif also said that Imran Khan, who calls others thieves, has proven himself to be the biggest thief in the country's history with irrefutable evidence of foreign funding, Toshakhana and robbery worth Rs 50 billion, the report said.

Political tension is growing in the country as Islamabad has been put on high alert after Imran Khan on Tuesday announced to hold the much-awaited long march on Friday, demanding the government to call fresh general elections.

The government has also started preparations to deploy thousands of security personnel to block Khan's supporters from entering the capital.

According to officials, the interior ministry has already decided to deploy around 30,000 police personnel, rangers and paramilitary troops in Islamabad and not allow the protesters to enter the red-zone area near the Parliament building, Express Tribune reported.

The President's House, Prime Minister's House, ministers' offices, Parliament, and other important buildings, including foreign embassies, are located in the red-zone area.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court restrained from granting the federal government's request to prevent Imran Khan from holding the PTI's upcoming long march.

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, heard the case.

Commenting on the matter, the CJP said that the court "does not want to use its pen as a stick".
Kolkata, Oct 26 : After news reports emerged that the West Bengal government has stopped releasing funds for National Cadet Corps (NCC) camps after allegations and a letter from Major General Uday Shankar Sengupta, Additional Director General, West Bengal and Sikkim Directorate, NCC, against the state government, a political slugfest has erupted in the state on this issue.

West Bengal Finance Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya has refuted the allegation that the West Bengal government has stopped releasing funds for NCC camps.

According to her, in October Rs 20 lakh has been provided for the scheme.

"Such allegations are baseless. The state government has released Rs 20 lakh on October 21. More funds will be released in the coming days on this count after the state Finance Department receives details of accounts of fund utilisation. The state government never refuses to release funds. Rather it is the Union government which delays or stops payments of central dues to the state government," she said on Wednesday.

State governments are supposed to bear 25 per cent of the total expenses involved in training and other activities of the youth.

However, the Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the state government once the news about the state government funds for conducting NCC camps became viral.

"This is a bankrupt state government. The state government has stopped releasing funds under many schemes besides that for NCC camps. The Civil Defence staff in the state are not receiving their wages for six months. I doubt that after some point of time this state government would not be even able to pay the salaries to the state government employees," said BJP Legislator and Opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari.

The CPI(M) Central Committee member, Sujan Chakraborty said that it is a pity that when the state government is able to spend crores of rupees behind festivals and amusements, they do not have funds to spare for NCC camps meant for training of youth.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday approved the celebration of Chhath Puja at designated ghats of the Yamuna river while advising Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" over the issue, said a source from the LG office.

"LG has approved Chhath Puja at designated Ghats on the Yamuna and has asked CM Kejriwal to ensure clean Ghats and water for the devotees", said the source, adding that he has also cautioned against misleading and premature publicity.

The LG Secretariat official said that the CM's tweet about the Chhath Puja gave the impression that the "Chhath festival will be celebrated on all Yamuna Ghats", which is "misleading" and may cause confusion among the public as the National Green Tribunal has allowed puja only at "designated sites".

"The publicity on the issue was done even before the matter was placed for the consideration and before the LG could formulate an independent opinion on the subject. This tweet also gives an impression that the "Chhath Festival will be celebrated on all Yamuna Ghats", which is misleading and may cause confusion in public as Hon'ble NGT has allowed Puja only on the "designated sites" for this purpose", the source said.

This is seriously problematic as it violates the basic principles of the scheme of governance. The premature publicity of the decision creates interest and thus influences the decision-making process independently in the matter which is extremely sensitive as it relates to religious beliefs and practices of a large section of people, the official added.

The officials of the Revenue Department, Environment Department and concerned authorities have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the above orders to protect the environment.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, on Wednesday applauded External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for his finesse of projecting India's foreign policy globally.

In a virtual address while inaugurating a think-tank event, Olama said he is "impressed" with Jaishankar's abilities.

The UAE minister was responding to a question on how he deals with geopolitical issues.

"Historically, the world was unipolar, bipolar or tripolar, where you had to choose sides. I am very impressed by your Minister of Foreign Affairs. I see some of his speeches. One thing is very clear for both the UAE and India, which is we don't need to choose sides," said Olama while praising Jaishankar.

While speaking on trade and commerce, Olama expressed optimism over the possibility that both India and the UAE could expand their reach globally.
Chennai, Oct 26 : The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday conducted raids at the residence of a relative of Jameesha Mubin, who died in the car blast near the Sangameshwara temple, in Ukkadam, Coimbatore on Sunday.

Mubin is the main accused in the case which has been recommended for a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Tamil Nadu government.

Police sources told IANS that a 28-year-old relative of Mubin was questioned for hours by the special police team and later, his residence was searched.

A laptop was also seized from his residence, police sources told IANS.

There are reports on the presence of a network behind the car blast and the police are ascertaining whether Jameesha Mubin and his associates were planning some major explosions in south India.

The police team could also unearth a road map to several important government institutions of Coimbatore including the Police commissionerate, District Collectors office, the Coimbatore Railway Station, Race Course, and Victoria Hall from the residence of Mubin.

The Coimbatore city police had on Monday invoked Sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy etc) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused. This was following prima facie evidence regarding a suspected terror plot.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Wednesday held a high-level meeting and recommended the case to the National Investigation Agency for further probe.

The presence of a large quantity of chemicals from the residence of Mubin and the presence of nails, marbles, and chemicals in the car have the investigators believe that the conspirators were planning a major explosion.

Police and NIA suspect that more people were involved in procuring chemicals including potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminium powder, and charcoal that were found at Mubin's residence.
Mumbai, Oct 26 : After Rishi Sunak assumed charge as Britain's 57th Prime Minister, renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for works such as 'Mr. India', 'Masoom', 'Bandit Queen and 'Elizabeth, used the opportunity to recollect the harrowing experiences of the Indian community when he first went to the UK.

Congratulating the new prime minister, Kapoor took to his Twitter and shared a note saying: "When I first went to the UK as a student, Indians were most likely seen sweeping the floors at Heathrow. Or ran corner shops." He recalled how he was subjected to racial discrimination by his own friends and was beaten up just because he went out with a white woman.

"My friends randomly called me Abdul and I was beaten up because I dared to go out with a white girl," Kapur wrote. He studied chartered accountancy in the UK, where he worked for several years in the 1970 as a chartered accountant and management consultant.

Expressing his gratitude to Sunak, Kapur said his elevation was a pivotal part of a global shift. "Thank you #RishiSunak, you are part of a huge global shift," Kapur wrote.
Jaipur, Oct 26 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday once again said that only former Congress president Rahul Gandhi can challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA government.

Gehlot made the remarks in Delhi while attending the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Talking to media persons in the national capital, he said: "It was Rahul Gandhi's wish that a non-Gandhi become party president. However, till the last moment, there were efforts to make Rahul Gandhi the president for the second time because only he can challenge PM Modi.

"However, this time, he decided that only a 'non-Gandhi' should become the president. That is why today, Mr. Kharge has become the president. The challenge is huge." Gehlot said: "In 1998, all of us requested Sonia Gandhi to take over the reins of Congress... otherwise, the party would have disintegrated. Such was the atmosphere at that time. Despite lots of issues including the language problem, Sonia Gandhi accepted that challenge in the interest of Congress and took over the reins of party. She remained the president for 22 years. At that time, Congress-led governments were formed in 12-13 states. Also, the UPA government was formed at the Centre twice. We cannot forget that tenure." "With the decision of Sonia Gandhi, Kharge has become the president. We all have a responsibility now to make him a successful leader. Congress should be strong at booth and block level. New confidence should be created among Congress workers," he added.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are friendly and fraternal countries as well as strategic partners and allies, Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said, Azernews reports.

"#Azerbaijan and #Kazakhstan are friendly and fraternal countries as well as strategic partners and allies. We congratulate Kazakhstan on its national holiday - the #RepublicDay, and wish peace and prosperity," Parviz Shahbazov tweeted.

Speaking at the event dedicated to the Republic Day of Kazakhstan and the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, Parviz Shahbazov stated that the volume of Azerbaijan's investments in Kazakhstan has reached $204 million.

"The volume of Kazakhstan's investments in Azerbaijan has reached $100 million, and the volume of bilateral trade for eight months amounted to $369 million," he said.

He stressed that cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors, in the Middle Corridor project, and other joint investment projects allow bringing the relations to a new level.

The minister also noted that the declaration on strengthening relations, as well as 20 documents, signed during the visit of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Baku, form a solid basis for the further development of bilateral relations.

Stressing that Kazakhstan has always supported the fair position of Azerbaijan, the minister added that Kazakhstan is currently participating in projects for the restoration of the liberated territories.

Moreover, Kazakh Ambassador Serzhan Abdykarimov stated that the declaration on strengthening bilateral relations raised the partnership between the two countries to a new level.

"We see great potential for the development of bilateral relations in various sectors. All opportunities for reinforcing Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan cooperation are identified in the documents signed during the president's visit," he said.

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have long been close allies, he added that currently the task is set to bring the trade turnover to $1 billion.

Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan were established on August 30, 1992. The Kazakh embassy in Azerbaijan was opened on January 9, 1993, and the Azerbaijani embassy in Kazakhstan on March 1, 2004.

The two countries closely cooperate in various sectors of the economy. Around 160 companies with Kazakh capital operate in Azerbaijan in the sphere of industry, construction, trade, agriculture, transport, and services, and Azerbaijani companies are also represented in the Kazakh market. Azerbaijan's investments in the Kazakh non-oil sector from 1995 to 2021 amounted to more than $200 million, while Kazakhstan's investments in the Azerbaijani non-oil sector totaled about $100 million.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan amounted to $135.7 million in 2021.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : A gang of burglars led by a woman has been busted in South West Delhi who used to target locked houses.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Manoj C said that the accused have been identified as Dharmender, Bablu and Laxmi.

Laxmi used to do the recce to identify the locked flats to commit burglary.

They used to come in a car. Laxmi would identify the locked house in the guise of a maid whereas the others would wait for her in the car. Later they would commit the burglary.

One gold necklace, two pairs of earrings, one car and house breaking tools were recovered from their possession.

"Recently southwest district saw a huge jump in burglary cases. To bust the gang a team of officials was formed. The team examined the CCTV footage and learnt that it was a woman who was among the thieves," the police said.

The police were able to identify the accused as their faces were clearly visible in the footage. They mounted technical surveillance and learnt that the accused were from Noida.

"We got a tip off about the accused and a trap was laid. The accused were caught when they were planning to commit another robbery. They used to come in a car. The woman would roam in the area to identify the locked house. Later, the male accused would break open the door," the police said.

They used to sell the stolen articles to a Moradabad based jeweller identified as Amrish. Laxmi was known to the jeweller.

"Accused Bablu was found involved in more than three dozen cases, Laxmi and Dharmender in around ten," the police said.
Panaji, Oct 26 : Stating that international tourists and labourers bring drugs to the coastal state, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that the state government is using the best practices to crack down on narcotics rackets.

After attending a virtual meeting with Amit Shah, Sawant said the Union Home Minister has taken cognisance of Goa's detention centre and deporting process and has asked other states, which attended the meeting, to implement similar practices.

"The Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) is working in the best way to control drug trafficking. Migrant labourers bring drugs (like ganja, charas egtc.) in buses and trains. International tourists also bring drugs to Goa. The government is taking the necessary steps to crack down on this," Sawant said.

"The Union Home Minister guided us during the meeting on controlling drug trafficking. Discussions took place on the best practices and views of all states were taken," Sawant said.

"Our nation should be drugs-free. For zero tolerance towards drugs, we should work as Team India," Sawant told reporters here.

"The Home Minister has taken cognisance of Goa's detention centre and told the other states to create similar detention centres and deport foreigners (staying illegally) like the way Goa does," he said.

Sawant said that last year, 161 cases (drugs related) were registered and narcotics worth more than Rs 4.5 crore were seized.

"We will not tolerate drugs in the state. We want a drug-free Goa. The ANC is spreading awareness against drugs," Sawant added.

"Since 2019, we have deported 129 foreign nationals. Earlier, 700 Nigerians were staying illegally, now only 50 are remaining. We have deported 650 of them," the Chief Minister said.

In 2013, the state government had started acting against foreign nationals staying illegally in Goa after over 200 African nationals had blocked NH 17 at Porvorim, 5 km from capital Panjim, for nearly an hour. They were trying to take away the body of a Nigerian who was found murdered from an ambulance.

The incident took place after the body was found in Parra, a village adjoining the beach village of Calangute, which is notorious for being Goa's narco-tourism capital.
New Delhi, Oct 26 : India's exports of musical instruments have risen more than 3.5 times in April-September 2022-23, as compared to the same period in 2013-14.

In April-September 2013-14, the exports were worth Rs 49 crore while during the same period in the current fiscal, they have reached Rs 172 crore, the Commerce Ministry tweeted on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while sharing the tweet, said: "This is encouraging. With Indian music gaining popularity worldwide, there is a great opportunity to further grow in this sector."
Hyderabad, Oct 26 : In a dramatic development, the police in Hyderabad on Wednesday claimed to have caught three persons while they were trying to 'buy' four MLAs of Telangana's ruling TRS party.

The four were detained during a raid at a farm house at Aziz Nagar on the city outskirts while offering money to four MLAs.

Cyberabad police conducted the raids on a tip-off by the legislators. One of those detained is from Delhi while two others were from Tirupati and Hyderabad.

The police reportedly seized Rs 15 crore so far. Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra said the deal could be to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs Rega Kantha Rao, Guvvala Balaraju, Beeram Harshvardhan Reddy and Pilot Rohit Reddy had alerted police that attempts were being made to lure them to switch loyalties.

The Commissioner said the MLAs alleged that some BJP leaders were trying to lure them to defect from the TRS by offering prominent posts, contracts and huge cash.

Those detained are Ramachandra Bharati a.k.a S. Satish Sharma from Delhi and Simhayajulu from Tirupati, both said to be temple priests and Nanda Kumar, a businessman from Hyderabad said to be close to a union minister.

Police officials said further investigations were on in the case.

The TRS has alleged that the BJP is trying to lure its MLAs to defect. It said those detained by the police were close to BJP leaders.

TRS leader Krishank Manne posted on his Twitter account photographs of the accused with union ministers Rajnath Singh, G. Kishan Reddy and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"This is a conspiracy against KCR ji's Government by BJP's big leaders," he tweeted.

Another TRS leader termed the accused three agents of union home minister Amit Shah.

TRS MLA Balka Suman alleged that the BJP was resorting to cheap tactics due to fear of defeat in the Munugode Assembly by-election. He claimed that the TRS MLAs foiled the conspiracy of BJP.

"The BJP leaders should know that the TRS MLAs and Telangana people are not for sale," he said.

However, BJP leaders denied the allegations. Party national vice-president D. K. Aruna said that those named by the police were not BJP leaders. She alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was doing a new drama for political mileage. She said people would not believe KCR's story.
London, Oct 26 : Rishi Sunak on his second day in office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom passed his first major test in the House of Commons, albeit not with flying colours.

Sunak, who is of Indian origin, was confronted by the leader of the Labour party and leader of opposition Sir Keir Starmer while appearing in the British Parliament's lower chamber's weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) for the first time. The fencing began in a civil manner, but soon the gloves were off.

Starmer welcomed Sunak by saying: "The first British Asian Prime Minister is a significant moment in our national story. It is a reminder that for all the challenges we face as a country, Britain is a place where people of all races and all beliefs can fulfil their dreams... It is part of what makes us all so proud to be British." Then came the punch line: "Was the Prime Minister's Home Secretary (Suella Braverman, who is of Goan and Tamil descent) right to resign last week for a breach of security?"

The reference was to the fact that Braverman resigned as Home Secretary from Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss' cabinet after it was discovered she had sent two secret and sensitive emails from her private email address to a Parliamentary colleague.

Sunak responded: "I thank the Right Honourable and learned Gentleman for his kind and, indeed, generous welcome to the Dispatch Box." Then he went on to state: "She (Braverman) made an error of judgement, but she recognised that, she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake. That is why I am delighted to welcome her back into a united Cabinet that brings experience and stability to the heart of government." The sparring continued as it normally does during PMQs. Starmer, a barrister by training and former head of the Crown Prosecution Service, said, "Have officials (meaning civil servants) raised concerns about his decision to appoint her?" Sunak avoided answering the question. Instead, he remarked: "I just addressed the issue of the Home Secretary." "I listened carefully," retorted Starmer, adding, "That was clearly not a 'no'." He then alleged: "We can all see what has happened here: The Prime Minister is so weak that he has done a grubby deal..." The insinuation being that Sunak had had to accommodate troublesome Brexiteers among his Conservative party's MPs, known as the European Research Group (ERG), of which Braverman was a hard-core member. The ERG, which is said to have about 40 members, did not collectively endorse Sunak's candidature.

Sunak attempted to change the subject by citing that Starmer had supported his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who was radically Left-wing and not seen to be sufficiently pro-British.

He also claimed that Starmer tried to overturn the Brexit vote -- a tactic which Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who preceded Truss, would employ to deflect from questions asked.

However, unlike Johnson's last months at the helm and Truss' brief 45-day tenure, the treasury benches were boisterously behind Sunak amid roars of approval and disapproval being exchanged between the two sides of the House. So much so that Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had to frequently intervene to restore order.

Braverman holds extreme Right-wing views and despite being a lawyer isn't loathe to violate elements of the Brexit treaty with the European Union.

She also derailed the free trade agreement (FTA) being negotiated between Britain and India by not appearing to agree to freer movement of Indians into the United Kingdom. Her return as Home Secretary has become Sunak's soft underbelly and the controversy over it could well linger.
Srinagar, Oct 26 : On October 26, 1947, Jammu and Kashmir's Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession after which the Indian Army landed here to drive away the tribal invaders.

Since 2020, the J&K government has been celebrating the day as the accession day which has been declared as a public holiday.

After the division of the subcontinent on August 15, 1947 into two independent countries of India and Pakistan, the first Governor General of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah called the merger of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state with the newly carved out Pakistan as "the unfinished task of partition".

In order to achieve its objective, Pakistan sent tribals of the Afridi tribe of Waziristan to invade J&K.

The arrangement with the tribal invaders was neatly worked out, they would take the loot and Pakistan would take the land.

The tribals descended on Kashmir as vultures would on an animal carcass. The army of the Maharaja was outnumbered one to ten. Despite initial resistance, it could not stop the marauding tribals, who looted, raped, and plundered like any barbaric invader would do.

Kashmir had sensed their intentions from day one and the locals fought alongside the Indian Army to drive away the invaders.

The fact that more than 6,000 Kashmiris died fighting the invaders stands out as proof to Kashmiri's resistance to the tribal invasion.

The first Indian Air Force sortie landed at the Srinagar airport and the soldiers drove into Srinagar city on October 27, 1947.

There were many battles that the army fought with the tribals and the battle of Shalteng on the outskirts of Srinagar city was one of the largest.

Maharaja Hari Singh had left the Valley after the tribals snapped the electric supply to the palace and Srinagar city by damaging the Mohra Power Station. The engineer incharge there was killed by the tribals.

The Maharaja was also facing an uprising in the Poonch district and this was also covertly supported from across the border.

It is reported that more than 1,000 soldiers were killed while driving away the tribals.

Once uprooted from the outskirts of Srinagar city, the tribals could not get a foothold till they crossed the Kohala Bridge over the Jhelum River into areas presently under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Locals acted like the eyes and ears of the Indian army and their anger against the tribal invaders was expressed by them in multiple ways.

"Hamlawar Khabardar Hum Kashmiri Hain Tayar (Invaders beware, we are ready to fight you out)" - this slogan was heard everywhere in the Valley where locals formed small resistance groups against the invaders.

By the beginning of September 1947, general peace was established, but the fight against the invaders continued till 1948.

In 1948, the United Nations sent its group of observers to supervise the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan in J&K. This line finally became the de facto border called line of control (LoC).

Exemplary bravery was shown by the Indian Army whose 1,103 soldiers across ranks were killed fighting the tribals.

Indian army won 5 Param Vir Chakras, 47 Maha Vir Chakras and 284 Vir Chakra awards including 3 twin awards of Vir Chakra during the J&K Operations of 1947-48.

During the long campaign, the Indian Army lost 76 officers, 31 JCOs and 996 Other Ranks making a total of 1103.

Jammu and Kashmir finally won its freedom thanks to the sacrifices of the army and the locals.
Vienna : , Oct 26 (IANS) World No 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas beat home favourite Dennis Novak in the opening round of the Vienna Open, here on Wednesday.

In a 7-6(2), 6-2 victory against Novak, the second-seeded Greek instantly recovered a mid-set break in the opening set. After two straight love holds, Tsitsipas was broken to love as he fell behind 3-4.

He then let slip a 0/40 opening in the ensuing game before converting on his fourth break chance and never looked back, dominating the second set to advance to the second round for the third straight year in the Austrian capital.

The victory sets up a rematch of the Cincinnati final, which he lost to Borna Coric. The Croatian earned a three-set win against France's Quentin Halys on Monday.

Tsitsipas leads the ATP Tour with 57 match wins this season and is also co-leader (with Carlos Alcaraz) with seven finals, including runs to the title match each of the past two weeks in Astana and Stockholm.

Sitting third in the ATP Live Race To Turin, the 24-year-old has already secured his fourth straight trip to the Nitto ATP Finals, an event he won in his 2019 debut.

Sixth seed Jannik Sinner also advanced on Wednesday, easing to a 6-3, 6-2 win against Cristian Garin. The Italian improved to 27-8 on hard courts this season, including quarter-final runs at the Australian Open and US Open.

Seeking to better his run to the 2021 Vienna semis, Sinner will next met Francisco Cerundolo. At 15th in the Race, trailing the seventh-placed Felix Auger-Aliassime by nearly 900 points, Sinner will likely need to sweep the titles in both Vienna and Paris to have a chance of qualifying for Turin.
Bhopal, Oct 27 : Several people complained of a burning sensation in their eyes and breathing problems in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal late on Wednesday following the leakage of chlorine gas from a tank.

Administration swung into action soon after the matter came to the fore and medical teams were rushed to the spot. As per the official information, at least four-five people have been admitted to Hamidia hospital. The incident was reported at Mother India Colony located in the Eidgah area of Bhopal.

District Collector Avinash Lavania, who along with some other administrative officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation, said that due to the release of chlorine gas from the tank, people panicked and they rushed out from their homes.

"The problem occurred due to high chlorine in water, however, the situation was brought under control. Municipal officials have started minimising the level of chlorine in the water. Water overflowed from the tank and due to this, the people felt itching and breathing problems. Four-five people have been admitted to Hamidia Hospital," Lavania added.

Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang also visited the spot and later, he also met the people admitted to the hospital. "Situation is under control now and people should not panic. Medical teams have been deployed to check if any person complains about a burning sensation in their eyes or a problem in breathing. We are unable to say anything more at this stage as we are yet to know how this problem occurred. This is a serious issue and the matter would be investigated," Sarang said while talking to the press at Hamidia hospital.

The incident triggered panic among the masses as the people of the state capital had witnessed the same situation back in 1984 when the leakage of harmful gas killed many people and thousands were left with multiple diseases. The gas was released from a Union Carbide factory in Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2-3 in 1984. The incident is known as the biggest chemical disaster in the world.
United Nations, Oct 27 : The UN human rights expert on Myanmar has said that the extremist Rohingya organisation that has been involved in the massacre of Hindus in Myanmar should be apprehended and held accountable.

Asked at a news conference on Wednesday, about the attacks on Hindus by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) that has been documented by Amnesty International, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said, "We need to make certain that there's a full execution of the of the law when it comes to apprehending these individuals." "There are radical groups that we know of that are in many, many communities, including the Rohingya community," he said, "we know that they have been responsible for some heinous crimes and I call them out." "It's my view, regardless of who you are, in any of these issues or conflicts you have a fundamental responsibility to respect human rights, including organisations such as ARSA," he said.

An Amnesty International investigation found that "up to 99 Hindu women, men, and children" had been massacred by ARSA fighters, who also abducted Hindu villagers in August 2017 in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

"Our latest investigation on the ground sheds much-needed light on the largely under-reported human rights abuses by ARSA during northern Rakhine State's unspeakably dark recent history," said Amnesty International Crisis Response Director Tirana Hassan.

ARSA is led by Karachi-born Ata Ullah abu Ammar Jununi.

Andrews, a former member of the US Congress and longtime democracy activist, also criticised India for offering to cooperate with the Myanmar military regime in conducting elections, which he said could not be free and fair when opposition leaders are jailed, tortured and executed, and it is illegal to criticise the government.

He called election plans under these circumstances "outrageous" and added, "Now countries are beginning to aid and abet this scheme by adding some credence to it." He asserted, "The foreign minister of India travelled to Myanmar, and said that India is the largest democracy in the world (and) awe would be happy to provide advice and assistance to the elections." However, Jaishankar has not visited Myanmar as external affairs minister and the last high-level visit was by Harsh Vardhan Shringla in last December when he was the foreign secretary and elections do not appear to have figured in the trip.

According to a Myanmar media report, it was India's Ambassador to Myanmar, Vinay Kumar, who had met U. Thein Soe, the Chairman of the Union Election Commission, in April and said that New Delhi would continue its cooperation with the organisation.

U. Thein said, "Myanmar and India had been cooperating in electoral processes since the past and India provided its support to Myanmar, which also studied the democratic system and laws of India in implementing its democratic system", according to Yangon-based Eleven Media.

Andrews said that he had spoken to "Indian government officials about this issue and I'm hoping that they will consider my points".

"And I'm going to be making those very points to any and every country who might think that they could be doing a good thing to try and help an election, which will, which certainly will be anything but." "There's no way this could ever be conceived of as an election and as the largest democracy in the world. I'm hoping that that point can be made by India, engaging as they are right now," he added.

India has helped several countries for holding elections drawing on its expertise in conducting polls in difficult and varied circumstances.

Andrews, who outlined the numerous human rights violations by the Myanmar military regime, called for unified action by countries to impose sanctions against it.

He cited the example of the coordinated action against Ukraine and said that the Myanmar military regime should face similar concerted action to make the military junta restore democracy.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
RADX Trifecta-GPU COTS PXIe/CPCIe Module with NVIDIA RTX A2000 Embedded GPU With the combination of extremely high-performance, low-cost and ease-of-programming in MATLAB, C/C++ or Python, Trifecta-GPUs enable PXIe systems developers and users to implement advanced, software-defined signal processing and AI instruments without the complexity and expense of FPGA development.

RADX Technologies, Inc. (RADX), today at the Association of Old Crows (AOC) 2022 Annual Convention, announced the Trifecta-GPU Family of COTS PXIe/CPCIe GPU Modules. Trifecta-GPUs are the first COTS products that bring the extreme compute acceleration and ease-of-programming of NVIDIA RTX A2000 Embedded GPUs to PXIe/CPCIe platforms for modular Test & Measurement (T&M) and Electronic Warfare (EW) applications.

Designed to complement RADX Catalyst-GPU products announced earlier this year, Trifecta-GPUs deliver even greater compute performance by employing NVIDIA RTX Embedded GPUs. The Trifecta-GPU model introduced at AOC 2022 is based on the RTX A2000, which features 8GB of GDDR6 DRAM, PCIe Express 4.0 and up to 8.3 FP32 TFLOPS peak compute performance. As with Catalyst-GPUs, Trifecta-GPUs feature comprehensive support for MATLAB, Python, and C/C++ programing, as well as industry-best support for virtually all popular computing frameworks, making Trifecta-GPUs easy-to-program for both Windows and Linux operating environments. With their extreme levels of performance, Trifecta-GPUs are ideal for the most demanding Signal Processing, Machine Learning (ML) or Deep Learning (DL) inference applications for AI-based signal classification and geolocation, semiconductor & PCB testing, failure prediction, failure analysis, and other important missions.

TRIFECTA PXIe/CPCIe GPUs  FLEXIBLE AND SCALABLE

Many PXIe and CPCIe chassis are limited to 38W/Slot for input power and thermal dissipation. To address this constraint, Trifecta-GPUs are available in both single and dual-slot configurations, with dual-slot configurations for 38W/Slot conventional and legacy chassis and single-slot configurations for NI Chassis that support 58W/Slot and 82W/Slot.

With peak performance of 8.3 FP32 TFLOPS, the new Trifecta A2000 GPU delivers compute acceleration thats almost 5x that of the Catalyst T600 GPU and over 20x that of a Xilinx Kintex Ultrascale KU060 FPGA. Until now, this level of compute acceleration has not been available in PXIe/CPCIe systems. With Catalyst and Trifecta PXIe-GPUs, users can now conduct fast and accurate signal analysis and machine and deep learning on acquired data - directly in the PXIe/CPCIe systems where the data is acquired.

With over 8.3 FP32 TFLOPS, the Trifecta A2000 GPU brings remarkable compute acceleration and compelling price-performance to PXIe systems, said Ross Q. Smith, RADX Co-founder and CEO. Combined with the flexibility of single and dual-slot configs, long life cycle support, and ease-of-programming, Catalyst and Trifecta-GPUs enable PXIe users and integrators to develop their GPU-accelerated software once, and then select the Catalyst or Trifecta GPU thats appropriate for their application and budget, for both legacy and new systems, without changing their software.

EASY-TO-PROGRAM VIA MATLAB, PYTHON, C/C++ AND LABVIEW

One of the most important aspects of Catalyst and Trifecta GPUs are their ease-of-programming, which stems from their underlying NVIDIA GPUs that support programming via MATLAB, Python and C/C++ that enables compute acceleration via NVIDIA CUDA and OpenCL. This ease-of-programming has resulted in NVIDIA GPUs becoming the most popular compute accelerators in the world today - with millions of engineers, developers and computer scientists using NVIDIA GPUs to accelerate their applications. Catalyst and Trifecta GPUs support both Windows and Linux operating environments. In addition, Catalyst and Trifecta GPUs support popular AI and other frameworks, including LabVIEW, MATLAB, TensorFlow, PyTorch, RAPIDS AI and RAPIDS cuSignal, to name a few.

Calling Python, C/C++ or MATLAB libraries from LabVIEW is straightforward and efficient because of the facilities NI has integrated into LabVIEW, so adding Catalyst or Trifecta GPU acceleration to LabVIEW-based PXIe applications is relatively quick and easy, said Matt Dennie, Director of Engineering and Certified LabVIEW Architect at Acquired Data Solutions (ADS). This ease-of-integration means we can incorporate scalable, portable, and affordable GPU acceleration into LabVIEW apps in significantly less time and with greatly improved portability than we could do with FPGAs.

ABOUT TRIFECTA-GPUS

Trifecta-GPU models announced today include single and dual-slot versions of the embedded RTX A2000 GPU, which are available in a single-slot and a dual-slot PXIe module. Trifecta-GPUs support PCIe Gen 4 x8 interfaces for optimal, future-proof performance and 4 x miniDP outputs for multi-monitor applications with resolutions up to 4k. The Trifecta A2000 GPU supports 8GB of GDDR6 memory, up to 8.3 FP32 TFLOPs and a Total Graphics Power (TGP) of 58W. The single-slot module is ideal for NI PXIe-1092 or PXIe-1095 chassis, which support 58W/Slot or 82W/Slot. The dual-slot version dissipates 29W/Slot TGP, which makes it suitable for all NI and 3rd-party PXIe chassis. For more info on Trifecta-GPUs, please visit http://www.radxtech.com/products/trifecta-gpu.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Trifecta A2000 Single-Slot and Dual-Slot GPUs have list prices of $6,999 and $7,499, respectively and are available now. Lead time for single units is typically 30 days, starting in Q123. Trifecta-GPUs are BAA & TAA Compliant and will be available on GSA via TestMart (https://tinyurl.com/muk72crx).

ABOUT RADX

Founded in 2011, RADX Technologies, Inc., is a high-tech small business that develops COTS, High Performance Computing (HPC) hardware and software products that enable advanced signal processing, data acquisition, and ML/DL AI inference applications for SDR and PXIe/CPCIe platforms and T&M and EW markets. As an NI Alliance Silver Partner, RADX focuses on products and solutions, including the Trifecta and Catalyst Family of PXIe/CPCIe Modules and Transform-X Software Examples that complement the NI PXIe and USRP product lines. RADX products are BAA / TAA compliant and are available on GSA from TestMart at https://tinyurl.com/muk72crx. RADX is headquartered in California with development locations in UT, NM, and India. For more info on RADX, please visit http://www.radxtech.com, email mailto:info@radxtech.com [info@radxtech.com __title__ null] or call +1 (619) 677-1849 x1.

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RADX, the RADX logo, Trifecta-SSD, Trifecta-GPU, Catalyst-GPU and Catalyst-GbE are trademarks or registered trademarks that are the property of RADX Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All specifications are thought to be accurate at the time of publication, but are subject to change without notice.
We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Nebraska. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Nebraska job markets are among the most competitive in the U.S. Midwest, employing over 1 million people and boasting an unemployment rate of just 2.1%. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Nebraska are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in Nebraska, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Director of Content)

Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com

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We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Twin Cities job markets are competitive in the U.S. Midwest, employing over 2 million people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for the Twin Cities are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in the Twin Cities, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Director of Content)

Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com

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We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Wisconsin. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Wisconsin job markets are among the most competitive in the U.S. Midwest, employing over 3 million people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Wisconsin are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in Wisconsin, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Director of Content)

Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com

###
AUO uses modified drones equipped with IR sensors in conducting comprehensive module health diagnostics. AUO showcases how the company expands beyond solar modules into power plant construction; its turn-key solution for energy generation, storage, and management in demonstrating our commitment to building a green future of sustainable power.

Environmental degradation and energy shortages worldwide make the acceleration of energy transformation in Taiwan more critical than ever. The top priorities now are renewable energy autonomy and diversity. AUO is a member of the RE100 global renewable energy initiative and the first enterprise in the global display manufacturing industry to commit to using 100% renewable energy by 2050. At the Energy Taiwan 2022 exhibition running from October 19 to October 21 at the Nangang Exhibition Hall 1, Taipei, AUO will showcase how the company expanded beyond photovoltaic (PV) module hardware into power plant construction, its turn-key solution for energy generation, storage, and management through the integration of software and hardware services, brand new operation and maintenance (O&M) technologies, as well as smart energy conservation and carbon reduction solutions from group affiliates to demonstrate AUO's commitment to building a future of sustainable green power.

Advanced Corrugated PV Panels, Smart Cleaning Robots, and Drone Technologies Supporting Operations and Maintenance for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction.

AUO leveraged its extensive project management experience and technical expertise to expand from being a supplier of high-quality hardware modules into power plant investment, construction, and O&M. AUOs design and application of building materials integrate software and hardware resources with partners to master energy generation and storage at power plants. These develop into successive generations of turn-key PV solutions.

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of power plants, for example, places a strong emphasis on high quality. The advanced AUO SunSteel, corrugated PV panels that integrate PV modules with high-peak corrugated panels, are pre-assembled PV systems that eliminate metal supports required for conventional PV system installation and reduces the weight by 25%. Have been upgraded from a single layer into a double-layer glass structure, increasing its durability in mechanical strength and weather resistance and making it suitable for various domains.

AUO also introduces new technologies for site O&M. Regular cleaning of modules is essential to solar power plants as their cleanliness impacts the module service life, generating capacity, and overall return on investments. The combination of smart cleaning robots, sensors, and AI data analytics that AUO will showcase at Energy Taiwan will not only effectively removes the stains from modules but also analyzes the cleaning performance of before-after results to reduce O&M cost significantly; AUO uses drones equipped with IR sensors which are used to conduct comprehensive module health diagnostics. In human-machine collaboration and real-time AI surveillance technologies, the AUO SunVeillance PV Smart Cloud System allows defective modules to be located and repaired. Other advantages include lower workforce costs, improved inspection quality, and higher power output.

Total Solution for Energy Generation, Storage, and Management through Software and Hardware Integration

The expansion of renewable energy sources such as solar power means a large number of intermittent power supplies will be connected to the energy grid ultimately. A stable energy storage system is needed to optimize energy and generation performance. AUO's energy storage system can be applied to energy generation, transmission, and consumption. AUOs customized software, hardware integration, and controls for different customer-based scenarios provide the most appropriate and comprehensive energy storage solution. These include the Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) energy storage deployment, energy storage for enterprise users, micro-grid deployment, and home energy storage products that improve the self-consumption rate of green power and tariff optimization in satisfying the requirements of energy transformation. For energy management, internally developed data collectors are combined with energy storage systems for grid regulation. A more responsive, adaptive, and efficient energy management model is achieved through AI data management and surveillance of power usage.

AUO hopes to deliver exceptional customer-based energy benefits through integrated software and hardware solutions. In accelerating the transition to sustainable green power, AUO Energy Shop, an AUO e-commerce platform, was launched to provide customers with Online-to-Offline cross-channel services available anywhere, anytime. The one-stop-shop service not only simplifies the customer procurement process but also revitalizes the green energy trading market so everyone can enjoy the sunlight.

AUO Smart Grid Solution and AUO Envirotech ACA Carbon Management Platforms Deliver Corporate Energy Savings and Carbon Reduction

The global trend towards net zero carbon emissions means we must take action on carbon reduction. AUO had previously applied power usage data management and the carbon management platform to its smart manufacturing for energy conservation and carbon reduction. It is now converting its successful experience into a service solution that others can use. AUO Digitech also demonstrates its "Smart Grid Smart Energy Management System" to reduce costs and energy consumption. By helping businesses examine their data for energy-intensive equipment, clients can then reduce non-production line energy consumption. The improvement in energy efficiency helps to realize the vision of sustainability and promote the sustainable growth of the industry. AUO Carbon Agent (ACA), developed by AUO Envirotech, helps businesses conduct digital inventory analysis from their carbon emissions data. Visualization of management reports allows businesses to draft methods to net zero carbon emissions and imply effective energy conservation and carbon reduction. At the same time, ACA encourages the industry to embrace net zero transformation and accelerate with the global pace of energy transformation so that we can all work towards realizing the vision of green sustainability with net zero emissions.
"PHX Launch will partner with ambitious entrepreneurs at the idea stage to build category-creating B2B SaaS companies in Arizona.

PHX Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage, B2B SaaS companies in Arizona, today announced the formation of its venture studio called PHX Launch. A venture studio is a company that starts, funds, and grows new businesses. PHX Launch will focus exclusively on finding and partnering with founders at the idea stage to start and grow B2B SaaS companies in Arizona.

I love early-stage company-building and supporting founders who want to start and grow category-defining companies, said Gregg Scoresby, Founder and Managing Partner at PHX Ventures. PHX Launch will partner with ambitious entrepreneurs at the idea stage to build category-creating B2B SaaS companies in Arizona. This starts with building great products and getting them to market successfully and efficiently.

In connection with the venture studio, PHX Ventures announced the closing of a new $5 million fund called PHX Launch Fund. This new fund will be used solely for pre-seed investments in the venture studio. The PHX Launch Fund is expected to write $250,000-$500,000 checks into 12-15 new software companies formed in the PHX Launch venture studio in the next several years.

The Arizona economy is large, growing, and entrepreneurial, but software company formation continues to lag other nearby states like Utah, Colorado, and Texas. I call this the Venture Deficit and I want to eliminate it, said Scoresby. If you are an ambitious founder looking for a partner with real operating experience and a successful track record of building category-creating software products, wed love to have you consider PHX Launch.

About PHX Ventures and PHX Launch

PHX Ventures is an early-stage B2B SaaS investor. For more information, please visit the PHX Ventures website. Please respond via the PHX Launch website to start a conversation about joining the PHX Launch Venture Studio.
Portable Room Dividers to be Showcased in Education Conference The [Screenflex] online chat consultation feature gave us quick cost information. The shipping timeline was much faster than expected. We have our partitions ready for use in our classroom well ahead of staff and students returning from the summer! - Todd Baughman

Since 1988, Screenflex Portable Room Dividers have been a trusted source for classroom space division and continue to prove their superior quality. Furniture dealers, designers, and teachers use Screenflex partitions more than ever in educational facilities. EDmarket, a widely-known educational tool marketplace, asked Screenflex to be one of the highlighted manufacturers in their Edmarketspace Classroom display at their annual conference, EDspaces.

The Edmarketspace Classroom is a staged experience at the tradeshow that highlights some of the best classroom items from innovative suppliers. The Screenflex products used in this exhibit include two 3-panel Display Towers in Sea Green and Summer Blue colors, one 6 feet tall x 9 feet 5 inches in length Standard Room Divider in Sand color, and one 5 feet tall x 16 feet 9 inches in length Vinyl Room Divider in Blue Tide color.

Screenflex prides itself on its freestanding partitions being capable of adapting to any environment. In general, portable walls in a school setting can have a lot of different uses. The fabric-covered dividers quickly create multiple smaller classrooms out of one larger space and can easily have items tacked onto them. This separation offers students and educators the necessary privacy to limit distractions while learning.

Oakdale Elementary, a school nearby to the EDspaces event in Oregon, purchased Screenflex Dividers in August 2022. The goal these educators wanted to achieve with their partitions was limiting visual and auditory distractions. Based on feedback from the room divider company, this school loves the product and efficient delivery. Screenflexs contact, Todd Baughman, said this about their service:

The [Screenflex] online chat consultation feature gave us quick cost information. The shipping timeline was much faster than expected. We have our partitions ready for use in our classroom well ahead of staff and students returning from the summer!

By regularly giving educators excellent caliber service and products, Screenflex continues to emphasize its place as the frontrunner supplier of classroom room dividers.

To find out more about Screenflex products for your school, visit them at their EDspaces booth #1541 or go to their website at https://www.screenflex.com/
GETIDA has announced the hire of Jim Mann as the Vice President of Europe for the company. GETIDA is the perfect antidote in a world of margin compression and increased pressure on cash flow for brands. I experienced this first hand as a seller and am excited to be part of GETIDAs phenomenal leadership team, driving growth in Europe.

GETIDA, the leading technology company that offers Amazon sellers innovative auditing and reconciliation solutions, is proud to announce the hire of Jim Mann as the Vice President of Europe for the company. Mann, who is based out of London, will lead GETIDAs growth and development in the European market, where they look to assist local Amazon sellers with Amazon FBA Auditing and Reconciliations.

GETIDA is the perfect antidote in a world of margin compression and increased pressure on cash flow for brands, said Mann. I experienced this first hand as a seller and am excited to be part of GETIDAs phenomenal leadership team, driving growth in Europe.

Manns career spans consulting, leadership, complex enterprise sales, business development, go-to market strategy, Amazon FBA, e-commerce, digital marketing and M&A where he led Thrasios European Acquisitions team.

Its GETIDAs mission to be more than just a service provider - were passionate about helping our clients profitably scale their businesses. Jim and I have both been part of the Amazon ecosystem since 2013, said Yoni Mazor, GETIDAs Co-founder. Jims background is unique - hes built a multi seven figure FBA brand himself. More recently he led Thrasios EU M&A operation. This combined knowledge of operator and acquirer will ensure GETIDA continues to contribute to the seller community via knowledge sharing and sponsoring seller centric events and masterminds.

GETIDA recently became part of SIB, North America's largest cost reduction platform. The investment will allow GETIDA to further expand and scale its offerings and services into Europe.

Kevin Flounders, CEO of SIB, commented, GETIDA is one of the most exciting solutions that we have encountered in the e-commerce space. The SIB family is glad to be investing in GETIDAs future growth, and assisting in its global expansion plans. Jim will be leading our European operation and is a phenomenal addition to GETIDAs incredible team.

GETIDA has dramatically broadened its team to support this expansion with more key new hires on the horizon before the years end. GETIDA audits billions of dollars worth of transactions daily for third-party Amazon sellers worldwide with a global team of over 130 members in 7 countries.

About GETIDA:

GETIDA is a technology company that offers Amazon sellers innovative auditing and reconciliation solutions. Established in 2015, GETIDA is a software and service partner on the Amazon Seller Central Partner Network and recently ranked 215 on the Inc. 5000 list. GETIDA provides its recovery solutions by offering full visibility over the recovery process through its user dashboard. Additional information is available at http://www.getida.com.
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is thrilled to announce the release of the 2019 Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs, an engaging and elegant wine borne of Paulas sparkling roots. Having the chance to enjoy my wines with a high-end pairing like caviar but also be able to show its excellence with fried chicken is a dream," says Paula Kornell, Founder and Vintner.

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is thrilled to announce the release of the 2019 Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs, an engaging and elegant wine borne of Paulas sparkling roots. The Napa Valley-based producer of two sparkling wines, a Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs and California Brut, Paula debuted her namesake brand in 2017 in homage to her father, Hanns Kornell, who was among the first to employ Methode Champenoise techniques in California.

For the 2019 Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs, her third release, Paula works with winemaker Robin Akhurst to source Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from the historic Mitsukos Vineyard in Carneros.

Highlighting sparkling wines superior ability to go with everything, Paula is also excited to share two new partnerships. The first, with Polanco Caviar of Uruguay, will showcase this classically decadent sparkling pairing, while fried chicken from Chef Dave Cruzs Napa-based butchery, eatery and creamery Milestone Provisions is a rich reminder that bubbles go with comfort food, too.

The pairings will be further explored on two Instagram Lives on @paulakornellsparkling  the first, November 15 at 3 p.m. PST, will feature Paula and Cruz talking about sparkling wine with fried chicken. The second, December 14 at 3 p.m. PST, will have Polanco Caviar co-owners Juan Diego Casaretto and Antonio Salto on hand to talk bubbles and caviar.

Paula is a renowned hostess who entertains far and wide, including at her home in St. Helena, which is lovingly known as Chateau Drool due to its colorful cast of canine characters, chickens, and peacocks. A firm believer in sparkling wines incomparable versatility and ability to be enjoyed during occasions big and small, Paula is overjoyed to be partnering with Polanco and Cruz.

I come from a long line of food and wine aficionados in my family who loved to entertain, says Paula. I continue that tradition with my own sparkling wines and a keen interest in pairings of all kinds. Having the chance to enjoy my wines with a high-end pairing like caviar but also be able to show its excellence with fried chicken is a dream.

Polanco Caviar is the only caviar spawned in the Southern Hemisphere. Its origins are a United Nations-certified sustainable sturgeon farm in Rio Negro, Uruguay. A premium high-quality caviar, Polanco is served in more than 30 countries in hotels, restaurants, and cruises, and by celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs.

Cruz opened Milestone Provisions in the Oxbow Public Market in Napa in 2021, in partnership with restaurateur Eric Lilavois and Five Dot Ranch. Cruz is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and James Beard award-winning cookbook author who was tapped by Chef Thomas Keller to be the opening chef at Ad Hoc, where he helped make fried chicken the star.

About Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine

Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is the namesake brand of one of Napa Valleys leading women in wine, who has lived and breathed this premier wine-growing region all her life. With two sparkling wines that draw on Californias past while attracting contemporary lovers of Champagne and bubbles in general, Paula builds on the legacy of her familys winery, Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars, among the pioneers to use Methode Champenoise in California. Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine is about crafting wines that are stylish, sophisticated, and engaging, andimportantly for Paulafood-friendly. Designed to be enjoyed with friends and family, raise a toast to Californias history and the rich pleasure of enjoying Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine. Visit http://www.paulakornell.com to learn more and follow along on Facebook and Instagram @paulakornellsparkling.
On October 25, 2022, a non-partisan and nonprofit organization  announced its Second Annual Fortnight of Action, a national initiative to amplify voter engagement and boost voter turnout in 2022.

During its Fortnight of Action, individuals and groups are encouraged to activate their voting network and share posts, photos, and videos on social media about their voting activity, using the hashtag #StrollToThePolls.

In addition, Stroll to the Polls announced its revamped website, strolltothepolls.org, offering supporters additional features to help with GOTV.

In making the announcement, the charity noted that Stroll to the Polls encourages all voters to join one of its state voting groups to rally their neighbors to vote or create their own group of BFFs and vote in this years midterm elections.

The charity further noted that voters should visit its website for additional voting information; to get involved in the Stroll to the Polls movement; to purchase goods; and to donate to the nonprofit  https://strolltothepolls.org.

Stroll to the Polls is also kicking off efforts to celebrate Vote Early Day  a holiday founded by nonprofits, businesses, election administrators, and influencers who are working to ensure that Americans understand and take advantage of their options to vote early this election cycle and beyond.

On Vote Early Day (October 28th), Stroll to the Polls encourages individuals and groups to intensify their civic engagement activities to ensure that every voter in the United States knows when, where, and how to cast their ballot early. People interested in celebrating with Stroll to the Polls can sign up on the Stroll to the Polls Facebook page. And in addition to our signature hashtag #StrollToThePolls, on Vote Early Day, participants should add the following hashtags to all posts, photos and videos - #VoteEarly #VoteReady #VoteEarlyDay.

Stroll to the Polls is proud to be one of a rapidly growing number of nonpartisan organizations who have joined Vote Early Day to empower their communities.

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About Stroll to the Polls

Concerned that over 46% of eligible voters failed to cast a ballot in the 2016 general election, Ramona Prioleau decided to start an organization that encourages civic participation  which is central to democracy. That decision led Prioleau to launch Stroll to the Polls in 2018 to make the performance of democracy FUNctional.

To that end, Stroll to the Polls urges individuals and groups to not only fellowship at the polls; but also, to purchase FUNctional performance apparel and accessories.

Prioleaus inspiration for Stroll to the Polls is traced to Saturday morning church services in 2017. At that time, Saturday morning church services at her church were popular gatherings for parishioners to receive the gospel and engage in praise and worship. At church, Prioleau laid many of her concerns on the altar with an unwavering belief that "the Lord will make a way somehow." One of her concerns was finding a solution to voter apathy. After much prayer and deliberation, Prioleau was inspired to create Stroll to the Polls.

Prioleaus 2017 concept led to the 2018 launch of the nonpartisan organization Stroll to the Polls (strolltothepolls.org) that, among other things, encourages voter registration and voter participation in every election as well as sells goods that support the operations of the nonprofit.

Stroll to the Polls is a nonpartisan organization that encourages voter registration and participation. Stroll to the Polls is incorporated in New York State as a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Learn more at strolltothepolls.org.

About Vote Early Day

Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement of media companies, businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans have the tools to cast their ballot early. Created in 2020, Vote Early Day has brought thousands of national and local partners together in celebration and activation to increase the number of people voting early. This collaborative, open-source modelsimilar to Giving Tuesday and National Voter Registration Dayensures that millions more Americans take advantage of their options to vote early. To learn more about Vote Early Day and how to join the movement, visit their website at http://www.voteearlyday.org.
Bob Evans Restaurants is honoring our nations veterans and active duty miltary personnel with a free meal on Veterans Day. Guests who dine in at their local Bob Evans Restaurant on November 11, 2022 can choose from one of 10 farm-fresh breakfast items from a special menu available all day. The offering is part of Bob Evans longstanding support for the military community, saluting the life and legacy of founder Bob Evans, a veteran himself.

We dont take for granted that the freedom to gather together with our friends and families over a great meal is in large part due to the service of our veterans and miltary personnel, said Bob Holtcamp, President and Chief Marketing Officer for Bob Evans Restaurants. Bob Evans was a veteran, and he never forgot the power of comforting, farm-fresh food to bring people together. On November 11, we are honored to serve those who have so proudly served our country.

Veterans and active duty military guests can choose one of the following farm-fresh dishes when they dine in:



Country Biscuit Breakfast: A buttermilk biscuit topped with one egg cooked-to-order, crumbled Bob Evans Sausage, country gravy and cheddar cheese. Served with hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit.

The Classic Breakfast: Classic combination of two fresh-cracked eggs, cooked to order, with a choice of premium breakfast meat. Served with your choice of freshly baked bread.

Banana Berry Oatmeal: Rolled oat oatmeal topped with wild blueberries, sweet blueberry sauce, fresh banana slices and honey-roasted pecans. Served with fresh milk and a side of freshly baked banana nut bread.

Sunrise: Two fresh-cracked eggs, cooked to order, and your choice of hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit. Served with your choice of freshly baked bread.

The Mini Sampler: One egg cooked-to-order, hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit, two sausage links, one turkey sausage link or two hardwood-smoked bacon strips and a freshly baked biscuit.

Brioche French Toast: Two slices of griddled brioche bread, dipped in real egg batter made with vanilla and cinnamon. Served with butter and syrup and topped with powdered sugar.

Sausage Gravy & Biscuits: A cup of Bob Evans signature house-made sausage gravy with two freshly baked buttermilk biscuits.

Buttermilk Hotcakes: Four fluffy buttermilk hotcakes served with butter and syrup.

Bowl of Rolled-Oat Oatmeal: Made fresh daily. Served with real brown sugar, fresh milk and dried cranberries or honey-roasted pecans.

Down-Home Country-Fried Steak: Topped with savory country gravy and served with mashed potatoes and green beans with ham. Served with your choice of freshly baked bread.

Guests wishing to enjoy a free Veterans Day meal must provide proof of service. Accepted indentification includes: US Uniformed Services ID Card, US Uniformed Services Retired Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), veterans organization card (i.e. American Legion, VFW), photograph of yourself in uniform, wearing uniform, DD214, and citation or commendation.

For more information and local restaurant hours, visit https://www.bobevans.com/veterans-day.

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About Bob Evans Restaurants, LLC Bob Evans Restaurants is chain of family-style restaurants founded and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, which owns and operates nearly 450 locations in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Guests have been enjoying signature farm-fresh meals like the Farmers Choice Breakfast, made with fresh-cracked eggs, and the slow-roasted, hand-carved turkey dinner among other classics for over 70 years. True to his humble farmer roots, founder Bob Evans believed in treating strangers like friends and friends like family, and this hospitality is still on display at every Bob Evans Restaurant location. As a private company, Bob Evans Restaurants is focused on bringing Americas Farm Fresh to its guests at every meal, each and every day. For more information and restaurant locations, visit BobEvans.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Renewable Energy Solutions By streamlining access to granular data for carbon-free and renewable energy supply, SVCE will be able to more efficiently analyze the best ways to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy to our communities.

Adapt2 Solutions, a leading provider of AI-enabled multi-market operations power trading and settlements software, today announced the partnership with California Community Choice Aggregator, Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE). As a leader in providing consumers with carbon-free energy, SVCE is leveraging Adapt2s modernized SaaS Bid-to-Bill platform, along with Adapt2 Green, for streamlining the processes needed for managing the complexities of the California ISO (CAISO) and the nuances of renewable assets.

SVCE was seeking a robust settlements system that would streamline bilateral transactions, California ISO (CAISO) settlements, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Through the use of Adapt2, SVCE will be able to better report and analyze long term contracts, streamline management of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), quickly capture data for resource adequacy transactions, manage formula determinants, and access real-time reporting for strategic decision making.

The Adapt2 solution will help SVCE deliver on its mission of competitive energy rates, said Girish Balachandran, SVCE CEO. By streamlining access to granular data for carbon-free and renewable energy supply, SVCE will be able to more efficiently analyze the best ways to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy to our communities.

Built on a flex-technology design pattern, pairing Adapt2 Green with Adapt2 B2B enables energy market participants to manage renewable energy assets in a single platform while having real-time access to all MRIS and CMRI data from CAISO. With greater ease of analyzing data at the asset level SVCE can more effectively achieve its goal of delivering more renewable energy at lower generation rates.

We are excited to add another Community Choice Aggregator to our client-base. As we continue to meet the market demands of the power sector, we will expand our offering to encompass a one-stop solutions for all energy market and renewable energy data said Executive Vice President, Jason Kram.

Adapt2 Green coupled with Adapt2 Bid-to-Bill (B2B) and Adapt2 Trade-to-Tag (T2T) provides energy market participants an integrated end to end solution for all their energy data needs. Enhanced with AI and big data capabilities, Adapt2 is market-tested to provide market participants across all North American ISO energy markets a strategic advantage with significant efficiencies. To learn more about how Adapt2 is accelerating renewable energy, power and gas market operations, visit http://adapt2.com or follow Adapt2 on LinkedIn (@Adapt2 Solutions).

About Adapt2 Solutions:

Adapt2 Solutions (Adapt2) is the leading provider of AI enabled multi-market operations software designed to help market participants streamline all of their renewable energy, power trading and scheduling and front and back-office operations. Founded in 2008, Adapt2 delivers market-based solutions on the latest and most current technologies providing customers with fast, intuitive and stable user experience and performance. With over 200 market implementations, Adapt2 is a leading solution provider in the energy industry. Adapt2 Solutions is a privately held company based in Houston, Texas. To learn more about Adapt2, please visit http://www.adapt2solutions.com.
Pranav Arora on Cover of Exeleon Magazine's Trailblazing Leaders Issue Pranav Arora, added "I am truly blessed and happy to be has been featured on the Cover of Exeleon Magazine's Trailblazing Leaders Issue."

Exeleon Magazine released its latest issue of the Most Trailblazing Leaders of the Year. Featuring as the Cover of this issue is Pranav Arora

Exeleon is a leading business magazine for leaders to showcase their story to a wide-ranging audience, comprising C-Level Executives, Business Professionals, and Management Personalities.

Featuring as the Cover of this issue is Pranav Arora, the Head of Division at Just Funky, a family-owned premier manufacturer with more than four decades of combined experience in manufacturing, licensing, retail, and creative development and offers manufacturing of licensed and private label merchandise.

He is also the CEO of JMTD Holdings, a private equity firm providing capital and invaluable partnerships to globally recognized industry leaders.

As a business leader, Pranav has gone through his fair share of trials and tribulations in order to attain success. Today, the trailblazing leader is spearheading multiple business ventures and standing out as an example of excellence for aspiring leaders across the world.

Daryl Yeung, the Editor-in-Chief of Exeleon Magazine, mentions, "a trailblazer is someone who paves the way for others to follow their pathway of success. Pranav Arora is a trailblazer for his unwavering attitude and we are proud to feature his story on the Cover of our latest issue."

This issue also includes stories of other leaders, including an in-depth academically researched article by Dr. Thomas Bussen on Diversity and Inclusion and interviews with Veronica Bay and Jordan Fischer.

Pranav Arora, added, "I am truly blessed and happy to be has been featured on the Cover of Exeleon Magazine's Trailblazing Leaders Issue."

Read the Entire Cover Story of Pranav Arora - https://exeleonmagazine.com/pranav-arora-making-success-a-habit/

About Exeleon Magazine

Exeleon is a leading Business Magazine that aims to stand out by recognizing new, emerging, and established businesses and leaders. It provides them with a platform to reach their desired audience and showcase the rawness, misery, victory, and the path they have had to travel to attain excellence.

ABOUT Pranav Arora

The experience, drive, passion, and depth of knowledge Pranav Arora contributes to the business, media, and finance industries is unmatched. Pranav is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and venture capitalist with a proven track record of success. At just 16-years-old, he not only started his first company, but transformed it into a million-dollar business. This would set the precedent for all of his future ventures.

Pranav Arora is the CEO of JMTD Holdings, a private equity firm that offers capital and value-added partnerships to world-class, industry-leading companies. JMTD Holdings works closely with their clients' finance teams, research specialists, and marketing teams to create and execute influential growth strategies that heighten their competitiveness and profitability.Pranav uses his sharp skillset and business acumen to develop funding strategies and plans for customer acquisition.

Pranav is also Head of Division at Just Funky, a family-owned premier manufacturer of licensed and private label merchandise for the mainstream retail market. Their specialty areas include drinkware, impulse and novelty items, decor, and apparel. Just Funky has more than 20,000 independent retail partners across North America and, more recently, the European Union. Their products can be found at a number of big-name retailers, which include the likes of Hot Topic, Gamestop, Target, and Spencer's. They have offices located in Columbus, Los Angeles, New Delhi, Ohio, London, and Hong Kong.

Pranav Arora heads up special projects and oversees different units and divisions of Just Funky. His primary focus is innovating the licensing design and manufacturing field and improving B2B and B2C relationships. Under Pranav's leadership, Just Funky was ranked as one of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2019 Entrepreneur360 list. These companies are recognized for their innovativeness, their strong company cultures, and their boundary-pushing contributions to their industry. Pranav credits this honorary ranking to the entrepreneurial spirit of his entire team.

Additionally, Pranav Arora is also the sole founder of Stunned Mind, which he started in 2015. Stunned Mind is the sister ecommerce company of Just Funky, and is on track to become one of the world's leading commerce companies.

Just Funky also powers two other companies: Deciph-AR and NFT Merch. Deciph-AR is an augmented reality app that makes it possible for consumers to connect with their favorite brands and watch their merch come to life. NFT-Merch is also an AR-driven company in the metaverse that helps companies create immersive experiences for their physical products that their customers can enjoy.

Pranav Arora also serves as Partner at a number of companies, including ILG Property Investors and PSSR Holdings. Previously, he was Founder & CEO of Highly Educated and before that, he was a salesperson at Funky People.

Pranav is proudly part of a few organizations as well, which include the American Marketing Association (AMA), the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA), the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and the Asian Indian Alliance.

In his free time, Pranav loves spending time with his family and traveling the world.

To learn more about Pranav Arora, Visit https://www.pranavarora.com/ and his profiles below:

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Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Crunchbase
Dashboard interface design for SPAICE We are optimistic that this ground-breaking AI technology will support government missions and have commercial applications to meet the demand for autonomous solutions for managing the maintenance and longevity of satellite fleets or ground equipment.

RS21, a data science company using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning for secure, autonomous technology solutions for space infrastructure, has been awarded a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Space Force. The two-year contract provides immediate funding to accelerate the maturation of Space Prognostic AI Custodian Ecosystem (SPAICE), the companys patented AI-powered monitoring system that performs fault detection and prediction to safeguard satellites and the important functions they perform.

SPAICE uses real-time satellite telemetry data and anomaly messages to predict a lead time before satellites fail. It pinpoints issues within the system and subsystem components so ground operators can take preventive actions to keep satellites operational. SPAICE minimizes operating and maintenance costs and maximizes uptime.

Getting a Phase III contract is a great accomplishment for our team, said Trisha Miller, director of research and development, National Laboratory and Government Support Services at RS21. We are optimistic that this ground-breaking AI technology will support government missions and have commercial applications to meet the demand for autonomous solutions for managing the maintenance and longevity of satellite fleets or ground equipment.

Immediate Phase III SBIR efforts will be focused on RS21s partnership with the DOD Space Test Program (STP) to deploy SPAICE to the STP watch floor at the Johnson Space Center. The goal is to support the launch, testing, and steady state operations of SPAICE on STP Sat-7, an experimental spacecraft.

In addition, RS21 is also seeking a tactical funding increase (TACFI) from AFWERX to match STP's funding and increase the total amount for the SBIR contract. Proposed work includes enabling a cloud deployment of SPAICE and integration and analysis of data from the International Space Station (ISS).

Prior to this funding, RS21 was awarded a Phase II SBIR contract from the U.S. Air Force in 2021 and won the Hyperspace Challenge in 2020 for its early-stage technology development.

About RS21

RS21 is a rapidly growing data science company that uses artificial intelligence, design, data engineering, and modern software development methods to empower organizations to make data-driven decisions that positively impact the world. Our innovative solutions are insightful, intuitive, inspiring, and intellectually honest. With offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Washington, D.C., RS21 is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company three years in a row and a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators.

We help clients achieve programmatic goals, improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and maximize productivity using MOTHR, our human-centered, artificial intelligence engine that allows users to seamlessly integrate data and reveal insights at hyper speed. We navigate complex data issues in the fields of healthcare, defense, safety, urban planning, energy, cyber, land use, climate, disaster preparedness, disaster recovery, space, and social equity.

For more information, visit http://www.rs21.io.
Linstol Linstols achievements in the last 30 years have been remarkable thanks to our dedicated team and strong partnerships with our airline clients. Joining The Hoffmann Family of Companies puts us in a unique position to realize even greater opportunities within the aviation industry moving forward."

Linstol, a leading supplier of in-flight passenger products for the airline industry, announces it has joined The Hoffmann Family of Companies (HF Companies), a multi-vertical family owned company consisting of over 100 national brands.

Both Mark Russell, CEO and Kevin Peat, CFO will continue to maintain an equity position in Linstol.

All existing staff will continue at Linstol, joining the 9,000 global employees as part of the expansive Hoffmann Family of Companies with businesses located in over 30 countries around the world. The move will elevate Linstols global positioning and increase Linstols offerings to airline partners while remaining true to the values Linstol was built on.

With three strategic offices located in Naples, Florida, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and a future office in Dubai, Linstol provides supplies and services to over 100 global airline clients. Linstol currently offers 478 custom products, including everything from napkins to headsets, inspired design, and collaborative partnerships with top brands. Through Linstols commitment to the highest standards of safety, customer service, ethical conduct, and environmental protection, Linstol is an industry leader in passenger comfort items and the industry leader in headphones, being the largest provider of headphones to global airlines annually in the world. Looking forward, Linstol will now be able to increase its product and services offering to the aviation industry and become an even better partner to its airlines clients.

Through the addition of Linstol, the Hoffmann Family of Companies continues to expand its aviation vertical which includes Air Hoffmann, a fleet of private airplanes providing transportation to key executives and personnel and Global Jetcare, the number one ranked global air ambulance and organ transportation company in the world based North of Tampa with 7 Learjets operating 24 hours a day around the globe.

Linstols achievements in the last 30 years have been remarkable thanks to our dedicated team and strong partnerships with our airline clients. Joining The Hoffmann Family of Companies puts us in a unique position to realize even greater opportunities within the aviation industry moving forward. As avid philanthropist who put family and community first, the Hoffmanns values align tightly with our own and I wholeheartedly believe this will enable Linstol to continue its growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, for many decades into the future Mark Russell, CEO Linstol.

Linstol joining the family of companies, combined with many of our brands, will not only expand Linstols offerings in the aviation world, but increase all our offerings and services globally through their brand partnerships and technology. Greg Hoffmann, Co-CEO Hoffmann Family of Companies

About Linstol

Since 1993, Linstol has specialized in complete product customization while providing the most attractive cost/quality combination for passenger cabin essentials such as amenity kits, comfort products, disposables and headsets.

About The Hoffmann Family of Companies

The Hoffmann Family of Companies is a multi-vertical family owned company consisting of over 100 national brands including Aviation, Agriculture, Financial Services, Hospitality, Human Capital, Industrial, Marine, Media & Marketing, Real Estate and Transportation.

Learn more at hoffmannfamilyofcompanies.com.

Additional information is available upon request. For more information, visit Linstol.com.
RationAle Brewing announces its official partnership with two Oregon-based distributors Bigfoot Beverages and Maletis Beverage We couldnt be more stoked to be teaming up with two of the most reputable distributors in the state to seize the opportunity that exists for non-alcoholic craft beer, and raise the bar for what consumers expect out of NA options," said Jamie Fay, Founder & CEO of RationAle Brewing.

RationAle Brewing (https://rationalebrewing.com/), the San Diego-born, Sonoma-brewed non-alcoholic craft beer brand, announces its official partnership with two Oregon-based distributors  Bigfoot Beverages (https://bigfootbeverages.com/) and Maletis Beverage (https://www.maletis.com/)  to build upon the traction it has gained in neighboring states. As more and more consumers seek options for moderation, Oregon retailers, such as family-owned Market of Choice, will begin carrying RationAles Brews without the Booze to meet the states high-consumption, high-demand non-alcoholic beer market.

In Oregon, craft beer is deeply entrenched in its DNA, bringing communities and people together; for many, it is part of their identity. And in that strong culture is the perfect environment to introduce RationAle, as an option to moderate without sacrificing the taste, quality or variety thats loved by all beer drinkers, said Jamie Fay, Founder & CEO of RationAle Brewing. We couldnt be more stoked to be teaming up with two of the most reputable distributors in the state to seize the opportunity that exists for non-alcoholic craft beer, and raise the bar for what consumers expect out of NA options.

Launched in late 2021, RationAle has added variety, flavor and innovation to the fast-growing U.S. non-alcohol beer category, providing brew-loving consumers with delicious options to enjoy craft beer in moderation. All of RationAles completely-crushable, non-alcoholic craft brews are served in 12oz. cans, made with high-quality ingredients and in small batches, maintaining the bold, refreshing taste of traditional craft beer.

RationAle Brewing has quickly proven its place as one of the top non-alcoholic beer brands in Market of Choices set. We see RationAle consistently perform in the top 10 percent of the non-alcoholic category, significantly helping to drive growth in this area, shares Zach Wright of Market of Choice.

We believe in providing a portfolio of category-leading brands that keep pace with trends and change, like RationAle Brewing, while staying true to our roots, with brands locals have grown to love, states Paul King, Director of Craft Beer, Bigfoot Beverages. Bigfoot Beverages and Maletis Beverage are locally owned and operated, and distribute beer, cider, wine and non-alcoholic beverages across the state.

RationAles expansion into Oregon follows its partnerships with Karl Strauss Brewing Company  to strengthen distribution through Southern California (https://www.prweb.com/releases/2022/10/prweb18941865.htm)  and Breakthru Beverage Group, a leading North American distributor of the world's top beer brands  to support the brands expansion into Colorado (https://www.prweb.com/releases/2022/9/prweb18874932.htm)  as well as the appointment of Debbie Novograd, former Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO of BevZero and Director of Marketing for Starbucks, as a Strategic Advisor (https://www.prweb.com/releases/2022/9/prweb18930893.htm).

RationAles Brews without the Booze are available via RationAleBrewing.com (https://rationalebrewing.com/) and continue to carve out desirable beer fridge real estate in strategic retail and on-premise partners, throughout California, Colorado, and Oregon, including Whole Foods Market, Market of Choice, Erewhon Market, Mollie Stones, Olivers, Lassens, and Seaside Market.

To learn more and shop for RationAle Brewing, visit http://www.rationalebrewing.com.

About RationAle Brewing:

RationAle Brewing offers an innovative variety of small-batch, non-alcoholic craft beers for those seeking to embrace moderation while drinking consciously and living boldly. Founded in 2021 by Jamie Fay and officially launching into the non-alcohol craft beer category in early 2022, RationAle is rooted in embracing moderation without sacrifice, quickly establishing itself as the official beer of moderation. RationAles four brews without booze are produced using a proprietary distillation technology to gently remove alcohol from the brewed beer, with minimal effects on its integrity and overall quality.

With the recent launch of The Original Rationale West Coast IPA and New England Hazy IPA, RationAles 12 oz. cans (at $16/six-pack) are now available online at http://www.rationalebrewing.com, shipping nationwide, in addition to retail and on-premise locations throughout California, Colorado and Oregon.
D. S. Demaree and S. E. Willbanks announce their entry into the publishing scene with the release of A Knights Time Series Book One: By Faith We Live (published by Balboa Press). This is the story of a young knight who travels to Jerusalem to join the Knights Templar and is given a mysterious mission that takes him on a deeper journey of both outer and inner exploration.

Before the birth of his third son Baldwin, Armand DesMarets hires Rajeev, a Hindu with a Christian upbringing, to give his children a well-rounded education that includes foreign languages, herbology, and astronomy. Rajeev is particularly devoted to Baldwin, who has frightening dreams of a demon, remembrance of a past life, and celestial visions of Mary Magdalene.

The tutor accompanies the young knight and his faithful dog, Bhaiya, as he sets sail to Jerusalem to join a newly formed group of monk warriors, known as the Knights Templar. During their travels, they meet many devout pilgrims, including the pious Bernard of Clairvaux. They also encounter raging seas, pillaging pirates, and one mysterious stranger who becomes an unlikely traveling companion. This is a dedicated religious journey for young Baldwin, but just what lies in store for him when he arrives and meets with the Knights Templar?

We live in an era of transformation and transition, not to a new world order, but to a new world integration; a new Earth, as it were. This book will appeal to seekers of truth from all cultures and spiritual fields, the authors say. When asked what they want readers to take away from the book, they answer, A bit of awe along with understanding of how we came to be in the world we find today and to turn fear of the unknown into intelligent courage. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/780094-a-knights-time-series

A Knights Time Series Book One: By Faith We Live

By D. S. Demaree and S. E. Willbanks

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 220 pages | ISBN 9798765230800

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 220 pages | ISBN 9798765230787

E-Book | 220 pages | ISBN 9798765230794

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

D. S. Demarees ancestors originated in France, and many lived their lives as knights and adventurers. The surname Demaree is attached to the Normandy region, where members of the family belonged to the noble House of Bousis.

A former humor columnist for the Iowa Source and published author, S. E. Willbanks has a masters degree in professional writing. She has helped many authors clarify their ideas. She specializes in humor, historical fiction, fantasy, and childrens books. This is her first collaboration with Demaree.

Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc.  a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 844-682-1282 today.
Akhtar Allahabadi announces the release of Life of Akbar: Part One ( Life with Taliban) (published by AuthorHouse UK), an epic tale of determination and devotion of an intellectually gifted young man who sets out on a quest to avoid jihad, tries to eliminate poverty and spread education amongst the poor of the country.

While growing up in a village in a mountainous region spread across both Afghan and Pakistani territories, Akbar Khan transforms into an understanding and intelligent boy who is devoted to his studies of the Quran and resolving problems. In a land where no one argues with the Taliban, his parents do their best to keep him from being thrust into the jihad against the enemies of Islam, for Akbar is highly regarded in their village and in demand for his wisdom beyond his years.

When he is 13, Akbar notices Jameela. Almost immediately, Akbar becomes determined to follow his heart and make her his through marriage, no matter how long it takes. As he begins to work on making his dream come true, a chain of unexpected events unfold, and how he maneuvers his own destiny through the dangers of life amongst the Taliban and how kismet helps him escape to a near-normal life and happiness.

This story is placed in a very important area of the world. The culture and challenges are unknown and very interesting. A great deal of action has taken place in and around the Afghan people. No other book has taken up such a story like this, Allahabadi says. When asked what he wants readers to take way from the book, he answers, An understanding that these people are as good and tough as anyone else. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.authorhouse.com/en-gb/bookstore/bookdetails/828025-life-of-akbar

Life of Akbar: Part One ( Life with Taliban)

By Akhtar Allahabadi

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 576 pages | ISBN 9781665599955

E-Book | 576 pages | ISBN 9781665599962

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Akhtar Allahabadi was educated in India, Pakistan, and Scotland. During his lengthy career, he was an eye surgeon, consultant, professor of ophthalmology, and in private practice. Since retiring, he has been focused on writing. Life of Akbar: Part One is his second book.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.co.uk or call 0-800-014-8641.
Joanne Murray, who has been a pediatric home health nurse for close to thirty years, has completed her new book Animals of the Alphabet: a charming childrens book designed to show children pictures of different animals that are unique in their own way, like a bird with an umbrella on their head or a fish you can see through.

Author Joanne Murray grew up and still lives in a small town in central Pennsylvania called Watsontown. She lives there with her husband and three children. She has always wanted to write a childrens book for all the children she has worked with for over thirty years. She wrote this book hoping to put a smile upon their faces as they read it or as someone else reads it to them.

Joanne Murray discusses her work, writing, The alphabet is seen through many eyes every day but in different ways. Many people do not understand the meaning of autism or children on the autism spectrum.

Complete with beautiful illustrations, this imaginative work is written in soothing rhymes, creating a gentle, entertaining storybook that can be read again and again.

Published by Page Publishing, Joanne Murrays memorable tale was written with the hope that children, no matter where they live or what they look like, can be different and still feel like they fit in.

Readers who wish to experience this original work can purchase Animals of the Alphabet at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Instead of fearing it, automation could create opportunities for both employers and their staff to ensure business continuity and professional growth. - Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller

Facing a busy holiday shopping season with a shortage of workers, nearly 80% of U.S. companies believe automation could help their business, and 74% say its the key to keeping up with current demand.

This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

With nearly two-thirds of U.S. hiring decision-makers (64%) admitting they waste time each week completing tasks that could be automated, its not surprising that nearly half (49%) feel this tactic could help their company save time.

Saving money (42%) and increasing productivity (37%) are also among the top potential benefits of automation, while around 3 in 10 (31%) believe it could help streamline processes. Almost a quarter feel it has the potential to decrease employee workloads (23%) and/or minimize the number of errors made (23%).

Automating Processes

More than a quarter of U.S. hiring decision-makers (27%) report their organization has adopted new technology to automate tasks/processes during this time. More generally across the company, they say their company automates an average of 27% of its hiring/recruiting functions. Forty-three percent add that they automate more than a quarter of their hiring/recruiting functions.

Unsurprisingly, companies with more than 500 employees are more likely than those with less than 500 to report a higher average of automated functions:



2-9 employees: 12%, on average

10-49 employees: 20%

50-99 employees: 23%

100-499 employees: 28%

500+ employees: 34%

Solving the Labor Crisis

In terms of using automation as a solution to the current labor shortage, 74% of hiring managers would be comfortable with their company increasing the use of automation to help solve this issue. Similarly, 64% say their company would be likely to use it for this purpose; 25% would be very likely. Automation may be just the solution companies are looking for, as many businesses (63%) feel they would increase the use of automation instead of hiring workers.

Benefits and Consequences of Automation

In Texas, Express franchise owner Nancy Reed says automating some, or all, business operations reduces labor expenses and increases company performance.

However, not every process can be improved with automation, she added. For example, in customer service, having a live person assist a frustrated client cannot be replaced by any machine. In manufacturing, quality variances in product specifications are always best identified with the human eye. Some parts of the process can be automated, but some can never be effectively performed by a machine.

Mike Brady, Express franchise owner in Florida, agrees that some negative drawbacks to automatic functions are the high cost and reliance on machines. But in the manufacturing industry, the shift to automation is already producing positive results for one of his clients. A shampoo bottling company has been able to reduce its headcount by half and increase production to a 24-hour cycle.

Reed also has an industrial client who began automating the packaging process. Instead of hiring packers and assemblers, the company has started installing packaging machines to bookend operations.

Larger companies will probably be the first to automate, she said. The reason is the cost of purchasing the robotic process, the cost of re-engineering the process line to incorporate a new automated process and the capital investment it takes to change a process to automation.

Despite concerns from job seekers and employees that machines may replace their livelihood, Reed assures them this is not the case for her clients.

There will still be the need for skilled employees, she said. Automation may result in non-skilled workforce opportunities diminishing, meaning that workforce will need to improve technical skills to be competitive in the new job market.

The best thing workers can do right now to prepare for a shift to automation is to invest in training to diversify their skills for future in-demand careers.

Companies have been forced to find a way to keep their businesses up, and automation seems to provide a logical solution when so many workers are on the sidelines, Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said. Instead of fearing it, automation could create opportunities for both employers and their staff to ensure business continuity and professional growth.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 3 and May 23, 2022, among 1,003 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

***

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment

International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor

supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com, and find more employment insights at ExpressPros.com/AmericaEmployed.


Bigge and Tadano celebrate partnership and acquisition of multiple cranes at a special ceremony at bauma 2022 Bigge is always working to build and maintain the Perfect Fleet of cranes to serve our customers job site demands. Tadano has been a Trusted Partner in this effort by producing equipment that is highly reliable, easy to operate, and has a low cost to maintain. - Joe Nelms, Vice President of Bigge.

Having enjoyed a decades-long partnership, Bigge is one of the largest fleet owners of Tadano cranes, with over 600 units in service. From some of the most reliable rough terrains on the market to Tadanos trustworthy all-terrains and telecrawlers, Bigge is proud to offer many Tadano products to their global customer base and to have hundreds of Tadano cranes in service across a wide variety of industries in North America.

Bigge recently ordered a significant number of rough-terrain, all-terrain, and telescopic boom crawler cranes from Tadano. Today the two companies celebrated their partnership at a special celebration at bauma 2022 in Germany. Some highlights of the new Tadano additions for Bigge are larger all-terrains like the AC 8.500-1, AC 7.450-1, and AC 6.300-1 as well as the GR-1300XL-4 rough terrain crane and GTC-1600 and GTC-2000 telecrawlers.

The demand for all-terrain cranes is increasing, and Bigges Vice President of Asset Management, Mike Buckland, says that the company has been highly satisfied with the performance of Tadano cranes. The Tadano Demag ATs have created an exciting surge of innovation in the AT market. Their excellent lift capacities combined with longer booms make them a versatile part of our Perfect Fleet. Bigge is excited about the new AC 7.450-1 and the upcoming AC 5.250-2 and the value they will bring our customers.

Other new additions include the GR-1300XL-4 from the highly-respected Tadano Rough Terrain line and longer-reach Teleboom Crawlers like the GTC-2000 and GTC-1600. James Land, Teleboom Crawler Sales Director at Tadano America, says Bigge has been able to fill a gap in their rental fleet with the versatile 150-200 ton TBCs. The GTCs compete quite nicely and even outperform some larger competitors cranes, especially when considering the out-of-level charts. And a crane you can count on is a Bigge key as well. I believe similarities and shared components with the proven GR line helped move the needle for Bigges recent GTC purchases, as they always demand a reliable product.

As Bigge continues to play a vital role in American construction and lifting, they are always looking for cranes that are best-in-class, reliable, and cost-effective.

"Bigge is always working to build and maintain the Perfect Fleet of cranes to serve our customers job site demands," says Joe Nelms, Vice President of Bigge. "Tadano has been a Trusted Partner in this effort by producing equipment that is highly reliable, easy to operate, and has a low cost to maintain. We appreciate Tadanos collaborative approach and open lines of communication throughout the development, production, and post-sale process."

Kuhlman has known several of Bigges senior management for many years and says, it continues to be a professional, respectful and enjoyable experience with everyone at Bigge. I believe our growing success with their organization is due to the mutual respect within both of our companies and our current offering of impressive crane products. Land concurs, I have worked closely with Mike Buckland over the years. Mike is very knowledgeable of the TBC market, product offerings, and what Bigge needs to maximize the potential of their fleet. You know that dealing with Mike is going to present a logical process and consistent communication, which makes them an exceptional customer to do business with."

Tadano and Bigge have a multigenerational partnership built on shared core values like safety, teamwork, and innovation. This weeks bauma signing is just the latest highlight for these two corporate leaders as they continue to elevate the crane industry.

About Bigge

Since 1916, Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. has been the premier provider of best-in-class cranes. Bigge offers crane rentals, cranes for sale, crane parts, and specialized heavy lift equipment to customers across America. With headquarters in California and Texas, Bigge operates a strategic network of over 20 service locations nationwide, allowing them to provide logistical and field support throughout the United States.

Bigge actively buys and sells new and quality used cranes and maintains a rental fleet of more than 1,600 assets. Safety, teamwork, results, innovation, and passion are central to Bigges core values. Bigge continues to lead the crane industry into the 21st century with generations of combined experience in the crane and rigging industry.

To learn more, visit bigge.com.
"CEIPAL will be showcasing the companys capabilities to manage the entire lifecycle of the talent acquisition process at ITServe Alliances Synergy Conference 2022."

CEIPAL, the industry-leading AI-powered talent acquisition platform, will be showcasing the companys capabilities to manage the entire lifecycle of the talent acquisition process at ITServe Alliances Synergy Conference 2022. The annual conference for IT and business transformation is being held October 26 - 28 in Orlando, Florida. At the event, technology and industry leaders will discuss the latest HR technology trends, while sharing valuable and actionable insights to meet the changing and growing needs and demands of the staffing industry, particularly in the world of engineering and IT (information technology).

Attendees are invited to visit CEIPAL at booth #308 to learn how to successfully bridge the talent gap in the tech industry by:

-Harnessing the power of AI to engage with the best candidates and improve sourcing

-Using talent curation and pipelining to access the most diverse and highly qualified candidates to build out your talent pool

-Adopting recruitment CRM to improve talent engagement and marketing

-Using workforce management to streamline the entire onboarding process and manage the entire employee lifecycle

-Embracing business analytics to give your team the actionable insights they need to make informed decisions

Attendees who visit CEIPALs booth #308 can also take a brief survey to be entered for a chance to win an iPad Pro and a number of other prizes. Those who are not attending, but wish to learn more about CEIPALs features and capabilities, can request a personalized demo and find additional information at http://www.ceipal.com.

About CEIPAL

CEIPAL is an AI-powered SaaS platform that provides full-lifecycle management of the talent acquisition process. Our system leverages advanced technology to analyze vast amounts of candidate and employee data, providing actionable insights for meeting hiring goals and executing talent strategies. With robust solutions for pipeline curation, candidate engagement & marketing, applicant tracking, and workforce management, CEIPAL helps staffing firms, MSPs, and corporate hiring teams of all sizes to attract and retain the best available talent. CEIPAL was founded in 2015 and served 2,000+ customers and 120,000 recruiters globally.
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

Prospective buyers in Melbourne, Florida, looking for a pre-owned vehicle have a chance to buy a pre-owned 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL at Coastal Hyundai.

The SUV is equipped with a Theta II 2.4-liter I-4 engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This model has a fuel economy rating of 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways. Furthermore, it has less than 45,000 miles on its odometer.

This pre-owned SUV comes with various other features such as-



ABS Brakes

Blind Spot Sensor

Braking Assist

Lane Keeping Assist

Child Safety Locks

Engine Push-Button Start

Multi-Function Display

Rear View Camera

Stability Control

Traction Control

Android Auto

Apple CarPlay

The SUV has a selling price of $27,995. Customers can purchase this vehicle by applying for an auto loan from the dealership. They are required to fill out an online application form and submit it. The dealerships finance team will develop a loan package that best suits the applicants credit situation. Moreover, car shoppers can also sell or trade in their old vehicles and use the value obtained to purchase this model. They also have the option to buy this SUV in cash.

All interested parties are encouraged to log onto https://www.coastalhyundai.com/ or call 321-499-2999 for more information. They can also visit the dealership and have a chat with the sales team. The dealership is located at 915 New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, Florida.
We are thrilled to have Dominic on board and for all that he brings to our clients  targeted expertise and a proven track record of getting seemingly impossible things done." - Maziar Minovi, Eurasia Group CEO

Eurasia Group is pleased to announce that Dominic Barton, former global managing director of McKinsey and Canadian Ambassador to China, is joining the firm as a Strategic Counselor. The appointment leverages Bartons unique insight into global markets and his extensive business and diplomatic acumen in Asia to build upon Eurasia Groups offerings.

Uganda-born Barton brings both a diplomat's and a business leaders perspectives to his new role. As ambassador to China, Barton led Canadas efforts to secure the release of two Canadians accused of espionage by Beijing in a years-long standoff involving Canada, China and the US over the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. He spent more than three decades at McKinsey, including as global managing partner, and several years leading the offices in Korea and Shanghai as Asia Chairman.

A prolific writer on the role of business in society, Barton has authored more than 80 articles and co-authored four books including Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises (2002) and China Vignettes: An Inside Look at China (2007). A Rhodes Scholar, he has been an active participant in international forums and a member of multiple boards, including the current chairmanship of Rio Tinto. He is also the chair of LeapFrog Investments, and has served as an adviser for groups such as the Asian Development Bank. Barton has also served on the board of the Malala Fund and been involved in the UN initiative HeForShe, a campaign focused on advancing global gender equality.

As Strategic Counselor, Barton will provide advice on the firms strategic direction, engage with key clients, and contribute to analytic work, particularly on China and Asia broadly. He will also develop new commercial opportunities and advise on the firms internal business strategy.

We are thrilled to have Dominic on board and for all that he brings to our clients  targeted expertise and a proven track record of getting seemingly impossible things done, said Maziar Minovi, Eurasia Groups Chief Executive Officer. And as our commercial footprint continues to expand globally, to have a seasoned professional of his caliber in our ranks is exciting and invaluable.

If you are a member of the media and would like more information, or to access our research and analysis, please contact media@eurasiagroup.net.

***

About Eurasia Group

Eurasia Group is the world's leading global political risk company. Its expertise includes developed and developing countries in every region of the world, specific economic sectors, and the business and investment playing fields of the future. With best-in-class advisory and consulting offerings, and GZERO Media, the Eurasia Group umbrella provides the marketplace with a complete political risk solution. "Politics first grounds the firm's work: It is the lens through which Eurasia Group views the world, and it is committed to analysis that is free of political bias and the influence of private interests.
Connecticut Innovations(CI), the states venture capital arm, today announced that Joseph R. Nolan, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy, will be the keynote speaker at the VentureClash Climate Edition pitch event on Thursday, October 27, in New Haven. Nolan heads New Englands largest utility, serving approximately 4.3 million electric, natural gas and water customers across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He will address an audience of corporate partners, investors and selected domestic and international companies seeking to solve pressing climate-related problems.

Joes distinguished career in the energy industry, especially during his tenure at Eversource, is notable for his critical and strategic investments in clean technologies, including offshore wind, battery storage and electric vehicle innovations, said Matt McCooe, CEO of Connecticut Innovations. We are privileged that he is serving as our keynote speaker. The overflowing response to VentureClash Climate Edition is a testament to how eagerly our participating companies and attendees look forward to learning from Joes experience and insight.

Throughout his 35 years at Eversource, Nolan has held extensive leadership positions in customer service, government and regulatory affairs, community relations and corporate strategy. He has played a critical role in leading the companys environmental stewardship and clean energy efforts.

Connecticut continues to take a national leadership position in fostering innovation and supporting new cleantech companies prepared to tackle the daunting challenges posed by climate change, said Nolan. I am honored to join state leaders and innovators as we work together to strengthen the clean energy ecosystem in Connecticut and support the future leaders of the green economy.

Created in partnership with Connecticut Green Bank, the Department of Economic & Community Development, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, VentureClash Climate Edition is a networking and pitch event bringing together companies and thought leaders to solve real-world climate issues. The event, which will attract some of the worlds most disruptive green companies, is a product of CIs new ClimateTech Fund, which seeks to invest $100 million in companies developing solutions that contribute to climate mitigation, adaption and resilience.

In addition to Nolans keynote address, the daylong event will feature company pitches and diverse industry panels with subject matter experts and distinguished keynote speakers. VentureClash Climate Edition participants will be introduced to a network of customers, investors, mentors and resources throughout the states ecosystem, while gaining access to strategic collaboration and investment opportunities.

For more information, please visit http://www.ventureclash.com.

About VentureClash Climate Edition:

VentureClash Climate Edition is a networking and pitch event where companies and thought leaders discuss and solve for the worlds biggest climate-related issues. Managed by Connecticut Innovations, VentureClash scans the globe for early-stage companies that are looking to land and expand in Connecticut. In addition to company investments, VentureClash companies also benefit from introductions to a critical network of potential customers, investors, mentors and talent.

About Connecticut Innovations:

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies. CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies, financial support for innovation and collaboration, and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.ctinnovations.com.


FlexIP Solutions Introduces New UI & UX for Flex UCaaS Platform Were excited to release the Flex UCaaS platforms new UI and UX to our customers... This upgrade reflects our continued commitment to the FlexIP Perfect-Fit Promise to optimize our services for the best performance and power our customers needs... 

FlexIP Solutions, a nationwide provider of custom managed communications solutions for businesses, announced today that it has implemented an all-new user interface (UI) and experience (UI) for its Flex UCaaS platform.

Flex UCaaS is a cloud-based solution that offers enterprise-class unified communications as a service (UCaaS) capabilities to businesses of all sizes. Cloud delivery makes our solution simple to deploy with no hardware to install or maintain.

Through Flex UCaaS, businesses benefit from:



Unifying communications  Integrate voice, video, presence and instant messaging into a single platform for desktop or mobile devices.

Enabling employees wherever they are  Supporting a distributed workforce is easy with our cloud-based platform since employees can connect wherever they are with an Internet-enabled device.

Extending the office phone  Twin office phone features like dialing plans, outgoing caller ID and ACD hunt groups on smartphones, tablets, laptops or other mobile devices.

Bringing their own devices  With our service, business employees can use their own devices to access our cloud-based solution.

Getting uninterrupted access  Access all capabilities of Flex UCaaS even in the event of a power outage or natural disaster through easily programmable call forwarding.

Managing their own UC experience  Easily manage business telephony features, call routing, contacts, messages, user profiles and more with our intuitive Flex UCaaS interface.

Were excited to release the Flex UCaaS platforms new UI and UX to our customers, said Robert Latronica, Vice President of Business Development at FlexIP Solutions. Our team continually seeks to improve our solutions to increase efficiency for our businesses. This upgrade reflects our continued commitment to the FlexIP Perfect-Fit Promise to optimize our services for the best performance and power our customers needs, allowing them to focus on growing their own business.

Flex UCaaS boasts a new, updated, fully featured user interface for a better user experience, which includes:



Touch-screen functionality optimization

Single pane-of-glass design

User contacts access

User call logs access

User chat history access

User meeting and voicemail access

New profile menu for account-level functionality

Unified search bar to access all contacts and functions

Notification integration with MacOS and Windows notification centers

Screen reader accessibility

Mouse and keyboard accessibility on desktop

The Flex UCaaS platforms new UI and UX is generally available now for all FlexIP Solutions customers.

Learn more about Flex UCaaS at https://www.flexipsolutions.com/flex-uc/.

For new business inquiries with FlexIP Solutions, please call 888.905.6311 or email sales@flexipsolutions.com.

About FlexIP Solutions

FlexIP Solutions delivers managed communications services customized for businesses of all sizes and optimized for best value and performance. The company was founded in 2009 on the principles of consultative solutions engineering; white-glove service implementation; ongoing monitoring, management and reporting; and on-demand customer service from real people. Today, those best practices are the foundation of the FlexIP Perfect-Fit-Promise. Solutions include Cloud PBX, Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service, Collaboration as a Service, SIP Trunking, Secure SD-WAN, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, Business SMS and MMS Texting, and more. For more information, visit FlexIP Solutions at http://www.flexipsolutions.com.
According to the 2022 Business Impact Report, 70 percent of SMBs believe theyre ready to protect against a cyberattack or recover from a breach. We are happy to see fewer reported cyber events, but we also find it intriguing that so many small business leaders are confident of their ability to defend against a cyber event," Velasquez noted. "We will know in 2023 if these statistics and confidence levels are one-time events or true trends."

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, has published its second annual report on the impacts of identity crimes and cyberattacks on small businesses and solopreneurs  the 2022 Business Impact Report.

For the report, the ITRC surveyed 447 small business owners, leaders and employees to explore the impacts of cybercrimes on small businesses (see the About the ITRC 2022 Business Impact Report section below for more information). According to the responses, cybersecurity incidents targeting small businesses increased by 61 percent during the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, but have dropped slightly in the past 12 months. Less than half (45 percent) of small businesses reported a security breach, data breach, or both, down from the 58 percent that reported a cybercrime in the 2021 report.

Some of the other key takeaways from the 2022 Business Impact Report include:



Overall, more than 45 percent of small businesses lost revenue due to a cybercrime. Generally, small businesses lost less money as a result of a cyber incident in the last year, with one key exception  victims of social media account takeover. (Companies paying less than $250K grew by 11 percentage points; businesses paying $250K-$500K dropped six (6) points over the previous year.)

However, 50 percent of small businesses surveyed reported losing control of a social media account to a cybercriminal, with 87 percent of the victims losing revenue generated by the account. More than one-third (34 percent) of victims lost between $1,000 and $10,000.

Fewer small businesses reported experiencing a data breach in the past 12 months (23 percent), a two (2) percentage point decrease from 2021. However, the number of small businesses reporting a first-time breach jumped 17 points from 2021.

Nearly 30 percent of small businesses lost customer trust and had difficulty responding to customer concerns.

More than 40 percent of small businesses struggled to understand what happened and why it happened.

After investing in more security tools and training, 70 percent of small businesses said they were ready to protect against a cyberattack or recover from a data breach.

Download the ITRCs 2022 Business Impact Report

Behind all of these statistics are people, said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. These are people trying to support their families and their employees' families. As people look at this report, I encourage them to remember that these resources stolen by cybercriminals are the same resources needed to sustain or grow a business, which keeps those families safe, healthy and financially secure.

We are happy to see fewer reported cyber events, but we also find it intriguing that so many small business leaders are confident of their ability to defend against a cyber event. We will know in 2023 if these statistics and confidence levels are one-time events or true trends.

Another notable finding in the 2022 Business Impact Report is that small businesses relied more on cyber insurance and existing credit lines to cover the costs associated with a data or security breach (40 percent  a 12 percentage point jump in using insurance proceeds and a seven (7) point increase in existing credit use). Also, 35 percent of small businesses reported returning to pre-breach performance levels within one year, a 13 percentage point increase. Most companies (41 percent) still required one to two years to fully recover.

The ITRC offers a range of low and no-cost tools to help small businesses. Consumers can receive free live victim support or guidance from a knowledgeable advisor by calling 888.400.5530 or visiting idtheftcenter.org to live-chat.

About the ITRC 2022 Business Impact Report

The ITRC, with the assistance of SurveyMonkey, conducted two online surveys in August and September 2022 to explore the impacts of cybercrimes on small businesses as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Questionnaires were completed by 447 individuals that met the criteria of being a person in a leadership position or an IT professional at a company of 500 or fewer employees, including solopreneurs. For our general survey, 55 percent (55%) of this years survey responses reflected the answers of people at businesses with ten or fewer employees, including 17 percent (17%) who identified as solopreneurs; 19 percent (19%) of responses were from companies with 11  50 employees; 12 percent (12%) of responses came from organizations with headcounts of 51-200 people; and 14 percent (14%) from businesses with 201-500 employees. Nineteen percent (19%) of a social media account takeover survey reflected responses from businesses with ten or few employees, including eight percent (8%) from solopreneurs; 36 percent (36%) of responses were from companies with headcounts between 11  50; 22 percent (22%) of responses came from SMBs with 51-100 employees; and, 22 percent (22%) were from organizations with teams between 101  500 people.

By far, the largest number of general survey responses came from people who identified as a business owner or partner - 58 percent (58%) - and 28 percent (28%) were from C-Suite and Sr. Executives. The social media attack survey generated responses primarily from Owners or Partners - 62 percent (62%)  and Senior Leaders at 25 percent (25%).

Unless otherwise noted in a specific question, the term breach referred to both a data and security breach.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities.

Media Contact

Identity Theft Resource Center

Alex Achten

Head of Earned & Owned Media Relations

888.400.5530 Ext. 3611

media@idtheftcenter.org
Cheryl McCants, CEO & Founder of Impact Consulting Enterprises ... the work were doing here at Impact Consulting Enterprises is relevant and continues to make a difference in the communities that we serve

Impact Consulting Enterprises (Impact), an award-winning creative-marketing solution and digital communication provider, announced today that Cheryl McCants, the firms Founder and CEO, has been named one of the 2022 Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ Magazine. The NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business program recognizes 50 women who have made a significant impact on New Jersey business and the community at large. A panel of independent judges selected this years honorees using a points system to evaluate submissions, after an open nomination process.

McCants and the other 49 NJBIZ Best Women in Business will be honored in person at a dinner later this evening at The Palace on 333 Davidson Avenue in Somerset Park, NJ from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

Being named one of NJ Business Best 50 Women in Business means that the work were doing here at Impact Consulting Enterprises is relevant and continues to make a difference in the communities that we serve, Cheryl McCants said upon receiving her recognition. I am proud of my team and excited about our strategic communication work as we connect with diverse audiences and help clients tell award-winning stories that inspire smiles, trust and confidence.

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The honorees, alongside McCants, include Sony Electronics Theresa Alesso; Habitat for Humanity of Bergen Countys Teri Capparelli; Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi PCs Patricia Costello; Stockton Universitys Noel Criscione-Naylor; IBMs Rashmi Das; Georgian Court University Dean Jennifer Edmonds; New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology Program Manager Mahako Etta; Atlantic Health Systems Melanie Franco and Trish OKeefe; Coldwell Banker Real Estates Liz Gehringer; Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation President & CEO Maggie Goldberg; Rowan College of South Jerseys Susan Hall; Valley Banks Tammy Garnes Mata; Manes & Weinberg, Special Needs Lawyers of New Jersey LLC Co-Founder Beth Manes; Bristol Myers Squibbs Danielle Menture; Federal Judiciary United States Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Meisel; Holy Names Nancy Palamara; Provident Banks Carolyn Powell; NJ Sharing Networks Carolyn Welsh; and EYs Tasha Youngblood Brown.

The NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business program has been so well received by companies and individuals throughout the state that it has become one of NJBIZs best-known events.

I am so honored and excited to be recognized among so many dynamic and progressive women in business, says McCants of the recognition. This celebration by NJBIZ not only sheds a light on the importance of supporting women professionals, it highlights the importance of how our work can impact and transform our communities.

About Impact Consulting Enterprises

Impact Consulting Enterprises, found on the web at https://www.eimpactconsulting.com, is an award-winning Black, woman-owned strategic communication, marketing, public relations, advertising, and website design and development firm founded in 1989 by business strategist and communication professional, Cheryl McCants. Foundations, corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, and government agencies who seek to engage with audiences, launch brands, and disrupt industries partner with Impact to tell their untold stories to diverse audiences including women, millennials, genZers, baby boomers, and Latino, Asian, and African Americans. Impact, A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, is HUBZone, WBE, DBE, WOSB, SBE, and MBE certified.
Elisabeth Jorgensen announces her return to the publishing scene with the release of Nostradamus Speaks Again: Heaven Paradise (published by Balboa Press), a body/mind/spirit book that shares a host of channeled life messages from Nostradamus and others as they explore a host of topics.

This book not only reveals the innermost complicated human nature, but also the complicated time humanity is now approaching in no time at all. In this book, readers will meet the spirits of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Lady Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Whitney Houston, John Lennon, and Steve Jobs among others to help them succeed on their "inner journey."

I would like the reader of this profound and not yet to come message to understand that nothing but ourselves are the message, and that is why this book never has come out beforehand. You the reader will go through a profound and deep transformation after reading such a message! Not only will you, but also the entire world now call upon your time! Jorgensen says.

When asked what she wants readers to take away from the book, Jorgensen answers, We are living in times where we need to move forward, telepathy listening to our hearts here now will be crucial. A channeled book like this is one-step forward, in time. There is no separation, only love can create.speak truth from your heart. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/813827-nostradamus-speaks-again

Nostradamus Speaks Again: Heaven Paradise

By Elisabeth Jorgensen

Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 196 pages | ISBN 9781982271756

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 196 pages | ISBN 9781982271732

E-Book | 196 pages | ISBN 9781982271749

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Elisabeth Jorgensen is a telepathic writer and channels mainly in English, despite being Swedish who lives in Sweden (Stockholm). She has a background from the pharmaceutical industry and other international businesses as a marketing professional. However, in recent years, she has gone back to university to study for a nursing degree. Communication has been her main interest and brought her curiosity to what is possible. Some of that she shares in this book.

Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc.  a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 844-682-1282 today.
The biggest challenges for getting dinner on the table, according to the survey respondents, are missing key ingredients (36%) and waiting on frozen meat to thaw (33%). This survey illuminates parents need for simplified, convenient products that can help solve the ever-present hurdle of getting dinner on the table.

Pound of Ground Crumbles of JBS USA, a leading global food company, released a new survey conducted by OnePoll describing the numerous challenges parents face while managing their households, especially at mealtime. The survey fielded 2,000 U.S. parents with school-aged children, as they returned to their routines for the academic year.

Results from the study detailed how parents manage busy schedules throughout the week, and ultimately how that impacts their behaviors towards dinner prep and planning. Overall, the survey illustrated the hurdles many parents face, particularly when trying to establish a routine.

As one respondent noted, they felt most in control of their home life when they have a routine, and have things run smoothly at least most of the time.

Notably, while Tuesday and Wednesday are when the greatest number of families eat dinner together (50% and 51%, respectively), its also when most families dont have a plan for dinner (46% and 44%, respectively). As meal planning becomes progressively more difficult for the majority of parents throughout the week, many respondents said they turn to different techniques to simplify the process, from implementing a consistent menu (40%) to stocking up on common pantry items (39%).

This survey is fascinating, as it illuminates parents need for simplified, convenient products that can help solve the ever-present hurdle of getting dinner on the table. More often than not, parents dont have the time or the right ingredients on-hand for dinner, or they forget to thaw essential components, said Heidi Meyer, creator of Pound of Ground Crumbles frozen uncooked ground beef.

The biggest challenges for getting dinner on the table, according to the survey respondents, are missing key ingredients (36%) and waiting on frozen meat to thaw (33%). Markedly, 76% of parents surveyed were likely to sometimes forget to take meat out of the freezer in time for dinner, and nearly half did so frequently.

Leaning on pantry staples can help solve meal challenges and extending the way we think about the pantry to the freezer is a true game-changer, said Meyer. Thats what makes Pound of Ground Crumbles so unique  its a freezer staple that pours right into the pan from frozen. No defrosting, no thawing and no planning necessary.

Pound of Ground Crumbles is currently in the middle of a Return-to-Routine campaign, supporting retailers both in-store and digitally to generate sales and awareness of the innovative product. In the last 16 months, Pound of Ground Crumbles has gone from an initial test launch in 250 stores to distribution in 5,000 stores nationwide.* Found in the frozen section of retail grocers, Pound of Ground Crumbles comes in three varieties  Original 80/20, Hearty-Sized Pieces 80/20 and Original with Onion.

*Please find specific store locations at poundofground.com.

ABOUT POUND OF GROUND CRUMBLES

Pound of Ground Crumbles frozen uncooked ground beef is an innovative solution to the age-old question, Whats for dinner? when you have no plan and no meat defrosted. Created by a busy parent for busy schedules, Pound of Ground Crumbles is 100% natural ground beef that cooks from frozen in under 10 minutes with no thawing or planning ahead. Learn more about Pound of Ground Crumbles at poundofground.com.

ABOUT JBS USA

JBS USA is a leading global food company providing diversified, high-quality food products for sale to customers in approximately 100 countries on six continents. This includes meat and poultry products, a portfolio of recognized brands and innovative premium foods. Visit jbsfoodsgroup.com.
The Star Will Take You Out of Darkness: a potent memoir that brings the authors determined spirit to the forefront. The Star Will Take You Out of Darkness is the creation of published author Ruzanna Khachatryan, a native of Armenia who graduated the Armenian State Pedagogical University with a bachelors degree and worked as a history teacher. She moved to America in 1996 and has become a hairstylist beginning in 1998. Currently, she is the owner of Ruzanna Hair Salon. Khachatryan has been featured in Allure, Lucky, Vitals, New York Times, and C! magazines. She is a mother to two children.

It is incredible that now as I look back, I can clearly see how God was accomplishing His promises by orchestrating my actions in such a precise way and layering my life, taking me back and forth, back and forth, and proving his existence in my life.

Thats the reason you have this book in your hands. When I finished my writing, I was worried about whether or not I was doing the right thing. I wondered, What if my decision is wrong? What if Im not qualified for this? I dont know anything about the Bible. Who am I to honor Jesus Christ with my work? The voice of fear was so loud that it was keeping me away to being worthy to testify about Him. But then He gave me the supernatural.

It was a Sunday at 1:57 on Easter morning, when the brightest, biggest light, surrounded by a beautiful, luminous blue light hit my face twice like a heartbeat! The next day, incredibly, I became a painter without even knowing anything about painting or drawing. This miracle was Gods evidence and verification for my book.

At this moment, as Im writing, I cant stop my tears. I understood that my stories were not given to me just to enjoy myself, but they were given for a reason, maybe to be a key to open lots of closed or troubled souls to God, as has indeed happened with my own soul. This was my assignment: to write everything down without adding or removing a single detail, so that you will believe that Jesus Christ is real, and He exists.

Im not a miracle worker, nor have I been anointed with some supernatural power to convince you, but I know that my testimony about Jesus Christ is true.

My promise to you is by reading this book, you will experience the presence of Jesus Christ and His blessing to your soul.

Remember, Jesus Christ is the only truth and a light out of darkness.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ruzanna Khachatryans new book brings a collection of deeply personal spiritual experiences to life for those in need of encouragement.

Khachatryan shares in hopes of spreading the knowledge gained from the many moments of spiritual reflection and inspiration she has experienced over a lifetime.

Consumers can purchaseThe Star Will Take You Out of Darkness at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Star Will Take You Out of Darkness, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


Simon Chen joins 25V Diversity Fund Advisory Board Im honored to help the 25V Diversity Fund in its mission of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through venture investing to create a brighter, fuller, more successful future for all. - Simon Chen, 25V Diversity Fund Advisor

Chen is a managing director at August Hill, a global advisory firm that brings industry-leading operators and founding teams together to accelerate smart growth. He has more than 20 years experience with investing in and operating innovative technology and real estate firms  from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Prior to his role at August Hill, Chen served as executive vice president of product and innovation at Anywhere Real Estate (formerly Realogy Holdings), where he was responsible for product, partner programs, agent/broker learning, strategic marketing, corporate ventures and consumer programs. He also served as COO and CEO/president of ERA, an Anywhere brand.

Were extremely excited to have Simon join our advisory board, said 25V Diversity co-founder and General Partner Max Diez. Not only does he have a diverse background as an Asian American, his deep expertise in advisory roles will prove invaluable for our fund.

Chen began his career in real estate more than 20 years ago, founding and eventually selling one of the first tech-enabled real estate brokerages. As a highly sought-after and respected industry thought leader, he has testified about competition in real estate brokerage before the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. He continues to mentor and advise leading real estate venture capital funds. He also helped inspire Diez to start 25V.

Simon told me, Ive seen you taking all these advisor roles and see your passion for helping diverse entrepreneurs. You should consider starting a fund, said Diez. And that planted the seed that eventually blossomed into 25V.

The 25V Diversity Fund invests in startups founded by Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ, women and people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds so they can build successful tech companies that disrupt the status quo. Chens professional acumen and lived experiences make him an ideal advisor for the fund. He joins Diez and 25V Diversity Fund Managing Partners Alexandra Tieu and EJ Pineda.

I have known Max and Alex for several years and have always been impressed with the intelligence and work ethic as operators that they put into everything they do, said Chen. Im honored to help the 25V Diversity Fund in its mission of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through venture investing to create a brighter, fuller, more successful future for all.

About Twenty Five Ventures

Twenty Five Ventures is led by Maximillian Diez, Alexandra Tieu and EJ Pineda. Diez is a Filipino American entrepreneur, investment, real estate and proptech veteran who started his career managing the family fund for the late Arthur C. Zief, a prominent San Francisco attorney. Tieu is a Vietnamese-born investor with an impressive background as a real estate, proptech and legal tech executive. Pineda is a Salvadoran American who is a seasoned real estate technology leader. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California. Learn more at http://www.25v.co.
Do you hear that? Listen closely. Thats the sound of people all over the country scraping the bottom of their bowls because Teriyaki Madness, the Seattle-style Teriyaki Shop franchise, is opening new shops left and right. In Q3 of 2022 alone, Teriyaki Madness opened 13 new shops, with 11 more scheduled to open by the end of the year. In addition to welcoming new franchise partners, Teriyaki Madness broke into several markets this quarter, including Missouri and Louisiana. Altogether, the brand has welcomed 32 new franchisees to the system for a total of 102 Teriyaki Shops.

The franchise development momentum we are seeing this year is the fastest weve ever seen, which is really a testament to the strength of our business model and concept, said Teriyaki Madness CEO Michael Haith. We are really firing on all cylinders in terms of sensational sales and franchise development.

A major advantage to franchising with Teriyaki Madness is the concepts uniquely strong scalability. More than forty percent of this year's new openings are from existing franchisees who have expanded their portfolio to include multiple shops.

Additionally, the Teriyaki Madness concept continues to attract qualified, multi-brand owners who already have impressive QSR portfolios. S.P. Singh, who purchased the rights to open three Teriyaki Madness shops in Indiana, is the current owner of several Wings Etc. locations and owned Mountain Mikes and Subway locations in the past. Chris McMillan, who purchased rights to open 35 Teriyaki Madness shops in Florida and Arkansas, owns 26 Sonic Drive-Ins and six Rib Crib locations. Ken Schanke and Audrey Ponyton are multi-unit Jersey Mike's Subs franchisees who purchased rights to open three Teriyaki Madness shops in Connecticut. The list goes on.

With so many new shops opening, the Teriyaki Madness team is making sure to further optimize the business model and position incoming and existing franchise owners for success. In the third quarter, the Teriyaki Madness team launched Free Delivery Tuesdays, which didnt only increase dispatch (delivery) sales, but also resulted in an overall bump in system-wide sales between July and September. For the newly opened shops, the brand also shifted its grand opening tactic to combine its traditional in-person strategy with its post-COVID virtual best practices. The result has proven to be a major success.

Behind the scenes, Teriyaki Madness has also been evolving its real estate strategy for incoming franchisees and facilitating partnerships with national providers to overcome the challenges of todays real estate market. For example, the brand recently announced strategic partnerships with Boston-based real estate brokerage Bialow Real Estate and construction program management company Sevan.

With 60 Teriyaki Madness shops slated to open next year, the brand is set to hit the 200-unit mark by the end of 2023. It is currently focused on finding qualified franchise partners interested in multi-unit development.

Growth is not something we force, said Haith. We look at where the demand is and ensure the opportunity is right. Right now, we dont have to look very hard. The demand for Teriyaki Madness is growing everywhere, and potential multi-unit franchisee partners are finding us who have experience and are looking to grow their portfolios. As we prepare for the end of the year, we are excited to see what the future holds.

ABOUT TERIYAKI MADNESS:

Fast casual Teriyaki Shop franchise Teriyaki Madness is committed to unconditionally satisfying guests by offering delicious, made-to-order, healthy (or not) bowls, apps and sides, prepared with fresh, all-natural ingredients served quickly and at a reasonable price. Guests can enjoy their bowls in the shop, or order through the mobile app for delivery or curbside pickup. Teriyaki Madness has been ranked on Entrepreneurs Top Food Franchises, FastCasuals Movers and Shakers in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, the Inc. 5000 list for six straight years, and was named the Fastest-Growing Big Restaurant Chain in the United States by Restaurant Business in 2021. Founded in 2003, the brand currently has more than 125 shops open, with franchising opportunities nationwide for qualified single and multi-unit candidates. For more information, visit http://www.franchise.teriyakimadness.com.
Officials from the Public Schools of Brookline joined students, alumni, families, educators, neighbors, and representatives from Leftfield, Jonathan Levi Architects, and Gilbane Building Company to celebrate the topping out of the 155,000-SF Michael Driscoll School in Brookline, Massachusetts.

The new facility will address concerns regarding a growing student population within the district, accommodating nearly 800 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth. Through purposeful design, the school will offer Brooklines youngest and middle grades learners an enriching environment to bolster 21st century learning.

In the one year since construction began, over 11,000 cubic yards of concrete has been placed and over 1,200 tons of structural steel erected as the project inches closer to completion and meeting Brooklines goal of providing a creative, joyful, and whole-child public education for its diverse community of learners.

A lot of hard work and effort has been put forth by our team of skilled trades men and women to bring us to this second of project milestones, said Mike OBrien, senior vice president and business unit leader for Gilbane in Massachusetts. This project has been an inspiring journey for our team, as weve also had the opportunity to engage the student body into the construction process. Were so appreciative of the Town of Brookline for welcoming us into their community as we build their new school.

The Michael Driscoll Elementary School is slated for completion in the fall of 2023, followed by demolition of the existing school and construction of new playfields to be completed by May 2024.

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.

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University Cancer & Blood Center "My dream for 30 years has been to take care of my patients with a truly comprehensive approach to breast cancer care." - Dr. Cody Gunn

University Cancer & Blood Center (UCBC), a leading oncology and hematology practice for Northeast Georgia, is launching its Comprehensive Breast Health Program. It is a customized, personal approach to breast cancer treatment and prevention.

UCBCs Comprehensive Breast Health Program features a complete staff of highly qualified and dedicated specialists providing state-of-the-art individualized care. This will be a complete and multidisciplinary approach, including surgical care, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and imaging with screening and diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.

Services include a high-risk screening program that combines advanced technology with expert clinical assessment to determine a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer. Features include risk assessment using multiple computerized models to achieve the most accurate results. Women with an elevated lifetime risk of breast cancer may qualify for more intense screening with 3D mammogram and breast MRI as desired. Additional care includes physical examinations, genetic counseling and testing as indicated, and risk-reducing strategies.

My dream for 30 years has been to take care of my patients with a truly comprehensive approach to breast cancer care, says expert breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Cody Gunn. To be able to work alongside UCBCs medical and radiation oncologists as a part of one team is great for patient care. I believe our comprehensive, personalized care will have a significant positive impact on patient outcomes as well.

The UCBC Comprehensive Breast Health Program is led by Dr. Gunn and Dr. Ashley Ray, the first fellowship-trained breast surgeon to practice in Athens. Their unique perspectives and backgrounds complement each other in their unified mission to help women prevent, treat, and return to full health after breast cancer treatment. Additionally, the staff specializes in the treatment of benign breast diseases.

The team includes Heather Wheatley, NP, who has long championed the High Risk Breast Clinic, and now Sarah Shanewise, PA, who assists in all facets of breast care. Casey Freeman is a certified nurse navigator who helps guide every woman through all aspects of her breast care.

While the doctors and their team will be seeing patients immediately at UCBCs North Chase Street location, UCBC is in the process of building a standalone Comprehensive Cancer Center that is scheduled to open summer of 2023. This will be a destination site for all cancer care, including the Comprehensive Breast Health Program.

UCBC Comprehensive Breast Health Program appointments can be made by visiting UniversityCancer.com or by calling (762) 356-4780

Location: UCBC Comprehensive Breast Health Program, 658 N. Chase St., Suite 201, Athens.

Hours: Monday  Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

About UCBC

University Cancer & Blood Center has been Northeast Georgias leading cancer and hematology treatment center for over 40 years. Our highly skilled medical professionals, whose backgrounds include working at the nations leading cancer centers, provide every patient with the most advanced cancer care available in an atmosphere of care and compassion. For more information, visit universitycancer.com or call (706) 353-2990.


Our students will be better prepared for the workforce in the high-demand job market of healthcare.



The University of La Verne is now accepting registrations for six new professional development programs that will help prepare students for in-demand jobs in the medical field.

Those programs include Dental Assistant, Home Health Aide, Medical Assistant, Medical Records Specialist, Patient Care Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician. Several include a clinical externship component in which students will work side-by-side with professionals to gain real-world experience in their field of study.

The new programs are offered through a partnership between universitys Extended Learning Department, College of Health and Community Well-Being, and CareerStep, an online provider of career-focused education and professional training.

We are excited to launch this new partnership, providing an opportunity for our community members to create better futures for their families through training, education and the career skills desired by employers, said Jaimie Rush, senior director of extended learning at the University of La Verne. Our students will be better prepared for the workforce in the high-demand job market of healthcare.

The courses are generally open to anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent, and can be completed within one year. Curriculum is fully online, making them accessible and flexible for working adults.

Students have access to personalized attention and support, including 24/7 online chat and career advisors, as well as post-completion support through a hiring partner network.

The University of La Verne has long been a leader in health education, offering a wide range of bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs, as well as non-degree and certificate programs, through its College of Health and Community Well-Being and Extended Learning Department.

With this new partnership, the university joins more than 150 educational institutions in CareerSteps network of academic partners, including the Antelope Valley College, California Medical College, CSU Bakersfield, Citrus College, Clinical Training Institute, College of the Desert, College of the Sequoias, Elite Career College, Fresno State, Golden West College, Healthcare Academy of CA, and Merced College.

For more information and to register visit laverne.edu/extended-learning.

About the University of La Verne

Founded in 1891, the University of La Verne is a private, nonprofit, comprehensive institution founded on four core values: lifelong learning, ethical reasoning, civic and community engagement, and diversity and inclusivity. Ranked among the best in the country for social mobility by US News & World Report, the university serves about 6,000 students on the historic La Verne location as well as across eight regional campuses and online.
In 2016, Susan Dennards YA high fantasy, Truthwitch, launched a bestselling series thats now in development for television with the Jim Henson Company. After four books and one illustrated novella set in the Witchlands universe, Dennard is pressing pause to offer fans something differenta trilogy-opening horror-tinged fantasy adventure called The Luminaries, about a clandestine organization that trains hunters to protect an unsuspecting public from nightmares come to life. PW spoke with Dennard about The Luminaries unique origins, what its like to juggle two series at once, and writing as therapy.

Can you talk a bit about The Luminaries winding path to publication?

I originally came up with the idea almost 10 years ago, but paranormal was on the outs, and my publisher at the time wasnt interested, so my agent and I set the proposal aside, and I turned to the Witchlands series. Then, in 2019, I was in a rather dark place personally, having gone through failed IVF and a miscarriage. I was sitting at LaGuardia and didnt really want to be with my thoughts, so I distracted myself by pulling out that old idea and saying, Lets turn it into a Sooz-your-own-adventure on Twitter! I didnt actually think anyone would participate; I just thought, Lets just throw it out there and see what happensif anyone answers my poll. I think the first tweet was: You wake up on the morning of your 16th birthday to find a crow tapping at the window. Do you And then the people on Twitter got to choose: Did they want to go open the window, or go back to sleep? And they chose to open the window, so the story began.

Then, over the course of six months, people kept voting every day on what Winnie Wednesday would do. And I just built everything from this proposal, this world I had crafted years before. When we were done, I thought, You know what? Im going to turn that into a book! Although ultimately, the book itself is very different. Its the same world and the same characters, but a totally new plot, and has lots of Easter eggs for the original fans.

Did you initially try to marry the plot to the way the story unfolded on Twitter?

Yeah, I did, because I thought thats what people would want. But one, it wasnt fun for me, because I am more of a discovery writer, and that was like writing from a very strict outline. And two, the internet makes very bad choices. Like, it was fun, and people made poor choices on purpose just to see what I would have to unspool in the story, but there were so many choices they made that nobody would actually be OK with in a book. I also found that such a big part of the fun was the community, and I was afraid if I tried to tell the same story, it would fall flat because there wasnt that part of it. I think I wrote two chapters, and I was like, Mmmnope. This is not going to work for me. So I set it aside, and let it sit for a bitprobably six or nine monthsand came back to it a few months after I had given birth, and had just finished Witchshadow. Then I was like, Oh! I see a story now.

Who or what served as the seed for this book?

I feel like it was probably the mythology. I liked the idea of these nightmare hunters fighting each night of the week, when these nightmares would rise in a nearby forest. And I was like, if its an ancient society, maybe theyve divided into these clans, one for each night of the week, and I just thought that was cool. I think that was my main initial spark, and then I went from there. The name Winnie Wednesday came to me, which is a kind of absurd name. A lot of it is a little bit campy, and I love that about it. I hope that people read it and they feel like they are watching a really awesome CW show.

How much did you pull from existing mythology to create the living nightmares with which the Luminary hunters do battle?

I did not, mostly because I think that way lies a lot of potential risk, not to mention cultural appropriation. So what I tried to do was, I have a book of monsters at home, and I would thumb through it, and use that as inspiration for my own versions of things. I felt like it was okay to have some Western roots, but I still made the creatures very different. Its almost like if the Luminaries were real and there really were nightmares rising around the world, then the mythology we know grew out of that. The vampira, for exampletheyre giant, pale, glistening, praying mantis-type monsters that are terrifying, and are possibly an origin for vampire myth.

 A lot of it is a little bit campy, and I love that about it. I hope that people read it and they feel like they are watching a really awesome CW show. 

Youve described The Luminaries as the first book in a trilogy. Do you have all three books planned out? Do you already have an ending in mind?

Yeah, I do. I have an ending in mind. Like I said, I discover as I go, but I need to have an emotional resolution Im aiming toward, so that I know where I need my characters to go. The second book was a real struggle as I was trying to lay down all the plot threads that I hinted at in the first book, but its done. Were in the last round of edits right now, and Ive actually started the third book. The trilogy is such a comfortable structure. I think the challenge is that middle part, and then you kind of get to ride out the third book. Im excited for that. If anyone has read my Witchlands series, they know I can get real complicated real fast. I wanted to rein myself in on this series and not go nearly as complex and sweeping and huge as the much longer Witchlands series.

And you still have at least one more Witchlands book in the works, correct?

Yup, one more. The first one came out six years ago. I obviously love that world and its one final book, so I want to get it done. But I mentioned earlier, I had gone through a lot of IVF, and then a miscarriage, and then I had an extremely difficult pregnancy when I did finally get pregnant, and then I had a very traumatic childbirth where I nearly died. I then had an extremely long physical recovery, throughout which I was working on Witchshadow, which is the last Witchlands book I finished. So, to be perfectly candid with you, theres a lot of trauma wrapped up in that book for me. I know that I will have to reckon with that, because I do need to write the last book, and I have started it.

But my hope is to get a little bit into the third Luminaries book and then shift to that. Then, when I get sick of the last Witchlands book, I can jump back to the third Luminaries book. I just met a reader at New York Comic Con who gave me an interesting perspective I hadnt considered and that Im absolutely going to use, which was that maybe I can use this last Witchlands book as healing instead of being so afraid of it. I dont quite know what that will mean or look like, but I was like, That is what I needed to hear. Im going to ponder that now, with my therapist.

That means you have two active fantasy series, each with its own complex mythology. Do you ever have difficulty keeping the two worlds straight in your head?

I think what I catch myself doing is leaning into the same sort of twists or beats or tropes, and having to be like, Oh, wait! No! You did that! You cant do that again; the reader will think you have one move! So, thats more of the challenge. The actual worlds are just so different in the way that they feel to methey are very separated in my head.

Do you think youll need to refamiliarize yourself with the Witchlands books before switching back?

Oh, yeahmost definitely. Its been a while, and I have so many seeds planted. I know what I wanted to do with them, but I need to refresh. And who knows what little secret things I planted for myself, or my subconscious did? So I do want to go back and read the whole thing and refresh and remember everyonenot just where theyre going, but where theyve been.

Many writers have full-time day jobs and treat writing as an escape. You write full-time, so whats your preferred form of escape?

Since I had a child, its less full-time, so the writing actually has shifted, in many ways, back to being an escape. I live in a rural area, and then with Covidit took us as very long time before we could find any childcare assistance. That was another reason I wrote The Luminaries instead of the final Witchlands bookit required significantly less brain power, because its so much simpler, and features only one point of view instead of seven. Now I have a very set window each day of four hours when I have help and its like the brain switches on: its your timego! Its amazing how much one can get done in four hours. Back when I was just writing, I had no idea. Like, Oh, Susan, you wasted so much time! So, it is an escape. Alternatively, Im a pretty big gamer, so I love to game when I have the time, and turn my brain off.

You have a masters degree in marine biology, but you write fantasy, not science fiction. Has your degree influenced your writing career in other ways?

Oh, yeah. Winnie is a science nerd, so I framed her like me. Even if Im not still working in science, its still the lens I have on the world. Winnie has that same lens, its just that instead of being able to tell you all about fish and their evolutionary history, she can tell you everything there is to know about a nightmare. I also use it in the way that I world-buildI come first from landscape and ecology before I even think about the people that live there.

Have you ever considered writing in genres other than fantasy?

I tried to write a contemporary romance 10 or 11 years ago, because I enjoy reading those sorts of books. I also enjoy reading historical romance, and I love cozy mysteries. But what happened was, the contemporary romance turned into a cozy mystery which then turned into a terrifying ghost story. I respect those authors so much, who can create tension without having to throw in beheadings. I wish that I could, but I just cant seem to do simple.

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard. Tor Teen, $16.99 Nov. 1 ISBN 978-1-250-19404-6
Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, founding v-p and publisher of Nashville-based nonfiction imprint Harper Horizon, will succeed Angela Bole as CEO of the Independent Book Publishers Association, effective November 1. Bole will stay on until the end of November, before starting her role as CEO of the Firebrand Group, a publishing technology company. Matt Baugher, senior v-p at Harper Select, will take over Fleck-Nisbets Harper Horizon responsibilities.

I feel fortunate that Angela [Bole] is going to stay on for this month while we have this transition period together, said Fleck-Nisbet, who spent 15 years at Workman Publishing and two years at Ingram Content Group before helping to establish Harper Horizon in 2019. Her immediate goals are extending IBPA as a thought leader within our industry and looking at how can we help small independent publishers to run healthy businesses in terms of efficiencies and scale. She foresees conversations around supply-chain issues, right-sizing inventories, returns policies, and partnering with retailers.

Bole cheered Fleck-Nisbets appointment while expressing pride in IBPA. During her nine years as CEO, Bole worked with the board of directors and membership to institute a committee structure, grow the membership, and invest in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ive appreciated building a community together, Bole said. We have an excellent staff and a dedicated board, and were strong financially despite lean times. Weve made sure we had the money we needed to run new projects and initiatives, among them hiring a DEI consultant and developing policies and definitions for ethical hybrid publishing.

Fleck-Nisbet underscored Boles support of DEI (how do we create an industry that welcomes everyone in?), sustainability, and efficiency. We're at this inflection point where the technology has advanced in such a way that independent publishers have the resources to be able to reach their readers directly, Fleck-Nisbet reflected. Angela has done such an amazing job along with the board in setting core values, digging into the mission of the organization, and setting out goals in a strategic way. At a time where there's a lot of volatility, IBPA is in a wonderful place from a financial perspective and because of this foundation.

Fleck-Nisbet comes to IBPA with substantial publishing experience. Although this will be her first nonprofit leadership role, she familiarized herself with IBPA while serving as Ingrams director of content acquisition. Ingram opened my eyes not only to how many independent publishers there are, but also to the depth and breadth and quality of their work, she said. Her projects included building out special programming for independent publishers and exploring how Ingram could help IBPA members to improve discoverability for titles in a competitive retail space.

She also encountered the spirit of independent publishing at pre-Hachette Workman, where she started her career and advanced to executive director of digital strategy and operations. Early on, she was vacillating between publishing and a social work career when Peter Workman reminded her that publishing and doing good works do not need to be mutually exclusive, she recalled. They can be connected, because you're arming readers with material that's going to improve their lives in one way, shape, or form.

That same indie spirit guided her decision to join IBPA. Having spent 20 years in the industry, she estimated she had another 20 years left in my career. Where am I going to make the most impact? IBPAs offer, she said, felt like a golden opportunity to roll up my sleeves and be part of something that would leave a legacy.

IBPA will remain based in Manhattan Beach, Calif. and Fleck-Nisbet will work remotely from New York with regular trips to California.
After two years of pandemic-restricted tours, author Jeff Kinney is ready to rock againthis time, literally. With the publication of Diper Overlodethe 17th installment in Kinneys mega-bestselling Diary of Wimpy Kid seriesthe author has, uh, loded up the van and hit the road for a series of rock concert-style events. The 12-city tour kicked off on October 24 in the shadow of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, sponsored by indie bookseller Loganberry Books. And yes, the words Hello Cleveland! may have been uttered.

You know, I think I did actually say that, unironically, Kinney said with a laugh. I know I got a really big cheer.

Kinney told PW that the first night of the tour drew about 1,000 fansand it was a total blast. "We have a 10-foot inflatable demon baby and smoke machines that pivot around and shoot fake pyrotechnics. We have lots of different kinds of skits. One of them is that we ask everybody to come dressed as if they're going to a concert, and of course there's always some parents in the audience who didn't get the memo. So we bring them up on stage, have a little fun with them and then send them for a rock-and-roll makeover and have them sing a song. It's really fun."

The Diper Overlode Show tour will hit a total of 12 cities over two weeks, partnering with 12 bookstores along the way to host concert-style events. Kinney will emcee the shows, which feature performances from the Loded Diper band as well as opportunities for concertgoers to show off some of their own singing, dancing, and musical talents. And Kinney even tried his hand at writing a hit song for the tour (with producer Jon Levine and performed by Jimmy Tatro)the stirring rock anthem Can You Smell Us Now, which is available on all the major streaming services.

Whether the song races up the charts or not remains to be seen. But Diper Overlode will certainly be another #1 hit for Kinney and his publisher, Amulet Books, an Abrams imprint. The book follows the exploits of middle schooler Greg Heffley, this time as he tags along with his older brother Rodricks band Loded Diper as their rock & roll dreams collide with reality.

"It's kind of like This Is Spinal Tap for kids," Kinney said. "It starts out with Greg tracking the rise of Loded Diper as they get ready for a battle of the bands, and it covers all the tropes about what happens with bands: getting the right outfits, getting the right look, recording, and of course the tension and the tragic breakup."

Diper Overlode dropped this week with an announced first printing of three million copies. And all told, Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has now sold more than 275 million copies across 82 editions and in 67 languages globally since the first Wimpy Kid book came out 15 years ago this month. And while Kinney did manage to pull off four socially distanced, outdoor tours over the last two years, being able to celebrate the new book on tour and up close with his fans makes the 15-year anniversary a little more special.

"This is really the first time that I've back on a stage since 2020," he said. "Its definitely been a significant chunk of our lives, and I actually talk about that in my presentation, about how when I said goodbye to everybody after our last tour in 2019 I didnt know it would be so long since I'd be back on stage."

Meanwhile, Kinney is also back with a new animated feature for Disney+. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, once again written and produced by Kinney, is set to premiere on the streaming network on December 2, based on the second book in the Wimpy Kid series. Amulet is also set to publish a special movie tie-in edition of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules that will feature a full-color 3D animated cover, on November 24.

Kinney spoke glowingly of the opportunity to reimagine his books as animated features with Disney+.

"I loved doing the Disney+ script writing more than anything in my professional life," he said. "Because, you know, when I started off I wasn't a great writer. I certainly didn't know story structure. I didn't know how to write in three acts. And now I understand the craft from a screenwriting perspective, and I feel like that has made me write better books. And what a privilege to be able to reach a whole new audience all these years later. So I'm really digging into this and I hope we'll make multiple multiple movies."

Meanwhile, with a new Wimpy Kid book on the shelves, a rocking new tour, a new movie just days away, and celebrating 15 years and more than 275 million copies sold, Kinney certainly sounds like an artist whose best is yet to come.

"You know, sometimes I feel bad that we're talking about book 17 because it can sound a little crass, or commercial. But I think of my books as more like serialized comic strips in a way. And comic strip characters have a really long lifespan," Kinney said. "It's really cool to me to be a part of kids' lives across different generations. And I'm about eight years away from reaching the children of the original readers of the Wimpy Kid books. To think that those parents will have fond memories of the books and want to pass them down to their kidsthat's pretty cool."
In American publishing, Astra Publishing House has become something of the talk of the town. Established in early 2020 by Beijing-based publishing conglomerate Thinkingdom Media Group, the literary-minded press is part of a growing group of imprints that is beginning to make its mark on the book business. (In fact, lawyers for Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, defending the proposed merger of those companies in court against the U.S. Department of Justice, cited, however improbably, Astra House as proof that the so-called Big Five are not the only major forces in the American publishing industry.) Once on the scene, Astra immediately started making moves, wooing such publishing veterans as Alessandra Bastagli (formerly at Nation Booksnow Bold Typeand Dey Street) and Rachael Small (from Europa Editions) and rising stars including Deborah Ghim and Danny Vazquez, both of whom spent stints at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It also launched a buzzy literary magazine, Astra, with Nadja Spiegelman, the daughter of comics legends Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly.

At the top of Astra Houses publishing program sits publisher Ben Schrank, the former head of Henry Holt, who we spoke with by email about the latest developments at the press and other bookish matters.

What books are you reading right now?

I just finished Dilla Time from MCD/FSG, which was the musical re-education I didn't know I needed. Now I'm toggling between Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker and Ducks by Kate Beaton. I plan to read Nuar Alsadir's Animal Joy: A Book of Laughter and Resuscitation from Graywolf very soon. Hua Hsu's Stay True is next after that.

What's one of your favorite books that most people don't know?

Henry Green's trilogy: Living, Party Going, Loving.

What's a big book you read recently that surprised you in a good way? In a bad way?

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut was on Obama's 2021 list and I bought it because Michael Taeckens recommended it on Twitter (I think). I was dubious when I started it and now I'm its biggest evangelist.

What book (or books) made you want to be a publisher?

So Long See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell, Sent for you Yesterday by John Edgar Wideman, Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, and Ferdinand by Munro Leaf.

How has the business of publishing in translation changed over the course of your time in publishing?

We're seeing really nice sales for books like Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu. Ferrante paved the way for that kind of success so that's a welcome change and a smoother, or better, path and we hope to continue to capitalize on the openness to translated works that we're seeing, especially via celebrations like Women in Translation month.

During the trial over the government's lawsuit to block Penguin Random House's proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster, Astra House was one of a number of publishers the defense's lawyers consistently referred to as a serious rival for the possibly soon-to-be megapublisher. What are your thoughts on that?

*face without mouth emoji* 

To that point, you're one of a handful of relatively new publishers making waves in the book business. What do you think is spurring so many in the industry to strike out on their own right now?

Publishing is a dream, a beautiful occupation, a scary reality day to dayI'm not surprised at all that lots of people are trying it and I know we're all incredibly grateful to independent booksellers for their help.

Astra House's sister publication is one of the talks of the literary town in the U.S. right now. How does having a lit mag with an international focus impact, or inform, your book business?

Astra Magazine is so exciting! We maintain a healthy editorial separation but sure, we share information when we can and we read the website everyday. We do think it helps keep us aware of what's exciting in short form fiction and non-fiction. I'm still thinking about Yiyun Li's memories of third grade and Gabriel Matesanz on biking in the city: Were all in this together. But dont try and pass me at an intersection unless you have what it fucking takes!

What are some trends to watch out for in international literature?

Books that interrogate a sense of place, regional literature that helps us to understand places that are foreign to usI think that's what people want right now.

What are some trends in American literature your international book business friends and contacts are most excited about? What are some they're tired of?

My colleague Patrizia van Daalen says people are looking for less US-centric stories, bigger and wider stories that they can relate to. She says we want to zoom into spaces that help us understand the bigger picture of what is happening in the US and beyond now. And I would add that I think it's harder and harder to invigorate autofictionand I love autofiction.
Brazos Remembers Mary Magdalene

Katelyn Beaty, editorial director for Brazos Press, acquired world rights for Jennifer Powell McNutts unagented The Mary Magdalene We Forgot, which is scheduled to be released in fall 2024. McNutt, a church historian, theologian, and the first woman to hold the William S. Dryness Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College, examines scripture and church history to shed light on the real Mary Magdalene as a model of discipleship for contemporary Christians, according to the publisher.

WaterBrook Signs Journalists Debut

Kimberly Von Fange, assistant editor at Waterbrook & Multnomah, signed world rights for Chante Griffins Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself from Jevon Bolden of Embolden Media Group. Scheduled for publication in winter 2024, the book brings a contemporary perspective on the message of the Civil Rights Movement about Gods love for Black folks that invites readers to love their Black neighbors holistically and unreservedly, according to the publisher. Griffin, a journalist, artist, and natural hair advocate, writes about the intersection of race, culture, and faith for publications such as The Washington Post and Vogue.com.

Zondervan Takes a Book on Dallas Willard

V-p and publisher for Zondervan Books Webster Younce took world rights to The Kind of People We Are: Dallas Willards Ideas and a Better Politics by Michael Wear, who served in the White House under President Obama and is the founder/CEO of the consulting firm Public Square Strategies. He was represented by David R. Patterson at Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, Inc. Zondervan, which will release the book in January 2024, calls the work a timely addition from one of Americas preeminent thought-leaders at the intersection of faith and politics that promises to chart a new path forward in the integration of faith and public life.

St. Martins Buys Levingss Memoir

St. Martins Press executive editor Eileen Rothschild acquired world English rights from Trinity McFadden at the Bindery to A Well Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy. In the memoir, Tia Levings describes growing up in a fundamentalist evangelical

culture and enduring church-sanctioned domestic abuse. After breaking loose from the church, St. Martins said, Levings became an activist for those affected by religious trauma, exposing the realities of Christian fundamentalism. As a writer, creator, and content specialist, she explores the female narrative in patriarchal spaces. In spring 2023, Levings will appear in an Amazon Prime documentary on the Institute of Basic Life Principle, which some former members charge is a cult. A Well Trained Wife is scheduled for publication in winter 2024.

IVP Kids Sees a Picture Book

IVP Kids acquiring editor Elissa Schauer took world rights from Tawny Johnson of Illuminate Literary to Zion Loves to See by father-daughter team Terence and Zion Lester, with illustrations by Subi Bosa. Slated for publication in spring 2024, the picture book is aimed at ages 4-8 and follows a young girl who joins her father at a local rescue shelter, which brings a growing awareness of people in marginalized communities and how faith can lead to action. Robbin Brosterman of Bright Agency represented the illustrator.

Zondervan Signs Therapists Debut

Andy Rogers, acquiring editor at Zondervan Books, bought world rights from Tom Dean of A Drop of Ink Literary for Jason VanRulers Get Back Up Again: How Facing Your Past Can Transform Your Future, slated for publication in October 2023. VanRuler, founder of a therapy practice specializing in relationships, trauma, and addiction, uses humor, faith, and empathy to in an effort to connect with readers and help them find healing after trauma, addiction, or hurt.

Childrens Theater Expert Plays the Bible with Behrman

David Behrman, owner and editor at Behrman House, took world rights to the tentatively titled Playing the Bible by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman. Chapman, who represented himself in the deal, created a Bible-based book for families and educators of children 4-7 that brings weekly Bible texts to life through imaginative exploration and creative play. Founder of The Kilu Company and on the faculty of Northwestern University School of Theatre, Chapman has served as executive director Theater for Young Audiences and Jewish Education. He has created works for the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Seattle Childrens Theatre.
Joe Lonsdale, founder and managing partner at U.S.-based venture capital firm 8VC, will be on campus as Presidential Lecture Series guest in November. (Photo provided)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Serial entrepreneur, startups investor and philanthropist Joe Lonsdale will be the next Presidential Lecture Series guest, joining Purdue University President Mitch Daniels for the discussion at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in Stewart Centers Fowler Hall.

The event, titled A Conversation on Innovation With Entrepreneur, Investor and Philanthropist Joe Lonsdale, is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Purdue Presidents Council, the event also will be livestreamed.

Lonsdale, 40, is a leading technology entrepreneur and investor who became the youngest member included in the Forbes Midas List of the worlds 100 best venture capitalists in 2016 and 2017. Lonsdale is managing partner at 8VC, a U.S.-based venture capital firm that manages several billion dollars in committed capital.

In 2021 he became a founding trustee of the University of Austin, a new university in Texas.

Before focusing on institutional investing, Lonsdale co-founded Palantir, a global software firm known for its work in defense and other industries, as well as for providing the platform to manage the COVID-19 pandemic status and response for assisting key decision-makers in over 35 countries.

There is nobody Purdue admires more than innovators, inventors and those who challenge conventional wisdom, Daniels said. Well get all that and more when Joe Lonsdale comes to visit.

After launching Palantir, Lonsdale founded and remains chairman of both Addepar, which has in excess of $4 trillion on its wealth management technology platform, and OpenGov, which provides software for over 2,000 municipalities and state agencies.

More recently, he co-founded Affinity, Epirus, Resilience and other mission-driven technology companies, which he continues to create with his team from the 8VC Build program.

He also was an early institutional investor in a lengthy list of notable technology startups including Oculus, Guardant Health, Oscar, Illumio, Anduril, Wish, JoyTunes, Blend, Flexport, Joby Aviation, Cityblock, Orca Bio, Qualia, Synthego, RelateIQ and others.

Lonsdale sits on the board of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute and also is an advisor to a range of other nonprofit ventures.

He began his career as an early executive at Clarium Capital, which he helped grow into a large, global macro-hedge fund. Lonsdale also worked at PayPal while attending Stanford University.

Lonsdale and his wife, Tayler, are active in a variety of philanthropic and institutional pursuits, including support for liberty in public policy, the classical arts and health care innovation. In 2018 they founded the nonpartisan Cicero Institute, which crafts and advances policies to promote transparent and accountable governance in over a dozen states.

Very early into Daniels tenure at Purdue, the university opened the rules for its policy governing intellectual property. That means students and faculty inventors now own their innovations, fostering and incentivizing a culture of entrepreneurship that extends from the newest first-year student to the most senior faculty member.

And the innovations on campus have followed. Purdue Research Foundation received 169 patents in 2021, ranking sixth internationally and first in the state of Indiana and the Big Ten. That mirrors Purdues No. 6 ranking in 2020, when PRF received 175 utility patents. In addition, the mission of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Discovery Park District at Purdue is to support innovative programs, activities and business-plan competitions and to provide the resources for moving student and faculty ideas to the marketplace.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Writer and media contact: Phillip Fiorini, pfiorini@purdue.edu, 765-430-6189
Belle by Kim Gravel Faux Leather Ponte Pant with Hip Zippers is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 35 .

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Lionsgate+ is said to be home to some of the most sought-after series on TV including The Girl From Plainville, based on the true story of the US texting-suicide trial of Michelle Carter and the death of Conrad Roy, and the genre-bending series The Great plus a huge collection of blockbuster films added to the platform every month.Customers in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy will now be able to subscribe, for 5.99/ 4.99 a month, to a library of exclusive, premium content that includes political thriller Gaslit; time travel saga Outlander; period dramas The Serpent Queen and the upcoming Dangerous Liaisons. With Sky Ultimate TV alongside, customers can continue to enjoy House of the Dragon , This England and The White Lotus and other Sky content.Later in 2022, the app will arrive on Sky Q, Sky Glass in Italy and Sky Q in Germany.Partnering with Sky, Europes premium content provider, is a key strategy in strengthening Lionsgate+s presence in Europe and will give even more subscribers access to our massive offering of curated content said Superna Kalle, president, international networks for Starz commenting on the deal. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with viewers through Sky who share our commitment to delivering audiences exceptional content paired with a premium user experience.
Community and school officials joined students from several community schools and members of the Rushmore Optimist Club in the kickoff event for the annual Red Ribbon Week. The event was held in the concourse of the Summit Arena. The event was moved this year due to the renovations at Dinosaur Park.

Mayor Steve Allender shared comments on the importance of keeping the communitys youth away from drugs and offered a mayoral proclamation declaring Red Ribbon Week in Rapid City.

Schools presented large ribbons signed by students committed to staying free of drugs. The ribbons were combined to form a larger ribbon that was then displayed next to The Monument sign outside the Arena. The Rapid City Central Junior ROTC program also provided a fun-tossing display.

Students from the following schools participated (in order of presentation): South Park Elementary, Southwest Middle, East Middle, North Middle, West Middle, Central High, Knollwood Elementary, Robbinsdale Elementary, Wilson Elementary, Black Hawk Elementary, Valley View Elementary, South Canyon Elementary, Corral Elementary, St. Thomas More Middle and South Middle.

Winning students in the annual art contest were recognized and the winning entries will be presented in large and small community billboards.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/16/2022



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FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS!

Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source!

Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have split up and divorced? And where are they now?

's first fourteen seasons followed 54 couples as they married a stranger at first sight -- so which couples are still together, who split up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which premiered in the United States eight years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie , and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out!

BEGIN GALLERY >>

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

A Japanese delegation visited Azerbaijan to explore the possibilities of the Middle Corridor, Azernews reports.

As part of the visit, Azerbaijani Digital Development and Transport Deputy Minister Rahman Hummatov held a meeting with the delegation. The meeting was attended by representatives of Japans Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Japanese companies, and the embassy of Japan.

Speaking at the meeting, Rahman Hummatov gave extensive information about the possibilities of the Middle Corridor. He noted that in addition to the development of physical infrastructure, it is necessary to take measures such as harmonization of tariff policy, facilitation of border crossing procedures, and digitalization of the corridor.

The deputy minister added that together with Turkiye and Georgia, efforts have been stepped up to complete the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, which is of vital importance in the Middle Corridor, and to consistently increase the throughput capacity.

Moreover, Rahman Hummatov spoke about the importance of the Zangazur Corridor.

The opening of the Zangazur Corridor will serve to expand international transport links, he said.

At the same time, he noted that the digitalization of the Middle Corridor is one of the most important means in terms of transparency in transit traffic and ensuring equal conditions for carriers.

Additionally, he underlined that reciprocal visits serve to further enhance cooperation in the field of transport between the two countries.

The parties expressed confidence that the Middle Corridor will become a competitive, intensively used route with joint efforts and efficient cooperation of the countries located along the corridor.

The Middle Corridor or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is a vital trans-Eurasian corridor that runs through the South Caucasus. The route begins in Southeast Asia and China and travels to Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. It is one of the new Silk Road routes, the Middle Corridor of the One Belt, One Road project. During the crisis, this transport corridor proved to be the most profitable, safest, reliable, and stable. As a result, this corridor is attracting the attention of an increasing number of exporters and importers.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on September 7, 1992. On October 12, 2005, the embassy of Azerbaijan in Japan was opened, while the embassy of Japan in Azerbaijan was opened on January 21, 2000.

Azerbaijan and Japan are cooperating in different sectors of the economy. Japanese companies in Azerbaijan work in oil and gas as well as in the agricultural sectors. During the entire period of cooperation between the two countries, Japan has invested $7.1 billion in Azerbaijan. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $274.8 million in 2021.

We should also note that 2022 is the Year of friendship between Azerbaijan and Japan.
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.
Windham voters went to the polls in November 2021 to decide whether to close the school and adopt school choice for elementary school.
Photographer / Multimedia Editor

Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
Michael Pieciak, second from right, visited Halifax on Friday to meet with school officials. Pieciak also met with fellow Democratic candidates for the state senate, Wendy Harrison and Nader Hashim, and Tristan Roberts, seeking to represent Wilmington, Whitingham, and Halifax, where he lives, in the state house.
To the editor: First, Id like to compliment the Reformer, and especially Chris Mays, for the way in which stories about Brattleboro Union Hig
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Linda E. Johnson is executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
The Chinese Communist Partys 20th Congress saw the thorough consolidation of power by Xi Jinping, elected to a third term, with a leadership that is personally loyal to him. No leader since Mao consolidated this amount of political power. Chinas importance as a trade partner and regional power means that this will be felt across Southeast Asia economically, politically, as well as in the diplomatic and security realm.

What may be good for Xi politically is not good for China economically. Xi stacked the Politburo and its Standing Committee with ideologues and loyalists; there are no pro-economic reform advocates left and corporate China is not represented.

Even before the 20th Congress, the Chinese economy had slowed as a result of the draconian zero-covid policy and Xis assault on the dynamic privately owned tech sector. But the markets reacted sharply to Xis consolidation of power.

The stock market index collapsed as soon as the markets opened on Monday. There was a major selloff on all indexes and some $2.47 billion of foreign funds immediately withdrew from the China market.

Theres a real concern that the informal tax on the wealthy, known as the Common Prosperity donations, will become larger and more compulsory.

Capital flight is skyrocketing as high-net-worth individuals seek to move their funds to the safety of foreign jurisdictions. Money is flowing out of China as fast as possible. The Financial Times reported that the number of private Chinese family investments in Singapore nearly doubled from 400 to 700 since late 2020.

No one will speak truth to power in China anymore. Surrounded by sycophants, Xi is more likely to pursue policies that cannot be reversed.

This has an immediate impact on Southeast Asia as every countrys largest trading partner is China, particularly those that are still largely dependent on the export of raw materials.

China, which has been a major source of foreign investment in the region is seeing its GDP growth continue to slow, now below 5 percent for the year.

While capital flight may help some sectors in Southeast Asia, the gains will be narrow, and not compensate for the loss of China as the driver of economic growth in the region.

Workers stand beside an Electric Multiple Unit high-speed train for a rail link project thats part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, at Tegalluar train depot in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, Oct. 13, 2022. Credit: Reuters A changing Belt and Road Initiative

While the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is still state policy, Xi's signature program of infrastructure lending for projects to boost China's trade with Asia and Africa is a diminished initiative. In 2018 and 2019, even before the pandemic, BRI lending dropped precipitously. The two state-owned development banks that were responsible for 75 percent of BRI funding, saw lending collapse. Overall lending in 2020 was 58 percent from its 2018 peak.

Very clearly, many BRI projects are underwater and debt servicing had slowed. In 2018-19, China quietly renegotiated the repayment terms of $16 billion in loans. The pandemic caused a further slowdown in lending.

Though BRI projects recommenced in 2020, they are considerably smaller in scale and amount.

Xi will not abandon the BRI. Its his vanity project and too associated with him to dismantle. Indeed, it was mentioned five times in the Oct. 16 Political Report to the congress, compared to just twice in 2017.

The BRI will likely move away from physical infrastructure and focus on fiber optic cables, 5G and 6G, and the export of artificial intelligence/smart cities. Emphasizing the Digital Silk Road serves many of Chinas interests. It deepens their control over the internet and protocols, routes more traffic through Chinese servers, and gets other countries to adopt Chinese software and norms. The export of their digital authoritarian model will be a key priority.

Analysts are still divided on what the Congress means for Taiwan, a major factor in region-wide stability. On the one hand, Xis report was fairly pragmatic and made clear that there would be no quick move to invade the island, though he refused to renounce the use of force. Taiwan was mentioned only nine times in the report, compared to 12 in 2017, and the report offered no change in the existing policy.

Although Xi remains focused on PLA modernization by 2027, which obviously includes all Taiwan contingencies, his personnel selection for the Central Military Commission (CMC) also suggest caution.

The CMC has little in the way of operational experience, in particular joint experience, with the exception of its two vice chairmen. While it includes the commander of the ground forces, the CMC is dominated by the army and lacks representation from the Strategic Rocket Forces, PLA-Navy, PLA-Air Force, i.e. the service arms that would be most involved in an invasion of or an attack on Taiwan.

Of course theres always the chance of a miscalculation or uncontrolled escalation. China still sees a very narrow window of opportunity to reunify Taiwan.

But Xi and the CCP cannot afford anything other than a decisive military victory over Taiwan that does not escalate into a protracted conflict with the United States and others. The reputational cost to the regime for failing to achieve a clear-cut victory would be astronomical.

Sansha Citys maritime militia demonstrating knife fighting on Woody Island in the South China Sea. Credit: Xinhua News. Downsides for security and the economy

Thats actually not good for Southeast Asia. A limited conflict in the South China Sea against a much weaker adversary, where they can control the escalatory cycle, far away from the prying eyes of their ultranationalist public, is a very good opportunity for the PLA to gain some joint warfighting experience.

As such, there will be a harder line and a more aggressive stance in the South China Sea.

But were in new territory here. Xi has absolute and unrestricted power; there are no institutional checks on him, which makes security in Southeast Asia far less predictable.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who successfully executed Xi Jinpings wolf warrior diplomacy featuring combative, jingoistic envoys who hectored their host countries on social media, was elevated to the 24-man Politburo. He will replace Yang Jiechi as the director of the general office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

On the Politburo Standing Committee is Wang Huning, the top ideology czar who ensured that Xi Jinping Thought was enshrined in the constitution. Wang is also a fervent nationalist and really the driving force behind the assertive nationalism and the BRI that were the hallmarks of Xis first decade in office.

Xis army of wolf warrior diplomats will continue their hawkish rhetoric, despite the fact that public opinion towards China across Southeast Asia is starting to harden.

Its important that both the Minister of State Security and the Minister of Public Security, for the first time sit on the Politburo.

This underscores the regimes obsession with security, but it also matters in Southeast Asia, where the long arm of Chinas law has been felt, with demands for the repatriation of dissidents and Uyghurs.

The governments of Southeast Asia are clearly afraid of being pulled into great power competition between the United States and China. No state wants to be forced to chose sides, as both countries are critically important economic partners.

For the past several years, Southeast Asians have largely blamed Washington for destabilizing actions, including the U.S. Navys Freedom of Navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea or Speaker Nancy Pelosis July 2022 visit to Taiwan.

Now, however, Xi made clear that he is going to pursue a much more confrontational policy towards the United States. But most importantly, China looks set to continue to undermine the rules-based international order that has been the foundation for Southeast Asias spectacular economic growth.

Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or RFA.
Taiwanese investors sell up hotels and restaurants, as state companies are ordered to buy up housing for employees

Prices of some luxury homes in Shanghai, shown here, have fallen by 30 or 40 percent from their pre-party congress numbers.

The prices of some luxury apartments in Shanghai have tumbled in the wake of the Communist Party congress, with wealthy Chinese and Taiwanese owners looking to offload their assets amid what they see as a major shift in economic policy, Radio Free Asia has learned.

"People are dumping apartments; prices of many luxury homes have fallen by 30 or 40 percent compared with market prices [before the party congress]," Shanghai real estate broker Zhao Ting told RFA in a recent interview.

"They are all getting out; they are worried it will be too late if they don't sell now," Zhao said.

Online advertisements showed the "negotiable" asking price for a large penthouse in the Chateau Pinnacle development, the former residence of actress Carina Lau, at 35,990,000 yuan after the party congress, compared with an earlier listing of 60 million yuan in September.

Meanwhile, a luxury penthouse in the city's Finance Street Rongyu development was listed with an asking price of 50 million yuan on Oct. 23, compared with 55 million yuan last month.

The changes come as Communist Party leader Xi Jinping begins a third and potentially indefinite term in office, pledging to take greater state control of the economy, removing power and influence from the private sector and curbing private wealth.

Common Prosperity

Xi's "common prosperity" and "Chinese-style modernization" policies refer to the broadening of an ongoing crackdown on private tech giants like Alibaba and Didi Chuxing, using regulatory investigations, Communist Party committees in major companies and direct orders from the top.

Last year, Chinese regulators blocked a planned U.S. $35 billion initial public offering for Alibaba founder Jack Ma's fintech Ant Group in Hong Kong, and ordered the operators of ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing to delist from the New York Stock Exchange.

According to Zhao Ting, most of Shanghai's wealthiest people have already left the country, or at least transferred their assets overseas.

Those still trying to sell off luxury property in the city had likely failed to realize the likely implications of Xi's ideology and leadership for their personal wealth and privilege.

"There is no longer any illusion of hope for the future under the current leadership," Zhao said. "And it has become clear to everyone that they will continue to develop the zero-COVID policy of constant mass-testing, constant tracking of individuals' movements and restrictions on personal freedom.

Zhou Ning, a real estate broker in the central province of Hubei, said similar patterns are visible in other Chinese cities and provinces, with sell-offs under way in Wuhan, Beijing, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

"Large numbers of rich people are now selling off their assets in China, especially wealthy people in Shanghai and Beijing," Zhou told RFA, adding that they are adapting to the new reality with "a flexible attitude."

"A lot of their privately owned assets are being bought up by state-owned enterprises," he said. "Some of my friends have bought up hotels and restaurants from Taiwanese."

"Taiwanese people feel that there has been a change of policy direction, so they are selling."

Unfinished apartment buildings stand at a residential complex developed by Jiadengbao Real Estate in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, Sept. 17, 2022. Credit: Reuters

He said the nationalization of assets will continue to spread.

"Assets have to be nationalized now," Zhou said, citing the old days of the planned economy before mass state-sector layoffs in the 1990s, in which "nobody had to pay to get an education or see a doctor."

"Since the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress, they are adopting a new planned economy model."

The business news website Yicai reported on Sept. 27 that local governments across China are encouraging state-owned enterprises to buy up suitable residential property to use as affordable housing for local people.

Notices ordering group purchases have been posted on official government websites in the eastern city of Wenzhou and the Shanghai provincial capital Jinan, order the purchase of commercially available housing for housing reserves and lease purposes, it said.

China's real estate sector has sparked social unrest across the country in recent months, with mortgage boycotts in protest over unfinished buildings spreading more than 300 locations across the country, and forcing the Chinese government to move to shore up confidence in the banking sector.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The Chinese Communist Party leader omits all mention of ethnic regional autonomy in his report to party congress.

Xi Jinping's third term in office as Chinese Communist Party supreme leader will likely mean more suffering for ethnic minority groups in China, exiled activists warned in recent forums and interviews with RFA.

Xi's regime, which is already engaged in a program of mass incarceration of Uyghurs and mass surveillance and police controls in Xinjiang and Tibet, will continue to pose a grave threat to minority groups, exiled Uyghur rights activist and businesswoman Rebiya Kadeer told a recent forum in Taiwan.

If the international community doesn't try to resolve the issue of Uyghurs, Tibetan and other ethnic minority groups, "Chinese atrocities" could have a global impact, Kadeer told the forum analyzing the global threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party under Xi, who removed presidential term limits in 2018, and could now rule indefinitely.

She said in a recorded message to the forum that "the most dangerous time" was right now, and called on "ethnic minorities oppressed by the Communist Party" to unite to resist it.

Unlike previous versions, Xi's political report to the opening session of the 20th National Congress on Oct. 16 made no mention of "regional autonomy for ethnic minorities," a phrase that had appeared in his reports to the 18th and 19th party congresses.

Before Xi took power, the Chinese government was criticized for widespread rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Tibetan Autonomous Region, but still paid lip service to the notion of autonomy, and allowed the use of the Tibetan and Uyghur languages to teach children in schools, along with a limited degree of religious activity.

Kelsang Gyaltsen, who represents the Tibetan government-in-exile on the democratic island of Taiwan, said Xi was at least still talking about "accelerating the development of ethnic minority regions" back in 2012, as well as "equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony."

By 2017, he had added the phrase "forging a national consciousness" and "the sinicization of religion," two policies that were to give rise to a nationwide crackdown on Muslims, Christians and Tibetan Buddhists, as well as a ban on minority languages as a teaching medium in schools.

The ban on Mongolian prompted street protests and class boycotts by students and parents across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which borders the independent country of Mongolia, prompting a region-wide crackdown by riot squads and state security police in the fall of 2020.

Tibetan, Uyghur and Korean-language teaching is also being phased out of schools in ethnic minority areas, local parents and teachers have told RFA.

Kelsang Gyaltsen [left], who represents the Tibetan government-in-exile on the democratic island of Taiwan, says 'national unity' programs have led to forced intermarriage between majority Han Chinese and Tibetans. A similar policy has targeted Uyghurs in Xinjiang, RFA has reported. At right is Dawa Cairen, director of the Tibet Policy Research Center. Both were attending the forum this past weekend in Taiwan. Credit: Xia Xiaohua National unity and Forging a sense of community

Chinese writer and historian Wang Lixiong described one aspect of the "sinicization of religion" in Xinjiang in detail following a research trip to the region.

In a commentary for RFA's Mandarin Service published on Tuesday, he cited a sign at a rural school listing "23 manifestations of illegal religious activities."

Traditional Uyghur marriage ceremonies, Quranic study groups, "printing and distributing religious propaganda," and proselytizing Islamic religious beliefs were among the actions listed, along with "accepting foreign religious donations" and organizing pilgrimages to Mecca outside of government-backed package tours.

"You can imagine how religious believers would feel, caught in such an endless web," Wang wrote.

"The janitor told me that teachers were required to gather in school four days a week, even during vacation, to study politics, mainly anti-separatism," he said. "Political study now takes up more of their time than studying for professional purposes."

Kelsang Gyaltsen said "national unity" programs have led to forced intermarriage between majority Han Chinese and Tibetans. A similar policy has targeted Uyghurs in Xinjiang, RFA has reported.

"Forging a sense of community" means abolishing ethnic identity and autonomy, he told RFA in a recent interview, adding that "strengthening exchanges" refers to the erasure of distinct ethnic identities.

"The Constitution and the Ethnic Region Autonomy Law clearly stipulate the protection of the rights and interests of ethnic minorities, but Xi Jinpings report to the 20th party congress didn't mention it," he said.

Signs suggest policies to continue

Tseng Chien-yuen, an associate professor at Taiwan's Central University, said Xi likely avoided mentioning it due to widespread international criticism -- including at the United Nations -- of China's policies in ethnic minority areas.

"Of course he daren't mention it; it is his flaw and a stain [on his regime]," Tseng told RFA.

"There is a major conflict between the party-state system and regional ethnic autonomy, which has worsened during Xi's tenure, with concentration camps and ethnic minority groups stigmatized for their beliefs and cultural differences, or accused of terrorism," he said.

"I can't see any indication that he is reviewing [those policies]."

Other observers agreed that while Xi said little explicitly about ethnic policies, nothing about this years party congress indicates that there will be a loosening of restrictions currently in place in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang.

Kunga Tashi, a U.S.-based Tibet and China analyst, told RFA that Xis speech included nothing that signals positive changes for Tibet in the near future, while Ilshat Hasan, the executive vice chairman of the World Uyghur Congress exile group, noted that Xis elevation of loyalists to Chinas inner circle of policymakers is not a good sign for the world or for Uyghur people.

Kelsang Gyaltsen said the treatment of Tibetans, Uyghurs and ethnic Mongolians should also serve as a warning to democratic Taiwan.

"Now that Tibet, Xinjiang and Mongolia are all being tightly controlled, none of those promises [of autonomy] are worth the paper they're written on," he said.

"If Taiwan falls under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, like Tibet and Xinjiang ... it won't be one country, two systems [the promise of autonomy made to Hong Kong]. It'll be one country, one system," he said.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Critics fear that more Lao people could lose their land to Chinese investors under the new program.

The Lao government says the new program will encourage more foreign investment in the country.

Laos will allow foreign nationals to acquire honorary citizenship if they donate and invest roughly U.S. $1.5 million, but critics worry that the program could result in a massive land grab by wealthy Chinese investors.

According to Decree No. 14 issued in September, honorary citizens are exempt from visa requirements for entering and exiting the country and may live in Laos permanently. Additionally, they will be able to buy land on state-owned property for a set duration and they can lease public and private land, the Laotian Times reported.

To become an honorary citizen, investor applicants must donate $500,000 towards the countrys socio-economic development, and also invest $1 million before they apply, the report said.

The stated purpose of the program is to bring in foreigners with knowledge and expertise to help Laos develop. But this will likely mean that Chinese investors will buy up land and leave Lao people with fewer places to live and less access to natural resources, said a resident of the capital, Vientiane, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons.

Its not right, what they are doing, the source said. If someone has money they can buy anything, including land and other things. But the Lao people are poor, and after a while the people will not have any land to grow crops.

The decree would allow investors to purchase unlimited amounts of land, a source from the northern province of Luang Prabang told Radio Free Asia.

We already have a lot of Chinese investors here in our country as it is, the second source said. When they come to get their land concession, it affects rural villagers. They wont have land to grow rice to feed their families any longer.

China is Laos largest foreign investor and aid provider, and its second-largest trade partner after Thailand.

Growing resentment

Reports have increased in recent years of growing resentment in Laos over Chinese business presence in the country, over Chinese casinos and special economic zones linked to human trafficking and crime, and over the often high-handed treatment of Lao workers by their Chinese bosses.

But a government official pointed out that the program is not only available to Chinese citizens.

It is open to all foreigners who have the money to invest, the official, from the Lao Ministry of Justice, told RFA.

We do not choose what nationality to give the honorary citizenship to. They can be Thai, Chinese or Vietnamese, the official said. All have the same right to get honorary citizenship from the government.

An honorary citizen has some, but not all, of the rights of a full-fledged Lao citizen, a second official said, particularly that honorary citizens can gain concession to use land but cannot own it.

But since all land in Laos is owned by the state, residents can be forced off their land with little or no compensation as they are pushed out to make room for development projects.

RFA was not able to determine exactly how honorary citizenship differs from full-fledged citizenship.

The honorary citizenship program has both positives and negatives, a law professor from Lao National University told RFA.

The good point is that it will allow foreign investors to more easily invest in our country, he said. But the bad point is that in the future there will be many foreign investors coming to Laos, and this could force Lao people to move out from their rural villages.

Several other countries in the region offer either permanent residency or citizenship to those who invest in large amounts.

Singapore grants permanent residency to foreign nationals who invest at least $2.5 million, while South Korea will grant it to those who invest $5 million, or who live in the country for three years after investing more than $500,000. In both countries, permanent residents can become citizens after living in the country for a specific period of time.

The Cambodia My Second Home program, meanwhile, allows foreign investors to acquire a visa with a five-year path to citizenship with an investment of $100,000 or more. Cambodian law also allows for investors to bypass minimum residency requirements with an investment of about $312,000.

Similar programs exist in Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

In Cambodia, some have been able to bribe their way to obtain immediate citizenship. Independent news outlet VOD reported last month that interior ministry official Oknha Duong Ngeap admitted in court to taking $120,000 each from Chinese and Taiwanese clients in exchange for granting them Cambodian citizenship.

Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Smoke rising from Mon Yway and Kyay Mon villages in Monywa township, Sagaing region, which were set on fire on Oct. 5, 2022.

Junta troops arrested 45 locals in a raid on a village in Monywa township in Myanmars Sagaing region.

A military convoy with around 100 soldiers entered Nyaung Pin Thar village on Monday evening, taking prisoners for interrogation, a resident  who wished to remain nameless for safety regions  told RFA.

About 45 people were arrested in Nyaung Pin Thar village, the local told RFA. Phones and everything else were confiscated. They took things and houses were searched. I dont know whether the 45 have been released or not.

The local said the troops spent the night at Nyaung Pin Thar and went on to raid Na Gar Twin village on Tuesday morning. Residents of Na Gar Twin fled the raids but the local said he didnt know what current conditions were like in the village.

RFA contacted Aye Hlaing, social affairs minister and spokesman for the Sagaing regional government to seek his comments. He told our reporter to contact the regions Ministry of Security and Border Affairs because it was a security issue.

On Oct. 4 and 5 junta troops raided two other villages in Monywa township -- Mon Yway and Kyay Mon  arresting more than 100 people. Most were released when the troops left the village but locals said they took around 10 people with them.
The SeaGuardian drones can fly for up to 40 hours in all weathers

The Japanese Coast Guard has put a highly sophisticated U.S.-made drone that can circle the whole countrys maritime area into operation amid increased tensions in the region.

The manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said that an MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been deployed since last week for wide-area maritime surveillance over the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.

Other missions will include search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime law enforcement, the California-based company said in a press release.

Japans Coast Guard is currently operating the drone from the Hachinohe air station on the northeast coast of Honshu island.

The SeaGuardians are designed to fly for up to 40 hours in all types of weather, enough time to perform surveillance over the entire Japanese exclusive economic zone.

They are equipped with high-definition cameras that can detect ships from altitudes of over 3,000 meters (984 feet), as well as identify approaching aircraft using radar and infrared rays in the night time.

The remotely piloted aircraft also has strike functions useful in anti-submarine warfare. Piloting will be outsourced under the coast guards supervision, according to local media.

Japan is considering buying more drones for maritime surveillance but has not disclosed the number. Defense sources said the cost to introduce the aircraft is about 4 billion yen, or U.S. $26.8 million.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems said it began developing the MQ-9B SeaGuardian in 2014. Australia, the United Kingdom and Belgium are among clients, with the U.K. eyeing to purchase up to 16 units.

Maritime security threats

The Taiwanese military finalized a deal to buy four SeaGuardians worth TWD $16.88 billion (U.S. $555 million) in August, with the first delivery in 2025.

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of the drones, along with ground control stations and embedded navigation systems, to Taiwan in 2020. The procurement process is understood to be speeded up as cross-Strait tensions accelerate.

Several high-ranking U.S. officials said China may move forward with an attack on Taiwan sooner than expected.

The drones will be operated out of Hualien in eastern Taiwan, according to media reports.

Taiwan is developing an indigenous reconnaissance and strike UAV, called Teng Yun, but the production is being delayed due to technical problems.

At the same time, the Taiwanese government is setting up a national drone defense system to deal with security threats from China. In recent months, Chinese drones have been spotted flying regularly over Taiwans outlying islands, causing concern.
In the past the ministry has handled major cases including the COVID test kit scandal.

Lt. Gen. To An Xo, head of the Ministry of Public Security.

Vietnams Ministry of Public Security is warning individuals not to take advantage of the way it handles cases by spreading fake economic and financial news.

Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. To An Xo, told the Vietnam News Agency on Monday that in the past bad elements had taken advantage of his agency to generate fake news and spread lies about the companies involved.

One example of fake news was a story that the ministry was planning to investigate and prosecute cases involving some of Vietnam largest corporations and economic enterprises, which turned out to be completely untrue.

In the past, the Security Investigation Agency, which works under the Ministry of Public Security, has examined numerous cases and arrested company leaders.

The cases include a U.S. $172 million scandal during which the price of COVID-19 test kits was inflated by the Viet A Joint Stock Company.

In June police arrested three officials for taking kickbacks for the overpriced COVID kits: former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long; former Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh and former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Cong Tac were expelled from the Communist Party and removed from their other positions.

The Security Investigation Agency has also looked into allegations of corruption at the FLC Group Joint Stock Company; the Tan Hoang Minh Group Joint Stock Company; and the An Dong Investment Group Joint Stock Company.

FLC group chairman Trinh Van Quyet, was charged with stock market manipulation, after failing to tell authorities he planned to sell 74.8 million shares in January and offloaded his holdings before releasing the paperwork.

The chairman of property developer Tan Hoang Ming was arrested for allegedly "fraudulently appropriating assets."

The agency also investigated Do Anh Dung, chairman of the board of Tan Hoang Minh Group and arrested Truong My Lan - Chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group both on fraud charges.
Over the 28 years of Alyaksandr Lukashenkas repressive rule, Belarusians who oppose him, despise him, or just want to criticize any particular policy could feel relatively safe expressing their views inside the confines of their homes.



Now they may want to think again, legal and digital experts say -- especially if they use things like GPS tracking apps, online dating services, or a voice-controlled virtual assistant like Alisa, a product of the Russia-based Internet company Yandex.



Lukashenka signed a decree last week requiring telecom operators and website owners to connect to a new, state-designed system that would allow the Belarusian KGB to surveil almost any online activity.

The October 18 decree crystalizes a law passed last year that on paper gave state security agencies unlimited powers to spy on citizens digital footprints, including at-home smart devices, but provided no mechanism for doing so.



If surveillance through Internet resources and databases sounded like a potential threat before, it is now clear how they are going to do it in practice, Netobservatory and Za BYnet, two groups that monitor online freedom in Belarus, said in a research note released in cooperation with the legal aid organization LegalHub.



The states expansion of online intrusion will not take effect immediately as the system is not yet complete and companies will need time and money to install it, the legal and digital experts said.

In theory, the power to access a citizens online footprint can only be undertaken as part of an active investigation, but there is no one overseeing the actions of the security services, the experts said.



In combination with the 2021 law, the new decree allows the KGB to access information that Internet providers, websites, and databases store on individuals  from the pages they visit and the messages they post on forums to their activity with online banking services, dating sites, and more.



Websites and online services often store data for years and the decree does not prevent state security agencies from searching for information prior to it entering force

The decree is the latest crackdown on freedom and human rights ushered in by Lukashenka since tens of thousands of Belarusian citizens took to the streets in protest after he claimed victory in an August 2020 presidential election whose results they contend were massively falsified.

Stringent Laws, Violent Suppression



Lukashenkas government violently suppressed the demonstrations and began passing stringent laws in an effort to stamp out the protesters' ability to organize and willingness to resist.



The state targeted Telegram, the social media app that played a crucial role in helping citizens communicate, spread information, and organize activity such as protests. The authorities detained administrators of opposition Telegram channels and threatened charges against those who subscribed to them.

The October 18 decree does not specifically define the type of websites, Internet services, and databases that must connect to the surveillance system, potentially giving the Belarusian security services wide leverage over how to implement it.

Nor does it specify that only domestic companies are covered by the new law, opening the possibility that the authorities would seek to pressure foreign websites.



The note by Netobservatory, Za BYnet, and LegalHub suggested that the KGB could target the largest online players first, including Google, Yandex, Facebook, VK, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram.



Foreign companies are highly unlikely to concede to such demands, having resisted similar pressure in Russia, a much larger and lucrative market.



Websites and online services that refuse to cooperate could be banned, the note said.



Belarusian citizens will not know which websites are connected to the surveillance system, potentially prompting many to avoid any website or online service that they think the state will target.



Belarusians unsubscribed en masse to Telegram channels the state considered extremist for fear of arrest.



The note from the three expert groups said devices connected as part of smart home systems could be of interest to the KGB. The devices -- linked for purposes such as home security, heating, and energy conservation -- can contain a wealth of information about an individual, such as their location.



The stored data of intelligent voice assistants that record conversations could potentially be accessed by the KGB, the experts said.



Have you already set up a smart home system from [state provider] Beltelecom with sensors and video cameras, or are you still in doubt? they wrote, suggesting that Belarusians risk compromising their privacy and playing into the hands of the KGB if they do so.

Written by Todd Prince based on reporting by RFE/RLs Belarus Service
Supporters of the ruling coalition in Republika Srpska, one of two entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, protested on October 25 in Banja Luka to demand that electoral authorities end a recount of ballots for president cast earlier this month in the general election.

Milorad Dodik, the de facto leader of Bosnian Serbs and president of the largest party in Republika Srpska, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), led the rally, which police said drew an estimated 30,000 people.

The protesters carried photos of Dodik and waved flags of the SNSD party, accusing the countrys Central Election Commission (CEC) of attempting to subvert the will of Serbs to choose him as their leader.

In an address to the rally, Dodik pledged to fight for Serbs right to choose how we want to live and accused Western and non-Serb Bosnian politicians of hating and trying to erase Republika Srpska.

"We will not give up our freedom to choose and be chosen, said Dodik, whose party opposed the recount. I strongly believe in the idea of an independent Republika Srpska.

The protest was prompted by the decision of the CEC to recount the ballots cast during the general election on October 2 for the president and vice presidents of Republika Srpska.

Dodik, who is still the member of the Bosnian tripartite presidency, ran for president of the Serb entity against his counterpart from the Party of Democratic Progress, Jelena Trivic, a member of the Republika Srpska parliament and a university professor of economics.

The CEC launched the recount because of questions about the integrity of the electoral process amid suspicions of electoral fraud that in some cases are backed by video evidence.

State prosecutors and police officers have overseen the recount, which is taking place in Sarajevo, drawing objections from Dodik, who said the electoral process should be returned to Republika Srpska and that ballots should never again be counted in Sarajevo.

People from all over Republika Srpska took part in the protest, which organizers dubbed Homeland Calls. Participants gathered in a city park and made the 10-minute walk to the main town square, where Dodik and other party leaders addressed them.

Members of the opposition have already held two protest marches on the same route to raise their concerns over electoral fraud and express their backing for the recount.

They also pressed for criminal charges against multiple people, including Dodik, who has ruled practically unchallenged for years despite being sanctioned by the West for advocating the separation of Republika Srpska from the rest of Bosnia.

The main opposition parties -- the Party of Democratic Progress, the Serbian Democratic Party, and List For Justice and Order -- believe that Trivic won. She declared victory on election night, but so did Dodik.

Unofficial results published later showed that he held an advantage of around 30,000 ballots over his opponent.

The CEC published the preliminary election results for all contests except for president of Republika Srpska on October 22.

With reporting by AP
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

As the authorities intensify their deadly crackdown on antiestablishment protests in Iran, some demonstrators are resorting to protest art to express their dissent. The street art and graffiti has targeted Irans clerical regime, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and has appeared on public walls in major cities.

Most of the graffiti is done at night. Several Tehran residents told me that they often see public walls spray-painted with anti-regime slogans in the morning. By the evening, most of the graffiti is washed off or painted over, they said. The next morning, new graffiti appears, highlighting the tug-of-war between the protesters and the authorities. One prominent message on a wall in Tehran reads: Blood cannot be cleansed by anything."

Videos and photos posted on social media appear to show that anti-regime graffiti and public art is expanding.

Some of the art depicts Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman whose death soon after being detained by the morality police ignited the nationwide protests. Other murals show the victims of the states crackdown on the protests. Some of the graffiti includes slogans such as, Death to Khamenei and Woman, life, freedom.

Why It Matters: Protesters are finding new and creative ways to express their anger at the clerical establishment, which has responded to the protests with lethal force and mass arrests. Besides resorting to protest art and graffiti, some Iranians have been shouting antiestablishment slogans at night from their rooftops and windows.

What's Next: Acts of civil disobedience are likely to continue and increase in the face of the government clampdown. Such acts allow protesters to sustain the demonstrations without marching on the streets, where they face a greater risk of arrest and harm. The overstretched security forces have found it difficult to stop street art and creative forms of dissent.

Stories You Might Have Missed

Iran's universities have turned into a major battleground between the protesters and the authorities. Some female students have removed and burned their head scarves. Male and female students have also broken social taboos by holding hands and singing together. Some art students have covered their hands in red paint to protest the state crackdown on the demonstrations. The authorities have cracked down violently on the university protests, beating and detaining dozens of students.

have turned into a major battleground between the protesters and the authorities. Some female students have removed and burned their head scarves. Male and female students have also broken social taboos by holding hands and singing together. Some art students have covered their hands in red paint to protest the state crackdown on the demonstrations. The authorities have cracked down violently on the university protests, beating and detaining dozens of students. Russia is increasingly relying on primitive Iranian suicide drones it its attempts to bomb the Ukrainian population into submission, including the cheap but effective Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 "kamikaze" drones. Now, the prospect of Russian forces replenishing their depleted aerial arsenal with powerful Iranian ballistic missiles has officials in Kyiv scrambling for more air cover.

What We're Watching

At least 7,000 people have been detained since the antiestablishment protests erupted on September 17, according to a monitoring group based outside Iran. The vast majority are street protesters, but they also include scores of students, activists, journalists, and artists, the group said. Around 300 minors have also been detained.

In Tehran alone, 315 people have been indicted for participating in the protests, according to the judiciary. The hard-line Fars news agency, affiliated with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said four of them have been charged with "waging war against God," which is punishable by death. Fars said about 42 percent of people detained across Iran are below the age of 20, while 48 percent are between 20-35. Interestingly, Fars also reported that 2 percent of detainees are government employees, although it did not offer any details.

Why It Matters: While many of the 7,000 have been released on bail, some remain in detention. There are mounting concerns over their well-being. Rights groups have long documented the inhumane conditions in Irans detention facilities and prisons. Political detainees in Iran are often held in solitary confinement for days or weeks while under interrogation, rights groups have said.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have.



Until next time,



Golnaz Esfandiari



If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.
Crowds gathered on October 26 at the grave of Mahsa Amini, the woman whose death has sparked a wave of anti-government protests across Iran. It has been 40 days since she died following her arrest by morality police, allegedly for improperly wearing her head scarf. Later, security forces attacked protesters in various locations across Iran.
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.
Ukrainian authorities struggled to resume essential services throughout the country after the latest barrage of Russian strikes on infrastructure sites as both sides prepared for the upcoming winter season, with some troops and materiel bogged down in muddy fields in eastern and southern Ukraine.

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.

Much of the city of Kherson -- recently recaptured by Ukrainian forces from Russian occupiers -- remained without electrical power on November 27 as authorities worked to get the grid operational again. Officials said only about 5 percent of the population has been reconnected and was receiving electricity.

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko -- who has come in for criticism from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for being slow to restore services -- told the November 27 edition of Germany's mass-circulation Bild newspaper that work was proceeding at "record pace" in the capital.

Earlier, Serhiy Kovalenko, chief operating officer of YASNO, which provides energy to Kyiv, said the situation in the city had improved but still remained "quite difficult." He indicated that residents in the capital should have at least four hours of power per day.

Following overnight strikes, shelling by Russian forces continued on November 27 in several areas in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Officials said both sides appear to be slowed by the rain and muddy conditions but that the approaching colder temperatures could set the stage for renewed action.

The Institute for the Study of War, an influential think tank that has closely monitored Ukraine war developments, said reporting from critical frontline areas throughout eastern and southern Ukraine, including Svatove, Bakhmut, and Vuhledar, indicates that operations on both sides are currently bogged down by heavy rain and resulting heavy mud.

Temperatures are forecasted to drop throughout Ukraine over the next week, which will likely freeze the ground and expedite the pace of fighting as mobility increases for both sides, it said in its update.

It is unclear if either side is actively planning or preparing to resume major offensive or counteroffensive operations at that time, but the meteorological factors that have been hindering such operations will begin lifting.

The governor of the Kherson region, Yaroslav Yanushevych, said on November 27 on his Telegram channel that Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian region more than 50 times this weekend. Yanushevych accused Russia of terrorism and of targeting civilians, reporting that one person had died and two had been injured in the shelling.

Much of the city of Kherson remains under difficult conditions, with UN resident coordinator Denise Brown telling AP that civilians continued to leave the area in large numbers.

The level of destruction, the scope of the destruction, whats required in the city and in the oblast -- its massive, she said, adding that UN teams were bringing in food, water, medicines, blankets, and mattresses to the area.

Time is of the essence, of course, before it becomes an absolute catastrophe, Brown was quoted as saying.

In the eastern Donetsk region, five people were killed in shelling over the past day, according to Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Overnight shelling was reported by regional officials in the Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk areas to the west.

Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said one person was killed and three wounded in the northeastern region.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa
EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi says he is optimistic Bosnia-Herzegovina will be granted candidate status to join the bloc next month if it meets several conditions laid out recently by Brussels.

Speaking during a meeting in Sarajevo on November 28 with Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Varhelyi noted the conditions, which include fighting corruption and organized crime, judicial and immigration reforms, and guarantees of freedom of expression and the protection of journalists -- areas that have proven elusive in the highly divided nation.

"The European path is open, but results are expected of Bosnia. It is up to the political leaders for that to become a reality," Varhelyi said after meeting with presidency members Denis Becirovic, Zeljko Komsic, and Zeljka Cvijanovic.

The European Commission in October recommended candidacy status for Bosnia, but attached a long list of conditions designed to bolster democracy in the Balkan country.

But the commission only advises which countries should become EU candidates. The final decision lies with the 27 member states, and they must agree unanimously.

Some countries -- notably Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia -- have pushed for speeding up Bosnia's entry after Moldova and Ukraine were granted candidate status in June.

Others, including the Netherlands, are said to be less receptive to expansion, though Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in late February has eroded resistance amid security fears for the whole of Europe.

Varhelyi said the European Commission "wants to see clear results it can report to the Council of the EU that is meeting in December," which is supposed to decide on the candidacy status of Bosnia, as "we are in a new geopolitical moment of the war in Ukraine."

"It is in our interest to strengthen our partnerships," he said.

Bosnia comprises a Bosniak-Croatian entity known as the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose budget is about four times that of the national government, as well as the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and a tiny self-governing district that acts much like a municipality, Brcko. The federation is further divided into 10 cantons.

Cvijanovic, who holds the Serbs' seat on the Bosnian presidency, said she was committed to work "on matters that we can," while Becirovic, the Bosniak member, said the meeting with Varhelyi was "encouraging and substantial."

"Our candidacy status would be an encouragement to all the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina," he added.

Borjana Kristo, a Bosnian Croat, is the third member of the presidency. All three were elected in October.

Bosnia's division into a Bosniak-Croatian federation, and Republika Srpska, came under the terms of the 1995 Dayton agreements that ended three years of war in the former Yugoslav republic that was marked by ethnic cleansing and brutality.
Ukrainian troops are holding out against attacks near two towns in the eastern Donbas region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported on October 26, saying the front line has not significantly changed.



Zelenskiy said the fiercest battles were taking place near Avdiyivka and Bakhmut.

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.

"This is where the craziness of the Russian command is most evident. Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes," he said in his nightly address.



Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. British intelligence has said Moscow may see the capture of Bakhmut as a prerequisite for advancing to the two cities -- the most significant Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region.



Russian-installed authorities in Shakhtarsk, east of the city of Donetsk, said Ukrainian shelling had set ablaze fuel tanks at the town's railway station.



The reports could not be independently verified.



Zelenskiy did not provide an update on the situation in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, which has been the scene of recent movements on both sides.



"Generally, we are strengthening our positions all over the front line, reducing the invaders' capabilities, destroying their logistics, and preparing good news for Ukraine," he said.

Russia, meanwhile, repeated the unfounded claim that Ukraine plans to set off a dirty bomb.



This time it was Russian President Vladimir Putin who made the accusation, speaking in remarks carried by Russian TV.



Putin said Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb as a provocation. It was the first time the Russian president made the unsubstantiated allegation, which his officials have been repeating since the weekend.



Putin made the remarks as he monitored drills of Russias strategic nuclear forces.



"Under the leadership of...Vladimir Putin, a training session was held with ground, sea, and air strategic deterrence forces during which practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place," the Kremlin said in a statement.



Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise simulated a massive nuclear strike retaliating for a nuclear attack on Russia.



The United States said Russia provided advance notice of the annual drills, which are taking place as NATO carries out its own annual nuclear exercises.



NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called Russias unsubstantiated statements about the use of a dirty bomb "absurd."



The NATO allies reject this blatantly false accusation, and Russia must not use false pretexts to escalate the war further, Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.



Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the claims and contend that Russia might itself try to detonate a dirty bomb, a weapons that would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive, biological, or chemical materials over an area.



Shoigu on October 26 called his counterparts from India and China to share Moscows concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on October 26 that Russia would "vigorously" continue to make the case to the international community that it believed Ukraine intended to detonate a "dirty bomb" with radioactive contaminants.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States has communicated directly and very clearly to the Russians the consequences of such an attack.



Blinken, speaking at an event sponsored by the U.S. news outlet Bloomberg, did not specify when the Russians were informed or who did it.



Blinken repeated that the United States is "very closely" following Russias comments about the use of nuclear weapons but "does not see any reason to change its nuclear position."



Russia's statement that Ukraine is considering the possibility of using a dirty bomb is "another fabrication and is the height of irresponsibility on the part of a nuclear state," Blinken said.



He noted that Russia has a history of accusing others of doing something they themselves have done or are about to do. He also said the United States was in direct communication with the Russians about their attempts to use the false claim as a pretext for any escalation.



Moscow over the weekend claimed Ukraine was preparing to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory, drawing immediate dismissal from the United States and other countries that have backed Ukraine.

Kyiv and its allies suspect Russia might have made the claim to set up a "false flag" attack in which it would use a dirty bomb itself but would blame the attack on Ukraine and use it to justify the use of conventional nuclear weapons by Moscow.



"Let me just say Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake were it to use a tactical nuclear weapon." U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters on October 25 . "I cannot guarantee you that it is a false flag operation yet. We dont know. But it would be a serious mistake."

Shoigu presented no evidence for the claim when he spoke on October 23 with his counterparts from several NATO countries, including Britain, France, and the United States, who dismissed the claim after the series of calls.

WATCH: Speaking to Current Time in Riga on October 22, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot change the course of war in Ukraine by dropping nuclear bombs.

Moscow took its accusations against Ukraine to the UN Security Council on October 25, and the country's UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said afterward that Russia was "satisfied because we raised the awareness."

Speaking to reporters, he added: "I don't mind people saying that Russia is crying wolf if this doesn't happen because this is a terrible, terrible disaster that threatens potentially the whole of the Earth."



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier on October 25 that it was preparing to send inspectors to two Ukrainian sites in the coming days in reaction to Ukraine's request for an inspection following Russia's claims.



Enerhoatom, Ukraines nuclear energy operator, issued a statement on October 24 voicing its concern that Russias statements may indicate that Russia is preparing an act of nuclear terrorism.

Russian troops have occupied Ukraines Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, since March. It is still run by Ukrainian engineers though Russia claimed after its illegal annexation of the Zaporizhzhya region that it is on Russian territory.

Enerhoatom said that Russian forces have carried out unauthorized, secret construction work over the last week at the plant in the area of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility.

Russian officers controlling the area wont give access to Ukrainian staff or monitors from the IAEA that would allow them to see what they are doing, the operator said.

Enerhoatom added that it assumes the Russians are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at the plant.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, BBC, and Reuters
Local residents in Ukraine's Kherson region describe how they helped support Ukrainian forces while Russian troops occupied their village. The village of Arkhanhelske is one of many settlements liberated during Kyiv's ongoing counteroffensive. Many locals returned to the village after Russian forces fled in early October.
When the news spread over the summer that San Diego scholar and activist Mike Davis was going on palliative care, it generated an outpouring of support online
Dr. Duran and Dr. Chang discuss gender inequity in the medical field and how the public can support women physicians
By Trend

Today, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia have great potential for strengthening and developing in new directions. Current geopolitical developments have created a number of obstacles for a large number of countries in both the East and the West. In this sense, Azerbaijan and Georgia are gaining new significance in the global arena.

President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Georgia certainly plays an important role not only in the development of the bilateral partnership between the two countries but is also significant in terms of new political and economic conditions created not only in the South Caucasus but also beyond it.

The visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Georgia is very timely in the current geopolitical realities, Giga Bedineishvili, a Georgian economist and professor at the Free University of Tbilisi, told Trend.

"Today, for example, energy and transport cooperation are high on the agenda for both our countries. Taking into account the strategic friendly partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia, there are also opportunities for further growth in these and many other areas," he said.

According to the expert, the EU and many other countries outside the bloc are definitely interested in transport routes through the South Caucasus, as the demand for alternative routes grows, and if Azerbaijan and Georgia can work together, To improve their transport connectivity, it will benefit not only them but also many other players in the wider region.

Bedineishvili stressed that the improvement of transport communication includes such important issues as the development of e-commerce and the creation of a joint database which, if properly developed, will positively affect overall trade relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, and their further export to other countries.

Meanwhile, Pr. Vakhtang Maisaya, a Georgian expert, Doctor of Political and Military Sciences, also stressed the importance of President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Georgia from the point of view of strengthening bilateral relations.

"This visit proves once again the strategic friendship between the two countries. Our countries have joint economic interests, especially in the energy sector. Naturally, Azerbaijan and Georgia can extend a helping hand to the EU, which is currently entering a very difficult period of the energy crisis," he said.

According to the expert, Azerbaijan, as the main supplier of energy resources through the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) pipelines, and Georgia, as a regional transport hub, can successfully develop their cooperation in this sense for the benefit of other countries.

"This will further strengthen the trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU-Georgia, as well as strengthen the position of GUAM-a, a structure that was established to enhance the common interests of our countries. This will contribute to regional stability within the South Caucasus. In this sense, President Aliyev arrived in Georgia at the right time and at the right time," Maisaya added.

Thus, the role of Azerbaijan, Georgia and the South Caucasus as a whole in the global arena is increasing. Due to the clearly defined priorities of President Ilham Aliyevs foreign policy, Azerbaijan has become a key partner for a number of European and regional countries. By strengthening relations with its immediate neighbors, Azerbaijan puts the importance of the entire region to a new level.
Acoustic communication, broadly distributed among vertebrates, plays a fundamental role in parental care, mate attraction and various other behaviors. Despite its importance, comparatively less is known about its evolutionary roots. New research from the University of Zurich confirms a common origin of sound production and acoustic communication among choanate vertebrates (lungfishes and tetrapods), dating from the Paleozoic era, at least 407 million years before present.

Despite the unquestionable importance of acoustic communication among vertebrates, our knowledge regarding its origin remains sparse, said studys first author Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, a Ph.D. student with the Paleontological Institute and Museum at the University of Zurich, and his colleagues.

The current consensus based on available evidence favors a convergent origin of acoustic communication among vertebrates: studies on acoustic sensory abilities show that the morphology in the hearing apparatus and its sensitivity vary considerably among vertebrates.

This, in addition to observed differences in vocal tract morphology, suggests that acoustic communication likely evolved multiple times, emerging independently among diverse clades.

Phylogenetic analyses used to reconstruct the ancestral state of acoustic communication along the tree nodes, whilst suggestive of multiple origins, are arguably complicated by missing data from key species.

An alternative hypothesis is that acoustic communication has a common and ancient evolutionary origin, they added.

In support of this, vertebrate hearing epithelia and cerebral promotor circuits that control vocal behaviors are considered to be homologous and operate in the same hindbrain compartment, respectively.

Furthermore, in spite of the variety of sound production mechanisms, all choanate lineages have lungs as the physical source of their calling behaviors.

In their research, the scientists assessed the acoustic communication abilities in 53 species of diverse vertebrate groups, including tuataras, lizards, snakes, salamanders, caecilians, turtles and lungfishes that are key to mapping vocal communication in the vertebrate tree of life.

Using this dataset combined with data of well-known acoustic groups (e.g. mammals, birds and frogs), they tested if the evolutionary origin of acoustic communication is shared among choanate vertebrates.

This, along with a broad literature-based dataset including 1,800 different species covering the entire spectrum shows that vocal communication is not only widespread in land vertebrates, but also evidence acoustic abilities in several groups previously considered non-vocal, Jorgewich-Cohen said.

Many turtles, for example, which were thought to be mute, are in fact showing broad and complex acoustic repertoires.

We were able to reconstruct acoustic communication as a shared trait among these animals, which is at least as old as their last common ancestor that lived approximately 407 million years before present, said studys senior author Professor Marcelo Sanchez-Villagra, also from the Paleontological Institute and Museum at the University of Zurich.

Our results now show that acoustic communication did not evolve multiple times in diverse clades, but has a common and ancient evolutionary origin.

The findings were published on October 25, 2022 in the journal Nature Communications.

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G. Jorgewich-Cohen et al. 2022. Common evolutionary origin of acoustic communication in choanate vertebrates. Nat Commun 13, 6089; doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-33741-8
Ornithologists from Trinity College Dublin and the Universitas Halu Oleo have identified several cryptic species in two sunbird genera, Cinnyris and Leptocoma.

The sunbirds (Nectariniidae) are a family of small passerine birds with a distribution extending from Africa in the west to Australia in the east.

These birds look similar to the American hummingbirds and fill a similar ecological niche.

Male sunbirds often have bright plumage, with iridescent feathers that shine in the sunlight.

Sunbirds have been admired by naturalists for centuries, and by artists for even longer: olive-backed sunbirds are depicted in reliefs on Javas Borobudur Temple, dating to the 8th or 9th century CE, their search for nectar representing the Buddhist quest for enlightenment.

However, improved sampling and modern integrative methods are only now revealing the true diversity within these species.

In the new research, Trinity College Dublin researcher Fionn O Marcaigh and colleagues identified a new species in the genus Cinnyris.

Named Cinnyris infrenatus (common name is the Wakatobi sunbird), the bird lives on the Wakatobi Islands, an archipelago of deep-sea islands off south-east Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The researchers also examined the more widespread olive-backed sunbirds (Cinnyris jugularis) and black sunbirds (Leptocoma aspasia), and found that individuals named as such actually belonged to multiple unrecognized species.

One of the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallaces major findings is referred to as Wallaces 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, O Marcaigh said.

The widespread olive-backed sunbird appeared to be an exception, being found all the way from China to Australia with Wallaces Line right in the middle of its range.

Our study, however, has shown that the populations on either side actually represent two different species, in keeping with Wallaces original predictions.

The black sunbird was already known to be subject to Wallaces Line, but the 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.

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.

Its 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, O Marcaigh said.

The identification of the Wakatobi sunbird serves to remind us that biodiversity is everywhere, said Trinity College Dublins Dr. David Kelly.

This bird wasnt found in a remote rainforest, but along the scrubby margins of busy towns and villages.

The discovery is described in a paper in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

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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, published online October 25, 2022; doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac081
UN Interim Security Force for Abyei: Briefing and Consultations

Tomorrow morning (27 October), the Security Council will receive a briefing on the Secretary-Generals most recent report on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), which covers the period from 15 April to 3 October. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh are expected to brief. Closed consultations are scheduled to follow the open briefing.

For more than ten years, Sudan and South Sudan have made no significant progress in resolving the final status of Abyei, the disputed area along their shared border. Despite improved relations between the two countries in recent years, Sudan and South Sudan appear more focused on their internal affairs, including developments following the 25 October 2021 military coup detat in Sudan and ongoing challenges faced by South Sudan.

The security and political situations in Abyei are an expected focus of tomorrows meeting. The Secretary-Generals report expresses concern that the parties have not held a meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) since 2017 but welcomes the intention expressed by both countries in June to hold such a meeting in the near future and notes that they have requested UN support in this regard. (The AJOC is a body tasked with overseeing security issues in Abyei, comprised of UNISFAs force commander and representatives from Sudan, South Sudan and the AU.) Council members may be interested in hearing any updates on progress towards the holding of such a meeting as well as details of the UNs support in this regard

According to the Secretary-Generals report, the security situation remained mostly calm, with some incidents of concern, including 19 direct attacks against civilians, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 28 people. Pobee may also highlight that during the reporting period, UNISFA troops were attacked on seven occasions. In a 26 September statement, UNISFA expressed alarm over renewed clashes between the Twic Dinka and Ngok Dinka communities in Agok in the Sector South area, 28 kilometres from Abyei town. On 14 October, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a statement expressing grave concern about violent clashes between Twic Dinka and Ngok Dinka youths in the border area between Abyei and Warrap State. The statement notes that hostilities started in Februaryover the disputed border, with a lull in June, but saw a violent resumption in late September, which resulted in deaths, injuries, the burning of property and the mass displacement of thousands of civilians on both sides.

In relation to UNISFA, Pobee is likely to present figures on the status of the missions reconfiguration. Last year, tensions in the region affected the mission, which included calls from Sudan for the replacement of all Ethiopian troops. (From the missions establishment in 2011 until earlier this year, Ethiopia had been UNISFAs sole troop-contributing country.) The Secretary-Generals report says that the reconfiguration of UNISFAs military component is approaching completion, including the arrival of 570 troops from Pakistan, 570 troops from Ghana (67 of whom are hospital staff), a 77-troop headquarters support unit from Nepal, and 184 troops of the Military Engineering Company from Viet Nam. Additionally, 307 out of the 570 Indian troops have arrived, as well as 86 members from China of the military utility helicopter unit.

Regarding the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), established in 2011 to conduct monitoring and verification activities along the Sudan-South Sudan border, the Secretary-Generals report says that all 491 troops from Bangladesh have been deployed. As outlined in the report, all Ethiopian troops have been repatriated, except for a three-person rear party which is remaining with contingent-owned equipment that has yet to be repatriated due to tensions near the Ethiopia-Sudan border, as well as some who chose to remain in the Sudan.

The Secretary-Generals report provides updates on several long-standing issues, which Pobee may reference in her briefing, in particular that:

Sudan has not permitted the deployment of 98 out of 148 individual police officers, and there has been no progress in the deployment of the three formed police units authorised in resolution 2469 of 14 May 2019;

the civilian deputy head of mission requested in resolution 2469 has not been appointed;

no progress has been made on the usage of the Anthony airstrip, which is crucial for medical evacuation; and

91 visas remain pending for personnel to support the implementation of the missions mandate.

Members are likely to be interested in hearing more from Tetteh about the activities of her office and the role played by the AU, including the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), which is chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki. Tetteh, who was appointed in February and briefed the Council for the first time on the issue on 21 April, may inform the Council of the respective consultations that she and Mbeki conducted in August with the leadership of the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka communities on the way forward regarding the final status of Abyei, as noted in the Secretary-Generals report. Members may wish to hear more about the outcome of these consultations and envisioned next steps.

On 29 September, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a meeting on the political and security situations in the Abyei region. Following the meeting, the AUPSC adopted a communique, which reiterated its call for Sudan and South Sudan to accelerate the implementation of the 2011 Agreement on Temporary Security and Administrative Arrangements for the Abyei Administrative Area, particularly in finalising the establishment of the Abyei Area Administration, the Abyei Area Council, and the Abyei Police Service. Among other things, the communique expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation; requested the AU Commission (the AUs secretariat) to nominate a facilitator for the AJOC to assist it in carrying out its functions; and decided that the AUPSC will undertake a field mission to Abyei, although a date was not specified.

Council members agree on the important roles that UNISFA and the JBVMM play in supporting peace, security and stability in Abyei and the broader region. However, many members are critical of the lack of progress by Sudan and South Sudan in resolving the final status of Abyei and over the many long-standing issues outlined above. The US, as penholder on Abyei, and other members may reiterate these positions tomorrow.

Looking ahead, the Council expects to renew the mandate of UNISFA as well as the missions support to the JBVMM before their expiration on 15 November. The Council last renewed UNISFAs mandate with the unanimous adoption of resolution 2630 on 12 May. The resolution did not make any changes to the forces mandate or structure. (For more information, see our 11 May Whats in Blue story.)
Politics

spotlight

Together SF jumps into San Francisco politics

Craig Lee/The Examiner Kanishka Cheng, executive director of Together SF Action chats during an event.

An organization financed by well-heeled donors is wading into San Francisco politics and encouraging its residents to take on the entrenched powers in City Hall.

That story might sound familiar, but Together SF Action, the newest such group built on that premise, promises that its unique.

The organization is an offshoot of Together SF, a nonprofit formed in 2020 with the aim of boosting civic engagement among those disaffected by and uninvolved in San Francisco politics.

This new political arm of Together SF will wade into local politics more directly, with $3 million to spend over the next two election cycles thanks primarily to financial backing from billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz, who is also funding the San Francisco Standard, a news website.

It pledges to be above the moderate and progressive divide that persists in San Francisco and to advocate for systemic, meaningful change in a city desperate for a new future.

A moderate stance

Yet a quick perusal of its voter guide published ahead of the November election shows a predictably moderate position on most candidates and ballot measures.

Theres the district attorneys race, in which the organization has endorsed Brooke Jenkins. Theres the race for District 4 supervisor, in which it endorsed moderate challenger Joel Engardio, and District 6, in which it endorsed moderate Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who, like Jenkins, was appointed by Mayor London Breed.

Its purported mission is also similar to those of other organizations.

Together SF Action bills itself as pushing to create a a city that effectively delivers on housing, safety, transportation, public education, social services, and economic opportunity for residents.

Thats not to be confused with GrowSF, a non-partisan group of volunteers who want San Francisco to be safe, clean, affordable, and vibrant. Or Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, a civic-minded group of San Franciscans committed to improving public safety, public education, and quality of life for our city.

Whats the difference?

Whats different about Together SF Action from other political groups, according to its leaders, is its approach to persuading and engaging voters.

The organization hasnt poured any money into support for a specific campaign or ballot measure, stressing its independence as it looks to become a trusted source. Instead, its spending money on paying its own staff, holding events and publishing a voter guide.

Voters are really frustrated and tired of being blitzed with digital advertisements, text messages and emails from politician campaigns, Together SF co-founder and executive director Kanishka Cheng told The Examiner.

Weve invested more in community building, Cheng said.

Think house party instead of political party. Networking more than door knocking, informational rather than confrontational.

Thus, much of Together SF Actions election activity will come in the form of 50 events  such as a boozy bubbles and ballots  featuring its handpicked experts, elected officials and community leaders before the November election. On Wednesday night, for example, the organization will offer free boba drinks at a gathering of local real estate groups to discuss Asian community issues and housing.

Its an outgrowth of the original nonprofits mission when it formed in 2020, to connect and engage people with one another.

I think something that has been missing in civic discourse ... people dont have opportunities to come together, hear from people who might not agree with them, and just have honest conversations in a respectful way, Cheng said.

Cheng, herself, is deeply familiar with the inner workings of San Francisco city government, having held jobs in the Citys planning department, as a legislative aide on the Board of Supervisors and for Mayor London Breed.

Often, by the time a constituent found their way to someone like Cheng, it was too late to really influence an outcome or have their voice heard, she said. That left people frustrated and likely to disengage.

So, in an attempt to get more everyday San Franciscans involved in local government and civic affairs, Cheng and others started Together SF, a traditional 501c3 nonprofit.

What isnt working

At Together SFs events, Cheng and her colleagues found people were overwhelmed and looking to them for recommendations and answers. To be able to provide those recommendations necessitates the creation of a 501c4, a nonprofit designation that allows for political activity like the creation of a voter guide.

At the heart of the organizations approach is the idea that whatever San Francisco government is doing it isnt working, and there has to be a better way. A slew of recent voter polls demonstrate that voters agree and are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the state of their city and its leadership.

So when it decides what to endorse, Cheng said her team at Together SF Action ask a core question  is this measure going to solve what we think is a pressing problem in San Francisco?

Though its aligned with other moderate groups on most issues in the November election, Together SF Action is not always in complete agreement.

The organization notes that it endorsed Proposition H, a ballot measure that would shift the election of major city officials to even years in a bid to increase voter turnout. Moderates like Mayor London Breed have come out against the measure.

Its also come out against Proposition G, which would create a Student Success Fund. The organization supports the funding, but not the bureaucratic barriers, including more reliance on external nonprofits, that this proposition will require in order for certain schools to get money they deserve.

The money

Together SF Action is reflective of the broader trend that has seen wealthy Bay Area business leaders invest in local politics. Republican William Oberndorf spent heavily to back the recall of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin in June.

A litany of tech leaders have donated money in support of Proposition D, which aims to increase housing development, ahead of the November election.

The specifics on who is giving money to Together SF Action are opaque as the financial disclosure requirements of a 501c4 are limited. The organization claims that Moritz is its primary backer.

The future

Cheng doesnt expect the organization to finance specific candidates or ballot measures in the future.

After the dust from the November election settles, Together SF Action plans to take a deeper look at the issues plaguing San Francisco.

Next year, it will spend more money on connecting voters and will be coming up with our own proposed solutions, putting forward policy initiatives, Cheng said.

That work excites wonks like Broockman.

We also have to step back and say what should be on the ballot next year, four years from now? Broockman asked.

As many problems as San Francisco has, there is also such an amazing amount of resources in terms of money and talent to try to actually right our city.
Page Content

SAN DIEGO  The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the SHRM Foundation, and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) announced a partnership today to adapt the SHRM Foundation's Employing Abilities at Work Certificate program and resource guide to serve California workplaces and Californians with disabilities.

The agreement, which is part of the DOR's Demand Side Employment Initiative, was announced at the SHRM INCLUSION 2022 conference. INCLUSION 2022 brings together HR professionals and business leaders to discuss ways to mitigate bias, improve workplace culture, and boost employee satisfaction and business results.

By working with the SHRM Foundation, the California DOR seeks to encourage the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. The department will utilize Employing Abilities at Work content to embed disability inclusion into workplace curriculum at California's community colleges and provide resources to employers and human resource professionals.

"As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I am delighted to bring together SHRM and the California DOR at INCLUSION 2022 for this announcement," said SHRM Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs Emily M. Dickens. "The Department of Rehabilitation is helping Californians understand that disability must be discussed as part of inclusion, and the DOR is uniquely positioned to connect employers with untapped talent pools. SHRM is honored to be a part of these efforts."

The partnership will result in a California-specific curriculum focused on the employment lifecycle of employing people with disabilities. It will be designed to educate learners on disability inclusion in the workplace, best practices throughout the employee lifecycle, and specific strategies and pathways to ensure success for Californians with disabilities in the workplace.

"Our partnership with SHRM is one of several innovative ways we are engaging with the California business community to employ more people with disabilities," said DOR Director Joe Xavier. "By educating employers and HR professionals about disability, we hope to connect businesses that are working to find talent in a tough job market with talented individuals who are often overlooked but want to work."

About SHRM

SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. More than 95% of Fortune 500 companies rely on SHRM to be their go-to resource for all things work and their business partner in creating next-generation workplaces. With 300,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Learn more at SHRM.org and on Twitter @SHRM.

About the SHRM Foundation

Founded in 1966, the SHRM Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the world's largest HR professional society, SHRM. SHRM represents more than 300,000 HR professionals across the globe, impacting 115 million workers and their families. The SHRM Foundation mobilizes the power of HR for positive social change in the workplace. Its robust resources, meaningful partnerships and evidence-based programming educate and empower HR professionals to hire diverse talent, build inclusive workplaces, prioritize workplace mental health and wellness, develop and support the next generation of HR professionals, and help employees find purpose at work and beyond. Learn more at shrmfoundation.org.

About the California Department of Rehabilitation

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities. DOR administers the largest vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs in the country, providing services to over 116,000 persons with disabilities in fiscal year 2022. Learn more at https://www.dor.ca.gov/.

About the Demand Side Employment Initiative (DSEI)



The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) created the Demand Side Employment Initiative (DSEI) as an employer incentive program to support businesses to expand or start hiring people with disabilities. Learn more at https://dor.ca.gov/Home/DemandSideEmployment.


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Like many employers, Home Depot is contending with labor shortages as it tries to fill open positions. The home improvement retailer recently announced it would transition to a new "accelerated hiring process," making job offers to applicants in as little as one day after applying.

But when interested job seekers click the "Apply" button on the company's website, they are presented with the login page for an applicant tracking system (ATS). Like many other employers, Home Depot requires applicants to first set up an account and password with the ATS before they can proceed with the applicationlikely leading many to just move on.

Barriers in the online job application process have always been a problem, and while research shows that candidate abandonment is still staggeringly high, a recent audit of the Fortune 500 returned some interesting data points: Job application flow has improved, but there are still too many steps involved in getting applicants to the finish line.

According to Appcast, one of the industry's most respected recruitment data providers, the candidate drop-off rate for people who click 'Apply' but never complete an application is a whopping 92 percent.

"Candidate application volume has always been important and has always had its own unique set of challenges," said Christy Spilka, vice president and global head of talent acquisition at recruitment technology company iCIMS. "The events of the past two years have intensified the importance and the challenges. Candidates are consumers, and they want quick, easy and informative processes. Without that, they will move on. A strong talent attraction strategy and a great employer brand, combined with an engaging and authentic careers site and an easy application process, is critical."

Chris Russell, managing director of RecTech Media, a recruiting technology consulting company in Trumbull, Conn., has been beating the same drum for years. "You have to keep hammering this message home to HR and recruiters," he said. "Apply flow is so important because of the speed of hire that is necessary in today's hiring environment. Companies must streamline their processes. The faster you can get a candidate into the funnel, the faster you can hire them."

Karl Wierzbicki, vice president of marketing at InFlight, a user experience technology provider in Easthampton, Mass., added that when applicants drop out of the process, conversion rates go down and key recruiting metrics suffer. "A 90 percent drop-off rate will drive your cost per application up," he said. "It's going to drive your cost-per-hire up. It's going to increase your time-to-fill. It's hurting your quality of hire. Virtually every talent acquisition metric can be improved by improving your apply flow conversion rate. And the best way to do that is to make the apply flow experience better for candidates."

InFlight recently conducted an audit of the Fortune 500 companies by having researchers apply to open jobs to see what job seekers are facing. They timed the total experience from first click to application submission confirmation and counted the number of clicks it took to finish the application.

"There is obvious effort being made to create better job application experiences for candidates," Wierzbicki said. "But candidates are still having to jump through a lot of hoops to apply for a job."

Lots of Clicks

The InFlight audit found that the average time to complete an application is 4 minutes and 52 seconds, with the large, legacy ATSs returning the longest application completion times and the newer, more-flexible systems delivering faster results.

"On the positive side, applications on average took only 5 minutes to complete," Wierzbicki said. "But there are an exorbitant number of steps and clicks involved. After clicking 'Apply,' candidates must make nine more clicks on average before even getting into the application. Along the way, they are asked to create user accounts and passwords, they are being asked to answer the same question more than once, or they are being asked to enter data that is already contained in the resume that is also being uploaded."

InFlight found that an average of 51 clicks are required to get through an application. Researchers even encountered a new barrier: requiring job seekers to authenticate their identity via e-mail before they can log back in to complete their application, presumably for security purposes.

"Given the recruitment marketing expenditure involved in attracting qualified talent, especially in a highly competitive labor market, having unnecessary roadblocks in place is counterintuitive and creates friction in the apply flow," Wierzbicki said.

Russell said progressive employers are shifting to a much simpler lead generation approach for the initial apply process and ditching the resume requirement. "They use a short form asking for name, phone number, e-mail and maybe a LinkedIn profilethat's it. Just get the basics. You don't need a resume, you don't need someone's SSN, you don't need their whole history yet. Recruiters can work from those leads to ask for more information if they want to move on with the applicant."

Many have advocated for the elimination of upfront registration and account creation altogether, tactics companies use to collect applicants' information for marketing purposes.

"Login pages are still prevalent, and that's a simple thing to get rid of," Russell said. "People have dozens of logins for dozens of ATSs. That's part of the reason why people feel job hunting is so frustrating."

But Spilka said user accounts can be helpful for applicants, as they allow them to track their application status. "They can log back into the site, look at their dashboard and see the status of any job for which they have applied," she said.

Sharing Branding

Almost half (48 percent) of the Fortune 500 feature ATS logos and branding within the application process, potentially creating confusion for the candidate as to where their information is going.

"Seeing the ATS logo on the application creates a jarring experience and the impression that a candidate is leaving the employer's site and going to another site," Wierzbicki said. "It's worse if the ATS portal is less polished. That uncertainty about which site they are on causes some applicants to drop off."

If the transfer is done well, it's not that big of a deal, Russell said, but when "clicking 'Apply' opens up a new tab on your browser and the ATS site looks very different, that's not appealing."

Experts agree that the application experience should be consistent and that employers should ask their ATS partners to remove their vendor branding and update the look and feel of the ATS pages to mirror the employer's careers site.

"Companies invest heavily in their brand, and it should be authentically demonstrated throughout the entire talent experience, even going beyond the application, to all candidate outreach," Spilka said. "It shouldn't feel like you're moving to a totally different website. At iCIMS, we work with the employer to [feature their branding] in the application portal to maintain brand consistency."

Continuous Improvement

Experts recommend that talent acquisition practitioners experience their own organization's application process. "See how long it takes you," Wierzbicki said. "When you're done, ask yourself how you felt about the experience. Then simplify the process, simplify account creation, and remove redundant and unneeded questions."

Spilka said everyone involved in hiring, including recruiters and a focus group of representative hiring managers, should evaluate the application process, noting areas to improve and opportunities to engage more with applicants.

But she said it's important to track the applicant drop-off rate and other conversion metrics first, so measurements can be compared once changes are made.


Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Tuesday praised Rishi Sunak for becoming the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after the resignation of Liz Truss in just 45 days of her coming into power.

Taking to Instagram, Big B posted a picture of himself in a grey hoodie and track pants.

He wrote in the caption: "Jai Bharat .. now the UK finally has a new viceroy as its Prime Minister from the Mother Country."

Like Truss, Rishi is also the leader of Britain's Conservative Party, It is a proud moment for everyone in India as he has become the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the UK.

Sunak is an Oxford, and Stanford University alumni. He was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa.

He is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys.

Meanwhile, Bachchan is currently seen hosting the quiz-based reality show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14'.

He was also seen in 'Goodbye' along with Rashmika Mandanna, 'Brahmastra' and his next film will be 'Uunchai' starring Boman Irani and Anupam Kher.
With a view to nurture the growing interest of deep space tech startups in India, India Space Congress, 2022 (ISC'22) announced a number of initiatives to showcase excellence by engaging with 'iDEX 75 Space Challenges' which was announced by Prime Minister during the Defence Expo, partnering with Microsoft to extend Founders Hub benefits to the 15 shortlisted startups.

As part of the Founders hub program, 15 selected startups may apply to Founders Hub and avail up to $150,000 worth of free Azure credits. Five finalists of Space Tech startups will be pitching their ideas to the industry leaders and investors at the session 'Pitch Right for Skyrocketing Startups' on October 27, 2022. A specially curated mentorship engagement with senior executives of leading companies is in store for the startups.

Anil Prakash, DG - SIA-India said, "SIA-India welcomes these engagements to help startups to launch their ambition to the next orbit with sure chances of success. With iDEX and Microsoft onboard, we look forward to the beginning of a partnership that will reap benefits to the deep tech space startups. These alliances will work towards fostering, incubating and hand holding promising startups."

He further added, "The India Space Congress will have on the same platform decision makers, industry stakeholders and policy makers. The three-day congress will not only pave way for deliberations but will also provide a learning curve to stakeholders."

The three-day India Space Congress 2022 is going to witness 500 plus delegates, 180 Speakers, 35 thematic sessions from 20 nationalities.

The platform is to open dialogue, discuss business models, talk about regulatory challenges and possible learnings from other geographies, generate interest in the new entrepreneurs - all this towards the goal of making 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' a reality. Speakers from 30 countries will indulge in intense discussions and will touch upon various aspects of space segments and build up a new age space ecosystem in the country.
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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Read all of our recaps of The White Lotus season two. See all 7 stories . When Jennifer Coolidge agreed to sign on for a second season of The White Lotus, she did not expect that her storyline from season one would continue. But she was pleasantly surprised when showrunner and creator Mike White decided to pick up the romantic thread between her character Tanya and Greg (Jon Gries), and return them to the new season as a married couple holidaying in Italy. I was thrilled that we got to tell the story of what happened with Greg and Tanya, says Coolidge on the eve of the launch of the keenly anticipated new season. And I love that chapter two is very different from chapter one, that the love is more developed and time has gone by. And its interesting how something starts off so romantically, and then how it can lead to something you never thought would happen. Trying to match or ambitiously exceed the madness and brilliance of the Emmy-winning and critically lauded The White Lotus was a risky gamble. But it seems to have paid off. Where the first season was gently dipped in the charm of Hawaii as a destination, the second season feels and looks very different: an oil painting come to life, equal parts Titian and Botticelli, with graceful lines and splendid colour, and the rugged beauty of Sicily dominated by the smoking plumes of the active volcano Mount Etna. Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (Jennifer Coolidge) in The White Lotus. Credit:HBO The White Lotus borrows from the geography-as-TV-porn genre, think of modern-day classics like The Durrells, and its slightly thinner cousin Hotel Portofino, where outsiders or foreigners find themselves in exotic places and situations which test their values, personalities and beliefs. The White Lotus adds a little magic and bottled lightning of Whites outstanding writing. The key, says Coolidge, is Whites passion and authenticity.

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Theres all these ways people can sort of fudge stuff and make it look like something else, Coolidge says. But you know when someone says, we thought it was the most beautiful place weve ever been around, then you find out later they didnt really like it. But when Mike falls in love with something, he is sincere. I want you to know this, my insecurity never wavers, its strong. Jennifer Coolidge Not only did he scout the shows new locations, and write every episode, Coolidge says, but he also took Italian lessons. Because he wanted to talk to his crew in Italian and not have a barrier, she says. Thats really who Mike is. The proof is on the screen. Every luscious take. The almost timeless settings. With a scarf, and on a Vespa, even Coolidge looks more like a heroine in a Federico Fellini movie than she does the star of an American cable drama. The White Lotus creator Mike White, pictured at the 2022 Emmy Awards, took Italian lessons before filming the shows second season in Sicily. Credit:Danny Moloshok/Invision Its a love letter, Coolidge says, but not a fake love letter. Theres nothing false going on. He truly loves it. Hes one of the most honest people Ive ever met. Even if its something you dont want to hear, hell say it or hell put it in his show or whatever. Hes the opposite of a lot of people full of BS in our business. He really is. Coolidges co-star Jon Gries believes Whites strength is a genuine understanding of beauty. He loves beauty. I would love to have Mike White come to my house and fix it, design it. Tell me what to put where. Hes got a real touch, a visual touch. He really understands these things, these beautiful places.

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Joining the couple this year are two American couples, Cameron (Theo James) and Daphne Sullivan (Meghann Fahy), and Camerons college roommate Ethan (Will Sharpe) and his wife Harper Spiller (Aubrey Plaza); and three generations of the Di Grasso family, relentlessly farting grandfather Bert (F. Murray Abraham), son Dominic (Michael Imperioli) and grandson Albie (Adam DiMarco). Coolidges character Tanya and Greg (Jon Gries) return as a married couple holidaying in Italy in the new season of The White Lotus. Credit:HBO/Binge Gries says working with Coolidge was the best part of returning for the shows second season. If youre going to speak specifically about acting, working with Jennifer is always a joy because theres the sense of this incredible flow that happens where you cant anticipate where its going. Which I love, he says. Whenever you work with Jennifer, theres a possibility that things are going to change, Gries adds. So it keeps an actor on their toes in a weird way. I hate to even say, because keeping on your toes is almost anticipating. I dont anticipate it. When it hits, its like catch up, get with it, stay with it, enjoy it. Its an amazing ride. Despite what seems like unflappable confidence, and the bonus of a win at this years prestigious Emmy Awards in the category of outstanding supporting actress in a limited series, Coolidge insists she is not a confident actress. F. Murray Abraham, Eleonora Romandini and Michael Imperioli in the second season of The White Lotus. Credit:HBO/Binge I want you to know this, my insecurity never wavers, its strong, Coolidge says. It all feels like a fluke. I like the mysteriousness of [the second season of] The White Lotus.

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It also helps, Coolidge adds, that the second series was set in a living postcard, Sicily, in the south of Italy. When we were filming, honestly, it was just riveting, she says. Sicily was mesmerising; there wasnt a dull moment. We were shooting a movie, but I also felt like I was in a movie already, which was Sicily, and all the trees, everythings alive. But back to that Emmy win, which came with a couple of bonuses: White won for directing and writing on a limited series, her co-star Murray Bartlett won for outstanding supporting actor, and the show won the Emmy for outstanding limited series against Dopesick, Pam & Tommy (Hulu/Disney) and Inventing Anna (Netflix). Coolidge poses with the award for supporting actress in a limited series or movie at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. Credit:AP Photo/Jae C. Hong How do I feel about it? Im thrilled, she says. Do I agree with it? Well, look, Id rather win than not win. But it was everybodys game. Everyone that had been nominated, it was so possible. Thats why I think no one really knew who it was going to be. But Im just surprised. Its really weird. Loading This is how the world works, if just one person says, youre good at something, or says, I think you can do this ... [but] no one wants to be the first person to give you a chance. You know what I mean? Coolidge says. Ive been a long time trying to make stuff happen, but no one wants to give you the big thing because they dont know if you can do it and they dont want to take the risk. And for taking the risk, she has only her thanks and devotion to White. Mike White did that in a very big way for me because it wasnt happening and if it hadnt worked out, it wouldve been a terrible thing for him because he wouldve been in trouble with HBO, Coolidge says. Im just thrilled that he gave me this gift, this great role.

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In relation to the governments housing policy, your correspondent says: You have to allow market demand to drive housing parameters. I couldnt agree more. However, since the days of John Howard as PM, the housing market has been skewed heavily in favour of investors due to negative gearing and capital gains exemptions which are not available to owner-occupiers. Prices for residential dwellings in all markets have been forced to artificially high levels. And as is well known, many such properties lie unoccupied for much of the year as investors use them primarily as holiday homes with the occasional Airbnb rental. If this government were serious about addressing the housing crisis it would severely reduce the benefits currently gifted to investors, which would undoubtedly see many properties become available to owner-occupiers at affordable prices. Martyn Yeomans, Sapphire Beach The disclosure of politicians multiple housing assets for investment makes clear how far we have come from seeing housing as a human right for all (Most state MPs own multiple properties, October 26). The generous discounts of negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions continue to benefit those who are already well-off. Youth and the less well-off will never know the pleasure of owning their own home while we continue to treat housing as an investment. Housing should be treated as a human right, not a rort. Robyn Thomas, Wahroonga Big ticket projects costing Sydney It is good that Rob Stokes is raising the issue of the carbon costs of overengineering, but given the high economic and environmental cost of car dependency, how much better would it have been if we had invested in proper public transport rather than road tunnels, and ensured that city fringe land release developments were not wholly dependent on cars for everyday functioning (Big builds cripple net-zero: minister, October 26)? Gina Hay, Bayview Stokes is right to examine mega-projects to ensure the taxpayer receives value and the environment is not harmed, but why stop there? Smaller projects collectively add up and are just as worthy of delivering value for money spent by government, and value in protecting the environment, as the mega-projects. Replacing the stairway to the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway at Milsons Point might be petty cash to big government, but at possibly $1 million per step, this is not value. Affected parties continue to seek the ministers ear on this matter. Ian Curdie, Lavender Bay

Population a Boulder to Sydneys future The head of Greater Sydney Commission believes Sydney, a city of 5 million, should be more like Boulder, Colorado, a city of 100,000 (Get smart: planning chiefs big gripe with pretty Sydney, October 26). Small cities are more attractive places to live, as evidenced by the mass exodus from Sydney and Melbourne post-COVID. Its high time we had a conversation about optimal population, before Sydney loses all natural beauty and liveability. Anne Matheson, Gordon NDIS needs fixing Recent revelations of widespread rorting of Medicare by some members of the health profession doesnt augur well for the future of the NDIS (Eye surgeon lashes rorting, October 26). With hundreds of billions of dollars at stake over coming years, we have already seen reports of rorting by unscrupulous care providers. Unless the government can provide the necessary rigorous scrutiny over the disbursement of these funds, many disabled people may be deprived of the necessary care they require. Bill Shorten has flagged that this will be a priority for the Albanese government. Lets hope he is right. Greg Thomas, Annandale

Back to the future With the increasing cost and complexity of keeping information in digital form, and the likelihood of hacking and subsequent identity theft, we may have to turn to other means of data storage and communication (Emergency action as scale of Medibank breach widens, October 26). Perhaps a return to pen, paper, filing cabinets, mail and landlines is on the cards? Robert Ballinger, Pymble Trumps Wild West Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Donald Trumps total ineptitude should disqualify him from ever again occupying the highest position in the United States (Trump for 2024: Trick or treat, October 26). But its more his utter moral turpitude that makes Nick Bryants opinion that Trump is in with a big chance impossible to comprehend. This will not be an election based on Trumps capacity to do the job; he has already manifestly indicated he cant. The 2024 election, if won by Trump, will reveal the moral decay in an America willing to again appoint a pseudo fascist, a serial fabulist, a bully, a malignant narcissist and someone with no regard for the dignity and worth of women. Trump would be joined in the gutter by his coterie of sycophantic inner circle self-seekers, the whole of the Republican Party, his evangelical Christian support base and those US citizens who believe that confrontation, particularly with already marginalised citizens, equates to strength. The Wild West will be revived and democracy will be decimated. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

Lesson on school funding Every dollar out of the state finances that goes to support private education is taken out of the funding of all education (Letters, October 26). Private school students receive a set percentage of state funding per student based on public student allocation. In addition, the private schools receive federal funding as the federal government has stated public education is the responsibility of the states. To suggest that it is saving the government money is a fallacy. If that were the case private schools would receive no funding and the millions allocated to them would be spent elsewhere. Once more it is the privileged trying to justify greed when they clearly do not have the need. As Ken Boston wrote, state money given to private schools frees their budgets from educational purposes to be directed into luxury facilities no public school can afford. Augusta Monro, Dural Private schools always have and always will exist as there is a cohort of people who perceive an advantage in their children attending them. The assertion that no matter the choice of school, all students deserve some level of funding is unrealistic. The reality is that the states obligation is to ensure that all students have access to an education and this is achieved through the provision of freely accessible public education facilities. Robert Hodge, Arncliffe The notion that every student is entitled to some level of government funding is poppycock. If you choose to opt out of the publicly funded system then so be it. Governments provide public transport but I dont expect them to subsidise my purchase of a car if I decide I dont want to catch a bus.

John Bailey, Canterbury

Hancocks Horrible Histories Few would know of Lang Hancocks odious remark in 1984 if not for the current netball kerfuffle (Letters, October 26). It would quite rightly have been confined to Horrible Histories. So maybe not a big win but an own goal. Tim Egan, Mosman Warm Wordle wake-up The pleasure derived from Wordle or Quordle as related by your correspondent extends far beyond the satisfaction of solving it (A Wordle of advice: dont get dragooned into Quordle, October 26).

Every morning before hopping out of bed a close friend and I exchange our solutions, accompanied by a greeting or comment on the weather or such. Its a lovely warm start to the day. Elizabeth Maher, Bangor

The write stuff Grandmother was lacking the masculine capacities necessary to write letters to newspapers as Judy Hungerford mentions (Letters, October 26). Yet she made history with an exquisitely crafted quill and ink note, left for the family on the kitchen table. You must prepare your own meals this evening, I shall be attending a demonstration at Hyde Park to hear Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst express her views on Votes for Women. We like to think of her kind, pen in hand, that monstrous regiment of women, quietly humming I shall not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic) How unusual was it that your correspondents father used his wifes name in a letter to the Herald, that was published in the 1940s. Usually, it was the other way around. One of our best poets, Gwen Harwood (1920-1995) sent her first poetry collection to a publisher only to be dismissed as a Tasmanian housewife. She then resorted to subterfuge and had many successes using a variety of male pseudonyms. Im uncertain if Harwood wrote letters to the editor, but she certainly found the time to write. She was also the mother of four children, including twins. Maureen Casey, Breakfast Point
Police have shot a man in the leg in Matraville in Sydneys east after reports he was assaulting two women and armed with a knife.

Officers from Eastern Beaches command were called to Bunnerong Road at about 4.30pm and chased the 27-year-old man to a nearby underground car park.

The man allegedly pulled out a knife and challenged the two police officers, who fired a Taser and a firearm at the same time.

The man, who was known to police, was treated at the scene for a gunshot wound to the hip before being taken to St Vincents Hospital in a stable condition.
A Russian billionaire businessman has the power to influence his government even without direct political ties, the foreign affairs ministers lawyer suggests.

Alexander Abramov  who became head of Russias largest steel producer Evraz  is suing Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in the Federal Court, after the former government sanctioned 67 Russian oligarchs and members of the countrys elite in April because of Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Russian billionaire Alexander Abramov sued Foreign Minister Penny Wong last month. Credit:Getty Images

The sanctions imposed by former foreign minister Marise Payne on Abramov were later revoked, but then immediately reimposed by Wong in September.

Abramovs lawyer has rejected the Australian governments assertions that the steel magnate is economically or strategically significant to Russia, pointing to his self-proclaimed lack of political connections and resignation as chair of Evraz.
Chalmers hinted at more regulation of the power industry. Just what could he do and would it help or is this all just spin? - Tom Well, this really is the issue that could consume this government. And while Ross is right that the underlying cause of most of the price surge is the war in Ukraine, theres also the other pre-existing problem of coal-fired power plants that have been shutting down prematurely or been shut down by their owners prematurely before their scheduled lifespan without enough renewable energy and storage coming on. So, four [gigawatts] of power have left the grid in the last few years, and only one has been added to the national grid. So this is the way that the opposition is framing it. Peter Dutton this morning has already said, you know, were all in favour of renewable energy and reducing emissions but this government is trying to conduct the transition by going too far too fast. Theyre the ones pushing up prices, its the governments fault. That will bite, that will find traction, because they will persist with this for years now. So, theyll line up to blame the government, the government will attempt to threaten the gas companies with regulatory action and the electricity companies to try and force them to take steps of their own. If they dont, well you can see this government being forced to apply some sort of price constraints. And that, in turn, can have unintended consequences. We know that from the long history of price controls, they never work as intended. In other words, its a giant political mess, and the government will need to handle it very carefully, or theyll be blamed for it. And Dutton wont win the next election, but the government could certainly lose it. Will the government eventually dump or change the stage three tax cuts and if so how can this be done without major political downside? - Doug

I think theyre almost certain to do something about it. You can say its a promise. But its a promise that should never have been made. You cannot say were going to be responsible government in this country, but the budgets got spending on one side, taxes on the other, were going to tie our tax hand behind our back for the whole of the next three years and still be responsible. Well, it was an irresponsible promise, and it will have to be broken. I think the government is really just maneuvering until far more of the public accept that. And I think that its pretty clear what theyll do. Theyll cut the cost of the tax cut, and theyll change it from aiming at the top half of income earners to the bottom half, which would be a big improvement, and it would deliver the benefits to the people who needed it most, first because theyve suffered most from the cost of living squeeze, but also because they suffer more from bracket creep than people like me up the top. Well, theyre likely to make that decision at the next budget for next May. The tussle that they have internally, and that theyve already gone through once, and theyll no doubt go through again, is the contest between keeping their promises, and therefore building trust with the electorate and delivering some fairness, as well as the correct economic medicine for the time. So by May next year, they may well decide to keep the tax cuts, as both an economic measure to try and help stimulate what will be a slowing economy. They might well, though, choose to reorder the nature, then scale of the tax cuts to reduce the benefits to the people at the top end and redistribute them to people in the middle and lower end, which is exactly what the Rudd government did when it inherited the John Howard tax cuts plan in 2007. Can anyone please explain how we can build one million affordable houses when nationally we build circa 250,000 annually? With labour and trade shortages and supply chain issues, its fanciful and not possible in any reasonable time frame. - Frank
Tokyo: Japans economy minister submitted his resignation over ties to the Unification Church after facing mounting criticism in a widening controversy involving dozens of governing party lawmakers.

Daishiro Yamagiwas resignation on Monday is a further blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas government, which has been rocked by his partys close ties to the controversial South Korean-based church following the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe in July.

Japans Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa. Credit:AP

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.
Kyiv: NATO and Russias military have staged separate nuclear exercises as the Russian president again stood firm on the internationally rejected claim that Ukraine plans to set off a radioactive dirty bomb. On the battlefront, his forces targeted more than 40 villages around Ukraine over the past day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remotely monitored the drills of his strategic nuclear forces on Wednesday (Russia time), which involved multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles in a show of force. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the exercise simulated a massive nuclear strike retaliating for a nuclear attack on Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin watches a training to test the strategic deterrence forces via videoconference in Moscow. Credit:AP

The Biden administration said Russia provided advance notice of the annual drills. NATO is carrying out its own long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe.

In remarks carried by Russian TV, Putin said Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb as a provocation and contended the US was using Ukraine as a battering ram against Russia and its regional allies, turning the country into a testing ground for military-biological experiments. It was the first time Putin himself made the dirty bomb allegation, which his officials have been repeating since last week.
Istanbul: A glamorous Russian socialite whose father was Vladimir Putins mentor has fled the country, hours before police raided her luxury mansion following her mild criticism of the Ukraine war.

Ksenia Sobchak tricked security agents by booking bogus flights and was on a plane to Lithuania, via Belarus, by the time they had arrived at her Moscow flat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks to Ksenia Sobchak, daughter of former St Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak in 2003. Credit:AP

She left Moscow overnight after she bought tickets online for Dubai yesterday and Turkey today  she did that to fool the agents, an unnamed official said.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political analyst, said the raid sent a signal to members of the Russian elite that all bets are off.
Dubai: The militant group Islamic State said it carried out an attack on a Shiite Muslim shrine in Iran on Wednesday which killed 15 people, escalating tensions in a country reeling from a wave of protests and prompting warnings of a response from Tehran.

Iranian officials said they had arrested a gunman who carried out the attack at the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz. State media blamed takfiri terrorists - a label Tehran uses for hardline Sunni Muslim militants like Islamic State.

A police motorcycle and a trash bin burn during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini in downtown Tehran, Iran. Credit:AP

The group has claimed previous attacks in Iran, including deadly twin bombings in 2017 which targeted Irans parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republics founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Wednesdays killing of Shiite pilgrims came on the same day that Iranian security forces clashed with increasingly strident protesters marking the 40-day anniversary since the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The wholesalers applauded the news of a link with the Dominican Republic and St. Maarten for the supply of food products. They expressed their interest in the idea and acknowledged that this route would indeed lower the purchasing cost to consumers. However, the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT) says the raised concerns over whether the DR could supply the volume needed for local consumption.



The main concern to Acting Minister of TEATT Omar Ottley when they met Monday was to discuss the proposed produce link. The meeting with the wholesalers was the second in a planned series of discussions with local stakeholders who produce locally or import agricultural products.



Minister Ottley has committed to addressing the wholesaler's concerns with his counterpart Minister in the Dominican Republic. He said, "The meeting was fruitful as no one objected to the initiative. Thanks to their valuable input, we have a few points which I intend to raise with the Agribusiness Board in the DR and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Hugo Rivera Fernandez."

Concerns raised by the wholesalers included the quality of produce and whether the DR would have the volume needed to satisfy the demand for fruits and vegetables in St. Maarten.



"These healthy discussions help to improve the level of our industry. I am convinced that open dialogue will arm the Ministry with sufficient information to put together a meaningful solution to the high cost of food products in St. Maarten, which is the ultimate goal," said Minister Ottley.



Shipping options and a consistent supply of products are also critical moving forward. The wholesalers requested that produce from the Dominican Republic be consolidated for each importer to have variety in one container. Doing so will help with the high shipping cost of importing goods to St. Maarten.

Currently, the Dominican Republic produces oranges, which they ship to Florida but not to St. Maarten. The consensus of the members of the wholesalers is that the DR has the best quality of Pineapples but must improve its consistency in supply.

They also recommend a price control on freight for products, reducing the retail cost of fruits and vegetables even when purchased in Miami.

When Minister Ottley meets again with his counterpart in the Dominican Republic to discuss supplying St. Maarten with fruits and vegetables, he will raise the concerns brought by the local importers. He intends to seek clarity on the potential of the DR to provide a consistent supply of products to the importers in St. Maarten.
PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), has recently seen an increase in acute respiratory illnesses and reminds the public that influenza (flu) season is here.

There have been reports from healthcare providers who are seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses, especially in children with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

Most people who get an RSV infection will have mild illness and will recover in a week or two. RSV can make chronic health problems worse, and persons with asthma may experience asthma attacks as a result of RSV infection.

The following groups who are more likely to get serious complications if they get sick with RSV are infants and young children (under five years old) and older adults (especially those 65 years and older) and adults with chronic medical conditions (chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune system).

CPS continues to monitor health data and encourages the community to practice prevention measures such as proper handwashing (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds); covering your coughs/sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands; avoiding close contact with sick people; frequently cleaning high touch surfaces such as doorknobs etc. in your home, school, or workplace. If you are sick with respiratory symptoms, stay home.

Washing hands often reduces the transmission of respiratory illnesses such as the flu, common cold, and COVID-19.

There are vaccinations for influenza (flu) which can be purchased through your local pharmacy. CPS also encourages the community to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.

Help our community stay safe during this cold and flu season.

For more information, you can call CPS 914, 542-1122 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BONAIRE:--- The Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL) has just announced to continue supporting the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) activities by donating 500k each year for the next five years. DCNA will use this money for projects to safeguard nature in the Dutch Caribbean by assisting the Protected Area Management Organizations in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.

From rainforests to coral reefs, the Dutch Caribbeans are home to a wide variety of natural habitats. These diverse ecosystems are a magnet for tourists and at the same time one of the most important sources of income for the Dutch Caribbean. Nature on the islands is unique and important but it is also fragile and threatened. Amongst the most significant threats include poorly regulated (coastal) development, wastewater, and waste management as well as overgrazing and the impact of invasive species and climate change.

 Our unique and bountiful tropical islands, with their high biodiversity and abundance of globally threatened ecosystems and species demand that we stand together to safeguard biodiversity. Thats the heart of the DCNA. We are extremely thankful for the support by the Dutch Postcode Lottery and are looking forward to continuing to help the Protected Area Management Organizations to safeguard the Dutch Caribbean natural treasures stated Hellen van der Wal, Chair of DCNA.
Gold Terra Announces Filing of Technical Report on the Con Mine Option Property, NWT

Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V: YGT; Frankfurt: TX0; OTC QX: YGTFF) (aGold Terraa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/gold-terra-resource-corp/ ) is pleased to announce that it has filed a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a) on the Con Mine Option (the aCMOa) Property, which is under option from subsidiaries ofA Newmont Corporation and acquirable by the Company upon fulfillment of certain conditions set out in the CMO agreement as reported in the Companya?s news release dated September 7, 2022

The October 21, 2022 technical report, titled aInitial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canadaa with an effective date of September 2, 2022 can be found on the Companya?s website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Mineral Resource Estimate on the CMO Property includes three gold deposits a Yellorex Main, Yellorex North, and Kam Point. The CMO Property is located adjacent to the Companya?s 100% owned Yellowknife City Gold project (the aYCG Projecta) in the Northwest Territories which has Mineral Resource Estimates on the Crestaurum, Barney, Sam Otto, and Mispickel deposits.

Mineral Resource Estimate Highlights

Con Mine Option Property initial Mineral Resource Estimate:

Underground Indicated Mineral Resource of 0.45million tonnes averaging 7.55 g/t Au for 109,000 ounces of contained gold

Underground Inferred Mineral Resource of 2.0 million tonnes averaging 6.74 g/t Au for 432,000 ounces of contained gold

In addition to the CMO Mineral Resource Estimate the Company has 1.2 Moz Inferred Mineral Resources for the Crestaurum, Barney, Sam Otto and Mispickel deposits (see March 2022 Technical Report) on their adjacent 100% owned YCG Project. These Mineral Resource Estimates are also included in the current technical report. A This extensive land package is close to the City of Yellowknife with all its extensive existing infrastructure.

Potential to Delineate Additional High-Grade Ounces Along the Campbell Shear

The Company is planning a winter 2023 drilling program which will include testing all zones mentioned in the initial Mineral Resource Estimate at depth and along strike, south of the Mine. If budget permits, the Company also will be testing the Campbell shear at depth of up to 2000 metres below surface.A

Qualified Persons

The Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property and YCG Project was prepared by Dr. Allan Armitage, P.Geo. from SGS, an Independent Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

Dr. Allan Armitage and Joe Campbell, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer for Gold Terra, both Qualified Persons within the meaning of NI 43-101, have reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Gold Terra

The YCG Project encompasses 800 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometers of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is focusing its exploration activities on the prolific Campbell shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option Property claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine (1938-2003).

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that host the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company\-s exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of aMeasured Mineral Resources,a aIndicated Mineral Resources,a or aInferred Mineral Resourcesa will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

The Company prepares its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Terms relating to Mineral Resources in this news release are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended (\CIM Standards\). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the \SEC\) has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the \SEC Modernization Rules\) to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\ and \Inferred Mineral Resources\, which are defined in substantially similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of \Proven Mineral Reserves\ and \Probable Mineral Reserves\ to be substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Standards.

U.S. investors are cautioned that while the foregoing terms are \substantially similar\ to corresponding definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any Mineral Resources that the Company may report as \Measured Mineral Resources\, \Indicated Mineral Resources\ and \Inferred Mineral Resources\ under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the Mineral Resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws, estimates of \Inferred Mineral Resources\ cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute \forward-looking information\ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (\forward-looking information\). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as \plans\, \expects\ or \does not expect\, \is expected\, \budget\, \scheduled\, \estimates\, \forecasts\, \intends\, \anticipates\ or \does not anticipate\, or \believes\, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results \will\, \may\, \could\, \would\, \might\ or \will be taken\, \occur\ or \be achieved\ or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Companya?s current YCG mineral resource, and the Company\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company\-s actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the \Risk Factors\ section in the Company\-s most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company\-s profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. 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. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.
Skeena Expands 23 Zone to Surface at Eskay Creek Intersecting 1.20 g/t AuEq over 96.02 metres

Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce drilling results from the 2022 regional and near mine exploration programs at the Eskay Creek gold-silver Project (aEskay Creeka or the aProjecta) in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Analytical results and reference images from the recently completed drill holes are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Companya?s website . Additional results will be reported once available.

New 2022 Drilling Highlights:

94 g/t Au, 32.3 g/t Ag (2.30 g/t AuEq) over 26.50 m (SK-22-1069)

59 g/t Au, 7.9 g/t Ag (2.68 g/t AuEq) over 21.00 m (SK-22-1069)

98 g/t Au, 6.4 g/t Ag (1.05 g/t AuEq) over 29.87 m (SK-22-1069)

97 g/t Au, 9.3 g/t Ag (2.07 g/t AuEq) over 13.56 m (SK-22-1069)

12 g/t Au, 4.7 g/t Ag (1.17 g/t AuEq) over 109.82 m (SK-22-1071)

13 g/t Au, 6.6 g/t Ag (1.20 g/t AuEq) over 96.02 m (SK-22-1090)

Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 90]. True widths and zone geometries cannot be definitively determined at this time. Grade-capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length-weighted AuEq composites. Metallurgical processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are taken at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero.

23 Zone Mineralization Expands to Surface

Infill drill hole SK-22-1090 successfully confirmed the continuity of gold-silver mineralization in the 23 Zone and has expanded mineralization to surface intersecting 1.13 g/t Au, 6.6 g/t Ag (1.20 g/t AuEq) over 96.02 m. This newly drilled mineralization demonstrates excellent downhole continuity but most importantly has extended mineralization to surface, which will have a potentially positive impact on the future open-pit strip ratio once the updated resource and engineering studies are completed. Additional drillholes targeting the surficial mineralization will be planned for future drilling campaigns.

Multiple New Intersections Discovered in 21A West Zone

Highlighted by recently completed exploratory drill hole SK-22-1071, a very wide interval of continuous dacite hosted gold-silver mineralization was intersected grading 1.12 g/t Au, 4.7 g/t Ag (1.17 g/t AuEq) over 109.82 m. This new occurrence of feeder style mineralization occurs 150 metres vertically below surface and below the current engineered pit. Due to the wide spacings of exploratory holes drilled to date, it is currently unclear if this mineralization is an extension of the 21A West Zone or if it represents a new dacite hosted replacement discovery analogous to the 23 Zone.

Situated 70 metres along strike to the southeast of SK-22-1071, numerous rhyolite and dacite hosted gold-silver intersections were encountered by SK-22-1069 over the length of the drillhole including 1.94 g/t Au, 32.3 g/t Ag (2.30 g/t AuEq) over 26.50 m, 2.59 g/t Au, 7.9 g/t Ag (2.68 g/t AuEq) over 21.00 m and 0.98 g/t Au, 6.4 g/t Ag (1.05 g/t AuEq) over 29.87 m. Based upon currently defined zone geometries, these occurrences are likely a combination of 21A West feeder style mineralization and possibly the dacite hosted mineralization uncovered in SK-22-1071.

Additional new mineralization was also discovered in the Even Lower Mudstone via SK-22-1069 which averaged 1.97 g/t Au, 9.3 g/t Ag (2.07 g/t AuEq) over 13.56 m including the high tenor subinterval grading 11.55 g/t Au, 25 g/t Ag (11.83 g/t AuEq) over 1.19 m.

About Skeena

Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an open-pit average grade of 4.00 g/t AuEq, an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Skeena is currently continuing exploration drilling at Eskay Creek.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited,

Walter Coles Jr.

CEO & Director

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries: info@skeenaresources.com

Office Phone: +1 604 684 8725

Company Website: www.skeenaresources.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Qualified Persons

Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Companya?s Exploration Managers, Raegan Markel, P.Geo. and Director of Exploration, Adrian Newton P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Senior Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects.

Quality Assurance a Quality Control

Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Companya?s Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development.

Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistrya?s analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1 kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50 g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000 ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000 ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-element geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 31, 2022. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2022, and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.

Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources

Skeenaa?s mineral reserves and mineral resources included or incorporated by reference herein have been estimated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a) as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. The terms amineral reservea, aproven mineral reservea, aprobable mineral reservea, amineral resourcea, ameasured mineral resourcea, aindicated mineral resourcea and ainferred mineral resourcea are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (aCIMa) aCIM Definition Standards a For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reservesa adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the aCIM Definition Standardsa). These standards differ significantly from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the aSEC Modernization Rulesa). Skeena is not currently subject to the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, Skeenaa?s disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had Skeena prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.A

In addition, investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Skeenaa?s mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any ameasureda, aindicateda, or ainferreda mineral resources that Skeena reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, ainferred mineral resourcesa have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an ainferred mineral resourcea will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of ainferred mineral resourcesa may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases where permitted under NI 43-101.

For these reasons, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related information presented herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Vizsla Silver discovers new mineralization west of Napoleon at La Luisa

Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSX-V: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) (aVizslaa or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/vizsla-silver-corp/ ) is pleased to report results from 12 new drillholes targeting the recently discovered aLa Luisaa Vein located 700 metres west of the Napoleon Vein, at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco silver-gold project (\Panuco\) in Mexico. The geology and vein geochemistry suggest the reported drill-hole intercepts correspond to shallow vein-levels, analogous to the previously proposed aGold Rich-Shallowa level at the southern end of Napoleon.

Highlights

a NP-22-305 returned 404 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 6.13 metres true width (mTW) (133 g/t silver, 3.68 g/t gold, 0.17 % lead and 0.30 % zinc) including,

a 2,567 g/t AgEq over 0.68 mTW (595 g/t silver, 27.50 g/t gold, 0.51 % lead and 0.60 % zinc)

a And, 534 g/t AgEq over 2.59 mTW (197 g/t silver, 4.60 g/t gold, 0.18 % lead and 0.43 % zinc) including,

a 1,935 g/t AgEq over 0.57 mTW (596 g/t silver, 18.50 g/t gold, 0.59 % lead and 0.94 % zinc)

a NP-22-303 returned 286 g/t AgEq over 1.00 mTW (49 g/t silver,2.90 g/t gold, 0.23 % lead and 0.70 % zinc)

a NP-22-321 returned 332 (g/t) AgEq over 0.84 mTW (70 g/t silver, 1.41 g/t gold, 0.19% lead and 4.53 % zinc) and,

a 246 g/t AgEq over 0.35 mTW (188 g/t silver, 0.69 g/t gold, 0.17% lead and 0.48 % zinc)

aExploration continues outboard of the major resource centers outlined in the March 2022 MRE,a commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO. aLa Luisa is one of several newly discovered prospects in the western portion of the Panuco District that hosts significant potential to add resources. We have now completed twelve drill holes at La Luisa and are encouraged by similarities shared with the adjacent shallow gold rich zone at Napoleon. This may indicate that results to date from La Luisa correlate to mineralization higher up in the system, with improved grades and widths remaining at depth. Moving forward we will test this depth potential and determine if La Luisa is as robust as Napoleon.a

Details of the La Luisa Vein discovery

The La Luisa Vein is located approximately 700 metres to the west of Napoleon in the southwest portion of the Panuco district. The structure has been mapped on surface for almost 1,000 metres with an average strike of N35AW and dip of 70A  80A to the NE. The Vein itself is hosted primarily by rhyolite tuffs (the upper part of the regional lower volcanic sequence) and bears vein-textures indicative of being at higher-levels in the epithermal profile.

Drilling completed at La Luisa, has returned significant gold concentrations with generally low silver and base metals. The relatively high gold to silver and base metals ratios observed, suggest this zone is analogous to the previously reported aGold Rich-Shallowa level at the southern end of Napoleon. At Napoleon, interpretations based on metal zonation and alteration, suggest that the vein corridor has been tilted with the southern extent being at the top of the mineralized horizon, near surface (See press release dated December 16, 2021 and October 12, 2022).

Going forward, Vizsla plans to drill deeper holes at La Luisa to target the zonea?s precious metals rich core, which given the ongoing success of the local exploration model utilized at Napoleon, there exists the potential for increased grades and widths along strike and down plunge to the south.

About the Panuco project

The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of MazatlAn. The 6,761-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

Panuco hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 61.1 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 45.6 Moz AgEq. A NI 43-101 technical report, titled aNational Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Panuco Project Mineral Resource Estimate Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexicoa was filed on SEDAR on April 7, 2022, with an effective date of March 1, 2022 was prepared by Tim Maunula, P.Geo., Principal Geologist, T. Maunula & Associates Consulting Inc and Kevin Murray, P.Eng, Manager Process Engineering, Ausenco.

About Vizsla Silver

Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla has completed over 210,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2022, Vizsla has budgeted +120,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade, and expand the maiden resource as well as test other high priority targets across the district.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core and rock samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver.A The ALS Zacatecas and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption (aAAa) spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Companya?s quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

In accordance with NI 43-101, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., COO, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release.

Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources

The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the aSECa). The terms \measured mineral resource\, \indicated mineral resource\ and \inferred mineral resource\ used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the aCIM Definition Standardsa), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, ainferred mineral resourcesa are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of acontained ouncesa in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute areservesa by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures.

Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the aSEC Modernization Rulesa), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of ameasured mineral resourcesa, aindicated mineral resourcesa and ainferred mineral resourcesa. Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be asubstantially similara to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as ameasured mineral resourcesa, aindicated mineral resourcesa and ainferred mineral resourcesa under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.

Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact:

Michael Konnert, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 364-2215

Email: info@vizslasilver.caA

Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.caA A

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain aForward?Looking Statementsa within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and aforward?looking informationa under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words aanticipatea, abelievea, aestimatea, aexpecta, atargeta, aplana, aforecasta, amaya, awoulda, acoulda, aschedulea and similar words or expressions, identify forward?looking statements or information. These forward?looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade and expand the maiden resource, and publication of a resource update in Q4 2022.

Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on managementa?s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on managementa?s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizslaa?s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Vizslaa?s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company\-s dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company\-s mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company\-s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company\-s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company\-s interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company\-s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption aRisk Factorsa in Vizslaa? management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward?looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward?looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.
Calibre comments on Operations in Nicaragua

Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (aCalibrea or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/calibre-mining-corp/ ) a Canadian company operating in Nevada and Nicaragua since 2009 is analyzing the recent announcement of the United States Treasury Department issued on October 24, 2022 ( United States Treasury Announcement can be found here. ) relating to sanctions imposed on the Nicaragua Directorate of Mines.

Calibre is proactively reviewing the recent sanctions and has reached out to the United States Treasury Department to A ensure its full compliance with these provisions. Calibre reaffirms its commitment to continue complying with all relevant international laws and restrictions.

The Company will provide a market update once it has additional information, following discussions with its advisors and the United States Treasury Department.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

aDarren Halla

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, no debt, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa (collectively aforward-looking statementsa) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as \expect\, \plan\, \anticipate\, \project\, \target\, \potential\, \schedule\, \forecast\, \budget\, \estimate\, \intend\ or \believe\ and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions \will\, \would\, \may\, \could\, \should\ or \might\ occur.A Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibrea?s control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibrea?s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021, available on www.sedar.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibrea?s forward-looking statements.

Calibrea?s forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managementa?s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.




The accident leads Max to decide that he is going to use his white saviour complex to make New York City safer, starting with the dangerous intersection where the accident occurred. How this relates to his job at the hospital is questionable, but I digress. He meets a loud but headstrong lawyer, Callie Cruz, whose office happens to be a desk set up at the park. Max, always rooting for the underdog, tells her his plan and she offers to take the case for $10,000. He counters with $5000 and only if they win. With what money is he using to pay her? How will he even justify this to the New Amsterdam board? If this storyline isnt already sounding ridiculous, trust me, it gets worse. Callie gets them a hearing in front of a judge that same day. Are we expected to believe that this is even remotely possible? A lawyer that practices in a park can twist the necessary arms to get a hearing within minutes?? Max and Callie argue their point to the judge, that the paint on the crosswalk has faded making the intersection dangerous, and they win. Max learns that just because they won, doesnt mean that the lines will get re-painted. In fact, Callie has fought that same case and won 4 times previously. Max then takes it upon himself to try and guilt a painting company that he passes on the street to take care of it. They decline because for one, they have a schedule that they need to adhere to, and more importantly, its illegal. Max continues to try and guilt them into it, which is completely inappropriate, but that seems to be the trend this season. The company stands their ground and refuses to help. A defeated Max is walking home at the end of the night, when he runs into Callie at the dangerous intersection. She reveals that she has spent the $5000 that he paid her on paint and supplies, and she has recruited volunteers to help get the job done. This leads to our second Sharpwin parallel of the night, because somehow Wilder ended up on the scene which makes absolutely no sense since the lawyer doesnt even know her, and Max had no clue this was going on. Like I said, ridiculous. Anyhow, Wilder and Max end up side by side with paint rollers in their hands, just like Sharpwin last season, except Sharpwin did it way better. It is clear that the writers are trying the slow burn relationship with Max and Wilder, like they did with Sharpwin. The problem is, they only have 13 episodes, now 7, to make it happen and zero foundation to build from. Slow burn romances take character development, time to build chemistry and develop trust between characters. Giving this pairing two short scenes per episode is not gonna cut it. It feels rushed, the parallels are making it feel cheap, and there is definitely no momentum or moments leaving fans wanting more. The fact that the writers think that this imitation romance could even come close to Sharpwin is completely delusional. Viewers didnt ask for a replica relationship for Max. They asked for justice for Helen and her relationship with Max. The writers are clearly intent on doing whatever they want without any regard to what fans want, and are willing to sink their ratings as a result.





Iggys storyline, aside from his awkward dating life, was helping a set of parents to communicate with their son, who is deaf. The parents explained that their primary physician, the Audiologist and Speech and Language Pathologist all agreed that learning sign language would be detrimental to their son's social well-being, as it would isolate him from his peers. The medical professionals suggested instead that the parents wait, and allow him to develop language naturally with time. The problem is, the boy has only learned 78 words and is now unable to communicate, causing him to lash out in inconsolable tantrums. While the ableist views of society is an important topic, I am not sure this storyline did it justice. Iggy takes the young boy to observe Dr. Wilder performing a surgery and Iggy shares that she is deaf, but that hasnt stopped her from being a surgeon and the head of the Oncology department. That is great, but the reason Iggy was introduced to this family was to help the boy and his parents learn to communicate, not to convince the young boy that being deaf is not a detriment. For a storyline about ableism, Iggy then presents the family with a pretty ableist solution. He wants them to send their son to an immersive ASL school in Boston. First off, is the best thing for this young boy who has been sheltered by his parents his whole life, to be sent away to live on his own with strangers in a different city 4 hours away? How is this plan inclusive, when he will be living in a setting with other ASL learners, away from other peers of different abilities in a regular school setting? This storyline had potential, but was another miss for me. The connection to Dr. Wilder felt out of place and the plan for the boy was far from inclusive.





Elsewhere in the episode, Floyd was assisting the young boy and his grandmother that were hit by the car at the intersection. The grandmother suffered from an injury that required spinal surgery or a less invasive procedure. Because she was unconscious, they needed her medical proxy to make the decision, which turned out to be her teenage grandson. He hesitated, but ultimately chose the surgery. When his grandmother came out of surgery unable to feel her legs, he immediately felt guilty and Reynolds gave him advice that the boy made the best decision that he could with the information that he had at the time, and that is all his grandmother would have wanted. While this was going on, Floyd received numerous phone calls from his father. When he finally called him back, Horace was erratic and walking on what sounded like a busy roadway. Floyd goes to meet with his father, but his intentions are not to give in to his fathers demands, instead he invokes a 5150, which is a 72 hour hold for patients that are considered mentally unstable, to be detained in a psychiatric facility. There are SO many problems with this. First, his father was never formally diagnosed with Bipolar disorder by a licenced professional. It is unethical that Iggy met him for 2 seconds, and informally diagnosed him. The fact that Floyd took that information and ran with it is absolutely ridiculous. While I am not arguing that Horace has a mental illness, the way that it was handled is completely unethical and offensive to viewers who suffer from mental illness. As it is, people with mental illness have to fight against stigma and a medical system that makes it difficult to get treatment. To even suggest that a random psychiatrist could diagnose a man that he does not know nonchalantly, and that the man could get committed based on an opinion, is a gross misrepresentation of the system and it sends the wrong message that people could be committed based on an opinion of their mental status and not fact.









The only bright spot in this episode was the return of Casey. He immediately got on Laurens case for reconnecting with her sister, and made her see that having her in her life right now is not healthy for her. Lauren spent the episode obsessively texting her sister and when she received a missed call from Vanessa, the voicemail revealed that it was a butt dial. The message did disclose that Vanessa was headed to a liquor store and a simple Google search revealed the address. At the end of the episode, we see Lauren heading to an unfamiliar address and assume she is going to find her sister. In reality, she was at a church to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It is great that Lauren is focusing on her sobriety again, and that Casey was the voice of reason as he often is. Leyren fans will be happy to know that there was mention of Leyla. Lauren announced to the ER staff that Leyla got a job at Baptist, but that was all that was said. I assume that was the writers way of closing the book on Leyla once and for all? Such a waste of a great love story, and a waste of the talent that was Shiva Kalaiselvan.









Seven more episodes remain, and I wish there was something to be hopeful for but at this point, I am hoping for the finale to occur before the winter break, rather than in the new year. The sooner this train wreck is off our screens, the better. The ratings suggest that most people would agree with me. What were your thoughts on this episode? Do you agree with my analysis of the storylines? Share your thoughts by commenting below or by interacting with me on Twitter @ms_c_almeida.
My apologies for not doing weekly reviews of The Handmaids Tale because this season has been spectacular, so buckle in - this is going to be a long one! Im really enjoying the way the show is evolving and how it is turning back on itself as well. This review will catch us up and look at the last three episodes. Fairytale was written by J Holtham (Supergirl, Jessica Jones, and Cloak & Dagger) and Together was written by Katherine Collins (Lost in Space, Riot Girls), and both episodes were directed by Eva Vives (Good Girls, Party of Five, The Affair). No Mans Land was written by Rachel Shukert (The Baby-Sitters Club, Glow, and Supergirl) and was directed by Natalia Leite (In the Dark, Love, Victor, and Minx).

In Fairytale, June (Elisabeth Moss) gets a call from the border that they have some information about Hannah. As June, Luke (O-T Fagbenle)), and Moira (Samira Wiley) drive to the border, we get the first glimpse that not all is well in Toronto. They drive past a group of protestors who want the refugees to leave. I wish that I could say as a Canadian (and former Torontonian) that this kind of intolerance would never be seen here, particularly as we have some of the highest immigrant and refuge numbers in world, but the recent truck convoys have shown that many of the sentiments we normally associate with our Southern neighbors have found their way here sadly.

Meanwhile, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) is settling in to her new accommodations with Alanis Wheeler (Genevieve Angelson) and her elusive husband (Lucas Neff). Ezra (Rossif Sutherland) brings her flowers that have been left at the gate for her, and when Serena asks to speak to Mr Wheeler to thank him for his hospitality, shes told, like a child, that hes usually very busy She is clearly no longer in charge.

Serena joins Alanis for breakfast, and it totally reminded me of them feeding up June when she was pregnant. Alanis has a plate full of meat and eggs while Serena has a gigantic bowl of granola and some hideous green drink  remember June being forced to drink one?!?! Serena is still talking about re-opening the centre, but Alanis, after talking about Serena as a shining example, says she thought the centre was closed for good. Its also super-creepy how she refers to her husband as Mr Wheeler  another way to demonstrate that Serena is not their equal.

When they get to the border, Lily (Christine Ko) tells them that the Guardian who has the information isnt coming across. Luke immediately says hes going. Moria and June are both incredulous, but when he insists, June looks pleased. Has she secretly been blaming him for not being more active, taking more chances? June insists that shes going too  and Moira clearly thinks its a bad idea, which of course, it is. Lily gives them a map and tells them to stick to it. Moira hugs them goodbye and tells them to make sure that they come back. The two set off hand in hand. We get some terrific aerial shots  which they must have done with drones.

As the two make their way through the dark woods, June has flashbacks to being taken and losing Hannah. Luke asks if she needs a break, but she insists on pushing on. Meanwhile, Moira and Lily spend the evening getting drunk. Moira tells Lily that June and Luke just dont quit fighting for each other. Is Lily interested in Moira? Back in the woods, June and Luke come upon a body hung in a tree with a sign  rapist  on it. Luke asks if its Gilead, but June tells him they dont use words. I love how this image  and the lack of words  comes back in one of the next episodes.

Alanis hosts a tea for a group of women to come and meet Serena. Serena is clearly enjoying being the centre of attention, and when the baby kicks, all the women gather around her eagerly to feel it. Serena remembers early in Gilead, going to look at children available for adoption with Naomi Putnam (Ever Carradine). Neither want the children who have been taken from unfit mothers  because you never know where they came from. They discuss Handmaids  and Naomi thinks that sounds even worse. Serena tells her that she and Fred are going to keep trying to have their own  I loved the shot of the two in blue, back to back, looking in the windows at the children who need good homes, in a stark, sterile white corridor. Its worth repeating what an amazing job the cinematographers and set designers and wardrobe do with colour.

In the morning, June and Luke finally find Jaden (Owen Painter). He tells them raspberry at gunpoint  and Luke raises his arms and freezes while June cooly responds with the password  beret. Nice Prince reference! Theyve been told not to exchange names  but the Jaden insists that they go with him. Neither want to, but Jaden gives them no choice. Hes likely right that its too dangerous for them to be out in the daylight.

Back at the Wheelers, Serena takes a call with Lawrence (Bradley Whitford). Serena offers to let Alanis sit in on the call, and she looks shocked. She tells her that she has no head for all of that and wives shouldnt burden themselves with business. Serena is surprised to have Warren Putnam (Stephen Kunken) on the call. Its clear that Lawrence isnt too happy either. I loved that she called them both by their first names as if she is their equal. Putnam points out that she was supposed to be there putting Gilead in a good light on the world stage  and the riot and closure of the centre clearly didnt do that. She points out that she cant control the government. Putnam stresses its already a very expensive proposition. Serena points out that June and Luke need to be dealt with. Serena tells them that they should focus on fertility  have a fertility centre not a Gilead centre. It focuses on what people want  not Gilead which will be always be contentious. Serena starts laying out her plans and Putnam cuts her off and hangs up.

Putnam tells Lawrence, who was open to Serenas suggestions, that they need to rank her leash. He then goes on to tell Lawrence, that Lawrences proposition of a New Bethleham isnt going to fly with the other Commanders  essentially because he doesnt like it. It seems to involve bringing people back to Gilead who have fled. Putnam doesnt want to court the world. Lawrence tells him that if they keep the walls up, the country will die and it will all have been for nothing. Putnam is clearly a problem

Jaden takes them to where he spends his days  and old bowling alley. Its got Christmas lights, a bar, a disco ball, and a real bathroom! They exchange backpacks, and he tells about the Plums. The treat them like princesses as they train them to be wives. They move them through quickly. Luke is shocked  Hannah is 12! He tells them its a new system, so he doesnt know where the schools are, but he gives them a thumb drive with all the information he does have. Luke and June decide to stay for the day to be safe.

I actually really liked this scene as June and Luke have a kind of date night. I love both Fagbenle and Moss in these scenes. Luke says he loves bowling, and Jaden thinks his father took him before He doesnt remember what it was like before  its like a dream. He only knows Gilead, but hes working to bring it down, not because he thinks its bad, but because people should be able to talk to each other. And Luke and June know that Hannahs memories will also be like a dream. Luke starts playing the organ  is it a Wurlitzer????? He plays around on it, and then settles on Al Greens Lets Stay Together. Jaden asks if Luke wrote it, and he says yes! Its hilarious. June and Luke dance, and Jaden turns on the mirror ball. Its perfect. The two come back together  they arent the same people  not even close  but they are still in love

Serena begins to see even more cracks in her new life. Shes out walking and sees a woman coming to the gates of the estate. She wants to talk to her, but Ezra stops her, telling her its not safe, and that she should just enjoy the grounds. She remembers her first meeting with Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) to choose a handmaid. Aunt Lydia has handpicked the candidates for such an important commander and his wife herself. When Aunt Lydia points out that the folder Serena has picked up also caught the eye of Commander Waterford, Serena immediately casts her aside  she clearly doubts that Fred will stay loyal to her

Mr Wheeler finally comes to see Serena, who is praying. Hes there to follow up on her call of the afternoon. Hes spoken with the Commanders and theyre going to move forward with her plan for a fertility centre. Serena is eager to get back to work, but Wheeler is clear that his people will be doing the work. Her babys needs come ahead of any plans  no need for her to be running about the city. Hes brought her vitamins  and waits while she takes them  like a child or handmaid. She asks for a cell phone to conduct some business. He tells her no  security concerns In other words, shes the security risk. He leaves her, in her room, to her night  like shes not welcome to come down and spend the evening with the Wheelers I loved how much Serenas room reminds us of Junes in her house.

Jaden is taking them through the woods by a short cut  NOT the maps path  when he steps on a mine. His leg is blown off and they are quickly surrounded. June and Luke try to help him by stopping the bleeding with a torniquet. Luke doesnt want to leave him but June pulls him away but not soon enough to avoid being captured!

Together appropriately picks up, after another loving overhead shot, with June and Luke together in the back of a truck. June is waiting patiently while Luke is trying desperately to get free. June tells him its not Gilead  the truck smells too strongly of chemicals. June tries to get Luke to calm down. They are moved from the truck to cages in the middle of some kind of warehouse after being photographed. I loved the difference in the two  June is clearly used to being a prisoner and doesnt lose her composure until one of the guards wants to know her real name  who owns her  because of her ear tag.

Meanwhile, Serena is visited at the Wheelers by Dr Landers (Jeremy Shamos), her OBGYN. She was expecting to go to his office, but they go upstairs and Serena discovers that the Wheelers have installed a complete birthing suite there! Serena is not leaving that house for anything. I loved the shot down through the stairs of the Dr pointing up  Serena is very clearly caught in a box, a prison, just as surely as June and Luke are.

The exam itself is incredibly creepy. Rather than leave the room so Serena can change into a gown, he just turns his back. While doing a quick peak, Landers starts talking about pari-neal massage to get the tissue more flexible to avoid tearing. Is he giving her a massage as hes speaking? He recommends natural oils  nothing chemical. Very Gilead. He comments on her blood pressure being high  being a prisoner will do that to you She says shes just excited, but he recommends rest for the next couple of weeks. When is she due?? This becomes a problem in the next episode And then, the ultimate creep out  he asks her out for dinner because the Wheelers recommended he do so! He would be a HUGE step down in status for her

Back in Gilead Aunt Lydia finds out that Esthers (Mckenna Grace) uterine harvesting has been cancelled. Um what now????? Well just ignore whats going on there Its been cancelled because she is PREGNANT. And we all know that Putnam did more than feed her chocolate. The doctor (Sean Sullivan) tells her that Esther will be transferred to the high-risk obstetrics hospital and be kept on bed rest until she comes to terms. Hes under the impression that she was posted, and Aunt Lydia doesnt correct him.

Aunt Lydia goes in to see Esther, who is awake. There conversation starts out politely enough with blessed days. Aunt Lydia gives her a sip of water as Esther is bound to the bed hand and foot. Aunt Lydia brings up the funeral  three weeks ago. Its clear that Aunt Lydia is feeling even guiltier about leaving Esther with Putnam. She is clearly furious as she asks Esther to tell her the truth. She asks if theres anyway that Esther behaved in a way that might have invited him  even unwittingly. Esther tells her that she didnt do anything. She flat out says that he raped her. Aunt Lydia says its terrible and that shes sorry. Esther doesnt believe it  they all do it. And thats a truth that Aunt Lydia doe NOT want to face. Grace is utterly fantastic as she totally loses it on Aunt Lydia, screaming and thrashing against her bonds.

Aunt Lydia goes to Lawrence to secure punishment for raping Esther. Lawrence doesnt see the sin. Putnam got her pregnant one day before she was about to be posted! Aunt Lydia tells him that the ceremony is sacred and blessed by God. Lawrence clearly has no respect for it  and lets remember that he hasnt ever had a handmaid that he raped  except when he was forced to perform the ceremony with June, and Im pretty sure that hes been busy taking revenge for that In the end, when Aunt Lydia takes him to task, he tells her to watch her tongue  but he also thanks her, telling her that shes given him a lot to think about. She is clearly not happy with his answers but leaves. It would be disingenuous to think he has much more than his own plans in his mind  is he going to act to help the handmaids or simply to further his own initiative of New Bethlehem?

In their cages, June and Luke are having very different reactions. Luke is pacing and yammering. June tells him to sit down and conserve his energy  to stop panicking. She tells him she survived. She finally gets his attention by moving closer to him. He tells her that when he thinks of her in places like that he wished hed been the type of guy who could have come after her, could have been with her. She tells him that he WAS with her  and we know this because of all the flashbacks in previous seasons. Luke finally settles and sits down.

Serena and Alanis are in Alanis greenhouse. Alanis remarks that the more you cut back flowers, the more they bloom. Its a very thinly veiled metaphor for what Gilead does to women  and what Alanis is doing to Serena. Serena echoes that she spent hours in her own greenhouse convincing herself that pruning encourages life. Serena mentions Landers asking her out. Alanis gushes that hes a great catch. Serena tells her that while he might be nice, shes not dating her gynecologist. She goes so far as to say that she might not even get married in the near future. Alanis says she cant be a single mother, and Serena points out that shes a widow. Alanis insists that her baby needs a mother AND a father  does anyone doubt whos getting this baby? When Serena tries to leave and go for a walk, Alanis tells her its too cold. Serena says maybe they need to arrange a call between Lawrence and Alanis, who says absolutely not and sends her to her room!!!!!!! Serena goes, and sits sobbing on her bed as the camera pans down the hallway  so reminiscent of June in Serenas house

Luke and June are bantering and flirting when the guards come back. They take Junes fingerprints  theyre sending them back to Gilead. When they go in to Luke, he starts fighting them. June tells him to stop  and then tells them to stop when he stops resisting.

Lawrence, Putnam, and Nick (Max Minghella) share a drink. Lawrence jokes that Putnam is clearly trying to single-handedly (LOL) re-populate the planet. Then Lawrence goes on to say that to think, such a quick and impulsive act could have such huge political implications. He characterizes it very specifically. Nick and Lawrence are both clearly disgusted. Putnam goes on to say again that Lawrences plans for New Bethlehem are dead. Lawrence says its a good example for Nick to see that you have to accept when you are outplayed but he doesnt mean himself Putnam even says that it wasnt planned  that is sanctioned  so it feels like more of a blessing. Putnam goes on to say that hes not surprised Lawrence doesnt get it  due to his lack of action. Its clearly an insult. Putnam then says why seek power if you never enjoy the spoils. He just keeps nailing his coffin shut more tightly

Ezra brings Serena to speak with Wheeler. Neffs soft spoken delivery is absolutely creepy. He doesnt get out of his chair when she enters. She asks if hes asked her to come because of the words she had with Alanis. He tells her no  hell let them sort that out. Clearly, womens interactions are of no concern to him. He finally invites her to sit down. He tells her that June was apprehended by one of HIS teams in No Mans Land!! He tells her that its fully verified and they have Luke too. She never has to worry about them again  she can just focus on the baby. Wheeler is sending Ezra to No Mans Land to deal with her there. He could send her to Gilead, but he doesnt trust that theyll deal with her properly. Serena agrees. June has too many sympathizers there. Serena wants to go with Ezra. Wheeler tells her that he doesnt think its a good idea. She insists she wants to bear witness. It makes no sense  though Wheeler seems to get her wanting to see someone die  for him to let her go, but he does.

June apologizes when Luke wakes back up. She tells him that he didnt know how bad it could be. She should have stopped him from coming because he didnt know what could really happen. He tells her that she doesnt get to say that. It was his decision to come. Luke points out that last time they didnt get to say goodbye, and he doesnt want that to happen again. June tells him fuck that  theyre going to stay alive. Luke tells her that theyre going to execute them when they get to Gilead. June says that last time they were apart, she never gave up hope  and HE never gave up hope because they knew that theyd find each other again. She tells him that theyre just going to do that again. Moss and Fagbenle are just amazing in these scenes.

Serena leaves with Ezra, and Alanis accompanies her to the car, dressed in wife blue, telling Serena that Ezra will bring her back if she experiences the slightest discomfort. When Serena gets in the car, its unclear if she is simply relieved  or possibly having contractions

Luke and June are removed from the cages and June is chained in a bus with others bound for Gilead, while Luke is taken away to be dumped. June finally freaks out as Luke is dragged away. We get another overhead shot with Junes voice over, musing that no matter how you imagine your own death, she doesnt think it ever plays out the way you expect. No matter what you do, the end is always a surprise.

Back in the car with Serena, its clear that she is experiencing discomfort  and we see her car in an aerial view as well  the two vehicles speeding toward each other

The Putnams are enjoying a breakfast out. Everyone is staring and Naomi wants to know why  what has he done now? He tells her something shell thank him for. Eyes come in and drag Putnam out and force him to his knees in front of Lawrence and Nick. Nick tells him that hes been found guilty by a special overnight session of the high council. Lawrence tells him hes guilty of the rape of unassigned property. Putnam insists its crazy. Nick pulls out his gun and shoots Putnam in the head. Naomi screams Who else was happy to see the end of the slimey weasel?

Nick comes home, and Rose (Carey Cox) is upset. He tells her not to worry about Putnam or Lawrence or any of it. But shes worried about the kind of person it makes him. Hes a bit bemused considering hes essentially just put down a particularly evil guy. He tells Rose that everything he does it is to make a better world for their baby wait what? Did we know she was pregnant?? I really like this thread of all the people who really are trying to make a better world for the children. However, I do have to wonder if Rose is going to end up being a danger to Nick  remember Mackenzie has already threatened him about keeping her happy. The two sit on opposite ends of the couch  not exactly the picture of married bliss.

Back in Gilead, Aunt Lydia has a group of handmaids by the wall as Putnam is hoisted up. She tells them that there is justice in Gilead for all who honor God. Putnam was an evil man. Janine (Madeleine Brewer) looks up and smiles slightly, saying she wishes she could have watched. The scene underscores the man hanging in the woods with a sign  no sign here  but also Serenas desire to watch June die. In all reality, a rapist in Gilead should have been subject to a particacution  ripped apart by the handmaids. Aunt Lydia takes them all home for warm milk.

Meanwhile, Ezra has June removed from the bus. I loved the bus moving on to reveal Serena  and June knows whats coming. June asks her if this is payback for Fred. Serena tells Ezra to cut Junes bindings so that she can pray on her knees. Not necessary for her to pray though. Ezra raises the gun, and Serena insists that she should be the one to do it  God is giving her a chance for justice  June killed her husband and cursed her child. June tells her not to do it.

Serena tells her to pray, and June prays for their children. She prays that her daughters live a life of peace, a life without hate and violence. She asks Serena to give them a happy life  and Serena now has first hand experience of how the other half live. June prays that their children will do better than they have. And Serena turns the gun on Ezra and shoots him! But of course, hes wearing a vest. Serena is clearly in distress now, and she tells June to get in the car. Does she spare her because she finally gets what shes done to June or because she knows she cant drive?

No Mans Land picks up right where we left off and is a tour de force from Moss and Strahovski. Is so extraordinary when these two powerful actors share the screen! June wants to know what Serenas plans are  are they going to Toronto? Gilead? And what about Luke?! Serena shoots the windshield during a powerful contraction, and June slams the brakes on and takes off running. Serena tries to go after her, but ends up in the ditch.

June goes back and realizes that Serena is in labour. She takes the gun away impatiently, telling Serena to stop waving it around. Serena is too busy being in labour to answer any of Junes questions  but insists that they cant go to a hospital because they will find her there. June sees a barn and tells her theyre going there  maybe theyll have a manger! I love how sarcastic June is.

In another flashback, we see Serena arrive at a birth with her new handmaid  June. Serena is welcomed in by Aunt Lydia. And in case youd forgotten just how silly Gilead is, we are plunged into OfClarence (Catherine Saindon) truly giving birth, while the wife (Marianne Sawchuk) ridiculously pretends that she is the one in labour. The best part of this scene was seeing Alma (Nina Kiri) and Brianna (Bahia Watson) again! Janine is also there and pregnant. She isnt too far along and doesnt have an eye patch. Both June and Serena find the whole thing ridiculous and share a very small smile and eye roll across the room.

We get a nice transition from the Breathe chant in the past to June telling Serena to breathe. Serena asks if thats it when the contraction passes but June knows shes just getting started. She tells Serena that the first can take longer  Hannah had her in labour for 19 hours, and for the second, June was alone. She knew that if she died, no one would ever find them and it would be like they never existed. June enjoys Serenas pain on one level, but cant really stop caring about somebody in pain and the baby. When June tries to check how far along Serena is, Serena accuses her of trying to kill her and her baby. June loses her temper and tells her to do it on her own, leaving the barn.

June goes back and tries again to get the car out of the ditch, and this time shes ultimately successful. As June struggles, she flashes back again to OfClarence. The wives have left, and Aunt Lydia tells the handmaids to recite the prayer of purification. Aunt Lydia tells the doctors to do what they must  which is butcher and kill OfClarence to save the baby  shes completely expendable. June is shocked and appalled  and not praying, so Aunt Lydia commands her to pray for the child. Its clear that at least some of that reverence for babies has stuck  but at least some of it pre-existed in the world where getting pregnant has become so rare. But in the end, June cant leave Serena and the unborn baby, especially when she sees blood on her hands  and it reminds her of OfClarence.

Serena is shocked when June comes back. June guides Serena through, inviting her to feel the crown when it emerges, and smiling at the baby and Serena, telling her hes perfect when he finally emerges, crying. June even says praise be. And then she flashes back to Aunt Lydia telling them that OfClarence has pleased God by performing her service. They leave to accompany their sister home, while the wives all coo over the new baby in the living room. Serena stands a little apart and is the only wife to look at all like she cares. She and June share another look of understanding.

Serena is cooing over the baby. June asks her if it was worth it  all the lives Serena ruined and ended just to have a baby of her own. And Serena says honestly, that right now, she thinks it was. June asks how his latch is, and Serena says its strong and hes hungry. June relates that she had a really hard time getting Hannah to nurse. Hannah got a lot of colds and June would have to stay home from work and sometimes she didnt want to stay home from work.

Serena asks June why she didnt kill her. June says that Serena was the one waving the gun around but Serena means at the Cultural Centre. Why Fred and not her? June tells her that she didnt want to  tearfully, as if shes ashamed that she didnt want to. In the end, she and Serena have shared a lot.

Serena says she always imagined Fred would be there. Shes decided to call the baby Noah and thinks he looks like Fred. June says that its evolution: all babies look like their fathers so that the fathers wont kill them. Serena mocks her for bringing up evolution  rabid religious fanatic, remember, June! Serena asks if June thinks the baby will be like Fred. June tells her it depends on who raises him, on what kind of person they want him to become, on what you teach him, and on what you tell him is his to take. Serena says that she wants him to have everything, and June tells her that they all want that for them.

June insists that they need to get Serena inside. Serena says that they cant because the Wheelers will find her. She tells June that theyve been controlling her every move, treating her like a handmaid  its like shes June! Serena thinks that June should understand, but June tells her the hard truth. Serena and the baby are going to die if they dont get help. Strahovski is brilliant as she asks June to take her baby. Serena has nothing  she cant go to Canada but June can take care of the baby, she has a future. She has a good man in Luke who would raise Noah right. Serena is convinced that God sent June to her to save her baby. She believes that June might be an angel for her. June is touched that Serena thinks that of her. Serena thinks that maybe shes just the ark or vessel. She carried him, delivered him, and held him and thats all she was meant to have.

June takes the baby, but theres no ways she is meekly giving in to Gods will. And Serena thought June and all the handmaids were just vessels. And none of that mattered to any of them. Serena says shes sorry, but June doesnt care. They mattered, they do matter, theyre people and have lives. And thats why shes going to save Serena because this isnt Gilead and she isnt Serena. Serena insists that she doesnt deserve to be saved, but June says its not for her, its for the baby. Serena is the babys whole world, and Serena loves him and wanted him so much. The baby belongs with her  and that is Gods will. June raises Serenas chin, theyre both crying and look into each others eyes. June asks Do you understand me? And its an echo from a much earlier season

June gets Serena to a hospital, and they whisk a very nervous Serena away. June asks to use the phone and calls Moira. Once Serena is settled, June goes to see her. Theyve taken Noah to NICU. June assures her that its all normal. Serena is not happy that its so impersonal and theyve given her antibiotics and theyre feeding Noah formula! Serena just wants to go home. June tells her that there is no home  theres just where she is. Serena agrees  no mans land. They are both without a home or country. Serena thanks June again, and the two clasp hands. June says youre welcome

June walks down the corridor in slow motion. Has she finally achieved some peace? As she comes back into the lobby, Luke is there  they let him go at the border. Hes given the USB drive to Tuello. June tells him that shes fine and shes helped Serena give birth. The authorities arrive, and its clear Luke knows whats going on. Theyre Canadian immigration and theyre there to detain her. Luke is gleeful  she gave up her diplomatic immunity when she left the centre. She wont be able to take the baby with her to the detention centre  Noah is going into child protective services. Serena is handcuffed to the bed, freaking out, and screaming for June not to let her take Serenas baby. Luke is gleeful that she finally knows what it feels like, its justice. But June is clearly not happy about it.

This season continues not to disappoint. I love the way the various themes interweave and the show continues to highlight the plight of women. Im really hoping that in the end, all the women will come together and fight for the same thing. Its also possible that with Putnam out of the way, Lawrence may also step up to help Serena. I think that Luke is going to be shocked by Junes response, however. What did you think of the episodes and the season so far? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!




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The local action groups (GAL) has been granted additional funds to implement projects that focus on community development strategies, so that the degree of contracting and absorption of the received funds decreased.

The president of GAL Dobrogea de nord Tulcea, Dan Dragan, told AGERPRES that the group he leads received approximately 600,000 euros for projects in the administrative-territorial units it serves, the city of Isaccea and the communes of Smardan, I.C. Bratianu, Grindu, Greci, Jijila, Vacareni, Luncavita, Isaccea, Niculitel, Somova, Ceatalchioi and Pardina.

"The degree of contracting was, until the arrival of the transition funds, of 98pct, and now it has obviously decreased. The degree of payments was 70pct, and it is starting to decrease. But we will draw the line in 2025," said the president of GAL Dobrogea de Nord Tulcea.

He also said that at the beginning of the 2014-2020 financial year, the group received, based on the development strategy, 2.8 million euros, but following the additions, the budget has now reached 3.6 million euros.

"Now we are drawing up the financing guidelines for the beneficiaries, so that the transition funds reach the population," said Dragan.

Other LAGs from Tulcea county also received transition funds.

The Danube Delta LAG, a group that serves the communes of Bestepe, Nufaru, Mahmudia, Murighiol, Valea Nucarilor, Sfantu Gheorghe and the city of Sulina, received around 500,000 euros.

"For the next period, we want to make camps for children, based on some very well-established criteria aimed at poverty and isolation (of the families from which the children come - editor's note)," stated the president of the Danube Delta GAL, George Rosca.

The GALs are entities made up of public and private actors that serve a territory identified by the same specific population problems. Based on the needs identified in the respective territory, they draw up development strategies that can receive non-reimbursable financing through the LEADER programme, an EU community initiative that appeared after the reform of the structural funds in 1989.

In Tulcea county, there are five such groups.
The leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) deputies, Antonio Andrusceac, announced on Wednesday that he has taken procedural steps to request the convening of a plenary session of Parliament aimed at the adoption of a decision on the start of the legal formalities to verify the assets of President Klaus Iohannis.

"I could speak about what happened regarding the High Court, which gave a decision that could lead to the closure of thousands of criminal case files, and I don't think this is a coincidence either, because, here, you have a document which I have been submitting for several weeks to the attention of the Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and to the attention of the Joint Bureaus, it is a request by which the AUR group requests the convening of a joint plenary session aimed at the adoption of a decision by the Romanian Parliament regarding the start of the legal formalities to verify the assets of the president of Romania. At the same time, we request the presence of president Klaus Werner Iohannis at this session," Andrusceac told a press conference.

According to him, the AUR request is based on article 25 of Law no. 115/1996 for the declaration and control of the assets of dignitaries, magistrates and persons with leadership and control functions of public officials.

"The law stipulates that the assets of the President of Romania may be investigated only after the end of the term of office, and during this term at the request or on the basis of the decision of the Parliament of Romania, adopted with the majority vote of the deputies and senators. We believe that the person who is at the top of this country's leadership must be a man beyond any suspicion regarding the fraudulent acquisition of wealth," said the AUR deputy.

He claimed that some of the actions of President Iohannis "have an obvious anti-Romanian overtone" and accused the governing coalition of "a lot of legislative irregularities".

"We consider that some of the actions that Mr. President Klaus Werner Iohannis undertook have an obvious anti-Romanian overtone, such as the pressures he exerted against Minister of Defence Dincu, such as the pressures he constantly exerts for the sale from the state's national reserves, strategic reserves. (...) There are a lot of irregularities that the current governing coalition is doing in terms of legislation, in terms of this abuse of the Romanian Constitution, which, practically, no longer exists. Through the decision that was made and what the ICCJ [the High Court of Cassation and Justice] brings to our attention, practically, a bunch of crimes are prescribed, and almost 70 percent of what was worked on by the magistrates can effectively be erased with the sponge. (...) We will request the courts to reanalyse these documents, we have also filed appeals," stated Antonio Andrusceac.AGERPRES
Romania has made progress towards accessing the Schengen area, the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, said on Wednesday, who added that he hopes for Romania to take the last step in this direction.

We talked about the Schengen perspective, about what is a big step taken by the Romanian Government and the institutions and, based on the great progress, I hope that the last step can be taken, said the Belgian Prime Minister, after a meeting held in Brussels with the visiting Romanian Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca.

De Croo added that this is important for the Romanian people.

The Belgian Prime Minister thanked the Government and the Romanian people for the effort to welcome and help the Ukrainian refugees.

In difficult times, I want to thank the Government of Romania and the population of Romania for the effort you are making to receive Ukrainian refugees and to help them in difficult circumstances, Alexander De Croo stressed.

He also referred to the collaboration agreements in the nuclear field signed on Wednesday by Romania and Belgium, mentioning their importance for energy in the future, as well as to the cooperation regarding the development of semiconductors and the wind field.

Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca, on a visit to Brussels, participated, on Wednesday, together with the Belgian Prime minister, Alexander De Croo, at the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in the nuclear field. The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the nuclear field between the Autonomous Technology Directorate for Nuclear Energy (RATEN) and the Belgian Center for Nuclear Research and the bilateral cooperation agreement between the Belgian Center for Nuclear Research and the Horia Hulubei National Institute for Research, Development for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH).AGERPRES
Romanian agriculture has received over 20 billion euros since 2015, when the current payment cycle of European funds began, and in the first nine months of 2022, Romanian farmers' accounts received 2.57 billion euros, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu said Wednesday at the opening conference of Indagra, told Agerpres.

"In the first nine months of 2022, 2.57 billion euros were paid into the accounts of Romanian farmers. Another 1.3 billion euros are added in advance on direct payments, payments that already started on October 16. At this time, almost 800 million euros have already gone to 375,000 farmers, and timely payments will continue, because we know how important it is to secure funds for the preparation of the next agricultural year. Since 2015, when the current cycle of payments of European funds started, Romanian agriculture has received over 20 billion euros, invested in Romanian production, in equipping Romanian farms and processing units with modern equipment, in inputs aimed at increasing the productivity and sustainability of Romanian agricultural businesses. We have skilled farmers, we have state-of-the-art technology that you provide, we have fertile land and, very importantly, finally, we have a clear, consistent strategy for the development of agriculture in 2023 - 2027," said Ciolacu.

He added that, based on the National Strategic Plan, funds worth 15.8 billion euros will be used for a sustainable agriculture.

He said that this year's wheat production is double Romania's consumption needs.

In his view, "certain aberrations in certain non-priority sectors of Romania" must be removed from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

The most famous agricultural event in Romania, Indagra, opened on Wednesday at Romexpo and can be visited until Sunday, October 30.

Indagra Food, an international food industry fair will be held simultaneously, where more than 412 exhibiting companies are expected.
The Prosecutors Section of the Superior Council of the Magistrates (CSM) warns that the decision delivered by the top court on the enforcement of the Constitutional Court rulings regarding the criminal statutes of limitation will result in the termination of criminal trials and the clearing of criminal liability for certain crimes committed, some of them very serious.

"Having regard to the Ruling delivered on 25.10.2022 by the High Court of Cassation and Justice for the resolution of certain legal issues, which established the manner of enforcing Rulings No. 297/2018 and No. 358/ 2022 of the Constitutional Court of Romania regarding the criminal statutes of limitation, the Prosecutors Section notes that the direct enforcement of the ruling in criminal cases in the stage of criminal prosecution or before the courts, in various procedural stages, will result in the termination of criminal proceedings and the removal of criminal liability for crimes committed, some of which very serious," reads the release posted on CSM's webpage.

The Prosecutors Section considers that this situation was generated mainly "by the passivity of the legislative and executive powers in stepping in within the 45-day constitutional term after CCR Ruling No. 297 of 2018 was handed down".

According to the cited source, the situation was such that for a period of 4 years the criminal legislation only provided for the general limitation of criminal liability, whilst the legal terms had been anyway reduced by the legislator through the Criminal Code that came into force in 2014.

"As a consequence, it's not just that the passivity of judicial bodies in the course of criminal proceedings is no longer sanctioned, as it should be, but cases where procedural acts were conducted periodically, but which are no longer subject to an interruptive limitation, will also be closed," the release notes.

The Prosecutors Section points out that the impossibility of handing down judicial rulings on the merits of the criminal charges pressed by prosecutors will generate "dissatisfaction and professional demotivation" among the dedicated professional body.

The cited source also specifies that, whenever it was consulted, the Superior Council of the Magistrates has offered concrete proposals to amend the legal texts, including Art. 155 of the Criminal Code regarding the special statutes of limitation.

"Against this background, we remind you that there are numerous other legal texts in the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code which were declared unconstitutional starting with 2014, and on which the legislator did not intervene. The direct enforcement of these decisions by the criminal investigation bodies often implies expectations for the formation in time of a unified jurisprudence of the courts on this matter, with direct and irreversible consequences on the speed, quality, predictability and credibility of the judicial act," the CSM emphasizes.

The High Court of Cassation and Justice panel for the resolution of legal issues ruled on Tuesday that the Constitutional Court's ruling on the statues of limitation applies retroactively.

Several courts in the country requested the top court to establish whether the Constitutional Court's rulings regarding the statutes of limitations are retroactive according to the principle of the most favorable criminal law. AGERPRES
The launch of the U.S. - Romania Strategic Partnership 25 years ago was a watershed event, former President Emil Constantinescu said on Wednesday after the unveiling of the photo exhibition 'We the People', staged in Bucharest's downtown University Square.

"The strategic partnership between the United States of America and Romania, launched 25 years ago, produced important strategic-military, political, economic, cultural and social consequences," said the former President.

In his speech, U.S. charge d'affaires ad interim David Muniz spoke about developments over the last quarter of a century.

"It was 25 years ago when President Clinton stood in Piata Universitatii and proclaimed, 'The Romanian people have won the world's respect for moving so far, so fast, and for believing in yourselves and your future...' and he added, 'Stay the course, the future is yours.' He was right, and so was President Constantinescu when he stated, 'We have laid this bridge built by human beings across an ocean which God has set between you and us. It is a bridge of common values.' It is these common values we honor today, and in these dark times, we are reminded again of the importance of sharing them," the diplomat pointed out.

Muniz went on to say that "these two leaders could not have foreseen what this region would face twenty-five years in the future, but they clearly understood the timeless benefits of democracy and Alliance ... and together they created the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership."

"The benefits this quarter century of Partnership have brought belong to every single one of us ... American, Romanian, Ally and friend alike," he added.

Referring to the freshly opened exhibition, he said that "every picture on display speaks to our accomplishments. We pledged to shared security - and Romania in 2022 is a stalwart and essential NATO Ally. We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the world's most dangerous places. We have cheered Romania as it has moved from a recipient nation to an exporter of peace and security."

Secretary of State with the National Defense Ministry Eduard Bachide said that "the photos selected by the organizers of this impressive exhibition illustrate not only the evolution of a collaborative relationship, but testify to the friendship between our peoples, to the important achievements we accomplished together and of which we are equally proud of."

"The defense capacities installed in Romania pose no threat to anyone, in no case to Russia, as the Kremlin's propaganda suggests, but on the contrary, they contribute to the defense of the allied territory against potential threats," Bachide said.

***

The traveling exhibition 'We the People', which celebrates 25 years of U.S. - Romania strategic partnership, organized by the U.S. Embassy in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - the Diplomatic Archives Unit, the AGERPRES National News Agency, in collaboration with the University of Craiova - was unveiled on Wednesday evening in Bucharest.

The thematic photo essay explores the diplomatic, security, economic and cultural relations between the Romanian and American people, proving, in a display of interactions between the two nations, that the U.S. - Romania Strategic Partnership is accessible to everyone. The exhibition extensively captures the interactions between the two peoples ever since the beginning of the Partnership, in 1997. The 150 photos of the exhibit create a personal framework for the Strategic Partnership of the past and present, providing the opportunity to experience the friendship and collaboration between the two peoples in a new way.

The AGERPRES National News Agency contributed 20 images from its photo stream and its Photographic Archive. Also, the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Archives Unit contributed 13 photos.

The exhibition was already presented in Craiova and Timisoara.

In Bucharest it can be seen until November 30 and will subsequently travel to Sibiu (December 8 - January 10, 2023), Cluj-Napoca (January 11 - February 7, 2023), Iasi (February 8 - March 7, 2023) and Constanta (March 9 - April 6, 2023).
The exhibition 'The Picasso Effect - Romania's Contribution to the Pablo Picasso Anniversary Year 2023' will be one of the major events of the cultural season next year, French ambassador to Romania Laurence Auer told a press conference dedicated to the launch of the exhibition project on Wednesday.

The Museum of Recent Art - MARe provides a wonderful setting for presenting Pablo Picasso's works in Romania. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the painter's death. It is therefore a great opportunity for Romania and for Bucharest City to welcome his works, together with New York, Barcelona, Malaga or Paris. This exhibition will obviously be a very popular project that will bring together very different audiences, said the French diplomat.

Culture Minister Lucian Romascanu applauded the organization by MARe of the Picasso exhibition, stating that this project is "a dream about to become reality", and that the Ministry will find legal fast ways to join the museum in this endeavor.

MARe director Erwin Kessler revealed that the exhibition is the result of approaches begun two years ago by the management of the museum, following a "personal research on American art". According to Kessler, no other personal exhibition of a first-rate international artist has been organized in Romania since 1968, the year of the Picasso exhibition in our country.

President of the Picasso Museum in Paris, Cecile Debray, said that 50 years after the death of Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), 42 dedicated exhibitions will be organized worldwide next year, showcasing the work, the figure and the influence of the iconic modern art pioneer, in France, Spain, the USA, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, in museums such as the Pompidou Center and the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Brooklyn Museum and the Beyeler Basel Foundation, the Royal Art Museum in Brussels and the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal.

The Museum of Recent Art Bucharest, in collaboration with the Picasso Museum in Paris, will present between September 25, 2023 - January 8, 2024 the exhibition 'The Picasso Effect'; the event is sponsored by the Romanian Culture Ministry, the French Institute and the French Embassy in Romania. 46 works by Pablo Picasso - all coming from the Picasso Museum in Paris - will be put on display for the first time in Romania.

50 works by modern and contemporary Romanian artists will add to this show, testifying to Picasso's constant influence in the second half of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century.

A bilingual Romanian-French research catalog will also be published in connection with the exhibition, in cooperation with the Picasso Museum in Paris.

According to the organizers, 'The Picasso Effect' is a one-off national artistic event - the first time in the entire history of contemporary Romanian culture when masterpieces by Pablo Picasso will be presented for three straight months to the Romanian public. AGERPRES
Approximately 152,800 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 47,300 means of transportation, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informed on Wednesday, told Agerpres.

According to a release sent to AGERPRES, a number of 74,520 people entered Romania, of whom 7,272 Ukrainian citizens (declining by 5.2pct compared to the previous day). Thus, as of 10 February (the pre-conflict period) until Tuesday, at 24:00hrs, at national level, a number of 2,671,758 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.

In the relevant areas - the border crossing points and the "green border," in the last 24 hours, the border policemen discovered 39 illegalities (17 offenses and 22 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens.

The amount of fines enforced exceeds 21,700 RON.

Goods worth approximately 69,000 RON have been seized.

In the last 24 hours, a number of 22 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they didn't meet the requirements stipulated by the law, while a number of 19 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
The plenary meeting of Parliament is set to gather on 14 November in order to commemorate the victims of the Anti-Communist Rebellion in Brasov of 15 November 1987, the Joint Standing Bureaus of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies decided on Wednesday, told Agerpres.

The joint meeting's agenda of 14 November will include letters from President Klaus Iohannis informing Parliament that he passed the increase of Romania's participation to the EUFOR Bosnia-Herzegovina Military Operation ALTHEA and the additional deployment of some allied structures in Romania.

In the joint plenary meeting of 14 November, Parliament will decide on the joint report of the Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate regarding President Iohannis' letter through which he asks the Legislature to pass the establishment of the Allied Battle Group on Romania's soil, under France's command.
The Metropolitan Bishop of Veria, Naousa and Kampania (Greece), Panteleimon, officiated on Wednesday the Holy Liturgy, at the Feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, the Fountain of Myrrh, surrounded by priests and deacons, in the Great Summer Altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, on which occasion he praised the great respect of the Romanian people and their devotion to the Orthodox faith, told Agerpres.

"We are particularly glad because, with our coming here, we have the opportunity to learn, once again, about the great respect of the Romanian people and their love for the Holy Church, for the saints of our Church, for the devotion of this people to the Orthodox faith, of its traditions worthy of honor and let us celebrate today the Great Martyr and Fountain of Myrrh, Saint Demetrius, the protector of the city of Thessaloniki, and tomorrow, the saint with the same name, the protector of you and of the people of Bucharest, our Pious Father Dimitrie Basarabov the New," the high Orthodox hierarch conveyed to the hundreds of pilgrims present on the Hill of Joy.

The Greek metropolitan bishop urged to live life according to the commandments of Christ, according to the model of the saints.

Panteleimon evoked the life of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, the Fountain of Peace, "the one with a great name", "a worker of miracles, a worthy laborer of the Lord's heavenly host" and recalled that he participated in the repatriation of his relics to Greece.

"After a period of almost eight centuries in which the holy relics of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius were forgotten in a foreign land, in the town of San Lorenzo in Campo (Italy), these return to their homeland, to Greece, firstly His Venerable Head, in October 1978, and then the other Holy Relics, in April 1980. Then, being vicar priest of the Metropolitan Church of Thessaloniki, I had the honor and privilege of interceding for their return from Italy, to Thessaloniki and to accompany them on the way back," said the metropolitan bishop.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca participated, on Wednesday, together with the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, in the signing of bilateral documents on collaboration in the nuclear field, in which context he thanked the head of the Belgian Executive for the partner country's commitment to the NATO Battle Group deployed in Romania.

During the ceremony held at Prime Minister De Croo's residence, the Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda of Understanding between the Autonomous Technology Agency for Nuclear Energy (RATEN) and the Belgian Center for Nuclear Research was signed, as well as the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between the Belgian Center for Nuclear Research and the Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH).

"I use this opportunity to express Romania's and my personal gratitude for the decision of France, Belgium and the Netherlands to send troops here to increase NATO's deterrence and defense capability on the Eastern Flank. As you mentioned, we met in April , in Romania and we had the opportunity to assess the security context in the Black Sea. I acknowledged on that occasion that there are sectors in which our bilateral relationship could acquire greater consistency. We have already made progress in this regard, today we signed the Nuclear Cooperation Memoranda of Understanding as part of our commitment, within the EU, to find new sources of energy, even if we are talking about the transition to these sources, but they are part of our commitment to achieve one hundred percent independence from the Russian energy source," stated Ciuca, on Wednesday, in joint press statements made together with the Belgian Prime Minister.

The head of the Executive emphasized that Romania is interested in the development of cooperation in the field of semiconductors, stating that 500 million euros are allocated to their research and development under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

In the same context, he thanked the Prime Minister of Belgium for the recognition shown towards the actions taken by Romania in support of the Ukrainian refugees.

Premier Nicolae Ciuca also highlighted the efforts made by the Bucharest authorities in order to support Ukrainian grain exports to Europe and other countries of the world, pointing out the fact that the Romanian authorities are interested in learning from the experience of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in developing the future capabilities of the Port of Constanta.

The Romanian Prime Minister also thanked the Belgian side for its support on Romania's accession to Schengen and the lifting of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

"We have endeavored to meet all the technical requirements and standards, and of course, if necessary, we are open to clarifying everything, based on all the already existing approaches of the Commission and bilaterally, with each EU partner country that wants to see more than is mentioned in the Commission's report," Ciuca also declared.AGERPRES
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca emphasized, in Brussels, on Wednesday, the need for support and assistance for Ukraine, noting that the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, the most vulnerable partners, need support, and Romania's decision is to contribute financially to the NATO Voluntary Funds dedicated to these states.

Ciuca affirmed, in a joint statement with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, "the stake of continuing support and assistance for Ukraine, reiterating the support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, assumed since 2008, at the Summit in Bucharest.

"I emphasized that the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, our most vulnerable partners as a result of Russia's war against Ukraine, need our support. In this sense, I presented Romania's decision to contribute financially to the NATO Voluntary Funds dedicated to these states, with 1,300 .000 dollars (400,000 dollars for Ukraine, 600,000 dollars for the Republic of Moldova, 300,000 dollars for Georgia). All these contributions represent a practical reflection of the special importance given by Romania, constantly, to NATO's policy of partnerships," the Prime Minister declared at NATO headquarters.AGERPRES
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca stated that in the discussions held on Wednesday with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, he stressed the need for the Alliance to continue to carefully monitor the situation in the Black Sea, considering the high dynamics of developments in the region, as well as the unpredictability of Russia's behavior.

"I appreciated today's consistent discussion on topics of major importance for the Alliance. We discussed security threats and challenges in the Black Sea region, recognized as an area of strategic importance for the Alliance through the new NATO Strategic Concept. Security in the region continues to be affected by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. I have expressed concern about the far-reaching effects that Russia's aggressive and irresponsible behavior may have in the long term for regional and Euro-Atlantic security, as well as for global stability. Given the high dynamics of these developments, as well as the unpredictability of Russia's behavior, I emphasized the need for NATO to continue to carefully monitor the situation in the Black Sea. This war shows, unfortunately, what Romania has been supporting for a long time: the strategic relevance of the Black Sea for NATO, for the Alliance's security major interests," Nicolae Ciuca declared at NATO headquarters, in a joint conference with Secretary General Stoltenberg.AGERPRES
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan's investment in Switzerland amounted to $2.6 billion as of October 26, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Switzerland Fuad Iskandarov said during a press conference in Geneva, Azernews reports per Trend.

Noting that it is gold that is mainly exported, he added that the oil supplies have also recently begun. In this regard, he noted that Europe is Azerbaijan's main direction of energy exports.

"The country is one of the main gas suppliers to Europe, and plans to double supplies over the next five years," he said.

Traffic through Middle Corridor

The ambassador also stated that the volume of traffic through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also called Middle Corridor, increased by 77 percent in January-September 2022.

"The issue of increasing the capacity of this corridor is on the agenda and there are already plans for this together with partners," he said.

Cooperation with regional partners

Fuad Iskandarov underlined that Azerbaijan is a country that established close cooperation with its regional partners. In this regard, he stressed that Azerbaijan also continues the process of a peaceful settlement with Armenia.

"It was here, in Switzerland, that the first direct meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia took place, without any mediation from outside. We are proud of this and hope that such positive steps will continue," he said.

Moreover, the ambassador said that the trilateral format of Azerbaijan-Georgia-Armenia cooperation is very important for the development of the region.

"Transport cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia is very well developed and the volume of transit traffic through the region is increasing. At the moment, Azerbaijan and Georgia are working on developing their transport potential, why shouldn't Armenia join? I think it will be beneficial for the entire region," he said.

Attacks on embassy building

Fuad Iskandarov added that the embassy is closely cooperating with the country's law-enforcement bodies to prevent attacks on the embassy building.

"Amid the number of attacks on Azerbaijani embassies all over the world, this issue remains relevant," he said.

He recalled that during his tenure in Brussels, Azerbaijan's newly-opened embassy building in Belgium came under attack.

"Six employees were injured, and the damage to the building amounted to 49,000. Therefore, Azerbaijani Embassy in Switzerland began to actively work with the local law-enforcement bodies to prevent similar cases," he said.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on January 21, 1992.

Azerbaijan and Switzerland cooperate in various economic sectors. There is mutually beneficial cooperation between Baku and Bern in the non-oil sector. In addition, Baku will host a meeting of the Commission on Trade and Economic relations between Switzerland and Azerbaijan in 2022.

The trade turnover between the two nations amounted to $457.2m in 2021, with exports accounting for $272.5m and imports for $184.7m.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca met on Wednesday, at the headquarters of the European Union Executive, with President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, within the two-day visit to Brussels, told Agerpres.

Among the topics to be discussed, also included on the agenda are the ones regarding Romania's accession to Schengen and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

Also, on Wednesday, the Romanian Prime Minister carried out talks with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.

On Wednesday, experts from the European Commission and the EU member states present in Brussels to the Working Group for Schengen issues, their report and conclusions regarding the Schengen evaluation mission in Romania and Bulgaria.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca is paying an official visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, occasion on which he will have meetings with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo, President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, as well as with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, told Agerpres.

According to the schedule sent by the Government, Prime Minister Ciuca is to meet on Wednesday with President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, as well as with President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen.

At the headquarters of the North-Atlantic Alliance, the Romanian PM will meet Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the two officials are scheduled to hod a joint news conference.

Also on Wednesday, the head of the Romanian Executive and his Belgian counterpart will have a meeting and hold a joint press conference.

On this occasion, several documents are to be signed, namely: the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN) and the "Horia Hulubei" National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the cooperation in the nuclear area between the Technology for Nuclear Energy State Owned Company (RATEN) and the SCK CEN.

The Romanian Prime Minister will also have consultations with representatives of Romanian and Belgian business community.

Nicolae Ciuca will also meet Manfred Weber, the Chair of the Group of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament.

Also scheduled are the meetings with Ambassador Iulia Matei, Romania's permanent representative to the European Union COREPER II and Ambassador Dan Neculaescu, Romania's Permanent Representative to NATO.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Ciuca will meet European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean and the delegation of Romanian MEPs.

The delegation led by the Prime Minister is made up of Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu and Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola welcomed Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Wednesday at the headquarters of the EU Legislature as part of Ciuca's two-day visit to Brussels, told Agerpres.

The two high-ranking officials were scheduled to meet to most likely discuss Romania's accession to the border-free Schengen Area.

Ciuca will sign the European Parliament guest book.

He is accompanied by Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.

Today, experts from the European Commission and the EU member states present in Brussels to the Working Group for Schengen issues, their report and conclusions regarding the Schengen evaluation mission in Romania and Bulgaria.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca had a meeting on Wednesday, in Brussels, with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, with whom he discussed Romania's accession to the Schengen Area, the status of the fulfillment of the recommendations under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), told Agerpres.

"The Romanian Government appreciates the support of the European Commission for the enlargement of the Schengen Area and the essential contribution to advancing the calendar regarding Romania's accession, which has experienced a new dynamic in recent months. The very good conclusions of the recent evaluation mission confirm our country's preparedness regarding the Schengen acquis and brings us closer to the fulfillment of this country objective," said Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, according to a press release of the Executive.

The Prime Minister mentioned the state of the adoption of the new justice laws package, emphasizing that the last months' progress is a good basis for a positive CVM report from the European Commission.

The head of the Executive gave assurances regarding the commitment of the Romanian Government for the coherent and comprehensive implementation of the targets and benchmarks assumed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. As regards the targets and benchmarks that still need to be met, the prime minister expressed his willingness to continue the technical discussions with the representatives of the European Commission, in order to close them on time. He showed that proposals for adjusting the Plan are being prepared, both in the context of RePower EU - which prioritizes the response to the energy crisis, but also of the necessary savings following the change in the value of the grant allocated to Romania.

"These adjustments will be performed without the maintenance of the focus on the objectives of the digital, ecological transition and the strengthening of resilience being affected," the cited source says.

Nicolae Ciuca mentioned that adjustments of some targets and benchmarks are also important to meet current needs. He pointed out that Romania will insist and continue discussions with the Commission on the milestones related to the reform of the pension system, including the replacement of the ceiling of 9.4 percent of GDP with another reference mechanism, the maintenance of coal-based energy production as back-up and on adjustments of some transport infrastructure projects.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the European Union providing consistent support to the Republic of Moldova, in particular through non-refundable financial aid, additional measures to facilitate access to the EU market for products from this country and the elimination of roaming tariffs.

The head of the Executive reiterated Romania's commitment to supporting Ukraine, including through the support and integration of refugees, respectively the grain transit. At the same time, he noted with satisfaction the recognition by the president of the European Commission of the efforts of the Romanian authorities and citizens for the support and integration of refugees from Ukraine, respectively the consistent support of grain transit from Ukraine.

Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca is on a working visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.
Romania's Prosecutor General Gabriela Scutea met in Bucharest with the senior official of the U.S. State Department's Office of Global Women's Issues, Katrina Fotovat, with whom she discussed combating domestic violence.

"Katrina Fotovat presented the 'gender balance' and anti-domestic violence policies adopted by the Biden administration and noted the generosity wherewith the Romanian people and authorities got involved in solving the situation of Ukrainian refugees," a release from the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice informs on Wednesday.

The Prosecutor General presented the efforts of the Romanian authorities to address rape and domestic crimes, as well as the victim-centered approach during criminal investigations.

Gabriela Scutea detailed the current situation in this matter, pointing out the steps taken to encourage victims to report abuse and violence situations, as well as the need to increase the quality of psychological and social services available to investigators.

The American official was accompanied at the meeting by U.S. policy advisors Kayla McGill and Katherine Zitzer, human rights officer Alexandra Shema and policy expert Alexandru Climescu from the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.

Attending the meeting on behalf of the Public Prosecution Office were Ana Maria Edu - chief prosecutor of the Human Resources and Documentation Section, Nadina-Magdalena Spinu - chief prosecutor of the Service for International Judicial Cooperation, International Relations and Programs, and Cristina Petre - public manager with the Project Management Unit. AGERPRES
A Roman mosaic building in downtown Constanta will be refurbished and enhanced by an Italian company under a project worth over RON 9.8 million which completion deadline is November 2023, told Agerpres.

The Constanta County Council (CJ) announced on Wednesday that a government order was issued for the start of work under the project for the refurbishment, preservation, arrangement and enhancement of the Roman Mosaic Building, as the design stage is over, according to the approval of the technical project by the CJ under a decision issued a month ago.

The refurbishment project will be carried out by Italian company Giano Restauri specilaising in such works, and the total value of the contract is RON 9,869,677, exclusive of VAT.

"The long-awaited refurbishment, rehabilitation and enhancement works on the Roman Mosaic Building, a unique piece of cultural heritage in South-East Europe that it is essential and mandatory to enhance, are starting. After the works, the building will be accessible to people with disabilities as well, as is natural, and multimedia equipment will facilitate interaction with all categories of the public. I hope that the works will be completed as soon as possible, so that the tourists and citizens of this county can enjoy this special historical monument," CJ Constanta Chairman Mihai Lupu is quoted as saying in a press release.

The protection and conservation works mentioned in the technical project provide, among other things, cleaning and sanitising the ancient mosaic and masonry works through complex procedures in stages strictly defined by the restorers, which will only be possible after the completion of the proposed consolidations and repairs.

According to the execution schedule submitted by the contractor the completion date is estimated for November of 2023.

The Roman Mosaic Building, located in Ovidiu Square, was discovered during works undertaken in 1959. The building, with approximately 2,000 square metres of mosaic tiles, was erected in the 4th century AD, probably under the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great.
Romania understood from the beginning the relevance of Sweden and Finland becoming members of the North Atlantic Alliance, it ratified the treaty in this sense and, if necessary, it is open to getting involved in the discussions with Hungary on this topic, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, on a two-day visit in Brussels, declared on Wednesday.

"Romania (...) appreciated from the beginning the capabilities that the two countries bring to the Alliance, so we ratified the protocol from the beginning of the process," Ciuca told the joint press conference alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, when asked about the possibility of negotiations with Hungary for the approval of the Treaty of Accession of the two countries.

The head of the Executive in Bucharest added that he did not specifically discuss with the neighboring country, Hungary, to clarify how it supports this decision.

"But we are always discussing with the NATO Secretary General and our allies and, if necessary, we are open to be part of this process," said Nicolae Ciuca.AGERPRES
Romania is a very valuable ally and NATO is prepared to defend Romania, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Jens Stoltenberg told a joint press conference held on Wednesday after the meeting with the Prime Minister of the Romanian government. Nicolae Ciuca, visiting Brussels.

You are the host of one of the new NATO battle groups in the Black Sea region. You provide an example in terms of defence spending. And Romania hosts a key NATO Ballistic Missile Defence site. I also welcome the diplomatic efforts you are making to strengthen NATO, including by hosting a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest next month, said the head of the North Atlantic Alliance.

As regards Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Stoltenberg stated in the joint press conference that Russian President Vladimir Putin is failing on the battlefield and is responding with more indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities, against civilians and critical infrastructure and with a dangerous nuclear rhetoric. Moreover, Stoltenberg added, Russia's accusation that Ukraine is preparing a "dirty bomb" is "obviously false".

Stoltenberg went on to say that NATO will not be intimidated or discouraged from supporting Ukraine's right to self-defence as long as necessary.

We are strengthening NATO's presence from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea. Fighter jets from Canada help maintain the security of the region's airspace, and thousands of French, Dutch, Belgian and American soldiers are in Romania to deter aggression. These developments send a clear message: NATO is ready to defend Romania. And all the other allies, emphasized the head of the North Atlantic Alliance.AGERPRES
Prime minister Nicolae Ciuca, on a working visit to Brussels, Wednesday through Thursday, had a meeting with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, with whom he discussed issues related to Romania's accession to the Schengen area, the EU's response to Russia's military aggression over Ukraine, the consolidation of the EU's action in its neighbourhood and energy security, a government release reads, told Agerpres.

By evoking the consistent and active support of the European legislative forum and president Roberta Metsola towards the objective of concretizing Romania's accession to the Schengen area by the end of the year, prime minister Nicolae Ciuca thanked for this support.

"The resolution recently adopted by the European Parliament fully recognizes Romania's legitimate expectations regarding the accession to the Schengen area, which gives us confidence that the consistent actions taken by Romania regarding the application of the standards of the Schengen acquis provide the solid basis for the rapid adoption of a favorable political decision," the prime minister said.

The head of the Romanian Executive also reconfirmed the common interest in strengthening the unity of action and the cohesion of the Union in the face of the current challenges. In this context, he expressed his great appreciation for the consistent action of the European Parliament and for the pragmatic vision of president Roberta Metsola in favour of a rapid and firm response of the Union in the face of the Russian war in Ukraine.

"The exchange of views confirmed the convergence of vision regarding the need to strengthen the robust support of the Union, the European institutions and the member states for the advance of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in preparing for accession, according to their European strategic option and in the spirit of their status as candidate countries," the gov't release reads.
As many as 566 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, down 126 from the previous day, with over 14,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Wednesday, told Agerpres.

Of the new cases, 116 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 - 182, Timis County - 44, and Cluj County - 24.

The highest 14-day notification rate is in Bucharest City - 0.89, followed by Cluj County - 0.68, Timis County- 0.61, and Sibiu County - 0.61.

As of Wednesday, 3,284,916 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.

- Hospitalisations -

As many as 770 people with COVID-19, down three from the previous reporting, including 47 minors, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.

Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 106 are in intensive care, up four, including two minors.

Of the 106 patients admitted to ICU, 94 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

- Deaths -

According to the ministry, one woman is reported dead in the last 24 hours.

She was in the age group 60-69 years, unvaccinated and she had commorbidities.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 67,169 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.
Romania's place is in #Schengen, on Wednesday wrote on her Twitter account, the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, after the meeting she had with the Romanian Premier Nicolae Ciuca, in Brussels.

"No more time should be lost. Romania's place is in #Schengen," wrote Metsola on her social media page, where she posted several photos from her meeting with the Prime Minister of the Romanian Government.

According to a press release by the government, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca discussed with the president of the European Parliament Romania's accession to the Schengen area, the EU's response to Russia's military aggression on Ukraine, the consolidation of the EU's action in its neighbourhood and energy security.AGERPRES
Foreign direct investments will find an even more favorable and predictable environment starting with the period preceding the accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said, on Wednesday, the secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) Luca Niculescu, at the opening of the ninth edition of Foreign Investors Summit, in which he participated as the main guest, MAE informed, through a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The Secretary of State for Romania's accession to the OECD, Luca Niculescu, emphasized the importance of Romania's accession to the OECD for the economic development process of our country, including from the perspective of the impact on the business environment and the investment climate. He pointed out the "increased" degree of trust that Romania presents to foreign investors, which is directly proportionally reflected in the rising level of foreign direct investments, despite the difficult international climate, marked by the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as the pandemic and post-pandemic economic shock, the press release states.

"The OECD accession process represents a strong signal to investors and the business environment regarding Romania's commitment to align itself with the highest OECD standards in the most diverse fields: corporate governance, investments, competition, financial markets, public governance," said Niculescu, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Romania regards the accession to the OECD not necessarily as an end in itself, but rather as an opportunity for the implementation of priority changes, for the continuation of the modernization of the Romanian society as a whole," the MAE state secretary added.

The event organized by Business Review was attended by representatives of the Romanian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, members of the Council of Foreign Investors and of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Romania, as well as representatives of the most important private companies in our country.AGERPRES
The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) deputy Dan Tanasa criticized on Wednesday the governing coalition which he accuses of "gross incompetence and irresponsibility" in the case of the resignation of the Minister of Defense, Vasile Dincu, in the current geopolitical context and requests the urgent appointment of a new minister.

"Another proof of the inability of this governing coalition of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) - The National Liberal Party (PNL) - Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) is the particularly serious incident of the resignation of the Minister of Defense. In a geopolitical context with a war on the border, the Minister of Defense resigns after pronouncing the word peace and announces the reason for which he resigned: the failure to collaborate with the president of the country, with the head of Supreme Council for the Country's Defence (CSAT)," Tanasa specified in a press conference.

"The message we are sending to our European and American partners is one of frivolity. Romania is sending a message of frivolity and irresponsibility. We request PSD and PNL to stop these games, which obviously put Romania's image in a particularly dangerous, particularly unfriendly light and we request the urgent appointment of a head of the Ministry of National Defense, because the situation is particularly serious in the current geopolitical context," the AUR deputy added.AGERPRES
The Embassy of the United States of America, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the AGERPRES National News Agency, also in collaboration with the University of Craiova, opens, on Wednesday, in the University Square, the traveling photography exhibition "We, the People: 25th Anniversary of the U.S. - Romania Strategic Partnership."

The exhibition, which marks 25 years since the establishment of the Romania-U.S. Strategic Partnership, is organized with the support of the Capital City Hall - the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest (ARCUB), told Agerpres.

On this occasion, the formation of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the U.S. Land Forces will offer a musical moment, between 4.15 and 4.45 pm.

The exhibition is a thematic photographic essay, which explores the diplomatic, security, economic, cultural relations between the Romanian and American peoples. According to the U.S. Embassy, this collection of interactions between the two nations illustrates the fact that the Strategic Partnership between the two countries is accessible to all.

There are 150 photographs presented, which create a personal framework for the Strategic Partnership past and present and offer the opportunity to experience the friendship and collaboration between the two peoples in a new way.

The exhibition focuses on the theme "Noi, Poporul"/"We the People," which represents the preamble of the United States Constitution and the embodiment of human ties that form bridges of understanding and cooperation between peoples. Successful bilateral diplomacy and friendship is based on these ties and the common values they embody, emphasizes the American diplomatic mission.

The AGERPRES National News Agency contributed 20 photos from its photo stream and from the archive.

The Diplomatic Archives Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed 13 photos.

The exhibition was already presented in Craiova: August 17 - September 19 and Timisoara: September 27 - October 24. In Bucharest it can be seen from October 26 to November 30. Sibiu will follow: December 8 - January 10, 2023; Cluj-Napoca: January 11 - February 7, 2023; Iasi: February 8 - March 7, 2023; Constanta; March 9 - April 6, 2023.
The UniFEST project, the largest student festival organized by the Romanian Students' Union, will take place between November 4-14 in Arad, Oradea, Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Iasi, Suceava and Bucharest, the Romanian Students' Union informs, in a statement sent to AGERPRES.

During the festival, educational activities (training, workshops, conferences, etc.), socio-cultural activities (traditional evening, multicultural evening, mega concert, association parade) and activities for the development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle (sports competitions, greening campaigns) will be organised, told Agerpres.

This year's edition takes place under the auspices of the European Year of Youth and, therefore, the theme The Future Is YOUth.

The opening conference of the festival will take place on November 4, in the Aula Magna of Titu Maiorescu University, in the presence of representatives of public authorities and universities, the source states.
David Muniz, the charge d'affaires with the United States Embassy in Bucharest, said on Wednesday that Romania's evolution in the 25 years since the signing of the Strategic Partnership with the US is astonishing and that our country has come very far, but there is still a lot of work to be done, which is true for all countries.

It's really amazing. I had the privilege of working in different former communist countries. I can make a comparison. Romania has really come very far, farther than many countries, of course joining NATO and the EU - very important achievements. We all know that there are many things to do next, this is the truth for every country and for here. We like to say 'don't miss the forest for the trees', which means that if you see where Romania has reached in the 25 years (since the signing of the Strategic Partnership, ed. n.), in the 32 years since communism ended, it's amazing. It is completely different. Just the other day I was watching a video material from 1997, on Romanian Television, how everything looked and how people were dressed and how they behaved, these things have changed over time and you can see the social and economic changes. I think it is to our benefit to look at such things and to remind ourselves and be positive about the future," stressed David Muniz, on the occasion of the opening of the traveling photo exhibition We, the People: 25 Years of Strategic Partnership.

He described the relationship between Romania and the USA as very strong.

We work together in so many fields, that of security, nuclear energy, oil and gas and other fields in which Romania is a leader in the Black Sea area - energy independence and security. The relationship between our peoples is flourishing, Muniz said.

The exhibition, which marks 25 years of strategic partnership between Romania and the USA, was opened, on Wednesday, in University Square by the Embassy of the United States of America in Bucharest, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AGERPRES National News Agency and in collaboration with the University of Craiova.

These photos emblematically illustrate the strong relations between our countries, relations that become stronger every day, said the charge d'affaires of the United States Embassy in Bucharest.

He confessed that one of his favorite photos is from 2021 from an event he participated in - Exercise DEFENDER-EUROPE 21, that took place in Romania.

The curator of the exhibition, museographer Irina Hasnas, said that the photographs span a period of 25 years and illustrate the connections between people.

"It's about the connections between people, it's about friendship, diplomatic, political, business, cultural relations, from children holding each other to veterans," said Irina Hasnas.

The traveling photographic exhibition " We the People: 25 Years of Strategic Partnership" was opened in the University Square with a musical moment, attended by dozens of people, delivered by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band of the US Army and the Representative Music of the Ministry of National Defence. A girl from the audience was invited to conduct in the end of the concert.

"It's an extraordinarily beautiful thing because we brought together two pieces of music that the world likes. (...) Music is a universal language," said Colonel Aurel Gheorghita, head of MApN's Representative Music.

When we sing we speak the same language. We never sang together before today. Today was the only day we prepared and I think it's an amazing illustration of what our nations, our armies, our peoples can achieve when they are together, emphasized Commander James Landrum.

Among those who participated in the event were former president Emil Constantinescu, parliamentarians Robert Cazanciuc, Radu Oprea, Alexandru Muraru, the capital's mayor, Nicusor Dan.

The officials visited the exhibition, and Emil Constantinescu showed them the place where one of the photographs in which he appears was taken. The photo taken in July 1997 in the University Square shows Emil Constantinescu together with the former American President Bill Clinton.

The exhibition organized with the support of the Capital City Hall - the Cultural Center of the City of Bucharest includes three themes: security cooperation, mutual understanding and economic prosperity and a selfie panel. 150 photos are presented that focus on the theme "We the People", which represents the preamble of the United States Constitution and the embodiment of human ties that form bridges of understanding and cooperation between peoples.

The AGERPRES National News Agency contributed 20 photos from the photo stream and from the archive.

The Diplomatic Archives Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came with 13 photos.

The exhibition has already been presented in Craiova and Timisoara.

In Bucharest, it will be able to be seen from October 26 to November 30. Later, it will be presented in Sibiu (December 8 - January 10, 2023), Cluj-Napoca (January 11 - February 7, 2023), Iasi (February 8 - March 7, 2023) and Constanta (March 9 - April 6, 2023).
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, thanked Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Wednesday for Romania's solidarity with the Republic of Moldova in the energy crisis.

"We discussed Romania's efforts to join Schengen, which @EU_Commission fully supports. We also talked about the rollout of #NextGenEU investments. And I thanked Romania for its solidarity with Moldova in the energy crisis. This is the European way," Ursula von der Leyen wrote on her Twitter page.

Prime Minister Ciuca had, on Wednesday, in Brussels, a meeting with the President of the European Commission, with whom he discussed Romania's accession to the Schengen area, the status of the fulfillment of the recommendations within the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The topics related to the European Union's response to Russia's war in Ukraine, as well as the Republic of Moldova, were also addressed.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca is on a working visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.AGERPRES
The integrated information system for monitoring the traceability of wood materials (SUMAL) does not cope with the wave of illegalities that has befallen Romania's forests, not even 20 days after the entry into force of the Ordinance that caps the price of firewood at 400 RON / cubic meter, warns WWF Romania, in a press release sent on Wednesday to AGERPRES.

"For 7 days, we video monitored all the timber shipments coming out of the forest in different locations in central Brasov and Sibiu counties. The result is grim: more than 40% of shipments are illegal. Without the pretense of a statistical relevance to reflect the image of illegal harvesting at national level, the results are absolutely worrying, given that all the locations where we carried out this sampling were not considered until now risk areas regarding the prevalence of illegal exploitation. As firewood is, ironically, more and more expensive and difficult to find, the population has decided to fend for itself. Out of the total transports of wood captured on the cameras, 26% were transports of firewood (vans, harnesses) without documents such as notice / SUMAL code. Further, out of the transports that were registered in SUMAL, another 31% were identified as non-compliant shipments in which we found the fraud of the statements regarding the quantities of timber transported - flagrant overloads, with an undeclared volume reaching up to 10 cubic meters per transport. This modus operandi, through which illegally harvested timber is placed on the market, is practically allowed by the breaches in SUMAL 2, breaches recognized by the authorities but which are still not resolved," the quoted source says.

"In the early 2000s, when the level of illegal logging exploded as a result of a chaotic retrocession process, petty politicians argued that illegal logging was 'cheaper' and more readily available than loans from the International Monetary Fund, and that the proceeds from the illegal harvests will help Romania go through the transition. Today, according to the same model, our forests are condemned to pay the bill for a chaotically managed energy crisis," Radu Vlad, coordinator of regional projects in the field of forests at WWF Romania, says.

Environmental activists make a new appeal to the Romanian Parliament to urgently amend the provisions of this Ordinance and to adopt conditional compensation as a solution to protect the disadvantaged population.

SUMAL 2.0 - the integrated information system for monitoring the traceability of wood materials - was put into operation on January 31, 2021, HG 497/2020 being the piece of legislation regulating its operation.AGERPRES
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Perhaps to no one's surprise, new research has determined that men do, in fact, have a much stronger sex drive than women.

After reviewing more than 200 studies, investigators "found that men consistently report a higher sex drive," said study author Julius Frankenbach, a doctoral student of psychology at Saarland University in Saarbrucken, Germany.

En masse, the research showed that men say they spend considerably more time thinking about sex, fantasizing about sex, feeling sexual desire and masturbating, compared to women.

"What did surprise us," said Frankenbach, "was that the finding was consistent across countries, age groups, ethnicities or sexual orientations. Men having a higher sex drive than women seems to be a quite universal psychological pattern."

But there's a hitch. When discussing one's own sexual proclivities, are people always honest?

"Sexuality is a sensitive topic," Frankenbach acknowledged. "So we also considered the possibility that people's self-reports are not fully accurate. There was some evidence for such inaccurate responses in our data."

"For example," he noted, "men reported having had more sexual partners than women, which, by simple logic, is almost impossible. However, we concluded that this response bias was relatively small, and could not explain all of the gender difference in sex drive we observed. In other words, we think that the gender difference is real."

The 211 studies reviewed were published after 1996, and participants were at least 14 years old. In all, more than 621,000 people were involved.

The team analyzed the way each study was conducted. After for accounting for some differences, the researchers concluded that the male sex drive is stronger than the female sex drive, with a "medium-to-large effect."

Frankenbach said that the overall degree to which sex drive differs by gender could be compared to standard differences in male vs. female bodies, with "the gender difference in sex drive roughly equal to the gender difference in body weight."

Carole Hooven, a lecturer in the department of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, welcomed the study.

"I'm not surprised that researchers have confirmed what most of us know to be true by virtue of being a sexually mature human," said Hooven, who wasn't involved in the analysis.

"But what's nice about this study," she said, "is that it compiles, examines and summarizes results from many other studies that have evaluated this question of sex differences in sex drive, and the authors attempted to correct for the influence of bias in peoples answers."

Still, the researchers pointed out exceptions to the rule.

Frankenbach said between 24% and 29% of women appear to have a higher sex drive than the "average" man.

So, while on average men may have a stronger sex drive than women, "there are plenty of women who are more into sex than many men," he added.

What exactly accounts for sex drive?

Frankenbach suggested it probably boils down to a complex interaction between social norms, roles and learning on the one hand, and genetics, physiology and biology on the other.

Hooven said "culture certainly plays a strong role in shaping not only how men and women express their sexuality. It also shapes how the sexes feel about what kind of behaviors are appropriate."

Beyond that, "we have so much research now, across time and place, that converges on the same observation: Men are more motivated by sex than women," with higher levels of the male hormone testosterone likely playing a key motivating role throughout a man's life, she added.

All that aside, however, Hooven said it bears keeping in mind that "some women clearly enjoy it, and none of this scientific stuff has any bearing on what kinds of behaviors are right or wrong."

The findings were published recently in Psychological Bulletin.

More information

There's more on sex drive and gender differences at the AARP.

SOURCES: Julius Frankenbach, PhD candidate, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrucken, Germany; Carole Hooven, PhD, co-director, undergraduate studies, and lecturer, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.; Psychological Bulletin, Oct. 13, 2022
TUESDAY, Oct. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A Missouri woman has sued L'Oreal and several other beauty product companies, alleging that their hair-straightening products caused her uterine cancer.

The lawsuit claims that Jenny Mitchell's cancer "was directly and proximately caused by her regular and prolonged exposure to phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in defendants' hair care products."

Mitchell, now 32, was diagnosed with cancer on Aug. 10, 2018, and had a hysterectomy the following month. Mitchell first used chemical relaxers in third grade. She used the products from about 2000 to March 2022.

"As most young African-American girls, chemical relaxers, chemical straighteners were introduced to us at a young age," Mitchell told CNN. "Society has made it a norm to look a certain way, in order to feel a certain way. And I am the first voice of many voices to come that will stand, stand up to these companies, and say, 'No more.'"

The lawsuit comes on the heels of a study published last week in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that showed the risk for developing uterine cancer in women who use chemical hair-straightening products was 4 percent by age 70 years compared with 1.6 percent in those who had not used any of the products in the previous 12 months. The products are much more common among Black women than White women, with the former comprising 7.4 percent of the study participants but 59.9 percent of those ever using straighteners.

L'Oreal, Namaste Laboratories LLC, Dabur International Ltd., and Godrej Consumer Products, parent company of the Just For Me brand, did not respond to requests for comment, CNN said. Similar lawsuits have been filed against cosmetic companies in California and New York.
Aisha Sultan Aisha Sultan is home and family editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Aisha Sultan Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

KMOX radio host Debbie Monterrey still hasnt broken down and wept.

Since Monday morning, shes fought back the avalanche of tears whenever they come too close to the surface.

Monterrey, one of my closest friends, was doing a live interview with a spokeswoman from the March of Dimes when Caeli, her daughter, started sending a barrage of frantic texts.

The first one popped up on her phone at 9:12 am.

OMG THERES AN INTRUDER IN THE BUILDING, Caeli, a senior at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience texted.

Around 9 a.m. Monday, 19-year-old former student Orlando Harris entered the building armed with an AR-style rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition. The building houses the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate. Harris, who was killed in a shootout with the police, allegedly killed 10th-grader Alexzandria Bell, 15, and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, 61. Seven other students were injured.

Monterrey, whom I know to be calm in crisis and eternally optimistic, thought it must be a drill or false alarm. Caeli kept texting  its not a drill. She could hear banging. Alarms are going off. Police and SWAT teams are coming.

Now, Im like, oh my God, this is real, Monterrey said.

Are you scared? Are you safe? Where are you? she texted back.

The interview guest paused, and Monterrey had no idea what she had said or if she was supposed to ask a question. Her co-host, Carol Daniel, wrapped up the interview.

Their colleague, Megan Lynch, ran into the studio and whispered to her, I have breaking news. Theres a school shooting.

I know. Its Caelis school, she said.

Monterrey clarified the initial reports that cited a different school. Im going to hold it together by making sure we have the facts straight, she thought. If she was explaining the facts on air, she wouldnt break down and get hysterical. She focused on the story.

If I can just hold onto the facts of this story and not let my emotions come out, I can hold it together, she thought.

They had cut to commercial when Caeli texted her that she was out of the building. Daniel hugged her, and Monterrey shed a few tears.

From 9:12 am until about 9:30, she knew an active shooter was in her daughters school. Her boss had told her to leave whenever she needed, but she felt helpless until she knew she could get to her daughter. Monterrey stayed on air for 20 more minutes until Caeli texted her that she could come get her.

I understand that feeling of helpless horror. Monterrey texted me while she was still in the studio. Theres a sense of shock and denial at first.

Ive had to report on dozens and dozens of school shootings over the years, sadly. What are the odds of it happening at your kids school? I assumed it had to be a mistake. It couldnt possibly be the real thing, she said.

When she saw Caeli at home, they grabbed each other in the longest hug.

I have not had a long, weepy cry. I wont let myself go there, she said.

But there are moments when tears resurface. Like when she caught a few minutes of a TV interview with Bells grieving father.

She had to look away.

Or when Caeli told her about how her principal Frederick Steele risked his own life during the shooting and ran through the hallways to make sure the classroom doors were shut and no students were in sight.

She got choked up  and pushed the anger, sadness and fear back again.

I want to know why, as a nation, we allow this to keep happening. My daughters school did everything right with all their security precautions. Why did he have 600 rounds of ammo? Why is this OK?

Its the question thousands of traumatized survivors have asked over and over. School shootings plague America at a rate unlike any nation on earth. Americans are not more mentally unstable than people who live in any other country. But we do have exponentially more guns than any other place in the world.

At what point will we admit that we could do something about it, but we, as a nation, have chosen not to? Monterrey asked.

Shes worried about the lasting emotional impact surviving such a nightmare will leave on her daughter. Caeli doesnt want to sleep at night. She hears gunfire. She saw blood on her classmates. Other students saw their slain classmate.

Im doing the best I can, Monterrey said. They dont give you a manual on how to help your child when shes been through a school shooting in America.

Caelis school is closed indefinitely, for now. They will start virtual learning at some point. Her backpack, wallet and laptop are all still in the building.

When I called Monterrey, she was running errands, so her daughter would have the flowers and candles she needs for an upcoming vigil.

They are both putting on a brave face. But theres tears lurking just below the surface.

Monterrey is worried about her daughter.

Im worried about both of them.
Joe Holleman Joe Holleman is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

After 22 years as an active member of St. Louis LGBT community, Darin D-Sly Slyman is picking up stakes and heading south  as in down to Mexico.

Slyman, best known as the publisher of Vital Voice for about 11 years, has been kicked upstairs to a vice presidents position at Edge Media Network.

I asked them if they had any problem with me doing that job from Puerto Vallarta, Slyman said at a going-away party in his honor Tuesday night at Rehab in The Grove.

All they said was Hey, maybe we need to have our next regional meeting at your place, said Slyman, who leaves town Friday to move into a condo that is about three blocks from the beach.

About 50 people showed up to wish Slyman well, including St. Louis Press Club board member Sarah Thompson, well-known local freelance writer Chris Andoe, CBD Kratom marketing manager Jason Johnston and former PR kingpin Craig Kaminer, who now publishes Sophisticated Living magazine.

Slyman also was presented with a proclamation from the office of Mayor Tishaura Jones that designated Tuesday as Darin Slyman Day in St. Louis, thanks to Alderman Shane Cohn, D-25th Ward.

Slyman, an Oklahoma native and distant cousin of the local family famous for appliances, first came to STL in 1994 to attend Webster University. He moved to France for five years and then returned in 2000.

In 2009, Slyman bought Vital Voice, which had started in 1981 as the Lesbian and Gay News Telegraph. He expanded the publication into Kansas City in 2013. For a short period, he also published Max, a style magazine.

He shut down Vital Voice in January 2020 and then signed on with Edge Media in 2021 as a marketing director. Edge is a national operation with headquarters in Boston and offices in numerous U.S. cities. It claims a readership of more than 5 million.

On being an advocate for equality, Slyman said he believes his efforts helped the local LGBT community.

We live in a blue dot in a red state, Slyman said. I think I had success because I was relatable, I could work with anybody.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The Rev. Rodrick Burton was watching television with his wife as news broke of the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School south of Tower Grove Park. His phone rang.

It was St. Louis Alderwoman Pam Boyd.

They need clergy, she told him.

Burton rushed to the school to see what he could do. St. Louis police Maj. Ryan Cousins found him and asked him to pray with Keisha Acres, the mother of Alexzandria Bell, the 15-year-old student killed by the gunman.

Burton told the story Tuesday evening at an interfaith gun safety vigil that had been planned long before St. Louis added its name the growing list of cities that have suffered through school shootings. Leaders from a variety of faiths gathered at Mount Bethel Missionary Baptist Church to remember the more than 100 children lost to gun violence in St. Louis since 2019.

They were there, in part, to recognize our shared responsibility for the crisis.

It is we who have allowed this to happen, said Maharat Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis. We have failed our children.

Bell is the latest victim, and because of the attention given to school shootings, perhaps the most prominent.

What was most shocking to me is something the mother said to me, Burton recalled Tuesday night. She said, All I want right now is all of my daughters belongings.

Shortly after Acres daughter was slain on the floor of a school building, the weight of her death had set in. Her mother wanted to hold her daughters things and keep them close.

Its a helpless feeling, shared by parents of children from Littleton, Colordao, to Newtown, Connecticut. Its an emotion felt by all communities that have their names turned into social media hashtags.

I feel helpless, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones told the gathering.

Its a statement that fit the moment but is striking for its vulnerability. Jones leads a city that regularly deals with gun violence, and now she has to deal with the microscope that follows a school shooting.

Shes heard from mayors whose cities are on the same list that St. Louis has joined. Theyve shared the playbook on how a mayor deals with what is to come.

Missouri, though, is different than some of those places, Jones said Tuesday night, because the state has among the weakest gun safety laws in the country.

The mayor often finds herself at war with state political leaders over how to deal with violence in the city. The problem is guns, Jones has said often, but there are few legislative tools the leader of the states economic engine has at her fingertips  other than to do what the faith leaders were doing at this event: preach gun safety.

The churches, synagogues and mosques in the city will have access to more than 500 gun locks, most of them donated by the U.S. Attorneys office and the ATF. They are tools that will prevent the occasional unintentional shooting, such as one last month, when 21-month-old Khori Patterson found an unsecured firearm in his parents home and shot and killed himself.

Pushing gun safety is one thing the mayors office, in conjunction with the interfaith leaders and groups like Moms Demand Action, can do to try to make a difference, to put faith into action.

Gun violence is a public health crisis, Jones said.

And thats the same whether its a child playing with a gun at home, a child not being safe in their school, or a child mowed down in the cross-fire of bullets that are too often a staple of life in some neighborhoods.

So it was for Xavier Usanga last year, one of the names and faces at the vigil that faith leaders asked St. Louisans to remember. Xavier was 7 when he was shot and killed in his backyard while he played with his sisters. He was killed by a stray bullet, but that made his death no less tragic than the others.

Janice Munier, a Catholic nun, recalled Xaviers smile as she urged those at the vigil to turn mourning to action, to stir up the courage to tackle gun violence in St. Louis.

Like the St. Louis police officers who charged toward gunfire on Monday, Jones and the faith leaders encouraged us to find the bravery to do what we can, one gun lock or one gun safety law at a time.

The time for talk is over, said Monsignor Dennis Stehly, the vicar general of the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. The time for action is now.
ST. LOUIS  The gun Orlando Harris used to kill two people at his former high school Monday was the same AR-15-style rifle his family had asked authorities for help removing from him nine days earlier, police said Wednesday evening.

St. Louis police responded Oct. 15 to a domestic disturbance call at Harris home. His mother had found a gun in the house and wanted it removed. Officers determined that Harris was lawfully permitted to have the firearm.

A third person, known to the family, was contacted and took the rifle so it would be out of the home, police said.

While it is not yet clear when or how the suspect came to be in possession of the firearm after this incident, we can confirm that the firearm involved in this incident is the firearm used in the shooting Monday, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.

In the months leading up to the attack at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, Harris family tried to get him mental health care.

Interim St. Louis police Chief Michael Sack said Harris family is cooperating with the investigation.

Authorities did not give specifics about Harris past behavior but said his family had sought help for him and that he had been committed at some point. They checked his mail and searched his room.

They were constantly in touch with the medical providers, said Sack at a Wednesday news conference. They made every effort they felt that they reasonably could. I think thats why the mother is so heartbroken over the families that paid for his actions.

The serial number on the gun Harris used on Monday has been given to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace, Sack said. He noted that it is difficult to track a guns ownership if it has been sold from person to person.

Authorities say Harris, 19, busted a window out of a door at the two-school campus at Arsenal Street and South Kingshighway, near Tower Grove Park.

He shot and killed 61-year-old Jean Kuczka, a mother of five who taught health and physical education; and sophomore Alexzandria Bell, 15, who loved art and dance.

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. Sack said one police officer had cuts on his arm from going through a window.

Police said on Wednesday that Harris acted alone in the shooting. He lived in the 7000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in south St. Louis.

Since Monday, authorities have seen an increase in hoax threats made against area schools, a common pattern after such incidents, said FBI Special Agent Jay Greenberg. Making hoax threats is illegal, he said, and they tend to be easy to investigate. Officers will make visits to peoples homes to make sure the threats are not real.

Police did not believe any of the threats were credible, but they are taking a toll nonetheless. Police are placing additional armed officers in area schools, taxing already strained police resources, Greenberg said. It means that children  still trying to process Mondays events  are seeing an increased armed presence in their schools.

It is increasing the trauma that all of our students and teachers are experiencing, Greenberg said.
Family and friends of the teacher and student killed in Mondays school shooting in St. Louis are asking well-wishers who want to help to contribute to two fundraisers.

One is a GoFundMe launched to cover funeral expenses for Alexzandria Bell, 15. Alexzandria was a sophomore at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School who was shot to death during Mondays rampage.

Another fund is linked to Jean Kuczka, a longtime physical education and health teacher at Central who was fatally shot inside the school. Kuczkas daughter, Abigail Kuczka, said her mom loved bicycle riding and raising money in the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ride.

Jean Kuczkas JDRF Ride fundraising page can accept donations here, and has raised $12,500 by Wednesday morning. The fundraiser says it helps pay for research for Type 1 diabetes, with which one of Kuczkas two adult sons was diagnosed when he was 10 years old.

We appreciate the outpouring of love and support for our family and loved ones during this sad, tragic time, Abigail Kuczka said in an email Tuesday.

Abigail Kuczka said another fund making the rounds on the day after the murders was not endorsed by her family. The diabetic research fund is the one she said the family is advocating.

In early December, Kuczka was planning to ride to Amelia Island in Florida with her husband on the sidelines, cheering her on.

The gunman broke a window of a door to enter Central Visual and Performing Arts and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, a two-school campus at Arsenal Street and South Kingshighway near Tower Grove Park.

He came into Kuczkas classroom, Room 323, and Kuczka went in front of him to protect the students, her daughter was told. Alexzandria was found shot in the hallway of the Collegiate School.

Kuczka lived in Dittmer and made the 40-mile drive each weekday to teach at the school on South Kingshighway in St. Louis. She was married, had five grown children and six grandchildren, and was looking forward to retiring in a few years, her daughter said.

Alexzandria lived in the 5200 block of Davison Avenue in the citys Walnut Park East neighborhood. She was attending Central high school to learn interpretive dance, said the fundraisers organizer, Kevin Quick, a friend and colleague of Alexzandrias father.

Quick said Alexzandria did not know the gunman who roamed the school with an AR-15-style rifle and 600 rounds of ammunition, killing Alexzandria and Kuczka and injuring six students. Friends described Alexzandria as always smiling, and her principal said she was a bright and charismatic student.

Quick said the girls mother is struggling with her daughters death and trying to wrap her head around the fact that she was gunned down in a school, which should be a safe environment.

She was going there to learn dancing interpretation, Quick said. She wasnt skipping school or running around. She was killed just trying to get an education.

Quick said money raised will be turned over to Alexzandrias father to help with funeral expenses and any unforeseen expenses due to this tragedy. The funds goal was $10,000, but it already had passed $11,000 by Wednesday morning.

Police stormed the building and confronted the gunman, Orlando Harris, within minutes of the active shooter call. Police killed Harris in an exchange of gunfire in a third-floor room, next to the library. No officers were hurt.
ST. LOUIS  Jurors on Tuesday convicted a St. Louis man of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man in 2019.

After roughly two hours of deliberation, jurors convicted Terrell Whiting, 42, in the July 17, 2019, death of Rafael Givens, who was found fatally shot in the 9000 block of Halls Ferry Road, near Riverview Boulevard. The conviction carries an automatic penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In the wake of the shooting, police received multiple tips in the case from the anonymous line CrimeStoppers and questioned Whiting, who lived just blocks from the crime scene. The shooting was captured on surveillance footage, showing a man approaching Givens while holding a gun.

Whiting also posted on Facebook asking, "What's the murder count in St. Louis at this moment anyone know!!! #igot3."

Whiting's public defenders and prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.

Correction: This story has been corrected to say prosecutors and defense attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
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  A 63-year-old woman died Sunday morning in a double shooting in the city's Carondelet neighborhood.

Officers said they found Michelle Sobel and a 44-year-old woman both suffering from gunshot wounds Sunday morning in the 6600 block of Michigan Avenue.

Both woman were taken to the hospital, where Sobel was pronounced dead, police said.

Investigators believe an argument led to the shooting but did not provide additional information.

Sobel lived in the the 3200 block of Mt. Pleasant Street.
ST. LOUIS  A former student barricaded himself inside a classroom prior to being shot and killed by police after he opened fire inside Central Visual and Performing Arts High School just after 9 a.m. Monday, according to police.

Police identified the suspect late Monday as 19-year-old Orlando Harris and said he shot and killed 61-year-old Jean Kuczka and 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell.

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.

In an incident report released Tuesday afternoon, police said Harris barricaded himself in a third-floor classroom near the library prior to police exchanging fire with him.

Officers received a 911 call from a school security officer at 9:11 a.m., and officers arrived a few minutes later and began searching inside the building for Harris. They said they saw numerous cartridges and casings along with AR-style magazines in the hallways and stairwells of the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, which shares a campus with CVPA.

As people evacuated the school, officers said they heard a "volley of gunshots from the third floor of the building."

They found Harris on the third floor and said he had barricaded himself inside a classroom, at which point officers told him to drop his weapon and surrender.

Harris then fired shots from inside the classroom, police said, and officers returned fire. They then broke down the door and fired several shots at Harris as he pointed his gun at them.

Police havent said how many shots were fired inside the school but on Tuesday released photos of the suspect's gun and said he had about 600 rounds of ammunition inside the school. Police also said he left behind handwritten notes about being a loner with no social life, which he called the perfect storm for a mass shooting

Harris was later pronounced dead a hospital.

Bell, the 15-year-old shot and killed during the attack, was found in a hallway of the Collegiate School and pronounced dead there.

Kuczka, a physical education teacher at the south St. Louis school, was found shot in a classroom of CVPA. She was taken to a hospital and later died, police said.

Interim St. Louis police Commissioner Michael Sack said Monday evening that he was extremely proud of the police response. The suspect was shot just 14 minutes after the 911 call. 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.
ST. LOUIS  A boy shot in his hands, with a bullet lodged in his jaw, escaped the St. Louis school attack Monday by jumping out a window and scaling a fence, his aunt said.

Brian Collins, 15, was released from the hospital Tuesday night.

The bullet to his jaw was centimeters from a major artery, so its truly an act of God that he didnt die and didnt require surgery, Brians godmother and aunt, Stephanie Malia Krauss, told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, a gunman armed with an AR-15-style rifle burst into Brians health class at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in south St. Louis.

The gunman, Orlando Harris, fatally shot Brians teacher, Jean Kuczka. The teacher stepped in front of the gunman to protect her students, Kuczkas daughter was told.

Gunfire hit Brians hands and his face.

A heroic student somehow opened the window in the middle of all of that, and that is how Brian was able to get out, Krauss said.

Funeral plans for Jean Kuczka Jean Kuczka, 61, the St. Louis teacher killed Monday in a school shooting will be buried next week, according to a local funeral home. The funeral will take place at Kutis Funeral Home at 9 a.m. Monday, followed by a funeral Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at 10 a.m. The educator who taught health, personal finance and physical education in St. Louis and St. Louis County schools is survived by her husband, two sons and three daughters. One of her sons is a Eureka police officer. She also had six grandchildren.

The rampage killed Kuczka and 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell, who was found dead in a hallway. Authorities havent said if the shooter, killed by police, was targeting victims or firing randomly.

Brian was treated at St. Louis Childrens Hospital and is home recuperating, Krauss said. He has a long recovery ahead. The bullet remains in his jaw.

Krauss has organized a GoFundMe to raise money for Brians family, to help cover his immediate and long-term medical costs and other expenses, such as clothes that are easy to pull on and occupational therapy. Brians long-term recovery needs are undetermined, Krauss said.

In addition to Brian, police said two other 15-year-old boys suffered gunshot wounds, including one boy who underwent surgery. A bullet grazed a 16-year-old girl. Police have not released updates on the injured. Two more students had abrasions, and one broke an ankle.

The student who opened the window in the third-floor health class was among the shooting victims; he is a 15-year-old boy who is Brians friend, Krauss said.

Brian transferred to Central high school earlier this fall. His mom, older brother and older sister all graduated from Central, which is at Arsenal Street and South Kingshighway near Tower Grove Park. Central shares a campus with Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience.

Brian came to Central because of his love of art. Brian is an incredible artist with pencil charcoal drawings showing fine details, Krauss said.

He has both arms in splints from the fingers all the way up past the elbow, she said. Theres no way of knowing the extent of the injuries until follow-up appointments and the swelling goes down. Were not going to know for a couple of weeks.

Brian also is considering a culinary career. His signature dish is cheesecake.

In our house, he is the pancake flipper and the egg maker, Krauss joked.

Another of Brians hobbies that takes finger dexterity is gaming. He worked at the science center over the summer and saved money to buy gaming equipment.

Krauss said her son, 9, thinks Brian is a superhero for his escape out a window and over a fence after being shot.

Police rushed into the school minutes after getting the active shooter call, confronted Harris on the third floor and killed him in an exchange of gunfire. Police said Harris, 19, was a former student who left behind notes describing himself as a loner with no friends. Authorities havent said where Harris got the gun or the 600 rounds of ammunition.
JEFFERSON CITY  A Chinese companys ownership of Missouri farmland emerged as a campaign issue in the current U.S. Senate contest, but the size of those holdings is smaller than first reported.

The nonpartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a September 2021 report on foreign purchases of U.S. farmland, said the parent company of Smithfield Farms, a leading pork producer, owned 146,000 acres of land in Missouri.

The figure  three times the size of the Lake of the Ozarks  was cited by Democrat Trudy Busch Valentines campaign in an ad last month blasting Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, the Republican nominee. Valentine has criticized Schmitt for voting as a state senator in 2013 to allow the sale of Missouri farmland to communists in China.

But CSIS, which based its report on U.S. Department of Agriculture data, last week issued a correction.

A previous version of this Critical Questions incorrectly stated that upon acquiring Smithfield Foods, WH Group (formerly Shuanghui) owned 146,000 acres of Missouri farmland, the correction said. This piece has been corrected to state that upon acquiring Smithfield Foods, WH Group was reported to own 146,000 acres of farmland across the United States, including approximately 42,000 acres of farmland in Missouri as of 2015.

Before Shuanghui acquired Smithfield Foods, Missouri banned all foreign ownership of agricultural land. That rule was changed before the purchase to allow foreign entities to own up to 1% of the states farmland.

Valentines campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CSIS correction. Her campaign website on Wednesday still referred to the Smithfield acquisition: Today China controls more than 146,000 acres of our farms.

Articles in the Post-Dispatch referencing the earlier figure have been updated and corrected.
JEFFERSON CITY  In just 20 months, Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed 25 lawsuits against Democratic President Joe Bidens administration, challenging policies on COVID-19 vaccinations, climate change, immigration and education, among other things.

It puts Missouri behind only Louisiana in the number of lawsuits against the Biden administration.

Schmitts wins are about equal to his losses thus far. But Schmitt has made the court cases a central theme in his front-running campaign for an open U.S. Senate seat.

Since Joe Biden has taken over the White House, Eric has been one of the leading state attorneys general to hold the Biden administration accountable, Schmitts campaign website declares.

Schmitts legal barrage against the federal government contrasts sharply with his approach during his first two years in office, when he filed just one suit against Republican President Donald Trumps administration.

It also marks a significant departure from the way Missouri attorneys general have historically run the office, though its more in line with recent national trends. Attorneys general in both Republican- and Democratic-led states have increasingly sparred with the federal government over the past decade.

Schmitt said its his responsibility to push back on the Biden administrations policies.

The Attorney Generals Office standing in between Missourians and a radical, overreaching government is a hallmark of federalism, and states have a vital duty to keep the federal government in check, Schmitt said in a statement to The Associated Press.

His Democratic Senate opponent, Trudy Busch Valentine, said Schmitt has wasted taxpayer resources by filing endless publicity-seeking lawsuits over things that rarely have anything to do with the critical issues facing Missouri.

Missouris campaign season effectively began when Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt announced on March 8, 2021, that he would not seek reelection. Less than three hours later, Schmitt announced he was leading a dozen states in a lawsuit challenging a Biden directive on calculating the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions for federal regulations.

The timing of the two announcements may have been coincidental  the lawsuit had been in the works for weeks, said Schmitt spokesman Chris Nuelle. But it wasnt the last time Schmitt sued.

The next week, Schmitt joined other states in a lawsuit challenging Bidens revocation of a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Then on March 24, 2021  the same day Schmitt formally announced his Senate candidacy  Schmitt joined a dozen other states in a lawsuit challenging Bidens moratorium on new oil and gas leasing permits on U.S. lands and waters.

He followed that up with his fourth lawsuit in as many weeks against Bidens administration  a case alleging the U.S. Treasury Department was threatening to adopt an overly broad interpretation of a law prohibiting federal pandemic relief funds from being used to offset state tax cuts.

The initial flurry of lawsuits led to months of legal wrangling, with mixed results.

A judge dismissed the Keystone pipeline case this January after the company abandoned the project. A federal appeals court in July also upheld the dismissal of the Treasury Department lawsuit, saying Schmitts office failed to show any harm justifying the suit.

After an appeals court lifted a nationwide injunction, a district judge in August imposed a limited injunction blocking Bidens moratorium on new oil and gas leases from being enforced in the 13 states that sued, including Missouri.

The first case Schmitt filed  challenging the social cost of greenhouse gases  was dismissed by a federal judge last year. A panel of the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Biden administration in a ruling last week.

Schmitts overall win-loss record is close to even so far, though many cases are awaiting rulings from trial judges or appellate courts.

His most recent lawsuit  contesting Bidens student loan forgiveness plan  was dismissed last Thursday by a federal judge who said the six suing Republican-led states raised important and significant challenges but failed to show harm giving them grounds to sue. The next day, an appeals court temporary blocked Bidens administration from forgiving student loans while it considers an appeal from the states.

Schmitt previously was on a winning team of states that halted Bidens COVID-19 vaccination policy for employers with more than 100 workers. He also joined with other states to stop Bidens administration from ending pandemic-related restrictions on migrants seeking asylum on the southern border, though that case is on appeal.

The cost of Schmitts federal legal battles is unclear because theyre handled as regular duties of state employees.

But when you spend your time on these kinds of national issues, that necessarily means that you are not spending time on  or giving attention to  other things that the office is doing, said Jim Layton, a top attorney from 1994-2017 under Democratic state attorneys general Jay Nixon and Chris Koster.

Schmitts office said other duties have continued as normal. He has filed suits alleging consumer fraud, just as predecessors did, and has sought to shut down a private boarding school over abuse allegations, among other things. He also filed nearly 60 lawsuits to overturn mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions imposed by public schools, cities and counties.

Schmitts frequent lawsuits put him at the forefront of a national trend. States collectively have filed 55 multistate lawsuits against the federal government during the first 22 months of Bidens administration, according to data compiled by Paul Nolette, chair of the political science department at Marquette University. Nearly all have come from Republican-led states.

But thats well shy of the 160 multistate lawsuits filed against Trumps administration, when Democratic-controlled states led the barrage. New York filed 109 lawsuits against Trumps administration.

Prior to Trump, states filed a median of 24 multistate lawsuits per presidential term from Republican Ronald Reagan through Democrat Barack Obama. Missouri typically was involved in just one or two of those.

We never really had occasion that I could think of where the federal government was doing things that we did not approve of, said attorney Jim Deutsch, chief deputy under Missouri Attorney General William Webster from 1989 to 1993. Webster and then-President George H.W. Bush both were Republicans.

Layton said attorneys general used to function more like the CEO of a large law firm defending state agencies and statutes. But they now seem more focused on affecting public policies, he said.

As the country has gotten more partisan, I think its become more common for attorneys general to operate that way, Layton said.
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.
One of the most puzzling aspects of American politics to foreigners living in Western democracies is the two-party straitjacket that hinders renewal. Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press last Sunday, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, spoke of her interest in preventing former President Donald Trump from ever again running the country and mentioned that Trump being the Republican nominee would "shatter" the party and give rise to a new conservative party.

Great idea.

Until now, the debate has long been about who should have control over the heart and institutional machinery of the Republican Party  either the Trump-like populists or the anti-Trump supporters of the establishment status quo. There are two sets of dividing lines along which the GOP is on the verge of fracturing: progressivism versus conservatism and populism versus globalism. The need to address both of these debates has come to a critical stage due to two factors.

First, theres the rise of extreme leftist social engineering which has succeeded in finding advocates and champions within the Democratic Party who have managed to translate their ideological fantasies into the law of the land. The only antidote to even further generalized leftist social radicalism is effective and articulate GOP leaders who mount effective rhetorical and legislative pushback.

Second, rampant foreign military interventionism has cost American taxpayers uncounted billions, despite poor return on investment for the average citizen. The 20-year war in Afghanistan is perhaps the most glaring example, but the multibillion-dollar series of gifts to Ukraine are increasingly raising eyebrows, if not ire.

Within the GOP, there are currently two warring factions. The first consists of mainly pro-war neoconservatives who dominated the GOP pre-Trump and who have spent so much time hobnobbing with neocon establishment Democrats that theyve mostly aligned with them on all but the most outlandish cultural and social issues, as well. The second main GOP faction comprises those who reject both pricy and questionable foreign interventionism in favor of an America-first domestic focus, and also want nothing to do with the Democrats increasingly radical social agenda. Its the latter faction that ought to eject out of the party altogether to start something new and baggage-free.

In Europe, its well-accepted to leave an established party to create a new one. And its incredibly common for these new parties to not only thrive but also end up in power. French President Emmanuel Macron is a prime example, having left the Socialist Party to start his own new political vehicle that propelled him to power  twice. And the French Socialist Party, which was once the political family of former President Francois Mitterrand, is now a non-entity, having been surpassed in popularity by the populist-left France Insoumise. Similarly, former President Nicolas Sarkozys Republican Party has lost favor to the populist-right National Rally party in this years presidential vote.

In Italy, establishment parties were bested in last months elections by a populist-right coalition led by Georgia Melonis Brothers of Italy, which won just 4.4% of votes in 2018.

Whats needed, however, is a strong leader whose agenda has a pre-existing supporter and voter base. For Macron, that base was simply people who were tired of the other two main parties who had recently dominated elections. For Meloni, it was those tired of the entire establishment, against which she was considered an outsider. Other startup leaders have played on the notion of representing a better alternative to just a single large party whose voting base was ready for something new. And thats where a new U.S. party with the right anti-establishment, anti-interventionist, and anti-woke leader could very well end up reducing the GOP base and its voters to a husk.

Is Donald Trump the right person for the job, though? Probably not  his time has come and gone and the U.S. desperately needs to move away from its current model of gerontocratic leadership, even though Trumps considerable talents could play a valuable role in mobilization efforts. But in a country as big and populous as the U.S., surely there cant be a shortage of talent that could fit the bill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis springs immediately to mind.

America  and the West in general  is currently contending with a series of unprecedented crises exacerbated by the ruling establishment. Trumps election in 2016 proved that even at that point voters were fed up and willing to take a chance on something new. The fact that the establishment GOP has taken back the reins doesnt mean that all those people who voted for Trumps anti-establishment populist policies have simply disappeared. Theyre merely waiting for their next opportunity to take their country back. And if neither Democrats or Republicans will give it to them, then someone needs to create a new means of doing so.

Rachel Marsden is a Canadian columnist, political strategist and host of independently produced talk shows in French and English. Her website is rachelmarsden.com.
A national epidemic of mass shootings, with a particular focus on schools as targets, shows no signs of abating anytime soon as the volatile mix of guns and mental health continues to go unaddressed legislatively. Its time to redefine whats happening here: Mondays school shooting in St. Louis wasnt just a crazed act of a lone gunman. This was terrorism.

Whats the difference if the scenes are screaming, panicked people running from the collapsing World Trade Center buildings or screaming, panicked people fleeing a public school? All experienced terror inflicted by deranged people who had, in their twisted minds, found a rationale for committing mass violence. Whether it was the al-Qaida hijackers behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks or shooters like Orlando Harris on Monday, the common motive is to inflict mass bloodshed and maximum casualties.

Harris shot his way into the Central Visual & Performing Arts high school on Monday, then was quoted by a survivor as telling his would-be victims: You are all going to [expletive] die.

Because of the quick and decisive police response, Harris reign of terror ended quickly and with minimal casualties  one student and a teacher dead (along with Harris), and seven students wounded. In the American news cycle, that barely rated a blip because the toll wasnt high enough to warrant heavy national coverage. Thats how, to this nations shame, it has learned to absorb these horrors and move on.

Before 9/11, Americans had come to accept terrorist acts by Muslim extremists as something society was largely powerless to affect. But today, the ability of groups like al-Qaida to hijack planes for use as weapons has ended. Why? Because everyone now agrees that the sacrifice of basic freedoms is a small price to pay for survival. Airplane cockpits are now hardened fortresses. Americans agree to partially disrobe and submit their belongings to searches at airports. Not so much as a water bottle gets past a security checkpoint.

Even a week before 9/11, Americans would have responded with a resounding Hell no! if asked whether such sacrifices were merited for the cause of public safety. But theres one undeniable truth today: The terrorists have been denied airplanes as their weapon of choice. Some still respond hell no when asked to deny weapons of choice used by school-shooter terrorists.

Despite metal detectors and active-shooter drills at schools, gaping vulnerabilities still exist. AR-15-style firearms like the one Harris used remain largely unrestricted for adults, with few exceptions. High-capacity magazines and ammunition remain easily accessible. Harris brought magazines and 600 rounds with him.

Conservative lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson refuse to consider restrictions, citing mythical gun rights that simply do not exist in the Second Amendment. Because of Missouri lawmakers' inexplicable intransigence, future domestic terrorists like Harris remain free to strike again because no one has the courage to deny them their weapons of choice.
Two minor but telling developments this week provide dismal reminders that the U.S. Supreme Court is mired in a crisis of legitimacy because of what certainly looks like overt partisanship by its conservative majority. Chief Justice John Roberts should add these to the multiple other examples of broken trust by his fellow jurists the next time he publicly laments the courts loss of standing, as he recently did.

On Monday, Justice Clarence Thomas issued a temporary reprieve to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Georgia, from having to testify to a grand jury about efforts by Donald Trumps allies to manipulate the 2020 presidential election results there. Grahams appeal went to Thomas because hes the justice over that regional jurisdiction. His order putting Grahams testimony on hold is a routine way of giving the full court time to review the issue.

But as with anything regarding that election, having Thomas involved in any way automatically looks suspect because of his wife, right-wing activist Ginni Thomas. In the weeks leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, Ginni Thomas flooded Trumps inner circle with unhinged texts calling Joe Bidens election a coup, suggesting the Biden crime family should face military tribunals for sedition, and generally encouraging resistance to accepting the election outcome. In what universe is it OK for Justice Thomas not to recuse himself from anything Jan. 6-related when this is the kind of pillow talk he goes home to at night?

Meanwhile, The New York Times revealed that Justice Samuel Alito privately assured the late Sen. Edward Kennedy during his 2005 confirmation process that he respected the precedent of Roe v. Wade and had no intention of ever touching it  a vow Alito summarily discarded this year in leading the charge to overturn Roe.

I am a believer in precedents, Alito told Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat recorded in his diary, which is being revealed in a new book. People would find I adhere to that  I recognize there is a right to privacy. I think its settled.

That mendacity is hardly a surprise, nor is Alito alone in it. All five conservative justices who voted in June to overturn Roe (Roberts concurred, but stopped short of endorsing full reversal) have at various times waxed on about the sanctity of precedent generally  and have, to varying degrees, offered assurance they werent going to go out of their way to flip Roe as soon as they had the votes to do it. Which, of course, is exactly what they did.

I dont understand the connection between [Supreme Court] opinions that people disagree with and the legitimacy of the Court, Roberts told an interviewer in September, expressing frustration at Americans criticism. As we noted then, his frustration is misplaced. These latest developments further illustrate why.
Regarding the editorial Since Schmitt is ignoring our invitation, we'll ask here what kind of senator he'd be (Oct. 20): In addition to the questions posed by the Post-Dispatch editorial, Eric Schmitt should answer how he would vote on Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnsons proposal to make funding for Social Security and Medicare discretionary, thus requiring funding for both programs to be re-approved each year. How would he vote on Florida Sen. Rick Scotts proposal to subject both programs to sunsetting rules every five years? Would he vote to defund U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders?
Regarding Ashcroft wants tighter rules on racy public library books (Oct. 21): I was very young when my mother took me to the library for the first time. I was pretty young when I was allowed to go by myself and pick out any books I wanted. Of course, the pop-ups and picture books and Dr. Seuss and "Winnie the Pooh" were the early first picks. And then there was "Bright April," a story about a young black girl who joins the girl scouts and faces racial discrimination. It was a revelation to this small-town white girl. I loved April and I loved the book and I learned a little about the world. Books give you that: pleasure and insight.

Nobody ever told me I couldnt read a book, no matter the content or level. No librarian, or teacher or my parents or my older sisters ever screened my reading. They just encouraged the notion that reading was a good thing to do. Ive been an avid reader throughout my life.

The very idea that the state should have any control over how books are distributed or what books are purchased by the people whose profession it is to know about books, our valued librarians, is disturbing, horrifying and downright wrong. Any attempt by Missouri's secretary of state to legislate libraries, state-funded or not, must be stopped. In fact, thats my definition of what is obscene.

Bronwen Zwirner  University City
COINSILIUM GROUP LIMITED

("Coinsilium" or the "Company")

Coinsilium Group Limited: IOV Labs Asia Joint Venture Update

London UK, 26 October 2022, Coinsilium Group Limited (AQSE: COIN) (OTCQB: CINGF), the Web3 investor, advisor, and venture builder hereby provides an update on the status of IOV Labs Asia PTE. Ltd (IOV Labs Asia), the Singapore-based Companys 50/50 joint venture company (JVC) with IOV Labs Ltd (IOV Labs).

Background

On 28 January 2020, the Company announced that it had completed a Strategic Investment Agreement with IOV Labs to invest GBP250,001 in Coinsilium by way of a private placement in the Company at 2.65p per share. In tandem with the Strategic Investment Agreement, IOV and Coinsilium executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the JVC in Singapore to promote and commercialise IOV's products, services and technologies principally in the Asian markets to corporations, entrepreneurs, governments and NGOs. Another key objective of the JVC is to promote the adoption in the region of the RIF token which powers the ecosystem of solutions developed by IOV and its partners and developers around the world. The MOU further specified that Eddy Travia, CEO of Coinsilium, was to be appointed as director of the JVC and as part of his role in the JVC, to provide services to IOV which include acting as IOV's Regional Director for Asia-Pacific.

On 8 July 2020, the Company announced the execution of a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between IOV Labs and Coinsilium to form the JVC in Singapore. However, the Covid19-induced strict and broad travel restrictions imposed in Asia, and more particularly in Singapore, over the past two and a half years have contributed to prevent the JVC from becoming fully operational as initially planned. In the interim, both parties have continued to collaborate, however, in recognition that the market has evolved significantly since the original scope of the JVC was envisaged, and as reported in Coinsiliums annual report and more recently in its Interim Financial statements, the parties have been involved in discussions for the purpose of re-evaluating the original scope of the JVC.

The operations of the JVC are currently funded through a loan agreement between IOV Labs and the JVC with repayment terms coming into effect from February 2023. Coinsilium is not a party to the loan agreement and there are no obligations upon Coinsilium for repayment of the loan made to the JVC.

Whilst IOV Labs contribution to the JVC comes by way of a loan and the supply of products, services and technologies, Coinsiliums contribution has been met by making a considerable proportion of its CEO, Eddy Travias time available to the JVC, as Regional Director for IOV Labs in Asia and his relocation to Singapore to provide in situ advisory, support, and management services. Mr Travia is recognised as the key individual in the provision of Coinsiliums services under the Service Agreement between the JVC and Coinsilium.

IOV Labs Asia Status Update

IOV has recently advised the Company that it has been re-structuring its goals, targets and strategy and has proposed that Coinsilium considers terms under which the Company would be prepared for the current JVA to be replaced with an alternative business model.

The Company has therefore advised IOV Labs that it would be willing to review the objectives of the JVA with a view to commencing negotiations towards a mutually agreeable outcome which may or may not include an alternative business model. The Company is hopeful that an expedient resolution to this matter may be achieved, on terms that are fair and reasonable to both parties, given the shared history that exists between Coinsilium and IOV Labs, however there is no certainty that this will be the case. The Company will also ensure that shareholders are kept updated on the progress of discussions between the parties in a timely fashion through regulatory market updates.

Outside of the JVC, as stated in the Companys Interim Financial Statements reported on 30 September 2022, the Companys commercial focus remains firmly on its value generative investment and advisory activities where steady growth is expected to continue over the remainder of this year and well into 2023, particularly in the NFT (Non Fungible Token), metaverse and Web3 space. The Company will also be looking to selectively add to its portfolio of investments, in the light of current market conditions, when favourable terms present themselves.

Disclosure

IOV Labs currently holds 25,934,000 shares in Coinsilium representing 14.84% of its outstanding shares. This update follows the update provided in the Companys Interim Financial statements released on 30 September 2022.

Coinsilium Chairman Malcolm Palle and non-executive director Wayne Almeida are also non-executive directors of IOV Labs.

The Directors of Coinsilium Group Limited take responsibility for this announcement.

Coinsilium Group Limited Malcolm Palle, Executive Chairman Eddy Travia, Chief Executive +350 2000 8223 +44 (0) 7785 381 089 www.coinsilium.com Peterhouse Capital Limited Guy Miller / Mark Anwyl (AQSE Growth Market Corporate Adviser) +44 (0) 207 469 0930 SI Capital Limited Nick Emerson (Broker) +44 (0) 1483 413 500

Notes to Editor

About Coinsilium

Coinsilium is a focused Web3 Investor, Advisor and Venture Builder based in Gibraltar, a pre-eminent global regulatory jurisdiction and a leading hub for innovative financial technology. In 2015, Coinsilium became the first blockchain company to IPO. The Company has evolved to develop revenue-geneRating strategic advisory services and is a highly regarded innovator with proven technological and commercial expertise and development capabilities in the NFT arena and also within Open Finance.

Coinsilium has developed an array of commercial partnerships and joint ventures around the world to support its development capabilities, giving it access to best-in-class tech experts, a strong network, and asserting its profound industry profile. It has a 50:50 venture with IOV Labs in Singapore, enabling the promotion and commercialisation of RSK's products, services and technologies in global markets; and has partnered with blockchain technology experts Indorse to create Nifty Labs, a Non-Fungible Token ('NFT') technology development studio in Gibraltar.

Coinsilium shares are traded on the AQSE Growth Market in London, under the ticker symbol "COIN", and on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States under the ticker symbol "CINGF".
The Somali government has achieved a level of stability that is making foreign investors confident to invest, or increase existing investments. This is largely because Somalia finally has a stable democratic government. Fourteen months ago, the elected parliament finally approved a new 75-member cabinet. There was something for everyone, including a senior job for one of the founders of al Shabaab in the religious affairs department. During the proceedings there were several al Shabaab mortar shells landing near the Parliament compound. There were no casualties. Its been a long and tedious process to get this far. The parliament met in June 2021 and approved the new prime minister selected by the president. This formation of a new government came after several years of efforts to overcome clan and warlord objections to democracy in general. The elections were held and results certified in May 2021, producing a parliament and new president. The prime minister was the one who actually f0rms a government by filling dozens of key jobs with candidates that will not cause disputes in parliament over who got what. Somalia is still dominated by the power of the clans and the blind loyalty to clan even when it harms national unity. Overcoming this factionalism in a democracy is often very difficult. So far it appears that a majority of Somali leaders are willing to give a clean government a chance to work in Somalia. The key test was forming the new government successfully.

In the last year there has been a lot more progress against al Shabaab. The clans feel confident enough about the government that are cooperating with it in reducing and eventually eliminating al Shabaab in areas where the Islamic terror group still survives.

One battle ground with al Shabaab involves their success at taxing local business. In return these firms no longer have to fear al Shabaab attacks. Reducing and eliminating this extortion income is more likely when the clans and central government cooperate. A key source of income and information for al Shabaab is extortion activities.

Widespread cell phone use in Somalia initially made it more difficult for al Shabaab to operate because people who opposed them could alert the security forces, or local militia, when al Shabaab activity was spotted. Shutting down the cell phone systems was a common tactics for Islamic terrorists but al Shabaab saw opportunities. Cell towers and other cell phone assets were only attacked if the cell phone companies would not pay a tax to operate in an area where al Shabaab was active and able to make good on threats. With control of the cell phone service providers, al Shabaab was able to communicate, especially with their informants. Al Shabaab paid for useful information and becoming an al Shabaab informant was a good way to make some extra cash, as well as stay off the al Shabaab hit list. Al Shabaab wasnt the only group in Somalia that uses cell phones like this. Powerful clans maintain armed militias and an informant network among clan members. This is why the media regularly report the government or peacekeepers consulting clan elders, negotiating with al Shabaab (or another clan). Often al Shabaab will have to deal with the clan elders because al Shabaab has found that making an enemy of a powerful clan is bad for business. An example occurs in the south, on the Kenyan border, where al Shabaab has found its operations disrupted because of disputes with the powerful Marehan clan. Most situations where al Shabaab has problems doing business is because they have run afoul of a powerful (and usually heavily armed) clan. Al Shabaab tries to intimidate clans into cooperating but failing that al Shabaab must either fight, make a deal or move somewhere else. Somalia is a patchwork of areas which al Shabaab tries to avoid because of the powerful clan organizations. These clans are usually the ones with clan elders who can negotiate with al Shabaab.

With a stable and representative government in the capital, the clans are now more aggressive against al Shabaab and its extortion efforts. In the last year that has demonstrated that while al Shabaab is powerful, it is not omnipotent. They can be hurt by things you rarely hear about, like feuds with powerful clans. More visible things that hurt al Shabaab are American UAV missile strikes and the American intelligence gathering effort that provides the location of targets for the missile strikes. These missile attacks concentrate on doing major damage to al Shabaab leadership or operations. The peacekeeper force is another problem. The government security forces (army and police) are easier to deal with (via intimidation or bribes).

Another diminished al Shabaab asset is corruption in the Somali government which means too many officials for sale or rent. That is less the case now. This is monitored by an Americans local intelligence network that is deliberately separate from anything the Somali government is doing in that area. The Americans share some intel with the Somali government or the peacekeeper force. Some of this intel gets back to al Shabaab and the usual result is al Shabaab itself is impressed and intimidated at how much the Americans know. Most of the American intel comes from UAV video and electronic (of communications) surveillance.

October 25, 2022: Britain warned its citizens not to visit Somalia, except for three areas in Somaliland where travel is possible if it is essential and you are willing to deal with some risk of violence. Britain regularly issues these travel advisories which are often used by travelers from other nations.

October 23, 2022: In the south (the port city of Kismayo), four al Shabaab men attacked the popular, and well-guarded Tawakal hotel, intent on taking hostages among the Somalis or foreigners staying there. Al Shabaab keeps trying this sort of thing but it rarely succeeds. Todays attack began with one of the al Shabaab attackers acting as a suicide bomber at the heavily guarded entrance to the hotel compound. It took seven hours for security forces to rescue the guests and kill the three al Shabaab gunmen who failed to take control of the hotel. Nine people died, including all four attackers as well as some soldiers and civilians. Later the same day the government made a scheduled announcement about a new anti-extortion effort. Paying Islamic terrorists has always been illegal but the new program involves two hotlines where Somalis can report al Shabaab extortion demands anonymously, confident that the government will go after the al Shabaab faction making the demands. This sort of thing has been tried before but the degree of corruption in unelected governments made it possible for al Shabaab to bribe key officials to reveal who was trying to turn them in. This new effort will either work or it wont and that will be known soon.

October 22, 2022: In the north (Hiran, a region 200 kilometers north of Mogadishu) an American UAV used a missile to kill two al Shabaab gunmen who were part of a group attacking Somali soldiers. This was the second such air strike since American forces returned to Somalia in May. A new (since January 2021) American government ordered a halt to the American use of UAVs over Somalia. After that al Shabaab gunmen were moving around confident that they were not making themselves vulnerable. Since early 2017, when Africom (U.S. Africa Command) increased its use of armed UAVs over Somalia, there have been about 170 UAV airstrikes that have killed nearly a thousand al Shabaab and ISIL members. In 2020 there were fifty of these UAV airstrikes and 275 in Somalia in the last decade. For 2021 there have been seven UAV airstrikes, the last one on January 29th. American forces, and airstrikes, returned t0 Somali in this year. This was prompted by the formation of a new Somali government. Since May there have been at least six American airstrikes, all at the request of the Somali government.

October 21, 2022: An American oil exploration firm (Coastline Exploration) agreed to act on its successful oil exploration efforts off the Somali coast. Coastline already has several successful oil development and production efforts in East Africa but was wary about investing the huge sums required to develop production. Without a stable government that would have been too risky. Coastline believes they can extract up to half a million barrels a day. The government received a $7 million dollar advance on oil royalties once the contracts were signed.

October 19, 2022: In the north (Hiran State) al Shabaab carried out two separate suicide bombing attacks that left 21 dead.

October 17, 2022: In the north (Hiran, a region 200 kilometers north of Mogadishu) the regional governor offered cash rewards for any one who can kill known al Shabaab leaders. This means a $25,000 reward for the death of the main al Shabaab leader in the region. His known lieutenants are worth $10,000 each and $5,000 for lesser leaders. The governor also encouraged killing the wives and children of notorious al Shabaab members. This is an ancient practice in this part of the world but frowned upon by the UN and foreign aid groups.

The U.S. government announced put five al Shabaab leaders on its Global Terrorists list. That means these men will have difficulty traveling outside of Somalia because of the American efforts to get such travelers arrested and extradited back to the United States for trial. In addition, the U.S. named nine known al Shabaab fund raisers and ordered the seizure of their assets outside Somalia.

October 14, 2022: In Middle Shabelle, Hiran and Galmudug regions, multiple clan-based campaigns against al Shabaab have started. Some are coordinated with other clans, some are not. The Islamic terrorists have not faced a threat like this in since 2011, when a UN backed (and paid for) AU (African Union) peacekeeping force drove al Shabaab out of Mogadishu and other urban areas the Islamic terror group had taken control of. Al Shabaab had itself started with good intentions. The tribal/clan rivalries that were tearing the country apart since 1991 resulted in some clan and religious leaders organizing a "clean government" coalition (the Islamic Courts) after 2001. In 2003 the Islamic Courts formed a militia that pacified some areas, but their goal of installing a religious dictatorship was taken over by al Qaeda-backed Islamic terrorists and by 2008 turned into another warlord group called al Shabaab. Al Shabaab still wants to establish a religious dictatorship and use sharia law to govern. Few Somalis want that and this is one more reason for the growing armed opposition to al Shabaab.

October 1, 2022: In the south (Middle Juba) an American airstrike killed Abdullahi Yare, a wanted al Shabaab leader which the U.S. had offered a $3 million reward for. Nearby Somali forces identified the body. Middle Juba is an al Shabaab stronghold and the biggest threat they face is the American UAV surveillance and attacks.

September 14, 2022: Ukraine has sent 28,000 tons of grain to Somalia, enough to feed 1.5 million people for a month. Somalia faces its second major famine since 2011. That one killed at least 250,000 people. The 2022 famine threatens over seven million people, is worse than the 2011 famine and the worst since the 1980s. This time at least a million potential famine victim on living in al Shabaab controlled areas where the Islamic terrorists demand cash to allow aid to reach those who need it.
As CTV Advertising Evolves, Heres What It Can Learn from the $200B Paid Search Model

Driven by COVID-19, consumers have drastically shifted the bulk of their purchasing habits to online. In response, brands and advertisers have had to pivot their business models to reach those digitally reliant consumers. Companies also have to grapple with getting the attention of consumers who are constantly plugged into content on digital devices.

As of 2022, 92% of households were reported to be reachable by CTV programmatic advertising. Additionally, 85% of consumers report using second devices such as smartphones or tablets while watching television. And while marketers have always intuitively grasped televisions ability to influence sales, the arena has been historically dominated by a handful of advertisers who could afford the mediums high cost-of-entry and smaller businesses have been forced to sit on the sidelines.

CTV advertisers are certainly doubling down. Digital ad spend increased by 49% and CTV advertising spend is expected to reach $50 billion by the end of 2022. That number is only forecast to grow as we enter into the 2023 planning season. Marketers of all sizes have before them a unique opportunity to capitalize on this evolving format.

But before they do that, its important to take a look at where innovation currently lies within CTV advertising, where it has room to grow, and how marketers of all sizes can find their place in the medium. Ironically, its likely going to require the industry to think back to the early days of paid searchand apply some of those same market principles to todays formatsto usher in the renaissance of CTV advertising.

Where were at as an industry now

Television has never been inclusive of smaller brands and measurement of its effectiveness has always been elusive since it is not clickable. Traditionally, it has been anchored in 1:1 sales processes, expensive ad buys, and notoriously poor measurement and attribution.

These factors have resulted in the roughly $75 billion TV market being dominated by 500 advertisers who drive 85% of TV ad spend. Largely because of that, the market has stagnated while performance-based digital media, with its sophisticated approaches to precision ROI, has seen virtually unimpeded growth, and now accounts for over $200 billion in annual spend.

This does not have to be the case.

An important look back to understand how we got here

For the last 20 years, as consumers have spent more time online, ecommerce has exploded. And the key driver of online commerce is a concept that was introduced 25 years ago by marketing visionary Bill Gross in an Internet incubator in Pasadena, California. The advent of this revolutionary model would forever impact how goods and services were sold.

From todays vantage point, his thought process behind this at-the-time startling innovation was fairly straightforward: What if consumers could identify people who already had a need for or an interest in something and put a relevant ad in front of them at the exact moment when they expressed it? And what if media were sold in an automated marketplace, where any marketer could reach a global audience instead of just a few, a few hundred or even a few thousand people?

This marketplace model was first implemented in Bills paid search engine, GoTo.com, which launched in 1997 and generated quick adoption by enabling millions of businesses to advertise to mass audiences. And that was just for startersthe marketplace model ultimately led to the re-invention of all digital media, from paid search (Yahoo, Google, Bing) to social media (Facebook, Snap, etc.) to display and video advertising (Yahoo, The Trade Desk, etc.), as well as new categories including ride sharing (Uber), food delivery (Instacart), event tickets (StubHub), real estate (Realtor.com) and property rentals (Airbnb). Today, nine million businesses participate in digital marketplaces like Google and Facebook, spending more than $200 billion annually.

History repeats itself; it will take marrying the old with the new to advance

So as the global marketplace becomes even more reliant on digital advertising, how can digital advertisers reach audiences that have become increasingly tech-savvy over the past few years?

Streaming TV is quickly becoming the dominant way consumers watch TVtoday there are nearly half a billion paying subscribers between Netflix and Disney+ alone. This trend will only accelerate. And to reach these consumers, advertisers are flocking to TV in record numbers, enabled by search-like, self-managed CTV buying and measurement consoles that can measure actual business outcomes (e.g., website visitors and sales) and ROI that result from TV ad viewing on a deterministic basis. By 2024, more than 200,000 search and social advertisers will be active on CTV. Digital-first marketers that move to TV will usher in a new renaissance period of television advertising, benefiting content producers and consumers. And it starts today.

[Editor's note: This is a contributed article from tvScientific. Streaming Media accepts vendor bylines based solely on their value to our readers.]

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / NV Gold Corporation (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB: NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) ("NV Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has identified a strong geochemical anomaly from a recent soil sampling program at its 100% owned SW Pipe Gold Project in Lander County, Nevada. ("SW Pipe").

About the SW Pipe Gold Property:

Comprised of 84 unpatented mining claims covering a sediment-hosted gold system 6 km (3.7 miles) southwest of the world-class Pipeline gold mine (> 20 million ounces of gold) in the central Cortez gold belt of north-central Nevada. Disseminated, Carlin-type gold mineralization covers at least 1.3 by 0.6 km (see Figure 1 to 3).

The Company's rock-chip assays reach 1.47 ppm Au , and historic shallow drilling in 1989 yielded intersections that include 0.442 g/t over 16.8 min 89-1 , 0.654 g/t over 15.2 m in 89-2 , 0.794 g/t over 9.2 m in 89-9, and 0.580 g/t over 18.3 m in 89-11 (see Figure 3).

, and historic shallow drilling in 1989 yielded intersections that include , , (see Figure 3). A total of 567 soil samples were collected on the Property and later modeled in MapInfo. The modeling shows a large and comprehensive zone of overlapping Carlin-type geochemical anomalies including Au, As, Sb, Hg, Tl, and Se , in the neighborhood and merging with a Magmatic Plume, which is defined by strong Pb, W, and Te (see Figure 3). (Note:The geochemical interpretation is referring to the "Geology and Geochemistry of the Deep Star Gold Deposit Model, Carlin Trend, Nevada," published in Economic Geology by Robert Jackson and Co-writers in 2003.)

, in the neighborhood and merging with a Magmatic Plume, which is defined by strong (see Figure 3). The Property has undergone various phases of historical drilling, but drill depths have been kept short in the past, mostly in the 100 m to 200 m range, and all historical reverse circulation ("RC") holes were drilled outside of the newly defined target area. The historical drilling defined a decent-sized zone of near-surface, oxide-gold mineralization, possibly related and representing leakage of a deeper-seated gold system.

The New Target is an interpreted dilational zone, at least half a kilometer wide and one kilometer long. The dilational zone is defined by two intersecting faults, the Filippini and Magmatic Plume Faults, which could have functioned as a fluid pathway allowing an uprising gold-rich metal brine to create the extensive geochemical anomalism (see Figure 3).

is an interpreted dilational zone, at least half a kilometer wide and one kilometer long. The dilational zone is defined by two intersecting faults, the Filippini and Magmatic Plume Faults, which could have functioned as a fluid pathway allowing an uprising gold-rich metal brine to create the extensive geochemical anomalism (see Figure 3). Results from a recently completed Mercury-vapor survey covering the same soil sampling area are still pending.

Thomas Klein, VP Exploration stated, "These are extremely exciting results based on my knowledge and experience of over 20-years of Carlin Trend exploration and targeting. I have been involved in numerous soil sampling programs and Mercury-vapor surveys over the last two decades and have not seen such a comprehensive and understandable geochemical anomaly for a long time. The pure dimensions of the geochemical anomalies and their structural constraints are very impressive and their proximity to world-class gold deposits is compelling enough to enhance the SW Pipe Gold Project in NV Gold's Exploration Pipeline to a "Must-be-drilled Target"."

Figure 1: NV Gold Landholding Map

Figure 2: SW Pipe Gold Project General Location Map

Figure 3: SW Pipe Gold Project Soil Geochemistry and Dilational Zone Target

About NV Gold Corporation

NV Gold (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB: NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) is a well-financed exploration company with ~80 million shares issued. The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Reno, Nevada and is focused on delivering value through mineral discoveries in Nevada, USA. Leveraging its expansive property portfolio, its highly experienced in-house technical team, and its extensive geological data library, 2022 - 2023 promises to be highly productive for NV Gold.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

John Seaberg, Director and CEO

For further information, visit the Company's website at www.nvgoldcorp.com or contact:

Freeform Communications at 604.245.0054

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements or information. These include statements about interpretations of exploration results and the presence of possible fluid pathways and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include geological formations not conforming to interpretations of exploration data, regulatory issues, market prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE: NV Gold Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / Viva Gold Corp. (TSXV:VAU)(OTCQB:VAUCF) (the "Company" or "Viva") is pleased to announce that shareholders approved all items for voting at its Annual General Meeting held October 25th, 2022.

The number of directors was fixed at five (5). Christopher Herald, James Hesketh, Edward Mahoney, David Whittle and Andrew Bolland were all retained on the Board of Directors. The appointment of DMCL Chartered Professional Accountants was approved and the Directors of Viva Gold were authorized to fix their remuneration.

In addition, the Company's shareholders approved an amended stock option plan (the "New Option Plan") as described in, an attached as Schedule "A" to, the Company's management information circular for the Meeting dated September 15, 2022. The amendments were directed principally at conforming the terms of the previous version to the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange's revised Policy 4.4 that came into effective on November 24, 2021. The New Option Plan, like its predecessor, is a "rolling" plan, providing that the maximum aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under it and, as applicable, all of the Company's other previously established and outstanding incentive stock options, is 10% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time of the grand of a stock option, presently being up to a maximum of 9,160,789 shares. At this time, there are 3,473,500 stock options outstanding with exercise prices of between $0.095 and $0.335, per Common Share.

James Hesketh, President and CEO, commented, "I would like to thanks our shareholders for their continued support, especially by electing the Board for another year and passing all motions. The Tonopah project continues to deliver positive results with the recently released metallurgical results and we anticipate drill results from the current drilling program in the coming weeks."

About Viva Gold Corp:

Viva Gold Corp's (TSXV: VAU; OTCQB:VAUCF; Frankfurt :7PB) principal asset is its 100% ownership in the Tonopah Gold Project (Tonopah), a large land position on the world class Walker Lane Mineral Trend in western Nevada, located about 30 minutes' drive south-east of the Kinross Round Mountain gold mine. The project is well advanced with a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) describing a potential open pit, heap leach gold recovery operation and a pit confined measured and indicated gold mineral resources containing 394,000 ounces at 0.78 grams/tonne and 206,000 ounces of Inferred resource at 0.87 grams/tonne. The principal mineral trends on the property remain open for extension and the company has a track record of steadily increasing gold resource over the last four years. Viva is building market awareness as it advances Tonopah towards feasibility study and permitting and has made a significant commitment to ESG and de-risking the project through open community disclosure and near completion of a number of baseline environmental and technical studies. Viva has a strong capital structure with 91.6 million shares outstanding and a strong management team and board who can claim both gold exploration and production experience. For additional information on Viva Gold and the Tonopah Gold Project, please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

For further information please contact:

James Hesketh, President & CEO

(720) 291-1775

[email protected]

Anne Hite, Director Investor Relations

(303) 519-5149

[email protected]

SOURCE: Viva Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GROV) (Grove or the Company), a leading sustainable consumer products company and Certified B Corp, today announced the appointment of Kevin Cleary, Principal at Big Rock Growth Advisors LLC and former President and CEO at Clif Bar & Company, to its Board of Directors.

Cleary joins Grove with a track record of success at private and public companies including Clif Bar & Company, RR Donnelley and Quaker Oats. During the past three years, Cleary has served as the Principal of strategic advisory firm Big Rock Growth Advisors LLC, leading organizations through strategy development, go to market planning and helping them create highly effective C-Suite teams to ensure long-term success. Previously, as CEO at Clif Bar & Company, Kevin was instrumental in building Clif from a small company to the leader in the healthy snack food category.

We are delighted to have Kevin join our Board at a transformational time for our business, and are confident his track record of growing sustainable brands will be imperative as we continue our journey as a leading sustainable consumer products company, said Stuart Landesberg, co-founder and CEO of Grove. We look forward to leveraging his rich experience and expertise in extending product offerings and expanding distribution, further fueling Groves momentum in steering the consumer products industry toward a more sustainable future.

I am thrilled to be joining Grove and look forward to bringing my experience to support the growth of the Company, said Cleary. Im excited at the opportunity to work with the Grove team to not only make the world a better place through sustainable household and personal care essentials, but to continue delivering on our promises for customers and stakeholders.

Earlier in his career, Cleary was SVP at RR Donnelley, running one of their book printing companies while also leading a strategic reorganization initiative within the $5B company. Prior to that, he was with Quaker Oats in various capacities in sales and marketing. Cleary holds an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.

About Grove Collaborative Holdings, Inc.

Launched in 2016 as a Certified B Corp, Grove Collaborative Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GROV) (Grove) is transforming consumer products into a positive force for human and environmental good. Driven by the belief that sustainability is the only future, Grove creates and curates more than 150 high-performing eco-friendly brands of household cleaning, personal care, laundry, clean beauty, baby and pet care products serving millions of households across the U.S. each year. With a flexible monthly delivery model and access to knowledgeable Grove Guides, Grove makes it easy for everyone to build sustainable routines.

Every product Grove offers  from its flagship brand of sustainable home care essentials, Grove Co., plastic-free, vegan personal care line, Peach Not Plastic, and zero-waste pet care brand, Good Fur, to its exceptional third-party brands  has been vetted against Groves strict standards to be beautifully effective, supportive of healthy habits, ethically produced and cruelty-free. Grove Collaborative is a public benefit corporation on a mission to move Beyond Plastic and in 2021, entered physical retail for the first time at Target stores nationwide Grove is the first plastic neutral retailer in the world and is committed to being 100% plastic-free by 2025.

For more information, visit www.grove.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005886/en/

Investors



Alexis Tessier



[email protected]

Media



ICR Inc.



[email protected]

Source: Grove Collaborative, Inc.
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the Merck board of directors has unanimously elected Robert M. Davis to serve as chairman of the board, effective Dec. 1, 2022. He will succeed Kenneth C. Frazier, who plans to retire on Nov. 30, 2022, after a long-tenured career at Merck that began in 1992. Frazier led the company for 10 years as president and chief executive officer, from 2011 through 2021. He has served as a Merck director since January 2011 and chairman of its board of directors since December 2011.

Davis, who currently serves as president and chief executive officer, became Mercks president in April 2021 and was named Mercks chief executive officer and a member of its board in July 2021.

Speaking on behalf of Mercks board of directors, Thomas H. Glocer, independent lead director, stated, I want to thank Ken for his principled leadership, extraordinary integrity, and unwavering commitment to delivering on Mercks purpose of saving and improving lives around the world.

For decades, Ken has embodied Mercks core principles and values, anchored by a singular focus on creating meaningful value for our patients, employees, communities and shareholders, Glocer added. Ken is a once-in-a-generation leader, and his positive impact on our company and patients everywhere will reverberate for decades.

Glocer continued, Rob Davis has shown himself to be an innovative leader with a deep understanding of Merck and our industry. We look forward to working with him as our new chairman and to his continued contributions.

Frazier said, Merck is powered by the talent, passion and commitment of many thousands of people around the world who are united by a common goal: harnessing the power of science to solve the worlds most pressing health challenges. It has been a distinct pleasure and privilege to be a part of the Merck team, and I will be forever grateful to my Merck colleagues for their dedicated efforts that have led to the companys many important achievements.

I am also grateful to the Merck board of directors for their expertise and support through the years. With Rob Davis as their new chairman, I am confident that the board will continue to help guide the company in a manner that will allow it to succeed competitively and remain committed to its mission, Frazier added.

On behalf of Merck management and our colleagues around the world, I want to express our deepest appreciation for Kens innumerable contributions and indelible impact on our company and global health, said Davis. During his tenure, Ken led with conviction, advocated for patients and created meaningful value for our stakeholders. He has been an exemplar of purpose-driven leadership, vision and courage. I am honored to lead Merck as chairman and chief executive officer as we continue to build on his profound legacy.

About Robert M. Davis

Rob Davis is chief executive officer and president of Merck.

Previously, Rob served as Mercks president, responsible for the companys operating divisions  Human Health, Animal Health, Manufacturing and Merck Research Laboratories. Prior to that, he was executive vice president, Global Services, and the companys chief financial officer.

Rob joined the company as chief financial officer in 2014 with additional responsibility for real estate operations, corporate strategy and business development. In 2016, his role was expanded to include responsibility for information technology and procurement, forming Global Services. He became president in April 2021 and CEO and a member of the board of directors on July 1, 2021.

Prior to joining Merck, Rob was corporate vice president and president of Baxters Medical Products business. During his tenure at Baxter, he held several other positions, including president of Baxters Renal business, chief financial officer and treasurer. Before joining Baxter in 2004, Rob held numerous positions of increasing responsibility over 14 years at Eli Lilly and Company.

Rob serves on the board of directors for Duke Energy Corporation and is chair of its finance and risk management committee and a member of the corporate governance committee. In addition, Rob is a board member of Project Hope, a non-profit organization focused on empowering health care workers to deliver expert care when and where it is needed most.

Rob received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, his M.B.A. from Northwestern Universitys Kellogg Graduate School of Management and his bachelors degree in finance from Miami University.

About Kenneth C. Frazier

Kenneth C. Frazier has served as executive chairman of Mercks board of directors since July 2021, following his retirement from a decade-long tenure as Mercks president and chief executive officer.

Under Kens leadership, Merck delivered innovative life-saving medicines and vaccines as well as long-term and sustainable value to its multiple stakeholders. Ken substantially increased Mercks investment in research, including early research, while refocusing the organization on the launch and growth of key products that provide far-reaching benefits to society. He also led the formation of philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives that build on Mercks 130-year legacy.

Ken joined the company in 1992 and held positions of increasing responsibility, including general counsel, before becoming president and chief executive officer in 2011. Prior to joining Merck, Ken was a partner with the Philadelphia law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath. Kens contributions, especially in the legal, business, and humanitarian fields, have been widely recognized. He sits on the boards of Weill Cornell Medicine, Eikon Therapeutics, the National Constitution Center and Cornerstone Christian Academy in Philadelphia, PA. He is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of OneTen, a coalition of leading organizations committed to upskilling, hiring, and promoting one million Black Americans into family-sustaining jobs. OneTen is committed to facilitating a meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact on racial and economic justice. Ken is also Chairman, Health Assurance Initiatives, at the venture capital firm, General Catalyst, where he advises on investments and partnerships and provides mentorship to founders building companies that are well positioned to transform the healthcare industry through collaborative and responsible innovation. He also is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, The Business Council, the Council of the American Law Institute, the American Bar Association, and a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Additionally, Ken is Co-Chair of the Legal Services Corporations Leaders Council.

As a strong advocate for social justice and economic inclusion, Ken is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Anti-Defamation League Courage Against Hate Award, the Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics from Columbia Business School, the Legend in Leadership Award from the Yale School of Management, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund National Equal Justice Award, and the National Minority Quality Forums Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2018, Ken received the Harvard Law School Association Award, the highest honor given by the prestigious association, in recognition of his extraordinary service to the legal profession, Harvard Law School, and the public. In that same year, Ken was named one of the Worlds Greatest Leaders by Fortune magazine and was also named one of TIMEs 100 Most Influential People and again made that list in 2021. In 2019, he became the first recipient of the Forbes Lifetime Achievement Award for Healthcare. In 2021, Columbia Business School honored him with the Deming Cup for Operational Excellence, and his peers named Ken Chief Executive magazines CEO of the Year.

Ken received his bachelors degree from The Pennsylvania State University and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Unitil Corporation (NYSE: UTL) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Neveen F. Awad, Ph.D. to the Board. The addition of a new director is part of the Boards normal succession planning process in anticipation of the upcoming retirements of directors reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Dr. Awad will stand for election to the Board by the shareholders of the Company at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held in April 2023.

Dr. Awad is a partner and managing director of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consulting firm. She leads the Detroit office, and also is the global leader of BCGs Technology Platform offering. Prior to BCG, Dr. Awad was an assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Business, a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Awad earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Business.

"We are delighted that Dr. Neveen Awad will be joining the Unitil Board," said Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitils chairman, chief executive officer and president. "Neveen is a proven leader with an exceptional background in digital and technology driven transformations, and brings skills in a number of important areas, including strategic planning and workforce diversity development, that will enhance and preserve the Boards existing strong skill set.
100 Percent of Profits from Military-Inspired Collection Will Benefit the Armed Services YMCA and its Operation Ride Home Program

The Honoring Heroes Collection was Originally Designed by Indian Motorcycle to Give Back to Those Who Give So Much

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Indian Motorcycle, Americas First Motorcycle Company, today unveiled its 2022 Honoring Heroes apparel collection  a military-inspired line that allows riders and fans to proudly display their support for U.S. military service, while also directly supporting active-duty military with their purchases. From now until November 30, 2022, Indian Motorcycle will donate 100% of the collections profits to benefit the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and its Operation Ride Home program, which assists active-duty United States military personnel in traveling home to visit their families.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005414/en/

Indian Motorcycle (Photo: Business Wire)

With 13 new styles, the 2022 Indian Motorcycle Honoring Heroes collection includes a mix of military-inspired khaki, black and camo casualwear pieces for men and women. The mens line features a zip-up hoodie, crewneck sweatshirt, and various shirt styles, including a button-up short-sleeve, standard t-shirt, sleeveless and long-sleeve options. The womens line features a zip-up hoodie, and three shirt options: V-neck t-shirt, tank top, and three-quarter sleeve. To complete the collection, Indian Motorcycle has also introduced a new Camo Icon Trucker Hat and Black Icon Cap. To check out the full collection, visit the Indian Motorcycle Outpost.

Support for the United States military and the men and women who serve our country has long been a cornerstone of the Indian Motorcycle brand, and were always exploring meaningful ways to make a difference for our active and retired military, said Michael Dougherty, President of Indian Motorcycle. Last years collection garnered positive feedback across the board, and that success motivated us to not only bring it back for 2022, but to turn it into a significant fund-raising engine for our friends at the Armed Services YMCA.

The ASYMCA is an independent, national non-profit and Association of the YMCA of the USA, specifically dedicated to serving active-duty military service members and their families. The oldest military support organization in the U.S., the ASYMCA was established in 1861 and has long provided care and comfort for military troops through unique and specialized programs for service members, military spouses and military children.

As a gesture of appreciation for their service, Indian Motorcycle employees who are veterans themselves were featured in the official product photography for the Honoring Heroes collection. Learn more about them here.

The Indian Motorcycle Honoring Heroes collection is available now at select Indian Motorcycle dealers around the country. Until November 30, 2022, all profits from purchases made will be donated, up to a total of $100,000, by Indian Motorcycle to benefit the ASYMCA and its Operation Ride Home program.

To learn more about the collection visit the Indian Motorcycle Outpost. For more information about Operation Ride Home, or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit OperationRideHome.com. Riders and fans can also follow along on Indian Motorcycles social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE

Indian Motorcycle is Americas First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of Americas most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.

ABOUT ARMED SERVICES YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is the oldest military support organization in the United States, founded in 1861. The ASYMCA's mission enhances the lives of active-duty junior enlisted military members and their families in spirit, mind and body through programs relevant to the unique challenges of military life. In 2021, the ASYMCA engaged nearly 150,000 individuals and delivered more than 500,000 points of service through its 12 Branches and 24 Affiliate Partners, serving 89 military installations across the U.S. To learn more about how the ASYMCA is "Strengthening Our Military Family(R)" visit www.asymca.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005414/en/

Alex Caswell

The Brand Amp

[email protected]

714-401-4079

Source: Indian Motorcycle
BAY SHORE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Air Industries Group (NYSE American: AIRI), an integrated Tier 1 manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications, and a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, today announced that it has been awarded a new Long-Term Agreement.

Air Industries has been awarded a five-year Long-Term Agreement (LTA) to manufacture a quadrant, a complex assembly that controls the gearbox for the tail-rotor of the Blackhawk Helicopter. The LTA has an estimated value of $2.2 million. An immediate purchase order for $500,000 accompanied the award of the LTA.

Mr. Lou Melluzzo, CEO of Air Industries, commented: Air Industries is proud of our support of the Blackhawk Helicopter for many, many years. Since January we have received twelve new Long-Term Agreements for Blackhawk product with an estimated value of over $30 million. These Blackhawk LTAs were expected as many of our prior agreements expired in December of last year.

Strategically, we continue to diversify our product offering to better position the Company. We have also recently experienced a significant increase in new business opportunities for both aerospace and non-aerospace components, and are extremely excited about the recent orders for nuclear submarine work. I am happy to report that we have received our first three orders for submarine product from new clients. While the total value is not substantial, it is a start. We intend to diligently pursue and capitalize on these opportunities.

ABOUT AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

Air Industries Group (NYSE American: AIRI) is an integrated manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for leading aerospace and defense prime contractors and original equipment manufacturers. The Company is a Tier 1 supplier to aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers, a Tier 2 subcontractor to major Tier 1 manufacturers, and a Prime Contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, and is highly regarded for its expertise in designing and manufacturing parts and assemblies that are vital for flight safety and performance.

Additional information about the Company can be found in its filings with the SEC.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are 'forward-looking statements' intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, the Company's statements regarding trends in the marketplace, future revenues, earnings and Adjusted EBITDA, the ability to realize firm backlog and projected backlog, cost cutting measures, potential future results and acquisitions, are examples of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the timing of projects due to variability in size, scope and duration, the inherent discrepancy in actual results from estimates, projections and forecasts made by management, regulatory delays, changes in government funding and budgets, and other factors, including general economic conditions, not within the Company's control. The factors discussed herein and expressed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005175/en/

Air Industries Group

Investor Relations

Michael Recca - CFO

631.328.7079

[email protected]

Source: Air Industries Group
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cannae Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNNE) (Cannae or the Company) today announced that the Company will release its third quarter 2022 financial results after the market close on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The Company will also hold a conference call to discuss its financial results at 5:00 pm (Eastern Time) on the same day.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-826-3035 (domestic) or 1-412-317-5195 (international) and asking for the Cannae Holdings Third Quarter 2022 Earnings Call. A telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921, or for international callers 1-412-317-6671 and providing the access code 10172026. The telephonic replay will be available until 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on November 16, 2022.

Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the live call available on the Companys website at www.cannaeholdings.com. The online replay will be available on the Companys website immediately following the call.

About Cannae Holdings, Inc.

We primarily acquire interests in operating companies and are engaged in actively managing and operating a core group of those companies. We are a long-term owner that secures control and governance rights of other companies primarily to engage in their lines of business and we have no preset time constraints dictating when we sell or dispose of our businesses. We believe that our long-term ownership and active involvement in the management and operations of companies helps maximize the value of those businesses for our shareholders. Cannaes current principal holdings include Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNB), in which Cannae holds 79 Million shares or 18% interest. Cannaes second principal holding is Ceridian (NYSE: CDAY), in which Cannae owns 6 Million shares representing a 4% interest. Cannae holds 60 Million shares, or 8% of Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), as well as 5.7 Million Paysafe warrants and LLC units. Cannae also holds 52.5 Million shares, or 10%, of Alight, Inc. (NYSE: ALIT), and 27 Million shares, or 24%, of System1, Inc. (NYSE: SST). Cannaes other principal holdings include Sightline Payments, of which Cannae owns 32%.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005674/en/

Jamie Lillis, Managing Director, Solebury Strategic Communications, 203-428-3223, [email protected]

Source: Cannae Holdings, Inc.
Seasoned cybersecurity leader Ananth Appathurai assumes end-to-end responsibility for channel, technology and advisory partnerships

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Code42, Inc., the Insider Risk Management (IRM) leader, today announced that it has unified its channel, advisory and technology partner programs under the leadership of Ananth Appathurai, senior vice president of channel and alliance partners. This move unlocks the synergies between Code42s advisory and technology ecosystem partners and its channel partners to make it easier to collaborate and deliver Insider Risk Management programs and solutions that fit the specific data protection needs of customers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005316/en/

Insider Risk Management leader Code42 appoints veteran cybersecurity executive Ananth Appathurai to a new role, now serving as the company's senior vice president of channel and alliance partners. In his new role, he assumes end-to-end responsibility for channel, technology and advisory partnerships and is charged with driving the next phase of partner growth. (Photo: Business Wire)

We have seen tremendous growth from our channel program over the past year. Running parallel to that growth, our advisory and technology partnerships have continued to deepen. We believe that the best experience we can provide for security teams unites these programs and enables us to deliver unparalleled value to our customers, said Ananth Appathurai.

Today, nearly half of business leaders are concerned about the lack of visibility into the types of valuable data  IP, source code, product plans and customer information  leaving their organizations. Code42 helps organizations speed detection and response to data exposed by insiders by giving security teams streamlined access to its flagship IRM products, the Code42 Incydr product and Code42 Instructor micro-learning solution, through its broad ecosystem of channel, advisory and technology partners.

Creating strong alignment between Code42s channel partners, who have high-growth practices with many of Code42s technology partners, including CyberArk, LogRhythm, Okta, Palo Alto Networks, Rapid7, Splunk, Sumo Logic, Tines and others, will deliver important benefits for both buyers and partners:

For security teams: Code42 is unifying the orchestration of all partners in its ecosystem based on security buyers technology stacks, preferred purchasing vendors and advisors, and level of expertise in managing insider risk. Incydr and Instructor continue to hold a valuable place in ecosystem partners portfolios, offering data protection solutions that integrate to cloud and email services, SOAR, SIEM, PAM and IAM platforms.

For partners: As part of the Accelerate Partner Program, Code42 is committed to a 100% channel go-to-market strategy and is making it easier to enable sales of Incydr and Instructor through access to partner enablement, communications, marketing and incentives programs, and a solutions-led approach based on Incydrs numerous technology integrations.

Ananth added, Code42s continued investments in our channel and alliance partner programs signal our commitment to the important role that channel, technology and advisory partners play in the companys future growth. I am looking forward to leading the expanded partner program and leveraging the reach and influence of our partners to help security teams solve their data protection needs.

Learn more about Code42s Insider Risk Management Offering

Code42 Incydr: The Industrys Leading Data Security Product for Exfiltration Detection and Response

Incydr is an Insider Risk Management solution that provides the visibility, context and controls needed to stop data leak and IP theft. Organizations utilize Incydr to detect and respond to data exposure and exfiltration from corporate computer, cloud and email systems. It deploys in hours so security teams can address material risk to the business in a matter of days and drive the secure work habits needed to decrease how often employees put data at risk in the future.

Code42 Instructor: Education-Led Insider Risk Response

Instructor improves Insider Risk awareness by focusing on the creation of holistic, security-oriented cultures. The solution delivers actionable, hyper-targeted and bite-sized lessons to end-users when theyre needed most, helping to change security behavior for the long term. The Instructor solution helps organizations rapidly mature their Insider Risk Management programs by incorporating data-driven Insider Risk behavioral guidance for end-users.

Combining the Power of Incydr and Instructor

Instructor works in tandem with Incydr, allowing security, compliance and education teams to immediately send corrective lessons triggered by employee actions that create risk for the business. For example, when Incydr flags file movement to an untrusted location, like an unauthorized cloud application, an Instructor video specifically explaining the correct activity is sent to educate the employee in real-time through the Incydr solution.

Additional Resources

Visit our Incydr and Instructor solution pages to learn more about our offerings.

Apply today to become a Code42 partner.

Join the conversation with Code42 on our blog, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About Code42

Code42 is the leader in Insider Risk Management (IRM), offering end-to-end data loss detection and response solutions. The Code42 Incydr product is native to the cloud and rapidly detects data exposure, loss, leak and theft as well as speeds incident response  all without lengthy deployments, complex policy management or blocking employee productivity. Accelerating the effectiveness of Insider Risk programs are the Code42 Instructor microlearning solution, and Code42s full suite of expert services.

With Code42, security professionals can protect corporate data and reduce insider risk while fostering an open and collaborative culture for employees. Designed to meet regulatory control requirements, Code42s IRM solution is FEDRAMP authorized and can be configured for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI and other compliance frameworks. Innovative organizations, including the fastest-growing security companies, rely on Code42 to safeguard their ideas. Founded in 2001, the company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and backed by Accel Partners, JMI Equity, NewView and Split Rock Partners. Code42 has played a defining role in developing a vision and requirements for the IRM category  now recognized by Gartner, IDC and Forrester  and is a founding member of the annual Insider Risk Summit and Insider Risk Community.

The Company has several offices across the United States and its clients include large multinational organizations, such as CrowdStrike, Exabeam, BAYADA Home Health Care, Lending Club, MacDonald-Miller, MACOM, North Highland, Ping Identity, Shape Technologies, Snowflake, University of Georgia, User Testing, UTEX and Xactly.

 2022 Code42 Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Code42, the Code42 logo, Incydr and Instructor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Code42 Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks are properties of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005316/en/

Press Contact:

Kristin McKenzie

Public Relations Principal, Code42

[email protected]

844-333-4242

Source: Code42
Cole will support the companys continued growth as a leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for high-throughput production of metal, polymer, ceramic, and composite end-use parts.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM), a global leader in additive manufacturing technologies for mass production, today announced Jason Cole will join the Company as Chief Financial Officer, effective November 10. He will report to Desktop Metal Founder and CEO Ric Fulop.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005088/en/

Jason Cole will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at Desktop Metal, effective Nov. 10. (Photo: Business Wire)

Cole, 47, joins the Company after 18 years at Analog Devices, a world leader in high performance signal processing technology used in virtually all types of electronic equipment. Most recently, he served as Division CFO, Global Operations and Technology, a position he has held since January 2018.

Jason is a highly accomplished financial executive, who worked his way up to division CFO at a $10 billion technology company over two decades, said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. We're very excited to have him join our family, and were confident he is going to help us get the company to the next stage and execute our financial goals. He has a lot of experience in M&A integration and improving costs and efficiencies. Were very excited to have him join Team DM.

I am excited to join Desktop Metal, and help deliver on the vision of bringing 3D printing to mass production, Cole added. With its differentiated IP and a wealth of talented and passionate individuals, DM is leading the way in defining and shaping the Additive Manufacturing 2.0 marketplace. I look forward to working with Ric and the leadership team to aggressively pursue our greatest opportunities, while driving continued revenue growth and optimized profitability.

Cole began his career at Arthur Andersen LLP in the High Technology Audit practice from 1997 to 2001. He joined Analog Devices in 2004, where he has held financial leadership positions across several business units including Communications Infrastructure, Linear & RF, High Speed Converters, and Automatic Test Equipment. He served as Division CFO, Industrial, Healthcare, Consumer and IoT from March 2014 to January 2018.

Cole is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Bentley University, and an M.B.A. from Cornell Universitys Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Coles employment with the Company commences October 31, and he will assume the title Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective November 10, 2022. As previously announced, current CFO James Haley will subsequently transition into an advisory role to ensure a seamless transition.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the worlds 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum, named to MIT Technology Reviews list of 50 Smartest Companies, and the 2021 winner of Fast Companys Innovation by Design Award in materials. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005088/en/

Investor Relations

Jay Gentzkow

(781) 730-2110

[email protected]

Source: Desktop Metal, Inc.
BLUEMONT, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This year on National First Responder Day, October 28, FirstNet, Built with AT&T and Boulder Crest invite Americans to consider a new way to honor Americas first line of emergency defense.

The best way to honor your communitys first responders is to give a minute to consider the true depth of their experience, said Dr. Anna Fitch Courie, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, Director, Responder Wellness, FirstNet Program at AT&T. And to take one small step to demonstrate meaningful appreciation to these remarkable men and women for their real-life experiences.

First responders race to be first on the scene of dangerous and often emotionally fraught situations. Over time these events can put first responders at increased risk of traumatic stress symptoms. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies show the divorce rate for law enforcement personnel is around 75% and that first responders are more likely to die from suicide than from a duty-related death.

FirstNet, the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform purpose-built for Americas first responders, supports preventative training to transform the industrys culture, biases and behaviors into ones that will better help first responders manage stress, and even register what science calls Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) after trauma.

This year, the company announced that it had become the exclusive sponsor of a First Responder Initiative created by Boulder Crest Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and delivers PTG-based programs to transform the lives of first responders and veterans. FirstNets support is earmarked to help the Struggle Well training scale nationally over the next two years.

Since the beginning of 2021, Boulder Crest has trained more than 3,800 first responders in the principles and practices of Posttraumatic Growth -- and how to struggle well.

With each training we see the power of Posttraumatic Growth to transform the culture and wellbeing of first responders, said Josh Goldberg, executive director of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth. Were normalizing struggle and providing them practical tools and perspectives to stop surviving and begin thriving.

Americans are encouraged to support their local first responders with appreciation and consider joining AT&T with a tax-refundable donation for training at https://bouldercrest.org/donate/.

FirstNet and the FirstNet logo are registered trademarks of the First Responder Network Authority. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005012/en/

Josh Goldberg

[email protected]

(972) 975-7488

Source: Boulder Crest
Common Ground to Feature In-Depth Talks with Lawmakers from Opposite Sides of the Aisle Beginning November 1

FOX News Audio to Rebrand All Baier Podcasts Under The Bret Baier Podcast Umbrella

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FOX News Audio will debut Common Ground hosted by FOX News Channels (FNC) chief political anchor and executive editor and anchor of Special Report Bret Baier on November 1st, 2022. The new program comes on the heels of the success of Baiers other featured podcasts, including The Campaign, The Candidates and the All-Star Panel. In this latest audio series, Baier will speak with lawmakers, business leaders and public figures from different perspectives coming together to discuss issues of the day and how Americans can find common ground in a polarized world. The new podcast will drop two episodes weekly. The entirety of Baiers FOX News Audio content can now be found in the The Bret Baier Podcast umbrella on FOX News Audio  including podcasts, new specials, exclusive interviews and weekly news segments.

Since joining the network in 1998, Baier has played a pivotal role in coverage of every major political event, bringing decades of expertise to his analysis each day across all of FOX News Medias platforms. Special Report with Bret Baier is the networks flagship news program and outpaces CNN and MSNBC combined across the board during the 6 PM/ET hour. Year to date, the program has been a top five program in all of cable news averaging 2.5 million viewers and 364,000 in the 25-54 demo each night. Since the same time last year, Special Report has seen 22% growth in total viewership and 13% with those aged 25-54.

The Bret Baier Podcast will be available on FOXNewsPodcasts.com or wherever podcasts are available.

FOX News Audio encompasses FOX News Radio (FNR), FOX News Headlines 24/7 and FOX News Podcasts. A 24/7 news service, FNR reaches over 16 million listeners a week on over 1,500 affiliated radio stations. Featuring three nationally syndicated weekday talk programs  The Brian Kilmeade Show, FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla and The Guy Benson Show  FNR also provides hourly newscasts surrounding business updates and breaking-news coverage. FOX News Podcasts offers a catalogue of more than 40 on-demand original podcasts, including The FOX News Rundown. On SiriusXM Channel 115, FOX News Headlines 24/7 provides listeners with around the clock coverage of the days headlines in 15 minutes segments. More information at https://radio.foxnews.com/.

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FOX News Media Contact

Connor Smith

212.301.3879 or [email protected]

Source: FOX News Audio
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HistoWiz, a leading provider of digital histopathology services to academia, biotech and pharma, announced today that Linh Hoang, MD, PhD has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.

Dr. Hoang is joining HistoWiz from Weavr Health, where he served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Prior to Weavr, Linh served as Vice President and General Manager of Reproductive Health Diagnostics at PerkinElmer. He has also held numerous leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, including General Manager of the clinical controls and standards business and Director for Life Technologies personalized medicine initiatives. He was previously a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Linh received his medical and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a bachelors in biochemistry from the University of Florida.

On behalf of the Board, we are pleased to attract Dr. Hoang to the company as the company has nearly doubled revenue in the past year and is poised for continued growth as it furthers its leadership position in the digital pathology field, said Joseph Siletto, Board Member from Vivo Capital. "We welcome Linh to the HistoWiz team with the confidence that he is not only an experienced operator, but also a strategic thinker to navigate this exciting and rapidly evolving field. We are grateful for our founder Dr. Ke Chengs leadership in establishing a strong foundation and look forward to her collaboration with Dr. Hoang both on the board of directors and the senior leadership team.

I am proud to join HistoWizs accomplished team who has developed a differentiated platform to accelerate research and discovery, said Dr. Hoang. Im looking forward to continuing to work with Dr. Ke Cheng in her role as President and Board Member. I am very excited to grow HistoWiz to lead the digital transformation in research histopathology and believe HistoWiz is well-positioned to become the market leader in histopathology services worldwide.

About HistoWiz

HistoWiz automates histopathology with rapid turnaround times for researchers in academia, biotech and pharma. The company utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to process tissue specimens and host the digitized results on a proprietary platform, PathologyMapTM. Researchers use this advanced, online platform to manage their histology data and to collaborate with researchers across the world. With HistoWizs AI and proprietary tools, PathologyMap bridges researchers to a network of top pathologists for on-demand interpretation with industry-leading turnaround times. HistoWiz aims to become the global leader in histopathology to accelerate research and discovery.

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Robert Kelley

[email protected]

Source: HistoWiz
DAVENPORT, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today the acquisition of the City of Blue Grass wastewater system for $2 million. On July 12, 2022, the Iowa Utilities Board approved the acquisition. The newly acquired wastewater utility, Iowa American Waters first sewer system operation in the state, adds approximately 750 wastewater customers to the companys Iowa Quad Cities service area.

Our team is excited to provide an additional service to our water customers in Blue Grass, said Randy Moore, President of Iowa American Water. Since 2017, we have had the privilege of partnering with Blue Grass to provide clean, safe, and reliable service to the community, sharing our expertise while making critical investments in aging systems. We look forward to continuing that commitment as the communitys new wastewater provider.

According to Blue Grass Mayor Brad Schutte, The sale of the wastewater system to Iowa American Water is in the communitys best interest because it will provide residents with industry experts focused on upgrading the wastewater system just as Iowa American Water has done with our communitys water system. Mayor Schutte continued, The city will benefit from capital investments we would not have been able to make, and Iowa American Water will get the wastewater system back into compliance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in a timely manner.

Iowa American Water plans to invest approximately $4 million in the citys wastewater system to address issues as well as upgrade safety and security systems. Ongoing capital investment plans have been developed to address compliance with permit requirements and improve operational efficiencies.

New sewer rates recently implemented by the City of Blue Grass will continue under Iowa American Waters ownership. Customers pay a monthly fixed charge for sanitary sewer service of $39.48 for all meter sizes up to 2,500 gallons, and a variable charge of about 74 cents for each 100 gallons after the first 2,500 gallons. A typical monthly sewer bill for a Blue Grass customer using 4,000 gallons is $50.60.

Since Iowa American Water acquired the Blue Grass water system in 2017, the company has invested more than $3 million to upgrade water service infrastructure including installation of a three-mile water transmission line that interconnected the Blue Grass water system with Iowa American Waters system to increase water pressure and improve water quality.

We are happy to expand our expertise and services to wastewater in Blue Grass, Moore added. We are looking forward to continuing to support the community and partnering with the city and its residents. We appreciate the Citys trust and confidence in our team of water and wastewater professionals.

Blue Grass customers will soon receive a letter in the mail from Iowa American Water to provide them with additional information about the new wastewater service the company is now providing in their community. To learn more about Iowa American Water, visit Partnering with Us under About Us at www.iowaamwater.com.

About Iowa American Water

Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 213,000 people.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Media Contact:

Lisa Reisen, External Affairs Manager

563-343-6127

[email protected]

Source: Iowa American Water
New end-to-end oncology offering adds greater optionality to improve the distressing 3-5% average cancer trial participation rate*

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medable Inc., the industry-leading technology platform for patient-centered clinical trials, today announced a new patient-first oncology offering that enables life sciences companies to improve patient access, enrollment, and retention in cancer trials. Medables new offering is an end-to-end suite that includes pre-built and validated DCT applications such as Total Consent and Televisit, an extensive eCOA oncology library, and protocol design consulting  with a single point of entry for patients, sites and sponsors.

The complexity of oncology poses numerous challenges to running a successful clinical trial, especially as many oncology trials are designed around small, genetically defined subsets of cancers. Finding eligible patients is difficult, and enrolling patient populations that reflect the diversity of cancer demographics adds a further challenge. In fact, two-thirds of oncology trials fold prematurely due to low enrollment as less than 5% of adult cancer patients participate in clinical research even though nearly two million Americans are diagnosed with cancer yearly.

Medables patient-first oncology solution can help improve access to trials, diversity, and retention by enabling patients undergoing intensive cancer therapies to participate both remotely at home and on-site. It simplifies data collection for sites and sponsors while keeping patients comfortable and engaged. Timely notifications and reminders help ensure compliance, while Medables real-time reporting functionality enhances patient- and caregiver-friendly ePROs, making it easy to track and respond to emerging toxicity and tolerability signals. Tokenization also streamlines data collection post-trial for lifelong follow-up, connecting patient trial data and real-world data to capture critical endpoints.

The reinvigorated Cancer Moonshot initiative coupled with the FDAs emphasis on diversity in clinical research is driving an urgent need to improve access to cancer trials, said Musaddiq Khan, vice president of Therapeutic Area Solutions at Medable. Our DCT offering is designed around the core needs of oncology trials while enabling optionality to improve access and the patient experience. Meeting patients where they are while offering better insight and data to site and study teams improves the experience for everyone and, subsequently, retention.

More than 22,000 cancer patients have been screened using Medables platform across 3,300 contracted sites and 60 countries. Medable customers have achieved impressive results  including 200 percent faster enrollment and 50 percent cost reductions. A new study from Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development shows that decentralized trials can achieve net financial benefits ranging from five to 13 times for Phase II and III trials, equating to roughly $10 million ROI and $39 million ROI, respectively.

For more information about Medables new oncology offering, download this case study or visit https://www.medable.com/products/oncology.

About Medable

Medable is on a mission to get effective therapies to patients faster by transforming clinical drug development with disruptive technologies. The companys digital platform streamlines design, recruitment, retention, and data quality for decentralized trials, replacing siloed systems with integrated digital tools, data, and interfaces to accelerate trial execution. Medable connects patients, sites, and clinical trial teams to improve patient access, experience, and outcomes. Medable is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

*American Society of Clinical Oncology, Educational Book, volume 36, The role of clinical trial participation in cancer research: Barriers, Evidence, and Strategies, by Joseph M. Unger, PhD, Elise Cook, MD, Eric Tai, MD, and Archie Bleyer, MD (Accessed Here October 2022).

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Lisa Barbadora, Barbadora INK for Medable

+1 (610) 420-3413

[email protected] / [email protected]

Ashley Paula-Legge, Big Valley Marketing for Medable

+1 (707) 972-0073

[email protected] / [email protected]

Source: Medable Inc.
WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Radian Group Inc. (NYSE: RDN) today announced that it has been named a Champion of Board Diversity for the second year in a row by the Forum of Executive Women, a leading organization focused on the advancement of women in the Greater Philadelphia business community. The organizations annual Champions of Board Diversity list recognizes major Philadelphia-area companies that have 30 percent or greater female representation on their boards of directors.

Diversity in the boardroom, and at all levels of the organization, encourages engagement and challenges conventions, which we believe is essential to our success, said Chief Executive Officer Rick Thornberry. Our board reflects our team whose diverse talents and perspectives come together to deliver innovative solutions and meaningful results for our customers, our employees and our company. As one of only 35 public companies in the Greater Philadelphia Region to have at least 30 percent women on our Board, we are honored to receive this meaningful recognition once again as it is a testament to our progress in fostering diversity at all levels.

Recent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Highlights at Radian

Radians strategic objectives and initiatives relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are driven by its formal DEI program and Executive Inclusion Council (EIC).

Gender equality is a core component of the companys overall DEI strategy. Radian has been included for five consecutive years on the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) , which highlights companies dedicated to advancing womens equality in the workplace.

, which highlights companies dedicated to advancing womens equality in the workplace. CEO Rick Thornberry signed the " CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion " pledge to create a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce, which has been signed by more than 2,000 business leaders across various industries and is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. By signing the pledge, Radian has committed to cultivating a trusting environment where all ideas and employees are welcomed.

" pledge to create a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce, which has been signed by more than 2,000 business leaders across various industries and is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. By signing the pledge, Radian has committed to cultivating a trusting environment where all ideas and employees are welcomed. Starting in 2021, inspired by CEO Actions annual  Day of Understanding , Radian has been holding an annual Week of Understanding that bring employees together to have open and meaningful conversations designed to explore blind spots and unconscious biases, and foster a more inclusive workplace.

, Radian has been holding an annual Week of Understanding that bring employees together to have open and meaningful conversations designed to explore blind spots and unconscious biases, and foster a more inclusive workplace. Radian has instituted a recruiting capability dedicated to diversity, improved its internal reporting capabilities regarding diversity, trained all managers on unconscious bias, and is carrying out an initiative to train all employees on unconscious bias.

Radian has established Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to support the company's intention around ensuring an inclusive and diverse culture. ERGs look to foster awareness, respect, and inclusion in the Radian workplace through the work they do. Each ERG is led by employees with shared interests and like backgrounds, who come together to serve a common purpose. Currently, Radian has four active ERGs.

About Radians Corporate Responsibility Program

Radians DEI efforts are part of its broader Corporate Responsibility Program, which focuses on supporting the companys commitment to environmental, health and safety, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, sustainability, and other public policy matters relevant to the company and its operations. This program aligns with Radians company-wide commitments to continue to be responsible corporate citizens with a positive impact in the community and with the people it serves.

A report and website provide further information about the companys Corporate Responsibility programs and practices, including how its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and correspond to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for the Insurance sector.

About Radian

Radian Group Inc. (NYSE: RDN) is ensuring the American dream of homeownership responsibly and sustainably through products and services that include industry-leading mortgage insurance and a comprehensive suite of mortgage, risk, title, valuation, asset management and other real estate services. We are powered by technology, informed by data and driven to deliver new and better ways to transact and manage risk. Visit radian.com and homegenius.com to learn more about how Radian and its pioneering homegenius platform are building a smarter future for mortgage and real estate services.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005981/en/

For Investors:

John Damian - Phone: 215.231.1383

email: [email protected]

For the Media:

Rashi Iyer - Phone 215.231.1167

email: [email protected]

Source: Radian Group Inc.
OXFORD, England & PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rockley Photonics (NYSE: RKLY), a global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, today announced that it plans to report its third quarter 2022 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The company also plans to host a conference call that day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review its financial results and business outlook.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing 877-407-0832 from the United States or +1 201-689-8433 internationally, referencing Rockley Photonics. A live webcast and replay of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page on Rockleys website at investors.rockleyphotonics.com. Following the completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. ET on December 9, 2022, a telephone replay will be available by dialing 877-660-6853 from the United States or +1 201-612-7415 internationally with recording access code 13733843.

About Rockley Photonics

A global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, Rockley Photonics is developing a comprehensive range of photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions. From next-generation sensing platforms specifically designed for mobile health monitoring and machine vision to high-speed, high-volume solutions for data communications, Rockley is laying the foundation for a new generation of applications across multiple industries. Rockley believes that photonics will eventually become as pervasive as micro-electronics, and it has developed a platform with the power and flexibility needed to address both mass markets and a wide variety of vertical applications.

Formed in 2013, Rockley is uniquely positioned to support hyper-scale manufacturing and address a multitude of high-volume markets. Rockley has partnered with numerous tier-1 customers across a diverse range of industries to deliver the complex optical systems required to bring transformational products to market.

To learn more about Rockley, visit rockleyphotonics.com.

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For Rockley

Media

Debra Raine

Rainemakers

Telephone: +1 415-349-7432

Email: [email protected]

Investors

Gwyn Lauber

Rockley Photonics

Telephone: +1 626-995-0001

[email protected]

Source: Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

With some of the best GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) 2022 scores since it first participated in 2012, namely 91/100 in the Standing Investments benchmark and 95/100 in the Development benchmark, SFL (Paris: FLY) once again achieved a GRESB "5 Star" rating, placing it among the leading office property companies in Europe.

Each year, GRESB assesses sustainable development actions by reviewing the environmental performance of the participating entities' properties, the labels and certifications obtained, as well as relations with stakeholders regarding environmental, social and governance issues

SFL also received Gold Awards in EPRA's Financial Best Practices Recommendations (BPR) and Sustainability Best Practices Recommendations (sBPR).

These awards recognise the excellent quality of SFL's annual report and non-financial information statement, which were in line with EPRA's best practices in terms of financial reporting and corporate social responsibility.

Lastly, SFL has rolled out an energy efficiency plan covering all its properties, with the aim of reducing energy consumption along with a campaign to inform users about how to adopt basic energy-saving actions.

"These outstanding results reward the ongoing commitment of the SFL teams with regard to these issues. In particular, they demonstrate the effectiveness of the actions implemented to improve our properties environmental performance, in response to the urgent need for energy efficiency and a low-carbon future." explained Eric Oudard, Technical and Development Director at SFL.

About SFL

Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 8.4 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (#cloud.paris, Biome, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.) and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors. As Frances oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A  Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409  Bloomberg: FLY FP  Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

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SFL - Thomas Fareng - T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 - [email protected]

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com

Source: SFL
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended October 1, 2022.

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

Third quarter revenue was $10.68 billion.

Third quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $3.79.

Third quarter adjusted EPS was $5.08.

Delivered very strong financial results in the third quarter, with 14% Core organic revenue growth and $0.44 billion of COVID-19 testing revenue.

Launched a range of high-impact innovative new products, including the Orbitrap Ascend Tribrid mass spectrometer, which offers new capabilities for quantification and characterization of proteins while delivering high throughput and ease of use for diagnostic and drug discovery applications, as well as the Thermo Scientific Arctis Cryo-Plasma Focused Ion Beam, an automated microscope that streamlines cryo-electron tomography research and provides insights into how proteins and other molecules operate within cells. We also advanced our diagnostic offerings with the CE-IVD certification of the Oncomine Dx Express Test and Oncomine Reporter Dx software, which are designed to run on our Ion Torrent Genexus Next-Generation Sequencing System to advance precision oncology testing.

Continued to strengthen our unique customer value proposition with two new facilities to expand our capacity and capabilities: in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, we expanded our capacity for purification resins used in the production of biologics for a number of diseases; and in Plainville, Massachusetts, we expanded our viral vector manufacturing capacity to support cell and gene therapies.

Advanced on our environmental, social and governance priorities, signing an agreement with Enel North America to source half of our U.S. electricity needs from renewable wind power, continuing to deliver on our emissions-reduction strategy.

We delivered another quarter of excellent financial performance driven by our proven growth strategy and powered by our PPI Business System. Our strategic investments and innovative new product launches are further enhancing our unique customer value proposition and leading to continued share gain, said Marc N. Casper, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. We saw broad-based strength across our businesses, including our new clinical research business, which is performing very well. Customers are excited about our expanded capabilities, the integration continues to progress smoothly, and the long-term synergies remain very compelling.

Casper added, With a strong nine months behind us, we are on track to deliver another outstanding year.

Third Quarter 2022

Revenue for the quarter grew 14% to $10.68 billion in 2022. Organic revenue was 1% lower; acquisitions increased revenue by 20% and currency translation decreased revenue by 5%. Core organic revenue growth was 14%. COVID-19 testing revenue was $0.44 billion.

GAAP Earnings Results

GAAP diluted EPS in the third quarter of 2022 was $3.79, versus $4.79 in the same quarter last year. GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2022 was $1.71 billion, compared with $2.28 billion in the year-ago quarter. GAAP operating margin was 16.0%, compared with 24.4% in the third quarter of 2021.

Non-GAAP Earnings Results

Adjusted EPS in the third quarter of 2022 was $5.08, versus $5.77 in the third quarter of 2021. Adjusted operating income for the third quarter of 2022 was $2.37 billion, compared with $2.78 billion in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating margin was 22.2%, compared with 29.8% in the third quarter of 2021.

Annual Guidance for 2022

The company will provide updated 2022 financial guidance during its earnings conference call this morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted EPS, adjusted net income, adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, free cash flow, organic revenue growth and Core organic revenue growth are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed after the tables that accompany this press release, under the heading Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures are provided in the tables that accompany this press release.

Conference Call

Thermo Fisher Scientific will hold its earnings conference call today, October 26, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen, dial (844) 200-6205 within the U.S. or (929) 526-1599 outside the U.S. The conference ID is 406803. You may also listen to the call live on our website, www.thermofisher.com, by clicking on Investors. You will find this press release, including the accompanying reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and related information, in that section of our website under Financials. An audio archive of the call will be available under News & Events through Friday, November 11, 2022.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The following constitutes a Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to: the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; the need to develop new products and adapt to significant technological change; implementation of strategies for improving growth; general economic conditions and related uncertainties; dependence on customers' capital spending policies and government funding policies; the effect of economic and political conditions and exchange rate fluctuations on international operations; use and protection of intellectual property; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; any natural disaster, public health crisis or other catastrophic event; and the effect of laws and regulations governing government contracts, as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected. Additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are on file with the SEC and available in the Investors section of our website under the heading SEC Filings. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if estimates change and, therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to today.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) Three Months Ended October 1, % of October 2, % of (In millions except per share amounts) 2022 Revenues 2021 Revenues Revenues $ 10,677 $ 9,330 Costs and operating expenses: Cost of revenues (a) 6,246 58.5 % 4,533 48.6 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (b) 1,743 16.3 % 1,727 18.5 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 594 5.6 % 423 4.6 % Research and development expenses 351 3.3 % 351 3.8 % Restructuring and other costs (c) 33 0.3 % 18 0.2 % 8,967 84.0 % 7,052 75.6 % Operating income 1,710 16.0 % 2,278 24.4 % Interest income 68 9 Interest expense (173 ) (128 ) Other income/(expense) (d) (4 ) 18 Income before income taxes 1,601 2,177 Provision for income taxes (e) (31 ) (271 ) Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated entities (72 ) (3 ) Net income 1,498 1,903 Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest 3 1 Net income attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 1,495 14.0 % $ 1,902 20.4 % Earnings per share attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.: Basic $ 3.82 $ 4.83 Diluted $ 3.79 $ 4.79 Weighted average shares: Basic 392 394 Diluted 395 397 Reconciliation of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin GAAP operating income $ 1,710 16.0 % $ 2,278 24.4 % Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 22 0.2 %  0.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 11 0.1 % 59 0.6 % Restructuring and other costs (c) 33 0.3 % 18 0.2 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 594 5.6 % 423 4.6 % Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP measure) $ 2,370 22.2 % $ 2,778 29.8 % Reconciliation of adjusted net income GAAP net income attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 1,495 $ 1,902 Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 22  Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 11 59 Restructuring and other costs (c) 33 18 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 594 423 Other income/expense adjustments (d) 14 (5 ) Provision for income taxes adjustments (e) (238 ) (109 ) Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities 72 3 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP measure) $ 2,003 $ 2,291 Reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share GAAP diluted EPS attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 3.79 $ 4.79 Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 0.06 0.00 Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 0.03 0.15 Restructuring and other costs (c) 0.08 0.04 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 1.50 1.06 Other income/expense adjustments (d) 0.04 (0.01 ) Provision for income taxes adjustments (e) (0.60 ) (0.27 ) Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities 0.18 0.01 Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP measure) $ 5.08 $ 5.77 Reconciliation of free cash flow GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 1,937 $ 2,650 Purchases of property, plant and equipment (547 ) (524 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 4 4 Free cash flow (non-GAAP measure) $ 1,394 $ 2,130

Segment data Three Months Ended October 1, % of October 2, % of (In millions) 2022 Revenues 2021 Revenues Revenues Life Sciences Solutions $ 2,962 27.7 % $ 3,721 39.9 % Analytical Instruments 1,621 15.2 % 1,476 15.8 % Specialty Diagnostics 1,065 10.0 % 1,362 14.6 % Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services 5,585 52.3 % 3,487 37.4 % Eliminations (556 ) -5.2 % (716 ) -7.7 % Consolidated revenues $ 10,677 100.0 % $ 9,330 100.0 % Operating income and operating margin Life Sciences Solutions $ 1,039 35.1 % $ 1,821 48.9 % Analytical Instruments 386 23.8 % 264 17.8 % Specialty Diagnostics 220 20.6 % 310 22.7 % Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services 725 13.0 % 383 11.0 % Subtotal reportable segments 2,370 22.2 % 2,778 29.8 % Cost of revenues adjustments (a) (22 ) -0.2 %  0.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) (11 ) -0.1 % (59 ) -0.6 % Restructuring and other costs (c) (33 ) -0.3 % (18 ) -0.2 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (594 ) -5.6 % (423 ) -4.6 % GAAP operating income $ 1,710 16.0 % $ 2,278 24.4 %

(a) Adjusted results in 2022 exclude charges for inventory write-downs associated with large-scale abandonment of product lines.

(b) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude certain third-party expenses, principally transaction/integration costs related to recent acquisitions, charges/credits for changes in estimates of contingent acquisition consideration, and charges associated with product liability litigation.

(c) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude restructuring and other costs consisting principally of severance, impairment of long-lived assets, abandoned facility, and other expenses of headcount reductions within several businesses and real estate consolidations. Adjusted results in 2021 also exclude $4 of credits for the settlement of environmental-related matters, offset in part by $3 of net charges for pre-acquisition related matters.

(d) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude net gains/losses on investments. Adjusted results in 2022 also exclude $2 of settlement charges for pension plans. Adjusted results in 2021 also exclude $20 of amortization of bridge loan commitment fees related to a pending acquisition.

(e) Adjusted provision for income taxes in 2022 and 2021 excludes incremental tax impacts for the reconciling items between GAAP and adjusted net income, incremental tax impacts as a result of tax rate/law changes and the tax impacts from audit settlements (including a $658 benefit from an audit settlement in 2022). Adjusted results in 2022 also exclude a $423 charge for the impact of deferred tax realizability assessments as a result of audit settlements.

Note:

Consolidated depreciation expense is $244 and $205 in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Organic and Core organic revenue growth Three months ended October 1, 2022 Revenue growth 14 % Acquisitions 20 % Currency translation -5 % Organic revenue growth -1 % COVID-19 testing revenue -14 % Contribution of PPD to Core organic revenue growth (a) 1 % Core organic revenue growth 14 %

(a) Adjustment to include the contribution of PPD to Core organic revenue growth as though the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2021.

Note:

For more information related to non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the section titled Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures of this release.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited) Nine months ended October 1, % of October 2, % of (In millions except per share amounts) 2022 Revenues 2021 Revenues Revenues $ 33,465 $ 28,509 Costs and operating expenses: Cost of revenues (a) 18,700 55.9 % 13,675 48.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses (b) 5,291 15.8 % 4,884 17.1 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 1,803 5.4 % 1,295 4.6 % Research and development expenses 1,080 3.2 % 1,014 3.6 % Restructuring and other costs (c) 59 0.2 % 151 0.5 % 26,933 80.5 % 21,019 73.7 % Operating income 6,532 19.5 % 7,490 26.3 % Interest income 122 32 Interest expense (457 ) (375 ) Other income/(expense) (d) (139 ) (168 ) Income before income taxes 6,058 6,979 Provision for income taxes (e) (530 ) (906 ) Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated entities (142 ) (4 ) Net income 5,386 6,069 Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest 12 2 Net income attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 5,374 16.1 % $ 6,067 21.3 % Earnings per share attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.: Basic $ 13.72 $ 15.41 Diluted $ 13.62 $ 15.29 Weighted average shares: Basic 392 394 Diluted 395 397 Reconciliation of adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin GAAP operating income $ 6,532 19.5 % $ 7,490 26.3 % Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 41 0.1 % 8 0.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) (10 ) 0.0 % 33 0.1 % Restructuring and other costs (c) 59 0.2 % 151 0.5 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 1,803 5.4 % 1,295 4.6 % Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP measure) $ 8,425 25.2 % $ 8,977 31.5 % Reconciliation of adjusted net income GAAP net income attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 5,374 $ 6,067 Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 41 8 Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) (10 ) 33 Restructuring and other costs (c) 59 151 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 1,803 1,295 Other income/expense adjustments (d) 163 200 Provision for income taxes adjustments (e) (534 ) (381 ) Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities 142 4 Adjusted net income (non-GAAP measure) $ 7,038 $ 7,377 Reconciliation of adjusted earnings per share GAAP diluted EPS attributable to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $ 13.62 $ 15.29 Cost of revenues adjustments (a) 0.11 0.02 Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) (0.02 ) 0.08 Restructuring and other costs (c) 0.15 0.38 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 4.56 3.26 Other income/expense adjustments (d) 0.41 0.50 Provision for income taxes adjustments (e) (1.35 ) (0.96 ) Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities 0.36 0.01 Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP measure) $ 17.84 $ 18.58 Reconciliation of free cash flow GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 5,667 $ 6,855 Purchases of property, plant and equipment (1,693 ) (1,692 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 18 9 Free cash flow (non-GAAP measure) $ 3,992 $ 5,172

Segment data Nine months ended October 1, % of October 2, % of (In millions) 2022 Revenues 2021 Revenues Revenues Life Sciences Solutions $ 10,485 31.3 % $ 11,481 40.3 % Analytical Instruments 4,746 14.2 % 4,344 15.2 % Specialty Diagnostics 3,648 10.9 % 4,212 14.8 % Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services 16,564 49.5 % 10,667 37.4 % Eliminations (1,978 ) -5.9 % (2,195 ) -7.7 % Consolidated revenues $ 33,465 100.0 % $ 28,509 100.0 % Operating income and operating margin Life Sciences Solutions $ 4,542 43.3 % $ 5,818 50.7 % Analytical Instruments 1,031 21.7 % 816 18.8 % Specialty Diagnostics 816 22.4 % 983 23.3 % Laboratory Products and Biopharma Services 2,036 12.3 % 1,360 12.8 % Subtotal reportable segments 8,425 25.2 % 8,977 31.5 % Cost of revenues adjustments (a) (41 ) -0.1 % (8 ) 0.0 % Selling, general and administrative expenses adjustments (b) 10 0.0 % (33 ) -0.1 % Restructuring and other costs (c) (59 ) -0.2 % (151 ) -0.5 % Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (1,803 ) -5.4 % (1,295 ) -4.6 % GAAP operating income $ 6,532 19.5 % $ 7,490 26.3 %

(a) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition. Adjusted results in 2022 also exclude $22 of inventory write-downs associated with large-scale abandonment of product lines.

(b) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude certain third-party expenses, principally transaction/integration costs related to recent acquisitions, charges/credits for changes in estimates of contingent acquisition consideration, and charges associated with product liability litigation.

(c) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude restructuring and other costs consisting principally of severance, impairment of long-lived assets, abandoned facility and other expenses of headcount reductions within several businesses and real estate consolidations. Adjusted results in 2021 also exclude $110 of charges for impairment of acquired technology; $13 of charges for compensation due to employees at recently acquired businesses at the date of acquisition; $3 of net charges for pre-acquisition related matters; offset in part by $4 of credits for the settlement of environmental-related matters.

(d) Adjusted results in 2022 and 2021 exclude net gains/losses on investments and losses on the early extinguishment of debt. Adjusted results in 2022 also exclude $2 of settlement charges for pension plans. Adjusted results in 2021 also exclude $26 of charges for amortization of bridge loan commitment fees related to a pending acquisition.

(e) Adjusted provision for income taxes in 2022 and 2021 excludes incremental tax impacts for the reconciling items between GAAP and adjusted net income, incremental tax impacts as a result of tax rate/law changes and the tax impacts from audit settlements (including a $658 benefit from an audit settlement in 2022). Adjusted results in 2022 also exclude a $423 charge for the impact of deferred tax realizability assessments as a result of audit settlements.

Notes:

Consolidated depreciation expense is $730 and $614 in 2022 and 2021, respectively.

For more information related to non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the section titled Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures of this release.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited) October 1, December 31, (In millions) 2022 2021 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,919 $ 4,477 Accounts receivable, net 7,671 7,977 Inventories 5,722 5,051 Other current assets 2,987 2,608 Total current assets 19,299 20,113 Property, plant and equipment, net 8,628 8,333 Acquisition-related intangible assets, net 17,813 20,113 Other assets 4,308 4,640 Goodwill 40,488 41,924 Total assets $ 90,536 $ 95,123 Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity Current liabilities: Short-term obligations and current maturities of long-term obligations $ 1,010 $ 2,537 Other current liabilities 10,108 10,899 Total current liabilities 11,118 13,436 Other long-term liabilities 7,541 8,377 Long-term obligations 28,150 32,333 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 119 122 Total equity 43,608 40,855 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity $ 90,536 $ 95,123

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited) Nine months ended October 1, October 2, (In millions) 2022 2021 Operating activities Net income $ 5,386 $ 6,069 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,533 1,909 Change in deferred income taxes (862 ) (455 ) Other non-cash expenses, net 701 542 Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions (2,091 ) (1,210 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 5,667 6,855 Investing activities Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (39 ) (1,519 ) Purchases of property, plant and equipment (1,693 ) (1,692 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 18 9 Other investing activities, net 80 (38 ) Net cash used in investing activities (1,634 ) (3,240 ) Financing activities Net proceeds from issuance of debt  3,122 Repayment of debt (375 ) (2,803 ) Net proceeds from issuance of commercial paper 1,231  Repayment of commercial paper (3,690 )  Purchases of company common stock (2,000 ) (2,000 ) Dividends paid (338 ) (292 ) Net proceeds from issuance of company common stock under employee stock plans 57 101 Other financing activities, net (86 ) (14 ) Net cash used in financing activities (5,201 ) (1,886 ) Exchange rate effect on cash (389 ) (17 ) (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1,557 ) 1,712 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 4,491 10,336 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 2,934 $ 12,048 Free cash flow (non-GAAP measure) $ 3,992 $ 5,172

Note:

For more information related to non-GAAP financial measures, refer to the section titled Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures of this release.

Supplemental Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures such as organic revenue growth, which is reported revenue growth, excluding the impacts of revenues from acquired businesses and the effects of currency translation. We also report Core organic revenue growth, which is reported revenue growth including the impact of PPD revenue, excluding the impacts of COVID-19 testing revenue, and excluding the impacts of acquisitions other than PPD and currency translation. We calculate period-to-period Core organic revenue growth by adding to the baseline period PPDs pre-acquisition revenues from such period. We report these measures because Thermo Fisher management believes that in order to understand the companys short-term and long-term financial trends, investors may wish to consider the impact of acquisitions, foreign currency translation and/or COVID-19 testing on revenues. In particular, given PPDs significance relative to our existing businesses, management believes it is appropriate to also present information on a basis that includes PPD pre-acquisition revenues in order to demonstrate the impact PPD has on our current growth profile. Core organic revenue growth amounts are not necessarily indicative of the combined results of operations that would have been realized had the PPD acquisition occurred on January 1, 2021. Thermo Fisher management uses these measures to forecast and evaluate the operational performance of the company as well as to compare revenues of current periods to prior periods.

We report adjusted operating income, adjusted operating income margin, adjusted net income, and adjusted EPS. We believe that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, helps investors to gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the companys core operating performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods, forecasts, and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by management in their financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes. To calculate these measures we exclude, as applicable:

Certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition, significant transaction/acquisition-related costs, including changes in estimates of contingent acquisition-related consideration, and other costs associated with obtaining short-term financing commitments for pending/recent acquisitions. We exclude these costs because we do not believe they are indicative of our normal operating costs.

Costs/income associated with restructuring activities and large-scale abandonments of product lines, such as reducing overhead and consolidating facilities. We exclude these costs because we believe that the costs related to restructuring activities are not indicative of our normal operating costs.

Equity in earnings/losses of unconsolidated entities; impairments of long-lived assets; and certain other gains and losses that are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any predictability, including gains/losses on investments, the sale of businesses, product lines, and real estate, significant litigation-related matters, curtailments/settlements of pension plans, and the early retirement of debt. We exclude these items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.

The expense associated with the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because a significant portion of the purchase price for acquisitions may be allocated to intangible assets that have lives of up to 20 years. Exclusion of the amortization expense allows comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time for both our newly acquired and long-held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies.

The tax impacts of the above items and the impact of significant tax audits or events (such as changes in deferred taxes from enacted tax rate/law changes), the latter of which we exclude because they are outside of our normal operations and difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.

We report free cash flow, which is operating cash flow excluding net capital expenditures, to provide a view of the continuing operations ability to generate cash for use in acquisitions and other investing and financing activities. The company also uses this measure as an indication of the strength of the company. Free cash flow is not a measure of cash available for discretionary expenditures since we have certain non-discretionary obligations such as debt service that are not deducted from the measure.

Thermo Fisher Scientific does not provide GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis because we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty and without unreasonable effort items such as the timing and amount of future restructuring actions and acquisition-related charges as well as gains or losses from sales of real estate and businesses, the early retirement of debt and the outcome of legal proceedings. The timing and amount of these items are uncertain and could be material to Thermo Fisher Scientifics results computed in accordance with GAAP.

The non-GAAP financial measures of Thermo Fisher Scientifics results of operations and cash flows included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for Thermo Fisher Scientifics results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the tables above.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005067/en/

Media:

Sandy Pound

Phone: 781-622-1223

E-mail: [email protected]

Investors:

Rafael Tejada

Phone: 781-622-1356

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tidepool, a medical device company fostering the next generation of diabetes innovation, announced the addition of leading experts in the womens health and endocrinology space as members of the Tidepool Advisory Council - affirming the organization's commitment to championing womens health and diabetes initiatives. Tidepool originally kicked off the Tidepool Period Project in 2021 with a pilot dedicated to collecting the largest data set of combined diabetes and menstruation data and this move indicates Tidepool will continue to drive innovation in the Women+ & diabetes space.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006065/en/

Tidepool is the first to commit to Women's Health and diabetes initiatives. (Graphic: Business Wire)

According to the CDC, it is estimated that 1 out of every 9 women in the United States is living with diabetes1. Hormonal shifts that occur as a result of puberty, menopause, and menstruation add an entirely new level of complexity to managing blood glucose levels. The Tidepool Period Project's roadmap includes building tools, evidence and educational resources to support the management of insulin-requiring diabetes for people who menstruate.

Joining the Tidepool team are Dr. Eda Cengiz, associate professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Katarina Braune, Pediatrician and Digital Clinician Scientist in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Institute of Medical Informatics Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin. Dr. Cengiz and Dr. Braune join us as part of Tidepools advisory team accompanying an existing group of incredible thought-leaders.

When it comes to diabetes and menstruation, few people understand the need for this space better than Dr. Cengiz and Dr. Braune, and we are thrilled for these researchers to bring their expertise to help shape the Tidepool Period Project, says Dr. Rayhan Lal, assistant professor of Pediatric and Adult Endocrinology at Stanford and Chief Medical Advisor at Tidepool. Dr. Lal has helped craft the roadmap for the womens health initiatives addressed by the Tidepool Period Project.

We have been making speculations regarding the specific factors contributing to the disparities in diabetes outcomes across the sexes, and the lack of research in this area is confounding. I look forward to working with the Tidepool team on bridging this gap, says Dr. Cengiz.

Women have historically been underrepresented in medical studies despite the recent boom of digital technology solutions for women. Its an injustice that more research has not been funded in this area. I am extremely proud to partner with Tidepool to change this, and excited for all that we will accomplish together, says Dr. Braune.

Tidepool recently received a sizable financial contribution dedicated to the Tidepool Period Project. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tidepool is actively in conversations with partners and investors for its womens health initiatives under the Tidepool Period Project umbrella.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). National diabetes statistics report, 2017.

About Tidepool

Tidepool is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization on a mission to make diabetes data more accessible, actionable, and meaningful for people with diabetes, their care teams, and researchers. Founded in 2013, Tidepool hosts a suite of software tools for people with diabetes and the clinics that serve them, including Tidepool Web, Tidepool Mobile, and Tidepool Uploader. Learn more at tidepool.org. Follow us on Twitter at @Tidepool_org and on Facebook and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006065/en/

Christopher Snider

Saira Khan-Gallo

[email protected]

Source: Tidepool
The Expanded TSMC Open Innovation Platform Drives New Ecosystem Collaboration to Enable Next-Generation HPC and Mobile Applications

HSINCHU, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TSMC (TSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today announced the Open Innovation Platform (OIP) 3DFabric Alliance at the 2022 Open Innovation Platform Ecosystem Forum. The new TSMC 3DFabric Alliance is TSMCs sixth OIP Alliance and the first of its kind in the semiconductor industry that joins forces with partners to accelerate 3D IC ecosystem innovation and readiness, with a full spectrum of best-in-class solutions and services for semiconductor design, memory modules, substrate technology, testing, manufacturing, and packaging. This alliance will help customers achieve speedy implementation of silicon and system-level innovations and enable next-generation HPC and mobile applications using TSMCs 3DFabric technologies, a comprehensive family of 3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies.

3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies open the door to a new era of chip-level and system-level innovation, and also require extensive ecosystem collaboration to help designers navigate the best path through the myriad options and approaches available to them, said Dr. L.C. Lu, TSMC fellow and vice president of design and technology platform. Through the collective leadership of TSMC and our ecosystem partners, our 3DFabric Alliance offers customers an easy and flexible way to unlocking the power of 3D IC in their designs, and we cant wait to see the innovations they can create with our 3DFabric technologies.

As a pioneer in both chiplets and 3D silicon stacking, AMD is excited about the introduction of TSMCs 3DFabric Alliance and the vital role it will play in accelerating system-level innovation, said AMD senior vice president of technology & product engineering Mark Fuselier. Weve already seen the benefits of working with TSMC and its OIP partners on the worlds first TSMC-SoIC-based CPUs, and were looking forward to collaborating even more closely to drive the development of a robust chiplet stacking ecosystem for future generations of energy-efficient, high-performance chips.

OIP 3DFabric Alliance

As the industrys most comprehensive and vibrant ecosystem, the TSMC OIP consists of six alliances: the EDA Alliance, IP Alliance, Design Center Alliance (DCA), Value Chain Alliance (VCA), Cloud Alliance, and now, the 3DFabric Alliance. TSMC launched OIP in 2008 to help customers overcome the rising challenges of semiconductor design complexity by creating a new paradigm of collaboration, organizing development and optimization across TSMCs technologies, electronic design automation (EDA), IP, and design methodology.

Partners of the new 3DFabric Alliance have early access to TSMCs 3DFabric technologies, enabling them to develop and optimize their solutions in parallel with TSMC. This gives customers a head start on their product development with early availability of the highest-quality, readily-available solutions and services from EDA and IP to DCA/VCA, Memory, OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test), Substrate, and Testing.

The Amazon Annapurna Labs team is responsible for building innovation in silicon for Amazon Web Services customers, and we have been collaborating with TSMC closely as we develop our AWS Trainium product using TSMCs advanced packaging technologies including CoWoS and its support infrastructure from architecture definition, package design, and process validation, to successful production, said Nafea Bshara, Amazon Web Services vice president and distinguished engineer. As a TSMC customer, we are pleased by the introduction of TSMCs OIP 3DFabric Alliance, which demonstrates TSMCs leadership and commitment to next-generation 3D IC design enablement.

New Collaboration with 3DFabric Alliance Partners

EDA partners have early access to the TSMC 3DFabric technologies for EDA tool development and enhancement to offer optimized EDA tools and design flows to enable 3D IC designs more efficiently.

partners have early access to the TSMC 3DFabric technologies for EDA tool development and enhancement to offer optimized EDA tools and design flows to enable 3D IC designs more efficiently. IP partners develop 3D IC IPs compliant with die-to-die interface standards and TSMC 3DFabric technologies to provide a broad variety of highest-quality, proven IP solutions for customers.

partners develop 3D IC IPs compliant with die-to-die interface standards and TSMC 3DFabric technologies to provide a broad variety of highest-quality, proven IP solutions for customers. DCA/VCA partners gain early collaboration with mutual customers in 3DFabric technologies and roadmap alignment with TSMC that will improve their service capability for 3DFabric design, IP integration, and production.

partners gain early collaboration with mutual customers in 3DFabric technologies and roadmap alignment with TSMC that will improve their service capability for 3DFabric design, IP integration, and production. Memory partners have early technology engagement to define specs and early alignment on engineering and technical criteria with TSMC that will shorten time-to-market for future HBM generations to meet 3D IC design requirements.

partners have early technology engagement to define specs and early alignment on engineering and technical criteria with TSMC that will shorten time-to-market for future HBM generations to meet 3D IC design requirements. OSAT partners supporting TSMCs production quality and technical requirements collaborate with TSMC to fulfill customers production demands with continuous improvements in all aspects of technology and production enablement and support.

partners supporting TSMCs production quality and technical requirements collaborate with TSMC to fulfill customers production demands with continuous improvements in all aspects of technology and production enablement and support. Substrate partners have early technology engagement and development with TSMC to meet future requirements of 3DFabric technologies that will improve substrate material quality, reliability, and new substrate integration to speed up production of customers 3D IC designs.

partners have early technology engagement and development with TSMC to meet future requirements of 3DFabric technologies that will improve substrate material quality, reliability, and new substrate integration to speed up production of customers 3D IC designs. Testing partners have early collaboration with TSMC to develop test and stress methodologies for TSMCs 3DFabric technologies, offering comprehensive coverage of reliability and quality requirements to help customers quickly launch their differentiated products.

NVIDIA has been manufacturing with TSMCs CoWoS technologies and supporting infrastructure for several generations of high-performance GPU products, said Joe Greco, senior vice president, advanced technology group, NVIDIA. TSMCs new 3DFabric Alliance will extend the technology to a broader set of products and an enhanced level of integration.

TSMC 3Dblox

To address the rising complexity of 3D IC design, TSMC introduced the TSMC 3Dblox standard to unify the design ecosystem with qualified EDA tools and flows for TSMC 3DFabric technology. The modularized TSMC 3Dblox standard is designed to model, in one format, the key physical stacking and the logical connectivity information in 3D IC designs. TSMC has worked with EDA partners in the 3DFabric alliance to enable 3Dblox for every aspect of 3D IC designs, including physical implementation, timing verification, physical verification, electro-migration IR drop (EMIR) analysis, thermal analysis, and more. TSMC 3Dblox is designed to maximize flexibility and ease of use, offering ultimate 3D IC design productivity.

TSMC 3DFabric Technologies

TSMC 3DFabric, a comprehensive family of 3D silicon stacking and advanced packaging technologies, further extends the Companys advanced semiconductor technology offerings to unleash system-level innovations. TSMCs 3DFabric consists of both frontend, 3D chip stacking or TSMC-SoIC (System on Integrated Chips), and backend technologies that include the CoWoS and InFO family of packaging technologies, enabling better performance, power, form factor, and functionality to realize system-level integrations. In addition to CoWoS and InFO that have been in volume production, TSMC also started TSMC-SoIC silicon stacking manufacturing in 2022. TSMC now has the worlds first fully automated fab for 3DFabric in Chunan, Taiwan that integrates advanced testing, TSMC-SoIC, and InFO operations together, offering the best flexibility for customers to optimize their packaging by leveraging better cycle time and quality control.

Alliance Member Quotes:

Advantest

Advantest has been actively working with TSMC in chip testing for many years, said Juergen Serrer, executive vice president of Advantests SoC business unit. Were excited about TSMCs new 3DFabric Alliance, and we look forward to collaborating on 3D-related chip testing such as power management, handling, design for test (DFT), and system-test at sort to fulfill customer demands.

Alchip

As an experienced, mass production 2.5D ASIC provider, Alchip looks forward to joining the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance, said Johnny Shen, president and CEO of Alchip Technologies. This new initiative solidifies TSMCs semiconductor leadership by providing strategic opportunities for leading-edge, high-performance ASIC companies to extend the most advanced packaging capabilities to innovative technology companies.

Alphawave

Alphawave IP is very excited to be a founding partner in the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance as die-to-die interconnects are a very promising technology that weve been investing in for a long time, said Tony Pialis, president and chief executive officer of Alphawave. TSMC is a long-time leader in building ecosystems that enable its customers to build the world's best semiconductor products and we look forward to working with TSMC in this new alliance to accelerate new technology and enable chiplet products to enter into the mainstream.

Amkor

Amkor, a leading OSAT provider, welcomes the creation of TSMCs OIP 3DFabric Alliance as a catalyst for closer collaboration among multiple partners from design to advanced packaging, assembly, and test. OSATs are a critical extension of TSMCs manufacturing and enable optimization of IC performance, power, and area (PPA), said Kevin Engel, corporate vice president flipchip and wafer level business unit at Amkor. Amkor is honored to join this Alliance to support industry growth vectors, such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, networking, and wireless communications.

Ansys

3D IC technology is triggering major changes in semiconductor design methods by blurring the distinction between chip design and system design, said John Lee, vice president and general manager of the semiconductor, electronics, and optics business unit at Ansys. With strong market positions in both semiconductor signoff and system level simulation, Ansys is well situated to collaborate with TSMCs 3DFabric Alliance in delivering proven solutions and open design platforms for 3D IC design to our mutual customers.

ARM

Chiplets will be increasingly prevalent in the next generation of compute solutions, and Arm Neoverse platforms adopt 2.5D and 3D design to enable high core counts and heterogenous combinations with a diversity of accelerators, memory, and IO, said Dermot ODriscoll, vice president of product management, infrastructure line of business, Arm. Arm is excited to join the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance to enable our mutual customers to innovate faster, with increased compute and cache resources optimized for yield and cost, allowing for silicon upgrades and reuse.

ASE

ASE is excited to be part of the TSMC 3DFabric Alliance, which will allow us to optimize our advanced packaging technologies together with other best-in-class partners within the 3D IC ecosystem, said Mike Hung, senior vice president of central engineering, ASE Inc. The exponential growth of the high-performance computing (HPC) market is accelerating the role of heterogeneous integration. ASE has already built a robust technology portfolio to help customers achieve superior computing performance and better power efficiency. Joining this new Alliance will augment our capability to offer customers complete turnkey services and bring their products to market faster.

Cadence

Over the years, Cadence has worked closely with TSMC on EDA and IP collaborations to enable customers to successfully leverage TSMC 3DFabric technologies, said Dr. Chin-Chi Teng, senior vice president and general manager of the digital & signoff group at Cadence. Our latest collaboration with TSMC includes EDA innovations on TSMC 3Dblox standard and the certification of the Integrity 3D IC platform, our unified 3D IC planning, implementation, and analysis solution. On IP, weve delivered the 40Gbps/channel Ultralink D2D PHY IP and the 112G-XSR PHY IP, illustrating a strong roadmap for the Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) standard for connecting chiplets. By joining the new OIP 3DFabric Alliance, were reinforcing our commitment to jointly advance design and analysis innovation across emerging multi-chiplet-based technologies for hyperscale computing, mobile, 5G, and AI applications.

GUC

We are looking forward to participating in TSMC 3DFabric Alliance at a time when advanced packaging technologies have begun a design revolution for HPC, AI, and network processors. Adopting TSMCs 3DFabric technologies such as TSMC-SoIC allows much more efficient connectivity for these designs, said Dr. Sean Tai, president of GUC. As a long-standing TSMC OIP partner, GUC has successfully developed a platform to shorten design cycles and allow for low risk, high yield production of ASICs adopting TSMC 2.5D and 3D technologies.

IBIDEN

The development of information and communication technology requires further integration and performance improvement of semiconductors, said Mr. Koji Kawashima, director & senior executive officer at IBIDEN. IBIDEN welcomes TSMCs initiative to launch the 3DFabric Alliance to further develop 3D packaging technology and will contribute to product realization in cooperation with joint partners.

Micron

Micron has been working closely with TSMC in previous and current High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction, said Akshay Singh, vice president of advanced packaging technology development at Micron. Micron is excited to join TSMCs OIP 3DFabric Alliance and will help expand the scope with deeper collaboration in the delivery of solutions for future HBM generations to support customers success in system product innovations.

Samsung Memory

Samsung Memory has been in close collaboration with TSMC in previous and current HBM generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction, said Kyungsoo Ha, vice president of memory product planning group, Samsung Electronics. Samsung Memory joining TSMCs OIP 3DFabric Alliance will further expand the scope of work and delivery of solutions for future HBM generations to help customers unleash system-level innovations.

Siemens

Siemens EDA has worked closely with TSMC for years to qualify more of our industry-leading tools and flows, as demand for sophisticated 3D IC design solutions has grown over time, said Joe Sawicki, executive vice president of IC-EDA for Siemens Digital Industries Software. Today, that work has been formalized by Siemens extending its partnership with TSMC to now include participation in the foundry's new OIP 3DFabric Alliance. We look forward to continuing to deliver highly innovative new products and flows for our mutual customers to use in their design of 3D IC technology solutions.

Silicon Creations

We recognize the importance of 3D stacking and advanced packaging technologies in enabling continued performance increases and cost management for leading integrated circuit products, said Randy Caplan, principal/co-founder of Silicon Creations. As a leading supplier of clocking and interconnect solutions for TSMCs leading process technologies, Silicon Creations is proud to join other top silicon IP providers as founding members of TSMCs 3DFabric Alliance to provide robust IP solutions for the adaptive clocks demanded by stacked die.

Siliconware Precision Industries

As a leading provider of assembly and test, we are consistently collaborating with TSMC and are excited to join the new 3DFabric Alliance to enable system innovation and cutting-edge technology, said Dr. Yu-Po Wang, vice president of corporate R & D, Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd. By utilizing top notch 3DFabric technologies, the flexible silicon stacking and modularity enable the best value for the product and customer.

SK hynix

SK hynix has been working closely with TSMC in previous and current HBM generations for CoWoS process compatibility and HBM interaction, said Dr. Kangwook Lee, senior vice president, head of PKG development at SK hynix. By joining the new 3DFabric Alliance, SK hynix is engaging in even deeper collaboration with TSMC to deliver solutions for future HBM generations and enable system product innovations.

Synopsys

Through the new 3DFabric Alliance, Synopsys and TSMC are accelerating multi-die system design for cost-effective integration, optimized performance and energy efficiency, said Sassine Ghazi, president and chief operating officer at Synopsys. We bring unified EDA and system design solutions and an IP portfolio that is the broadest in the industry. And together with TSMCs 3DFabric technologies, were enabling our mutual customers to efficiently handle all aspects of multi-die design and heterogeneous integration to support advanced packaging for complex, compute-intensive applications.

Teradyne

Teradyne is excited to be a founding member of TSMCs 3DFabric Alliance, said Regan Mills, vice president of SoC marketing at Teradyne. Early collaboration with TSMC and other alliance members will ensure the development of new, comprehensive test methodologies, accelerating readiness of the ecosystem and enabling faster time to market all while meeting or exceeding stringent quality objectives.

Unimicron

With a goal of being the global leading substrate supplier, Unimicron is dedicated to quality-adhered production and customer-oriented service, said Unimicron Chairman T.J. Tseng. It's our great pleasure to join TSMCs new 3DFabric Alliance. As a member of the Alliance, Unimicron has been given the opportunity to contribute to the innovation of packaging technologies, and to develop and optimize advanced solutions in parallel with other semiconductor and tech leaders. Together with TSMC, we will provide our mutual customers with high-quality solutions in a timely manner.

About TSMC Open Innovation Platform (OIP)

TSMC launched the Open Innovation Platform in 2008 to reduce design barriers and promote the speedy implementation of innovation in the semiconductor design community by bringing together the creative thinking of customers and partners. TSMCs Open Innovation Platform (OIP) brings together the creative thinking of customers and partners under the common goal of shortening design time, time-to-volume, time-to-market and ultimately, time-to-revenue. The TSMC OIP features the most comprehensive design ecosystem alliance programs covering industry-leading EDA, library, IPs, Cloud, and design service partners. TSMC has worked closely with these ecosystem partners ever since the Company was established and continues to expand its libraries and silicon IP portfolio to more than 55,000 IP titles and provides more than 43,000 technology files and over 2,900 process design kits, from 0.5-micron to 3-nanometer, to customers.

About TSMC

TSMC pioneered the pure-play foundry business model when it was founded in 1987 and has been the worlds leading dedicated semiconductor foundry ever since. The Company supports a thriving ecosystem of global customers and partners with the industrys leading process technologies and portfolio of design enablement solutions to unleash innovation for the global semiconductor industry. With global operations spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, TSMC serves as a committed corporate citizen around the world.

TSMC deployed 291 distinct process technologies and manufactured 12,302 products for 535 customers in 2021 by providing broadest range of advanced, specialty, and advanced packaging technology services. TSMC is the first foundry to provide 5-nanometer production capabilities, the most advanced semiconductor process technology available in the world. The Company is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan. For more information, please visit https://www.tsmc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005633/en/

TSMC Spokesperson:

Wendell Huang

Vice President and CFO

Tel: 886-3-505-5901

Media Contacts:

Nina Kao

Head of Public Relations

Tel: 886-3-563-6688 ext.7125036

Mobile: 886-988-239-163

E-Mail: [email protected]

Tiffany Yang

Public Relations Manager

Tel: 1-408-382-7934

E-Mail: [email protected]

Source: TSMC
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Urban Edge Properties (NYSE: UE) announced today that it has signed a 139,000 square foot lease with Target for a general merchandise store at Bruckner Commons in The Bronx, New York. Located at the intersection of the Bruckner Expressway (I-287) and White Plains Road, Bruckner Commons serves over 700,000 people living within three miles of the property and is easily accessible to the 80,000 vehicles that pass the property each day.

The Target lease furthers the overall transformation of Bruckner Commons from a 1970s era shopping center to a marquee 510,000 square foot center of commerce merchandised with best-in-class retailers including ShopRite, Marshalls, Burlington, and Five Below.

Bruckner Commons is a great example of how we improve communities by transforming retail properties in densely populated, underserved markets such as The Bronx. Adding Target to this highly trafficked property secures its position as one of the top retail destinations in the New York Metropolitan area, said Scott Auster, Senior Vice President and Head of Leasing at Urban Edge.

ABOUT URBAN EDGE PROPERTIES

Urban Edge Properties is a NYSE listed real estate investment trust focused on managing, acquiring, developing, and redeveloping retail real estate in urban communities, primarily in the Washington, D.C. to Boston corridor. Urban Edge owns 76 properties totaling 17.2 million square feet of gross leasable area.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006039/en/

Mark Langer, EVP and

Chief Financial Officer

212-956-2556

Source: Urban Edge Properties
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate at sunset in Midland, Texas, U.S., February 11, 2019. Picture taken February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Nick Oxford/File Photo

By David Gaffen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices surged nearly 3% on Wednesday, bolstered by record U.S. crude exports and as the nation's refiners operated at higher-than-usual levels for this time of year.

The dollar's weakness added support, as the greenback's strength of late has been a notable factor inhibiting oil market gains.

Brent crude futures settled up $2.17, or 2.3%, to $95.69 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.59, or 3%, to $87.91.

The U.S. dollar fell 1.2%, making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. The U.S. greenback has been stronger than other key foreign currencies as the U.S. Federal Reserve has been more aggressive about raising rates. [USD/]

"Across the board this is a dollar-denominated move, and if you try to read outside out of that, its foolish," said Eli Tesfaye, senior market strategist at RJO Futures.

U.S. crude stocks rose 2.6 million barrels last week, according to weekly government data, more than anticipated, but that was lower than industry figures, which showed a 4.5 million-barrel build.

Crude exports rose to 5.1 million barrels a day, the most ever, dropping net U.S. crude imports to their lowest in history.

"Overall, thanks to the export market, this turns into a bullish report despite a medium-sized build in commercial crude inventories," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York.

Traders attributed the surge in exports to the widened WTI-Brent spread, which, coming into Wednesday's trade, was at more than $8 per barrel.

U.S. refining rates remained steady at nearly 89% of capacity, the highest for this time of year since 2018.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries surprised markets with a larger-than-expected cut to its output targets earlier this month. Oil analysts anticipate supply will tighten in coming months after that move, and as Europe is expected next month to ban oil imports from Russia and restrict Russian shippers from the global shipping insurance industry.

That ban may tighten world shipping markets, which could also increase the price of oil. Many analysts believe Russia will be able to circumvent the measures, but it could still cause Moscow to shut between 1 million and 2 million barrels of daily production; it could as well hit the distillates markets.

"Until 2024 we believe oil price will be strongly influenced by the availability of tankers that are willing to transport Russian oil rather than global supply-demand fundamentals, keeping oil price elevated," JP Morgan analysts wrote.

(Reporting by David Gaffen; Additional reporting by Laura Sanicola, Shadia Nasralla and Rowena Edwards; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Cynthia Osterman)
The Board of Directors of AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE: American AIM) today issued a letter to shareholders to correct the record around recent false and misleading statements made by Jonathan Jorgl and other members of an activist group, who have attempted to nominate two director candidates for election as directors at the Companys 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and are seeking to take control of the Board.

The full text of the letter follows:

October 26, 2022

Dear fellow shareholders:

We are writing to you today to set the record straight following the web of false and misleading statements made recently by a group of individuals that is trying to take control of the Board of Directors (the Board) of AIM ImmunoTech (the Activist Group). Key facts that the Activist Group is concealing include:

The fact that its campaign to gain control of AIM has been orchestrated by an individual  Franz Tudor  who has been convicted of insider trading and is being funded by another individual  Michael Xirinachs  who recently pled guilty to wire fraud. After Tudor determined to seek control via a proxy contest and selected the director nominees, he and his nominees searched for someone to buy AIM stock and serve as the face of the effort because the Activist Group wanted to hide the involvement of criminals (i.e., Tudor and Xirinachs). The Activist Group intends to potentially acquire AIM, merge it with another company or sell all or part of the Company.

Given that these facts only came out in the context of expedited litigation in which the Activist Group tried to prevent and evade discovery, shareholders should ask themselves what else this group may be hiding.

As you may know, our 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2022. Jonathan Jorgl, the face of the Activist Group, who personally owns only 1,000 shares of AIM and purchased them in late June 2022, has attempted to nominate two director candidates  Robert Chioini and Michael Rice  for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. If these two individuals were elected, they would control the Board and the Company.

Shareholders have the right to nominate director candidates for election to the Board, but are required to comply with AIMs bylaws. Like many companies, AIM has bylaw provisions in place to ensure that shareholders nominating director candidates present sufficient information for the Board to assess the nominations and to allow other investors to make informed decisions when they vote. In this case, the Activist Group did not provide this required information and, alarmingly, appears to have concealed myriad facts about its actions, funding, associates and intentions.

After careful deliberation, the Board unanimously determined that these nominations did not comply with AIMs bylaws and were invalid. Jorgl is attempting to fight this determination in a case currently pending before the Delaware Court of Chancery. On October 5, 2022, the Delaware Court held a hearing on Jorgls request for a preliminary injunction. The Court has not yet ruled, but the Company anticipates that the Court will be issuing its decision in advance of the Annual Meeting. Unless the result of the Delaware litigation is that the nominations are valid, all proxies submitted by the Activist Group at the Annual Meeting will be disregarded.

The Activist Group has cherry-picked and distorted information from the litigation discovery and has attempted to create a smokescreen to hide its true intentions. The Company believes the Activist Group is spreading misinformation about the Company, its directors and its progress, including through numerous misleading StockTwits posts by Tudor under his handle beaufordb (which he conceded during a deposition belongs to him). It is important that shareholders understand the truth and are not misled by those who do not share their interests.

Fortunately for all shareholders, a great deal of information has come to light as a result of the Activist Groups lawsuit against the Company. These facts reveal the true picture:

A convicted criminal , Franz Tudor, initiated the Activist Group campaign and selected the nominees,

The campaign is being funded by another criminal , Michael Xirinachs, who recently pled guilty to wire fraud,

Jorgl is merely serving as the face of the group to conceal the significant roles of the criminals, and

The Activist Group has plans to take control of the Companys Board for purposes at odds with the best interests of all shareholders.

Please consider the following:

The Activist Groups Campaign Was Orchestrated by Undisclosed Individuals  Including Two Convicted Criminals  Who Have Been Trying to Take Control of AIM for Years

From the start, Jorgl failed to disclose that he was making his nominations on behalf of and in concert with other individuals, including Tudor, Ted Kellner, Todd Deutsch and Walter Lautz  who had been conspiring for years to influence control of AIM and profit through stock manipulation efforts.

Tudor is a convicted insider trader who has been improperly interfering with AIMs business relations and seeking to disrupt AIM for approximately two years  ever since AIM declined his bid in 2020 to be hired as an international business development consultant to the Company. His harassment of AIM and attempts to interfere with its business relations became so extreme that AIM successfully obtained an injunction against Tudor in Marion County, Florida in August 2021.

As early as December 2021, Tudor and Lautz were working to find an activist front man to remove AIM President, CEO and director Thomas Equels and the other members of the Board from AIM, as shown in their private communications:

[T]his board needs to be ousted

[W]e need to find a way to get Tom [Equels] ousted



Prior to Jorgl submitting his nominations, Tudor worked with Lautz to present a proposal to AIM to nominate Chioini (later one of Jorgls nominees) and Daniel Ring as candidates for the Board. After that invalid proposal and its purported nominations were properly rejected, Tudor emailed AIMs outside IR firm and said you now get gloves off.

Jorgl is Merely the Face of the Activist Groups Campaign  Which is Financially Supported by Michael Xirinachs, Who Owns No AIM Stock and Recently Pled Guilty to Wire Fraud

In his nomination notice, Jorgl did not include the true arrangements and motivations behind the nominations. Discovery in the Delaware litigation brought to light numerous items that were omitted.

In early June 2022, Tudor sent an email to Deutsch stating that Tudor had two candidates to run and get control of the BOD, and further informing Deutsch that I have a shareholder who is will[ing] [sic] to have their name as the lead but that he had not yet been able to find someone to finance the effort.

In June of 2022, Lautz texted Tudor indicating that Lautz could no longer be  the face of the activist undertaking.

Lautz followed up several days later asking Tudor were you able to find someone to be the face of the activist?

of the activist undertaking.

Days later, the Activist Group learned that Jorgl, who owned no AIM stock, was willing to be the face of its endeavor. Chioini texted Rice:

[w]e really need to get [Jorgl] b[u]y the shares today every day matters.

Try to get him to do it in the next 40 minutes. Its probably very important. And Ill jump on the phone with them and talk to the guy if he wants.

I [am] burning a Cuban limited edition Hoyo de Monterrey [cigar] sitting on my dock in the 87 [degree] heat under the sun. The same thing were going to do when we celebrate winning board seats taking control of the company .



Finally, discovery revealed that Michael Xirinachs  whose involvement Jorgl did not initially disclose  was actively involved with the activist effort for months. Xirinachs recently pled guilty to criminal charges of wire fraud relating to fraudulent securities trading and promotion and material misrepresentations to investors and misuse of funds . According to the Activist Groups definitive proxy statement, Xirinachs was sentenced by a federal court on June 13, 2022 to three years of probation and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution.

Email communications produced in discovery show that Xirinachs began discussing AIM with the Activist Group as early as April 29, 2022, less than two months before his sentencing for wire fraud in connection with penny stock manipulation. Xirinachs subsequently agreed to fund the effort to take over AIM .

Xirinachs was deeply involved in the scheme nearly two months before the Activist Group identified Jorgl to serve as the face of the efforts.

Initially, the Activist Group tried to construct a fiction that an entity called River Rock Advisors was funding the nomination efforts and stated in a press release that River Rock would be participating in the solicitation. But discovery revealed that River Rock had no funds and that Xirinachs is secretly funding some or all of the groups efforts, leading to the Activist Group having to finally disclose Xirinachs role in its proxy statement.

. According to the Activist Groups definitive proxy statement, Xirinachs was sentenced by a federal court on June 13, 2022 to three years of probation and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution.

The Activist Group Has Nefarious Intentions

Perhaps most damning for the Activist Groups campaign is that discovery has revealed it is hiding its true intentions for the Company.

The Company received additional evidence in the litigation that the Activist Group includes other undisclosed AIM shareholders with significant ownership in likely violation of the federal securities laws. This evidence included handwritten notes belonging to Ted Kellner that, in reference to 2022 conversations with Todd Deutsch and others, estimate that their undisclosed group had significant aggregate beneficial ownership over AIM shares:

Thought collectively we had 20 percent



What do we own? 15 to 18 percent. Franz Tudor? Who wrote this [memo on AIM]? Franz

With this context, it is no surprise that despite owning just 1,000 shares acquired for $870, Jorgl and the members of the Activist Group that have been disclosed have said they will spend nearly 1,000 times that (approximately $850,000) on its campaign to take control of the Board.

As to what the Activist Group might do if it is successful, Xirinachs stated in a July 2022 email to Chioini:

The way I hope this all plays out is we get control of AIM  we continue to look for opportunities to either acquire, (to spin off at a later time), license technology, or possibly merge with.

Xirinachs twice refers to Jorgls nominees as our slate.

The AIM Board Has Successfully Executed on a Multi-Year Turnaround Plan and the Company Has Significant Momentum

The incumbent AIM Board has overseen the Companys successful efforts to overcome multiple obstacles, keep the lights on when there was no money, improve its financial condition and set the Company on a path towards long-term shareholder value creation.

In 2015, AIM was in crisis: cash was extremely low, the NYSE threatened to delist AIMs stock because it was trading under $0.20 per share, and auditors questioned AIMs going-concern status. The Companys supply of its primary drug, Ampligen, was perilously low and there were no clinical trials in the works.

Then, in 2016, the current members of the Board put in place a plan to contain expenses, including through reworking and in numerous instances deferring executive and director compensation, and to increase cash reserves to manufacture Ampligen. The turnaround plan has been successful. Ampligen is now in adequate supply, AIM is conducting several clinical trials and results to date are promising, establishing the drugs potential in multiple applications.

We have achieved multiple potentially game-changing clinical and regulatory milestones this year, and expect this positive momentum to continue throughout the rest of 2022 and into next year. These include the following:

Extremely positive data from a single-center named patient program was published in March 2022. The manuscript titled,  Rintatolimod (Ampligen) enhances numbers of peripheral B cells and is associated with longer survival in patients with locally advanced and metastasized pancreatic cancer pre-treated with FOLFIRINOX: a single-center named patient program , was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Cancers Special Issue: Combination and Innovative Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer .

Presented positive data in an abstract at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 which shows significant survival advantage when Ampligen is combined with Keytruda in advanced recurrent ovarian cancer.

We received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the FDAs Clinical Hold on AIMs investigational new drug (IND) application for a Phase 2 study of Ampligen as a therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (AMP-270) had been lifted and the Company may proceed with the study.

On July 28, 2022, we reported positive preliminary pilot study data from our ongoing Expanded Access Program (AMP-511) evaluating Ampligen in patients with chronic fatigue symptoms following COVID infections (a form of Long COVID).

Subsequent to the positive results in AMP-511, on October 12, 2022, we reported that the FDA had authorized AIM to proceed with a Phase 2 study evaluating Ampligen as a therapeutic for patients with post-COVID conditions (AMP-518).



Your Board has the right experience, skill sets and deep knowledge of the Company and its drug candidates to continue overseeing the successful execution of our strategy to deliver therapies for patients and value for our shareholders.

Stewart L. Appelrouth is a certified public accountant with over 40 years of accounting and audit experience. He serves as head of the Boards audit committee and brings important leadership, industry, financial and regulatory expertise, including having served as a FINRA Arbitrator.

Thomas K. Equels, M.S., J.D. , Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, has decades of experience as a practicing attorney specializing in complex business litigation. He also has extensive experience in clinical trial design and development, creating intellectual property concepts, and in financing drug development  as well as industry legal experience.

Dr. William M. Mitchell, Chairman, has extensive medical industry experience, including as a Professor of Pathology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, a board-certified physician and a former member of the Board of Directors of Chronix Biomedical, a company involved in next generation DNA sequencing for medical diagnostics. Dr. Mitchell is the inventor of record on numerous U.S. and international patents and is experienced in regulatory affairs through filings with the FDA.



We appreciate your support and investment in the Company. As described above, the Activist Groups actions have created much noise and distraction around this years Annual Meeting. We urge you to listen to the facts and recognize that the Activist Groups best interests are not aligned with yours.

Please ignore any proxy materials you receive from the Activist Group and vote on the Companys WHITE proxy card for your current highly qualified directors to protect your investment.

Sincerely,

The AIM ImmunoTech Board of Directors

WE URGE YOU TO COMPLETE, DATE, AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED, OR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET AS INSTRUCTED ON THE WHITE PROXY CARD, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL OF OUR BOARDS NOMINEES

(STEWART L. APPELROUTH, THOMAS K. EQUELS AND WILLIAM M. MITCHELL)

ON PROPOSAL 1 USING THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD.

If you have any questions or need assistance voting, please contact the Companys proxy solicitor Morrow Sodali LLC (Morrow Sodali) using the below information.

Morrow Sodali

509 Madison Avenue

Suite 1206

New York, NY 10022

Banks and Brokers Call: (203) 658-9400

Shareholders Call Toll Free: (800) 662-5200

E-mail: [email protected]

About AIM ImmunoTech Inc.

AIM ImmunoTech Inc. is an immuno-pharma company focused on the research and development of therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancers, immune disorders, and viral diseases, including COVID-19. The Companys lead product, Ampligen (rintatolimod) is an immuno-modulator with broad spectrum activity being developed for globally important cancers, viral diseases and disorders of the immune system.

Ampligen is currently being used as a monotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer patients in an Early Access Program (EAP) approved by the Inspectorate of Healthcare in the Netherlands at Erasmus Medical Center and AIM plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in 2022. The Company also has multiple ongoing clinical trials to evaluate Ampligen as a combinational therapy for the treatment of a variety of solid tumor types both underway and planned at major cancer research centers. Additionally, Ampligen is approved in Argentina for the treatment of severe chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and is currently being evaluated in many aspects of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and Post COVID Conditions.

For more information, please visit aimimmuno.com and connect with the Company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as believes, hopes, intends, estimates, expects, projects, plans, anticipates and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Companys forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and actual results could vary materially from those contained in or expressed by such statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. The Company urges investors to consider specifically the various risk factors identified in its most recent Form 10-K, and any risk factors or cautionary statements included in any subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006042/en/

Investors:



JTC Team, LLC



Jenene Thomas



833-475-8247



[email protected]

OR

Morrow Sodali



[email protected]

Media:

Longacre Square Partners



Dan Zacchei / Joe Germani



[email protected] / [email protected]

Source: AIM ImmunoTech Inc.
Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 10,100,000 shares of its common stock, all of which are being offered in connection with the forward sale agreements described below, at a public offering price of $43.00 per share. The offering is expected to close on October 28, 2022, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing.

Barclays and J.P. Morgan are acting as the joint lead book-running managers for the offering. BofA Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are book-running managers and Guggenheim Securities, and Siebert Williams Shank are co-managers for the offering. In connection with the offering of shares of common stock, the Company entered into forward sale agreements with each of Barclays Bank PLC and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (or affiliates thereof) (which the Company refers to as the "forward purchasers"), with respect to 10,100,000 shares of the Company's common stock.

The underwriters of the offering also have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,515,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock. If the option to purchase additional shares of the Company's common stock is exercised, the Company expects to enter into one or more additional forward sale agreements with the forward purchasers in respect of the number of shares of the Company's common stock that are subject to exercise of the option to purchase additional shares.

In connection with the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements, the forward purchasers (or their affiliates) are expected to borrow from third parties and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 10,100,000 shares of the Company's common stock (or an aggregate of 11,615,000 shares of the Company's common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). However, a forward purchaser (or its affiliate) is not required to borrow such shares if, after using commercially reasonable efforts, such forward purchaser is unable to borrow such shares, or if borrowing costs exceed a specified threshold. If a forward purchaser (or its affiliate) does not deliver and sell all of the shares of the Company's common stock to be sold by it to the underwriters, the Company will issue and sell to the underwriters a number of shares of its common stock equal to the number of shares that such forward purchaser (or its affiliate) does not deliver and sell, and the number of shares underlying the relevant forward sale agreement or such additional forward sale agreement will be decreased by the number of shares that the Company issues and sells.

Pursuant to the terms of the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements, and subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, the Company intends to issue and sell, upon physical settlement of the forward sale agreements or any additional forward sale agreements up to an aggregate of 10,100,000 shares of common stock (or an aggregate of up to 11,615,000 shares of common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) to the forward purchasers. The Company expects to physically settle the forward sale agreements and any additional forward sale agreements in full on one or more dates no later than 24 months from the date of the preliminary prospectus supplement.

The Company will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of its common stock by the forward purchasers (or affiliates thereof). The Company intends to allocate an amount equivalent to the net proceeds from this offering to finance, in whole or in part, one or more eligible green investments as defined in its Green Financing Framework. Pending allocation, the Company will manage any portion of the net proceeds that it receives, but has not yet been allocated to eligible investments, in accordance with its normal liquidity management practices. The Company expects to use a portion of the net proceeds that it will receive upon settlement of the forward sale agreements to repay outstanding indebtedness.

All of the shares of common stock will be offered under the Company's effective shelf registration statement that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website. When available, a copy of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (or by email at [email protected] or telephone at 1-888-603-5847); J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 (or by email at [email protected] or telephone at 1-866-803-9204); or by visiting the EDGAR database on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Portland General Electric Company

Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon. As of September 30, 2022, the company serves approximately 900,000 customers with a service area population of 1.9 million Oregonians in 51 cities. PGE owns 16 generation plants across Oregon and other Northwestern states and maintains and operates 14 public parks and recreation areas.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Statements in this news release that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, events and the like may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements related to PGE's expectations regarding the completion and timing of its proposed public offering, its expectations with respect to the expected physical settlement of the forward sale agreements, and use of proceeds, as well as other statements containing words such as "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "promises," "expects," "should," "conditioned upon," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. As a result, actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the company on the date hereof and such statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company expressly disclaims any current intention to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. Prospective investors should also review the risks, assumptions and uncertainties listed in the company's most recent annual report on form 10-K and in other documents that we file with the SEC, including management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the risks described therein from time to time.

Media Contact: Investor Contact: Nik Blosser Jardon Jaramillo Public Affairs Investor Relations Phone: 503-464-2388 Phone: 503-464-7051

Source: Portland General Company

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/portland-general-electric-company-announces-pricing-of-a-public-offering-of-10-100-000-shares-of-common-stock-301659903.html

SOURCE Portland General Company
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have reached a Tentative Agreement for a new contract to cover the Company's more than 8,000 Customer Service Employees.

"Our goal from the beginning has been to reach an agreement that rewards our Customer Service Employees for their many contributions to Southwest, while being mindful of needed efficiencies to keep our Company agile and competitive. We feel strongly this agreement does just that," said Adam Carlisle, Vice President Labor Relations at Southwest Airlines.

The Tentative Agreement covers Southwest's Customer Service Agents, Customer Representatives, and Source of Support Representatives, who are keenly focused on delivering world-class Hospitality and Customer Service. These valued Employees support Customers during their Southwest journey, whether that is taking a phone call to change a Customer's travel plans or assisting a Customer or Fellow Employee on the ground at one of the airports the Company serves.

The IAM will communicate to its membership the details of the Tentative Agreement and the ratification process.
FILE PHOTO: Ford logo is pictured at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany September 10, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo

By Paul Lienert and Joseph White

DETROIT (Reuters) -Ford Motor Co on Wednesday reported a third-quarter net loss driven by its decision to shift spending from the Argo AI self-driving business.

Ford's move, a sharp contrast with rival General Motors Co's decision to double down on investments in its Cruise robotaxi unit, highlights the pressure on automakers to make hard choices as the financial demands of shifting to electric vehicles continue to rise.

Both U.S. automakers continue to post heavy losses on automated-vehicle development.

Ford posted a net loss in the quarter of $827 million, after taking a $2.7 billion noncash pretax impairment on its investment in Argo AI.

Ford shares were down 1.6% in after-hours trading.

The automaker said Argo will be "wound down" and that "talented engineers" will be offered positions with Ford.

The other key investor in Pittsburgh-based Argo, Volkswagen AG, said it, too, expects to hire some personnel from Argo.

In a statement on Wednesday, Argo said it "will not continue on its mission as a company," a decision that was made "in coordination with our shareholders." It said some Argo employees will be let go.

Ford and VW each hold around 39% of Argo, with Lyft Inc owning about 2% and the rest held by Argo's founders and employees.

Chief Executive Jim Farley on Wednesday said Ford will shift its development focus away from fully self-driving systems developed by Argo to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) created internally at Ford. Such systems are partially automated but still require humans to stay engaged when a vehicle is moving.

"Profitable, fully autonomous vehicles at scale are a long way off and we wont necessarily have to create that technology ourselves," Farley said in a statement.

The U.S. automaker said third-quarter revenue jumped to $39.4 billion, up 10% from a year ago. Adjusted operating profit fell to $1.8 billion from $3.0 billion last year, but beat analysts' consensus estimate of $1.7 billion.

Adjusted operating earnings per share of 30 cents beat analysts' estimate of 27 cents.

Ford warned in mid-September that inflation-related supplier costs were running about $1 billion higher than expected.

GM on Tuesday reported a net profit of $3.3 billion on record third-quarter revenue of $41.9 billion. GM reaffirmed its guidance for full-year net income of $9.6 billion to $11.2 billion.

While GM executives were generally upbeat on the company's earnings call, Ford was more cautious.

Ford Chief Financial Officer John Lawler, in a briefing Wednesday, said: "We see the probability that we could move into a mild (or) moderate recession in the U.S. next year. We could potentially have a more substantial decline in Europe."

Ford said it expects full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes to rise to about $11.5 billion, up around 15% from a year ago, but at the low end of its previous guidance of $11.5 billion to $12.5 billion.

(Reporting by Joseph White and Paul Lienert in DetroitAdditional reporting by David Shepardson in WashingtonEditing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: The first Boeing 737 MAX 7 is unveiled in Renton, Washington, U.S. February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Redmond

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun on Wednesday said he is confident the planemaker will get an extension from the U.S. Congress of a key deadline to get the MAX 7 and MAX 10 certified.

Calhoun told CNBC he is confident "we will get an extension and that they will be certified as safe airplanes."

Boeing faces a late December deadline for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the MAX 7 and MAX 10 under existing rules. After that date, all planes must have modern cockpit alerting systems to be certified by the FAA, which would mean significant delays for the new MAX aircrafts' deployment unless Congress grants a waiver to extend the deadline.

Boeing said in a quarterly filing Wednesday it expects the 737 MAX 7 to be certified this year or in 2023 and the MAX 10 to begin FAA certification flight testing in 2022 or 2023 and enter service in 2023 or 2024.

Earlier this month, Republican Senator Roger Wicker unsuccessfully sought to attach an extension of the MAX deadline to September 2024 to a defense bill.

The requirements were adopted by Congress as part of certification reform passed after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people and led to the bestselling plane's 20-month grounding.

The FAA in an Oct. 12 letter said some key documents Boeing submitted in the agency's ongoing review of the MAX 7 are incomplete, while Boeing previously told the FAA it does not anticipate winning approval for the MAX 10 before next summer.

Calhoun warned in July could be forced to cancel the 737 Max 10 over potential regulatory issues. Boeing's filing said Wednesday that if the deadline was not extended and it did not win certification it might choose to discontinue the two planes.

Boeing has won a string of orders for the two variants of the MAX as it makes the case for an extension. On Wednesday Alaska Airlines exercised options to order an additional 42 MAX 10 planes.

Last week, United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby also backed the extension, saying it makes sense to have a common 737 alerting system. "It's a right safety outcome," Kirby told CNBC. "Changing the cockpit is a bad safety outcome."

United in 2017 ordered 100 MAX 10s. Without an extension United would convert some orders to MAX 8 and 9s, Kirby said, "and we're going to buy more Airbus 321 airplanes," which would impact Boeing's U.S. workers.

Calhoun said he did not "want to forecast dire outcomes but Scott's pretty right about what he sees."

Pilots are split, with the union representing Southwest Airlines pilots in support and the union representing American Airlines pilots opposed. Families of some MAX crash victims are also opposed.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick Zieminski)
FILE PHOTO: A logo of the Exxon Mobil Corp is seen at the Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp has made two new discoveries at the Sailfin-1 and Yarrow-1 wells in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana, the oil major said on Wednesday, potentially adding more barrels to one of the most closely watched new oil discoveries.

Exxon did not disclose how much crude oil or gas it estimates the new discoveries to contain.

Guyana amounts for one third of the crude discovered in the world since Exxon first hit oil in the country in 2015, according to Rystad consultancy firm.

The about 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil discovered prior to Wednesday's finds, should make the country a global oil power in the coming years, Rystad says.

Exxon and its partner Hess Corp said that the Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2, the first projects sanctioned offshore Guyana by the two companies, are producing above capacity and achieved an average of nearly 360,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in the third quarter.

The companies expect total production from Guyana to cross a million barrels per day by the end of this decade.

(This story has been corrected to remove reference to output increase in headline, add missing word in paragraph 1, and remove reference to output-hike forecast in paragraph 3)

(Reporting by Arunima Kumar and Shariq Khan in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Shailesh Kuber)
FILE PHOTO: An Argo Ai self driving prototype vehicle is seen outside a Ford and Volkswagen joint news conference in New York City, New York, U.S., July 12, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar

(Reuters) -Self-driving startup Argo AI will shut down operations and its employees and parts will be absorbed by its main backers, Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen AG, TechCrunch reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Argo employees were told that some of them would receive offers from the two automakers, TechCrunch said, adding that it was not clear how many employees would go to Ford, Volkswagen, or lose their jobs.

Ford did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Argo AI and Volkswagen declined to comment.

Argo AI in July said it had laid off about 150 employees as it made adjustments to its business plans. It still had over 2,000 employees globally after the job cuts.

Started in 2016, Pittsburgh-based Argo AI was developing the technology behind driverless vehicles. It had raised at least $3.6 billion in investments, mainly from Ford and Volkswagen.

(Reporting by Ruhi Soni in Bengaluru and Victoria Waldersee in Berlin; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
Professor Amnon Shashua, senior vice president at Intel Corporation and president and chief executive officer of Mobileye, and Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger celebrate after ringing the opening bell for Mobileye Global Inc., the self-driving unit of chip maker I

(Reuters) -Shares of Mobileye Global Inc are up 30% in early afternoon trading on Wednesday following its U.S. debut, valuing the self-driving technology unit of Intel Corp at $21.8 billion as investors lapped up what could be the last major IPO of 2022.

The debut comes after a turbulent period when Mobileye settled for merely a third of the $50 billion valuation it was targeting earlier in its IPO.

The valuation probably wasn't what we wanted it to be. But there was a lot of value in gaining that public company platform now, said Dan Galves, chief communications officer at Mobileye.

Galves added it is important for Mobileye to generate product visibility now as that filters back to customers. He pointed to the SuperVision product, launched with Zeeker last year, as a reason why it was the right time to go public.

U.S. IPOs are having one of their worst years on record, with traditional offerings on track to raise the least money in over two decades, according to Dealogic which tracks listing data going back to 1995.

Hundreds of companies have postponed IPO plans this year due to volatility in capital markets. Grocery delivery app Instacart has pulled its listing plans, Reuters reported last week, while social media giant Reddit, which confidentially filed for its IPO in December, has shown no signs of proceeding with it.

Before being acquired by chipmaker Intel in a $15.3 billion deal in 2017, Mobileye had been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2014.

Mobileye develops autonomous driving technologies and competes with Alphabet Inc's Waymo, General Motors Co's Cruise and other automakers who have moved to design in-house driving assistance technology.

Competition is getting fierce in the assisted driving market as Nvidia Corp and Qualcomm Inc both vie for automaker customers. Mobileye's Galves said based on its design wins with automakers, its assisted driving systems would be deployed in 270 million cars by 2030, although he did not give a dollar amount for that. He said even if Mobileye stopped winning new business today, that future volume projection would still hold, adding that the current business brings in an average $45-50 per car.

He added that there is an opportunity to increase the amount of revenue generated per vehicle going forward with increased technology. The self-driving company does not have a timing for significant amount of AVs on the road, he said.

Qualcomm said in September that its automotive business pipeline increased to $30 billion and Nvidia in March put its number at $11 billion. That number has been jumping strongly for both companies.

(Reporting by Echo Wang in New York, Jane Lanhee Lee in San Francisco, Niket Nishant in Bengaluru, Steven Scheer in Jerusalem and Joseph White in Detroit; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Josie Kao)
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) union, representing more than 6,000 members, said on Wednesday that workers voted against ratifying a national tentative agreement reached in mid-September, the second union not to approve the deal.

Previously six of 12 unions voted to approve the deal. The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), which representing freight railroads in labor talks, said Wednesday it was disappointed in the BRS vote, but both sides have agreed to maintain the status quo until early December.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWED), which represents more 11,000 workers, had already rejected the deal.

BMWED President Tony Cardwell said Wednesday members offered "numerous reasons they voted against the agreement, but the common thread was the lack of paid sick days." It proposed "members be provided a basic package of sick days."

NCCC said labor employees do get sick time but railroads and unions, including BMWED, "have repeatedly agreed that short-term absences would be unpaid in favor of higher compensation for days worked and more generous sickness benefits for longer absences."

The rail deal included a 24% percent wage increase over a five-year period from 2020 through 2024 as well $1,000 lump sum payments in each of the next five years.

About 60% of BRS members voting declined to approve the deal. BRS President Michael Baldwin said the railroads and PEB "both failed to recognize the safety-sensitive and highly stressful job BRS members perform each day to keep the railroad running and supply chain flowing."

The unions representing 115,000 workers at railroads including Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Kansas City Southern.

A rail shutdown could have frozen almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments by weight, stoked inflation, cost the American economy as much as $2 billion per day and unleashed a cascade of transport woes affecting U.S. energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and retail sectors.

The delayed deal in September prompted passenger railroad Amtrak to cancel long-distance trains in anticipation of a work stoppage.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Altisource Asset Management Corporation (AAMC or the Company) (NYSE American: AAMC) announced today that it will hold an investor call on November 2, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. EST to discuss its 2022 third quarter results. Please submit any questions in advance of the call to [email protected] prior to 4:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

For those who wish to participate, the domestic toll-free access number is 1-888-394-8218, or for international callers, 1-929-477-0402. We will also host a live webcast of the investor call on https://ir.altisourceamc.com/events-presentations. A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be found at https://ir.altisourceamc.com/events-presentations.

About AAMC

AAMC is an alternative lending company that provides liquidity and capital to under-served markets. We also continue to assess opportunities that could potentially be of long-term benefit to shareholders such as Crypto-ATMs.

Additional information is available at www.altisourceamc.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains 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, regarding managements beliefs, estimates, projections, anticipations, and assumptions with respect to, among other things, the Companys financial results, margins, employee costs, future operations, business plans, including its ability to sell loans and obtain funding, and investment strategies as well as industry and market conditions. These statements may be identified by words such as anticipate, intend, expect, may, could, should, would, plan, estimate, target, seek, believe, and other expressions or words of similar meaning. We caution that forward-looking statements are qualified by the existence of certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements may include, without limitation: our ability to develop our businesses and to make them successful or sustain the performance of any such businesses; our ability to purchase, originate, and sell loans; our ability to obtain funding, market and industry conditions, particularly with respect to industry margins for loan products we may purchase, originate, or sell; our ability to hire employees and the cost of hiring such employees; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Risk Factors and other sections described from time to time in the Companys current and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The statements made in this press release are current as of the date of this press release only. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or any other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Investor Relations T: +1-704-275-9113 E: [email protected]

Source: Altisource Asset Management Corporation
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) will host a webcast for Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) (the Fund) on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 4:30pm ET. PSG will provide an update on the Fund and on general market conditions.



There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the Fund during the call. Questions may also be submitted ahead of the call by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Registration and Webcast Link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1578335&tp_key=e4f3eea1b4

Audio Only Dial-In: +1 323-701-0225 or 888-394-8218

Participant Passcode (required): 9128736

A replay will be available via this link shortly following the webcast. A transcript of the call will also be available by calling 855-777-8001 or by sending an e-mail request to the Fund at [email protected] .

Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) is an SEC-registered investment adviser that represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, energy infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With approximately $22 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2022, PSG manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and individual investors. PSG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $750 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2022. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com.

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. is managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC. The Fund uses its website as a channel of distribution of material information about the Fund. Financial and other material information regarding the Fund is routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com.

COMPANY CONTACT

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.

Brookfield Place

250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10281-1023

(855) 777-8001

[email protected]

Investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Quasar Distributors, LLC, provides filing administration for Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cayuga Centers, a non-profit human services agency, will host an open house in its new Pittsburgh office location to celebrate 170 years of serving children and families in need and introduce the new office location to the community.

The open house will be at Cayuga Centers office in Pittsburgh on November 10, 2022, from 2-6 p.m. and kick off formally with a ribbon cutting at 3:30 p.m. facilitated in partnership with the Northside/North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

As we celebrate this major milestone for Cayuga Centers, we remember the children and families we have supported during our 170-year history, said Tara Skibiel, Director of Foster Care Services at Cayuga Centers. We are excited to debut our new Pittsburgh office and honored to extend our reach to serve the greater Pittsburgh community.

The event is open to the public, allowing members of the community to learn more about the program the agency offers in its Pittsburgh office. Cayuga Centers leaders, including Edward Myers Hayes, President and CEO of Cayuga Centers, will be there to meet and greet guests. Light refreshments will be available.

The office opened in January 2022 and serves the Allegheny County area, providing the Treatment Family Foster Care Program in contract with the Allegheny County Office of Children Youth and Families (CYF).

Cayuga Centers would like to thank the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) for their support of the services we provide families and children, as well as the Northside/North Shore Chamber of Commerce for helping us see this event to completion, said Skibiel.

Those interested in attending the open house and ribbon cutting can register here. Cayuga Centers Pittsburgh Office is located at 1010 Western Avenue, Fourth Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. To learn more about Cayuga Centers programs, visit www.cayugacenters.org.

About Cayuga CentersCayuga Centers is a nationally accredited and awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit, human services agency headquartered in Auburn, NY. Founded in 1852, the agency has delivered quality services by following the agencys core mission of helping individuals and families grow as independent, healthy, and productive citizens through quality counseling, out-of-home care, and support services. Cayuga Centers provides a continuum of support services nationally, with offices in over 10 cities. The agency specializes in providing individualized, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed support to diverse populations. Cayuga Centers currently serves 10,000 individuals and families annually. Visit www.cayugacenters.org to learn about its services, how to become a foster parent, and employment opportunities.

Media Contact:Jacalyn Lawton[email protected]

Source: Cayuga Centers
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Sky Lithium Corp. (CSE: POWR) (FRA: K4A / WKN: A3DM2W) (OTC: CSKYF) (Clear Sky or the Company), a mineral exploration and development company focused on American lithium deposits to support domestic demand, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mark Mukhija as a member of the board of directors with immediate effect.

Mr. Mukhija brings over 15 years of experience in the mining industry including roles with global mining companies such as Teck Resources, Barrick, BHP Billiton, and TransAlta. Since 2018, Mark has been the General Manager (Australia) for Motion Metrics, an industrial artificial intelligence and machine learning company catering to the mining industry with a specific focus on safety and productivity. Mr. Mukhija is responsible for the P&L, business development, project management, and logistics of the Motion Metrics (Australia) operations. With BHP Billiton, Mark was responsible for life of mine planning and asset value optimization. At TransAlta, Mr. Mukhija began as the Engineering Team Leader at the Sunhills Mine with 14 direct reports and then moved into a capital planning supervisory role where he was responsible for a $60mm annual capital expenditure budget for the operation. Mr. Mukhija is a Professional Engineer and graduate from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering (2003).

Company CEO, Patrick Morris notes, We look forward to working with Mark and welcome him to our project and team. He brings an outstanding industry perspective which is certain to boost the governance and oversight requirements so critical to a growing company. In the resource sector, assembling a strong board goes hand-in-hand with value creation, and we feel certain our partners and shareholders alike will be pleased by the impact our team will bring to this growing venture.

The Company advises that it has granted Director Mukhija 50,000 stock options (Options) exercisable for one common share of the Company at a price of $0.55 until October 25, 2024. The Options vest immediately and are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day.

Clear Sky Lithium advises the public that as part of its disclosure obligations as a public issuer, all material and regulatory filings can be found on www.sedar.com. We also invite the public to visit our website at www.clearskylithium.com and to sign up to our news alerts to be advised of future news releases and related company information. Please also ensure you watch our video which is available on the website.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors,Sincerely,

~Patrick Morris~

Patrick MorrisChief Executive Officer Clear Sky Lithium Corp.www.clearskylithium.com

About Clear Sky Lithium Corp. (CSE: POWR) (FRA: K4A / WKN: A3DM2W) (OTC: CSKYF)Clear Sky Lithium is an exploration and development company dedicated to the advancement of North American lithium deposits to support domestic demand. The Company holds interests on the Halo and Eli properties in Nevada. The Company is also focusing on the development of claystone extraction and processing technologies aimed at delivering scalable efficiencies across the value chain in a sustainable manner. Find out more visit www.clearskylithium.com and watch our video.

Forward Looking Information Disclaimer

This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives, or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as may, would, could, will, likely, except, anticipate, believe, intend, plan, forecast, project, estimate, outlook, or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the services to be provided by Mr. Mukhija and the benefits to the Company therefrom.

Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. The material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, key personnel and qualified employees continuing their involvement with the Company; the Companys ability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms; the competitive conditions of the sector in which the Company operates; and laws and any amendments thereto applicable to the Company.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks relating to the future business plans of the Company; risks that the Company will not be able to retain its key personnel; risks that the Company will not be able to secure financing on reasonable terms or at all, as well as all of the other risks as described in the Companys final long form prospectus dated May 31, 2022, under the heading Risks Factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Companys management to predict all such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Companys 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 information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Clear Sky Lithium Corp. Investor RelationsEmail: [email protected] Telephone: +1 (778) 383-7240

Source: Clear Sky Lithium Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Pacific Mining Corp (CSE: USGD / FWB: 1QC / OTCQX: USGDF) (American Pacific) and Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (Constantine) (TSXV: CEM) (OTCQX: CNSNF) announced today that Constantines Securityholders (as defined below) approved the previously announced acquisition of Constantine by American Pacific by way of a plan of arrangement (the Arrangement) at a special meeting of Securityholders held earlier today (the Meeting).

The special resolution approving the Arrangement was approved by (i) 98.92% of the votes cast by Constantines shareholders (the Constantine Shareholders) present or represented by proxy at the Meeting; (ii) 98.99% of the votes cast by Constantine Shareholders and optionholders of Constantine (collectively, the Securityholders), voting as a single class, present or represented by proxy at the Meeting; and (iii) 98.71% of votes cast by Constantine Shareholders other than votes attached to Constantine shares required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions.

Under the terms of the Arrangement, Constantine Shareholders will receive 0.881 common shares in the capital of American Pacific for each Constantine share held (the Consideration). Information regarding the procedure for exchange of shares for Consideration is provided in Constantines management information circular dated September 22, 2022 related to the Meeting (the Circular). The Circular and accompanying letter of transmittal are available under Constantines profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Constantines website at https://constantinemetals.com/investors/investor-centre/.

The Arrangement remains subject to approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary conditions. The Court hearing for the final order to approve the Arrangement is currently scheduled to take place on October 27, 2022 and closing of the Arrangement is expected to close on or around October 31, 2022. Following completion of the Arrangement, Constantine shares are expected to be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange. An application is also expected to be made for Constantine to cease to be a reporting issuer in the applicable jurisdictions following closing of the Arrangement.

Additional information regarding the terms of the Arrangement is set out in the Circular which is available under Constantines profile at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT CONSTANTINE

Constantine is a mineral exploration company led by an experienced and proven technical team with a focus on the Palmer Project, a copper-zinc-silver-gold-barite project being advanced as a joint venture between Constantine and Dowa Metals & Mining Co., Ltd., with Constantine as operator. The Palmer Project is a high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide-sulphate project located in a very accessible part of coastal Southeast Alaska, with road access to the project and within 60 kilometers of the year-round deep-sea port of Haines. Constantine is a reporting issuer in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario and its corporate head office is in Vancouver, BC. Constantines shares are listed on the TSXV under the symbol CEM, and trade on the OTCQX under the symbol CNSNF.

ABOUT AMERICAN PACIFIC

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a gold explorer focused on precious metal opportunities in the Western United States. The Madison Mine in Montana, under option to joint venture with Kennecott Exploration Company, is American Pacifics flagship asset. The Gooseberry Gold-Silver Project and the Tuscarora Gold Project are two high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA. American Pacifics mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

On Behalf of the Board of Constantine Metal Resources Ltd.

Garfield MacVeighPresident & CEO

Corporate Office: Suite 320  800 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 2V6 Canada

Investor Relations: [email protected] Phone: 1-604-629-2348

On Behalf of the Board of American Pacific Mining Corp.

Warwick SmithCEO & Director

Corporate Office: Suite 910  510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Investor Relations Contact:Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.,604.908.1695 / [email protected]

Media Relations Contact:Adam Bello, Primoris Group Inc.416.489.0092 / [email protected]

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, statements with respect to the consummation and timing of the Arrangement; the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent to the Arrangement; the Consideration to be received by Constantine Shareholders; the expected benefits of the Arrangement; the timing, receipt and anticipated approval of the Court, and of any other regulatory consents and approvals; the delisting of the Constantine shares; and that Constantine will cease to be a reporting issuer. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Constantine, including assumptions as to the ability of Constantine and American Pacific to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, Court and other third party approvals; the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to closing of the Arrangement in a timely manner and completion of the Arrangement on the expected terms; the expected adherence to the terms of the arrangement agreement, as assigned and amended (the Arrangement Agreement) and agreements related thereto; the adequacy of Constantines and American Pacifics financial resources; favourable equity and debt capital markets; and stability in financial capital markets. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Constantines actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Arrangement may not close when planned or at all or on the terms and conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement; the failure of Constantine and American Pacific to obtain the necessary regulatory, Court, and other third-party approvals, or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, in a timely manner, or at all, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all; changes in laws, regulations and government practices; if a third party makes a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), the Arrangement may not be completed and Constantine may be required to pay the Standard Termination Payment (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement); if the Constantine Arrangement Approval (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is not obtained at the Meeting, the Arrangement may not be completed and Constantine may be required to pay the Reduced Termination Payment (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement); if the Arrangement is not completed, and Constantine continues as an independent entity, there are risks that the announcement of the Arrangement and the dedication of substantial resources of Constantine to the completion of the Arrangement could have an impact on Constantines current business relationships and could have a material adverse effect on the current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of Constantine; future prices of silver, gold, copper, zinc and other commodities; market competition; and the geopolitical, economic, permitting legal climate that Constantine and American Pacific operate in; and the additional risks and uncertainties identified in Constantines filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) and with the SEC on EDGAR (available at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, Constantine does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Please Note: Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures in Constantine and American Pacifics annual and quarterly reports and other public filings, accessible through the Internet at www.sedar.com.

Source: American Pacific Mining Corp.
Mississauga, ON., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The world-renowned automotive technology and tire supplier Continental Tire has appointed Charles Holtmann as the new Managing Director of their tire division in Canada. Holtmann will manage sales and support for the multiple tire segments across the Canadian markets, including passenger and light truck, commercial and specialty, in addition to his role as head truck tire sales. Continental Tire Canada is a Continental AG sector and the head office for all tire-related sales and marketing activities within Canada.

Born in Winnipeg, Holtmann joined Continental AG in 2003 with the Industrial Tire business based in Hannover, Germany. Following his tenure in Germany, Holtmann held management positions in Southeast Asia and China before returning to Canada in 2019 to manage the Canadian Truck Tire Business. His career has seen an expansive view of the industry throughout multiple markets, from Asia to Europe, and he comes with an extensive portfolio of experience in various roles within the tire industry. Holtmann has shown leadership and effective management throughout his career and will continue to steer Continental Tire Canada toward success.

Im delighted to be in Canada and to continue driving the success story of our great products, brand and local team in the Marketplace.

Holtmann will succeed Matthew Livigni, who served as Managing Director at Continental Tire Canada for five years. Livigni has been with Continental for over 30 years and has seen many accomplishments throughout his career. Livigni will take on the role of General Market Manager for South Africa effective January 1, 2023.

Building the team, steering the business and serving on the TRAC board over the past 8 years in Canada have been some of the best years of my life and career. Said Matthew Livigni, Managing Director, Continental Tire Canada. I wish Charles all the best as I pass him the baton and am proud to leave him with one of the best teams in the Continental organization worldwide. Stated Livigni.

Holtmann will begin his new position on January 1, 2023.

About Continental

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2021, Continental generated sales of 33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets. On October 8, 2021, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary.

The Tires group sector has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 57,000 employees and posted sales of 11.8 billion in 2021 in this group sector. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the tire business includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.

Attachment

Brittany Jenkins Continental Tire Canada, Inc. 416-457-8267 [email protected]

Source: Continental Tire Canada, Inc.
WABASH, Ind., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFW Corporation (the Corporation) (OTC PINK: FFWC) (10/25/2022 Close: $45.46), parent corporation of Crossroads Bank (the Bank), announced earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Corporation reported net income of $1,623,000 or $1.42 per common share compared to $1,471,000 or $1.28 per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $4,376,000 compared to $3,813,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The provision for loan losses was $300,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and $50,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Total noninterest income was $1,026,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $1,213,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Noninterest expense was $3,191,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and $3,209,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

The three months ended September 30, 2022 represented a return on average common equity of 13.61% compared to 10.72% for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The three months ended September 30, 2022 represented a return on average assets of 1.21% compared to 1.17% for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of gross loans receivable was 1.24% at September 30, 2022 compared to 1.28% at June 30, 2022. Nonperforming assets were $2,035,000 at September 30, 2022 compared to $2,345,000 at June 30, 2022.

As of September 30, 2022, FFWCs equity-to-assets ratio was 8.23% compared to 8.72% at June 30, 2022. Total assets at September 30, 2022 were $527,573,000 compared to $534,918,000 at June 30, 2022. Shareholders equity was $43,444,000 at September 30, 2022 compared to $46,648,000 at June 30, 2022. Crossroads Bank exceeds all applicable regulatory requirements to be considered well capitalized.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include expressions such as expects, intends, believes, and should, which are necessarily statements of belief as to the expected outcomes of future events. Actual results could materially differ from those presented. The Corporation's ability to predict future results involves a number of risks and uncertainties. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Crossroads Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of FFW Corporation providing an extensive array of banking services and a wide range of investments and securities products through its main office in Wabash and six Indiana banking centers located in Columbia City, North Manchester, Peru, South Whitley, Syracuse and Warsaw. The Bank also provides leasing services at each of its banking centers. Insurance products are offered through an affiliated company, Insurance 1 Services, Inc. The Corporations stock is traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol FFWC. Our website address is www.crossroadsbanking.com. Crossroads Bank, Member FDIC.

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Balance Sheet

September 30 June 30 2022 2022 Unaudited Assets Cash and due from financial institutions $ 5,776,634 $ 7,122,187 Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions 10,849,260 48,456,109 Cash and cash equivalents 16,625,894 55,578,296 Securities available for sale 114,236,507 115,717,308 Loans held for sale 594,050 248,000 Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $4,625,109 at September 30, 2022 and $4,342,121 at June 30, 2022 366,890,844 335,672,317 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 1,289,700 1,289,700 Accrued interest receivable 2,274,881 2,105,470 Premises and equipment, net 8,416,156 8,481,385 Mortgage servicing rights 1,133,989 1,138,165 Cash surrender value of life insurance 9,846,096 9,767,792 Goodwill 1,213,898 1,213,898 Repossessed Assets 9,325 75,025 Other assets 5,041,538 3,630,737 Total assets $ 527,572,878 $ 534,918,093 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Deposits Noninterest-bearing $ 55,744,751 $ 55,960,708 Interest-bearing 424,962,052 428,550,708 Total deposits 480,706,803 484,511,416 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 3,422,327 3,758,195 Total liabilities 484,129,130 488,269,611 Shareholders' equity Common stock, $.01 par; 2,000,000 shares authorized; Issued: 1,836,328; outstanding: 1,130,963 - September 30, 2022 and 1,140,305 - June 30, 2022 18,363 18,363 Additional paid-in capital 9,980,148 9,940,774 Retained earnings 57,688,196 56,384,625 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (11,815,295 ) (7,726,089 ) Treasury stock, at cost: 705,365 shares at September 30, 2022 and 696,023 shares at June 30, 2022 (12,427,664 ) (11,969,191 ) Total shareholders' equity 43,443,748 46,648,482 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 527,572,878 $ 534,918,093

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Statement of Income

Three Months Ended September 30 2022 2021 Unaudited Unaudited Interest and dividend income: Loans, including fees $ 3,869,513 $ 3,392,516 Taxable securities 441,825 354,571 Tax exempt securities 451,630 414,258 Other 161,572 18,753 Total interest and dividend income 4,924,540 4,180,098 Interest expense: Deposits 548,353 366,671 Total interest expense 548,353 366,671 Net interest income 4,376,187 3,813,427 Provision for loan losses 300,000 50,000 Net interest income after provision for loan losses 4,076,187 3,763,427 Noninterest income: Net gains on sales of loans 68,146 282,663 Net gains (losses) on sales of REO 11,841 (7,016 ) Commission income 318,420 322,604 Service charges and fees 279,430 263,230 Earnings on life insurance 78,304 76,365 Other 269,796 275,308 Total noninterest income 1,025,937 1,213,154 Noninterest expense: Salaries and benefits 1,770,667 1,712,210 Occupancy and equipment 307,383 326,016 Professional 109,251 118,919 Marketing 93,974 112,368 Deposit insurance premium 38,000 33,000 Regulatory assessment 8,090 9,360 Correspondent bank charges 22,416 19,524 Data processing 331,142 419,272 Printing, postage and supplies 77,812 72,284 Expense on life insurance 22,099 21,432 Contribution expense 9,501 21,014 Expense on REO 4,783 (3,936 ) Other 395,580 347,038 Total noninterest expense 3,190,698 3,208,501 Income before income taxes 1,911,426 1,768,080 Income tax expense 288,387 297,536 Net income $ 1,623,039 $ 1,470,544

FFW Corporation Selected Financial Information

Key Balances and Ratios

Three Months Ended September 30 2022 2021 Unaudited Unaudited Per common share data: Earnings $ 1.42 $ 1.28 Diluted earnings $ 1.42 $ 1.28 Dividends paid $ 0.28 $ 0.26 Average shares issued and outstanding 1,140,413.0 1,145,204.0 Shares outstanding end of period 1,130,963.0 1,143,377.0 Supplemental data: Net interest margin ** 3.37 % 3.23 % Return on average assets *** 1.21 % 1.17 % Return on average common equity *** 13.61 % 10.72 % September 30 June 30 2022 2022 Nonperforming assets * $ 2,035,344 $ 2,344,693 Repossessed assets $ 9,325 $ 75,025 * Includes non-accruing loans, accruing loans delinquent more than 90 days and repossessed assets ** Yields reflected have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis *** Annualized

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Roger Cromer, President, at (260) 563-3185

Source: FFW Corporation
WILMINGTON, Mass., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heilind Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components and authorized distributor for Molex, is currently stocking Molexs Zero-Hachi 0.80mm Pitch Wire-to-Board Connector System.

Ideal for slimmer device form factors in consumer and industrial markets, the connector system is designed for applications such as AR/VR devices, gaming, mobile devices, smart home devices, and industrial UAVs. The Zero-Hachi Connector footprint is 40% smaller compared to other Molex 1.00mm pitch wire-to-board products.

Despite the reduction in size, the connector saves space without sacrificing reliability and connectivity. A fitting nail ensures PCB retention and defends against damage to the connector when the wires are pulled while the friction lock on the crimp housing provides extra confidence in mating retention.

The Zero-Hachi Connector offers a wide range of circuit sizes (2 to 20 circuits), and dual-point contact design secures electrical connections. The receptacle housing is designed to be easy to grip, despite its size, for usability.

Visit Heilinds website for more information about Molex Zero-Hachi 0.80mm Pitch Wire-to-Board Connector System.

About Heilind Electronics

Heilind Electronics, Inc. (https://www.heilind.com) is one of the world's leading distributors of connectors, relays, sensors, switches, thermal management and circuit protection products, terminal blocks, wire and cable, wiring accessories, and insulation and identification products. Founded in 1974, Heilind has locations throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China.

SOURCE: Heilind Electronics

Attachment

David Warren Heilind Electronics 972-489-4752 [email protected]

Source: Heilind Electronics
OWINGS MILLS, MD, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In November, Maryland Public Television (MPT) will offer 15 hours of programming devoted to the nation's military veterans and their families. The lineup includes the national television debut of the MPT-presented documentary P.O.W: Passing on Wisdom, on Friday, November 11, Veterans Day.For the past several years, MPT has been collaborating with producer 3 Penny Films, in association with the United States Naval Academy Foundation and Finnegan's Wake Films, to bring P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom to public TV stations nationwide.P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom shares the inspirational stories of Vietnam prisoners of war as they recall their experiences in surviving imprisonment and explores how these experiences can be used as a guide for anyone dealing with contemporary life challenges.

As the 50th anniversary of the homecoming of the Vietnam prisoners of war approaches (February 2023), the POWs who are interviewed express remarkable gratitude, having survived post-traumatic stress to achieve post-traumatic growth. They define themselves by the principles of leadership and camaraderie instilled at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and absorbed from their senior leaders during imprisonment. The film includes a look at USNA midshipmen in 2020, living through the challenge of a pandemic and applying the same principles as their Vietnam-era predecessors.

MPT will premiere the film on November 11 at 9 p.m. and air an encore on Sunday, November 13 at 5 p.m. Both broadcasts are on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at https://vimeo.com/754797854.

P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom is being presented nationally by Maryland Public Television through distribution by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

Among other productions on MPT's November schedule are:

Last Ring Home , the story of Lt. Minter Dials Annapolis Naval Academy ring that miraculously made its way home 17 years after he was killed as a Japanese POW in WWII. The film airs Friday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m. on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at minterdial.com/books/last-ring-home .

, the story of Lt. Minter Dials Annapolis Naval Academy ring that miraculously made its way home 17 years after he was killed as a Japanese POW in WWII. The film airs Friday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m. on MPT-HD. A film trailer is available at After Action, conversations with veterans reveal what life is like before, during, and after military action. It airs Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. on MPT2. A film trailer is available at pbs.org/show/after-action.

Other veterans-related productions are also viewable online. These streaming-only productions include The Misty Experiment: The Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail, True North: Sailing to Salvation, American Veteran, From Honor to Medal: The Story of Garlin M. Conner, Scattering CJ, Parables of War, and Known But To God.

Also available online is the three-hour 2016 documentary Maryland Vietnam War Stories, the award-winning production that marked the culmination of MPT's four-year salute to the state's Vietnam veterans.

The complete rundown of broadcast and online offerings can be found on MPT's website at mpt.org/veterans.

P.O.W.: Passing on Wisdom is a production of 3 Penny Films, in association with the United States Naval Academy Foundation and Finnegan's Wake Films.

# # #

Note to editors: Several former Vietnam War POWs and former midshipmen who appear in P.O.W: Passing on Wisdom are available for interviews.

About Maryland Public Television

Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy awards. MPTs commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPTs year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.

Attachments

Tom Williams Maryland Public Television 4105814031 [email protected]

Source: Maryland Public Television
PLEASANT GROVE, Utah, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- MojiLife (the Company), a leader in the direct selling fragrance sector, announces the appointment of Kristine Widtfeldt to serve as the president for its company.

Widtfeldts experience in the direct selling industry is extensive and has spanned over 20+ years. Widtfeldt has most recently been chief executive officer of a successful direct-sales decor company from its launch in 2017. Her experience has focused on strategic leadership that has driven profitability and progress for rapid, sustained growth for emerging companies. She is a proven achiever, competitor and relationship builder who excels in exceeding aggressive business goals and delivering bottom line results. Widtfeldts ability to understand todays volatile business conditions and insight to articulate a compelling vision and inspire teams to top performance, effectively communicate, define strategy, and develop tactical plans has led to her success in this marketplace.

With this appointment, MojiLifes CEO Darin Davis said, We are very excited to have Kristine lead our fragrance company, especially in light of our recent U.S. and international growth plans we have finalized. Since our partnership with Sharing Services Global Corporation, we have identified key talent for our organization and the guidance and advice in this sector has been tremendous. Our company is in growth mode and Kristine will be a big part of it.

Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG) President/CEO John JT Thatch said, "Kristines leadership skills with top field leaders and her executive experience in the business make her an ideal fit. We are excited to have her part of a company that we have an ownership interest in and will continue to support this growth as they expand globally.

I am honored and excited to work with the team at MojiLife and Sharing Services to lead this company which has so much untapped potential. Their patented technology, unique premium scents and commitment to purity and safety are compelling for everyone. I love the current product range and the exciting roadmap ahead--we envision MojiLife products enriching homes and lives worldwide, says Widtfeldt. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinewidtfeldt/

About MojiLifeThe AirMoji device, our flagship product offers the latest in innovative technology and design. Ready to scent your house or vehicle, the AirMoji features a modern, compact, wireless design that doesnt require open flames, heated light bulbs or melted wax. The company provides dozens of scented fragrances to use with the device. With its rechargeable battery its a safe, convenient way to scent your home, office, or any other place you choose. You can even use your smartphone and the Moji APP to create a schedule, adjust the settings and access features. AirMoji refreshes and invigorates any place with your favorite scent. www.Mojiproducts.com

About Sharing Services Global CorporationSharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG), formerly Sharing Services Inc., is a publicly traded diversified company dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition and development of innovative companies, products, and technologies. The Sharing Services combined platform leverages the capabilities and expertise of various companies that market and sell products direct to the consumer.Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG) Additional information is contained in the Companys 10-Q and 10-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Visit: www.SHRGInc.com

Forward-Looking StatementsThe statements contained in this press release, those which are not purely historical, or which depend upon future events, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future, including the Company's operating margin and rolling average annual growth in tangible book value per share, constitute forward-looking statements. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements because of various factors. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also consult the risks factors described from time to time in the Company's Reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders.

Company Contact:Sharing Services Global CorporationInvestor Relations(469) 304-9400 Ext 201[email protected]

Corporate Communications:InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)Los Angeles, Californiawww.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office[email protected]

Source: Sharing Services Global Corporation
On October 23, 2022, Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. (Sumitovant), in conjunction with parent company Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Pharma), and Myovant Sciences (Myovant) announced 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

Second fiscal quarter 2022 total revenue of $104.8 million; including net product revenue of $49.9 million

Net product revenue from U.S. sales of ORGOVYX of $43.3 million in second fiscal quarter 2022, with sequential quarterly demand volume growth of 20% and cumulative patients estimated at 22,000 through September 2022

Net product revenue from U.S. sales of MYFEMBREE of $6.4 million in second fiscal quarter 2022, with sequential quarterly demand volume growth of 40% and cumulative patients estimated at 9,000 through September 2022

MYFEMBREE was approved by the FDA in August 2022 for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, establishing it as the first and only once-daily oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist treatment approved for both uterine fibroids and endometriosis

Myovant and Pfizer are initiating a new Phase 3 randomized open label clinical study, the REPLACE-CV study, to assess the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) associated with ORGOVYX compared with leuprolide

Myovant remains well-capitalized with cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and amounts available under the Sumitomo Pharma Loan Agreement of $412.6 million as of September 30, 2022

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a biopharmaceutical company that aspires to redefine care for women and for men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 and provided other corporate updates.

With the recently announced merger agreement, we believe the expertise and resources of Sumitovant will best support Myovant and our employees, which will enable us to expand the impact of our differentiated therapies, accelerate clinical programs, and work to remove barriers to access quality care for the patients we serve, said David Marek, Chief Executive Officer of Myovant Sciences, Inc. Mr. Marek added, With the FDA approval for endometriosis, we are excited MYFEMBREE is now positioned to redefine care for more women as the first and only once daily oral GnRH antagonist treatment indicated for both uterine fibroids and endometriosis. In addition, ORGOVYX continues to gain momentum and is now the most prescribed GnRH antagonist for men with advanced prostate cancer.

Second Fiscal Quarter 2022 and Recent Corporate Updates

Corporate

On October 23, 2022, Myovant announced that it entered into a merger agreement with Sumitovant and Sumitomo under which Sumitovant has agreed to acquire the remaining shares of Myovant that Sumitovant does not currently hold. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement, in the event the merger is consummated, holders of Myovant common shares will be entitled to receive $27.00 per share in cash.

ORGOVYX (relugolix 120 mg)

Second fiscal quarter 2022 net product revenues for ORGOVYX in the U.S. were $43.3 million, reflecting 20% sequential growth compared to the first fiscal quarter 2022. ORGOVYX commercial demand volume grew 20% quarter-over-quarter driven by accelerating new patient starts and continued expansion across all treatment settings.

Approximately 4,000 new patients started treatment with ORGOVYX in the second fiscal quarter of 2022, reaching approximately 22,000 cumulative patients since launch.

ORGOVYX is now the leading GnRH antagonist therapy for advanced prostate cancer with a 55% share based on months of therapy.

Since launching in January 2021, ORGOVYX drove a 133% volume increase of the GnRH antagonist market for products FDA-approved for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

In October 2022, Myovants commercialization partner, Accord Healthcare, Ltd. (Accord), launched ORGOVYX for the treatment of advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in Europe. Pursuant to the Accord License Agreement, the first commercial sale of ORGOVYX in Europe triggered a $5.0 million milestone payment due from Accord.

Myovant and Pfizer are initiating a new Phase 3 randomized open label clinical study, the REPLACE-CV study, to assess the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) associated with ORGOVYX compared with leuprolide. The REPLACE-CV study design was agreed upon with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study could further differentiate ORGOVYX by potentially adding additional data to the prescribing information concerning MACE events versus leuprolide, if approved by the FDA.

MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg)

Second fiscal quarter 2022 net product revenues for MYFEMBREE in the U.S. were $6.4 million, reflecting 60% sequential growth compared to first fiscal quarter 2022. MYFEMBREE commercial demand volume grew 40% quarter-over-quarter driven by strong growth in new patient starts and prescribers.

On August 5, 2022, the FDA approved MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, establishing it as the first and only once-daily oral GnRH treatment approved for both uterine fibroids and endometriosis. MYFEMBREE was launched in the U.S. for this indication by Myovant and Pfizer in August 2022. Pursuant to the terms of the Pfizer Collaboration and License Agreement, this approval triggered a $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment from Pfizer, which Myovant received in September 2022.

Approximately 3,200 new patients started treatment with MYFEMBREE in the second fiscal quarter 2022, resulting in 55% sequential quarterly growth in the number of patients treated since launch.

MYFEMBREE expanded its leadership in new-to-brand prescription (NBRx) and total prescription (TRx) share among GnRH antagonist therapies FDA-approved for the treatment of uterine fibroids with 67% and 54% share in July 2022, respectively, prior to launching in endometriosis.

In the overall GnRH antagonist class for uterine fibroids and endometriosis, MYFEMBREE drove 23% TRx growth since its initial launch and reached 32% NBRx share in September 2022.

Significant progress has been made in the five weeks since MYFEMBREEs endometriosis launch with over 22,000 health care professional (HCP) calls conducted, reaching 66% of high and medium target HCPs. As of October 1, 2022, 30% commercial coverage has been obtained, covering approximately 50 million lives.

In September 2022 and October 2022, Myovant and Pfizer completed New Drug Submissions to Health Canada seeking marketing approval in Canada for MYFEMBREE for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids and MYFEMBREE for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain, respectively.

RYEQO (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg)

In September 2022, Myovants commercialization partner, Gedeon Richter Plc. (Richter) submitted a Type II variation application to the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seeking approval for RYEQO for moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in adult women of reproductive age with a history of previous medical or surgical treatment for their endometriosis.

In October 2022, Richter submitted a Type II variation application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval for RYEQO for the treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in adult women of reproductive age with a history of previous medical or surgical treatment for their endometriosis. The acceptance of the Type II variation submission is pending validation by the EMA. Pursuant to the Richter Development and Commercialization Agreement, the acceptance of the Type II variation application by the EMA would trigger a $4.0 million milestone payment due from Richter.

Expected Upcoming Milestones

Myovant expects to submit a New Drug Submission to Health Canada seeking marketing approval for ORGOVYX for advanced prostate cancer by the end of calendar year 2022.

Myovant expects the FDA decision for the MYFEMBREE supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) proposing updates to MYFEMBREEs U.S. Prescribing Information based on the safety and efficacy data from the Phase 3 LIBERTY randomized withdrawal study of MYFEMBREE in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids for up to two years by the January 29, 2023 Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date.

Myovant expects to submit an sNDA to the FDA for the SPIRIT 2-year long-term extension study for MYFEMBREE in women for the management of pain associated with endometriosis in the first half of calendar year 2023.

Second Fiscal Quarter 2022 Financial Summary

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 were $104.8 million and $77.9 million, respectively.

Product revenue, net for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $49.9 million and $21.1 million, respectively. Product revenue, net consisted primarily of the following: Product revenue, net from sales of ORGOVYX in the U.S. for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $43.3 million compared to $18.7 million for three months ended September 30, 2021. Product revenue, net from sales of MYFEMBREE in the U.S. for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $6.4 million compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $49.9 million and $21.1 million, respectively. Product revenue, net consisted primarily of the following: Pfizer collaboration revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $54.6 million and $25.2 million, respectively. Pfizer collaboration revenue for both the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 consists of the partial recognition of the upfront payment Myovant received from Pfizer in December 2020 and of the $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment Myovant received from Pfizer that was triggered upon the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids on May 26, 2021. Pfizer collaboration revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 also includes the partial recognition of the $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment Myovant received from Pfizer that was triggered upon the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis on August 5, 2022.

for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $54.6 million and $25.2 million, respectively. Pfizer collaboration revenue for both the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 consists of the partial recognition of the upfront payment Myovant received from Pfizer in December 2020 and of the $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment Myovant received from Pfizer that was triggered upon the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids on May 26, 2021. Pfizer collaboration revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 also includes the partial recognition of the $100.0 million regulatory milestone payment Myovant received from Pfizer that was triggered upon the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis on August 5, 2022. Richter license and milestone revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $0.3 million compared to $31.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2021. Richter license and milestone revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 included the recognition of $16.7 million of previously deferred revenue as a result of Myovants delivery of the remaining substantive relugolix combination tablet data packages to Richter pursuant to the Richter Development and Commercialization Agreement, and a $15.0 million regulatory milestone payment that was triggered upon the European Commission approval of RYEQO for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age.

Cost of product revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $4.9 million compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 related to the cost of goods sold and royalty expense payable to Takeda pursuant to the Takeda License Agreement. The increase in cost of product revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2022 was due to an increase in cost of goods sold and royalty expense payable to Takeda as a result of higher sales of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE in the U.S., as compared to the year ago period.

Collaboration expense to Pfizer for the three months ended September 30, 2022, was $22.4 million, compared to $8.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, reflecting Pfizers 50% share of net profits from sales of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE in the U.S. The increase in collaboration expense to Pfizer in the three months ended September 30, 2022 was due to an increase in net profits generated from sales of ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE in the U.S., as compared to the year ago period.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 were $84.3 million and $58.8 million, respectively. The increase in SG&A expenses primarily reflects higher expenses to support the ORGOVYX and MYFEMBREE commercialization activities in the U.S, including higher personnel-related costs and patient activation costs, particularly for MYFEMBREE.

Research and development (R&D) expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 were $26.9 million and $26.3 million, respectively.

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $4.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively, and was primarily related to the Sumitomo Pharma Loan Agreement. Interest expense related to the Sumitomo Pharma Loan Agreement increased $1.9 million, as a result of an increase in 3-month LIBOR as compared to the year ago period.

Income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 was $8.1 million and $(0.1) million, respectively. Myovants tax expense currently relates principally to profits earned in the U.S. The increase in income tax expense was driven principally by the changed requirement under Internal Revenue Code Section 174, effective for years beginning after December 31, 2021, to capitalize and subsequently amortize R&D expenditures, pursuant to changes enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For periods beginning prior to December 31, 2021, R&D expenses were allowed to be expensed as incurred.

Net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $45.6 million compared to $21.6 million for the year ago period. On a per common share basis, net loss was $0.47 and $0.23 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Capital resources: Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and amounts available under the Sumitomo Pharma Loan Agreement totaled $412.6 million in the aggregate as of September 30, 2022, and consisted of $371.3 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and $41.3 million of available borrowing capacity under the Sumitomo Pharma Loan Agreement.

About Relugolix

Relugolix is a once-daily, oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist that reduces testicular testosterone, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of prostate cancer, and ovarian estradiol, a hormone known to stimulate the growth of uterine fibroids and endometriosis. ORGOVYX (relugolix, 120 mg) was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in December 2020 as the first and only oral GnRH receptor antagonist for the treatment of adult patients with advanced prostate cancer. In April and June 2022, respectively, the European Commission (EC) and the United Kingdom (U.K.) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved ORGOVYX (relugolix, 120 mg) as the first and only oral GnRH receptor antagonist for the treatment of adult patients with advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in Europe and the U.K. MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) was approved in the U.S. by the FDA in May 2021 as the first and only once-daily oral GnRH treatment for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months; and in August 2022 as the first and only once-daily oral GnRH antagonist combination treatment for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, with a treatment duration of 24 months. In July 2021, the EC, and in August 2021, the U.K. MHRA, approved RYEQO (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1.0 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) for the treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroids in adult women of reproductive age, with no limitation for duration of use. In June 2022, the FDA accepted to review Myovants supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for updates to the United States Prescribing Information (USPI) based on safety and efficacy data from the Phase 3 LIBERTY randomized withdrawal study (RWS) of MYFEMBREE in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids for up to two years. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of January 29, 2023 for this sNDA. MYFEMBREE is also being assessed for contraceptive efficacy in women with endometriosis or uterine fibroids who are 18 to 50 years of age and at risk for pregnancy.

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 multiple successful Phase 3 clinical trials across hormone-sensitive oncology and womens 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 Myovants majority shareholder. For more information, please visit www.myovant.com.

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 its 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, womens health, specialty respiratory and infectious diseases. Sumitovant, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma, is also the majority-shareholder of Myovant. Please visit Sumitovants website at www.sumitovant.com for more information on Sumitovant and its 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 more than 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements reflecting Myovant Sciences expectations, including: statements regarding Myovants aspiration to redefine care for women and for men; statements regarding expectations about the proposed transaction involving Myovant and Sumitovant, including the statements that with the proposed transaction, the expertise and resources of Sumitovant will best support Myovant and its employees and enable Myovant to expand the impact of its differentiated therapies, accelerate clinical programs, and work to remove barriers to access quality care for the patients it serves in Mr. Mareks quote; Myovants expectation that the REPLACE-CV study could further differentiate ORGOVYX by potentially adding additional data to the prescribing information concerning MACE events versus leuprolide, if approved by the FDA; the potential milestone payment to Myovant that would be triggered by the acceptance of the Type II variation application to EMA for RYEQO that was submitted by Richter, Myovants commercialization partner; statements regarding the timing of Myovants regulatory submissions, anticipated regulatory review results, as well as other statements under the caption Expected Upcoming Milestones. In addition, 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 Myovants 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.

Myovant Sciences forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors known and unknown that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. Myovant Sciences cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect Myovant Sciences operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties listed in Myovant Sciences filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading Risk Factors in Myovant Sciences Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed on October 26, 2022, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time. These risks are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for Myovant Sciences management to predict all risk factors, nor can Myovant Sciences assess the impact of all factors on its 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. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, Myovant Sciences undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed transaction involving Myovant and Sumitovant. Myovant intends to file with the SEC relevant materials, including a proxy statement on Schedule 14A in connection with the proposed transaction with Sumitovant, and Myovant and certain other persons, including Sumitovant, intend to file a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement with the SEC. The definitive proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement will be sent to Myovants shareholders and will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. MYOVANTS SECURITYHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION 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. The proxy statement, Schedule 13E-3, any amendments or supplements thereto and other relevant materials (when they become available), and any other documents filed by Myovant with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. In addition, securityholders of Myovant will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and Schedule 13E-3 through the Investor Relations page of Myovants website, www.myovant.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Myovant and its directors, executive officers and other members of management and certain other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Myovants directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in Myovants proxy statement for its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on July 28, 2022. Additional information regarding these persons and their interests in the Merger will be included in the proxy statement on Schedule 14A and Schedule 13E-3 relating to the proposed transaction when they are filed with the SEC. These documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

MYOVANT SCIENCES LTD.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss(Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended September 30, Six Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 Revenues: Product revenue, net $ 49,947 $ 21,063 $ 91,298 $ 32,617 Pfizer collaboration revenue 54,577 25,172 79,718 54,681 Accord license revenue   50,000  Richter license and milestone revenue 300 31,667 300 31,667 Total revenues 104,824 77,902 221,316 118,965 Operating costs and expenses: Cost of product revenue(1) 4,942 2,622 9,857 3,654 Collaboration expense to Pfizer 22,418 8,565 40,434 13,826 Selling, general and administrative(1) 84,259 58,781 163,291 119,993 Research and development(1) 26,916 26,280 50,806 57,160 Total operating costs and expenses 138,535 96,248 264,388 194,633 Loss from operations (33,711 ) (18,346 ) (43,072 ) (75,668 ) Interest expense 4,813 3,494 9,013 6,999 Interest income (1,018 ) (100 ) (1,504 ) (178 ) Loss before income taxes (37,506 ) (21,740 ) (50,581 ) (82,489 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 8,113 (149 ) 16,277 762 Net loss and comprehensive loss $ (45,619 ) $ (21,591 ) $ (66,858 ) $ (83,251 ) Net loss per common share  basic and diluted $ (0.47 ) $ (0.23 ) $ (0.70 ) $ (0.90 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding  basic and diluted 96,211,190 92,355,150 95,801,991 92,019,987

(1) Includes the following share-based compensation:

Selling, general and administrative $ 7,744 $ 6,803 $ 13,716 $ 13,958 Research and development 3,832 4,884 7,498 8,841 Cost of product revenue 141 15 209 18 Total share-based compensation $ 11,717 $ 11,702 $ 21,423 $ 22,817

Revenue components are as follows:

Product revenue, net: ORGOVYX $ 43,319 $ 18,663 $ 79,353 $ 29,142 MYFEMBREE 6,403 629 10,402 1,704 Richter product supply and royalties 225 1,771 1,543 1,771 Total product revenue, net 49,947 21,063 91,298 32,617 Pfizer collaboration revenue: Amortization of upfront payment 20,974 20,974 41,948 41,948 Amortization of regulatory milestones 33,603 4,198 37,770 12,733 Total Pfizer collaboration revenue 54,577 25,172 79,718 54,681 Accord license revenue   50,000  Richter license and milestone revenue 300 31,667 300 31,667 Total revenues $ 104,824 $ 77,902 $ 221,316 $ 118,965

MYOVANT SCIENCES LTD.Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(Unaudited, in thousands)

September 30, 2022 March 31, 2022 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 341,960 $ 406,704 Accounts receivable, net 33,762 23,296 Marketable securities 29,330 27,483 Inventories 23,047 7,584 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 31,868 22,498 Amount due from related party 943 580 Total current assets 460,910 488,145 Property and equipment, net 2,708 2,944 Operating lease right-of-use asset 7,026 7,961 Other assets 13,330 20,961 Total assets $ 483,974 $ 520,011 Liabilities and Shareholders Deficit Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 8,215 $ 12,250 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 84,081 68,594 Deferred revenue 117,231 100,564 Amounts due to Pfizer 38,939 32,563 Cost share advance from Pfizer  33,818 Operating lease liability 2,374 2,148 Amounts due to related parties 851 393 Total current liabilities 251,691 250,330 Deferred revenue, non-current 379,321 375,706 Long-term operating lease liability 5,788 7,041 Long-term debt, less current maturities (related party) 358,700 358,700 Other liabilities 1,723 1,711 Total liabilities 997,223 993,488 Total shareholders deficit (513,249 ) (473,477 ) Total liabilities and shareholders deficit $ 483,974 $ 520,011

Investor Contact: Uneek MehraChief Financial OfficerMyovant Sciences, Inc.[email protected]

Media Contact:Noelle Cloud DuganVice President, Corporate CommunicationsMyovant Sciences, Inc.[email protected]

Source: Myovant Sciences, Inc.
GOLDEN, Colo., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panacea Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:PLSH) (Panacea or the Company), a Colorado, USA-based cannabinoid research and certified GMP manufacturing company, celebrates its first year of collaboration with Colorado State Universitys Cannabinoid Research Center (CRC). With a mission of performing research to solve important industry issues and to better understand how cannabinoids work in the body, the center has made remarkable progress in its inaugural year.



The CRC, established through a $1.5 million gift from CSU alumna and Panacea Life Sciences CEO, Leslie Buttorff, consists of analytical chemistry and preparative chemistry technologies crucial for the detection and purification of cannabinoids. Using these technologies, the CRC is able to remove common contaminants from hemp products, purify low concentration cannabinoids, and support clinical studies. The Centers activities are coordinated by Boettcher Investigator Professor Melissa Reynolds with operations led by Jamie Cuchiaro, a Ph.D. candidate who will matriculate next month. Over the last 12 months, the laboratory has been extremely productive through initial analytical research and supporting numerous clinical studies in both dogs and humans.

Highlights

Solving Industry Issues Problem: The hemp plant is a hyperaccumulator, meaning trace elements in the soil in which the plant is grown, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and others, are readily absorbed in the plant, potentially contaminating hemp oil and rendering the material unusable. Solution: Using analytical techniques, graduate student, Jamie Cuchiaro has developed a method for complete removal of commonly used pesticides to remediate contaminated hemp oil to produce a safe and usable hemp product. This work has been submitted for publication to the Journal of Cannabis Research in August of this year.

Sustainability and Access to Minor Cannabinoids Problem: In addition to CBD and THC, each of the other 118 cannabinoids are anticipated to have unique and beneficial health benefits. However, because they are present at less than 1% in hemp extracts, there are issues in both obtaining sufficient quantities and determining the purity of each of the minor cannabinoids. Solution: The byproduct created during the distillation process of crude hemp oil is typically thrown away to enter the waste stream. In closer examination of the byproduct, the CRC determined that there are substantial minor cannabinoids present, such as cannabidivarin (CBDV), Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabicyclol (CBL), and Cannabielsoin (CBE). Using the advanced technology in the CRC, the team can now access these low abundance cannabinoids while also assisting Panacea (as a member of Colorados Environmental Leadership Program) in attaining its sustainability goals by decreasing waste streams.

Supporting Clinical Trials To gain further insight on cannabinoid activity, Panacea and the CRC are collaborating to launch specific clinical trials in several areas. The first two studies have launched this year (2022): In collaboration with Dr. Stephanie McGrath and Dr. Julie Moreno, to examine CBD effects in a translational model of Alzheimers disease. In this study, performed in aged dogs that have cognitive impairment very similar to human AD, not only will CBD be evaluated for ability to slow disease progression, but will be one of the first studies to correlate how much consumed CBD enters the brain. In collaboration with Dr. Larry Good, a practicing gastroenterologist in New York, Panacea and the CRC have launched an open label study evaluating CBD and CBG for effects on irritable bowel syndrome, a condition affecting over 30 million American with no proven treatment.



Looking Ahead

The CRC is actively working on expanding collaborations to progress research on various cannabinoids with a focus on improving health and addressing unmet medical needs. Collaborations to evaluate cannabinoids effects on various conditions, including exercise performance and recovery, gout, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), are underway. Panacea and the CRC also plan to work on improving methods for detecting cannabinoids as well as launching clinical studies for gout, eczema, rosacea, and acne, among others.

The progress made in the past year by the CRC has been tremendous, and the future is extremely bright. With continued teamwork and direct studies, the CRC is poised to make even more revolutionary contributions to understanding how cannabinoids influence health and refining which conditions and doses are required for positive effects. Progress of the CRC will be posted as publications are submitted or clinical studies are completed on both the Colorado State University Panacea Life Sciences Cannabinoid Research Center page and at panacealife.com.

An expounded version of this press release can be found HERE.

For any questions or comments, please reach out to [email protected].
LA VERNE, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AARDVARK and Sky-Hero are pleased to announce the release of the world's first National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant interior use tactical sUAS, LOKI Mk2US. The Mk2US is built to comply with the rigorous standards set forth in the NDAA and the recent Department of Defense black-listing of certain Chinese-made drone parts and technologies.

In response, Sky-Hero, the world's leading manufacturer of interior tactical robotics, redesigned and resourced the LOKI Mk2 to eliminate all of the covered Chinese components and replace them with European or American items.

Speaking about this new drone, Yves Coppye, CEO of Sky-Hero, stated:

"We have been asked by many of our top users around the world to ensure that all major components are built by NATO countries. After two years of work, we are pleased to announce that we have reengineered and redesigned these components and located American or European sources for them."

Jon Becker, AARDVARK's CEO, echoed this by stating:

"We are extremely excited to see Sky-Hero release an NDAA-compliant version of LOKI. While there are a number of products on the market that claim to be American, in reality, the large majority of drones are simply built with Chinese-made parts and at best assembled in the U.S. LOKI Mk2US has always been made by NATO allies and now every NDAA-covered component will be too."

The LOKI Mk2US will begin shipping in Q1 of 2023. LOKI Mk2 is sold exclusively in North America by AARDVARK. Visit LOKI.AARDVARKTactical.com to learn more.

About AARDVARK: Founded in 1987, AARDVARK is a leading manufacturer, distributor, and system integrator of products to protect tactical operators from Local, State, Federal, and Military Units. AARDVARK is headquartered in La Verne, CA.

About SKY-HERO: Founded in 2013, Sky-Hero is a dynamic, flexible, fast-growing company specializing in drones and robotics and located in Brussels. With a target market in civil security, their clients range from Police Special Forces to International Security companies, mountain rescue teams, and firefighters.

About LOKI-Mk2 - LOKI Mk2 is a rugged, purpose-built sUAS intended to act as a scout for close-quarter, confined space, and indoor missions. LOKI Mk2 requires no internet service, no GPS, no phone or tablet connection, and has no forced software updates, making it mission capable in seconds from virtually anywhere. LOKI Mk2 performs in almost any lighting condition, seamlessly transitioning from sunlight to complete darkness.

Contact Information: Brent Doan Director of Sales [email protected] 909-451-6105

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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LOKI Mk2 LOKI Mk2

Source: AARDVARK Tactical ( aardvarktactical.com
Washington D.C., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for Americas 33 million small businesses in President Bidens Cabinet, announced that the SBA will celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) Oct. 31  Nov. 4, with a series of virtual and in-person events highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of our veteran small business owners. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, increasing support for our service members, veterans, and their families has been a key priority. In October 2022, the SBA announced additional funding opportunities for community-based organizations to create targeted, impactful programming and expand access to SBA resources to support veteran entrepreneurs.

Each year we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week to honor Americas nearly two million veteran entrepreneurs who have answered our nations call to serve and protect us and are now making a difference every day for local communities and our nations economy, said Administrator Guzman. This week, and every week, the U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to doing its part to fulfill our responsibility to our veteran entrepreneurs by ensuring they can access the tools and resources they need to start, grow, and build resilient businesses.

Throughout the week, SBA, resource partners, and local organizations across the country will focus on highlighting various aspects of the entrepreneurial journey for veteran small business owners and the agencys support of this critical community in hybrid, in-person, and virtual formats. Topics include transition assistance, entrepreneurial training, government contracting, disaster assistance, and access to capital resources. Currently, there are over 100 virtual events that are free and open to the public. Visit sba.gov/nvsbw for the full schedule.

National Veterans Small Business Week is a great time to recognize entrepreneurs from the military community, said Terra Smith, owner of DocTerra Mobile Veterinary Services. As a military spouse and a business owner, the SBA has been very supportive, and my local Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) has been instrumental in the growth of my practice and in helping me to develop as an entrepreneur. This national week is an important reminder of the resources available to the military community that can help take their business to the next level.

Through National Veterans Small Business Week, the SBA showcases how veterans apply skills and traits developed in the military, such as problem-solving, flexibility, and resilience, to their successful small businesses, said Mark L. Scott, Director of the VBOC at Mississippi State University. Our Lunch and Learn live webinar series will feature key topics of interest to Veteran and Military Spouse owners including Becoming Lender Ready, Social Media Planning, and Government Contracting.

For more information about National Veterans Small Business Week and to find events in your area, visit sba.gov/nvsbw. Sign up for an event and join the online conversation using the hashtag #VetBiz.

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About the Office of Veterans Business Development

The SBAs Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through SBAs extensive resource partner network, which includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Womens Business Centers, and 22 VBOCs located throughout the nation. VBOCs are also the leading partner in hosting the Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot programs, which offer courses on entrepreneurship on military installations and in local communities. Since the programs inception in 2013, Boots to Business has trained and graduated more than 165,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

About National Veterans Small Business Week

The U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates, connects, and empowers service members (including National Guard and Reserve), veterans, and military spouse entrepreneurs and business owners  past, present, and future  during National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW). Now in its ninth year, NVSBW raises awareness of veteran small business ownership and encourages communities to support their veteran- and military-owned businesses. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/nvsbw.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Press Offce United States Small Business Administration [email protected]

Source: United States Small Business Administration
HAMPTON, N.H., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unitil Corporation (NYSE: UTL) (unitil.com) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Neveen F. Awad, Ph.D. to the Board. The addition of a new director is part of the Boards normal succession planning process in anticipation of the upcoming retirements of directors reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Dr. Awad will stand for election to the Board by the shareholders of the Company at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held in April 2023.

Dr. Awad is a partner and managing director of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consulting firm. She leads the Detroit office, and also is the global leader of BCGs Technology Platform offering. Prior to BCG, Dr. Awad was an assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Business, a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Awad earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Business.

"We are delighted that Dr. Neveen Awad will be joining the Unitil Board," said Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitils chairman, chief executive officer and president. "Neveen is a proven leader with an exceptional background in digital and technology driven transformations, and brings skills in a number of important areas, including strategic planning and workforce diversity development, that will enhance and preserve the Boards existing strong skill set.

About Unitil CorporationUnitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the delivery of dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitils operating utilities serve approximately 107,700 electric customers and 86,600 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies, and community involvement please visit unitil.com.

For more information please contact:

Todd Diggins  Investor RelationsPhone: 603-773-6504Email: [email protected]

Alec OMeara  Media RelationsPhone: 603-773-6404Email: [email protected]

Source: UNITIL Corporation
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers are leading a comprehensive global clinical study that seeks to reveal the functional effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) across the human body.

The Research Evaluating Vagal Excitation and Anatomical Links (REVEAL) project is a $21 million National Institutes of Health-funded project that will take place over three years. REVEAL aims to study the anatomical connections and functional effects of vagus nerve stimulation, or VNS, which is an FDA-approved treatment for epilepsy and depression.

REVEAL incorporates a large-scale clinical study with up to 144 VNS patients along with three ancillary studies. Together, these studies will assess autonomic, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and gastrointestinal function in response to a broad range of VNS parameters. Researchers hope to generate one of the largest publicly available datasets on VNS function in humans.

The vagus nerve conveys information from the brain to most organs in the body and vice versa, said John Osborn, PhD, a professor of surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School and director of the Minnesota Consortium for Autonomic Neuromodulation. Dysregulation of the vagus nerve underlies many pathological conditions, and we are just now discovering ways to modulate it to treat them.

VNS has a proven record treating refractory epilepsy and depression, said Ziad Nahas, MD, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a psychiatrist at M Physicians. The exciting aspect of REVEAL is that it will set the stage for novel therapeutic applications of VNS to autonomic, immune, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.

During the REVEAL studies, participants with implanted VNS devices will receive a wide range of tests to measure physiological, molecular, imaging, genetic, and neural responses to VNS, along with many other experimental and computational outcomes.

A project involving so many types of measures and physiological systems requires a huge interdisciplinary team. We are fortunate to bring unique experts together involving more than 40 researchers from around the world, including 30 from the University of Minnesota, said Hubert Lim, PhD, a biomedical engineering professor in the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering with a joint appointment in the Medical School.

A part of NIHs Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) initiative, REVEAL is funded  award number 1U54AT012307  by NIH Common Fund and administered by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. People interested in participating can send a query to [email protected].

From the University of Minnesota, the study team includes faculty from multiple departments across the Medical School, the College of Science and Engineering, and the School of Public Health. These faculty also represent the Center for Neuroengineering, the Institute for Engineering in Medicine, the Center for Quality Outcomes, Discovery and Evaluation (C-QODE) and the Minnesota Consortium for Autonomic Neuromodulation.

Osborn, Nahas, and Lim, are joined by three other REVEAL principal investigators: Sayeed Ikramuddin, the chair of the surgery department in the Medical School; Lynn Eberly, an associate dean for faculty affairs and professor in the School of Public Health; and Vaughan Macefield, a professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Collaborating institutions include Mayo Clinic in Minnesota; Monash University in Australia; Stanford School of Medicine; Washington University in St. Louis; Medical University of South Carolina; Sheppard Pratt in Maryland; and Scuola Superiore SantAnna in Italy. Company partners include LivaNova, BRIGHT Research Partners, and BIOS.

-30-

About the University of Minnesota Medical SchoolThe University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School, both the Twin Cities campus and Duluth campus, is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.

About the College of Science and EngineeringThe University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering brings together the Universitys programs in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics and computer science into one college. The college is ranked among the top academic programs in the country and includes 12 academic departments offering a wide range of degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. Learn more at cse.umn.edu.

About the School of Public HealthThe University of Minnesota School of Public Health improves the health and wellbeing of populations and communities around the world by bringing innovative research, learning, and concrete actions to todays biggest health challenges. We prepare some of the most influential leaders in the field, and partner with health departments, communities, and policymakers to advance health equity for all. Learn more at sph.umn.edu.

Kat Dodge University of Minnesota Medical School [email protected]

Source: University of Minnesota Medical School
The platform is already seeing a strong uptick in usage - it was used for 1.6 million minutes in 2021. The addition of New Realities is expected to improve the speed and efficiency of work in VR and further boost usage.

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arthur, a pioneering virtual reality (VR) office provider that enables enterprises to create large-scale virtual offices with advanced, fully immersive, and collaborative environments, today announces the arrival of New Realities to its virtual office solution. The New Realities update unlocks the first generation of Mixed Reality (MR) features in Arthurs virtual offices. These features allow its users to bring their physical desk and keyboard into VR and access the global passthrough feature showcased by Meta at Connect 2022 conference. This update comes only two weeks after Meta Connect 2022, making Arthur one of the very first VR office solutions to make MR features available to their customers.

Led by its Founder and CEO, Christoph Fleischmann, Arthur has been at the forefront of innovation in the VR collaboration space since 2016, when the company piloted the first versions of its solution. Over these years, Arthur has built a strong product, team, and understanding of what enterprises need from a VR office solution. Today, Arthur provides a range of Fortune 500 businesses and large-scale organizations with a VR office solution focused on enabling the best remote productivity. Arthurs top-tier clientele, such as Societe Generale and the United Nations, leverage the solution to be pioneers of their industry in utilizing VR offices to reimagine work to suit the changing world and employee needs. The New Realities update will unlock a step change by opening an entirely new suite of possibilities.

As a company with a mission of transforming the way we work, Mixed Reality is an essential next step in our products evolution, said Mr. Fleischmann. While we have been proud to see in our clients how powerful pure Virtual Reality Collaboration can be, the combination with Mixed Reality unlocks entirely new levels of productivity and ease of use. With Mixed Reality, I have more control over the level of immersion I want for my meeting, and I can easily bring physical tools, such as my keyboard or desk surface into a VR meeting, in order to be more productive and connected. At a broader level, we strive to enable our enterprise clients to be at the forefront of innovation and craft a better way of working. In todays digital world, a lot has changed, but when it comes to work, going to physical offices is still the norm, significant business travel is still the norm, and adapting our whole lives around the location of our work opportunities is still the norm. The Next Realities update will help us unlock the next frontier in enabling a future of work that is better and apt for our current world and needs.As Mr. Fleischmann mentioned, Arthurs virtual office is built for enterprises. However, alongside the New Realities update, Arthur is also announcing an upgrade to Arthur Consumer, a lite version of its enterprise solution. With the new Consumer experience, Arthur wants to enable small teams, entrepreneurs, and individuals to get a taste of its innovative VR office solution and the possibilities that a better future of work could offer. The upgraded experience will offer three rooms built on 3 of Arthurs latest office environments to every registered user for free.Here is a summary of the key updates that Arthur announces today:

New Realities: In addition to Virtual Reality, Arthur's solution will include Mixed Reality setups. 1st generation of MR features: Users can use their physical desks and keyboards in Arthur. The Global passthrough feature will also be available on supported devices. Quest Pro: Arthur's virtual office application is now available on the newly launched Meta Quest Pro device. Upgraded consumer experience: Arthur Consumer solution will offer three rooms, built on three different environments, for free to all its registered users.

Arthurs platform already addresses the needs of a wide variety of global industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, consulting, insurance, and finance. Arthur continues to gain significant traction, with usage continuously increasing. In 2021 alone, enterprise users have spent a total of more than 1.6 million minutes in Arthur. This New Realities update and the upcoming productivity updates offer even more promise for the future.

About Arthur

Arthur is a large-scale virtual office space provider that enables enterprises and their teams to meet, collaborate and manage their work. Its pioneering virtual office platform empowers enterprises to maximize their level of remote productivity and free themselves from geographic and physical constraints. The virtual office solution is used by major organizations like the United Nations and Societe Generale and continues expanding its business portfolio across industries. For more information, visit www.arthur.digital.

LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

Photos accompanying this announcement are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5e75a83-74e1-41f2-9503-69299071bc56https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3fffe509-17ee-4dc3-a1d6-4c1720cd6346

Contact Lakshman Lattipally Press contact [email protected] +1 650-648-6227

Arthur VR office productivity session Scene from a business team meeting in an Arthur VR office Arthur VR office team presentation A business team presentation meeting in progress in one of Arthur's top office spaces overlooking the Dubai skyline

Source: Arthur Technologies Inc.
Iselin, NJ, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Top 50 Insurance Brokerage, announced today that it acquired Clinard Insurance Group (CIG) of Winston-Salem, NC on October 1, 2022. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

CIG was formed in 2005 by Wake Clinard and today they provide both personal and commercial products to customers in the P&C insurance industry in North Carolina.

At Clinard Insurance Group, we understand that our customers are our most valuable partner. We've developed our business to always provide them with professional advice and support, says Wake Clinard, President, Clinard Insurance Group. We understand insurance and we work with our customers to navigate the process of protecting what is important to them. We look forward to continuing this approach as part of WIA.

Id like to extend a warm welcome to CIG as they join the World family, says Rich Eknoian, CEO and Co-Founder of WIA. Its great to have CIG onboard, and I look forward to many more successful years. Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla provided legal counsel to WIA, and TAG Consulting advised them on the transaction. Morris, Manning & Martin, LLC provided legal counsel to CIG. No other advisors, diligence firms or legal counsel were disclosed.

About World Insurance Associates LLCWorld Insurance Associates LLC (WIA) is headquartered in Iselin, N.J., and is a nationally ranked, full-service insurance organization providing individuals and businesses with top products and services across personal and commercial insurance, employee and executive benefits, retirement and financial services and human capital management solutions. Since its founding in 2011, World has completed over 160 acquisitions and serves its customers from more than 250 offices across the United States. World is ranked #34 on the 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business list by Business Insurance, ranked #2 on the Fastest Growing Brokers list by Business Insurance, ranked #24 on the Top 100 P&C Agencies by Insurance Journal, and is a Top-50 ranked personal lines agency by Insurance Journal. For more information, please visit www.worldinsurance.com.

Jean Wiskowski, Chief Marketing Officer World Insurance Associates LLC 732-380-0900 Ext. 736 [email protected] Bradley Unger, Senior Vice President, Business Development World Insurance Associates LLC 732-712-2230 Ext. 186 [email protected]

Source: World Insurance Associates
Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend real-time, interactive presentations on VirtualInvestorConferences.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zoned Properties, Inc. (Zoned Properties or the Company) (OTCQB: ZDPY), a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries, including legalized cannabis, today announced that Bryan McLaren, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on October 27th, 2022.



DATE: October 27th, 2022

TIME: 1:30 PM ET

LINK: https://bit.ly/3SW7fZ0



Available for 1x1 meetings: Monday, October 31st, 2022.

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com .

Recent Company Highlights

Zoned Properties has secured a $4.5 Million Debt Facility that the Company intends to deploy into new Property Investments and Acquisitions to grow its Investment Portfolio.

The Company has been focused on the growth and expansion of its Real Estate Services, adding multiple new team members to its Advisory and Commercial Brokerage divisions, with plans to expand operations into multiple new state cannabis markets.

The Company has maintained a clean capital structure with only 12.2 million common shares outstanding, and continues to produce positive cash-flow from operations as it scales its business operations nationally.

The Company achieved 60% revenue growth year-over-year as of its six-months ended June 30, 2022.

Zoned Properties will co-host an in-person, off-site event during MJBiz Con in Las Vegas on November 17th along-side Temeka Group, Sapphire Risk Advisory Group, and Blaze Cannabis Software.



About Zoned Properties, Inc. (OTCQB: ZDPY):

Zoned Properties is a leading real estate development firm for emerging and highly regulated industries, including legalized cannabis. The Company is redefining the approach to commercial real estate investment through its integrated growth services.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Zoned Properties has developed a full spectrum of integrated growth services to support its real estate development model; the Companys Property Technology, Advisory Services, Commercial Brokerage, and Investment Portfolio collectively cross-pollinate within the model to drive project value associated with complex real estate projects. With national experience and a team of experts devoted to the emerging cannabis industry, Zoned Properties is addressing the specific needs of a modern market in highly regulated industries.

Zoned Properties is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the Forbes Business Council. Zoned Properties does not grow, harvest, sell or distribute cannabis or any substances regulated under United States law such as the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, as amended (the CSA). Zoned Properties corporate headquarters are located at 8360 E. Raintree Dr., Suite 230, Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, call 877-360-8839 or visit www.ZonedProperties.com .

Twitter: @ZonedProperties

LinkedIn: @ZonedProperties

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
FILE PHOTO: A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake

By Mike Spector and Dan Levine

Tesla Inc is under criminal investigation in the United States over claims that the company's electric vehicles can drive themselves, three people familiar with the matter said.

The U.S. Department of Justice launched the previously undisclosed probe last year following more than a dozen crashes, some of them fatal, involving Teslas driver assistance system Autopilot, which was activated during the accidents, the people said.

As early as 2016, Teslas marketing materials have touted Autopilots capabilities. On a conference call that year, Elon Musk, the Silicon Valley automakers chief executive, described it as probably better than a human driver.

Last week, Musk said on another call Tesla would soon release an upgraded version of Full Self-Driving software allowing customers to travel to your work, your friends house, to the grocery store without you touching the wheel.

A video currently on the companys website says: The person in the drivers seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself.

However, the company also has explicitly warned drivers that they must keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of their vehicles while using Autopilot.

The Tesla technology is designed to assist with steering, braking, speed and lane changes but its features do not make the vehicle autonomous, the company says on its website.

Such warnings could complicate any case the Justice Department might wish to bring, the sources said.

Tesla, which disbanded its media relations department in 2020, did not respond to written questions from Reuters on Wednesday. Musk also did not respond to written questions seeking comment. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.

Musk said in an interview with Automotive News in 2020 that Autopilot problems stem from customers using the system in ways contrary to Teslas instructions.

Federal and California safety regulators are already scrutinizing whether claims about Autopilot's capabilities and the system's design imbue customers with a false sense of security, inducing them to treat Teslas as truly driverless cars and become complacent behind the wheel with potentially deadly consequences.

The Justice Department investigation potentially represents a more serious level of scrutiny because of the possibility of criminal charges against the company or individual executives, the people familiar with the inquiry said.

As part of the latest probe, Justice Department prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco are examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology's capabilities, the sources said.

Officials conducting their inquiry could ultimately pursue criminal charges, seek civil sanctions or close the probe without taking any action, they said.

The Justice Departments Autopilot probe is far from recommending any action partly because it is competing with two other DOJ investigations involving Tesla, one of the sources said. Investigators still have much work to do and no decision on charges is imminent, this source said.

The Justice Department may also face challenges in building its case, said the sources, because of Teslas warnings about overreliance on Autopilot.

For instance, after telling the investor call last week that Teslas would soon travel without customers touching controls, Musk added that the vehicles still needed someone in the drivers seat. Like were not saying that thats quite ready to have no one behind the wheel, he said.

The Tesla website also cautions that, before enabling Autopilot, the driver first needs to agree to "keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times" and to always "maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle.

Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney in Detroit who prosecuted automotive companies and employees in fraud cases and is not involved in the current probe, said investigators likely would need to uncover evidence such as emails or other internal communications showing that Tesla and Musk made misleading statements about Autopilots capabilities on purpose.

SEVERAL PROBES

The criminal Autopilot investigation adds to the other probes and legal issues involving Musk, who became locked in a court battle earlier this year after abandoning a $44 billion takeover of social media giant Twitter Inc, only to reverse course and proclaim excitement for the looming acquisition.

In August 2021, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into a series of crashes, one of them fatal, involving Teslas equipped with Autopilot slamming into parked emergency vehicles.

NHTSA officials in June intensified their probe, which covers 830,000 Teslas with Autopilot, identifying 16 crashes involving the companys electric cars and stationary first-responder and road maintenance vehicles. The move is a step that regulators must take before requesting a recall. The agency had no immediate comment.

In July this year, the California Department of Motor Vehicles accused Tesla of falsely advertising its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capability as providing autonomous vehicle control. Tesla filed paperwork with the agency seeking a hearing on the allegations and indicated it intends to defend against them. The DMV said in a statement it is currently in the discovery stage of the proceeding and declined further comment.

(Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and David Shepardson; Editing by Deepa Babington)
Orlando, FL, October 26, 2022 McapMediaWire

Apple Rush Co., Inc. (OTC Pink: APRU), a holding company that engages in the business of developing, marketing, distributing, and selling products that promote a healthy lifestyle with a primary focus on food, beverage, anhydrous Hemp oil marketplace, kratom, kava, and other active ingredients announces it has purchased Elev8 Hemp, LLC from public company, Branded Legacy, Inc. (OTCQB: BLEG).

Elev8 Hemp is an established brand with existing distribution in brick-and-mortar locations. The Company plans to expand the Elev8 Hemp brand with multiple new coffee variations as well as utilizing this new customer base as an avenue to introduce some of Apple Rush Co., Inc.s existing product lines.

The largest market for hot drinks is coffee, which is predicted to reach US $585 billion in worldwide revenues at home and abroad by 2025, partly due to the continuous rise of specialty coffees in the food service industry.

It has been seen over the past few years that consumers are becoming more conscious of the manufacture of the things they purchase and the origin of their purchases. This is true, particularly when it comes to the supply chain for goods like coffee that are used in food and beverages. To assure the legitimacy of their coffee purchases, buyers are therefore keenly searching for certified coffee goods. https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/coffee-market

Elev8 Hemp, LLC, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple Rush Co., Inc., produces Hemp-infused coffees and teas. They were established in 2016 and introduced their first hemp coffee brewed with beans from Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil. Since then, they have developed into a variety of hemp coffee flavors, added hemp tea, and introduced a whole bean coffee with CBD.

Brandon Spikes, chairman of Branded Legacy, Inc., stated, We are really excited about the sale of Elev8 and believe that this might be an excellent chance for our shareholders to become invested in two outstanding companies. By strategically spinning off assets that are not our primary focus, we are able to grow the business successfully for the benefit of our shareholders.

Tony Torgerud, CEO of Apple Rush Co., Inc. stated, I remember this brand from about five or six years ago and thought it was a very unique brand with much potential. They were in multiple supermarkets with Apple Rush. Im eager to include it in our portfolio. In my opinion, I believe we can significantly grow this coffee line and have it further penetrating the market in a short period of time. It has historically done over 30k a month on Amazon and with consumers spending more now than ever online, we feel this number will be exceeded in the near future. We also see Elev8 having more CBD coffees, Delta 8, HHC, or other active ingredients and even expanding into kratom coffee.

About The Apple Rush Company, Inc.

The Apple Rush Company, Inc., through its subsidiary APRU, LLC, is a distributor of CPG products under the trademarked Apple Rush brand, Element Brands and other labels. The Apple Rush brand has 50 years of existence in the natural beverage industry. As a historical leader in the organic and natural beverage sector our goal is to now become a leader in the distribution of anhydrous hemp oil products nationwide. For more information, please go to www.applerush.com, www.aprubrands.com, https://woahnursery.com, and www.element-brands.com , www.elev8hemp.com with our expanded product portfolio.

Safe Harbor Act: Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations including words such as anticipate, if, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, could, should, will, and similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact:

Tony Torgerud 888-741-3777 x 2

MCAP Media Wire | Home
By Trend

Joining the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) will hugely benefit Serbia in diversifying its energy supplies, Damjan Krnjevi?, Former Adviser to the President of Serbia, Director for Policy Research, Analysis, and Publications at the Institute for Development and Diplomacy within ADA University, told Trend on October 26.

"It is nice that Serbia has realized that it will be a good idea to get access to Azerbaijani gas. It should have been done much earlier. It would be very beneficial for Serbia to be a part of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project. But it is better late than never. Lets see how this happens. I am sure that Azerbaijan is willing to contribute to this possibility," he said.

According to the expert, relevant contracts need to be signed, as well as the intentionality needs to be indicated.

"All of these things have to happen. It is more likely that at the end of the day, in the context of doubling the supply capacity of Azerbaijani gas to Europe, and to Western Balkans as well, Serbia will get access to it eventually. It is too bad that it has not happen earlier," he noted.

Krnjevi? also pointed out that it is of utmost importance for the EU to put maximum effort into the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Azerbaijan and the bloc on doubling the capacity of gas supplies to Europe by 2027.

"Everything that was agreed on the MoU must be carried out. Maximum flexibility must be shown, because both Azerbaijan, and the EU have mutual interest in its implementation, which is doubling the capacity by 2027," he said.
Jennifer Bradley, a skincare & pro cosmetics company with customers across the world, has released a new non-nano sun protection foundation.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - With the release of their new skin-safe and reef-safe sun barrier 4 in One Foundation, Jennifer Bradley is affirming its commitment to strictly non-nano, vegan and paraben-free products. Their new, flawless finish foundation protects the skin from the sun's damaging rays without the use of the destructive nano chemicals that are typically found in sunscreen.

More details can be found at https://jenniferbradley.com

Cosmetics & Skincare Expert Jennifer Bradley Releases New Sun Barrier Foundation

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/141974_5a07d2a5b4e7eb89_001full.jpg

Jennifer Bradley's release of a new strictly non-nano and all-natural tinted sun protection foundation coincides with the latest findings published on Science News. According to their researchers, the standard chemicals in sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, seep into coral reefs, disrupting their growth and development and hastening coral bleaching.

With its head office in Florida, the company knows first-hand how vital coral reefs are to the entire marine ecosystem, to North America's beaches, and to the beauty of the planet.

As such, their "Best Makeup Ever," the 4 in One Foundation is free from chemicals like oxybenzone, as well as octinoxate, parabens, and formaldehyde derivatives, all of which are found in most commercial sunscreens. Instead, it uses clean and non-nano titanium dioxide as its active ingredients.

This new environmentally-friendly tinted foundation has been developed with the beach or the sporting field in mind and is designed to give users hours of safe sun protection that is water and sweat-proof. The product itself repels water from the skin, which keeps it from rubbing off or running off when sweating.

Beyond its environmental and ethical commitments, Jennifer Bradley is also dedicated to making beauty products that are suitable for any skin type. Their new sun barrier foundation has no fragrance, contains no sulfates, and uses natural mineral-based color to match the wearer's skin tone.

Company founder Jennifer Bradley says, "Our cruelty-free cosmetics come from the highest-quality ingredients available, and we've worked hard to develop formulas that are safe and effective for all skin types and sensitivities."

As a nationwide cosmetics and skincare retailer, Jennifer Bradley is proud to have obtained an 80% retention rate among its customers. They are confident that readers who try their new reef-safe natural sun protection will see and feel the difference from standard commercial brands.

More information is available at https://jenniferbradley.com

Contact Info:

Name: Bryan Thorpe

Email: [email protected]

Organization: Jennifer Bradley Corp

Address: 4401 W Tradewinds Ave, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida 33308, United States

Phone: +1-954-328-3676

Website: https://jenniferbradley.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141974
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) (OTCQB: PEMSF) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper explorer, is pleased to announce that the mineralized breccia encountered in historical drilling at Jean Marie was encountered during the 2022 diamond drilling program and has successfully expanded the area of copper mineralization 200 metres to the northwest.

Diamond drilling at Jean Marie during 2022 was successful in intercepting copper mineralization in both diamond drill holes that were completed. Both drill holes were step-out holes from historical drilling at distances of 100 metres (JM22-01) and 200 metres (JM22-02) from historical drill hole 97-11. A total of 700 metres of drilling was completed in two holes. Laboratory assays have now been received and will be presented in detail in the coming days following a detailed review.

"We are very pleased with the results from diamond drilling at Jean Marie during 2022. Most importantly the area of copper mineralization was extended approximately 200 metres to the northwest," commented Brad Peters, President, and CEO of Pacific Empire. "Encountering the mineralized breccia that was originally identified in historical drilling in hole 97-11 is very encouraging and demonstrates that the mineralizing system in the area is of a significant size."





Location of 2022 Diamond Drilling at Jean Marie

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JM22-01 was drilled approximately 100 metres to the west of historical drill hole 97-11 and was drilled to a depth of 400 metres. Copper mineralization that was observed in the hole consisted of disseminated, vein and breccia style mineralization. JM22-02 was drilled a further 100 metres to the northwest of JM22-01 and was successful in intercepting the mineralized breccia from approximately 150 to 210 metres depth. This hole was drilled to a depth of 300 metres.





Section View of 2022 Diamond Drilling

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"The 2022 diamond drilling program at Jean Marie intercepted broad zones of copper mineralization," commented Thomas Hawkins, Vice President of Exploration for Pacific Empire. "Drilling has significantly expanded the area of known high-grade copper mineralization. These first holes represent the start of a large program to further expand the central target to the east and west and at greater depths. Several of the highest priority targets that were developed from this year remain untested and will be tested during the next phase of drilling.

Historical shallow drilling intercepted Cu, Mo and Ag mineralization over a total strike length of 9km in several zones along the contact between the Jean Marie pluton and the Takla volcanic host, this year's drilling has shown that further mineralization extends to greater depths. Mineralization and alteration is consistent over a broad area indicating a large-scale porphyry style system. Future step out drilling aims to link the different zones of known copper mineralization."





JM-01 @ ~170 metres showing mineralized quartz breccia

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JM-01 @ ~170 metres showing mineralized quartz breccia

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JM-02 @ ~170 metres showing mineralized quartz breccia

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JM-01 @ 167 metres showing mineralized quartz breccia

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Pinnacle Property Update

Pacific Empire and 1111 Exploration Corp. ("Eleven") have revised the terms of the option agreement on PEMC's Pinnacle property. Under the revised option terms, Eleven may earn a 70% interest in Pinnacle by completing $3,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the project, paying PEMC an aggregate of $460,000 in cash payments ($75,000 paid) and issuing 3,800,000 common shares (500,000 issued) to PEMC by August 2026. Following the exercise of the Option, PEMC will retain a 30% free-carried interest in the Project until the date that Eleven publishes a NI 43-101 compliant Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") on the Project. Following completion of the PFS, PEMC and Eleven will form a joint venture with Eleven holding a 70% initial interest and PEMC holding a 30% initial interest.

Exploration carried out by Eleven in 2021 was centred on the Aplite Creek prospect and included collection of 173 soil samples of standard B-horizon and 85 samples collected for mobile metal ion sampling (MMI) analysis. A drone UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) magnetic survey covering an area of four (4) km by (6) six km was also completed. In addition, historical core from 2015 and 2017 that had not been completely sampled was analyzed for trace element values to aid geochemical vectoring. Results were highly elevated for copper and gold and consistent with historical compiled data.

Gold values returned a high value of 1,460 parts per billion (ppb) (24 percent of samples over 20 ppb) and copper values with a high value of 8,010 ppm (26 percent of samples over 100 ppm and 5 per cent over 1,000 ppm). This 2021 sampling, combined with previous soil sampling, induced polarization surveys and the current magnetic survey, identified a northwesterly trending area of elevated copper and gold soil geochemistry coincident with magnetic highs and high chargeability over an area of four (4) km by 1.2 km.

The geology comprises dykes and stocks of syenite and monzonite within andesite volcanics. Alteration is dominantly widespread propylitic with localized potassic alteration near and within intrusive rocks. This large area has seen only minor drilling in 1974 and 1990. A second parallel zone to the northeast, of similar scale, is yet to be fully delineated.

Eleven is currently planning a follow-up sampling program to expand the target outlined in 2021. This work will include additional soil sampling and expansion of the magnetic survey both northwest and southeast of the core Aplite Creek area. This work will be greatly aided by a newly constructed logging access road completed in the winter of 2022.

"I am very happy that we were able to revise the terms of the option agreement," commented Brad Peters, President and CEO of Pacific Empire. "The group at 1111 Exploration is very experienced and capable with a wealth of knowledge in porphyry deposits in British Columbia. They have been able to bring new ideas and insights that add significant value to the project. In addition, logging operations over that past 10 years and most importantly during 2021 and 2022 have dramatically improved the ability to cost effectively access critical areas of the property, including the Aplite Creek area. When Pacific Empire acquired this property in 2012 through staking there was very limited drilling and no access. Since that time diamond drilling has successfully encountered gold mineralization in drilling over a wide area and the property can now be accessed by vehicle."

Col Property Update

A Notice of Work ("NoW") has been submitted for the Col property. The application is for a Multi-Year Area Based permit ("MYAB").

Located approximately 50 km to the southeast of Northwest Copper's Kwanika Deposit and 50 km to the northwest of Centerra Gold's Mt. Milligan Mine, the Col property covers 6,618 hectares and is accessible by vehicle using well established logging roads.

Copper mineralization on the property was first discovered by Colin Campbell in 1969, while following up on anomalous stream sediment samples. The following year Falconbridge Ltd. optioned the property and over the next two years completed IP and magnetic surveys, geological mapping, soil sampling and diamond drilling. This work identified the A Zone.

Additional exploration programs were completed by Kookaburra Gold Corp. from 1988 through 1991, Solomon Resources Ltd. From 2006 through 2008 and PEMC/Oz Minerals Ltd. From 2014 to 2015. All of these programs completed diamond drilling, geophysical surveys and geochemical sampling.





PEMC Project Locations

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Mineralization on the property is most significant in three areas, 1) the A Zone, 2) Campbell Trench and 3) Slide Zone.

The A Zone

At the A Zone, copper-gold mineralization occurs along a strike length of approximately 300 metres at an azimuth of 120o and where best developed it is approximately 30 meters wide over a length of approximately 175 metres. This zone was tested by a number of small diameter drill holes by Falconbridge Ltd. in 1971 with the best intersections assaying 0.84% Cu over 45.7 meters and 0.70% Cu over 51.8 metres (DDH-1971-13 and DDH-1971-20, respectively). In 2007, Solomon Resources Ltd. followed up with diamond drilling at the A Zone and demonstrated that mineralization extended at depth.

Until 2014, mineralization at the A Zone was believed to be associated with a shear zone, however while reviewing drill core from the A Zone, PEMC observed the presence of very well mineralized porphyry intrusions that are most likely responsible for the copper-gold mineralization due to their intimate relationship with quartz-sulphide veining and mineralization.





Col Property Mineralized Zones

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Selected Highlights from Historical Drilling at Col (A Zone)

Year Hole ID Interval (m) Copper % Gold g/t 1971 DDH-1971-9 33.6 0.85 not assayed 1971 DDH-1971-13 45.7 0.84 not assayed 1971 DDH-1971-21 51.8 0.7 not assayed 2007 DDH 2007-1 42 0.67 0.14 2007 DDH 2007-2 100 0.59 0.18 2007 DDH 2007-3 32 0.61 0.317 2007 DDH 2007-4 46 0.60 0.28





Porphyry intrusion and mineralization in DDH-2007-2 @ 77massociated with sheeted quartz-sulphide veining

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Porphyry intrusion in DDH-2007-2 @ 77mwith chalcopyrite as blebs, disseminations and veinlets

(note emplacement of sheeted quartz veins appears to precede emplacement of porphyry)

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Sheeted quartz-sulphide veins in DDH-2007-2 from 67-90.5m

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Campbell Trench Zone

Located approximately 1 km to the northwest and 150 m higher in elevation, PEMC believes the Campbell Trench Zone may be representative of a higher level within the porphyry-epithermal spectrum. This area is characterized by the presence of large quartz veins associated with copper-gold mineralization. Visible gold was observed in outcrop at this location in 2007.

The Slide Zone

One of the more intriguing examples of mineralization on the property can be found at the Slide Zone. Located approximately 1 km to the northeast of the A Zone, the Slide Zone occurs within Chuchi Lake Succession volcanic rocks and is characterized by a large area of boulders derived from a steeply dipping fault scarp. Select grab samples from the area in 2007 returned the following values:

17,700 ppm Cu, 948 ppb Au, 16.4 ppm Ag; Sample 96568

5,535 ppm Cu, 429 ppb Au; Sample 96571;

3,739 ppm Cu, 302 ppb Au; Sample 96570

In this area, mineralization is associated with strong epidote alteration and epidote magnetite/bornite nodules.

About Jean Marie

The Jean Marie property is a copper-molybdenum-silver-gold porphyry prospect located 50 km south of Northwest Copper's Kwanika Copper-Gold deposit and 50 km west of Centerra Gold's Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Mine in central BC. The property covers over 12,000 hectares and has multiple mineralized zones which are open for expansion with drilling. Drill results demonstrate kilometer-scale base and precious metal mineralization over a large, under-explored property with multiple untested diamond-drill targets.

Drilling in the 1990's returned near surface intercepts of up to 244m of 0.28% copper, 0.007% molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver, in a broad area located close to the pluton, volcanic contact. Two of the holes intercepted a distinct quartz breccia which returned up to 27 metres of 1.19% copper, and 5.74 g/t silver.

Historical diamond drilling was limited to a maximum depth of 288 metres below surface and mineralization remains unbounded at depth and along strike to the NW and SE. Of the 96 holes drilled on the property since the 1970's 76 are less than 130 metres in depth with numerous short holes that were mineralized over the entire length.

Qualified Person

Thomas Hawkins, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company, serves as a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release, approving the disclosure herein.

About Pacific Empire

Pacific Empire is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company's strong portfolio of gold-enriched copper projects in British Columbia, is the culmination of perseverance through one of the longest bear markets in the resource industry.

British Columbia is a "Green" copper jurisdiction with abundant hydroelectric power, access and infrastructure in close proximity to the end market.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

"Brad Peters"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pacific Empire Minerals Corp.

Tel: +1-604-356-6246

[email protected]

www.pemcorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141945
IGEL provides the managed endpoint operating system for secure access to any digital workspace

DEFEND has now been validated for IGEL users, who can now leverage its patented identity assurance capabilities

This program complements DEFEND's recent integration with Amazon WorkSpaces and is well-suited to protect employees who work remotely

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an identity-centric cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, is pleased to announce that the Company has joined the IGEL Ready Program as a technology partner.

The IGEL Ready program was established in July 2020, by IGEL, the provider of the managed endpoint operating system for secure access to any digital workspace. Today, IGEL Ready is a growing ecosystem of more than 120 technology partners providing hardware, software, and peripheral solutions that have been verified for use with IGEL OS to deliver a powerful, productive, and secure user experience for digital workspaces within modern workplace environments.

In an era where customers and their employees require reliable, frictionless access to tools, applications, and services, IGEL Ready helps ensure product compatibility and productivity to support business continuity and growth. Plurilock's flagship product DEFENDTM has been validated by the program and is now integrated with the IGEL OS platform, providing easier accessibility to companies that utilize IGEL solutions to adopt this advanced technology offering. DEFEND enables companies to biometrically detect and prevent unauthorized access, ensuring frictionless security and threat protection, and as a result of its validation by this program, IGEL users can now leverage DEFEND's unique patented identity assurance capabilities.

"IGEL is a well-recognized cloud-based solutions provider, and we are pleased to join its exclusive IGEL Ready Program as a technology partner," said Ian L. Paterson, CEO of Plurilock. "By integrating our flagship cybersecurity product with their IGEL OS platform, we will be able to provide IGEL customers and partners with a comprehensive offering that delivers a seamless experience to users. We look forward to working with IGEL in integrating DEFEND with their robust platform."

"The future of enterprise computing is in the cloud and the IGEL Ready technology partner program makes it easy for any company to deploy their applications to virtual desktops and cloud workspaces, reaching a new and relevant market while also enabling world-class customer service," said Divya Saggar, Director, IGEL Ready. "We welcome Plurilock to our growing ecosystem of more than 120 IGEL Ready partners as they become part of a powerful validation movement in the end user computing industry."

Overall, this program represents part of Plurilock's ongoing efforts to integrate its unique solutions with leading cloud-based platforms that are utilized across various industry verticals. In addition, this program complements DEFEND's integration with Amazon WorkSpaces, previously announced on May 11, 2022, and is well-suited to protect employees during remote work sessions.

About Plurilock

Plurilock provides identity-centric cybersecurity for today's workforces. The Plurilock family of companies enables organizations to operate safely and securely while reducing cybersecurity friction. Plurilock offers world-class IT and cybersecurity solutions through its Solutions Division, paired with proprietary, AI-driven and cloud-friendly security through its Technology Division. Together, the Plurilock family of companies delivers persistent identity assurance with unmatched ease of use.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

416.800.1566

Roland Sartorius

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

[email protected]

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141899
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2022) - Ready Set Gold Corp. (CSE: RDY) (FSE: 0MZ0) (OTC Pink: RDYFF) ("Ready Set Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its September 9, 2022 news release, it has filed a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the "Report"). The Report contains an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Company's Northshore Gold Project, located in the Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone Belt, approximately 260 km east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Report, titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate Update on the Northshore Gold Property in Thunder Bay Mining Division, Priske Township, Ontario, Canada" dated October 24, 2022, with an effective date of August 31, 2022, has been prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. and is available under the Company's SEDAR profile on www.SEDAR.com.

The results of the updated MRE were originally presented in a news release dated September 9, 2022, which is also available on SEDAR. There are no material differences between the results announced in the news release and the results in the Report.

About Ready Set Gold Corp.

Ready Set Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol RDY. The Company has consolidated and now owns a 100% interest of the Northshore Gold Property located in the prolific Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone Belt near Thunder Bay, which is prospective for gold and silver mineralization.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

READY SET GOLD CORP.

"Alexander McAulay"

Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

CEO Direct Line: +1 (604) 365-0425

www.readysetgoldcorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141944
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Silo Wellness Inc. (CSE: SILO) (OTCQB: SILFF) (FSE: 3K7A) ("Silo Wellness" or the "Company"), announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary SW Holdings, Inc.'s ("SWHI") License Agreement with Marley Green, LLC ("Licensor") dated November 20, 2020, has been terminated as of October 24, 2022, by the licensor due to SWHI 's failure to pay its guaranteed minimum royalties of USD$600,000 that were due and owing as of August 15, 2022, and for failure to obtain relevant insurance coverage minimums of USD$10 million.

On November 20, 2020, the Company executed a definitive License Agreement with Licensor effective through July 31, 2025, with an automatic renewal if minimum net sales were met, and licensee was not otherwise in material breach. The License Agreement was intended to provide recognizable branding for functional mushroom products as well as psilocybin microdosing products to be launched. The License Agreement permitted the use of the name of the branding partner for products including psychedelic, medical or nutraceutical functional mushrooms in territories where such products are permitted by law. The License Agreement set forth terms to pay the Licensor royalties of 10% of net sales of licensed products, including guaranteed minimum royalties in the form of the GMR Payments during the term of the agreement. The guaranteed minimum royalties of $500,000 in year 1 (ended July 31, 2021), $600,000 in year 2, $750,000 in year 3, $900,000 in year 4 and $1,000,000 in year 5, for a total of $2,650,000 of GMRs remaining due by SWHI under the Licensing Agreement. The Licensor has a duty to mitigate its damages and SWHI intends to assist in that by referring its product development leads to the Licensor.

As announced in prior Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) filings on SEDAR, Silo has been unable to satisfy the additional licensing payments and remained in default. Upon announcement of the Licensing Agreement on March 11, 2021, CAD$634,476 was deployed out of the CAD$640,000 estimated as an advance royalty payment of USD$500,000. This payment satisfied the guaranteed minimum royalties payment in year 1 of the royalty agreement. Sales did not meet projections and no additional royalties were paid. As previously disclosed, there was an initial delay in the launch of the brand attributable to satisfying the requirements of the Licensor with respect to product development, brand creation and marketing approvals.

The Company also previously disclosed that it ceased additional functional mushroom product development given the contracted royalty fees to the Licensor and slim margins for many products, and management considered the functional mushroom market too saturated and costs too high to adequately compete with a risky and unknown rate of return if such resources were deployed. The Company also previously disclosed that the Company intended to announce and launch a microdosing psilocybin mushroom product line in Jamaica by the end of 2021 but was unable to secure product liability insurance that covered psychedelic mushrooms, as that was a contractual requirement in the licensing agreement. The Company may launch and offer the products under a different Company brand only in jurisdictions where they would be legal if time and resources permit. Also, as previously disclosed, with the US$3 million national distribution agreement with Texas-based distribution and advertising company One Light Enterprises LLC, the Company expected to have enough funds from product sales to pay the remaining guarantee minimum royalty payments. However, as previously disclosed, that contract expired with no revenue received. In addition, the Company previously disclosed that it stopped looking for other distribution agreements for the licensed products given the status of the outstanding licensing fees that were described above.

As stated in previous filings, the Company began attempts to renegotiate the contract in April, and such negotiations continued but were ultimately unproductive. With sales not meeting the expectations that were set forth in the other previously announced distribution contracts, the licensing contract had remained a liability due to expenses far exceeding projected revenue. As mentioned in the previous MD&As, the goal of the Company was to amend the contract to defer payments out of future sales of licensed products in order to conserve cash to be used for inventory and marketing, or, alternatively, to terminate the contract and negotiate a payment plan for the remaining balance. The Company made several proposals to the Licensor to put funds to marketing and inventory rather than upfront royalty expenses, which was rejected by the Licensor. The Company previously disclosed that it had no interest in continuing the agreement as written unless funds could be used for marketing rather than upfront royalty fees.

It remains the position of the Company that as the functional mushroom market has developed over the last year and a half since listing, with other products expanding and coming into the market, that the Company's resources are best spent with its most unique differentiators: psychedelic retreats and the Dyscovry Science opportunities.

ABOUT SILO WELLNESS

Silo Wellness is a growth-oriented holding company focused on psychedelic opportunities that benefit from a unified ecosystem and exceptional leadership. Founded in 2018 in Oregon and headquartered in Toronto, Silo Wellness has a presence in both Jamaica and Oregon. Silo Wellness is a publicly traded company on the Canadian (CSE: SILO) and Frankfurt (FSE: 3K7A) exchanges and trading on the OTCQB Venture Market (OTCQB: SILFF).

For more information about Silo Wellness or to book a Jamaican psychedelic retreat, please visit www.silowellness.com. For more information about Silo's recent acquisition, Dyscovry Science, visit www.Dyscovry.com.

Silo Wellness Company Contact:

Mike Arnold, President

541-900-5871

IR at silo wellness dot com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to the Company's ability to satisfy arrearages due to Licensor and the Company's ability to fund operations as well as the company's pre-existing capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, regulatory, political and social uncertainties and the potential impact of COVID-19. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in Silo Wellness's continuous disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. 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.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Silo Wellness assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER 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/141949
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Sixth Wave Innovations Inc. (CSE: SIXW) (OTCQB: SIXWF) (FSE: AHUH) ("Sixth Wave", "SIXW" or the "Company"), a world leader in molecular imprinting technology, announced today that the Patent Office of the Uzbekistan has granted the Company a patent for its unique method of metal extraction and purification using molecularly imprinted polymers. ("MIPS").

This patent extends the Company's existing patent portfolio to include methodologies relating to the molecularly imprinted polymers, which selectively bind to target metals ions, achieving more efficient metal extraction.

With the latest patent issuance, Sixth Wave has advanced its intellectual property ("IP") stack for molecular detection and extraction using MIPS and other molecular separation techniques. "The patent process is typically slow and can be difficult negotiating with issuing authorities. Sixth Wave has been very successful in obtaining patent protections around the world and more specifically in the countries where we believe that such protections are enforceable and where the use of our products make it important to have such protections," said Dr. Gluckman, President and CEO of Sixth Wave.

Sixth Wave believes there are significant opportunities to monetize the Company's metals purification MIPs being sold under the IXOS brand name. This technology enables the delivery of efficient, scalable, environmentally friendly, and lower cost solutions to our mining customers.

About Sixth Wave

Sixth Wave is a development stage nanotechnology company with patented technologies that focus on extraction and detection of target substances at the molecular level using highly specialized molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The Company is in the process of commercializing its Affinity" cannabinoid purification system, as well as, IXOS, a line of extraction polymers for the gold mining industry.

Sixth Wave can design, develop and commercialize MIP solutions across a broad spectrum of industries. The company is focused on nanotechnology architectures that are highly relevant for detection and separation of viruses, biogenic amines and other pathogens, for which the Company has products at various stages of development.

For more information about Sixth Wave, please visit: www.sixthwave.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Jon Gluckman"

Jonathan Gluckman, Ph.D., President & CEO

For information, please contact the Company:

Phone: (801) 582-0559

E-mail: [email protected]

Cautionary Notes

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding the planned features of the MIPs technology. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future events or developments that the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, successful development and commercialization of the MIPs technology are subject the risk that the MIPs technology may not prove to be successful in detecting virus targets effectively or at all, uncertainty of medical product development, uncertainty of timing or availability of required regulatory approvals, lack of track record of developing products for medical applications and the need for additional capital to carry out product development activities. The value of any products ultimately developed could be negatively impacted if its patent application is not successful. The Company has not yet completed development of a prototype for the product that is subject of its patent application and has not yet applied for regulatory approval for the use of this product from any regulatory agency.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141931
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - SUID has announced that now visitors can sell USDT (Tether) in Dubai. Following the successful launch in Dubai, SUID continues to broaden its service scope.

With the emergence of the crypto-companies and startups, SUID decided to offer a new service that enables people to get acquainted with cryptocurrencies. As part of its mission, which includes blockchain and cryptocurrency services, SUID facilitates the process which is required to buy and sell Bitcoin in Dubai.

Sell Bitcoin In Dubai Service By SUID

As the adoption of cryptocurrency increases, SUID stepped up to be the crypto OTC in Dubai and enable visitors to sell Bitcoin in Dubai fast. This service aims to ease the process required to trade bitcoin in Dubai.

The service includes selling bitcoin for various fiat currencies in Dubai. Visitors can sell Bitcoin (BTC) for USD if visitors prefer the US dollar, and visitors can sell Bitcoin for EURO if visitors will visit European countries afterward. Due to the demand, mainly Bitcoin is converted to AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham), which is the local currency in the United Arab Emirates. Also, visitors can swap BTC for other cryptocurrencies as well. According to SUID, selling Bitcoin in Dubai will occur in a few minutes.

Guidelines to Sell Bitcoin in Dubai at SUID

SUID indicates on its website that selling BTC in Dubai will be much easier. To meet the needs of crypto enthusiasts, three fiat currencies (USD, EURO, AED) are available.

SUID can easily serve the local people of Dubai and also people from any country who want to sell Bitcoin in the Dubai office.

Visitors can sell Bitcoin in Dubai in 3 steps:

Visit the SUID crypto OTC store in Dubai after arranging a meeting with a phone call Transfer Bitcoin from the visitor's wallet Get cash proportional amount to bitcoin

According to the company website, the company aims to provide secure service to customers in Dubai. Also, the professional team assists newcomers in setting up a wallet and other procedures. This means if customers do not have enough knowledge about cryptocurrencies, experts will help them.

About the Company

SUID, which is an abbreviation for Sell USDT in Dubai, is the cryptocurrency and blockchain service provider in Dubai. The main service area is enabling individuals to buy and sell cryptocurrencies in Dubai. The company provides buy and sell of 1000+ cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and many other popular digital currencies in Dubai. Experienced staff provides visitors with a seamless service in the Dubai office.

Company Name: SUID

Address: Exchange Tower 10th floor, Office # 1004 - Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971529886273

Email: [email protected]

Contact Person: Ilyas Jacobs

Contact Person title: Marketing Assistant

City, Country: Dubai, the UAE

Website: https://sellusdtindubai.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142015
Bedford, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Sylla Gold Corp. (TSXV: SYG); (OTCQB: SYGCF) ("Sylla Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce on October 18, 2022 the Company entered into an arm's length letter of intent ("LOI") pursuant to which Sylla Gold would acquire an option to earn 100% of the Sananfara gold exploration permit located contiguously south of the Company's Niaouleni Gold Project.

The Sananfara exploration permit is 2,100 hectares in size and once acquired would bring the total Niaouleni project area to 17,200 hectares in size (Figure 1). The Sananfara permit is host to numerous gold showings and artisanal workings in the area of the Gosso Shear extension.





Figure 1 -Prospect location map of the Niaouleni Gold Project in southern Mali

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6472/142058_bf283fbba48afbb6_001full.jpg

Regan Isenor, President and CEO of Sylla Gold commented, "We prioritized picking up the Sananfara exploration permit as it represents the extension of the Gosso Shear and is a key piece of land in what is turning into a major gold bearing structural corridor. Acquiring the Sananfara permit is the result of the Company's ongoing land acquisition strategy within this developing corridor."

The completion of the transaction contemplated by the letter of intent remains subject to the Company entering into a definitive option agreement and all regulatory approvals.

Niaouleni Project

The Niaouleni Project (Figure 2) is accessible by paved highway and includes extensive artisanal mining activity within the interpreted extensions of gold bearing structures. Past exploration work at Niaouleni included extensive reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling, which identified several structural gold-bearing zones that appeared to extend from the adjacent Kobada gold deposit.

Sylla Gold's inaugural drilling program was completed between April and July 2022 and included 57 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes (7,305 m) and 212 air core (AC) drill holes (10,600 m) completed along several drill fences. These drill holes targeted the Niaouleni South, Lebre Plateau and Kankou Moussa prospects along the Kobada Shear, and the Gouingouindougou prospect located on the Gosso Shear. These prospects were all previously defined by termite mound and soil geochemistry results. Assay results from the RC and AC drilling programs were released by the Company in news releases dated August 29, 2022, September 13, 2022, and October 4, 2022.





Figure 2- Niaouleni Property Location Within the Niaouleni-Kobada-Sanankoro Corridor

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6472/142058_bf283fbba48afbb6_002full.jpg

OTCQB Listing

The Company is pleased to announce that it has received trading approval from the United States OTC Markets in order to increase accessibility to U.S. based retail and institutional investors. Sylla Gold is now actively trading on the OTCQB Venture Market under ticker symbol SYGCF and the company profile can be viewed at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SYGCF/overview

Qualified Person Statement

All scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared and approved by Gregory Isenor, P.Geo., Director of Sylla Gold Corp. who is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

For more information, please contact:

Regan Isenor

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (902) 233-4381

Email: [email protected]

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 Information Statement

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and includes those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142058
FILE PHOTO: School buses are seen parked at First Student Charter Bus Rental in San Francisco, California, U.S. April 7, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

(Reuters) - The Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled nearly $1 billion in awards to U.S. school districts to replace aging, gas-fueled school buses with cleaner, mainly electric models.

The funding is the first tranche of $5 billion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hand out over five years through a clean school bus program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021.

The awards will support the purchase of 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric, the White House said. The nearly 400 rebates will go to school districts in all 50 states.

The EPA's clean school bus program is part of a broader push by the administration to upgrade public school infrastructure and reduce pollution from old buses. It also helps deliver on U.S. President Joe Biden's pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and funnel federal investments to underserved communities.

Transitioning to an electric school bus fleet nationwide would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 million tons per year, according to a study by the non-profit Public Interest Research Group. That's about the same as taking one and a half coal plants offline for a year, according to an EPA calculator.

Last month, EPA said it would nearly double its planned $500 million in clean bus awards for this year due to overwhelming demand from school districts. It plans to disburse another $1 billion under the program next year.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Dark Web Documentary Warns Businesses of Cyber Crime Attacks and Who is Most at Risk



The documentary, now available on Amazon, features Rene Miller of Ener Systems LLC, and other cybercrime experts from around the country. CEOs and business owners will benefit from this film as it reveals the insidious ways cybercriminals use the Dark Web to profit, such as ransomware, human trafficking, phishing, and hacktivism. Cyber Crime The Dark Web Uncovered reveals key strategies and ways to detect, deflect, and protect businesses from this growing threat.

Rene Miller, owner and co-founder of Ener Systems, an IT services and security company serving small to mid-size businesses in Greater New Orleans and on Lake Pontchatrains Northshore area, has recently been featured in the, now streaming Jeff Rolldan Documentary, Cyber Crime: The Dark Web Uncovered. Renes expertise, special skills and talents in Cybersecurity provide fascinating content. The documentary shows examples of the ways cybercriminals and the Dark Web use everything from ransomware, humantrafficking, hacking cars and hactivism to profit. The documentary also reveals key strategies and tools to detect, deflect, and protect businesses from this growing threat.

About Rene Miller

Rene is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, a Microsoft Partner, and has helped hundreds of businesses experience extraordinary growth while maximizing efficiency. He uses his tech prowess and business management expertise to help businesses develop IT strategy that aligns with their objectives. He is the only CISSP certified business owner in the New Orleans market, holds 12 industry certifications and partnerships and is the author of Operation Hacker to Slacker  How to Combat the Chaos of Cybercrime to Protect Your Data, Money & Business, and co-author of the publication The Secret To Hassle-Free Computer Support Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love My Computer!

Rene has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Orleans. He has been featured in multiple media outlets, including The Lake94.7, a feature cover story of MSP Success Magazine, and a featured podcast on MSP Success Spotlight.

About Us: For over 25 years Ener Systems, LLC has helped businesses by providing I.T. support, and providing "White Glove" I.T. service, and cybersecurity. They are experts at reducing the unnecessary work that is caused by I.T. struggles and keeping your business industry compliant.

Contact Info:

Name: Annie Vilardo

Email: Send Email

Organization: Ener Systems, LLC

Address: 19295 N. 3rd St., Ste 5, Covington, LA, 70433

Phone: 985-871-0333 X5502

Website: https://www.enersystems.com/



Video URL: https://player.vimeo.com/video/699199832?h=969dd2527a

About Us: Getting rid of unplanned work so others may prosper is our mission and technology is what we live, eat, and breathe! If you, or your team, are bogged-down with I.T. issues that cause unplanned work, lower productivity, and heightened security risks, we can help.

Contact Info:

Name: Annie Vilardo

Email: Send Email

Organization: Ener Systems LLC

Website: https://www.enersystems.com/



Video URL: https://player.vimeo.com/video/699199832?h=969dd2527a

Release ID: 89083782

If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xtremis, LLC (Xtremis), a Nashville-based startup developing advanced, Artificial Intelligence control systems that improve the performance of wireless networks in congested RF environments, recently announced its intention to relocate to Morgantown, WV. This move will involve basing Xtremis' business operations and product development activities at the Civil Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) business incubator campus adjacent to the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory.

"Our move to West Virginia will allow Xtremis to capitalize on the unique defense innovation community anchored by CMI2," said Shane Van Wyngaardt, Co-Founder and Principal at Xtremis. "We are convinced that the access to talent, quality of life, and cost of living benefits afforded by Morgantown will provide a springboard for our continued growth as a company."

Xtremis was founded in 2021 by a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University who won two prestigious challenge competitions sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the nation's preeminent defense research organization. Leveraging technologies developed through the DARPA initiatives, Xtremis has experienced rapid growth since its inception, having been competitively selected by the US Army's Pathfinder Program  an initiative led by the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), Army Research Laboratory  to develop a next-generation sensor network called the Advanced Dynamic Spectrum Radio (ADSR). This capability allows legacy Army radios to adapt to changes in the Electromagnetic Spectrum, ensuring that soldiers can communicate even in the presence of adversary jamming.

Based upon the success of the Pathfinder ADSR development activity, Xtremis has been selected to participate in the Army Accelerator Program, an effort championed by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) that seeks to rapidly transition promising innovations from industry to scalable Army products.

"Innovative startups like Xtremis play critical roles in both unlocking the economic potential of West Virginia and ensuring our nation's security. I am proud to support efforts that enable the Army to have timely access to startup-derived technologies that help our Soldiers be safer and more effective in future conflicts," said Senator Capito.

In addition to a presence at the CMI2 business incubator campus in Morgantown, Xtremis will collaborate with CMI2 to develop radio test and evaluation infrastructure at the Fola Multi-Domain Technology Test Bed site in Clay County, WV. Once completed, the Fola site will provide a unique, real-world laboratory for the development of Xtremis' novel radio technologies in conjunction with realistic military training.

"Welcoming Xtremis to West Virginia is exactly the outcome CMI2 has been working to achieve with programs like Pathfinder and the Army Accelerator," said Aly Goodwin Gregg, Vice President at CMI2. "Our goal is to capitalize on hard problems identified by Soldiers and groundbreaking research from universities to create new Army capabilities delivered by high-potential startup businesses."

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-radio-technology-startup-announces-move-to-west-virginia-301660126.html

SOURCE Civil-Military Innovation Institute Inc.
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Very strong performance in the quarter Third quarter

Net sales increased by 33% to SEK 31,820 M (23,930), with organic growth of 14% (7) and acquired net growth of 3% (2). Exchange-rates affected sales by 16 (1).

SEK M Very strong organic growth in Entrance Systems, Global Technologies and Americas, good growth in EMEIA , but organic sales declined in Asia Pacific.

EMEIA Six acquisitions with combined annual sales of about SEK 1,000 M were signed in the quarter.

SEK M The US regulator will seek to block ASSA ABLOY's proposed acquisition of the HHI division of Spectrum Brands. ASSA ABLOY and Spectrum Brands will contest in court this effort to oppose the transaction.

HHI ASSA ABLOY Operating income ( EBIT ) increased by 47% and amounted to SEK 4,973 M (3,392), with an operating margin of 15.6% (14.2). Excluding an operating loss of SEK 196 M for the CERTEGO divestment, the operating margin last year was 15.0%.

EBIT SEK M SEK M CERTEGO Net income amounted to SEK 3,552 M (2,392).

SEK M Earnings per share amounted to SEK 3.20 (2.15).

Operating cash flow amounted to SEK 4,520 M (3,619).

Sales and income

Third quarter January-September 2021 2022  2021 2022  Sales, SEK M 23,930 31,820 33 % 69,384 87,878 27 % Of which: Organic growth 1,576 3,741 14 % 6,661 10,351 14 % Acquisitions and divestments 490 857 3 % 2,211 790 1 % Exchange-rate effects 361 3,292 16 % 3,839 7,353 12 % Operating income (EBIT), SEK M 3,392 4,973 47 % 10,168 13,380 32 % Operating margin (EBITA), % 14.8 % 16.2 % 15.3 % 15.8 % Operating margin (EBIT), % 14.2 % 15.6 % 14.7 % 15.2 % Income before tax, SEK M 3,233 4,736 47 % 9,719 12,756 31 % Net income, SEK M ,392 3,552 48 % 7,858 9,567 22 % Operating cash flow, SEK M 3,619 4,520 25 % 9,881 9,219 7% Earnings per share, SEK 2.15 3.20 48 % 7.07 8.61 22 %

Comments by the President and CEO

Very strong performance in the quarter

Following a very strong sales development during the first half of 2022, the momentum continued during the third quarter with double-digit organic sales growth in most of our markets.

Our organic sales grew by 14%, complemented with 16% positive currency effects and 3% growth from M&A. Entrance Systems and Americas delivered very strong sales growth of 20% and 17% respectively, driven predominantly by a continued strong US market and price realization. Despite continued component shortages, Global Technologies achieved a very strong organic growth of 19% due to our launch of redesigned products and our continued recovery in the travel-related segments. EMEIA reported good organic growth of 4%, driven by very strong demand in Scandinavia and in most emerging markets. Although demand has improved in Southeast Asia and remained very strong in Pacific, organic sales in Asia Pacific were down by 2% as demand in China continued to be very weak.

Excluding an operating loss from divestments in 2021, our EBIT increased by 39% to SEK 4,973 M and the margin improved to 15.6% (15.0), driven by lower material headwind, continued operational efficiencies as well as a significant margin improvement in Global Technologies. Our operating cash flow in the quarter continued to improve, up 25% to SEK 4,520 M.

Delivering on our strategic activities

To accelerate our profitable growth, we are working with a number of strategic activities. One key activity is actively upgrading our installed base from mechanical to electromechanical solutions. We are leading this transition and are investing in new platforms and partner collaborations that, over time, will further strengthen our position in the industry. Our innovation efforts are paying off, and for the fourth consecutive quarter our sales of electromechanical products and solutions grew organically at double-digit rates and were up 16% in the quarter. This transition will also further improve the resilience of our business through more recurring sales and service, both of which achieved double-digit growth in the quarter.

We are continuing to execute our acquisition strategy, with six further acquisitions signed during the quarter, bringing the number of acquisitions closed this year to eleven by the end of September. In September, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced that it will seek to block our proposed acquisition of the HHI division of Spectrum Brands. We strongly disagree with the DoJ's characterization of the acquisition and will vigorously contest in court this effort to oppose the transaction.

While growth-generating activities create value, focus on costs is critical. The demand remains strong in most markets, but due to weaker demand in some European markets in the quarter (mainly the UK, France and Benelux), some local organizations have initiated cost-reduction actions to protect their profitability. We have a strong track record of being agile, and we will continue to act in response to possible changes in market conditions.

Lastly, I would like to note that we will host our Capital Markets Day on 16 November 2022 in London, where we will provide an update on our strategy and will display exciting new products and solutions such as mobile credentials and connected doors.

Stockholm, 26 October 2022

Nico Delvaux

President and CEO

Further information can be obtained from:

Nico Delvaux,

President and CEO, tel. no: +46 8 506 485 82

Erik Pieder,

Executive Vice President and CFO, tel.no: +46 8 506 485 72

Bjorn Tibell,

Head of Investor Relations, tel. no: +46 70 275 67 68,

e-mail: [email protected]

ASSA ABLOY is holding a telephone and web conference

at 09.30 on 26 October 2022

which can be followed online at www.assaabloy.com.

It is possible to submit questions by telephone on:

08505 583 59, +44 333 300 9265 or +1 631 913 1422

This information is information that ASSA ABLOY AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 08.00 CEST on 26 October 2022.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7333/3654866/1643538.pdf The full report (PDF)

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/assa-abloy-quarterly-report-q3-2022-301659496.html

SOURCE ASSA ABLOY
Handlettering Artist Maghon Taylor's New DaySpring Collection Also Available In Stores Now

SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the holidays just around the corner, new meaningful gift ideas from DaySpring in exclusive collections with actress Candace Cameron Bure and Handlettering artist Maghon Taylor are available in select Walmart stores.

These collections include wall art to beautify your space, devotional guides to encourage your heart, as well as practical items like drinkware and stationary.

"I've created my dream collection with Walmart and DaySpring and I'm so excited," Candace said. "I love this collection because it's fun, it's bright and my inner DJ Tanner is just screaming inside with all the color coordination!"

"This partnership with Walmart and Dayspring is a dream come true," said Maghon, who is the owner of All She Wrote Notes. "I am forever grateful for this opportunity to share these beautiful products and spread some hope and happiness through this collection."

The collections will be available at select Walmart locations and on Walmart.com this month. Candace Cameron Bure will be discussing her collection on Walmart TalkShopLive on October 27 at 3 p.m. CT and giving an exclusive sneak peek.

About DaySpring:

DaySpring, the world's largest Christian-message product provider, was founded in 1971 with a single Christmas card. Today DaySpring offers more than 6,000 productsfrom greeting cards to home decor, specialty gifts to devotional books. In 1999, DaySpring was acquired by Hallmark Cards, Inc. DaySpring products are sold in Christian retail outlets, mass retail stores, card and gift shops and other outlets in the United States and 60 foreign countries. DaySpring is based in Siloam Springs, Ark., and employs a staff of more than 220 people. Visit www.dayspring.com for more information about the company, to find a local retailer, and to send a free e-card.

About Candace Cameron Bure:

Candace Cameron Bure is an actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author. She is beloved by millions worldwide for her roles as DJ Tanner in the iconic family sitcoms Full House and Fuller House, in romantic comedies, mysteries and Christmas movies, as former cohost of The View, and as a Dancing with the Stars season 18 finalist. Candace is both outspoken and passionate about her family and faith. She and her husband, Val, have been married for more than 25 years. They have three grown children and live with their much-loved dog, Boris, in the LA area.

About Maghon Taylor:

Maghon Taylor is on a mission to spread happiness through her handwriting as the founder of All She Wrote Notes, a calligraphy studio based in North Carolina. She's a bestselling author, an award winning artist, a speaker and educator whose life motto is Work Hard, Stay Sweet, Trust God and Love Deep. Her work has been featured nationally with Hallmark, Good Morning America, Medium and Parade and she's worked with well loved brands such as Starbucks, Anthropologie, Michael's and DaySpring. Her happy hand lettering can be found on gift shop shelves nationwide. She loves bright colors, making people smile and turning her mistakes into confetti.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/candace-cameron-bure-releases-new-dayspring-product-collection-exclusively-in-walmart-301660217.html

SOURCE DaySpring
Chef Garwood will represent the U.S. at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Grand Finale in Milan in 2023

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After an inspiring day of competitive cooking by some of the most talented young chefs across the U.S., S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy recognized Daniel Garwood, 28, of Atomix in New York, N.Y., as the winner of the competition's U.S. regional final. Chef Garwood will advance to compete in the Grand Finale in 2023 in Milan, Italy.

Chef Garwood emerged in the competition for his culinary prowess, beating nine other talented chefs with his signature dish, "Aged Duck and Persimmon in Tak Cheongju with Banchan through the Eyes of a Traveler." Chef Garwood won over the renowned panel of judges  including Adrienne Cheatham of SundayBest Series, Nina Compton of Compere Lapin, Philip Tessier of Press Restaurant, Sean Brock of Audrey, and Ignacio Mattos of Estela, Altro Paradiso and Lodi  for his exceptional technical skills, creativity and personal belief in the power of gastronomy.

"There were so many talented chefs in this year's competition, so I am deeply honored to be recognized for this award and represent the U.S. on a global culinary stage next year," said Chef Daniel Garwood. "I am grateful to S.Pellegrino for supporting young chefs in the industry and fostering such an incredible global community of chefs and mentors."

At the Grand Finale in Milan next year, Chef Garwood will represent the U.S. and compete against 14 other regions from across the globe for the title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2023. Each young chef will present his or her dish to a jury of seven distinguished international chefs, known as the "Seven Sages." To help Chef Garwood prepare for his journey to the Grand Finale, he will be mentored by Chef Nina Compton of Compere Lapin in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Presented by S.Pellegrino's partner  Academy Award nominee and best-selling author Stanley Tucci  Chef Garwood was named the U.S. regional winner, and three additional chefs were also recognized for the following awards:

S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility  Jack Stewart of Bozeman, Mont., for his signature dish "Leek and Quail Yolk Ravioli. Voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs the Food Made Good program, Chef Stewart's dish deliciously transforms every piece of an often-overlooked ingredient.

Jack Stewart of Bozeman, Mont., for his signature dish "Leek and Quail Yolk Ravioli. Voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs the Food Made Good program, Chef Stewart's dish deliciously transforms every piece of an often-overlooked ingredient. Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy  Chef Michael Park of New York, N.Y., with his signature dish, "The Textures of KoreaUniting North & South." Voted for by the competition mentors, Chef Park's pairs the flavors of North and South Korea.

Chef Michael Park of New York, N.Y., with his signature dish, "The Textures of KoreaUniting North & South." Voted for by the competition mentors, Chef Park's pairs the flavors of North and South Korea. Fine Dining Lovers Community Award  Chef Laura Arrojo of Miami, Fla., for her signature dish, "Socarrat with Fish Galleys and Royal Sea Cucumber." Voted for by the Fine Dining Lovers community, Chef Arrojo's dish reimagines classic plates of Catalunya with new techniques.

The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition is a global platform and cooking competition developed by S.Pellegrino to identify, recognize and support diverse talent pushing the boundaries of gastronomy. The competition provides a unique opportunity for young chefs to be a part of a global community  S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy  that connects them with renowned members of the culinary world and empowers them through education and mentorship.

The regional final event also hosted the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy "Brain Food" Forum, an inspiring exchange of knowledge and ideas between young chefs and some of the greatest chefs in the world, curated by Fine Dining Lovers.

For more information on the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition, visit: https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/, and follow along on social @sanpellegrino_us using #SPYoungChefAcademy for news and announcements ahead of the Grand Finale.

About S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water is a premium sparkling mineral water that flows naturally from a thermal spring in San Pellegrino Terme, near Bergamo (Lombardia). S.Pellegrino has unique balance of effervescence and minerality which cleanse the palate and amplify subtle flavors, making it the perfect complement to fine food and wines. Its clean, refreshing taste has distinguished S.Pellegrino as a preferred sparkling water by leaders of the global culinary community.

S.Pellegrino is a proud supporter of premier culinary programs, such as The James Beard Foundation, World's 50 Best Restaurants, Michelin Guide, The Culinary Institute of America, The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy. For more information, visit www.sanpellegrino.com or www.finedininglovers.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chef-daniel-garwood-announced-as-the-winner-of-the-5th-annual-spellegrino-young-chef-academy-competition-us-regional-final-301660512.html

SOURCE S.Pellegrino
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Complete Genomics, part of MGI, celebrates the US commercial launch of their DNBSEQTM sequencing product line at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting, from October 25-29, in Los Angeles. MGI is a global life science tool provider offering lab automation and NGS sequencing platforms around the world.

Complete Genomics offers complete NGS instrumentation and related products, including sample extraction, library prep, automation system, sequencing platforms, and bioinformatics. Though new to the US market, MGI has been providing NGS sequencers since 2017 and has more than thousands of sequencers installed around the world. MGI redefines sequencing possibilities through its latest innovation, DNBSEQTM. This technology is available on all sequencing platforms, which eliminates index hopping and clonal errors during the sequencing step of NGS workflow. This process makes sequencing much more accurate, flexible, and affordable, resulting in enhanced sequencing capacities and accelerated scientific breakthroughs for researchers.

At ASHG, Complete Genomics showcases DNBSEQ-E25*, DNBSEQ-G400*, DNBSEQ-T7*, and DNBSEQ-T10x4* at the MGI booth (#1803). Complete Genomics released their DNBSEQ-G400* sequencers in the US in August and placed the first few instruments in customers' labs within a week. DNBSEQ-G400* is a day-to-day, medium throughput (data output up to 1440Gb daily) benchtop sequencer that offers extensive options for researchers. DNBSEQ-G400* has the option to run 1 or 2 flow cells with 2 types of flow cells (550M/reads vs 1800M/reads) and various read length options from SE50 to SE400 or PE300.

Throughout 2023, Complete Genomics will continue to release innovative solutions, from low to very high throughput labs. Included among these offerings are the following:

DNBSEQ-T7* is an ultra-high throughput sequencer. It offers high flexibility among sequencers on the market because it allows four independent flow cells to run at any time. Therefore, more than 20,000 of 30X WGS can be achieved in less than one year. This product will be available starting Jan 2023.

DNBSEQ-T10x4* will be the highest throughput (data output up to 18Tb daily) sequencer available with a robotic arm to streamline and accelerate the sequencing process. This product will be available starting Jan 2023.

DNBSEQ-E25* sequencer will become available in the US in Q2. DNBSEQ-E25* is a very low throughput (up to 7.5G daily) portable sequencer with built-in bioinformatics. Its ease of setup means it is ready to run in ten minutes. A quick turnaround time means that it only takes 20 hours from sample to FASTQ data. This product will be launched in Q2, 2023.

For all sequencer specifications, please visit the Complete Genomics website.

The launch of the DNBSEQ-G400* sequencing platform has generated great interest within the scientific community and enabled Complete Genomics to form partnerships with various other life science companies to demonstrate high data quality and accuracy and to provide high-end NGS instrumentation for its customers. MGI is pleased to highlight the following organizations among its partners:

- Agilent Technologies- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - BioSkryb- Gencove- New England Biolabs (NEB)- Qiagen- Roche- Sentieon- Sophia Genetics- TwinStrand Biosciences- Watchmaker Genomics

Complete Genomics also shares its customer's experience on DNBSEQTM platforms at the industry education session from 7-8 am on October 28 at ASHG. Loma Linda University School of Medicine will present their data on "Benchmarking Study of Next-Gen Sequencing Using NASA Spaceflight Mouse Brain Samples", and Sentieon will give a talk on "Accurate Small Variant Calling by DNAscope on MGI DNBSEQ- G400* Sequencing Platform".

MGI takes data security seriously. All our DNBSEQM sequencing platforms can work as a stand-alone system from sample to result without any network connection, so there is no risk of data breaches. Customers will have 100% control of their data security.

About Complete Genomics

Based in San Jose, California, Complete Genomics has been a research and development center of excellence since June 2018. Complete Genomics has a demo lab in San Jose, California with all the sequencers and lab automation equipment for customers to visit and is the supply center for the Americas so that it can deliver its systems and products in a timely manner. Complete Genomics, the headquarters for MGI Americas, released its first next-generation sequencing system, the DNBSEQ-G400* platform in the US, in August 2022.

*Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria and Romania. No purchase orders for StandardMPS products will be accepted in the USA until after January 1, 2023. DNBSEQ-E25*, DNBSEQ-G400*, DNBSEQ-T7*, and DNBSEQ-T10x4* showcased in ASHG are just non-functional models for exhibition purpose only.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/complete-genomics-part-of-mgi-announces-next-generation-sequencing-platforms-at-ashg-annual-meeting-301659413.html

SOURCE MGI Tech Co., Ltd.
Draper, Utah will soon be home to the state's very first Cookie Co., which will be a corporate store owned by the company's Founders Elise and Matt Thomas

REDLANDS, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cookie Co. began scaling this year and has been diligent in choosing locations for their gourmet cookie shoppe to call home. Selecting Utah as the next state to expand their brand into was a natural next step for Founders Elise and Matt Thomas who love the area and its community. Cookie Co. will be opening its doors Saturday, October 29th at 12059 S. State Street, Draper, UT 84020. This will be the seventh location for Cookie Co. across three states, California, Texas and now Utah. The opening week line-up of cookies will feature Cookie Co.'s Signature Chocolate Chip, Monster Mash, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip and Frosted Sugar with Halloween Sprinkles. Additional grand opening details for the Draper, Utah location will be available HERE on Cookie Co.'s Instagram. Dedicated to bringing their famed cookies to more raving fans, Cookie Co. is actively vetting interested franchise partners who can learn more by contacting the company HERE.

"We're excited to be in Draper and we have other Utah locations coming soon. However, this location and its drive-through wows with the added convenience, and it is our only drive through to date!" -Elise Thomas, Founder, Cookie Co.

About Cookie Co:

Gourmet cookies, made locally. Founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Cookie Co. began as a labor of love, offering the simplest of comfort foods  fresh baked cookies. Baked right at home with curbside pick-up in their driveway, Founders Elise and Matt Thomas discovered peace in providing an experience that reminded them of hopeful childhood memories. Opening the first location in August 2020 in Redlands, California, Cookie Co. is known for its signature cookies which are proprietary to the company. Additional Cookie Co. locations include Riverside, Temecula, Beaumont and Yucaipa within California alongside Georgetown, Texas. Cookie Co. has thrived thanks to raving fans across the community and is now available as a franchise. Interested franchise partners can learn more by contacting: [email protected].

Learn More:CookieCo.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Contact: Paula SteurerSterling Public RelationsDirect: 949. 200. 6566[email protected]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cookie-co-opens-first-location-in-utah-complete-with-a-drive-through-301660306.html

SOURCE Cookie Co.
America's Diner and three TikTok influencers teamed up on meals that can only be described as Fire

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the All Day Diner Deals value menu launch, today Denny's announces the release of three tasty new eats developed in partnership with popular TikTok creators who have a passion for food, flavor and fresh experiences. The distinct and dynamic new menu items - available at locations nationwide for a limited time - are part of the brand's newest Social Stars Influenced Menu, bursting with bold flavors and creative twists on sweet and savory pairings to excite the palate.

With a finger on the pulse of influencers who represent today's diverse America, Denny's continues to drive awareness and cultural relevance among a younger audience. The craveable new meals represent the fourth drop in Denny's Social Stars Influenced Menu campaign which first launched in February 2022 and has featured menu items inspired by TikTok stars who each put their own personal spin on iconic menu items. Since its initial launch, 2.4 million meals have been sold from the curated menu.

Guests are encouraged to go bananas with delicious new pancakes that Denny's developed along with Cy Nguyen (@cylovesfrogs) and Achieng Agutu (@noordinarynoire). The It's Bananas Salted Caramel Pancakes feature two fluffy buttermilk pancakes with layers of shortbread cookie pieces and is topped with vanilla cream, fresh bananas, more shortbread crumbles and a salted caramel drizzle. Served with eggs, hash browns and a choice of bacon or sausage, it's a meal of your flippin' dreams.

Denny's is bringing something new to the table that's a cut above the rest when it comes to steak and bourbon. In partnership with Eric Sedeno (@ricotaquito) and Tway Nguyen (@twaydabae), the all-new Straight Up Bourbon Steak includes a tender 8 oz., USDA choice cut sirloin steak topped with velvety Bourbon sauce, caramelized onions, chopped bacon and sauteed mushrooms. This imaginative take on a classic American dish is served with two sides and dinner bread to entice steak lovers of all ages.

For a sweet dream of a dessert, the Yes, We Pecan! Salted Caramel Milkshake by Ahmad Alzahabi (@thegoldenbalance) and Yasmine Sahid (@ladyyasmina1) blends hand-dipped premium ice cream with salted caramel and glazed pecans for a festive bite with everything nice.

"Celebrating food, creativity and the uniqueness of each and every guest is in our DNA," said John Dillon, Denny's President. "Collaborating with these creators has been an exciting journey and has given us the opportunity to not only give guests the quality meals that they want, when they want them, but continue to cement ourselves as America's value destination that consumers count on us for."

The newest Social Stars Influenced Menu drop can be ordered in-restaurant, online or through the new Denny's iOS and Android apps. For more information please visit dennys.com.

About Denny's Corp

Denny's Corporation is the franchisor and operator of the Denny's brand, of one of America's largest franchised full-service restaurant chains, based on the number of restaurants. As of June 29, 2022, Denny's had 1,631 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants around the world including 154 restaurants in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand, Honduras, the United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Guam, Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. For further information on Denny's, including news releases, please visit the Denny's website at www.dennys.com or the brand's social channel via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or YouTube.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dennys-drops-a-hot-new-set-of-creator-meal-collabs-301659363.html

SOURCE Denny's
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC), the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, today reported its results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.

"Our third quarter results are further evidence of the strong demand for our inpatient rehabilitation services," said President and Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health Mark Tarr. "Third quarter discharge growth was 7.5%, inclusive of 4.1% same-store growth. We made continued progress on reducing contract labor through our hiring and retention initiatives, but elevated staffing costs again impacted our profitability. Consequently, we have revised our 2022 guidance. We remain confident in the long-term prospects for our business."

On July 1, 2022, Encompass Health completed the spin off of Enhabit Home Health & Hospice ("Enhabit"), which is now an independent, publicly traded company. Enhabit's historical results are reported in Encompass Health's discontinued operations.

Summary results

Growth Q3 2022 Q3 2021 Dollars Percent (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net operating revenue $ 1,089.5 $ 1,010.8 $ 78.7 7.8 % Income from continuing operations attributable toEncompass Health per diluted share 0.63 0.76 (0.13) (17.1) % Adjusted earnings per share 0.67 0.76 (0.09) (11.8) % Cash flows provided by operating activities 70.1 177.6 (107.5) (60.5) % Adjusted EBITDA 195.3 199.3 (4.0) (2.0) % Adjusted free cash flow 26.6 87.7 (61.1) (69.7) % Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 Cash flows provided by operating activities $ 533.6 $ 592.0 $ (58.4) (9.9) % Adjusted free cash flow 294.1 302.0 (7.9) (2.6) %

See attached supplemental information for calculations of non-GAAP measures and reconciliations to their most comparable GAAP measure.

Net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDA

% of Revenue % of Revenue (In Millions) Q3 2022 Q3 2021 Net operating revenue $ 1,089.5 $ 1,010.8 % Change 7.8 % Salaries and benefits (605.6) (55.6) % (537.0) (53.1) % Hospital operating expenses (236.6) (21.7) % (217.6) (21.5) % General and administrative expenses (32.0) (2.9) % (32.2) (3.2) % Other income 0.9 0.7 Equity in nonconsolidated affiliates 0.7 0.9 Noncontrolling interests in continuing operations (21.6) (26.3) Adjusted EBITDA $ 195.3 $ 199.3 % Change (2.0) % (Actual Amounts) Discharges 53,743 49,983 % Change 7.5 % Same-store discharge growth 4.1 % Net patient revenue per discharge $ 19,809 $ 19,681 % Change 0.7 %

Revenue  Inpatient revenue growth resulted primarily from increased volumes. Total discharge growth for the third quarter of 2022 was 7.5% with same-store growth of 4.1%. Revenue reserves related to bad debt as a percent of revenue remained constant at 2.0%. Growth in net patient revenue per discharge of 0.7% primarily resulted from an increase in reimbursement rates, offset by the resumption of sequestration.

 Inpatient revenue growth resulted primarily from increased volumes. Total discharge growth for the third quarter of 2022 was 7.5% with same-store growth of 4.1%. Revenue reserves related to bad debt as a percent of revenue remained constant at 2.0%. Growth in net patient revenue per discharge of 0.7% primarily resulted from an increase in reimbursement rates, offset by the resumption of sequestration. Adjusted EBITDA  The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA primarily resulted from increased staffing costs.

2022 Guidance

The Company is revising its guidance for full-year 2022.

Prior Updated 2022 Guidance Ranges 2022 Guidance Ranges provided August 1, 2022 provided October 26, 2022 (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net operating revenue $4,250 to $4,300 $4,320 to $4,350 Adjusted EBITDA $820 to $840 $800 to $820 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Encompass Health $2.77 to $2.91 $2.71 to $2.86

For considerations regarding the Company's 2022 guidance ranges, see the supplemental information posted on the Company's website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com. See also the "Other information" section below for an explanation of why the Company does not provide guidance for comparable GAAP measures for Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share.

Earnings conference call and webcast

The Company will host an investor conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 27, 2022 to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2022. For reference during the call, the Company will post certain supplemental information at http://investor.encompasshealth.com.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 800 274-8461 and giving the conference ID EHCQ322. International callers should dial 203 518-9843 and give the same conference ID. Please call approximately ten minutes before the start of the call to ensure you are connected. The conference call will also be webcast live and will be available for on-line replay at http://investor.encompasshealth.com by clicking on an available link.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 153 hospitals in 36 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Other information

The information in this press release is summarized and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 (the "September 2022 Form 10-Q"), when filed, as well as the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 26, 2022 (the "Q3 Earnings Form 8-K"), to which this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. In addition, the Company will post supplemental information today on its website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com for reference during its October 27, 2022 earnings call.

The financial data contained in the press release and supplemental information include non-GAAP financial measures, including the Company's adjusted earnings per share, leverage ratio, Adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted free cash flow. Reconciliations to their most comparable GAAP measure, except with regard to non-GAAP guidance, are included below or in the Q3 Earnings Form 8-K. Readers are encouraged to review the "Note Regarding Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the Q3 Earnings Form 8-K which provides further explanation and disclosure regarding the Company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures.

Excluding net operating revenues, the Company does not provide guidance on a GAAP basis because it is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future impact of items that are deemed to be outside the control of the Company or otherwise not indicative of its ongoing operating performance. Such items include government, class action, and related settlements; professional feesaccounting, tax, and legal; mark-to-market adjustments for stock appreciation rights; gains or losses related to hedging instruments; loss on early extinguishment of debt; adjustments to its income tax provision (such as valuation allowance adjustments and settlements of income tax claims); items related to corporate and facility restructurings; and certain other items the Company believes to be not indicative of its ongoing operations. These items cannot be reasonably predicted and will depend on several factors, including industry and market conditions, and could be material to the Company's results computed in accordance with GAAP.

However, the following reasonably estimable GAAP measures for 2022 would be included in a reconciliation for Adjusted EBITDA if the other reconciling GAAP measures could be reasonably predicted:

Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees - estimate of $150 million to $160 million

Amortization of debt-related items - approximately $10 million

The Q3 Earnings Form 8-K and, when filed, the September 2022 Form 10-Q can be found on the Company's website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net operating revenues $ 1,089.5 $ 1,010.8 $ 3,211.3 $ 2,972.4 Operating expenses: Salaries and benefits 605.6 537.0 1,778.9 1,554.8 Other operating expenses 172.0 151.4 500.3 442.2 Occupancy costs 12.4 14.5 41.6 44.5 Supplies 51.1 46.7 148.2 136.0 General and administrative expenses 37.9 38.9 111.5 123.7 Depreciation and amortization 62.1 55.5 180.3 162.9 Total operating expenses 941.1 844.0 2,760.8 2,464.1 Loss on early extinguishment of debt   1.4 1.0 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 38.2 39.9 138.2 124.3 Other expense (income) 3.6 (0.5) 13.6 (4.8) Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates (0.7) (0.9) (2.6) (2.5) Income from continuing operations before income tax expense 107.3 128.3 299.9 390.3 Provision for income tax expense 21.8 26.2 68.2 79.4 Income from continuing operations 85.5 102.1 231.7 310.9 (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax (18.5) 24.6 16.7 90.6 Net and comprehensive income 67.0 126.7 248.4 401.5 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interestsincluded in continuing operations (21.6) (26.3) (65.5) (79.6) Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interestsincluded in discontinued operations  (0.4) (1.3) (1.3) Less: Net and comprehensive income attributable tononcontrolling interests (21.6) (26.7) (66.8) (80.9) Net and comprehensive income attributable toEncompass Health $ 45.4 $ 100.0 $ 181.6 $ 320.6 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 99.2 99.0 99.2 99.0 Diluted 100.5 100.2 100.3 100.1 Earnings per common share: Basic earnings per share attributable to EncompassHealth common shareholders: Continuing operations $ 0.64 $ 0.76 $ 1.67 $ 2.32 Discontinued operations (0.19) 0.24 0.15 0.90 Net income $ 0.45 $ 1.00 $ 1.82 $ 3.22 Diluted earnings per share attributable to EncompassHealth common shareholders: Continuing operations $ 0.63 $ 0.76 $ 1.66 $ 2.31 Discontinued operations (0.18) 0.24 0.15 0.89 Net income $ 0.45 $ 1.00 $ 1.81 $ 3.20 Amounts attributable to Encompass Health commonshareholders: Income from continuing operations $ 63.9 $ 75.8 $ 166.2 $ 231.3 (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax (18.5) 24.2 15.4 89.3 Net income attributable to Encompass Health $ 45.4 $ 100.0 $ 181.6 $ 320.6

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) September 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 (In Millions) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 59.8 $ 49.4 Restricted cash 44.3 62.5 Accounts receivable 500.1 515.8 Other current assets 129.6 114.9 Current assets of discontinued operations  178.8 Total current assets 733.8 921.4 Property and equipment, net 2,807.4 2,581.2 Operating lease right-of-use assets 195.7 193.7 Goodwill 1,247.4 1,237.0 Intangible assets, net 284.9 158.4 Other long-term assets 206.6 230.0 Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations 0.1 1,543.2 Total assets $ 5,475.9 $ 6,864.9 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 26.2 $ 37.8 Current operating lease liabilities 22.7 23.5 Accounts payable 134.1 134.0 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 421.6 421.1 Current liabilities of discontinued operations 0.1 132.4 Total current liabilities 604.7 748.8 Long-term debt, net of current portion 2,719.0 3,240.5 Long-term operating lease liabilities 183.3 179.6 Deferred income tax liabilities 46.7 23.3 Other long-term liabilities 174.0 172.7 Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations 0.4 100.8 3,728.1 4,465.7 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interests 37.8 42.2 Shareholders' equity: Encompass Health shareholders' equity 1,217.0 1,911.3 Noncontrolling interests 493.0 445.7 Total shareholders' equity 1,710.0 2,357.0 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 5,475.9 $ 6,864.9

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 (In Millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 248.4 $ 401.5 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (16.7) (90.6) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Depreciation and amortization 180.3 162.9 Loss on early extinguishment of debt 1.4 1.0 Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates (2.6) (2.5) Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates 3.7 2.4 Stock-based compensation 21.1 19.6 Deferred tax (benefit) expense (7.7) 1.6 Realized loss (gain) on sale of investments 16.5 (1.8) Other, net 9.7 4.2 Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions Accounts receivable 22.4 (10.9) Other assets 5.0 (26.5) Accounts payable (0.3) 9.7 Accrued payroll (9.3) 16.0 Accrued interest payable (20.7) (23.1) Other liabilities 26.4 (5.0) Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations 56.0 133.5 Total adjustments 301.9 281.1 Net cash provided by operating activities 533.6 592.0 Cash flows from investing activities: Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired  (1.1) Purchases of property and equipment (374.9) (332.3) Additions to capitalized software costs (7.5) (11.9) Proceeds from disposal of assets 5.9 17.6 Purchase of restricted investments (25.1) (8.3) Other, net (15.4) (10.0) Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations (3.6) (99.6) Net cash used in investing activities (420.6) (445.6)

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 (In Millions) Cash flows from financing activities: Principal payments on debt, including pre-payments (345.3) (210.9) Borrowings on revolving credit facility 180.0 145.0 Payments on revolving credit facility (340.0) (55.0) Principal payments under finance lease obligations (14.3) (13.0) Debt amendment costs (21.6)  Taxes paid on behalf of employees for shares withheld (7.2) (14.6) Contributions from noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates 55.1 36.1 Dividends paid on common stock (84.1) (84.5) Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates (68.2) (76.2) Other, net 0.3 (0.1) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations 516.1 (9.2) Net cash used in financing activities (129.2) (282.4) Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (16.2) (136.0) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 120.3 310.9 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 104.1 $ 174.9 Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period $ 49.4 $ 185.6 Restricted cash at beginning of period 62.5 63.9 Restricted cash included in other long-term assets at beginning of period 0.4 21.5 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in discontinued operations at beginning of period 8.0 39.9 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period $ 120.3 $ 310.9 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 59.8 $ 65.7 Restricted cash at end of period 44.3 73.6 Restricted cash included in other long-term assets at end of period  4.2 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash in discontinued operations at end of period  31.4 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 104.1 $ 174.9

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesSupplemental InformationEarnings Per Share Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Adjusted EBITDA $ 195.3 $ 199.3 $ 586.6 $ 616.5 Depreciation and amortization (62.1) (55.5) (180.3) (162.9) Interest expense and amortization of debt discountsand fees (38.2) (39.9) (138.2) (124.3) Stock-based compensation (7.3) (6.6) (21.1) (19.6) Gain (loss) on disposal or impairment of assets 1.1 5.0 (2.4) 1.7 88.8 102.3 244.6 311.4 Items not indicative of ongoing operating performance: Loss on early extinguishment of debt   (1.4) (1.0) Change in fair market value of equity securities (3.1) (0.3) (8.8) 0.3 Pre-tax income 85.7 102.0 234.4 310.7 Income tax expense (21.8) (26.2) (68.2) (79.4) Income from continuing operations (1) $ 63.9 $ 75.8 $ 166.2 $ 231.3 Basic shares 99.2 99.0 99.2 99.0 Diluted shares 100.5 100.2 100.3 100.1 Basic earnings per share (1) $ 0.64 $ 0.76 $ 1.67 $ 2.32 Diluted earnings per share (1) $ 0.63 $ 0.76 $ 1.66 $ 2.31 (1) Income from continuing operations attributable to Encompass Health

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesSupplemental InformationAdjusted Earnings Per Share Q3 9 Months 2022 2021 2022 2021 Earnings per share, as reported $ 0.63 $ 0.76 $ 1.66 $ 2.31 Adjustments, net of tax: Bondholder consent fees associated with Enhabit distribution   0.15  Income tax adjustments 0.01  0.08 (0.03) Loss on early extinguishment of debt   0.01 0.01 Change in fair market value of equity securities 0.02  0.06  Adjusted earnings per share* $ 0.67 $ 0.76 $ 1.97 $ 2.28 * Adjusted EPS may not sum due to rounding.

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesSupplemental InformationAdjusted Earnings Per Share For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 Adjustments As Reported Income Tax Adjustments Change in Fair Market Value of Equity Securities As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 195.3 $  $  $ 195.3 Depreciation and amortization (62.1)   (62.1) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (38.2)   (38.2) Stock-based compensation (7.3)   (7.3) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets 1.1   1.1 Change in fair market value of equity securities (3.1)  3.1  Income from continuing operations before income taxexpense 85.7  3.1 88.8 Provision for income tax expense (21.8) 1.3 (0.8) (21.3) Income from continuing operations attributable to Encompass Health $ 63.9 $ 1.3 $ 2.3 $ 67.5 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations** $ 0.63 $ 0.01 $ 0.02 $ 0.67 Diluted shares used in calculation 100.5 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum across due to rounding.

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesSupplemental InformationAdjusted Earnings Per Share For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Adjustments As Reported Income Tax Adjustments Change in FairMarket Value ofEquity Securities As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 199.3 $  $  $ 199.3 Depreciation and amortization (55.5)   (55.5) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (39.9)   (39.9) Stock-based compensation (6.6)   (6.6) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets 5.0   5.0 Change in fair market value of equity securities (0.3)  0.3  Income from continuing operations before income taxexpense 102.0  0.3 102.3 Provision for income tax expense (26.2) (0.2) (0.1) (26.5) Income from continuing operations attributable to Encompass Health $ 75.8 $ (0.2) $ 0.2 $ 75.8 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations** $ 0.76 $  $  $ 0.76 Diluted shares used in calculation 100.2 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum across due to rounding.

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesSupplemental InformationAdjusted Earnings Per Share For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 Adjustments AsReported Loss on EarlyExtinguishmentof Debt Income Tax Adjustments BondholderConsentFeesAssociated with EnhabitDistribution Change in Fair Market Value of Equity Securities As Adjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 586.6 $  $  $  $  $ 586.6 Depreciation and amortization (180.3)     (180.3) Interest expense and amortization of debt discountsand fees (138.2)   20.5  (117.7) Stock-based compensation (21.1)     (21.1) Loss on disposal or impairment of assets (2.4)     (2.4) Loss on early extinguishment of debt (1.4) 1.4     Change in fair market value of equity securities (8.8)    8.8  Income from continuing operations beforeincome tax expense 234.4 1.4  20.5 8.8 265.1 Provision for income tax expense (68.2) (0.4) 8.5 (5.3) (2.3) (67.7) Income from continuing operations attributableto Encompass Health $ 166.2 $ 1.0 $ 8.5 $ 15.2 $ 6.5 $ 197.4 Diluted earnings per share from continuingoperations** $ 1.66 $ 0.01 $ 0.08 $ 0.15 $ 0.06 $ 1.97 Diluted shares used in calculation 100.3 * See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum across due to rounding.

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Adjusted Earnings Per Share For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Adjustments AsReported Loss on EarlyExtinguishmentof Debt Income TaxAdjustments Change in FairMarket Value ofEquity Securities AsAdjusted (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) Adjusted EBITDA* $ 616.5 $  $  $  $ 616.5 Depreciation and amortization (162.9)    (162.9) Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees (124.3)    (124.3) Stock-based compensation (19.6)    (19.6) Gain on disposal or impairment of assets 1.7    1.7 Loss on early extinguishment of debt (1.0) 1.0    Change in fair market value of equity securities 0.3   (0.3)  Income from continuing operations before incometax expense 310.7 1.0  (0.3) 311.4 Provision for income tax expense (79.4) (0.3) (3.3) 0.1 (82.9) Income from continuing operations attributable toEncompass Health $ 231.3 $ 0.7 $ (3.3) $ (0.2) $ 228.5 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations** $ 2.31 $ 0.01 $ (0.03) $  $ 2.28 Diluted shares used in calculation 100.1

* See reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA ** Adjusted EPS may not sum across due to rounding.

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions) Net income $ 67.0 $ 126.7 $ 248.4 $ 401.5 Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax,attributable to Encompass Health 18.5 (24.6) (16.7) (90.6) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interestsincluded in continuing operations (21.6) (26.3) (65.5) (79.6) Provision for income tax expense 21.8 26.2 68.2 79.4 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 38.2 39.9 138.2 124.3 Depreciation and amortization 62.1 55.5 180.3 162.9 Loss on early extinguishment of debt   1.4 1.0 (Gain) loss on disposal or impairment of assets (1.1) (5.0) 2.4 (1.7) Stock-based compensation 7.3 6.6 21.1 19.6 Change in fair market value of equity securities 3.1 0.3 8.8 (0.3) Adjusted EBITDA $ 195.3 $ 199.3 $ 586.6 $ 616.5

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 70.1 $ 177.6 $ 533.6 $ 592.0 Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees 38.2 39.9 138.2 124.3 (Loss) gain on sale of investments, excluding impairments (4.6) (0.3) (16.5) 1.8 Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates 0.7 0.9 2.6 2.5 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in continuing operations (21.6) (26.3) (65.5) (79.6) Amortization of debt-related items (2.6) (1.8) (7.4) (5.8) Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates (0.8) (0.8) (3.7) (2.4) Current portion of income tax expense 23.0 28.1 75.9 77.8 Change in assets and liabilities 69.9 17.6 (23.5) 39.8 Cash used in (provided by) operating activities of discontinued operations 19.9 (35.7) (56.0) (133.5) Change in fair market value of equity securities 3.1 0.3 8.8 (0.3) Other  (0.2) 0.1 (0.1) Adjusted EBITDA $ 195.3 $ 199.3 $ 586.6 $ 616.5

Encompass Health Corporation and Subsidiaries Supplemental Information Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow Three Months EndedSeptember 30, Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 (In Millions) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 70.1 $ 177.6 $ 533.6 $ 592.0 Impact of discontinued operations 19.9 (35.7) (56.0) (133.5) Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations 90.0 141.9 477.6 458.5 Capital expenditures for maintenance (56.2) (30.3) (127.6) (81.0) Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates (22.3) (24.8) (68.2) (76.2) Items not indicative of ongoing operating performance: Transaction costs and related assumed liabilities 15.1 0.9 12.3 0.7 Adjusted free cash flow $ 26.6 $ 87.7 $ 294.1 $ 302.0

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $174.3 million and resulted primarily from capital expenditures and purchase of restricted investments. Net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $49.0 million and resulted primarily from net debt borrowings and contributions from consolidated affiliates partially offset by cash dividends paid on common stock and distributions to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $124.0 million and primarily resulted from capital expenditures. Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $18.5 million and primarily resulted from cash dividends paid on common stock and distributions to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates partially offset by net debt borrowings.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $420.6 million and primarily resulted from capital expenditures and purchase of restricted investments. Net cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $129.2 million and primarily resulted from net debt payments, cash dividends paid on common stock and distributions to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates partially offset by net cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations and contributions from noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $445.6 million and primarily resulted from capital expenditures and the acquisition of assets from Frontier Home Health and Hospice, included in net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations. Net cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $282.4 million and primarily resulted from net debt payments, cash dividends paid on common stock and distributions to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates.

Encompass Health Corporation and SubsidiariesForward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release and the supplemental information which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the business model, strategy, outlook and guidance, dividend strategies, effective income tax rates, labor cost trends, legislative and regulatory developments or their impacts, financial guidance, ability to return value to shareholders, projected capital expenditures, acquisition opportunities, development projects, other balance sheet and cash flow plans, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, Encompass Health, through its senior management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those estimated by Encompass Health include, but are not limited to, an infectious disease outbreak, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of its spread, which could decrease our patient volumes and revenues and lead to staffing and supply shortages and associated cost increases; the legal, regulatory and administrative developments that occur at the federal, state and local levels; Encompass Health's infectious disease prevention and control efforts; the demand for Encompass Health's services, including based on any downturns in the economy, consumer confidence, or the capital markets; the price of Encompass Health's common stock as it affects Encompass Health's willingness and ability to repurchase shares and the financial and accounting effects of any repurchases; any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings involving Encompass Health, including any matters related to yet undiscovered issues, if any, in acquired operations; Encompass Health's ability to attract and retain key management personnel; any adverse effects on Encompass Health's stock price resulting from the integration of acquired operations; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of Encompass Health's or its vendors' information systems, including unauthorized access to or theft of patient, business associate, or other sensitive information or inability to provide patient care because of system unavailability as well as unforeseen issues, if any, related to integration of acquired systems; the ability to successfully integrate acquired operations, including realization of anticipated tax benefits, revenues, and cost savings, minimizing the negative impact on margins arising from the changes in staffing and other operating practices, and avoidance of unforeseen exposure to liabilities; Encompass Health's ability to successfully complete and integrate de novo developments, acquisitions, investments, and joint ventures consistent with its growth strategy; increases in Medicare audit activity, including increased use of sampling and extrapolation, resulting in additional unpaid reimbursement claims and an increase in the backlog of appealed claims denials; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels, including as part of national healthcare reform and deficit reduction and Encompass Health's ability to adapt operations to those changes; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and Encompass Health's response thereto; Encompass Health's ability to obtain and retain favorable arrangements with third-party payors; Encompass Health's ability to control costs, particularly labor and employee benefit costs, including group medical expenses; adverse effects resulting from coverage determinations made by Medicare Administrative Contractors regarding its Medicare reimbursement claims and lengthening delays in Encompass Health's ability to recover improperly denied claims through the administrative appeals process on a timely basis; Encompass Health's ability to adapt to changes in the healthcare delivery system, including value-based purchasing and involvement in coordinated care initiatives or programs that may arise with its referral sources; Encompass Health's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages, which may be worsened by infectious disease outbreaks, and the impact on Encompass Health's labor expenses from potential union activity, staffing shortages, and competitive compensation practices; general conditions in the economy and capital markets, including any instability or uncertainty related to armed conflict or an act of terrorism, governmental impasse over approval of the United States federal budget, an increase in the debt ceiling, or an international sovereign debt crisis; the increase in the cost of, or the decrease in the availability of, necessary supplies, such as personal protective equipment; the increase in the costs of defending and insuring against alleged professional liability claims, and Encompass Health's ability to predict the estimated costs related to such claims; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, June 30, 2022, and September 30, 2022, when filed.

Media ContactCasey Winger, 205 447-6410[email protected]

Investor Relations ContactMark Miller, 205 970-5860[email protected]

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SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy will report its third-quarter 2022 financial results before the market opens Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Drew Marsh, incoming chief executive officer, Kimberly Fontan, incoming executive vice president and chief financial officer, and company leaders invite you to listen to a live webcast discussion of Entergy's financial results at 10 a.m. Central time the same day. Visit entergy.com/investors for information on how to access the webcast, including instructions on how to register to participate by telephone.

The presentation materials will be available on Entergy's website before the market opens on the day of the call. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on Entergy's Investor Relations website at entergy.com/investors. From time to time, Entergy posts new and/or revised materials on its website and on social media and anticipates doing so in connection with this event.

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE: ETR), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

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SOURCE Entergy Corporation
Quantifying lofty climate goals and a shift from hydrocarbons reveal impossible choices

CALGARY, AB, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the most trusted energy-dedicated SaaS platform, has released its inaugural Primary Energy Outlook that establishes a climate change pathway that offers insights into energy transition investment opportunities and the potential to shape hydrocarbon demand out to 2050. The outlook arrives in anticipation of the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2022 (WEO).

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) defines primary energy as "energy in the form that it is first accounted for in a statistical energy balance before any transformation to secondary or tertiary forms of energy." For example, coal can be converted to synthetic gas, which can be converted to electricity. In this example, coal is primary energy, synthetic gas is secondary energy, and electricity is tertiary energy.

As EIR experts highlight in their inaugural Primary Energy Outlook, the clear challenge is when carbon constraints are introduced and what the world is allowed to consume, both now and into the future. To achieve these lofty climate goals that some global leaders have put forth and satiate our collective growing need for energy, choices must be made, some of which may be deemed impossible. In its outlook, EIR has modeled to a 2.5 degrees Celsius warming scenario versus typical 1.5-2 degrees Celsius targets.

"Investments across the energy landscape have become more complex as policymakers incorporate climate goals and policy shifts into their decision frameworks. These changes are expected to transform the primary energy mix  where we source the energy that sustains the global economy  and the energy markets they supply," said Ian Nieboer, report author and managing director at EIR.

"To better understand the dynamics and tradeoffs at play, we constrained the analysis along three dimensions: a binding carbon budget based on a 2.5 C warming pathway; primary energy demand taken as 'known' input based on our analysis; and absolute oil and coal contributions taken as 'known' inputs," Nieboer said.

"By no means is this a prescriptive recommendation. This outlook is an objective evaluation of the data, quantity and quality of recoverable resources, and the intentional constraints that must be placed on global energy demand in order to achieve these goals. There will be no easy choices to make," Nieboer said.

Key takeaways the inaugural Primary Energy Outlook:

Global primary energy demand grows by 13% and 29% by 2030 and 2050, respectively, we expect. Our analysis yielded little deviation from the 60-year global upward trend in primary energy demand. Regional stories differ: North American and European primary energy consumption have plateaued while consumption rises alongside population growth in the rest of the world.

Most climate goals focus on 1.5 C or 2 C warming pathways that require extreme shifts in the energy mix to achieve. In this analysis we model a less challenging 2.5 C pathway, but this scenario still requires an enormous amount of coordinated global capital, policy and natural resources which we view as highly improbable in today's world.

A model constrained by rising primary energy demand and a shrinking carbon budget to meet a 2.5 C global warming trajectory implies 14x growth in primary energy supply from carbon-neutral energy (CNE) technologies compared to 2019 levels, given our outlook for oil and coal over the period. This implies an unprecedented substitution of the energy mix with CNE achieving 60% of the primary energy share by 2050. We do not believe that CNE technologies exist today to achieve the growth necessary to maintain our 2.5 C constraint.

About Enverus

Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS platform, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 98% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 35,000 suppliers. Our platform, with intelligent connections, drives more efficient production and distribution, capital allocation, renewable energy development, investment and sourcing, and our experienced industry experts support our customers through thought leadership, consulting and technology innovations. We provide intelligence across the energy ecosystem: renewables, oil and gas, financial institutions, and power and utilities, with more than 6,000 customers in 50 countries. Learn more at Enverus.com

About Enverus Intelligence Research

Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is a subsidiary of Enverus and publishes energy-sector research that focuses on the oil and natural gas industries and broader energy topics including publicly traded and privately held oil, gas, midstream and other energy industry companies, basin studies (including characteristics, activity, infrastructure, etc.), commodity pricing forecasts, global macroeconomics and geopolitical matters. Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser.

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SOURCE Enverus
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac; NYSE: AGM and AGM.A), the nation's secondary market provider that increases the availability and affordability of credit for the benefit of rural America, today announced that it has earned four Culture Excellence awards issued by Energage, a research company that conducts the national Top Workplaces recognition program.

The awards were determined by the results of an employee survey conducted by Energage that measured engagement across multiple categories. Farmer Mac earned Top Workplaces Culture Excellence awards in four categories:

Innovation: Recognizes organizations that have created a culture where new ideas are encouraged, which helps employees to reach their full potential and benefits performance.

Employee Appreciation: These award-winning companies believe in the self-sustaining performance and positivity boost that results from genuine employee appreciation.

Compensation & Benefits: Celebrates organizations that provide packages their employees believe are fair for the work being done and compared to others in the industry.

Leadership: Celebrates organizational leaders who inspire confidence in employees and the company direction. The leaders listen to what matters most to employees and use that insight in decision making.

"I thank our employees for their honest and enthusiastic participation in this survey, which had a best-in-class response rate. These results are a validation of our ongoing efforts to foster an innovative and respectful culture at Farmer Macand this is just the start of what we can do," said Bradford T. Nordholm, Farmer Mac's CEO. "Farmer Mac's dedicated employees and leaders are empowered to bring their best selves to work and to explore new and innovative ways to fulfill our vitally important mission. These awards are a reminder of the continuing importance of creating and maintaining a workplace where people feel passionate about what they do and the positive impact their work has on rural America."

"At Farmer Mac, we are steadfastly committed to supporting all our employees," said Kerry Willie, Farmer Mac's Chief Human Resources Officer. "Offering exceptional, industry-leading benefits and a strong and supportive office culture is crucial to our efforts to not only attract but also to retain the best and brightest talent, and to keep them engaged and motivated to deliver exceptional work as we pursue our important mission."

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of credit for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from our low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. More information about Farmer Mac is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

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SOURCE Farmer Mac
CINCINNATI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Transit Topco Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "First Transit"), a provider of passenger transportation and vehicle maintenance services, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Transdev North America Inc., a provider of public transportation and mobility services and the North American subsidiary of Transdev Group S.A.

Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, First Transit transports 300 million passengers annually across approximately 300 locations in North America. The Company's services include essential mobility solutions for communities, college campuses, businesses, and elderly care facilities, which are economical, safe, and environmentally friendly. First Transit, along with school transportation solutions provider First Student, was acquired by EQT Infrastructure in July 2021 from UK publicly listed company FirstGroup plc. First Student is not a party to today's announced transaction.

"Over the last few years, First Transit has continued its track record of growth, creating value for our investors, passengers, partners, and employees," said First Transit CEO Brad Thomas. "As we embark on this new chapter with Transdev North America, we thank our partners at EQT for investing in us and our mission. We are excited about the future and look forward to what is ahead."

During EQT Infrastructure's ownership, significant investments have been made in First Transit, bolstering the company's organization, operations, and digital technology platform. These initiatives have further improved and differentiated the Company's service offerings.

Transdev is a complementary company as an operator and global integrator of mobility of multiple modes of transportation, with nearly 82,000 employees in 18 countries. The company focuses on empowering freedom to move everyday thanks to safe, reliable and innovative solutions that serve the common good.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals and is expected to close early in 2023. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Barclays Capital Inc. served as lead financial advisor to EQT Infrastructure and First Transit in connection with the transaction and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel. BMO Capital Markets Corp. also served as financial advisors to EQT Infrastructure and First Transit in connection with the transaction.

About First Transit

First Transit, Inc. has more than 60 years of experience and is one of the largest private-sector providers of mobility solutions in North America, moving more than 300 million passengers annually. First Transit, Inc. provides operation, management, and consulting for more than 300 locations in 41 states, four Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico for transit authorities, state departments of transportation, municipalities, universities, airports and private companies. First Transit employs more than 20,000 dedicated transit and maintenance professionals, has 12,000 vehicles (owned and operated) and maintains an additional 36,500 vehicles and pieces of equipment through its dedicated maintenance division; in total, maintaining or operating some 240 Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), with another 70 on order. For additional information, please visit FirstTransit.com.

About EQT

EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 77 billion in assets under management as of 30 June 2022, across 36 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 280,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

Media Contact:Jay Brock513-362-4600

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SOURCE First Transit
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) welcomed representatives from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Overseas Federation of Teachers (OFT) to its Washington, DC headquarters yesterday to congratulate the parties on a pivotal tentative labor agreement. It is the parties' first successor contract agreement in 28 years.

It is the parties' first successor contract agreement in 28 years.

Representatives from both DoDEA and OFT were in attendance and were also joined online by others in their respective organizations, including American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and DoDEA Director Thomas Brady. AFT is OFT's parent organization.

"We would like to extend our congratulations to the parties on this momentous occasion," FMCS Acting Director Greg Goldstein said. "Though FMCS cannot comment on the substance of their specific negotiations, FMCS was honored to assist the parties in coming to a resolution of their negotiations and successfully completing their collective bargaining agreement."

The contract covering the Europe South school district represents the culmination of a long series of negotiations between the two parties. The district includes 16 DoDEA schools in Bahrain, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, and educates over 5,600 students with nearly 600 teachers making up the OFT bargaining unit.

FMCS Commissioner Kevin Wagner was invited by the parties in 2020 to assist with developing ground rules which were adopted in mid-2021, and he was subsequently invited to help mediate the parties' collective bargaining process, ultimately resulting in the mutually acceptable resolution they achieved yesterday.

"These parties faced difficult and divisive issues," said Wagner. "Through their determination, commitment, professionalism, and dedication to the process, they were able to overcome significant challenges and obstacles to find their path to a contract."

The U.S. Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS) is the nation's premier public agency for dispute resolution and conflict management. FMCS was created by Congress as a neutral and independent government agency upon enactment of the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947 (Taft-Hartley Act) and mandated to resolve industrial conflict and promote labor-management peace and cooperation, minimizing the impact of these disputes on the free flow of commerce. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices across the country, the agency has a proud track record of decades of effective dispute resolution and conflict management services for employers and unions across industries and work activities in the private, public, and federal sectors. FMCS is also recognized for its success facilitating negotiated rulemaking processes and for its robust employment mediation program in the federal sector as well as its global program, partnering with more than 60 countries to provide international consulting and training. For more on FMCS or to request services, visit www.fmcs.gov

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SOURCE Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gate.io, one of the world's largest and oldest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South Korean city of Busan.

The agreement entails the cooperation between Gate.io and the Busan Metropolitan City government to develop blockchain infrastructure jointly in Busan.

Following the agreement, Gate.io will leverage its industry expertise to assist Busan in a variety of ways:

Support the rollout and promotion of the city's initiative to develop the blockchain industry locally.

Assisting in the development, operation, and distribution of the city's stablecoin .

Helping to establish and operate the Busan Digital Asset Exchange and ISMS-certified technical platforms, including order-matching and order-routing engines, digital wallets, and other relevant solutions.

Establishing a blockchain and digital asset-related education centre in the city to bolster the local skilled talent pool.

Busan was approved as a "regulation-free blockchain zone" by the Government of South Korea in 2019. As a result, the city launched an initiative to develop a local blockchain hub and a project to form a digital asset exchange. Gate.io will assist in all areas of the initiative and project.

Dr. Lin Han, CEO and Founder of Gate.io, said, "We are pleased to be collaborating with the City of Busan on a collective journey to forge a true blockchain city that will fuel the local blockchain industry. The city's robust approach to blockchain technology, combined with our industry expertise, will help solidify the city as a blockchain leader. We are committed to building a thriving digital asset ecosystem that will set an example and further crypto adoption in South Korea and abroad."

Heong-Joon Park, Mayor of Busan, said, "We are excited to have Gate.io working hand in hand with us to establish the Busan Digital Asset Exchange as a leading digital assets platform set for the global stage. We will establish Busan as a global blockchain and digital finance leader by putting Busan at the forefront of the global blockchain industry."

Gate.io also plans to grow its South Korean operations beyond Busan to stimulate the blockchain industry's growth and enhance its services country-wide.

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SOURCE Gate.io
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 25, 2022, the County Council of Montgomery County, Maryland issued a proclamation recognizing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on its upcoming 50th anniversary. On October 27, 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Act was enacted into law and signed by President Richard M. Nixon. This landmark piece of legislation established CPSC, an independent federal regulatory agency that has jurisdiction over thousands of consumer products.

Council President Gabe Albornoz issued the proclamation to CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.

"We want to thank President Albornoz and the County Council of Montgomery County for recognizing the work of CPSC and the more than 500 committed public servants in both our facilities and across the country who help us advance our mission of safety every day," Chair Hoehn-Saric said. "We take pride in calling Montgomery County our home base and look forward to being here for the next half-century."

President Albornoz, who also serves as chair of the Council's Health and Human Services Committee, recognized CPSC for its steadfast mission and the agency's accomplishments over the past five decades.

"I want to thank the employees and leadership  past and present  of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety for their tireless work to safeguard individuals and families across the nation," Albornoz said. "Banning dangerous consumer products, establishing safety standards and educating consumers about the safe use of products supports the health and welfare of our community. We are fortunate to have such an important federal agency committed to serving the public good located in Montgomery County. Congratulations on your 50-year anniversary."

In addition to President Albornoz and Council Member Tom Hucker (D-5), a former CPSC employee from 2009-2011, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) and Karen Hendricks, a representative from the office of Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) were also in attendance to commemorate the occasion.

"Ensuring our people have access to safe and reliable products is essential," said Rep. Jaime Raskin. "For half a century, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has provided a bulwark against hazardous products and corporate malfeasance that keeps the American people safe. I'm honored to serve and advocate for the CPSC in Congress, and I commend the Montgomery County Council for celebrating CPSC's crucial work."

"The American people have a right to expect that the products they buy are safe. And for 50 years, they have been able to count on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide them with the information and warnings they need to protect their families and to keep products with hidden dangers off the store shelves," said Senator Van Hollen, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which funds the CPSC. "We salute the hardworking men and women at the CPSC, who serve as watchdogs for the public and work tirelessly from their headquarters in Maryland as they oversee the safety of billions of dollars' worth of consumer goods. I will continue working in the Senate to support and fund their essential mission."

For 50 years, CPSC has worked to save lives and keep families safe, by addressing unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products through regulation and enforcement activities; and advancing public safety through seminal safety campaigns, including Baby Safety, Pool Safely, Anchor It! and others.

CPSC is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, with a national product testing and evaluation facility located in Rockville, Maryland. The agency's mission of public safety is carried out by approximately 540 dedicated personnel located in Montgomery County, Maryland, across the United States and in Beijing, China.

Associated Media:

Montgomery County, Maryland Proclamation Video

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

For lifesaving information:- Visit CPSC.gov.- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC. - Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).- Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 23-023

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "New Oriental") (NYSE: EDU/ 9901.SEHK), a provider of private educational services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2022, which is the first quarter of New Oriental's fiscal year 2023.

Financial Highlights for the First Fiscal Quarter Ended August 31, 2022

Total net revenues decreased by 43.1% year over year to US$744.8 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2023.

Operating income increased by 140.5% year over year to US$78.0 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2023.

Net income attributable to New Oriental increased by 9.0% year over year to US$66.0 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2023.

Key Financial Results

(in thousands US$, except per ADS(1) data) 1Q FY2023 1Q FY2022(5) % of change Net revenues 744,822 1,308,811 -43.1 % Operating income 77,989 32,433 140.5 % Non-GAAP operating income (2)(3) 97,044 75,610 28.3 % Net income attributable to New Oriental 66,002 60,530 9.0 % Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental (2)(3) 83,706 111,229 -24.7 % Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic 0.39 0.36 8.7 % Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted 0.38 0.36 6.8 % Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic(2)(3)(4) 0.49 0.66 -25.0 % Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted(2)(3)(4) 0.48 0.66 -26.1 %

(1) Each ADS represents ten common shares. The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with the ADSs listed on NYSE. The weighted average number of ADS and earnings per ADS have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the ADS ratio change from one ADS representing one common share to one ADS representing ten common shares, which became effective on April 8, 2022. (2) GAAP represents Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America. (3) New Oriental provides net income attributable to New Oriental, operating income and net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental on a non-GAAP basis that excludes share-based compensation expenses and gain from fair value change of investments to provide supplemental information regarding its operating performance. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures" set forth at the end of this release. (4) The Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental is computed using Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental and the same number of shares and ADSs used in GAAP basic and diluted EPS calculation. (5) The key financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2022 have not been previously released.

Operating Highlights for the First Fiscal Quarter Ended August 31, 2022

The total number of schools and learning centers was 706 as of August 31, 2022, a decrease of 38 and 850 compared to 744 as of May 31, 2022 and 1,556 as of August 31, 2021, respectively. The total number of schools was 98 as of August 31, 2022.

Michael Yu, New Oriental's Executive Chairman, commented, "We are delighted to mark a fresh beginning of our fiscal year 2023 with both solid operational foundation and thriving new business opportunities. Our remaining key businesses continued to see a promising trend. In this fiscal quarter, the overseas test preparation and overseas study consulting businesses increased by approximately 2% and 21% year over year, respectively. Our domestic test preparation business targeting adults and university students increased by approximately 2% year over year. Simultaneously, various new business initiatives that we embarked on since the second half of fiscal year 2022 achieved positive results. The non-academic tutoring business was rolled out in over 60 cities, with 297,000 enrollments in this fiscal quarter, while the intelligent learning system and devices were adopted in around 60 cities, with 131,000 active paid users in this fiscal quarter. The encouraging performance, improving customer retention and positive customer feedback manifest our path towards a positive direction. We are delighted to see these businesses are generating revenue and we are confident that these businesses will make meaningful contribution to the Company's revenue in this fiscal year."

Chenggang Zhou, New Oriental's Chief Executive Officer, added, "By the end of this fiscal quarter, the total number of schools and learning centers was reduced to 706. We focus more strategically on business opportunities in the major markets of higher-tier cities, and proactively leverage our existing infrastructure and education resources for both the remaining key businesses and new educational initiatives across cities. The continued investment in maintaining our online-merge-offline teaching system provides flexibility and high teaching quality to our customers amid the pandemic. Koolearn.com, our online education platform, further expands its online educational offerings to adults and university students. It is also very encouraging to see that DONG FANG ZHEN XUAN(), Koolearn's new e-commerce business featuring the sale of agricultural and other products, has continued to experience a rapid growth in the number of subscribers and customers and received overwhelming responses."

Stephen Zhihui Yang, New Oriental's Executive President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We are pleased to have achieved turnaround in profitability this quarter upon the restructuring throughout the last fiscal year. Our Non-GAAP operating margin for the quarter was 13.0% and Non-GAAP net margin for the quarter was 11.2%. We recorded a positive operating cash flow of US$185.2 million and by the end of this fiscal quarter, our cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments totaled approximately US$4.3 billion. Our commitment to promoting our key remaining businesses, as well as cautious investment in our new initiatives will become emerging growth engines that accelerate our recovery and pursuit of profitable growth. We are confident in delivering more value to our customers, society and shareholders in the long term."

Share Repurchase

On July 26, 2022, the Company's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program, under which the Company may repurchase up to US$400 million of the Company's ADSs or common shares during the period from July 28, 2022 through May 31, 2023. As of October 25, 2022, the Company accumulatively repurchased an aggregate of approximately 1.6 million ADSs for approximately US$39.6 million from the open market under the share repurchase program.

Financial Results for the First Fiscal Quarter Ended August 31, 2022

Net Revenues

For the first fiscal quarter of 2023, New Oriental reported net revenues of US$744.8 million, representing a 43.1% decrease year over year. The decline was mainly due to the cessation of K-9 academic after-school tutoring services in compliance with the government policies in China.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses for the quarter were US$666.8 million, representing a 47.8% decrease year over year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the quarter, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$647.8 million, representing a 47.5% decrease year over year. The decrease was primarily due to the reduction of facilities and number of staff as a result of the restructuring in fiscal year 2022.

Cost of revenues decreased by 51.4% year over year to US$312.1 million.

decreased by 51.4% year over year to US$312.1 million. Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 40.2% year over year to US$98.7 million.

decreased by 40.2% year over year to US$98.7 million. General and administrative expenses for the quarter decreased by 45.4% year over year to US$256.0 million. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$237.4 million, representing a 44.5% decrease year over year.

Total share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expenses, decreased by 55.9% to US$19.1 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2023.

Operating Income and Operating Margin

Operating income was US$78.0 million, representing a 140.5% increase year over year. Non-GAAP income from operations for the quarter was US$97.0 million, representing a 28.3% increase year over year.

Operating margin for the quarter was 10.5%, compared to 2.5% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, for the quarter was 13.0%, compared to 5.8% in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Net Income and Net Income per ADS

Net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$66.0 million, representing a 9.0% increase year over year. Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.39 and US$0.38, respectively.

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income per ADS

Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$83.7 million, representing a 24.7% decrease year over year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.49 and US$0.48, respectively.

Cash Flow

Net operating cash flow for the first fiscal quarter of 2023 was approximately US$185.2 million and capital expenditures for the quarter were US$14.0 million.

Balance Sheet

As of August 31, 2022, New Oriental had cash and cash equivalents of US$1,103.9 million. In addition, the Company had US$1,054.7 million in term deposits and US$2,092.3 million in short-term investments.

New Oriental's deferred revenue balance, which is primarily cash collected from registered students for courses and recognized proportionally as revenue as the instructions are delivered, at the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 was US$1,012.5 million, a decrease of 30.3% as compared to US$1,453.3 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. The decrease is primarily due to the cessation of K-9 academic after-school tutoring services in compliance with the government policies in China.

Outlook for the Second Quarter of the Fiscal Year 2023

Due to seasonality of some of New Oriental's major businesses, such as test preparation courses and overseas study consulting services, New Oriental generally records lower revenues in the second quarter of the fiscal year, with revenues typically below those of the first quarter. New Oriental expects total net revenues in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023 (September 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022) to be in the range of US$601.4 million to US$619.2 million, representing year-over-year decline in the range of 9% to 6%.

The projected increase of revenue in our functional currency Renminbi is expected to be in the range of 1% to 4% for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2023.

This forecast reflects New Oriental's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

New Oriental's management will host an earnings conference call at 8 AM on October 26, 2022, U.S. Eastern Time (8 PM on October 26, 2022, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

Please register in advance of the conference, using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, and unique personal PIN.

Conference call registration link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIae6908a14257488ebad58ce6d4f7234e. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of "New Oriental FY 2023 Q1 Earnings Conference Call" where you may fill in your details for RSVP.

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial in number(s) and personal PIN) provided in the confirmation email received at the point of registering.

Joining the conference call via a live webcast:

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://investor.neworiental.org.

Listening to the conference call replay:

A replay of the conference call may be accessed via the webcast on-demand by registering at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hgfrhiuk first. The replay will be available until October 26, 2023.

About New Oriental

New Oriental is a provider of private educational services in China offering a wide range of educational programs, services and products to a varied student population throughout China. New Oriental's program, service and product offerings mainly consist of educational services and test preparation courses, online education and other services, overseas study consulting services, and educational materials and distribution. New Oriental is listed on NYSE (NYSE: EDU) and SEHK (9901.SEHK), respectively. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents ten common shares. The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with the ADSs listed on NYSE.

For more information about New Oriental, please visit http://www.neworiental.org/english/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as New Oriental's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. New Oriental may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about New Oriental's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our ability to effectively and efficiently manage changes of our existing business and new business; our ability to execute our business strategies; uncertainties in relation to the interpretation and implementation of or proposed changes to, the PRC laws, regulations and policies regarding the private education industry; our ability to attract students without a significant increase in course fees; our ability to continue to hire, train and retain qualified teachers; our ability to maintain and enhance our "New Oriental" brand; our ability to attract and retain our dedicated and capable faculty and staff, and maintain consistent teaching quality throughout our school network, or service quality throughout our brand; our ability to achieve the benefits we expect from recent and future acquisitions; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to copyright and other intellectual property rights; competition in the private education sector in China; changes in our revenues, certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our revenues, and our margins; health epidemics and other outbreaks in China; and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Oriental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and New Oriental undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement New Oriental's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, New Oriental uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments, operating income excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating cost and expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating margin excluding share-based compensation expenses, and basic and diluted net income per ADS and per share excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release.

New Oriental believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. New Oriental believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to New Oriental's historical performance and liquidity. New Oriental believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP measures is that they exclude share-based compensation charge and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

Contacts

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Rita Fong Ms. Sisi ZhaoFTI Consulting New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.Tel: +852 3768 4548 Tel: +86-10-6260-5568Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) As of August 31 As of May 31 2022 2022 (Unaudited) (Audited) USD USD ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 1,103,872 1,148,637 Term deposits 1,054,686 1,140,066 Short-term investments 2,092,324 1,902,254 Accounts receivable, net 14,880 16,430 Inventory, net 43,933 27,925 Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net 263,196 215,402 Amounts due from related parties, current 11,690 23,245 Total current assets 4,584,581 4,473,959 Restricted cash, non-current 33,240 45,890 Property and equipment, net 373,757 402,690 Land use rights, net 3,491 3,627 Amounts due from related parties, non-current 3,055 3,365 Long-term deposits 27,815 33,409 Intangible assets, net 2,372 2,800 Goodwill, net 69,183 70,803 Long-term investments, net 426,651 437,919 Deferred tax assets, non-current, net 40,316 20,038 Right-of-use assets 451,098 531,102 Other non-current assets 4,309 9,064 Total assets 6,019,868 6,034,666 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable 43,433 22,289 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 432,498 510,264 Income taxes payable 125,338 75,650 Amounts due to related parties 97 226 Deferred revenue 1,012,528 933,062 Operating lease liability, current 154,759 168,623 Total current liabilities 1,768,653 1,710,114 Deferred tax liabilities, non-current 17,609 19,240 Unsecured senior notes 44,150 65,394 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 372,790 446,394 Total long-term liabilities 434,549 531,028 Total liabilities 2,203,202 2,241,142 Equity New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. shareholders' equity 3,706,082 3,705,506 Non-controlling interests 110,584 88,018 Total equity 3,816,666 3,793,524 Total liabilities and equity 6,019,868 6,034,666

NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Three Months Ended August 31 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net revenues 744,822 1,308,811 Operating cost and expenses (note 1) Cost of revenues 312,067 642,041 Selling and marketing 98,744 165,025 General and administrative 256,022 469,312 Total operating cost and expenses 666,833 1,276,378 Operating income 77,989 32,433 Loss from fair value change of investments (318) (8,577) Other income, net 31,898 43,925 Provision for income taxes (23,343) (18,979) Loss from equity method investments (1,645) (6,160) Net income 84,581 42,642 Add: Net (gain)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests (18,579) 17,888 Net income attributable to New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.'s shareholders 66,002 60,530 Net income per share attributable to New Oriental-Basic (note 2) 0.04 0.04 Net income per share attributable to New Oriental-Diluted (note 2) 0.04 0.04 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental-Basic (note 2) 0.39 0.36 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental-Diluted (note 2) 0.38 0.36

NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE MOST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Three Months Ended August 31 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD General and administrative expenses 256,022 469,312 Less: Share-based compensation expenses in generaland administrative expenses 18,585 41,136 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 237,437 428,176 Total operating cost and expenses 666,833 1,276,378 Less: Share-based compensation expenses 19,055 43,177 Non-GAAP operating cost and expenses 647,778 1,233,201 Operating income 77,989 32,433 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 19,055 43,177 Non-GAAP operating income 97,044 75,610 Operating margin 10.5 % 2.5 % Non-GAAP operating margin 13.0 % 5.8 % Net income attributable to New Oriental 66,002 60,530 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 17,386 42,122 Less: Loss from fair value change of investments (318) (8,577) Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental 83,706 111,229 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Basic(note 2) 0.39 0.36 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Diluted (note 2) 0.38 0.36 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to NewOriental - Basic (note 2) 0.49 0.66 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to NewOriental - Diluted (note 2) 0.48 0.66 Weighted average shares used in calculating basic netincome per ADS (note 2) 1,700,829,829 1,694,796,216 Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted netincome per ADS (note 2) 1,702,334,883 1,695,637,661 Non-GAAP net income per share - basic 0.05 0.07 Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted 0.05 0.07

Notes: Note 1: Share-based compensation expenses (in thousands) are included in the operating cost and expenses as follows: For the Three Months Ended August 31 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Cost of revenues (110) 1,174 Selling and marketing 580 867 General and administrative 18,585 41,136 Total 19,055 43,177 Note 2: Each ADS represents ten common shares. For the three months ended August 31, 2021, the weightedaverage number of ADS and earnings per ADS have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the ADS ratiochange from one ADS representing one common share to one ADS representing ten common shares, whichbecame effective on April 8, 2022.

NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) For the Three Months Ended August 31 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net cash provided by/ (used in) operating activities 185,247 (446,513) Net cash (used in )/ provided by investing activities (195,296) 179,319 Net cash used in financing activities (19,993) (1,081) Effect of exchange rate changes (27,373) (14,512) Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (57,415) (282,787) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 1,194,527 1,632,127 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 1,137,112 1,349,340

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SOURCE New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc.
"Shavetopia" will allow Roblox users to purchase facial hairstyles for their online avatars this fall

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Philips Norelco recently launched "Shavetopia"  an interactive hub on Roblox that gives users the ability to choose from a variety of avatar facial hairstyles. This venture on Roblox, a global platform connecting over 50 million people daily through shared immersive experiences, helps extend the men's grooming brand and important social causes it supports to the metaverse.

Through November 30th, 2022, everyone  regardless of gender identity or ability to grow a moustache  is encouraged to participate in Movember virtually by purchasing one of Movember's facial hairstyles in the Avatar Marketplace for their Roblox avatar. Users can view and try on facial hairstyles in Shavetopia before purchasing for their avatars.

"Shavetopia" provides a 3D online space for Roblox visitors to try virtual hairstyles, play mini-games and spend time with friends and family as they try out new looks to embrace a new sense of virtual identity. Each game will feature unique Philips Norelco power-ups, which provide the opportunity for Roblox community members to wear their selected facial hairstyles and gain unique bonuses. Shavetopia has portals to three fan favorite experiences on Roblox: Retail Tycoon 2, Emergency Response: Liberty County, and Tower Defense Simulator.

"With our purpose of improving people's lives at the forefront of everything we do, Philips is taking our philanthropic efforts into exciting new territory by applying that purpose to self-expression and confidence in both the real world and virtual worlds," said Rafael Viestel da Silva, Philips Grooming and Beauty Marketing Director. "We're excited to extend our partnership with Movember to Roblox, with shared goals of empowerment and working together for social good."

Individual expression and appearance are critical pieces of how we express ourselves, and Philips Norelco wants to empower people to express their true selves, both in the physical and digital worlds. Driven by this purpose, is an extension of the partnership with Movember, which began in 2021 to support important men's health causes.

Movember aims to support men's mental and physical health through research, community outreach and initiatives such as encouraging guys to grow their Mo each November to raise awareness. Any proceeds generated by purchases of facial hairstyles in Shavetopia will go directly to bolster Movember's work in supporting mental health and suicide prevention, as well as prostate and testicular cancer awareness. In addition to partnering with Movember, Philips Norelco is also partnering with Dr. Jake Taylor, Urologic Oncology Fellow, University of Southwestern Texas Medical Center, to serve as an expert voice in the men's health space.

"It's so important for men to take an active role in both their physical and mental health," said Dr. Jake Taylor. "Even just starting your day with a routine that boosts your confidence, like shaving, can make a big difference for your mental health. That's why I'm thrilled to partner with an organization like Philips Norelco, who is actively committed to supporting both the physical and mental health for men."

"We're thrilled to join forces with Philips Norelco for the second consecutive year. We believe that Shavetopia will help raise awareness for men's health issues among new audiences," said Mark Hedstrom, Movember US Country Director. "These virtual facial hairstyles enable more people, regardless of gender or ability to grow facial hair, to show their support for Movember in ways we never thought possible."

To participate, create an account on Roblox and check out Shavetopia in support of Movember's efforts to improve men's health this fall. You can also update your facial hairstyle with Philips Norelco OneBlade, the all-in-one tool that can trim, edge and shave any length of hair, available for purchase at Philips.com and major retailers.

In addition to creating Shavetopia, Philips Norelco is proud to donate $400,000 to the Movember Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to changing the face of men's health. In addition, for every Philips Norelco & OneBlade handle sold in CVS and Walmart stores in the United States between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, Philips will donate $0.50, up to $100,000, for a maximum total donation of $500,000.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG) (AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum  from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Movember

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health. To donate or learn more, please visit movember.com.

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SOURCE Philips Norelco
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Putting Short-wave infrared (SWIR) technology in the palm of your hand Stratio, Inc. specializing in infrared imaging solutions, is pleased to announce the release of their new camera, BeyonSense - capturing images invisible to the naked eye - the world's first Ge-based Short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera that is 5x lighter, 10x less power consuming, and 20x cheaper than current SWIR Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) cameras.

The Stratio team has successfully reduced the size, cost, and power consumption of the infrared camera.

Short-wave infrared (SWIR) light ranges from 0.9 - 1.7m wavelength, outside the typical range of silicon sensors. SWIR imaging provides high resolution images in situations where visible light is insufficient, including night vision and difficult environmental conditions. Historically, InGaAs sensors have been used to provide the benefits of SWIR imaging, but the material requires expensive and heavy equipment limiting use to industrial, laboratory, and defense applications. With innovation in the sensor materials - unlocking germanium to be responsive to infrared light waves - the Stratio team has successfully reduced the size, cost, and power consumption of the infrared camera.

Paired with the sensor technology, Stratio's AI platform translates the data into meaningful insights. Use case examples include Autonomous and Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), robotic surgery, and precision agriculture. Examples of the full use of Stratio's hardware and software are farmers' ability to identify best harvest times; and enhancing driver capabilities with precise hazard detection.

Stratio, Inc. was founded in 2013 by three Stanford Electrical Engineering PhD students, and is based in San Jose, California. The vision of the team is to democratize SWIR technology. Stratio, Inc. is currently participating in the Luminate Accelerator (based in Rochester, NY & considered the "City of Optics") as a finalist.

Stratio, Inc. has made its SWIR camera accessible to the public and anyone interested can purchase the cameras here: https://beyonsense.io/.

CONTACT: James Lee, [email protected]

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SOURCE Stratio, Inc.
Additional manufacturing capacity and new distribution center to come online in 2024

CLEVELAND, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) held a ceremonial groundbreaking today to mark the start of construction of a 36,000-square-foot extension of its existing 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and new 800,000-square-foot distribution and fleet transportation center. The project also adds four new rail spurs at the existing manufacturing site and leaves another 200,000 square feet available for future expansion at the distribution site.

"Today marks an important milestone for Sherwin-Williams in continuing to serve our customers and investing in our employees," said John G. Morikis, Sherwin-Williams Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This project will support our growth for years to come. We are proud to be a part of the community here and grateful for the partnership we have with the local and state officials."

State, county and local public officials, Sherwin-Williams employees, as well as project contractors and partners attended the ceremonial groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of the project, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

Together, the facility upgrades will add millions of gallons of annual manufacturing capacity and sizable pallet storage capacity to support the Company in meeting increasing demand for its architectural paint and coatings products. Sherwin-Williams plans to invest a minimum of $300 million in the project and add more than 180 full-time jobs at the site over the next three years, which would essentially double the existing workforce.

The Company announced in February that it signed an agreement with the state of North Carolina, Iredell County and the City of Statesville to significantly expand its architectural paint and coatings manufacturing capacity and establish a larger distribution facility in Statesville, North Carolina.

Sherwin-Williams looked at multiple locations for potential expansion opportunities in a competitive vetting process before selecting the Statesville facility. The Statesville facility was chosen for its transportation infrastructure, the strength of the current workforce and depth of the local talent pool, the facility's ability to handle additional capacity, and a location that provides for the centralization of existing distribution opportunities for the Company's regional operations.

"This project in Statesville adds to North Carolina's reputation as a top workforce location for modern manufacturing," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. "With more than 2,400 full-time Sherwin-Williams employees in our state and more coming, our state is committed to the education and training that will create success for years to come."

Additionally, Sherwin-Williams will receive approximately $30 million in state, county and local government incentives toward the project. This investment reflects the strength of the public-private partnership between Sherwin-Williams and the state of North Carolina, Iredell County and the City of Statesville and underscores the Company's confidence in the region and its people.

"We are thrilled Sherwin-Williams, a company that has been an integral part of our community since 1993, chose to make a significant investment in Statesville for both its manufacturing and distribution facilities," said City of Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh. "The decision to expand their footprint here represents the largest paint manufacturing operation for the company in North America based upon total gallon capacity and the largest single investment in the history of our city."

ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's Water Seal, Cabot and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and facilities, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:Julie YoungVice President, Global Corporate CommunicationsDirect: 216.515.8849 - [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:Jim JayeSenior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate CommunicationsDirect: 216.515.8682 - [email protected]

Eric SwansonVice President, Investor RelationsDirect: 216.566.2766 - [email protected]

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SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer join company to further accelerate global expansion

AUSTIN, Texas and BELFAST, United Kingdom and DUNLEER, Ireland, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini PC integration company, recently announced strategic organizational updates to its executive leadership team. The new executives will help further Simply NUC's mission to be the world's leading technology partner for customized mini computer experiences. Steve Savage joins as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Dan Houck as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Combined with their partnership announcement with Elan Growth Partners earlier this year, Simply NUC is poised to accelerate its global expansion.

Steve Savage, Chief Operating OfficerBringing a vast array of experience in the IT industry spanning over 30 years, Steve Savage joins the executive team as Chief Operating Officer and will oversee crucial projects that are underway for 2023 and beyond. These projects include Simply NUC's continued global expansion, operations excellence, and world-class support.

Prior to joining Simply NUC, Steve was responsible for a system integration division that shipped over a billion dollars worth of hardware annually. Steve also successfully founded and sold an IT services business.

Dan Houck, Chief Financial OfficerAs Chief Financial Officer, Dan Houck will lead Simply NUC's global finance organization and financial activities. Dan brings 20 years of business experience in financial leadership and information technologies, including tenures at Accenture, Dell Technologies, and, most recently, Diebold Nixdorf. He will be instrumental in driving Simply NUC's global profitable growth strategy through disciplined financial management and scalable processes.

Dan received a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from North Carolina State University and an International Master of Business Administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

"I'm extremely excited about Simply NUC's next chapter of growth and success with our impressive executive leadership team now in place.", said Aaron Rowsell, Simply NUC CEO.

Steve and Dan join a highly accomplished leadership team with decades of experience in the technology industry; members of the Simply NUC executive team include:

Aaron Rowsell, Chief Executive Officer, who is one of early pioneers in the mini PC industry and has taken Simply NUC from a start-up to one of the fastest-growing companies in the world.

Jonny Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Simply NUC, Ltd., who has overseen the UK / EMEA business for the past four years and grown it to a multimillion dollar turnover.

Charles Abdouch, Chief Technology Officer, who brings a lifetime of high tech experience and expertise to the organization, having worked for multiple major tier one computer companies.

Dan Knox, Chief Information Officer, who has more than 20 years of experience in the computer industry with a background in logic, design, and software development.

John Deatherage, Chief Marketing Officer, who played a pivotal role in starting up the NUC business at Intel before joining Simply NUC in 2019.

Jennifer Meza, Vice President of Sales, who brings over 20 years of experience in Sales and Learning Principles with a certification as a DDI facilitator.

Amy Lynn, Vice President of Human Resources, who brings more than 17 years of HR experience in the planning and implementation of quality-based, integrated human resources.

Formed in 2015 and headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, Simply NUC, Inc. is a global systems integrator and OEM specializing in mini computers. Simply NUC provides fully configured, warrantied, and supported mini PC systems to businesses and consumers, as well as end-to-end NUC project development, custom operating system installations, and NUC accessories. For more information about Simply NUC visit: https://simplynuc.com/.

Contact: John Deatherage, CMO, [email protected]

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SOURCE Simply NUC, Inc.
For the first time, AMEFIBRA is celebrating Fibra Day 2022 in the Big Apple, with the participation of all 15 FIBRA investment trusts (the Mexican equivalent of REITs), promoting them to over 200 international real-estate experts and investors as vehicles for channeling investment into the development of world-class infrastructure

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, New York will host Fibra Day, the annual event organized by the Mexican Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (AMEFIBRA). The day will bring together leading figures from the Mexican and US real-estate sectors, with the participation of all 15 Real Estate Investment Trusts (FIBRAs) which were created in Mexico in 2011 and have now diversified into the commercial, industrial, hotel, office, education, and self-storage sectors.

Simon Galante, president of AMEFIBRA and CEO of Fibra Hotel, chaired the event, which was attended by over 200 investors, and spoke in depth about "the impact of FIBRAs on the Mexican economy", a sector that makes an economic contribution of over 4% of the GDP, with a portfolio of 1,934 properties that total over 27 million m2 of Net Lettable Area (NLA) and generate over 400 thousand jobs in Mexico.

Fibra Day represented an opportunity for investors to access this growing asset class with conferences and round-table debates. The panel titled "The importance of T-MEC to the attractiveness of the real estate sector in Mexico" included the participation of Maria Ariza, CEO of BIVA, and Ken Smith, a partner at Agon, an international company that provides consultancy on competition, regulation, and external trade in Mexico and LATAM.

Additionally, Sean Hehir, managing partner of Trinity Investments, and Matthew Hochstetler, portfolio manager at Capital Group, analyzed "the opportunities and challenges that affect the industry and the topic of diversification", with Lyman Daniels, president of CBRE Mexico and Colombia, acting as moderator.

Experts on key industry topics and trends, Mike Wilson, executive VP of DSV, and Sergio Perez, executive director of corporate accounts at Newmark Mexico, spoke about nearshoring, industrial development and energy, mainly in the border region between Mexico and the USA.

Steve Wechler, president of NAREIT, the US REITs association, was interviewed by Jorge Avalos Carpinteyro, VP of AMEFIBRA and CEO of Fibra Mty, as they analyzed the trajectory of US investment trusts and the future of FIBRAs in Mexico.

The USA was the first country to adopt the REIT model in 1960, starting a global trend in the professionalization of the real-estate industry around the world. All G7 member countries have adopted REITs, and there are three Latin American nations, including Mexico, that use the model. China replicated it in 2021. Argentina, Cambodia, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malta, Poland, Nigeria, Sweden, and Tanzania are considering implementing it.

Press Contact Corporate PR [email protected] WhatsApp: +521-5564846563

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SOURCE AMEFIBRA
The first-of-its-kind luminous trail on the East Coast

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is celebrating the completion of The Glowline, a path embedded with glow-in-the-dark stones from the Canadian company Ambient Glow Technology. The Glowline is the fourth luminous trail in the U.S. and the first on the East Coast.

The Glowline is located on a section of the Elizabeth River Trail that runs through Jeff Robertson Park in Norfolk's West Ghent neighborhood. Light-sensitive aggregate stones are embedded in a freshly poured 12-foot-wide concrete trail. During the day, the stones retain a natural color and slowly absorb sunlight to power their glow. As the sun sets, the stones begin to glow an intense green, and a botanical pattern, inspired by the fiddlehead ferns in the nearby bird sanctuary, emerges. The intensity of the glow fades slowly throughout the night to begin a natural recharging cycle with each sunrise. The stones have a glow life expectancy of 20 years.

Taylor Construction installed this newest amenity for the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation. Timmons Group engineered The Glowline, and Work Program Architects designed the fiddlehead fern stencil pattern outlined by the stones. The Glowline is funded through a capital campaign and the generous lead sponsorships of Elizabeth River Crossings, operators of the Downtown and Midtown Tunnels and PRA Group.

Glowing paths are an energy efficient and magical alternative to traditional lighting. They are also effective to increase safety and offer an alternative way to light paths at night.

"We are glowing with excitement over this truly special and unique feature on the trail," said Kindra Greene, executive director of the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation. "We can't wait to celebrate with the community and thank our sponsors that made this possible. We hope this brings more attention to the work of the Foundation, the beauty of the Elizabeth River Trail and the memories that can be made in outdoor spaces."

"As a company, we are really prioritizing our environmental, social and governance impact in the local community," said Anna Bonet, CEO of Elizabeth River Crossings. "The health of the Elizabeth River and the vitality of this trail that surrounds it are very important to us. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of this one-of-a-kind project."

"Since its founding in 1996, PRA Group has supported more than 100 nonprofit organizations in the communities in which we live and work," said Giovanna Genard, PRA Group's vice president of external affairs and marketing leader. "We are honored to join the Elizabeth River Trail in making an impact through a project that promotes both sustainability and health right here in Norfolk, Virginia, where our global company is headquartered."

About the Elizabeth River Trail FoundationThe Elizabeth River Trail Foundation's mission is to create an inclusive and resilient urban riverfront trail that connects and inspires people and businesses in the Hampton Roads region. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, historic attractions and 28 neighborhoods within a five-minute walk. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk an Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including a kayak launch, play sculpture and double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park and most recently, The Glowline. Major sponsors include Sentara and the City of Norfolk. For more information, visit www.elizabethrivertrail.org.

ERT News Media Contact:Kindra Greene(757) 681-1405[email protected]

About PRA Group As a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, PRA Group returns capital to banks and other creditors to help expand financial services for consumers. With thousands of employees worldwide, PRA Group companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.

PRA Group News Media Contact: Elizabeth Kersey Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Policy (757) 961-3525 [email protected]

PRA Group Investor Contact: Najim Mostamand, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations (757) 431-7913 [email protected]

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SOURCE PRA Group
IT services and cybersecurity veteran to bolster internal controls and security

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valor, a professional service provider specializing in mineral rights management and software-based business solutions, has announced that Pam Presswood has joined the company as the firm's new Chief Information Officer (CIO). In her new position, Presswood will assume a key leadership role in the strategic management of all IT Department's initiatives, including cybersecurity  one of her key specialties.

"We're extremely excited to have Pam Presswood join our rapidly growing organization," says Joseph DeWoody, CEO of Valor. "She has a commendable record in the management and oversight of critical information systems and cybersecurity, talents we've been aware of for some time now. We are thrilled to have her serve in this critical role at Valor and know that she will provide immediate value to all of our stakeholders."

Prior to joining Valor, Presswood most recently served as the Vice-President of Information Systems for Luther King Capital Management, a leading financial and investment services firm with multiple offices in Texas, serving high net worth individuals, institutions, foundations, and trusts. She spent over 25 years with the company, first at the director level, before eventually being promoted to the vice-presidential position. Pam is also a founding member of the Women Steering Business, a civic-minded nonprofit dedicated to the development and mentorship of the next generation of female business leaders in Fort Worth. Presswood graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. with honors in Computer Science and earned a letter in varsity fast-pitch softball.

As one of the region's leading mineral management companies, Valor has oversight and management of 8.4 million gross acres and 450,000 net royalty acres of mineral and property rights in 32 states. Valor's business solutions help manage more than 100,000 interests, which generate over $150 million in annual revenue for Valor's clients. The company's professional services scope also extends beyond Valor's business solutions and back-office services in the energy sector to include Valor Ignite - an on-demand outsourcing services solution for accounting, business processes, contract C-suite engagements and back-office support. Valor manages assets for a wide range of client profiles, including individuals, families, partnerships, trusts, non-profits, universities, institutions, investment funds, and family offices.

For more information on the company, please visit www.onevalor.com.

About Valor:

Valor is a comprehensive professional services provider that uses technology and innovation to ease the burdens of asset management in the oil and gas industry. We place the client first, providing flexible solutions, and leveraging our team of experts to maintain the security, clarity, and optimization of privately owned assets. Valor's professional services scope also extends beyond the energy sector with Valor Ignite - an on-demand outsourcing solution for accounting, business processes, contract C-suite engagements, and back-office support. Explore the benefits of partnering with Valor to streamline your business operations by visiting www.onevalor.com.

Media Contact:Jeff CheathamSenior Strategist/PublicistThe Power Group(972) 961-6171[email protected]

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SOURCE Valor
Photos: Sticker Wall, Jamaica Cottage Shop, Jamaica, VT; Whetstone Rebrand Label & Stickers; Up Dog Label Line

BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A shared love of beer, travel, art, and the great outdoors united three partners  Tim Brady, Amy Brady, and David Hiler - to open Whetstone Station Brewery in Brattleboro in 2012. The spirit of exploration and discovery through rail travel underpinned the concept behind the establishment housed in a former train station building. A decade later, they've rebranded to Whetstone Beer Co. and reimagined packaging to celebrate their love of adventure and respect for the environment with fully recyclable cans and labels with a surprise inside: a keepsake peel-off sticker on every can.

The custom labels, imagined by Whetstone Beer Co. co-owner Tim Brady, were developed over a year-long process with a USA label manufacturer. They are the first to incorporate a built-in, removable sticker within a fully recyclable beer can label.

"We spend a lot on printing custom can labels, which nearly always just end up in a recycle bin," said Brady. "I thought, there has to be a way to make the label useful beyond simply showcasing the beer on the shelf. Now when you purchase any of our Whetstone Beer Co. cans, you get a unique sticker for free."

Whetstone Beer Co. packaging got a slick new look for the company's 10th anniversary, thanks to a local Vermont artist. On shelves at retail locations, bars, and restaurants around New England, the new merchandising and packaging showcase a take on "travel by rail" posters popular during the early 1900's golden age of train travel. A miniature "travel poster" sticker adorns each can while the wrap portion includes hidden elements with scenes harkening back to owners' adventures.

The peel-off sticker concept embraces brew culture where beer and brewery stickers are collected, traded, and used as artwork on "sticker walls" at stores, restaurants, breweries, ski chalets, and construction shops, among others. For individuals, beer stickers cover coolers, water bottles, laptops, man caves, and she-sheds to represent favorites and themes.

"People reach out all the time requesting stickers," said Whetstone brewer Derek Hall. "We send ours, and they send some of their favorites in return." Collecting brewery stickers is so popular, that a Facebook group called "Brewery Stickers and Beer Stickers Collectors & Traders" has 1,100+ members swapping stickers across the country. Stickers are also hotly sought at "breweriana" events and conventions.

As an added benefit, stickers remind restaurateurs and retailers to order Whetstone. According to Whetstone Director of Sales, Brayton Brown, "When I brought a sample to a new customer, the manager peeled off the sticker, pasted it in the middle of his beer cooler and said, 'It's official. I need to order something from you now.'"

Whetstone Beer is available throughout the northeast, at their waterfront taproom, and online for home delivery.

For more information see whetstonebeer.com or contact Maia Segura at [email protected].

Contact: [email protected], 206-898-7090

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SOURCE Whetstone Brands
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington , D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 24, 2022

Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-14100 33-0675505 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

19500 Jamboree Road, Irvine, California 92612 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(949) 475-3600

(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbols Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $0.01 par value IMH NYSE American Preferred Stock Purchase Rights IMH NYSE American

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 25, 2022, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the  Company ,  we ,  us , or the like hereunder) entered into a Warrant Agreement (the  Warrant Agreement ) with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company ( AST ), in connection with the Companys previously announced offers to each holder of the Companys 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the  Series B Preferred Stock ), and each holder of the Companys 9.125% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the  Series C Preferred Stock  and together with the Series B Preferred Stock, the  Preferred Stock ), to exchange all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock for certain stock and warrant consideration (each, an  Exchange Offer  and together, the  Exchange Offers ).

In connection with the Exchange Offer for the Series C Preferred Stock, for each share of Series C Preferred Stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, the Company will issue, in addition to certain common and preferred stock consideration, 1.5 warrants (the  Warrants ) to acquire an equal number of shares of the Companys Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the  Common Stock ), at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. No fractional Warrants will be issued to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock. If a holder of Series C Preferred Stock is otherwise entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company will round down to the nearest whole number of Warrants to be issued to a holder of Series C Preferred Stock. The Warrants will become exercisable commencing on October 26, 2025 which is three (3) years from the date of closing of the Exchange Offer for our Series C Preferred Stock. The Warrants will expire on October 26, 2032 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, AST has agreed to act as the Companys warrant agent with respect to the Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

The foregoing descriptions of the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified by, the full text of such agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The Companys Series B Preferred Stock was previously issued pursuant to the terms of Articles Supplementary (the  Series B Articles Supplementary ) establishing the Series B Preferred Stock with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the  SDAT ) which formed a part of the Companys charter (as amended and as currently in effect, the  Charter ).

The Companys Series C Preferred Stock was previously issued pursuant to the terms of Articles Supplementary (the  Series C Articles Supplementary ) establishing the Companys Series C Preferred Stock with the SDAT which formed a part of the Charter and which were previously amended by Articles of Amendment (the  Amended Articles ) amending and restating the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock.

On October 24, 2022, in connection with the Exchange Offers, the Company filed with the SDAT Articles of Amendment amending certain provisions of the Companys Series B Articles Supplementary (the  Series B Charter Amendment ) for the Series B Preferred Stock and Articles of Amendment amending certain provisions of the Companys Series C Articles Supplementary for the Companys Series C Preferred Stock (the  Series C Charter Amendment , and together with the Series B Charter Amendment, the  Charter Amendments ). The material terms of the Charter Amendments are described below:

Effect on Outstanding Preferred Stock

The Charter Amendments provide that, upon the repurchase of any shares of Preferred Stock tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offers, we will have no obligation to pay or make allowance for, and will not make any other payment or allowance for, the liquidation preference of, or any accrued and unpaid dividends on, any shares of Preferred Stock which are not repurchased in the Exchange Offers (whether or not such dividends have accumulated and whether or not such dividends accrued before or after the Amendment Effective Date (as defined below)).

Special Redemption Right

The Charter Amendments further provide that, (1) the Series B Preferred Stock will become redeemable for (a) thirty (30) shares of the Companys 8.25% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the  New Preferred Stock ), and (b) 13.33 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment to prevent the issuance of any fractional shares (collectively, the  Series B Remainder Consideration ), and (2) the Series C Preferred Stock will become redeemable for (x) one (1) share of New Preferred Stock, (y) 1.25 shares of Common Stock, and (z) 1.5 warrants to purchase an equal number of shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment to prevent the issuance of any fractional shares or warrants (collectively, the  Series C Remainder Consideration,  and together with the Series B Remainder Consideration, the  Preferred Stock Remainder Consideration ). Any such redemption is referred to herein as the  Special Redemption . The Special Redemption right may be exercised by the Company until October 24, 2024, the date that is two (2) years after the date(s) on which the Series B Charter Amendment and the Series C Charter Amendment, as applicable, were accepted for filing by the SDAT (such acceptance date(s), the  Amendment Effective Dates ). If the Company has not exercised its Special Redemption right to redeem the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock by the date that is sixty-five (65) days after the applicable Amendment Effective Date, each Charter Amendment provides that, upon request of any holder of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable, within two (2) years after the applicable Amendment Effective Date, the Company shall redeem all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable, for the applicable Preferred Stock Remainder Consideration, on the date fixed by the Company within ninety (90) days of such request, subject to any delay required by the Company to comply with applicable Maryland law relating to limitations on payment of the Preferred Stock Remainder Consideration. If any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock (not otherwise participating in the Exchange Offers) have still not been redeemed by the second (2nd) anniversary of the applicable Amendment Effective Date, such shares will remain outstanding with all of their current rights, preferences and privileges.

The Charter Amendments provide that the Companys right and obligation to effect the Special Redemption is without regard to or compliance with any other provisions set forth in the Series B Articles Supplementary, with regard to the Series B Preferred Stock, or the Amended Articles, with regard to the Series C Preferred Stock, including provisions relating to dividends and redemption.

If notice of Special Redemption has been given by the Company and if the applicable Preferred Stock Remainder Consideration has been set aside by the Company for the benefit of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock and/or Series C Preferred Stock, as the case may be, then from and after the date of such redemption, the shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares, and all rights of the holders thereof will terminate except for the right to receive the applicable Preferred Stock Remainder Consideration. We will have no obligation to pay or make allowance for, and will not make any other payment or allowance for, the liquidation preference of, or any accrued and unpaid dividends on, any shares of Preferred Stock which are redeemed pursuant to the Special Redemption right (whether or not such dividends have accumulated and whether or not such dividends accrued before or after the Amendment Effective Date).

If the Company elects to effect the Special Redemption or is required to effect the Special Redemption, with regard to either Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, the Company will deposit the required Series B Remainder Consideration or Series C Remainder Consideration, as applicable, with a bank or trust company for the purpose of redeeming Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable, which deposit will be irrevocable except that (a) the Company will be entitled to receive from such bank or trust company the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on any amounts so deposited in trust, and the holders of any shares redeemed shall have no claim to such interest or other earnings, and (b) any balance of funds and any other Series B Remainder Consideration or Series C Remainder Consideration, as applicable, so deposited by the Company and unclaimed by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, as applicable, entitled thereto at the expiration of two (2) years from the applicable redemption date shall be repaid, together with any interest or other earnings thereon, to the Company, and after any such repayment, the holders of the shares entitled to the funds and any other Series B Remainder Consideration or Series C Remainder Consideration, as applicable, so repaid to the Company shall look only to the Company for payment without interest or other earnings.

The descriptions of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock in this report do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Series B Charter Amendment and the Series C Charter Amendment, respectively, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2 hereto, and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

Series B Preferred Stock & Series C Preferred Stock

On October 24, 2022, the Company filed the Series B Charter Amendment and the Series C Charter Amendment amending certain terms of the Series B Articles Supplementary and Series C Articles Supplementary, as amended by the Amended Articles. The information about the Charter Amendments contained under Item 3.03 of this report, including the summary description of changes to the rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.

The description of the Charter Amendments contained in this Item 5.03 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Series B Charter Amendment and the Series C Charter Amendment, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2 hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

New Preferred Stock

On October 24, 2022, the Company filed the Articles Supplementary (the  Series D Articles Supplementary ) with the SDAT for the purpose of establishing the terms of the New Preferred Stock and classifying and designating 35,000,000 shares of authorized, but unissued, Common Stock as New Preferred Stock.

The following is a summary of the principal terms of the New Preferred Stock:

Ranking

The New Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or our winding up:

 senior to all classes or series of our common stock, our Series A-1 Preferred Stock, our Series B Preferred Stock, our Series C Preferred Stock and any other class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking junior to the New Preferred Stock;

 on parity with any future class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking on parity with the New Preferred Stock; and

 junior to any other class or series of our capital stock expressly designated as ranking senior to the New Preferred Stock, none of which exists on the date hereof.

The New Preferred Stock will also rank junior in right of payment to our existing and future debt obligations.

Dividends

Holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if authorized by our Board and declared by us, preferential cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 8.25% per annum of the $0.10 liquidation preference per share of the New Preferred Stock (equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $.00825 per share of the New Preferred Stock).

Dividends on the New Preferred Stock will accrue and be cumulative from and including the date of original issue, or if later, the most recent dividend payment date on which dividends have been paid in full, and will be payable to holders annually in arrears on or about the 31 day of December of each year, beginning on December 31, 2022.

Dividends will be payable to holders of record as they appear in our stock records at the close of business on the applicable record date, which shall be the date designated by our Board as the record date for the payment of dividends that is not more than ninety (90) and not fewer than ten (10) days prior to the scheduled dividend payment date.

Dividends on the New Preferred Stock will accrue whether or not:

 we have earnings;

 there are funds legally available for the payment of those dividends; or

 those dividends are authorized or declared.

No dividends on the New Preferred Stock will be authorized by the Board, declared, paid or set apart for payment at such time as the terms and provisions of any agreement of the Company, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness prohibits such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof, or a default thereunder, or if such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

Except as described in the next two paragraphs, and except as described below with respect to the repurchase or redemption of shares of our Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offers or upon the Special Redemption of such shares, unless full cumulative dividends on the New Preferred Stock shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in cash or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof in cash is set apart for payment, we will not:

 declare and pay or declare and set apart for payment of dividends, and we will not declare and make any other distribution of cash or other property, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to any shares of our common stock or shares of any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with or junior to the New Preferred Stock, for any period; or

 redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for any consideration, or make any other distribution of cash or other property, directly or indirectly, on or with respect to, or pay or make available any monies for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any common stock or shares of any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with or junior to the New Preferred Stock.

The foregoing sentence, however, will not prohibit:

 dividends payable solely in capital stock ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, junior to the New Preferred Stock;

 the conversion into or exchange for other shares of any class or series of capital stock ranking, as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, junior to the New Preferred Stock; or

 our purchase of shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking on parity with the New Preferred Stock as to payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock.

When we do not pay dividends in full (and do not set apart a sum sufficient to pay them in full) on the New Preferred Stock and the shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the New Preferred Stock, we will declare any dividends upon the New Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to dividends, on parity with the New Preferred Stock pro rata, so that the amount of dividends declared per share of New Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the New Preferred Stock and such other class or series of capital stock (which will not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends on such other class or series of capital stock for prior dividend periods if such other class or series of capital stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other. No interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on the New Preferred Stock which may be in arrears.

Holders of shares of New Preferred Stock are not entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or shares of capital stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the New Preferred Stock as described above. Any dividend payment made on the New Preferred Stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividends due with respect to those shares which remain payable. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the New Preferred Stock will accumulate as of the dividend payment date on which they first become payable.

We do not intend to declare dividends on the New Preferred Stock, or pay or set apart for payment dividends on the New Preferred Stock, if the terms of any of our agreements, including any agreements relating to our indebtedness, prohibit such a declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provide that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach of or default under such an agreement. Likewise, no dividends will be authorized by our Board and declared by us or paid or set apart for payment if such authorization, declaration, payment or setting apart for payment is restricted or prohibited by law.

We will have the right and obligation to repurchase our outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offers, and the right and obligation to redeem any outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock that remain outstanding after the Exchange Offers, pursuant to the Special Redemption right, without regard to or compliance with any term of the New Preferred Stock. In connection with the repurchase or redemption of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offers or upon the subsequent Special Redemption of such shares, we will have no obligation to pay or make allowance for, and will make no payment or allowance for, accrued and unpaid dividends on any New Preferred Stock outstanding (whether or not such dividends have accumulated).

Liquidation Preference

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, before any distribution or payment may be made to holders of shares of our common stock, or any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, junior to the New Preferred Stock, holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, after payment of or provision for our debts and other liabilities, a liquidation preference of $0.10 per share of New Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not authorized or declared) to but not including the date of payment, but without interest. If, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the full amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of each other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with the New Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets, then holders of shares of New Preferred Stock and each such other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on parity with the New Preferred Stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

Holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will be entitled to written notice of any distribution in connection with any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs not less than ten (10) days and not more than sixty (60) days before the distribution payment date. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Our consolidation or merger with or into any other corporation, trust or other entity, or the voluntary sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

Redemption

We will have the right and obligation to redeem all outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock, in whole, but not in part, for cash, at a redemption price of $0.10 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) on such shares of New Preferred Stock to, but not including, the redemption date (other than any dividend with a dividend record date before the applicable redemption date and a dividend payment date after the applicable redemption date, which shall be paid on the dividend payment date notwithstanding prior redemption of such shares), on:

 the sixtieth (60th) day, or such earlier date we may fix, after the date of our public announcement of annual or quarterly financial statements that indicate that payment of the redemption price would not cause us to violate the restrictions on payment of distributions to stockholders under section 2-311 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the  MGCL ) unless, prior to such redemption date, the Board determines in good faith that the payment of the redemption price for the New Preferred Stock and for any stock ranking on parity with the New Preferred Stock with respect to redemption and which have become redeemable as of the applicable redemption date would cause us to violate the Cash Consideration Restrictions (as defined below); or

 any date we fix not more than sixty (60) days after any determination by the Board in good faith that our payment of the redemption price for the New Preferred Stock and any stock ranking on parity with the New Preferred Stock with respect to redemption rights that have become redeemable as of such redemption date would not cause us to violate the Cash Consideration Restrictions.

A violation of the  Cash Consideration Restrictions  will occur if the occurrence of an action would cause (i) us to violate the restrictions on payment of distributions to stockholders under section 2-311 of the MGCL (ii) any material breach of or default under the terms and conditions of any obligation of the Company, including any agreement relating to its indebtedness, or (iii) us to violate any restriction or prohibition of any law rule or regulation applicable to the Company or of any order, judgment or decree of any court or administrative agency.

The Board, or a duly-authorized committee thereof, must, within thirty (30) days after the public announcement of each of our annual or quarterly financial statements of the Company, and within ten (10) days after the issuance by the Company of any capital stock in exchange for cash or other consideration (other than in connection with any stock dividend or stock split or pursuant to any equity incentive plan we maintain), evaluate, in good faith, whether the redemption of the New Preferred Stock and any stock ranking on parity with the New Preferred Stock with respect to redemption rights would be permitted in light of the Cash Consideration Restrictions.

Unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, we may not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly for any consideration, nor may any monies be paid to or be made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any shares of New Preferred Stock (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of, stock ranking junior to the New Preferred Stock with respect to redemption rights); except that the foregoing will not prevent the purchase or acquisition of shares of New Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to all holders of New Preferred Stock.

Notice of redemption must be mailed, postage prepaid, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the New Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on our stock transfer records as maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Companys transfer agent, substantially in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company ( DTC ). No failure to give such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof will affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any shares of New Preferred Stock except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. Any notice of redemption may, at our discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a securities offering or other corporate transaction. Holders of New Preferred Stock to be redeemed must comply with the applicable procedures of DTC in connection with surrendering their shares for payment of the redemption price. We may delay the closing of any redemption of New Preferred Stock if we would be prohibited from paying the redemption price under section 2-311 of the MGCL until such time determined in good faith by the Board that we would be permitted to pay such redemption price.

All shares of New Preferred Stock that we redeem or repurchase will return to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, without designation as to series or class.

Subject to applicable law and the limitation on purchases when dividends on the New Preferred Stock are in arrears, we may, at any time and from time to time, purchase New Preferred Stock in the open market, by tender or by private agreement.

Future debt instruments may prohibit us, from redeeming or otherwise repurchasing any shares of our capital stock, including the New Preferred Stock, except in limited circumstances.

Conversion Rights

The New Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property.

No Maturity or Sinking Fund

The New Preferred Stock has no maturity date. Accordingly, the New Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely until we are required to redeem the New Preferred Stock on the terms set forth above. The New Preferred Stock is not subject to any sinking fund.

Limited Voting Rights

Holders of shares of the New Preferred Stock generally do not have any voting rights, except as set forth below.

So long as any shares of New Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock and each other class or series of preferred stock ranking on parity with New Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and upon which like voting rights have been conferred (voting together as a single class):

 authorize, create or issue, or increase the number of authorized or issued shares of, any class or series of capital stock ranking senior to or on parity with the New Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify any of our authorized capital stock into such capital stock, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase such capital stock; or

 amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our Charter, including the terms of the New Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation, conversion or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the New Preferred Stock, except that if the New Preferred Stock remains outstanding after the occurrence of any of merger, consolidation, conversion or a sale or lease of all or substantially all of our assets with the terms of the New Preferred Stock materially unchanged or, if we are not the surviving entity, is converted into or exchanged for shares of, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or subscribe for shares of, capital stock or other securities having rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers substantially similar, taken as a whole, to those of the New Preferred Stock, the occurrence of such event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of the New Preferred Stock; and any increase in the amount of, or the creation or issuance, or increase in the amounts authorized, of any classes or series of stock ranking junior to the New Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of the New Preferred Stock.

Holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights with respect to, and the consent of the holders of shares of New Preferred Stock is not required for, the taking of any corporate action, including any merger or consolidation involving us or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, regardless of the effect that such merger, consolidation or sale may have upon the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of the New Preferred Stock, except as set forth above.

In addition, the voting provisions above will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which the vote would otherwise be required would occur, we have redeemed all outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock.

Listing

The issuance of the New Preferred Stock has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the New Preferred Stock will not be listed on any securities exchange and is expected to be illiquid.

The description of the Series D Articles Supplementary contained in this Item 5.03, including the summary description of the rights and preferences of the New Preferred Stock, is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, which is filed as Exhibit 3.3 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 8.01 Other Events

In conjunction with the closing of the Exchange Offers, the Company will issue approximately (A) (i) 6,142,213 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 13,823,340 shares of New Preferred Stock in exchange for the shares of Series B Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer for the Series B Preferred Stock, and (B) (i) 1,188,106 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 950,471 shares of New Preferred Stock, and (iii) 1,425,695 Warrants to purchase the same number of shares of Common Stock in exchange for the shares of Series C Preferred Stock tendered in the Exchange Offer for the Series C Preferred Stock.

In addition, in connection with the petitions (the  Plaintiff Series B Award Motions ) for a court award of attorneys fees, expenses or other monetary award to be deducted and paid from the Companys payment of distributions or other payments to the holders of the Companys Series B Preferred Stock in the matter Curtis J. Timm, et al. v Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. et al. (the  Maryland Action ), the Company will deposit, no later than November 2, 2022, approximately (i) 13,311,840 shares of New Preferred Stock and (ii) 4,437,280 shares of the Companys Common Stock in the custody of a third party custodian or escrow agent (the  Escrow Shares ). The allocation of the Escrow Shares will be made by instruction from the Circuit Court of Baltimore City upon final disposition of all outstanding matters in the Maryland Action, including the Plaintiff Series B Award Motions.

On October 26, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Exchange Offers. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Date: October 26, 2022 By: /s/ Joseph Joffrion Name: Joseph Joffrion Title: General Counsel

ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT 3.1

EXHIBIT 3.2

EXHIBIT 3.3

EXHIBIT 4.1

EXHIBIT 99.1
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM F-X

Appointment of Agent For Service of Process And Undertaking

A. Name of issuer or person filing (Filer): Vox Royalty Corp. B. (1) This is an (check one)  original filing for the Filer  amended filing for the Filer (2) Check the following box if you are filing the Form F-X in paper in accordance with Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(9)  C. Identify the filing in conjunction with which this Form is being filed: Name of Registrant: Vox Royalty Corp. Form type: Form F-10 File Number (if known): [] Filed by: Vox Royalty Corp. Date Filed (if filed concurrently, so indicate): October 25, 2022 (filed concurrently)

D. The Filer is incorporated or organized under the laws of Canada and has its principal place of business at: Suite 5300, 66 Wellington Street West Toronto, Ontario M5K 1E6 Canada (345) 815-3939

E. Filer designates and appoints Cogency Global Inc. (Agent) located at: 122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor New York, New York 10168 800-221-0102

as the agent of the Filer upon whom may be served any process, pleadings, subpoenas, or other papers in

(a) Any investigation or administrative proceeding conducted by the Commission; and

(b) Any civil suit or action brought against the Filer or to which the Filer has been joined as defendant or respondent, in any appropriate court in any place subject to the jurisdiction of any state or of the United States, or of any of its territories or possessions or of the District of Columbia, where the investigation, proceeding or cause of action arises out of or relates to or concerns any offering made or purported to be made in connection with the securities registered or qualified by the Filer on Form F-10 on October 25, 2022 or any purchases or sales of any security in connection therewith. The Filer stipulates and agrees that any such civil suit or action or administrative proceeding may be commenced by the service of process upon, and that the service of an administrative subpoena shall be effected by the service upon such agent for service of process, and that the service as aforesaid shall be taken and held in all courts and administrative tribunals to be valid and binding as if personal service thereof had been made.

F. The Filer stipulates and agrees to appoint a successor agent for service of process and file an amended Form F-X if the Filer discharges the Agent or the Agent is unwilling or unable to accept service on behalf of the Filer at any time until six years have elapsed from the date that the Filer has ceased reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Filer further undertakes to advise the Commission promptly of any change to the Agents name or address during the applicable period by amendment of this Form, referencing the file number of the relevant form in conjunction with which the amendment is being filed.

G. The Filer undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the Form F-10, the securities to which the Form F-10 relates and the transactions in such securities.

SIGNATURES

The Filer certifies that it has duly caused this power of attorney, consent, stipulation and agreement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, Canada, this 25th day of October, 2022.

Filer: VOX ROYALTY CORP. By: /s/ Kyle Floyd Name: Kyle Floyd Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dated: October 25, 2022

This statement has been signed by the following person in the capacity and on the date indicated:

COGENCY GLOBAL INC. as Agent for Service of Process for Vox Royalty Corp. By: /s/ Colleen A. De Vries Name: Colleen A. De Vries Title: Senior Vice President Dated: October 25, 2022
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2022

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Ondas Holdings Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

47-2615102

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

411 Waverley Oaks Road,

Suite 114

Waltham, MA 02452

(888) 350-9994

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)

Eric A. Brock

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Ondas Holdings Inc.

411 Waverley Oaks Road

Suite 114

Waltham, MA 02452

(888) 350-9994

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With a copy to:

Christina C. Russo, Esq.

Akerman LLP

201 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1800

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

(954) 463-2700

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as possible after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  Registration Statement No. 333-252571

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  Accelerated filer  Non-accelerated filer  Smaller reporting company  Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. 

Pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement shall become effective

upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

EXPLANATORY NOTE AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This Registration Statement is being filed by Ondas Holdings Inc. (the Company) pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Pursuant to Rule 462(b), the Company hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement on Form S-3 in its entirety the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-252571), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 5, 2021 (the Initial Registration Statement), including each of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto.

In accordance with Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, an additional amount of securities having a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of not more than 20% of the maximum aggregate offering price of the remaining securities eligible to be sold under the Initial Registration Statement are being registered.

This Registration Statement is being filed with respect to the registration of an additional $11,696,000.00 aggregate maximum amount of the Companys securities, which are described in the prospectus constituting a part of the Initial Registration Statement.

The required opinions and consents are listed on an Exhibit Index attached hereto and filed herewith.

CERTIFICATION

The Registrant hereby certifies to the SEC that (1) it has instructed its bank to pay the filing fee set forth in Exhibit 107 of this Registration Statement by a wire transfer of such amount to the SECs account at U.S. Bank as soon as practicable (but no later than the close of business as of October 27, 2022), (2) it will not revoke such instructions, (3) it has sufficient funds in the relevant account to cover the amount of such filing fee and (4) it will confirm receipt of such instructions by its bank during regular business hours no later than October 27, 2022.

EXHIBIT INDEX

* Filed herewith.

** Previously filed on the signature page of the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-252571), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 2021, and incorporated by reference herein.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Waltham, State of Massachusetts, on this 26th day of October, 2022.

ONDAS HOLDINGS INC. By: /s/ Eric A. Brock Eric A. Brock Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature Title Date /s/ Eric A Brock Chief Executive Officer and Chairman October 26, 2022 Eric A. Brock (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Derek R. Reisfield President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer,

Secretary and Director October 26, 2022 Derek R. Reisfield (Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer) * Director October 26, 2022 Thomas V. Bushey * Director October 26, 2022 Richard M. Cohen * Director October 26, 2022 Randall P. Seidl * Director October 26, 2022 Richard H. Silverman * Director October 26, 2022 Jaspreet Sood

* Pursuant to power of attorney By: /s/ Eric A. Brock Eric A. Brock, attorney-in-fact

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ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

OPINION OF AKERMAN LLP

OPINION OF SNELL & WILMER L.L.P

CONSENT OF ROSENBERG RICH BAKER BERMAN, P.A.

CONSENT OF TURNER, STONE & COMPANY, L.L.P

CONSENT OF KOST FORER GABBAY & KASIERER, A MEMBER OF ERNST & YOUNG GLOBAL

FILING FEE TABLE
AUSTIN, Texas  A 29-year-old sergeant at Fort Hood was charged Tuesday with multiple counts of premeditated attempted murder, rape, kidnapping and burglary in connection to an Oct. 2 incident in the barracks that involved a gun and was thought to be connected to other violent assaults on base, officials at the Texas Army post said.

The name of the soldier, who is assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade was not released Wednesday because the charges against the soldier have not yet been referred to a court-martial, according to a statement issued by Fort Hood officials. An arraignment has not been scheduled.

The charges include two counts of attempted premeditated murder, two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, five counts of burglary, five counts of aggravated assault, four counts of kidnapping and two counts of robbery, among other charges, Fort Hood officials said.

A charge sheet describing the different counts, which are known in the military as specifications, is typically released following an arraignment. It is similar to an arrest affidavit, which is released following an arraignment in the civilian court system.

The sergeant was arrested Oct. 2 while entering a gate at Fort Hood and is being held in pre-trial confinement, Maria Thomas, the special agent-in-charge of the Army Criminal Investigation Divisions central Texas field office, said this month. The office is the lead investigation agency on the case.

Earlier that day, soldiers living near the intersection of Legends Way and 37th Street at Fort Hood had received a text message alert warning them to stay away from the area because a man with a gun had been seen. Another alert told them it was safe to return less than two hours later.

CID investigators and Fort Hood officials have not said what happened during that time. They also have not provided any further details about the charges against the sergeant.

However, investigators first noticed in July commonalities among unresolved cases at Fort Hood but couldnt definitively link the crimes at the time, according to a statement from CID. At the time of the sergeants arrest, investigators said they believed he could be connected to other unsolved cases at the central Texas base.

Army CID began to overhaul its operations at Fort Hood following the disappearance and death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen in April 2020. Investigators have said she was killed at Fort Hood by a fellow soldier and then buried near a river outside of the base.

After her death, the Army launched an external review of Fort Hood. The Fort Hood Independent Review Committee released its report in December 2020 with 70 recommendations to improve conditions for soldiers at the base, including better equipping and training criminal investigators at the base.

It also called for more civilian investigators, which has included the hiring of Thomas, who took to lead of the CID office at Fort Hood in April.

Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, who took command of Fort Hood this month, credited those changes to helping arrest the sergeant.
(Tribune News Service)  Maine combat pilots and support crews will be deployed in February to support U.S. Central Command operations, most likely in the Middle East.

The Maine National Guard based in Bangor announced Tuesday the pending deployment of 36 Maine soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment (3-142).

Aviation unit members operate Black Hawk helicopters and are trained to conduct air assault and movement missions that support combat forces on the ground. The Maine-based unit will provide air support to the U.S. Central Command's Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield for about a year.

Operation Inherent Resolve's mission is to defeat the Islamic State group, while Operation Spartan Shield's mission is to maintain a U.S. military presence in Southwest Asia.

A spokesman for the National Guard said the soldiers are expected to be initially assigned to the Middle East region with other assignments possible.

The last deployment for an Army aviation unit from Maine took place in 2018 when Company G, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, supported military operations in Afghanistan.

In the past, Maine aviation and maintenance crews have supported operations in Iraq, Kuwait, Guatemala and Bosnia, as well as domestically at the Southwest border and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

(c)2022 the Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine)

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  Many Marines and sailors living in the barracks at this base south of Hiroshima are having difficulty getting access to a working washer and dryer to clean their uniforms.

About 16% of the barracks washers and dryers, or 183 machines, are out of service at MCAS Iwakuni, a base spokesman told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.

In one barrack hallway hangs a complaint printed on a sheet of paper: Fix our washers and dryers!!!

The welfare of the Marines and sailors in bachelor housing are important to MCAS Iwakuni, Maj. Gerard Farao said by email. Facilities is aware of the problem.

Unfortunately, the consumer-grade washers and dryers installed in the barracks cannot hack the commercial-grade load, according to Farao. But a fix is in the works.

The replacement machines used in the barracks are typical household type washers and dryers that could not sustain constant commercial-grade use, he said. Bachelor Housing has now been purchasing industrial washer and dryers that are more durable to handle commercial grade use.

Farao said the base plans to stockpile new washers and dryers this fiscal year until a new repair contract takes effect. He provided no timeline for replacing all the faulty machines but said: Were working to ensure that every barracks has fully functioning washers and dryers to meet their needs.

For some, replacements cannot arrive soon enough.

My floor has probably 30 rooms and all the washing machines on my floor dont work and I have to go upstairs to do my laundry, barracks resident Lance Cpl. Tyler Leonard, 19, of Middlebury, Conn., told Stars and Stripes on Oct. 18.

The barracks vary in layout and design based on rank with as many as 60 individuals  ranks as high as E-5  sharing a laundry room. Housing for senior enlisted personnel has one washer and dryer per room.

(T)here are so few washers and dryers and they are always crowded all the time and the only option a lot of us have is to wait until its super late at night to actually get our clothes in the washer, Leonard said. Because, at least in my barracks, there are maybe six washers and dryers that actually work.

A maintenance logbook at one barrack indicated a washer has been out of service since April.

Previously there was not an established repairman on the air station, Farao said. This year, U.S. Navy Seabees were shifted over from the facility maintenance branch to conduct repairs on the washers and dryers.

The base plans to hire someone to repair and maintain the machines.

A contract is being drafted to have broken washers and dryers repaired by an outside contractor, within 72-hours after being reported, Farao said.
The Navy continues to investigate the root cause of an engine problem discovered in a T-45C Goshawk jet earlier this month that led to the grounding of the fleet of 193 trainer aircraft.

The Navy commenced a safety pause for the fleet three days after one of the jets experienced engine blade failure on Oct. 11, the service said in an Oct. 18 news release.

The Navy did not disclose where the jet was stationed.

Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our aviators, [Chief of Naval Air Training] made the decision to halt all T-45C Goshawk operations following the discovery of an engine blade failure, CNATRA Rear Adm. Richard Brophy said in the release. We are working with our partners toward a swift resolution. Safety is at the core of our operations, and we must not expose our pilots or aircraft to unnecessary risk.

Navy officials are working with Rolls Royce, the maker of the turbofan engine, to identify the root cause of the blade failure, the release said.

Citing unnamed officials, Navy Times reported Tuesday that the jet engine had undergone a low-pressure compressor blade failure before takeoff on Oct. 11.

In an earlier incident on Aug. 16, a Goshawk crashed on approach to Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. The instructor pilot ejected safely.

The unnamed officials told Navy Times that no prior Goshawk mishap had been attributed to the engine blade failure now being analyzed, although the causes of the August crash remain under investigation.
(Tribune News Service)  A proposal by the United States encouraging the rapid deployment of an international military force to Haiti is on the verge of failure after no country volunteered to contribute troops, multiple sources tell McClatchy and the Miami Herald.

Biden administration officials are debating whether to scrap the U.S. resolution, circulated among U.N. Security Council members, unless a foreign partner steps up and offers troops in the next few days.

The potential reversal is a diplomatic setback for the White House, which had been hoping to corral an armed, foreign force that would be backed with equipment, training and logistical support from the United States.

But the U.S. never volunteered its own forces, raising frustration among its partners. Several countries on the Security Council demanded a concrete plan in writing be prepared before a vote on the resolution took place. Also, Russia and China have both openly expressed concerns on the Security Council about the deployment of foreign forces to Haiti.

Countries around the world have so far rebuffed the proposal. France shut down the prospect of providing troops early in the discussions, and Canada repeatedly expressed reluctance to contribute ground forces, despite flying-in several armored vehicles to Haiti in recent days and calling on countries to donate to a fund to help the Haiti National Police.

Brazil  focused on its own domestic elections coming up at the end of the month  expressed skepticism, and U.S. officials questioned whether CARICOM, the 15-member Caribbean Community that Haiti is a member of, had the capacity on its own to make a meaningful difference on the ground.

"There's been no progress getting partners to volunteer," said one source familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. "No one is stepping up."

The regional bloc has been in discussions with both Canadian and Haitian officials in recent days over Haiti's request for a rapid reaction force. While considering the request, members want clarity on troop makeup and the mandate of such a force.

Canada is seen as the most likely partner to lead a rapid deployment, despite its hesitancy. But it remains unclear what the mandate of such a force would be. Questions range in terms of the size, duration and risk of the mission, which could include lifting the siege of the Varreux fuel terminal, or securing a humanitarian corridor by protecting the distribution of aid throughout the country.

Haiti is in the midst of its worst security, economic and political crisis in decades, with gangs now in their seventh week of blocking the country's main fuel terminal and seaports. The blockade is leading to a shortage of fuel, food and potable water amid a burgeoning cholera outbreak.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to work directly with Haiti to organize a rapid force that could break the stranglehold of gangs on the country's most important ports and roadways. The Haitian government issued a similar request.

Last week, the U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to sanction Haitian gangs and those who arm and finance them. While the sanctions are a start, the government of Haiti has said more is needed.

The U.S. resolution would provide any rapid reaction deployment with powers under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which allows troops to use force for the enforcement of peace.

2022 Miami Herald.

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YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  At-home child care has returned to this airlift hub in western Tokyo where military and civilian working families have long called for more day care services.

One woman certified as a Family Child Care provider said she opened her door Friday with space for three children on a varying schedule. Another provider may be approved by the end of the year with room for six kids, according to the 374th Force Support Squadron, which is responsible for the program at Yokota.

Family Child Care is provided by individuals vetted by the force support squadron. The homes may take in children ages 2 weeks to 12 years in varying circumstances, according to the squadron website.

It brings me joy to see this program come to life again, Maj. Jordan Hayes, the squadron commander, recently told Stars and Stripes. And I know that I'm going to be able to take better care of my own airmen and their families because I now have a resource that I didn't have yesterday.

The program has been absent at Yokota for nearly a year due to a lack of providers, according to Tenley Thayer, the squadrons child care coordinator. And space at the Child Development Center is at a premium, with six children on the waiting list, according to information she provided in an email Wednesday.

We really cant predict next availability, unless we have received notice of someone withdrawing, Thayer said.

Yokota residents complained at a town hall in 2020 of a need for more on-base child care and of insufficient space at the CDC, which had a six-month waiting list at the time, according to one parent. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the shortage by forcing managers to trim the centers hours and seek Japanese hires to fill out the staff.

Service members value child care in terms of readiness and retention, according to a 2006 study by Rand Corp.

On Friday, Air Force spouse MaKenzie Tedder opened her door as a Family Child Care provider, she told Stars and Stripes by Facebook Messenger on Tuesday. She has availability for two preschool-aged children on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are slated for drop-in hourly care for two to three children ages 2 and older, and she has availability on weekends for two to three children of all ages.

Opening an approved Family Child Care service at home is a massive amount of work, said Tedder, 27, of Tucson, Ariz. She has been a licensed child care provider since September 2020 when she and her husband were stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Opening your home to other children is an honor, she said. I have spent over a hundred hours in training to become a provider and have also spent thousands of dollars to ensure that my environment was fit for my program.

The other home, which is still in the approval process, will have six slots for all ages, said Thayer, who helps would-be Family Child Care providers navigate their background checks, provides them with training and channels their applications to a squadron panel for possible approval.

After the home is approved, Thayer performs unannounced hourlong inspections every month.

I see my role is more as a resource, she said. I'm not coming into your home, looking to find what you're doing wrong. I'm coming into your home expecting to see you're doing everything right. And if you're struggling with something, I'm there to help you get back on track and will help you figure out how to resolve a particular issue.

Thayer inspects for health and safety hazards, including clean, baby-proofed kitchens; infant bottles served and stored properly; and that up-to-date immunization records on file for the children.

Thayer said she also wants to see how the provider interacts with children.

You can have everything be spotless and perfect, but if your interactions with the children aren't good then it's not a safe environment, she said. It needs to be emotionally safe as well as physically safety.

An approved home day care may provide services on a variety of schedules, including while parents are deployed, on weekends or overnight, and on a full- or part-time basis, according to the squadrons website.

Family Child Care providers are paid $209 per week per child for their services, Thayer said. With a successful record, a provider may earn an incentive to get licensed at another base when their tour at Yokota is over, she said.

Also, if it's more about you're looking for something to do, it's meaningful, Thayer said. You're helping children develop; you're helping the mission by providing care to and helping children.
TOKYO  Diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan agreed Wednesday to strengthen their countries shared defensive measures in light of North Koreas extremely frequent missile tests.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong of South Korea and Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori of Japan met in Tokyo for the second time this week to discuss cooperation between the three countries, according to a news release from Japans Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.

The three diplomats appreciated the recent progress in cooperation on security matters and agreed to continue working together in dealing with Pyongyangs provocations, the release said.

North Korea has fired more than 40 missiles in 26 rounds of tests so far this year. The communist regime last launched a ballistic missile and fired over 100 artillery rounds on Oct. 14.

Japan has expressed concern over the flurry of tests, particularly after a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile soared over its northern region on Oct. 3. That launch prompted the country to warn citizens to take shelter and halted public during rush hour.

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said North Korea has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear weapons test, which U.S. and South Korean officials have warned of for months.

Sherman, Cho and Mori also strongly condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine and shared concerns that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should not be tolerated in the East and South China Seas, an apparent reference to Chinas interest in absorbing Taiwan.

The diplomats also met on Tuesday to discuss serious concerns about North Korean threats, according to a news release from South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sherman, the release said, expressed sympathy and support, and reaffirmed the U.S.'s strong commitment to Seoul.

Despite some lingering territorial and historical disputes, Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have vowed to work together to mend their differences.

We shared the understanding that if relations between South Korea and Japan return to the good times of the past at an early date and exchanges between businesses and between our people become smooth, it will be of great help to the two countries' economies, Yoon told reporters on Oct. 7, according to South Koreas Yonhap News.

On Sept. 30, naval forces from South Korea and Japan joined the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for anti-submarine warfare drills in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, for the first time in five years. South Koreas Ministry of National Defense characterized the exercise as defensive and said it was held to cope with the North Korean nuclear and missile threat.
(Tribune News Service)  At least 15 people were killed in a Wednesday evening attack on a shrine in Irans southern city of Shiraz, which state media described as a terrorist act, while nationwide unrest continues to grip the country.

Two of the three assailants, including the main culprit, have been arrested, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported, adding that the gunmen drove toward Shah Cheragh mosque and opened fire on people inside.

Its unclear whether the attack is linked to anti-government protests that started almost six weeks ago and were triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after being arrested for allegedly flouting Islamic dress codes.

At least 21 people were wounded in the incident, Iranian state TV said, citing Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for Irans National Emergency Organization.

Citing an unnamed source, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said the attack was carried out by a Wahhabi group seeking to take advantage of the current unrest, referring to the strict Sunni sect of Islam thats mostly practiced in Saudi Arabia.

The state-run Nour News, affiliated with Irans Supreme National Security Council, said Iranian nationals were not behind the attack, without saying where it got the information.

The gunmen struck at the busiest hour of pilgrimage at Shah Cheragh, according to IRNA. The shrine is a well-known tourist attraction and Wednesdays attack coincided with mourning ceremonies marking 40 days since Mahsa Aminis death that have drawn thousands of protesters out onto the streets.

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LONDON  U.S. allies in Europe are growing increasingly concerned that the united front presented by the West in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine could quickly unravel if Republicans are victorious in next weeks midterm elections, ceding an advantage to President Vladimir Putin just when Ukraine is making progress on the battlefield.

In the eight months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a rare level of transatlantic consensus has taken hold over the need to support Ukraine. Collectively, Ukraines allies have pledged over $93 billion in military, financial and humanitarian assistance, with the lions share of that promised by the United States.

Since comments by the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) that a Republican-controlled House wouldnt continue to issue blank check funding for Ukraine, officials in both Kyiv and Western Europe have begun to wonder if Ukraine can continue to count on the United States.

Its unclear whether Republicans would carry out the threat to reduce funding for Ukraine if they do take control of House. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), in contrast, said a Republican Senate majority will focus its oversight on ensuring timely delivery of needed weapons and greater allied assistance to Ukraine.

President Bidens effort to aid Ukraine has so far enjoyed broad bipartisan support, and public opinion polls show strong backing for continued U.S. assistance, with 72% of respondents telling a Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll last week that they support sending additional weapons and military aid to Ukraine  including 68% of Republicans.

But the mere suggestion that the U.S. might pull back has set off alarm bells in Western capitals.

Ukraine simply wouldnt be forcing Russia into retreat if it wasnt for the enormous quantity of U.S. weaponry that has flowed into the country since February, and any slowdown would be game-changing and could turn the tide of the war in Russias favor, said Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the defense committee in Britains parliament.

Youd be playing into Putins hands, he said. If America pulls back, Putin could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

A reduction in U.S. aid could come as a wake-up call to many countries in Europe still dallying over fulfilling some of the defense and financial commitments made in the wake of the invasion, said Cathryn Culver-Ashbrook, a German political scientist who is executive vice president of the Washington-based Bertelsmann Foundation.

Germany, for example, has yet to take steps to raise its defense spending, in line with a historic pledge made by Chancellor Olaf Sholz immediately following the Russian invasion in February, she said. The European Union has promised 11 billion euros in financial aid to Ukraine, but has so far disbursed only about 3 billion of that.

Its going to hasten a somewhat difficult conversation among the political classes in Europe, she said.

Whether Europe would respond by stepping up its commitments is in question, said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Istituto Affari Internazionale. At a time of deepening economic crisis across the continent, some governments might take the cue to ease up on their own aid to Ukraine.

Although U.S. officials have often fretted that European unity could fray in the face of soaring energy prices that have hit European consumers particularly hard because of the continents reliance on Russian energy, so far it has held up surprisingly well, diplomats say. Europeans are divided on many issues, ranging from how to share the energy burden to the need for greater defense commitments. But on the core issue of standing up to Russia, Europes resolve has remained undimmed, said a European official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects.

No one is saying no to anything. Despite some disagreements over details, no one is balking or slowing down, the official said.

The Biden administration has been instrumental, however, in prodding and rallying Europeans to present a united front, leading by example with the size of its own commitments, Tocci said.

You could really imagine that if this were to falter within the United States, then the house of cards would start falling, she said.

She cited the case of Italy, where a new government composed of far-right parties has just been voted into power. The new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has quelled European fears that Italy could become the first European country to break ranks over Ukraine. Italy with us in government will never be the weak link of the West, she said as she took office.

But Melonis Brothers of Italy party is governing in coalition with two Euroskeptic right-wing parties: the League, and the Forza Italia of former premier Silvio Berlusconi, an admirer of Putin, who was recently recorded saying the Ukrainian president was to blame for forcing the Russian president to invade.

A very important push to the Europeans is that the United States has been so prominent militarily and also financially  really nudging the Europeans into supporting Ukraine. If that were to fall through in the United States, then inevitably in Europe, where the energy and economic crisis is felt more strongly, you could imagine that having a big impact, Tocci said.

Even if European allies were to seek to compensate for a reduction in U.S. assistance, its unclear whether they would be able to, analysts say. As a percentage of GDP, the United States lags behind many European countries in terms of the size of its contributions - Latvia leads, with assistance worth 0.9%t of its GDP, according to the Kiel Institutes Ukraine support tracker. The United States has given aid worth 0.2% of GDP. But that nonetheless eclipses by a huge margin the total amount given by any other nation.

The size of Americas military commitments in particular dwarfs the capacity of any of its Western allies to fill the gap  the United States has promised $27 billion, more than seven times the $3.74 billion pledged by the second-largest military donor, the United Kingdom.

And Ukraines needs continue to grow. Russias escalating attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have knocked out power supplies to parts of the country, and President Volodymyr Zelensky says the country needs billions in emergency aid just to survive the next year. At a conference in Berlin on Tuesday dedicated to Ukrainian reconstruction, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraines prime minister, urged the West to provide an immediate economic relief package of $17 billion in addition to aid worth $3 billion a month from the European Union and the United States.

The requests are enormous and could become increasingly burdensome as countries head into winter and possibly recession, analysts say. Thats where American leadership is vital, said Ellwood, the British parliamentarian.

When America steps forward, other nations follow suit. The scale of both financial and military support from the United States is off the scales compared to other countries, he said. But if America starts to blink, other nations might as well.
(Tribune News Service)  Gov. Charlie Baker formally signed a law that will make it easier for military spouses to expedite the transfer of professional licenses if they move to Massachusetts because their husband or wife is transferred to a base there.

The law also will grant "in-state" status at public colleges and universities to any active-duty military member, their spouse or children, thereby allowing them to pay a much lower tuition. It also allows moving families to enroll students in school in advance and without having to physically appear so they miss little to no class time.

Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, first filed the bill Feb. 16, 2021, to ease the transition a family needs to make when a member of the military is transferred to a base in Massachusetts. It was approved by the House and Senate unanimously, went to conference committee where differences in the proposals were reconciled on July 28 and received a final vote from legislators the next day.

"At the most fundamental level, this law is about recognizing that when an individual signs up for the United States Armed Services, it is not just them that is signing up, it is their entire family," he said.

Baker signed the Spouse Licensure Portability Education and Enrollment of Dependents act, better known as the SPEED Act, in a ceremony at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford on Tuesday with multiple military and veterans officials watching.

"The SPEED Act makes Massachusetts a more welcoming place for military families transferring here by streamlining the occupational licensing process so military spouses can continue their professional careers and by making it easier for those families to access educational opportunities in the Commonwealth," Baker said.

The law comes as Barnes Air National Guard Base, in Westfield, is one of several being considered as a home for the new F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, which would be an upgrade from the F-15 Falcon jets the 104th Fighter Wing has been flying since 2007.

The new law could give the base an edge over others when the military is making the decision.

"From speeding up the professional licensure process for military spouses so that they can continue their careers, to allowing advanced and virtual enrollment for military children to resolve disruptions in education, this law ensures that we are taking care of our military families here in Massachusetts," Velis said.

The law creates a 30-day expedited certification process for spouses applying for licenses from the Division of Occupational Licensure and the Department of Public Health if they are credentialed in another state and meet necessary requirements, according to an announcement from Baker's office.

Teachers licensed in another state will be granted a three-year teaching certificate so they can work immediately while completing testing requirements for their regular license, it said.

"This is a historic bill. This is most likely the most encompassing military and veterans bill passed in the Commonwealth in the last century," Major Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, said during the ceremony. "This bill will make it clear to every state in the republic that Massachusetts is unmatched in its care and support of its military members, veterans, and their families."

The law also grants new benefits and services for veterans and National Guard members and expands the ways the state recognizes service members, the statement said.

Other provisions include:

 Establishing the Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity to be awarded to the next-of-kin of service members who died as the result of service-connected diseases, conditions, or injuries, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or exposure to harmful toxins.

 Establishing resources for service members exposed to burn pits and airborne hazards, and requiring the state to assist service members in signing up for federal Veterans Administration burn pit registry;

 Establishing the Massachusetts National Guard Family Education Program to allow National Guard members to transfer unused education benefits to their dependents.

 Establishing a $2,000 tax credit for businesses with less than 100 employees who hire and retain National Guard members.

 Expanding resources for veterans statewide.

(c)2022 The Republican, Springfield, Mass.

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(Tribune News Service)  The Orion spacecraft could be on its first trip to the moon on the Artemis I mission in less than a month, but teams at Kennedy Space Center continue to prep the next capsules planned for human missions, the first of which could fly in just more than 18 months.

Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin, the capsules prime contractor for the first five Artemis flights, won a new NASA contract this month to build out another three spacecraft.

This order includes spacecraft, mission planning and support, and takes us into the 2030s, said Lisa Callahan, vice president and general manager for Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin. Were on the eve of a historic launch kicking off the Artemis era and this contract shows NASA is making long-term plans toward living and working on the moon, while also having a forward focus on getting humans to Mars.

Artemis I is targeting its next launch attempt as early as Nov. 14. The flight will send the Space Launch System rocket topped with Orion from KSCs Launch Pad 39-B on a weeks-long mission that will have it orbit the moon several times and fly farther than, and return to Earth faster than any previous human-rated spacecraft.

The extremes are meant to prove out the capsules safety for the planned Artemis II orbital flight with four humans on board as early as May 2024. This first mission will test out the heat shield on re-entry, during which Orion will reach 24,500 mph and generate temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Artemis III would follow as early as 2025 that would ultimately send at least two humans, including the first woman, to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, with the assist of a Human Landing System in the form of a lunar version of SpaceXs in-development Starship that will rendezvous with Orion in orbit.

NASAs plans are to fly at least one Artemis mission a year as it pursues a continued human presence on the moon and prep for sending the first humans to Mars by 2040 under the latest NASA timeline.

The Artemis program was born out of the remains of the canceled Constellation program from the 2000s that included the Orion capsule. The new program announced in 2012 was supposed to have seen its first launch by 2016, but has faced myriad delays and ballooning costs.

Originally projected around $500 million per flight, costs are now expected to surpass $4.1 billion per flight through the first four missions, according to NASAs Office of the Inspector General. Thats a combination of costs across the SLS, Orion and Exploration Ground Systems.

Lockheed Martin already flew a capsule in 2014 as part of a test Exploration Flight Test-1, launching on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy from what was then Cape Canaveral Air Force Base for two orbits around the Earth and a splashdown landing. Artemis I and II will fly the final two of the first three capsules.

In 2019, Lockheed Martin was awarded construction orders for the next three, the Artemis III-V missions under NASAs Orion Production and Operations Contract at a cost of $2.7 billion.

The new award announced Oct. 20 for Artemis VI-VIII is valued at $1.99 billion, furthering the companys stated goal to lower per launch costs from the initial three launches, which are estimated to be $1 billion per capsule. A lot of that future savings comes through planned reuse of components from mission to mission.

Lockheed Martins director of Orion production Kelly DeFazio said in August that by the time Artemis V flies, the capsule could be reusing up to 5,000 parts. Plans for the Artemis VI flight call for the reuse of the pressure capsule from Artemis III as well as interior elements including flight computers, crew seats, switch panels and other avionics.

Lockheed Martin is committed to reduce the Orion production contract to deliver spacecraft 50% cheaper than we were from the early stages of the flight hardware, DeFazio said.

The company said in a press release that Orion costs will fall another 30% for Artemis VI-VIII. NASA has the option to order another six spacecraft through the existing contract.

The capsules for II and III are both at the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building at KSC. For Artemis II, the Orion capsule along with the service module provided by the European Space Agency were recently powered on for the first time as teams ensure electrical and mechanical systems perform as designed.

The Artemis III capsule is at the same site getting interior and exterior structures installed while the heat shield arrived on Oct. 18 from Lockheed Martins facility in Waterton, Colo., flying in on NASAs Super Guppy aircraft. The Artemis III service module remains in Bremen, Germany, as the ESA and contractor Airbus prep it for its trip to Florida.

Also at KSC are the three launch abort system motors for the Artemis II flight.

Our team is ready for Orions first flight atop the Space Launch System rocket on Artemis I and working in parallel to support future Artemis missions to the moon, said NASA Orion program manager Howard Hu. We are making significant progress on multiple Orion spacecraft in various stages of production and assembly for Artemis II, III and IV.

Artemis IV capsule manufacturing is underway at NASAs Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans with final welding expected to occur before the end of the year, and expected KSC arrival in early 2023.

Thats going to put us exactly where we need to be, DeFazio said. Here at Kennedy Space Center with three spacecraft in flow at once.

2022 Orlando Sentinel.

Visit orlandosentinel.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Tribune News Service)  Raytheon Technologies Corp. posted higher third-quarter earnings and revenue on stronger commercial aerospace sales, but the company cut its revenue outlook as supply-chain and labor issues constrain defense sales.

The parent of Tucson-based Raytheon Missiles & Defense posted third-quarter revenue of $16.95 billion, up 5% from last year, with unadjusted earnings of $1.39 billion or 94 cents per share, up from 93 cents in third-quarter 2021.

After adjustment for one-time charges, Raytheon posted earnings of $1.8 billion, or $1.21 per share, up from $1.9 billion and $1.26 per share a year ago.

The adjusted results topped the average Wall Street analyst forecast for earnings of $1.11 per share but fell short of the $17 billion in quarterly revenue expected by analysts tracked by Zacks Investment Research.

Raytheon shares closed Tuesday at $88.36, down $1.37 or about 1.5%, in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Raytheon's Collins Aerospace unit had third-quarter adjusted sales of $5.1 billion, up 11% versus the prior year, as increases in commercial aviation sales more than offset a 6% drop in military sales, while operating income rose 31% to $630 million.

Engine maker Pratt & Whitney posted third-quarter adjusted sales of $5.38 billion, up 14% versus the prior year while quarterly operating income rose 68% to $318 million.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense reported third-quarter adjusted sales of $3.68 billion, down 6% from last year, driven by continuing supply chain constraints and declines on land, air and naval weapon programs.

The missiles and radars unit posted adjusted third-quarter operating profit of $416 million, down 15% from the prior year, driven primarily by an unfavorable program mix, lower sales of land-warfare and air-defense systems, and "lower net program efficiencies driven by continued supply-chain and labor constraints," the company said.

Raytheon said the sales declines were partly offset by higher volume on strategic missile defense programs including the Next Generation Interceptor. Raytheon is partnered with Northrop Grumman on development of the new ground-based ballistic missile interceptor, in competition with a team led by Lockheed Martin, under a contract worth up to $3.9 billion awarded last year.

Other major contract bookings at RM&D in the third quarter included $1 billion to develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile for the U.S. Air Force; $972 million for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles for the Air Force, Navy and allied foreign nations; $226 million for AIM-9X Sidewinder air-combat missiles for the Navy; and $207 million for counter-drone systems for the Army.

The Tucson-based Raytheon unit, the region's biggest employer with more than 13,000 local workers, also has won hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts this year to supply weapons to Ukraine or to replenish U.S. weapons transferred to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger man-portable antiaircraft systems and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, which Raytheon makes with Norway-based Kongsberg Defence.

dwichner@tucson.com

(c)2022 The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.)

Visit at www.tucson.com

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Using a submachine gun like this, in a built-up suburban area, is like letting off a rocket launcher in a church

The scene of the shooting last night

Local councillors have expressed their outrage at last nights reckless gangland machine gun attack in Tallaght in which a notorious Dublin criminal was lucky to escape with his life.

James Nellie Walsh, who was only released from jail last July, suffered minor facial injuries in the incident in Donomore Crescent, despite the fact that a Uzi machine gun was used.

Gardai have not made any arrests so far after Walsh, who in his early 30s, was injured as he sat in a car with a female, who was uninjured.

Sources told sundayworld.com how the volatile hood, who is involved in a number of bitter disputes including with Kinahan cartel foot soldiers, was lured to the location.

But one councillor in Tallaght today denounced those who sent out the gunmen on a mission to kill.

Using a submachine gun like this, in a built-up suburban area, is like letting off a rocket launcher in a church, Tallaght councillor Mick Duff said.

It was sheer, reckless behaviour with absolutely no regard for life.

This is a prime example of the frightening escalation in violence which these gangs are prepared to visit on their rivals.

Cllr Duff added: We need to examine where these criminals are getting guns of this calibre. And how the gardai are resourced to take then on.

Im astonished that nobody was killed. But as we always wonder, what about the next time?

Another local councillor, Trevor Gilligan, in Clondalkin, added that he was sadly, not surprised at this latest escalation in gang violence as he had been warning about it for years.

James 'Nellie' Walsh

These gangs are constantly upping their game and becoming more brazen and dangerous, he said.

I have been talking about this for years, and now it appears that time is now.

There is no limits to what these guys are prepared to do, and, once again, I must demand that the Minister for Justice organise a meeting with local gardai and councillors in West Dublin, as a matter of urgency.

Walshs release from jail last July led to a major security alert because of his involvement in a west Dublin drug feud.

One bloody feud between Nellie and the west Dublin gang ignited when Nellie's rivals murdered Dean Johnson (21) in a case of mistaken identity in August of 2013.

Last night was just the latest attempt on the life of Nellie Walsh.

When innocent Dean Johnson was killed it emerged that he had earlier swapped coats with Walsh at a nearby bar and the hitmen mistook him for the criminal.

Five days later, the leader of the rival gang was shot dead in a revenge attack.

Jason 'Jay' Carroll (39) was fatally shot once in the face and twice in the arm at his home at Cherrywood Drive, Clondalkin, in August 2013.

Following this, Nellie's associates attempted to enlist five people to murder five of their rivals at the same time.

This did not happen and shortly after Nellie's pals, Darragh Nugent and a second man, were killed.

Nellie, who was in Mountjoy Prison at the time, was livid at the murder of friends but the fact that he, himself, was living under severe threat of meeting a violent death in the jail, meant there was little or nothing he could do in response.

At the time, he was almost three years into a 10-year-jail sentence for a botched gangland hit on the life of rival Michael Frazer.

During that attack in March of 2014, Walsh shot himself in the leg while fleeing the scene.

Frazer was shot in the car park of the Church of the Transfiguration, Bawnogue Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 26, 2014.

A known associate of Fat Freddie Thompson, he drove to a nearby garda station to seek sanctuary but refused to co-operate in the investigation and refused to allow access to medical records after being treated in hospital for two bullet wounds.

Gardai are investigating the shooting

Walsh later pleaded guilty to possession of a gun with intent to endanger life at the Central Criminal Court after the DPP agreed not to proceed with a charge of the attempted murder of Frazer (37).

His 10-year-sentence was back-dated to when he went into custody on December 5, 2014.

Gardai are investigating following a shooting incident in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on Tuesday the 25th of October, 2022, a spokesman said.

Shortly after 6.20pm, Gardai were alerted to reports of shots fired in the Donomore Crescent area of Tallaght.

A man in his 30s was treated at the scene for an apparent gunshot wound and taken by ambulance to Tallaght University Hospital. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination is to be conducted. No arrests have been made at this time.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. They are particularly keen for anyone with camera footage (including dash-cam) to make this available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station 01-6666000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Hoy conmemoramos el 24 aniversario de la suscripcion de los Acuerdos de Paz de Brasilia, en base a los cuales construimos una solida relacion de amistad, confianza, cooperacion e integracion con el Ecuador, en beneficio del desarrollo social de ambos pueblos.?????????? pic.twitter.com/h5Yawi0y0w
As Gerry Hutch trial continues, images have been circulating online from the document which contains allegations made by ex-Sinn Fein councillor in relation to Regency murder

Members of the Garda Armed Support Unit at the Special Criminal Court where the trial of Gerry Hutch for the murder of David Byrne is taking place. Photo: Collins Courts

Material from the witness statement made by Jonathan Dowdall about the Regency Hotel murder has been leaked online.

Independent.ie has learned that several pages of documentation, appearing to be from his statement of evidence in the case, have been shared on a social media messaging app in recent days.

Images have been circulated of five pages from the six-page document in which the ex-Sinn Fein councillor made several allegations in relation to events linked to the Regency Hotel shooting in February 2016.

Gardai are aware of the matter, with one source describing it as concerning that such material was being widely shared.

The high-profile trial of murder accused Gerry The Monk Hutch (59) and two co-defendants is continuing amid an ongoing security operation at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

While certain details within the statement being circulated have been referenced in the opening speech by the prosecution, a lot of information and details have not.

Notes made on Dowdalls evidence were also previously shared online, although the images circulating in recent days purport to be directly from the actual statement given by him.

He spoke to gardai on a number of occasions before making a formal statement, which was then given to the prosecution and later disclosed to the defence.

When contacted, Garda Headquarters said that an investigation was not being carried out at this time into the online leak.

The statement was made a month ago to investigating gardai with Dowdall now being considered for the Witness Security Programme (WSP). He remains at severe risk after it emerged he was willing to become a witness for the prosecution and was taken into protective garda custody.

Members of the Garda Armed Support Unit at the Special Criminal Court where the trial of Gerry Hutch for the murder of David Byrne is taking place. Photo: Collins Courts

Dowdall was originally charged with the murder of Kinahan associate David Byrne but last month pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of facilitating the murder by making a hotel room available to the criminal organisation involved. He was given a four-year sentence for his role while a nolle prosequi was entered on the murder charge.

Dowdalls father Patrick (65) was jailed for two years for facilitating the murder by also making a room available at the Regency Hotel.

Both men are expected to begin their sentences next week after being granted a two-week deferral on the execution of the warrants so that they could get their affairs in order.

After the disclosure of Jonathan Dowdalls statement, the trial was postponed for a number of days but opened on Tuesday of last week before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.

The court has already been told there will be evidence of alleged discussions between Jonathan Dowdall and Gerry Hutch, who denies the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Whitehall, north Dublin, on February 5, 2016.

The three judges were told that the accused contacted Jonathan Dowdall after a photograph of two hotel gunmen  one in a wig and one in a flatcap  was published in the Sunday World.

It would be alleged they met in a park in Whitehall. The prosecution said that during discussions, a worked-up and edgy Gerry Hutch said they had carried out the murder and that he had been one of the team that shot David Byrne in the Regency.

Dowdall was further asked to arrange a meeting with republicans because of an escalation in threats to the accuseds friends and family, the court heard.

Two co-accused, Paul Murphy (59), of Swords, and Jason Bonney (50), of Portmarnock, deny facilitating the murder by making vehicles available to the gang involved.
An Uzi was used in this attack  it wasnt used to give anyone a fright, a source said.

Garda at the scene of the shooting

A man in his early 30s who was shot in the Tallaght area tonight Is suspected of being involved in a feud in the locality, it has emerged.

Officers are working on the theory that he was shot a number of times with a machine gun as he sat in car with a female who was uninjured in the gun attack.

The target suffered minor facial injuries in the incident and gardai have made no arrests.

An Uzi was used in this attack  it wasnt used to give anyone a fright, a source said.

The target was lured to the location, the source added.

Gardai are investigating following a shooting incident in Tallaght, Dublin 24 on Tuesday the 25th of October, 2022, a garda spokesman said.

Shortly after 6:20pm, Gardai were alerted to reports of shots fired in the Donomore Crescent area of Tallaght.

A man in his 30s was treated at the scene for an apparent gunshot wound and taken by Ambulance to Tallaght University Hospital. His injures are not thought to be life threatening.

The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination is to be conducted. No arrests have been made at this time.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. They are particularly keen for anyone with camera footage (including dash-cam) to make this available to them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station 01-6666000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Nicola Tallant talks with Hugh Jordan about some of the historical murder cases which show concerning links to security forces

Johnny Adair along with fellow members of his UDA brigade

Suggestions of collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries has long been denied when it comes to Northern Irelands Troubles, but it seems that the passage of time has a way of unearthing deeply-hidden secrets.

Nicola Tallant talks with Sunday World journalist Hugh Jordan about some of the historical murder cases which show concerning links to security forces.

He recalls the Ulster major and his female sidekick who passed information to Protestant paramilitary killers who went on to target an innocent Catholic man, about the elite commando who fed information to Johnny 'Mad Dog' Johnny Adair and about the violent 'C' Company and their belief they could ethnically cleanse Northern Ireland.

Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud.

MORE EPISODES 
The appearance of a Dublin-based gang in the heart of the loyalist stronghold has sparked alarm

Dublin mobsters cruised Belfast's Shankill in search of UFF drug boss Mo Courtney, the Sunday World can reveal.

A carload of men pulled up outside the offices of the Lower Shankill Community Association on Thursday evening just as UDA mouthpiece Dopey Denis Cunningham was locking up for the day, a source has claimed.

He was so startled he dropped the shutter keys before denying any knowledge of the guns incident or Courtneys whereabouts and then scuttling away.

Former jailbird Cunningham reportedly remains a commander in the terror group but continues to work for the publicly-funded community group.

He gain ed notoriety for reading statements on behalf of the UDA while wearing his tell-tale specs outside his balaclava.

The appearance of a Dublin-based gang in the heart of the loyalist stronghold has sparked alarm.

The Shankill has long been a UDA/UVF stronghold where the rival groups dominated and controlled criminal rackets such as extortion, loan sharking and drugs.

The influence of south-based drug gangs in the North has been on the increase in recent years with a number of outfits relying on the likes of the Kinahan cartel to supply their drugs.

Southern crime bosses have shown no hesitation in the very heart of Belfast with a series of gangland murders in recent years.

Sources have told us paramilitary chiefs have no desire to be caught up in a conflict with cut-throat gangs from the south.

The Dubliners have brought a new level of ruthlessness to the criminal underworld where the rule is shoot first and ask questions later.

The Sunday World understands it may already be too late for Courtney to save his skin and now finds himself in a near impossible position.

Threatening messages and videos have been shared on social media including one purporting to be from Los Pepes in which the senders allege certain people have installed drops bars in their home, accusing them of hiding under their beds.

Los Pepes, comes from the Spanish phrase Perseguidos por Pablo Escobar which translates as Persecuted by Pablo Escobar, and was a vigilante group composed of enemies of the Columbian drug tsar.

They waged a small-scale war against his cartel which ended after Escobar was shot by police in 1993.

Sources have indicated those hunting Courtney and his right-hand man will not rest until they get satisfaction.
A third wave of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is likely to hit the country this year, Professor Michael Baker says.

Covid-19 cases are on the rise again with over 16,000 cases reported over the past week - an increase of about 2000 cases in a week.

Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau have reported almost 6000 cases in the city alone.

As well, as of midnight on Monday, there were 243 people in hospital with the virus, with six in intensive care.

Professor Baker, who is an epidemiologist at Otago University, says there has been two big waves of Omicron this year and there looks like there will be a third one, but it was unknown at this stage how big it will be.

He says Singapore, whose experience of the pandemic has been similar to New Zealand's, is also experiencing a steady rise.

"That may be what we'll see here."

Two new names have become prominent - the BQ.1.1 is a sub-variant while XBB was a recombinant variant which had grabbed genetic material from two other sub-variants. The latter is driving Singapore's surge, Baker says.

Both are on the country's watchlist and have been detected in some cases and in wastewater in New Zealand.

While the country is heading into summer, the time of year doesn't affect the sub-variants because they are so infectious, he says.

"So they get a bit of a boost from winter when people are indoors more but they don't absolutely need winter conditions to spread."

He says it's "slightly worrying" to see cruise ships back in New Zealand waters with about 130 infected people on one ship that has berthed at Wellington.

However, with open borders and 10,000 people flying in daily from overseas, cases on cruise ships will be a small contribution to the country's Covid-19 case tally.

Baker is concerned that many adults have not lined up for their booster shots.

"So that's really a critical step and that's still the best measure that people can take to protect themselves and it does help against these new variants as well."

-RNZ.
The journey from Bluff to Cape Reinga is long  almost three million steps  but the road to healing from sexual abuse has felt a lot longer for a father of six who was raped over a period of several years by a family friend.

Sam Troth has embarked on a solo walk from the south of Aotearoa to the north, which will take him 55 days to complete.

But it is not a long time for the 39-year-old Bay of Plenty man who took 25 years to speak out about how he was repeatedly raped and violated, and psychologically manipulated by an adult male who was a close acquaintance of his family.

Troth is walking as part of his own healing journey, but also to start conversations about sexual violence against men.

Raising awareness of sexual abuse is my number one goal, to destigmatise abuse and to encourage victims to seek help. says Troth.

Troth remembers the first time he was attacked as a young boy on a hunting trip.

He got me alone, away from the group, and assaulted me, he says. I was scared, shocked, in a frozen state. Afterwards, when the group was walking, I was angry, wanting to shoot him, but I was just a kid.

That was the first of many rapes. Troth says he felt too afraid and ashamed to tell anyone.

My abuser was very cunning and manipulative. I felt I couldnt tell my family, because he was supposed to be a friend. I thought there was something wrong with me.

At the age of 14, after several years of abuse, Troth started acting out his anger, channelling it into bad behaviour which landed him in boys homes and prison. He developed addictions to drugs and alcohol.

If I wasnt getting high, smoking things, I was smashing things, he says. I was mad at the world, but now I know that I was actually screaming for help.

When someone is young and angry and committing crimes, no one pulls you aside and asks what is wrong. Now I know that many boys of that age may have experienced abuse themselves. It is not an excuse for crime, but there should be a safe environment where they can speak out before it gets to that stage.

Sam Troth began his journey from Bluff on October 24. Photo: Supplied.

Though Troth turned away from crime, trained to be a carpenter, got married and had six children, he kept his abuse secret  even from his wife  until two years ago when he became suicidal.

Even though I had never says anything, inside I was still that stuck, scared little boy, he says. I had nightmares.

Things like smelling something would take me right back to the abuse. I couldnt take it any more. I wanted to tap out. But I didnt  instead I sat down and told my wife what had happened to me as a boy.

It was a conversation that led Troth to seek help. He received counselling through ACC and joined a support group. From carrying shame for years, he now wants to speak out.

I suffered in silence, but I dont want others to, he says. Speaking up not only helps healing, but removes power from abusers and can prevent it happening.

With my own kids, we speak openly about how to stay safe and ask questions, and tell them what is not okay for people to do.

People often talk to kids about stranger danger, but in fact, like me, many people are targeted by someone they know. It is helpful for people to know the signs that may point to the fact that a young person is being abused.

Bruce Montgomery from Male Survivors Bay of Plenty is one of Troths counsellors. He says male sexual violence is the most common form of violence that men experience, yet is still seen by some as taboo, which adds to victims fears of seeking help.

It is commendable that Sam is willing to face his recovery by undertaking such a courageous mission as this, says Montgomery. Putting himself out there for all to see speaks to the spirited act that Sam is willing to take.

By doing this he is taking the power away from the shame that is often debilitating for men to step forward.

Montgomery says that one in six boys up to the age of 18 will experience sexual violence.

Some 62 per cent of New Zealand males in psychiatric care were sexually abused as children, and 90 per cent of New Zealand males who suicide before age 14 have been sexually abused.

His regional group has seen 83 men in the past two years, but Montgomery says there are many more victims.

The governments 2018 census suggested there are a little over 150,000 men in the Bay of Plenty region. When we apply the fact that one in six young boys up to the 18 years of age will experience sexual violence, then potentially there are around 25,000 male survivors in the Bay of Plenty region.

When we include mental, emotional, psychological and physical violence, the figures change to one in three young boys up to the age of 18 years, and subsequently the potential of 35,000 male survivors in the Bay of Plenty region alone.

Bruce Montgomery, manager, Male Survivors Bay of Plenty, offers counselling and groups to men who seek help. Photo: Stuff.

The age range of Montgomerys clients is between 14 years old to 82. The major demographic representation is 36 per cent Maori to 46 per cent European New Zealanders respectively. The service offers counselling, peer support and groups.

Montgomery says it is not unusual for male sexual abuse victims to stay silent.

Males are four times less likely to disclose sexual abuse than females, he says. Men take longer to disclose sexual abuse - averaging more than 22 years.

While there may be a perception that male sexual abusers are other men, Montgomery saysaround one in three perpetrators of sexual violence on young males are adult females.

Sams journey through Aotearoa began on Monday, October 24, in Bluff. Along the way he will visit several Male Survivors branches to share his story and inspire other survivors to keep pushing forward.

The hikoi will also stop in Wellington, where Sam hopes to visit parliament and share his story with ministers and officials, to advocate for support for victims, education and sensible sentencing.

He will be supported in the meeting by representatives from The Road Forward, a charitable trust providing peer support services to survivors of sexual abuse.

For Sam, his journey represents more than a hikoi and more than an awareness campaign  it signals the end of the suffering and a new beginning.

Its about giving all the shit back to that person who abused me, he says. He is now in prison, and I dont have to carry this any more on my own. The sun is warm. Life is good.

WHERE TO GET HELP:

Rape Crisis  0800 88 33 00 (will direct you to a nearby centre). Follow link for information on local helplines.

Victim Support  0800 842 846 (24-hour service).

The Harbour  online support and information for those affected by harmful sexual behaviour.

Male Survivors Aotearoa (for men)  follow link for regional helplines.

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.

Lifeline  0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).

Youthline  0800 376 633, free text 234, email: talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.

Samaritans  0800 726 666.

- Annemarie Quill/Stuff.
From 1 January 2023, Sweden will hold the EU Presidency for the third time. This is an excellent opportunity for Sweden to show how we want the EU to develop. As well as saying what we dont want, we need to be equally clear about what it is we actually do want from the EU. Swedish Enterprise has produced a proactive agenda that sets out five EU priorities; All are to strengthen the EUs competitiveness

1. Strengthen and deepen the single market

European competitiveness is based on a strong single market that promotes coordination and transparency between Member States. One specific area where the single market has unexploited potential is the services sector. An action plan is needed in which existing obstacles to a growing services market are reviewed and concrete action is proposed by the European Commission to remove these. Other issues that should be prioritised to strengthen businesses competitiveness include the free movement of workers.

2. Take global leadership in free trade

International trade is crucial for Swedish prosperity. For trade to work, we need predictable and transparent rules that guarantee openness. A positive trade agenda that increases opportunities for international trade is of considerable importance. Sweden should therefore actively support negotiations and the ratification of new free trade agreements. Similarly, Sweden should encourage the EU to take the lead in reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO) and continuing to develop relations with the US, including within the Trade & Technology Council (TTC).

3. Promote a green transition

To achieve the EUs more ambitious climate goals  which the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise supports  future measures must be produced with a view to growth. Unless the transition also puts people in a better position, the climate will not be prioritised on a sufficiently broad front. The green transition must therefore take place in a cost-effective manner that promotes entrepreneurship and innovation. Favourable conditions for industry to transition to more circular alternatives, and a goal of security of supply for the electricity system, are examples of topics that should be prioritised for the Swedish Presidency and that will have an important role in final negotiations on the major climate package Fit for 55.

4. Accelerate digitalisation

Industry must be given the best possible conditions for continuing to drive technological development. Technological protectionism must be discouraged, with technological capacity being encouraged and the right balance being struck between innovation, integrity, and transparency. Updated laws and regulations are therefore needed around data flows, data sharing, AI, and e-commerce. For example, data flows should be enabled to a greater extent through more adequacy decisions in respect of third countries and greater inclusion in EU free trade agreements. In addition, the Swedish Presidency should work on legislation that promotes, rather than restricts, the use of trustworthy AI.

5. Promote companies research and development activities

Research and development largely form the foundation for strong competitiveness .Investing public funds in research projects for future technologies that have been selected for political purposes is not the way forward. Instead, the public sector should create well-functioning rules that enable companies to compete to produce the best technical solutions on equal terms. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise would therefore like to see the Swedish Presidency prioritising proactive initiatives in joint EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, where competition should remain the starting point for investments and innovation.
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" " Turnspit dogs were essential for roasting meat in most Elizabethan-era kitchens. Photos.com/Getty Images

The turnspit dog wasn't just popular in Great Britain. Their breeding continued for a couple of centuries, and they did make the trek from Great Britain to the United States, since they were handy for more than just roasting meat.

As Stanley Coren explains in "The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events," the turnspit dog was used for other domestic tasks, including churning butter, pressing fruits, pumping water and milling grain.

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But according to NPR, the turnspit dog wasn't as popular in the United States as it was in Great Britain. There are a few records of turnspit dogs for sale, though, including in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette.

But working conditions, especially in kitchens, weren't so great for the dogs. Many dogs were forced to run next to the blazing hot spit roast for hours without access to water. Cooks might even throw hot coals onto the wooden wheel to enliven the little dogs' feet. This was all to ensure their meat would cook evenly.

Because it was so labor-intensive, many turnspit dogs would work in pairs, trading off on the meat-spinning hamster wheel, and some think that dreadful tag-team is origin of the phrase "every dog has his day."

Even on Sundays, the amazing dogs didn't get a break as their owners often took them to church to serve as foot warmers.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and Poland have a great potential for expansion of cooperation in various economic areas, Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO) Head Yusif Abdullayev said, Azernews reports.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Poland's Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) board member Zdislav Sokal.

During the meeting, Yusif Abdullayev spoke about the development of economic relations between the two countries.

Zdislav Sokal briefed him about the activities of PAIH, the business and investment environment, and highlighted the areas of cooperation developed by business circles.

The parties reached an agreement on the exchange of information concerning mutual investment and export opportunities.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Poland Nargiz Gurbanova and Polish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafal Poborski also participated in the meeting.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 21, 1992. The embassy of Azerbaijan in Poland was opened on August 30, 2004, while the embassy of Poland in Azerbaijan on August 23, 2001. Azerbaijan and Poland are actively cooperating in various political, economic, and cultural spheres. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $111 million in 2021.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. On October 25, the Holy Mass for Peace to Armenia, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Holy See, was held in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore presided by Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, the foreign ministry of Armenia said in a press release.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the ceremony, in which he particularly said:

Your Eminence Cardinal Parolin,

We are deeply touched by your decision to preside over this Holy Mass and celebrate with us the 30th anniversary of the fraternal relations between Yerevan and the Vatican. I am grateful for your inspirational words and prayerful wishes on this joyful occasion.

Your Beatitude, Excellencies,

Reverend Fathers and Sisters,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for gracing us with your presence to pray together in front of the magnificent icon of the Virgin Mary for Peace in Armenia.

My country has never lost its belief in the ideals of humanity and solidarity, even despite facing many challenges and calamities triggered by conflicts and particularly the recent deplorable use of force by the neighbouring country.

The Armenian people and Government greatly appreciate the Holy Father's blessings for strengthening our relations, as well as messages and calls of Pope Francis for peace and gestures of solidarity extended to us during and after the 44-day war in 2020 and the aftermath of recent acts of aggression against my nation.

Almost for three decades, the history of diplomatic ties between Armenia and the Holy See has been characterized by high-level political dialogue, constantly developed and deepened by mutual efforts. We have had many occasions of milestone events which demonstrate our centuries-old interactions and current interstate relations.

The divine liturgy performed by Pope Francis and witnessed by the entire world in April 2015, marking the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and impressions of the historical visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Armenia in June 2016, will remain in our memories and hearts forever. We are very proud of the fact that Saint Gregory of Narek, a son of the Armenian people and a genius of Medieval thought, joined the 36 greatest thinkers who received the title of "Doctor of the Universal Church" to whom Pope Francis also called a doctor of peace - a great Christian message of peace.

And today's celebration presided over by the Secretary of State, is yet another vivid manifestation of a solid friendship of the Holy See with Armenia - the first nation to embrace Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

Let me also mention that the centuries-old history of interactions between the Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic Churches is a valuable engine for developing our modern interstate ties. We commend the continuing interchurch dialogue, and I am happy to acknowledge among us today the presence of His Beatitude Raphael Petros XXI, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics, the representatives of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, Mkhitarist Fathers and the Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception. We are grateful for your support and dedicated efforts.

Your Eminence,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This milestone year offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate our achievements and shared values. We praise the Lord that the Armenia-Holy See brotherly journey and comprehensive dialogue aimed at exchanging our sacred treasures in a spirit of esteem, mutual respect, and reciprocal trust continues and further supports all of us in building a world of justice and peace.

Thank you.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The intention to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan by yearend is an unuttered deadline and both sides have such desires, Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan said at a press briefing when asked whether or not the peace treaty will be signed until the end of this year.

Thats a certain unuttered deadline, we can say that both sides have desires in that regard. I too want us to sign the peace treaty as soon as possible. I say again, the 29 thousand 800 square kilometers area of the Republic of Armenia can never be subject of discussion for us. And in my opinion the peace treaty must be signed as soon as possible, Simonyan said.

At the same time the Speaker stressed that the Azerbaijani troops must immediately withdraw from the internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Armenia. Weve said this during all our international meetings, Simonyan added, noting that he doesnt imagine moving forward otherwise.
ritedhawan BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New delhi Posts: 194 Thanked: 179 Times

Re: Pre-worshipped car of the week : Used Honda Accord V6



Quote: Hydraulic steering is sharp enough and weighty, unlike superlight EPS units we see nowaday



I faced another issue within 2 months of owning the car, the steering column was leaking steering fluid thereby forcing me to top up steering fluid often. I got it repaired from our preferred mechanic, since that day even though I carry spare steering fluid in my car, never got the opportunity to use it since the repair.



Quote: Scrapes over road humps



Quote: Spare parts are apparently expensive and might not be in stock.



AS for the usual air filter ,I have always used AFM air filter its 1\4 the cost of the original and for some reason I believe its better than the original.



Since, the day I bought this car , only for the next one year it went for service with ASC. The moment expensive jobs came into the picture, the very next moment onwards it got the work done from independent workshops.



I have recently been disappointed by boodmo in terms of procuring an OEM 'brake master cylinder'. They made me wait for 3 weeks before cancelling the order and refunding the amount at the same time. However, that enabled me to get hold of another source for car parts, some seller in Malaysia. I got an AFM 'Brake master cylinder' from that seller, which cost half the price compared to OEM. Now I need a brake booster for which I have placed an order with Boodmo, lets hope they fulfill it otherwise I will resort to Malaysia seller for the same. I had recently created a thread for the 'Brake master cylinder' stuck issue for which I got a satisfying response from a fellow BHPian.



https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...-cylinder.html (Weird issue: Unable to replace brake master cylinder!)



Quote: Gearbox is not that quick. If you step on the accelerator suddenly, there is 0.5 to 1 sec delay before you get a lower gear.



Please keep a watch on the AT level and color. On plains and gear selector to 'D' from a stop, and you get insufficient crawl . Please check AT fluid level and color. I got it replaced from independent workshop and procured the same from Amazon:



https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07...?ie=UTF8&psc=1





Quote: 2nd gen Honda Accord has one of most proportionate designs for a sedan. Long bonnet, relatively short stout boot and perfectly sized cabin



Quote: Boot is deep! Also, you can access the boot from the rear seat.



I have never found Honda Accord brakes awe-inspiring or something to brag about. They are just adequate. Period disk skimming, brake pads inspecting and more importantly bleeding brakes if it has not been performed for sometime are in order.



My car doesn't have cruise control buttons, sunroof, aftermarket addon's which your car has, It has clocked 120k km and had new tires the very next day I got the suspension OH done. I got blue led lights installed for the headlamps and fog lamps and a new battery the very next day I bought this car.



I am happy with my Honda Accord and even though it has a braking issue for a couple of months--a link shared above describing the issue-- and I am unable to sort it out either due to parts procurement or installation issues. Yet, I take it for highway drives and Himachal Pradesh even though that problem is not resolved. It continues to keep its head high and even though living with a fault continues to deliver as if it can perform even though it has a braking issue. Speaks volumes about the reliability of the product and brand.



Pic: Approach road to Rohtang Pass





Great Choice. This car is damn fantastic. I have a White 2008 Accord 2.4L AT. It was bought 3rd hand in March 2019. It had 81000 Km on it at the time of the purchase. I am the third owner and inspite of being handed down to me by two other people who already owned it, I still put my money down for it because its condition was really good and was always serviced from ASC, and I have a predilection for Honda Accord.Hydraulic steering is really good in this car and the weighty it is, the better it is. The problem is that steering pump which goes bad often--Its a known issue and the same issue persisted in my erstwhile ownership of 2007 Accord 2.4L. That shuddering which often can be heard when turning the steering could be a tell tale sign of the 'O-ring' replacement inside the pump, I guess that's what I understood in another thread on TBhp website about this issue. The ASC incorrectly recommend complete replacement of the pump which is actually not required, its just the O-ring needs to be replaced.I faced another issue within 2 months of owning the car, the steering column was leaking steering fluid thereby forcing me to top up steering fluid often. I got it repaired from our preferred mechanic, since that day even though I carry spare steering fluid in my car, never got the opportunity to use it since the repair.Slow and steady is the word here, and the underbody wont scrap. I never had the opportunity to overcome speed humps diagonally with his car.OEM parts are definitely expensive and availability is an issue. I have got a suspension OH done at 94000 KM, preventive replacement of spark plugs + ignition coils after 100k KM, engine mounts replacement has been done, all these OEM parts were expensive and I ordered them from boodmo , who delivered it home but took its own sweet time delivering them. Most of the waiting time exceeded 3-4 weeks.AS for the usual air filter ,I have always used AFM air filter its 1\4 the cost of the original and for some reason I believe its better than the original.Since, the day I bought this car , only for the next one year it went for service with ASC. The moment expensive jobs came into the picture, the very next moment onwards it got the work done from independent workshops.I have recently been disappointed by boodmo in terms of procuring an OEM 'brake master cylinder'. They made me wait for 3 weeks before cancelling the order and refunding the amount at the same time. However, that enabled me to get hold of another source for car parts, some seller in Malaysia. I got an AFM 'Brake master cylinder' from that seller, which cost half the price compared to OEM. Now I need a brake booster for which I have placed an order with Boodmo, lets hope they fulfill it otherwise I will resort to Malaysia seller for the same. I had recently created a thread for the 'Brake master cylinder' stuck issue for which I got a satisfying response from a fellow BHPian.Conventional AT does what it is! Its slow and its persistent lack of ability to work on engine power especially when compared to DCT. Its definitely not that quick in Accord. However, I never had any reason to blame it. I have driven in manual mode on Himachal Pradesh roads especially those that lead to Manali, Sissu, Keylong, Approach to Rohtang Pass, Shimla, Kasauli, Naldhera multiple times and was never disappointed by the gearbox. I never had any reason to use manual mode in plains.Please keep a watch on the AT level and color. On plains and gear selector to 'D' from a stop, and you get insufficient crawl . Please check AT fluid level and color. I got it replaced from independent workshop and procured the same from Amazon:Agreed wholeheartedly. As a matter of fact, a well polished one driven on any of the highways that issue out of your city and you wont be surprised people affording a second or a third glance to it. Its has a certain poise and 'elan and sheen' to it.Boot is deep. Hell, Boot is humongous. The picture that you shared, let me bring your attention to that slight dip which leads to the foot of that hard plastic crevice that helps someone from the cabin access the boot. The space accompanied by that dip is very helpful. As you can see there is a slight dip that leads to the foot of that plastic crevice. Ideal place for me to put my Stanley tool kit case, 2 Torque wrench cases, one amazon air-inflator, a bottle of spare engine oil, steering fluid, AT fluid , coolant bottle and all these placed in such a manner as if someone were placing jigsaw pieces in the right manner. Then on top of it ,I place my car cover in such a manner that it takes up whole of that space. An imaginary line drawn perpendicular from the point where the dip starts to the top of the boot. That's the space it has taken, and now I'm left with whole of that level space where I can place luggage.I have never found Honda Accord brakes awe-inspiring or something to brag about. They are just adequate. Period disk skimming, brake pads inspecting and more importantly bleeding brakes if it has not been performed for sometime are in order.My car doesn't have cruise control buttons, sunroof, aftermarket addon's which your car has, It has clocked 120k km and had new tires the very next day I got the suspension OH done. I got blue led lights installed for the headlamps and fog lamps and a new battery the very next day I bought this car.I am happy with my Honda Accord and even though it has a braking issue for a couple of months--a link shared above describing the issue-- and I am unable to sort it out either due to parts procurement or installation issues. Yet, I take it for highway drives and Himachal Pradesh even though that problem is not resolved. It continues to keep its head high and even though living with a fault continues to deliver as if it can perform even though it has a braking issue. Speaks volumes about the reliability of the product and brand.Pic: Approach road to Rohtang Pass Last edited by ritedhawan : 26th October 2022 at 15:39 .
Electromotive BANNED

Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Terra Posts: 206 Thanked: 1,652 Times Infractions: 0/2 (12)

Re: Protestors glue their hands to exotic supercars at the 2022 Paris Motor Show

Worry not! I did the digging for you.







Wait! Hold your outrage, there is method to their madness.

The actual painting was behind glass and was completely unharmed, no AMs were harmed either. Superglue is also not all that difficult to remove from cars that have a clear coat on - which is almost all cars.











So, what's the message?



Their stated objective and demands: People have historically risen up to dismantle dysfunctional political systems. Extinction Rebellion believes there is an urgent need for a collective push to reinvent our democratic systems to deal with systemic crises, like climate change. Therefore, we are committed to using mass, non-violent civil disobedience, constructive disruption, planned and random acts of courage and rebellion so that we may discover our interconnectedness and our longing for a collective response.



Demands

1. The Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.

2. The Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

3. Beyond politics - The Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens Assembly on climate and ecological justice.

Source



Seems reasonable. But hey, we got our cars and we will do the red-line thing come what may... that is until the flood waters cause a hydro-lock then it is back to complaining about corrupt, incompetent governments because holding the govs responsible and crafting ecologically responsible policy is too much work.



Reminds me of that brown guy burning pieces of paper in Johannesburg, now he has his face on a lot of pieces of paper. Surprising how things work out when you fight for what's right.



Also, not to appear biased. Sometimes there are Ah, yes. People jumpin' to conclusions because tossing out a word salad to project superficial outrage is easier than doing any actual research.Worry not! I did the digging for you. Extinction Rebellion is affiliated with Just Stop Oil , who you might have heard, have been defiling timeless pieces of art such as van Goghs Sunflowers , or Aston Martin showrooms, among other things.Wait! Hold your outrage, there is method to their madness.The actual painting was behind glass and was completely unharmed, no AMs were harmed either. Superglue is also not all that difficult to remove from cars that have a clear coat on - which is almost all cars.So, what's the message?Their stated objective and demands:Seems reasonable. But hey, we got our cars and we will do the red-line thing come what may... that is until the flood waters cause a hydro-lock then it is back to complaining about corrupt, incompetent governments because holding the govs responsible and crafting ecologically responsible policy is too much work.Reminds me of that brown guy burning pieces of paper in Johannesburg, now he has his face on a lot of pieces of paper. Surprising how things work out when you fight for what's right.Also, not to appear biased. Sometimes there are bad actors who like to profit off of actual causes and sometime people just protest because they need to give their life meaning while not espousing the cause
What just happened? Apple says it will comply with a European law that will force the iPhone to switch from a Lightning port to USB-C. The Cupertino executive didn't say precisely when the change will occur, nor did he confirm that the connector will be included in iPhones sold outside of the EU.

With the EU law mandating all small chargeable electronics come equipped with the USB-C standard by 2024 virtually set in stone, attention has been on the company that will be impacted most: Apple.

The subject was raised by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern during a talk with Apple marketing lead Greg Joswiak and software VP Craig Federighi at the publication's Tech Live conference in Laguna Beach, California. When asked if Apple would replace the Lightning port in the iPhone, Joswiak said, "obviously, we'll have to comply; we have no choice."

Joswiak was also asked when consumers could expect the switch to take place. "The Europeans are the ones dictating timing for European customers," he said. The law states that all electronic devices sold in the region must have USB-C charging ports by 2024.

Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) join @JoannaStern at #WSJTechLive to discuss products, privacy and power at the tech giant https://t.co/fNo2JGwMB4 https://t.co/aGrTlZrUo4  The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 26, 2022

Not surprisingly, Joswiak didn't appear too happy about Apple's hand being forced. He noted that European authorities once wanted Apple to adopt Micro-USB, claiming that neither Lightning nor USB-C would have been invented if the switch had occurred.

The Apple exec also said moving from Lightning to USB-C would lead to an excess of e-waste, which is the opposite of what the European Union claims.

Interestingly, Joswiak refused to say if USB-C iPhones would be sold outside the EU. He also suggested charging bricks that use detachable cables address the issue of standardization.

Apple has already moved many of its devices, including iPads and MacBooks, from Lightning to USB-C, and reports of it releasing an iPhone next year that uses the USB-C charging standard go back before the EU law.

Joswiak also talked about the metaverse at the conference, saying it is a "word I'll never use." It comes after market research firm Canalys predicted that most business projects in this virtual realm would shutter by 2025.
A hot potato: Shutterstock is bringing machine learning algorithms and AI-based "artworks" to its stock photo platform, making customers' creativity go wild and promising compensation for original artists. The debate about AI graphics is heating at an alarming rate.

While artists and content creators are still debating about the capabilities and the outcome of images generated by machine learning algorithms, Shutterstock has decided to push the market forward thanks to a new partnership with OpenAI. The two companies have been working together for some time now, Shutterstock has revealed, and the partnership will bring new creative tools to the industry while supporting artists at the same time.

The partnership is set to launch in the coming months, when the stock photography company dataset will integrate with AI image generation capabilities to let customers "instantly" generate images based on the specific criteria they set in their textual prompt. It's "Creativity at the Speed of Your Imagination," as Shutterstock called it in its official press release.

The upcoming image generating capabilities belong to DALL-E, OpenAI's intelligent algorithm which is bringing disruption in the creative content market together with Stable Diffusion and other machine learning ventures. It is a radical technology change that, according to Shutterstock, doesn't need to work against creators and artists' own interests.

The company will launch a fund to compensate the aforementioned artists, paying a fair share for the content used to train the generative models adopted by DALL-E. The training efforts have been going on since 2021 when OpenAI started using the company's images to improve their machine learning technology.

DALL-E CEO Sam Altman said the data licensed from Shutterstock "was critical to the training of DALL-E." The new customer-focused partnership will be instrumental to make artificial intelligence "an integral part of artists' creative workflows," Altman said. In Shutterstock's opinion, the AI-powered partnership will "create a new industry standard and unlock new revenue streams for the company's artist community."

Shutterstock has "a long history of integrating AI into every part" of the business, Shutterstock CEO Paul Hennessy said, thus making the company "the ideal partner to help our creative community navigate this new technology." AI is an innovation that will be grounded in strong ethical practices, Hennessy added, and every creator will be compensated when money is due.

Shutterstock's position isn't exactly the most popular one as the debate about AI-generated images keeps going. Getty Images, another giant in the stock images business, recently banned sales of AI-powered graphics, with the company's CEO describing the technology as dangerous and potentially illegal. Meanwhile, online art communities have started to resist AI content proliferation altogether.
In brief: Samsung is now rolling out a new privacy-minded feature on select Galaxy devices following a successful pilot program earlier this year. Maintenance Mode is designed to ease anxiety when handing over your device for repairs. With it, users can block access to sensitive information including photos, contacts or messages.

To enter Maintenance Mode, simply visit the battery and device care menu under settings to activate it then reboot your phone. The mode essentially creates a separate account that gives the user (in this case, the repair tech working on your phone) access to core operating functions while restricting access to personal information.

When the owner reclaims the device and exits Maintenance Mode, all apps and data generated while in that mode will be automatically deleted.

Reports of repair techs lifting photos from customers' phones are not all that uncommon. Incident would likely go undiscovered but occasionally, the offender incriminates themselves by posting pictures online, sharing them with friends or even sending them directly to the person they belong to.

Seungwon Shin, VP and head of mobile security at Samsung, correctly highlights that most users have their whole lives on their phones including credit card information and personal family photos. Shin said the new feature is yet another way to make customers feel safe and in control so they can continue to explore new mobile experiences.

Maintenance Mode was trialed on the Galaxy S21 in Korea back in July and debuted in China in September. It is now rolling out globally on select devices running One UI 5, although Samsung said availability will vary by market, device model and network provider. The rollout is expected to continue throughout 2023.

Samsung encourages users to back up any personal or mission critical data before activating Maintenance Mode. Those dealing with super sensitive data might want to delete it from their phone entirely before handing it over to a third party. Better yet, do not even store it on your phone to begin with.

Image credit: Tima Miroshnichenko
Elon Musk is now pushing for the Twitter acquisition to close on Friday, October 28, and the tech CEO has enlisted the help of banks to get funding via loans to get enough money in buying the company. The top billionaire's latest meeting with private bankers asked to remain anonymous in the transaction that will provide the funds.

The Twitter-Musk deal is pushing through and the tech CEO wanted to ensure this by getting enough cash to close the deal by the end of the week.

Twitter-Musk Deal to Complete by Friday with Banks to Help

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk asked for funding from private bankers to complete his money to close the Twitter deal, and he intends to close it by Friday, Oct. 28, right on its deadline.

Failing to purchase Twitter by the 28th means that the Delaware court hearing will take place, and it will go on a lengthy trial which would need both sides to present their case.

With this, Elon Musk will incur a debt of as much as $13 billion for his purchase of the social media company through debt financing, where the bankers are already done with the final credit agreement.

The private bankers want to remain anonymous throughout this deal and are already moving around to signing the documents that are essential to finish the transaction before Friday.

Read Also: Elon Musk Twitter Deal Debt Reportedly Forces Banks to Hold On to it: Here's Why

Top Billionaire to Acquire Twitter by Deadline

According to Reuters, sources also claim that South Korea's Mirae Asset Financial Group is also pledging to help Musk with his Twitter purchase by providing $208 million to complete the money.

Friday is the deadline for Musk to purchase Twitter, and reports are now claiming that this will take place by then, providing the full $44 million to the company for a closed deal.

Twitter and Elon Musk

Much can be said about the Twitter and Elon Musk deal which went through a roller coaster of different events, from the time that the tech CEO first joined Twitter as its largest shareholder, down to his plans to acquire the company. Musk is currently the largest shareholder of Twitter after he purchases $3 billion worth of stocks which equates to 9.2 percent of the company.

However, the Musk team saw discrepancies in Twitter's bot count, one that did not make the documents that were handed over to them as part of the deal.

It became the reason for pulling out of the deal for several months before the tech CEO decided that he is pushing through with the purchase.

Not long after, the Tesla founder asked to buy Twitter again, and the other shareholders and the board approval of his initial offer of $44 billion to buy the company, after the many disputes the two parties faced.

The deadline is nearing before the Delaware trial takes place, and Twitter's team initially made an ultimatum for Musk and his legal counselors to buy the social media or face court charges. Musk is now intent to purchase the deal, and reports say that he intends to close this right on the upcoming deadline, without much room to spare.

Related Article: Elon Musk Says Twitter's Algorithm 'Does Not Make Sense'-Will He Fix It After Acquisition?

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Astronomers Richard C. Carrington and Richard Hodgson saw the most powerful geomagnetic storm ever seen in history in September 1859, which was forever known as the Carrington Event. If a storm hits our planet again, it will cause severe damage to our electric networks and technologies.

The Carrington Event, though, is nothing compared to another solar event. Many astronomers have long held that the cosmos experiences solar storms around every thousand years that are nearly 12 times more powerful, destructive, and intense than the Carrington Event.

The Miyake Event is the name given to this stronger solar storm.

But more interestingly, a group of researchers from the University of Queensland claimed that data from tree rings might be able to help us anticipate when the next Miyake Event would likely occur, as reported first by Interesting Engineering.

Tree Rings

"The leading theory is that they are huge solar flares. We need to know more because if one of these happened today, it would destroy technology including satellites, internet cables, long-distance power lines, and transformers. The effect on global infrastructure would be unimaginable," Dr. Benjamin Pope, an astrophysicist at UQ, said in a press release statement.

However, this is not the first study to use tree rings to examine solar flares and the terrestrial carbon cycle. For a very long time, researchers have been examining the C-14 isotope content of tree rings.

For instance, a group of researchers from the University of Arizona discovered in 2014 that tree ring analysis could be used to understand a variety of factors related to the Earth's carbon cycles.

Another study last year examined the rings in trees from Finland, California, and Switzerland to highlight a previous solar radiation event for the journal Geophysical Research Letter, as per Interesting Engineering.

Read also: China's First Solar Observatory Will Dive Deep Into the Sun's Mysteries

Miyake Event in the Next Decade

Dr. Pope and his associates predict that a Miyake Event might occur within the next ten years in light of their findings. But it is worth noting that this is only a possibility, and there is but a 1% chance that this kind of solar will hit us in the next 15-20 years.

This new analysis also suggests that a Miyake doesn't happen as a single explosion, in contrast to earlier studies that thought of it as one big solar flare.

A Miyake Event is more of a cosmic explosion that may last weeks, months, or even years. The team claimed that they are not tied to sunspot activity and that some continue for one or two years.

The event is like an astrophysical "storm" or outburst rather than a single instantaneous explosion or flare, according to the study's first author Qingyuan Zhang.

Researchers are unsure of the extent of potential harm that a Miyake Event could do to people on Earth, even though the existing findings are highly concerning. For this reason, they believe that additional study is also necessary to comprehend the potential of upcoming Miyake Events fully.

Related Article: A Sunspot With the Size of Four Earths Ejects 10 Million Degree Solar Flare, Causes Radio Blackout over the Pacific

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Spotify announced in September that it would add more than 300,000 audiobook titles to the platform, making it "a true all-in-one destination for everyone's listening needs." The Swedish company also stated that it plans to build and innovate the feature further in the future.

Spotify hopes that introducing this new audiobook offering will open up a huge opportunity for authors and publishers to connect with hundreds of millions of Spotify listeners worldwide.

A month after the announcement, Spotify issued a statement detailing how Apple's alleged anti-competitive behavior has harmed consumers, publishers, and authors of the newly added audiobook catalog. The company claims that "Apple continues to stand in the way of Spotify's and other developers' abilities to provide a seamless user experience, and its restrictions hurt both creators and consumers alike."

Spotify Accuses Apple of Anti-competitive Behavior

According to Spotify, Apple rejected its system for buying audiobooks three times because it claimed that Spotify broke one of its rules. In order to comply, it had to hide the audiobooks' cost and conduct sales through an email link instead of through the main app.

We believe consumers and creators win when competition is not only promised, but guaranteed. Heres how Apple continues to stand in the way: https://t.co/85Q29LIDTj pic.twitter.com/1DjlQW0Go7  Spotify News (@SpotifyNews) October 25, 2022

Read Also: Apple Watch Ultra Introduces Low Power Mode: Up to 60 Hours of Battery

Spotify also claims that Apple's audiobook purchase flow rules are far too complex and confusing. According to Spotify, the Cupertino company's arbitrary rules are artificially limiting the platform's audiobook feature's growth.

According to the New York Times, the rejections are the latest development in the ongoing battle between Spotify and Apple. For almost seven years, the businesses have fought over Apple's app rules and its practice of charging a 30 percent fee on services and products sold by apps.

The audio streaming service even went so far as to claim that Apple is attempting to seize control of the entire Internet. Spotify's Daniel Ek even stated, "Apple continues to dictate what online innovation looks like, doing serious harm to the internet economy, choking competition and the imagination of app developers."

Spotify Objects Apple's App Store Rules

Spotify has already filed a complaint with the European Commission against Apple and is awaiting a decision. According to the CEO, this step taken by the company is critical because Apple has repeatedly demonstrated that it will not self-regulate and has no real incentive to change.

As per Engadget, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections to Apple after concluding that Apple was possibly violating EU laws but has yet to issue a final decision.

"With our Audiobooks launch, Apple has once again proven just how brazen it is willing to be with its App Store rules, constantly shifting the goalposts to disadvantage their competitors," says Spotify's Ek.

Spotify urges policymakers to act quickly and boldly to end Apple's anti-competitive behavior, which harms small businesses attempting to establish a foothold in a market dominated by massive corporations such as Apple.

Stay posted here to be updated on the latest developments.

Related Article: Apple Adds Classic Nintendo Controller Support in Recent iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV Update

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As ironic as it may appear, the Clorox Company has recalled some of its scented multi-surface cleaners and all-purpose cleaners as they may contain bacteria that pose a serious risk to households.

It is widely accepted that bleach products, such as those manufactured by Clorox, are used to disinfect surfaces and prevent the spread of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. What caused this recall to take place?

US Consumer Safety Watchdog Flags Clorox Products

A 9News report tells us that the recall does not include the original pine-scented Pine-Sol as it is the only registered disinfectant product by the company. The scented CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners have both been recalled, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The products contained bacteria, including one strain that could seriously infect those with weakened immune systems, per the US consumer safety regulator. Based on a news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recalled products may contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common environmental bacterium found in soil and water.

Additionally, the authority encourages consumers to halt using the aforementioned products if the date codes printed on the bottle start with "A4" and are followed by a five-digit number less than 22249, which designates products manufactured before September 2022.

Read Also: Apple Watch's Blood Oxygen Reader Yields Accurate Readings Similar to Medical-Grade Oximeters, Study Finds

The consumer safety watchdog added that the aforementioned bacteria could enter the body through breaks in the skin, the eyes, or through inhalation. The bacteria typically do not harm people with healthy immune systems.

Certain recalled products, including those made between January 2021 and September 2022, have bacteria in them, according to testing done by the CPSC. During that time, Clorox reportedly produced about 37 million recalled products. The US authority advises the Clorox Company to issue refunds as a remedy.

In a statement, Clorox-owned Pine-Sol stated that "Pine-Sol is voluntarily recalling certain scented Pine-Sol cleaners as we learned that some products may contain bacteria," and advised customers who own products that fit the following description to stop using them right away and follow the instructions to get a refund.

Affected customers can file a refund request at pinesolrecall.com or call the hotline at 1-855-378-4982. The call center and reimbursement form will also be available beginning October 26th, according to the company. Visit their official website here for more information.

In order to receive a full refund of the purchase price, consumers should take pictures of the product's 12-digit UPC code and the date code, discard the product in its container with household trash, and get in touch with Pine-Sol.

Is Bleach Safe to Use as a Disinfectant?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, bleach is a powerful and effective disinfectant. Although its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including the influenza virus, it is easily inactivated by organic material.

Related Article: AI Can Now Determine Human's Response to Drug Compounds, Applicable for Medicine Development

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The authorities of Armenia are not discussing today the issue of leaving the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan told reporters at a briefing, asked whether Armenia will leave the CSTO if the organization does not express a clear position over the recent Azerbaijani incursion into Armenias sovereign territory.

The Republic of Armenia is waiting for the CSTOs response, and that response must be political at least at this stage. Later, if it turns out that, nevertheless, the CSTO has decided to leave the region, we, maybe, will face a problem. But the authorities of Armenia are not discussing such an issue today. We are waiting for actions, we are waiting for response, he said.

Asked how long the Armenian authorities will wait, the Speaker said the situation shows that a little time has been left.
A new Shanghai semiconductor training facility was launched as part of China's effort to enhance its SoC industry.

(Photo : Photo by JENS SCHLUETER/AFP via Getty Images)

A new type of 300 millimeter wafer with semiconductor chips and finished microchips of the semiconductor German manufacturer Bosch are seen in Dresden, eastern Germany on May 31, 2021.

This new campus is expected to attract more semiconductor specialists and other related experts.

Thanks to the efforts of the Lingang Specia Area (a Chinese metropolis) and the Integrated Circuit Industry Association, as well as Shanghai University, the new training facility was built.

New Shanghai Semiconductor Training Facility Opens!

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Lingang local authorities announced that the new campus would train new talents for the city's semiconductor sector, as reported by SCMP.

(Photo : Photo credit should read GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)

The microprocessor's card of the first microcomputer named "Micral N", is shown by the auctioneer on May 11, 2017 in Tours, ahead of an auction next month. - The Micral M was created by the French engineer Francois Gernelle in 1973, 5 years before Apple and 3 years before IBM. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP)

Also Read: Education Agency Executive Says China Semiconductor Industry Needs Better Development of Talent and Skills

This semiconductor training facility is the third campus launched in Shanghai. The first one was established in Jiading district in September.

On the other hand, another facility was opened in Zhangjiang in August.

These training campuses were opened months after China rolled out its incentives to attract new talents, as well as companies for the semiconductor supply chain.

Aside from incentives, the Chinese government also created a new policy to train senior university students who didn't take microelectronics courses.

China also made efforts to ensure veteran workers could be involved in the chip assembly sector.

China to Have Its Own Silicon Valley?

China started enhancing its chipset industry after the United States imposed its restrictions on the Asian country's SoC sector.

Because of this, the Chinese government wanted to ensure that its local semiconductor sector could compete against the U.S.

Now, the new semiconductor training campus is expected to allow the Lingang Special Area to have a world-class base for integrated circuits.

Some experts even claimed that this metropolis could be China's own Silicon Valley. Bloomberg reported that Lingang is a 120-square-kilometer patch of land located southeast of Shanghai.

It was developed in 2018 as China's top free-trade area. However, many things should still be done before the Lingang Special Area can be transformed into the Chinese Silicon Valley.

Previously, new Qualcomm chipsets are expected to arrive as the company plans to return to the server market.

We also reported that Micron's new semiconductor facility is expected to be the largest one in the U.S.

For more news updates about semiconductors and other similar techs, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Intel to Manufacture Chips for Taiwan's MediaTek and Create a Diversified Supply Chain

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The United States has filed charges against a Ukrainian national, Mark Sokolovsky, for his alleged involvement in the Raccoon Infostealer malware-as-a-service enterprise, which is responsible for infecting millions of computers throughout the globe.

An indictment against Sokolovsky, alias "raccoonstealer," was released on Tuesday, Oct. 25. He is presently imprisoned in the Netherlands for extradition to the US, as per the report by TechCrunch.

How Raccoon Infostealer Do Their Illegal Activities

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Sokolovsky with being one of the principal administrators of Raccoon Infostealer. This Windows virus harvests credentials, credit card details, stored login and password combinations, and precise locations.

According to the DOJ, individuals rented Raccoon Infostealer for about $200 per month, paying the malware's administrators in cryptocurrencies, most often Bitcoin.

These hackers used a wide variety of methods, including phishing scams themed around COVID-19 and malicious websites, to infect unsuspecting users' computers. The software infected their computers and collected sensitive information, such as passwords, banking information, crypto addresses, and more, which were then utilized in financial crimes or sold on underground markets.

Related Article: New Ducktail Malware Version is Stealing Data on Facebook-- Here's How to Protect Your Account

Possible Victims of the Gang

US authorities claim that since February 2019, the virus has stolen over 50 million victims' unique credentials and forms of identity. The unsealed indictment names a financial technology business in Texas and a person with access to US Army computer networks as victims.

Group-IB, a cybersecurity company, speculated that malware was utilized in the current Uber incident to acquire employee passwords.

Despite this, the DOJ has said that it does not think it has all the data obtained by Raccoon Infostealer and continues to investigate.

On Tuesday, the FBI also said that it had launched a website where people could see whether any of their personal information had been included in the trove of data taken by Raccoon Infostealer.

Anybody concerned they may be a victim must check out the website and the FBI's guidelines on reporting a possible incident.

Capturing a Foreign Criminal

In March 2022, when Dutch investigators caught Raccoon Infostealer's culprit, Sokolovsky, the Justice Department claimed to have collaborated with European law enforcement to destroy the network that powered the operation.

TechCrunch reported that one of the malware operation's key developers was purportedly murdered during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting the malware operation to announce that it would temporarily cease activities. Apparently, Raccoon Infostealer 2.0 was launched in June of this year.

A statement by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco emphasized the significance of international collaboration between the US DOJ and its partners in eradicating contemporary cyber concerns. Data breaches like this one, with potentially millions of victims worldwide, show how important it is to work together across national boundaries to combat this growing menace.

If convicted, Sokolovsky could spend up to 20 years in jail on charges including computer fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. According to the DOJ, Sokolovsky is contesting the Amsterdam District Court's September 2022 decision to extradite him to the US.

Related Story: [UPDATE] Medibank Data Breach May Have Affected All of its 3.9 Million Clients, CEO Says

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Written by Trisha Kae Andrada

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Antitrust Fines have now become an everyday problem for Google.

Recently, Google was fined $4 billion after losing an android antitrust appeal in the EU and this time around India has slapped Google with a $113 million fine for abusing the dominant position of its Google Play Store.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered Google to allow app developers to use third-party payment processing services for in-app purchases or for purchasing apps from the Play Store.

The CCI order stated, Google has been given 30 days to provide the requisite financial details and supporting documents.

According to CCI, Play Store policies require app developers to exclusively and mandatorily use Google Plays billing system (GPBS) not only for receiving payments for apps and other digital products but also for certain in-app purchases.

Furthermore, app developers cant provide users with a direct link to a webpage containing an alternative payment method within the app. Google Plays billing system also eliminates the use of a language that encourages a user to purchase a digital item outside of the app.

The investigation of the aforementioned matter begin in late 2020 after CCI claimed that GPBS imposes an unfair condition on consumers and developers, so is in violation of Indias laws.

CCI also correctly claimed that Google is not using its own billing system for its own apps like YouTube and that the imposition of discriminatory conditions as well as pricing as YouTube is not paying the service fee as being imposed on other apps covered in the GPBS requirements.

Naval Chopra, an antitrust partner at Indias Shardul Amarchand law firm which represented that complainant, told Reuters on Tuesday that,

CCIs order will help ensure healthy competition and reduce costs for app developers. He further added that The CCI order directing Google to allow alternate payment processing systems will remove the artificial barrier that Google had erected.

Last week Google was fined $161m by India for using its Android platform to dominate the market.

You will be surprised to know that, Apple also faced an almost similar legal issue in South Korea recently and the company was ordered to accept external payment gateways for App Store purchases.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. On October 26, His Holiness Pope Francis received Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on the margins of his official visit to the Vatican, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan conveyed the warm greetings of the Armenian people and government to His Holiness. The Minister noted that his visit to the Vatican takes place in the year marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Holy See, and it is a good opportunity to discuss bilateral relations based on centuries-old historical ties and similar spiritual values.

Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed his gratitude for numerous messages and calls for peace delivered by the Pope during the 44-day war and the subsequent period.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed His Holiness on the situation unfolded in the region, highlighting the importance of addressing humanitarian issues, and in this regard conveyed the message of the Prime Minister of Armenia to the Pope.
The "stoppage" called by the Santa Cruz elites affects and threatens the most humble people, the female farmer warned.

On Tuesday night, Felipa Montenegro, the leader of the Bartolina Sosa Movement, which represents the rights of rural Indigenous women, denounced that she and her family received death threats from far-right groups that operate in the department of Santa Cruz.

"We are in danger," she said at a press conference in which she stated that the threats come from people linked to politicians such as Santa Cruz governor Fernando Camacho, the Civic Committee president Romulo Calvo, and the Gabriel Moreno University rector Vicente Cuellar.

The leader Bartolina Sosa asked international human rights organizations to monitor what is happening in Santa Cruz, a territory where the stoppage called by the elites affects and threatens the most humble people.

Montenegro, who also revealed that drones fly over her house as a form of intimidation, is one of the social leaders who have opposed the "regional strike" called by the same politicians who supported the 2019 coup against President Evo Morales.

Asi se desarrolla la escalada golpista contra el gobierno de Lucho Arce desde Santa Cruz. No existe la Derecha Democratica, toda la derecha es destituyente https://t.co/6MIeEsndWH  Oscar Rotundo (@Rotundorotundo) October 22, 2022

The tweet reads, "This is how the coup against the Luis Arce administration unfolds from Santa Cruz. There is no such thing as a democratic right-wing. The right-wing is always a coup plotter."

Over the last month, the resistance to the far-right in Santa Cruz claimed the life of Juan Pablo Taborga, who was beaten to death in Puerto Quijarro, as recalled by local outlet ABI.

We are being bullied. It is time to take to the streets to demonstrate against those who believe they own Santa Cruz. We are tired of being intimidated, Santa Cruz Farmers Federation leader Franklin Vargas said at the press conference.

"My deepest solidarity with sister Felipa Montenegro, who has received death threats due to her fight for the right to work," the Lower House president Freddy Mammany said.
According to regulations related to a "legislative act," however, the bill still has to undergo eight debates for its final approval.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved the elimination of compulsory military service in Colombia. The decision was made with 58 votes in favor and 4 votes against.

The bill was presented by Senator Humberto de la Calle and is aimed at gradually reducing the compulsory nature of military service until it is completely eliminated.

"This project is aimed at young Colombians who are looking for better options," De la Calle said, specifying that compulsory military service is not justifiable in a country that seeks peace.

During the debate in the Senate, he explained that the total elimination of compulsory military service will only occur from 2030.

Gracias a @ACOOCobjecion y a los Objetores de Conciencia contra la Guerra en Colombia por su valiente lucha politica pacifista, progresista, por sus anos de esfuerzo juridico y pedagogico, por su briega contra el Servicio Militar Obligatorio!

Se teje el CAMBIO: Transitamos pic.twitter.com/1sTvawqMNR  Edith Parada Caldas (@Edithparadac) October 26, 2022

The tweet reads, "Thanks to the conscientious objectors against the war in Colombia for their courageous pacifist, progressive political struggle; for their years of legal and pedagogical effort, and for their fight against compulsory military service! Change is woven. We are transiting." The sign reads, "You can't ignore so many people asking for change."

Meanwhile, the law will promote greater professionalization of the Armed Forces, as Colombians hope that the "social service for peace" is implemented.

According to regulations related to a "legislative act," the bill still has to undergo eight debates for its final approval, two of which have already been held as of yesterday. To ensure that the approval process continues on the right track, progressive lawmakers hope to hold four debates until December.

Given this situation, Senators De la Calle and Daniel Carvalho asked their colleagues to support the processing of a law that aims to consolidate peace in Colombia.
Concluding a five-day visit to Somalia and Kenya on Tuesday, Grandi warned, in a statement to the press, that the catastrophic and multifaceted consequences in the region are largely unnoticed as the world's attention remains elsewhere.

On Tuesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called on world leaders to spare no effort in assisting countries in the Horn of Africa to break the cycle of conflicts and climate crises.

Concluding a five-day visit to Somalia and Kenya on Tuesday, Grandi warned, in a statement to the press, that the catastrophic and multifaceted consequences in the region are largely unnoticed as the world's attention remains elsewhere.

Latest UN figures showed that in Somalia, the number of people displaced internally this year -- primarily by drought -- is nearing 1 million, and about 500,000 others are displaced due to conflicts and insecurity.

Many who were forced to flee violence earlier have been displaced yet again by the worst drought in 40 years, the UN refugee agency said, adding that such extreme weather events are also intensifying globally and becoming more frequent due to climate crises.

"These families are the least responsible for global warming, yet they are being hit the hardest. It is tragic and it is shameful, and the world should not look away," Grandi said.

In Kenya, he visited refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma, where more than 50,000 Somali refugees need support.

"The drought impact in Kenya is not in the headlines, but it deserves as much attention from the international community," Grandi said. "We must get the resources to do more for these arrivals from Somalia and affected Kenyans, too."

According to the UN figures, Kenya has provided international protection to refugees from across the region for more than three decades and currently hosts over half a million refugees and asylum-seekers.
[Pick] I took care of you all my life... Son in his 40s who murdered his mother for nagging him
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has two very clear expectations from the CSTO: a clear political assessment to the Azeri aggression against sovereign territory of Armenia and the adoption of a roadmap for restoring the territorial integrity of Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament during questions time.

He reminded that Armenia applied to the CSTO following the September attack by the Azeri military, and the CSTO Collective Security Council adopted a decision on sending a team to Armenia to observe and assess the situation on the ground.

Now, we are soon initiating an emergency session of the Collective Security Council to discuss the report. I hope that the session will take place as soon as possible, Pashinyan said.

Speaking about expectations, the Armenian PM said: There is a very clear expectation: first, that the CSTO gives a clear political assessment to what had happened and second, to adopt a roadmap on restoring Armenias territorial integrity. These are the two expectations, which I think are not only the Armenian governments expectations but also the expectations of the Armenian society and people.

Pashinyan said that by making these two decisions many questions raised by the society and the government will receive answers.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. On October 26, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia Krum Efremov (residence: Kyiv), on the occasion of handing over the copies of his credentials.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the MFA Armenia, Deputy Foreign Minister Hovhannisyan congratulated the newly appointed Ambassador and wished him success in his responsible position, stressing the need to develop relations between Armenia and North Macedonia. The Deputy FM of Armenia expressed hope that he, being the first Ambassador of North Macedonia to Armenia, will give a new charge to the bilateral cooperation with his activities.

Thanking for the reception and good wishes, Ambassador Efremov assured that he will make maximum efforts to activate and promote the cooperation between Armenia and North Macedonia.

The interlocutors touched on issues related to political dialogue, partnership in international structures, development of trade and economic relations, cooperation in educational and cultural fields, as well as the expansion of the legal framework.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan also presented to Ambassador Efremov the consequences of the latest aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia on September 13.
Tebbe Jackson, candidate for District 4 on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, speaks Wednesday at a press conference in downtown Baton Rouge, to announce a coalition of like-minded candidates who pledge independence from special interest groups spending ample money to elect rival candidates to the board. Standing with Jackson, from left, are Jamie Robinson, District 3; Pamela Taylor Johnson, District 9; incumbent Evelyn Ware-Jackson, District 5; Vereta Lee, District 2; and Cathy Carmichael, District 7.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Gunmen opened fire near the tomb of Shah Cheragh in the city of Shiraz, Iran, killing at least nine people and injuring ten others, ARMENPRESS reports, ISNA agency informed.

Two of the shooters have been detained.
Mining giant Rio Tinto has made a last-ditch appeal to shareholders of Canadian miner Turquoise Hill Resources to back its takeover offer, while hitting out against proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) objection to the bid.

Rio moved in September to take full control of the copper miner, offering investors C$43 per share in a deal worth $4.85 billion. A successful takeover would give the miner firm grip over one of the largest known copper and gold deposits in the world.

Copper is expected to play a crucial role in the global drive towards net-zero, with the metal a key ingredient in building greener technology and infrastructure.

Rio considers Oyu Tolgoi to be among its most important growth projects. Credit:Bloomberg

Rio already owns a majority 51 per cent stake in Turquoise Hill but wants to gain full control of the remaining 49 per cent. Turquoise owns two-thirds of the troubled Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, an asset also part-owned by the Mongolian government, which has had significant construction delays and estimated cost blowouts of between $US5.3 billion to $US6.9 billion.
Australian fans of the worlds longest running science-fiction show, Doctor Who, are reeling after waking up to the news the show will no longer be aired on the ABC, thanks to a new partnership between the BBC and paid streaming service Disney+.

Viewers whove tuned into the show on Aunty for decades have called the new deal, announced Tuesday between the BBC and Disney Branded Television, a sellout and are disappointed it spells an end to the series free-to-air reign.

Lauren Davis, former President of Doctor Who Club of Australia. Her dress is a version of the Sixth Doctors outfit and she is pictured with a replica Dalek. Credit:Steven Siewert

Doctor Who Club of Australia president Jon Andersen, who represents about 1000 members, said the series was dinnertime family viewing, even in the modern age and worried its relationship with audiences would now change.

I think it is going to be a lot harder [to watch] going forward, Andersen said. With all the increase in streaming services, I think you may see the series getting pirated far more.
The budgets announcement of 1 million houses over the next five years will do very little to improve housing affordability.

One million homes is about what we built in the past five years (974,732 dwellings, to be precise). Relative to the size of the economy, 1 million will, in fact, be a step down.

One million new homes sounds like a lot, but we need many more. Credit:Rhett Wyman

The demand for housing has risen due to low interest rates and more of us working from home. Looking forward, increased immigration and rising incomes will add further pressures.

In a well-functioning housing market, extra supply would cover that demand. But our housing supply has been unresponsive. The result has been a record low vacancy rate, soaring advertised rents and some of the highest house prices in the world.
George Zivkovic of Northmead has often wondered what the phrase square meal means and why: Apparently, the term square meal is a nautical one from the days of old sailing ships. Any significant meals would be eaten off a square-shaped wooden plate, which also served as the tray. A decent meal on board became known as a square meal. However, on the same page, Google informs me that in former times in the US military, you were required to sit formally at meals, bolt upright with arms at right-angles, so forming a square shape. Hence, a meal in the mess was always a square meal. So, which is it? How about a pentagonal meal that incorporates all five food groups?

John Elder (C8) is spot on, reckons Kenneth Smith of Orange. Further proof: 71 per cent of the Earth is water; most of it is uncarbonated. Therefore, the Earth is flat.

What goes around  India gave Charles II Bombay Island, Queen Victoria received the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and now Charles III welcomes a Hindu PM, notes John Pollard of Moss Vale.

A five-donkey budget, bin chicken policies, a politician like a dog with a firecracker in its mouth and others ducking for cover  all in addition to the usual ranting in the bear pit. What a menagerie of a week its been in politics! observes Meri Will of Northmead.

Sticking with the tip turkeys, Bob Phillips of Cabarita says, One outdoor cafe is as attractive to the ibis as it is to humans. Last week one of the bin chickens descended on table debris, picked up a chip, dunked it in a glass of water, ate it and then went back to the glass to wash down the chip. This behaviour was repeated until the waitress got the upper hand. Adaptation, indeed.
Debasing influence of films

Lady Cowan of the British Womens Patriotic League strongly condemned American films when she addressed the Cumberland branch of the Country Womens Association. She said the films, which were shown throughout the Empire, had a most debasing influence on all who saw them, particularly children, as they showed white people, particularly English women, in a most unenviable light.

No value for pylons

Mr. W.H. Ifould, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Society of Arts and Crafts, described the pylons being built for the Harbour Bridge as structures of neither engineering nor ornamental value. The Cabinet considered this criticism of the pylons and authorised the Minister for Works and Railways, Mr. Buttenshaw, to make an inspection and investigate the matter, and report back if alterations were required.

Basic wage increases
The moment Rodney Wayne Williams tells police he has lied about the day he last saw a missing pregnant teen has been shown in a Brisbane court.

Williams has pleaded not guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to murdering 16-year-old Tiffany Taylor after she left a motel south of Brisbane in July 2015.

Police believe Tiffany Taylor, 16, was murdered. They are yet to find her body. Credit:Facebook

The Crown alleges Williams and Tiffany arranged to meet that day for her to provide sexual services for money after they connected on a dating website.

Video of an August 2015 police interview was shown to the jury on Wednesday in which Williams agrees with officers that he had not been honest in his evidence.
The former chief executive of Melbourne City Council has been replaced after the council reversed a decision to keep him in his role until the end of the year even though he had resigned.

Justin Hanney has been under investigation by the councils CEO employment matters committee since July after he solicited $35,855 in an online fundraiser via the Australian Sports Foundation to crew and equip a yacht to compete in the Sydney to Hobart race.

A donations investigation into Justin Hanney is ongoing. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The fundraiser included two anonymous donations worth $4545 and $9090 for the yacht, which is co-owned with Nick Foa, former head of transport services at the Victorian Department of Transport. Foa resigned last month following a separate internal probe into his behaviour by the state government.

Hanney, who was appointed to the job in 2019, announced his resignation last week. The council said at the time he would stay on in the role for a transition period until December.
First published in The Age on October 28, 1980 The woman who won the title The Camel Lady for her 2700-kilometre journey through the Australian Outback on a camel, now despises that fame. Robyn Davidson. Credit:Steven Siewert After a life of drifting from one lunatic job to another and of starting but never finishing courses in Japanese, philosophy, music and biology, Robyn Davidson stepped back into society after eight months in the desert with what she calls a ready-made personality. I was the camel lady she said yesterday recalling the label some of the media gave her at the end of the trek from Alice Springs to the west coast. It was a title and an image she never wanted. She had returned to civilisation confident that she had finally found her niche in the universe: life had a sense of purpose. The search was ended. Then came the glare of television cameras, and the Camel Lady headlines flattened her confidence in seconds.

Miss Davidson, 30, agreed yesterday that she had perhaps been a little naive in not thinking that her journey would have captured the imagination of the world. I did not think anyone would he remotely interested. I suppose I was very naive to have believed I would not create any ripples with this trip, she said. Loading Since her emergence from the desert in April 1977, Miss Davidson admits she has learned to deal with the media. God, I did the best television interview I have ever done with Willesee today and they didnt goddamn use it, she said as we walked into her room at a city hotel yesterday. A far cry from the woman who wrote in her book about the desert crossing: Why couldnt they understand that some of us just dont want to be famous  that anonymity cannot be bought for any price once you have lost it. All the same, the desert, the Aborigines, and even the drunken white men of central Australia have all left a mark on Miss Davidson. The desert infuriated at times, at others it fascinated.
The United States is committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its only goal is to see and to help the two countries work together to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a press briefing when asked by a reporter to comment on Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharovas statement accusing the West of engaging in self-promotion and trying to squeeze Russia out of Transcaucasia.

October 26, 2022, 12:16 US committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: First, we would certainly take issue with a characterization of our efforts being self-promotional. There is nothing self-promotional about seeking to put an end to years of conflict and to years of flare-ups that have led to violence and ultimately to deaths, both on the part of Armenians and the citizens of Azerbaijan. Our only goal here is to see and to help these countries work together to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace, and ultimately to save lives. I dont know what about that can be construed as self-promotional.

As the Secretary has emphasized, we are committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Weve encouraged both leaders to meet in whatever format is most useful to them. We believe direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and to reaching a lasting peace. Its why Secretary Blinken brought together his foreign minister counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York City in September, the first time that the two had been in the same room since the recent flare-up of violence. Its ultimately for Armenia and for Azerbaijan to decide whether President Putins invitation would be helpful or useful to them in pursuit of that lasting peace. Russias 2008 invasion of Georgia and its ongoing brutal invasion of Ukraine suggests that Moscow has little respect for its neighbors sovereignty and is hardly a reliable, long-term partner. But ultimately, this is going to be a decision that Armenian and Azerbaijan will have to reach.

There is ultimately no greater support than the United States for the sovereignty and the independence of the countries in the South Caucasus. The restoration of Armenia, Azerbaijans, and Georgias independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union was a seminal event that guaranteed each of these countries the right to pursue their own foreign policy interests independent of Moscow or independent of any other country, Price said.
Western Australias top cop has suggested the alleged murder of teenage boy Cassius Turvey on a Perth street may have been a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Speaking with Radio 6PR, Police Commissioner Col Blanch said police were investigating whether the fatal bashing of the 15-year-old on October 13 as he walked along a Middle Swan street with friends was a vigilante attack gone horribly wrong.

Cassius Turvey, and in hospital (inset). His family have consented to the use of the images in this report.

It may be a case of mistaken identity, it may be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I wouldnt want anyone in the community to jump to any conclusions at this time other than that we have charged a person, he said.

Were not operating on any principles of racism or motivation at this point, other than to say we believe there was a damage incident that occurred, and thats resulted in the [alleged] murder of a very young boy.
Quincy Tyler Bernstine is one of my favorite actors. I first saw her in Guillermo Calderon's Neva, playing a Russian actor with an unforgettable monologue. I've been consistently awed by her performances over the last decade in plays like Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Bess Wohl's Small Mouth Sounds, and most recently, and Jackie Sibblies Drury's Marys Seacole.

As someone with the ability to convey layers of meaning in seemingly mundane lines, it seems almost fated that Bernstine would end up working with Will Arbery: His most notable (and accessible) work is Heroes of the Fourth Turning, about a group of Catholic conservatives debating the future of America (it won the 2020 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award). But an air of mystery surrounds his other plays, like Plano and Corsicana. They follow you home and stick in your brain, offering no easy takeaways or digestible morals.

Arbery's newest play in New York is Evanston Salt Costs Climbing, which begins performances with the New Group tonight (October 26) ahead of an official opening on November 13 (the play made its world premiere at Nantucket's White Heron Theatre in 2018). It's about Peter and Basil, two snow removal workers in Evanston, Illinois. Bernstine plays their friend and boss, Jane Maiworm, the assistant director of Public Works. She thinks she has found a more environmentally friendly way to remove snow that doesn't involve spreading water table-contaminating rock salt. But will that put her friends out of work?

I spoke with Bernstine when she was about three weeks into rehearsals, and she still seemed to be figuring it out  if one can ever really figure out a Will Arbery play. Here's what she had to say:

Quincy Tyler Bernstine starred in Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel at McCarter Theatre in 2017.

( T Charles Erickson)

This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Evanston Salt Costs Climbing isn't exactly a title that grabs you by the collar. What did you think when you first read it?

I knew immediately that it would be special, but I knew it would be especially challenging. So the attraction was almost immediate.

Your character is a total infrastructure nerd who idolizes Jane Jacobs. How far afield is that from your own interests?

We have some similarities. I was a public policy major in college, and at one point I wanted to go into public service of some sort. I think I can be a nerd in some ways. She's very detail oriented. We share that similarity. But then, of course, there are ways that we're different and I'm still trying to figure that out.

Anxiety radiates off the page of this play, and a lot of it comes from your character's daughter, Jane Jr. (Rachel Sachnoff). Maiworm does a lot of work just to calm her down. Is that a role you often play in your offstage life?

I think my husband would probably say that's his role. I think I might come across as someone who's strong and in control. But I certainly have my moments of feeling, um, dread. I feel it quite strongly walking around the streets of New York.

When your character tries to broach the subject of Peter and Basil's termination, she offers a stream of statistics, which I imagine is cold comfort.

And actually, she says it not going happen today. Maybe it won't even happen. She's just trying to give them some warning. But the guilt of that is heavy because these are her family members, essentially.

The play seems to be about the illusion of stability in both employment and our personal lives. In many ways, actors are the pioneers of the gig economy, always having to audition for the next job.

I am so fortunate that I've had the opportunity to work fairly consistently, but I'm never going to feel secure. I don't think this business affords anyone that luxury. And if I've learned nothing else in these last few years of living through a pandemic, it's that you can't really count on anything.

Quincy Tyler Bernstine starred in Heidi Schreck's Grand Concourse at Playwrights Horizons in 2014.

( Joan Marcus)

What did you do during your pandemic?

I was in Bushwick. I was home a lot. I did a lot of Zoom readings. I started running outside, which has become such a wonderful thing in my life. And I watched a lot of news.

Well, that's horrible.

I know. I guess I'm just addicted. I read all the Atlantic articles about what was going on. I watched all the CNN town halls. That's how I spent my pandemic. But in February, my husband and I moved to DC. We made it through the height of the pandemic and then I just wanted to be near my family. I have a niece and a nephew who are small and I was tired. New York was killing me. So we moved to DC and now I'm splitting my time.

What's next after this?

I'm supposed to be doing the Three Sisters at New York Theater Workshop. So, I'm looking forward to that. We were about to start rehearsals when everything shut down in 2020. Then it kept getting pushed. Soknock wood.

What are you hoping audiences take away from Evanston Salt Costs Climbing?

It's such a beautiful play. It's so hard to even talk about, really. I've been trying to figure out how to say what it's about and I don't know. I just know that we're creating something in the room that's really singular and I just want the audience to feel something.
Seeing Montag, Kate Tarker's new play at Soho Rep, is like stepping into a dark room. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust and process what's happening. This is both metaphorical and literal under Masha Tsimring's intimate lighting, which keeps the stage not much brighter than a Caravaggio painting. What we can immediately discern is that we are looking at a small, enclosed space occupied by two women: Faith (Ariana Venturi) sits at a table and chain smokes. Novella (Nadine Malouf) loudly munches on chips. "It's like eating the bones of your enemies," she opines, stuffing a big greasy handful into her mouth.

And we deduce that Faith and Novella have an enemy  one, they are convinced, who is on the way to kill them. We also learn that they are near an American military base in Germany, and this enemy (a soldier and former boyfriend) is likely armed and dangerous. Sleep-deprived, they prepare for an invasion. They put on sparkly nightclub attire and start running laps around the room, simulating combat with a kitchen knife and frying pan. And then things get really weird.

Tarker, who spent her early years as a military brat in Germany, is the author of the war comedy Thunderbodies, which debuted at Soho Rep in 2018 and had critics divided (I didn't see it). In Montag, she displays a talent for physical comedy and salty language. She fearlessly blends genres and tones, which could be a real problem for a novice director working with less-talented actors.

Ariana Venturi plays Faith, and Nadine Malouf plays Novella in Montag at Soho Rep.

( Julieta Cervantes)

Luckily, Dustin Wills (Wolf Play) helms the production, which benefits greatly from the physical commitment of Venturi and Malouf (the two should really consider opening a boutique gym specializing in terror aerobics). Even when we're not quite sure what we're watching, we know we want to see more as the tension builds over 90 strange and fascinating minutes.

Unexpected reveals from Lisa Laratta's set help to achieve real horror onstage. Sound designer Sinan Refik Zafar makes us flinch in our seats, and Tsimring occasionally plunges us into total darkness. Montag is a great Halloween watch.

It all leads to a breathtaking scene in which death (sporting a mirrorball head) stalks the stage while the women perform ridiculous pratfalls. Composer Daniel Schlosberg underscores the stage action with music that seamlessly leaps from Baroque adagio to modern dance music to Rupert Holmes to high opera. A tenor voice echoes from backstage and grows louder (the spectacularly powerful Dane Suarez). Dressed vaguely like Meat Loaf in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (costumes by Montana Levi Blanco), Suarez (playing a character named "Greg") confronts death with his song. For several minutes, horror, comedy, and operatic majesty coexist on the same stage. The fact that it holds us rapt and slack-jawed is a testament to the steady hand of the director.

A scene from Kate Tarker's Montag at Soho Rep.

( Julieta Cervantes)

Tarker seems to be expressing something about the lingering dread of male violence. This fear doesn't just stem from sex-based mass shootings, like the one that took place at a spa outside Atlanta last year. Women are far likelier to be murdered (and even likelier to be assaulted) by an intimate partner. This is a real problem, but what's the solution?

"You are soft and female too," the tenor sings, later receding into the darkness with the line, "Without softness there's no future." This is not the first time the subject of male softness has come up in the theater, and the word in this context is approaching a level of cliche similar to mansplaining and toxic masculinity. (Has anyone in the theater been able to articulate what nontoxic masculinity looks like?) Maybe placing such fashionable lingo in a delirious hallucination is Tarker's way of relegating the mass embrace of male softness to the realm of fantasy, where it obviously belongs. Surely, with her connections to the military, she is aware that we are entering a hard period of global strife during which softness will become a luxury for a privileged few  men and women. A utopian future of softness is a fine idea in a dark room, but it looks unserious when exposed to the light of day.
Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met on October 25 with Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State at the Holy See Edgar Pena Parra and other high-ranking representatives of the Holy See in Vatican, the Foreign Ministry said.

October 26, 2022, 12:52 Armenian FM raises POW issue during meeting with Substitute for General Affairs of Holy Sees Secretariat of State

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS The sides warmly remembered the visit of Edgar Pena Parra to Armenia around a year ago.

They highly valued the relations between Armenia and the Holy See, which they said are based on historical connections and common values, as well as touched upon issues relating to the bilateral agenda.

Edgar Pena Parra was awarded with Order of Friendship for his significant contributions to the development and strengthening of the inter-state relations between Armenia and the Holy See.

During the meeting the FM presented the current situation in South Caucasus, as well as the positions of the Armenian side on achieving peace and security in the region.

Touching upon the humanitarian problems, minister Mirzoyan emphasized the necessity of the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians who are still illegally held in Azerbaijan, and the preservation of Armenian historical and cultural heritage in the territories that have come under the Azerbaijani control.
Pope Francis joined other religious leaders Tuesday at Romes Colosseum to make a plea for peace and ending what they called the nuclear nightmare as fears intensify that Russias war against Ukraine may see atomic weapons used, KAIT reports.

October 26, 2022, 14:36 Pope appeal for end to nuclear nightmare

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS A ceremony at the ancient Roman arena capped a conference on promoting world peace. The SantEgidio Community, a Catholic charity with close ties to the Vatican, organized the three-day event in Italys capital.

In remarks to participants, Francis noted that Pope John XXIII urged government leaders exactly 60 years ago, during the U.S.-Russian Cuban missile crisis, to spare the world from a nuclear holocaust.

Sixty years later, these words still impress us with their timeliness, Francis said. I make them my own.

Today peace has been gravely violated, assaulted and trampled upon, and this in Europe, on the very continent that in the last century endured the horrors of two world wars. the pope lamented.

Today, in fact, something we dreaded and hoped never to hear of again is threatened outright: the use of atomic weapons, which even after Hiroshima and Nagasaki continued wrongly to be produced and tested, Francis said, referring to the U.S. atomic bombing of the two Japanese cities in the waning days of World War II in the Pacific.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The National Carpet Museum is playing host to an exhibition?"Two Juliuses", named after the art contest of the same name being held in Gulbene? since 2018, Azernews reports.

The contest celebrates the rich legacy left by Julius? Straume?and Julius? Madernieks,? well-known? artists born in? Gulbene.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Carpet Museum Director Shirin Malikova noted that her museum had been planning this exhibition since 2017.

Shirin Malikova recalled that the museum annually participates in the festival dedicated to Julius? Straume? and Julius?Madernieks, who laid the foundation of the Latvian professional applied art and design in the first half of the last century.

The name of Julius? Straume? is? also? linked with Azerbaijani carpet weaving. The Caucasus Handicraft Committee was established in Tiflis in 1899. Many workshops worked under its auspices, including those on the territory of modern Azerbaijan.

From 1907 to 1923, J.? Straume? worked for the Caucasus Crafts Committee in Tiflis as a senior artist. He regularly organized ethnographic expeditions all over the Caucasus, collecting sketches and photos of folk handicrafts especially those with carpet ornaments.

Julius? Straume? also put into practice the idea of transferring carpet sketches to graph paper as a technical assignment for the carpet weavers working at home.

His drawings and sketches represent a valuable heritage that preserves a unique part of the Azerbaijani carpet weaving history.

The exhibition displays the reproductions of the author's drawings, where one can observe the Caucasus and oriental influence, art deco, and national romanticism motifs. The originals of these works are kept at the Druvienas Old School Museum, the Gulbene Municipality History and Art Museum, the Latvian National Art Museum, and the Art Palace of Georgia - the Museum of Cultural History.

Contemporary textile works and porcelain artworks based on sketches by J.? Straume? and J.? Madernieks, constitute a significant part of the exhibition that includes scarfs, towels, socks, and gloves created by the masters of? the Gulbene Folk Applied Art Studio Sagsa, as well as by its director ?Biruta?Akmentina; porcelain decorated by artist? Inese? Brants (Latvia), and carpets created by Professor at Tabriz Islamic Art University Karim? Mirzaee and his students.

The art project was co-organized by the National Carpet Museum in partnership with the? Gulbene Municipality History and Art Museum, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, the Latvian National Art Museum, the Gulbene? Art School, and the Art Palace of Georgia  Museum of Cultural History within the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Latvian Embassy in Azerbaijan and the Latvian State Cultural? Capital Foundation.

Furthermore, Ruta? Rinka, curator of the Latvian Textile Art Collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design delivered a lecture on Latvian textiles within the framework of the exhibition.

Specialists of the? Gulbene? Art School and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum presented the kids' programs designed especially for this exhibition.

The exhibition was met with great interest by the children. Recall that the exhibition ?"Two Juliuses" will run until January 6, 2023.
Pediatric neurologists Ani Gevorgyan and Anahit Hovhannisyan from Yerevan's "Arabkir" medical center have been conducting neurological consultations at Stepanakerts Arevik Children's Medical Association for two days within the framework of the "Doctors for Artsakh" program jointly with the Armenian Relief Fund (ARF) and "Advanced Medicine" NGO.

October 26, 2022, 16:27 Pediatric neurologists from Yerevan conduct free exainations in Stepanakert

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS: In an interview with "Artsakhpress", Ani Gevorgyan, Pediatric Neurology Department of the "Arabkir" medical center, mentioned that it was her second visit to Artsakh.

"Since last year, we have been coming to Artsakh with two neurologists every two months. The goal is to examine children with neurological problems. Our periodic visits to Artsakh are due to the lack of a local neurologist. This time we noticed an increase in the number of visitors. We examined a total of about 120 patients in two days, and we manage to admit 50 patients a day," said A. Gevorgyan.
AUBURN  Creating is artist Judy Kirpichs best way of coping with her emotions: Anxiety over running a 35-person graphic arts business during the Great Recession. Anticipation and excitement over retirement. Family health issues, including traumatic brain injury, depression and cancer.

I developed a technique of slashing through fabric multiple times and a unique method of insetting circles, she said. This proved to be very therapeutic and helped me both emotionally and physically deal with my complicated feelings.

It also helped her create art quilts that draw viewers in with complex images of overlapping circles and layers of fabric that look like a cross between material and metal. Kirpichs solo exhibit of her artwork, Emotional Constructs, is on display at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn through Jan. 8.

I can lose myself in my work; it is a quiet place, Kirpich said. And even if the original concept for my art derives from an emotional basis, the experience of creating a piece is therapeutic. I am happiest when I am working in my studio, even if a piece I am working on has a foundation in pathos.

That emotion comes from a very personal place: dealing with the loss of her mother and mother-in-law to Alzheimers. Many of the pieces in Kirpichs Memory Loss series feature progressions of circles that change from black to white.

I think the series represents my own inner turmoil as well as the confusion faced by my mom in particular, she said. There is confusion and eventually death, and this is captured by the backgrounds moving from black to white. I was able to show her my work, and on some level she understood that she was at the center of this series, though she was not really able to grasp it.

Kirpich began her interest in sewing as many do, making clothes.

I made absolutely everything I put on my back, she said. Sewing clothes for me and my entire family was fine, but honestly I could not fit one more outfit into my closet.

Thats when she picked up a back issue of Patterns Magazine  No. 35, I think  and saw a profile of renowned fiber artist Nancy Crow, who is known for her modern quilts.

It was an epiphany, Kirpich said. I thought sewing quilts was rather boring and I hated the repetition in more traditional quilts. That is, until I became a devotee of Nancy.

She immediately signed up for a class, and still visits the Crow Barn regularly.

Another influence on Kirpichs art is the 37 years she ran Grafik, a design and branding company she founded in 1978, which she credits with instilling discipline.

My studio practice is very rigorous. I am a maniac about making deadlines, and am still patterned to answer every email or phone call within five minutes, she said.

Kirpich noted that many quilt artists, including Paula Kovarik and Elizabeth Brandt, come from a graphic design or illustration background, speculating that the shift came after the introduction of computers.

We all loved the tactile experience of putting together a mechanical: the precision, the line work, the exactness needed, which was lost when the field gravitated to computers, she said.

Perhaps the tactile quality is why Kirpich is drawn to the unique cloth she uses in her current art quilts.

She purchases the material from a tribal ethnic group in China, which makes it primarily for their clothing. They dye and dry their homespun cotton with indigo several times. Then soak it in a brew of ox or pig blood, rawhide, persimmon skins and pounded chestnut shells. When the fabric is dry, one side is covered with egg whites and then the cloth is beaten with a heavy wooden mallet, resulting in a sheen on one side of the cloth.

It has taken me many years to understand how to work with this fabric, she said. For one thing, there is not a consistency between batches, and all the fabric is only 13 inches wide. While it has many wonderful characteristics, it is also a challenge to sew larger pieces.

The material comes in different shades of black and brown. To create a greater range in color, Kirpich has been experimenting with painting and distressing the fabric, still keeping the metallic feel.

There is a unity between the complexity of Judys piecing, the heavily worked dyed surface of the indigo fabrics, and the concepts that her work embodies, said Schweinfurth Program Director Davana Robedee. These pieces evoke a sense of opposing values: balance/unbalance, breaking apart apart/coming together.

Color has been creeping into Kirpichs artwork recently. Pieces in her Indigo Composition series include maroons, golds and even some blues and greens. Nos. 3 through 14 in that series are self-portraits.

To most people, I seem very strong and self-sufficient, she said. Only upon closer inspection can you see the detail, complexity, and fragility of my emotional base. Like this fabric, for the careful observer there is a lot to discover.

In 2021, my sister, brother and I moved my mother from her house of 46 years to an assisted living memory care unit, Kirpich continued. In less than a week, we dismantled a house that was built by my father and full of my mothers art. It was an upsetting experience. It was the only house I knew as a child, and was full of family memories. Indigo Composition Nos. 15-20 seek to capture the jarring emotions I felt in the aftermath of the move and during that difficult week.

More color  and less emotion  may be in Kirpichs future art.

I am currently working on the beginnings of a new series reflecting a trip to Iceland that may have some intense greens, she said. In this case, I do not see an emotional component as the starting point, which is new for me.
The start of the 2022-2023 Girl Scout member year is here, bringing more opportunities for girls in grades K-12 to join the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways (GSNYPENN) Council serving Cayuga and Onondaga counties (in addition to 24 others across New York and two in Pennsylvania), is hosting information sessions during upcoming community events for any girls and adults interested in learning more about joining or volunteering with the preeminent leadership development organization for girls.

The council has a local recruitment event at 5:30 this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 26, at First United Methodist Church, 5021 South St. Road, Port Byron. Any area girls and their caregivers are invited to join staff for Halloween- and Girl Scout-themed activities and to learn more.

For questions or further information, please contact Membership Engagement Manager Lisa Kaminski at lkaminski@gsnypenn.org or (315) 745-6126, or search for more upcoming events at gsnypenn.org/events.

Girl Scouts included in local United Way historical exhibit

Members of the GSNYPENN Councils History & Archives Committee worked with the United Way of Cayuga County to create a Girl Scout section as part of Through the Decades: 100 Years of Living United, a historical exhibit now on display at the Cayuga Museum of History & Art in Auburn. Girl Scouts was one of just four original funded partners under the auspices of the United Way of Cayuga County beginning 100 years ago.

Visitors can explore a century of the history and work of the United Way in Cayuga County and see how the organization and its member agencies like the Girl Scouts addressed everchanging social views and needs around health, war, social and civic issues, and more through the adaption of new programs and funding opportunities based on the needs of the time. The exhibit runs through Friday, Dec. 30, and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays at the museum, 203 Genesee St., Auburn. Admission is $10 per visitor or free for museum members and children ages 12 and younger.

Regional Girl Scout news

 Troop 60311 from Auburn held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 17 to dedicate its new hand-built book garage neighborhood lending library located at the United Church of Auburn.

 Girls and adults from Service Unit 401 in Auburn enjoyed a recent rainy afternoon of apple picking, cider and doughnuts at Owen Orchards in Sennett. The Auburn service team also held a bridging ceremony last month for girl members moving to their next Girl Scout level.

Girl Scouts serves girls in K-12. Annual membership is just $25 and financial assistance is available. To start her adventure, visit gsnypenn.org/join. To become an adult volunteer, learn more at gsnypenn.org/volunteer. To help make Girl Scouting possible for girls in your community, visit gsnypenn.org/donate.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Overcast. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.
Cayuga County is split up into three state Assembly districts, but only one has a contested race.

Assemblyman John Lemondes, a Republican, is seeking a second term representing the 126th Assembly District. His challenger is Bruce MacBain, a Democrat from Auburn.

Lemondes is a U.S. Army veteran who lives in LaFayette, where he owns a 500-acre farm. He ran for state Assembly in 2020 and won the election to succeed longtime Assemblyman Gary Finch.

MacBain is a retired educator who was a principal in the Moravia school district for two decades. This is not his first run for political office. He unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Amo Houghton in 1996.

Lemondes told The Citizen that he wants to remain in state government to work on economic issues and public safety, both of which are his top priorities. He criticized Democrats in Albany for supporting policies he said has led to the "most dangerous New York we've ever lived in."

"If you don't have safety, you don't have anything," he said.

MacBain said he decided to run for state Assembly because he is motivated to serve his community. The environment is a top priority, whether it's supporting efforts to combat climate change or advocating for clean energy development.

"Green jobs are the future," he said. "We always have to be looking ahead ... I'd like to try to make central New York the center of green jobs."

On a handful of the top issues in the state, there are differences between the two candidates.

Lemondes panned bail reform laws, which he believes has contributed to increased crime. He thinks there should be a dangerousness standard when setting bail. MacBain thinks recent amendments to the law is sufficient and disagrees with Lemondes that bail reform has led to a spike in crime.

They also disagree on the best approach to economic development. MacBain thinks the state should continue partnerships between businesses and the government. He supports government assistance through subsidies and tax credits to help businesses grow in New York. Lemondes prefers a different strategy, such as lower taxes, fewer regulations and energy relief.

On lowering the farmworker overtime threshold to 40 hours, which will happen over the next 10 years, Lemondes opposes the change and wants the state Legislature to intervene. He hopes there is enough support to overturn the policy. MacBain is supportive of the change  he asked, "Would you work for low wages and more than 40 hours with no overtime?"  but says it should be monitored over time.

Both candidates agreed that the state school aid formula needs to be changed. The formula has long been criticized by school districts, such as Auburn, because of concerns that it doesn't provide equitable funding and uses outdated information.

MacBain said there must be action on the formula because COVID-19 relief aid to schools will run out and districts will face a funding problem. Lemondes said he has been partnering with other elected officials and stakeholders to look at possible solutions.

The makeup of the 126th Assembly District has changed since Lemondes was first elected two years ago. Following redistricting this year, the district includes parts of Cayuga and Onondaga counties. The city of Auburn and towns of Brutus, Cato, Conquest, Mentz, Owasco, Sennett and Throop are in the district.

Republicans have an enrollment advantage in the district, with 4,053 more active GOP voters than Democrats.

Before Election Day on Nov. 8, there is a nine-day early voting period that begins on Saturday. It runs through Sunday, Nov. 6.
The developer of a new Auburn storage facility is seeking approval from the city to build more units there.

True Storage, of Manchester, New Hampshire, is seeking a variance from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals to build four units with 84 lockers at a new location of self-storage brand CubeSmart at 325-327 Genesee St. City code enforcement denied True Storage a permit to build the units because the property is zoned general commercial, under which self-storage is not a permitted use.

The board heard the appeal of True Storage, represented by attorney Joseph Camardo, at its Monday meeting at Memorial City Hall.

There was some confusion at the meeting, as Camardo said he believed True Storage didn't need the variance because one was granted as a condition of its $1.3 million purchase of the property from CLS1 Properties in December. Camardo also noted that the former P&C grocery store was zoned highway commercial, which permits self-storage usage, before CLS1 bought it in 2019.

"Technically, zoning for self-storage has always been there," he said.

Camardo told the board he applied for the variance anyway on the advice of Stephen Selvek, the city's deputy director of planning and development. In response, board Chair Rick Tamburrino told the attorney the previous variance was granted for indoor self-storage only. Camardo assured the board that the new units would be indoor, not "eyesore" outdoor storage for objects like boats.

Camardo also repeatedly stressed that the units, along with landscaping and a wrought iron fence proposed by True Storage, would look nice and benefit the city through increased tax revenue.

"They want to locate here and they're dumping a lot of money into the situation," he said. "So it's very important that we help them and welcome them into the city."

Ultimately, the board and Camardo agreed that he would return at next month's zoning board meeting with a few requested items. They include a proof of hardship demonstrating why True Storage needs the additional units, an analysis showing how the units would affect traffic, and statements from the area's residential neighbors affirming their support for the units and other improvements.

Camardo also agreed, if the variance is granted, to let the city's planning board review True Storage's proposal. That would not be legally required, as the proposal concerns less than an acre of property.

"We're going to do what we need to do to satisfy the city," he said.

The 47,000-square-foot CubeSmart facility will have 82 10-by-25-foot storage units in the former grocery store, according to documents Camardo provided the board, as well as a vehicular entrance. According to a building permit issued by the city of Auburn in April, True Storage spent $2,139,029 renovating the building. The company, and CubeSmart, did not respond to requests for comment.

According to the facility's Google listing, it is scheduled to open in November. Requests for storage units are available on CubeSmart's website.

In other news As one Auburn storage facility approaches its opening, several others in the area have recently changed hands. AllStorage sold its five facilities in Auburn, Aurelius, Elbridge and Sennett for a total of more than $20 million to LocalStorage this summer. The 361 Genesee St. facility in Auburn was sold for $7,379,400, the 1661 Clark St. Road facility in Aurelius was sold for $4,830,000, the 222 Route 5 facility in Elbridge was sold for $2,074,800, the 1170 Route 5 facility in Elbridge was sold for $1,465,800 and the 450 Grant Ave. Road facility in Sennett was sold for $5,250,000, according to Cayuga and Onondaga county property records. For more information, visit thelocalstoragegroup.com.
Kimberly Gwen Polman, a Canadian national, poses for a portrait at camp Roj in Syria on April 3, 2019. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)

2 Canadian Women Arrested After Being Repatriated From Syrian Detention Camp for ISIS

Two Canadian women have been arrested after arriving in Montreal following their repatriation from a camp in Syria that detains ISIS terrorists and their families, according to media outlets.

Oumaima Chouay was arrested at the Montreal-Trudeau airport upon her arrival in Canada on the night of Oct. 25.

The RCMP said in a news release on Oct. 26 that the 27-year-old woman has been under investigation by the National Security Enforcement Team since 2014.

Chouay is facing four charges under the Criminal Code, including leaving Canada to participate in the activity of a terrorist group, participation in the activity of a terrorist group and making property or services available for terrorist purposes.

She is scheduled to appear in a Montreal court today.

The second woman arrested is Kimberly Polman, who had been detained in al-Roj Syrian detention camp for the past three years. She was arrested by Kurdish fighters during a conflict with the ISIS terrorist group in 2019 over her alleged association with the group.

Polman had travelled to Syria in 2015 after she met and married an ISIS fighter online, according to a 2020 report by Human Rights Watch.

Her lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, told CBC News that Polman has been arrested under Section 810 of the Criminal Code and authorities are seeking a peace bond.

A peace bond is a court order used where an individual (the defendant) appears likely to commit a criminal offence, but there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has actually been committed, said the Department of Justice Canada on its website.

The order however requires the individual to agree to specific conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

Greenspon said Polman is currently on her way to Abbotsford, B.C., while in police custody.

Four Canadians Repatriated

Global Affairs Canada told The Epoch Times on Oct. 26 that four Canadianstwo women and two childrenhave been repatriated from northeast Syria.

The department said the United States was involved, but no specifics were provided as to how Canada played a role in the repatriation.

Canada cannot provide information about the individuals due to privacy considerations and cannot share details of the repatriation for operational security reasons, said Global Affairs in an email.

The repatriation comes eight months after the United Nations issued a press release in February calling on Canada to urgently bring Polman home due to her life threatening illnesses.

Canada has been hesitant to repatriate adult citizens from the Syrian detention camps.

Public Safetys website states that the threats posed by Canadian extremist travellersthose individuals suspected of travelling abroad to engage in extremist activitypresent difficult challenges to both Canada and its allies.
Some people who have had close brushes with death report leaving their physical bodies, sometimes floating around and observing scenes in their vicinity  or even places further away. On occasion, what they describe afterward can be verified; researchers of near-death experiences (NDEs), who have attempted to verify or dismiss this, have tried to determine if the person could have seen these things without taking leave of their corporeal selves.

When verified, such testimonies constitute some of the strongest evidence that such mystical experiences are not mere hallucinations. Cases where the experiencers accounts are verifiable are known as veridical perceptions. Some include not only scenes experienced in the world of physical objects, but also in conversations or encounters with beings of other planes, who tell the experiencer things that turn out to be true.

Here are three recorded veridical perception cases pulled from a body of dozens compiled by Jan Holden, president of the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) and long-time NDE researcher. While the three are outstanding themselves, the wealth of cases that have been gathered over the last 100 years and earlier make the combined research so much more compelling.

1. Patient Observes Doctors Unusual Habit

Al Sullivan told his story at a meeting of the Connecticut chapter of IANDS in 1990, two years after his reported NDE. During an emergency coronary bypass surgery at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, he had a clear sensation of leaving his body. He reported that he rose to an amphitheater-like place and seeing what appeared to be an otherworldly scene. This included his brother-in-law and mother, who had died. He was able to look back to this material world and see his body with his chest opened up and heart exposed.

I was able to see my surgeon, who just moments ago had explained to me what he was going to do during my operation. He appeared to be somewhat perplexed, he said. I thought he was flapping his arms as if trying to fly.

It was this part of the account that startled Sullivans cardiologist, Dr. Anthony LaSala, who had dismissed the rest of the story as a drug-induced hallucination. Dr. Hiroyoshi Takata indeed had a habit of flapping his elbows, as Sullivan described, so as to direct medical staff and avoid touching anything after he had scrubbed in.

NDE researcher Dr. Bruce Greyson spoke with Dr. LaSala and Dr. Takata in 1997 to verify or reject the account. Dr. Takata admitted he had this habit. Dr. LaSala confirmed that Sullivan had told him this story and that Dr. Takatas arm flapping was unusualand not something hed seen other surgeons do. Greyson said Sullivan wouldnt have witnessed this after the anesthesia kicked in and he was, by all appearances, unconscious.

2. Gaining Knowledge of a Brothers Death Prior to Receiving the News

Another veridical perception comes from a collection of essays published in 1882. Francis Power Cobbe recalled the following case in his book The Peak in Darien on page 297:

A dying lady, exhibiting the aspect of joyful surprise  spoke of seeing, one after another, three of her brothers who had long been dead, and then apparently recognized last of all a fourth brother, who was believed by the bystanders to be still living in India. The coupling of his name with that of his dead brothers excited such awe and horror in the mind of one of the persons present, that she rushed from the room. In due course of time letters were received announcing the death of the brother in India, which had occurred some time before his dying sister seemed to recognize him.

NDE researchers have compiled this along with other cases where a death is observed through extraordinary circumstances prior to receiving the news in waking life.

3. Plane Crash Victim Sees What He Could Not Have From Where His Body Lay

This account holds that a medical officer, Dr. X, stationed in France during WWI, was flying to the aid of a wounded pilot. Not long after takeoff, the plane crashed. The crash site could not have been seen from the hangars, while the hangars likewise could not be seen from the crash, because they were separated by the crest of two slopes.

The doctors own words were recounted by the late Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick John Marrian Stratton, former professor of astrophysics at the University of Cambridge Stratton, in a 1957 article titled An Out-of-the-Body Experience Combined With ESP, published in the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. He wrote:

While I was up above my body, it did not seem in the least queer that I could see  a number of activities at the hangars  The Crossley tender [an ambulance] started out of the hangar in which it was garaged. When about a car or a car-and-a-half length outside the hangar, the engine stalled, and I saw the chauffeur jump out and pull the starting handle. Then he raced back to his driving seat and started off towards the crash over the crest.

While this small episode was occurring my medical orderly had rushed out of my nearby medical hut, and jumped into the back of the Crossley tender. The ambulance, or tender, then stopped again, but this time it was the medical orderly who jumped out, rushed into the medical hut, and came out with something extra, and jumped into the ambulance, which then resumed its twice-interrupted journey.

Dr. X told this to his commanding officer at the hospital after recovering enough to realize the significance of what hed seen. The officer recorded it and verified that the ambulance journey did in fact begin this way.

By the time Stratton investigated this case, the commanding officer and others who could have re-verified the information had either died or could not be traced, wrote Bruce Greyson, Ian Stevenson, and Emily Williams Cook in an article published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration in 1998, titled Do Any Near-Death Experiences Provide Evidence for the Survival of Human Personality After Death?

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas C R) with co-hosts, from left, Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin during an appearance on the daytime talk show "The View" in New York on Oct. 24, 2022. (Lou Rocco/ABC via AP)

3 Climate Hecklers Ejected for Disrupting Cruz on The View

NEW YORKThree hecklers were hustled off The View set on Monday after disrupting a live television interview of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz with what appeared to be a climate change protest.

Two women began shouting Cover climate now while the Texas Republican was answering a question. He briefly paused, smiled and then continued talking as the women shouted, most of it indecipherable to a television audience.

Ladies, ladies, excuse us, host Whoopi Goldberg said when Cruz stopped. Let us do our job. We hear what you have to say but youve got to go.

The shouting ended after less than a minute after the women, who were not seen on television, were apparently ejected.

But as the segment headed into a commercial break, a third woman yelled out a comment that was bleeped out for the TV audience.

When the show returned from the commercial, host Ana Navarro apologized to Cruz.

Im sorry that this has happened in our house, she said.

The ABC daytime show, which just began its 26th season, has seen its share of hostility among on-air hosts through the years. But its the first time in memory that it has seen such a demonstration by people in its small studio audience.
A file image of a U.S. Marine Harrier Jump Jet on the flight deck of the USS Makin Island, in Hong Kong on Aug. 20, 2014. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Alleged Former Marine Pilot Arrested Under US Sealed Warrant in Australia

An alleged former U.S. Marine fighter pilot and flight instructor has been arrested in Australia after a warrant was issued by the United States for his provisional arrest.

Reuters reported that Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, on Oct. 21 in the rural town of Orange in New South Wales, with judicial records showing he appeared in court there on the same day where his application for bail was denied.

An individual was arrested on 21 October 2022 pursuant to a request from the United States of America for their provisional arrest, the Australian attorney generals department said in a statement.

As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

It is not known what Duggan is alleged to have done as the court documents, arrest warrant, and charges have been sealed.

The former Marine is expected to face extradition proceedings to the United States sometime in November in Sydney, with the United States having just 60 days to apply for extradition after the arrest has been actioned.

Reuters also alleged that Duggan operated an adventure flight company in Australia called Top Gun Australia before working as an aviation consultant in China, which, according to its website, specializes in providing adventures and unique flying experiences in an ex-military fighter jet or a World War II-era plane.

Duggan, who is listed on the website as the companys chief pilot and managing director, is alleged to be a former major in the U.S. Marine Corps who served in the Persian Gulf during operations in Kuwait and spent time in the Spanish Navy.

It also alleges he has experience flying a range of military aircraft, including the AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet, T2C Buckeye, A4J Skyhawk, Hawks, and Mig29, was a senior tactical instructor trained in weapons and tactics, air combat, and low-altitude flying and has been contracted as a military tactical instructor and consultant.

According to Duggans LinkedIn profile, since 2015, he has been operating aviation consultancy companies in Qingdao, China.

Australia Investigating Reports Former Pilots Training Chinese Pilots

The report of the arrest of the former military pilot comes after Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles launched an investigation into allegations from the BBC that Beijing has been headhunting former and serving members.

The BBC reported that the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) had issued an intelligence alert after up to 30 former UK military pilots were believed to have been recruited by the Chinese regime to train members of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

Two Chinese SU-30 fighter jets take off from an unspecified location to fly a patrol over the South China Sea in a file photo. (Jin Danhua/Xinhua via AP)

The BBC alleges that the UK government became aware of the recruitment drive targeting military pilots who have experience on fast jetslike the Typhoon, Jaguar, Harrier, and Tornadoand helicopters in 2019 and that Beijing had ramped up its efforts recently with current serving personnel being targeted.

The training is alleged to have been completed in South Africa, with the UK MOD noting to the press that other allied nations have also been targeted.

It is believed the Chinese regimes recruitment drive is to help PLA fighter pilots understand how Western forces operate, which could be crucial in any conflict between the West and China.

In an email to The Epoch Times, Marles said that he had asked the [defense] department to investigate these claims and come back to my office with clear advice on this matter.

When our ADF personnel sign up to the Defence Force, they do so to serve their country, and we are deeply grateful of that, he said. I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a paycheck from a foreign state above serving their own country.

Australias Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles attends a press conference in Brest, France, on Sept. 1, 2022. (Jean-Francois Monier/AFP via Getty Images)

UK to Introduce Laws to Stop Intelligence Leaks

The Australian defense ministers request for the investigation comes as the UKs Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans, James Heappey, said the UK government would be looking to introduce new laws that would ensure retired defense members did not pass on intelligence to countries in the future.

It certainly doesnt match my understanding of service of our nationeven in retirementto then go and work with a foreign power, especially one that challenges the UK interest so keenly, he told BBC Radio 4s Today program.

Meanwhile, a MOD spokesperson said: We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK armed forces pilots to train Peoples Liberation Army personnel in the Peoples Republic of China.

All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across Defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challengesincluding this one, the spokesperson said.
At Antoines, the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, nearly every nook and corner tells a story. There are rooms upon rooms, decorated with paraphernalia and photos that beg for an explanation. The Dungeon Room, at one point in history before the restaurants founding in 1840, held prisoners during a period when the Louisiana Territory was under Spanish rule. The Mystery Room is so named because during the Prohibition era, patrons would be served a mystery cup of booze in a coffee cup. The room was only accessible through a secret door in the womens restroom. In four rooms named after Mardi Gras krewessocial clubs that organize the grand parade in New Orleanskings and queens are crowned on the eve of the big event. And, fittingly for a city that prides itself on its cuisine, theres a food club called the Escargot Society that still regularly hosts its meetings in a dedicated section of the restaurant.

Antoine Alciatore worked as a sous chef in some of Frances most beautiful hotels. When he came to New Orleans and decided to open a pensionnea type of inn that provided meals and lodging to travelersAlciatore applied the same cooking techniques to the local bounty.

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

He was a sauce guy, said Rick Blount of his great-great-grandfather. Blount, 65, is the fifth-generation owner and CEO of the legendary restaurant. He explained that Alciatore taught his sauce techniques to chefs who later opened their own restaurants in the city. Back then, the dishes they served were considered French food. Today, it is known as Creole cuisine. Asked to describe it, Blount said that compared to French cuisine, New Orleanss gastronomic invention has more layers of flavors. The different waves of settlers and immigrants each contributed to the flavors that make up Creole cuisine. They all have a finger in the pot, he said, from the spices found in the Caribbean, to the ingredients used by West African slaves, to the sausage-making traditions of Italian and German immigrants.

Liz Williams, founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans, attributes the rise of a distinct set of culinary traditions here to a difference in how the French viewed their colony. As opposed to the English, who viewed the American colonies as separate from the mother country, the French viewed the Louisiana Territory, which they first claimed in 1682, as a part of France itself. In New England, settlers had a hard time adapting to local game and produce. In New Orleans, this was France. If you ate an alligator, it was a French alligator, Williams explained. The difference in attitude meant that they explored all the food that was here. And they incorporated their own French tastes that they brought with them.

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

Different techniques, seasonings, and ingredients from the people who passed through the entrepot were incorporated, creating a cuisine that is as robust in flavor as the histories that inform it. The French didnt feel that that was inappropriate  as long as it tasted good, Williams said, because the French were more invested in the artistic pursuit of cooking than the provenance of its elements. Dishes like gumbo became a universal language for households in New Orleans, with each family serving its own version on the dinner table. You come to my house, you recognize my gumbo,  its different from your gumbo. Thats OK.

The menu at Antoines has those standard Creole dishes that are riffs on French cuisine, such as shrimp remoulade, with a horseradish-based sauce that has been updated New Orleans-style with mustard, paprika, and hot sauce; and fish amandine, featuring toasted almonds and a brown butter sauce. There are also dishes that were invented by the restaurant and remain its claim to fame, such as the oysters Rockefeller. Invented by the second-generation owner when he had trouble importing escargot from France, the dish consists of oysters baked in a sauce so decadent that the restaurant named it after the then-richest person in America. Pompano pontchartrain, another standout, features a filet of pompano fish alongside juicy crab meat thats been sauteed in white wine and butter. Blount explained that compared to the simple, rustic food most commonly cooked at home in New Orleansmuch of which is Cajun cooking, the citys other predominant culinary styleCreole cuisine is more complex, requiring more assembly as sauces get prepped in different pans at once.

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

(Tatsiana Moon for American Essence)

At Antoines, the dishes and the warm hospitality have remained much the same for decades. The restaurant has seen lots of difficult times, Blount said, enough to fill a book: from the Civil War that erupted just two decades after the restaurant opened; to the Prohibition era and World War II; to Hurricane Katrina, which flooded everything in the space; to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 that destroyed the Gulf seafood supply chain; to the pandemic shutdown.

But Blount recognizes that hardship is part of the journey. No one can go through life unscathed.  Heartache is just part of being alive.

He said he wont quit. The king of England cant sell his castles.  He has a duty to his office.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference at The Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Attack on Marco Rubio Canvasser Confirmed by Police as 2nd Suspect Arrested

Police officers in Florida have confirmed an account claiming that a man who was badly beaten was canvassing for Republicans at the time, as a second suspect was taken into custody.

The Hialeah Police Department declined on Oct. 24 to confirm Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) account, which said a man was assaulted in Hialeah while wearing a Rubio shirt and a Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hat while canvassing for the candidates.

But a new arrest affidavit for the second suspect states that the victim, who hasnt been named by officials, was distributing political fliers for United States Senator Marco Rubio as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Both Rubio and DeSantis are running for reelection to their respective positions.

Jonathan Alexander Casanova, 26, was arrested for allegedly joining in beating the victim.

Police stated that Casanova kicked the victim in the head after Javier Jesus Lopez, 22, threw the man to the ground.

A witness eventually pulled Casanova off the victim, according to the police report. Casanova then went to a vehicle and released two German shepherds, which he maneuvered near the victim. Police say Casanova instructed the dogs to attack the man.

The incident was ultimately broken up by neighbors, and the victim was rushed to Kendall Regional Medical Center for treatment for injuries, including a fractured orbital bone and nasal fractures.

Casanova fled the scene but was identified by information from Lopez, and the victim picked him out of a lineup.

The victim told police that he crossed the street after being confronted by the defendants, but they followed him and said he wasnt allowed to walk around the neighborhood. Casanova said that if the man continued to walk around then he would shoot him, according to the arrest affidavit.

Surveillance video corroborated the victims statements, according to police.

On [Oct. 23], thugs told a GOP canvasser wearing my campaign T-shirt that he couldnt be in their neighborhood because he was a Republican, Rubio said in a statement. They assaulted him & commanded two dogs to attack him. Surveillance video corroborated the victims story & police have now made a second arrest.

Photographs released by the senator showed a man wearing a Marco Rubio shirt on a gurney with severe facial injuries.

Lopez and Casanova were both charged with aggravated battery, a felony.

Lopez had warrants out in other cases, according to jail records.

The men were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

A campaign spokesperson for Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), whos challenging Rubio for his Senate seat, told media outlets in a statement that Demings strongly condemns all acts of violence, and the attackers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
A 17-year-old from Australia has gone public about her 14 months of suffering from post-vaccination symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Faith, a teenager from Tasmania, received her second Pfizer vaccine dose in August 2021 and became sick three days later. She has since been unable to attend school.

Faiths mother, Tanya, said her whole family was not anti-vax but that they had been left hanging after Faith started experiencing severe abdominal pain.

So we took her straight up to the local hospital. They did a lot of tests, couldnt figure out what was going oneverything came back quite normal, Tanya told 2GB radio.

I did actually ask the question then: Could it have been the vaccine? And I was actually told by the surgeons to not be so, and I quote bloody stupid.

The doctors of the local hospital believed there was something wrong with Faiths appendix, so they had it removed, despite later finding it had been perfectly fine. But after the surgery, she continued to cry about the pain.

So then began a learning process. It was mainly abdominal pain to begin with. And fatigue, she was so fatigued. She was hardly eating, you know, she just couldnt get food down, Tanya said.

Her family went on to seek countless tests and screenings for months to figure out the reason for her pain.

Faith started experiencing severe muscle tics and spasms two months after the ordeal began.

A bottle is shown reading Vaccine COVID-19 and a syringe next to the Pfizer and Biontech logo on Nov. 23, 2020. (Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images)

Then on Nov. 18, 2021, a specialist said there was no question Faith had experienced a delayed reaction to the second vaccination.

Despite recognising the Pfizer vaccine as the reason for her symptoms, Faith was not given a treatment plan to help her start recovering.

Further, some other doctors said they had never seen anything like it before and didnt know what to do, while others told Faith and her family that they didnt think it was the vaccine.

One paediatrician said he believed her muscle tics and sensitivity to light and sound were the results of too much screen time.

So thats the kind of thing weve been up against, Tanya said.

Faith is now diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder.

Post-Vaccine Symptoms

Similarly to long COVID, post-vaccine syndrome is driven by spike protein load and damage from spike exposure.

The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), a non-profit American group of critical care specialists dedicated to helping prevent and treat COVID, notes that severe neurological symptoms appear to be more common following vaccination.

UK researchers also found that COVID-19 vaccines are known to cause severe and/or chronic neurological reactions in rare cases.

Dr. Paul Marik, co-founder and chief scientific officer of FLCCC, previously told The Epoch Times that people who have post-vaccine symptoms predominantly experience some degree of neurological impairment.

Marik said post-vaccine symptoms are harder to treat and are more persistent compared to long COVID, with some patients presenting with debilitating symptoms for almost two years.

Therefore, treatment for people with post-vaccine symptoms is more aggressive and more brain targeted, said Marik.

Cardiologist Dr. Ross Walker said the COVID-19 vaccine pulverised Faiths gut bacteria.

I think to me this is relatively clear, he told 2GB. The RNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are very pro-inflammatory, and they were only really tested in the animal world before they were given to humans.

Mice peer out from a loaf of bread at the Inokashira Park Zoo in suburban Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 6, 2008. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP via Getty Images)

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), there have been over 63.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in Australia, with 136,500 reported adverse events. This means there is around a 0.2 percent chance of side effects from the vaccines.

The federal government has a COVID vaccine injury claim scheme, however, Faiths condition does not meet the criteria for the payout.

People who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are only eligible if they are experiencing myocarditis, pericarditis, or a severe allergic reaction.

Services Australia specifies that effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, pain in extremities, and abdominal pain are not accepted under the scheme.

Federal budget papers, delivered on Oct. 25, revealed that payouts for COVID vaccine injuries for 2022-23 is expected to be 80 times higher than the 2021-22 estimates, at nearly $77 million (US$49 million).

Marina Zhang contributed to this report.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a statement after taking office outside Number 10 in Downing Street, in London, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Biden, Sunak Agree on Continued US-UK Cooperation Against Chinas Malign Influence

U.S. President Joe Biden and new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have agreed on the need to work together against the Chinese regimes malign influence, Downing Street says.

The two leaders had their first phone call on Oct. 26, hours after Sunak officially took office.

A Downing Street spokesperson said that Biden congratulated Sunak on his appointment, adding that the leaders looked forward to working closely together.

Biden said that the UK remains Americas closest ally, and Sunak agreed on the huge strength of the relationship, the spokesperson said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waves to members of the media after taking office outside No. 10 Downing Street, London, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The leaders discussed UKU.S. cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, where the AUKUS pactwhich includes Australiaforms part of their joint efforts to enhance stability and counter Chinas malign influence, Downing Street said.

AUKUS is a landmark agreement signed in September 2021 under which the UK and the United States will provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines. Its widely seen as a regional alliance against the Chinese regimes growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to a White House readout of the conversation, Biden and Sunak agreed on the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by China.

President Joe Biden gives remarks on the status of COVID-19 in the United States from the South Court Auditorium at the White House campus in Washington on Oct. 25, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The two leaders, who will meet next month at the G-20 summit in Indonesia, also agreed on the need to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland have security and prosperity through the preservation of the Belfast Agreement, Downing Street said. The Belfast Agreement is also known as the Good Friday Agreement.

The UK government intends to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which forms part of the Brexit withdrawal bill and is aimed at preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland following Britains exit from the European Union.

The protocol has been fiercely opposed by unionists in the British province, who complain that it effectively keeps Northern Ireland within the EU single market, while erecting a border in the Irish Sea between the province and mainland Britain.

The EU has criticised the UKs actions for breaking international law and undermining trust between the two sides; the Biden administration had warned Sunaks predecessor Liz Truss against efforts to undo the Northern Ireland protocol.

The leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine, another issue of common concern.

Biden and Sunak reflected on the leading role the two countries are playing in supporting the people of Ukraine and ensuring Putin fails in this war, Downing Street said.

Earlier, Sunak spoke by phone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him that the UKs support for Ukraine would be as strong as ever under his premiership, and that Ukraine can count on the UK to stand in continued solidarity.

According to Downing Street, Sunak also noted the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agencys work in Ukraine, which he said would ensure nuclear safety and provide transparency around any disinformation.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Canada Needs Law That Allows Severe Punishments to Counter Foreign Interference: China Expert

A China expert says Canada needs to put strong legislation in place that allows for severe punishments in order to counter foreign interference in the country.

Jonathan Manthorpe, author of Claws of the Panda: Beijings Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada, testified before the parliamentary Canada-China committee (CACN) on Oct. 25, where he was asked how the government can protect Canadians of Chinese heritage from threats and intimidation by Beijing.

An overarching thing we need to do is to have a strong piece of legislation regulating and allowing for severe punishments or retribution for political activity in Canada by foreign countries, said Manthorpe, a veteran journalist of over 40 years.

I think we do have some sort of legislation at the moment but it clearly is not tough enoughand it needs also to be applied.

The threat of foreign influence and interference by communist China has been raised by Canadian intelligence agencies for years.

The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) warned the federal government in its 2018 annual report that China is one of several states that actively conducts espionage and foreign influence activities in Canada.

The NSICOP report said that Beijing has a number of official organizations that try to influence Chinese communities and politicians to adopt pro-China positions, with the operations primarily conducted through its United Front Work Department.

In April 2020, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said in its annual report that Beijings espionage and interference activities have expanded beyond the domain of politics, economics, and the military, to include academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

Foreign Influence Registry

Recent legislative efforts to counter foreign interference include former Conservative MP Kenny Chius Bill C-282, an Act to Establish the Foreign Influence Registry, which he introduced in the House of Commons last April. Chiu would go on to lose his seat in the 2021 federal election which halted the private members bill from advancing to second reading in Parliament.

In February, Conservative Senator Leo Housakos introduced Bill S-237 which echoes the sentiment of Chius bill.

Housakos bill aims to establish a Foreign Influence Registry and to amend the Criminal Code such that it would impose an obligation on individuals acting on behalf of a foreign principal to file a return when they undertake specific actions with respect to public office holders. Failure to comply would result in fines or jail time.

The senators bill is currently in second reading in the Senate.

Manthorpe told the committee that setting up a foreign influence registry in Canada is a very important step.

Its important to know who is doing what in our country and having a registration of foreign agents is probably the first primary step, and then setting out boundaries of what those agents can and cant do in our country, he said.

Arrangements With Beijing

During questioning, Tory MP Tom Kmiec asked Manthorpe what can be done to current and former public office holders in Canada who may be toeing the line with Beijing.

I think all we can do is shame them, Manthorpe replied. There are many previous public office holders who have found in retirement comfortable positions and arrangements with Beijing.

I think that forums such as this [CACN] and others need to make it plain to everyone that China, the Peoples Republic of China, is not a friend of Canada and that people who court relationships with Beijing, for one reason or another, are in fact working against the interests of Canada, he added.

NDP MP Heather McPherson asked what Canadas diplomacy with China should look like after being without an ambassador to China for most of the year, and in the context of Chinese leader Xi Jinping securing a third term in power.

I think we need to be very stern, he said.

[Ottawa] needs to recognize that rebuilding a working relationship with Beijingeven a minimalist relationship with Beijingis going to take a lot of time and a lot of trust-building, he added.

Because were in a situation where every diplomat and every business person who is in China is under threat of being kidnapped if the relationship goes off the rails again.

Manthorpe said Beijings kidnapping of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in apparent retaliation for Canadas detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in 2018 sent a clear message in itself: that the CCP cares more about the security of one party aristocrat than it does about the entire spectrum of relations with Canada.
ALBANY  New York officials appealed a judge's ruling against inspecting absentee ballots before Election Day, allowing early counting of those ballots to go ahead pending an appeals court decision.

A state judge in upstate New York on Friday said the pandemic-related rule that allowed absentee ballots to be prepared for counting before Election Day was unconstitutional. Saratoga County Judge Diane Freestone sided with Republican and Conservative party plaintiffs in ruling that the law clashes with an individual's constitutional right to challenge ballots in court before they're counted.

The state attorney general and legislative officials appealed by Monday, setting up an automatic, temporary hold on the ruling. The Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Albany will hear oral arguments next Tuesday, one week before Election Day.

Freestone declined to strike down a law allowing voters worried about catching COVID-19 to vote absentee.

The plaintiffs also are appealing.

Democrats had argued that the rules were crucial to ensuring the state can handle the number of people who want to vote by mail because of the ongoing pandemic.

The case could ultimately be determined by the state's top court, the Court of Appeals.
As midterms loom, President Joe Biden is rolling out new steps he says will lower costs. But some Republicans call it a band-aid on a bullet wound.

Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) joins us to discuss illegal immigration and how big of a role it will play in the elections in Texas.

Arizona is a battleground state with a diverse population of voters, but they have one thing in common: a distaste for the modern-day political atmosphere.

We also have New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney joining us to discuss the elections in her state. What do voters care about the most this year?

The Pennsylvania Senate seat could determine which party controls the chamber. We have the highlights from Tuesdays highly anticipated debate between the candidates.

Airline passengers are frustrated with flight cancellations and delays. Which company has the most flights on time?

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Alex Newman, author and award-winning international journalist, in an interview for EpochTV on Oct. 7, 2022. (Screenshot/The Epoch Times)

CCP Stealthily Gaining Control of Global Organizations, Establishing Police Stations Overseas: Journalist

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been working for decades to infiltrate and dominate global organizations through clandestine means, but only recently has it become bold enough to institutionalize its operations and open a number of police stations overseas, an investigative journalist says.

None of this could be happening without the collaboration of the Western governments involved, said author and award-winning international journalist Alex Newman in a recent interview for EpochTVs Crossroads program.

Newman said he learned from Trump administration officials that holdovers from the Obama administration were, in many cases, cheerleaders for Communist China, cheerleaders for the CCPs growing role in international affairs.

They insisted on allowing the CCP to penetrate international institutions such as the United Nations (UN), Interpol, and so on, Newman said.

Chinese Police Outposts Overseas

The Chinese regime has opened at least 54 overseas police stations across five continents in cities such as Toronto, New York, and Dublin, according to a report by human rights group Safeguard Defenders.

An outpost in New York City was opened in February and was one of the first batch of 30 overseas police service stations in 21 countries set up by the Public Security Bureau in Fuzhou, Fujian province.

The total number of such stations is unclear, Safeguard Defenders said in its recent report.

Ostensibly, the overseas Chinese police stations offer some services of a consular nature, the report said, but their goal is also to persuade Chinese immigrants that are deemed to be involved in fraud, especially online fraud, to return to China where they may face prosecution.

A key method used by the Chinese regime to convince suspects to return to China is targeting their family members in China through means of intimidation, harassment, detention, or imprisonment to persuade their family members abroad to return voluntarily, the report said.

Most of the people targeted by Chinese police were dissidents or individuals that had fled religious or ethnic persecution, Safeguard Defenders said in the report.

How the CCP Influenced Interpol

Interpol is kind of a clearing house mechanism where a government can ask other members to detain and repatriate fugitives who have allegedly committed serious crimes and fled the country, Newman explained.

It is not an international crime-fighting agency that can take the initiative to investigate and pursue global terrorists, as portrayed in Hollywood movies, he said.

In its own words, Interpol is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 195 member countries, which helps police to work together through sharing and accessing data on crimes and criminals.

The problem is, this has always been a mechanism thats ripe for abuse by mass murderers, by totalitarians, Newman said. And we saw this very clearly during World War II. It literally fell into the hands of the Nazis, and the Nazis were using it as basically an extension of the Nazi regime.

The CCP has been taking over Interpol, and the regime made it official in 2016 when Meng Hongweia CCP member and vice minister of public security for the regimewas elected president of Interpol by the organizations general assembly, Newman said.

The Communist Chinese were then using Interpol as a mechanism to track down and to harass dissidents, he said.

During the second year of his tenure, Meng was arrested by the CCP during a trip to China, Newman said.

The CCPs anti-graft body later accused Meng of corruption and stated that he also refused to execute decisions from the party center.

It has already been revealed that the CCP expects its members serving within the UN and international institutions to obey, first and foremost, the party leadership in Beijing, Newman said. But this was incredible to have them arrest an international quote-unquote civil servant and publicly say the reason they were doing this was because he wasnt properly obeying party orders.

In November 2021, the CCP successfully put forth Hu Binchen for election to Interpols powerful 13-member Executive Committee, Peter Dahlin, founder of the Safeguard Defenders, wrote for The Epoch Times.

While Hu was not as high profile as Meng, he represents Beijings continued attempts to build influence from within the organization, said a report by the Safeguard Defenders.

The fact that Hu works in the International Cooperation Department, which is responsible for the PRCs expansion of its policing overseas to return fugitives to China, via both legal and illegal means, is a significant cause for concern, the report said.

Newman said these actions speak volumes about how CCP members are operating in international institutions.

And yet, theyre still running a whole bunch of international organizations, Newman pointed out.

Hunting Chinese Dissidents Abroad

Monitoring and disrupting dissidents abroad is one of the top priorities of Chinese espionage efforts, Newman wrote in 2011 for The Diplomat.

In the crosshairs overseas are Chinese democracy activists, Tibetans, the exiled Uighur community, Falun Gong practitioners, supporters of Taiwanese independence, and countless othersessentially anybody who disagrees with the regime or paints a negative image of it abroad, Newman wrote.

At that time, Newman interviewed Swedens chief national security prosecutor Tomas Lindstram, who prosecuted a Communist Chinese spy for engaging in aggravated illegal espionage against Chinese dissidents in Sweden.

These were Chinese nationals who had fled from the oppressive regime, who had taken refuge in Sweden, and Chinese spies were running around harassing them, gathering intelligence on them, Newman told The Epoch Times. Same thing was happening in Canada. Same thing has been happening all over the world.

The tracking and harassing of Chinese dissidents also occurs on American soil, Newman pointed out, adding that the U.S. government is aware of it.

In March, the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged five individuals with harassing and spying on American residents on behalf of the Chinese secret police, according to a statement.

One of the men who was indicted is a U.S. citizen residing in New York who helped to start a pro-democracy organization opposing the current communist regime in China and allegedly used his position to spy on prominent activists and human rights leaders for more than a decade, a DOJ statement said.

Another charged individual, a Chinese national, allegedly hired a private investigator to disrupt a campaign of a congressional candidate in New York who was a military veteran and a leader of the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing in 1989, the statement said.

Congress has known about the CCPs covert activity for a very long time, Newman said, citing a resolution passed by Congress in 2004 that explained how Chinese diplomats were actively harassing and persecuting Chinese dissidents in the United States.

The Chinese Government has also attempted to silence the Falun Gong movement and Chinese pro-democracy groups inside the United States, the congressional resolution stated.

The Chinese diplomats were breaking into the homes of activists, pressuring U.S. officials with threats, and spreading lies, Newman said.

This is the behavior of a criminal operation, Newman said. This could not be happening without the tacit approval of the U.S. government.

Dorothy Li and Nicole Hao contributed to this report.

Ella Kietlinska Reporter Follow Ella Kietlinska is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S. and world politics.
Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the persecution of the spiritual discipline in China, in New York's Chinatown on July 10, 2022. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

CCPs Organ Harvesting Crimes to Come Under Focus at Nurses Summit

Academics and human rights experts will spotlight forced organ harvesting perpetrated by the Chinese communist regime at an upcoming webinar.

Harvesting organs for transplantation from living peopleits not only a violation of nursing, and medical ethics and basic human rights, but its a crime against humanity, said Deborah Collins-Perrica, director of nursing affairs at Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), a Washington-based advocacy group that is co-organizing the event.

The virtual event, to be held on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, will discuss the overwhelming evidence of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) killing of prisoners of conscience for their organs.

State-sanctioned forced organ harvesting has taken place in China for years on a significant scale, a London-based independent tribunal found in 2019. After a year-long investigation, the panel of lawyers and experts, known as the China Tribunal, concluded that such actions amounted to crimes against humanity, with imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners being the primary source of organs.

Falun Gong, a spiritual practice consisting of meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, became hugely popular in China in the 1990s, with an estimated 70 million to 100 million adherents by the end of the decade. The ruling communist regime, feeling a threat to its power, launched a nationwide persecution against the practice in 1999. Since then, millions of Falun Gong adherents have been thrown into prisons, labor camps, and brainwashing centers across the country, where they are subjected to torture, forced labor, or even forced organ harvesting.

To prevent the international medical profession from being unknowing accomplices to this grisly practice, doctors and advocates have urged transplantation communities to stop collaborating with China and to ban Chinese research papers about organ transplantation.

Earlier this year, a first-of-its-kind restriction was issued by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, a nonprofit transplantation association. The group announced in late August that it would stop accepting transplantation research papers from China, in an effort to end the abuses currently taking place under the communist regime.

Collins-Perrica said that through the virtual event, she hopes to inspire  nurses to take action.

The webinar, organized by DAFOH and the Academy of Forensic Nursing, is the first event within the nursing field to address the organ harvesting issue, according to Collins-Perrica.

In the United States, there are more than 4 million registered nurses, according to the American Nurses Association.

Its a big group of people to educate, she told The Epoch Times.

Stopping Transplant Tourism to China

Collins-Perrica, a former psychiatric clinical nurse for the U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Health Administration, said part of the goal of the upcoming conference is to inform nurses on how to respond if their patients go to China for an organ.

The health care professional said she first learned about organ harvesting while doing a research project during her graduate studies. In the project, she interviewed about 50 people from New England who had received heart transplants, and one of them had traveled to China for the organ.

This then led Collins-Perrica to dig more into the issue.

Patients from all over the world travel to China, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars or more, for transplants, often due to the countrys shorter wait times for organs.

Such transplant surgeries can even be scheduled ahead of time. In 2005, a patient at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Aviv University in Israel told his physician, Dr. Jacob Lavee, that he was going to China for a heart transplant operation that was due in two weeks. As a heart transplant surgeon, Lavee knew it was impossible to predetermine the availability of an organ for transplant, especially a heart, in any system that relies on voluntary donation.

Realizing that this could only be the result of forced organ harvesting, Lavee spearheaded the crafting of Israels Organ Transplant Law, which came into effect in 2008 and essentially bans the purchase and sale of human organs. The legislation significantly reduced transplant tourism from the country, according to a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Transplantation.

Collins-Perrica hopes the upcoming nurses summit will lead to more action to combat and prevent forced organ harvesting.

Something so evil is global; something so evil touches all of humanity, because its a deterioration of ethics, she said.

One person at a time will stop this.

Joan Delaney contributed to this report.

Dorothy Li Follow Dorothy Li is a reporter for The Epoch Times based in Europe.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pressured U.S. regulators to clear COVID-19 boosters without clinical trial data, according to newly released emails.

CDC officials relayed to counterparts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early August 2021 that they wanted authorization for Moderna and Pfizer boosters as data began showing that the vaccines werent working as well as initially promoted.

The conversation took place on a call that was described by Dr. Phil Krause, a top FDA official, to several other FDA workers.

Take a deep breath before reading this next paragraph. On that call, the CDC evidently stated that they will assemble all the data they are aware of on third dosing in this setting and send it to us in the hope that we will (very soon) authorize the third dose for immunocompromised as part of the EUA, Krause wrote in the Aug. 5, 2021, email (pdf).

EUA stands for emergency use authorization.

All of the COVID-19 vaccines were authorized under emergency conditions at that time.

No boosters had been authorized and no clinical data were available for the boosters.

The emails show that the CDC wanted the booster approved without a trial, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, wrote on Twitter.

The CDC didnt respond to a request for comment.

Krause was responding to Doran Fink, who also works for the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, charged with evaluating vaccines.

Fink sent along a post that had been made to an infectious diseases forum regarding whether doctors should be giving additional vaccine doses to patients with compromised immune systems despite the lack of authorization.

Dr. Richard Nathan of Idaho had written that other countries, including Israel, had cleared boosters.

Pfizer recommends it and I trust their guidance over the turmoil at our federal agencies. With millions of doses of vaccine set to expire, you should do what you think is best for your patients. I cant believe you would get pushback from anyone. Keep in mind, nearly everyone in this group is six to seven months out from the second dose of the vaccine and many have significant daily exposure to the virus, Nathan wrote.

Fink said the post accurately reflects more widespread thinking that I am hearing in other forums as well, including among doctors who advise the CDC on vaccines.

Providers are losing confidence in FDA/CDC to do the right thing for their patients, Fink said.

Less than two weeks later, the FDA authorized boosters for certain people, including immunocompromised persons.

The agency said that a thorough review of the available data concluded the group may benefit from a third dose.

The only data cited on efficacy were from two studies, one conducted by French researchers and another by Canadian researchers. Pfizer and Moderna hadnt completed trials.

As weve previously stated, other individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine at this time, Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDAs top official said.

But just weeks later, Woodcock and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDCs top official, signed onto a joint statement saying that vaccine protection was waning and that boosters will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.

In September 2021, the FDA and CDC authorized Pfizer boosters for many other Americans. The authorization was expanded to Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots, and virtually all other Americans, later in the year.

Krause and Dr. Marion Gruber resigned from their positions because of opposition to the booster strategy.

Judicial Watch obtained the newly published emails as part of ongoing litigation against the Biden administration for not properly responding to a Freedom of Information Act request.

An earlier tranche of emails showed that Gruber was very concerned in late August 2021 about pressure from companies such as Pfizer over vaccine authorization.

We need to be given time to consider their data and cannot be pushed by these companies and, for that matter the Administration, who try to impose timeless [sic] that make no sense, Gruber wrote to Dr. Peter Marks, a top FDA official.

These FDA records further document top officials concerns about the controversial COVID-19 booster shots, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement. That it has taken months and a federal lawsuit to uncover this critical material is a scandal.
Chinas Collection of DNA Data Linked to Bioweapons, Religious Persecution, Organ Harvesting

Police in Chinas Fuzhou City recently bragged about solving a break-in by conducting a DNA test of a blood smear from a mosquito that allegedly stung the burglar. However, the incident, which made global headlines, brings to the fore the threats associated with the exploitation of DNA databases.

The Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) ambitious efforts to collect genomic datafrom inside and outside of Chinato solve crimes and maintain social control have already been raising concerns for years.

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center has warned that the CCP, for years, has been collecting American healthcare and DNA data, through both legal and illegal means. U.S. officials recently said that such sensitive data might be potentially exploited by American enemies to create targeted biological weapons.

23andMe saliva collection kit for personal genetic, DNA ancestry, and health test. (Lets Design Studio/Shutterstock)

There are now weapons under development, and developed, that are designed to target specific people, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) reportedly said at the Aspen Security Forum in July this year.

Thats what this is, where you can actually take someones DNA  their medical profile, and you can target a biological weapon that will kill that person or take them off the battlefield or make them inoperable.

Crow also talked about how people, especially young people, are not as concerned about privacy as the older generation, and would not hesitate to share their DNA with companies just out of the curiosity to learn more about their ancestry. People will very rapidly spit into a cup and send it to 23andMe and get really interesting data about their background, he said.

However, Crow cautioned that such DNA, which is now owned by a private company, could be sold off to another party with very little intellectual property protection or privacy protection. [W]e dont have legal and regulatory regimes to deal with that, he added.

Human rights groups and scientists are worried about the CCPs large-scale collection of DNA databases, and how the information could be used to persecute critics of the Chinese regime, and members of ethnic and religious minorities.

Even more worrisome is that for years Chinas Ministry of Public Security has been building a DNA database from millions of Chinese men and boys, specifically targeting the Y chromosome found in males, with the aim to help comprehensively improve the ability to solve cases and manage and control society, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Maya Wang, a researcher at the non-profit group Human Rights Watch in Hong Kong, told Nature: This collection has nothing to do with crimeit has to do with oppression.

Mechthild Prinz, a forensic geneticist at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York shared a similar concern. This is really unique, Prinz said. No other country is doing it. They just go and get people that are regular citizens. It is very heavy-handed.

Forced Collection of Samples

The Chinese regime has also been collecting blood samples from minorities and religious believers such as Christians, Falun Gong adherents, Tibetans, and Uyghurs. Human rights experts are concerned that the data could be used by the CCP for forced organ harvesting.

Minghui.orga U.S.-based nonprofit organization that provides firsthand information on the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in Chinahas been reporting for the past several years that blood and DNA samples are being forcibly collected from countless incarcerated Falun Gong adherents who refused to renounce their spiritual faith.

Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a mind-body self-improvement discipline based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, forbearance. The practice has been persecuted by the Chinese regime since July 1999.

Li Erying, a Falun Gong practitioner who fled China in 2019, recounted how police took her blood samples and linked the sample ID with her record. She also noticed that the police had detailed records of every Falun Gong adherent, including their distant relatives.

Sayragul Sauytbay, a Kazakh who was teaching Chinese in the Xinjiang detention camps, told Ethan Gutmannan award-winning China analyst, a human-rights investigator, and a 2017 Nobel Peace Prize nomineethat a health check is done every few months and certain people who have their names marked would disappear in the middle of the night.

The reason she gave: organ harvesting.
Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, speaks on stage during The 2022 Concordia Annual Summit at Sheraton New York in New York City on Sept. 19, 2022. (Riccardo Savi/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

Chinese Donor, Fundraiser for NYC Mayor Eric Adams Worked Closely With Communist Party Influence Operation

A fundraiser and donor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams election campaign heads a non-profit that houses a Chinese overseas police station and works closely with Communist Party influence operations, a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation found.

Lu Jianshun supported fundraising efforts for Adams through his role as the president of America Changle Association, an organization based in Manhattans Chinatown that caters to overseas Chinese from the Changle district of Fuzhou, Fujian Province in China, the DCNF found. Lu himself donated $4,000 to Adams mayoral campaign under the adopted name James Lu between 2019 and 2021, according to public campaign finance records.

Lu and America Changle have worked closely with the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the DCNF found based on a review of Chinese state media and government sources. The UFWD is a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) agency tasked with running influence operations and monitoring overseas Chinese communities, according to a 2018 report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

The UFWD seeks to co-opt ethnic Chinese individuals and communities living outside China and plays an increasingly important role in Chinas broader foreign policy under General Secretary Xi Jinping, the report states.

America Changle has maintained close contact with and taken instruction from UFWD officials during video conference calls in recent years, according to multiple Chinese-state-run media sources.

For example, both America Changle President Lu Jianshun and its former chairman Lu Jianwang received orders from the UFWD on how best to respond to the COVID-19 virus during one March 2020 video call, according to U.S.-based Chinese-language outlet icitynews. During the call, the deputy minister of the UFWD for Fuzhou instructed America Changle to guide the overseas Chinese to wear masks, wash their hands, and increase communication with their China-based counterparts, a state media outlet for overseas Fujianese reported.

Zhang Zikuo, former chairman of America Changle, took part in the March 2020 video conference and replied to the UFWD deputy minister by saying their organization would comply with the Chinese governments request and increase safety measures, according to the state-run outlet.

One year later, in March 2021, Lu Jianshun, Lu Jianwang, and others held another video conference with CCP members and UFWD officials who acknowledged America Changles role in planting a UFWD liaison office in Manhattan, according to a report from the official news organization of Chinas Fujian Province.

During the video conference, Lu Jianwang thanked the UFWD for their help in establishing the satellite office within America Changle purportedly to connect overseas Chinese with the Fuzhou government, the report stated. Lu Jianwang was identified as a special liaison officer for the Changle District Court, apparently in reference to his role as the primary intermediary between the UFWD and the Chinese community that associates with America Changle.

The following month, Lu Jianshun and Lu Jianwang held another livestream with UFWD and Propaganda department officials in June 2021, this time celebrating the 100th anniversary of the CCP, Chinese media state reported.

Adams office and America Changle did not respond to the DCNFs request for comment.

People Can See Him as a Conduit

Lus donations to Adams campaign were first reported by The New York Post, as was Adams attendance to America Changles gala in September.

The DCNF confirmed Lus identity by matching his Facebook profile with photos and articles from America Changle and other media outlets.

America Changle is just one of many New York City associations that claim to promote the prosperity of Chinese immigrants. However, New York City Chinese human rights activists have raised the alarm over the groups presidents support of Adams, noting the strong ties between America Changle and CCP-backed influence operations.

They have a lot of money, Zhang Jing, a human rights advocate from New York Citys Chinatown, told the DCNF. They can often hold banquets to support the candidates they like.

Changles website includes several photographs of Adams with Lu Jianshun bearing a caption that reads: support Eric Adams campaign.

Lu Jianshun is also the co-chairman of the Alliance of Asian American Friends (AAAF), which is composed of dozens of alliance units, including America Changle. AAAF held at least five events supporting Adams 2021 campaign between May and October 2021, according to its website.

Former New York City Council member Peter Koo serves as AAAFs honorary president, the organizations website shows, and has reportedly organized campaign events for Adams attended by America Changle representatives, such as a December 2021 fundraiser for Adams inauguration, according to state-controlled media.

Lu Jianshun and other prominent Chinese residents of New York Citysuch as Mei Jianguo, head of the U.S. arm of the newspaper Sing Taoalso held a fundraiser for Adams at Royal Queen Restaurant in Flushing Chinatown in January 2020, according to Chinese state media. The Department of Justice forced Sing Tao U.S. to register as a foreign agent in 2021. Sing Taos parent company is owned by members of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, which is controlled by the CCP.

Just one day after America Changle convened a flag-waving party for communist Chinas 73rd birthday, Adams attended the organizations 24th anniversary celebration on Sept. 29, where he reportedly sang the groups praises.

This is such an important organization to empower our Chinese-American community, Adams said at the celebration while standing beside Lu Jianshun on the stage, referring to America Changle. He then characterized the organization as the foundation of both New York Citys Chinese community and the entire city.

One expert in nonprofits told the DCNF that politicians should be wary of which groups they associate with on the campaign trail and while in office.

Adams, as Mayor, needs to be very careful with his relationship with anything  whether its with a business or other politicians or with nonprofits  because people can see him as a conduit to a lot of things, Doug White, a philanthropic adviser, told the DCNF.

Chinese Equivalent of a Police Station on US Soil

America Changle was registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit between 2016 and 2018, federal records reveal; however, the IRS added the organization to an auto-revocation list in May 2022 after it failed to file tax returns for three consecutive years. America Changles current tax exempt status remains unclear, as the IRS notice also states that even if an organization appears on the auto-revocation list it may have had its status reinstated.

America Changle also houses an overseas Chinese police bureau within its Manhattan offices, which is part of a global network of outposts the CCP uses to spy on and intimidate Chinese dissidents, according to a recent report by human rights group Safeguard Defenders.

These stations both in their online and physical overseas form, also serve a more sinister goal as they contribute to resolutely cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese, reads the report.

The station housed within America Changle is an extension of the 110 Overseas police unit from Fuzhou, in Chinas Fujian Province, which reportedly executes foreign strike operations against overseas Chinese dissidents through intimidation, arrest, and forced repatriation, according to Safeguard Defenders.

America Changle opened its 110 Overseas police station in February 2022, Chinese state-run media outlet reported. The report listed Lu and several other America Changle members as staff members of the police station.

This Chinese equivalent of a police station on U.S. soil appears neither advisable nor legal, Steve Yates, former deputy assistant for national security affairs to former Vice President Mike Pence, told the DCNF. Under no circumstances would China tolerate a foreign law enforcement entity to operate inside China but outside normal channels, and neither should we do so here.

Laura Harth, campaign director for the human rights group Safeguard Defenders, told the DCNF that overseas police stations, such as the one found within America Changle, appear to be aligned with the UFWDs influence operations.

It is clear that Beijing is using the UFWD to build this policing service, Harth said, referring to the vast secret police station network that includes the station housed within America Changle.

The DCNF reached out to the FBI, who declined to comment.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Micaela Burrow Follow Micaela Burrow, national security and defense reporter, is a contributor to The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Darrell Brooks appears in Waukesha County Court in Waukesha, Wis., on Nov. 23, 2021. (Mark Hoffman/Pool via Reuters)

Darrell Brooks Found Guilty of Murder in Wisconsin Parade Killings

A Wisconsin man was found guilty on Oct. 26 of murder and other charges for killing six people and injuring dozens of others when he drove his SUV into a Christmas parade near Milwaukee last year.

A 12-person jury in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, convicted Darrell Brooks, 40, of six counts of intentional homicide. He faces life in prison when sentenced.

Brooks rested his head in his hands as Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow read the verdict.

Tim Michels, a Republican challenging Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, was among those celebrating the verdict. Prosecutors did fantastic jobs, he said.

My heart again goes out to the victims and their families, Michels said. Their pain isnt erased, but this was a just verdict.

Evers hasnt yet commented on the verdict.

Brooks was accused of deliberately driving his sport utility vehicle through police barricades and into the crowds participating in the annual parade in the city of Waukesha, located about 15 miles west of downtown Milwaukee, on Nov. 21, 2021.

Brooks represented himself during the three-week trial, and was repeatedly admonished by Dorow for failing to follow court rules, including when he used file boxes to obstruct himself from view.

During his closing argument, Brooks told the jury that he had no intention of hurting anyone. He said he sounded the vehicles horn as he drove through the crowd, attempting to warn people to get out of the way.

Prosecutors said Brooks was guilty.

When you ride through a parade route and roll over children  your intent is known, Mr. Brooks, Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said during closing arguments. Thats not an accident.

Brooks killed Jackson Sparks, 8; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; LeAnna Owen, 71; Virginia Sorenson, 79; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.

More than 60 other people were injured, including at least 18 children.

Brooks, a Milwaukee resident, was out on bail from a domestic abuse charge at the time of the attack. He was arrested near the scene and has been in custody ever since.

In his opening argument, Brooks said he didnt have a well-prepared speech but that jurors should remember that theres always two sides to every story.

I pray that your eyes and ears remain as open as possible. And understand that you alone decide this case, this matter. The power is in your hands, all of you, to determine for yourselves what truth is. Thank you, he said.

Witnesses throughout the trial described what they saw.

Abel Lazcano, one of the witnesses, said he watched a red SUV plow over a bunch of people.

Did you see the driver of this SUV youre referring to? Brooks asked.

Lazcano said, Yes. Youre standing right there.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Iranian police patrol in the capital Tehran amidst widespread protests on Oct. 8, 2022. (-/AFP via Getty Images)

Death Toll of Iran Protests Surpasses 230: Human Rights Group

At least 234 people, including 29 children, have been killed in the ongoing protests in Iran, a human rights organization reported on Oct. 25.

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) stated that theyve also received multiple reports of Iranian authorities attempting to cover up the killing of protesters.

Returning bodies is made contingent on families promising to stay silent or confirming the false causes of death cited by the Forensic Medical Organisation on the death certificates, the organization stated.

While people in Iran have been demonstrating for five weeks and repeatedly demanding the overthrow of the Islamic regime in Iran, security forces have dispersed gatherings with live ammunition and tear gas, according to IHRNGO.

A bin burning in the middle of an intersection during a protest for Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republics morality police, in Tehran on Sept. 20, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

Pressure on doctors to write a false cause of death on certificates, presence of security forces while identifying the injured in hospitals, transportation of security forces in ambulancesthese are violations of international law and ethical principlesthe World Health Organization and the Red Cross must react, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, IHRNGO director and a professor at the University of Oslo, wrote on Twitter on Oct. 25.

Based in Oslo, Norway, IHRNGO has members inside and outside Iran and describes itself as a nonpartisan and politically independent organization.

Berlin March

About 80,000 people marched in Berlin on Oct. 22 in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Iran, according to German police.

The rally is believed to have been the biggest so far held by the Iranian diaspora. People came to the capital from all over Europe to take part.

Demonstrators hold Irans flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of Irans morality police, in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2022. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)

Hamed Esmaeilion, an Iranian Canadian activist and dentist who lost his wife and daughter in the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020 by the Revolutionary Guard and the spokesperson of the rally, asked the international community to expel Tehrans ambassadors.

He also urged the international community to not negotiate with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as the Islamic Republic does not represent Iran.

Iranian Canadian author and activist Hamed Esmaeilion speaks at a rally organized by the Women Life Freedom Collective in solidarity with women and protesters in Iran on Oct. 22, 2022, in Berlin. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The protests began after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who was visiting Tehran on Sept. 13, was arrested by Irans morality police.

She died in custody after they detained her for allegedly not complying with the regimes strict hijab rules. Her family members and protesters suspect that Amini was hit on the head by police officers, which led to her death.

Aminis death has sparked large and ongoing antigovernment protests across Iran.

In response to the protests, authorities have cracked down harshly on demonstrators and have intermittently shut down internet access.
Debate Host Fires Back After John Fetterman Team Claims Closed Captioning Full of Errors

U.S. Senate candidate John Fettermans campaign alleged that the closed captioning system used to assist the Pennsylvania Democrat candidate against the firstand onlydebate against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz was full of errors and delayed.

Earlier this year, Fetterman, the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, suffered a stroke and has struggled with his speech and communication, triggering concerns that he is unfit to serve in the Senate. The campaigns of both Oz, a longtime TV doctor, and Fetterman agreed to allow him to use closed captioning for the debate.

Following the debate, Fetterman spokesman Joe Calvello told reporters that the campaign believed Fetterman performed well despite what he said were errors in the closed captioning.

We are thrilled with Johns performance, Calvello stated. He did remarkably well tonight  especially when you consider that hes still recovering from a stroke and was working off of delayed captions filled with errors. John won countless exchanges, counter-punched aggressively, and pushed back on Ozs cruelty and attacks.

But Nexstar refuted Calvellos claims about alleged errors in the closed captioning.

Unfortunate

It is unfortunate that Mr. Fetterman is now criticizing the closed captioning process employed by Nexstar during tonights debate, Nexstar communications chief Gary Weitman told news outlets. Weitman said that Fetterman did not use all his opportunities to prepare for the debate.

Both candidates agreed to the technical set-up for the closed captioning process weeks ago, which was implemented at the request of the Fetterman campaign, he said. Both candidates were offered the opportunity for two full rehearsals with the same equipment used in tonights debate; Mr. Fetterman chose to do only one.

Weitman went a step further and said the firms production team went to extraordinary lengths to ensure the effectiveness of the closed captioning process, and to accommodate several last-minute requests of the Fetterman campaign.

The closed captioning process functioned as expected during rehearsal and again during tonights debate, he added. We regret that Mr. Fetterman and his campaign feel otherwise.

Painful

Despite Calvellos assertions that Fetterman performed well, his debate responses were riddled with errors and were, at times, difficult to watch. Fetterman often paused awkwardly for long stretches of time, missed words, and spoke in a halted manner.

Fetterman has not released his full medical records, although he told the debate moderator that my doctor believes Im fit to serve. His campaign has not allowed journalists to interview his doctors.

However, even legacy media outlets made note of his speech difficulties and obvious health problems, with an Axios headline saying, Fettermans painful debate, while the New York Times wrote that he is showing stroke effects. The Washington Post conceded that he displayed verbal struggles against Oz.

And the post-debate commentary on NewsNation, hosted by Nexstar, focused primarily on Fettermans health and whether he can serve or not.

NewsNation host Leland Vittert stated that the biggest issue during the debate was John Fettermans health and his ability to comprehend speech, and to then speak coherently on the issues of the day.

During the start of the debate, Fetterman noted that the elephant in the room is his health, claiming: I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down and Im going to keep coming back up.

Both Oz and Fetterman are vying for the Senate seat thats currently held by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who weighed in on the debate on Tuesday night.

Its sad to see John Fetterman struggling so much, Toomey told CNN. He should take more time to allow himself to fully recover. 
Alex Scilla (L), founder of New Paltz-based NYenvironcom, and Grace Woodard at the at the Mamakating Farmers Market in Wurtsboro, on Sept. 2, 2022. (Epoch Times)

Deerpark Arts School Says China-Linked Group Targeting It With Lies

DEERPARK, N.Y.A New Paltz-based group with ties to China is using questionable environmental claims to raise money in its years-long effort to target a group of Chinese Americans and their performing arts school in Deerpark, New York.

The group, NYEnvironcom, launched a fundraiser on Facebook in late September, claiming it was seeking funding for an environmental lawsuit against the arts school.

The lawsuit in question alleges that the school and rehearsal spaces hosted at a site called Dragon Springs contaminated a local river with wastewater. Results provided to the court in June, however, showed all the samples were under the legal limit. When attorneys representing Dragon Springs pointed this out, the group came back with three more samples in August.

After previously failing to show any evidence of illegal contamination, these samples suddenly appear to paint a perfect picture of contamination. And yet, we have security footage showing they are lying about where these samples come from, said Dr. George Xu, vice president of Dragon Springs, in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Dragon Springs has been a mainstay of the small town of Deerpark, New York, for more than 20 years. It includes a Tang Dynasty-style Buddhist temple, rehearsal spaces for performing arts company Shen Yun, and a campus hosting two religious arts schools, Fei Tian College and Fei Tian Academy of the Arts.

Dragon Springs and Shen Yun Performing Arts were founded by adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong who had escaped brutal persecution in China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers Dragon Springs a prime target, perceiving it as a headquarters of Falun Gong adherents efforts to counter the persecution.

Attack the overseas Falun Gong headquarters and bases systematically and strategically, reads a CCP directive document dated 2017, obtained by The Epoch Times.

NYEnvironcom was founded in 2019 by Alex Scilla, an American who had until that point lived in China for at least 15 years. He runs the group together with Grace Woodard, a local activist, and presents it as an environmental outfit. To this day, Scilla maintains ties to China, including to a company in Tianjin thats listed as a partner of NYEnvironcom on the groups website.

An investigative report published by The Epoch Times previously revealed Scillas close ties to China and the fact that virtually all of his groups efforts, just like Woodards, are focused on Dragon Springs.

In its latest effort, NYEnvironcom appears to be using American environmental law in an effort to target Dragon Springs.

Lawsuit

NYEnvironcom filed its lawsuit in the Southern District of New York in January, claiming that a ponded area by the Basher Kill River on the Dragon Springs property had been contaminated with fecal coliform.

In June, the group submitted to the court laboratory samples it alleged were collected in the ponded area and the river, claiming some of them exceeded the legal limit for fecal coliform. The laboratory results, meanwhile, appear to show that all the samples were under the legal limit.

As mentioned above, after this was pointed out by Dragon Springs attorneys, the group came back with three more samples in August.

The August samples presented to the courtbut which were not admitted by the judgeappeared crafted to paint a damning picture. The lab report shows one Basher Kill sample collected upstream with relatively low coliform presence, then another from the ponded area that showed a coliform count about 12 times the legal limit, and then another one from Basher Kill, seemingly downstream, showing an elevated yet still acceptable level.

According to Dragon Springs representatives, the claims are contradicted by the evidence. They point out that the Basher Kill sample is presented as if it indicates downstream pollution. Security camera footage reviewed by The Epoch Times, however, shows a woman appearing to collect the sample in question from a tributary stream that enters the river upstream from the ponded area.

They are lying about where these samples come from, Xu alleges.

Secondly, the ponded area is in fact a flat piece of riverbank that turns into a pond when flooded with water from the river itself, as images of the area reviewed by The Epoch Times indicate. The extremely elevated sample was allegedly collected on the morning of Aug. 22, after months of drought that decreased the rivers water levels. As a result, the area dried up and the pond disappeared, with just a few puddles left.

Theres no telling what may have been soaking in these tiny, isolated puddles, given the densely wooded area is teeming with wildlife, and animal feces contain coliform, too, Xu said.

The District Court ended up disregarding on procedural grounds both of the plaintiffs August samples, as well as the Dragon Springs response to it. The court will next be ruling on whether the lawsuit should be dismissed.

The Dragon Springs site is served by its own wastewater treatment plant thats quarterly tested for the quality of the water it releases.

Our modern wastewater treatment plant eliminates any coliform presence. Regular testing proves this. Furthermore, the treated water is released into the ground. No wastewater is discharged into the river, Xu said.

Meanwhile, Scilla and Woodard, on a Facebook page they have used to solicit money for the lawsuit, have made a more extreme claim, saying that water ponded in Basher Kill is contaminated with fecal coliform counts 25 times above the legal limittwice as much as they claimed in the court papers.

As of Oct. 26, five people had donated a total of $235: Scilla, his mother, Woodard, NYEnvironcom board member Patrick Chan, and another individual.

NYEnvironcom, meanwhile, appears to have deployed a strategy of using its claims to generate negative media coverage.

Xu said: Were troubled by the fact that local media appears to be working with one of the plaintiffs in what we believe is a frivolous lawsuit against us.

We witnessed these reporters in the plaintiffs backyard, and it seems they were flying drones over our property, a campus where children attend school.

NYEnvironcom and its lawyer didnt respond to emailed questions by press time.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese LiDAR solution provider Hesai Technology recently announced the formal cooperation with Changan Auto.

Photo credit: Hesai Technology

According to Hesai Technology, under the cooperation, it will supply Changan Auto with its AT128 auto-grade ultra-high-definition LiDAR to the automaker's various new vehicle models powered by the SDA architecture.

The AT128 is Hesai Technology's long-range main LiDAR targeting the factory-installed ADAS market. As its name implies, the AT128 integrates 128 lasers inside, realizing ultra-high-resolution scanning of the surrounding environment with a dot frequency of more than 1.53 million per second, helping intelligent vehicles to "see" the three-dimensional world in real time.

As Hesai Technology's signature product, since its release, the AT128 has attracted procurement orders from various auto brands such as Li Auto, Baidu's JIDU, HiPhi, and Lotus Cars. In September this year, the company announced that the monthly delivery volume of the AT128 has exceeded 10,000 units, making the Hesai Technology the world's first automotive LiDAR supplier to deliver over 10,000 LiDAR units in a single month.

On the other hand, the SDA architecture is Changan Auto's intelligent vehicle super digital platform newly launched in August this year. The architecture has such technical features as pluggable hardware, arrangeable scenario, self-upgradable system, and an ecosystem on demand.
A Typhoon jet of the Royal Air Force flies over the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta, Romania, on April 8, 2022. (Daniel Mihailescu /AFP via Getty Images)

Ex-UK Military Pilots Didnt Share Classified Information With China, Alleged Intermediary Insists

Former UK military pilots who were hired to offer training to the Chinese armed forces havent shared any classified information with the regime, a South African flying academy that UK officials say served as an intermediary insists.

Britains Ministry of Defence (MOD) warned last week that retired British military pilots have been recruited by the Chinese regime to teach its armed forces how to defeat Western warplanes.

About 30 former fighter jet and helicopter pilots have been hired through a headhunter to help train Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) with lucrative compensation packages of about $270,000 a year, UK media quoted defence officials as saying.

This undated photo taken in April 2018 shows J-15 multirole fighter jets on Chinas aircraft carrier, Liaoning, during a drill at sea. (AFP/Getty Images)

Officials said the recruitment has been carried out through third parties, including the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA).

In a statement issued on Oct. 25, the academy said it had been in contact with the MOD for many years and the department is fully aware of the nature of the companys business.

The school, which trains pilots and engineers from countries around the world, said, All training aspects and material are strictly unclassified, and provided either from open source or the clients themselves.

No training involves classified tactics or other information, nor any frontline activities.

It added that none of its trainers are in possession of legally or operationally sensitive information relating to the national security interests of any country, whether those from where its employees are drawn or in which it provides training.

Security Alert

The MOD said last week it had issued an intelligence alert warning pilots against taking part.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said the MOD has already approached the people involved and has made clear that its our expectation they would not continue to be part of that organisation.

We are going to put into law that once people have been given that warning it will become an offence to go forward and continue with that training, he told Sky News.

China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world, he said, adding, there is no secret in their attempt to gain access to our secrets, and their recruitment of our pilots in order to understand the capabilities of our air force is clearly a concern to us and the intelligence part of the MoD.

In a statement, the MOD said it was attempting to stop the recruitment of both former and serving pilots.

A spokesman said: We are taking decisive steps to stop Chinese recruitment schemes attempting to headhunt serving and former UK armed forces pilots to train Peoples Liberation Army personnel in the Peoples Republic of China.

All serving and former personnel are already subject to the Official Secrets Act, and we are reviewing the use of confidentiality contracts and non-disclosure agreements across defence, while the new National Security Bill will create additional tools to tackle contemporary security challengesincluding this one.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford attends a press briefing at the Queens Park Legislature in Toronto, on Oct. 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young)

Ford Pushes Back On Order Summoning Him to Testify at Emergencies Act Inquiry

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his former solicitor general Sylvia Jones are going to court to fight an order to have them testify before the commission of inquiry into the Liberal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act.

Ford defended the decision in the provincial legislature on Oct. 26, saying the inquiry is not a provincial issue.

This is a federal inquiry into the federal governments decision to use the federal Emergencies Act, he said.

For Ontario, this was a policing matter, it was not a political matter.

The Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC) had summoned Ford and Jones to appear as witnesses on Nov. 10. In a judicial review application filed with Federal Court on Oct. 25, Ontarios Attorney General cited parliamentary privilege as the reason the two declined to testify at the hearing.

Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity available to legislative and executive branches of government, shielding MPs or cabinet ministers from being compelled by courts to testify about their legislation or deliberation procedures so that they can carry out their principal functions effectively.

The application said irreparable harm will occur if the court doesnt grant a stay of POECs order summoning Ford and Jones.

The constitutional privilege, which the Supreme Court has confirmed is of central importance to the Canadian legal system as a whole, will be breached and the application will become moot, the application said.

POECs mandate is to examine and assess the basis for Ottawas decision to declare a public order emergency on Feb. 14 in response to the Freedom Convoy protests and border blockades that called for an end to federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions.

The Attorney Generals office told the Toronto Star that the Ontario government has provided POEC with an extensive report detailing its actions during the protests and has made two senior officials available to serve as witnesses.

We believe that questions about Ontarios institutional response will be sufficiently addressed by the testimony from the two senior officials already selected by the commission, the office reportedly said.

Overall, our view has always been that this was a policing matter and the police witnesses that are testifying can best provide the commission with the evidence it needs.

The court is set to hear the judicial review application on Nov. 1.

Disappointed

POECs order for Ford and Jones to testify at its public hearing came at the request of several civil liberties groups, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), and the Ottawa Coalition.

POECs lawyers previously asked Ford and Jones for interviews on Sept. 19, but the request was refused, according to a letter from the commission to the civil liberties groups, reported the Star. The request was renewed a number of times but were all refused, said co-counsels of commissioner Paul Rouleau.

Cara Zwibel, a lawyer with the CCLA, issued a statement on Oct. 24 saying its extremely disappointing that Premier Ford and Minister Jones would challenge the summons in this manner.

That Ontarios leadership is not only unwilling to assist but actively obstructing the commissions work is an abdication of its responsibility to the people of Ontario, Zwibel wrote.

We have seen this government resist transparency and accountability in many contexts, but this one is a particularly shocking example.

Sujit Choudhry, a lawyer for the CCF, told the Star that the federal Emergencies Act is a last resort that can only be used when all other legal authorities fall short. He argued that even without invoking the act, Ford had other tools available such as creating a Red Zone around Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa where the main convoy protests took place.

We are very disappointed that Premier Ford and Minister Jones are forcing the commission to go to court. They have relevant evidence and should testify before the commission as soon as possible, Choudhry said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Former NDP MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq holds a photo of Johannes Rivoire, a priest who is wanted in Canada but resides in France, during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on July 8, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

France Denies Extradition for Priest Facing Sexual Assault Charge in Nunavut

The federal government says France has denied an extradition request for a priest accused of crimes against children in Nunavut.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada made the extradition request for Johannes Rivoire, who is in his 90s and lives in Lyon, France.

Rivoire is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, issued in February, for a charge of sexual assault stemming from a complaint received last year.

Heartbreaking to see this grave injustice continue, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said in a tweet Thursday.

Rivoire was in Canada from the early 1960s to 1993, when he returned to France. He has previously avoided trial for multiple allegations of sexual abuse linked to his time as a priest in Nunavut.

A warrant was also issued for his arrest in 1998. He faced at least three charges of sexual abuse in the Nunavut communities of Arviat, Rankin Inlet and Naujaat. More than two decades later, the charges were stayed.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada said at the time it was partly due to Frances reluctance to extradite Rivoire.

Miller said the federal government is working with RCMP to have Interpol issue a Red Notice, which would allow for Rivoire to be arrested in any other country.

Therefore, prosecution in Canada remains possible if Johannes Rivoire leaves France, Miller said.

A group representing Nunavut Inuit travelled to France last month to call for extradition.
A Bryan County substitute teacher says she was terminated from her job at McAllister Elementary School after she reported a childrens book containing illustrations that go against her religious values.

Part of the schools new library read-aloud program, childrens book All Are Welcome contains illustrations of nontraditional forms of marriage, including depictions of a same-sex male couple.

Since being fired, teacher Lindsey Barr lawyered up and began a lawsuit against Bryan County Schools and McAllister Elementary in Georgia for violating her constitutional rightsand her rights as a parent.

Also a mom of three sons, all currently attending Bryan County Schools, Barr said she learned about the book on Aug. 15 through the school librarian, who made it public on Facebook ahead of the read-aloud program, adding that she was already on high alert after previous interactions.

I believe in traditional marriage, as outlined by the Bible, that marriage is held between a man and a womandeeply held religious beliefs, she told The Epoch Times. This book depicted images that were contrary to that.

Elementary school teacher Lindsey Barr is suing Bryan County Schools and Macalester Elementary for violating her Constitutional rightsand her rights as a parent. (Courtesy of Lindsey Barr)

Barr reported her findings to a fellow teacher forthwith, and shortly thereafter emailed McAllister Elementarys Principal, Heather Tucker, voicing her concerns, and requesting that her own children be excused from the reading.

[Principle Tucker] ended up calling me the next day, and I was not at school, Barr said. She said that my kids would be excused from that reading program.

But the debacle didnt end there.

Barr asked for an opportunity to meet the principal in private to discuss the matter, but with that came consequences. I basically told her  we have deeply held religious values that were teaching our children about marriage, and that I felt like the book is outside of that, Barr said.

As a substitute teacher, Barr uses a platform to pick up classroom work. She can choose her own schedule and its fairly flexible, she said. Usually, shes awash with jobs. Then something changed.

When you log into the platform, you can go in and say, I want to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, she said. When I logged into that platform, I had no offers to work. The day before I had logged in, I had 57 job offers. And then that day that I logged inthe next day, after making the complaintI had zero.

Prior to becoming a substitute teacher, Barr had taught fulltime in Bryan County for ten years, until taking a break in 2018. When her youngest son entered kindergarten this year, she returned to work as a substitute at McAllister Elementarybefore stumbling on said childrens book.

A few days after her termination, Barr contacted Alliance Defending Freedom legal and began building a case, accusing the school of violating her constitutional rights, which guarantee religious freedom and free speech.

McAllister Elementary School, located in Bryan County, Richmond Hill, Georgia. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Parents have the right to express their opinion on matters of public concern, and even teachers are entitled to express concern about whats being taught to their own children, Barrs attorney, Phil Sechler, told The Epoch Times. A school, a government cannot punish somebody for speaking out on a matter of public concern, as Lindsey did. And thats essentially what happened and she was punished for stating her views.

The alleged punitive firing might also contravene Georgias new Parents Bill of Rights, which protects the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their minor children and affords them the right to review all instructional material intended for use in the classroom of his or her minor child.

[The Parents Bill of Rights] basically has, first, the right of parents to understand what is being used with their children in schools, their minor children, said Sechler. And, second, [the right] to object to things that they dont want used with their children.

The Epoch Times reached out to McAllister Elementary School Principal Tucker for comment.

Barr said the book All Are Welcome is already being read to students at the elementary school, which instructs children from grades K through 5.

In a similar lawsuit severed in July, in Loudoun County, Virginia, 11 parents, in conjunction with America First Legal, took action against Loudoun County Public Schools for exposing students to inappropriate, sexualized material in the classroom, and implementing policies that would keep parents from knowing if their kids are expressing different genders at school.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
The logo for Google LLC is seen at the Google Store Chelsea in New York City, Nov. 17, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Google Reaches Agreement With DOJ Over Compliance With Subpoenas, Search Warrants

Tech giant Google has reached a stipulated agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) promising to reform and upgrade its legal process compliance program after it allegedly lost federal data that was being sought by investigators in 2016.

In a press release, the DOJ said that under the first-of-its-kind resolution, Alphabet Inc.s Google will improve its legal process compliance program, which responds to legal demands such as subpoenas and search warrants while also safeguarding users privacy and limiting government access to user data, according to Google (pdf).

The program will be updated and reformed to ensure timely and complete responses to legal process such as subpoenas and search warrants, as required under the Stored Communications Act (SCA) and other applicable legal authorities, the DOJ said.

Google will also ensure it maintains sufficient compliance staff numbers to ensure the newly improved program runs smoothly and will allocate engineering resources to support legal process compliance.

A third-party Independent Compliance Professional will also monitor the tech giant to ensure it fulfills its legal obligations, the DOJ said.

The agreement comes following a 2016 search warrant that was obtained by the United States in California for data held at Google. The data, according to the DOJ, related to an investigation into cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, which was indicted in 2017 for alleged money laundering.

The warrant was issued under the Stored Communications Act (SCA), under which tech companies such as Google are compelled to disclose stored customer communications when served with a warrant signed by a judge and supported by probable cause.

However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit later ruled that the search warrants issued under the SCA did not cover data stored outside of the United States, and thus Google halted execution of the search warrant and made rolling productions containing only information it could confirm was stored in the United States, because its data preservation tools at the time stored data in the United States, according to the DOJ.

Ensure Public Safety and Bring Offenders to Justice

In 2018, Congress clarified the SCA did cover data that U.S. providers store overseas, but in the meantime, data responsive to the 2016 warrant was lost.

Under Tuesdays agreement, Google has also committed to implementing procedures that will ensure it responds to legal processes in a timely manner and to generate a compliance timeliness record for missed deadlines, which will be made available to the government upon request.

The California-headquartered company will also develop and maintain needed tools to retrieve data in response to legal process and develop plans for legal process responses corresponding to new product launches, the DOJ said.

It will also create periodic reports and updates regarding its enhanced Legal Process Compliance Program which it will hand over to the government, the Google Compliance Steering Committee, and the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Alphabet Board of Directors.

The Department is committed to ensuring that electronic communications providers comply with court orders to protect and facilitate criminal investigations, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. This agreement demonstrates the Departments resolve in ensuring that technology companies, such as Google, provide prompt and complete responses to legal process to ensure public safety and bring offenders to justice.

Google on Tuesday estimated that it has already spent over $90 million on additional resources, systems, and staffing to implement legal process compliance program improvements and said it will maintain its lawful protections of user data.

The tech giant noted that the agreement does not provide the United States access to Google user data.

Google has a long track record of protecting our users privacy, including pushing back against overbroad government demands for user data, and this agreement in no way changes our ability or our commitment to continue doing so, an unnamed Google representative told The Wall Street Journal.
The logo for Google LLC at the Google Store Chelsea in Manhattan, New York, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Google Sets Up High-Tech School at Israeli University

JERUSALEMAlphabet Inc.s Google and Israels 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 subsidize 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 percent of Israels 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.
Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) (L), Republican candidate for New York governor, participates in a debate against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul hosted by Spectrum News NY1 at Pace University in New York on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mary Altaffer, Pool via AP)

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Zeldin Says Hell Declare Crime Emergency in NY

Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin suggested he would declare a crime emergency and end cashless bail if hes elected, according to remarks he made during his only debate with Democrat incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Zeldin also declared that he would use his authority as governor, if elected, to remove Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, one of several high-profile prosecutors linked to progressive billionaire donor George Soros.

My opponent thinks that right now theres a polio emergency going on but theres not a crime emergencydifferent priorities than Im hearing from people right now, Zeldin, a U.S. congressman from Long Island, on Oct. 25 during the debate. Theyre not being represented from this governorwho still, to this moment  hasnt talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes.

I have publicly pledged that my first action, my first day will be to notify Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg that he is going to be fired, he also remarked, adding he believes there is a crime emergency in New York and I have publicly pledged that if the state legislature isnt coming to the table, I will declare a crime emergency and suspend New Yorks cashless bail law.

Throughout the debate, Zeldinwho has made crime the central theme of his campaignblamed New Yorks lax bail reform laws. If elected, he promised to roll back bail reform measures, he said.

In response, Hochul said that anyone who commits a crime, under our laws, especially with the changes we made to bail, has consequences.

I dont know why thats so important to you, the incumbent Democrat said, adding that New York has embraced strict gun control laws. All I know is that we could do more.

Hochul blasted Zeldins past support for abortion restrictions and for former President Donald Trump, labeling Zeldin an election denier and climate change denier as she tried to link him to Trump, who had little support in New York. Zeldin, meanwhile, enjoys support in wide swaths of upstate New York. Some recent polling suggests the gap between the candidates could be narrowing.

A longtime state political strategist told the Financial Times that Zeldins messaging on crime may be the deciding factor.

The issue is crime and the economynot abortion. It always was, said Hank Sheinkopf, who added that abortion is far behind fears about getting shot walking down the street or putting food on the table.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) speaks at a House Republican press conference on energy policy at the U.S. Capitol on March 8, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

GOP Lawmakers Seek Answers on Boston Universitys Potentially Risky COVID-19 Experiments on Mice

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are seeking answers from Boston University over its potentially risky gain-of-function research with coronaviruses.

Researchers with the university said in a preprint paper first released on Oct. 14 that they had created a new strain of COVID-19 by combining the Omicron variants spike protein and the original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 variant. Dubbed Omicron-S, the lab-made hybrid killed 80 percent of mice infected with it.

The research has ignited intense debate, with concerns expressed about the nature of the work and the potential harm that such an experiment could have on humans.

The university has since issued a lengthy statement defending the research after public backlash, saying critics have misrepresented the goals of the study. It also denied that the research constituted gain of functionexperiments that make pathogens more deadly or infectious.

But the universitys response hasnt quelled the concerns.

Americans deserve the peace of mind that proper oversight is conducted to ensure the safety & accountability of any risky scientific research, committee Republicans wrote on Twitter on Oct. 26.

The Twitter post also contained a link to a letter some House Republicans sent to Boston University President Robert Brown regarding the situation.

The letters signers include Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the committees ranking Republican member; Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) of the Subcommittee on Health.

An employee of the vaccine company, Bavarian Nordic, works in a laboratory of the company in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, on May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Lukas Barth

While the researchers acknowledged four grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its sub-agency, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the project appeared to surprise officials at the agencies. NIH is now examining whether the scientists violated the terms of the grant policy or if the grant required review under the Proposed Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens (P3CO) framework, which is meant to guide funding decisions on risky research.

I think were going to have conversations over upcoming days, Emily Erbelding, director of the NIAIDs Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, told STAT News on Oct. 17.

She said that the researchers original grant application didnt indicate that they would perform this exact work, nor did the team inform the NIAID of the experiments potential to enhance the pathogenicity of the virus.

We wish that they would have, yes, Erbelding said when asked whether the researchers should have reported their intentions.

Boston University, in an updated statement on Oct. 18, said that it fulfilled all required regulatory obligations and protocols from NIAID.

NIAID funding was acknowledged in the paper because it was used to help develop the tools and platforms that were used in this research; they did not fund this research directly, the university stated, noting that it credited an NIH award that funded a shared instrumentation grant that helped support the pathology studies.

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, the university stated.

In the letter, the Republican lawmakers asked the university for background materials related to the study, including all proposals and progress reports cited, funding streams to Boston Universitys National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories related to the study, the universitys safety protocols relating to risky biological research, and correspondence over whether the study should be subject to a P3CO review.

They also requested a staff briefing from the university with appropriate subject matter experts.

Boston University officials didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
The Indian Point nuclear power plant is seen Aug. 3, 2002, in Buchanan, New York. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

Green Energy Advocacy Behind Rising Electricity Prices in Southeast New York, Expert Says

When the movement to close the Southeast New York-based Indian Point nuclear plants reached a new high in 2012, energy expert Jonathan Lesser warned that the closure would mean rising electricity prices for consumers.

Much of what he predicted in his 2012 report has come true.

Lesser, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has over 30 years of experience working for regulated utilities and government. He works as an energy industry consultant and specializes in expert testimony for utility commissions, regulators, and commercial litigation cases.

Following the closure of nuclear plants under the pressure of environmental advocacy, electricity prices climbed steadily, according to a report by New York Independent System Operator, Inc.

Meanwhile, as Indian Point got off the grid, the states southeast region grew more reliant on natural gas to generate electricity, increasingly subjecting electricity prices to the volatility of the gas market.

Wawayanda, New York-based CPV Valley Energy Center on Oct. 24, 2022. The natural gas-fired plant was built in 2018 to stabilize the downstate energy supply following announcement of the closure of the Indian Point nuclear plants. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

When global forces such as the war in Ukraine and local pipeline constraints caused gas prices to skyrocket in the past year, the electricity bills in the region shot up as well.

Rockland and Orange, a major utility serving the states southeast region, predicts that this years gas and electricity rates would climb even higher than the past year, by 44 and 28 percent, respectively.

Currently, New York is under a mandate to get 70 percent of electricity from green energy by 2030.

I expect electricity prices in New York continue to soar if the state keeps pursuing these policies. Who is really benefiting from these policies? Is it ordinary New York residents? No, they are just going to pay much higher prices for less reliable electricity and may even face blackouts, Lesser told The Epoch Times on Oct. 20.

So that cant be a benefit to them, he said. Then, who benefits?

Closure of Nuclear Plants

Located in Buchanan, Westchester County, some 40 miles north of Manhattan, the Indian Point Energy Center once operated two plants that could generate enough electricity for 3 million homes.

The nuclear plants periodically came under attack following notable accidents in other parts of the worldsuch as the disaster in Fukushima, Japanand were permanently shut down under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Demonstrators protest against keeping open the Indian Point nuclear power plant on April 22, 2002, in New York City. The plant has been the focus of renewed debate since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The last Indian Point plant closed in April 2021.

Lesser argues thatinstead of resorting to a complete shutdownthe safety and environmental concerns surrounding nuclear plants could be adequately addressed through robust licensing processes.

One of the reasons that environmental advocacy groups target nuclear plants is to pave the road for wind and solar energy, Lesser said.

If you develop emission-free nuclear power plants, you wont need to develop wind and solar at all, and you have more reliable electricity becauseunlike sun and windnuclear power plants run all the time, he said.

He added that the closures largest and longest-lasting economic impact is higher electricity prices for consumers, especially those living in Southeast New York, a region that encompasses New York City, Long Island, and nearby counties such as Westchester, Orange, and Rockland.

No matter how the downstate region makes up for the huge loss of the nuclear-generated electricitybuilding more transmission lines to import upstate electricity, installing gas pipelines for new gas-fired generation plants, or ramping up wind and solar energiesthe cost would only go up, Lesser said.

Riverkeeper, a leading environmental group in the state, listed on its website the reasons why it led the fight for the closure, including protecting wildlife, water, and soil from toxic leaking, the potential damage from an accident or natural disaster, and the risk of a potential terrorist attack.

The Epoch Times reached out to Riverkeeper for comments.

Demonstrators rally in support of the Indian Point nuclear power plant on April 22, 2002, in New York City. The plant has been the focus of renewed debate since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 , 2001. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Lesser said the ironic part is that after the closure of Indian Point, the southeast region relied more heavily on natural gas and oil to generate electricity, defeating the very purposes of green advocacy.

In 2021, 89 percent of downstate electricity was generated with fossil fuels, about a 12 percent jump from the year before, according to a report by New York Independent System Operator.

The green activists exploited the hysteria to destroy nuclear plants that are safe, reliable, high-quality, and emission-free. I think the whole closure was political, he said.

Supply Constraints

New gas pipelines could boost supply to the Southeast New York region and reduce gas and electricity prices, but the idea has met with strong opposition from green activists, Lesser said.

New York operates a competitive wholesale electricity market where prices are determined hourly by demand and supply; utilities buy electricity from the market, and resell it to consumers without marking up the cost.

The cost of the last unit of electricity generated to meet the demand drives the entire wholesale prices; that unit is almost always produced by natural gas in the southeast regionanother reason why gas drives electricity prices in the area, he said.

A sign indicating the location of the Millennium Pipeline buried under a cut in the forest in Hancock, New York, in a file photo. (STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)

In a recent video that explains energy trends, a spokesperson for Central Hudson acknowledged that gas pipeline constraints, coupled with the closure of Indian Point, contributed to the rising electricity costs in the region.

Central Hudson is a major utility that serves around 300,000 electric customers and 84,000 natural gas customers in the mid-Hudson Valley region.

Another supply constraint lies in electricity transmission lines, Lesser said.

Due to an ample supply derived from hydro and nuclear power, electricity prices in Upstate New York are generally lower than downstate.

If new transmission lines were built to carry cheaper upstate electricity to the southeast region, prices would go downbut that has met with pushbacks from green activists too, Lesser said.

Earlier this year, a $3 billion transmission project that would import Canadian hydropower to power more than one million homes in New York came under attack from environmental groups, who argue that the source of the electricitythe hydro damsemits a significant amount of carbon.

Water from the Niagara River passes through a hydroelectric dam at the Robert Moses Generating Facility on June 4, 2013, at Lewiston, New York. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The project plans to build underground and underwater transmission lines linking Quebec to Queens and still awaits permitting.

Plus, Western New York is part of the Marcellus Shale formation, one of the worlds largest natural gas reserves, but the state banned fracking about eight years ago under Cuomo, Lesser said.

If New York would allow fracking, not only would that improve the economics in Western New York, it would also lower natural gas and electricity prices in the entire state. Unfortunately, the green environmentalists had been saying for years, No, no, no, he said.

A Green Grid

Based on a sweeping environmental law, New York must achieve a 70 percent green grid by 2030 and a complete green grid by 2040.

That goal, just like the closure of Indian Point, would force existing generation plants off the grid and rely on more costly alternatives to power New York homes, he said.

In the past year, about half of electricity in New York was generated by green energy, and another 47 percent by fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil, according to a report by New York Independent System Operator.

The upstate region leads in green energy, with 91 percent of electricity generated from non-fossil fuels, including 44 percent from nuclear and 41 percent from hydro.

The problem you are going to get is that when the winds are not blowing, and the sun is not shining, you are going to need all this backup generation, and you will have to have all the infrastructure built to meet this green fantasy. The cost of electricity would just skyrocket, Lesser said.

The only reason this is being done, in my opinion, is to pay off various green constituencies with huge amounts of the taxpayer and electric ratepayer moneyit is basically transferring money to them.
Many have heard in the past few weeks that Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is pausing pediatric sex reassignment surgeries for an indefinite period of time. But why? And what are the implications for the broader trend of juvenile gender transition surgeries?

The Story of VUMC

After disquieting videos came to light, including a 2018 video of VUMC assistant professor Dr. Shayne Taylor talking about the profitability of top surgeries and hormones for the hospital in Nashville, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and senior Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) called for an investigation of the Pediatric Transgender Clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital, which is part of VUMC.

According to its web page, the clinic offers evidence-based, personalized gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents.

Taylor is a physician with VUMCs Program for LGBTQ Health and the Clinic for Transgender Health for patients aged 18 and older.

The VUMC pediatric clinic raises serious moral, ethical, and legal concerns, the governor said, after becoming aware of the videos. We should not allow permanent, life-altering decisions that hurt children or policies that suppress religious liberties, all for the purpose of financial gain. We have to protect Tennessee children, and this warrants a thorough investigation.

After the videos became known, Blackburn wrote on Twitter on Sept. 20: There is nothing healthy about mutilating the bodies of minor children. We need an investigation into VUMC putting profits ahead of children immediately.

Two weeks after the call for an investigation, VUMC suspended gender-affirming surgery for minors, it announced in a letter to Tennessee state Rep. Jason Zachary, which was then posted on Twitter.

According to Dr. C. Wright Pinson, VUMCs chief health system officer, the hiatus was to review new recommendations going forward. The transgender clinic, established in 2018, has performed sex reassignment surgery on an average of five minor children a year, the letter states. The pause in pediatric surgery may last several months.

Growing and Lucrative Business

The worldwide gender surgery market is projected to hit $1.5 billion in four years. In the United States, the number of gender clinics is exploding with many clinicians favoring swifter assessments and the provision of puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries for young people at or near the moment they present with gender dysphoria, reported Undark, a digital magazine affiliated with the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Yet, serious questions remain, Undark reported, such as: What is the long-term impact of blocking puberty on a young persons health? Can practitioners correctly determine which youngsters will still identify as trans when they are adults? Do the psychological assessments contribute to childrens suffering by delaying access to puberty blockers and hormones? Why has the number of teens coming forward to receive transgender medical care, particularly those assigned female at birth, risen so dramatically in recent years?

Earlier this year, Swedens National Board of Health and Welfare stated that the risks of the commonly used puberty blockers, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, and hormonal treatment outweigh their possible benefits. Treatment should be limited to research settings and exceptional cases, the Swedish agency stated.

Puberty-blocking drugs can lead to bone-thinning, the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic report. Moreover, the drugs have little to no effect on gender dysphoria, quality of life, depression, anger, or anxiety, and neither do sex reassignment hormones, according to the United Kingdoms National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Yet, puberty-blocking drugs are surprisingly lucrative, costing up to $39,000 per month without insurance, according to Undark. AbbVies puberty blocker Lupron brought in $752 million in revenue in 2020, and the puberty-blocking implant Supprelin LA has a list price of $37,300.

Does Gender Reassignment Work?

The woke pro-transgender agenda has cast a chill on research that questions the effectiveness and appropriateness of sex reassignment medicine and surgery, and especially patient outcomes.

Nonetheless, a definitive Swedish study published in the journal PLOS One in 2011 found that persons with transsexualism, after sex reassignment, have considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behavior, and psychiatric morbidity than the general population.

Our findings suggest that sex reassignment, although alleviating gender dysphoria, may not suffice as treatment for transsexualism, and should inspire improved psychiatric and somatic care after sex reassignment for this patient group, the study reads.

The researchers also found that sex-reassigned persons had a higher risk of inpatient care for a psychiatric disorder other than gender identity disorder than controls matched on birth year and birth sex.

This held after adjustment for prior psychiatric morbidity, and was true regardless of whether sex reassignment occurred before or after 1989. In line with the increased mortality from suicide, sex-reassigned individuals were also at a higher risk for suicide attempts, though this was not statistically significant for the time period 19892003, the researchers wrote.

While woke voices warn that gender-confused people will kill themselves if not given a medical gender switch, the opposite seems to be true, according to some research.

More recently, a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found disappointing results from gender-affirming surgery (GAS).

In a study of more than 4,000 patients, those with an established diagnosis of a mental health condition had a higher chance of experiencing postoperative complications within 90 days of GAS versus those without a mental health condition, MedPage Today reported on the letters findings.

Patients who underwent mastectomy, breast augmentation, hysterectomy, orchiectomy (removal of the testicles), phalloplasty, or vaginoplasty were more likely to experience the postoperative complications of acute kidney injury, surgical site infection, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, wound disruption, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, blood transfusion, hematoma, urethral stricture, urethral stenosis, and rectovaginal fistula, in the 90 days following surgery, MedPage Today reported.

The Epoch Times reported in May on complications of sex reassignment surgery in the article When Gender Surgery Goes Wrong.

The research letter is surprising, since JAMA has usually been pro-transgenderism, even invoking the colloquialand politicalterm transphobia in an otherwise medical article it published in February.

More Surgical Complications

Gender-affirming surgery often includes voice alterations in which patients wish their voice to be higher or lower pitched and, for men, their Adams apple to be removed (chondrolaryngoplasty).

Yet, those surgical operations are also beset by complications, according to research presented this year at the annual meeting of the American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) association.

Over time, vocal care for transgender patients has evolved from behavioral therapy to hormone-replacement therapy, to voice therapy, and now, to laryngeal surgery, Medscape reported. However, few studies have reported on complications and suboptimal outcomes.

It turns out that complications from Wendler glottoplasty (in which sutures on the vocal folds raise voice pitch) and chondrolaryngoplasty are often seen, Dr. Matthew Naunheim of Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School in Boston said at the AAO-HNS meeting.

With glottoplasty, granulation tissue issues were seen as short-term complications, and glottic insufficiency was seen as a long-term complication, Naunheim said, and were more than [they would] expect.

Glottic insufficiency is characterized by incomplete closure of the vocal folds with phonation, which causes an increased risk of aspiration, according to an entry in the National Library of Medicine.

Long-term complications seen with chondrolaryngoplasty included skin tethering or dimpling, and infections or fistula, the AAO-HNS presenters said.

Sex reassignment surgery has become a surgical cash cow. Researchers have been perfecting chondrolaryngoplasty on cadavers, according to a study published in the journal OTO Open in 2020.

We carried out our cadaveric feasibility study in an anatomy laboratory at an academic center, the researchers wrote. We used a lower oral vestibular incision, along with retractors and an endoscope to dissect and gain access to the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage.  We were able to remove the laryngeal prominence successfully in all of our cadaveric specimens with this transoral approach.

Not Happily Ever After

Increasingly, the voices of young people who regret their sex reassignment surgeries are being heard. Sometimes called detransitioners, these young patients express regret at their irrevocably modified bodies and likely inability to have children. They cite the intense internet support they received for their trans decisions at a time when they needed validation as one reason for pursuing sex reassignment surgery.

Some detransitioners also say that they were pushed through the sex reassignment system without being fully vetted or fully understanding the severity of their moves. Some say their short-term emotional confusion was enabled into a new, and unwelcome, permanent identity.

As the Vanderbilt University Medical Center pauses its pediatric sex reassignment surgeries, some are welcoming the decision and hoping it will slow the medical trend of ushering children into new gender identities they might later regret.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BYD, the leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has forged a partnership with Saga Group, the largest dealer group in Brazil, with their first cooperative store opened in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, according to a post on BYD's WeChat account for overseas businesses.

As of now, BYD's automobile dealer network has included 10 stores in the country, offering outstanding NEV sale and after-sale services to local consumers.

Photo credit: BYD

"The cooperation with the biggest dealership group in Brazil is very important to consolidate BYD's brand in the Brazilian market and to catalyze the electrification of local transportation", commented Tyler Li, General Manager of BYD Brazil.

Up until now, BYD has had 10 dealerships operating in Brazil, and its franchises have been granted in 31 major cities there. Its local presence is expected to reach 45 cities and cover 100 locations in the country by the end of 2023.

BYD has launched such electric vehicle (EV) models in Brazil, such as the Tang EV, the Han EV, and the D1. Presale of the Song PLUS DM-i kicked off in the country not long ago.

On Oct. 18 (local time), BYD Brazil formed a strategic partnership with Santander Bank ("Santander"), a leading Brazilian bank in automotive financing, to provide local customers with one-stop auto financing services, from credit analysis and credit approval, to payment options through a fully digital platform.
The Australian government could be paying up to AU$77 million (US$49.35 million) in vaccine injury claims over the next year, according to recently released budget estimates.

In the current 20212022 financial year, the government has paid out just $937,000 after several hundred applications were accepted under Australias COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme, according to the Portfolio Budget Statement for the Department of Social Services (not the Health Department).

The final number of applications is far smaller than the original 10,000 who registered their interest in November 2021.

Yet the Department of Social Services estimates, in a table listed under Third-party payments from and on behalf of other entities, that total payout numbers could jump 80-fold to $76.9 million over the 202223 financial year.

Thats despite the difficulties with navigating the government compensation plan, which personal injury lawyer Clare Eves has previously called a challenging process.

Its a bit of a slow process, Eves, national practice leader at Shine Lawyers, told The Epoch Times. And its maybe a bit more involved than people were anticipating that it was going to be.

The first hurdle really is, do you have one of the recognised covered conditions? If you dont, then youre probably not going to be eligible.

Weve had just under 350 inquiries about adverse outcomes, and they have been extremely varied, but most of them have a condition that has some ongoing impact. Not many seem to fit within the criteria of the six categories.

At the time, recognised adverse events included anaphylactic reaction; thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (blood-clotting); myocarditis; pericarditis; capillary leak syndrome; demyelinating disorders, including Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS); and Thrombocytopenia, including immune Thrombocytopenia.

Eves said she has encountered individuals complaining of deconditioning, headaches, fatigue, strokes, and seizureswhich fall outside the plan.

MP Questions Why Vaccines Are Costing the Government Millions in Compensation

Queensland Liberal Sen. Gerard Rennick responded to the budget report by saying that safe vaccines should not result in AU$77 million for compensation.

The amount paid out to date is a disgrace. To think that vaccine victims have been neglected for so long is just shameful, Rennick wrote on Facebook.

So far, as of Oct. 16, Australian authorities have received 136,523 reports of adverse reactions from 63,807,197 administered doses. Currently, the AstraZeneca, Novavax, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines are all in use in the country.

Around the world, vaccine injury compensation claims have garnered little traction with authorities.

As of late July, Japanese authorities have approved 820 vaccine injury claims from 3,680 applications. In Canada, eight claims have been approved out of 774 claims, while the United States has yet to compensate a single claim.
Researchers from the Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, of HKU, and the University of Michigan of US, Johannes Kepler University of Linz (JKU) of Austria, together with other overseas institutions, have discovered that the molecularly engineered banana lectin H84T-BanLec can inhibit the entry of viruses into host cells. In such a way, it can inhibit coronavirus infection and could become a potentially wide-ranging anti-coronavirus drug.

BanLec is a lectin isolated from bananas, and after being molecularly engineered, H84T-BanLec not only retains its antiviral activity as well as reducing mitogenicity. Experiments have shown that within cell lineage modeling, H84T-BanLec can effectively inhibit COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) and its variant strains (including Omicron), Middle East respiratory syndrome virus (MERS-CoV), SARS virus (SARS-CoV-1) and other infections.

The team also found that H84T-BanLec can bind to multiple mannose sites of the spike protein to inhibit virus entry into host cells, thereby effectively inhibiting coronavirus infection. This antiviral mechanism makes it difficult for the virus to develop its drug resistance, making H84T-BanLec a promising wide-ranging anti-coronavirus drug.

The research team pointed out that due to the special antiviral mechanism of H84T-BanLec, it may also be highly effective against new SARS-CoV-2 mutant virus strains and other new coronaviruses that may appear in the future. More importantly, H84T-BanLec also has antiviral effects against other viruses, such as the influenza virus, so intranasal H84T-BanLec may be an effective way to deal with seasonal outbreaks of respiratory viruses.

The findings have now been published in the scientific journal Cell Reports Medicine.
The film adaptation of The Real Anthony FauciRobert F. Kennedy, Jr.s bestselling bookopens with an audio recording of President John F. Kennedys address to the American Newspaper Publishers Association at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on April 27, 1961. The Presidents subject was the critical importance of maintaining a free press for the maintenance of a free Republic. Ive long admired this particular speech, especially the lines played at the beginning of his nephews new film.

The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society, and we as a people are inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.

President Kennedy gave his speech on the heels of President Eisenhowers Farewell Address in which he warned the American people about the rise of what he called the Military-Industrial Complex. As he put it:

We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought of unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.

Eisenhower and Kennedy both held office at a time when the Military-Industrial Complex was rapidly growing, acquiring unwarranted influence, and wielding it with unwarranted concealment. Both presidents were deeply concerned about this development. Eisenhower did his best to warn us about it; Kennedy was apparently determined to oppose it. As Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. documents in his new book and film, their worst fears have now been realized.

Over the last sixty years, the Department of Defense and its Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have worked ever more closely with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop vaccines and other biotechnology products, purportedly to protect the American people from emerging infectious diseases, bioweapons, and bioterrorism. These agencies have worked ever more closely with pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Moderna, which was largely funded by a DARPA grant.

The stated mission of this Bio-Pharmaceutical Complexto protect us from biological threatssounds great. However, in practice, the Complex has acquired vast unwarranted influence and misplaced power with disastrous consequences. As Senator Rand Paul never tires of pointing out, the most catastrophic was the lab creation of the very monster the Complex claimed to be protecting us from.

In the year 1984, Dr. Anthony Fauci became Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Since then, he has come to resemble something like the Pope of the Bio-Pharmaceutical Complex. With his extraordinary verbal ability and air of confidence, Dr. Fauci has mastered the politics of medicine and become the de facto Chief Medical Authority of the United States. His mandate is to disburse federal grant money through his agency, and his liberal distribution of billions has made him many friends who have championed him. In the minds of about half the American populace, Dr. Fauci is the face of medical science.

Mr. Kennedy describes his new book and film as follows:

I explore the carefully planned militarization and monetization of medicine that has left American health ailing and its democracy shattered. I chronicle the troubling role of the dangerously concentrated mainstream media, big tech robber barons, the military and intelligence communities, and their deep historical alliance with Big Pharma and the public health agencies. The disturbing story that unfolds here has never been told, and many in power work hard to prevent the public from learning it. The principle character is Anthony Fauci.

Despite suffering from spasmodic dysphonia, RFK, Jr. has been one of Americas strongest voices in defending our Constitutional Republic from public health officials and politicians wielding emergency power. In rousing speeches reminiscent of his fathers famous University of Capetown address in 1966, he has articulated why we should never allow our Constitution to be compromised by fallible men who promise to keep us safe.

RFK Jr.s criticism of vaccine makers has not been met with debate, but with vitriolic, ad hominem attacks, accusations of being a conspiracy theorist, and massive censorship. Implied in these attacks is that no one should dare even question the safety of vaccines. The Real Anthony Fauci is a work of magisterial scholarship for which he vetted thousands of cited sources. He also conducted extensive interviews with Dr. Peter McCullough, who repeatedly appears in the film.

Every statement in the book is documented with a citation of primary sources including federal agency documents, peer reviewed medical literature, and public records. Any reader can easily evaluate these sources. The Kindle edition features hyperlinks to the documents. Nevertheless, not a single newspaper reviewed the book, and no mainstream media pundit apart from Tucker Carlson interviewed him about it. Despite this media blackout, The Real Anthony Fauci has sold over a million copies. RFK, Jr. donated the proceeds to his Childrens Health Defense charity.

Much has happened since the book was published last November. All of the events and revelations since then have confirmed Mr. Kennedys worst fears about the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The film adaptation by producer and director Jeff Hays contains shocking footage of vaccine injuries, including a terrifying number of young athletes collapsing on playing fields. Countless incidents have been video recorded and local news stations and newspapers have reported them. However, as I recently noted in my post titled To an Athlete Dying Young, our mainstream media continues to pretend that the cause of these sudden cardiac deaths is a mystery.

Truly astonishing is the films footage of Dr. Fauci giving interviews at different times in his career in which he carefully explained why the development of any new vaccine is an extremely painstaking process that requires careful testing over a long period of time in order to avoid grave dangers, including the possibility of antibody-dependent enhancement. But then, when it came to the experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccines developed at Warp Speed, he aggressively dismissed every expression of concern about the very dangers that he himself had previously articulated.

Though I was already familiar with all of the films subject matter, I was still frequently stunned by its vivid documentation. Its one thing to read presentations of evidence; its quite another to see it in video recordings.

Yesterday a representative of Jeff Hays Films contacted us to deliver the following message from RFK, Jr., along with the request that we publish it on our Substack:

Our challenge is in developing new ways of communicating with the American public, and new institutions that are parallel institutions because the mainstream media will not allow discussions of this.  Its an assault on the First Amendment. If the government can silence its critics, it gives license for any atrocity. They went after freedom of assembly  They shut down businesses with no due process. Every constitutional right we have, with the exception of the Second Amendment, was taken from us in a year. And its all dependent on Americans not knowing the truth about whats happening. You guys are the spear tip on getting this information out to the public. Thank you very much. If we can tell people what the truth is, this will all end.

The Real Anthony FauciThe Movie may be viewed for free for a limited time. Please view the trailer, whose description contains a link to the entire film. We urge you to watch it and share it with your friends.

Reposted from the authors Substack

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.

John Leake Follow John Leake studied history and philosophy with Roger Scruton at Boston University. He then went to Vienna, Austria on a graduate school scholarship and ended up living in the city for over a decade, working as a freelance writer and translator. He is a true crime writer with a lifelong interest in medical history and forensic medicine.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE

Doctors are afraid to speak out about COVID treatment and the dangers of the COVID shots because they can lose their ability to practice medicine if they challenge the mainstream narrative

Remdesivir is the only standard of care drug approved for the treatment of COVID, even though it was found to be ineffective against the infection and had life-threatening side effects, including kidney failure and liver damage

Hospitals have an enormous financial incentive to use this toxic treatment, as the U.S. government pays a 20% upcharge on the entire hospital bill when remdesivir is used. Hospitals are also paid for the use of ventilation and for COVID deaths. Every COVID patient has what amounts to a $400,000 to $500,000 bounty on their head

The persecution doctors have suffered under COVID is now about to be cemented into law in California. California Assembly Bill 2098 designates dissemination or promotion of misinformation or disinformation related to  COVID-19 as unprofessional conduct warranting disciplinary action that could result in the loss of their medical license. The bill was approved by the California Legislature September 26, 2022, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it October 1, 2022

By preventing doctors from sharing information and knowledge as they see fit with their patients, California bureaucrats are not only violating the U.S. Constitution and destroying the medical profession as we know it, theyre also pushing medical science back into the Dark Ages, as science can only move forward when theres free exchange of ideas

If youve become disillusioned with the medical profession over the past three years, youre not alone. Many have come to distrust doctors, largely thanks to widespread mistreatment of COVID in hospitals, and doctors failure to provide sufficient information about the COVID jabs to make informed consent. Doctors enforcing the use of masks, even though they ought to know they dont work against respiratory viruses, hasnt helped either.

In a recent interview with Steve Kirsch, Dr. Paul Marik, a pulmonary and critical care specialist and founding member of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), discussed why doctors have been so reluctant to speak out against the clearly dangerous COVID shots. As noted by Kirsch:[1]

My blue pilled friends who believe the vaccines are safe have told me they would reconsider their position if just a single one of their own doctors came out against the vaccine. One of them said even if a TV doctor (such as Sanjay Gupta) said it was unsafe, they would reconsider their position. I told them that doctors are afraid to speak out because they will lose their ability to practice medicine if they challenge the mainstream narrative. My friends find that too hard to believe. They asked me incredulously, Why would the medical community silence doctors who are trying to save lives? They didnt believe my answer. So, I wanted to interview a doctor who is very highly respected and who is not an anti-vaxxer to explain it to them.

Doctors Who Share Their Concerns Are Punished

Like many other doctors, Marik took the COVID shots when they first came out, as was expected of him. It wasnt until he started reviewing the data for himself, well after the fact, that he realized just how bad they are.

When asked whether he might have misjudged the data, Marik replies, No, the evidence is very clear. Yet despite crystal-clear data, when Marik started speaking out against the shots, the medical community retaliated. Marik also suffered retaliation when trying to treat patients with FDA-approved, off-patent, off-label drugs shown to be very effective against COVID.

The hospital pharmacy refused to fill his prescriptions and he was ordered to not prescribe them to anyone. In short, he was ordered to simply watch his patients die, even though he knew he could help them.

The only drug he was allowed to prescribe was remdesivir, which is known to be toxic and often lethal. Remdesivir was developed as an antiviral drug and tested during the Ebola breakout in 2014. The drug was found to have a very high death rate and was not pursued further.

In the early months of 2020, the drug was entered into COVID trials.[2] Those trials were also beyond disappointing.[3] [4] [5] Not only was the drug ineffective against the infection but it also had significant and life-threatening side effects, including kidney failure and liver damage.[6]

But despite its clear dangers and lack of effectiveness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration still authorized remdesivir for emergency use against COVID in May 2020,[7] and then gave it full approval in October 2020.[8]

How Hospitals Get Rid of Troublesome Doctors

When Marik refused to follow the remdesivir protocol, he was subjected to sham review, an unofficial but well-known process in which a troublesome doctor is accused of wrongdoing and basically railroaded out of practice.

In the end, he was fired, even though hes never had a single patient complaint in his 30-year career as a critical care specialist. But they didnt stop there. The hospital administration also reported him to the National Practitioner Databank, and once youve been reported as a bad actor to the NPD, its virtually impossible to clear your name. Your career is over.

They also reported him to the Board of Medicine, which concocted another set of bogus charges against him. They accused him of prescribing ivermectin to fictional patients whom they falsely claimed were injured by the drug.

The truth is I was never actually able to prescribe ivermectin, Marik says. The patients they claimed I treated were nonexistent patients, so that tells you how far the Virginia Board of Medicine will go  This is the problem if you try to speak out. The [hospital administration] went out of their way to destroy my career because I wanted to treat my patients.

According to Marik, some of his colleagues who have gone against the narrative have even been physically threatened, and had the lives of their families threatened unless they stop talking. So, this is serious, Marik says. The fact of the matter is that doctors who argue against the Big Pharma narrative are a threat to trillion-dollar revenues. Compared to such sums, the value of a doctors life is nil.

Enormous Financial Incentives to Kill COVID Patients

Marik points out there were, and still are, enormous financial incentives for hospitals to not provide proper care to COVID patients. Those financial incentives also helped drive up the COVID death count early on in the pandemic. As explained by Marik, every COVID patient has what amounts to a $400,000 to $500,000 bounty on their head, as hospitals receive bonus payments for:[9] [10]

Admission of a COVID patient, COVID testing and COVID diagnoses.

Use of remdesivir  According to Marik, the U.S. government pays hospitals a 20% upcharge on the entire hospital bill when remdesivir is used.[11] [12] [13]

 According to Marik, the U.S. government pays hospitals a 20% upcharge on the entire hospital bill when remdesivir is used.[11] [12] [13] Use of mechanical ventilation , which Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services whistleblowers claim kill 84.9% of COVID patients within as few as 96 hours,[14] typically due to barotrauma[15] (trauma to the lungs from the elevated pressure).

, which Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services whistleblowers claim kill 84.9% of COVID patients within as few as 96 hours,[14] typically due to barotrauma[15] (trauma to the lungs from the elevated pressure). COVID deaths  In August 2020, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, agreed hospitals had a financial incentive to overcount COVID deaths.[16]

According to Marik, whether the patient lives or dies is irrelevant. In fact, if they die, theres additional monies to be had. The hospitals basically see COVID patients as a cash cow, which is why they dont tolerate doctors who use early treatment.

COVID Jab Injured Patients Desperate for Help

Just as Marik balked at health authorities recommendation to not offer early treatment  something completely unheard of until the advent of COVID  he also balked at the idea that patients were faking COVID jab injuries.

After the rollout of the shots, the FLCCC started getting calls from people who were desperate for help, as they suffered serious health problems shortly after their shots. Almost universally, their doctors had told them the shot couldnt possibly be at fault.

Marik was not so sure, and once he began to really investigate the matter, he realized the data overwhelmingly showed there were serious problems. Marik is now so certain the shots are dangerous, he says he wouldnt recommend it to a single living soul on the planet, and the FLCCC is now one of the few groups treating COVID jab injuries as well as COVID infection and long-COVID.

Unlearning Everything I Learned

Mariks professional experiences over the past three years have clearly resulted in a massive awakening to the fact that things have not been as they appeared. He says that in the past six months, hes come to realize that he was essentially brainwashed by Big Pharma throughout medical school, and that much of what he learned was simply wrong.

He also realized you cannot trust medical journals. They too have been corrupted by Big Pharma. So, now, hes in the process of unlearning the lies he was taught, and hes starting anew, looking at health and disease with fresh eyes.

California Bill Seeks to Muzzle Doctors

The harassment and intimidation doctors have suffered under COVID is now cemented into law in California.[17] California Assembly Bill 2098[18] designates the dissemination or promotion of misinformation or disinformation related to  COVID-19 as unprofessional conduct warranting disciplinary action that could result in the loss of their medical license.[19]

The bill was approved by the California Legislature September 26, 2022,[20] and Gov. Gavin Newsome signed it October 1, 2022.[21] [22]

Misinformation is defined as anything that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care. Misinformation or disinformation related to SARS-CoV-2 includes false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Who decides what is scientific consensus? Presumably  its precisely those agencies and government actors who, ironically, have been wrong time and again throughout the pandemic.  The Daily Signal

Basically, what all this means is that the state will dictate what misinformation is and isnt, because rarely ever is there scientific consensus on anything. Even after decades of investigation, questions frequently linger, and new discoveries that upend old dogmas can come about at any time.

As noted by The Daily Signal,[23] Who decides what is scientific consensus? Presumably  its precisely those agencies and government actors who, ironically, have been wrong time and again throughout the pandemic. For examples, see their video below.

Science only moves forward when there is free exchange of ideas. By preventing doctors from sharing information and knowledge as they see fit with their patients, California bureaucrats are not only violating the U.S. Constitution and destroying the medical profession as we know it, theyre also pushing medical science back into the Dark Ages.

The Hunt for Truth-Tellers

Ive written several articles over the past couple of years detailing the brutal and unethical treatment of medical professionals who have dared speak out against any part of the irrational COVID narrative.

Dr. Meryl Nass, for example, was stripped of her medical license and ordered to undergo psychiatric evaluation  all for the crime of successfully saving the lives of COVID patients using hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

Ive also covered how Drs. Anthony Fauci and Francis Collins colluded to destroy the reputations of the authors of The Great Barrington Declaration, which called for focused protection of the most vulnerable instead of universal lockdowns.

The three authors included Harvard professor of medicine Martin Kulldorff, Ph.D., Oxford professor Sunetra Gupta, Ph.D., and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, professor at Stanford University Medical School.

One of the tactics Fauci used against them was to claim scientific consensus  that most all scientists agreed with lockdowns, masking, social distancing and so on  even though there were just as many, if not more, who disagreed. At the time, more than 46,400 medical practitioners and 15,700 scientists had signed the Declaration.

As noted by Bhattacharya in an interview with Jimmy Dore (see hyperlink above), Fauci and Collins had nothing in terms of actual science. They could not defend lockdowns or anything else based on science alone. So, they turned to propaganda, PR and smear tactics.

Dr. Peter McCullough is another FLCCC member with top-notch medical credentials who is being persecuted by the medical establishment for his outspokenness about early treatment and the dangers of the COVID shots. Hes now written a book, The Courage to Face COVID-19: Preventing Hospitalization and Death While Battling the Bio-Pharmaceutical Complex, detailing his experiences and the crimes perpetrated against patients, doctors and others in the COVID era.

Dr. Ryan Cole, a clinical pathologist, is yet another example. While hes been able to be more outspoken than most, thanks to running a private lab, several credentialing organizations have taken action against him in a clear effort to shut him up.

Hes also lost about half of his business, as two insurance companies canceled him for unprofessional behavior, i.e., for sharing and discussing the health effects of the COVID jabs, and one of his best friends, with whom hes worked for 12 years, canceled their business relationship as he didnt want Coles outspokenness to affect his business. All because of the defamation by the media, so to tell the truth in this day and age is a dangerous thing, he told me during an interview earlier this year.

Medicine Has Gone Off the Rails

For the past 25 years, and likely far longer, allopathic medicine has been a leading cause of death in the United States. As detailed in Are Medical Errors Still the Third Leading Cause of Death? in 1998, researchers concluded that properly prescribed and correctly taken pharmaceutical drugs were the fourth leading cause of death.[24] [35]

Two years later, in 2000, an article in JAMA written by the late Dr. Barbara Starfield detailed how physicians were the third leading cause of death in the U.S. One of Starfields points of contention with the medical system was the lack of systematic recording and studying of adverse events  a shortcoming that has been taken to absurd levels during the COVID era.

A 2003 article titled Death by Medicine,[26] written by Dr. Carolyn Dean, Gary Null, Ph.D., Dr. Martin Feldman, Dr. Debora Rasio and Dorothy Smith, Ph.D., described how the modern conventional American medical system had by then bumbled its way into becoming the No. 1 leading cause of death and injury in the United States, claiming the lives of nearly 784,000 people annually.

These iatrogenic deaths (meaning deaths resulting from the activity of physicians) include everything from adverse drug reactions and avoidable medical errors, to hospital-acquired infections, surgeries gone bad and deaths from unnecessary medical procedures.

During COVID, all of the shortcomings of medicine have been amplified to the point that many now refer to hospitals as killing fields  places where greed rules and patients are mistreated, tortured and killed for profit.

So far, the COVID death toll in the U.S. is well over 1 million,[27] and its not inconceivable that a vast majority of those were killed by the standard of care treatment given (i.e., remdesivir and ventilation, and the withholding of food and fluids).

Facing a Painful Reality

If theres a silver lining to any of this, its that people are starting to realize just how far off the rails the medical system has gone, and that we need to make radical changes.

Even doctors like Marik are waking up to realize everything they thought they knew about medicine was actually Big Pharma propaganda, and that profits, not care, is the guiding light of most hospitals.

Many, like Marik, are shocked to realize they are being penalized for trying to improve care and save lives at low cost. I recently interviewed critical care physician Dr. Pierre Kory, another member of the FLCCC, who admitted he was woefully naive when he first started speaking out about ivermectin back in 2020.

He thought the FLCCC would be hailed as heroes. Instead, they were vilified, maligned, persecuted and fired, and continue to be persecuted to this day, as theyre now also treating COVID jab injuries, which arent supposed to exist.

Kory has now written a book, War on Ivermectin: The Medicine That Saved Millions and Could Have Ended the COVID Pandemic, which will be available after November 15, 2022,[28] detailing the playbook used to suppress ivermectin and other effective COVID treatments. My interview with him, in which we discuss these tactics, will air sometime in mid-November.

In closing, if you or someone you know still cannot believe that a doctor would ever withhold information or straight out lie to you, listen to Kirschs interview with Marik. Listen to Nasss story. Read Korys book. Look at the legislation being pushed through in California.

Imagine being a doctor with hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational loans, and being told that if you share information that steers a patient away from standard of care  whatever that might be  you could lose your medical license. You could lose your career.

It takes a brave heart to stand up to that kind of pressure, which is why there are so few of them out there talking about early treatment and the dangers of remdesivir, ventilation and the COVID jabs. Those who cherish their health will do well to listen to those who are actually putting everything on the line to share the truth.

Originally published Oct 7 2022 on Mercola.com

References
Illegal immigrants, whose small boat was intercepted in the English Channel, are escorted ashore from a Border Force vessel in Dover, Kent, on Aug. 23, 2022. (PA)

Home Office Official Tells MPs Numbers Crossing Channel in Boats Is Unacceptable

Home Affairs Committee told many Albanians are 'gaming the system'

A senior Home Office official has praised the French for intercepting 28,000 illegal immigrants and destroying more than 1,000 boats but has admitted the number of people crossing the English Channel was still unacceptable.

Dan OMahoney, the Home Offices Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, told the Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday 38,000 people had crossed the channel in 936 small boats this year.

He said a further 28,000 migrants had been stopped from crossing by the French authorities, who had also destroyed 1,072 boats.

OMahoney said there had been an exponential rise in the number of Albanian migrants crossing the channel, from 50 in 2020 to 800 last year and 12,000 so far this year.

He said 10,000 of those Albanians were single adult males.

Many Albanians Gaming the System

OMahoney said: Within that cohort  there are undoubtedly people who need our help, but there are also a large number who are deliberately gaming the system.

He said many people flew from Albania to Belgium and then made their way to the French coast to board the small boats.

OMahoney said the grant rate for asylum claims for young Albanian men was only around 12 percent so, he said, many do not bother to claim asylum.

He said, they will typically put them in a hotel for a couple of days, and then theyll disappear, work illegally in the UK for maybe six months, maybe a year, send the money home, and then theyll go back to Albania.

OMahoney added: They are able to do that because the way the asylum system works and the NRM [National Referral Mechanism] works makes it quite easy for them to do so.

The NRM is, as it states on the governments own website, a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support.

OMahoney praised the work of a Joint Intelligence Cell in Calais, where the Home Office, the National Crime Agency, and French authorities share information on people traffickers.

He said the Joint Intelligence Cell had managed to dismantle 55 organised crime groups this year and he highlighted one particular operation last week which led to the arrest of six men who were involved in bringing illegal immigrants across the channel in small boats.

The NCA said, in a statement, four boats and 133 lifejackets had been seized and said six men, from Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and France, will now stand trial in the French courts in February 2023.

Abi Tierney, the Home Offices Director General, Customer Services Capability, said they were spending 6.8 million a day housing asylum seekers in hotels, up 2 million since February.

Dan Hobbs, the Home Offices Director of Asylum, Protection, and Enforcement, told the committee that 96 percent of asylum claims from 2021 had still not reached a final adjudication and, of the four percent which had, 85 percent had been successful.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton called the 96 percent figure ridiculous and said: So a vast number of people are still not knowing if their claim is going to be successful or not and are residing in the UK at the taxpayers expense?

Yes, they will be at different stages, some may be pending appeal, Hobbs replied.

Hobbs went on to say: As is well-documented  there is a challenge in processing asylum claims in a timely way.

Challenge isnt the half of it, replied Loughton.

The committee also heard evidence about Manston, the former army base in Kent which is being used to process those who arrive on small boats.

A photo taken outside the Ministry of Defence site in Manston, Kent, which is to be used for processing illegal migrants, on Jan. 20, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

OMahoney told the committee when Manston was brought into use in February, the aim was to run a site that had between 1,000 to 1,600 people passing through it every day. And that all of those checks will be completed in under 24 hours.

The Manston model relies on outflow  into detention or into asylum accommodation, he said. As the year went on it became increasingly difficult to move people off the site.

SNP MP Stuart McDonald, who visited Manston earlier this year, said he understood around 3,000 people were currently being held there which, he said, was more than are being held in any British prison.

Those numbers are broadly accurate, replied OMahoney.

McDonald asked about a potentially very dangerous outbreak of diphtheria at Manston.

OMahoney said: I wouldnt describe it as an outbreak.  There have been a very small number of cases of diphtheria  but theyre being dealt with very expeditiously and expertly by medical teams on the ground.

Inspector Left Speechless by Situation at Manston

David Neal, the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, later told the committee he had visited Manston on Monday and had been left speechless when he discovered 2,500 migrants at the former army base were being guarded by untrained custody staff, who he described as a mixture of immigration enforcement officers and security guards.

He said he wrote to the then Home Secretary Grant Shapps on Monday to alert him to the situation.

Shapps was replaced by Suella Braverman in Tuesdays Cabinet reshuffle.

Neal said that when he visited Manston there were 2,800 being held there, with another 190 at the Western Jetfoil facility in Dover and a further 24 en route from Dover to Manston.

He said 78 migrants had been moved out of Manston in the previous 24 hours and he said: What was alarming was the numbers [coming in]  are outstripping the capacity of the site.

The committees chair, Diana Johnson, said Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove had also been due to give evidence on Wednesday but he was replaced by Robert Jenrick in Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Cabinet reshuffle and Jenrick was not in a position to attend.

She said she very much hoped the Home Secretary Suella Braverman would keep a commitment to speak to the committee next month.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) questions U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on April 28, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

House Progressives Retract Letter Urging Biden to Negotiate With Putin

A group of progressive House Democrats have caused a rift within the party by issuing and then retracting a letter less than 24 hours later that urged President Joe Biden to rethink his strategy for the war in Ukraine and negotiate directly with Russia.

In the letter (pdf), dated Oct. 24, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, led 29 Democrat colleagues in calling on Biden to combine the military and economic aid that the United States is providing to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.

The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks, the letter says.

The letter immediately led to pushback from many Democrats. For example, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who signed the letter, took to Twitter to say the letter was written in July and he had no idea why it went out now.

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), who wasnt one of the signers, criticized the letter on Twitter as an olive branch to a war criminal whos losing his war.

Some Ukrainians have publicly voiced their concerns about the letter. Inna Sovsun, a member of the Ukraine parliament, said she was deeply troubled.

You cant negotiate with terrorists when they continue to kill, Sovsun wrote on Twitter.

Anastasiia Lapatina, a journalist with The Kyiv Independent, questioned on Twitter why the Democrats wanted a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, as they wrote in the letter.

RUSSIA DOES NOT ACCEPT A SOVEREIGN UKRAINE. How many times does this have to be reiterated? Lapatina wrote.

Russia operates on a completely different set of assumptions about the world and this war. They want Ukraine crushed, not independent, she continued. They have never accepted our independence, and they wont start now. Our subjugation is their fundamental goal. Diplomacy will not change that.

Withdrawn

Facing backlash, Jayapal issued a statement on Oct. 25 saying that the Caucus was retracting the letter.

The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting, Jayapal wrote. As Chair of the Caucus, I accept responsibility for this.

Jayapal added that the letter was conflated with recent comments by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who said on Oct. 18 that Republicans wont write a blank check to Ukraine if they retake the lower chamber of Congress in November.

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 who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian forces, Jayapal wrote.

McCarthy has since defended his blank check remark in an interview with CNBC.

I think Ukraine is very important. I support making sure that we move forward to defeat Russia in that program. But there should be no blank check on anything. We are $31 trillion in debt, McCarthy said.

Wouldnt you want a check and balance in Congress? McCarthy continued. Weve got to eliminate the wasteful spending in Washington.

When asked about the withdrawn letter on Oct. 25, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said any decision to negotiate a peace agreement rested with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

There is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Weve been very clear about that, Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing. Our job, as we see it today, as weve seen it for this past yearmore than a yearis to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs on the ground.

Reactions

House progressives about-face with the letter has since drawn close scrutiny.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii who left the Democratic Party in October, said the incident showed why voters shouldnt vote for Democrat candidates.

This is one of the main reasons I left the Dem Party: its COMPLETELY controlled by an elite cabal of warmongers, Gabbard wrote on Twitter.

She added, Any Dem who opposes their warmongering agenda is beat into submission. Sadly, to vote Democrat is a vote for war & more warpossibly nuclear.

The Washington state Republican Party took to Twitter to say that Jayapal throws her staff under the bus with her explanation about how the letter was released without vetting.

This new controversy is just the latest in Jayapals hypocritical saga, the group wrote.
A Customs and Border Protection officer after a training exercise on the halfway point of the international bridge between the United States and Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 19, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder of US Federal Agent

An illegal immigrant has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a Border Patrol agent after crossing the U.S. border, according to the Justice Department.

Rey David Marquez-Jimenez, a 22-year-old Mexican, entered the United States from his home country on Jan. 26, along with two other individuals. As an agent tried to handcuff one of his companions, Marquez-Jimenez struck the agent in the head and tackled him to the ground, according to court filings.

After punching the agent repeatedly, Marquez-Jimenez took the agents firearm from his holster and tried to point it at the agent, the prosecutors said on Oct. 24. After getting on top of the agent, he pulled out a knife and held it near the agents throat and face, attempting to slash and stab him. After the agent gained control of the knife, the man fled on foot and was later arrested by other agents in the area.

Marquez-Jimenez pleaded guilty on Oct. 20 as part of an agreement that would result in 60 to 108 months in prison and another three years of supervised release.

The offense is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. He is likely to be deported from the United States, according to the plea agreement.

Illegal immigrants wait to be processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after crossing into Arizona from Mexico near Yuma, Arizona, on Sept. 26, 2022. (John Moore/Getty Images)

From October 2021 to last month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has apprehended 2.7 million illegal immigrants, marking the first time that 2 million arrests were recorded in a fiscal year, according to data released on Oct. 21.

About 86 percent of the apprehensionsroughly 2.38 milliontook place on the southwest border. The data also include 16,993 criminal convicts, 949 of whom are wanted by other law enforcement agencies. Another 98 were previously placed on a terrorist watchlist, a more than sixfold increase from 2021.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent watches over a group of illegal immigrants after tracking them through rugged terrain at the Organ Pipe National Monument, Ariz., on Sept. 28, 2022. (John Moore/Getty Images)

On Oct. 24, the White House attributed the surge in illegal immigration at the southern border to the number of people who were trying to flee falling regimes.

What were seeingthis new migration challengeis driven by people who are fleeing falling regimes and economic collapse, as you know, in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and also Cuba, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. Its impacting the entire Western Hemisphere.
In First and Only Debate, Oz and Fetterman Immediately Attack Each Other Over Abortion

HARRISBURG, Pa.In one of the most anticipated election season events, Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz finally faced Democrat John Fetterman in a debate. And they both immediately came out swinging.

On the campaign trail, Oz stated hes pro-life but supports abortion exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the mothers life. Thus, a question first went to him and challenged that by asking if abortion, in general, should be banned.

There should not be involvement from the federal government on how states decide their abortion decision, Oz responded. As a physician, Ive been in the room when theres some difficult conversations happening. I dont want the federal government involved with that at all.

Oz then pivoted to attacking Fetterman over his extreme and out-of-touch abortion stance, [Fetterman] would demand federally mandated rules for all statesthey have to follow thatwould allow abortion at 38 weeks on the delivery table, and he would force it to be subsidized by taxpayers across the country no matter what their personal beliefs are. Thats radical, thats extreme, that is out of touch with what the average voter in Pennsylvania believes is appropriate.

Oz followed that by claiming that although Fetterman knows Oz supports exceptions for abortions, he purposefully lied about Ozs stance. Oz cited Fettermans pulled campaign ads as evidence of Fettermans dishonesty.

Given a chance to respond specifically to the charge of pulled campaign ads and dishonesty, Fetterman avoided the question and instead stated, You know, if you believe that the choice of your reproductive freedom belongs with Dr. Oz, then you have a choice. But if you believe that the choice for abortion belongs between you and your doctor, thats what I fight for. Roe v. Wade, for me, should be the law. He celebrated when Roe v. Wade went down, and my campaign would fight for Roe v. Wade and, if given the opportunity, to codify it into law.

Not given a chance to respond to Fetterman, Oz was asked whether he would vote for a federal bill to ban abortions after 15 weeks.

He responded that he wouldnt support any federal rules that block the ability of states to do what they wish to do on abortion and added that abortion decisions should reside with the states.

In the middle of Ozs response, Fetterman jumped in and accused Oz of rolling with Doug Mastriano, which prompted the moderator to remind Fetterman that hed get a chance to answer his own question.

Oz finished his answer by again stating he doesnt believe the federal government should interfere with how states decide on abortion and once more pointed to Fetterman purposefully misrepresenting his position. He added that Fetterman wants a federal law allowing abortion for any reason up to 38 weeks and have the taxpayers pay for it.

Given a chance to respond, Fetterman said, I believe abortion rights is a universal right for all women in America. I believe that abortion is health care, and I believe that is a choice that belongs with each woman and their doctor.

Fetterman added that he would support allocating federal funds to transport women from states with abortion bans to states where abortion is legal.
Indian visitors talk on their mobile phones outside the Google stall at the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi on Sept. 27, 2017. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)

India Fines Google $113 Million Over Abuse of Dominance for Second Time in a Week

Indias antitrust watchdog on Tuesday fined tech-giant Google 9.36 billion rupees ($113 million) for abusing its dominant position to promote its in-app payment system, the second penalty imposed by India in a week.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that Googles Play Store policies require app developers to use Googles billing system for apps sold through the Play Store and in-app purchases made by users.

App developers will not be permitted to list their apps on the Play Store if they refuse to use Googles billing system, resulting in them losing potential customers in the form of Android users, the CCI said in a statement.

Take it or Leave it

The regulator also found that Google engages in discriminatory practices by not using its billing system for its own applications like YouTube.

Further, Google even does not negotiate service fee with the app developers, thus, making it [a] take it or leave it situation for the app developers, the CCI said in its order.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Google for comments.

The CCI ordered Google to make necessary changes to its Play Store policies within three months, including allowing app developers to use third-party billing processing services for in-app purchases and app purchases.

Google shall not impose any condition (including price-related condition) on app developers, which is unfair, unreasonable, discriminatory, or disproportionate to the services provided to the app developers, it stated.

The CCI also demanded that Google ensure complete transparency in communicating to app developers, services provided, and the corresponding fee charged.

Previous Anti-Trust Penalty

The $113 million fine came just a week after India fined Google $162 million for anti-competitive practices in relation to its Android operating system.

The CCI accused Google of perpetuating its dominant position in the online search market to prevent other search applications from gaining market access. It also claimed that Google secured a significant competitive edge over its competitors in relation to its revenue-earning app on Android devices, such as YouTube.

The competitors of these services could never avail the same level of market access which Google secured and embedded for itself through [Mobile Application Distribution Agreement], it said.

Aside from India, South Korea also penalized Google 207 billion won ($145 million) last year for blocking customized versions of its Android operating system. South Koreas Personal Information Protection Commission also fined Google 69.2 billion won ($48.5 million) last month for an alleged data privacy violation.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Florida Trucking Association, Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, and Florida Home Builders Association at an Oct. 21 Job Creators Endorsement Event in Tampa, (Courtesy of Ron DeSantis Florida Governor)

Judge Orders DeSantis to Turn Over Records on Migrant Flights to Marthas Vineyard

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.A Florida circuit judge has ordered Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to turn over records relating to the Sept. 14 migrant flights to Marthas Vineyard, an exclusive haven in Massachusetts.

On Oct. 25, Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh gave the DeSantis administration 20 days to provide records requested by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, stating that the administration didnt comply with the states public-records law concerning the flights.

Before Marshs ruling, Andrew King, an attorney for DeSantis, argued that the administration was working to fulfill numerous records requests stemming from the migrant flights. He accused the center of weaponizing the public-records law to get ahead of other people or organizations seeking records.

Were diligently working to provide all of these Marthas Vineyard records to all of the people who have asked, King told the court.

The judge didnt agree with Kings weaponizing argument.

Theyre just using the statute the Legislature passed, Marsh said in response.

However, Andrea Flynn Mogensen, an attorney for the center, said the administrations arguments about a backlog of requests is evidence of delay and violates the public-records law.

Were being told, Youre in line, get in line and stay in line, she said in court.

The judge indicated he was being generous with the 20-day deadline after the attorneys for DeSantis asked for more time; he said he could have allowed only 48 hours. Marsh said in his order that phone or text logs could provide information about communications regarding the flights by DeSantis Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, who helped coordinate transportation of the 48 illegal immigrants, mostly from Venezuela, to Marthas Vineyard, according to reports.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference and gives updates on Hurricane Ian efforts on Oct. 22. (Jann Falkenstern/The Epoch Times)

In addition to the phone records from Uthmeier, the center sought records concerning communications with Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office about relocating the migrants.

While the DeSantis administration has released some records, the center said in the lawsuit that the release wasnt responsive to the requests.

Michael Barfield, director of public access for the center, told reporters that the judges verbal ruling held the governor accountable for delays in providing public records. The center filed the lawsuit on Oct. 10 after alleging that the governors office didnt comply with requests that were made on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22.

Nicholas Meros, another DeSantis attorney, indicated through statements made in court that the judges ruling could make way for an appeal.

Mogensen told reporters after the hearing that she expects an appeal.

Bryan Griffin, press secretary to DeSantis, said in a prepared statement: We disagree with the courts ruling and intend to appeal. This records request came amid a historically devastating hurricane and  the governor was focused on supporting the needs and recovery of Floridians from Hurricane Ian.

Regardless, we have already produced a significant number of documents and  continue to endeavor to do so in a timely manner.

Another lawsuit, also in Leon County circuit court, was filed by state Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-North Miami Beach) alleging that the DeSantis administration violated the states Constitution and a separate law that required the migrants be moved out of Florida.

A federal class-action suit was also filed by attorneys representing some of the asylum seekers that were flown to Marthas Vineyard from Texas. It named DeSantis, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, and others who helped recruit the immigrants to get on the flight from Texas.

DeSantis ordered the flights last month as part of a migrant relocation program, for which the state Legislature approved $12 million in the budget in March 2021. The governor had warned in numerous press conferences that he would fly migrants attempting to enter Florida to sanctuary states and cities. Critics called his actions inhumane stunts that used the migrants as political pawns.

However, concerning the flights to Marthas Vineyardwhich has been described as the exclusive haven of the Eastern liberal elitethe migrants were flown from Texas, with a stop-over at an airport in Crestview, a Panhandle community on Sept. 14.

The governors office has maintained that the migrants at the border indicated they wanted to travel to Florida, but Florida doesnt allow undocumented immigrants into the state.

Florida is not a sanctuary state, the governor has stated in press conferences in the past few months.

If even a fraction of the amount of effort spent by the media and critics to find something to take issue with regarding our relocation program was directed towards securing our southern border, we might actually be able to get the Biden Administration to do something about it, the statement from the governors office read.
The Cybersocket foursome will be joined onstage with live performances by American Idol alumni Ada Vox, David Hernandez and Mikalah Gordon as part of the festivities. The evening will feature a costume contest, an appearance by gay underwear icon Andrew Christian and giveaways from Cybersocket. The evening will be co-emceed by Cybersocket director Alexander Rodriguez and Palm Springs local Bella da Ball.

For the appearance, Cybersocket joined forces with Jeff Hocker Productions. Halloween on Arenas is an annual block party held in the Arenas District area of Downtown Palm Springs, featuring thousands of attendees, including vendors in conjunction with local gay bars and more. With this years lineup focused on diversity and a mashup of sexy pop culture themes, the event will benefit DAP Health, Palm Springs Gay Men's Chorus, Greater Palm Springs Pride and LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. The event is free with a suggested donation of $10 to benefit the various organizations.

"Each year, our talent line-up reflects the diversity of our community. We are especially excited to add an element of sexy from the gay adult worlds favorite faces, courtesy of Cybersocket. We continue to support Palm Springs-based LGBTQ non-profit organizations as we are passionate about giving back to the community we love," said Halloween Palm Springs executive producer Jeff Hocker.

For more information, visit halloweenpalmsprings.com.

Cybersocket is online at Cybersocket.com.
Jury Convicts 3 Men of All Counts in Plot to Kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer

Three men were convicted on Oct. 26 of crimes in connection to a plot to kidnap Michigans governor.

Jurors convicted Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison, and Morrisons father-in-law Pete Musico of providing material support for terrorist acts, membership in a gang, and carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony.

The trio, all members of the Wolverine Watchmen group, face up to 40 years in prison. Theyll be sentenced in December.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said that the verdicts are further proof that violence and threats have no place in our politics.

These defendants believed violence was an appropriate way to address an ideological grievance. Todays verdict sends a clear message they were wrong. Violence is never the answer, and the FBI remains committed to investigating and holding accountable anyone who seeks to further an ideological cause through violence, special agent Mara Schneider, a spokesperson for the FBIs Detroit Field Office, added.

Morrison, Bellar, and Musico were among those charged in 2020 for what authorities described as a broad conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat. The group was upset about Whitmer imposing harsh restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State and federal law enforcement relied on undercover agents and informants in derailing the scheme, raising concerns of entrapment. Several defendants were acquitted by a jury. But Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson, who oversaw the terrorist acts trial, rejected entrapment arguments.

The defendants held gun drills in rural Jackson County with one of the men who hatched the kidnapping scheme, Adam Fox, who was convicted in September with Barry Croft Jr.

Defense attorneys argued that Morrison, Musico, and Bellar had broken ties with Fox by late summer 2020 when the Whitmer plot came into focus. Unlike Fox and others, they didnt travel to northern Michigan to scout the governors vacation home or participate in a key weekend training session inside a shoot house.

In this country you are allowed to talk the talk, but you only get convicted if you walk the walk, Musicos attorney, Kareem Johnson, said in his closing remarks.

Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were acquitted by jurors earlier this year while two other defendants, Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks, pleaded guilty.

The other men implicated in the scheme are facing charges in state court in Antrim County, the site of Whitmers second home. A judge there still must determine whether there is sufficient evidence to send them to trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A demonstrator from Just Stop Oil sprays orange paint on the Jack Barclay Bentley store in Berkeley Square, in London, on Oct. 26, 2022. The protest group has organized a wave of similar actions across London in recent weeks. (Photo by Isabel Infantes/Getty Images)

Climate Activists Arrested After Disturbing Behaviors

Just Stop Oil climate activists recently sprayed paint across windows of luxury car showrooms in Berkeley Square, London, before police arrested them.

Protestors have sprayed paint at the Ferrari and Bentley garages in Berkley Square at 08:39hrs, stated the Metropolitan Police. Met officers were rapidly on scene, and at 08:46hrs, arrested two people for criminal damage. They have been taken into custody to a central London police station.

The two climate activists began spraying paint from a fire extinguisher over Ferrari and Bentley dealership premises around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, as month-long protests in different parts of the region have caused disruptions in everyday lives of people. The activists are demanding that the British government end all new fossil fuel licenses.

Since the beginning of the month, authorities have arrested more than 585 individuals in connection with disruptions, said the group.

In what world is it ok to buy and sell luxury cars when people cant afford to eat or heat their homes, or when people all over the world are suffering and dying from the climate crisis  Inequality is whats driving the climate crisis, claimed the group in a Twitter thread.

Why are millions of children in poverty in this country while people are buying SUVs from @BentleyMotors  Its obscene. Im surprised this stuff isnt happening more. There is a reason we are so poor, and its because there are more and more rich people getting richer.

Blocking Roads

Hours later, Just Stop Oil activists were involved in blocking roads in the busy London junction of Piccadilly Circus. Three protesters even glued themselves to the ground.

The ensuing lunchtime chaos resulted in expletive-ridden clashes with drivers who had to drag the protestors off the roadway to resume traffic.

Ive got to feed my family, I aint got time for this, said one of the motorists.

At 12:55, Met police arrested and removed 11 protesters obstructing the junction at Piccadilly/ Dover Street, said the Met Police. The activists were arrested for willful obstruction of the highway, and the road was opened around 1 p.m.

The Piccadilly incident happened just days after Just Stop Oil protesters threw a chocolate cake on a King Charles waxwork in Madame Tussauds, and splashed tomato soup over Van Goghs Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery (the painting was, fortunately, protected by glass).

This is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returningtoday, tomorrow, and the next dayand the next day after thatand every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK, said a spokesman for Just Stop Oil, according to The Mirror.

Extremism in Climate Activism

Many organizations supporting the climate change agenda are resorting to extreme methods to get their points across. According to analysts, the environmental narrative has evolved into a political movement.

In an email obtained by The Epoch Times, Patrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace, said: Greenpeace was hijacked by the political left when they realized there was money and power in the environmental movement. Political activists in North America and Europe changed Greenpeace from a science-based organization to a political fundraising organization.

Moore left Greenpeace in 1986, 15 years after he co-founded the organization.

The environmental movement has become more of a political movement than an environmental movement, he said. They are primarily focused on creating narratives, stories, that are designed to instill fear and guilt into the public so the public will send them money.

He said they mainly operate behind closed doors with other political operatives at the United Nations, World Economic Forum, and so on, all of which are primarily political in nature.

Lee Yun-Jeong contributed to the report.
A person walks past signs posted outside City Hall calling for the resignations of L.A. City Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles, Calif., on October 18, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

LA City Council Settles Special Election, Votes in New President Pro Tem

Los Angeles City Council voted 110 Oct. 25 to hold a special election next year to fill Nury Martinezs former seat and to appoint Councilman Curren Price as the next president pro tempore.

The special election for the District 6 seat on April 4, 2023, will cost the city up to $7.7 million, according to the City Clerks Office. A runoff, if necessary, will take place on June 27.

Council President Paul Krekorian said the funding for the election would be discussed further in the Budget and Finance Committee.

City council members Paul Koretz (L) and Paul Krekorian (R), along with and members of Women Against Gun Violence (back row), speak about the need for stricter gun laws in front of the Los Angeles City Council Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2014. (Eric Zhang/The Epoch Times)

District 6which includes central and eastern portions of the San Fernando Valleyis being overseen by a non-voting caretaker, the citys chief legislative analyst Sharon Tso. A non-voting caretaker has no voting power but oversees the council office to make sure the district provides constituent services and other basic functions.

Martinez resigned two weeks ago after she was heard making racially charged comments in a leaked conversation from October 2021 about the citys redistricting. Her term was set to expire in December 2024.

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), who was floated as a candidate for the seat if the council holds a special election, said this week that she wasnt interested.

I love my role in the state Assembly, which allows me to work onand make progress onthe issues that I care most about, especially environmental justice and empowering underserved communities, Rivas said on Twitter.

Councilman Curren D. Price Jr. speaks onstage at A Day At The Museum at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2022. (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images)

Price was interested in seeking the council presidency after Martinez resigned, but the council voted 100 for Paul Krekorian last week. Krekorian and Councilman Mitch OFarrell, the former president pro tempore, subsequently introduced a motion nominating Price.

At a time of rising violence, great animosity, and hateful rhetoric, we must come together and claim who we are as a city, Price said.

Price has been on the council since 2013 and is in his third term representing District 9. He chairs the Economic Development and Jobs Committee. He said the council will need a collaborative leadership.

As a 71-year-old black man, Ive had my fair share of experience fighting against adversities, Price said. From living through a time of segregation to the social justice revolutions today. Weve got some difficult days ahead, but I have infinite hope that working together works.

Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti speaks in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement that Price has been an indispensable partner in the fight for racial and economic justice.

His leadership can help lead our city out of a painful moment and into the healing, reflection, and action that can restore broken trust and unify Angelenos around the values of compassion, respect, and cooperation that will always define our people, Garcetti said.

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who was absent from the meeting, released a statement congratulating Price.

His leadership is one of a coalition builder, and he has exemplified that ability in his own district to bridge the divides, Rodriguez said. I look forward to working with him to emerge from this moment as a stronger, more unified Los Angeles.

Mitch OFarrell attends the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony honoring Kenan Thompson at the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 11, 2022, (David Livingston/Getty Images)

OFarrell, who had served as president pro tempore since last fall and briefly served as acting council president following Martinezs resignation, will relinquish his leadership post on the council.

Both Paul and Curren are dedicated and very capable leaders, OFarrell said while chairing last Fridays virtual council meeting from the chamber.

Price has served in both the California Assembly and Senate, with stints chairing the Assemblys Committee on Elections and Redistricting and Committee on Governmental Organization, and the Senates Business and Professions Committee. He was also chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in 2010.

Prior to beginning his political career on the Inglewood City Council in 1993, Price was a small-business owner and a consultant with the Small Business Administration.

New LA City Council President Paul Krekorian (C) presides near protestors as the council holds its first in-person meeting since he became president in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The other two councilors involved in the leaked conversation that spurred the scandal, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, have so far defied calls to resign.

De Leons term also expires in December 2024.

Cedillo lost his re-election bid to Eunessis Hernandez in June and will leave office in December. Council President Paul Krekorian has suggested swearing in Hernandez immediately if Cedillo resigns.

Protestors demonstrate as the LA City Council holds its first in-person meeting since voting in new president Paul Krekorian in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Throughout the two-hour meeting, a couple of dozen protesters kept chanting, slapping benches, and shouting. They chanted through the Pledge of Allegiance, votes, and Krekorians attempts to call speakers to the podium for public comment.

None of the people who signed up for in-person public comment approached the podium, which was crowded by protesters. Instead, some councilors put on earphones to listen to those who called in to give comments.

City News Service contributed to this report.
LAPD Opens Probe into LA City Councilors Leaked Conversation

LOS ANGELESThe Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)s Major Crimes Division has opened an investigation into the leaked conversation that led to the City Hall racism scandal to determine if the conversation was recorded illegally, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said Oct. 25.

The department has initiated a criminal investigation into an allegation of eavesdropping relative to the [Los Angeles County Federation of Labor] meeting involving then-Council person Nury Martinez, Council member Gil Cedillo, and Council member Kevin de Leon and the Fed President, Mr. [Ron] Herrera, Moore said during a media availability.

Our Major Crimes Division is conducting that, and we will bring our results to the appropriate prosecuting agency upon completion of that investigation.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore speaks to media about fallen LAPD officer Fernando Arroyos in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

He was asked, So, Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, the president of the LA Fed, and Kevin de Leon came to the LAPD and asked for an investigation into it? Moore replied, Yes.

They approached the department on Friday, this past Friday, and requested that we conduct an investigation into the illegal recording of their private conversation, Moore said.

The department immediately dispatched detectives to conduct recorded interviews of the individuals and our investigation will continue as to the facts and circumstances of how the meeting occurred and information from the victims of why they believe the recording was unlawful and also understanding from them the assertion that it was not with their permission.

However, late Tuesday, a spokesperson for de Leon said the council member did not request an investigation.

Los Angeles Councilman Kevin de Leon speaks at The Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro, Calif., on Feb. 27, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

It remains unknown who recorded the year-old, racially charged conversation that took place at the offices of the LA County Federation of Labor, and who leaked it some two weeks agotriggering a series of events that led Martinez to step down as City Council president and then resigned from the council altogether, and de Leon and Cedillo to face relentless calls for them to resign as well.

Herrera, too, stepped down as president of the LA County Federation of Labor shortly after the leaked conversation became public.

City News Service was not immediately able to confirm who filed a report that prompted the LAPD probe.

Former Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Earlier this month, in an email sent to some of its union affiliates and first obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the LA Fed said there was a serious security and privacy breach at its offices. The federation also noted that the illegal recordings were posted online, but the organization was successful at getting the posts removed and the unidentified user suspended.

The email stated that the federation is investigating the source of the leak and will make sure these crimes are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

California is a two-party consent state, meaning that all partiesnot necessarily just twoparticipating in a conversation must give their approval for the conversation to be recorded. Violators could face both civil and criminal penalties.

Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo (L) speaks about the US Citizenship Act of 2021 and urges action on US President Bidens immigration reform plan outside of City Hall in Los Angeles on April 29, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

De Leon has resisted calls for him to step down, while a spokesman for Cedillo has repeatedly said the councilman is at a place of reflection. Cedillo only has a few weeks left on the council after losing his re-election bid to Eunisses Hernandez.

In the recorded conversationwhich originally was posted on Reddit before being removed Oct. 9Martinez made disparaging comments aimed at Bonins 2-year-old black adopted son and at other ethnic groups while the group discussed the politically sensitive process of redrawing council district boundaries.

Martinez spoke about Councilman Mike Bonins black son as Parece changuitowhich is translated to like a little monkeywhile recalling seeing Bonins son on a float during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, where she said the child was like an accessory.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez attends the LA Promise Funds Girls Build Leadership Summit at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Dec. 15, 2017. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

De Leon chimed in and said Bonin treats his child the same way as when Nury brings her Goyard bag or the Louis Vuitton bag.

Martinez appeared to suggest Bonins son was misbehaving on the float, and if she and another woman didnt step in to parent his kid the float may have tumbled over.

Theyre raising him like a little white kid, Martinez was heard saying. I was like, this kid needs a beatdown, let me take him around the corner, and then Ill bring him back.

De Leon also criticized Bonin. Mike Bonin wont [expletive] ever say peep about Latinos. Hell never say a [expletive] word about us, he said.
Jennifer Sey, on the right, is seen at the Levi's Times Square Store opening in New York City, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Levis)

Levis Ex-Brand President Says Woke Capitalism Driving Policies of Firms Wanting to Profit Off Gen Z Activism

Jennifer Sey, the former brand president of clothes maker Levis, has condemned wokeness and says it is now driving company policies in corporate boardrooms, thanks in part to the kids of Generation Z.

Sey spoke about woke capitalism in her new book, Levis Unbuttoned, an excerpt of which was published in the New York Post.

First, youve got CEOs and executives who want to distance themselves from the greedy image of past business leaders, Sey wrote. They want you to know that they are not like the ruthless banking moguls and oil tycoons from years gone by. They arent destroying the planet, and they arent taking advantage of consumers with subprime mortgages. They arent stealing or grifting, theyre helping! They arent in it for themselves, they care about you!

Corporate leaders want us to believe that they are do-gooders, not money grubbers, she continued. Theyll get rich, too, but they dont want you to think that is their mission.

Sey cited billionaires like Bill Gates and Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz in her book, stating that business executives would have us believe that they are our saviors.

Bill Gates is eliminating malaria and saving the children in Africa. Howard Schultz is running for president to save our democracy. Elon Musk is not only saving the planet with electric vehicles, he is exploring new frontiers in space and defending free speech for the masses, she wrote.

Somehow, some way, despite all the evidence of greed and corruption, business leaders have managed to re-brand themselves as altruists, Sey added.

Ideological Terrorists

Explaining why she believes woke capitalism has seeped into major companies, Sey, who is also a former national champion gymnast, says it has been driven by companies aiming to profit off millennial and Gen Z activism.

It exploits social-justice politics and transforms it into social-justice consumerismand, ultimately, investor profit, she wrote. Companies purporting to care about progressive values are really doing nothing more than striking a superficial pose meant to signal virtue while distracting from any companys true motive: financial gain for shareholders.

The businesswoman also noted that many business leaders are often influenced by their Gen Z kids, whom she called ideological terrorists, and a desire to win their approval.

Sey said in February this year that she had quit Levis in order to be free, in part due to her differing views with the company on the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly school closures.

The former executive had been outspoken against school closures due to the pandemic when speaking to various local media outlets. Levis management, however, took a different position and allegedly condemned her for the move, asking her to pipe down.

I refused to stop talking. I kept calling out hypocritical and unproven policies. I met with the mayors office, and eventually uprooted my entire life in CaliforniaId lived there for over 30 yearsand moved my family to Denver so that my kindergartner could finally experience real school, she wrote in a Substack newsletter.

Sey added that she had declined a $1 million severance package that the company had offered her if she agreed to sign a nondisclosure agreement stating why shed been pushed out of the company.

Levis has not publically spoken about Seys claims, except to announce her replacement by Seth Ellison on an interim basis.

The Epoch Times has contacted Levis for comment.
(Left) New York Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) speaks during a press conference at the entrance to the Rikers Island jail in New York on Oct. 24, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images); (Right) New York State Governor Kathy Hochul speaks on stage during The 2022 Concordia Annual Summit-Day 2 at Sheraton New York in New York on Sept. 20, 2022. (John Lamparski/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

Lifelong Democrat Lawmaker to Vote Republican in NY Governor Race: Hochul Has No Clue

Frustrated with New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls halfhearted attempt to get serious on crime, a decades-long Democrat state lawmaker says he will vote for her Republican challenger in the upcoming election.

The No.1, No.2 and No.3 issues for New Yorkers are crime, crime, crime, Dov Hikind, a Brooklyn Democrat who had served as an assemblyman in the New York State Legislature for 35 years until 2018, told The Epoch Times sister media NTD News after the last and only debate before the Nov. 8 gubernatorial race.

During the hour-long debate on Tuesday night, Hochul faced off with Rep Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and took on topics including the economy, abortion, and COVID vaccine mandates. But the most heated exchange took place when Zeldin charged Hochul with failing to address rampant subway crimes and hate crimes targeting Jewish and Asian communities.

Hochul, who ascended to the governorship after former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, fired back by accusing the Long Island Republican of trying to keep people scared about crimes more than they should, while insisting that her criminal justice policies are making a difference.

Anyone who commits a crime under our laws, especially with the change they made to bail, has consequences. I dont know why thats so important to you, the Democrat incumbent said at one point.

Hochuls response, Hikind said, shows that she has no clue whatsoever as to what concerns New Yorkers the most.

Theres a 40 percent decrease in the number of people using the New York City subway system. Thats crazy, he told NTD News. I dont blame people. Theyre afraid. Theyre concerned. They see the things that are happening on the subway system and in the streets of New York.

Hochul has no clue, and I think it was very clear last night, Hikind continued, adding that he was dumbfounded about whether Hochul has a plan for the future at all. He also pointed to the fact that the governor didnt start campaigning on the issue of crime until very recently when polls showed Zeldin steadily narrowing her lead.

In a campaign ad launched last week, Hochul highlighted her opponents ties to President Donald Trump. The ad features footage of Trump at an April 2022 event at his Mar-a-Lago home saying, Lee fought for me very, very hard. It also shows Trump giving Zeldin a supportive tap on the shoulder.

Zeldin voted with Trump, toonearly 90 percent of the time, against tougher gun laws, for extreme anti-abortion laws, the narrator says in an ominous voice. Zeldin even voted to overturn the 2020 election to keep Trump in power.

The more ads like this Hochul runs, the better Zeldin will be performing in the election, Hikind said.

Lee Zeldin was going up in the polls because the people of the State of New York understand that if there is no freedom to live, to breathe, to walk the streets, the rest is really just not important.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)

Mark Meadows Must Testify in Georgia Election Probe: Judge

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must testify to a grand jury investigating possible misconduct related to the 2020 presidential election, a judge in South Carolina ruled on Oct. 26.

I am going to find that the witness is material and necessary to the investigation and that the state of Georgia is assuring not to cause undue hardship to him, Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller said from the bench after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Meadows and prosecutors, CNN reported.

Meadows resides in South Carolina.

He is being pursued by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat who convened the grand jury to investigate alleged attempts by Meadows and others to influence the results of the 2020 election.

Willis cited Meadowss involvement in a Dec. 21, 2020, meeting with Trump and others to discuss the certification of Electoral College votes from Georgia, as well as his visit the following day to the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, where absentee ballot signature matches were being made, as evidence that he should be questioned in the investigation.

Lawyers for Meadows said in a statement that the legal document seeking his testimony, a certificate of attendance lodged with the court, is without effect in South Carolina.

Because of the unusual nature of the Georgia proceeding, some of these issues have never been addressed in South Carolina. We are looking into legal options based on the judges ruling from the bench. It would be inappropriate to comment further on these issues until the Judge has issued a final written order, they said.

A spokesman for Willis didnt pick up the phone or return a voicemail.

In court filings, Meadows argued that even if the petition for an appearance wasnt dismissed, he wouldnt be a material witness because of constitutional protections such as executive privilege.

He was originally supposed to appear for a September interview, but he took the matter to court.

Willis has sought a number of people who worked in the Trump White House or were allies of President Donald Trump, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani spoke to the grand jury in August after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Christopher Brasher found he was a necessary and material witness.

Brasher also concluded that Graham was a key witness, but the senator continued to fight the order, and the U.S. Supreme Court blocked it, at least temporarily, on Oct. 24.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a news conference after thirteen people, including seven men associated with the Wolverine Watchmen militia group, were arrested for alleged plots to take Whitmer hostage and attack the state capitol building, in Lansing, Mich., on Oct. 8, 2020. (Michigan Governor's office/Handout via Reuters)

Michigan Jury Weighs Case Against 3 Accused in Plot to Kidnap Governor

Michigan jurors on Tuesday began deliberations in the trial of three men accused of assisting in an elaborate plot two years ago to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in opposition to strict coronavirus restrictions imposed during the pandemic.

After two weeks of testimony in Jackson County Circuit Court, the court said the jury is weighing the evidence against Joseph Morrison, 28, his father-in-law Pete Musico, 44, and Paul Bellar, 23.

The men, charged with gang membership, firearm violations, and providing material support for terrorism, face 20 years in prison if convicted. They have pleaded not guilty.

Paul Bellar (L), Joseph Morrison (C), and Pete Musico (R), who are accused of being involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over her COVID-19 restrictions. (Jackson County Sheriffs Office via AP)

The three are among 14 men arrested in October 2020 and charged with state or federal crimes in the alleged kidnapping conspiracy.

Prosecutors said the men were members of the Wolverine Watchmen, a militia group that planned to break into the Democratic governors vacation home, kidnap her and take her away at gunpoint to stand trial on treason charges. The alleged conspirators hoped that the abduction would lead to a violent uprising and instigate a civil war, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the plot was motivated by opposition to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the governor and grievances related to the 2020 presidential election.

Defense attorneys for the men argued they did not know of a plan to kidnap the governor and that their actions were protected by the First and Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Detroit News reported.

Morrison and Musico were accused of hosting tactical training sessions on their property in a remote part of Michigan, while Bellar was accused of providing plans for tactical maneuvers, coded language for covert communication and ammunition.

They promoted terrorism, they sought out terrorists and when they found them, they trained them, Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani said during closing statements.

In August, a federal jury in Grand Rapids convicted Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. of conspiracy in the plot. Two other defendants were found not guilty in the first federal trial.

This combination of images shows Barry Croft Jr. (L) and Adam Fox. (Kent County Sheriffs Office via AP)

In September, a federal judge reduced the sentence of Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty to participating in the plot after his testimony helped convict Fox and Croft.

Kaleb Franks, who also pleaded guilty to playing a role in the scheme, was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month after serving as a key witness in the case against Fox and Croft.
Michigan State Senator Raises Concerns About Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Election Integrity

Michigan state Sen. Ruth Johnson, a Republican, has accused Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, of incompetence, and raised concerns about election integrity in the state.

In an interview with Newsmakers, a collaboration between The Epoch Times and NTD, Johnson said she chairs the state Senate Election Committee and revealed that Benson doesnt attend the committee meetings and has used three different excuses to cover for her absence.

The first time, Benson used the excuse of being busy. The second time, it was COVID-19; and the third time, Benson failed to turn up at the meeting claiming that she did not want to trigger any civil unrest, which Johnson said weve never had.

She did, in the last election, send out 7.7 million absentee ballot requests, of which over 800,000 were to nonqualified voters. Thats a problem, Johnson said.

They were completely filled out. Thats never been done by the secretary of state before. Its always been our local clerks. We have 1,525 clerks, and theyve been named some of the best in the nation for conducting elections. But our Secretary of State took that over.

For the elections in Michigan, 103.7 percent of the eligible electorate are registered to vote.

Thats a problem, Johnson said. You dont have to be a mathematician to know thats just wrong.

Michigan is currently governed by Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who wears two part-time hats, according to Johnson. Whitmer is the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and has characterized Republicans as bad across the country.

Then she comes home and she puts on a hat and says Im bipartisan. She has spent 27 times more money to run for governor than Tudor Dixon, the Republican candidate.  The Democrats are bringing in money like Ive never seen before27 times. Usually, youre talking about 27 percent. So, there is a problem.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Michigan Department for State for comment.

Election Manual Lawsuit

Last week, Republicans won a lawsuit against Benson, who had issued an updated election manual that sought to impose new restrictions on poll challengers and observers without submitting the change through the correct rulemaking process.

The court ruled that the manual must either be removed or amended to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.

In a statement, Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), called the court decision a victory for the rule of law, according to Fox News. The RNC is a party to the case.

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, McDaniel said.

Johnson is one of three former Michigan secretaries of state who oppose Proposition 2, a state ballot proposal that would legalize private funding of elections, do away with mandatory photo identification for in-person voters, and require absentee ballot drop boxes in every community.

Tiffany Meier Follow Tiffany Meier is a New York-based reporter and host of NTD's "China in Focus."

Joshua Philipp Follow Joshua Philipp is an award-winning investigative reporter with The Epoch Times and host of EpochTV's "Crossroads" program. He is a recognized expert on unrestricted warfare, asymmetrical hybrid warfare, subversion, and historical perspectives on todays issues. His 10-plus years of research and investigations on the Chinese Communist Party, subversion, and related topics give him unique insight into the global threat and political landscape.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki testifies at the Mass Casualty Commission inquiry into the mass murders in rural Nova Scotia on April 18/19, 2020, in Halifax on Aug. 24, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

Mountie Who Recorded Lucki Meeting First Told Investigators Tape Lost on Stolen Phone

An affidavit by an RCMP security investigator details how the force obtained recordings of a tense meeting at the centre of allegations of political interference into the Mounties investigation into the Nova Scotia mass shooting.

The affidavit sworn Friday by Supt. Jeffrey Beaulac, the RCMPs deputy chief security officer at national headquarters in Ottawa, was released Tuesday by the public inquiry into the April 18-19, 2020, shootings that claimed 22 lives.

The 24 minutes of conversation were recorded on April 28, 2020, during a call between RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and senior RCMP staff in Halifax.

Beaulac said that in June, senior management learned that the RCMPs director of media relations, Dan Brien, had recorded at least part of the call.

I am informed that on June 24, 2022, Chief Supt. Michael OMalley was told by Mr. Brien that the recording was done on a personal device and it was no longer available as it was on an old phone that had been stolen, said Beaulac.

He said Briens direct manager Jolene Bradley also discussed the recording with him and another national communications services manager.

She was told by Mr. Brien that the recording was done in error and it was not his common practice to record meetings. He stated the call had been recorded on a personal device that he no longer had use of.

Beaulac said he was informed that Brien went on sick leave on July 7 and has not returned to work. He said the RCMP subsequently undertook a security review and an administrative review.

On Sept. 7, Beaulac said the RCMP retrieved two RCMP-issued laptops and one RCMP-issued mobile device from Brien. The devices, RCMP networks, shared drives and work emails were searched beginning on Sept. 13.

As of todays date, the recording of the April 28, 2020, call has not been located during these searches of the RCMPs technical infrastructure, he said.

Beaulac said a security investigator on Sept. 20 interviewed Brien, who confirmed that he was actually still in possession of the phone he used to record the call. He told the investigator that he had deleted the app used to record the call sometime between the April 28 meeting and this spring due to space limitations on his phone.

Brien said the recording had not been made on a phone that was stolen from him, but the affidavit says he may have thought so in June because he did not remember when the theft occurred.

Brien subsequently agreed to have the phone forensically examined and gave his permission to do so on Oct. 12. The next day, Beaulac said he was advised that three audio files had been retrieved concerning the April 28 call. The commission of inquiry was advised on Oct. 14 and was given the recordings on Oct. 17.

Beaulac said the RCMPs security investigation into the matter is ongoing.

While the files do not cover the entirety of the meeting, they are a complete capture of what the (Digital Forensic Services) extracted from Mr. Briens phone, he said.

The recordings did not come to light until September, when RCMP Deputy Commissioner Brian Brennan told the federal-provincial inquiry in Halifax that Brien had recorded portions of the meeting.

During the call, Lucki said she understood the police force couldnt release certain details about the investigation into how the gunman killed 22 people during the 13-hour rampage.

However, she said she felt frustrated when she learned the speaking notes used for an RCMP news conference earlier that day did not include basic information about the killers weapons.

She can be heard saying her desire to publicly share these basic facts was in response to a request she received from a ministers office, though she did not specify which minister or the exact nature of the request.

Opposition parties seized on the comments to suggest the Liberal government was interfering in the police investigation to further its pending gun control legislation, something Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denied.

By Keith Doucette
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Nations Report Card Shows Pandemic Learning Loss, Signs of Recovery in Los Angeles Unified

A new report by the U.S. Education Department shows that students in California performed better than other states over the past three years, with the Los Angeles Unified School District making some improvements. But overall, students across the nation are still heavily affected by pandemic learning loss.

Eighth and fourth graders in nearly every state across the nation are achieving lower mathematics scores than pre-pandemic years, while average reading scores also declined in the majority of states, according to the Nations Report Card, released on Oct. 23 by the U.S. Department of Educations National Center for Education Statistics.

The results  underscore the importance of instruction and the role of schools in both students academic growth and their overall wellbeing, National Center for Education Statistics Commissioner Peggy Carr said in a statement. Its clear we all need to come togetherpolicymakers and community leaders at every levelas partners in helping our educators, children, and families succeed.

Although Californias math scores followed the nations downward trend, the state saw no major change in reading scores from 2019 to 2022, according to the report.

Los Angeles Unified School Districtthe states largest school districtdemonstrated greater improvement compared to other participating school districts between 2019 and 2022, according to the report.

It was the only major district in the nation where average eighth-grade reading scores increased, while fourth-grade test scores stayed the same. The districts average eighth-grade mathematics scores did not change, and scores for fourth-grade mathematics decreased, according to the report.

LA Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho credited the improvement in an Oct. 23 statement to the learning loss recovery strategies in his 202226 Strategic Planwhich include summer school, optional accelerated learning days, expanded tutoring services to assist students during and after school, and hiring additional counselors and mental health workers.

The Los Angeles Unified community has worked tirelessly over the past few years and endured incredible challenges throughout the pandemic, so this news is truly a bright spot after a period of darkness, Carvalho said in the statement. The strategies we have implemented to address learning loss and achievement gaps are working.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an Oct. 23 statement the results underscore the importance of Californias $23.8 billion to support students learning recovery during the pandemic.

California focused on keeping kids safe during the pandemic while making record investments to mitigate learning loss and transforming our education system, Newsom said in a statement. Thats why weve made record investments in education, created a new pre-K grade, implemented universal free meals, expanded before and after school programs, bolstered mental health, and more.

Nationwide, the national average mathematics score for fourth graders fell five points since 2019from 241 to 236while the score for eighth graders dropped eight pointsfrom 282 to 274.

In reading, average scores for both grades fell three points, from 220 to 217 for fourth grade and from 263 to 260 for eighth grade.

Carr, the National Center for Education Statistics commissioner, also said the declines in math are the largest ever recorded in the country.

Daniel J. McGrath, the centers acting associate commissioner, said eighth grade was a pivotal moment in students math education.

Eighth grade is  [when students] develop key mathematics skills for further learning and potential careers in mathematics and science, McGrath said. 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.

In mathematics, 25 percent of fourth graders tested below the standard in 2022an increase from 19 percent in 2019while 38 percent of eighth graders were below the basic standard, an increase from 31 percent in 2019.

For reading, the percentage of fourth graders below the basic level increased from 34 percent in 2019 to 37 percent in 2022, and the percentage of eighth graders below the standard increased from 27 percent in 2019 to 30 percent in 2022.

The Education Department has been administering yearly tests evaluating both public and private school fourth and eighth graders in math and reading subjects across the nation since 1969. The last tests were administered in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Hampshire May Be Only New England State That Bans Vaccine Mandates for School Kids

Midterm elections may well decide if U.S. public school children will be forced to take a COVID jab.

On Oct. 20, an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to add COVID-19 vaccines to the recommended immunization schedule for children and adults.

However, states still have the right not to follow the CDC recommendation. As it stands, 21 states already specifically ban any kind of COVID-19 vaccine mandate in schools. But laws can be overturned and with 36 gubernatorial races taking place in the United States, the future of government-imposed COVID mandates for kids hangs in the balance.

In New England, the potential odds could be life-altering for families who oppose COVID vaccines for their children. Out of the six states that make up the region, New Hampshire is the only one with legislation that bans COVID vaccine mandates for students.

Gov. Chris Sununu, who signed the ban last year, dispelled any possibility that New Hampshire would follow the CDC recommendation to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for children in public schools, pointing out that the states Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) needs approval from lawmakers to mandate any vaccines.

NH DHHS has no intention of moving forward with the CDCs recommendation, and I have been clear and consistent in opposing government-led COVID vaccine mandates, Sununu said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

While his Democratic challenger, Tom Sherman, has been transparent about his wishes to mandate the shot for Granite State kids, Sununu has a substantial lead in polling as he seeks his fourth term as governor.

In Maine, former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is seeking to unseat Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, who has imposed some of the nations strictest COVID mandates. Maine also is one of a handful of states that provide no other exemptionexcept for medicalto school vaccines, likely meaning that children there will be required to take the COVID jab based on the CDC decision if Mills is reelected.

Currently, she leads LePage in polling by as much as 10 percent.

Last week, LePage pledged at the behest of Health Choice Maine not to enforce the COVID-19 add-on to the CDCs schedule of school immunizations.

I have always believed that Maine parents need to make the best medical decisions for their own children, without interference from the government, he wrote in his pledge. He also criticized Millss CDC director for supporting massive government overreach with all vaccines.

Massachusetts faces a similar possibility if ultra-liberal Attorney General Maura Healey defeats conservative Geoff Diehl in the race for governor. Healey is unmistakably pro-vaccine, having mandated her entire staff to get the shot; in a recent debate with Diehl, she suggested shed support another pandemic lockdown and masking mandates.

Diehl, who has vowed to restore the job of every state worker who was fired for not taking the vaccine, was quick to condemn the CDC vote, even releasing a YouTube video on it.

A students ability to enter school should never be tied to this vaccine, Diehl says in the video, during which he also vows to never adopt a vaccine he described as just out of the clinical phase.

Healey, however, leads Diehl by 23 points, according to one poll.

Vermont will likely see the COVID-19 vaccine added to the list of mandatory school shots, regardless of the outcome of its gubernatorial race. Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has enforced CDC vaccine guidelines and was a staunch promoter of the COVID vaccine, while his Democratic challenger, Brenda Siegel, has campaigned on the platform that Scott wasnt strict enough with COVID vaccine requirements.

In New Englands most southern states, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, both Democrats, are also pro-COVID vaccine.

McKee is being challenged by pro-parental rights Republican Ashley Kalus, but she has trailed McKee in polling.

Following the CDC advisory panel vote, Lamonts Republican challenger, Bob Stefanowski, pledged that he wouldnt require a COVID vaccine for schools in Connecticut. Stefanowski, who also trails in polling, called on Lamont to take a similar pledge but quickly predicted that the governor wouldnt.

I would say our governor has tended to follow CDC guidance, Stefanowski said. Theyre going to recommend it for the states. Im saying well go against that recommendation if it is, in fact, to mandate it.

Lamont responded by saying he sees no reason to mandate the COVID vaccine for public school kids, but didnt pledge to not require them if reelected.

As with Maine, Connecticut also removed all exemptionsexcept a medical one signed by a doctorfrom the CDCs current recommended schedule of school vaccinations. The other four New England states do allow religious exemptions from mandated immunizations.

Nationally, 44 states have religious exemptions from school-mandated vaccinations.

California and the District of Columbia have already made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for public school students, although the D.C. council is slated to vote on Nov. 1 on a proposal to defer the legislation.
Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, in New York on June 29, 2022. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

No Evidence South Dakota Governor Misused State Airplane: Investigator

An investigator in South Dakota has wrapped up an investigation into Gov. Kristi Noem possibly misusing a state airplane.

Hughes County States Attorney Jessica LaMie said in an Oct. 25 statement to media outlets that the probe uncovered no facts to support a criminal prosecution under current law.

There is no basis to pursue these matters further, LaMie said.

A complaint about Noem possibly misusing a state airplane was lodged with the South Dakota Government Accountability Board, and the board asked South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo to investigate it.

LaMie was tasked with leading the investigation following a recusal by Vargo, who was appointed by Noem.

In order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, Attorney General Mark Vargo has requested that supervision of the investigation and any charging decisions will be undertaken by Jessica LaMie, a September statement from Vargos office reads.

Vargos office declined to comment on LaMies conclusion.

An independent prosecutor has confirmed what we have known all along. This was nothing but a political attack in retaliation from a disgraced attorney general who killed a man, lied about it, and tried to cover it up, Ian Fury, a spokesman for Noems campaign, said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. Governor Noem did the right thing calling on him to resign and remained focused on her job. She is committed to continue to fight for the hard-working people of South Dakota.

The complaint was one of two referred to the board by former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, a Republican who was impeached after striking a man with his vehicle and leaving the scene. The man died.

State Sen. Reynold Nesiba, a Democrat, had asked Ravnsborg to investigate Noem over her use of a state airplane to fly to events. State law states that state aircraft can be used only in the conduct of state business.

Noem told reporters in 2021 that she never used a state plane for campaigns.

Whenever the state airplane is used, it has always been used according to the law, she said.

The other complaint concerned Noems meeting with her daughter, who was seeking an appraisers license, and top officials in charge of appraisers licenses. The board resolved the complaint by releasing information about an investigation.

State Rep. Jaime Smith, a Democrat challenging Noem, questioned the release of LaMies statement ahead of Election Day.

Isnt it interesting that two weeks before an election  a States Attorney of the Governors party makes this announcement? Smith said. It doesnt take an investigation to see the blatant misuse of our plane.
Firemen stand beside a damaged church after a strong earthquake at Ilocos Norte, Northern Philippines, on, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo)

Northern Philippines Shaken by Over 400 Aftershocks Following Strong Earthquake

The northern Philippines was shaken by over 400 aftershocks on Wednesday, just hours after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck provinces in the area and caused several injuries, according to local reports.

The quake occurred at around 10:59 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday and generated about 409 aftershocks as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 81 of which were plotted or located, the state-run news agency reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake was centered 9 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of Lagayan town in Abra province at a depth of 11 kilometers (7 miles).

At least 26 people were injured, and several structures were damaged. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on residents to stay vigilant and keep out of tall structures following the aftershocks.

As aftershocks continue, we remain in coordination with DPWH for the inspection of roads and buildings, DSWD for relief, DOE for outages and DILG for monitoring. Everyone is advised to keep out of tall structures. Agridam ken agananadtayo, kakailian. Umaykamin a tumulong. https://t.co/akf8YkJOcW  Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 26, 2022

Marcos said the government would continue monitoring the situation amid the ongoing aftershocks and ensure that earthquake survivors in Abra have enough food and shelter.

We do not have a critical problem when it comes to food and shelter. That is the most important part of the relief that we have to provide now for the people affected by the earthquake last night, he said, according to his press secretary.

In Batac city also in Ilocos Norte, patients were moved out of the provinces largest hospital after parts of the ceiling in the intensive care unit fell as the building swayed. Medical consultation services were temporarily suspended as engineers assessed damage to the building, officials said.

In the town of La Paz in Abra, a century-old Christian church was damaged, with parts of its belfry collapsing and some walls cracked, littering the churchs grassy yard with debris, officials said.

At least two towns in Cagayan province temporarily lost electricity due to damaged power lines. A number of bridges and roads in outlying provinces were damaged.

Marcos said on Twitter that he was working with the relevant ministries to inspect structures, provide relief, and restore power as aftershocks continued. Schools will remain closed until the structural safety is ensured.

I think parts, the last I heard, the last parts of theAbra province have [sic] already have power restored, the president was quoted as saying by his press secretary on Twitter.

The Philippine archipelago lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region along most of the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur, making the Southeast Asian nation one of the worlds most disaster-prone.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A large group of protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after breaching its grounds in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Oath Keepers Trial: Former Capitol Police Officer Testifies No Protesters Offered Help on January 6

WASHINGTONA former U.S. Capitol Police Officer testified during the Oath Keepers trial on Oct. 25 that no protesters tried to help him on January 6.

Ryan Salke, now a deputy sheriff in New Hanover County, North Carolina, joined the U.S. Capitol Police in 2018 and took two intensive classes on how to do his job at the Capitol. He served nine years in the Marines.

In a direct examination with a prosecutor, Salke said no one tried to help him at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He told the court that he felt disappointed because the crowd breached the Capitol that day.

What would have been helpful on January 6? asked attorney Manzo.

If no one would show up, Salke responded.

Salkes testimony stood in contrast to stories from multiple witnesses who said the Oath Keepers assisted Capitol Police at the Columbus Doors on the afternoon of Jan. 6. Capitol Police Lt. Tarik Johnson asked Oath Keepers member Michael Nichols to help him rescue 16 officers trapped in the foyer of the Great Rotunda.

Six Oath Keepers emerged from the crowd on the east steps to clear a path for the 16 officers, 15 outfitted in riot gear. Several thanked the Oath Keepers after they reached the bottom of the steps.

Defense attorney Brad Geyer has previously said a group of agitators used pepper spray and attacked police at the Columbus Doors that afternoon. The Oath Keepers were not part of those attacks, he said in earlier court filings. That information could be brought out during the defense case in late October or early November.

Salke wasnt supposed to work on Jan. 6, 2021, but had to fill in for another officer. He arrived on the east side of the Capitol at 6:30 a.m. and noticed many people behind the bike racks used as barricades. At first, he said, he thought it was a regular crowd, but then people started to play speeches on their phones and talk about hurting former vice president Mike Pence if he didnt act. Salke and other officers were tasked with a civil disturbance unit (CDU). Shortly after, he heard through his radio that protestors attacked Capitol police officers on the buildings west side.

Prosecutors displayed a video in the courtroom showing how people broke through the barriers. Salke was able to identify himself in the video footage. He and the other officers tried to create a police line on the steps of the east side of the Capitol, he told the court, but to no avail.

Salke testified that he did not call for backup since all officers were busy dealing with protestors elsewhere at the Capitol. He said he couldnt arrest anyone in the middle of a riot.

The crowd pushed him in front of the Columbus doors, he said. The protestors were equipped with batons, pepper spray, and frozen water bottles.

Did anyone try to help you? questioned Manzo. No, Salke said.

Does that sound like a stupid question? continued Manzo. Yes, Salke responded, explaining that after protestors spent hours spraying him and other officers, obviously, they would not help.

Salke told the court that neither he nor any other officers ever instructed the crowd to enter the Capitol.

Defense lawyer Juli Haller asked Salke if the U.S. Capitol Police were short of staff on Jan. 6. Salke could not answer the question, saying he doesnt know of any agency that protects and arrests thousands of people. Salke also told her that he knew something was happening at the White House but nothing about a rally at the Ellipse.

When Haller asked him if he saw peaceful and aggressive protestors at the Capitol, Salke said he saw no peaceful people that day, describing them as protestors who were only trying to get inside the Capitol.

Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell have been charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from carrying out any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents.

Attorney Jeffrey Nestler, another prosecutor, told the court that U.S. Capitol Officer Harry Dunn, considered an important witness for the Oath Keepers trial, might take the witness stand tomorrow.

Haller, the defense attorney, asked Judge Amit Mehta if he could postpone the trial since Stanley Woodward, defense attorney for Meggs, had a scooter accident on Oct. 24 and cannot attend the trial.

Mehta turned down the request, telling Haller that it was up to her whether or not to prepare to cross-examine Dunn and that he could not in any way delay the trial.

Rhodes tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 24 and must wait at least five days in quarantine at the D.C. Detention Center in total insolation.

Correction: the article has been updated to correct the name spellings for Judge Amit Mehta and defense attorney Juli Haller.
Overseas Chinese police Service Stations, or 110 Overseas, are found in dozens of countries across five continents. (Courtesy of Safeguarddefenders)

On Closing Chinas Secret Police Stations Overseas

The time is now

Commentary

Few people could have missed the revelation from Safeguard Defenders that local Chinese police are running overseas police service stations. Over the past month, local media outlets have been investigating the illegal centers, and more and more remarkable information is being revealed weekly.

The latest such revelation is the existence of additional stations in Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands. Media outlets in the Netherlands have been able to pinpoint the police outposts persuading Chinese residents to return to China to face criminal charges. The illegal police stations circumvent normal legal channels and essentially carry out police work on foreign soil.

Prior to this, Safeguard Defenders had investigated the actions of the service stations in Spain and Serbia. However, finding people willing to speak on the issue is nearly impossible.

Despite that, Chinas Foreign Ministry, in a response to Spanish media, has acknowledged engaging in these actions, blaming extraditions (the normal, lawful way to seek someones return) as cumbersome and saying that European countries sometimes deny its requests.

With growing attention to illegal Chinese police activity, governments are starting to respond. A committee in the Canadian Parliament is set to hold hearings on the matter, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are launching an investigation. In Spain, the Ministry of the Interior has launched an investigation. In Ireland, the government is requesting information from China (and, reportedly, the sign outside the Chinese police station in Dublin has disappeared).

In addition, it was reported on Oct. 26 that the Dutch Foreign Ministry is investigating the centers in order to determine appropriate action. The Foreign Ministry said it wasnt informed about the centers via diplomatic channels, which makes them illegal. Further, the UK has announced the establishment of a foreign agents registry to make such operations illegal if not properly registered with the British government.

A mainland Chinese media (fjsen.com) article about the Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station in New York, dated April 30, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

More governments are likely to launch investigations or demand answers from the Chinese regime in the weeks to come. Its apparent that the stations exist across the globe, with evidence of new centers revealed almost weekly since the original report came out in September.

Yet for all the different actions being taken, theres a marked lack of coordination, with different countries taking different actions. This risks undermining these counteractions.

The West, as usual, is acting like a herd of cats, rather than in a coordinated, planned manner. And a coordinated response is needed.

Our report showed that the various Chinese police jurisdictions that have set up overseas stations operate in different ways and that the program is still in its early stages. Although the campaign started with 10 pilot provinces, more provinces are set to join the policing effort.

Once the regime analyzes how such stations operate and which tactics work best, were likely to see more structured operations on a grander scalethat is, unless Beijing is met with a strong response and abandons plans to expand its long-arm policing.

A timely response now, before additional plans are made in Beijing, can change the regimes future policy.

The America ChangLe Association in New York on Oct. 6, 2022. An overseas Chinese police outpost in New York, called the Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station, is located inside the association building. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

It has become clear that the police service stations arent registered in the countries in which they operate. Every country has a regulatory framework for such foundations. The serious violations that these stations represent justify a harsh response: their forced closure or a lighter penalty, dependent on the voluntary dismantling of these operations.

More countries need to move forward with foreign agent registries. The existence of these registries would have caused the illegal Chinese stations to be shut down right away. Theyre manned by Chinese residents in the target countries, operating as foreign agents for the Chinese regime. With increased disinformation by foreign agents, coupled with this type of transnational repression, the need for such registries has never been stronger.

In addition, security police need to work systematically on these issues. Hotlines need to be established for victims to report such transgressions with their identities well-protected. And finally, information needs to be made available in those countries on an annual basis to map how China engages in such behavior and how its tactics change.

These actionswhich are actually the minimum neededmust be accomplished in a well-orchestrated, coordinated manner by the United States, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, and other allies facing the same threat. Its in such a coordinated move that the real strength behind these countermeasures lies.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks to a reporter at the election party of public defender Tiffany Caban moments before she claimed victory the Queens District Attorney Democratic Primary election, in the Queens borough of New York City, on June 25, 2019. (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Pennsylvania Republicans Start Impeachment Bid Against Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner

Republicans in the Pennsylvania House filed articles of impeachment on Oct. 26 against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, saying he should be removed from office for embracing left-wing policies that have fueled rampant homicide and violent crime numbers.

I recognize the unprecedented nature of what must be done and am confident our members are up to the task, Republican Rep. Martina White said at a news conference in announcing the articles of impeachment, according to NBC News.

GOP lawmakers further accused Krasner of embracing a progressive criminal justice philosophy that prioritizes criminals over victims that has led to a record number of homicides in Philadelphia, PhillyVoice reported.

These are the consequences of District Attorney Larry Krasners failure in office, White said, adding that no public official is above the law.

There should be a war on crime. But due to the failed vision and his idea of criminal justice, crime is allowed to wage war on the good people and the great beautiful city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff said in reference to Krasner.

Pennsylvanias Constitution gives the state Legislature the capacity to impeach all civil officers for any misbehavior in office or of any infamous crime. While Krasner and others have said that he hasnt committed a crime or engaged in corruption, Republicans say that his failure to enforce laws is adequate enough for the articles of impeachment.

Surging Crime Rate

Like a number of other U.S. cities, Philadelphia has dealt with a significant increase in violent crime since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. There were about 562 homicides recorded in Philadelphia last year, hitting an all-time high for the city. As of this month, the city has recorded 438 homicides in 2022, according to media reports.

Krasner has often defended his offices conviction rate and asserts that the impeachment attempt is connected to prior Republican efforts to overturn elections.

Pennsylvania House Republicans want to distract you from their decades of failed governance that have led to greater economic inequality and the current crisis of gun violence as they have encouraged the flooding of our communities with deadly firearms, Krasner said in June, while accusing GOP lawmakers of engaging in a coup against him.

Police tape hangs from a barricade at the corner of South and 3rd Streets the day after three people were killed and 11 others wounded by gunfire within a few blocks in Philadelphia, on June 5, 2022. (Kriston Jae Bethel/AFP via Getty Images)

Last week, Krasner said that recent legislative actions against him are politically motivated and designed to sway the 2022 midterms in Pennsylvania, where a Senate and gubernatorial seat are up for grabs.

You have never specified what your basis of impeachment is, he said in a statement on Oct. 21. There has been no suggestion of criminal conduct or corruption of any kind. You have never indicated to me or to anyone why I should be impeached, but there is little doubt the Select Committee intends to recommend my impeachment.  Rep. Ecker, one of the members of this committee, even publicly called for my impeachment before the Committee was formed.

Records show that when Krasner ran for Philadelphia district attorney in 2017, he took in nearly $1.7 million from the Philadelphia Justice and Public Safety PAC, a group linked to progressive billionaire investor George Soros.

Krasners office, which hasnt publicly responded to the GOPs announcement, also didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Often wrongly considered irreligious, the Left is guided by a specific set of distorted religious values shaped by radical environmentalism, twisted sexuality, and an allegiance to the state. Drawing parallels from Nazi Germany and the Nazified German Church, host Lucas Miles uncovers the Lefts secret religion and exposes the surprising true identity of Christian Nationalists. This is an episode of Church and State that you wont want to miss!



The Holy Trinity of the Left | Church & State

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Inmates pass the time within their cell block at the Twin Falls County Jail in Twin Falls, Idaho, in a 2018 file photo. (Pat Sutphin/The Times-News via AP)

Prisoner Rehabilitation: Why Australia and the United States are Struggling

The rehabilitation of offenders has become a globally adopted practice. However, certain countries such as Australia and the U.S. are struggling to achieve the success of countries like Norway, which have notably lower resentencing rates.

Criminologist and senior research fellow from the Australian National Universitys Research School of Psychology, Clarke Jones, PhD, told The Epoch Times that the high-security prison systems, which are seen across Australia and the United States, have been shown, by recidivism rates (rates of resentencing), not to be effective.

Primarily because these prisons system tends to isolate offenders. They remove inmates sense of identity and community, which is not conducive to rehabilitation.

The Problem with Western-Based Prison Systems

Jones said that the Western-based systems are all very similar and characterised by a large prison that holds a large prison population.

And of course, America has the largest prison population in the world, looking at about 2.3 million now, of offenders, Australia doesnt have anywhere near that, Jones said.

The non-profit, non-partisan research and advocacy group, Prison Policy Initiative, said in March that currently, the U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal prison systems hold almost two million people.

That doesnt mean that those prison systems are the most congested, he said. But that just means that the size of the bed space and the size of the prison doesnt hold the number of prisoners that get locked up.

He said that in the US, because of the high prison populations, although the more high-risk offenders are locked away in a single cell, quite a number of inmates will be on the beds in a joint facility.

But we still overly use high-security type prisons where inmates are very much restricted from movement, visitors, are restricted, you often see the loss of contact with family, he said.

Its very hard for family and kids to visit their parents when theyre behind a sort of a Perspex screen.

Theres also points where theyre locked away for extended periods of time, so they might only get one hour a day out of their cell, and the rest of the time theyre locked in their cell.

Jones said that this type of incarceration used in the prison systems in the U.S. and Australia just doesnt work and that this can easily be observed by recidivism rates in these countries.

Youll see that the U.S. has probably the highest recidivism rate, depends on how you measure it, of course, but the highest recidivism rate in the world, he said.

In 2018, 44 percent of offenders in the U.S. were arrested within a year of release.

Meanwhile, in Australia, during 2020-21, 45.1 percent of offenders who left the system in 2018-19 returned to prison within two years of their release. Both of these recidivism rates are high in comparison to Norway, which according to the University College of Norwegian Correctional Service, was down to 15 percent of offenders committing a new offence within two years of release in 2017.

Adelaides toughest jail, the Yatala Labour Prison, looks out over Adelaide suburbs 19 May 2007, (WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Importance of Maintaining Identity and a Sense of Community

Jones stated that one of the things he noticed in the Norwegian prison system is the preservation of a sense of identity inside the system. which he said makes the rehabilitation of criminals more successful as the prisoners can maintain family contacts, thereby alleviating some of the shocks of going into the prison system.

When we incarcerate in Australia or in the U.S., you go in, youre stripped of identity, you become a number, youre thrown into a cell, and youre not released, Jones said.

Its very hard to see your family, very hard to move, remain in contact with your family. Youre left idle with very little to do. Youre not really kept occupied. Its a very, very boring and mindless thing to have to be incarcerated.

However, Jones explains, that this does not mean prisons should be an easy or comfortable situation.

I dont mean we should get offenders comfy couches and cushions and flat-screen TVs, he said.

But the environment in which theyre in will determine the success of the type of regime or the type of prison or jail regime.

Jones said that often maintaining a sense of community keeps inmates active inside and helps them learn new trades and skills so that when they are released, they are more likely or able to reintegrate into society and get a job.

He said that in Norway, inmates are allowed back into society, and most inmates maintain their occupation and family contacts. They are punished if they do the wrong thing, but inmates are given a level of trust. He said that there is also a level of community tolerance because the community understands that with this incarceration model, people are still safe.

They still address those serious offenders, but theres less use of incarceration than what we would have in a lot of the western systems, Jones said.

Obviously, serial sex offenders will be dealt with differently. They would have to undergo, I would imagine, fairly intensive type programs.

Rehabilitation in Australia

According to the Sentencing Council of Australia, currently, the Northern Territory (NT) has the highest imprisonment rate in Australia, at 970.6 prisoners per 100,000 adults, but the NTs Department of Attorney-General and Justice told The Epoch Times in an email that the NT Correctional Services provide offence-specific treatment programs for violent offenders that are assessed as suitable for inclusion.

This includes the Violent Offender Treatment Program (VOTP); Recognising Anger Gaining Empowerment (RAGE; for interpersonally violent offenders), and the Family Violence Program (FVP).

Offence-specific intensive treatment programs aim to address criminogenic risks and needs. This category of rehabilitation includes psychoeducational programs that build the coping skills of an offender and provide them with information.

The AGD spokesperson said that current rehabilitation programs could be classified under four categories: education, employment, prisoner development, and offence-specific intensive treatment.

Education programs include basic numeracy and literacy courses, higher education courses, vocational-based training and tertiary enabling.

Employment programs include jobs within the correctional centre working in the laundry and kitchens or fulfilling yard maintenance and cleaning roles or programs like Sentenced to a Job and Community Service Work Parties. Prisoner development programs include sport and recreation, life skill development, art and music, and chaplaincy and pastoral care.

The delivery of treatment, employment, training and support programs for prisoners depends on demand and suitability of candidates, the spokesperson said.

The AGD spokesperson said that the aim of these programs is to reduce the risk of reoffending by addressing criminogenic factors. They said these programs support offenders to make better decisions and increase their future opportunities through improving their education, skills training and work experience.

Youth Detention

In terms of youth detention in the Territory, a spokesperson from the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities (TFHC) said that rehabilitation is the key focus during a childs time in detention, with the rehabilitation programs specially tailored towards education and vocational training, and sport and cultural activities also make up a significant part of the rehabilitative program.

Support is also provided as they transition out of detention and back into the community by ensuring they have a safe place to stay and are engaged in work or educational programs, the spokesperson said.

Children have access to psychologists, social workers, case workers and allied health professionals through Specialist Assessment and Treatment Services and primary healthcare services.

The spokesperson said that, in general, a small number of offenders are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime.

A general view of Greenock Prison in Scotland, where convicted Lockerbie airline bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, is being held, on Aug. 19, 2009. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Improving Rehabilitation in Australia

Jones said that he thinks Australia has got to look at alternatives to incarceration.

If we look at the number of Indigenous offenders, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander offenders, first Australians, in the prison system, weve got to look at alternatives to incarceration, he said.

Weve got to look at alternatives to youth detention, the cycle of crime is really born in some of the youth detention, and so, keeping younger people out of prison would be absolutely crucial.

He also said that Australia should minimize its use of high-security facilities.

Once again, the more we shut someone from society, the more we lock them away for, the longer the time; if you cage a friendly dog for three weeks, youll find that the dog will come out a different dog, Jones said.

I dont want to call people dogs, but if you lock an offender away in harsh conditions, theyre going to come out worse than they went in.

Dogs look out from a cage at a dog farm during a rescue event, involving the closure of the farm organised by the Humane Society International (HSI), in Hongseong on February 13, 2019.  (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

Mental Health and Religion Can Play a Part in Rehabilitation

Jones said that incarceration already creates mental health challenges, but if you incarcerate someone in very harsh conditions, its likely to cause some kind of mental health problem or sometimes mental illness.

He said that it is very hard to recover from this and that, quite often, a significant percentage of offenders already have mental health issues, which are only worsened by going to prison.

He believes Australia should consider contemplating the use of non-custodial sentences such as community service and look into what types of programs arent developed.

Theres always ways to improve programs, building in better understanding of cultural sensitivities and religious sensitivities in some cases, he said.

One such example is the use of religion as an aid in the rehabilitation of violent offenders.

Religion provides a very sort of a protective factor in a lot of offenders, even with terrorist offenders, he said.

And theres still a lot of good work to be done in that space to make sure that the programs are suitable for the offender.
Protesters march in solidarity with protesters in Iran in front of the White House in Washington on Oct. 22, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Protests in Iran Mark 40 Days Since Mahsa Aminis Death in Detention

Protests across Iran on Oct. 26 marked 40 days since Mahsa Amini died in detention over her inappropriate attire.

Twenty-two-year-old Amini died on Sept. 16 in Tehran while in the custody of Irans morality police, sparking more than a month of nationwide protests.

At least 234 people, including 29 children, have been killed in the ongoing protests in Iran, a human rights organization reported on Oct. 25.

Traditionally, deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam again after 40 days. In Saqez, Aminis Kurdish hometown, crowds gathered at the local cemetery.

Iran International, a Persian news channel based in the UK, wrote on Twitter: Security forces have attacked the people who had gathered in thousands in a cemetery in Saqqez, Kurdistan, to mourn the 40th day after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. There are reports that they have opened fire on protesters to disperse them.

Irans semi-official Iranian Students News Agency said clashes took place on Wednesday: A limited number of those present at Mahsa Aminis memorial clashed with police forces on the outskirts of Saqez and were dispersed. Following the scattered clashes, internet in Saqez was cut off due to security considerations, the agency reported, adding about 10,000 people had gathered.

According to The Associated Press, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency that four protesters were charged with war against God, which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian state-run media said that schools and universities in the Kurdistan province would be closed because of a wave of influenza, according to Reuters.

Students have played a pivotal role in the protests, with dozens of universities on strike. Hundreds of school girls have joined in, chanting Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, despite fierce crackdowns by security forces.

I am not scared of them anymore. [The authorities] should be scared of us. For years they did not let us have a normal life. Mullahs should go, a teenage student in the northern city of Sari, according to Reuters.

State media and hardline officials have branded protesters hypocrites, monarchists, thugs, and seditionists.

Some of the deadliest unrest has been in areas home to ethnic minorities with long-standing grievances against the state, including Kurds in the northwest and Baluchis in the southeast.

Iran imposed sanctions on a number of European officials and institutions last week, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have covered the protests. Sanctions include banning entry visas ban for staffers and confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as unacceptable.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime, said Deutsche Welle Director General Peter Limbourg.

Shahrzad Ghanei and Reuters contributed to this report.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Four Seasons of Shusha International Photo Project has united world-famous photographers from Turkiye, Germany, Finland, and Switzerland, Azernews reports, citing the Culture Ministry.

The project, initiated by the Culture Ministry with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, demonstrates Shusha's majestic nature and architecture through photography.

As part of the project, international photographers stay in Shusha for several days to learn more about the history of the city, its culture, architecture, and the famous personalities, who lived there. Each photographer captures the city's wonderful atmosphere at different times of the year.

Turkish photographer Huseyin Taskin and Swiss photographer Reto Guntli were the first participants in the photo project.

Finnish photographer Tiina Itkonen joined the project in October and was met by the head of the Culture Ministry Museum, Gallery, and Exhibitions Department, Nargiz Abdullayeva, to exchange of views on the project.

The works of all four photographers will be included in a catalog published in Azerbaijani and English. In addition, a series of exhibitions will be held in Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and other countries as part of the photo contest.
LOS ANGELESRods Room, the newly-launched brand from Alpha Studio Group featuring adult gay content, is hailing fans' response to its October releases, starring Trevor Brooks, Tristan Hunter, Ty Santana, and Shane Cook.

"Rods Room, the most recent addition to the Alpha Studio Group sites, has garnered a reputation for its unique style that focuses on a mix of gonzo filming and high fashion photo shoots," the company said in an announcement. "Rods Room scenes involve passionate one-on-one action directed and filmed by Director Michael Vegas and are accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video showcasing model interviews and photoshoots."

The first October video, titled Trevor + Tristan, starring Brooks and Hunter was especially gratifying to the two stars. I had a really great time working with Rod's Room. I made some really great friends there," Brooks said. "The days I spent there were really fun and easy, but what I enjoyed the most was the chemistry between me and my scene partners. It was insane! Michael Vegas is a great director and it was cool to see his visions come to life.

Vegas agreed. Trevor and Tristan will make you extra thirsty," he said. "This pairing will leave you feeling like you just watched a pair of classic movie gents step out of the screen and into your fantasies. Very hot sex.

The studio's other recent release was Ty + Shane, starring Santana and Cook, whom Vegas also credited for delivering an exceptional scene. God-like muscles rippling across your screen. These two statue-like men get down and dirty for Rod and show him they mean business.

Since its launch on Sept. 16, Rods Room has cast some of the industry's most recognizable performers including Chris Damned, Roman Todd, Dakota Payne, Michael Boston, and Beau Butler, among others. The site updates weekly on Fridays.

For more information, visit RodsRoom.com, or follow the brand on Instagram and Twitter.


Police face off with Freedom Convoy demonstrators in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Public Safety Ministers Deputy Sought Engagement With Convoy Protesters but Was Denied by Top Ministers

A proposal to engage with Freedom Convoy protesters involving high-level federal government officials was scrapped in favour of invoking the Emergencies Act, the Public Order Emergency Commission heard Oct. 25.

I would very much appreciate the opportunity to consult you on federal-level engagement with the protestors, so I can provide informed advice to Ministers, then-deputy minister of Public Safety Rob Stewart wrote in an email to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Insp. Marcel Beaudin on Feb. 10.

After the OPP and the RCMP provided their input on the proposal, Stewart reportedly brought it before cabinet ministers on the afternoon of Feb. 12, but it was evidently shot down.

The Trudeau government went on to invoke the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to clear cross-country protests and blockades demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Tom Marazzo, a spokesperson for the Freedom Convoy, told The Epoch Times he wasnt aware efforts were being made at the federal level to meet with protesters.

Marazzo had been involved in negotiations with the City of Ottawa to meet with Mayor Jim Watson in exchange for removing trucks from residential neighbourhoods.

We wanted this obviously, but it was never told to us, Marazzo said about the possibility of engagement with the federal government.

OPP Input

Insp. Beaudin, who was assigned to Ottawa during the protest due to his experience with the OPPs Provincial Liaison Team (PLT), testified before the commission on Oct. 25. PLTs are used by law enforcement to make contact and negotiate with protesters in order to defuse or end situations.

After deputy minister Stewart reached out, Beaudin said he contacted PLT program analyst Leslie Jean for her input on the potential engagement, and he then provided Jeans input essentially verbatim to Stewart.

Jean said police in Ottawa had identified several protest leaders who were willing to engage with police.

Beaudin told the commission these included Marazzo and Tamara Lich.

Jean also remarked that police action could not solve the issue on its own, given the nature of protesters grievances.

Police are unable to solve the underlying issues. There is very limited capacity for police to solve this situation without some movement by government to allow demonstrators to have a win of sorts, Jean wrote.

She added that federal government officials had met with protesters during the rail blockades of 2020, which provided an exit strategy for the majority of demonstrators.

Jean also suggested a Health Canada official could announce that the Omicron wave had peaked, hence restrictions could be lifted according to a set timeline.

Even if it is a week or two away so as not to have the optics of appeasing the protesters, it will likely relieve the pressure and the passion to remain might dwindle, she said. Again Im sure this has been considered but that appears to be the only non-police action.

Engagement Proposal

Many of Jeans points ended up in an engagement proposal document that would be presented to cabinet by Stewart on Feb. 12, but the proposal to lift restrictions was edited out.

The draft document dated Feb. 12 was titled Proposal: Trucker Protest Engagement and had as its objective to de-escalate and encourage people to leave unlawful protests.

Its guiding principles were to coordinate effectively with police and to provide [an] avenue for the airing of grievances without compromising the governments position.

It was recommended that senior officials from the federal and provincial governments in public safety and health policy sign a letter and/or meet with protesters representatives.

Under the section Considerations, the document said that Engagement creates room for peaceful disbursement, before enforcement action is taken, and supports enforcement by evidencing other options have been tried.

Attached to the document was an edited version of the input originally provided to Beaudin by Jean.

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, who was consulted on the engagement proposal, wrote an email to OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and Beaudin on Feb. 12.

DM of Public Safety Rob Stewart sent me the attached draft for my review and comments. He advises that he validated the proposed approach with the OPP expert which I assume is you Marcel [Beaudin], Lucki wrote.

I am not the SME [subject-matter expert] in this area, but my folks are [a] bit worried on a few items and needed to get your thoughts. Obviously this is a strategy for tomorrow, so time is of the essence. Any red flags?

It appears Carriques response was not provided to the commission.

Ministers Meeting

Deputy minister Stewart was satisfied with the plan and told Beaudin in an email on Feb. 12 the issue would be discussed at a meeting in the afternoon.

I have to face the music this aft, he wrote.

If I can manage to work through this process, and the RCMP Commissioner will be privy to the discussion, I think I can assure you that the federal governments commitment will be solid. But we have to get there first!

Brendan Miller, counsel to the protesters at the commission, asked Beaudin if he knew why the proposal had not been adopted.

Beaudin said he thought the proposal was dead in the water due to the City of Ottawa having negotiated around the same time for the trucks to move out of residential neighbourhoods.

Miller instead suggested the meeting discussed by Stewart referred to a meeting of ministers and the Incident Response Group where they heard the engagement proposal.

Beaudin said he didnt know about that.

It was, I can tell you that, and then they invoked the Emergencies Act, Miller said.

The Emergencies Act was invoked two days later on Feb. 14, without the federal government going ahead with the engagement proposal.
The RCMP logo is seen outside the RCMP "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., in a file photo. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Quebec RCMP Say Canadian Woman Returning From Syria Faces Terrorism Charges

The RCMP say a Quebec woman returning from Syria will face terrorism charges.

Oumaima Chouay faces four charges, including leaving Canada to participate in the activity of a terrorist group, participation in the activity of a terrorist group, providing property or services for terrorism purposes and conspiracy to participate in the activity of a terrorist group.

The RCMP is to hold a news conference this morning in Montreal on the arrest.

It says in a statement that Chouay had been under investigation by the police forces Integrated National Security Enforcement Team since November 2014.

Chouay, 27, was arrested by the Mounties on Tuesday night at Montreals Trudeau International Airport.

She is expected to appear at the Montreal courthouse later today.
A Chinese state-media outlet lists this single-storey commercial building in Markham, Ont., as one of three overseas Chinese police stations in Canada. Human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders said the outposts in the Greater Toronto Area are part of the first batch of Fuzhou overseas police service stations. (Michelle Hu/The Epoch Times)

RCMP Begins Probe Into Reports of Unofficial Chinese Police Stations in Toronto

The RCMP has begun an investigation into reports of unauthorized Chinese police stations in Toronto.

A September report from the human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders found that over 30 police stations are operating overseas, three of them in the Greater Toronto Area. They are operated by two local-level police services in Chinathe Fuzhou Public Security Bureau in Fujian Province and the Qingtian County police in Zhejiang Province, the report said.

The report said that the stations, also known as 110 Overseasnamed after the emergency police phone number in China, 110have been used to support another campaign by the Chinese regime aimed at fighting telecommunications fraud allegedly conducted by Chinese living abroad, with Beijing touting the campaigns success in persuading about 230,000 Chinese to voluntarily return to China to face criminal proceedings between April 2021 and July 2022.

Safeguard Defenders, however, said the campaign also targets non-suspects, and that the methods used by the police stations include intimidation, harassment, and threats against the targets family members in China.

In an email statement to The Epoch Times, the RCMP said it is investigating reports of criminal activity in relation to the so-called police stations in Canada, but declined to provide additional details of its ongoing investigations.

The RCMP takes threats to the security of individuals living in Canada very seriously and is aware that foreign states may seek to intimidate or harm communities or individuals within Canada. It is important for all individuals and groups living in Canada, regardless of their nationality, to know that there are support mechanisms in place to assist them when experiencing potential foreign interference or state-backed harassment and intimidation, said an RCMP spokesperson.

Any individual who felt threatened online or in person is encouraged to report the incident to local police or contact the RCMP National Security Information Network by phone at 1-800-420-5805, the email said.

Map of the 30 countries where Chinese police have established 54 known 110 Chinese overseas police stations. (Courtesy of Safeguard Defenders)

The specific addresses of the three police stations in Toronto are provided in a Fuzhou government news release: one is in a convenience store in Scarborough, one is at a residential home in Markham, and the third is on a property that also serves as the headquarters of the Canada Toronto FuQing Business Association (CTFQBA), a federally incorporated non-profit.

The Epoch Times made multiple attempts to contact the CTFQBA for comment. Someone from the organization who answered a phone call didnt respond to questions. Subsequent calls were unanswered.

Laura Harth, a campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told CBC News that in many countries, the overseas services may not be provided in a physical police station, but are simply carried out by a group of individuals.

In most countries, we believe its a network of individuals, rather than  a physical police station where people will be dragged into, Harth said.

Its completely illegal under international law. Its a severe violation of territorial sovereignty.

Sinister Goal

In response to questions about the stations, the Chinese embassy said in a statement to CBC that local authorities in Fujian, China, had set up an online service platform to provide assistance to Chinese nationals living abroad, such as for renewing drivers licences.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, many overseas Chinese citizens are not able to return to China in time for their Chinese drivers licence renewal and other services, the statement said. For services such as drivers licence renewal, it is necessary to have eyesight, hearing, and physical examination. The main purpose of the service station abroad is to provide free assistance to overseas Chinese citizens in this regard.

The embassy noted that the overseas service stations are staffed by volunteers who are not Chinese police officers and are not involved in any criminal investigation or relevant activity, CBC reported.

But Safeguard Defenders said the overseas stations both in their online and physical overseas form, also serve a more sinister goal as they contribute to resolutely cracking down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese,' citing one incident, provided by the Chinese authorities, showing that the police stations have a role in the so-called persuade to return method.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa in a file photo. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

On April 11, 2022, a police station within the jurisdiction of the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau received a notice from the overseas station in Mozambique saying that a Chinese businessman reported that one of his employees, a Chinese man with the surname Yang, had stolen a large amount of cash from his company before fleeing back to China in 2020.

Upon receiving the notice, the police station immediately took to investigate and arrested the suspect on 18 May, said Safeguard Defenders, citing a Chinese-language news release on the incident from the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commissionan organization under the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responsible for political and legal affairs.

Yang confessed the existence of an accomplice, surnamed Yu, the release said. The police quickly identified Yu and immediately mobilized to persuade him (to return) after confirming that he was still in Mozambique. After being persuaded to return, [Yu] decided to cooperate with the police and fly back to China from Mozambique.

Methods

Peter Dahlin, founder and director of Safeguard Defenders and co-author of the report, said in a previous interview with The Epoch Times that the report is part of its continued monitoring of Chinas growing global transnational repression.

The report came on the heels of another study by his organization, titled Involuntary Returnsreport exposes long-arm policing overseas, published in January 2022. This report looked at the Chinese regimes claims in December 2021 that its Sky Net operations and Operation Fox Hunt have successfully brought some 10,000 fugitives back to China from around the globe since 2014, when Fox Hunt was launched as part of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings anti-corruption campaign.

Those operations target what Dahlin described as high-value targets. Officially, Sky Net says it only targets economic criminals and officials accused of crimes like corruption or bribery, according to the Safeguard Defenders report, but Dahlin said Sky Net has been found to also target human rights defenders.

Operations against high-value targets are run by the Chinese central police, whereas those involved in lower-level crimes like fraudwho are considered low-value targetsare tracked by the local Chinese police, he said.

The most common method to do this is to persuade them to return voluntarily, he said. Weve also had a number of cases where [Beijing] sent agentsChinese police officers, undercoverto the target countries; we have a number of people in the U.S. being indicted for this.

Persuasion to return is a method of the Chinese regimes involuntary returns operations, which the report said entails either the tracking down of the targets family in China in order to pressure them through means of intimidation, harassment, detention, or imprisonment into persuading their family members to return voluntarily, or directly approaching the target through online means or the deployment ofoften undercoveragents and/or proxies abroad to threaten and harass the target into returning voluntarily.'

A third way is to use kidnappings. Dahlin noted that his organization has identified 22 cases of kidnapping, though this method is rarely applied in North American or European countries, where the CCP does a lot more [of] sending secret agents to intimidate people and that type of operations.

In a recent Epoch Times commentary, Dahlin cited an official from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Shanghai who admitted that Beijing cares little for the judicial sovereignty of European countries if they dont serve Chinas interests.

He told The Epoch Times that in addition to the three known stations in Toronto, there are likely other unofficial Chinese police stations either existing or being established in Canada, though they have yet to be discovered.

Some European countries like Spain and Ireland have also initiated investigations into reports of 110 stations created within their territories.
A police officer smashes a truck window as police deploy to remove demonstrators participating in the Freedom Convoy protest opposing COVID-19 mandates and restriction, in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images)

RCMP Commissioner Relayed Advice to Ministers to Negotiate Before Using Force on Convoy Protesters

A day before the Trudeau government invoked the Emergencies Act, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki prepared briefing notes for relevant ministers on the plan to clear protesters and relayed expert advice about the need for negotiation before using force, according to a document obtained by The Epoch Times.

This group of experts has determined that there are crowd engagement and negotiation strategies that must be relied upon before the application of force would be justified, say Luckis notes prepared for a Feb. 13 meeting of the Incident Response Group (IRG).

The IRG includes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and relevant ministers and officials.

According to evidence heard at the commission on Nov. 15, the notes were not delivered to the IRG.

Luckis notes say the group of experts refers to foremost experts in the fields of crowd control and incident management and planning assembled by the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) from across Canada to develop a strategic plan.

The notes say the group included an RCMP forensic physiologist who specializes in crowd dynamic, and possesses the necessary academic and operational credentials to provide expert evidence related to justifying the use of force.

The commission hasnt heard any evidence so far that the federal government contemplated negotiating with Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa before using force, but it was revealed on Oct. 26 that then-deputy minister of Public Safety Rob Stewart worked on an a proposal to engage protesters.

Stewart reportedly brought the proposal to an IRG meeting on Feb. 12 but it was not adopted.

Emergencies Act

Luckis speaking notes indicate the RCMP was providing information to the government on the implications of declaring a public order emergency on Feb. 13.

We are actively engaged in the discussion on the implications of the Emergencies Act and we are exploring what measures may be available from an operational perspective. My team has just met with Justice [Department] colleagues to provide our input.

The notes contained a list of measures that would be useful if the act was invoked.

Those included a prohibition of public assemblies, making it illegal to assist protesters with items such as fuel, and giving authorities the power to commandeer tow trucks.

Despite providing this input, Lucki said there was no immediate need to invoke the act.

This said, I am of the view that we have not yet exhausted all available tools that are already available through existing legislation, her notes state.

She mentioned charges could be laid under the Criminal Code or the emergency declared by the province.

These existing tools are considered in our existing plans and will be used in due course as necessary.

Lucki relayed the same idea via email on Feb. 14 to Mike Jones, chief of staff to the minister of public safety, hours before the act was invoked.

This view that the act was not immediately necessary or needed to clear the protest has been shared before the commission by interim Chief of the Ottawa Police Service Steve Bell and OPP Chief Supt. (ret.) Carson Pardy, who was involved in planning the protest removal.

Other Protests

Luckis speaking notes also gave a cross-country portrait of the state of various protests and border blockades.

She gave the impression that the authorities had the situation under control.

Over the last 10 days, we have had considerable progress in effectively managing the protests and preventing blockages across the country.

She mentioned smaller actions being dealt with without issue and the Windsor Ambassador Bridge blockade having been resolved.

On the blockades at Coutts, Alberta, and Emerson, Manitoba, Lucki said enforcement was about to take place.

Enforcement to likely occur tomorrow based on tactical planning and discussions with the provincial government, Lucki said.

Eventually protesters in Coutts and Emerson left voluntarily, on Feb. 15 and 16 respectively.

On May 10, Lucki told the special joint committee of parliamentarians reviewing the declaration of emergency that no powers granted by the act were used to clear border blockades.

Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki prepared speaking notes for the Incident Response Group on Feb. 13, 2022, and that those notes were not delivered.
Rick Caruso Is the Outsider Los Angeles Needs as Mayor

Commentary

A supporter of my organization sent a video he made driving around in downtown Los Angeles.

Homelessness and crime are rampant. It is shocking to see the social chaos prevailing in one of Americas major cities. It is a hard pill to swallow to see the streets of downtown Los Angeles teeming with homelessness.

The crisis is defining the current race for the new mayor of Los Angeles. One candidate, Karen Bass, is the quintessential insider. She is a six-term Democratic congresswoman, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and former speaker of California state assembly.

The full gamut of the Democratic establishment has endorsed Bassincluding President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Hillary Clinton.

Running against Bass is billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso.

Caruso is pouring tens of millions of his own funds into the race. Latest tally is that he has spent $81 million, compared with Basss $11 million.

And it is making a difference. Last month, Caruso was 15 points behind. But now polls show him ahead by a few points.

Homelessness is a statewide phenomenon in California, with the state accounting for half of all homelessness in the country. Per the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there are now 161,548 homeless in California. Number two in the nation is New York with 91,217; and third is Florida with 27,487.

Los Angeles County, with 69,000 homeless, exceeds the third and fourth highest states together, Florida and Texas.

Caruso is an outsider, doer, and pragmatist.

He wants to spend $843 million in one year to provide immediately 30,000 shelter beds in existing structures and initiate a longer-term plan of low-cost housing. He says this can be done without raising taxes by cutting waste and using his business experience to get work done efficiently.

Bass would spend a third as much and does not promise to not raise taxes.

Carusos background touches me somewhat personally.

He was president of the Los Angeles Police Commission 20 years ago after the rioting in Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King decision.

Caruso added 800 police officers and cut crime by 30 percent.

I was operating my first business in Los Angeles then, and it was destroyed in the aftermath of the riots.

Caruso provided practical leadership and guidance then to deal with the chaos in LA, and I believe he can do the same now.

The mess in Los Angeles and the whole state of California reflects Democratic Party establishment politics, to which Karen Bass is deeply connected.

The Congressional Black Caucus, where Bass served as chair, has been going for years making lots of noise and having zero impact on poverty in their own districts.

We dont need any more blame games and crying about racism.

Recently, the president of the LA City Council resigned after a recording of council deliberations, laced with racial epithets, sparing no ethnicity, surfaced. It showed what dominates city politics.

Democratic Party big-government, ethnic politics explains why homelessness in California increased 42 percent from 2014 to 2020, while declining 9 percent in the rest of the country, per the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

Bass says she will appoint a homelessness chief and force the city and county to work together and stop their finger pointing.

Caruso says, The city needs a chief executive  somebody that can make very smart, tough decisions . What I am not going to do is form a bunch of committees, like many of these career politicians do, and talk about the issue.

Rick Caruso is the outsider that Los Angeles needs. Someone looking to bring a real personal skill set to solve major problems and not looking for who to blame and which political buddies to enrich. It can be a model for the nation.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
What is said to be Russia's strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Tula during exercises held by strategic nuclear forces at an unknown location, in this image taken from handout footage released on Oct. 26, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via Reuters)

Russia Rehearses Response to Nuclear Attack as Tensions Rise Over Dirty Bomb Allegation

FRONT LINES NORTH OF KHERSON, UkraineRussia rehearsed its response to a nuclear attack on Wednesday in an exercise involving nuclear submarines, strategic bombers, and ballistic missiles at a time when tensions are high over a dirty bomb allegation it has made against Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remotely observed the annual exercise, called Grom or Thunder, which uses test launches to put Moscows nuclear forces through their paces in a show of force designed to deter and intimidate foes.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin the exercises had practiced delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike.

Test launches of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles from land and sea, and cruise missiles fired from the air by TU-95MS strategic bombers, had passed off successfully, Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov added.

Putin later told a meeting of intelligence officials from ex-Soviet countries that the potential for conflict in the world remained high.

There are new risks and challenges for our collective security, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin observes exercises held by Russias strategic nuclear forces, as he takes part in a video link in Moscow on Oct. 26, 2022. (Alexei Babushkin/Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters)

The Pentagon said a day earlier that Russia had notified it of its intention to carry out the exercises at a time when NATO is rehearsing its own use of U.S. nuclear bombs based in Europe in its annual Steadfast Noon war games.

Washington said the notification lowered the risk of miscalculation at a time of reckless Russian nuclear rhetoric, while Western officials have expressed confidence in their ability to discern the difference between a Russian drill and preparations for a real nuclear strike.

The nuclear muscle flexing is sensitive however, because Russia is on the back foot in Ukraine and has accused Ukraine of planning to detonate a dirty bomb laced with radioactive material, an allegation Putin repeated on Wednesday.

Kyiv and the West say there is no evidence for the charge and that the warning looks designed to escalate tension around the war in Ukraine or to serve as the justification for some kind of Russian battlefield escalation.

Trench Warfare

On the ground in Ukraine, the Russian defense ministry said its forces had repelled attempted Ukrainian advances in the south and the east.

Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraines defense minister, said wet weather and the nature of the terrain was making Kyivs counter-offensive in its southern Kherson region harder than it was in the northeast, where it pushed Russia back last month.

Reznikov, who said he did not believe Putin would use nuclear weapons, told media Russian forces were using water supply channels as trenches in Kherson, an agricultural province north of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian troops manning a section of frontline north of Kherson said that far from getting ready to retreat, the Russians in their sector were reinforcing their lines around the provincial capital.

In the press they say the Russians are afraid and will withdraw their troops, but that is not true, said the units commander, who asked to be quoted by his nickname, Nikifor.

They are fighting well and hitting our troops.

In this area, they are very active. They shell every day and are digging trenches and preparing for defense, said Nikifor, whose location in Mykolaiv province could not be identified under Ukrainian military regulations.

They use artillery and tanks, he continued, sitting in his command post in a semi-abandoned village.

Ukrainian officers said that radio intercepts showed that newly mobilized Russian conscripts were being deployed opposite their lines and said there has been an uptick in Russian shellfire recently after a noticeable drop earlier this month.

The unit holds a network of well fortified trenches dug into tree lines opposite the Russian fortifications, and recent rains have turned the dirt tracks that access them to mud, especially where tank treads have churned them up.

Intermittent artillery fire echoed from both sides, with towers of smoke rising in the distance.

At one point, a Ukrainian helicopter gunship flew swept low over the fields, loosed rockets at the Russian positions and wheeled around spitting flares to distract any heat-seeking anti-aircraft rockets fired at it.

Nuclear Fears

Western officials have expressed fears that Moscow may be tempted to use a low-yield tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine to try to force Kyiv to capitulate at a time when the Ukrainian pressure on the Russian forces around Kherson threatens a major defeat for Moscow.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russia on Tuesday that such a move would be an incredibly serious mistake.

Putin, who also chaired a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, has said that Russia has the right to defend its territory using any weapons in its arsenal, which includes the worlds largest nuclear stockpile, but has not specifically spoken of tactical nuclear weapons.

Russian officials have said that Moscows protective nuclear umbrella has been extended to cover four Ukrainian regions Putin says he has annexed, a move not recognized by Kyiv or the West.

A day after Russia aired its dirty bomb allegations at the U.N. Security Council, Shoigu briefed his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe by video to convey Moscows concern.

A close Putin ally, Shoigu held a similar video conference with his Indian counterpart.

Rajnath Singh, Indias Defense Minister, told Shoigu that nuclear weapons should not be used by any side.

Singh called for an early resolution to the conflict through diplomacy, a prospect which, for now, seems remote after eight months of war.

There was no immediate readout from Beijing on what Wei Fenghe told Shoigu.

By Jonathan Landay
The U.N. Security Council meets to discuss the Ukraine-Russia conflict at U.N. headquarters in New York on Oct. 21,2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia Tells UN Ukraine Plans Dirty Bomb, West Dismisses Allegation

NEAR KHERSON FRONTLINE, UkraineRussia on Tuesday took its case to the U.N. Security Council that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, an assertion dismissed by Western and Ukrainian officials as misinformation and a pretext for intensifying the war.

Moscow sent a letter detailing the allegations to the United Nations on Monday, and Russia raised the issue at a closed meeting with the Security Council.

Were quite satisfied because we raised the awareness, Russias Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters. I dont mind people saying that Russia is crying wolf if this doesnt happen because this is a terrible, terrible disaster that threatens potentially the whole of the Earth.

He said the evidence was in intelligence information that had been shared with Western counterparts with the necessary level of clearance.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday repeated Russias allegations and said the West was foolish to dismiss them.

They follow hints from Moscow that it might be forced to use a tactical nuclear weapon against Ukraine, whose president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the dirty bomb allegation showed Moscow was planning such an attack and seeking to blame Kyiv.

With Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson province, Russian officials phoned their Western counterparts on Sunday and Monday to air their suspicions.

Russia accused the Kyiv government of ordering two organizations to create a dirty bomb, an explosive device laced with radioactive material, without giving any evidence.

France, Britain and the United States said the allegations were transparently false and Washington warned Russia there would be severe consequences for any nuclear use.

Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it [to] use a tactical nuclear weapon, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday. Im not guaranteeing you that its a false flag operation yet, we dont know. But it would be a serious mistake.

Inspectors

Britains Deputy U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki told reporters: This is pure Russian misinformation of the kind of weve seen many times before and it should stop.

Russias defense ministry said the aim of a dirty bomb attack by Ukraine would be to blame Moscow for the radioactive contamination, which it said Russia had begun preparing for.

In an apparent response to Moscows allegation, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said it was preparing to send inspectors to two unidentified Ukrainian sites at Kyivs request, both already subject to its inspections.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters the inspectors would receive full access, and he called on Moscow to demonstrate the same transparency as Ukraine.

Russias state news agency RIA has identified what it said were the two sites involvedthe Eastern Mineral Enrichment Plant in the central Dnipropetrovsk region and the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not spoken publicly about the dirty bomb allegations but on Tuesday said Russia needed to streamline decision-making in what it calls its special military operation to rid its neighbor of extremists. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of an unprovoked war to grab territory.

Putin, speaking at the first meeting of a new council to manage the governments work, said increased coordination of government structures and regions was necessary.

More Help for Ukraine?

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday on his first visit since Russia invaded on Feb. 24 as Berlin hosted what it said was a conference on a Marshall Plan to rebuild Ukraine, a reference to the U.S. initiative to rebuild Western Europe at the end of World War Two.

Steinmeier said Berlin was working to help Ukraine with air defense equipment and would focus on assisting with repairs to infrastructure such as power grids before winter arrives.

Zelenskiy told the Berlin conference via video link that Russian rockets and Iranian-made drones had destroyed more than a third of his countrys energy sector, but that Kyiv had yet to receive a single cent for a recovery plan worth $17 billion.

The European Commission urged EU countries and companies to donate more to Ukraines energy sector.

In southern Ukraine, Russia has ordered civilians in Kherson to evacuate territory it controls on the western bank of the Dnipro River, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing this month after Russia claimed to have annexed the area.

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, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko)
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud speaks at the Future Investment Initiative conference, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Ahmed Yosri/Reuters)

Saudi Arabia Maturer Guys in Spat With US: Energy Minister

RIYADHSaudi Arabia decided to be the maturer guys in a spat with the United States over oil supplies, the kingdoms energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Tuesday.

The decision by the OPEC+ oil producer group led by Saudi Arabia this month to cut oil output targets unleashed a war of words between the White House and Riyadh ahead of the kingdoms Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum, which drew top U.S. business executives.

The two traditional allies relationship had already been strained by the Joe Biden administrations stance on the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Yemen war, as well as Riyadhs growing ties with China and Russia.

When asked at the FII forum how the energy relationship with the United States could be put back on track after the cuts and with the Dec. 5 deadline for the expected price-cap on Russian oil, the Saudi energy minister said: I think we as Saudi Arabia decided to be the maturer guys and let the dice fall.

We keep hearing you are with us or against us, is there any room for we are with the people of Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said earlier that Riyadh and Washington will get over their unwarranted spat, highlighting long-standing corporate and institutional ties.

If you look at the relationship with the people side, the corporate side, the education system, you look at our institutions working together we are very close and we will get over this recent spat that I think was unwarranted, he said.

While noting that Saudi Arabia and the United States were solid allies in the long term, he highlighted the kingdom was very strong with Asian partners including China, which is the biggest importer of Saudi hydrocarbons.

The OPEC+ cut has raised concerns in Washington about the possibility of higher gasoline prices ahead of the November U.S. midterm elections, with the Democrats trying to retain their control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Biden pledged that there will be consequences for U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia after the OPEC+ move.

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the kingdoms ambassador to Washington, said in a CNN interview that Saudi Arabia was not siding with Russia and engages with everybody across the board.

And by the way, its okay to disagree. Weve disagreed in the past, and weve agreed in the past, but the important thing is recognizing the value of this relationship, she said.

She added that a lot of people talk about reforming or reviewing the relationship and said that was a positive thing as Saudi Arabia is not the kingdom it was five years ago.

Full Attendance at FII

Like previous years, the FII three-day forum that opened on Tuesday saw a big turnout from Wall Street, as well as other industries with strategic interests in Saudi Arabia, the worlds top oil exporter.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, speaking at the gathering, voiced confidence that Saudi Arabia and the United States would safeguard their 75-year-old alliance.

I cant imagine any allies agreeing on everything and not having problemstheyll work it through, Dimon said. Im comfortable that folks on both sides are working through and that these countries will remain allies going forward, and hopefully help the world develop and grow properly.

The FII is a showcase for the Saudi crown princes Vision 2030 development plan to wean the economy off oil by creating new industries that also generate jobs for millions of Saudis, and to lure foreign capital and talent.

No Biden administration officials were visible at the forum on Tuesday. Jared Kushner, a former senior aide to then-President Donald Trump, was featured as a front-row speaker.

FII organizers said this years edition attracted 7,000 delegates compared with 4,000 last year.

After its inaugural launch in 2017, the forum was marred by a Western boycott over Khashoggis killing by Saudi agents. It recovered the next year, attracting leaders and businesses with strategic interests in Saudi Arabia, after which the pandemic hit the world.

By Aziz El Yaakoubi, Rachna Uppal, and Hadeel Al Sayegh
Showdown Coming Over Race-Based Admissions as Supreme Court Prepares to Hear Arguments in Lawsuit

The future of racial quotas in university admissions will depend largely on the outcome of one of the most hotly disputed and closely watched cases of the Supreme Courts new term.

On Oct. 31, the court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the long-running case of Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, which will address the use of race-based admissions policies not only at Harvard but at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.

The lawsuit, which seeks to overturn the 2003 ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger permitting universities to consider race in admissions decisions with the aim of augmenting diversity, began as two separate legal actions against the two institutions. Their contention was that such discriminatory policies unfairly disadvantage Asian American applicants (and, in the case of UNC, white applicants), violating Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In January, the court consolidated the two actions into a single lawsuit, only to split them up again in order to allow new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has served on Harvards board of overseers, to participate in the UNC case while recusing herself from the one involving Harvard.

During her confirmation hearings, Jackson gave assurances to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that she would stay out of the Harvard case to avoid a conflict of interest.

Harvards Woes

The case has drawn national attention and, in the case of Harvard, proved to be a major headache when it emerged that the university missed the deadline for filing a claim with its excess insurance provider, Zurich American Insurance, for coverage of legal costs. As a consequence of its sloppiness, the university risks being unable to recoup an additional $15 million in legal fees, after the school exhausted its $25 million claim limit with its primary insurer.

Edward Blum, founder of SFFA, described the universities stances as adversarial.

Such a stance is played out not only in the courtroom, but also by university leadership who play an adversarial role in defending what they do and arguing for racial classifications and preferences in admissions, Blum told The Epoch Times.

Harvard has responded publicly to his lawsuit with lengthy postings on its website setting forth its stance regarding the case and why it believes race-based admissions policies are justified.

The university also went so far as to label Blum an anti-race conscious admissions activist, and stated that the allegations from Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a private organization working to end the consideration of race in admissions, are dangerously misleading, distorting data to reach preconceived and wrong conclusions.

The schools singling out of Blum by name may have overstepped certain bounds, he acknowledged.

One could say it wasnt necessary for Harvard to identify me by name on their website. Im the president of the organization that is the named plaintiff. But every lawsuit needs a villain, and every lawsuit needs a hero, he said.

Contrary to Harvards assertion that the lawsuit grew out of preconceived conclusions, Blum described a long and meticulous process of meeting with officials and gathering and analyzing data to reach a basis on which to assess the fairness and legality of the universitys policies.

We presented our evidence after years and years of discovery, where we interviewed officials at Harvard and UNC and were given documents showing that Harvard and UNC basically had a quota system that will limit the number of Asians at Harvard and the number of Asians and whites at UNC, Blum said.

Quotas, like the ones we believe are in force, have been struck down in court as outside the boundaries of the role that race is allowed to play in college admissions. We believe that classifying students by race and ethnicity, and treating them differently, violates our civil rights laws and our constitution.

Strong Data

The lawsuit targeting Harvard relies heavily on econometric data compiled by Duke University economics professor Peter Arcidiacono, who argued in a 168-page report (pdf) that Harvards policies were most favorable to African American applicants, followed by Hispanics, and then by whites, and that Asian applicants were the worst off.

Arcidiacono described the case of a hypothetical Asian male applicant whose scholastic achievements and qualifications afforded him a 25 percent chance of admission. That same applicant would have a 36 percent chance of admission if he were white, a 77 percent chance if Hispanic, and a 95 percent chance if black, the professor determined.

Race plays a significant role in admissions decisions, Arcidiacono wrote.

Blums methodology also rests on evidence and figures uncovered in the course of his lengthy discovery indicating that, in 1993, approximately 19 percent of incoming freshmen at Harvard were Asian, and in 2014, the year he initiated his legal action against the school, the percentage was the same. This seemed off given that the number of people of Asian descent applying to Harvard has grown markedly during and since the period in question.

This is only one small element of the data that we presented to the courts to prove that Harvard is trying to racially balance every ethnic group within its freshman class, Blum said.

He clarified that while Harvard is a privately-owned institution, it does accept federal funds, and therefore has an obligation to comply with statutes involving race and ethnicity, namely Title 6, which explicitly bars racial discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Harvard could go the route of some schools, like Hillsdale College in Michigan, which have opted not to receive federal funds and thereby exempt themselves from such requirements and devise whatever admissions policies they please, Blum acknowledged. But as long as the university receives federal funds, it must comply.

Outcome Not Certain

In Blums view, the evidence may be clear, but the Supreme Court could still go either way in its decision.

There are a number of possible outcomes, he said. One would be that the court rejects our arguments and says Harvard and the University of North Carolina arent violating the current legal boundaries, and [racial quotas are] permitted, and we lose. The next possibility would be that the schools are found to be in violation of these boundaries, and theyre told, Shame on you. Now go back and fix what youre doing.

If the lawsuit has its intended result, it will not only strike down racial quotas at Harvard and UNC, but set a precedent that will ultimately spell the end of race-based admissions policies at colleges and universities throughout the country, Blum added.

But he acknowledged that, in the event of an unfavorable ruling for the universities, either school may pursue appeals or look for ways to cheat.

This may be the end of the beginning, rather than the beginning of the end, Blum said.

Harvard and UNC didnt respond to requests for comment by press time.
On Friday, the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies begins, and a new voice will be calling the Fall Classic for the first time in over two decades.

Joe Davis took over as the voice of Foxs MLB coverage this year following Joe Bucks departure to ESPN, and hell call his first World Series this year.

During his many years at Fox, Buck was a lightning rod for criticism, both reasonable and completely ridiculous. Davis isnt immune to that same criticism, and Buck gave him some advice on dealing with it: stay the hell away from social media.

In a feature written by Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Davis said hes done paying attention to Twitter.

Buck suggested Davis avoid social media in the postseason. Davis has done that one better. He no longer posts on Twitter and says he no longer pays attention to it. For every nine nice mentions, he said, why let the one mean mention sting?

I just think its healthy to be off there and not to be too caught up in that, Davis said. You dont get into this because you want to be liked, I dont think. I know that people have strong opinions, and these games are emotional games for fan bases to watch. I get that, a lot of times, the announcers become the target. This is absolutely the smart move, and good advice for anyone. Dont let yourself get wrapped up in social media criticism. Its a losing battle and youll constantly find yourself swimming upstream and second guessing yourself. I appreciate Davis as a broadcaster, as it seems like many do, and Im sure hell do a fine job this week and next in Houston and Philadelphia.

[LA Times]
Army reservist James Topp speaks to the crowd during a protest against COVID-19 health measures at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ont. on June 30, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby)

Soldier Facing More Charges After Speaking Out Against Militarys Vaccine Requirement

A Canadian soldier who has publicly spoken out against the forced removal of hundreds of unvaccinated Armed Forces members is facing more charges.

Warrant Officer James Topp is now facing six counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline after the army reservists commanders laid four new charges against him last week.

The charge comes under the National Defence Act and is designed to enforce discipline in the ranks.

Two of the new charges are directly tied to Topps statements in two videos posted on social media in February, in which the Vancouver resident criticized vaccine requirements for military personnel and other federal employees.

The decision to charge Topp for making what military regulations call improper comments represents a shift as the militarys case against him was initially focused on his decision to wear a military uniform while criticizing the vaccine mandates, rather than on his actual statements.

The other new charges accuse Topp of wearing a uniform incorrectly. Topp is a reservist with the Royal Westminster Regiment, but appeared in the videos in a uniform for the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry, with which he previously served.

A copy of the charge sheet was provided to The Canadian Press by Topps civilian lawyer, Phillip Millar, who said his client plans to fight the charges in military court.

The Department of National Defence did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday about the additional charges.

Millar is also hoping to use Topps pending court martial to wage a broader battle against the militarys vaccine mandate, which was first imposed last year and has seen hundreds of non-compliant Armed Forces members forced out of uniform.

That includes aggressively leveraging revelations that chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre was briefed by his senior advisers in August 2021 that an order requiring vaccines for all military members was unnecessary and may not be legal.

A copy of the briefing note was obtained by Edmonton lawyer Catherine Christensen and provided to The Canadian Press, which reported on its existence and contents on Monday.

Eyre has described the briefing note as one of several legal opinions received before handing down his vaccine order in October 2021.

The legality of the order has not been tested in court. Rather than charging those who refused to comply, the military has 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.

Topp, who has become a symbol of sorts for Canadians opposed to COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine mandates and perceived government overreach, has said he is facing a 5F release.

About 100 more troops have left voluntarily while hundreds more have 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.

Christensen and Millar, both of whom are representing troops forced out of the military over their refusal to get vaccinated, believe the briefing note explains why the military is using 5F releases instead of charging those who refuse to comply with Eyres order.

The revelation that the chain of command was briefed on the potential illegality and ineffectiveness of the vaccine mandate is crushing to the hundreds of service members who have had their careers destroyed because of politics, Millar said.

I will be aggressively leveraging this new information in the defence of James Topp as he at least had the courage to speak up.

By Lee Berthiaume
Texas Jobs Surge: September Breaks Record for Total Jobs Added in 11 Consecutive Months

Texas once again led the U.S. in job creation over the past 12 months, breaking the states all-time record for total jobs for the 11th month in a row, according to new data reported by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Texas employers added 40,000 new nonfarm jobs in September, more than double the number they added in August, after August also set a job record.

Texas is the land of opportunity where people want to live and work  and where businesses want to invest and grow, Gov. Greg Abbott said. The jobs surge in Texas in September, with 40,000 new jobs added, once again shows that opportunity flourishes where the freedom to aspire is secured.

More Texans are working than ever before in state recorded history, setting a new record for total employed reaching 14,003,146 (nonfarm, self-employed, and other); total nonfarm jobs totaled 13,571,800.

The Texas economy has added 721,800 jobs since September 2021.

More people in Texas are working today than ever before. In fact, more people in Texas are working than the entire population of the state of Pennsylvania, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez said.

Pennsylvanias population is 13.06 million compared to Texas 29.1 million.

The percentage of all working-age Texans who are employed or are actively seeking work, 63.6 percent, is above the national average.

Texas total nonfarm job annual growth rate has outpaced the United States for the last 15 months, demonstrating one of the key factors that makes Texas the top choice for employers and their workforce, TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel said. With more than half a million job ads posted right now in Texas, TWC remains dedicated to ensuring job seekers have the skills employers need to fill those positions.

While job creators face economic uncertainty at the national level, Texas again leads all states for jobs added over the last 12 months, Abbott added. I am proud more Texans are working than ever before. Together, we will continue to create greater opportunity for all.

Leisure and Hospitality job growth surged in September with 25,700 positions added, marking an 11.8 percent over-the-year change. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities saw the second-greatest over-the-month growth of 7,600 added jobs. Financial Activities had the third most of 6,200 new jobs.

TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson points out that major private-sector industries have grown faster in Texas than they have nationally over the past year, and this is a direct result of existing and new Texas employers recognizing and taking advantage of the opportunities in the Lone Star State.

The Information industry, he notes, has had 10.9 percent over-the-year growth in Texas, compared to a 5.9 percent national rate, for example. He said the TWC and its Workforce Solutions partners are here to ensure Texas employers have the talent they need for those lucrative careers.

Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4 percent remains higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.

Amarillo and Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Areas have the lowest unemployment rates in Texas of 2.8 percent each, followed by Midlands 3 percent, and College Station-Bryan and Lubbock each having 3.1 percent. The MSAs with the highest unemployment rates are McAllen-Edinburg-Mission of 6.7 percent, followed by Beaumont-Port Arthurs 6.3 percent and Brownsville-Harlingens 5.8 percent.

By Bethany Blankley
Protests have organically sprung from Iran to the globe after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being detained by Irans morality police, who determined she had incorrectly worn her headscarf. While Iran has had many protests for more rights and freedom, this one is different, mainly led by teenage schoolgirls.



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The SAFE-T Act Is the Epitome of Political Hypocrisy

Commentary

Politicians love to come up with clever acronyms that make bad legislation sound like something voters actually want. Thats exactly what they did with the so-called SAFE-T Act in Illinois.

Based on the title, you might expect that this law would have something to do with keeping people safe, right? Think again. What the SAFE-T Act really does is eliminate cash bail for people who commit heinous felonies such as second-degree murder, arson, drug-induced homicide, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated battery, burglary, intimidation, aggravated driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding, drug offenses, and threatening a public official.

And just in case you were wonderingno, that doesnt mean that people who commit those crimes will be sitting in jail until their trial. Just the opposite, in fact. Under the SAFE-T Act, starting on Jan. 1, 2023, accused murderers, arsonists, kidnappers, and other violent criminals will not be in jail at all before their trial. They will be free to roam the streets as before, despite the fact that they are potentially dangerous and undoubtedly desperate.

The only exception is if a prosecutor can prove to a judge with clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is either a flight risk or presents a specific threat to the community. The charges against them, in other words, are not enough to keep them jailedthe prosecutor must find substantial additional evidence that they are likely to commit another crime.

Our communities deserve better than this. The country is currently experiencing a crime wave of historic proportions, characterized by an explosion of violent crime that is primarily affecting urban areas.

So far this year in Chicago alone, there have been over 6,500 robberies; over 4,600 aggravated batteries; and over 5,700 burglariesall crimes that will no longer involve pre-trial incarceration. In just one year, vehicle thefts have nearly doubled, while murder is up 30 percent since 2019. And thats with two whole months left to go in 2022.

The victims of these crimes are disproportionately black and brown Americans, which means that the so-called SAFE-T Act is directly endangering communities of color.

Thats not what the politicians say, though. They say theyre protecting us from the criminal justice system, which is not only a scathing indictment of a system they themselves control, but also an insult to all law-abiding citizens.

If the politicians want to correct the inequities in policing and criminal justice that exist in our societyand they shouldthey are going about it all wrong. Instead of addressing bias against black and brown people, they are treating that bias like a foregone conclusion. Then, to make matters worse, they are telling us that because they feel (sort of) remorseful that the criminal justice system is biased against black and brown folks, they are going to release people they believe are violent criminals into our communities.

We do not deserve to be forced to live with potentially dangerous criminals in our midst. Would the politicians who voted for the SAFE-T Act want accused murderers wandering the streets of their subdivisions and gated communities? Of course not! But since those criminals will be concentrated in the inner cities, where our communities are located, they can pretend to be social justice warriors while sleeping easy in their beds at night, while we lie awake worrying because our children arent safe.

The SAFE-T Act is the ultimate example of how politics as usual fails communities of color. Politicians could take action that would actually make a positive difference in our communities, but its cheaper and easier to pass laws like the SAFE-T Act and pawn the problems off on us instead.

From the RealClearWire

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Reporters surround Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) as he heads for his party's weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Trump Was Right on TikTok, Says Top Democrat Senator

One of the Democratic Partys leading figures, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who is head of the United States Senate intelligence committee, has said former President Donald Trump was right when it came to the security risks around the Chinese-owned TikTok.

This is not something you would normally hear me say, but Donald Trump was right on TikTok years ago, said Warner during a visit to Australia, reported The Sydney Moring Herald on Oct. 25.

If your country uses Huawei, if your kids are on TikTok, if your population uses WeChat as a social media platform, the ability for China to have undue influence is, I think, a much greater challenge and a much more immediate threat than any kind of actual, armed conflict.

Warner, who is currently in Australia to engage with local intelligence chiefs, politicians, and business people, also warned about the technological domination that the Chinese regime is exerting over other countries, calling it scary.

China having this kind of technology domination in a number of countries ought to scare the heck out of us because weve seen the kind of Orwellian surveillance state theyve already created within China, he said.

Australia is Concerned About Tiktok

The U.S. is not the only country concerned about Tiktok.

Australias Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil has ordered cybersecurity authorities to investigate social media giants data collection security. ONeil, who is also the cybersecurity minister, has called on Australians who use TikTok to be cautious of the apps data collection. Id say to Australians: if youre using TikTok, think about what data of yours might be being collected, and know that were not always 100 percent confident of how that datas being used, ONeil said on an Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) TV program on Sept. 5. We do need to take precautions in this digital age. According to Digital 2022, a report released by internet data research company WE ARE SOCIAL, the international version of TikTok has 7.38 million adult users in Australia, second only to Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. The move comes after TikTok Australia acknowledged in July that its employees in China had access to Australian users data.

Our security teams minimize the number of people who have access to data and limit it only to people who need that access in order to do their jobs, Brent Thomas, TikToks Australian director of public policy, wrote in reply to the shadow minister for cybersecurity and countering foreign interference, James Paterson.

We have policies and procedures that limit internal access to Australian user data by our employees, wherever theyre based, based on need.

Trump Administration Wanted to Shut Down Tiktok

Former President Donald Trump attempted to shut down social media apps TikTok and WeChat in 2020, citing security risks because of their connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Trumps executive actions centred on ByteDance, a Beijing-based firm that owns TikTok, and WeChat, which is owned by the Shenzhen-based Tencent Holdings. However, they were blocked by federal court orders.

Read More Trump Administration to Ban Access to Chinese Apps WeChat and TikTok on Sunday

Currently, the Biden administration is conducting its own review into the Chinese-owned apps, with President Joe Biden signing his own executive order to direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to evaluate these threats through rigorous, evidence-based analysis.

The president advises they should address any unacceptable or undue risks consistent with overall national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives, including the preservation and demonstration of Americas core values and fundamental freedoms.

The Commerce Department, according to the White House, will be required to review TikTok, WeChat, and other apps that are developed, designed, controlled, or manufactured by entities linked to the CCP. The order notes that such apps may present an undue or unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and the American people.

Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report.
Tudor Dixon, Gretchen Whitmer Debate Pandemic Response, Mandating COVID Jabs for School Kids in Michigan

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she doesnt support requiring the COVID vaccine for school kids after being put on the spot by Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon during their debate on Tuesday night.

I want to be very clear about this. This is a parents decision. There will never be a mandate for the COVID-19 vaccine for children to go to school in a Dixon administration, said Dixon, who has made Whitmers leadership during the pandemic a key issue in the election race.

The question, raised during the debate, comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation that COVID-19 shots be added to the list of required immunizations for school children.

Dixon, who told voters Whitmer will likely push the shots on their children, said she was anxious to hear what Gretchen Whitmer has to say because was forcing the vaccine on people.

The Republican candidate reminded voters of Whitmers MI Vacc to Normal program, which she said called on Michiganders to get the people they know jabbed in order to get your liberties and freedoms back.

No, I do not support requiring the COVID vaccine for children, Whitmer said in rebuttal before proceeding to defend her measures in the face of the pandemic.

Whitmer imposed controversial and strict measures on Michiganders during the pandemic, some of which she herself broke.

We made quick decisions to save lives, and studies show we saved thousands. I am proud of that, she added.

Whitmer Accuses Dixon of Sowing Conspiracy Theories

The incumbent Democratic governor accused Dixon of sowing conspiracy theories during the pandemic.

While I was getting death threats, saving lives during COVID, my opponent was sowing conspiracy theories. She was saying that kids couldnt get impacted, no need for masks, she even said that vaccines carried the mark of the beast and government trackers, Whitmer said, referring to the Beast of Revelation in the Bible, said to be identified by the number 666.

She added: If she had been governor during COVID, thousands more people would have died.

Dixon rejected Whitmers accusation, saying that she wouldnt have been vaccinated if that were at all true.

The governor is being dishonest once again, but thats what you do when you dont have policies to run on, when you killed more seniors than almost any other state, when you were told to stop the policy, but you kept it going, Dixon responded.

Whitmer issued an emergency executive order at the start of the pandemic to isolate infected senior citizens at extended care facilities in a designated wing. As the infection spread, many residents and care workers died.

According to a report by Michigans auditor general, Whitmers administration undercounted nursing home deaths from COVID-19 by 30 percent.
St. Francis Xavier's School issued an open letter to the parents of the students, stating that the school has decided to set up an independent investigation committee to investigate the incident in which 14 students were suspended for three days. (Big Mack/The Epoch Times)

Under National Security Law, HK Schools Decisions Based on Political Agenda

Earlier, 14 students of a secondary school in Hong Kong were accused of disrespecting the flag-raising ceremony at the morning assembly, and the school suspended them from attending classes for three days. The incident caused some parents to look for other schools for their kids.

On Oct. 24, the schools Supervisor, Rev. Brother John Chong Kee Ann, issued an open letter referring to the investigation of the punishment on Facebook. However, the letter was removed within an hour.

In an interview by The Epoch Times on Oct. 24, a whistleblower told that the school sent an open letter to the parents of the students on the same day, saying that after the special meeting of the school board on Oct. 19, the school decided to set up an independent investigation committee to investigate the incident.

Independent Investigation Committee to Restore Confidence

The school said that the members of the independent investigation committee would all be professionals and credible figures with no connection to the school, and it is expected to take 90 days. Afterwards, the Independent Investigation Committee will hand over a fair and impartial investigation report to the school board, giving teachers, students, parents, and the public an explanation, in order to restore everyones confidence in the school.

Brother John gave a wish to Forge ahead at the end of the letter.

Ironically, the open letter was uploaded and removed from the schools Facebook within an hour.

When interviewed by The Epoch Times, Mrs. Chen, one of the parents, criticized, saying, This letter from the school is completely meaningless to us. Mrs. Chen emphasized that after 14 students were punished for disrespecting the school and suspected of violating the National Security Law, the parents of the students have completely lost confidence in the school.

Mrs. Chen said frankly that she was worried that her son might become the next victim and that her son might even be arrested for violating the National Security Law. Mrs. Chen reiterated that since the incident, she has been looking for another school for her son, I dont want to let my son study in this school anymore.

Choi Yuk-lin, director of the Education Bureau, answered a reporters question about whether she thought the schools punishment for students to suspend classes was appropriate or that the punishment was too strict. Choi refused to give comments about how individual school rules are handled.

Since the establishment of the National Security Law, many Hong Kong people have become self-threatening because they can barely see the political red line.

The school sent an open letter to the parents of the students on Oct. 24, stating that the school decided to set up an independent investigation committee to investigate the earlier incident of 14 students who were punished and suspended for three days. However, the letter was removed within an hour. (Courtesy of the interviewee)

In 2020, the Hong Kong government passed the draft amendments to the National Flag Law and National Emblem Law in response to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. Hong Kong international relations scholar Simon Shen once pointed out that the above-mentioned law uses criminal liability to force the people to respect the totems of the CCP; in addition, The first Chief Justice of Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal, Andrew Li Kwok-nang, also raised three major concerns for the National Flag Law and the National Emblem Law: (1) containing ideological terms, or changing the nature of common law; (2) vague definitions; (3) proposed penalties that are too strict.

Some Background Information

Some parents broke the news to The Epoch Times earlier that some students were still eating breakfast in the eating area of the playground at the time of the incident, while the school requested the students to attend assembly strictly at 8:05 a.m. When the national anthem suddenly started to play, 14 Form 2 and Form 6 students were not able to make it.

The vice-principal Law then walked to the playground, reprimanded the 14 students involved, and ordered the students to stand on the spot and wait for the director of student affairs to deal with the issue. On the same day, the 14 students involved were told to leave the school immediately and were suspended from classes for 3 days for disrespecting the school and suspected of violating the National Security Law.
A farmer spreads nitrogen fertilizer in his wheat field in Blecourt, France, on May 27, 2021. (Pascal Rossignol/Reuters)

US Nitrogen Exports Jump as Europe Scrambles for Fertilizer

CHICAGO/LONDONU.S. exports of nitrogen fertilizers jumped to a multi-year high this summer after surging natural gas prices in Europe drove up costs of producing the crop nutrient there, making U.S. shipments more competitive.

The brisk U.S. sales highlight the effect of the war in Ukraine on global food and energy supplies. Russia, under financial sanctions, is a major producer of fertilizer and natural gas, key in making nitrogen products to boost yields of corn and other crops.

Since Russias February invasion of Ukraine, Europe started weaning itself off Russian natural gas and a pipeline transporting ammonia from Russia to a Ukraine port shut down.

Tight fertilizer supplies have driven up crop nutrient prices so much worldwide that the United Nations warned this month of a future crisis of availability. European companies have been forced to close some fertilizer plants due to high costs.

Exports from the United States, the worlds third-largest producer, soared to 370,000 short tons of nutrient in August, more than double the year-earlier total, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, compiled by industry group The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) for Reuters. That figure is the highest monthly total since TFI began tracking the data in 2013.

European buyers are outbidding domestic buyers in both the United States and other exporters like Indonesia and Malaysia, said Alistair Wallace, principal at Argus Media in London.

Despite the surge in exports, separate TFI data shows that as of June, U.S. nitrogen fertilizer supply was at its second-highest level in the last decade, indicating a global dislocation, rather than shortage.

It is not yet clear whether the United States produced more than usual in July and August, or diverted a larger share of supplies to Europe, said Jason Troendle, economist at TFI, whose members include CF Industries and Nutrien.

The United States is historically a small exporter, and its ability to backfill markets is limited, Troendle said.

The countries with the biggest year-over-year increases in U.S. purchases are in EuropeFrance, Belgium, Norway, and Lithuaniaas well as Morocco, Chile, and Brazil, Troendle said.

European countries typically buy most of their imported urea, a form of nitrogen fertilizer, from North Africa, but are now purchasing it further afield, Wallace said.

EU nitrogen prices eased in mid-October as some European plants resumed production due to softening natural gas prices, he said.

European farmers are not able to stock up on fertilizer as much as they should ahead of planting next spring due to high prices and tight supply, said Pekka Pesonen, secretary-general of European farming group Copa-Cogeca.

Were talking about the need for huge volumes over a short period of time, Pesonen said.

Despite high input costs, U.S. growers may sow even more fertilizer-intensive corn next year. A Farm Futures growers survey forecasts corn acreage at a 10-year high of 94.282 million acres, up 6.4 percent from 2022.

Farmer Dave Nelson of Belmond, Iowa, has seen his fertilizer costs soar to $1,280 per ton this year from $350 a ton two years ago. He locked in that price this fall so he could start calculating a 2023 budget.

I might as well do it because [price] is only going to go higher, said Nelson, who grows corn and soybeans. If you start skimping on fertilizer  you just end up hurting yourself in the end.

Brazil, which relies on imports for 85 percent of its fertilizer, bought more ammonium nitrate from the United States, Belgium, and Holland in the JanuarySeptember period to make up for reduced Russian supplies, investment bank Itau BBA said.

By Rod Nickel, Mark Weinraub, and Maytaal Angel
Woman Accused of Grabbing 2 Children Outside School

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.A 27-year-old woman was behind bars Oct. 25 on suspicion of making inappropriate comments and grabbing two children in Fountain Valley.

Anisa Lopez of Anaheim was accused of making inappropriate comments to several juveniles around Magnolia Street and Talbert Avenue on Oct. 24 as they were getting out of school, police said. the was also accused of inappropriately grabbing two of the children, police said.

Officers arrived on scene and arrested Lopez, who was booked on suspicion of terrorist threats, sexual battery, and child abuse, police said. She was being held on $100,000 bail.

Lopez has two pending misdemeanor cases for possession of a controlled substance and refusing to leave at an officers request, according to court records.
More than 10,000 migratory birds from 27 species, including swans, Eurasian spoonbills, eastern spot-billed ducks, and pied avocets, have arrived at Poyang Lake in Hukou county, Jiujiang city, east China's Jiangxi Province, half a month earlier than usual, according to the Jiangxi Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve Administration.

Since the water level at Poyang Lake has dropped to a record low this year, Hukou county has taken measures including water replenishment to keep the level within a reasonable range.




That release could not be found.
In Two Years (Oct 2020-Oct 2022) Army, Police, Others Arrested 150 Defenseless Women In The East, Falsely Labeled Them Biafra Members, Tortured And Degraded Them For Six Months-18 Months Without Trial Or Securing A Single Conviction

 A case of Ifeyinwa Egole, Maria Ezediaru, Ngozi Umeadi, Oluchi Madumere, Melody Anyanwu and 53 freed Obigbo Women

Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022 : Defenseless women in Eastern Nigeria belonging to Judeo-Christian Igbo Ethnic Nationality, mostly in their non-menopausal age brackets have continued to bear the brunt of the Nigerian Military, Police and DSS conduct atrocities against members of defenseless civilian population in the Region in the past two years or Oct 2020 to Oct 2022. Generally speaking, not less than 300 defenseless women have been arrested in connection with false Biafra Membership accusation and out of this number; no fewer than 150 were brutally tortured and degraded and others paid through the nose to secure their freedom Among the worst affected 150, scores have been momentarily or permanently disappeared by their Police, Army and DSS captors. The dignity of womanhood and sanctity of life and civil liberties of the affected women have egregiously and grisly been targeted for abuse and violence by the countrys crude and barbarous security forces. This is to the extent of attacking and abducting women in labor and newly delivered nursing mothers.

Under the guise of crushing Biafra agitation and agitators, the authorities of the Nigerian Military, DSS and Police through their crack squads or special forces have had a field day, abusing defenseless women in Eastern Nigeria with utter alacrity or reckless abandon. The litany of abuses and violations against women include falsely and baselessly labeling them IPOB members or wives and mothers of IPOB/ESN members or cooks and nurses for IPOB members or mothers-in-law, sisters and girlfriends of IPOB members, etc. Others custodial atrocities against defenseless women are indiscriminate arrest, indecent assault, verbal abuses, stigmatization, trumped up charges or accusations, custodial and outside custodial sexual harassment, torture including deprivation of sanitary pads and toiletries, rape, de-virginity and other virginal abuses such as torturing detained pregnant females till they pass out. The rest are reckless use of prosecutorial vindictiveness leading to long detention (six months-18 months or more) without trial, denial of custodial liberties such as being left under inhuman and degrading conditions, custodial extortion, and denial of access to family members, doctors and lawyers and lack of fair trial and fair hearing during trial, etc.

Aside the atrocities of the Military, DSS and Police against defenseless Eastern Judeo-Christian women, dozens, if not hundreds of them, especially those in the non-menopausal age bracket, have also in the past two years under become rape or sexual assault and lethal victims of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen protected by the Nigerian security forces in Eastern forests, bushes and farmlands. The operational crudity and brigandage adopted by the Nigerian Military (Army), Police and Spy Police are very strange and alien to Nigerias body of laws such as the Chapter Four (Fundamental Human Rights) of the Nigerias 1999 Constitution and the Nigerias Treaty Laws or regional and international instruments including the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention Against Torture, etc.

Different Patterns Of Culpability By Army, Police And DSS

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has investigated and found the trio of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS to be behind the conduct atrocities against defenseless women in Eastern Nigeria. These they have perpetrated using different patterns. DSS and Army are notorious for denial of arrest and detention responsibility as in most cases when families go to them to enquire about the whereabouts of their missing mothers, denial of responsibility is usually the answer given to such families. This is a clear case of security abduction and disappearance without traces in the eyes of intl law. The Police crack squads such as IRT, STS and Anti Terrorism Squads on the other hand are noted, in some cases, for admitting arrest and detention responsibility but earned notoriety for torturing and holding such women for long period without trial spanning from six to eighteen months or above.

No Single Conviction Ever Secured

The purpose of arresting and detaining citizens for crimes is to secure conviction under the principle of fair trial and fair hearing or administrative or court discharge and acquittal with payment of adequate compensation if the accusation leading to the arrest and detention was made in fatal error or in bad faith. But in the case of the three security agencies mentioned especially the Police and the DSS which have civil prosecutorial powers, it is on record that no single conviction has been secured against any of the defenseless women wrongly arrested and spuriously accused of Biafra Membership. The three security agencies are now an outlaw by gravely detaining the defenseless and wrongly accused women beyond the constitutionally provided sixty days without bail in the case of accusation bordering on committing capital offenses. The inability of the named security agencies to secure a single conviction is occasioned by spurious and trumped-up nature of accusations or charges leveled with no single evidence to sustain them at court trial. These, they have been doing using prosecutorial vindictiveness.

A Case Of Ifeyinwa Egole, Maria Ezediaru, Ngozi Umeadi And Others

Ifeyinwa Egole: She was running a successful maternity hospital when she was arrested by Police IRT from Tiger Base in Owerri on 13th Feb 2021. She was arrested alongside her husband, (Sabbath) Pastor Cletus Egole. After taken them to Police IRT Owerri Tiger Base, the arsonist police officers went back and threw petrol bombs on her maternity, her husband church and their family home and burned them to ashes. Not done, they located her husbands immediate younger brother, Eugene and made him to disappear. Crime leveled against the Egoles was that their first son was a member of IPOB. Police also labeled them IPOB family and their Sabbath Church as IPOB training camp. The Police IRT under the Force Bureau of Intelligence also killed her husband (Cletus) in custody at Abattoir in Abuja in June 2021. The Police IRT had earlier lured her husbands youngest brother, (Pentecostal) Pastor Chinedu Egole, based in Port Harcourt, to come and bail his innocent eldest brother in Abuja; only to be abducted and dumped at Imo Police IRT Tiger Base, Owerri when he was also killed in custody in May 2021 after his arrest in April 2021. Madam Ifeyinwa Egole remained in Police IRT custody in Abuja till June 2022 when she was granted court bail after spending 18 months in killer police dungeon where she was mercilessly tortured.



Maria Ezediaru: She was arrested by Police IRT in Owerri on 25th Feb 2021, tortured, degraded and held for a year and three months at Abattoir, Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja. She was granted court bail in May 2022. Madam Ezediaru, a respected mother of children, is a certified Nurse in Owerri where she was based before being arrested by the Police for taking food and medicine to detained IPOB members.

Melody Anyanwu and Oluchi Mmadumere: They were 22 years of age when they were respectively arrested by Police IRT in Owerri, Imo State. Melody was arrested on 21st May 2021 alongside her father, 62 years-old Linus Anyanwu and Georgina Obiajuru, her fiances relative and they were thrown into detention where her father was tortured to death weeks after. Melody was accused of being a girlfriend to a member of IPOB Member. Her four months old pregnancy was lost as a result of torture inflicted on her. She was transferred to Abattoir, Abuja where she was detained without trial till 8th Oct 2021 or a period of six months. Oluchi Onwumere, on her part, was arrested on 25th May 2021 and held for over five months or till 8th Oct 2021. She was accused of being a girlfriend to an IPOB member (Joseph) who was arrested unarmed and killed extra-judicially on 6th June 2021. Oluchi was forced to point her fathers house days after her arrest and moments after she did, the Police IRT squad threw petrol bombs and burned the house to ashes.

Ngozi Umeadi: She was a nursing mother with a newly delivered infant arrested by the Police on 16th Feb 2021 and detained at Police IRT, Abuja for a year and six months. Mrs. Umeadi, a respected mother of five and an Insurance worker was arrested and accused of IPOB membership. She was severely tortured and held without trial from 16thFeb 2021 to 24th Oct 2022 when she was granted court bail. These are just to mention but a few.



Remembering 53 Defenseless Obigbo Women: They were abducted by soldiers at night in Obigbo, Rivers State and taken to 34 Brigade, Obinze in Owerri, Imo State from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army Port Harcourt from where they were bundled to secret Army detention facilities in Abuja, tortured and sexually assaulted and held for several months since Oct 2020. Their release followed discovery of the secret detention facilities where they were held and advocacy that followed. They are: Ijeoma Francisca, Pauline anyanwu, Grace Samson, Rebecca Ibeanusi, Ebere Uchechi, Emmanuella Oluchukwu, Okafor Uloma, Peace Amaka, Eberechi ibe, Ekene Silver, Grace Anwulika, Mba Asiegbu, Modestus Umeazie, Blessing Paulina, Joy Anozie, Amarachukwu Believe, Amadi Chinasa, Onwuka Uzoma, Chidinma Ukachukwu, Chioma Isaac, Peace Isaac, Ebube Aneto, Tina Emeka,, Stephanie Sunday, Mercy Chidinma, Diri Ibe, Mirabel Angel, Nwosu Abigail, Uwaoma Queen, Sarah Alo, Sandra Evoh, Cynthia Evoh, Bridget Dede, Erica Ndubisi, Oluchi Mercy, Uchendu Priscilla,Goodness Kaima, Ujunwa Ndubisi, Mama Nnamdi, Ekpere Odinanka, Nwoji Mary, Rosemary Ogudike, Happiness Odinaka, Georgina Umunze, Ngozi White, Atumofe Charity, Atumofe Precious, Amaka Ebere, Clementina Obiageli, Success Florence, Dike Amara, Kelechi Orji and Ukaamaka Oluchi.

For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria

Principal Officers:



/s E. Umeagbalasi

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair



/s C. Umeche

Chinwe Umeche Esquire, Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program @Intersociety



/s U. Igboeli

Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire, Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Program @ Intersociety



/s C.Udegbunam

Chidinma Udegbunam Esquire, Head, Campaign and Publicity Department @ Intersocie

Contacts: Mobile Phone: +2348174090052, Email: [email protected] , Website: https://intersociety-ng.org
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, has withdrawn his membership from the nations main opposition party.

Mr Metuh announced this development in a letter dated October 25 and addressed to the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

He said his resignation means a total withdrawal from partisan politics, adding he has submitted his resignation letter to the ward chairman of the party in his home State of Anambra.

Metuh explained that he resigned from party politics because he believes he will contribute more to democracy and good governance in Nigeria by being non-partisan.

The Anambra State-born politician had won the election to serve in several national positions at six consecutive national conventions of the Party.

Metuh in the letter titled Resignation From The PDP said During my three weeks trip for medical and personal reasons, I realized that I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria. The reason for this decision is that from my experience and the nature of politics and development in Nigeria, I believe that I will contribute more to Democracy and good governance in Nigeria by being non-partisan. Being a Non-Partisan gives me the status to work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people without the hindrance of partisanship.

In that regard, I write respectfully, to formally inform you of my resignation from the PDP and cessation of partisan politics.

I have duly enjoyed my membership of the PDP and remain proud of being the longest elected member of the National Executive Committee, one who won election to serve in several national positions at six (6) consecutive National Conventions of the Party. I will cherish the values and ideals learnt from the founding fathers at the inception of our nascent democracy.

Any future participation in politics will only be limited to non-partisan involvements in areas of sustaining and deepening democracy and governance in Nigerian and at the global level.

I pray you to continue to insist on issue-based engagement in our political space as the country cannot afford the bitterness and divisions that may arise otherwise.

 In line with the constitution of the PDP, I have forwarded a copy of my resignation to my ward Chairman. May God bless us all.
Cabinet backs expats owning land

BUSINESS: The Cabinet yesterday (Oct 25) approved the Interior Ministrys proposals to allow foreigners to hold land ownership of up to one rai (roughly 0.16 hectares) for residential purposes, though critics warned the move may trigger land speculation by foreign investors.

Wednesday 26 October 2022, 12:45PM

A sign advertising land for sale in the Phahon Yothin area of Bangkok. Mr Anucha says the land slated for foreign ownership should be located in Bangkok, the Pattaya area, the municipalities of all provinces nationwide, and residential zones. Photo: Krit Promsaka na Sakolnakorn

According to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri, the weekly Cabinet meeting approved in principle a draft regulation of the Interior Ministry regarding land ownership by foreigners, allowing four groups of rich foreign nationals - wealthy global citizens, wealthy pensioners, people who want to work from Thailand, and highly skilled professionals or specialists - to buy and own land for residences.

The proposal marks a departure from long-standing laws limiting land and property purchases, except condominiums, to Thais or people married to Thais, reports the Bangkok Post.

Over a period of five years - from now through 2026 - the government hopes to attract more than a million wealthy expats to Thailand.

The government estimates the scheme will inject more than B1 trillion into the economy, with an uptick of B800 billion in investment and B270bn through revenue collection.

According to Mr Anucha, the land slated for foreign ownership should be located in Bangkok, the Pattaya area, the municipalities of all provinces nationwide, and areas stipulated as residential zones according to the Town and Country Planning Act.

Qualified foreign nationals must invest B40 million in Thai property, securities or funds to participate in the scheme. They are required to invest in real estate or infrastructure funds, real estate investment trusts, securities, or enterprises promoted by the Board of Investment.

If participants withdraw their investment before the designated period, their land ownership rights must be revoked, he said. The proposed scheme becomes effective after publication in the Royal Gazette.

The scheme would be reviewed after five years, said Mr Anucha.

The proposed scheme aligns with the governments economic and investment stimulus plans to attract wealthy foreigners and professionals to Thailand. This is expected to help draw foreign investment and stimulate the Thai economy, he said.

Land grab unwelcome

Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, disagrees with the Cabinets decision, citing the possible impact on future land purchases made by locals as well as land ownership issues.

Thailand may be headed for trouble involving land speculation, meaning locals may be unable to afford to purchase land because of higher prices, he said. We are worried about Chinese investors. They already bought and own plots of land in Cambodia and Laos.

Mr Tanit said he understands the government wants to stimulate the economy by offering land ownership to foreigners to draw investment, but he said there are other ways to ramp up the economy.

Why didnt the government consider granting Thai nationality to foreigners who can apply their technological expertise to help the nation develop high technology at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)? said Mr Tanit.

The EEC is a government scheme to develop a high-tech industrial hub with the potential to draw foreign direct investment, spanning parts of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao provinces.

In contrast, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said earlier the land ownership policy could be a positive economic stimulus. FTI chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul said many wealthy foreigners, notably those in business, would enjoy a long stay here for retirement.

Domestic tourism operators will benefit if this policy can attract more foreigners, he said.

Sanan Angobulkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the scheme is not new as it was used following the Tom Yum Kung crisis to stimulate foreign investment and revive the economy.

The scheme was successful back then in resuscitating the economy. We hope it can revitalise the property market and the Thai economy, he said.

The chamber projects the scheme to draw investment of at least B100bn a year.

The cabinet also approved the Oil Fuel Fund securing loans worth a combined B150bn to boost its liquidity. Mr Anucha said the loans will be divided into two phases, with the first worth B30bn via two batches between December and February, and the second worth B120bn divided into six batches ending in July 2023.
Region 8 Police put seized guns haul on show

PHUKET: Region 8 Police presented to the public yesterday (Oct 25) 363 firearms seized in police operations in just the past two weeks.

crimepolice

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 26 October 2022, 10:51AM

Region 8 Police, headquartered at the northern end of Phuket, are responsible for overseeing police operations in seven provinces of Upper Southern Thailand: Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Surat Thani, Chumphon and Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

There are now frequent crimes involving the use of firearms causing loss of life and property, and increasing fear for peoples safety even more, which affects society and peace among the people, said Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit, Commander-in-Chief of Provincial Police Region 8.

In this regard, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, the National Police Commissioner, under the command of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha, has asked the Royal Thai Police to expedite the crackdown on firearms, weapons of war and ammunition, he continued.

Therefore, all units have been mobilized to eradicate crimes between October 10 - November 8, 2022 for a period of 30 days, targeting offenses related to illegal firearms, explosives, ammunition, including illegal sale of firearms, explosives, and ammunition through online and social media, Lt Gen Surapong explained.

In this regard, the Provincial Police under the Provincial Police Region 8 and the Provincial Investigation Division of the Provincial Police Region 8 have held serious crime raids, he said.

Of note, Lt Gen Surapong made no mention of specific orders to crack down on illegal firearms in response to the massacre in Nong Bua Lam Phu earlier this month.

During the 15 days from Oct 10-24, Region 8 Police seized a total of 363 firearms, 260 of which Lt Gen Surapong described as ordinary firearms, including rifles.

Three weapons of war were seized, along with 1,702 rounds of ammunition, he said.

Lt Gen Surapong thanked all officers for their efforts in carrying out the crackdown.

He also called on the public to help police by informing them of firearms believed to be illegal.

This helps to deter wrong-doing. In the past we have received very useful information that has resulted in arrests, he said.
Soi Dog Foundation delivers over 210 tons of food relief to animals in flood-hit provinces

Soi Dog Foundation has this month provided over 210 tons of food to more than 26,000 animals displaced by severe flooding in the provinces of Sing Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Sukhothai and Ang Thong.



By Soi Dog Foundation

Wednesday 26 October 2022, 12:19PM

A team wades to higher ground, to the bridge behind them, to feed dogs in Ubon Ratchathani. Photo: Soi Dog Foundation

A Soi Dog volunteer who assists in the distribution of food and the rescue of some animals helps a dog from floodwaters. Photo: Soi Dog Foundation

Thanks to a generous response to their urgent appeal, the foundation has been able to deliver a total of 7,750 bags of dog food and 2,785 bags of cat food to the six affected provinces so far, and they are delivering more by the day.

While locals in some areas have been able to collect the food for their animals from their local subdistrict administrative organisation (OrBorTor), the foundation and OrBorTor have had to deliver food to others by boat, including to stranded animals.

This isnt the first time Soi Dog has been called to help animals displaced by flooding. The foundation also assisted in Ayutthaya and Sing Buri last year, in Nakhon Sri Thammarat in 2020, in Ubon Ratchathani in 2019 and in Bangkok between 2011 and 2012. However, this years flooding is among the most severe the foundation has experienced.

I have never seen anything like it, said Soi Dogs Community Relations Manager Sakdapol Thongjan. Entire houses were flooded up to the roof, and animals were swimming through the water, desperately trying to reach higher ground. We had to paddle boats to reach some dogs who were completely stranded on a bridge. It was heartbreaking. There were hundreds of them.

Its not only stray animals that have been affected, but owned pets as well. A local man in Pak Khware, Sukhothai, relayed to Soi Dog staff how, when a nearby dam collapsed in the early hours of the morning, his home was flooded within minutes, and his dog was swept away in the fast-moving waters. Fortunately, the dog was able to take refuge in a tree and was reunited with his owner the following day.

A woman living in Inburi, Singburi, meanwhile, told staff she had urgently taken in a puppy who had nowhere else to go after its owners house was devastated by the rising waters. The flooding is substantially worse than previous years, she said.

At the very least, we are safe. No one is missing, and we can continue to care for our dogs, she added. I want to thank everyone who helped supply food for the dogs and cats here. It means a lot to us.

Soi Dog does not receive any government funding and is entirely reliant on donations from supporters around the world. Without their generosity, these emergency efforts would not have been possible.

Any support, whether from individuals or organisations, is greatly appreciated. These animals are part of our communities, and they need us now more than ever, said Sakdapol.

To donate to Soi Dogs urgent appeal, please visit https://support.soidog.org/content/desperate-animals-need-you. To report a displaced dog or cat in need of food, please call 076-681029 (Monday-Friday, 08:00-17:00) or email ble@soidog.org
Support for flood victims reaches Chalong

PHUKET: Senator Somchai Sianglai, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee for People in the Southern Provinces, visited residents in Chalong yesterday (Oct 25) to hand over relief bags to residents affected by the recent flooding.

Wednesday 26 October 2022, 11:48AM

Joined by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and other members of the Senate committee, Mr Somchai led the handing over of 100 survival bags containing food, drinking water and other necessities to residents in the Baan Tak Daet and Baan Na Yai communities, which were heavily affected by flooding.

A total of 192 households in the Baan Na Yai area in Chalong were directly affected by floods. With Moo 4, Baan Tak Daet, the most affected. Floodwaters reached more than one metre high, directly affecting 72 households.

Baan Tak Daet is also the only community in Phuket to suffer a death as a result of the heavy ranis and flooding last week, that of a Myanmar national.

Mr Somchai apologised to the residents for not being able to attend to their needs in person sooner. Many areas in the Northeast and Central regions are facing serious problems with flooding as well, he said.

He visited homes in the area and personally delivered survival bags to two bed-ridden patients living in the community: Mr Somporn Chatchawet and Ms Sucharit Lakban.

During his visit, Mr Somchai heard first-hand from the residents about their opinions of the flood situation in Phuket.

He also was briefed on the impact of the floods in Phuket, and the provincial governments strategies to prevent more floods in the future.
The wildfire that started in Gage County and burned its way to the Olive Creek State Recreation Area on Sunday afternoon was an accident, according to the State Fire Marshal Agency.

The fire  which forced evacuations, injured two Crete volunteer firefighters and destroyed three homes in southern Lancaster County  resulted from a person shredding on a Gage County acreage, said Adam Matzner, the Fire Marshals chief fire investigator.

A farmer had been operating a shredder near Southwest 86th Street and West Apple Road in Gage County on Sunday when weeds or grass being shredded ignited from a spark, starting the destructive blaze, Matzner said.

The fire then spread north into Lancaster County, where it burned parts of a 6-square-mile area between Southwest 86th and Southwest 100th streets from Gage Road to Panama Road, sheriffs 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 two firefighters 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. The department has organized an online fundraiser to help Elder with medical expenses.

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, on Sunday. The National Weather Service said winds from the south gusted as high as 55 mph.

Though the full extent of the damage caused by the fire remained unclear Monday, officials emphasized that the quick actions of scores of firefighters and area farmers prevented further devastation.

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.

Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area will remain open, officials with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said Tuesday. The boat ramp and campgrounds were not damaged in the fire, but visitors are encouraged to use caution.
The three people killed last week in an apparent homicide-suicide at a Billings home have been identified.

William Darling Jr., Melissa Darling and William Darling III all died from gunshot wounds, Yellowstone County Deputy Coroners Matt Hoffman said. William Darling, 39, shot and killed his 38-year-old wife and 11-year-old son, according to preliminary evidence from the Billings Police Department, before killing himself.

Billings officers responded to a weapons complaint at a duplex on the 4600 block of Murphy Avenue on Oct. 19, the Gazette previously reported. Inside the home, the found the bodies of all three people, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

At least 13 people have died in Yellowstone County due to gun violence so far this year. Of those 13, four people were under the age of 20.

Montana has consistently ranked as one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation for decades, according to a March report from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Suicide is currently among the top 10 leading causes of death in Montana. Between 2011 and 2020, 379 people in Yellowstone County alone killed themselves.

About 90% of those who die by suicide in Montana have a treatable mental illness, according to DPHHS. Major depression and alcoholism were the most frequently diagnosed mental illnesses among those who committed suicide in the state.

If you or someone you love are having thoughts of suicide, call the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988. The lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com .
After previously announcing he'd step down just before Election Day, the state's Commissioner of Political Practices said he still plans to leave the position but will remain in place until Dec. 30.

Commissioner Jeff Mangan announced the change in a message posted to the online platform Twitter on Tuesday night. He previously said he would leave his position before the end of his six-year term in 2023.

"I have had many requests to extend my stay to the end of the year, (with) the upcoming workload it certainly alleviates concerns raised as the election nears," Mangan tweeted. "Remaining these final weeks made sense on many different levels (and) essentially completes my term as commissioner."

The Commissioner of Political Practices is a nonpartisan, appointed position that oversees an office responsible for enforcing Montanas campaign, ethics and lobbying laws. The office assists political candidates and lobbyists with compliance issues, and investigates and enforces infractions of those laws.

Commissioners serve only one term. Mangan had previously been a Democratic lawmaker from Great Falls, from 1999 to 2006, when he was nominated to be the states top political cop in May 2017. He was selected, along with one other candidate, by a bipartisan panel of lawmakers to be forwarded to then-Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat who appointed Mangan from the shortlist.

Not since Dennis Unsworth's departure at the end of 2010 has anyone served out a full term as commissioner.

Past commissioners have at times come under fire for bringing a perceived partisan bias to their work investigating political complaints. Republican lawmakers have for years brought legislation seeking to disband the office or reduce the power commissioners wield.

Mangans predecessor, Jon Motl, was another Bullock appointee and was frequently attacked by Republicans who felt he pursued complaints against GOP politicians more vigorously than those against Democrats. Motls aggressive prosecution of former Rep. Art Wittich, a Republican from Bozeman who in 2016 was found guilty of accepting illegal campaign contributions, has been strongly criticized by some in the GOP.

But Mangan, whose term didnt include any cases as controversial as the high-profile Wittich trial, had earned praise from both sides of the aisle for his approach to the role.

Most recently Mangan began calling attention to harassment of election officials in Montana by activists spreading unfounded allegations of voter fraud.

Election misinformation, disinformation, the stuff thats happening across the state, is harming and putting at risk our election officials, our election judges, our election volunteers and poll-watchers in the coming elections, he said, addressing an interim committee earlier this year.

He has since asked the same committee to draft up legislation that would ensure that the crime of obstructing a public servant also applies to interfering with the work of election officials.

Mangans announcement didnt indicate why he is stepping down early. His announced retirement date is the day before Election Day.

He also offered few details about his future plans, stating only that he will be returning to the private sector.
What an immense privilege to be taking over as Money Mail editor, with my first issue today.

I've been writing about personal finance for many, many years on Money Mail's sister website, This Is Money, where I was most recently the deputy editor.

To say I've been an avid reader of these pages in the Mail is something of an understatement.

Helping hand: Money Mail is here to guide you through the storm  just as it has done time and again over the years

But blimey, I've rarely known a time when it's been more vital to stay on top of your finances.

From the cost of living squeeze and the hangover from the nation's Covid borrowing binge to the chaos in the mortgage markets and the fallout from the war in Ukraine, it's been a dizzying year for families and households trying to stay on top of their bills.

But fear not: Money Mail is here to guide you through the storm  just as it has done time and again over the years.

I'll be building on a rich tradition of fighting your corner and helping you, our wonderfully loyal readers, make your money work as hard as possible.

From the cleverest tips on how to earn more from your savings to exposing wrong-doing, rip-offs and scams perpetrated by firms you thought you could trust, I'll be on your side every step of the way.

It says a great deal that I'm only the eighth Money Mail editor in a history stretching back almost 60 years. In that time, we've had 19 chancellors  although five have come in the past three years!

So what gets me up in the morning? And what gets my goat? Well, one of my proudest moments as an editor has been overseeing a major probe into billions of pounds of underpaid state pensions, which resulted in thousands of people getting windfalls of cash they should have received from the Government.

You are what has long made Money Mail the best newspaper personal finance section in the country - so please write to me with your financial problems and gripes

And last year I published a book about how to make money in all sorts of unexpected ways  and how to keep growing that pot (it's called Never Go Broke, available in all good bookshops, should you be interested).

You'll find I'm passionate about savings rates, boosting pensions, investigating scandals, the power of compound interest in making your savings and pensions grow, teaching youngsters about money and championing stories that make a real difference to your wallet, purse and piggy bank.

And what about those dislikes? How's this list for a starter for ten: the push to cancel cash, the drive to use smart meters, private parking firms and irritating parking apps, firms that take loyalty for granted and, above all, companies big and small that don't rectify mistakes before Money Mail has to get involved.

As my predecessor, Victoria Bischoff, wrote in her final Last Word column a couple of weeks ago, the letters and emails we receive from you are absolutely vital in helping us do all that.

You are what has long made Money Mail the best newspaper personal finance section in the country. So please write to me with your financial problems and gripes. You can find my contact details at the end of this column.

It's a turbulent, frantic and worrying time for households. But just remember that whatever comes your way, my crack team of Money Mail reporters and I have got you covered.

Credit card chaos

John Lewis is a brand so loved by some customers that they have a dedicated credit card linked to the shop to collect reward points.

But the firm has recently changed the provider of that card, and in doing so it has alienated some of its most loyal customers, who now find themselves blocked from taking out a new card or being offered a significantly reduced limit  despite fantastic credit histories.

Indeed, the first two letters I opened as Money Mail editor were about this very issue.

Last week, John Lewis boss Dame Sharon White said the cost of living crisis was having a larger impact on the firm than the pandemic.

Why, then, is it treating some of its customers so poorly by refusing this simple credit card transfer?

To my mind, it makes absolutely no business sense. Time to put it right, Dame Sharon.
My mother, who is 85, suffers from osteoarthritis and had a hip replacement earlier this year, from which she is still recovering.

She lives alone in a two-bedroom flat in a remote part of Devon and recently received a bill from British Gas stating that her direct debit payments will rise from 80 a month to 805 a month.

She was shocked and upset. When she rang the company to question the rise, no one addressed the absurdity of the new direct debit sum.

Shock hike: British Gas told a reader's 85-year-old mother, that her direct debit payments would rise from 80 a month to 805 a month

And, although one person said the bill might be wrong, it was suggested to my mum twice that she should probably switch to a pre-payment plan to help manage the debt.

I worry that other older and vulnerable people are hearing the same advice from energy firms.

A. H., Glasgow.

Sally Hamilton replies: Receiving an unexpected energy bill ten times the normal sum would chill anyone to the bone.

Being elderly, and living on her own, your mother felt particularly vulnerable, especially as you told me she is very careful about using the heating and only sets it to come on for short bursts each day.

With her new bill set at 805 a month, she would have been looking at an annual charge of 9,660.

We all know energy prices are soaring sharply, but this bill difference seems ridiculous. And the Governments Energy Price Guarantee should be protecting her from the worst of the increases  at least until April.

A customer in an average home with typical energy consumption might expect to pay about 2,500 a year from this month. But your mother lives on her own in a small flat, so surely her bills would come in well below this level?

You sent me a copy of the offending bill, which revealed a frustrating contradiction. At the bottom left of the page it showed that your mothers estimated annual usage would cost 2,267.30.

So how on earth did British Gas arrive at the absurd direct debit calculation of more than 800 a month  nearly 10,000 a year?

I was further confused by the fact your mother has a smart meter installed, which is designed to supply accurate readings of usage and provide precise bills.

Scam Watch Watch out for scammers who are offering fake tickets to Glastonbury Festival at inflated prices. Concert ticket scams have increased by 600 pc this year, as fraudsters try to tempt desperate fans, who might have missed out on original sales, with alluring adverts for non-existent tickets, usually on offer at exorbitant prices. Glastonbury Festival has been known to sell out in as little as 20 minutes, and tickets for next years event go on sale from November 6, so now is the time to warn children and grandchildren to be extra vigilant. Check the legitimacy of sellers and resale websites and read reviews before you make a purchase.

I asked the energy giant to shed some light on this barmy bill. I also wanted it to explain why your mother was being asked to consider a pre-payment option. This is the most expensive method of paying for energy and can leave customers vulnerable to having their supply cut off if they dont pay enough upfront.

At first, British Gas came back quickly with an apology and confirmation that your mothers direct debit had been cancelled to ensure the 805 was not taken from her bank account.

A spokesman confirmed that she wont be moved to a pre-payment meter and said British Gas would never have forced this on her.

They claimed this was simply given as an option for her to manage her bills and pay back the debt owed at a low rate.

When I asked for recordings or transcripts of the calls to check for myself what she was told, British Gas refused.

However, it stated it was satisfied the call handlers had not steered her to pre-payment.

I still needed to get to the bottom of the tenfold bill increase, so asked the firm to check the smart meter. A few days later, an engineer reported that it was fault-free. Then, Calum Robertson, a senior complaints executive who picked up your mothers case after my intervention, had a light-bulb moment.

Since your mothers account had been one of thousands taken over by British Gas earlier this year when her previous supplier, Together Energy, went bust, he thought a problem may have arisen at transfer.

Your case serves as a warning to others landed with outlandish energy bills: do not give up the fight to have them investigated and corrected

He contacted the administrators of that firm to check the accuracy of the meter readings supplied when your mother was moved over. More days passed. Then, finally, the mystery was solved.

The energy giant found a serious error with the meter reading at transfer. The numbers have now been reset and the bill recalculated. This has led to a credit of around 300 being refunded to your mothers bank account.

British Gas also sent her flowers to apologise for the upset.

Her monthly direct debit payments will be higher in future, but a far more manageable 138  1,656 a year. You and your mum are mightily relieved.

Your case serves as a warning to others landed with outlandish energy bills: do not give up the fight to have them investigated and corrected.

Norwich City gambler shouldn't bet on sympathy

Last week, I wrote about the case of a NatWest customer whose 20,000 bet was stopped by the bank because it feared such a large transaction could be fraudulent.

The customer was miffed because by the time the payment was finally released, after he had visited his bank branch, the odds for his wager on Norwich City FC being relegated from the Premier League had worsened slightly.

Although in the end he won the bet and took home winnings of 5,700, these were 286 less than he would have bagged had NatWest not been so vigilant. Despite pleas from him for me to take on his case, I decided against it and instead invited readers to have their say.

I received a fantastic response  including from Tony Hazell, a former Money Mail editor whom I had mentioned in my piece and who is a keen supporter of Norwich City.

Almost all the correspondence I received was in support of my decision not to waste time chasing reimbursement when the bank was only doing its duty to protect its customers.

Several of you, including Tony, said he should have contacted the bank to warn it in advance of making the sizeable transaction.

Some praised NatWest for its caution in a world where fraud is rife, while others expressed concern the compensation culture has got out of hand, when someone wants help recouping 286 after netting an already sizeable win.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to me and back my decision.

Straight to the point I opened a two-year fixed-rate bond online with Virgin Money in March. In June, I discovered the first three months of interest had been reinvested in the bond rather than paid into a nominated account as requested. Virgin says the cash is locked away until the bond matures in 2024  but I need the interest now to pay my bills. C. L., by email. Virgin Money says interest is automatically reinvested. Customers who want to direct it into another account must add their nominated bank details. The bank has now agreed to pay out your missing money and has asked you to get in touch if you have incurred any late fees as a result of the delay. You will also receive 150 as an apology for the mix-up. *** I booked a one-night stay at Marco Pierre Whites hotel, the Rudloe Arms, near Bath, for June 3 for myself, my daughter and her boyfriend. I was charged 332.53 on checkout, but later discovered that booking.com had already taken payment on booking. Ive lost count of the number of emails and calls Ive made, but I still havent received a refund. C. P., Birmingham. Your refund has now been processed and should be with you shortly. A booking.com spokesman apologises for the delay. *** I Arranged a telephone appointment with a Barclays mortgage adviser after receiving an agreement in principle for a 3.54% deal. But the market was thrown into turmoil the following week and the bank called to cancel. Now the best deal I can get is 3.8%. C. W., by email. Barclays says the adviser could have done more to help you and it has agreed to honour the 3.54% deal as a gesture of goodwill.
China's increasingly aggressive stance towards Taiwan risks if President Xi attempts to invade the island.

At a congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) last week, Xi said the government would 'never promise to give up the use of force' to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, although he added it would continue 'striving for the prospect of peaceful reunification.'

Alicia Kearns, chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, warned Xi's language meant the UK 'must be prepared for more robust provocations towards Taiwan'.

Pride: Taiwans flag is flown across the capital, Taipei last month amid rising tensions with China

The Tory MP added: 'We can't naively wish the possibility of military action away.'

Analysts and politicians have warned an invasion would spark an international political and economic crisis even graver than the war in Ukraine, with the US potentially being drawn into a confrontation with China following previous commitments to defend the island.

Tensions escalated in August when Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, enraging Beijing which responded with large-scale military exercises and missile tests close to the island.

And last month, President Biden said US forces would defend Taiwan if China invaded.

Tory MP Bob Seely, a member of the foreign affairs committee, said any invasion of Taiwan would cause 'an extraordinary shock not seen since World War One or World War Two'.

The sentiment was echoed by Rory Green, chief China economist at forecasting consultancy TS Lombard, who said the outbreak of war would be 'a massive disaster' for the economy, worse than Covid-19.

Of particular concern is Taiwan's computer chip industry, which dominates the global market.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has an effective stranglehold on the sector with the company making over half of the world's computer chips, more than treble the amount manufactured by its closest competitor, South Korea's Samsung.

There are worries China would use an invasion to take control of the vital technology, while any damage to TSMC's factories during a conflict would cause a supply crunch and threaten the production of everything from cars to smartphones.

A report published last night by the Henry Jackson Society (HJS), the foreign policy and national security think tank, cautioned that Beijing's growing military presence in the Taiwan Strait  the 110-mile stretch of water that separates the island from the mainland  risked escalating hostilities and inflicting 'chaos' on global supply chains.

It also called on the Government to reduce its reliance on China so that sanctions could be imposed while 'minimising damage to the UK economy.'

Tensions escalated in August when Nancy Pelosi (pictured), speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, enraging Beijing

Britain has already moved to reduce the influence of Chinese companies, notably by restricting the use of technology developed by telecom giant Huawei in the UK's broadband networks.

But it still remains heavily dependent on the country for trade. In June, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the UK imported nearly 64billion worth of goods from China last year, making it Britain's largest import partner.

Seely warned that more work was required to shift the UK's supply chains away from China. 'We now need to wean ourselves off this ridiculous economic dependency on an increasingly dictatorial one-party state.'

He added: 'We are putting ourselves in danger.'

Taiwan broke away from mainland China in 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces fled to the island to escape Mao Zedong's advancing communist army.

Since then, it has effectively functioned as an independent country, although it remains unrecognised by many nations due to diplomatic pressure from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be part of its own territory.

The unification of the island with the mainland forms a key part of Xi's plan for a 'great rejuvenation' by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

But there is growing speculation an invasion could occur soon after delegates at last week's congress handed Xi an unprecedented third five-year term as China's leader while a reshuffle saw the top ranks of the government packed with loyalists, meaning there is likely to be little resistance to his ambitions.

The HJS said this cementing of Xi's power and the growing authoritarianism in Beijing made it even more vital for the UK to extract itself from China's influence.

'Mitigating the UK's economic dependence on China is long overdue,' the HJS added.
Google's owner missed expectations as it delivered its third-quarter results.

Alphabet, which also owns You Tube, pulled in revenues of 60billion in the three months to September  falling short of the 62billion analysts had predicted.

The revenue from adverts on You Tube underwhelmed, pulling in at 6.16billion compared to the 6.47billion pencilled in, as companies around the world cut back on their spending in the face of economic turmoil.

Google-owner Alphabet, which also owns You Tube, pulled in revenues of 60bn in the three months to September  falling short of the 62bn analysts had predicted

Shares in the company  which released its results after the US stock market closed  slid more than 5 per cent in so-called after-hours trading.

Chief executive Sundar Pichai said: Were sharpening our focus on a clear set of product and business priorities.

But the revenue growth of 6 per cent on a year earlier, compared to 41 per cent over the same time in 2021, was the weakest since 2013 bar one period early in the pandemic.

Microsoft, however, just beat expectations for its first-quarter results. Revenue hit 43.7billion, nudging past forecasts of 43.2billion.
Bosses at Heathrow have warned it will take a number of years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Heathrow, which is the UK's biggest airport, told investors on Wednesday it expects to carry between 60million to 62million passengers this year, which is a quarter less than in 2019.

This summer, airlines and airports faced major logistical problems as they opened up after two years of lockdowns.

Jobs available: Heathrow said it and the businesses operating within it needed to recruit many more staff

Heathrow said it and the businesses operating within it still needed to fill a large number of vacancies, linked to all of the people who left employment at the airport during the pandemic.

To get back to the full capacity it enjoyed prior to the pandemic, Heathrow said it needed all of those roles to be filled again.

The firm said businesses at the airport started their recruitment drive last Autumn, and have a further 12,000 to 13,000 vacancies to fill.

Heathrow employs around 10 per cent of people working at the airport, with the others employed by companies like airlines and ground handlers.

Cancelled flights and massive queues forced airports to take unusual measures, with Heathrow limiting trade to 100,000 passengers per day.

The passenger cap will come to an end on 31 October, but that will not be enough for the airport to get back to its former levels of demand.

'Headwinds of a global economic crisis, war in Ukraine and the impact of Covid-19 mean we are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for a number of years, except at peak times,' the business said.

It added that there could be some form of passenger cap on the cards for the busiest days over the Christmas period.

The airport operator said: 'We are working with airlines to agree a highly targeted mechanism that, if needed, would align supply and demand on a small number of peak days in the lead up to Christmas.

'This would encourage demand into less busy periods, protecting the heavier peaks, and avoiding flight cancellations due to resource pressures.'

But there was some good news for the business. It managed to turn a heavy 1.4billion loss in the first three quarters of last year into a 643million profit this year.

Revenue grew by 200 per cent to 2.1billion in the same period.

There are also signs that passenger numbers are improving. In September, 5.8million passengers chose the airport, just 15 per cent below 2019 levels and the highest since the start of the pandemic.

Boss John Holland-Kaye said: 'We can be proud that everyone at Heathrow pulled together to serve consumers this summer  ensuring 18 million people got away on their journeys, more than any other airport in Europe, with the vast majority experiencing good service.

'We have lifted the summer cap and are working with airlines and their ground handlers to get back to full capacity at peak times as soon as possible.'

Earlier this month, Heathrow warned of a possible slowdown in travel demand this winter due to the deteriorating economic outlook, the impact of a new wave of Covid-19 and the escalating situation in Ukraine.
Sue Peters thought little of it when she was told to reapply for the John Lewis credit card shed held for almost ten years.

Like thousands of loyal John Lewis and Waitrose shoppers, the 79-year-old from Battle, East Sussex, uses the card for almost all her day-to-day needs so she can rack up reward points to spend in-store.

Plus, shes never missed a payment and clears her balance each month without fail.

Livid: Retired air traffic controller David Martin (pictured), has been a loyal John Lewis cardholder for years - but that is about to change

John Lewis had explained in its letter that there was nothing to worry about  the retailer was merely switching its card supplier from HSBC to a company called NewDay. All customers had to do was fill out a form and a brand new piece of plastic would arrive in the post.

Yet despite Sues fiercely loyal custom, her application was rejected.

Even more bafflingly, she has since discovered that she was turned down despite having a perfect credit score: a rating of 999 with credit reference agency Experian.

Im very disappointed, Sue says. I use my card for everything  petrol, food, household expenses and utilities  and had a 12,000 limit.

I buy from John Lewis rather than Amazon, and my average expenditure is 4,000, which I pay off every month. It really shook me not to be approved.

NewDay told Sue she must provide three months of bank statements and other confidential information before it considered reviewing her case, which it says was rejected as it was initially unable to verify her income.

Sue is far from alone. Complaints have poured into Money Mail from loyal John Lewis and Waitrose customers with high credit scores who say they are either being turned down for a new John Lewis credit card, or given lower limits on the amount they can spend on it.

A number of angry customers told us they have perfect, or almost perfect, credit scores  and some are so frustrated that they are threatening to stop shopping at John Lewis and Waitrose altogether.

Long time customer: Mary Thomas says shes been turned down for credit for the first time in her life, despite having a top-notch credit score

Launched in 2004, the John Lewis credit card is popular because of its generous rewards. Customers can earn five points for every 4 spent using the card in John Lewis or Waitrose, which can then be swapped for vouchers to spend in-store. In the past five years, the company has issued 230 million worth of vouchers to its cardholders.

The existing cards (supplied by HSBC) expire on November 1. Customers have been told they must re-apply for the NewDay card by December 31 to transfer their reward points  or face losing them.

Those who switch will have the chance to earn triple points for the first 90 days on purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose.

Anyone with more than 500 points who does not register for a new Partnership card will be issued with a 5 voucher. But those with fewer points will lose the lot.

David Martin, 79, and his wife, Janet, have been cardholders for more than ten years. The retired air traffic controller from Farringdon, London, says John Lewis and Waitrose had been their go-to stores.

But thats about to change. The couple have just registered for a credit card with Lloyds Bank after being told their credit limit would be slashed on a new John Lewis card.

My existing card had a credit limit of 7,000, but when I reapplied online I was given an anticipated credit limit of 1,000, which I thought was totally inadequate, David says.

When I asked why, I was told that it was only a forecast but they would come through with a definitive limit when the application was completed.

With the John Lewis credit card customers can earn five points for every 4 spent using the card in John Lewis or Waitrose, which can then be swapped for vouchers to spend in-store

When David tried to contact John Lewis, he claims to have waited 45 minutes to speak to an adviser, and when he finally got through he was transferred to another member of staff and put on hold for a further 30 minutes, by which time he gave up.

He says: Im extremely annoyed. I cant remember a time when I didnt have a John Lewis card but its as if customer loyalty counts for nothing. I went online to Lloyds, asked for a credit card and within five minutes I was granted one with a credit limit of 7,000.

John Lewis and Waitrose have completely lost their way and seem to be doing everything they can to alienate their customers.

Mary Thomas, 74, a retired computer programmer from Swindon, Wiltshire, says shes been turned down for credit for the first time in her life, despite having a top-notch credit score.

Mary, whos held a John Lewis Partnership credit card for the past five years, says: I have a good income and Im a pensioner, so its regular. Ive paid off my mortgage and have a perfect credit score. There is no understandable reason why they have turned me down.

I respect John Lewis as a good company, and Im disappointed that it wont give me a reason why I have been declined.

After Money Mail contacted the firm, it got in touch with Mary and has now accepted her application after reviewing her documents.

John Lewis made a loss of 99 million in the first half of this year.

Money Mail asked the company to pass your complaints directly to boss Sharon White so she could understand how frustrated loyal customers had become. Instead, John Lewis said Amir Goshtai, director of John Lewis Financial Services, was best placed to answer the questions.

He says: Some 96 pc of those who applied have been accepted, with 84 pc offered the same or a higher credit limit.

'Were very sorry that any customer has been disappointed and we are listening to feedback and working with our new credit provider, NewDay, to do all we can to help while still lending responsibly.

A spokesman for John Lewis says it has trained more than 400 partners across its branches to help customers with applications and has significantly increased the number of advisers in call centres.

The spokesman adds: There is a variety of reasons why customers are being declined [for a card], including a change in their financial circumstances since they first took out the card, not easily being able to demonstrate their affordability, or the information held on them by the credit bureau may be incorrect.

Were constantly reviewing feedback from customers and urge those who think they should have been approved, or want help with applying, to get in touch and we will do everything we can to help.

If you are having problems applying for the new card you can contact the dedicated customer services team on 033 0165 4868. It says the average call wait time for October is 1 minute 44 seconds.

a.cooke@dailymail.co.uk
When it comes to music contests, Shiloh Christian School senior Jase Kleser is a triple threat who competes with two instruments and sings.

Kleser has earned a STAR rating -- the highest distinction -- for almost every one of his regional and state contest performances.

He has earned 12 STAR ratings at the state level so far and is eager to see what he can accomplish this year.

Of course they represent personal achievement, but those ratings also represent hard work and I see that in my life since I strive to be the best person I can be, Kleser said.

The son of Chris and Angie Kleser, of Bismarck, is this week's Teen of the Week. Thirty-two high school seniors will be recognized by spring, at which time a Teen of the Year will be selected from the weekly winners to receive a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by MDU Resources Group.

Klesers music career began with piano lessons in the second grade. He then started playing the French horn in sixth grade and picked up the trumpet in high school. He plays in concert band and pep band, and sings in choir and jazz choir.

Kleser also has performed in honor bands and choirs. He has been in the North Dakota American Choral Directors Associations mixed choir three times and plans to audition again in February. Kleser has made both All-State band and choir. This year, he plans to audition for the All-State orchestra.

Kleser this past spring was asked to play with two other students at the Governor's Prayer Breakfast, which was a huge honor for him.

It was really fun getting to play in front of what looked like a thousand people, he said. The governor wasnt there which was kind of sad, but it was still a great experience.

Kleser performs with the North Dakota Childrens Choir and The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Youth Orchestra, and has been a part of the school musicals for three years.

He also is part of the Trust In Teen Mentorship Program and for four years has been in Key Club, where he is now chapter president.

Key Club is a lot of fun; we get to serve our community and do it in a way that really resonates with our Christian core values, he said.

The National Honor Society member helps lead worship at school and plays for two churches. Kleser has recorded 900 hours of service.

Former Shiloh Principal Ian Grande said Kleser is one of the most talented musicians in the state, and that his commitment to serving others will create a lasting legacy.

Jases combination of intelligence, excellent communication skills and servant's heart will allow him to be successful at virtually anything that he chooses to do, Grande wrote in a letter of recommendation. Jase epitomizes servant leadership, and his impact on the Shiloh Christian community will be felt for many years to come.

Kleser is a straight A student and scored a 31 out of 36 on his college entrance exam. By the time he graduates, he will have earned about 30 college credits through dual credit and College Level Examination Program classes.
China willing to work with the international community to promote equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations

10:18, October 25, 2022 By He Yin ( People's Daily

"We sincerely call upon all countries to hold dear humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom; to promote mutual understanding and forge closer bonds with other peoples; and to respect the diversity of civilizations. Let us allow cultural exchanges to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend clashes, and coexistence to transcend feelings of superiority. Let us all join forces to meet all types of global challenges." said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in the report he delivered to the 20th CPC National Congress.

Diversity is what defines our world and makes human civilization fascinating. All civilizations are rooted in their unique cultural environment. Each embodies the wisdom and vision of a country or nation, and each is valuable for being unique.

The attitude towards different civilizations concerns the progress of human civilization and the peaceful development of the world.

Leaders of foreign political parties attending the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting visit an exhibition displaying China's outstanding achievements, Dec. 1, 2017. (People's Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has made a series of important proposals on exchanges and mutual learning to build a harmonious world and advance human progress.

He said China is willing to work with the international community to promote equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, which demonstrated the unique and charming wisdom of China and its broad-mindedness.

Having gone through over 5,000 years of vicissitudes, the Chinese civilization has always kept to its original root. As the unique cultural identity of the Chinese nation, it contains some most profound pursuits of the Chinese nation and provides it with abundant nourishment for existence and development.

China, in the new era, is experiencing the greatest and most unique practical innovation in human history.

The CPC has led the people in pioneering a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, creating a new model for human advancement. Besides, China, pursuing a better future shared by all people around the world, champions the common values of humanity and the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

A promotion activity displaying China's ethnic unity in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is held in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, Feb. 27, 2019. The activity was joined by over 200 foreign guests from around 50 political parties in nearly 30 countries. The participants visited local people and experienced Xinjiang's socioeconomic development. (Photo courtesy of the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC)

The country calls on the world to enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and strengthen popular support for jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China believes countries need to respect each other and treat each other as equals, uphold the beauty of each civilization and the diversity of civilizations in the world, stay open and inclusive, draw on each other's strengths, advance with the times and stress innovation-driven development.

International analysts commented that China, championing the peaceful coexistence of civilizations, has become a catalyst for global exchanges.

Though born on the soil of China, the Chinese civilization has come to its present form through constant exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations.

China in the new era is always committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning, injecting important impetus into the prosperity and development of cultural diversity.

The country held the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, an important platform for exchanges and mutual learning among Asian countries and even in the global context.

It calls on the world to carry forward the Silk Road Spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, to build the Belt and Road into a road connecting different civilizations.

China held the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting and the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, turning diversity and differences between countries into development momentum.

It also promotes the building of a community of cultural exchanges within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization framework, and upgrades BRICS cooperation under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges

These Chinese schemes aim to seek harmony and coexistence, expand the cultural connotation of international cooperation, and offer wisdom for mankind's future development.

Visitors watch a jewelry box from Pakistan at the fourth 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Exposition held in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian province, May 20, 2021. (People's Daily Online/Xie Guiming)

Klara Khafizova, Academician of the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences and renowned sinologist noted that exchanges and mutual learning will become more frequent under the guidance of China, and people will get closer.

The world today is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and it has entered a new phase of uncertainty and transformation. The deficit in peace, development, security, and governance is growing. The world must promote exchanges and mutual learning, dispel estrangement, prejudice and hatred, spread the seeds for the idea of peace and foster a lush tree of common development, so as to keep the wheels of history rolling toward a bright future.

Each civilization is distinctive, and no one is superior to others. Those who fan up the ideas of "superiority of a civilization," "clash of civilizations" or "conflicts between institutions" will never be supported. Countries need to be broad-minded and strive to remove all barriers to cultural exchanges, and be inclusive and always seek nourishment from other civilizations, so as to promote the common development of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning and offer ceaseless impetus for coping with global challenges and promoting human progress.

China will open its arms wider to embrace the world and contribute the dynamic achievements of Chinese civilization to a better world in the future.

It will unswervingly promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations as a bridge of friendship, a driving force for human progress, and a bond for world peace, and write a new chapter of peaceful development of the world.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Wu Chengliang)
By Sabina Mammadli

Central Asia Weekly Review: 19-25 Oct 22

HIGHLIGHTS

Presidential election campaign kicks off in Kazakhstan

Turkic states eye creation of common ABC

ADB awards $50m grant to Tajikistan

Uzbekistan to purchase electricity from Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan strengthen strategic partnership

KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakh president, European Commission president back co-op prospects

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen via videoconference, Azernews reports via Kazakh media.

The two leaders discussed the prospects for the development of an expanded strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union. Special attention was placed on the interaction in trade and economics, investment, transport, and logistics spheres.

Tokayev and Ursula von der Leyen also exchanged views on the current issues of the international agenda.

Presidential election campaign kicks off in Kazakhstan

The 2022 Kazakh presidential election campaign has officially begun with six candidates on October 21.

The candidates can use mass media, hold public election events, issue and distribute print, audiovisual, and other materials for campaigning. The silence day will begin on November 19.

Six candidates, including two females and four males, were registered to run in the upcoming presidential elections in Kazakhstan.

KYRGYZSTAN

Medicines traceability system launched in Kyrgyzstan

A medicines traceability system has been launched in Kyrgyzstan.

This will ensure the safety of medicines by combating counterfeit medical products. The system can track drugs from their import into the country to the end consumer in pharmacies; information on the availability of specific medicines will also be available in hospitals. Citizens will be able to check the legality of the purchased medicine using a mobile application and get all the necessary information on it.

Medicines consumption data collected through the system will be used to develop a national healthcare strategy.

Turkic states eye creation of common ABC

The countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) discussed the creation of a common alphabet.

In order to accelerate the process of linguistic unity and transition of the Turkic states into a common alphabet, a commission for its creation was formed. The first meeting of the commission will be held in Kyrgyzstan.

The commission will include two members from each of the official structures dealing with language policy in the Turkic states. Participants will submit a report on the unified alphabet to the Council of Elders of the OTS.

The Organization of Turkic States includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan. Hungary and Turkmenistan are observer states.

TAJIKISTAN

ADB awards $50m grant to Tajikistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$50 million grant to help Tajikistan mitigate the adverse economic and social impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

ADBs Building Resilience with Active Countercyclical Expenditures (BRACE) Program will help finance the governments anti-crisis action plan, which aims to expand social assistance for poor and vulnerable people, support domestic food production, safeguard small businesses, and support employment for returning migrants.

As a relatively small, open, oil-importing economy, Tajikistan has been hard hit by consequences of the war, said ADB Director-General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov.

The official noted that ADBs support will help mitigate the impact of rising food and oil prices.

With ADBs support, 250,000 poor and vulnerable households will benefit from one-time cash transfers of $59 per household.

Multimodal corridor connecting China and Turkiye to run through Tajikistan

A multimodal goods-transportation China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkiye corridor opens, Tajik Transport Minister Azim Ibrohim said.

The discussion took place during the international conference entitled Logistics and Its Advantages in Development of Transport Links between Tajikistan and the Countries of the Region, held in Dushanbe.

Cargoes are expected to be delivered along the new route by different modes of transport: trains; trucks; ships; and aircraft.

The use of this corridor is effective in terms of reducing the distance and reducing the cost of transporting goods compared to existing corridors, the Tajik minister said.

According to him, a project of automation of the management system is currently being implemented and the work on introducing the online positioning of cargo movement through the territory of Tajikistan is underway.

Issues related to the introduction of electronic consignment notes, electronic queueing system, and other opportunities are being considered. These opportunities will simplify logistics procedures and processes, the minister said.

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan to restore historical geographical names

The historical names of cities, districts, local residents will be restored in Turkmenistan.

The decision will cover two districts, three cities, four settlements, three village councils, as well as 21 villages in particular.

According to proposals, it is planned to rename the Serdar district and the city of Serdar, giving them the historical name - Kyzylarvat.

Uzbekistan to purchase electricity from Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan will buy 4 billion kWh of electricity from Turkmenistan, Uzbek presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov said.

The remarks were made during the recent official visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Ashgabat.

During the visit, the two leaders agreed to cooperate in the energy sector. Additionally, over 10 documents were signed in various areas of cooperation.

Currently, Turkmen exports electricity to Iran, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

UZBEKISTAN

Educational institutions to study Uzbek sign language, Braille alphabet

The Uzbek president has endorsed the resolution On additional measures for the development of the Uzbek sign language and the Braille alphabet.

According to the resolution, one of the main directions for the development of the Uzbek sign language and Braille was the implementation of comprehensive measures to further develop and improve the legal status of the Uzbek sign language, encouraging its use as a means of communication.

From January 1, 2023, special training courses on teaching Uzbek sign language and Braille will be organized in educational institutions, mono-centers Ishga Markhamat.

Education at special training courses for persons with visual, hearing, and speech impairments, as well as parents or persons replacing them, minor children of this category will be carried out free of charge, other persons - on a paid basis.

Besides, starting January 1, 2023, programs in the amount of at least five percent of the weekly airtime on state TV channels are broadcast with sign language translation, closed captioning, or with a creeping line.

Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan strengthening strategic partnership

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Turkmen counterpart Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted a new atmosphere in Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan relations.

The comments were made during the Uzbek leaders official visit to Turkmenistan.

It was noted that Uzbekistan is sincerely pleased with the success of Turkmenistan, achieved thanks to the consistently implemented domestic and foreign policy under the leadership of Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Following the talks, the Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership was signed, which provides for closer cooperation both in the bilateral format and in the international arena.

Further strengthening partnership with Turkmenistan is an invariable priority of Uzbekistans foreign policy, Mirziyoyev stressed.

The parties indicated that the basis of a partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is the further expansion of trade and economic ties.
Call Centers May Face a Problematic Holiday Staffing Season

Staffing for both call centers and retail has been in a state of flux recently, and its not about to get any better now that the holiday season is coming. Companies that cater to holiday shopping are ramping up to support the shopping rush, and whats a tricky situation in ordinary years is likely to become extraordinarily difficult. With the cost of living soaring and workers in high demand, its not a surprise that holiday workers are looking for more remuneration and consideration before they consider taking a temporary holiday job.

A recent survey by staffing giant PeopleReady found that 60 percent of people are looking for seasonal employment in addition to their current jobs, and 18 percent of those seasonal job seekers are looking for their first seasonal job. Schedule flexibility is top of mind among this year's holiday job seekers.

Specifically, workers are looking for flexible hours (23 percent), with is second only to supplement their current income (53 percent).

Workers also express that finding a job that meets their needs (43 percent), getting more hours (28 percent), and scheduling issues (18 percent) will be their greatest work challenges this holiday season. To attract and retain workers, employers need to proactively address these challenges.

Nearly half of workers (47 percent) say the holidays are the most stressful of all work seasons, indicating that employers who make it easiest to find and accept jobs will have an edge in the competition for workers. Many job seekers are turning to job search apps to find work. In fact, 88 percent of survey respondents said they were likely to use a mobile app to find temporary work this holiday season.

"Right now, job seekers are looking for flexible scheduling and more control over their job search," said Taryn Owen, President and COO of PeopleReady owner TrueBlue. "Companies that leverage mobile apps to make their hiring process easier have an advantage over their competitors. Apps offer job seekers instant access to local jobs and give employees the ability to choose the jobs that fit their schedules during the busy holiday season."

Call centers, though, may have an advantage over retailers and others looking for seasonal workers. Cloud contact center solutions allow them to hire seasonal agents anywhere. At the same time, the same technology enables them to offer more flexibility to their workforce.

Edited by Erik Linask
[October 26, 2022] Caleres Selects Ceridian to Deliver On-Demand Pay to its North American Workforce TORONTO and MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceridian (NYSE: CDAY; TSX: CDAY), a global leader in human capital management (HCM) technology, announced today that Caleres (NYSE: CAL) is rolling out Dayforce Wallet, Ceridians market-leading on-demand pay solution, to more than 9,000 full- and part-time employees in the United States and Canada.

Caleres, a global footwear company, is home to a diverse portfolio of admired brands, including Famous Footwear, Allen Edmonds, Vionic, and Sam Edelman. Caleres wanted to deliver an innovative employee pay experience while continuing to maintain pay accuracy and compliance. The Caleres team currently relies on Dayforce Payroll, Ceridians award-winning payroll solution, to manage its complex pay. With the addition of Dayforce Wallet, Caleres will elevate its payroll capabilities by offering its workforce on-demand access to earned wages. At Caleres, we believe in the power of investing in our employees well-being, so we knew Dayforce Wallet would be a great addition to our overall employee experience, said Doug Koch, CHRO, Caleres. Dayforce Wallet has given our employees the ability to pay for unexpected expenses without relying solely on credit cards or other forms of debt. As existing Dayforce customers, implementation has been seamless so far, and were excited to leverage Dayforce Wallet to make Caleres the best place to work in retail. Caleres began a pilot program with Dayforce Wallet in March, followed by a full, company-wide rollout of the program this smmer. Within six months of implementation, over 25% of Caleres eligible employees have registered for Dayforce Wallet, with a total of over $3.2M of earned wages paid out on-demand.





Early wage access is no longer just an option  its an essential benefit that helps employers stand out against competitors, especially in hyper-competitive industries like retail, said Seth Ross, General Manager, Dayforce Wallet and Consumer Services, Ceridian. Employers like Caleres that have implemented Dayforce Wallet have seen great results in their recruitment and retention efforts. Were thrilled to expand our partnership with Caleres and bring on-demand pay to its workforce. Caleres will also be on stage at Ceridians annual INSIGHTS conference on Nov. 7-10 at Wynn Las Vegas to discuss the companys implementation of Dayforce and Dayforce Wallet. Dayforce Wallet is available in the United States and Canada. As of the end of Q2 2022, Ceridian has over 1,200 customers signed with Dayforce Wallet, with over 650 of them live on Dayforce Wallet. For more information, visit: DayforceWallet.com About Ceridian Ceridian. Makes Work Life Better.



Ceridian HCM Holding Inc. (NYSE: CDAY; TSX: CDAY) is a global human capital management software company. Dayforce, its flagship cloud HCM platform, provides human resources, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management functionality. The Dayforce platform is used to optimize management of the entire employee lifecycle, including attracting, engaging, paying, deploying, and developing people. Ceridian has solutions for organizations of all sizes. Visit Ceridian.com or follow us @Ceridian. Media Contact:

Hyeri Kim

347-572-9564

[email protected]



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Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday detailed a slate of ideas to boost communities' workforces, proposals in his budget blueprint that must pass the 2023 Legislature before they can be implemented.

The package includes proposed legislation for communities to rejoin the state's Renaissance Zone Program, a longtime initiative for revitalizing communities with commercial and residential development through tax incentives. Bismarck's program expired last summer after the Burleigh County Commission denied support.

The governor previewed the proposals at the Main Street ND Summit in Bismarck, an annual event that's part of Burgum's Main Street Initiative to revitalize communities. The total workforce package would cost over $20 million; Burgum didn't identify a funding source.

The Tribune sought comment from Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, who chairs the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee. He didn't immediately comment.

Burgum's "Energizing Our Communities" plan is to help cities attract and retain workers in a state with 40,000 job openings, according to the governor.

The proposals include:

$10 million to improve blighted areas in cities of 5,000 or fewer people.

$5 million to increase rural housing options by reusing buildings in cities of 5,000 or fewer people.

$5 million to expand an existing parks and recreation grant program.

$800,000 to expand a grant program for cities' infrastructure and economic development planning.

Also included is a "Renaissance Zone 2.0" proposal to "refresh" the state's Renaissance Zone initiative, "a powerful tool," according to Burgum.

Bismarck's 21-year-old Renaissance Zone program expired July 31 after the Burleigh County Commission denied support. Commissioners cited concerns such as rising property taxes and questioned the program's tax incentives, the accuracy of its impacts and costs, and projects perceived to have strayed from the program's intent.

The Bismarck City Commission, School Board and Park Board all supported reauthorization, but the county also needed to agree. Programs in other cities such as Carrington and Watford City have expired.

Burgum, who singled out Bismarck on Tuesday, bristled at the ability of local governments to "veto" a city's Renaissance Zone participation.

"If a county and a school district can veto the city, maybe the city ought to be able to veto what the county is doing," the governor quipped. "And if nobody likes that, then we can just eliminate all that veto power, work together and actually look at the numbers and do things that make economic sense."

His proposal would allow cities to rejoin the Renaissance Zone initiative without the blessing of other local governments.

Burgum will present his budget plan to the Legislature in December. Lawmakers gather early next year for the 2023 session.
October 25, 2022





Backlinks can be considered one of Google (News - Alert)'s most influential ranking factors. Having backlinks to your website helps build your websites credibility and makes it stands out in the vast sea of internet content.







However, its essential to know that not all backlinks are good for your off-page SEO. Backlink strategies allow you to learn how to increase your web traffic and rank higher on Google.

As Google releases more than 500 algorithm updates a year (more than one per day!), understanding how these changes can impact your SEO and backlink development is essential.

With new updates, you dont just have to consider the number of backlinks youre getting. The quality of the backlinks is also becoming more critical, as even a few grey hat links can get you penalized.

5 Backlink Strategies to Follow

Building quality backlinks is paramount for search engine optimization. However, building credible inbound links can be a challenging and time-consuming process, especially if you want to avoid being labeled as spam.

New backlink updates can confuse everyone, so if youre looking for effective backlink strategies that can help you increase your Google ranking, youve come to the right place.

Here are the five updated backlink strategies you should follow in 2022!

1. Focus on Credibility

The sites you link to have a direct impact on the reputation of your site.

Linking (inbound or outbound) to websites already labeled as spam sites can negatively impact your reputation and ranking.

Similarly, linking to high-authority sites with good rankings can increase your visibility and improve your reputation.

Tip: Checking out the page ranking of websites before you link to them can help you make an informed decision before linking.

Try tools like checkpagerank or ahrefs to determine the site's page rank and avoid linking with sites with zero page rank.

2. Find Websites to Build Your Incoming Links

An essential step for building quality backlinks is to submit your website to directories such as DMOZ and Google. These directories will allow you to save time and build links for you.

You can also submit your website to other credible directories using some article submission sites.

Tip: Avoid submitting your website to free directories, as they may use spam or unnecessary content that can damage your website's reputation.

3. Submit Your Site Properly

Submitting your website's name to a directory is not as easy as it sounds. You must be as accurate as possible to gain relevant backlinks while submitting the links.

Choose categories properly to avoid any delays in getting listed.

You also have to ensure that the inbound link to your website is static and not redirected. You can use tools like MOZ Link Explorer or ahrefs link checker.

Search engines cant track redirected links as they cannot spot clear connections.

4. See Who Links to Your Competitors

This strategy is slightly more out of the box regarding SEO. However, using tools like seopen, seaquake, or MOZ, you can find out which sites are linking to your competitor's website.

This data will allow you to analyze which sites your competitor is linking to and which is linking to them. Moreover, you can come up with a list of websites you want to link back to your site and find the types of websites you would like to link to.

5. Add Value

Use your website to add value to other sites to increase your backlinks. Try finding businesses or individuals in the same field as you who can benefit from the information and products you offer.

You can choose websites to approach using Google search results or tools like seopen. By offering content and value addition to these websites, you may be able to get inbound backlinks.

Two Backlink Strategies to Avoid

Knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Here are a few backlink strategies you should avoid.

1. Stop Using Forum Post Links

Regarding search engine optimization, using forum post links or blog comments can do more harm than good.

Due to the Penguin update in 2012, the value of these links has decreased significantly, and linking to them may even cause Google bots to flag you. Always aim for white-hat SEO tactics.

2. Stop Using Free Article Directory Backlinks

Although its easy to get backlinks from free article directories, these backlinks will ultimately end up ruining your reputation.

Backlinks from free article directories have a very high chance of being considered spam by Google. This may lead to your website getting flagged or becoming the target of Googles anti-spam bots.

Final Thoughts

Building your backlinks using these strategies can certainly boost your website's ranking and credibility. However, building backlinks takes time, and patience is important as your links grow.
[October 26, 2022] New Global Report Demonstrates FedEx Economic Impact

The company's supply chain saw ripple effects in Canada and around the world, with 360,000 direct suppliers supporting 16.5 million jobs MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) today released the findings from its 2022 report that analyzed the company's impact on the global economy with key regional and market-specific analyses from around the world at the conclusion of its 2022 fiscal year (FY 2022). The report, produced in consultation with Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB), a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, for the first time analyzed the impact FedEx has on economies around the world. Over the past 49 years, FedEx has expanded its services to more than 220 countries and territories and invested in a global network enabling businesses of all sizes to access and grow the global economy. The report found that FedEx played an integral role in helping businesses recover from the pandemic while overcoming strained supply chains and economic challenges. With nearly 550,000 employees worldwide, FedEx moved an average of 16 million shipments each day through its 5,000 facilities in FY 2022. The company's network optimization and investments improved efficiency and capacity for FedEx customers. "All around the world, FedEx helped individuals, businesses, and communities emerge from the pandemic by moving goods and providing services that connect humankind and power the global economy," said Raj Subramaniam, President and CEO, FedEx Corporation. "The report illustrates the ongoing and important work we do every day, including supporting small- and medium-sized businesses which are the backbone of our local communities. We call this, the 'FedEx Effect.'" Measuring the FedEx Effect: The shipping and logistics company plays a role in fueling innovation, creating, and supporting local jobs, as well as helping lift individuals and their communities regionally and in major markets around the world. FedEx worked with 360,000 suppliers globally who employed more than 16.5 million individuals. These businesses, many of which are small businesses, created significant economic activity within their local or regional markets and had a combined annual revenue of $700 billion .

. FedEx global economic activity supported 193,000 additional jobs beyond the FedEx worldwide employee base in FY 2022, which is 20,000 more jobs than FedEx indirectly supported in FY 2021.

Small businesses made up 88% of the FdEx supply chain, and more than half of the FedEx supply chain spend in each region went to small businesseswhich collectively supported roughly 810,000 small business jobs around the world.

In FY 2022, FedEx invested $6.8 billiona 15% increase over FY 2021in facility improvements, network optimization and infrastructure improvements, which correlated to direct economic growth in the respective markets. Canada Impact



For the first time, the Greater Toronto Area was included in the FedEx Effect Report. Canada's Golden Horseshoe is home to the headquarters for FedEx Express Canada, as well as a major shipping hub at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The 342,000-square-foot facility handles approximately 140,000 packages per day and connects Canada with the rest of the world through 100 weekly international flights operating seven days a week. Since June 2020, FedEx Express Canada has increased its workforce from 7,100 to over 12,500 Canadians. The company has expanded to 67 operating facilities with the addition of nearly 300,000 square feet of new sort capacity space in key markets across Canada. FedEx Express Canada added an additional aircraft to bring its total domestic fleet size to 22 airframes. The FedEx Express Canada domestic air network relies on a mix of Boeing 757s, C-208s, and ATR-72s. Further, FedEx Express opened a new small-package sorting facility in the Toronto area which is the fastest FedEx Express facility in Canada. The multimillion-dollar facility can sort up to 20,000 small e-commerce shipments an hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Smaller e-commerce shipments have surged in recent years, and this facility helps to alleviate shipping demands from the company's existing sorting hubs located across the country.

"Now in our 35th year of operation in Canada, our commitment to our country and its people is stronger than ever," said Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx Express Canada. "We've been at the forefront of connecting all three of our country's coasts to the global economy. From the delivery of pandas to zoos across Canada, to emergency disaster assistance, to our overwhelmingly successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout, we've been there for Canada when needed. This is our home, and we look forward to contributing any way we can to the communities that we serve." Giving Impact The report shows how FedEx contributes to the communities where its team members live and work through charitable contributions and direct efforts to deliver a more sustainable future. In FY 2022, FedEx donated over $86 million to charities and local non-profits around the world. The company also served as a critical conduit for food and aid deliveries and donations to Ukraine and Shanghai, among others. In Canada alone, FedEx provided relief supplies, funding, and transportation in support of more than 70 organizations across the country during the pandemic. And on top of its corporate giving programs, the company has donated more than US $400,000 to 450+ Canadian charities selected by its team members through its FedEx Cares employee fund since 2014.. The report also shows how the company is committed to connecting the world responsibly, through its stated goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and pursuit of investments in renewable energy to power its operations. This includes Canada's fleet of electric cargo bicycles  the largest of any country in the FedEx global network. Read the full FedEx Economic Impact Report and explore the FedEx Effect in communities and regions around the world at fedex.com/economicimpact. About FedEx FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $95 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its nearly 550,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about. SOURCE Federal Express Canada Corporation

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[October 25, 2022] AIZEN Global to introduce AI banking service at Singapore Fintech Festival

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AIZEN Global (CEO Kang Jung-seok), a developer of AI finance services and leader of AI finance innovation, announced that it will participate in the Singapore Fintech Festival, to be held for three days from the 2nd of next month, where it will introduce "CreditConnect," an AI banking service. AIZEN, which is a member of the Born2Global Centre (CEO Kim Jong-gap), announced that it took second place in the "Global" category at the Fintech Awards hosted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) at the end of 2020. Swiss Re Group and BNY Mellon of the US along with Swiss Re and BNY Mellon. At this year's festival, AIZEN Global will focus on introducing, through CreditConnect, the EV-Finance model, an AI banking service based on electric bike data that the company has provided to the Asian market. The company is also planning to demonstrate its AI service-type banking and share examples of banking service applications in various industries at this fintech event, which is the largest in Asia.



The company also developed an AI finance solution that enabled the inclusion of a fraud detection system (FDS), AI delinquency prediction, and anti-money laundering (AML) in financial decision-making. It is currently providing AI banking services in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Korea. In particular, CreditConnect provides banking services for online businesses, serving as a bridge between data platforms and financial institutions. In this way, CreditConnect applies credit services to various industries. AIZEN Global has been recognized as a financial innovation company in Asia, as proven by its performance in responsible AI research with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and winning of second place at the MAS Fintech Awards and first place at the Hong Kong Fintech Week Demo Show. The company also won the Award of Financial Services Commission Chairman at the Hankyung Fintech Awards and the grand prize at the AI Awards.

AIZEN Global provides banking services to various affiliates in Vietnam's shopping, medical, and education industries. It is now expanding its financial services through electric bike data after signing MOUs with the NOA and SWAP, which are Indonesian bike platform companies. The NOA and SWAP platforms are enhancing the convenience of local customers in the electric bike market in Indonesia, which is growing fast. By partnering with AIZEN Global's AI banking service, these companies have been able to provide banking services through data analysis-based customer acquisition and data combination. AIZEN Global CEO Kang Jung-seok said, "Our company hopes to strengthen our partnerships and share our AI finance innovations, which have been chosen by MAS, at the Singapore Fintech Festival." He also added, "We will focus on collaborating with various industries such as shopping and mobility using our AI finance technology infrastructure." About Born2Global Centre The Born2Global Centre, operated by Born2Global, is a full-cycle service platform that supports the global expansion of promising companies. Established in 2013 under the Ministry of Science and ICT, Born2Global has been setting the standards for a successful startup ecosystem in Korea and continues to expand and transform startups so that they are engaged, well equipped, and connected with the global market. For more information, please visit born2global.com SOURCE Born2Global Centre

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[October 25, 2022] MYOVANT SCIENCES INVESTOR ALERT by the Former Attorney General of Louisiana: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates Adequacy of Price and Process in Proposed Sale of Myovant Sciences - MYOV

Former Attorney General of Louisiana Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq. and the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") are investigating the proposed sale of Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV) to Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of Myovant will receive only $27.00 in cash for each share of Myovant that they own. KSF is seeking to determine whether this consideration and the process that led to it are adequate, or whether the consideration undervalues the Company. If you believe that this transaction undervalues the Company and/or if you would like to discuss your legal rights regarding the proposed sale, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managig Partner Lewis S. Kahn ([email protected]) toll free at any time at 855-768-1857, or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-myov/ to learn more.



To learn more about KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General, visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006198/en/

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[October 25, 2022] Toku Announces Series A Extension to US$10m as it Accelerates APAC Growth

SINGAPORE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Toku , Asia Pacific's (APAC) only dedicated cloud communications provider, today announced a US$5 million extension of its Series A round, bringing its total funding to US$10 million. The extended round was co-led by Delivery Hero Ventures and Malaysia's OSK Ventures International with participation from Betatron Venture Group . "We are thrilled to welcome both new and returning investors to join us on our mission to reimagine customer experience (CX) for Asia Pacific," said Thomas Laboulle, Founder and CEO, Toku. "As the APAC digital economy continues to mature, customer experience has emerged as a key differentiator and a major driver of value for businesses. We are heartened that our investors share our vision in building the future of CX in the region." Toku has a clear path to profitability, recording a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 128 percent over the past four years, including the forecasted financial results for FY 2022 ending on 31 December 2022. The company is closing in on half a billion customer interactions processed annually across 17 markets in APAC. "This funding extension is a strong show of confidence that we are on the right track, and cements our position as the leading customer experience enabler built in Asia Pacific, for businesses operating in the region," Laboulle added. Recent research by Toku revealed that consumers increasingly expect proactive service standards and personalised interactions as a given. For example, 71 percent of respondents said they would be frustrated if a company has no local number to call when needed, and 67 percent prefer to communicate within a brand's app environment for a unified experience. These evolving expectations and rising standards underscore the importance of modern customer engagement in the digital economy.



"Toku has earned a reputation for exceeding its customers' expectations," said Brendon Blacker, Managing Partner at Delivery Hero Ventures. "We couldn't be more excited to continue partnering with Thomas and the team to enable more enterprises across APAC to pursue their digital transformation journey with Toku."

Funding to accelerate regional expansion To empower more APAC businesses to seize and transform their CX challenges into opportunities, Toku will tap on the new funding extension to rapidly establish local presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines. It also aims to double its total headcount to a strength of 200 by 2024. "With customer experience being a crucial focal point for businesses today, Toku's accelerated expansion across APAC with this funding round will enable more companies to deliver impactful results. We share Thomas' vision to empower businesses with Toku's capable solutions and are excited to be part of their high growth journey ahead," said Amelia Ong, Executive Director and CEO of OSK Ventures International. The company will continue to invest in innovation and technology to reimagine holistic customer experience for the digital-first economy. This includes unifying customer experience and employee experience into an all-in-one platform to fuel personalised customer journeys for businesses in APAC. "Toku is typical of the fast-growing, resilient businesses we like to invest in at Betatron. Having worked with the Toku team since 2019, we have great confidence in their ability to modernise critical communications services and to expand rapidly across APAC even against a backdrop of economic uncertainty," said Matthias Knobloch, Managing Partner & CEO of Betatron Venture Group. Media Kit Please click here to access the media kit for this announcement. About Toku Headquartered in Singapore, Toku creates bespoke cloud communications and customer engagement solutions to reimagine customer experiences for enterprises. The company's portfolio of cloud business communications solutions include Programmable APIs, Contact Centre and Corporate Telephony. Toku combines local expertise, regional in-country infrastructure and global reach to help businesses overcome the complexity of digital transformation in APAC markets and enhance their CX with mission-critical cloud communications solutions. Toku works with organisations as diverse as Gojek, foodpanda, JCDecaux, Decathlon and various government agencies to move their communications to the cloud and create new ways to engage with their customers. With Toku, moving to the cloud has never been easier. Learn more at toku.co and LinkedIn . About Delivery Hero Ventures Founded in January 2021, Delivery Hero Ventures is an independent venture capital firm backed by Delivery Hero, a leading global food delivery and quick commerce platform. Delivery Hero Ventures' mission is to support the next generation of founders who are disrupting some of the most dynamic industries across the world. A key part of the fund's value proposition is the ability to leverage Delivery Hero's unique ecosystem to benefit founders and help them grow world-leading businesses. For more information, please visit www.dhventures.vc . About OSK Ventures International Established in year 2000, OSK Ventures International Berhad ("OSKVI") is a public-listed private equity company that provides capital to companies ranging from revenue generating start-ups to late-stage growth companies. OSKVI has a successful track record of nurturing multiple companies to trade sales and initial public offerings. Its current investment focus includes enterprise technology, and financial services. Further information about OSKVI is available at www.oskvi.com . About Betatron Venture Group Betatron Venture Group is a Venture Capital Fund investing in fast-growing, asset-light companies across Asia (excluding mainland China). With offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, the fund invests in Seed to Series A rounds. Betatron focuses on B2B companies digitising the region's largest industries, including finance, logistics, and healthcare.



For more information, visit: www.betatron.co SOURCE Toku

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[October 26, 2022] Asia's education leaders to gather at EDUtech Asia in Singapore to discuss the digital future of education

Asia's largest and most important education event for educators and EdTechs, EDUtech Asia will take place on 9 and 10 November in Singapore. SINGAPORE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On 9 and 10 November 2022, education leaders, professionals and EdTech providers across Asia and beyond will gather in Singapore for the 7th Annual EDUtech Asia to share their successes, strategies, and plans for the future of education. Headlining the event are four inspirational international keynotes. Kiran Sethi, Founder/ Director, The Riverside School - Riverside Education Foundation & Founder, Design for Change  Global, India will highlight the importance of design thinking in cultivating a human-centered, collaborative and optimistic mindset, during her keynote, "Human by Chance. HumanE by Design." Founder and Chief Executive Officer of School of Humanity, United Arab Emirates, Raya Bidshahri will be exploring a practical vision of how we can reimagine and reinvent schools globally. Chief Economist of Asian Development Bank (Philippines), Albert Park will be alerting us to the current learning loss and learning crisis in Asia, and the urgent need for governments, schools, institutions, and the community to remediate these losses. Steve Isaacs, Education Program Manager, Epic Games, United States will be sharing "How gaming is shaping the future", the opportunity and responsibility to nurture the next generation of creators. They will be joined by over 250 education leaders representing schools and higher education establishments acrossAsia sharing their insights as they take the stage with interactive panel discussions and roundtables over the two days.



Alongside the premium conference, the free-to-attend exhibition will feature 100 show & tell presentations by educators, a start-up village hosted by EduSpaze and AWS EduStart and over 80 tech showcases. 200 EdTech solution providers, including Lenovo, Microsoft, Classin, Google Cloud, Intel, Promethean and more, will be on-floor to showcase how they are transforming education in Asia. Additionally, the exhibition will also witness student teams across the region compete in RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2022 CoSpace Leagues (Finals), Campus Legends Secondary School eSports Tournament hosted by Singapore Cybersports & Online Gaming Association and XCL Esports League  Minecraft edition hosted by XCL Academy. "More schools and educational institutions than ever before are deploying EdTech solutions. At EDUtech Asia, we are excited to welcome educators and education leaders back together in-person, to not only get updated on the latest pedagogies, but also to explore and experience the latest EdTech solutions available and how they implement them successfully in their institutions." says Sharon Roessen, Managing Director of EDUtech Global and Chief Operating Officer, Terrapinn.

EDUtech Asia 2022 will take place at Sands Expo, Singapore on the 9 and 10 November 2022. For more information on EDUtech Asia, please visit https://bit.ly/EDUtechAsia22 EDUtech Asia 2022

Date: 9-10 November 2022

Conference opening hours: 08:30 - 18:00

Exhibition opening hours: 09:30 - 18:00

B2, Halls D,E,F, SANDS Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

https://bit.ly/EDUtechAsia22 Registration for the free expo pass can be done here. About Terrapinn Terrapinn events inspire and transform business. We've been sparking ideas, innovations and relationships that transform business for over 30 years. Using our global footprint, we bring innovators, disrupters and change agents together. Discussing and demonstrating the technology, strategies and personalities that are changing the way the world does business. Whether you're looking to make new connections, introduce product or inspire change in your industry, we invite you to join us as agitators of change. Terrapinn  spark something.

www.terrapinn.com SOURCE EDUtech Global | Terrapinn

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[October 26, 2022] Orange and Edgecore Team Up to Accelerate Orange's Network Disaggregation Transformation on SONiC

Fyuz Event - Edgecore Networks Corporation (Edgecore), a leader in open networking solutions, and Orange, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, today announce the delivery of the first disaggregated switch composed of Edgecore hardware and Orange network operating system based on SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) open source community. For Orange, this bold move towards disaggregation and community open-source software is part of a major upgrade of Orange's access network infrastructure. Orange selected Edgecore switches to deliver cutting-edge connectivity solutions for Orange's hundreds of access Points of Presence (PoP). These locations provide 1G, 10G, and 100G access services to enterprise customers. The chosen switches have a robust, high-performance design that offers the high-availability features required for telecom network PoP deployment. The disaggregated Edgecore hardware platform comes pre-loaded with the ONIE (Open Network Install Environment) software installer for the automated loading of compatible open source or commercial network operating system offerings. Orange is installing its own SONiC distribution to run on the switches. Orange relies on its developers' expertise working in conjunction with Edgecore and the SONiC community, to which Orange actively contributes, to develop their own networking software solutions. Orange's move towards disaggregation allows for more flexible and cost-effective designs, faster deployments with a simpler IT integration, and the ability to utilize a single operating system on networking equipment from different hardware vendors. This change also helps improve Orange's network procurement lead times. Heimdall Siao, President of Edgecore said, "As the leader in disaggregated open networking solutions, Edgecore is excited to be involved in this disaggregated and community SONiC networking project with Orange in a telecom use case. Edgecore's switches running SONiC software provide the high-capacity throughput required for access networks. And, by utilizing Edgecore's carrier grade and proven robust designs, Orange is able to deploy solutions in the most demanding of carrier networks. This successful experience in Orange's network proves that disaggregated open networking solutions are robust and capable of handling the most demanding of network environments." Jean Luc Vuillemin, Executive Vice Presidnt of Orange International Networks, said, "We are pleased to team up with Edgecore to launch our network disaggregation transformation. This joint work enables us to drastically transform the way we build and upgrade our networks. It allows us to move away from off the shelf and locked-in solutions to in-house developed solutions relying on our network developers' expertise. Upskilling our teams to master our software allows us to regain full control of our networks and therefore manage upgrades in a fast, cost-effective and sovereign way, while providing an improved and reliable service to our customers."



The adoption of open, disaggregated architecture by Orange represents a bold step and is a decision that helps advance the Telecom Infra Project's (TIP) goal of accelerating the pace of innovation in the telecom industry. Both Orange and Edgecore are participants in the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), a community that includes hundreds of companies working together to create and deploy open, innovative, disaggregated solutions in telecom networks. About Edgecore Networks

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. Edgecore offers a choice of commercial and open source NOS and network application solutions. For more information, visit www.edge-core.com About Orange Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales of 42.5 billion euros in 2021 and 137,000 employees worldwide at 30 June 2022, including 76,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 282 million customers worldwide at 30 June 2022, including 236 million mobile customers and 24 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 26 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business Services. In December 2019, the Group presented its "Engage 2025" strategic plan, which, guided by social and environmental accountability, aims to reinvent its operator model. While accelerating in growth areas and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group will be an attractive and responsible employer, adapted to emerging professions. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com and the Orange News app or to follow us on Twitter: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. 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/20221025005469/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Dassault Systemes Announces Its New OUTSCALE Brand as the Leading Sovereign and Sustainable Operator of Trusted Business Experience as a Service

Dassault Systemes (Paris: DSY) today announced its ambition to become the leading sovereign and sustainable operator of trusted cloud services. Dassault Systemes' cloud brand OUTSCALE is expanding its offering from trusted hyper-scalable infrastructure as a service to sovereign environments for trusted business experience as a service. Through this transition, Dassault Systemes will strengthen the position of OUTSCALE as the strategic, sovereign cloud partner for governments and companies in all industries, thereby driving digital autonomy with three levels of experience cloud: dedicated cloud for sovereign collaboration in a customer's space; private cloud for trusted collaboration in a common legal and fiscal space; and international cloud for secured collaboration. OUTSCALE will deliver business experience twins that empower all business users to excel in their role by benefiting from data science, breaking down silos, and capturing knowledge and know-how within their organization and ecosystem - from market intelligence and cost optimization to talent management, innovation acceleration, asset intelligence, and in-service quality enforcement. Dassault Systemes will execute this ambition by relying on its 40 years of expertise across multiple industry verticals. The OUTSCALE portfolio leverages the company's extensive knowledge and knowhow to host all its own platforms on a scalable cloud and accelerate the move-to-cloud.



OUTSCALE is building its cloud ecosystem to develop business experiences as well as to address cyber governance. Today, Dassault Systemes announced the first alliance for a European sovereign cloud responding to country-specific governance. This will be supported by a joint venture with Banque des Territoires, Docaposte (digital subsidiary of La Poste group), and Bouygues Telecom. Laurent Seror, founder of OUTSCALE, will continue to lead as board member of OUTSCALE. Philippe Miltin has been named CEO of OUTSCALE, with more than 20 years of experience in the digital industry, most recently at Atos. He will focus on the development and sale of OUTSCALE's portfolio of ready-to-use cloud solutions. Arnaud Bertrand joins OUTSCALE as Senior Vice President, Research and Development. With more than 20 years of experience in big data and high performance computing experience, most recently at Bull, Arnaud Bertrand will manage OUTSCALE's research and development teams.

"Our strategy for OUTSCALE and its offering are unique in the industry. We are applying 40 years of expertise at an industrial level to deliver an end-to-end sovereign cloud offering that is intricately linked to each customer's core business and enables them to create value from data at multiple levels," said Pascal Daloz, COO, Dassault Systemes. "With its dedicated and experienced leadership team, OUTSCALE will become the trusted partner of choice for our customers." FOR MORE INFORMATION Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTEMES Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production to achieve a more sustainable world for patients, citizens, and consumers. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com  Dassault Systemes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register # B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006101/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Docaposte, Dassault Systemes, Bouygues Telecom and Banque des Territoires Sign Alliance to Offer the Reference Solution for Trusted Cloud Services

Docaposte (digital subsidiary of La Poste group, and project leader), Dassault Systemes, Bouygues Telecom and Banque des Territoires have signed an alliance uniting their expertise and strengths at the core of a French industrial consortium in order to create NUMSPOT, a company1 dedicated to the development of a full offering of sovereign and trusted cloud services in Europe. NUMSPOT primarily targets French economic and institutional organizations that currently lack solutions meeting their needs : the financial sector (banks, insurance), the health sector (hospitals), and the public sector (state and local authorities, operators). Available in 2023 in France, NUMSPOT is targeting commercial development in the European marketplace with the ambition to become the benchmark in trusted cloud offerings. NUMSPOT will provide a technologically and commercially competitive, reliable and secure solution that responds to needs for regulated hosting in accordance with SecNumCloud (certification from ANSSI, the French cyber-security agency), Health Data Hosting and the future European cybersecurity schema EUCS standards. For this, NUMSPOT will rely on the synergy of the technological expertise and investment capabilities of the four French consortium partners. The company will offer services having the highest standards in the marketplace in terms of performance, scalabiliy, security, cost and environmental responsibility. It will rely on the sovereign cloud infrastructure of OUTSCALE from Dassault Systemes, which benefits from SecNumCloud certification and guarantees the highest level of industrial reliability and security with data operations exclusively in France. Beyond infrastructure services (IaaS), the aim of NUMSPOT is to offer a sovereign technological platform (PaaS) providing software solutions and services (SaaS), based on the trusted solutions of Docaposte in particular, which meet core business needs. In addition to responding to three main challenges of cloud computing (data sovereignty, digital architecture security and data portability), NUMSPOT will represent a European pillar for building cloud standards by offering an open and sustainable approach guaranteeing customers long-term solution maintenance, balanced economic conditions and the reversibility of their commitment. Lastly, NUMSPOT will develop a European ecosystem of reference, positioned at the highest global level, that includes software companies, digital service companies and startups. NUMSPOT will work jointly with research laboratories, notably Inria, to accelerate French and European technological innovation. Olivier Vallet, CEO, Docaposte :

"Docaposte is leading this ambitious trusted cloud project based on the complementarity of four major French players. Docaposte will help drive the success of NUMSPOT through its precise understanding of the needs of the public and health sectors and its ability to support the transformation of organizations as well as its recognized expertise in trusted digital services." Bernard Charles, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dassault Systemes:

"We are just at the beginning of the experiential transformation of society. In this context, the NUMSPOT alliance creates a decisive coupling between public and industrial organizations. It opens a new leadership that will benefit the transformation of local authorities, hospitals and admnistrations. This project responds to strong marketplace and citizen expectations. It's made possible by our extensive technological expertise, thanks to the proven technological assets of OUTSCALE infrastructure and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systemes over the last 10 years. In a new geopolitical context, this alliance will bring together a sovereign ecosystem having the ambition to become a digital pillar for citizens in Europe."



Benoit Torloting, Managing Director, Bouygues Telecom :

"Bouygues Telecom has reached a strategic milestone with NUMSPOT' It's the recognition of our large expertise in communication networks, and this announcement supports our strategy to become the telecom operator of reference that helps public and private organizations in their digital transformation. With NUMSPOT, our ambition is to serve the needs of public and health sectors by offering them a trusted cloud solution that meets their expectations." Olivier Sichel, Director, Banque des Territoires :

"Collaboration between strong industrial and financial partners enables us to build the sovereign cloud of tomorrow. Banque des Territoires is convinced of the need to address this crucial challenge to accelerate the digital transformation of territories, and wanted to take part in this ambitious project that makes sovereignty and trust possible."

About Docaposte

The digital trust reference in France and subsidiary of La Poste group, Docaposte supports businesses and public institutions in their transformation and enables them to accelerate it with confidence. Experts in processing sensitive data, Docaposte's unique positioning allows it to meet client needs from end-to-end, working on the whole data value chain to create an unrivalled trust chain. Leader in digital trust solutions (electronic voting, electronic registered letters, electronic signatures, digital archives) and the leading health data operator in France with more than 45 million medical records, Docaposte brings its expertise in tailor-made digital platform creation and management. Its industrial expertise and business process outsourcing enables it to respond to all the needs of its clients. Docaposte counts more than 40,000 businesses and administrations as customers, and has 6,500 employees across 70 sites in France and internationally. Docaposte had sales of 750 million euros in 2021. For more information visit www.docaposte.com About Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual twin experiences of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production to achieve a more sustainable world for patients, citizens, and consumers. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com About Bouygues Telecom

As a global communications operator, Bouygues Telecom stands out by providing the best of technology to its 26.7 million customers every day. The excellence of its 5G and 4G network, which covers 99% of the population today, and its landline and cloud services make it possible for them to enjoy personal and professional digital lives simply, fully and wherever they are. Through its Business division, Bouygues Telecom supports a community of professionals and businesses in the widespread adoption of Very High Speed Landline and Mobile and new uses such as unified communications and business mobility services. Today, the Bouygues Telecom 5G network covers nearly 12,000 municipalities and more than 6 out of 10 inhabitants.

#OnEstFaitPourEtreEnsemble www.corporate.bouyguestelecom.fr About the Banque des Territoires

Created in 2018, Banque des Territoires is one of the five businesses of Caisse des Depots. It brings together internal expertise for territories in one single structure. A unique customer gateway, it offers tailor-made loan and investment advice and financing solutions to meet the needs of local authorities, social housing organizations, local public companies and legal professions. It targets all territories, from rural areas to metropolitan areas, with the aim of combating social inequalities and territorial fractures. Banque des Territoires is present in the 16 regional departments and 37 regional offices of Caisse des Depots for greater visibility and proximity to customers.

For more attractive, inclusive, sustainable and connected territories.

www.banquedesterritoires.fr | @BanqueDesTerr 1 The transaction is subject to the prior approval of the appropriate competition regulatory authorities if needed, as well as employee representatives. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025006106/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Kizoo invests in Rejuvenation Startup Mogling Bio

BERLIN and ULM, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mogling Bio, a privately held biotech company, announces today that it has successfully completed its first seed investment round. Sole investor is venture capital firm Kizoo Technology Capital, a rejuvenation biotech investor focused on startups reversing age-related damage on a cellular and molecular level.

Mogling Bio is developing new pharmacological approaches to rejuvenate old stem cells of the hematopoietic (blood cell formation) system. Aging causes stem cells to lose their normal structure by increased activity of the protein CDC42. This loss of structure leads to decreased production and quality of blood and immune cells. It can cause leukemia, various blood diseases, and severely weaken the immune system. Normalizing CDC42 activity can restore structure, order and functionality in those aged stem cells. Treated cells can perform their tasks again in a juvenile way, and thereby contribute to both, the rejuvenation of stem cells and the immune system. The underlying technology was developed over the last 15 years by the two scientific co-founders, Prof. Yi Zheng, co-director of the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute and leader of the Signaling and Drug Discovery Program at the Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Geiger, director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Ulm University in Germany. We are really excited that Kizoo's financial support will allow us to pursue our goal of rejuvenating aging stem cells, which are so important for blood cell production and the immune system. Our approach has particular potential in treating diseases of the blood system and improving the immune system, said Dr. Jurgen Reess, CEO of Mogling Bio. Dr. Reess previously held the position of Senior Vice President at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma, where he supervised the development, approval, and launch of numerous blckbuster therapies for autoimmune diseases, interstitial lung diseases, central nervous system disorders, and cancer.



We believe that Mogling Bio's technology is groundbreaking by truly rejuvenating old stem cells - not only alleviating age-related diseases, but reversing age-related decline in immune system function, added Frank Schueler, Managing Director of Kizoo Technology Capital. About Kizoo

Kizoo provides seed and follow-on financing with a focus on rejuvenation biotech. Having been entrepreneurs, VC, and mentors in both high-growth tech and biotech companies ourselves for many years with multiple exits and massive value created for the founders, Kizoo now brings this experience to the emerging field of rejuvenation biotech. We see it as a young industry that will eventually outgrow today's largest technology markets. As part of Michael Greve's Forever Healthy Group, Kizoo directly supports the creation of startups turning research on the root causes of aging into therapies and services for human application. Investments include Cellvie, Cyclarity Therapeutics, Revel Pharmaceuticals, Elastrin Therapeutics, LIfT BioSciences and others. For more information, please visit: www.kizoo.com About Mogling Bio Mogling Bio Inc. is developing new pharmacological approaches to rejuvenate old stem cells of the hematopoietic (blood cell formation) system. Aging causes stem cells to lose their normal structure by increased activity of the protein CDC42. This loss of structure leads to decreased production and quality of blood and immune cells. It can cause leukemia, various blood diseases, and severely weaken the immune system. Normalizing CDC42 activity can restore structure, order and functionality in those aged stem cells. Treated cells can perform their tasks again in a juvenile way, and thereby contribute to both, the rejuvenation of stem cells and the immune system. The underlying technology was developed over the last 15 years by the two scientific co-founders, Prof. Yi Zheng, co-director of the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute and leader of the Signaling and Drug Discovery Program at the Cincinnati Childrens Research Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Geiger, director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Ulm University in Germany. For more information, please visit: www.moglingbio.com Media Contact for Kizoo: Frank Schueler

Managing Director

Kizoo Technology Capital

[email protected] Media Contact for Mogling Bio Dr. Jurgen Reess

CEO

Mogling Bio

[email protected]



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This election year has been full of twists and turns. From so much uncertainty about which ballot measures we would vote on, to two U.S. congressional races that both began as three-way competitions, this has not been a dull year. Today Ill share my predictions for the U.S. Senate race, the U.S. House race and both statewide initiated measures.

The U.S. Senate race is an unusually serious three-way competition for the highest office on our ballots. While third-party or independent candidates are not unusual in North Dakota, they dont often receive much attention. Sen. John Hoeven may not be threatened by one opponent alone, but with two opponents with highly dedicated bases, the established NDGOP incumbent should garner fewer votes than he tends to in more ordinary elections.

While I predict that Hoeven will win, the performances of both conservative independent Rick Becker and Katrina Christiansen of the Democratic-NPL will feel like wins to their constituencies. Becker has a longstanding following while Christiansen is newer to the political scene, but she has inspired the excitement that North Dakota Democrats have needed. Ultimately, both Becker and Christiansen have successfully mobilized their bases, and it should show on election night.

The U.S. House race has been especially intriguing with the entry of moderate independent Cara Mund. What began as a three-way race between NDGOP incumbent Rep. Kelly Armstrong, Democratic-NPL candidate Mark Haugen and Mund soon became a two-way competition between Armstrong and Mund after Haugen dropped out of the race following Mund's entry.

The Mund campaign has been a delight for diverse groups of pro-choice feminists. A Miss America titleholder and Harvard Law graduate with distinction, Mund is an interesting candidate who has received plenty of attention. While I predict that Kelly Armstrong will win, Munds campaign will shave away some of Armstrongs typical vote share.

Although Christiansen, Becker and Mund all are unlikely to win, their supporters will not be dejected on election night. Every percentage point they earn will be celebrated as a challenge to the Republican establishment from the left, right and center.

When it comes to the two statewide measures on our ballots, I predict that both will receive enough "Yes" votes to prevail. I predict that Measure 1, which enacts term limits for North Dakotas governor and state legislators, will win by a larger margin than Measure 2, the marijuana legalization measure. I initially felt that Measure 2 would be too close to call, but with so many endorsements and much less opposition than past cannabis legalization efforts, Im comfortable with predicting that Measure 2 will narrowly pass.

Despite their apparent unpopularity among various political elites, term limits remain popular among rank-and-file voters. In my view, the turmoil surrounding the legitimacy of Measure 1s signature-gathering process has prevented us from having the most meaningful public debate we could about the specifics of the measure. When it seemed that the measure wouldnt make it to our ballots, public discussion about term limits stagnated. I find this disappointing, as I see debates surrounding North Dakotas ballot measures as genuine civic education.

Term limits for political officeholders is a complex issue in which the nuances are important. I suspect well learn all about the consequences of Measure 1, but not until it passes and shakes up the North Dakota Legislature in ways weve seldom seen. And with or without the passage of term limits, were entering a phase of North Dakota history in which freshman legislators will be much more prevalent.
[October 26, 2022] Paessler Assists Companies in Monitoring and Optimizing their Resources through IoT & IT Monitoring - Insights by Data Bridge Market Research

NUREMBERG, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Bridge Market Research offers an extensive analysis of the company Paessler including insights on their history and milestones, growth analysis, market presence, opportunities and drivers reviewed in the report. Paessler offers a comprehensive monitoring software for IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to help customers drive the organization up, running, and optimized while keeping everything remarkably simple. From the start, the company has sought to change the world for the better through technology that builds stronger relationships. Market players must be more resilient, ready, and flexible to adapt; thus, they need a trusted technology and monitoring partner to guide them forward and support them to do more with less. Paessler, headquartered in Nuremberg in Germany, is an IT monitoring company with a headcount of over 300 employees from over 25 countries. The company has a presence in the U.S. and Malaysia, with around 4,000 partners worldwide. Every industry faces an exclusive social, economic, environmental, and technological challenge. To combat that, Paessler believes monitoring plays an essential role in minimizing people's consumption of resources. Paessler's Journey in Nuremberg and Global Markets with Fortune 100 Companies using its PRTG network monitoring software Paessler was founded in 1997 by Dirk Paessler, in the metropolitan region of Nuremberg. The market giant is now present in many international markets, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use Paessler PRTG. Explore the journey of Paessler: 1997-2001: The Garage Phase: One student, one vision, one "garage"  the components for a classic 90s startup. 2001-2003: The Founding Phase: As the need for a performance monitoring software arose, Paessler successfully invented the PRTG monitoring solution. 2003-2007: The Corporate Name: Along with network experts and developers, in 2025 Paessler GmbH was changed into Paessler AG, to make it easier for employees to participate in the business. 2007-2011: Software Consolidation: Paessler merged PRTG Traffic Grapher and IPCheck Server Monitor into a single solution and produced PRTG Network Monitor. 2011-2016: International Coverage: Paessler became a global player with 2 relocations, 130 new employees in 7 countries, and more than 200,000 customers in 5 years. 2017-2018: Quest for Innovation: With a fruitful completion of 20 years, Paessler had entered into new territories and scaled up its presence. 2019-2020: New Products & Solutions: Paessler successfully launched PRTG Enterprise Monitor and industry solutions for manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors. 2020-Present Aim for 2030: As a monitoring company, Paessler took responsibility and has set its aim to reduce the consumption of resources by humankind. Monitoring data will help customers to save resources, from optimizing their OT, IT, and IoT infrastructures, and to lessen energy consumption or emissions. There is more to Paessler's expertise in IT, OT, and IoT Paessler is recognized as a front-runner in monitoring data and a leader in IT, OT, and IoT monitoring with > 500,000 users of PRTG Network Monitor, PRTG Enterprise Monitor, and PRTG Hosted Monitor. The products and services offered by Paessler help companies across industries to monitor everything and eventually optimize their resources. This is how Paessler's products provide benefits: PRTG Network Monitor: PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure.

PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure. PRTG Enterprise Monitoring: Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability.

Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability. PRTG Hosted Monitor: PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs.

PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs. Paessler solutions for IoT monitoring: Paessler combines IoT sensor technology with their monitoring solutions to support businesses in digitalizing their processes. In IoT monitoring, Paessler also focuses on changing the manual collection of data with automatic remote monitoring. Paessler Bringing Down Consumption of Resources with its Products & Services Proving Beneficial to Various Companies Paessler's highly effective products, services, and solutions are already making it easier for companies of every size to offer more with less monitoring. In fact, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use PRTG to improve productivity and efficiency. Paessler has also successfully helped its customers reduce the consumption of resources, for instance: Engie Solutions : ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor

: ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor Rexroth Bosch Group: PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing productivity

PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing productivity Aquafin : Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG

: Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG Kennedy Industries: Kennedy Industries helps keep communities safe and operational with PRTG Paessler Addresses Critical Challenges of Resource Efficiency and Sustainability with its Partners and Customers Paessler is highly focused on sustainability and resource saving. Therefore, the company has unswervingly continued and expanded their activities in this area over the last few years. For instance: In 2016  PHQ powered by green electricity In 2017 - CO2 compensation of all business trips In 2019 - 100 kWp solar-powered energy system on PHQ roof In 2020 - Paessler was CO2 neutral with the help of compensation In 2022 - CO2 neutral or even CO2 negative To Get a Detailed Insight, Visit at https://www.paessler.com/company/about-us/reduce-consumption-of-resources Strategic Decisions Taken by Paessler o Boost its Market Presence



In May 2022 : Paessler appointed its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT LIMA DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI INDONESIA in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region.

its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI in and respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region. In January 2022 : Paessler announced the expansion of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). In May 2022 : Paessler and Rittal combined their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview

their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview In June 2022 : Paessler announced two appointments to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic.

to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic. In April 2021 : Paessler was being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. Paessler's partner program was selected because the company produced vertical-specific sales training materials for partners to improve sales strategies in healthcare, education, and industrial IT markets. Paessler's Got Solutions for its Clients Paessler provides a helping hand to SMS group to digitize steel production. SMS group GmbH uses PRTG Enterprise Monitor to monitor performance and reliability. It also helps to identify and eliminate weak spots during the construction, testing, and startup of steel production plants and thus optimize the quality of its production lines.

Somnitec AG delivers Swiss IT precision with PRTG. With the help of the PRTG experts at CORP-IT, Somnitec AG has set up comprehensive monitoring to maximize the consistency of its customers' IT systems.

With PRTG Network Monitor, SE3 has found a solution that allows viewing all industrial and communication components in a single system. SE3 uses PRTG as a solution to monitor wastewater treatment

LUMC monitors all its IT systems with the help of PRTG. LUMC chose the tool due to its large number of users, ability, and flexibility to monitor medical equipment. There are around 20 servers within LUMC using PRTG and 1,000 servers running in PRTG

CowManager monitors every cow in a dairy farm 24/7, and to do this efficiently, CowManager uses PRTG, which helps to see what cows are doing and whether their movements are still considered healthy. Paessler also provides monitoring for large-scale farms having 20,000 cows and more.

Foxtons turned to PRTG Network Monitor to get good clarity in terms of monitoring. After experiencing the benefits of the solution, Foxtons signed up for a perpetual license and soon extended its use across more areas of the organization to cover all key platforms.

PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time monitoring and network management to Acurus. With its granular permissions policy, PRTG helped Acurus in providing its monitoring services to its customers and also ensuring their security and privacy.

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative monitors ground data associated with CO2 sequestration using PRTG Hosted Monitor. This solution provides a good overview of the reactions and products in the soil by displaying soil and weather data from connected sensors. It also includes data transmitted from other measuring systems and laboratory data. Some of Paessler's Global Partners:

Acronis: MSP Cloud Security Platform

MSP Cloud Security Platform AWS: Cloud Services

Cloud Services Axis: CCTV/Security

CCTV/Security barramundi: Unified Endpoint Management

Unified Endpoint Management Check Point: Network Security

Network Security Cisco: Networking Solutions

Networking Solutions CORP IT: SLA Reporting

SLA Reporting LoRa: LPWAN Solutions

LPWAN Solutions Men&Mice: DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM

DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM Plixer: Flow monitoring Long-term Goal Since 2020, Paessler has been completely CO2 neutral and has set a goal to become climate positive in the near future, probably by 2025. The core mission of Paessler is to empower technical teams to manage their infrastructure by ensuring maximum productivity. The company is also actively developing solutions to sustain digital transformation strategies and the IoT. In the coming years, Paessler is certainly expected to be the customer's choice to monitor everything. Paessler has aimed to set its goal in all 3 strategic market segments: IT monitoring, industrial IoT monitoring, and commercial IoT monitoring. Latest Report by DBMR Where Paessler is Mentioned: Network Management Systems Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-management-systems-market Virtual Infrastructure Manager Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-virtual-infrastructure-manager-market Data Center Infrastructure Management Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-data-center-infrastructure-management-market Network Configuration and Change Management (NCCM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-configuration-and-change-management-nccm-market Information Technology (IT) Operations Analytics Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-it-operations-analytics-market Network Automation Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-automation-market Log Management and Reporting Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-log-management-and-reporting-security-information-and-event-management-siem-market Network Security Software Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-security-software-market Infrastructure Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-infrastructure-monitoring-market Application Performance Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-application-performance-monitoring-market Container Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-container-monitoring-market About Paessler Paessler AG (Nuremberg) is highly renowned and has established itself as a leader in IT monitoring among companies of all sizes, from small-to-medium-to large enterprises. With over 4,000 partners worldwide, Paessler has efficiently expanded its services. In 1997 Paessler transformed IT monitoring with the introduction of PRTG Network Monitor. Over 300,000 IT administrators in more than 170 countries depend on Paessler PRTG to monitor their devices, business-critical systems, and network infrastructures. PRTG monitors the IT infrastructure 24x7 and helps IT professionals to solve problems before they impact users. For More Information, Get in Touch With Paessler at https://www.paessler.com/contact About Data Bridge Market Research: Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune. Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate. Contact Us:- Data Bridge Market Research

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[October 26, 2022] Illuminate Financial And Barclays Expand Strategic Partnership To Back FinTech Startups

LONDON, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Illuminate Financial, the London-based venture capital firm investing in financial services technology companies, today announced an expansion of its longstanding partnership with Barclays, under which the bank will become a limited partner in Illuminate Financial's latest venture capital strategy. Barclays joins global financial institutions including Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Borse Group, Citi, and S&P Global as an investor in Illuminate Financial which backs early-stage FinTech and enterprise software companies driving innovation in the financial services industry. Barclays was an investor in Illuminate Financial's previous $100 million FinTech fund which was a 2019 vintage. Andy Challis, Co-Head of Principal Investments at Barclays, said: "We're delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Illuminate Financial. This investment will enable Barclays to play an even more meaningful role in the financial market's innovation ecosystem." Illuminate Financial is led by Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner, alongside partners Alexander Ross and Rezso Szabo. The venture firm was founded in 2014 and to date has invested in more than 30 late-Seed to Series A companies addressing core challenges across financial services including digital assets infrastructure, climate and ESG, data and private markets, as well as broader enterprise solutions that target the sector.



Mark Beeston, Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Financial, commented: "It has been our privilege to work with Barclays for several years and welcome them back as an investor for the second time in our venture capital strategy. Illuminate Financial's investors represent a unique combination of global financial institutions, extending the firm's deep domain expertise and go-to-market value-add for our portfolio." Disclosure

Nothing in this press release should be viewed as a statement of the named institutions' experience with, or endorsement of, Illuminate Financial and it is not known whether the listed institutions approve of Illuminate Financial, or the advisory services provided. Past performance in not indicative of future results. The contents of this press release should not be construed as legal, tax, investment or other advice, or a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security.

About Illuminate Financial Management

Illuminate Financial Management (Illuminate Financial) is a thesis-driven venture capital firm focused on FinTech and enterprise software companies defining the future of financial services. With offices in London, New York, and Singapore, Illuminate Financial's deep networks and trusted partnerships with key industry participants provide real insight into what the industry needs and helps their portfolio companies achieve their full potential. Additional information may be found at www.illuminatefinancial.com | Twitter: @IlluminateFM | Blog: https://medium.com/illuminate-financial | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/illuminate-financial-management About Barclays

Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.home.barclays Media Enquiries

Illuminate Financial

Rosie Zehtab

Head of Community

+44 (0)203 198 1600

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[October 26, 2022] Multi-omics Startup Pleno Inc. Expands Leadership Team to Accelerate Development of its Novel Hypercoding Technology

Pleno Inc., a multi-omic instrument platform company revolutionizing biological target detection for clinical testing and biomedical research, announced that Jason Trachewsky has joined the company as Vice President of Software, and Professor Nambi Seshadri, Ph.D. has joined as Chairman of Pleno's Scientific Advisory Board. "Pleno's novel HypercodingTM technology utilizes techniques derived from the telecommunications industry, combined with advanced biochemistry, to deliver unmatched scale, precision and performance in multi-omic biomarker detection," said Pieter van Rooyen, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Pleno. "We are incredibly excited to bolster our highly skilled team with the capabilities and experience that both Jason and Nambi bring to the table. Pleno has had longstanding relationships with both of them, and we're thrilled to be bringing them on in a larger capacity as we continue to expand." Pleno is rapidly growing its San Diego, California-based team of experienced scientists, telecoms engineers, and biotechnology innovators developing its RAPTORTM instrument platform. Hypercoding, the key technology that RAPTOR is built upon, utilizes biochemistry versions of advanced code multiplexing and error correction techniques that are typically used in today's leading cellphones. Pleno's multidisciplinary team spans many different industries and brings together top talent from throughoutthe region. The company aims to more than double in size over the next six to nine months.



"It is inspiring to see the level of innovation that is achievable when technology from one industry is applied to another," said Jason Trachewsky, Vice President of Software at Pleno. "I look forward to the opportunity to have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of so many people." Trachewsky was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Aquifi, Inc., a provider of networked material inspection solutions using 3D cameras. Prior to Aquifi, Trachewsky was founder, Chief Operating Officer and a key technology developer at Passif Semiconductor, a VC-backed startup developing extremely low-power wireless transceivers for portable devices, acquired by Apple, Inc. in April 2013. Jason came to Passif Semiconductor from Broadcom Corporation, where he co-founded, and spent 11 years leading, as well as growing the engineering team for the Wi-Fi Business Unit.

"I have known Pieter and many of the Pleno team for a very long time and continue to be impressed by their ability to execute on groundbreaking new concepts," said Professor Nambi Seshadri, Ph.D., Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at Pleno. "The idea that we can now use technology that I helped develop in telecommunications to potentially detect diseases such as cancer is thrilling, and I am excited to be a part of it." Seshadri, a member of US National Academy of Engineering and IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal recipient, brings a wealth of experience in the telecommunications sector to Pleno. He is a Distinguished Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, as well as a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. Previously he spent more than 16 years at Broadcom as the first employee dedicated to developing the company's wireless strategy. As VP and CTO of the Mobile Platforms and Wireless Connectivity business groups, Seshadri, helped drive Broadcom's entry into 2G, 3G and 4G cellular, mobile multimedia, low power Wi-Fi for handsets, combo chips that integrate multiple wireless connectivity technologies, and GPS. He also served as Senior VP and General Manager of the Mobile Platforms Solutions business unit. About Pleno Inc. Pleno Inc. is a multi-omic instrument platform company democratizing biological target detection for clinical testing and biomedical research. The company's proprietary Hypercoding technology leverages signal processing techniques from the telecommunications industry to deliver targeted biological information at unprecedented scale, precision, and performance. For more information, visit www.plenoinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005030/en/

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[October 26, 2022] General Atlantic Announces Acquisition of Iron Park Capital and Formation of General Atlantic Credit

General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Iron Park Capital Partners, LP ("Iron Park"), a global investment manager with deep experience across public and private credit markets, to create General Atlantic Credit ("GA Credit"). GA Credit will expand and enhance the firm's ability to provide creative capital solutions to high-quality companies in need of a strategic partner at multiple stages of corporate and economic lifecycles. Tripp Smith, CEO and founder of Iron Park, will be CEO of GA Credit. Iron Park currently offers a range of credit solutions that are rooted in a robust and well-developed investment process designed to meet the specific needs of investors and borrowers. The firm's investment offerings include funds that invest in both the public and private credit markets, including Atlantic Park, a joint venture formed with General Atlantic in 2020. Atlantic Park provides structured equity and debt financing to businesses around the world that require capital to support M&A, refinancing, recapitalization and growth initiatives. To date, the joint venture has committed over $2.2 billion to 13 companies. In addition to Atlantic Park, Iron Park manages several public credit strategies. "We believe that Iron Park's experience in public and private credit strategies, combined with General Atlantic's global platform and sector expertise, creates a distinct advantage," said Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic. "Over the course of our partnership with Tripp and Iron Park, we have developed a deep mutual respect, and our global teams together have originated many exciting opportunities to provide strategic capital solutions to a broad set of companies. We are confident that GA Credit will stand out as an attractive product to businesses looking for active support, while also creating new offerings for investors looking to optimize their portfolios." The size of private credit has grown on average 13.5% annually over the last decade1, with the total levered credit market now representing a more than $3.5 trillion investable opportunity setfor GA Credit2. Moreover, General Atlantic's longstanding investing sectors - including Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare and Technology - represent more than half of the leveraged finance market.3



"With the changing market environment, companies are facing complex business challenges at a pace and scale unmatched in many years," said Tripp Smith. "We anticipate significant demand for partners with sector expertise, access to flexible capital and value-add capabilities. The deeply experienced GA Credit team draws from the strengths of Iron Park and General Atlantic to bring a differentiated approach to credit through all economic lifecycles, particularly in times of market dislocation - and we are poised to execute." The GA Credit team includes nine Managing Directors and 18 additional investment professionals based in New York and London.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to receiving requisite investor consents, regulatory approval, signing of definitive documents and other closing conditions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Jefferies LLC served as financial advisors to General Atlantic on this transaction, and Paul, Weiss provided legal counsel to the firm. Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal counsel, to Iron Park. About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 445 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic has over $73 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of September 30, 2022, and more than 220 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit the website: www.generalatlantic.com. About Iron Park Iron Park Capital (IPC) is a global alternative investment manager with deep experience across public and private credit markets coupled with in-depth knowledge of capital markets. Founded in 2019 by Tripp Smith, Iron Park's mission is to invest where we believe we have the aptitude and ability to generate an attractive risk/return profile across the capital structure for borrowers. For more information, visit: http://www.ironparkcap.com. _________________________________

1 2022 Preqin Global Private Debt Report. Data as of January 12, 2022.

2 ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index. Leveraged Credit Outstanding defined as U.S. HY + Leverage Loans + Private Debt, with Atlantic Park estimate for Private Debt outstanding in 2021 and 2022. Data as of August 31, 2022.

3 Morningstar LSTA US Leveraged Loan Index as of August 31, 2022. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005388/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Quinault Indian Nation Announces Plans to Build Subsea Cable Landing Station with New Business Venture Named Toptana Technologies

The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) today announced the launch of Toptana Technologies, the first indigenous-owned cable landing station and backhaul network provider on the West Coast of the United States. This new venture will bring connectivity to unserved and under-served markets across Washington State and Oregon, including the QIN community who remains vastly behind in the digital divide, and extending to surrounding communities, rural areas and other tribal groups. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005006/en/ Rendering of Toptana Technologies' Cable Landing Station. (Photo: Business Wire) New subsea cables have not landed in the State of Washington for over 20 years, and the declining existing infrastructure has been a widespread concern for the greater region, particularly as global internet demand continues to surge. Without the infrastructure of additional subsea cables to power a direct source, expanding access to high speed internet in the region is a nearly impossible task. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 97% of Americans living in urban areas have access to high-speed internet compared to 65% in rural areas and 60% on tribal lands. This limits access to important goods and services, such as online learning, telemedicine, job and e-commerce opportunities, workforce development initiatives, and emergency response services. In an effort to address both the urgent need for subsea cables and the demand for expanded internet access in the region, various feasibility studies had been done on Washington State's coast in prior years. In spite of the underlying need and widely understood potential, time after time, these ventures were deemed infeasible. This presented a unique opportunity for the Quinault Indian Nation to engage. "QIN saw a great opportunity and conducted our own feasibility study for a cable landing station on our nearly 30-miles of coastline and surrounding coastal property locations," said Tyson Johnson, Head of Development for Toptana Technologies and former Quinault Indian Nation Vice President. "With careful consideration of environmental resources and concern for the fishing industry, we determined that QIN territory was a highly feasible landing point and one which uniquely overcame the challenges previously identified. In late 2019, the process began to find industry partners to bring this project to life that could balance technological progress, continued advancement towards a sustainable economy, stewardship of land and waters, and make a positive impact for the next seven generations." Toptana Technologies will provide diverse, transpacific network capacity from the Pacific Northwest to Asia-Pacific and Oceania markets, while enabling network access from the Coast to the I-5 corridor with onward connectivity to Seattle, and Hillsboro, Oregon. In addition to open and neutral connectivity that delivers highly reliable, available and secure connectivty, Toptana's fiber optic network will have minimal disruption to the community and the environment with 100% of the terrestrial network existing underground. The cable landing station will support four subsea cable customers at launch, with the capacity to expand up to 16 customers over time, while offering the option of 100% renewable power. Designed to Tier III specifications and 100% uptime standards, Toptana will offer new route diversity to the Asia-Pacific and Oceania markets while helping to deliver digital equality and connectivity for all.



"Toptana Technologies will greatly support tribal and non-tribal communities' ability to access key digital resources at industry standards found in other communities that are increasingly required for healthcare, economic development, education, employment, and more," said Guy Capoeman, Quinault Indian Nation President. "We envision a world where connectivity powers endless possibilities to advance quality of life while preserving stories and traditions for generations to come. Toptana presents this opportunity for QIN to help lead our community forward towards a world where the digital divide simply does not exist." Companies and governments have attempted to bridge the digital divide in the past, with initiatives such as wifi-equipped buses, internet-equipped hot air balloons, and computer donation programs, but have only advanced short-term, limited solutions. The need for more far-reaching initiatives has remained unmet. The goal of closing the gap is further incentivized by the potential of its longer term economic impact - according to a study commissioned by Amazon Web Services and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the increased access to digital tools could add $116.7 million to annual wages and add nearly 2,500 jobs per year in Washington State alone.

"Toptana Technologies presents a sustainable, environmentally-conscious and socially responsible pathway to address the market demand for transpacific subsea and terrestrial connectivity in the northwest, while improving the lives of millions that seek greater connectivity and advancing possibilities that honor the sovereignty of the QIN people," said Daniel Ebling, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Quinault Indian Nation. Construction of the cable landing station will begin in mid-to-late 2023, and is expected to be operational in 2025. Assured Communications Advisors was selected to be the primary operations service provider and facilitator of sales and industry partnerships. A Board of Directors will be announced later this year. To learn more about Toptana Technologies, please visit www.toptanatech.com. About The Quinault Indian Nation The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) is a sovereign Indian Nation covering approximately 210,000 acres of rich and diverse landscape, including 27 contiguous miles of coastline, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Its population consists of the Quinault and Queets tribes and descendants of five other coastal tribes: Quileute, Hoh, Chehalis, Chinook, and Cowlitz, QIN is self-governed through a series of by-laws ratified in 1922 and a constitution approved in 1975. QIN operates a variety of businesses and joint ventures to support a thriving, self-sustaining economy. It is the goal of QIN to continue what its people have done for generations - respectfully managing the resources that sustain their community and those around it. They remain committed to honoring their proud past while embracing modern principles, such as investments in technology, to bring prosperity to their people - both now and for future generations. For more information, visit: www.quinaultindiannation.com. About Toptana Technologies Toptana is driven by a vision of a truly connected world. We're an indigenous-owned internet infrastructure and technology company focused on bringing connectivity to unserved and under-served communities. Our mission is to connect the digitally disconnected so that all people can fully participate in the digital economy. Our Washington State cable landing station offers subsea transpacific connectivity from the U.S. to Asia-Pacific markets. The backhaul network offers terrestrial connectivity along the I-5 corridor to Seattle, WA and Hillsboro, OR. We offer businesses the opportunity to get their traffic where it needs to go, while protecting our precious resources and improving the lives of those in need. For more information, visit: toptanatech.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005006/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Li Jun, VP of China Telecom: Build Cloud Broadband Ecosystem, Empower Digital Transformation

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Li Jun, Vice President of China Telecom, delivered a video speech at the World Broadband Association (WBBA) Annual Event, held in Amsterdam on Oct 19, 2022. He shared his point of view about global broadband development, the practice of China Telecom regarding cloud and network convergence, and suggestions and expectations for WBBA. The event was hosted on the Network X exhibition. Telecom New Zealand, Huawei, Nokia and Informa Tech, together with ETSI and FTTH European Commission delivered speeches at the conference. "The broadband network is an important component of digital information infrastructure, and also the key foundation for creating digital competitiveness." Summed up by Li Jun. He highlighted the essentially important role broadband connection played during the COVID-19 pandemic, and concluded three major features of broadband development: high-speed, cloud based and intelligence. He emphasised that it's time to expedite the construction of new infrastructures, such as broadband networks and data centres, to enable the global digital transformation. He stressed that there are three major challenges obstructing the development of broadband. First, the digital divide exists in the world. Broadband construction is a eavy investment field with a long commercial return period. Therefore broadband penetration is insufficient. Second, the contents and services hardly meet the growing demand. It is of great need to deeply connect the industrial chain. Third, the intelligent level of the network is insufficient.



In response to these challenges, China Telecom upgrades ubiquitous infrastructure actively, and boasts a leading broadband network. By the end of June 2022, the number of China Telecom broadband users amounted to 177 million. The optical fibre covered 98% of administrative villages nationwide. For more than 300 cities and towns, the upgrading 10 GPON optical network had accessed 150 million residences. "China Telecom is in a leading position of building a new information infrastructure with cloud network convergence features, enabling the digital economy. The E-Cloud sub-company ranks top No.1 among global operators' public cloud IaaS. China Telecom has built a hierarchical computing power service system with cloud, edge and terminals, the computing power scale has reached 3.1 EFLOPS, and has developed the distributed cloud system "Cloud OS4.0", providing strong power for the digital transformation of the whole society," said by Li Jun.

Li Jun emphasised that the broadband industry is seeing significant innovations in technology, services and business model, WBBA is born at the right time. China Telecom expects WBBA to play an important role in serving global broadband network operators, vendors, cloud service providers and other stakeholders, uniting the global industry chain and facilitating industry chain communications and exchanges between it, as well as enhancing technological cooperation and promoting the innovation and development of the global cloud and network information infrastructure, and achieving the prosperity of the cloud and broadband industry around the world. He concluded six resources and services that the members could obtain to effectively reduce their Capex/Opex, and access to high-quality development. At last, Li Jun expressed China Telecom truly hopes that more and more stakeholders will join WBBA, in the endeavour to enhance the collaboration of the global broadband industry, join the journey to eliminate the digital divide, and bring the benefits of the digital economy to people around the world. China Telecom is looking forward to working closely with WBBA for a win-win for all of you, for a brighter future, for a better world. SOURCE China Telecom

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[October 26, 2022] Libro Leads the Way in Online Reservation Market with 56% Hypergrowth in Q3

Libro, an industry leader in online reservation management and diner engagement technologies, dominated the summer months and further positioned the company for a record-breaking fiscal year with 193 new locations and concluding the third quarter with 56% year-over-year growth. The company's ability to provide an affordable and easy-to-use online reservation system proved to be a winning differentiator to secure multiple Boston Pizza locations, the award-winning Chez Muffy, and numerous restaurant chains, including industry leaders La Cage Brasserie Sportive and 3 Brewers. "This was a very busy and productive Q3 for Libro," says Lorne Schwartz, President of Libro. "We had an unexpectedly higher number of restaurants switch to our solution because there is a value gap in the market that Libro can and will continue to fill. We plan to leverage our momentum and move carefully, but with purpose, into the rest of Canada." In 3, Libro added just under 14,000,000 seated guests to its count, breaking its previous record in Q2 2022. "Without Libro, I couldn't run my restaurant to its full potential," said Spiros Markakis, owner of Casa Grecque in Beauport, Quebec. "Libro is more than a reservation tool. It's a dashboard and planning tool that contributes to maximizing the guest experience, which is what Casa Grecque, Beauport, is known for."



In addition to expanding the company's footprint, Libro utilized the third quarter to further develop its partner ecosystem. Libro's ongoing commitment to align itself with established industry experts such as Payfacto, RestoMontreal, Groupex Canada, and NiceJob has enabled the company to offer more value and support to its customers. "More chains and franchises are choosing us over our competition because we provide very high value at an extremely reasonable and fixed monthly price," says Schwartz. "There are some really exciting extensions to our platform being released by Q1 2023 that will significantly help our clients to be more successful."

About Libro Libro is one of North America's leading online reservation management solutions providing restaurants with an affordable, fully branded solution to fill tables, manage reservations, reduce no-shows, engage customers, and elevate the overall guest experience. The company's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform empowers restaurateurs to control the entire online reservation experience, retain all customer information, and eliminate pricey commission models that often come with third-party reservation sites. Headquartered in Montreal, the Libro reservation platform is utilized in over 2,500 locations across Canada, the United States, and Europe. For more information, visit www.librorez.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005101/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Systel Announce Strategic OEM Partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise

SUGAR LAND, Texas, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Systel, Inc. has announced a strategic OEM partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), to offer rugged leading-edge computing technologies and solutions to defense and commercial enterprises for mission-critical applications in austere environments. Systel announces strategic OEM partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, to offer rugged compute solutions. Systel will initially offer HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers, combined with Systel's ruggedization capabilities, with plans to use future HPE compute solutions starting in 2023. These solutions will deliver leading-edge workload optimization, high core density, power efficiency, security, and intelligent automation in MIL-SPEC rugged systems for all-weather and all-domain deployment. Systel and HPE will explore and engage in other opportunities to partner, including high performance computing (HPC), deep learning and machine learning artificial intelligence (AI), networking, storage, and edge compute solutions./p>



Aneesh Kothari , Vice-President of Marketing at Systel. "Our partnership strengthens both companies' abilities to support customers with next-gen computing solutions reliably fieldable in the harshest environments and purpose-built for mission success." "There is a growing need for compute at the edge, where harsh conditions can be a challenge for IT" said Matt Quirk, Director of WW OEM Channels & Ecosystem at HPE. "Systel's rugged solutions, utilizing HPE ProLiant servers, which are ideal to support hybrid and edge environments, allow customers to access, analyze and action their data, wherever it may reside. We look forward to collaborating with Systel to support their innovation."

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit www.hpe.com. About Systel

Systel, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of rugged computer products and solutions. Founded in 1988, Systel's pedigree of capabilities spans numerous advanced platforms with thousands of successful deployments in the defense and commercial sectors. Systel's rugged computing solutions are designed and manufactured for continuous operation under the most extreme and austere environmental conditions. All Systel products are proudly made in the USA in the company's headquarters in Sugar Land, TX. Systel is AS9100:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certified. For more information, visit systelusa.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/systel-announce-strategic-oem-partnership-with-hewlett-packard-enterprise-301659506.html SOURCE Systel

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[October 26, 2022] Nexii Completes 10 Highway Rest-Area Buildings in New York

Built using Nexii's durable, sustainable concrete alternative results in significantly reduced emissions, build times, cost and resources HAZLETON, Pa., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Green construction company Nexii Building Solutions today announces the manufacturing completion of 10 service plaza buildings as part of a larger project along the New York State Thruway. Acting as a subcontractor for design builder AECOM Tishman, Nexii designed and manufactured the high-performance building envelopes as efficient, sustainable alternatives to traditional commercial retail at rest stops. These 10 public structures are part of an ongoing project that will introduce 23 new service plazas along the New York State Thruway by 2024. Each building is between 6,400 and 14,800 square feet and made with Nexii panels using the company's breakthrough concrete alternative, Nexiite. Nexii's building solution requires fewer resources, produces near-zero on-site construction waste and significantly reduces end-to-end carbon emissions. A preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Nexii's panels compared to a functionally equivalent high performance tilt-up design suggests a 36% reduction in embodied carbon for Nexii's high performance envelope, from extraction through end-of-life.1 Building panels for this project are precision manufactured at the Nexii Certified Manufacturer (NCM) plant in Hazleton, PA and rapidly assembled on-site, reducing build times and construction costs and creating non-toxic, disaster resilient, highly efficient buildings.



The Hazleton NCM plant, which opened earlier this year, is the Vancouver-based company's first manufacturing plant in the United States. The plant has brought 100 green jobs to the community, with a goal of 250 total jobs as work begins on additional projects, including the upcoming construction of a green data center. "We are so proud of the Hazleton team, which is currently producing more than 6,000 square feet of Nexiite panels each week," said Stephen Sidwell, Co-founder and CEO of Nexii. "And we're thrilled that governments at all levels are becoming increasingly committed to building in a more sustainable and efficient way. Taking on large-scale projects like this one allows us to more quickly scale our vision for a greener future."

Nexii is working to revolutionize how the world buildsan important mission, since buildings and construction are responsible for 36% of global energy consumption and 37% of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Buildings made with Nexiite use approximately 31% less embodied carbon than conventional construction materials2 and use, on average, one-third less energy overall, driven largely by a reduction in heating and cooling loads. Nexii's building process also accelerates standard build times by up to 75% and eliminates nearly all onsite construction waste.3 This innovative approach to building couldn't be more timely, as the Federal government looks to reduce infrastructure emissions through the Buy Clean Initiative . About Nexii Nexii Building Solutions Inc. (Nexii) designs and manufactures low carbon buildings and products to address the climate impact of our built environment. With buildings and construction responsible for 36% of global energy consumption and 37% of greenhouse gas emissions annually, sustainable and scalable solutions are urgently needed for net zero buildings. With Nexii's breakthrough material Nexiite, Nexii enables the rapid assembly of high-quality buildings and infrastructure with reduced end-to-end carbon emissions, near zero waste and less disruption to the community. Sustainability is core to Nexii's mission to build a vibrant future for people and planet. For more information, visit www.nexii.com, or connect with us on Instagram (@NexiiBuilds), Twitter (@NexiiBuilds) or on LinkedIn (Nexii Building Solutions). 1 Includes above grade, infill, header, and sill panels. Preliminary LCA Modeling of Thruways, Indian Castle, PA, 3rd Party Report 2022

2 Determined through third-party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), versus conventional construction baseline such as steel stud and high performance tilt-up concrete and averaged across projects modelled to date.

3 Based on on-site assembly of Nexii commercial retail unit envelope vs. conventional envelope. Nexii's whole building solution reduces on-site construction waste to near zero through a combination of precision manufacturing, flat-pack transportation, and on-site assembly. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexii-completes-10-highway-rest-area-buildings-in-new-york-301660005.html SOURCE Nexii

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[October 26, 2022] Mary Baldwin University launches new program to eliminate tuition costs for low-income Virginia students

STAUNTON, Va., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia's top university for social mobility has launched a new program that eliminates 100% of tuition costs for incoming students from the Commonwealth whose families earn less than $60,000 a year. Mary Baldwin University's new program, Access MBU, mirrors the university's historic mission to boost accessibility, inclusion, and social mobility for underserved populations. "We believe the accessibility and affordability of a high-quality education should be based on a student's academic performance, talent, and character  not their finances," said MBU Vice President of Enrollment Management Matt Munsey. He's spent the past year working closely with fellow university administrators to secure institutional funding to supplement state and federal aid, and bring out-of-pocket tuition costs to zero for economically disadvantaged learners. That means participating students could grauate debt free from tuition. Access MBU is available to new, residential, full-time undergraduate students enrolling for fall 2023.



Founded in 1842, Mary Baldwin helped pioneer women's education in the United States, was Virginia's first institute of higher learning to offer custom degree tracks for returning and distance learners, and is home to one of the most successful DEI programs in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked it 33 among all colleges and universities nationwide for social mobility  and first in Virginia  and in the top 20 for serving Pell-Grant-eligible students (typically those from families earning below $60,000 annually). Munsey says MBU is uniquely positioned to equip students with the skills they need to achieve success in today's dynamic global economy.

For example, with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, professors know learners' names and invest in their success. Enhanced skills-based curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary and experiential learning that ensures students gain real-world experience and graduate workforce ready. A team of specially trained advisors work with students to create career-focused learning plans on day one, monitor progress, and find great jobs after graduation. "We're extremely excited to be able to offer this opportunity to new students," Munsey said. "Our commitment includes giving them the support not just to enroll at MBU, but to be successful during their college experience and beyond  and we have a proven track record of following through on that commitment." Visit the Mary Baldwin website to learn more about Access MBU. Founded in 1842, Mary Baldwin University is a small, coeducational university offering a range of degree programs from bachelor to doctoral. It serves a diverse student population on its main campus in Staunton, Virginia, neighboring health sciences campus, and online. www.marybaldwin.edu View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mary-baldwin-university-launches-new-program-to-eliminate-tuition-costs-for-low-income-virginia-students-301659634.html SOURCE Mary Baldwin University

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Check out this excellent parody of those bizarre fundamentalist Christian "hell houses," which are haunted houses where every room depicts a sinsex, drugs, suicidethat condemns a person straight to hell. Wikipedia describes hell houses like this:

While Blaire Erskine's parodic hell house depicts some of the typical sins that lead to hell ("if you have sex before you're married"), it contains a few new ones that you might not have anticipated: "when you peel a banana and eat it seductively while making eye contact with my husband" and "when you pet a dog and you pet him too good and his ding-a-ling comes out."

If you want to learn more about actual evangelical Christian hell houses, you should go watch the documentary "Hell House," which is available on Amazon:
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[October 26, 2022] Consumer Battery Market to grow by USD 9.7 Bn by 2026, Supportive government regulations to boost market growth - Technavio

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumer Battery Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio is proudly partnering with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the consumer battery market between 2021 and 2026 is USD 9.7 billion. 36% of the growth will originate from North America. Request Free Sample Report. Key Market Dynamics: Market Driver

Market Challenges One of the main factors driving the market expansion is supportive government legislation. Lithium-ion batteries and battery-operated items are not permitted in checked luggage or onboard flights. These gadgets need to be shielded against heat production and unintentional activation. With the airline's permission, passengers may additionally bring up to two bigger Li-ion batteries. For instance, safety requirements for primary, secondary, and lithium batteries have been established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) in the US. Lithium batteries must comply with all Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) when transported by air, highway, rail, or sea. These factors will support market growth during the forecast period. However, the factor restricting the market growth is the growing environmental concerns. Download Free Sample Report. North America will contribute 36% of market growth. The United States is the most important market in North America for consumer batteries. The increasing disposable income of people and spending on consumer electronics will aid the growth of the consumer battery market in North America over the forecast period. The residential market's consumer battery market share will expand significantly during the forecasted period. Leading companies in the consumer battery market have been spending money on R&D initiatives to improve performance while also lowering battery costs. This cost reduction would accelerate the use of Li-ion batteries in the residential sector during the forecasted period. To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report. Consumer Battery Market: Vendor Insights The market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete. The increasing market competition is compelling vendors to implement various growth strategies such as promotional activities and advertising spending to increase the visibility of their services. To remain competitive in the market, some vendors are pursuing inorganic growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including Electrochem Automation Inc, EVE Energy Co. Ltd., Eveready Industries India Ltd., FDK Corp., GP International Ltd, Jiangmen TWD Technology Co. Ltd, Johnson Controls International Plc, Maxell Ltd, Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd., Poly Plus Battery Co., Renata SA, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Shenzhen PKCELL Battery Co. Ltd, Suzhou South Large Battery Co. Ltd., The BYD Motors Inc., Toshiba Corp., Ultralife Corp., VARTA Microbattery GmBH, and Duracell Inc. Major Consumer Battery Market Vendor with key Offerings EVE Energy Co. Ltd.: The company offers consumer batteries such as NexCell consumer rechargeable batteries.

The company offers consumer batteries such as NexCell consumer rechargeable batteries.

Eveready Industries India Ltd.: The company offers consumer batteries such as consumer Li-ion batteries.

The company offers consumer batteries such as consumer Li-ion batteries.

GP International Ltd.: The company offers consumer batteries such as alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, and carbon zinc batteries.

The company offers consumer batteries such as alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, and carbon zinc batteries.

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.: The company offers consumer batteries such as coin-type primary batteries.

The company offers consumer batteries such as coin-type primary batteries.

Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd.: The company offers consumer batteries such as Cylindrical type lithium ion secondary batteries. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000. Related Reports: Smart Home Cameras Market by Connectivity, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers smart home cameras market segmentations by connectivity (wire-free smart home cameras and wired smart home cameras), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). Broadcasting Cable TV Market by Revenue Streams, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the broadcasting cable TV market segmentation by revenue stream (advertising and subscription), application (satellite TV, cable TV, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), and others), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa).







Consumer Battery Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.15% Market growth 2022-2026 $9.7 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.21 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Electrochem Automation Inc, EVE Energy Co. Ltd., Eveready Industries India Ltd., FDK Corp., GP International Ltd, Jiangmen TWD Technology Co. Ltd, Johnson Controls International Plc, Maxell Ltd, Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd., Poly Plus Battery Co., Renata SA, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Shenzhen PKCELL Battery Co. Ltd, Suzhou South Large Battery Co. Ltd., The BYD Motors Inc., Toshiba Corp., Ultralife Corp., VARTA Microbattery GmBH, and Duracell 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.

Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by End-user 5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by End-user



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 5.3 Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Commercial - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Commercial - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 48: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 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 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

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 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 78: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 79: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 80: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 81: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 87: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Duracell Inc.

Exhibit 89: Duracell Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 90: Duracell Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: Duracell Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 92: Duracell Inc. - Key offerings 10.4 Electrochem Automation Inc

Exhibit 93: Electrochem Automation Inc - Overview



Exhibit 94: Electrochem Automation Inc - Product / Service



Exhibit 95: Electrochem Automation Inc - Key offerings 10.5 EVE Energy Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 96: EVE Energy Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 97: EVE Energy Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 98: EVE Energy Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 99: EVE Energy Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.6 FDK Corp.

Exhibit 100: FDK Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 101: FDK Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 102: FDK Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 103: FDK Corp. - Segment focus 10.7 Maxell Ltd

Exhibit 104: Maxell Ltd - Overview



Exhibit 105: Maxell Ltd - Business segments



Exhibit 106: Maxell Ltd - Key offerings



Exhibit 107: Maxell Ltd - Segment focus 10.8 Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 108: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 109: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 110: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Key news



Exhibit 111: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 112: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.9 Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 113: Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 114: Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: Panasonic Industry Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.10 The BYD Motors Inc.

Exhibit 116: The BYD Motors Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 117: The BYD Motors Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 118: The BYD Motors Inc. - Key offerings 10.11 Toshiba Corp.

Exhibit 119: Toshiba Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Toshiba Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: Toshiba Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 122: Toshiba Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Toshiba Corp. - Segment focus 10.12 Ultralife Corp.

Exhibit 124: Ultralife Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 125: Ultralife Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Ultralife Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Ultralife Corp. - Segment focus 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 128: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 129: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 130: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 131: Research methodology



Exhibit 132: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 133: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 134: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis 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/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-battery-market-to-grow-by-usd-9-7-bn-by-2026--supportive-government-regulations-to-boost-market-growth---technavio-301658436.html SOURCE Technavio

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[October 26, 2022] DAT Truckload Volume Index for Van Freight Fell 13.7% in September

The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI) declined for all three equipment types in September, indicating a muted shipping season ahead of the holidays, said DAT Freight & Analytics, which operates the DAT One truckload freight marketplace and the DAT iQ data analytics service. The DAT TVI for van freight was 228, down 13.7% compared to an unusually active August but in line with prior years: the van TVI was 2.9% lower versus September 2021 and 1.8% higher than September 2020. The refrigerated ("reefer") TVI fell 9.7% to 168, while the flatbed TVI declined 10.5% to 231. Peak season plateau The national average spot van rate fell 7 cents to $2.45 per mile, declining from August to September for the first time since 2015. The average reefer rate was down 5 cents to $2.84 per mile, and the average flatbed rate dropped 14 cents to $3.64 per mile. Spot truckload rates are negotiated for each load and paid to the carrier by a freight broker. DAT bases its rate analysis on $137 billion in annualized freight transactions. "The usual peak period for van freight looks more like a mesa," said Ken Adamo, DAT Chief of Analytics. "The month-over-month decline in September truckload volume suggests that many retailers already have inventory in position, have tempered their expectations for the holidays, or sme combination of the two."



Load-to-truck ratios decline The national average van load-to-truck ratio was 3.5, unchanged from August, meaning there were 3.5 available loads for every van posted to the DAT One load board network. The reefer load-to-truck ratio was 6.3, down from 7.1, and the flatbed ratio fell to 13.3, down from 14.1 in August.

Demand for trucks increased ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall on Sept. 28. The number of loads posted to the DAT One network headed to distribution hubs in the Southeast rose 20% during the week before the storm's arrival. Contract rates dipped The national average shipper-to-broker contract van rate declined for the fourth consecutive month, falling 3 cents to $3.09 a mile. The average contract reefer rate was $3.40 a mile last month, unchanged from August, while the average contract rate for flatbed freight dropped 5 cents to $3.64 a mile. About the DAT Truckload Volume Index The DAT Truckload Volume Index reflects the change in the number of loads with a pickup date during that month; the actual index number is normalized each month to accommodate any new data sources without distortion. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, as recorded in DAT RateView, a database of rates paid on an average of 3 million loads per month. DAT national average spot rates are derived from RateView and include only over-the-road lanes with lengths of haul of 250 miles or more. Spot rates represent the payments made to carriers by freight brokers, third-party logistics providers and other transportation buyers. About DAT Freight & Analytics DAT Freight & Analytics operates the largest truckload freight marketplace in North America. Shippers, transportation brokers, motor carriers, news organizations and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights derived from more than 500 million freight matches in 2022 and a database of $137 billion in market transactions. Founded in 1978, DAT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Roper Technologies (NYSE:ROP), a diversified technology company and constituent of the S&P 500, Fortune 500 and Russell 1000 indices. DAT.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005755/en/

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[October 26, 2022] Marriott Bonvoy Launches "Travel by Design," a Design-focused Platform Introducing Untold Stories to At-Home Streaming

Leader of extraordinary experiences shares inspiration behind some of the world's best designed hotels BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Bonvoy  Marriott International's extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, award-winning loyalty program, and endless experiences  today announced the launch of Travel by Design, an integrated content platform showcasing never-before-told design stories that inspired some of the world's most extraordinary hotels. Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with Samsung to create the first-ever exclusive branded destination within Samsung's free, ad-supported streaming service, Samsung TV Plus. Starting November 1, 2022, Samsung TV Plus viewers can simply select a tile on the service home screen to explore the on-demand library to immerse themselves in a curated collection of travel video content. "We are excited to launch our Travel by Design platform to introduce travelers to the design visionaries behind some of the world's most remarkable hotels, fusing them closer to destinations and cultures for a more immersive travel experience," said Annie Granatstein, Vice President, Content Marketing, Marriott International. "We know travelers are rethinking how they want to see the world and we are proud to be able to offer them this one-of-a-kind, at-home experience to fill their bucket lists." From a secluded overwater villa in the Maldives, to a reimagined royal palace in Budapest, or a trendy hotsot in downtown Los Angeles, Travel by Design brings tales of design and architecture to life from world-renowned creatives, such as Frank Gehry and Yabu Pushelberg, with articles, films, podcasts, and photography across multiple channels, including digital, editorial, and social platforms.



Travel by Design features a collection of short films showcasing four fascinating stories, where iconic destinations meet design from beloved brands like W Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection Hotels, and more. The transportive visual series will be available on streaming platforms, such as Samsung and Roku as well as YouTube, and featured in hotel rooms globally on Marriott Bonvoy TV. The Travel by Design podcast hosted by Hamish Kilburn, Editor at Hotel Designs, meets the architects, designers, and visionaries who dive deep into the craft and hear what sparked their concept, how their creative process changes throughout, and what it is like to enjoy the space as a traveler. Six audio episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. For more information on these new openings and Marriott Bonvoy, enroll in the program for free, or to book directly, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. About Marriott Bonvoy Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com. Download the Marriott app. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marriott-bonvoy-launches-travel-by-design-a-design-focused-platform-introducing-untold-stories-to-at-home-streaming-301659716.html SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

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[October 26, 2022] New Partnership between Gladstone Institutes and CZ Biohub

The two San Francisco organizations sign an affiliation agreement to increase research collaboration SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gladstone Institutes and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub signed an affiliation agreement to increase their research collaboration. The two San Francisco organizations, both located in the Mission Bay neighborhood known for being a hub for health and biotech, will partner to uncover the fundamental mechanisms of disease in order to find new prevention strategies, treatments, and cures. "For decades, Gladstone has distinguished itself as a top biomedical research institution, and Biohub scientists have regularly collaborated with Gladstone's talented researchers," says Joe DeRisi, PhD, CZ Biohub president. "This new affiliation will make these exchanges even more robust and productive." Gladstone researchers are eligible to apply to become CZ Biohub Investigators, and as part of the new agreement, those selected can use Biohub's funding to support their research both at Gladstone's and Biohub's scientific facilities. "Both Gladstone and Biohub are focused on supportin the boldest and riskiest ideas, knowing these will lead to the most disruptive solutions to overcome unsolved diseases," says Deepak Srivastava, MD, president of Gladstone. "It's exciting to join forces so we can achieve our common missions."



Combining Skills and Resources The new affiliation agreement enables Gladstone investigators who are appointed as CZ Biohub Investigators to have access to resources to participate in research at both organizations. These investigators can also hire postdoctoral fellows and staff to work at the Biohub's facilities to support their science.

Current Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Investigators at Gladstone include virologist Melanie Ott, MD, PhD; data scientist Katie Pollard, PhD; and bioengineer Seth Shipman, PhD. "CZ Biohub is known for being exceptionally collaborative, which is a value we share at Gladstone," says Gladstone Chief Operating Officer, Robert Obana, MBA. "By combining our unique strengths, I believe we will successfully accelerate the pace of our discoveries and help make a substantive impact on medicine and healthcare through our research." Media Contacts Gladstone Institutes: Julie Langelier | [email protected] | 415.734.5000 CZ Biohub: Julie Chao | [email protected] | 415.816.5571 About Gladstone Institutes To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. About CZ Biohub The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is a nonprofit research center that brings together physicians, scientists, and engineers from Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of California, San Francisco. Working at CZ Biohub are some of the brightest, boldest engineers, data scientists, and biomedical researchers who together with our partner universities seek to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying disease and develop new technologies that will lead to actionable diagnostics and effective therapies. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-partnership-between-gladstone-institutes-and-cz-biohub-301660165.html SOURCE Gladstone Institutes; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub

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[October 26, 2022] Mouser Electronics Sponsors MATHCOUNTS Program, Investing in Future Generations of Tech Leaders

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader empowering innovation, proudly announces its sponsorship of MATHCOUNTS, an engaging math program for middle schoolers. With nearly 90,000 students from 5,000 schools around the United States, MATHCOUNTS challenges students to learn, discover and solve mathematical challenges through live competitions at the school, chapter, state and national levels. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005762/en/ Mouser Electronics proudly announces its sponsorship of MATHCOUNTS, an engaging math program for middle schoolers that hosts live competitions at the school, chapter, state and national levels. (Graphic: Business Wire) "Since Mouser's founding almost 60 years ago, we have strived to encourages curiosity and education in young people," said Kevin Hess, Mouser Senior Vice President of Marketing. "By sponsoring programs like MATHCOUNTS, we hope to plant the seeds that will give us tomorrow's innovators and their future technological wonders." Starting in the Fall, more than 25 schools comprised of approximately 800 students from the Dallas-Fort Worth area are competing in the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series, The National Math Club and Math Video Challenge. Middle schoolers (grades 6-8) receive rigorous math problems to help expand their academic and career opportunities in the future - inspiring students to believe in their own abilities while building self-confidence. Mouser's commitment to education runs deep. For many years, theglobal authorized distributor has been a major sponsor of FIRST Robotics at the local, state and international levels by supporting the robot-building competitions and local teams. Mouser is also a proud sponsor of the Shine Runners Racing Company from the Ben Barber Innovation Academy, a student group that builds and races solar-powered cars in Mouser's hometown of Mansfield, Texas. Additionally, Mouser support local teachers and students with technology grants to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. For more information on Mouser's Educational Sales, go to https://www.mouser.com/educationalsales/.



To learn more about how Mouser supports MATHCOUNTS, visit https://www.mouser.com/mathcounts/. For the latest Mouser news, go to https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the world's widest selection of the newest semiconductors and electronic components - in stock and ready to ship. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information. Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber. About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 27 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/. Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005762/en/

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[October 26, 2022] CTEK Unveils Original Eleanor Hero Car At SEMA Show Preview At SEMA Garage

Company Returns To SEMA Show 2022 as SEMA Cruise Sponsor and Authorized SEMA Battery Charger Sponsor CHICAGO, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating 25 years, CTEK , a leading global brand in battery charging solutions, unveiled a surprise guest at SEMA Garage during a special SEMA Show preview. A Gone in 60 Seconds iconic 1967 Shelby GT500 nicknamed Eleanor is back in the United States and headed to the SEMA Show with CTEK. Unveiled at SEMA Garage, Eleanor #7 is one of only three of the original 'Hero Cars' produced by CVS that survived the film shoot. Eleanor will take a short tour around Southern California before heading to Las Vegas where it will be featured in CTEK's SEMA Show booth #23129. "This is not a replica or a kit," said Chris Zollner spokesperson of Eleanor owner ChromeCars. "Designed by two of the most renowned and respected designers Chip Foose and Steve Sandford, Eleanor instantly generated excitement among muscle car aficionados. 11 cars were produced for use in the making of the movie  only three of the original 'Hero Cars' survived the film shoot  including Eleanor #7. These Hero Cars are particularly beautiful and were only used to film scenes featuring the stars themselves. I have been a fan of Eleanor ever since I saw her on the big screen in 2000 and now, I'm happy to share her beauty with enthusiasts at the iconic SEMA Show." As an official authorized SEMA battery charger sponsor of the popular Show, the company plans to introduce new products to North America, including the multi-functional four-in-one CS FREE portable charger, along with celebrity appearances, including Eleanor in its Central Hall booth. Celebrating 25 years in 2022 as a global leader in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries, the Show s the perfect location to introduce new products.



"The SEMA Show is a one-of-a-kind Show and the perfect place to show off the one-of-a-kind vehicle, Eleanor," said Bobbie DuMelle, Executive Vice President for CTEK North America. "We are excited to be back at the SEMA show this year, bringing a special vehicle, being an authorized battery charger sponsor and sponsoring the SEMA Cruise." Just like the original Eleanor, making its North American trade show debut, CTEK will introduce the CS Free portable charger to SEMA Show attendees in booth #23129 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The multi-functional CS FREE celebrates the growing complexity of in-vehicle technologies by providing four cutting-edge products in one portable unit: Adaptive Boost safe start, battery charger, smart maintainer, and hi-tech power bank. Unlike traditional cables, the award-winning CS FREE uses revolutionary Adaptive Boost technology to gently and safely give a dead battery enough charge to start in 15 minutes.

An official authorized SEMA battery charger sponsor, the company will offer builders the opportunity to pre-order custom created CTEK Battery Care Kits to keep auxiliary power charged and ensure that the vehicle will start for the SEMA Cruise presented by CTEK. "Builders can still pre-order custom created CTEK Battery Care Kits to keep their vehicles running," continued DuMelle. "The last thing a builder wants is a dead battery heading out to the SEMA Cruise. With CTEK, builders don't have to worry about that problem." Be sure to visit CTEK at the SEMA Show in booth #23129 or visit https://smartercharger.com for more information. About CTEK Established in Dalarna, Sweden, CTEK is the leading global brand in battery charging solutions, most specifically vehicle charging. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment. CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure. CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards. PRESS CONTACT Michelle Suzuki

3109306655

https://www.smartercharger.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctek-unveils-original-eleanor-hero-car-at-sema-show-preview-at-sema-garage-301660113.html SOURCE CTEK

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[October 26, 2022] College Futures Foundation Presents Webinar & New Report Launch: Racial Bias in College Presidential Searches, Poses Solutions

On October 31, the same day that the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments about the future of affirmative action in college admissions, College Futures Foundation is presenting a webinar, launching a new report called Whiteness Rules: Racial Exclusion in Becoming an American College President. The webinar is scheduled from 10am-11am Pacific Time. The media are invited to attend. To RSVP, click here. While race conscious admissions are a focus of national attention, this new research report and toolkit reveal racial bias and exclusion in the search for and selection of college and university presidents, explaining why so little has changed in the makeup of higher education leadership since the 1970s, despite a diverse pool of learners seeking higher education opportunities today. Webinar panelists include: Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President & CEO of College Futures Foundation

Bensimon & Associates: Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon, Dr. Megan Chase, Dr. Cheryl Ching, Dr. Roman Liera, Dr. Raquel Rall

Michele Siqueiros, President, Campaign for College Opportunity Why does this report matter? While the majority of students in California's public highe education system are Latinx, Asian American & Pacific Islander, and Black, the racial-ethnic and gender makeup of the presidents of these colleges and universities is much the same as in the 1970s: almost exclusively white and male.



Why has so little changed in California's colleges and higher education institutions nationwide? Why does it matter? New research conducted by Bensimon & Associates for College Futures Foundation uncovers answers and solutions. As the state pushes for more college graduates to close the workforce skills gap and build a robust and inclusive economy, California's system of higher education must perform better for students of color and close racial equity gaps. Leadership is an important piece of that puzzle.

Diverse, equity-minded college presidents and other higher education leaders who reflect the state's learner populations are needed to develop welcoming and inclusive campus climates, enact policies and practices that close equity gaps, support faculty of color, and better enable students of color to access resources and graduate. The state's higher education segments have an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to closing equity gaps by diversifying leadership at the top. The new research published in Whiteness Rules: Racial Exclusion in Becoming an American College President, illustrates how racialization happens in college presidential searches in California's public higher education institutions-the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), and California Community Colleges (CCC). The findings on structural bias in these processes, and the proposed solutions in the companion toolkit to the report, have implications for racial equity at other levels of administrative and faculty leadership, at the system level, in other states, and nationally. Presently, the positions of Chancellor at the California State University system and the California Community Colleges-the heads of those segments-are vacant, as are a number of college president positions throughout the state. California's public higher education systems are positioned to play an important role trailblazing equitable hiring practices in their presidencies, chancellorships, and CEO positions. The research by Bensimon & Associates for College Futures Foundation involved extensive interviews with college presidents, executive search firms, and other stakeholders. It identifies aspects of the standard approach to presidential searches taken by many colleges and universities that exclude Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and AAPI presidential prospects. It also provides a set of tools that stakeholders can use to take concrete steps toward executive leadership that is more representative, culturally competent, and equity-minded-to the benefit of all students, faculty, staff, and the society they help shape. The companion toolkit offers context and concrete steps that higher education institutions can take to reduce bias and improve equity and inclusion within their presidential search processes and open the door to more diverse leadership. Embargoed research report and companion toolkit are available upon request prior to the webinar, as well as, media interviews prior to and during the webinar with Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President & CEO of College Futures Foundation and the research team led by Dr. Estela Mara Bensimon of Bensimon & Associates. College Futures Foundation works to ensure that more students who reflect California's diversity complete a B.A. and access the opportunity for a better life. College Futures Foundation believes this is best accomplished when California's education system is designed to meet students' needs, dedicated to fulfilling their aspirations, and ensures equitable outcomes. College Futures Foundation: More graduates for a thriving economy. Visit us at www.collegefutures.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005950/en/

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[October 26, 2022] InComm Payments Acquires The Card Network (TCN), a Leading Gift Card Provider in Australia

Addition of TCN's multi-brand gift card products to InComm Payments' global distribution network will strengthen company's offerings to Australian businesses and consumers MELBOURNE, Australia and ATLANTA, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InComm Payments, a global payments technology company, today announced it has acquired The Card Network (TCN), an Australian-based gift card provider known for its suite of creatively themed, multi-brand gift cards. The acquisition enhances InComm Payments' ability to create personable gift card products that consumers seek, while supporting business growth for its brand and retail partners. "TCN is a pioneer of the multi-brand gift card category with a proven record of delivering reliable products to both the gift giver and their recipient," said Adam Brault, Senior Vice President of Financial Services and Asia-Pacific at InComm Payments. "We could not be more excited to welcome TCN's expertise and creativity to our global team." Founded in 2019 by Nick Sims and Richard Hewitt, TCN's multi-brand gift card products aggregate leading consumer brands onto one card, providing greater flexibility and choice to the recipient. The gift card line includes several offerings based around a creative theme, such as The Active Card, which is redeemable at dozens o sporting apparel retailers, The Home Card, which can be used at a wide range of homeware stores, and many more.



"InComm Payments has been a great partner to TCN, and we couldn't be happier to be officially joining the family," said Nick Sims, co-founder of TCN. "Together, InComm Payments and TCN have reinvented the gift card market in Australia, and we look forward to continue providing customers and channels with the best product selection in the market." TCN's gift card products are available for purchase online and in store at many of Australia's leading retailers. The company also sells gift cards directly through its card.gift website, which enables consumers to purchase personalized gift card packages paired with customized photo or video messages. In addition to consumer-facing products, TCN serves Australian companies with gift products for incentive, loyalty and rewards programs, as well as business-to-business (B2B) gifting opportunities.

InComm Payments first entered Australia and New Zealand in 2010, introducing international brands to the gift card market that were previously unavailable to consumers in the region. Today, the company delivers end-to-end payment platforms and financial technology solutions supported by a network of more than 525,000 points of retail and online distribution. For more information on InComm Payments, visit www.InCommPayments.com. About InComm Payments InComm Payments is an innovative global payments technology provider. Leveraging dynamic technology and proven expertise, InComm Payments delivers enhanced end-to-end payment platforms and emerging financial technology solutions through a single integration, helping businesses grow across a wide range of industries including retail, healthcare, tolling & transit, incentives, mobile payments, digital currencies and financial services. By enabling omnichannel connections and alternative payment options to an ever-expanding consumer base in an increasingly digital ecosystem, InComm Payments creates seamless and valuable commerce experiences across the globe. With three decades of experience, over 525,000 points of retail and online distribution, 420 global patents and a presence in more than 30 countries, InComm Payments leads the payments industry from its headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. Learn more at?www.InCommPayments.com. Media Contacts InComm Payments

Anthony Popiel

Communications Manager

+1 (314) 592-3149

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/incomm-payments-acquires-the-card-network-tcn-a-leading-gift-card-provider-in-australia-301660326.html SOURCE InComm Payments

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Florida man Ron Smith fought passionately against helmet laws. In fact, the 66-year-old lawyer aggressively worked to overturn the state's helmet law, arguing that it should be up to the individual whether or not they protect themselves and their passengers while riding on a motorcycle. Then in August, Smith died in a motorcycle crash along with his 62-year-old passenger, and neither were wearing a helmet.

From Tampa Bay Times:

Smith was a member of ABATE  A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments and American Bikers Aimed Toward Education  which lobbied against the law for years. He represented clients who ran afoul of Florida's motorcycle requirements in court cases that some say helped overturn Florida's helmet law. 

Smith didn't like being told what to do and valued his independence, said Dave Newman, who met the attorney through an American Legion post in Old Town where they were both members. 

In 2000, Smith's aspiration was realized when the Florida Legislature passed a law allowing motorcyclists over 21 to go without head protection as long as they had $10,000 in insurance coverage for motorcycle accident injuries.

In August, Smith and his girlfriend, Brenda Jeanan Volpe, were riding a motorcycle on U.S. 19 in Pinellas County. They were headed to a memorial service for another biker who had died of cancer.

Smith crashed the bike as he tried to slow for traffic ahead of him. Both he and Volpe were killed.
[October 26, 2022] CPI Aerostructures Receives $4.4M Order From Embraer for Engine Inlet Assemblies

EDGEWOOD, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI Aero or the Company) (NYSE American: CVU) announced that Embraer S.A. of Brazil (NYSE: ERJ) has placed several orders against a previously announced Long Term Agreement to manufacture engine inlet assemblies for the Embraer Phenom 300 business jets. These new orders will see deliveries continue through 2023.

CPI Aero is proud to be part of the successful Phenom 300 program. Having produced inlet assemblies on this program for over 10 years, we have earned Embraers confidence in our capabilities and, based on the strong demand for the Phenom 300 business jet, we fully expect to continue serving this important customer beyond 2023, stated Dorith Hakim, CPI Aeros CEO & President. About CPI Aero CPI Aero is a U.S. manufacturer of structural assemblies for fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and airborne Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance pod systems in both the commercial aerospace and national security markets. Within the global aerostructure supply chain, CPI Aero is either a Tier 1 supplier to aircraft OEMs or a Tier 2 subcontractor to major Tier 1 manufacturers. CPI also is a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense, primarily the Air Force. In conjunction with its assembly operations, CPI Aero provides engineering, program management, supply chain management, and MRO services. Forward-looking Statements

This press release ontains 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 fact, included or incorporated in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary materially from these forward-looking statements. The Company does not guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking statements.



There are a number of important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by its forward-looking statements, including those important factors set forth under the caption Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021 and the Companys subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company may elect to do so at some point in the future, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements and it disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CPI Aero is a registered trademark of CPI Aerostructures, Inc. For more information, visit www.cpiaero.com, and follow us on Twitter @CPIAERO.

Contacts: Investor Relations Counsel CPI Aerostructures, Inc. LHA Investor Relations Andrew L. Davis Jody Burfening Chief Financial Officer (212) 838-3777 (631)586-5200 [email protected] www.cpiaero.com www.lhai.com



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[October 26, 2022] L Catterton Brings in New Investors to Strategic Partnership with Crediclub

IFC, Sarona, and other global investors to partner with L Catterton as co-investors in Crediclub MEXICO CITY, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crediclub, one of Mexico's fastest-growing lending platforms, today announced that several leading global private equity investors have joined as co-investors in the company's recently announced partnership with L Catterton, the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. Several of Crediclub's current investors also participated in the US$80 million round. Collectively, the investment will help accelerate Crediclub's growth and support its mission to provide all Mexicans with access to greater and more affordable financial products. This partnership provides Crediclub with significant growth capital and harnesses the combined expertise of multiple leading global investors to expand Crediclub's product offering in Mexico, drive customer acquisition, enhance technological capabilities, and accelerate brand awareness. The new co-investors, which are investing as part of L Catterton's original equity commitment include IFC, Sarona and other international players. "We have developed a strong and productive partnership with L Catterton and are thrilled that they leveraged their broad relationships across the globe to support our continued growth," said Juan Francisco Fernandez, CEO and co-founder of Crediclub. "These new investors bring additional expertise as we enhance the capabilities that make Crediclub such a powerful alternative to traditional banks." Crediclub continues to invest in technology to improve the customer relationship experience for both its lending and deposit products. The company recently launched several new technological initiatives to expand its suite of simple and easy-to-use lending products, including Credito Express Productivo and a digitally-driven offering in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) lending and investment services. "We are incredibly passionate about Crediclub's outstanding growth potential serving the underbanked population in Mexico - and about its performance, which is unmatched when compared to other financial disruptors in the region," said Ramiro Lauzan, a Partner in L Catterton's Latin America Fund. "We are very pleased to be joined on this opportunity by some of our most prominent and loyal investors, who shre our conviction in Crediclub as a driving force of financial inclusion in Mexico."



The transaction is expected to close in early 2023, subject to customary regulatory approvals. About Crediclub

Crediclub, S.A. de C.V., S.F.P. is an impact oriented regulated financial institution with a mission to drive financial inclusion in Mexico by offering top-tier financial products. Crediclub has 2.5 million credit operations and more than $2 billion in loans granted historically, in addition to being a pioneer and leader in the digital savings and investment segment. The company's product portfolio includes group, individual, and productive personal loans; savings and investments; a digital wallet with BNPL capabilities; and an offering for small and medium sized businesses. Crediclub was founded in 2005 by an entrepreneurial team supported by a group of international investors with vast sector expertise. The Company's compelling value proposition, combined with outstanding underwriting and operating capabilities and a low-cost, low-risk source of funding, has allowed it to consistently deliver best-in-class unit-level economics and profitability. For more information about Crediclub, please visit crediclub.com.

About L Catterton

With approximately $33 billion of equity capital across its fund strategies and 17 offices around the world, L Catterton is the largest global consumer-focused private equity firm. Leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad strategic network of relationships, L Catterton's team of nearly 200 investment and operating professionals support management teams around the world in building strong, category-leading brands. Since 1989, the firm has made around 250 investments in consumer businesses. For more information about L Catterton, please visit lcatterton.com. About IFC

IFCa member of the World Bank Groupis the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works in more than 100 countries, using capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. About Sarona Asset Management

Canada-based Sarona Asset Management is a private investment firm, investing in companies, private equity funds, and venture capital funds in Emerging Markets. Sarona's particular focus is the small to mid-market companies that meet the growing needs of the rising middle class in those markets. Its goal is to achieve superior returns by creating world-class companies employing highly progressive business strategies, and operating to the highest standards of business, ethical, social, and environmental excellence. Sarona is a Certified B Corporation (B Corp), a founding member of the Global Impact Investing Network, an AVPN member, a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and the Operating Principles for Impact Management, as well as a member of the 2X Collaborative. For more information, please visit: https://www.saronafund.com/. Media Contact: Crediclub

Priscila Escalante

Corporate Development Lead

[email protected]

+52.228.206.0854 L Catterton

Julie Hamilton

Managing Director, Firm Communications

[email protected]

203.742.5185 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/l-catterton-brings-in-new-investors-to-strategic-partnership-with-crediclub-301660463.html SOURCE L Catterton

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[October 26, 2022] NuScale Power Completes Fourth Energy Exploration (E2) Center at Idaho State University

Today, NuScale Power LLC (NuScale) proudly announced the opening of the fourth NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Center in collaboration with Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. The E2 Center, to be called the Reactor Control Room & Simulator Lab, will give students of the university's College of Technology the opportunity to learn about the innovative features and functionality unique to NuScale's small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The Reactor Control Room & Simulator Lab will offer users an exciting hands-on learning opportunity to apply nuclear science and engineering principles through simulated, real-world nuclear power plant operation scenarios. The lab uses state-of-the-art computer modeling within a simulator of the NuScale VOYGR SMR power plant control room, allowing users to take on the role of "control room operator" at a NuScale VOYGR-12 plant. It will also provide a means to conduct outreach to the community through demonstrations, tours, and education for community leaders, K-12 students, and interested citizens. The launch of the newest E2 center comes as NuScale continues to prepare for the commercial deployment of a VOYGR power plant for the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems' Carbon Free Power Project at the Idaho National Laboratory in nearby Idaho Falls. This is the fourth E2 Center NuScale has unveiled with university partners. The first E2 Center opened at Oregon State University in November 2020, followed by a second at the University of Idaho at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) in August 2021. The third center is located at Texas A&M's Engineering Experiment Station and opened in November 2021. Plans are also under way for thefirst international E2 Center in collaboration with the U.S. and Romanian governments at the University Politehnica of Bucharest, highlighting the rapidly growing global support for NuScale's SMR technology as the premier clean energy solution around the world.



The first U.S. E2 Centers are supported by a 2019 U.S. Department of Energy grant to broaden the understanding of advanced nuclear technology in a control room setting and provide students, researchers, operators, and members of the public opportunities to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research and education. Learn more about the E2 Center on NuScale's website here.

About NuScale Power NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR) is poised to meet the diverse energy needs of customers across the world. It has developed small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. The groundbreaking NuScale Power Module (NPM), a small, safe pressurized water reactor, can generate 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe) and can be scaled to meet customer needs. NuScale's 12-module VOYGR-12 power plant is capable of generating 924 MWe, and NuScale also offers four-module VOYGR-4 (308 MWe) and six-module VOYGR-6 (462 MWe) power plants, as well as other configurations based on customer needs. Founded in 2007, NuScale is headquartered in Portland, Ore., and has offices in Corvallis, Ore.; Rockville, Md.; Charlotte, N.C.; Richland, Wash.; and London, UK. To learn more, visit NuScale Power's website or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Forward Looking Statements This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially as a result of a number of factors. Caution must be exercised in relying on these and other forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, NuScale's results may differ materially from its expectations and projections. NuScale specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing NuScale's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005895/en/

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Tonight we consider a scathing rebuke against a top law enforcement official in the metro and probably one of the most important columns we've read on the topic.



Here's the money line . . .



"The prosecutor's decision not to press charges of any sort against the shooter is, I believe, a consciously racist misreading of the law. Although Taylor has been charged in federal court with one count of a felon in possession of a firearm, Baker could have charged him under state law with "exhibiting in the presence of one or more persons, any weapon readily capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner." The shooter saw her boyfriend take the gun and brandish it. She aided and abetted him in the commission of this apparent felony."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

The Real Reason Woman Who Killed Firefighter Went Uncharged I have to wonder how George Zimmerman felt upon reading about the shooting death of Kansas City firefighter Anthony Santi, 41. Ten years ago, after getting his head pounded into the concrete for a minute or more, Zimmerman famously shot and killed...

You decide . . .
Report of a late-death following overnight gunfire reminds us that our KCMO homicide crisis continues.

As always, stats help tell the story . . .

THE KANSAS CITY HOMICIDE COUNT SPIKES 14% OVER LAST YEAR AND RANKS AMONGST THE WORST IN THE NATION!!!

Local media has mostly downplayed record breaking rising violence and, sadly, the topic is now part of an unproductive partisan debate amid midterm election season. Meanwhile, victims keep piling up.

Here is the latest report . . .



Homicide At 57th Street & Troost Avenue

On 10/25/2022 at 2333 hours, officers were dispatched to 5709 Troost Ave regarding a shooting.



Upon arrival, officers located two shooting victims, an adult male and an adult female, in front of the establishment. Both were transported to a local hospital.



A third victim, an adult female, was shot and responded to the hospital in a private vehicle.



It was later updated that the male victim succumbed to his injuries.



There is no further information at this time. Homicide detectives are currently investigating.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Man dead, two women injured in late Tuesday night shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man is dead and two woman are in the hospital following a shooting on Troost Avenue late Tuesday night. According to the Kansas City Police Department, officers were called to the area near 57th Street and Troost Avenue on reports of a shooting at 11:33 p.m.

1 dead, 2 injured in Tuesday night shooting near Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person is dead and two are injured after a shooting Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri. At around 11:33 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at 5709 Troost Ave.

Developing . . .
A fiery explosion erupted underneath a downtown bridge late Saturday night. Toronto police say no one was injured and Toronto paramedics said they were not called to the scene.
Armed goons said to be with a right-wing group interested in "election integrity" are lurking near ballot drop box locations in Arizona. A temporary restraining order was requested Tuesday alleging this amounted to voter intimidation and breaks federal law.

The lawsuit points to three complaints that have been submitted by voters to election officials in the state. The complaints reported individuals photographing the license plates of the voters as they sought to cast ballots via drop boxes, with one complaint alleging that the individuals called the voters a "mule," a reference to a fringe voter fraud conspiracy theory.  "Defendants' organized vigilante groups have already turned away voters. Under any circumstance, Defendants' conduct would be objectively intimidating," the lawsuit states. "But, in the current charged political climate, Defendants' actions carry with them exacerbated threats. There is no guarantee that the crowds that Defendants have mobilized and are continuing to stoke will remain peaceful.

That you can stand near a ballot box dressed up as soldiers, brandishing guns and threatening voters and this is all that will be done about it is wild. Here's some pics of goons released by Maricopa County Elections Department. These guys better cut it out, or Maricopa County Elections Department might have to release some more photographs!
Police are investigating claims by a rural Iowa woman named Lucy Studey that her late father Donald Studley murdered "50 to 70" women who were sex workers in Omaha and that as a child she assisted him in disposing of the corpses on their land, including dumping them in a well. According to a Newsweek article that sparked the investigation, she said she had notified the police multiple times of the years but was mostly dismissed. Meanwhile, her older sister Susan calls bullshit on Lucy's claims.

"My father was not the man she makes him out to be. He was strict, but he was a protective parent who loved his children  Strict fathers don't just turn into serial killers  I'm two years older than Lucy. I think I would know if my father murdered," Susan said.

From KETV:
Several parts of the country are inundated by flood water this evening.

It comes as a result of more rainfall overnight, causing many rivers to break their banks and water courses to spill over.
Over the past day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have repelled enemy attacks near such settlements as Ivanhrad, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Kurdiumivka, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Nevelske and Ternova.

The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Russian troops are trying to hold the temporarily occupied areas and focusing efforts on restraining the actions of Ukraines Defense Forces in certain directions. At the same time, the enemy continues attempts to conduct offensive actions in the Bakhmut direction and the Avdiivka direction.

Russian invaders are shelling Ukrainian positions along the contact line, building fortification structures in certain areas and conducting air reconnaissance. In violation of international humanitarian law and the laws and customs of war, the enemy continues to strike critical infrastructure and civilian houses.

Over the past day, Russian troops have launched five missile strikes and 30 air strikes, and opened fire with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) over 100 times.

Over 40 Ukrainian settlements came under enemy fire, including the city of Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Kharkiv regions Prykolotne and the Kherson regions Velyka Oleksandrivka.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the situation remained rather unchanged. Belarus continues to provide support for Russias armed aggression against Ukraine. The threat of missile strikes and UAV attacks is persisting all over Ukraine.

In other directions, Russian troops opened fire as follows:

in the Siverskyi direction  near such settlements as Starykove, Seredyna-Buda, Basivka, Mykolaivka and Ryzhivka, with mortars, cannon artillery and UCAVs;

in the Slobozhanskyi direction  near Vilkhuvatka, Budarka, Shevchenkove, Strilecha and Dvorichna, with mortars, cannon and rocket artillery;

in the Kupiansk and Lyman directions  near Berestove, Pershotravneve, Nevske, Bilohorivka, Serhiivka and Spirne, with tanks, mortars, cannon and rocket artillery;

in the Bakhmut direction  near Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Ivanhrad, Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka, Maiorsk and Odradivka, with tanks, mortars, cannon and rocket artillery;

in the Avdiivka direction  near Novomykhailivka, Pervomaiske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Nevelske and Novokalynove, with tanks and different artillery systems.

In the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia directions, Russian troops opened fire on Ukrainian positions and civil infrastructure near Vremivka, Vuhledar, Zaliznychne, Novopil and Poltavka.

In the Southern Bug direction, over 15 settlements came under enemy fire along the contact line. In order to conduct air reconnaissance, Russian invaders completed 20 different UAV flights.

According to the confirmed data, following the Ukrainian Armys pinpoint artillery strikes, Russias ammunition depot was destroyed in the Luhansk regions Novoivanivka and over 10 Kadyrovites were eliminated. In Svatove, up to 10 Russian invaders were eliminated and about five trucks with ammunition destroyed.

Over the past day, Ukrainian air forces have launched 21 strikes. Seventeen enemy ammunition and military equipment clusters were confirmed as hit, as well as two Russian strong points and two air defense system positions. The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units shot down five enemy UAVs.

Ukraines missile and artillery units struck one enemy command post, two personnel, ammunition and military equipment clusters, one electronic warfare system, and other important military targets.

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Over the past day, police officers have documented 28 Russian strikes on Donetsk region.

"The police have documented 28 Russian strikes on Donetsk region. Over the past day, the enemy shelled 13 settlements. Residential buildings became the Russians target. Civilians were killed and injured," the press service of the National Police reports.

As noted, the Russian army attacked the towns of Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Kurakhove, Toretsk, Druzhkivka, Chasiv Yar, Pivnichne, the villages of Tonenke, Krasnohorivka, Druzhba, Karlivka, Shevchenko, and Berdychi with artillery, Grad and Uragan MLRS.

Eleven civilian objects were destroyed and damaged  six residential buildings, premises of a coke-chemical plant, a technical school, farm buildings, and a garage.

"The ruscists hit Bakhmut four times. One of the explosions, which happened around 09:00, killed a civilian. Private houses and infrastructure facilities were damaged. Russian military shelled the village of Tonenke of Ocheretyn community and the town of Toretsk with artillery, injuring people," the report says.

Read also: Russia using phosphorus munitions in Donetsk region

As reported, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 68,900 Russian soldiers from February 24 to October 26.

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The issue of the release of Ukrainian prisoners is very sensitive, so excessive coverage of it can harm the negotiation process.

"It is a very sensitive issue... It is important to realize that much cannot be said as the negotiation processes are ongoing. And the more you and I talk publicly, the more we can complicate these processes. I once again ask people whose relatives are in captivity to use the services and information of government agencies," Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Malyar said during the nationwide telethon.

There is a coordination headquarters for prisoners of war issues which one needs to contact, the official noted.

"Believe me that today the state knows about every person in captivity, the active negotiations to release them are ongoing. Releases happen regularly and we don't even talk about all releases publicly. Believe me, this happens all the time," the deputy minister assured.

As reported, Ukraine released 108 women from Russian captivity on October 17.

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In the southern operational zone, missile and artillery units of Ukraines Defense Forces carried out about 150 fire missions targeting Russian troops.

Thats according to Operational Command South, Ukrinform reports.

"Our missile and artillery units carried out more than 150 fire missions overnight. The enemy's losses are still being verified," the statement reads.

According to the Command, the situation in the Southern Buh direction has undergone no significant changes, remaining difficult albeit controlled.

Units of Ukraines Defense Forces continue to hold the occupied positions and exert fire influence on the enemy combat positions in their concentration areas and on logistics facilities.

Meanwhile, the Russian troops are focusing their main efforts on conducting active defense missions and trying to hold occupied positions along the entire contact line.

Throughout the night, the invaders fired at the Ukrainian positions and surrounding territorial communities employing available means of destruction. For their strikes, the enemy used MLR systems, artillery shells of various calibers, and mortars.

In particular, the Russians hit the Shyrokivska community of Mykolaiv region with artillery and MLR systems. According to OC South, enemy shells landed in agricultural areas outside the settlement. There were no casualties or damage to property.

Along the coast of the temporarily occupied Crimea, a Russian naval group of nine warships and cutters, including three large landing vessels and the same number of cruise missile carriers, including a submarine, continues to maneuver. The enemy has 20 Kelibr missiles in full combat readiness.

The sea corridors operate within the framework of the grain agreement, secured by the Defense Forces of Ukraine and international guarantees.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, overnight Wednesday, October 26, Russian troops attacked Nikopol and the Chervonohryhorivska community of Dnipropetrovsk region, using Grad MLR systems. A power line was damaged, while no casualties were reported.

In the Nikopol district, Ukraines air defense forces downed another Russian kamikaze drone.
This is what Im thinking:

The longer it takes to officially name the morning anchor replacement for Melanie Orlins at WIVB-TV (Channel 4), the more it appears that interim co-host Chris Horvatits will join Kelsey Anderson on Wake Up! permanently.

Of course, that is barring any contract issues that could arise.

Anderson and Horvatits have been the primary anchor team since Orlins left in June after five years and eventually landed as a morning anchor in Charleston, S.C.

Channel 4 has long had a revolving door of co-anchors in the morning, a time slot in which viewers appreciate consistency.

While Melissa Holmes has co-anchored WGRZ-TVs (Channel 2) No. 1 morning program for almost 10 years, WIVB has gone through a succession of female morning co-anchors including Orlins, Diana Fairbanks, Teresa Weakley and Brittni Smallwood. Orlins five-years as co-anchor was a lengthy stay by Channel 4s standards.

The station also has had turnover in its morning male co-anchors, with Jordan Williams, Dave Greber and Joe Arena all in that role over the last decade.

Teaming Horvatits with Anderson makes sense, though losing his ability to report on other newscasts isnt ideal.

As I wrote more than three months ago, they have impressed while co-anchoring the program after Orlins left. Abby Fridmann, who is a reporter on Wake Up! and anchors the 8 to 10 a.m. news block on WNLO-TV (CW 23), also looked like a strong co-anchor when she worked alongside Anderson.

The trio seems to have good chemistry and has fun together, which is what morning programs try to illustrate to grab an audience.

Anderson and Horvatits are also Western New York natives, which suggests they are more likely to stay here than their predecessors. Anderson is from Orchard Park and Horvatits is from Lancaster.

Pumpkin Update: Eric Jones, the native of West Clarksville in the Southern Tier, earned $25,000 Sunday night when he was declared the winner of the Food Network series Outrageous Pumpkins.

He was previously a contestant on Season 10 of the Food Networks Halloween Wars. A freelance digital and sculpting artist, Jones owns and operates a large online caricature retail website and has developed sculpting snow, ice, sand and pumpkins into a career.

He created the giant snow sculptures of the Buffalo Bills players and other characters that have been a draw throughout the Northeast. He also has shown Bills fans how to make jack-o-lanterns for Halloween to look like Josh Allen.

Looking for a podcast with Western New York ties?

Former Buffalonian Louise Palanker is hosting a Media Path Podcast with former Buffalo radio personality Fritz Coleman, which focuses on books, movies and television. Media Path is available at mediapathpodcast.com and all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

If the name Palanker rings a bell, Joseph Palanker and Sons was owned by Louise's grandfather, father Marvin and Uncle Bernie. The business was sold after the deaths of her father and uncle.

Louise Palanker, who is from Williamsville and lives in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, wrote The Family Band: The Cowsills documentary on Showtime. It is now available on Amazon Prime.

She is a co-founder of Premiere Radio Networks, which is now a division of I Heart Media, writes a weekly advice column for Noozhawk.com and founded the advice app for teens, Ask Weezy.

Coleman, who was known as Jay Fredericks when he was a local radio personality at WBEN and WKBW, became a popular weatherman at KNBC in Los Angeles for almost four decades before retiring two years ago. He also is a stand-up comedian.

The Media Path Podcast has released 100 episodes and is billed as a look back at what has defined our media for the past half-century.

Guests have included California congressman Adam Schiff; television legend Henry Winkler; Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren; and Double Dare host Marc Summers.

According to the shows publicist, the episodes are a journey down a new path of remembering, learning, and re-evaluating our shared memories and histories.

Every show includes discussion of current cultural events and recommendations from the hosts, as well as extended, deep-dive discussions with figures who have had meaningful and memorable impact on the media world we experience.
Blinded by its own propaganda, Russia was not ready for defeat in the war against Ukraine, so it was forced to correct its own rhetoric hastily.

Thus, Russia denies the successes of the Ukrainian Army in the counterattack, continuing to focus on the alleged shortcomings of the Ukrainian defense system, and changes in the tactics of the special military operation, assuring, as always, that everything goes according to plan. The Center for Countering Disinformation and Information Security has collected several examples of how the Kremlin propaganda adjusts its playbooks amid their armys military defeats in the war against Ukraine.

There is no counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops, everything goes according to plan of the special military operation

With Ukraines first bolt-speed liberation of its cities and towns, Russian propagandists launched a massive campaign of excuses and explanations for domestic audiences. If Russia called the liberation of Snake Island from the Russian occupation a gesture of goodwill, then the loss of Balakliya, Izium, and Kupyansk was justified by the decision to regroup and conduct an operation to fold and organize the transfer of the Izium-Balaklia grouping to the territory of the DPR. In addition, on August 24, defense chief Sergei Shoigu announced a deliberate slowdown in the pace of the Russian offensive in order to save the lives of the civilian population. Similarly, in March, he referred to the retreat of Russian troops from Kyiv and Chernihiv regions as a drastic reduction in military activity in order to increase mutual trust (a hint at the possibility of resuming negotiations in Istanbul). The real reason for the retreat in both cases, however, was serious losses sustained in action and the inability to ensure proper supplies.

The message everything goes according to plan appears when something actually goes wrong. For example, this is how the Russian minister of defense explained the strikes by Ukrainian forces on Snake Island and the beginning of the Ukrainian counterattack in Kherson region. Since society is unaware of any military plans, any Russian failure on the battlefield can be justified by tricks within a broader plan claim.

Russia is provoked to escalation and use of nuclear weapons

Russian propagandists from the onset of the full-scale invasion began to discuss the expansion of the Russian war against Ukraine to World War III and its completion with a nuclear strike. Russian nuclear blackmail in response to fictional Western provocations has become particularly relevant recently in Putins addresses. It was mentioned with renewed vigor on September 21 in Putins video address, which emphasized that this is not a bluff!

In addition, such narratives are also circulated by pro-Kremlin channels, targeting European audiences. Thus, Russia puts itself in the role of a victim, who is forced to defend against the unjust world and incline to action in response, considering the use of nuclear weapons.

New stage of the special military operation

The message was again revived in Russian propaganda after the massive Russian missile attacks on Ukraine on October 10. It was then that the propagandists took turns claiming the new stage of dismantling Ukraine with calls for repeated and regular strikes. They see critical infrastructure as their main target. According to propagandists, all this is to deprive Ukraine of comfort because Ukraine has adapted to the current war thanks to Western support.

Ukraine's air defense is ineffective. It cannot cope with large-scale drone attacks

With similar narratives, Russian propaganda tries to continue to focus on the shortcomings of Ukraines defense system to justify own powerlessness. This narrative was especially active during the massive Russian missile attacks on Ukraine.

Stoking tensions on the part of Belarus

Belarus is intensively preparing, in their opinion, for the attack on Ukraine, and Russian propaganda will further play along, creating panic and helping find fictional provocations on the part of other states, including Ukraine.

Ukraine is a terrorist state

The Kremlin media have shifted in their designations of Ukraine from a country of Nazis and fascists to a terrorist state. Its worth noting that in August, members of the Just Russia  For Truth faction even submitted to the State Duma a draft law On Recognition of Ukraine as a Terrorist State and Confiscation of Property Belonging to Its Citizens in Favor of Russia. So, it is this vision that Russian propagandists and officials are now trying to impose onto their audiences most often.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security
The Australian government has decided to transfer an additional 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression.

That's according to ABC News, Ukrinform reports.

"Since their arrival [in Ukraine], the Bushmasters have been used extensively by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with more requested by the Ukrainian President, Minister for Defense, and the Ambassador," said Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

The 30 additional Bushmasters will bring the total number of the protected mobility vehicles sent to Ukraine to 90.

Also, after Catholic Christmas, Australia will send a contingent of up to 70 Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel to Britain to help train Ukrainian soldiers.

"Our soldiers will be part of a large training program in the United Kingdom to help prepare their Ukrainian mates for their struggle against Russia's unwarranted and unlawful aggression," Marles added.

Australia's total financial support for Ukraine now tops $655 million, including $475 million on military assistance for the war-torn nation.

Read also: Zelensky calls on Australian PM to strengthen security assistance to Ukraine

Photo: Australia's Department of Defense
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva have met in Berlin and discussed a new cooperation program and the consolidated efforts of partners in support of Ukraine.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The new cooperation program of Ukraine and the IMF, and the consolidated support of partners for our state were the main issues raised at a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Berlin. I thanked Ms. Georgieva for arranging the Ukraine mission, which had completed its work in Vienna. We are making every effort to pass through all interim stages and start a new cooperation program with the fund as soon as possible, Shmyhal noted.

In the continuation of the dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the parties also discussed the need to create an international donor platform. This refers to a mechanism of coordinating aid to Ukraine, determining the main areas of priority and long-term recovery, as well as sources of their financing.

This will allow a quick and effective response to economic challenges. I was once again convinced of the IMFs consistent and unequivocal support for Ukraine, opening up the new cooperation horizons to strengthen the countrys economy, Shmyhal added.

A reminder that, during a working visit to Berlin on October 24, 2022, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany Robert Habeck and Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany Svenja Schulze.

Photo: Denys Shmyhal, Telegram

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Two factions of the German Parliament are ready to support an increase in defense aid funding for Ukraine next year to more than 2 billion euros.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal wrote about this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"The German parliament is united in its support for Ukraine. Today, they held meetings with the Vice-President of the Bundestag with the Union90/Greens faction Katrin Goering-Eckardt and co-chair of the Union90/Greens party Ricarda Lang, as well as with the head of the opposition CDU, chair of the CDU/CSU faction in Bundestag Friedrich Merz," Shmyhal noted.

The Prime Minister is convinced that the Bundestag understands Ukraine's needs to counter the Russian enemy and is ready to continue to support Ukraine with weapons, funds, as well as technical and humanitarian assistance.

"In particular, both factions are ready to support an increase in defense aid funding for Ukraine next year to more than 2 billion euros. We are grateful to the German parliamentarians for their consolidation and clear position on supporting Ukraine," said Shmyhal.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Shmyhal discussed with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen the creation of a financial coordination platform and support for Ukraine.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had a phone conversation with his British counterpart James Cleverly after his reappointment to the new government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

I had a call with my UK counterpart James Cleverly who has just been re-appointed to the new government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Governments may change, but the support of our UK friends will remain unwavering for as long as it is needed for Ukraine to win, Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Read also: Zelensky congratulates Sunak on taking office as British PM

As reported, the head of the British government, Rishi Sunak, a few hours after taking office, presented a new government on Tuesday, October 25. Foreign Minister James Cleverly and British Defense Minister Ben Wallace were reappointed to the government.

Photo: Dmytro Kuleba, Twitter

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Germany's contribution to Ukraine's path to peace and restoration of territorial integrity is very significant.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a meeting with Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, we held important negotiations with Mr. President, which fully correspond to such relations between our countries. I thanked Germany for providing the modern Iris-T air defense system. It has performed very well in protecting our skies and saving our people today. It really is a priority, we all feel it. I hope that we will be able to get several more such systems soon," Zelensky said.

He also told Steinmeier about other defense needs of Ukraine to protect and liberate Ukrainian land: "In particular, this applies to artillery systems, armored vehicles, and other weapons.

Zelensky also added that he hopes for Germany's help in the reconstruction of Chernihiv region.

As Ukrinform reported, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on October 25 arrived in Ukraine for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale ongoing invasion.
Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure across Ukraine are war crimes of a genocidal nature.

Thats according to British and Lithuanian MPs who spoke with Guildhall, Ukrinform reports.

British lawmaker from the House of Commons Roger Gale said: It is clear to me that Putin is losing the ground war and therefore his attention to the prospect of attacking innocent civilians across Ukraine. Its goal is to try to disrupt lines of supply and communication, all the infrastructure that is servicing Ukrainian people that they will need for that for probably a long, cold winter. This is an innocent killing civilians, because his army is failing. That clearly are war crimes, and that is not proper.

I understand that entirely, that thousands of people could die without electricity. The West can continue supply Ukraine with defensive weapons and offensive weapons, we can help you to defend yourselves, we can try to provide the air-defense systems that will take out the drones in used to attack you. We are already doing that and will continue doing that, the member of parliament added.

Russian strikes on critical infrastructure, throughout Ukraine, it is tantamount to a genocide and may yet turn into a genocide of Ukrainians, he stressed.

In turn, Lithuanian legislator Paulius Saudargas said Lithuania was one of the first countries to recognize Russias war against Ukraine as a genocide and the atrocities committed by Russian army as war crimes.

Lithuanian parliament was the first parliament to describe Russia as a terrorist state. The resolution initiated by me and other colleagues passed unanimously in Lithuanian parliament, without any abstentions. The document also stressed that all perpetrators must be held accountable and that the international community must establish a Special International Criminal Tribunal to investigate and assess Russias crimes, Saudargas noted.

Russias tactics have not changed so far since the beginning of its aggression, the parliamentarian said. Lithuanias and my personal position has not changed as well  Russias attacks on critical infrastructure of Ukraine are definitely war crimes and genocide of Ukrainian people. There is only one possible effective response  democratic countries must promptly provide Ukraine with adequate air defense, anti-missile and anti-drone systems.

"I fully agree with the statement of the Ukrainian minister Dmytro Kuleba and European Commission President Ms. Von der Leyen, that Russian strikes on the critical infrastructure are a form of genocide against Ukrainians and could be called as war crimes"

Earlier, the head of the Center for Defense Reforms, coordinator of the interdepartmental platform for countering hybrid threats, which operates within the framework of Ukraine-NATO cooperation, Oleksandr V. Danylyuk said that as a response to Russian missile terrorism, the West should transfer to Ukraine F-16 fighter jets and long-range early warning aircraft.
Ukraine has recently intensified cooperation with Israel in the field of defense.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a briefing with the President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, in Kyiv on Wednesday, October 26, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Everyone is worried about our relationship. Everyone wants the warmer relations that exist between our societies. Honestly, I'm pleased with the fact that we've started working in recent days. [...] We're at the beginning of our cooperation. There's a positive trend in our relations with Israel. I am grateful for that," Zelensky said, adding that he devotes a lot of time to the topic of relations with Israeli partners.

Zelensky noted that the Ukrainian and Israeli intelligence services have now begun to cooperate. However, he refused to elaborate on exactly how this happens.

At the same time, he said that the data provided to Ukraine by Israeli intelligence confirmed the information that Ukrainian intelligence already had. In particular, he clarified that the issue concerned the use by Russia of about 400 Iranian drones against civilians in Ukraine. In this context, Zelensky thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine for shooting down 60-70% of those drones. He also expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed by Russian strikes.

According to The New York Times, Israel has recently given Ukraine intelligence useful for targeting the Iranian drones.

The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, is on a working visit to Kyiv on October 26.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed with his Guinea-Bissauan counterpart Umaro Sissoco Embalo on support at international platforms for Ukrainian resolutions regarding a compensation mechanism, a special tribunal for Russia and the Ukrainian Crimea.

The head of state said this at a briefing with the president of Guinea-Bissau in Kyiv on Wednesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Zelensky said that the first high-level negotiations in the history of bilateral relations took place today with the President of Guinea-Bissau and the head of the Economic Community of West African States.

He noted that Umaro Sissoco Embalo had become the first leader of an African state to visit Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion began in late February this year.

Zelensky also informed his Guinea-Bissauan counterpart about new Russian escalatory steps against Ukraine.

"I thanked Guinea-Bissau for supporting the principles of international law and territorial integrity of Ukraine during the vote at the UN General Assembly for a resolution condemning Russia's criminal attempt to annex our territory. We agreed on further support for the Ukrainian resolutions regarding the compensation mechanism and the special tribunal, as well as the Ukrainian Crimea," he added.

Zelensky also said that he had discussed with his African colleague other common challenges facing the two states, including the activities of the Wagner private military company.

The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, is on a working visit to Kyiv on October 26.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is seriously concerned over the continued deportation by Malaysia of asylum-seekers from Myanmar back to their country, placing lives at risk.

UNHCR has received multiple disturbing reports of these forced returns of Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, since April this year, including people seeking international protection. In the last two months alone, hundreds of Myanmar nationals are reported to have been sent back against their will by the authorities.

Such deportations of refugees and asylum-seekers amount to refoulement.

The latest incident is reported to have happened over the weekend. According to information received by UNHCR, an asylum-seeker from Myanmar was deported on 21 October from detention despite UNHCR interventions.

UNHCR continues to call on Malaysia to immediately stop the forced returns of Myanmar nationals seeking safety from serious harm.

Sending them back to Myanmar exposes them to harm and danger.

People fleeing Myanmar must be allowed access to territory to seek asylum and be protected against refoulement. Myanmar nationals already abroad should not be forced to return when seeking international protection.

The principle of non-refoulement is a cornerstone of international law and is binding on all states.

The situation in Myanmar is forcing people to flee to seek safety within the country and across borders.

UNHCR appeals to the Malaysian authorities to abide by their international legal obligations and ensure the full respect for the rights of people in need of international protection.

We reiterate our call on states in the region to continue offering protection to Myanmar nationals fleeing for safety. This also includes ending the practice of indefinite detention of asylum-seekers and refugees from Myanmar.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Election day this year is an off-year for many communities, and one of the only local contests in Erie County is for town justice in Cheektowaga, where an attorney and a retired police sergeant are vying for votes.

Town justices will be elected in 15 towns in Erie County, but the only other contested local race outside Buffalo is for Marilla town justice, where Taylor A. Erhardt, who has the Democrat, Republican, Conservative and Working Families parties lines, is being challenged by Howard S. Lobaugh Jr., who is running on the Marilla Patriot Party line.

In Cheektowaga, John J. Wanat is running on his experience as a Cheektowaga police officer for 23 years. Jennifer A. Runfola also is running on her experience as a practicing attorney for 26 years.

Wanat, a registered Democrat, has the Republican and Conservative endorsements. Runfola, a Democrat, is on the Democratic and Working Families lines.

The candidates faced off in the Democratic and Conservative primaries in June. Wanat won the Conservative race, while Runfola beat him in the Democratic contest.

2022 Election coverage: Your guide to the races affecting WNY Check below to read all of The Buffalo News' coverage on the bevy of local, state and national races affecting Western New York.

Runfola has been an Erie County assistant district attorney and served as the first female deputy town attorney in Cheektowaga. She also worked as a confidential law clerk for Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk. She is in private practice, while also serving as an assistant town attorney and prosecutor.

She said she has practiced in village, town, county and supreme courts.

"It helps me on Day One to come out running. I'm well prepared to do what a judge needs to do on the first day of January," Runfola said.

Wanat retired last month as a sergeant. He also worked as a corrections officer before joining the town, and does not see his lack of a formal law degree as a drawback, because of his experience as a police officer interpreting laws and arresting suspects.

"I got my law degree on the streets," he said.

Runfola attended law school at the University at Buffalo and University of Akron, earning a degree from Akron. She was admitted to the bar in 1997.

Wanat has had crisis intervention and SWAT training, and has assisted at the Erie County police training academy, teaching recruits in mental health, critical incidents and officer involved shootings.

"You need an attorney when you get in trouble, not when you want to be judged," Wanat said.

Runfola said she has served in nearly every position a lawyer could hold in the courtroom.

"I bring a unique perspective," she said.

The Cheektowaga justice court collects the second highest amount of fines Western New York, but attorneys serving on the Cheektowaga bench have been in the minority. Two former police officers, David Stevens and James J. Speyer, are the current judges. Speyer, a former assistant police chief, is not running for re-election this year, creating the opening each of the candidates hopes to fill.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani and Latvian Standardization Agreement (STANAG) test commissions have met in Baku under the military cooperation plan for 2022, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry.

The parties exchanged expertise on the production of STANAG English language exams at the meeting on October 25, and discussed moderation, mutual usage, and test material verification issues, the ministry said.

A Standardization Agreement (STANAG) is a NATO standardization document that specifies the agreement of member countries to implement standards.

Over the years, NATO allies have agreed to hundreds of STANAGs covering a wide variety of technical standards for equipment and common procedures.

Some examples include equipment and procedures for air-to-air refueling; common sizes, safety rules, and tests to make ammunition interchangeable; specifications to make national communications systems compatible; and formats to facilitate sharing intelligence and other information.
A horrific crash Monday left four teens dead, another hospitalized and the driver facing criminal charges.

A day later, Buffalo was learning about the young lives that were lost and the tragic consequences of a dangerous trend spread through the social media app TikTok.

Four teens killed when stolen Kia crashes at Kensington and Scajaquada Four teenagers were killed Monday when the stolen car they were riding in crashed at the entrance to the westbound Scajaquada Expressway from the westbound Kensington Expressway, according to Buffalo police.

The victims, identified by Buffalo police Tuesday, are Marcus Webster, 19; Swazine Swindle, 17; Kevin Payne, 16; and Ahjanae Harper, 14.

Another 14-year-old girl was recovering at Erie County Medical Center. She was initially being treated in the trauma intensive care unit, but she has been upgraded to good condition.

The 16-year-old who police say was behind the wheel of the stolen Kia was charged with a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a vehicle and a felony count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was issued an appearance ticket and must appear in court on Nov. 15. The Erie County District Attorney's Office is looking to file additional charges.

"You've got all these young people 14 to 19 who have their entire lives ahead of them and four lives are lost now. They're gone  and now you have two other people directly affected, in addition to families and friends, who are forever impacted by this," Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said.

Families and schools across Buffalo were grieving Tuesday.

Buffalo Public Schools issued an emailed statement, offering condolences to "everyone impacted by this unfortunate and horrific tragedy." The driver has not been identified because of his age.

Charter School for Applied Technologies posted a message on its website that one of the victims was a former student who attended the school "until very recently."

"We have dispatched additional counselors and social workers to the building," the message said, noting that the death was not related to another death of a senior at the school earlier this month.

A cousin of the youngest victim, Ahjanae Harper, started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help pay for funeral arrangements and to support Ahjanae's baby daughter.

"Ahjanae did leave a piece of her down her on earth and that is her baby Tru. Tru has to go through life without her mother," the girl's cousin Victoria Hutchins wrote on the GoFundMe page. "She was full of life and had so much more life in her to live. If you had a chance to know Ahjanae then youre a blessed individual. Ahjanae was always happy kept a smile on her face. Ahjanae was such a sweetheart. Unfortunately she was took away from us unexpectedly in a horrible car accident."

The cousin said that Ahjanae would have turned 15 on Nov. 1.

Once the identities of the victims were confirmed Monday night, Gramaglia said, he spoke with Buffalo Schools Superintendent Tonja Williams "so that all these schools can do their best to bring in grief counselors for fellow students and faculty."

The crash occurred at about 6:40 a.m. Monday on the westbound entrance of the Scajaquada Expressway from the inbound Kensington Expressway, a heavily traveled intersection in the heart of the city.

The Kia Sportage, reported stolen about 8 p.m. Sunday from a location in Buffalo and traveling at an excessive speed, apparently hit a wall. Everyone but the driver was ejected through the sunroof, police said.

Police said they are trying to determine who was involved in the theft of the car and where the youths traveled in the vehicle before the crash.

"We're investigating the circumstances of how and when the car was stolen, as well as the movement of the car throughout the night. All of that is still under investigation. That includes video canvasses and license plate readers. We have the black box. It's being downloaded," Gramaglia said, referring to the device in the vehicle that would have recorded data at the time of the crash.

Authorities across the nation have reported a rash of thefts of Kias. They say many young people are learning how to hot-wire the vehicles through videos posted to the social media app TikTok.

Thefts of Kias in Buffalo could triple between 2021 and 2022 The four teens who died in a car crash Monday on the Kensington Expressway were driving in a stolen Kia Sportage. So far this year, with more than two months left in the year, 177 have been reported stolen. In 2021, 69 were reported stolen.

Buffalo police have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Kias stolen locally. In all of 2020, 55 Kias were reported stolen to Buffalo police, according to data provided by the Buffalo Police Department. In 2021, there were 69. So far this year, 177 have been reported stolen.

"Look at the numbers," Gramaglia said. "You can plainly see that this is a significant problem."

Auto thefts skyrocketed across the nation during the pandemic. Earlier this year, Gramaglia said, Buffalo saw a notable decrease.

"Come spring and summer, they have gone the opposite direction," he said.

As of Oct. 7, 1,009 car thefts were reported to Buffalo police this year, compared to 1,045 during the same period in 2021, police records show.

But during Sept. 10 to Oct. 7, the city saw 126 reports of stolen vehicles, compared to 66 during the same period in 2021.

"Cars are being stolen for a couple of reasons," Gramaglia said.

In some cases, they're being used to commit some other crime, such as a robbery or a shooting. But in many cases, it is young people taking them for a joy ride before they dump them somewhere, he said.

Gramaglia, a frequent critic of some bail reform measures, pointed out that stealing a car, whether by a juvenile or an adult, is not considered a bail-qualifying offense.

"So every time these kids get arrested, they have to be given an appearance ticket," he said. "There's no accountability. There's no consequences to driving around in a stolen car."

Buffalo police have noticed an increase in the number of Kias being stolen lately. But Gramaglia said that in most cases, cars left running or with the keys inside are the ones getting stolen.

"Those are still far and away why cars are being stolen and stolen so easily," he said.

He urged vehicle owners to use common sense, to lock their cars and to not leave key fobs inside vehicles.
The Buffalo Diocese in its settlement Tuesday with the State Attorney Generals Office made no admissions about covering up for priests who had molested children, but agreed to implement enhanced measures to prevent future sex abuse in parishes and schools.

The settlement, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, bans two retired bishops linked to a cover-up of sex abuses from serving in any charitable fiduciary roles in New York, and requires the diocese to follow through for five years on such measures as a program to monitor offending priests.

AG sues Buffalo Diocese, alleging misuse of funds in covering up sex abuse cases New York's AG is alleging diocese leaders protected more than two dozen priests accused of child sexual abuse by not referring their cases to the Vatican.

Attorney General Letitia James said the deal ushers in a much-needed era of independent oversight and accountability of the diocese.

For far too long, the Buffalo Diocese and its leaders failed their most basic duty to guide and protect our children, she said. In choosing to defend the perpetrators of sexual abuse instead of defending the most vulnerable, the Buffalo Diocese and its leaders breached parishioners trust and caused many a crisis of faith.

The diocese did not admit to any wrongdoing in the stipulated final order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie Abrams.

Read the settlement between the Buffalo Diocese and state attorney general's office View the 31-page settlement reached Oct. 25, 2022, between the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and the New York State attorney general's office, w

The 2020 lawsuit accused diocese leaders of protecting more than two dozen priests accused of child sex abuse by not referring their cases to the Vatican for potential removal from the priesthood. It also accused Bishop Richard J. Malone and Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Grosz of misusing charitable assets by supporting priests who they knew had likely sexually abused minors.

Malone resigned in 2019 under intense criticism over his handling of abuse allegations. Grosz retired a few months later in 2020.

Bishop Michael W. Fisher, who succeeded Malone, expressed deep regret and acknowledged Tuesday that those who presented themselves as ministers of God had defiled their vows and committed crimes against the most vulnerable.

Fisher also said that survivors of clergy sex abuse were not to blame for the abuse.

As we move forward, I want to assure them that what happened to them will never happen again in this diocese, he added.

Abuse survivors expressed skepticism about how much the settlement holds diocese officials accountable.

Michael F. Whalen, the abuse survivor whose 2018 news conference began the unraveling of a massive sexual abuse scandal in the diocese, called the settlement "a step in the right direction, but expressed concern that it wont keep diocese officials honest.

"I just don't think it goes far enough," Whalen said. "I think it should be permanent."

Whalen said he also was troubled that the settlement did not include stiffer penalties for Malone and Grosz.

"The cover-ups that they did ... they are crimes," Whalen said. "Those guys walking away with no charges really gets under my skin. They should be held accountable for their actions."

With little explanation, diocese has reinstated 17 priests accused of sexual abuse The diocese publicized the priests returns to ministry by stating that a review board had examined the claims and found them to be not substantiated.

A spokesman for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests characterized the settlement as disappointing.

The settlement as agreed to does not result in any public disclosures of abusers or enablers, does not involve any perpetrators facing trial and does not make any changes to the status quo that ease the effects of trauma on Buffalo survivors or make any children in Buffalo safe," SNAP spokesman Michael McDonnell said.

The lawsuit culminated a two-year investigation into the diocese's sex abuse scandal that began in 2018 with Whalens public accusation that he had been abused as a boy by the Rev. Norbert Orsolits. Following Whalens news conference, the retired priest admitted to The News that he had molested probably dozens of children in the 1970s and 1980s.

Revelations of other abuse cases that had been buried by church officials for years and sometimes decades poured forth, leading to a federal investigation, a compensation program that paid out $17.5 million to 106 abuse victims, hundreds of lawsuits and a bankruptcy filing, in addition to the Attorney Generals lawsuit.

The states lawsuit was transferred into federal court shortly after its filing when the dioceses lawyers raised religious freedom questions. The diocese has paid multinational law firm Jones Day more than $1.4 million to defend itself against the AG's lawsuit, according to court papers.

Despite Child Victims Act, justice remains elusive for some survivors of abuse Robert Kapal spent nearly 40 years trying not to remember a Buffalo Diocese priest he says abused him as a child. But when asked about him four years ago, Kapal burst into tears.

At a news conference in the dioceses Main Street headquarters, Fisher introduced Melissa Potzler, a former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, as vice chancellor, in-house counsel and child protection policy coordinator. Potzler took on the role in September. She previously was parish life coordinator at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Orchard Park.

The agreement with the attorney general also calls for the diocese to hire Kathleen McChesney, a former assistant director of the FBI and the first director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Child Protection, as independent auditor, pending approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

McChesney will have access to all diocese documents and communications deemed necessary to complete the audit and an annual report that will be posted to the dioceses website for public review.

While the settlement prohibits Malone and Grosz from serving on the boards of nonprofit organizations in New York, it has no bearing on their ability to perform ministerial or sacramental duties.

Grosz, however, removed himself from public ministry following an abuse claim made against him in a Child Victims Act lawsuit. He has remained out of the public eye since last summer.

Buffalo Diocese seeks to transfer 35 abuse claims to Boy Scout bankruptcy plan Thirty-five Child Victims Act lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo may end up getting settled in federal bankruptcy court  albeit through the Boy Scouts of Americas Chapter 11 plan, not the dioceses own bankruptcy process.

Malone is considered by the Vatican to be a bishop in good standing and has no restrictions on his ministry or priestly work.

Fisher said he realized Malones presence may be painful to others, and there may be certain functions that we have to talk about, so we do that with prudence.

Celebrating confirmation, celebrating Mass with the people if hes asked, Im comfortable with that, because hes not in any kind of fiduciary or administrative function there, Fisher said.

McDonnell said the punishment for Malone and Grosz was inadequate.

For two men who were accused of covering up decades of sex crimes against children, such a punishment does not even qualify as a slap on the wrist, he said.

Another key stipulation of the settlement is a program to monitor priests with substantiated claims of abuse against them. The lawsuit and an accompanying 218-page investigative report slammed the diocese for what it characterized as lax oversight of priests accused of molesting children.

Fisher implemented the monitoring program last year for 18 priests. It includes monthly visits to the priests homes by a retired probation officer and a host of other restrictions for offending priests as part of the dioceses efforts to comply with the terms of the attorney generals lawsuit.

After a handful of those priests declined to participate, Fisher cut or eliminated their pensions to force them into compliance. Two priests sued the diocese, claiming breach of contract, but a state Supreme Court judge dismissed the case in August.

Diocese officials have publicly acknowledged that substantiated abuse allegations have been lodged against 80 diocese priests and 23 religious order priests who served in the diocese since 1950. Child Victims Act cases filed since 2019 have accused at least 175 different priests.

With the Attorney Generals lawsuit now settled, Fisher said the diocese will be able to focus more fully on mediation in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.

Its certainly a turning point. Some were asking, 'Do you see this as a win or loss?' I dont look at it that way. I look at this as an opportunity for us to fine-tune our policies, to make them stronger so that as we move forward in the restructuring  hopefully well get through that and well have the resources to move ahead with the mission  and thats to proclaim the good news and to help the people were responsible for, he said.
ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2022) The Czech Republic has expressed hope that Europe would not buy Russian energy via the Turkish gas hub as there is a discussion on the major issue of energy imports from Russia, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Sikela said on Tuesday.

"The question is, how will this hub operate? Because Europe will know that it is Russian gas. I expect Europe will not buy it," Sikela told Turkish newspaper Dunya.

The minister added that Europe views the issue of imports from Russia as a major problem and blames Moscow for the skyrocketing energy prices, according to the report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow could redirect gas transit from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines to Turkey and later discussed this initiative with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two leaders instructed relevant institutions to quickly work out the details.

The start of hostilities in Ukraine in February exacerbated the energy crisis unfolding in Europe over the past year. Disruptions in logistical and financial operations due to the crisis and Western sanctions against Russia have undermined supply chains and led to a spike in energy prices worldwide, pushing many European governments to resort to contingency measures.
United Nations, United States, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2022 ) :A cholera outbreak in Haiti is spreading fast, with the number of cases doubling to nearly 2,000 in a matter of days and at least 41 deaths, its health ministry said Tuesday.

The new outbreak, which began in early October, comes three years after the impoverished Caribbean nation -- which is also grappling with spiralling insecurity -- finally stamped out an outbreak that began in 2010 and killed more than 10,000 people.

"Up until a few days ago, the increase of cholera cases had been gradual but now we are seeing a worryingly sharp increase, so the situation has become more challenging," wrote the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, in a blog post published Tuesday.

"Although cholera can be deadly, it is preventable and treatable," she said, adding that "speed is of the essence" to contain the outbreak.

Richardson lauded the "immediate and decisive" UN-supported work by Haitian authorities and NGOs, who continue to face critical shortages of clean water and fuel due to gang blockades.

Between October 19 and 23, the number of suspected cases in Haiti shot up from 964 to 1,972 while fatalities have risen from 33 to 41, the Haitian health ministry said.

The vast majority of cases are found in Ouest department and the capital Port-au-Prince in particular, and the slum known as Cite Soleil.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that according to UNICEF, children under the age of 14 made up about half of the cases.

He said that fuel shortages caused by gang blockage of Haiti's main fuel import terminal are complicating the work of NGOs, interrupting deliveries of clean water which is essential for fighting cholera.

Richardson said she had visited several cholera treatment centers in the most affected neighborhoods of Haiti's capital, where she saw heartbreaking scenes, including "children who were so malnourished, it was difficult to insert a drip into their arms or legs." Haiti's government has called on the international community for help with its worsening health and security crises.

The UN Security Council, at the request of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is considering sending an international force to restore order.

It was a UN stabilization mission which brought cholera to the country in 2010.
SHIBERGHAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2022 ) :Afghan provincial administration distributed improved seed and fertilizer to nearly 16,000 farmers in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, provincial head for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Qari Abadullah Ansar said.

"Using improved seed and fertilizer in farmlands would have a positive impact and therefore we began distribution of the agricultural materials to the farmers in the provincial capital Shiberghan and all the districts of the province," Ansar told reporters.

"The package includes 800 tons of improved seed of wheat and 1,600 tons of chemical fertilizer and is distributed among 15,863 farmers across the province today," Ansar added.

Welcoming the step, local farmer Gul Agha told Xinhua, "We have suffered due to consecutive drought over the past years. We need more support." The farmer added that he hoped to harvest desired grain after using the improved seed this time.

The Taliban-run caretaker government has promised to support farmers in boosting agricultural products and irrigating more than 600,000 hectares of land in the northern Balkh province and the neighboring Jawzjan and Faryab provinces over the next five years.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2022 ) :Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day official visit to China on November 1 at the invitation of Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also accompany the prime minister, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.

This will be Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first visit to China since assuming office in April 2022 and follows his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022.

The prime minister will be among the first leaders to visit China following the historic 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The Foreign Office said, "The prime minister's visit represents the continuity of frequent leadership level exchanges between Pakistan and China.

" During his stay, the prime minister will meet President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Keqiang.

The two sides will review the All-Weather Strategic Cooperation Partnership and exchange views on regional and global developments.

"The visit is also expected to advance the wide-ranging bilateral cooperation agenda with the conclusion of a number of MoUs/Agreements in diverse areas, and consolidate the momentum of CPEC cooperation in the wake of the 11th meeting of the CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on October 27, 2022," the FO said.
Bulgaria approved the purchase of eight more F-16 fighter jets in the United States, media reported on Wednesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) Bulgaria approved the purchase of eight more F-16 fighter jets in the United States, media reported on Wednesday.

Bulgaria signed a contract with the US for the purchase of eight F-16 Block 70 fighters worth $1.26 billion, which went into effect in July 2019, with Sofia paying for the aircraft upfront. Under the deal, Bulgaria should have received the first fighter jets by mid-2023, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these deadlines were pushed back to 2025. In July 2022, Bulgaria received an offer from the US for the supply of eight more fighters of the same type. The deadline for responding to the offer was set to expire in November.

The Bulgarian government authorized the country's defense minister to sign a new contract after the National Assembly approves the draft law on investment expenditures, which includes the supply of aircraft, ammunition and spare components, as well as maintenance and training of Bulgarian pilots, Bulgarian National Television said.

According to the Bulgarian Constitution, the contract should be subject to subsequent ratification by the National Assembly.

Lockheed Martin, the F-16 manufacturer, says that the F-16 Block 70s are fourth generation fighters that feature technologies developed for the fifth generation, including a modernized cockpit with new safety features, and advanced weapons.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) In a telephone conversation with the newly elected Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that bilateral relations and NATO membership issues should not be "taken hostage" by terrorists, the office of the Turkish president said on Wednesday.

On May 18, three months after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden submitted their NATO membership applications, abandoning decades of neutrality. With 28 out of 30 NATO members having formally ratified the agreements on Finland and Sweden's accession, both countries are now in talks with Turkey and Hungary to complete the ratification process. Ankara demands the Nordics withdraw support from groups and people it considers terrorists.

"President Erdogan stressed that it would be of common benefit to prevent Sweden's bilateral relations with Turkey and its membership to NATO from being taken hostage by terrorist organizations," the statement said.

Responding to Kristersson's letter from October 19, in which he requested a meeting, Erdogan said that he would be happy to welcome the Swedish Prime Minister in Ankara.

"President Erdogan said that Turkey stands ready to advance the bilateral relations with the Swedish government in all areas. Noting that Ankara is following Prime Minister Kristersson's statements of commitment to the Trilateral Memorandum, President Erdogan said that the Trilateral Memorandum would serve as a guide in the period ahead," the statement read.

Turkey has blocked the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, citing their tolerance of "terrorists," including persons affiliated with organizations which Ankara considers terrorist, namely, the organization of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen (FETO) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party, as well as Sweden's ban on arms exports to Ankara.

On June 28, Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding, which Ankara said addressed all of its concerns. Sweden has been committed to implementing the document, with the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) announcing on September 30 the lifting of a three-year-old embargo on arms exports to Turkey.
CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) Moldova will not be able to become a member of the European Union in the foreseeable future, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon told Sputnik.

"Moldova will not be a member of the EU, neither today, nor tomorrow, nor in the foreseeable future," Dodon said.

Dodon pointed to numerous countries which have been waiting for decades for their applications to join the bloc to be accepted, which the ex-Moldovan leader doubts will happen.

According to him, the statements of the Moldovan government about European integration are propaganda for the people.

Such European values as support for the LGBT community or tough government measures against protesters are not close to Moldova, Dodon noted.

"We must be friends with everyone, so there will be no Europe, there will be no European Union. We must proceed from our interests," Dodon said.

The heads of state and government of EU countries approved granting Moldova and Ukraine the status of candidates to join the union on June 23. The European Council will take further steps after the candidate countries fulfill the conditions formulated by the European Commission.

In October, Moldova hosted the first meeting of the European integration commission, which discussed the need for reforms in various areas and called for the creation of 35 working groups to change local legislation to European standards.
Michael F. Whalen, whose 2018 news conference began a sexual abuse scandal in the Buffalo Diocese, called the diocese's settlement with the state attorney general on Tuesday "a step in the right direction."

He's a bit worried, though, that the enhanced child protection and priest monitoring plans mandated in Attorney General Letitia James' settlement won't go far enough to keep the diocese honest. The court-ordered monitoring program will last for a period of five years.

"I just don't think it goes far enough," Whalen said in an interview with The Buffalo News. "I think it should be permanent."

In Nov. 2020, James sued the Buffalo Diocese, along with retired Bishop Richard J. Malone and retired Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Grosz, over their handling of clergy sexual abuse cases.

The civil case accused diocese leaders of protecting more than two dozen priests accused of child sexual abuse by not referring their cases to the Vatican for potential removal from the priesthood. It also accused Malone and Grosz of misusing charitable assets by supporting priests who they knew had likely sexually abused minors.

Buffalo Diocese agrees to improve child sexual abuse protections to settle AG's lawsuit The Buffalo Diocese in its settlement with the State Attorney Generals Office made no admissions about covering up for priests who had molested children, but agreed to implement enhanced measures to prevent future sex abuse in parishes and schools.

The diocese did not admit to covering up abuses of children or misusing assets as part of the settlement.

The settlement prohibits Malone & Grosz from serving in a fiduciary capacity in any New York charity.

The settlement also does not include financial penalties for Malone & Grosz, something that doesn't sit well with Whalen.

"The coverups that they did  they are crimes," Whalen said. "Those guys walking away with no charges really gets under my skin. They should be held accountable for their actions."

Kevin Koscielniak, a former Cardinal Dougherty High School student who said he was molested in 1979, scoffed at the language the diocese used in a news release suggesting it already had sufficient policies in place for the protection of children.

Lawsuits identify 230 priests as molesters, including 8 of WNY's most-accused abusers The numbers are a striking rebuke to Buffalo Diocese officials who for decades downplayed the extent of abuse in the area and protected molester priests from prosecution and public accountability.

"Lets be clear: They are not heroes in this," Koscielniak said of diocesan leaders. "They can make it sound like they were putting these things in place. The only reason they were putting them in place is because this lawsuit started. This was not voluntary. If none of this happens, they are not changing their ways."

The settlement spells out the process for investigating abuse allegations and reporting them to police. It also mandates more transparency by the diocese's review board, a group of mostly lay professionals who evaluate abuse claims.

If a sexual abuse claim against a priest has been "substantiated," the settlement states, the priest will be prohibited from "possessing pornography or sexually explicit materials of any kind." He also must stay away from strip clubs and adult bookstores and cannot live within 1,000 feet of "a school, park or other place where children gather."

Koscielniak said the specificity of the settlement made it clear that the AG had to handle diocesan leaders "like kids."

"Weve got to put all these things in place because you cant handle your own business," he said. "And, sadly, its the taxpayers who are paying for this."

Whalen said that when he came forward in 2018, he never expected state and federal investigations of the diocese to take shape. But he's glad the settlement will bring a measure of accountability to the church. He said he hopes sexual abuse victims of all ages continue to speak out.

"Holding these people in check and holding the diocese in check, that is something I didnt expect," Whalen said. "I never expected any of that. I was just there to tell my story to tell other survivors that they werent alone."
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CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) The head of Libya's Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar signed two agreements on military cooperation between Tripoli and Ankara on Tuesday, the press service of the Libyan politician said in a statement.

According to the statement, the signing ceremony was held in Istanbul. The first agreement envisions "the use of Turkish experience in improving the effectiveness of Libya's military aviation capabilities."

"The second agreement included protocols for the implementation of the security agreement signed by the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (of Libya) in 2019," the statement said.
CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) The Moldovan authorities can use the constitutional court to deploy NATO troops in the country at any time, despite the state's neutrality, former President Igor Dodon said in an interview with Sputnik.

"In 2016-2017, the Constitutional Court of Moldova adopted a ruling, in line with which the status of neutrality does not play any role at all. It is written there that if the government considers it necessary for some forces to intervene to solve its security problems, this can be done despite the neutral status. There is such a decision of the Constitutional Court, it is in force, no one has canceled it," Dodon said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) The closer US troops are to Russia's borders, the more fully Russia must build its security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, commenting on the deployment of the 101st US Airborne Division in Romania.

CBS reported last week that 4,600 soldiers from the US Army's 101st Airborne Division and some heavy equipment had been deployed to Romania for the first time in almost 80 years to defend against any attack on NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"The close US troops are to our borders, the greater the danger is for us," Peskov told reporters, adding that based on this, Russia will build a policy of ensuring its own security.

Such movements of US troops near the borders of Russia "do not lead to the strengthening of predictability and stability" in the region, the official added.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Russia has communicated to the United States that American military claiming readiness to cross into Ukraine in case of an escalation is unacceptable, Ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov told Newsweek, warning of "disastrous consequences" if US troops join the fight against Russia.

"We have already officially pointed out to high-ranking members of the US Government that such bravura statements by the U.S. Army commanders are inadmissible," Antonov said.

The diplomat warned that "direct participation of the US military in the fighting will lead to disastrous consequences."

The ambassador expressed confidence that further aggravation of the situation does not meet Washington's interests.

He also noted that Russia is not going to tolerate a situation where military threats are mounting on its borders.

The United States is becoming increasingly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, turning the country into a battlefield with Russia, Antonov observed.

CBS reported on Friday that 4,600 soldiers from the US Army's 101st Airborne Division and some heavy equipment have been deployed to Romania for the first time in almost 80 years to defend against any attack on NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to CBS, its commanders told the broadcaster that while they're there to defend NATO soil, if the fighting escalates or there's an attack on the alliance, they're fully prepared to cross into Ukraine.
US Special Presidential Coordinator Amos Hochstein will travel to Lebanon on Wednesday to finalize the agreement to establish a permanent maritime boundary between Lebanon and Israel, according to a release

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) US Special Presidential Coordinator Amos Hochstein will travel to Lebanon on Wednesday to finalize the agreement to establish a permanent maritime boundary between Lebanon and Israel, according to a release.

"In Beirut, Hochstein will meet with President Michel Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to extend his gratitude to each for the consultative and open spirit demonstrated throughout the negotiations," the release stated.

Hochstein will then travel to Naqoura in southern Lebanon to take the final steps to bring the agreement into force.

Israel and Lebanon will then submit maritime coordinates to the United Nations in the presence of the US. Hochstein will then travel to Israel where he will meet with Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

The US-brokered deal demarcates maritime Mediterranean Sea border for the first time between Israel and Lebanon, which technically remain at war. It will also set up an arrangement for both countries to receive royalties from Total's exploration of a shared offshore gas field.
To support the next generation of inventors, USF Research & Innovation and the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame are partnering with The Florida High Tech Corridor, Hillsborough County Public Schools and STEM programs nationwide to provide innovative learning opportunities to students of all ages.

IGNITE, Inspiring Generations of New Inventors Through Engagement, is an initiative launched by the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame at USF Research & Innovation on the Tampa campus, to bring invention resources to students near and far, the Tampa Bay community and USF.

The program was inspired by inductee acceptance speeches made at the 2021 Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which included Norma Alcantar, associate dean for research and professor of chemical, biomedical and materials engineering at USF. Many inductees called upon community members to inspire the next generation of inventors. While providing young innovators access to invention education resources, such as maker spaces, online curriculum and inventor mentors, the program strives to break low-income barriers and bridge gaps for minority and women inventors across the country.

So much research shows that minorities and female students are less likely to become inventors if they dont see inventors who look like them. This is an opportunity to change that, said Jamie Spurrier, assistant program director of USF Research & Innovation and program manager of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. It is our greatest hope that our contributions to the Florida innovation community, as well as the national innovation community, will have a ripple effect that leads to the advancement and betterment of society.

To offer the inventor opportunities and resources to students nationally, IGNITE is partnering with Scoutlier, a free digital learning application that was developed to support interactive learning accessible on any device. The partnership will provide IGNITE Challenges to teachers and students  unique real-world applications of invention activities. The curriculum includes lessons hosted by IGNITE inventor mentors, as well as seasoned professionals who have volunteered to participate in the program and give back to students.

Inventor mentors will work one-on-one with students to guide them through academic and career choices. The mentors will share their innovation journey and help students navigate challenges.

Having a mentor who believes in you gives you confidence and pushes you, Alcantar said. She shared that her own mentor  a high school chemistry teacher  led to her finding her passion and pursuing a life of innovation. She pushed me to enter a science fair and during the process, I ended up discovering I wanted to become a scientist.

Since then, Alcantar dedicated her career to exploring mechanisms that mimic natural processes, with one of her largest inventions being new technologies to produce clean water. Talking to students is so valuable and exposing them to innovation  it shows them they can do this!

Students will have the opportunity to prototype their ideas at a maker space provided by the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation, a nonprofit located in Tampa that is home to the Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center Fab Lab. The lab gives students access to resources not typically provided by schools or freely accessible, such as power and hand tools, 3D printing, prototyping, robotics and entrepreneurial support.

A program like IGNITE brings high-quality innovation education to students in the community in an accessible, meaningful and relevant format not available to them in local schools or extracurricular programming, said Terri Willingham, executive director of the Foundation for Community Driven Innovation.

To further engage with students locally, IGNITE is coordinating an inventor mentor speaker series at Hillsborough County Public Schools and will be present at annual events, such as the Great American Teach-In and the county STEM fairs.

The team applied for a grant that will allow the existing partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools to grow. The funds would support Inventors@School, an expanded invention education program designed to teach students skills beneficial for working in STEM and allows for specialized training for educators to incorporate invention education into their curriculum.

The online curriculum focuses on cultivating the innovation mindset and helping students develop the skills necessary for invention, such as creative problem solving, agility, resilience, teamwork and leadership, Spurrier said. These are all solid foundation skills that will set students up for success in their lives, career and their field as innovators.

Students, teachers or professionals interested in becoming an inventor mentor are invited to submit the IGNITE Interest Form.
A funeral for the 19-year-old SUNY Buffalo State student killed in a stabbing earlier this month on the University at Buffalo's North Campus will be held Saturday.

The service for Tyler X. Lewis, a sophomore from Long Island, will be held at Union Baptist Church in Hempstead, according to Lewis' family.

Buffalo State student killed in UB stabbing called 'smart, charismatic and insightful' The police investigation into Friday's fatal stabbing of Tyler X. Lewis, 19, a SUNY Buffalo State student, on the University at Buffalo's North Campus "is progressing," a UB spokesman said Monday.

Lewis was stabbed shortly before 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 near Moody Terrace, which is near Richmond Quad, outside a freshman dorm at the North Campus' Ellicott Complex. He was pronounced dead at Erie County Medical Center.

No arrests have been announced, but the day after the killing, police said they had identified a person of interest in the case.

On Oct. 19, the university said in a statement that police had "made significant progress in identifying individuals involved in the altercation" that led to Lewis' death.

A university spokesman on Wednesday said police are working on the case daily with the Erie County District Attorney's Office "and they are making real progress."

University police are in daily contact with Lewis' family, and "they have been very helpful," spokesman John DellaContrada said.

Buffalo State student fatally stabbed at UB; police search for wounded 'person of interest' UB officials said the stabbing "was a targeted act of violence" and said in a statement there is no ongoing danger to the university community.

"The university is taking this case very seriously and is eager to have it solved," he added.

Lewis was a pre-business administration major, according to Buffalo State officials.

His mother, Roquisha Lewis, said in an email that he "was a smart, charismatic and insightful teenager who had a rich sense of humor."

Tyler Lewis was a 2021 graduate of Baldwin High School.

Police described the person of interest as a white man, between 19 and 22 and roughly 5-feet, 5-inches to 5-feet, 9-inches tall.

He had "significant facial injuries," including what the university described as a large diagonal cut across his forehead and multiple facial cuts.

He has light brown hair and a medium build and was wearing a mustard-colored shirt covered in blood, the university said.

Police ask anyone who may have information to call them at 716-645-2222.
A man sells food and spices in Ethiopia, with a baby at his side. (AFP or licensors)

As the Church marks World Mission Month this October, Australia's Catholic Mission agency is dedicating its efforts to helping Ethiopia to fight malnutrition and child death, to educate, and to secure employment and well-being.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

As the Church celebrates World Mission Month this October, Ethiopia is at the heart of the work being carried out by Australia's Catholic Mission, the international mission agency of the Catholic Church in Australia.

The agency is extending an invitation to help build brighter futures for communities in the north African nation, especially as ongoing famine and drought continue to devastate the Horn of Africa.



Locally and globally, Catholic Mission operates in over 160 countries to support initiatives in 1,100 dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for the Evangelisation.

Statistics show that 48% of the Ethiopia's child deaths are linked to malnutrition; 50% of children suffer from stunting; and 83% of women in Ethiopia are illiterate.

As World Mission Month recalls the life-giving work of missionaries around the world, the mission wishes to "walk hand in hand with the people of Ethiopia and local church communities" towards providing life-changing opportunities to those in most need.

Walking hand in hand with most needy

In Pope Francis' 2022 World Mission Sunday message, the Holy Father invited all people to answer the call to be missionary, saying that "mission is carried out together, not individually."

Catholic Mission wishes to welcome this invitation through the Pontifical Mission Societies international network and with its supporters.

Working at a grass-roots level and closely collaborating with the local communities, they aim to find sustainable solutions which will bring hope to those who need it most.

Concrete help for a brighter future

The agency is working on mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society.

In the country's rural region of Emdibir, 70 percent of families struggle to put food on their tables.

A woman walking in Ethiopia

Reacting to this challenge, Catholic Mission Australia is working towards providing them with a sustainable source of nutrition by building a goat rearing centre, to fight malnutrition.

The local priest running the project aims to raise locals out of poverty, by creating employment, providing sustainable food resources, and bringing hope.

In Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa, local partners are helping children access education, including a scholarship program to offer children whose families face financial hardship, a solid education.

Moreover, Australia's Catholic Mission also supports women in the town of Meki to learn skills and gain financial independence by providing access to vocational training, in order to secure employment or start their own businesses.
An Allegany County man accused as a 17-year-old of killing his mother and father has pleaded guilty and plans to argue for a shorter sentence based on claims he was abused by his parents.

William J. Larson Jr. pleaded guilty Monday in Allegany County Court to one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter in connection with the slaying of his parents in November 2019.

The plea was first reported by the Wellsville Sun.

Facing a potential sentence of 50 years to life if found guilty at trial, the plea agreement caps the maximum sentence at 15 years to life, defense attorney Dominic Saraceno said.

Saraceno also plans to argue his client was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of his parents, which, if successful, would lower a potential sentence to five to 15 years in prison, the attorney said.

Neighbor: Teen murder suspect spent weeks in house with parents' bodies I was basically taking care of him these past three weeks. I had no idea his parents were dead up there. It blows my mind, said neighbor Bruce

"He's consistently maintained that his parents had abused him," Saraceno said.

That reported abuse, Saraceno said, includes his father shooting him with a shotgun when he was 15 and his mother burning his hands and arms with cigarettes.

Saraceno said he has "a lot of witnesses in the community that corroborate" his client's claims.

The bodies of William J. Larson, 67, and Lisa L. Larson, 50, were found Nov. 21, 2019, following a fire at their Courtney Hollow Road home in Clarksville.

Investigators believed his parents were fatally shot on Nov. 5. A neighbor told The Buffalo News that Larson Jr. was living in the home for more than two weeks after his parents were killed there.

Teen charged with murder after 2 found in burned Allegany County home WGRZ is reporting that, according to court documents the station obtained, the victims were shot Nov. 5, 16 days before the bodies were found by authorities in the home the suspect shared with his

Larson Jr., now 20, had been charged with two murder counts, a count of attempted arson and other charges.

Larson Jr. has been in custody since his arrest by state troopers after a daylong manhunt on the day of the fire.

Saraceno said one of the factors that led to the plea agreement was a decision to focus resources on the hearing in which he would argue that Larson Jr. was a domestic violence victim.

Larson Jr. pleaded guilty to the murder count in the slaying of his mother and the manslaughter count for his father's death, Saraceno said.

At the time he was shot by his father, Larson Jr. was told to cover up what really happened, Saraceno said. There was both physical and mental abuse the parents inflicted, he added.

Larson Jr. was known by neighbors as Billy.

After the fire and the discovery of the bodies, a neighbor told The News that he had been helping the teen for several weeks, including providing meals. Larson Jr. had told the neighbor that his mother was ill at the time from eating bad food.

The teenager gave no indication that anything was wrong at the home, the neighbor said.

Some neighbors had characterized the Larson family as troubled.

The Steuben County District Attorney's Office was named as a special prosecutor in the case after an unexpected death in the Allegany County District Attorney's Office, Saraceno said.

A sentencing hearing before Allegany County Judge Terrence M. Parker is scheduled for Jan. 17, the same day Larson Jr.'s trial was to begin.
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An organization in Ukraine called Kharkiv Help assists civilians leave areas being shelled by Russian forces. Anna Kosstutschenko met with its volunteers, including two from the U.S., in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region, about 10 kilometers from the front lines. VOA footage by Paviel Syhodolskiy.
U.S. President Joe Biden met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Wednesday to address regional security challenges, including the threat posed by Iran and ways to deepen Israel's regional integration and normalization with the Arab world.

Biden underscored the United States' "ironclad" commitment to Israel.

"I'll say this 5,000 times in my career the ironclad commitment the United States has to Israel based on our principles, our ideas our values," he told Herzog in front of reporters prior to their meeting.

The visit was held ahead of potential domestic political change as the United States and Israel both face elections in the coming weeks.

"Our friendship and strong bond transcend all political differences and opinions and parties," Herzog said.

The visit is not expected to generate any significant outcome but is heavy on symbolism.

"Both sides have an interest in trying to make sure that the relationship is seen as something that's not partisan in American politics," said Jonathan Rynhold, head of the department of political studies at Israel's Bar-Ilan University.

Rynhold told VOA that it would be good optics for Biden to be seen with the center-left Herzog because "it makes Israel not a controversial issue for the Democrats."

Upcoming elections

Polls suggest that in the upcoming midterm elections in November, Democrats could lose the slim majority they have in the House of Representatives.

In the same month, Israel will hold its elections  the fifth in four years  a tight race that will pit former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Yair Lapid, who has been the caretaker prime minister since July following the collapse of Naftali Bennett's government.

With no clear majority predicted, and the role of the Israeli president to call on the prime minister to form a government, Biden will want to know what Herzog is thinking, Rynhold said. And with Israeli presidents elected every seven years, Herzog will be there no matter who becomes the next prime minister.

"If it's a Netanyahu government and it is a far-right government, then it's possible that President Herzog might be seen as a channel that is easier to deal with," said Rynhold.

Israel and Lebanon

Earlier in October, following months of mediation by the administration, Biden announced a "historic breakthrough," in which Israel and Lebanon agreed to formally end a maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent maritime boundary.

The parties are set to sign the agreement on Thursday.

"It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it," Biden told Herzog on Wednesday. "It took some real guts, and I think it took principle and persistent diplomacy to get it done."

Absent the deal, conflict may break out between the two countries, Rynhold said. Given the weapons now available to Hezbollah, he added, this would mean large civilian casualties in Israel, and in Lebanon if Israel retaliates.

With Beirut agreeing to recognize a demarcation line in the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Lebanon, the agreement allows Israel to provide for its own security in those waters, removing a point of friction with Hezbollah. And while the agreement does not constitute full recognition, it is more than what Beirut has done in the past.

The deal would also enable cash-strapped Lebanon to begin to explore offshore gas wells, which should they become operational, would increase the cost of conflict with Israel.

"Being able to exploit these natural gas wells  which will take time, perhaps many years before they're fully operational  is critical to Lebanon's future survival," Jonathan Lord told VOA. Lord is director of the Middle East security program at the Center for a New American Security.

However, the agreement is not a solution to the deeper problems between Israel and Lebanon, said David Hale, former ambassador to Lebanon and a global fellow at the Wilson Center.

"The overall fact that Hezbollah is able to make life and death decisions controlled by Tehran for all Lebanese is still a factor," he said. "And so, the potential for an escalation of violence, unfortunately, probably has not changed significantly by this agreement."

Regional air defense

In June, Israel announced it is building a U.S.-sponsored Middle East Air Defense Alliance, a network of air defense systems with its Gulf state neighbors to thwart Iranian attacks.

A bill that would promote the development of such defense architecture is currently being considered in the U.S. Congress.

The Biden administration is pursuing this to potentially reduce the U.S. military footprint in the region, Lord said, but much of the plan's details have not been made public.

"Whether it will be one network under which all the partners are operating, or more of what's referred to as a hub-and-spoke system where all the partners will reach back potentially to U.S. Central Command that will then feed information back out to other partners [remains to be seen]," Lord told VOA.

National Security Council strategic communications adviser John Kirby told VOA during a briefing Wednesday that there is no timeline for this defense architecture.

"[U.S.] Central Command is working through the modalities with our partners in the region," he said.

A regional air defense system may facilitate Israel's wider diplomatic recognition from Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, following the 2020 Abraham Accords  normalization deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain brokered by the Trump administration.

Herzog noted that Wednesday marks 40 days since the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman who died under police custody after being arrested for improperly wearing her state-mandated hijab or head covering.

Iran is "crushing its own citizens, moving towards nuclear weapons, and supplying lethal weapons that are killing innocent citizens in Ukraine," Herzog said, referring to Tehran supplying Russia with drones used in Russia's war on Ukraine. Iran denies the accusation.

Israel's support for Ukraine

Israel has turned down Ukraine's request for Israeli air defense systems that could shoot down Iranian drones operated by Russia but has offered to help Ukrainians develop air attack alerts for civilians. Israel has condemned the Russian invasion but has so far limited its Ukraine assistance to humanitarian relief.

When asked whether Biden asked Herzog that Israel reconsiders the request, Kirby told VOA the administration is not "trying to guilt trip on a country" to provide a specific capability to Ukraine. "It's got to be their decision," he said.

With a Russian military presence in Syria, Israel needs to coordinate with Moscow to avoid hitting Russian forces as it targets Iranian missile bases in Syria. Alienating Moscow can also make it significantly more difficult for Israel to target Iranian weapons shipments destined for adversarial groups.

"They're focused on not antagonizing Moscow so they can continue to protect their own borders from [Iranian] weapons falling in the hands of Hezbollah and other proxy actors," Lord said.
For journalists in Mexico, verbal assaults and online harassment are on the rise, and women are a main target. But many say the attacks wont stop them from doing their job. For VOA News, Vicente Calderon has the story, narrated by Cristina Caicedo Smit. Camera: VOA Spanish
A former bank employee who used his position to defraud his employer and its customers has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to serve a year in jail, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Gerald Battle, 53, of Buffalo, assumed the identities of several of the bank's customers by using their debit card information to make several unauthorized transactions at various restaurants, grocery stores and online retailers between July 1, 2018, and Nov. 1, 2021. All of the goods were delivered to Battles Delaware Avenue residence.

An investigation began after a restaurant employee notified the Erie County Sheriff's Office that the restaurant was charged back by the bank after a debit card was used for a food delivery order. Prosecutors said those who reported the unauthorized debit card transactions were reimbursed by the bank.

Battle pleaded guilty in March to third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft and first-degree scheme to defraud, all felonies. Battle also signed a confession of judgment to pay $50,000 in restitution to the bank. It has not yet been paid.
Officials in New Zealand have insisted no deal was struck to get two of its citizens out of Iran. Few details are being given about the case of a New Zealand couple, who were documenting their travels in Iran on social media.



Earlie this year, New Zealanders Topher Richwhite, the son of one of New Zealand's richest men, and his wife Bridget Thackwray, visited Iran against official advice from the government in Wellington.

It has urged its citizens to avoid Iran, where the death of Mahsa Amini had prompted protests and civil unrest.

The 22-year-old died in custody last month after being arrested by Irans morality police for allegedly ignoring strict rules on head coverings.

New Zealand officials have said Richwhites and Thackwrays movements were restricted by Iranian authorities and they have only been allowed to leave with the help of the Wellington government.

Government officials insist no deal was struck to allow the pair to leave.

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta told radio New Zealands Checkpoint program that negotiations with Iran were complex and delicate.

As you can imagine and people only need to look at what is happening over there it is a challenge (sic) space. We have recently put out an updated travel advisory because of what we are seeing over in Iran in terms of increased protests. We're not advising New Zealanders to go there and that's part of the context and environment that we've been working under, said Mahuta.

Richwhite and Thackwray were documenting their global travels on Instagram under the name Expedition Earth.

It is unclear if they were detained or even charged in Iran. Iranian officials had reportedly told the couple they had not been detained or arrested.

New Zealand said the couples predicament did not stop it condemning the death of Mahsa Amini and calling for an independent investigation.

Wellingtons advice to citizens about travel to Iran is unequivocal. It has warned New Zealanders not travel to Iran due to the potential for violent civil unrest, the risk of arrest or detention and the volatile security situation in the region.
A jury in Wisconsin Wednesday convicted a man of deliberately driving his sport utility vehicle through a Christmas parade in a Milwaukee suburb, killing six people and injuring more than 60 last November.



The Waukesha County jury found 40-year-old Darrell Brooks  who defended himself  guilty on six counts of intentional homicide, each of which carries a mandatory life sentence, as well as more than 60 other charges.



The conviction marks the end of nearly-year-long legal process that saw Brooks change his plea from not guilty by reason of insanity, dismiss his court-appointed legal team days before the trial began, and receive several rebukes from Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow for failing to follow court rules.



Brooks was arrested November 21, 2021, after he drove his Ford Escape through the Waukesha Christmas parade. Video from the scene shows the vehicle striking a marching band and other participants from behind, without slowing down. During the trial, prosecutors say he reached speeds up to 48 kilometers per hour.



Victims of the incident ranged in age from eight to 81. More than 60 people were injured, including at least 18 children.



Prosecutors say Brooks was fleeing the scene of a domestic incident involving his ex-girlfriend when he drove through the parade. They also say he had just been released on bail following a domestic abuse charge two days before the incident.



Waukesha, a community of 70,000 people outside Milwaukee in southeastern Wisconsin, was deeply scarred by the incident. The Milwaukee Journal newspaper reports a group of people gathered outside the courtroom wearing shirts bearing the phrase Waukesha Strong as the verdict was read.



Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
The first formal peace talks aimed at ending two years of war between the Ethiopian army and forces from the country's northern region of Tigray started in South Africa on Tuesday and will end on Sunday, the South African government said.

At stake is an opportunity to end a conflict that has killed thousands, displaced millions, and left hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine in Africa's second most populous nation, destabilizing the wider Horn of Africa region.

The talks, mediated by the African Union, begin as the government has been making significant gains on the battlefield, capturing several large towns in Tigray over the past week.

The government offensive, conducted jointly with allied troops from neighboring Eritrea, has raised fears of further harm to civilians, leading African, U.S. and European leaders and Pope Francis to call for a ceasefire and urgent talks.

The African Union said its chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat, was "encouraged by the early demonstration of commitment to peace by the parties," without elaborating.

South Africa "hopes the talks will proceed constructively and result in a successful outcome that leads to lasting peace for all the people of our dear sister country Ethiopia," said Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The African Union mediation team is led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, supported by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President of South Africa Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

United Nations and the United States representatives participated as observers, the African Union said.

"We are looking very eagerly at Pretoria to the talks. That's the only way forward," Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said during a Tuesday press conference in Nairobi, Kenya. "If the parties do not really engage meaningfully in a negotiated solution, we'll be in this situation forever."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the parties to engage seriously and agree an immediate truce.

"These talks represent the most promising way to achieve lasting peace and prosperity for all Ethiopians," he said in a statement.

"Man-made famine"

The conflict stems from grievances dating back to the nearly three decades when the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel movement-turned-political party, dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition until 2018.

After that coalition lost power at the national level, the TPLF, still powerful in its northern stronghold, fell out with the federal government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The government has accused the TPLF of seeking to restore its national dominance, which it denies, while the TPLF has accused the government of oppressing Tigrayans and over-centralizing power, which it denies.

The Tigrayan delegation has said its focus at the talks in South Africa would be on an immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered access to Tigray for humanitarian aid, and the withdrawal of Eritrean forces.

The government has said it views the talks as an opportunity to resolve the conflict and "consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground," apparently a reference to its military advances in Tigray.

The war has compounded other serious problems in Ethiopia including a drought  the worst in four decades  that has caused a food crisis and damaged the economy.

Earlier on Tuesday, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Tigray and served as a minister in the Ethiopian government in the past, issued the latest in a series of public criticisms of the current government's actions.

"Due to the siege in #Tigray, Ethiopia, many people have died of starvation, man-made famine & lack of access to essential health care in past 2 years," Tedros wrote on Twitter.

The Ethiopian government has denied allegations from humanitarian organizations that it was blocking them from accessing Tigray. It has accused Tedros of trying to secure arms and diplomatic backing for Tigray forces, which he denies.
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Irans university students lead a 6th week of nationwide protests against Islamist rule. A media rights activist group says a disturbing number of female journalists have been arrested in Irans crackdown. Israel faces a dilemma in responding to Irans alleged supply of attack drones to Russia.
The world's top cocoa producers, Ghana and Ivory Coast, are boycotting meetings in Brussels this week of the World Cocoa Foundation on cocoa sustainability. Authorities in the two West African countries accuse multinational chocolate companies and traders of blocking measures to improve cocoa farmers' incomes.

Ghana and Ivory Coast account for about two-thirds of global cocoa production, but farmers in those countries earn less than 6% of revenues in a chocolate industry valued at more than $100 billion a year.

Yaw Attah has been a cocoa farmer throughout his adult life in eastern Ghana. He tells VOA that international companies are living off the farmers toil, while leaving them to wallow in poverty.

"Being a cocoa farmer is a tough job, I wont lie to you," he says. We used to have our children on the farms to help us, but now they have stopped us because they classify that as child labor. I dont have enough money to employ more laborers."

Attah says Ghanas government must also re-examine the price it pays to cocoa farmers. Early this month, Ghana set the guaranteed price paid to cocoa farmers at $1,248 per ton for the main crop of the 2022-23 season.

The price is lower than the $1.36 per kilogram set by Ivory Coast in September.

Fiifi Boafo, the spokesperson for Ghanas cocoa regulatory body, COCOBOD, tells VOA the well-being of farmers remains paramount to both governments.

Regarding the boycott of the Brussels meeting, he says chocolate companies and cocoa traders must show commitment to improving farmers incomes.

Clearly, someone is ensuring that the farmer continues to stay poor. How do you expect someone who is poor all the time to sustain an industry that is always making profit? Clearly, there is something that is not right and its not the first time that were going to talk about it. We have talked about it and we have not had result and there is the need for us to find different means of making a point for everyone to know that something is wrong, he said.

Four civil society organizations in Ghana and Ivory Coast have thrown their weight behind the boycott, saying farmers have always been given a raw deal when it comes to pricing.

Obed Owusu-Addai is the campaigner at EcoCare Ghana, one of the organizations pushing for change.



How can it be that in an industry of about $130 billion, the farmer only receives only 6% of the profit? We think it is unfair, we think its about time we began talking about pricing as the most important issue when it comes to cocoa sustainability, he said.



The World Cocoa Foundation, a group representing 80% of the global market, including major chocolate companies such as Cargill, Olam, Barry Callebaut and Nestle, did not respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it had reached an agreement with Alphabet Inc's Google resolving a dispute with the search engine giant over the loss of data responsive to a 2016 search warrant.

The government said it was a "first-of-its-kind resolution" that would result in Google reforming "its legal process compliance program to ensure timely and complete responses to legal process such as subpoenas and search warrants."

"The department is committed to ensuring that electronic communications providers comply with court orders to protect and facilitate criminal investigations, said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, who heads the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

The settlement demonstrated the departments "resolve in ensuring that technology companies, such as Google, provide prompt and complete responses to legal process to ensure public safety and bring offenders to justice," he added.

Google said it had a "long track record of protecting our users privacy, including pushing back against overbroad government demands for user data, and this agreement in no way changes our ability or our commitment to continue doing so."

The company told a U.S. court it had spent more than $90 million "on additional resources, systems, and staffing to implement legal process compliance program improvements."

The Justice Department said an independent compliance professional will be hired to serve as an outside third party related to Googles compliance upgrades.

In 2016, the United States obtained a search warrant in California for data held at Google related to the investigation of the criminal cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, the department said.

Later the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled search warrants issued under the Stored Communications Act (SCA) did not cover data stored outside of the United States.

In 2018, Congress clarified the SCA did cover U.S. providers that chose to store data overseas, but the government said that "in the intervening time, data responsive to the warrant was lost," the Justice Department said.

Google will assemble reports and updates regarding the compliance program that will go to the government, the Google Compliance Steering Committee and Alphabet board committees.
Haitian journalist Roberson Alphonse was shot and wounded early Tuesday in Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, as he passed through the Delmas neighborhood en route to host a radio show.



The popular Magik 9 radio host and Le Nouvelliste newspaper journalist is hospitalized after undergoing two operations, according to Magik 9 director and Le Nouvelliste editor-in-chief Frantz Duval. Duval tweeted that he had spoken with the journalist and that his condition is stable.



Shortly after the incident, Duval described on Twitter what he called an assassination attempt.



He thanked a good Samaritan who administered first aid at the scene and took measures to stop the bleeding before rescue workers arrived.



A photo of Alphonses car posted on Twitter shows bullet holes in the car on the drivers side where Alphonses head and chest would have been at the time of the attack.

I dont have any doubt that this was well-planned, and that the shooter was waiting for Roberson, said Guy Delva, secretary-general of SOS Journalists, a Haitian press freedom advocacy organization.



I see it as a failed attempt, but the objective was to kill him. I dont think it was a coincidence, Delva told VOA.

Delva said Alphonses in-depth reports on the situation in Haiti might be why he was targeted.



This is an attack against press freedom, Delva told VOA.



Requests made to the Haitian National Police spokesperson for information were not answered.



Haitian Senate leader Joseph Lambert has called for an investigation.



In a tweet, Haitis Ministry of Communications said, The @MCHaiti / @MCultureHT learned with horror the news of the assassination attempt perpetrated early Tuesday October 25, at Delmas 40B against a career journalist M. @ralphonse as he was on his way to work.



In a press statement attached to the tweet, the ministry expressed its wishes for a speedy recovery, as well as its complete solidarity with the victims family and colleagues.



Haitian journalists have faced increased threats at a time when multiple crises are fueling an uptick in gang violence, an extreme gas shortage, near catastrophic food insecurity, and a worsening cholera epidemic.



The powerful G9 gang is currently holding the countrys oil supply hostage, blocking access to the countrys main oil terminal, Varreux, in Port-au-Prince.



Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, who is named in a United Nations resolution imposing sanctions on criminal actors responsible for the spiraling violence, has said his gang will continue blocking access to the oil terminal until Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns.
Hundreds of protesters marched Wednesday to the gravesite of Mahsa Amini in northwestern Iran to mark 40 days since her death while in custody of the nations morality police.



Amateur video posted to social media sites showed crowds of protesters, some in vehicles but mostly on foot, filling the road leading to Aichi cemetery in the Kurdistan province city Saqez, which was Aminis hometown. Witnesses reported shots being fired in the area by Iranian security forces.



The demonstrators, who could be heard yelling, Death to the dictator among other chants, marched in defiance of heightened security measures put in place in anticipation of further protests Wednesday.



VOAs Persian service reported protesters also gathered in Tehran, where they chanted "Down with the dictator" and "Don't be afraid, we are all together."

Amini, a Kurdish woman, was detained by the morality police in the capital, Tehran, September 13 allegedly wearing her head scarf  or hijab  "improperly." The 22-year-old died while custody three days later, with police reporting she had a heart attack. Her family says she had no history of heart trouble.



Deaths are commemorated in Shiite Islam  as in many other traditions  40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. Riot police and the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force were reportedly deployed in Saqez and other parts of Kurdistan.



Iranian state media reported all schools and universities in the province were closed Wednesday because of what authorities said was a "wave of influenza."

Aminis death has sparked weeks of protests over the mandatory wearing of hijabs by women and sparked calls for changes to Irans political system. The government has responded with security forces often using live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations.



Rights groups say more than 200 people have died during the protests and hundreds, if not thousands, have been arrested. Analysts say the protests have become one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic in its history.



VOAs Persian Service contributed to this report. Some information was provided by the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Leah Penniman, an author and food justice activist from Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, N.Y., will be the keynote speaker at the Western New York Peace Center's 55th annual dinner, the organization announced.

Penniman is the author of "Farming While Black" and is the founding co-director and farm manager of Soul Fire Farm described as "an Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system," according to its website.

Penniman will speak on "Planting Seeds of Justice, Harvesting Peace."

The dinner will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11, the former Armistice Day which marked the end of World War I, at the University at Buffalo's Hayes Hall, 250 Hayes Road on South Campus. Tickets are $70 each and can be purchased at wnypeace.org. The dinner is co-sponsored by UB Food Systems Planning & Healthy Communities Lab and will be catered by Sunshine Vegan Eats, a Jefferson Avenue business.
Italy's coastguard said Wednesday it had rescued more than 1,000 migrants from two fishing boats in the Mediterranean overnight, while two bodies had been recovered.

The two "complex" operations off the coast of Syracuse in Sicily, involving boats from Libya, followed an alert on Tuesday from Alarm Phone, a group running a hotline for migrants needing rescue.

From the first boat, about 35 miles from the Sicilian coast, an Italian coastguard ship rescued 416 migrants while a Spanish patrol vessel working with EU border force Frontex rescued another 78.

From a second fishing boat, 60 miles from the coast, vessels from the coastguard and Italy's financial crime police intervened to rescue 663 migrants and "two lifeless bodies" were recovered, it said.

Italy's new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed Tuesday to stop migrants crossing in boats from Africa, in her first speech to parliament since taking office at the weekend.

Meloni said her government, the country's most far-right since World War II, wanted to "stop illegal departures and break up human trafficking", notably by preventing departures from crisis-hit Libya.

She insisted it was time to stop traffickers "being the ones who decide who gets in."

Italy has long been on the migration frontline, taking in tens of thousands of people who attempt the world's deadliest crossing yearly.

Two charity ships currently operating in the Mediterranean, the SOS Humanity's ship Humanity 1 and SOS Mediterranee's Ocean Viking, were on Tuesday carrying around 300 people between them after multiple rescues.

But Meloni's new interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, said the ships were "not in line with the spirit of European and Italian regulations" on border security, and that he was deliberating whether to ban their entry into Italian waters.

Piantedosi has close ties to Meloni's coalition partner Matteo Salvini, who is currently on trial for blocking migrants at sea in 2019 during his stint as interior minister.
In letters from prison, freelance journalist Pablo Gonzalez said that secret service agents told him to eat flies or insects if he wanted to keep up his protein levels.

Gonzalez, who has been in custody in Poland for eight months  nearly entirely in solitary confinement  said in the letters seen by VOA that he does not receive enough food so is forced to buy provisions from the prison.

Classed a dangerous prisoner by Polish authorities, the journalist, who has no criminal record, said he is handcuffed and accompanied by up to five guards every time he leaves his cell.

Gonzalez is now taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, seeking to secure his release on the grounds that the terms of his imprisonment contravene his constitutional rights.

In Madrid on Tuesday, media organizations and lawyers held a demonstration in front of Spains Foreign Ministry in support of Gonzalez and delivered a letter of protest to the Polish embassy in Madrid.

Poland in February ordered Gonzalez held in pre-trial detention while authorities investigate allegations that he was spying for Russia  accusations the journalist has denied. That pre-trial period was extended in August for a further three months.

Polands secret service claims Gonzalez used his role as a journalist as a cover for espionage, but officials have not publicly disclosed any supporting evidence.

The legal papers seen by VOA do not comment directly on that investigation. Instead, they say that the status of dangerous prisoner is groundless.

It gives rise to a number of consequences that undermine [his] rights, his dignity and his health, the court papers said.

Legal papers also said that letters sent to Gonzalez are being opened and translated by the prosecutor and kept for weeks or months before they are delivered. The journalist claims this violates the constitutional right to family life.

Gonzalez has had contact only with his Polish lawyer and the Spanish consul but has been denied phone calls or visits from family and supporters in Spain and Poland, according to people familiar with the case.

Gonzalez lives in physically and mentally unbearable conditions; his cell where he is alone, has one window that does not open, the papers add.

A spokesperson for the Polish prosecutors office told VOA in a statement that due to the nature of the proceedings it could not disclose any details of the case against Gonzalez.

The statement said, Gonzalez has all the rights and obligations resulting from the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Executive Penal Code including the conditions of isolation in pre-trial detention as well as telephone contacts and visits.

Visits denied

Gonzalez has covered conflicts in Ukraine and Syria for various outlets including Voice of America, the left-wing Spanish paper Publico, and Gara, a Basque nationalist newspaper.

Gonzalez did some camera work for VOA in 2020 and 2021. At the time of his arrest, VOA released a statement saying that it had removed his content out of an abundance of caution and informed the VOA/USAGM security office of the arrest.

The journalist has dual Russian and Spanish nationality. His family moved to Russia after the Spanish Civil War, but Gonzalez is not part of Russia's secret intelligence service, his Polish lawyer Bartosz Rogala said.

The journalists detention is hard on his family who say that Gonzalez is not allowed to speak with his wife, Oihana Goiriena, or their three children by telephone. Visits are forbidden.

In the letters, Pablo does not include all the details about his captivity because it might upset the children, Goiriena told VOA from their house in the Basque Country, northern Spain.

The boys are starting to ask questions about when their father might be home and I dont have the answers, she said. I expect they will extend the custody so he is still in prison at Christmas, which will be hard.

A court in Poland ruled in August that Gonzalez must remain in custody for a second three-month period until November 25. Under Polish law, he can be held for up to a year. If convicted, the journalist could be jailed for up to 10 years.



Alfonso Bauluz, president of Reporters Without Borders in Spain, said the watchdog objects to the "breaching of Pablo's basic human rights."

"We protest against the lack of presumption of innocence, the lack of judicial aid and the extremely tough prison conditions in which he is being held, despite not being convicted of any offense," he told VOA.

A spokesperson for the Polish prosecutors office told VOA that the order detaining Gonzalez until November indicates a high probability of committing the alleged acts as well as a justified fear of procedural fraud, hiding or fleeing.

The 40-year-old war reporter has seen the Spanish consul seven times since his detention.

Earlier this month, Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish foreign minister, told the countrys senate, or upper house, The government attaches great importance to the case of Mr. Gonzalez. Since the arrest became known, numerous steps have been taken at different levels, both from the ministry and the Spanish Embassy in Warsaw.

The ministry told VOA it could not disclose some details of the case.

A Spanish foreign ministry spokesperson, who did not disclose their name as is customary, said, Our role is twofold: to urge the Polish government to respect the rights of Mr. Gonzalez and to facilitate consular visits.

Gonzalez was arrested at a hotel near Polands border with Ukraine on February 28.

Earlier in 2022, Ukrainian secret service officials questioned the journalist and accused him of spying for Russia, which he denied. He returned to Spain for a few days before leaving for Poland.

Editor's note: The sixteenth paragraph has been updated to clarify the terms of Gonzalez's imprisonment.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

11:30 p.m.: The United Nations is using before-and-after satellite imagery to monitor the cultural destruction inflicted by Russia's war in Ukraine, announcing Wednesday it will launch its tracking platform publicly within weeks, Agence France-Presse reported.

The U.N.'s culture agency UNESCO said it had verified damage to 207 cultural sites in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

They include 88 religious sites, 15 museums, 76 buildings of historical and or artistic interest, 18 monuments and 10 libraries.

The worst-affected regions are in eastern Ukraine and around the capital, with Donetsk region having 59 verified damaged cultural sites, followed by Kharkiv with 51, Kyiv with 30 and Luhansk with 25.

"Our conclusion is it's bad, and it may continue to get even worse," UNESCO's cultural and emergencies director Krista Pikkat told reporters at a briefing in Geneva. "Cultural heritage is very often collateral damage during wars but sometimes it's specifically targeted as it's the essence of the identity of countries."

10:30 p.m.: Ukrainian troops are holding out against repeated attacks by Russian forces in two eastern towns while those at the southern front are poised to battle for the strategic Kherson region, which Russia appears to be reinforcing, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said in a Wednesday evening video address that there would be good news from the front, but he gave no details.

He did not mention what was happening in Kherson, which officials and military analysts have predicted will be one of the most consequential battles of the war since Russia invaded Ukraine eight months ago.

The most severe fighting in eastern Ukraine was taking place near Avdiivka, outside Donetsk, and Bakhmut, Zelenskiyy said.

"This is where the craziness of the Russian command is most evident. Day after day, for months, they are driving people to their deaths there, concentrating the highest level of artillery strikes," he said.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the Ukrainian-held cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

The looming battle for Kherson city at the mouth of the Dnipro River will determine whether Ukraine can loosen Russia's grip on the south.

7:17 p.m.: The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on individuals and entities involved in what it described as Russia's malign influence operations in Moldova, as well as systemic corruption in the small eastern European country, Reuters reports.



The individuals sanctioned, a mix of Russian and Moldovan officials, include oligarchs "widely recognized for capturing and corrupting Moldova's political and economic institutions and those acting as instruments of Russia's global influence campaign," the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.



Moldova, which borders Ukraine and Romania, applied for European Union membership this year and strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, moves that angered Moscow.



5:42 p.m.: Even by the standards of the important military officers who came and went in this tiny village, the man walking behind the Kamaz truck stood out, The Associated Press reported.



Soldiers providing security peered from behind fences, their guns bristling in every direction. Two Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters circled overhead, providing additional cover for Col. Gen. Alexander Chaiko as he escorted an aid convoy in March from the schoolhouse on Tsentralna Street that Russian officers commandeered as a headquarters.



Fifteen minutes away, in the village of Ozera, the lives of three men were about to take a dramatic turn for the worse. While Chaiko was directing Russias attack on Kyiv from Zdvyzhivka, the men were interrogated and tortured by Russian troops and then shot in the garden of a large house less than a mile from where the general now stood.



The deaths of these men were part of a pattern of violence that left hundreds of civilians beaten, tortured and executed in territory under Chaikos command.



This wasnt the work of rogue soldiers, an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline shows. It was strategic and organized brutality, perpetrated in areas that were under tight Russian control where military officers  including Chaiko himself  were present.

3:47 p.m.: In a single hour, as a volley of Russian missiles wrecked homes, power stations, factories and playgrounds across their country, Ukrainians placed a record 67 million minutes of calls on Kyivstars phone network, Reuters reported.

People are nervous and they are taking care of each other, Kyivstars Chief Executive Oleksandr Komarov told Reuters in an interview. Normal evening peak traffic is about 50 million minutes.

Its not just about the human need to communicate. In a war being waged in the information space as well as on the battlefield, the ability to spread news from the front fast is crucial.

Mobile phone videos of Ukraines early successes in rebuffing Russias attempts to seize Kyiv in February were crucial in persuading hesitant Western governments to unlock military aid, analysts say.

2:30 p.m.:



2:15 p.m.: EU regulators are considering extending easier state-aid rules which allow governments to support businesses affected by the war in Ukraine to end-2023, and with bigger amounts permitted, competition chief Margrethe Vestager said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The more flexible rules were introduced in March and subsequently revised in July.

The European Commission is seeking feedback from EU countries on the level of public guarantees they can provide to energy companies to cover the financial collateral for their trading activities in order to offset high market prices and volatility.

Governments are also asked how the rules can be made more flexible to allow them to provide faster and more effective support to companies hit with high energy bills.

2:00 p.m.:

1:50 p.m.: The remains of a U.S. citizen killed in fighting in Ukraine have been identified and released to Ukrainian authorities and will soon be returned to the persons family, Reuters reported a State Department spokesperson as saying on Wednesday.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price did not identify the individual, citing respect for the familys privacy. In a statement, he expressed Washingtons support for Ukraines help recovering the persons remains in negotiations with Russia.

Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraines presidents office, earlier on Wednesday identified the U.S. citizen as Joshua Jones, describing him as a U.S. Army veteran whose remains were recovered in a prisoner swap with Russia.



1:20 p.m.:





1:05 p.m.: Indias defense minister says that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed him on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about the use of a dirty bomb, The Associated Press reported.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet after his phone conversation with Shoigu on Wednesday that I reiterated Indias position on the need to to pursue the path of dialogue an diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict.

He added that the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity.

The Press Trust of India news agency said the call was on the initiative of the Russian defense minister.

Moscow has repeatedly made the unfounded claim that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb, an explosive devise with radioactive material, on its own territory. Western officials have dismissed the claim as misinformation possibly designed as a pretext for Russia to justify its own military escalation.



12:45 p.m.:

12:25 p.m.: United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday that he was "relatively optimistic" that a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed a resumption of Ukraine Black Sea grain exports would be extended beyond mid-November, Reuters reported.

Griffiths traveled to Moscow with senior U.N. trade official Rebeca Grynspan earlier this month for discussions with Russian officials on the deal, which also aims to facilitate exports of Russian grain and fertilizer to global markets.

"We are keen to see that renewed promptly, now. It's important for the market. It's important for just continuity. And I'm still relatively optimistic that we're going to get that. We're working hard," Griffiths told reporters.

Russia has criticized the deal, complaining that its own exports were still hindered and not enough Ukraine grain was reaching countries in need. Moscow could object to extending the pact on Ukraine's exports beyond late November.



12:10 p.m.:

11:50 a.m.: Russia's latest strikes on civilian infrastructure have raised the cost of Ukraine's recovery and could see it needing close to $4 billion a month just to keep power and water supplies going, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The IMF had envisaged Ukraine's external financing needs at around $3-4 billion a month next year but sees that rising to $5 billion in a worst case scenario after Russian forces rained missiles and drone attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Speaking to Reuters in Berlin, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said the institution was focused on helping Ukraine keep afloat now while working on a longer-term program whose size and duration were yet to be worked out.

11:30 a.m.:





11:15 a.m.: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday rejected Russias claims that Ukraine might be preparing to use a radiological dirty bomb, The Associated Press reported.

This is absurd. Allies reject this blatantly false accusation, and Russia must not use false pretexts to escalate the war further, Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated the claim on Wednesday., saying We know about the plans to use the so-called dirty bomb for provocations.

Moscows statements about an alleged dirty bomb followed Putins warning last month about his readiness to use all means available to fend off attacks on Russias territory.

NATOs Stoltenberg underlined that the 30-nation military organization will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraines right to self-defense for as long as it takes.

VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin shared more details from the Stoltenberg press conference on Twitter.





10:55 a.m.: Russia continues to strike targets across Ukraine, causing damage and killing civilians, as its forces are preparing for battle in the strategic southern region of Kherson, Ukrainian officials and the military said, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Ukraine on Wednesday reiterated its call for the development of an air-defense system to repel the Russian missile and drone attacks.

The immediate delivery of a sufficient number of air-defense systems is urgently needed to repel "Russian missile terror," the head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak, said after talks with the national-security advisers of the United States, Britain, and France in Kyiv on Wednesday.

10:40 a.m.:

10:20 a.m.: Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russian forces in the southern Kherson region is proving more difficult than it was in the northeast because of wet weather and the terrain, Ukraine's defense minister said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Kyiv's forces are piling pressure on Russian troops in the strategically important Kherson region occupied by Moscow since the start of its Feb. 24 invasion, threatening President Vladimir Putin with another big battlefield setback.



10:10 a.m.: Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak on Wednesday criticized companies still doing business in Russia.

9:50 a.m.: Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Wednesday he did not believe Russia's President Vladimir Putin would use nuclear weapons, Reuters reported.

Putin has warned repeatedly that Russia has the right to defend itself using any weapons in its arsenal, which includes the world's largest nuclear stockpile. Russia's setbacks in the war in Ukraine have heightened Western concerns that Putin might use a tactical nuclear weapon.

"My personal opinion is that Putin won't use nukes," Reznikov told a news briefing when asked about the issue.



9:35 a.m.:

9:20 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to use the possible extension of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal as a way to gain leverage and dominate next months G20 summit in Indonesia, a European diplomat briefed on the grain talks told Reuters.

Ahead of the Nov. 19 expiry of the grain deal, which allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports, Russian officials have repeatedly said that there are serious problems with it.

But a European diplomat who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the discussions said that Putin will attend the G20 summit on the resort island of Bali that begins on Nov. 15.

The Kremlin, which has not yet confirmed that Putin will attend, declined immediate comment. Putin said on Oct. 14 that he had not yet made a final decision about whether or not he would go.

If he does, it will be the first major global summit the Kremlin chief has attended alongside major Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden since the war began on February 24.

9:05 a.m.:





8:45 a.m.: Police in the Moscow region have searched the house of journalist and TV personality Ksenia Sobchak, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Wednesday, citing Russian news agencies that quoted unnamed law enforcement officials.

According to the reports, the search of Sobchak's house in the upscale town of Gorki-8 near the Russian capital was conducted as part of an extortion probe launched against Sobchak associate Kirill Sukhanov, who was detained a day earlier.

Sukhanov is the commercial director of Sobchak's "Ostorozhno.Media" holding.

Sobchak herself is not a person of interest in the investigation, the officials said. Sobchak called Sukhanov's arrest "another instance of pressure against the media" in Russia.

8:30 a.m.:

8:10 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the countrys strategic nuclear forces involving multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles, The Associated Press reported, quoting the Kremlin.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin that the drills were intended to simulate a massive nuclear strike by Russia in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia. The exercise comes amid soaring Russia-West tensions over Moscows actions in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said in a statement that all tasks set for the exercise were fulfilled and all the missiles that were test-fired reached their designated targets.

Washington has said that Moscow informed it about the drills in advance.

The Russian exercise comes amid Moscows warnings of a purported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device commonly known as a dirty bomb in a false flag attack to blame Russia. Ukraine and its allies strongly reject the allegation.

7:50 a.m.:

7:30 a.m.: Russia said on Wednesday it would continue to make the case to the international community that it believed Ukraine intended to detonate a "dirty bomb" with radioactive contaminants, Reuters reported.

Kyiv and its Western allies have not only rejected Russia's allegation but also voiced concern that Moscow is using it as a pretext for a further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "We have information that suggests Ukraine is preparing for such a terrorist sabotage, and we will vigorously continue to convey our point of view to the world community in order to encourage them to take active steps to prevent such irresponsible behavior."

Britain's Deputy U.N. Ambassador, James Kariuki, called the allegations "pure Russian misinformation of the kind we've seen many times before."

6:50 a.m.: Local residents in Ukraine's Kherson region describe how they helped support Ukrainian forces while Russian troops occupied their village. The village of Arkhanhelske is one of many settlements liberated during Kyiv's ongoing counteroffensive. Many locals returned to the village after Russian forces fled in early October. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report.

6:25 a.m.: When Germany unveiled a 200 billion euro ($200 billion) package to shield its industry and consumers from soaring energy prices, its government failed to notify neighboring France beforehand, leaving French President Emmanuel Macron seething in private, Reuters reported.

"We learnt about it in the press. That's not the done thing," a senior French official said.

German officials had visited the Elysee palace days earlier and said nothing about the package Paris believes hands an unfair advantage to German companies and threatens the European Union's single market.

5:30 a.m.: At least two people were killed in gas station fire after a missile attack in Dnipro, according to Reuters.

4:35 a.m.:

4:15 a.m.: Europe's natural gas prices have fallen, thanks to unseasonably warm weather and efforts to fill up storage ahead of winter, according to The Associated Press.

The future is uncertain, though, as it could be affected by the weather, usage, and Russias war in Ukraine.

3:50 a.m.:

3:20 a.m.: In an interview with The Guardian, Nobel Peace Prize winner Oleksandra Matviichuk says that Russia has a pattern of committing crimes without suffering consequences.

This hell which were going through now is a result of total impunity of Russia, which they enjoyed for decades, because they committed horrible crimes in Chechnya, in Moldova, in Georgia, in Mali, in Libya and Syria they have never been punished for, she says. They believed they could do what they wanted because they are a member of the UN security council.

2:45 a.m.: Twenty-four-year-old comic author Gleb Pushev left his hometown, St. Petersburg, Russia, after posting a caricature of the Russian president in bloody clothes with a knife in his hand on social media. Fearing arrest, in early March he went to Belgrade, Serbia, where he continues to draw anti-war comics and cartoons about life in exile. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report.

1:36 a.m.:

1:30 a.m.:

12:10 a.m.: Norway's counterespionage service has arrested a man who worked on a research project at a Norwegian university on suspicion that he is a Russian spy, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



The man was arrested in the Arctic town of Tromsoe on Monday, public broadcaster NRK reported on Tuesday, citing the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST).



The man arrived in Norway in 2021 posing as a Brazilian citizen, but deputy PST chief Hedvig Moe told NRK that police believe his real identity to be Russian.



The man, who was not identified, represents a "threat to fundamental national interests" of Norway, a member of NATO, and should be expelled, Moe said.



The detained man's lawyer, Thomas Hansen, told the Norwegian newspaper VG that his client denies any wrongdoing. The man has been ordered held for four weeks, VG reported.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
A doctors group said one protester was killed during demonstrations marking one year of military rule in Sudan as security forces used tear gas on the crowds.

Thousands protested in cities across the country Tuesday under yet another internet blackout.

The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said one protester was killed in Omdurman, a city across the Nile River from Khartoum, after being hit by a tank, and three others were wounded.

Since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power, Sudan has seen near-weekly anti-coup rallies and crackdowns by security. The doctors committee said the death toll from rallies over the past year stood at 119.

In Khartoum, scores of youths marched toward the presidential palace, listening to revolutionary songs and poems. Police used tear gas and water trucks to disperse them as they tried to enter the palace.

Protester Abdulhaleem al-Sheikh said life under military rule had crippled Sudans development.

He said the economy, health and education had all deteriorated. Sudan also lost a lot of money from the International Monetary Fund, he said.

Sudan was to receive nearly $50 billion in debt relief from Western creditors and billions more in funding. But the U.S., the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other lenders suspended those plans after last October's coup.

Al-Burhan took power from the transitional shared-power government headed by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, who was detained along with other civilian ministers. They were released after Hamdok signed a political agreement with the military in November. He resigned in January.

Still hopeful

Protester Ahmed Abdulwahab said he was still hopeful that democratic change would come to Sudan.

He said the country was promised a democratic transition and that citizens hoped God would support them. "We need to see development in our country," he said, "and we should complete what our former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok started."

Human Rights Watch released a statement on the anniversary, calling on Sudans military leaders to respect peaceful protest and restore democratic rule.

Mohammed Osman, a Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said security forces had committed a range of abuses, from killings to arbitrary detentions of hundreds of people.

Over the last year, Sudans military leaders have faced no consequences for their repression of the protest movement," Osman said. "As protesters once again bravely take to the streets in the coming days, the world should stand behind their demands for a rights-respecting future and make clear that impunity for the ongoing serious crimes, including at the highest level, will not be accepted.

Sudanese police issued a statement Tuesday night accusing some protesters of being armed but providing no evidence.

Despite the force against them, a Khartoum protester who identified herself as Rania said they would keep demonstrating.

She said a year had passed and the country had achieved nothing, "but we are still hopeful that good days are coming, and we should not give up. We need to see that justice is achieved for our martyrs."

U.N. independent rights experts on Tuesday called for justice for protesters against the coup. They said unlawful tactics by security forces had left an estimated 7,700 people seriously injured, thousands of them children.
Citizens in India have watched Rishi Sunaks ascension to prime minister of Britain with a sense of admiration and triumph, hailing the rise of a person of Indian descent and a Hindu to the top job in a major Western country.

Although Sunak, whose parents migrated from East Africa to Britain in the 1960s, has never lived in India, his heritage has made Indians proud.

Sunaks grandparents hailed from Punjab state before the Indian subcontinent was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan, after British colonial rule ended in 1947. They had moved to East Africa in the 1930s. Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of Indian technology billionaire N.R. Narayana Murthy, who founded one of Indias most successful software companies.

Many Indians and the media, which gave prominent coverage to his elevation as prime minister, emphasized not just his Indian roots but also his faith; Sunak is a Hindu, the majority religion in India, and has spoken about its importance to him.

When news broke this week that Sunak was destined to be Britains new leader, Indians were celebrating the Hindu festival of lights known as Diwali. For many, like Mumbai resident Nikhil Shirodkar, the development added to the celebratory mood.

It is indeed a very special moment that a person of Indian origin and a practicing Hindu is heading a government in Britain, said Shirodkar, who heard the news as he got ready to perform Diwali rituals. I would have never thought it possible that the country has accepted a member of an ethnic minority as prime minister. It is really amazing, he said, calling it a testament to multiculturalism.

Similar sentiments echoed on social media while mainstream media ran triumphant headlines like the one in the Times of India newspaper that said Rishi Sunak, a 'proud Hindu,' is new UK PM.

Since Sunak first bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party in July, television networks and newspapers have carried stories about how in 2019 he had taken his oath as a member of Parliament on the Bhagavad Gita, a revered Hindu text; performed a cow worship, a Hindu ritual in August; and lit lamps at his Downing Street residence on Diwali two years ago when he was chancellor.

Inevitably, Indias colonial legacy also became a talking point, with many calling it ironic that Britain, which ruled India for 200 years, would now be led by a man who traced his descent to its former colony.

However, historians pointed out that Sunaks rise to the top job was not really a case of history coming full circle as many would like to believe.

At some point of time as historians we were expecting that a person of Indian origin would become prime minister of a country like Britain or Canada, said Archana Ojha, professor of history at Delhi University. That conclusion is derived from a study of future demographics. While there may not be a big increase in the number of Indians in these countries, they are a rich and influential community and hence poised to play a very important role in politics there.

But she pointed out that Sunak has also benefited from being at the right place at the right time; his ascension came after two prime ministers quit in the face of political scandal and economic crisis.

He became prime minister when no one else in the party was well-placed to take the role. If his tenure goes well, it will be a triumph for him and others of ethnic descent, Ojha said. But if he fails, that will also reflect a failure of the policy of multiculturalism.

From Indian heads of technology giants such as Googles Sundar Pichai to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, India has long cheered the achievements of people of Indian origin and the Indian diaspora.

But even as they were gladdened by the latest and possibly the most significant such success, some opposition politicians questioned whether the same could happen in India, which critics say is sliding into majoritarianism under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

P. Chidambaram, a veteran leader of the opposition Congress Party, tweeted, First Kamala Harris, now Rishi Sunak. The people of the U.S. and the U.K have embraced the non-majority citizens of their countries and elected them to high office in government. I think there is a lesson to be learned by India and the parties that practice majoritarianism.

Sunaks rise is expected to have little direct impact on political ties between Britain and India, which have been on the upswing in recent years. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited India in April this year.

The challenge in the coming months, however, will be to seal an ambitious free-trade deal that India and Britain had hoped to wrap up by October, but which missed the deadline because of the recent political turbulence in the country. While some hope that those talks will get momentum if Sunak can restore stability, others warn that Britains economic woes will make it hard to pursue the pact, which aims to double bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.

Trade deals happen when the going is good because they are about give and take, said Biswajit Dhar, trade analyst and professor at New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The British economy is in doldrums and the first priority for Sunak will be to clear the economic mess, he said. Also, India usually comes up with huge demands in the services sector, and with the high unemployment rates that Britain is seeing, I doubt if they can accommodate those at this juncture.
A judge on Wednesday ordered former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to testify before a special grand jury that is investigating whether President Donald Trump and his allies illegally tried to sway Georgia's results in the 2020 election.

Meadows, a former GOP congressman, is a key figure in the investigation. He traveled to Georgia, sat in on Trump's phone calls with state officials, and coordinated and communicated with outside influencers who were either encouraging or discouraging the pressure campaign.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened the investigation last year into actions taken by Trump and others to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the state. Meadows is just one of several associates and advisers of the Republican former president whose testimony Willis has sought.

Because Meadows doesn't live in Georgia, Willis, a Democrat, had to use a process that involved getting a judge where he lives in South Carolina to order him to appear. First, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who's overseeing the special grand jury, signed off on a petition certifying that Meadows was a "necessary and material witness."

Now, Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller in Pickens County, South Carolina, has honored McBurney's finding and ordered Meadows to testify, Willis spokesman Jeff DiSantis confirmed.

Meadows' attorney Jim Bannister told The Associated Press that his client was "weighing all options," including appeals.

"Nothing final until we see the order," he said.

Willis has been fighting similar battles  mostly with success  in courts around the country as she seeks to compel Trump allies to testify. But an appeals court in Texas has indicated it may not recognize the validity of the Georgia summonses, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after a federal appeals court last week ordered him to testify.

In the petition seeking Meadows' testimony, Willis wrote that he attended a Dec. 21, 2020, meeting at the White House with Trump and others "to discuss allegations of voter fraud and certification of Electoral College votes from Georgia and other states."

The next day, Willis wrote, Meadows made a "surprise visit" to Cobb County, just outside Atlanta, where an audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes was being conducted. He asked to observe the audit but wasn't allowed to because it wasn't open to the public, the petition says.

Meadows also sent emails to Justice Department officials after the election alleging voter fraud in Georgia and elsewhere and requesting investigations, Willis wrote. And he took part in a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, during which Trump suggested that Raffensperger, the state's top elections official and a Republican, could "find" enough votes to overturn the president's narrow loss in the state.

According to a transcript of the call with Raffensperger, Meadows said Trump's team believed that "not every vote or fair vote and legal vote was counted. And that's at odds with the representation from the secretary of state's office." He goes on to say he hopes they can agree on a way "to look at this a little bit more fully."

Raffensperger disputed the assertions, addressing Trump, "We don't agree that you have won."

After the election, Meadows was widely seen in the White House as a chief instigator of Trump's fixation on the election, passing along debunked conspiracies about fraud that other officials were forced to swat down. He pushed one theory that people in Italy had changed votes in the U.S. with satellite technology, a claim that former Justice Department official Richard Donoghue labeled "pure insanity."

On the legal front, in a court filing this week, Meadows' lawyer Bannister argued that executive privilege and other rights shield his client from testifying.

Bannister asserted in a filing that Meadows has been instructed by Trump "to preserve certain privileges and immunities attaching to his former office as White House Chief of Staff." And Willis' petition calls for him "to divulge the contents of executive privileged communications with the President," Bannister wrote.

Meadows previously invoked that privilege in a fight against subpoenas issued by the U.S. House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Meadows has been fighting investigations into the violent 2021 insurrection since last year and has so far avoided having to testify about his role and his knowledge of the former president's actions. He turned over thousands of texts to the House Jan. 6 committee before eventually refusing to do an interview.

The House held Meadows in contempt of Congress for defying the subpoena, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute.

Special grand juries in Georgia cannot issue indictments. Instead, they can gather evidence and compel testimony and then can recommend further action, including criminal charges, in a final report. It is ultimately up to the district attorney to decide whether to seek an indictment from a regular grand jury.

Grand jury secrecy is "paramount" in South Carolina, Bannister wrote. Because the special grand jury is expected to ultimately issue a public report, ordering Meadows to testify would violate his state right to privacy, Bannister argued.

McBurney, the Fulton County Superior Court judge, has made clear in rulings on other attempts by potential witnesses to avoid or delay testimony that he considers the special grand jury's investigation to be a criminal proceeding. He has also stressed a need for secrecy for the panel's workings.


A Turkish court has agreed to consider a request to disqualify one of the judges overseeing the trial of a media advocate.

The case in question involves Erol Onderoglu, the Turkish representative for media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who is on trial alongside journalist Ahmet Nesin and human rights defender Sebnem Korur Fincanci.

All three are accused of terror-related charges over their role as guest editor at the pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem in early 2016.

A Turkish court later in 2016 ordered the closure of Ozgur Gundem on accusations that the newspaper had links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and was spreading terrorist propaganda.

Washington and Ankara have both designated the PKK as a terrorist organization.

During an October 19 hearing, lawyers representing Onderoglu and his co-accused asked a court to remove Murat Bircan, one of the judges, because of his affiliation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Onderoglu told VOA that Bircan in 2018 was a candidate to run in the parliamentary elections for the AKP in the northern province of Samsun.

Because of that connection with Erdogan's party, Onderoglu said, appointing Bircan as a judge in the Ozgur Gundem case could create a sense of distrust in judicial independence.

"To trust the judicial process, the judiciary must be independent," Onderoglu told VOA. "There is a need for a self-sufficient and objective structure that carries out the disciplinary and appointment procedures by itself so that we can feel more secure as defendants."

VOA tried to submit a request to the AKP for comment via its web portal, but the online form was not working.

Authorities first filed charges against Onderoglu in June 2016, and detained the media advocate for 10 days.

In 2019, a court acquitted Onderoglu, Nesin and Fincanci, who is now chair of the Turkish Medical Association.

The following year, an appeals court overturned the acquittal.

That verdict came shortly after President Erdogan made comments about Fincanci's Turkish Medical Association, which had been critical of Ankara's response to the pandemic.

Erdogan did not directly name Fincanci, but in an address to his party in October 2020, he said the association's head came from "a terrorist organization" and asked parliament to take steps to rein in the group's influence.

"It was an ordinary case, but by overturning the acquittals with the intervention of President Erdogan, the case became a symbol of political interventions in the judiciary," Onderoglu said.

Onderoglu and his co-accused are now awaiting for the verdict in a retrial. If convicted, they could each be jailed for up to 14 years.

The presidential communications directorate did not respond to VOA's emails requesting comment.

VOA's emails seeking comment from Turkey's Justice Ministry which oversees Bircan's office, went unanswered.

Faruk Eren, head of the press union of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, said judicial independence is important.

"Many people are held in prisons by direct order of the executive branch. And in fact, the judiciary is most often used to silence journalists. In short, the judicial system has become an apparatus for the Erdogan government," Eren told VOA.

Turkey is one of the leading jailers of journalists globally, with at least 18 behind bars for their work at the time of the most recent prison census by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Media analysts have accused Ankara of using terrorism and insult laws to jail opponents and critics.

In its press freedom index, RSF says, "Judges who do the government's bidding are trying to limit democratic debate by censoring online articles tackling corruption and similarly sensitive topics."

The watchdog ranks Turkey 149 out of 180 on its Press Freedom Index, where 1 denotes the best environment for media.

After six years of fighting a lawsuit and defending journalists harassed for their work, Onderoglu says he believes "Turkey has been a threatening place for not only journalists but also rights defenders."

"We know that we are in a period where it is essential to stand firm and to take a strong stance in favor of our colleagues who are trying to deliver news to the public by taking all the risks," Onderoglu told VOA.

While fighting to prove his innocence, Onderoglu is also following the proceedings of several hundred journalists in the courts.

"I am trying to minimize the effect of this trial on me so that I will not be affected too much in my daily work. Turkey is going through an extraordinary period in terms of transparency, and the fundamental rights of journalists to report must be firmly defended," Onderoglu said.

The lower court forwarded the request to disqualify the judge in his case to a higher court and adjourned the case until February 1.

This story originated in VOA's Turkish Service. Some information came from AFP.
The United States on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting Iranian officials and entities over internet censorship and a crackdown on protesters following the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police.

Demonstrations ignited by 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's death in custody on September 16 have become one of the boldest challenges to Iran's clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution.

The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it imposed sanctions on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials, provincial and Iranian prison officials, as well as two entities accused of "efforts to disrupt digital freedom" in Iran.

The action targets Hedayat Farzadi, who the Treasury accused of operating Evin prison, which mostly holds political prisoners, and where Washington said numerous protesters have been sent. Seyyed Heshmatollah Hayat Al-Ghaib, the director-general of Tehran Province Prisons  which the Treasury said gave him oversight of Evin  was also named.

The commander of the IRGC intelligence organization, Mohammad Kazemi, and Abbas Nilforushan, the deputy commander for IRGC operations, as well as other officials were also named.

The U.S. action freezes any U.S. assets belonging to those named and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions with them also risk being hit with sanctions.
Well say it again: Two well-qualified candidates are running for Erie County clerk. Faced with the politics of cross-endorsement back in June, this page endorsed Melissa Hartman over incumbent Michael P. Mickey Kearns in Junes Democratic primary race for the sole purpose of ensuring that both a Democrat and a Republican would be running in November, rather than one candidate, Kearns, taking both lines.

Now that its Kearns v. Hartman  once more  in the general election, our endorsement goes to the candidate on the Republican line, Kearns, largely because of his advocacy for at-risk Buffalo homeowners.

Kearns Stay In Your Home campaign  undertaken jointly with the Western New York Law Center  assists homeowners who receive pre-foreclosure notices by educating them on their rights and keeping them from unnecessarily vacating their properties. This helps prevent properties from devolving into zombie status, which is what happens when the foreclosure process is not seen through and homes are simply abandoned, owned by no one. A zombie property task force led by Kearns has successfully brought dozens of properties back into compliance and new ownership.

In all other areas, both candidates are hardworking administrators who have modernized their departments and provided efficient services in difficult times. Kearns was able to keep the Auto Bureau running during the pandemic, initiating an appointment system that continues to help this all-important sector operate smoothly. The bureaus Dealer Division ensures that new car registration revenue stays in Erie County.

Hartman accomplished ambitious goals as Town of Eden supervisor, completing a master plan and major business district upgrades; she has also taken a leadership role with her fellow town supervisors. She has a practical, no-nonsense attitude toward governing, promising to make service, not politics, her priority.

That makes it all the more unfortunate that, back in March, a dummy pipe bomb was thrown into Hartmans home in what appears to be a personal attack motivated by Hartmans political ambitions. A suspect has been charged.

On its face, the attack seems to belong to the current scourge of political extremism that has no place in this or any other race. Its particularly inappropriate here, with an office that rarely touches national hot-button issues. Its true that in 2019 Kearns and other county clerks challenged the Green Light Law, which allows undocumented immigrants to receive drivers licenses in New York State, but his challenge was rejected and his office has been in compliance since.

At the end of the day, the county clerks office is all about getting a multifaceted administrative job done with efficiency and cost-saving for taxpayers. Both Hartman and Kearns seem perfectly capable of fulfilling this goal if elected, with the difference that Kearns  as holder of the office during the past four years  has already proven his ability. This history and his efforts to preserve homeownership are what make the difference.

During a recent interview with The News, Hartman indicated that the home ownership program would not be a high priority should she win the office, but  regardless  an endorsement of Kearns must be coupled with encouragement for Hartman to continue her public work in Erie County, whether as Eden supervisor or in another role. Her calm leadership and emphasis on efficiency are much needed in local government.

  

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.
The United States has warned people living in South Africas Sandton of a possible terrorist attack in the next few days.

In a statement posted on its website, the U.S. Mission to South Africa said, The U.S. government has received information that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 October 2022.

There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack. The U.S. Embassy has advised staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg during the weekend of 29-30 October 2022.

More details to follow
(The Center Square)  From coast to coast  from California to New York, from Texas to Florida  law enforcement officers are warning parents about rainbow fentanyl pills being hidden in candy boxes ahead of Halloween.

The pills look like candy but are laced with illicit fentanyl intended to kill children and others who ingest them. Two milligrams, the size of a mosquito, is considered a lethal dose.

After a major drug bust at the Los Angeles Airport, LA County Sheriffs Department issued a warning saying, 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.

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 sheriffs office issued the warning after its Narcotics Bureau detectives and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents seized approximately 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills hidden inside Sweetarts, Skittles, and Whoppers candy boxes that a passenger was trying to take on a plane at the Los Angeles International Airport.

In Tampa on Tuesday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and law enforcement officers warned parents about the dangers of rainbow fentanyl ahead of Halloween.

Halloween can be scary, but nowhere near as scary as rainbow colored fentanyl that looks like candy and can be lethal in minute doses, she said. Whether these drugs are being transported in candy boxes or mixed with other common drugs and sold to unsuspecting users, the threat posed to the safety of kids and young adults is very real.

Just one pill laced with fentanyl can kill, so parents please talk to your children about the dangers posed by this extremely lethal drug.

Earlier this month, Florida law enforcement officers seized enough fentanyl to kill nearly half of Floridas population after they shut down a major drug trafficking operation run by gang members affiliated with Mexican cartels.

Last month, two Maryland men were charged with fentanyl trafficking offenses after selling illicit pills to undercover DEA agents, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut said. Investigators confiscated 15,000 fentanyl-laced pills, many of which were hidden inside numerous Nerds candy boxes and Skittles candy bags.

Earlier this month, DEA agents seized the largest amount of fentanyl to date in New York City  15,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills hidden in a Lego toy box. Agents said the pills were primarily supplied by two Mexican cartels, the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

"Using happy colors to make a deadly drug seem fun and harmless is a new low, even for the Mexican cartels," New York narcotics city prosecutor Bridget Brennan said in a statement. She said more than 80% of drug overdoses in New York City involve illicit fentanyl.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has designated the two cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has called on President Joe Biden to do the same.

Fentanyl is pouring through the border because of President Bidens open border policies, Abbott said. Hes continued to call on the president to close the border, sounding the alarm on the volume of drugs pouring through.

Since the president has been in office, Texas law enforcement working through Operation Lone Star have seized enough lethal doses of fentanyl to kill everyone in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have seized enough lethal doses of fentanyl to kill 5 billion people.

The DEA also recently said it had seized 36 million lethal doses of fentanyl in operations from May to September nationwide.

Moody and 17 attorneys general have called on the president to classify illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.

With massive amounts of fentanyl flooding in from Mexico, we know that deadly drugs are more available, than they were before, Moody warned. Shes urging parents to talk to their children about how dangerous just one pill is: it can kill.

Her office has published a range of resources about the dangers of fentanyl, including a Fast Facts on Fentanyl Toolkit to educate parents about digital drug dealers who are aggressively targeting children and young adults on social media apps.
Rolling Stone magazine published an article on the disappearance of ABC journalist James Gordon Meek at the end of April [1]. This case had not been reported on so far.

Meek had served as Senior Counterterrorism Advisor to the House Homeland Security Committee. He seems to have had a double professional life as a journalist and an intelligence agent. In any case, he was well introduced into this circle at a very high level. When he went missing, he was writing a book on Operation Pineapple Express that unfolded during the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul [2] .

He sent out his last tweet on April 27, basically reposting a tweet by a former CIA agent captioned Facts. The agents text reads: "Actually, it started long time ago. We learned this between 2014-2022. Not just now. It was a lab experiment on Russian TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures]. On the EW [electronic warfare]. On everything. This is why Ukrainians (with our advice/assistance) are doing so well. Ask those in the IC [Intelligence community] or the UW [unconventional warfare] communities. We learned a shit ton.

After posting this tweet, Meek abruptly resigned from his job at ABC. According to his friends and colleagues, he gave no explanation, but it seemed like the sky had just fallen on his head.

His home was the target of a raid witnessed by neighbors, who saw black cars and an armored vehicle, such as those used by the FBI, surrounding his house. He was allegedly searched by armed men, but it has not been confirmed whether he was home at the time. In any case, no one saw him leave, nor has he been seen him since.

The authorities are keeping the story uder wraps.
Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov called for a holy war on 25 October 2022.

In his view, the United States failed in their attempt to starve the Russians over the past decade. They are now setting up Ukrainians to sabotage and attack targets inside the Russian Federation, which must not be tolerated. It is a fight between Satanist forces on the one hand, and believers, Christians and Muslims, on the other.

Also, he called on all Chechens to enlist to defend their faith and their homeland.
Four years ago, Letitia Tish James might have seemed doubtful to those who wondered whether the endorsed Democratic candidate for attorney general could remain independent of a then-popular governor. They might also have wondered if her vow to take on former President Donald Trump would distract her from the more mundane duties of the office.

The neednt have worried. Not only has James proved her independence from former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in releasing a damaging report about his conduct and performance, but she has done more. James has been relentless, from the recent settlement with the Buffalo Diocese over child sexual abuse to consumer fraud, debt collection, housing, lead paint, bad landlords, restitution, environment and a host of other subjects, including data breaches and cryptocurrencies.

She recently issued a report requested by Gov. Kathy Hochul following the racially driven May 14 Tops shooting. It holds social media outlets accountable for distributing content designed to incite hatred or violence.

James opponent, Republican Michael Henry, has a platform that includes tackling crime, corruption and the rising cost of living in New York, but does not provide a strong case for becoming the next state attorney general. Henry, who began his career in the mortgage industry before returning to law school and gravitating toward commercial litigation work which he continues, should be encouraged to remain engaged on the issues, particularly his complaint about one-party control of the state.

For now, that one-party setup benefits those such as James. But she has set her sights on both Democrats and Republicans. Her pursuit of Trump has been dogged and evidence-driven.

Henry insists, unlike previous attorneys general, he would not be bothered if he never ascended to the governors office. James, who in December 2021 ended a brief campaign for governor, said she wants to complete her work as attorney general. It would include any number of cases and represent the state at a time when we find ourselves challenged as a republic. On the ballot, according to her, are crucial issues of democracy; womens rights and the environment. Voters should not doubt her sincerity but also bear in mind the natural springboard the office provides.

James said she did not realize four years ago that she would be in the spotlight. But attention came as her office launched an investigation of the Trump organization, sparked by the testimony of his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. It would have been an abdication of her responsibility, James contended, to ignore the testimony and facts, particularly since most of his real estate holdings are in the city and state of New York. The investigation centers on allegations that Trump reported differing values of assets between 2010 and 2021, depending on their impact on his bottom line.

Other issues James has confronted head-on include public safety, gun violence and lack of mental health services. She stresses that one cannot talk about crime in isolation and limit it to bail reform. As the state attorney general, she has removed 3,500 guns from New York States streets through gun buybacks. Her office has joined with law enforcement to take down gangs and stop individuals who traffic in illegal guns and drugs. She settled the largest case involving manufacturers and distributors of opioids, resulting in a settlement of $1.5 billion. The money will be distributed to organizations to provide treatment, beds, prevention, etc.

James has continued to focus on public safety while managing to tackle a range of issues, not the least of which is the former president. But she has also demonstrated an ability to keep her focus on grassroots issues affecting the lives of everyday individuals and businesses. For these reasons, James deserves another term.

  

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.
Claudia Tenney does not deserve another term in congressional office. As a current constituent of hers, and a registered Republican, some of the following, I believe disqualifies her: her pro-Trump, anti-Democrat attitude will do nothing to help our politicians work together for solutions for the good of our country. I have chosen to watch the House Jan, 6 Committee hearings and am extremely impressed. She refers to it as a partisan kangaroo court whose primary objective is to smear Trump and calls it theater and has nothing to do with the pursuit of justice. She is upset that the committee would subpoena Donald Trump. Her agenda is to be anti-Democrat (belittles Democrats, and loves to go on the Fox network. She voted against the infrastructure bill (but happy to receive it). She believes in guns over people. She is not a Republican; she is a TRUMPlican.
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Will they split? Wont they? On Tuesday, we finally got an answer to whether Kanye West and Adidas AG would go their separate ways. The sportswear giant said it was ending its almost decade-long collaboration with the musician, now officially known as Ye, after putting it under review earlier this month. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The company said it would terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. It will cease the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.

Adidas was too slow to walk away from Kanyes controversies. It had come under increasing pressure over recent days to drop the star after his comments targeting Jewish people, including a tweet that resulted in Twitter suspending his account. That followed Ye sending T-shirts down the Paris catwalk with the the slogan White Lives Matter emblazoned on them. On Friday, Kering SAs Balenciaga said it had stopped working with West. Late Tuesday, Gap Inc., which last month ended its own collaboration with Ye, said it was pulling all remaining Yeezy Gap products from stores and online.

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By acting so belatedly, Adidas made Ye its problem, risking a consumer backlash. Perhaps thats why it had to be particularly strident in its denouncement of Ye and leave no room for its Yeezy lines to live on.

Hear Andrea Felsted discuss the split with Sarah Green Carmichael and Ben Schott on Twitter Spaces.

Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Yes recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness, Adidas said in a statement. It did note that it was the sole owner of all design rights to existing products, as well as previous and new colorways under the partnership.

The company said the termination would have a short-term negative impact of up to 250 million ($246.5 million) on its full-year net income, given the high percentage of sales in the final quarter. But the long-term damage will be much bigger. The Yeezy partnership is estimated to generate annual sales of between 1 billion and 1.5 billion, roughly 4%-8% of Adidass group revenue.

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Shares in Adidas fell close to 5% on the news.

The separation comes at a difficult time for the company. Last week, it cut its full-year forecast for sales growth and profit, amid Chinas Covid-19 restrictions and lower demand in US and European markets since the beginning of September.

Chief Executive Officer Kasper Rorsted will step down next year. His successor will need to find a way to reignite excitement about the brand, which is losing the Gen Z sneaker battle with Nike Inc. In contrast to Adidas, the US company said last month that it was seeing no signs of slowdown in the US. Now Adidass new CEO will have to find a way to fill the hole left by Yeezy too.

The sportswear maker has options  it could dig into the Adidas archive to try to find another winning sneaker line or expand its collaborations with luxury brands, such as Prada SpA and Kering SAs Gucci.

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In truth, Adidass partnership with Ye ran its course some time ago, but the company was reluctant to relinquish his star selling power. His controversies, which for so long simply kept him at the forefront of consumers minds, may have finally become impossible to bear, but that wont make the divorce any less financially painful.

#adidas has ditched #ye Tap the link in our bio to read more about it #live #breakingnews #livereaction #kanye #kanyewest #gap #balenciaga #brands #learnontiktok #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #yeezy #sneaker #slides

(Updates 3rd paragraph with Gap announcement; corrects 1st paragraph with timeline of review.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Believe it or not, right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro might be re-elected president of Brazil on Sunday. The race that pollsters once believed would be won outright by former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during the first round on Oct. 2 is instead heading to a tight runoff, with some polls showing the two candidates in a statistical tie.

Lula and his allies would likely blame a loss on Bolsonaros deployment of the public purse to juice his popularity, and the vast disinformation campaign aimed at tarnishing Lula as a corrupt drug trafficker who plans to shutter churches across the country.

But the candidate of the Workers Party also faces another, more complicated obstacle: The middle class doesnt seem to like him that much.

You might call it the paradox of the left. While the poor in Brazils north and northeast remain solidly in Lulas camp, the middle class in the more prosperous south and southeast, which expanded robustly during his presidency from 2003 to 2010 thanks partly to government social programs, has invested its loyalties on the right.

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The cleavage is evident in last weeks poll by daily Folha de Sao Paulo. Voters making up to twice the minimum wage of about $230 a month prefer Lula by a 20-point margin. But voters making between two and five times the minimum choose Bolsonaro by a margin of almost 10 points.

These better-off voters may not amount to a lot of people  income per person in roughly two-thirds of Brazilian families does not clear the two-minimum wage hurdle  but they could tip an election as close as this one.

The rightward skew is weird considering the Workers Party middle-class roots in an alliance between Brazils trade union movement with parts of the Catholic church and assorted urban intellectuals battling the military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s.

The trend extends beyond the Brazilian left, though. Left-of-center parties have suffered across much of Western Europe. Closer to home, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who tags himself as a leftist change agent, has lashed out at an urban middle class that turned against him in last years legislative elections.

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In Bolivia, the governing Movement for Socialism of President Luis Arce and his predecessor Evo Morales has strong support among rural indigenous Bolivians but less so among the non-indigenous urban middle class. Even in Uruguay, the Latin American country that most closely resembles Europes generous welfare states, the middle class turned against 15 years of government by the left-of-center Broad Front and two years ago helped deliver the presidency to the center right.

Tarso Genro, who served as president of the Workers Party and Lulas minister of education, minister of institutional relations and minister of justice, places his partys problems among the challenges faced by the classical left of the 19th and 20th centuries, steeped in a concept of class struggle born in the industrial age, when the workplace largely shaped peoples political identity.

The most relevant political debates today do not pit the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. Social identities are now structured around race, gender, place, religion, environmental concerns and other concepts, raising different sets of demands and fears that dont fit the old paradigm and defy simple solutions.

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Bolsonaro conquered a set of social contingents that are tired of a liberal democracy that does not have quick answers, said Genro. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the political appeal of the presidents scorched-earth approach to crime, which taps into Brazilians deep-seated sense of insecurity.

Marta Arretche, a political scientist at the Universidade de Sao Paulo, agrees that the Brazilian election will not be decided exclusively over bread-and-butter concerns.

There is a lot of evidence that this election is not just about economics, she said. Issues of religion and traditional values  for the family, against homosexuals and so on  are central to Bolsonaros pitch. So is the corruption that embroiled Lula and his party the last time he was in power. Bolsonaros mobilization of hatred, says Arretche, is critical: Bolsonaros use of fear is impressive.

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But the misfortunes of the Workers Party are not solely contingencies beyond its control. In fact, Lulas main challenge is arguably of his own design, a consequence of what he might proudly call his mission: Trying to govern as a champion of the poor, he picked a fight with those just above poverty. But they were hardly doing great.

Between 2004 and 2014, the heyday of Workers Party rule, the income of the bottom half of the population rose by around 35%, according to Marc Morgan and Amory Gethin of the World Inequality Lab at the Paris School of Economics. Brazilians between the 70th and the 97th percentile of the income distribution, however, fared poorly. People from the 85th to the 95th percentile actually saw their incomes decline. They are hardly rich, making maybe two or three times the minimum wage.

Just raising wages at the bottom could draw resentment from those perched slightly above on the income scale, Arretche speculates. The bank teller making maybe $700 a month would be squeezed to pay a nanny $300 to care for her kid. The middle classes have been pitted against the least privileged groups in society for their share of national income, wrote Gethin and Morgan.

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As resources grew scarce after the economic slowdown from 2014, life became harder for the middle class. Its tough to win over these voters with a promise to end hunger. By contrast, you can piss them off if you discount their troubles to focus on the poor.

In 2002, Lula won 60% of the vote of Brazilians in the third and fourth quintile of the income distribution, noted Gethin and Morgan  those better off than the 40% at the bottom of the pile but poorer than the top 20%. In 2018, his political successor Fernando Haddad received less than 40%. Meanwhile, the 60%-plus share of the vote that the Workers Party garnered from those in the poorest quintile did not change.

Its hard to say what Lula can do between now and Sunday to reverse this trend. And as Arretche has noted, compared with the annihilation of the moderate right, the Workers Party still has remarkable staying power. Yet if Lula ekes out a win, the middle classs rightward drift will remain a pressing problem. For a party whose raison detre is helping to lift the poor into the middle class, it represents nothing less than an existential threat.

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Eduardo Porter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Latin America, US economic policy and immigration. He is the author of American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise and The Price of Everything: Finding Method in the Madness of What Things Cost.

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On Monday, the House Progressive Caucus delivered a letter to President Joe Biden urging a change of course on Ukraine. On Tuesday, they completely withdrew it. Was this confusing chain of events another case of Democrats in Disarray, one of the most frequently diagnosed illnesses in American politics? Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The answer lies in what happened between Monday and Tuesday. The rapid closing of a potential schism within partys ranks on foreign policy is actually a story of organizational efficiency and cohesion. It shows the unity of congressional Democrats, and the ability of the party currently in power to work out differences. The Houses top Republican, meanwhile, recently folded when faced with similar pressure. Call it Democrats in Array, complete with a mea culpa from the Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington. As Chair of the Caucus, I accept responsibility for this, she said.

And it stands in sharp contrast to how dysfunctional congressional Republicans have become, and how fringe Republicans can bully the bulk of the party into going along with them.

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Heres the full story of what happened from Politico. The letter called for more effort into diplomacy in order to end the Russia/Ukraine war, but did not call for an end to US aid to Ukraine and did not condemn Bidens efforts. So it wasnt a full-out rejection of the administrations course or anything close to a full abandonment of Ukraine. Still, it was a significant break.

It produced an immediate uproar, with supporters of Ukraine and Bidens policy  including leading House Democrats  pushing back hard, They came out against the idea that direct US-Russia negotiations were appropriate at this point, especially with Russias recent claim to annex portions of that nation, evidence of war crimes and Russian threats of future war crimes. Most foreign policy experts agreed.

There will be serious costs for those on the wrong side of this dispute, from Jayapal and the signers to the House Progressive Caucus in general.(1)This is the kind of misstep that goes beyond a bad news cycle. It can hurt reputations, and with them bargaining power, in the future. Jayapal blamed staff for the episode, which is both difficult to believe and hardly likely to make anyone feel more confident in her.

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For Democrats overall, however, what this episode demonstrates  and hardly for the first time  is the very limited influence of ideological outliers on the rest of the party.

To be sure, House and Senate Democrats as a group are quite liberal. Even the most moderate among them are best thought of as moderate liberals; twenty years ago, and even ten years ago, there were more of those moderates, and they were closer to being moderate conservatives. The same is true on the Republican side. The gap between the least conservative Republicans and the least liberal Democrats has only continued to grow.

But the power of ideological outliers is very different between the parties. Ukraine is an excellent example. Mainstream liberal Democrats, as weve seen this week, are not afraid of disagreements with the House Progressive Caucus. Indeed, many of them appear to delight in contrasting themselves with those who are more liberal.Mainstream Republicans, however, are terrified of any significant criticism from those who call themselves extreme conservatives  which allows those radicals to bully the rest of the party. We saw the results recently, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy admitting that Ukraine aid would probably be cut off if he becomes Speaker, even though the House as a whole would certainly have the votes for additional aid packages and even within the Republican conference there will likely still be a majority for continuing to support that beleaguered nation.

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Its not that very liberal Democrats have no influence whatsoever. After all, many of their proposals were included in bills passed by House Democrats during this Congress, even if in most cases they didnt have the votes to win in the Senate. Overall, Democrats had a very liberal-friendly agenda, the result in large part of a presidential nomination process in which mainstream liberals prevailed over strong showings from Senator Bernie Sanders (and to a lesser extent, Elizabeth Warren). Just as important, those who wanted to make the party less liberal were wiped out early.(2)

But the most liberal Democrats cant simply bulldoze their way over the rest of the party as radical Republicans in the House do on a regular basis. Nor are they willing to risk harming the party by pressing too hard on their differences. They mounted a quick turnaround in this episode, just as they accepted whatever they could get after Senate compromises on major legislation. It all adds up to a party that is surprisingly good at navigating their differences  and able to pass bill after bill despite extremely narrow margins in both chambers of Congress. The contrast to the dysfunctional Republican Party in Congress, held hostage to the whims of the most radical members, couldnt be more clear.

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(1) Jayapals statement backing off said that the Caucus, not the 30 signers, were withdrawing the letter.

(2) Biden himself did not run as a moderate intent on moving the party to the center; he ran as a mainstream liberal, right in the middle of the party ideologically.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. A former professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University, he wrote A Plain Blog About Politics.

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A surge in cases of a common respiratory virus is filling up pediatric hospital beds around the US. The early and swift arrival of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is stretching the limits of an already exhausted health care system. Layer on Covid and the flu, and youve got the makings of another unpleasant pandemic winter.

This isnt the kind of triple threat anyone wants to see. But there are plenty of ways to lower the risk of each of these viruses  both in the short term and over the long term.

RSV is typically nothing more than an annoying cold or cough for most children, but it can be dangerous for others  particularly infants, babies born prematurely and kids with underlying medical problems or who are immunocompromised. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 58,000 kids under the age of 5 are hospitalized with the virus each year in the US. RSV is also risky for older adults, killing some 14,000 people over the age of 65 each year in the US.

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This years RSV season has arrived about two months earlier than expected. Cases are growing sharply and follow two seasons with very little spread. Those two mild seasons mean most infants and young children have never been exposed to the virus, making a large population of kids particularly susceptible this year. And while most of those children wont wind up in the hospital, they still become vectors for spreading it to others who could.

Meanwhile, some community hospitals that shifted pediatric beds to support adults during the early months of the pandemic permanently reduced or abandoned their services for children. As RSV cases rise, children are being shuffled to facilities with beds, sometimes in other states. One hospital in Connecticut is even reportedly talking with the National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up a tent outside to support more admissions.

All of this has made pediatric infectious disease doctors worried about what the next few weeks might bring. Stretched hospital capacity and a combination of a more conventional RSV season and a potentially severe flu season worries me a lot, says Larry Kociolek, medical director of infection prevention and control at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago.

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In the short term, there are some things parents can do to lower the risk for their kids, while also helping to minimize the societal spread of the virus. RSV is often transmitted by droplets from someone who coughs or sneezes. It also can live on surfaces for several hours. As every parent can attest, small children love nothing more than to put everything within their reach into their mouths. Stay vigilant about cleaning surfaces, not allowing children to share utensils, and washing hands. Families who have an infant at home and a toddler at day care should be especially mindful of those tasks  and if the older child has respiratory symptoms, Kristin Moffitt, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Boston Childrens Hospital, recommends trying to isolate them from their sibling.

In general, the same kind of common sense measures many people adopted to fight Covid also apply to RSV. This virus is contagious for 38 days after symptoms present, so if youre bringing your littles to an event where you cant be certain people will stay home if theyre sick, know that youre putting them at risk of one of the myriad respiratory viruses floating around. Consider staying home, or urge attendees with any symptoms to opt out of the festivities.

For families with members who are particularly vulnerable to RSV, the flu or Covid, now would be a really smart time to say, Im going to put that mask back on when Im headed indoors,  Moffitt says.

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One other concrete thing that parents can do is get their children vaccinated for the flu and Covid. Not only will it reduce the risk from those illnesses, but it can help keep pediatric hospitalizations down overall.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for RSV. Theres just a decades-old preventive treatment called Synagis  its a monoclonal antibody that is given to high-risk infants to prevent severe illness. But its less than ideal. Because the antibody doesnt stick around for very long in the body, infants need monthly doses to be protected throughout a typical five-month RSV season.

And while the overwhelming majority of children who get RSV come out of it with just a cold, vaccines and treatments are sorely needed for those most at risk. More and better options are getting very close to the market, but not in time for this winter.

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After a long quest to figure out how to immunize people against RSV, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna all have late-stage RSV vaccines in development. So far, the two most advanced vaccines (from Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline) look remarkably effective, but theres a catch: They are initially being tested in older adults, who are also at risk of hospitalization from RSV. Pfizer is pursuing its RSV vaccine in pregnant women, who would then pass on protection to their newborns.

AstraZenca is developing a long-acting antibody that would allow an at-risk infant to get just one shot per season, and Pfizer and others are developing antivirals that are earlier on in development.

None of us has time or energy for the triple threat of RSV, flu and Covid. But if everyone does their part to lower their familys risk, we can make this winter more manageable for us all.

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Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, she was executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News.

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Two weeks ago, the United Kingdom was thrown into economic chaos by Kwasi Kwarteng, its first Black chancellor of the Exchequer. A floundering Tory party has now tasked Rishi Sunak, the UKs first Brown prime minister, to clean up the mess. But racial progress, let alone political and economic stability, is not in sight yet.

Sunaks biography (he moved straight from Oxford to Goldman Sachs and then Stanford University and hedge funds) belongs quintessentially to the rarefied world of metropolitan globalization. What is remarkable about Sunak and Kwarteng, the Eton-educated son of Ghanaian immigrants, is that they entered a gilded global class with a swiftness and assurance that would have been inconceivable to those who first arrived in Britain from its former colonies in the 1950s and 1960s.

Writing to his wife in 1953, V.S. Naipaul, a Hindu from Trinidad who became arguably Britains greatest postwar writer, described how he, though Oxford-educated, was considered only for jobs as porters in kitchens, and with the road gangs. Humiliation and despair remained commonplace experiences for people who emigrated to Britain decades after Naipaul and who worked, proverbially, twice as hard to get half as far as White Britons. Sunak, whose middle-class parents paid for him to go to snotty Winchester College, admitted in an interview in 2020 that racist abuse stings in a way that very few other things have.

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But individual escapes from collective dishonor  through hedge-funding or marriage into a billionaires family  dont amount to general social progress. Hopes that Sunaks move to 10 Downing Street has brought closer a post-racial future may prove as cruelly premature as the fantasies ignited by Barack Obamas elevation to the White House in 2008.

For one, Sunaks task seems impossible. He is expected to salvage a society, politics and economy profoundly damaged by his own partys openly racist and mendacious campaign for Brexit. In the contest for prime-ministership last month, Tory party members rejected Sunak, despite the fact that his opponent, Liz Truss, was a self-proclaimed thrill-seeker, who loved to embrace the chaos.

The overwhelmingly White and elderly Tories chose an obviously loose cannon to be prime minister at least partly because Sunak has, as he himself confessed good-humoredly during his campaign, a great tan. Last week, a large proportion of them wanted Boris Johnson to return. As their mortgages rise and their pensions shrink, they might decide that the first Hindu and richest prime minister ever is as much of an undesirable imposition as the first Black chancellor, chosen by Truss to unleash chaos in the UK.

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In any case, a few over-promoted non-White people are by no means guaranteed to diminish mainstream prejudice against the great majority of their compatriots. Marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was widely supposed to nudge Britain as well as the Royal Family into accepting a multi-racial future. As it happened, the arrival of a dark-skinned princess in Buckingham Palace provoked Britains race-baiting press into a frenzy, forcing her to leave the country altogether.

Britains xenophobic political and media culture is more willing to accommodate those who indulge its basest instincts, such as the two successive Tory Home secretaries of Indian origin, Priti Patel and Suella Braverman. They stridently advertised their loathing of immigration and risked breaking international law with their scheme to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. I would love to have a front page of the Telegraph with a plane taking off to Rwanda, Braverman claimed at the Tory party conference early this month, shortly before she was sacked by Truss for breaching a ministerial code. Thats my dream, its my obsession. The daughter of immigrants from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Goa, Braverman nearly derailed the UKs trade deal with India by complaining that it would increase immigration from her parents homeland.

Undoubtedly, the Tory party, long stigmatized as nasty, needs a fresh identity and purpose. And Sunak, the son of Hindu immigrants from Africa, could awaken his peers to an irrevocably interdependent world.

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But Sunak is unlikely to vacate their hard-right positions: He campaigned for Brexit, fully supports the Rwanda policy and has just reappointed Braverman as Home secretary. There are good reasons to suspect that he would retard rather than accelerate Britains much-needed transition to a sober state of mind.

He revealed during his summer campaign for prime minister that he is not above stoking culture wars against those Braverman last week denounced as tofu-eating wokerati. Indeed, facing a long economic recession with diminishing resources and no popular mandate, Sunak may have little choice. Uncontrollable economic crises are pushing traditional right-wing politicians everywhere into demagogic rhetoric about immigrants, wokeness, cancel culture and more.

Celebrations over a Hindus ascent to the UKs highest political office are thus misplaced. Sunak, too, could end up merely proving, like his recent Tory colleagues of Indian ancestry, that some colored folks are prepared to work twice as hard as White people to demonstrate their hard-right credentials.

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This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Pankaj Mishra is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is author, most recently, of Run and Hide.

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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 30-th day of the second Karabakh war:

- President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation.

- In his address to the nation, President Ilham Aliyev announced the names of the liberated villages of Zangilan, Gubadli and Jabrayil.

- First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on her Instagram account about the liberation of several villages in Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadli disitricts and the city of Gubadli.

- President Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the Italian Rai-1 TV channel.

- The Armenian armed forces shelled Azerbaijani units using artillery.

- Azerbaijans Tovuz, Gadabay and Dashkasan districts were shelled from Armenia.

- Armenia continued to violate the ceasefire.

- Aghjabadi district and Tartar city were subjected to shelling.

- An Armenian drone was destroyed.

- The Armenian armed forces shelled Tartar with 'Smerch' missiles.

- A video of the liberated villages of Padar and Khanlig in Gubadli district was released.

- A video of the liberated city of Gubadli was released.
One of the UK's most-wanted fugitives has been arrested while riding an e-bike in Spain.

Dean Garforth, 29, was wanted on allegations he was a drugs and firearms supplier.

He was riding an e-bike in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, when he was arrested on Monday, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

When he realised plain-clothed officers were closing in, the wanted man rode the bike into an officer and resisted arrest, the agency said.

It came after the NCA and Crimestoppers launched a public appeal in January for 12 of the UK's most wanted fugitives who were believed to be hiding in Spain.

Garforth was wanted for alleged involvement in an organised crime group (OCG) supplying cocaine and cannabis as well as being involved in trading firearms and ammunition.

He was said to have used the now-defunct encrypted messaging platform EncroChat to facilitate his alleged offences in and around the North West of England. It was also alleged his OCG adulterated the drugs before moving them on.

The suspect is in custody awaiting the beginning of extradition proceedings.

He was the sixth fugitive from the list to be arrested since the campaign was launched in January.

Steve Reynolds, NCA regional manager in Spain, said: "Dean Garforth's arrest was made possible after some great work by the Spanish National Police, supported by the NCA's international liaison officers and Cheshire Police.

"Garforth is the sixth fugitive to be arrested from the Most Wanted list. We won't stop until the remainder are caught."

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Murray, from Cheshire Constabulary, said: "This latest arrest shows how by working together, there are no borders and no safe places to hide.

"We will continue to work together to keep bringing those suspected of committing serious and organised crime before the courts."
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Facebooks policy is to not subject politicians to fact-checking, a spokesman for Meta said, though the company makes an exception for specific content thats been previously debunked by fact-checkers. Zuckerberg should consider changing that policy, and moderating politicians and candidates for office with the same rules governing the rest of us. Researchers say that politicians are sometimes major disseminators of misinformation, particularly in Asian countries, and the companys current policy gives them carte blanche to continue spreading misleading content.

Meta has said that its main approach to handling content through the 2022 midterms will be with warning labels. But warnings labels also 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.

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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)

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.

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(Adds details on Facebooks fact-checking policy for politicians in 11th paragraph.)

(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.

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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.

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In this March 28, 2017, photo, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani enters a hall in the Kremlin for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Sergei Karpukhin/AP)

Just hours after President Trump finished calling Iran a "murderous regime" in his Sept. 19 speech at the United Nations, the administration asked French President Emmanuel Macron for a favor. Would Macron inquire whether Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was interested in speaking directly with Trump?

All three leaders were in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, as was Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who conveyed the request to Macron, according to several administration and foreign officials.

Irans response, later that afternoon, was an unequivocal no. The Iranians, the French reported, dont believe youre serious and thought it was some kind of trick, a senior administration official said.

In his own U.N. speech the next day, Rouhani denounced the "ignorant" rhetoric of "rogue newcomers to the world of politics," although he did not mention Trump by name.

Trump has long held a deep belief in his face-to-face negotiating skill. He has said he would be "honored" to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "under the right circumstances." He also declared it an "honor" to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at an international summit in July. He said recently that once he got quarreling Persian Gulf allies together with him in a room, their dispute would "quickly" end.

But there seems little room for negotiation on the issues that divide the United States and Iran. Trump has said he wants to rewrite or terminate the Iran nuclear agreement; Iran and other signatories have flatly refused. He has demanded that Iran cease its ballistic missile development, which Iran says it is legally entitled to carry out. He has accused Iran of being the worlds biggest supporter of international terrorism.

[For some foreign diplomats, the Trump White House is a troubling enigma]

Before Tillersons request, Trump already had broached the general idea of using France as a go-between during a bilateral meeting with the French president the night before his U.N. speech, the senior administration official said. You guys have good relations with Iran, Trump told Macron, according to the official. Could you use your relations to ask if Tehran is willing, should the Americans want to talk? the official said Trump asked.

Macron said sure, he would try to do that, the official said.

Asked why Trump wanted to meet with Rouhani, the official said it was in order to say, Heres all the mean stuff you do in the world, and we want you to stop. . . . If not, you should know were working on a strategy to get you to confront all of this. 

The primary message, the official said, was that the golden Obama-era window of rapprochement is over. This official and others spoke only on the condition of anonymity to discuss the diplomatic exchanges.

For his part, any seeming weakness by Rouhani toward the United States probably would undercut his already tenuous political position in the face of Iranian hard-liners seeking to undermine his presidency.

Trump has accused President Barack Obama of having been soft on Iran, allowing it to expand its malign influence in the Middle East and beyond and to threaten U.S. friends in the region. Most prominently, Trump has called the 2015 nuclear accord that the Obama administration negotiated the worst deal ever.

[Why every other country in the Iran deal is standing by it]

Last month, responding to oversight provisions imposed by Congress, Trump refused to certify Iranian compliance with the deal. He has ordered lawmakers to come up with a proposal to rewrite the agreement and impose new sanctions, threatening otherwise to terminate U.S. participation.

Word of the proposed Trump-Rouhani meeting first circulated Sunday, when Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi told reporters in Tehran that indeed, a request was made by the American side, but it was not accepted by President Rouhani.

In discussing the request, some officials described it as vague and indicated that it left open the question of whether Trump, Tillerson or some other senior official was on offer to speak with Rouhani.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, queried by NBC News on Sunday about Qassemis statement, emailed that it was false, the network reported.

At Tuesdays State Department briefing, spokeswoman Heather Nauert said of Qassemis assertion: I know that was something that the secretary had floated. . . . The Iranian officials said no, and that was the end of it. Asked directly whether the Iranians had specifically turned down a meeting with Trump, Nauert said, They did.

Pressed further, however, she spoke only of a proposed meeting with U.S. officials, before referring any additional questions to the White House.

Tillerson, the senior official said, also had raised the possibility of talks with other officials at various levels when he spoke directly with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sept. 20 during a multilateral meeting at the United Nations, the senior official said.

Highlighting Iranian suspicions of U.S. motives, Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  as prolific as Trump on Twitter  wrote in a tweet to Iranians on Wednesday, My dear children, do not forget, in the important, conducive path toward ideals, your major enemy is the U.S.

Erin Cunningham in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Wisconsin leads in toxicity-weighted chemical discharges

Texas industries released 16 million pounds of toxic substances into waterways in 2020, leading the nation in total discharges, according to Environment Americas analysis.

But chemicals are not uniformly toxic, which is why the government also weights releases based on the substances potential to harm people.

Many of these chemicals are so acutely toxic, just a tiny amount can cause grave damage, said John Rumpler, senior director of Environment America Research & Policy Center.

On a toxicity-weighted scale, Wisconsin saw the most releases of any state, with nearly all discharges attributed to NextEra Energy Resources Point Beach Nuclear Plant. It sits along Lake Michigan near the city of Two Rivers in Manitowoc County.

The facility discharged a toxicity-weighted equivalent of 45 billion pounds of chemicals into the Great Lakes in 2020 because it released hydrazine. The Environmental Protection Agency considers the chemical a probable human carcinogen.
As one of the Fremantle Football Clubs doctors over 26 years, theres no more passionate Dockers supporter than I am  nobody who craves their success on the field more than me.

As a medical professional and father and grandfather, my other great concern is climate change, and the impact it is already having on human health and sport.

Some Fremantle Dockers supporters want the club to dump Woodside Energy as sponsor. Credit:Getty Images

So last week when a group of high-profile Dockers supporters, including some longstanding friends and former colleagues, called for Freo to drop fossil fuel company Woodside as a major sponsor, I knew I had to support them.

Its not easy speaking out against a company like Woodside in Perth but these are important conversations we need to be having about how the burning of fossil fuels like gas and oil is worsening climate change and extreme weather, like heat waves, fires and floods.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan will not budge on the governments pay offer to public sector workers despite growing threats of industrial action from nurses, police and public servants.

The WA government is heading for a battle on multiple fronts over its wages policy with the WA Police Union the latest to commence industrial action.

Nurses protesting wages and nurse-to-patient ratios in Perth earlier this month. Credit:Cameron Myles

President Mick Kelly released an open letter to the government on Wednesday accusing it of failing to respond to their pay requests and letting police down after the efforts officers put in during the pandemic.

During that period, we kept our heads down in the hope that one day you would recognise our contribution, and provide us with the respite, resources, and remuneration that we deserve, Kelly said in the letter.
"A culture of life," Congressman Mike Flood said, is what he hopes inspires Nebraskans to vote pro-life.

Flood, who is seeking to retain his Congressional seat, governor hopeful Jim Pillen and State Sen. Mike Moser, who is looking to be reelected, took part in an open-forum event Oct. 24 at Henry's on 11th in Columbus. The evening's gathering was held to discuss their pro-life views and policies and hear voter feedback. The event, hosted by Nebraska Right to Life, was an open forum for the three candidates on the 2022 general election ballot to answer questions and get to know voter concerns.

"A culture of life celebrates not only the birth of a child, but the prenatal care of a child, the care of somebody who's going to be born into a family that doesn't have everything they need," Flood said.

The "culture of life" philosophy, Flood continued, extends not only to babies and children, but all stages of one's life. Flood urged those in attendance to take into consideration the older people in their lives who are struggling as well.

"They live in our veterans' homes, our nursing homes. There are literally thousands of people that live in loneliness," Flood said. "If we want to live a culture of life, it's on us to reach out to them and bring them into our world and be there for them."

Flood added that his introduction of the LB1103 20-week abortion ban in 2011 was further evidence of his dedication to protecting unborn life. However, in order for the pro-life movement to make progress, the "culture of life" has to come first.

"When I talk to people about being pro-life, I talk about the culture of life and I think it's the way we need to change people's hearts and get them going the same direction," Flood said.

Pillen started the evening with a brief introduction of himself, some solutions he has come up with in regards to issues the state is facing and a brief update on the campaign as the election draws ever closer. One significant challenge, he said, is the physical toll of being on the campaign trail and the stress that it causes. Nevertheless, he said, he is committed.

"There were moments in this process, I was so out of my comfort zone, I'd get to bed and I just couldn't -- in the morning, I'd go 'I don't know if we can get through another day,'" Pillen said.

He recalled that he received a call from somebody in Platte Center asking if he was "all in," to which, Pillen said, he replied it was difficult but he was all in. His dedication is largely due to the support he has seen from the community and Nebraska as a whole.

"We have people across the state, this community has been incredible, people have done so many things, it's just overwhelming," Pillen said. "We have different options to look at but obviously the pro-life cause is a big deal."

Pillen added that with the right number of supporters in the unicameral, the pro-life cause could see more progress, but it would require a little over one third of the legislative body's support.

"If we get 35 or even 33 we can make things happen, it'd be a big deal, so put that on your prayer list," Pillen said.

As for the keystone topic, Pillen stood firmly behind his zero-week stance and on the ways he thinks that can one day be achieved, starting with that "culture of life" Flood spoke of.

"I believe life begins at conception and goes until natural death, no ifs, ands or buts about it," Pillen said.

As a related example of the medical advancements which allow earlier and earlier births, he spoke of his twin grandchildren, who were born seven years ago at 26 weeks of development.

"They were just two little pounds of pink flesh and they're just doing great," Pillen said.

Several weeks ago, he said, he visited a newborn infant care unit and the nurses were excited because a baby had been born at 21-and-a-half weeks, just a touch past the limit for abortion.

"This is not about in-vitro fertilization, this is not about embryos, this is not about medical-ethical discussion, this is not about prophylactics, this is not about patient doctor relationships, this is simply about love and life and helping young mothers lift up and choose life," Pillen said.

Pillen added that that lifting up doesn't end when the children are born. Rather those children should be protected, educated and trained well so they stay in Nebraska and carry those values on to the next generations.

"We will never ever give up on a kid, never ever. Thank God for the teachers who don't, teachers that do give up on kids ought to be looking at another career," Pillen said. "We have to do a better job of helping them understand the grass is greenest and tallest here."

Moser spoke briefly at the end about his beliefs, adding that state senators have a limited number of bills they may introduce, so they must be careful when introducing legislation to ensure it's passed and not rejected outright. Moser mentioned that he was told by another legislator that even incremental changes to laws are important. These could be a change in the number of weeks abortions would be banned at verses proposing a full on ban. Bills like this would further the cause that much more.

"We'll see who gets elected in the next election and we'll see how things develop but I can tell you the total -- this has killed 200,000 Nebraska citizens since Roe v. Wade, 200,000 abortions in Nebraska," Moser said.

After the event, Moser said the event's attendance indicated the support for the pro-life cause in the Columbus area.

"I thought it was a great get-together, a great crowd. Obviously the right-to-life movement is alive and well in Columbus," Moser said.

Flood said something similar, adding that the familiar crowd was enjoyable for him.

"It was a good crowd, Columbus has always been about protecting innocent life and I know a lot of the people here, so a lot of friendly faces," Flood said.

Pillen also said attendance was good and circled back to his statement regarding young mothers and the decisions they make.

"We've just got a whole bunch of people here, extraordinary Nebraskans who are pro-life who want to make sure every young lady chooses love and life," Pillen said.
Bitcoin Price and Ethereum Prediction  Break Above This Level Could Lead BTC to $23,000 Today

During the Asian session, the Bitcoin price is on a bullish streak, rising more than 4% to $20,260. In contrast, Ethereum is on a tear, rising more than 10% in the last 24 hours to trade at $1,485.

Major cryptocurrencies were trading in the green early on October 26 as the global crypto market value gained nearly 5% in the previous day to $976 billion. The overall crypto market volume, on the other hand, increased over 69% in the last 24 hours to $89.24 billion.

DeFi's total volume is currently $3.66 billion, accounting for 4% of the overall crypto market 24-hour volume. The overall volume of all stablecoins is now $80.85 billion, accounting for 90% of the total 24-hour volume of the crypto market.

Let's take a look at the top winners and losers so far today.

Top Altcoin Gainers and Losers

The top performers in the Asian session were Toncoin (TON), Lido DAO (DAO), and Ethereum Classic (ETC). Toncoin price is up more than 21% to $1.80, while DAO is up nearly 10% to $1.67. At the same time, ETC has surged more than 10% to trade at $25 in the last 24 hours.

Top Altcoin Gainers and Losers - Source: Coin360

In the last 24 hours, the price of Aptos (APT) has plunged more than 4% to $8.8. The price of Klaytn (KLAY) has dropped more than 4% to around $0.19.

UK Votes to Regulate Crypto

As of Tuesday, the UK's lower house of parliament, the House of Commons, had voted in favor of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, which included provisions to regulate crypto assets as financial instruments.

The lower chamber of Parliament, the House of Commons, met to read the proposed Financial Services and Markets Bill, which generally outlines the UK's economic plan post-Brexit, line by line.

Parliamentarian Andrew Griffith recommended amending the measure so that digital currencies and tokens would fall under the purview of the country's financial regulators.

Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that is tethered to the value of another asset, such as the US dollar or gold, and the draft bill already included provisions to extend existing restrictions to payments-focused stablecoins.

The higher chamber, the House of Lords, will now have the opportunity to vote on the bill before it can officially become law.

This comes after Rishi Sunak took office as the country's prime minister on Monday; in his previous role as finance minister, Sunak expressed support for cryptocurrencies. Hence, the news is driving optimization in the market, and keeping cryptocurrencies supported.

Bitcoin Price

The current Bitcoin price is $20,245, and the 24-hour trading volume is $151 billion. Bitcoin has increased by over 4% in the last 24 hours. CoinMarketCap currently ranks first, with a live market cap of $388 billion.

Bitcoin Price & Tokenomics - Source: coinmarketcap

On Wednesday, the BTC/USD pair is trading sharply higher after breaking out of the symmetrical triangle pattern at $19,250. As predicted in the Bitcoin price prediction for October 26th, the BTC/USD has traded bullish, crossing immediate resistance levels at $19,600 and $19,900.

For the time being, it is encountering immediate resistance at $20,430, which is being extended by a triple-top pattern.

The RSI and MACD remain in a buying zone, supporting the possibility of a bullish run; similarly, the 50-day moving average supports buying above the $19,300 level. As a result, a breakout of the triple-top pattern could extend the buying trend to $21,000 or $21,900. However, if the uptrend continues, BTC could reach the $23,000 level.

Bitcoin Price Chart - Source: Tradingview

On the downside, Bitcoin's immediate support remains close to $20,000 (psychological level) and $19,600. Today, investors should look for buy positions worth more than $19,900.

Ethereum Price

The current price of Ethereum is $1,485, with a 24-hour trading volume of $31 billion. In the last 24 hours, Ethereum has gained over 10%. CoinMarketCap currently ranks #2, with a live market cap of $181 billion.

Ethereum Price & Tokenomics - Source: coinmarketcap

On the technical front, the ETH/USD pair is on the rise, having already completed a 38.2% Fibonacci retracement and is now approaching the next resistance level of $1,550, which is extended by a 61.8% Fibo level. On the daily timeframe, ETH closed a bullish engulfing candlestick, signaling a strong uptrend and potentially driving additional buying in Ethereum.

Ethereum Price Chart - Source: Tradingview

Leading indicators like the RSI and MACD are pointing up. As a result, the chances of a bullish trend continuation above $1,404 remain high. A break above $1,550 may expose the ETH price to $1,650 or $1,785 levels.

New Crypto Presales

With over $2.5 million raised in less than a week, the Dash 2 Trade presale is well on its way to becoming one of the largest token sales of the year. As the sale progressed from stage one to stage two, the increase in D2T price from 0.0476 to 0.05 USDT did not appear to have significantly slowed down the pace of the transaction.

Dash 2 Trade is an Ethereum-based platform that aims to provide a variety of real-time analytics and social trading signals to its users; the total amount raised so far is a huge vote of confidence in the platform.

After the completion of its presale, the company plans to launch its platform in the first quarter of 2019, at which time it anticipates seeing its D2T token listed on various exchanges. You can still participate in Dash 2 Trade presale and can buy D2T tokens for $0.05 USDT.

Visit Dash 2 Trade now

Find The Best Price to Buy/Sell Cryptocurrency
Joseph Cress will tell you he didnt set out in life to become a historian. In fact, it wasnt even on his radar as he headed into a journalism career more than 30 years ago.

In college, I took the bare minimum of history courses needed to graduate, Cress said. It was here, covering Carlisle and Cumberland County, that my passion for history really took root and thrived. And what fertile ground you have, such rich soil of diverse and dynamic stories.

The Cumberland County Historical Society honored Cress, who has been a reporter at The Sentinel for nearly 24 years, with its Milton E. Flower Historian of the Year award at an event Sunday night in Carlisle.

The award, created in 1958, is presented to a local historian who has made a significant contribution to telling the countys story in a variety of ways, but always documented with the highest levels of scholarly research. It honors Flower, a former Dickinson College professor and long-time supporter of the societys efforts.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, history was never meant to be drab and dusty, but alive and active in its ever-changing impact, Cress said. I thank the historical society for helping me to see that, live that and be that. Learning about your stories has made me a better writer, a better historian, a better person.

Cress, who earned his journalism degree from Shippensburg University, has won numerous awards for his history coverage in The Sentinel, where he has worked as a news reporter since 1998. But his impact on county history shines in his career as an author.

The historical society listed his recent book on World War II  World War II Memories: Win Through to Victory  his 10th book and his fifth project as an independent publisher.

The society cited Cress work interviewing local veterans, researching diaries and other original sources to make sure that these stories are remembered.

Mr. Cress chronicled the war on all fronts, the historical society said in a news release. His passion for the topic shines through in this series. The series makes sure that these incredible stories will not be forgotten.

Cress other self-published books include Killer Hangovers: Sinful Shots of Alcohol Outrage, World War II Memories: The Great Crusade in Europe, World War II Memories: Peril in the Pacific and World War II Memories: Sentimental Journeys.

Cress is also the author of five books published through the History Press. Those titles are Remembering Carlisle: Tales from the Cumberland Valley, Murder & Mayhem in Cumberland County, Murder & Mayhem in York County, Wicked Carlisle: The Dark Side of the Cumberland Valley and Hidden History of Cumberland County.

Cress talked about the impact history has played in his role as a reporter and an author.

Q: What sparked your interest in history for your books and your reporting?

A: Historian was a role I gradually grew into out of my love for journalism. It was here, in Carlisle and Cumberland County, that my passion for history really took root and thrived. The Sentinel has been a huge driver behind that push.

Looking back, the switch from journalist to author/historian makes perfect sense. Journalism and history are actually two steps in the same process of documenting and learning from the past.

Think about it. When news breaks, journalists are among the first on the scene to document an event as it unfolds. We collect the facts on the who, what, where, when, why and how that become part of the public record. Later on, scholars and historians come along and use that background as primary source material to derive a deeper understanding of the significance of the event. So, what I write today becomes part of the history of Carlisle and Cumberland County. That part of me will carry forward for generations to come.

Q: How many books have you written? How many more down the line?

A: So far, Ive written 10 nonfiction books in three different categories  general history, true crime and World War II history. There are three other nonfiction books planned for the next two to five years. In addition, I want to diversify my skills over the next year or so through a self-taught course on fiction writing. This will be a challenge requiring a totally different mindset from what Im used to as a journalist and nonfiction author. But Im up for it.

Q: What is the most important aspect of history coverage in Cumberland County?

A: You need to understand and appreciate the three underlying themes that run through much of Cumberland County history  transportation, education and the military.

If you look at a map, youll notice how the Cumberland Valley forms a natural arc  a passageway into the interior of our nation. This county was a strategic transportation hub long before the current trend of warehouses and interstate truck traffic. History wise, you can see that influence in such key events as the Forbes Expedition, the Cumberland Valley Railroad, the Confederate invasion of 1863 and the early development of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

As for education, the frontier spirit of the early days has played host to innovation, both good and bad. Theres Carlisle, the first chartered school district in Pennsylvania. Theres Frederick Watts who played an important role in the founding of Penn State. Theres Spencer Fullerton Baird, the Dickinson College professor who became the first curator of the Smithsonian Institution. Theres the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and its reputation among Native Americans.

Lastly, the military has been here since the beginning. Early on, there was Washingtonburg, a major logistics base for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Before and after, Carlisle and Cumberland County served as transit points for military expeditions during the French and Indian War, the Whiskey Rebellion and, of course, the American Civil War. Today, Carlisle Barracks plays host to the Army War College, a school for future strategic leaders.

Q: What have been some of your best story memories throughout your career at The Sentinel?

A: With my output over the years, its hard to hone in on particular story memories. For me, its more of a general impression  a feeling of gratitude for all the opportunities The Sentinel has offered me in my 24 years with the newspaper.

Every step along the way, there were editors who realized that I have a knack for storytelling, a real gift for feature writing. They nurtured that by making me the lead writer in many history-related projects. This was before I even realized that I was meant to be an historian. Their confidence in my ability convinced me to take this journey. Over the years, I have developed into an active seeker of history stories that have shaped Carlisle and Cumberland County. So, the best story memories rest in the process that got me here.

Q: What are key issues moving forward in the area of history coverage and history preservation?

A: There has to be a balance between protecting the past and building the future.

Right now, Cumberland is the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania. Thats impressive. Its putting us on the map. But, with this growth and attention, we need to keep a careful watch over the impact this is having on our history, in particular the places we hold dear.

During my time at The Sentinel, I have reported on both extremes. I wrote stories about the efforts to preserve the Bell Tavern which ended up being demolished. But there were also the success stories of citizens united to save the Enola Miller House and the Mount Tabor Church.
Police Chief Steve Mylett addresses police and city officials after his swearing in Aug. 19, 2021, at the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center in Akron.

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett is "disappointed and confused" by a letter from area pastors and minority rights leaders who have objected to his decision this month to reinstate the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland Walker.

"I pride myself on being a man of integrity," Mylett wrote in a Tuesday statement, which came in response to the letter of condemnation last week. "Having my integrity questioned by those I have come to know and trust is beyond hurtful. While I believe it is every citizen's right to air their grievances with their elected and appointed officials, to do so in a way that includes dishonesty is irresponsible and harmful."

The Oct. 21 letter signed by 43 community leaders  including Akron NAACP President Judi Hill and Bishop Joey Johnson at the House of the Lord, who also leads Mayor Dan Horrigan's Racial Equity and Social Justice Taskforce  accused Mylett of making the "dishonest" claim that he consulted with the community before reinstating the eight officers.

The officers were put on paid leave after Walker's death on June 27 and returned to desk duty Oct. 11. The Akron Police Department's internal review of the fatal officer-involved shooting has not been publicly released and special prosecutors with the Ohio Attorney General's Office have not yet asked a grand jury if any of the officers should face charges. Walker was unarmed and shot 46 times after bailing from his car following a crosstown car chase, during which police say he fired a single shot from his vehicle.

Akron Police Chief Mylett turned to councils for advice on reinstating officers involved in Jayland Walker shooting

When Mylett took the police chief job in Akron last year, he formed councils comprised of citizens who would advise him on building trust, partnering on crime reduction and boosting minority representation on the force. The chief said Tuesday that he consulted two of those councils before reinstating the eight officers.

Story continues

One of those two councils met about a month ago at the North Hill Community House, the organization's leader, pastor Gary Wyatt, told the Beacon Journal on Tuesday. At that meeting, the chief spoke of reinstating the officers to help alleviate a staffing shortage.

Not everyone agreed with the decision. But no one jumped on the table and told the chief that the idea was terrible, Wyatt said.

"There might have been eight of us in there," said Wyatt. "And the conversation was going on and everybody was giving their opinion."

Mylett said 90% of the letter signers were not part of the conversations, yet they painted "an inaccurate portrayal of the content and results" of those discussions. Mylett also wrote earlier this month that the "consensus" of those conversations with "community leaders" was to go ahead with the reinstatements.

That prompted the 43 community leaders, including senior pastors and top executives at the NAACP and Urban League, to pen their letter, which Wyatt said broke the chief's heart when he read it.

Letter to the Akron Community by Eric Marotta on Scribd

Clergy in Akron met to discuss reinstatement, draft response

The letter writers accused Mylett of breaking a pledge to consult with the Walker family and their pastor, the Rev. Robert DeJournett, prior to making a decision on reinstatement.

"Not only did you renege on this consultation, you have, on record, said clergy and others supported your decision. This is not true at all," the pastors stated. "Reinstating Jaylands alleged killers is traumatic enough, but you have also falsified your conversations with our respected spiritual and community leaders. Your dishonesty about your interaction with clergy and other community leaders only serves to undermine their stature in the community they serve. "

DeJournett said Tuesday that about three dozen people, mostly area pastors, gathered at his church, St. Ashworth Temple, on Oct. 15 to discuss the reinstatement and Mylett's justification for his decision.

Akron protests:Akron community protests after 8 officers involved in Jayland Walker shooting return to work

It was two days after residents held a "Unity March" in Highland Square in protest of the reinstatement that week.

DeJournett said members of Mylett's pastors advisory committee and community leaders committee were present at that meeting and told the group it was not their impression they had agreed that the reinstatement was proper.

"That's when the decision was made to come up with a statement," DeJournett said.

One pastor in particular, whom DeJournett declined to name without permission, offered a draft of a response to the reinstatement and demand the chief reverse his decision.

"He hadn't written his letter yet, but when we left the meeting we decided as a group that we were going to respond in writing," DeJournett said, adding a smaller group met later to make the final draft.

He said the group was adamant that the reinstatement was improper and those members of Mylett's advisory committees had not agreed, no matter how short-handed the police department is currently.

"How can the process play itself out if they are being reinstated back to work and the investigation is still going on? That's the disappointment," he said.

'I stand by my decision,' Akron Police Chief Mylett says

Mylett returned the officers to desk duty, saying the department was struggling at 40 officers below its budgeted strength of 470. The department had roughly the same number of officers (434) five years ago.

Mylett said Tuesday he stands by his decision, which "was not made in haste, and I still believe it to be the correct decision given the public safety challenges of the entire community. I stand by my decision, and I stand by my commitment to help build a stronger Akron."

One pastor who advised the chief said he was unwilling to discuss the conversation until he could find words that would heal and not further divide the community. Wyatt said he offered his opinion at the private meeting with the chief, giving his perspective as a community activist, lifelong Akron resident and retired manager who oversaw the Wolf Ledges office at the United States Postal Service.

"I don't think you want them sitting at home," Wyatt said of balancing the need for more officers to fight crime with the pain of the Walker family and demands of accountability from the community. "You know what I'm saying, even though this case is way greater than that? You're talking about somebody's life. Now, I understand that that's somebody's life. But at the same time, you got to look at our city."

Wyatt said he is friends with DeJournett and other pastors who signed the letter.

"I like them all, my other pastors," said Wyatt, who added that he has no congregation, receives no grant funding, doesn't rely on tithings and, therefore, can speak his mind. "But they're not gonna get me caught up in the middle of some mess."

He said the community needs to focus not only on the Jayland Walker shooting but on realities the community is facing, especially "when we got Black people getting killed every other day."

Wyatt praised the chief for boosting minority hiring and taking hundreds of guns off the street, though confiscations are down from last year with gun-related crimes also dropping.

"He did all this in the last two years. It takes a lifetime to do what he has done," Wyatt said. "He's got the backing of the mayor. Everybody's on board. Everything was looking good, but this Jayland Walker mess has divided a whole lot of people. And I'm not going to allow it to divide the people supporting me."

"The city is gonna move on," he continued. "This too shall pass. And there's gonna be a whole lot of people who don't speak to each other after this, particularly Black people."

'Everything that they've asked the community to do, we've done,' Akron pastor says

Stacey Jenkins, senior pastor at House of Prayer for All People, signed the letter condemning the chief. So did enough clergy to cover most of the city, he said.

Jenkins said the decision to reinstate before the Ohio Bureau of Investigation (BCI) has wrapped up and released its external investigation gives the impression that officers did nothing wrong in killing Walker.

"And so, no matter who he spoke with, it's still wrong," said Jenkins. "It still seems as though it's a slap in the face to the Walker family.

"But it goes against the very things that we're trying to have here in our community: of hope, of peace and reconciliation. Everything that they've asked the community to do, we've done. They've asked us to wait patiently. They've asked us to accept that officers are being a little aggressive. They asked us to accept officers not wearing badges anymore. They've asked us to accept BCI to do the right thing and give a fair judgment of the facts. And we're waiting. But it seems like it's only one side because nothing is happening from the chief's perspective or from that side shows any compassion for this family."

Reporter Doug Livingston can be reached at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792. Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker death: Akron police chief responds to critical letter
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Local branches of the NAACP came together Wednesday morning to protest the firing of Allentown's superintendent, and a school board member was among the crowd.

The biggest thing they're asking for is transparency.

The only explanation from the school board so far is that John Stanford's departure was a "mutual decision."

More and more people say they don't believe that explanation, and they're beginning to accuse the six school board members who voted Stanford out of racial bias against him.

"I charge Allentown with racism. Pure and simple," said Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem NAACP.

Demonstrators gathered at Fifth and Hamilton streets with signs and chants.

"It was a modern-day lynching," said Lisa Conover, vice chair of the Allentown school board.

She was one of the three board members who voted for Stanford to stay.

Conover joined the protest Wednesday, saying Stanford's firing is doing irreparable harm to the District.

"Each time our students are received with a different leader, they're put back at least three-and-a-half years," she said.

Despite being on the school board, Conover says she has no idea why Stanford was let go.

All she knows is it happened right after the school district got a historic amount of money from the state.

"We got that $38 million, that's when he was shown the door," Conover said.

69 News asked Conover if she thought the state contribution and Stanford's separation were connected in some way.

"That's what I need you to do. I need you to investigate that and find out. We just said, we all want answers," said Conover.

Protesters say they're determined to get those answers.

"These politicians haven't seen our wrath," Lee said.

"If Dr. Stanford did something that is wrong, tell us what is wrong with him. If he did nothing wrong, then tell us what's wrong with you?" said Rev. Thomas Sweatt, of the St. James AME Zion Church.

Conover says she is calling for a 30-year financial audit of the Allentown School District to learn more information.

"I'm asking that we push for a forensic audit covering 30 years at least, because as I said publicly before, there's something going on in that business office," said Conover.

Meanwhile the district says racism was not at play.

"I have seen no tangible evidence the board's decision to enter into a mutually negotiated separation and release agreement was motivated in any respect by racism," said Jeff Sultanik, solicitor, in a statement Wednesday. "In fact, the individual who made the motion to enter into the separation and release agreement is a woman of color."

Stanford has not commented on his short stint as the district's superintendent. His last day is Oct. 28, less than a year after officially taking over.

The board is expected to announce an interim superintendent at a meeting Thursday night.
Backpacker and Yahoo may earn affiliate commissions on some items promoted through links in the article below. This article originally appeared on Backpacker

Many people assume that hiking season is over once winter rolls around. Those people are wrong. Winter is a great time to explore: the local trails are less crowded and are often prettier thanks to all the snow. But it's only fun if you have footwear to keep your feet warm and dry, and with good traction to bite into slippery terrain.

How We Test

Last fall we offered our Outside+ members the chance to test winter hikers. We heard back from more than a dozen, and selected finalists from a diverse range in geography. Those with the right size feet (early samples only come in one size) got the chance to thrash and evaluate the next year's new boots. Our crew spanned the entire country--from New Mexico to Indiana to Washington, D.C--and included men and women of all ages, from recent college graduates to established retirees. We put each model to the test in the rain, slush, and knee-deep snow, and in temperatures ranging from the mid-fifties all the way down to the teens. The shoes that got the highest marks are the ones that not only kept our feet warm and dry, but also were plenty supportive, comfortable to wear for long miles, and kept our dogs happy during the worst days.

Tester Stats

Number of testers: 7

Number of products tested: 15

Number of miles: 250

Meet Our Testers

Jakob Schiller

Jakob Schiller is a former Gear Editor at Outside and now a columnist for the magazine. A father of four, he's a platinum-level weekend warrior, knows how to squeeze in a run or ride between Zoom meetings and kid dropoffs, and has his trip calendar planned out a year in advance. He's most happy when backpacking, backcountry skiing, or overlanding with his family.

Kip Malone

Kip Malone--Kip is based down in Albuquerque, New Mexico and weve had him test a pile of boots over the past five years for two main reasons. First, he has picky feet. His feet are so picky that if a boots fit isnt generally calibrated for a wide range of feet he knows almost instantly. Even on the first wear he can tell whether the toe box will be too narrow or whether the heel cup will be too wide. And second, Kip is methodical. Hell often wear two different boots at the same time and go back and forth over one kind of terrain--say kitty litter rocks--just to see which one grips better.

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Reviews: The Best Winter Hiking Boots of 2023

Editors Choice: The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Insulated Futurelight ($195)

(Photo: Kevin Zansler)

Size: Men's 7-14 / Women's 5-11

Weight: Men's 16.7 oz / Women's 13.9 oz

Men's Women's

Ive always been a big fan of the Steve Jobs approach: find one piece of apparel that you can wear every day, no matter the situation. For winter hiking, that's the Vectiv Fastpack Insulated Futurelight. A rockered, high-rebound EVA midsole that doesn't stiffen in the cold yields a propulsive, poppy ride that had us feeling fast on the trail and fresh at the end of a long hike. This boot came with a rockered sole that tested well on dirt trails here in New Mexico, a high-rebound EVA midsole that added forward momentum on gravel or snow, and a TPU plate under the forefoot that kept the boots stable over any terrain.

Packed with 200 grams of eco-friendly insulation across the entire upper of the boot, and lined with a waterproof, breathable membrane, the boots stood up to old man winter without blinking. Tester Zoe Gates wore them in deep, wet snow in Greenland and said her feet were totally dry, even after hours of postholing. (They're high-cut enough to manage four to six inches of snow; add a gaiter and you can tackle full-on snow banks). Meanwhile, in mild Santa Fe, I found that the waterproof membrane breathed well enough to keep my feet from getting sweaty (and blistered). Thoughtful features were icing on the cake, like a knob on the heel that helped keep a rear snowshoe strap in place for long walks. Overall, our testers were impressed with how much effort TNF put into building a boot that's not just designed for warmth, or deep snow, or wet trails, but for anything you'll face from October all the way to March.

Read the full review for a more in-depth look at strengths, weaknesses, and tester feedback.

Merrell Moab Speed Thermo Mid WP ($170)

(Photo: Courtesy Merrell)

Best Traction

Size: Men's 7-15 / Women's 5-11

Weight: Men's 1.1 lbs / Women's 14.5 lbs

Men's Women's

Much like winter tires, this waterproof hiker has an odd-looking but highly-effective outsole. Half of the six-millimeter lugs have micro-edges (essentially mini lugs), which help bite into packed snow; the other half of the lugs are siped, which means they open up and clamp down as the bottom of the shoe bends and then makes contact with the ground. A few lugs around the outer edges of the sole boast semi-rigid plastic studs, for a further boost to lateral stability. The result is incredible traction in snowy and slippery conditions, like where we tested them throughout the Rockies. Even though it's just four ounces lighter per-boot than something like the Scarpa Rush, this boot felt significantly lighter on the trail the longer we wore it. It was more like an insulated lightweight hiker than an insulated backpacking boot. It also has 200 grams of Primaloft Gold Eco, resulting in enough insulation throughout the forefoot to keep our feet warm well below freezing.

The bottom line: The best boot for keeping you on your feet in slippery conditions.

Scarpa Rush Polar GTX ($300)

(Photo: Courtesy Scarpa)

Best for Bushwhacking

Size: Unisex 36-46 (half-sizes), 47 and 48 whole sizes

Weight: Unisex 1.5 lbs

Buy Now

These are the boots we'd wear to stalk an animal. Translation for all non-hunters: they excel at handling the kind of miserable terrain and conditions that hunters often face while bushwhacking through the forest in pursuit of an animal. They come with a torsional stability plate underfoot: a full-length EVA midsole with a stout, stiff TPU frame that's narrower up front and wider in the heel, to prevent unwanted twisting of the sole.

Stout and stiff TPU material covered with EVA goes from the midsole to the heel of the boot. The TPU frame gets wider in the heel to control and prevent too much twisting of the sole. This resulted in the stiffest, most reliably supportive, and most durable sole we tested all winter. That, plus an above-the-ankle build, made them great for carrying a heavy pack full of meat and for scrambling over sharp rocks and rough trails all over New Mexico. Matched with a wool sock, the Primaloft Gold Eco insulation performed well down to about 20 degrees, and a Gore-Tex membrane kept our feet dry even after slogging through deep mud that did its best to wet them out. At nearly 24 ounces per-boot, these boots are not the lightest, but you get a lot of much-appreciated support and protection for that extra weight.

The bottom line: Best for hunters and anyone looking to tackle rough winter terrain.

Keen Circadia Mid Polar ($155)

(Photo: Courtesy Keen)

Best All Arounder

Size: Men's 7-15 / Women's 5-12

Weight: Men's 1.3 lbs / Women's 1.1 lbs

Men's Women's

The Circadia Mid Polar is the winter version of the good old, sorta boring, ultra-reliable and well-loved, non-insulated Circadia hiking boot. They feature the same standard design that thousands of people have come to love--a mid-ankle cut, a reliable and durable leather build, and a solid fit accentuated by a roomy toe box. What makes them winter ready: 200 grams of insulation plus a proprietary waterproof membrane. Our principal tester on this boot was Sarah Ryerson, an Illinois-based Outside reader who put it through the best the Midwest has to offer, including rain, heavy snow, ice, and plenty of rocky trails. Her feet stayed dry and warm--but never sweaty, even when temps rose above freezing. The rubber soles are nothing fancy--dense, lugs on Keen's standard rubber sole material-- but they provided dependable traction, even while trudging over nasty, fall-inducing ice. Her only dig was that the boots are a tad heavier than some other hikers she tested, but she was happy to trade the weight for the versatility. At the end of the day, the Keens are for folks who want affordable and reliable everyday winter boots. If you really want to get after it, look at something like The North Face Vectiv.

The bottom line: A no-frills all-around winter boot.

Lowa Renegade Warm GTX Mid ($275)

(Photo: Courtesy Lowa)

Most Comfortable

Size: Women's 5.5 to 11, Men's: 7.5-14

Weight: Men's 1.2 lbs, Women's 1.05 lbs

Men's Women's

For this boot, Lowa took the chassis of the Renegade--a well loved mid-cut, all-around favorite among many hikers--and packed it with Gore-Tex insulation. The resulting boot performs in much colder conditions, for example on snowshoe hikes down to the mid-20s. The neither roomy nor narrow fit nails a nice middle ground that the Renegade is known for. Proof: our main tester, Kip Malone, whose in his late 50s who is known for picky feet, said the Renegade Warm GTX were comfy right out of the box. More specifically, he loved how both the snug instep and toe box kept his feet from sliding around but were also roomy enough to allow for plenty of blood flow (and a thick sock), which helps prevent icy digits. Even after three hours of tromping through the snow on a 35-degree day in the Sandia mountains outside Albuquerque, his notoriously cold feet were warm. Down below, these boots boast an outsole made from Vibram rubber that's a little softer than what you'd find on normal winter boots; it's designed to grip better in cold conditions, just like the rubber used for a winter tire. No sole grips perfectly on slick ice, but according to our tester, these came pretty damn close. The upper is made with mostly leather, and trends on the burlier side, but it's still not a long-distance backpacking boot. We'd categorize this as a tough day hiker. It has enough support for those who want to carry weight or tackle a long trail.

The bottom line: The most comfortable winter hiker we tested.

Oboz Bangtail Mid Insulated B-DRY ($220)

(Photo: Courtesy Oboz)

Best for Deep Snow

Size: Men's 8-12, 13, 14 / Women's 5-11, 12

Weight: Men's 1.3 lbs / Women's 1.1 lbs

Men's Women's

When you're walking through powder, you want a tall boot. That's why the waterproof Bangtail, with its above-the-ankle cuff, was our choice for deep snow. It's more tailored, and thus far less bulky than a typical snow boot. But it's almost as warm thanks to 200 grams of Primaloft Bio insulation. Translation: the Bangtails were great for longer miles in the snow, either with or without a snowshoe (they're high enough to tromp through ankle-deep snow without a snowshoe, but will fit in one if the going gets deeper). Our tester Rob Douangpanya took them on a slogfest up to a 11,000-foot lake outside Taos, New Mexico and said they were easy to hike in and still kept his feet warm, even when he spent hours with his shoes completely submerged in the snow. When he had to break trail in deep drifts, he said the high cuff kept all the snow out. Just as important: Vibram Arctic Grip sole, which uses a special rubber compound for wet ice, plus siped lugs that latch on to the snow for more bite.

The bottom line: Made for deep snow.

La Sportiva Cyklon Cross GTX ($235)

(Photo: Courtesy La Sportiva)

Best for Winter Trail Running

Size: Men's 38-47.5 / Women's 36-43

Weight: Men's 12.5 oz / Women's 10.5 oz

Men's Women's

Unlike every other shoe on this page, the Cyklon Cross does not come with insulation. Instead, it's marketed as a trail running shoe, and comes with a Gore-Tex liner and a built-in gaiter. It's made for people who want to cover a lot of ground as fast as possible. Our Washington D.C.-based tester Chandler Sam took it out on runs, hikes, and light backpacking trips in typically poor East Coast weather and said it was most at home in muddy conditions because it kept his feet totally dry. Plus, the rubber outsole packed with seven-millimeter lugs is designed to grip variable surfaces, including wet rocks. He also said that it excelled in cold conditions--even without insulation--thanks to the svelte, form-fitting gaiter made from two-way stretch mesh, which helped keep warm air in. Another highlight is the BOA fit system, which synches the laces around the foot comfortably in seconds. This was a particular delight, since La Sportiva shoes are notoriously finicky when it comes to fit. While any running shoe with a built-in gaiter winds up looking a bit funny, we'd argue the performance and protection is still worth the aggro vibes.

The bottom line: Your go-to shoe for winter trail running.

Muck Boot Company Apex PAC ALT Closure ($180)

(Photo: Courtesy Muck Boot)

Best for Slushy Winter Chores

Size: Men's 7-15 / Women's 5-12

Weight: Men's 1.4 lbs / Women's 1.1 lbs

Men's Women's

Most winter hikers feature Gore-Tex technology with a leather outer, which eventually wets out.Even though your feet stay dry thanks to the Gore-Tex membrane, you're still carrying around the water within the leather outer. Muck says these boots are 100 percent waterproof. How? A four-millimeter-thick, fleece-lined neoprene upper reinforced with an abrasion-resistant rubber coating around the forefoot and a top cuff that synches closed with webbing and a buckle, to totally seal out moisture. To verify this claim, we wore them in the shower to see if water would seep in. After fifteen minutes, our feet were completely dry. However, we will say that the traction didn't stand out in particular. The outsole features medium-sized lugs in a semi-dense pattern that didn't seem to do anything special. That makes these hikers the best for wearing around town and getting chores done as opposed to long, technical hikes. People who live in supremely wet but also cold conditions--think thick Midwest mud or dirty New York City mush--will love these boots because they'll keep your dogs warm even on the worst days. Anyone who lives in a warmer climate should steer clear, however, because the neoprene and fleece build doesn't breathe well.

The bottom line: Impermeable waterproofing for around-town activities in horrible winter conditions.

How To Buy

The three things that differentiate winter hiking boots from one another more than anything else are waterproofing and outsole material. Regardless of whether you live somewhere frigid or mild, if you plan to hike in winter, you need footwear that seals out moisture and keeps you upright on snow, mud, and ice. Beyond that, choosing the right boots is a matter of what kind of hiking you do. Live in a place where it snows a lot? Go for a high-cut style like the Oboz Bangtail. Thinking about hunting this fall? We'd suggest something extremely stiff and burly, like the Scarpa Rush Polar GTX. After narrowing the use cases down, it's always wise to try the boots on. Retail shops will likely carry many of these models.

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - It's a rush against time for opponents of a proposed Phillipsburg warehouse, which if developed, is currently set to be a cold storage facility.

"We're standing right now in Delaware River Park, which is a state-funded, Green Acres open space park," said longtime Phillipsburg resident David Morrisette.

Morrisette is in several groups he says are working to stop Peron Development from putting a warehouse on Howard Street. The close proximity to the park and homes, traffic, and potential impacts on the Delaware River are all concerns.

Morrisette is expecting to hear the outcome of a lawsuit any day now. It alleges a prior council's vote to re-zone the more than 30 acres Peron owns from residential to industrial should not stand.

"Multiple council members were represented by a law firm, of which this developer is a named partner," said Morrisette. "That creates the conflict of interest."

But now, Peron wants the town to pass another ordinance, essentially making the lawsuit irrelevant, since it would rezone the property to industrial again and allow the 360,000-square-foot warehouse to be 65 feet tall.

This second ordinance is scheduled to be a topic of discussion at the land use board meeting Thursday. The next council meeting is Tuesday, November 1.

"We're asking those councilmen that were elected in November to refrain from moving the warehouse forward and give the court a chance to make a decision," said Morrisette.

That could leave the future of the property in the current council's hands.

Phillipsburg Mayor Todd Tersigni says he'll be able to weigh in more once the lawsuit is squared away.

"The issue right now is the process, not the product," said Tersigni. "This is still in litigation."

Supporters of the warehouse say it'll bring good-paying jobs, and there's potential of a partnership with Norwescap Food Bank.

69 News reached out to Peron for an interview but did not hear back.
New York, New York, a new musical featuring the beloved songs of Kander and Ebb, has made its Broadway plans official, after first being revealed in August.

Performances will begin on Friday 24 March at the St James Theatre (currently home to the hit new revival of Into the Woods), with an opening night set for Wednesday 26 April.

Inspired by the iconic song and the 1977 Martin Scorsese film that starred Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli, New York, New York has a book by David Thompson and Sharon Washington, songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and additional lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Susan Stroman (whose production of Crazy for You was the toast of Chichester over the summer) will direct and choreograph. The film's screenplay was written by Earl M Rauch.

The title treatment for New York, New York



The score will be culled from some of Kander and Ebb's big hits like "The World Goes 'Round" and the title number, with some new musical material along the way. Set in 1946, the show follows a group of artists with big dreams and vagabond shoes longing to stay, as they realise that if they can make it here, they can make it anywhere.

Stroman, Thompson, Kander (and Ebb, who died in 2004), and Washington collaborated on the Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. Miranda and Kander are the writers of the song "Cheering For Me Now", a special number released by the Hamilton production a few years ago.

Casting and creative team for New York, New York is still forthcoming.
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A group of Uber drivers in New Zealand won a landmark case Tuesday against the ride-hail company which will force Uber to treat them as employees, rather than independent contractors.

New Zealand's employment court decision only applies to four drivers who were part of a class action lawsuit filed last July, but the ruling may have wider implications for drivers across the country keen on qualifying for worker rights and protections.

The move in New Zealand comes just a couple of weeks after the U.S. Department of Labor proposed widespread changes to how gig workers should be classified. Specifically, the proposed ruling seeks to classify gig workers as employees if they are economically dependent on the company for which they work.

The formal decision in New Zealand was made in respect to the individual drivers in the case. The court doesn't have jurisdiction to make broader declarations of employment status for all Uber drivers, according to chief employment court judge Christina Inglis. That means all other Uber drivers don't immediately become employees; however, Inglis did say the decision "may well have broader impact" because of the "apparent uniformity in the way in which the companies operate, and the framework under which drivers are engaged."

In the ruling, the Employment Court said that even though a worker's contract might define them as an independent contractor, that definition depends more on the "substance of the relationship and how it operated in practice."

"The Court accepted that some of the usual indicators of a traditional employment relationship were missing," reads the ruling. "However, it was found that significant control was exerted on drivers in other ways, including via incentive schemes that reward consistency and quality and withdrawal of rewards for breaches of Ubers Guidelines or for slips in quality levels, measured by user ratings."

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The court found that Uber had sole discretion to control prices, service requirements, guidelines, terms and conditions, marketing, relationships with riders and more.

Uber was able to exercise significant control because of the subordinate position each of the plaintiff drivers was in and which its operating model was designed to facilitate and did facilitate," according to the ruling.

Two unions, First Union and E tu, took up the case last year on behalf of more than 20 drivers. Their goal was to override a legal precedent set in the Employment Court in 2020 that ruled a driver was not an employee. Labor rights activists argued there, as in the U.S. and everywhere else, that because an Uber driver's rate is set by Uber, the company controls wages, which puts it in employer territory. At the time, the judge ruled that the driver actually had control over their wages because they could be paid less or improve the profitability of their business through adopting cheaper business costs.

Tuesday's ruling will grant the drivers in the case sick leave, holiday pay, minimum wage, guaranteed hours, KiwiSaver contributions, the right to challenge an unfair dismissal and the right to unionize, according to New Zealand's labor laws.

First Union is now accepting Uber drivers to join as members for a discounted fee of $3.05 per week and would move to initiate collective bargaining. The union says Uber drivers may be owed backpay for lost wages, holiday pay and other entitlements.

This is a landmark legal decision not just for Aotearoa but also internationally, said Anita Rosentreter, First Union strategic project coordinator, in a statement.

Rosentreter told TechCrunch activists and drivers won't need to take another case to the Employment Court, and will instead attempt to use the precedent set by Tuesday's case to enforce the rights of all drivers.

Uber said it was "disappointed" by the Employment Court's decision and will be filing an appeal.

"This ruling underscores the need for industry-wide minimum standards for on-demand work, while preserving the flexibility and autonomy that drivers tell us is important to them," an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch. "We will continue to work collaboratively with industry and the New Zealand Government throughout the contractor policy reform process.

A spokesperson for the company also told The Guardian that it was "too soon to speculate" how the court ruling would affect the company's operations in New Zealand more broadly.

The decision in New Zealand is the latest in a string of international cases where workers have fought for employment rights from gig economy companies. Last December, the U.K. High Court dealt a massive blow to Uber by declaring the business was unlawful and by classifying gig workers as "workers," a new classification that allows for the flexibility of independent contract work and the rights of employee status. Rosentreter told TechCrunch First Union's legal team used the UK's decision in Court to support its case.

Last year, an analysis from the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network, a membership organization of trade union and workers rights lawyers, showed gig companies like Uber and Deliveroo had faced at least 40 major legal challenges in 20 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, South Korea and across Europe.

This article has been updated with a comment from Uber and from First Union.
Free. Thats right, free.

Farmington Ministerial Alliance board members were beyond stunned when they heard a massive, nearly 37,000-square-foot building had been donated to them.

Board members had been praying for a new location for their thrift store and food pantry after learning they would need to move from their location on Showplace Drive by Aug. 30.

Sharo Shirshekan owned the previous Farmington Family Fun Center building and donated it to the Farmington Ministerial Alliance.

We have been extremely blessed by this donation, said Nancy Faulkner, director of benevolence for the Farmington Ministerial Alliance.

The nonprofit organization assists with food, clothing, rent, utilities, gas vouchers and prescription medications.

All Farmington area churches are invited to be part of the Farmington Ministerial Alliance, a faith-based organization. Some churches are very active in attending meetings, and their pastors are board members. Some contribute financially for benevolence, and many post the organizations needs, such as volunteers, food and personal hygiene items, in church bulletins. Most volunteers come from the local churches, and some pastors participate in the Cooking Clergy for Help the Hungry Bake Sale.

Current board members include President Greg Robinson, First Baptist Church of Farmington pastor; Vice President Alan Berry, Farmington Christian Church pastor; Secretary Rocky Good, New Heights Church pastor; Treasurer Keith Davis, Open Heart Assembly; and Nancy Faulkner, director of benevolence and operator of the thrift store and food pantry. Church of the Nazarene Pastor Arthur Menard was president until Sept. 18 when he left the community and is no longer serving.

There was no community-based organization in the late 1970s available to assist Farmington residents who needed help with food, gas and other necessities. This resulted in people seeking help from individual churches.

Rev. James Scobey invited area pastors to a meeting to organize the Ministerial Alliance. He wanted to discuss combining efforts to meet the needs of the community.

Initially, a volunteer developed a card system that was used for a short time to keep track of individuals who accessed services at each church. This system helped to avoid duplication of services. But as the need for food increased, the Ministerial Alliance realized a funding source was needed to support a combined food pantry. As a result, a committee was created in 1980 with representatives from churches in Farmington, Libertyville and Knob Lick. Jim Freer, a local attorney, provided legal advice to discuss what might be done to raise funds.

Plans were developed in 1981 to establish a thrift store to sell items donated by community members.

It was Rev. James Scobey who spearheaded the idea to form the Ministerial Alliance, which paved the way for the local pastors to combine their efforts to provide food and other assistance within the community. Their efforts then expanded into a joint food pantry and thrift store.

So, the Ministerial Alliance rented space at 237 East Columbia to open the Community Churches Thrift Store. Volunteers painted, built shelves and racks, set up tables, and organized displays of donated items. Christian Church Minister Ken Hull served as liaison from the Ministerial Alliance to the thrift store. Dugalls Grocery Store donated the first cash register for the organization. Dorothy Smith served as volunteer coordinator and recruited and scheduled volunteers to operate the store from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week. The ministers also decided to dedicate a space to provide a community-wide food pantry, which would be located at Unity Church on Ste. Genevieve Avenue.

The organizations name was soon changed to Ministerial Alliance Thrift Store, and Rev. Dale Buerck became the liaison for the organization. By 1993, more room was needed to display all of the donations. Volunteers helped to move the organization to 24 East Columbia, where the store remained until September 2002 when it moved to The Factory.

As the thrift store and food pantry expanded, the Ministerial Alliance organized the Ministerial Alliance Benevolent Board in April 2004 to hire a full-time director to oversee operations and provide guidance and supervision to that director.

Since establishing the board, Pat King has served as chair and Nancy Sullivan as secretary. Other members of the board are representatives from the thrift store, food pantry and various churches. After developing a job description and advertising the position, Paul Odenthal was hired as the first director.

When management of The Factory changed, the thrift store moved to Holly Tree Plaza, where there was room to also include the food pantry.

Now, the new facility for the nonprofit organization is an expansive space with a thrift store, food pantry and behind-the-scenes food pantry with an overstock area, walk-in coolers, and unloading area. The food pantry and where clients enter, is in the location of the former skating rink and restaurant.

Clients can shop just like being in a grocery store Client Choice, said Faulkner. They will shop with the guidance of one of the volunteers. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The thrift store has a massive area for furniture, triple amounts of clothing racks and metal shelving, two cash registers, and more. There are many items available for purchase: clothing, shoes and accessories, home decor, linens and bedding, holiday decorations, glassware and other items, cookware and bakeware, small appliances, health and beauty aids, craft items, and knick-knacks. New and used furniture options are plentiful: recliners, dressers, couches and loveseats, wingback chairs, tables with chairs, office chairs, filing cabinets, curio cabinets, and vintage items. There are also books, movies, CDs, cassettes, vinyls, infant items, toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals and dolls, and so much more.

Donations are appreciated at the thrift store but are asked to be in good usable condition, or they cannot be accepted. Items not accepted include mattresses and box springs, exercise equipment, computers, printers, old box-type TVs, pianos and organs.

Specific donations sought for the food pantry include canned goods, boxed items, peanut butter, jelly and personal hygiene items.

The community has come out to support us by the truckloads, said Faulkner.

There are nearly 300 individuals who utilize the food pantry each month, and these numbers are on the rise due to current economic conditions.

We opened on Oct. 1 to record-breaking sales, said Faulkner. We only advertised on our Facebook page and had over 20 people standing in line when we opened the door.

She said, Its been a lot of hard work by a lot of people that I am grateful to. We could not have done it without them. The community has shown up with truckloads of donations in support that far exceeds our expectations.

Faulkner said the nicer, larger building offers better choice in merchandise, easier access for the community, and a fully Client Choice pantry.

Well continue to serve the community the best we can while we figure out what our new normal is in this wonderful new location, she said.

Volunteers are always needed for both the thrift store and food pantry. It takes many people to work flexible hours behind the scenes to unload trucks, stock shelves, set up and break down on pantry days, sort produce, drive the box truck to pick up donations from vendors, and much more. Volunteers can work anytime from Monday to Saturday.

Volunteer applications are available at the checkout counter in the thrift store.

Farmington Ministerial Alliance also has two separate areas for rent. The first area is 3,696 square feet and could be either retail or office space. The second area could be split for office or medical space and is 4,914 square feet. For more information or to view the spaces, call the professional property managers at 573-756-7613.

Farmington Ministerial Alliances thrift store and food pantry are located at 765 Weber Road.

The thrift store is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The food pantry is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

For information about Ministerial Alliances thrift store or food pantry, call 573-756-1917.
By Trend

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the nation on October 26, 2020.

Trend presents the interview.

Address of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

- Dear fellow compatriots!

The second Karabakh war has been going on for about a month. This war is a patriotic war for our people. We are liberating our homeland from occupiers. During this time, the glorious Azerbaijani Army has liberated many settlements from the enemy. We are restoring historical justice on the battlefield because Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient and historical land of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people have lived and built on these lands for centuries. We know the history of Karabakh perfectly well. A great deal of work has been done in recent years to convey this history to the world community. In general, the world did not have much of an idea about Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. Armenian lobbying organizations operating in many countries were able to create a distorted image in the world, in international public opinion by circulating false information both about the history of the region and the history of the conflict. This is why sanctions were imposed on us even though it was our lands that were occupied, and these sanctions are still in force. In the early stages of our independence, the US Congress imposed sanctions on Azerbaijan, claiming that Azerbaijan is engaged in aggression against Armenia, and these sanctions are still in force. Can you imagine that? At that time, Azerbaijani diplomacy could not counter Armenian lies with any arguments. As a result of consistent work in recent years, we have informed the world community about the history of Karabakh, the history of the conflict, and all this work helps us today. The world already has a more objective view on this issue, a more objective vision. It is thanks to our tireless efforts that we have been able to achieve this. I am absolutely right when I say that we are restoring historical justice. I was able to prove to the whole world during the live debates at the Munich Security Conference that this is our historical land. I provided information about the Kurakchay peace treaty signed at the beginning of the 19th century. There was no information about this treaty in the world at all. Unfortunately, there was no extensive information about the Kurakchay treaty in Azerbaijan either, The Kurakchay peace agreement was signed by the Khan of Karabakh and Shusha, Ibrahimkhalil khan, on the other side a general of Tsarist Russia. This agreement is available on the Internet and everyone can see it. I am sure that after my words, a large international audience keenly following the current situation on the battlefield will go to these sites and see that there is not a word about the Armenian people in that agreement. The Armenian people were not here at that time. The Armenian people were brought to our ancestral lands after the Kurakchay, Gulustan and Turkmenchay peace treaties. They were deliberately brought and placed in Karabakh, one of the most fascinating corners of our country, and conditions were created for them. The objective of this was obvious  to change the religious composition in the new lands of the empire, to expel Muslims from their ancestral lands, drive them away and create a new reality. Unfortunately, they achieved this goal.

After that, the Armenian population was brought en masse from neighboring countries, settled in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in the ancestral lands of the Azerbaijanis, and demonstrating their typical character, gradually began to take possession of all our lands. After the Bolshevik revolution in the early 20th century, there was a great danger that the Bolshevik government would hand over Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The Caucasus Bureau has protocols dated July 1921. It is enough to look at the protocols of the Caucasus Bureau to see that there was such a threat. But I think that due to the efforts of Nariman Narimanov and others who correctly assessed the reality, they could not achieve this goal. The protocols of the Caucasus Bureau state that Nagorno-Karabakh should be kept as part of Azerbaijan. During all these years, fake Armenian scholars and patrons have been trying to prove that Stalin separated Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia and gave it to Azerbaijan. This is a lie! Open and look at the protocol of the Caucasus Bureau, which says that Nagorno-Karabakh should be kept as part of Azerbaijan! This once again confirms that this is our land. Unfortunately, after that, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was established, and the region was given a special status. But I must also say that this was not a republic, but a region. There was a lower level of self-government. It is enough to look at the history to see that the Armenians living there had great rights and opportunities.

In Soviet times, a few years before the conflict, separatist tendencies were widespread. However, there was no reason for that. Of the nine members of the bureau, the governing body of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, eight were Armenians and one was Azerbaijani, and he was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Shusha district. The first secretary, the head of the government, the chairman of the parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh were Armenians. What did they want? Azerbaijan invested so much in that region, built a railway there in the 1970s, the Sarsang water reservoir, the Madagiz water reservoir  I have restored its name  the Sugovushan water reservoir were built. All these investments were made at the expense of the state budget of Azerbaijan. however, the Armenians were ungrateful, took advantage of the situation and of the presence of anti-Azerbaijani leadership in Moscow, and separatist tendencies emerged in the region. What did they do prior to that? The Armenians had been making preparations for that. Heydar Aliyev was the target of these preparations. They understood perfectly well that the presence of Heydar Aliyev, his great authority in the Soviet leadership ruined their plans. Therefore, unfortunately, national traitors from Armenia and other places, from Azerbaijan were sending numerous anonymous letters to Moscow and carrying out a smear campaign in order to eliminate the Heydar Aliyev factor. Less than two weeks after Heydar Aliyev had resigned from all posts, Armenian separatists rose up and demanded that Nagorno-Karabakh be separated from Azerbaijan and annexed to Armenia. This was when the troubles of our people began. An illegal special committee was set up in Nagorno-Karabakh and an ardent pro-Armenian man was appointed its head. This, in fact, laid the groundwork for the secession of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the then leaders of Azerbaijan simply observed all these dangerous events. They could not raise their voice, they did not have the courage, just kept their head down and did what they were told to do from Moscow. At that time, the people leading Azerbaijan did not have a gram of Azerbaijani blood. Although they were considered Azerbaijanis, they did not have a single gram of national spirit and were cosmopolitan people. They could not even speak the Azerbaijani language properly. This is the history of Nagorno-Karabakh. After that, large-scale military operations were launched against Azerbaijan and our lands were occupied.

The loss of Shusha and Lachin in May 1992 and the occupation of Kalbajar in April 1993 created a geographical link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. There was no such connection before. The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region had no border with the Republic of Armenia.

Those tragic events somewhat created a new reality. After that, the issue was taken over by international mediators and the Minsk Group was established in 1992. The activities of the Minsk Group are obvious. After some time, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group concentrated almost all power in their hands and virtually monopolized the issue. In fact, the Minsk Group as a group was paralyzed and the three co-chair countries began to deal with this issue. But was there a result of that? There was not! There was no result for us, but there was one for Armenia. Armenia wanted the negotiations to last forever, Armenia wanted to deceive us forever, this issue to remain in a frozen state, and our lands to stay under occupation forever. But what did the Minsk Group do? Was it able to put pressure on the occupier? No! Did it want to put pressure on it? No! I have repeatedly raised the issue with them: if you want to see a solution, impose sanctions on Armenia. All this is in your hands. You are permanent members of the UN Security Council and can resolve any issue. In particular, officials of these countries say that they agree on this issue. This is also an interesting issue. How is it possible that in all other matters  nuclear weapons, the situation in the Middle East, the situation in Asia, the situation in Europe  their interests are completely different? What other issue do their interests overlap on? None! Only in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Why? Everyone understands that. This frozen state, of course, was in everyone's interests except ours  first of all, in Armenia's interests.

Armenia is conducting illegal settlement on these lands. Has anyone said a word? No! This crime, this international crime runs counter to the Geneva Conventions. Does anyone ask them why they are conducting illegal settlement? And even demonstrate it. You transfer and place Armenians from Arab countries in our cities, including Shusha. Nobody says a word. What does this mean? It means go on, bring them here and settle as many as you want, Armenianize these lands and erase the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. That was the message. Didn't these three countries have the opportunity to show the aggressor its place? They didn't want to. This reality suited them.

Therefore, it is impossible to assess the activities of the Minsk Group otherwise. We were being pushed to accept this situation, as it were. We were being told that new realities had emerged and that we must reckon with them. We have created a new reality. Everyone has to reckon with the new reality now. But what do we see? Notice what is happening when we began to liberate our lands from the occupiers. Look at the strong pressure being put on Azerbaijan from all sides. They have started running around. What happened? For 28 years, this issue dragged on and they pretended to be addressing it. They kept coming and going, there were endless meetings and negotiations. We are fed up with these negotiations. How long can one negotiate with the enemy? In addition, the enemy becomes impudent, and they tell us, no, there is no military option and the issue must be resolved only peacefully. Who says there isn't? Isn't this a military solution now? What are we doing? We are single-handedly implementing UN Security Council resolutions although this is the responsibility of the UN Security Council. We are doing this alone. We have created a new reality. Reckon with it! But what do we see? There is a meeting here, a meeting there. What about the ceasefire? Who has violated the ceasefire? This means that all their activities are now aimed at saving Armenia, an aggressor that committed the Khojaly genocide, attacked Ganja with ballistic missiles from the territory of Armenia. This is their activity.

As far as the ceasefire is concerned, the first time the ceasefire entered into force on 10 October. My position was that this should be of a humanitarian nature, and we agreed to this in order to exchange the bodies of the dead, hostages and prisoners. However, less than a day later, Armenia flagrantly and insidiously violated the ceasefire by bombing Ganja at night. Then, on 17 October, a new ceasefire was declared. And again, Armenia violated it two minutes later. This morning, at 8 o'clock, a new proposal came in. But when I inquired about at 9 o'clock in the morning, Armenia violated the ceasefire a few minutes later by firing on Tartar district again. However, I have instructed the Azerbaijani army again to show restraint for the time being and not to succumb to provocations. My position is known to my people. This issue must be resolved either by military or by peaceful means. I suggested: if you want a peaceful solution, well, we will stop. But we must be told immediately that Armenia is leaving our lands. A timetable should be provided  after how many days they would leave a particular district, after how many days they would leave the next district and after how many days they would leave other districts. A timetable should be provided. Has Armenia provided this timetable? It has not. This being the case, if the ceasefire continues and the issue remains frozen again, this cannot suit us. This is the first thing.

Secondly, we have accurate information that Armenia is already on its knees on the battlefield and simply wants to take advantage of the ceasefire to mobilize its resources again, wants to re-arm and pursue a new policy of aggression against us. There is such information and, unfortunately, over the past month, weapons, various types of weapons have been supplied to Armenia in large quantities. We have all the lists. Some of them have been published in our media. There is a whole list of when and what plane arrived, where it arrived, what it brought, how it was offloaded and where the cargo was sent? Then why are those interested in a ceasefire sending weapons to Armenia? After all, Armenia is already on its knees. We have already hit it on the head so that it can hardly recover. The prime minister of Armenia, who danced in a drunken state on Jidirduzu and behaved like a great commander, now falls at everyone's feet asking for help, begging for assistance, humiliating himself and humiliating his people. Just don't give them weapons and it will be over. Don't give them weapons. Who gives anything to us? Nobody! Don't give them weapons. If you want this to end, don't give them weapons. He will surely come round in a couple of days. On the one hand, there is talk of a ceasefire, but on the other, weapons are being sent to them. What is this? Are we supposed to be silent about this?

The people of Azerbaijan should know everything. For 17 years in my capacity as President, I have always told the truth to the Azerbaijani people  always. I regularly report to the people on all the issues. And I am doing that to this day. This may not be complete information because there are certain diplomatic rules. However, whatever can be said, I say to the Azerbaijani people and the whole world. If you want to save Armenia, tell it to leave our lands, get away immediately! Let this jester, who danced in Shusha, on Jidirduzu, in a drunken state declare that he is leaving. Calling world leaders five or six times a day will not solve the problem. Our position remains unchanged, we are defending the truth and justice.

I would like to touch upon another issue. The legal framework for the settlement of the conflict is quite broad. We have expanded this framework. Today, there are not only UN Security Council resolutions, but also other documents. The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Parliament and other organizations. The document we have initialed with the European Union contains a special provision on the sovereignty of our country, the inviolability of our borders and territorial integrity. In other words, it is a legal framework that allows us the opportunity to teach the enemy a lesson on the battlefield, to drive them away, to remove them from our lands. But look at what is going on lately? The Minsk Group co-chairing countries have convened a meeting of the UN Security Council. They have done it once before. Apparently, the document adopted there did not satisfy them. This time, a few days ago, we heard about the appearance of a new document. We immediately took action and prevented the adoption of this document even though the three co-chair countries exerted great pressure on other members of the UN Security Council.

What was the purpose of this? The goal is very clear  to overshadow the resolutions adopted in 1993 demanding the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from our lands, to leave them in the past so that they lose their power and significance. This was the goal. How fair is this? We saw further attempts to provide support to the occupier. What is the result? It did not pass. How? The member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement stood up like real men and did not allow this to happen, they supported us  I say thank you to them. And this happened despite the fact that they came under pressure and may have even been threatened. But they stood up like men for us just as we stand up for them. This shows that nothing will work. My dear brother, the President of the Republic of Turkey has repeatedly said that the world is bigger than five countries. And he is absolutely right. This vote proved it. They joined their forces and put forward another document that meets the interests of Armenia, but it did not work out.

Because justice prevailed. No matter how hard they tried, justice prevailed. Justice and international law are on our side. Therefore, we will continue to go our own way. If they want a ceasefire, then let them tell the occupying state to go away, to leave our lands. Otherwise, we will go to the end, all the way. And we will continue to drive the enemy away, as we have been doing. They are already running away from us and we will continue to chase them. Because we are right and we are strong.

As I have been saying for the past few years, the world is not the same any longer. The force factor comes to the fore and this was not done by us. Take a look  do large states reckon with international law today? No! Do they reckon with the UN Security Council? No! Everyone does what they want in their places, one enters there, another one enters there, the third one divides some territories. There is no semblance of international law. So why should we defend it? We are defending it anyway and are not taking steps outside the law. We are not entering the territory of Armenia, we are restoring the territories recognized by the international community. If the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group could not do this, then let them step aside and not interfere. Unlike Armenia, we do not ask anyone for help. Let them not interfere and test the patience of the Azerbaijani people. This war will end tomorrow and we will achieve our goal. What will our relationship be like? Will the Azerbaijani people forget this injustice? They will not. Let them give this a thought. Today, Azerbaijan is not a state the interests of which can be ignored. No! The day will come when they will come here with requests and proposals, including those on cooperation. How will they look in our eyes? They have mobilized all their forces against us today. I have been putting up with this for a month, a whole month. I was silent about it, but we are fed up. This is the first thing.

Second, the mediator must be neutral. If it is not impartial, then it should give up its candidacy. If a mediator is not neutral, then it cannot be a mediator. The mediating countries should now come up with new functions for themselves. What will they do? They can no longer talk about the liberation of five districts. Where are these five districts now? Four of them are already with us. This question is already in the past, it is over. We have taken them back ourselves  Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadli. Most of these districts are with us. We also have a part of the former Hadrut and currently Khojavand district. So let them think.

We are not against negotiations. As a result of yesterday's talks in the United States, the decision was made to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Geneva in a few days. I don't mind that, let them meet. Over the course of these 28 years, there have been so many useless meetings, so there is no difference. I do not mean to say that I regard this meeting as useless. No. We want it to make sense. And this should speed up the settlement of the conflict. The patrons of Armenia, I appeal to you: if you want to save this fake state, tell it to get out. One word of yours is enough for it to get out  just one word. If Armenia is not provided with financial, economic, military and political support, will it be able to stand on its feet? No! I will provide the Azerbaijani people with some data on their equipment we have destroyed. Everyone can count this, go online, see the cost of this equipment and ask a question. Where does this poor and impoverished country get all this? Where does this money come from in a country that is mired in problems? We have already destroyed so much of their equipment and they are still bringing more. Never mind, let them bring it, they know better.

This is our position at this stage, and we are ready to resolve this issue by military-political means. But it must be resolved. The ceasefire has been declared, alright, let there be a ceasefire. Armenia has violated it, we are recording every violation, every single one. I have given the instruction to record every violation. This information is immediately sent to the OSCE representative and other countries interested in the ceasefire, so that they can see how many times the Armenians have violated it. We have all the data. A military-political solution should resolve the issue of restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

As for the future of the Armenians who were settled on our ancestral lands 200 years ago, I have said that they are our citizens too. They must also get rid of this junta. If they cannot save themselves, we will help them. Didn't the new government of Armenia represented by Pashinyan say that those who governed Armenia are criminals? I was saying exactly the same. What happens if those who governed the country before Pashinyan for 20 years were criminals? What is this country then? It is a criminal country. The two ex-presidents also headed the junta in Karabakh and then led Armenia. A criminal case has been opened against both. They are criminals who sucked the blood of the Armenians living in Karabakh. Where did they get so much property, wealth and fortune? Where? They got it by sucking the blood of the Armenian people. So I repeat: the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh are our citizens. The Azerbaijani people are tolerant. These people are not to blame. Whoever is to blame is being brought to account, and I said that the blood of the Azerbaijani people would not remain unavenged. The criminals who committed the Khojaly genocide have already been destroyed in the battles that have lasted for a month. Justice has prevailed. Therefore, I want to reiterate my position. We will definitely return to these lands by military-political means. The military stage may end today. We will resolve the issue politically. Azerbaijanis will return to Shusha, Azerbaijanis will return to Khankandi. They will return to all other places where they used to live. Conditions will be created for the Armenian population. We must gradually learn to live together, both them and us. I see it this way, and my approach is based both on the norms of morality and on the norms of international law. Armenia wants to drive us out of there, then to carry out ethnic cleansing, to Armenianize our sites, to settle Armenians from abroad. Pashinyan, you wanted to build a road to Jabrayil? So? Where is this road? You wanted to build a parliament building in Shusha? So? It all went to hell.

I want to say again that no force can make us deviate from our path. Successes on the battlefield have created a new reality at the negotiating table.

Now I want to share some information with my dear people. I am presenting a list of the enemy's equipment and military booty we have destroyed and taken over since 27 September. So 252 tanks have been destroyed, 53 tanks have been taken as booty  in total Armenia has lost 305 tanks. But they still have more. Look how many tanks they had. Fifty infantry fighting vehicles have been destroyed, 29 have been taken as booty  a total of 79 units. Then, 251 guns of various calibers have been destroyed, 24 have been taken as booty  275 in total. Sixty-one mortars have been destroyed, 45 were taken as booty  106 in total. Fifty-three anti-tank weapons have been destroyed, 82 Grad installations have been destroyed. Two units of "Hurricane" multiple launch rocket system have been destroyed. One "TOS" unit has been destroyed, four anti-aircraft missile systems "TOR", about 40 "OSA" installations, four "KUB" complexes, one "KRUG", two "S-125" have been destroyed. Six S-300 launchers, one of the most expensive launchers, have been destroyed. One detection station and one locator. The price is well known. Everyone can count this. We have destroyed two "Elbrus" and one "Tochka-U" operational-tactical missile systems. Trucks  231 trucks have been destroyed, including 20 with ammunition, 173 trucks have been taken as booty. In total, we have deprived the enemy of 404 trucks.

Now I will ask the question again. I will keep asking this question every time. I will keep asking it until there is an answer. Where does this money come from? Let the pro-Armenian observers, mediators, political scientists tell where it comes from. We have money and everything is transparent. The people of Azerbaijan know how much money we have, the world knows, everyone knows. We are buying it with our own money. We don't depend on anyone. How did this bankrupt country buy this? Armenia's external debt is about $8 billion. Foreign exchange reserves amount to $1.5 billion. In fact, these are not free funds. These are bank reserves. They cannot use them. If they use it, then their so-called currency will fly somersaults. Who gave you so many weapons? Why doesn't anyone ask? During this month, I give interviews every day. They ask me what Turkish F-16s are doing in Azerbaijan. I am tired of answering. Open up satellite images, can't you see what they are doing? Go and see what F-16s are doing. Are they in the air or on the ground? Everyone knows that they are on the ground. They arrived for exercises and stayed behind when the war broke out. Our Turkish brothers left them here to give us moral support. But if we are attacked from outside, they will see these F-16s. There are only five or six planes left at the airport and they ask about it every time. I answer these questions. But ask Armenia too, ask those who give them weapons. Ask these questions  why are you giving Armenia weapons? Have they been paid for? Do the citizens of the countries producing these weapons know how much of their goods was lost in a matter of one month? Do they know how much weaponry we have destroyed? No journalist asks me this question. Isn't this interesting? It is interesting. Never mind. We are already accustomed to the fact that for all these years, slander, lies and fabrications against Azerbaijan have shown no sign of abating. Both foreign media and the Azerbaijani people see that I am answering all these questions and answering them properly. And I do not stoop to their level. Never! I answer them properly and they are silenced. They cannot answer. I say  go look in the mirror. Did you come here to blame us? They don't ask questions, they act like a prosecutor, accuse us. Who are you? I respect journalists a lot. Therefore, they take advantage of that. I speak to them in a calm manner. But they should know that I can talk to them in any form. This is a reality. This reality is against us. But we have changed this reality. These new lists show again that we have changed this reality.

Now, it is with great satisfaction and pride that I will bring to the attention of my people the list the Azerbaijani people are looking forward to. So I am informing my dear people of the list of settlements liberated yesterday. The following villages have been liberated in Zangilan district: First Alibayli, Second Alibayli, Raband, Yenikand. Liberated villages of Jabrayil district: Govshudlu, Sofulu, Dagh Mashanli, Kurdlar, Hovuslu, Chalabilar. The settlements of Gubadli district liberated yesterday: Padar, Afandilar, Yusifbayli, Chaytumas, Khanlig, Sariyatag, Mollaburkhan and the city of Gubadli!

I already shared this good news with the Azerbaijani people yesterday. I want to convey this joyful news to the entire Azerbaijani people again. It is a great honor for me to bring joyful news to the residents of Zangilan, Jabrayil and Gubadli districts who lived in these villages. True, there is nothing left of these villages. But never mind, we will restore them. Both the Azerbaijani people and the state have enough strength to do that. If only our lands were free. If only our flag was raised in all the liberated lands. We are liberating these lands at the cost of the life and blood of our soldiers and officers. We have asserted ourselves both on the battlefield and on the political plane, we have asserted ourselves in the world. We have asserted the Azerbaijani people as a proud people, as a brave people, as an invincible people. No pressure can affect us. No threat can turn us off our path because we are on a fair path, we are united like a fist. This unity is eternal and will be eternal!

Dear compatriots, I promised you on the first days of the war that we would drive the enemy away from our lands, drive them away to the end. Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!




During West County's October Board of Education meeting, the elementary school recognized a group of students for the achievement of advanced on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test, the annual test taken by students in Missouri schools.

Elementary School Principal Laura Basler started the meeting off by honoring those students who had scored advanced on all sections of the test taken. In third and fourth grade, the students take the test in English and math, while fifth graders take the test in English, math, and science.

They have achieved the highest level that you can achieve on this test, there are different levels, and advanced is as high as you can get, said Basler. These students have achieved advanced in all of the areas that they have taken, and that is an extremely high achievement.

Students who took the test as third graders and scored advanced in all categories are Paisley Barker and Emma Jenkerson. Students who took the MAP test as fourth graders included Remi Conway, Aubree Lansing, Meredith Marler, Jordyn Navarro, Tristyn Scoggin, Roland Scott, and Eli Smith. Students who took the test as fifth graders and scored advanced in all three categories are Nathan Jenkerson and Gage Lamken.

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Coffman briefly discussed the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP) before letting Dr. Aaron Zalis with the South Central Regional Professional Development Center take over. Zalis had spent 35 years working for the Rolla school district before joining the development center. Along with explaining what will be the key focuses on the CSIP, Zalis explained to the board what changed with the new Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP), which relates to the CSIP.

According to Zalis, the MSIP has been around since 1990s, and the previous cycle of the MSIP lasted from 2012 through 2021. Between the old and new cycles, Zalis believes there are some very positive differences.

With the new MSIP, 70% of the annual performance report (APR) is based on how students perform on assessment, as well as other factors including attendance and graduation rate, while the other 30% is based on continuous improvement. According to the explanation, the biggest portion of the 30% comes from the CSIP plan.

So, youre actually going to get accreditation performance points for continuous improvement, in which the CSIP was part of that, Zalis said.

The CSIP is working on developing an internal and external communication with everyone in the district who has an interest in the providing feedback on the district. Previously, the document was called the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, but has been changed to Continuous School Improvement Plan.

It shouldnt be a document that sits on a shelf in the superintendents office only to come out every once in a while, explained Zalis. It should be something thats always used and has these limited number of focus goals. Right now we come back with a bazillion goals, I promise you that were going to stay focused and keep it simple. Its the plans, its the governing document for the school district.

Between now and December, members of the staff, parents of students, and sophomores and juniors will be surveyed to collect data for the CSIP plan.

In other business, the board heard from the principals of the schools. High School Principal Levi Rawson informed the board the total enrollment of the high school was 298, with an attendance for the year so far at 93.37%. The elementary currently has 406 students enrolled, according to Basler, with a year-to-date attendance for the school at 95.06%. Middle School Principal Lindsay Jackson was unable to attend due to an award ceremony for her father, but provided information showing the middle school has a total of 240 students enrolled, with a year-to-date attendance at 95.11%.

The board heard from the Library Media Program from Librarians Lisa Puller and Kim Cover. The elementary fiction section has been sorted by genre and now students can find books in the fiction depending on the genre. In the middle school, the main focus is to fill in gaps and replace any books which had been damaged beyond repair. In the high school library, the library had received a $500 grant which allowed the library to spend on high-low, meaning high interest but low reading level, reading materials and added 81 new books.

The board also heard from the Health Services on COVID, new equipment, and mobile treatments from Upward Smiles. Nurses Stephanie Warden and Casey Turnbaugh say it feels like the school has returned back to normal regarding COVID, besides offering testing. Upward Smiles will be coming to each building with the mobile unit and will offer extensive services including fillings. The district will also have vision and hearing screening this semester from Complete Vision Care and Miracle Ear; as well as having also received a $5,000 grant to purchase a spot vision screener, usually priced at $8,000, and will be able to tell the users if there are any vision issues.

The board set the November meeting date for Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.
A communication issue caused some confusion about an agenda item passed at the St. Francois County commission meeting Tuesday morning at the courthouse annex.

A 2019 community development block grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development for Mineral Area College that is administered through the county was revised downward. Grant Coordinator Bridget Smith spoke during the meeting about the revision.

Due to COVID issues, its taken MAC a while to get everything going, she said. DED has allowed them to change the grant from 160 (low-income students) down to 45 and that no more money will be pulled for the grant. We have agreed to that in order to close this grant.

The original grant was for $400,000 and the commission approved the Department of Economic Developments reduction in the grant to $225,000.

However, MAC President Dr. Joe Gilgour  who was not at the meeting  later stated that the county did not receive all of the information on the grant revision.

They didnt get the communications from the state that we did, he said. They werent aware of the options that we had.

Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher said that the college has another approach to take on the grant and it is on the agenda for next Tuesdays regular meeting to be reviewed.

We didnt know there is an alternative, he said. They are going to present the alternative next week. We will reconsider the issue.

In other business, the commission approved fee increases for lawyers representing indigent parents for the Juvenile Detention Center. The fees were increased by $25 per appearance with the exception of adjudication hearings that have no increase. The increases will begin on Jan. 1.

Nick Jones, IT director, asked the commission to approve email licenses for the sheriffs office through Microsoft 360 for one year for $20,661.75. The license will be through SHI on a state contract.

Its through a state contract for 120 licenses, he said. The reason we went from what we had to the new email  we didnt change platforms, we changed vendors. We went from a business agreement to a government account. We went for a one-year pricing on this because the accounts we have here and the courthouse are due next year and we are going to lump them all into one.

The system has been in use since July 1. Jones said he didnt realize since it was under a state contract that he still had to get commission authorization for expenditures more than $12,000. The commission approved the licenses.

The commission gave approval to apply for a Local Tourism Asset Development Grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The grant amount is unknown at this time, but it will be a 50% match grant not to exceed $1 million. Smith stated that ARPA funds could be used for the countys part of the matching funds. The funds would be used for the Owl Creek Park project near Desloge.

The commission also gave approval to apply for a Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) through the U.S. Department of Treasury for $50,000 for 2022 and $50,000 for 2023 to also be used as matching funds for the tourism grant.

A change order for an additional $4,668 was approved for the road and bridge building addition on Woodlawn Drive. The cost was for moisture mitigation in a concrete slab at epoxy locations.

A change order for $2,632 was approved for the jail addition for asbestos mitigation on the existing boiler.

A public bid opening for the Juvenile Detention Center addition will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the commission room of the courthouse annex.

The next St. Francois County Commission regular meeting will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the courthouse annex in downtown Farmington.
MP and PM celebrate World beating Welsh lamb exports to USA

Clwyd Souths MP Simon Baynes had the chance to ask one of the first questions to the new Prime Minister today.

During Prime Minister Questions this lunchtime Simon Baynes MP welcomed Rishi Sunak to his new job as Prime Minister, and then said, Farmers in my constituency of Clwyd South are delighted that after 20 years they are once more able to sell Welsh lamb to the US market.

Will the Prime Minister comment on the size and prospects of this market for our world beating Welsh lamb?

PM Sunak replied, Well, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my my colleague on the fantastic achievement  I can tell him that market is worth I think something like almost 40 million pounds over the first few years  an enormous boost for our lamb farmers.

In a light hearted comment that raised a smile from the local MP the Prime Minister  who represents a constituency in Yorkshire  added, I would just encourage the 300 million US consumers to give Yorkshire Swaledale lamb as well, but I know he and I if we disagree on that, are united on the fact that we will unequivocally back British farming and British farmers.

Another local interest topic was also raised during PMQs, with the Prime Minister also being asked about Levelling Up bids.

Wrexham has a 18.3m bid in for a new Kop stand at the Racecourse and associated works all part of a wider Gateway project.

PM Sunak pledged a cast iron commitment to levelling up with announcements on bids by the end of the year. Wrexham.com had been told that there was some expectation that bid news could emerge at the end of November.

Today the Treasury also announced that the expected fiscal statement due on the 31st had been put back to November 17th, a move that could mean the Levelling Up news has also been pushed back.

(Top pic: PMQs today)
Police release image of van and urge Wrexham farmers to be aware after suspicious activity reported

Rural crime police have circulated an image of a van this morning after suspicious activity was reported around farms in Wrexham.

A Black Toyota Hilux has also been seen visiting farms in the region, police have urged farmers to be aware

North Wales Rural Crime Team posted on social media: Can Farmers please be aware of the attached Irish registered van & also a Black Toyota Hilux that have been visiting farms in Wrexham and Flintshire.

The vehicles have been witnessed driving onto farms & offering to sell farm equipment.

Information can be passed to North Wales Police via 101 or the web live chat http://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/chat-support.aspx
Prime minister to reinstate fracking ban easing fears about impact on north east Wales border communities

A ban on fracking in England is to be reinstated in a U-turn on previous prime minister Liz Truss controversial policy to lift it.

The move will ease fears expressed by a local politician about the impact of shale gas extraction on north east Wales border communities.

During Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he stands by the manifesto on fracking.

The Conservative 2019 manifesto placed a moratorium on fracking in England following opposition from environmentalists and local communities.

Last month first minister Mark Drakeford said Wales would not be following England in allowing the fracking of shale gas when the then prime minister Liz Truss announced fracking would recommence in England.

Alyn and Deeside MS Jack Sargeant said the move in England would pose serious consequences for our community.

He said Welsh border communities could be hugely impacted if previously identified sites in Cheshire are given the green light for shale gas extraction.

It was the late Carl Sargeant, who as natural resources minister introduced a moratorium on fracking in Wales.

The moratorium stopped any local planning authority in Wales from approving planning applications for fracking.

The Welsh Government put a Notification Direction in place so that local authorities cannot approve planning applications for unconventional oil and gas, including fracking, without Welsh Ministers approval.

In 2018 licensing powers on fracking were transferred from Westminster to Cardiff.

During Prime Ministers Questions today, Green MP Caroline Lucas asked Mr Sunak whether would reverse the green light she gave to fracking, since it has categorically not been shown to be safe, and instead the moratorium in that very manifesto that he has promised to uphold?

He replied: Ive already said I stand by the manifesto on that, in a reply that seemed to fall short of announcing he would reverse the ban being lifted.

But what I would say is that Im proud that this government has passed the landmark Environment Act, putting more protection for the natural environment than weve ever had with a clear plan to deliver.

I can give the honourable lady my commitment that we will deliver on all those ambitions, we will deliver on what we said at COP, because we care deeply about passing our children an environment in a better state than we found it ourselves.

As well as Wales, fracking moratoriums remain in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Warning UK Gov financial statement could mean cuts to public services and inevitable job losses in Wales

Welsh Governments eyes are on Chancellor Hunt and his statement due on Halloween, with a dire warning that if expected cuts to budgets take place then funding cuts would have to be passed on to councils.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans MS warned that her plans may see moving potentially money away from some of the things that we would love to keep on doing if cuts were coming down the line from UK Government.

Wrexham.com understands there are predictions of a 800m shortfall across the 22 authorities by 2024-25, along with over 250m of additional current in-year financial pressures in the same councils.

Locally millions of pounds of cuts have already been made to services operated by Wrexham Council over recent years, with questions over where additional savings could even be found.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the minister was asked about council funding, with it noted the feedback from across Wales is  not a case of which services will have to be cut its how much from all of them.

The Minister said, I absolutely share those concerns that local government leaders have universally shared with me in respect of the budget for both this financial year, and also the two years which follow.

At the Spending Review, which we undertook we did give local government a generous settlement. It was very warmly welcomed at the time an increase of over 9% but the story has changed a great deal since that point and local government is reporting big holes in funding in terms of the services which they need to provide.

So yes, I do share the concerns that local government has. We work in social partnership here in Wales, so I have a really strong relationship with local government leaders.

We meet very frequently, we have fortnightly meetings with other Ministers, but then I meet myself with them at least weekly in various forums as well and they take every opportunity to impress upon me the gaps that they have in their public finances at the moment and we use that evidence then, as we try to make the case to the UK Government for further support for public services.

But, at the moment things are going to be difficult. So if there is no further funding, and if we actually receive a cut to our funding, and as we are potentially expecting on the 31 October, then inevitably there will be cuts to public services and the inevitable job losses which follow that, and of course, you end up in a cycle where those people then potentially need to rely on public services which find themselves under greater pressure, which is exactly not the cycle that we want to be getting into  which again is why we press upon the UK Government the need to invest in public services.

Later she added,:I dont want to use inflammatory language or concern people unduly but I think that it is inevitable at this point that services will be cut and obviously, people do depend on those services.

Of course, it doesnt have to happen. With the Chancellor making a statement on the 31st of October he could invest in public services and help public services through this difficult period.

But at this point in time, as I say, our budget is worth so much less next year, local government is experiencing exactly the same thing. So they will be making incredibly different difficult choices about the services which they prioritise.

The budget that were preparing now, as we move towards publishing our budget in December, will be a very different budget to those which we prepared in recent years where weve been allocating additional funding.

This will be a budget about reprioritising and moving potentially money away from some of the things that we would love to keep on doing.

More: Big holes in our budget says Finance Minister who urges UK Govt to introduce windfall tax and raise taxes in a more equitable way
At a campaign event held in Robstown, Texas this past Saturday, former President Donald Trump once again invoked themes and employed rhetoric associated with the anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi Great Replacement Theory.

This fascist rallying cry is based on the narrative that an international Jewish conspiracy is underway to flood white Christian populations with inferior races as part of a Satanic plot to conquer the world.

Also on the weekend, Trump allies and coup-plotters, including his former national security adviser and retired general Michael Flynn, were spewing similar fascistic filth at the Great Awakening conference, held October 21-22 in Manheim, Pennsylvania.

At the South Texas rally, Trump accused President Joe Biden, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of overseeing an invasion of immigrants, whom he characterized as murderers and rapists. Trump claimed they were being dispatched by his Democratic opponents to storm the country and attack American citizens.



They are invading our southern border, Trump ranted. We had it stopped. Biden has allowed millions and millions of illegal aliens to storm across the border.

Former President Donald Trump speaking at a "Save America" rally in Robstown, Texas on October 22, 2022. [Photo: C-Span.org (Screengrab WSWS)]

The use of the word storm was not incidental. Every QAnon adherent in attendance and watching online would recognize it as an invocation of the coming storm that is to result in the destruction of the Jews and their radical left and socialist accomplices.

They are storming. They are storming our country, Trump barked. They include Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Russia, China, Iran, all of Africa. They are storming our country. They are storming our borders. We have no idea who they are, where they come from.



In another direct appeal to the QAnon conspiracy theory, Trump chargedabsurdlythat the Democrats supported open border policies that allowed MS-13 gang members to kidnap, rape and sadistically murder a 15-year-old girl in a horrific satanic ritual.

For their part, Biden and the Democrats are scrambling to adapt to the Republicans anti-immigrant agitation. Earlier this month they began working with Mexico, using the Title 42 policy implemented by Trump, to strip refugees, mainly from Venezuela, of the right to asylum and deport them en masse to Central and South America. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security reported that a record 2.3 million migrants were detained at the US-Mexico border in fiscal 2022.

Referencing the tent city opened last week by the Democratic administration in New York City, Trump complained that the bad people emigrating to America were living better than our soldiers.

Some 5,000 people attended the nearly eight-hour rally at an outdoor venue in Robstown, a suburb of Corpus Christi. As in other Trump rallies, the longer the would-be Fuhrer spoke, the more rapidly audience members filed out. By the time Trump finished his speech, accompanied by his now standard piped-in storm music, online viewership had collapsed by over 20,000 in 20 minutes.

Joining Trump at the rally were several Republican politicians, all of whom echoed Trumps theme of a border invasion overseen by Biden and the Democratic Party. Speakers included Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Representative Ronnie Jackson, Attorney General Ken Paxton and former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) director Tom Homan.



In his speech, Homan said Biden was the first president to unsecure a border on purpose.



Paxton, who spearheaded a failed multi-state lawsuit to overturn the election on behalf of Trump in December 2020, also appealed to QAnon fascists, claiming that a partnership existed between Biden and the cartels.



The appeals to QAnon fascists and Christian nationalists was even more explicit at the Great Awakening conference held over two days in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.



Last year, Tulsa, Oklahoma businessman Clay Clark partnered with Michael Flynn to launch the ReAwaken America tour.



With the support of Trump, local Republicans, together with Flynn and Clark, have hosted events in 16 cities. In each city, the two organizers, along with pastors and outright racists, spread a blend of nationalism, Christian supremacism and QAnon talking points.



This includes repeating Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen along with right-wing conspiracy theories concerning COVID-19, 5G communications and election integrity.



I would rather be labeled a Christian nationalist than a godless globalist any day of the week, said Jackson Lahmeyer, a pastor and former Republican Senate candidate from Oklahoma, one of the many Republicans who attended and spoke at the latest event.

Retired General Mike Flynn and right-wing operative Katie Hopkins at the Reawaken America tour, October 22, 2022. Hopkins has previously called for a "final solution" referring to Muslims and has said she won't allow her children to play with kids that have "working class" names. [Photo: Katie Hopkins Instagram]

In addition to Flynn, Trumps son Eric, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, right-wing UK political operative Katie Hopkins, Trump crony Roger Stone and an assortment of Trump prophets spoke in-person at the rally.



In her speech, Hopkins, who has previously called for a final solution for Muslims in Europe, claimed that Muslims were outbreeding white people in the UK and that white farmers were under attack from black gangs in South Africa.



On Friday night, Trump called into the event and spoke through Eric Trumps phone. The former president thanked everyone for attending the event and vowed to fight against his political enemies.



Republican Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who has attacked his Jewish opponent, Josh Shapiro, for attending Jewish schools as child, was slated to appear at the conference on Saturday.



However, after a recent interview in the Washington Post in which Shapiro called out Mastriano for his anti-Semitism and embrace of neo-Nazis, Mastriano likely made a political calculation that it was best to stay away from the fascist rally.



While Mastriano cancelled his in-person speaking appearance, this did not prevent his campaign from maintaining a booth at the event.







While Trump and his Republican cronies openly incite fascist and anti-Semitic violence, the so-called moderate or non-MAGA wing of the Republican Party, a rapidly shrinking faction, remains silent.



In an article published last week, Business Insider reported that it had asked 38 Republicans, including senators, House leaders, retired lawmakers and former Trump administration officials, about the rise of anti-Semitic rhetoric on the part of Trump and his allies.



The non-respondents, Business Insider wrote, included RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, former Vice President Mike Pence, National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Rick Scott, House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, among others. The brush-offs ranged from total radio silence to promises to circle back if were able to provide comment by your deadline, to immediate hang-ups and finger-pointing at Democrats.



Emboldened by the Republicans embrace of fascism, on Saturday roughly seven neo-Nazis with the Goyim Defense League dropped fascist banners over the 405 overpass in Los Angeles, California. One of the banners read, Kanye West is right about the Jews.





Accompanying the banner drop, residents in Beverly Hills, California and Tempe, Arizona reported that anti-Semitic fliers were distributed throughout their neighborhood. The fliers blamed Jews for everything from coronavirus lockdowns to grooming children for sexual exploitation.






The replacement as prime minister of Liz Truss with Rishi Sunak was carried out this week at the insistence of the financial oligarchy, whose main demand is that the government step up their attacks on the working class.

Newly Appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds his first Cabinet Meeting the morning after assuming office. October 26, 2022, London, United Kingdom [Photo by Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Truss was thrown out because her September mini budget of 45 billion in tax cuts for the richest was paid for with borrowing, rather than the immediate imposition of additional austerity. While her axing revealed differences between factions of the ruling Conservative Party over how to finance further vast subventions to the super-rich, there are none when it comes to imposing the necessary dictatorial measures required to enforce this.

Boris Johnsons 2019 election manifesto pledged to bring in Minimum Service Levels (MSLs) during transport strikes, which would make industrial action in the sector ineffective. Another policy aimed at neutering strikes, dating back to the 2015 Conservative election manifesto, was to legislate to allow agencies to supply temporary workers to cover workers taking industrial action.

The legislation on agency workers became law on July 21. At the same time legislation was passed to raise the level of maximum damages that courts can award against a trade union when strike action has been found unlawful. For the largest unions, the maximum is now 1 million.

These laws went through even though Johnson had announced his resignation on July 7, prompting the leadership election that brought Truss to power.

Truss announced she would seek to legislate on MSLs within 30 days of taking office. The task now falls to Sunak, with the law to be enacted in early 2023.

The scale of the governments class war offensive is underscored by the Public Order Billone of the most draconian pieces of legislation in British history, effectively ending the right to protest and further clamping down on strikes.

The Bill has been used to revive sections of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 deemed so nakedly dictatorial they were voted down by the House of Lords. They include making it unlawful for a person to interfere with the use or operation of key national infrastructure, including airports, the road network, railways and newspaper printers. Effective industrial action in these sectors would be essentially illegalised.

Protests are deemed illegal if they include acts causing serious disruption to two or more individuals, or to an organisation. Serious disruption includes noise, meaning that any protest can be declared illegal.

Police are also granted massive new stop and search powers and the right to issue Serious Disruption Prevention Orders (SDPO). An SDPO can be imposed on people who have participated in at least two protests within a five-year period, whether or not they have been convicted of an offence. The person can be served a two-year order forbidding them from attending further protests.

Those handed an SDPO can be forced to wear an electronic tag to monitor their movements.

Jail sentences of up to 51 weeks are introduced for people who lock on to immovable objects or each other.

To impose this dictatorial assault, Sunak brought back as home secretary one of the most right-wing figures in the Tory party, Suella Braverman. This was just days after she was forced to stand down from the position for breaching the ministerial code.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman leaves the first Cabinet meeting under Prime Minister Liz Truss in 10 Downing Street. September 7, 2022, London. [Photo by Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Two days before Truss resigned, Braverman slipped through a last-minute amendment to the Public Order Bill allowing the home secretary of the day to apply for injunctions against anyone they deem likely to carry out protests that could cause serious disruption to key national infrastructure, prevent access to essential goods or services, or have a serious adverse effect on public safety.

In the final House of Commons vote on the Public Order Bill, before it was sent to the House of Lords second chamber for scrutiny, the government won with a majority of 49. Labour voted against only on the basis that the current repressive apparatus of the state was adequate to clamp down on protests. But Labour MP Sarah Jones boasted, The Labour Party, last April, called for greater injunction powers following the disruption by Just Stop Oil We suggested injunctions because they are more likely to prevent further disruption to, say, an oil terminal than more offences to criminalise conduct after it has taken place, with all the added costs and logistics of removal. Injunctions are more straightforward for the police, they have more safeguards as they are granted by a court, and they are future-proof when protesters change tactics.

With further protests held by environmental groups, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned of the repression he had lined up were Labour to take office. He told an LBC Radio phone-in show Monday that during his tenure (2008-2013) as director of public prosecutions, we always had laws available to prosecute people taking such action.

He added, What we were pushing for in that was longer sentences for those who were gluing themselves to roads and motorways. We didnt get that through, but thats what I wanted. Asked by host Nick Ferrari, And thats what youd want in the future?, Starmer replied, Yes.

The unions have done nothing to mobilise their millions of members against the legislation. The only response from the Trades Union Congress was a declaration from outgoing leader Frances OGrady, If ministers cross the road to pick a fight with us then we will meet them halfway Read my lips: We will see you in court.

Among the key section of workers the legislation is aimed at suppressing are tens of thousands of rail staff, who have taken national strike action throughout the last few months. The Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill sets the stage for mass firings, with the government stating that under it specified workers who still take strike action will lose their protection from automatic unfair dismissal.

Train drivers picket line at London's Euston station, October 1, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

The main concern of ASLEF train drivers union leader Mick Whelan was that the Minimum Services Level legislation will only lead to industrial strife lasting longer. Whelan played down the dangers of the savage legislation and intentions of the Tory government, stating, The government claims that similar legislation exists in other European countries, such as Germany, France, and Spain. Yes, it does, but what the government doesnt knowor doesnt choose to sayis that it is not enforced. Because they know it doesnt work.

This is false. Not only is such legislation used by these governments and others; even more draconian legislation has been used as the class struggle sharpens throughout Europe on a regular basis.

This year alone, striking Spanish airline workers and metal workers have been subjected to Minimum Service orders. This summer Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government and Ryanair imposed a minimum service requirement preventing many workers from legally stopping work. In the case of the metal workers strike in Cantabria, 150 workers were banned from striking by the imposition of a 100 percent minimum service requirement in 12 companies.

This month the Macron government in France requisitioned striking refinery workers to force them back to work in order to break a powerful action hitting the arteries of the economy.

This offensive has accelerated over the last decade as the ruling class in Europe enforced brutal austerity to make workers pay for the 2008 global financial meltdown.

In December 2010, Spains PSOE government forced 2,200 air traffic controllers back to work at gunpoint to smash a wildcat strike. Armed soldiers stood over them with the threat of immediate arrest should they stop work.

In January 2013, the New Democracy-led Greek coalition government, which included the social democratic PASOK and the Democratic Left, placed striking metro workers under martial law, forcing them back to work under pain of imprisonment. The following month, the coalition invoked emergency powers in the form of a civil mobilisation, formally conscripting striking ferry workers into military service and ordering them to return to work.

The ruling class knows a new global economic crisis and new rounds of austerity can only be imposed on the working class by even more aggressive and violent means. Workers must be politically armed to face the class battles immediately ahead.
Continuing the treacherous course it has pursued since the inauguration of Brazils fascistic president Jair Bolsonaro in 2019, the National Student Union (UNE) has responded to the federal governments latest attack on public education by isolating the struggle of Brazilian students from the growing working class movement and diverting it behind the bourgeois state, particularly the election of the Workers Party (PT) presidential candidate, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The Bolsonaro government has carried out a general assault on social rights and education, which includes attacks on university autonomy with the appointment of allied deans and the creation of a climate of witch hunts in universities against alleged leftist indoctrination. On October 5 it announced a broad cut in the federal budget, whose main impact will be upon higher education. According to the association of deans of federal universities, the 5.8 percent cut in the discretionary funding puts at risk the 107 federal universities and institutes, threatening to make it impossible for them to function.

October 18 protest in Sao Paulo against Bolsonaro governments education cuts (Photo: UNE/Twitter) [Photo: UNE/Twitter]

On the same day of the announcement, spontaneous protests by Brazilian student youth began to erupt. In Sao Paulo, students from the Federal Institute occupied the university canteen because of the 40 percent increase in the price of meals caused by the cuts. In the states of Bahia, Alagoas and Paraiba, as well as in the Federal District, massive street demonstrations took place. Faced with this initial mobilization and fearing its political consequences for the presidential run-off on October 30, the Bolsonaro government suspended the cuts on October 7.

Earlier, the UNE rushed to ease the growing pressure from the Brazilian youth and prevent it from getting out of its control. On October 6, it called a national protest against the cuts only for October 18, while announcing support for the PTs candidate, Lula, in the second round of the presidential election in order to divert protests behind his campaign. In addition to youth organizations of the PT, the UNE is headed by elements from the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and Pabloite tendencies within the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), which are part of Lulas electoral coalition.

Although the demonstrations scheduled for October 18 brought tens of thousands of students to the streets in 73 cities in 19 states and the Federal District, they were much smaller than previous ones, particularly those in May 2019, when students joined massive protests by teachers against the Bolsonaro governments pension reform.

Bolsonaros early October cuts also hit several other social areas and were announced after he had sent Congress the federal budget for next year. The funding for early childhood education and the infrastructure of Brazil's precarious schools has been cut by an alarming 96 percent and 97 percent, respectively. Cuts in 12 healthcare areas affected the treatment of cancer and AIDS patients, as well as indigenous health and the national immunization program, threatening the only remaining control against the pandemic in Brazil and the return of numerous infectious diseases.

Even in the face of this broad attack, the UNE and the Brazilian teachers and health workers unions, run mainly by the same organizations that control the UNE, worked to isolate the student struggle. After numerous strikes by municipal and state teachers had been isolated in the first semester, the teachers unions refused to mobilize teachers even though the students protest took place right after Teachers Day, October 15, a historic day of struggle in defense of public education in Brazil.

Throughout September, two massive protests by nurses in this third year of the pandemic were held demanding compliance with the national minimum wage for the sector, the same demand that had led teachers to strike in the first semester. At the end of September, 35,000 employees at federal university hospitals also went on strike against low salaries. Last Friday, an unprecedented protest by AIDS patients was held in Sao Paulo against the cuts.

The latest events repeated the UNEs course throughout the Bolsonaro government. Since his inauguration, the UNE has advocated that the protests against Bolsonaros attacks on education assume a nationalist character, replacing the red banner identified with the left by the green and yellow of the national flag. This is articulated with the UNEs characterization of the attacks on education and the Bolsonaro government as a threat to national sovereignty and Brazilian capitalism, the central complaint voiced by the PT. As a result, the UNE has been one of the leading proponents of a broad front against Bolsonaro together with dissident right-wing factions of the Brazilian bourgeoisie. This has only served to demobilize opposition to Bolsonaro and to divert it into safe channels within the capitalist state.

This policy was clearly expressed from May of last year, when massive demonstrations led by Brazilian youth erupted against the Bolsonaro government's genocidal response to the pandemic. The UNE, as well as the PT, PSOL and PCdoB, advocated that the political right participate in these demonstrations in order to supposedly broaden them. At the same time, they began to maneuver behind closed doors with reactionary figures from the Brazilian right, such as the liberal organization MBL linked to the Koch brothers and which supported Bolsonaro's election in 2018. Their aim was to either pressure Congress to put forward a reactionary super impeachment petition against Bolsonaro or to adjust the timing of the demonstrations to the work of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry investigating the federal government's actions in the pandemic.

As a result, youth attendance in the demonstrations decreased as the participation of the right increased. In September of last year, UNE agreed to participate in an empty protest against the Bolsonaro government called by the MBL and all the bourgeois opposition parties. Justifying the UNEs presence at the rally and its intention to suppress a new explosion of Brazilian youth, UNE president Bruna Brelaz said in an interview at the time, I believe we need to build a broad front ... [with] different sectors of the left, the right and the center. Our concern is: if Bolsonaro remains in power, the social chaos tends to get worse.

The foundation of the reactionary UNE policy is the Stalinist two-stage theory, which is advanced by the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), whose youth wing has controlled the UNE for decades, but also by sections of the PT and the Pabloite tendencies of the PSOL. The UNEs defense of a broad front against Bolsonaro repeats the PCdoBs policy in the 1980s of ignoring the vast workers strikes and subordinating the struggle against the military dictatorship (1964-1985) to the regime-approved opposition of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) and calls for direct elections and a constituent assembly. After supporting the first civilian government after the dictatorship, led by the MDB until 1988, the PCdoB found in the PT a suitable substitute to carry out its broad front policy. Since 1989, the PCdoB has been a perennial ally of the PT in presidential elections, and this year joined it in a single congressional block.

The struggle for the right to quality public education as part of the struggle for international socialism

Brazilian youth face an unprecedented social and economic crisis that combines high unemployment, a lack of prospects for the future, and numerous mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified this crisis while radicalizing young Brazilians who have seen themselves infected by the new coronavirus, who are now suffering the effects of the long COVID and have watched their loved ones die as a consequence of the herd immunity policy implemented by all parties of the Brazilian ruling elite, including the PT.

Data from August of this year showed that 36 percent of Brazilians between 18 and 24 neither work nor studymuch above the already high OECD average of 17 percent. Those who work do so under increasingly exploitative conditions, particularly with delivery apps and call centers. During the pandemic, these sectors led numerous strikes and stoppages against low wages and unsafe working conditions, which were ignored by student organizations and unions controlled by the PCdoB, PT, and PSOL.

Brazil today has one of the world's lowest rates of 17- to 24-year-olds enrolled in higher education (17 percent). The officially celebrated tripling of the number of students in undergraduate courses from 2.7 million in 2000 to 8.6 million in 2019, particularly during the commodities boom under the PT governments (2003-2016), took place mainly in low-quality courses at private colleges, which funneled public funds for loans into the pockets of billionaire education tycoons. Far from solving access to higher education or good employment, this program created a generation of low-paid, indebted young peoplea total of 1.2 million former studentswhich undoubtedly contributed to Brazil's record high of 80 percent of families unable to pay all their bills in September.

The PT governments student loan program helped create in 2013 the world's largest private educational group, Kroton, whose president is one of the biggest enthusiasts for Lulas candidacy in the business world. In the last ten years, the private colleges aided by the PT governments have continued to grow, with their distance learning courses increasing their enrollments by more than 400 percent. In contrast, there has been a 14 percent decrease in in-person course enrollments, particularly in federal public universities that have suffered a series of cuts and attacks by the Bolsonaro government.

This situation has thoroughly exposed the decades-long campaign for the implementation of racial quotas in public universities as a way out for impoverished youth. This campaign only succeeded in hiding the problem of Brazils unparalleled social inequality, expressed in the restriction of college education to a few privileged students enrolled in elite schools, behind the reactionary language of racialism. Its goal was to hamper the unified and independent struggle of Brazilian multiracial youth against the enormous social inequality in Brazil.

The right of the youth to education, as well as to a well-paid job, will only be realized by uniting the struggles of the youth with those of the working class to expropriate the wealth of the ruling elite and massively increase investment in education. This, in turn, is inseparable from the struggle to unite the Brazilian youth and working class with their sisters in all countries as part of the struggle for international socialism.

This is the perspective that the Socialist Equality Group, which is fighting to build the Brazilian section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), advocates. As part of this effort, we call on Brazilian youth to join the actions of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality to build an international movement against the threat of a nuclear war, as well as study the long struggle of the ICFI against Stalinism, including its Maoist variant, and all forms of Pabloite revisionism that control a large share of the student organizations in Brazil.
For the third time this year, large sections of south-eastern Australia have been hit by devastating floods and extreme weather. While floodwaters are beginning to recede in the worst-affected areas, the risk remains, with heavy rainfall expected to return. Hundreds of flood warnings and evacuation orders remain in place.

Floodwaters in Maribyrnong on October 14, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

Rainfall records have been shattered across New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. By October 15, Sydney had recorded its highest ever annual rainfall total, while Deniliquin, Balranald, Wilcannia, Bourke, Cobar, Griffith and Moree had their wettest-ever October. The northern Victorian towns of Kyabram and Echuca have posted records for the month of October, receiving six months worth of rain in just a few weeks.

At least four people have been killed as the floods have ravaged Victoria and NSW:

71-year-old Rochester man Kevin Wills was found dead in his backyard on October 15. He is survived by his wife, who was rescued from the house after becoming trapped by the flood.

The body of Brian Hack, a 65-year-old resident of Nathalia, north of Shepparton, was discovered by a relative in floodwaters on October 18.

A body, thought to be that of 63-year-old Phillip Alvaro, who had been missing since October 11, was discovered on October 19 on a flooded property near the Lachlan River in western NSW.

The body of a woman, believed to be a 28-year-old who was missing after a car she was riding in became trapped in floodwaters on Sunday night, was found near Mudgee in central-west NSW on Monday morning. The driver and two other passengers narrowly escaped.

In the NSW-Victoria border town of Echuca, the Murray river peaked yesterday morning at its highest level since 1975 and is expected to remain at a similar height for several days.

Some residents are considering legal action over an emergency levee that was constructed to protect critical assets in the town centre, while other neighbourhoods were left to fend for themselves.

They claim the situation has been exacerbated because water is being pumped from the protected side of the levee into the backyards of houses on the other side as heavy rainfall has continued.

Outside the levee, some residents have remained in their still-flooded homes. 71-year-old Graham Baldwin told the ABC on Monday: I remember in [the 1993 floods], the SES were towing boats around with sandbags. I havent seen that this time, its just been me and my young brother battling away.

Further downstream along the Murray, including in Swan Hill, residents face an anxious wait, as major flooding is expected in the first week of November.

In Mooroopna, near Shepparton, a major regional city two hours north of Melbourne, the Goulburn River peaked at 12.06 metres on October 17, slightly below the 12.09m reached in 1974, but residents say the impact of last weeks flooding is worse than what occurred almost half a century ago. At least 500 homes in the Shepparton-Mooroopna region have suffered flooding above the level of the floorboards.

Mooroopna resident Rita Costa told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) the flooding in her neighbourhood had started from the stormwater drains, which began overflowing three days before water from the river arrived. Residents petitioned the local council to upgrade drainage in the area after the 1993 flood, but while they had received a letter saying this would be considered, no improvements were ever made.

Costa said: In my opinion, we were the acceptable collateral of this entire eventthe council just decided we were going to go.

Parts of the town are still inundated, with heavy rainfall through the week dumping water in the region faster than authorities could pump it out. With drainage systems full, this has resulted in flash flooding and sewerage spills.

Many roads in the area remain closed, meaning residents have been unable to return home to begin cleaning up and salvaging whatever belongings have not been destroyed.

In the small town of Murchison, 30 kilometres south, around 35 homes were inundated with floodwaters reaching up to a metre. Residents described the colossal self-organised effort by the local community to protect the town centre and most of the homes.

The population of around 800 banded together to construct a makeshift levee out of some 30,000 sandbags. After the flood, the residents faced two-and-a-half days without power, but worked together to distribute ice, bread and other essential supplies.

The 3,000 residents of Kerang, in northern Victoria, have been warned the roads out of town may remain submerged for weeks, leaving the town completely isolated.

Debris lining the streets of Maribyrnong [Photo: WSWS]

Almost two weeks after low-lying parts of the west Melbourne suburbs of Maribyrnong, Kensington, Ascot Vale and Keilor were first inundated, the streets remained lined with ruined furniture, carpets, appliances and other belongings.

At a community meeting in Maribyrnong last night, residents expressed frustration over the continued woeful response of local government and other authorities to the devastating floods. Several said it had been difficult to contact a support hotline set up by Emergency Response Victoria, and that when they did get through, those staffing the line did not appear to have adequate training, information or authorisation to help.

Residents also reported the inadequate warning they had received from emergency services ahead of the flood. One man said, I got a message at 4:40 in the morning saying the river was going to flood By 7:30, the water was in my driveway, by 11 o'clock it was in my house. Where was the early warning?

These comments echo the experiences of ordinary people in every natural disaster that has occurred this year. Again and again, residents have had little or no warning of the impending catastrophe and have been left to fend for themselves, with the only assistance coming from the self-sacrificing and heroic efforts of others in the local community.

There is continued controversy over a 2.5m wall around the nearby Flemington racetrack, which locals and hydrology experts believe worsened the flooding in residential areas, while ensuring the lucrative spring horse racing carnival was able to proceed unaffected by the surrounding devastation.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected criticism that a so-called independent review into the approval of the barrier by Melbourne Water will be conducted by the state-controlled agency itself. At the time the wall was approved, current Melbourne Water chairman John Thwaites was the states deputy premier and water minister.

This is just one stark expression of the subordination under capitalist planning of the safety and needs of ordinary people and the environment to the profit interests of corporations and the wealthy.

NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said on Monday that some 4,000 people across the state had been told to evacuate over recent days and hundreds of properties had been impacted.

Cooke said there was literally a flood risk in every corner of the state, with more communities threatened than at any other time this year.

Residents of Lismore and other parts of the Northern Rivers were bracing earlier in the week for the impact of a third major flood this year, with heavy rain and hail predicted in the region. Some low-lying parts of south Lismore were inundated, but, at least so far, floodwaters have not neared the devastating heights reached in February and April.

The worst impact was further inland. Around 4,000 people in Moree were told to evacuate and the streets were covered with up to 40cm of water. Dams at Inverell and Manila have overflowed, with WaterNSW describing the situation as unprecedented in recent decades. The agency said some of the dams had released their entire volume, only to be filled again by continued heavy rainfall.

Three successive La Nina climate events have left catchment areas saturated, meaning heavy rainfall has quickly swelled rivers to record levels. The current La Nina event is expected to remain in force until December, meaning the country could face further disasters in the coming months.

In an interview with the 7am podcast, lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) global climate change assessment report Dr Johanna Nalau drew the connection between the warming global climate and the increased frequency of natural disasters.

Nalau said: [a] lot of the climate change impacts that are being for instance discussed in the media that would happen in the future, some of them, we are already seeing those implications here in Australia.

One capitalist government after another, throughout the world, has demonstrated that the existential threat presented by climate change will never be resolved as long as environmental policy is dictated by the profit interests of major corporations.

The Greens-backed Labor government is no exception, recently passing a bill that nominally aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent of 2005 levels by 2030, far short of what the IPCC has estimated is necessary to avoid potentially irreversible climate change.
Take up the fight for rank-and-file control! Join the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee by sending an email to railwrfc@gmail.com, texting (314) 529-1064 or filling out the form at the bottom of this page.

Norfolk Southern rail yard on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, in Atlanta. [AP Photo/Danny Karnik]

On Tuesday, more than one month after reaching a White-House brokered tentative agreement, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and SMART-TD finally released their question and answer packet for the upcoming vote on the five-year deal.

The contract vote has been subject to endless delays. The deal was originally announced on September 15, less than 24 hours before the deadline for a national strike. Originally, the BLET and SMART-TD unions tentatively scheduled the start of the vote for October 14. In a subsequent video statement, BLET President Dennis Pierce and SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson announced a new tentative start date of October 16.

However, this date came and went without any apparent explanation. The WSWS spoke to several engineers and conductors in the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee (RWRFC), all of whom said they never received a ballot or knew anyone who had. Our union reps have been very vague about when were supposed to be getting the ballots, one worker said.

Now, a week and a half after the date voting was supposed to have started, the unions announced a new start date of October 31 in the question and answer packet. The end of the vote has also been extended until November 20. No explanation for this delay was given. Even this schedule, however, is tentative. Those dates are subject to slight changes, depending on factors that are beyond the Organizations control such as printing and preparation times, supply/materials availability, etc, SMART-TD declared.

In repeated statements, both BLET and SMART-TD have insisted that workers, through the vote, will have the final say on the five-year contract that they worked out last month under the aegis of the White House to prevent a national strike. SMART-TD and BLET have also issued statements on their websites urging workers to update their addresses with their locals, to ensure they would receive a ballot.

This, however, could have been done in mid-September. That they are being made now is in response to widespread suspicion from workers that their vote will be either ignored over unilaterally overridden. The agreement is deeply unpopular and was reached in flagrant and willful violation of a 99.5 percent strike authorization vote. It does not meet workers demands, including paid sick days and an end to punishing attendance policies that leave train crews on call 24 hours a day.

But the process so far has been completely opaque, adding to workers concerns. Nobody should believe that the lengthy and interminable period of preparation, as well as the extended voting period itself, is due to technical factors beyond the unions control.

In general, the timetable in which the workers are made vote on a contract, especially when it is an unvarnished sellout such as this one, are always constructed so as to best ensure its passage. For example, there have been countless contracts around the country where workers have been forced to vote less than 24 hours after the deal was reached, without even having the opportunity to see the full text of the contract, much less read or discuss it.

In this case, the uproar immediately following the deal meant that the contract had no chance of passing if it had been put to a vote immediately. This is why the BLET and SMART-TD have instead elected to drag out the voting process as far as possible. Their aims are twofold: First, to bleed off momentum against the contract and give the unions time to try to recapture control of the messaging, and second, to extend the vote past the midterm elections in order to maximize Congresss ability to act against any potential strike if the contract is rejected.

In the very same statements where the union leaders have claimed that workers will have the final say, they have also raised the threat of congressional intervention to impose a contract, with the clear implication that workers have no choice but to accept their deal. At the same time, the BLET invited House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has drafted anti-strike legislation against railroaders, to its national convention earlier this month, where she was treated as an honored guest by the assembled bureaucrats.

In other words, their actions make clear they are determined to ensure that Congress, not workers, have the final say. While they have simply ignored repeated strike votes and other clear, overwhelming instructions from the rank and file, if they are able to manufacture a narrow yes vote in an atmosphere of intimidation, they will cynically hold this up as being the inviolable will of the membership.

But workers should not take for granted the integrity of a vote that is controlled top to bottom by the bureaucracy. Serious concerns have already been raised by workers about previous votes in the other rail unions. The most substantial are major irregularities in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) vote, which appear to have been large enough to have impacted the outcome. One poll of electricians conducted by the RWRFC found that half of respondents either did not get a ballot or did not receive one in time to return it before the deadline. The IBEWs own internal numbers show that the number of undeliverable and questionable ballots exceeded the total margin of victory of 150 votes.

When pressed by workers, the IBEW gave contradictory explanations. In one significant slip of the tongue, IBEW Railroad Department head Al Russo told one worker that it would have been too expensive to pay to overnight new ballots to those who never received them, suggesting the number of workers affected was substantial.

Workers have every right to be suspicious. Questions have been raised in the votes for most of the five other unions whose contracts have been ratified. Train dispatchers raised similar concerns about mail-in balloting for the American Train Dispatchers Association vote, alleging that such irregularities have plagued the union for years. The vote results for SMART-MD (the smaller mechanics division of the union) were unexpectedly released two days early without explanation. Dean Devita, the president of the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers union, cursed out a WSWS reporter when he asked for more information on the breakdown of the vote, accusing the reporter of trying to interfere in the business of my organization.

Even in the votes in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED), where workers rejected the contract, those unions responded by immediately extending a self-imposed strike deadline. The IAM extended its deadline to early December and is making workers vote again on virtually the same contract, while the BMWED pegged its deadline to five days after Congress reconvenes, making crystal clear that the purpose of the extension is to give Congress time to prepare to act against a strike. These deadlines are entirely artificial and are being imposed on workers by the union bureaucracy, not the Railway Labor Act, whose harsh restrictions on the right to self-help expired on September 16.

The BLET is also holding its leadership elections during the contract vote. It has had no difficulty in quickly sending out mailers to engineers for BLET United, the slate of incumbent president Dennis Pierce. This election, moreover is being held under conditions where challengers to Pierce are being bureaucratically excluded. At the national convention, delegates refused to nominate David Manning, an Illinois engineer and administrator for a popular Facebook group, to appear on the ballot, denying workers the right to vote for whomever they choose.

Last Friday, the Railroad Workers Rank-and-File Committee issued a statement, Engineers and conductors: Vote NO on sellout White House-brokered contracts! For rank-and-file oversight of balloting! which stressed the danger of ballot fraud in any election controlled by the union apparatus. It urged Engineers, conductors and workers in other crafts to elect rank-and-file oversight committees, consisting only of trusted co-workers and not union officials, to monitor the balloting.  These committees, they explained, would be tasked with monitoring the vote for evidence fraud, and independently verify the following concerns:

How many workers have voted? How many voted yay or nay?

How many ballots have been sent out? Has every eligible voter been sent a ballot with enough time to return it?

How many ballots were marked as undeliverable, questionable or were otherwise disqualified?

How, where and by whom were the ballots counted?

The serious questions which have already been raised in the engineers and conductors vote show that such mechanisms for rank-and-file oversight are urgently needed.
The police detention of Prof. Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanc, president of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), from her home in Istanbul yesterday is a assault on basic democratic rights. The World Socialist Web Site protests her arbitrary detention and demands her release.

In this Feb. 4, 2022 file photo, Sebnem Korur Fincanci, the head of the Turkish Medical Association, speaks during a protest in Ankara, Turkey. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)

Fincancs detention provoked protests in many cities, including Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakr and Adana yesterday. The TTBs Central Council issued a formal protest, stating: The detention decision, which follows statements by government circles interfering in the judiciary, constitutes the final stage of the pressure that these circles have been increasing against the TTB and all labor and professional organizations for a long time.

It asserted that President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government aims to get the TTB under its control: As a matter of fact, the government has admitted that it will use this agenda created in the public opinion for an amendment in the Law on Professional Organizations.

Last week, Fincanc, a forensic medicine specialist and the elected leader of the TTB, whose membership includes over 100,000 doctors, told Medya Haber of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in its ongoing operation against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) forces in Iraqi Kurdistan. On October 18, the pro-PKK Frat News Agency (ANF) published footage of two PKK militants allegedly exposed to chemical weapons by the Turkish army.

In an interview with Medya Haber, Fincanc stated that she had watched the footage, adding: Obviously, one of the toxic-poisonous chemical gases that directly affects the nervous system have been used. Although its use is forbidden, we see that it is used in conflicts.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutors Office took immediate action on the instructions of the Erdogan government to investigate Fincanc. In a statement, it said that the investigation was opened on charges of ... making propaganda for a terrorist organization and ... insulting the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the State due to her statements to the so-called media organ of the PKK/YPG armed terrorist organization. It also demanded that Fincanc be dismissed as TTB president.

Speaking to bianet on the same day, Fincanc criticized Medya Haber, stating: I criticize the way my statements were presented; it was irresponsible reporting.  I stated that these involuntary movements could occur with the effect of a chemical getting hold of the nervous system and that an effective investigation should be carried out in relation to this if there were allegations that a chemical had been used.

Fincanc continued: I stated that if there was death, it was necessary to make a medical investigation according to the Minnesota Protocol and that it is compulsory that the investigation should be carried out by independent institutions since this is considered as a war crime in the scope of the Geneva Convention. However, the presentation of the news was indicating that I had proven this incident, so it was not reflected very correctly.

Opening an investigation to the one who is saying an investigation should be made gives the impression of concealing a crime, she said. However, Fincanc has been targeted by the government and bourgeois media, despite the absence of any criminal offense, and was detained yesterday after her house was raided, even though she had previously declared her readiness to testify.

The TTB have organized numerous nationwide strikes for better wages and conditions this year. Moreover, Fincanc and the TTB have also been in the governments crosshairs due to its opposition to the governments concealment and manipulation of pandemic data.

Until recently, the TTB opposed Erdogans herd immunity policies that put profit before human life. Fincanc also drew attention to this in the interview, saying: We were also criminalized as a professional organization during the pandemic process when we said, your data and the data we compiled from the field do not coincide. Human rights defenders are constantly criminalized. So it is not surprising that an investigation was opened ...

On October 18, the Kurdish nationalist Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) brought the alleged use of chemical weapons before parliament and demanded an investigation. But the Defense Ministry rapidly denied the allegations. There are no chemical weapons in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday. We respect the borders and sovereign rights of all our neighbors, especially Iraq and Syria, Akar claimed in the same speech.

In reality, both the Syrian and Iraqi governments are demanding that Turkey withdraw its armed forces from their territory.

On the same day, Erdogan said his government will pursue Fincanc, declaring, My friends immediately filed lawsuits [against her] and we will definitely not let this go. We will go after her by opening both compensation and severe criminal cases. Our Armed Forces have never had any negligence such as using chemical weapons.

Remarkably, Erdogan also claimed these allegations were slanders of communists, stating: This is not the first time they are making these slanders. They are impudent, they are immoral. This is the mud they always throw at our army. They think that if they throw mud, it will leave a trace. This [slandering] is the most important motto of communism and communists. Since these are their remnants, they will always throw such slanders. And we will hold them to account for it within the law, whatever it takes.

On Sunday, Devlet Bahceli, the head of the MHP, the fascistic ally of the Erdogan government, called Fincanci a terrorist and a criminal. He said, Anyone who clings to the slanders of the separatist terrorist organization PKK and accuses honorable Turkish soldiers is a terrorist, dishonorable, traitor and criminal. On Tuesday, Bahceli also called to close the TTB and strip Fincanci of Turkish citizenship.

TTB was also targeted by Erdogan at the beginning of 2018. Eleven members of the TTBs central council were detained for issuing a statement opposing the war, titled War is a Matter of Public Health, after Ankaras invasion in northern Syria against the US-backed, Kurdish-nationalist Peoples Protection Units (YPG) around Afrin. Prior to these detentions, Erdogan had declared them traitors and terrorist lovers.

In Iraq, where allegations of the use of chemical weapons have been raised, the Turkish army has been conducting military operations code-named Claw against the PKK since 2019. After the 'Claw Lock operation began this April, the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government blamed Turkey for a bombardment in July that killed many civilians. Ankara denied the allegation, however, implicitly blaming the attack on the PKK.

The detention of the TTBs president comes as the government steps up attacks on democratic rights amid growing social discontent with the cost of living. Amid ongoing military operations in Iraq and Syria and growing tensions with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish government is promoting militarism to suppress and divert class tensions.

Moreover, a so-called censorship bill openly targeting all kinds of political and social opposition was recently passed into law. It asserts that publicly disseminating untrue information on social media about the countrys internal and external security, public order and public health in order to create fear and panic among the public in a way that is conducive to disrupting public peace will be punishable by one to three years in prison.

The day before Fincanc's detention, nine Kurdish journalists working for the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) and JINNEWS were detained. The Ankara Security Directorate shared footage of the journalists being taken into custody in handcuffs, claiming that the journalists were operating under the press committee of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and that they were reporting on content that incites hatred and hostility among the public. Last June, 16 journalists were arrested in another antidemocratic police operation against the Kurdish press. They are still being held in prison without charge.

The increasing attacks on freedom of expression, press freedom and arbitrary detentions underline once again that democratic rights cannot be defended without opposing war. This requires mobilizing the working class, the only social force that is capable of defending democratic rights, on the basis of an international anti-war and socialist program.
Two women with different experiences and approaches are candidates for commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, also known as state labor commissioner.

If Christina Stephenson is elected Nov. 8, she would be the first person in the role in nearly 50 years without having held public office beforehand. She did run for the Oregon House in 2020 but lost a four-way Democratic primary for an open seat in Northwest Portland and unincorporated Washington County.

Stephenson, 38, is a partner in her own Portland law firm that specializes in civil rights  and one of the bureau's main functions is to enforce civil rights laws.

"Regardless of political experience, I think experience with this agency is the most important characteristic I bring to the race," she said.

If Cheri Helt is elected, she would continue a trend of officeholders leading the bureau. She was the successor to Republican Knute Buehler in the Oregon House  she lost to Democrat Jason Kropf in 2020  and spent most of the previous decade on the Bend-La Pine School Board.

Helt, 52, has been a restaurant owner for the past 18 years.

"This position is the power of one," she said. "It is so important that anyone who holds this position knows and has experience working with others. She has never been elected."

In addition to civil rights, the bureau enforces Oregon's wage and hour laws and oversees apprenticeships.

The incumbent is Val Hoyle of Springfield, a former legislator who is seeking the open 4th District seat in the U.S. House.

Of the five most recent commissioners, all of whom have endorsed Stephenson, four had been Democratic legislators and the fifth was Republican Jack Roberts, who was a nonpartisan Lane County commissioner when he unseated 16-year Democratic incumbent Mary Wendy Roberts (no relation) in 1994.

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The Legislature made the office nonpartisan in 1995, although it did not abolish it as an elected office, as Jack Roberts once proposed.

Both candidates say they want the office to remain elected.

Helt has endorsements from two of the three major candidates for governor  Republican Christine Drazan and nonaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson  based on a theme of change.

Stephenson has endorsements from the Oregon AFL-CIO labor federation and major unions.

What, but not how

Both candidates agree on what the next commissioner should concentrate on, but not necessarily how it should be done.

Stephenson said she is well aware of the backlog of civil rights complaints, which by law the bureau has one year to investigate and recommend action.

"We're seeing a lot of them finishing on day 364, and sometimes, they're not getting completed at all," she said. "We know this backlog has been a perennial issue at the bureau, going back to previous commissioners. The work of this agency is never done, and there is always room for improvement."

But Stephenson said the bureau got a 30% increase in its 2021-23 budget from the tax-supported general fund, and there are other steps she can take to help businesses comply with state laws and regulations, particularly technical assistance.

"This is not an agency that creates new laws or policies; it enforces existing laws," she said. "I think it is important to have that background. A lot of people can think about ways it might be improved, but my experience is with the nuts and bolts in effectuating those changes."

Helt would rely on her small-business experience to help businesses navigate the web of laws and regulations  and she said they deserve a break from so many changes, although not all of them can be attributed to the bureau.

As for the backlog of civil rights complaints, Held said: "We're not even getting them assigned. I think that's a pretty low bar, because when it's assigned, then you have someone you can communicate with while you are working through your case."

Helt also said she wants the bureau to do more to promote apprenticeships and connect them with public schools, based on her school board experience.

"I chose to run for this (office) on purpose. I think this agency can make the largest opportunities for Oregonians," she said. "BOLI needs a leader, not a lawyer, for its commissioner."

But a previous commissioner, Brad Avakian, ran into a political buzzsaw at the Legislature more than a decade ago, when he proposed a larger role for the bureau in career and technical education over the opposition of public schools and community colleges.

Under the Future Ready Oregon plan proposed by outgoing Gov. Kate Brown and approved by the Legislature earlier this year, the bureau is scheduled to get $20 million for pre-apprenticeship programs focused on construction, health care and manufacturing.

The state has had long experience with building and construction trades. Stephenson said the new money will enable the bureau to expand its outreach to the other fields and set up new school-to-career pathways.

No other office

Both candidates say they have no plans to seek other office, unlike recent commissioners. Mary Wendy Roberts ran for secretary of state in 1992. Jack Roberts ran for governor in 2002. Dan Gardner considered a bid for Congress before he accepted a national union position in 2006. Avakian ran for the 1st District congressional seat in a 2011 special election, and for secretary of state in 2016.

Helt: "You fix what you can, put things in place, and then it's time for someone else to come in and put their ideas in."

Stephenson: "I think the agency needs stability. From what I have heard from others, it takes a couple of years to get to know things."

Related stories:
Notifications of various safeguard (SG) actions received since the committee's April 2022 meeting covering 19 products were reviewed and a number of general issues were raised at the 24 October meeting, which was chaired by Ms Maryam A. Aldoseri (Bahrain).

China, Japan and Australia reiterated their general concern regarding the way this instrument was used, including concerns on the timeliness of notifications, the effect of existing safeguard measures on trade, and the numerous extensions of measures.

Under WTO rules, a member may apply measures to imports of a product temporarily (take safeguard actions) through higher tariffs or other measures if it determines through an investigation that increased imports of a product are causing or threatening to cause serious injury to its domestic industry. Unlike anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures cover imports from all sources, although imports from developing country members with a small share of imports are exempted through special and differential treatment provisions.

Review of legislative notifications

The committee reviewed notifications of new or amended SG legislation or regulations from Brazil, Canada, Djibouti, Liberia, Myanmar and the United Kingdom, and continued its review of the legislative notifications from Cameroon, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

Specific notification of safeguard actions

Notifications of various safeguard actions from the following members were reviewed by the committee: the European Union; India; Indonesia (five investigations); Madagascar; Morocco (two investigations); the Philippines; South Africa; Tunisia; Turkiye; Ukraine (three investigations); the United Kingdom; and the United States.

Eight members took the floor in respect of the latest status of the European Union's safeguard measure on certain steel products.

Five members took the floor in respect of the United Kingdom's latest status of its safeguard measure on certain steel products.

Ukraine notified the committee that three safeguard investigations had been terminated, with a main reason being the inability of domestic producers to participate, as they were situated in the area occupied by Russia, or were under attack by Russia. Nine members took the floor to thank Ukraine for its efforts to notify, and condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine. Russia contested Ukraine's explanations and the other members' statements which it considered to be outside the WTO's mandate.

Two specific agenda items requested by Japan were on the agenda, both raising concerns regarding safeguard measures imposed by Indonesia, one on carpet products, and the other on articles of apparel and clothing accessories.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee on Safeguards is provisionally scheduled for the week of 1 May 2023.

More background on safeguards is available here.
Benton Countys executive board took the unusual step of firing a volunteer adviser, voting 2-1 Tuesday, Oct. 25 to remove a delegate from its landfill task force.

Nancy Whitcombe, who also sits on the Benton County Planning Commission, is no longer a part of the 19-member task force. She was one of two commission delegates. The move prompted her to resign from land use body.

Known as Benton County Talks Trash, the advisory group began meeting in September to figure out what will become of solid waste after the county Planning Commission in December shot down operator Republic Services request to expand the dump across Coffin Butte Road.

Background

Officials with the Phoenix-based company have said it needs to expand the regional landfill because the current site will reach maximum capacity in approximately four years. The adjacent Knife River quarry will not be available to accept waste for perhaps another eight to 10 years.

The quarry, Republic officials said, has a potential disposal lifespan of 15 years. In all, Republic said, approval of the permit as originally proposed would have added 30 years of life to the landfill.

Coffin Butte is a regional landfill designed to primarily serve Benton, Linn, Lane, Lincoln, Polk and Marion counties. Approximately 70% of the trash comes from those six counties, with about 12% from Benton and 15% from Linn. About 30% of the trash comes from elsewhere, mainly the Portland area.

Those numbers have irked some in the community, who have been resentful that Benton County has to bear the environmental brunt of hosting a landfill.

In response the county formed the task force and hired a contractor, facilitator Sam Imperati, to oversee it.

Rude exchanges?

Imperati said the group has run into more pushback from task force members between meetings as it prepares to recommend how the county should move ahead on proposed expansions to Coffin Butte.

He said the communication between meetings has been more intense, more frequent, and more conflictual than any other process hes been in.

Commissioners debated whether removing workgroup members would help smooth out the process that is now over budget and potentially falling behind schedule.

What is not OK is being beyond rude to our staff. Being abusive to our staff. Im not going to put up with it, Commissioner Nancy Wyse said.

We continue to get emails that are combative, Wyse said.

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Wyse and Commissioner Pat Malone voted to remove Whitcombe from the workgroup. Xan Augerot voted against.

County commissioners on Tuesday also approved an extended timeline and budget  another $90,000  that potentially more than doubles what it originally had awarded Imperatis ICMResolutions, $63,250.

ICMResolutions had spent $62,176 by Oct. 18 with the workgroups report to commissioners due Dec. 15. Now that deadline has been extended to accommodate 15 new subcommittee meetings to the workgroup timeline, extending the process 19 weeks to March 3.

Whitcombe reacts

Whitcombe said she had sought clarity from Imperati in a process she described as disorganized.

She said she was relieved at the commissioners decision.

This has been a difficult process and it was hard to tell what the intent even was, Whitcombe said.

Whitcombe served on the countys planning commission, where she brought years of experience as an architect and previous experience from a similar commission.

She said she resigned from the commission after her removal from the garbage workgroup.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the countys webpage no longer listed Whitcombe as a planning commissioner.







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Forget tents. In Albany, many unhoused people live out of their cars.

They used to park near shelters and stores, but some have had to adopt more creative ways to set up camp now that much of the city, including commercial areas, have restricted parking areas.

Earlier this year, the City Council created a parking district near Albany Helping Hands shelter, meaning only those with permits can park on city streets.

With limitations on commercial parking and other street parking, some are staying on the outskirts of the city and taking shelter near highway rest stops.

Here are three of their stories.

Steve

Sixty-five-year-old Steve Marshall has lived in Albany almost all his life, but for the past year has been living in his car. A wooden cabinet holds canned goods. Mugs and lamps dangle above his sleeping quarters on his back seat.

Marshall made the wooden shelving himself, he said. Marshall said he knows how to make do, and that there are people far worse off than he is.

A few pillows are sprawled over a blanket as a small dog waits for Marshall to close up for the night.

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People dont want to be homeless, he said. Theyre just trying to survive.

Marshall wears a blue polo shirt and gingerly pets his dog while leaning on the side of his car. He wishes there werent so much judgment toward unhoused people.

Marshall worked as a truck driver up until an accident injured his back, he said. Some days its difficult for him to move about. He volunteers at the gleaners in exchange for food.

For a while, he had a house in Sweet Home, but the rent was too high. He then moved into an RV park in Albany before making the transition to living in his car, he said.

Marshall said its difficult to find a place to stay in Albany. He has a Section 8 voucher, the federal governments assistance program for very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled, but he said its not easy finding a place that has availability and accepts the vouchers.

Many landlords who welcome the vouchers also require his monthly income be three times the rent. Thats limiting Marshalls options even more, he said.

In the meantime, he said, its difficult to stay in the city in his car.

We cant stay at Walmart anymore, Marshall said about new rules that prohibit overnight parking in the lot.

So, Marshall has been staying at a highway rest stop outside of Albany. His family doesnt know he is living out of his car, he said.

He may have to head south if it gets too cold, Marshall added.

Brent

Having to pick up and move at a moments notice is common, said Brent Montgomery, who is also experiencing homelessness. He said many people will leave the rest stops when they see police.

A lot of us live in our cars and are honest people looking for sanctuary, he said.

Montgomery is a disabled veteran originally from Washington. He said he uses his disability checks to pay off his loans and pay for basic needs, but it isnt enough to get him out of his car.

He believes unhoused people living in their cars can be valuable assets because they see a lot of things happen and can watch over businesses and streets, Montgomery said.

For example, Montgomery has tipped off local news stations to potential crimes other people wouldnt have noticed because its those who are living in their cars who are up at odd hours of the night, he said.

He said hes just one of many living out of his car, but hes trying to make the best of it.

David

David Moore lived in Albany most of his life.

He went to West Albany High School and worked as a land surveyor in Albany. But for the last year he has been living out of his white van with his dog, Sophia.

Moore lost his house after losing his land surveying license, he said. He said he fell behind on child support, and that is part of the reason he is unhoused.

I almost never know where Ill end up tomorrow, Moore said. But for now, hes at an Interstate 5 rest stop, along with other Albany residents who have fallen into homelessness.

The Albany City Council does have some new money to spend helping the homeless, $1 million from the state, but at its last meeting, Oct. 12, councilors couldnt agree how to best spend it. The topic was expected to be revisited at the Wednesday, Oct. 26 meeting.

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Incumbent Wayne Rieskamp will not be challenged for his Ward 1 City Council seat in the Nov. 8 general election, not because he doesn't have any opponents but because he dropped out.

Rieskamp did file to run for Lebanon City Council but withdrew, ending an about decadelong career in Lebanon politics.

That leaves the race open for either a Hillsboro transplant, Tami Cockeram, who has thrown herself into volunteer work with unhoused populations, and corrections officer Carl Mann, whose stump shares some of the keep-Lebanon-small messaging of his conservative political action committee-backed ticket mates.

(Editor's note: Mann did not return multiple messages by email, phone and text seeking comment before deadline. As a result, Mid-Valley Media will be unable to profile him.)

Cockeram couldnt get away from big-city problems when she moved to Lebanon in 2020.

The former Hillsboro city employee recognized in her new home much of the portfolio work from her last.

It was affordable housing. It was homelessness. It was (funding community development). It was all the things that the city is really struggling with and needs to address, Cockeram said.

Cockeram said she moved to the Portland metro in 1981. I watched that city blossom into a beautiful city. At the time, it was 250,000 people. And then I watched it just deteriorate.

She said Hillsboro succeeded in keeping up with flattened wages and a housing crisis where neighboring Portland failed. Her work in Hillsboro took her into the wooded fringes of the city.

Advocating for people without housing to get a job or get a place to live did not work, Cockeram said.

For even the most motivated individual, if theyve been out there a year getting into housing is nearly impossible, she said.

Locally, she wants to convene Linn County Mental Health, nonprofit advocacy groups, the faith community  any group that is already skilled in helping the populations in Lebanon who are unhoused.

She said Lebanon would wield a lever in grant funding or contracting: Organizations would have to prove they're following through with housing to get their money.

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Soon after moving to Lebanon, Cockeram participated in local counts of people who are unhoused. She said Lebanon is going to have to bring in mental health and addiction treatment to manage its unhoused residents.

The city has a community services consortium, she said. But it needs to expand to include someone intimately familiar with addiction treatment.

And the city had assigned a police officer to respond to crises in unhoused populations.

Cockeram said Lebanon should not budget for law enforcement officers to do the jobs of social and case workers.

On development, Cockeram said the city will have to consider projects where first-time owners can build equity in cottages, or houses on land owned by a trust.

The city has a role in working with developers, Cockeram said.

Cockeram said she wants to see more voices in City Council meetings.

As someone who had done diversity work for Hillsboro, she read with interest that Lebanon's strategic plan says it is an inclusive community.

I was wondering, well, are we an inclusive community? Cockeram said.

She said she connected with Lebanon Downtown Association Manager Cassie Cruze. Volunteers sat at a table asking Lebanon about inclusivity and diversity. Cockeram said she found Lebanon wasnt having conversations about the makeup of its people.

A lot of fear. We had a lot of young people show up that didnt want to go to the high school anymore because they were being bullied  because of how they identified, Cockeram said.

She said those at the tables received reproachful looks.

But we didnt have anyone come and argue with us. So, I felt like this community is ready for this conversation.

Cockeram ended up one of the organizers of the local Pride event who sought outgoing Mayor Paul Aziz's signature on a proclamation supporting June as Pride month. When he refused, she helped draft a declaration asking the mayor to recognize people who fought laws and policing that discriminated against sexuality and the need for diversity and inclusion in Lebanon.

Aziz then decided to no longer approve any declarations.
The U.S. military over the weekend struck members of al-Shabaab in Somalia as the terrorist group was attacking Somali National Army forces, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.

U.S. Africa Command said the strike occurred near Buulobarde, about 218 kilometers north-northwest of Mogadishu, on Oct. 23. The command initially assessed that it killed two attacking al-Shabaab terrorists, according to a statement.

The command said no civilians were injured or killed in the strike.

The U.S. operation is the latest in Somalia after a similar airstrike on Oct. 1, when American forces struck and killed top al-Shabaab leader Abdullahi Nadir.

And last month, Africom claimed it killed 27 al-Shabaab terrorists who were attacking Somali forces on Sept. 18.

About 500 U.S. service members are in Somali to help train, advise and equip partner forces following President Bidens May announcement that the American troops would be redeployed to Somalia, an effort to counter the terrorist group.

Bidens order reversed that of former President Trump, who decided to withdraw all U.S. forces from the country in 2020.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Railyard apartment project  planned for Sycamore Street, near Prairie Street, in Southeast Denton  will bring five three-story buildings with about 320 units and 448 parking spaces to about 9 acres near Oakwood Cemetery.

Southeast Denton Neighborhood Association members filled the backroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center on Monday, expecting someone from Lang Sycamore LLC to show up and discuss their plans for filling a nearby vacant lot on Sycamore Street.

Lang Partners, a Dallas real estate investment firm, partnered with KK OUDT Family Investments, KM Johnson Family Investments and Lowrance Investments from the same address in Fort Worth to form Lang Sycamore and build a luxury apartment complex with a plaza, a view of downtown Denton and more than 300 units  which people gathered at Mondays meeting have said would be out of their price range.

The Railyard project will bring five three-story-high buildings with about 320 units and 448 parking spaces on about 9 acres of land near Oakwood Cemetery.

Hows that going to help us? SEDNA President Colette Johnson asked at a meeting in late September. High-priced apartments that nobody can afford. How is that going to help us? Were going to talk to that developer and see if theres something else that can be done. We feel the need that they should have to come talk to us.

That developer, Lang Sycamore, didnt seem to feel that same need: No one representing the developer showed up to the Monday night meeting despite previously agreeing to do so.

Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth seemed disappointed that the developer called to cancel due to a scheduling conflict. He also didnt understand why Aimee Bissett  the former director of the citys Development Services Department who is now coordinating the project for the developer  didnt attend to speak with the neighborhood group since she has an office nearby.

She knows enough that she could have been here, Hudspeth told the packed room.

Last month, the Rev. Reginald Logan told the Denton Record-Chronicle that SEDNA members have been known to get loud in the past and descend on City Hall. He said that was probably why representatives from Lang Sycamore had agreed to meet with SEDNA. That could have also been why several Denton police officers were lingering at the back of the meeting Monday.

None of the SEDNA members had been aware of the Railyard Phase 1 project, which received preliminary plat approval in June. Vicki Byrd, also a Denton City Council member, didnt seem to know; she had to contact staff to learn more about the project. SEDNA members were looking forward to discussing the possibility of a community benefits agreement with the investment firms.

In an Oct. 14 op-ed essay for the Record-Chronicle, former City Council member Paul Meltzer pointed out that community benefits agreements for a development could include benefits such as guaranteed minimum local hiring and percentages of affordable housing units, offering the neighborhood some direct benefit from the development to receive their support for the project.

When development threatens a neighborhood, a community benefits agreement, or CBA, can be the jiujitsu move that flips the energy and makes the project work for the neighborhood instead, Meltzer wrote in the op-ed.

Meltzer suggested that the city could play a role in establishing a community benefits ordinance, which would require developers to negotiate CBAs wherever new projects will impact existing neighborhoods.

SEDNA members learned more about such agreements from recent screenings of Alice Street, a documentary about a California neighborhood facing gentrification  similar to what SEDNA is facing now and had faced 100 years ago with Quakertown. Members were hopeful that some kind of concessions could be arranged between the real estate investors and the neighborhood.

As one member said: And be a good neighbor.

The Dallas and Fort Worth investment firms decided to be the no-show kind of neighbor Monday.

City employees from Development Services were at the meeting, however, to give a presentation about how planning and zoning works. They used the Railyard Phase 1 apartment project as an example. Because it meets the zoning requirement for the area, no public hearing was needed. If it hadnt met the requirements or needed a special-use permit, then one would have been required.

The property was previously zoned as a heavy industrial district, but the City Council changed it in 2002 to downtown commercial general. In 2019 it was updated to the MN zoning designation, which allows multifamily uses like apartments.

Generally speaking, if a use is permitted by right within a zoning that council has approved, the permitted uses are not expected to have significant fiscal impact as they have been determined to be appropriate in that area, said Stuart Birdseye, a city spokesperson.

But the city doesnt do a study on neighborhoods to determine how the zoning change would impact it. Officials do send notices to those within 200 and 500 feet of the development, but most of the residents within that 500 feet circle around Railyard Phase 1 are buried in the graveyard next to it.

None of the residents at the SEDNA meeting seemed aware that the city had made the zoning change in 2002 or understood what that change meant until they discovered that a high-end apartment complex would be appearing in their community.

Thats what Ive been trying to tell people, said Donald McDade, the Planning & Zoning Commission member from Southeast Denton.

The idea of community benefits agreements between developers and neighborhoods has become a hot topic among Denton neighborhoods, one resident from the Denia neighborhood told residents at the meeting.

McDade agreed that it is a hot topic and said, Its not going away.

Tina Firgens, deputy director of Development Services, told SEDNA members they were looking into it and had to make sure that such agreements are allowed under state law.

Randy Hunt from Historic Denton explained to Firgens how a community benefits agreement works with developers and offered an example of what Byrd had done with an apartment project on Woodrow Lane, where she worked with the developers to offer concessions to the neighborhood such as some affordable units.

This doesnt have to be controlled by the city, Hunt said. This is something that is done by the community and the developer. Dont you discount that.

At the late September SEDNA meeting, Hudspeth told those gathered that he would make sure SEDNA would have a presentation at the late October meeting. Instead, those attending discovered that the project will be appearing in front of Planning & Zoning at the Wednesday night meeting. Yet, since its by right, as Development Services pointed out, due to the 2002 zoning change, there isnt much SEDNA can do about it.
One day after an Amazon driver in Missouri died of an apparent dog attack , some workers are accusing the company of sending an ill-timed, tone-deaf message in light of the incident. On Wednesday, Vice News reported that some drivers received a Dog Awareness message following Tuesdays incident. The advisory refers to dogs as our four-legged customers and Fido, seemingly downplaying the danger some canines can present to delivery workers.

We want to help ensure you arent surprised by our four-legged customers when on route, so be sure to check the Amazon Delivery App for the paw print icon in the Delivery Notes indicating you should be aware of a dog at this stop,'" the message reportedly states. If we know Fido is nearby, well add the paw print to give you a heads up. As always, contact the customer to help you with the pet, or Driver Support in the Delivery App if you cant reach the customer.

Amazon message

Amazon did not immediately respond to Engadgets request for clarification if the advisory was sent in response to the attack and whether it was drafted after the incident had already occured. On Tuesday, the company told Vice it was working with police to investigate the death. Were deeply saddened by tonights tragic incident involving a member of our Amazon family and will be providing support to the team and the drivers loved ones, the company said.

The death of one of their colleagues to a likely dog attack has become one of the most popular topics of conversation among driver groups and subreddits. In one thread spotted by Vice, some drivers called for a walkout on October 31st. Amazons response to this has been nothing short of insulting, says one respondent.
In January 2021, a California man was sentenced to two life terms for the murder of his parents, leaving his sister devastated, but now, the case has taken a turn after an appeals court decided to overturn his conviction and remand the case for a new trial.

Prior to this development, "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reported on the case in "A Sister's Fight for her Brother."

When Brandon Pettit, now 35 years old, was arrested in August 2013 for the murders of his parents in Modesto, California, there was no physical evidence directly tying him to the crime. Instead, police and prosecutors based their case on things the then-25-year-old Pettit had said and done shortly before and after the murders, including statements he made to police in a videotaped interview prior to his arrest. Now, more than two years after his conviction, a California appeals court has ruled that those statements Pettit made during that police interview should not have been admitted at his trial because police should have read him his Miranda rights.

In a 44-page decision issued last week, the Court of Appeal of California remanded the case for a retrial, writing, "We conclude based on all the relevant factors, particularly the nature of the questioning, a reasonable person in [Pettit's] position would not have felt free to terminate the interview and leave, and therefore the interview was custodial. Accordingly, [Pettit's] statements were taken in violation of Miranda and were inadmissible to prove guilt." The court further found that the statements in question were harmful to Pettit's defense.

In September 2020, Brandon Pettit was found guilty of the murder of his parents. He was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole. / Credit: CBS News

The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. Under California law, they have 40 days to file a petition with the state Supreme Court to seek review of the appeals court's decision. Independent of that, the state Supreme Court has 60 days to act on the case on its own. If the decision by the appeals court stands, the case will be remanded for a retrial, and the district attorney's office has said they plan to retry the case

Scott and Janet Pettit, both 59, were found dead in their Modesto home in the early hours of August 8, 2013, by firefighters who were called to the scene on reports of flames shooting out of a bedroom window. Investigators quickly discovered the fire was no accident. Scott and Janet Pettit had been shot  a total of seven times  and accelerant was found scattered throughout their bedroom.

Scott and Janet Pettit / Credit: Lauren Pettit

Just over a week after the murders, police announced the arrest of the Pettits' only son, Brandon, and someone police described as Brandon Pettit's friend, Felix Valverde, who was 26 at the time. At trial, the prosecution's theory was that Brandon Pettit had paid Valverde to commit the murders because, they argued, Pettit was after his parents' money and specifically, his dad's prized 1961 Corvette. But Pettit's defense at trial suggested that Valverde was the sole perpetrator of the murders. Lauren Pettit, Brandon Pettit's only sibling and his biggest supporter, testified in his defense and said her brother loved their parents. She also poked holes in the alleged financial motive, telling the jury that their parents were in debt at the time of their death and that the Corvette that her brother was alleged to have wanted was already partially in his name. A clinical psychologist also testified on Brandon Pettit's behalf. The psychologist said Brandon Pettit had Asperger's and explained how that could have contributed to questionable statements and behavior he exhibited before and after the murders, including during his interview with police.

Felix Valverde has pleaded not guilty. He was set to be tried alongside Pettit, but shortly before the trial, a judge found him incompetent to stand trial. He was placed in psychiatric treatment to determine whether his competency could be restored and this past August he was found competent. Court records indicate his trial is now scheduled to begin in February 2023.

Prior to Brandon Pettit's trial, Pettit's defense attorney had sought access to Valverde's competency records to see if they contained any exculpatory evidence. A judge denied the request at the time, but as part of their ruling last week, the appeals court found that the judge should have conducted a review of the records before ruling on the defense's request.

Brandon Pettit is currently incarcerated in a California state prison. If the appeals court's decision stands, he would be transferred back to a local jail where he could seek bail pending the new trial.

Pathogen X | Sunday on 60 Minutes

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Marking a decade since Superstorm Sandy
More guility pleas were entered into court this month and last month in cases of former Fort Bragg employees and vendors accused of embezzling funds through government contracts.

A Fayetteville man was found guilty by a Cumberland County jury Wednesday in the killing of a woman who had previously filed a sexual assault charge against him.

After beginning deliberations about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the verdict was returned about 10 a.m. Wednesday, finding Charles Cottingham, 38, guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Kristin Lee Stone, 19, of Greenville. The trial began Oct. 10. Cottingham was sentenced to life in prison.

Stone's nude body was found snagged in a tree and with a zip tie around her left wrist in the Cape Fear River off Carvers Falls Road shortly before 6 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2017, according to court documents. She had been reported missing to the Greenville Police Department by her sister two days before her body was discovered. The record states she was last seen at a hotel in Greenville on Aug. 7, 2017. Investigators discovered Stone had advertised "escort services" online, the documents stated. A search warrant in Cottingham's case said he had previously "sought companionship and sexual services" through the Internet.

Investigators first connected Cottingham to her killing when Stone's stepfather sent them a copy of Cottingham's indictment in a May 2016 case involving Stone, according to court documents. Cottingham had been charged with second-degree kidnapping and first-degree forcible sex after allegedly forcing Stone to perform sex acts on him while threatening her with an airsoft gun in a Hoke County parking lot. Cottingham had picked her up from a Fayetteville motel off Owen Drive.

Related:Hope Mills man charged in Hoke County with forcing woman into sex act

Related: 100 miles from home, dead in the Cape Fear River

"Further investigation by HCSO investigators revealed a similar incident in 2004 in Anchorage, Alaska, by Cottingham while he was stationed there with the United States Air Force," a search warrant in Cottingham's case said. "The victim in the case reported that Cottingham solicited her for sexual acts and paid her prior to performing the agreed sexual acts. Upon completion of the sexual activity, Cottingham produced a knife and demanded money. Cottingham then choked the victim who later awakened on the side of the road and Cottingham was gone."

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Cottingham was found guilty in the Anchorage assault and was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with seven of those years suspended, and 10 years of probation, according to court documents.

Cottingham was also connected to Stone's murder by surveillance cameras from the Greenville Econo Lodge where Stone was last seen that captured images of Stone getting into a vehicle later tied to Cottingham, according to court documents.

Related:Fayetteville man charged with murder

Related:Death of woman found in Cape Fear River undetermined

Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville man sentenced for slaying of Greenville woman in Cape Fear
Food for Thought Pantry at Florida State University.

Student body presidents from public universities across the state proposed a food insecurity grant in this years legislative session that failed to pass.

The setback didnt stop the group from trying again as they recharge for the 2023 legislative session.

As members of the Florida Student Association, the board of student presidents, from each of the State University System of Florida institutions, are working on reintroducing the Hunger Free Campus Grant, which would provide the universities with funding to take steps toward alleviating food insecurity on their campuses.

I think its terrible when a students priorities are not how theyre doing in class or how they can prepare to graduate but is instead how they will put food on the table, FSU Student Body President Nimna Gabadage said. That should never be the number one thing on a students mind at a public university.

Nimna Gabadage is FSUs student body president, a member of the FSU Board of Trustees and chair of the Florida Student Association.

Gabadage is also chair of the Florida Student Association and is a member of the Florida Board of Governors, which allowed him to bring up the issue to the board during a September meeting.

I think food insecurity is something that isnt talked about a whole lot because it's hard for the average student to bring that to an administrative level, Gabadage said. This is why I wanted to come in to publicize the issue and make it something that people are aware of. Its something thats been longstanding.

Food insecurity is defined as the lack of regular access to nutritious food to maintain a healthy life.

Nearly 30% of students at four-year colleges experienced food insecurity in fall 2020, according to U.S. News and World Report. Nationwide, 34% of students say they know someone who has dropped out of college because they can't afford to buy food.

Each year, the Florida Student Association chooses what its legislative priority should be. While the top issues last year were telecounseling, Title IX protections and Bright Futures, the main concern this year is food insecurity.

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Before the school year started, an open discussion between the student presidents about the concerns they've heard from students at their universities showed that the number one issue was students struggling to find affordable food options on campus.

More on student initiatives: 'Giving pain purpose': FSU student-led initiative brings awareness to sudden cardiac arrest

Hunger Free Campus Grant background

If passed during session, the Hunger Free Campus Grant would have been established through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

It would require Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried to annually label eligible public campuses as Hunger-Free Campuses, which is a designation based on eligibility requirements that universities would need to meet such as having an established team that monitors nutrition compliance. The goal of highlighting the universities is to encourage them to play an active role in reducing food insecurity.

The initiative would also require grants to be awarded to colleges that have one or more campuses designated as a Hunger-Free Campus while prioritizing the money to colleges with the highest percentages of eligible Pell Grant recipients enrolled in their student body.

While FSU has 8,307 eligible Pell Grant students out of its fall enrollment of about 45,000 students, FAMU has 4,161 who are eligible out of the 9,027 who are enrolled, according to a spokesperson for the State University System.

Other FSU, FAMU news:

Zachary Bell listens as Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson speak during a FAMU Board of Trustees meeting in the Grand Ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

FAMU Student Body President Zachary Bell expressed the importance of students being provided with as much help as possible to be successful in the classroom.

FAMU is a growing institution with more and more students enrolling every year. Coming into FAMU, students should be met with enough resources not only at school, but also in the Tallahassee community, Bell said, referring to how the south side of Tallahassee in the FAMU area only has one grocery store, which is Piggly Wiggly on South Monroe Street.

The university has a free food pantry on campus, which partners with Second Harvest, Publix Super Market, Publix GreenWise Market and Panera Bread.

Food pantry at Florida A&M University.

Weve always seen food insecurity as a health issue, so we try to do our part to make sure we have resources available for students who need them, FAMU Student Health Services Director Tanya Tatum said.

Last year the pantry served almost 2,000 students and distributed more than 25,000 pounds of food, Tatum said. Since the start of the fall semester, it has served more than 800 students.

At FSU, the Food for Thought Pantry, which is also free, has been operating since 2009 and includes dairy products, fresh produce and dry pantry staples, such as rice and mac and cheese. It serves about 40 to 100 students a day and served over 400 students in the first two weeks of the fall semester, according to Case Manager Haley Gentile.

My hope is that we can help make students days a little easier so that they can focus on their grades, extracurriculars and the reason they came to FSU, Gentile said.

More on FSU resources: A long time coming: FSU establishes EBT terminals on campus to accept SNAP benefits

Vice President of Student Affairs Amy Hecht (left) stands next to Case Manager Haley Gentile (right) in FSU's Food for Thought Pantry.

How students will advocate

The organization Florida PIRG, which works to ensure student voices are heard on issues such as college affordability and ending hunger and homelessness, is partnering with the Florida Student Association.

They plan to advocate for the grant in the months leading up to the legislative session, which will begin April 10.

Our initiatives are focused entirely on building up the student body, getting visibility and awareness around the issue and organizing students to direct their energies toward supporting the grant through social media work or lobbying at the Capitol, said third-year FSU student Andres Cubillos, who is also the external affairs and outreach chair of the FSU Chapter of Florida PIRG.

The students advocacy plans also include organizing a canned food drive that is expected to run during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from Nov. 12-18.

As the college students continue to work on finalizing the details of the grant and how to effectively spread the word, they hope to see positive results after lobbying the Capitol during next years legislative session.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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INFOBOX:

Here is more information on FSUs Food for Thought Pantry:

Days of operation - Monday through Friday

Hours of operation  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location  University Center A, Suite 4148

Here is more information on FAMUs food pantry:

Days of operation  Monday through Friday

Hours of operation  9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location - Student Health Services primary care clinic, in the CASS Building (1735 Wahnish Way)

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Hunger Free Campus Grant reintroduced as colleges fight food insecurity
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photo by Manchester Police Department

Three months before Harmony Montgomerys father was charged in the 5-year-olds murder, her stepmother pointed the finger at her estranged husbandand claimed shed been encouraged to lie to police.

In court documents filed this week in connection with a separate firearms case against Adam Montgomery, prosecutors reveal a June 3 interview they had with his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery. During that interview, Kayla alleged that Montgomery had murdered Harmony in December 2019about two years before she was reported missing in New Hampshire.

Kayla also said that [Adam Montgomery] had encouraged her on multiple occasions to lie to police about Harmonys whereabouts, basically giving Kayla a cover story and telling her that as long as she stuck to the cover story everything would be OK, the motion added.

Dad Accused of Vile Murder and Cover-Up in 5-Year Old Harmony Montgomerys Death

The revelation comes just as the New Hampshire Attorney Generals office on Monday announced Montgomery has been arrested and charged in connection with Harmonys murder. Prosecutors allege that Harmony died after being repeatedly struck in the head with a closed fist on or around Dec. 7, 2019. Afterward, Montgomery allegedly removed, concealed, or destroyed his daughters body.

Montgomery, 32, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to the four counts against him, including second-degree murder and falsifying physical evidence, and will remain in jail. He also faces several other charges, including for allegedly abusing Harmony and stealing guns just weeks before she was killed.

Next month, Montgomery is set to go to trial on the firearms charges, where Kayla is listed as a states witness. Prosecutors allege Montgomery stole two firearms between Sept. 29, 2019, and Oct. 3, 2019, but noted those weapons dont have any connection with Harmonys murder.

Court documents state that Kaylawho is also facing charges for allegedly using Harmonys food-stamp benefits and receiving stolen property in connection with the firearms casetold at least four witnesses about her estranged husbands alleged crime.

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One of those conversations occurred while Kayla was incarcerated at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections. The witness, according to court documents, told police that Kayla talked about them stealing firearms and selling them for drug money.

Harmony Montgomerys Dad Allegedly Stole Guns Just Before She Disappeared

Kayla said they needed money for drugs and taking care of the kids, the court document added. Kayla said she wasnt there when the firearms were taken but it was Adam and a buddy who took them and brought them back to the house when she was home with the kids.

Prosecutors note that Kayla lied to authorities about her knowledge on the firearm theft on two separate occasions. But in June, after she was arrested for perjury for her grand jury testimony, she provided new information about Montgomerys alleged role in the firearm incident and Harmonys death.

Authorities say that Harmony was last seen between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10, 2019, after her dad and Kayla were evicted from their Manchester home. Police were first made aware of Harmonys disappearance when her biological mother, Crystal Sorey, reported her daughter was missing and that she hadnt seen [her] in over six months.

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Jimmy Kimmel had the appropriate response to the ginned up panic over the possibility that powerful narcotics might be slipped into Halloween baskets this year, by reimagining the classic Peanuts Halloween special Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

The gag was part of a larger segment of Kimmels monologue in which he mocked Georgia U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker.

So during his monologue, Kimmel played a recent clip of Walker pushing a conspiracy theory with no real basis in fact that politicians of both parties have unfortunately taken seriously: that cartels will be disguising fentanyl pills as popular Halloween candy. To be clear, this is only the most recent iteration of panics surrounding Halloween candy  and as Newsweek notes, none of them have been true. In fact, there are no recorded instances of a child being killed by Halloween candy tampering. Ever. (Read more about it here.)

Herschels version of the conspiracy theory involves China and Mexico colluding to do this on purpose. Again, there is no evidence to support this and again, none of the previous Halloween candy panics have panned out. So, after the clip played, Kimmel said, very compelling statement about Mexico and China, from a man who couldnt locate Mexico, or China, on a map of only Mexico and China.

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Mehmet Oz says Abortion Should Be Between Women, Doctors and Local Political Leaders During Debate (Video)

Halloween is a scary time for Herschel Walker, because when kids show up at his house hes not sure if they want candy or child support, Kimmel continued. Then he got to the Peanuts gag.

Herschel Walker is not the first person or persons to float this theory about drugs being hidden in childrens trick-or-treat bags. I mean, who can forget the classic scene from Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

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Then Kimmel rolled a clip from the scene where Charlie Brown and his friends are discussing their Halloween haul. In the original special, everyone gets candy except Charlie Brown, who instead got a rock. In the Kimmel version, Charlie Brown says, I got a rock of crack cocaine.

Charlie may have been a blockhead but he was not a crackhead, Kimmel joked.

You know, I looked up the effects of fentanyl on the DEA website, Kimmel added. They include sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Which sounds a lot like Herschel Walker to me. And of course hes worried about the children of America. Half of them are his.

Theres more to the monologue, including a whole lot of time spent talking about the latest released recordings of Donald Trump. You can watch the whole thing above now.
Graham Harris, owner of Decker Kitchen in Thousand Oaks, will be one of the chefs showcasing his bites at the Wine & Food Experience Nov. 12 at the Camarillo Hangar.

Editor's note: This event has been canceled.

Spots still remain for restaurants, chefs and other food-related vendors to join the Wine & Food Experience Nov. 12 at the Camarillo Hangar.

The event presented by USA TODAY, parent company of the Ventura County Star, will feature bites from area eateries and sips from breweries, distilleries and vineyards. The festival at the Camarillo Airport runs 1-4 p.m. in the hangar at 455 Aviation Drive.

Already signed on are Graham Harris of Thousand Oak's farm-to-table Decker Kitchen and Yukari Watanabe of Ventura's Gotetsu, which serves Japanese small dishes, among other local chefs.

This festival functions as a grand tour of the culinary scene in Ventura County and beyond. The experience is part of a seven-city tour  with stops in Indianapolis; Louisville, Kentucky; Asheville, North Carolina; Tampa and Paradise Coast in Florida; and in California, Ventura County and Palm Springs. The festival celebrates the best chefs, wine and food in each participating USA TODAY NETWORK community.

VIP tickets that allow entrance an hour early are $100 and general admission tickets for the festival are $65. Tickets can be purchased online at wineandfood.usatoday.com/events/ventura. Prices go up on the day of the event.

A portion of the proceeds will be given to Oxnard-based nonprofit Food Share Ventura County, the regional food bank.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Chefs in spotlight at Wine & Food Experience in Camarillo
Steven Van Zandt at the North American premiere of Lilyhammer in 2012

Its been just a little over ten years since Netflix entered the film and television production business, completely transforming the media consumption landscape. Now, its first (and with saying this with a well, technically) original series, Lilyhammer, will officially leave the streamer platform at the end of November.

Per IndieWire, the 10-year lease on the streaming rights to Lilyhammer will expire without renewal. Though Netflixs reputation has been built on series such as The Crown, Stranger Things, and in the early days, Orange Is The New Black and House Of Cards, it was (technically) Eilif Skodvin and Anne Bjrnstads Lilyhammer that started it all.



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Steven Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteens E Street Band and The Sopranos fame) stars in Lilyhammer as the ex-mafia boss Frank Tagliano, who takes the stand against some members of the Mafia. After entering the Witness Protection Program, Tagliano ends up in Lillehammer, Norway, kicking off a fish-out-of-water story.

In a letter shared earlier this year, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Lilyhammer, reflecting on what it meant for Netflix at the time. Most importantly, it marked the first time Netflix would binge-release a seriesan industry-shaking move.

The meeting was great and Stevie loved every idea, except one, Sarandos says. When I told him that we would not be showing the episodes one per week, we would deliver the entire season all at once. That stopped him in his tracks. You labor and suffer and someone can watch a year of your work in one night? That sounds a little weird, he said. Its not weird, I told him. Its just like working on an album. He laughed and agreed.

Looking back, Lilyhammer was perhaps an unorthodox choice for our first show, Sarandos concludes. But it worked because it was a deeply local story that we could share with the world. The jokes and references worked locally and the more universal themes of the shows traveled perfectly.



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For now, three seasons of Lilyhammer are available for streaming on Netflix.

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By Trend

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made a post on her official Instagram page on October 26, 2020.

According to Trend, the post says:

"Several villages in Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadly districts and the city of Gubadly are liberated from the occupation! I convey my sincere congratulations on this occasion to our entire people! Gaining each new victory becomes possible thanks to the heroism, courage, boldness, bravery and staunchness of our soldiers. I am immensely grateful to each of them! May Almighty Lord bless our Army, our people, our Motherland and our President! Karabakh is Azerbaijan."
Bear rescued in Vietnam

Animals Asia

Animals Asia is remembering its beloved rescue bear Paddington.

The animal welfare organization, working with Vietnamese authorities, saved the moon bear  also called an Asian black bear  from an "inhumane" bear bile farm near Nam Dinh, Vietnam, on Sept. 22.

Bear bile farms often keep moon bears captive in small spaces to extract the animals' bile for use in traditional eastern medicines. The practice is now illegal in Vietnam, but many bear bile farmers have kept their animals due to legal loopholes in the ban. Through their partnership, Animals Asia and the Vietnam authorities have reached hundreds of bear bile farmers and worked with them to surrender their animals.

After rescuing Paddington from a small metal cage, where she likely had spent the past 17 years of her life, Animals Asia transported the bear to its sanctuary in Tam Do, Vietnam.

Upon arriving at the sanctuary, Paddington was treated to marmalade  a favorite of the fictional bear she is named after  and visited with veterinarians.

"The organization's expert bear team identified long-standing health issues and put Paddington under intensive monitoring in the quarantine area, where every rescued bear spends their first 30 days," Animals Asia shared about Paddington's condition when she arrived at the sanctuary.

Bear rescued in Vietnam

Animals Asia

On Oct. 6, Paddington started acting alarmingly. The bear's caretakers observed the animal "trying to get up but falling back, and seemingly unaware of her surroundings." After this incident, fearing the bear might have had a stroke, Animals Asia rushed Paddington to its bear hospital for a thorough examination.

Veterinarians performed dental, abdominal, x-ray, and ultrasound scans on the bear and administered medication for pain relief. Before the organization could provide more care, Paddington stopped breathing. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

RELATED: Toronto Zoo Red Panda Cub Dies Unexpectedly: 'We Are Sad that Our Time with Him Was So Short'

"The trauma and the suffering of bears on farms are unimaginable. I don't want to see this happen again. We have to get the bears out of the farms as quickly as we can. I will never forget the feeling of performing CPR on Paddington, those chest compressions The team and I fought for her life just as hard as she did. I don't ever want to do that again," Heidi Quine, Animals Asia's vet team department director, shared.

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Paddington's post-mortem exam showed brain inflammation and bleeding, but Animals Asia's veterinary team is waiting for additional lab results to determine the bear's official cause of death.

Bear rescued in Vietnam

Animals Asia

According to the organization, moon bears that spend years on bile farms enduring painful extractions can suffer from "high blood pressure, low mobility, joint and dental problems, malnutrition, malignant tumors, and serious issues concerning their livers and bile." Unfortunately, these health problems can be fatal for the rescue bears.

Animals Asia is mourning Paddington's death but is grateful they were able to provide the bear with several weeks of freedom and dedicated care. The organization hopes that the animal's story inspires others to help bears like Paddington and shows that every creature deserves a chance at a happy life.

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.

"She led a life on the farm without even the dignity of a name. And then, with the help of our supporters around the world, we were able to save her, name her, care for her," Animals Asia's founder and CEO Jill Robinson said in a statement.

RELATED: Three Orphaned Bear Cubs Move to California Wildlife Center for a Second Chance

"Her loss is tragic to us all, but it is also crucial to make the world aware of the cruelty and devastation that bear bile farming causes. As the industry in Vietnam comes to an end, we are racing to save every suffering bear before it is too late," she added.

RELATED: After 17 Years in Tiny Cages, 9 Bears Are Moving to a 'Species-Appropriate' Sanctuary in Vietnam

Animals Asia has helped save 670 bears from bile farms across Asia and is hoping to save the estimated 320 moon bears still trapped on bile farms in Vietnam. To prepare for these future rescues, the organization is building a second sanctuary in Vietnam since their facility in Tam Do is nearly at capacity.
LONDON, October 25, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has issued an open letter to the shareholders of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd (TSX: TRQ) (NYSE: TRQ) ("Turquoise Hill") outlining the future of TRQ and reiterating its long-term commitment to Oyu Tolgoi.

Dear Turquoise Hill Shareholders,

Since Rio Tintos approach in March to acquire Turquoise Hill Resources you may have heard many views about the merits of our proposal. Today, we want you to hear directly from Rio Tinto.

We are all shareholders in Turquoise Hill because we believe in the long term potential of the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. But we must also recognise that we have a long way to go before its full value is unlocked. Over the next seven years we face significant technical, financial, and macroeconomic risks while we complete the design, development and ramp-up of this major underground block caving project. Further, to achieve this, over the next two years Turquoise Hill needs an additional US$3.6 billion (C$4.9 billion) in funding. A proportion of the funding burden will fall on shareholders, and we will all need to contribute cash or face dilution.

Against that backdrop we have made our best and final offer of C$43 in cash for each of your shares. That is:

A premium of 67% to the share price immediately before our proposal; and

An implied premium of more than 150% to the price of your shares if they had performed in line with copper company peers since 11 March 2022.1

The independent and highly qualified Directors of your Board, with the help of leading Canadian financial advisors, reviewed our proposal and, after extensive negotiations and analysis over six months, unanimously recommended in favour of the transaction. That view was further endorsed by Glass Lewis, a prominent advisor to institutional investors.

We acknowledge that we do not have the support of some Turquoise Hill shareholders and ISS, another advisor to institutional investors. However, we believe that ISSs final conclusion on Net Asset Value (NAV) is based on flawed logic. The average analyst NAV when the transaction was announced was C$39 per share, giving a resultant P/NAV of our offer of 1.10x, which is a strong premium to NAV and above precedent transactions for assets under development.

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There are many important issues that may affect your voting decision, but we would like to highlight two:

We believe that Rio Tintos proposal fully values the long term potential of Oyu Tolgoi and Turquoise Hill and assumes that the near term challenges can be overcome.

Whilst in the past Rio Tinto has shouldered the majority of the funding burden on behalf of all shareholders, if our proposal does not proceed then in future all shareholders will need to contribute proportionately. To be clear, that means Turquoise Hill shareholders will need to contribute at least US$1.1 billion in the first half of 2023, in the form of new equity through placings or rights issues, or potentially face dilution.

If, after considering the realities outlined above, you decide not to accept the Rio Tinto proposal, then we welcome you as ongoing investors in Turquoise Hill. Together we will make the substantial commitments necessary to complete the Oyu Tolgoi project over the next seven years.

But, if you conclude that C$43 per share represents a strong return for your investment, taking into account the balance of risks and long term potential, then vote FOR our proposal. If the transaction proceeds, then we look forward to soon paying C$43 in cash for each of your shares in a market which has otherwise deteriorated significantly since our initial proposal.

To learn how to vote today, go to www.turquoisehillacquisition.com

Yours sincerely

Bold Baatar

Rio Tinto Copper Chief Executive

1 Since Rio Tintos initial public proposal, Turquoise Hill copper peers First Quantum, Freeport, Lundin, and Southern Copper have fallen by 35%, which would imply an unaffected Turquoise Hill share price of C$16.70 today without the Rio Tinto transaction.

Notes to editors

Turquoise Hill Resources analyst consensus NAV and target prices

TRQ NAVPS Estimates

(C$ / share) 24 January 2022(1)

Day before

relationship reset

with Government of

Mongolia 11 March 2022(2)

Day before Rio Tinto

initial offer BMO 24.88 36.79 RBC 16.48 32.24 Macquarie Research 16.80 29.50 Eight Capital 37.04 43.27 Canaccord Genuity 29.38 47.90 Scotiabank 31.86 37.28 TD Securities 40.63 48.12 Average 28.15 39.30

TRQ Target Price Estimates

(C$ / share) 24 January 2022(1)

Day before

relationship reset

with Government of

Mongolia 11 March 2022(2)

Day before Rio Tinto

initial offer BMO 10.50 20.00 RBC 15.00 32.00 Macquarie Research 16.80 29.50 Eight Capital 16.00 30.00 Canaccord Genuity 12.50 31.00 Scotiabank 22.00 30.00 TD Securities 24.00 32.00 Average 16.69 29.21

Source:

(1) 24 January 2022 estimates include research notes as of: BMO (17 Jan 22), RBC (03 Nov 21), Macquarie Research (18 Jan 22), Eight Capital (03 Nov 21), Canaccord Genuity (03 Nov 21), Scotiabank (17 Jan 22), TD Securities (17 Jan 22).

(2) 11 March 2022 estimates include research notes as of: BMO (03 Mar 22), RBC (03 Mar 22), Macquarie Research (03 Mar 22), Eight Capital (03 Mar 22), Canaccord Genuity (03 Mar 22), Scotiabank (03 Mar 22), TD Securities (04 Mar 22).

Additional Disclaimers

General

The information contained in this press release is for informational purposes for the shareholders ("Shareholders") of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("TRQ") in order to provide the views of Rio Tinto plc ("Rio Tinto") and its affiliates regarding the arrangement agreement entered into between Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited ("RTIH") and TRQ, pursuant to which, RTIH would acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding common shares of TRQ ("Common Shares") that it and its affiliates do not currently own for C$43.00 in cash per common share (the "Arrangement") and other matters which Rio Tinto believes to be relevant to Shareholders. The views expressed in this press release represent the views and opinions of Rio Tinto as of the date hereof.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information provided in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities law, respectively. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, are forward-looking statements or information. The words "intend", "forecast", "project", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "believes", "expects", "may", "should", "will", "target", "pursue", "seek" or similar expressions, commonly identify such forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without restriction, this press release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding: statements and implications about the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement for Rio Tinto, TRQ and their respective shareholders, Shareholder and court approvals, the anticipated timing of the completion of the Arrangement and the anticipated funding and other risks for TRQ and the Shareholders if the Arrangement does not proceed.

Such forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the failure of the parties to obtain the necessary Shareholder and court approvals or to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement; failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner or at all; significant transaction costs; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement and general economic conditions. Failure to obtain the necessary Shareholder and court approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement or to complete the Arrangement, may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release is qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation.

Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement or information contained in this press release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement or information is based.

Additional Information

The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or buy any securities.

As disclosed in the management proxy circular of TRQ dated September 27.2022 (the "Circular"). Rio Tinto and RTIH may also participate in the solicitation of proxies on behalf of TRQ management for the special meeting of Shareholders of TRQ scheduled to be held on November 1, 2022. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Rio Tinto is hereby voluntarily providing the disclosure required under Section 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations and has filed a document containing the disclosure required under Section 9.2(4)(c) of NI 51-102 in compliance with securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitation.

All costs of this press release will be borne by Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto has entered into agreements with each of Laurel Hill Advisory Group and Innisfree M&A Incorporated in respect of certain consulting and related services, the aggregate cost of which is anticipated to be US$0.5 million, plus ancillary payments and disbursements. Rio Tinto may participate in the solicitation of proxies, including through websites, press releases, advertisements, speeches, town halls or publications, and by any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian corporate and securities laws. Proxies may be revoked as described under the heading "Information Concerning the Meeting and Voting  Changing Your Mind (Revoking Your Proxy)" on pages 72 and 73 of the Circular.

Other than as disclosed in the Circular or TRQs public filings, neither Rio Tinto nor, to its knowledge, any of its associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, (i) in any matter proposed to be acted upon in connection with the special meeting of Shareholders of TRQ to be held in connection with the Arrangement or (ii) in any transaction since the beginning of TRQs most recently completed financial year or in or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or would materially affect TRQ or any of its subsidiaries.

Rio Tinto currently beneficially owns 102,196,643 Common Shares, representing approximately 50.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Upon the closing of the Arrangement, Rio Tinto would hold 100% of the outstanding Common Shares.

TRQs head office is located at 1 Place Ville-Marie, Suite 3680, Montreal, QC, H3B 3P2.

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Rio Tinto plc is Steve Allen, Group Company Secretary.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025005818/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK

Matthew Klar

M+ 44 7796 630 637

David Outhwaite

M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas

Simon Letendre

M +514 796 4973

Malika Cherry

M +1 418 592 7293

Media Relations, Australia

Matt Chambers

M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, UK

Menno Sanderse

M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington

M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever

M +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia

Tom Gallop

M +61 439 353 948

Amar Jambaa

M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc

6 St Jamess Square

London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000

Registered in England

No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

Melbourne 3000

Australia

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in Australia

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category: Oyu Tolgoi
It's a tough market for venture capital, but Square Peg Capital is plowing ahead with its focus on Australia (where it is based), Southeast Asia and Israel. The firm announced today that it has closed its fifth fund totaling $550 million. This brings its total raised across all funds to about $1.6 billion.

Square Peg has invested in more than 60 companies and returned over $580 million to its investors across 11 exits at an IRR of 42%. It counts Australian superannuation funds like Hostplus and AustralianSuper among its backers, and other LPs include new and returning investors from family offices, institutions and endowments.

Part of Square Pegs new capital will be used for its core venture fund, which invests in seed to Series B startups. It will also invest in the later stages of its best-performing portfolio companies through its Opportunities Fund.

Square Peg Capital partners Tushar Roy and Piruze Sanbuncu

Square Peg Capital partners Tushar Roy and Piruze Sanbuncu. Image Credits: Square Peg Capital

Square Peg has a growing footprint in Southeast Asia, where partners Tushar Roy and Piruze Sabuncu are based. Roy told TechCrunch in April that Southeast Asia is the firms fastest-growing geographical footprint. Half of its last $275 million fund, Fund 3, was invested in Southeast Asia. The firm is focused on five key areas in the region: consumer internet, fintech, edtech and the future of work, health tech and SaaS.

Some of Square Pegs investments so far from Southeast Asian include LottieFiles, Doctor Anywhere and FinAccel. Its new fund has also invested in recruitment automation platform Kula and open source Firebase alternative Supabase.

Portfolio companies from other regions include Canva, Airwallex and ROKT in Australia, and Fiverr and AIDoc from Israel.

In a statement, Sabuncu said, We already know the potential Southeast Asia presents when we look at the basic macro numbers, but the last few years have proven that you can build global businesses from this region or create new business models that can disrupt the way people access various services  whether it be lending, education or healthcare.
Vietnam party chief to visit China's Xi next week FILE PHOTO: Vietnam's Communist Party's Generel Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is seen in Hanoi

BEIJING (Reuters) - The chief of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong will visit China next week on the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Vietnam's government said on Tuesday, in a rare overseas trip by the ageing leader.

The visit to Beijing will take place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 the government said, without elaborating. It was also reported in Chinese state media on Tuesday.

Trong, 78, on Sunday sent a message to Xi congratulating him on his precedent-breaking third term as party chief, expressing hope of "further strengthening political trust, and setting a great direction for future development of the relationship between the two countries."

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a key source of imports for its fast-growing economy, including raw materials and machinery for its crucial manufacturing sector.

Bilateral trade rose 10.2% in the first nine months of this year from a year earlier to $132.38 billion, according to official Vietnamese data, nearly 70% of that imports to Vietnam.

Though the two neighbours have a long history of mistrust and territorial disputes, including over islands and waters in the South China Sea, their Communist parties remain officially close.

Like Xi, Trong has also stayed on as party chief beyond the usual tenure of one or two terms, cementing his influence in a party traditionally governed by consensus among its politburo and powerful central committee. His last trip abroad was to Cambodia.

Vietnam and China are among the last five communist-ruled states in the world, along with Cuba, Laos and North Korea.

(This story has been corrected to reflect Nguyen Phu Trong's last overseas trip was to Cambodia, not Russia in paragraph 7)

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; Editing by Martin Petty)
parler-value-tanks.jpg In this photo illustration, the Parler logo is displayed on - Credit: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

An analysis of Comscore Media data by The Righting has found that right-wing alternative social media platform Parler suffered a 48-percent decline in unique visitors this September compared to September a year ago. The floundering platform recently announced a pending acquisition by rapper Kanye West.

Other right-wing platforms and websites have also experienced a significant slump in user traffic. Breitbarts traffic is down 58 percent, The Federalist is down 60 percent, and the Blaze is down 55 percent. Virtually every right-wing website examined by The Righting lost unique visitors year-over-year, with the Epoch Times and the Washington Examiner being the only exceptions.

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Alternative social media platforms also saw a general decline in engagement, with only Gettr seeing an increase in year-over-year unique visitors. Data for Truth Social is unavailable as the website has been live for less than a year.

The news of Parlers nose dive in usership comes on the eve of a major acquisition. Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer, husband of right-wing commentator (and close friend to Kanye West) Candace Owens, has said the potential sale of Parler to West will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again.

The platform, launched in 2018, billed itself as a censorship-free alternative to platforms like Twitter. Following revelations that organizers of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot relied heavily on the app, several hosting services, including Amazon Web Services, pulled their services, resulting in a temporary shutdown from which Parler has not managed to recover.

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When questioned on Wests recent spate of antisemitic comments, Farmer responded that West is obviously willing to have conversations that plenty of people want to have. I think hes trying to engage in the free speech environment.  I would like to say hes now in a place where hes fallen victim to the cancellation narrative. Whether or not what he said offended some people, of course, is up for conversation.

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Kentucky needs an open and hard-working General Assembly to move the state toward a brighter future. What we dont need is a year-round Legislature that passes bills that are not clearly explained to the public or to the legislators who are voting on them.

Unfortunately, the Legislature put a proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 on this years ballot that would close the public out of the legislative process and give vast power to a small group of lobbyists and legislative leaders.

If ratified by the voters, the new constitutional language would allow the General Assembly to convene in early January and spread the annual legislative session over the entire year, rather than ending by a date certain in March or April as they do now.

Read the opposing view:Amendment 1: Re-balance power in Kentucky on election day | Opinion

The changes would also allow two legislative leaders to call the General Assembly into extraordinary session, and there would be no limit on the subjects considered in such a session.

The proposed amendment would repeal the current constitutional section that adjourns legislative sessions by March 30 in odd-numbered years and by April 15 in even-numbered years. Instead of adjourning, the General Assembly would re-convene periodically throughout the year, with each annual session required to end by December 31.

This year-round legislating would empower the highly paid lobbyists who are in Frankfort all the time and make it much more difficult for regular citizens to participate in the legislative process.

Citizens interested in speaking for or against legislation could have trouble adjusting their schedules to come to Frankfort weeks or months down the road, with no assurance their issue will be brought up at the next meeting.

If Amendment 1 passes, there could be less transparency in the legislative process  legislators could discuss bills, but they could leave town without voting and return when theres less media and public scrutiny.

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Speaker of the House David Osborne at the chair as the House of Representatives meet on Thursday, the third day of the legislature special session. Sept. 9, 2021

More:Kentucky voters to decide if legislature can call own special sessions. What to know

More:On Election Day, you'll decide whether to ban abortion in Kentucky. Here's what to know

They could defer voting on controversial issues until after a primary election or a general election day. We saw this same move several years ago when they moved the election filing deadline back to January, so theyd know whether they had serious opposition prior to acting on controversial legislation.

A very important consequence is that it could be more difficult to be a legislator  the changes could discourage many people from wanting to serve, including farmers, nurses, teachers or others with full-time jobs who cant be available throughout the year.

Instead, there will be more business owners and business employees who have the owners blessing running for election to the General Assembly. There will also be more lawyers from big law firms because just like the businesses, the law firms will want to have their own people in the Legislature, and theyll give their lawyers flexibility in scheduling so those lawyers will be freed up to run and serve.

Theres a real concern that passage of Amendment 1 is a recipe for legislative corruption and scandal because campaign contributions could pour into legislative campaigns throughout the year to influence policy decisions.

If the changes pass, legislators will be micro-managing state government. Since the Legislature will be coming back into session all year long, campaign contributors could constantly be asking legislators to abolish or change policies, contracts and regulations adopted by the executive branch.

The campaign contributors could be putting money into legislative campaigns at the same time theyre asking for legislative favors!

Theres another big problem with this amendment  it repeals the Constitutional prohibition against legislators raising their own salaries and will guarantee that legislators will be in Frankfort much more often, drawing bigger paychecks and boosting their own pensions.

This proposed change in our state Constitution is a legislative power grab  it will make it harder for citizens to participate in their government and empower a handful of legislators and highly-paid lobbyists to dominate Frankfort even more than they do now. Vote "no."

Barbara Hadley Smith chairs Together Frankfort, a non-partisan group of Kentuckians who advocate for integrity and transparency in government and politics.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Amendment 1: Legislators want more power and bigger paychecks
Logan Sargeant Clive Rose/Getty Images

Logan Sargeant is set to become the first US F1 driver since 2015 as he is signed with Williams for 2023.

This is an enormous turnaround for a driver who looked to be out of formula racing twice.

He took a chance on a bad team and then an F1 team called and took a chance on him.

Logan Sargeant is set to race in Formula One in 2023 for Williams Racing, an enormous turnaround after it looked like his formula racing career was over twice before it started.

Before this year's United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, Sargeant spoke about how, in just two years, he has gone from a "dark place" to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing.

In 2020, Sargeant had a strong season racing for the top team in F3, Prema Racing, finishing third in the standings. However, after scoring six podiums and two wins in the first 14 races, he struggled in the final four and found himself without a job for the 2021 season.

"I finished 2020, and I pretty much had nowhere to go," Sargeant said when asked about his journey to F1.

The biggest factor working against Sargeant was funding. Drivers in F2 are expected to cover some of the expenses related to running the team and securing a seat in a car, and Sargeant did not have the funding necessary for F2.

"F2 is definitely ruled out for 2021," Sargeant told Racer after the 2020 season. "The problem with F2 is the funding for it is very high, as we know ... Honestly, we never really had the full budget to do it."

Sargeant said at the time that he and his support group were instead looking for a seat in either Indy Lights, the feeder series for IndyCar in North America, or leaving open-wheel racing for something else.

In a sport where teams are increasingly looking for younger drivers, this appeared to be the end of any hope Sargeant had for reaching F1, even though he was only 19.

"It was obviously a terrible feeling," Sargeant said in Austin. "I was coming off my best season to date, and to have absolutely nothing was pretty rough. I just didn't really know where to go. That was sort of it. I figured maybe I could make something work in Sportscars, GTs, whatever, make some money that way. It was a dark place, to be honest."

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But just before the 2021 season, Charouz Racing, the last-place team in F3, offered Sargeant a seat, something he initially resisted.

"I was quite against it at the start, to be honest, because I was on the best team before, and it was a great season," Sargeant said. "I didn't want to go to what, at the time, was the worst team. The best thing I had was support from my family and the team around me to really push me to take on a challenge and try to be a team leader going into that 2021 season. That changed everything for me."

Sargeant added that he took the F3 spot "to pass some time."

Logan Sargeant celebrates an F3 win in 2021. Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

At first, it seemed like the move just delayed the inevitable. Despite four podiums and a win in 2021 and helping to lift Charouz to fifth in the standings, Sargeant was again without an F2 opportunity for 2022.

Again it appeared that Sargeant's dream of becoming the first American driver in F1 since 2015 and the first full-time American on the grid since 2007 was over.

He again turned to IndyCar with a test scheduled with A.J. Foyt Racing. However, that was canceled when Williams Racing called and asked Sargeant to join their driver academy and race in F2.

"Williams came to me with an amazing opportunity," Sargeant said this week. "The amount of support they've given me just boosted my confidence massively. I signed with the team in October. I was [testing in] an F1 car in December."

The investment in Sargeant paid off as he picked up four podiums and the first two F2 wins ever for an American driver.

"It's just crazy how in one year, everything can flip," Sargeant said this week. "You just have to keep going and believe that it is going to work out. "

Joe Portlock - Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images

Two years after thinking his F1 dream was dead, Sargeant is now just one hurdle away from being one of only 20 F1 drivers in the world.

Sargeant, who is currently third in the F2 standings with one race remaining, must finish sixth or better in the final standings to earn a Super License required for F1. Sargeant has a 12-point lead over the seventh-place driver, making it likely that he will secure his license if he can finish the race.

If he can do that, he will bring the American flag back to F1.

Read the original article on Insider
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Wednesday a new agreement between Israel and Lebanon that will be signed Thursday.

Biden, who is holding a bilateral meeting with Herzog, said the agreement will establish a permanent maritime boundary between the two countries and allow the development of energy fields for both countries.

The White House meeting is a follow-up to Biden's visit with Herzog in July during his trip to the Middle East.

I think it's a historic breakthrough and took a lot of courage for you, Biden said during remarks ahead of the meeting. It took some real guts and I think it took principle and persistent diplomacy to get it done.

The bilateral meeting comes before Israel's Nov. 1 election, as former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, looks to pull off a political comeback by unseating Prime Minister Yair Lapid. A centrist, Lapid is chairman of the Yesh Atid party, while Netanyahu is chairman of Likud, a right-wing political party.

Herzog noted the coming United States and Israeli elections and said the meeting between the two leaders shows that our friendship and strong bond transcends all political differences and opinions and parties.

I hope that together we can continue to work towards the well being of the State of Israel, the United States and the world at large, Herzog added.

What will be discussed

Iran will be a topic of discussion, Herzog said during remarks ahead of the bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Herzog, in a video address before his departure from Israel, said he intends to discuss Middle East peace, the Abraham Accords  which is a declaration that normalized diplomatic relations among Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco  and a new natural gas deal with neighboring Lebanon over their shared maritime border.

The most important subject, Herzog said, will be the threat posed by Iran, which he called "destabilizing not only the Middle East but the entire world, requiring a firm and united stand against it."

Herzog said they will also discuss climate change, which he called a "danger to the entire world and humanity," and opportunities for trade, business and diplomacy.

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President Joe Biden receives the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: ILEV454

Ukraine could be top issue in Biden Herzog meeting

Biden and Herzog could discuss Israels role in the Ukraine and Russia war.

Osamah Khalil, a Syracuse University history professor who specializes in Middle East affairs, said the meeting between the leaders could have an impact on the United States' efforts to garner more support for Ukraine.

If anything, you can see the U.S. really trying to get as many countries on board, especially those sitting on the sidelines that the US would have expected to come and havent, and Israel is one of those countries, Khalil said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been critical of Israel after it denied a request to send anti-missile technology. If he returns to power, Netanyahu told USA TODAY last week that he would "look into" providing weapons to Ukraine.

Irans role in Ukraine-Russia war

During his meeting with Biden, Herzog is expected to reveal evidence of the use of an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle  or UAVs  in the war in Ukraine.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have heightened over the past couple of years as the two countries are engaged in a proxy war.

According to Herzogs office, he will share images with Biden of the UAVs that show fragments are similar to vehicles that have been developed in Iran.

Iranian weapons play a key role in destabilizing our world, and the international community must learn its lessons, now and in the future, Herzog said in a statement.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that Biden and Herzog would discuss "a range of regional and global challenges of mutual concern, including the threat posed by Iran and its proxies."

What they're saying

"President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Hertzog to the White House tomorrow, as you all know, a visit that will underscore the enduring partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel," Jean-Pierre said. "President Biden will also underscore his commitment to advancing peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond by deepening Israel's regional integration and normalization with the Arab world. And they will discuss ways to promote equal measures of freedom, prosperity and security for both Israelis and Palestinians."

I was surprised to see he was coming, not because the Israeli president isn't welcome in the United States, but the Israeli president is not a position of great power in the Israeli system, said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In the Israeli system, the powerful position is prime minister, not president.

"The president is very much looking forward to meeting with President Herzog," White House spokesman John Kirby said Monday. "This is one of the most consequential bilateral relationships we have in the world, certainly in that part of the world. And there's an awful lot to discuss, especially as a follow-up to the president's visit to the region just this past summer, and his efforts and goals in trying to seek a broader, more integrated cooperative Middle East and of course, Israel lies at the heart of that in so many ways."

Contributing: Maureen Groppe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden meets with Israeli President ahead of prime minister elections
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Justice Thomas briefly froze an order calling on Sen. Lindsey Graham to testify in a Georgia 2020 election probe.

Last week, Graham filed an emergency application to block his testimony before an Atlanta grand jury.

Graham was one of the lawmakers who asked the state's top election official to question absentee ballots, per a WaPo report.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas temporarily froze an order calling for testimony for Sen. Lindsey Graham before a Georgia grand jury investigating possible criminal efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Republican senator from South Carolina was reportedly one of the lawmakers who pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to question absentee ballots, the top election official told The Washington Post in November 2020.

A grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, subpoenaed Graham for testimony in their probe, prompting the South Carolina lawmaker to ask the Supreme Court in an emergency application last week to block the subpoena.

"Without a stay, Senator Lindsey Graham will soon be questioned by a local Georgia prosecutor and her ad hoc investigative body about his protected 'speech or debate' related to the 2020 election," Graham's lawyers wrote in the application. "This will occur despite the Constitution's command that senators 'shall not be questioned' about 'any speech or debate.'"

Thomas' order on Monday was an "administrative stay," likely to give justices in the nation's top court more time to consider the senator's emergency request to block his testimony before the Georgia county grand jury. The justice acted alone in the temporary order because he has jurisdiction over the lower court that issued the original subpoena.

Graham did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Justice Thomas' administrative stay.

But last week's appeal to the Supreme Court wasn't Graham's first attempt to avoid testifying before the Atlanta grand jury. Earlier this year, Graham claimed that the Constitution granted him "absolute immunity" in the election interference probe, to which Georgia's district attorney condemned his argument.

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"The Senator's extreme position defies the facts, this Court's holdings, Supreme Court precedent, and the interests of the public," prosecutors wrote in court documents.

In a 23-page order filed in September, a federal judge rejected Graham's immunity claim, saying she was "unpersuaded by the breadth of Senator Graham's argument."

"[T]he Court does not find that it can simply accept Senator Graham's sweeping and conclusory characterizations of the calls and ignore other objective facts in the record that call Senator Graham's characterizations into question," US District Court Judge Leigh Martin wrote in her ruling.

Representatives for the Fulton County District Attorney's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Strong growth in Europe and an improvement in China contributed to a 32 percent gain in revenues in the first nine months of the year at the Moncler Group.

In the period ended Sept. 30, sales surpassed the 1.55 billion euros benchmark, compared with 1.17 billion euros in the first nine months of 2021. Compared with 2019, sales climbed 57 percent at constant exchange.

More from WWD

In the third quarter, revenues rose 12 percent at constant exchange to 638.3 million euros compared to the same period last year. Compared to 2019, sales climbed 50 percent.

We are now facing the most important period of the year with confidence and great energy; conscious of the strength of our brands and of the unique and distinctive projects planned for these months, said chairman and chief executive officer Remo Ruffini.

The executive underscored that the spectacular event in Milans Piazza Duomo at the tail end of fashion week drew over 18,000 people, and that the company continues to celebrate its 70th anniversary this year with a series of events and activations to connect with the brands communities around the world.

All the following figures were provided at constant exchange. The Moncler brand posted a 21 percent gain in revenues in the nine months, reaching 1.25 billion euros.

The solid double-digit growth continued in the third quarter, up 13 percent on the third quarter of 2021, driven by the direct-to-consumer distribution channel, which grew 21 percent.

In Asia, which includes the Asia-Pacific region, Japan and Korea, revenues in the first nine months grew 15 percent to 548 million euros compared with last year and they rose 36 percent compared with 2019. Growth in the third quarter was 14 percent on last year and up 40 percent compared with the same period in 2019, driven by the reopening of directly operated stores in the Chinese market, especially in July and August. Korea and Japan continued to record good growth also in the third quarter. In Asia, both channels recorded double-digit growth in the quarter.

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During a conference call with analysts on Wednesday at the end of trading in Milan, Luciano Santel, chief corporate and supply officer, said the third quarter in mainland China was positive.

June was good, and July and August are in line with June, but that because of new lockdowns, business was weaker in September. However, he added that the first week of October and the second week of October were very, very strong for China.

He reminded analysts that Golden Week took place in the first week of October and that the results then were very, very good, showing a strong double-digit growth, also driven by the impact of the 70th anniversary events and the launch of the Maya 70 jacket.

While the situation in China is still volatile and uncertain, he explained that what is very important from our perspective that is more focused on the long term, is that the brand in China is really very strong. Of course, we have to live with this situation. Korea remains strong, as it has been for the past three years at least, Santel said, also citing Japans strong performance.

Moncler launched on Tmall at the end of September  an important step to develop a new audience for our brand, said Santel.

In the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, revenues in the first nine months increased by 29 percent to 486.3 million euros compared with the same period of 2021 and by 14 percent compared with 2019.

In the third quarter, sales were up 16 percent driven by strong demand from both local customers and American tourists. France, Germany, and Italy were the countries that contributed the most to the growth in the third quarter.

Revenues in the Americas in the first nine months grew by 18 percent to 218.2 million euros and they were up 34 percent on 2019. In the third quarter, sales rose 6 percent while they were up 16 percent on 2019. U.S. tourists flocked to Europe in the quarter, said Santel.

In the first nine months of 2022, Monclers direct-to-consumer channel was up 27 percent to 903.1 million euros.

The wholesale channel reported revenues of 349.5 million, an increase of 7 percent.

As of Sept. 30, there were 242 directly operated Moncler stores, an increase of four units compared to the end of June, among which were Dusseldorf and two conversions from the wholesale channel. As of Sept. 30, there were 61 wholesale shops-in-shop, a decrease of three units, among which were the conversion to retail of the Zurich Airport unit and the Paris La Samaritaine store.

Revenues at the Stone Island brand increased 23 percent to 304.1 million euros in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 pro forma, since the brand was consolidated on April 1 last year.

In the third quarter, sales grew 8 percent compared with the same period last year, led by the direct-to-consumer channel.

In August, Stone Island Japan was established as a joint venture majority-held by the Italian brand, now directly managing the business in the country comprising 16 existing mono-brand stores converted from wholesale.

The Europe and Middle East and Africa region, the most relevant region for the Stone Island brand, grew by 14 percent to 218 million euros compared to 2021 pro-forma. Italy outperformed the rest of the region in the quarter, reporting a double-digit growth.

In the nine months, Asia reached 52.4 million euros in sales, up 66 percent.

The Americas recorded growth of 40 percent to 33.6 million euros.

The wholesale channel, which represents the most important channel for Stone Island, showed a 7 percent gain to 212.6 million euros in the first nine months.

Due to several conversions, the direct-to-consumer channel was up 91 percent to 91.6 million euros.

As of Sept. 30, the network of monobrand Stone Island boutiques comprised 71 directly operated stores, up 17 units compared to the end of June, as a result of the 16 conversions of the Japanese stores and the London boutique. There are also 20 monobrand wholesale stores.

Santel pointed to the relevance of the Stone Island Chicago store opened a week ago. It is very important because it represents the new store format so that has been designed by Oma/Amo an architectural study that interpreted very well in my opinion the DNA of the brand. So we are very happy with the design and with the final result of the store.

Santel expressed confidence in 2023, when additional Stone Islands will be opened, in Vienna, and Zurich for example, in very good locations to properly communicate the values of the brand. However, he said the retail strategy for the brand is not driven by the aim to increase volumes, which could be a short-term strategy. Our priority now is to build a real retail culture in Stone Island, which is something that takes us some time.

Speaking at the group level, Santel said prices were increased this season and also for spring 2023 by an average of about 10 percent, depending on individual currencies and that the impact, the response has been, honestly, good, I would say, unrelated to prices.

He explained that the increase in prices was to offset the production cost increase for this season and for spring 2023 with questions about the following season since the cost of energy is decreasing. What is impacting Moncler is the raw materials that we buy from our suppliers that use energy. The step before fabric is the production of yarn. And so that kind of production is energy-intensive.

Santel said that after working and investing on the footwear line for more than a year, the results were good, performing very well with a very strong sell-through. I mean, the first prelaunch online was sold out in a few hours. He admitted that Moncler was not in a hurry to build this business, and that we are very confident for the future. He also said that in the upcoming summer season, the collection will be broader. The plan with footwear is to achieve by 2025 sales equivalent to about 10 percent of the business. We are confident about the first results, but theres still a lot, a lot of work to do, he said.

Click here to read the full article.
Courtesy of Southeastern University



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Eight years ago, in April 2014, Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu were fleeing for their lives. They had just escaped a mass kidnapping of 276 teenage girls from their boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria, by the terrorist group Boko Harama crime that ignited the global social media campaign #BringBackOurGirls. The terrorists wanted to prevent the girls from getting educated. But these two would not be stopped.



This year in April, Bishara and Pogu received masters degrees from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Floridaa dream neither could imagine in the weeks following their harrowing escape. After what happened, I thought I would never get to finish school, Pogu says. Amid the trauma of the abduction and fear of being captured again, school wasnt even on her mind at the time. I just wanted to be safe and have my family be safe.

Since their escape, the two have become close friends, helping each other move forward, finish school, and achieve their dreams. Its a friendship that evolved in America, as they didnt know each other well at school in Chibok. Something we both love is being able to look at each other and understand exactly what we need without saying a word, says Bishara. Lydia will always be my closest friend no matter where life takes us.

On the night Boko Haram stormed the boarding school in April 2014, forcing the girls at gunpoint into trucks, Pogu and Bishara escaped by jumping from a truck as it hurtled through the darkness, each deciding it would be better to risk their lives than to remain in the grips of the terrorists. After the bold leap, they made their way through the dense, tangled bush, their skin getting shredded from thorns, before managing to get a ride home with strangers.

They were among several dozen girls who got away that night. More than 100 girls were later released as a result of government negotiations with Boko Haram, but more than 100 are still missing today.

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Bishara and Pogu came to America to continue their education in August 2014, with help from human rights advocates including the nonprofit Jubilee Campaign. There were a lot of culture shocks at first, Bishara says with a laugh. She was surprised by how many kids had their own cellphones and computers. She and Pogu had grown up in modest homes in Nigeria with no running water. Pogu was struck by how many women wore pants; she was accustomed to traditional dresses. Both had to learn Englishand adjust to wintry weather. Neither cared for popular American fare like cheeseburgers or pizza; they preferred noodles and rice. There was a lot that was a surprise, but the food and cold did it for us, says Bishara. We didnt eat much, and for me, I ate noodles for a whole week until a Nigerian lady came and took us to the African store.



Courtesy of Lydia Pogu

In 2017, they graduated from high school at the Canyonville Academy in the mountains of Oregon, having encouraged each other along the way as they navigated a new school in a new country. School in America differs a lot; teachers are more invested in educating the students, their well-being and personal lives, says Bishara, adding that teachers in Chibok were not getting paid enough to be able to invest personally in their students. Pogu agrees, noting that she liked being able to wear her own clothes to school instead of having to wear a uniform, as she did back home. Another difference, she says: Punishments in American schools are basically detentions and suspensions, but in Nigeria, it is a whole different level; it is common for teachers to inflict injuries on students.



The biggest hurdle was living a world away from their families. It was so difficult being so far from them. My mom, we are best friends, says Bishara. My emotions were all over the place when I moved here. I had nightmares that Boko Haram was coming for my family. Its difficult to heal when what youre trying to heal from is still happening every single day, she says, referring to the ongoing terror by the terrorist organization. For more than a decade, the group has reportedly killed hundreds of thousands of people in an attempt to create an Islamic state and wipe out Western influence from schools. The girls kidnapped from the school in Chibok were mostly Christian.

Bishara and Pogu helped each other through the tough moments, telling jokes and making each other laugh about silly things we used to do back home, Bishara says. In fact, the pair discovered while talking to their relatives back home that they are cousins. Having Joy by my side since the beginning of us coming to America, and after we both found out that we are cousins, has helped make me feel more safe, says Pogu. Having her here has always and is still helping me feel a little better, knowing that I have someone I call family here.

Both cite their faith as a stabilizing force as well. God has opened doors and made sure that we were well taken care of, says Bishara. He has used so many people to impact my life in a manner I would have never imagined eight years ago. Pogu feels the same, saying, God has put a lot of wonderful people in my life that have helped me overcome the trauma I experienced. Even though its something I still struggle with, I will say I am better because of God and the wonderful people he put in my life.

After high school in 2017, the two headed to college on scholarship at Southeastern University, thanks to a recommendation from the former president of the Canyonville Academy, Doug Wead. They decided not to room together so they could interact more with other students and improve their English skills, but they talked and texted every day, and traveled the country on occasion to give presentations, including one at the United Nations Security Council. When we came to college, we started sharing our story a lot more together, says Bishara. We traveled to new places and supported each other when we cried after sharing, or when one of us was shaking after the presentation.

They graduated from the university in 2021, an experience Bishara calls a wonderful journey, despite an unexpected challengea pandemic that sent the world into lockdown. Pogu had a rough battle with Covid, suffering from body aches and fever and losing her sense of taste and smell. It was very stressful. I told my parents, and they were freaking out, she says. Talking and texting with Bishara helped her feel less isolated.

Both are haunted by the memory of their classmates who have not returned home. Bishara wonders what became of her roommate Rifkatu Galang. Bishara had comforted her the night the terrorists forced the students into trucks, bound for a forest hideaway. She was crying so bitterly, so bad, she recalls. She had been through surgery and was in a lot of pain. I held her; I was crying for her. Boko Haram members came and told her to shut up or they would just kill her right there. Thats still in my mind. Shes one of those who did not come back. Its just so sad, thinking about all my classmates, not knowing how they are, where they are, who has died.

Pogu expresses sorrow that the world seems to have moved on while the young women remain missing. The eight-year anniversary came and went [last] spring and nobody was talking about it, she says.

The tragedy motivated Pogu, 24, and Bishara, 26, to want to use their education to help people escape abuse and injustice, especially in their homeland. Pogu, who got her masters degree in human services administration, is now doing fieldwork for One More Child, a nonprofit that supports vulnerable children, and is planning to study for the LSATs and apply to law school. I want to bring justice to people in a legal way; for example, people suffering from domestic violence, sex trafficking, she says. Ultimately she wants to start her own law firm focusing on human rights.

Bishara, who got her masters in social work, is working at a hospice center and wants to eventually start an organization to help women in Chibok break free from abuse and lead independent lives. Women are staying with abusive partners there because they have nowhere else to go, she says. If they go to their parents house, their parents send them back. Its seen as a bad thing when you leave your husband. But theres a major barrier to building a shelter in Chibok: Boko Haram can just walk in anytime and burn it down, she says. Im trying to find some loops around thatmaybe an online organization where people can donate money for people in need. Boko Haram cannot burn down a website.

Indeed, while Boko Haram has reportedly been weakened to some extent in recent years, the insurgents continue to terrorize the country; Chibok, a town of around 66,000 people, remains under attack. They just attack, kill, kidnap, and leave, Bishara says. They want to attack people when everyone least expects.

Bishara says that sharing her story helps her heal: Trying to make a difference, thats how I find my joy.

It really has been hard and challenging, trying to push through it, says Pogu, noting that news of violence in her homeland is always a trigger. She cites recent reports of a girl stoned to death and set on fire in Nigeria by fellow students who accused her of blasphemy. It brings you back to the people who kidnapped us, she says. Sometimes I have nightmares of people attacking me. But as time goes by and Im starting to get used to it here, Im okay; Im way better than in the beginning. The Bible tells us we should forgive our enemies and pray for them. I believe in that; it has been helping me. Although I do forgive them, its still painful. Both she and Bishara talk to their families several times a week.



Courtesy of Southeastern University

Over the years, Pogu has been home to see her family once, and Bishara, four timesa dangerous journey for the young women who defied Boko Haram. Its super scary, says Bishara. Its not safe. But I miss home and I want to see my family. Im careful when I go home. I dont announce that Im going there. By the time people know Im home, Ive already left. Pogu applied for asylum in America in 2018 and was recently approved for a green card, while Bishara hopes to get U.S. citizenship through the help of an employer or local congressperson.

Both say they are grateful for the opportunities theyve had in America. Pogu served as the student speaker at the Southeastern University commencement in Aprila bittersweet experience, she says, as she thought of her missing classmates, but also a huge, great honor to be able to stand in front of these amazing students. I was nervous, but it turned out great, and I was grateful I could share my journey. Afterward people said, Your story is inspiring. I feel like Im making a difference, and thats my goal.

They are also deeply thankful for their friendship. Joy is genuine, brutally honest, caring, funny, interesting, patient with me, and the list goes on. I can tell her anything, and she is someone I can count on anytime, says Pogu. I know we will always be there for each other, and our friendship will last a lifetime, wherever we both end up in life.



Abigail Pesta is an award-winning journalist who writes for major publications around the world. She is the author of The Girls: An All-American Town, a Predatory Doctor, and the Untold Story of the Gymnasts Who Brought Him Down and the coauthor with Sandra Uwiringiyimana of How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child.

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Its safe to say that King Charless net worth has skyrocketed since he took over as Britains new monarch.

Although the royal was working on his own lucrative empire as the Prince of Wales, he has since inherited the queens castles, her massive art collection, rare jewels and her horse farm, making him one of the wealthiest people in the country. But what about the queens personal investments? And how exactly is the king receiving his money? Heres what we know about King Charless net worth.

25 King Charles Quotes About Family, Technology & the Environment

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1. What is King Charless net worth?

Before he ascended the throne, the kings net worth was an estimated $100 million, but that amount has more than tripled. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his net worth is now a staggering $600 million, thanks to his major inheritance from Queen Elizabeth.

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2. How much did he make from the Duchy of Cornwall?

King Charles III built a pretty successful empire before he became king. In fact, he and his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, were receiving most of their income from their private estate, the Duchy of Cornwall. Created by Edward III in 1337, the estate is funded through the ownership of land, islands and rental cottages in different parts of the United Kingdom. (Fun fact: King Charles and his wife made a cool $28 million from the Duchy of Cornwall in 2018.)

But now, the Duchy of Cornwall has been passed down to his eldest son, Prince William. And fortunately for King Charles, he now owns the Duchy of Lancaster.

Sang Tan/WPA Pool/Getty Images

3. What about the Duchy of Lancaster?

The Duchy of Lancaster, which His Majesty inherited from the queen, is another private estate that consists of over 45,000 acres of land in England and Wales. It includes commercial, agricultural and residential properties in places like Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire and Lincolnshire. Plus, it boasts a portfolio of financial investments.

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According to CNN Money, the duchy produced $26 million for the queen in 2018 alone, meaning that this was one of her main sources of income. We imagine this will be the case for King Charles during his reignbut its worth noting that these assets technically belong to the crown and will eventually be passed down to his descendants.

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4. How else does the king earn his money?

Theres also the Sovereign Grant, which are funds provided by the government to cover expenses like staff hires, castle maintenance, travel and security. According to the royal website, the funding comes from a percentage of the profits from the Crown Estate revenue. And just to give you an idea of how hefty that sum is, Forbes reported that the Crown Estate made 475 million in profits in 2020. The queen received 25 percent of that total, which means she got 86.3 million ($94 million).

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5. How much money did King Charles inherit from the queen?

Forbes reports that the queen had a whopping $500 million (!!!) in personal investments, so its believed that all those earnings were passed down to King Charles after her death. Not to mention, he also received her impressive art collection, her jewelry, her rare stamps and her real estate holdings, including the Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. But thats not all.

The king also inherited an additional $70 million in assets from the Queen Mother, which includes paintings, fine China, a stamp collection and jewels.

One things for sure: Kings Charless descendants are basically set for life.

12 Royal Rules King Charles III Has to Follow
Jackie Schmillen of Channel 5 We Are Iowa serves as the emcee during the 62nd Bill Riley Talent Search finals on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage at the Iowa State Fair in August.

Longtime local news personality and Good Morning Iowa co-anchor Jackie Schmillen is out at Local 5.

The morning show host, who was well-known in the metro for her on-air signature flair, left the local ABC station in early October.

The Cherokee, Iowa, native recently co-hosted the stations morning program alongside current anchor Chenue Her and meteorologist Brandon Lawrence. Schmillen has been a regular on central Iowa airwaves since 2011.

More:America's only Hmong anchorman Chenue Her looks back on his historic first year at Local 5

No details about the departure were listed on Schmillens social media pages or the station's website, which has scrubbed Schmillens biography.

In a written response, Local 5 management said that as a practice, the station does not "comment on personnel matters."

Update on Oct. 27: Schmillen is now the public affairs officer for the Iowa National Guard.

More:This Iowa reporter came out as transgender on TV. That's just the beginning of her story.

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Jackie Schmillen left Des Moines' Local 5 ABC station in early October
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2022 / NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT)(OTCQB:NSRCF) ("NextSource" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the development of its Molo Graphite Mine ("Molo mine") in Madagascar, management appointments and progress on its proposed Battery Anode Facility ("BAF") deployment plans.

The Company also announces the early exercise by Vision Blue Resources Limited ("Vision Blue") of 23,214,286 warrants acquired in May 2021 (see the Company's press release on May 19, 2021) for aggregate proceeds to the Company of approximately US$16.9 million.

Molo Mine Construction Update

The transport of all processing plant modules and supporting equipment to the Molo mine site has been completed. Re-assembly of the Processing Plant is in progress and will be followed by Site Acceptance Testing, which is the final step before commissioning.

Completion of construction activities and the start of mining activities is expected in November. Completion of plant commissioning is expected in December followed by a ramp up period prior to declaring commercial production. Phase 1 of the Molo Mine is designed to operate at a production capacity of 17,000 tonnes per annum.

Phase 1 is modular and can be incrementally expanded to provide additional feedstock for the Company's downstream initiatives.

Strengthening Management and Operations Team for Next Stage of Growth

The Company is pleased to announce an expansion of its senior management and mine operations teams with the addition of Danniel Stokes as Vice President, Special Projects, and Wilhelm Reitz as Mine Manager of the Molo Graphite Mine.

Mr. Stokes has more than 18 years of project management experience across a diverse portfolio of mining projects around the world. Mr. Stokes will be based in the UK and will be responsible for project management of the Molo Mine Phase 2 Expansion Feasibility Study and the BAF project.

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Prior to joining NextSource Materials, Mr. Stokes held senior management positions at the Nimba Iron Ore Project, ArcelorMittal Mining's PMO, and on international mining projects that include the Guinea Alumina Project, Ivanhoe's Oyu Tolgoi Copper/Gold Project in Mongolia, and the Resolution Copper Project in Arizona. Mr. Stokes holds degrees in business and engineering.

Mr. Reitz has 28 years of mine management experience in Africa and across a diverse range of critical minerals, metals and commodities, with specific graphite expertise, having served as the mine manager and technical advisor to two graphite operations in Madagascar.

President and CEO, Craig Scherba, commented,

"With the commissioning of the Molo mine anticipated to be just weeks away, we are executing on our strategy to become an integrated producer of graphite anode materials to supply the global automotive industry with a material that is critical to its electrification plans. The construction of the Molo mine is progressing well, and we expect to provide details on the location and economics of our first downstream battery anode facility by December.

I am delighted to welcome Danniel Stokes and Wilhelm Reitz to the NextSource team and, together with the additional investment by Vision Blue Resources, we are well positioned as we advance to our next stage of growth."

Battery Anode Facility (BAF)

With the completion of Phase 1 of the Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar, the Company is finalizing its plans to build several BAFs in sequence that will convert flake graphite into coated, spheronized and purified graphite ("CSPG"). The Company plans to construct BAFs with modular production capacities that can expand in lockstep with automotive demand, with each facility to be strategically positioned to serve key markets in Asia, North America, and Europe.

For the past several months, the Company has undertaken a comprehensive process to shortlist optimal locations for its first BAF, and through this process has selected a location. An economic/costing study ("the Study") on the capital and operating costs in respect of the first BAF is expected to be completed in November 2022 and the Company will share details of the location and the Study results shortly thereafter. It is anticipated that the BAF will take approximately 12 months to complete once a construction decision has been made by the Company.

CSPG is the final form of graphite that is used as anode material, which is assembled along with cathode material and other components into finished lithium-ion batteries, used by automobile manufacturers for electric vehicles. The Company has an exclusive technical partnership agreement to produce CSPG using proprietary and well-established processing technology that currently supplies major EV automotive companies, including the Tesla and Toyota supply chains.

Exercise of Warrants by Vision Blue Resources for Proceeds of US$16.9M

The Company is pleased to announce the early exercise by Vision Blue of 23,214,286 common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") at a price of C$1.00 per common share that were set to expire on May 19, 2023 for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$23,214,286 (approximately US$16.9M). The subscription notice was received by the Company on October 25, 2022 and the estimated US Dollar equivalent is based on the posted exchange rate as of October 24, 2022. The exercise of the Warrants is expected to be completed on or around October 31, 2022.

Prior to the exercise of the Warrants, Vision Blue has beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over 35,214,286 common shares, 23,214,286 Warrants, 15,000 restricted share units (each, an "RSU"), entitling the holder to acquire one common share for no additional consideration and expiring on June 30, 2024, and 150,000 stock options (each, an "Option"), entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of C$3.60 per share and expiring on March 19, 2024, representing approximately 34.57% of the outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis and approximately 46.78% on a partially diluted basis. As a result of the exercise of the Warrants the Company's issued share capital will increase to 125,086,900 outstanding common shares and Vision Blue will have beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over 58,428,572 common shares, 15,000 RSUs and 150,000 Options, representing approximately 46.71% of the outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis and approximately 46.78% on a partially diluted basis (in the event that Vision Blue exercises its outstanding options and RSUs).

Vision Blue is acquiring the common shares for investment purposes and intends to review its investment in NextSource on a continuing basis. Vision Blue may, depending on market and other conditions, increase or decrease its beneficial ownership, control or direction, over securities of NextSource through market transactions, private agreements, treasury issuances or otherwise. Vision Blue's head office is located at Third Floor, 1 Le Truchot, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1WD.

For more information, or to obtain a copy of the subject early warning report, please contact:

Sir Mick Davis

info@vision-blue.com

+44 (0)2073899512

About VISION BLUE RESOURCES LIMITED

Vision Blue was founded in December 2020 by Sir Mick Davis to identify and capture opportunities in battery and technology minerals linked to EVs & Grid Storage growth.

Vision Blue targets companies in established mining jurisdictions, with well-advanced and best-inclass battery material assets that are scalable and can be brought into production rapidly. Vision Blue aims to work with existing management teams to provide critical growth capital, technical support, experience in securing future finance, and ultimately the delivery of an exit strategy. Where possible, Vision Blue utilizes a phased development approach based upon self-financed expansion to achieve large scale revenue and cash flows across the entire battery materials vertical supply chain. For further information about Vision Blue visit their website at www.vision-blue.com.

About NextSource Materials Inc.

NextSource Materials Inc. is a strategic materials development company based in Toronto, Canada that is intent on becoming a fully integrated, global supplier of critical battery and technology materials needed to power the sustainable energy revolution.

The Company's Molo graphite project in Madagascar is one of the largest known and highest-quality graphite deposits globally, and the only one with SuperFlake graphite. Construction of Phase 1 of the Molo Project is underway, with the start of mining activities expected in November 2022, and completion of plant commissioning expected in early December 2022.

NextSource Materials is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "NEXT" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "NSRCF".

For further information about NextSource visit our website at www.nextsourcematerials.com or contact us a +1.416.364.4911 or email Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President at brent@nextsourcematerials.com or Craig Scherba, President & CEO at craig@nextsourcematerials.com.

Safe Harbour: This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding, among others, timing of on-site construction including the processing plant and installation thereof, delivery and installation of the auxiliary buildings and structures, delivery and construction of the Solar Hybrid Battery System, shipping of all plant infrastructure to site, all re-assembly and commissioning of the Molo Project, completion and initiation of a Phase 2 mine expansion and BAF Feasibility Study respectively, and timing of its completion, production capacity, NPV, IRR and life of mine of the Molo mine, timing of the FEED Study and Feasibility Study, site selection of a BAF, as well as the Company's intent on becoming a fully integrated global supplier of critical battery and technology materials. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive there from. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/722053/NextSource-Materials-Announces-Molo-Mine-Update-Management-Appointments-and-Exercise-of-Warrants-by-Vision-Blue-Resources-for-Proceeds-of-US169M




New Yorks celebrity population will have to find a new hot spot to frequent: The nightclub 1 Oak has been evicted from its location in the Meatpacking District.

Apparently, the clubwhich has been closed since the start of the pandemicowes almost $1.8 million in back rent, according to court records reviewed by the New York Post. Last year, its rent increased to more than $72,000 a month, which has been unpaid by the club without the building being turned over to the landlord, N.E.W. Corp. In response, the landlord evicted 1 Oak, which was completely unaware that it would be kicked out of the building, a representative told the Post.

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Richie Akiva, one of the clubs co-owners, said in January 2021 that 1 Oak would come back in full force, and his team said that they had been working with the landlord to find a solution and reopen the club. But it seems that money issues have stood in the way of that comeback.

Despite Akivas company getting more than $1.52 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic, he hasnt had access to that money due to a dispute with his corporate partner the Katz Group. Because of that conflict, JPMorgan Chase froze the clubs bank accounts, meaning it couldnt pay rent, Akivas attorney Julian Perlman told the New York Post.

Richie has been trying to reopen these clubs and still hopes to do that, but you cant do that when your bank unilaterally freezes your accounts, without a court order, Perlman said. 1OakNY could reopen tomorrow, as Richie has been trying to do, if it could just have access to its own money.

Over the years, 1 Oak has attracted a celebrity clientele including stars such as Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X, Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna. And Akiva has been a longtime name on the nightlife scene: He opened the NYC restaurant Butter in 2002, and 1 Oak has locations in cities all over the world, including Los Angeles, London and Tokyo.

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Without 1 Oak to turn to, maybe Akivas celebrity pals will decide to party at one of his other ventures, such as the Ned Nomad members club. It might not be as clubby as 1 Oak was, but it still offers the exclusive vibe that spot sold.

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The state of Iowa dished out $238,000 in unemployment compensation to people who were either incarcerated or dead, according to a new report.

Iowa Workforce Development issued the payments because agency officials were not using or checking systems designed to detect fraud, according to the review State Auditor Rob Sand released Tuesday. The annual report examined practices by the agency during the fiscal year that ended in June 2020, about three months into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps more than any other government agency, Iowa Workforce Development was inundated during those months as hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs amid shutdowns ordered while the deadly virus began to sweep through the state. During a 15-week period beginning that March, 365,000 people filed unemployment claims with the state. That's more than the 285,000 claims that the state received in all of the previous two years.

Amid that crunch, the state did not run claims through a computer system to check whether applicants' personal information matched those of inmates, according to the audit. Among other reasons, an inmate is ineligible for unemployment because a federal law requires that a recipient be "available for work."

Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson Jesse Dougherty said in an email that agency employees stopped performing the cross match in the early days of the pandemic. Those employees processed unemployment claims and worked in customer service instead. The agency resumed checking inmate information in February 2021.

Agency investigators realized that eight claimants from the prior fiscal year had received benefits despite being in jail or prison, receiving about $113,000 from the state.

Iowa Workforce Development headquarters in Des Moines' East Village.

The report also found that Iowa Workforce Development employees during the pandemic's first months did not detect six claimants who used the Social Security numbers of dead people, receiving about $125,000. The state typically checks information from claimants against data provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration, including a list of Social Security numbers for dead people.

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According to the report, many investigators dropped the task as Iowa Workforce Development reassigned workers to process new claims and respond to questions from workers.

In a response to the audit, an unnamed Iowa Workforce Development official wrote that the U.S. Department of Labor told state agencies to prioritize getting payments to workers above other functions. Iowa Workforce Development increased the number of workers in its unemployment insurance division to about 475 from 140. The agency reported that it received about 25,000 customer service calls a day during the period, up from about 1,000 calls a day before the pandemic.

"Moving all resources to processing claims and providing customer service ensured we were paying all eligible claimants in the quickest time possible as we were directed to do and in line with our priorities," the official wrote in the response.

The agency said investigators are checking Social Security information again. The agency also receives information about deceased people from the Iowa Department of Public Health, according to the report.

Iowa Workforce Development said in a statement that the U.S. Department of Labor accepted its explanations for the questioned expenses.

The audit did not specify whether the state recovered any of the $238,000 it paid. Overall, Iowa paid about $460 million out of its unemployment trust fund from March through June 2020, according to its account with the U.S. Treasury Department.

The labor department's Office of Inspector General concluded earlier this year that states improperly paid out about $163 billion in unemployment benefits during the pandemic, most of it the result of fraud.

Andrew Stettner, a policy analyst at the Century Foundation, previously told the Des Moines Register that Iowa was likely not a target for widescale fraud, given how much more easily a criminal could hide fake claims amid a much larger stack of cases in more populous states like California or New York.

Ottumwa couple indicted for tax, unemployment fraud

Also Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced that a federal grand jury had indicted an Iowa father and daughter on 60 counts last week, including charges that they had defrauded Iowa Workforce Development.

According to a news release, 47-year-old Thein Maung and 20-year-old Phyo Mi prepared and filed hundreds of fraudulent federal tax returns in Ottumwa. Maung and Mi allegedly put false information on the returns, reporting to the federal government that clients should receive inflated returns because of federal energy credits or business expense deductions that they weren't actually eligible for.

The father and daughter directed that some of the claimed refunds be deposited into bank accounts they operated, setting them up to receive about $140,000 from the federal government, according to the news release.

Maung and Mi also filed unemployment insurance claims on behalf of some customers, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. According to the release, the filings directed Iowa Workforce Development to send $70,000 in benefits to Maung and Mi's bank accounts.

The grand jury indicted each of them on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 14 counts of wire fraud. The grand jury also indicted Maung on 30 counts of preparing and presenting a false tax return and five counts of willful failure to file return. Mi faces 10 counts of preparing and presenting a false tax return.

According to the release, the father and daughter, if convicted, each face up to 20 years in prison.

Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Audit: Iowa unemployment payments went to inmates, dead people
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the CSTO summit in Moscow on May 16, 2022. Getty Images

Russian President Putin on Tuesday admitted his country faces "issues" from the war in Ukraine.

Per an AFP translation of the speech, Putin referred to "economic difficulties" in Russia.

Putin also told his team to speed up the decision-making process in the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday admitted his country faces "issues" in the Ukraine war, and told his team to speed up the decision-making process in the conflict.

But his remarks  which were made in Russian, and were televised  appear to have been translated differently by news organizations.

"Now we are faced with the need to more rapidly resolve issues associated with providing support for the special military operation and the need to counter economic restrictions that were imposed on us, which are truly unprecedented without any exaggeration," Putin told a newly formed Coordination Council, which was set up to improve support for the invasion of Ukraine, according to an official transcript from the Kremlin.

Putin's remarks have been translated differently by the AFP and Reuters, both of which have operations in Russia. While the Kremlin wrote that Putin used the phrase "economic restrictions," the AFP reported that Putin said Russia was facing "economic difficulties" due to sanctions over the war.

Video: Putin signs decree annexing 4 regions of eastern Ukraine

The difference in translations is notable because if Putin did indeed use the words "economic restrictions," the wording marks a departure from Putin's usual line of statements that indicate Russia is holding up well under sanctions.

Putin's comments, which came eight months after the invasion of Ukraine, were seen as acknowledging challenges Russia has been facing on the ground.

They also came days after the Russian central bank issued several reports in October that acknowledged a challenging environment for the country's economy, even though it had seemed to be propped up by firm energy prices.

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Putin's partial mobilization of the country's 300,000 military reservists in September created new challenges for production processes and output maintenance, according to a Russian central bank report released last week. The exercise is also expected to "negatively affect consumer and business confidence," the central bank said.

"The recovery of economic activity stalled in September," the research department of the central bank wrote. By the end of the month, the economic conditions had worsened, it added.

Putin's address to his coordination council came two days after Russia's defense minister accused Ukraine of preparing to use radioactive "dirty bombs"  sparking concerns about an escalation in the war.

The US, the UK, and France rejected Russia's allegation about "dirty bombs" in a joint statement, saying Russia's "transparently false allegations" were "a pretext for escalation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Charlie Crist and Ron DeSantis

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called gender-affirming care chemical castration and defended the states dont say gay law in a Monday debate with his Democratic challenger, Charlie Crist.

DeSantis, a Republican with presidential ambitions, has taken many anti-LGBTQ+ stances. When they say gender-affirming care, they mean giving puberty blockers to teenage girls and teenage boys, he said in the debate. Florida regulators are considering banning gender-affirming care for youth.

He said doctors are chemically castrating young boys. He added, A lot of kids go through a lot of different things. A lot of the dysphoria resolves itself by the time they become adults.

However, studies have indicated that people who initiate gender-affirming care as teens continue with it into adulthood. Also, the effects of puberty blockers are reversible once young people go off them.

DeSantis went on to decry top surgery for trans boys, saying, Its inappropriate to be doing that.

Breast augmentation or reduction is more common among teens than mastectomies.

Crist, a former governor and congressman, responded by turning the conversation to abortion rights, which he supports and DeSantis opposes. This reminds me of your position on a womans right to choose: You think you know better than any physician or any doctor  or any woman in a position to make decisions about their own personal health. You want to be the judge, he said.

DeSantis also defended the so-called dont say gay legislation he signed into law this year, restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, and other legislation that restricts instruction about racism. The governor said it was a question of parental rights, appropriateness of curricula, and not encouraging hate.

Crist responded, Here you go again, Ron. Its all about culture wars, its all about dividing us  whether its Blacks against whites, whether its gay and straight, whether its young versus old.

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The debate covered a wide range of other topics, including economic issues, DeSantiss presidential hopes, and his sending of immigrants to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts.

Watch the debate below.
As far as luxury fleeces go, cashmere has the name recognition. But if its true exclusivity youre after, Escorial wool cant be beat.

It comes from a small flock of sheep found only in Australia and New Zealand, and is prized for its natural elasticity, light weight and superior insulation. These attributes owe to the wools short, curly fibers, which allow it to bounce back and retain shape while remaining remarkably soft to the touch.

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However, theres a reason we arent all draped in Escorial wool 24/7. As Escorial Group chairman Peter Radford explains, it has to do with the wools highly specific pedigree.

Escorial fiber comes from a purebred small sheep that descends from the flock once owned by the king of Spain, Radford tells Robb Report. Today, the flocks that supply Escorial are direct descendants of his flock with the same bloodlines and the wool exhibits the same characteristics.

How said sheep ended up in Australia and New Zealand is a centuries-long saga that spans the Reconquista, the Napoleonic wars and WWII. The flocks are believed to have originated in North Africa in the 14th century and were brought to Spain by the Moors. Following the Moorish defeat at the hands of the Spanish over the next century, the sheep became royal property and were grazed outside of El Escorial Palace in Madrid, earning their name.

Joshua Ellis uses Escorial wool for scarves, blankets and other fine products.

Once the advantageous properties of their fleece were recognized, a royal decree forbid the transport of Escorial sheep out of Spain. This held until 1765, when King Charles III gifted 100 Escorial sheep to his cousin the Elector of Saxony. After Napoleons invasion of Spain dispersed the royal flocks, the Saxon contingent was the last Escorial flock still standing.

The flock would move again in 1829, when a Scottish woman transported 120 of the choicest animals to Australia. As the Saxon flocks were lost during WWII, all Escorial wool today comes from the descendants of this small contingent and is sourced exclusively by the Escorial Group, which Radford founded in 1998.

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In comparison, there are 170 million Merino sheep, 150 million cashmere goats, 1 million vicuna and 50,000 Escorial sheep, Radford says of the wools rarity.

Unsurprisingly, Escorial has become a favorite fabric among accessories makers like Joshua Ellis, which for a decade has utilized the wool in its scarves, throws and stoles. And while a longtime preserve of bespoke tailors, its more recently been realized in ready-to-wear tailoring by American designer Sid Mashburn.

The first time I felt it I was like whoa. The wool of an Escorial sheep is really made for clothing, says Mashburn of its advantages in tailoring. Part of the beauty is that its super soft to the touch and has coiled fibers that naturally resist wrinkling. The result is something that is durable and elegant at the same time.

Sid Mashburn makes a plain-weave suit (left) and a twill jacket from Escorial wool.

Fittingly for its provenance, Mashburn employed the wool in his Kincaid Model No. 4 suit and jacketthe highest level of make his eponymous label offers.

Because its a finer wool, and the jacket (or at least our jacket) really has a traditional, or sartorial construction it requires more handwork from an experienced tailorwho has spent years working with higher quality materials, Mashburn says.

And though each product is offered at a higher price point than the labels existing tailoring, Mashburn says that his clients appreciate the premium.

Weve had a couple of guys hop on it, just on the touch alone. Its more expensive than our typical suit, both in the make and in the fabric itself but once a guy tries it on, its easy to understand its appeal, he says.

As you might expect, the raw wool requires a specialized manufacturing process to be turned into fabric, which is carried out by the Escorial Groups partners in Italy and the UK. But for all that special treatment, Radford says that its remarkably resilient and easy to care for, pointing to an Escorial wool Brioni jacket that hes owned since 1998 and simply brushes once every few months.

An Escorial garment is a fantastic investment as it lasts so long, he continues. It is sustainable luxury at its best.

Heres hoping that the flocks have another 700 years of history ahead of them.

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Chicago Man Quietly Left Behind $11 Million  The Largest Unclaimed Estate In American History

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A Chicago man who died in 2016 secretly left behind $11 million, marking the largest unclaimed estate in the country.

Joseph Stancak's 119 relatives have received the millions, the Office of Illinois State Treasurer said in a news release earlier this month.

A majority of his family members live in Poland and Slovakia, the state treasurer said, noting that his parents were also born in Poland. However, seven relatives were located in the Chicago area while others were found in New Jersey, New York and Minnesota.

Stancak was found dead in his home in the Gage Park neighborhood on Dec. 23, 2016. He was 87.

RELATED: Car Found Buried in Yard of $15 Million Calif. Home Is a Mercedes Benz Convertible Reported Stolen in 1992

"Little is known about how Mr. Stancak accumulated such wealth so quietly, although he did own a boat named "Easy," "the agency added.

He never had any children. Though he had seven siblings, they all died before him and they did not have children either.

"Because Mr. Stancak and his siblings never had children, the Stancak estate had to identify family through his parents  essentially going up the family tree before going back down," the treasurer's office said.

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Treasurer Michael Frerichs added of Stancak's relatives, "This is a life-changing amount of money. I only wish we knew more about Mr. Stancak.

"It is unclear how Mr. Stancak accumulated such wealth," the agency continued. "In 2019, a variety of investments began to be turned over to the treasurer's office as unclaimed property; such investments typically are surrendered if the owner has not had contact in three years and the investment firm is unable to locate the owner."

Stancak's neighbors told CBS News that he was a quiet man who did not spend a ton of money and even repaired his home himself.

RELATED VIDEO: Teacher Finds Fossil That Could Be 300 Million Years Old While Walking Dog on Beach: 'Incredible'

Attorney Kenneth Piercy is serving as the administrator of Stancak's estate. He got the treasurer's office attention after he filed a claim and the agency spotted the high amount. "It is a great privilege to be able to assist the heirs in collecting their rightful inheritance," Piercey said in the release.

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Piercy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment but he told Block Club Chicago that the records go back "five generations deep" and include "living cousins once or twice removed in many countries."

"In my office I have a scroll 15 feet long that can go across the entire room," Piercey told the outlet. "I've never seen a case this complicated before."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The treasurer's office defines unclaimed property as money left sitting in a bank account for years, life insurance benefits that haven't been paid out, or items left in a safe deposit box.

Before Stancak's estate became the largest in unpaid property, the highest amount was $8.1 million, which went to a suburban car parts manufacturer, the treasurer's office said. The highest amount given to one person was $5 million to a woman in Cook County back in 2013.
Doctors are taking aim at the fossil fuels industry, placing blame for the worlds most dire health problems on the companies that continue to seek oil and gas profits even as climate change worsens heat waves, intensifies flooding and roils peoples mental health.

The burning of fossil fuels is creating a health crisis that I cant fix by the time I see patients in my emergency department, said Dr. Renee Salas, summarizing the findings of a report published Tuesday in The Lancet. Fossil fuel companies are making record profits while my patients suffer from their downstream health harms.

Salas, an emergency medical physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, is one of nearly 100 authors who contributed to the prestigious medical journals annual report on climate change and health.

The report accuses fossil fuel purveyors  and the governments that subsidize them  of subverting efforts to deliver a low carbon, healthy, liveable future and demands that world leaders pursue a health-centered approach to solving the climate crisis.

The reports theme reflects a growing frustration and helplessness expressed by medical professionals left to deal with the impacts of climate change as world leaders struggle to address the root cause.

The report highlights the harm the fossil fuel industry has really wreaked in creating this crisis, said Dr. Jerry Abraham, the director and chief vaccinologist at Kedren Community Health Center in Los Angeles, who was not involved in writing the report. Foe is a harsh word, but it has to be used.

As in previous reports, the 2022 Lancet Countdown paints a grim picture of how climate change is threatening peoples health and the care systems that are supposed to help manage it, calling its latest findings the direst yet. This years report leaves little ambiguity about who the doctors view as responsible for the harms and stresses they feel in clinics.

The annual report catalogs the health impacts of change worldwide and a separate policy brief outlines impacts in the U.S.

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According to these reports:

Heat-related deaths worldwide have increased by about 68% since the beginning of the millennium, according to data comparing 2000-04 to 2017-21, when the issue was made worse by Covid-19. Extreme heat was linked to 98 million cases of hunger worldwide. In the U.S., heat-related deaths for people over age 65 are estimated to have increased by about 74% during that same time period.

Tiny particles released into the air as pollution during fossil fuel use were responsible for 1.2 million deaths in 2020. About 11,840 U.S. deaths were attributable to particulate air pollution, according to Salas.

Changes in temperature, precipitation and population since the 1950s have increased the transmissibility of diseases spread by mosquitoes, with dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika all up by roughly 12%. In the U.S., the transmissibility of dengue fever was about 64% higher.

Climate change is taking a toll on mental health. Theres strong evidence that climate change is associated with more depression, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, said Natasha K. DeJarnett, a lead author of the U.S. policy brief and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Louisville.

There are some hopeful signs. The report notes growth in renewable energy investment, increasing media coverage of climate change and growing engagement from government leaders on health-centered climate policies. But the report warns that inequities could weaken progress.

Abraham, who serves patients in South Los Angeles, said he sees the effects associated with climate change in his clinic regularly  including children suffering from asthma, older patients dealing with heat-related health issues and others coming down with pollution-linked diseases like cancer.

He worries that inequities will grow and that some people will be left behind as the U.S. invests in electrification and decarbonization.

My patients in South L.A.  Black and brown L.A.  theyre going to be some of the most vulnerable. Many dont have air conditioning and were dealing with rising temperatures and heat waves, Abraham said, adding that the price of healthy food is rising and so are transportation costs. Imagine having all this investment in electricity, but our patients have to get their beat-up Chevy to the gas station and contribute to the climate crisis to go and pick our food.

On a broader scale, the report warns that wealthy countries have fallen behind on helping the poorest countries, which often are among the most at risk for health problems because of climate change and who have the least responsibility for creating the problem.

The Lancet Countdown is published each year before the annual U.N. conference on climate change, called COP27 this year and scheduled to be held in Egypt in early November.

After flooding left one-third of Pakistan underwater and killed thousands, the nation is among those calling for climate reparations  a topic sure to surface during the global climate talks.

Its going to be a big issue at COP  loss and damages, said Carol Devine, who works on climate issues for Doctors Without Borders.

Devine said that if wealthy countries do not follow through on previous commitments and add funding to bolster health systems in poorer countries to help them adapt to climate change, humanitarian organizations are going to be overwhelmed.

The health care industry also has a responsibility to eliminate its own contributions to climate change, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association. Health care organizations are responsible for about 5.2% of global emissions and about 8% in the U.S., according to the Lancet reports.

We can begin to work a lot more aggressively with revitalizing our hospitals and getting them off the use of fossil fuels, Benjamin said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The claim: Image shows an unidentified young man who was hit by a car

Social media users are sharing a pair of images they claim show the consequences of a recent car crash.

The first picture shows a man lying in a hospital bed, while the other appears to show first responders tending to a car crash victim.

"Please help! This young man hit by a car few hours ago (sic) here in Putnam Valley," reads the caption of one Oct. 20 Facebook post. "We couldnt find any ID on him and he is still unconscious. Please help bump this post so that his friends or family may find him."

The post, which garnered more than 70 shares in six days, has its comments turned off. A similar post claiming the incident occurred in Belton, Texas, was shared more than 600 times in one day before it was deleted.

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The pair of pictures have been shared widely on other Facebook groups as well, with versions of the post claiming the accident occurred in towns such as Fairbanks, Alaska; Eudora, Kansas; and Dade City, Florida. Iterations of the post have also been shared on Instagram.

The claims are false. A spokesperson for the Belton Police Department said the posts are a hoax. The man in the picture is an online content creator named Alex Stokes who landed in the hospital in 2019 after his appendix ruptured.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment.

Image dates back to 2019

Candice Griffin, a Belton Police Department spokesperson, told USA TODAY in an email that no such incident took place in Belton. Griffin pointed to the numerous locations cited in the posts as proof that the claim was fictitious.

Online content creators the Stokes Twins shared the first picture included in the post on Facebook in 2019. It features one of the twins, Alex Stokes, lying in a hospital bed in the emergency room.

"Hey guys, Alan here... Alex was rushed into the emergency room last night," reads the post's caption. "Please have him in your thoughts and prayers."

Story continues

Fact check: False claim of serial killer stabbing victims in Missoula, Montana

The twins later published a video on their YouTube channel where they revealed Alex Stokes had suffered from a burst appendix. Neither the video nor the Facebook post mentions a car crash.

USA TODAY was unable to verify the source of the second photo.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that an image shows an unidentified young man who got hit by a car. A spokesperson for the Belton Police Department said the posts making the claim are hoaxes. The man in the picture is an online content creator named Alex Stokes who landed in the hospital in 2019 after his appendix ruptured.

Our fact-check sources:

Stokes Twins, Feb. 14, 2019, Facebook post

Stokes Twins, Feb. 17, 2019, How My Twin Brother Almost Died (YouTube)

Candice Griffin, Oct. 18, Email exchange with USA TODAY

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim that image shows unidentified man hit by a car
Amid repeated accusations between the warring parties that the other one plans to escalate their conflict by using a non-conventional weapon, President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned Russia it would be a "serious mistake'' to detonate a nuclear arm.

For the last three days the Russians have been making unsubstantiated accusations that Kyiv intends to launch a so-called dirty bomb, which causes terror by scattering radioactive waste when it explodes. The Ukrainians have responded by saying Moscow is establishing a pretext for using a nuclear weapon in a war it's losing on the battlefield.

Biden said it's not clear whether the Kremlin is trying to set the stage for a nuclear attack, but repeated previous warnings from his administration against such a move.

Let me just say, Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake if it were to use a tactical nuclear weapon, Biden said. Im not guaranteeing you that its a false-flag operation yet -- don't know -- but it would be a serious, serious mistake.

Earlier in the day, Ukraines nuclear energy operator said Russian forces were performing secret work at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant -- the largest of its kind in Europe -- raising concerns they might be preparing a radiological attack.

UKRAINE SHOOTING DOWN DRONES: Up to 85% of Russia's killer drones reportedly shot down by Ukraine. Live updates

Other developments:

European Union leaders brought together experts to work on what German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called a new Marshall Plan for rebuilding Ukraine, a reference to the U.S.-sponsored program that helped revive Western Europe after World War II.

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his government to cut through bureaucracy to crank out enough weapons and equipment to provide troops fighting in Ukraine.

Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk appealed to citizens staying abroad not to return for the winter to conserve power that has been reduced by Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

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In a delayed visit to Kyiv, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his country would help rebuild destroyed Ukrainian towns right away and send more advanced weapons. In April, Ukraine made it clear Steinmeier was not welcome because of his previous support of closer ties with Russia, which he later said was a mistake.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the U.S.-led West of increasing arms supplies and providing intelligence to the Kyiv regime in an effort to "destroy our centuries-old national statehood."

GRINER 'VERY NERVOUS': Brittney Griner's drug charges appeal in Russia: What we know

Progressive Democrats take back request that Biden negotiate end to Russia's war

Facing swift backlash for their timing and message, 30 progressive House Democrats on Tuesday withdrew the letter they sent President Joe Biden the day before urging him to negotiate an end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Coming two weeks before the midterm elections and amid Russia's increasingly desperate attempts to reverse course on the battlefield, the letter appeared to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine, pressing Biden to pursue "a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.''

Many fellow Democrats and Ukrainian officials, who have said Russian President Vladimir Putin won't negotiate in good faith, denounced the letter, prompting the stunning reversal. Biden has maintained that it's up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to decide the terms of a peace deal with Russia.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chairwoman of the Progressive Caucus, said in a statement the letter was written months ago and required further vetting before its release. She also sought to distance its contents from last week's comments by GOP House Leader Kevin McCarthy that Republicans won't give Ukraine a "blank check'' if they retake the House.

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 who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian forces, Jayapal's statement said.

Members of Ukrainian National Guard push a mortar launcher at a position along the front line in Kharkiv region on October 25, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK / AFP) (Photo by SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_32M643L.jpg

Ukraine destroying Russian attack helicopters

Russia's fleet of attack helicopters is taking a beating at the hands of Ukraine's portable air defense systems, the British Defense Ministry said in its most recent assessment of the war.

There have been at least 23 verified losses of Russias Ka-52 HOKUM attack helicopters in Ukraine since the invasion, representing more than 25% of Russia's fleet of 90, the assessment says. Dozens of other helicopters also have been shot down.

"Russia is still failing to maintain adequate air superiority in order to reliably carry out effective (airplane) support near the front line," the assessment says. "And its artillery ammunition is running low."

Russian commanders are likely resorting to high-risk attack helicopter missions as one of the few options available to provide close support for troops in combat, the assessment says.

White House blasts 'sham' Russian appeal hearing in Griner case

A Russian court's rejection of Brittney Griner's appeal of a nine-year prison sentence for drug possession means the WNBA basketball star will "continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding today," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Sullivan said the administration was continuing to talk with Russian officials about a possible prisoner swap, and he lauded Griner's family for "courage in the face of these unimaginable circumstances."

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said the Russian court dispensed a quick resolution, unlike the appeals process in U.S. federal courts.

"Griners best hope now appears to be some form of prisoner swap with Russia," he said.

Griner, who appeared in a Moscow-area courtroom via video link from a cell at her detention facility, was arrested Feb. 17 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport. Griner, 32, said she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. One week after her arrest, Russia invaded Ukraine, and U.S.-Russia relations sank to a near-historic low, complicating efforts to free her.

IAEA to inspect two Ukrainian nuke plants after 'dirty bomb' claims

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the agency is preparing to inspect two Ukrainian nuclear facilities amid Russias claims that Ukraine is developing a dirty bomb.

Ukraine requested the inspection after its nuclear energy company Energoatom claimed that Russia was carrying out unauthorized construction work near the Zaporizhzhia plant's Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility. Energoatom warned that destruction of containers stored there could lead to radiation contamination over hundreds of square miles.

Chechnyan leader wants Ukraine cities 'wiped off the face of the Earth'

The Kremlin-backed head of the Russian region of Chechnya says the Russian military should destroy Ukraine cities in retaliation for Ukrainian shelling of Russian towns along the border.

Authorities in Russias Kursk and Belgorod regions have reported Ukrainian shelling that damaged infrastructure and residential buildings. Ramzan Kadyrov said on Telegram that if a "shell flies into our region, entire cities must be wiped off the face of the Earth so that they dont ever think that they can fire in our direction.

Kadyrov has been a frequent critic of the Russian military effort. Earlier this month, Kadyrov said Colonel-General Alexander Lapin should be fired after retreating from the Donetsk-region city of Lyman.

"If I had my way I would have demoted Lapin to private, would have deprived him of his awards and would have sent him to the front line to wash off his shame with the rifle in his hands," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Russian helicopters downed; Griner loses appeal
STORY: A mobile Ukrainian mortar unit set out to destroy Russian APC and infantry, according to mortar battery commander, callsign Khimik.

Aerial reconnaissance reported that the enemy is moving an APC and set up an observation post with enemy infantry. The mission was to eliminate enemy military vehicles and infantry to prevent their attack on our positions," he told Reuters.

The enemy has counter-battery systems which quickly detect wherefrom the artillery is firing, and they target (the positions) with counter-battery fire. So, were working very fast while migrating: we head out, do the work, and leave the position.
NBC

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) is not letting her imminent departure from Congress stop her from lobbing digs at House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), arguing in a Sunday interview that hes positioning himself as the leader of the pro-Putin wing of the Republican Party.

Cheney cast doubt on a potential McCarthy speakership in a Meet the Press interview on Sunday, saying his comments on potentially cutting future aid to Ukraine if the Republicans seize control of the House should be disqualifying.

At every moment since, frankly, the aftermath of the election in 2020, when Minority Leader McCarthy has had the opportunity to do the right thing or do something that serves his own political purpose, he always chooses to serve his own political purpose, she told Chuck Todd.

We Need to Stop Calling Far-Right Extremists Conservatives

The idea that somehow the party is now no longer going to support the Ukrainian people, whichfor somebody who has the picture of Ronald Reagan on the wall on his office in the Capitol, the notion that now Kevin McCarthy is going to make himself the leader of the pro-Putin wing of my party is just a stunning thing. Its dangerous, he knows better.

Last week, McCarthy threw cold water on the U.S. unflinching support for the embattled nation, saying Republicans could limit aid to the country if they reclaim the House in the midterms next month.

I think people are going to be sitting in a recession, and theyre not going to write a blank check to Ukraine, he told Punchbowl News last week. Ukraine is important, but at the same time, it cant be the only thing they do, and it cant be a blank check.

Cheney said his comments are indicative of his own political selfishness and stand in the way of American ideals.

The fact that hes willing to go down the path of suggesting that America will no longer stand for freedom, I think, tells you hes willing to sacrifice everything for his own political gain, she said.

Story continues

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Courtesy of Dan Roper

PHOENIXA shadowy right-wing group has launched a scary vigilante campaign in the battleground state of Arizona that has attracted police attention and put Democratic leaders and voters on edge just days before midterm elections.

The anonymous group, which calls itself Ben Sent Us, a reference to Ben Franklin, has mailed out threatening letters en masse to more than a dozen county-level Democratic Party chairpersons in the state, vowing that members will be locating your homes and warning that those who are seen as allowing election fraud will be considered a traitor and dealt with accordingly, as will you. Ordinary residents in the state have also reported being targeted with ominous election fliers that warn someone is watching them.

Its unclear whos behind the propaganda campaign, but law enforcement agencies are taking the threats seriously after armed men in masks and tactical gear intimidated, filmed, and followed scared voters outside a ballot drop box in Maricopa County last week.

The website for Ben Sent Us, which was registered overseas on Aug. 30, doesnt provide any clues as to whos in charge. The page is hosted through OrangeWebsite, which is best known for being an anti-censorship registrar where youll find a host of alt-right, scam, and other sites on the platform as it allows payment in bitcoin.

Indivisible Tucson Action Alliance

The website contains a video that depicts a man being hanged as text on the screen reads, When youre texting, we are watching. When youre making the drop, we are watching. A printable flier on the website also depicts a noose.

Whether its a prank or a credible threat, the letters and fliers have spooked politicians and voters across the Grand Canyon State. The group responsible was cited four times in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Phoenix. The suit goes after Clean Elections USA founder Melody Jennings, who organized the efforts to gather at ballot drop boxes in Maricopa County and has promoted Ben Sent Us on social media.

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Complaints Detail All the Disturbing Ways Vigilantes Are Menacing Arizona Voters

Brian Bickel, chairman of the Election Integrity Commission in Pima County, described the letter he received as derogatory, inflammatory and intimidating.

His colleague on the board, Misty Atkins, had a similar reaction.

It was intimidating, Atkins told The Daily Beast. It was clearly meant to scare Democratic voters away, because it was addressed to the Democratic Party. I was so shocked when I read it.

The letters draw inspiration from conservative commentator Dinesh DSousas discredited documentary 2000 Mules and the right-wing ecosystem of debunked ballot conspiracies that accompanies it. Arizona Senator Raquel Teran, who chairs the Arizona Democratic Party, blamed the states slate of Donald Trump-endorsed political newcomers for allowing groups like Ben Sent Us to crop up in Arizona.

The recently reported voter intimidation in Arizona is a direct result of the blatant lies Republicans like Blake Masters, Kari Lake, Mark Finchem and Abe Hamadeh are spewing about our elections, Teran said, referring to the states GOP nominees for U.S. senator, governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

Arizona Democratic Party spokesperson Morgan Dick confirmed several Democrats, including Teran, received threatening letters from Ben Sent Us in recent weeks. She said she filed a report with the FBI. An FBI spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

It certainly is very scary for anyone to receive that sort of threatening language, Dick said.

Just ask Tucson resident Dan Roper, who was alarmed to find a creepy election flier stuck to his carand many others in the lotat a movie theater on Sept. 24. The note read Im watching you

I think its a pretty obvious attempt to intimidate people and promote completely baseless claims of election fraud, Roper said. Some people spend their Saturday knocking on doors to help elect a candidate, while this group spent theirs trying to scare people.

Roper said its untenable to make Arizonans afraid that theyre being watched at the polls and in their daily lives, or that their vote wont count even when theyve done nothing wrong.

The group engaged in similar leafletting campaigns around the same time in Flagstaff and Tempe, a major city in the Phoenix metro.

We are aware of these flyers, Tempe Police Officer Thomas Byron Jr. said. At this time, we are looking into this incident and will continue to monitor for similar and related incidents.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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BERLIN (AP)  Tens of thousands of people gathered in Germany's capital Saturday to show solidarity with antigovernment protesters in Iran, where a movement sparked by the death of a woman in the custody of morality police has evolved into a challenge to the Islamic Republic.

Berlin police estimated that 37,000 people had joined the German demonstration by late afternoon. Participants held up Iranian flags and signs criticizing Iran's leaders, many with the tagline Women, Life, Freedom in both English and German.

The demonstration, organized by the Woman(asterisk) Life Freedom Collective, began at the Victory Column in Berlins Tiergarten park and continued as a march through central Berlin.

Some demonstrators said they had come from elsewhere in Germany and other European countries to show their support.

It is so important for us to be here, to be the voice of the people of Iran, who are killed on the streets," said Shakib Lolo, who is from Iran but lives in the Netherlands. "And this is not a protest anymore, this is a revolution, in Iran. And the people of the world have to see it.

Other issues were the focus of demonstrations in Berlin as well, including one calling for social solidarity in the wake of a potential energy crisis and another advocating a speed limit on German highways.

In Tehran, more antigovernment protests took place Saturday at several universities. The nationwide movement in Iran first focused on the country's mandatory hijab following the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police.

Security forces have dispersed gatherings with live ammunition and tear gas, leaving over 200 people dead, according to rights groups.

The government in Tehran also has been in the spotlight in European capitals due to allegations that Iran has supplied explosive drones that Russian troops are using in Ukraine.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky speaks to the media after the weekly policy luncheons on Capitol Hill July 21, 2020, in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

GOP Sen. Rand Paul unloaded on Iowa Senate hopeful Mike Franken for mocking him in 2021.

Paul suffered broken ribs and lung damage in 2017 during an altercation with a neighbor.

Franken asked if the attacker was "more than a little in the right?" which Paul calls disqualifying.

Sen. Rand Paul says Iowa Senate Democratic candidate Mike Franken is unworthy of serving in any higher office based on his making light of a 2017 attack that left Paul with broken ribs, lung problems, and lingering pain.

Disgusting that Mike Franken would celebrate an assault (from behind) that resulted in 6 broken ribs, a damaged lung that had to be removed, and chronic pain. Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office. https://t.co/87qcHpcxy8  Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 25, 2022

"Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office," the Kentucky Republican wrote online, calling the first-time candidate attempting to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa "disgusting" for celebrating Paul's misfortune.

Colleague and likely 2024 presidential contender Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas concurred, condemning Franken's "alarming behavior" and urging Iowans to return Grassley to Washington, DC for an historic eighth term.

Disgusting, but not surprising that Mike Franken would celebrate a violent assault.



Thisalong with other alarming behaviorspeaks to Mike Franken's lack of character.



Iowa, send a decent man @GrassleyWorks back to the Senate to keep fighting for you. https://t.co/2hJ5kwTODQ  Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) October 25, 2022

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"Iowa, send a decent man @GrassleyWorks back to the Senate to keep fighting for you," Cotton wrote online.

Paul's anger about the attack he suffered at the hands of disgruntled next-door neighbor Rene Boucher in late 2017 was apparently stirred up by a comment Franken made on Twitter in 2021.

"Wasn't Rand's neighbor more than a little in the right?" Franken posted in January 2021 in reply to a recent Paul appearance on Fox News.

Boucher, who said he snapped because of Paul's habit of piling up trash on their shared property line, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for the attack, fined $10,000 and hit with more than $580,000 in jury awarded-damages.

The Franken campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the resurfaced tweet or Paul's call to boot him from contention in the midterm elections.

Related video: Dr. Fauci accuses Rand Paul of sparking death threats

Read the original article on Business Insider
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.

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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
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 Russian anti-war group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a critical railway near the Russia-Belarus border.

On Monday, an explosive device damaged the railway near the village of Novozybkovo, approximately 15km from the Russia-Belarus border, the governor of Russias Belgorod region has announced.

The line is the main rail link between Russia and southern Belarus.

The Russian anti-war group Stop the Wagons (STW) has claimed responsibility for the damage, an update from the British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

This is at least the sixth incident of sabotage against Russian railway infrastructure claimed by STW since June, British Intelligence said.

This is part of a wider trend of dissident attacks against railways in both Russia and Belarus. The Russian authorities have previously clamped down on STWs online presence.

STW said on Telegram: The results of this small explosive sabotage will have to be eliminated with a complete re-laying of the rails. And thats great.

(Stop The Wagons (STW))

The group disrupts Russian railways to prevent the transport of equipment, fuel, ammunition and other supplies to the war in Ukraine.

It has claimed responsibility for other damaged railways, including an incident in the Amur Oblast on the Trans-Siberian Railway in June.

The Russia military relies heavily on rail transport for transporting forces to Ukraine, but with a network extending to over 33,000km, largely transiting isolated areas, the system is extremely challenging to secure against physical threats.

Russian leadership will be increasingly concerned that even a small group of citizens has been sufficiently opposed to the conflict to resort to physical sabotage, the Ministry of Defence said.

In his first day at No10, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed in a phone call with US President Joe Biden on the importance of supporting Ukraine.

Mr Sunak also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the pair saw the need to continue to pressure the Moscow regime.

Both he and the Ukrainian people can count on the UKs continued solidarity and support, Mr Sunak said on Tuesday.

We will always stand with Ukraine.
via VK

As Russia increasingly seeks to reframe its invasion of Ukraine as a holy war, Vladimir Putin has been declared the chosen one to defeat the antichrist and Russian priests have been deployed to the frontline to bolster morale among the troops they now refer to as soldiers of Christ.

But a Russian priest unwittingly exposed the Kremlins true attitude to the troops by baptizing them in body bags this week.

Viktor Ivanov, a priest for the Russian Orthodox Church in Ufa, detailed his excursion into the so-called special military operation zone on social media, sharing photos of a baptism that were likely intended as an uplifting PR effort but came off more as a vote of no-confidence.

Pelosi Has a New Plan Thats Going to Make Putin Really Pissed

While visiting Russian positions on the front line, he wrote, A strong man approached.  Modestly, as if embarrassed, he looks at me and timidly asks: Father, our fighter wanted to be baptized. Is that possible to do?

Ivanov said he sprung into action after realizing there may not be another chance to perform the baptism, asking the troops to search for a basin to fill with water.

But not a single basin was found, he said. Instead, the troops found him polyethylene bagsthe black ones meant for the bodies of the dead. And then the long-awaited baptism was able to go ahead and the soldiers eyes lit up in recognition of the great event, Ivanov wrote.

Sure, the black polyethylene bags that were used as the baptismal vessels were intended for cargo 200, he said, using a military code word for the bodies of troops killed in action. But this baptism had its own symbolism.

via VK

The bizarre baptism came as Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russias Orthodox Church, ramped up his support for the war Tuesday by claiming Putin is the chosen one to fight against the antichrist.

In a speech before the 24th Congress of the World Russian People's Council, Putins holy man argued there were a lot of signs to indicate the end of the world was nearand the Russian leader is the only one who can stop it, a fact which makes other world leaders jealous.

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The example of Russia as a contemporary nation with developed science, technology and education, headed by a president who openly proclaims his faith forces many in the West to ask themselves, why isnt it like that with us? he said.

The Crazy Mystical Impulses Sending Putin Wild in Ukraine

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is not the only one trying to rewrite the Kremlins narrative on the war. While Moscow spent the first several months after the full-scale invasion claiming Russian troops had been sent in to stop Nazis and de-Nazify Ukraine, that version largely failed to gain traction among the wider public as more and more reports emerged of Holocaust survivors being driven out of their homes or bombed by the same Russian troops supposedly fighting Nazis.

Putins repeated claim that the war was necessary to stop NATO expansion also flopped, as even some pro-Kremlin military bloggers noted that Moscows aggression had actually resulted in NATO strengthening and getting new members.

Now, according to a rather batshit op-ed penned by a Russian official this week, the Kremlins new stated goal appears to be the de-Satanization of Ukraine.

Alexei Pavlov, deputy secretary of Russias Security Council, claimed in an op-ed in the Arguments and Facts newspaper that as the war drags on, there is more and more evidence of cults in Ukraine.

Bizarrely, he went on to argue that Ukrainian leaders who took over after Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanokovych was ousted in 2014 had been tasked by the West with recalibrating the brains of Ukrainian citizens using mysterious psychotechnologies.

The op-ed, titled What Is Cooking in the Witchs Cauldron. Neo-pagan cults Are Gaining Strength in Ukraine, ended with the declaration: I believe that with the continuation of the special military operation, it is becoming more and more urgent to carry out the de-Satanization of Ukraine.

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Arizona Secretary of State

Self-appointed vigilantes inspired to action by lies from the GOPs hard-right MAGA wing about the 2020 election being stolen continue to stake out early-voting drop boxes in Arizona for signs of fraud they believe, contrary to all evidence, have enabled widespread cheating.

But not only can this be intimidating to voters, at least six of whom have submitted formal complaints to state authorities as of Wednesday, its also ridiculous, ludicrous, preposterous, and stupid, according to Maricopa Countys top elections officiala lifelong Republican.

Feds Alerted to Creepy Surveillance Attempt at Arizona Drop Box

Most of the issues since early voting began on Oct. 12 have occurred in Maricopa, where people affiliated with groups like Clean Elections USA, an outfit helmed by a QAnon-adjacent minister who regularly appears on indicted Trump adviser Steve Bannons podcast. Conspiracy theorist Melody Jennings, who founded the organization, has called for teams of 10 at every box in Arizona and the dozens of other states that have them, monitoring everyone who comes and goes in an attempt to identify so-called mules stuffing the receptacles with phony ballots. Many of the box-watchers have been decked out in tactical gear and body armor; some have been armed.

From a productivity standpoint, the notion that you are doing anything for election integrity or the accuracy and security of our elections by being out there is ridiculous, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer told The Daily Beast. It makes no sense.

For starters, any Arizonan can mail in their early ballot from any mailbox anywhere in the nation.

So, the notion that somehow these drop boxes are special, or that this is where you would catch some unlawful activity, is just ludicrous, Richer said. I mean, if I wanted to harvest ballots, then I can go to any USPS slot in frickin Mississippi if I wanted to, and mail them. But I could certainly just go down to my neighborhood mail slot and drop them off there. So [thats] one of the reasons why its stupid.

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The mules that people like Jennings, who has so far been named in three lawsuits filed by voting-rights groups over Clean Elections USAs alleged interference, are a fiction created by far-right agitator Dinesh DSouza. His thoroughly debunked film 2,000 Mules claimed, falsely, that Democrats threw the 2020 election to Joe Biden by illegally adding tens of thousands of bogus ballots to drop boxes, which were introduced in 40 states for public health reasons as COVID ravaged the U.S.

Jennings did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment on Wednesday.

A self-appointed drop box-watcher at a drop box site in Maricopa County. Arizona Secretary of State

There are just two 24/7 outdoor drop boxes in Maricopa, a county of 4.5 million people, Richer continued, noting that they only exist in the first place because some people, for whatever reason, dont like the USPS. Both are under constant video surveillance by cameras set up by the county, and the live feeds, which provide various angles and views of both boxes as well as the ballot vault and tabulation areas, can be viewed on the official Maricopa County website.

You can sit in your home and watch these round the clock, Richer said. There's no reason to be there.

This is all, of course, in addition to the myriad security features baked directly into the early-ballot processing system that has existed in Arizona since 1992, according to Richer. Only a registered voter can request a ballot, a process that includes verifying that persons identity on the back end with the Social Security Administration and with the Motor Vehicle Division, Richer explained. The requester must have a verifiable home address, which is then plotted on a GIS map.

Officials then send the voter a piece of mail to make doubly certain the address is validif it comes back as undeliverable, the persons name doesnt get added to the early-voting list, Richer said. Once the early-voting ballot is finally sent out, it must be returned in a bar-coded green affidavit envelope, which includes a unique identifier linked only to that specific voter profile.

And there can only be one ballot returned for every single voter profile, Richer said. So the notion that you can just inject 20,000 ballots [into the system] is ridiculous.

This summers primaries were ultimately successful from a voting perspective, but Richer described the process as having felt like getting punched in the face while doing it, just from a few quarters that really made a lot of noise and tried to make it as challenging as possible.

Some tell Richer, who described himself as a Republican true believer in a podcast this week, that his worldview is naive, and that hes a fool for trusting the system. But, he said, these detractors dont necessarily consider the facts and are generally out to cause a stir and to rabble-rouse, not actually further the democratic process.

Arizona Secretary of State

Biden won Arizona in 2020 with a slim margin of 10,457 votes. Following a Keystone Kops-esque post-mortem audit pushed by Republicans, Bidens lead in fact increased over Trumps. The 2022 midterms in Arizona are being watched closely across the country, as the GOP hopes to regain control of the Senate.

In one race, incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat, is running against Trump-backed Republican venture capitalist Blake Masters, who has benefited from nearly $2 million in ad spending to date by Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. Still, as of Wednesday, FiveThirtyEight polling has Kelly ahead by 4.5 percent.

In the far tighter governors race, former TV news anchor Kari Lake, an ardent Trumpist, is slightly edging out Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, by 1.3 percentage points, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Hobbs office, which has escalated the half-dozen voter intimidation complaints it has so far received to the feds, provided The Daily Beast with copies of the latest three allegations.

The first incident took place last Friday, when an older grey hair bearded man with a large camera on a tripod allegedly harassed a voter in Maricopa. The unidentified box-watcher focused the camera on the voters face and license plate, then continued to track them as they entered their vote, according to the complaint.

As I got to the box, he raised the camera again and filmed me dropping off my ballot in the box, the complaint states. Im a senior and was very intimidated by his actions.

On Saturday, another voter in Maricopa said a box-watcher in a Range Rover had breached the 75-foot buffer zone meant to tamp down ballot box intimidation. People felt nervous about this person, who was apparently taking photos of the voters showing up, one of whom responded by holding up a sign that said, I invoke my right to vote, according to the complaint.

The third incident occurred on Sunday, when Katie Hobbs, Arizona Elections Director Kori Lorick, and a third official whose name is redacted in the report, received an email reading:

If you Cunt Lickers continue to fuck with the integrity of the AZ Elections.. I guarantee you, We the People will remove you from office.. Additionally, if you own a home We will find you through the Tax Assessors [sic] Website Remember the French revolution of 1799??.....

Richer has himself received significant blowback for publicly trying to dispel Donald Trumps Big Lie about his one-term presidency being unjustly ripped away from him. In August, a Missouri public school employee was arrested and charged with sending Richer an email in which he appeared to threaten his life after calling one of Trumps objectively unhinged statements about the 2020 election, unhinged.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a lawyer by training, took office in January 2021. Maricopa County Recorder's Office

Yet, he downplays the effects this has had on him and his family, saying the election conspiracies have more been a burden on our good friends at the sheriff's office. Last Friday, two armed individuals were reported to authorities for loitering around a drop box site in Maricopa, but left the area when deputies arrived.

The more folks there are that are creating problems, the more deputies that youre going to see on the streets focused on this versus burglaries and crimes against children and robberies and all the stuff we should be doing, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said at a press conference on Monday, appearing alongside Richer. But well come, and well babysit polling sites, because people have to misbehave, if thats what we have to do to protect democracy.

Richer told The Daily Beast on Tuesday that Penzone is 100 percent committed to making sure that our elections are safe, and making sure that voters are safe. So hes committing resources to this but I would imagine that he doesn't love that he has to, just because he has to deal with many, many, many other things.

And this, Richer said, is a preposterous one.

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(Adds comment by Russia's U.N. ambassador in paragraph 9)

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Korea said on in Wednesday it had agreed with the United States and Japan that a resumption of nuclear testing by North Korea would have to be met with an "unparalleled" response.

Washington and its allies believe North Korea could be about to resume nuclear bomb testing for the first time since 2017, but experts say they have few good options for preventing or responding to such a move.

South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong discussed the issue with his Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Tokyo.

"We agreed that an unparalleled scale of response would be necessary if North Korea pushes ahead with a seventh nuclear test," he told a joint news conference.

The United States and its allies have offered few details on what new measures they might take in response to a resumption of nuclear testing, which State Department spokesman Vedant Patel reiterated on Wednesday would be "grave escalatory action" that would "seriously threaten regional stability."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told an event hosted by Bloomberg that Washington and its allies were working to strengthen their defences and would work with countries, including at the United Nations, "to exert appropriate pressure on North Korea."

North Korea's last nuclear test concerned China and Russia to the extent that they backed toughened United Nations Security Council sanctions, but it is unclear if they would do so again, given the dire state of U.S. relations with both Moscow and Beijing due to the war in Ukraine and tensions over Taiwan.

In May, China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-led push to impose more U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its repeated missile launches, publicly splitting the U.N. Security Council for the first time since it started punishing Pyongyang in 2006.

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When asked about a possible nuclear test by North Korea, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Wednesday: "Let's solve problems as they arrive. I wouldn't speculate before anything happens. But, of course, the prospect of it is not very welcome."

At the news conference in Tokyo Sherman urged North Korea to "refrain from further provocations," calling them "reckless and deeply destabilising for the region.

"Anything that happens here, such as a North Korean nuclear test ... has implications for the security of the entire world," she said. "We hope indeed that everyone on the Security Council would understand that any use of a nuclear weapon will change the world in incredible ways."

When asked about the comments in Tokyo, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called on all the countries to acknowledge "the root causes of the long-standing impasse" over North Korea's weapons programs and take steps to enhance mutual trust and address the concerns of all parties.

North Korea has been carrying out weapons tests at an unprecedented pace this year, firing more than two dozen ballistic missiles, including one that flew over Japan.

At a regular news briefing, Patel declined to detail how Washington would respond to a resumption of North Korean nuclear testing, but said, using the initials of the country's official name: "We continue to have tools at our disposal to hold the DPRK accountable."

He referred to U.S. unilateral sanctions in response to North Korean missile launches this year, as well as joint military exercises with Japan and South Korea, which involved a U.S. aircraft carrier for the first time since 2017.

Mori said the United States, South Korea and Japan had committed to "further strengthen deterrence and response capability" and trilateral security cooperation.

On mounting tensions over Taiwan, a self-administered island China claims as its own, Sherman reiterated the U.S. stance that it does not support Taiwan's independence, but said it would be doing whatever it could to support Taipei and work with Japan and South Korea to ensure it could defend itself.

At a Communist Party meeting this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an acceleration of plans to build a world-class military and said China would never renounce the right to use force to resolve the Taiwan issue. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Soo-hyang Choi and Josh Smith in Seoul, Eduardo Baptista in Beijing and Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Chang-Ran Kim and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Deepa Babington and Lincoln Feast.)
Alamance Community College announced an exciting opportunity for students to further their education.

Algie Gatewood, President of Alamance Community College, and Ben Coulter, Chancellor of WGU North Carolina, signed a partnership agreement linking the two institutions of higher learning at the North Carolina Community College System Conference in Raleigh on October 9, according to a press release from ACC.

We are proud to collaborate with WGU North Carolina to offer the students of Alamance Community College even more opportunities for growth and learning, said Gatewood.

Founded in 1997, WGU is a fully accredited, nonprofit online university offering more than 60 bachelors and masters degree programs in healthcare, IT, business, and K-12 education.

The partnership will give ACC students new opportunities to pursue higher education.

ACC graduates will be able to receive credit for their completed coursework and transfer to WGU to pursue bachelors degrees, according to a press release from ACC.

WGU North Carolina removes the barriers of higher education by making education accessible with an online format and a flexible learning model to meet our students right where they are," Gatewood said.

ACC graduates, staff, and faculty will also be able to apply for WGU Community College Partner Scholarships valued at $2,500 each, according to a press release from ACC.

WGU North Carolina officially launched as an affiliate in October 2017 through a partnership between North Carolina and Western Governors University, according to a press release from ACC.

For more about Alamance Community College, visit www.alamancecc.edu.

This article originally appeared on Times-News: ACC announces partnership with WGU North Carolina
The Tyrannosaurus rex, the worlds most notorious dinosaur, has been having something of a moment on the auction circuit over the last couple of years. Back in 2020, Christies made headlines with the auction of Stan, one of the most complete T-Rex skeletons ever unearthed. It sold for the Jurassic haul of $32 million before finding a permanent home in an Abu Dahbi museum. Now another rare T-Rex skeleton will be crossing the block next month.

Standing at 16 feet tall and 43 feet long, Shenmeaning God-likewill be the first Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton to be auctioned in Asia as it heads to Christies 20th-21st Century Art Evening Sale in Hong Kong on November 30. It is expected to hammer down for between $15 million to $25 million.

More from Robb Report

Only 20 T-Rex skeletons have been discovered to date, with most found incomplete. Shen is a 54 percent complete skeleton with 79 bones, including a well-preserved skull along with frontal, jugal and other distinguishable bones. The remains were found along the Hell Creek formation in Montana before being examined and prepared in Germany.

Shen is one of the best T.rex ever discovered; he considerably advances the science of paleontology and our knowledge of theropod behavior, Dr. John R. Nudds, a professor at the University of Manchester, says of the skeleton on the listing website.

Shens skeleton consists of 79 bones and is 54 percent complete.



Of course, not everyone will welcome another sale of a rare dinosaur skeleton. In July, critics in the scientific community spoke out against the sale of a Gorgosaurus skeleton at Sothebys that fetched $6.1 million. They argued that, given the scientific and historical importance of the dinosaur skeletons, the remains should be held in a museum for the public and not in a private collection.

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While Shens permanent home will be determined by her new owner, it is possible that she follows in Stans footsteps and ends up in a museum or institution. For the time being, though, the public will have a chance to see her in both Singapore and Hong Kong in the weeks leading up to the sale. In Singapore, she will be on view at the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall from October 28 to 30. A month later, shell be showcased at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 26 to 30.

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By Andrea Shalal and David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and Western officials are finalizing plans to impose a cap on Russian oil prices amid a warning from the World Bank that any plan will need active participation of emerging market economies to be effective.

Officials said no price range has been decided yet, however one person familiar with the process said the cap will be determined in line with the historical average of $63-64 a barrel - a level that could form a natural upper limit.

Such a level is in line with recent comments by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that a price cap in the $60 range would give Russia an incentive to keep producing oil.

The administration of President Joe Biden has seen the price cap as a way to cut oil revenues for Russia, a major source of its funding for its war against Ukraine, while keeping Russian oil flowing and avoiding price spikes.

The actual price will be set in coming weeks ahead of the planned Dec. 5 launch of a European embargo on Russian oil and associated restrictions on transportation and insurance of seaborne oil.

A senior Biden administration official said reports of any price range were wrong, but declined to elaborate.

U.S. officials pushed back against a report by Bloomberg News quoting unnamed sources saying they were being forced to scale back plans for the price cap, with fewer participating countries and a higher price level.

The administration has told reporters for weeks that the price cap was already bearing fruit by empowering countries to demand bigger discounts from Moscow.

Bloomberg also reported South Korea had privately told G7 nations it planned to comply and G7 officials were also trying to bring New Zealand and Norway on board.

"The White House and the administration are staying the course on implementing an effective, strong price cap on Russian oil in coordination with the G7 and other partners," a spokeswoman for the White House's National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, said in a statement to Reuters.

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Yellen told reporters earlier this month the coalition pushing for the price cap included the Group of Seven, the European Union and Australia, and they were "not trying to sign up additional countries."

"For us, success is going to be not how many countries raise their hand to say 'We endorse what you're doing, we're part of the coalition.' We're not looking for that. What we want to see is that Russian oil continues to flow into the market, and that countries are using the leverage provided by the existence of this cap to bargain lower prices."

DOWNWARD PRESSURE

Western diplomats say the price cap is already giving India and other buyers of Russian oil better leverage in negotiations with Moscow, enabling them to secure good discounts.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told the Jakarta Post in an interview published on Wednesday that Yellen told her the cap would be set at a level that was just enough to create profit, but not "supernormal profit."

"If it was 60 (dollars per barrel), that would really fit with my budget. That would be nice, Sri Mulyani told the newspaper.

The World Bank on Wednesday said the G7 oil price cap could affect the flow of oil from Russia, but was an "untested mechanism" and needed the participation of large emerging markets and developing countries to be effective.

It noted Russia has said it will not trade with countries participating in the price cap.

U.S. officials say the price cap will be policed by attestations taken from buyers in local jurisdictions.

(Additional reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio and Lincoln Feast.)
BW Energy Limited

Q3 2022 trading and financial update

BW Energy today provides an update on the operations and development of the Dussafu Marin license in Gabon. The Company will publish financial figures for the third quarter of 2022 on Thursday, 17 November. Gross production from the Tortue field averaged approximately 10,400 barrels of oil per day in the third quarter of 2022, amounting to a total gross production of approximately 960,000 barrels of oil for the period in line with expectations.

BW Energy completed one lifting in the quarter at a price of USD 101 per barrel. Production cost (excluding royalties) was approximately USD 36 per barrel. The overall production cost includes approximately USD 1 million related handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the period.

BW Energys share of gross production was approximately 700,000 barrels of oil. The net sold volume, which is the basis for revenue recognition in the financial statement, was 715,000 barrels including 32,500 barrels of quarterly Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) deliveries with an under-lift position of 185,000 barrels at the end of the period.

BW Energy had a cash balance of USD 186 million at 30 September 2022, compared to USD 123 million at 30 June 2022. The increase is due to the payment received for the August lifting and a drawdown on the Companys reserve-based lending (RBL) facility, partly offset by continued investments in the Hibiscus / Ruche development project.

At the start of the period, the Company had commodity price hedges for a remaining total volume of one million barrels for 2022 and 2023, of which 37% is for 2022. These were a combination of swaps and zerocost collars that will allow for future cash flow stability for ongoing development projects. BW Energy has recognised realised crude oil hedge losses in the amount of USD 2.9 million and unrealised gains in the amount of USD 14.9 million for the third quarter.

In late September, the BW MaBoMo offshore production facility arrived in Gabon on schedule. The production facility has since been installed on site and preparations are underway for future drilling operations and for the tie-in of the export pipeline to the BW Adolo FPSO and the BW MaBoMo. Twenty kilometres of the subsea pipeline has now been installed, with final connections planned for year-end.

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Separately, the drilling rig is on schedule to spud the first production well planned in January. This in in line with the plan for first oil from the Hibiscus / Ruche development towards the end of the first quarter of 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Knut R. Sthre, CFO BW Energy, +47 91 11 78 76

ir@bwenergy.no

About BW Energy:



BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The main assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine Permit offshore Gabon and a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, both operated by the Company. Total net 2P+2C reserves were 240 million barrels at the start of 2022.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act




Update: Oct. 30: A black and gray wolf were sighted in Jackson County on Friday, according to social media reports that were verified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating reports of three black wolves killed in Wyoming to determine if they were part of Colorado's only known pack.

The agency said it has reached out to Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials to determine if the wolves were members of the North Park pack that established in Jackson County and whose territory extends across the Wyoming border.

It is legal to kill wolves in Wyoming but not in Colorado.

The Coloradoan received reports over the weekend of three black wolves being shot "just over the border in Wyoming'' and reached out to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

The state wildlife agency told the Coloradoan on Monday it had received similar information. Late Tuesday afternoon, in responding to further questions by the Coloradoan and Steamboat Radio, the agency said "it received a phone call from a reporting party in Wyoming on Oct. 14 and has followed up with the individual and Wyoming Game and Fish.''

It added the "exact location where the wolves were shot is unknown to CPW, but is believed to be within 10 miles of the border with Wyoming.''

The wildlife agency responded late Wednesday afternoon to questions regarding whether the reporting party identified the color of the wolves, number of wolves shot and if any were outfitted with collars by directing questions to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Wyoming Game and Fish has directed questions of the reported incident to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in Wednesday's response it will "continue to monitor the North Park pack to see what their status is if and when they are next seen in the area. We will be doing our usual on-the-ground surveys and talking with anyone who might see the wolves and be on the lookout for any wolf sighting reports submitted to CPW by members of the public.''

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Reports to the Coloradoan indicated that in addition to three black wolves being shot, two black wolves and a gray one were with the three that were killed. The latter three escaped, according to the reports.

The coloring closely matches members of the North Park pack, whose territory is known to cover much of Jackson County as well as southern Wyoming north of Jackson County.

The parents of that pack, a black female and gray male, naturally migrated into Colorado and produced six black pups in April 2021. It was the first time wolf pups were known to be born in the state in nearly 80 years.

One of the first gray wolf pups born in Colorado is shown after being captured via helicopter and fitted with a tracking collar Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 in Jackson County.

Lack of working collars complicates investigation

Officials could potentially use DNA samples to determine if the wolves reportedly killed were from the North Park pack. But Wednesday's response indicates Colorado Parks and Wildlife will not conduct such tests.

Blood samples are routinely drawn from wildlife captured and fitted with radio collars. The adult mother, adult father and one of the yearlings of the North Park pack have been fitted with radio collars. None of those collars have worked in months, leaving Colorado Parks and Wildlife unable to track the wolves.

But if one of the wolves reportedly killed was wearing a nonworking collar that matched the number of a North Park pack member, it could be traced to the Colorado pack.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife used a helicopter to capture and fit the adult male of the pack with a new radio collar in February 2021. That mission started in northern Jackson County in Colorado but ended with the capturing taking place just across the border in Wyoming.

That collar has not worked since May 13, according to the state wildlife agency.

In February 2022, the agency intended to capture and fit the mother of the pack with a new collar. They found the pack but not the mother so instead captured and fitted a yearling female from the pack with a collar that failed shortly thereafter.

A radio collar had been placed on the mother wolf while she was in Wyoming. She was discovered in Colorado in 2019.

There have been no confirmed sightings of the more than 6-year-old pack mother since February and there is no evidence she gave birth to a second litter in the spring. The state wildlife agency said they do not know if she is alive or still in the area.

The state wildlife agency previously told the Coloradoan it intends to capture and collar members of the pack this winter.

More: Colorado wolvesWolves are suspected of killing Meeker cattle, but did disease play a part?

Colorado and Wyoming share boundaries but not wolf laws

Wolves are a federal endangered species in Colorado and it is illegal to kill wolves in the state except to protect human life. The penalty for illegally killing a wolf in Colorado is a fine up to $100,000, up to one year in jail and possible loss of hunting privileges for life.

Nonlethal hazing measures to deter wolves were approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission earlier this year after wolf depredations began.

Wolves in Wyoming are not listed as endangered and it is legal to kill the predator in the area of southern Wyoming where the wolves were reportedly shot. That area, as well as all but the northwest corner of Wyoming, are designated as a predatory animal management area.

Those who kill wolves in the predatory area can do so without a permit anytime of the year. It is required the killings be reported to Wyoming Game and Fish within 10 days. Wyoming law does not require information regarding the killings to be made public.

Three members of Colorados first pack of wolves in 80 years were killed in similar fashion. Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed a pack of six wolves in Moffat County in the far northwest corner of the state, bordering Wyoming, in January 2020.

Three wolves were confirmed killed in Wyoming in September 2020. That pack dispersed after the deaths.

More: Colorado wolves Potential release area includes ski resorts

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Members of Colorado's North Park wolfpack may have been killed in Wyoming
How did Jacksons water system get so complex that it led to disaster in Mississippi? Is fentanyl really showing up in Halloween candy? And the "world's dirtiest man" has died.

 It's Laura Davis. It's Wednesday. Let's do this news thing!

But first: All Micheal McGuire knew was that he had to drive 30 minutes Saturday evening to get from his job at a coal mine to the annual Kentucky basketball Blue-White scrimmage with his son. He didn't expect his picture to go viral days later.

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

Man found guilty of killing 6 with SUV at Christmas parade

Darrell Brooks Jr. was found guilty on dozens of criminal charges Wednesday after a jury found him responsible for plowing an SUV through a 2021 Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, wrapping up a trial in which he defended himself with bizarre legal theories and erratic outbursts. Six people died and at least another 61 others were injured when Brooks drove through the parade on Nov. 21, 2021. A jury found him guilty of all 76 charges brought against him in the attack, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, which carry mandatory life prison terms.

 'Brooks left behind carnage and chaos': Waukesha Christmas parade trial opening statements.

A Wisconsin jury convicted 40-year-old Darrell Brooks in the deaths of six people killed in November 2021 during a Christmas parade in Waukesha.

Jackson water crisis was a century in the making

Jackson, Mississippi's, water system continues to teeter on the brink of failure after this summer's crisis that deprived more than 170,000 people of water to drink, wash or flush toilets and sparked a public health emergency. But a USA TODAY Network investigation reveals that the foundation for the current crisis was laid more than a century ago, and problems compounded amid bad decisions, failures to fund improvements and leadership that seemingly lost control. It's a complex story of population decline, poverty, racism, politics, mismanagement and theft. Heres how the water system devolved into disaster.

Story continues

'Don't forget about us': Jackson's water crisis is far from over. | Voices

Reconnecting with Pam: Her story shows racist history is still with us. | Opinion

Today, Jacksons water system is a symbol of national embarrassment, highlighted by Augusts crisis that deprived more than 170,000 people of water to drink, wash or flush toilets.

What everyone's talking about

The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Russia practices 'massive nuclear strike'

Russia's Strategic Deterrence Forces conducted a training exercise Wednesday aimed at delivering a "massive nuclear strike" in the event of a nuclear attack, the Kremlin said. The exercise, overseen by President Vladimir Putin, involved mobile ground-based missile systems and a strategic missile submarine. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov pressed his country's narrative  vehemently denied by Ukraine and the West  that Kyiv is preparing to strike with a "dirty bomb" and then blame Russia. U.S. experts theorize Russia is either considering its own "false flag" dirty bomb or is using the narrative to drum up more support for the war at home.

 More news: Remains of American Joshua Jones, killed in Ukraine, returned; Putin challenger flees the country. Wednesday's updates.

Buildings damaged by Russian shelling in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine.

'World's dirtiest man' dies at 94

His favorite meal was porcupine, he smoked multiple cigarettes at a time and he didn't like soap and water too much. Not long after taking his first bath in more than 60 years, an Iranian man known as Amou Haji or Uncle Haji (an Iranian term of endearment for an older person), died on Sunday at 94. Haji became known as "the world's dirtiest man" for choosing not to wash for six decades  fearing he would get sick if he ever used "soap and water," according to the IRNA news agency. Haji cited "emotional setbacks in his youth" as a primary reason for not bathing. He did not have any known relatives, but the townspeople were known to take care of him. Learn more about the life of Haji.

An Iranian dubbed the "dirtiest man in the world" for not taking a shower for decades has died at the age of 94, state media said on Tuesday.

Real quick

 What's the weather up to in your neck of the woods? Check your local forecast here.

Rainbow fentanyl in Halloween candy? Experts say that's 'idiotic'

It seems like every year, panic spreads about drugs or needles being put inside Halloween candy. But Joel Best, a sociology and criminal justice professor at the University of Delaware who has spent decades studying the scare of tainted Halloween treats, says the current fears about colorful fentanyl showing up in trick-or-treat hauls have been particularly intense. What does he think about the risk? "This is idiotic," Best said. "Nobody's gonna give it away to small children." Other experts agree. "The whole thing is just absolutely ludicrous," said University of Buffalo professor David Herzberg, who studies the history of drug abuse in America. Why the annual panic?

Politicians and media outlets have raised fears about so-called rainbow fentanyl being given to children this year, but experts say the panic is "absolutely ludicrous."

A break from the news

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Send her an email at laura@usatoday.com or follow along with her adventures  and misadventures  on Twitter. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Waukesha parade crash, 'world's dirtiest man,' Jackson water crisis, Russia nuclear tests, rainbow fentanyl. Wednesday's news.
A former state representative and political consultant pleaded guilty to fraud charges after his company submitted falsified petitions to a political candidate who hired them to gather signatures in 2017, according to federal authorities.

Victor Cuevas, 58, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Tuesday and faces up to five years in prison, according to the Connecticut U.S. Attorneys office.

Cuevas co-operated a political the consulting business Yellow Dog Strategies and was paid $5,750 to collect 1,000 signatures for a New Haven probate judge primary candidate, federal authorities said in a statement.

Cuevas was overseeing the signature collection operation and was supposed to be using a team of circulators.

Circulators are supposed to sign a statement of authenticity claiming all the signatures were collected and witnessed in person, but Cuevas reportedly allowed the forging of registered voters and the supposed circulators signature on the statement of authenticity, the U.S. Attorneys office said in the statement.

Rather than collect legitimate voter signatures, Cuevas conspired with others to defraud the candidate by submitting falsified petition forms, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

The candidate unknowingly submitted the signatures to be counted. The signatures were quickly detected as forgeries by the New Haven Democratic Registrar of Voters and the candidate withdrew from the primary, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

Cuevas then attempted to conceal the scheme by pressuring the fake circulator, whose signature was forged, into signing a false legal document, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

Cuevas was on federal probation for conspiring with others to commit bank fraud at the time of the signature forgery scheme, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The bank fraud scheme involved his home mortgage loan applications.

Cuevas he was sentenced in New Haven federal court in 2016 to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine for conspiring with others to commit bank fraud in connection with his home mortgage loan applications, the statement said.

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He previously served as a representative of the 75th district in the state House of Representatives before resigning in 2016 after being convicted in the bank fraud scheme.

He is free on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing after he pleaded guilty.

Mike Mavredakis can be reached at mmavredakis@courant.com or via Twitter @MikeMavredakis.
Former president Donald Trump shakes hands with U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters after inviting Masters back up to the stage during Trump's rally at Legacy Sports Park in Mesa on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022.

Former President Donald Trump pressed Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters to maintain the 2020 election was rigged and stolen after Masters had conceded in a public debate he had seen no evidence of widespread fraud, a new documentary shows.

I got a lot of complaints about that. I dont know what you did with the debate, but I heard you did great in the debate, but bad election answer, Trump told Masters in a phone call that was videotaped for Tucker Carlson Originals, a short documentary by the Fox News conservative commentator that posted Tuesday on the Fox Nation streaming site.

At one point on the tape, Trump said he would see Masters the next day, suggesting the call happened Oct. 8, two days after the debate with incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Libertarian Marc Victor, and just ahead of a rally in Mesa.

Previously: 4 takeaways from Kelly-Masters Senate debate

Youve got a lot of support. Youve got to stay with those people, Trump told Masters.

Absolutely, we stay with those people, Masters responded. And it was a pleasure to put Mark Kelly on the ropes.

The Masters campaign did not immediately clarify Tuesday whether he still acknowledges there was no evidence of widespread fraud in election administration, as he said during the debate. Masters has long held the election was unfair because reports of potential wrongdoing by President Joe Bidens son didnt receive more public attention, and has maintained that view after the debate.

Kellys campaign accused Masters of taking orders from Trump.

Arizona deserves a principled Senator who always puts their interests first, not one who will sell out Arizona voters and cast doubt on our elections just because he was scolded on the phone, said Sarah Guggenheimer, a spokeswoman for the Kelly campaign.

Trumps interest in the 2020 election answer brings new attention to an issue central to Trumps interests and something that Masters has faced questions about as well.

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Masters recast his campaign website relating to the election after winning the August Republican primary. It had said, in part, the 2020 election was a rotten mess  if we had had a free and fair election, President Trump would be sitting in the Oval Office today and America would be so much better off.

After the primary, it said, We need to get serious about election integrity.

On Oct. 12, the day early ballots went out in Arizona and after his phone call with Trump, Masters told Fox News that he still feels like Trump would be sitting in the White House if everyone followed the law, then outlined his long-held narrative of coordinated censorship that he said cost Trump the election.

Trump, meanwhile, is freshly facing a subpoena from the House special committee investigating the causes of the riot at the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Several key witnesses have told investigators that Trump knew he lost the election early on but insisted in public that it was stolen.

Earlier in the Carlson video, Masters is shown in what appears to be his campaign van riding away from the debate. He says to his wife, I said I saw no evidence of fraud. Some people really wont like that.

Sometime later in the edited video, Trump advised Masters again to embrace the stolen-election narrative that Trump has held and suggested it is the secret to Republican Kari Lakes momentum in the governors race.

If you want to get across the line, youve got to go stronger on that one thing. That was the one thing. There was a lot of complaints about, Trump is heard saying.

Look at Kari. Kari is winning with very little money. If they say, How is your family? She says the election was rigged and stolen. Youll lose if you go soft. Youre going to lose that base.

Im not going soft, Masters responded. A few seconds later, after Trump hung up, Masters turned to the camera and said, I didnt think I went soft.

In Mesa, Trump declared, Blake Masters absolutely annihilated Mark Kelly in their debate.

During a 100-minute speech that often hovered over his false claims of a stolen election, Trump praised Masters at one point, saying he is a tireless champion for election integrity.

Masters didnt raise the election issue in two sets of comments to the crowd that day.

During the debate three days earlier, Ted Simons, the moderator, asked Masters to clarify whether vote-counting or election results had been rigged in any way, shape or form to keep Donald Trump out of the White House.

I havent seen evidence of that, Masters replied.

He made that concession after outlining the narrative that the FBI, technology companies and the media effectively tipped the election by suppressing information about Bidens son, Hunter Biden, who was linked in some media accounts to possible criminal activities.

I think its a problem that the FBI forced Facebook  they pressured Facebook and other Big Tech companies  to censor true information about Hunter Bidens crimes in the weeks before the 2020 election, and so millions of Americans didnt get to read about that, Masters said.

When the media is lying to people, helping Big Tech, and apparently federal law enforcement, censor information about presidential candidates, well, I think people start to worry about the integrity of their elections, Masters said.

Trumps conversation with Masters is a reminder that the first-time candidate won Trumps endorsement in the five-way Republican primary in June in part because of his willingness to claim the election was unfair or effectively stolen. Masters moved to the top of the GOP field only after securing Trumps backing.

Trump had long telegraphed to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, another Senate candidate, that he was watching to see what the states top law enforcement officer would do with information collected as part of the state Senates partisan review of Maricopa Countys ballots in 2021.

GOP support: Rick Scott rallies for Senate hopeful Blake Masters

Brnovichs office opened an investigation, but ultimately didnt find widespread fraud and lost the primary with Trumps public scorn.

The Carlson video also included a moment when Trump tells Masters to urge Peter Thiel, his mentor, co-author and former employer, to get more involved in the final stage of the election.

Trump asked if Thiel, who spent at least $15 million backing Masters efforts during the primary, is helping now.

He is, a little bit more behind the scenes. I dont know what happened there, but money is flowing in now, Masters said. Thiel held a fundraiser for Masters after the primary.

Trump urged Masters to Tell Peter to help you.

Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Subscribe to our free political podcast, The Gaggle.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump urged Blake Masters to 'go stronger' on 'rigged' election claims
Gagosian, the worlds biggest art gallery, has refuted rumors that it is in talks with French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Talk of a potential deal between the two has wide been widely circulating among market experts, with the Art Newspapers Italian edition and Artnet News running articles that mentioned the murmurings. The rumors suggested that LVMH was reportedly in talks to invest in Gagosian, the mega-gallery founded by Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles in 1980 that now encompasses some 16 spaces worldwide.

More from Robb Report

Multiple sources also told ARTnews and WWD that they were aware of talk of a potential deal.

But on Tuesday, a Gagosian representative vigorously disputed that deal as mere hearsay that wasnt rooted in fact.

There is absolutely no truth to the rumor and the company is not for sale, the Gagosian spokesperson said in an email.

LVMH owns an array of luxury companies, from the fashion house Christian Dior to the jeweler Tiffany & Co. to the yacht manufacturer Princess Yachts. Owning or investing in Gagosian would give the conglomerate a foothold in the rapidly expanding art market.

A representative for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton declined to comment to ARTnews and WWD.

The rumors came as the art market directed its attention last week to Paris, where LVMH is headquartered. Paris+, the first edition of a new Art Basel fair, just completed its first edition in the French capital, where Gagosian currently has two locations, plus a third in the nearby suburb of Le Bourget.

The talk also arrived as Gagosian begins to plot its future. Larry Gagosian, who is now 77 years old, has begun to reveal his succession plans in the past few years, naming Andrew Fabricant as the gallerys chief operating officer in 2019. Details have been scant since then, however, leading to widespread speculation about where the gallery is headed in the years to come.

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Previously, Fabricant has advocated for a total merger of the art and fashion sectors. You have [Bernard] Arnault buying Tiffanys and then buying a Basquiat painting and then producing a Patek Philippe limited [edition] watch that is first seen on Jay-Zs wrist, he told WWD earlier this year. The interaction of art and commerce and fashion is inevitable. Its just being accelerated by the consolidation of all these issues, whether its Kardashian, Arnault or the Gagosian Gallery having 19 galleries. Its just more, more, more. Its also mutually beneficial.

Any potential investment in Gagosian would lend LVMH significant clout in the art world. Much of the conglomerates dealings concern the fashion industry. Outside that sphere, the company also owns the publication Le Parisien, the luxury hotel chain Cheval Blanc, and the amusement park Jardin dAcclimatation.

While Gagosians main competitorsDavid Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth, and Pacehave made forays into industries beyond the art world, none can boast an investment from a company so large as LVMH.

Gagosian represents some of the worlds most high-profile artists, including Georg Baselitz, Theaster Gates, Michael Heizer, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Richard Serra, and Jordan Wolfson. These artists appear side by side on the roster with younger ones with loyal market followings, like Jade Fadojutimi and Anna Weyant.

Gagosian reportedly accounts for a billion dollars in sales annually.

Although LVMH is mainly known within the fashion space, it has some art connections. Bernard Arnault, LVMHs chairman and CEO, is one of the worlds top art collectors. Arnault is known to buy various Gagosian artists, including Hirst, Murakami, and Richard Prince. Arnault and other members of his family are also believed to be close with Larry Gagosian.

The acquisition of a stake in Gagosian would give Arnault a leg up in the art world over his own business enemy, Francois Pinault, the founder of the French luxury goods company Kering, which owns the auction house Christies. Pinault is also a major collector.

Another art connection is its portfolio, which at one point included a stake in the Phillips auction house. LVMH acquired the stake in 1999, then divested itself of it four years later amid a period of financial strain at Phillips.

Additionally, LVMH sponsors the Fondation Louis Vuitton, a Parisian contemporary art space opened in 2014. Even though Arnault initiated the project, the space is a nonprofit that is technically not operated by LVMH proper.

Talk of LVMHs potential investment in Gagosian comes as the boundary between art galleries and lifestyle brands has become increasingly blurred.

Gagosian, for its own part, operates a series of shops that sell branded offerings. Pace recently opened a teahouse in Seoul thats partnered with the luxury brand Osulloc, and Manuela and Iwan Wirth, the founders of Hauser & Wirth, run a hospitality arm.

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Toxic work, abuse or bullying colleagues, bad culture make exhausted depressed employee, fear of failure and responsibility, giant boss hands pointing and blaming at depressed businessman employee.

By Howard Levitt and Stephen Gillman

Years spent litigating employment disputes across Canada have made at least one thing clear: the legal determination of important workplace issues can dramatically differ from province to province such that prudent advice in one would be negligent in another.

Dating back to 2019, this column has chronicled a series of cases from the highest court in Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada that have shaped the law on employment contracts. The news has generally been devastating for employers.

In Ontario, the current state of the law considers the common intentions of an employer and employee to be irrelevant when assessing the enforceability of a termination clause. Instead, the focus is invariably on performing line-by-line inspections of the contracts precise terms to root out minor drafting errors, theoretical breaches and trivial ambiguities  the existence of which renders the termination provision unenforceable.

The recent tendency of Ontario courts to invalidate employment contracts has caused lawyers to become complacent: Employee representatives are no longer required to be creative or develop thoughtful legal positions; and their counterparts are aware that any form of inspired argumentation will not be taken seriously.

Our legal cases elsewhere have found that this same defeatist mindset also prevails in British Columbia. But, unlike in Ontario, the role of winner and loser is shockingly reversed.

The courts in B.C. have shrugged aside the notion that minor drafting errors will result in an entire employment contract being voided.

By way of example, in one B.C. case the mere passing reference to the B.C. Employment Standards Act (ESA) was sufficient to determine the contract was enforceable. In making that determination, the judge put it this way: So long as the parties intentions are discernible, imperfect language that does not create ambiguity or uncertainty regarding the parties intentions is not material.

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In an unrelated decision, another B.C. judge playfully opined that employment contracts need not be a masterpiece in drafting to withstand judicial scrutiny.

Despite this recent, liberal approach of B.C. courts, one would assume that, for an employment contract to be enforceable, it would at least be required that the employee actually sign it. However, that seemingly obvious baseline requirement was not required in the case of Asgari Sereshk vs Peter Kiewit Sons ULC.

In brief, Asgari Sereshk was employed by Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (PKS) on an intermittent basis from 2008 to 2020, with his last period of employment beginning in 2019. Around that time, PKS presented Sereshk with an employment contract, which he refused to sign. The parties underwent three revisions of the contract, with one of the sticking points being the inclusion of a termination clause providing for only the payment of the ESA minimum.

The standoff ended in a stalemate. Instead of signing the contract, Sereshk simply sent an email to PKS stating that he was excited to begin work. PKS permitted him to return without signing off and considered his email to be binding acceptance. Sereshks final stint with PKS lasted a year, at which time he was terminated without cause. In dismissing him, PKS paid out two weeks of wages, as per the unsigned contract.

Sereshk was dissatisfied and requested that PKS provide him with additional severance. He justified the request by arguing that the employment contract was unenforceable since he had never signed it and also because its terms were ambiguous. PKS deemed the unsigned contract to be valid and did not budge. The dispute proceeded to litigation and eventually found its way into a courtroom. In the end, a B.C. judge found that the intention of the parties was clear and the unsigned contract ruled the day. Nothing further was owed to Sereshk, his wrongful dismissal lawsuit was tossed out, and he was required to assist his former employer in paying its legal bill.

Perhaps more stunning than the result is that the case is not anomalous. As recently as August 2022, another employer found success in advancing the Sereshk decision to fend off a similar claim from a former employee.

It is curious that, in two jurisdictions with similar workplace law, the misplacement of a comma in one can spell doom, whereas in the other the basic act of physically signing an employment contract can be overlooked.

If history is any guide, this stark divide will eventually find some common ground.

Employers in B.C. are cautioned against accepting the current state of the law as the status quo. It is essential to regularly update employment contracts, with an eye to emerging legal trends in other jurisdictions.

Employees in B.C. can also benefit from the legal divide that currently exists between B.C. and Ontario. If you have been dismissed and subsequently advised that a termination clause limits your severance entitlements, a second opinion should be sought.

Howard Levitt is senior partner of Levitt Sheikh, employment and labour lawyers with offices in Toronto and Hamilton. He practices employment law in eight provinces. He is the author of six books including the Law of Dismissal in Canada. Stephen Gillman is a partner at Levitt Sheikh.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images

A Donald Trump-backed congressional contender says he and his campaign just couldnt get the name of the company he works for right.

Two days after The Daily Beast reported that American Enterprise Solutionsthe company Washington State House candidate Joe Kent has identified as his employer on 34 political donations, two personal financial disclosures, and in at least one public appearancedid not appear to exist, the Republican asserted that he and his team had been saying and writing it wrong the whole time. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Kent produced heavily redacted materials on Tuesday indicating the companys name was in fact Advanced Enterprise Solutions.

Theres a good chance I screwed it up, the PBS and National Public Radio affiliate quoted Kent as saying, regarding the donations and his own public statement. He blamed the repeated errors to the firm supposedly using the name American Enterprise Systems in the past.

Meanwhile, a campaign staffer took responsibility for the repeated inaccurate financial disclosures, describing the name mix-up as a typo, and vowing to submit corrected materials to the House Ethics Committee post haste.

An attorney for Advanced Enterprise Solutions told OPB that it is a U.S. company that does not wish to be identified. The law firm did not immediately reply to a phone call from The Daily Beast.

The Kent campaign did not immediately respond to a request that it forward these materials to The Daily Beast. Nor did it immediately answer a question about why it didnt send these documents when The Daily Beast first inquired about the firm a week ago, or in response to multiple subsequent calls, text messages, and emails directed to its spokesman Ozzie Gonzalez.

Kent asserted OPB that he sets his own hours at the firm, but does maintain a full work schedule on top of his campaigning. However, his own former campaign manager told the outlet his gig is a phantom job, and that Kent does little other than work to replace Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), who he defeated in the August GOP primary.

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TEL AVIV, Israel  Benjamin Netanyahu, the former and perhaps future prime minister of Israel, calls the United States an indispensable ally.

But he also made it clear that his coziness with the United States has limits.

Many times, I was asked by President (Barack) Obama, by President (Joe) Biden, you know, I was asked two things. `One, no surprises. Please tell us before you do anything, Netanyahu told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. And I said, 'No, sometimes I will. Sometimes I won't.

He describes his relationship with Biden, with whom he has a decadeslong relationship, as open and friendly.

We can agree to disagree, or we can agree to agree, he said.

But if Netanyahu, the 73-year-old leader of the right-wing Likud party, becomes prime minister after next months elections, tensions could increase between the U.S. and Israel over West Bank settlements, peace with Saudi Arabia, relations with Moscow, Palestinian rights and how best to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Netanyahu could pose is his style.

Less deferential to the United States, more secure in his ability to go around the president if needed and not as concerned about avoiding partisanship as his challengers, Netanyahu is a more unpredictable and less reliable partner, according to foreign policy experts.

When the leaders  and then importantly, the top staff around those leaders  dont have a deep trust with each other, that's when you can get all sorts of unexpected things happening, said Brian Katulis, who worked on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration and is now vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute. There's more potential for uncertainty in a region of the world that already has too much uncertainty.

Exclusive: Israel's Netanyahu says he will 'look into' supplying weapons to Ukraine if elected prime minister, could serve as mediator

Related: Israel announces sea deal with Lebanon, but doubts remain

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu victory not assured

Its unclear whether Netanyahu will trade his opposition leader status for prime minister.

Election polls in recent weeks have consistently shown that neither Netanyahu nor his opponent, Prime Minister Yair Lapid, have enough of a mandate to form a coalition. That could mean a sixth round of elections if a compromise isn't found between the two blocs.

Netanyahus fifth term as prime minister ended in June 2021, when a coalition government consisting of eight parties  encompassing the political spectrum and led by Naftali Bennett and Lapid  rose to power.

Khaled Elgindy, director of the Middle East Institutes program on Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs, said a Netanyahu victory would complicate Middle East relations for the Biden administration because his coalition would include far-right extremists.

These are people who regularly incite violence and openly talk about 'transfer  i.e., expulsion of Palestinians, Elgindy said. In which case, not only will it be virtually impossible to maintain even the pretense of a two-state solution, but we are likely to see even more extreme policies toward Palestinians, and hence a greater likelihood of violence.

Netanyahu is clear that he wants to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.

Would I do it unilaterally? No, I said that right from the start. I would not, because I would like to do it with the understanding and support of the United States, he said. We were on the verge of getting it. I think that if I'm reelected, I will get it. I have plans on how to get it.

Netanyahu acknowledges, however, that will probably not happen on Bidens watch. Hes prepared to wait for a more receptive White House, as he did when he opposed the Obama administrations nuclear deal with Iran that was subsequently nixed by President Donald Trump.

As everybody said, under the Obama administration, you're not going to get America to leave the dangerous nuclear deal. And I said, `OK, well, tomorrow is another day, he said. And they did leave it.

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More adversarial approach

In his newly released autobiography, Bibi, My Story, Netanyahu said his 2015 speech to Congress denouncing the nuclear deal  which Obamas national security adviser called destructive to U.S.-Israel ties  was one of the proudest moments in his career.

A self-confident actor on the world stage, Netanyahu thinks he can game out the political consequences in the United States as well if not better than the White House can, said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Netanyahu doesnt feel he necessarily needs to work through an administration that has a different approach from the one he wants to take, Alterman said.

Lapid really wants to put himself forward as a partner of the United States. And that puts the United States in a strong position to both make requests of Israel and to rely on Israel, he said. And with Netanyahu, it's just more of a wild card."

Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East Security program at the Center for a New American Security, said Netanyahu would take a more adversarial, public approach to rejecting Bidens efforts to revive the nuclear deal with Iran, potentially seeking to punish any U.S. politician who supports it.

Netanyahu strained the long-standing bipartisan nature of Israeli-U.S. relations when he accepted the invitation from Republican leaders to address Congress about the Iran deal without consulting the Obama administration, Lord said.

If Netanyahu wins, he could be even more aggressive, particularly if Republicans take control of Congress in the midterm elections and Biden is perceived as weak going into the 2024 presidential election, said Osama Khalil, a Syracuse University history professor who specializes in Middle East affairs.

I think hes going to see this as vindication. `Those of you who wrote me off, now youre going to have to come deal with me, Khalil said. Hes very much adopted a Trumpesque persona. And I think were going to see more of that.

'Before it is too late:': Trump attacks Jewish Americans in post and draws swift criticism

In this Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo on the Blue Room Balcony after signing the Abraham Accords during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.

Dispute with Trump

Even with Trump, there were tensions.

In his book, Netanyahu describes how he and Trump had agreed, in letters to each other, that Israel could go ahead and apply sovereignty over 30% of the West Bank.

But for reasons that remain unexplained, he said, Trump walked back on that promise on the same night that the peace plan was unveiled in the White House.

There was a reversal, Netanyahu told USA TODAY. It wasn't because we had surprised him in any way. In fact, I think it surprised me.

But Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and a top adviser to the president, tells a different story.

In his own memoir, Breaking History, Kushner writes he was furious when Netanyahu announced at the White House in January 2020 that Trump would recognize Israels sovereignty over much of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

This was not what we had negotiated, Kushner wrote. Under our plan, we would eventually recognize Israels sovereignty over agreed-upon areas if Israel took steps to advance Palestinian statehood within the territory we outlined. The two hinged on each other, and it would take time to flesh out the details.

Despite that dispute, Trump and Netanyahu had a mutually beneficial political friendship.

Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, even though both the Palestinians and the Israelis claim that city as their capital.

Trump also brokered the so-called Abraham Accords, a series of agreements that formalized diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab countries  the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Peace with Saudi Arabia?

Establishing ties with Saudi Arabia is a top priority for Netanyahu. But President Joe Biden is in the midst of reevaluating the U.S.s own relationship with the kingdom, after the Saudi-led OPEC+ coalition this month decided to reduce oil production.

Israel cant make peace with Saudi Arabia without the U.S., said Yoel Guzansky, Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. The fact that Biden has really bad relations now with the Saudis also affects the normalization with Israel.

Martin Indyk, distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who was Obama's special envoy for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, said Netanyahu has his own Saudi Arabia problem.

The Saudis are clear that normalized relations with Israel depend on moving toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, something thats unlikely to happen if Netanyahu wins, he said.

Unless he's prepared to do something positive on the Palestinian front, hes not going to be able to achieve that objective, Indyk said.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after giving joint statements in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on March 9, 2016.

Long relationship with Biden

Netanyahu will benefit from his long relationship with Biden. Theyve known each other since the 1980s, when Biden was a senator on the Foreign Relations Committee and Netanyahu was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Washington, and later at the United Nations.

Netanyahu looks at others through the lens of whether he considers them a friend of Israel, even if they dont always agree, said Dennis Ross, a former Obama aide who saw firsthand the friction between Netanyahu and Obama  and how Biden, then vice president, would be called in to smooth things over.

His relationship with President Biden has always been different, said Ross, now at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He looked at Obama, fairly or not, as not being a friend of Israel.

In this Oct. 1, 2014 file photo, President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Friction with Obama

Netanyahu complains in his memoirs that Obama disrespected him and treated him like a neighborhood thug.

I was startled to hear the president say, I have an assignment for you, as if we were his employees or students in a class and not the representatives of a sovereign nation, Netanyahu wrote.

Obama has had his own critique of Netanyahu. In remarks to reporters shortly before leaving office, Obama expressed concern about Putinism, an approach he said is subscribed to, at some level by Netanyahu, Trump and the leaders of Turkey and the Philippines.

Netanyahu called Obamas comment peculiar, accusing Obama of being best friends with Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan and Obama were on the best of terms, he told USA TODAY.

Netanyahu also charges that Obamas attempt to change the world through soft power was useless without hard power.

I think that this remains the crucial question about American foreign policy: Do you believe in peace through strength, as I do? he said. Well, if you do, then you'd have to be very strong militarily, economically and diplomatically, and back your allies. Don't make deals with a regime like Iran, that stands for the opposite of everything you stand for.

When asked whether he thinks Biden is using the right amount of strength on the world stage, Netanyahu replied that, if elected, I'll make a point of talking to him about the things you asked me.

Biden: Middle East deal will boost gas extraction in Mediterranean, stabilize region

'There is no place called safe.': In Gaza, a father fears what will happen to his daughter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu may deal with Biden again
Pennsylvania State University is under fire for chastising students over violence that occurred during protests of a planned campus event featuring Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, which was later cancelled.

Some observers suggested right-wing demonstrators bore more responsibility for the clashes, which included a fist fight and a crowd of bystanders being sprayed with chemicals.

On Monday, the university cancelled a planned comedy show featuring right-wing personality Alex Stein and Mr McInnes, a co-founder of the right-wing street gang who has since left the group.

Due to the threat of escalating violence associated with tonights event, Penn State University Police determined that it was necessary to cancel the speaking event in the interest of campus safety. Demonstrations regrettably turned violent, the university said in a statement on its website .

Students blamed right-wingers for violence (REUTERS)

In a separate statement , university president Neeli Bendapudi described violent clashes of unknown origin on campus on Monday, and criticised both opponents and supporters of the event for the chaos that ensued.

Tonight, Stein and McInnes will celebrate a victory for being canceled, when in actuality, they contributed to the very violence that compromised their ability to speak, she wrote. Tonight, counter-protestors also will celebrate a victory that they forced the University to cancel this event, when in actuality they have furthered the visibility of the very cause they oppose.

Critics were stunned at the universitys stance, as the Proud Boys are well-known for bringing street violence wherever they go, and observers suggested right-wing demonstrators caused the lions share of the clashes at the protests about the event.

Andy Campbell, senior editor at HuffPost and author of the book We Are Proud Boys wrote on Twitter he was shocked to hear such statements coming from the university leader against students who protested the violent gang that the university invited to campus despite safety concerns, and then got attacked. Just wow.

Story continues

You hosted the founder of an internationally designated terror organization what did you expect, added extremism researcher Emily Gorcenski.

According to observers, right-wing demonstrators pepper-sprayed protesters, students, and media members and sought to provoke fist-fights.

Gavin McInnes (Get Off My Lawn)

You know the Proud Boys came over, and they maced me for no reason  no reason at all, a student told the university newspaper . No one touched anyone, and the guy just opened up his can of mace and started spraying everywhere. He got me and a bunch of girls.

Journalists on the scene also said right-wingers attacked people at the event with chemical spray.

At other points during the tense demonstrations on campus ahead of the event, police ran through the crowd on horses, and appeared to allow a man in a yellow bandana, the colour of the Proud Boys, to pass into a campus building after a fistfight broke out among protestors.

The Independent has contacted the university for comment.

Penn State Shut Down My Speech on Campus Today! Alex Stein, one of the performers at the event, wrote on social media on Monday. Free Speech Doesnt Exist for Conservatives!

He also said a student got in his face and spat on him ahead of the planned event.

Students protested the event throughout October, but PSU previously insisted the show would go on.
Oct. 26Santa Fe police announced they arrested two Colorado fugitives Monday after Denver police informed the department it had tracked the suspects to the city with GPS data from their cellphones.

Adam "Lexi" Chandler and Tiffany Lee were found shortly before 5 p.m. at Motel 6 at 3007 Cerrillos Road after detectives found a car in the parking lot registered to Chandler.

Denver police have identified the fugitives as people of interest in a homicide case, Santa Fe police said in a news release Tuesday. The department added each suspect also had active felony warrants from Colorado prior to their arrest.

Capt. Aaron Ortiz deferred questions regarding the homicide case to the Denver Police Department, which could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Police were able to confirm Lee had rented a room at the motel after finding Chandler's vehicle, and officers and detectives from the Santa Fe Police Department's Special Operations Group arrived shortly after to take them into custody. According to the news release, the fugitives fled the room and led police on a short foot chase before being detained.

Lee, 32, is accused of "distributing and manufacturing" in Colorado, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. Her flight from Santa Fe police netted her an additional charge of resisting or obstructing an officer and charges stemming from being a fugitive, according to the news release.

No online court documents had been filed for Chandler, 39, in Magistrate Court as of Tuesday afternoon. However, the news release states Chandler will face the same charges as Lee for fleeing from the Motel 6.

Ortiz said Denver police detectives were able to interview Chandler and Lee about the homicide case around 9:30 p.m. Monday.

He added both fugitives will be extradited to Colorado following their first appearances in court for the charges each accrued in New Mexico. Online court records show Lee had a hearing Tuesday, but no documents related to her extradition have been filed.

Both suspects were booked into the Santa Fe County jail early Tuesday, according to the facility's records.
Eric Weinberg could face more than 100 years in prison if convicted of the 18 felony counts. (Photo: ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Eric Weinberg could face more than 100 years in prison if convicted of the 18 felony counts. (Photo: ROBYN BECK via Getty Images)

Former Scrubs executive producer Eric Weinberg pleaded not guilty to 18 counts including multiple rape charges on Tuesday and was taken into custody after being denied bail, according to reports.

Weinberg, who was also a writer on the hit 2000s show, had previously been out on $5 million bail until Tuesdays arraignment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He is now being held at the Twin Towers jail in Los Angeles until his next hearing on Nov. 5, Deadline reported. If convicted of the charges, the 62-year-old could face more than 100 years in prison.

Weinberg was arrested earlier this month after being accused of sexually assaulting five women he lured to his home under the pretense of conducting photo shoots between 2014 and 2019.

He is a danger to society, Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez said at Tuesdays hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Deadline. He goes up to any young woman and uses his status as a writer-producer to lure them in.  He is a danger to all females.

Judge Virginia Wilson agreed with Martinez, saying the defendant has engaged in a pattern of violence towards women for over six years as Weinberg slumped in his seat, according to Deadline.

Weinberg was charged with six counts of sexual penetration by use of force, four counts of oral copulation, three counts of forcible rape, two counts of sexual battery by restraint and three related charges of assault, attempted penetration and violent false imprisonment.

Defense attorney Philip Cohen, who represented That 70s Show star Danny Masterson in court earlier Tuesday, according to Deadline, argued against the prosecutions no-bail motion. He said Weinberg wasnt a flight risk and should thus remain under house arrest rather than in jail.

Wilson disagreed, however, and said her concern was first and foremost, the protection of the public, according to Deadline, which noted the judge called Weinberg a potential serial rapist. She said sending Weinberg home wasnt prudent, as the offenses occurred in the safety and privacy of his home, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Story continues

The Hollywood Reporter said Weinberg

The Hollywood Reporter said Weinberg "crumpled" as Judge Virginia Wilson declared him a predator. (Photo: Pool via Getty Images)

Martinez said police received around 70 tips about Weinberg since he was first accused in July and is still interviewing more accusers. The Hollywood Reporter recently interviewed more than two dozen women who detailed allegations against Weinberg, including that he allegedly targeted minors.

He was first arrested in 2014 after then-22-year-old Kayra Raecke told the LAPD Weinberg raped her during a photo shoot in his Los Feliz home, according to The Hollywood Reporters Tuesday report. Despite a police report describing how he began choking Kayra and taking photos, the DAs office declined to prosecute, the outlet said.

Weinbergs accusers claim he used his Hollywood standing to gain their trust and make promises before ordering them to get naked during shoots. Raecke realized she wasnt the only one after spotting a Facebook post about Weinberg by artist Claire Wilson in 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Justice was served today, Micha Star Liberty, an attorney representing the victims, told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. Its very satisfying that the judge found enough factual allegations to declare Mr. Weinberg a serial rapist.

Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkFHqyKpoGM/?hl=en virginaustralia Verified In case you missed it, the middle seat is now the best seat  Our Middle Seat Lottery launched today at @melbourneairportau So next time youre caught in the middle, be sure to enter for some truly wonderful prizes. Find out more in our bio #MiddleSeatLottery

virgin australia/Instagram

Virgin Australia is making the middle seat the "luckiest seat on the plane."

The airline, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, announced Monday that guests who sit in the middle seat on domestic flights will have a chance to win prizes totaling over $230,000.

The Middle Seat Lottery is part of the airline's "Bring on Wonderful" campaign that began after the company relaunched under new ownership in November 2020 in an effort to return the airline to profitability.

Branson, 72, previously announced in April 2020 that the airline was seeking bankruptcy protection amid the COVID-19 pandemic and, in an open letter to Virgin employees, offered to put up his Caribbean home as partial collateral against a $600 million loan.

RELATED: Proof of COVID-19 Booster Required to Travel to France, Dine in Maui and More

According to Virgin Australia, the idea of the Middle Seat Lottery came after it conducted a social media survey in May 2022 and discovered that travelers are least likely to choose the middle seat, with less than 1 percent intentionally selecting the middle seat as their first seat preference.

Brilliant to see so many smiles for the launch of @VirginAustralia's Bring on Wonderful campaign and its Middle Seat Lottery. Its these magic moments that make all the difference: https://t.co/bGjUocHs7k #BringOnWonderful pic.twitter.com/uDNkRCqOaN  Richard Branson (@richardbranson) October 24, 2022

The Middle Seat Lottery launched Monday and will be available until April 23, 2023, for passengers who either select or who are assigned a middle seat when flying with Virgin Australia. In order to enter the lottery, middle-seat passengers are required to enter their details on the Virgin Australia app within 48 hours of their flight's scheduled departure time.

Story continues

For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

The airline will randomly select one winner each week and will award a total of 26 prizes. Prizes from the $230,000 lottery include a cruise in the Caribbean with Virgin Voyages and a helicopter pub-crawl extravaganza.

RELATED VIDEO: Richard Branson Tours Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

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Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said in a press release Monday that the airline is "having a lot of fun coming up with exciting new innovations to make every part of the travel experience more wonderful."

She added, "We've only just touched the tip of the iceberg in what's possible and there's so much energy right across Virgin Australia to make sure we are doing our best to leave a positive difference every time our guests fly with us."

On Monday, Hrdlicka surprised all guests who were seated in middle seats on a flight to Adelaide with over $350,000 worth of free Virgin Voyages cruises.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission slashed Xcel Energys latest natural gas rate increase request by 70% Tuesday  from $214.6 million to $64.2 million.

The new base rate will take effect Nov. 1.

The regulatory agency also denied the energy company's request for $81 million for future, unspecified capital expenses.

Xcel had originally proposed to add another $295.6 million over three years to customers natural gas bills, including the $81 million in capital expenditure increases. Those sat atop other recent gas and electric rate increases by the company, including at least $2 billion to build up to 650 miles of new high-voltage power lines to serve remote windmills and solar farms, and $500 million in natural gas and electricity costs for the February 2021 winter storm Uri.

In a statement to The Denver Gazette Tyler Bryant, a spokesperson for Xcel, defended the request.

We understand our customers are experiencing price increases in all areas of their lives. Were committed to doing all we can to keep costs low for our customers while delivering the safe, reliable energy they depend on. This rate proposal supports essential investments that will improve system reliability, strengthen safety and inspection programs, and take meaningful steps to operate the cleanest natural gas system possible, benefiting all our customers. It also supports our growing communities as we build the system to deliver service to those new homes and businesses.

The commissioners rejected Xcel's request capital expenses.

We are concerned that the company has not demonstrated sufficient restraint in its proposed capital spending and agree with Conservation Advocates characterization that authorizing the capital step increase is akin to signing a 'blank check,' they said.

The original proposed rate increase from 2022 to 2024 would have amounted to a more than 13% rate hike for both residential and small commercial customers $8.13 for residential customers and $34.76 for small commercial customers.

The approved increase for residential customers is now 2.9 %, or a monthly bill increase of approximately $2.09, and 3.1% or about $12.95 for small businesses, according to the PUCs written decision.

It is important to note that most of the cost customers see on their bills are caused by the rising cost of natural gas on the global market, which has more than tripled since January 2021. Customers pay the wholesale cost of the natural gas delivered to them, and Xcel Energy does not make a profit from it, Bryant continued.

The PUC also denied Xcels request to recover the costs over three years, instead requiring the company to recover the $64.2 million over only one year.

The AARP Colorado fought the rate hike, and some 10,000 of its 670,000 Colorado members sent post-cards provided to the energy commissioners, objecting to the rate hike.

In its conclusion, the commissioners took note of the public input, saying it was mindful of the public comments submitted in writing and offered orally at a public comment hearing on Aug. 18, 2022.

Angela Cortez, who speaks for AARP Colorado, said her group welcomes the commissioners' decision, although AARP had argued for rejecting the rate increase entirely.

I know that we helped in sending the PUC so many people and so many postal cards," Cortez said. And I know that there were others who called and went online to voice their opposition.

AARP is defending people who cannot afford another rate hike, she said.

Our concern is that they're going to make really hard choices, give up their medications or reduce their food or not pay their rent because they're trying to pay the heat bill, said Cortez.
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A document containing the decision is dated November 30, 2020, but was never revealed to the public. Details of the case remain some of the best-kept secrets of post-1989 Poland.

Janusz Sliwa, the prosecutor who decided to drop the investigation into the CIAs secret prison, divided his justification into two parts. The first one is located somewhere in the secret prosecutions office and no one is allowed to take it out. Making notes on the spot is not allowed either. And while the second part is said to not contain any state secrets, the prosecution did not disclose it anyway.

Wyborcza had access to the latter part of the document. According to the prosecution, 20 years ago, President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Prime Minister Leszek Miller had no knowledge of what CIA agents were doing at the Polish facility. Even the head of Polands Foreign Intelligence Agency was allegedly unaware of it.

CIAs secret prison in Poland

The so-called CIA "black sites" were a network of top-secret detention facilities established by American authorities in various locations around the world, including Thailand, Afghanistan, Romania, Lithuania, and Poland. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the US "war on terror", detainees held at the clandestine facilities were regularly subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques", such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, stripping, and spending multiple days locked up in a coffin-sized box.

REKLAMA

Years later, it was revealed that the brutal interrogation techniques were of no use - prisoners either lacked relevant information or lied.

When the Polish prosecutor's office launched an investigation in March 2008, experts confirmed that the methods used by CIA agents amounted to torture and inhumane treatment. The detention facility was located at an intelligence training center in the village of Stare Kiejkuty in the Masurian Lakes region (northeastern Poland).

The prosecution confirmed that the alleged terrorist suspects were kept in a separate and specially modified part of the center. A villa housing American nationals was located about 20 km from the Szymany airport where the planes with CIA prisoners landed.

Port lotniczy w Szymanach niedaleko Szczytna, na ktorym w latach 2002-2003 ladoway samoloty CIA. Zdjecie z listopada 2008 roku. Fot. Tomasz Waszczuk / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Polish prosecution probes possible human rights abuses

The investigation was initially conducted by prosecutors from Warsaw, but the Foreign Intelligence Agency refused to cooperate with them. Only a decision by the first president of the Supreme Court forced the intelligence services to share classified documents with the prosecution.

REKLAMA

In January 2012, the Polish prosecution concluded that the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Agency Zbigniew Siemiatkowski had broken the law. The allegation, as Wyborcza has learned, takes up nearly 30 lines of text.

The prosecution found that between December 5, 2002, and September 23, 2003, in Warsaw and in Stare Kiejkuty, Mr. Siemiatkowski jointly with others violated the norms of international law  specifically, the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. For this, he faces at least three years in prison.

According to the prosecution, Mr. Siemiatkowski first gave the order and then approved the implementation by intelligence agents of the various stages of the "operational undertaking".

REKLAMA

It involved the detention of terrorist suspects without the oversight of an independent court and in violation of Polish and international law.

In effect, the "operational undertaking" of Polish and US intelligence services resulted in depriving the prisoners of their freedom and their right to a fair trial.

The detainees themselves, on the other hand, should have been treated at least as prisoners of war. The Geneva Convention prohibits the use of torture and inhumane treatment against them. According to the prosecution, the "operational undertaking" also violated the Polish Constitution.

Wiezienie CIA w Polsce. Byy szef wywiadu Zbigniew Siemiatkowski przez blisko dziewiec lat pozostawa podejrzanym. Prokuratura umorzya sledztwo w listopadzie 2020 roku Fot. Wojciech Olkusnik / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Head of the Foreign Intelligence Agency cleared of all charges

The Warsaw prosecutors brought charges against Mr. Siemiatkowski on January 19, 2012. However, they did not have the time to issue a justification, because then Prosecutor General Andrzej Seremet unexpectedly transferred the case to Krakow. The reasons for this decision remain unclear. Prosecutor Janusz Sliwa writes only that Mr. Seremet made the decision while examining the case file and extending the time of the investigation.

Citing unofficial sources, "Wyborcza" suggested even back then that the prosecutor's office might withdraw the charges. However, Mr. Siemiatkowski, who withdrew from politics and turned to academic work, remained a suspect for almost nine more years.

It wasn't until November 30, 2020, when Poland and the world were struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, that prosecutor Sliwa dropped the charges. "The suspect did not commit the crime he was charged with"- he said.

Why did the prosecution drop the case?

The decision is by no means proof that the CIA prison did not exist and that US agents did not use "enhanced interrogation techniques of a nature consistent with torture and inhumane treatment".

A lengthy historical and political argument led the prosecutor to drop the charges and discontinue the investigation. Without it, he explains, it would be impossible to understand the decision.

Mr. Sliwa begins his justification by recalling that after 1989, Poland revised its foreign policy, and "sought the realization of its interests through a close alliance with the United States and Western European countries". Polish intelligence services established very good contacts with their US counterparts even before Poland joined NATO.

The key to understanding the whole case, prosecutor Sliwa argues, is the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, because they made clear to the whole world that no one was safe. Subsequent attacks, including in Madrid and London, only proved that the threat was legitimate.

Polands role in the war on terror"

The world, writes Mr. Sliwa, joined the war on terrorism, targeting Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden in particular. As a result, as early as October 2001, NATO countries became involved in a military invasion of Afghanistan. The military operation was accompanied by the detention of people whom American authorities believed to be Al-Qaeda members or collaborators.

Citing the findings of international organizations, the prosecutor recalled that the detainees were subjected to torture and degrading treatment, and then transferred to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

The prosecutor calls these actions "extraordinary measures", employed to obtain information and thus prevent further terrorist attacks.

He recalls that the war on terror went hand in hand with the restriction of civil rights, which were perceived differently in different countries.

Poland, the prosecutor explains, has helped the US to the best of its ability from the very beginning. On November 6, 2001, President Aleksander Kwasniewski brought the leaders of more than a dozen countries to Warsaw. The participants of the conference pledged "to fight terrorism by various methods and means" and to "support all necessary measures to eliminate terrorist organizations".

The prosecutor recalls that it was a time of close diplomatic contact. American President George W. Bush visited Warsaw in 2001 and 2003, while Prime Minister Leszek Miller flew to the US in January 2002. In New York, he visited the site of the 9/11 attacks. He also met with President Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet.

Prezydent USA George Bush i prezydent Polski Aleksander Kwasniewski podczas spotkania w Warszawie, 15 czerwca 2001 roku Fot. Sawomir Kaminski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

"Americans made sure that there is a semblance of legitimacy"

The prosecutor points out that PM Miller and President Kwasniewski both came from a "post-communist formation", and that close cooperation with the US was an "element of credibility" for them, and served to "realize the goals of the Polish national interest".

When the US invaded Iraq in March 2003, Poland joined the "coalition of the willing" and later led one of the stabilization sectors. The Polish contingent numbered 2,500 troops. The operation also required close intelligence cooperation.

According to prosecutor Sliwa, the failure of US intelligence services before September 11, 2001, should also be kept in mind. After the 9/11 attacks, the US intelligence had to rehabilitate itself and fight terrorism more effectively. Other than capturing the masterminds behind the attacks, preventing further acts of terror became the main objective.

This, writes Mr. Sliwa, is what the "interrogation techniques authorized by the American authorities" were intended to do, which "were later found to be consistent with the characteristics of torture and inhumane treatment". US authorities, the prosecutor writes, made sure to provide it with a semblance of legitimacy.

"However, the above findings are only the result of actions taken by journalists, NGOs and international organizations"- Mr. Sliwa notes.

Did Polish officials know about the use of torture?

He also confirms unofficial information that American authorities refused to cooperate with the Polish prosecution, so investigators had to look for evidence by "alternative means ".

Among other sources, Mr. Sliwa cites a book by James Mitchell  the psychologist who helped the CIA develop the brutal "enhanced interrogation techniques".

The prosecutor's office commissioned a translation of the book, and its analysis confirmed the use of torture and inhumane treatment against terrorist suspects.

The existence of CIAs secret prisons was revealed in November 2005 by the Washington Post. It was later investigated by a special US Senate committee. However, the prosecutor points out that its report was not adopted until 2012, and was made only partially public in December 2014.

This chronology leads the prosecutor to one of his key conclusions: "It is impossible to attribute today's knowledge of the problem at hand to Polish decision-makers in 2001-2003".

According to the prosecutor, neither the Polish Prime Minister nor the President was aware of the torture taking place in Stare Kiejkuty. Even the head of Polands Foreign Intelligence Agency was allegedly unaware of it.

Stare Kiejktuty. Ogrodzenie osrodka szkoleniowego Agencji Wywiadu. W latach 2002-2003 dziaao tu wiezienie CIA. Fot. Tomasz Waszczuk / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

President Kwasniewski: "we trusted the US would act lawfully"

Prosecutor Sliwa recalls that after the US commission released its report in 2014, Kwasniewski mentioned it at a press conference, saying: "There were fears that [terrorist] attacks would happen again elsewhere in the world. Some even said that we are on the brink of another world war of unknown consequences".

According to the former president, the September 11 attacks taught us two things. First of all, the world must maintain solidarity in the fight against terrorism. Second - intelligence cooperation must be strengthened across all levels. Only such cooperation could prevent further attacks and reduce the number of potential casualties. Information on where the terrorists would strike next, when and by what means, was crucial in this fight.

"Poland had a very good reputation in the eyes of the American allies"- president Kwasniewski recalled. He also said that together with the Prime Minister and the head of intelligence, he agreed to "seek forms of in-depth cooperation". However, the cooperation was to be pursued in accordance with Polish law and the Constitution.

Kwasniewski argued that it was the Americans who asked Polish authorities to "find a quiet place" where they could conduct their operation.

Poland offered to sign an agreement guaranteeing that those brought to Poland were to be treated like prisoners of war: humanely and with respect to the law. But the American allies ended up not signing the agreement. Allegedly, they claimed that it would take long procedures, and that the operation was time-sensitive.

President Kwasniewski did not want to talk about the details, but said that "within the framework of the facility that was rented to them, the Americans acted in complete secrecy, which of course raised some concerns".

According to the former president, Polish authorities feared that such cooperation could not be kept clandestine in a democratic state. That was the reason why the cooperation was terminated in 2003, he said.

The prosecutor also cites Kwasniewski's response to a question from journalists about the torture of prisoners: "We made an agreement with an ally that represents democratic values, the highest standards. We had all right to believe that this [interrogation] would be carried out in accordance with American law, which, after all, is no more liberal than Polish law".

Byy prezydent Aleksander Kwasniewski i byy premier Leszek Miller odpowiadaja na pytania o tajne wiezienie CIA w Polsce, 10 grudnia 2014 roku Fot. Sawomir Kaminski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

Details about the CIA Black Site remain a state secret

All this led the prosecutor to assume that the "deepening of intelligence activities" was "consistent with Poland's binding alliance commitments", the Polish national interest, and indeed served Poland's security.

The political decision, the prosecutor explains, opened the way for closer intelligence cooperation. The person in charge of the Polish side of the partnership was Mr. Siemiatkowski. His work was supervised by Prime Minister Miller.

According to the prosecutor, "no circumstances available in the public space" at the time indicated that "American partners would not respect the conditions set by the Polish side, specifying that all activity must take place in accordance with the standards of international law".

This, in turn, leads prosecutor Sliwa to his next key conclusion: "At this stage, there were no prerequisites for attributing to any Polish public officials the intention to commit any crime, and in particular, one involving a violation of international law".

The details of the cooperation between the Polish and US intelligence services remain classified, so Mr. Sliwa discusses them in the second part of the justification, which has been locked in a secret office.

He reveals, however, that the investigation has not uncovered any evidence indicating that Polish intelligence officers "participated directly" in the implementation of the US enhanced interrogation techniques program, and that this program was carried out on Polish soil after September 23, 2003.

How much did the Chief of Foreign Intelligence know?

Mr. Siemiatkowski, who was questioned on January 19, 2012, did not admit to committing the crime. He confirmed that the Foreign Intelligence Agency he headed was carrying out its allied obligations, which were also based on Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. He also explained that he had acted "with the approval of the highest state factors" but refused to talk about the details, pointing to his binding obligation of secrecy.

The prosecutor mentions that Mr. Siemiatkowski later agreed to partially answer some of the questions, but the information obtained from him remains classified. Therefore, Mr. Sliwa discusses them in the second part of the justification. This part of the document also includes testimonies of Polish intelligence officers who were witnesses in the case.

"To the extent necessary to justify the decision to be taken, however, it is permitted to point out that none of these individuals acted with the intention of committing a crime", prosecutor Sliwa claims, adding that "the head of the Foreign Intelligence Agency, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, did not commit the crime he is accused of, and in fact made a valuable contribution to ending the specific form of intelligence cooperation discussed in this decision".

According to the prosecution, Mr. Siemiatkowski's intent to commit a crime - both direct and possible - cannot be imputed to him. The latter refers to a situation where the perpetrator does not want to, but may anticipate the commission of a crime.

The prosecutor believes that Mr. Siemiatkowski did not know about the torture of the prisoners and had no reason to suspect it, as the Americans admitted it years later.

While experts appointed by the Polish prosecution indeed assessed that "enhanced interrogation techniques" fulfil the characteristics of torture and inhumane treatment, they did so years later.

Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Aleksander Kwasniewski i Zbigniew Siemiatkowski. 11 wrzesnia 1995 roku Fot. Sawomir Kaminski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

A "state of higher necessity"

Mr. Sliwa also states that the Polish intelligence chief acted in part "under conditions of conflict of duties regulated by Article 26 of the Criminal Code", i.e. the so-called "state of higher necessity" countertype.

It says that a person who acts to avert an imminent danger that threatens any greater good protected by law does not commit a crime. Two conditions must be met here: such danger cannot be averted in any other way, and the averted loss or damage must be of greater value than what was sacrificed.

However, Mr. Sliwa does not elaborate on this. One can only conclude from the entirety of the justification that, in his opinion, the immediate danger was the threat of further terrorist attacks, and the only way to prevent them was the cooperation between the intelligence services. In this case, what is sacrificed is therefore the rights of detainees, which, according to the prosecution, represent a lower value than what is being saved, namely the health and lives of potential victims of a terrorist attack.

"The investigation did not provide grounds for indictment"- the prosecutor concludes.

He also concludes that there are no grounds for indicting lower-level intelligence officers, since they acted in accordance with "the highest decision-making factors", carried out the tasks entrusted to them, while their knowledge of the "operational undertaking" was limited.

US authorities obstruct the investigation

The prosecution is also investigating another aspect of the case- the torture of prisoners in Stare Kiejkuty by CIA agents. On February 26, 2021, prosecutor Sliwa suspended this investigation due to a "long-term impediment". As a reason, he cited the alleged obstruction by US authorities.

The Polish prosecution asked the US for international legal assistance, but so far has not received it.

Justifying the decision to suspend the investigation, the prosecutor stresses the extremely complex subject of the CIA prison case. Factors such as the need to fight international terrorism, a threat to Polish citizens and Polands national interest, allied obligations, the need to protect human rights, the permissible scope of relinquishing control over part of one's own territory, and taking actions in the belief that they were in line with the public interest and the Polish raison d'etat had all to be taken into account.

For the prosecutor, the limits of permissible public information about the progress of the investigation were also an important element of the case. The prosecution remained silent and even chose not to announce that the investigation has been discontinued.

CIA paid Poland $15 million

Three detainees held in the CIA black site in Stare Kiejkuty were granted a victim status:

- Abd ar-Rahim al-Nashiri (a Saudi national suspected of organizing the attack on the US destroyer USS Cole),

Abu Zubaydah (a Palestinian national whom the CIA wrongly believed to be one of the key leaders of Al-Qaeda),

Walid bin Attash (a Yemeni, bin Laden's bodyguard, who was said to have personally chosen the terrorists that would later commit the WTC attacks).

In July 2007, the European Court of Human Rights found Poland liable for agreeing to host a secret CIA prison where detainees were tortured. The Court awarded each plaintiff (Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Abu Zubayd) EUR 100,000 in reparations. Among other things, the Court found that Poland had violated the prohibition against the use of torture and the right to a fair trial.

The CIA paid Polish intelligence services for allowing them to set up a secret detention facility in Stare Kiejkuty. According to the Washington Post, Poland received some $15 million.

The victims Polish attorneys opposed the decision to discontinue the investigation. According to our findings, they appealed the prosecutor's decision, but the court in Warsaw upheld it. The justification remains unknown, as the court has labeled it confidential. The decision is final.

***

Translated by Jakub Kibitlewski

***

Every day, 400 journalists at Gazeta Wyborcza write verified, fact-checked stories about Polish politics and society, keeping a critical eye on the ruling camps persistent assault on democratic values and the rule of law; the growing cultural tension between religious fundamentalism and human rights; and the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine. Our journalists are on the front lines in 32 Polish cities, reporting from the streets, hospitals, and courtrooms about issues that move public opinion.

We decided to make our service available to everyone free of charge in order to provide access to high quality journalism for expats and English speakers interested in Polish affairs.

The access to information should be equal for all.
In the 8th century Pope Gregory III has started the holiday of the All Saints Day, which is celebrated on the first day of November.

The pope has stood out for that  beside the martyrs  the saints, who are canonized after the recognition of the Christianity, must be celebrated too. So, this way the All Saints Day is become the feast of the hollowed souls, who are because of the large number of their kind, not mentioned in the calendars uniquely.



All Saints Day  The Hungarian Traditions

In Hungary, the All Saints Day is even connected with economic traditions. This is the day, when  in many places  the servants, maids, and shepherds are hired.



On other places, on this day the servant fair has been held, when the landlords have dealt with the servant who has gone to them to serve during the winter.



On All Saints Day all kind of work was forbidden. This was a way of the respect, because there was a habit, if anybody goes to plough, plant, or makes any kind of work, is attacks the dead ones. It was even forbidden to wash, sew and to clean up.



According to the folkways, the night between the All Saints Day, and the All souls day the deceased have mass in the church, and when the bell tolls, they are going to the house of their beloved ones.



In the peasants house, an extra plate has been placed to the tables, bread, salt and water has been served into them. In Szekely Land a loaf has been cooked, which is called Gods pie or the bread of the dead.



In Hungary, food and charity has given to and cared about the homeless and poor ones, to advance the reach of the bliss of the dead souls. Mainly bread and honey coated scone is given at the gates of the cemeteries.



All Souls Day

Since the first millennium, the church remembers all of its deceased believers, and the families to their beloved ones. The week, which contains the all souls day, is called the all souls week. The Catholics celebrate the all souls day is on November 2, the holiday after All Saints Day.



In Hungary, the all souls day has slowly evolved from the holiday of the Catholic Church to the memorial day of the deceased ones  independently from the different churches.



All Souls Day  The Hungarian Traditions

This is the day, when all of the prohibitions have started; some of them could last to Christmas in the Christian intellectuals. The prohibitions on the all souls day have held to avoid the disturbance of the dead ones.



In this week the washing was forbidden, in afraid that the dead, who comes home, would stand in water, and the clothes would turn into yellow. They have not whitewashed, because the maggots would invade the house.



On the all souls day, they have not done any kind of digging, because it is believed that whoever eats that, will become sick. From the all souls days rain the next years dead ones was predicted, and they scared each other with that.



Sewing was particularly forbidden, because every stitch was one stab to the dead  this prohibition lasts for the whole week.



This day, the graves have repaired, cleaned, ornamented with flowers and wreaths, and lighted with candles and lampions. The more dead ones the family has, the more candles are lighted.



Some believe that the bleak souls can warm at the flame. Others believe that the candle must be lighted to the escaped souls, who are become free this day, can return to their graves.



To remember the ones, who have died abroad, or buried in an unknown place a bonfire is lighted, and the bells are constantly tolled. They believed until the bell tolls, the deceased ones are at home. In many places, when in the cemeteries candles have been lit, they left the lamp switched on at home, to let the dead look around.



Source:

itshungarian.com
Marion Merricks books are the only first-hand account written by a westerner of what it was like to live and work in communist Hungary, and then in the aftermath of the 1989 change of regime.

Now You See It, Now You Dont and House of Cards have been included as part of the Open Society Archive dedicated to this period in the CEU. You can read a serialisation of them here on Xpatloop. You can also buy the dual-volume book on Kindle as well as in Stanfords London.



Chapter two: Snow and Settling: Dozsa Gyorgy ut

Part 1  Hungarian customer service; Customs Officers visit



On the day following our move our belongings were delivered. Despite the pages of advertisements from removal firms in the Yellow Pages in England claiming Worldwide removal, or European removers only one was in fact able to handle our things - and then only as far as Vienna where a Hungarian company would have to collect them and take them on to Budapest. A typical response from the other Worldwide removers was, Hungary? What kind of regime they got there then? Followed by, Sorry, we dont go to none of them Communist countries.



It had been difficult to decide what we might need, and we had first thought of taking only clothes and some books and records. However, the removal firm told us that the quantity mattered not nearly so much as the distance, and since we had no idea what would be included in the rental of a flat in Budapest, we eventually decided to take everything.



We had no furniture since we were leaving a furnished flat (our piano and cat went to our friends Sue and Steve in Cambridge) but we took crockery, bedding, record-player, books, records - almost everything we owned. The total weight of the container was some 600 kilos, so we were glad that the cost included delivery within Budapest to a ground or first-floor flat.



The lorry arrived late in the morning. Balint was waiting with us to help with interpreting, should that be needed. The driver came up to our door, showed us the papers and indicated that we should follow him out into the street. The rear of the lorry stood open; inside was the huge wooden crate with our name chalked on it. We waited.



He wants to know if you've got an axe to open the crate, Balint told us.



No, we haven't, Paul replied, and anyway, why hasn't he got one, and where are the other people to carry the things, or is he going to do it alone?



Balint translated.



The driver took a packet of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, lit one, leant against the lorry and said, Well, I can't open the crate without an axe.



At that moment, Eva's aunt came through the gate on her way to the shop.



Please ask her if she's got an axe, I asked Balint.



She had, and she fetched it. The driver puffed out a final cloud of smoke, then swung himself up into the back of the lorry and began to open the container. One or two inquisitive people gathered round to watch. There were twenty-six large cardboard boxes inside.



The driver beckoned to Balint, Help me get them down onto the pavement, will you? he asked.



The fact that delivery had been prepaid did not concern him. No other men had been provided, there was only him, and if we did not help it seemed he would be quite happy just to stand and smoke. Gradually we unloaded them all.



Now what? Paul asked Balint, Don't tell me we've got to carry them all the way up to the flat?



We did. It began to rain as we started the long trek from the street, through the gate across the courtyard and up the steps. We were all sweating, cold and damp by the time we had finished. The driver held out a paper to be signed.



He says you have to pay four hundred forints for delivery, Balint told us.



What? We paid in England, we replied.



The man shrugged his shoulders.



They always say that, these foreign removal companies, he said.



It seemed pointless to try to prove our point by showing him the English language contract, so we decided to pay him and sort it out later at the Masped office.



You have to give a tip, said Balint, a Hungarian mania which the Hungarians themselves cannot explain, especially since service is grudging at best and non-existent at worst. We gave him five hundred forints which he pocketed disdainfully, and muttered complainingly as he went back to his van.



Balint had to leave us then, so Paul and I began to push the boxes through the main room and into the second room which we had decided to use only as a store for the time being, both for our own things and some of Eva's that we didn't need.



There was a ring at the door. A man and a woman, both in green uniform, informed us that they were from the customs and that we must not unpack any of the boxes until they had checked everything. Luckily, one of them spoke a little German. We led them into the back room.



Now, we need to see your record player, tape recorder and amplifier, they said. We had no idea which box they might be in, the boxes were labelled, 'Wardrobe', 'Books and sundries', 'Kitchen' and 'Miscellaneous'.



The choice seemed to be between 'Sundry' or 'Miscellaneous'. The man and woman settled themselves on top of a heap of plastic bags full of Eva's bedding and laundry and waited for us to find the things.



Slowly and unenthusiastically, we started to open boxes and rummage through them. It did not take too long to find the amplifier and tape recorder, but the record player was elusive. Having been through twenty-four boxes, all that was left were the two large wardrobe boxes: carefully packed among our clothes lay the record player.



The man and woman carefully noted down the serial numbers and then asked, Have you got anything like a computer, television or other tape recorder?



Nothing, we replied, only that small radio over there, an old sewing machine and a typewriter.





Our electric typewriter

You understand that you are not allowed to sell any of these things and that when you leave the country we will check that you still have them? We'll also need a list of all your other things, the man said, indicating our heaps of boxes and belongings.



You mean we have to list every book? asked Paul, his voice touched with hysteria. We've got about six hundred books and the same number of records.



And you want me to write down every pair of socks and shoes? I asked incredulously.



The customs officer considered.



Well, if you write down something like fifty history books, one hundred music books... you know... you needn't write down all the titles...



And the clothes? I asked.



Oh, just write down have you got a fur coat?



I shook my head. He sighed. He obviously considered the whole situation as ridiculous as we did.



Resuming his seat on top of the bags he said, You're from England, aren't you? We nodded.



Musicians?



I'm teaching at the Music Academy, Paul replied.



My son's a violinist. He's in an orchestra in West Germany, he told us proudly. It's very difficult for musicians here. It's a small country and there aren't many orchestras. Anyway, the pay's so bad they have to spend all their time teaching. They have no time to practise, and no-one wants more than one rehearsal because they lose their teaching time and money. Then people wonder why the standards aren't what they should be.



This was a situation we too were learning about - the standard of orchestras we had heard bore no resemblance to that of the playing of the students in the academy, many of whom went abroad to work at the first opportunity. The customs man chatted a little longer, the woman saying nothing, and then having put his hat back on and the sheaf of papers back in his case, they left.



We felt very much at home in this new flat, though it was far from ideal from many points of view. Perhaps the worst fault was that we always had to have the lights on except on the very brightest days. The kitchen had no proper sink and no hot water, what it did have was something made of cast iron, painted white, comparable in appearance only to a urinal.



This was attached to the wall with a single cold tap above, and it had many small holes like a colander, and no plug. We used it for peeling potatoes or vegetables, but washing-up could only be done by bringing a bowl of hot water from the bathroom, and standing it on the table. Gradually we unpacked our boxes and found to our amazement that not a single item had been broken.





Our kitchen sink

It was November: dark, cold and cheerless. The foreign tourists disappeared, and the Hungarian winter 'uniform' of black leather jackets and coats was once again in evidence.



Street and shop lighting was dim, and we were glad of our warm flat. All Hungarian homes, even down to the simplest peasant houses, have two sets of windows, an extremely effective form of double glazing, and are generally heated to a level uncomfortable for anyone wearing more than a t-shirt.



In the week following our move we went to the embassy to register our change of address, as was compulsory for all foreign residents. The embassy also housed the British Council library, which contained a good number of both books and records, as well as a selection of daily papers and magazines.



Most Hungarians, for whom the library actually exists, were afraid to go into the building. To do so had once been illegal, and even now they feared being reported by the policeman on the door. Foreign newspapers were only otherwise available in the large hotels, but even then, our friends preferred to ask us to buy a paper or a magazine for them rather than go into the hotel themselves.



On some days I still began teaching at seven-thirty, which meant I had to leave home at six-thirty. I was amazed that even so early in the morning, I had to wait for the third tube at Keleti station before I could push my way on.





Illegal sellers at Keleti Courtesy Fortepan/ Sandor Rubinstein

Keleti (the Eastern) railway station is an imposing structure, its entrance facade flanked by large statues: on one side, James Watt, on the other Robert Stephenson. The station is situated in a poor area with a proliferation of illegal street traders selling quartz watches and calculators.



The station itself was always alive with a colourful assortment of widely contrasting people  the Wiener Waltzer bringing the ostentatiously well-dressed Viennese, the trains from Romania with Transylvanian-Hungarians shouldering heavy bundles of indeterminable content and baskets of food, drink and the occasional live chicken or goose.



The trains to and from Moscow were always overcrowded with Russian soldiers, with their characteristic uniforms and huge flat-topped hats which looked as though they had a long-playing record in them. Keleti was one of the meeting points for Hungarian conscripts, self-conscious in their new uniforms and short haircuts, their parents nearby with carrier bags full of their sons' possessions.



Small stalls crowded the entrance and platforms selling newspapers and refreshments including surprisingly fresh chestnut puree and cream in small plastic cups.

Station refreshment trolley with chestnut puree Courtesy Fortepan/Sandor Bauer

Outside the station was a large opening in the road leading down to the underground and a pedestrian area with stone seats and one or two espresso bars. There are three underground lines in Budapest; the first was built not long after the first London one, with trains rather like underground trams.



The other two lines, built on the Russian model, are very deep under the ground, and the trains are spotlessly clean, spacious and fast.

Keleti station underground Courtesy Fortepan/ Magyar Hirek Folyoirat
Cameroons main operator Camtel has according to local media, announced plans to bring on board local companies to help operate its FTTH fibre optic networks in two major cities: Yaounde and Douala.

The company is hoping to put together partnerships on all existing network sites by the end of December next year in a deal that will allow partner operators to have a partial right to use a given buildings FTTH connections. Partner operators can either apply for installation and maintenance operations, resale of capacity, or both.

This move may come as a surprise given that the country is seen as a sub-regional fibre optic hub; its connected to five subsea cables: SAT3, WACS, ACE, SAIL and NCSCS.

The Business in Cameroon website points out, however, that earlier this year the International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued a report revealing that investments in the telecommunications sector fell by 78% between 2016 and 2019. It also highlighted the need to continue the deployment of optical fibres. The IFC has also said that the penetration rate of fixed and mobile broadband internet in Cameroon has been stagnating at 22% since 2016.

It probably doesnt help that at the moment Camtel is the monopoly operator of optical fibres in Cameroon, and that it has apparently failed to bring fibre to large parts of the country  or effectively manage existing networks, as this announcement implies.
The European Commission has "clearly not learnt from its recent mistakes" and refuses to face reality, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in Luxembourg.

The ministry cited Szijjarto telling a press conference after the European Union energy affairs ministers meeting that the measures introduced by Brussels had only deepened the energy crisis. It is most important to stay alert in the weeks to come when the EC drafts and submits concrete proposals, he said.



The EC plans to make another concealed attempt to reduce member states powers and sneakily expand its own powers, Szijjarto said.



Hungary insists that decisions in matters connected to energy supplies should require the unanimous approval of all member states, he added.



The security of energy supplies is a priority for the government, which will not approve any proposal that would even slightly reduce it, he said.



We believe the good and genuine long-term solution would be to flood the European market with natural gas, Szijjarto said.



The EC should help to ensure that natural gas arrives from as many sources as possible and through as many routes as possible, he added.



Govt Maintains Red Lines in Six Matters, Says Szijjarto



Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that the government maintained red lines in six matters.



The first one is that setting up a common gas acquisition platform should be done on a voluntary basis only, he said.



Hungary refuses to participate in common acquisitions of any kind, he added.



Measures related to a price cap must not influence long-term contracts in any way, he said. Commenting on the solidarity mechanism, Szijjarto rejected the possibility that natural gas purchased from Hungarian taxpayers money and stored in Hungary should be offered to other countries.



European bureaucrats and quite a few other countries are juggling to banish Russian natural gas from European markets  but in case of an emergency they would accept it from Hungarian reserves, he said.



Szijjarto also said that Hungarys experiences were not necessarily the same as western European experiences in terms of which suppliers were reliable.



Russias Gazprom has been reliably supplying the contracted volumes while two western companies have let Hungary down in connection with extraction from the Black Sea gas fields in Romania, he added.



Szijjarto said that unlike the successful Hungarian decisions connected to gas acquisition and storage, Brussels measures have so far only caused problems and dangers for European energy supplies. It follows that the Hungarian government does not support handing over national powers.



We will stand on our guard in the weeks to come to make sure that no decision is made that could threaten Hungarian energy supplies, go against the European Councils decision, or take away powers from us to hand them over to Brussels, he said.
YORK  Hodi Al Jabiri, 53, of York, was initially charged with fourth offense driving under the influence, as well as second offense driving during revocation and refusal to submit to testing. The DUI charge has been enhanced to a Class 2A felony because he refused to submit to testing and allegedly had a blood alcohol level higher than .15.

But those charges were later amended to one count of third offense driving under the influence with .15+ or refusal, which is a Class 3A felony, and he was sentenced this past week.

According to court documents, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol were assisting the York Police Department with directing traffic in the area of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street when they saw Al Jabiri pull up to the intersection. The trooper was aware Al Jabiri had a revoked license.

A traffic stop was initiated and troopers said in their affidavit it took Al Jabiri some time to stop his vehicle.

When the trooper made contact with Al Jabiri, he says in his affidavit he saw alcoholic beverage containers in the vehicle, on the passenger floor, and he could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle and Al Jibiris person. The trooper asked Al Jabiri to exit the vehicle and he allegedly stumbled and leaned against the vehicle while walking.

The trooper says Al Jabiri failed a field sobriety test and he blew a .262 during a breath test.

Troopers said Al Jabiri refused to a test when he was at the jail.

This week, Al Jabiri was fined $1,000, sentenced to three years of traditional probation, sentenced to 90 days in jail but given 90 days of credit and his drivers license was revoked for 15 years.
Time and again, Indians have shown off their attention-seeking skills. This time around, a video of a man buying a TVS Jupiter with Rs 10 coins, worth Rs 50,000. The man paid the downpayment for the TVS Jupiter with just coins. The incident took place in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, wherein the man handed over 5,000 coins in total. In the video, the dealership staff of the authorised showroom of TVS can be seen counting coins. While the video has already gone viral on social media, it is catching the attention of netizens. Also, it isnt the first time someone has done something of this sort.

Even earlier, people have used bizarre ways of making payments to buy cars or motorcycles. However, as per new rules of RBI, only payment of up to Rs 2 lakh in cash can be accepted, after which the dealership can charge additional tax. As for the TVS Jupiter, the scooter can be bought by making full payment in cash since it is priced from Rs 69,990 to Rs 85,246.

Talking of the scooter, it is available in two engine options - 110 cc and 125 cc, with both of them using a CVT unit. The former is available in a total of 5 variants, and its motor belts out a peak power output of 7.9 PS and 8.8 Nm of max torque. The scooter rides on a set of 12-inch rims, which can be either alloy or steel rims, depending upon the variant you choose.

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With a telescopic front fork and preload adjustable suspension, Jupiter weighs 107 kilos. The Jupiter 125, on the other hand, puts out 8.16 PS against 10.5 Nm as its max output. Also, the more powerful Jupiter is heavier by a kilo. In comparison to the lesser Jupiter 110, the Jupiter 125 gets a fuel tank that is fixed in the floorboard.
Amidst the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, German automaker Mercedes-Benz said on Wednesday said it would withdraw from the Russian market. The automaker has become the latest in the round of large businesses announcing their exit from the Russia due to ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Earlier Nissan, Ford and GM announced to shut their operations in Russia to support Ukraine.

As per a report on Reuters, Mercedes-Benz said that they will sell shares in its industrial and financial services subsidiaries to a local investor.

However, a Mercedes spokesperson told Reuters that the company's stake in Russian truckmaker Kamaz would not be affected by the intended transaction and should be transferred to Daimler Truck this year as planned.

Mercedes-Benz to sell shares in Russian subsidiaries to local investor https://t.co/HmPo0YnLpt pic.twitter.com/GwNiQfO1CP  Reuters (@Reuters) October 26, 2022

Earlier this month, Japan's Nissan Motor Company decided to sell its Russian operations with an option to buy it back within six years. Nissan had suspended its Russian operations following Russian military operations in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the West.

The company stated it will take a one-off impact of approximately 100 billion yen from this exit. According to Nissan, its Executive Committee approved the sale of its Russian operations to NAMI, the Central Research and Development Automobile and Engine Institute. The sale will transfer all Nissan operations in Russia under the Nissan Manufacturing Russia LLC (NMGR) legal entity to NAMI for future passenger vehicle projects, Nissan stated.

With agencies inputs
Donald Trump, the former United States President has started to fly in his private Boeing 757 luxury jet once again, after a 3-year hiatus. The luxury jet is one of the world's most recognized planes due to its unique dark livery and 'TRUMP' badging. Donald Trump reportedly last flew on his highly customized private jet in 2017, before becoming the 45th president of the United States, although the plane kept flying till 2019. As per flight tracking websites, the plane was grounded and stored at Stewart International Airport in mid-2019. During the 3 year break, the aircraft had one engine removed and became overdue for maintenance and also got a new paint job. The former Presidents 31-year-old jet was spotted at Palm Beach International Airport last week again.

World's most expensive private jet

The Boeing 757, according to various reports, including a report on CNN, was bought by Donald Trump at an estimated cost of $100 million (Rs 820 crore) from Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen in 2010. Donald Trump then partnered with International Jet Interiors, a private aircraft interior refurbishment company, to modify his 757 and add customized interiors including VIP area, custom galley, a bedroom, dining room, guest suite, and 43 seats, taking 6 months to complete. Allegedly, Rs 80 crore were spent on the mod-job, taking the value of the plane to Rs 900 crore.

Not just that, the plane even has a 24-karat gold plate on some metal surfaces of the interior that cost around $250,000 alone. Apart from this, the seats feature the Trump family crest embroidered with fabric imported from Paris. Before buying this plane in 2010, Donald Trump family owned a Boeing 727 that he sold in 2009 to purchase the 757.

Donald Trump using Air Force One

In 2017, Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, after which, he was given an Air Force One customized Boeing 747 jet for his official travel. Donald Trump didn't fly in his Boeing 757 for a long time and due to the planes age, it was grounded in 2019. While some rumours suggested Trump is letting go his plane to purchase a brand-new jet, three-decade-old plane is back in action.

According to a tweet from a former White House staffer, the private Boeing 757 in its shiny new paint appeared to have flown from South Florida to Texas for a Trump rally. Donald Trump has announced to run for Presidential race once again after losing to Democratic Party's Joe Biden in 2021.
New Delhi: Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival which is celebrated mostly in eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. The festival is celebrated to pray to Lord Sun. It is primarily celebrated in Bihar and Jharkhand. Devotees, on the river banks of river, ponds, lake, take dip and offer argha to setting sun and rising sun. The festival is observed on the sixth day of Kartik month.

This year, Chhath Puja will begin on October 28 and will conclude on October 31. During the festivities, both men and women observe a full 36-hour fast for the health, happiness, and longevity of their children. Those observing fast are not allowed to consume water too.

Chhath Puja 2022: Date and Tithi

October 28 (Tritiya)  Nahai Khai

October 29 (Chaturthi)  Lohanda and Kharna

October 30 (Shashthi)  Chhath Puja, Sandhya Argh

October 31 (Saptami)  Suryodaya Argh

Chhath Puja 2022: Puja Vidhi

On day one, devotees clean the house after taking a bath as there needs to be extra attention to cleanliness. In every household, gram dal (chana dal), gourd vegetables, and rice in the form of prasad is prepared.

On day two, i.e, the day of Kharna, devotees observe fast throughout the day and eat prasad in the evening.

On day 3, Sandhya Argh is offered to Lord Sun and devotees observe fast.

On day 4, devotee offer Usha Argya to the rising Sun.

Then, devotes eat a traditional cooked meal such as chawal ke kheer, laal saag, thekua and kohnda or Sita Phal ki Sabjee.
New Delhi: India will not impose anti-dumping duty on a Chinese chemical used in pharma industry as the finance ministry has not accepted the recommendations of DGTR for imposing the levy. The commerce ministry's investigation arm DGTR had conducted a probe into the alleged dumping of "(4R-Cis)-1-1-Dimethylethyl-6-cyanomethyl-2, 2-dimethyl-1, 3-dioxane-4-acetate" from China, and in August it recommended the imposition of the duty.

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"The central government, after considering the final findings of the designated authority (DGTR), has decided not to accept the ... Recommendations," a memorandum of Department of Revenue said.

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While Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommends the duty, Department of Revenue takes the final decision to impose it. This chemical is also known as ATS-8, which is a key raw material for manufacturing Atorvastatin active pharmaceutical ingredient. In international trade parlance, dumping happens when a country or a firm exports an item at a price lower than the price of that product in its domestic market.

Dumping impacts the price of that product in the importing country, hitting the margins and profits of manufacturing firms. According to global trade norms, a country is allowed to impose tariffs on such dumped products to provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers.

The duty is imposed only after a thorough investigation by a quasi-judicial body, such as DGTR, in India. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a-vis foreign producers and exporters.
New Delhi: BJPs spokesperson and leader Sambit Patra, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, attacked Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his demand of having images of lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes along with Mahatma Gandhi and said that Kejriwals uncanny appeal is the height of U-turn and he is trying to be a Hindu to divert peoples attention from his partys otherwise anti-Hindu stance.

Calling his appeal a political drama, Sambit Patra said, He is doing political drama to divert people's attention from the flaws of his government and the anti-Hindu mindset of the Aam Aadmi Party. What Kejriwal has said in his press conference is another extension of his U-turn politics. His hypocrisy is on show. He noted that the AAP government had recently warned anyone who celebrated Diwali with firecrackers that they would face legal punishment.

Also Read: 'Need Lakshmi-Ganesh photos on currency notes for India's prosperity': Kejriwal urges PM Modi

Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes. During a media briefing, he said the images of Ganesha and Lakshmi could be printed on fresh currency notes. He added that the new notes could have an image of Mahatma Gandhi on one side and the two deities on the other.

The BJP spokesperson also noted that Kejriwal had once spoken against the construction of Ram temple and said a hospital should be built at the site in Ayodhya. He said, "People should watch the video in which Kejriwal is saying that he would not go to Ram temple for worship at any cost because Lord Ram will not accept that worship." Internet is full of his "anti-Hindu" remarks, he said, and also referred to the alleged involvement of Tahir Hussain, then a AAP leader, in the Delhi riots.

The BJP spokesperson also raised Kejriwal's attack on BJP leaders for their support to the movie 'The Kashmir Files', which was based on the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits following the outbreak of militancy in the Valley. He had mocked the movie and is now trying to be a Hindu, Patra claimed.

Kejriwal had then rejected the BJP's demand to waive tax on the film and mocked its leaders' support to the movie. Patra alleged, "Kejriwal refused to give jobs to Kashmiri people in Delhi. Kejriwal who laughs at Kashmiri Hindus is suddenly trying to become a Hindu. Greed of power has forced him to wear a mask."

He also mentioned AAP politician Rajendra Pal Gautam's recent involvement at a controversial religious conversion event where the pledge to not worship Hindu deities was taken. Gautam "abused" and "mocked" deities, but he remains a member of the AAP, Patra said, alleging that his removal as a minister in the Kejriwal administration was a hoax.

He said if Kejriwal meant what he said, then he should expel former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam and AAP's Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia from the party for allegedly speaking against Hindu deities. He demanded that Kejriwal show his respect for Sanatan Dharma by expelling Gautam and Italia from the party. "All such leaders... Whether it's (Rajendra Pal) Gautam or the AAP's Gujarat unit president are still in the party."

Kejriwal, who has so far protected his party leaders who "insulted Hindu gods and goddesses, is now trying to save his face in view of the elections", Patra alleged, referring to the upcoming elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Gujarat Assembly.

The BJP leader claimed that Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi have their blessings on India and PM Modi due to his hardwork and commitment. That is why, India has gone on to become the fifth largest economy in the world from 11th in the last decade, he said. It is due to the divine blessings that India is a leading economy and is acknowledged as a bright spot in the word amid fears of recession, Patra said. Patra alleged that opposing Hinduism has been Kejriwal's habit he is now trying to become a devotee of Ganesh and Lakshmi.

(With PTI inputs)
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking "constitutionally appropriate" action against Finance Minister K N Balagopal for making a speech "undermining unity," a demand turned down by the CM. "A minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India cannot continue to enjoy my pleasure. In these circumstances, I am left with no option but to convey that Balagopal has ceased to enjoy my pleasure", the Governor said. He expressed hope the CM will "consider the matter with seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate". The chief minister has shot back a letter to the Governor rejecting his demand, an official source told PTI. Vijayan reiterated his trust on Balagopal, saying it remains "undiminished."

Guv's letter did not directly seek removal but...

In his letter, the Governor did not explicitly seek for the removal/withdrawal of Balagopal from the LDF cabinet but it seemed to be the essence of his communication to Vijayan.

A highly placed source said that in his response, Vijayan said that from a constitutional perspective and factoring in the democratic conventions and traditions of the country, the statement cannot warrant a ground for cessation of enjoyment of the Governor's pleasure.

The Governor will appreciate that no further action needs to be taken in the matter, Vijayan said, according to the source.

Kerala FM has 'ceased to enjoy my pleasure': State Governor

In his letter to the CM, the Governor alleged Balagopal delivered a speech at a University campus here on October 18, seeking to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and undermining the unity of India and he was left with no option but to convey that the Finance Minister has "ceased to enjoy my pleasure".

Stating the reported statements of Balagopal are nothing short of violation of oath he had administered to him, Khan directed Vijayan to take action which was constitutionally appropriate.

This the first such move by the governor after Raj Bhavan PRO tweeted on October 17 that the chief minister and Council of Ministers have right to advise governor but statements of individual ministers that lower the dignity of the office of the Governor, can invite action including "withdrawal of pleasure."

Quoting the newspaper reports of October 19, the Governor alleged the comments made by Balagopal and state Higher Education Minister R Bindu at a function organised at Karyavattom campus of the Kerala University were "clearly aimed at tarnishing the image of the Governor and lowering the dignity of office of the Governor".

"But the most disturbing were the comments made by the Finance Minister which seek to stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and if allowed to go unchecked they may have erosive and baneful influence on our national unity and integrity", the Governor said in the letter.

It carried the newspaper reports quoting Balagopal who reportedly said at the function that those who come from places like Uttar Pradesh, may find it tough to understand universities in Kerala.

Balagopal, a former Rajya Sabha MP reportedly continued saying, "security guards of the Vice Chancellor of Banaras University had shot down five students. Then I was an MP and had gone there. The Vice Chancellor had 50 to 100 security guards. This is the situation in many universities there".

The Governor said, "the above mentioned remarks of the Finance Minister seek to create a wedge between Kerala and other States of Indian Union and project a false impression as if different States of India have different systems of higher education".

Khan alleged that the reported statements of Balagopal are nothing short of violation of the oath he had administered to him.

He also claimed that the assertions of Balagopal have no basis as the higher education in all states of India is subject to UGC Regulations which issues not only guidelines to conduct the affairs of the Universities but also provides substantial monetary assistance.

The Acts/Statutes of Indian Universities are more or less the same and Kerala's Universities have had Vice Chancellors from outside the state.

The NAAC grading of our Universities are also assessed and granted by non Keralite Peer Teams, the Governor said in his letter to the CM.

Khan said the comments of the Finance Minister challenge not only the national unity and integrity but also the Constitutional Convention that makes it necessary that Governor of each state shall be from outside the state.

He stated Balagopal also seems to be blissfully unaware that Banaras Hindu University is a Central University and it does not come under the administrative control of Uttar Pradesh government and it had more Vice Chancellors from other states including from southern than from UP.
Thai operators AIS and True hailed their efforts and government initiatives to create an ecosystem that supports 5G, which has accelerated the companies to prep for the next stages of the technology such as network slicing and healthcare solutions.

Speaking at Huawei Global Mobile Broadband Forum in Bangkok, AIS head of Mobile and Consumer Products Saran Phaloprakarn (pictured) explained 5G devices were expensive when 5G first launched in the country with the iPhone 12 being the only choice.

Now, more sub-US$200 have been launched from manufacturers such as Samsung and Xiaomi enabling consumers to connect at a mass scale.

The company has also subsidised devices through its device contracts to sell smartphones for as much as US$30 per month which has spurred the ecosystem of 5G devices in Thailand, he claimed.

The next steps for the advancement of 5G in Thailand will be tapping into network slicing and low latency, a move that will be enabled when mmWave spectrum is deployed when handsets to support them are launched next year.

What we need is the deployment of the millimetre wave spectrum. That depends greatly on the availability of handsets [in the market]. Today millimetre wave-enabled handsets are only available in the US.

We hope that this year or next year there will be millimetre wave devices and that ecosystem of devices is ready for us so that we can deploy the enhanced mobile broadband and unleash the potential of 5G, said Phaloprakarn.

Meanwhile rival True tipped it will reach 10 million 5G subscribers by the end of this year with 85% coverage. True co-group chief growth officer Tanaphon Manavutiveth compared this figure to the global rate of 5G coverage which is 30%.

Manavutiveth pointed out Thailand is a leading adopter of 5G in the ASEAN region with a rate of 9.2%, behind only the leading nation Singapore which has a rate of 13.9%. He also noted shipments of 5G devices for the operator grew from 5% last year and is on track to triple to 15% this year, this is supported by its retail partners 7-Eleven, Lotus and Metro to name a few totalling around 15,000 sales points.

The executive ended his speech on the need for more collaborations to find more use cases such as healthcare, to propel 5G as the next-generation technology it promises to be.

True is developing autonomous vehicles among many solutions for Thailands most prestigious hospital Siriraj, which is tipped to be one of the first smart hospitals in the ASEAN.
New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday warned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" regarding the Chhath Puja celebrations in the national capital. Saxena has given his nod to hold Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and urged the Chief Minister to ensure clean ghats and water for devotees. A tweet by Kejriwal a few days ago had caused confusion with many people assuming that the puja could be performed anywhere along the Yamuna, the sources said.

"The proposal to hold Chhath Puja approved by the Lieutenant Governor was specific to designated ghats on the Yamuna," a source said. The sources said Saxena had also cautioned Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" over the issue. A tweet by Kejriwal a few days ago had caused confusion with many people assuming that the puja could be performed anywhere along the Yamuna, the sources said.

Saxena has also directed the revenue and environment departments to ensure strict enforcement of the National Green Tribunal's orders on Yamuna pollution.

The Delhi government's revenue department is the nodal agency for Chhath arrangements. It is working in close coordination with other government departments and civic agencies to make Chhath a success.

Chhath Puja celebrations in Delhi

Chhath will be celebrated on October 30 and 31. It involves offering 'arghya' to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water. The festival is hugely popular among Purvanchalis -- people belonging to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh -- living in Delhi.

Popular Purvanchali leader and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, in a letter to the Lieutenant Governor in August, had urged Saxena to direct Delhi government officials to make adequate arrangements for Chhath Puja at ghats on the Yamuna. The Delhi government has made preparations for Chhath Puja at 1,100 sites.
CPGET 2022: Osmania University will release the provisional CPGET first seat allotment today, October 26. Candidates can check the CPGET seat allotment list 2022 online mode at cpget.tsche.ac.in. The deadline for all chosen candidates to report to their respective colleges is October 31. Candidates will need to pay the admission fee online after the publication of the CPGET 1st seat allocation. A joining report will be generated upon the successful submission of the admission fee, and candidates can obtain it from the candidates portal. The original certificates, the fee challan, and the joining report must all be brought to the designated college by the chosen candidates. The designated college will then confirm the candidates' original documentation and approve the seat.

CPGET first seat allotment 2022: Heres how to check

Go to the official website - cpget.tsche.ac.in

On the home page, click on the First Phase Provisional Seat Allotment 2022 link.

Sign in using the login credentials.

Click on the Submit button.

The CPGET provisional seat allotment list will get displayed on the screens.

Candidates will be able to select from seven different PG programs offered by the participating institutes through the Common Postgraduate Entrance Test 2022. Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Telangana University, Palalmuru University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Satavahan University, JNTUH, and Telangana Mahila Vishwavidyalayam are among the participating universities at COGET.
CSAB 2022: The Central Seat Allocation Board, CSAB is holding the CSAB 2022 Counselling for candidates.CSAB is a Special Round Counselling 2022 that is done for NIT+ plus systems that have remained empty in the JoSAA Rounds. According to the schedule, CSAB Counseling registration will begin today and run through October 28, 2022. The CSAB Special Round 1 Seat Allotment will be made public on October 30, 2022. The CSAB will use a variety of methods to carry out its counselling, including registration, fee payment, choice filling, seat allocation results, and exercising alternatives. Candidates can provide registration information such as their date of birth, JEE Main number, and captcha. Once finished, the applicants must complete the form and make the necessary payments.

Candidates should be aware that you must show up for the document verification on the scheduled days. Only after the verification is completed successfully will admission be guaranteed.

CSAB 2022 Counselling: Heres how to apply

Visit the website  csab.nic.in

Then click on the portal for registration

Enter the details and fill the form

Pay the fees and submit the form

Download and keep a copy

Candidate processing fees for the CSAB 2022 Counseling are Rs. 3000. Candidates can view the open positions on the official website; they must then provide their information and download the job description.
New Delhi: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been serving a jail term since 2017 but he is out on parole currently. Rahim is convicted of raping two of his disciples and killing a journalist. But these days he is coming out of jail on parole and hosting satsangs. And there is a crowd of common devotees as well as leaders who are attending it. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is in Baghpat Ashram in Uttar Pradesh on parole for 40 days.

Ram Rahim celebrated Diwali at Barnawa Ashram in UP and also launched a music video for Diwali.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan will analyze how Ram Rahim who has been convicted of serious crimes such as rape and murder, is being treated like a celebrity while on parole.

It is the right of every prisoner to come out of jail on parole. But it seems that in the eyes of the Haryana government, rapist Ram Rahim is getting a little more respect. On February 7 this year, rapist Ram Rahim got a three-week furlough. And Z plus security was also given. Punjab went to polls on February 20 while he was out of jail. On June 17, Ram Rahim was released on parole for 30 days. Two days later, elections were held for 46 municipalities in Haryana. And now on October 14, Ram Rahim was granted parole for 40 days. Panchayat elections are due in Haryana next month. Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to be held on November 12.

The Haryana government has declined to comment on Ram Rahim's activities while on parole.

It is shocking to see a criminal coming out on parole and launching music videos. The Haryana government has no objection to it. In fact, panchayat election candidates and leaders are actively participating in the Satsang of a rapist.

In 2017, the Delhi High Court said that it is clear that only rich and powerful prisoners get parole. To help such people, the police go beyond their jurisdiction and favor them. And those who need it the most don't get bail.

It seems now that Delhi High Court's observation is the truth of our country's prison system.
New Delhi: As veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge formally took over as Congress president, outgoing party president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday (October 26, 2022) said that she is "feeling relieved". The 75-year-old, who is the longest-serving Congress chief, said that she did her duty as party president to the best of her ability. She also said that the biggest satisfaction is that the new party president is "very experienced".

"I am confident Congress will be inspired and strengthened by Mallikarjun Kharge's leadership," Sonia Gandhi said while speaking at an event where Kharge formally took over as the Congress president.

She, however, said that the grand old party faces "many challenges" but with unity and strength it will move forward to tackle them as it has done before.

"My biggest satisfaction is that the new Congress president is very experienced and has risen from being an ordinary worker to such heights through his hard work," she said.

"I did my duty as Congress president to the best of my ability and now feeling relieved as I would be free from this responsibility," she added.

Earlier in the day, Mallikarjun was handed over the certificate of election to the top post at a function at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

Kharge was handed over the certificate of election as the Congress president by the party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry.

Along with Sonia Gandhi, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the event which was attended by several top party leaders.

LIVE: Presentation of certificate of election to the newly elected Congress President Shri @kharge at AICC HQ. #CongressPresidentKharge https://t.co/8GeOvUSzaf  Congress (@INCIndia) October 26, 2022

Kharge, notably, is the first non-Gandhi to head the party in over two decades. The last non-Gandhi Congress president was Sitaram Kesri, who was unceremoniously removed in 1998 just after two years into his five-year term.

He defeated Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor in a direct contest for the president's post in the grand old party after the Gandhis opted out of the race.

Ahead of his taking over, Kharge visited Rajghat and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He also visited the memorials of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram, and paid tributes to the leaders.

Paid my humble tributes to Bapu, Nehru Ji, Shastri Ji, Babu Ji, Indira Ji and Rajiv Ji before taking charge as the @INCIndia President today.



We must always remember their vision of a sovereign secular democratic republic and devote our lives to realise the India of their dreams pic.twitter.com/TIicE24hkL  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 26, 2022

Who is Mallikarjun Kharge, the new Congress president?

Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka and the new Congress president, is a leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics. The 80-year-old is also the second AICC President from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa and also the second Dalit leader after Jagjivan Ram to hold the post.

Born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district on July 21, 1942, he did his schooling and BA as well as Law in Kalaburagi. He was into legal practice for some time before plunging into politics. Married to Radhabai on May 13, 1968, they have two daughters and three sons. One son, Priyank Kharge is an MLA and a former Minister in Karnataka.

Kharge was elected MLA nine times in a row and saw a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home district of Gulbarga (renamed as Kalaburagi). He joined the party in 1969 and went on to become President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee. That Kharge was unconquerable at the hustings was mirrored until the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which he bucked the Narendra Modi wave that swept Karnataka, particularly the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and had won from Gulbarga with a margin of over 74,000 votes.

He has won from the Gurmitkal assembly constituency nine times before he plunged into the Lok Sabha poll arena in 2009 and has been a two-time MP from Gulbarga parliamentary segment.

Kharge has played multiple roles in different ministries that has enriched his experience as an administrator. He has also served as the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Kharge was also the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019 but could not become the leader of the opposition, as the grand old party could not get the post as its numbers were less than the mandated 10 percent of the total number of seats in the Lower House.

The son of a mill worker, who started his political journey as the city Congress chief, becomes the National President of the Congress - this distinction makes Congress the party of the nation, of the workers and of the public.#CongressPresidentKharge pic.twitter.com/yt3hDVmK11  Congress (@INCIndia) October 26, 2022

He has served as Union Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment, also Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment- in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He had also held various portfolios in successive Congress governments that governed the state.

He was Home Minister of Karnataka in one of the most trying times, under S M Krishna as the Chief Minister, as the tenure saw the kidnapping of Kannada thespian Rajkumar by the notorious poacher Veerappan and the Cauvery river water conflict, both of which had created a law and order situation in the state.

Kharge was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in June 2020 and was the 17th Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House until recently, ahead of his resignation from the post to contest the Congress' Presidential election.

Challenges before new Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge has taken charge of Congress at a time when it faces a tough challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ousted the grand old party from many states. For Kharge, the current assignment has come at a time when the party is at a historic low, electorally.

With the Congress now remaining in power in only two states -- Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh -- on its own and as a junior partner in Jharkhand, his first challenge is to bring the party to power in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, which go to polls in the next few weeks.

It is a great honour and privilege to be elected as Congress President.

I pledge to work harder than ever, listen to the voice of every karyakarta & build leadership at all levels of the party.

Together, we will overcome & win this battle to save India's democracy & constitution. pic.twitter.com/z3P4uyP4Qk  Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 26, 2022

In 2023, Kharge will face the onerous task of leading the Congress in nine assembly elections, including in his home state of Karnataka.

Kharge's election has also come at a time when the party is reeling under internal rumblings and high-profile exits after a series of electoral debacles and has been reduced to a shadow of its former formidable self.

He also faces the challenge of restoring the Congress' primacy in the opposition space, implementing radical reforms the party pledged at the mid-May 'Chintan Shivir' in Udaipur and maintaining his independence in the face of insinuations that he is a candidate of the Gandhis and would seek their approval in all decisions.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: According to police, a 20-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. According to police, the accused is Suraj, a Madhya Pradesh native who works as a tenant in Wazirabad village. He works for a private company here. Suraj allegedly lured the girl, who lived in his neighbourhood, to a nearby park on Tuesday evening. The accused assaulted the girl sexually. He ran away as soon as the girl's family arrived. Suraj was arrested at the Sector 56 police station after the girl's father filed a complaint under Section 8 of the POCSO Act. "We are checking the facts. Action will be taken in accordance with the law "Sub-Inspector Manjusha stated.

On October 22, A 40-year-old woman from Delhi was arrested, two days after police arrested three of her accomplices for cheating and forgery. She accused these five men of abducting and gang-raping her. She is involved in a property dispute with the five men. Nipun Agarwal, Superintendent of Police (City-I), Ghaziabad, stated, "Our officers apprehended the woman. She was brought before a magistrate, who sentenced her to 14 days in judicial remand." On Thursday, the woman's partnersAzad, Afzal, and Gauravwere apprehended.

Also Read: Karnataka: Hindu man forcefully converted to Islam, 5 arrested

(With agencies' inputs)
New Delhi: "I know, you did it all for love," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, in an Instagram tribute showing her mother Sonia Gandhi, who on Wednesday handed the Congress' reins to a new party president, holding a photograph of the late Rajiv Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge, the first non-Gandhi party chief in 24 years, presented the framed photograph of Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi at the AICC headquarters here. Party workers cheered as the once-reclusive Sonia Gandhi, who headed the party for almost 20 years, held the picture of her husband aloft.

In a heartfelt post on Twitter, Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul Gandhi said, "Ma, Dadi once told me you were the daughter she never had. How right she was. I'm really proud to be your son."

Ma, Dadi once told me you were the daughter she never had.



How right she was.



Im really proud to be your son. pic.twitter.com/RzTQsvKlKH October 26, 2022

The former Congress chief also shared a picture of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi together. In her emotive social media post showing a photograph of both her parents, Priyanka Gandhi said, "So proud of you Ma, no matter what the world says or thinks, I know, you did it all for love."

In a statement of gratitude to Sonia Gandhi read out by Congress leader Ajay Maken at the event, the party said she has recognised and assimilated India in its various forms and in its unfathomable socio-cultural-geographical totality.

Also Read: 'Feeling relieved', says Sonia Gandhi as Kharge formally takes over as Congress president

"She derives her political inspiration from the profound love she feels for this great country. The people also returned the same love and trust to her," it said.

"With her intervention, she made the politics of the party relevant and flexible according to the need of the hour and whenever the need arose, she took difficult and far-reaching decisions and laid the foundation for the future," the statement said.

Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving president of the party, helmed it from 1998-2017 and then as interim chief from 2019-22. Rajiv Gandhi married Antonia Maino from Italy in 1968. She later changed her name to Sonia Gandhi and made India her home. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, at Sriperumbudur. Sonia Gandhi stayed resolutely away from politics. It was only in 1997 that she entered politics, becoming party chief the following year.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday (October 26, 2022) urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on Indian currency notes. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said that the new notes could have a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on one side and of the two deities on the other.

"Despite making efforts, sometimes our efforts do not fructify if gods and goddesses are not blessing us. I appeal to PM (Modi) to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi on our currency (notes). If there is a photo of Lakshmi-Ganesha on our currency (notes), our country will prosper. I will write to (the) prime minister in a day or two on this," he said at a press briefing.

He cited the example of Indonesia, a Muslim nation, that has a picture of Ganesha on its currency note.

"When Indonesia can, why can't we? The photos can be printed on fresh (currency) notes," Kejriwal stated.

Addressing an important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/w5wiYs2seT  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 26, 2022

Lamenting the fact that the India economy was not in a good shape, the Delhi CM said that the country was passing through a delicate situation with the rupee depreciating against the US dollar.

"We all want India to be rich and every family here to be prosperous. We have to open schools and hospitals on a large scale," he said.

He also spoke on the air pollution in the national capital and lauded the efforts of Delhi residents for the decline in the city's AQI levels.

"We are still not satisfied. We want to make Delhi the city with the cleanest air," he said.

Speaking on the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls, Kejriwal said that the Aam Aadmi Party was fully prepared and stressed that the people of the national capital would reject the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections, he also challenged the BJP to cite one good work it had done in the coastal state, where it has run a government for the last 27 years.

"All demonic powers aligned against us," Kejriwal said on the upcoming polls in Gujarat.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: After Rishi Sunak became the UK Prime Minister, a new debate has heated up in India. Leaders like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have asked whether a person from minority community would become the Prime Minister of the country. He wants to see a woman in Hijab as the PM of India. He has also targeted BJP by saying that such parties are against minority communities. Replying to Owaisi, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that India is the safest country for minorities and Owaisi wants to create differences between Hindus and Muslims by his statements.

"Owaisi is an expert in making strange statements. He is not happy if a person from minority community becomes Prime Minister in England. In India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Zakir Hussain, APJ Abdul Kalam, and Manmohan Singh had posts of President or Prime Minister. The kind of language being spoken by Owaisi is unfortunate. What message does he want to give by making such a statement? Only a person chosen by the people of the country becomes the Prime Minister," said Hussain.

Also Read: BJP's REAL AGENDA is to end Indian Muslims': Asaduddin Owaisi ATTACKS Modi govt

"Our Prime Minister says Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas. Congress made the Muslims of India poor and when the son of a poor person became the Prime Minister, he made plans for the poor. The benefits go to minorities and the poor," said the BJP leader.

No place in the world is as safe for minorities as India. For the Muslims of India, there cannot be a better leader than Narendra Modi, who works on the principle of Sabka Saath Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Vishwas. But Owaisi does not see all this. He only creates tensions between Hindus and Muslims," said Hussain.
New Delhi: Security forces on Wednesday (October 26, 2022) said that they foiled an infiltration bid by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and killed one foreign terrorist. A PoK national card and Pakistani currency were recovered from the slain terrorist. The identity card recovered from the body showed his identity as Mohammed Mashkoor, a resident of PoK. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were also recovered from him and a search operation is currently underway in the area, police said.

"An infiltration bid was foiled in the Sadpura area of Tangdhar by a joint team of Police and 3/8 Gorkha Rifles," a police officer said.

"One unidentified terrorist has been killed so far in the gunfight as a search operation continues in the area," the officer said.

More details are awaited.
By Trend

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the Italian Rai 1 TV channel on October 26, 2020.

Trend presents the interview.

- Mr. President, good afternoon. Please tell us if this new truce, this new ceasefire will hold. If I am not mistaken, this is the third ceasefire.

- Everything will depend on how Armenia behaves because the first two ceasefires were disrupted by Armenia. After the first ceasefire, which was declared for humanitarian considerations, Armenia violated the ceasefire within 24 hours and barbarically launched a ballistic missile at the city of Ganja at night. As a result of the first shelling, 10 people were killed and many were wounded. Then they hit Ganja again, and also at night. There were even more victims. So we had to answer. As for the second truce, we have a chronology of Armenia's violations of the ceasefire. They violated it literally two minutes after the appointed hour of the truce. Today, at 8 o'clock, a new truce came into force. Now it is 10 o'clock in the morning in Baku. At about 3-4 minutes after the ceasefire entered into force at 8 o'clock, several shells were fired at the city of Tartar again. We are not reacting to this. We hope this was an accident, but if this continues, we will be forced to respond adequately.

- Mr. President, what actually caused the outbreak of hostilities at the end of September? Why did this happen?

- There was a series of events of political and military nature. Armenia's main goal was to disrupt the process of negotiations in every possible way. The new government of Armenia has repeatedly stated that the fundamental principles are unacceptable for it, that it is not going to return a single centimeter of the occupied territories, which contradicts the fundamental principles. The prime minister stated that we should negotiate not with Armenia but with the so-called leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is unacceptable both for us and for the OSCE Minsk Group. He also stated that 'Karabakh is Armenia, full stop', thereby completely undermining the negotiations. In the past year, there were practically no negotiations, and in order to shift the blame on us, Armenia made three sabotage attempts  in July on the border, in August when they sent a sabotage group, and in September when they shelled our cities. They probably thought that we would show restraint again, but that did not happen. We answered them in a manner that they are now regretting it.

- On what conditions will you agree to stop the hostilities then? You have repeatedly spoken about the need for a constructive approach on the part of Armenia. What should a constructive approach be like?

- A constructive approach should be that they must publicly declare, through the prime minister, that they accept the fundamental principles. The fundamental principles envisage the return of seven districts located around the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region to Azerbaijan and the return of Azerbaijani refugees to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha. These approaches are, in principle, based on four UN Security Council resolutions, which require practically the same. But when the Armenian prime minister says that not a single centimeter of land will be given to us, when the Armenian defense minister says that Armenia will start a new war for new territories and when aggression is carried out against us, this is not a constructive approach, of course. He must say that yes, the occupied territories will be returned to Azerbaijan, that the Azerbaijanis will return to Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shusha, and then, of course, we will come to an agreement very quickly.

-Mr. President, there is one very controversial issue. Some countries, not only Armenia, but also France, have somehow accused you and Turkey of sending thousands of mercenaries, jihadists from Syria to Karabakh via Turkey. How will you respond to such accusations, and how will you respond to the accusations that speak of the presence of Turkish troops and Turkish military aircraft on the territory of Azerbaijan?

- I have already answered this question many times and I will answer it again. First, such unfounded accusations were brought against us by only two countries  France and Russia. France said that through the President, Russia through the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. These charges were brought against us immediately after the outbreak of hostilities. Although almost a month has already passed, not a single piece of evidence, no proof was provided to us. In fact, I will say this for the first time  I asked the French side for the heads of relevant agencies to meet, discuss the issue and provide us with evidence. Nothing was presented to us. Therefore, these are all insinuations. All this is an attempt to cast a shadow on Azerbaijan. I regret that such unfounded accusations come from the co-chair countries, which are supposed to be objective. After all, we do not talk every day about how many weapons are supplied from Russia to Armenia. We do not talk about the fact that Armenia would not have lasted a day in the occupied territories without external assistance. Political support, military support, moral support  all this comes from countries that are supposed to stay neutral. Therefore, we strongly reject these insinuations. It is not necessary. We have 100,000 soldiers of the regular army. If necessary, we will announce overall mobilization, which, by the way, we have not done unlike Armenia. Therefore, this is all lies and slander. As for the participation of Turkish troops in operations, this is also a lie. There is not a single piece of evidence. The fact that Turkish F-16s are on the territory of Azerbaijan was a result of our joint military exercises on the eve of the conflict. We do not talk about how many Russian MIG-29s and Su-30s are on the territory of Armenia. We do not talk about the fact that 5,000 Russian troops are located at the base in Armenia in Gumru and, according to our data, there are periodical supplies of the Armenian armed forces from there. These are facts, in contrast to what is being said about us. Therefore, I suggest that those who want to accuse us first deal with themselves and then make such hasty conclusions based on false information.

- Mr. President, my last question more or less also concerns our country, Italy. You probably know that in Europe there are many successful examples of a peaceful settlement of territorial disputes or separatism. We have one of such examples in Italy. It is Alto Adige/Sudtirol. Don't you think that Italy could help you with its experience in resolving the status of Karabakh? Moreover, Italy has very good, close and strong political and cultural relations with you and also with Armenia.

- Yes, I believe that Italy can play a very important role in the settlement of the conflict. I must say that when the Minsk Group was formed, a very long time ago, almost 30 years ago, it was the Italian representative, the Italian diplomat who was the leader of this Minsk Group. That was before the institution of co-chairs was established. After the institution of the co-chairs was created, the Minsk Group as a group of countries did not produce any results because the co-chairs took this activity into their monopoly. We know what this has led to. For 28 years, there has been no progress, no results, only promises, only bureaucratic procedures. In essence, it seems to us today that the activities of the co-chairs were aimed at freezing the conflict, not at resolving it. As for the model that exists in Italy, we have studied it. We also studied the model of the Aland Islands and other successful autonomy experiences. Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, is a multiethnic state. In Armenia, as you probably know, 99 percent of the population are Armenians. Therefore, this is a very positive experience of self-government which could be applied in our case. In fact, as far as I know, such proposals were made in the mid-1990s. Even groups of representatives of non-governmental organizations and political scientists have visited your country, the region you are talking about, and the Aland Islands. But Armenia has always categorically rejected this. They believed that they would be able to occupy our territories forever relying on military, political and economic support from leading countries of the world, but they made a gross miscalculation. We are proving our case on the battlefield today. We are implementing UN Security Council resolutions and are restoring international law.

- Mr. President, the very last question: at what level will we be in this conflict in one year? Or will it already be resolved by then?

- You know, I communicate with representatives of foreign media almost every day during this month, and in my addresses to the Azerbaijani people I always clearly state our position. We see the future of the Karabakh region  not only the upper part of it but also the plain because Karabakh is a large part of Azerbaijan  as a prosperous and peaceful territory where Azerbaijanis, who must return there, and the Armenians who now live there will live in peace. Our position is this. I believe that this can be achieved with mutual goodwill of the parties. After all, thousands of Armenians live in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan today. The Azerbaijanis and Armenians have joint businesses in Russia and Georgia. There are mixed families. Therefore, I think that reconciliation is possible. The Armenian leadership should simply abandon its aggressive policy. And if this happens, with our investments and our experience of rebuilding the country, we can turn this region into one of the most prosperous regions in the world. But for this to happen, the consequences of the war must be eliminated. The occupation must be eliminated, the Azerbaijanis must return to the lands where they have lived for centuries, and live in harmony with the Armenian population. It will not be easy and it will take time. But we know how countries were reconciled after World War II, when European countries were at war  the current neighbors, and many people were killed. But this should not sit in the memory all the time and produce hatred, which is what Armenian ideologists are doing today. Goodwill must be shown. If that happens, what I am saying will happen. If not, we will return these lands anyway. And the current state of affairs on the battlefield is showing that. We will return them at any cost. Either peacefully or war, but we will return them. Therefore, I think the Armenian leadership should seriously think about it and take the right step.

- Thank you very much, Mr. President, and as they say in Italian, Bono Fortuno!

- Thank you, all the best to you too. Thank you!

- Goodbye!

- Goodbye!




A brief roundup of recent Ericsson news underlines the companys diverse capabilities, encompassing cognitive software in the Middle East, uplink record-breaking in Brazil and, through an affiliate, network maintenance in Montenegro.

Saudi Arabias STC, described as a digital enabler in the region, has implemented an artificial intelligence (AI)-based cognitive software solution deployment from Ericsson.

The cognitive software leverages automation, big data scalability, speed, accuracy, and consistency for improved network optimisation. It analyses the 4G and 5G radio access network (RAN) proactively.

The solution also contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from operational activities, for example, through the use of virtual drive-testing and remote automatic spectrum analysis. Additionally, STC Group has deployed 5G AI root-cause analysis capabilities to enable a better 5G experience for its subscribers.

This deployment enables STC Group to leverage the Ericsson Performance Optimisers portfolio for surgical optimisation analysis and recommendation. Ericsson Performance Optimisers use digital twin technology and advanced AI techniques like deep reinforcement learning and expert recommender systems to proactively provide mobile network optimisation recommendations and resolve specific network performance issues.

Ericsson has also been part of a partnership in Brazil that has claimed a first for Latin America, where Qualcomm Brasil, Claro, Embratel and Ericsson have achieved the highest peak uplink rate in Latin America on a commercial network, during a live demonstration in Sao Paulo.

The demonstration reached an uplink data speed of around 700 Mbps, using Claro's commercial spectrum enabled by Embratel, along with Ericsson equipment supporting new radio  dual connectivity (NR-DC) and carrier aggregation software resources in conjunction with a test smartphone device with the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF system on Claro's network.

The uplink peak was achieved by combining mid-band and high-band data rates (millimetre waves) to fully leverage Claro's spectrum and improve user experience and enterprise application results. The demonstration used Ericsson's NR-DC feature with carrier aggregation of four uplink components (UL 4CC CA), in which four contiguous 100 MHz carriers are combined.

In addition to the uplink record, the real-time demonstration also achieved downlink results reaching 3.3 Gbps and an ultra-low latency of 8 milliseconds.

Finally, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, the Croatian affiliate of Ericsson, has signed a five-year network maintenance agreement worth $12.3 million with Montenegrin operator Crnogorski Telekom. The deal continues the two companies' successful long-term cooperation in the field of Crnogorski Telekom's mobile network maintenance, improvement and modernisation.
JNU 2022: The Jawaharlal Nehru University, JNU, will release the JNU second merit list today, October 26, 2022. The merit list will be published on the official website, jnu.ac.in or jnuee.ac.in, once it is posted. Candidates should be aware that, in accordance with the schedule, the second merit list for undergraduate admission is anticipated today. The initial merit list was released on schedule, and the last day to reserve seats was October 23, 2022. Candidates who make the second merit list will be notified today and must reserve their seats by October 28, 2022. Candidates should take note that the direct link and application procedures will be provided here as soon as the second merit list is announced. Candidates can get the merit list by clicking on a link that the JNU will disclose and entering their application number, password, and other information. The same was required of applicants for the initial merit list.

JNU UG 2022: Important Dates

First Merit List 20-Oct Blocking of seats October 20 to 23 Second Merit List 26-Oct Blocking of seats October 26 to 28 Third Merit List 30-Oct Blocking of seats October 30 to 31

JNU UG 2022 second merit list: Heres how to check

Visit the official site of JNUEE at jnuee.jnu.ac.in.

Click on JNU UG 2022 second merit list link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and the merit list will be displayed on the screen.

Check the merit list and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need

Only those applicants who passed the CUET UG Exam were eligible to register for JNU's undergraduate programmes because registration for the university was done online. Candidates must show up at the colleges and reserve seats within the allotted period. It is essential that you frequently check the official website for any updates about JNU Undergraduate Admission.
New Delhi: In an unfortunate incident in Maharashtra, fire broke out in a chemical company, which has claimed three lives so far, injuring 11 in the Boisar MIDC area of Palghar district on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. The fire brigade rushed to the site of the incident and started the evacuation process. Officials say that several people are still feared trapped inside the building.

Maharashtra | Fire broke out in a chemical company due to a boiler explosion in the Boisar MIDC area of Palghar district. Fire personnel have reached the spot and the dousing operation has started. Several people feared trapped. Further details awaited: Boisar Fire Brigade  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

According to the Boisar Fire Brigade officials, the fire broke out due to a boiler explosion which led to the fatal incident. The injured people have been admitted to Shinde Hospital in Boisar district, as informed by Palghar Police.

More details awaited.
New Delhi: In an unfortunate incident, a 1.5-year-old girl, Eitikha Akhilesh Lot, had been mauled to death by Leopard a few meters away from her home during the early morning of Monday, October 24, 2022, at around 6:30 AM in Aarey colony of Goregaon district, Maharashtra. Reportedly, the girl went out with her mother to a nearby temple when the incident happened. She was rushed to the hospital where she was declared dead.

However, according to the Forest Department team, the animal has been caught and sent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali. A case has also been registered under Accidental Death Report and an investigation is also going on.

#UPDATE | Mumbai: The leopard that attacked a 1.5-yr-old girl y'day in Aarey Colony, Goregaon was caught today by a Forest Department team today. The leopard has now been taken to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali.



The girl died yesterday after being attacked by the leopard. pic.twitter.com/J9PZahN8KW  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

The family resides in Dairy Unit No. 15 in Aarey Colony. The village borders the recently classified forest area of Aarey, which is currently administered by Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).

The girl was taken to Marol's Seven Hills Hospital after the attack, where she died shortly after admission. A post-mortem examination at Siddharth Hospital determined that the cause of death was trauma and significant blood loss.

The child was clearly ambushed. It could be that the animal is learning to hunt. There are five leopards usually seen in the area, including a female, a dominant male, and their three children from the same litter. Locals said they saw a leopard sitting in a tree just two nights ago, so it may have been prowling in the area. We are doing our best to identify, track and capture the animal. A leopard was seen at 11:30 AM crossing the Aarey Road near Aarey hospital just a kilometre away, a forest department employee told media.

This is the first instance of a leopard killing a human since 2017, when a young boy, the son of a forest department staffer, was killed at Film City. We are suspecting a sub-adult female is responsible for the attack, G Mallikarjuna, director of Sanjay Gandhi National Park told media.

A total of 12 camera traps have been installed in the area to monitor leopard activity, and two cages have also been installed to trap the problem animal. We are urging the locals not to let their children out when it is dark, especially since today is Diwali and children will want to be out for bursting crackers, he added.
Kolkata/Siliguri: A meeting between two BJP lawmakers and a CPI(M) leader in north Bengal has raised eyebrows in the TMC camp, with the ruling party claiming it was part of a "greater design to destabilise" the region and the state government. Both the saffron party leadership and CPI(M)'s Ashok Bhattacharya, however, refuted the claims and speculations, and said it was just a "courtesy visit".

BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, along with Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh, had on Monday visited Bhattacharya, former Siliguri mayor, at his residence, and shortly after shared pictures of their meeting on social media.

"Today, I called on Sri Ashok Bhattacharya, Ex-State Minister, former Mayor of SMC and MLA Siliguri at his residence to exchange Diwali Greetings. I was accompanied by @DrShankarGhosh MLA Siliguri and other Dist and Mandal Karyakartas," Bista had tweeted.

The TMC, in its mouthpiece 'Jago Bangla', was quick to infer that the meeting was set up for an arrangement to "destabilise the state government by December".

TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh later said, "This is not just a courtesy meeting but part of a greater design to destabilise north Bengal. The BJP, since its defeat in the last assembly polls, had been trying to divide the state by either fanning the demand for a union territory or a separate state. We condemn these cheap politics."

Several senior BJP MPs and MLAs had in the past openly advocated the bifurcation of Bengal, either by creation of a new state or a union territory by carving out north Bengal.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had said on occasions that the TMC-led government would not complete its full term and its days were numbered in the state. Bhattacharya, on his part, termed the TMC allegations as baseless.

"There is nothing political about this visit. It was just a courtesy visit by the BJP MP. He came as he would not be able to attend a ceremony in honour of my deceased wife later this month. As it was on the occasion of Diwali, he brought some dry fruits," the CPI(M) leader asserted.

Echoing him, BJP MP Bista, in a statement, said that common courtesy and basic decency, under the TMC, have become "rare phenomena" in the state.

"The desperation of the TMC in labelling our meeting as a set up for a new arrangement, in its mouthpiece, exhibits the sense of fear and insecurity it feels. TMC members seem to have forgotten that seeking blessings of elders during festivals is an intrinsic part of our culture," he said.
New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said that efforts continued till the last minute to make Rahul Gandhi the president of the grand old party since he is the only one who can challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party BJP. Speaking to media persons here in the national capital, Gehlot said, "The leadership that Sonia Gandhi ji led for 22 years will always be remembered. We all had requested her in 1998 to take over as the party president otherwise the party will be shattered. She took the challenge in the interest of the Congress party despite having language issues. After that, she was Congress President for 22 years and the governments were formed in 13 states at that time. She performed very well as a party chief that which no one can forget."

Gehlot further said that it was Rahul Gandhi`s desire that for once a non-Gandhi should become the President of the party. "It was Rahul Gandhi`s desire that for once a non-Gandhi should become the President of the party. However, till the last minute, efforts were made to make Rahul Gandhi the party president as only he can challenge Modi and the government," said Gehlot.

The Rajasthan chief minister also congratulated Mallikarjun Kharge and promised to will work to strengthen the party. "Today is a new beginning. We congratulate Mallikarjun Kharge Ji and will work to strengthen the party," Gehlot said.

The newly elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, ahead of taking charge of the post visited Rajghat in the national capital to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi. Kharge also paid floral tributes to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal and Jawaharlal Nehru at Shanti Van in the national capital.

He also paid homage to freedom fighter and Dalit icon Jagjivan Ram at Samta Sthal. The veteran leader will take charge as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President at an event at the Congress headquarters here later in the day.

At the ceremony, Kharge will be handed over a certificate of election by Sonia Gandhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also likely to be present at the ceremony. Rahul Gandhi will take a break from his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra to participate in the event. Kharge will be the first Congress President in 24 years who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Meanwhile, preparations are on at Congress` headquarters for Kharge`s oath-taking ceremony. All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers have been invited to the programme.

The invitation has been sent to all the above stakeholders by the General Secretary organisation KC Venugopal. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had said that he would also be present at the event. "Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge as the national president of the Congress party. I too have been asked to be present at the occasion. So, I am going to Delhi," he said in Raipur.

Kharge trumped his opponent Shashi Tharoor by a huge margin in the race to the party`s top post, thus becoming the first non-Gandhi to take over the office after 24 years.

Kharge got 7,897 votes in the presidential contest while his opponent Tharoor received 1,072 votes in the voting held on October 17. Soon after his poll victory, Kharge said that the party has presented an "example of strengthening the country`s democracy by conducting organisational elections" at a time when "democracy is in danger" in the country.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the outgoing Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong on Wednesday and emphasized that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential to maintaining bilateral ties. "Received Ambassador Sun Weidong of China for a farewell call. Emphasized that the development of India-China relations is guided by the 3 Mutuals. Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential," Jaishankar tweeted after meeting ambassador Sun." The normalization of India-China relations is in the interest of both countries, of Asia and the world at large," he said in another tweet. Sun, who assumed office in July 2019, is leaving at a time when the two sides are trying to manage ties, following the 2020 border clash that has remained the dominant issue between the neighbours.

In his farewell remarks on Tuesday, the Chinese envoy stressed the need to resolve differences between India and China and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other`s internal affairs.

Also Read: 'Natural for China and India to have some differences, but focus should be...': Outgoing Chinese envoy

Sun said it is only natural for important neighbours China and India to have some differences but the key is how to handle the differences. "We should be aware that the common interests of the two countries are greater than differences," the Chinese envoy said in the remarks posted on the Chinese embassy website." The two sides should strive to manage and resolve differences, and look for a proper solution through dialogue and consultation, instead of defining China-India relations by differences.

Received Ambassador Sun Weidong of China for a farewell call.



Emphasized that the development of India-China relations is guided by the 3 Mutuals. Peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. pic.twitter.com/NA2KSEADZJ October 26, 2022

The two countries need to respect each other`s political systems and development paths, and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other`s internal affairs," he said. The Chinese envoy said that both India-China should break out of the "geopolitics trap" and find a new path that is different from the past. "There is enough room in the world for China and India to develop together, and two countries and peoples should have enough wisdom to find a way to live in peace and achieve win-win cooperation between the two big neighbouring and emerging countries," Sun said.

Since April 2020, India and China have had several rounds of diplomatic and military level meetings on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in the India-China border areas. India has repeatedly emphasised said that India-China relations cannot be normal unless the border situation is and added that if China disturbs the peace and tranquillity in border areas, it will impact the relations further.
Thiruvananthapuram: Will not be scared off by 'pippadividyas' (tricks) while trying to improve higher education in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday as the ruling LDF kicked off a state-wide two-day protest against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's recent moves against VCs of several universities. Speaking at an event here, Vijayan said there would be people who are intolerant towards the progress the state was making in improving the field of higher education and they may try to create hurdles in the path of the government.

"We will not run away scared or walk away in the face of such hurdles or obstructions, instead we will go ahead with our objective to strengthen the field of higher education in a time bound manner.

"People who cannot tolerate or accept the same are coming out with various 'pippadividyas' (tricks). I would like to tell them to keep the same to themselves," the CM said.

Later in the day, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan inaugurated a protest close to Raj Bhavan here.

At the event, he said protests will be held across the state on Wednesday also. He also said the state government was in the process of introducing new courses in the field of higher education to improve the knowledge base of the people and teach them skills according to the requirements of various employment opportunities in and outside Kerala.

"This way lakhs of people would be able to be gainfully employed in the coming years."

Protest marches were held at various parts of the state, including some educational institutions, against Khan's recent decisions to seek resignations of VCs of several universities in Kerala.

Earlier on Tuesday, State Higher Education Minister R Bindu said that she does not want an environment of conflict in the field of higher education and in universities, instead, she wants everyone to work together.

Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the Governor's decision would lead to disruption of exam schedules and delaying of results which in turn would hamper the options and opportunities of students to go outside Kerala for studies or employment.

He said that both the state government and Khan were at fault and have committed mistakes and they should, therefore, work on a solution together.

Muraleedharan said that the opposition has no role in the entire issue and that it was not supporting the Governor.

Meanwhile, Kannur University VC Gopinath Ravindran told reporters that there may be a 'political motive' behind creating a crisis in the higher education field in the state like this.

He also said that the person who made the appointments should be answerable for any illegalities or incorrectness in the same.
New Delhi: Prayagraj District Magistrate, Sanjay Khatri, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, dismissed the allegations of transfusing mosambi (sweet lime) juice instead of platelets to dengue patient, and said that poorly preserved platelets, which looked like mosambi juice were given to the patient. The 32-year-old dengue patient died at the private hospital after receiving a transfusion last week.

Earlier today, the Uttar Pradesh administration directed to demolish the hospital. While the incident came to light on October 20, the notice stating that the hospital building was unauthorised was issued to Malti Devi, owner of Global Hospital at Jhalwa in Dhoomanganj, a day earlier. The notice from the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) asked the owners to vacate the building by the morning of October 28.

The district administration, so far, had maintained a silence on the issue and the state government not only sealed the private hospital but also issued a notice for its demolition. The Prayagraj police have arrested ten persons involved in a fake platelet racket. The District Magistrate on Wednesday denied that the patient had been given mosambi juice which looks similar to platelets.

Also Read: UP: Prayagraj hospital, which transfused 'mosambi juice' to patient instead of platelets, to be demolished

The October 19 notice stated that show-cause notices were issued to the hospital owners to earlier to put forth their views. Since no one came to the hearing, the demolition order was issued, it stated.

After a video claiming that fruit juice was transfused to the patient instead of platelets went viral on social media, the district administration swung into action and the hospital was sealed on October 20 on the direction of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.

According to officials, the patient, Pradeep Pandey, was shifted to another hospital, where he died after his condition deteriorated. It is still not clear whether juice or fake platelets were transfused. A sample report has been sent to the district magistrate in a sealed envelope.

The district magistrate was not available for comments. Earlier, the owner of the private hospital claimed that the platelets were brought from a different medical facility and the patient had a reaction after three units were transfused.

In a tweet, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had said, "Taking cognisance of the viral video at the hospital where a dengue patient was transfused with sweet lemon juice instead of platelets, on my directive the hospital was sealed and the platelet packets have been sent for testing."

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: BJP leaders on Wednesday demanded Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's resignation over his alleged failure to control pollution in Delhi and claimed that the city's air quality had improved after Diwali. BJP MP and former Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari said the city's air quality index (AQI) levels were worse before Diwali. The AQI improved after the festival, showing that Diwali is not to be blamed for pollution in Delhi, he said.

"Before Diwali, the AQI was 330 and after Diwali this morning (Wednesday) it is 306. (This is) the benefit of bursting green crackers. So those who were blaming Diwali should now worry that if the pollution gets worse from now on then don't blame it on Diwali," Tiwari said in a tweet in Hindi on Wednesday.

Delhi's air quality improved on Wednesday morning due to favourable wind speed but it remained in the 'poor' category. The AQI stood at 255 at 10.10 am, improving from 303 at 4 pm on Tuesday. It was recorded at 312 at 4 pm on Monday, the day of Diwali.

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 BJP's West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh, on the other hand, demanded Kejriwal's resignation for his failure to control pollution. "Arvind ji, if your paid news is over on pollution, then also say something about it. Why are you telling so many lies every day? If you do not have a solution to pollution, then leave the post of the CM," Singh tweeted in Hindi.

Singh's tweet was in response to pictures posted on social media that claimed Delhi's AQI had hit the 'very poor' category. Reacting to the same pictures, party spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga said Diwali crackers were not responsible for Delhi's deteriorating air quality.

"No one was burning crackers yesterday (Tuesday). Once again proved Diwali is not responsible for Pollution in Delhi. Kejriwal failed to provide any solution in Delhi and just to save his image he was blaming Hindus and crackers. Kejriwal Model is Fraud, Kejriwal is Fraud," Bagga tweeted.

The air quality in the neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (262), Noida (246), Greater Noida (196), Gurugram (242) and Faridabad (243) were in the 'moderate' to 'poor' category.

In the last two years, Delhi and its neighbouring areas witnessed severe air quality post-Diwali, usually celebrated in November, with intense smog enveloping the region for days as stubble burning peaks during the month while low temperatures and calm winds trap pollutants.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has written a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asking that Finance Minister K.N Balagopal be immediately sacked. The Governor said that action is necessary against him for his anti-national statement made in the university. The governor has alleged that state Finance Minister Balagopal made a speech in Thiruvananthapuram last week that was against the unity of India and promoted regionalism.

According to reports, the Finance Minister had said during a speech on the university campus that those who come to study from places like UP find it difficult to adjust to the universities of Kerala and understand the things here. He was talking about the administrative action being taken on students in universities.

Governor Khan said, this statement of Finance Minister KN Balagopal is going to challenge the unity within the country. He is discriminating between Kerala and other states. "Education minister and law minister have also attacked me verbally but I am ignoring them as it only hurts me. His attack was on us personally. But the Finance Minister has tried to defame the entire country, so strict action is necessary against him."

Let us tell you that a few days ago, the student wing of the Left had demonstrated outside the Governor's house. Only after this he has written a letter asking for the removal of the Finance Minister. Right now there is a dispute between the state government and the governor regarding the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the universities. The governor had asked the vice chancellors of 8 universities to step down. However, the High Court has stayed this order.
Leading IT infrastructure and services company NTT has announced the opening of its latest data centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Johannesburg 1 Data Centre is described as being part of NTTs expansion into the African continent. It has a capacity of 12MW covering 6,000 square metres of IT space once fully built out. The technical infrastructure is supported by N+1 uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS), N+1 generator backup, and highly redundant cooling systems. This will provide clients with dedicated sustainable infrastructure, operational control and the design flexibility required to support their high-performance needs.

The facility will cater to hyperscalers and enterprises, providing them with an opportunity to use NTTs full ICT stack of services, including managed hybrid cloud, network management, collaboration, security and application monitoring.

The new facility uses a closed-loop chilled water system with air-cooled chillers, meaning that the water running through the cooling systems isnt evaporated. This reduces the threat of potential drought water restrictions and allows the data centre to achieve good levels of power usage effectiveness (PUE) and water usage effectiveness (WUE).

NTT points out that Africa is experiencing a digital boom, with a population expected to double by 2050. Estimates show that 615 million users in sub-Saharan Africa will subscribe to mobile services by 2025, a 24% increase from 2020. This growth and reliance on technology is, says NTT, fuelling digital transformation initiatives and demand for high-performing data centre space.

NTT is planning to accelerate its data centre footprint in Johannesburg and other African cities to support this growth over the next several years.

NTTs recent data centre openings in developing markets include Jakarta and Navi Mumbai, with further expansions planned in Ho Chi Minh City and Cyberjaya. The data centres will align with NTTs commitment to achieve net-zero emissions across its data centre operations by 2030 and the complete value chain by 2040.

NTT is focused on ensuring its portfolio is powered by renewable energy by 2030 and that it applies energy efficiency measures where required.
New Delhi: Supreme Court denies Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's request to transfer the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against his acquittal in a 22-year-old murder case from the Lucknow bench to the Allahabad bench. A bench of Chief Justice UU Lalit and Justice Bela M Trivedi directed Mishra to petition the High Court to allow the senior counsel representing him to appear via video-conferencing if he is unable to travel to Lucknow. "In case the senior counsel is unable to come down to Lucknow, a request for allowing said counsel to make submissions through video-conferencing may be considered by the High Court," the bench stated in its order.

Mishra had petitioned the Supreme Court in response to a High Court order that denied his request to transfer the government's appeal from the Lucknow bench to the Allahabad bench. The Union Minister of State for Home had requested the transfer on the grounds that the senior counsel representing him was normally based in Allahabad and that, due to his age, he would be unable to travel all the way to Lucknow for arguments. According to the charges, Mishra murdered a local entrepreneur, Prabhat Gupta, in Tikunia, Uttar Pradesh, in July 2000, over a business rivalry. He was acquitted by the trial court in 2004, and the Uttar Pradesh government appealed to the High Court in 2004. This matter is still pending in the High Court.

Also read: 'Mamata Banerjee is JITTERY...': CPI-M's BIG attack at Bengal Chief Minister

(With ANI inputs)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine the validity of the age restriction of 35 years on women`s reproductive rights for conducting pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic tests. A bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S. Oka on October 17 issued a notice to the Centre and others on the aspects relating to age restriction only. "Issue notice restricted to the aforesaid aspect," the court had said. The court was hearing a plea filed by petitioner-in-person Meera Karuna Patel, who is also an advocate. Advocate Patel submitted that much water has flown since the petition was filed and amendments have been made but one aspect still needs consideration. She referred to Section 4(3)(i) of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 to contend that the age restriction of 35 years is a restriction on the reproductive rights of women.

In view of the recent judgment of this Court titled "X vs. Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Another" the provision would not stand judicial scrutiny. Section 4 of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 deals with the regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques.

Also Read: All women, married or unmarried, entitled to safe and legal abortion: SC

According to this section, no pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall be used or conducted unless the person qualified to conditions that the age of the pregnant woman is above thirty-five years. In September, the Supreme Court had given a landmark judgment and held that all women are entitled to safe and legal abortion. The court had also said that the meaning of the rape must include marital rape for the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.
Jammu: As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri Pandit families have left their village in Shopian district in south Kashmir out of fear and reached Jammu. The residents of Choudharygund said the recent terrorist attacks have triggered a fear psychosis among the Pandits who lived in Kashmir through the most difficult period of terrorism in 1990s and did not leave their homes. Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by terrorists outside his ancestral house in Choudharygund village of Shopian district on October 15. On October 18, Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar were killed in a grenade attack by terrorists while they were asleep in their rented accommodation in Shopian. "Ten families comprising 35 to 40 Kashmiri Pandits have migrated out of our village due to the fear psychosis," a resident of Choudharygund village who faced a death threat recently told PTI. He said the village was now empty.

"The situation is not conducive for us to live in the Kashmir valley. We live in fear due to the killings. There is no security for us," another villager said.

Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits' Killing: Massive protests in valley, Hurriyat Conference's board removed

The villagers alleged a police post was set up away from their village even though they repeatedly sought protection.They said they have left everything in their houses, even the recent harvest of apple. Those who have reached Jammu are living with their relatives.

Earlier, a Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead in Choudhry Gund area in South Kashmirs Shopian district on 15 october. the injured, identified as Puran Krishan Bhat son of Puran Krishan Bhat of Choudry Gund was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition. However, he succumbed to his injuries.

Protests and demonstrations were held at across the valley against the targeted killing of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat. Apart from the Migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees, huge number of locals, including members from civil society also took part in these protests and demanded stern action against the killers.
Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed concern about the increase in the smuggling of heroin from the West coast of the country. Speaking at a meeting of the western region states on `Drug Trafficking and National Security in Gandhinagar, he also urged the governments of Maharashtra and Goa to play a "proactive role" in the fight against the drug menace. In the last eight years, narcotic drugs worth Rs 20,000 crore were seized in the country, the home minister said. "Smuggling of heroin from the West coast has increased, and we need to curb it. I congratulate Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat Police and Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi for doing commendable work in stopping this activity by running several operations in coordination with central agencies," Shah said at the meeting.

While Patel was present on the dais, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis among others joined through video conference. Goa, as well as Maharashtra governments, should play a "proactive role" in stopping the movement of drugs, the Union home minister said. Nearly 12,500 kg of seized drugs were destroyed at two locations in Gujarat and Delhi as the meeting was in progress in Gandhinagar. Shah and other participants at the meeting watched a live telecast of the destruction. "Various central agencies and the state governments need to work together...We should resolve to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a drugs-free India," Shah further said.

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Asserting that the Centre's anti-drug operations are bearing fruit, he said when the `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations began, the Home Department had vowed to destroy at least 75,000 kg of seized drugs in the first 75 days. "But we have already destroyed 1,65,000 kg of drugs, that too before the deadline. Destroying such a huge quantity of drugs after taking permission from courts is a record in itself," said the Union minister. He also urged the states to hand over the cases involving international or inter-state drugs networks to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) or National Investigation Agency (NIA) "without any hesitation" for better results.

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Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti called the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country illegitimate and said we want the Secular India which we (J&K) had acceded within 1947 and not today's Godsey Gujrat model of India. People's democratic party president Mehbooba Mufti was speaking to the media persons at her party headquarters in Srinagar after a function related to the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, Mufti said "Instrument of accession reminds India on what basis the instrument was done, we don't need a holiday on this day, we need a complete implementation of an agreement that has been promised and signed at the time of accession in 1947".

PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti further said "I want to tell the people of India that our accession with Union of India is based on certain conditions which they have ruined entirely on the ground particularly on 05-August 2019 with the abrogation of article 370. If the instrument of accession is accepted and implemented, then abrogation of Article 370 is illegal and the relationship between J&K and Union of India becomes illegitimate".

Also Read: UK has accepted ethnic minority as its PM BUT we are: Mehbooba Mufti TAUNTS Centre

she further said  Instrument of Accession reminds India on what basis the instrument was done. We don't need a holiday on this day, we need a complete implementation of an instrument that has been promised and signed on this day in 1947.

Mehbooba Mufti speaks to party workers on the topic Instrument of accession. She demands restoration of instrument of accession. I want to tell people of India that our merger with the country was based on conditions, she says. pic.twitter.com/x2irZEwWvA October 26, 2022

We trusted India side-lining Pakistan based on safeguarding our resources and identification which has been snatched away. If the instrument of Accession is accepted and implemented, then Abrogation of Article 370 is illegal. Mehbooba said.

Alleging BJP for all this she said  The BJP has crushed down the constitution of the country. secularism was thriving in the country before the arrival of Narinder Modi as Prime Minister of the Country. Earlier we use to have the Muslim President and Sikh PM in the country but since Narendra Modi had become PM Muslims and Dalits are being targeted and lynched in the country".
NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday officially took charge as the party president at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in the national capital. "It is an emotional moment for me, want to thank Congress people for making a worker's son, ordinary worker, president of the party," Mallikarjun Kharge said in his first address as new AICC chief.

Kharge while admitting that it "is a difficult time for the party'' said that all efforts are being made to change the democracy established by Congress. He promised to break the circle of lies and hatred prevailing in the country and appealed to people not aligned with his party to jong hands for saving democracy.

Targeting the ruling BJP, KHarge said, "To make a new India, they want Congress-free India as they know that as long as Congress is there, they can't do it. We will not let it happen and will continue to fight against it."

To make a new India, they want Congress-free India as they know that as long as Congress is there, they can't do it. We will not let it happen and will continue to fight against it: Newly elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/9MZSR88TTg  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

"In New India, hunger, and pollution is increasing but the Rupee is falling. The government is sleeping but CBI, ED, and IT are working 24 hours. In new India, Godse is called a patriot and Mahatma Gandhi is an anti-national. They want to bring the constitution of RSS," the newly-elected Congress chief said.

Congress Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry earlier handed over the certificate of election to the top post. "I hope other parties draw a lesson from the Congress and hold polls for the presidency by secret ballot," said Mistry. Former party president Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and the party`s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with other senior leaders and MPs were present at the occasion.

Ahead of the event at the Congress headquarters today, Kharge met former prime minister Manmohan Singh at his home yesterday. This morning, he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial, Rajghat. He also visited memorials of former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, besides former deputy PM Jagjivan Ram.

Kharge, who was elected the first Congress chief outside the Nehru-Gandhi family in 24 years, has his task cut out as the party faces several electoral and organisational challenges.

A man of vast organisational and administrative experience, Kharge entered the electoral fray for the party`s top post after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot opted against contesting.

Kharge, 80, was seen as the "establishment`s candidate" against Shashi Tharoor and polled 7,897 votes against 1072 received by his rival. A leader who has risen from the grassroots, Kharge belongs to the Dalit community and will the second leader from Karnataka to hold the top party post after S Nijalingappa became the Congress president in 1968.

In over five decades experience in active politics, Kharge has been a union minister, and Congress leader in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and has held several portfolios in Karnataka where he was MLA nine times. A combative, articulate and accessible politician who is comfortable both in Hindi and English, Kharge has been a strong critic of the BJP-led government.

He faces major challenges to work out strategies in terms of Congress revival in the Hindi heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as also in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Congress has seen an erosion in its base in some other states including in the northeast. AAP is also seeking to emerge as a challenger in some states.

While Kharge`s immediate challenges are the assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat which will go the polls later this year, several other states including his home state Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will go the polls next year before the crucial battle in the 2024 general election.

Many senior party leaders have left Congress in recent months and years and the Congress debacle in Punjab and Uttarakhand assembly polls earlier this year has been blamed on the choices party leadership made in these states. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on Bharat Jodo Yatra, indicated that Kharge will decide his role.

Kharge will take over as party chief from Sonia Gandhi, who was serving as interim chief after Rahul Gandhi stepped down following the party`s debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Sonia Gandhi had earlier steered the party for 19 years and played a pivotal role in the formation of two UPA governments. A former union minister of Labour and Railways, Kharge resigned as Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha to contest the presidential polls in accordance with the one person, one post norm.

Born on July 21, 1942, Kharge was active in student politics and was general secretary in 1964-65 of the Students Union in Government Arts and Science College in Gulbarga.

He was vice president of the Students Union Law College, Gulbarga, in 1966-67 and became president of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee in 1969. Kharge served as MLA in Karnataka nine times between 1972 and 2009 and held several portfolios as minister including education, revenue, rural development and large and medium industry, transport and water resources.

He was president of Karnataka Congress from 2005 to 2008 and also served as Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly from 1996-99 and 2008-09. He was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 and 2014 and elected to Rajya Sabha in 2020. As Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, he raised various issues vociferously.

Kharge was seen as a top contender for the CM post in Karnataka several times but never got the role. Kharge did not protest and continued to work as a disciplined party worker.
New Delhi: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has rubbished speculations about another volte face by Nitish Kumar, days after political strategist Prashant Kishor claimed that the JD(U) leader is in touch with his former ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Yadav, the leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is the largest constituent of the ruling coalition, also said that the 'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar is "going strong". The fresh rounds of another volte-face by Nitish Kumar were triggered by the Bihar CM's former close aide Prashant Kishor, who alleged that the JD(U) leader had not asked his MP Harivansh to resign as Rajya Sabha deputy chairman as he wanted to "keep options open". Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, whose Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) is an ally of the incumbent 'Mahagathbandhan', also recently ended up lending weight to the speculations by saying that he will support Kumar for any such decision if it was taken in the state's interests.

Manjhi, notably, was sitting beside Tejashwi Yadav while the deputy CM replied to queries from journalists.

"Manjhi is our senior; he is like a guardian ('abhibhavak'). Our coalition is rock solid and he feels the same," remarked Yadav while the HAM leader nodded in approval.

"We drove the BJP out of power and have been running a strong and stable government. There is no room for any misgivings though those with vested interests may keep spreading rumors," Tejashwi added.

Nitish Kumar snapped his party's ties with the BJP in August this year and joined hands with the RJD-Congress-Left alliance in Bihar.

After coming to power in Bihar in 2005 as the face of the BJP-led NDA, Kumar first broke ties with the party in 2013 and joined hands with the RJD-led opposition in the state in 2014. He then switched sides in 2017.

The BJP, notably, has accused him of changing alliances due to his "greed" for power.

Meanwhile, Tejashwi also asserted that his party RJD enjoyed the full support of alliance partners and looked forward to winning by-elections to two assembly seats -- Mokama and Gopalganj -- scheduled to be held next week.

"It was decided by all coalition partners that we contest both seats. Mokama is our sitting seat while Gopalganj is my native district. We are confident of a Mahagathbandhan victory at both places," Yadav said.

The by-poll at Mokama has been necessitated by the disqualification of Anant Kumar Singh, who has been convicted in cases relating to arms and explosives recovered from his residences. His wife Neelam Devi has got the party ticket.

In Gopalganj, BJP candidate Kusum Devi's bid to retain the seat of her late husband Subhash Singh has been challenged by the RJD's Mohan Gupta.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Nawazuddin Siddiqui has repeatedly demonstrated his versatility and talent as an actor. The actor who started his Bolywood career by doing small cameos in films has now reached that position where people from all parts of the world want to work with him. Recently, a video of actor Raj B Shetty expressing his admiration for Nawazuddin Siddiqui's work went viral.

In a conversation with a leading media portal, Raj B Shetty said If I get a chance to work with Nawazuddin Siddiqui, that would be a great thing to watch and learn. I wouldn't even mind working as a director or an actor, just to sit and see his performance, I think that would be a great thing. From being a critically acclaimed actor to now being the superstar he is today, Siddiqui has come far in his career. And now with him leading several projects and signing many films, he has definitely made a place in the audience's heart.

On the work front, Nawazuddin's first look from his upcoming film Haddi has taken the internet by storm and become one of the most discussed topics on social media. Apart from that, the actor, who was last seen in the Tiger Shroff starrer 'Heropanti 2' has a number of films in the line up. It includes names such as Tiku Weds Sheru, Noorani Chehra,Adbhut and 'Afwaah' among others.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mentioned some days when the banking operations will remain closed in the month of November 2022, although online banking activities will continue to work.

While some bank holidays will be observed nation-wide, some others will be local holidays. Several bank branches will remain closed in various states owing to these festivities. Before visiting your bank branch in the month of November, you must note down the list of important days during which banks will remain closed. (Also read: Banking services across India to get affected on November 19 amidst nationwide protests)

Banks will remain closed for total 10 days in the month of November  4 as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar list and the remaining days are that of weekends. However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for 10 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays.

For example bank branches might be closed for Seng Kutsnem in Shillong but not closed for the same in other states.

Here is an elaborate list of bank holidays falling in the month of November 2022. Check out the list.

Kannada rajyotsava/Kut: November 1



Guru Nanak Jayanti/Kartika Purnima/Rahas Purnima: November 8



Kanakadasa Jayanthi/Wangala Festival: November 11



Seng Kutsnem: November 23

Apart from the above bank holidays, the second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays of the month are falling on the following dates:



Second Saturday: November 12

Sunday: November 13

Sunday: November 20

Fourth Saturday: November 26

Sunday: November 27

Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states.

Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country.
New Delhi: The government is planning to launch the fourth tranche of Bharat Bond ETF, India's first corporate bond exchange traded fund, in December, an official said. The funds raised would be utilised for undertaking capital expenditures by public sector enterprises.

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"We are currently in discussion with CPSEs and assessing their needs. The issue size for the fourth tranche of Bharat Bond ETF could probably be close to last year's," the official told PTI.

In December last year, the government had launched the third tranche with a base issue size of Rs 1,000 crore. It was over-subscribed 6.2 times with bids worth Rs 6,200 crore coming in. The maiden offering of Bharat Bond ETF was launched in 2019, helping CPSEs raise Rs 12,400 crore. In the second and third tranches, it had raised Rs 11,000 crore and Rs 6,200 crore, respectively. The ETF has raised Rs 29,600 crore in its three offerings so far.

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Bharat Bond ETF invests only in 'AAA'-rated bonds of public sector companies. Edelweiss Asset Management is the fund manager of the scheme. Since its launch in 2019, the asset under management (AUM) of the ETF has crossed the Rs 50,000 crore-mark. Currently, the ETF offers 5 different maturities -- 2023, 2025, 2030, 2031, and 2032.
New Delhi: After offering DA and bonuses to central employees ahead of the festive season, the government of India made a big announcement regarding gratuity and pensions. The new rule will be applicable to the central government employee and eventually, it will be implemented for the states also.

According to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 2021, a retired Central Government employee's pension and gratuity may be terminated if they were found guilty of serious misconduct or carelessness while on the job. Rule 8 of the CCS (Pension) Rules 2021 just received a notification of change from the Central Government. (Also Read: Small businesses HUGELY affected by WhatsApp's worldwide outage)

The amendment specifies the decision-makers who may decide to withhold a retired employee's pension, gratuity, or both. Which are: (Also Read: WhatsApp not working? Don't worry! THESE 5 apps are here to help you)

- President

- Secretary of the administrative department

- Auditor- General of India

As per the revised Rule 8 that was published on October 7, the aforementioned agencies have the authority to revoke a pension in full or in part if the retiree is found guilty of "severe misconduct or neglect during the term of employment" in any departmental or legal procedures. Re-employment services performed after retirement may also be scrutinised.

The pension or gratuity may be withheld by the government indefinitely or for a predetermined time. Additionally, they have the authority to order the full or partial recovery of any financial loss incurred by the government from a pension or gratuity.

In accordance with this sub-rule, the Union Public Service Commission shall be consulted before the President issues any final directives. Additionally, the amount of the pension cannot be decreased below the minimum pension under rule 44, which is Rs 9000 per month, in cases where a portion of the income is withheld or withdrawn.
Helsinki: Lawmakers have approved a legislative reform that will ease the process of getting an abortion in Finland, which currently has the Nordic region's strictest abortion law, dating back to 1970 and is seen by many citizens as outdated. Finland's 200-seat Eduskunta legislature on Wednesday voted by a wide margin of 125-41 in favour of a law reform that will, among other things, abolish the need for approval from two doctors to terminate a pregnancy. Under the amended law, likely to take effect in early 2023, approval from one doctor will be enough to undergo an abortion.

In addition, a pregnant woman's request for termination will be sufficient to obtain the medical procedure without needing to provide further reasons "for instance on social and economic standing" up until the 12th week of pregnancy. The reform of the Abortion Act is a much-needed update to the clearly outdated legislation, lawmaker Saara-Sofia Siren from the conservative National Coalition Party told Finnish public broadcaster YLE.

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She said the reform, which enjoyed cross-party support in Parliament, is about the fundamental right of women to decide about themselves, their bodies and their lives. The legislative reform is based on a citizens' initiative which collected the required 50,000 signatures in 2020 for the issue to be dealt with by lawmakers.

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New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris on Wednesday, amid disagreements between the two neighbours and key European Union allies on EU strategy, defence, and economic policies. Macron and Scholz were meeting for a working lunch at the Elysee presidential palace to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Scholz's visit, according to French government spokesman Olivier Veran, demonstrates both countries' ability to sometimes to be able to get over difficulties ... When the priorities of one country do not necessarily converge with the priorities of the other. The strength of the French-German couple is to always be able to get along together and move Europe forward, he added.

A joint French-German Cabinet meeting had been planned as well, but it was postponed until January. Both the French and German governments stated that more work is needed to reach an agreement on some bilateral issues. Divergences between France and Germany are not uncommon. The countries, which house the eurozone's largest economies, are accustomed to taking opposing positions on defence, energy, and other issues. My wish has always been to preserve European unity and also the friendship and the alliance between France and Germany, Macron said last week in Brussels before an EU meeting. I think it's not good for Germany nor for Europe that it isolates itself, he added.

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Asked on Friday about the apparent tensions, Scholz said that cooperation with France is very intensive and stressed that he holds frequent meetings with Macron. There are questions on which we have common points of view and drive things forward, he said. You can see, for example, that it is Germany and France who repeatedly look at how we can achieve progress to support Ukraine. There are also questions that we are discussing, that in some cases have been under debate for years and need to be pushed forward, Scholz said. French-German government meetings are usually held at least once a year to coordinate policies. The last one was held in May 2021 via videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: Joe Bidens BIG warning to Russia: Nuclear attack on Ukraine would be incredibly serious mistake

(With agencies' inputs)
Washington: US President Joe Biden has warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, saying it would be an incredibly serious mistake. The Biden administration had earlier said Russia had given notice that it intended to stage routine drills of its nuclear capabilities while Ukraine's nuclear energy operator claimed its neighbour was performing some secret work at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Let me just say: Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake if it uses a tactical nuclear weapon, Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

He was responding to a question on whether Russia was preparing to deploy a dirty bomb or a nuclear weapon. I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false-flag operation yet; I don't know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake, Biden stressed.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the President was clear about what he said. He said it again today. It would be a major mistake for Russia to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, leading to severe consequences. As for the potential use of a dirty bomb, look, Russia is pushing transparently false allegations, she claimed.

You heard me say that. You heard my colleague over at the State Department say yesterday that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. We are calling that false, false allegations by Russia. So, we must take this seriously, in the past, we have seen Russia use allegations as a pretext to escalate, she said.

Jean-Pierre, however, said the US had not seen Russia make any preparations on those lines but stressed that it will continue to monitor the situation very, very closely.

Warning of consequences for Russia, she said, I'm certainly not going to lay them out here. And, look, you know, we have communicated directly with them. I'm just not going to get ahead of any conversations on what we've laid out for the Russians.

Responding to a question on peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Jean-Pierre said it was up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate. He (Zelenskyy) will make that decision for his country, Jean-Pierre said.
New Delhi: Daily global COVID-19 infections are projected to rise slowly to about 18.7 million by February from the current 16.7 million average daily cases, driven by the northern hemisphere's winter months, the University of Washington said in an analysis. Far fewer infections are expected than last winter's estimated peak daily average of about 80 million cases in January of 2022 which was driven by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, according to the report. The increase in cases is not expected to cause a surge in deaths, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) said.

It forecast that global daily deaths would average 2,748 people on Feb. 1, compared with around 1,660 currently. In January, deaths were more than 11 million per day globally.

IHME estimates that daily infections in the United States will increase by a third to more than a million, driven by students back in schools and cold weather-related indoor gatherings.

A surge in Germany has peaked already, it said in its report on Oct. 24. IHME expects cases there will fall by more than a third to around 190,000 by February.

The report suggests that the recent COVID surge in Germany might be due to Omicron subvariants BQ.1 or BQ.1.1, and will likely spread to other parts of Europe in the coming weeks.

A rapid increase in hospital admissions in Germany  the highest since the COVID outbreak in 2020 - remains an area of concern, it said.

IHME's analysis also found that the new Omicron subvariant XBB, which is currently driving a surge in hospitalizations in Singapore, is more transmissible but less severe.

The global impact of XBB is expected to be muted by the fact that people who were previously infected with the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron likely have immunity against it, the report said.
Washington: Social media was abuzz with memes and reactions after septuagenarian US President Joe Biden mispronounced the name of newly-appointed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a Diwali reception he hosted at the White House. At the reception on Monday, Biden took the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Sunak on his 'groundbreaking achievement' of becoming the first Asian premier of the UK. He, however, mispronounced Sunak's name to his mainly Indian-American audience, adding a 'd' to the end of Rishi's first name and rhyming his surname with a Chinook helicopter.

Joe Biden mispronounces Rishi Sunak's name

"We've got news that Rasheed Sanook is now the prime minister," Biden, 79, said.

Joe Biden congratulates new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by calling him "Rashid Sanook."pic.twitter.com/x4WQuXZEXp  Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) October 25, 2022

Soon after his video went viral and people started reacting on social media.

"Watch: Biden butchers Sunak's name," The Spectator's gossip columnist wrote in a headline with a brief description of the incident.

On Twitter, a user wrote, "Biden says it's a groundbreaking milestone that "Rasheed Sanook" has become The UK Prime Minister. So groundbreaking he couldn't be bothered to learn his name."

Jamie Bryson, who describes himself as Unionist activist, writer & commentator and has thousands of followers, said in a tweet that "US President Biden- who is never done pontificating about the UK's internal affairs- thinks our Prime Minister is called Rasheed Sanook. I think that tells you all you need to know about how seriously we should treat the bumbling Biden contributions about Northern Ireland."

Dear President Biden, why does it shock you so much that Asian Prime Minister would dare be a conservative? pic.twitter.com/DgXso8bfqG  Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) October 25, 2022

Some Twitter users posted photoshop pictures of Sunak in the traditional Arab attire alongside Biden's comment and wrote "Rasheed Sanook". Biden is the oldest person ever to occupy the White House.
New Delhi: Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (October 25, 2022) became Britain's third prime minister in two months and began putting his top team in place with key Cabinet appointments to lead the country out of a profound economic crisis. Indian-origin Suella Braverman was reappointed as interior minister by Sunak, less than a week after she resigned from the role for breaching government rules.

Braverman, 42, stepped down a day before former Prime Minister Liz Truss did after breaching email security rules, also voicing concerns about the direction of Truss's government in her resignation letter.

NEW: Suella Braverman has been appointed as Home Secretary pic.twitter.com/TBEFTTgc4O  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

Sunak, a Hindu and Britain's first prime minister of Indian origin, also reappointed Jeremy Hunt as his finance minister in a move designed to calm markets that had balked at his predecessor's debt-fuelled economic plans.

NEW: Jeremy Hunt has been re-appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer pic.twitter.com/CDcnMWOjPE  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

He also restored Dominic Raab to the post of deputy prime minister, a role he lost in Truss's 44 days in office, and reappointed James Cleverly as foreign minister and Ben Wallace at defence.

NEW: Dominic Raab has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister & Justice Secretary pic.twitter.com/yEV83Z8Ob5  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

NEW: James Cleverly has been re-appointed as Foreign Secretary pic.twitter.com/jcuthE0Gya  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

NEW: Ben Wallace has been re-appointed as Defence Secretary pic.twitter.com/25QFTHWTb8  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

Penny Mordaunt, who ended her bid to win a leadership contest against Sunak on Monday, also retained her position as leader of the House of Commons, a role that organises the government's business in the lower house of parliament.

NEW: Penny Mordaunt has been re-appointed as Leader of the House of Commons pic.twitter.com/dnNdoqhz94  Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 25, 2022

Steve Barclay was appointed as Health Secretary and Therese Coffey as Environment Secretary. Gillian Keegan was appointed as Sunak's Education Secretary.

Mark Harper was appointed as Transport Secretary and Michelle Donelan was re-appointed as Culture Secretary.

Kemi Badenoch was re-appointed as International Trade Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities.

With these new appointments, Sunak was seen to be drawing ministers from across the Conservative Party while leaving others in post - a move that should ease concerns that he might appoint loyalists rather than try to unify the party.

Will unite UK, not with words, but with action: Rishi Sunak

Earlier on Tuesday, shortly after accepting King Charles's request to form a government, Sunak spoke outside his official Downing Street residence, and praised the ambition of his predecessor Liz Truss to reignite economic growth but acknowledged mistakes had been made.

ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murthy's combined net worth is double that of King Charles

"I have been elected as leader of my party and your prime minister, in part to fix them," he said.

Sunak also vowed to put the public's needs above politics, in recognition of the growing anger at Britain's political class and the ideological battles that have raged ever since the historic 2016 vote to leave the European Union.

"I understand, too, that I have work to do to restore trust, after all that has happened. All I can say is that I am not daunted. I know the high office I have accepted and I hope to live up to its demands," he said.

"I will unite our country, not with words, but with action... I will work day in and day out to deliver for you," he added.

I will unite our country, not with words, but with action.



I will work day in and day out to deliver for you.



Watch my speech from Downing Street pic.twitter.com/diOBuwBqXc October 25, 2022

Sunak also said difficult decisions lay ahead as he looks to cut public spending.

(With agency inputs)
London: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, held his first Cabinet meeting with the new team as he prepares for his debut at Prime Minister's Questions, the first big test of Britain's Indian-origin premier's leadership. On his first full day as Prime Minister, Sunak met his new Cabinet on Wednesday before facing opposition leader Keir Starmer in Prime Minister Questions (PMQs) at midday, the BBC reported. PMQs is a high-profile weekly event in UK politics, happening every Wednesday at noon when the House of Commons is sitting. For around half an hour, the prime minister is called to the despatch box in the Commons chamber to answer questions from MPs on any subject.

The leader of the opposition gets to ask six questions - normally the rowdiest part of the spectacle. A picture of the new cabinet has also been released, with Sunak heading the government for the first time. Sunak on Tuesday unveiled his top team in place with key Cabinet appointments and decided to keep the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in place for economic stability and brought back Indian-origin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary.

Also Read: British PM Rishi Sunak's Cabinet reshuffle: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stays in top team - See key changes

In another move aimed at continuity, James Cleverly will stay in his post as Foreign Secretary despite not being a Sunak loyalist. Braverman, whose scathing resignation letter precipitated Liz Truss' exit from Downing Street last week, is a fellow Bexiteer like Sunak.

Minister Without Portfolio Nadhim Zahawi told journalists the party was "very, very united" as he departed after the Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. Sunak has pledged to govern with "integrity" and has tried to unite the Conservatives by including people from different wings of the party in his top team.

Labour Party's criticism

But the Opposition Labour Party has criticised the decision to reappoint Braverman, popular on the Tory right, as a home secretary just six days after she resigned over data breaches, the report said. Sunak's first Cabinet meeting was held amid criticism over his reappointment of Braverman as home secretary.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly - who's kept his job under new Prime Minister Sunak - has defended the prime minister's decision to reappoint Braverman to the role of home secretary. Braverman was forced to resign from the job - in the dying days of Truss's premiership - just last week over two data breaches.

"She said she made a mistake and apologised for that," Cleverly told the BBC. He adds that Braverman has promised a crackdown on crime and to secure borders while in the Home Office.

Asked whether Braverman is back in the post as the result of a deal that helped Sunak gain power, Cleverly says Sunak was "way, way, way ahead" during the latest Conservative leadership contest, adding: "I doubt that he needed any particular individuals' endorsement."

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson says Braverman is back in her job as the result of a "grubby deal" which helped Sunak "get over the line and become prime minister". Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Phillipson argued that this calls into question Sunak's pledge to run a government of integrity. She said that the discussion "should be about the future of our country, not the future of the Conservative Party".

Sunak, a 42-year-old investment banker-turned-politician, is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister. Sunak's victory in the Tory leadership race came at the end of a dramatic few days in Westminster since Liz Truss resigned last Thursday in the wake of a disastrous tax-cutting mini-budget and several policy U-turns.
LONDON: With his ascent to the prime minister, Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy have become the richest ever occupants of Number 10 Downing Street just as the country struggles with an economic crisis and the government mulls painful spending cuts. In May, the couple entered The Sunday Times UK Rich List at number 222 with a reported net worth of 730 million pounds ($837 million), when Sunak became the first frontline politician to be on the list since it began in 1989. The wealth of Sunak's family puts him above the previous richest prime minister, who according to the Guinness Book of World Records was Edward Stanley. His personal fortune of over 7 million pounds in the 19th century would translate to around 450 million pounds today, it said.

Asked in August how he could relate to the public given he was personally richer than the monarch Queen Elizabeth, Sunak said that people shouldn't hold his wealth against him.

"I think in our country, we judge people, not by their bank account, we judge them by their character and their actions. And yes, I'm really fortunate to be in the situation I'm in now, but I wasn't born like this," Sunak told a leadership hustings event in Darlington, northern England.

"My parents worked really hard to provide me with all these opportunities. I'm not going to apologise for what they did for me. And in fact, that's why I want to do this job because I want to provide those opportunities for everyone else."

Liz Truss defeated Sunak in that leadership contest but the former finance minister has been catapulted into Britain's highest office after Truss's premiership imploded in record time following a disastrous economic plan that roiled markets.

Truss's downfall gives a vindicated Sunak a chance at the top job, but opponents are keen to highlight his wealth, an issue which has given him political difficulties in the past, especially in light of his warning that big challenges lie ahead for the country.

"Rishi Sunak's words will do nothing to reassure struggling people worried sick about the winter ahead," leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said, calling Sunak "out-of touch".

Who is Rishi Sunak, the first person of Indian origin to become British prime minister?

Rishi Sunak was privately educated at elite school Winchester College before going to the University of Oxford where he studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics, as did previous Conservative prime ministers Truss and David Cameron.

His father was a doctor and his mother a pharmacist, and he prefers to highlight his humble origins helping organise his family chemist's payroll as the beginning of his economic literacy. Sunak's Indian family reportedly migrated to Britain in the 1960s.

After graduating, he worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs and at a hedge fund before he entered politics.

But despite his city experience, the vast majority of his family's wealth comes from his wife, Akshata Murthy.

In a poll released on Monday, Savanta ComRes asked voters to describe Sunak in one word. The results, released in a word-cloud, showed one word was the most common response: "Rich."

Sunak is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of Indian outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd. Murthy is valued by Forbes at $4.5 billion, and earlier on Tuesday he said he was "confident he (Sunak) will do his best for the people of the United Kingdom."

Rishi Sunak has faced criticism over wife Akshata Murthy's 'non-domiciled' tax status

Sunak's wife is an Indian citizen, with a stake of 0.93% in Infosys valued at about $721 million, and the couple's wealth has been a divisive issue for the British public.

The couple faced criticism and public anger in April over Murthy's "non-domiciled" tax status which meant she did not pay tax in Britain on her earnings abroad. She subsequently gave up the status and said she would pay British tax on her global income.

Sunak said at the time that questions about his father-in-law's wealth and his wife's tax arrangements were politically motivated attempts to damage him.
The state and cities of Alabama will split nearly $300 million in legal funds from companies that produced and distributed addictive opioid painkillers, and now they face big decisions about how to spend it.

Some legal observers are closely watching how the process plays out in states across the country that mostly bungled the last public health settlement with Big Tobacco. Overall, less than 10 percent of tobacco settlement funds went back into programs to prevent smoking or help people quit.

Instead, in Alabama, much of the money went toward economic development programs that eventually lured Honda and Hyundai to the state. Another large chunk went toward funding the state Medicaid program. The state also spent $1 billion of the BP settlement from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Medicaid and debt payments.

But this settlement should be different, said Christine Minhee, an attorney who runs a website tracking opioid settlement funds. Unlike the agreement with Big Tobacco, the settlements with opioid companies contain more requirements about where the money will go. At least 70 percent must go toward addressing the future fallout of the opioid epidemic and another 15 percent can pay for costs that have already been incurred.

Minhee said the remaining 15 percent of settlement funds are not specifically earmarked for opioid treatment.

Some of these monies will be spent in the shadows, she said.

She said states learned from the Big Tobacco settlement. For instance, North Carolina created a cutting-edge plan that will send most of its opioid settlement money to cities and counties that can spend it on local needs. The state came under fire after the tobacco deal for sending some of the settlement back to tobacco farmers in the form of subsidies.

States didnt have these plans for big tobacco money and, if they did, they were obfuscated within regular old appropriations statements, Minhee said.

Alabama is unique because the state did not participate in the massive $26 billion national opioid settlement. Instead, Attorney General Steve Marshall filed separate lawsuits against opioid companies and settled for $276 million, an amount higher than the state would have received from the national deal.

The opting out states have generally gotten a lot more money than the other states, Minhee said. It has paid off.

The settlement was reached earlier this year. Members of the Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council will send a report to Gov. Kay Ivey outlining the states greatest needs. Then Ivey will include those suggestions in a budget proposed to the legislature.

Although Alabama did not take part in the national settlement, its agreements with Endo Pharmaceutical, McKesson and Johnson & Johnson have some restrictions on how the money is spent.

The majority of the money has been recovered under settlement terms that require it to be used for opioid abatement, said Mike Lewis, a spokesman for the Office of Attorney General. This includes education, prevention and treatment.

The national opioid settlement has 15 pages of approved uses, including several core strategies that must be included in state plans. Those include increasing access to naloxone, a drug that can reverse overdoses, medication for opioid abuse, treatment for pregnant women and syringe service programs, which provide access to sterile needles and dont exist in Alabama.

States can use the money for other uses, but they should all be proven methods for treating or preventing addiction, Minhee said. Although the money is not supposed to pay for law enforcement, some states have earmarked portions for that, including Louisiana, which will send 20 percent to sheriffs.

Alabama has already received more than $7 million from a separate $9.2 million settlement with the consulting company McKinsey. That money has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, which has been overwhelmed by requests for drug testing, the Office of Prosecution Services, which will use the money for drug and mental health courts, and the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Minhee said the McKinsey spending probably wont tell us much about how states will spend the larger opioid settlements.

Alabamas opioid council will hold another meeting in November. The council includes representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Office of the Attorney General.

Several other members have backgrounds in law enforcement or substance use treatment. Minhee said the council should consider adding more members who have survived opioid addiction.

Minhee said the states have improved accountability for the opioid settlement funds compared to Big Tobacco. Most of that money did not go to smoking treatment and prevention.

That wont happen in the opioid context, she said.
$50 mln Vietnam-focused fund to be set up by South Korean investment firm

Entrepreneurs speak at a startup event in December 2020. Photo by VnExpress

South Korean investment company Nextrans plans to launch a US$50-million Vietnam-focused fund in November to take advantage of the countrys booming startup scene.

"We will continue investing in early-stage startups in not only emerging sectors such as property technology and financial technology but also seek opportunities in sustainable growth areas such as electric vehicles, food waste and food safety solutions," it said in a Facebook post.

It might invest as much as $3 million in a startup.

The company has already invested in 32 companies in Vietnam, including e-commerce platform Tiki, wealthtech startup Infina and medical technology company Thuocsi.vn.

Nextrans data shows that investment in Vietnamese startups quadrupled in 2021 to $1.35 billion.

The top sectors for investors were financial technology, games, education, healthcare, and e-commerce, it said.

Vietnam had around 3,800 startups as of last year, including four unicorns (company valued at over $1 billion) and 11 startups valued at over $100 million, it added.
Stephen Chow, Hong Kong's "King of Comedy", is exploring cuisine and sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City.

A source told VnExpress that the 60-year-old actor visited HCMC for personal reasons.

On Tuesday, Stephen Chow, also a filmmaker and actor, went to a cafe to drink coffee, meet several actors and filmmakers, and learn about the emergence of Vietnamese cinema.

According to the source, he wanted the meeting to remain secret.

A few photos of him in HCMC quickly went viral on social media, attracting thousands of comments. Many people have expressed a desire to meet him in person.

Hong Kong comedian Stephen Chow. Photo courtesy of the actors online fan club

The actor is known for being a private person who rarely discloses his personal schedule. He rarely attends events, does interviews or appears in commercials.

According to Hong Kong-based online news portal HK01, he has completed at least three screenplays in the last three years, including "Kung Fu Hustle 2".

He finished filming "The Mermaid 2" but requested that the crew go back and re-edit it since he was dissatisfied with the results.

He posted his first video on Instagram last week, stating that he is recruiting members for his team. His condition for applicants is that they be proficient in Web3 - short for Web 3.0, or the Internet's third phase. The applicant must also have project management expertise, agility, honesty, and tolerance. He said that he would personally review CVs before interviewing and hiring candidates.

Stephen Chow grew up in Hong Kong's slums and joined the television broadcasting company TVB in 1981, initially performing unknown roles and appearing only for a few seconds in films.

His career took a new turn in 1989 when he landed the lead role in "The Final Combat". He also starred in a string of successful comedies in the 1990s. He stopped acting after "CJ7" in 2008, instead focusing on directing and producing.
Customers at Uniqlo Aeon Mall Hai Phong, which opened in May, 2022. Photo courtesy of Uniqlo

Retailers are planning to expand in Vietnam, which is poised to become one of the worlds 10 largest consumer markets this decade.

Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo said it would open a store at Vincom Ba Trieu mall in Hanoi this week and two others at Vincom Royal City and Vincom Tran Duy Hung to take the total number of its stores in Vietnam to 15 three years after entering the country.

Earlier this month Thailands Central Retail, the owner of hypermarket and retail chain GO!, said it plans to more than double the number of outlets in the country from the current 340 to 710 by 2026.

It will spend 30 billion baht (US$790 million) on the expansion, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei.

It targets sales of 100 billion baht by 2026 compared to the current 38.6 billion baht, Olivier Langlet, CEO of Central Retail Vietnam, said.

South Koreas Lotte, which has invested $5 billion in Vietnam, plans to set up a mall in Hanoi, chairman Shin Dong-bin said in late August during a meeting with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Auto assembler THACO plans to open an E-mart supermarket in Sala Thu Thiem in HCMC this month. It already has a store in the citys Go Vap District, which reported sales of VND1.6 trillion ($68.5 million) last year.

South Korean-owned E-mart entered Vietnam in 2015 and its local operations were acquired by automaker THACO last year under a franchise deal, which stipulates at least 20 stores must be opened by 2026.

Vietnamese supermarket chains such as Nova Market and WinMart+ are reportedly doing well.

This year Vietnam has attracted a lot of FDI in the wholesale and retail sectors, and more retailers have leased space in HCMC amid growing demand.

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first nine months jumped 21% year-on-year to more than VND4.17 quadrillion, according to the General Statistics Office.

Analysts said the retail sector has recovered quickly after the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control.

Colliers, a global real estate services provider, said the fact that some international agencies have raised their forecast for Vietnams GDP growth has sent a positive signal to big retail brands.

Vietnam is expected to become the worlds 10th largest consumer market by 2030, surpassing Germany and the UK, Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said at an economic forum in September.

In Asia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India will see the highest increase in consumer spending this decade.
Low-cost carrier Vietjet plans to open its first direct route between Vietnam and Bangladesh in December to boost economic and tourism development.

Initially, there will be charted flights between Hanoi and Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, with a plan to start regular flights in phases based on passenger demand, The Business Standard newspaper reported, citing Taslim Amin Shovon, director and CEO of Bangladesh-based InnoGlobe Travel and Tours Limited.

"It takes a lot of time and money to travel from Bangladesh to Vietnam as passengers always have to go via a third country. If direct flights are launched, it will be economical in all aspects," he added.

Before the pandemic, Vietnam Airlines was the only domestic carrier to operate a direct route from Ho Chi Minh City to Dhaka, which has not been resumed.

Vietnam reopened its borders and resumed pre-pandemic visa policies since March 15.

So far this year Vietnam has received only 1.87 million foreign visitors, or 30% of its full-year target of five million.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov attended the opening ceremony of the Saha Expo Defense and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul on October 25, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

During the exhibition, Hasanov met with leaders of the Turkish defense companies, such as ROKETSAN, BAYKAR, TUALCOM, and ASELSAN, as well as familiarized himself with showcased samples of state-of-the-art weaponry and combat equipment.

National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, as well as a number of states and government officials from Turkiye and other countries, attended the exhibition.

On the margins of the defense expo on October 25, Hasanov and Akar met to discuss the ongoing growth of cooperation in the military, military-technical, military-educational, and other domains, as well as regional security challenges.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Hasanov said that Azerbaijan is interested in the majority of the weaponry displayed at the Saha Expo in Turkiye, and numerous contracts have already been inked in this regard, Azernews reports, via the local media.

"We reviewed and held discussions. I'd like to emphasize that Turkiye has done an outstanding job in the manufacturing of weaponry in recent years, which makes us very delighted," Hasanov stressed.

The minister added that a number of projects have been completed to apply the Turkish model in the Azerbaijan Army.

"We have completed the majority of the tasks. The organization and status structure have evolved, as has the system, particularly management. It has been effectively implemented. It was especially evident in the latest clashes [with Armenia]," Hasanov emphasized.

Furthermore, Hasanov also met with his Hungarian counterpart Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky as part of his visit to Turkiye, the ministry said in a separate report.

The ministers discussed the prospects for the military cooperation between the two nations, as well as other matters of mutual interest, it added.

The Saha Expo defense and aerospace exhibition, hosted by Saha Istanbul, Turkey and Europe's largest industrial cluster with 876 companies and 24 universities, is taking place on October 25-28.
Tourists from Kazakhstan were welcome upon arriving in Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa, October 26, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quang Toan

A non-stop flight carrying 376 tourists from Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan landed at Cam Ranh International Airport near Nha Trang on Wednesday, signaling a busy year-end travel season.

The passengers, arriving at Cam Ranh airport around 40 km from Nha Trang beach town at 9:50 a.m., comprised mostly Kazak tourists and some from Eastern Europe.

They would stay at three-to-five-star resorts on a combo tour package and visit popular tourist attractions in Nha Trang from one week to 28 days.

"There are numerous similarities between the Russian and Kazakhstan markets as tourists from the latter take long-term vacations during the winter season, which starts in October," said Bui Quoc Dai, deputy director of tour operator Anex Vietnam that oversees bringing the group of tourists from Kazakhstan to Nha Trang.

Amid the shortage of Russian tourists due to political tensions, the travel firm will focus on exploiting potential in the Kazakhstan market, Dai said.

Vietnam reopened its borders in mid-March after two years of closures.

Vietnam has yet to waive visa requirements for Kazakh visitors while Kazakhstan offers visa exemption for Vietnamese tourists.
New Mexico Program Improves Access to Entrepreneurial Resources

For entrepreneurs, finding support for their potential business can be a challenge, especially for women, minorities, and those in rural communities. Fueled by a $250,000 Economic Adjustment Assistance (PDF) investment from EDA, a program in New Mexico was focused on improving access to entrepreneurial support by tapping into existing community resources.

Libraries as Launchpads was created by the Global Center for Entrepreneurship, also known as Creative Startups, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The program launched in early 2020, with the goal of taking advantage of community resources to support minority and female entrepreneurs in rural communities.

The program was designed to activate public and tribal libraries as centers of economic opportunity for creative-industry entrepreneurs. Librarians and community-based educators from across Northern and Central New Mexico would be trained, supported, and certified to deliver pre-accelerator workshops to startups in public libraries.

However, shortly after the program launched, shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for Libraries as Launchpads. Organizers were forced to move all communications, outreach, support, and engagement into online environments. In addition, libraries closed their doors and tribal communities across the state shut down access to non-residents.

But Creative Startups was able to turn the challenges into new opportunities.

We were given the opportunity to reach people beyond the confines of geographic locations. We made some enhancements to our online learning portal, improved our communications, and increased our partnerships with rural and Indigenous-led organizations, said Creative Placemaking Program Manager Ginny Sterpka. We ended up reaching more counties than we hoped, creating new partnerships, and launching additional courses.

By the end of the two-year program, Libraries as Launchpads ended up activating 24 tribal or public libraries in 14 New Mexico counties to support entrepreneurs, double the amount they anticipated.

More than 120 entrepreneurs, of which the majority were women and minorities, went through the five-week course. 75-percent of participants went on to launch their businesses and a year later, 39-percent continue to grow their businesses.

Entrepreneurs finished the program saying they were more comfortable with pitching their business, prototyping products, and projecting and managing cash flows. We also helped improve access to mentors and expanded their business networks, Sterpka said.

The two-year program also helped spark a new Libraries as Launchpads initiative, the Certified Entrepreneurship Librarians training program, an 8-week program for librarians to build their knowledge, networks, and confidence in supporting entrepreneurs. Started to support an interest expressed by librarians to be better equipped to support entrepreneurs at any time, the program is designed to utilize existing assets and unique qualities of libraries to support communities in their efforts to foster the creative economy, create a unique sense of place, and encourage local business development.

Creative Startups is no stranger to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. The non-profit was created in 2008 and has since grown into the worlds leading program for growth entrepreneurs in creatives industries, having graduated over 550 creative companies from their suite of programs.

In addition to Libraries as Launchpads, the organization provides services for businesses further in the development process, including accelerator programs to connect businesses with potential investors, pre-accelerator programs to help launch companies, and several challenges and sprints to spur innovation.

Tags: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
VANCOUVER  Western Exploration Inc. reported promising drill results from the Doby George deposit at the Aura Project in northern Elko County.

The first two drill holes completed at Doby George demonstrate remarkable continuity and tenor of near surface oxide gold mineralization and support our assumption that Doby George can be a high-quality, high-grade oxide gold deposit, said Darcy Marud, chief executive officer and director of Western Exploration.

He said that importantly, wide zones of higher-grade mineralization offer potential to expand the current resources, not only within the oxide zone, but also at depth within the unoxidized part of Doby George.

Drill highlights from the first hole include 68.5 feet at 0.0497 ounces per ton and 77.5 feet at 0.115 ounces per ton, with 24 feet of 0.185 opt, while the second holes results include 179 feet of 0.0733 opt, with 21 feet at 0.165 opt, according to the Oct. 26 announcement.

Results from the seven remaining holes are pending.

Doby George is one of the highest-grade, undeveloped open pit heap leach resources in Nevada and one of three mineral deposits at the Aura Project, which is a little less than 20 miles north of the Jerritt Canyon Mine and 73 miles north of Elko, the company stated.

The other deposits are Gravel Creek and Wood Gulch.

Homestake Mining Co. initially discovered the Doby George deposit in the mid-1980s, and 827 drill holes have been completed over the years, including by Western Exploration LLC between 1998 and 2017, when the company was private.

In 2017, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. became a partner of the company and has invested more than $14 million in support of the companys exploration initiatives. In addition, Agnico Eagle Mines provides technical expertise through a joint technical committee with Western Explorations management team.

Today, Western Exploration is a public corporation, and the company stated that it is composed of an experienced team of precious metals experts that aims to lead the company to becoming a premier gold and silver development company in North America.
ELKO  Nevada will celebrate 158 years of statehood on Friday with a day off for schools as well as state and local offices.

Schools throughout Elko County and Great Basin College will be closed on Friday, along with Elko County and City of Elko offices, giving students and employees a three-day weekend.

Elko Justice and District Courts will also be closed.

The day is set aside to observe Nevadas statehood, when it became the 36th state admitted to the United States on Oct. 31, 1864.

On Friday, the 35th annual Nevada Day Parade will wind its way through downtown Elko, starting at 11 a.m.

Parade entries line up at 10 a.m. at the Crystal Theater. The parade route ends at 11th Street.

This years theme is Gateway to Adventure and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 2511 and Assembly 614.

As with years previous, this year is in loving memory of the parades two founders, Rose Conner and Don Tanner.
LAS VEGAS  Five organizations providing legal help to Nevadans who cannot afford an attorney, along with the Access to Justice Commission, a Nevada Supreme Court-created group promoting equal civil justice, announced a statewide campaign to recruit Silver State lawyers to help Nevadans with critical legal matters.

Nevada lawyers providing pro bono can help people resolve a variety of legal troubles. The lawyers may help save a family home from foreclosure due to a job layoff or medical catastrophe, protect a child from abuse or neglect, or defend against consumer fraud or the financial abuse of a senior.

Lawyers can offer pro bono legal services through a collection of nonprofit agencies: Legal Aid of Southern Nevada, Nevada Legal Services, Northern Nevada Legal Aid, Southern Nevada Senior Law Program and Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans.

Areas of critical need include child advocacy and family law, domestic violence victim advocacy, elder assistance and consumer exploitation.

Access to Justice reports many benefits for lawyers who volunteer pro bono.

Providing pro bono through legal aid provides a quality experience for lawyers, said Brad Lewis, director for the Access to Justice Commission. Whether its volunteering for an Ask-a-Lawyer seminar or taking on a case, Nevada lawyers can build skills to make them a better lawyer while earning continuing legal education (CLE) credits throughout the process. But the biggest benefit we hear most from lawyers is that it feels great to help someone. Unrecognized by most, is that legal help keeps people employed, helps keep kids in school, something everyone wants.

Lawyers working with Nevadas legal aid providers change Nevadans lives for the better. Other legal aid help includes securing benefits for eligible veterans, and pairing children with legal guardians or adoptive families.

But the community need for legal representation is far greater than the number of pro bono volunteer hours.

76% of legal needs are going unmet, added Lewis. Legal aid helped 40,648 struggling families in 2021, though there were over 100,000 legal issues that did not receive professional legal representation because of a lack of pro bono volunteers to help on these cases.

To learn more about volunteering pro bono or donating, please visit www.nvbar.org/probono.
Vietnam spent more than 2 billion USD importing seafood. Photo tongcucthuysan.gov.vn

Preliminary statistics of the General Department of Customs showed that, in the 9 months, Vietnam spent 2.04 billion USD importing seafood, up 36.8% over the same period last year. In particular, in September 2022, seafood import turnover reached nearly 200 million USD, up 44.5%.

Accordingly, in the first 9 months of this year, Vietnam imported the most seafood from India when it spent about 279 million USD, up 13.08% year on year. Indonesia is the second largest market, with nearly 199 million USD, up 87.8%. Norway ranked third with import turnover of nearly 183 million USD, up 6.06%.

In addition, China, Taiwan (China), Japan, and Russia are also major seafood suppliers to Vietnam with turnovers exceeding 100 million USD each.

Meanwhile, in the nine months, Vietnams seafood export turnover reached over 8.51 billion USD, up 38% over the same period last year. In which, shrimp brought nearly 3.4 billion USD, up 23%; pangasius, nearly 2 billion USD, up 82.6%; crabs and other crustaceans, nearly 165 million USD, up 37.9%; and tuna, 802 million USD, up 54.2%.

Thus, after balancing import and export turnover during the period, Vietnam still gained seafood trade surplus at about 6.47 billion USD.

Recently, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers also forecast that by the end of November 2022, the countrys seafood export turnover will reach the target of 10 billion USD, ahead the years schedule of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development./.
Photo taken on Oct. 17, 2022 shows flocks of whooper swans resting, swimming, and feeding at the lake at the Rongcheng Whooper Swan National Nature Reserve in Rongcheng City, north Chinas Shandong Province. According to staff, the wind direction and wind force in the last two days are very suitable for the migration of swans. After the initial arrival of 11 whooper swans on Oct. 11, now close to 100 whooper swans have arrived at the National Nature Reserve. (Li Xinjun/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Oct. 17, 2022 shows flocks of whooper swans resting, swimming, and feeding at the lake at the Rongcheng Whooper Swan National Nature Reserve in Rongcheng City, north Chinas Shandong Province. According to staff, the wind direction and wind force in the last two days are very suitable for the migration of swans. After the initial arrival of 11 whooper swans on Oct. 11, now close to 100 whooper swans have arrived at the National Nature Reserve. (Li Xinjun/Guangming Picture)

Photo taken on Oct. 17, 2022 shows flocks of whooper swans resting, swimming, and feeding at the lake at the Rongcheng Whooper Swan National Nature Reserve in Rongcheng City, north Chinas Shandong Province. According to staff, the wind direction and wind force in the last two days are very suitable for the migration of swans. After the initial arrival of 11 whooper swans on Oct. 11, now close to 100 whooper swans have arrived at the National Nature Reserve. (Li Xinjun/Guangming Picture)

Editor: JYZ
JERUSALEM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition themed "Retracing the Long March" was held on Monday at the China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Nearly four hundred photos, taken by Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel 17 years ago, are put on display in prints or on screens, showcasing his five-month mission back then in China to retrace the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's epic trek between 1934 and 1936, which is known as the "Long March."

In March 2005, accompanied by Chinese friends, the then 70-year-old Israeli set off from Yudu County in eastern China's Jiangxi Province, the starting point of the Long March.

After traveling more than 19,000 km on wheels and another 1000 km on foot, he arrived in Wuqi County of Yan'an, the northwestern province of Shaanxi, the terminal of the Red Army's odyssey.

Along the course of his retracing journey, Ben-Uziel, who goes by "Wu Dawei" in Chinese, took thousands of photos, vividly recording historical items marking the army's milestones and the life of ordinary residents along the route.

"Through the lens of his camera, he also captured in photos the economic and social development along the route 70 years after the Long March," said Chinese Ambassador to Israel Cai Run while addressing the opening ceremony.

He added that Ben-Uziel learned the spirit of the Long March and the Chinese nation from the perspective of a military man.

From October 1934 to October 1936, the Red Army soldiers, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, left their bases and marched through raging rivers, frigid mountains, and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang forces and continued to fight the Japanese aggressors.

At the exhibition, Ben-Uziel, now 87, told the audience stories of his marvelous journey in China, elaborated on landmarks of the Long March and explained the significance of the event in the history of modern China.

With his life and work experience in China and his deep love for Chinese culture, Ben-Uziel has contributed to the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Cai noted.

"I think the exhibition is telling us much more than just the Long March itself. We all know about the Long March but definitely, now we know much more. I think this is extremely important for China-Israeli connections," said Yulia Mit, an audience of the exhibition.

Editor: WJH
LONDON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China has been following a distinctive path of an open national innovation system over the past decade, which has given fresh impetus to its economic development, setting an example for other countries, an Oxford-based scholar has said.

The approach "uses a combination of the state and the market to drive innovation and has integrated the country into the global innovation system," said Fu Xiaolan, founding director of the Technology and Management Center for Development at the University of Oxford, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Under the system with Chinese characteristics featuring dual drivers, dual markets and dual resources, "China has had access to both indigenous and foreign markets, knowledge and resources," Fu said.

The Oxford Handbook of China Innovation, a new book co-edited by Fu explaining and analyzing China's innovation development and its prospects, was launched in July. In the book, more than 60 experts worldwide offered their perspectives on China's innovation development focusing on policy discussion and views on further progress to become a leader in global innovation.

INCREASE IN INNOVATION INVESTMENT &COLLABORATION

According to Fu, China in the past decade saw a significant increase in investment in innovation and strengthened capacity for independent innovation, along with proactive international innovation collaboration marked by international cooperation in research and development (R&D), establishment of overseas R&D centers, and international mobility of talents.

During this period of time, she added, some innovation models with Chinese characteristics have emerged, such as the energy-saving innovation, which "not only reduces production costs and makes innovative products and services available to more low- and middle-income families, but also saves raw materials and investments, fulfilling the need for sustainable development."

Alongside China's innovation development, Chinese companies have moved up the global value chain as well, said Fu. "Some Chinese companies have joined the global value chain to learn and innovate, while some Chinese multinational enterprises are already leading innovation along the global value chain."

As a result, breakthroughs were made in many innovation industries and fields, such as digital innovation, which has helped boost China's digital economy to the top tier in the world, Fu noted. On top of that, fields like artificial intelligence, aerospace, deep-sea exploration, and new energy have all seen impressive achievements, contributing to the country's economic development, she added.

REASONS FOR REMARKABLE PROGRESS

Speaking of the reasons for such progress, the scholar attributed it partly to the fact that China has been constantly exploring an innovation model that suits its needs. "The Chinese government has kept on introducing new innovation policies and improving them, pushing forward reforms, and encouraging efforts to explore different innovation models," Fu said.

China has also seen deeper public awareness of the importance of innovation in past years, she added. "With the constant development of the Chinese economy and world science and technology as well as changes in the international situation, the awareness has taken root in the minds of the government, enterprises and the public," Fu said.

Finally, China's innovation ecosystem has made remarkable progress in the last decade, as R&D investments have continued to increase.

China has set an example for other countries as well. "Featuring dual drivers, dual markets, and dual resources, the system invites all kinds of market players, whether state-owned, private or foreign-owned, to play a role," Fu said. "That's the experience other developing countries could learn from."

Innovation takes time and patience, but China is already on the right path to innovation, Fu said. As was shown on the Global Innovation Index 2021 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization, China has risen to 12th place globally in innovation.

"By continuing to move along the current path and continuously improving its innovation environment and mechanism, China will definitely become an innovation powerhouse," she said.

Editor: WJH
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Mikheil Chkhenkeli.

The head of state underlined his successful visit to Georgia a few days ago, saying that fruitful discussions were held, and describing the visit as very important for the future development of brotherly relations between the two countries. The President said that the discussed issues covered a broad range of agenda in political, economic, transport, energy and other fields.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the education is one of the important parts of bilateral cooperation. The head of state described the functioning of Azerbaijani schools in Georgia and Georgian schools in Azerbaijan as a good indicative of this. President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that Mikheil Chkhenkelis visit would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the relative ministries of the two countries.

Expressing his gratitude for the reception, Mikheil Chkhenkeli described the Azerbaijani Presidents visit to Georgia as a historic one, adding that the visit was of special importance in expanding the bilateral relations. The minister pointed to a very fruitful and successful cooperation between the two countries Ministries of Education and Science.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on prospects for bilateral cooperation.
On 24 October 2022, Professor Huadong Guo, Director of the International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of HIST, met online with Dr Webber Ndoro, Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM), to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement will advance collaboration on applying space technologies to monitor, conserve and protect World Cultural Heritage sites. This joint work will support the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

Prof Huadong Guo and Dr Webber Ndoro sign Memorandum of Understanding

World Cultural Heritage represents priceless and irreplaceable assets for humankind. There are 897 cultural heritage sites and 39 mixed (both cultural and natural) sites inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List. It is our shared responsibility to protect, conserve and transmit the outstanding universal values of those sites to present and future generations. However, climate change, natural disasters and human activities affect some of these cultural heritage sites. The international community increasingly recognizes the role space technologies can have in helping protect and monitor them.

The 44th extended session of the World Heritage Committee requested States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies (of which ICCROM is a part), UNESCO Category 2 Centres and other relevant institutions to continue exploring collaborative partnerships with the aim of using cutting-edge technology and innovation for the benefit of maintaining our bond with the past.

Both HIST and ICCROM are committed to maintaining long-term strategic partnership for the protection and conservation of World Cultural Heritage sites and advancing specific areas of collaboration: monitoring and evaluation, research and consultation, capacity building and the exchange of experts and information sharing.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of World Heritage Convention, it is significant that both sides will take a series of concerted actions to offer global public goods and services to assist UNESCO and ICCROM Member States in the implementation of the Convention and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Prof Huadong Guo.

Our World Cultural and Natural Heritage properties are great treasures that ICCROM is committed to conserving. We look forward to working with HIST to use advanced technology to better conserve, manage and sustainably care for our heritage, said Dr Webber Ndoro.

Other participants joining the ceremony included Professor Wang Xinyuan, Deputy Director of HIST; Professor Fulong Chen, Deputy Director of HIST; Dr Valerie Magar, ICCROMs Programmes Unit Manager; Mr Joseph King, ICCROM Senior Director; and Dr Rohit Jigyasu, Project Manager, Urban Heritage, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, ICCROM.

Representatives from HIST and ICCROM

The International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage (HIST) under the auspices of UNESCO is an international organization established in 2011 by UNESCO as a Category 2 Centre in Beijing, China, and hosted by Aerospace Information Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is devoted to developing and utilizing space technologies for the identification, conservation, monitoring and management of UNESCO-designated sites to support UNESCO and its Member States in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM) is an intergovernmental organization created by UNESCO in 1956 to act as a centre of global expertise on the conservation of cultural heritage. ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation as well as raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage through five main areas of activity: training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy.

Editor: JYZ
Ukraine to receive EUR 2 mln as grant for recovery of healthcare facilities destroyed due to Russian aggression

Ukraine will receive EUR 2 million in grant funds for the restoration of a number of healthcare institutions that suffered due to Russia's military aggression, the press service of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has reported.

"On October 25 the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed a Grant Agreement to support [EIB's] Ukraine Public Buildings Energy Efficiency (UPBEE) Programme," the press service of the ministry said.

The agreement signed for UNDP advisory support is funded by a EUR 2 million grant from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) to restore a number of healthcare institutions that suffered as a result of Russia's military aggression.

Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov thanked the EIB and UNDP for continued cooperation and the upcoming advisory support for Ukrainian municipalities in preparing high-quality energy efficiency projects.

"The implementation of European practices regarding energy efficiency policy is one of the key priorities of Ukraine. Increasing the energy efficiency of public buildings has been and will remain an important element of improving Ukraine's energy security," he said.

According to him, Ukraine is looking forward to launching the first call for proposals under this programme in order for municipalities to submit their proposals related to the thermo-modernization or renovation of kindergartens, schools, health buildings and hosting centers for displaced people.

Chernyshov also said that the plans include the reconstruction of Ukraine with the highest energy efficiency standards and in the place of every destroyed or damaged building, Ukraine will build a modern, safe and energy-efficient one.

The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development said that in August the Verkhovna Rada ratified two grant agreements between Ukraine and the EIB, which provide for grants of EUR 5 million for the implementation of the UPBEE Programme.
PrJSC Avdiyivka Coke and Chemical Plant, part of Metinvest Group and has been in cold conservation mode since May of this year, can be restored after 8-10 months of intensive repairs, Yuriy Ktsynenko, the general director of the enterprise, believes.

According to him, when peace returns to Avdiyivka and the security situation allows people to return home, they plan to launch the plant. There is a plan for the restoration of capacities: in order to start work, it will take 8-10 months of intensive repairs.

"At first, we will not work in such volumes as before February 24, but, nevertheless, we will launch at least half of the enterprise. And then there will be repairs and restoration. Avdiyivka Coke and Chemical Plant was the flagship of coke production in Ukraine, producing top-class coke. I am sure that we will definitely bring it back to life together with the team and with the support of Metinvest," the head of the plant said on the Donbas24 telegram channel.

At the same time, he recalled that production was stopped in April 2022, the batteries were transferred to cold conservation mode. The equipment was already stopped in 2015, but the batteries were cooled for the first time.

"Then we used hot conservation mode  natural gas was supplied, and the batteries were heated, coke could be dispensed at any moment. Now there is neither natural gas nor coke oven gas. The batteries have completely cooled down," Ktsynenko states.

Before the war, 4,000 people worked at the enterprise, about 1,500 contractors performed work. Now most of the specialists are idle.

"Up to 200 people are still working: we are evacuating inventory from Avdiyivka, transporting equipment that can be used at other enterprises of the company, preserved raw materials. We are getting ready for winter  many buildings are destroyed, and they need to be closed, protected from moisture. For people who will stay there in the winter, we equip heating points. Another part of the employees works remotely, and most of them have been laid off. For those who expressed a desire, we offered vacancies at other enterprises of Metinvest Group  in Kamianske, Zaporizhia, Kryvy Rih, and Pokrovsk. Approximately 500-550 people are employed," the acting CEO noted.

The head of the plant also said that blue-collar workers are invited to other enterprises in Donbas, they work in the rear and nothing threatens stable work.

Avdiyivka Coke and Chemical Plant is the largest coking plant in Europe, the main producer of coke in Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with the new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.

"Just before writing this address, I spoke with new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. I believe that the partnership between our states and the already traditional British leadership in defending democracy and freedom will only grow further," he said in a video statement on Tuesday evening.

"Ukraine and Britain have achieved better relations as of now, but still we still have the potential to increase our cooperation in order to give more benefit to our societies. I invited the Prime Minister to visit Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Germany to supply two MARS installations, four howitzers, air defense systems to Ukraine  Steinmeier after meeting with Zelensky

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced on Tuesday the delivery of two additional MARS multiple rocket launchers and four howitzers to Ukraine, as well as the continuation of the supply of air defense systems.

"Two MARS systems and four howitzers will soon be delivered," Steinmeier said at a briefing in Kyiv after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Speaking about ways to find peace in Ukraine, he told Zelensky: "I agree with you that a just peace is needed. The peace Putin wants can spark another war."
Koriukivka in Chernihiv region will become twinned with the German city of Waldkirchen, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Steinmeier visited Koriukivka on Tuesday during his visit to Ukraine. Within the period of his staying there, there was an air raid alert, and he spent some time in a bomb shelter along with the residents of the city. "We were in the bomb shelter. I was able to talk to many people today and I want to say that I admire the courage and indomitability of Ukrainians, their willingness to fight," he said.

"I can confirm the promise that Koriukivka will establish sister city relations with the city of Waldkirchen in southwestern Germany. It is necessary that more cities maintain such twinning ties. This gives a signal to Moscow that it will not succeed in dividing our peoples," the German president said.

The city and urban community of Waldkirchen with a population of about 10,500 people are located in Bavaria.
British PM Sunak looks forward to working with Biden to strengthen global stability, support for Ukraine

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is looking forward to working with U.S. President Joseph Biden to strengthen stability in the world and support Ukraine.

"I look forward to working together with Joseph Biden to enhance stability across the world and continue our leading role in support of the people of Ukraine," Sunak said on Twitter on Wednesday night.

He said the United States and the United Kingdom are the closest of allies.

Earlier, U.S. President Joseph Biden said he was counting on strengthening U.S.-UK cooperation in continuing common support for Ukraine.
During a meeting with representatives of Jewish organizations in Kyiv on Tuesday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to protect people and make Russian terror impossible.

"Today I held meetings with representatives of the Jewish community - American, European, of course, Israeli. We talked about protecting our people, about the need to make Russian terror impossible," he said in a video statement on Tuesday evening.

"And how to quickly end this war by guaranteeing complete security. Security for all Ukrainians throughout Ukraine," he said.

"The sooner peace is achieved on our land thanks to the Ukrainian victory, the less evil Russia will have time to bring to other regions, including the Middle East in its complicity with Iran," Zelensky said.

He expressed confidence that "one day this position will be heard by Israeli politicians, as the Israeli society has already heard."
Ukraine is waiting for deliveries of Switchblade 600 drones from the United States, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in an interview with Politico.

"We are still waiting for the Switchblade 600 drones, which the U.S. has promised to help Kyiv boost its stock of loitering munitions that can hover over a target before an operator guides it to impact," he said.

The drone's maker, AeroVironment, said this month the first shipment of ten drones should arrive within weeks. He notes that Iran has sold 2,400 drones to Russia in recent weeks, so "for this moment, I would say that Iranian drones temporarily win this competition," Reznikov said.

While tanks and fighter planes remain a work in progress, air defenses will continue to be "priority number one" in the coming months, he said.

"We need to divide the targets in the air  for example, to strike cruise or ballistic missiles our defense systems will use  rockets like IRIS-T from Germany and [soon] there will also be [the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System], or our Soviet systems like Buk. Against the Iranian drones we can use cheaper equipment like Gepard from Germany or Stingers and Starstreak, or other equipment from our partners," he said.

Strengthening this protective cover over Kyiv and other cities remains a top priority for Ukrainian authorities as missiles and drones continue to arrive. "That's why we ask our partners to find the solutions with different systems not only for the middle-range or long-range, we need short-range systems [from] different countries that have those systems like Sweden, Germany and the United States," Reznikov said.

While the needs are large and continuing, Reznikov said the constant stream of meetings and calls with allies gives his government confidence that aid will keep flowing, even as Ukraine pushes to build its own systems to provide for its own defense. "I get a clear signal from all sides that no matter what, the countries will support Ukraine until the end of this war, and Im sure that the end of this war will mean victory for Ukraine," he said.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen outlined three elements of support for the reconstruction and reform of Ukraine, which will lead it to future membership in the European Union.

"The main message of the day for me today is that Ukraine has everything it takes for a successful reconstruction. But allow me to focus on a few takeaways from today's discussion. The first one is: Give ownership to the locals, creating trust in the reconstruction process," von der Leyen said on Tuesday in Berlin, opening the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine.

She said that secondly, it is needed the right architecture and structure to make this support broad and inclusive and thirdly, since Ukraine has the status of a candidate on the path to the European Union, the EU must consider these reconstruction efforts as part of Ukraine's path to the EU.

Von der Leyen dwelled in detail on the issue of providing assistance to Ukraine in the short term, mentioning the need to ensure the current functioning of the state in terms of salaries, pensions and other payments, and also said that with the participation of the European Commission, a project will be launched to restore infrastructure, schools, and assistance will be provided IDPs.

Regarding the second point, she dwelled on the efforts to restore the country, recalling that during the international conference that took place in Lugano, the principles for providing assistance to Ukraine, the so-called "Lugano principles," were determined. Among them, von der Leyen named the orientation towards reforms, the transparency of the process, the rule of law, and stability. The President of the European Commission said these are the principles that must be taken into account in the restoration.

She said the scale of destruction in Ukraine is unprecedented. "The World Bank estimates the damage of the war so far at 350 billion euro. And the destruction goes on, as the most recent attacks in the last few days have shown. Neither Ukraine nor individual partners will be able to foot the bill alone. We must all lend a hand  the EU, the G7 and our partners far and wide. The international financial institutions and leading international organisations should of course be on board. In the long term, it will be important for private investors and companies to invest in Ukraine's reconstruction too," von der Leyen said, addressing the audience.

"We all agree that supporting Ukraine is not only the right thing to do, it is also in our very own interest. Ukraine is fighting not only for its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, but against Putin's attempt to shift borders by force and inflict war and destruction on his neighbours. Ukraine is also defending the international rules-based order, the bedrock of our peaceful coexistence and of prosperity worldwide. So in supporting Ukraine, we are building our own future and the future of our common Europe," she said.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

The US is committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.

He made the remarks during the Department Press Briefing on October 25.

Weve encouraged both leaders to meet in whatever format is most useful to them. We believe direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and to reaching lasting peace. Its why Secretary Blinken brought together his foreign minister counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York City in September, the first time that the two had been in the same room since the recent flare-up of violence, the official stated.

Further, he noted that its up to Armenia and Azerbaijan to decide whether President Putins invitation would be helpful or useful to them in pursuit of that lasting peace, taking into account Russias policy that has little respect for its neighbors sovereignty and is hardly a reliable, long-term partner.

There is ultimately no greater support than the United States for the sovereignty and the independence of the countries in the South Caucasus, he underlined.

Price stressed that the restoration of Armenia, Azerbaijans, and Georgias independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union was a seminal event that guaranteed each of these countries the right to pursue their own foreign policy interests independent of Moscow or independent of any other country.

Our only goal here is to see and to help these countries work together to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace, and ultimately to save lives, the spokesperson further added.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called "unacceptable" the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles by Iran to Russia, which it uses in the war against Ukraine, welcoming the sanctions that the European Union has already applied to Tehran.

"In recent days, we have also seen Iran provide military support to the Russian war effort. This is unacceptable. No country should be helping the aggressor in an illegal war. So I welcome that Allies and the European Union are implementing strong sanctions on Tehran," NATO Secretary General said aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier George W. Bush, who is currently participating in the NATO exercise Neptune Strike 2022 in the Mediterranean Sea. The text of his remarks to the press was made public on the organization's website on Wednesday.

Stoltenberg also opined that "Russia's brutal war and illegal war is at a pivotal moment. President Putin is responding to his failures on the battlefield with more aggression. Strikes on civilians, on civilian energy infrastructure. And drone and missile attacks on residential areas. Russia now falsely claims Ukraine is preparing to use a radiological 'dirty bomb' on its own territory. NATO Allies reject this transparently false allegation," he said.

In this regard, the NATO Secretary General drew attention to the fact that earlier "we have seen pattern before  from Syria to Ukraine" when "Russia accuses others of what they intend to do themselves." "Russia must not use false pretexts for further escalation. The world is watching closely," Stoltenberg said.

He reiterated that NATO is not a party to the war in Ukraine, but will continue to support the fundamental right of Ukrainians to self-defense for as long as it takes.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday called on Russia to extend the grain agreement and ensure constant food supplies to poor countries.

"We urge Russia to renew the UN grain deal brokered by Turkey and ensure the continued supply of food to those who needed it most," Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca on Wednesday.

On July 22, a document on the creation of a corridor for grain export from three Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdenny was signed in Istanbul with the participation of the UN, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. The agreement expires on November 19. The UN and Turkey have previously called for an extension of the deal.
The Senate of the Polish Republic on Wednesday adopted a resolution by 85 votes on recognizing the authorities of the Russian Federation as a terrorist regime.

According to the press service of the Senate, the document "strongly condemns Russian aggression and calls on all countries advocating peace, democracy and human rights to recognize the government of the Russian Federation as a terrorist regime."

In the resolution, the senators also recall that on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation unleashed "a brutal war with Ukraine, wanting to wipe this sovereign country off the face of the earth and destroy its people."

According to the senators, the heroic defense of independence by the citizens of Ukraine was admired by the whole free world and now Ukraine is the most "important place protecting democracy and freedom."
On Wednesday, October 26, Ukrainian servicemen shot down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter, the press service of the Pivden (South) Air Command reports.

"At about 17:00 in Beryslavsky district of Kherson region, a unit of Odesa anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Pivden Air Command shot down a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter," the Facebook post says.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba expressed gratitude to Australia for the new package of assistance in the field of security.

Grateful to Australia for the new security assistance package which includes training for our forces and 30 additional Bushmasters. These armored vehicles have shown excellent results on the battlefield and we requested more of them. We will always remember Australias support! Kuleba said on Twitter.
Pavel Fuks Charitable Foundation provides humanitarian assistance to Kharkiv residents and residents of the Kharkiv region, who suffered from the Russian war in Ukraine

Since the beginning of Russias full-scale hostilities in Ukraine, businessman and philanthropist Pavel Fuks has been supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Territorial Defense, the National Guard of Ukraine, the families of the dead and injured Ukrainian soldiers, as well as Kharkiv (and region) residents who are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Pavel Fuks Charitable Foundation directed its efforts to help Ukrainians who were left in the most difficult situation in Kharkiv and the region, as well as frontline zones, deoccupied areas and settlers. Every day volunteers of the Foundation organize humanitarian actions to distribute ready-made home-made food to everyone who needs it.

Starting from October, Pavel Fuks Charitable Foundation has been placing ready-made home-cooked food distribution points in Izyum, Balakliya, Kupyansk and other cities of the Kharkiv region.

During each action, the Funds volunteers distribute food to approximately 500600 citizens.

Today, many people feel an urgent need for hot food. Therefore, we are constantly expanding the geography and scope of assistance to those who daily survive under shelling, as well as to those who were forced to leave their homes. This became especially relevant after massive Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities, when ordinary people cant cook hot food on their own.

Despite the constant rocket attacks of the occupiers, Pavel Fuks Charitable Foundation continues and will continue to carry out campaigns to distribute ready-made food to everyone who needs it, do everything possible and impossible to win and help the victims of Russian aggression.

The Foundation has already organized numerous trips around Kharkiv and the region.

The Foundation regularly publishes announcements and detailed information about locations on its Instagram and Facebook pages.

As of the beginning of May, Ukrainian businessman Pavel Fuks sent about $5 million to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Territorial Defense, the National Guard of Ukraine, the families of the dead and injured Ukrainian soldiers. As of October 2022, businessman Pavel Fuks sent 8 million 700 thousand dollars to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Territorial Defense, the National Guard of Ukraine, and to help the families of the dead and injured Ukrainian soldiers, as well as to provide humanitarian aid to those who suffered from the military operations of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Reference. Pavel Fuks Charitable Foundation was founded in 2022 after the start of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine. The founder of the Foundation is Pavel Fuks, a Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist who was born in Kharkiv. The Foundations mission is to help Ukrainians who are in trouble because of Russias war in Ukraine.

The Foundations projects include the areas of social assistance, medicine, education, religious life, culture and educational activities.

Earlier, with the financial support of Pavel Fuks, the Church of the Holy Blessed Queen Tamara was built in Kharkiv. Fuks helped to reconstruct the school No. 4 in Kharkiv, where he studied. He participated in the restoration of the Kharkiv Regional Philharmonic, and financed the installation of a monument to the Founders of Kharkiv and the Monument of Independence of Ukraine.

In 2014, Pavel Fuks became the Honorary Citizen of Kharkiv.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fuks bought two modern X-ray diagnostic complexes, which were transferred to two hospitals in Kharkiv  No. 17 and No. 25. The cost of equipment is UAH 13 million 400 thousand. Pavel Fuks also covered the costs of delivering humanitarian aid from Geneva.

In 2020, the businessman transferred UAH 2.7 million to the families of officers and cadets of the Kharkiv National Air Force University named after Ivan Kozhedub, who died in a plane crash near Chugujiv in the Kharkiv region.
KYIV. Oct 26 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Ukraine continues to create stroke centers and a network of clinics that provide medical care to patients with stroke, as well as introduces new effective stroke therapy methods.

This was discussed by the participants of the panel discussion on the subject "Strategic Issues of Stroke Control in Ukraine" hosted by the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency on Tuesday.

According to Deputy Health Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Yaremenko, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, an increase in the number of strokes can be expected, so the need to create and develop a capable network of medical institutions that can provide care to stroke patients is becoming extremely urgent.

"We have disappointing statistics, the number of strokes in Ukraine is growing. In 2020, we had 124,000 stroke patients, in 2021  134,000. In the future, we expect the number to grow, as both COVID-19 and the war affect each of us. The medical system must prepare for such a load," he said.

At the same time, Yaremenko noted that the goal of Ukraine is, in particular, to ensure the treatment of 90% of patients with stroke in specialized departments or centers.

"Unfortunately, outdated approaches to the treatment of strokes, when patients were sent to the nearest hospitals, which were not sufficiently equipped and did not have the appropriate specialists, have been used in Ukraine for years. As part of the implementation of the Medical Guarantee Program, a network of medical institutions was determined for providing free medical care for stroke patients and appropriate changes were proposed to the routes of patients.The next key step will be the formation of a capable network, we will identify medical institutions that can both technologically and geographically provide the population with access to appropriate free medical care. There will be 450 of them throughout the country, so that each patient has guarantees that there are specialists and medicines," he said.

"A lot of work is planned, including with emergency assistance, to review and work out the routes of patients in order to send them to capable medical institutions. The National Health Service of Ukraine is reviewing tariffs and contracts with medical institutions to ensure that medical services are free," Yaremenko said.

In turn, member of the Board of the NGO Ukrainian Association for Stroke Control Yuriy Flomin praised the changes that have occurred over the past five years in the strategy and tactics of treating strokes.

"Before, the situation was completely different, patients were sent to 500-800 different hospitals, not all of which had the opportunity for timely diagnostics and treatment. The frequency of using modern methods of treating stroke, such as trambolysis and thrombomechanical extraction, was extremely low, it was even inconvenient for us to report Ukraine's performance at international conferences, because they were extremely low, but now the situation is changing," he said.

At the same time, according to Flomin, currently, modern methods of stroke treatment are available only in certain hospitals, so Ukrainian neurologists welcome the advanced European experience in creating a network of stroke hospitals.

"If the necessary therapy is carried out in a timely manner, it is possible to radically change the course of the disease and put a person on his feet," he said.

In turn, Head of the NGO Ukrainian Association of Endovascular Neurorentgenosurgery Dmytro Schehlov emphasized that "high technologies and treatment, which seemed inaccessible yesterday, are now becoming available to the general population."

"Endovascular neurosurgery is rapidly advancing and techniques that put the patient back on their feet are becoming part of the practice of stroke management and supported by the National Health Service of Ukraine," he said.

At the same time, according to Schehlov's estimates, there are currently only around ten hospitals in Ukraine where medical care is provided by thromboextraction methods.

"Such assistance is still not widespread enough, there are not enough specialists who can perform such surgeries," he said.

Schehlov noted that currently Ukraine needs to train around 200 neurologists who could perform thrombectomy, however, there is a high demand for such training.

"I see that there is a lot of work being done and there is a lot of demand among young neurosurgeons and neurologists who want to do this," he said.

In turn, Head of the neurological department of the town Hospital No. 2 of Bila Tserkva Liudmyla Lipovenko said that this clinic "has become a large hub for receiving patients with stroke from other regions", accepting residents of around eleven districts of Kyiv region and Bila Tserkva.

"During the year, our department treats around 2,000 acute strokes, more than 354 thrombolytic therapies are performed per year. Our clinic conducts rehabilitation  both early and, from December 1, we plan to start late rehabilitation, we are introducing endovascular treatment methods. These are saved lives and recovery opportunities," she said.

For her part, Executive Director of the NGO Ukrainian Association for Stroke Control Maryna Huliayeva stressed the importance of stroke prevention and timely rehabilitation.

In addition, according to her, despite the current shortage of medical personnel in Ukraine who practice advanced methods of treatment and rehabilitation, at present "the outflow of personnel abroad has not affected the provision of medical care to stroke patients."

"The stroke service is operating at full capacity. As of September 2022, we have a report from the National Health Service of Ukraine that 44,000 stroke patients received specialized care in medical institutions that were contracted under the priority stroke treatment package. All medical institutions that are contracted have rehabilitation departments," she said.

Huliayeva noted that "there are many myths saying that a stroke needs to be treated for months, but this is not true."

"Now the standards are being updated, without a clinical protocol, no care is provided in any hospital. A legal framework is being created so that the quality of care does not differ from European ones. A very important component is the return of the patient to public life. A lot is being done at the state level for this," she said.
Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs has urged for specific timeframes to proceed with the legal and political entitlements in Libya, including the full exit of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libyan lands.
Britain said Thursday that a recent visit to Tehran by a foreign ministry official was hosted by Iran, dismissing a report by an Iranian newspaper linking it to ongoing unrest.

Ultra-conservative newspaper Javan had published a photograph of Stephanie al-Qaq, the head of the ministry's Middle East and North Africa department, in its Wednesday edition under the headline "English spy led the riots up close".

But British ambassador Simon Shercliff insisted that her "short visit to Tehran last month" had been for "official talks".

The visit was hosted by the foreign ministry in Tehran, and "they asked us not to say anything publicly about the visit, so we did not," Shercliff said on Twitter Thursday.

"I don't remember any part of those official talks being about instigating riots," he added.

A wave of unrest has swept Iran since 22-year-old Kurd Mahsa Amini died on September 16 after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women.

The street violence has led to dozens of deaths -- mostly of protesters but also members of the security forces -- and hundreds have been arrested.

The Javan newspaper quoted "informed sources" as saying that Al-Qaq "entered the country a few days before the start of the riots and closely observed the process of managing the situation in Iran and evidence shows she had a role in leading the riots".

Al-Qaq led the British delegation to currently stalled negotiations on reviving a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.

Iranian officials have accused the country's enemies, particularly the United States, of fanning the Amini protests.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN High-Level Climate Change Champion for Egypt, stressed the need to link sustainable development plans with climate finance as most financing still depends on countries national budgets, including low-income countries.





Mohieldin made his remarks Monday at a roundtable in Cairo for the Independent High-level Expert Group on Climate Finance tasked with preparing a report on climate finance.

The report was commissioned by the Egyptian presidency of the upcoming 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) set to be held 6-18 November in Sharm El-Sheikh, as well as the British presidency of last years COP26, held in Glasgow.

Mohieldin, who is also UN special envoy on financing the 2030 sustainable development agenda, stressed the need to strengthen the role of the private sector and multilateral development banks.

He praised the concessional financing policies of the International Development Agency (IDA) as one of the most effective mechanisms for providing financing, adding that they can be expanded through multilateral development banks.

The climate champion also highlighted the importance of activating innovative financing methods, such as debt swaps, in addition to supporting carbon markets.

During the session, Ambassador Wael Abul-Magd, special representative of the COP27 president, stressed the need to attract trillions of dollars to support climate finance, taking into account the priorities of developing countries that suffer from the negative effects of climate change.

On their part, Dr Vera Snungwe and Dr Nick Stern, chairs of the expert group, explained that the report is monitoring the most prominent gaps related to climate financing, identifying their causes and proposing recommendations for mobilising the necessary financing to support climate action.

They also stressed the vital role of multilateral development banks, and development finance institutions as a whole, in participating strongly in creating conditions for investment and also in action to manage, reduce and share risks.

The two chairs of the group indicated their keenness to include the observations and suggestions that were put forward during the meeting in order to develop the draft report.

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By Trend

Today marks three years since Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Trend reports citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

Despite the fact that the country's chairmanship was during the COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijan managed to turn the difficulties associated with the pandemic into opportunities for international cooperation thanks to successful initiatives of international importance put forward as the chairmanship of the NAM and unanimously supported by the member states of the Movement.

During the chairmanship, Azerbaijan took important steps to start the process of approving the logotype and flag of NAM, it was on the basis of the initiatives of the Head of the Azerbaijani state and with the support of the member states of the Movement that the foundation of the NAM Youth Network was laid on October 4-5, 2021, and on November 28, 2021 - NAM Parliamentary Network.

Azerbaijan held the Baku Conference of the Parliamentary Network of the Non-Aligned Movement from June 30 through July 1, 2022, and the NAM Youth Summit from July 25 through July 29, 2022. These events resulted in the adoption of documents regulating the activities of the Youth Organization and the NAM Parliamentary Network, the establishment of logos and flags of these organizations.

During the chairmanship a high-level commemorative event was organized in Belgrade, Serbia dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the founding of NAM, a conference in Baku on the theme "The Heritage of the African Continent in the Evolution of the Non-Aligned Movement", and trainings were held for the first time in the history of NAM in connection with NAM modeling involving young people from NAM countries. On the basis of the relevant order of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, every year dozens of young people have found the opportunity to receive scholarships while studying in Azerbaijan.

Meeting of the ministers,including the ministers of labor and health were held in order to strengthen the partnership and solidarity between states members of the Movement as well as to identify potential areas of cooperation.

In the near future, it's planned to hold meetings of the ministers of education, heads of institutions responsible for information and communication technologies, economics and ecology.

Despite the fact that the chairmanship of the NAM covers three years, unanimous decision was made in July last year by the members of the Movement to extend the term of Azerbaijan's chairmanship until the end of 2023.
Egypt, as host of the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), hopes the UKs King Charles III can attend the event in Sharm El-Sheikh next month, said Egyptian chief climate negotiator Mohamed Nasr on Tuesday.

In a virtual press briefing, Ambassador Nasr, director of the environment, climate and sustainable development department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that there is an open invitation for King Charles to attend COP27.

King Charles has been a very strong advocate for climate action and a role model in this regard, Nasr told reporters, adding that the king has acted as an example for how royalty can push for the climate agenda.

The king is a committed environmentalist with a long history of campaigning for better conservation, organic farming and tackling climate change.

Early in October, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the king will not attend the climate conference in Egypt, scheduled for 6-18 November, based on an advice he sought from then-prime minister Liz Truss.

Truss resigned last Thursday only six weeks after she took over from Boris Johnson, after her economic plan caused markets to reel and threatened the UK's financial stability.

Egypt has expressed disappointment over reports that King Charles would not attend COP27, and said it hoped the UK would not backtrack from the global climate agenda, the Guardian reported, citing a COP27 spokesperson as saying.

Addressing new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who officially became the new UK PM on Tuesday, Nasr said he hopes that the economic challenges that the UK is facing do not lead to backsliding on [climate] pledges.

We hope for the UKs [climate] leadership role to continue, Nasr said, adding that he expects the UK will come with a new round of pledges for adaptation and other climate fields in Sharm El-Sheikh.

While Sunak has affirmed his commitment to maintaining the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, he had previously voted in parliament against measures to lower emissions.

Sunak's record on climate action has been labelled as mixed, reported the Independent.

During the press briefing, Nasr said he also hopes US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be able to attend COP27.

The two countries are leading on climate change and their cooperation has always been instrumental in allowing for progress on climate change," Nasr stated.

Climate talks, geopolitical tensions

As a host country, Egypt measures success in COP27 by avoiding a "spillover of other issues into the climate change negotiations," Nasr said.

Nasr said he hopes the difficult geopolitical scene does not affect the negotiations and that the different parties focus on dealing with climate change.

The Egyptian COP27 presidency late last month urged countries to put aside political differences over the Russia-Ukraine war and collaborate to move forward on climate action.

The presidency warned that the war in Europe would surely have an impact on the global effort to combat climate change, including by affecting energy and food prices and through the animosity that the military conflict is causing.

The presidency asked everyone to rise to the occasion and to show leadership, and said the unfolding geopolitical situation should not be used as a pretext for backsliding on climate pledges.

World leaders' summit, COP27 success

The world leaders' summit, which will take place on 7-8 November, is estimated to include 90-plus heads of state and government as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society, NGOs, and think tanks, Nasr said.

The summit will discuss six main topics at roundtables, Nasr said, including a just transition, hydrogen as the future of energy, food security and climate, climate changes impact on water security, climate changes impact on vulnerable communities and sustainability, and innovative finance, he explained.

The summit, which is dubbed the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit, will see world leaders reaffirm their commitment to climate action, Nasr noted.

The Egyptian COP27 presidency is concerned with ensuring the presence of political commitment of the heads of states to climate action, engagement of stakeholders and the private sector, Nasr said, noting that these are among the elements of COP27 success.

The COP27 success depends on extent of delivery on the issues of loss and damage, climate finance, mitigation, and adaptation, he said.

He confirmed that the Egyptian presidency has a priority to see fossil fuels specifically being tackled in any COP27 agreement.

In September, Egypt's COP27 presidency said its vision to advance climate action at COP27 involves collaboration between governments, private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Canceling side events on 7 November

The side events of COP27 will be cancelled on 7 November, which is the first day of the world leaders' summit, Nasr confirmed.

Nasr denied that canceling the events is linked to security issues, saying that the reason behind the decision is pure logistics.

It is just to make sure that the mobility of people is fine and that nobody faces challenges like standing in the sun or waiting in long queues, Nasr said.

Egypt is coordinating with international partners to focus on the need to cut emissions dramatically and keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C within reach.

Egypt is also encouraging countries to update their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement to ensure finding a pathway to achieve the 1.5C objective.

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The government of Egypt has made significant strides over the past few years in terms of digital transformation, especially with regards to e-payment services, and has enabled more and more businesses to enter the financial sector, said Visa Group Country Manager and Senior Vice President for North Africa, Levant and Pakistan (NALP) region Leila Serhan.

In an interview with Ahram Online held during a tour of Visas Innovation Centre in Dubai, Serhan said that significant actions have been taken in recent years to make sure that there is digital acceptance with as many merchants as possible in the Egyptian market.

At Visa, we have seen a growth from I believe 75,000 merchant locations that were enabled with points of sale to over 900,000 ones, and it was really a push from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) in the interest of the fintech and banking digitisation in the country, Serhan said.

Meanwhile, the CBE has been working hard not only with regards to encouraging merchants to adopt digitised solutions, but also in terms of making sure there are many companies that can assist these merchants. So, it is one of the fastest growing sectors that we have seen across Egypt, Serhan highlighted.

Our strategy in Egypt will definitely continue to be around innovation and fintech, and we will continue to work on security and make a risk roadmap with the CBE in terms of making payments more digital and making sure that security guidelines are there, as well as bringing new technologies into the market, Serhan said on Visas plans for the local market.

Visa has a presence in over 200 countries and regions and has cooperation with 14,900 financial institutions across the world. The company issued 3.9 billion electronic cards globally through the end of March 2021, with total payments recording $14 trillion globally by the end of June 2022.

Small and medium-sized business digitisation is also a focus for our operation in the Egyptian market. So, this includes bringing more merchants into financial inclusion and new low-cost solutions like Tap to Phone and QR payments, Serhan explained.

On fintech, Serhan said that Visa has observed a successful scene coming out of the Egyptian market, adding that that start-up ecosystem in Egypt has also always been amazing.

We see initiatives launched by the CBE with the fintech hub, which is very important because you want to make the regulations play in the interest of the innovation ecosystem. We have partnered with them in a number of initiatives like the Visa Everywhere initiative. Also, we see venture funds put in place like Nclude, which is bringing together the big banks in the country to create that fund so as to invest in the Egyptian fintech. I think that there is a vibrant ecosystem for fintech in Egypt for sure, Serhan said.

Approved by the CBE, Egypts largest national banks  Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), and Banque du Caire  launched Nclude, a fintech support fund, in March 2022 with a key mission of accelerating fintech innovation and driving financial inclusion in the country. This was achieved with an initial investment of $85 million financed by the three national banks as well as other investors, including Egypts state-owned e-finance Investment Group and Egyptian Banks Company.

The fund also has a plan to attract further investment from prominent regional and international investors.

Serhan also discussed the trend of contactless transaction, which has been adopted in Egypts payment atmosphere.

Contactless payments have tripled in the region. In North Africa, the Levant and Pakistan, contactless transactions increased from 2 percent to 34 percent of all transactions from 2019 and 2022. We believe that as of next year, 80 percent of all cards will be contactless across the regions countries. We work with the regulators in Egypt to raise the limit of the contactless transactions and to facilitate the process, Serhan said.

Serhan also said that there are seven trends that will shape payments globally, which are fintech, big tech, real-time payments (RTP), e-wallets, open banking, buy now pay later (BNPL), and crypto.

On crypto and digital currencies, Serhan said that they represent a trend that cannot be ignored, stressing that this trend will spread in the MENA region, and so regulations are needed to govern this activity.

She also said that she expects central banks in the region will release their own digital currencies in response to the significant developments in the financial sector and its related digital transformation updates.

On ongoing cooperation with the public and private sectors in Egypt, Serhan said that there is much collaborations in the pipeline in Egypt, whether with the private sector or the government across various of sectors, including fintech, telecom operators, security, and SMEs.

On how Visas Innovation Centre can benefit the fintech and the innovation scene in Egypt, Serhan explained that the centre has already been organising virtual and physical tours for its partners in Egypt.

Our innovation and design team can help cocreate and codesign new possibilities that are meant to solve the problems they are experiencing or likely to face in their work. Our centre will benefit the Egyptian market in the areas of fintech and innovation through new solutions. We rely on fintech to make innovation and creation real, Serhan said.

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The peoples of Egypt and the UAE share genuine values of brotherhood, fraternity and rapprochement, President El-Sisi said in a recorded video message aired during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Egypt-UAE that was held in Cairo under the title "Egypt And UAE Are One Heart" on Wednesday.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and a number of state officials and ministers as well as the Ambassador of the UAE in Cairo.



"We appreciate and take pride in such real and true values with the people of the UAE," El-Sisi said.



"The peoples of Egypt and the UAE are always one heart," added the president.



Egypt-UAE bilateral ties will remain an example for distinguished relations among Arab countries, El-Sisi said, adding that the two nations enjoy understanding and rapprochement of viewpoints.

Egypt-UAE ties are not confined to brotherhood and real friendship only, but also to the true, deep as well as accurate understanding of conditions in the region and the world, he said.



The president noted that Egypt-UAE relations also call for promoting integration, cooperation and joint interests, which, he added, gives such ties strength, depth and sustainability.



Economic and investment cooperation in all fields in general are at the highest level between the two countries and future horizons for comprehensive cooperation are promising and progressing for the sake of the two peoples and the Arab world at large, the president pointed out.

UAE among first supporters of Egypt

Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, who attended the celebrations, said UAE has always been among the first supporters of the Egyptian state in critical times.



Madbouly added that the occasion provides an excellent opportunity to develop common denominators and assert meanings of brotherhood within the single Arab body.



The Egyptian premier said Egypt and Egyptians have always been keen on making contributions to the UAE in the fields of education, health, culture and justice.

He lauded the volume of UAE investments in Egypt, saying that direct UAE investments in Egypt have reached $4.6 billion in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2021/2022.



He noted that the UAE is the first country to allocate investments to Egypt with a share of 29 percent of the total foreign investments flowing to the country in this period and about 72 percent of the total Arab investments flowing to Egypt in the same period.



Egypt is keen on building successful economic partnerships with the UAE by implementing a number of productive projects, especially in the agricultural and industrial fields, to increase the levels of self-sufficiency, the prime minister pointed out.



Egypt also eyes the effective participation of UAE investors in offering programs under the umbrella of the State Ownership Policy Document, Madbouly noted.



He also asserted the importance of coordination and cooperation between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the sovereign funds in the UAE to implement projects in priority areas between the two countries to maximize the return on the investment assets of the two countries.



He noted that this celebration is an opportunity to tackle investment opportunities between the Egyptian and UAE businesses in the sectors of health, pharmaceutical manufacturing, real estate development, financial services, digital transformation, infrastructure, communications, agriculture, and food processing.

Egypt-UAE economic cooperation is solid

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said said in her remarks at the event that Egypt-UAE relations are an exceptional model for Arab-Arab relations that have succeeded in confronting different global economic crises and geopolitical changes.



El-Said noted that the planning ministry is keen to develop cooperation with the UAE in the fields of upgrading institutional performance, government services, and innovation, pointing to the launch of the Egyptian Government Excellence Award in 2018 in cooperation with the UAE, which aims to transfer expertise and best practices.



The cooperation projects between the two sides covered aspects of enhancing digital transformation mechanisms and institutional development, the minister said, pointing to the outlining of an integrated strategy to develop government services and establishing Model Integrated Government Services Centers, the first of which will be opened in Aswan before the end of this year.



She said the establishment of an investment platform between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and the Abu Dhabi Holding Company, which took place under the umbrella of a protocol signed November 14, 2019, pumped joint investments exceeding $20 billion to implement economic and development projects.

Moreover, El-Said said the capital of the TSFE , which plays a vital role as the country's investment arm, has been increased from EGP 200 billion to EGP 400 billion, adding that the move came in light of a goal set to increase the fund's capital from EGP 200 billion to EGP 1 trillion within the upcoming five years in order to implement projects in accordance with the fund's plans.



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The US has welcomed the release of renowned Egyptian lawyer and former parliament member Ziad El-Eleimy, who received a pardon from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday.

As Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken has made clear, Egypt's progress on human rights strengthens our bilateral relationship, US State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted on Tuesday.

El-Eleimy walked out of jail on Monday afternoon hours after receiving a presidential pardon in response to calls by political parties and forces after more than three years behind bars.

Political parties, public figures, and activists hailed the pardoning of El-Eleimy as a positive step ahead of the upcoming national dialogue, which Egypt is preparing to conduct among political and partisan forces to reach common grounds on national priorities.

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.

The US welcomed the National Human Rights Strategy that the Egyptian president launched in September last year and the national plans to advance human rights in the country in cooperation with civil society.

The US gives over $1 billion in military aid to Egypt every year, $300 million of which the Congress has recently made contingent on improvement of the human rights situation in the country.

A total of 1,040 pretrial detainees have been released since El-Sisi reactivated the Presidential Pardon Committee and called for the national dialogue with the opposition and other political forces in April, committee member Tarek El-Awady said last Thursday. Egypt has also pardoned 15 convicted activists since April.

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Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt, the What on Earth awareness program will hold its first edition of the Sustainable Design Festival in December for five days at Granada City in Cairos Heliopolis.

The programme will continue to organise various artistic events throughout the year that aim to promote climate change awareness through artistic practices. It is organised by El-Biet Magazine, SixYards and official partner Heliopolis Company for Housing and Development.

El-Biet Magazine, which is known as a strong platform that empowers creatives, in partnership with SixYards agency, launched the What on Earth awareness program with the promise to organize a series of exhibitions and talks throughout the year, starting in December with the first edition of the Sustainable Design Festival.

A group of Egypts top creative of designers and artists will be participating in various activities.

This is the first-ever artistic exhibition promoting Egypts green industries, with the participation of more than 100 exhibitors. The exhibition is displaying 12 interactive installations created by top Egyptian designers that address the three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental.

Its time to take action, for each one of us to be part of the solution, not the pollution. Egypt hosting COP27 is an opportunity to be positive and art is the best language to spread the awareness message about the climate change challenges facing the world, says Sawsan Mourad, El-Beit Magazines editor-in-chief.

The location at the historic city of Granada is both special and nostalgic. It was a royal platform, opened in 1910 and then altered to its current form in 1929, where it was used to watch the horse race on El-Sabq Street during three seasons per year, more frequently in the winter, attended by kings and princes.

The design of the Egyptian city of Granada is in the Andalusian style, specifically the Spanish city of Granada, and it comprises a group of stands overlooking a large square dedicated to horse races. The city was decorated with a tower with a spiral staircase and a dome.

Many movies were filmed in this unique building, including Leabat El-Set, Maleesh Gherik, and Ward El Gharam.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, stressed the importance of the role played by non-state actors in providing solutions for advancing climate action.

Mohieldin said that these actors include the business sector, entrepreneurs, investors and research centres.

During his virtual participation in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) session on market-driven solutions for climate transition on Tuesday, the climate champion explained that there is a lack of trust and an excess of crises, which requires adopting a more holistic approach that does not reduce climate action to decarbonisation, but rather links climate goals with sustainable development plans.

On the other hand, the climate champion pointed out that the world today is different from what it was in 2015 when the Paris Agreement, given the consequences of the pandemic and geopolitical changes.

Mohieldin added that the Russian-Ukrainian crisis has prompted many countries to invest and diversify energy sources, and praised the progress made by many developing economies, including African ones, in terms of solar and wind energy, along with the many important steps being taken in the area of green hydrogen.

Regarding the Copenhagen pledge to provide $100 billion annually to support climate action in developing countries, Mohieldin re-stressed that this amount meets only 3 percent of the climate action needs in those countries.

Thirteen years ago at Copenhagens COP15, advanced economies pledged $100 billion to help developing economies meet climate action goals. The pledge was endorsed by 2015s Paris Agreement and a year later entered into force, with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

During his speech on Tuesday, Mohieldin stressed the need to mobilise more funding from the private sector, provided that this funding is accompanied by providing the necessary technology and a behaviour change.

Mohieldin also noted the need to strengthen the regional dimension in order to provide the necessary solutions for the climate crisis through partnerships with many research centres, think tanks and growing universities.

In the same context, the climate champion explained the importance of localizing climate action so that everyone feels the fruits of this work on the ground.

Mohieldin concluded his speech by emphasizing that work with the Egyptian presidency of the climate summit begins with the launch of the climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh and does not end with the summit's convening.

Losses and damages

During his participation in a webinar hosted by the Commonwealth Foundation titled Climate Reparations: What Must COP27 Deliver?, Mohieldin highlighted the importance of starting immediately to deal with losses and damages resulting from climate change, finding the best ways of estimating these damages, finding scientific solutions for them, and determining how to implement and finance these solutions.

Mohieldin said that COP27 prioritises addressing climate change losses and damages as one of the main dimensions of climate action, explaining that NGOs can play a big role in this field through the estimation of climate change losses and damages in different communities, while universities and research centres can help find the scientific solutions to handle and limit them.

Similarly, Egypts foreign minister and President-designate of the COP27 has previously affirmed that Egypt will make the issue of losses and damages key in discussions at Novembers climate summit.

For his part, Mohieldin stressed the necessity of involving private sector and international financing entities in financing addressing losses due to climate change.

COP27 focuses on enhancing the collective regional work through the five regional forums initiative which resulted in dozens of investable and applicable projects, it also focuses on localizing development and climate action by involving all local actors in planning, financing and implementing development and climate projects, Mohieldin said.

He had earlier explained that that the five regional forums and the resulting projects are translating the Egyptian presidencys vision for the COP27 into action.

The climate champion added that financing climate action will get a lot of attention in COP27 through discussing innovative finance instruments, debt reduction mechanisms, debt swaps for co-investing in the environment, establishing carbon markets that suit the priorities of developing countries and emerging markets, and managing ESGs according to specific criteria.

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Egypts Ministry of Local Development announced on Wednesday that 210 locally-manufactured busses running on electricity and natural gas have been sent to Sharm El-Sheikh to assist in transporting the delegates of the 27th UN Climate Change Conference, slated to be held in the Red Sea city 6-18 November.

Of the 210 busses, 100 buses run on natural gas and 110 busses run on electricity, the Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna said in a statement.

Moving the buses to Sharm El-Sheikh, Amna said, comes within the framework of the state's ongoing preparations for hosting COP27 in the Red Sea city.

The minister also explained that the buses were manufactured in accordance with the cooperation protocols signed between the Ministry of Local Development , the Ministry of Military Production and the governorates of Cairo and Alexandria.

The Ministry of Military Production said earlier that it had collaborated with the Transportation Industry Company (MCV) to produce the first fully-electric bus in Egypt under the logo SETIBUS, adding that the buses have been manufactured at the same factory that produces and repairs armoured vehicles.

More than 35,000 participants are expected to attend COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, according to the official website of the conference.

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Mercedes-Benz to sell off Russian assets to local investor: Ministry

AFP , Wednesday 26 Oct 2022

German carmaker Mercedes-Benz is expected to sell its Russian assets to a local investor, the Russian ministry of industry and trade said Wednesday, becoming the latest automaker to exit since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine.
Israel on Wednesday detained three alleged members of the Lions' Den militant group in the occupied West Bank, the army said, including the brother of a key Palestinian militant.

The arrest of Muhammad al-Nabulsi and two others in Nablus comes a day after five Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military operation in the city.

"Muhammad Al-Nabulsi was suspected of possessing weapons, manufacturing explosive devices and involvement in the 'Lions' Den' terrorist group," the occupation said in a statement.

His brother Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, nicknamed "The Lion of Nablus", was shot dead by Israeli forces in August and has since become a folk hero among Palestinian youth.

The Lions' Den has emerged in recent months alongside a sharp rise in raids by Israeli forces in the northern West Bank.

The three arrests on Wednesday follow the killing on Tuesday of Wadih al-Houh, described by Israel as the head of the Lions' Den, and four other Palestinians in Nablus.

A further 20 Palestinians were wounded in the Israeli operation, the Palestinian health ministry said.

In addition to regular raids, the Israeli army has imposed additional checkpoints around Nablus over the past two weeks which have severely impeded daily life.

The closures follow the killing of an Israeli soldier in the area on October 11, three days after an Israeli policewoman was shot dead in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

So far this month 25 Palestinians have been killed in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War.

More than 125 Palestinians were killed and tens injured since thestart of the year, according to the United Nations.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a major Shia holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, according to state-run media.

The official website of the judiciary says two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

The attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremists who have targeted the country's Shia majority in the past, comes as Iran has been convulsed by over a month of anti-government demonstrations, the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.

Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shia Islam, as in many other traditions, again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

``Death to the dictator!`` protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to "security considerations.''

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation "completely stable.''

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb ``the spread of influenza.``

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted ``Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!'' through the labyrinthine marketplace.

``This year is a year of blood!'' they also chanted. ``(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!``

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator!'' as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan (hash)WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with ``war against God,`` which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of ``supporting terrorism.`` The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as ``unacceptable.''

``I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime,'' said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.

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122nd joint patrol on Mekong River begins

Xinhua) 08:48, October 26, 2022

KUNMING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the start of the 122nd Mekong River joint patrol.

A total of four vessels participated in the operation. Two Chinese vessels departed at 9 a.m. from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

During the patrol, which is expected to last four days and three nights, the four countries will travel more than 600 km, with a focus on tackling cross-border crime to ensure safety and stability along the river.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been conducting joint patrols on the river since December 2011.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Du Mingming)
By Azernews

By Sama Imanova

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes in Baku, Azernews reports.

At the meeting, the two men discussed issues on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, developments unfolding in the region and world as well as current challenges.

Jeyhun Bayramov stressed the existence of cooperation in the political, economical and humanitarian spheres between Azerbaijan and the Republic of South Africa despite geographical distance. Further, the Azerbaijani minister underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation within the framework of international organizations, especially the United Nations (UN) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in addition to bilateral relations.

Bayramov also thanked South Africa for supporting Baku's initiatives within the framework of the NAM and informed the opposite side about the new realities, Azerbaijan's peace efforts, as well as, the restoration and reconstruction being carried out in the liberated territories after the 44-day Patriotic War.

For his part, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes provided detailed information about the political consultations held on October 24, 2022, between the Azerbaijani and RSA Foreign Ministries.

The delegation from Azerbaijan, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev, and Alvin Botes of the RSA discussed expanding political consultations, and the latter thanked Baku for humanitarian aid provided to African nations during the Covid-19 pandemic in its capacity as the chair of NAM to increase the role of the movement.

Alvin Botes stressed the importance of developing cooperation between the RSA and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the need for reinforcement of legal basis to improve economic relations. Deputy Minister Alvin Botes underlined the importance of joint action to increase the efficiency of the activities of international organizations in combatting current challenges and threats, including South-South cooperation.
Humanitarian groups including Save the Children and Amnesty International urged Italy Wednesday to scrap a controversial EU-sponsored deal with Libya to stop migrant boat crossings to Europe.

Under the 2017 accord, Italy and the EU help fund, train and equip the Libyan coastguard, which then intercepts migrants in the Mediterranean and forcibly returns them to the strife-torn country.

"Europe, defender of human rights, should under no circumstances make deals with a country... where migrants are tortured, become victims of slavery or of sexual abuse," Claudia Lodesani, head of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Italy, told a press conference in Rome.

Campaigners say nearly 100,000 people have been intercepted in this way over five years. Many are believed to have ended up in Libyan detention centres, compared by Pope Francis to concentration camps.

Critics lament a lack of accountability, with no public information on who receives the money in Libya, while rescuers slam a "Wild West" situation with armed militias posing as the Libyan coastguard.

The appeal by 40 organisations including Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty, calls for urgent action by Italy's new far-right government, which was sworn in at the weekend.

If Rome does not scrap the deal by November 2, it will be automatically renewed for another three years.

In her inaugural speech to parliament, new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed Tuesday to take a tough line on boat migrants.

'Captures, pushbacks'

Italy has long been on the migration frontline, taking in tens of thousands of people who attempt the world's deadliest crossing yearly.

It had numerous agreements during the 2000s with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on curbing migratory flows.

The partnership was suspended following the collapse of the Libyan government and the European Court of Human Rights' 2012 condemnation of Italy for intercepting and forcibly returning people to Libya.

But wars in Syria, Iraq and Libya sparked a wave of refugees in 2015, with over 150,000 people crossing in boats to Italy, followed by over 180,000 people in 2016.

Thousands more died trying.

In 2017, Italy's centre-left prime minister Paolo Gentiloni signed a new deal with Fayez al-Serraj, head of the UN-backed Libyan Government of National Accord, aimed at reducing the flow.

From then onwards, rescue charities including the Alarm Phone hotline used by migrants in distress were "told by Italy to alert the Libyan coastguard instead", Chiara Denaro from Alarm Phone said.

She said it was "not possible to consider the forcible return of people desperate to flee".

The so-called coastguard "fire weapons, they perform dangerous manuevers that risk causing shipwrecks... We can describe the returns as captures, as pushbacks, but not as rescues," she added.

The EU has contributed 58 million euros to date to the accord.

Investigative Italian journalist Duccio Facchini on Monday revealed Italy had spent another 6.65 million euros on 14 new speed boats for the Libyan coastguard just a few months ago.

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President Joe Biden was to host Israel's President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting expected to focus on Mideast tensions and Ukraine shortly before US and Israeli elections.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the meeting in the Oval Office will "underscore the enduring partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel."

The visit comes amid tension over the future of Iran's nuclear activities, with the Biden administration trying to salvage a deal that would reinstate international control over the civilian program in exchange for sanctions relief. Israel opposes the push.

In addition to tensions over Iran and the grinding violence between Israel and the Palestinians, the two leaders are expected to discuss a recent diplomatic success in the US-brokered deal to establish an agreed sea boundary between Israel and Lebanon, Jean-Pierre said.

Ukraine, where the United States is leading an international effort to help the pro-Western country fight back against Russia's invasion, could also feature.

Israel has been reluctant to get involved. However, on Tuesday Herzog met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and announced he was sharing intelligence to prove that Iran has been supplying military drones to Russian forces in Ukraine.

"Iranian weapons play a key role in destabilizing our world, and the international community must learn its lessons, now and in the future," Herzog said.

Blinken, meanwhile, weighed in on violence in the occupied West Bank, where major Israeli raids on Tuesday killed six Palestinians, bringing thousands of mourners into the streets.

The top US diplomat said he would speak to Herzog about "the real concern that we have about violence that we're seeing on the West Bank."

Herzog's visit comes days ahead of Israel's fifth election in less than four years in which hawkish ex-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had tense relations with Democratic US administrations, is seeking a comeback.

It also comes less than two weeks before Americans vote in the midterm elections that are predicted to strip Biden's Democrats of their control of Congress.

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Syrian and Russian troops conducted joint military drills in Syria involving ground and air forces, Syrian state media reported Wednesday.

Russian and Syrian troops simulated attacking enemy positions under the cover of artillery shelling and airstrikes by warplanes and helicopters, according to a video released by Syria's Defense Ministry. Paratroopers also took part in the war games, taking over positions on overlooking hills.

The maneuvers were attended by the commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Lt. Gen. Alexander Chaiko, and Syria's Defense Minister Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbass.

Russia is a main backer of President Bashar Assad and has a broad presence in Syria, where an 11-year conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced half the country's pre-war population.

Russia became involved militarily in Syria in September 2015 helping to tip the balance of power in favor of Assad's forces.

Such joint drills are not uncommon in Syria.

In June, the Syrian and Russian air forces conducted drills over different parts of the country, including on the edge of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The two countries also conducted a drill a week before Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, the Russian military deployed long-range nuclear-capable bombers and fighter jets carrying state-of-the-art hypersonic missiles to Syria for massive naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea.

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The most recent example of this took place in Burkina Faso where Captain Ibrahim Traore ousted the government of Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba and was officially declared president on 2 October.

The state of upheaval creates a fertile soil for the spread of terrorism. Conditions in West Africa have worsened since the withdrawal of the European Takuba Task Force, the end of the French-led Barkhane counter-terrorist operation in Mali, and the departure of French forces from Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso. Terrorist groups seized on the political and military vacuums to go on the rampage in the African Sahel, invading defenceless villages and slaughtering civilians, spreading fear and anarchy.

The rampant chaos is marked by escalating competition between rival groups and the emergence of new or sleeping terrorist cells, all capitalising on their newfound freedom of movement following the French military departure. In Burkina Faso, organised crime and violence, in general, are likely to rise following the coup and the armys preoccupation with the political crisis.

Together with its affiliates, the Islamic State-West Africa (ISIS-WA), a faction of Boko Haram, is foremost among the terrorist and extremist organisations surging again against the backdrop of political tension, economic hardship and the fragility of the state in the region. In his briefing to the UN Security Council in August on threats to international peace and security posed by IS, Vladimir Voronkov, UN under-secretary general for Counter Terrorism, warned of the expansion of IS in Central, Southern and West Africa.

A IS affiliate in Uganda has widened its area of operations into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) while another affiliate has intensified attacks in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province, he said, adding: The potential impact of climate-related challenges and global food insecurity are of particular concern in West Africa, notably the Sahel, where they may exacerbate fragilities and further fuel local conflict dynamics that could catalyse the spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

Other IS affiliates began to strengthen their presence in Burkina Faso since the coup in October. Since 2015, the country has suffered frequent attacks from both IS and Al-Qaeda, killing thousands and displacing some two million people.

The expansion of terrorism in West Africa is the product of numerous interrelated factors. In addition to worsening economic hardship, foreign interventions in African affairs, instability, widespread poverty, and chronically porous borders have all helped shape an environment that facilitates the movement of extremist groups across the Sahel. A complex ethnic and tribal fabric and the rivalries it reflects have also contributed to the proliferation of terrorist entities or, at least, to the existence of safe havens for jihadist organisations.

International reports have observed a significant increase in terrorist activities and attacks in West African countries during the past year as a result of their greater mobility and access to more sophisticated weapons, enabling them to carry out precision strikes. According to the Cairo-based Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights, West Africa has suffered more deaths from terrorism than other regions since it is a locus of the accelerated activity and spread of operations of IS, Al-Qaeda and Boko Haram.

Whereas terrorist organisations were once ensconced in remote and far-flung pockets in West Africa, developments such as the breakdown of security in Libya have facilitated their expansion across large stretches of land in Subsaharan Africa. As a result, terrorist lairs in West Africa, which are relatively old, have expanded eastward, becoming contiguous with relatively new hotspots in the Lake Chad Basin, a phenomenon that now threatens to spread southwards to the Gulf of Guinea.

Similarly, the Institute for African Security Studies reported that IS is spreading extensively in North and West Africa, using southern Libya as its most important staging grounds for the deployment of its fighters. According to the report, IS established four provinces in the Lake Chad area and these are subordinate to a central command in Borno in northeastern Nigeria.

To move its personnel, the organisation relies on a complex network of communications and transit routes that stretch across West and North Africa, passing through Libya, Algeria, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. This vast geographic dissemination poses a major trans-border threat to all West African countries.

Terrorist activity in West Africa has spread to previously safe places, as was evidenced by the multiple terrorist attacks in Mali in August 2022, leaving 21 dead. Blaming the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), Bamako said the attacks were well-coordinated and planned, and involved the use of drones. The ISGS is one of ISs main franchises.

Burkina Faso has also sustained numerous attacks recently. The most recent occurred on 28 September when 11 soldiers were found dead and around 50 civilians went missing after an armed assault on Gaskinde in the north of the country. The province, Soum, where Gaskinde is located, has seen a marked rise in the presence of militant radicals associated with Al-Qaeda and IS.

The nature of the terrorist operations themselves points to an alarming phenomenon, which is their ability to establish a mode of sovereignty in some parts of the continent. Boko Harams control over large tracts of territory in Nigeria is a case in point.

The Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA) had controlled large chunks of Mali before the French launched Operation Serval in 2013. While these two organisations have since receded, the current conditions in the Sahel are enabling like-minded groups that had once been on the defensive to go onto the offensive again.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Surfacing in an undisclosed location in the Arabian Sea last week, the Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia welcomed aboard General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) and gave him a hands-on demonstration of the capabilities of the vessel, the US Navy website reported on 20 October.

But what does this mean for us in this region? And who might such signals be addressed to apart from Russia, Iran which is supplying Russia with drones to use in Ukraine, and Syria which serves as a Russian backyard for storing strategic weapons? What does this signify in the framework of the US restructuring of its military presence around the world?

Nuclear warning signals are flashing red on the world map against the backdrop of the escalating war in Ukraine. But the process began well before this with breakdowns in ballistic missile treaties, US warnings regarding the increase in Chinas ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities and Moscows Vostok military drills, conducted primarily in eastern Russia. China and India have been included in these strategic manoeuvres since 2018, in part to allay their concerns.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine there have been mounting concerns over the effect of the war on nuclear energy infrastructure. While Russia neutralised Chernobyl in the early stages of the war, missile fire in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has stirred alarm over its safety.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appealed to both sides to commit to no military action within a radius that could affect the plants operations but it appears to go unheard. More recently, Russian warnings that it could resort to nuclear force for self-defence effectively entered nuclear arms into the military equation, raising the spectre of mutual escalation.

Other parts of the world are heating up without mechanisms to contain or cool tensions. The Middle East tends to go through ten-year cycles of conflict. Although it is reshaping itself after emerging from a decade of upheaval, the cyclical pattern may mean that it is headed for another difficult period, all the more so given the regions direct connections to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

To the far east, the recent annual conference of the Chinese Communist Party reflected mounting tensions over Taiwan while North Koreas missile tests and the likelihood it could stage a seventh nuclear test, have caused red lights to flash on that part of the world map. India also conducted missile tests which means that Pakistan may follow suit. It is difficult to picture Japan remaining in the spectators seat in such a precarious climate.

The world is approaching a brink where conventional war games are giving way to nuclear war games as temperatures continue to rise in every hotspot on the planet. This of course includes the chronically hot Middle East, especially in the case of efforts failing to bring Iran back into nuclear accord at a time when domestic discontent is bubbling over.

General Kurillas tour of the USS West Virginia, made in tandem with NATOs Steadfast Noon nuclear drills, acquires greater significance against this larger backdrop. According to some military strategists it is tactically and politically preferable for that submarine to be outside the main scope of NATO drills in the North Sea and Baltic. One tactical reason has to do with preserving second-strike capacities.

However, the political reasons may be more important at this juncture. The presence of the submarine equipped with the largest nuclear payload in the North Sea and Baltic theatre could be interpreted as a declaration of war and not just a display of military might. At the same time, it is no longer possible for the US or NATO to establish a safe and stable presence in the Black Sea region.

The foregoing begs the question of the relationship between the drills taking place in the operational area of the US Navys Sixth Fleet, the NATO drills, and another set of exercises within the Fifth Fleets operational scope. Otherwise put, the appearance of the USS West Virginia in the Arabian Sea signals that the US is testing its so-called nuclear triad of which the US Navys long range nuclear submarines constitute one leg.

At an earlier point, the Pentagon redeployed its B-52 nuclear bombers. Some of these have been stationed in the UK while the fleets in the Udeid Airbase in Qatar and the Moron Airbase in southern Spain have been amplified. The US has also conducted a test of its supersonic Minuteman 3 missiles, which are capable of carrying multiple payloads of nuclear warheads. It follows that the USS West Virginia crews recent display of that vessels capacities for the CENTCOM commander was intended to signal that the triad is fully equipped and prepared for all possibilities.

Russia has countered with preparations of its own, conducting drills for its TU-95 strategic bomber and missile platform, stepping up development for the next generation Tupolev PAK DA long range stealth bomber into service and conducting a series of tests for its Kinzhal, Iskander and Tsirkon hypersonic missiles. Some military experts claim that Russia has put 150 warheads from its nuclear arsenal on the ready, some on its nuclear submarines.

The appearance of the US Navys most powerful sub in this part of the world calls attention to the growing geo-strategic importance of the Middle East in the US scheme for the larger global theatre. Certainly the US is keen to deliver a message similar to the stationing of a B-1B bomber on Guam which, Pentagon Spokesman General Pat Ryder said, signified that the US would stand by its allies and partners to deter any potential provocation.

However, given the interconnection between US priorities in this region and US global priorities, regional powers need more than reassurances. They need to be kept abreast of Washingtons intentions as it puts into place security arrangements and then proceeds to impose new formulas related to its perspective on balances of international powers.

Russia, for its part, is working towards much the same ends, albeit from the perspective of its particular geostrategic calculations, in which both Syria and Iran figure prominently. In this context, it is crucial to reassess a number of critical factors, most notably the growing Russian missile arsenal in Syria and the proposed transfer to Syria of strategic missile systems that can theoretically be fitted out with nuclear warheads. This dissemination clearly carries serious risks and challenges and while nothing concrete has occurred yet, strategic planners in this region should not rule out any type of scenario in such increasingly dangerous times.

From this regions perspective, it is important to bear two main factors in mind with regard the messages Washington is conveying as it develops its defence and deterrence plans.

The first is that the superpowers have ratcheted up their posturing from conventional military to nuclear military muscle flexing.

The second, no less perilous, is that the geopolitical sphere of the warfare and superpower horn-butting has expanded and that the Middle East is not on the periphery of the interplay but right at the centre.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Brazils highest electoral authority, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), has set 30 October as the date for the run-off between incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the second round of the countrys elections.

The leftwing da Silva came out ahead of his far-right rival Bolsonaro in the first round, but just fell short of the 50 per cent threshold needed to win.

The elections are taking place under difficult circumstances. Brazil has experienced a sharp rise in Covid-19 infection and death rates, exacting economic and social tolls. In 2020, the countrys GDP shrank by 4.1 per cent due to the pandemic, aggravating already severe social problems among the countrys population of 212.6 million, 12.8 per cent (or 27 million) of whom live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate topped 14.2 per cent in 2021.

The country was already tense and sharply divided as it went to the polls earlier this month, and the polarisation has grown more acute since the first round in which da Silva won 48.43 per cent of the vote and Bolsonaro 43.20 per cent, performing better than anticipated. On the eve of the elections, opinion polls predicted he would win only 36 per cent of the vote.

The elections are also taking place against bleak regional and international backdrops. The Latin American countries have been reeling under difficult economic conditions, especially Venezuela, where the economic deterioration has pushed large portions of the population into need and driven millions to migrate.

Like other countries of the Global South, the Latin American countries have suffered from the economic and political fallout of the war in Ukraine and the intensifying conflict between the superpowers.

The political setting as a whole in Brazil seemed prepared to welcome back da Silva, both because of the general dissatisfaction with Bolsonaros performance during his tenure and the former presidents widespread popularity.

But the polls brought some surprises. Not least were the significant electoral victories achieved by Bolsonaros Liberal Party in the federal congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative elections. Contrary to expectations, the Liberal Party overtook Brazil of Hope, or FE Brasil, the electoral alliance led by da Silvas Workers Party, in the Congressional elections.

It won 99 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 13 seats in the Senate, or a total of 112 seats, which is 23 seats more than FE Brasil. The latter won 79 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and nine seats in the Senate, or a total of 88 seats in Brazils bicameral Congress.

But this is not enough for the Liberal Party to pass legislation alone. In the Congressional elections, all 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were contested, while only 27 of the Senates 81 seats saw several candidates.

The elections have also been marred by a spike in political violence, claiming many lives. Bolsonaro, whose welfare programme earned him considerable support among the poor, has been accused of actively inciting the violence by smearing opponents and using inflammatory language.

His campaign also tried and to some extent succeeded in undermining his rivals electoral platform by warning that da Silvas left-wing policies would set Brazil on the path to economic disaster like Argentina and Venezuela. Such alarmist rhetoric may also have contributed to stirring up the violence against da Silva supporters.

Another surprise this year was the exceptionally low voter turnout. Some 30 million registered voters did not report to the polls, whether due to the highly charged political climate or to widespread disenchantment with the political elites running for office.

It appears that a significant number of Brazilian voters are sceptical about all the contestants. Perhaps they believe that Lula is too old to repeat his previous achievements and to respond effectively to the impacts on Brazil from the global economic contraction, the repercussions from the Ukraine war, and other regional and international challenges.

On the other hand, large segments of the electorate want Bolsonaro out. They are particularly angered by his mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent record-setting Covid-related death rates in Brazil and by his contribution to the deforestation of the Amazon.

Scientists are worried by the rapid shrinkage of the planets lungs, which has reached its highest pace in six years. The loss is likely to continue if Bolsonaro wins a second term in office, whereas da Silva has pledged to take firm measures to protect the Amazon rain forest from fires and attrition.

The run-off at the end of October will usher in a new and potentially rockier phase for Brazil regardless of which candidate wins. Given the current economic and political conditions, any administration will have to forge new policy courses domestically and internationally. But the results of the polls could also have a profound impact on Brazils democratic system and the future of Brazilian democracy.

Bolsonaro appears to have taken a leaf out of the book of former US president Donald Trump. Ahead of the elections, when he saw himself lagging far behind da Silva in the opinion polls, he began to question the integrity of the electronic voting machines and even the TSE. Many fear that if he loses in the run-off and refuses to recognise the results, this will trigger a revolt among the extreme right.

Analysts believe that a da Silva administration would initiate a major shift in Brazils regional and international relations. It would revive regional integration efforts with other Latin American countries, especially left-wing ones which share many of da Silvas political and ideological outlooks.

They, like him, believe that closer cooperation among the Latin American countries is the key to greater autonomous strength. By contrast, a second Bolsonaro term would most likely deepen Brazils regional isolation in view of his frosty relations with that continents left-wing leaders.

Meanwhile, the political climate will likely remain fraught until the polls on 30 October and for some time afterwards in view of Bolsonaros determination to win at all costs while the Workers Party and its allies intensify their drive to usher their candidate into office.

Da Silva, who hails from a working class family and has a large following in the countrys favelas which he helped to lift from extreme poverty during his presidency, had about a five point lead over his main rival in the first round.

But it is still impossible to predict the results of the run-off, especially given how Bolsonaro fared so much better than the opinion polls had predicted. A head-to-head race that will keep Brazilians as well as many foreign observers on tenterhooks until the results are announced can therefore be expected.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Moroccan police said Wednesday they had broken up a people smuggling gang in a northern town near the site of a deadly border tragedy in June.

Related Morocco puts migrants on trial after Melilla tragedy

The DGSN security service said it had arrested 23 suspected smugglers during morning raids in Nador and surrounding areas.

Nador is near the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, one of two main European Union territories on African soil and a magnet for migrants fleeing violence across the continent and seeking refuge in Europe.

Those arrested Wednesday included Moroccans and four people from sub-Saharan Africa.

"They are suspected of acting as middlemen, finding potential candidates and organising illegal migration operations via the sea, as well as equipment and logistics," the DGSN said in a statement.

Police seized items including 125 outboard motors, rubber dinghies, navigation equipment and 10 cars, some with false number plates, it added.

Melilla was the site of a tragedy on June 24 attempt when some 2,000 mostly Sudanese migrants attempted to storm the enclave's border.

At least 23 people died, the worst toll in years of such attempted crossings, and rights groups accused both Spanish and Moroccan authorities of using excessive force.

Since the tragedy, Morocco has sentenced dozens of migrants to prison terms on charges including illegal entry and belonging to criminal gangs.

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U.S. President Joe Biden issued a strong warning on Russia against using a dirty bomb or any other nuclear weapons in its war on Ukraine.

"Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for the use of tactical nuclear weapons," he said Tuesday when a reporter asked whether Russia is setting up a "false flag operation" -- preparing to deploy dirty bomb as it accuses Ukraine of detonating it in its own territory. "I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false operation yet. I don't know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake," he said.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Tuesday there is reason for concern as Russia has "demonstrated a pattern of accusing others of that which it itself is ultimately planning." On Monday, Price warned of the "profound nature of consequences" should Moscow deploy such weapons.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, sent a letter, seen by VOA, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council late Monday, saying Russia "will regard the use of the dirty bomb by the Kyiv regime as an act of nuclear terrorism."

Ukraine has strongly denied Moscow's allegations that it is planning to detonate a dirty bomb on its own territory and has in turn accused Russia of plotting to use the threat of a bomb laced with nuclear material as a pretext for escalation in Ukraine.

The UN Security Council discussed the allegations at a closed-door meeting Tuesday. "We've seen and heard no new evidence in this private meeting," Britain's deputy UN ambassador, James Kariuki, told reporters. "The ministers of the U.K., France and the U.S. have been clear: this is transparently false allegations we are hearing from the Russian Federation. Ukraine has been clear; it has got nothing to hide; IAEA inspectors are on the way."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that NATO allies rejected Russia's claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory, adding, "Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation."
Finland and Sweden's aspirations to join NATO are in doubt as Turkey has renewed its objections to their membership bids.

Finnish diplomats met with their Turkish counterparts Tuesday in Ankara, according to local media reports. The meeting marked the latest diplomatic effort by Helsinki to persuade Ankara to agree to its bid to join NATO. For the Atlantic alliance to expand, all members must agree.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced reservations over Finland and Sweden's bid to join, accusing the countries of giving sanctuary to Kurdish groups that Ankara considers terrorists. Speaking to parliament earlier this month, Erdogan said he would closely monitor commitments by both Finland and Sweden to address Turkish concerns. Erdogan said Turkey is not going to give concessions as a country that has fought terrorism for 40 years.

Earlier in October, the Turkish leader accused Stockholm of reneging on its commitments to Ankara, saying enemies of Turkey were continuing to operate freely in Sweden. Erdogan, however, said he is ready to meet with Sweden's newly elected prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, to discuss Turkish demands.

Huseyin Bagci, head of the Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara, said Erdogan sees NATO expansion as an opportunity. "Tayyip Erdogan tries to increase the leverage of the Turkish bargaining process through this. Maybe at the end, he will say yes, but he has to take now something. It is a calculated act but whether [it is] a miscalculation, we will have to see this," Bagci said.
Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.

In the fiscal year that ended September 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37 percent from 1.73 million times the year before, according to figures released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019.

Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden's presidency. It was up 11.5 percent from 204,087 times in August and 18.5 percent from 192,001 times in September 2021.

The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions.

A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The remarkable geographic shift is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.

Title 42 authority has been applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

U.S. and Mexican officials said Friday that Venezuelan migration to the United States plunged 80 percent since Oct. 12, when the U.S. began expelling Venezuelans to Mexico under Title 42. At the same time, the Biden administration pledged to admit up to 24,000 Venezuelans to the United States on humanitarian parole if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport, similar to how tens of thousands of Ukrainians have come since Russia invaded their country.

"While this early data is not reflected in the [September] report, it confirms what we've said all along: When there is a lawful and orderly way to enter the country, individuals will be less likely to put their lives in the hands of smugglers and try to cross the border unlawfully," said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.

The expansion of Title 42 for Venezuelans to be expelled to Mexico came despite the administration's attempt to end the public health authority in May, which was blocked by a federal judge.

Venezuelans represented the second-largest nationality at the border after Mexicans for the second straight month, being stopped 33,804 times in September, up 33 percent from 25,361 times in August. Cubans, who are participating in the largest exodus from the Caribbean Island to the United States since 1980, were stopped 26,178 times at the border in September, up 37 percent from 19,060 in August. Nicaraguans were stopped 18,199 times in September, up 55 percent from 7,298 times in August.

The report is the last monthly reading of migration flows before U.S. midterm elections, an issue that many Republicans have emphasized in campaigns to capture control of the House and Senate. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a one-sentence statement Saturday in response to the numbers: "You've got to be kidding."
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Rishi Sunak.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I cordially congratulate you on the commencement of your tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We attach great significance to forged relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. It is gratifying that our ties, rooted in fine traditions, are further growing and deepening year by year.

Presently, the scope of the issues on our bilateral agenda is considerably extensive. The United Kingdom is a top investor country in Azerbaijan and is among our major trading partners. Engagement between our countries in the political, cultural, educational and other domains is also developing dynamically.

I would particularly highlight the time-tested strategic partnership ties between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in the energy area. We highly appreciate our countries close partnership on energy security matters and the United Kingdoms close involvement and support for the large-scale projects we implement. In the meantime, we are also delighted by our engagement in the transition to clean energy with BP  our close and reliable partner of the last 30 years in oil and gas production.

The involvement of the companies from the United Kingdom in the major restoration and reconstruction efforts across the territories we liberated from occupation two years ago is commendable. We welcome the UKs contribution to the work on mine clearance and elimination of unexploded ordnance as they remain a significant impediment to the socioeconomic reintegration of East Zangazur and Karabakh regions.

I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to cement the friendship between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom, deepen our bilateral ties in every field and further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation.

I renew my congratulations and offer my best wishes of robust health, happiness and success in your future endeavors for the sake of the prosperity of the friendly people of the United Kingdom.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 26 October 2022
The wage gap between permanent and temporary workers has widened to a fresh record high, with the number of temporary workers also rising to a new record.

Statistics Korea said Tuesday the average monthly salary of a permanent staffer in June to August of this year was W3.48 million, while the figure stood at W1.88 million for a temporary worker (US$1=W1,433).

The pay gap between permanent and temporary workers has set one new record after another over the past five years, increasing from W1.37 million in 2018 to W1.44 million in 2019, W1.52 million in 2020, W1.57 million in 2021 and W1.6 million this year.

A major reason is a decrease in the number of temporary positions in the service sector, which employs many young people, during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the number of temporary workers increased by 90,000 compared to 2020 to 8.16 million. The growth was attributed to an increase in the number of government-funded menial jobs for senior citizens.

By industry, the health and social service sector had the highest number of temporary employees at 1.39 million. By age group, 31.3 percent were over 60 and 21.1 percent were in their 50s.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2022 - 19:09 | All, World

U.S. President Joe Biden and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed Tuesday to enhance bilateral cooperation on issues critical to global security and prosperity, touching on the need to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and address China's growing assertiveness.

According to the White House, Biden spoke with Sunak by phone to congratulate the new British prime minister, who has taken over from Liz Truss following a political crisis caused by her economic plan.

While reaffirming "the special relationship" between their countries, the two leaders agreed on the importance of working together to support Ukraine, holding Russia accountable for its aggression, addressing the challenges posed by China and cooperating to secure energy resources, it said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin criticized the move, saying at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that China is "a partner and an opportunity" for the development of all countries "rather than a challenge or a threat."

Beijing urges Washington to "discard zero-sum mentality" and "build a new concept of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation" instead of hyping up "the outdated China threat," Wang said.

Britain has been stepping up its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, partly propelled by Beijing's actions undermining democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, a former British colony.

Britain dispatched the Royal Navy aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth to Japan last year and has also joined a three-way security partnership with Australia and the United States, known as AUKUS, to help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

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By Haruka Kawai, KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2022 - 13:38 | All, Feature, Japan

Discussion about the delicate topic of menstruation is slowly becoming more accepted in Japan as schools and workplaces engage in educational programs that demystify the issue in hopes of broadening understanding and acceptance.

"Talking about menstruation used to be a taboo subject. But social recognition is changing," said an official of a sanitary product maker that offers seminars on the issue.

The topic is being broached more regularly due to organizations wanting to help women navigate their lives around their cycles. Also, they want to be able to take more tangible steps like preparing stockpiles of sanitary products for distribution if a shortage occurs during a natural disaster.

Underwear and sanitary item producers are receiving more and more requests for their seminars from schools and companies.

"I was surprised to know that women need to change pads so many times in a day," said Yunosuke Suzuki, a 16-year-old first-year student at the all-boys Hongo Junior and Senior High School who attended a seminar on menstruation held at his school in Tokyo in September.

The seminar was organized by Be-A Japan, a Tokyo-based manufacturer of reusable, more sustainable period underwear, and attended by some 30 students from Hongo and other schools to learn basic facts about menstruation.

Among other things, they were educated on how much menstrual fluid napkins absorb and how women dispose of them after use.

When one student asked if diapers could be used if menstrual pads are unavailable, Kumi Takahashi, 47, the president of Be-A Japan, explained that it has happened during natural disasters.

"Knowledge about menstruation enables men to think how they should approach women and what they can do," Yayoi Matsuo, a 48-year-old teacher at Hongo, said, explaining why she asked Be-A Japan to hold the seminar.

Students at Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin Senior High School, an all-girls high school in Tokyo, began engaging their local community about menstruation as they felt, from experience, there is nowhere to share their frustrations or seek advice. The activities include visits to nearby elementary schools where they explain to pupils that "menstruation is nothing they should be embarrassed about."

Due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in an issue known as "menstruation poverty." It affects a significant number of women who are unable to afford the feminine hygiene products they need.

A Cabinet Office survey found that as of July this year, 715 municipalities provide or plan to provide support such as free sanitary napkins at schools and public facilities for those who cannot afford them -- an increase to 40 percent of all local governments. Last year, 581 offered the service.

"The problem (of menstruation poverty) has prompted young people to start discussing menstruation on social media without treating it as a taboo subject," Takahashi said.

Unicharm Corp., a top producer of sanitary napkins and diapers, began seminars on menstruation for companies and other organizations in 2020. There were fewer than 10 seminars held in the first year, but the number jumped to over 100 in 2021. In 2022, it is increasing at a faster pace than even that.

According to Unicharm, participants will often ask how to engage with an employee about menstruation in a discreet manner that is not considered sexual harassment. One company introduced a paid menstrual leave system following a seminar.

Many local governments send officials to Unicharm's seminars to learn how to respond in times of natural disasters, including to gain an understanding of how best to address women's health needs in an emergency.

Japan knows too well the problems shortages of such products can cause. Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern Japan region of Tohoku in March 2011, women lacked access to basic sanitation and hygiene resources.

Women's openness in talking about menstruation with their partners and others is also changing in Japan. LunaLuna, a popular mobile app for women's health management, has a function that enables women to share their menstrual cycles with their partners.

When LunaLuna was launched in 2010, many women were reluctant to share such "personal information," according to MTI Ltd., the app's operator.

But recently, more women have welcomed it as a facilitator of communication. "More and more women want to tell men about their periods, so they get a better understanding of how women feel," said an official in charge.

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KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2022 - 18:54 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday pledged to provide heating equipment and other protection against the cold to Ukraine, as the country's war with Russia heads into the winter months.

"Japan has been providing support to Ukraine in preparation for the coming harsh winter...Furthermore, Japan will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine based on our country's unique knowledge and strengths," Kishida said in a video message to an international conference on aid for Ukraine held in Berlin.

To support Ukraine's reconstruction efforts since Russia invaded in late February, Kishida said Tokyo has shared with Kyiv its experience in sorting and reusing debris from the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan in March 2011.

"Ukraine can make use of debris resulting from the Russian invasion," he said.

The message was sent to the International Expert Conference on Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine, hosted by Germany and the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union.

Japan will take over the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven from Germany next year. The G-7 also involves Britain, Canada, France, Italy, the United States and the European Union.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took part in the conference virtually, said Russia's attacks have destroyed over a third of facilities in the energy sector.

"Russia destroys everything to make it harder for us to survive this winter," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine has said it needs an estimated $750 billion for reconstruction and that the figure is expected to increase due to the prolonged war.

Kishida reiterated that Japan "strongly condemns" Russia's missile attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in Ukraine as well as its threats to use nuclear weapons.

"It is important for us to be united in strongly promoting support for Ukraine as well as sanctions against Russia," he said.

"Japan will make utmost efforts and positive contributions, and actively lead discussions within the international community" for the speedy restoration of peace and reconstruction in Ukraine.

Following Kishida's pledge, Ukrainian lawmakers visiting Japan showed gratitude when they held a press conference in Tokyo before wrapping up their 12-day trip to the country on Wednesday.

"We have been grateful for the support" expressed by Kishida, said Galyna Mykhailiuk, co-head of the Ukraine-Japan parliamentary friendship group.

During the first such visit by Ukrainian lawmakers to an Asian nation since Russia invaded its neighbor, they met Japanese lawmakers and government officials to seek further support amid their nation's battle against the invasion.

Mentioning Japan's past experience of rebuilding from the 2011 disaster, which also triggered a crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, Mykhailiuk showed her expectation that it will play a major role in reconstructing her nation after the war is over.

"We are sure that we will win the war. That is why it is highly important for us nowadays already to start planning on how reconstruction will be provided to Ukraine," she said.

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KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2022 - 17:28 | All, Japan, World

Senior diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed Wednesday to strengthen deterrence in reining in the North Korean military threat amid fears that Pyongyang could carry out its seventh nuclear test soon.

Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori said at a joint press conference after a trilateral meeting in Tokyo that the three countries will never tolerate the nuclear blackmail employed by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Mori, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Dong also expressed their opposition to any attempt to change the status quo in the East and South China seas, in a veiled criticism of China's assertive territorial claims and military buildup.

The gathering was held after a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea, including one early this month that flew over the Japanese archipelago for the first time in five years, with concern growing that the country could carry out its first nuclear test since September 2017.

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a speech in the National Assembly that North Korea "seems to have completed its preparations" for a nuclear test.

"We shared the view that North Korea's increased nuclear and missile activities are an obvious and serious challenge to the international community," Mori said, adding that the diplomats will work together, including through the U.N. Security Council, toward the nation's complete denuclearization.

Cho said at the news conference that the three nations recognized the necessity of "taking the strongest-ever response" in case Pyongyang conducts its seventh nuclear test.

They agreed that the North's ballistic missile launches with "extremely high frequency" are "grave and imminent threats to the region's peace and stability," sharing the importance of reinforcing the deterrence and response capabilities of Japan-U.S. and U.S.-South Korea alliances, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Following a flurry of recent provocative actions by Pyongyang, Washington and its two East Asian allies, Tokyo and Seoul, are boosting their defense cooperation. They conducted their first joint anti-submarine exercise in five years in late September, as well as joint drills to detect ballistic missiles early this month.

The three officials also strongly condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine as threatening the foundation of the international order of not only Europe but also Asia, pledging to collaborate in responding to the issue, the ministry said.

They shared "serious concerns" about Moscow's indication of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine and agreed that threatening the use of nuclear arms, let alone the actual use, is "absolutely unacceptable," according to the ministry.

Referring to Russia's "false allegation" that Ukraine could use a "dirty bomb" that would cause radioactive contamination, the diplomats also vowed not to allow further escalations of the situation for whatever reason, the ministry added.

The talks also came as military tensions have heightened across the Taiwan Strait, especially following a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province to be reunified, by force if necessary.

Sherman said at the press event that U.S. policies regarding Taiwan remain unchanged and stressed maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait.

The three-way vice foreign ministerial meeting followed one in Seoul in June. Yoon took office in May, succeeding left-leaning Moon Jae In, under whose presidency relations between Seoul and Tokyo deteriorated over wartime labor and territorial issues.

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KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2022 - 15:58 | All, Japan

A Russia-based hacker group has claimed a Japanese hospital paid $30,000 to regain access to electronic medical records that were encrypted in a ransomware attack last October, causing major disruption to the medical institution's operations.

The town of Tsurugi, Tokushima Prefecture, which runs the targeted Handa Hospital, has denied paying ransom money, and experts suspect that an IT firm involved in attempts to restore access to the records secretly reached a deal with the hackers.

Japanese police have been urging those targeted in ransomware attacks to not pay money demanded of them.

A senior member of the hacker group, LockBit 3.0, said it received a bitcoin payment on Nov. 21 last year after holding talks with a representative of the hospital via a special website. The group originally demanded $60,000 but the amount was negotiated down to half that amount, the person said.

Shigeru Kanenishi, the mayor of Tsurugi, said, "As we understand it, the town has not paid ransom money."

The town paid 70 million yen ($472,000) to an IT firm in Tokyo to probe the attack and attempt to restore the encrypted data.

The firm has declined to comment on the case, citing a confidentiality agreement, but it said it generally does not directly negotiate with hacker groups. It may use data restoration programs if they can be obtained, it said.

At the time of the Oct. 31 attack, Handa Hospital refused to pay the ransom, saying it will instead build a new electronic medical record system at a cost of 200 million yen.

The hospital confirmed in January it regained access to the original system, saving it from having to build another, and it resumed regular medical examinations across all departments after two months of disruptions.

An expert panel investigating the case concluded in a report in June that the IT business operator is highly likely to have obtained a data restoration program somehow.

"I can only think that the IT business operator had negotiated with the group," said a panel source.

A National Police Agency official in charge of cyberattacks warned against entities paying ransom money, saying, "Not only does it promote cybercrime, there is no guarantee the data will be restored even after making payments."

Ransomware attacks are on the rise in Japan. Last month, the agency reported that Japanese entities suffered 114 damage-causing attacks in the first half of this year, up 87 percent from a year earlier.

Of the reported ransomware cases, 59 targeted small to medium-sized companies and 36 were large corporations. They included 37 manufacturers, 20 service providers and five hospitals, according to the agency.

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NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- International medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) on Tuesday warned that living conditions in Kenya's Dadaab refugee complex are worsening with a high risk of disease outbreaks.

Adrian Guadarrama, MSF's deputy program manager for Kenya, called on the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and Kenyan authorities to ramp up humanitarian support and urgently launch vaccination campaigns. The camps, home to more than 233,000 refugees, have seen thousands of people arrive since January, with hundreds more arriving every week.

"Even a few isolated cases of measles and cholera can cause a full-blown outbreak in overcrowded camp settings, where clean drinking water is scarce and sanitation and hygiene are poor," Guadarrama said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

According to the charity, people from Somalia are escaping a severe drought, violence and continuing conflict. It said many of those arriving are coming from southern Somalia, where measles and cholera outbreaks have occurred recently.

Previous measles vaccinations in the Dadaab camps will provide some protection to children but can still prove life-threatening for new arrivals who are unlikely to have been vaccinated, the charity said.

Guadarrama said with low vaccination coverage in Somalia, and no system in place to receive and screen the newly arrived people in Kenya, infectious diseases can spread rapidly, putting people living in and around the camps, particularly children, at heightened risk of getting ill.

"The humanitarian situation in the camps and surrounding communities has not yet reached breaking point, so we still have a window of opportunity to step up preventive action and avoid an emergency unfolding on top of what is already a long-running crisis," Guadarrama said.

He said UNHCR, donors and the government of Kenya must all show a sense of urgency now by setting up a dignified reception and screening system for people crossing over to Kenya. Humanitarian assistance will also need to be scaled up to address the needs of new arrivals and long-time refugees and host communities, as they have also been suffering under the drought. 
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, says a recent report released by the Hellenic Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Greece).





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Fire forensic experts collect evidence at the scene after a fire outbreak at Salama School of the Blind in Mukono, Uganda, Oct. 25, 2022.

Eleven children were killed Tuesday in a school fire outbreak in the central Ugandan district of Mukono, police said.

A police statement issued here said the tragic incident occurred at Salama School of the Blind at about 1 a.m. local time. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Eleven children were killed Tuesday in a school fire outbreak in the central Ugandan district of Mukono, police said.

A police statement issued here said the tragic incident occurred at Salama School of the Blind at about 1 a.m. local time.

"The cause of the fire is currently unknown but so far 11 deaths as a result of the fire have been confirmed while six are in critical conditions and admitted at Herona Hospital in Kisoga," the statement said.

School fires are common in Ugandan schools. The last fire was in January when four children died in a fire outbreak in a school in Kampala, Uganda's capital. In 2018, at least nine students were killed in a fire that broke out at a high school in central Uganda. Before the 2018 incident, another fatal school fire happened in 2008, killing 19 pupils at Budo Junior School in the Wakiso district in the central region. 

Security personnel guard the scene after a fire outbreak at Salama School of the Blind in Mukono, Uganda, Oct. 25, 2022.

Eleven children were killed Tuesday in a school fire outbreak in the central Ugandan district of Mukono, police said.

A police statement issued here said the tragic incident occurred at Salama School of the Blind at about 1 a.m. local time. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)
LANZHOU, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- For nearly 20 years, Zhoema Gyalpo has made it his mission to pick up garbage on the banks of the Yellow River, China's second-longest river.

The Tibetan man from northwest China's Gansu Province hiked about 430 km with his family and fellow villagers in 2021 on a trip lasting over 40 days along the Yellow River, cleaning up its banks.

For him, it was his way of protecting China's "mother river."

Zhoema lives in the county of Maqu of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. In the Tibetan language, Maqu means "the Yellow River." The river has a meandering section of around 430 km in the county.

Located at the eastern tip of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the county is a primary area of water conservation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The wetland in Maqu covers an area of more than 374,000 hectares.

"The river and the grassland nourish generations of people living here. We cherish them," said Zhoema.

Zhoema Gyalpo used to be a herder. Though living in the lush meadow on the bank of the Yellow River, he noticed that the county suffered from severe environmental degradation due to climate changes and various human activities.

"The grassland vegetation degraded sharply as a consequence of over-grazing and garbage pollution," Zhoema Gyalpo said, adding that plastic waste once polluted both the river and the grassland, sometimes causing cattle deaths.

To save his own meadow from degradation, Zhoema started collecting garbage across the grassland and along the Yellow River in 2003. He persisted for years despite little understanding from his fellow herders.

His meadow gradually became lush and beautiful, and his cattle grew better than others.

In 2015, the government of Gannan launched an environmental campaign to enhance the living environment of tens of thousands of farmers and herders living in the prefecture and raise their environmental awareness.

Since then, Zhoema has had more and more companions in fighting garbage pollution. Many herders formed the habit of collecting garbage and taking good care of the grassland.

However, garbage pollution is just one of the problems faced by the river. Over the years, the wetlands in Maqu had shrunk as desertification intensified and water conservation capacity dropped.

Drought and desertification had even caused several tributaries in Maqu to dry up, noted Ma Jianyun, a local forestry official.

To give the grassland a break, Zhoema Gyalpo sold more than 1,000 heads of his flocks and herds, keeping just about 200.

"It was not right to focus on the immediate benefits. Too many cattle and sheep would damage the meadow and reduce the earnings in the long run," Zhoema said.

The local government has taken measures, including initiating ecological migration programs, imposing a grazing ban in certain areas, and encouraging local herders to participate in environmental protection and tourism.

Many herders like Zhoema Gyalpo, who once lived on herding, are now embracing tourism launched by the local government and taking up jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The measures have proven effective, with the trend of deterioration in the local ecology reversed. By the end of 2021, grazing bans and restrictions were imposed on more than 533,000 hectares of grassland, while herders also received compensation.

Zhoema Gyalpo opened an organic fertilizer factory in 2017, collecting animal waste and turning it into organic fertilizers used on plants for desertification control.

"A local proverb says, 'those who pull up the grass would stop growing tall, and those who pollute the river would feel pain in their eyes,'" Zhoema Gyalpo said. "Nature gives us precious gifts to take for a living, and we should treasure and protect them in return." 
By Trend

Armenia intends to sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan by the end of 2022, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on October 26 at the Armenian government's meeting, Trend reports via TASS.

"To be honest, I want it to be signed before the end of this year," Pashinyan said.




KUNMING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Famous for Pu'er tea, a deep-brewed tea with a sweet aroma, Pu'er City in southwest China's Yunnan Province is making a name for itself as China's coffee capital.

Pu'er has 668,000 mu (around 44,530 hectares) of coffee plantation in 2021, producing the highest yield of coffee beans of 46,000 tonnes in China.

This is thanks to the efforts of the local government to develop coffee planting and processing as a backbone industry.

In 2019, Pu'er City launched a pilot insurance program for the pricing of green coffee beans in the city, so as to reduce the burden on coffee producers, operators and growers, and promote sustained and healthy development of the industry.

Besides delivering preferential policies, the local government is eyeing deep processing of coffee beans to turbocharge the high-quality development of the local coffee industry.

Across Yunnan Province, the coffee plantation area and coffee production account for 98 percent and 99 percent respectively of the country's total.

As China is experiencing a coffee boom in recent years, the industry has absorbed more investment.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm (at the podium) speaks at the opening ceremony of the Huawei ICT competition in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 25, 2022. Huawei launched on Tuesday the 6th edition of its annual ICT Competition in Lebanon to support "aspiring students" in the country, the Chinese tech giant said in a press release. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

BEIRUT, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Huawei launched on Tuesday the 6th edition of its annual ICT Competition in Lebanon to support "aspiring students" in the country, the Chinese tech giant said in a press release.

From October to December, thousands of undergraduate students are expected to participate in the competition, which is being held virtually, Huawei said.

"Huawei is committed to developing the ICT industry by investing in local young talent and creating an open, collaborative ecosystem," Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Director of Huawei Lebanon Mohamad Sharara said in the press release.

Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm highlighted Huawei's role in empowering Lebanon's youth.

"Collaborating with a global technology company reconfirms our commitment to empower our nation's youth and prepare a future generation for Lebanon's digital transformation journey," Corm was quoted as saying by the Huawei press release.

Winners of the Huawei ICT competition are expected to receive internships, opportunities to join Huawei, and 20,000 U.S. dollars in cash prize. 

Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram (at the podium) speaks at the opening ceremony of the Huawei ICT competition in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 25, 2022. Huawei launched on Tuesday the 6th edition of its annual ICT Competition in Lebanon to support "aspiring students" in the country, the Chinese tech giant said in a press release. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
People collect olives in Tel Rumeida in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

by Sanaa Kamal

GAZA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sharif al-Tamimi and other Palestinians who grow olives in parts of the West Bank under Israeli rule have founded the current harvest season more grueling than before, as the precious daylight hours were increasingly spent on getting Israeli security approvals.

As a resident of Tel Rumeida, a Palestinian town close to the city of Hebron, al-Tamimi grows 3.5-hectare of olive trees in Area C of the West Bank, which is under full Israeli security and administration control.

"Year by year, the Israeli authorities tighten the requirements that allow my neighbors and I to harvest our olive trees," the 42-year-old father of four told Xinhua.

Local harvest season usually starts in mid-October and lasts for some 45 days, but this year, al-Tamimi has to race against the clock to pick the fruits, since before which it took him nearly a month to get an Israeli permit for heading to the land.

A permit will not suffice. "Before arriving at our land, we must pass many electronic checkpoints and gates, while sometimes we cannot pass them as the soldiers ask us to come back to our houses," he explained.

Unable to irrigate and harvest in time, eventually the yield is poor.

"I can only collect about one ton of olives, less than 80 percent of what we are supposed to harvest," he said.

"The Israelis are doing their best to force the Palestinian residents to leave their lands and let settlers live there instead," said al-Tamimi's neighbor Akram Abu Shakhdam, another olive grower in Area C.

However, he added, "we will never give up the right to defend our lands by all available means."

Eisa Amro, a coordinator at a non-government Youths Against Settlement organization, told Xinhua that Palestinian farming in Areas B and C in the West Bank "has long suffered from Israel's seizure of lands and settlements expansion in an effort to make the occupancy an established reality."

According to the peace agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians in the 1990s, the West Bank was divided into three areas, with Area A under full security and administrative control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Area B under joint Israeli security control and PA administrative rule, while Area C under full Israeli control.

In Palestinian territories, olive farming generates an estimated income of 800 to 900 million U.S. dollars annually, contributing 20 to 25 percent of the total Palestinian economy, according to the Palestinian ministries of economic and agriculture.

In the Gaza Strip, the situation is a bit easier as the current harvest season is bountiful, and farmers can pick their crops without facing any obstacles.

"I have harvested about 90 percent of my olive trees after years of decline of my production because of the harsh climatic condition and other reasons," said Mohammed Abu Rujeila, a local farmer who owns a 30-hectare land in Khan Younis city south of Gaza.

Adham El-Bassiouni, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture in Gaza, told Xinhua that about 43,000 hectares of land are planted with olive trees in the Palestinian coastal enclave.

"About 35,000 hectares of them are fruitful. Each hectare can produce at least one ton of olives and this is enough for the coastal enclave consumption," he noted. 

People collect olives in Tel Rumeida in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen (R, on the screen) speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 26, 2022. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"The key Syrian and international stakeholders need to rebuild their confidence that cooperation on Syria is possible, that the other side is willing and able to deliver, and that Syria can be firewalled from other conflicts. That confidence can only be built by concrete actions," said Geir Pedersen, the UN's special envoy for Syria.

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Geir Pedersen, the UN's special envoy for Syria, said on Tuesday that only a political solution could bring peace to the country.

"This political solution is the only path to sustainable peace," Pedersen told the UN Security Council, speaking from the Swiss city of Geneva via video link.

The envoy appealed for the council to support his efforts to move the parties closer to a negotiated political solution to end the 11-year conflict in Syria.

Pedersen reported on his recent "busy period of diplomatic engagement" with key Syrian and international stakeholders, including in connection with the stalled Constitutional Committee meetings in Geneva.

"Sadly, we are a long way from this goal at present, and there are challenging diplomatic and ground realities that make advancing towards a comprehensive solution difficult. But the status quo should not be acceptable and there are ways forward," he said.

So far, the political process has not delivered for the Syrian people, and conflict remains "very active" across the country, said Pedersen.

Listing examples, he said the terrorist group ISIL remains a serious threat. One of the largest weapons caches since its fall was recently discovered in the northeast, underscoring the insurgents' continued capacity to carry out attacks.

There were also reports of pro-government airstrikes in northwest Syria, where none had been reported in a long time.

A damaged building is seen in the Qudsaya suburb of Damascus, capital of Syria, Feb. 9, 2022, as a result of the Israeli strikes that targeted military sites in Damascus earlier that day. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, in the northeast, drone strikes, mutual shelling and confrontations have been reported between the Syrian Democratic Forces on the one hand, and Turkiye and armed opposition groups on the other.

The envoy said he is pushing for all stakeholders "to engage on step-for-step confidence building measures" towards advancing Resolution 2254, which was adopted by the Security Council in 2015 and outlines a roadmap for a peace process in Syria.

"The key Syrian and international stakeholders need to rebuild their confidence that cooperation on Syria is possible, that the other side is willing and able to deliver, and that Syria can be firewalled from other conflicts. That confidence can only be built by concrete actions," he stressed.

So far, some countries have identified "concrete areas for potential steps," but talks need to go further, he said.

The envoy also continues his work to unblock obstacles surrounding the reconvening of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, which comprises representatives from the government, the opposition and civil society.

The Security Council also heard how communities in Syria are struggling to survive amidst a spiraling security, public health and economic crisis.

Reena Ghelani, a director in the UN's humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, provided an update on the cholera outbreak in Syria.

More than 20,000 suspected cases of the waterborne disease have been confirmed so far, and at least 80 people have died. "This is a tragedy, but it should not come as a surprise," she said.

A staff member of Syrian health authority runs tests on water samples collected from different parts of capital Damascus, Syria, Sept. 25, 2022. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

The outbreak is further compounded by factors such as poor rainfall in many locations, severe drought-like conditions, and damaged water infrastructure.

The UN and partners have been sounding the alarm on the water crisis in northern Syria for at least the past year, said Ghelani, adding that the crisis is likely to get even worse with an increased probability for below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures.

The UN has a three-month plan to respond to the outbreak, and calls for 34.4 million U.S. dollars to assist 162,000 with health services, and 5 million with water, sanitation and hygiene assistance. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of political parties and governments as well as heads of state worldwide have sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said he is looking forward to keeping close communication and cooperation with Xi to maintain peace, stability and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and wished China prosperity.

Japan and China shoulder an important responsibility of maintaining regional and world peace and prosperity, said Fumio Kishida, president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Japanese prime minister.

Kishida noted that he exchanged congratulatory messages with Xi recently on the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, and reviewed the consensus reached by the two sides.

He said he would like to strengthen communication with Xi to show the direction for the development of Japan-China relations to the people of the two countries and the international community, and vigorously promote the building of a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.

Leader of the United National Party and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended his congratulations on the successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress and Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, saying he looks forward to the greater development of Sri Lanka-China relations.

Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee fully proves that he enjoys high prestige, said Emomali Rahmon, head of the People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan and Tajik president.

The decisions made at the 20th CPC National Congress will provide guidance for China's progress, he said, adding that he is ready to work with Xi to broaden and deepen Tajikistan-China relations.

Filipe Nyusi, head of the Mozambique Liberation Front party (FRELIMO) and Mozambican president, said he firmly believes that under Xi's leadership, the resolutions of the 20th CPC National Congress will be effectively implemented to improve the well-being of the Chinese people and also bring more benefits to humanity.

Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee reflects the Chinese people's trust in him, who shoulders the important responsibility of leading China to a higher level of development, said Nicolas Maduro, leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and Venezuelan president.

The PSUV and the Venezuelan people are willing to advance the socialist cause together with the brotherly Chinese people, he said.

Under Xi's leadership, China has made unprecedented achievements, said Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, adding that he looks forward to working with Xi to elevate the mutually beneficial relations between the two countries to a higher level.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi extended his sincere wishes that Xi will lead the Chinese people to achieve new magnificent goals and embrace brighter prospects.

The CPC has been leading China's progress, and Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee fully proves his high prestige among the Chinese people, said Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Under Xi's leadership, the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics has made great achievements that have attracted world attention, said Samdech Techo Hun Sen, president of the Cambodian People's Party and Cambodian prime minister.

He said he firmly believes that Xi's foresight and spirit of hard work will surely lead China to new and greater achievements and the realization of the Second Centenary Goal.

He also said he looks forward to maintaining close cooperation with Xi, so as to push Cambodia-China relations and the building of a community with a shared future to a higher level.

The 20th CPC National Congress has laid out a blueprint for China's future development, said Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, chairman of the Mongolian People's Party and Mongolian prime minister.

He said he believes that under Xi's leadership, the CPC will hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and successfully build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

Sheikh Hasina, president of the Bangladesh Awami League and the country's prime minister, extended a warm welcome to Xi's vision of building a human community with a shared future and sincerely thanked Xi for his strong support for the economic and social development of developing countries over the years.

She said she is confident that in this era of challenges, China will continue to shoulder the important task of maintaining world peace and stability. 
A staff member prepares coffee for visitors at the booth of Ethiopia at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

The upcoming 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) presents huge opportunities for Ethiopia's top agricultural export commodities toward penetrating wider market access, the president of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association has said.

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) presents huge opportunities for Ethiopia's top agricultural export commodities toward penetrating wider market access, an Ethiopian agricultural products exporter has said.

Sisay Asmare, general manager of RIB Industrial and Commercial Private Limited Company (PLC), who is also the president of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association (EPOSPEA), said the CIIE serves as an efficient platform to meet and forge a business partnership with potential Chinese customers.

RIB Industrial and Commercial PLC has been actively engaged in exporting agricultural commodities such as sesame seed, pulses, spices and other varieties of beans and oilseeds since 2003, in which China is one of its major export market destinations.

Recalling two-time successful participation at the CIIE before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, Asmare said the platform serves as a hotspot avenue for Ethiopian and other foreign exporters to explore and penetrate the vast Chinese market.

The 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled for Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. The event provides a platform for companies from around the world to display their products, promote their brands, and find more business partners in the world's second-largest economy.

Sisay Asmare, president of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association (EPOSPEA), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 27, 2022.(Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

"We have participated at the CIIE two times, in 2018 and 2019, but since then due to the coronavirus pandemic, we did not participate. For this year, we are also invited to attend," Asmare said.

"We are happy because it was a very big event. The Chinese also gave us, for Ethiopia, one pavilion," he said, adding that the Ethiopian pavilion at the CIIE had "attracted so many excited visitors."

According to Asmare, the secret to a successful participation at the platform lies in effectively evaluating the market demand, assessing potential customers, and forging business partnerships.

"When I go there, for one, I maintain my relationship with existing customers. I visit them and learn how they are going to apply the import from us and how they process it so that I will take care of my products as per their demands. Secondly, new customers will also come," he said.

Asmare said the platform helps to "maintain relationships, get new customers, and understand your customers' needs a face-to-face business relationship that helps me to understand the (business more)."

He said the previous CIIE editions have successfully injected important impetus in terms of creating awareness about Ethiopia's major export commodities.

"They (the organizers) are very good. Our products are popular as people really like Ethiopian products and it is a growing situation," he said.

Asmare said the CIIE is a conducive platform to expedite demand and accessibility of Ethiopia's export-oriented agricultural commodities to the wider Chinese and global market, eventually enabling the East African country to tap into its competitive advantage in the global agricultural products market.

"We can supply sesame seed, oilseeds like peanuts, sunflower seed, rapeseed; we also have coffee; and these are becoming popular in the Chinese market. In the near future, our products will compete more as the demand will also come from China," Asmare said.

Noting the existing one-time production of Ethiopia's agricultural export commodities, which often affects business relations with foreign importers due to supply interruptions as exporters usually wait until the next production season ahead of export, Asmare said the CIIE offers constant opportunities to regularly meet new customers.

Asmare, in particular, underscored the need to utilize the CIIE as a gateway to the ever-expanding Chinese market, with due emphasis given to the growing demand for Ethiopia's agricultural export commodities among the Chinese customer base.

"The Chinese market is the biggest in the world. (It) is a blessing for Ethiopians and Africans," he said.

He further underscored the two-way benefit presented by the wider Chinese market. "We can benefit by supplying them agricultural commodities, industrial raw materials and we can also buy from them agro-processing factory machinery, construction machinery and other development equipment."

As Ethiopia's overall exports to China grows exponentially in recent years, figures from EPOSPEA show that China has been a major destination for Ethiopia's sesame seed in the past decade, as about 60 to 70 percent of the country's total sesame export goes to China.

Between 2018 to 2021, China imported close to 282,554 metric tons of Ethiopia's sesame seed, making it the largest importer of the commodity, according to figures from EPOSPEA.

Photo taken on Oct. 26, 2021 shows a display of traditional Ethiopian coffee pot and cups at the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

Sesame, along with coffee, is one of Ethiopia's top export commodities, as the country's export sector is largely dominated by the export of agricultural products.

During the Ethiopian 2021/2022 fiscal year, which ended on July 7, 2022, the country generated 4.12 billion U.S. dollars in export revenue, of which the agriculture sector contributed the highest share, constituting 72 percent of the total export revenue, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.

Courtesy of the booming Sino-Ethiopia trade and investment cooperation coupled with important platforms such as the CIIE, Ethiopia's overall export to China has registered steady growth in recent years as China remains Ethiopia's biggest trading partner.

Ethiopia's exports to China increased by 8 percent in 2021 as compared with the previous year, while new foreign direct investment (FDI) from Chinese companies to Ethiopia grew by 346 percent, according to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia. 
Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2022 shows the panel session of the 6th edition of Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center, in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. (FII Institute handout via Xinhua)

RIYADH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference kicked off Tuesday in the Saudi capital, gathering 6,000 policymakers, investors and scholars across the globe.

The 6th edition of the FII conference will last for three days under the theme "Investing in Humanity: Enabling a New Global Order," during which some 500 Saudi or foreign speakers from different sectors will share their insights.

Richard Attias, CEO of the conference's organizer the FII Institute, said 180 sessions, 30 workshops and four mini-summits will be held during the conference.

Photo shot on Oct. 25, 2022 shows the exterior of the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center hosting the 6th edition of Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. (FII Institute handout via Xinhua)

This year's event features forums on new pathways for global investment, analysis of critical industry trends, and networking chances for corporate heads, policymakers, investors, and industry experts, the FII said on its website.

Topics also include balancing economic success and sustainability, the rise of world geo-economic powers, increasing global inequality, new challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as opportunities in the post-pandemic recovery.

The FII Institute is a non-profit organization run by the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. 
KAMPALA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The head of Uganda's leading state agency in the fight against HIV/AIDS on Tuesday warned that the country is facing financing shortages amid reduced international support.

Nelson Musoba, director general of Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), in a statement issued here said in the wake of emerging global pandemics, the upsurge of non-communicable diseases as well as the political and economic crises around the world, international financing towards HIV/AIDS response is shrinking.

"These emerging trends and patterns, combined with shifts in international funding for HIV/AIDS, threaten the sustainability of Uganda's response to the epidemic," Musoba said.

"Reaching the new 95-95-95 targets and achieving the global goal of End AIDS 2030 requires additional investment and focused efforts," he added. The UNAIDS 95-95-95 target aims for 95 percent of HIV-infected people to know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed to receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95 percent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.

Musoba said the country's HIV/AIDS funding gap has grown to 272.66 million U.S. dollars in 2019/20 from 82.96 million dollars in 2016/17.

He said the average annual cost of maintaining a person on ART is 380 dollars, which translates into an annual treatment bill of over 532 million dollars countrywide.

External donors finance 86 percent of the country's total AIDS spending, while the balance is financed by the government, according to UAC.

"This clearly calls us to explore avenues for financing the HIV response domestically," Musoba said. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate has ordered the arrest of Tian Huiyu, former president of China Merchants Bank (CMB), for suspected bribe-taking, abuse of power, and trade on undisclosed information.

The case was transferred to procuratorial authorities for prosecution following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision.

Tian was also former secretary of the CMB Committee of the Communist Party of China.

The handling of the case is underway. 
Aerial photo taken on May 24, 2022 shows Qikou Town in Lyuliang City, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

TAIYUAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- In an old-timey building in Qikou, an ancient riverine town along the Yellow River, China's second-longest river, Charyyev Nuryagdy and his Chinese partner participated in a livestream show introducing local farm products in early October.

The 25-year-old student from Turkmenistan, who studies international politics at Shanxi University, toured several regions along the Yellow River in north China's Shanxi Province several months ago.

To Nuryagdy, of all the places he had been to, Qikou was the most impressive one, especially the unique Shanxi merchant culture that appreciates integrity and hard work. That is also the reason he came back to Qikou this time.

The Yellow River used to play an important shipping role in old times, when merchants unloaded goods such as fur, wool and herbs from boats coming upriver and switched to land transportation to further deliver them to cites like Taiyuan, Beijing, and Tianjin. Such a geographical advantage made Qikou an important port until the 1970s.

Qikou's glory gradually faded in the following decades as the transportation network improved along the Yellow River area.

Yet thanks to the rise of the industries of cultural tourism and e-commerce, the former trade and transport hub began to thrive again.

The livestream show Nuryagdy participated in was one of the highlights of the seventh tourism and culture festival to promote the sale of red dates in Qikou.

Guo Youshun, who grows more than 10 mu (about 0.66 hectares) of date trees in Kaiyang Village, told Nuryagdy that red dates are expected to bring his family an income of about 30,000 yuan (about 4,186 U.S. dollars) this year.

During his preliminary survey, Nuryagdy found that local processing enterprises had further extended the production chain of agri-food.

"There are multiple higher value-added products such as date snacks and drinks," Nuryagdy said. "In the past, people could not even secure enough food and clothing by farming, but now, their living standards have improved significantly, and some even bought houses in the county seat."

Thanks to improving ecological environment and better infrastructure, tourism has become the pillar industry in Qikou. Li Shixi, an online celebrity, is one of the residents engaged in tourism.

"Running a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) and serving as a model for sketchers can bring in more than 100,000 yuan a year, much better than farming," Li, 68, told Nuryagdy.

Currently more than a tenth of Qikou's population is engaged in tourism-related business. The ancient town is now home to over 50 homestays.

"I also noticed that more young people are returning to start businesses, which adds vitality to the ancient town," said Nuryagdy, whose two-hour livestream show eventually attracted more than 200,000 viewers.

"With the development of new businesses, the future of Qikou will be even better," Nuryagdy said. 
By Trend

Russia is ready to negotiate with all interested parties and is open for contacts with the US as well, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, Trend reports citing TASS.

Russia, on its part, has not broken any ties, Zakharova told The Big Game show on Channel One television. "We have been answering all phone calls, and we have not blocked any ties or contacts with our partners - either with those who are still our partners or with those who we can no longer call that or with those who never was one. We are ready to negotiate and so on," the Russian diplomat said, when asked whether there have been high-profile contacts with the US in the diplomatic field.
A staff member works at an assembly line of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in a factory of Chery Holding Group Co., Ltd. in Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province, Oct. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "extremely important" not only for China and the Chinese people, but also for the whole world, as China has taken a major role in the international community after decades of development, said Laurent, also president of the National Council of the French Communist Party, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

PARIS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese path to modernization, a model adapted to the realities of China, is "important and must be respected," Pierre Laurent, vice president of the French Senate, has said.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "extremely important" not only for China and the Chinese people, but also for the whole world, as China has taken a major role in the international community after decades of development, said Laurent, also president of the National Council of the French Communist Party, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Among the efforts the human society has made, China has managed to find a new way suited to its own situation, Laurent said, adding that this political choice "bore its fruits" with the policy of reform and opening up, and then the efforts to speed up the country's development.

During his mandate as the national secretary of his party between 2010 and 2018, Laurent made two visits to China in 2011 and 2016 and was greatly impressed by the spectacular progress China had made within the five years.

"In the past decade, what is obviously striking when you visit China is the path (China) traveled to get the country out of poverty, and to put itself on the path of development by fulfilling the objectives that were set to make it a moderately prosperous society, as the Chinese leaders and the Communist Party of China proclaim," Laurent said.

Speaking of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping's initiatives to promote world peace and development and to build a human community with a shared future, Laurent said that France and other countries in the world could also take actions to move forward these initiatives.

This aerial photo shows a view of the Yangpu International Container Port in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, south China's Hainan Province, May 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Such major global challenges as food and energy security and social development "must be solved through multilateralism and in respect for all nations," Laurent stressed.

The development of capitalism over the past a century and a half has caused serious pollution on the planet. "So we will have to invent other economic models, and we will have to invent a fairer world order, with more sharing, more respect for all continents," he said.

China will play a major role in the global movement that allows for the development of all, he added.

Regarding the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by China, Laurent said that France and Europe should be attentive to these initiatives "to discuss the conditions for a new, fairer world order which will make it possible to solve the major issues of humanity."

France was one of the first major Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, Laurent recalled.

"The Europeans, the French and the Chinese can talk together about development in Africa, Asia and other continents of the world, and can talk about a multilateralism that respects all nations and all continents," he said. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of political parties and governments as well as heads of state worldwide have sent congratulations to Xi Jinping on his election as general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

As an outstanding leader of the CPC and the Chinese people, Xi has won respect across the world, said President of the Prosperity Party and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, voicing his hope to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the CPC and the Prosperity Party.

Bolivia and China are brotherly countries that support and help each other, said Evo Morales, chairperson of Bolivia's Movement Towards Socialism party and former Bolivian president.

Xi's election will promote balanced and multipolar development of regional forces, he said.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov said that under Xi's leadership, China will achieve the goal of building a great modern socialist country by building on its achievements in the past decade.

The Chinese people have made great development achievements thanks to the CPC's unremitting efforts and Xi's motivational role as the leader of the CPC, said Azat Peruashev, chairman of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan.

Aibek Matkerimov, chairman of the Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan party, said that he believes under Xi's leadership, China will surely achieve greater prosperity and development.

Under Xi's leadership, the CPC will continue to lead China to continue marching forward along the journey of developing the national economy, building a harmonious society and advancing great reforms, said Chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Ata Serdarov.

Gleisi Hoffmann, president of the Workers' Party of Brazil, said she believes that Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee will guide the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics to new achievements.

Hilal Hilal, assistant secretary-genral of Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria, said he believes that Xi will lead the Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China to unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to achieve greater progress and prosperity in China.

Those sending congratulatory messages also include:

Ayad Allawi, head of National Coalition of Iraq and former prime minister of the country;

Victor Ponta, chairman of Pro Romania and former prime minister;

Oleg Gaidukevich, chairman of The Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus;

Reverien Ndikuriyo, secretary general of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy in Burundi;

Peter Lam Both, interim secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, South Sudan;

Raphael Tuju, executive director of Azimio la Umoja -- One Kenya Coalition Party;

Kgalema Motlanthe, former deputy president of the African National Congress and former South African president, among others. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 18th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) concluded here on Tuesday, with a call for using new ways to expand media cooperation and employing modern technologies to better respond to the audience's needs.

As many as 60 directors, managers or chief editors from 35 member news agencies participated in the two-day event hosted by Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The meeting issued a final statement acknowledging that media organizations have adopted new strategies and technologies to hedge against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on traditional ways of coverage, so as to better respond to the audience's needs.

The OANA members will continue sharing experiences and enhance cooperation to acquaint new conditions, fight fake news, and enhance the credibility of reports and news products, the statement said.

Upholding the audience's right of access to accurate information, the OANA members reaffirmed that they will not allow political considerations negatively sway their professional duty to report realities, it said.

It finally stressed that international norms such as national sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries should be recognized, particularly by professional media.

The OANA was founded in Bangkok, Thailand under the UNESCO's initiative in 1961 to secure direct and free exchange of news between the news agencies of a region home to more than half of the world's population, according to its official website. 
Students study inside a makeshift classroom in Hajjah province, northern Yemen, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)



A school in war-torn Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah started the new school year two months later than other schools, as the work to rebuild it just finished a few days ago.

Despite the lack of financial support, the teachers, students and their families set up tent classrooms with tents, woods and straws after their school was damaged in clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels.

HAJJAH, Yemen, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- "You are the bright future of Yemen," Yahya Kadish, head of a newly rebuilt school in war-torn Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah, kept cheering up the students while walking from one classroom to another to welcome them back to school.

The new school year in the school, located in the village of al-Rawozm under the government-controlled northern district of Abs, started about two months later than other schools as the work to rebuild the school just finished a few days ago.

Hundreds of students and teachers, with the help of the students' parents, have built 11 classrooms with tents, woods and straws in the village, which is 7 km away from their previous school that was destroyed during clashes between the government forces and Houthi rebels.

Students study inside a tent classroom in Hajjah province, northern Yemen, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)



"We have overcome many challenges with the help of the teachers, the students, and their families, despite the difficulties and the lack of financial support, in addition to the suffering of the continuous interruption of salaries and the deteriorating economic conditions that affected everyone," Kadish told Xinhua.

These new classrooms "serve as a lifeline for the continuation of the educational process," he said.

Though without sufficient funds, equipment and power supply, "we will continue rebuilding our school and teaching our children, and we will continue breathing freedom and we will surely win," the school head vowed.

"The violent clashes have recently expanded, and we found the children's former school became at the middle of the front line, which forced us to resort to constructing these tents and huts," Khalid Jabiry, a teacher, told Xinhua.

"We helped our teachers in building these classrooms, which took us about five weeks of work, and we risked our lives to bring all the necessary materials from far away despite the dangers of mines scattered in the fields and farm," Hasan Mohammed Mubarak, a 13-year-old student, told Xinhua.

The students and teachers are determined to catch up despite the delayed start of the new school year.

"We want to continue learning at school, so we all cooperated in establishing the appropriate alternative according to the possibilities available in order to catch up with the school year and keep pace with other schools," Mubarak said.

Students help to set up a tent that is used as a makeshift classroom after their school was destroyed in Hajjah province, northern Yemen, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million others, and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that about 2,916 (at least one in four) schools in Yemen have been destroyed, partially damaged, or utilized for non-educational purposes since the start of the civil war.

It is also estimated that 2 million Yemeni children have dropped out of school and nearly 172,000 teachers have not been paid on a regular basis since 2016, many of whom have been forced to leave their posts to find alternative sources of income.

Students do morning exercise at a school that only has makeshift classrooms in Hajjah province, northern Yemen, on Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua)



Jabiry said that, despite all the difficulties and challenges, the school will try its best to keep operating, so as to give the students "a bright future."

"And yes, here it is safe, but problems and obstacles from the deteriorating economic situations are accumulating, and they may lead to a number of children dropping out of these classes and being exploited in hard work... but we will try that not happen," the teacher said.

But schools in or near the conflict zones are always at risk as long as the civil war continues.

Imene Trabelsi, the spokesperson of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the Near and Middle East, warned of a possible escalation of the conflict in Yemen.

"With the announcement of the end of the truce, there are fears of a return to the escalation of violence, and therefore there could be large numbers of children who are unable to go to school, in addition to the dangers surrounding them," Trabelsi told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

He was referring to the UN-brokered six-month-long national truce in Yemen that ended on Oct. 2. The Yemeni warring sides failed earlier this month to reach an agreement to extend the truce.

"The announcement of the end of the truce is one of the indicators that raise our fears and concerns," the ICRC spokesperson added. 
NAIROBI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has called on global leaders to spare no efforts in helping countries in the Horn of Africa to break the cycle of conflict and climate crises.

Grandi, who on Tuesday concluded a five-day visit to Somalia and Kenya, said despite urgent calls from humanitarian agencies active in Somalia, the catastrophic and multifaceted consequences are largely unnoticed as the world's attention remains elsewhere.

"We have secured funds to cover just a small percentage of the people in need," Grandi said in a statement issued on Tuesday night in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Grandi who met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reaffirmed UNHCR's commitment to supporting the country to pursue solutions for those who have been displaced.

He noted that many people have been forced to flee as people try to avert famine and seek safety. According to the UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network in Somalia, the number of people displaced internally primarily by drought this year alone is nearing one million, with nearly 500,000 others displaced due to conflict and insecurity.

According to UNHCR, many who have already been forced to flee violence have been displaced yet again by the worst drought in 40 years, due to four failed rainy seasons, with a fifth predicted.

Grandi said he met families in the central Somali town of Galkayo, who had trekked for days to reach displacement sites, and heard of the heart-breaking choices they are making for survival, such as leaving behind loved ones or selling their assets to feed their children.

"These families are the least responsible for global warming, yet they are being hit the hardest. It is tragic and it is shameful, and the world should not look away," he said.

In Kenya, Grandi visited refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma, meeting with local and county authorities, host community members and partners. In Dadaab in northeast Kenya where Somali refugees have been living in camps for more than 30 years, Grandi saw first-hand how the drought is impacting the displaced.

He said more than 50,000 Somali refugees who have arrived in recent years are in dire need of support. Some 20,000, Grandi said, have arrived in Kenya this year alone. Kenya has been hosting refugees from across the region for more than three decades and currently hosts over half a million refugees and asylum-seekers. 
China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, sets off for the country's 39th Antarctic expedition from Shanghai, east China, Oct. 26, 2022.(Polar Research Institute of China/Handout via Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, set off from Shanghai on Wednesday, marking the start of the country's 39th Antarctic expedition.

A total of 255 researchers will carry out investigations in the fields of atmospheric composition, water environment, sedimentary environment and ecosystem at the South Pole, and will arrive in two batches, with the second batch setting out on Oct. 31, 2022.

The expedition team is expected to return to China in early April next year.

With a total length of about 122 meters, a width of about 22 meters, a designed displacement of nearly 14,000 tonnes and an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles, Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically built icebreaker for polar research. 

Chinese researchers wave goodbye as the research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, sets off for the country's 39th Antarctic expedition from Shanghai, east China, Oct. 26, 2022.

A total of 255 researchers will carry out investigations in the fields of atmospheric composition, water environment, sedimentary environment and ecosystem at the South Pole, and will arrive in two batches, with the second batch setting out on Oct. 31, 2022.

The expedition team is expected to return to China in early April next year. (Polar Research Institute of China/Handout via Xinhua)

China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2, or Snow Dragon 2, sets off for the country's 39th Antarctic expedition from Shanghai, east China, Oct. 26, 2022.

A total of 255 researchers will carry out investigations in the fields of atmospheric composition, water environment, sedimentary environment and ecosystem at the South Pole, and will arrive in two batches, with the second batch setting out on Oct. 31, 2022.

The expedition team is expected to return to China in early April next year. (Polar Research Institute of China/Handout via Xinhua)
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Tuesday announced measures they were taking to end the shortage of sugar in the east African nation.

Kenneth Bengesi, the director general of state-run Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT), said the measures included the expansion of sugar factories, mobilization of farmers to grow sugarcane and attracting investors in the sugar industry.

"These measures aim at increasing sugar production from the current 380,000 tons annually to 756,000 tons annually by 2025," Bengesi told a news conference in the capital Dodoma.

He said current sugar demand in Tanzania stood at 440,000 tons annually, adding that there was a shortage of 60,000 tons annually.

Bengesi said the target of producing 756,000 tons of sugar by 2025 will satisfy local demand and the surplus will be exported abroad.

He said SBT was currently overseeing the expansion of sugar factories in the country, adding that the newly launched sugar factory in Bagamoyo district in Coast region will also help boost production.

Bengesi said plans were also underway to establish factories for producing industrial sugar which is currently being imported from overseas.

"Currently 205,000 tons of industrial sugar are imported annually at 150 million U.S. dollars," he said. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China continued its recovery momentum in the number of international air trips and volume of mail and cargo in the third quarter (Q3) of 2022, the country's civil aviation authority said Wednesday.

In Q3, the volume of international passenger trips surged 73.3 percent from Q2 to 537,000, a year-on-year increase of 36.3 percent, said Wu Shijie, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, at a press conference.

Meanwhile, the air mail and cargo transport came in at 639,000 tonnes, accounting for 104.3 percent of the number recorded in the same period in 2019, Wu said.

China has been pushing forward the construction of civil aviation infrastructure this year, with 79.85 billion yuan (about 11.15 billion U.S. dollars) invested in the sector in the first three quarters, said Zhang Qing, another official with the administration. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that China does not recognize Japan's so-called exclusive economic zone and its exercise of jurisdiction in waters east of China's Taiwan region.

Wang made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a query concerning a stand-off between Japan's coastguards and a Taiwan's research ship operating in relevant waters, which the Japanese side claimed as its exclusive economic zone.

Wang said the waters are just over 60 nautical miles from the island of Taiwan, and Chinese scientific research institutions, including those from China's Taiwan region, have the right to carry out scientific exploration activities in the area. Foreign countries should not interfere.

China and Japan have not yet carried out maritime delimitation in waters east of Taiwan, and China does not accept the notion of a so-called Japanese exclusive economic zone or its so-called exercise of jurisdiction in the relevant waters.

China has lodged representations with Japan, urging the Japanese side not to interfere with the scientific exploration activities of Chinese ships, including those from Taiwan region, in the relevant waters, Wang added. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China from Nov. 1, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Wednesday.

In response to a question on the visit, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing that this would be Sharif's first visit to China since taking office. Sharif is one of the first foreign leaders to visit China after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, demonstrating the friendship and strategic mutual trust between China and Pakistan, Wang said.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Sharif, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will hold talks with Sharif, and Li Zhanshu, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet with Sharif. The leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, Wang said.

"China looks forward to working with Pakistan to take this visit as an opportunity to promote all-weather and high-level strategic cooperation. We will build a closer China-Pakistan community of a shared future in the new era and make a greater contribution to regional peace and stability as well as international equity and justice," said Wang. 
By Trend

Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

During a meeting, the Crown Prince and and the Prime Minister reviewed the historical relations between their countries, aspects of bilateral cooperation, and ways to develop them in various fields, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also discussed regional and international developments.

After leaving Riyadh, Sharif headed to Jeddah to perform Umrah in Mecca.

At King Abdulaziz International Airport, he was received by Prince Saud bin Abdullah Jalawi, governor of Jeddah Province, and a number of officials.

Sharif is in the Kingdom to attend the sixth edition of the Future Investment Forum (FII).
HANOI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnam Motor Show 2022 kicked off on Wednesday in the country's southern Ho Chi Minh City with more than 120 models displayed.

The event, held after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted the participation of 14 brands, namely Audi, Brabus, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Morgan, MG, RAM, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

It also marks the first-time participation of vehicles from well-known brands including trucks, large capacity vehicles and electric vehicles.

A seminar about green technology in the auto industry will also be held during the five-day event.

The show aims to bring high-quality products to consumers and contribute to the development of Vietnam's automobile industry, Vietnam News Agency cited Laurent Genet, a representative from the Vehicles Importers Vietnam Association, as saying on Wednesday.

The car ownership rate in Vietnam is about 23 cars per 1,000 people, and the trend of automobilization is expected to grow in the future, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. 
GENEVA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Tuesday called on world leaders to spare no efforts in assisting countries in the Horn of Africa to break the cycle of conflicts and climate crises.

Concluding a five-day visit to Somalia and Kenya on Tuesday, Grandi warned, in a statement to the press, that the catastrophic and multifaceted consequences in the region are largely unnoticed as the world's attention remains elsewhere.

Latest UN figures showed that in Somalia, the number of people displaced internally this year -- primarily by drought -- is nearing 1 million, and about 500,000 others are displaced due to conflicts and insecurity.

Many who were forced to flee violence earlier have been displaced yet again by the worst drought in 40 years, the UN refugee agency said, adding that such extreme weather events are also intensifying globally and becoming more frequent due to climate crises.

"These families are the least responsible for global warming, yet they are being hit the hardest. It is tragic and it is shameful, and the world should not look away," Grandi said.

In Kenya, he visited refugees in Dadaab and Kakuma, where more than 50,000 Somali refugees are in dire need of support.

"The drought impact in Kenya is not in the headlines, but it deserves as much attention from the international community," Grandi said. "We must get the resources to do more for these arrivals from Somalia and affected Kenyans, too."

According to the UN figures, Kenya has provided international protection to refugees from across the region for more than three decades and currently hosts over half a million refugees and asylum-seekers. 
AMMAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Calls mount in Jordan for the public to change their food consumption habits in the light of the global food security challenge.

Around 34 percent of food in Jordan is wasted, so there is a dire need to adjust food consumption habits considering the current global conditions, Agriculture Minister Khaled Huneifat said in a recent statement.

"Sometimes people prepare more food as a gesture of generosity to their guests, but most of the leftovers end up in the trash, especially on the occasions of weddings and celebrations," said Omar Sabri, a sociologist.

"To combat food waste, we need to change our social habits of making large and lavish banquets on many social occasions. There are many families who need that food," Sabri added.

Some 53 percent of Jordanians are vulnerable to food insecurity, while about 3 percent of Jordanian households are food insecure, according to a UN policy brief published in February.

The brief, entitled "Towards the Implementation of Jordan's Food Security Strategy," pointed out that 55 percent of the food consumed in Jordan, mainly basic foods such as wheat and pulses, is imported.

The country's poverty rate stood at 24.1 percent in June, according to a statement by Jordan's Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

"Countries worldwide are currently intensifying efforts to ensure food security and sustain food supply for their citizens. Therefore, wasting one-third of Jordan's food is a big economic loss," Sarah Hamed, an economic news editor at the Jordan Press Foundation, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Jordan's Consumer Protection Society also called for reducing food waste, noting Jordan has many charities and food banks that can collect leftovers and distribute them to the needy.

Omar Awwad, president of the Jordan Association for Restaurants and Sweet Shops Owners, confirmed that numerous restaurants and sweets shops have cooperated with charities for food donations.

"More participating restaurants, food shops, and even individuals are welcome to connect with charities to offer food, instead of leaving them to expire and to be discarded," he said. 
MACAO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) is set to unveil a series of cultural events this week in celebration of the fourth annual festival with Chinese and Portuguese cultural elements, the SAR government has announced.

Leong Wai Man, head of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, said on Wednesday that the festival is aimed at further playing Macao's role of a bridge linking China and the Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) and building the city into a place where the Chinese culture dominates and multiple cultures co-exist.

According to the bureau, one of the festival organizers, the events include a film festival screening about 30 films in Chinese and Portuguese languages, such as Boy and the World, a Brazilian animated adventure film in Portuguese depicting the wonders and struggles of the modern world as seen through the eyes of a young boy.

An exhibition featuring children's books in Chinese and Portuguese is also scheduled to open on Friday, to be coupled with lectures and workshops on the intangible cultural heritage of Macao and the making of children's books.

Macao residents can also shop at markets selling specialty products made in Macao and the PSCs, and enjoy street performances of PSCs styles. 
Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2022 shows the Saudi delegates visiting the booth of Xinhua during the 6th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Wu Zhongmin/Xinhua)

RIYADH, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 6th Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference kicked off on Tuesday in the Saudi capital, with Xinhua News Agency as the first Chinese media outlet to become the event's media partner.

Called "Desert Davos," the FII conference is the largest international investment and innovation forum in the Middle East, attracting a number of political and business leaders every year.

This year's conference is held under the theme "Investing in Humanity: Enabling a New Global Order," gathering 6,000 policymakers, investors and scholars from across the globe. Some 500 Saudi or foreign speakers from different sectors will share their insights.

Photo taken on Oct. 26, 2022 shows the Saudi delegates visiting the booth of Xinhua during the 6th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Wu Zhongmin/Xinhua)

Richard Attias, CEO of Saudi Future Investment Initiative Association, told Xinhua that it is very important for Chinese entrepreneurs and investors to attend the conference which needs to hear the voice from China.

The media partnership between Xinhua News Agency and the FII conference has further strengthened the cooperation and exchanges between Saudi Arabia and China in various fields, Attias said.

The three-day event will focus on topics such as sustainable development, geo-economic rise and regional peace, and the complex challenges facing the international community in the future.

The FII conference is hosted by the Future Investment Initiative Institute under the guidance of the Saudi Ministry of Investment. The first edition was held in 2017.

Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2022 shows the 6th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (FII Institute/Handout via Xinhua)

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih (C-R) speaks during a MoU signing ceremony at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 25, 2022. (FII Institute/Handout via Xinhua)
KIGALI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Digital technologies hold key to unlocking development in Africa if much effort is put into investing in technology infrastructure, delegates attending the Global System for Mobile Communication Association (GSMA) conference said here on Tuesday.

"To ensure that no one is left behind in digital connectivity in Africa, we need to ensure more businesses have access to devices and affordable internet data because digital technologies have the potential to unlock development in Africa," said Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer of MTN Group at the ongoing GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2022 which kicked off Tuesday in the Rwandan capital city Kigali.

The three-day congress at the Kigali Convention Center, the first of its kind in Africa, attracted over 3,000 business leaders and policymakers within the Africa region's mobile ecosystem to discuss the continent's ambition to enhance the power of connectivity.

Morafo said that investing in the required digital infrastructure and ensuring no one is left behind will drive the growth of digital technologies, especially mobile connectivity on the continent.

"We must leverage private sector and government-led projects against civil society's reach to the communities we seek change for, and we must connect the unconnected one way or the other," said Paula Ingabire, Rwandan Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation.

She emphasized that strong collaboration between the private and public sectors will drive Africa's inclusive digital transformation.

"Africa stands at a unique moment in time. Over the past two decades, mobile growth across Sub-Saharan Africa has been phenomenal. Today, 46 percent of the population is connected and subscribed to mobile services, rising to 50 percent by 2025," said Mats Granryd, director general of GSMA. "In 2021, mobile technologies and services generated around eight percent of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting 3.2 million jobs across the region. Imagine what Africa will be when everyone is connected."

To continue the momentum and create more jobs and foster inclusion and reduce inequality, Granryd said that there is a need to ensure that everyone has access to connectivity and can benefit from all it offers.

"Africa is home to creative and tech-savvy youth, looking for the right platform to contribute solutions. We cannot afford to reduce them to a statistic, only, or sit idly by, as they seek opportunity outside of Africa," said Rwandan President Paul Kagame while formally opening the mobile congress.

He said that universal and meaningful connectivity for all can be a springboard, for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

"Digital technologies are a catalytic force for development in Africa, yet almost half of the low and middle-income countries do not have access to the internet even when living in areas with broadband coverage. Digital infrastructure is key but it is not enough," said Kagame.

According to Kagame, to leverage the potential of connectivity, investment in digital skills and literacy must be integrated into national policies.

According to Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2022 report, 40 percent of the adult population is now connected to mobile internet services. However, the usage gap remains a challenge whereby 44 percent live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, but do not yet use mobile internet services.

GSMA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. 
MUKONO, Uganda, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A deadly fire outbreak that killed 11 children and injured six others at a school in central Uganda on Tuesday has reawakened fire safety concerns in schools in the east African country.

The 1 a.m. fire that occurred in the Mukono district neighboring Uganda's capital city Kampala engulfed a girl's dormitory, housing 26 visually impaired children, leaving 11 dead and six critically injured, according to police.

Luke Owoyesigyire, spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Police, in a statement, said an investigation has started to establish what caused the fire at the Salam School of the Blind.

Francis Kinubi, head teacher of the school, which has a total population of 76 pupils, was quoted by the Observer, a local newspaper, as saying that the fire started from the side without power connectivity, making it hard to say that it was sparked by any power fault.

James Birungi, head of military intelligence, said while there are a lot of allegations regarding the cause of the fire, investigations will lead to the root cause. Birungi, who visited the scene, said they have heard the school has had some land wrangles and some internal management misunderstandings.

Fire incidents are common in Ugandan schools although most are not deadly. The Tuesday tragic incident is the second to happen in Ugandan schools this year.

The last deadly fire was in January when four children died in a fire outbreak in a school in the capital Kampala. In 2018, at least nine students were killed in a fire that broke out at a high school in central Uganda. Before the 2018 incident, another fatal school fire happened in 2008, killing 19 pupils at Budo Junior School in the Wakiso district.

In the Tuesday incident, parents gathered outside the school gate, each demanding to know whether their child is safe.

Fatuma Ndisaba, Resident District Commissioner (Mukono) told reporters that the children between the ages of 7 to 10 years were burnt beyond recognition. She said they can only be identified using DNA.

Jane Namatovu, a parent, got a call from the school administration informing her of an inferno. "I was home in Mukono when the school called me that my child has died in the fire outbreak. I couldn't believe till I came here, although I have not been allowed even to reach where her charred body lay in the dormitory," Namatovu said.

For Annet Namukisa, she was lucky that her daughter was among those who survived. "I came to collect my child after I heard of this terrible tragedy. Thank God, she is among the survivors," Namukisa said.

Anita Among, Speaker of Parliament, described the death of the 11 children as heartbreaking, calling for an investigation into the incident.

"Our sympathies go to the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery. Parliament expects a proper investigation to get to the bottom of it!" Among said.

Police in March this year said arsonists are to blame for a number of school fires. According to police, between January and March this year, 18 school fire incidents had been recorded.

Rescue efforts have often been hampered by overcrowding and the lack of firefighting equipment at schools.

Speaking at the launch of a school safety campaign in March, George Mutekanga, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Private Schools and Institutions of Higher Learning said a report into school fires had shown that the majority of these incidences occur in private schools. The fires were also mostly attributed to the internal intrigue within the school administrations followed by electrical issues.

The Police Fire and Rescue Services officers at the safety campaign urged schools to inculcate a culture of safety among learners in order to ensure that they can ably respond to any fire outbreak. 
People gather outside the United States Embassy compound on the Anti-Sanctions Day in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Oct. 25, 2022. Thousands of Zimbabweans on Tuesday gathered outside the United States Embassy compound in Harare to protest against sanctions imposed on the southern African nation by Western countries over two decades ago.(Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua)

by Tafara Mugwara

HARARE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Zimbabweans on Tuesday gathered outside the United States Embassy compound in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, to protest against sanctions imposed on the southern African nation by Western countries over two decades ago.

The Southern African Development Community, a 16-country regional bloc, designated Oct. 25 of each year as "Anti-Sanctions Day" since 2019 to show solidarity with Zimbabwe against the sanctions which the government says have caused untold suffering to the people.

Wielding placards and singing songs denouncing the embargo, demonstrators -- mostly young people -- lamented the negative impacts of economic sanctions on their livelihoods.

Zimbabwe has borne the brunt of economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. and its western allies led by Britain since 2001 following the decision to reclaim land from white farmers and parcel it out to formerly landless blacks.

Although the U.S. says the sanctions only target certain individuals and entities, Zimbabweans have been pushing for their removal for the past two decades, saying they have eroded the quality of their lives.

"These sanctions, they pretend as if they are targeted sanctions, yet they are not targeted because they are affecting everyone up to the grassroots. Everyone is feeling the impact of sanctions because the wealth of a country is determined by the freedom of a country to trade freely, to manage its own economics," said Willard Govha, a Harare resident.

Govha said despite Zimbabwe being a natural resources-endowed country, sanctions continue to spook investors, which in turn affects the creation of employment for the youth.

"We need investors in this country who can come, we have got several unexplored resources here, but these investors when they think of coming to Zimbabwe, they get intimidated with these sanctions, so the sanctions are just acting in a manner of destroying our country totally," Govha added.

Martin Zharare, executive director of Citizens Against Sanctions, a local anti-sanctions lobby group, said sanctions continue to wreak havoc on the lives of innocent citizens.

"Firstly, these sanctions are real and economic, and to those who say they are targeted sanctions, there is nothing like targeted sanctions, that is why you see us here at the American Embassy where we are in our thousands as ordinary people to say, these sanctions must be lifted because they have affected the economy of Zimbabwe for twenty years, and the people of Zimbabwe have suffered," he said. "Our industries have been affected, our health system has been affected, our education system has been affected, and the well-being of our people, their health - every sector has been affected by these illegal sanctions."

In addition, he said no country has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of another sovereign country.

"America has got no right to sanction us, America has got no right to come and stop the development of our country, but with their illegal sanctions, everything is at a standstill, and we are signing a petition to the American government to say remove your sanctions," he said.

Tsitsi Manyangaidze, one of the protestors, said sanctions have robbed young people of their future. "We want the sanctions to be lifted so that companies could be opened, so that we can go and find jobs as young people."

Richman Lobengula, another protester, said due to sanctions, many young people are now involved in illicit behavior since they cannot get jobs to keep themselves occupied.

"If our children were occupied with something productive, they would be at work most of the time, but because they don't have jobs, they end up being negatively influenced by peer pressure," said Lobengula.

Over the past two decades, Zimbabwe has lost at least 42 billion U.S. dollars because of the sanctions, according to Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube.

Last October, Alena Douhan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, visited Zimbabwe to assess the impact of sanctions on the country, and she concluded that sanctions had worsened the pre-existing economic challenges in the country. 

People gather outside the United States Embassy compound on the Anti-Sanctions Day in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Oct. 25, 2022. Thousands of Zimbabweans on Tuesday gathered outside the United States Embassy compound in Harare to protest against sanctions imposed on the southern African nation by Western countries over two decades ago.(Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua)
Afghan farmers receive improved seed and fertilizer in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 26, 2022. Afghan provincial administration distributed improved seed and fertilizer to nearly 16,000 farmers in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, provincial head for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Qari Abadullah Ansar said. (Photo by Zekullah Yazdani/xinhua)

SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan provincial administration distributed improved seed and fertilizer to nearly 16,000 farmers in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, provincial head for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Qari Abadullah Ansar said.

"Using improved seed and fertilizer in farmlands would have a positive impact and therefore we began distribution of the agricultural materials to the farmers in the provincial capital Shiberghan and all the districts of the province," Ansar told reporters.

"The package includes 800 tons of improved seed of wheat and 1,600 tons of chemical fertilizer and is distributed among 15,863 farmers across the province today," Ansar added.

Welcoming the step, local farmer Gul Agha told Xinhua, "We have suffered due to consecutive drought over the past years. We need more support."

The farmer added that he hoped to harvest desired grain after using the improved seed this time.

The Taliban-run caretaker government has promised to support farmers in boosting agricultural products and irrigating more than 600,000 hectares of land in the northern Balkh province and the neighboring Jawzjan and Faryab provinces over the next five years. 

Afghan farmers receive improved seed and fertilizer in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 26, 2022. Afghan provincial administration distributed improved seed and fertilizer to nearly 16,000 farmers in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, provincial head for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Qari Abadullah Ansar said. (Photo by Zekullah Yazdani/xinhua)

Afghan farmers receive improved seed and fertilizer in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, Oct. 26, 2022. Afghan provincial administration distributed improved seed and fertilizer to nearly 16,000 farmers in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday, provincial head for Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Qari Abadullah Ansar said. (Photo by Zekullah Yazdani/xinhua)
SINGAPORE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng said on Wednesday that SembCorp is installing a 200-megawatt (MW) Energy Storage System (ESS) on Singapore's Jurong Island, which will be operational by November this year.

"This is the largest ESS deployment in Southeast Asia," Tan told the second Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum at the Singapore International Energy Week. "This project will support our efforts to enhance grid reliability and also maximize solar deployment in Singapore."

According to a statement from Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA), the authority appointed Sembcorp Industries to build, own and operate 200MW/200MWh of ESS to enhance the resilience of the country's energy supply and power grid in June.

The ESS is currently being installed across two sites on Jurong Island and spans 2 hectares of land. When operational next month, it will be the largest ESS deployment in Southeast Asia, and one of the fastest of its size to be deployed.

EMA said ESS functions as large-scale batteries to store energy and dispense it at other times when needed to maintain grid reliability. The fast-response nature of ESS also allows it to actively manage mismatches in electricity supply and demand, and perform regulation services to address second-to-second fluctuations in the power grid, which can mitigate the impact of solar intermittency.

In view of the ongoing volatility in the global energy market, ESS can be used to store energy to provide reserves to the power grid when needed, freeing up power generation plants to generate more electricity to meet demand, the authority said.

It added that the ESS will use lithium iron phosphate batteries, of which the technology is a proven, safe and high-performing method of renewable energy storage widely used worldwide. 
By Trend

U.S. President Joe Biden and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a phone call on Tuesday, reaffirmed their two countries' "special relationship" and agreed on the importance of supporting Ukraine, the White House said in a statement, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Biden and Sunak also agreed on the importance of working together to address the challenges posed by China and to secure sustainable and affordable energy resources, the statement said.

They also discussed their commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, it said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ROME, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions.

The cabinet must now pass the second confidence test in the senate on Wednesday in order to become fully operative.

Ahead of the vote, Meloni outlined the key points of her government's program, vowing to lead the country as best she can through what she described as some of the toughest times in decades. She also pledged to follow European Union (EU) rules.

Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, is the first woman ever to serve as prime minister in the country.

She won 26 percent of the vote in snap elections held on Sept. 25. Brothers of Italy ran along with two allies -- Forza Italia and the League -- both of which gained over 8 percent of the vote.

Therefore, Meloni was asked by President Sergio Mattarella to lead the government on Oct. 22.

In her first speech to lawmakers ahead of the confidence vote, Meloni stressed that Italy would keep moving within the boundaries of Western alliances.

"Italy is fully part of the West and of its alliance system, a founding member of the European Union, the eurozone and the (North) Atlantic alliance," she said.

She also explained that she was aware of the curiosity surrounding her government's posture towards the EU institutions.

"I would rather talk about our posture 'within' EU institutions ... because that is where Italy will make its voice heard, not to hold integration back but to help steer it to greater effectiveness," she said.

On the domestic front, Meloni said the government's priorities include a constitutional reform to introduce a presidential system, a wider "flat-tax" system, and increasing support for households and for women in the job market. 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ANKARA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye and Libya have signed two agreements on defense cooperation, Turkiye's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Libyan Prime Minister and Defense Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah signed the two agreements when they met on the sidelines of a defense and aerospace industry fair in Istanbul on Tuesday, according to a ministry statement.

According to one of the agreements, the Turkish armed forces will help train Libyan military pilots to increase the efficiency of the country's air force, the statement said.

The other agreement focuses on improving the existing military relations between Turkiye and Libya, aiming to implement a 2019 security cooperation deal signed between Turkiye and Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), which dissolved in 2021 and was superseded by the current Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Dbeibah.

In 2019, Ankara and the GNA signed two memorandums of understanding on military cooperation and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkiye has provided military support for the Tripoli-based GNA and its successor GNU, including sending troops to Libya, against east-based forces under Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar following the deal.

On Oct. 3, Turkiye and the GNU signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on gas and oil.

Libya has been suffering political instability and chaos ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.

In February, the Libyan House of Representatives, or the parliament, appointed a new government headed by Fathi Bashagha.

However, Tripoli-based Prime Minister Dbeibah refused to hand over power, saying his government would continue working and only hand over office to an elected government. 
PARIS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese path to modernization, a model adapted to the realities of China, is "important and must be respected," Pierre Laurent, vice president of the French Senate, has said.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "extremely important" not only for China and the Chinese people, but also for the whole world, as China has taken a major role in the international community after decades of development, said Laurent, also president of the National Council of the French Communist Party, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Among the efforts the human society has made, China has managed to find a new way suited to its own situation, Laurent said, adding that this political choice "bore its fruits" with the policy of reform and opening up, and then the efforts to speed up the country's development.

During his mandate as the national secretary of his party between 2010 and 2018, Laurent made two visits to China in 2011 and 2016 and was greatly impressed by the spectacular progress China had made within the five years.

"In the past decade, what is obviously striking when you visit China is the path (China) traveled to get the country out of poverty, and to put itself on the path of development by fulfilling the objectives that were set to make it a moderately prosperous society, as the Chinese leaders and the Communist Party of China proclaim," Laurent said.

Speaking of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping's initiatives to promote world peace and development and to build a human community with a shared future, Laurent said that France and other countries in the world could also take actions to move forward these initiatives.

Such major global challenges as food and energy security and social development "must be solved through multilateralism and in respect for all nations," Laurent stressed.

The development of capitalism over the past a century and a half has caused serious pollution on the planet. "So we will have to invent other economic models, and we will have to invent a fairer world order, with more sharing, more respect for all continents," he said.

China will play a major role in the global movement that allows for the development of all, he added.

Regarding the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by China, Laurent said that France and Europe should be attentive to these initiatives "to discuss the conditions for a new, fairer world order which will make it possible to solve the major issues of humanity."

France was one of the first major Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, Laurent recalled.

"The Europeans, the French and the Chinese can talk together about development in Africa, Asia and other continents of the world, and can talk about a multilateralism that respects all nations and all continents," he said. 
ANKARA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye's Competition Authority announced on Wednesday that it had fined Meta Platforms Inc. 346.72 million liras (18.63 million U.S. dollars) for violating competition law.

The company merged the data collected from its three applications -- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which has complicated the activities of its competitors and created barriers to market entry, the Turkish authority said in a statement.

The company held a dominant position in personal social networking services, consumer communication services and online video advertising markets, the watchdog noted.

The fine was based on the company's 2021 income and the company could object to the decision within 60 days, it added.

The authority launched an investigation in 2021 when WhatsApp, a messaging application, forced its Turkish users to share their data, including phone numbers and locations, with Facebook, or they would not be able to use WhatsApp.

WhatsApp groups created by Turkiye's public institutions have moved to the local messaging apps after the privacy policy update.

The Turkish government has been tightening its regulations on social media companies in the past few years. 
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's job approval rating slipped back to 40 percent in a new Gallup poll released on Tuesday.

The number was a step down from the 44 percent measured in August but still above his term-low 38 percent from July.

In all other months in 2022, Biden's approval rating had been in the range between 40 percent and 42 percent.

The latest survey conducted earlier this month found 56 percent of Americans disapprove of Biden's performance.

His approval ratings continued to be starkly different by political party, with 85 percent of Democrats and only four percent of Republicans approving.

The 81-point gap in party ratings matches the average for Biden's presidency to date.

Thirty-nine percent of political independents approve of the job Biden is doing, slightly above the 36 percent average approval rating among independents from January to September.

Americans' evaluations of the job Biden is doing as president continue to be more negative than positive, as they have for over a year now.

Given the relationship between low job approval ratings and midterm election outcomes, Biden's unpopularity is likely to be a drag on his fellow Democrats' chances in this fall's voting, according to Gallup. 
A shocking incident is coming out from Thailand, where an old woman fell in love with a boy 37 years younger than her. The 19-year-old boy fell so madly in love that he got engaged to a 56-year-old old woman and is also preparing to get married soon. Everyone is surprised to know about this relationship and is doing many kinds of things. Not only this, according to the news received, the relationship between the two is going on for almost 9 years.

The same boy and an older woman got engaged in Thailand despite the age difference of 37 years, which has made international headlines. 19-year-old Wuthichai Chantaraj met his 56-year-old Janla Namuangrak fiancee when he was 10 years old. According to the report, Wuthichai was a neighbour of Janla in the Sakhon Nakhon province of northeastern Thailand. Janla Namuangrak had sought Chantaraja's help in cleaning her house and due to the process of working, the two became friends. The couple later got into a relationship and now despite the age difference of 37 years, both are together for years.



Wuthichai said that I have been with Janla for two years. This is the first time in my life that I felt that someone was living comfortably with me. Let us tell you that Wuthichai is also fondly called by the name Tung. He continued, 'I saw her dilapidated house and was thinking of ways to help myself live in a better position. She is a hardworking lady and honest. I admire her.' Meanwhile, the couple is not bothered about their age difference and doesn't shy away from showing affection in public and in interviews. They kiss each other and hold hands while going out on a date in the city. This matter is currently in the news.

World's dirtiest person dies after bathing, know the whole matter

Congress angers Tavleen Singh over allegations of files taken out of PMO

Tharoor accepts his failure, Says the revival of Congress has begun
Steinmeier says situation in Ukraine more terrible than we imagine after visit to country 26 October, 05:33 PM German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Photo:REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)

Following his visit to Ukraine, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told German newspaper Tagesschau on Oct. 25 that every compassionate person wants the fighting in Ukraine to end.

It's much more terrible (there) than we imagine in Germany, the German president said.

There was an air raid during Steinmeiers visit to Chernihiv Oblast, and he had to go to a bomb shelter, where he had the chance to talk to local residents. According to Steinmeier, he was shocked by peoples stories of the Russian occupation.

Video of day

Any peace must be just, he told Tagesschau.

That means that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be preserved. (But) we are not at that stage yet, Steinmeier added.

The German president visited Ukraine on Oct. 25. It was his first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war unleashed on the country by Russia on Feb.24.

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Zelenskyy says Israel transferring intelligence on Iranian drones 26 October, 08:11 PM         (Photo:Office of the President of Ukraine)

Ukraine and Israel are currently at the beginning of cooperation now that Israel has given Ukraine intelligence on the Iranian drones that the Kremlin regime uses to attack Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 26.

Zelenskyy was speaking during a joint briefing with his counterpart from Guinea-Bissau, Umar Sissoko Embalo in Kyiv on Oct. 26.

Everyone is concerned about our relationship (with Israel), Zelenskyy said.

However, it has warmed up recently. After a pause, we see steps forward... Were at the beginning of cooperation with Israel. And this is a positive sign from Israel. Im grateful for that.

Video of day

Israels transfer of intelligence on the drones supplied by Tehran to Moscow began a few days ago, the Ukrainian leader said, However, he said he prefers not to disclose any details at this time.

Zelenskyy also said that he expects even greater support from Israel.

Israel knows what war is, Zelenskyy said. We believe that Israel should support Ukraine more. We have been waiting for it since Feb. 24. We see that the Israeli people support the Ukrainians, but we are in need of the political leadership from Israel.

Having failed to achieve any significant success in Ukraine, the Russian Federation in recent weeks has launched massive strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and even residential buildings, using both missiles and kamikaze drones purchased from Iran.

About 30% of Ukraines power plants have been damaged as a result of such attacks to date.

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Unwanted pesticide disposal events set for Woodward and Muskogee

Media Contact: Trisha Gedon | Senior Communications Specialist | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State Universitys Pesticide Safety Education Program is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to host two unwanted pesticide disposal days in Woodward on Nov. 16 and Muskogee on Nov. 17.

The Oklahoma Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program events will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Woodward County Fairgrounds, 108 Temple Houston Dr., in Woodward, and the Muskogee County Fairgrounds, 1440 S. Cherokee, in Muskogee.

Farmers, ranchers, applicators, pesticide dealers and homeowners may bring up to 2,000 pounds of pesticides to the drop-off sites for proper disposal at no charge. A fee is required if bringing more than 2,000 pounds of pesticides.

ODAFF has contracted with Clean Earth, a licensed hazardous waste company, to collect and properly dispose of waste pesticides. Pesticide dealers are asked to preregister through the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program because of the potential for large quantities of pesticides coming in from multiple dealers. Applicators and agricultural producers are not required to preregister. Paint, batteries, oil or fertilizer will not be accepted.

Participants will need to safely transport their pesticides to one of the collection sites. Pick-up services are not available. Please check out these safe transportation tips.

Originating in 2006, nearly 1.2 million pounds of pesticides have been properly disposed of during the Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Days, keeping them out of rivers, streams, landfills, storm drains and illegal roadside dumps. Proper disposal also lessens the chance of groundwater contamination and helps consumers get rid of containers taking up space in their barns, storage buildings and garages in an environmentally safe manner.

For more information, visit the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program website or contact Charles Luper, OSU Extension associate, at 405-744-5808.
Microsoft-owned GitHub has an annual recurring revenue of $1 billion with over 90 million active users, said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft. In the September quarter, Microsoft Cloud again exceeded $25 billion in revenue, up 24 per cent year-over-year."We're also seeing more customers turn to us to build and innovate with infrastructure they already have. We now have more than 8,500 Azure Arc customers, more than double the number a year ago," Nadella said during the company's quarterly earnings call late on Tuesday."We are the only cloud provider with direct and secure access to Oracle databases running an Oracle Cloud infrastructure, making it possible for companies like FedEx, GE, and Marriott to use capabilities from both companies," he added.More than 90 million people now use the open source platform GitHub to build software for any cloud on any platform up three times. "GitHub advanced security is helping organisations improve their security posture by bringing features directly into the developer's workflow," he informed.Users now interact with Microsoft Teams 1,500 times per month on average. LinkedIn now has more than 875 million members, with international growth increasing at nearly 2x the pace as in the United States, Nadella said. Bengaluru: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella addresses during the Microsoft.
By Trend

Turkish and Israeli defense ministers will hold a rare face-to-face meeting as the latter will pay a visit to the Turkish capital tomorrow as part of the ongoing normalization process between the two countries, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News on Wednesday.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz will come to Ankara on Thursday as the official guest of Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. It will be the first meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries since 2010.
Aecon Group Inc. (CNW Group/Aecon Group Inc.)

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) ("Aecon" or the "Company") today reported results for the third quarter of 2022 with 19% year-to-date revenue growth and backlog of $6.3 billion as at September 30, 2022.

"Aecon continues to see strong demand for its services across Canada, particularly in smaller and medium sized projects," said Jean-Louis Servranckx, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc. "With strong and diversified backlog in hand, as well as the GO Rail Expansion On-Corridor Works project which is not yet in backlog, robust demand for recurring revenue programs driven by the utilities sector, and ongoing recovery in airport traffic in Bermuda, Aecon is well positioned for ongoing growth."

HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 of $1,321 million was $157 million, or 14 per cent, higher compared to the same period in 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA of $92.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 (margin of 7.0 per cent) compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $95.5 million (margin of 8.2 per cent) in the same period in 2021, and operating profit of $61.0 million compared to operating profit of $63.7 million in the same period in 2021.

After adjusting for the impact of amounts related to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") program in the third quarter of 2021, Adjusted EBITDA of $92.6 million increased by $4.4 million and operating profit of $61.0 million increased by $4.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

Net profit of $34.5 million (diluted earnings per share of $0.45) for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to a net profit of $38.4 million (diluted earnings per share of $0.56) during the same period in 2021, before adjusting for the impact of CEWS in 2021.

Reported backlog as at September 30, 2022 of $6,275 million compares to backlog of $6,043 million as at September 30, 2021.

New contract awards of $991 million were booked in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $682 million in the same period in 2021. Year-to-date new awards of $3,507 million increased by $1,030 million, or 42 per cent, compared to $2,477 million in the 2021 year-to-date period.

Aecon was awarded two contracts with an aggregate value of $127 million for the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Demolition and Removal and SRNS Temporary HVAC projects in Aiken, South Carolina.

Aecon released its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, reaffirming its commitment to collaboratively seek meaningful ways to engage in reconciliation by continuously working in unison with Indigenous Peoples.

Aecon Sustainability Solutions was established as a collaborative business model to provide a single point of entry to Aecon's diverse capabilities as we advise and work with clients in reaching their sustainability and energy transition goals.

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(1)











































Three months ended

Nine months ended



$ millions (except per share amounts)

September 30

September 30







2022



2021

2022



2021





























Revenue $ 1,320.5

$ 1,163.4 $ 3,429.7

$ 2,888.8



Gross profit

118.6



123.2

257.3



272.5



Marketing, general and administrative expense

(42.5)



(42.4)

(148.3)



(134.4)



Income from projects accounted for using the equity method

5.0



4.0

11.8



10.4



Other income

3.6



0.9

6.0



6.0



Depreciation and amortization

(23.8)



(22.1)

(70.2)



(66.4)



Operating profit

61.0



63.7

56.5



88.1



Finance income

0.6



0.1

0.9



0.4



Finance cost

(15.1)



(11.8)

(40.1)



(33.7)



Profit before income taxes

46.5



52.0

17.2



54.8



Income expense recovery

(12.0)



(13.5)

(6.5)



(17.2)



Profit $ 34.5

$ 38.4 $ 10.7

$ 37.6





























Gross profit margin(4)

9.0 %



10.6 %

7.5 %



9.4 %



MG&A as a percent of revenue(4)

3.2 %



3.6 %

4.3 %



4.7 %



Adjusted EBITDA(2) $ 92.6

$ 95.5 $ 151.7

$ 177.6



Adjusted EBITDA margin(3)

7.0 %



8.2 %

4.4 %



6.1 %



Operating margin(4)

4.6 %



5.5 %

1.6 %



3.0 %



Earnings per share  basic $ 0.57

$ 0.64 $ 0.18

$ 0.62



Earnings per share  diluted $ 0.45

$ 0.56 $ 0.16

$ 0.59























































Backlog(2)









$ 6,275

$ 6,043

































(1) This Press Release Presents Certain Non-gaap and Supplementary Financial Measures, As Well As Non-gaap Ratios to Assist Readers in Understanding the Company's Performance (Gaap Refers to Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Further Details on These Measures and Ratios Are Included in the "Non-gaap and Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" Sections of This Press Release. (2) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP and Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each non-GAAP financial measure. (3) This is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the "Non-GAAP and Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each non-GAAP ratio. (4) This is a supplementary financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP and Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each supplementary financial measure.



Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2022 of $1,321 million was $157 million, or 14%, higher compared to the third quarter of 2021. In the Construction segment, higher revenue of $156 million was driven by increases in civil ($167 million), utilities ($22 million), and nuclear operations ($9 million), partially offset by lower revenue in industrial ($29 million) and urban transportation solutions ($13 million). In the Concessions segment, revenue was unchanged quarter-over-quarter. Inter-segment revenue eliminations decreased by $1 million due to lower revenue between the Construction segment and Corporate.

Operating profit of $61.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 decreased by $2.7 million compared to an operating profit of $63.7 million in the same period in 2021. The largest driver of the period-over-period change was lower gross profit of $4.6 million. Included in gross profit in the third quarter of 2021 was a net positive impact from subsidy related to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS") program ($7.3 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2021), recorded as cost recovery within gross profit in the Construction segment. After adjusting for the impact of CEWS amounts reported in the third quarter of 2021, gross profit in the third quarter of 2022 increased by $2.7 million compared to the same period in 2021. In the Construction segment, gross profit increased by $4.1 million from higher volume partially offset by lower gross profit margin primarily from pipeline activity in industrial operations. In the Concessions segment, gross profit decreased by $1.4 million, primarily from a reduction in results from airport operations at the Bermuda International Airport.

MG&A for the three months ended September 30, 2022 increased by $0.1 million compared to the same period in 2021, and MG&A as a percentage of revenue for the third quarter decreased from 3.6% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2022.

Reported backlog as at September 30, 2022 of $6,275 million compares to backlog of $6,043 million as at September 30, 2021. New contract awards of $991 million and $3,507 million were booked in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, in 2022 compared to $682 million and $2,477 million in the same periods in 2021.

REPORTING SEGMENTS

Aecon reports its financial performance on the basis of two segments: Construction and Concessions.

CONSTRUCTION SEGMENT







Three months ended



Nine months ended



$ millions

September 30



September 30







2022



2021



2022



2021































Revenue $ 1,298.8

$ 1,142.4

$ 3,374.5

$ 2,841.2



Gross profit $ 108.2

$ 111.4

$ 234.2

$ 253.4



Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 82.0

$ 82.1

$ 135.0

$ 155.1



Operating profit $ 63.4

$ 63.4

$ 77.3

$ 104.7































Gross profit margin(3)

8.3 %



9.7 %



6.9 %



8.9 %



Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)

6.3 %



7.2 %



4.0 %



5.5 %



Operating margin(3)

4.9 %



5.6 %



2.3 %



3.7 %



Backlog(1)











$ 6,179

$ 5,965



































(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP And Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each non-GAAP financial measure. (2) This is a non-GAAP ratio. Refer to the "Non-GAAP And Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each non-GAAP ratio. (3) This is a supplementary financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP And Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each supplementary financial measure.



Revenue in the Construction segment for the three months ended September 30, 2022 of $1,299 million was $156 million, or 14%, higher compared to the same period in 2021. Revenue was higher in civil operations ($167 million) driven by an increase in both major projects and roadbuilding construction work; in utilities operations ($22 million) primarily due to an increase in telecommunications and high-voltage electrical transmission work; and in nuclear operations ($9 million) driven by a higher volume of refurbishment work at nuclear generating stations located in Ontario. Partially offsetting these increases was lower revenue in industrial operations ($29 million) driven primarily by decreased activity on mainline pipeline work in western Canada and in urban transportation solutions ($13 million) primarily from a decrease in light rail transit ("LRT") work in Ontario.

Operating profit in the Construction segment of $63.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2022 was unchanged compared to the same period in 2021. Construction segment operating profit in the third quarter of 2021 included a net positive impact from amounts related to the CEWS program totalling $7.3 million recorded as cost recovery within gross profit. After adjusting for the impact of CEWS amounts reported in the third quarter of 2021, operating profit in the third quarter of 2022 increased by $7.3 million. This increase resulted in part from higher gross profit ($4.1 million after adjusting for the impact of CEWS in the third quarter of 2021), due to increased revenue partially offset by lower gross profit margin primarily from pipeline activity in industrial operations. Also positively impacting operating profit in the period was lower MG&A ($2.6 million), an increase in gains on the sale of equipment and other assets ($1.6 million), higher income from projects accounted for using the equity method ($0.2 million), partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense ($1.2 million) related to increased equipment utilization.

Construction backlog as at September 30, 2022 was $6,179 million, which was $214 million higher than the same time last year. Backlog increased period-over-period in civil operations ($513 million), industrial ($72 million), and nuclear ($46 million), and decreased in urban transportation solutions ($399 million), and utilities ($18 million). New contract awards totaled $966 million in the third quarter of 2022 and $3,438 million year-to-date, compared to $657 million and $2,424 million, respectively, in the same periods last year. During the first nine months of 2022, Aecon was awarded a number of projects including the Kingstown Port Modernisation Project Works, Lot 1: Primary Cargo Port in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Interstate-90 / State Road-18 to Deep Creek Interchange Improvements and Widening project near Snoqualmie, Washington, and two contracts for the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Demolition and Removal and SRNS Temporary HVAC projects in Aiken, South Carolina. In addition, an Aecon joint venture was awarded the contract for the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Renewal project in Saskatchewan, an Aecon partnership was awarded a contract for the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport REM Station project in Quebec, and an Aecon partnership was awarded the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel project in British Columbia.

CONCESSIONS SEGMENT









Three months ended



Nine months ended



$ millions

September 30



September 30







2022



2021



2022



2021































Revenue $ 21.8

$ 21.7

$ 55.4

$ 50.0



Gross profit $ 10.4

$ 11.8

$ 22.7

$ 19.3



Income from projects accounted for using the equity method $ 3.4

$ 2.5

$ 10.2

$ 8.2



Adjusted EBITDA(1) $ 20.7

$ 21.8

$ 51.7

$ 47.5



Operating profit $ 8.3

$ 8.9

$ 15.1

$ 9.5



Backlog(1)











$ 96

$ 78































(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Non-GAAP And Supplementary Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations and Calculations" sections of this press release for more information on each non-GAAP financial measure.



Aecon holds a 100% interest in Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited ("Skyport"), the concessionaire responsible for the Bermuda airport's operations, maintenance and commercial functions, and the entity managing and coordinating the overall delivery of the Bermuda International Airport Redevelopment Project over a 30-year concession term that commenced in 2017. Aecon's participation in Skyport is consolidated and, as such, is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements by reflecting, line by line, the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of Skyport. However, Aecon's concession participation in the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Finch West LRT, Gordie Howe International Bridge, and Waterloo LRT projects are joint ventures that are accounted for using the equity method.

For the three months ended September 30, 2022, revenue in the Concessions segment of $22 million was unchanged compared to the same period in 2021, while for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, revenue of $55 million was $5 million higher when compared to the same period in 2021. Higher revenue for the nine months ended in 2022 was primarily due to an increase in commercial flight operations at the Bermuda International Airport. Commercial flight operations in Bermuda continue to operate at a reduced volume due to COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic levels but have partially recovered from the more severe impacts experienced in 2020 and 2021.

Operating profit in the Concessions segment for the three months ended September 30, 2022 decreased by $0.6 million compared to the same period in 2021 primarily due to higher operating costs in the current period at the Bermuda International Airport. Operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased by $5.6 million, compared to the same period in 2021 primarily as a result of an improvement in airport operations at the Bermuda International Airport.

Except for Operations and Maintenance ("O&M") activities under contract for the next five years and that can be readily quantified, Aecon does not include in its reported backlog expected revenue from concession agreements. As such, while Aecon expects future revenue from its concession assets, no concession backlog, other than from such O&M activities for the next five years, is reported.

OUTLOOK

Demand for Aecon's services across Canada continues to be strong, particularly in smaller and medium sized projects, as evidenced by year-to-date revenue growth of 19% and higher new project awards of 42%. In addition, during 2022, an Aecon consortium was selected to deliver the transformative, multi-billion-dollar long-term GO Rail Expansion On-Corridor Works project in Ontario under a progressive design, build, operate and maintain contract model which begins with a two-year development phase leading into the main construction scope and a 25-year operations and maintenance component, none of which is yet reflected in backlog. Aecon is also pre-qualified on a number of project bids due to be awarded during the next twelve months and has a strong pipeline of opportunities to further add to backlog over time. With backlog of $6.3 billion and recurring revenue programs continuing to see robust demand, driven by the utilities sector and ongoing recovery in airport traffic in Bermuda, Aecon is confident in strong revenue growth over the next few years.

While volatile global and Canadian economic conditions are impacting inflation, interest rates, and overall supply chain efficiency, these factors have largely been and will continue to be reflected in the pricing and commercial terms of the Company's recent and prospective project awards and bids. However, certain ongoing joint venture projects that were bid some years ago have experienced impacts related, in part, to those factors, that will require satisfactory resolution of claims with the respective clients  see Section 13 "Risk Factors" in the third quarter 2022 Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") regarding the risk on four large fixed-price legacy projects entered into in 2018 or earlier by joint ventures in which Aecon is a participant.

In the Construction segment, with strong demand, growing recurring revenue programs, and diverse backlog in hand, Aecon is focused on ensuring solid execution on its projects and selectively adding to backlog through a disciplined bidding approach that supports long-term margin improvement in this segment.

In the Concessions segment, in addition to expecting a gradual recovery in travel through the Bermuda International Airport during the balance of 2022 and through 2023, there are a number of opportunities to add to the existing portfolio of Canadian and international concessions in the next 12 to 24 months, including in innovative projects with private sector clients that support a collective focus on sustainability and the transition to a net-zero economy.

As of September 30, 2022, Aecon had a committed revolving credit facility of $600 million, of which $210 million was drawn, and $3 million was utilized for letters of credit. The Company has no debt or working capital credit facility maturities until the second half of 2023, except equipment loans and leases in the normal course.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

The consolidated results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are available at the end of this news release.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ARVANA ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA TO ADVANCE ITS PLANS FOR AN ENERGY BROKERAGE DIVISION, AND THE CLOSING OF ITS PRIVATE PLACEMENT

SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / Arvana Inc. ("OTC:AVNI") today provided an update on its plan to form a brokerage division to facilitate international transactions in the delivery of oil and gas products, and as to the closing of its private placement.

Arvana, Inc., Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Press release picture

An Arvana energy brokerage division intends to match sellers in the Middle East and Africa, with purchase orders and letters of credit provided by buyers in the Asia, to facilitate the procurement, payment and delivery of crude oil.

Arvana representatives travelled in September to establish business contacts, identify key government agencies, and formulate key strategies to identify opportunities in the energy sector. Our representatives were also tasked to evaluate prospects in other natural resources that might be available to us. Discussions with representatives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Juba, South Sudan focused on the delivery of oil to China. Negotiations intended to secure energy delivery contracts are ongoing as Arvana works to define delivery and brokerage fees. Arvana representatives were also introduced to other resource based opportunities that included prospects within the mineral and forestry industries. No contracts have yet been agreed.

Ruairidh Campbell, AVNI's chief executive officer, stated "I am very much encouraged by the results of our business development mission. The world remains very much resource driven, and given geopolitical adventurism around the world, I believe that there are many good opportunities for Arvana to participate as a broker in the international market place".

We are further pleased to announce that Arvana has closed a previously disclosed non-brokered private placement offering of common shares pursuant to which it issued 1,800,000 shares at a price of $0.20 for aggregate gross proceeds of $360,000, of which it paid $32,000 in offering expenses. Arvana intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes and to build an energy brokerage division.

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The common shares sold in the private placement were offered to accredited investors only in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), were not registered under the Securities Act or any state, provincial or other securities laws, and cannot be offered in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. Neither the United States Securities & Exchange Commission, nor any other securities regulatory body passed on the merits of or gave their approval to Arvana's offering, the terms of the placement, or the accuracy of the private placement materials. Common shares sold in the private placement remain subject to legal and contractual restrictions on transfer.

Arvana Inc.

Arvana ("OTC:AVNI") is a public company registered under the Securities & Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act") that is quoted on the OTC Pink Sheets. The implementation of Arvana's business development strategy is intended, in part, to transition the company from its present designation as a "shell company" to that of an operating company in accordance with the Exchange Act.

Forward-Looking Statements

Several statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements of future expectations based on currently available information that are subject to risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, changes in capital markets, regulatory legislation, and other circumstances that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expectations. Arvana does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or status of such statements so it will not be liable for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this press release. Arvana encourages the public to read the information provided in conjunction with its recent filings on Form 8-K and Form 10-Q which may be viewed at www.sec.gov .

Arvana Inc.

Ruairidh Campbell, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: +1 801 232 7395

Email: ruairidhcampbell@msn.com

Website: http://www.arvana.us

SOURCE: Arvana, Inc.





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FILE PHOTO: A Commonwealth Bank of Australia logo adorns the wall of a branch in Sydney, Australia

(Reuters) - Australia's corporate regulator said it had appealed the Federal Court's decision to dismiss its petition against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its pension unit on allegations of improperly collecting commissions.

Last month, the Australian Federal Court dismissed a petition by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that accused the country's top lender and Colonial First State of a scheme, where the bank took commission to sell products for its unit from 2013 to 2019, a banned practice known as conflicted remuneration.

"We have appealed this decision because we are concerned that it will limit the operation of conflicted remuneration laws introduced in 2012," ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said in a statement on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
MONTREAL, Oct. 26, 2022 /CNW/ - Auxico Resources Canada Inc. ("Auxico") (CSE: AUAG) is pleased to announce that it has signed a joint-venture agreement for high-grade tin trading operations in Colombia, which provides the Company with a 70% profit share on all sales of tin ore executed with Gracor S.A.S. ("Gracor"). This agreement represents a significant amount of tin and potentially a new source of sustainable revenue for the Company, with the objective of exporting a minimum of 100 tonnes per month of high-grade tin at average grades exceeding 65% tin content, which could potentially commence as of the end of December 2022. The 3-month bid price of tin per tonne is  US$18,400 on the London Metal Exchange, effective October 26th, 2022.

Auxico Resources Logo (CNW Group/Auxico Resources Canada Inc.)

Gracor's principal business is the purchase of tin from the indigenous population in the state of Vichada, Colombia. Gracor is purchasing ore rich in tin content, sourced from and hosted in alluvial sands on surface, on properties in close proximity to Auxico's Minastyc Property, located in Vichada, Colombia. Auxico will be providing Gracor with the working capital to increase its direct purchases and will sell tin according to international standards and in relation to offtake agreements already in place, including the previously announced offtake with Cuex Metal AG (see news release dated August 23rd, 2022) and other commercial agreements that are currently being negotiated.

As reported in June 2021, Auxico announced the discovery of a high-grade tin-tantalum target area on its Minastyc Property (with titanium, niobium, scandium and hafnium credits) that has been subject to pit sampling (see news release dated June 24th, 2021, and Table 1). Samples previously taken from the tin-tantalum target area were the result of pan concentration and screening, and were sent to Canada for analysis by Coalia Research Institute in Thetford Mines. Refer to the table below with results on three selected samples from the tin-tantalum area. Previously announced samples from pits on the Company-controlled property displayed test results of 33.75-62.13% tin content, inferring the development potential of a major tin operation in Colombia.

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Table 1: Tin-Tantalum Target Area

SnO2 % Ta2O5 % TiO2 % Nb2O5 % Sc2O3 % HfO2

% Yb2O3 % Sample #1 33.75 25.08 15.5 7.45 0.59 0.34 0.12 Sample #2 44.6 18.71 11.46 8.15 0.38 0.24 0.21 Sample #3 62.13 12.58 6.4 5.35 0.29 0.16 0.21 Sample #18 47.2 9.29 0.07 3.24 0.13 0.06 0.4 Average grade across 4 samples 46.92 16.415 8.3575 6.0475 0.3475 0.2 0.235 Market price/ton ($USD) 18,000 158,000 3,000 170,000 3,800,000 80,000 50,000 *Note: representative of only the above 4 samples and not a resource, also market pricing may vary

Table 1: Reference to Minastyc Property samples announced in news release dated June 24, 2021

The Company has undertaken a series of tests including magnetic gravity and optical separation on the above samples to produce separate concentrates of tin, tantalum, scandium and hafnium in order to optimize the value of each concentrate.

Frederick Kozak, CEO and President of Auxico Resources commented, "A discovery of alluvial sands running exceptionally high-grades of tin implies a massive opportunity for the Company to immediately enter the tin trading market and establish a second revenue stream outside of its successful rare earth trading operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tapping into additional high-grade sources of tin outside of and in addition to the established mineral content and resource of the Minastyc Property, is an enormous value proposition to increase shareholder value."

Qualified Person

This news release was reviewed and approved by Jorge Cruz Martin, P.Geo., an independent consultant to Auxico, in his capacity as a Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Disclaimer: The samples in Table 1 above were selected under the supervision of one of the property owners. These samples were shipped to Coalia Research Institute in Thetford Mines, Quebec, and analyzed using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence). The values presented above are not in compliance with NI 43-101. The Company cautions the reader as to the reliability of the samples and the results thereof. The Company and the QP do not take any responsibility for the values presented in this news release and are being referred to for general information purposes only, and to demonstrate the potential that this property holds. Further due diligence will be conducted by Auxico's QP.

About Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Auxico Resources Canada Inc. ("Auxico" or the "Company") is a Canadian company that was founded in 2014 and based in Montreal. Auxico is engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Additional information on Auxico can be found on the Company's website (www.auxicoresources.com) or on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under "Auxico Resources Canada Inc."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 signed 

 signed  Frederick Kozak

Mark Billings President & CEO, Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Chairman, Auxico Resources Canada Inc. fk@auxicoresources.com

mb@auxicoresources.com Cell: +1 403 606 3165

Cell: +1 514 296 1641

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 Auxico Resources Canada Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/26/c9764.html
Content-packed events for professional and personal growth are designed to motivate, inspire and ignite change.

Buffini & Company 2023 Event Lineup

With Brian Buffini and Powerful, Motivational Guest Speakers

Carlsbad, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Oct. 26, 2022) The just announced 2023 lineup of Buffini & Company events has been created to motivate, inspire and change the lives and businesses of those who attend. The events, to be held at locations across North America in 2023 include the popular Master Class, The Peak Experience, MasterMind Summit and Team Leader Conference.

Master Class is a Buffini & Company event designed to help real estate professionals become better business owners. Through carefully crafted sessions, attendees will be immersed in next-level business strategies and personal growth content delivered by Brian Buffini, the companys founder and chairman, as well as a roster of powerhouse speakers. A networking mixer will be held the night before each event where attendees can learn from other professionals to connect and exchange ideas.

The event will be held at four different locations in 2023 - Monterey, Calif., Jan. 18-19; Nashville, March 23-24; Orlando, June 12-13; and Seattle, Oct. 18-19. To register for a Master Class event, visit www.buffiniandcompany.com/mc.

Considered Buffini & Companys most elite event, The Peak Experience is a multi-day conference created specifically for top earners in real estate. Industry legend Brian Buffini, as well as expert guest speakers, will present rich, customized content designed to inspire a unique, in-depth journey of personal and professional growth. The atmosphere is ideal for attendees to connect with other growth-minded professionals. The Peak Experience will be held May 7-10, 2023 in Scottsdale, Ariz. An evening event will be held May 7, followed by three days of content. The event is currently sold out but waitlist submissions are being accepted.

MasterMind Summit is a personal growth and development event open to anyone who wants to be inspired and motivated to unlock the very best version of themselves. Brian Buffini and other guest speakers will share their deeply personal stories of overcoming obstacles on their way to success. MasterMind Summit promises to challenge a persons way of thinking and provide practical tactics that can be used in all aspects of life. The event will be held in San Diego on Aug. 9-10, 2023. This event is likely to sell out so be sure to register early at www.buffiniandcompany.com/mm.

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Team Leader Conference will be held on Sept. 7-8, 2023 in Austin, Texas. At this two-day conference, top industry leaders from across North America will gather to exchange ideas, grow their leadership skills and work on building, growing and retaining their teams. Attendees will connect and network with industry legends with decades of experience to learn whats working, and not working, for them and their teams. For more information visit www.buffiniandcompany.com/tlc.

For more than 26 years, Buffini & Company events have brought thousands of growth-minded individuals together from all over North America to impact and improve their lives and businesses for the better. To learn more about Buffini & Company events, and to secure your spot, visit www.buffiniandcompany.com/events.

###

About Buffini & Company

Buffini & Company is the largest coaching and training company in North America. Founded by real estate legend and master motivator Brian Buffini, the company provides a unique and highly effective lead generation system. Buffini & Companys comprehensive business coaching, training programs, and cutting-edge content have helped more than 3 million professionals in 41 countries improve their businesses, increase net profit and enhance their quality of life. Buffini & Company is headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif. For more information, visit www.buffiniandcompany.com.

About Brian Buffini

Brian Buffini, chairman and founder of Buffini & Company, was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland and emigrated to San Diego, Calif. in 1986, where he became the classic American rags-to-riches story. Discovering real estate, Brian quickly became one of the nations top real estate agents working a non-traditional methodology based on building long-term relationships with clients. Today, he travels the world sharing a message of encouragement about how to live your best life. His wit, wisdom and motivational style make him a dynamic speaker and host of Its a Good Life podcast where he delivers simple tips, tools and training for a good life. He is a New York Times, Amazon and Wall Street Journal best-seller with his latest book, The Emigrant Edge. Learn more at www.brianbuffini.com.

Attachment

CONTACT: Courtney Donovan Buffini & Company (760) 827-2101 x2139 courtneyd@buffiniandcompany.com




State and Local Government Leaders Report Funding Challenges and Concerns with Deferred Maintenance, Workforce Shortages, Outdated Technology

DUBUQUE, Iowa, October 26, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cartegraph released findings from its inaugural "State of Infrastructure Funding and Technology" research report today. The organization partnered with the Center for Digital Government to survey hundreds of U.S. state and local government leaders on their jurisdictions pressing infrastructure needs and readiness to utilize federal funding. The survey findings revealed challenges in leveraging new funding sources and concerns surrounding deferred maintenance, workforce shortages and outdated technology.

Seventy-three percent of respondents indicated the most pressing need for improving the condition of their jurisdictions infrastructure is fundingboth for maintenance and new projects. However, 63% of those surveyed reported that their community is not fully prepared to apply for and use federal funds. The most common challenges in leveraging funds for infrastructure were staffing (38%), identifying funding (33%), applying for funding (31%), out-of-date technology or equipment (25%), and identifying or prioritizing needs (24%).

Among the surveys other key findings:

In Need of Improvement: Sixty-three percent of respondents rated their infrastructure as fair or worse. Roads (58%), broadband (35%), bridges and tunnels (34%), stormwater (34%), and buildings and facilities (34%) were identified as the top five infrastructure areas in need of improvement.

Fix It First: After funding challenges, survey respondents listed addressing their deferred maintenance backlog as their next most pressing need. Three in four respondents involved with infrastructure projects reported deferred maintenance costs as a concern.

Staffing Shortage Woes: More than one in three respondents faces staffing challenges. Finance departments are particularly under pressure, with 48% reporting staffing issues.

Behind the Times: Jurisdictions still rely on outdated technology to track and manage assets according to respondents at least somewhat involved in infrastructure projects. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed rely on spreadsheets, 34% use paper records and 12% have no system in place.

Technology Impacts Performance: Those using off-the-shelf or custom software to manage their infrastructure were 42% more likely to rate their processes and systems as good or better. Those using spreadsheets and paper records were over 2.5 times as likely to report their processes and systems as poor or worse. Further, those using off-the-shelf or custom software were 46% more likely to rate the overall condition of their infrastructure as good or better. Those using spreadsheets and paper records were 36% more likely to report the condition as poor or worse.

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For a complete report of findings, respondent demographics, expert quotes and additional resources, please visit cartegraph.com/infrastructure.

About the Survey:

In February and March 2022, Cartegraph and the Center for Digital Government conducted a national survey of 259 state and local government leaders known as "The State of Infrastructure Funding and Technology." The survey included 15 questions, and the responses were analyzed to identify trends across key verticals, including levels of government, agency, or department types and job roles. To download the summary report, visit cartegraph.com/infrastructure.

About Cartegraph:

Cartegraph, an OpenGov company, builds safer, more resilient and sustainable communities through better stewardship of buildings and critical infrastructure. They offer powerful, intuitive SaaS solutions that help government agencies, utilities and educational institutions manage their physical assets and associated operations. With Cartegraph software, users optimize the life of their infrastructure, deploy maintenance resources efficiently and increase productivity to drive high-performance operations. For more information, visit cartegraph.com.

About the Center for Digital Government

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. Through its diverse and dynamic programs and services, the Center provides public and private sector leaders with decision support, knowledge, and opportunities to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century. Learn more at govtech.com/cdg

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Contacts

Colleen McKenna, Cartegraph marketing manager

colleenmckenna@cartegraph.com | (563) 587-3311
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US is expected to grow by USD 305.3 million during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 6.32% during the forecast period.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2022-2026

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Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market through study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in us report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the rising cases of sleeping disorders, advancements in technology, and the growing elderly population that offers immense growth opportunities. However, the high cost associated with CPAP devices hinders market growth, patient non-adherence to CPAP therapy and market pressure resulting from the competition will challenge the growth of the market participants.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Vendor Analysis

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:

3B Medical Inc.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Aer x and masks.

BMC Medical Co. Ltd.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as auto CPAP system m1 mini.

DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as Devilbiss blue standard plus and a heated humidifier for the dv6 series.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd.: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as homecare CPAP devices.

Hamilton Bonaduz AG: The company offers continuous positive airway pressure such as hamilton C1 neo.

Story continues

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will assist continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market us growth during the next five years

Estimation of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in the US

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market in us vendors

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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market In US Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.32% Market growth 2022-2026 $305.3 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.87 Regional analysis US Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3B Medical Inc., BMC Medical Co. Ltd., CASCO BAY MOLDING, Compumedics Ltd., DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH, Draegerwerk AG and Co. KGaA, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, EVOX, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd., Hamilton Bonaduz AG, Manish Enterprises, Medtronic Plc, Narang Medical Ltd., NXP Semiconductors NV, Philips International BV, ResMed Inc., Sleepnet Corp, Smiths Group Plc, TG Eakin Ltd, and Wellell Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table Of Contents :

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

5 Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

5.2 Comparison by Product

5.3 Devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

5.4 Accessories - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

5.5 Masks - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

5.6 Market opportunity by Product

6 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

6.1 Market segments

6.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

6.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

6.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

7 Market Segmentation by Revenue Stream

7.1 Market segments

7.2 Comparison by Revenue Stream

7.3 Cash pay - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

7.4 Insurance - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

7.5 Market opportunity by Revenue Stream

8 Customer Landscape

8.1 Customer landscape overview

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

9.4 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

10.3 Landscape disruption

10.4 Industry risks

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

11.3 3B Medical Inc.

11.4 BMC Medical Co. Ltd.

11.5 DeVilbiss Healthcare GmbH

11.6 Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Corp. Ltd.

11.7 Hamilton Bonaduz AG

11.8 Medtronic Plc

11.9 NXP Semiconductors NV

11.10 Philips International BV

11.11 ResMed Inc.

11.12 Smiths Group Plc

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

12.4 Research methodology

12.5 List of abbreviations

About Us

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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Market in US 2022-2026

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SOURCE Technavio
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC), the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, today reported its results of operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.

(PRNewsfoto/Encompass Health Corporation)

"Our third quarter results are further evidence of the strong demand for our inpatient rehabilitation services," said President and Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health Mark Tarr. "Third quarter discharge growth was 7.5%, inclusive of 4.1% same-store growth. We made continued progress on reducing contract labor through our hiring and retention initiatives, but elevated staffing costs again impacted our profitability. Consequently, we have revised our 2022 guidance. We remain confident in the long-term prospects for our business."

On July 1, 2022, Encompass Health completed the spin off of Enhabit Home Health & Hospice ("Enhabit"), which is now an independent, publicly traded company. Enhabit's historical results are reported in Encompass Health's discontinued operations.

Summary results











Growth

Q3 2022

Q3 2021

Dollars

Percent

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net operating revenue $ 1,089.5

$ 1,010.8

$ 78.7

7.8 % Income from continuing operations attributable to

Encompass Health per diluted share 0.63

0.76

(0.13)

(17.1) % Adjusted earnings per share 0.67

0.76

(0.09)

(11.8) % Cash flows provided by operating activities 70.1

177.6

(107.5)

(60.5) % Adjusted EBITDA 195.3

199.3

(4.0)

(2.0) % Adjusted free cash flow 26.6

87.7

(61.1)

(69.7) %

Nine Months Ended September 30,









2022

2021







Cash flows provided by operating activities $ 533.6

$ 592.0

$ (58.4)

(9.9) % Adjusted free cash flow 294.1

302.0

(7.9)

(2.6) %

See attached supplemental information for calculations of non-GAAP measures and reconciliations to their most comparable GAAP measure.

Story continues

Net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDA







% of Revenue





% of Revenue

(In Millions) Q3 2022



Q3 2021



Net operating revenue $ 1,089.5





$ 1,010.8























% Change 7.8 %































Salaries and benefits (605.6)

(55.6) %

(537.0)

(53.1) %

Hospital operating expenses (236.6)

(21.7) %

(217.6)

(21.5) %



















General and administrative expenses (32.0)

(2.9) %

(32.2)

(3.2) %



















Other income 0.9





0.7





Equity in nonconsolidated affiliates 0.7





0.9





Noncontrolling interests in continuing operations (21.6)





(26.3)





Adjusted EBITDA $ 195.3





$ 199.3























% Change (2.0) %































(Actual Amounts)

Discharges 53,743





49,983























% Change 7.5 %































Same-store discharge growth 4.1 %













Net patient revenue per discharge $ 19,809





$ 19,681























% Change 0.7 %















Revenue  Inpatient revenue growth resulted primarily from increased volumes. Total discharge growth for the third quarter of 2022 was 7.5% with same-store growth of 4.1%. Revenue reserves related to bad debt as a percent of revenue remained constant at 2.0%.



Growth in net patient revenue per discharge of 0.7% primarily resulted from an increase in reimbursement rates, offset by the resumption of sequestration.





Adjusted EBITDA  The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA primarily resulted from increased staffing costs.

2022 Guidance

The Company is revising its guidance for full-year 2022.



Prior Updated

2022 Guidance Ranges 2022 Guidance Ranges

provided August 1, 2022 provided October 26, 2022

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data) Net operating revenue $4,250 to $4,300 $4,320 to $4,350 Adjusted EBITDA $820 to $840 $800 to $820 Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Encompass Health $2.77 to $2.91 $2.71 to $2.86

For considerations regarding the Company's 2022 guidance ranges, see the supplemental information posted on the Company's website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com. See also the "Other information" section below for an explanation of why the Company does not provide guidance for comparable GAAP measures for Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share.

Earnings conference call and webcast

The Company will host an investor conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, October 27, 2022 to discuss its results for the third quarter of 2022. For reference during the call, the Company will post certain supplemental information at http://investor.encompasshealth.com.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 800 274-8461 and giving the conference ID EHCQ322. International callers should dial 203 518-9843 and give the same conference ID. Please call approximately ten minutes before the start of the call to ensure you are connected. The conference call will also be webcast live and will be available for on-line replay at http://investor.encompasshealth.com by clicking on an available link.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 153 hospitals in 36 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Other information

The information in this press release is summarized and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 (the "September 2022 Form 10-Q"), when filed, as well as the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 26, 2022 (the "Q3 Earnings Form 8-K"), to which this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1. In addition, the Company will post supplemental information today on its website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com for reference during its October 27, 2022 earnings call.

The financial data contained in the press release and supplemental information include non-GAAP financial measures, including the Company's adjusted earnings per share, leverage ratio, Adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted free cash flow. Reconciliations to their most comparable GAAP measure, except with regard to non-GAAP guidance, are included below or in the Q3 Earnings Form 8-K. Readers are encouraged to review the "Note Regarding Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the Q3 Earnings Form 8-K which provides further explanation and disclosure regarding the Company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures.

Excluding net operating revenues, the Company does not provide guidance on a GAAP basis because it is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future impact of items that are deemed to be outside the control of the Company or otherwise not indicative of its ongoing operating performance. Such items include government, class action, and related settlements; professional feesaccounting, tax, and legal; mark-to-market adjustments for stock appreciation rights; gains or losses related to hedging instruments; loss on early extinguishment of debt; adjustments to its income tax provision (such as valuation allowance adjustments and settlements of income tax claims); items related to corporate and facility restructurings; and certain other items the Company believes to be not indicative of its ongoing operations. These items cannot be reasonably predicted and will depend on several factors, including industry and market conditions, and could be material to the Company's results computed in accordance with GAAP.

However, the following reasonably estimable GAAP measures for 2022 would be included in a reconciliation for Adjusted EBITDA if the other reconciling GAAP measures could be reasonably predicted:

Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees - estimate of $150 million to $160 million

Amortization of debt-related items - approximately $10 million

The Q3 Earnings Form 8-K and, when filed, the September 2022 Form 10-Q can be found on the Company's website at http://investor.encompasshealth.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Alliant Energy Corporation

Company donates $4 million to Hometown Care Energy Fund

MADISON, Wis., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the second consecutive year, Alliant Energy has donated $4 million to its Hometown Care Energy Fund to help customers who are struggling financially pay their energy bills.



Customers in need of financial assistance are urged to apply for the funds to assist with paying and managing their energy bill. If approved, customers can receive up to $500 annually.

We encourage customers in need to take advantage of the available resources to help manage their energy finances, said Michael Luhrs, senior vice president of customer experience and strategy at Alliant Energy. Were proud to contribute $4 million to help customers in need.

In Iowa, Alliant Energy partners with nonprofit organizations to distribute the funds. Customers in Iowa can review income eligibility requirements and apply for funding by contacting their local Community Action Agency .

In Wisconsin, Alliant Energy partners with nonprofit organizations to identify income-eligible customers and apply funds directly to customer bills.

The Hometown Care Energy Fund is supported by funds from Alliant Energy shareowners as well as voluntary contributions from employees, retirees and customers. Those interested in donating to the Hometown Care Energy Fund can learn more at alliantenergy.com/hometowncare .

We invite customers to join us in supporting the Hometown Care Energy Fund to help their neighbors, Luhrs said. All customer contributions are distributed within the county they reside, so customers can ensure their neighbors have the resources they need.

Another option for customers looking for assistance is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded financial assistance program that helps pay energy bills. Eligible households can apply beginning on November 1. Iowa applications remain open through April 30, and Wisconsin applications are accepted through May 15. To check income eligibility and learn how to apply, visit:

Story continues

In addition to energy assistance, Alliant Energy has other options to help customers manage their bills. My Account allows customers to set up a flexible payment plan based on their ability to pay, track their energy usage and make fee-free credit and debit card payments. Customers can also request a payment extension or set up a recurring payment for a fixed amount to be automatically withdrawn each week or month.

Customers in need of assistance should call 211, a hotline to connect individuals and families in need with community and government agencies, or visit alliantenergy.com/energyassistance for additional information.

Media contact: Chris Caporale 608-458-3146

Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 985,000 electric and 425,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's mission is to deliver energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on  safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company are Alliant Energy's two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of the Nasdaq CRD Sustainability Index, Bloombergs 2022 Gender-Equality Index, and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow Alliant Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.




Florida Cancer Specialists Appoints Chief Development & Strategy Officer

Josh Eaves has recently been promoted to Chief Development & Strategy Officer within the state-wide practice.

Fort Myers, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) pleased to announce that Josh Eaves has been appointed as Chief Development & Strategy Officer, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker. Josh joined FCS earlier this year as Senior Vice President Corporate Development. In his new role, Josh will continue steering new business development initiatives including strategic partnerships and expansion opportunities to improve the patient experience throughout FCS while positively impacting value of the organization as a whole.

Josh has developed a solid strategy for our practice that will support future growth and innovation, delving into new markets, partnerships and services, remarked FCS Chief Executive Officer Nathan H. Walcker. His continued leadership will enable us to forge ahead, keeping FCS at the forefront of oncology care on a global scale.

Eaves is an experienced business development and sales professional, skilled at developing strategies to create regional networks that provide oncology coverage to local communities.

Prior to joining FCS, he served as Senior Vice President of Business Development for Alliance Oncology in Nashville, TN where he championed partnerships with health systems to develop oncology networks, to expand patient access and enhance patient experience. He led the business development and implementation team, driving the acquisition process from start to finish. Josh was also a driving force in efforts to deepen the scope of services in existing markets, developing cost models for bundled payments and value-based care contracts with payers.

He previously held positions with Nashville-based US Radiosurgery/Neospine prior to being acquired by Alliance Oncology in business development for stereotactic radiosurgery facilities. He began his career in business development for e+ healthcare, expanding PET/CT scanning services at an international level.

Story continues

Josh holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.

Read his full bio here: https://flcancer.com/staff/josh-eaves/

# # #

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute

Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. Over the past 5 years, the majority of new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with Florida Cancer Specialists participation. * Trained in such prestigious medical schools and research institutes as Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, MD Anderson, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies, and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment, and immunotherapy. Our values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians, and staff.

*Prior to approval

Attachment

CONTACT: Michelle Robey, Vice President of Marketing Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (813) 767-9398 Michelle.Robey@FLCancer.com Jen Bradley, Director of Corporate Communications Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (847) 280-1740 Jennifer.Bradley@FLCancer.com




By Trend

The Tariff (price) Council of the Azerbaijan Republic held a regular meeting, the Council told Trend.

The State Service of Special Communication and Information Security requested the Council to consider internet tariffs, private radio communications, the AzStateNet fiber-optic network, and other services.

The appeal noted the significance to provide public institutions with new communication services and the tariff regulation based on charges incurred. The last tariff regulation for this service was implemented on November 24, 2011. The meeting of the Tariff Council deemed necessary to accept the proposed tariffs. These tariffs do not apply to the population and business entities, since these services are provided only to government agencies.

Following discussions, the meeting decided to increase the monthly subscription fee for fixed landline telephones from 2.5 manat ($1.4) to 3.5 manat ($2.06) (including VAT), and to reduce the tariff for long-distance phone calls from five gapiks (2.9 cents) to three gapiks (1.7 cents).

Both of the above-mentioned decisions come into force from November 1, 2022.

In accordance with the Presidential Decree of August 26, 2022, the decision of the Tariff (price) Council dated July 23, 2004 "On tariffs for registering radio frequencies, ensuring electromagnetic compatibility and operation control" has been canceled given that the tariffs for the use of radio frequencies are determined by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan.

The Tariff Council meeting also approved prices for 76 registered medicines. Thus, prices of 13,493 medicines have been approved. The full list of the medicines is available here - http://tariff.gov.az/documents/DVA.pdf.

The decisions are available on the www.tariff.gov.az in the "Council Decisions" section.
DUBLIN, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Dropper Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Research_and_Markets_Logo

The dropper market is estimated to augment at a CAGR of 3.09% from a market value of US$1,210.671 million in 2020 to achieve a market value of US$ 1,497.792 million by the end of 2027.



A dropper is an insert for a bottle closure system and is mostly utilized where small doses are required. The major applications include essential oils, cosmetic and personal care applications, medical remedies, research purposes, and nutraceutical applications. The growing importance of essential oils is augmenting the market demand in the forecast period. The rising prevalence of diseases that necessitate the administration of small amounts of drugs fuel market demand during the forecast period.

The increasing prevalence of diseases requiring drug administration in small amounts is the further impetus in propelling the market demand in the forecast period. As per the FDA, Droppers are categorized under Class I medical devices and are exempted from GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) regulations. These are also exempted from the premarket notification requirement. Hence, with the growing medical device industry, dropper manufacturing and sales also hold significant growth prospects during the forecast period.



The growing geriatric population suffering from age-associated diseases further contributes to increasing the market growth in the forecast period.



Furthermore, dropper bottles and assemblies provide primary packaging solutions for varied applications. Hence, with the growing packaging industry, the market will continue to grow significantly during the forecast period.



North America is projected to hold a significant market share in the global dropper market. On the other hand, the Asia Pacific and Europe are predicted to hold a substantial market share during the forecast period. High disease prevalence in these regions contributes to surging market growth in the forecast period.



Advancements in drug delivery have come up with innovative dropper products with unique features, such as technological advancements that are providing an opportunity for the market to thrive in the forecast period.



The presence of companies offering dispensing systems further adds to the increase in market growth during the forecast period.



Adelphi Healthcare Packaging provides a range of drug dispensing systems. These include droppers as well. The complete product portfolio includes dropper assemblies, dispenser tubes, refillable polymer syringes, refillable glass syringes, oral dosing pipettes, applicator pipettes or syringes, intramammary injectors, short-form oral dosing pipettes, dosing cups, drop dispensing bottles, and REDIPAC single-use tubes. The dropper assemblies product category deals with providing integrated screw caps and dropper pipettes. The product description includes rubber bulbs sourced from the leading manufacturers around the globe, a selection of caps, including tamper-evident, is also available, a variety of pipette tip designs and drop sizes, Type I and Type II glass, plastic pipettes, and printed pipettes.



Another company, Williamson Manufacturing, is a supplier of quality plastic caps and dropper assemblies for the pharmaceutical and wholesale packaging industries in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries. The company offers dropper assemblies containing plastic stems with an option of printed graduations. It also offers dropper assemblies with glass stems. In addition, the products contain an option of child resistance or tamper resistance.



The growing consumption of essential oils at the global level is augmenting the market demand in the forecast period.



Hence, the increasing consumption of essential oils will strongly impact the market's growth during the forecast period. Additionally, companies manufacturing droppers for essential oils further contribute to the market's growth. This is because essential oils are utilized in small amounts; hence, droppers are suitable for their accurate release.



Covid-19 Impact on Dropper Market

Most businesses around the globe have been adversely affected by Covid-19. This is due to the massive disruptions in their corresponding production and distribution operations due to multiple cautionary shutdowns and other limitations placed by governing authorities around the world. The same holds for the global Droppers market. Furthermore, consumer demand has subsequently decreased as people are now more focused on eradicating non-essential expenditures from their specific spending. These factors weigh the global Droppers market's revenue pathway over the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Market Opportunities

4.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.4.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.4.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.4.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.5. Industry Value Chain Analysis



5. Dropper Market Analysis, by Type

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Vertical

5.3. Horizontal



6. Dropper Market Analysis, by Material

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Glass

6.3. Plastic



7. Dropper Market Analysis, by Application

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Essential Oils

7.3. Medical

7.4. Research Purposes

7.5. Cosmetic Applications

7.6. Nutraceutical Applications



8. Dropper Market Analysis, by Geography

8.1. Introduction

8.2. North America

8.2.1. North America Dropper Market, By Type, 2020 to 2027

8.2.2. North America Dropper Market, By Material, 2020 to 2027

8.2.3. North America Dropper Market, By Application, 2020 to 2027

8.2.4. North America Dropper Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020 to 2027

8.2.5. By Country

8.2.5.1. United States

8.2.5.2. Canada

8.2.5.3. Mexico

8.3. South America

8.3.1. South America Dropper Market, By Type, 2020 to 2027

8.3.2. South America Dropper Market, By Material, 2020 to 2027

8.3.3. South America Dropper Market, By Application, 2020 to 2027

8.3.4. South America Dropper Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020 to 2027

8.3.5. By Country

8.3.5.1. Brazil

8.3.5.2. Argentina

8.3.5.3. Others

8.4. Europe

8.4.1. Europe Dropper Market, By Type, 2020 to 2027

8.4.2. Europe Dropper Market, By Material, 2020 to 2027

8.4.3. Europe Dropper Market, By Application, 2020 to 2027

8.4.4. Europe Dropper Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020 to 2027

8.4.5. By Country

8.4.5.1. UK

8.4.5.2. Germany

8.4.5.3. France

8.4.5.4. Others

8.5. Middle East and Africa

8.5.1. Middle East and Africa Dropper Market, By Type, 2020 to 2027

8.5.2. Middle East and Africa Dropper Market, By Material, 2020 to 2027

8.5.3. Middle East and Africa Dropper Market, By Application, 2020 to 2027

8.5.4. Middle East and Africa Dropper Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020 to 2027

8.5.5. By Country

8.5.5.1. United Arab Emirates

8.5.5.2. Israel

8.5.5.3. Saudi Arabia

8.5.5.4. Others

8.6. Asia Pacific

8.6.1. Asia Pacific Dropper Market, By Type, 2020 to 2027

8.6.2. Asia Pacific Dropper Market, By Material, 2020 to 2027

8.6.3. Asia Pacific Dropper Market, By Application, 2020 to 2027

8.6.4. Asia Pacific Dropper Market, By Distribution Channel, 2020 to 2027

8.6.5. By Country

8.6.5.1. Japan

8.6.5.2. China

8.6.5.3. India

8.6.5.4. Thailand

8.6.5.5. Indonesia

8.6.5.6. Taiwan

8.6.5.7. Others



9. Competitive Environment and Analysis

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix



10. Company Profiles

10.1. Carow Packaging, Inc.

10.2. Comar, LLC.

10.3. Paramark Corporation

10.4. Pacific Vial

10.5. Remy & Geiser GmbH

10.6. Williamson Manufacturing Pty Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/omz6ej

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Allied Market Research

Surge in awareness about myriad applications of piezoelectric sensors in various sectors to drive the growth of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market. A prominent demand for dependable and advanced sensing equipment in healthcare, automotive, IT, and aerospace sectors will create new growth opportunities for the global industry. Based on region, North America contributed the largest market share in 2021, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market share.

Portland, OR, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market accrued revenue worth $2.2 billion in 2021, and will reach $3.9 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2031. The market research report offers a comprehensive analysis of oscillating industry trends, top segments, value chains, major investment business scenarios, regional landscape, and competitive space. The study is a major source of information for giant players, entrepreneurs, owners, and managers in creating new business plans for the future and taking steps to improve their market position. The report demonstrates an in-depth quantitative analysis of the market from 2022 to 2031 and guides investors in allocating funds to the rapidly evolving market.

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Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $2.2 Billion Market Size in 2031 $3.9 Billion CAGR 6.2% No. of Pages in Report 258 Segments Covered Sensor Type, Vibration Mode, Application Area, and Region. Drivers Surge in awareness about myriad applications of piezoelectric sensors in various sectors. Increase in reliability on government laws pertaining to swift acceptance of sensing solutions in the automotive industry. Rise in use of piezoelectric sensors in the aerospace sector. Opportunities A prominent demand for dependable and advanced sensing equipment in healthcare, automotive, IT, and aerospace sectors. Restraints Lack of proficient piezoelectric sensor stock management tools.

Covid-19 Scenario

The COVID-19 outbreak led to decline in piezoelectric equipment shipments and revenue from sale of piezoelectric sensors decreased during the pandemic, thereby severely impacting the growth of the global piezoelectric sensor market.

Lack of availability of skilled workforce and delay and cancellation of projects due to lockdown restricted growth of the global market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The report offers an in-depth division of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market based on Sensor Type, Vibration Mode, Application Area, and Region. It provides an in-depth investigation of every segment and sub-segment in tables and figures through which consumers can get insights into market trends. The market report analysis aids organizations, investors, and entrepreneurs in knowing which sub-segments are to be explored for achieving massive growth in the ensuing years.

Based on application area, the IT and Telecom segment contributed the largest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the overall share of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market. Moreover, this segment is predicted to retain its dominant status during the forecast timeline. In addition, the same segment is slated to register the highest CAGR of nearly 8.4% from 2022 to 2031. The report also includes other segments such as industrial manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, and others.

In terms of the sensor type, the actuators segment accounted for the highest share of the global market in 2021, contributing nearly two-fifths of the overall share of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market. Moreover, this segment is predicted to contribute the highest market share by 2031. Furthermore, the same segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth with a CAGR of nearly 8.3% during the forecast timeframe. The report also includes segments such as motors, transducers, and others segments.

On basis of the vibration mode, the radial mode segment accounted for a major share of the global market in 2021, contributing nearly two-fifths of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market share. Moreover, the segment is set to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. In addition, this same segment is anticipated to record the fastest CAGR of nearly 7.9% from 2022 to 2031. The report also includes segments such as length mode, longitudinal mode, thickness mode, and shear mode.

Based on region, North America contributed the largest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market share. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is predicted to dominate the global market in 2031. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific Piezoelectric Sensor Market is set to register the fastest CAGR of 6.5% during the assessment period. The report also includes other regions such as LAMEA and Europe.

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Major players of the global Piezoelectric Sensor Market profiled in the research report include Aerotech Inc., APC International, Ltd., CeramTec GmbH, CTS Corporation, Dytran Instruments, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Kistler Group, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Mad City Labs, Inc., Morgan Advanced Materials, Omega Piezo Technologies, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation, Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG., Piezosystem Jena GmbH, Rion Co., Ltd., TE Connectivity, and US EuroTek, Inc.

The report evaluates these key participants in the global Piezoelectric Sensor industry. These participants have executed a slew of major business plans such as the extension of the consumer base, technology innovation, strategic partnerships, and collaborations for enhancing penetration of new technologies in the global markets and establishing strong market growth globally. The market study report helps in monitoring the performance of each segment along with examining the effect of new technology launches on the overall market earnings.

Key Benefits for Stakeholders

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the piezoelectric sensor market analysis from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailing piezoelectric sensor market opportunity.

This study comprises an analytical depiction of the piezoelectric sensor market size along with the current trends and future estimations to depict the imminent investment pockets.

The overall piezoelectric sensor market analysis is determined to understand the profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold.

An in-depth analysis of the piezoelectric sensor market outlook assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

The report presents information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunity

The current piezoelectric sensor market forecast is quantitatively analyzed from 2021 to 2031 to benchmark financial competency.

Porters five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the smart display.

The report includes the market share of key vendors and piezoelectric sensor market trends.

Key Market Segments

Application Area

Industrial Manufacturing

Automotive

Healthcare

IT and Telecom

Aerospace and Defence

Oil and Gas

Others

Sensor Type

Actuators Actuators Pneumatic Actuators Hydraulic Actuators Electric Actuators Mechanical Actuators

Motors

Transducers

Others

Vibration Mode

Radial Mode

Length Mode

Longitudinal Mode

Thickness Mode

Shear Mode

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (France, Spain, UK, Russia, Rest Of Europe, Germany, Italy)

Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Rest Of Asia-Pacific)

LAMEA (Latin America, Middle East, Africa)





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BELLEFONTE, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / USA / Frisco / Heat Core inaugurated its first heat recovery pilot project in USA with its strategic partner MicroBT, leading advocator of zero-carbon-emission crypto mining via its Integrated Energy and Hashing System (IEHS) at Titan Energy Park, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on October 19th, 2022.

SurgeSocials OU, Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Press release picture

The pilot showcases three day-to-day heating scenarios - fish hatchery, hydroponics, and space heating - powered by harvested heat from next-gen integrated energy & hashing system , demonstrating the goal and social responsibilities borne by Heat Core to take Bitcoin mining to a new epoch defined by its environment-friendly and society-empowering visions.

SurgeSocials OU, Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Press release picture

Titans of the industry such as Duke Energy, Galaxy Digital, Foundry, Bitfarms, and Nothern Data, and the ceremony was also privileged by the presence of Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, Majority Leader for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte) expressed his support for the project too. Corman previously called for Pennsylvania to create a task force to study how federal policy changes relating to digital currency could benefit Pennsylvania.

SurgeSocials OU, Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Press release picture

Empowering Grid Stability

Equilibrium between production and consumption of electricity for the grid demands growing public awareness. Though highly promoted renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power, they come under criticism for putting the gird up for test. Energy-intensive Bitcoin mining has been branded with a less positive reputation. However, Heat Core strives to renovate the aged stereotype with its technical expertise in grid stability, sporting a wide range of overclocking-underclocking power efficiency up to 70%, voltage, and frequency, which poses itself to be a better demand response player boosting grid stability.

Mitigating Stranded Methane Gas

The newly published White House report, Climate and Energy Implications of Crypto-Assets, shed light one of future paradigms for responsible cryptocurrency mining, "The crypto-asset industry can potentially use stranded methane gas, which is the principal component of natural gas, to generate electricity for mining." Heat Core debuts its brand-new product Methane Green to better manifest its visions for environment-friendly mining. Tailored to the flaring gas-powered mining scenario, Heat Core supplements the classic mode with an outdoor and waterproof design with IP54 protection and near-zero water consumption, which juxtaposes itself as the best mining choice for flaring gas, landfills, biogas, animal husbandry, sewage processing, extending to scenarios like agricultural processing.

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Redefining Boiler for All Heating Scenarios

Heat Core's Integrated Energy and Hashing System (IEHS) takes a water-cooling method to better harvest heat from running chips, bringing the thermal efficiency up to 95%, which makes it a robust supplementary to the existing heating industry. With a duo product of hashrate, Heat Core further differentiates itself from run-of-the-mill boilers, transforming itself as a true and only integrated system of electrical energy, thermal energy, and computing power. A full-range product line confirms a spectrum of heating scenes, be it small or massive - from household, commercial complex, and all the way to centralized district heating. Applications in agriculture, aquacultures, oil fracking, and even desalination are self-evident in Heat Core's ESG carbon-neutral visions to a better climate.

About Heat Core

HEATCORE INC is a services provider and operator of Integrated Energy and Hashing System (IEHS). By integrating electrical energy, thermal energy and computing hashrate, its system effectively improves energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Heat Core is MicroBT's Strategic Partner. MicroBT focuses on R&D, production, and sales of integrated circuit chips and ancillary products, providing corresponding system solutions and technical services.

For more details feel free to contact sophia@heatcore.tech.

SOURCE: HEATCORE INC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/722354/Heat-Core-Inaugurate-First-Heat-Recovery-Pilot-in-USA




On 23 October 2022, Ho Chi Minh City was named 'Asia's Best MICE Destination' in three consecutive World MICE Awards from 2020 to 2022.

In September 2022, Ho Chi Minh City won its first-ever World Travel Awards. for 'Asia's Leading Business Travel Destination', as well as 'Asia's Leading City Tourist Board 2022' for Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since March 2022, all Vietnam destinations are open, no self-isolation is required, and all regulations for COVID-19 testing required before entering will be suspended for international visitors, and the government has reinstated its pre-COVID-19 visa policies. Since Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's economic hub and has been fully equipped with its abundance of five-star hotels, world-class conference centers, and its length and depth of experience with global tourism, it makes Ho Chi Minh City become the ideal destination for MICE & Bleisure Travel in Vietnam and Asia.

Ideal City for the MICE and Bleisure Travel

With a decades-long global reputation for excellence in the travel and tourism industry, Ho Chi Minh City's victory over eight rivals, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Seoul, and Singapore, to be named Asia's Best MICE Tourism Destination in three consecutive World MICE Awards from 2020  2022 is not surprising given its decades-long reputation for excellence in the travel and tourism sector.

In September 2022, Ho Chi Minh City won its first-ever World Travel Awards for 'Asia's Leading Business Travel Destination', as well as 'Asia's Leading City Tourist Board 2022' for Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

Mr. Graham Cooke praised "Ho Chi Minh City is an impressive cosmopolitan destination, rich in history and culture but with a dynamic, forward-thinking outlook. Vietnam is not only a tremendously exciting destination within Asia, but I believe it will soon become a tourism epicenter on the global stage. We foresee an era of unprecedented growth as more brands and tourism development products are attracted to the nation".

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In the aviation sector, Vietnam Airlines earned the prestigious accolade of 'Asia's Leading Airline Brand' as well as 'Asia's Leading Airline  Economy Class.

In other categories, GEM Center won Vietnam's Best Convention Centre and Vietravel Holdings was named Vietnam's Best MICE Organizer.

Ho Chi Minh City implemented a MICE policy aimed at attracting international and domestic visitors.

In early 2022, Ho Chi Minh City implemented a MICE policy aimed at attracting international and domestic visitors. Ho Chi Minh City's MICE policy also supports and encourages businesses, including welcome programs, gifts for the delegation, and free admission or reduced ticket prices to attraction sites, local experiences, and performances

On July 15, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed a delegation of 460 guests from India, one of the largest international MICE delegations ever to Vietnam. The delegation was welcomed at the airport and had a private welcome ceremony organized by the city.

MICE events are professional occasions, but they are also mini-vacations. Ho Chi Minh City's tropical weather makes it an ideal vacation destination, but it is the city's resources, infrastructure, and hospitality experience that make it such a successful MICE destination. Plus, it is not without reason that Ho Chi Minh City was chosen since the city is Vietnam's economic hub and has been fully equipped with its abundance of five-star hotels, world-class conference centers, and its length and depth of experience with global tourism.

Ho Chi Minh City's world-class MICE infrastructure, known for its easily accessible transportation, makes it the ideal host city for international events. Ho Chi Minh City is constantly seeking to improve and make every event held in this vibrant Ho Chi Minh City better than the last.

To learn more about Ho Chi Minh's City MICE Policy, please visit

https://www.visithcmc.vn/en/news/ky-ket-trien-khai-chuong-trinh-du-lich-mice-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh

SOURCE Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center
Market Research Future

Hydrostatic Transmission Market is Growing demand from end-user industries

New York, US, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Hydrostatic Transmission Market Research Report Information by Operation Type, Capacity, End User, and Region- Forecast 2030, the hydrostatic transmission market is predicted to thrive substantially during the review timeframe from 2022 to 2030 at a healthy CAGR of approximately 5.52%. The reports further anticipate the market to attain a valuation of around USD 7270.82 million by the end of 2030.

Hydrostatic Transmission Market Overview:

Hydrostatic mechanical energy into pressure energy with the help of a fluid-powered transmission system to offer high torque at low speed is called hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmission is usually utilized in applications where high torque is needed at low speed. This kind of need is generally experienced in commercial vehicles and equipment. The hydrostatic transmission is implemented across several industrial applications due to its numerous advantages and attractive features. Agricultural, heavy industrial, and construction vehicles & equipment, utilize hydrostatic transmission systems in several operations. Several industry applications exist for hydrostatic transmission systems, such as motors, machines, lifts, etc. The demand for heavy lifting equipment has elevated, coupled with the building and mining industries, and to lift this equipment, hydrostatic power is essential. As an outcome, the hydrostatic transmission market is complemented by this. The global market for hydrostatic transmission has shown massive growth in the last few years. The development of the transportation, agricultural, and construction markets is believed to be the prime aspect supporting the market's growth. Hydrostatic transmission systems also discover applications in power generation systems, like ships, wind turbine generators, railway vehicles, engine generators, and so on; therefore, the demand for wide-capacity hydrostatic transmission has been experiencing considerable growth in the last few years. Moreover, the current trend gaining momentum in the market is the growing implementation of mid-size heavy-duty machines is also predicted to catalyze the growth of the regional market over the coming years.

Hydrostatic Transmission Market Competitive Analysis

The catalog for crucial participants across the global market for a hydrostatic transmission includes players such as:

Parker Hannifin Corporation (USA)

Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd (Japan)

Dana Incorporated (USA)

Total Energies SE (France)

Eaton (Ireland)

Shell plc (UK)

Komatsu America Corporation (USA)

Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan)

Tuff Torq Corporation (USA)

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Hydrostatic Transmission Market Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 7270.82 Million Growth Rate CAGR of 5.52% from 2022 to 2030 Base Year 2021 Study Period 2022-2030 Key Market Opportunities Growing demand from automotive industry Key Market Drivers Rising collaboration and acquisitions among key players

Growing demand from end-user industries

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (110 Pages) on Hydrostatic Transmission Market:

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Hydrostatic Transmission Market USP Covered

Hydrostatic Transmission Market Drivers

The global market for hydrostatic transmission has shown massive development in the last few years, given the aspects such as elevating demand from the automotive industry , rising demand from end-user industries, and increasing collaboration and acquisitions among key players.

Hydrostatic Transmission Market Restraints

On the other hand, the high cost of Hydrostatic transmission equipment will likely restrict the market's growth.

COVID-19 Impact

The global market for hydrostatic transmission has witnessed massive impacts because of the recent global health crisis in the form of COVID-19. On the other hand, with all the industrial and financial activities returning to normal, the global market for hydrostatic transmission is anticipated to witness massive growth over the coming years.

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Hydrostatic Transmission Market Segment Analysis

Among all the capacities, the light-duty hydrostatic transmissions segment is anticipated to hold the top position across the global market for hydrostatic transmissions over the review era. Manufacturers provide them as an all-in-one, complete package that comprises an entire valve system, a variable displacement radial ball piston hydraulic pump , and a fixed displacement radial ball piston hydraulic motor.

Among all the operation types, the VDM-CDP segment secured the top position across the global market for hydrostatic transmissions in the year 2021. The reports by MRFR predict the segment to continue its dominance over the forecasted era.

Among all the end-users, the construction machinery segment is anticipated to secure the top spot across the global market for hydrostatic transmissions over the assessment timeframe.

Hydrostatic Transmission Market Regional Analysis

The global Hydrostatic Transmission Market is analyzed across five major parts: South America, the Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

According to the research reports by MRFR, the North American region is anticipated to secure the top position across the global market for hydrostatic transmission over the assessment era. The regional market's growth is primarily credited to the strong demand for heavy lifting equipment across the region. The demand for these is anticipated to witness massive growth over the coming years. the growth is credited to the rise in construction and other activities needing this equipment. The region has the US as the leading growth contributor.

The hydrostatic transmission market for the European region is anticipated to show substantial growth over the assessment timeframe. The increase in demand from end-user industry sectors, such as transport & logistics, construction, and mining, is believed to be the central aspect supporting the growth of the regional market. Even though the mining sector across the European region has a long history, it is considered one of the most cutting-edge and liberal economic sectors on the continent. The mining industry across the region is vital to the continent's economic health. The region has Germany as the prominent growth contributor.

The Asia-Pacific regional market for hydrostatic transmission is anticipated to show the highest growth rate over the assessment timeframe. The main parameter supporting the growth of the regional market is the requirement for systems using fuel much more efficiently. China, India, and Japan are believed to be the leading growth contributors across the region.

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The hydrostatic transmission market for the Middle East & African region is predicted to profit hugely from infrastructure development. Furthermore, the growing demand for construction equipment is another crucial aspect causing an upsurge in the regional market's growth. Moreover, the requirement for hydrostatic transmissions is being propelled by the rise of the mining and construction industries and several geographic areas, which is anticipated to catalyze the market's growth over the review era.

Organizations and governments across the South American region are encouraging the region's building industry, which is likely to influence the regional market's growth positively.

Related Reports:

Power Transmission Cables Market Information Report by Installation, by Voltage, by Users and by Region - Forecast to 2030

Automotive Automatic Transmission System Market Research Report: Information by Type, Fuel Type, Vehicle Type and Region  Forecast Till 2030

Continuous Variable Transmission Market Information by Type, by Fuel, by Region - 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.

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The New Ireland Fund, Inc.

BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IRL) (the Fund) announced today that the Board of Directors of the Fund adopted a proposal to liquidate the Fund. Subject to stockholder approval of the plan of liquidation (the Plan) adopted by the Board, the Fund plans to sell its assets, discharge its liabilities and distribute the net proceeds to stockholders.



The determination to seek the liquidation and dissolution of the Fund was based on an assessment of a variety of factors, including the Funds current level of assets and expenses, the Funds current discount to net asset value, as well as a review of potential alternatives. Ultimately, it was determined by the Board of Directors that it was in the best interest of stockholders to liquidate the Fund.

The Board plans to submit a proposal to stockholders to approve the Plan at a special meeting of stockholders (the Meeting) to be held in January 2023. If the proposal is approved by stockholders, the Fund will commence the orderly liquidation of its assets in accordance with the Plan. Following the liquidation of the Funds assets, the Fund will pay one or more liquidating distributions to stockholders of record.

Any solicitation of proxies by the Fund in connection with the Meeting will be made only pursuant to separate proxy materials filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under applicable federal securities laws. Because the proxy materials will contain important information, including a more detailed description of the Plan, stockholders are urged to read them carefully when they become available.

Promptly after filing its definitive proxy statement for the Meeting with the SEC, the Fund will mail the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Meeting. We urge stockholders to read the proxy statement (including any supplements thereto) and any other relevant documents that the Fund will file with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement and any other documents filed by the Fund with the SEC in connection with the Meeting at the SECs website at www.sec.gov , or by contacting the Fund at 1-800-468- 6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com.

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Investment Objective: The New Ireland Fund, Inc., a closed-end, non-diversified investment company seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity securities of Irish securities.

The Fund is managed by KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBI Global Investors Ltd. based in Dublin, Ireland. KBI Global Investors Ltd. is majority owned by Amundi Asset Management, Europes largest asset manager by assets under management.

The Fund is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol - IRL. For further information, please contact the Fund at 1-800-468-6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com .

Website: www.newirelandfund.com




Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images, Gulfstream

Elon Musk applied for a new FAA program to make it more difficult to track his plane, according to the college student who tracks his plane online.

The billionaire appeared to join the program after the student recommended the tool.

Musk is one of many celebrities looking for ways to dodge jet-tracking accounts on social media.

Elon Musk appears to be trying to fly incognito after the college student who tracks his private jet on Twitter rejected his $5,000 offer to delete the account.

The billionaire applied for a temporary aircraft registration number, according to the student, Jack Sweeney, who runs the jet-tracking account @ElonJet, after speaking with him about how to avoid being tracked. The Twitter account currently has nearly 500,000 followers.

"What should I do?" Musk messaged in December, according to a screenshot from Sweeney.

At the time, Sweeney said the billionaire should look into a new FAA program that would allow him to change his flight identification number, saying Musk would "definitely need the program."

Direct messages between Elon Musk and Jack Sweeney Courtesy of Jack Sweeney

In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a privacy ICAO aircraft address program, also known as PIA. The program allows aircraft owners to apply for a temporary aircraft registration number that is not currently attached to any other plane  meaning that celebrities like Musk can essentially fly anonymously.

Up until recently, the program appears to have had few users. Though, jet-tracking accounts like Sweeney's could make the program more popular. Last week, industry executives at the National Business Aviation Association discussed ways to mitigate real-time tracking. The FAA told Insider it has issued over 300 PIAs to date.

"These privacy mitigation programs are effective for real-time operations but do not guarantee absolute privacy," an FAA spokesperson said. "A flight can still be tracked in other ways such as a Freedom of Information Act request, www.LiveATC.com, ADSB Exchange, or a frequently departed airport."

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The PIA program allows aircraft owners to switch out their registration number every 60 days. Though, Sweeney noted it can be a laborious process. Christian Renneissen, Collins Aerospace's manager for flight deck connectivity, previously told the trade publication AV Buyer that while the PIA program is essentially free, it's a hassle due to a substantial amount of paperwork.

What's more, the entire process would have to start all over again if the new registration number is exposed and tied to the owner  which Sweeney said is all too easy.

"Elon Musk, for example, has a Gulfstream and there's only so many people that fly that particular plane out of Brownsville, Texas and fly to the same airports," Sweeney told Insider.

The incognito registration number also doesn't prevent Sweeney from tracking the private jet via ADS-B Exchange, a public flight-tracking database. Jets that fly with the temporary identification number can be easily found on the ADS-B Exchange, as shown by a screenshot shared with Insider that shows the jet that Sweeney says is Musk's was flying on May 7 with no callsign, no tail number, but had "PIA" flagged.

Elon Musk's private jet flight with PIA flag, tracked by Jack Sweeney. Jack Sweeney via ADS-B Exchange

Musk is also on the FAA's free "Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed" program, or LADD list. The list allows aircraft owners to avoid being tracked by sites that use FAA data. Though, the list has no impact on the ADS-B Exchange, which provides data to Sweeney's jet-tracking accounts.

Musk isn't the only one to attempt to dodge flight-tracking accounts on social media. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey are on the LADD list, while Louis Vuitton CEO Bernard Arnault recently said he's started renting private planes to avoid jet-tracking accounts.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Rising energy prices in Europe are eroding profitability at Microsoft Corp., which is paying more to deliver cloud-computing services to customers in the region, the software giants chief financial officer said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The company on Tuesday posted its weakest quarterly revenue growth in five years, sending shares down more than 4%. In an interview after the company released fiscal first-quarter results. CFO Amy Hood said Microsoft was seeing a steeper-than-expected jump in expenses to power, heat and cool the companys servers and data centers across Europe. On a conference call later, she estimated the company will pay $800 million in extra energy costs this fiscal year.

A lot of it is in Europe, she said. And its not just for the winter.

Power prices have been soaring in much of the world since economies started recovering from pandemic lockdowns and as Russias war in Ukraine forces Europe to find new sources of natural gas, driving up the price of a key fuel for generating plants. Over the summer, several tech companies had services shut down in London as data centers overheated during a record heat wave in the city.

Microsoft is working with customers to help them find ways to save money, Hood said, which they may be able to do by shifting applications to the cloud and out of their out corporate data centers.

Although there are still risks, for the time being European gas prices have fallen back sharply, and are less than a third of their summer peak, thanks to efforts to import gas to fill up storage and unusually warm weather.

--With assistance from Joe Ryan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
By Hadeel Al Sayegh

RIYADH (Reuters) - Oman's sovereign wealth fund, the Oman Investment Authority, is considering investing in the United Kingdom's technology sector to take advantage of valuations hit by rising interest rates and the fall in sterling, an OIA executive said on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Al Eisri, director general of private equity at OIA, told Reuters the wealth fund was looking at unlisted technology firms in the UK and expanding them.

The UK's economy is experiencing a cost-of-living crisis as Rushi Sunak became its third prime minister in two months on Tuesday.

"We are looking at some deals right now, given the market provides an opportunity right now to enter," he said on the sidelines of FII, Saudi Arabia's flagship annual investment conference.

Al Eisri said now was the best time to monetise assets compared with two years ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that OIA had exited four investments outside Oman last year.

The region's oil giants, Saudi Arabia's Aramco and Abu Dhabi's ADNOC, have in recent years raised tens of billions of dollars through IPOs, including of Aramco and several ADNOC subsidiaries and joint ventures, as well as selling stakes in their pipeline infrastructure.

Oman has plans to publicly list 30 companies over the next five years, he said.

The Gulf is enjoying an IPO boom at the moment, with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai pushing state-led flotations to boost the competitiveness of their equity markets.

Issuers in the region have raised more than $15 billion from IPOs in the year through mid-October, according to Refinitiv data. Their proceeds in the first half exceeded European flotations, the data showed, even as world markets remained volatile due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

He added that OIA invited investors two weeks ago to look at opportunities in the mining sector and is also planning the same for the fisheries sector.

The fund is focused on alternative energy technology, logistics and messenger-RNA technology used in some COVID-19 vaccines. He added that OIA is close to investing in a port in Zanzibar.

(Reporting by Hadeel Al Sayegh in Riyadh; Writing by Hadeel Al Sayegh and Yousef Saba in Dubai; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that steady progress is being made on the Buraidah 2 sewage treatment project located near the city of Buraidah (in the Qassim region) in north-central Saudi Arabia, and is due for completion by 2024.

It is being implemented on a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) model at a total cost of SR845 million ($225 million) and once operational it will boast a 150,000 cu m/day capacity.

SWPC had awarded the Buraidah 2 contract to a consortium led by Spanish infrastructure major Acciona with Saudi partners Tawzea and Tamasuk.

"The Buraidah 2 project is going as per plan and with the work in full swing, SWPC expects the plant to launch its commercial operations as per schedule in the second quarter of 2024," said its CEO Engineer Khaled Al Qureshi.

He was speaking after the inspection tour of the Buraidah 2 project site along with other senior officials.

As per the deal, Acciona consortium will develop, design, finance, construct and operate the sewage facility for 25 years and will also build 34 km of recycled water collectors for the plant, located approximately 400 km from Riyadh, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
NUREMBERG, Germany, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Bridge Market Research offers an extensive analysis of the company Paessler including insights on their history and milestones, growth analysis, market presence, opportunities and drivers reviewed in the report.

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Paessler offers a comprehensive monitoring software for IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to help customers drive the organization up, running, and optimized while keeping everything remarkably simple. From the start, the company has sought to change the world for the better through technology that builds stronger relationships. Market players must be more resilient, ready, and flexible to adapt; thus, they need a trusted technology and monitoring partner to guide them forward and support them to do more with less.

Paessler, headquartered in Nuremberg in Germany, is an IT monitoring company with a headcount of over 300 employees from over 25 countries. The company has a presence in the U.S. and Malaysia, with around 4,000 partners worldwide. Every industry faces an exclusive social, economic, environmental, and technological challenge. To combat that, Paessler believes monitoring plays an essential role in minimizing people's consumption of resources.

Paessler's Journey in Nuremberg and Global Markets with Fortune 100 Companies using its PRTG network monitoring software

Paessler was founded in 1997 by Dirk Paessler, in the metropolitan region of Nuremberg. The market giant is now present in many international markets, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use Paessler PRTG. Explore the journey of Paessler:

1997-2001:

The Garage Phase: One student, one vision, one "garage"  the components for a classic 90s startup.

2001-2003:

The Founding Phase: As the need for a performance monitoring software arose, Paessler successfully invented the PRTG monitoring solution.

2003-2007:

The Corporate Name: Along with network experts and developers, in 2025 Paessler GmbH was changed into Paessler AG, to make it easier for employees to participate in the business.

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2007-2011:

Software Consolidation: Paessler merged PRTG Traffic Grapher and IPCheck Server Monitor into a single solution and produced PRTG Network Monitor.

2011-2016:

International Coverage: Paessler became a global player with 2 relocations, 130 new employees in 7 countries, and more than 200,000 customers in 5 years.

2017-2018:

Quest for Innovation: With a fruitful completion of 20 years, Paessler had entered into new territories and scaled up its presence.

2019-2020:

New Products & Solutions: Paessler successfully launched PRTG Enterprise Monitor and industry solutions for manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors.

2020-Present

Aim for 2030: As a monitoring company, Paessler took responsibility and has set its aim to reduce the consumption of resources by humankind. Monitoring data will help customers to save resources, from optimizing their OT, IT, and IoT infrastructures, and to lessen energy consumption or emissions.

There is more to Paessler's expertise in IT, OT, and IoT

Paessler is recognized as a front-runner in monitoring data and a leader in IT, OT, and IoT monitoring with > 500,000 users of PRTG Network Monitor, PRTG Enterprise Monitor, and PRTG Hosted Monitor.

The products and services offered by Paessler help companies across industries to monitor everything and eventually optimize their resources. This is how Paessler's products provide benefits:

PRTG Network Monitor: PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful and easy-to-use solution for all business sizes. It monitors all the devices, systems, applications, and traffic in an IT infrastructure.

PRTG Enterprise Monitoring: Paessler's product for very large infrastructures monitors all systems, devices, traffic, and applications in extensive IT environments with thousands of systems and devices across multiple locations. It helps to minimize project effort with a powerful and easy-to-use solution that keeps monitoring simple while ensuring clarity, performance, and usability.

PRTG Hosted Monitor: PRTG Hosted Monitor is an all-in-one SaaS monitoring solution hosted by Paessler. Its setup is swift and straightforward, without the need for dedicated hardware. The tool is payable annually or monthly, based on the number of sensors one needs.

Paessler solutions for IoT monitoring: Paessler combines IoT sensor technology with their monitoring solutions to support businesses in digitalizing their processes. In IoT monitoring, Paessler also focuses on changing the manual collection of data with automatic remote monitoring.

Paessler Bringing Down Consumption of Resources with its Products & Services Proving Beneficial to Various Companies

Paessler's highly effective products, services, and solutions are already making it easier for companies of every size to offer more with less monitoring. In fact, 70% of Fortune 100 companies worldwide use PRTG to improve productivity and efficiency. Paessler has also successfully helped its customers reduce the consumption of resources, for instance:

Engie Solutions : ENGIE Solutions monitors resource consumption with PRTG Enterprise Monitor

Rexroth Bosch Group: PRTG helps Bosch Rexroth to reduce CO emissions while increasing productivity

Aquafin : Aquafin keeps infrastructure clean with PRTG

Kennedy Industries: Kennedy Industries helps keep communities safe and operational with PRTG

Paessler Addresses Critical Challenges of Resource Efficiency and Sustainability with its Partners and Customers

Paessler is highly focused on sustainability and resource saving. Therefore, the company has unswervingly continued and expanded their activities in this area over the last few years. For instance:

In 2016  PHQ powered by green electricity

In 2017 - CO compensation of all business trips

In 2019 - 100 kWp solar-powered energy system on PHQ roof

In 2020 - Paessler was CO neutral with the help of compensation

In 2022 - CO neutral or even CO negative

To Get a Detailed Insight, Visit at https://www.paessler.com/company/about-us/reduce-consumption-of-resources

Strategic Decisions Taken by Paessler to Boost its Market Presence

In May 2022: Paessler appointed its new distribution partners IPSYSTEMS and PT LIMA DUA SATU TEKNOLOGI INDONESIA in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively to help develop its partner ecosystem. These partnerships will ensure the performance, availability, and security for the IT infrastructures of large enterprise clients across the APAC region.

In January 2022: Paessler announced the expansion of PRTG Hosted Monitor, which offers a wide range of services specifically for IT professionals in the cloud-based monitoring space. This new productis based on Paessler's existing PRTG Network Monitor, but hosted in the cloud by Paessler, which makes the solution particularly attractive for Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

In May 2022: Paessler and Rittal combined their Paessler PRTG and Rittal CMC III monitoring solutions in the context of the Paessler Uptime Alliance program to streamline the overview of IT and OT. This will help users to see what is going on with their IT and OT instantaneously in one powerful tool and on individually configurable dashboards, in a central dashboard for IT and data center OT, or as a service-based management overview

In June 2022: Paessler announced two appointments to its North American leadership team. Paessler's new North American leadership is expected to turn out to be the best of technology and sales experience to benefit the organization and its direct and channel customers. It is also expected to help manage the rapid growth and high demand in IT, OT, IoT, and IIoT environments, along with increased opportunities and challenges customers face due to the global pandemic.

In April 2021: Paessler was being acknowledged by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, in its 2021 Partner Program Guide. Paessler's partner program was selected because the company produced vertical-specific sales training materials for partners to improve sales strategies in healthcare, education, and industrial IT markets.

Paessler's Got Solutions for its Clients

Paessler provides a helping hand to SMS group to digitize steel production. SMS group GmbH uses PRTG Enterprise Monitor to monitor performance and reliability. It also helps to identify and eliminate weak spots during the construction, testing, and startup of steel production plants and thus optimize the quality of its production lines.

Somnitec AG delivers Swiss IT precision with PRTG. With the help of the PRTG experts at CORP-IT, Somnitec AG has set up comprehensive monitoring to maximize the consistency of its customers' IT systems.

With PRTG Network Monitor, SE3 has found a solution that allows viewing all industrial and communication components in a single system. SE3 uses PRTG as a solution to monitor wastewater treatment

LUMC monitors all its IT systems with the help of PRTG. LUMC chose the tool due to its large number of users, ability, and flexibility to monitor medical equipment. There are around 20 servers within LUMC using PRTG and 1,000 servers running in PRTG

CowManager monitors every cow in a dairy farm 24/7, and to do this efficiently, CowManager uses PRTG, which helps to see what cows are doing and whether their movements are still considered healthy. Paessler also provides monitoring for large-scale farms having 20,000 cows and more.

Foxtons turned to PRTG Network Monitor to get good clarity in terms of monitoring. After experiencing the benefits of the solution, Foxtons signed up for a perpetual license and soon extended its use across more areas of the organization to cover all key platforms.

PRTG Network Monitor provides real-time monitoring and network management to Acurus. With its granular permissions policy, PRTG helped Acurus in providing its monitoring services to its customers and also ensuring their security and privacy.

The Carbon Drawdown Initiative monitors ground data associated with CO sequestration using PRTG Hosted Monitor. This solution provides a good overview of the reactions and products in the soil by displaying soil and weather data from connected sensors. It also includes data transmitted from other measuring systems and laboratory data.

Some of Paessler's Global Partners:

Acronis: MSP Cloud Security Platform

AWS: Cloud Services

Axis: CCTV/Security

barramundi: Unified Endpoint Management

Check Point: Network Security

Cisco: Networking Solutions

CORP IT: SLA Reporting

LoRa: LPWAN Solutions

Men&Mice: DDI - DNS / DHCP / IPAM

Plixer: Flow monitoring

Long-term Goal

Since 2020, Paessler has been completely CO neutral and has set a goal to become climate positive in the near future, probably by 2025. The core mission of Paessler is to empower technical teams to manage their infrastructure by ensuring maximum productivity. The company is also actively developing solutions to sustain digital transformation strategies and the IoT.

In the coming years, Paessler is certainly expected to be the customer's choice to monitor everything. Paessler has aimed to set its goal in all 3 strategic market segments: IT monitoring, industrial IoT monitoring, and commercial IoT monitoring.

Latest Report by DBMR Where Paessler is Mentioned:

Network Management Systems Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-management-systems-market

Virtual Infrastructure Manager Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-virtual-infrastructure-manager-market

Data Center Infrastructure Management Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-data-center-infrastructure-management-market

Network Configuration and Change Management (NCCM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-configuration-and-change-management-nccm-market

Information Technology (IT) Operations Analytics Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-it-operations-analytics-market

Network Automation Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-automation-market

Log Management and Reporting Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-log-management-and-reporting-security-information-and-event-management-siem-market

Network Security Software Market - Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-network-security-software-market

Infrastructure Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-infrastructure-monitoring-market

Application Performance Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-application-performance-monitoring-market

Container Monitoring Market  Industry Trends and Forecast https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-container-monitoring-market

About Paessler

Paessler AG (Nuremberg) is highly renowned and has established itself as a leader in IT monitoring among companies of all sizes, from small-to-medium-to large enterprises. With over 4,000 partners worldwide, Paessler has efficiently expanded its services.

In 1997 Paessler transformed IT monitoring with the introduction of PRTG Network Monitor. Over 300,000 IT administrators in more than 170 countries depend on Paessler PRTG to monitor their devices, business-critical systems, and network infrastructures. PRTG monitors the IT infrastructure 24x7 and helps IT professionals to solve problems before they impact users.

For More Information, Get in Touch With Paessler at https://www.paessler.com/contact

About Data Bridge Market Research:

Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune.

Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.

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SOURCE Data Bridge Market Research
TROY, Mich., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rehmann, a fully integrated professional advisory firm, today published its 2022 Michigan Cannabis CFO Outlook Report in partnership with A&K Research, Inc. This is the firm's first statewide study on the cannabis industry.

The report surveys cannabis operations across the state of Michigan and was created to empower cannabis licensees to make practical business decisions based on peer feedback.

"The cannabis industry is constantly evolving and facing new challenges, so the need for information will be helpful as the industry evolves," said Chris Rosmarin, CPA and principal at Rehmann. "Our report offers cannabis licensees some data they may find useful in assessing how they compare to others in the industry, plan for the future as they respond to inquiries from stakeholders."

The featured data includes chief challenges the cannabis industry faces in Michigan, including but not limited to financial management, acquisition operations, compliance requirements and federal legislation. In addition, the report boasts industry spotlights highlighting actual businesses facing these issues in real-time and recommended solutions.

"This snapshot report underscores our commitment to the cannabis industry and encouragement of its growth across the state," said Erik Schumacher, CPA and principal of advisory and tax services at Rehmann. "While Rehmann already boasts an impressive cannabis practice group, the report allows industry professionals the opportunity to see data from other businesses and actionable insights from experienced business advisors."

In July, Michigan set a new monthly record for marijuana sales, reaching nearly $210 million according to data published by the state Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). Recent data also revealed a continuation of medical marijuana sales dropping and adult-use sales increasing.

"Identifying business trends not only provides helpful insights to the status of the industry as a whole, but reinforces our devotion to researching, discovering and producing the latest data that will amplify our clients' business objectives," said Maher Faik, CPA and senior manager of finance and accounting solutions at Rehmann. "We look forward to watching our cannabis practice area grow alongside the industry."

Story continues

To view the report, visit https://go.rehmann.com/2022CannabisCFOOutlook.

About Rehmann

Empower Your Purpose

Rehmann is a professional advisory firm that provides accounting and assurance, business solutions and outsourcing, specialized consulting, and wealth management services. For over 80 years, Rehmann has provided forward-thinking solutions to our clients. With nearly 900 associates in Michigan, Ohio, and Florida, we are the momentum behind what's possible. We focus on the business of business  allowing companies and individuals to focus on what makes them extraordinary. We help you look to the future with confidence, thanks to our unrivaled expertise and integrity. Through our partnerships with our clients and communities, we drive impact that empowers our world. Find us online at rehmann.com.

Contact: Holly Shier

248.458.7923

holly.shier@rehmann.com

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SOURCE Rehmann
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) announced today that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has approved reimbursement for the CyberKnife System for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The system provides an important new option for people living with this chronic pain disorder, described by some patients as the most excruciating pain human beings can experience1.

Accuray Incorporated (PRNewsFoto/Accuray Incorporated) (PRNewsFoto/Accuray Incorporated)

TN affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve which carries sensation from the face to the brain, triggering pain in the lower face and jaw, in areas above the eyes or around the nose. One of the most common causes of TN is compression of the nerve by a blood vessel, but there are multiple other causes including a tumor constricting the nerve, surgical injury or stroke. The unpredictable, intense pain patients experience can make living with TN challenging and can lead to weight loss, depression and isolation2.

"Trigeminal neuralgia has the potential to significantly disrupt patients' daily lives if left untreated or inadequately treated. That's why the health insurance reimbursement approval for the CyberKnife System is so important," said Suzanne Winter, president of Accuray. "Our high-precision system provides a unique radiosurgery treatment alternative to surgery supported by long-term data. Importantly, the system's precision makes it possible to deliver radiation typically in just one out-patient procedure without a fixed frame secured to the patient's head to prevent movement, as required with other devices."

People diagnosed with TN require long-term medical care that usually starts with medication to lessen or block the pain signals sent to the brain. Over time, the pain control provided by these drugs diminishes for some patients and others experience unpleasant side effects. For these patients, injections, surgery, or radiosurgery may be necessary.

"Although trigeminal neuralgia is a rare disease with an incidence of about 5 out of 100,000 people, or approximately 5,000 people in Japan, the pain these people experience is significant and more options are needed that can improve their care. CyberKnife radiosurgery offers new hope for people living with this difficult to treat medical condition," said Hiroshi Onishi, M.D., , Chairman of the Health Insurance Committee at the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology (JASTRO), and Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiology and Vice-director of School Medicine, University of Yamanashi. "Until now, Gamma Knife has been the only device approved to deliver radiosurgery for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. I believe insurance coverage for the CyberKnife System to treat this condition is great news for patients, as there will be more opportunities for treatment and better accessibility to treatment facilities."

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The CyberKnife System was initially designed by a neurosurgeon for neurosurgeons to treat diseases in the head, the skull base and the spine such as benign and malignant primary tumors, brain metastases, meningiomas, trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuromas and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The platform's unique robotic technology, non-coplanar beam delivery and Synchrony motion adaptation technology enable the delivery of radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy, meaning minimal radiation is delivered to the surrounding healthy tissue. Since its introduction the CyberKnife System has evolved into a full-body radiosurgery system that enables consistent delivery of extremely precise treatments to tumors throughout the body, including those in the kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate, bone metastases and oligo metastases.

Important Safety Information

For Important Safety Information, please refer to https://www.accuray.com/safety-statement.

About Accuray

Accuray is committed to expanding the powerful potential of radiation therapy to improve as many lives as possible. We invent unique, market-changing solutions designed to deliver radiation treatments for even the most complex caseswhile making commonly treatable cases even easierto meet the full spectrum of patient needs. We are dedicated to continuous innovation in radiation therapy for oncology, neuro-radiosurgery, and beyond, as we partner with clinicians and administrators, empowering them to help patients get back to their lives, faster. Accuray is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with facilities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.accuray.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate, but are not limited, the CyberKnife platform's potential for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, clinical applications, clinical results, patient experiences and outcomes, and Accuray Incorporated's leadership position in radiation oncology innovation and technologies. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to achieve widespread market acceptance of its products, including new product offerings and improvements; the company's ability to develop new products or improve existing products to meet customers' needs; the company's limited long-term clinical data supporting the safety and efficacy of its products, including product improvements, for certain users; and such other risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on August 17, 2022, and as updated periodically with the company's other filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to the company at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, investors should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Media Contact

Beth Kaplan

Public Relations Director, Accuray

+1 (408) 789-4426

bkaplan@accuray.com

1 https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Trigeminal-Neuralgia

2 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/

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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / Cummins Turbo Technologies, a business unit of global power leader Cummins Inc., celebrated the expansion of its new turbo remanufacturing operations in North Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this month to better serve customers and help meet the company's sustainability strategy.

Remanufacturing is an important part of Cummins' environmental sustainability strategy, PLANET 2050. Remanufacturing will allow the company to use less, use better and use again, while presenting an environmentally friendly option to replace a turbo. Additionally, by salvaging roughly 70% of the turbo's metal by weight, remanufacturing greatly reduces the global impact from mining and refining those metals.

Cummins' $27 million investment in the remanufacturing facility will create more than 250 new jobs for the North Charleston community. The new facility will remanufacture used turbochargers that will meet the same specifications as new turbos. Each remanufactured turbo will go through an equivalent validation process to ensure they meet the dependability and performance expectations of Cummins' customers.

"Our employees in Charleston are critical to making Cummins Turbo Technologies the world-leader in air handling for commercial vehicles by exhibiting the teamwork and excellence necessary to deliver innovative, reliable turbocharger solutions," said Shon Wright, Vice President of Cummins Turbo Technologies. "Our investment in the Charleston area will help us optimize our footprint and continue to be the top choice of our global customers."

Cummins has had a presence in the Charleston area since the 1990s and opened its existing facility, the Charleston Turbo Plant, in 2006 with a focus on manufacturing first-fit turbochargers for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Today, there are more than 725 employees working there.

While in Charleston to open the new remanufacturing facility, Wright presented local community groups with grants as part of the company's journey to dismantle institutional racism through the Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity initiative. Metanoia, a local community organization that invests in neighborhood assets to build leaders, was presented a $1 million Community Development grant to establish quality housing and generate economic development. CommunityWorks and Lowcountry Street Grocery also received grants to support small Black-owned businesses in the Charleston community.

Story continues

"In Charleston, we have a history of supporting community organizations in the areas of education, environment and equality of opportunity," Wright said. "Cummins' goal is to improve communities where our employees are located, and we are committed to bringing together all of Cummins' capabilities - its people, its balance sheet and the company's philanthropy - to drive racial equity and combat the impact of racism on our employees, communities and economy."

END

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Cummins Inc.

Website: http://cummins.com/

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Cummins Inc.





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(Repeats story with no changes to text)

By Muyu Xu and Maxim Nazarov

SINGAPORE/MOSCOW, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Russian coal exports to energy-hungry China have jumped by about a third this year but the supply boom is being constrained by transport infrastructure limitations, industry sources and officials said.

China is seeking coal supplies from overseas, in particular after recent COVID-19 outbreaks in the major coal mining regions of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi forced many mines to close, while coal demand at power generation and heating sectors will soon pick up with the coming of winter.

The Kremlin plans to increase its energy supplies to Asia, China in particular, to offset a slump in exports to the West, which has imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia is the world's sixth-largest coal producer and one of top coal exporters, along with Indonesia and Australia. Its share of global coal exports reached 17% last year with supply of 223 million tonnes.

But now with more exports heading east towards Asia as opposed to west towards Europe, bottlenecks are appearing.

"Many of us were informed by the sellers that there will be delays on loading and arrivals, which causes trouble to our business," a Chinese coal trader said.

Another source said that some traders were simply told by sellers or miners that a coal shipment was cancelled due to the lack of rail capacity and could be delayed for weeks.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov has acknowledged the problem with infrastructure constraints, saying this month that the situation with coal exports and congestion on the rail system had not stabilised, though it was improving.

China's coal imports from Russia fell to 6.95 million tonnes last month, down from a peak of 8.54 million tonnes in August, according to China's customs data.

According to Russian transport industry sources, Russia has increased coal supplies to China by railways by about a third this year, to 27.6 million tonnes in the January-August period.

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WINTER DEMAND

But the increase in cargo traffic has led to slower deliveries.

According to a Reuters analysis, it took about 12.6 days to deliver a coal cargo from fields in Siberia, such as Kuzbass, to Russia's Pacific ports in July-September, compared with 11.3 days on average in the same period last year.

On average, delivery time across Russia has increased by a fifth, or 1.4 days, according to Reuters analysis of railway data, and timings may increase in the winter due to the railway congestion and port capacity limitations.

"We would expect China's coal imports from Russia to decrease due to the cool weather, which will limit port loading, and the rail logistics cap will also help to put a lid on," the Chinese coal trader said.

Of Russia's total of 223 million tonnes of coal exports last year, 49 million tonnes were delivered to Europe, according to the Energy Ministry.

But Russia now expects its coal exports to decline in coming years due to the Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, and U.S., European Union and British embargos on Russian coal imports.

According to Russian government expectations, coal exports may fall by 22% this year and by a further 31% in 2023.

But at the same time, the rush of east-bound exports is getting bogged down.

"A lot of railcars accumulate, congestion is formed at port stations ... Turnaround times for railcars are increasing significantly. Shippers are looking for empty railcars," a Russian transport industry source said.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia plans to increase the capacity of its infrastructure, including that of its eastern ports, where capacity is expected to increase by between 55 million tonnes and 211 million tonnes per year by 2031 from 150 million tonnes now. (Reporting by Maxim Nazarov and Gleb Stolyarov in Moscow and Muyu Xu in Singapore; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Robert Birsel)
FACT.MR

Chelating Resins Unique Demand in Chemical Industry Is Likely to Augment Market Adoption Worldwide

Dublin, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fact.MR has provided detailed information about the price points of key manufacturers of chelating resins positioned across regions, sales growth, production capacity, and speculative technological expansion, in the recently published report.



According to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the industry requirement for chelating resins is expected to reach US$ 470.6 million in 2022 and would grow a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast years of 2022-2032 in the global market.

Chelating resins, the most popular specialty ion exchange resin, are used to remove specific metals and other materials selectively. Chelating resins have increased selectivity for certain metal ions compared to traditional ion exchange resins. Therefore, better separation will increase the effectiveness of end products received downstream.

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The chemical industry on the back of chlor alkali is the most attractive among the end-use segment of chelating resins owing to the increasing number of users of value-added products all around the world. The utilization of chelating resins in chlor alkali production plants, demands increased production.

The excessive utilization of chelating resins in the wastewater treatment plant is one of the major factors anticipated to uptick the growth trajectory of the market during the forecast period.

Check In-Depth TOC on "Chelating Resins Market"

No. of Tables - 138

No. of Figures - 113

No. of Pages - 270

Key Takeaways from Market Analysis

The global chelating resins market is estimated to expand at an impressive CAGR of 5.1% and will be valued at US$ 773.8 million by 2032.

In 2017-2021, the market has expanded at a CAGR of 4.1%

Chelating resins with picolylamine as a functional group are the most preferred in the industrial sector owing market share of 34.1% in 2022

East Asia dominates the chelating resins market

The most common use of chelating resins is as a purification & separation agent in various chemical processes

The demand for polystyrene matrix of chelating resins is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5.6% by 2032

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Eminent Players Key Strategies on Chelating Resins

LANXESS

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Purolite

DuPont

Sunresin New Materials Co. Ltd.

Ion Exchange (India) Limited

Thermax Limited

Suqing Group

Samyang Corporation

ResinTech

SH Scenic Resin Co. Ltd.

Jiangsu Widevision Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd

Ajinomoto Fine-Technos Inc

Zhejiang Zhengguang Industrial Co., Ltd.

Jacobi Resinex

Zibo Dongda Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Shandong Zibo Haofu Synthetic Resin Co., Ltd.



Strategically moving towards forward integration to shorten the value chain complexities and to consolidate market presence. Also, manufacturers turning into full-time service providers grant them an upper edge over competitors.

The key strategies of manufacturers are to adopt technological innovation for cost-effective pricing solutions and end-use-specific product effectiveness. Also, by adopting organic and inorganic marketing strategies, the manufacturers strengthen the market position as it is a highly mature & fragmented market.

More Valuable Insights on Offer

Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global chelating resin market, presenting historical market data (2017-2021) and forecast statistics for the period of 2022-2032.

The study reveals essential insights on the basis of functional group (iminoacetic group, aminophosphonic, glucamine group, oxime group, phosphonic + sulphonic group, phosphorous group, thiol group, thiourea group, picolylamine group, quaternary amines), matrix type (polystyrene, polystyrene divinylbenzene, polyacrylic divinylbenzene), application (separation & purification, treatment of wastewater and effluent, removal of impurities, biochemistry, others), end-use industry (electroplating, chemicals, metals & mining, wastewater treatment), across major regions of the world (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Oceania, and the Middle East & Africa)

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Segmentation of the Chelating Resins Market

By Functional Group : Iminoacetic Group Aminophosphonic Glucamine Group Oxime Group Phosphonic + Sulphonic Group Phosphorous Group Thiol Group Thiourea Group Picolylamine Group Quaternary Amines Polyamines

By Matrix Type : Polystyrene Polystyrene Divinylbenzene Polyacrylic Divinylbenzene

By Application : Separation & Purification Treatment of Wastewater and Effluent Removal of Impurities Biochemistry Others

By End Use Industry : Electroplating Chemicals Chlor Alkali Biomedical Others Metal & Mining Cobalt Nickel Copper Lithium Gold Rare Earth Metal Others Waste Water Treatment

By Region : North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania MEA



Check out more related studies published by Fact.MR Research:

Expanded Polystyrene Market: The global expanded polystyrene (EPS) market was valued at around US$ 16 Bn in 2020, and is expected to reach US$ 20 Bn by 2031, rising at a CAGR of 5%. Demand for white expanded polystyrene is projected to accelerate at a CAGR of 4% across the assessment period of 2021 to 2031.

Divinylbenzene (DVB) Market: In North America, the demand for divinylbenzene is expected to witness a steady growth owing to the presence of the top two players in the region, i.e., Dow Chemical Company and Deltech Corporation. Europe has witnessed constant growth in the forecast period. Europe is the major importer of divinylbenzene.

Nitrobenzene Market: Global nitrobenzene market exhibits a very modest 3.6% CAGR during the forecast period of 2020 - 2030. Accelerating demand for high-performance plastics across the globe will continue to generate revenue for nitrobenzene manufacturers.

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Leading global scientists and policymakers will exchange learnings to promote multi-sectoral collaboration to address complex global health challenges

SINGAPORE, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th World One Health Congress (WOHC), the world's premier event to advance the One Health agenda, will take place in Singapore at the iconic Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 7 to 11 November 2022. Mdm Halimah Yacob, President of the Republic of Singapore, will grace the event's Opening Ceremony on 7 November as its Guest-of-Honour and deliver the Opening Address.

The global One Health movement aims to improve health and well-being by preventing and mitigating crises that originate from the animal-human-environment interface. This year's Congress, hosted by Singapore's SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) under the auspices of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, is themed 'Integrating Science, Policy and Clinical Practice: A One Health Imperative Post-COVID-19', and will promote multi-sectoral efforts and collaborations that advance a 'whole of society' approach and perspective to health hazards and the management of risks. Temasek Foundation is the Pinnacle Sponsor of the Congress.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health, Dr Monique Eloit, will deliver opening remarks on the first day. More than 120 speakers from organisations around the world, such as the World Bank, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will come together to share their knowledge and experiences across five distinct scientific tracks, spanning themes from One Health Science to Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience.

The Congress will feature a hybrid experience of in-person and virtual sessions with renowned keynote speakers, plenary lectures by experts, scientific sessions with abstract presentations and panel discussions on urgent and emerging topics. Leading scientists and policymakers will be joined by representatives from academic institutions, civil society, national governments, the private sector and multilateral organisations from around the world to integrate insights from diverse disciplines, including epidemiology and disease surveillance, animal production and trade, food safety, animal science, human health, environmental science/ecology and global health security.

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The biennial congress is taking place at a pertinent moment for the world. "As the world emerges from COVID-19, it is vital for scientific communities, policymakers and clinical professionals to build our collective resilience against future global health challenges," said Associate Professor Tan Hiang Khoon, Co-Chairman of the WOHC 2022 Steering Committee and Director of SDGHI. "The 7th World One Health Congress will host important conversations and promote integrated regional and global efforts that are essential to prevent, predict, prepare and respond to crises and safeguard our planet's healthy and sustainable future. The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute is pleased to represent Singapore in organising this Congress, and play a part in advancing global efforts to improve health outcomes and achieve health equity for all."

"The crux of the One Health paradigm is about recognising our global interconnectivity across not just the human experience, but animal and environmental determinants as well. This has never been more apparent than throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, during which we have seen first-hand just how much advancing health equity relies on our collective understanding and response to global health threats," said Professor Wang Linfa, Co-Chairman of the WOHC 2022 Steering Committee and Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. "This Congress is a well-timed testament to that and provides a platform to help move the needle in fostering broad collaboration and impact to advance One Health."

Running in parallel to the main WOHC 2022, the Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series is a three-day programme that focuses on the readiness to combat public health threats in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia.

This targeted programme provides a platform for strategic discussions and opportunities for close networking among invited policy makers, healthcare leaders and scientists in the region involved in different disciplines, including zoonotic diseases, bio-surveillance studies and antimicrobial resistance, to enhance the preparedness and response to emerging global health threats.

"Asia urgently needs to build capabilities to be ready to respond to any outbreaks that can potentially pose a major threat to the lives and livelihoods of its populations," said Mr Lim Hock Chuan, Head, Programmes, Temasek Foundation. "One of the most critical lessons learnt from the pandemic is that we must collaborate and share knowledge to tackle the most pressing healthcare challenges. We hope that the Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series provides healthcare leaders an opportunity to continue this spirit of learning and exchange to better prepare the region for future pandemics."

The WOHC is open for registration for both in-person and virtual attendance here . For more information on WOHC 2022 and its speakers, go to www.worldonehealthcongress.org or follow the congress on Twitter and Facebook .

 END 

About SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) draws on the collective strengths of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School to provide our patients and community with the best outcomes and experience.

By leveraging the synergies in clinical care, research and education created through our Academic Clinical Programmes, Disease Centres and Joint Institutes, the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC fosters the exchange of scientific knowledge and clinical perspectives to accelerate innovation and new discoveries, advance the practice of medicine as well as nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.

SingHealth delivers comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and integrated care across a network of acute hospitals, national specialty centres, polyclinics and community hospitals. Offering over 40 clinical specialties, SingHealth is Singapore's largest public healthcare cluster.

Duke-NUS, Singapore's flagship graduate-entry medical school, nurtures 'Clinician Plus' graduates to become leaders in the global healthcare and biomedical ecosystem, while scientists from its five Signature Research Programmes and 10 Centres transform medicine and improve lives in Asia and beyond.

For more information, please visit:

www.singhealthdukenus.com.sg

www.singhealth.com.sg

www.duke-nus.edu.sg

About SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) aims to advance health and well-being in Asia and beyond. Working in collaboration with partners, the Institute seeks to strengthen health systems, improve health outcomes and increase health security. Launched in 2018, SDGHI harnesses the capacity of SingHealth, the largest group of health care institutions in Singapore, and the Duke-NUS Medical School, to advance interdisciplinary global health research and capacity development across the region.

About Temasek Foundation

Temasek Foundation supports programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. We aim to strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and enhance regional capabilities, advance science and protect the planet for a sustainable world. Temasek Foundation's programmes, made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg.

ANNEX 1

7th World One Health Congress Scientific Tracks

Track 1  One Health Science will review the latest basic science and epidemiology of health and disease at the human-animal-environment interface, drawing attention to the science-policy interconnection and social context to One Health.

Track 2  Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will provide updates on the trends and drivers of AMR, as well as documentation of existing and future mitigation efforts to address this critical issue at the interface between humans, animals and the environment.

Track 3  Policy, Environment and Biosecurity will bring together scientists and policymakers to discuss transdisciplinary cross-border efforts to operationalise One Health and an agenda for enhanced bio-security in a post-COVID-19 world.

Track 4  Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience will focus on the impact of vaccines and one health surveillance on pandemic preparedness and public health security.

Track 5  Impact on and Innovations in Clinical Practice track will bring together clinicians and veterinarians for the first time to examine the interdependence of animal and human health, exploring the need for a One Health approach to innovation in clinical practice and healthcare technology implementation.

ANNEX 2

Temasek Foundation Pinnacle Series Sessions

Track 1  One Health Science



How can Asia Learn from Africa's Experience of Constructing & Successfully Running a Regional Pathogen Genomic Initiative

Genomic Sequencing for Public Health Surveillance

Emerging Lessons from the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative 3 Years On

Findings from a Landscape Assessment of the Current Status and Bottlenecks in Genomic Surveillance in Asia

Country Priorities for Genomic Surveillance in Asia

Track 2  Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Infectious Diseases Threats in Southeast Asia

From Zoonosis to AMR

Track 3  Policy, Environment and Biosecurity: Scientific Evidence for Pandemic Communications

Scientific Evidence for Pandemic Communications

The Important Role of Media in Managing a Pandemic or Outbreak

How Did Governments Manage Scientific Communication During the Pandemic?

How Can We Leverage Technology and Social Listening to Improve Scientific Communications and Manage Public Health?

Track 4  Pandemic Preparedness and Health Systems Resilience

Transformational Innovation for Preparedness and Resilience

Track 5  Impact on and Innovations in Clinical Practice

How Can Health Systems in Low and Middle-Income Countries Leverage on Innovations to Tackle the Growth in Depth and Breadth of Their Disease Burden While Addressing the Concerns of Environmental Sustainability?

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SOURCE SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 26, 2022 / St. Anthony Gold Corp. ("St. Anthony" or the "Company") (CSE:STAG)(Frankfurt:M1N)(OTC PINK:MTEHF) announces it has completed a first closing of a non-brokered private placement. The Company accepted subscriptions for 22,028,700 units at a price of $0.035 per unit, for gross proceeds of $771,004,57. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share at $0.05 for a period of two years from the date of closing. Securities issued on this closing are subject to a statutory hold period until February 27, 2023.

The Corporation paid finder's fees to one qualified finder of $19,026 and issued 543,600 broker warrants. The broker warrants having the same terms as those above.

An insider of the Company subscribed for an aggregate of 1,172,000 common share units of the Company. The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of such insider participation.

The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds for general working capital.

About St. Anthony Gold Corp.

St. Anthony Gold Corp., a Canadian-based mineral exploration corporation, is focused on identifying and advancing high-value mineral properties.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE THE COMPANY'S WEB SITE AT

https://stanthonygoldcorp.com

Email to info@stanthonygoldcorp.com

Contact: Peter Wilson CEO - 604-649-0945

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.

Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of 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. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of 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.

SOURCE: St. Anthony Gold Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

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(Adds Aamira; shows Methane Becki Anne is docked; removes Transgas Force, Golar Glacier after they change destination; updates arrival time for Flex Vigilant) Oct 26 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (L). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). Floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) terminals are added to the table when they become fully operational. As of Sept. 30 2022 this includes the Eemshaven terminal in the Netherlands. For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Zarga 261,000 Oct. 26 Qatar South Hook BW Tulip 171,000 Oct. 29 United States Isle of Grain Maran Gas Ithaca 170,000 Oct. 29 United States South Hook Methane Mickie Harper 167,000 Oct. 30 United States Dragon Diamond Gas Victoria 174,000 Nov. 1 United States Isle of Grain LNG Adamawa 138,000 Nov. 3 Nigeria Isle of Grain Al Mafyar 261,000 Nov. 6 Qatar South Hook LNG Abalamabie 172,000 Nov. 15 United States Isle of Grain Grace Dahlia 174,000 Nov. 17 United States Milford Haven Kmarin Diamond 152,000 Nov. 18 Malta South Hook BELGIUM Nikolay Urvantsev 169,000 Oct. 25 (A) N/A Zeebrugge Umm Al Amad 206,000 Oct. 27 Qatar Zeebrugge Gaslog HongKong 174,000 Oct. 29 United States Zeebrugge Aamira Nov. 1^ Qatar 261,000 Zeebrugge Maran Gas Troy 157,000 Nov. 4 Qatar Zeebrugge Energy Pacific LNG 173,000 Nov. 11 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Magdala 173,000 Oct. 26 United States Gate Methane Becki Anne 170,000 Oct. 26 (A) United States Gate Flex Vigilant 174,000 Oct. 27 United States Eemshaven Maria Energy 174,000 Oct. 29 United States Gate LNG Rosenrot 176,000 Nov. 05 Unites States Gate Golar Glacier 162,000 Nov. 9 United States Gate Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nora Buli)
LINKOPING, Sweden, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) has received an order for its digital pathology solution from three university hospitals in southwestern France. The hospitals will complement their use of microscopes with a joint digital solution allowing the pathologists to review and collaborate around cases in a way that has not been possible before. Digital access to cases, tools for reviewing, diagnosing and collaborating, and efficient resource sharing create new ways to improve the treatment of complex diseases, such as cancer care.

"Remote access to pathology cases will enable us to share and leverage resources between our hospitals and to facilitate the management of complex cases requiring special expertise, but also to foster teaching and research activities. It will also allow us to offer our pathologists, if they wish, a more flexible life thanks to remote work," explains Dr. O. Renaud, pathologist at the Poitiers University Hospital.

The University Hospitals of Bordeaux, Poitiers and Limoges are part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. Together they conduct about 100,000 pathology cases every year.

By moving to a digital workflow, the pathologists will have instant and, if needed, remote access to digital images of tissue samples instead of relying on physical glass slides reviewed in microscopes. They will be able to easily access and share current and historical images and information between departments and hospitals.

With digital images and workflows in place, the intention is to also leverage the opportunities created by AI. The Sectra solution includes an AI platform that makes it easy for healthcare providers to add applications from various AI vendors to the workflow and clinical use.

"Access to resources, particularly specialists, is a challenge for many healthcare providers. We're excited to have the opportunity to put our experience of implementing regional imaging solutions to use for these three university hospitals. Their joint quest to improve cancer care, combined with modern technology, has the potential to truly impact patients in this area, and we are proud to be able to contribute," says Fabien Lozach, President of Sectra in France.

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The contract was signed in September 2022 and is the first order under the four-year framework agreement for pathology that was signed earlier this year. It is part of the regional project eNovA-Path that aims to make all techniques and organ specialists available across the region, regardless of geographic location, through a shared diagnostic network.

Sectra's pathology solution provides pathologists with assistance at critical decision points, such as grading or performing more precise measurements. It also enables image analysis, which in turn reduces variation and improves the precision of tasks such as cell counting. Digital access further facilitates second opinions and external reading resources as well as enabling integrated diagnostics. The pathology solution is part of Sectra's enterprise imaging solution, which provides a unified strategy for all imaging needs while lowering operational costs. The scalable and modular solution, with a VNA at its core, allows healthcare providers to grow from ology to ology and from enterprise to enterprise. Visit Sectra's website to read more about Sectra and why it's top-ranked in "Best in KLAS".

About Sectra

Sectra contributes to a healthier and safer society by assisting health systems throughout the world to enhance the efficiency of care, and authorities and defense forces in Europe to protect society's most sensitive information. The company, founded in 1978, is headquartered in Linkoping, Sweden, with direct sales in 19 countries, and distribution partners worldwide. Sales in the 2021/2022 fiscal year totaled SEK 1,949 million. The Sectra share is quoted on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange. For more information, visit Sectra's website.

CONTACT:

Dr. Torbjorn Kronander,

CEO and President Sectra AB,

+46 (0)705 23 52 27

Marie Ekstrom Tragardh,

Executive Vice President Sectra AB and President Sectra Imaging IT Solutions,

+46 (0)708 23 56 10

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/sectra/i/sectra-pathology,c3102456 Sectra pathology

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/three-french-university-hospitals-select-digital-pathology-solution-from-sectra--join-forces-to-speed-up-cancer-diagnostics-301659523.html
Safanad, a global principal-led investment house and Global School Management (GSM), an international education platform, have announced initial planned investment of $200 million in the Mena regions education sector.



They also announced a commitment to invest significantly beyond this to acquire, manage and develop multiple charter, online, early learning, and K-12 private schools independently and in partnership with regional governments.



GSM was established in 2014 with Safanad as a founding investor. It has grown to become a global market leader, serving more than 50,000 students across its 165 schools and early learning academies primarily in the US, Europe, and Africa.



The investment was announced during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 6, where Safanad and GSM are taking part in the three-day global summit, which puts innovation and investment in education high on the programs agenda as well as a having made it a central pillar of the FII Institute's Impact on Humanity.



GSM is finalizing transactions to acquire several schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where GSM already operates iCademy Middle East, the premier, accredited, K-12 American online school based in Dubai with a blended learning model. These acquisitions would immediately add approximately 10,000 additional students into the platform. GSM recently acquired BBD Education in Dubai a premier provider of professional education services and management for the growing schools market in the GCC.



Kamal Bahamdan, Founder and CEO of Safanad, said: We are delighted that GSM is significantly expanding its presence in the Mena region and to be announcing it during FII 6 , an event that promotes growth in vital sectors such as education and where notable global education peers and innovators have gathered to discuss the future of the industry. GSM will bring international best practice in education and leverage its innovative technologies and capabilities around school management and development to help expand capacity and enhance the quality of education available in this market.



This milestone also forms part of our broader strategy to establish a dedicated, regionally focused investment arm, Safanad Mena, through which we can deploy our expertise and capital into a number of priority, high-impact sectors. This is the first of multiple platforms we plan in areas where we have built market-leadership in the US and Europe and can use our global know-how and network to replicate success and accelerate growth regionally.



Beyond education, this includes healthcare and digital infrastructure, among others. We are excited to begin this next phase of growth for Safanad and GSM in the Mena region and look forward to the contributions we can make to the development of the education sector and beyond, he added.



Ron Packard, CEO of GSM, said: Through our subsidiary GSM Middle East, we are strategically positioned to expand our presence in a fast-growing education market were students want a high quality international education. We are close to completing a number of transactions in the region, which would significantly grow our global student base, while pursuing further acquisitions and the development of new international private schools and early learning academies.



We also hope to serve as a strategic partner to regional governments by cooperating with them in public private partnership initiatives. We see long-term opportunity for private international education in Mena, where there is strong demand from families for a high-calibre education and a commitment from governments to ensure these needs are met. With a seasoned team of experts with deep local knowledge and a track record of success across continents, we look forward to broadening access to world-class international education for students in the region, Packard concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
UNITIL Corporation

HAMPTON, N.H., Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unitil Corporation (NYSE:UTL) ( unitil.com ) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Neveen F. Awad, Ph.D. to the Board. The addition of a new director is part of the Boards normal succession planning process in anticipation of the upcoming retirements of directors reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Dr. Awad will stand for election to the Board by the shareholders of the Company at the next annual meeting of shareholders, which will be held in April 2023.



Dr. Awad is a partner and managing director of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consulting firm. She leads the Detroit office, and also is the global leader of BCGs Technology Platform offering. Prior to BCG, Dr. Awad was an assistant professor at Wayne State University School of Business, a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Awad earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Business.

"We are delighted that Dr. Neveen Awad will be joining the Unitil Board," said Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitils chairman, chief executive officer and president. "Neveen is a proven leader with an exceptional background in digital and technology driven transformations, and brings skills in a number of important areas, including strategic planning and workforce diversity development, that will enhance and preserve the Boards existing strong skill set.

About Unitil Corporation

Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the delivery of dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitils operating utilities serve approximately 107,700 electric customers and 86,600 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies, and community involvement please visit unitil.com .

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For more information please contact:

Todd Diggins  Investor Relations

Phone: 603-773-6504

Email: diggins@unitil.com

Alec OMeara  Media Relations

Phone: 603-773-6404

Email: omeara@unitil.com








Spotsylvania School Board member Nicole Cole filed a lawsuit seeking to void the superintendents license issued to Mark Taylor, who is under contract to begin as the school divisions new leader Nov. 1.

Leesburg attorney Charles King, who is representing Cole and fellow plaintiff Aubrey Litchfield, the parent of a student enrolled in Spotsylvania County Public Schools, filed the petition in Richmond Circuit Court on Friday.

The petition argues that the Board of Education erred in granting Taylors license because he does not meet qualifications required of school division superintendents by Virginia Code.

It cites section 22.1-59 of the Code of Virginia, which states that the Board of Education shall prescribe by regulation the minimum qualifications for the position of division superintendent of schools.

The regulations adopted by the Board of Education are laid out in Virginia Administrative Code section 8VAC-390-10, which states that to be eligible for a superintendents license, applicants must have five years of satisfactory and full-time experience in administration or supervision, or both, in public schools, in addition to other qualifications.

The record contains no evidence Taylor has five years of satisfactory full-time experience in administration or supervision, or both, in public schools, Coles petition states. Specifically, Taylor has never been a principal, vice principal or held a position in the central office of a Virginia school division.

The Board of Education approved Taylors licensure based on meeting requirements laid out in a different section of the administrative code, 8VAC20-23-630, which states, An individual may be a candidate for the list of eligible division superintendents ... through the completion of the requirements in one of the following four options.

Taylor meets the qualifications under Option IV, which states that individuals shall have a masters degree or equivalent and three years of successful, full-time experience in a senior leadership position.

Coles petition argues that there is no language in either section of the administrative code which exempts an Option IV candidate from the requirements of 8VAC-390-10.

The Board of Education is also tasked by law with prescribing requirements for the licensure of teachers and other school personnel required to hold a license.

Those requirements are explained in Administrative Code section 8VAC20-23-40.

Coles petition argues that those requirements apply to division superintendents and that Taylor doesnt meet them, either.

It asks the court to rule that the Board of Education erred in placing Taylor on the list of candidates eligible for the renewable division superintendents license and to void his license.

The Board of Education voted 62 to grant licensure to Taylor last month. Board members who voted against licensing himand several who voted to license himsaid they would not have hired Taylor based on controversial posts made to a Facebook profile that appears to belong to him. Board members in September did not mention the existence of conflicting sections of administrative code, but at the boards meeting last week, president Dan Gecker asked the Attorney Generals office to look into it.

Victoria LaCivita, a spokesperson for the Attorney General, said the office is looking into the matter.

Taylors hiring was approved by the School Board in a 43 vote. Cole, who voted against hiring Taylor, said it was necessary for her to take the extra step of asking the court to intervene.

It was necessary for two reasons, she said. When I took my oath of office as a School Board member, I pledged to work to provide the highest quality of education for the children of Spotsylvania and I just couldnt sit and allow someone as patently unqualified as Mark Taylor to become the superintendent of schools.

And also, the reasons that our board wants him for superintendent has nothing to do with anything good for the students or the educators or even the community of Spotsylvania.
While hospitals, drug stores and law enforcement agencies across the Fredericksburg regionand nationwill accept unused or expired medication Saturday in an effort to prevent more addiction, a new tool developed by the state estimates how much the opioid epidemic is costing Virginia.

On Saturday, people can drop off pill bottles and patches from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations in the region. The effort is known by several names: Crush the Crisis, Operation Medicine Cabinet or the Drug Enforcement Administrations Take Back Day.

All have the same purpose: to keep medicine, particularly prescription painkillers that havent been used or have expired, from falling into the wrong hands. The DEA has been taking back medicine, each spring and fall, since 2016 and has collected more than 8,000 tons, according to its website, dea.gov/takebackday.

Some locations in the Fredericksburg area accept only various brands of tablets, capsules and patches. Others accept sharps, such as needles and syringes. Signs at each facility note which items can be deposited.

In addition to drop-off points at Mary Washington Hospital, Stafford Hospital, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center and the Emergency & Outpatient Center at Lees Hill, law enforcement agencies are sponsoring sites at various locations:

Wegmans: 2281 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg.

University of Mary Washington Bell Tower: 1301 College Ave., Fredericksburg.

Chancellors Village: 12100 Chancellors Village Lane, Fredericksburg.

CVS Courtland Commons: 9767 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania.

Mary Washington Primary Care and Pediatrics: 8051 Prosperity Way, Ruther Glen.

Walgreens: 104 West Broaddus Ave., Bowling Green.

Petco: 16375 Merchants Lane, King George.

Lake of the Woods Clubhouse: 102 Lake of the Woods Way, Locust Grove.

Meanwhile, a new opioid cost calculator shows the staggering financial impact associated with the epidemic. Estimates are from 2020, when an average of four Virginians died every day from opioid overdoses, according to the state health department website.

Overdoses caused 1,478 deaths in the state in 2020, a 17% increase from the previous year, and resulted in 9,901 visits to the emergency room.

The economic burden created from the opioid epidemic reached almost $3.5 billion in 2020, according to the calculator developed by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health.

This burden is carried by Virginias workers, employers and governments, and includes both future losses and current direct spending that could have been avoided, according to a news release.

The calculator assessed the economic toll in terms of the cost of lost labor, crime, increased need for health care and family services and the impact to households, state and federal governments.

While families and businesses feel the brunt of the impact, as those addicted arent able to work and support themselves and their loved ones, the report noted that local, state and federal governments also absorb expenses for more criminal justice services and programs for children and families.

The report also divided the economic impact of opioids among the states cities and counties to come up with a per-person cost. The number differs from one locality to the next, according to the calculator.

The city of Falls Church in Northern Virginia had the lowest impact, of $133 per person. Petersburg had the highest: $971 per person.

Figures for the Fredericksburg area on the economic impact of opioids, per person, in 2020 were:

Caroline County: $623

Culpeper County: $442

Fauquier County: $359

Fredericksburg: $734

King George County: $506

Orange County: $460

Spotsylvania County: $592

Stafford County: $444

Westmoreland County: $289
When Whitney Gilbert and Shadese "DeeDee" Griffith began dating more than a year ago, neither could have expected that they and their family would find themselves on reality television.

A family dance, posted to social media, showed off their blended, nine-person family. More than 298,000 likes and thousands of comments later, they found themselves in talks with a production company that wanted to show their lives on television.

So we all wore pride shirts and then all of our kids were in a line behind us and it ended up going viral, Gilbert said.

And with the premiere of the special Our 2 Moms Tuesday night (Oct. 25) at 10 p.m. on TLC, theyll tell their story to the world, with all its ups and downs.

The preview for Our 2 Moms on TLC is as follows: Newly engaged, Whitney and DeeDee juggle raising seven kids and planning their dream wedding. Between ex-husbands, opinionated families and small-town attitudes about a same-sex, interracial couple, getting down the aisle might be harder than expected.

Gilbert said she was removed from her praise and worship team at a local church after she and Griffith began dating and that their large, interracial family sometimes catches glances in public. She was married for a decade to a man before dating and eventually becoming engaged to Griffith, part of why many were surprised when the two became a couple.

A lot of people were like, Whoa, Whitney just went from good, godly, Christian girl to with a female, so I felt like no one understands me, Gilbert said.

And while there is drama in the couple and familys lives, she said they hope to show the positives and the negatives of life in Statesville with their family.

One thing that the show really wants to show is that you know its really hard to love who you love and be in a very conservative town. They want to show that its not as open here and its not as easy to live the lifestyle that were were living, but theyre also hoping that this will bring awareness and help people to understand that we are just like everyone else, Gilbert said.

Gilbert, a teacher at Iredell-Statesville Schools, and Griffith, a mental health therapist, hope the show will help people understand them and other LBGTQ people. She said there are steps in the right direction, one of which was how Statesville has begun in the last two years to host Pride events.

I feel like were finally, getting there, getting somewhere. Even in a year, it has changed tremendously, Gilbert said.

The special premieres on Tuesday night on TLC, and can be viewed the next day on the Discovery+ app.

The two can be found on social media on Instagram at whitney_ourtwomoms and shadese_ourtwomoms, and on Tiktok at @whitneyrebecca2020 and @shadede5.
Bob and Tancook  two great white sharks tagged with satellite tracking technology  paid a visit to Hampton Roads over the weekend.

Bob  a 13-foot, 1300-pound great white shark  sent a satellite ping 9:25 a.m. Sunday while off the coast of Virginia Beach. Tancook, who is nearing 10 feet in length and 715 pounds, followed behind Bob, pinging in almost the same location less than 12 hours later.

Both sharks were tagged by the Ocearch marine research organization, and pinged as they head south for the winter. A ping happens when the sharks dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water.

Bob, who was named after Ocearchs chief scientist, last surfaced Thursday, off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Before that, on Sept. 22, he was cruising the waters of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Sunday marks Bobs first visit to Hampton Roads.

Tancook, which means facing the open sea to the indigenous Mikmaq people of Nova Scotia, has been more of a wanderer, traveling to Virginian Beach from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, located off New Brunswick, Canada, in one months time. Tancook visited Hampton Roads waters the last week of October last year.

Ocearch, a nonprofit group doing research on large marine animals including great white sharks, launched its shark tracker app in 2012 to allow people to observe the movements of sharks around the world.

Bob was tagged by Ocearch on Sept. 20, 2021 in the waters of Nova Scotia. Tancook was tagged just two days later in the same area.

Based on Bobs tracking history, he likes to spend his summers in New England before swimming to the warmer waters of north Florida, Georgia and South Carolina for the winter.

Tancooks tracking history shows he travels from Nova Scotia late in the summer all the way past Cape Canaveral, Florida, which is where he spent last Christmas.

While their exact ages are unknown, Bob is estimated to be an adult and Tancook is considered a juvenile.

Expedition teams have tagged 84 great white sharks along the East Coast. At an estimated 50 years of age, Nukumi is believed to the oldest shark Ocearch is tracking. Nukumi, an adult female great white shark, pinged just off the Outer Banks several times from November 2020 to February 2021 before disappearing beneath the surface in April 2021.
Visit Colorado Springs, the citys convention and visitors bureau, is one of seven recipients of Tourism Recovery Marketing Grant funding, it was announced Tuesday.

The grants, awarded by the Colorado Tourism Office, are aimed at supporting the travel and tourism industry and attracting visitors to Colorado cities and towns that are still recovering from the pandemic. Visit Colorado Springs is receiving $400,000 to support a meetings and events marketing campaign leveraging the Olympic City USA brand to generate awareness of the unique options for meetings and events held in Colorado Springs, a news release stated.

While leisure travel recovery has been successful in the Pikes Peak region, recovery for meetings and events has lagged behind, Doug Price, president and CEO of Visit Colorado Springs, said in the release. Receiving these grant funds gives us the resources for recovery of our business travel market by leveraging our strong Olympic City USA brand and emphasizing our unique venues.

A total of $1.8 million in grants were announced; the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau received the largest amount, $500,000. The funding will be used for an International Markets Recovery Program aimed at stimulating the return of high spending international visitors to Denver.

The town of La Junta, meanwhile, will use its $75,000 grant to launch its first official marketing campaign, promoting Rich History, Unexpected Adventure.
Colorado Springs-area pastor and Republican candidate Scott Bottoms is looking to retain the decades-long GOP stronghold in Colorado's House District 15 in next month's election.

But Democrats say their candidate Alvin Sexton's chances of winning the seat this year are more promising than in recent memory thanks to redistricting and changing demographics.

Colorado's House District 15 in El Paso County includes portions of eastern Colorado Springs: the entirety of the Banning Lewis Ranch Villages, Ridgeview, Springs Ranch and Stetson Hills neighborhoods and portions of the Banning Lewis Ranch, Cottonwood Creek and Woodmen Heights/Dublin North Colorado Springs neighborhoods.

The district is currently represented by Republican state Rep. Dave Williams, who unsuccessfully campaigned in June against Congressman Doug Lamborn for the GOP nomination to the 5th congressional district.

"This is a seat that Republicans have traditionally won, but there are a couple of things that are really working in our favor," El Paso County Democratic Party Chairman John Mikos said.

Click here to read The Gazette's 2022 Colorado General Election Voter Guide

There is now an increased number of unaffiliated voters in the district "who are really looking at the candidates directly," Mikos said. There are 9,931 active Democratic voters compared to 17,811 Republicans and 27,427 unaffiliated voters, data from the Secretary of State's Office as of Oct. 1 show.

"Second, this is a part of the county that has been demographically changing  rapidly. Lorson Ranch, Cimarron Hills and Banning Lewis Ranch are rapidly becoming more diverse, with new families moving in. We think this district is ripe for change," Mikos said.

Sexton, a mechanic who has said he wants "to be a voice for working families and people," is the change District 15 residents want to see, Mikos said.

"He's running against a guy who, quite frankly, is running on manufactured outrage," Mikos said.

Navy veteran Bottoms, pastor of the Church at Briargate, is a "strict constitutionalist and a believer in individual rights granted by God," according to his campaign website.

He promises to "stand for the life of the unborn, the rights of conscience, religious freedom, the Second Amendment, school choice and parental rights, and veterans" while opposing "election corruption, unconstitutional mandates, government overreach, (critical race theory) and new taxes."

Bottoms was among several preferred El Paso County GOP candidates who ran in the June primary election and billed themselves as anti-establishment Republicans. Most of those candidates lost their primary elections.

Bottoms did not respond to repeated requests for comment from The Gazette.

El Paso County Republican Party Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins called Bottoms "a man of virtue" who "carries the values of the district," in contrast to Sexton, whom she called a "radical Democrat who will carry the water for Jared Polis. He will increase taxes and defund the police" and will push critical race theory, she said.

"Critical race theory is not being taught in our schools," Sexton said.

Sexton's priority is focusing "on issues that everyday people are facing," such as affordable housing, universal health care, higher pay for teachers, addressing climate change, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, fiscal responsibility and supporting small businesses and labor unions, he said.

"We need to fix the housing crisis we're facing," Sexton said. "When people bring their paychecks home, they're trying to make that rent or mortgage payment and it's a significant amount of their income, way more than the 30% that's recommended. If we fix that we can free up people's wallets."

Sexton also said he doesn't want to implement new taxes but wants to "build up the middle class" by supporting small businesses.

He believes women have the right to safe abortions but worries a Republican majority in the legislature could outlaw abortion, he said. He supports codifying the right to an abortion in state law.

Sexton said he also worries the line separating church and state could blur if Bottoms is elected.

"I have nothing against being a pastor or being a Christian, at all. I do, however, have a strong belief that we need separation of church and state," he said.

Bottoms' campaign spent $220.17 between Sept. 29 and Oct. 12 and had $4,799.14 on hand as of Oct. 12, according to the latest campaign finance filings with the Secretary of State's Office.

Sexton's campaign spent $262.49 in that same period and had $863.17 remaining as of Oct. 12.

Colorado's general election is Nov. 8.
For dinosaur museum curator Anthony Maltese, a quarter-century spent scouring thousands of miles of fossil fields in the American West had yielded a wealth of prehistoric finds, including a triceratops, as well as a standard joke that never failed to elicit eyerolls from his colleagues.

No matter how the days field work had gone, his reply to inquiries was always the same: Oh, I found a T. rex.

If youre a paleontologist, you totally get it.

For everyone else, heres an explainer from Malteses friend and longtime fellow fossil hunter Jacob Jett:

The joke works because its a stupid thing to say. Like, No, you didnt, because nobody did, said Jett, who now works in sales and operations for Triebold Paleontology in Woodland Park. A lot more people have been on the starting lineup of the Denver Broncos than have found a T. rex.

Imagine Jetts surprise when the man who cried T. rex whipped out photographic evidence  and then actual evidence  to back up a career of wry, but hopeful, humor.

People use the phrase once in a lifetime, Jett said. This is not that because really most people go their entire careers in paleontology and never find a T. rex.

What Maltese found, on the last hours of the last day of an expedition to fossil fields in the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota this summer, were the partial remains of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex, scattered under soft mud in an area the Triebold team had been excavating, on and off, for the last 30 years.

I was checking an area where I had vague recollections that I had seen some bone chunks coming out before, said Maltese, gesturing to a few fist-sized bones on a table at Triebolds lab, behind the scenes at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center.

The bones, fossilized through a process called permineralization, easily could pass for rock fragments to the untrained eye. They were almost dismissed by an expert who knew what he was looking for.

I thought, Oh, those are kind of concreted-looking triceratops pieces, Maltese said of a prehistoric animal whose bones are traditionally hard to excavate and often yield a specimen thats not the greatest.

A bit farther on, when he came to a rise in the valley floor and spotted two Tyrannosaurus rex vertebrae jutting from the ground, Maltese said he had to recalculate what I thought about the site.

A few hours of excavating that first day yielded about a dozen bones. By the end of a series of summer expeditions to the site, Maltese and the Triebold team had recovered 55 bones from different parts of the animals body  tail, hips, shoulders, ribs and skull, or about 15% of the total skeleton  and transported them back to the Woodland Park center for cleaning and preservation.

The skeleton is thought to be the remains of a 30-foot-long teenaged T. rex that, based on the teeth and gnaw marks on its bones, likely was predated on by other carnivores after its untimely demise some 66 million years ago.

That damage, as well as the parts of the skeleton that are missing, tells a far richer story than one of found bones alone, said Triebold Paleontology owner and museum founder Mike Triebold.

Its not the fact that its just a T. rex that is exciting to me, because theres probably close to 70 of them now that have been discovered, Triebold said, but that this particular one happens to be in a size range that we believe is in between the smallest  and adult  which gives us a little bit more information about the changes in the body. And in addition to that, weve already discovered just in the initial preparation of this animal that it had some diseases. It had a rough life and possibly even was cannibalized at the very end.

Its the kind of things we are discovering about the life of the animal that is most exciting to me, said Triebold, whose labs have provided mounted fossil skeletons and skeleton casts to about 200 museums around the world.

For now, the juvenile T. rex  nicknamed Valerie after Malteses wife  continues to undergo preservation work in the lab at the headquarters of Triebold Paleontology, with several upcoming events for the public to see the specimen.

Valerie is Malteses first major T. rex find, but certainly not his or Triebold Paleontologys first close encounter with one of the Late Cretaceous Periods most infamous predators.

Its not uncommon for a fossil hunter to find individual bones or T. rex teeth in the fossil fields that remain of a prehistoric coastline that runs through the western part of North America, Maltese said.

He also had a hand in helping preserve one of the largest and most-intact T. rex skeletons ever discovered. Stan, found in South Dakota's Hell Creek Formation in the late 1980s  not far from Valeries final resting place  fetched a colossal $31.8 million at auction in 2020.

Before it was sold to an unidentified buyer, Triebold Paleontology was hired by the auction house to redo the steel armature on the original reconstructed skeleton.

For about a year, Stan was in our back room while we were reworking it. We couldn't say anything about it  until Christies, the auction house, released us from that part of the (nondisclosure agreement), Maltese said.

A model of Stan, made from casts of the original bones, is on display at the Woodland Park center.
Southeast Asian coconuts gain popularity in China

Xinhua) 09:10, October 26, 2022

NANNING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- As a coconut lover, Zhuang Yong buys coconuts imported from Thailand in various ways, including daily shopping, online purchase, and exhibition sales.

"The taste of coconut is fresh and sweet," said Zhuang, a citizen in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In recent years, coconuts from Southeast Asian countries have rapidly gained popularity in China and are widely used in food and drink, such as cakes, coffee, and even hotpots. Various coconut products have enriched the taste buds of Chinese consumers while offering new opportunities for companies.

In the cold storage of a fruit wholesale market in Nanning, coconuts from Thailand were neatly lined up, which would soon go to restaurants, beverage stores, supermarkets, and consumers all over the country.

"In Thailand, after being picked, the coconuts are sorted and packaged by local factories and then shipped to China," Mo Jiaming, deputy manager of a trading company in Guangxi, said. Mo added that they had visited Thailand many times and had already signed cooperation agreements with Thai factories to ensure coconut supply.

The livestreaming on Chinese e-commerce platforms has become an important method for fruit merchants to expand sales channels.

The online sales of coconuts from Southeast Asia are booming. "In the past, we needed to drill a hole in the coconut with a knife to drink fresh coconut water, which was laborious and dangerous. Now, with the easy-opening tool fixed on the coconut, drinking coconut water has become more convenient," Mo said.

Besides drinking fresh coconut water, the hotpot cooked with coconut water and chicken is popular among consumers in China.

"I usually have coconut chicken hotpot with my family and friends every month. If not, I will miss it." Lu Shuai, a citizen in Nanning, said that the ingredients in the hotpot are fresh. Under the concept of consumption upgrading and healthy dining, coconut chicken hotpot perfectly meets the needs of consumers. At the same time, a series of coconut products like coconut milk, coconut jelly, and coconut ice cream also cater to consumers' various demands.

With the rising popularity of fresh coconuts and the increasing variety of coconut products, the demand for Southeast Asian coconuts in China continues to expand. Mo said that the company's total imports of coconuts from Thailand are expected to exceed 28,000 containers this year, and the average annual growth rate reached about 10 percent in recent years. He believed that in the future, the total amount of coconut imports would continue to increase.

According to statistics from China Customs, from January to July this year, China imported 566,000 tonnes of coconuts, an increase of 35.3 percent compared with 418,000 tonnes in the same period last year. From the perspective of importing countries, coconuts imported to China during the first seven months this year were mainly from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, accounting for 48.6 percent, 32.5 percent, and 18.4 percent, respectively.

Thanks to the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (a trade and logistics passage), and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), regional transportation has improved, and regional logistics have continued to run smoothly.

Many logistics options are available for fruit transportation from ASEAN countries to China, including road and rail, as well as sea and air transportation, and multimodal transportation can also be customized according to different demands.

Wanlada Ratanapanich, the commercial consul of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Nanning, said that Thai coconuts rank high in the total amount of imported Thai fruits to China. China's consumer market is large and in high demand, with broad prospects for the future. Thai companies must focus on the continuous optimization and diversification of Thai coconut products and take advantage of livestreaming, Chinese festivals, Thailand shopping carnivals, and other promotional activities to attract consumers' attention.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Lucid Group, a US-based electric vehicle company, has signed up Al Bawani, a leading general contracting firm, for the construction of its first international production plant in Saudi Arabia.

The new facility will come up on a 1.3-million-sq-m campus plot at the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The new plant targets 155,000 vehicles per year.

Al Bawani said it has already begun work on the first phase of the plant, which will manufacture the longest range and the fastest charging electric cars in the market.

The companys 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.

Al Bawani said this and future phases are expected to consist of many buildings across Lucid's campus at KAEC, thus creating a home for its state-of-the-art manufacutring process in the kingdom.

The emergence of an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the region will accelerate the strategic objective of Saudi Arabia to transform and diversity its economy through the development of sustainable energy and transportation, underscoring the kingdoms priority to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and shift to green and clean energy.

Serving as the epicenter of electric vehicles in the region, the new plant is expected to address climate change through inspiring sustainable transportation, it added.

CEO Engineer Fakher Al Shawaf said: "This is a significant milestone for us at Al Bawani, partnering with Lucid to not only promote a clean and sustainable automotive ecosystem but also demonstrate our willingness and support of economic diversification efforts away from fossil fuel."

Underpinned by race-proven battery technology and proprietary powertrains developed entirely in-house, Lucid Air was named the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year. The Lucid Air Grand Touring features an official EPA estimated 516 miles of range or 1,050 horsepower.

"My sincere appreciation to Lucid for entrusting this opportunity to Al Bawani and for their support of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 and our broader aggressive clean energy policies," stated Al Shawaf.

Upon completion, the production plant is expected to offer job opportunities for several thousand people, a majority of whom are expected to be Saudi citizens.

Al Bawanis partnership with Lucid hints at a broader trend of Saudi businesses significant shift toward initiatives that support Saudis Green Initiative, heralded by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to complement Vision 2030, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A motion by Barry Morphew, the Salida-area man who at one time faced murder charges tied to the disappearance of his wife, to reclaim property was denied Tuesday by a judge.

The hearing for Morphew took place in Canon City. According to court documents, a motion to return property was filed May 26. Morphew had his criminal charges tied to the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew dismissed on April 18.

According to the motion, prosecution has been in possession of Barry Morphews property for more than two years and there is no link between the property to the location or circumstances of Mrs. Morphews disappearance.

A judge decided on Tuesday that the evidence would not be returned and denied the motion. Barry Morphew did not appear in court.

Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mothers Day in 2020 in the Salida area. To date, her body has not been found.

We alleged in the motion the items should be returned to Barry as they are being unlawfully held for no legitimate purpose, part of a statement from Morphews attorney Iris Eytan reads. As the law recognizes, Barry is innocent and in this country we just dont hold peoples property ad infinitum when there are no charges pending.

Prosecutors had argued that the seized items could be used as evidence in the future.

... the People have a claim to all property seized for use in a future prosecution, part of the motion filed by the DAs office reads. Further, no hearing need be held as the People are not looking to forfeit the property. To the contrary, we wish to hold it safe for a potential future prosecution.

Posters featuring missing Suzanne Morphew remain in Salida. Anyone with information on her disappearance is asked to call 719-312-7530.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the rank of Lt. Deborah Mynatt.

Sunlight glimmered off framed photographs of 18-year-old Dezaree Archuleta, placed in her memory outside the El Paso County Sheriff's Office in downtown Colorado Springs Tuesday morning.

"I wish I could have helped her a little bit more. I feel like I failed her," said Shelly Romero, Archuleta's mother.

Bouquets with yellow and red flowers were strewn atop protest signs calling for accountability from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for a spate of recent deaths at the Criminal Justice Center  eight so far in 2022.

"CJC should not be a death sentence," one sign read.

Archuleta committed suicide in June while in custody at the jail. Though she exhibited signs of emotional distress, such as self-harm marks and a hopeless demeanor, her family and friends claimed Tuesday she was removed from suicide watch sometime during her 21-day stay and they were never notified.

"I just know it was bad in there for her," Romero said. "... I want something to be done about it. I want Dezaree to change something. Her life mattered and something needs to come good out of all this or this is all for nothing."

Romero and other members of Archuleta's family were joined by friends and representatives from community organizations, including the Colorado Springs People's Coalition, Chinook Center and Colorado Springs Democratic Socialists of America on Tuesday morning as they demanded El Paso County commissioners spearhead reforms at the jail and increase oversight of the Sheriff's Office.

"This is not a demand anymore, but a necessity out of crisis. If you do not do everything in your power to establish independent civilian oversight, more people will die," said Brandon Rincon, a friend of Archuleta's family and an organizer with the Colorado Springs People's Coalition.

The group made seven demands of commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday before marching to the Sheriff's Office, where they held a memorial for Archuleta:

 Independent civilian oversight of El Paso County jails.

"That is our main call here today, so we can hold those in power accountable and create transparent streams of information directly from our jails for more personalized and effective reforms and budgeting," Rincon said.

 Bail reform. Among three types of bonds set in El Paso County, one is cash bail. The county requires the full amount of the bond paid to the court, in cash, before the defendant is released. Rincon said cash bail further penalizes people who are already struggling to find food, shelter and water because they commit crimes due to lack of resources.

 A detailed, transparent six-month plan for the rehabilitation and release of all nonviolent, nonpredatory offenders.

 Reparations for emotional damages caused to families whose relatives have died while in sheriff's custody.

 Establishment of an independent inmate complaint board.

 Immediate reinvestment into medical and living facilities at the jail.

 An independent investigation into Sheriff Bill Elder for the deaths at the jail.

County Commission Chairman Stan VanderWerf said in an interview Tuesday that commissioners heard the coalition and encourages the group to work with Elder, the elected official representing the Sheriff's Office, regarding their requests.

"The primary office that has responsibility for that is the Sheriff's Office and there's an elected official there, which is Bill Elder. He's done a lot of things in that jail to work on all kinds of issues. ... It's very important, from (commissioners') point of view, that the elected official at the jail handle that."

But outside the Sheriff's Office , the group's calls for Elder to speak with them went unanswered.

"I pray for that. I really want some closure," Romero said. "... I need them to be held accountable for it and acknowledge it. It's nothing to them. It's just another name that goes on their list of deaths. And she was my daughter."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Lt. Deborah Mynatt said that while the department doesn't have a civilian oversight committee, it conducts a "comprehensive" review after every "critical incident in the jail." The reviews examine the office's emergency response and, when appropriate, "relevant factors" concerning the inmate's medical care.

"The review allows the Sheriff's Office to determine how operations may be improved and what operations are working well, with specific focus in the areas of policy, equipment, communications and training," Mynatt said.

The department also invites residents to attend its Citizens' Academy to learn more about the Sheriff's Office. For years, it also had a Sheriff's Citizens' Advisory Council that was paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. That council was tasked with offering advice and recommendations after researching challenges the office was facing, Mynatt said.

Last year, the Sheriff's Office started its Community Conversations outreach effort, bringing together county residents and members of the Sheriff's Office to discuss their concerns. But that program also stalled due to the pandemic, she said.

Rincon said the citizen coalition will continue pushing for reform.

"Our next steps are to keep the pressure up on our county government and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Honestly, we just want them to speak, because they haven't," Rincon said.
The North Shore Marina at Lake Pueblo State Park will change ownership Nov. 1 when Colorado Parks and Wildlife takes possession.

The agency plans to turn over operations on an interim basis to a new business until it can negotiate a long-term contract, according to a news release.

Until then, the agency does not intend to open the marina store or sell fuel. The boat pump-out station and restrooms will remain operational.

It is unclear whether boats will be able to dock through the winter.

The main message here is that people and their boats can stay put, for now. But stay tuned. We must find an operator first, Lake Pueblo Park Manager Joe Stadterman said in the release. At this point, we probably have more questions than answers. We ask for patience as we work through some complicated issues in the coming days and weeks.

Current operator Connie Jack surrendered her contract to the state on Tuesday, according to the release. If Parks and Wildlife can find an interim operator, it intends for that operator to repair the marinas electric system to allow bubblers to operate through winter and prevent ice from forming. Ice would likely necessitate docked boats removal.

Jack has been the principal agent for Colorado Marine and Boat Works, which has owned and operated the marina business for 20 years. Parks and Wildlife has solicited bids for prospective business partners to take over in 2023 and beyond, after Jack's contract was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022.

The agency hired an electrical consultant during the bidding process who alerted officials on Sept. 29 that the marina's electric circuits were out of compliance with national safety codes. Power was shut off until Jack hired an electrician and made limited repairs. Power returned on Oct. 14 after the marina passed a state inspection.
Sidra Medicine has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft to facilitate its research divisions digital transformation goals and accelerate its precision medicine and genomics research programmes.

The MoU was signed at Microsoft Qatars Lusail office, by Dr Khalid Fakhro, the Chief Research Officer from Sidra Medicine and Lana Khalaf, General Manager of Microsoft Qatar in the presence of representatives from both entities.

The MoU signals a series of strategic collaborations and implementations that will enable Sidra Medicines research division to expedite its technology and cloud adoption on Microsofts platforms, towards a complete digital transformation.

Collaborative journey

Dr Fakhro said: The MoU with Microsoft is the start of an exciting collaborative journey with a trusted and cutting-edge technology leader, that will enable us to offer innovative solutions to research challenges. The partnership comes at an opportune time, as we are scaling up our genomics research capabilities to meet growing local and global demands. It is part of our positioning strategy to become a leading healthcare and research facility and a benchmark for precision medicine and personalised healthcare.

The transformation, which will be led by Sidra Medicines Digital Health team (Research), will use Microsoft Cloud to safely store and access data more quickly and conveniently. It will allow its scientists to perform complex data operations using Microsofts Data and AI platforms. Sidra Medicine will also utilise High-Performance Computing (HPC) on Microsoft Azure for industry-specific services to build an ecosystem that can facilitate genomics computing.

It is a distinct privilege to partner with Sidra Medicines research division as they use Microsoft Azure and its AI and machine learning capabilities to support advanced research and breakthroughs in precision medicine and genomics, said Khalaf. I am inspired by this collaboration between medicine and technology and its ambitious goals to lead the way in new discoveries and medical science innovation.

Digital capabilities

Microsoft will also help enhance Sidra Medicines research teams' digital capabilities through its National Skilling Programme (in partnership with Qatars Ministry of Communications and Information Technology) and other development initiatives including workshops and training programmes.

The partnership with Sidra Medicine follows the recent launch of Microsofts new cloud datacenter region in Qatar, which delivers a comprehensive set of enterprise-grade cloud services for developers and businesses of all sizes to create new customer experiences, transform their business and operations and accelerate the pace of innovation. Sidra Medicine's Research division was recognised for Innovation Excellence in High-Performance Computing at the launch event.-- TradeArabia News Service
Colorado gubernatorial candidates Heidi Ganahl, a Republican University of Colorado regent, and Jared Polis, the Democratic incumbent, debate Wednesday at Colorado State University-Pueblo. The hourlong debate, sponsored by the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, was streamed online.
Eurofragance, the Barcelona-based perfume house, is to open its ArtLab Gallery to visitors at this years Beautyworld Middle East between October 31 and November 2.

Eurofragances ArtLab Gallery is a space that exhibits several works that are the fruit of the collaboration between different Perfumers and Artists. Held annually in Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East is one of the largest trade fairs in the region devoted to the beauty industry, which includes cosmetics, fragrances and well-being products.

This year, Eurofragance will welcome, in its ArtLab Gallery, customers, business prospects and visitors passionate about scents and in search of inspiration and creativity. Eurofragance considers perfume creation an art form all unto itself.

According to the company, the word lab in ArtLab Gallery refers to the place where perfumes are created. For Eurofragance the ArtLab Gallery is an environment where connections are made, where Artists from different worlds can meet and collaborate on a common project. This creative setting invites visitors to make connections with themselves, through the emotions that are awoken by the works exhibited in the gallery.

For its ArtLab Gallery, Eurofragance decided to seek inspiration from the artistic collaboration between young women Artists and accomplished Perfumers. The result of this collaboration is a collection of five young women artists, currently established in Dubai, ranging between 17 and 21 years of age, and six Eurofragance perfume Creators. Working in unison, the Artist-Perfumer pair shared ideas and challenged one anothers perspective, in a virtuous circle approach. This modus operandi gave a voice to young female Artists and nourished Perfumers with fresh ideas and a youthful perspective.

Each work of art includes a visual element, such as a painting, and a perfume to complete it. The scents are presented in fine fragrance, personal care and air care applications; the exhibited artwork ranges from acrylic on canvas to wax sculptures and onto the use of digital screens.

Antoine de Riedmatten, Global Business Unit Director, Fine Fragrance and the General Manager IMEA based in Dubai, says: There is a lot going on at the Eurofragance stand this year, but if there are two key things to take away from our ArtLab Gallery, they are our creativity and our values. We do things differently at Eurofragance and we are on the constant lookout for creative inspiration. This space is dedicated to creativity and to the collaboration between artists. Our values compel us to connect with people from different horizons and cultures. This is why we give young women Artists the opportunity to be seen, heard and celebrated.-TradeArabia News Service
A Clear Lake man originally charged with two counts of attempted murder for attempting to run over a motorcycle with his truck  and multiple counts of domestic abuse  has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

According to court records, 43-year-old Chad Ronald Gustin has entered a written guilty plea in exchange for the attempted murder charges being amended to two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. Each of the weapons charges carries up to five years in prison. The original attempted murder charges carried up to 25 years apiece. One count of domestic abuse assault would also be dismissed if the judge agrees with the deal at a plea hearing next month.

The attempted murder charges stemmed from two separate incidents. The first took place around 1 a.m. May 28. The affidavit states Gustin assaulted a female victim, choking her and threatening to kill her.

Around 8:34 p.m. the following day the same victim was on the back of a motorcycle traveling north on Eighth Street North in Clear Lake. Gustin turned his Ford F-150 truck around and ran two red lights in order to catch the motorcycle. The affidavit goes on to state that Gustin then attempted to run over the motorcycle and its two riders, but missed at the intersection of Third Avenue North and Eighth Street North.

Gustin then attempted to run them over again, this time making contact and bumping the motorcycle into the curb. Two witnesses told police they saw the truck attempting to run over the motorcycle twice.

Police reviewed a tower camera video that showed a black F-150 chasing the motorcycle and running a red light.
Three North Iowa charities were gifted money on last week, ahead of the holiday season.

According to a statement, North Iowa Marine Corps Toys for Tots, Caring Pregnancy Center and United Way of North Central Iowa's Coats for Kids program each received funds of $1,000 from the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus during a brief ceremony on Thursday at Columbus Club in Mason City.

KC officers in attendance were Pat Keenan, Keith Cerwinske and Joe Staudt.

United Way's Angie Perez said the funds will be used to bolster inventory for this year's Coats for Kids campaign. Distribution of winter gear will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 at The Music Man Square in Mason City. Perez said 250 coats were given away last year.

In the statement, Caring Pregnancy Center's Jo Hafermann said, "Because of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the Caring Pregnancy Center is able to help our clients see (via ultrasound) the life they are carrying is a precious gift."

Marine Corps League coordinator Ernie Martinez said Toys for Tots would be using the money to purchase gifts for older children, an age group that often receives fewer donations from the public.

Toys for Tots distribution is Wednesday, Dec. 14 through Friday, Dec. 16. The phone number to call is 641-420-5195.

Keenan said the KCs are a group of men who support each other and promote a strong family life. He said each of the charities aligns with KC's values.
A Mason City man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after entering a plea to charges of lascivious acts with a child last August.

According to court records, 36-year-old Charles Adolph Mimms was originally charged with second-degree sex abuse; a class B felony carrying up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The lascivious acts charge is a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Details are few, but the original affidavit stated "Mimms performed a sex act with a child under the age of 12." The abuse occurred in Mason City on or about June 10.

Mimms will be placed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life upon his release from prison and will be committed to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections for life as well. His custody upon release does not include incarceration, but rather requires specific rules set forth by his probation officer.

Mimms entered an Alford plea, meaning he doesn't admit guilt but does admit the prosecution has enough evidence to likely convince a jury of guilt.
The Republican congressman who unseated Steve King in the last election cycle faces a challenge next month from a Nevada Democrat who had little ambition for public office but couldnt abide the incumbent going unopposed.

By the time we got to January of this year, it was clear that there was not going to be anyone thats going to make the ballot on the Democratic side of this race, and I thought that was just absolutely untenable, said Ryan Melton, the Democratic candidate for Iowas 4th Congressional District.

In the Melton household, there was an early choice to make: Would it be Ryan or his wife, Laura, who squared off against Rep. Randy Feenstra?

She said, Youre calm  your demeanor  you deal with B.S. a lot better than I do. You should probably do it, Melton recalled.

Feenstra handily defeated King in a 2020 Republican primary. That came after King  a longtime fixture of the U.S. House and a conservative firebrand  was stripped of his leadership positions for statements backing white supremacy.

Feenstra captured about 62% of the election vote in 2020 against Democrat J.D. Scholten, who had previously tried to defeat King but failed.

The district occupies much of the northwest quadrant of the state and a portion of southwest Iowa and is the most Republican district in Iowa, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Feenstra has been a reliable representative for farmers who are wary of further government oversight of practices to reduce soil and nutrient runoff from their fields.

We need to make sure we have voluntary conservation practices, Feenstra said recently. That is so crucial.

Melton, too, is wary of edicts from the federal government for farmers:

We need more farmers and more farm workers to build a more economically and ecologically sustainable system, he said. I think we need to provide incentives and transitionary funding to help farmers move towards more sustainable ag practices.

Feenstra, 53, of Hull, is a former state senator who is campaigning on tax cuts, stemming illegal immigration, anti-abortion efforts and gun rights, among other issues. Before being elected, he was a full-time business professor at Dordt College in Sioux Center.

Melton, 38, of Nevada, has not held public office before but was a precinct chairman for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in 2016. He is focused on issues that can bolster rural Iowa, such as education, health care and child care. He is a manager for Nationwide Insurance.

Feenstra has raised about $2.7 million dollars for his campaign during this election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission data. Melton has raised about $40,000.

There is another, third-party candidate in the race: Bryan Jack Holder, 49, of Council Bluffs. He is a five-time candidate for Congress whose primary quest is to increase the number of representatives in the U.S. House. The FEC does not have a report of how much he has raised for his campaign.

Melton says there needs to be more funding for universal pre-kindergarten education and more money for teachers to improve education.

I think child care is one of those issues where you need to spend for the public good to build more robust communities so that we can have the programs we can rely on to get out there and to work and build a stronger economy and build families just more financial independence over time, Melton said.

Candidates disagree on health care

He also wants to shift to government-provided health insurance, which is something Feenstra opposes.

Government-run health care through Medicare isnt working, Feenstra has said. All of a sudden, you have the government making decisions on who gets the new hip. That should never be what health care is about.

Melton disagrees: Im a big proponent of a single-payer, universal health care plan like Medicare for all. When you talk to doctors and hospital administrators in rural Iowa theyre struggling, and you know, one of the reasons theyre struggling is because private health care puts up so many roadblocks between the provider and the patient.

Feenstra has opposed federal legislation that would legalize abortion nationwide in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade.

As a father of four and a Christian, I believe that every life has value and that every person  both born and unborn  deserves the fundamental right to life, Feenstra said this summer.

Melton said he supports legislation that would codify the right to abortion: Im willing to do my part to defend reproductive rights, he said.
A state permit that allows the Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross streams and wetlands is muddied by the companys past violations of water quality standards, environmental groups asserted Tuesday.

In oral arguments to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, an attorney for the Sierra Club and other organizations asked that a certification granted last year by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection be struck down.

Derek Teaney told a three-judge panel of the court  which has consistently ruled against Mountain Valley in the past  that the West Virginia state agency should have taken more care to prevent a possible recurrence of muddy runoff from construction sites along the pipelines path.

The departments determination that there was a reasonable assurance that future problems with erosion and sedimentation would not occur, while at the same time downplaying the nearly 140 citations it has issued against the company in the past, is entirely implausible and internally inconsistent, Teaney said.

A ruling by the 4th Circuit is expected later in what is the third round of ligation involving stream crossings for the project.

The Sierra Club also has filed a lawsuit against Virginias State Water Control Board, which awarded a similar water quality certification for the portion of the pipeline that passes through Southwest Virginia on a route to Pittsylvania County. Oral arguments in that case are scheduled for December.

Teaney, an attorney for the nonprofit law firm Appalachian Mountain Advocates, began an 87-page filing with the following line: West Virginia has long resisted the requirements of the Clean Water Act, which he quoted from a 2018 opinion by the 4th Circuit.

We would submit that this is just the latest incarnation of DEPs resistance, he said of the state environmental agencys most recent decision that favored a 303-mile natural gas pipeline that begins in West Virginia.

During arguments to the Richmond-based appeals court, questions and comments from the three judges hearing the case suggested they were sympathetic to Teaneys position, at least in some respects.

You have to look at the past as a predictor of the future, Judge Stephanie Thacker said of Mountain Valleys record of environmental noncompliance since construction of the pipeline began in 2018.

The West Virginia agency has fined Mountain Valley a combined $569,000 for failing to maintain erosion and sedimentation control measures in 2019 and 2021. But in evaluating those cases in light of the companys application for a new water quality certification, Department of Environmental Protection attorney Lindsay See said, the agency did not consider the 140-some violations surprising. An overwhelming majority of the infractions did not involve water quality, See said.

In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality has cited the company more than 350 times. Mountain Valley agreed to pay a fine of $2.15 million in 2019.

More recently, a construction site in Wetzel County, West Virginia, was written up in August by state regulators for discharging sediment-laden water that flowed downhill and into a tributary of Stout Run.

In an Oct. 14 letter to the court, Mountain Valley attorney George Sibley asked that the case not be considered. Sibley wrote that construction crews immediately corrected the deficiency, which involved the draining of a trench before a predicted heavy rainfall.

Further, Sibley wrote, the case did not involve a water body crossing and therefore does not speak to the reasonableness of DEPs prediction that additional violations would not occur at streams or wetlands.

In her questions to Teaney, Thacker asked if the violation should be considered. It is evidence that proves the falsity of DEPs reasoning in granting the certification, the attorney replied.

Mountain Valley contends that the vast majority of violations involving muddy runoff happened in 2018, a year of record rainfall.

Its track record has improved, Sibley told the court. Unfortunately, we had a violation in August, but were driving that number down as much as possible.

At times, Sibley found himself at odds Tuesday with the three judges as they drilled down into the details of what additional precautions were taken by the West Virginia environmental agency in response to the earlier violations, and whether they were adequate.

Im not trying to trap you on anything, Judge James Wynn interjected at one point. Im just asking for facts.

Construction of the pipeline in largely stalled as Mountain Valley applies for a third permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers  the first two were set aside by the 4th Circuit in 2018 and 2020  to cross streams and wetlands, either by digging a trench through them or boring under them. Water quality certifications from Virginia and West Virginia are a prerequisite for approval by the Army Corps, which has yet to act on the third application.

The buried pipeline, intended to transport 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day from Appalachian drilling sites to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the county, will cross about 1,000 rivers, streams and wetlands.

Although Mountain Valley says the pipeline is about 95% completed, water crossings remain a major complication for the $6.6 billion project, which has been delayed nearly four years by legal challenges.

About 460 water bodies and 183 wetlands remained to be crossed, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Approval to cross streams and wetlands is not all that Mountain Valley lacks. Earlier this year, the 4th Circuit struck down a permit for the pipeline to pass through the Jefferson National Forest, and reversed a finding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that endangered species would not be jeopardized.

Mountain Valley is also seeking renewal of those two permits, and has said it hopes to have the pipeline completed by late next year.

Perhaps its biggest obstacle is the 4th Circuit, where Chief Judge Roger Gregory has joined Thacker and Wynn in about a dozen rejections of permits issued to the project by federal and state agencies.

The company has complained about what it calls an anti-pipeline panel, and has asked the 4th Circuit to randomly select another trio of judges to hear future cases. While judges are randomly selected to hear new appeals, it is not unusual for the same panel to be retained when similar cases are subsequently filed.

In August, the court denied without comment Mountain Valleys request for the indiscriminate drawing of a new panel. The full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also has declined a request by the company to rehear the most recent denials by Gregory, Thacker and Wynn.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has proposed a package of permitting reforms that would, among other things, transfer the venue of Mountain Valley cases from the 4th Circuit to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. That proposal was dropped from a budget resolution last month, but may reemerge as separate legislation.

In other pipeline news, Mountain Valley recently voluntarily dismissed eminent domain proceedings in North Carolina, where it sought to take privately owned land for an extension of the main pipeline that would run from its terminus in Pittsylvania County.

Spokesman Shawn Day said the company remains committed to the Southgate extension, but took the step as evaluations continue about its timing, design and scope. The court action allows the company to refile the lawsuits.

However, pipeline opponents were quick to add the move to Mountain Valleys recent string of setbacks.

This decision by MVP is yet another example of how expensive, arduous, and unnecessary this project is, Russell Chisholm of Giles County, who coordinates a citizens watch group that monitors construction, said in a statement.

The MVP should give up now and stop dragging our communities onto this near-decade long rollercoaster that is sure to end in cancellation.
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, a leading developer of sustainable energy solutions, and part of Saudi-based Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, has announced the acquisition of two battery energy storage projects located in the Midlands.

The portfolio was acquired from RE Projects Development Limited (REPD), a leading developer of utility scale solar and battery projects in the UK, who is the originator and the developer of the projects. Each project covers a total of 1.01 hectares. It is scheduled to enter the ready-to-build phase during the third quarter of 2023.

Tyler Hill Renewables, a UK headquartered renewable energy company, that sourced this opportunity for FRV, is also assisting in the development process.

Two lithium-ion battery storage systems

The projects will consist of two lithium-ion battery storage systems totalling a combined capacity of up to 100MW, which will allow importing and exporting energy connected to the distribution network. Both projects are following planning programmes to meet target ready-to-build dates.

Fady Jameel, Deputy Chairman and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said: "At Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, we are passionate about working with best-in-class partners that share our vision to drive the green revolution through the use of innovative technologies. Once again, FRV and Tyler Hill Renewables have demonstrated that we are stronger together in addressing the challenges of climate change. Projects such as this serve as a powerful reminder to the world that battery storage is an increasingly viable option towards a more sustainable future for all.

David Menendez, Managing Director of FRV UK said: "With REPD & Tyler Hill we welcome these two new battery energy storage projects in the UK, adding to a portfolio that also includes other outstanding projects such as Contego and Clay Tye. In this way, we continue our commitment to expanding FRV's portfolio of energy storage projects internationally and continue to make a significant contribution to the evolution towards a more sustainable energy model in the country, one of our major strategic objectives."

Commitment

These two projects reflect FRVs and Abdul Latif Jameel Energys commitment to battery storage, adding five BESS projects already in operation, under construction and in development. All of these projects equal 340 MW, which added to the 1 GW recently announced after creating FRV TH Powertek Limited, a joint venture between FRV and Tyler Hill Partners, will create UKs biggest BESS Portfolio.

-- TradeArabia News Service
WENTWORTH  When Rockingham Countys early voting sites closed on Monday, 4,738 people had cast ballots for the 2022 General Election. Meanwhile, the countys top election official went public to dispel rumors of election irregularities.

There has been a lot of misinformation circulating around the county about the Rockingham County Board of Elections and its staff, and we would like to stop the spread of this misinformation, Rockingham County Board of Elections Director Paula Seamster said in an email.

We have not received any fake ballots, we have not lost any ballots, the Board of Elections office doors have not been left unlocked intentionally, the Board of Elections office has not been broken into, and no voter registration applications have been misplaced, lost or thrown away, Seamster said, responding to a flurry of false information posted on social media in recent days.

The Rockingham County Board of Elections has the responsibility for administering fair, accurate, honest, secure and impartial elections in Rockingham County, and we plan on doing that. If you hear any misinformation and are concerned about it, please call our office at 336-342-8107, and we will be glad to clear up the misinformation, Seamster said.

Calls to the North Carolina Board of Elections regarding the rumors were not immediately returned.

Heres a look at early voting since one-stop polling places opened on Oct. 20:

Oct. 20

Eden: 428

Reidsville: 365

Wentworth: 435

Western Rockingham: 437

Total: 1,665

Oct. 21

Eden: 412

Reidsville: 308

Wentworth: 438

Western Rockingham: 391

Total: 1,549

Oct. 24

Eden: 440

Reidsville: 383

Wentworth: 343

Western Rockingham: 358

Total: 1,524

Voter registration details

Eligible individuals who missed the Oct. 14 voter registration deadline for the 2022 General Election may register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, Oct. 20-Nov. 5 at any early voting site in their county, according to state election officials.

County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board of Elections One-Stop Early Voting Site Search.

To register, eligible individuals have the following options:

If you have a North Carolina drivers license or other DMV identification, you may register to vote online.

The Rockingham County Board of Elections Office is at 240 Cherokee Camp Road in Wentworth.

We encourage all eligible individuals to register to vote and make their voice heard in 2022, said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.

Its easy, and theres still time, either through the regular process or at any one-stop early voting location in your county.

North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day, unless they become eligible after the Oct. 14 registration deadline due to becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights restored following a felony conviction.

Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 by Nov. 8, Election Day, are eligible to register and vote.

To register to vote, a person must:

Be a U.S. citizen

Live in the county of his/her registration and have lived there for at least 30 days before the date of the election

Be at least 18 years old or will be by the date of the general election. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote.

Not be in jail or prison for a felony conviction.

Updating your voter registration

Voters who need to update their existing voter registration may use the DMV website or a regular voter registration application to do so.

Those with a North Carolina drivers license or other DMV identification may update their residential or mailing address and party affiliation through the DMV online service but may not change their name through that service.

If using the paper application to update a registration, it must be signed and mailed to the voters county board of elections by Oct. 14. Updates to name, address (if within the county), and party affiliation must be signed, but can be provided by fax or email to your county board of elections. If a voter is using the paper form to update their residential address to a new county, they must return the paper form by mail or in person.

Registered voters may also update an existing registration at a one-stop early voting site during the early voting period.
GREENSBORO  From Wednesday through November 2, workers will conduct sewer line smoke testing in the area of the Westwood neighborhood and Westridge Road, according to a news release from the city of Greensboro.

During testing, nontoxic smoke will be introduced into manholes, eventually flowing into sewer lines. Any open breaks in the citys sewer collection system as well as improper connections (such as roof downspouts) will be identified by the presence of smoke.

The white or gray smoke is non-staining, has a slight odor and creates no fire hazard. City water and sewer service customers are advised to pour a gallon of water into every sink, tub and floor drain that is not used on a daily basis before the testing begins. This will fill the p-traps (the u-shaped bend in drain pipes) and ultimately prevent smoke from entering into the building.

Dates and times for the testing may change due to weather or last-minute changes in the work schedule.
The discovery that a 9-year-old boy allegedly was forced to live outdoors inside a dog kennel, as the Winston-Salem Journals John Hinton reported last week, is shocking. Its so difficult to believe it could have happened  that any adult, let alone the childs guardians, would have treated him this way.

Its difficult to believe that this has been the situation since April, as the boy told an investigator.

But its a sign, perhaps, that for all of our technological and social advances, some serious degree of ignorance, depravity or evil still exists in our very state. And its a warning for the rest of us that similar situations may exist within our scope of vision and influence.

The boy was rescued last Wednesday from outside a 1,400 square-foot Davidson County house  one in which three adults and four other children lived  following an anonymous call to the sheriffs office. The boy apparently had been told there wasnt enough room inside for him.

He was found wearing a T-shirt, jeans and no shoes, despite the 28-degree temperature the night before he was rescued and frost on the ground that morning.

He was treated at Brenner Childrens Hospital. A warrant says he suffered a serious mental or emotional injury. Thats no surprise.

His father and stepmother, Jonathan Scott Starr and Sarah Lynette Starr, were arrested and are being charged with felony child abuse, misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment. Sarah Starrs aunt, Shelly Lucille Barnes, who owns the house, was arrested and is being charged with felony child abuse, misdemeanor child abuse and false imprisonment, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon and maintaining a dwelling place for controlled substances, the sheriffs office said.

Some of the details are still sketchy, but Sarah Starr did say that she and her husband were upset about the boy being held in the dog cage, the warrant said.

Were they helpless to do something about it? What kind of pathology is at work here?

The parties responsible for this torture should be properly punished. Severely punished. Theyre scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 10.

In the meantime, every resource available should be provided to make sure the boy recovers from his ordeal  and that its not repeated.

As severe as this incident is, its not, unfortunately, the only example of child abuse in North Carolina. The Family Justice Center in Greensboro has reported 338 cases of child abuse or neglect since January versus 325 cases in all of 2021. It projects a total increase of 20-25% in such cases by the end of the year.

In Davidson County, more than 2,000 children were assessed in 2020  61.7 out of every 1,000. Statewide, more than 110,000 cases of child abuse were investigated in 2019.

Abuse doesnt have to be physical; it can also be mental or emotional, with consequences just as serious and, in some cases, deadly. Bullying  in person and on social media  has led some vulnerable children to hurt themselves  there were 2,971 emergency room visits for self-harm in kids between the ages of 10 and 18 in North Carolina in 2020, according to NC Health News  or even to commit suicide. Societal expectations sometimes put them at risk.

LGBTQ kids are at even greater levels of risk from bullying and abuse.

A lack of access to proper food and medical care also puts children at risk  one more reason General Assembly leaders should get off their butts today and pass Medicaid expansion.

It should go without saying that all forms of bullying should be prohibited in our schools.

And then there are the guns. As we are writing, another school shooting, this time in a St. Louis high school, has claimed the lives of a teacher and a 16-year-old student.

And some parents lost their minds over masks.

This is unconscionable.

We like to think that childhood is a time of innocence, a time in which young people are allowed to make friends, follow their curiosity and young passions, learn how to be independent  while being protected from harm by their parents and guardians. They need nurture and support  both physical and emotional.

Too many of us have failed them. Its past time to stop gate-keeping their access to resources like food and counseling. Fully fund schools, fully fund human and health services and vote for candidates who will treat children as if they matter.

And when you see a child possibly being abused  report it, for Gods sake.
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Marketing just wasnt a good fit for Breanna Andrews.

She found herself becoming bored.

Andrews now works in emergency medical services with St. Peters Health and in a short time has found herself being honored for her work.

It feels really good, Andrews, 26, said of being nominated for this recognition. I was not expecting it at all.

She notes she has been doing her new gig for only a year, and loves that she gets to work with a lot of amazing medics.

Those who nominated her for the honor describe her as a great paramedic and great co-worker.

Her patients love her, they said.

Andrews said there are a lot of different aspects to her job. She gets to work with a lot of great people in a family-type atmosphere. And she likes to help others.

You never know what to expect when you come to work, Andrews said, but adds, It always good when you have a good outcome.

Andrews, a paramedic who offers advanced life support, had worked a night shift and is now working a noon to midnight shift. It is 12 hours on and 12 off. She rotates throughout St. Peters facilities.

She said she was born in Washington and attended emergency medical technician school in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Helena resident said she may attend physical assistant school. She is now engaged to be married and met her fiance at work.

Andrew said she treats her job as a learning experience, and builds off of each call.
Lewis and Clark Public Health is advising that some COVID-19 at-home tests it provided to residents will expire on Oct. 31.

People should look for the label containing the expiration date on the outside of the box. Do not use any expired at-home COVID-19 tests, health officials said, adding that they should be thrown away with regular garbage.

Lewis and Clark Public Health will no longer be providing free at-home COVID-19 tests at its main offices after Friday. The COVID-19 Community Testing Clinic will continue to provide free on-site testing for all residents. The clinic is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

People can get COVID-19 at-home tests at local pharmacies and online through retailers such as Amazon. At-home tests may be covered by health insurance. People should contact their insurance provider for more information.

To make an appointment at the COVID-19 Community Testing Clinic or for more information, visit www.helenmontanamaps.org/LCPHCOVID19HUB/ or call the COVID-19 Hotline at 833-829-9219.

Lewis and Clark County's COVID-19 community level was rated as "medium" on Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for this level that people at high risk of getting very sick wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public.

As of Oct. 21, Lewis and Clark County had 66 newly reported cases of COVID and 34 were active. Overall the county has had 20,908 cases of COVID.

Montana has had 303,809 cases of COVID. There are 1,122 active cases and 950 newly reported cases. The state has reported 3,569 deaths from the respiratory illness and 13,446 hospitalizations.

As of Oct. 5, the state will report its COVID numbers online monthly at https://bit.ly/3FsscXw.
Montana has reported 237 cases of primary and secondary syphilis as of Oct. 15 this year, which is 147% more than in 2021, following a national trend in which sexually transmitted diseases kept increasing during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic with no signs of slowing, state and federal officials said.

Numbers released Sept. 1 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said preliminary data show 2.5 million reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in the United States in 2021.

Montana has reported six confirmed cases of congenital syphilis so far in 2022, in which a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy, according to numbers provided by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

In 2021, Montana had 96 cases of primary and secondary syphilis, two syphilitic stillbirths, and seven cases of congenital syphilis, which includes one infant death, DPHHS said.

In 2020, Montana had 42 cases of primary and secondary syphilis and two congenital syphilis cases. Syphilis is the only sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has increased in 2022.

A DPHHS chart showing numbers on primary and secondary cases in Montana as of Oct. 15, found 65% of the 237 cases were in three counties. There were 63 cases listed in Yellowstone County, 46 in Roosevelt County and 45 in Big Horn County. Six were reported in Lewis and Clark County.

It said 53% of the cases were male, 47% were female, 30% were white, 23% were Hispanic and 47% were Native American.

It also found that 64% of the cases were among high-risk heterosexual men, 20% were among men who had sex with other men, 23% were not interviewed and 6% were co-infected with HIV.

Pat Zellar, a spokeswoman with RiverStone Health, which serves as the health department for Yellowstone County, said they are tracking the numbers very carefully, adding that not only is syphilis a very serious disease, it is also communicable. She said the numbers for Yellowstone County as of Oct. 25 are higher than the state reported from earlier this month.

She said the county has 106 cases of syphilis for the year to date, a 376% increase over the previous five-year average. She said 52% are classified as American Indian or Alaskan Native.

The pandemic absolutely had an impact on STIs and this is seen across the country, Zellar said, adding there have been increases in chlamydia and gonorrhea, but none have increased as sharply as syphilis.

She said there is a general lack of education, as many people think its a thing of the past. She emphasized it is curable.

Zellar said RiverStone is working with health care partners in the community such as Native American Development Corp. and the county jail on education and awareness in the hopes we can slow down the spread. She said they are also encouraging local health care providers to test for syphilis and treating people who have tested positive.

The CDC said their information was only a snapshot and doesnt tell us why these STDs are increasing.

They added the COVID-19 pandemic compounded many of these challenges, exacerbating preexisting disparities in health care and prevention access, and further straining the public health infrastructure.

Despite this, we know that a wide range of factors can contribute to high levels of infections, the CDC said.

These include:

Reductions in STD services at the state and local level. For many years, reductions in STD screening, treatment, prevention and partner services by health departments likely contributed to STD increases.

Increases in substance use, which has been linked to less safe sexual practices. We are more than a decade into a national opioid crisis that is putting more people at risk for HIV, viral hepatitis and STDs, the CDC said.

There are social and economic conditions that make it more difficult for some populations to stay healthy. For example: poverty, stigma, lack of medical insurance or a provider, unstable housing and a higher burden of STDs in some communities.

Decreases in condom use by some groups, including young people and gay and bisexual men. We must ensure that provider and prevention partners are equipping those no longer using condoms for HIV prevention with the tools and information they need to protect themselves against other STIs as well, the CDC said.

STIs continue to be stigmatized, the CDC said. This stigma can bury the truth that all people deserve quality sexual health care in order to live healthy lives and deter people and groups from taking action to prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections.

Kristi Akelstad, a section supervisor in DPHHS communicable disease control and prevention bureau, told Montana Public Radio in an Oct. 20 story that syphilis cases cut across all populations and age ranges throughout Montana.

Akelstad said they are noticing a new trend.

Predominantly in the past we saw this more in the population of men who have sex with men, she told MPR. And then recently across the nation weve seen increases in syphilis, but also particularly syphilis, in women and in pregnant women.

In terms of other sexually transmitted infections, Montana officials said that in 2021, 4,052 cases of chlamydia were reported, making it the most reported sexually transmitted infection in Montana. A total of 1,458 cases of gonorrhea were reported in Montana in 2021.

As of Oct. 15, Montana has reported 3,265 cases of chlamydia, which is 1% above cases year to date in 2021, and 1,015 cases of gonorrhea, which decreased 14%.

Karl Milhon, a former communicable disease epidemiology director for DPHHS and a former disease intervention specialist specializing in disease control, said he was shocked by the latest numbers.

He said he was talking to some former colleagues from around the country and was told STD intervention for the country has been kind of put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said people have been trained to deal with COVID, and that a lot of STDs got put in a drawer in the United States for two years.

Milhon said Montana should consider hiring a disease intervention specialist and a couple of full-time employees.

... having come from that field, it has always concerned me, he said in an email. Montana is very decentralized with disease control. Local health departments address ALL diseases and overall do it very well, but this can tend to make all diseases the same. This could impact a disease like syphilis. There is a reason nationally sexually transmitted diseases are carved out from all the other diseases with its own funding stream and positions like DIS intrinsic to its role. The decentralized approach to disease control in Montana could be another factor in this historic outbreak. We have gone decades without a problem and this too can lead to a certain complacency.

He said the increase shows no signs of breaking and the data is only for three-quarters of the year.

It is going straight up, he said.

Ive always said the problem with public health is that when it works, nothing happens, Milhon said. When nothing happens for decades everyone forgets and they begin to question the very need for something like public health. They dismantle infrastructures and reap a whirlwind. Montana has gone for 30 or more years with minimal STDs. This syphilis state level outbreak is an example of what can happen. Its time to pull the fire alarm on this one based upon my 37 years in public health much of it spent stopping this specific disease.

People also tend to look for someone to blame when things like this or COVID hit, he said. Much of the problem can often be found in the mirror...
IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global leading hotel company, has signed a management agreement with HOC Hospitality Investments, for a new build Vignette hotel in Zimbabwe, marking the brands foray into Middle East and Africa region as the 10th Vignette hotel, coinciding with its first anniversary.



Vignette Collection is a family of one-of-a-kind exclusive hotels curated for guests seeking rich and varied independent stay experiences. Where luxury meets purpose, Vignette Collection hotels weave responsibility, community, and locality together and exist to make a positive impact in every way.



House of Chinhara  Vignette Collection will open in January 2026 in the city of Victoria Falls and offer an urban resort hospitality option to over 250,000 annual tourist visitors. The awe-inspiring waterfall, one of the largest in the world, and its Rainforest National Park and Elephant Trails attract leisure visitors seeking both serenity and adventure. However, following the recent designation of the town as a financial services Special Economic Zone and the creation of the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, the area is expected to see a significant increase in corporate and MICE demand as well.



Based in the city centre, and just 20km from the airport, the House of Chinhara is made up of 99 keys and includes two F&B outlets, and three bars/cafes on site. Guests can also make use of its health club and 800 sqm of spa/retail space. Also catering to corporate demand, the hotel will include four meeting rooms comprising 620 sq m, with the largest room hosting up to 360 people in a theatre style layout.



The hotel will complement the Six Senses Victoria Falls, which is also being developed by HOC Hospitality Investments Ltd. as the brands first riverside game lodge resort in the Victoria Falls National Park buffer zone, a UNESCO Protected Area. The property will have 54 rooms and three food and beverage outlets including an all-day dining, a specialty dining, and a signature dining & sundowner bar, as well as a spa, integrated retail and concept store.



Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: The signing of this 10th Vignette hotel is a key milestone, as the brand is fast gaining strength across the world and enabling the expansion of our Luxury and Lifestyle offering worldwide. Following the pandemic, we expect that luxury guests will continue to make more considered travel choices and seek more customised experiences and personal enrichment with community engagement and sustainability at the heart.



Luxury meets purpose at Vignette Collection hotels and an integral part of creating an authentic guest experience is the opportunity to engage with the local community in a positive way. Victoria Falls is a key destination for international travellers, across both tourism and business segments, and were pleased to partner with HOC Hospitality Investments to bring a new hotel to the region that allows our guests to experience the varied wonders of this magnificent destination.



Aaron Chinhara, HOC Hospitality Investments said: We are pleased to partner with IHG on bringing both Six Senses and a Vignette collection brand to Zimbabwe creating a truly world class destination for international visitors, whilst creating positive impact on the surroundings and local communities. We trust IHGs powerful enterprise, including their renewed IHG One Rewards loyalty program in driving more guests to experience Victoria Falls, from our gateway location between the entrance of the city and attractions such as Rainforest National Park and Elephant trails.



IHGs Vignette Collection gives owners of world-class independent hotels the opportunity to retain their distinctive identity, while benefitting from a global scale and Luxury and Lifestyle expertise. Vignette Collection hotels are unique in their own right, with their own distinct outlook and story to tell, and this new signing is no exception. It joins existing Vignette properties across countries including Portugal, Austria, Thailand and Australia, but House of Chinhara marks the brands first foray into the IMEA region.



The town of Victoria Falls is located in the northwest of Zimbabwe on the border with Zambia and has a population of 35,000, which increases up to 10-fold through tourist visitation annually. While the town is remote in relation to the rest of the country, it enjoys a central location in the region relative to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi.  TradeArabia News Service
If government ran more like the private sector, government would be better. Having spent most of my 30-year career in the private sector, I agree. I earned a role as the senior director of operations for a company that employed 8,000 trade workers whose skill and experience determined whether we succeeded. We worked on military assets, so failure was not an option.

The private sector posts job openings including the required skills/experience and applicants apply. Resume screening ensures the candidate meets the minimum requirements of the job. Using this as our guide, James Brown wouldnt get an interview for the position of Supreme Court justice. He has exactly zero experience as a judge and has very little as a lawyer. His opponent Ingrid Gustafson has 20 years of experience as a judge, has been appointed to the bench by governors of both parties and reelected by us. Browns commercials demand you hear his dog whistles and ignore his resume. If you have ever wanted government to function like the private sector, please join me in supporting Ingrid Gustafson for the Montana Supreme Court.
Joseph P. Farrar, 52, took a plea deal negotiated by defense attorney Diane Couri and admitted a charge of theft of property worth more than $500 when he appeared in Macon County Circuit Court.

He had been free on bail and his plea for a delay in the start of his sentence in the Macon County Jail was rejected by Judge Jeffrey Geisler. The judge also ordered Farrar to pay $1,200 restitution, sentenced him to 24 months probation and ordered that he pay $250 to have his DNA added to a crime database maintained by the Illinois State Police.

The judge further ordered that the defendant undergo treatment for substance abuse.

A sworn Decatur police affidavit said Farrar had been caught around 1:30 a.m. trying to steal the flag from Graceland Cemetery on May 28. The flag was one of more than 170 that form the Avenue of Flags display flown during the weekend of Memorial Day.

Funeral director assistant Bruce Logan and Michael Tarczan, an investigator with the Macon County Public Defenders Office, had been working voluntary guard duty at the cemetery because of previous theft problems. They both chased Farrar down and held him captive until the police arrived.

Farrar is quoted as telling police he had been walking home when he saw the fluttering flags and just wanted to take one.

Tarczan, in court for the sentencing, said he thought the punishment was significant and appropriate. This was a serious offense and I think todays was a good outcome to show that this kind of thing isnt going to be tolerated, he added.

Its for all the veterans who fought for the flag, and who fought for the freedoms that Joseph Farrar knows today.

The flag that Farrar tried to steal had been donated in honor of Decatur U.S. Marine World War II veteran John A. Riley, who died in 2006 at the age of 83. The flag pole carried his name on a plaque.

His son, Patrick Riley, 74, had previously told the Herald & Review: That flag was put there by my dads family, all four of us children, as a sort of dedication to him for what he did in the South Pacific in World War II.

And nobody should take that from him, or from any person who served. Were very proud of our dad.

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As we head into the final stretch of the midterm elections, the national political media have returned to their favorite pastime: fixating on polls.

For the better part of a year, voters have been inundated with a familiar media chorus: Republicans are poised to retake control of Congress. The rationale for bolstering the red wave narrative is a combination of historical precedence  the party in power almost always loses seats in the first term of a presidency  and reliance on polling. But given what weve seen in the last six years, conventional political wisdom, which didnt predict an insurrection, is quite likely to be upended.

The same thing can be said for polling, which has been off the mark cycle after cycle. Donald Trump wasnt supposed to win in 2016. Republicans werent supposed to gain seats in 2020. A Republican candidate for governor wasnt supposed to win in Virginia, a state Biden won by 10 points. Alaska hasnt elected a Democrat to Congress in 50 years, yet it did this year.

Yet the media are still promoting narratives about the midterm elections that are based on past elections. At best, its lazy; at worst, its irresponsible.

By failing to acknowledge the shortcomings of polling, the media are giving the public a false or skewed representation of how competitive this election may be and running the risk of making those predictions a self-fulfilled prophecy. If voters take the prognosticating at face value, they would believe the election is already determined, which could hinder turnout. Its the same reason people change the channel during a blowout game; who wants to stick around for that?

Now imagine election night 2022, if Democrats hold both the House and Senate. The collective media apparatus will express shock and surprise. They will herald the results as unprecedented and defying all expectations. But the truth will be that the media got it wrong  again. And yet the narrative embedded in so much of political coverage is unlikely to change. The same storyline will probably be trotted out in 2024. Thats the inherent danger of the herd D.C. Beltway mentality that dominates conventional wisdom group-think.

My point is no one really has any clue about whats going to happen, especially the pollsters who routinely get things wrong.

And if political pundits and reporters are being honest, they would admit that they have no actual hard data to back up the thesis that a red wave is forming.

Whats worse is that many are completely ignoring the fact that this election is being conducted under circumstances unlike any other before it, with dozens of new voter suppression laws being enacted in Republican-led states in the last two years alone. This election isnt even being conducted on the same playing field as the last one, yet prognostications so often completely ignore GOP actions designed to reduce voting and affect the election outcomes.

Omitting or downplaying this context in polling stories and political coverage is a huge disservice to the nation. The conventional horse-race narrative for elections has never served the public well. But in these midterms, lack of context normalizes what Republicans have done to fair elections and will further help accelerate the decline of the American democratic process.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Plentiful sunshine. High around 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
More than 50 vendors will exhibit their wares at the 37th Annual Arts and Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 through Saturday, Oct. 29 at Emory & Henry College.

The free fair will be held in the Mason Fellowship Hall in Memorial Chapel on the Emory & Henry campus.

Attic Treasures, a sale of gently-used household items, also will take place during fair hours.

The Arts & Crafts Fair is sponsored by the College-Community Club. Proceeds from the fair are used for a scholarship award given to an E&H first-year student from Patrick Henry High School, upkeep of the historic Tobias Smyth House, and other special projects on campus.

Handcrafted by artisans, items at the fair will include baked goods, home decor, clothing, holiday ornaments and decorations, photography, pottery, fabric and quilting, spirit items, candles, jewelry, woodworking, toys and wool items.

Candy Whitt of Marion, Virginia, hand paints as many as 400 designs on wooden and glass ornaments. Whitt also will have for sale a childs wooden desk she has decorated with Emory & Henry College colors and logo.

Another local favorite at the event is Whitney Copenhaver who sells photography gift items. She will bring 2023 Emory & Henry College calendars, drink coasters, magnets, postcards, note cards, prints and bookmarks, all of which display her photography of Southwest Virginia.

Other regular vendors are Kathy McKinney and Carla McKinney, who make felted wool animal ornaments, Tina Goodpasture who creates primitive crafts, and Mike Wilson who has painted a series of Virginia Creeper Trail scenes.

Memorial Chapel is located off I-81 at Exit 26 on the campus of Emory & Henry College. Handicapped parking is available.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  Bristol Tennessee City Schools (BTCS) opened the doors of the new Friendship Career Center to the community Wednesday.

The 24,000+ square foot former car dealership turned career center was donated to the school system by the Mitch Walters family and Friendship Automotive Enterprises in 2021. The Viking Academy, an individualized educational and work-based learning program at Tennessee High School, moved staff and students into the new facility earlier this month.

With the feel of a community college-like facility, the Friendship Career Center on Volunteer Parkway houses an automotive shop and multiple classrooms. Serviced by a full-time nurse and student resource officer, and with a mechanical, electrical and plumbing program set to start in January, the career center's future impact cannot be overstated, according to Kelly Vance, administrator of Viking Academy.

For some of our students, it will change the trajectory of their life, Vance said. When we are talking about bringing a family out of generational poverty, this is a way to do it  providing the training in the high school that allows them to get a job that will allow them to have a career.

According to Deidre Pendley, career and technical education (CTE) director for BTCS, a $2 million grant from the state helped establish new CTE programs, add new positions and assist with transportation costs associated with the center. A nearly $1.5 million commitment from the school system helped renovate the facility.

Pendley said a focus of the grant is to overcome barriers for students and get them into the workforce with the proper skills needed to earn a livable wage. The Viking Academy is intended for students who arent flourishing in the traditional high school environment to opt for an alternative path, she said.

(They) needed more of a hands on, different approach to be successful, and thats what we are providing here to overcome some of the barriers that they had before, Pendley said.

Vance said the new facility will help Tennessee High students  mostly sophomores, juniors and seniors  prepare for not just a job after high school, but a successful career.

We know our students are not ready to go right out into the workforce and get the job of their dreams right now, so what we are doing is we are working with them to build those skills in a safe environment so that when they are 18 and ready to really leave us and go into the work force, that they are prepared for a career [and] a path that will lead them to success, Vance said.

According to Pendley, Tennessee High has 22 programs of CTE study, which allows students to utilize the school systems relationships with businesses and industries across the city for valuable work-based learning opportunities.
BRISTOL, Va.  With an overflow crowd looking on, the Bristol Virginia City Council unanimously approved a resolution designed to ultimately restrict abortion clinics by modifying city zoning.

The vote followed comments by 25 people  nearly all of whom supported the measure  and a lengthy debate about timing. City Manager and City Attorney Randy Eads told council he wanted to complete a review of the proposed zoning ordinance to make sure it complies with state law.

However the council took action based on the premise the opinion would be completed before the issue came before the Planning Commission next month. That would be one of the first steps to enacting any change to the zoning codes.

I have been on this council for six years and this is, by far, the most important issue that has come before this council, Councilman Kevin Wingard said in making the motion to approve. I believe this council has the full authority to stop other abortion clinics from coming here. We already have one that moved across the state line and it is my opinion one is too many and I dont want to see a second or a third.

Abortion is not legal in Tennessee, which prompted a clinic that had long operated on West State Street to relocate across the state line.

Council member Becky Nave said she supports the effort but had concerns about its legality.

This is very powerful how many people are here tonight, Nave said. As a Christian, I agree with you that life is precious. As a City Council member, I also believe we need to do our due diligence in getting that legal opinion so moving forward we are making the best decisions for the city.

Prior to the vote, Eads said he would finalize his opinion by Nov. 15. If the opinion is positive, the matter would go to the Planning Commission for review and a recommendation back to council.

The draft resolution was presented by The Family Foundation, a Richmond-based pro-life organization that hosted a rally prior to the council, which attracted about 100 people  many of whom stayed to view the meeting and present their opinions.
BRISTOL, Va.  The ultimate cost of resolving Bristol Virginias landfill issues could easily exceed $40 million, City Manager Randy Eads told the City Council Tuesday.

A series of upcoming projects to comply with recommendations made by landfill experts assembled by the state are expected to cost at least $20 million, and potentially more, Eads said. That work is expected to be completed during this current and the next fiscal year.

That is in addition to $5 million that has already been expended and another $7 million in contracts that were approved Tuesday to bring more and more dirt cover to the quarry landfill.

In addition, there is an expected $5 million shortfall in the citys solid waste budget during the current fiscal year because the landfill no longer has a revenue stream.

We have a significant number of projects that are ongoing that require extensive engineering and consulting services and that is expensive, Eads said. Over the next several months we will be back before you seeking supplemental appropriations to cover many of these costs.

The city has to install sidewall odor mitigation, improve landfill gas extraction, weekly surface emission testing, install plates, install thermal couplings to measure heat within the waste mass, install monitoring wells, install a geo-synthetic cover and develop a storm water management plan.

We have started on the design of every single one of these items. The costs we do not know yet. I have an early estimate that those costs will be upwards of $20 million probably closer to $30 million. We have a significant amount of funds well need to spend over the next years in order to accomplish all these goals, Eads told the council.

Weve had some good few years as it relates to revenues over expenses, but I can tell you, looking at these numbers, we are looking at some very dire circumstances for the city as we continue to move forward through this project.

The city has about $8 million in federal COVID relief funds that can be spent on this work and $2 million coming from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, through an act of the General Assembly.

In response to a question, Eads said the city will likely have to raid its unassigned fund balance for part of the funds.

Council also encouraged him to seek any state or federal relief that might be available.

Bristol Virginia has been through the gauntlet with financials, going back to before any of us were here [on council] Every time weve had a tough issue, weve been able to work hard to figure it out, Mayor Anthony Farnum said. I know the financial side of this does not look good, but I know what we have to do. Im still confident that we will figure it out. Its not going to be a fun conversation The council back then made tough financial decisions years ago  and they were unpopular  but you all did that and got us back on track.

The city stopped accepting waste at the landfill in September, eliminating the lone revenue stream for the facility.

The $5 million shortfall includes a projected $2.84 million in lost trash disposal fees for this fiscal year and the cost for professional services is expected to be $2.25 million more than the $600,000 originally budgeted, Eads said.

The landfill is being operated by a skeleton crew of 12 employees with supplemental help from public works employees, Eads said. They currently have seven vacancies at the landfill and plan not to fill some of those positions.

During its meeting the council approved three contracts with two local companies to bring in a combined 160,000 cubic yards of different types of dirt  at a combined cost of $6.8 million  for work including the sidewall liner mitigation work.

The city also issued a statement Tuesday regarding that work.

It reads, The city is aware of the odor issues currently emanating from the landfill and is working with SCS Engineers on mitigation efforts. The odors often times intensify with changes in temperatures and weather patterns, which the city cannot control.

SCS Engineering is in the process of designing a more permanent solution with the construction of a sidewall odor mitigation system. The city anticipates having this project out to bid by Nov. 7, and the city anticipates the completion of a portion of the pilot sidewall odor mitigation system by Dec. 31. This initial portion of the sidewall odor mitigation system will be located at the western chimney area of the landfill.
Employees of Washington County, Virginia, are getting a Thanksgiving bonus  thanks to County Treasurer Fred Parker.

On Tuesday, the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved Parkers plan to transfer money to allow $1,000 in bonus money for full-time county employees and $250 for part-timers.

The money  a transfer or more than $300,000  comes from the success of the countys DMV Select Office at the County Administration Building.

The bonus is slated to be paid to employees Nov. 15.

In other business, the board approved a $45,000 contract to Inland Construction to build trestle No. 9 on the Mendota Trail, using money from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Inland was the only bidder on the project and has worked on several other trestles on the 12.5-mile-long trail.

The DCR money totals about $466,000 and is slated to help finish the last 1.5 miles remaining to be built on the trail by June 30, 2023.

Also on Tuesday, Commissioner of Revenue Mark Matney proposed an ordinance to give a tax break to the spouses of military members and police officers who are disabled or killed in the line of duty.

A draft of the ordinance is expected to be read by the supervisors at a future meeting.
A Taylorsville woman who embezzled more than $15 million from her former company is citing the lingering impact of childhood abuse in her bid for leniency.

Donna Osowitt Steele, 53, is set to be sentenced Nov. 3.

She pleaded guilty in January and acknowledged misdirecting millions of dollars from TIGRA USA, a German-based tool company with an affiliate in Hickory, for her own use while serving as CEO.

Steele has already agreed to pay restitution and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Steeles attorneys are asking for a sentence well below the maximum: five years in prison followed by supervised release.

Steeles attorneys argued in a sentencing memorandum filed this week that a relatively lenient sentence is appropriate given Steeles traumatic experiences coupled with an unhealthy working environment at TIGRA.

Steele suffered sexual abuse at the hand of a violent, abusive father who once held a knife to her throat and who killed the family dog by bashing it against an interior wall in their house, according to the sentencing memo.

Those early experiences left Steele with feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing. She compensated by attempting to gain acceptance from others through gifts, according to the memo.

During her 20s, Steele became addicted to drugs, spent time in a psychiatric institution and committed several crimes of theft and passing bad checks. She was sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for cashing business checks for personal use, according to the memo.

Shortly after leaving prison and while on supervised release, Steele began working for TIGRA, the company where she would work for more than 20 years and would eventually become CEO.

The attorneys also faulted elements of the company culture.

Early in her time with the company, owner Helge Motzer told Steele to end her involvement with a prison ministry she had been volunteering with to avoid drawing attention to the companys recent hiring of a felon, an action which removed a key support for Steele, according to the sentencing memo.

The attorneys also described the corporate environment at TIGRA as one where drinking was the company sales strategy and company meetings were held at a nude spa in Germany where Steele was often the brunt of sexual jokes and other uncomfortable interactions, according to the sentencing memo.

Steele was adept at working in that environment, receiving promotions and bringing in an excess of $10 million a year in sales. At the same time, her attorneys argued, the atmosphere brought out her worst tendencies.

Her past history of embezzlement was a bad mix with the relative lack of audit or financial controls at the company, according to the sentencing memo. And Donnas psychological need to obtain validation through material possessions and buying things for others was a very bad mix with the corporate culture that blurred the lines between personal and business expenses.

TIGRA CEO Bernd Motzer had not responded to an email asking for comment on the claims about the company contained in the sentencing memo as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.

A dozen people, many of them family members, submitted letters of support for Steele, pointing to the positive impact she had on their lives and saying she had taken responsibility for her actions.

Steeles therapist, Heather Herman, wrote that Steele has been undergoing therapy and taking medication for post-traumatic stress disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder since February and that Steele has shown significant progress toward her treatment goals and her prognosis is good.

Representatives of Forgiven Ministry, the prison ministry Steele worked with after her federal incarceration in the 1990s, also vouched for her.

I feel that out of this situation there is a changed woman who will take the ashes of her life and turn them into a productive citizen that will give hope and wisdom to those who make wrong choices, ministry founder Scottie Barnes wrote.

Barnes wrote that Steele has been active with the ministry this year, helping to write a Bible study for women in prison among other work. Steele has been paid for at least some of that work, Barnes wrote.

Barnes added that she hopes that Steele will come and work for the ministry once she completes her sentence in the embezzlement case.

The letters of support and sentencing memo are the clearest articulation yet of Steeles side of the embezzlement case which first came to light in late 2021.

Others who knew Steele, including several who worked under her at TIGRA, wrote letters condemning her as a liar and master manipulator.

The letters said Steele instructed an employee to hide financial documents from the German owners on at least one occasion and would make a point of hiring young, impressionable people who she felt she could more easily control.
Premier Inn Mena is set to enhance its customer experience offering for people of determination as the UAE hospitality partner for Purple Tuesday 2022 (November 1).



The initiative  part of a global activation under which Premier Inn owner in the UK, Whitbread, is the UK hospitality sector sponsor  is a key element of Premier Inns Force for Good campaign, which supports local and global charitable causes and highlights the growing importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its business.



Purple Tuesday, taking place in the UAE for the first time, is an international day to recognise and celebrate the importance of guests with disabilities, including less obvious conditions such as learning difficulties, mental health challenges and speech impairments.



Under its partnership, Premier Inn Mena is committing to give people of determination an even better experience at its hotels in the UAE and Qatar.



An estimated 17 per cent of the worlds population have a disability of some kind. For Premier Inn Mena, thats potentially 204,000 of the 1.2 million overnight guests welcomed each year.



Kathy Sorenson, Director of Human Resources, Premier Inn Mena, said: Purple Tuesday is a golden opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to being a Force for Good in everything we do. Over the next 12 months, we will educate team members at our 11 hotels in the region so that they recognise the needs of guests of determination and apply enhanced customer service skills to ensure they get the right support to make their stay easy, welcoming and one to remember.



Premier Inn in the UAE and UK will kick off its Purple Tuesday support campaign by launching the Hidden Disability Sunflower Scheme to team members. The scheme, under which people with invisible conditions carry a globally recognised sunflower badge, will launch in the UAE soon.



Not all disabilities are visible or immediately obvious, said Sorenson. Challenges such as autism, diabetes, restricted mobility, poor sight or hearing and even sleep disorders can bring barriers to daily lives. We want to change that by providing more support, empathy and understanding, starting by training all team members in the Hidden Disability Sunflower Scheme during 2022 and 2023, and continuing our Purple journey way beyond.



Mike Adams OBE, CEO of Purple and creator of Purple Tuesday said: We are delighted to be welcoming Premier Inn Mena as one of our pioneer Purple Tuesday Partners in the UAE, working together to raise awareness across the hospitality industry about the importance of providing good quality, seamless customer experiences for people of determination and their families.



If as part of the Purple Tuesday movement each hotel, restaurant or resort in the UAE made one improvement to accessibility and practice each year the impact will be significant for the disabled visitor. I look forward to building a long and sustainable partnership with Premier Inn Mena and their staff so that all people of determination guests have a top-quality customer experience.  TradeArabia News Service
" " This satellite image shows North Sentinel Island on March 5, 2018. Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images

The inhabitants of North Sentinel Island may be the last uncontacted people on Earth. And they'd sure like to keep it that way.

For centuries, the isolated, Indigenous people of North Sentinel Island (known as the Sentinelese) have rejected all attempts by the outside world to infiltrate their tiny tropical home in the Bay of Bengal. In fact, anthropologists have no idea how many Sentinelese live on the island  estimates vary between 50 and 500.

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In 2018, North Sentinel Island made the news when a young American missionary named John Allen Chau was killed on the island after repeatedly ignoring the Sentinelese's warnings to stay away. Chau was only the latest in a long line of unwelcomed outsiders  merchants, escaped convicts, fisherman and filmmakers  whose intrusions onto North Sentinel Island have been met with an angry volley of arrows.

But the few tantalizing glimpses of life on North Sentinel Island paint an intriguing picture of an untouched, hunter-and-gatherer society. The islanders live in primitive huts, spearfish from dugout canoes and wear no clothing at all. What's amazing is that this almost Neolithic society exists less than 20 miles (32 kilometers) from neighboring islands where Indigenous cultures have mixed with the modern world, not always with happy results.

"[These tribes] have been living on the islands for centuries without any problem. Their troubles started after they came into contact with outsiders," said Madhumala Chattopadhyay, an Indian anthropologist, in an interview for National Geographic. She was the first woman to visit North Sentinel Island in the 1990s but has vowed never to go back. "The tribes of the islands do not need outsiders to protect them, what they need is to be left alone."
Uber has been dealt a blow in New Zealand. Photo: Shutterstock

A New Zealand court has ruled that a group of Uber drivers are employees rather than contractors, another of several global rulings denting the core business model of many gig economy companies.

A group of Uber drivers in New Zealand won the landmark case at the Employment Court, with Chief Judge Christina Inglis ruling that they must be treated as employees rather than independent contractors.

This is a debate at the heart of the gig economy, with most tech giants in the space classifying their workers as independent contractors rather than employees, meaning they dont have to provide them entitlements such as superannuation or sick leave.

There has been a growing movement using legal challenges to dispute this classification, with 40 major legal challenges against gig economy companies in 20 countries in the last year alone.

The case in New Zealand relates directly to the four Uber drivers who brought forward the legal action and doesnt mean that all Uber drivers in the country will automatically be classified as workers.

Chief Judge Inglis said the court does not have jurisdiction to make broader declarations of employment status and Uber drivers dont instantly become employees, as The Guardian reported.

[But] it may well have broader impact, particularly where, as here, there is apparent uniformity in the way in which the companies operate, and the framework under which drivers are engaged, Chief Justice Inglis said.

These four workers will now be able to access legal minimum entitlements in New Zealand, including the minimum wage, a minimum of six hours of work per week, rest and meal breaks and holiday and parental leave.

Uber driver Praful Rama was one of the plaintiffs in the case, and said the decision represents justice for Uber drivers.

This will mean drivers will have a say, not just be subject to the control of Uber, Rama said.

We are employees.

The Uber drivers were represented by First Union and E tu Union.

This is a landmark legal decision not just for Aotearoa but also internationally, First Union strategic project coordinator Anita Rosentreter said.

The First Union is now accepting Uber drivers as members and said it will soon move to implement collective bargaining for these workers.

A spokesperson for Uber said the company was disappointed with the decision and would move to appeal it.

The spokesperson said it was too soon to speculate over the worker status of Ubers drivers in New Zealand.

There have been a number of similar cases challenging the way Uber and other gig economy companies classify their workers in recent years.

Last year UberEats, Glovo, Just Eat and Deliveroo were fined 733 million euro for misclassifying 60,000 couriers.

In the United Kingdom, a landmark ruling that Uber drivers are workers rather than independent contractors has been held up.

In Australia, the Transport Workers Union and Uber came to an agreement earlier this year to provide fairer wages and workplace protections for their workers.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission earlier this year agreed to give Amazon Flex drivers a minimum rate, while food delivery company Menulog is now classifying its Sydney riders as employees, and giving them sick leave and superannuation, among other entitlements.

In the US, rideshare firms reportedly spent more than $US200 million in a campaign to win votes in California to make them exempt from the states law requiring drivers to be classified as workers.
I received this from a good friend in South Africa who has since died. She was the wife of the Rev. Anton Roos, whom we visited many times and preached in their churches. Edna would spend much of her time on the internet and sent articles she thought might interest us. She identified this as Absolutely Dead Brilliant!! This was an obituary printed in the London Times ...

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain and Why does the early bird get the worm? Others honorably mentioned are life isnt always fair and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (dont spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

He declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldnt defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,

 by his parents, Truth and Trust,

 by his wife, Discretion,

 by his daughter, Responsibility.

He is survived by his five stepbrothers:

 I Know My Rights.

 I Want It Now.

 Someone Else Is to Blame.

 Im A Victim.

 Pay me for Doing Nothing.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

When we received this email, we knew Edna did not forward it for us to have a good laugh but to remind us that it is a synopsis of the steady decline from the teaching of Gods word. Jesus gave us what is called The Golden Rule  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Most of us who were raised in the church learned this in Sunday school, a very good place for a child to be taught in applying what we call Common Sense.

Also, Edna wanted us to keep sharing the Gospel of Christ wherever we went in our travels. There is no better way than teaching people the Gospel in one verse, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)
Thursday, October 27

Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery call 704-786-5500.

The Concord Friends of the Library host the annual Deana Irvin Symposium, at the Cabarrus Country Club, featuring North Carolina native, Jason Mott, National Book Award Winner for fiction 2021. Mott will be discussing his novel, Hell Of A Book, which was released in June 2021. Doors open at 11:30, lunch served at 12:15, $30.00 per person. Reservations can be mailed with checks payable to the Concord Friends of the Library, PO Box 795, Concord, NC 28026. Deadline for reservations is Oct. 17.

Friday, October 28

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trunk 'R' Treat at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with costumes, candy, games and more.

Saturday, October 29

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union Street S, are offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call in orders are welcomed. 704-782-1785.

Rowan and Cabarrus County residents will join the fight to end Alzheimers disease at the Alzheimers Association Walk to End Alzheimers  the worlds largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimers care, support and research. The Western Cabarrus Chapter will be hosting Walk to End Alzheimers - Rowan-Cabarrus at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. Check-in opens at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and a walk start at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, October 30

The Piedmont Choral Society will present a "Service of Remembrance" at 4 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 950 Bradley Street, Concord for our community. This is the first formal concert the group has prepared since December 2019 due to COVID.

Forest Hill United Methodist Church is hosting an evening of spooky organ music at 5:30 p.m. The concert will feature world-renowned organist, Christopher Brayne, who joined the Forest Hill UMC staff this year. Brayne will match the energy of the Odell house with a variety of truly creepy organ music including Bachs Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Boellmanns Suite Gothique. The concert is free, open to the public

Monday, October 31

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Sweet Street Trunk-or-treat & Festival will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will be at 150 N. Research Campus Drive in Kannapolis. For more information, call704-960-6158 or go to www.OutsideTheLinesMinistries.com.

Tuesday, November 1

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St. Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

A GriefShare support group will be held for anyone needing help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend. GriefShare Support Group will be held at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road, NW, Concord, NC 28027, weekly on Tuesdays, through Nov. 15 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155.

Wednesday, November 2

The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome.

Thursday, November 3

Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery call 704-786-5500.

The Concord Friends of the Library host the annual Deana Irvin Symposium, at the Cabarrus Country Club, featuring North Carolina native, Jason Mott, National Book Award Winner for fiction 2021. Mott will be discussing his novel, Hell Of A Book, which was released in June 2021. Doors open at 11:30, lunch served at 12:15, $30.00 per person. Reservations can be mailed with checks payable to the Concord Friends of the Library, PO Box 795, Concord, NC 28026. Deadline for reservations is Oct. 17.

Friday, November 4

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, November 5

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union Street S, are offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call in orders are welcomed. 704-782-1785.

Cabarrus DAV and Auxiliary will be placing flags on veteran graves at West Concord Cemetery on Union Cemetery Road starting at 10 a.m. Anyone who wishes to join in honoring our veterans is welcome to participate.

Monday, November 7

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

A Basketry Class is planned for beginner or advanced basket makers from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord, NC. ECA member and talented basket maker Brenda Long will be teaching this large Catchall Basket Class. Cost is $23 and checks may be made payable to : Cabarrus County, and dropped off, or mailed to NC Cooperative Extension, 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord, NC . You may also register on line at : go.ncsu.edu/registercabarrus . When the Cabarrus Active Living site opens scroll down to Cooperative Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences , and click to find the Basketry Class. For additional information contact NC Cooperative Extension weekdays at :704-920-3310.

Tuesday, November 8

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St. Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

A GriefShare support group will be held for anyone needing help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend. GriefShare Support Group will be held at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road, NW, Concord, NC 28027, weekly on Tuesdays, through Nov. 15 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155.

Thursday, November 10

Epworth UMCs famous hot dogs and taco soup, 9:30 a.m. -2 p.m. 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. For free delivery call 704-786-5500.

Friday, November 11

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Heavenly Hot Dogs at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 301 Mount Olivet Road, will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free delivery for orders of more than $15, and takeout is available. Homemade desserts and chicken noodle soup are available. For more information, visit www.mtochurch.com or call 704-782-8846.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, November 12

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot Dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union Street S, are offered on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dine in and take out. Call in orders are welcomed. 704-782-1785.

Looking for holiday gifts or your next favorite book? The Friends of the Midland Library is hosting a book sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The book sale will be held at the Midland Library, 4297-C Highway 24/27 East. Everyone who attends will receive a free tote bag, and Bayou Sno will be selling sno cones, hot chocolate and coffee.

Got news or events?

Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com.
A list of Cabarrus County employees to be terminated following the November election has been circulating among some Cabarrus County Commissioner candidates.

The list first came to the Independent Tribunes attention following a Facebook post involving Midland Councilmember Rich Wise and county commissioner candidate Kenny Wortman.

In an Oct. 18 post on Wortmans candidate Facebook page, he published a screenshot of text messages between himself and Wise.

In the texts is mention of a hit list of county employees to be terminated should certain commissioner candidates be elected. In the texts, Wortman states that the list is not written down.

Wortman confirmed the existence of the list to the Independent Tribune in a statement Tuesday evening.

Wortman explained that he was made aware of the list at a meeting following the primary election between himself, commissioner candidate Chris Measmer and County Commissioner Barbara Strang at Measmers Concord house.

During the meeting, Wortman said it was made clear that the list included the termination of County Manager Mike Downs.

The plan was to terminate the county manager, Mike Downs, and replace him with Doug Paris, the town manager of Midland, Wortman stated. The committee list for the commissioner liaisons was halfway completed prior to my arrival, and finished while I was there. There were several other terminations discussed, contracts with the county to terminate, defunding the EDC, and the chair and vice chair positions. I was told that Chris Measmer would be the chair, and Barbara Strang would be the vice chair. No one bothered to ask if I was on board with this plan, and it was simply assumed that I would be.

When asked for comment, Paris said he did not want to speak about the wishes of a potential future county commissioner.

I dont believe it is my place to comment in the newspaper about personnel decisions that a future county commission may make after the general election, Paris stated. I have heard now, from multiple people, that Mike may retire after the general election, specifically this summer.

The Independent Tribune is not aware of any plans for Downs retirement.

Wortman said that he later told Strang in September that he wasnt on board with the list or any of the other plans discussed at the meeting.

In fact, Wortman said he personally called Downs to say he would not vote to terminate his position as county manager, should Wortman be elected.

Downs declined to comment for the story.

When Measmer was asked for comment about the list, he told the Independent Tribune that he was not aware of any list.

I have not been made privy to a list of county employees that are going to be fired after the election. Sounds like there is false information floating around or hearsay that is driving this piece, or I havent been included in these conversations. I would like to see this list? Measmer wrote in an email.

The only discussion that I have had with other candidates/multiple commissioners is a replacement for the county manager, Mike Downs, upon his retirement. Discussions regarding a county management replacement is the job of a County Commissioner. The primary election results sent a clear message from the voters that there needs to be a change of direction in county leadership. The current policy of tax and spending has put an undue burden on the county taxpayer. We need county management and current board leadership to recognize that the voters of this county have sent a mandate to change the tax and spending policy.

The Independent Tribune also learned that other current county commissioners are aware of the list.

When Strang was asked to comment, she sent a brief statement in an email.

Any and all personnel matters would be discussed under the advisement of legal counsel and in closed session pursuant to NCGS  143-318.11 (a)(6) and the Cabarrus County Confidentiality of Personnel Records Policy which is governed by NCGS  153A-98. The current commissioners as well as all employees know or should know that discussing personnel matters should not be played out in the press and is inappropriate. Further, any release of confidential personnel information to the press would be a Class 3 misdemeanor pursuant to NCGS  153A-98.

Her statement references state law regarding closed sessions. However, the Independent Tribune specifically asked Strang about a list circulating among county commissioner candidates.

Wortman said the Facebook post, which made the existence of a list public, was made in regard to his campaign dealings with the town of Midland.

I was pressured by the town of Midland for answers on providing them with a seat for WSACC and funding for their library, Wortman stated. I was also pressured by the town manager of Midland for a response on the chair and vice chair position. [Paris] had recommended a share type of strategy for those positions during a meeting that was held at Midland Town Hall, with him and myself present.

I stated on multiple occasions that I wanted all sides to the stories Ive been told before I give an opinion or answer. I learned that a lot of the information I was given during the primary was not truthful.

The town of Midland has strived to obtain a seat on the Water & Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County. The city of Concord owns a number of the sewer lines Midland uses, along with the town and another party. As for the funding of the library, the Midland branch is part of the Cabarrus County Library system.

The campaign conversations between Wortman and representatives from the town of Midland do not have a direct correlation to the list. In the posted text messages between Wortman and Wise, it also was stated that Paris was not aware of the list.
MATTOON  Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of a fire early Tuesday evening at vacant house without utility service that had possibly been used by squatters.

Chief Jeff Hilligoss with the Mattoon Fire Department reported in a press release that crews were dispatched at 5:37 p.m. to 2512 Pine for a possible structure fire. Units arrived on scene at 5:41 p.m. and found heavy smoke and fire showing from the first floor of the structure.

Crews advanced a hose line through the front door to begin an attack on the fire, while another crew began searching the structure for any occupants. A secure water supply was established by an additional crew, who then went inside to assist in searching the structure.

The fire was brought under control quickly and kept to the room of origin. The search found no occupants inside the structure. Neighbors advised that they did not believe anyone was residing in the structure, however, they thought that this residence was being used by squatters. Crews then began overhaul, searching for any extension or hidden fire within the walls.

Officials were told that no utilities were turned on at this residence.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office is assisting with the investigation.

There were no reported injuries. Crews cleared the scene at approximately 8:45 p.m.

Mattoon fire crews were assisted by Coles-Moultrie 911, Charleston Fire Department, Mattoon Police Department, and Mitchell-Jerdan Ambulance Service.
SPRINGFIELD  A convicted sex offender has been committed for treatment following a Coles County jurys verdict, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Wednesday.

A jury found Kenneth A. Lewis, 59, to be a sexually violent person under the states Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. Lewis was then ordered by Coles County Circuit Court Judge James Glenn to be remanded to the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

To be committed under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act, a person must have been convicted of a sexually violent offense, suffer from a mental disorder and be proven by prosecutors likely to recommit acts of sexual violence if released from custody.

I appreciate the jurys work to find this offender to be a sexually violent person, Raoul said in a news release. His criminal record shows a disturbing pattern of harming children, and now this verdict prevents him from being able to harm any more innocent children.

He had been sentenced to a total of 20 consecutive years in prison following a 2004 conviction for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and a 2005 conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Coles County.

In 2001, Lewis was found guilty of rape in the state of Washington and was sentenced to two months in jail.

Lewis had been awaiting this trial at the IDHS Rushville Sexually Violent Person Treatment and Detention Facility in Rushville after being transferred to the facility from the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2020.

Offenders committed to IDHS custody under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act are regularly re-evaluated to determine if they still meet the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent persons.
MATTOON  After seeing the heavy duty protective gear that electric linemen wear, Mattoon High School junior Dommanik Faulkner had a question: "Can I try on that?"

Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative line foreman Bob Schafer subsequently helped Faulkner suit up in rubber gloves and sleeves, plus a helmet, as he and classmates attended an Industry Day visit there on Tuesday. The visiting junior also tested out the weight of a fully loaded lineman toolbelt.

"It was pretty unexpected. The belt is really heavy," Faulkner exclaimed afterward. Of trying on the gear, he said, "I wanted to go for it and see how it feels."

Groups of students from Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland high schools toured factories and other businesses throughout Coles County and in Arcola during the annual Industry Day organized by Coles Together, the economic development organization for Coles County.

Coles-Moultrie President and CEO Amy Borntrager said the cooperative has hosted visits at its Mattoon headquarters, 104 Dewitt Ave. East, for several years now as part of this event. She said it's a great opportunity to show high school students the jobs that are needed in the office and in the field to help the cooperative serve customers in eight counties with a total of approximately 2,000 miles of lines, enough to run from Mattoon to Los Angeles.

"Promoting the skilled trades is one of the best things we can do," Schafer said.

The line foreman's presentation and Faulkner's demonstration of the protective gear inspired fellow junior Thomas Chipol to also try on these protective items. In addition, Schafer challenged Chipol to fasten a nut and a bolt together while wearing the thick rubber gloves. Chipol said afterward that it took a great deal of focus and patience to complete this task for the first time.

Industry Day also includes visits to the Justrite and Mars Petcare factories in Mattoon, Lester Building Systems and Safety Storage factories in Charleston, Birkey's Farm Store in Oakland, Nordco Equipment Services in Arcola, the Mattoon School District's new LIFT regional high school vocational training center, the Elevate CCIC entrepreneur development center at the Cross County Mall, and the Coles County Memorial Airport.

Students wearing goggles toured the busy, cavernous factory floor at Justrite, 3921 Dewitt Ave., to see how safety cans and cabinets are manufactured there and then shipped throughout the United States and beyond. Justrite safety cans are designed for storing or transferring flammable liquids and fuels, while the cabinets store flammable, hazardous materials and containers of liquids.

Continuous improvement engineer Scott Copple said the Mattoon factory processes 20 million pounds of steel per year into cans and cabinets, as well as handles, lids, hinges and other parts for Justrite products.

"We make a lot of our own parts from raw steel in this area," Copple said as he led students through the press room. The factory floor is large enough that adult tricycles are used to bring maintenance items to the assembly lines.

Human resources manager Stephanie Hanks there are entry level employment positions available on the factory floor, where day and night shifts are in operation. Receiving supervisor Lee White added there also opportunities available for employees to pursue careers in mechanical engineering and management there.


The tribunal issued a notice to a 12-year-old boy and directed him to pay Rs 2.9 lakh as compensation for causing the loss of property, belonging to a woman, during violence that took place after the Ram Navami procession.

TCN Staff Correspondent

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BHOPAL (MADHYA PRADESH)  Victims are perhaps culprits for the Madhya Pradesh government and therefore, those whose houses were attacked by Hindutva mobs during communal violence at the states Khargone city on April 10 have been served recovery notices by tribunals for allegedly indulging in vandalism and stone pelting.

Established under the Madhya Pradesh Prevention and Recovery of Damages to Public Property Act, the tribunal has issued a notice to a 12-year-old boy (name withheld as he is a juvenile)  directing him to pay Rs 2.9 lakh as compensation for causing the loss of property, belonging to a woman, during a Ram Navami procession violence.

Apart from him, his father Kalu Khan, a resident of Khargones Anand Nagar locality, too have got a separate notice of Rs 4.80 lakh.

The father-son duo have been accused of vandalising and robbing the home of their neighbours (the woman) during the violence.

Denying the allegation, Khan, a driver by profession, said no FIR (first information report) had been lodged against him and his son, yet they were served the recovery notices.

It was iftar time when the violence broke out, and we were waiting for azaan to have the evening meal to breakfast. We did not even step out of our home, he said.

Asked how a minor was handed over the notice, Prabhat Prashar, a tribunal member, said its a civil matter and not a criminal case where children get protection from the Juvenile Justice Act.

There is a complaint of vandalism against the boy, and his lawyer failed to prove beyond doubt that the child was not part of the crowd. His parents will have to pay the money as they are responsible for him, he added.

As they received the notice, said the family, they approached the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court with a prayer to issue direction to quash the order.

Disposing of the matter on September 12, the High Court bench gave the petitioner an option to make an appeal before the tribunal.

Accordingly, the boy, through his mother, has argued before the tribunal that he cannot be considered a child in conflict with law since he is not charged with any crime.

Describing the notice as arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional, the boy then urged the tribunal chairman, Dr SK Mishra (a former judge), to quash it. But his application was rejected on the ground that the tribunal is not seized with the charges, but the complaint of civil nature filed by the woman.

The lawyer, representing the boy, Ashar Ali Warsi, said he is awaiting the tribunals detailed order on the womans claim. Once it is received, we will decide how to proceed in this matter, he added.

Those who have received the notice include six others who are adults. Among them is 63-year-old Nasir Khan (a retired police officer).

Petrol bombs were hurled at his house at Khargones Tadvi Mohalla on April 10 night during the violence. He survived with a close shave.

He has received a recovery notice of Rs 1.16 lakh for pelting stones on the house of his next-door neighbour Peeyush Vasare. One of his tin-shed roofs got damaged in the alleged attack.

Interestingly, Vasare had filed a case  claiming to have suffered a loss of Rs 1.16 lakh. He has already been paid a sum of Rs 18,000 from the state government as compensation for his losses following an assessment carried out by the engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the damages.

Dissatisfied with the government compensation, he approached the claims tribunal  which served Khan with the notice based on his complaints.

Khan claimed after setting a blaze in his kitchen and four bikes parked on the premises of his house, the rioters were breaking the main door of his residence. They were rescued, he said, by a police team  which was patrolling the area at that moment.

The man struggled for five days to lodge an FIR against the rioters. And when he pressed for action against the rioters, he too was booked under severe sections of the Indian Penal Code two days later following Vasares complaint against him.

In a written complaint dated June 30, he told the Khargone police that he was helping the cops to control the situation and later got injured when rioters attacked his home and that he was framed in a false case.

When the police did not apprehend any of the accused named in his FIR who were allegedly threatening him with dire consequences, he met senior police officers and pressed for action.

The very next day, a member of his family said, that police came to arrest him in connection with the FIR registered by Vasare.

Since then, he has been on the run.

After assessing his losses, four members of the former cops family were paid Rs 80,000 by the government.

He has also filed a recovery suit of around Rs 2 lakh in the claims court.

The Madhya Pradesh government, headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had set up the tribunal within 48 hours of the communal violence. It is tasked to hear the claims courts cases of damages to public and private properties and recover the money from an individual or a group within three months.

The court has received a total of 343 cases and shortlisted 34 cases for hearing. On October 14, the tribunal delivered the verdict in six cases while the remaining cases are sub judice. It ordered the recovery of Rs 7.46 lakh from 50 people accused of arson and destruction of property in the six cases.

Since the inception of the Public and Private Property Recovery Act 2021, which was in December last year without any debate, and its claims court are surrounded by controversies, with people raising questions on its legal validity.
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.
The pandemic lockdowns were a policy blunder for the ages, and the economic, social and health consequences are still playing out. But the worst catastrophe was visited on Americas children, as the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress shows.

The 2022 NAEP test, often called the nations report card, found a record drop in learning across the U.S. since the last test in 2019. The tests measured proficiency in math and reading for fourth and eighth graders, and the harm from closed schools and online-only instruction is severe and depressing.

Americas schools werent doing all that well before the pandemic, but the lack of in-school learning made them worse. Eighth graders lost eight points on math since 2019, falling to an average 274 out of a possible 500. Fourth graders lost five points to an average of 236 in 2022. Not a single state or large school district showed better math performance.

The news is little better on reading, with the average score for fourth and eighth graders dropping by three points. Nationwide only 33% of fourth graders and 31% of eighth graders read at or above grade proficiency.

Its hard to understate the human damage that these dry statistics represent. The learning loss is considerable and will take years to make up, if it ever is. Children who fall behind in reading skills have difficulty learning other subjects. The numbers also mean that millions of young Americans dont know even the basics of writing and arithmetic.

The NAEP breaks down scores by states and school districts, though it is hard to compare scores by the degree of lockdowns. Every state lost ground to some extent, and different school districts across states often had different lockdown policies. There were also surprises, like a relatively small learning loss in Los Angeles, for unexplained reasons. Some 200,000 children were chronically absent from L.A. schools last year, which makes the results even odder.

But more often students in districts that struggled before the pandemic and had some of the most stringent lockdowns had some of the worst learning loss. In Detroit the average fourth-grade math scores fell 12 points to 194  20 points below basic mastery of fundamentals. The data-analytics company Burbio says Detroit students had access to in-person education only 51.2% of the 2020-2021 school year.

Fourth graders average math scores have now fallen below basic levels in Milwaukee, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Cleveland. In-person instruction was available less than one-fifth of the 2020-2021 school year in all of these cities, according to Burbio. Baltimore and Cleveland fourth graders recorded a 15-point drop since 2019.

Compare that to three Florida districts covered by NAEP, which offered in-person instruction 90% or more of the time in 2020-2021 by Burbios count. Fourth-grade math skills declined by seven points in Duval County, one point in Hillsborough County, and five points in Miami-Dade. Yet in all three districts the average fourth grader remained above basic mastery of math fundamentals in 2022.

The NAEP results support the case for school choice. Charter school performance was uneven, but in at least 11 states charter fourth graders outperformed their non-charter counterparts in math in 2022, including in Alaska (+16 points), Nevada (+12 points) and North Carolina (+21 points). NAEP says reporting standards were not met for a charter comparison in 22 states.

Catholic schools tended to stay open during the pandemic, and on average their fourth and eighth graders scored higher in reading and math than public-school students. Department of Defense schools performed even better. Students deserve an escape route from schools that cant prepare them for life and work.

These learning losses didnt need to be as severe as they are because the school lockdowns didnt have to continue as we learned more about COVIDs relatively small risk for children. Sweden kept its schools open and avoided the catastrophic learning loss of the U.S.

The school closures were a political decision, typically influenced by teachers unions. The political consequences now should be a backlash against the politicians who let the unions close the schools for so long. For starters, that means anyone endorsed by American Federation of Teachers chief Randi Weingarten.
Another aircraft company is considering Greensboro  likely a site at Piedmont Triad International Airport  for a manufacturing site with a workforce of up to 433 employees. The Denver Post reported on Oct. 20 that Greensboro is one of four communities in the running for Project Galvanic, an electric aircraft manufacturer with plans to build a $24.5 million plant.

However, the odds appear long that Greensboro and PTI could land the project.

On Oct. 20, the Colorado Economic Development Commission approved providing $2.95 million in job growth incentive tax credits to Project Galvanic for a site in either Centennial County or Jefferson County. The jobs would pay an average annual wage of $80,014.

Meanwhile, there has been no public incentive offer to the company from either the Greensboro City Council or Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

Kevin Baker, PTIs executive director, said PTI has no knowledge of Project Galvanic.

The typical economic-development experience in the Triad and North Carolina is that when an incentive package gains approval at the city, county or state level, it is pretty close to a done deal.

The Gazette reported Oct. 20 that the company behind Project Galvanic has nine employees, all of whom live in Colorado.

Project Galvanic represents the company moving from startup to production, according to a statement from the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade.

They are searching for a production facility where the building space is very specific and has significant energy considerations to support their high-efficiency motors.

Michelle Hadwiger, director of global business development for the economic development group told the commission that this project would support the states economic goals by adding to the density of aerospace companies in Colorado, creating high-paying jobs in aerospace, one of the most important industries to Colorados economy.

Besides the Denver area and Greensboro, the others mentioned by the Denver newspaper as being in contention are Lansing, Mich., and Madison, Wisc. An internet search for connections to Project Galvanic to Lansing, Mich., and Madison, Wis., mostly came back to The Denver Post article and Colorado business media reports.

Being a bridesmaid?

It would make sense, however, that Greensboro and PTI would be considered, given their success in recruiting Boom Supersonic, said John H. Boyd, founder and principal with global site-selection firm The Boyd Co. of Boca Raton, Fla.

Boom is planning a $500 million superfactory at PTI for its Overture aircraft with at least 1,761 jobs at full production in 2030. Boom plans to hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the 400,000-square-foot facility in December.

Baker said in July that grading is underway right now for a planned 400,000-square-foot Boom Supersonic facility. Construction is expected to start next year, with completion expected in the second quarter of 2024.

Still, about 900 acres remain available at the PTI megasite.

The Denver newspaper reported that Bye Aerospace is Colorados most famous electric plane maker.

The company from Centennial, Colo. has developed a training plane that allows aspiring pilots to obtain the hours they need at a much lower cost for flight time, and is also working on business aircraft that can carry more passengers.

Another possibility noted by the Denver newspaper is the XTI Aircraft Co. which is developing the TriFan 600, a hybrid electric business aircraft that can take off and land vertically on buildings like a helicopter and travel between 700 to 900 miles. It has a backlog of more than 300 orders but doesnt expect to deliver its planes until 2027.

Becoming a reality

The Associated Press reported Sept. 27 that a prototype, all-electric airplane took its first flight in central Washington state.

The Seattle Times reports that if the Federal Aviation Administration eventually certifies the small airplane to carry passengers, it could become the first all-electric commercial airplane.

The plane, built by startup Eviation, was built to carry nine passengers and up two pilots. The companys goal is to show that such electric planes are viable as commuter aircraft flying at an altitude of about 15,000 feet (4,572 meters).

The plane, designed by engineers in Washington state and Israel, is powered by 21,500 small Tesla-style battery cells.

Wired magazine reported in February that the aircraft industry is challenged in terms of electric aircraft by the current power limitations of lithium batteries.

If aircraft is going to go electric, Carnegie Mellon scientist Venkat Viswanathan told Wired, batteries will need a radical rethink.

Viswanathan said that even regional jets meant for relatively short hops require batteries that are light but sufficiently powerful.

They need enough power for takeoff, then enough energy to safely cruise over long distances. Its possible that it will never be practical  and that greener aviation will require other approaches, like hydrogen or synthetic jet fuel.
FICTION: A bold, mind-bending novel in which a mystery man lodges with an idiosyncratic family.

"The Singularities" by John Banville; Alfred A. Knopf (320 pages, $30)



John Banville's novels come and go, but not all of his characters depart with them. Some remain in limbo and then return with a new lease on life in a sequel or next installment in a series. In his latest novel, "The Singularities," the Booker winner tries something more ambitious by bringing back diverse characters from disparate books and letting them intermingle. As they do so, they find themselves navigating a warped reality made up of various possibilities and blasts from the past.

A "mystery man" calling himself Felix Mordaunt is released from prison after doing 25 years for murder. It becomes clear that he is really Freddie Montgomery, who first showed his face in Banville's 1989 novel "The Book of Evidence." Keen to make a new start but also to reconnect with his childhood, he turns up at the door of the Irish country house he grew up in  only to discover it is in new hands and has a new name. Felix ingratiates himself with the present owners, the Godleys (from Banville's 2009 book, "The Infinities"), who give him a job and a roof over his head.

The novel expands to take in the occupants of Arden House. There is Helen Godley, a former actress who is bored of provincial life, scarred by the death of her children, and both intrigued by and suspicious of her new lodger. There is her husband, Adam, son of the renowned Adam Godley, the late great mathematician who proved the existence of parallel universes. And there is Godley's widow, Ursula, who, with failing health and fading memories, lies in a bed at the top of the house sifting broken recollections and communing with the ghost of her dearly departed daughter, Petra.

The household also includes a professor called William Jaybey. Adam has commissioned him to write a biography of his illustrious father. Unbeknownst to the family, Jaybey detested Godley and plans to settle old scores by dishing dirt and tarnishing his reputation. He is also deeply smitten with Helen.

Soon Banville's narrative is thick with all manner of secrets and lies, spying and scheming. Things get murkier when one of Felix's old flames reveals a death wish. Things turn strange when the characters begin to inhabit alternative realities.

"The Singularities" is Banville at his most inventive. People exhibit, and indeed examine, various selves. Places are reimagined (Jaybey travels by vacuum train to "recently renamed New Amsterdam"). Part of the proceedings is narrated by an all-seeing, all-punning "mischievous godlet." Regular readers of Banville will know not to expect much in the way of plot (something which is only really prioritized by his crime-writing alter ego, Benjamin Black) and on this occasion, story plays second fiddle to style.

But what style. "Don't you love the incorrigible trickiness of words?" Jaybey asks. Banville does: His verbal dexterity and poetic flourishes keep us absorbed throughout what is a complex, sometimes maddening yet ultimately rewarding work.



Malcolm Forbes has written for the Times Literary Supplement, the Economist and the Wall Street Journal. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Greensboro Symphony Orchestras concert on Nov. 5 will offer a musical reflection on the war in Ukraine.

Music Director Dmitry Sitkovetsky, whose own father was born in Ukraines capital city of Kyiv, has selected two orchestral works by composers from Ukraine, and a third work by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky known as the Ukrainian Symphony.

Like many of his musical friends and colleagues, Sitkovetsky tries to make known the devastation sustained by Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February.

Its not only our artistic duty, its also our civic duty, Sitkovetsky said via Zoom from London, where he lives. I would do it regardless, whether I had any connection to Kyiv or not through my father.

I cannot affect the war in any other way, except through what I do, Sitkovetsky added.

Sitkovetsky  Dima to family and friends  is an internationally-known violinist and conductor, who travels the world to conduct and perform. He recounts his travels on Facebook and other social media websites.

This marks his 20th and final season with Greensboro Symphony. He will step down after its May concert but will continue to bring his artistry to venues around the globe. After Greensboro, his stops will include Havana, Cuba; Berlin; and Istanbul.

His father, Julian Sitkovetsky, was also a renowned violinist.

Julian Sitkovetsky was born in 1925 in Kyiv, then part of the Soviet Union. He began violin studies at age 4, playing the Mendelssohn Concerto with the Kyiv Symphony at age 9.

He came to Moscow at age 13; his family followed.

Julian Sitkovetsky married pianist Bella Davidovich in 1950; their only child, Dima, was born in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In 1958  when Dima was only 3 years old  his father died from lung cancer at age 32.

For Russians, the Ukrainian connection is ancient and strong. Dima Sitkovetsky describes it as a very beautiful country. He last visited Kyiv in 2016.

Now an American citizen, Sitkovetsky last visited Russia in December. People with whom he spoke did not believe that a war would happen.

He saw relatives and friends, performed, gave a master class and saw his fathers grave in Moscow.

I will not go back there until the whole country will be completely different, Sitkovetsky said. You dont go to a country where there is fascism and a horrible regime is going on.

While the war rages 5,600 miles from the United States, its relevant around the world.

Its a very dramatic time for anybody connected with the Russian, Ukrainian and Eastern European cultures, Sitkovetsky said. That includes musicians and other artists in the United States.

Sitkovetsky just spent time in Lithuania, which shares borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. There, he performed with Lukas Geniusas, a pianist who has played with the Greensboro Symphony.

In Greensboro, Sitkovetsky and the orchestra will open the Nov. 5 program with the 2001 piece Hymn, by Ukrainian composer Valentyn Sylvestrov.

Now 85, Sylvestrov wrote Hymn after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Sylvestrov was smuggled out of his native Kiev just after the war started in February, Sitkovetsky said. Sitkovetsky plans to meet him in December, on one of his upcoming stops in Germany.

The Greensboro Symphony also will perform Sergei Prokofievs Sinfonia Concertante for Cello.

Prokofiev was born in Ukraine, part of the Russian Empire back in 1891, Sitkovetsky said. He was always considered a Russian composer, although he left in 1918 and lived in the United States and Europe, returning to the Soviet Union in 1935.

Soloing with the orchestra will be Sergey Antonov, a Russian-born cellist who now lives in New York.

Antonov, who won the Gold Medal in the 2007 International Tchaikovsky Competition, will perform the work that Sitkovetsky describes as maybe the most challenging cello concerto ever written.

For the concerts last piece, Sitkovetsky changed his plans for the orchestra to perform Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 4. Instead, the orchestra will play Tchaikovskys Symphony No. 2, known as the Ukrainian Symphony.

This marks Greensboro Symphonys first performance of a work that Tchaikovsky composed based on Ukrainian folk songs.

Its very beautiful music, Sitkovetsky said of the concert program. And in the case of Prokofiev, its very powerful music.

He believes its important to present the music to his local audience.

We live not in isolation, he said. We live not just in North Carolina and not just in the United States. We are citizens of the world ... It is a very critical moment in history, in my history and yours.
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.
Zoe Saldana says filming her new Netflix series  From Scratch, stirred up emotions from her own life, ones she thought she had dealt with long ago. Her father died when she was 9 years old, leaving her mother to care for her and her two sisters as a single mom.

Grief is very deceiving, she said in a recent interview. Theres management of it but no closure.

In From Scratch, Saldana plays Amy, an American woman who travels to Italy to study her true passion, which is art. While there, she meets a handsome local chef named Lino, played by Eugenio Mastrandrea. They fall in love and Lino follows her back to the U.S. Their fairytale, based on actor Tembi Lockes memoir, is threatened when illness strikes.

I knew grief from the perspective of a child losing your hero, said Saldana. I never understood it from my moms perspective, losing a partner, losing the love of her life and having to wrestle with grieving, but also having to welcome joy in your life because you have little co-dependents that need you.

Locke co-created the series with her sister, Attica Locke, who also served as showrunner and worked with Reese Witherspoons Hello Sunshine production company on Little Fires Everywhere. That connection helped put Tembi Lockes book in Witherspoons hands.

Witherspoon was so taken with the book that she acquired the rights and made it an official Reeses Book Club selection. She also brought it up to Saldana over dinner.

She said, I just want you to read it. For some reason it made me think of you. Im excited about this book. ... Read it and give me your thoughts. And if you like it, I think that you would be perfect to play the lead, recalled Saldana.

There are details in the series that dont happen in the book, or that are changed, because the Lockes were mindful they were creating television.

We were very clear about creating a psychic distance, if you will, to be creative storytellers, Tembi Locke said. We knew the characters were going to have to do things for the purposes of a narrative on screen that may not have happened in real life. We wanted the freedom and license to do that.

It was also a blessing for Tembi Locke to have her sister spearheading this project that was so personal and emotional.

She not only was a big voice of encouragement to write the book, but the opportunity to lift the story further and give it a broader global audience was very honoring, quite frankly, she said. It was a very exciting thing creatively to take on, but to do it with my sister, I knew that we could protect the essence of the book.

For her part, Attica Locke doesnt believe she needed to do much protecting because they were surrounded by a team and crew who respected the weight of the project.

My sister, my brother-in-laws memory, my niece. All those people I love in a way that I cant put into words, but I can put into action. The love for (their story) got me up every day doing the hard work. That drove me more than protection because I think love allowed us to attract people who could either feel that or also had it within their own hearts.

Saldana agrees. Everybody on that set knew exactly what we were there to do.

The sisters would check in with each other when the hard moments came, and they did, said Tembi. Wed make a plan for how to handle it.

For example, Attica Locke suggested to her sister to stay away from the set for hospital scenes.

She would say to her sister, Could you give me four things that you want me to make sure that I convey to the director and to the actors so you dont have to sit in the re-creation of the most difficult moments in your life. Let me be the ambassador.

But joy and fun happened, too. Part of the shoot was in Italy. A restaurant scene where Lino seduces Amy through his cooking was a highlight. (It also happened in real life and Tembi Locke writes about it in her book.)

That was the first scene that I was like, Wow, Eugenio, because Eugenio is much younger than I am, said Saldana, who is 44; Mastrandrea is 28. Im like, Oh my God, you guys hired a child to play opposite me. Like, Im so sorry. I was very apologetic. Hes definitely the kind of man that reads older when you meet him, but when you speak to him, hes so young, and hes so, like, vibrant and so beautiful.

And I just remember that shoot, like, when we walked in, he was like owning that kitchen, and we were all like, Bravo, mister. We were making him blush a lot, she said, laughing.

Saldana also bonded with Tembi Locke over having an Italian husband. She married Marco Perego-Saldana (they each took each others last names) in 2013 and share three sons.

In this particular situation, it was easy for me to pull from familiar territories. Not just in the good ones, but also in the frustrating ones. To be married to an Italian is not a walk in the park every single day. Its yummy, its delicious, its romantic, but its also very challenging in the sense that youre marrying an old culture that is very proud of its history and its art and its love and its food, Saldana said.

Tembi and I would have so many laughs, bonding in that sense.
GREENSBORO  Increasing numbers of young patients with a respiratory illness called RSV have filled many of the pediatric beds at Moses Cone Hospital, according to the units medical director, Dr. Suresh Nagappan.

The 22-bed unit has needed to divert pediatric patients to other hospitals when capacity peaks. Nagappan estimated that between 80 to 90% of the units patients are there for treatment of RSV.

Some young patients continue to be cared for in the emergency room until a bed opens up in the childrens unit, he said. Its an issue other hospitals across North Carolina and the nation are frequently facing.

Its the worst RSV season Ive seen in my career, Nagappan said by phone Monday. Its been an incredible challenge.

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, which is a common illness that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although many easily recover, the illness can be severe for infants and the elderly.

The state Department of Health and Human Services said in an emailed statement Monday that some North Carolina hospitals have been unable to accept transfers from other hospitals that are not part of their normal referral networks due to the high number of children with RSV and the limited number of pediatric intensive care unit beds.

Most children get RSV by the time they are 2 years old, Nagappan said, but only a small number diagnosed need to be hospitalized. Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two.

Parents should be watchful for symptoms such as labored breathing and lack of appetite. Contact the childs pediatrician about any concerns, Nagappan said, and dont hesitate to seek emergency care if an infant or child appears to be experiencing breathing difficulties during the night.

The younger they are, the more vulnerable they are, Nagappan said.

RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 in the United States, according to the CDC.

Lab test results from various hospitals across North Carolina show that RSV cases have increased significantly this fall, according to state data.

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has seen a substantial increase in children with RSV and respiratory illnesses other than COVID-19 in primary care and outpatient clinics and emergency departments throughout our health system, spokesman Joe McCloskey said Monday in an email. We are seeing more of these cases than we typically see in the early fall.

Its not known why RSV seems to be affecting more children or whats led their symptoms to be so severe. Nagappan questions whether young children who werent previously exposed to RSV during mask mandates and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic are just now contracting it.

Its all theoretical, he said about the pandemics impact on this wave of RSV cases.

Dr. David Priest of Novant Health said RSV is typically seen in the winter, but it unusually began appearing in summer 2021.

(Pandemic precautions) really just changed the circulating pattern of these viruses, Priest said recently.

Hospitals, however, now have more means to identify who may have COVID-19 and the flu  or RSV.

As far as preventing the spread, Nagappan encourages residents to make sure their hands are cleaned thoroughly and to consider masking around infants and others at risk.

State health officials said that while there is no vaccine available at this time for RSV, DHHS encourages everyone to receive age-appropriate flu and COVID-19 vaccines since all three viruses are currently circulating.

Nagappan said the young children coming to Moses Cone with RSV have been sicker than hes used to seeing.

If you know a nurse who works there, hug them, he said. We hope its going to peak soon, but we just never know.


A Facebook post by Zaid Pathan, an Indore-based rights activist, was enough for the Madhya Police to send him behind bars on August 14 under the charge of deliberately outraging religious feelings.

TCN Staff Correspondent

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NEW DELHI  You will see a time when the worst communities of the world will oppress you and relish you as their prey. Despite your majority, you will be hunted and killed in the most humiliating fashion. But its Gods promise that ultimately you will dominate only if you acknowledge your sins and keep repenting and seeking Gods mercy.

The above-mentioned Facebook post by Zaid Pathan, an Indore-based rights activist, was enough for the Madhya Police to send him behind bars on August 14 for deliberately outraging religious feelings, promoting enmity between different religious groups, doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony and making statements conducing to public mischief.

And when the authorities did not find the alleged offences grave enough to incarcerate him for a longer period as he would have secured bail from a court of law, they subsequently booked him on August 15 under the draconian National Security Act (NSA)  which empowers the government to detain a person for up to 12 months without a charge.

However, it was scrapped and he was released on October 14 after the police failed to convince the high court advisory board  where the accused can appeal without a lawyer, representing him during the trial.

Pathan has been a vocal critic of the Madhya Pradesh governments policy of bulldozer justice. He has worked against the illegal demolition of Muslim homes in the state, and also fearlessly raised his voice in the Khargone riot case.

He reiterated that the administration targeted Muslims in their demolition drives, particularly those who acted in self-defence (during the Kahrgone riots) against Hindu mobs. He said that based on fake FIRs lodged by the culprits, the authorities targeted Muslims, especially those who stood against the atrocities, including activists, and demolished their homes, bulldozed their shops, and other important properties.

He was vocal about the arbitrary action of police officials. He tried to save innocent Muslims from being falsely implicated in the case and managed to get bail in several cases.

      FIR,          9/4/22  11/4/22         2 FIR   

        8/4/12            1/2 pic.twitter.com/uhLOTD5Li2  Zaid Pathan (@TheZaidPathan) April 16, 2022

As a result, I was slapped with an FIR under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) on April 14 in Khargone, he told TwoCircles.net soon after walking out of an Indore jail.

, #           12      ,                                          @KashifKakvi pic.twitter.com/H0kde3hmme  Zaid Pathan (@TheZaidPathan) April 15, 2022

Three days after the first FIR, another case was registered against him on April 17 at Banganga Police Station based on a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal activist.

Though the contents of the FIR were exactly the same as were originally in the first FIR lodged against me in Khargone. But the charges this time were grave (sections 295, 153A and 505 of the IPC). No police action took place till April 22. On April 22, the police barged into my house in the name of a search and seizure. Since I was out of the city, I was not arrested, he said.

He said he was taken into custody from a tea shop in his locality.

When I was having tea that morning at the shop, a policeman took me to a local police station on August 14. I was not allowed to talk to anyone. I was then informed that I have been detained under NSA. After the mandatory procedures were done, I was sent to jail. But my formal arrest under the NSA was declared on August 15 from the prison. The allegation against made were shocking: I was declared a notorious criminal and an extortionist, he said.

Thankfully, he said, the advisory board gave him a patient and fair hearing to present his side.

When I urged the board to go through my social media post in entirety and then decide criminality, it came down heavily on the ACP (assistant commissioner of police) who was trying to implicate me  using a selective portion of my Facebook post. Convinced with my arguments, the board scrapped the NSA and set me free, he narrated.

He along with other social activists proactively worked in a case where a poor Muslim bangle seller (Taslim Ali, 25) was harassed by right-wing goons and consequently he was served with an externment notice in August 2021 and also faced criminal investigation.

Since I was relentlessly raising the issues of injustices meted out to Muslims in Newar and Malwa regions, the police administration had begun considering me as a threat. When I fought for justice for the bangle seller, a case was registered against me. I faced harassment for around six months as I was externed from the boundaries of Indore on August 24 last year, he said.

On August 22, 2021, the bangle seller, 25-year-old Tasleem Ali, was thrashed and attacked by a group of Hindu men in the Indore Govind Nagar area.

After a video went viral, Pathan along with two others rushed to Central Kotwali Police Station to urge police to register an FIR. Soon after that, they were served with a notice of exile.

Pathan said, All ten of us are Muslims and many of us had also been active during the anti-CAA-NRC movement in Indore. This attempt to exile us was another way to silence any assertion by Muslims for their basic rights.

When India was hit by COVID, the protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) was called off.

At that moment, the anti-CAA protesters had taken the responsibility of Covid volunteers. Pathan with his team too started relief work by providing food, medicine and other essentials. Despite so many differences with the government, we had to stand together against the pandemic to defeat the deadly Corona virus in the larger interest of humanity, said the main in his mid-40s.

India witnessed a massive protest against the CAA and the proposed NRC and NPR in 2019. Pathan worked at the forefront of these protests. Being the organizer of the protest in Indore and a community leader, he managed to handle large crowds with the help of his volunteer team.

When Kerala was hit by a disastrous flood in 2019 and no help was possible at that time, Pathan with his team made several visits to provide food and other essentials to the people in need.

Similarly, he with his team carried out relief work to provide food, medicines and other essentials during the devastating floods in Bihar in 2017.
ELWOOD  The boards of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and the Dawson Public Power District voted to consolidate during a joint board meeting Monday in Elwood.

Prior to the votes, two separate motions from members of the two boards to delay a decision for 90 days didnt receive enough support.

The new entity will be called the Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District.

Initially, the combined board will include all 23 members of the current entities boards. Nine seats would be phased out during election years as terms in office expire, resulting in a 14-member board of directors by 2029.

The merged public power and irrigation district would have seven subdivisions; each would be represented by two board members.

Subdivision 1 comprises territory in Buffalo and Sherman counties; Subdivision 2, Kearney County; Subdivision 3, Custer and Dawson counties; Subdivision 4, Phelps County; Subdivision 5, Lincoln County; Subdivision 6, Frontier and Gosper counties; and Subdivision 7, Keith County.

Representatives for the subdivisions will be elected to six-year terms.

Discussions about a possible merger began in December 2020. After that, the CNPPID and DPPD boards conducted 23 meetings allowing for public comment, according to officials.

The proposed merger could be considered by the Nebraska Power Review Board later this year.

Central, based in Holdrege, owns and operates Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy, the reservoir near Ogallala that is the linchpin for the district that includes four power plants.

Dawson Public Power, formed in 1937, serves 23,000 electric customers and maintains 5,800 miles of power lines in the Platte River valley.

Opponents to the merger, mostly farmers, fear a shift in priorities from delivering water to irrigators to lowering electricity costs.

In February, a consultant hired by the districts determined that a consolidation could save ratepayers an estimated $11.7 million over seven years.
Cell tower records showed Taban Rik's phone headed in the direction of Branched Oak Lake shortly before Benjamin Case was shot and killed on his boat in an apparent drug robbery the night of July 19, the lead investigator said Tuesday.

At a preliminary hearing, Lancaster County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Schwarz described how the phone records, security video and witness statements led them to connect Rik, who denied knowing Case, to the crime.

Rik's iPhone was turned off at 11:24 p.m., the time of the shooting, he said.

But roughly two hours earlier, towers had him at the lake northwest of Lincoln and security cameras showed a car that's believed to be his red Toyota Camry leaving the marina, Schwarz said.

They tracked his phone from Lincoln, beginning at a movie theater downtown. Security video showed Rik from 10:05 p.m. to 10:27 p.m., when he left alone, heading out of town on Interstate 180 toward U.S. 34, Schwarz said.

"And then the cellphone no longer connects to the tower, the homicide occurs and then the phone reconnects with the tower at Northwest 56th and Highway 34," he said.

During that gap in time  from 10:38 to 11:30 p.m.  they had video surveillance showing one vehicle heading north over the dam toward the marina and one vehicle heading back toward Lincoln, Schwarz said.

And in-car video cameras from law enforcement officers responding to the shooting captured a vehicle believed to be Rik's heading south on Nebraska 79, back toward Lincoln, he said.

Once Rik's phone was turned back on, they tracked it to Rik's apartment near 14th and Superior streets, then to a home near Folsom and West A where some friends were hanging out.

Schwarz said Rik had asked for wipes to clean up blood.

Crime scene investigators later found blood, which contained Case's DNA, on the floorboard of Rik's car, he said.

But they haven't yet found the gun or Rik's iPhone.

Schwarz said video showed Rik walking into the Target near 48th and R with the phone in his hand two days after the killing and walking out after buying a Nokia flip phone.

Deputy Lancaster County Public Defender David Terrell argued the evidence presented wasn't enough. Video of the car didn't show the license plate and didn't show the driver clearly enough to see who was driving.

And he asked Schwarz about how his investigation began with an anonymous tipster pointing the Sheriff's Office toward Rik, a parolee who had been out of prison for less than four months before the shooting.

"It's possible also that a person could use Crime Stoppers to throw you off the trail, true?" Terrell asked.

"Absolutely," Schwarz said. "I think it gave us someone to focus on, knowing that we needed to keep our options open."

In the end, County Court Judge Joseph Dalton found probable cause did exist and set Rik, 22, for arraignment next month on charges of first-degree murder and five other felonies.

Case, who was with four friends inside the boat's cabin before being shot, was 42.
More than 18 months after a grade school-aged girl disclosed to a relative that a then-79-year-old Lincoln man had repeatedly sexually assaulted her over a period of three years, police have arrested the man, according to court filings.

A Lancaster County judge signed a warrant for Charles Temple's arrest Monday, charging him with first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Temple, now 81, was booked at the Lancaster County jail Tuesday, according to jail records.

His arrest follows the girl's disclosure in April 2021, when she told a relative Temple had been inappropriately touching her regularly for years, Lincoln Police Investigator Jacob McCord said in the affidavit for Temple's arrest.

The girl later repeated the claims in interviews with investigators and recorded interviews with relatives, where she indicated she "has to keep a secret about the touching," McCord wrote in the affidavit.

In an interview with investigators in September, Temple denied touching the girl inappropriately.

It wasn't the first time the 81-year-old had faced questions from investigators about his conduct with children, McCord wrote.

Temple was the subject of a similar investigation that began in Lincoln in 1995, when a 9-year-old girl told relatives and police that he had touched her inappropriately, according to the affidavit.

But he had moved out of state by the time police began investigating and was never interviewed regarding the allegation, McCord wrote.

Police looked into Temple again in 1998, when the same girl accused him of sexually assaulting her over the course of several years, investigators wrote. Detectives in Kansas, where Temple had moved, attempted to contact him but never reached him, McCord wrote in the affidavit.

Lincoln Police finally made contact with Temple in 2006, but he declined to make a statement then after he was read his Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.

Now, more than 15 years later, he's in jail.
A man was convicted of killing 6 during a parade, President Biden wants to crack down on certain fees and Mark Meadows must testify. Those stories and more on our daily podcast.
OMAHA  A former Omaha police officer facing federal child pornography charges is expected to forgo his criminal trial and plead guilty, according to court records.

Christopher Groth was scheduled to begin his trial Monday in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska in Lincoln, but his attorney last week filed a request to allow for a change of plea to guilty at a hearing Dec. 7.

Groth faces charges of producing child pornography between September 2020 and December 2020, transporting it on Feb. 2, 2021, and possessing it on June 3, 2021.

He initially was indicted Feb. 15 and appeared in court the next day. An Omaha police spokesman has said that Police Chief Todd Schmaderer started the process to fire Groth shortly after his arrest.

The affidavit in the case still is sealed because it is a child exploitation case, according to Mike Norris, criminal division chief of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Nebraska. The age of the victim or victims is unknown.

Groth had worked for OPD for 15 years.
Burlington Area School District records obtained by The Journal Times show that now-former teacher's aide Daniel Powers started out as a welcome addition to the staff, but that concerns about him surfaced as early as 2017 when he had a prohibited relationship on Facebook with a former student. Other concerns were raised years later, but were not immediately acted on until allegations raised by parents of alleged victims started becoming public.
KENOSHA  It was the early 1960s, and the U.S. military was struggling with its jet engines. The fasteners used on the engines were prone to rounding off during removal after the stress and wear of flight, a small yet crucial problem.

When the U.S. Navy approached Kenosha-based Snap-on about making a wrench that wouldnt round off their fasteners, Snap-On went to one of its newest employees, Gene Olson, at the time just half a year out of college.

My boss came to me, he said, see what you can do, Olson said. And my first thought was, well, you cant round the corners if you dont touch the corners.

In short order, Olson had sketched out the flank drive, which added a curve at each point of the socket. That way, the wrenchs contact was on the flat sides of the fastener, rather than the corners.

It didnt take me too long, maybe half a day to sketch out the thought that I had, Olson said. The rest was history, they started buying a lot of them.

Olsons work would earn him an honorific within Snap-on that would stick through his decade-spanning career, he was the Father of the Flank Drive. This fall, after more than 60 years working with the company, Snap-on announced Olsons retirement.

Snap-On employs more than 12,000 people in total, many of them coming from the companys home area in southeastern Wisconsin.

Technical area

Olsons career began almost by happenstance. His father was a carpenter, which Olson said piqued his interest in entering something in the technical area. He decided, then, he would be an architect. But when he went to enroll at Kenoshas two-year extension, there was a problem.

They said, well, University of Wisconsin doesnt offer architecture, Olson said. I said, well, Ill be an engineer.

Olson initially began his time at Snap-on as an 18-year-old in 1956, working as a draftsman during his summers. He joined as a full-fledged engineer in 1960 after earning his Masters Degree in mechanical engineering.

While he enjoyed an auspicious beginning to his career, the flank drive was far from the only innovation Olson would bring to Snap-on. Olson has more than a dozen patents to his name, and has worked on projects from a spline wrenching system, also used by the military, to Snap-ons air-powered tool line, to an exhaust gas analyzer used to test vehicle emissions.

He would rise to the ranks of engineering throughout his time at Snap-on, ending as Chief Engineer in 1995.

During the 1970s and through the 1980s, Olson also represented Snap-on during the rise of what he characterized as knuckle buster lawsuits, as states changed their product liability laws to be stricter. He traveled the country, defending the company.

I thought it was interesting and challenging, Olson said.

When he first retired in 1995, Olson said he decided to start his own company to consult on product liability laws, almost entirely on contract with Snap-on. He would continue that work until just a few weeks ago.

Touring the offices of the Snap-on headquarters, Olson commented on how the facility had changed since he had joined, pointing out where founder Joe Johnsons office used to be and where the original building and the extensions began and ended.

At the Snap-on museum, a sizable portion of which is dedicated to projects he worked on or was at least involved in, he joked about the moniker given to him by others.

Im no longer the father of the flank drive, Im the grandfather, Olson said, laughing.

In company labs, complicated machinery, sensors and computers were testing, analyzing and manufacturing tools and parts with ultra-modern precision. Olson, who started with Snap-on just a few years after the first commercially available computer was released, reflected on the radical change in technology.

Its tough to keep up with all the young engineers. I mean, I used to use the slide rule, Olson said. So you have to try and keep up to be able to keep working.

Statements from numerous long-time employees show the extent of respect Olson gained in his time with Snap-on. They describe Olson as a calm and collected problem-solver, with a unique ability and willingness to work and communicate with his peers.

He always made time to discuss a technical problem or issue with anyone who needed help, said Dan Eggert, director of product engineering and a Snap-on veteran of 37 years. He is a man of conscience who demonstrates admirable ethical integrity and could analyze any technical problem, whether it was mechanical or electrical, and interpret or explain it to anyone with proficiency.

He was also driven and clearly had a love for the company to which he dedicated much of his life.

He loves Snap-on, he loves the product, and he loves solving problems, said Mike Gentile, a 35-year company veteran and president of operations and product management. And after you talk to him you become acutely aware that this is a very propose-driven person.

Olson recalled one story from many years ago when he was being interviewed for another company that was looking to take him from Snap-on.

Snap-on is a great place to work in, and Im really grateful for the opportunity to do that, Olson said. During one interview, I had one guy tell me, the minute I started talking with you about Snap-on, I can tell you didnt want to leave.

Nick Pinchuk, current chairman and CEO of Snap-on, praised Gene extensively.

Gene stands alone. His work spanning eight decades has made a difference for tens of millions of working men and women around the world, Pinchuk said. We will not soon see his kind again, and generation after generation in our corporation will speak his name with reverence.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican challenger Tim Michels are in a hotly contested gubernatorial race leading up to a Nov. 8 election that could have major implications on Wisconsin policies for the next four years.

October polling conducted by Marquette Law School found Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, holding a 47%-to-46% lead among likely voters over Michels, the co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp.

Q&A

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

Evers: Im a lifelong Wisconsinite  I know were at our best when we work together to get things done. Whether thats through the middle-class tax cut I signed, the thousands of small businesses weve helped, the roads and bridges weve fixed, or the work weve done to improve our public schools, Wisconsin is better and stronger today. Im running to keep doing the right thing for our state.

Michels: Wisconsin needs proven, executive leadership to get our state back on track. After returning home from serving as a Major in the U.S. Army and commander of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I helped grow our family business from a few hundred employees to over 8,000. Ill use my business and leadership experience to make Wisconsin the greatest place to live, work, and raise a family.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

Evers: The most important issue is common sense leadership. 99% of the bills Ive signed had bipartisan support, and we brought both parties together to deliver historic income tax cuts and increase funding for public schools. Wisconsinites want abortion access, quality public schools, safe roads and bridges, and free and fair elections. Im going to continue working to bring people together.

Michels: My top priority will always be jobs and the economy. I am the only candidate who has created jobs. The Michels Administration will provide all businesses with the best opportunity to succeed and grow operations in Wisconsin. Well lower taxes, increase American energy production to bring down costs, eliminate the personal property tax, and make clear that all work is essential.

What changes, if any, would you make to the states election system?What are your priorities for the states $5 billion surplus?

Evers: Our state is in a strong fiscal position, and there is no reason these dollars should sit in state coffers. Thats why my priorities for our states record-breaking surplus are focused on supporting working families, tackling rising costs, and investing in our kids. My plan delivers tax cuts for families and more funding for public schools, and it does not increase property taxes.

Michels: Wisconsin families are struggling with rising gas prices, 30-year high crime, and low proficiency in our schools under Governor Evers. Well put forward a budget that puts more money in peoples pockets, supports our law enforcement, and empowers parents in their childs education by providing school choice for all families.

How should the state improve educational outcomes, especially in the wake of how the pandemic affected student achievement?

Evers: Im committed to working together with parents, teachers, and community leaders to improve educational outcomes and ensure students are achieving in and out of the classroom. But we can and must do more, and thats why I will work to increase state aid to schools, improve reading and literacy outcomes, and encourage small class sizes.

Michels: The pandemic awakened Wisconsin parents. They want more information and more control. They want their schools to respond to their concerns. If a school isnt working for their child, they want the freedom to find a better option. We have to bring competition into the education marketplace, empower parents, and increase proficiency standards to better equip Wisconsins future leaders.

Was the Michael Gableman investigation of the 2020 election a good use of taxpayer resources? What follow-up should there be?

Evers: No, the Gableman investigation was not a good use of over $1 million in taxpayer resources. The Gableman circus found no evidence of fraud and instead attacked heroic elections officials and elected officials. There should be a full audit of this investigation and all records associated with it should be available to the public.

Michels: All Wisconsinites deserve to have confidence in our elections. We need to make it easier to vote and hard to cheat. When Im governor, well pass the election integrity reforms that Governor Evers vetoed to ensure that our elections are free, fair, and secure.
A Dane County judge on Wednesday rejected a request to let local election clerks accept absentee ballots with incomplete or missing witness address information.

In issuing her order, Circuit Court Judge Nia Trammell said changing the states absentee ballot certification rules this close to the Nov. 8 election would almost certainly create more confusion for voters.

I believe that voters catching snippets of the courts decision from local media or by word of mouth could reasonably conclude that markings made by their witnesses on the witness certification portion of the absentee ballot would suffice in any shape or form, Trammell said. A higher court could potentially disagree, and if that is the case, then there is a risk that such voters absentee ballots would not be counted in the upcoming election.

More than 510,000 absentee ballots have already been requested in the state, of which more than 305,000 have been returned to election officials, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. More than 33,000 people cast in-person absentee ballots on Tuesday, the first day of early voting for the Nov. 8 election.

Voters must have a witness sign a certificate, typically printed on the back of an absentee ballot envelope, for the ballot to be valid. The witness has to include his or her address on the certificate, but under guidance issued by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, election officials had been able to fill in missing or incorrect pieces such as the state or ZIP code.

The commissions guidance was not challenged until former President Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Earlier this month, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Aprahamian tossed out that guidance, issued in 2016.

Aprahamian did not specify what information is required for the witness address to be valid. State law also does not specify what constitutes an address.

In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin asked a judge to declare that a missing address means only that the address field is left entirely blank.

No court has ever issued an order defining missing as it is used in that provision of the law, Trammell said.

This court does not want to add to the confusion that may arise from a temporary injunction that will all but certainly be appealed on an expedited basis, Trammell added.

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau last year reviewed 14,710 absentee ballot certificates in 29 municipalities and found that 1,022 certificates, or 6.9%, were missing parts of witness addresses; 15, or 0.1%, did not have any witness address at all; eight, or less than 0.1%, did not have a witness signature; and three, or less than 0.1%, did not have a voter signature. Clerks corrected 66, or about 0.4%, of those certificates.
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
LINCOLN  Lynn Martin, administrator for the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners, has received special recognition from the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association, the countys property, liability and workers compensation coverage and risk management services provider.

Martin was honored during an awards banquet held in conjunction with the annual membership conference the organization presented Oct. 20-21 in Kearney.

The gathering was of officials and employees in Nebraska counties and related public agencies that participate in the risk management and self-insurance program.

Martin was chosen to receive the award because of the proactive approach she takes toward learning and encouraging implementation of best practices in Buffalo County toward risk management, thereby reducing the countys liability loss exposures and preventing claims.

Each year NIRMA honors members and individuals who demonstrate a commitment to reducing potential risks, liability exposures and claim costs.

Buffalo County was one of 32 counties that joined to form NIRMA on Jan. 7, 1988, as Nebraskas first risk management and self-insurance program for local governments.

Today, NIRMA serves 83 counties and 24 associated public entities.
KEARNEY  Because dry conditions have continued, Kearney Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Jeremy Feusner is issuing a burning ban until the Kearney area receives measurable moisture.

There is always a statewide open burning ban on bonfires, outdoor rubbish fires and fires to clear land. However, a permit can be obtained from the local fire chief on a form prescribed by the State of Nebraska.

No open burn permits will be issued by the KVFD in an effort to preserve the lives and property of citizens in the fire district served by KVFD.

Warmer conditions, wind and low relative humidity have caused vegetation to dry quickly. Feusner is encouraging residents to avoid burning in burn barrels during the burn ban.

Extreme caution should always be used when using burning barrels, and the barrels should have an appropriate screen on top to deter burning debris from escaping the barrel.

We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of our residents in this matter of safety, Feusner said.

People with questions or concerns can contact the Kearney Fire Department at 308-233-3226.
Recognizing the Heroes Within will be held noon-1 p.m. Nov. 3. The presenter will be Rita Paskowitz, who cared for her parents as their health failed and moved them into a nursing home. She was with them when they passed away.
Wood River is getting a new senior center.

The City of Wood River has received a $433,000 community development block grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, via the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

The city will use the former Good Samaritan Center building for the new senior center.

The center was flooded in March 2019 and its seniors were relocated to Hastings.

In 2020, the facility was partially remodeled for the Stick Creek Kids child development center, which opened in 2021.

A needs assessment completed by the city in 2022 showed a desire to use the vacant portion of the building as a senior center, according to an NDED release.

In addition to Stick Creek Kids and the new senior center, the facility is also planned to host a food bank and the library.

Preliminary plans for the remodeling are completed, Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer told The Independent.

Two and a half years ago we decided to use part of the facility for our child care center, which is about 12,500 square feet, said Cramer.

On the south half of the building we had plans to move the library, food bank and senior center there, which is about 12,000 square feet.

Receiving the CDBG funds is a success for Wood River, said Cramer.

We received $350,000 for the child care project, and now receiving this one, for a small town its a good success story, he said.

Since opening in 2021, the child care centers success has exceeded expectations.

We thought, if we have 40 or 50 kids the first year thatll be great. Well, six months into it we had 70, said Cramer.

We actually applied to have 120 this spring, so weve been running 120 in the summer and 80-plus in the wintertime, during the school season.

He added, We have a waiting list for all ages.

Stick Creek Kids attracts people from Grand Island and Kearney, said Cramer.

Its people who travel, people from up north who work in Grand Island. They drop their kids off, he said. Its turned out pretty good.

Having been awarded the CDBG funds, the City of Wood River will advertise for an architect to draw up plans for the project, with the hope of having those completed by January or February for a spring bid.

The project aims to be completed by winter 2023, said Cramer.

It shouldnt be too bad of a project, he said. Its basically just gutting a portion of the building and doing concrete work. It would be nice to be in there by late fall or Christmas next year, if not sooner.

Remodeling for the new senior center is expected to cost roughly $630,000.

The entire project (senior center, food bank and library) is expected to cost $2.3 million.
87-year-old Israeli veteran holds photo exhibition retracing China's "Long March"

Xinhua) 09:24, October 26, 2022

Visitors look at photos at an exhibition showcasing photos taken by Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel during his Chinese trip retracing the Long March, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)

A photo exhibition themed "Retracing the Long March" was held on Monday at the China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Nearly four hundred photos, taken by Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel 17 years ago, are put on display in prints or on screens, showcasing his five-month mission back then in China to retrace the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's epic trek between 1934 and 1936, which is known as the "Long March."

JERUSALEM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition themed "Retracing the Long March" was held on Monday at the China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Nearly four hundred photos, taken by Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel 17 years ago, are put on display in prints or on screens, showcasing his five-month mission back then in China to retrace the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's epic trek between 1934 and 1936, which is known as the "Long March."

In March 2005, accompanied by Chinese friends, the then 70-year-old Israeli set off from Yudu County in eastern China's Jiangxi Province, the starting point of the Long March.

Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel delivers a speech at an exhibition showcasing photos taken by him during his Chinese trip retracing the Long March, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)

After traveling more than 19,000 km on wheels and another 1000 km on foot, he arrived in Wuqi County of Yan'an, the northwestern province of Shaanxi, the terminal of the Red Army's odyssey.

Along the course of his retracing journey, Ben-Uziel, who goes by "Wu Dawei" in Chinese, took thousands of photos, vividly recording historical items marking the army's milestones and the life of ordinary residents along the route.

"Through the lens of his camera, he also captured in photos the economic and social development along the route 70 years after the Long March," said Chinese Ambassador to Israel Cai Run while addressing the opening ceremony.

He added that Ben-Uziel learned the spirit of the Long March and the Chinese nation from the perspective of a military man.

A visitor looks at photos at an exhibition showcasing photos taken by Israeli veteran David Ben-Uziel during his Chinese trip retracing the Long March, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Zhuolun)

From October 1934 to October 1936, the Red Army soldiers, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, left their bases and marched through raging rivers, frigid mountains, and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang forces and continued to fight the Japanese aggressors.

At the exhibition, Ben-Uziel, now 87, told the audience stories of his marvelous journey in China, elaborated on landmarks of the Long March and explained the significance of the event in the history of modern China.

With his life and work experience in China and his deep love for Chinese culture, Ben-Uziel has contributed to the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Cai noted.

"I think the exhibition is telling us much more than just the Long March itself. We all know about the Long March but definitely, now we know much more. I think this is extremely important for China-Israeli connections," said Yulia Mit, an audience of the exhibition.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Candidates for the 94th Assembly seat debated the top priority issues for voters like the economy, safety and abortion at the debate last Thursday afternoon. Here are questions and answers:

Question: I want to know in your own words, what do you think is the biggest issue facing your voters?

Ryan Huebsch: The economy is tanking. We see gas prices out of reach. We see people trying to figure out whether they need to pay for gas or groceries week to week because they cant afford both. We need to make sure we fix that economy, put more money back in their pockets. Education is of top priority and always will be and it always should be. That will not change under me. But crime rate. We look at the city of La Crosse and weve seen maybe a shooting every week. Its fentanyl drug busts every week. We need to make sure we fund the police and that is a top priority as well.

Rep. Steve Doyle: Clearly talking with the people of my district, its the economy; and theres two different perspectives from it. If you are a consumer, its the ability to purchase what you need, whether its gas, food or pay for the cost of education or clothes for your kids. I think the answer to that is that most of the solution is going to have to come from above at the state level. The federal government, whether its the Federal Reserve or the federal government. At the state level, what can we do? Well we have that almost $5 billion surplus. I think a big chunk of that needs to go back to people. We can do that immediately by changing the withholding tables so that less money comes out of peoples paycheck each week for taxes, and then wed adjust what they would owe in April so that it reflects that. We can provide some very immediate relief in that regard. Then the other perspective is the employer. We went to the business community and theyre saying we cant find people. So we need to work on workforce development.

Huebsch statements about shootings and fentanyl crimes in La Crosse are currently unsubstantiated.

Question: We know that opioid deaths are on the rise nationwide, statewide and here in La Crosse. I dont want to ask about policy and crime specifically, but can you tell me how you would reduce demand for those drugs.

Doyle: I think we need greater programs. Thats something where theres certainly a local government role and La Crosse County has been really good about providing services in the drug addiction and mental health and related fields. The state needs to step in and do its part in that regard. So we cant just say were gonna lock people up, thats not gonna fix their problem because when they get out, theyre using it again. So we have to get to the root of the problem by making those programs available. We have some one time ARPA money that can be used for that purpose. I would certainly support that. Then you cant just deal with demand, you also have to deal with supply and we need to keep out the dealers.

Huebsch: I think we need to create some programs to make sure that this doesnt continue. This seemed to be forgotten but over COVID mental health issues skyrocketed, especially when people were forced to stay in their homes. Drug addiction was one of the major issues: opioids, fentanyl. After talking to all the police chiefs and talking to the sheriffs in this area, they said this is a major issue that nobody seems to be talking about. This needs to be a top priority looking into the future. I am law enforcements choice and have the endorsement from the La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf, the former Sheriff Mike Weisenberger and the former police chief Ed Kondracki and they all agree and we talked on several different instances on this. These guys are the experts. These guys will tell me and I will look to them for guidance on how to fix this issue.

Question: With abortion back in the purview of state legislators, what should happen with Wisconsins existing law; would you allow for an unconditional allowance for abortion rights, an outright ban on the practice or somewhere in between? Any exceptions?

Wisconsins only law on abortion, first enacted in 1849, went into effect after the U.S. Surepme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The once dormany law makes it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy unless its done to save a pregnant persons life. Attorney General Josh Kaul sued three district attorneys to block that state law.

Huebsch: We cant continue under a law that was created in 1849. Thats just not acceptable. Now, I will agree with the current law on part of it, saying that the exception is the life of the mother. I would like to include the two horrible crimes, in exceptions of rape and incest. We need to look at also adoption issues, making sure thats continuing to be safe and more affordable. But I will say that I am supportive of the three exceptions: life of the mother, rape and incest.

Doyle: I believe that abortion is issue between a woman and her doctor, I would support repealing that law. I would like to have us go back to the standard under Roe v. Wade. Then Id like to use the rest of my 52 seconds to go back to the prior question which is with law enforcement. My opponent says that he is the law enforcement choice. He has the endorsement of a Republican sheriff. I have the endorsement of the Democratic Attorney General. Okay, thats great, nice offset there. But the people on the street, the men and women of law enforcement in Wisconsin have endorsed me. The Wisconsin professional police association last night issued their endorsement. They did not endorse him. They endorsed me because of my record on crime and safety and law enforcement.

Huebsch: I want to be very clear on on the stance of abortion, the actual question. I will never stand with the Democrats and my opponents stance on abortion  abortion on demand. Just the fact that they dont like the gender of the child. They dont like that the child may have disabilities. That is unacceptable.
According to a press release from the sheriffs office, Alexander McAlpine, 22, of La Crosse, was traveling west on State Hwy. 82 just east of La Farge in the town of Stark when he lost control of his delivery truck due to a medical event. McAlpine crossed the centerline, went down the embankment and into a field. The truck then came back up toward the highway and got struck in the ditch.
State Sen. Brad Pfaff, Democrat from Onalaska, is running for the U.S. House seat in western Wisconsin and has raised about $1.6 million for the race, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

Thats compared to more than $6 million raised by Republican candidate Derrick Van Orden.

Those figures are accurate up to Oct. 19, the final campaign finance reporting deadline before the election.

Van Orden has, on his own, shattered the record amount for the district he and Democratic Rep. Ron Kind raised for their tight election about $5 million  in 2020.

Federal campaign limits allow an individual to give a candidate for federal office a maximum of $2,900 per election. Since candidates face a primary and a general, one person can give a total of $5,800 to one candidate per election cycle. A political action committee can give $5,000 per election to a candidate for a total of $10,000 per election cycle.

Big donors to Pfaffs campaign include Judith Faulkner, CEO and founder of Epic, the healthcare software giant based in Dane County, her husband Gordon Faulkner, and Kevin Conroy, the CEO of the Madison-based Exact Sciences, all of whom have given $5,000.

The retiring Kinds campaign committee has given Pfaffs campaign at least $4,000. Kind and his wife Tawni Kind also personally have given Pfaffs campaign at least $3,000 and $3,750 each. Pfaff previously worked for Kinds congressional office.

Former Democratic state legislator Tim Cullen has given Pfaff $3,400. Lynde Uihlein, a Schlitz heir, major Democratic donor and relative of the Republican billionaire donor Dick Uihlein, has given Pfaff the maximum $5,800. Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl has given the campaign $2,700.

Here are top Pfaff donors along with their city and state:

BADGERPAC, La Crosse, $10,000

KERN, DEBORAH, SHOREWOOD, WI $5,800

LAUX, JOE, ONALASKA, WI $5,800

LUBAR, MARIANNE S, RIVER HILLS, WI $5,800

MERINOFF, CHARLES, NEW YORK, NY $5,800

MILLER, JOHN W, FOX POINT, WI $5,800

PFAFF, SHAWN W, FITCHBURG, WI $5,800

UIHLEIN, LYNDE B, MILWAUKEE, WI $5,800

WALKER, THOMAS, BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI $5,800

WEIL, SAGE, MADISON, WI $5,800

PAGE, GLORIA, LOS ALTOS, CA $5,300

WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS CONDUIT FUND, MADISON, WI, $5,000

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC, MOORHEAD, MN $5,000

CONROY, KEVIN T., MADISON, WI $5,000

FAULKNER, GORDON, MOUNT HOREB, WI $5,000

FAULKNER, JUDITH, MOUNT HOREB, WI $5,000

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 139, PEWAUKEE, WI $5,000

NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. $5,000

NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION ACTION FUND, WASHINGTON, D.C. $5,000

UA UNION PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS VOTE! PAC, ANNAPOLIS, MD $5,000

WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS CONDUIT FUND, MADISON, WI $5,000

KIND FOR CONGRESS, LA CROSSE, WI, $4,000
TIME has announced that Andrew J. Dahl, dealer principal at Dahl Subaru Hyundai Mazda in La Crosse, is in the running for the 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year award.

Dahl is one of a select group of 48 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 106th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Dallas on January 27.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industrys most prestigious and highly coveted honors. It recognizes the nations most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.

Dahl was chosen to represent the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association in the national competition  one of only 48 auto dealers nominated for the 54th annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide.

Transportation is crucial to peoples lives, and we have this incredible opportunity to serve the community by taking care of their automotive needs, Dahl said. Dahl Automotive isnt about me, but about the ways our legacy family business positively impacts our team, their families, our guests and the greater community.
A variety of new music will be featured in the annual New Music Festival at UW-La Crosse.

The concerts, all free and open to the public, are in the Annett Recital Hall, Lowe Center for the Arts, 333 N. 16th St. The performances include:

Concert of Music by Living Composers, performed by UWL students and student ensembles, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Concert of Recent Music for Voice and Cello, featuring Sarah Brailey, soprano, and Caleb van der Swaagh, cello, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.

Concert of Music by Living Composers, performed by UWL faculty and guests, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4.

A Grammy Award-winning soprano, Brailey  a vocalist, cellist, recording artist and educator  enjoys a versatile career that defies categorization. She has been praised by The New York Times for her radiant, liquid tone, and by Opera UK for a sound of remarkable purity.

Braileys numerous career highlights include performing Handels LAllegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato with the Mark Morris Dance Group, serenading the Mona Lisa with John Zorns Madrigals at the Louvre in Paris, and performing the role of The Soul in the world premiere recording of Dame Ethel Smyths The Prison, for which she received the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.

Brailey is a member of Beyond Artists, a coalition of artists that donates a percentage of concert fees to non-profit organizations. Through Beyond Artists, she supports the Natural Resources Defense Council, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and the Animal Welfare Institute.

Van der Swaagh, a versatile chamber musician and soloist, has been praised for entrancing performances by National Sawdust Log. He is an alumnus of Ensemble ACJW, now known as Ensemble Connect, a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.

In demand as a chamber musician, van der Swaagh belongs to Exponential Ensemble, a mixed instrumentation chamber ensemble. As an advocate of contemporary music, van der Swaagh is a member of counter induction, Ensemble Echappe, and Ensemble Ipse. He also performs regularly with leading contemporary music ensembles.

A native New Yorker, van der Swaagh graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University as part of the Columbia  Juilliard Exchange program with a degree in classics and medieval and renaissance studies. He received a masters with academic honors from the New England Conservatory and later studied at the Manhattan School of Music. For more, visit www.calebvanderswaagh.com.
A sophomore from Waunakee, Wisconsin is the recipient of the first-ever Jake Leinenkugel Diversity in Brewing Award.

Babayosimi (Simi) Fadiran, a microbiology major in his second year, is the 2022 recipient of the award, which supports students from underrepresented groups pursuing studies in brewing or fermentation sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

I was thrilled to be selected for this, said Fadiran, who learned of his award last spring. This program has provided me the opportunity to observe and assist in conducting research, aiding me in my future career goals.

The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company announced the launch of the Jake Leinenkugel Diversity in Brewing Award in June 2021 in partnership with UWMadison. The Molson Coors Beverage Company, the parent company of Leinenkugels, donated $50,000 to endow the award, which is open to students who identify as Latino, Black/African American, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or LGBTQ+.

We are thrilled to have Simi as our first recipient of this award, said Dick Leinenkugel, president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. On behalf of all our Leinenkugel employees, we congratulate Simi and look forward to supporting this scholarship to bring further diversity to our brewing industry for many years to come.

In addition to financial assistance, recipients of the award are encouraged to take up a paid summer internship at the Leinenkugels Brewery in Chippewa Falls, where they can apply what they have learned in the lab working at one of Wisconsins most historic breweries.

The Food Science department is honored to steward this award and to help promote diversity in real and substantial ways, shared Dr. Scott Rankin, chair of the Department of Food Science in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, which houses the award. The Jake Leinenkugel Diversity in Brewing award enables our developing fermentation program to help foster diversity within an industry and discipline that have been key parts of Wisconsin for centuries.

Funding for the scholarship program is made possible through the Molson Coors social justice initiativean effort that directs funds to organizations focused on social justice, community building, equality and empowerment.

The partnership and award are part of the Brewing Education Scholarship Program that Tenth and Blake, the craft division of Molson Coors, announced in the fall of 2020. Colorado State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Oregon State University and Texas A&M all have similar programs in place with other Tenth and Blake partners, including AC Golden, Terrapin, Hop Valley, and Revolver, respectively.
Derrick Van Orden, the Republican candidate in Wisconsins 3rd Congressional race, said that leftists cannot be Christian at a prayer breakfast in Sparta last week.

There are many God-fearing Christians who are Democrats, theres not a single God fearing Christian that is a leftist, because those two things are incompatible, said Van Orden in an audio recording taken by an attendee of the breakfast and given to the Tribune by the Pfaff campaign.

Van Orden continued to compare leftists to false prophets who dont like the U.S. and called for a return to the Judeo-Christian values that this country was based on.

As a God-fearing, practicing Lutheran, I am really really disappointed. Im outraged by comments like that, said Brad Pfaff, Democratic candidate for the 3rd District, in an interview.

In a statement from Van Orden via email, he said: Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all moralityCommunist manifesto, Chapter II. It is undeniable that our Wisconsin values, culture and heritage are under assault by the Radical Left who are trying to destroy the American way of life.

I will not pander to anyone for telling the truth simply because they dont want to hear it, that is the antithesis of leadership, Van Orden concluded.

On Twitter, Van Orden has referred to Pfaff as a radical leftist. Pfaffs only political membership is with the Democratic Party.

He has used the word leftists and Democrat interchangeably, Pfaff said. Hes very, very loose with his terminology, and he needs to stand up and explain who he is.

Pfaff is a proud Lutheran and lifetime member of the Mindoro Lutheran Church in northern La Crosse County.

The problem with Derrick is hes not from here and he sees all of us the same, Pfaff said. He doesnt believe that people in this district can be Christian, and have different political beliefs.

Somebody like Derrick Van Orden has no business, absolutely no business, telling any of us what we can and cannot believe when it comes to our religious beliefs, Pfaff said.

At the breakfast, Van Orden said he is a member of the Bible Baptist Church. The churchs

asserts that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a sinful perversion, and categorizes those sexual orientations with incest and beastialty. The statement of faith also states that men must be the leaders of the home and the wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband.

To have someone running for office that is trying to say that some are Christian and some are not. That is extremely offensive. That is extremely destructive, Pfaff said.

I think it clearly demonstrates he does not have the character to serve in an important seat like this, and he definitely will not be someone that people of this district are going to look to as the leader that will bring us together.
OMAHA -- Iowa authorities are investigating after a woman claimed that her father killed and buried dozens of women on their property in Thurman, Iowa.

According to an article from Newsweek, which broke the story and spoke with the daughter about her allegations, the late Donald Studey had his children help dispose of at least 50 bodies on their rural five-acre property in Fremont County. Studey died in 2013 at the age of 75.

His daughter estimated to Newsweek that he killed between 50 and 70 women over three decades, primarily in the 1970s and 80s. Most of the women were sex workers or transients lured by Studey from Omaha to his rural property, the daughter said.

She told Newsweek that she came forward to Nebraska and Iowa authorities many times throughout the years but was unable to get anyone to take action.

Forty-five years after the daughter says she first sounded the alarm about Studey, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating her allegations. Mitch Mortvedt of the Iowa DCI says that available information is still "very preliminary," but that law enforcement will follow the evidence wherever it leads.

"We're open-minded at this point," Mortvedt said. "Let the information, and if there is any evidence, lead us in the right direction."

Cadaver dogs searched the property on Friday and, according to Newsweek, the dogs signaled where a well once sat. In total, the dogs indicated the scent of decomposition at four sites on the property.

Studey's daughter told Newsweek that her father would dump the bodies into a 90 to 100-foot-deep well on the property or bury them in the acres of forested hills.

For law enforcement, the deep well presents a challenge. It has since been sealed, and excavation would be an expensive and laborious task. Mortvedt says that the FBI can help identify the best strategy for uncovering what's inside the well.

"You can't just start digging straight down," he said. "The well is approximately 90 to 100 feet deep. It's an extremely large process. We would want to do it in the most effective way possible, as well as the safest way possible."
LETTER

Type Your Letter Ron Johnson  A Danger to Democracy

Ron Johnson was part of a group of 12 Republican senators that CNN labeled the sedition caucus because they publicly called on Mike Pence to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Overturning the results of a free and fair election would effectively end American democracy.

Johnson spent weeks questioning the validity of the election and recklessly promoted lies about the 2020 presidential race, long after it was abundantly clear that Donald Trump lost the election and there was no evidence of fraud. Dozens of lawsuits to overturn the election failed because of lack of evidence in both state and federal courts. For too long, Johnson refused to accept the results of the election and, if given the opportunity, would have invalidated the votes of millions of Wisconsinites.

Now Johnson and Tim Michels wont unconditionally commit to accepting the outcome of the November election once the results are certified, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

We cannot elect people who continue to attack our democracy. Our democratic republic will not hold if we elect politicians who promote false fears and refuse to honor the results of free and fair elections. Our government derives its power from respecting the will of people.

Mandela Barnes and Tony Evers believe in our democracy and will work to ensure that your votes count. Vote to protect democracy on November 8.

Alice Benson
Editors note: This story includes mention of a racial slur.

On Aug. 5, 2012, a white supremacist walked into the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, in Oak Creek, and opened fire, killing six worshippers in a matter of minutes and injuring four others, including a responding police officer.

On the other side of the country, Sundeep Morrison received a call from a sibling, Turn on the news.

I knew that something horrible had happened, and my heart immediately sank into my guts, Morrison said.

In 2012, there were only three gurdwaras in Wisconsin. Was this a coordinated attack? Was there a shooter on the way to the other gurdwara, the one with Morrisons parents in attendance?

After an hour, the family learned their parents were safe, at least for the time being.

Morrison wondered if they were not safe in a sacred space, in a place of worship, were they really safe anywhere?

Afraid for their parents and community, not only back in Wisconsin but everywhere, and with the many memories of the racial attacks her family had suffered throughout their years of living in the United States, Morrison did what many writers do with their complex emotions: they poured them out onto paper. In this case, a fictionalized play based on true events.

Writing this piece was a way to get my emotions out on the page and to process everything our family and community had gone through, Morrison said.

Rag Head: An American Story was selected for the United Solo Festival and will be making its New York City debut off-Broadway at Theater Row in the studio theater Friday evening. United Solo is a theater company dedicated to showcasing one-person performances.

Visible

For Morrison, writing and performing the play has been an emotional journey.

Morrisons family immigrated from India to Canada and then to the U.S., where they settled down in Madison and owned a convenience store. Morrison worked at the store during summers, and their parents still live in Madison.

Their father wore a turban. After 9/11, Morrison said customers would come into the convenience store and make hateful comments, calling their father rag head, a derogatory slur directed at someone who wears a turban.

I knew what racism was before I knew the word for it as a kid, Morrison said adding, There were many scary moments.

The scary moments were not just in the past. There have been many frightening moments for the family in the last four years, amid a tense socio-political climate.

Their parents declined to respond to the hate in anger; instead, choosing to respond with kindness, which Morrison had a hard time wrapping their head around.

I was just so beside myself, Morrison said. How they (my parents) could be so level-headed and stay calm in those moments?

On stage

A classically trained actor, Morrison is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York, and performs all seven roles in the play. It was an honor, they said, to bring the show to a New York stage.

Morrison summarized the play as an exploration of hate, hope and identity in a post-9/11 America.

The play is about more than one hateful act in 2012. It is also about post-9/11 xenophobia that led to that hateful act, and the resiliency of its targets, immigrants living in America.

The characters are all fictionalized but Morrison draws on the experiences of their father, mother, a cousin to tell the story. Morrison also plays a forthright southern bigot, drawn from another relative, to show the dangers of overt racism but also a white, female executive to demonstrate genteel racism and the dangers of it.

However, there is also some levity to the show. Morrison describes the play as equal parts humor and heartbreak.

Morrison said their family is proud of the show and felt it should be shared with more people so they understand theres a very real threat when it comes to xenophobia in America.

Although Rag Head: An American Story is making its New York debut on Friday, it has been in performance at different theaters for a number of years.

Morrison said audiences are moved by the end of the show, especially when people realize it is based on actual events.

Sometimes we can share an experience through words, but when you do it through performance, and you make the audience feel something, they leave the theater hopefully thinking differently, Morrison said.

The strength of live storytelling, they said, is the ability of the actors and audience to connect.

Sometimes these topics that are so hard to talk about, once you see them unfold as a story, youre able to digest it differently, and it hits your heart and mind in a completely different way, Morrison said. Thats always been my goal with the story: if I can make you feel something, hopefully, I can make you think differently.
Colorados water quality agency recently gave early approval to rules about direct potable reuse. It is a process of treating sewage and sending it directly for use without first putting it in a large water body.

Should the move be approved in a final vote in November, the western state would become the first in the United States to adopt direct potable reuse rules, state and federal officials say.

Kevin Reidy of the Colorado Water Conservation Board said that as Colorado's population increases, drinking water reuse is an important way to deal with reduced water supplies.

The water reuse treatment process usually involves disinfecting wastewater with ozone gas or ultraviolet light to remove viruses and bacteria. Then the water is put through barriers with very small openings, or pores, that remove solids and dangerous materials known as contaminants.

The process is gaining interest as communities deal with long periods without enough rain. While many U.S. states do not directly forbid this kind of water reuse, statewide rules could bring quicker adoption, said Reidy.

There are no exact federal rules for direct potable reuse. However, reuse projects must meet federal health rules for drinking water.

Florida, California and Arizona are now working on rules for direct potable water reuse. And several other states are beginning the process or have existing projects. As the water level of the Colorado River continues to drop, Arizona faces deep water cuts, while pressure grows for California to give up more of its share.

Denver and Colorado Springs  Colorado's most populous cities  already recycle most of their water through exchanges with other cities and for non-drinking uses, such as watering parks. Both cities expect to someday reuse water for drinking purposes, but officials are concerned their reusable supplies from the stressed Colorado River soon could face cuts.

Greg Fisher of Denver Water was concerned about the time it takes to build a large direct potable reuse system.

If youve built a big direct potable reuse system and you dont have it even for a few years, that causes some problems, he said.

If we are relying on those reusable (drinking water) supplies to meet our customers needs, our ability to meet their needs is put at risk, Fisher added.

Creative uses of recycled water

Still, some people in Colorado are already making creative use of recycled water.

When Eric Seufert brewed a test batch of beer in 2017 with water from recycled sewage, he was not too concerned about the outcome. The engineering company that contacted him about the test explained the process, and together they drank samples of recycled water. Seufert quickly understood the process was not too different from how water is normally treated.

Every  river in this country has someone putting in their wastewater after theyve treated it, he said.

After opening the beer and having a taste, the owner of 105 West Brewing Co. in Castle Rock, Colorado now served it to others.

Seufert already knows he can make good beer from recycled water. He is more worried about keeping the cost of business down.

Im concerned that the resources will be there for the planned growth in an affordable way for this region, Seufert said. But, as of now, I trust that state officials are working on it.

Im John Russell.

Brittany Peterson reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sewage  n. waste material (such as human urine and feces) that is carried away from homes and other buildings in a system of pipes

wastewater  n. water that has been used in a home or business

recycle  v. to use (something) again; to make something new from (something that has been used before)

batch  n. an amount of something that is made at one time

sample  n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

affordable  adj. not costly, inexpensive

region  n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way
As high school graduates enter adulthood, some may be unsure of what to do next. They might not be ready to attend college. They might not have the skills to get a job. And some do not know what kind of career they want.

Wes Moore is a Democratic candidate for governor in the American state of Maryland. As part of his campaign, Moore proposed to create a paid community service year for such graduates who are unsure of their next steps.

Moore said the graduates would volunteer with non-profit groups and community organizations. In exchange for their service, they would receive job training and mentorship. They can also get money to pay for college.

Before his run for governor, Moore was involved with Service Year Alliance, an organization that works to connect those looking to serve with groups across the country in need of volunteers.

Kristen Bennett is the president of Service Year Alliance. She said national service or community service, should be a common expectation and opportunity for all Americans. She compared it to getting an internship or attending college. And she suggested that Moores plan could make that happen.

Moores program would be similar to the existing Americorps program. It is a federal government program that connects volunteers with organizations nationwide. Volunteers can do things like cleaning up disaster areas, helping environmental efforts, working in afterschool programs, or assisting military veterans. Many are also involved in COVID-19 programs.

Americorps volunteers receive very little money for their work. Bennett said that makes it impossible for youth from marginalized backgrounds and communities to participate without financial support. She added that this is something we think is really important to see change.

Bennett said states like Washington and California have also provided more money for Americorps volunteers. And she applauded Moores plan to start a large service program for high school graduates, calling it really unique.

Public studies show that voluntary service is a popular idea across political lines. Voices for National Service found that 88 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Republicans favor an expansion of voluntary national service in a 2020 study.

Supporters like Bennett see national service as a way to make the country less divided. Service year brings people from different backgrounds together around a shared experience that builds empathy and understanding, she said. Whenyoure working together to address a very challenging issue in the community it becomes easier to put aside your political or religious or socioeconomic differences.

Several candidates for president, including John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Pete Buttigieg, proposed to expand national service programs. And a bill that would have required young Americans to do two years of national service failed in Congress.

Critics say requiring national service is a bad idea. They say the government should not force anyone to do work and doing so might violate the U.S. constitution.

Doug Bandow is with the Cato Institute. The organization supports individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. In 2019, Bandow wrote, Mandatory universal national service would conflict with deeply held American values, violate the Constitution, create an administrative nightmare, and undermine its own objective of creating a more caring America.

He concluded: Such an approach is a bad idea whose time has not come.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak wrote this story for VOA Learning English.

Quiz- Should High School Graduates Do a Year of Service? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

graduate  n. a person who has earned a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university

mentor  n. someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

intern  n. a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience

veteran  n. someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.

marginalize  v. to put or keep (someone) in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group

financial  adj. relating to money

unique  adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

empathy  n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions

challenging  adj. difficult in a way that is usually interesting or enjoyable

mandatory  adj. required by a law or rule

nightmare  n. a dream that frightens a sleeping person
Childrens hospitals in parts of the United States are reporting a worrying surge in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

The common virus affects the breathing system, usually causing minor sickness like a runny nose and cough. But RSV infections can cause much more serious disease in babies and old people.

RSV cases dropped sharply two years ago when the pandemic led to shutdowns of most public activity. But with restrictions easing in the summer of 2021, doctors saw a concerning increase in RSV infections. The disease usually spreads in the autumn and winter seasons.

Doctors are preparing for the possibility that RSV, flu and COVID-19 may all surge in the coming months. Experts worry that such an event could cause greater medical demand than hospitals can meet.

I'm calling it an emergency, said Dr. Juan Salazar of Connecticut's Childrens Hospital. There, RSV has forced led the hospital to repurpose some spaces in the building as patient rooms.

Most people infected with RSV can pass the virus over a three to eight day period. But, babies and people with weakened immune systems can spread RSV for up to four weeks. There is no vaccine for it, though several candidates are in testing.

RSV can infect anyone. But it causes the most threat to babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. These groups are at greater risk of developing serious lung infections from RSV.

Around 58,000 Americans under the age of five require hospital treatment for RSV in a usual year. The disease also kills as many as 500 children under five in the U.S. ever year.

For adults 65 and older, RSV causes 177,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths yearly.

For babies, the struggle to breathe can interfere with eating.

Experts are suggesting several reasons for the current RSV surge.

They note that babies and children were less exposed to RSV and other common diseases during the pandemic lockdowns. Now that restrictions have ended, children face higher chances of contact with RSV.

Also, experts say immune systems might not be as prepared to fight the virus after more than two years of masking, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack. She is with the Medical University of South Carolina.

Last week, tests identified RSV infections in more than 7,000 people, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is more than in past outbreaks.

There is no cure for RSV. Doctors may provide a steroid medicine or an inhaler to patients to ease their breathing. In serious cases, patients can require oxygen assistance, a breathing tube or a ventilator.

To prevent the spread of viruses, people should wash their hands and stay home if feeling sick.

During RSV season, an injection of an antibody-based medicine is sometimes given to protect babies at very high risk.

Im Ashley Thompson.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

surge  n. to move very quickly and suddenly in a particular direction

immune system  n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections

mask  n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

steroid  n. a natural substance that is produced in the body

inhaler  n. a device used for inhaling a medicine

ventilator  n. a device that lets fresh air enter and move through a room, building, etc.
The winter season can pose a challenge for artists. Festivals and farmers markets come to a close, and its difficult to find a physical space to sell art out in the rain and cold.
Patrick pledges more funds for rural sheriff's departments, giving Texas control over border during Nacogdoches campaign stop
CHICAGO  Big Shoulders Books are free. You can request one. Theyll send you one. You might even be in one. Big Shoulders Books, founded at DePaul University a decade ago, has been one of the more quietly ambitious projects in Midwest journalism, though, in practice, the work is not written by professional journalists and its architects are faculty in the English department. The goal, however, is elementally journalistic: to gather an oral record of contemporary Chicago. Its violence, war veterans, romances. And now, with its latest history, Virus City, a street-level, everyday accounting of the pandemic.

Somewhere, Studs Terkel is smiling.

As with most of the books from Big Shoulders  and much of the work of Terkel, the godfather of quotidian conversation arranged as a widescreen mural of daily life  the narration comes almost entirely through a cross section of little-known Chicagoans, written in their words. As with Terkel, their anecdotes gather into the specificity, insight and sometimes haunting afterthought that shapes the spine of a life. We understand these are people who probably have never been interviewed in any media before, and this may be the only time someone records their words, said Rebecca Johns-Trissler, director of DePauls graduate program in writing and publishing, and a co-editor of Virus City. So we try to honor that and approach each person with a great respect.

The nurse who, at the end of nine-hour shift overwhelmed by COVID patients, likes nothing more than to relax in front of the TV with her family, watching horror movies.

The Ashburn elementary school principal who walks you through her life, then recognizes that the pandemic pushed her school finally into the world of technology.

The North Side psychologist who admits Zoom calls with friends became a chore.

The Starbucks barista who spars with a customer refusing to wear a mask, who then took a mask just to run over to the trash to throw it out. Then gets another mask, to throw out.

Some of Virus City is unexpected, but much is not. And that is entirely the point  a draft of compelling everyday, assembled by amateurs. Big Shoulders, depending how you see it, is an elaborate exercise, a publishing experiment, a social justice initiative, or all three. Each book published is produced by graduate and undergraduate DePaul students who take a series of courses that represent stages of publishing. Book editing, book publishing, creative writing and social engagement, book marketing, etc. They have lessons on how to find subjects, classes on how to extract detail from an interview that forms a coherent narrative. Each book gets roughly the same treatment. Virus City  which happened only after a book on incarceration was sidelined by the pandemic  took a year of planning, a year of assembling interviews, then six months of production.

Though they dont typically work with the schools journalism department, this new books 30-page centerpiece is a handful of photo essays by DePaul photojournalism students, documenting their single, isolated pandemic year. It was fitting. Big Shoulders began as a way of putting internship-like experience in the classroom, said Michele Morano, chair of the English department, but during a pandemic, that meant a lot of professional headaches. Eventually they found better subjects than I could have hoped for, but first they had trouble finding anyone, Johns-Trissler said. They put in calls to the Chicago Police Department, fire department, teachers union  not a single person got back to them. So, like many working journalists, they compiled a motherlode on social media. When the books were finally printed late this summer, at least two boxes full of copies arrived with jumbled pages, missing pages, misprints. Just like in the real book world.

Virus City, the seventh Big Shoulders book since 2013, is like its first, How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence. Miles Harvey  the Chicago-based author and DePaul professor who formed Big Shoulders with Morano and Chris Green, director of the schools writing and publishing internships  said that for two years he sent students out to interview subjects for the book. They would come back, type up a transcript, then go out and do another. I would have to explain, Dont ask someone to tell you about the day their brother was shot. Ask them about their neighborhood, then ask about their family ... Come to it naturally. One student talked to a gang member who didnt say he was in a gang, but, from the conversation, was clearly in a gang. The student didnt want to ask the obvious. So I explained, no, they had to go back out and simply ask.

Terkel, he said, was a major catalyst.

I knew him some, Harvey said, and he became this massive influence on how you should interact with the world as a writer. He saw every human beings story as dramatic, and worthy of documentation, and poetic  and he somehow guided all this.

The roots of Big Shoulders  which of course takes its name from City of Big Shoulders, poet Carl Sandburg famous line in his poem Chicago  go back to the beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert outside Christian Fenger Academy High School in Roseland. Video of the 2009 attack went viral, and as Harvey writes in the introduction to How Long Will I Cry? he was disturbed, shaken but what was one white, middle-aged creative-writing professor supposed to do about it? Over coffee, while talking to a friend, Hallie Gordon, artistic director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, she mentioned wanting to make a documentary piece using the words of Chicago youth but had no one to do interviews. Harvey returned to his students. Two years later they had a play  How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence played at Steppenwolf in spring 2013 and toured Chicago libraries.

And so much extra material, they had a possible book, too.

That led to the idea to continue, building a small press around Chicago voices rarely heard. And a weird business model of not, in a sense, standing on corners to sell books, but forcing people to come to us, then we will give it all away, Harvey said. Which, Morano said, was completely overly ambitious  who wanted to start a small publishing house, then at a moment when it felt like publishing itself was imploding?

But fate, in a sense, opened its checkbook.

After a performance of How Long Will I Cry?, Harvey and Morano were approached by Chicagoans William and Irene Beck of the William and Irene Beck Charitable Trust. The publishing house idea was mentioned and the Becks offered to bankroll the entire initiative. It wasnt a formal, written agreement, Harvey said. But a decade later, its still working. Every Big Shoulders book, so far, is in at least its second printing (and often far more). Each title gets a first printing of between 3,000 and 7,000 copies, costing about $12,000, depending on the size and content. (The photos in Virus City proved pricey.)

Initially Harvey and Co. pledged to make a book a year, but settled for quality over an assembly line. Its been a small, clever catalog. How Long Will I Cry? led to American Gun: A Poem by 100 Chicagoans, a book-length communal poem about Chicago gun violence with contributions from many of its celebrated poets, including Ana Castillo and Ed Hirsch. Chris Green was the editor, and followed with I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War, which, instead of individual stories, mixes the memories of 50 veterans into a single (footnoted) narrative that reads, as Green says, like one veteran remembering every war, blurring places and people into a single tragedy. For The Garcia Boy, Harvey and his students compiled four drafts of a memoir left by Chicago writer Rafael Torch, who died of cancer in 2011 at 36. For Write Your Heart Out, Morano had a simple, powerful idea: Ask local teenagers to write about relationships.

And all you have to do get a copy of these books  which Big Shoulders ships for free and describes as an ongoing experiment in generosity (but does sometimes run out of stock)  is explain on an online form why you want a copy and how you plan to use it (bigshouldersbooks.com/book-order).

Requests come from students, from teachers, from the incarcerated, from gang members. They arrive from across the world  and Chicago. The reasons are endless:

They never read but they love Big Shoulders. Theyre in prison and these books have given them a road map for how to act when they get out. One request, Harvey said, was simply: Im a young woman in Indiana but these books make me feel empowered.

The goal, Morano said, is to get books into hands of people who cant or wouldnt normally buy them. So far, their press has given away more than 100,000 copies.

They dont plan to stop.

Harvey is thinking of an oral history of the Calumet River, but next up, coming in spring: Chicago Mosaic: Immigration Stories Lost, Left or Kept. Its based around the tales of the tangible objects that Chicago transplants hold dear. Green, its editor, has received stories about dolls, photos, cell phones, cannons, swords. Hes still accepting stories. Its all been word-of-mouth for the most part. This whole thing is about word-of-mouth.

Just as Studs would have liked.
Her new novel owes its existence to a chance decision  which is also a major theme of the book.

Some years ago, Dani Shapiro's husband and son were driving home from a townball game when teenagers threw a bottle of salad dressing from the top of an embankment. It shattered in the street, missing their car by a fraction of an inch.

"When my husband got home he told me if it had been a second earlier, that salad dressing would have hit the windshield and they would have had a terrible accident," Shapiro said in an interview from her home in Connecticut. "And I thought, salad dressing! I never considered a bottle of salad dressing becoming a means of devastation."

The lesson from this  the lesson that Shapiro already knew, thinks deeply about and has woven into her new novel, "Signal Fires"  is that randomness, chance, quick decisions to turn left or right, to pause or accelerate, can change a life in an instant.

"It's something that comes up again and again in the novel," said Shapiro.

"Everything we do matters. And if we thought about that all the time we wouldn't be able to get out of bed. But if we actually internalize that to some degree I think it can define what it is to be a human being."

Shapiro, 60, is as well known for her bestselling memoirs as she is for her novels. She is also the host of the podcast "Family Secrets," which explores long-buried secrets and the liberation that comes from setting them free.

"One of the things I've learned is that when there is a secret that is being kept, there is shame," she said.

Secrets suffuse "Signal Fires," which opens in 1985 when a teenage girl tosses her car keys to her younger brother. She has been drinking, but he doesn't know how to drive, and the result is a crash and a terrible death. The rest of the novel deals in various ways with the repercussions from that choice  including the psychic pain of silence.

A second narrative thread involves a brilliant 10-year-old boy named Waldo who is fascinated by the firmament and who finds the enormity of outer space to be grounding and soothing  despite the fact that this passion baffles and enrages his father.

The way that Shapiro braids these two strands together, shifting points of view, time and location, makes for a satisfying, haunting read.

And yet, the book might never have been written had Shapiro not gotten the sudden urge to clean her office. (Another fine example of the life-changing repercussions of ordinary decisions.)

'A manuscript. Just sitting there.'

It was early in the pandemic, and her work had ground to a halt. "Everything about the world was trembling in so many ways," Shapiro said. "The pandemic and the BLM uprising and the world was on fire and how is it possible to write anything of any relevance?

"Just about every artist and writer and human I knew was in this state of paralysis." And so she turned her attention to clutter.

"And in my office closet, sitting there on a shelf after I had taken out a lot of what was obscuring it, was a manuscript," she said. "A 120-page manuscript. Just sitting there neatly."

Shapiro had begun the manuscript 10 years before, determined to structure it moving backward chronologically in time, but after 120 pages she'd gotten stuck.

"There's a reason why there aren't many books that do this," she said. "The reason is you run out of runway. I wrote the first part that takes place one night 2010 and then I wrote a part that took place one night in 1999. And then If I wanted to continue backward, then Waldo would not be born yet, and that was a problem! I essentially wrote myself into a corner."

At the time, she discussed the conundrum with Jennifer Egan, her friend and fellow novelist. "And Jenny said, 'Chronology is boring whether you're going forward or back.' She said, 'If you're upending time, why be chronological about it?' And I knew she was right but I didn't know how to do it. I was heartbroken. I put the pages in a drawer and really thought this is the one that got away. I didn't think I would go back to it."

But in 2020, sitting in her office re-reading those pages, the way forward became clear.

"I remembered everything I liked about these people," she said. "And the next thought was who would they be now that it's 2020? And my head sort of exploded. Who would Waldo be, he was 11, who would he be? Oh, he'd be a college student. And who would Ben be? And Theo, who was a young chef, with this restaurant, what would he be doing in the middle of the pandemic?

"It all just aligned itself in my brain in this very thrilling, exciting way. And I suddenly saw how I could break it up. And how I could turn it into a more prismatic narrative."

The book is written in sections that move back and forth in time and point of view  from the car accident in 1985 to a single night in 2010 to New Year's Eve at Y2K to the early days of the pandemic in 2020.

"They needed to grow in that drawer for those 10 years," Shapiro said. "And I needed to have a series of life experiences during those 10 years that allowed me to become the writer that described them."

Between writing those 120 pages in 2010 and picking them up 10 years later, Shapiro had experienced a remarkable revelation, which became the focus of her fourth memoir, "Inheritance." In 2016, after submitting her DNA to a genealogy website, she learned that her father was not her biological father.

She tracked down her biological father  a man who had sold sperm in order to get through medical school. And in 2020, when she re-read that missing manuscript, she realized that the character of Ben was a dead ringer for her biological father.

"I wrote and conceived of the character of Benjamin Wilf years before I knew that I had a biological father that was other than my dad who raised me and who I adored," she said. "And when I gave the manuscript of 'Signal Fires' to my son, he said, 'My God, it's him.'

"What do you do with that? And it's not just a physical resemblance, it's also his being a physician, his having a certain kind of even temperament, very even-keeled, very gentle and kind but misses nothing. If I had created that character after meeting my biological father I might have assumed that I must have absorbed him in some way. But that's not what happened."

The strangeness of this reinforced her belief that everything is connected  the living and the dead, the past and the present, all people, all living things. It's a theme that echoes through the book primarily through the observations of earnest young Waldo.

The scenes where Waldo stares at the constellation program on his iPad and explains his understanding of the universe are among the most powerful in the book. His app  called Star Walk, a real app  can call up the night sky from any place in the world, from any year in history.

Late in the book, as he scatters his mother's ashes, he compares death to the burning out of a star. "I'm oversimplifying," he tells his father. "But you get it. The stardust eventually makes other stars."

Everything is connected, Shapiro said. "The night sky here is connected to the night sky there and everything that is going to happen has already happened.

"What do we mean to each other, what are our connections to one another as human beings? Why do we sometimes feel a connection to people we've just met? That connection can be positive or negative, it can just be a feeling of 'I know you.' Somehow, we've traveled this road together before."
FICTION: A Nigerian writer spotlights transatlantic immigrant themes in these linked short stories.



"Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" by Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi; Amistad (256 pages, $27.99)



The novel in stories  not quite a novel, more often resembling a linked collection  can successfully capture the immigrant experience. Think Edwidge Danticat's compelling "The Dew Breaker," or most recently, the much lauded "If I Survive You" by Jamaican American writer Jonathan Escoffery. In these books, immigration means a pronounced in-between-ness, a state of flux, and a string of interconnected personal events across countries and cultures that collide, sometimes adversely, to make a new life.

Nigerian writer Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi also embraces the genre in her debut novel, "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions." Her stories, however, are "interlocking," suggesting that each story stands and falls on the existence of another story. This is indeed true except for the first story, "Fodo's Better Half," which begins in 1897 when the Nigerian city of Benin is attacked by British forces. Around that time, a woman, known as Mongo's wife, gives birth to a beautiful girl named Adaoma and then drifts off to sleep, never to wake again.

Little Adaoma grows up, marries and attains chieftaincy. But she remains childless and deeply unhappy because of it. What follows is an arrangement with a younger woman named Fodo that subverts our expectations of gendered roles and endears the story to us. But like Adaoma and Fodo, the story, with its ever-shifting points of view and moralistic bent, soon disappears and never really reappears again.

The titular second story, "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions," is the engine that drives the remaining nine stories. Here we meet three main characters, Remi, Nonso and Aisha, as feisty young Nigerian girls in full riot mode against their boarding school principal. In the chaos, something tragic happens. Asthmatic Solape, one of their close classmates, is somehow hauled away by the police without her inhaler and dies.

A capable and assured writer, Ogunyemi uses this tragedy by thoughtfully weaving it into new stories. In "Goody Goody," we hear from Solape's mother who, through her grief and aspirations, brings Solape to life for us again. In "Czekolada," an older Aisha visits Krakow, Poland, for a wedding and rethinks her life goals, driven in part by the memory of Solape. Imagery of Solape will come up in the last story, "messenger RNA," a roving, futuristic tale set in Nigeria and America. Remi and Nonso reappear here too, each of them, like Aisha, having immigrated to America from Nigeria.

In earlier stories, "Guardian Angel of Elmina," "Last Stop, Jibowu" and "Start Your Savings Account Today," Remi and Nonso are nearly defeated characters, striving to make sense of that fraught space between the past and the present, between the life left behind in Nigeria and the one in a new country. How they negotiate this space is what makes for some of the more memorable moments in the book, along with the tangential stories, "Reflections From the Hood of a Car" and "Area Boy Rescue," in which humor and grit come up against humiliation.

Is "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" a riveting, blazing work of fiction? Not exactly. But it does some heavy lifting by shining a spotlight on transatlantic immigrant themes that should resonate today and into the future.



Angela Ajayi is a Minneapolis-based writer and critic.
NONFICTION: A superb portrait of the businessman-turned-activist, who shrouded his actions in secrecy.

"The Revolutionary" by Stacy Schiff; Little, Brown (432 pages, $35)



Biographers of America's Founding Fathers generally have mountains of material to choose from  public documents, colonial newspapers, private diaries and letters that reveal the private man behind the public face. But for her new book "The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams," Stacy Schiff, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer with a taste for elusive subjects (Cleopatra, Salem's witches), has chosen a Founding Father who took care not to leave a paper trail.

Samuel Adams, whose battle with the British began years before most colonists even thought of independence, was a hunted man. He burned his correspondence. He wrote under pseudonyms. He plotted in private. The track of his life is "a flicker and a dash, a vapor trail. Even in his letters he seems to have one foot out the door," she writes. One historian dubbed Samuel Adams America's first covert agent. The British might have had another word for it  terrorist.

Adams was an unlikely rebel, in many ways a typical Massachusetts citizen of the prerevolutionary years: son of a wealthy businessman, educated at Harvard, "at ease with everyone he met." If there was something special about him, it was his focus: untouched by art, bored by business dealings, he loved politics and words, "which he buffed, buffed again, and afterward refined." He might have vanished into Boston history were it not for the British, who spectacularly and catastrophically failed to understand what made Massachusetts citizens, forged by an independent version of Puritanism, tick.

The roots of Adams' opposition to British rule were personal, fed by the British Parliament's punitive dismissal of a land banking scheme that his father co-founded, an action that ruined his father and transferred his debts to his son. Adams became a magnet for the aggrieved and the chief stage manager of the emerging rebellion. The first two-thirds of "The Revolutionary" make for riveting, suspenseful and even laugh-out-loud reading, as Adams outflanks the British at every turn. Adams "seemed to exert an uncanny influence on men's minds: he knew when to alarm, when to sooth, flatter, intimidate."

He controlled every element of the narrative, coordinating protests over unfair taxes, the onerous Stamp Act and the hated forced importation of tea, then publicizing the uproar for an ever-widening audience. Schiff deftly uses as Adams' foil British official Thomas Hutchinson, who hated Adams and chronicled his political tactics and alleged personal failings, writing that "I doubt whether there is a greater incendiary in the King's dominions or a man of greater malignity of heart."

A vivid and evocative writer, Schiff excels in her portrayal of Boston in its agony and anger. Warring gangs, secret clubs, riots, mobs destroying British officials' homes, then the officials hung in effigy. Then a punitive port blockade and military occupation and, finally, shots fired at Lexington and Concord. By then Adams, leagues ahead of the British, had expanded his network to all 13 colonies. They were primed and ready to respond.

The political Adams is dazzling. The personal Adams is more elusive. We see the man of ideas and action, but not his internal struggles. Samuel's famous cousin John shared his thoughts with his wife, Abigail, in their correspondence, and their letters memorialize their doubts, fears and hopes, but Samuel Adams' wife and family remain largely offstage. The historical record details what his enemies thought, and what his allies thought, but little of what Samuel Adams thought of himself.

As a biography, "The Revolutionary" is incomplete, but as a portrait of an activist, it's superb. With his way with words, his skill at bending the truth and his unrelenting focus, Samuel Adams resembles nothing more than a 21st century operative, working the networks, masterminding the narrative, plotting mayhem. Samuel Adams made a revolution. We are still living with the outcome.



Mary Ann Gwinn is a book critic in Seattle.
Madison police continue to look for eight unidentified motorcyclists seen driving over 140 mph Downtown on Friday night.

The motorcyclists were spotted in the area of West Johnson Street and North Basset Street at 8:30 p.m., spokesperson Hunter Lisko said.

The motorcyclists removed their registration plates before entering the Downtown area, Lisko said. No motorcyclist has been arrested yet but police released over a dozen photos seeking to identify them.

If anyone has any information about the motorcyclists below, contact the Madison Police Department at 608-255-2345 or submit an anonymous tip to the Madison Area Crime Stoppers 608-266-6014 or online at P3tips.com.
Lawyers for a state Division of Criminal Investigation agent charged last month with shooting Quadren Wilson, who was unarmed, during a traffic stop in February asserted in a motion filed Wednesday that it was Wilson who in fact endangered the safety of the officers as well as the public by trying to escape from the stop.

The motion, which asks for the dismissal of a charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety against DCI Agent Mark Wagner, asserts that Wagner legally fired at Wilson on Feb. 3 because Wagner was defending himself from what he believed was a gunshot fired from inside Wilsons car. Under Wisconsin law, Wagners use of self-defense may be reasonable even when its mistaken, Wagners lawyers assert.

The motion refers to Wilson by his initials.

It is (Wilson) who recklessly endangered the officers and the community with his actions in attempting a dangerous escape, wrote Wagners attorneys, Michael Steinle and Daniel Sanders, of Milwaukee. It is reasonable to believe that all of (Wilsons) actions would lead a person who was in Wagners position to believe (Wilson) was reaching and/or had a gun.

No gun was found in Wilsons car after he was struck in the back five times by what were found to be bullet fragments. A criminal complaint states Wagner fired twice, and that a rifle held by Agent Nathan Peskie, who was not charged, was missing five rounds.

Wilsons attorney, Stephen Eisenberg, said he hasnt seen the motion, but said it was atrocious to blame Wilson for his reaction to a chaotic scene, in which, a criminal complaint states, agents pinned Wilsons SUV from the front and back with pickup trucks.

The police caused Quadren to behave in a panicked manner because of hitting him from behind and hitting from the front, and 10 cops descending upon him, and then within five seconds, seven gunshots, Eisenberg said. So dont tell me that Quadren instigated the situation. I dont blame him for panicking after getting slammed from the rear and the front.

Wagner was charged and appeared in court on Sept. 22. He is scheduled for a status conference Friday morning before a Dane County court commissioner.

The shooting of Wilson, who is Black, drew protests from Wilsons family and others in Madison. Wagner, who is white, was charged more than seven months after the incident following an investigation by the Dane County Sheriffs Office, which went back and investigated certain aspects of the case at the request of District Attorney Ismael Ozanne.

He has a gun

According to the complaint, after agents pinned Wilsons silver Hyundai SUV from the front and back with pickup trucks, they approached the rear of the Hyundai with guns drawn and ordered Wilson to show his hands. One agent smashed the rear drivers side window in an attempt to let in more light, since the vehicle had darkly tinted windows. Wilson was revving the engine, and smoke was coming from the spinning tires.

Wagner said that as he approached the vehicle, he saw Wilson fidgeting with something in his right hand and reaching down with his left arm, the complaint states. Wagner said he could not see what Wilson had in his left hand, but after Wilson quickly moved both of his hands up, he told investigators, I thought, now he has a gun.

Wagner said he then heard what sounded like a gunshot and felt something hit him, leading him to believe that he had been shot. He said he fired his weapon almost simultaneously before falling backward.

The motion to dismiss states Wagner was holding a police ballistics shield in his left hand and his gun in his right hand.

Defense stance

Wagners attorneys maintain he was entitled to defend himself even with the mistaken belief that he was being shot at.

Just because a gun is not found in the ultimate arrest of (Wilson), does not equate to an inference that the use of self-defense does not apply, they wrote. It is (Wilson) who is creating the endangerment by recklessly driving his car in such a manner so as to endanger the officers and the public at a busy intersection. Wagner was exposed to an extremely dangerous encounter with (Wilson) who was attempting to escape.

The motion asserts none of the facts in the complaint even come close to alleging the elements necessary to prove second-degree recklessly endangering safety, and only support a conclusion that Wagner was merely reacting to the criminally reckless conduct of (Wilson).

Eisenberg said there was no reason the agents couldnt have arrested Wilson the next day at his probation agents office, or pulled him over using a marked squad car and ordered him to lie on the ground.

You cant create the situation and say, Its not our fault, Eisenberg said.
A man who drove off with the head from the state Capitol statue of Col. Hans Christian Heg in the trunk of his car during a night of rioting Downtown in 2020 pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to a year of probation.

Rodney A. Clendening, 36, of Beloit, was originally charged with felony theft, but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement that resulted in the probation imposed by Dane County Circuit Judge John Hyland.

District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Clendening turned over to his attorney, Kathleen Chung, the head of the abolitionist and Union Army colonel, separated from its body when rioters pulled down the statue on June 23, 2020. The head was then returned to Capitol Police, Ozanne said.

With that gesture, Ozanne said he agreed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor and seek probation. Clendening was scheduled to go to trial earlier this month, but the trial was canceled when the plea agreement was reached.

Ozanne said the evidence showed Clendening had pulled his car up near where the statue stands and opened the trunk, and another person carried the head over and placed it in the trunk. Clendening then drove off with it, Ozanne said.

Damage to the statue was estimated at the time at more than $50,000. It has since been restored, reinstalled and rededicated at its spot facing King Street on the Capitol grounds.

Clendening was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution, essentially the cost of the states insurance deductible. Once he pays that amount, he can seek early termination of his probation, Hyland said, but that decision is ultimately up to the state Department of Corrections.

Chung said that, more recently, Clendening has been involved in efforts to work with all parts of the community to bring about change and justice, including the Umbrella Transition Program and Law Enforcement Leaders of Color. Clendening declined to speak when given the opportunity by Hyland.

The summer of 2020 was marked by protests over the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, some of which became destructive. The Heg statue was one of two yanked down by rioters during a tumultuous night that followed the arrest by Madison police of a local protest leader. The Forward statue that faces State Street was also pulled down, and also has been restored.

The actions which occurred surrounding the events in 2020 involved a good deal of symbolic gestures, some of which were destructive, Hyland said. And perhaps counterproductive, but certainly reflecting the tenor of what was going on at the time. I think todays resolution of this case is equally in some respects symbolic.
The Madison School District is reviving a controversial proposal to drop stand-alone honors classes in favor of expanding the use of earned-honors credits in standard classes.

The heart of the issue is equity: Students of color and lower-income students arent accessing the districts stand-alone honors classes as much as their white and wealthier classmates.

Historically, the concept of advanced learning and honors has served to segregate students based on race, socioeconomic status and special education status, School Board member Savion Castro said. And when these students do access the advanced classes, they often report feeling isolated, feeling tokenized and experiencing a white-washed curriculum.

Last year, the district eyed phasing out stand-alone honors classes starting this school year, but the idea was shelved because officials said it wasnt the right time.

The board is expected to vote on the proposal within the next few months.

(We need a) much wider, very transparent conversation with parents and with the board, School Board member Laura Simkin said.

Currently, the district offers both stand-alone honors classes and regular classes in which earning honors credit is an option. Students dont have to test into stand-alone honors courses or meet other requirements before signing up, just so long as theyve fulfilled any course prerequisites.

District officials did not answer questions about what students have to do to earn honors credit in standard classes, but students described it as having to do particularly well on coursework.

Honors coursework is intended to be a pathway to Advanced Placement courses later in high school.

In the first semester of 2020-21, among students with earned-honors credits, 41% were from low-income backgrounds and 56% were students of color.

In stand-alone honors classes, however, 28% were lower-income students, and 45% were students of color.

Proponents hope that by eliminating stand-alone honors classes and expanding earned-honors credits, the district can decrease economic and racial disparities among students while still providing honors-level curriculum. District officials called it a pathway to becoming an anti-racist institution.

Opponents worry dropping stand-alone honors classes will decrease rigor for academically advanced students.

I think we all agree that disparities at this level are unacceptable, and change is needed, board member Chris Gomez Schmidt said. In my opinion, our focus should be on addressing the barriers to access and preparation for these courses instead of dismantling the courses themselves.

Stand-alone and earned honors can coexist to create more opportunity for more students, she said.

At a work group meeting on advanced-learning programming earlier this month, Simkin said she would strongly object to eliminating the stand-alone classes. But Castro said he still supports the shift.

How important are honors classes?

Several studies point to a correlation between taking honors courses and future academic success.

A study published in the Journal of Educational Research and Practice in 2019 found that enrollment in AP and honors courses was associated with a higher grade point average in a students first semester of college, along with factors such as parents education levels. A 2018 study published in the Community College Review showed a similar connection: Students with higher levels of high school preparation were predicted to pass at higher rates.

District data from April 2021 show that students who earned honors credits either in stand-alone or standard classes were more likely to participate in AP classes later on. Taking a stand-alone class, however, was associated with an ever greater likelihood that a student would take AP classes.

Devika Pal, a senior at Memorial High School, said the honors classes she took earlier in high school helped her prepare for AP classes, and she benefited from being in a setting where everyone took their work seriously.

She agreed that a barrier to accessing these courses for low-income students and students of color is that they often dont have the same support to excel in them. But Pal doesnt agree with eliminating the stand-alone courses.

Because its not going to eliminate the problem. It would just make the segregation of academic advanced courses more invisible in the classroom, Pal said in an email, adding that a better solution would be to offer more resources such as tutoring and guidance.

Castro said advanced learning hasnt served marginalized students well, pointing out that the first-ever Black history AP class was introduced in high schools just this year.

What we think of as advanced is manufactured, Castro said. And in a lot of ways these advanced courses have gate-kept knowledge and presented knowledge in a really limited and whitewashed manner.

Valeria Moreno-Lopez, a junior at La Follette High School, said she took an English honors class and earned honors credits in multiple other classes.

She supports students having both options.

It solely depends on the student and on how they want to learn, Moreno-Lopez said.

Leon Da Costa, a father of two, thinks eliminating the options of honors classes may actually create another barrier to achievement for marginalized students.

He said that both of his students, who are Black, excel at different levels, and that the two different honors options have offered them each comfortable yet challenging learning environments. But removing stand-alone classes will eliminate advanced learning for everyone, including students of color.

If it is eliminated, I think the achievement gap, it will be wider again, Da Costa said.

Hoping to join the conversation

The role of advanced learning options in public education has come up before, in Madison and elsewhere.

In 2010, parents filed a complaint against the Madison School District for failing to meet state mandates for gifted and talented programming.

As the fate of the stand-alone honors courses continues to be discussed, the public is asking for more transparency.

All of the students who spoke to the Wisconsin State Journal for this article agreed that more information needed to be shared, saying they had received no communication from the district about the possible curriculum change.

Keeping us in the dark isnt going to help anybody. I feel like we should be included in these conversations, said Sandy Flores Ruiz, a junior at West High School. Because we are the ones taking these classes.

The School Board has requested a formal discussion and vote on the issue. Cindy Green, associate superintendent of teaching and learning, expects the proposal to go before the board in the next few months.

Board member Nicki Vander Meulen asked for much needed transparency on a situation thats been pretty cloudy.

I do think it needs to be a very open conversation, Superintendent Carlton Jenkins said at this months work group meeting. But he also noted that the discussion has been ongoing for several years.

Discussion of the issue started in 2018 but was disrupted by the pandemic. The district then planned to begin phasing out the stand-alone honors classes starting this school year, but ultimately paused the plan.

We felt that the timing was not right, and we felt that we didnt have enough of our community involved in the conversation, Green said.

Da Costa wants more parents involved, saying most parents may not even know the difference between stand-alone honors classes and earned-honors credits.

The problem is most of the parents are not that much involved, and they dont even know whats going on, he said.

Multiple parents contacted by the State Journal werent willing to be quoted for this article, saying the contentious issue had become toxic.

Green said honors courses are just a singular point in advanced coursework, which includes expanding advanced classes and more experiential learning and internships.

Regardless of whether the stand-alone honors courses are still around next year, the district plans to implement a universal approach to the earned-honors credits. All ninth-graders will be required to take an advanced course, which could include a course that offered earned-honors credits.
More than 150 artists will be showcasing their work across 18 different venues as an alternative to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Arts Gallery Night.

Artists Night, organized by local art and music space Communication, was inspired by recent controversy surrounding the museums Aint I A Woman? Triennial.

In March, artist Lilada Gee and the museums director of events were confronted by a white staff member at the adjacent Overture Center for the Arts when they tried to enter a door not usually open to the public. The staff member was later fired.

After that incident, Gee left her piece unfinished in the exhibition as a statement. Then in June, Gees work was painted on by a woman and her two children who apparently mistook Gees piece for an audience-participation, do-it-yourself display and then took small canvasses that were part of the installation.

The museums director, Christina Brungardt, called Gee to ask if the family could keep the canvasses in an effort, the museum said later, to defuse the situation.

Ten artists subsequently pulled their work from the show in protest of what Gee experienced and demanded that Brungardt be fired. The museums board has supported Brungardt.

Some artists and local venues are boycotting MMoCAs Nov. 4 Gallery Night, which runs from 5 to 9 p.m. and includes dozens of galleries around Madison.

Artists Night was born out of the need for an alternative event where artists could still show their work, said Jennifer Bastian, director of Communication. Gee will be participating in Artists Night, Bastian confirmed.

I feel strongly that when something inequitable is happening in our community, we support those who are not being supported, Bastian said. We understand that art venues and artists need to make money to survive, so we wanted to provide another opportunity to not only share work and sell work, but to also be together.

In an email to the Wisconsin State Journal, MMoCA said that it supports as many opportunities for artists in Madison as possible.

Artist Kat Karmalover Culbertson made the decision to boycott MMoCAs Gallery Night to support the Triennial artists. So when she heard about Artists Night, she was excited to still have the opportunity to display her work. Culbertson will be live-painting a mural at Robinia Courtyard, 829 E. Washington Ave., on Friday.

I dont find a lot of opportunities like this, Culbertson said. I found out about it through Instagram. As soon as I saw that they were doing this, I immediately was like, This is really cool. I definitely want to find a way to be involved.

The Bodgery, at 740 Oscar Ave., is a local makerspace and one of the venues participating in Artists Night. Jennifer Hefferan is a member of The Bodgery and shell be sharing her woodwork with attendees. She is also looking forward to celebrating her fellow artists.

Im really excited to see the other members and what theyre working on. We havent had big events since I joined The Bodgery in 2020, she said.

Communication will be hosting an after-party at Giant Jones Brewing Company, at 913 E. Main St., from 8 to 10 p.m. Participating venues and their addresses and times for Artists Night can be found on Communications website, communicationmadison.com/artists-night.

Bastian is optimistic that Artists Night will help expand opportunities for local creatives.

This started because we want to give other opportunities to support the Triennial artists and all marginalized artists, she said. Im sure it wont be like everything Ive ever hoped and dreamed, but its a step in the right direction in terms of providing more opportunities and more access to artists.
State attorney general candidate Eric Toney has charged another person with election fraud in Fond du Lac County, the eighth to face prosecution from the Republican district attorney whos played up his election security credentials in the race.

Toneys office charged 74-year-old Edward A. Malnar, of the city of Fond du Lac, with felony double voting for voting in both Wisconsin and Michigan during the 2020 election. Malnar faces an additional misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer.

This case is not indicative of a stolen election, but I will continue to defend our democracy and our election laws by ensuring the rule of law is upheld, Toney said in a statement.

The complaint brings to eight the number of people Toneys office has charged with voter fraud.

Two have been convicted. One person pled guilty to a misdemeanor and paid a $500 fine for illegally registering to vote using a Fond du Lac County post office box number despite not living in the county. Another person was convicted for illegally voting as a felon and was sentenced to 10 days in jail and given a $500 fine.

The other five cases remain open, according to court records.

Toney will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in the Nov. 8 election.

In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board last week, Kaul declined to comment on Toneys ongoing prosecutions but said its important for prosecutors to have discretion in how they prosecute crimes and use resources.

Toney contends that he has to enforce the law.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Toneys office on Monday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission referred Malnars alleged double voting to Toneys office in April, 17 months after the 2020 election. An investigation by Fond du Lac police found that Malnar voted in the township of Torch Lake, Michigan, via absentee ballot. He then voted in person in Fond du Lac, the complaint said.

In an interview with police, Malnar admitted to voting in Wisconsin but stated he didnt recall if he voted in Michigan during that same election. Malnar has a residence in each state and splits his time between them, the complaint said.

The elections commission did not respond to an email asking how many referrals its made to district attorneys since the 2020 election and how many of those resulted in criminal prosecutions.

Malnar has a court date set for Nov. 15, according to court records. The court did not issue a warrant for his arrest but merely asked he appear on a summons. He could not be reached for comment.

Apart from his election fraud prosecutions, Toney filed a lawsuit in April calling for the removal of five elections commission members, alleging they broke the law by not sending special voting deputies into nursing homes during the 2020 election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The commission has long contended that no crimes were committed in keeping the deputies out of nursing homes at a time when nursing homes were restricting visitors to cut down on COVID-19 transmission. The directive was made unanimously by the bipartisan commission in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.
Some of those who knew the young man killed by a Dane County sheriffs deputy Sunday in the village of Oregon said little in his conduct suggested he might have been in trouble with the law.

Authorities had not yet released the mans name, but a friend identified him as 21-year-old Jose Carlos Jimenez.

He put on a pretty good facade if he was a bad person, I guess, said Josh McDowell, 20, who met Jimenez through friends and had known him for about a year. He was always pretty nice to our family.

McDowell said Jimenez stayed overnight at his house dozens of times. He wasnt sure where Jimenez lived.

Until recently, Jimenez worked at Dorn True Value Hardware on Richards Road in Oregon, said Brett Trinkle, 24, the stores manager.

Trinkle said Monday that Jimenez worked at the store for close to a year, left, and then came back for another shorter employment.

Genuinely, he was a pretty normal, nice person, he said.

While they sometimes talked, cashier Katie Barczykowski said Jimenez generally kept to himself, so he was kind of a mystery to everyone.

She said Jimenez worked at the hardware store in two stints, until about two months ago when he said he was getting a job at Kwik Trip.

He was really nice to talk to, Barczykowski said. But he definitely had his days where he had some anger issues sometimes.

Authorities havent given many details about what happened. In a statement Sunday, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said his office got a 911 call 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 state Department of Justice.

Officials set up a perimeter in the area, and the suspect ran, 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 havent released the name of the deputy.

The shooting behind a residential cul-de-sac on Eagle Drive came two days after an explosion destroyed two houses just blocks away. There was an armed robbery on the same block as the explosion two days before that. Oregon Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier said the shooting had no relation to Fridays explosion, but police havent said if its tied to the armed robbery.

McDowell, who said he hadnt seen Jimenez in almost a month, said Jimenez was wanted in the armed robbery.

Oregon Police Chief Jennifer Pagenkopf wouldnt confirm that Wednesday. She said the investigation is being conducted by the DOJs Division of Criminal Investigation, which didnt return a call.

Court records show Jimenez had been charged with theft and disorderly conduct in December.

No red flags

Trinkle, the hardware store manager, said he never picked up on anything unusual about Jimenez.

He came to work, went home, he said. He didnt really give a lot of emotion. Like, he didnt talk about himself a lot.

He said Jimenez talked about hanging out with his girlfriend and about going down to Chicago with her.

When he was here, he was generally pretty nice to the customers, Trinkle said. I mean, even sometimes when people were being rude to him, he was generally nice to them.

Billie Peterson, who used to work with Jimenez at the store, said people there called him Carlos and that he liked to joke around. He was your typical kid.

Peterson said Jimenez was training to be a boxer. She said she would talk to him when she saw him around the neighborhood. He was a good kid. Its too bad. I couldnt see him doing armed robbery.

McDowell said he wasnt completely surprised to hear Jimenez was wanted by police.

He said Jimenez, who was from Texas, went to California last year and came back with $15,000 to $20,000. McDowell said Jimenez wouldnt say how he got the money, but I figured he did something shady or bad to earn it maybe.

Hospital episode

Argene McDowell, 73, who knew Jimenez through her grandson, said Jimenezs alleged behavior does not square with the person that we knew that was respectful and helpful. Maybe he was just pretending.

McDowell said she was celebrating her grandsons birthday a year ago at a Madison restaurant when Jimenez suffered a grand mal seizure.

He stood up and he just had the seizure, Argene McDowell said Monday. She said she went to the hospital with him because he said his parents were in Texas visiting relatives.

We spent quite a few hours in the emergency room while they confirmed that hed had a seizure, she said, noting that Jimenez said hed had seizures as a child, but that this was the first time hed had one as an adult.

Jimenez talked about having relatives in Texas and Mexico, Argene McDowell said.

She said he was always willing to help her and he also helped her daughter in the backyard. He seemed like a nice person.
With my best friend riding shotgun and my two dogs in the back seat of my Buick Encore, I made the road trip from Washington, D.C., to Chicago last month for the ordination and consecration of Paula E. Clark, the first female bishop, and first Black bishop, of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Shes also my mom.

Im incredibly proud of her, but sometimes it amazes me were still celebrating womens firsts.

History has proven that diversity, equity and inclusion are necessary for businesses, organizations and systems to advance and thrive. Studies have shown that, among other benefits, having more women in the workplace improves employee retention and engagement, expands perspectives and enhances collaboration. Having women in leadership roles specifically also has been shown to increase profitability.

And yet, women are frequently missing from the top spots, or are just now arriving. In just the past few weeks, all of these entities named their first female CEOs: Outward Bound, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority, History Miami Museum and many others.

A 2021 Women in the Workplace study by McKinsey and Co. in partnership with LeanIn.org found women make up a smaller percentage than men in the American workforce overall. And women of color fall behind everyone  white men, white women and men of color  on almost every step of the organizational food chain, from entry level on up. But the differences were the most stark in the leadership positions. Women make up about a quarter of the highest ranking executives, and of that figure, just 4% are women of color.

As a Black woman serving as Under Armour s chief people and culture officer, Tchernavia Rocker said institutions that exclude women from the helm are missing out on a special and powerful perspective.

I believe that were endowed with certain capabilities, instincts and emotions that equip us for doing the hardest work when the work cant be explained the way of numbers, when the work cant be explained with the level of concreteness, but the ability to sit in the abstract, Rocker said when interviewed as one of The Suns 2022 Women to Watch.

Before becoming the first Black, Southeast Asian and female vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris got to know a thing or two about firsts. She became San Franciscos first Black district attorney and Californias first female attorney general. (And, as my sister in Greekdom, shes part of the first and finest sorority of Alpha Kappa Alpha.)

My mother would look at me, and shed say, Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last, Harris said during a speech at Spelman College in 2018.

In November 2020, after votes were tallied and she and Joe Biden claimed victory in the presidential election, Harris vowed she would not be the last woman to hold the office of vice president, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.

My mothers election in December 2020 was also historic. And as I spent the weekend in Chicago proudly and tearfully supporting her, many people remarked on the important perspectives she brings to her new role.

My mother suffered a brain injury in April 2021, right before her consecration was initially scheduled. In her recovery, she had to learn to walk and talk again. As a well-educated, highly experienced Black woman she was already offering a valuable perspective. Now shes serving as bishop as someone who is navigating life differently abled  another important worldview that will enhance her leadership.

Bishop Clark was consecrated Sept. 17, while wearing sparkling, red Nike Air Jordans, a celebratory choice in place of heels, as she is still working on her equilibrium.

At the end of the service I saw three Black girls taking pictures in spots where my mom stood during the service, rocking church clothes with their Nikes  one girl even had on red Jordans.

I now realize how fortunate those girls are to have a role model such as my mother. They had a church leader who had braids and brown skin, and who wore sneakers like them.

To foster the next generation of female bishops or business executives or vice presidents of the United States, young girls and women must see themselves more widely represented in positions of power.

As Vice President Harris mother reminded her, we must look beyond firsts, to create opportunities for seconds, thirds, fourths and more, so that by the time those girls are my mothers age, having women in charge, especially Black women, is no longer historic.
Plumer wont help with climate change

Our planet is experiencing a worsening climate crisis, and the best way to fix this problem is at voting booths.

That is a big reason I support Theresa Valencia for state Assembly.

I know Theresa personally, and she cares about responsible environmental policies for the sake of her children and grandchildren, along with all future generations.

Her opponent, on the other hand, has shown a lack of climate leadership. When asked about climate change, Rep. Jon Plumer, R-Lodi, has responded  despite clear evidence  that he wasnt sure humans were the cause.

That statement was a standard party-line tactic to avoid action on the climate.

Indeed, Plumer votes almost exclusively along party lines, rather than serving as a centrist lawmaker on climate or any other issue.

Please vote for Valencia for Assembly.

Tess Carr, Lodi
TWIN FALLS  Some residents woke up Friday morning to fish  dead fish thrown into yards, on driveways and on streets.

Its definitely weird, said Carrie Lu, who lives near the canyon rim.

There was a trout on her driveway and she noticed three more when she drove down the street.

John Quintana, who lives in the presidential street area in Twin Falls, said on social media that he spotted several fish in his yard and in the back of his truck.

Better fish than eggs, he wrote.

Then there was an incident reported at the Arctic Circle restaurant in Buhl. Workers said they found fish strewn around the business, along with evidence that some fish had been pressed against some of the windows.

An Idaho Department of Fish & Game officer called the restaurant but by that time employees had thrown away the fish, leaving not a lot to investigate, Fish and Game spokesman Terry Thompson said. Employees provided some photos that led the Fish & Game officer to believe the fish, due to its worn fins, likely came from a commercial hatchery.

We dont know the background of the fish, Thompson said. But before anyone thinks about pulling the same stunt, if evidence came forth there was wanton waste of wildlife, there could be repercussions.

But there is a chance that the fish may have died at a hatchery of natural causes and some mischievous people got possession of them, he added.

Lt. Craig Stotts said the police department hadnt been notified of the cod situation, but he and city spokesman Josh Palmer offered a theory.

Last year around the same time we had similar reports, said Stotts. The city was draining its pressure irrigation ponds and found that there were birds pulling small fish out and dropping them onto lawns.

Palmer said that those fish, however, were small and were dropped near the ponds, so the theory might not jibe.

Another social media poster said she has a clue as to the identity of the culprits. Upon seeing fish around her house and others, she checked her security system and video showed some individuals throwing fish at about 12:30 a.m. Friday.

I know at least two blocks were hit by fish, she said.

An animal control officer came to the house and took photos as well as a copy of the video, she said.

Twin Falls animal control, apparently not wanting to be lured into the article, did not respond to a request for comments.

Whether the video will help reel in the culprits remains to be seen, and whether they plead gill-ty is another story.
BURLEY  A tech startup that began in a car dealership has quickly become the number one fastest growing company in Idaho.

Lease End is a digital financial tool that lets people explore their options at the end of an automotive lease.

Brandon Williams, CEO and co-founder of Lease End said his company is releasing millions of dollars of equity back to consumers, rather than sending the car down the road, Lease End negotiates the buyout of their lease, letting them retain the equity of that vehicle.

Weve helped thousands of people exit their lease, Williams said. We like to look at it as unlocking equity that the dealership would have taken back and kept for themselves.

People need to know that at the end of their lease they have options, Williams said. They dont need to go back to the dealer, and we want to provide them with those options.

After launching in 2021, this year Lease End was listed as #171 on the Inc. 5000. Inc., a business and economics magazine, has been compiling its list of fastest growing businesses since 1982.

Headquartered in Burley with offices in Twin Falls and Lehi, Utah, Lease End has grown to employ 100 people.

In Twin Falls, the sales team has recently had to move into larger offices to accommodate all the new positions.

According to Williams, Lease End is growing 400% year over year. The company has been profitable from day one.

From a business standpoint, were able to do some things that (for) most of the world, its very difficult to do..., Williams said.

Williams grew up in Idaho, graduated from Burley High School. Prior to returning to Idaho in 2015, Williams had been working in tech in Utah for years, developing and selling high-profile companies.

Between leaving Idaho right after high school and being back here 25 years later, it feels good to be home, Williams said.

Williams returned to Burley in 2015 from Utah to be involved in the familys automotive business, Silver Creek Ford in Hailey.

He started tinkering on a financial product in 2018 and fine-tuned the project while looking for ways to increase market share for the family dealership.

Theres over three million people a year who are coming out of a lease, Williams said. And being in the dealership world you know that ending your lease is confusing, and its sometimes difficult, and sometimes not very transparent, and a lot of people arent really sure whats going on at the end of the lease. So the combination of all that came together.

Williams began building the product in 2018 and tinkered to get it tested and proved the concept for a number of years.

Lets experiment with marketing to people coming out of a lease, and making it super easy and transparent and convenient, Williams said. And to be able to do this from the comfort of wherever they like to transact and do business  from their home, from their office, from their car.

Lease End spun away from the dealership in February 2021.

Williams said developing tech in Idaho is a little different than the silicon slope.

Our advisors and trusted friends told us to pull this off we really need to move to San Francisco or be in the silicon slope of the Utah Valley, Williams said. And we said no, were going to to do this in Burley.

After Covid hit, much of the world went to remote work. Williams said it showed that some of the location barriers were ready to be broken down.

Theres some really smart people in Idaho and we feel lucky enough to have a company to where now people dont have to leave, Williams said. I had to leave  or at least I thought I had to leave  and go do something different and find a life for myself outside of Burley. But we have tech jobs in Burley now.

Idaho has grown, and some of the new people in the state are remote-working for tech, and Williams said he wants people to know that now theres a local tech company that they could work for as well.

We want to use Lease End to put Idaho on the map as far as a tech community, Williams said.
BOISE  Nathanael Michael West, 25, of Twin Falls, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for three counts of mailing threatening communications, U.S. Attorney Joshua D. Hurwit announced Monday.

In imposing his sentence, U.S. Chief District Judge David C. Nye recognized that while West did not carry out his threats, the harm he caused was very real.

Chief Judge Nye also ordered West serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. West pleaded guilty to the charge on July 26.

According to court records, West admitted that on three dates between July and August 2021, he knowingly sent threatening letters through the United States Postal Service to three prosecutors in the state of Idaho. Two of the prosecutors had previously prosecuted West. In profane and graphic terms, West wrote that he would torture and murder the prosecutors.

After the prosecutors received the various letters, law enforcement officers interviewed West. After law enforcement advised him of his Miranda rights, West admitted to sending the letters. West sent the letter from the Idaho Department of Correction, where he is currently housed for other criminal acts. The 84-month sentence imposed for mailing threatening communications will begin after he has served his existing state sentence and a prior sentence for similar conduct.

Threats against public officials, including law enforcement agents and prosecutors, is a growing problem, and it is unacceptable, said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. It is our privilege to seek justice for the victims in this case who, through their work, do so much to protect our communities throughout Idaho.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Idaho is committed to prosecuting cases involving threats to public servants. In August 2022, Erik Ehrlin, 33, of Greenleaf was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer.

Trial for Heyburn man charged with first-degree murder postponed Along with the first-degree murder charge, Kalob Morrison is also charged with felony counts of destroying evidence, criminal conspiracy, failure to notify authorities of a death and three counts of passion of a weapon by a convicted felon, in connection with the Jan. 2 death of Julio Lopez.

Second man charged in Heyburn slaying The brother of a man charged in the Jan. 2 slaying of a Heyburn man has been arraigned in Minidoka County Magistrate Court on a first-degree murder charge.
The Twin Falls Public Library announced a family concert with celebrated childrens musician and author Jim Gill.

Gill will perform at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 in the Youth Services Department at the library. The concert will be more than a show to watch  it will be an opportunity for family play.

Gill is a child-development specialist with more than 30 years of experience. His playful and joyful music is a hit with kids and grownups alike. He sings, plays the banjo and incorporates audience participation during his concerts.

The concert will feature his Silly Dance Contest, his jazzy One From the Left finger play and many more opportunities for children, parents and grandparents to sing and play together.

We have used Jims wonderful music in story time for several years, said Erica Littlefield, Youth Services Supervisor. We cant wait to have him here in person to share his music with the community.

Jim has released 10 musical albums for young children, as well as two childrens books. Jims work has won awards from the American Library Association, and he has performed for libraries, schools, and professional organizations across the country.

For more information on Jim Gill, visit his website at jimgill.com.
Ivorian popular politician and ally of former Minister Charles Ble Goude, in exile since his acquittal by Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected home, Cote dIvoire, on November 26, to take part in the reconciliation, his party has told media.

Pan-African Congress for Justice and Equality of Peoples, COJEP, also indicted that date was decided in conjunction with the Chief of Staff of President Alassane Ouattara.

It has been agreed with the Ivorian authorities that Charles Ble Goude will return to Cote dIvoire on November 26, 2022, the party said.

The COJEP is delighted with this happy outcome. Faithful to its republican culture, the party would like to reiterate its gratitude to the Ivorian authorities, especially the President of the Republic, it added.

Ble Goude has been out of his country since 2014 after his extradition to the Hague following his arrest in Ghana in 2013 in the wake of a political crisis that gripped Cote dIvoire after 2011 political crisis.

The West African country further slid into crisis following the elections of Ouattara but rejected by then leader Laurent Gbagbo.

Gbagbo also arrested in 2011 was extradited to the Hague. Both Gbagbo and Ble Goude were charged by the court with crime but the court acquitted both them in 2021.

Gbagbo returned home last year in June but Ble Goude could not owing to lack of passport.
The Cape Verdean President, Jose Maria Neves, will swear in on Wednesday the new ministers nominated by the Prime minister, who readjusted the government after Arlindo do Rosario left to become ambassador to China, it was announced yesterday.

The Presidency of the Republic of Cabo Verde said in a statement that the head of state, Jose Maria Neves, accepted the proposed government reshuffle, presented by Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.

Jose Maria Neves signed today the presidential decrees, which remove Arlindo do Rosario as Health Minister and Filomena Goncalves as Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs.

Neves also accepted the nominations of Filomena Goncalves for Minister of Health and Janine Lelis to be the new Minister of State in charge of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs, accumulating with National Defense and Territorial Cohesion.

The inaugurations will take place at 16:00 local time (18:00 in Lisbon), at the Presidency of the Republic, in the city of Praia.

This is the second change in the Government of the X legislature, which began in May 2021, after the resignation in November of the same year of Paulo Veiga as Minister of Sea, a portfolio that is now assumed by Abraao Vicente, accumulating with Culture and Creative Industries.

With these changes, the Cape Verdean government, politically supported by the Movement for Democracy (MpD), has one less minister (not counting the prime minister), from 17 to 16, and continues with the nine secretaries of state.

The governing body sworn in on May 20, 2021 has grown to a record 28 members in relation to the 9th legislature, including the prime minister, 18 ministers (including one deputy prime minister and two ministers of state), and nine secretaries of state.
The Guinea-Bissau Judicial Police (PJ) arrested two people and seized five kilograms of cocaine at the airport in Bissau on Saturday, a source from the criminal investigation force announced yesterday.

According to the same source, one of the detainees intended to travel to Lisbon on the TAP flight with the cocaine, while the other, an airport employee, was arrested for assisting the passage of the drug.

In total, the PJ seized 5.6 kilograms distributed in five packages, which the detainee, who intended to travel, carried as hand luggage in a backpack.

The drug was wrapped in a towel inside the backpack. The two detainees were present in court yesterday and were remanded in custody.
The Angolan government Tuesday promised to materialize the interconnection of the Luanda and Benguela railways, aiming to connect the eastern part of the country and improve mobility in Luanda with the construction of the surface metro.

In the same way we intend to build the connection of the CFL (Luanda Railways) from Malanje to Saurimo and to Luena, thus materializing the interconnection of the CFL and CFB (Benguela Railways) connecting lines, we are talking about a first step of the connection between the three railways, said the Angolan Secretary of State for Land Transport.

Jorge Bengue, who was speaking at the opening of the 1st Cycle of Railway Technical Conferences in Angola, also assured that work is underway to create the conditions for the construction of Luandas surface subway.

The works for the construction of the surface metro, he noted, arise from the urgency and need to improve the offer of the mobility service in the city of Luanda.

The governor noted the recent acquisition of 10 automotive units (locomotives) for the urban and suburban passenger transport service, noting that seven are already in circulation in Luanda and the others will soon start circulating in Benguela province.

We foresee the acquisition of more units for the cities of Lubango and Namibe as well as reinforcements for the cities of Luanda and Benguela, meeting the current challenges from the point of view of giving effective and proportional responses to the size of the need for urban mobility of the main cities of our country, he noted.

Regarding the history of Angolas railroads, which marks 134 years of existence on October 31, Bengue recalled that the countrys railroad network brings together three companies, namely CFB, CFL and Caminhos de Ferro de Mocamedes (CFM), over an extension of about 2,730 kilometers

Rail transport and its impact on mobility, CFLs railway infrastructure in the Zenza-Cacuso section and its constraints, the importance of the signaling and communications system in commercial railway operation are some of the topics under analysis at the meeting.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In a trial matching new treatments to cancer patients based on the genetic makeup of their tumors, the tumors shrank in 22% of the patients treated with the AKT inhibitor drug ipatasertib. This included patients with breast cancer and endometrial cancer as well as two rarer formsanal and salivary gland. In the majority of the other patients (56%) their cancer remained stable, meaning their tumors neither shrank nor grew.

The research involved a small number of patients with advanced cancers. The results are to be presented on Friday, October 28, 2022 at the 34th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Barcelona, Spain, by Dr. Carolyn McCourt from Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, U.S..

Ipatasertib is an AKT inhibitor, meaning that it works by blocking a protein called AKT. AKT helps healthy cells grow and multiply, but genetic changes in some tumors mean this protein can also allow cancer cells to grow and spread.

Dr. McCourt said, "Although we have known about the role of AKT in cancer for decades, there are currently no AKT inhibitors that have approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Recently, several clinical trials have tested AKT inhibitors either alone or in combination with other treatments with some success."

The new research is part of a larger study, called NCI-MATCH, that aims to determine whether cancer patients can be treated successfully by selecting therapies that target gene abnormalities found in their tumors, rather than by cancer type. NCI-MATCH is co-led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and the National Cancer Institute, part of the US National Institutes of Health.

In this part of the study, patients all had tumors with a very specific genetic alteration called AKT1 E17K. This mutation is estimated to be present in up to 4% of breast tumors, around 2% of endometrial tumors, and a small proportion of other solid tumors.

The majority of the 32 patients treated with ipatasertib in the study had already tried at least three other types of treatment. During the trial, patients took ipatasertib orally once every day in cycles of 28 days and continued as long as they were well enough and the treatment continued to work.

In an estimated 44% of patients, their tumors did not grow for at least six months while taking ipatasertib.

The most common side effects that patients experienced were diarrhea and nausea.

Dr. McCourt told the Symposium, "This is a relatively small patient population and we do not have a large number of each individual tumor type. However, we have found signs that this treatment could be working for some patients. We need to do more research to understand why some patients' tumors did not respond to ipatasertib, while other patients experienced a prolonged time when their disease remained stable on this treatment. We also need to investigate whether we can combine ipatasertib with other drugs to improve the outcome for more patients."

The research team plan to analyze tumor samples further to look for any other clues that could help predict which patients will or will not benefit from taking this treatment.

Professor Ruth Plummer from Newcastle University, UK, is co-chair of the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium and was not involved in the research. She said, "NCI-MATCH gives patients an opportunity to receive targeted therapies based on the genetic changes in their tumor, rather than where in the body their tumor began to grow. It is an important trial because it involves patients with many different types of tumors. This includes particularly rare types of cancer, for which no standard treatments currently exist. It also offers alternative options for patients with cancers that have not responded to current recommended treatments."

More information: Abstract no: 11, "Ipatasertib in Patients with Tumors with AKT Mutations: Results from the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Sub-protocol Z1K", Late Breaking and Proffered Papers, Plenary Session 7, Room 111 & 112, 15.00-16.30 hrs CEST, Friday 28 October 2022.

Provided by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Some California children's hospitals are straining under a surge of RSV, a respiratory illness that can cause babies to struggle to breathe.

At least three major children's hospitals say they have experienced either a strain or a stretching of resources because of RSV. The illness normally peaks in winter, and doctors say it's unusual for there to be such high levels in October.

The increase in RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, comes amid a rise in other respiratory illnesses in California, including the flu.

"This increase in RSV and other respiratory illnesses have stretched our capacity in the emergency department," Dr. James Stein, chief medical officer of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. The hospital has been trying to accept respiratory patients being transferred from other facilities but hasn't always been able to because of capacity constraints in its emergency room, Stein said.

In the last week at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, nearly 200 children tested positive for RSV. That's almost double what would be seen during a typical winter week.

"I think the hospital capacity is being strained," said Dr. Alice Pong, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Rady. "We haven't exceeded our capacity, but we are definitely very busy."

The increase in cases caused by RSV and other viruses has led "to a real capacity issue for us," said Dr. Christopher Vlasses, a pediatric hospitalist at UC San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland.

The hospital's acute care unit, where respiratory patients are treated, "was filled to capacity essentially every day last week, with patients waiting in the emergency department for beds," Vlasses said. Those being admitted are primarily babies.

In a bulletin Tuesday, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles summarized the current situation: "An early surge in the virus is worrying pediatricians."

"Healthcare experts are worried about the confluence of RSV, flu and COVID-19 as we move into the winter. The overlap of these three viruses, as well as others, is definitely a big concern for the next few months," Dr. Priya Soni, a Cedars-Sinai pediatric infectious disease specialist, said in a statement.

Dr. Ira Wardono, a pediatric hospitalist at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, added that "we are already seeing patients testing positive for more than one virus."

"We are worried about patients clogging up the emergency department as well as inpatient beds," Wardono said. "One thing parents can do is make sure their children get their flu shots and COVID-19 boosters where appropriate."

RSV typically doesn't get much attention, but this year it's hitting many parts of the nation particularly hard, possibly because RSV transmission has been relatively dormant for the last two years, and there are many young children who have little immunity to the virus.

"In the last several years with COVIDas a very, very dominant presencehas basically pushed out all of the other viral activity, including flu and ... RSV," said Dr. Nancy Gin, regional medical director for quality for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. "But this year, we're seeing both the RSV presence and an increasing presence of flu. It is more active back East, which is common at this time of year, and it sweeps westward."

Kaiser's hospitals in Southern California "are running into occasional capacity issues for the pediatric patients," Gin said. Usually at this time of the year there would be no such challenges, she added.

Children's Hospital of Orange County said its RSV cases tripled in the last three weeks.

And in the Central Valley, Valley Children's Hospital in Madera has been seeing "a large number of children coming into our emergency department for RSV and other respiratory issues," even as coronavirus rates remain low and steady.

Meanwhile, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital in Westwood has not observed an uptick in RSV hospitalizations.

Still, federal officials are voicing concern.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, said Saturday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that "we're seeing a surge" of RSV. Prior to the COVID pandemic, cases of RSV might've been spread out over time, but now "we're seeing a concentration of them."

"We're seeing the rise of three respiratory viruses, all of them going up around the same timethat's concerning," said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's COVID-19 response coordinator, referring to RSV, COVID-19 and the flu.

The good news, he added Tuesday, "is for two of the three, we have vaccines that are highly effective at preventing serious illness: COVID and flu."

Getting youngsters those shots "takes two of the three issues off the table," he said during a news briefing. "It also creates more capacity in the healthcare system and it just makes it better for everybody."

With many people reverting to pre-pandemic behaviors, "we're seeing a return to the normal viruses that circulate in the community," Vlasses said, and there are "a lot of young children who are naive to the virus and don't have immunity."

Many children contract RSV and other viruses without experiencing severe illness and don't require hospitalization, Vlasses said. Symptoms can include a runny nose, cough, fever or sore throat, all of which can be managed at home.

Jha estimated that about 90% of kids end up contracting RSV at least once by the time they're 2 years old. But "because of the pandemic, some of the kind of standard patterns have been disrupted, so we're seeing a lot of RSV at once."

"For most kids, RSV is very, very mild. And my recommendation is, you know, pretty standard stuff, right? Avoid sick contacts. If your kid is sick, keep them at home to prevent spreading it to others," he said. "Unlike COVID, which is purely airborne, with RSV, a lot of it is surface transmission, and therefore washing hands turns out to be actually quite a good thing."

Those at higher risk include babies younger than 12 monthsespecially those under 6 months; premature infants; infants with underlying cardiac disease or chronic lung problems; and children with weakened immune systems. Older people also are at risk.

Annually, an estimated 58,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized with RSV, leading to 100 to 500 deaths. Among those 65 and older, an estimated 177,000 are hospitalized each year, with 14,000 deaths.

There have been no confirmed RSV-associated deaths in California this fall in children younger than 5, according to the state Department of Public Health.

RSV is highly transmissible. "Kids can get it from their parents, who might have just a mild cold. Older kids may not look that sick with it. But the little babies can get very sick with it, and certainly it can be spread in day care and schools," Pong said.

Babies are particularly vulnerable because the virus attacks the very small airways that lead to their lungs, causing them to become inflamed. Substantial mucus production can block airways, and because babies' "airways are much smaller, they have a lot more trouble handling all those secretions," Pong said.

When those air passages get swollen, it's very difficult for air to pass in and out of the lungs, and the baby can start wheezing, said Dr. Daisy Dodd, a pediatric infectious disease specialist for Kaiser in Orange County.

Adults and older children can simply cough up the mucus. But babies may need extra help breathing. Warning signs for infants include rapid breathing and using their chest muscles to breathe, said Dr. Alan Schroeder, a pediatric critical care physician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.

"Are they breathing faster? And are they using their musclestheir rib muscles, neck muscles or diaphragm musclesto help them breathe? Can you see those muscles pulling in when they take a breath?" Schroeder said.

Another serious warning sign is being unable to feed well, resulting in diapers being less wet. When their noses are so congested, babies can't feed and they get dehydrated, Schroeder said.

If a baby can't eat or drink because of coughing, or has a difficult time catching their breath, "definitely, get in the car and come in right away," Dodd said.

Babies at highest risk are those under 3 months of age, Vlasses said. They may need to be hospitalized so doctors can provide oxygen, manage their airways and give fluids intravenously.

Sometimes, babies will need intensive care if they go into respiratory distress.

In an advisory issued this month, the California Department of Public Health warned about the early increase in RSV, as have their counterparts in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Officials urged parents to keep sick kids out of child care, and discouraged healthcare, child care and nursing home employees from working while sick even if they've tested negative for the coronavirus because of the risk of spreading other viruses, such as RSV.

California officials said that for the week that ended Sept. 24, nearly 5% of respiratory illness specimens tested positive for RSV, a figure not usually that high until late November. "Hospitals have been reporting high numbers of respiratory illness in their emergency departments and clinics," the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a statement.

Citing guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, state health officials suggested healthcare providers give high-risk infants and young childrensuch as those born prematurely or have heart or lung diseasethe monoclonal antibody palivizumab. The injection is not used to treat RSV infection; rather, it is given to slow or stop the spread of RSV in their body should they become exposed to it.

Schroeder said RSV is not the only illness affecting California hospitals. "We're really seeing all of the winter viruses, but several months early." The last couple of weeks have been comparable to some hospitals' busier winter weeks, he said.

To help children avoid risk of infection, Schroeder said parents should be "trying to do our best to not gather with families or other children who are actively sick."

They also may want to keep older, sick children away from the baby, Dodd said.

Some families with newborns may even want to limit contacts with the baby during times of high viral transmission. Making sure visitors and family members wash their hands before interacting with the baby is also a good step, according to Dodd.

RSV can spread through the air and live on surfaces for a period of time, Vlasses said.

"I wouldn't take my young infanta newbornout into a large crowd right now because there are lots of different viruses that they can get," Pong said.

It is also important for people to get their flu shots and get boosted against COVID-19 to help protect babies too, health officials said.

"We don't have a vaccine right now for RSV," Vlasses said. "But we do have vaccines for other viruses that cause the same kind of disease that can be harmful to children. Vaccines are a really powerful thing that we can do as a community as we go into what I think is going to be a long year of respiratory illness."

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A study of mice led by Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Edison Biotechnology Institute researchers has shown that stopping the activity of growth hormone (GH) in fat cells can improve health and increase lifespan.

Growth hormone is best known for regulating growth; however, its presence has both beneficial and detrimental effects. It is found in many tissues in the body and plays an important role in numerous biological functions including aging.

The concept for the study was inspired in part by a mouse that set a record for being the longest-lived in a laboratory. This long-lived mouse has no growth hormone action in any cell or tissue, resulting in mice that were small in size and obese but with a much longer lifespan than typical laboratory mice. Investigators wanted to see if selectively removing GH receptor from fat cells (adipocytes), rather than entirely removing it from the body, would retain the beneficial aspects of GH insensitivity while limiting the more harmful effects.

"This study expands our knowledge about the action of GH and how it can specifically impact different tissues with different physiological outcomes," said John Kopchick, Ph.D., who collaborated on the study with Ohio University investigators Edward List, Ph.D., and Darlene Berryman, Ph.D., along with researchers at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. "Although in this study the mice have increased fat, they were metabolically healthy and lived longer than control littermates, meaning that we can apply this to our own lives helping the general public understand that not all fat is bad fat."

The results, which were recently published in the journal Endocrinology, where it received the distinction of a Featured Article, showed that disrupting the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene in fat cells improved insulin sensitivity at an advanced age and increased lifespan in male mice. The mice also had increased fat mass, reduced circulating levels of insulin, C-peptide, adiponectin, resistin, and improved frailty scores with increased grip strength at advanced ages. The researchers found that approximately 23% lifespan extension in male mice that have no GH action is due to GHR disruption in fat cells. In a previous report, they determined that approximately 19% of the lifespan extension is due to GH action in muscle, and that females benefited less from GHR disruption.

Kaplan-Meier survival plots for AdGHRKO mice. AdGHRKO mice (red) and littermate controls (black) are shown for males (A, top left), females (B, top right), and combined sexes (C, bottom). P values are provided for log-rank tests and shown in bold if statistical significance is reached (P = less than .05). AdGHRKO, adipocyte-specific growth hormone receptor knockout. Credit: Endocrinology (2022). DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac129

The study was conceived as investigators considered a line of mice developed in Kopchick's lab here at Ohio University that has been used for more than 25 years to study healthy aging. This line of mice, called growth hormone receptor knockout (GHRKO) mice, have no GH action in their bodies. They live longer, have enhanced insulin sensitivity and are protected from multiple age-related diseases.

"In fact, this mouse, which is completely GH-insensitive because it lacks the receptor for GH (GHR), holds the record for the longest-lived laboratory mouse, living one week shy of five years versus control mice, which live about two to two and a half years," List said. "We also know that GH acts on fat cells so we wanted to find out what happens if we take away GHR only in these cells while leaving GHR intact in all other cells and tissues."

After removing the GH receptor in adipocytes in mice, the investigators allowed the mice to live normally and analyzed if the alteration impacted their metabolism and lifespan, looking at adiposity, cytokines/adipokines, glucose homeostasis, frailty, and lifespan in aging mice of both sexes.

According to the study, the data demonstrate that removal of GH's action, even in a single tissue, is sufficient for observable health benefits that promote long-term health, reduce frailty, and increase longevity.

"This study is important because it tells us that some of the not-so-beneficial health effects of GH occur in adipose tissue and that GH is not an anti-aging drug; if anything it promotes aging," List said.

More information: Edward O. List et al, Disruption of Growth Hormone Receptor in Adipocytes Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Lifespan in Mice, Endocrinology (2022). Journal information: Endocrinology Edward O. List et al, Disruption of Growth Hormone Receptor in Adipocytes Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Lifespan in Mice,(2022). DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac129
Cumulative Incidence Function Curves Comparing Survivors After ECMO and Non-ECMO ICU Survivors for the Primary Composite Outcome of Any New Mental Health Condition and Each Individual Component of the Composite. All P values were calculated using the cumulative incidence function equality test. ECMO indicates extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; ICU, intensive care unit. Credit: JAMA (2022). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.17714

Survivors of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support had a 24% higher rate of new mental health diagnoses after discharge compared to other ICU survivors, according to the first study of its kind, published in JAMA.

ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is the most advanced form of life support. It temporarily replaces the heart and lungs of patients suffering from heart or respiratory failure. This resource-intensive treatment is usually reserved for younger, healthier patients who are most likely to survive. This is the first study to look at how their mental health is affected.

"ECMO saves lives. About 50 to 65% of patients who receive this treatment will survive, and most are alive five years later," said Dr. Shannon Fernando, a critical care physician at Lakeridge Health and postdoctoral fellow at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa.

"We already knew that ICU survivors can suffer mental health impacts from the trauma of invasive treatments, living with new physical limitations and dealing with long recovery times. We suspected ECMO survivors would be at greater risk of mental health impacts because they are sedated and ventilated for longer and often face a more challenging recovery. But we didn't have clear data until now."

To find out, the team of researchers from The Ottawa Hospital, the Institut du Savoir Montfort, ICES and the University of Ottawa looked at health records from all ICU survivors in Ontario, Canada from April 2010 to March 2020.

The researchers matched the 642 ECMO survivors with 3,820 other ICU survivors who had similar characteristics including age, sex, mental health history, critical illness severity and hospital length of stay. This analysis found ECMO patients had a 24% higher rate of new mental health diagnoses compared with other ICU survivors.

Of the 642 ECMO survivors, 236 (37%) were diagnosed with a new mental health condition. The most frequent diagnoses were depression, anxiety, and mental health conditions caused by a traumatic experience, known as traumatic disorders. Previous studies have found these to be the most common mental health diagnoses among survivors of critical illness.

"As care providers, we can tell our patients that it's common to struggle with your mental health after an ICU admission," said Dr. Peter Tanuseputro, co-senior author, physician-scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and ICES, investigator at the Bruyere Research Institute and associate professor at the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa. "ICU survivors need to realize that they often face months or years of recovery, and families and healthcare providers need to support them."

This study's findings are particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the use of ECMO grew worldwide to address never-before-seen numbers of patients with severe respiratory failure. At the height of the pandemic, the province of Ontario had twice as many patients on ECMO as it did pre-pandemic.

"We suddenly have a lot more ECMO survivors because of COVID-19. We need to make sure they have the mental health support they need to recover and thrive," said Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, co-senior author on the paper and scientist and critical care physician at The Ottawa Hospital, senior clinician investigator at the Institut du Savoir Montfort and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa.

The exact reasons why ECMO survivors are at greater risk of mental health problems compared to other ICU survivors is still unclear, and more research is needed.

"We really need more research and investment in the area of post-critical illness," said Dr. Fernando. "Patients will need help long after they leave the ICU."

More information: Association of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation With NewMental Health Diagnoses in Adult Survivors of Critical Illness, JAMA (2022). Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Association Association of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation With NewMental Health Diagnoses in Adult Survivors of Critical Illness,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.17714
Hira- and Fh1-deficient cells promote tumor initiation, growth, and invasion in vivo.(A) Scheme of xenograft injections in the flank of nude mice. Two million cells were injected in each flank (5 mice, 10 injections in total), and tumor initiation/growth was monitored for 11 weeks by In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) bioluminescence imaging (BLI). (B and C) Xenograft tumor growth by means of average BLI and flux intensity normalized to day 0 (n = 10 tumors) of Hira- and Fh1-deficient cells (Fh1/CL1 g1Hira and Fh1/CL19 g1Hira). (D) Scheme of orthotopic experiments carried out. Cells were injected in the kidney capsule (n = 4 kidneys per condition). Tumor initiation, growth, and invasion were analyzed for 8 weeks by IVIS BLI. (E) Representation of average luminescence signal by means of BLI and flux intensity normalized to day 1 (day after surgery) of Fh1-deficient (Fh1/CL1 Cas9) and Hira- and Fh1-deficient cells (Fh1/CL1 g1Hira). (F) Representative hematoxylin and eosin images of the kidney injected with Hira- and Fh1-deficient cells. Tumors attached to the kidney capsule and invasive lesions within the kidney can be observed. Small square represents the whole sections of the kidney and adjacent tumors. Scale bars, 1 mm. (G) Analysis of FH and HIRA expression data from patients with HLRCC. Numbers on the bars represent P values. (H) Gene expression of HIRA in KIRP II comparing normal and primary tumor samples. Tumor samples with low FH expression are represented in blue. (I) Overall survival data associated to HIRA expression from KIRP using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). Low/High HIRA represents top and bottom 50%. Error bars represent SEM. Statistic test performed: two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test. Numbers represent P value for all comparisons. TPM, transcripts per million, HR, hazard ratio; FC, fold change. Credit: Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq8297

Deletion of the HIRA protein promotes the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells in cell culture and animal models. That is the result of a research endeavor led by Alexander von Humboldt Professor Dr. Christian Frezza at the University of Cologne.

The hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome (HLRCC) is based on a change in the gene that produces the protein fumarate hydratase (FH). Fumarate hydratase is a cell protein that is significantly involved in energy production in cells. However, the mutation in the gene alone does not lead to the disease.

Other factors such as the reduced production of HIRA are necessary for cancer to develop, which the scientists discovered with the help of CRISPR/Cas9 screening in cells. The research, which was started at the MRC Cancer Unit of Cambridge University and completed at the CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Ageing Research at the University of Cologne, has now been published in Science Advances.

"Based on these new mechanistic findings, a model for HLRCC kidney tumors can be developed that opens up new perspectives for targeted therapies," said Dr. Lorea Valcarcel, first author of the study.

In addition to the laboratory experiments, the scientists demonstrated a reduction in FH and HIRA proteins in affected HLRCC patients compared to samples from healthy individuals. Down-regulation of HIRA is also further confirmed by tumor biopsies from two patients compared to the normal surrounding tissue.

Thus, loss of HIRA activates the protein MYC, a known oncogene. Oncogenes are genes and proteins that positively influence tumor formation through its function and activation of other proteins.

More information: Lorea Valcarcel-Jimenez et al, HIRA loss transforms FH -deficient cells, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Lorea Valcarcel-Jimenez et al, HIRA loss transforms FH -deficient cells,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq8297
Among medical school students, there are significant disparities in publication rates across sex and race and ethnicity, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in JAMA Network Open.

Mytien Nguyen, from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues examined the relationship between student sex and racial and ethnic identity with publication rates during medical school. The analysis included 31,474 graduates who matriculated in academic years 2014 to 2015 and 2015 to 2016.

The researchers found that students attending a National Institutes of Health top 40 research-ranked school reported a higher number of research experiences and publication counts than students from non-top 40 schools. While women reported a higher number of research experiences than men, they had significantly fewer publications (top 40 schools: adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 0.89; non-top 40 schools: aRR, 0.93). Asian students had higher publication rates than White students at both top 40 schools (aRR, 1.10) and non-top 40 schools (aRR, 1.07). Publication rates were lower among Black students (top 40 schools: aRR, 0.83; non-top 40 schools: aRR, 0.88) and Hispanic students attending non-top 40 schools (aRR, 0.93).

"These findings illustrate that inequities in the physician-scientist workforce began early in training and highlight key areas for intervention, such as funding support and mentorship training during undergraduate medical education, that may promote the future success of a diverse physician-scientist workforce," the authors write.

More information: Mytien Nguyen et al, Variation in Research Experiences and Publications During Medical School by Sex and Race and Ethnicity, JAMA Network Open (2022). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Mytien Nguyen et al, Variation in Research Experiences and Publications During Medical School by Sex and Race and Ethnicity,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.38520

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Credit: University of Glasgow

A major study has examined changes in the health of Scottish veterans over time compared with people who have never served, concluding that despite many health outcomes for veterans improving, some important challenges remain. The researchers found that the Defense Health Strategy, implemented from the late 1970s, which introduced mandatory fitness training and health promotion in the Armed Forces, as well the ban on indoor smoking, have been key components in improving the health outcomes for veterans.

The study compared the medical records of 78,000 veterans in Scotland with over 250,000 non-veterans, looking at trends in their long-term health over nearly 40 years. The research, led by Dr. Beverly Bergman at the University of Glasgow and funded by Forces in Mind Trust, was a follow-up to the 20122015 Scottish Veterans' Health Study. It found clear evidence that more recent generations of veterans had benefited from in-service health promotion and improved support.

However, the researchers found that smoking-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, remain a major issue for veterans, although this is improving as military smoking reduces. The slightly increased risk of diabetes is not changing, and the risk of prostate cancer and bowel cancer in veterans is no different from non-veterans. Generally, veterans who have served for longest are enjoying better health, whilst those who leave service early have the poorest health outcomes, which is partly explained by living in deprived areas and taking on the health risks of the community where they settle.

The study also looked into changing mental health outcomes and found that understanding the drivers for mental ill-health was challenging, as the pattern of mental health in the wider community is also changing. There has been a marked deterioration in the mental health of middle-aged veterans born in the 1970s in comparison with non-veterans which cannot be completely explained by operational service.

Reassuringly, more recent birth cohorts are showing some improvement, which may be related to initiatives which have been put in place in recent years to support transition that were not available to older veterans. There is therefore compelling evidence of need for more support to middle-aged veterans to ensure that there are veteran-specific services that can meet their needs. The researchers also found that the mental health profile of women veterans differs from men, and suggest that male-orientated veteran services may not be the best way of meeting their needs.

Tom McBarnet, chief executive (acting) of Forces in Mind Trust, said, "We were pleased to be able to fund this important follow-up to the Scottish Veterans Health Study (20122015) which provided an unprecedented insight into the health of veterans. This study has provided useful insights into the impact changing attitudes towards smoking, alcohol and fitness has had in the Armed Forces, and dispels harmful myths about military service negatively impacting health. In fact, it shows that often it can have a positive effect.

"This research was possible due to Scotland's more comprehensive approach to data collection of health records and coding of veteran status. FiMT, alongside many other researchers and organizations, has been calling for the same approach to be replicated across the U.K. to improve understanding of veterans' needs and to target support more appropriately. We hope that this report will help policymakers and practitioners to understand the health needs of veterans, and to recognize where efforts can be focused to make further improvements."

Dr. Beverly Bergman, the lead researcher, said, "This study provides information on the key areas where veterans' health differs from the wider community, enabling service providers to target their activities to benefit those whose need is greatest and thereby optimize the allocation of scarce resources. It also indicates where improvement in health is slowest, and therefore where the greatest need lies for further health promotion targeted at the veteran community. The report highlights areas where more detailed research is needed, and recommends that veterans' health should be routinely monitored by national statistical organizations."

More information: The study is available online: The study is available online: www.fim-trust.org/wp-content/u  t-Digital-Copy-1.pdf
In most U.S. counties, a Google search of the phrase "eye doctor near me" may underrepresent ophthalmologists, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Rebecca R. Soares, M.D., from Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, and colleagues examined how well ophthalmologists are represented in a Google search of the phrase "eye doctor near me." The analysis included geographic coordinates for 2,955 county centroids in the United States (June 30, 2021), with the top 10 sites and three Google map links assessed.

The researchers found that the overall mean proportion of ophthalmologists from the Google search of all counties was 4,726.97 of 16,345.93 (28.91 percent), which was less than the real proportion of optometrists (15,778 of 41,975; 37.58 percent), yielding a difference of 8.67 percent. Google underrepresented ophthalmologists in 35 of 52 states and territories (67.3 percent).

"Google search of the phrase 'eye doctor near me' may underrepresent ophthalmologists, potentially undervaluing the role ophthalmologists play as eye care professionals," the authors write. "Ophthalmologists may want to pursue search engine optimization to try to achieve balanced representation online."

More information: Rebecca R. Soares et al, A Geographic Analysis of Google Characterizations of Who Is an "Eye Doctor" Across the US, JAMA Ophthalmology (2022). Rebecca R. Soares et al, A Geographic Analysis of Google Characterizations of Who Is an "Eye Doctor" Across the US,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.4343 Jayanth Sridhar, Blurred VisionA Call to Action to Improve Public Education on Eye Clinician Differences, JAMA Ophthalmology (2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.4354 Journal information: JAMA Ophthalmology

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Polynomial regression plot predicting the probability of autism diagnosis. A plot of the polynomial regression with response surface analysis of emotional and cognitive empathy, predicting the probability of autism diagnosis. The black line represents empathic disequilibrium, and the blue line represents total empathy. (a) The response surface parameters for males (N = 1641), (b) for females (N = 3273). Credit: Autism Research (2022). DOI: 10.1002/aur.2794

A research group led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has proposed a new concept for predicting autism and autistic traits. "Empathic disequilibrium" combines two types of empathy into a single scale for the first time.

Their findings were published recently in Autism Research.

Cognitive empathy means the ability to recognize other people's mental states. Emotional empathy means responding to another's mental state with an appropriate emotion. Previous research generally, but not always, found deficits in cognitive empathy among those diagnosed with autism. But this contradicted with some autistic people reporting having too much empathy.

Now, Dr. Florina Uzefovsky and Ido Shalev, from the Department of Psychology and the Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience at Ben-Gurion University, Dr. Alal Eran of the Department of Life Sciences and Boston Children's Hospital, and their colleagues at the University of Cambridge, and Bar-Ilan University propose looking at how cognitive and emotional empathy interact through a new concept they have termed empathic disequilibrium.

"It is too simplistic to say those diagnosed with autism lack cognitive empathy or they lack emotional empathy. We need a more nuanced understanding of how the two empathies relate to each other, which we believe can aid in diagnosis and in understanding some autistic traits," says Dr. Uzefovsky.

Each type of empathy is "rooted in distinct yet interrelated neurobiological evolved mechanisms," the researchers wrote. A balance between these aspects is needed for social functioning. Those diagnosed with autism may have levels of empathy that are comparable to that of the general population, but a relative overabundance of emotional empathy may hinder some social interactions. Hence, empathic disequilibrium.

The researchers conducted a study among 1905 individuals diagnosed with autism (54% females, M age = 36.81  12.88, range 1880 years) and 3009 typical controls (75% females, M age = 38.26  12.31 range 1892 years). Participants filled in online questionnaires designed to assess their empathic disequilibrium. They found that those diagnosed with autism exhibited higher rates of empathic disequilibrium. However, they also found that empathic disequilibrium was useful for analyzing empathy in the non-autistic population as well.

"This concept opens up several interesting avenues of research into autism and into empathy," says Dr. Uzefovsky.

More information: Ido Shalev et al, Reexamining empathy in autism: Empathic disequilibrium as a novel predictor of autism diagnosis and autistic traits, Autism Research (2022). Journal information: Autism Research Ido Shalev et al, Reexamining empathy in autism: Empathic disequilibrium as a novel predictor of autism diagnosis and autistic traits,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/aur.2794
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My brother has been diagnosed with depression. I want to help him, but I do not know what to do. Can you give me ideas for how best to support him?

ANSWER: When a loved one is affected by depression, it can be difficult to understand what is happening or what you can do to help. It is OK to be confused and wonder how you can assist.

Clinical depression is an incredibly complex and individualized process. Understanding depression spans multiple levels of knowledge, from genetics and brain biology to culture and situational stress. Yet despite all the information, universal truths or simple solutions do not exist.

Downward spiral of depression

Gaining perspective on what your brother is experiencing can be critical to the support process. Visualizing depression as a downward spiral is one way to simplify and understand clinical depression.

The downward spiral may begin with the person feeling worse than usual from physical, social or psychological stressors. A worsened mood may lead to taking part in fewer meaningful day-to-day activities. Self-criticism and stress increase due to mounting responsibilities or missed opportunities. Depressive thinking may encompass guilty thoughts, pessimism and irritable behavior.

As the spiral develops, a complex dynamic emerges. Your loved one becomes increasingly stressed while simultaneously less capable of coping with this stress. The response of the brain to this dynamic is to slow, stop and depress. A person can get stuck at the bottom of the spiral for weeks, months or years.

The silver lining is that if people can spiral down, they can spiral back up. However, depression affects the motivation, energy and curiosity needed to spiral up.

It is challenging not to be able to fix a loved one's depression. But you can help them get started to move on an upward path and support them in their journey.

Here are some suggestions to offer support and understanding:

Learn the symptoms of depression

Depression signs and symptoms vary from person to person and can include:

Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness.

Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters.

Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities.

Insomnia or sleeping too much.

Tiredness and lack of energy. Even small tasks take extra effort.

Changes in appetitereduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain.

Anxiety, agitation or restlessness.

Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements.

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or taking unnecessary blame for things.

Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things.

Frequent or recurrent mention of death, suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Symptoms can be severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships. Other people may generally feel miserable or unhappy without knowing why.

Children and teens may show depression by being irritable or cranky rather than sad. Clinical depression does not require profound sadness or intensely negative feelings. Rather it can be a lack of positive emotion.

Encourage treatment for symptoms

People with depression may not recognize or acknowledge their symptoms. They may have difficulty seeing the point of getting treatment. This is where you can be most helpful.

Consider the following:

Talk to your brother about what you've noticed and why you're concerned.

Explain that depression is a complex conditionnot a personal flaw or weaknessand that effective treatment exists.

Suggest seeking help from a health care or a mental health professional, such as a licensed counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist.

Express your willingness to help by setting up appointments, going to them and attending family therapy sessions.

Provide support to reinforce healing

You can assist your loved one in the healing process.

Consider these ideas:

Encourage sticking with treatment.Help your brother to take prescribed medications and keep appointments.

Be willing to listenwhen desired.When your brother wants to talk, listen carefully and intently. Avoid giving too much advice or too many opinions, or making judgments. Just listening can be a powerful tool.

Give positive reinforcement.Remind your brother about his positive qualities and how much he means to you and others.

Offer assistance.Certain tasks for your brother may be hard to do. Suggest specific tasks you'd be willing to take on.

Help establish a routine.Someone who's depressed can benefit from having a routine or increased structure. This is because it can be difficult for a person with depression to make spontaneous healthy choices, so advance plans or everyday habits become crucial. Offer to make a schedule for meals, medication, physical activity, sleep, outside time or time in nature, and household chores.

Locate helpful local organizations.Access and affordability for mental health treatment can be burdensome. You may be able to use help from resources such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, employee assistance programs, or other community-based groups or programs.

Make plans together.Ask your brother to join you on a walk, see a movie, or work together on a hobby or other activity. But don't try to force him into doing something.

Be patient.For some people, symptoms can quickly improve after starting treatment. For others, it will take much longer.

Be aware of suicide risk

People with depression are at an increased risk of suicide. If you believe your brother's illness is severe or in a potentially life-threatening emergency, you may need to:

Contact a health care professional or hospital.

Call 911.

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. To reach the Veterans Crisis Line, use the same number and press "1."

What you can do for yourself

Supporting someone with depression is challenging. Part of the challenge is witnessing a loved one's struggle and knowing you cannot complete the path for that person. Understand that emotions such as frustration, helplessness or anger may be natural responses to a loved one having depression.

Practice acceptance and coping with difficult emotions by permitting yourself to prioritize your mental health. Devote time for hobbies, meaningful experiences, physical activity and other valued relationships. Dr. Erik Wing, Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin

2022 Mayo Clinic News Network.

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In new research in the journal Addictive Behaviors, public health researchers find that the prevalence of school discipline and school policingcore elements of the school-to-prison pipelinepredict subsequent school-average levels of substance use and developmental risk.

First author Seth Prins, Ph.D., a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and co-authors analyzed 11 years of data from 4,800 schools and more than 4,950,000 students in California.

They found that the prevalence of exclusionary school discipline (suspension and expulsion) and school-based police contact predicted higher school levels of binge drinking, drinking, smoking, using cannabis, using other drugs, and violence/harassment. They found also that the prevalence of school discipline also predicted lower levels of reported community support, feeling safe in school, and school support.

"Our findings are surprising to nobody who has been on the front lines of the fight against the mass criminalization of kids, especially in communities that have faced systematic disinvestment in social infrastructure and enormous investments in policing," says Prins, an assistant professor of epidemiology and sociomedical sciences.

Prins and his co-authors argue that school discipline is not developmentally appropriate or responsive (and may be harmful) to adolescent health and developmental need. Furthermore, they say, heavy investments in school securitization and policing divert resources from school and community supports and services that might address the root causes of student disciplinary and health problems.

Results of 18 adjusted multi-level models regressing 6 standardized measures of substance use and depressed feelings on 3 lagged measures of school discipline. Credit: Addictive Behaviors (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107524

According to a report by the ACLU, more than 10 million students attend schools with police but no counselor, nurse, psychologist, or social worker. And 90 percent of students in public schools experience staffing ratios for those positions that fail to meet professional standards.

According to a report by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration published in the Journal of School Health in 2019, of the 1.1 million adolescents ages 12-17 who needed substance use treatment, only 6 percent received treatment in a specialty facility, and fewer than 1 in 10 adolescents and young adults with a substance use disorder reported any past-year treatment.

Within this context of low treatment access, a 2019 study found that more than a third of adolescents who do access any mental health treatment access it only at school (they are disproportionately Black and low-income).

The latest study by Prins and colleagues builds on a study they published last year in the Journal of Adolescent Health finding the schools with students who have higher levels of substance use and depressed feelings have a higher prevalence of school discipline and school-based police contact, and that schools with students who felt less safe in school and reported lower school and community support had a higher prevalence of school discipline.

"We need to invest in kids, not cops. We need to prevent and treat substance use problems and the conditions that generate them, not criminalize and punish kids' health," says Prins.

More information: Seth J. Prins et al, Collateral consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline: Adolescent substance use and developmental risk, Addictive Behaviors (2022). Seth J. Prins et al, Collateral consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline: Adolescent substance use and developmental risk,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107524 Mir M. Ali et al, Utilization of Mental Health Services in Educational Setting by Adolescents in the United States, Journal of School Health (2019). DOI: 10.1111/josh.12753 Seth J. Prins et al, School Health Predictors of the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Substance Use and Developmental Risk and Resilience Factors, Journal of Adolescent Health (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.09.032 Journal information: Journal of Adolescent Health
Synthetic RNA virus assembly.Directed assembly of 30kb CoV genomes requires several design considerations A) Several identical type II enzymes cannot be used for directed genome assembly as this leads to random fragment sequences, inverted fragments, and loops. Use of different type II enzymes that cut in their recognition sequence for every junction requires working with numerous buffers, running numerous reactions at different temperatures, and may require modifying numerous recognition sites in the genome. The use of fewer distinct enzymes is preferred. B) Endonucleases that cleave outside of their recognition sequence (type II shifted or type IIS) can produce distinct sticky ends allowing for directed assembly of complex viral genomes. C) For IVGA, individual fragments derived from PCR or DNA synthesis are first amplified in bacterial plasmids. D) Fragments are then cut out of the plasmids using type IIS endonucleases. E) Unique sticky ends at each section enable directed assembly in a full-length cDNA or bacterial artificial chromosome. F) Use of a different type IIS endonuclease with sites flanking a region of interest (ROI) allows for efficient substitutions of that region. G) This method does not alter viral proteins. However, it does leave a distinct pattern (fingerprint) of regularly spaced type IIS recognition sites of the endonucleases that were used for synthetic assembly. Credit: bioRxiv (2022). DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.18.512756

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unresolved. In a non-peer-reviewed preprint published on bioRxiv on Oct. 20, 2022 three authors present analyses that, according to their interpretation, suggest a "synthetic emergence" of SARS-CoV-2 and its release in the context of a "laboratory accident".

Experts from the University of Wuerzburg and the University Hospital have reviewed the preprint on the origin of SARS-CoV-2. In summary, the analyses presented in the study do not provide sufficient evidence for the authors' conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 is of synthetic origin.

Valentin Bruttel (affiliation: Department for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinics of Wurzburg, Germany), Alex Washburne, and Antonius Van Dongen present analyses that, according to their interpretation, suggest a "synthetic emergence" of SARS-CoV-2 and its release in the context of a "laboratory accident".

Summary of the preprint

The core message of the preprint is that the genome of SARS-CoV-2 has an "abnormal pattern" of recognition sites for certain restriction enzymes (BsaI and BsmBI) and therefore is highly unlikely to have arisen by natural evolution.

Based on statistical analyses, the authors conclude that this pattern most likely arose as a "fingerprint" in the SARS-CoV-2 genome during the establishment of a reverse genetics system for the (most likely bat-derived SARS-CoV-2 predecessor) in a research laboratory.

Background

Restriction enzymes such as BsaI and BsmBI are used to clone genomes of coronaviruses isolated from animals such as bats and render them accessible for systematic research.

Such so-called reverse genetics systems are of great importance for virological research. They allow the genetic conservation of otherwise mutation-prone viruses as well as the investigation of individual viral gene functions. Using these tools, coronavirus genomes, which are relatively large at just under 30,000 nucleotides, can be cloned and modified in bacteria in 5-8 small subfragments.

For the cloning of the various fragments, individual bases of the viral genome occasionally have to be exchanged in order to insert the restriction sites necessary for cloning, or to remove unwanted restriction sites. Subsequently, the individual DNA fragments can be re-assembled to give rise to a complete viral genome.

Scientific evaluation

1. Contrary to the authors' claim, the restriction site pattern of SARS-CoV-2 may well have arisen naturallysimilar patterns are also found in coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2

All 5 restriction sitesBsmBI (n=3) and BsaI (n=2)central to the analyses in the preprint are also commonly found in closely related coronaviruses. Thus, the existence of these 5 sites in the SARS-CoV-2 genome can be explained without human manipulation. Some known coronaviruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 were obviously not included in the analyses performed in the preprint.

The authors of the preprint further argue that restriction sites in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are unfavorable for genetic work are absent and presumably have been artificially altered ("deleted"). However, while many other coronaviruses actually show significantly more restriction sites for the two restriction enzymes analyzed, some closely related bat coronaviruses such as BANAL-20-103 and BANAL-116 also show only 5 and 7 restriction sites, respectively, with similarly sized genome fragments.

2. The position of the two BsaI restriction sites in the region of the S gene does not indicate genetic manipulation of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

The Spike protein of coronaviruses is of particular interest because it determines whether human cells can be infected or not. For reverse genetics models, it was therefore of particular interest for researchers to be able to exchange or modify the Spike protein coding region of coronavirus genomes.

As shown by the authors, the two restriction sites for BsaI could be used to easily manipulate the most important part of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, namely the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the furin cleavage sites (FCS). For no other coronavirus isolate does this appear to be so easily possible with BsaI, since either the appropriate restriction sites are missing or additional sites would lead to additional unwanted fragments upon digestion with BsaI.

The authors argue that this suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 genome has been optimized for easy replacement and manipulation of the most important parts of the Spike protein. In fact, the combination of BsaI and BsmBI has been used in the past by research groups in Wuhan to clone coronavirus genomes from bats and perform so-called gain-of-function experiments. However, in this case, the two BsaI restriction sites were each positioned to allow the exchange of the entire Spike protein.

This is, however, not possible for SARS-CoV-2. If the two BsaI restriction sites had been in exactly the same positions as in previously published reverse genetics models, this would indeed have provided strong evidence for human manipulation. The two observed BsaI restriction sites are, however, also frequently found in closely related coronaviruses of SARS-CoV-2.

It is noteworthy, however, that these coronaviruses usually possess at least one further BsaI site, which would have to be eliminated (i.e., mutated). Given the high mutation rate of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, one would also expect that artificially inserted synonymous (wobble) mutations, inserted to create or eliminate defined restriction sites, would disappear and artificially eliminated ones would reappear over the course of the more than two-year pandemic.

In fact, however, the Omicron variants still have the same interface distribution pattern as the original Wuhan virus.

3. The statistical analyses of the paper on the distribution of restriction sites are flawed or incomplete in important respects.

The combination of BsaI and BsmBI analyzed in the preprint is indeed not suitable for the vast majority of coronaviruses to dissect their genomes into an appropriate number of fragments (5 to 7) of suitable size (<8000 nucleotides). However, as our own analyses showed, this is easily possible with other similar restriction enzymes. With the algorithms used and comprehensibly documented in the preprint, it can be shown that an appropriately suitable combination of restriction enzymes can be found for virtually any coronavirus genome.

The analysis of a single, selectively chosen combination of two restriction enzymes (here: BsaI and BsmBI) is not suitable to prove human intervention. If one analyzes only one combination of two restriction enzymes suitable for a particular virus, it is predictable that this combination will be significantly less suitable for other virus isolates to construct a reverse genetics model.

This leads to the authors' misinterpretation that the virus, in this case SARS-CoV-2, for which the selection of the analyzed combination of restriction endonucleases was optimized, is not of natural origin.

4. The analyses on the in silico evolution of two closely related coronaviruses with the aim of obtaining a restriction pattern comparable to that of SARS-CoV-2 are not convincing.

The assumption of purely random mutations in a viral genome is not valid, since most mutations disrupt or destroy the amino acid sequence of the viral proteins and are thus under selective pressure. In addition, the authors would also have had to analyze all acceptable combinations of restriction enzymes in this case as well.

The calculation described in the preprint of the probability for natural evolution of the observed restriction site pattern of SARS-CoV-2 is flawed. For this purpose, the authors combine the probabilities for a total of five different criteria. However, these are neither independent of each other, nor is the method used to combine these probability values appropriate. Furthermore, each individual probability calculated is affected by the same potential sources of error as listed above.

Summary

In their preprint, the authors present statistical analyses of the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from which they conclude a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV-2. The preprint is carefully prepared and meets basic scientific requirements, particularly with respect to a sound and transparent presentation of the methodology used.

However, the analyses presented in the preprint show considerable methodological weaknesses. As a result, the authors' main conclusions do not stand up to scientific scrutiny or result from over-interpretation of their analyses. In contrast to the statements formulated in the preprint, the pattern of restriction sites found in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 does not suggest genetic manipulation with the claimed probability.

In summary, the analyses presented in the study do not provide sufficient evidence for the authors' conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 is of synthetic origin. The origin of SARS-CoV-2 thus remains unresolved.

More information: Valentin Bruttel et al, Endonuclease fingerprint indicates a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV-2, bioRxiv (2022). Valentin Bruttel et al, Endonuclease fingerprint indicates a synthetic origin of SARS-CoV-2,(2022). DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.18.512756

Provided by Universitatsklinikum Wurzburg
Perhaps to no one's surprise, new research has determined that men do, in fact, have a much stronger sex drive than women.

After reviewing more than 200 studies, investigators "found that men consistently report a higher sex drive," said study author Julius Frankenbach, a doctoral student of psychology at Saarland University in Saarbrucken, Germany.

En masse, the research showed that men say they spend considerably more time thinking about sex, fantasizing about sex, feeling sexual desire and masturbating, compared to women.

"What did surprise us," said Frankenbach, "was that the finding was consistent across countries, age groups, ethnicities or sexual orientations. Men having a higher sex drive than women seems to be a quite universal psychological pattern."

But there's a hitch. When discussing one's own sexual proclivities, are people always honest?

"Sexuality is a sensitive topic," Frankenbach acknowledged. "So we also considered the possibility that people's self-reports are not fully accurate. There was some evidence for such inaccurate responses in our data."

"For example," he noted, "men reported having had more sexual partners than women, which, by simple logic, is almost impossible. However, we concluded that this response bias was relatively small, and could not explain all of the gender difference in sex drive we observed. In other words, we think that the gender difference is real."

The 211 studies reviewed were published after 1996, and participants were at least 14 years old. In all, more than 621,000 people were involved.

Frankenbach and study co-author Malte Friese, a professor in Saarland University's psychology department, analyzed the way each study was conducted. After for accounting for some differences, the researchers concluded that the male sex drive is stronger than the female sex drive, with a "medium-to-large effect."

Frankenbach said that the overall degree to which sex drive differs by gender could be compared to standard differences in male vs. female bodies, with "the gender difference in sex drive roughly equal to the gender difference in body weight."

Carole Hooven, a lecturer in the department of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, welcomed the study.

"I'm not surprised that researchers have confirmed what most of us know to be true by virtue of being a sexually mature human," said Hooven, who wasn't involved in the analysis.

"But what's nice about this study," she said, "is that it compiles, examines and summarizes results from many other studies that have evaluated this question of sex differences in sex drive, and the authors attempted to correct for the influence of bias in people's answers."

Still, the researchers pointed out exceptions to the rule.

Frankenbach said between 24% and 29% of women appear to have a higher sex drive than the "average" man.

So, while on average men may have a stronger sex drive than women, "there are plenty of women who are more into sex than many men," he added.

What exactly accounts for sex drive?

Frankenbach suggested it probably boils down to a complex interaction between social norms, roles and learning on the one hand, and genetics, physiology and biology on the other.

Hooven said "culture certainly plays a strong role in shaping not only how men and women express their sexuality. It also shapes how the sexes feel about what kind of behaviors are appropriate."

Beyond that, "we have so much research now, across time and place, that converges on the same observation: Men are more motivated by sex than women," with higher levels of the male hormone testosterone likely playing a key motivating role throughout a man's life, she added.

All that aside, however, Hooven said it bears keeping in mind that "some women clearly enjoy it, and none of this scientific stuff has any bearing on what kinds of behaviors are right or wrong."

The findings were published recently in Psychological Bulletin.

More information: Julius Frankenbach et al, Sex drive: Theoretical conceptualization and meta-analytic review of gender differences., Psychological Bulletin (2022). Julius Frankenbach et al, Sex drive: Theoretical conceptualization and meta-analytic review of gender differences.,(2022). DOI: 10.1037/bul0000366 There's more on sex drive and gender differences at the AARP. Journal information: Psychological Bulletin

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The man on the phone is desperate.

He's struggling to get to work after a car accident. He's thinking of walking into traffic to kill himself.

Crisis counselor Ariana Diaz, 24, murmurs and reassures him, gently asking about his life: "What are some things that have brought you joy?"

Diaz works at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that answers calls in Hillsborough and Charlotte counties from those who contact 988, the national suicide prevention hotline.

"Have you ever attempted to end your life?" she asks. "Is there anything that eases the pain of what you're going through?"

Calls like this can last an hour or longer. And they're becoming more frequent, meaning more callers may not get an immediate answer.

Since 988 launched in mid-July, replacing the original 10-digit suicide hotline, calls have surged at the Tampa center. It used to receive an average of 80 to 100 per week. Now, it gets up to 400.

The influx has been overwhelming. Before 988, the center answered almost all suicide and mental health crisis calls. The rate has since dropped to 60%. More people are being redirected to backup call-takers, some of whom may be unfamiliar with the local health care system and what support is available for those in distressor more callers are hanging up before they can get help.

The crisis center is racing to hire additional staff, hoping to boost its answer rate and prevent burnout among employees.

Diaz is a University of South Florida student who studies psychology. She plays The Sims to relax and keeps a pineapple-shaped stress ball on her desk at work.

"Some people's stories are really difficult," she says.

The original 24/7 suicide prevention hotline launched in 2005.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and New York nonprofit Vibrant Emotional Health set up the number, 1-800-273-8255.

Fifteen years later, and after a steady rise in national suicide rates, a bipartisan bill in Congress sought to make it easier to reach the hundreds of crisis counselors who offer confidential support to callers. The hotline's new dialing code would be simple, memorable: 988. It rolled out July 16.

Since then, calls have inundated the more than 200 centers across the country that answer the toll-free hotline. Federal officials have yet to heavily promote 988 via a marketing campaign, but news stories, social media and celebrities have drawn attention to it.

In August, calls to the hotline spiked almost 50% in the U.S. when compared to last year. Florida also reported a nearly 50% increase in calls, with 12,300 routed to the state's 12 centers. (A thirteenth center started to answer calls earlier this month).

Local centers are struggling with the heightened interest and changes to areas they cover.

Before 988, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay was the main call center for Hillsborough County, but now it's responsible for both Hillsborough and Charlotte counties.

If the center doesn't answer a call within two minutes, it gets bumped to backup counselors.

Last year, Largo area nonprofit 211 Tampa Bay Cares was a backup call center for Pinellas County. In August, it became the primary center for nine counties, including Pinellas and Pasco.

211 Tampa Bay Cares used to receive up to 500 suicide and mental health crisis calls a month. Now, it gets as many as 1,700.

The rate of calls answered by the nonprofit has fallen from 65% to 30%. Many are being redirected to backup counselors, some of whom are outside the area, which isn't ideal.

When local call-takers pick up, they know which mental health resources are available in Tampa Bay. Counselors elsewhere might not.

The stakes are high. In 2021, there were 497 suicides reported among Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco residentsnearly triple the number of homicides, according to preliminary data from the Florida Department of Health.

Nationally, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death during the first year of the pandemic, claiming almost 46,000 lives.

Diaz sits nearly motionless at her desk in the Tampa crisis center. The first-floor room is quiet on a recent Wednesday afternoon, filled with sunshine, rows of computers and muffled conversation.

Wearing a headset, Diaz stares at her laptop and types up details about the man on the phone, who is experiencing suicidal thoughts.

He's in Southwest Florida. He has two children. He wants help.

Diaz, an intervention specialist who started at the center in February, tells him he's resilient. She directs him to Catholic Charities and a legal aid organization, where he can seek assistance after his car accident.

Mostly, she just listens.

It's important to make callers feel heard. Feel validated. Many just want a sympathetic ear.

"I'm glad that you called," Diaz says. "What do you feel like you're going to do for the rest of the day to stay safe?"

The man calms down, and the call ends after an hour and nine minutes.

"I feel like I was able to help," Diaz says.

The goal is to hire and train more people like Diaz, given the deluge of calls.

In late August, local centers received federal grant money to do so.

211 Tampa Bay Cares, which got more than $800,000, is hiring 12 people. They'll be paid $25 an hour, and many will start answering calls in the coming weeks.

The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay plans to hire 10. They'll earn between $18 and $20 an hour.

It's "gut-wrenching work," and recruitment can be difficult. It'll take months to fill the open positions and train hires, says Clara Reynolds, CEO and president of the crisis center, which received over $750,000.

Turnover also is an issue. Typically, she says, call-takers burn out after six months or a year. They're prone to compassion fatigue after deescalating emotional crises again and again.

Everyone finds a way to cope with the stress for as long as possible. At the crisis center, Nijah Slaughter drinks green tea and listens to R&B. She loves Chris Brown, Brandy, Tamar Braxton.

She also checks in with her coworkers. If someone's on a long call, she'll send them a message, asking if they're OK.

"We kind of feed off each other," says Slaughter, a lead intervention specialist who has worked at the center since March.

It's a tough job. Not knowing what happens after a call ends is the hardest part, she says. But trying to help those in distress makes it worthwhile. Some callers don't feel comfortable talking with friends or family, so they turn to 988 instead.

To help counter burnout, the center has a "self-care room" where employees can watch TV or play board games.

At 211 Tampa Bay Cares, leaders are beginning to host open forums for staff to discuss challenges.

"We want to know, 'What's the trend? What're you hearing? What tools do you wish you had that you didn't get?'" says Edward Perry, vice president of programs and services. "'Is there anything y'all want to put on the table that you're concerned about?'"

At the Tampa crisis center, another 988 call comes in.

Slaughter, 32, picks up. It's a local woman. Her adult son in Southeast Florida is suicidal. He told his family he's ready to die and has prepared a bank account for his kids.

"OK, so this is happening right now, and you stated that you have an address for him, so you may have to call 911," Slaughter says.

She pauses.

"Definitely call 911."

The call ends, and Slaughter looks at a Tampa Bay Times reporter who is visiting the center. When someone calls on behalf of a family member, and the situation is dire, counselors urge them to contact first responders.

"I pray that he's still here," she says, "and they can get help to him immediately."

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat with someone online at 988lifeline.org.

2022 Tampa Bay Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2022). DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2021091180

Most families with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) possess a genetic mutation in PKD1 that impacts the protein polycystin-1 (PC1).

In a new article published online Friday, October 21, 2022, in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, a Yale team led by Stefan Somlo, MD and Sorin Fedeles, Ph.D., MBA demonstrated that the activation of the transcription factor XBP1 in vivo can improve the residual function of a mutant form of PC1, thereby decreasing the severity of ADPKD.

Genetic mutations can lead to a spectrum of PC1 functionfrom a complete loss of function to reduced levels. The Yale team focused on a human pathogenic missense PC1 mutation that leads to decreased levels, cleavage, and normal trafficking of the protein. They introduced this mutation in a preclinical model, which led to early-onset cystic disease. When the same model had the transcription factor XBP1 turned on, the levels, cleavage, and ciliary trafficking of PC1 was improved; leading to slower cyst growth and enhanced kidney function. Importantly, XBP1 had no impact on cystic disease when PC1 was completely absent.

"This is interesting because you don't need to have a huge impact on the in vivo functional levels of polycystin-1 to see a significant effect on disease severity," said Fedeles, assistant professor adjunct (nephrology) at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and co-senior author of the paper.

The study is the first to show that promoting ER protein homeostasis in vivo via XBP1 can mitigate the effects of PKD due to mutations affecting PC1. Furthermore, the PC1 missense model generated as part of this effort may represent a valuable tool for investigators to examine the impact of other therapies on disease progression.

"Our findings here support the notion that personalized, mutation specific approaches to ADPKD may be a viable therapeutic avenue under certain scenarios," Fedeles said.
Coding framework. Credit: Nursing Ethics (2022). DOI: 10.1177/09697330221114329

New research highlights the challenges women health care providers (HCPs) experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic which contributed to heightened moral distress, providing insights into ongoing professional burnout.

Moral distress is defined as the experience of knowing the ethically right action to take but being systemically constrained from taking that action. Researchers found that women health care providers, who comprise over 80 percent of workers in this field, faced "double distress"in the workplace and at home.

Simon Fraser University researcher Julia Smith, a health sciences assistant professor, led the study, recently published in the journal Nursing Ethics.

"There's no question our health care system continues to experience strain as women health care providers are leaving the profession due to overwork and burnout," says Smith, whose study tracked the experiences of 88 B.C. women health care workers. "Structural change is needed to address the underlying constraints, many of which pre-date COVID-19 and are notably gendered."

Smith says improving working conditions and investing in the 'care economy' will not only strengthen COVID-19 recovery efforts but will also better prepare health systems for future pandemics.

"We need investments in the services women need if they are going to staff the frontlines such as childcare and robust physical and mental health services," she adds.

Smith's team listened to stories of women participants to understand the challenges they faced on the frontlines of care during the pandemic. Researchers conducted virtual interviews and focus groups with women health care providers from December 2020 to March 2021. Participants included workers from community health, long-term care, nurses, and midwives.

Researchers investigated how participants responded to challenges related to moral events which were categorized as constraints, conflicts, dilemmas or uncertainties.

Moral constraint

At work: Inadequate staffing impacted ability to provide quality care for long-term care residents. During the early stages of the pandemic, midwives were not able to access personal protective equipment (PPE) from the government supply, leading them to source and reuse their own PPE.

At home: Women HCPs reported feeling unable to adequately support their children's well-being and education during the pandemic. Many were working increased hours and some contracted COVID-19 at work and had to isolate from their families. Lack of access to childcare was an issue and they could not rely on family due to physical distancing restrictions.

Moral conflict

At work: Women on the frontlines of care often felt decision-makers including supervisors or managers were too distanced from the realities of care work to understand the consequences of COVID-19 protocols.

At home: Attempts to adapt their schedules and accommodate childcare duties faced resistance at work. Examples included requests to work partially from home being denied or being pressured to return to work after taking time off to fill in for childcare closures.

Moral dilemma

At work: Women HCPs felt unable to provide an ethical standard of care while maintaining COVID-19 prevention protocols. Nurses were instructed to spend as little time as possible with patients to reduce transmission risk when patients needed increased emotional support because they were isolated from their families.

At home: Moral dilemmas over how to reduce COVID-19 risk at work and at home affected relationships with family members. Women HCPs reported feeling guilty when deciding against caring for their elders to protect them from possible exposure to COVID-19.

Moral uncertainty

At work: Constantly changing information about COVID-19, particularly during the early months of the pandemic, made it difficult to know how to best protect their patients/residents. They linked uncertainty and lack of communication to distress.

Resisting conditions of moral distress

Women HCPs were able to fight moral distress in several ways:

Midwives collaborated with hospital managers and other HCPs to successfully advocate for access to government-supplied PPE.

An increasing number of facilities and workers in long-term care joined unions to advocate for improved staffing policies.

Campaigns for greater investment in childcare secured unprecedented provincial and federal investments.

Women HCPs increased counseling sessions or began therapy during the pandemic. Those who did not have access to employer-provided mental health supports or extended benefits and reported covering the costs themselves.

Respondents recognized the importance of their work, often drawing on feelings of professional pride and fulfillment to stay motivated.

More information: Julia Smith et al, Double distress: women healthcare providers and moral distress during COVID-19, Nursing Ethics (2022). Julia Smith et al, Double distress: women healthcare providers and moral distress during COVID-19,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/09697330221114329
THE DELEGATION of the European Union to the Philippines, together with its humanitarian partners and the Cultural Center of the Philippines ...
City officials defended what they say was the extremely difficult and thought-out decision to close the Authorized Camp Site for homeless people.

But during the tense, anguish-laden, two-and-a-half hour meeting on Wednesday, other City Council members and residents of the camp pushed back and urged them to find a way to keep it open.

In the end, the Missoula city council voted 9-3 to delay considering a proposal from Ward 3 council member Daniel Carlino to keep the ACS open using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The council's Committee of the Whole will discuss it next Wednesday.

Last winter the ACS was completely full with a waiting list, while the Emergency Winter Shelter was nearly full, Carlino explained in a memo to the council. Recently, some residents of the ACS came to council to express their communitys concerns about the closure of the ACS. They explained that some of the ACS residents cannot stay at the Emergency Winter Shelter and explained why a five-week notice to shut down the ACS is not long enough."

Keeping the ACS open throughout the winter would prevent the displacement of the current ACS residents, who are among the most vulnerable in the community, Carlino said.

The numbers are fluid, but city staff say that there reportedly are 10-20 people of the roughly 50-60 currently at the ACS who say they will not go to the citys Emergency Winter Shelter on Johnson Street or a second outdoor camping spot known as the Temporary Safe Outdoor Space for various reasons.

Essentially, city staff said theyve discussed ways to keep open the shelter with other community partners and have decided that because the facility lacks running water, sewer and electricity, it can't function in winter.

And because it lies in a floodplain, its not feasible to build the infrastructure to keep it open another winter, especially since theres not enough people to staff it around the clock. Eran Pehan, the director of the citys community planning office, said theres not enough money to operate the ACS safely and theres no partner willing to take over operations.

We did not do it well last year and it was not done safely, Pehan said. It did not go well and is not a model we would like to replicate this season.

Heather Hays, a resident of the camp, said she was upset that city officials believe that there has to be electric heat and private security guards in order for the camp to remain open.

I am near furious hearing the lies that have been told to you about the things that have been done, she said. We have generators that we share. We are a community, we are a family, we take care of each other."

Hays said she's researched other legal homeless camps.

"Ive seen other states that have done this," she said. "That fact that (Pehan) thinks that we need such an aggressive on-the-ground (security) there  we are all adults. We had jobs just like you, but one bad thing happened to us and we ended up here. Youre making us out to be animals in that place. Were human. If you take this away from us during the winter months, you're killing us.

Mayor Jordan Hess said that although there is over $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds controlled by the city and county, the decision has been made to keep that money to operate the indoor Emergency Winter Shelter (in another part of town, on Johnson Street) next year in case the Crisis Services Levy doesnt pass on Nov. 8.

The remaining funds were held in order to provide the opportunity for Emergency Winter Shelter next winter in the event that we dont have funding through the levy, Hess said. If we spend those funds now and levy doesnt pass, we will have no funds for that service next year. Coming up with that kind of new revenue in one year is very challenging. We felt like the Emergency Winter Shelter is so important that we have a reserve to fund it next year.

Many City Council members and city staff pointed out all the obstacles to keeping the ACS open.

The chemical toilets dont work well, water freezes, theres no heat, said Ward 3 council member Gwen Jones. Daniel, Im not seeing what your ideas are on this. Do you want to flesh that out a little bit?

Carlino didnt have specific solutions as far as an exact location for a better alternative, but he said that he was trying to brainstorm ideas on short notice. He noted that the city does own land with buildings and that sending people out to the streets was not an option.

I think to do nothing would be a huge injustice, he said. As fellow council members pointed out all the problems with trying to keep the ACS open, Carlino got visibly upset.

Are we all asking questions and comments to come up with reasons to allow these people to be displaced or are we asking questions and comments to come up with viable options? he said.

Carlino has been critical of Rogers International, the private security firm hired to watch the camp 24 hours a day.

However, Pehan said that the only feasible way to keep the ACS open would be to have Rogers International extend its contract to provide the appropriate level of safety.

Its fair to say that every partner weve been talking with, the strong preference is to keep ACS open, Pehan said. Its our preference, too. Nobody wants to close a service that community members rely on. But none of our partners at the table have been able to propose alternative solutions."

She said the ACS was always a space that was supposed to be temporary.

"We dont have the on-the-ground experience, we dont have the expertise to run this program well. We absolutely need an operational partner involved.

Another community member scolded the council for not coming up with options.

You all did a great job of pointing out problems you didnt deal with, the woman said.

Ward 6 council member Kristen Jordan pointed out that the City Council had discussed spending $45,000 on buying a new motorcycle for the police earlier this year and said she believed the city needs to prioritize how it spends money. Thats because, she said, it will cost taxpayers in the form of police visits, hospital visits and other services if the residents of the ACS are displaced.

We are causing a bigger problem by not keeping it open, she said.

Jones then noted that the council had indeed voted down the proposal to buy the $45,000 motorcycle. Jordan snapped back by saying that she had been merely pointing out that the city discusses big-budget items all the time.

Ward 4 council member Amber Sherrill pushed back on insinuations that city staff hadnt worked hard enough to find an alternative.

Its disingenuous for Mr. Carlino to say we are not working on solutions, because we are working with a lot of nonprofits, she said. Were trying to be creative, but we need a really specific plan to move this forward. No one wants to close this.

She noted that although the city could try to fund the Emergency Winter Shelter next year out of the city budget if the Crisis Services Levy fails, nothing is guaranteed.

We dont have a plan for getting the money, she said.
The town of North Port in Sarasota County, Florida, has roughly the same population as Missoula. When Missoula first responders arrived there in late September, they found almost the entire town was under water.

The Western Montana All-Hazards Incident Management Team launched relief efforts there on Sept. 28, the same day Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida.

Ten members of a multi-agency team drove through deep water to get to North Port, where floods reached depths of 8 feet in some neighborhoods. The hurricane destroyed bridges, cut power for the entire area and left the North Port fire department more than 500 calls behind.

First responders from almost 3,000 miles away immediately set to work supporting their Florida counterparts. Under the Incident Command System, the Montana group is prepared to respond to all types of hazards, from local wildfires to hurricanes, earthquakes and avalanches.

You need to be extremely flexible, said Ken Parks, the teams incident commander.

Public Information Officer Nick Holloway said the western Montana team provided a kind of special sauce to help coordinate relief efforts in Florida. They used their well-oiled organizational skills to iron out the logistics of relief activities like establishing a makeshift field hospital, directing fire engine and ambulance fleets and coordinating debris cleanup.

Along the way, they were plagued by traffic problems, extensive wind damage and the hot, humid Florida climate.

You just grin and bear it, said Holloway.

The western Montana crew deployed to North Port at Floridas request, but the crew members said they were especially happy to help out because Florida first responders came to Montana during the Yellowstone floods in June.

Its such an awesome thing to be able to pay somebody back whos helped you out before, said Parks.

The Missoulians relished the chance to deepen their connections with Florida first responders while providing support after Hurricane Ian.

We made a lot of great relationships and met a lot of fantastic people, said Missoula Assistant Fire Chief Brad Davis. Were very honored to be able to go help them out.

Davis and the other nine members of his crew coordinated relief efforts with local agencies, the National Guard and volunteer rescuers in the Cajun Navy  a fleet of private boats that motored through flooded streets to help North Port residents. The Missoula crew was impressed with the cooperation and dedication they saw from their response partners.

These guys were doing a great job, Parks said.

The western Montana team not only helped the Floridians, but also learned valuable skills and lessons that they carried back with them to Missoula.

We go down there and we help them, but were also bringing back enhanced skills to Missoula County for if and when we need it, Holloway pointed out. So its sort of a win-win.

Holloway, Parks and Davis all agreed they felt a sense of accomplishment in what they were able to achieve for Florida during their 18-day stint there. They said their role focused on getting the local responders over the hump of the initial response and into the recovery stage of the disaster.

I feel incredibly proud, said Holloway.
Portland General Electric is buying a share of Montanas largest wind farm, the company said Tuesday, announcing a deal that will keep the utility generating electricity in Montana beyond the closure of Colstrip Power Plant.

The Oregon utility is acquiring a 208-megawatt ownership share in Clearwater Wind, a 750 MW wind farm developed by Florida-based NextEra. The project is located about 33 miles northwest of Miles City. Portland General Electric will also buy 103 MW from the wind farm under a purchase power agreement with NextEra. The utility expects to begin drawing power from Clearwater at the end of 2023.

In an earnings call, Portland General Electric CEO Maria Pope called the Clearwater acquisition a $415 million investment, one that would help position PGE for a state required transition away from coal power. Oregon and Washington utilities face deadlines to stop serving customers with electricity from coal-fired power plants. The first deadline, Washingtons, is just three years away and Colstrip owners doing business in those states have coalesced around a December 2025 exit from the power plant. Seventy percent of Colstrips power is committed to customers in the Pacific Northwest.

This is a significant step forward in our clean energy transition, Pope told investors, as the renewable energy generated at Clearwater complements our long-term plans to remove the remaining coal generation from our portfolio. PGEs capital investment in Clearwater is projected to be $415 million. And, the facility is projected to come online by the end of 2023 PGE has been on the forefront of the energy transition for years. We could not be more excited about the great opportunities that we see ahead.

It was the second time in a month that PGE highlighted a partnership with NextEra. At the end of September, the utility commissioned a first-in-the-nation wind, solar and battery complex near Lexington, Oregon. The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is a 350 MW project. Similar to Clearwater, PGE will own a minority capacity share in the facility, about a third, and purchase power from NextEra, too.

Portland General Electric is the second Colstrip owner from the Pacific Northwest to contract with Clearwater Wind. Half of the project is scheduled to come online by the end of the year with Colstrip stakeholder Puget Sound Energy under 20-year contract for the first 350 MW of capacity.

Colstrip and Clearwater are connected by not only carbon pollution laws requiring Pacific Northwest utilities to green up, but also by transmission capacity. At the start of 2020, Colstrip owners Talen Energy and PSE shut down Colstrip Units 1 and 2, which the companies said were no longer economical. Talen and Puget split ownership of the two units. The closure took 614 MW of coal power from the Colstrip Transmission System, which benefited Clearwater.

Puget Sound Energy spokesperson Andrew Padula said Tuesday the Clearwater portion committed to PSE is expected to start spinning in mid-November.

In Oregon, environmental groups have persistently requested that PGE include Montana renewable energy projects in the companys 20-year integrated resource plans, which are filed every other year with Oregons utility commission. In those published plans, PGE had game-planned for a wind farm coupled with a pumped storage hydropower facility  basically an arrangement of two ponds, one elevated, that exchange water pumped uphill by wind turbines and released downward to generate hydropower when needed. That hypothetical facility was described as located in the Crazy Mountains, and sounded a lot like Gordon Butte, a project years in the making and currently undeveloped.

Similarly, Avista Corp, a Spokane-based utility with Colstrip ownership, has identified Montana wind energy as the most economic resource for complying with clean energy laws in Washington. Although Avista had indicated in resource planning that it could begin acquiring 300 MW of Montana wind, from 2023 to 2028, the utility has made no announcements and hasnt identified a source.

Colstrip stakeholder PacifiCorp built a 240 MW wind farm south of Bridger in 2020. The 125-turbine Pryor Mountain Wind Farm has been spinning since 2021. Its power flows into Wyoming and Utah by way of the Lovell-Yellowtail Transmission Line.

One little discussed incentive for Colstrip owners to invest in Montana renewables is transmission. Each Pacific Northwest owner of Colstrip Power Plant  Avista Corp, PacifiCorp, PGE and PSE  owns a capacity share of the Colstrip Transmission Line. The cost associated with maintaining the line cannot be passed onto customers unless the line is used and necessary to serve those customers. Washington climate change law requires that the transmission system for Colstrip be put to use by non-coal-burning resources by 2026, or that line costs be taken out of the base rates customers pay.

Montana wind power is considered complementary to wind projects in the Columbia River Basin because output peaks at different times of the year, specifically in the winter when Montana wind is peaking. In earlier interviews, NextEra officials said Clearwater will produce electricity at maximum capacity of about 40% of the time over a year, but will spin about 80% of the time at some capacity.

Although Clearwater is coal country, the project won regulatory approval with public backing, including the support of Colstrips state legislator, in part because the royalties and taxes paid by Clearwater are beneficial to property owners and the three counties that have portions of the wind farm. Royalty payouts to landowners over 30 years are estimated at $226 million. Property taxes to Custer, Garfield and Rosebud counties are expected to be $217 million over the same period.

There are 269 turbines to the 150,000-acre Clearwater project, each with blades 210-feet long. From the top of a blade's arc, the wind turbine is 584 feet tall. Each turbine weights 798,000 pounds and occupies a half acre.
A fire injured one person at a cannabis processing facility Tuesday morning near the 3600 block of Duck Creek Road west of Billings.

The fire began in a lab owned by the dispensary company Elevated, near the front entrance of the building, Billings Fire Battalion Chief Darrek Mitchell told the Gazette.

The Billings Fire Department was dispatched a little after 9 a.m. to the blaze just outside Billings city limits. Heavy smoke billowed from the facility large roll up door, prompting crews to request more engines and medical support. Within 15 minutes the fire was knocked down, however due to the nature of the chemicals that cannabis processing operations use such as butane and ethanol, firefighters took extra care fighting the fire.

One person was injured and received medical care on scene before they were taken to an area hospital for further treatment. The injured person is an employee of the facility and was seriously burned on their upper body.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Libertarian John Lamb looked like hed be more at home in a field than behind a podium when he appeared at an October forum held in a Helena hotel conference room where congressional candidates answered questions on all things agriculture for an hour and a half.

At the end a line of blazers and business attire, Lamb wore a pair of jeans and snap-button shirt  the uniform for his role as a farmer who also operates a few other businesses from his land in Norris.

The visual served as a representation of the role Lamb says he wants to fill in the western U.S. House race of an outsider option for those dissatisfied with the two-party system.

I just want to give people a third choice, someone that can be more like the people, represent the people. I dont like (political) parties, either. And I really dont like politics in a lot of ways, Lamb said that night.   I just want common people representing me, and  if I get elected I want to be that common person.

But others paint him as a wolf in sheeps clothing, a spoiler and a pawn in the contest between Republican Ryan Zinke and Democrat Monica Tranel. They're vying for the most votes in a new congressional district that, while still favoring the GOP, gives Democrats a better chance than theyve had in decades of electing someone to the House.

Tranel and Zinke have both given Lamb far more attention than a third-party candidate normally sees in a congressional race, something the Montana Libertarian Partys chairperson says is an indicator the party is gaining footing in an increasingly polarized political environment.

Lamb isnt shying away from the part, embracing the sections of his biography and background as an activist whos shown support for those like the Bundy family and going on offense at times against Zinke.

Ryan Zinke was quoted just recently in the Bozeman Chronicle saying he has a Libertarian streak. Ryan Zinke isn't a Libertarian at all. He's not even a Republican. He's a RINO if anything. I am the best candidate for this, Lamb said.  I am the conservative, radical, extremist candidate in this race. I am the best candidate to represent Montana.

Becoming involved

Lamb lives in Norris on a farm with his wife and 12 children, where they farm and sell items at local farmers markets.

He grew up in Indiana, also on a farm, and was raised in what he calls a kind of Amish-Anabaptists'' setting. Lamb was born at home and said he doesnt have a birth certificate or Social Security number. His wife was living in a Mennonite community when they got married, and after some time in an Amish community in Missouri, the family moved to Montana permanently in 2007 after Lamb had traveled to the state for work in previous years.

I came out here and loved it and stayed, Lamb said.

Lambs oldest daughter has been his campaign manager and he said hes not actively soliciting money for his race. His interest in politics, he said, is rooted in being involved in the communities he grew up in.

Helping our neighbor was always our goal, Lamb said.

His first foray into a more activist role was a case in Kentucky, where members of an Amish order were prosecuted for not having a bright safety triangle displayed on the back of their buggies because it went against their religious beliefs.

To us, it was a religious persecution, Lamb said.

That involvement over time turned political. In the 2020 election, Lamb ran for a state Senate seat against incumbent Republican Jeff Welborn and got a bit more than a quarter of the vote. In an August interview, Lamb said he has intentions of running for that seat again.

He acknowledged winning the congressional race was a longshot and his candidacy this year is, in part, a way to keep his name fresh in voters minds. Lamb did say, however, he would seize the opportunity if elected to Congress.

I didnt see any other opportunity to get my name out there, any other jobs or opportunities I could run for this time. I could just wait two more years and run for this job that I really want. So I thought, Well, Im giving this a try. Its also going to keep my name out there. People will hopefully remember it, Lamb said. Because I dont think Ill win this race. Itd be great if I did. Id love to be in the Congress and try to see what I can do to change things.

On the issues

Lamb describes himself as a Ron Paul Libertarian and at one campaign event described Randy Weaver, a participant in the Ruby Ridge standoff, as his Montana hero.

As a Libertarian, Lamb believes in limited government and has called for criminal justice reform.

If I got elected to Congress, prison reform is my No. 1 issue, Lamb said. I see the suffering, I see the problems in there, and we need to be putting other resources to work instead of putting people in prisons."

At forums, he often talks about the imprisoned people hes met who hes advocated for, and calls for treatment over incarceration. Sometimes he speaks about high-profile cases like Leonard Peltier, a Native American who was convicted in the deaths of two FBI agents following the Pine Ridge shooting in the 1970s. Peltier has long maintained his innocence and now in his late 70s is asking the Biden administration for clemency.

Our prisons are full of Native Americans and Blacks and Hispanics, way more than whites, Lamb said.

In an event with Tranel in Dupuyer in early October, Lamb spoke about another man hed met who was in prison and struggled with drug addiction without sufficient treatment.

I advocate for so many prisoners all the way across the country, some that deserve to be there (and) some that don't deserve to be there. He went in for a nonviolent crime. It was drug addiction. He really didn't deserve (or) need to be in prison. He needed mental health (care), he needed so many other things, Lamb said.

Libertarian role in the race

The forum in Dupuyer was one of more than 15 set up by Tranels campaign across the district. The events are not the same as forums held by independent, nonpartisan groups like news organizations. Those are organized by the outlets, who handle invitations, write the questions, set rules for the exchanges and have no partisan affiliations.

Tranels campaign issued the call for forums early in the summer, found partnerships with community leaders and organizations to serve as moderators in some cases and the events have drawn some news coverage. They serve as a venue to discuss issues and hear questions from voters, but also as way for Tranel to take digs at Zinke for not coming. Lamb agreed to attend them all.

Lamb being there gives those attacks more weight, as Tranel can say one of her opponents decided to attend while one did not.

Sid Daoud, the chair of the Montana Libertarian Party, said that setup shows the growing power of Libertarians in Montana.

The two big parties basically used to ignore us and that was a good tactic for them, and they cant afford to now because we are pulling too much of the vote, Daoud said. Theyve been engaging with us the last couple cycles, which has been kind of interesting.

Monica is a great example of some of that engagement, Daoud continued. We actually become a tool to make things happen. She wanted to have a debate against Zinke in every county in the western district and basically got no response. She talked to John and he was totally willing to do that, and it gives her some leverage now to say Hey look, the Libertarian candidate is joining me in these debates, why cant you?

Zinke in an interview called the forums a "political ploy."

"Im traveling around Montana too, and what Im hearing is a lot different than what Monica Tranel is. Im not sure where shes going, but Im hearing a lot of things different. They dont like the tone, they dont like woke, they dont like what they see as abandonment of principles, so its a political ploy," Zinke said.

Tranel said the forums provide a vital way for voters to hear from candidates.

Voters notice when candidates show up, and they notice even more when a candidate doesnt show up. Ive put over 43,000 miles on my minivan this cycle meeting with voters across the district to hear and learn from Montanans on the issues that matter to them, Tranel said in a press release Friday. Montanans want a leader who will put them first. Ill take on anyone in any party if they threaten to hurt Montanans, its the work Ive done my entire career. We gave Ryan Zinke a chance and he embarrassed us, we wont let him do that again.

Back in August, Lamb was critical of Zinkes campaigning too.

He pretty much thinks he knows he's going to win the race, so I don't think he has to fight as hard. He just has to put his big advertisements out there and spend all the money he's got, so he has a lot easier role, Lamb said. Plus he has one of the largest parties in Montana backing him, so I don't think he has to work at it as hard on the ground as much as with money. We have to work harder on the ground. And (Tranel) has probably the second hardest fight there.

The district is ranked as leans Republican, changed from likely for a GOP victory, by political rankings websites recently.

Unlike the Green Party, the Libertarians have had ballot access in Montana for two decades because theyve secured enough votes in previous elections. Theyve been called spoilers before, most prominently in 2012 when Democrat Jon Tester won re-election to the U.S. Senate by a narrow margin over former Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg. Some attributed Testers victory by a little more than 18,000 votes to the 31,892 votes captured by Dan Cox, the Libertarian candidate in that race.

Cox was boosted by a half-million dollar television ad campaign that called him the real conservative in the race. It was paid for by a group linked to another group that backed Tester.

This cycle, some of the amplification for Lamb is more apparent. Recent emails from the Montana Democratic Party reference Lamb as a candidate who has outperformed his party.

The strength of the Libertarian candidate  John Lamb is remarkable, one email reads.

Lamb told a Montana State News Bureau reporter over the summer that Zinke had asked him to drop out, and Zinke spent time at a forum in Butte directly attacking Lamb over his stance on the southern border.

Lamb has said his participation in the forums has aided him in gaining name recognition.

It does help out me, because I dont get publicity as a Libertarian  Even if I dont win this election, my goal is to keep fighting for Montanans, Lamb said at a forum in Ravalli County. Shes not gonna lose any votes, and Im probably gonna take them away from Zinke.

Bundy family

One of the activities Lamb has gotten attention for in recent years was the Bundy occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. Lamb was quoted in several news stories about the occupation and subsequent court case, and a photo taken by Oregon Public Broadcasting shows him grilling hot dogs in downtown Portland while awaiting a verdict in the trial.

It was a case he first had no intention of ever going to, Lamb said, until Robert LaVoy Finicum was shot and killed by law enforcement on the way to a meeting in John Day.

All I did, and I didn't know what I was doing, I guess, I knew the gentleman who got shot in Oregon, so I went there. I thought it was horrific that the police shot this man, Lamb said.

The shooting, which was deemed justified by the Malheur County district attorney, drew wide criticism and led to a trial where an FBI agent was found not guilty of charges that he lied about what happened during the incident.

I believe they should have arrested (Finicum) instead of killing him, Lamb said. That even took me, I guess, to a different level because I met so many different people, like-minded in some ways, not with the guns because I'm not a gun guy, but I'm just for the civil rights.

Lamb was also a leader in protests in late 2020 at the home of the former public health officer in Gallatin County. Reporting from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle said that Lamb and fellow Libertarian Roger Roots organized the protest that lasted more than two weeks against public health measures put in place because of the pandemic.

Abortion

One of the places Lamb has diverted from a previous version of the Libertarian Party's platform is on abortion. He was a part of changing both the state and national party's planks on the issue recently.

The abortion thing has been a tough deal for me, Lamb said. That's my personal faith, and I don't believe my personal faith should be pushed on anybody else. (But) politics is forced on us, so its kind of there.

At its most recent convention, the Libertarian state party removed any reference to the issue from their platform. Lamb was one of the delegates from Montana that went to the national convention and voted abortion off the plank at that level.

Lamb squared the Libertarian ideals of a hands-off government with his opposition to abortion  which would put government squarely in the picture  by saying he felt it was a situation that warranted involvement.

I believe the government should be out of our lives unless we harm somebody, Lamb said.

At a forum in Missoula, Lamb said when his son, now age 3, was born, doctors determined his wifes life could be at risk.

The doctors saved both lives, Lamb said.   We have great medical doctors today that can save lives, both lives.  I don't believe abortions in this day and time is necessary. We can save both lives.

The plank before, according to party chair Daoud, essentially said government should not be involved, which he said was technically a pro-choice stance.

Thats something else that sets us apart from the two big parties, Daoud said, attributing the Libertarian view on abortion as one of the reasons the party is gaining traction in Montana.

The two big parties, not only are they polarized but they are now really being controlled by the far left and the far right and what that means for a lot of people is that theyve been kind of left in the middle, Daoud said.

Libertarian support growing

Statistically, Daoud said, the Libertarian Party is the fastest-growing in Montana.

How the trend is going, its not going to be too long before we start having a Libertarian in the state House, Daoud said. We already have some in local government and county government. Its a changing landscape here.

He disputes the idea Libertarians serve little more of a role than making Republicans lose in tight races.

Weve heard concerns from Republicans that Hey, youre just going to make the Republican lose if you get into this race, but what theyre forgetting is were a political party, were not in this game to be spoilers, were in this game to win and we have to trudge on and if it makes one candidate lose or another candidate win because we happen to be in the race while were struggling to improve the percentage of the vote we get, they just have to live on.

The ultimate goal is to destroy all political parties so people can just run as individuals."

The Montana State News Bureau's Sam Wilson and Tom Kuglin contributed to this story.
MISSOULA  A controversial Montana law prohibiting most businesses and other employers from mandating vaccinations went on trial Monday, with several medical experts testifying that it interferes with the ability of health care providers to keep patients safe.

The trial, overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy in Missoula, is the culmination of a year-long case by medical providers and patients seeking to bar the state from enforcing the law against physicians and hospitals in Montana. The law also allows hospitals to ask staff for their vaccination status, but it protects employees who refuse to provide that information.

Molloy earlier this year blocked part of the law, allowing all health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements to require vaccinations, per requirements for federal funding from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. As written, the law had only made that exemption for long-term care facilities.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Commissioner of Labor and Industry Laurie Esau are defending the law. Deputy Solicitor General Brent Mead, from Knudsens office, argued in his opening statement that the vaccine law was designed to ensure that individuals personal privacy is protected.

Its not public health, its not vaccines  its whether the state can choose to protect its citizens from discrimination, he said.

That characterization echoed the arguments Republican lawmakers used to frame the vaccine bill last year, amid concerns about the emergence of vaccine passports and other potential regulations that could exclude those who remained skeptical about the coronavirus vaccine.

It passed a GOP-majority Legislature despite near-unanimous Democratic opposition and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte.

The Montana Medical Association, private medical offices, a group of immunocompromised patients and Montana Nurses Association are the plaintiffs. They allege that the law is incompatible with federal requirements that ensure protections for Americans with disabilities and from hazards that workers face on the job site.

The law denies medical providers the most important tool to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable disease, Raph Graybill, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said.

Testimony on the trials first day focused heavily on the plaintiffs argument that unvaccinated medical workers are more likely to spread infectious diseases.

Dr. David King, a family doctor who practices in Bozeman and Belgrade, testified that vaccinations for staff are a broadly understood best practice in the medical industry. That includes everything from measles, mumps and rubella to hepatitis, polio and pertussis. Despite the focus on COVID during the passage of House Bill 702, it applies broadly to all types of vaccines.

On cross-examination, he acknowledged that immunity from the COVID-19 vaccines have been relatively short-lived, given how quickly the coronavirus mutates. But he also noted that the vaccines are safe and effective, and said the rise in vaccine hesitancy has been in part fueled by government actions like Montanas vaccine discrimination law.

Attorneys also questioned Mark Carpenter, a Missoula resident who required a transplant after his kidneys failed, and who has since been required to take medication that suppresses his immune system so his body wont reject the new organ.

Carpenter testified that before the COVID vaccine became available, he limited his exposure to other people, including doctors offices. As someone with just one functioning kidney who is also immunocompromised, he said contracting COVID could be fatal for him.

My lifes experience has been, as I go to a health care provider for either preventative care or because Im having some kind of medical issue that requires that care, I go there assuming it will be a safe place, he said.

The vaccine law includes a specific exemption for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to require vaccines, but doesnt apply that language to other medical providers. The plaintiffs say this violates their rights to equal protection under the state and federal constitutions.

Mead, in his opening statement, noted the state is only required to prove that it had a rational basis for differentiating between how those two groups are treated.

Health care is a regulated industry, he said, adding that the state has always drawn a distinction between different types of facilities.

In a separate concession to health care facilities, lawmakers included an exemption allowing them to make reasonable accommodations for employees who refuse to get vaccinated or disclose their vaccine status.

Greg Holzman, Montanas state medical officer from 2015 to 2021, said that provision misunderstands how staff vaccinations fit into the strategy for preventing a communicable disease outbreak. If that accommodation were that employees can simply wear masks instead, he offered, that doesnt necessarily offset a lack of other protections for patients.

It puts in more opportunities for human error and other aspects to happen, that might decrease their effectiveness, Holzman said. ... They tend to put PPE (personal protective equipment) at the bottom. Still important, but its not as strong as getting rid of the disease completely.

With about a half-dozen witnesses left to testify, Molloy indicated the trial could wrap up as soon as Tuesday.
Editors note: The News Herald sent candidate questionnaires to candidates who have challengers for local races in Burke County. Each candidate received the same questions, and none of their answers were edited by the newspaper.

Name: Becky Weatherman

Party affiliation: Democrat

Seeking office: Clerk of Court

Age: 62

Profession: Retired Captain Burke County Sheriffs Office

Education: East Burke High School Graduate. Catawba Valley Community College graduate with Law Enforcement Certification. Over 500 credit hours of Criminal Justice Courses through The North Carolina Justice Academy.

Family: Married to Jeff Weatherman, we have 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Community Involvement: Member of United Baptist Church for 40 years. Security Team Leader at my church. Im a Law Enforcement Instructor and teach law enforcement courses in local colleges for over 13 years.

1. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? No

2. Do you currently owe back property taxes? No

3. What changes, if any, do you plan to make if you take over the clerks office? My goal is to improve public service by providing professional and equal treatment to ALL citizens, Require employees to attend training, implement employee evaluations and job performance reviews.

4. Do you plan to make any staffing changes if you become clerk? No, I have no plans to make employee changes.

5. What goals do you have for the clerks office? My first priority is customer service. I will provide all citizens with courteous, and respectful service. I will run a professional office where all citizens feel welcome and treated fairly.

6. How would you work with other elected officials or governing bodies to accomplish the goals you have for the clerks office? Well, I already have 31 years of experience working with Law Enforcement, Judges, Lawyers, District Attorneys and the public. I would meet with each one to find out what their concerns are with the Clerks Office in order to better serve each of them in their capacity.

7. What makes you qualified to become Clerk of Court? I have 31 years of experience in the criminal Justice System. I have the experience, leadership skills, and the work ethic required to Lead others and to teach them to become leaders as well. I will never allow partisan politics to determine my decisions as Clerk of Court! I am a very well trained professional! As Clerk and any employee working in the Criminal Justice System, you have to have continuous training in order to keep up with the General Statutes of North Carolina. Laws change every day!
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has been making his way across the state talking to local leaders about the opioid settlement and to hear how local governments plan to use the money to help those who are impacted by addiction.

On Tuesday, Stein met with leaders from Burke and McDowell counties and the city of Morganton at the Morganton Community House.

Burke County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Johnnie Carswell told the gathering that opioids are still a scourge in the area and the overdose numbers are creeping back up with new products such as fentanyl.

Stein said, We're actually at the deadliest moment in what is the deadliest drug epidemic in American history.

He said for the first time, the U.S. lost more than 100,000 to overdose in 2021. He said the country saw a 40% increase in overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020, and a 15% increase from 2020 to 2021.

Stein said North Carolina also saw its worst year in 2021 with 3,500 overdose deaths. Since the early 2000s, there have been 26,000 North Carolinians lost to opioid overdose, he said.

How did it happen

He said it was greed that led to the massive amounts of overdose deaths, pointing to the Sackler family (owners of Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin) and other drug companies that saw they could make billions of dollars if Americans were hooked on their drugs and kept buying them. He said they convinced the medical community that opioids are the most effective way to treat pain and they weren't addictive.

And now we know that neither of those things are true, Stein said. They are both highly addictive, and there are other better ways to treat pain.

A coalition of attorneys general across the country worked together to take the Sacklers, Purdue Pharma and others to court.

Burke County is one of the counties and cities throughout the U.S. who sued opioid distributors Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen and opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharma. The county joined the lawsuit in February 2018. The lawsuit was settled for $26 billion in July 2021.

Stein said there is another $8 billion in settlements and principles that have been announced that are in the process and there are other settlement deals that are in the pipeline.

How settlement money will be used

Stein gave examples of how the two counties, and counties throughout the state, can use the money.

The states share of the $26 billion settlement is $750 million. Stein said they sat down with counties and decided they were the best ones to make decisions about how to use the money to help local residents who are dealing with addiction.

We decided that you all were the better decision makers on how to use these funds because this is a crisis that's born in the local community, it's felt in the local community, and it's addressed in the local community, Stein said. It's your jails that are filled with people. It's your DSS that is struggling with families that are broken apart. It's your EMS that's responding to these overdose calls.

Stein said 85% of the states settlement money goes to counties, with the remaining 15% staying with the state, he said. The money has to go to a dedicated reserve fund and can only be used in tackling the problem.

Carswell has been heavily involved in the county and states lawsuit settlement, sitting on the states 555 Committee that is made up of five county commissioners, five county attorneys and five county managers and Stein.

He said on Tuesday the county has decided the treatment facility should be a regional facility.

Burke County received $3.25 million from the states two-year budget in 2021 to renovate the former Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility in Morganton to house the drug treatment facility. The facility would have 68 beds and will be allowed per county who are part of the regional facility, according to the county.

What Burke County is doing

Burke County put together a working group that includes the health department, social services, Morganton Department of Public Safety Chief Jason Whisnant, people in recovery, peer counselors, Partners Behavioral Health, UNC Health Blue Ridge and a pastor representing the faith-based community, county officials said.

Burke County Health Director Danny Scalise said they looked at the acute solution and the long-term solution for those dealing with addiction and how to deal with the problem.

There's political will, there's cash. How do we take that and use it as seed money to create something that will outlast us? But as long as this problem is there, we can create an environment where it will continue to work and will generate its own revenue, Scalise said.

Burke County is expected to receive more than $13 million over an 18-year period from the lawsuit settlement.

The county has hired an architect to work on the renovation of the former jail and it wants to hire a project manager for it as well.

Carswell told The News Herald that a project manager could be in place by January.

The county also hopes to hire a consultant with expertise in addiction treatment.

They also have had conversations with counties in the western part of the state about partnering in the regional treatment facility.

Burke has said the current plan would be for each county in the consortium to pledge 50% of their opioid settlement money toward the treatment facility, with the plan for it to become self-sustaining in five to seven years.

Burke says each county would provide two full-time social workers, and would have a clinician around the clock, as well as peer support and social setting detox.

Burke County also believes hospitals should contribute to the long-term facility because it will cut down on unnecessary emergency department visits.

County officials have said the facility should be long-term treatment that would include peer support and vocational training from the community college and each patient would be working. And local transit providers should add a stop to the facility.

Scalise said they would like to see a syringe service program and a behavioral health urgent care.

So imagine a spot where if you're thinking about committing suicide, or you're overdosing or if you're just having a bad day, you could go in and see somebody on the spot, Scalise said.

They also would like to eventually have a community paramedicine team. Scalise said there are already some counties that are doing that.

Whatever it turns into, there is a collective effort to help individuals and families dealing with addiction.

So it's a huge dream. It's not a pipe dream. It's a huge dream, Carswell said. It can work. You have to find the right people and we have the right people in charge of doing it. So I feel very good as to where we're at.
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Butte-Silver Bow will be one of seven Montana counties to receive a grant to implement behavioral health services in its detention center, including substance abuse treatment services.

Charlie Brereton, director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services opened the event by saying that the drug crisis is at the forefront of the departments health priorities.

The Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment fund, which is through the Montana DPHHS, provides $2.7 million in grants to Yellowstone, Missoula, Lewis and Clark, Cascade, Custer and Gallatin counties, in addition to Butte-Silver Bow.

Gianforte said at the event that the grant is part of fighting the addiction and mental health crisis currently facing Montana and helping affected Montanans live clean, sober, prosperous lives.

The HEART Fund provides $25 billion per year to fund a full continuum of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs for communities across Montana, he said. Successful prevention and treatment programs help people who have hit rock bottom regain their health, rebuild their lives and become vibrant, productive members of our communities. Under the previous system, gaps in coverage reduced the effectiveness of community based prevention and treatment programs.

He added the grant is not indicative of bigger government, and that its a community grant to help non-profits and other community organizations do work on the ground.

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester said the two-year grant will lower crime rates, reduce the jail population and save lives.

The bottom line is that people who are incarcerated are going to get an opportunity to start dealing with the causes of their incarceration, Lester said. And while theyre getting a controlled environment in our detention center, they have a chance to make decisions, clear decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 85% of incarcerated people have an active substance use disorder or were incarcerated for a crime involving drugs or drug use. Lester said that in his experience, that number in Butte-Silver Bow is probably more than 90%.

Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher called the grant extraordinary and said Butte-Silver Bow is lucky to be one of the seven counties receiving the grant. He also talked about the community action team thats working on combatting fentanyl use in the county and said that harm reduction will be the focus of its efforts.

One measure that was brought up at the first meeting of the community action team is medication-assisted treatment in the detention center. Lester and Gallagher said the HEART Grant will help make this a reality.

Introducing funding  and I hate to say that, but that's a roadblock to a lot of different things that you can do in communities, Gallagher said. So we introduced some funding that'll allow for help with substance abuse and also mental health issues and getting them treatment when they're in and then also providing assistance as they exit out. That's huge.
Prosecutors say a 36-year-old Butte man had sex with a 14-year-old girl on three separate occasions and also gave her marijuana edibles.

Andrew Jacob Calderon has been in the Butte jail since his arrest on Sept. 8 and on Wednesday he pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

District Judge Robert Whelan accepted the not guilty pleas and set the next hearing for Nov. 30. Calderon faces from four years to life in prison if convicted on the rape charge and up to 25 years on the felony drug charge.

He appeared for Wednesdays hearing via video from jail and although he had not yet discussed the charges in detail with his public defender, James Dolan, they agreed to go ahead with the arraignment.

The girl told investigators she had rejected sexual advances from Calderon on previous occasions but then had sex with him. He used a condom on that and two subsequent occasions, she said.

Under Montana law, anyone under age 16 is not capable of consenting to sex. Prosecutors say the incidents occurred between Aug. 30 and Sept. 7.

The girls mother found out about them, retrieved a condom from the trash and brought it and a pair of the girls underwear to authorities before a forensic medical exam was performed. The mother also showed a detective a notes-app conversation she had with her daughter about the incidents.

The girl also described different marijuana edibles Calderon had given her and a warrant-authorized search turned up edibles that matched her descriptions, prosecutors say.

Calderon remained jailed Wednesday with bail set at $250,000.
If you tune into the Travel Channel or have a subscription to discovery+, you might just see Butte take center stage in Ghosts of Devils Perch, an eight-episode paranormal program that aired its finale episode Oct. 9.

Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester makes a few appearances in the show and is the first to say hes probably not going to win an Academy Award any time soon.

For Lester, the driving factor behind his decision to participate in the show was the potential for economic development and an increase in tourism.

He said the prospect of doing the show came up before COVID-19 hit, and he was interested in it because he was told that the last couple of towns the show had been in, Morgan City, Louisiana, and Shepherdstown, West Virginia, saw an uptick in tourism after the shows aired. In one case, Lester said he was told a business on the brink of closing its doors was able to stay open.

He said he spoke with folks at the Chamber of Commerce, the Butte Local Development Corp. and other business leaders in the community who all supported the idea of doing the show.

But then COVID happened, and Lester didnt hear much more about it for more than a year.

Host of Spooks and Spirits Haunted Trolley Tours and local historian Chris Fisk, on the other hand, said he stayed in touch with the shows crew during the pandemic. Theyd been in contact with him before it started because of his experience as an historian and his involvement in other local film productions in years past, he said.

Unlike Lester though, whos a self-proclaimed skeptic when it comes to the paranormal, Fisks a believer.

Buttes probably one of the most haunted towns in the country, Fisk said. And if not, the state, by far.

When COVID restrictions loosened, Lester still thought welcoming the show to Butte was a good idea.

All of those folks, the business leaders I talked to, said, Yeah, its a good thing for us, Lester said. Now, I didnt think I was going to look real good because I look like the dumbass sheriff who called because he cant catch any ghosts.

Lester said he had fun during filming, the cast and crew were great to work with and he believes the show will help Buttes economy.

I really think the show will lead to an increase in tourism, he said. If we can get people to stay here for a few nights, eat a few meals, and have a few highballs, itll be good for business.

Fisk said and the crew came up and filmed for about three months and that the ghost hunting process was genuine and organic.

On set, we were under no circumstances allowed to talk about history or hauntings of Butte, he said, adding the crew was protective of accuracy and reality.

After watching the show, he said hes happy with how it turned out.

Its a great delivery system for history and  lets face facts  its popular, way popular, Fisk said. The fact that the Travel Channel and discovery+ would come to Butte I think is a blessing for us.

J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bow chief executive, also makes an appearance on the show and is one of the people Lester conferred with when the idea was first brought up.

Unlike Lester and Fisk, whove both been a part of film and TV productions in the past, Gallagher said this was his first time being part of a production.

He said that aside from his and Lesters on-screen participation, Butte-Silver Bows role was to make sure the crew went through the correct permitting when it wanted to film on public property. He said that all in all, they were easy to work with.

Gallagher is referred to as mayor in the show, which he said was used because thats what most people are more familiar with. However, he said this didnt really bother him, and that being on the show was an overall good experience.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first struck, the world waited on edge as researchers across the globe raced for a way to combat the novel virus.

Though the development, testing and launch of the COVID vaccine in less than a year was a major accomplishment of modern science, the research underpinning it had been in development for over a decade.

It just happened to be the right timing, Dr. Barney Graham, a co-developer of the Moderna COVID vaccine said. We had the right knowledge, and had the right set of collaborations, and the right know-how to do this. And so in many ways, we were very lucky to know what we knew at the time, and have the capacity to do it.

Research into mRNA evolved over about 15 years with technology breakthroughs and understanding of virus biology.

Graham, who retired in 2021 as deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in Bethesda, Maryland, is currently a professor in the departments of medicine and microbiology, biochemistry, and immunology at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, where he serves as a senior advisor for global health equity in the Office of the President and CEO.

According to Graham, the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, and Zika virus in 2016, motivated scientists to start a new way of thinking about how to prepare for pandemics. That led to the Prototype Pathogen Approach for Pandemic Preparedness, a concept featured in the American Pandemic Preparedness Plan from the White House. It's also a feature of how NIAID, the World Health Organization and other groups around the world plan their approach to pandemic preparedness.

The goal is to try to be more proactive in anticipating which types of viruses might infect humans and then learning about these things ahead of time," Graham said. And we did that in a proactive way, starting in 2017."

"After working with Moderna on Zika, wed made a DNA vaccine but because they were working with BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) and other parts of HHS (Health and Human Services) and the government, we helped them study their mRNA vaccine that was designed very much like our DNA vaccine in our monkey models and found that their RNA was much more potent than our DNA.

With this new information in hand, they made a plan to create a prototype vaccine for the Nipah virus. By 2019, researchers had protein designs for both the Nipah virus and MERS coronavirus that could be delivered either as a protein or as an mRNA vaccine that could effectively prevent lethal outcomes in animals.

So when the outbreak was proclaimed at the end of 2019, and we learned it was a coronavirus  a beta coronavirus on the 6th of January  we thought we knew what to do for that type of virus, so we changed the demonstration project to coronavirus, Graham said. At the beginning, this was very much a demonstration project for how we thought you should try to prepare for future outbreaks, not knowing that it was going to be a pandemic at that time. It wasn't really declared a pandemic until March. So we were doing that to see how fast we could go, if we really needed to go fast."

Graham described the misinformation surrounding the vaccines as unfounded and disappointing, especially considering the simplicity of the mRNA design. He explained how the components of the vaccine are gone within hours after injection, leaving the body to manufacture its own immune response in a safe and effective way.

Misinformation is the plague of our day," Graham said. "For me, the facts are facts  and facts don't necessarily solve the misinformation problem. But the facts are, this mRNA is the simplest, and most elemental vaccine that's ever been made for widespread use in humans. And it's probably the safest vaccine that's ever been made, because of that reason  that it's so simple."

One of the saddest things for me is to know that people have suffered and died when there was help available that they didn't take, and so that to me, is going to be a tragedy that I kind of have to live with for the rest of my life, Graham said. It is hard to know that we didn't communicate it well enough or explain it well enough, that we hadn't prepared people well enough in advance to understand this kind of biology. I think we can just try to be better as we go.

More than two years on, as most people have ditched their masks and President Biden declared the pandemic largely over, Graham believes that COVID is with us to stay on a global level.

The virus is with us now, and vaccines will help people who need additional immunity," Graham said. "But they only help if people are willing to take them.

Graham said it's important for people to start learning more about how everything we do on earth is connected and talked about the concept of One Health, meaning that human health is related to animal health, and that is related to climate and ecological health. He also said its important for the general public to be more aware of how all those things are interrelated, more aware of how biology works, how viruses make you sick, and how vaccines work and can keep you well.

I think we need to establish the capacities for this new kind of research with RNA that can handle a very rapid design cycle for new things, and then have that in all parts of the earth. So more distributed manufacturing capacity and research capacity, so that people around the world can solve their own regional problems before they become global problems, Graham said. And then we also need to just educate people better about how to treat the earth and treat animals so we don't have as many outbreaks. And then how to take care of themselves when we do have outbreaks. It's just a lot of education.

RSV

Another virus circulating this winter, along with the flu and COVID, is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), RSV leads to approximately 58,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old, and 177,000 hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older each year in the U.S., as well as 14,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older and 100300 deaths in children younger than 5 years old each year in the United States.

Last Thursday, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices that advises the CDC on how to think about vaccine recommendations reviewed two new vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus. Graham has spent much of his life working on RSV and said that it was a breakthrough, back in 2012, for RSV that led to what they were able to accomplish in regard to coronaviruses.

These vaccines for RSV, at least in the elderly and maternal immunization, have been shown to be effective  and its high level of effectiveness against severe disease. So that, for me is as exciting or maybe even more exciting than getting the Coronavirus vaccine because that is where I think breakthrough and understanding really started.
To Clarence Cook, learning the wizardry of computer coding has fostered both persistence and a creative spark.

Im not an artist by any means, but I like a blank canvas, to be able to just go in my zone, Cook said.

Cook, a 39-year-old inmate at Montana State Prison, has been incarcerated since he was 20  nearly half of his life. Hes a high school graduate who got a little college while in the U.S. Air Force. He had no previous experience or education in coding, but hes about to spend much of the next year making it a singular focus.

The Last Mile, a computer coding education program for prison inmates that boasts a 0% recidivism rate among its graduates, is officially up and running at Montana State Prison outside of Deer Lodge. The 22 participants are just over a month into the year-long program, moving through the curriculum together. Their teachers, many former participants themselves, log into a computer remotely and guide them individually through the coursework.

Its the work you put into it, Cook said. But their teachers are good.

The program is eight years in the making for the facility thats just recently been outfitted with Apple products and, later this week, Google Chromebooks to allow the students to work on their homework outside of the regular class schedule, six-and-a-half hours five days a week.

The program is hosted by Montana Correction Enterprises, the prisons work and education program. MCE chief Gayle Butler said she and the Department of Corrections IT director traveled to see The Last Miles first iteration at the prison in San Quentin in 2014. The Last Mile is a nonprofit organization, founded by a venture capitalist, that provides technology training programs and transitional support for inmates nearing the end of their sentence.

Getting the program up and running became a lower priority as funding sources proved hard to come by. The Gianforte Family Foundation, the charitable trust set up years ago by Montana's wealthy governor before he took office, ultimately put up the funding to get The Last Mile online. The program costs $290,000 for the first two years, and $110,000 for each following year.

Being a computer geek myself, this seemed to make sense, Gov. Greg Gianforte told the attendees at Tuesdays ribbon-cutting ceremony, which included the 22 students. In the late 1990s Gianforte founded RightNow Technologies, a software company he later sold to Oracle.

Im excited about the potential for each one of you, Gianforte told them, adding there remains a desperate need for the kind of skills they were developing a few rooms down the hall.

After cutting a ceremonial red ribbon with a pair of cardboard scissors, a nod to the setting, the governor and members of the media browsed The Last Miles workspace and spoke with participants about their experience so far.

Jeffrey Neely, 44, came to the prison with a 10th grade education and a GED. The program requires at GED at least and for participates to be nearing the one-year stretch from their release.

Its pretty hard, Neely freely admitted about learning HTML coding on Tuesday. Asking for help, thats the biggest thing. Its like learning a new language.

Many inmates arrive at their site of incarceration with gaps in education. Syd Heller, executive director of The Last Mile, said Tuesday the programs front end is designed to inundate participates with basic computer lessons  like opening files  before diving into the world of coding.

The web development industry is more receptive to non-traditional education, Heller said. I dont care where youre from, if you can write this code, you can work at Google.

The programs graduates have since moved on to companies like Slack, Dropbox and Zoom, Heller said. The program has expanded in the last decade to 23 classrooms across 16 prisons in six states. Those who emerge from incarceration with The Last Mile education in hand have brought a loyalty to their jobs that seems rare in a tech workforce where many feel entitled to jump jobs each year, Heller said.

They bring a persistence that typical tech workers dont have, he said.

Cook, for example, has maxed out the curriculums work the last few weeks, so in his free time he created from scratch a computer game similar to the arcade classic Pong, using only JavaScript.

Its nothing but a canvas, he said. That doesn't mean it's easy; five times he wanted to put the side project down and forget about it, but persisting on an endeavor of his own initiative was an achievement on its own.

Cook enjoys the creative engagement that the alchemy of coding provides, but he knows the real goal is more than expression. Hes set for release in 2025, and although he wont be out after this class like several of his classmates, he hopes to return as a facilitator for the next class.

Youre looking ahead, like you want to get to that future, he said. You just have to be willing to put in the work.
Montanas explosive popularity is stretching capacity and resources to the breaking point. Many communities are bursting at the seams, pushing development onto farmlands, dangerously siting homes within the wildland-urban interface, and building precipitously close to flooding rivers. The changing climate is exacerbating these impacts by affecting water supplies (droughts and floods) and increasing the incidence of severe wildfires. We need a variety of affordable housing options to accommodate all Montanans, but what we do on the landscape, and where we choose to develop, will be critical in determining the future of Montanas communities and the health of our environment.

Looking to our past legislative sessions may help predict what we see for proposed solutions. A number of bills were introduced in the 2021 Session that would have limited the ability for local communities to adequately plan for their future and protect those things they value. Thankfully, most of these bills were rejected by the Legislature because they were knee-jerk reactions, poorly thought out, and had little support. The 2023 Session is right around the corner, and housing and planning issues are rising to the top. We expect to see several proposals for how to reform our land use and planning laws. Some of these proposals recommend state mandated approaches to planning, which would undermine local control.

Without a doubt, it is time to modernize Montanas land use planning laws. But prescribing cures without diagnosing all of the symptoms will not resolve the underlying issues. We need to zoom out and do a thorough analysis of environmental concerns, community infrastructure, and housing needs first and then use that data to inform and implement responsive policies. We need to recognize theres no one-size-fits-all solution for a crisis as complex as equitable housing across a state as large and diverse as Montana.

Recently, Governor Gianforte appointed a Housing Task Force to address Montanas housing crisis. While we are optimistic about aspects of the recently released report to the Governor, we see some of the same top-down elements that were rejected in the 2021 Session. If the Task Force is serious about addressing Montanas housing crisis, it should empower local leadership and provide incentives that support forward thinking communities to adopt comprehensive, long term strategies that reward sustainable development within existing urban footprints.

Several of the Task Force recommendations would provide incentives and much-needed funding to leverage opportunities, invest in infrastructure, and support the public-private partnerships that are building diverse housing options for communities. We strongly support the recommended tools to increase funding and options for affordable housing and to invest in programs that get folks into homes. While were hopeful at these inclusions, we want to ensure that by simply building more houses, we dont lose sight of protecting our natural resources. Ideally, development should occur within core public water and wastewater utilities, not on individual exempt wells and septic systems which require more land and are difficult to monitor.

Montana is growing, but let's not miss the opportunity to be strategic and build environmentally sound, affordable, and socially-connected communities in the long term. We need strong land use plans and water policies developed through inclusive community processes that assess the full spectrum of housing needs, the natural resources we need to protect, and future infrastructure to support that growth. The plans should identify locations and strategies to meet those goals and then adapt local zoning regulations that allow for locally defined, appropriate densities.

As has been MEICs focus for nearly 50 years, we will continue to work to protect clean air, clean water, and a livable climate for Montana. It starts with advocating for strong and thoughtful environmental protections, through the use of both incentives and regulations. As the 2023 Session approaches, lets think more holistically about development and advocate for bills that facilitate sustainable growth so that we may all live safely, affordably, and equitably within our environmental means.

Lets build communities, not just houses.
China unveils regulation on boosting development of self-employed businesses

Xinhua) 09:33, October 26, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling a regulation on advancing the development of self-employed businesses.

The regulation, which will take effect on Nov. 1, 2022, has set out specific preferential policies in areas including optimizing the business environment and protecting the lawful rights and interests of self-employed businesses.

The regulation clarifies the role of self-employed businesses in the socialist market economy and the basic principles for promoting their development, and promises to simplify administrative procedures and improve the business environment to create favorable conditions for the healthy development of such businesses.

Meanwhile, the working mechanism for promoting the development of the businesses is set up in the regulation.

Support for these businesses in areas including registration of market entities, annual reporting services, supply of business premises as well as capital, taxation, finance, social security, entrepreneurship and employment will be provided by the government and its relevant departments.

The country will also strengthen protection of the legitimate rights and interests of self-employed businesses, according to the regulation.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Greek Assyrians Search for Justice a Century After Ottoman Pogrom

The Greek Assyrian minority group in northern Iraq was driven from the oil-rich area of Mosul in the 1910s after a pogrom launched by Ottoman forces.

Like the Greeks of Pontus and the Armenians, they were also forced to leave their ancestral homes and become refugees in Greece and other places around the world.

President Biden recently officially recognized the Armenian genocide in a first for an American president. The Greek Assyrians accordingly hope that the change of climate in the U.S., could help highlight their ordeal and at least help to reclaim compensation for their lost properties.

Seventy Greek Assyrian families could claim compensation for lost property in northern Iraq, as recent reconstruction plans try to bring justice to the members ofoppressed minority groups.

Thousands of Assyrians, also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs, were driven from the oil-rich area of Mosul in the 1910s. For decades, those who had settled in Greece hesitated to press claims, fearing reprisals against their compatriots in Iraq. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein, however, now brings new hope to the cause.

Grecian Delight supports Greece

"Our people lived there for thousands of years and they threw them out violently," says Steve Sorros, whose grandparents were expelled from the Mosul district. "Of course, we do not wish to return there... but (we) have every right to be compensated. And our property was where the oil is."

Sorros, who emigrated to New York in 1976, believes the interests of oil companies overrode human concerns. He hopes Greek Assyrians will pursue a class action lawsuit, as Holocaust victims did against Swiss and German financial institutions, winning $20 billion.

The case has potential, according to lawyers like Nick Karambelas of the Washington-based law firm Sfikas & Karambelas. "There might be a strong legal base for compensations," he says. Karambelas has experience in such matters, representing families who lost property in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Assyrians are still classed as foreigners in Greece, which may help the case, he adds. Six thousand of these individuals emigrated from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey. Only around 1,000 are naturalized citizens in Greece while the rest have no papers; Karambelas says this refugee status means that they did voluntarily not give up rights to their land.

Another Greek American lawyer at one of New York's largest consulting firms -- who asked to remain anonymous -- was even more optimistic. He estimates that descendants of the expelled Assyrians could demand 20% of the profits since oil started to be exploited on their properties -- an amount that could reach billions of dollars.

Greek authorities, however, are largely oblivious to the brewing controversy. The Greek Foreign Ministry has not commented on the situation, despite repeated requests.

The time is ripe for political settlement for Assyrians in Iraq and abroad. They dare not hope for an autonomous state like the Kurds; cultural freedom is all they ask, according to Kyriakos Batsaras, president of Union of Assyrians in Greece.

"Whatever the Muslims get, this is what we also want, nothing more, nothing less," he stresses. Yet the Assyrians may be excluded from the final settlement in northern Iraq, sources there claim. Instead of being recognized as a minority group, they are being dismissed as Orthodox Christian Arabs.

"For a people with 7,000 years of history, it's ridiculous to call us that," Batsaras says.

Greek Assyrian odyssey

Today 4.5 million people in the world still consider themselves Assyrians. Their empire once stretched across northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, Turkey and Iran. Nineveh -- the ancient capital near Mosul -- may have been the first city in the entire world.

The kingdom crumbled in 612 BC, scattering the people into small pockets around the Middle East. They embraced Christianity in the 1st century AD and still speak Aramaic, one of the languages spoken by Jesus Christ.

Over the centuries, the Assyrians have been persecuted for their ethnicity and their religion. They enjoyed some autonomy under Ottoman rule in the early 20th century, however, because it was difficult for Imperial forces to subdue their militia.

This delicate balance ended when the Ottoman Empire massacred Christians -- Assyrians and Armenians alike -- in 1915. Winston Churchill described it as "whole districts blotted out in one destructive holocaust."

Sorros believes oil-hungry foreigners prompted the attack. "They used the Muslims to expel the more educated Christians. After they threw them out, they drilled the oil. Our forefathers did not receive any form of compensation."

The late Nissan Yaou -- president of the Union of Assyrians in Greece for many years -- supported this theory. His written testimony attests: "Oil was running into the river and people used it to burn wood that had not yet dried." Locals called the stream "Kriya" (black), because it brimmed with the crude liquid. During the winter snowfall, the oil turned to asphalt, which had to be scraped off to cultivate the land.

Yaou documented the expelled Assyrians' flight. They initially sought refugee in Iran, then Christian Russia, followed by the Black Sea port Novorossisk. They decided to return home in 1922, as the Mosul district was under British rule.

Yet English authorities in Constantinople stopped their ship, claiming an epidemic had struck their area. The Assyrians were lumped in with the people fleeing the Asian Minor disaster -- and re-routed to Greece. They landed at Makronessos, which later became a notorious prison island.

Conditions were rough there. The refugees would draw water and wash from one large hole, encouraging the spread of disease. Approximately 10-15 people died each day -- among them Yaou's stepmother.

They were moved several times to Keratsini, a monastery in Poros and the military barracks of Kalamata, where an estimated 4,000 people perished. Locals warned them not to drink the contaminated water, but no one understood Greek, Yaou explained. At the end of 1923, the Assyrians finally settled in the Athens suburb of Aegaleo, building a church in the memory of Saint Andrew.

Further troubles back home

Assyrians who remained in the Middle East suffered as well. They fought for the Allies in World War I, but were left without ammunition and support just before the conflict's end. They fled to Baghdad, losing one-third of their population to attack, disease and other hardships.

Britain, France and Russia promised to help establish an Assyrian homeland in the Mosul district, but this never came to pass. During the formation of the modern Iraqi nation in 1933, civilians were massacred and 60 villages destroyed. Batsaras says that English authorities moved 80,000 Arabs into the abandoned area, harshly oppressing any remaining Assyrian resistance.

Iraqi forces razed another 200 towns in the 60s and 70s, as well as scores of ancient churches. Saddam Hussein's "Arabisation policy" forced more people from their homes in the mid-80s. After the Gulf War, 250,000 Assyrian refugees joined the fleeing Kurds. Batsaras says, however "When you hear about ships full of Iraqi refugees, the majority are Assyrians."

Search for justice for Greek Assyrians

Both Sorros and Batsaras keep hope alive that all Assyrians eventually could return to a safe and tolerant homeland. In the meantime, those in Greece will pursue compensation for lost lands and revenue. At least 70 families are eligible for such remediation.

Sorros plans to push the case through powerful Assyrian organisations in the US, whose leaders met with the President George W. Bush and his administration in March 2003. "For 70 years big conglomerates drilled oil from my grandfather's backyard," he says. "At least something should be given to us."
WATERLOO  A mammogram likely saved Annette Yousses life.

Yousse was 49 when she got her first mammogram. She was diagnosed with breast cancer following her second mammogram.

I thought something like this couldnt happen to me. But if I hadnt gotten that first mammogram two years ago, I know I wouldnt have gotten the second one a year later. What if I hadnt gotten that second mammogram and the breast cancer wasnt found? When it was, it was already in my lymph nodes. It was an aggressive cancer.

The Waterloo native was 51 when she underwent a double radical mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for women, according to the American Cancer Society. It impacts 1 in 8 women in the United States. In Iowa, an estimated 20,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2022, with about 2,700 learning they have breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which ends Monday, is dedicated to educating the public about breast cancer and encouraging mammograms for early detection. Medical experts recommend starting annual mammograms at age 40.

Cost may prevent women from scheduling a mammogram. Some women may dismiss the idea because there is no history of breast cancer in their family, or they arent old enough to worry about breast cancer. (Most breast cancers are diagnosed in women ages 50 and older.) Or they may think the procedure is painful, or fear a diagnosis like the one Yousse received.

Last year, she participated in a free mammogram night coordinated by Black Hawk County Public Healths Care for Yourself program and MercyOne Breast Center. The following day, Yousse received a phone call asking her to come in for additional tests.

I was super scared. I spoke with my younger sister, who is a nurse, and she said maybe its nothing, maybe its a cyst. The first phone call I made was to my pastors wife. She helped calm my mind and prayed with me, and that helped. I couldnt tell my mom yet  I didnt want her to worry, recalled Yousse, who works at Chick-Fil-A. She is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Waterloo.

On Nov. 2, 2021, she underwent a biopsy  that hurt like a son of a gun, Yousse said. Then they called me on Nov. 3 and confirmed it was breast cancer.

On Dec. 14, she had a double mastectomy because I didnt want to go through this again. I talked to my husband (Brad). He was scared about it. My kids were scared. I prayed about it, and decided it was the right thing to do.

Her husband and her four grown children, as well as other family members and friends, formed her support system. Her young granddaughter often visited and like tucking a blanket around her grandmother for comfort and warmth.

Yousse received financial help for her deductible from the Beyond Pink Team. Funds donated to the nonprofit Beyond Pink stay in the Cedar Valley and assist people diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as provide education, support and advocacy.

Yousse underwent one chemotherapy treatment every three weeks for four cycles, and 10 to 15 minute radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks at the MercyOne Waterloo Cancer Center.

Thankfully, I didnt get super-duper sick from the chemo. God was gracious to me. The radiation was harder.

Now a cancer survivor, Yousse said, Im doing great. Ive prayed a lot. My faith is stronger than when I started going through breast cancer treatment. Theres no way I would have made it without God, my family and my church family.
MUSCATINE  Muscatine County will work with the Iowa Department of Public Safety to receive a radio communication tower located at 1884 Wildcat Den Road in the county that will become part of the countys new communications initiative.

During the regular Muscatine County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, the supervisors approved entering the agreement that would remove the tower. This comes after the Muscatine County Joint Communications Commission approved moving ahead with a project to switch the countys communications system to work with the Iowa tower system rather than the Illinois tower system. Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Jasper said the tower was a state-used tower with the former state communications system.

They no longer use it so they are willing to give it to the county to use with this project, Jasper explained.

Jasper said the state would replace the propane tank and the generator at the site and otherwise the tower is in usable shape.

Supervisor Scott Sauer commented that he remembers when Muscatine County began using the Illinois tower system that the feeling was the Illinois system would work better. Jasper said coverage maps show the county will have better coverage under the new system that it currently does. He said the coverage would extend along Highway 22 and the Montpelier area, which the existing system still has issues with.

The supervisors then approved a management agreement with the state because the tower sits on Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) land at Wildcat Den State Park. Jasper said the agreement outlines what the county is able to do with the tower.

Obviously they want to keep the park aesthetically pleasing, he said. He also said the IDNR would mow and maintain the area for the county.

With the passage the agreement will be in effect for the next 25 years, Jasper said.

Jasper also said the site will be the first transmission tower the county owns. The county leases several others for use with its communication system.
In Washington its said that if you want a friend, get a dog. This declaration, originally from Harry Truman, reflects the transactional nature of our politics and politicians. Alliances are temporary and friendships are fluid. That diverts from real life, where coherence and consistency are valued in relationships. And its an indicator why normal people disdain politicians.

On the local level, where we know our politicians as neighbors, that disgust is diminished. Earlier this year, this column forecasted many months of healthy competition from our two ACs (Anne Cottrell and Anna Chouteau) for the Upvalley supervisor seat. So much for political guesswork. I should have remembered the cautionary advice of fabled financial guru Jack Bogle, that nobody knows nothing.

In the primary Cottrell ran like a thoroughbred and raced to a commanding lead, but Chouteau finished third, behind the second primary survivor, Yountville Mayor John Dunbar. Since then Cottrell and Chouteau have endorsed each other (Chouteau is running for re-election to our City Council). Perhaps foolishly disregarding Bogle again, the prediction here is that both ACs will win.

In our town, we have two qualified gentlemen running for mayor. Either would be less divisive than our two most recent mayors, and both have campaigned on substantive issues. What may differentiate them is personality.

Paul Dohring reminds folks of a fluffy dog who wants to be liked; Eric Hall is more of a mature cat who wants to be respected (this is not an endorsement, but Im more partial to canines than felines). Each has years of accomplishment in their backgrounds and intriguing family histories. Dohring was the first college graduate in his large family and has Hispanic heritage. Hall has been a single father of two sons and came to St. Helena via a midlife second marriage.

With two attractive mayoral candidates, I suggested to both that they sit down together for informal public conversations rather than structured debates and presentations. They both responded favorably but regrettably these forums havent occurred.

Instead weve had a childish tiff over several Spotlight events. I attended two, and it was evident that they were designed to promote Hall, who spoke the longest and dominated the stage. Theres nothing wrong with that. What was wrong were the sanctimonious protestations that the events were not all about Hall. As Joe Biden would put it, Cmon, man.

Equally silly, alas, was Dohrings legalistic multi-point rebuttal detailing his evidence that he wasnt welcomed to attend. He should have just laughed it off and even congratulated his opponent on effective campaigning.

In St. Helena, we may have as few as 1,000 votes cast. That really does mean each and every ballot is significant. It may also mean that the Stars endorsement of Dohring could be impactful. There is noticeable sentiment that if we elect Dohring we get to keep Hall (on the council) and that Hall could be appointed vice mayor. That could unify the city after an election between grownups.

Anna Chouteau appears to have been endorsed by everyone except the incumbent mayor. One wiseacre opined that could effectively be her most important endorsement. If Chouteau is reelected to the council, then the final seat would be occupied by one of the two political newcomers on the ballot. Having a political outsider, a fresh face, may not be a bad thing.

Our mandatory mail-in ballots seem to be designed to amplify popular disgust with politics. Once again, and unique to California, we have numerous propositions to vote on. As a general rule, I vote against propositions; deciding state policy in this way is lousy governance. Equally nonsensical is our voting on many judgeships. Over two decades, Ive yet to meet any voters who could confidently explain their voting on judges.

And, by the way, why are we instructed to retain the tear-off stub at the top of each ballot page? Are we supposed to collect them and form a montage? Or perhaps use them to line a birdcage?

More on popular disgust with politicians: if Anne Cottrell is indeed elected, perhaps she could then explain why the Board of Supervisors thinks its a good idea to spend as much as $17,500 of taxpayer money to send two supes and one staffer to a wine confab in Argentina. When I recently spoke to her, Cottrell sounded appropriately cautious on this extravagance.

Like most St. Helenans, I enjoy international wine trips. I just dont expect my neighbors to pay for them. If Argentina-bound, our politicians should either pay their own way or raise the funds privately. Or, stay home, walk their dogs and play with their cats.

Editors note: Spotlight St. Helena organizers say the organization is not endorsing any candidates.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, came to Napa Tuesday to take part in two education-related events highlighting the states recent investments in student mental health and school lunches.

The first event, an annual breakfast held for school administrators, was held at the Napa County Office of Education and focused on mental health. The second, a lunchtime appearance at the Napa Valley Unified School District central kitchen, was focused on school lunches.

Napa County schools superintendent Barbara Nemko led off the first event introducing the various people  over 50 of them, including district superintendents, principals, school board members and representatives from state government  gathered at the breakfast.

The theme of today is mental health, Nemko said. We know if a child is not on an even keel socially and emotionally, it makes the academic work so much harder. And we also know theyre not right now. Its been a tough couple of years for kids and adults, alike. 

Newsom soon arrived and took to the podium after a few others spoke. She said she wanted to focus on the policies, investments and resources the state has put in place to support the mental health needs of your students. She also noted the importance of the adults in the room taking care of their own mental health, so theyre able to support others.

We can show our kids that anxiety, depression and tough feelings, even suicidal ideation, theyre nothing to be ashamed of, Newsom said. "Theyre part of our shared human experience, and theres always help.

Newsom also talked about her California For All Kids Initiative  an effort to improve children's health overall  and highlighted Californias $4.7 billion investment into overhauling the youth mental health system, which she said will create tens of thousands of new mental health jobs.

An overhaul like this will take time, Newsom said. We all have to build the plane while were flying it. While we know not every child in California will need clinical mental health services, they will all reap the benefit from long-term proactive care.

Newsom then asked questions to a panel of mental health experts, including California Surgeon General Diana Ramos; Michael Lombardo, executive director of prevention supports and services at the Placer County Office of Education; and Jill Barnes, continuous improvement and academic services manager at the NCOE.

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In an interview with the Napa Valley Register following the event, Newsom said she doesnt think its likely for someone to be able to go online and think people in the U.S. and across the world are mentally healthy. She said the country had a burgeoning mental health crisis prior to the pandemic, which she attributed in part to technology and the spread of social media. The pandemic, she added, made that even worse, given that schooling moved online and people became isolated.

Im a big believer in conscious capitalism or stakeholder capitalism, and I think leaders need to do better, Newsom said. Technology companies know what theyve done, media companies know that theyre all about eyeballs and speaking to the lowest common denominator to attract  to get more clicks. And I think we have to have a moral compass again; I think theres ethics questions and morality questions and decency (questions). I think its about leadership, and are you going to be an unfettered capitalist that literally destroys civilization in the process, or are you going to help rebuild community and society and bridge divides?

The later event at the NVUSD central kitchen involved local and state officials  including state Sen. Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, along with Newsom  trying out the district's school lunch foods and taking a tour around the kitchen with Brandy Dreibelbis, senior director of school food operations with the Chef Ann Foundation. (Dreibelbis, as NVUSD's nutrition services director, oversaw the kitchen center's opening in 2019.)

Staff members with the school district talked about how much recent state investment into farm-to-school nutrition had allowed them to transform the local lunch program.

We truly, truly, fundamentally feel that our school lunch program is one of our biggest assets educating the whole child, said NVUSD Superintendent Rosanna Mucetti.
Napa County has an important decision to make on the fire front  whether to stick with a 90-year arrangement that has Cal Fire run the county fire department  or do the job itself.

Its too big a decision to make quickly. The county is carrying out its Long Range Fire Department Master Plan, which should be finished next spring.

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One issue is how to run the fire department for the rural county outside of cities, with its five full-time stations and nine volunteer fire companies.

We encourage the (county) Board of Supervisors to now begin the steps of studying the feasibility of creating a county-run fire department as an option for better local control, the Napa County Farm Bureau recently wrote to the county.

Tony Martinez of Cal Fire has been a firefighter in Napa County for 29 years. He is with Cal Fire Local 2881.

I strongly believe that my colleagues and I are best suited to serve this community for the next 90 years and beyond, Martinez said.

All of this played out last week before the Napa County Board of Supervisors.

Since 1932, the county has contracted with Cal Fire to run the Napa County Fire Department. Cal Fire provides administration, fire protection, volunteer firefighter program management, fire prevention, vehicle extraction, basic life support, dispatching and other services.

If there is a rural wildfire, house fire or accident, the Napa County Fire Department responds. The department contracts with St. Helena and Calistoga to provide fire response in those Upvalley cities.

To be clear, no matter what happens with the Napa County Fire Department, Cal Fire would still be involved fighting wildfires such as the Glass and Atlas fires. Cal Fire would still respond to wildfires in the State Responsibility Area that covers much of Napa County.

Throughout California, Cal Fire fights wildfires on about 31 million acres within the State Responsibility Area.

Napa County had Ralph Andersen & Associates look at potential labor costs of establishing a county-run Napa County Fire Department. That would mean replacing Cal Fire employees with county-hired workers.

Personnel costs under Cal Fire are an estimated $15.7 million annually. The cost if Napa County hired the employees would be $21.1 million, or $5.4 million more, the study concluded.

Thats because Cal Fires salary and benefit costs are the lowest in the labor market, the study said. The analysis looked at fire departments in surrounding areas to calculate what local costs negotiated with a union would likely be.

Napa County Fire Department has 61 full-time staff and 15 seasonal firefighters contracted through Cal Fire. Additionally, it is served by 200 volunteers. The county owns six rural fire stations and Cal Fire owns 13 stations.

One possibility is to stick with Cal Fire running the Napa County Fire Department, only with still more services. The county could pay more for such things as advanced life support, fire investigation services, land use planning, bulldozing staffing and helicopter staffing, a county report said.

The Fire Department Master Plan is being prepared by AP Triton. It will include an evaluation of current needs, community risk assessment and potential future delivery models.

The Board of Supervisors in April agreed to pay AP Triton $65,000 through December to do the master plan, with an automatic annual renewal.

Recent catastrophic fires in Napa County and the popularity of our community bringing countless visitors to our majestic valley have influenced the need to ensure that our fire protection services are able to provide the highest level of service possible, a county report said.

Twenty-nine of Californias 58 counties have cooperative agreements of some type with Cal Fire, including Napa County. Various cities and fire protection districts also have agreements.

Neighboring Solano County does not contract with Cal Fire to run county fire services. In that case, the county has rural fire districts  Cordelia, Montezuma, Suisun and Vacaville  with their own boards.
According to a tweet published by the Sri Lanka Navy on October 25, 2022, as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour Canberra class landing helicopter dock (LHD) HMAS Adelaide and the Anzac class frigate HMAS Anzac arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Canberra class landing helicopter dock HMAS Adelaide, Colombo. (Picture source: Sri Lanka Navy)

HMAS Adelaide (L01) is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and is the largest naval vessel ever built for Australia.

Construction of the ship started at Navantia's Spanish shipyard with steel-cutting in February 2010. The ship was laid down in February 2011, and launched on 4 July 2012.

The Canberra-class design is based on the warship Juan Carlos I, built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy. Adelaide has the same physical dimensions as Juan Carlos I, but differs in the design of the island superstructure and the internal layout, in order to meet Australian conditions and requirements.

The Canberra-class vessels are 230.82 metres (757.3 ft) long overall, with a maximum beam of 32 metres (105 ft), and a maximum draught of 7.08 metres (23.2 ft).

At full load, Adelaide will displace 27,500 tonnes (27,100 long tons; 30,300 short tons), making the Canberra-class ships the largest vessels to serve in the RAN.

Propulsion is provided by two Navantia Siemens 11-megawatt (15,000 hp) azimuth thrusters, each with an onboard electric motor, driving two 4.5-metre (15 ft) diameter propellers.

The electricity is provided by a Combined diesel-electric and gas system, with a single General Electric LM2500 turbine producing 19,160 kilowatts (25,690 hp), supported by two Navantia MAN 16V32/40 diesel generators, each providing 7,448 kilowatts (9,988 hp).

Maximum speed is over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), with a maximum sustainable full-load speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph), and an economical cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Economical range is 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi).

Each ship is fitted with a Saab 9LV Mark 4 combat management system. The sensor suite includes a Sea Giraffe 3D surveillance radar, and a Vampir NG infrared search and track system. The ships' companies will consist of 358 personnel; 293 RAN, 62 Australian Army, and 3 RAAF.

The LHDs will transport 1,046 soldiers and their equipment. Adelaide will be capable of deploying a reinforced company of up to 220 soldiers at a time by airlift.

Two vehicle decks (one for light vehicles, the other for heavy vehicles and tanks) have areas of 1,880 square metres (20,200 sq ft) and 1,410 square metres (15,200 sq ft) respectively, and between them can accommodate up to 110 vehicles.

The well deck will carry up to four LHD Landing Craft, which can be launched and recovered in conditions up to Sea State 4. The flight deck can operate six MRH-90-size helicopters or four Chinook-size helicopters simultaneously, in conditions up to Sea State 5.

A mix of MRH-90 transport helicopters and S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters will be carried: up to eight can be stored in the hangar deck, and the light vehicle deck can be repurposed to fit another ten.
Ardshinbank is the exclusive sponsor of Vladimir Spivakov's charity concert (PHOTOS)

Japan's prime minister orders to double defense spending to about 2% of GDP in five years

EU countries resumes talks on introducing price ceiling on Russian oil

Volcano eruption kicks off in Hawaii

Condition of servicemen wounded as result of Azerbaijan's violation of ceasefire is satisfactory

Russia and Iran sign memorandum on car exports

Tokayev: There are issues in relations between Russia and Kazakhstan that require negotiations

FT: Global inflation peaks but will slow in future

2 soldiers injured after Azerbaijan shells Artsakh defense army positions

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

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Scholz says Germany will allocate another 10 million to ensure grain supplies from Ukraine

Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian border positions

Parapolitika: U.S. drone base is being set up near the Greek city of Larissa

Belgium to send to Ukraine 100 instructors who fought in Afghanistan

U.S. household spending up $433 for the year

Authorities of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine signs Declaration of Lublin Triangle PMs

CIS Executive Committee says they agreed with CSTO, SCO on combining anti-terrorist exercises

Over 10 people are missing in Italy after landslide

Finns saving on alcohol

Kyodo: Japan ready for joint counterstrikes with U.S. in case of attack

OSCE PA session in Warsaw kicks off in darkness as sign of solidarity with Ukraine

Times: Britain may triple its nuclear energy production by 2050

IAEA tells what blow to spent fuel at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant will lead to

AFP: Macron wants to dissuade Biden from unequal competition with EU

ARF Dashnaktsutyun delegation meets with Spanish PM

India launches vehicle with 9 satellites on board

Bloomberg says cost of chartering oil tankers exceed $100,000

Belgium to provide Ukraine with underwater unmanned drones and mobile laboratories

Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan has phone talks

22 people injured in Turkish minibus accident

Xi Jinping says he wants to develop relations with North Korea amid global changes

Inauguration ceremony of Tokayev takes place in Astana

Greta Thunberg and 600 more eco-activists sue Sweden

Secretary of Armenian Security Council to visit France and Germany

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Armenian Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan shells Armenian border positions

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India's antitrust regulator fined Google Alphabet Inc. 9.4 billion rupees ($113 million) for "abusing" its dominant position in the Android mobile app store. This is the second such fine in a few days.

The Competition Commission of India ordered Google to "cease-and-desist" from anti-competitive practices after finding that the company "dominates" the Indian market for licensed operating systems available for smartphones and app stores, Bloomberg reported.

The regulator also asked Google not to restrict app developers from using third-party services for billing or payment processing.

Google has been ordered to follow a nondiscriminatory policy for other apps that allow payments through a government-backed system known as Unified Payments Interface or UPI, the antitrust agency said in a statement.

The regulator's order came just days after it fined Google $162 million for accelerating the dominance of its Android smartphone operating system.
The issue of the "corridor" between Armenia and Azerbaijan became the topic of a heated debate in the European Parliament today. Passions flared up when the members of the Committee on Foreign Relations asked the representative of the European External Action Service, what Brussels thinks about this demand of Azerbaijan. The high-ranking diplomat avoided answering directly, Azatutyun radio station reported.

According to the politician Brussels does not give an opinion on the corridor, it makes efforts to promote a dialogue between the parties to sign a peace treaty. And these issues should be discussed by the parties, he said.

This answer of a high-ranking Foreign Ministry diplomat did not satisfy those present. The deputies, however, reacted even more violently to the words of the EU government representative, Bella Nesterova. When asked about Brussels' attitude towards Azerbaijan's demands, the European Commission representative said she did not know what corridor was being discussed.

Slovenian-elect Klemen Groselj said he was taken aback to hear the External Affairs Service say they do not know which corridorwas being discussed. This is one of the biggest geopolitical issues, this could be the cause of the next big war, he said.

Deputies have been discussing drafts of new reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan since morning.

The document on Azerbaijan notes that Baku is a strategic partner of the European Union, which has pledged to increase fuel supplies in terms of finding new markets.

According to the report, Azerbaijan remains a strategic economic partner of the European Union. EU and Azerbaijan are close to signing a comprehensive agreement that will further improve their economic cooperation. The memorandum, which was signed between European Commission President von der Leyen and Azerbaijan in July this year, gives the opportunity to diversify the energy resources and reduce fuel prices.

Speaking in detail about programs on deepening economic relations with Baku, author of the document Zeljana Zovko spoke in few words about human rights violations and freedom of speech in this country, once again causing outrage and bewilderment of the audience.

MP Isabel Santos said EU cannot for the sake of gas tolerate the atrocities committed in that country, calling for those issues to be raised more clearly.

EU should not follow the example of the head of the European Commission, von der Leyen, who signed a memorandum with the dictator Aliyev, shook his hand without meeting the civil society of Azerbaijan. Today EU supports Ukraine because their values are on the altar, and they must be paramount also in case of Armenia, the deputies said, urging the EU officials to act instead of words.

Czech MP Marketa Gregorova stressed that Brussels should set clear preconditions for Azerbaijan before deepening relations. She said EU must not lie to itself: President Aliyev is not much different from President Putin, and the deepening of their relations should happen only after real, actual changes, which they have not seen so far.

Despite the calls of MPs and criticism addressed to the Head of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the representative of this structure Bella Nesterova did not say a word about human rights violations in Azerbaijan. Instead, she stressed that the European Union is working to support the parties in humanitarian issues and is the largest donor to Azerbaijan in the matter of demining.

The Spanish MP Nacho Sanchez Amor was indignant saying he couldn't believe that a representative of the European Commission came there and didn't say a word about human rights.... He noted that there were people in that country who had been deported, deprived of citizenship. The MP said he understands the energy needs, but they are talking about international obligations and a gross violation of agreements.

In its reports on both Armenia and Azerbaijan the European Parliament criticizes the passive position of the European Union during and after the 44-day war, stressing that this allowed Russia and Turkey to further strengthen their influence in the South Caucasus. At the same time, the deputies applaud European Council President Charles Michel's efforts to facilitate dialogue between the sides, urging the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to participate fully in discussions around a peace treaty.

The efforts of President Michel, President Macron, and the meetings between the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan send serious signals that they are also trying to bring these countries back from Russian influence, said Zeljana Zovko, rapporteur on Azerbaijan.

The final texts of the reports are to be discussed and adopted in January at a plenary session of the European Parliament. However, they are not binding.

As the co-rapporteur on Armenia reminded today, a special report on the release of Armenian prisoners of war was adopted in the same hall more than a year ago, but they still remain in prisons in Azerbaijan.
US President Biden on Tuesday warned Russia against using a tactical nuclear weapon amid concerns Moscow may be creating a pretext to escalate the war in Ukraine, The Hill reported.

Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it to use a tactical nuclear weapon, Biden told reporters after getting his COVID-19 booster shot. Im not guaranteeing you that its a false flag operation yet. I dont know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake.

Russia over the weekend claimed Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb, which typically refers to an explosive that would be used to spread radioactive material.

Ukraine has denied any attempt to use such a weapon, and officials from Ukraine, the US and other allied countries have warned that Russia could be laying the groundwork to take some type of escalatory action of its own.
Israel's president said Tuesday he was sharing intelligence with the United States to prove Iran supplied Russian-operated drones that have reaped destruction in Ukraine, as he urged a tough response, AFP reported.

The United States and European Union have already reached a similar conclusion, but Israel has been pushing for tough action against Iran's clerical state, which it views as its biggest threat.

President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, held talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Washington in which he will meet President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

"Iranian weapons play a key role in destabilizing our world, and the international community must learn its lessons, now and in the future," Herzog said. "The world must speak with Iran in the same languagea tough, united and uncompromising language."

Herzog's office in a statement said he would share images assessed by Israel that show similarities between drones downed in Ukraine and parts tested in Iran in December 2021 and displayed at an exposition in Iran in 2014.

Blinken, at the start of a meeting with Herzog, said the United States and Israel were "standing together against the dangerous, destabilizing, and terrorizing actions that Iran is taking."

"The provision of drones by Iran to Russia to enable further aggression against Ukraine and Ukrainian people is showing horrific results on the ground in Ukraine," Blinken said.

The top US diplomat also weighed in on violence in the occupied West Bank, where major raids on Tuesday targeting a militant group killed six Palestinians, bringing thousands of mourners into the streets.

Blinken said he would speak to Herzog about "the real concern that we have about violence that we're seeing on the West Bank."

"We're urging everyone to take the necessary steps to try to de-escalate that violence and to avoid actions or statements that may incite it," Blinken said.
A Holy Mass for Peace to Armenia, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the Holy See, was held Tuesday at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore at the Vaticanand celebrated by Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the ceremony, in which he particularly said:

Your Eminence Cardinal Parolin,

We are deeply touched by your decision to preside over this Holy Mass and celebrate with us the 30th anniversary of the fraternal relations between Yerevan and the Vatican. I am grateful for your inspirational words and prayerful wishes on this joyful occasion.

Your Beatitude, Excellencies,

Reverend Fathers and Sisters,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for gracing us with your presence to pray together in front of the magnificent icon of the Virgin Mary for Peace in Armenia.

My country has never lost its belief in the ideals of humanity and solidarity, even despite facing many challenges and calamities triggered by conflicts and particularly the recent deplorable use of force by the neighbouring country.

The Armenian people and Government greatly appreciate the Holy Father's blessings for strengthening our relations, as well as messages and calls of Pope Francis for peace and gestures of solidarity extended to us during and after the 44-day war in 2020 and the aftermath of recent acts of aggression against my nation.

Almost for three decades, the history of diplomatic ties between Armenia and the Holy See has been characterized by high-level political dialogue, constantly developed and deepened by mutual efforts. We have had many occasions of milestone events which demonstrate our centuries-old interactions and current interstate relations.

The divine liturgy performed by Pope Francis and witnessed by the entire world in April 2015, marking the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and impressions of the historical visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Armenia in June 2016, will remain in our memories and hearts forever. We are very proud of the fact that Saint Gregory of Narek, a son of the Armenian people and a genius of Medieval thought, joined the 36 greatest thinkers who received the title of "Doctor of the Universal Church" to whom Pope Francis also called a doctor of peace - a great Christian message of peace.

And today's celebration presided over by the Secretary of State, is yet another vivid manifestation of a solid friendship of the Holy See with Armenia - the first nation to embrace Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

Let me also mention that the centuries-old history of interactions between the Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic Churches is a valuable engine for developing our modern interstate ties. We commend the continuing interchurch dialogue, and I am happy to acknowledge among us today the presence of His Beatitude Raphael Petros XXI, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenian Catholics, the representatives of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, Mkhitarist Fathers and the Armenian Sisters of Immaculate Conception. We are grateful for your support and dedicated efforts.

Your Eminence,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This milestone year offers an excellent opportunity to celebrate our achievements and shared values. We praise the Lord that the Armenia-Holy See brotherly journey and comprehensive dialogue aimed at exchanging our sacred treasures in a spirit of esteem, mutual respect, and reciprocal trust continues and further supports all of us in building a world of justice and peace.
The US has encouraged the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to meet in whatever format is most useful to them, the State Department spokesman noted at Tuesdays Department press briefing.

We believe direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and to reaching a lasting peace. Its why [US] Secretary Blinken brought together his foreign minister counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York City in September, the first time that the two had been in the same room since the recent flare-up of violence. Its ultimately for Armenia and for Azerbaijan to decide whether [Russian] President Putins invitation would be helpful or useful to them in pursuit of that lasting peace, Ned Price said.

And commenting on the repeated statements made by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, that the efforts of Brussels and Washington to normalize Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are solely promotional, Price noted that the American side takes issue with a characterization of its efforts being self-promotional.

There is nothing self-promotional about seeking to put an end to years of conflict and to years of flare-ups that have led to violence and ultimately to deaths, both on the part of Armenians and the citizens of Azerbaijan. Our only goal here is to see and to help these countries work together to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace, and ultimately to save lives. I dont know what about that can be construed as self-promotional, the US State Department spokesman added.
Armenia has 240 casualties as a result of Azerbaijan's military attack in September. The speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia noted about this to reporters in the NA Wednesday.

"The Republic of Armenia is under attack every day, whereas we hear different tales from those well-known actors of televisions. We have 240 casualties as a result of the [recent Azerbaijani] attack, we have a foreign army that invaded our border," Alen Simonyan said.

"Armenia is not big enough to tolerate even a one-meter concession [of territory] and say, 'We are establishing relations.' Armenia does not spoil its relations with any country. Armenia wants that they be fair to it, that the obligations which have been taken towards its borders be fulfilled, and it will do everything for that. There is no emotion here, there is no question of liking or not liking, there are obligations, the fulfillment of which we will pursue, and we will try to protect the lives of our [military] boys and our borders by all possible means," the Armenian parliament speaker added.

On October 14, during the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had announced that as a result of the Azerbaijani military aggression in September, the number of casualties and missing persons of Armenia had exceeded 210, of which three civilians were killed and two were missing. According to Pashinyan, 293 Armenian servicemen and eight civilians were wounded, and the number of missing servicemen is 28.
The phrase about signing a peace treaty by the end of the year is not a consequence of the agreement as such; it is some kind of tacit deadline that both sides have wishes for. The speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia noted about this to reporters in the NA Wednesdayand referring to the statements that a peace treaty should be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan before the end of the year.

"I also want us [Armenia] to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible. A peace treaty should be concluded as soon as possible. I repeat: Armenia's 29,800 square kilometers are a red line for us," said Alen Simonyan.

And asked whether the Armenian side will posit a precondition that it will not sign any peace treaty until the Azerbaijani army withdraws from the sovereign territory of Armenia, Simonyan responded: "Azerbaijani troops must immediately leave all the territories that are the internationally recognized territory of Armenia; this is the first point in all our international meetings. I don't want to speak within the framework of the peace treaty because I'm not the foreign minister. I don't want to set any preconditions, but it is definitely clear how to move forward in other circumstances; this is not up for debate."
The bill on Finland's membership in NATO prepared by the government of the republic allows the deployment of nuclear weapons in its territory, Iltalehti newspaper wrote citing sources in the sphere of foreign policy and security of the country.

The document on Finland's joining the North Atlantic Alliance is almost ready and will be submitted for review within two weeks.

According to the newspaper, the bill also does not ban deployment of military bases and NATO military contingent in the country.

The document is being prepared by the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the presidential administration.

According to one of the newspaper sources, nuclear weapons can be placed in Finland, for example, on F-35 fighters which Helsinki has ordered 64 aircraft.
There are hundreds of proposals, options, opinions, but there is no document on the table. The speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia noted about this to reporters in the NA Wednesday.

"There are different ideas, different proposals, there are even proposals from the past, future-oriented proposals," said Alen Simonyan.

And asked whether these proposals are from the West or from Russia, the NA speaker responded: There are all kinds of proposals. Even among our partners, within the same CSTO, there are different ideas. But there is Armenias view, which the prime minister has talked about many times. Even today, if our opposition MPs have any questions, they can address the prime minister directly."
Armenia is waiting for the CSTO's response, and the response should be politicalat least at this phase. The speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia noted about this to reporters in the NA Wednesdayand when asked whether Armenia will leave the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if the latter does not express a clear position on Azerbaijan's recent military aggression against Armenia.

"In the future, if it becomes clear that, nonetheless, the CSTO has decided to go out of the region, we can simply face the fact that the CSTO has gone out. But such a matter is not being discussed among the Armenian authorities today. We repeat: we are waiting for actions, we are waiting for a response," said Alen Simonyan.

And to the question as to how long they will wait, the NA speaker responded: "It seems to me that this situation already shows that there is very little time left for us to make a decision, as the narrowest area of Armenia is about 30 kilometers. We cannot afford much."
YEREVAN.  The secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, on Wednesday received the members of the OSCE needs assessment mission led by Colonel Robert Arkadiusz Tkaczyk, a representative of Poland currently chairing the OSCE.

Grigoryan attached importance to the work of this mission in conveying information to the international community about the military aggression of Azerbaijan on September 13 against Armenia, the Office of the Security Council informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, Grigoryan briefed on the aggression unleashed by the Azerbaijani troops on September 13 and its consequences, and emphasized that the aforementioned is a blow not only to the sovereignty, but also to the democracy of Armenia.

Colonel Tkaczyk, in turn, expressed confidence that the OSCE will continue to deepen cooperation with Armeniaand for which there is a bilateral readiness.
The issues arising in Russian-Armenian relations are not "irreversible," and meetings and conferences at various levels are aimed at resolving them, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin, who was previously reportedly banned from entering Armenia, told RIA Novosti.

Zatulin said that in the near future Armenia will host Lazarev Club's meeting on "The historical past and present of Russian-Armenian relations." The day before the politician learned that his person was declared undesirable in the republic.

Responding to a question about the development of bilateral relations he stated that he does not regard what is happening today in the Russian-Armenian relations as "irreversible". Thus, he noted, the meetings of representatives of the two countries as well as the heads of states are also aimed at the development of contacts.

"As we know President Putin and Aliyev are supposed to meet with Pashinyan. I hope that the Club is supposed to hold such a discussion, drawing attention to it, will cool down the ardor of those who today in Armenia - not only the government, but also the forces supporting it, I mean bloggers who live on Western grants in Armenia, on connections with the American Embassy, embassies of Western countries - all will think back and just weigh up what they are changing," Zatulin said.
Governor Nazeli Baghdasaryan of Shirak Province on Wednesday hosted a delegation led by Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, the head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia.

"For us, the initiatives being implemented by the European Union in our province are of particular importance. (...) we are ready to continue our cooperation, and I am sure that we will succeed here," said the governor of Shirak, welcoming the EU envoy.

Ambassador Wiktorin, for her part, noted that it is no coincidence that all the members of her delegation visiting Shirak are women, as they aim to encourage and support the governor of Shirak as a female leader.

"Shirak Province and, in particular, Gyumri [city] remain on our agenda. We will announce a new program soon; we are talking about a new economic program contributing to the development of Gyumri. (...) and I am sure, yes, the cooperation will be continuous," the EU envoy said.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan reflected on the matter of the returning of the Shirak Provinces POWs being kept in Azerbaijan, and underscored the efforts of Ambassador Wiktorin in resolving this matter.

The EU envoy, in turn, noted that the EU was doing everything to fully establish peace in the region, the proof of which is the EU observation mission that has been deployed on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Russia has information about Ukraine's preparations for a "dirty bomb" terrorist attack, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitriy Peskov told journalists when asked what further steps Moscow would take after the UN Security Council presented evidence of Ukraine's preparation of a "dirty bomb" at a closed meeting, TASS reported.

"We have information that suggests that Ukraine is preparing for such a terrorist diversion," he said, stressing that Russia will vigorously continue to convey its point of view to the world community in order to encourage them to take active steps in terms of preventing such irresponsible behavior by the Kiev regime. Peskov did not comment on the outcome of the UN Security Council meeting held behind closed doors.

Russia will take energetic steps to draw the world's attention to the threat of Ukraine's use of a "dirty bomb," Peskov also said.

On Monday, Igor Kirillov, head of Russia's radiation, chemical and biological defense forces, said at a briefing that the Russian Defense Ministry had put its forces and means in readiness to act "in conditions of radioactive contamination" because it had information about Kiev's readiness to use a "dirty bomb."
The commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Valdemaras Rupsys suggests not to transfer Lithuanian PzH 2000 howitzers and NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine, Lrt.lt reports.

"I need to have instruments. We cannot accomplish tasks without the capability to do so, but the capability we have is on that line when we cannot undress anymore, the lieutenant general said at the Pabrade training ground.

Ill make this proposal. We have to look for other means of support, he added.

Rupsys also said that Vilnius could support Kiev with weapons if new weapons could be purchased soon and replaced those already in use.

We need to understand that we also have NATO commitments. We have clearly stated the units we are contributing to NATO. This must include indirect fire capability or field artillery, manoeuvre units with firepower, and air defence to provide support as a host nation, Rupsys said.

Lithuania is considering transferring howitzers and air defense systems after receiving Ukraine's request. However, critics say the transfer of the aforementioned weapons would undermine Lithuania's recently acquired military capabilities.
The European embargo on Russian oil and oil products increases uncertainty in the global oil market, said Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, Reuters reported.

He said the market is being reshaped with discounts offered by Russia.

The Russians, with the right discounts, can place their oil in different markets, Nasser said, adding that crude from other producers, meanwhile, is being redirected - oil destined for Asia is going to Europe, North America and elsewhere.

Last month, the G-7 countries agreed to cap sales of Russian oil at a forced low price by Dec. 5, but faced concerns from major players in the global oil industry.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Riyadh after announcing a $1.5 billion sustainable development fund to support a stable and inclusive energy transition, Nasser said the current global plan to shift from transitional fossil fuels to new forms of energy was flawed.

If you look at coal, it's 8 billion tons, the highest since 2013. The cost of coal per barrel of oil equivalent is $60 to $80, so we're basically transitioning to coal, he said.

Nasser said the market for blue hydrogen is growing, but so far it's around $200 to $300 a barrel of oil equivalent.

The market that has been identified is mostly in Japan and South Korea, he said.
Aides to President Joe Biden were furious when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reneged on a secret deal they believe they struck to boost oil production, The New York Times reports.

Citing U.S. and Middle East officials, the newspaper reported that Biden's aides believed they had reached an agreement with the Saudis to increase oil production by December. That would have allowed Biden's White House to claim that the president's controversial visit to the kingdom in July was of considerable benefit, and would have supported Democrats before the midterm elections, where they face criticism from Republicans over high gasoline prices.

Biden criticized the Saudis during the campaign for their human rights record, but when the war in Ukraine caused oil prices to rise, he traveled to Jeddah to meet with the crown prince.

But instead of giving Biden a much-needed political victory, the crown prince reneged on the deal. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia also infuriated Democratic lawmakers and White House officials by announcing plans to cut production along with Russia and other OPEC nations, pushing oil prices higher.

The move was interpreted by some Democrats as an attempt to interfere in the midterm elections and plunged the White House and the Saudis into a cycle of mutual accusations. Biden said the decision would have consequences for Saudi Arabia, without specifying what they might be.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy refuted claims that the production cuts were politically motivated: OPEC+ decisions are made by consensus of all members and are determined solely by market principles, not politics.

Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the National Security Council, defended the Biden administration's oil policy.
There are a lot of questions that have been accumulated, about which certain questions should be raised at the trilateral meeting in Sochi, Russia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted about this during the National Assembly question-and-answer session with the government on Wednesday.

"There is an invitation from the President of the Russian Federation to hold a trilateral meeting in Sochi on October 31. I have confirmed my participation, I have no information whether the Azerbaijani side has also confirmed the participation or not. The last time a meeting of this format took place in November last year, and the expectations are related to the assessments of the events that took place during this period. I can also reach until the trilateral statement of November 9. There are a lot of questions that have been accumulated, about which certain questions should be raised. You are familiar with the agenda of those issues," said Pashinyan.

He pointed to several issues that he intends to discuss during the meeting in Sochi.

"In March of this year, the Azerbaijani armed forces had invaded the one of responsibility of the Russian Federation peacekeepers [in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)], and I have not hidden that the lack of response from the peacekeepers and the measures taken are incomprehensible.

Contrary to the agreements reached in the trilateral working group, announcements are made about corridorsand not only from the Azerbaijani side, but also there are obscure people of Russia who are trying to develop it.

The statement of November 26 had noted that the parties agreed to take measures to increase the security level at the [Armenia-Azerbaijan] border and achieve the work of the [border] delimitation commission. At that time, many of our partnersincluding the partners of the Russian Federationwere saying that the delimitation commission itself would be a security mechanism. We do not share that view, but we decided to show flexibility and take that step. But after the setting up of the commission, the September 13 [military] aggression [of Azerbaijan] took place [against Armenia], and those partners, who were saying that the setting up of the delimitation commission was a security mechanism, have not expressed a clear political position until now about the aggression of September 13," Nikol Pashinyan stated.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan said he would like the peace agreement to be signed before the end of the year.

His remarks came at the government hour in the Armenian National Assembly on Wednesday.

"How realistic is it? The government and I will make every effort to make it a reality. We hope the delimitation work will be completed before the signing of the peace treaty.

How realistic is it, given that we reached an agreement in Prague that it would happen on the basis of the 1991 borders? It can become a reality because the borders are known," Pashinyan said.

According to him, an internationally visible dialogue should be initiated between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

"This is a very important circumstance and there should be certain mechanisms to protect the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. It will be very good, I will be very satisfied if we can do it," the Armenian PM added.
The observation mission will allow easing the tension, head of the EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin told reporters on Wednesday.

The EU Technical Assessment Mission began last week, which should then be handed over to the EU Monitoring Mission. There has been very positive cooperation with the Armenian authorities, Wiktorin noted.

Asked whether the presence of EU monitors will help ensure that there is no shooting on the border, the Ambassador noted that the format of the monitors is to observe and report directly to the headquarters. The deployment of this EU monitoring mission is already a big step forward, she noted.

Wiktorin expressed hope that it will ease borders tensions and that it will serve as a confidence-building function, which will also allow for a smoother process of signing a peace treaty in the future.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced his intention to visit Turkey in the near future to discuss Sweden's and Finland's applications to join the alliance.

Hungary and Turkey are the only NATO countries that have yet to ratify the two countries' applications.

"I welcome that Finland, Sweden and Turkey are working together to implement the joint memorandum they agreed on the margins of the Madrid Summit, to step up efforts to fight international terrorism. Sweden has made it clear that there are only there are no restrictions on arms exports to Turkey. And they have established what we call a permanent mechanism, a way to work even more closely together on the exchange of information, on intelligence to support efforts on fighting international terrorism. So I'm confident that all Allies will ratify the Accession Protocol. I also welcome the fact that Finland and Sweden are in close contact with Turkey. The Swedish Prime Minister was recently here. We of course discussed the accession process and he will go to Turkey to meet with President Erdogan.

I will go to Ankara Or to Turkey, to Istanbul, to meet with President Erdogan in the near future myself. So we are in close contact with Finland and Sweden and also of course in close contact at all levels with our close Ally, Turkey." Stoltenberg said.
There are great opportunities for cooperation between Dubai and Armenia, especially in blockchain technologies, Hans Henrik Christensen, Vice President of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), told reporters.

He mentioned that Dubai's Silicon Oasis is a state-free zone, and his major function as a leader is to support startups. According to him, in recent years, Dubai supports the creation and promotion of startups, and the state invests laboriously in this sector through venture funds.

Silicon Oasis is the biggest hub for startup development in the region

"I am pleased to note that the Silicon Oasis of Dubai has become the biggest hub for startup development in the region," he said.

Hans Christensen noted that the Silicon Oasis of Dubai has already signed a memorandum with Hayk Vardanyan, the president of the Blockcentro organization operating in Dubai. New memos will be signed during this visit, including with the inviting organization, Made in Armenia NGO.

During the three-day visit, Hans Christensen met with the Deputy Ministers of Economy and High-Tech Industry ministries, the ISTC Foundation, the Union of Employers of ICT, and the Union of Information Technology Enterprises. He has also visited the Tumo innovation center and Armat laboratories, NGO chair Ashot Grigoryan noted.

According to Ashot Grigoryan, Hans Christensen is quite impressed with the use of technology in Armenia. "The main activities of the Silicon Oasis of Dubai are to find new and successful high-tech companies and to support them in various ways," he said.

Tokenization under public administration

Hayk Vardanyan, president of Blockcentro company, informed that their company, founded in Dubai, has been cooperating with Dubai's Silicon Oasis for two years. They signed a memorandum with Silicon Oasis in March 2021 to create the world's first blockchain ecosystem in cooperation with a state structure. It is planned to build a corporation with equal shares with the government, which will be the first in the world to implement tokenization under state management.

Hayk Vardanyan explained that tokenization is a tool by which the assets included in the blockchain are digitized. And these assets can be bought and sold not only in the local market but globally, using the token. According to him, this is also very important for IT projects and startups that can tokenize their assets and attract finance through shares sale.

"We also have a vision of digitizing and tokenizing Armenia's economy, which creates an opportunity to have an economy without borders," he noted.

Cooperation in IT and startups support

The Vice President of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority added that Dubai is interested in IT cooperation with Armenia, as it needs outsourcing solutions in that field. He said it is planned to bring 1 million IT developers to Dubai, and they are interested in Armenian IT companies to establish branches in Dubai, with Emirati companies in their turn to be represented in Armenia.

"The main purpose of my visit is to understand how the IT ecosystem and culture in Armenia works," he said.

Ashot Grigoryan noted that Christensen visited Armenia to learn more about its IT sector, adding that a wide range of cooperation issues was discussed, and specific directions will be specified later. In any case, cooperation in high technologies and support for startup companies are considered a priority.

Dubai's experience in creating a free zone in Armenia is also being studied.

"Our vision is aimed at the future. We are happy that we are taking the first steps to build that future," said Ashot Grigoryan.
Germany's coalition government has allowed a Chinese company to buy a reduced stake in a Hamburg port terminal, AFP reports.

Under a compromise agreed to by Scholz's cabinet, Chinese shipping giant Cosco has been given the go-ahead to buy a stake of "below 25 percent" in the HHLA-owned Tollerort container terminal, the economy ministry said in a statement. "The reason for the partial prohibition is the existence of a threat to public order and safety," the ministry said.

China's state-owned Cosco originally wanted a 35 percent stake, and the deal would have been automatic had a compromise not been reached this week.

The breakthrough came on the eve of Scholz's visit to China. Scholz, the former mayor of Hamburg, supported the Cosco deal and repeatedly stressed the importance of strong trade ties between China and Europe's largest economy.

But six ministries wanted to veto the sale, including the ministries of defense, economy and foreign affairs over fears of critical infrastructure falling into foreign hands.

During the conflict, Scholz clashed with his coalition partners, who said lessons had to be learned from Germany's breakdown of relations with Russia.

Beijing welcomed Berlin's decision. "Cooperation is mutually beneficial. We hope the relevant parties will view pragmatic cooperation between China and Germany rationally and stop baselessly hyping it up," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Meanwhile, Scholz is convinced that the smaller stake offered by Cosco does not create strategic dependence, German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters.

The agreement to settle for a reduced stake of 24.9 percent, which deprives Cosco of voting rights, reduces the acquisition to a purely financial participation, the economy ministry said in a statement.

For its part, German port logistics company HHLA said Cosco's participation would help preserve jobs at the port of Hamburg and strengthen its role as a key trade "hub" with Asia.

But the face-saving compromise has not silenced critics.

Anton Hofreiter, a member of the Green Party and chairman of the German parliament's European affairs committee, said that approving the deal was the wrong decision. Scholz's argument that this is a purely commercial project is fatally reminiscent of statements about Russia and Nord Stream (gas pipelines), he said.

Franziska Brandmann, leader of the youth wing of the FDP, accused the government of being naive.

Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz said Germany needs to reassess its relationship with China, noting that the Asian giant is becoming more repressive at home and increasingly aggressive abroad.

China is a key trading partner for Germany, especially for its flagship automobile industry.
The Council of the Lazarevsky Club considers the ban on the Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin entering Armenia an outrageous trick, Lazarevsky Club Council's statement said.

"On the eve of the fifth meeting of the International Russian-Armenian Lazarevsky Club on the theme: "The historical past and present of Russian-Armenian relations" in Yerevan, the organizer of our Club, Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin, by order of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, was announced that his arrival in the Republic is "undesirable." The Council of Lazarevsky Club considers this trick to be outrageous both in form and content.

We do not need to prove that Konstantin Zatulin is a great friend of Armenia and an active supporter of friendship between the Russian and Armenian peoples, who has never changed his convictions. Armenians all over the world know about it without exaggeration. Exactly Zatulin achieved recognition of the genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in Russia - according to his report in the already far 1995 the first Russian State Duma adopted this decision. His speeches in defense of rights of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh for many years influenced formation of public opinion in Russia, and his visits and support to the Republic of Artsakh became a reason for declaring him persona non grata in neighboring Azerbaijan in 2010. Konstantin Zatulin always actively fought for the life and well-being of the population of the unrecognized Republic, which was reflected, for example, in the organization of vaccination of Nagorno-Karabakh against coronavirus infection, carried out at the height of the pandemic on funds collected by the Club.

Konstantin Zatulin was banned from entering Armenia in response to an invitation he sent to the speaker and deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament and foreign minister to address the Club's meeting on October 28. It is unprecedented in itself - although the very custom of banning Russian parliamentarians from entering Armenia has never existed before - that the letter is signed by an official of the National Assembly. Everything was done in such a way as to benefit higher people from this shameful decision, although the announcement of the ban to Zatulin in Nikol Pashinyan's "family" newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak gives away the real mastermind.

If anyone had any doubts, it is now quite clear that by attempting to derail the discussion of Russian-Armenian relations so that the voice of the Russian participants of the Lazarevsky Club would not be heard in Armenia, the authorities of the Republic are going down the road of betraying relations with Russia. Which is not surprising, given the course already taken by the Armenian authorities to betray Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Council of the Lazarevsky Club declares that the meeting of the Club in Yerevan on the declared topic, as announced, will take place on October 28 in the hall "Mantashev" of the business center "Elite Plaza" (15, Movses Khorenatsi str., Yerevan). The Russian members of the Club will be able to participate in the meeting online from the Presidential hall of the press-center of MIA "Russia Today" in Moscow. It will start at 10:00 Yerevan time, which corresponds to 9:00 Moscow time," the statement reads.
The president of the Turkish Medical Association has been arrested in Turkey after she called for an investigation into allegations that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, Turkish media reported.

Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci was detained on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda as part of an investigation launched by the anti-terrorism police, the Ankara Prosecutor General's Office said.

The 63-year-old woman, a forensic scientist, has devoted much of her career to documenting torture and ill-treatment and is a leading human rights activist in Turkey. She has also served as president of the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights.

The Turkish newspaper Birgun and other media reported that she was detained in Istanbul after a search of her home and taken to Ankara, where the main prosecutor's office opened an investigation against her last week.

Last week, Turkish officials strongly denied allegations that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against the Kurdistan Workers' Party in northern Iraq, insisting that the military allegedly has no such weapons.

In a comment to a pro-Kurdish news outlet, Dr. Fincanci said she had viewed a video allegedly showing the use of chemical weapons and called for an effective investigation.

After the interview, Fincanci was targeted by pro-government media, leading to a judicial investigation on the grounds of spreading terrorist propaganda and insulting the Turkish people, the state of the Republic of Turkey and its institutions.

The Turkish Foundation for Human Rights (TIHV), of which FinCanci is also a board member, condemned the arrest as unacceptable and called for her immediate release.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused her of slandering the Turkish Armed Forces and insulting her country.

Devlet Bahceli, leader of the ultra-nationalist MHP party affiliated with Erdogan's ruling party, also sharply criticized Dr. Fincanci in a speech Tuesday.

Those who act as representatives of terrorists are also pure terrorists. Those who pour mud on Turkish soldiers, speaking in the mouths of traitors, should be stripped of their Turkish citizenship, he said.

The doctor's detention comes a day after police raided several Turkish cities and arrested 11 journalists working with pro-Kurdish media.

Police said the journalists were detained for news or other content inciting public hatred and hostility, and accused the media of having links to the PKK.
One doesn't have to be Armenian to love Armenia and Armenians, a statement by Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin said, posted on his Telegram channel.

"For the second day I live under the impression: the whole "head of the department of foreign relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia" - former Armenian ambassador to Ukraine has declared my visit to the Republic of Armenia "undesirable". "Unfortunately," he writes, "your recent public remarks about the Republic of Armenia are detrimental to the development of friendly and allied relations between our countries."

Brief, like Hemingway, but without the clarity of his style. What kind of statements? Which period is the last? And how did I manage to "damage relations between our two countries" with my mere statements?

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's relatives were more forthcoming. Pashinyan's wife's paper accused me of holding the Armenian government responsible for losing the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and of referring the issue of plans to create corridors across its territory to the Armenian premier (I wonder if this is true?). Member of Parliament Hrachya Hakobyan, called Mr. Pashinyan's brother-in-law, said jovially that the fact that Armenia has now joined Azerbaijan, which declared me persona non grata in 2010, is evidence of the emerging commonality between the two countries.

I think so too. The commonality is there, "Cosa Nostra." "My deeds are incomparable, my words are magnificent", as Darius wrote about himself in three languages in the Behistun inscription of the 5th century B.C. If "the state of Armenia is Nikol. And that's it," it is clear why I was punished: Nikol Pashinyan can't be blamed for anything.

I am not so bothered by the "public statements of the last period" by Nikol Pashinyan and his associates. I have come to the conclusion that their "last period" deeds are really leading to the separation of Armenia from Russia and, if it turns out, the Russian people from the Armenian people. They have already led to the separation of the Armenian authorities from the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Putin alone knows whether we have already reached the point of no return in relations with the Armenian authorities. Perhaps the meeting in Sochi on October 31 will clarify it.

I want to thank deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, parties, NGOs and all Armenian citizens in Armenia, Russia and other countries who since yesterday have been sending me letters of support. It's worth a lot. Please don't think that because of the ban I will change my attitude toward the fraternal Christian Armenian people. I have not changed my attitude, even with the outbreak of war, towards the brotherly Ukrainian people - for which there was much more reason.

You don't have to be Armenian to love Armenia and Armenians!

P.S.: I read Alen Simonyan's rants about himself, Margarita Simonyan, mankurts, etc. I regret that he is not ashamed," the statement says.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Paris with smiles and a handshake, but ignored questions about their tense relationship as they headed to the Elysee Palace, Reuters reported.

Scholz flew to the French capital for a hastily scheduled working lunch to find common ground after the French leader postponed a joint cabinet meeting last week over disagreements, including on energy policy and defense.

After the talks, Scholz said the two leaders had a "very good and important conversation" about Europe's energy supplies, rising prices and joint defense projects. "Germany and France stand close together and are tackling challenges together," he said in a tweet.

The Elysee Palace issued a statement saying Macron and Scholz "renewed their commitment to solidarity principles between the two countries and at the European level," and had discussed "ways to move forward on a joint sovereignty agenda."

Moments before Scholz arrived, French government spokesman Olivier Veran downplayed the differences, saying that the French and German leaders have always been able to overcome difficulties that have arisen from time to time. "Today's meeting reflects that this friendship remains alive," Veran said.

Since he came to power in 2017, Macron has instructed French officials never to criticize Germany publicly, French government sources told Reuters, and to resolve disagreements behind closed doors.

But the number of issues on which France and Germany, two of the EU's richest and most influential members, disagree is growing, from the bloc's defense strategy to its response to the energy crisis, relations with China and even fiscal policy.

This has prompted French officials to consider how to become more "assertive" toward Berlin, they said, culminating last week in the unprecedented cancellation of a ritual French-German cabinet meeting that underscored the French president's frustration.

Berlin cited logistical difficulties and downplayed the disagreement.

In the afternoon, German officials said the three hours and 20 minutes the two leaders spent together had been "very constructive and forward-looking conversation," and the pair got along better than the media had suggested.

But it was unclear whether any progress had been made on issues on which the two countries are at odds, including whether to cap gas prices in or subsidize Germany to its industry and households.

The split also affects Europe's plans for next-generation fighter jets, gas pipeline projects through the EU and Germany's plans to allow China to invest in its ports.

Unusually, there was no press conference after the talks.

According to Politico, Macron and Scholz talked one-on-one, but there was no joint press conference in front of cameras, which is usually a routine diplomatic courtesy after bilateral meetings. Berlin had earlier announced that there would be a press appearance. Then the Elysee Palace ruled it out.

After the working lunch ended, officials on both sides, who wished to remain anonymous, said the meeting was a success.

But the canceled press conference speaks volumes about Scholz's dismissive attitude. He went to Paris with a full press corps, and from there was on his way to Athens for another state visit. Refusing to hold a press conference for a visiting leader is a political tactic commonly used for rebuke, as Scholz himself did recently when Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Berlin.

The disagreement over the press conference is just the latest episode in a deepening conflict between the two major powers of the EU.
Story Highlights Afghanistan least secure country in the world

Singapore most secure; nearly everyone feels safe

Americans lose confidence in their police, feel less safe

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During the second year of the pandemic, the world felt about as safe as it did during the first, according to Gallup's latest update on its annual Law and Order Index. However, there are signs in the 2021 data that progress stalled -- particularly in countries such as the U.S., where people's sense of safety and their confidence in police declined.

The world scored an 83 of a possible 100 on the Law and Order Index in 2021 -- basically unchanged from 82 the previous year.

The index itself is a composite score based on Gallup World Poll questions that ask people whether they are confident in their local police, feel safe in their neighborhoods, or were victims of theft or assault in the past year. Higher scores mean more people in a country feel secure.

Scores at the country level in 2021 ranged from a high of 96 in Singapore to a low of 51 in Afghanistan. Neither country was surveyed in 2020 because of the pandemic, but in previous years, Singapore had scored the highest on the index nearly every year, and Afghanistan had scored the lowest on the index in both 2018 and 2019.

As low as Afghanistan's score was in 2021, it represents an improvement over the previous score of 43 in 2019. Gallup's surveys in Afghanistan in 2021 took place as the Taliban completed their takeover of the country in August and as the United States withdrew its troops. Although the country was in turmoil, the end of the Taliban's insurgency led to a marked drop in violence.

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For complete results for more than 120 countries surveyed in 2021, read Gallup's 2022 Global Law and Order report.

Although the U.S. usually does not rank among the 10 most secure countries in the world, it has typically scored above average. However, after declining from 87 in 2020 to 83 in 2021, the score for the U.S. was only average.

Afghans Are Least Likely to Feel Safe Walking Alone at Night

Nearly seven in 10 people worldwide in 2021 said they feel safe walking alone at night where they live (71%), down one percentage point from the previous year and effectively ending consecutive years of improvement. These overall numbers also mask scores that range from as high as 95% in Singapore to as low as 22% in Afghanistan.

Except for Afghanistan, the countries in which residents are least likely to say they feel safe walking alone at night are exclusively a mix of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with sub-Saharan Africa -- which tends to be the case each year. Five of them also ranked among the least safe in 2020. The exceptions were Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Ecuador.

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In most economically developed countries and territories with a strong rule of law, high majorities of residents say they feel safe walking alone in their areas at night. The same is true in countries where populations are under tighter state control. For example, these feelings were nearly universal in 2021 in Singapore (95%), Tajikistan (93%), the United Arab Emirates (92%) and Saudi Arabia (91%).

In 2021, the U.S. was only slightly above the global average of 71%, with 73% of residents saying they felt safe walking alone at night -- but this was down five points from 78% the previous year.

Confidence in Police Drops in Northern America

Seven in 10 adults worldwide (70%) said in 2021 that they have confidence in their local police -- down one point from the previous year. The results vary significantly by region, however, from a low of 51% in Latin America and the Caribbean to 82% in Southeast Asia.

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Confidence in local police suffered the biggest losses worldwide in Northern America, entirely attributable to declining trust in the U.S., where it dropped eight percentage points in the span of a year. Although most Americans continue to trust their local police, the steady string of high-profile police shootings in 2020 -- including the killing of George Floyd -- and in 2021 has likely shaken their faith. Nearly three in four Americans (74%) in 2021 said they were confident in their local police, down from 82% in 2020 (collected before the Floyd shooting in May).

Southeast Asia was home to the largest gains in confidence in 2021 -- rising four points from 78% to 82% -- and led all other regions on this measure. These improvements largely reflect the 2021 inclusion of Singapore (93%), where residents typically express high confidence in their police. They also reflect improvement in Indonesia, where confidence rose to 90% after sinking to 81% in 2020 following violent police crackdowns on protests.

Implications

The United Nations' most recent progress report on its Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 reiterates how important safety is to the future of global development: "Feeling unsafe in public can fundamentally erode one's sense of wellbeing and reduce trust and community engagement, becoming an obstacle to development."

Gallup's latest global update on people's perceptions of their own security and faith in the rule of law in the second year of the pandemic provides a sense of where the world stands today -- and where its biggest obstacles are.

The obstacles in places such as Afghanistan might be expected, but the erosion in perceived safety in countries with a strong rule of law such as the U.S. could be concerning for the current political administration ahead of the midterm elections in two weeks.

Read the full report.

On Friday on news.gallup.com, read Gallup's latest update on Americans' views of crime from its annual October Crime survey.
Suppose someone has posted a digital ad looking to connect a pianist, percussionist, recording, and production engineer to arrange the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky's controversial The Rite of Spring, which contains many novel features for its time. Chances are this album would not have seen the light of day, even in the age of social media.

But the serendipity phenomenon does exist. Ask percussionist and arranger Ksenija Komljenovic and pianist Liana Pailodze Harron. Their fortunate stroke of fate has not only connected the two but bonded them in such a special way that they've created a chamber group and a brand called Vesna Duo. Amazingly, their union has produced a brilliantly colored rendition of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, a ballet that revolves around the return of spring and the renewal of the Earth through the sacrifice of a virgin chosen to dance herself to deatha theme that shook the world after its Paris premiere in 1913.

Flash forward 109 years later. Vesna Duo's new recording is up for a GRAMMY nomination consideration in the Best Chamber Music / Small Ensemble Performance categoryproof that the Frost brand networking creates communities and soul sisters, if you're lucky.

In a recent interview, Harron and Komljenovic shared their story. Here, they talk about their incredible journey from Frost School of Music to the GRAMMYs, the powerful union that has sparked a fire under their belly, and the resurrection of a beloved piece of music. And about a crazy idea to make something good out of the bad and ugly worldwide pandemic. As they tell it, their plan was simple: doing what they had never had time to dore-write the "Rite" anew.

Liana, you graduated from Frost School of Music with a Doctorate in Piano Performance in 2013, then moved to New York to perform and teach at 92NY School of Music, a cultural center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Ksenija, you received your Doctorate in Percussion Performance in 2017 from Frost and your Artist Diploma in 2018. After a year in Hong Kong, you moved to Texas, where you now work as an Assistant Professor of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. So, your paths never crossed at any given time at the Frost School of Music. How did the two of you connect in 2020?

Liana: Frost School of Music is a beautiful community, and the network is powerful. Ksenija and I knew of each other without having met.

Kseniia: Liana and I met through a mutual friend another FrostieMitya Nilov, our playing partner. I played percussion with him, and Liana played piano with him. I kept hearing wonderful things about her through him and everyone else, and that's how we connected.

So, how did the conversation lead to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring after you met?

Liana: I was in Miami in 2020. A group of us were expecting to meet to rehearse in preparation for a performance at Carnegie Hall with Mitya Nilov (who won the Concert Artist Guild) in New York City. We quickly realized that would not happen, at least not yet. Suddenly, we felt like our entire future got erased. I had heard amazing things about Ksenija, not only as a person but as a musician. So, I called her and said two things: first, we need to be friends. And second, let's do something we never have time to do in our normal lives. Let's pick something absolutely crazy. Ksenija is a composer and an arranger. So, I asked her if there was something that she could create for us that would be basically impossible.

Ksenija: After our Carnegie Hall cancellation, I told Liana I have always wanted to do The Rite of Springthe only piece that has made me cry while playing it on stage. I learned that Liana is one of those people that can be told, "Okay, you must grow an extra limb to do this. Could you please play a million notes simultaneously while I play four?" And she'd say, "Sure, no problem. Just throw them at me!" That's how it all began. I discovered I had a soul sister. Working with her is easy and makes chamber music magical.

And how did you work together, being that you were both in two different parts of the country?

Ksenija: I would arrange a movement every couple of days and send it to her. She would test the piano part and send back corrections. When we eventually met up in October 2020 and tried it out, we realized, "Oh, my God, this is going to work!"

Liana: It was one of those freaky moments when we looked at our parts. For a second, we got confused because we had our scores marked in the same way. We looked at each other and thought, "Oh, my God! Where have you been all my life? Why didn't we collaborate until this moment?" We knew then and there that we had to play this together because the energy was already there. We just had to work hard to learn the piece. Ksenija's arrangement is something that a composer typically takes about nine months to a year to create, and she handed in the score in three weeks. It was incredible!

So, when did the idea for a whole album materialize?

Liana: We did not expect this to, so to speak, grow its legs. We wanted to create this project and perform it in a concert. But then, we began getting attention for our world premiere and invitations to perform. We knew we had to record an album, make this official, and have it preserved for the rest of our lives.

According to you, this album was a product of love, with several Frost School of Music alums contributing. Name those working behind the scenes.

Ksenija: Everyone who worked on this album has, at some point, been associated with Frost. Besides Liana and me, the amazing Antek Olesik, who was in charge of our video/design/promotional images, is a current member of the Frost Percussion Studio. Justin Chervony, our fabulous recording engineer who also did mixing/mastering, worked at Frost as a Studio Production Engineer. This album was an effort between the four of us with the unwavering support of Liana's wonderful husband, Tommy Harron, also a Frost alum!

And how did you prepare for all that production? And how did you come up with your brand Vesna Duo?

Liana: When we premiered this, we were not an official duo. We were just two friends collaborating on a project. Then, we started getting invitations to perform. Eventually, participating at The Chamber Music America Conference needed us to have an official name, which made us think in that direction.

Ksenija: That's when we came up with Vesna Duo. I love this because the creation of this chamber group was an entirely altruistic actwe just wanted to play together. The name came about as I spent so much time looking at Stravinsky's music. I was inspired by this old pagan ritual and realized how little I knew about my background regarding the pagan culture that used to exist in many of the Balkans and Slavic-speaking countries.

So, I read about Slavic mythology and found a goddess called Vesna. In Russian (and in many Slavic languages), it means springtime. The word Vesna was also there in the title of Stravinsky's ballet (Vesna svyashchennaya). Vesna represents the goddess of spring, resurrection, and rebirth. So, during this dark time when Covid hit, our duo gave me life. I felt so connected to Liana and this music on some deep core level. And so, I thought, this is the roots of the roots. We were born out of the fire.

A piece born out of the fire . . . interesting. Can you expand on that?

Liana: Overall, 2020 was a hectic time . . . The premiere of "The Rite" was baptism by that fire.

Ksenija: A few days before our premiere, a winter storm hit South Texas, which happens as frequently as a snowstorm in Miami! School was out, and flight after flight was canceled. Liana was finally able to come in only a day before the concert. We had 24 hours to rehearse and present this to people.

Liana: I remember when Ksenija called me up and said, "So, should we do this?" We decided we should jump into the fire. That is how it's been ever sincejumping from one fire to another. It's been quite a journey.

After your first concert at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, you started receiving lots of attention, even from the media. When did you realize you had something extraordinary?

Liana: It was when Jonathan DePeri offered us a concert. He is the founder and artistic director of Gotham Arts and one of the major philanthropists in New York City. A day before the release of our album in May, he hosted a special party where we performed the Rite of Spring and two other short pieces.

Aside from The Rite of Spring, what other music did you play that night?

Ksenija: La Muerte del Angel by Astor Piazzolla, and The Ever-Evolving Etude by Avishai Cohen.

Liana: It was when we had the conversation with Jonathan that we realized, okay, maybe this is really, really happening. He said, "I would like to host your album release. How do you feel about it?" And suddenly, this turned into a two-day event in New York. Our other album launch concert was at Salon 58, on the 68th floor above Central Park, with a stunning sunset view.

And what has happened since the album was released?

Ksenija: Most recently, the album was nominated for a GRAMMY consideration in the Best Chamber Music / Small Ensemble Performance category.

Liana: We have a series of concerts across the U.S. This November, we're performing at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, one of the largest percussion-related events in the world. It features concerts, clinics, panels, and presentations given by the finest artists worldwide. We've received so many messages from friends saying they will be there, which is super exciting. I don't even know how to explain all of this.

Do you have an agent doing all this PR work for you?

Liana: Funny you say that. Someone recently commented when we were featured in that Wall Street Journal article, "Tip your agent!" We replied, "We don't have an agent. We do all our publicity ourselves!"

Ksenija: We did our homework and designed the best way we could to give this album life. It's been amazing how it has resonated with people. And now, it's been in the national news and reported abroad in many languages. That's special.

Liana: Our vision for the future is to take Vesna Duo all over the world, including Iceland! We've been invited to perform at Harpa, one of the greatest concert halls in the world, next year.

Where do you find the strength to juggle all your work?

Liana: I teach at 92NY School of Music, one of the best schools that produced many Broadway stars. I have a large studio of 15 students and teach several classes. I also perform and record with a couple of other UM alum friends. We get together several times a year to work on projects. I have a four-year-old son, and I became a better musician after becoming a mother. So, I have to work hard to make it all happen. I do this by staying organized and having a ton of lists, making sure that nothing falls through the cracks. I ignore the sense of being tired . . . that doesn't exist, so I keep on going.

Kseniia: Besides working at the university, I'm a producer on a podcast, I help run a festival, a competition, have other chamber ensembles, and I compose/arrange music. Organization is one of my greatest superpowers.

What advice can you give our current Frost School of Music students?

Ksenija: Dream big and understand that you're in a wonderful place. Frost School of Music is an incubator for artists. I felt safe, loved, appreciated, and encouraged while there.

Reach out to people who are one step ahead of you. One thing is that I don't have the shame of asking what others might think are stupid questions or something we should all know. I call and say, "How do you do this?" For example, I don't know what the road to winning a Grammy is like, but I can ask someone, how does one do that?

Also, be an honest person. Say what you mean and do what you say you will do. Being genuinely loving and caring for other musicians and their projects will put you in a group of people who will be your support system.

Liana: Start building your network while you're at school. The people that you meet today will help build your career tomorrow. There is no such thing as self-made. Help others, and they will help you, too. Have a big goal. Write it down, break it into smaller goals, and make sure you do something towards that big goal every day. The tiny steps will add up in the end.
New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI/SRV): Carrying forward their legacy of over 21 years as the foremost educational consultancy in India, A.K.Educational Consultants, known to provide students with a smooth passage to pioneering medical institutions in Russia for their MBBS studies, successfully conducted a Pre-Departure briefing on October 22 in Pune. At the event helmed by the founder Dr Amit Kamle and his wife Pornima Amit Kamle, the candidates were given a presentation introducing them to the world of opportunities at premium Russian Medical Universities with world-class infrastructure. The event began with Pornima Amit Kamle's welcome note to candidates and their guardians, followed by Lamp Lightening Ceremony. The occasion honored meritorious candidates, including the NEET topper of the cohort, Sandhya Mehkare who secured 470 marks and was felicitated by the founder himself. Along with the educational benefits and opportunities that come with a medical degree from Russia, the founder's address to the student also included a detailed brief on the documentation process, airport formalities, accommodation, travel, and other arrangements in which the consultancy has assisted. Dr Amit Kamle, celebrating the achievement of yet another batch said, "We believe that the new generations of doctors need extensive exposure to the worldwide practices in the medical sciences. This will help them bring back to the country global standards followed in the profession and contribute to the overall advancement of the Indian healthcare sector. We handhold candidates through the daunting admission process. Candidates from various backgrounds seek our help to fulfill their dreams of being doctors." Testifying the merit of A.K. Educational Consultants in the career of his children, Shankar Rode said, "The trust and faith that I have in Dr. Amit Kamle and his team can't be expressed in words. In 2008 my daughter was enrolled in Kazan State Medical University and she cleared her FMGE exam and is now working in Pune. This year my son, Vedant is enrolling at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. As a parent, there couldn't be a prouder moment." About the event, the leading candidate of the group, Sandhya Mehkare from Pune said, "The entire session was professionally carried out. Dr. Amit Kamle's briefing was so detailed and direct that all my doubts have been answered. The one-to-one interaction with him was fun and informative. The whole A.K.Educational Consultants team is very cooperative." Atharva Jambhavdekar, a candidate from Mumbai noted, "The Pre Departure Meet organized by A.K.Educational Consultants was of great help. I could interact with my colleagues who are traveling with me." Further, Shashikant Jadhav, father of Shraddha Jadhav of Mumbai added, "I extend my heartiest and warmest greetings to the entire A.K.Educational Consultants for their help and extended support. I came across many agencies but A.K.Educational Consultants I feel at home." For more information, please visit - https://www.akecindia.com/ This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/SRV)
Brussels [Belgium]/New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI/BusinessWire India): The Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health, India spearheaded a panel discussion at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting on October 25, 2022, in Brussels, to discuss the challenges around mental health, especially impacting the most vulnerable in India. The discussion was organised in collaboration with Grand Challenges Canada and ETI Services to support the launch of a new and innovative mental initiative focused on young people. India has witnessed a surge in youth suicides during the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing pressures on mental health are debilitating and require a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder approach to propel attention towards a more holistic model of care and support. For addressing this, policymakers, experts and people with lived experiences have come together to identify the gaps in mental healthcare in India and how the present structures can be modified to address the same. Dr Dalbir Singh, Founder and President, Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health chaired the panel focused on the urgent need and awareness around for mental health interventions in India, and the critical role policymakers are well positioned to play- to ensure impact. "A brighter world in future promises better strategies for stress management and peer support, which are accessible and affordable for the youth in the country. To imagine such a world, the parliamentarians and policymakers need to come together with diverse experts in the field and form a consensus on strategies that meet the local needs, while effectively guaranteeing legal sanctions," he added. Bhubaneshwar Kalita, MP and member, Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health, in his address spoke about the burden of mental health issues falling inordinately on women and young girls. He explained, "There are major crises in accessibility, for the female populations, that plague all processes of healthcare (in general)--from diagnosis to treatment. This is exacerbated by the information asymmetry that affects women much more as they still struggle to get educated, and claim their space in the most crucial aspects of public service delivery. If the existing institutions are strengthened and envelop mental health services into their ambit, we can imagine a structural change looking into the future." Vincent Pala, also an MP and member, Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health, focused his responses on suicide among the youth in India. He started by highlighting why there is a need to rethink policy around mental health, and how "family issues" and "illness", and not unemployment or bankruptcy, form the major reasons for suicide in the population between the age group of 18-30 years. He also took the point of familial spaces not necessarily being safe, as has been imagined for years, by bringing to everyone's knowledge that housewives tallied more than half of all female victims of suicide, and linked it to the increased cases of reported violence against women at home during COVID-19. Describing how suicides are culturally perceived in India, Pala had an interesting take, "The stigma associated with suicide is linguistically governed by the popular media and this more often than not leads to underreporting." Dr Rajdeep Roy, MP and member, Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health as well as the Member of the Standing Committee or Health and Family Welfare, gave the context of the Mental Healthcare Act, which came in effect in 2017, by suggesting that this was a watershed moment in the history of mental health services in India, as the nature of this act is very progressive by "Initiating the establishment of a central and state authority, and by decriminalising suicide and prohibiting electroconvulsive therapy- the elements of confidentiality, quality healthcare, and rehabilitation enable the act to become a precedent for other nations," he added. Dr Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, BIRAC, India, stated how "India's biotechnology industry's role during COVID-19 has been praised by the nation . It makes one look at the necessity for the physical distress caused in crisis to be averted in order to keep the mental health of the populations in check. What it disables are risk factors that lead to anxiety and depression among individuals in the long run, and BIRAC looks forward to partnerships to make a difference and enhance innovations around mental health in India." Arjun Kapoor, Programme Manager & Research Fellow at Indian Law Society, emphasized the triadic relationship between legal rights, mental health services, and management on the ground. He talked about some of the important programs and partnerships that the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy is undertaking in India to ensure the accessibility of mental health services at the grassroots level and also work on suicide prevention. He stated that "While some progress in terms of both policy and implementation has been made in recent years, there is still a lot of ground to cover in terms of how mental health interventions are imagined and supplied from the top. The stakeholders on the field, including both NGOs and the general public/beneficiaries, need to be included in the ambit of care whenever planning (for both policy and implementation) is done, to ensure that they devise solutions for themselves; in the universalization of policies at the central offices, voices from the margins are often ruled out." Dr Sukriti Chauhan, CEO of ETI Services, spoke about her experience of working on mental health, particularly with adolescents. She started with how there are more complex, convoluted mental health illnesses than the generic populations know about, and they are also largely age-sensitive, even within the group of adolescents (10-19-year-olds). Given that, while the usual measures of promotion, prevention, and early detection can help in mitigating the "imminent pandemic of mental health issues, it is also essential to have (constant) dialogue between multiple stakeholders to talk about mental health. This will involve the help of medical practitioners, public officials, civil society organizations, pressure groups, media agencies, schools, parents, and even the adolescents themselves." The session was concluded by remarks from Dr. Dalbir Singh, President, Policymaker's Forum for Mental Health. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)
One of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers, Hero MotoCorp, on Wednesday said it is set to commence its operations in the Philippines. The company said it was partnering with Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC), a part of the Columbian Group of Companies, to bring motorcycles to the country. As part of the partnership, TMC will be the exclusive assembler and distributor of Hero MotoCorp motorcycles in the Philippines. The company will set up an assembly facility of 29,000 sq m in its existing latest principal manufacturing facility situated in Laguna City and start its operations in the second half of fiscal year 2024. Sanjay Bhan, Head of Global Business, Hero MotoCorp, said "In keeping with our R4 (recalibrate, revitalise, revolutionise and revive) strategy, we are always keenly exploring new opportunities in global markets. Our partnership with Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC) to enter the Southeast Asian region is an integral part of this expansion strategy." He also said the trust and technology prowess of Hero MotoCorp combined with TMC's automotive expertise and network in the Philippines would definitely create an impact and strengthen our footprint in this key market. Bienvenido Sanvictores Santos, Chairman, Terrafirma Motors Corporation, said, "Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has been the most trusted brand partner for more than 100 million customers all over the world. Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC) is a customer-centric automotive company with the vision to be the ultimate choice for value-based products and services in the Philippines. This is a coming together of two visionary companies and the new partnership will lead us to new horizons by enabling us to deliver modern, technologically superior and eco-friendly mobility solutions to our customers here." Earlier this month, Hero MotoCorp launched its first electric vehicle (EV), the VIDA V1 in India. Bringing in an era of sustainability and clean mobility, VIDA V1 - the new age fully -- integrated EV is designed and developed at Hero's latest R&D hubs, the centre of innovation and technology (CIT) in Jaipur and the Hero Tech Centre Germany near Munich. (ANI)
One more woman will be allowed to testify in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial by the judge. According to Variety, Rowena Chiu, a former assistant of the former Hollywood producer will soon be testifying against Harvey in court. Chiu will testify in the trial as a supporting, uncharged witness, so the accusations made against Weinstein do not originate from her testimony. But in order to establish a pattern of behaviour over time, supporting witnesses (also referred to informally as "#MeToo witnesses") will testify during the trial, as per Variety. Although Chiu will be referred to in the case as just "Rowena C.," Variety has used her full name because she has discussed her accusations in the past in a number of media interviews, including a lengthy one with Variety in 2020. (To protect the identities of the female witnesses, the charged witnesses are referred to as "Jane Does," while the uncharged witnesses are identified by their first names and last initials. However, some women have chosen to reveal their true identities to the media.) According to Variety, Following the #MeToo movement, Chiu previously came forward with accusations against Weinstein. She had only met Weinstein twice before she claims he tried to rape her on a business trip in 1998 at the Venice Film Festival; she worked as an assistant at Miramax in the 1990s. She claims that while they were discussing scripts in a late-night meeting, Weinstein asked her to massage him, pushed her up against the bed, and removed her tights before she was able to flee. Weinstein disputes that the assault ever took place, as per Variety. Chiu confided in her colleague Zelda Perkins, who was 25 at the time, soon after the alleged incident. Together, the two women took their dispute with Miramax to the next level, retained legal counsel, and were coerced into signing an NDA in exchange for a monetary settlement. They required Miramax to include provisions in their settlement that they hoped would shield other women from his conduct at work. Chiu kept quiet for more than 20 years out of concern for her family's safety. She finally spoke out in a New York Times op-ed in 2019. Following Weinstein's conviction, after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault in his New York case in 2020, Chiu violated her NDA to conduct a lengthy interview with Variety. (ANI)
On Tuesday, Salman made a grand entrance at his brother-in-law Aayush Sharma's birthday party, and as usual, fans are happy to see him back in his form.

According to reports circulating on social media in the past few days, Salman was diagnosed with dengue last week.

Last week, a source informed ANI that Salman has not been keeping well and has taken a brief break from hosting 'Bigg Boss'. However, the source did not confirm his dengue diagnosis.

But Salman's recent outing has come as a respite for his fans, who are relieved to see their favourite star fit and fine.

Filmmaker Karan Johar has stepped in to host the 16th season of 'Bigg Boss' for a while. Besides Bigg Boss, Salman was also busy shooting for his film 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan'.

'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' is scheduled to release on Eid 2023. It is billed as an action-packed entertainer directed by Farhad Samji and also features Pooja Hegde, and Venkatesh Daggubati in lead roles. Shehnaaz Gill and Palak Tiwari are also a part of the project.

The film is produced by Salman Khan Films and promises to have all the elements that one expects of a Salman Khan Film - action, comedy, drama, romance and emotions.Recently, Salman also announced that his film 'Tiger 3' with Katrina Kaif will be out on Diwali 2023. (ANI)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fiennes told The New York Times Magazine that the "verbal abuse" Rowling receives online is "disgusting" and "appalling."

"I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But [she's] not some obscene, uber-right-wing fascist. It's just a woman saying, 'I'm a woman and I feel I'm a woman and I want to be able to say that I'm a woman.' And I understand where she's coming from. Even though I'm not a woman," Fiennes added.

The controversy began in June 2020 when the author of the mega-popular Harry Potter books first tweeted about an op-ed piece regarding "people who menstruate" and mocked the story for not using the word "women," reported The Hollywood Reporter.

The tweet generated backlash, which prompted the author to repeatedly and ever-more adamantly defend herself, eventually elaborating on her views in a lengthy essay.

Several of Fiennes' 'Harry Potter' castmates, including stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, as well as Eddie Redmayne, have issued statements in support of the trans community in response to the controversy.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, the author's comments have also been condemned by a number of LGBTQ+ rights groups, including GLAAD, the Human Rights Coalition and The Trevor Project. (ANI)
Oops! Actor Saif Ali Khan could have faced an embarrasing moment at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday. A video has been doing the rounds on the internet in which Saif is seen walking with his son Taimur as they arrive at the Mumbai airport to catch a flight. At the start of the clip, Taimur gets out of the car with the help of his nanny and is later joined by Saif. The father-son duo walk hand-in-hand. The highlight of the clip is Taimur pulling his father's pants down. "Taimur stop pulling my pants down," Saif can be heard telling this to Taimur, making paps laugh. The particular video has also left netizens in splits. "Hahahahah Saif is too cool," a social media user commented. "How cute," another one wrote. Prior to Saif and Taimur's airport visit, Kareena Kapoor Khan was spotted at the airport last night with her baby Jeh in her arms. It's not yet known where the Khans have headed. Kareena and Saif tied the knot in October 2012 in a private ceremony in Mumbai. The couple was blessed with Taimur in 2016 and later in 2021 they became parents to Jeh. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena will be seen in OTT debut project helmed by Sujoy Ghosh. The film is based on the Japanese novel 'The Devotion of Suspect X', which also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma in the lead roles. She also has Hansal Mehta's project in her kitty. The project recently went on floors in London. Speaking of Saif's upcoming projects, he will be seen portraying Ravan in Om Raut's 'Adipurush', which will be out in January 2023. The film also stars Kriti Sanon and Prabhas in the lead roles. It is based on the Indian Epic Ramayana. (ANI)
Assam has been battered by heavy rain since Monday due to Cyclone Sitrang spoiling the Diwali festivities across the state. Heavy rainfall has lashed the Kamrup district while Guwahati faced waterlogging in several areas of the city on Tuesday. Maligaon, Santipur, Fatashil Ambari, Hatigaon, Sijubari, etc areas in the city were waterlogged due to incessant rain. The citizens have faced issues while transporting from one place to another in Guwahati. But as Tuesday was a holiday declared by the state government due to the Diwali celebration, it has given some respite to daily commuters. Meanwhile, because of winds and heavy rain, a large tree fell on the Guwahati-Shillong route at Khanapara and blocked the busy route on Tuesday morning. However, the District Disaster Management Authority personnel rushed to the spot, chopped the tree, and cleared the highway in a few hours. The other districts of Assam have also witnessed heavy rainfall activities for the last two days. Several houses have been damaged in the Nagaon district due to gusty winds. Numerous trees and electric poles were uprooted in various parts of the district due to the cyclonic storm Sitarang on Monday night, an official said. Kaliabor, Bamuni, Sakmuthia tea estates, and Boraligaon areas of central Assam have also reported damages in several houses. Infrastructure damages have occurred in different parts of the state due to the cyclone. However, no casualties have been reported till now in Assam. As reported by the state disaster management authority, a total of 83 villages were affected by cyclone Sitarang. At least 162 houses were either partially or fully damaged and 325.501 hectare crop was also damaged due to this cyclonic storm. Earlier, the weather department predicted widespread rainfall activities over the northeastern region due to the cyclonic storm Sitrang. Sanjay O'Neill Shaw, Director of Guwahati Regional Meteorological Centre, said that the depression over northeast Bangladesh and the neighborhood moved north-northeastward and further weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area and lay centred over northeast Bangladesh and adjoining Meghalaya on Tuesday morning. "It has continued to move north-northeastwards and weakened into a low-pressure area", he added. The Met department said that the weather is likely to get better from Wednesday in Assam. --IANS tdr/uk ( 382 Words) 2022-10-25-21:40:04 (IANS)
A senior Customs official said that the common spotted Cuscus were concealed inside the check-in baggage of the passenger who arrived from Bangkok. He was intercepted by Customs officers for a search of his luggage.

"On examination of checked-in baggage five common spotted Cuscus were recovered. Since the live animals were imported illegally, they were deported back to the country of origin through Thai Airways in consultation with Animal Quarantine and Certification Services," the official added.

A case under the Wildlife Protection Act was lodged and other government departments concerned duly informed.

The accused was produced before a local court where customs officials requested that he be sent to judicial custody, and the court accepted it.

--IANS atk/khz/vd

( 156 Words)

2022-10-25-22:56:03 (IANS)
It said that many Indian citizens had left Ukraine after the first advisory had been issued on October 19.

The Indian embassy further advised citizens to contact it for any assistance needed for crossing the border.

It also advised the citizens to contact Indian embassies in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia as per their exit plans.

On October 19, the Indian embassy in Ukraine had issued an advisory asking Indian citizens not to travel to that country and had also urged Indians there to leave at the earliest, due to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine.

--IANS ans/vd

( 138 Words)

2022-10-25-22:58:05 (IANS)
The Assam Police on Tuesday detained two individuals including Asom Miyan (Asomiya) Parishad president Mohar Ali after the Goalpara district administration sealed the private "Miyan Museum" -- set up by Muslims. The museum was sealed by the authorities after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma raised questions on its funding. Ali, and Abdul Baten were apprehended from Lakhipur and brought to Goalpara Sadar police station for questioning. Assam's Special Director General of Police G.P. Singh in a tweet said: "Mohar Ali of Goalpara and Abdul Baten of Dhubri have been detained. Further investigation and interrogation would be carried out about their association with AQIS/ABT." Assam police since April this year have arrested around 40 terror suspects in connection to Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), an affiliate of the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) terror group backed modules and a strict vigilance is being maintained, particularly in the minority-dominated areas of western and central Assam. The "Miyan Museum" was inaugurated in Dapkarbhita area in western Assam's Goalpara district on Sunday. The term "Miya" is used mostly by the indigenous communities to refer to Bengali or Bengal-origin Muslims who have settled on both sides of the Brahmaputra river in Assam since the late 1890s after the British brought them for commercial farming and other work. A notice of Lakhipur Revenue Circle, pasted at the door of the "Miya Museum", read: "As per the direction of the DC, this PMAY-G house of Mohar Ali S/O Somesh Ali of village Dapkarbhita is hereby closed until further order." The Chief Minister said that the police would initiate a probe into the source of funding for setting up the "Miyan Museum". "Those who set up the Miyan Museum would have to answer the government's queries, failing which legal action would be initiated against them," Sarma told the media. The Chief Minister said that he has been always saying that the emergence of 'Miya poetry', 'Miya schools' are challenging issues of grave concern. Noting that such instances are not good signs for the indigenous society, Sarma said: "Whoever considers themselves to be Indian citizens, must think of setting up a resistance socially and politically against such elements." The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs and leaders in Assam have also asked the state government to demolish the museum that showcases the culture of migrant Muslims. BJP legislator Prasanta Phukan had first demanded the state government pull down the newly inaugurated museum. Former BJP MLA, Shiladitya Dev, who is also the chairperson of the Assam Linguistic Minority Development Board, urged the state government to take stronger action against the museum and the people set up it. However, supporting the "Miyan Museum", Congress MLA from southern Assam's Karimganj North constituency, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said: "There is a need to preserve the culture and identity of the large number of Bengalis who vote in Assam."Former Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed earlier proposed setting up of a "Miyan Museum" in Guwahati's Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. The Assam Chief Minister had rejected that proposal. The Kalakshetra, popular with tourists, showcases the cultural heritage of multi-ethnic Assam. In the "Miyan Museum", set up by the Asom Miyan (Asomiya) Parishad, traditional farming and domestic items made from wood and bamboo among others were displayed. --IANS sc/pgh ( 553 Words) 2022-10-25-23:04:04 (IANS)
The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed an agreement with the state owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for commissioning of three hydro electric projects with a total generation capacity of 235 MW. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, also in charge of the Power department, after the agreement signing ceremony, said the NEEPCO under the agreement would set up the Umiam stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 hydro power plants. The Umiam stage 3 is in the final stage and NEEPCO is expected to start the implementation process soon. Both Stage-I and Stage-II would cost around Rs 1,750 crore with 70 per cent loan. Noting that Meghalaya has been facing power deficit of 50 per cent of total demand of electricity during peak hours, Tynsong said that he told the NEEPCO officials and engineers to ensure that the signing of an agreement on Tuesday should not remain in the paper but should be made into a reality at the earliest. He said that the state government is likely to scrap agreements signed earlier with few more private investors as they failed to execute their commitments. --IANS sc/pgh ( 202 Words) 2022-10-25-23:18:06 (IANS)
The National Capital's oldest Chhath Puja ghat ITO has started the preparation for the upcoming Chhath Puja under PWD and Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti. People worship the Sun God during the festival, which will be celebrated between October 28-31 this year. Talking about the preparation, Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti Vice President Anil Singh said that the samite will organise cultural programmes and 'bhandara' for devotees this year. "There would be facilities for taking rest to the relatives of the devotees," he said. Singh expected for more rush this year in the festival as people will be celebrating Chhath after two years of restriction due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "We met the District Magistrate. Delhi Police, Civil Defence and our Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti workers will be available all the time and CCTV will also be fitted at every place for surveillance of the rush," Singh said. It is known that foam appearing in the Yamuna is a big problem in Delhi. It comes to the fore every year when pictures come out of people performing Chhath Puja standing amidst white foam.On being asked about the problem of foam in the Yamuna during Chhath in Delhi every year, Singh said that the water of the Yamuna is clean this year as compared to the past. "This year, Yamuna is clean because the flood came late," he said. "In 1984, Chhath was celebrated for the first time here on the Yamuna ghat. In 2007 a ghat was built by the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheela Dikshit," Secretary of Delhi Chhath Puja Samiti Barrister Singh said while talking about the history of the Yamuna ghat. Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The four-day-long festival starts with the 'Nahai Khai' ritual and ends with 'Usha Arghya' (prayers to the rising sun). The festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagwaan (Sun God), which people believe sustains life on Earth. Chhath Puja will be celebrated along the Yamuna river this year as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the allocation of Yamuna Ghats for the celebration. While talking to ANI earlier, Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Keeping in view the religious and spiritual beliefs and sentiments of lakhs of people from UP and Bihar living in Delhi, CM Kejriwal has approved my proposal to allow the celebration of Chatth Puja at different Ghats along the Yamuna River." He further said that the government is geared to provide facilities to the devotees at around 1,100 Ghats. "Delhi Government has always facilitated the occasion by providing various facilities in the form of construction of Ghats, ensuring cleanliness around the places where offerings are to be made by the devotees etc. This year too, the administration is all geared up to provide the facilities to the devotees at around 1,100 Ghats," he said. "Earlier, a concern was conveyed regarding the construction of Puja Ghats near Yamuna River and the offerings by the devotees at such Ghats which might lead to pollution in the river. Various orders and instructions issued by the National Green Tribunal, as well as the directions issued by the National Mission for Clean Ganga, had been brought to the notice of the Government." On being asked about the problem of foam in the Yamuna during Chhath in Delhi every year, Kailash Gehlot said that "Delhi government is trying to prevent such problem this year. Together with the Jal Board and the Flood and Irrigation Department, it is our endeavour to ensure that the level of water in the Yamuna remains good during those days. Since the water comes from Haryana, we are also appealing to the Haryana government." (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will campaign for the upcoming Delhi Municipal Corporation election with 'Sewa hi vichar, nahi khokhale prachar' slogan, the party source told ANI. A meeting presided over by state in-charge Vijayant Jai Panda was held at the BJP office in Delhi regarding the MCD election where the party decided to constitute 21 election management committees for the preparations for the upcoming election. Many other committees have been constituted including Manifesto Committee, Suggestion Committee, Video Van Committee, Advertisement Committee, Social Media Committee, Griha Sampark Abhiyan Committee. For better coordination between all these committees, a nodal committee was constituted. BJP leader Ashish Sood will be its convener, the source further said. Many BJP leaders including state president Adesh Gupta were also present. Delhi State President Adesh Gupta said, "Today's meeting was very special. We have constituted 21 election committees. Such as the election campaign committee, suggestion committee etc. In the campaign, the BJP workers will also meet people of different dialects who live in the National Capital and will make aware of the party's ideologies. Although there was no discussion about the distribution of the ticket in the meeting, the party will give tickets to the people who are continuously working for the people of Delhi." Notably, the total number of civic body polls' wards in the national capital reduced from 272 to 250 following a notification issued by the Ministry of Home on Tuesday pertaining to the redrawing of wards of the Delhi civic body- Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). After the 'delimitation' of MCD wards by the central government, the total number of wards in the MCD will amount to 250 of which 42 are decided to be reserved. The 800-page notification issued by the Union Home Ministry shared detailed information about all the 250 wards that came in the new form after delimitation. "The final order of delimitation has been issued after amendment on the suggestions and objections of the common people and political parties", the official letter stated. Now after the final delimitation order is issued, elections are expected soon. It is to be noted that before the amalgamation of corporations, there were a total of 272 wards comprising the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation. North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation had 104 wards each, while East Delhi Municipal Corporation had 64 wards. But after the delimitation, now the number of wards has been reduced to 250. Notably, AAP Delhi raised concerns that there is no equal distribution of population in the delimitation of wards. Aam Aadmi Party leaders had also lodged their objection by meeting the state election officials. It is worth mentioning that the draft of the delimitation was prepared on September 12 itself and till October 3 it was being reviewed. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday offered prayers at Panchdev Mandir in Gandhinagar to mark the first day of the Gujarati new year. "Bowed down and took blessings of God and also prayed for the well-being of all the citizens of Gujarat. Wishing a Very Happy New Year to all!" Patel said while addressing the media after the prayers. Gujarati New Year, also known as Bestu Varas, marks the beginning of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. On this day people visit the temple to offer puja to deities. Dressed up in festival finery, people meet their relatives and friends to wish them a new year. The day is of special significance for traders and businessmen as it is marked the beginning of the financial year for them and hence, new ledgers are opened on this auspicious day. The enterprising people, mostly engaged in business, herald their Bestu Varas with celebrations, feast and revelry. Gujarati New Year also coincides with Govardhan Puja celebrations in North India, which takes place on the next day of Diwali every year. The day is also observed by worshipping the Govardhan Hill, as according to legends, Lord Krishna worshipped the hill in order to protect the people of Mathura city in Uttar Pradesh from heavy rain. (ANI)
Gujarati New Year is celebrated in the month of Kartika.

"Heartfelt New Year wishes to all Gujaratis...!! May the new year starting from today light up your life and lead you on the path of progress....," prime minister Modi tweeted in Gujarati.

"Happy new year with new resolutions, new inspirations and new goals with the aspiration that Gujarat always rises to the heights of achievement...," the tweet added.

Home minister Amit Shah too greeted the people of Gujarat on this special occasion.

"Happy Gujarati New Year to all my brothers and sisters. May this New Year bring joy and happiness to all of your lives," Shah tweeted. (ANI)
Newly elected Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, ahead of taking charge of the post on Wednesday visited Rajghat in the national capital to pay homage to Mahatama Gandhi. Kharge also paid floral tributes to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal and Jawaharlal Nehru at Shanti Van in the national capital. The veteran leader will take charge as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President at an event at the Congress headquarters here later in the day. At the ceremony, Kharge will be handed over a certificate of election by Sonia Gandhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also likely to be present at the ceremony. Rahul Gandhi will take a break from his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra to participate in the event.Kharge will be the first Congress President in 24 years who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family. Meanwhile, preparations are on at Congress' headquarters for Kharge's oath-taking ceremony. All Congress Working Committee members, MPs, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents, CLP leaders, former CMs, former State presidents, and other AICC office bearers have been invited to the programme. The invitation has been sent to all the above stakeholders by the General Secretary organisation KC Venugopal. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had said that he would also be present at the event. "Mallikarjun Kharge will take charge as the national president of the Congress party. I too have been asked to be present at the occasion. So, I am going to Delhi," he said in Raipur. Kharge trumped his opponent Shashi Tharoor by a huge margin in the race to the party's top post, thus becoming the first non-Gandhi to take over the office after 24 years. Kharge got 7,897 votes in the presidential contest while his opponent Tharoor received 1,072 votes in the voting held on October 17. Soon after his poll victory, Kharge said that the party has presented an "example of strengthening the country's democracy by conducting organisational elections" at a time when "democracy is in danger" in the country. Addressing the media after his victory, Kharge said Congress has "continuously strengthened democracy" in the 75-year history of the country and protected the Constitution. "Now when democracy is in danger and Constitution is being attacked, and every institution is being broken, Congress has presented an example of strengthening the country's democracy by conducting organisational elections at the national level. I thank everyone connected with the election," he said. He also congratulated Tharoor and said that they discussed methods to take the party forward. Tharoor had visited Kharge's residence to congratulate him on his victory. "I want to congratulate my partner Shashi Tharoor as well. We were contesting the election as representatives. He met me and we discussed how to take the party forward," Kharge said. Also, Kharge will visit poll-bound states like Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat soon. (ANI)
A massive fire broke out in a fuel tanker in which two persons died and over 20 persons sustained injuries near Anjangaon village under Bistan police station limits on Wednesday, an official said. The incident occurred around 6 am and the tanker was heading towards Khargone from Indore. It got uncontrolled at a turning point near Anjangaon village and overturned. Khargone SDM Om Narayan Singh said, "As the fuel tanker overturned near the village, the nearby villagers gathered at the spot to collect the fuel from it. During this the tanker bursted." On the other hand Khargone MLA Ravi Joshi said that around 15 seriously injured persons were referred to Indore while around 10 injured were undergoing treatment at Khargone district hospital. He demanded from the state government to provide relief funds to the injured and to the family of the deceased. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the incident. He wrote on Twitter, "Sad news received about a taker going from Indore to Khargone overturned near Anjangaon under Bistan police station in which many persons were injured and died. I pray to God for peace to the departed soul and speedy recovery of the injured". "Appropriate arrangements have been made by the administration for the treatment of injured in the accident. District Collector and SP and other senior officers are present on the spot. I am constantly in touch with the divisional commissioner and collector," CM further wrote on twitter. (ANI)
New Delhi, October 26 (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a two-day 'Chintan Shivir' of home ministers of states being organised from Thursday in Haryana's Surajkund, to address India's internal security. The two-day event will be held on October 27 and October 28 to provide national perspective to policy formulation on internal security-related matters, in accordance with the 'Panch Pran' announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech. A government statement mentions that the Shivir, in the spirit of cooperative federalism, will bring more synergy in planning and coordination between various stakeholders at the centre and state. "The Shivir will deliberate on issues like modernization of police forces, cybercrime management, increased use of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management, coastal security, women safety, drug trafficking, among others." Officials in the government said that this is the "first-ever" such event in which Home Secretaries and the Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of the states and Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) will be present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the Chintan Shivir of home ministers of states on October 28 morning via video conferencing. Various Chief Ministers of the states, who hold charge of the Home Ministries, are also expected to attend the event as they were sent an invitation letter circulated to them on September 30 by the Union Home Ministry. As West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds the charge of Home Ministry of the state, and she was also sent a similar invitation from the Home Ministry. However, it could not be confirmed if anyone from West Bengal would attend the Chintan Shivir. Sources aware of the initiative said that the country's internal security would be the focus of the meeting in which an entire gamut of issues ranging from the modernisation of the police force and dangers of drug cartels to firefighting preparedness and laws governing enemy property would come up for discussion. Union Home Minister will address both the inaugural and valedictory sessions of the meeting which would have seven separate sessions in which the home ministers of states would make presentations. The home ministers are also likely to get one-on-one time slots with Shah during the two days as the Union Home Minister would be present at Surajkund for the meeting. (ANI)
Gujarati New Year, also known as Bestu Varas, marks the beginning of the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. This year due to Solar Eclipse on October 25, people are celebrating Vikram Samvat 2079 today. On this day people visit the temple to offer puja to deities. Dressed up in festival finery, people meet their relatives and friends to wish them a new year. Gujarati New Year 2022: Shubh Muhurat Let's clear out the confusion for you all. Bestu Varas falls on two dates this year - October 26 and 27. The festival this year will begin at 06:48 pm on Wednesday, October 26 and will continue till 05:12 pm on Thursday. Chopda Puja Vidhi Opening new ledgers and closing the old ones is called Chopda in Gujarati culture. In Chopda Puja, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped to seek her blessings for coming year to make it more prosperous and fruitful. The Goddess of learning, Devi Saraswati, is also revered during the day. The ritual involves writing the words "Shubh" and "Labh," which stand for auspicious and benefit, respectively, on the new account books. At the beginning a swastika is also made. Gujarati New Year 2022: Significance and tradition The day is of special significance for traders and businessmen as it is marked the beginning of the financial year for them and hence, new ledgers are opened on this auspicious day. The enterprising people, mostly engaged in business, herald their Bestu Varas with celebrations, feast and revelry. Gujarati New Year also coincides with Govardhan Puja celebrations in North India, which takes place on the next day of Diwali every year. The day is also observed by worshipping the Govardhan Hill, as according to legends, Lord Krishna worshipped the hill in order to protect the people of Mathura city in Uttar Pradesh from heavy rain. It is said that Lord Krishna persuaded the inhabitants of Gokul to refrain from making offerings to Lord Indra. Most of the people, who were farmers and shepherds, were educated by him that their dharma was to the hills and livestock that provided them with food and resources. The folks then began to offer prayers to the cows and Govardhan Hill. But this did not go well with Lord Indra, who then let loose his fury on the people. He continuously rained on Gokul for seven days and seven nights, inundating the area. Then, to give shelter and help[ people and the cattle, Krishna lifted the Govardhan Parvat with his little finger. This made Indra released his mistake. It is believed that performing Govardhan Puja has persisted and is still observed today. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that action should be taken against the contractors who delay the restoration of the roads dug for sewage and water pipelines in the state capital Bhopal. CM Chouhan made the remark during a review meeting on the condition of roads of Bhopal on Wednesday morning. Chouhan said that the roads of Bhopal should be repaired immediately. Municipal Corporation and Public Works Department (PWD) should work in coordination with each other for the maintenance of roads. Notably, Chouhan had a surprise inspection of the roads late Tuesday night. Following which he called the morning meeting. Chouhan expressed his displeasure and said, "Yesterday, I suddenly stepped out on a few roads of Bhopal, including Hamidia Road. I never had imagined that it would be so bad". During the meeting, it is informed that the roads have been affected due to comparatively high rainfall in the last four months. CM Chouhan, however, instructed the officials of the department concerned to repair the roads soon. Another review meeting will be held again after 15 days. Municipal Commissioner VS Kolsani, Principal Secretary of Public Works Department Neeraj Mandloi and Principal Secretary Urban Development and Housing Manish Singh were present in the meeting. (ANI)
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday approved Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and asked chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to ensure clean ghats and water for devotees. The LG also cautioned Arvind Kejriwal against "misleading and pre-mature publicity." The Lieutenant Governor's directives came in a reply to Kejriwal's tweet in which he said that Puja could be held anywhere on the Yamuna. The LG said the Chief Minister's statement was creating confusion among people. "The proposal to hold Chhath Puja approved by the LG was specific to designated Ghats - Kejriwal tweeted as if Puja could be held anywhere on the Yamuna, creating confusion amongst people," the LG's secretariat office said. LG Saxena also directed the Revenue and Environment departments to ensure strict enforcement of the National Green Tribunal's orders with regard to pollution in Yamuna. On October 21 Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot told ANI that "Keeping in view the religious and spiritual beliefs and sentiments of lakhs of people from UP and Bihar living in Delhi, CM Kejriwal has approved my proposal to allow the celebration of Chatth Puja at different Ghats along the Yamuna River." He further said that the government is geared to provide facilities to the devotees at around 1,100 Ghats. "Delhi Government has always facilitated the occasion by providing various facilities in the form of construction of Ghats, ensuring cleanliness around the places where offerings are to be made by the devotees etc. This year too, the administration is all geared up to provide the facilities to the devotees at around 1,100 Ghats," the minister had said. During the Chhath festival that will be celebrated between October 28-31 this year, people worship the Sun God. Chhath Puja is one of the most auspicious festivals in Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The four-day-long festival starts with the 'Nahai Khai' ritual and ends with 'Usha Arghya' (prayers to the rising sun). The festival is dedicated to Surya Bhagwaan (Sun God), which people believe sustains life on Earth. (ANI)
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Wednesday took a jibe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his appeal to the Centre to include photos of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi on currency notes. "He is B team of BJP and RSS. He doesn't have any understanding. It is his vote politics. If he goes to Pakistan, he can also say that I am Pakistani, so vote for me," Dikshit told ANI. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider including the images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on currency notes in India to "improve the economic situation of the country". "Today I appeal to the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Indian currency there is a photo of Gandhi ji, let that be, on the other side of currency, a photo of Shri Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji should be put. "As I said we have to make lot of effort to improve the economic situation of our country. But also with that, we need blessings from Gods and Goddesses. The whole country will get blessings if on currency notes, there is a photo of Ganesh Ji and Lakshmi ji on one side and Gandhi ji on other side," Kejriwal said in his address. "If Indonesia can do it; choose Ganesh Ji, so can we... I will write to the centre tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to appeal for it... we need the almighty's blessings apart from the efforts to settle the economic condition of the country," Kejriwal said. India's foreign exchange reserves during the week that ended on October 14 fell to an over two-year low of USD 528.367 billion, a drop of USD 4.5 billion from the previous week.In the preceding week, the country's foreign exchange reserves were at USD 532.868 billion, RBI data showed. According to RBI's data, India's foreign currency assets, which are the biggest component of the forex reserves, declined by USD 2.828 billion to USD 468.668 billion during the week. The value of gold reserves dropped by USD 1.5 billion to USD 37.453 billion during the week.The value of India's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund declined by USD 149 million to USD 17.433 billion during the week under review, the RBI data showed. The reserves have been falling for months now because of RBI's likely intervention in the market to defend the depreciating rupee against a surging US dollar. For the record, the Indian rupee has been weakening over the past few weeks to hit fresh new all-time lows as the US dollar strengthened against major global currencies. (ANI)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stating that Finance Minister KN Balagopal ''ceased to enjoy pleasure''. In his letter to the Chief Minister, the Governor asked Vijayan to consider the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate. Citing media reports of Balagopal's speech at a University campus here on October 19, "which seeks to the fire of regionalism and provincialism and if allowed to go unchecked they may have an erosive and baneful influence on our national unity and integrity" and the Governor was left with no option but to convey that the Finance Minister has "ceased to enjoy my pleasure". "Reported statements of Kerala FM KN Balagopal are a violation of the oath I had administered to him. A minister who deliberately violates the oath and undermines the unity and integrity of India can't continue to enjoy my pleasure," said Kerala Governor. "In these circumstances, I'm left with no option but to convey that KN Balagopal has ceased to enjoy my pleasure. I hope that you consider the matter with the seriousness it deserves and take action which is constitutionally appropriate," he said in a letter to CM. The Governor said that the remarks of Finance Minister KN Balagopal seek to create a wedge between Kerala and other States of the Indian Union and project a false impression as if the different States of India have different systems of higher education. Khan said that although others like Education Minister and Law Minister have indulged in attacks on him, but he wishes to ignore them as they hurt him personally. "But if I do not take cognizance of the seditious remarks of KN Balagopal, it would be a grave omission of duty on my part. The comments of the Finance Minister challenge not only the national unity and integrity but also the Constitutional Convention that makes it necessary that the Governor of each state shall be from outside the State," said Khan. He said that it is pathetic to see that Balagopal, is totally ignorant of the great legacy of Kerala, which has played an extremely important role in building Indian Unity. Earlier attacking the Kerala Finance Minister, the Governor had said, "Finance minister whose main source of revenue is alcohol and lottery, is raising the question whether the governor who is from UP can understand the Kerala education system... But I would advise him that don't make the same comment about the judges of SC" "Yesterday they (SC) gave a judgement against your appointment of VC of Kerala Technical University...If you say that these judges are from Maharashtra and Assam and they do not understand the education system in Kerala, then you will land yourself in trouble," Khan had said. (ANI)
The walls and ceiling of the sanctum sanctorum have been given a new look with 550 gold layers.

The gold layering has provided the sanctum sanctorum a more attractive look.

Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay told ANI that the work of golden decoration of the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath temple was completed this morning.

He said that this work was going on for the last three days.

A six-member team from IIT Roorkee, Central Building Research Roorkee and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) visited Kedarnath Dham and inspected the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The work of applying gold lining in the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath temple had begun after a report of the experts.

Temple committee president Ajendra Ajay said 550 layers of gold were transported to Kedarnath three days ago through 18 horse mules.

He told that 19 artisans had done the work of applying gold layers under the supervision of two ASI officers. By Asheesh Goyal(ANI)
The rival factions of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) and O Panneerselvam (OPS) are engaged in a heated argument in the court demanding the possession of the gold armour of freedom fighter and Thevar community leader Pasumbon Muthuramalingath Thevar. Both factions have already locked horns over the leadership issue in the Supreme Court. AIADMK treasurer and EPS team leader Dindigul Srinivasan filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking an order to Bank of India, Madurai Annanagar branch to hand over the gold armour to them. Subsequently, the OPS side filed an interim petition, which the court accepted citing the pending proceedings in the Supreme Court regarding the leadership of the party. The case is coming up for a hearing today. While it is considered a matter of honour for OPS as he belongs to the Thevar community, EPS feels that it is important to prove that he is a stand-alone leader of the AIADMK. Earlier, the agitating faction had separately petitioned the bank officials to open the locker and take out a 13-kg gold armour to decorate the statue of freedom fighter and spiritual leader Muthuramalingath Thevar. His birthday is on October 30. AIADMK's tradition is to celebrate Thevar Jayanti on October 30 every year. In 2014, the late former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa presented a gold shield on behalf of the armour party. Since then, the AIADMK Treasurer was responsible for taking the armour from the Indian Bank locker in Madurai and sending it back. Back on July 11, in the General Council meeting convened, EPS was elected as the interim General Secretary of the party. Before the meeting, supporters of both rival factions clashed outside the party headquarters. Following the violent clash, the headquarters was seized by the Revenue Divisional Officer. The August 17 judgement by a single bench of Justice G Jayachandran had nullified the July 11 meeting and ordered status quo, as prior to July 11. EPS camp then challenged the single bench judgement to a division bench of Madras High Court which ruled in favour of EPS. Both factions of the AIADMK have urged the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M Appavu to identify them as real AIADMK. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. (ANI)
The incident took place on Tuesday in front of Hobs Kitchen on Loni Road in the city. The man who died was identified as Varun.

According to Additional Superintendent Police, city GK Singh, five teams have been constituted to probe the incident.

"A clash broke out between two groups in front of Hobs Kitchen at Loni Road on October 25. In the incident, the other group assaulted a man named Varun with a brick. He died on his way to the hospital. Five teams have been put on the job to work out the case. The accused will be sent to jail after probe at the earliest," he said.

Further probe into the matter is underway. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion in a car considering the possibility of cross-state developments and international relations in the investigation. In the recommendation letter, Stalin has asked to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area to the NIA and continued to ensure security in Coimbatore. Stalin's order followed a detailed review meeting held earlier in the day at the Head Office under the leadership of the Chief Minister regarding the ongoing investigation of the case. In this review meeting, the investigation being carried out by the police department regarding the case and the precautionary security arrangements made in the Coimbatore district were discussed; and the Chief Minister directed the police officers to further ensure security in the Coimbatore district regarding the current status of the case *being investigated.* In this meeting, it was decided to make appropriate recommendations to the Union Government to transfer the investigation of this case to the NIA as there is a possibility of cross-state developments and international relations in the investigation of such incidents. The move comes after Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the case, and a day ago arrested five men who were associates of Jameesha Mubin, who was charred to death in suspicious circumstances after an LPG cylinder inside a Maruti 800 he was driving exploded near a temple around 4 am. As per police, Mubin, 25, who was an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. He has been registered as the primary accused in the case. The five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27. Since the explosion occurred in Ukkadam, a communally sensitive area, the state's top police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu and Additional DGP (law and order) Thamarai Kannan, rushed to the spot. The DGP on Sunday said the police found materials used to make explosives in Mubin's house in Ukkadam. They seized 75 kgs of potassium nitrate, charcoal, aluminium powder and sulphur which can be used to make explosives. (ANI)
The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a man for setting a police station in Khan Market on fire. The accused also set his bike on fire. The incident caused severe loss to the police station with its main gate getting destroyed. The incident can be seen in a viral video. According to reports, Mohammed Nadeem, a resident of Malviya Nagar in Delhi, also pelted stones at the police station. The police immediately arrested him. The incident is said to have happened on Tuesday a couple of days after Nadeem engaged in a brawl with some unidentified individual. On Saturday, Nadeem had gone to the Khan Market area when he picked up an argument with an unidentified individual. After the incident, he went back to his residence in Malaviya Nagar. However, he returned to Khan Market on Tuesday with petrol in a bottle and set the Khan Market Police station on fire. "A call was received at around 7.30 am on Tuesday at Tughlak road police station regarding the burning of a bike in front of a police post at Khan Market. The police team immediately reached the spot and found Nadeem under the influence of liquor. He was also very aggressive, however, the police team overpowered him. He damaged the police post's window panes on three sides with bricks. He even put his bike and standees of police ablaze", the police confirmed. Reports mention that a few important police documents have also been destroyed. The video of the incident went viral over social media showing the police arresting Nadeem. A case under section 436 (mischief by fire or any explosive substance), 285 (negligent conduct), 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health), 283 (causing danger, obstruction or, injury in any public way or line of navigation) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and 3/4 prevention of damage to public property Act has been registered. (ANI)
The Chintan Shivir is being held at Surajkund, Haryana on 27th & 28th October, 2022. Home Secretaries and Director General of Police (DGPs) of the States and Director Generals of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) & Central Police Organisations (CPOs) will also attend the Chintan Shivir.

The Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers is an endeavor to provide a national perspective to policy formulation on internal security related matters, in accordance with the Panch Pran announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day speech. The Shivir, in the spirit of cooperative federalism, will bring more synergy in planning and coordination between various stakeholders at centre and state levels.

The Shivir will deliberate on issues like modernization of police forces, cybercrime management, increased use of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management, coastal security, women safety, drug trafficking, among others. (ANI)
Acting on specific inputs, Lunglei Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) conducted a joint operation with representatives of Siaha Police station.

"The team had specific information about the movement of tactical and war-like stores for insurgents based in Myanmar in four Kenbo bikes. The team intercepted and searched four kenbo bikes at Niawthlang junction. While carrying out a search, the party recovered a large number of tac and war-like stores. The stores recovered were of military grade," the statement said.

"Hence the same being used for anti-national activities against own people, by insurgents based in Myanmar, cannot be ruled out," it added.

Various items including satellite phone, Myanmar Currency (2,79,700 kyat), Singapore currency (2 dollars), magazine pouches (5), and bulletproof jacket (5) were recovered.

"The detained personal & seized items have been handed over to Siaha Police station on 26 October 2022 for further investigation & legal proceedings," the statement said.

Earlier on October 22, the Lunglei Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered War like stores (WLS).

"The party intercepted and searched a kenbo bike. While the bike was being searched, a second kenbo bike tried to make a U-Turn and escape. The bike was subsequently abandoned by the driver as he tried to escape. A party searched the bike while a second party pursued the individual to apprehend him," it said.

Recovery of war-like stores was made from the bike, however, the individual escaped.The recoveries included one 0.22 Rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition, one hand grenade, and one kenbo bike.

The seized items have been handed over to Tuipang Police station for further investigation and legal proceedings. (ANI)
After presenting his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu, Vietnam Envoy to India Nguyen Thanh Hai said that he would strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India in the field of political, security, defence, economic, trade and tourism. While speaking with ANI, he said, "I would like to promote further trade and economic cooperation and tourism between the two countries, and at the same time promote politics, security and defence cooperation and all the areas of cooperation." "This is my honour to serve here as an ambassador of Vietnam to India... There is a strong potential for promoting further bilateral relations between the two countries," he added. The ambassador emphasised the ties between the two countries over the years have seen significant growth for mutual benefits of the two countries. "India is one of the three comprehensive strategic partners of Vietnam. There is so much potential in bilateral cooperation in the upcoming years, especially in economic cooperation. Vietnam Envoy Nguyen Thanh Hai told ANI. In addition, the envoy recalled tourism as one of the fastest-growing sectors in Vietnam and added that Vietnam is fully open for tourism after a long ban on travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "After Covid-19, Vietnam launched so many policies to attract tourists.... India is a very important market for Vietnam tourism. We would like to expand more direct flights between the two countries..." Nguyen Thanh Hai said. (ANI)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that new voters will define and contribute to the making of India in 2047, when the country completes 100 years of its independence. "New voters will define India at 2047, and with the active young years on their side, they have the privilege and opportunity to contribute to the making of Century India, as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,"Singh was addressing new voters in Moradabad. Singh said, "Uttar Pradesh is home to about 55 million young men and women who are in the 18-30 age group, which is approximately 37 per cent of the total voters in the State." Dr Jitendra Singh told the youth that a few days ago, Prime Minister Modi launched Rozgar Mela - the recruitment drive for 10 lakh personnel and during the ceremony, appointment letters were handed over to 75,000 newly inducted appointees. He said, in near future, the target of 10 lakh government jobs will be completed in a mission mode. The Minister also appealed to the youth to strive for other means of livelihood through lucrative StartUp ventures and innovative entrepreneurship, as it is next to impossible for any country to provide government jobs to all. Referring to Prime Minister's focus on the most job-intensive sectors like agriculture, private sector and MSME, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, a huge campaign is going on to train the youth according to the needs of the industries of the country and added that 1.25 crore young people have been trained so far all over the country." He pointed out that initiatives like liberalising drone policy, opening up space policy, and 20 Lakh crore rupees worth of loans under Mudra Yojana have opened new opportunities for the youth. Referring to Prime Minister's continued focus on youth power since 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said, on August 15, 2017, in his Independence Day speech, Modi said, "January 1, 2018 will not be an ordinary day - those born in this century will start turning 18. For these people, this is a decisive year of their lives. They are going to be the creator of the destiny (Bhagya Vidhata) of our nation in the 21st century. I heartily welcome all these youth, honour them and offer my respects to them. You have an opportunity to shape the destiny of our country. A proud nation invites you to become a part of its developmental journey". The Commission has directed the chief electoral officers and electoral registration officers of all states to work out tech-based solutions to enable the youth to file their advance applications concerning three subsequent qualifying dates - April 1, July 1 and October 1, and not only just January 1. The Minister said, the move will boost EC's efforts to enrol new young voters who turn 18 in a year, for which an amendment was recently made to allow quarterly registration of voters. Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Central government and the UP Government are jointly planning to hold 'Yuva Vijay Sankalp Rally' in all the nooks and corners of the state to make the youth aware of the developmental initiatives and achievements of the "Double Engine Sarkar". (ANI)
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that talking about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a waste of time as AAP is a Bharatiya Janata Party's B team. Baghel made the remark while reacting to the remark of Arvind Kejriwal on Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday. Baghel has further said that now he will not comment on Kejriwal. He does all this only for politics. Talking about being chosen as a campaigner for Himachal Pradesh elections, Baghel said, "The party has given a big responsibility. I have got the responsibility and there is also a wave of change going on in Himachal Pradesh at this time. I have full faith that Congress will emerge as the biggest party and with a clear majority on December 8". Baghel also commented on the BJP leaders performing 'Raut Nacha' and getting whipped. He said, "This is the tradition of Chhattisgarh and the culture of Chhattisgarh, one has to be associated with it. They had got a chance for 15 years but neither did they work to save them nor tried to live that tradition nor ever participated in it nor tried to promote it. After the formation of our government, we all are celebrating Chhattisgarh's art, culture, festivals, and tradition together. So happiness increases manifold". He further reacted to BJP's remark on paddy procurement saying, "They should not have to worry about it. The people of the state have given responsibility to us. The farmers have given responsibility to the Congress, so let us be worried about them, they should worry about themselves". (ANI)
The Green India Challenge, initiated by Rajya Sabha MP Santosh Kumar, witnessed the participation of Adilabad villagers in Telangana on Wednesday. Mukhara (K) villagers participated en masse in the Challenge and planted 20,000 saplings at 'Bhruhat Palle Parakriti Vanam', according to Sarpanch Minakshi Ghadke. Minakshi further informed that the villagers have earlier planted 80,000 saplings as part of their effort to add to the greenery in the state. "The survival rate of plants is 100 per cent as they are making special efforts to save them," she said. MPTC Subash Gadke and other villagers took part in the Green India Challenge. With the inspiration of 'Telangana ku haritha haram', the brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, MP J Santos Kumar launched the Green India challenge four years ago to spread awareness of greenery across the country. Along the lines of the Yadadri Natural Forest (YNF), the Green India challenge with the support of the Telangana State Forest Department has taken up the task of improving green cover by grooming biog plants in Golluru where the forest-covered depleted. In the first phase, the fencing of 900 acres of forest area was already completed. To revive the forest cover, 10,000 big saplings have been planted at one go under Green India Challenge 5.0. Sadguru, his supporters, Isha foundation members, school students and locals also participated in a big number in the plantation programme earlier this year. Telangana in June had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Isha Outreach, a social development branch of the Isha Foundation, founded by Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. "Increase of Green Cover in Telangana and Green India Challenge are role models in the country. No alternative to nature and soil. Need to conserve it for future generations. It is appreciable that MP Santosh Kumar launched the Green India Challenge to make India a complete Green Country," said Sadhguru. Sadhguru said that the 'Telangana ku Harita Haram' and Green India Challenge stood as role models in the country and asserted all other states should accept the challenge. He warned against the indiscriminate use of chemicals. "It will be a big threat to the future generations". Vasudev said that there is no alternative to Earth and Soil. He strongly hoped for the conservation of earth and soil to gift future generations. Bollywood actor Salman Khan had arrived in Hyderabad for his film shooting and participated in the Green India Challenge 5.0 along with Rajya Sabha MP and Green India Founder J Santosh Kumar here in June this year. Accompanied by his film crew, Salman planted saplings at Ramoji Film City. Speaking on the occasion, he said that every person should take the responsibility for the plantation programme and also take adequate care of the saplings until they grow big trees. It is unfortunate that human loss due to natural calamities, heavy rains and floods is immense. The only solution to check human loss is to promote massive plantations. Salman praised the TRS MP Santosh for taking up the big task of the plantation programme. He said that the MP's Endeavour to improve Green Cover in India will help to safeguard the Earth and future generations. He called upon his fans and followers to join Green India Challenge and plant saplings on a large scale. (ANI)
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai chaired a review meeting with Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Environment Department officers to take stock of the Anti-Dust Campaign on Wednesday. It was observed in the meeting that 6,868 construction sites had been inspected by officers under the Anti Dust Campaign. At the same time, notices/challans were issued to 253 sites; and fines of Rs 32.4 lakh were imposed for violation of guidelines issued at construction sites, said a press release. Minister Gopal Rai stated, "In order to reduce the pollution of Delhi during the winter season, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the Winter Action Plan on 30 September. On the basis of this, the concerned departments have started work to implement it on the ground, added the statement. Under the Anti Dust Campaign, the teams are constantly visiting construction sites. These teams will ensure that the construction guidelines are followed there. It is necessary to implement 14 norms on construction sites. The campaign was launched on October 6 and will run till November 6. If any site refuses to follow the rules of dust control, action will be taken against it as per law, added the statement. According to the NGT guidelines, a fine ranging from 10,000 up to 5 lakh will be imposed for violation of the rule on the construction sites. If there is a severe violation then the construction site will be shut." Environment Minister directed the officials of the Environment Department to take daily reports from the teams regarding the Anti Dust Campaign. So far 6868 construction sites have been inspected. A total of 253 notices have been issued and fines of Rs 32.4 lakh have been imposed for non-compliance with guidelines at some construction sites. Minister Gopal Rai appealed to the people of Delhi that if they find any irregularities in the construction/demolition work, then they should complain about it on Green Delhi App. (ANI)
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy outlined the necessity of prioritising proper maintenance of TIDCO houses to ensure that they don't turn into neglected slums.

The Chief Minister was informed that Rs.5005 crore was spent on housing in the present fiscal year while 40,576 TIDCO houses were already handed over to the beneficiaries.

"Maintenance of the houses should be a regular phenomenon," the Chief Minister said.

"Extending a helping hand to the welfare associations in adopting the best maintenance methods, TIDCO should work in coordination with the representatives of the housing associations," the CM instructed the housing department officials.

The CM was told that a total number of 1,10,672 TIDCO houses would be handed over to the beneficiaries by December and the number will reach 1,10, 968 by March next. The officials informed him that the process of registrations in the first phase is also almost over.

While the department has been paying special attention towards the construction of the houses sanctioned in Visakhapatnam, works related to basic infrastructure facilities such as electrification are also being expedited in colonies already constructed.

The officials further explained that residents' welfare associations are being formed in colonies where there are more than 1000 housing units. Awareness is being created among the welfare associations on proper maintenance of sanitation, sewage treatment plants and street lights. (ANI)
One person died and another was injured on Wednesday after a residential lift of a four-storey building in Jaitpur, wrecked down due to mechanical failure in the national capital, officials said. The deceased was identified as Nawab Shah (44). "Information was received from Apollo Hospital, Jasola Vihar, mentioning a person, namely Nawab Shah (44) succumbed to his injuries, sustained due to breakage of lift of a four-storey building," officials said. During the investigation, it was revealed that Nawab Shah's son was also injured in the incident and sustained minor injuries. "The building is likely to be constructed 2-3 years back and has 4 storeys. The builder of the building said the elevator is yet to be examined," the officials added. Owing to the negligent act, the Delhi police have registered a case against the unidentified accused. The police are investigating the matter and further investigation is awaited. Earlier this month, in Mumbai, a 74-year-old man injured in an elevator accident in a housing colony in Borivali succumbed to his injuries. The man was under treatment at a local hospital as he breathed his last there. The deceased was identified as Ratan Patil, a resident of the Borivali area of Mumbai. Patil was injured in a lift accident in his residential area on October 2. According to the information received from Kasturba Marg police, Patil entered the lift on the first floor, the door of the lift suddenly closed and started going down and suddenly hit the ground. "We have registered a case under Accident Death Report (ADR) and were investigating to find out if there was any negligence," said a senior police officer of Kasturba police station.Patil suffered injuries on his hand, chest and shoulder after which he was admitted to the nearby Shatabdi Hospital by a security guard posted outside the lobby of Tuljai Society on Carter Road No. 4, Borivali. He was later shifted to Nair hospital due to his deteriorating health where he died. (ANI)